Henry Spencer was in the middle of cooking dinner when the doorbell rang. He called out for the visitor to wait a minute while he pulled the pan off the flame and turned the burner off. Wiping his hands on the dish towel that was hanging over his shoulder, he opened the door. The towel dropped from his hands when he saw one of his son's friends standing on his doorstep. Henry had seen Buzz McNabb a number of times, but he had never seen him like this.
The officer's face was solemn and his eyes were red and wet. His shoulders were slumped and he looked like he hadn't had a good night's sleep in weeks. Henry's voice was hesitant when he spoke.
"Officer McNabb, can I help you?" The man's chin quivered slightly but he took a deep breath, straightened his back and did his best to regain his composure.
"Mr. Spencer, I'm sorry to have to tell you this. Chief Vick would be here, but she's with Detective O'Hara right now…Sir, there's been an accident. Shawn, he- the case, he- sir, Shawn was killed today, saving a toddler's life. He- I'm very sorry sir. The Chief will be by to talk to you soon."
Henry stood as still as a statue. No, not Shawn. Not his son. Shawn would never- he was too good. He always managed to get through everything alive. But then again, he always managed to get into those situations in the first place. And too many of them had been close calls. Now, finally, his luck had run out.
"H- How?" Buzz looked up again.
"What?" Henry cleared his throat, his voice shaky.
"How did he- how did it happen?" He put his hand on the door frame, afraid he would fall without help.
"He was working on a case- a young boy wandered into the middle of the road while no one was looking. A car came speeding around the corner- Shawn ran to the boy, throwing him out of the way. The car hit Shawn…he died instantly. The suspect was driving the car…we got him." Both were silent for a moment.
"I want to see him." McNabb shook his head.
"Chief Vick expressly ordered you can't. It's not- It's not something anyone should have to look at, sir. There isn't much…you're forbidden from the morgue. I'm sorry, sir." Anger filled Henry. He wanted to see his son. But before he yelled at Buzz he realized the only person he should confront was Chief Vick. He had to see his son's body. The anger drained from his body, and Henry shook his head. He was too numb. Shawn couldn't be dead. Not his son.
McNabb began to walk away, his composure crumbling again. Henry called out.
"McNabb." The officer turned back. "How's Juliet?" Buzz swallowed.
"Gus, Detective Lassiter and Chief Vick are with her right now." Henry nodded and watched McNabb leave before he shut the door.
He fell heavily onto the couch, dinner now forgotten. His son was dead. The child he'd raised and trained and counseled. Dead. Gone. Forever. Never going to come back through that door asking for help on a case. Henry put his head in his hands.
"Oh, Shawn." And with that, the tough-as-nails retired detective began to cry, mourning for his son.
Henry wiped his eyes and picked up his keys. There was somewhere he had to be now. The drive that normally took fifteen minutes took nine. When he opened the door, he found Gus, Lassiter and Vick sitting in the living room. Juliet was sitting on the couch next to Gus and was holding onto him as if her life depended on it. Tissues were scattered all around her and Gus' shirt was clenched in her fist.
One stern look from the man got the others to their feet and heading out the door. The three sent looks of pity and sorrow his way, but he made them redirect their eyes to the woman curled in a ball on the couch. Once they had left Henry moved over to Juliet and wrapped his arms around her. She began crying again and held tightly to him as he rocked her back and forth.
"I-It's n-not f-fai-fair. H-enry, why d-did he h-h-have to d-die?" Henry shook his head.
"I don't know, honey. I don't know. And you're right. It's not fair." He rocked her until she fell asleep and then laid her down on the couch. As he was pulling a blanket over her, she looked up at him.
"What am I going to do?" Henry shook his head and put his hand on her cheek.
"We'll get through this together. We'll help each other. That's all we can do." She closed her eyes again and Henry settled himself in an armchair. His last thought was that of all the times for Shawn's luck to run out, it wasn't just his father and friends he left behind.
This time, he left behind his wife.