He Jumped in front of a bullet- on my order.
There was a few things to be said about coppers. The first being they were unbelievably loyal to one and other, it didn't matter if they didn't like the copper or if they didn't respect the copper. They would remain loyal.
Specially against cop killers. There were the most despised people to walk down the grotty halls of police station. They were the most likely to suffer from accidental fall down stairs. Cop killers didn't deserve to live.
Especially not ones that killed a 19 year old fresh of the bat bobby.
Not ones who killed innocent, baby faced Christopher Skelton.
He was still in uniform, probably up for a promotion in a couple of months ready to stroll around in CID as a the newest DC.
But it was all snatched away by a cold-hearted thief.
I blamed myself, I was young Skelton's Guv, his commanding officer and on my word Chris had jumped into the soaring path of three bloody bullets. He didn't stand a chance, the poor kid.
It was all he was really- just a kid.
I'd had the pleasurable task of telling Christopher's parents and sisters. Been inclined to watch as his mother collapsed and his Father angrily smashed an ornament. Watched in horror as young Skelton's younger siblings were told, the oldest only twelve. Watched as the boy's lip had wobbled as tears formed but didn't fall. 'Being brave like Chris' he told me. I could see it in the youngsters eyes, the utter admiration he'd had for his brother the want to follow in his footsteps. Knowing it was all my fault.
I had refused backup, thought in some strange deluded way that it was showing pride. That it would help Chris become a better copper.
But it had destroyed lives.
There would be no inquiry he had been told, an accident it was declared.
But in reality I could see that all my men looked at me and knew it was my fault. I knew that people on the street looked at me and saw it to. They all knew. They all knew.
It was burning at my conscience, gnawing at my insides eating away my pride and self respect. I'd lost coppers before but it had never directly been my fault, my mistake. And they had never been so young.
A mere lad never able to play out his life or live it to the full.
A young man with everything lost and taken in one second. In one mistake.
He jumped in front of the bullet on his order. On his command.
I ordered him to jump in front of that bullet.
I would never forget Chris Skelton or his heartbroken family. It would plague me for eternity.
Whenever I shut my eyes I would see Chris Skelton's last moments alive, the blood and the terror of three speeding bullets.
I could never forget Christopher Skelton a promising copper never able to live his life, or earn his badge, or make his first armed blag.
Chris Skelton would haunt me for the rest of his life.
A/N wrote this quickly I just thought what are coppers like? Then this came. Because I don't think this Guv can be blamed. We all love Chris Skelton! J Review?