To Have Lived Enough
Disclaimer: The author of this story does not own the characters. I intend no copyright infringement. The quotes in italics are from various episodes of CSI:NY.
"Our care should not be to have lived long as to have lived enough."
-Seneca
She had four older brothers and a police sergeant for a father. They taught her to be the tough cop she was; they made sure she could take care of herself. But she screwed up. She wasn't paying attention and she got herself killed in the line of duty. Shot.
A short while ago, Jessica Angell passed away from injuries suffered in the line of duty. She was a damn good cop who displayed exceptional bravery, honor and devotion while keeping the people of this city safe. She fought hard…
She was talking to Don. She was planning their evening when she should have been watching for trouble.
And the truck burst through the doors to the diner. And she pulled her weapon.
And they fired.
Tonight…you, me, a bottle of wine. I'll wear that black negligee I know you like.
And she fired.
And they hit her.
Don't make me cuff your other hand.
And she hit one of them.
And then she fell.
Is that a line Flack? Did you just bust out your game on me? It was, wasn't it? Look at you, you're blushing!
She died at age twenty-seven. She died at twenty-seven after dedicating her life to protecting the lives of others. Her father and brother never wanted her to join the force. Unfortunately, they had no say in how she ran her own life. And she screwed up.
She's gone.
She should have been watching for trouble, not talking to Don. She screwed up, so she's dead. She got herself killed, but none of the men in her life will see it that way. She recognized her mistake the second that bullet hit her shoulder. She knew she was dead when that second slug embedded itself in her abdomen.
Jessica Angell was one of those rare people who touched each of our lives, the kind who reaffirms your faith in humanity.
It was her fault. And she would do it all over again, not because it is her job, but because that kid she tried to protect had important information to share with the world. He might have been a killer, but it had not been proven.
She was too damn brave for her own good.
She laid down her life to protect an innocent citizen of her city. She would do it again with no second thoughts.
…I can tell you that she did the job the best she could no matter what the assignment and, uh... that's who she was.
She's dead now; gone forever except for memories that will fade with time. She'll only live on in those memories of her family. Her friends. Her boyfriend. Her colleagues. Every person she put in prison.
But, most importantly, she'll live on in the memories of every person she helped in her time with the New York City Police Department.
…What's important now is that we fight equally as hard to find the cowards who did this. We have a proud history in the NYPD. When one of our own is taken from us... we always get our man. Always. Now go out and do what you do best. Her family's counting on us.