Title: Too Little. Too Late
Author: Ebony-Jayne
Notes: Alleigh's Funeral. I know my last chapter kinda sucked. I was in a hurry and just wanted to get something up. I may well go back and edit it later. This is it. The last chapter then I'm moving on to another fic.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the show or the storylines on the show. I do, however, own the characters that I make up so please don't steal them. Any resemblance to anyone or anyplace is a coincidence.
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Chapter Nine: The Final Goodbye.
Olivia stood in front of the mirror trying to see if she looked ok for a funeral. She decided she'd have to look fine when the door bell rang. She slid her shoes onto her feet as she went to let Elliot in.
"Hey," She said as she opened the door.
"Hey Liv," Elliot replied. "You look fine," he told her as she opened her mouth to ask. "I picked Casey up on the way over. She said she'd wait in the car."
"Ok. I'm ready to go," Olivia grabbed her bag and keys and locked her apartment behind her.
"Don't think I've ever actually been to one of our victim's funerals before," Elliot mused as they walked down the stairs.
"Neither," Olivia replied.
They walked over to the car where Casey was waiting in the passenger seat and headed to the church where the service was being conducted.
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"I will now ask you all to join me in the Lord's Prayer," the Priest said to the crowd gathered in the small, hot church. Everyone who wasn't already standing stood and bowed their heads. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen." The Priest was silent for a few moments. "Thank-you." Everyone sat down again. "Alleigh Halloway was a frequent fixture in our youth program. A lovely but troubled young lady she was. While we gather today to say our final farewells some of Alleigh's friends and relatives would like to say a few words in remembrance of Alleigh. Catriona would you and Bridgette like to go first?" he asked the girls. They nodded.
"Alleigh was a really good friend of ours. We knew everything about each other and we're really going to miss her," Catriona said sadly.
"We found this poem that we decided we would like to read today to remind everyone that while physically Alleigh is gone. She'll live forever in those who loved her and were close to her," Bridgette said bravely. The two girls moved closer together and began to read the poem in perfect unison:
"Do not stand by my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints in snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
As you wake with morning's hush,
I am the swift up-flinging rush.
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand by my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die."
Catriona began to cry at that point so Bridgette pulled her into her arms and said the last few words they had prepared.
"Now we have decided that we aren't going to say goodbye to Alleigh today. She always said that goodbye is forever and in church and youth group we learn that death doesn't mean we'll never see a person again. We will meet them again one day on the other side. So instead of goodbye we thought that this was a little more fitting: 'See you later Alligator'," Catriona managed to lift her head chime in with the last line. The two girls walked back to their seats together in tears.
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After more items from Alleigh's friends and family the service was over. As they had ended up in a corner of the church Elliot, Olivia and Casey had to wait while everyone else filed out. Then everyone headed to the cemetery for the burial.
After a few more words had been spoken the Priest began to lower the casket into the grave. As he did another two of Alleigh's friends sang a 'Amazing Grace', their beautiful voices winding around the quiet onlookers. Olivia was surprised to see that there were plenty of tears but no sobbing as there had been in the church. A strange sort of peace had come over everyone and the two girls voices just seemed to add to the spell. Olivia felt her own tears and the looked at Casey who had tears on her cheeks too. Casey seemed to feel her gaze and turned to look at her. She squeezed the hand she was clinging tightly too and leaned over to whisper something.
"Do you feel it too?" Olivia nodded. "She's at peace isn't she? After so much pain and suffering she's finally found a place where she's free," Casey's eyes were a brighter green than Olivia had ever seen them when they were full of tears. Olivia squeezed her hand back.
"I think you're right, Casey. I really think you're right," she whispered back.
Casey turned back to watch the casket lowered the last few inches into the grave. She felt a hand stroke her back a few times and turned to see that it was Elliot reaching around Olivia. 'You Ok?' he mouthed. She nodded. Everyone was now lining up to file past the grave and pay their last respects and toss a handful of soil onto the casket. Casey was in front of Olivia and Elliot was trailing behind the two women. When it got to her turn she picked up a handful of soil and paused beside the grave.
"I'm sorry I didn't know you in your life Alleigh. But you taught me more in your death than anyone living has ever taught me," she took a deep breath and tossed her soil. "Thank-you Alleigh."
Olivia stepped up. "Rest in Peace sweetie," was all she could get out after hearing Casey.
Then it was Elliot's turn. "I hope it's better for you wherever you are honey," he said softly.
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Late that night Olivia lay in bed and thought about the whole case from beginning to end. She knew that this case would be one of the few that she could easily let go of and yet it would be one that would stick with her, in her heart forever. That night for the first time in many years Olivia slept soundly, her normal nightmares held away by some external force that seemed to feel that for one night she deserved a break.
Casey lay in bed and thought hard about how lucky she was to have had Reese in her most desperate hour. She had been given the opportunity to open up and had taken it and never regretted it. She had found peace within herself. Alleigh hadn't had the opportunity to open up to someone she really loved and she had found her peace in another life. This was a case that she would remember forever.
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Well that's it. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this story.