AUTHORS NOTE: So I'm meant to be writing a NUMB3RS fanfiction story but as you can tell, that didn't happen so I put all my creative energy into updating this wonderful case story because I'm a bum like that xD

DISCLAIMER: I only own the OC's but I'm fine with that

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[His Four Friends and a Funeral]

***

The case couldn't have come at a worse time for Robbie, he thought as he stood at the mirror in the bedroom that he no longer slept in. He laughed. "You always hated me getting distracted during a case especially if it contained a small child like Lenny," he whispered to the empty room as he straightened his tie. "I remember how many times you cancelled prior engagements because you understood it was my job." He moved over to the bed, his hand pressing to the pillow that had been hers. He felt the bitter sting of tears as he smelt the perfume that she'd always loved and he laid down on the pillow, the scent teasing his nose. "I'm so sorry you're not here anymore and it's all my fault."

"Stop thinking like that," Stuart's voice caused him to look up and he smiled over at him. Stuart moved into the room and sat down next to him. "She'd be so proud of you for keeping a level head over all this, you know."

"She'd be more happy that I'm letting you close enough to help me," he laughed at the memory of how many times she had told him that it was about time he understood that Stuart was a friend and not an enemy. "She thought I treated you like dirt."

"You kind of do but I know that's how you show your love to me," he whispered reaching over and squeezing his best friend's hand, smiling as he realised that Ashley had literally been an angel sent from heaven to keep Robbie in check.

"It's thanks to you I got to meet Ashley. Why did you never get shot earlier?" He teased smiling sadly before standing up, offering his hand to Stuart to pull him up too. "Thank you." He suddenly said causing Stuart to stare at him in horror and before he could ask if Robbie had been drinking or on drugs, Robbie smiled, "I mean it. I wouldn't be able to do anything without you because you're always the one there and yet I do treat you like dirt..."

"I love you for it." Stuart promised. "Besides if you really treated me that bad, do you think you'd live to tell the tale? Ewan knows people." He pointed out smiling before nudging his head towards the door. "You ready to go?"

Robbie looked out the window at the hearse that had just pulled up. He could see Ashley's mum in the front garden with the sister and her recent husband, their eyes red from tears they'd already shed. He felt a lone tear slide down his cheek. It was his entire fault that they were standing down in his garden, tears falling because they'd lost their daughter, sister and sister-in-law. Stuart took hold of his hand and whereas Robbie would normally yank away and say a horrible homosexuality comment, today he welcomed the warmth.

***

Jackie sighed as she grabbed her handbag. She didn't even know why she was going to this today. It would literally be rubbing salt into Robbie's wounds because he was still wound up that she had been able to walk out of her relationship willingly when he'd finally had everything he wanted and it had been ripped away from him but Burke had made it clear that showing up was what all good detectives do when it's one of their own. She had understood that. She wanted to be there for Robbie. She wanted to be there to share in people's memories of Ashley because from what she'd learnt through hearsay, Ashley was a wonderful woman and everything Robbie would have ever needed in life.

There was a horn outside and she moved to her window. She moved down the path where she saw Jenny climbing out of her car, her daughter with Ronan sat in the back on a booster seat. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought you might appreciate a lift and besides, Burke told me that you were a flight scare and he wouldn't be home to drag you there."

"Surely you should have been at Robbie's?" Jackie said not wanting to sound harsh because she liked knowing that Jenny was making an effort towards building a bond and she knew that if she got a slight bond with Jenny then she'd be closer to making friends with Robbie. It was manipulative but it was the only way you could work around Robbie at times.

"I didn't want Leigh around all that emotion. It's too much for an adult at times and besides that would have made Robbie act all macho so me and Stuart agreed that neither Ronan or Leigh would be at the house beforehand so I've got them both."

"That's so nice of you." Jackie whispered knowing that she wouldn't have thought of that. How much had Robbie changed in five years? She jumped as a hand touched her arm and she looked up to see the sympathy in Jenny's eyes and she didn't know what she was meant to feel in response.

"I understand that this is too much for you as well but I swear that Robbie will be happy to know that you made the effort. He always knew that you had his back and he's going to need that more than ever even if he is a stubborn ass about it." Jackie decided not to comment that it appeared that Jenny had done a wonderful job of taking over as the female of the group and the one that Robbie relied on because that would sound too bitchy so she just nodded and smiled.

"Come on, we have a funeral to go to. Our boys are there," she said smiling as Jenny smiled back at her.

***

The church was filled with friends, family and colleagues of both Ashley and Robbie causing Robbie to freeze a little. It had been made clear that Robbie wasn't too be a pall bearer. He walked in front of the coffin, his hands crossed at his front as he bit back the tears. The pallbearers consisted of Stuart, Ewan, Burke, Greg (the brother-in-law), Ryan and Steve (two fellow doctors). They moved down the aisle and Jackie found herself looking at Robbie, her heart breaking as she saw his mental struggle of trying to bite back the tears.

The service was short and sweet. Friends and family went up to the lecturn and said their bit on why Ashley was an amazing person before Robbie was asked if he had anything to say. He wanted to decline but Stuart elbowed him and he realised that meant it was time for him to say something. He sighed as he stood up and looked over the people.

"So I met Ashley over four years ago now thanks to some suspect deciding to gun down my best friend. The whole time she treated Stuart, I hit on her," this received some chuckles and Robbie felt a little bit better so he continued, "anyone who knew me back then knew that I was in depressed mood due to having lost someone important to me and I hadn't been myself. The flirting with Ashley was the first sign that I was back to normal. Why did I flirt with Ashley apart from the obvious that she was completely gorgeous? I knew that she wasn't my type and yet there she was, the most beautiful thing I had seen in so long and she had that teasing look in her eyes that showed that she was putting me down but a small part of her was thrilled that I was flirting with her," he paused as he remembered the look that she had been giving him. "Eventually Stuart was bullet free and his arm was bandaged up so we were free to go but before we left she gave me her card and asked to see if I was as much as a jerk when I was alone rather than in front of a friend." He laughed remembering how Stuart had teased him because of how shell shocked Robbie had been. "The next thing I knew we were engaged, living together and planning the happy ever after. I've never felt so alive than when I did when I was with Ashley. She was the best thing to ever happen to me. I watched her with my best friends and their daughter. She was the one that made me realise that Jenny was a friend and not an enemy..." He laughed as he shook his head. "Damn, she ruined my life! I was happy hating my fellow detectives." Stuart and Jenny laughed at that before shaking their heads. He smiled. "I love Ashley and nothing is ever going to replace her or the times we spent together. I'm just sorry I had to lose her before I gave her the big white wedding because Amie, you looked sensational at your wedding," he said to her baby sister, "and she'd have been so proud." He nodded his head. "I think I've bored you enough." He said smiling before looking over at the coffin. He moved down to it, his hand pressing against the wood as he leant down to kiss it, "I love you." He whispered so that only she could hear. His tears fell.

***

The funeral was nearly over, they were gathered out on the graveyard under umbrellas and Robbie had just thrown a photo of them down as well as his handful of dirt. "I love you," he whispered again before moving back and smiled as he heard Burke's phone ring.

"I'm sorry," Burke apologised moving away and taking the call. Robbie chuckled causing people to look at him.

"Robbie?" Stuart asked.

"She always said that I'd be dragged away from our wedding due to a murder and instead I'm..." he paused as Burke came over and said,

"There's been a murder,"

"being dragged away from her funeral and the stupidest thing is that she was the perfect detective's wife. She understood." His tears fell as he moved over to her mother and gave her a hug, his lips pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I'll see you soon," he promised before turning to look at his fellow detectives. "Well we're not going to assess the victim standing about here are we?"

Stuart smiled as he walked over and squeezed Robbie's arm before giving Ashley one last goodbye.

TO BE CONTINUED...