Disclaimer: Nope, I do not own the character, show or anything of the sort.

Spoilers - Post-ep season 3 ep 1


Silent Mourning


He was gone. Truly gone. Not just thousands of miles away but gone forever. She hadn't mourned. Not really. There was no time. In the whirlwind of events she had to keep the façade of stoic detective, strong woman and accepting the new Detective Inspector. All while calling his parents, packing up his belongings, arranging the shipping of his belongings, and his body, to his parents back in England. Accepting that she would not be attending his funeral, something she never thought she'd have to do ever anyway.

After his killer had been arrested, and she had enacted every ounce of self-control within her to keep from committing another murder, the team, his friends, had gathered for a small memorial of their own. It wasn't the same. She managed to hold back the tears somehow if only for the sake of everyone else.

The sun cast a glorious red hue as it settled for the night beyond the horizon. Normally she would be sitting with him outside his house on the steps with beer in hand making small talk and dancing around their unspoken mutual attraction. Tonight there was nowhere to go. The new D.I. was moving in. It wouldn't be the same but it was where she felt closest to him.

Sticking to the shadows, she made her way to the natural driftwood bench that she had come to consider 'theirs'. It was there he had brought her flowers. A small smile crossed her lips as she remembered how nervous he was even though it was for the loss of her friend and as an apology. It was there she had apologized, truly apologized, to him. It was there another few bricks in both their walls had been chipped away.

She sat, ignoring the tears streaming down her cheeks. She glanced at the other seat, his seat, and the reality hit her hard. Never again. No more flowers. No more apologies. No more handkerchiefs laid down in a vain attempt to keep the sand off. No more coaxed smiles. No more 'you're so French' comments. No more… no more Richard Poole.

"Richard." She needed to say his name, hear it out loud once more. She needed to hear him say her name once more but that would never happen again.

In that moment Camille Bordey broke down completely. Pulling her knees up under her chin she let the tears flow. She gasped for breath between the sobs. The soft lapping of the water did little to comfort her. She had allowed herself to finally feel something genuine for him when he had returned from England as he had promised her only to have her heart ripped apart by a crazed murderer all because he had finally tried to be more social thanks to Camille's encouragement.

With the last remnants of dusk fading, Camille took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. "I will never forget you, Richard," she whispered before leaving. Her life would never be the same without him but it was changed forever because of him.