And thus this story comes to an end. I like to thank you all for sticking it out with me through all these months of crappy writting and my words of wisdom in this story is actually words of stupidity, I have no idea what I'm talking about... Alas this story was written as a fanfic from the hit TV show CSI, I do not own a thing except originality of the plot and the OC's. If I claimed ownership of anything else I would be charged for purgery and sued for millions of dollars which I don't have. If you do sue me, remember this I'm just a book junkie nothing more and nothing less. Which means I don't have all that much money.

karmine: I'm updating for the last time on this story, hope you like it. (Writer dramatically sniffs and faints.)

Review if you want to or not at all, your choice but I'd like some feedback as to what I should do to my next fic to make it even better and no sadly it's not a CSI fic. Oh for all of you readers curious about Ryan's and Andrea's past I might write a story on it, but it would be a while yet. Don't worry, it'll come sooner or later.

Secret Whispers: Epilogue The Funeral

The sky was a dark iron grey, it looked ready to open up its bowels and dump the snow it was holding back on top of their heads. However the weather would hold until tomorrow, that much the weather could give them on this mournful day. Greg hunched his aching shoulders against the cold wind, he had actually found a dark suit that fitted him instead of hanging off his person like excess skin. After weeks of staying in bed he had finally found the strength to stand and walk, just in time for the funeral too. He glanced up and closed his eyes in pain as one of his healing burns stretched, he had been trying to move very little but sometimes a movement would cause one of the scars to crack and send waves of pain coursing through his body. Greg hadn't taken any painkillers out of pride, but he was starting to regret that bold decision now. It would be a while yet before he could return to work without being in constant pain, but he was determined not to let his pain show through so he could actually get back into the lab where all his buddies were. He missed them all very dearly and couldn't wait to see all their faces again, but there would be a couple of faces he would never see again outside a picture. Andrea and Ryan, he still couldn't believe what had happened over the last few months and probably would never fully understand the truth for as long as he lived.

The funeral was being held in the small cemetery of East Hastings, it seemed the whole of the crime lab and Ryan's university classes had been invited or had come just to pay their respects. They all milled in a loose oval around the two shiny oak coffins, wreaths of flowers and crosses adorned them making them look like a garden bed instead of what they truly were; boxes that held two dead bodies. The coffins were laid side by side, they would be buried the very next day next to their sister who's life had ended too soon. All Greg could hear was silence, not even the winter birds sang.

He glanced off to one side and saw Warrick and Catherine standing close together, Warrick had one arm slung around her waist and he was looking forlornly about. Tina's funeral had been a couple of days ago and he was still suffering the after effects of it. Warrick had seemed to find some comfort in Catherine and Greg hoped that their relationship would take to new heights instead of it being a rebound from this whole mess. It would make Warrick and Catherine more happier to spend time together and perhaps with time Catherine could find some way to salve Warrick's hurts.

A couple walked up to Greg and he recognized them instantly, the judges son Joe Warner and the russian babe Lilly Vermount. In his arms, Joe carried Trina who had her nose pointed to the coffins and was straining to get out of Joe's arms. However he just held on tighter, Greg winced and hoped that Trina's ribs were stronger then they looked. Greg nodded to them and leaned heavily against the tree he was standing near by, he was getting tired from standing already. Surprisingly they weren't walking past him but towards him, Greg glanced behind him, okay that was a stupid thought. There was nothing behind him but forest, forest, and more forest. They stopped in front of him, their eyes downcast and forlorn, no late night parties for these two, Greg thought wryly. Lilly looked at Greg and he spotted a slight glimmering in her eyes, "Was... Did he die painfully?" she asked in a shuddering breath.

Greg didn't really know that answer and didn't want to really know it but he shook his head, "Probably not."

Lilly burst out weeping and clutched onto Joseph's suit, getting it wet and wrinkling the perfect jacket. He let go of Trina who leaped off in the direction of the caskets to stand guard over them and he hugged Lilly tightly and buried his face in her perfectly curled gold locks. Greg looked away at this raw display of emotion, he felt embarassed by it. He didn't know how to handle these situations very well, that's why he was usually partnered up with people who did. Greg was suddenly struck with a sudden memory and a curiosity to know something from Joe, "You never told me..." Greg trailed off for a second, "Why you were so mad at Ryan that day we pulled you in for a interview with your boat load of attorneys."

Joe looked somewhat guilty, "It was...nothing."

"You mean it was stupid." Lilly said sniffing into his collar, "Tell him why you called him such horrible names."

"He...um...stole my dog." he looked away going red.

"Your dog? You mean Trina?" Greg asked somewhat surprised.

"Yeah, told me this mumble jumble magic voodoo stuff about her being some reincarnate of her sister. At first I got angry, which was about the time when you pulled me into interview, then I got over it thinking he needed some serious help. I offered, through Lil here, to pay for a shrink but he wouldn't have it. Got this scared look in his eyes and slammed the door shut right in front her face." Joe shook his head, "I know shrinks are not that well loved in this day and age but they arn't that bad."

"Some people I know will seriously disagree with you." Greg said.

"Some." Joe looked away, "If you'll excuse us?"

"Yeah, go ahead." Greg said.

Minutes later the priest arrived, Lilly's parents that had paid for the whole affair, had had the priest come from one of Las Vegas's churches. According to the bible, the two siblings really shouldn't be having a catholic funeral. Andrea had taken lives and Ryan's death would be considered a suicide by the many who gathered here, but they had bribed this one priest to do their last rights for them. "We are gathered here today, in memory of Phylicia and Zachary Reynolds. Also known to their loved ones as Andrea Chase and Ryan Anderson." the priest intoned in a deep voice, effectively squashing any attempts of anybody making small talk. It seemed most priests had that much power at least, however most people start to zone out as soon as he started reading the catholic funeral rites.

Greg was one of the many that did, he limped slowly to join the small circle around the coffins and bowed his head in rememberance. He felt a hand on his shoulder and found himself looking at the grim smiling faces of Sara and Nick, they were properly attired as well. Greg gave a nod but didn't speak, it would not be befitting. Greg looked around discretely and wondered where Grissom was. He then spotted him with his head bowed talking softly to Lilly who's mascara was well beyond ruined by now, she nodded once, twice then ceased crying, but her lips still trembled as the rites were presented slowly and sturdily by the priest. Words of comfort, given by Grissom. What a surprise.

Greg remembered a saying from long ago, "Funerals are for the living not the dead." he couldn't agree more. A funeral was a place where the decease's family, loved ones, and friends get sympathy and condolensces for the terrible tragedy that had happened. It wasn't as if the dead would care how much money their friends would pour into this funeral so they could have a fancy burial, if you asked Greg he thought all the dead wanted was a some peace and quiet not some old bald guy muttering words over their dead bodies. Greg bit his lip, he wondered what it was like being dead, were you watching what people did? Were you watching from heaven or hell? Is your soul going in hibernation to relive all your past lives and to be reborn when you were ready? Or were you just dead? Gone, the life snuffed out of you? So many questions and only meeting death would answer them.

He tilted his head upwards to the gently slopping hillside on the other side of the cemetary, he blinked in surprise. Trina was looking down boldly from the hillside and nodding sagely as each word was spoken by the priest, two people were crowded around her. One of them looked up, as the sleek black hair fell back Greg gave a start. It...it couldn't be. He found himself staring at the twin sapphire blue eyes of Ryan. He could see slightly through him and he seemed to ripple with the breeze, the other figure was Andrea, she too found his eyes with her own. They both stood slowly, they were in their usual attire and suddenly another figure emerged. It was just a little girl of about 14, but Greg knew she was family for she had much of the same features as Andrea and Ryan did. They hugged each other, the little girl's long wavy looks blew gently and her small mouth smiled as did they all. Ryan looked at him, his eyes sparkling with a happiness that had been missing when Greg first met him. His shy smile widened and he mouthed something to him, it seemed very much like, "Thank you."

Then they were gone like mist, just faded away in the sunlight that was struggling to get through the strong willed clouds. Greg blinked once, twice but still couldn't believe what he saw. Was it just his imagination? Or was this their way of saying goodbye? He felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked up and found himself staring at Grissom's blue eyes so like and yet so different from those of his dead friend. Grissom nodded his head in the direction of the car, "Let's go."

Greg blinked, the funeral was over and done with. He followed Grissom, he looked back and saw nothing. As they neared the parking lot, Greg took one last look at the scene behind him, again he saw nothing. As he turned back, he saw something in the corner of his eye. A brightly coloured scarf danced its way through the air, brushing lightly on the floral arrangements hanging off of the coffins. He watched it go by and sighed.

Life is lost every second on this earth, whether it be human or animal. But it causes only a little ripple in this big bustling river, forever flowing freely. Death doesn't influence the world greatly, if you threw a pebble in one part of the river it affects that part strongly, it sends out ripples that get weaker and weaker. Sections of the river barely notice the ripple, but the sections nearest to the rock impact are affected the most. Thus is called the circle of life.