Never Alone

A In the Heat of the Night Fan Fiction

Disclaimer: I own no names or places of ITHOTN. Only the story is mine.

Chapter one

Homecoming

It was a rainy day as Captain Bubba Skinner walked to Memorial Hospital. Most visits to the hospital were a bit on the depressing side, as it meant either identifying a victim, or informing a family that a family member had either been injured or killed.

Sometimes he wondered if he'd made the right decision in becoming a cop.

He walked to room number 31. Knocking as he opened the door, He said, "Miss Dalton?"

A weak voice answered, "Bubba Skinner. You didn't have to visit an old woman."

"How are you feeling today, Miss Dalton?"

"Better. I got a phone call from Amelia. She's trying to get home."

"Where is she now?"

"India. Her photos will be featured in the Sparta Herald."

"Did you tell her of your illness?"

", Bubba, I haven't. she has enough to worry about, what with being overseas and all. Will you tell her?"

"Miss Dalton…"

"Bubba, I've known you since you were ten. You and Amelia have been close since childhood. I always hoped I would call you grandson. But calling you friend and handyman during your high school years has been an honor. You've never stopped making sure that the house had all the necessary repairs. You've visited me daily, even when the cancer landed me in the hospital. Now I entrust Amelia to you. I feel like I don't have much time. Please promise me you'll take care of her."

Bubba knew what she was implying. He rubbed his chin. "Yes Ma'am, Miss Dalton. I promise."

"Thank you, Bubba."

"Yes Ma'am. I hate to be rude, but my shift is about to start in twenty minutes."

"Stay safe, Bubba."

"Thank you, Miss Dalton."

Before leaving the hospital, Bubba followed a gut feeling. He gave his personal and work number with the nurse in case anything should happen with the only grandmotherly figure he knew.

That night, Bubba got the call that he was dreading. Two hours after his visit with her, Caroline Dalton died.

The next morning, after a restless night, his phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bubba!"

"Amy?"

"Yes, it is."

"Where are you?"

"Coming into Sparta. Will you be visiting Memaw with me?"

"Amy, before you go home, can you meet me at the Magnolia Café?"

"What's wrong?"

"It's better if I tell you in person."

Twenty minutes later, Bubba met Amy, or as she was known to the world, Amelia.

"Hey Bubba Skinner. You sound tired."

"Amy, I tried to call you last night, but the number was out..."

"Bubba, you're scaring me. What's wrong?"

"Honey, your grandmother died last night."

"What? Bubba if this is a joke, it isn't funny."

"Amy, I wish it were a joke."

"How?"

"She'd been hospitalized for the last month and a half due to female cancer."

"Why didn't she tell me?"

"She felt that you had enough to worry about. She asked me to tell you."

"You never stopped looking in on her. Even after I went to college. I want to see her."

"Amy, I think you need rest."

"No. I want to see her. I have to see her."

Bubba sighed. He knew she was right. "Very well, Amy. I'll take you to see her."

"Thank you."

The ride to Memorial Hospital was quiet. Amelia was thinking back to her childhood here in Sparta, Mississippi. It had been a happy childhood. She had been raised by her Grandmother, Caroline Dalton, since she was three years. Her parents had been killed in a tragic auto accident.

Amelia really didn't remember them. Everything she recollected involved her Memaw.

She was ten when the Skinner family moved in next door. She knew the Skinner boy was a year older. She found out that he was named after his father, Virgil Lawrence, or V L, for short. However, everyone in his family just called him Bubba. It was a name that stuck with him thru out his life.

She and Bubba became fast friends. They even dated in high school. But after graduation, they went their separate ways. Bubba went to college at the University of Alabama, on a full ride scholarship to play football for Coach Bear Bryant.

Amelia got a scholarship to Notre Dame to study photography. She wanted to photograph the world.

Never in a million years did Amelia think that her homecoming would involve the death of a loved one.

Bubba interrupted her thoughts. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Sorry. I was thinking back to happier times."

"Any particular moment?"

"Oh, when you and I went trick or treating as Barney and Betty Rubble. Memaw hand made the costumes."

Bubba half smiled. "I remember that. Momma swore up and down we'd end up married one day."

A lone tear fell down Amelia's cheek. Why did she leave for India? Why didn't Memaw tell her about her illness?

The walk across the hospital was sheer torture for Amelia. She might as well have been hiking up Mt. Everest. She felt so bone weary.

She identified her grandmother's body.

After she left the morgue, a gentlemanly doctor approached her.

"Miss Dalton, I'm Dr. Rob. I took care of your grandmother."

"Thank you, Dr. Rob. Was she alone when…"

"No ma'am. I was with her. She was so proud of you. She showed your photographs off to us."

"Somehow I just feel like I should have been here."

"Miss Dalton, if it means anything, your Grandmother didn't suffer. She went peacefully in her sleep."

Amelia looked at Bubba, not quite knowing what to say. She tried to speak, but only sobs came out. She hugged Bubba.

"It's okay, Darlin, cry it out. I'll help you as best as I can."

"Bubba…why? It isn't fair!"

"Let Ole Bubba take you home. You need rest."

"What about the funeral?"

"That can wait till tomorrow. You need to take care of you."

Bubba took her back to the café and grabbed her bags from the rental car. He then drove Amelia to her childhood home. He carried her things into the house.

Amelia stepped onto the porch. This pace wasn't the same without Memaw.

"Now look, Amy, if there's anything I can do, call me. You've got both my numbers."

Amelia didn't say anything. She hugged Bubba and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for everything, Bubba."

Bubba tipped his hat. "Don't mention it. I'll check on you tomorrow before I head into the station. Now, get some sleep."

Amelia went inside and locked the door. She laid on the couch and fell asleep. She slept until the phone awoke her the next day.