He'd seen death before. Plenty of times before actually. But what was it about the death of a figure that made his knees weak in anguish. And not just any figure, a figure of the law. He'd seen death before. Witnessed it, dealt it even. But this was different than anything he'd ever known.
This dead man before him was a friend. A lawman gunned down before he even had time to draw his weapon. Dead before he even hit the ground. A shot in one of the most vulnerable places that would leave a lasting mark upon the body. The vessel that carried the life of the lawman and the center of every human's life.
As he gazed upon the wound to the man's head, he couldn't help but wonder, what kind of a monster would do such a thing to another human being. What is it in a gun toting criminal that gives them the least regard for human life. Is it fear, perhaps hate, or worse yet, could it be normal for them?
A disease of the brain maybe. Doc didn't know but he often wondered as he worked on the hapless victims he'd encountered over the years.
"Hey, Doc!" Matt called from the other room. "You almost done in there, we got to bury the deputy next."
"Yeah, Matt," Doc said drawing up the sheet over the Sheriff's body for the last time. "I'm done here."
Carefully placing the lawman's badge atop the sheet, Doc whispered a prayer for everlasting peace and thanked the man for his service.