A/N- Mike's mother could be perfectly healthy, but since we've never heard about or seen any of his family, I figure it's fair enough to think she could be dead. I think Finn's dad is dead as well which is why he's the one comforting Mike. This fic actually expresses some of my own emotions after my mom died a few years ago. It still bothers me how you can be grieving as other people walk by you without a clue and even when they should know, they almost never do.
Disclaimer: If I owned Glee, Mike would get his solo on the dance floor and we'd actually know if he has a family. Fox obviously doesn't agree.
Losing Someone
Mike sat in the metal folding-chair, back hunched and hands between his knees, staring at the spot where the coffin had just been buried. The Glee club had performed a beautiful rendition of 'Amazing Grace' on the request of the widow, but Mike's voice had faltered and after a line, he'd had to start mouthing the words instead. His vocals weren't integral to the sound, so thankfully no one had noticed.
A hand clapped him on the back and the distracted teen glanced up to see Finn standing there, giving him a questioning look. When Mike's eyes met Finn's, the quarterback scowled worriedly. Mike couldn't figure out why until he reached up to scratch an annoying itch on his cheek and realized there were a few stray tears. He gazed startled at the liquid on his fingers.
"What's going on?" Finn asked quietly. Mike half-turned to glance at the grave again and uncertainly turned back. Finn seemed to realize his emotions because he sat down next to him and tossed an arm around his shoulders companionably. "I won't tell if you don't want me to, okay?"
Mike bit his lip, but let it spill eventually. After a long moment of silence, he cleared his throat and tried to control his voice so that it didn't crack when he said, "My mom's grave looked exactly like this one."
Finn's hand tightened on his shoulder, triggering Mike to struggle against it but ultimately break down, occasional fits of sobs wracking through him. Finn didn't move an inch and after a minute or so Mike just buried his face in his friend's shoulder and let it out.
When he regained control, Finn squeezed his shoulder one last time and released him. There was no point in wallowing there, so Finn led the way out of the cemetery, but they stopped off at the restroom so Mike could clean his face before they went to join the others at the outside funeral reception being held in the park across the street.
As they approached the crowd, Mike smiled shyly and a bit sadly at Finn. "Thanks."
Finn ran his hand through his hair in a way that somehow conveyed his tiredness. "There are some things you never get over." Mike completely understood.
The family of the deceased were scattered throughout the reception area being good hosts, but they still stood out like sore thumbs if you only looked, their fresh grief obvious. Mike and Finn stood at the edge, not quite in the mood to go socialize yet. The crowd moved around them, completely oblivious, like always.