A/N: Ok- maybe I need to explain things a bit. Or should I?
Has anyone noticed that in the past two months I've written a lot more? Well I have, and that's because for the past two months I've been through hell, which surprisingly motivates me to write. And every time I wrote, I couldn't help but think of the MCD (Main Character Death) that I was planning from the beginning of things, so I spoke to my writing mentor (Thanks DH!) and I asked him how readers react to having a main character or even a hero dying within a story or plotline. I was told that there is a fine line. You have to make the reader understand the purpose of the death, but at the same time, not glorifying it to the point of insanity.
So yes, there is a context to the sub-plot of the death of our beloved Perra, and it's not just to satisfy the feelings and emotions I feel, but it's also for the sake of the plot as a whole.
I know that's a lot to take in, but feel free to ask me a question or anything like that in a review or a personal message.
Jules and Megan were ushered into the room by the attendants.
It was something they knew they had to face, but one that they really didn't want to do.
Inside the room was the funeral director. He stood back. On the opposite wall, was the casket that the late Kristopher Allison Perrasmith was laid to rest in. White and red flowers adorned the space around it. To the left of the casket, were two pictures on an ornate stand. One picture was of Kris in his SRU uniform, standing proud and at attention. Beside it, was a picture of Jules and him on their wedding day.
Jules looked over to Megan- her daughter, Perra's daughter from his first marriage. She was fighting hard to keep back the tears that she had every day for the past week.
Side by side, and with Megan's hand in hers, Jules approached the open casket. She looked at the man that she still loves.
They did a good job, considering. Jules thought to herself.
She knew how he had died. A man shot him the throat.
Jules heard the door to the room open again, and she started to fight back her tears, not wanting to show anymore weakness than she had over the last week.
Lauren, Kris' adopted sister, with her daughter, Ella came in.
Lauren passed Ella to Megan, who comforted the still crying teenager.
She isn't crying- why should I? Megan thought.
Lauren looked over to the casket and then to her sister in law. Without a thought, they embraced each other.
"I'm sorry." Lauren said, stifling tears.
"It's not your fault." Jules said, as she pulled away, "Not your fault."
The funeral director approached Jules.
"I'm sorry to bother you Mrs. Perrasmith, do you want the doors opened to start the proceedings?"
"Yes." Jules said, as she took Megan's hand, as Megan handed Ella back to Lauren, "We're ready."
"And the casket?" the director carefully asked, "Open or closed?"
"Open." Jules whispered.
The director went over to the doors and opened them wide, allowing for the first wake to begin.
Beside the casket, Jules stood. Beside her, was Megan, and next to her, was Lauren, with her three year old daughter.
Everyone who came into the room immediately felt sorry for the three women who had to stand there and watch the parade of close friends and family come into the room.
The first ones to show were Ed, Spike and Greg, who all wore appropriate dress wear.
After paying his respects at the casket, Spike was the first to greet Jules.
"I'm sorry." Spike said, as he started to shake her hand, but instead ended up giving her a hug.
When Spike withdrew from the hug, Megan looked over and said "Thank you Spike."
"No," Spike explained, "It was an honor working with him. He had a gentle heart, and a hell of a sledge swing."
Jules and Megan managed a laugh through their tears.
"He said something to me….before he…" Spike started, "he told me 'take care of them'. I think he meant you guys."
Spike continued down to greet Lauren.
"Ed." Jules said, as Ed shook her hands.
Ed didn't say anything, and continued down the line.
Greg came up next.
"I apologize for my team leader; he didn't have his fruit loops this morning."
Then, as if everything was better, Megan started laughing.
"It's good to see that smile." Greg said, as he gave Megan a big hug.
Next was a man that Jules recognized. She remembered seeing him at a call once, and he was also Perra's best man at their wedding.
"Hey Julianna." He said, as he gave her a hug, "I'm gonna miss him. He was one of my best friends."
Megan looked over. She couldn't place him.
"Derek, this is my daughter, Megan." Jules introduced.
"I remember," he said, as he hugged Megan too, "I was your dad's best man at both of his weddings. The world's going to be a different place without him. Great guy, great guy…"
After that, Kiera and Winnie- the SRU dispatchers came in.
"Who's at the desk?" Jules managed to ask.
"Some other guy." Winnie said, as she shook Megan's hand, and Kiera shook Jules', "We're going out for drinks later tonight. Why don't the two of you come? If anyone needs a drink, it's you too."
"Thanks, Winnie," Jules replied, "We just have a lot of things to do."
"Ok- let me know if you want to get a drink sometime."
Then Jules' saw a familiar face.
"Wordy." She said, as she gave him a huge hug, "Thank you for coming."
"It's ok, Jules." Wordy said, "I only worked with him a few times, but that's the kind of guy you never forget. If you want to talk- anytime- day, night, give me a call."
Jules appreciated Wordy's concern.
"Hi." A woman said, as she approached.
"Hi." Jules said, "I'm sorry I don't…"
"Oh, it's Chantal. Chantal Sewell."
"I remember you." Megan said, "Nurse at St. Patrick's, right?"
"That's right." Chantal responded, "Daughter?"
Jules nodded, "Yeah."
"I'm sorry for your loss. When he was my supervisor he cut me a lot of slack when my aunt died. I hope you have someone who can do the same."
Then another woman approached.
"I know you." Jules said, "Emily, right?"
"Yeah- I was your father's lawyer." She explained to Megan, "He was my first client. I'm sad to see him go."
Jules and Megan looked at the long line that was developing of people who wanted to pay their respects.
Then a uniformed police officer approached.
"Oh, god." Megan muttered.
"What?" Jules' muttered back, "You know her?"
"She was the responding officer when I was assaulted."
"Hi," the cop said, as she shook Jules' hand, "Officer Jessica Sanders. He was my training officer when he worked in Brockville- he taught me everything I know."
Jessica looked over to the casket. "There was more than a few times that he saved my life. I only wish I could've saved his."
Then a tall, bearded man came up.
Jules' shook his hand, as he moved onto Megan.
"Megan- right?" he asked.
"Yeah…"
"I worked with your dad when he worked with the Border Services- Charles Cook. We were pretty close."
"Thanks." Megan nervously replied, as he continued down the line.
Over the next hour, more and more people came, and it all seemed like a blur to Megan. She had almost gone through an entire box of facial tissues, mopping up the tears, before it would smear her makeup.
Everything was pretty much finished, when a man and a woman showed up. Jules noted how the man stopped at the casket, and the woman moved straight towards Jules.
"I'm so sorry I have to do this, but I just got here, and I need to get back." She said, as she shook Megan's hand, "Neither of you know who I am?"
Sadly, both Jules and Megan had to shake their heads.
"Well, good lord- I'll never understand that man. Annie Hughes- me and Haley, Kris' first wife were close, and me and Kris were in the same grade together from pre-school to grade eight."
Then, as if time was against her, she didn't even bother going to Lauren and zipped back out the door.
By then, the man stood up. It was only when he stood did Megan recognize him.
"I'll be damned-" he said to Megan, "You're his daughter?"
"Yeah."
He immediately shook Jules' hand, "Aaron Coutu, OPP Officer. Me and Kris were in the police academy together. If my memory serves me right, he could swing a door sledge pretty darn good."
"Yeah," came Jules' reply, "He could."
"I'm sorry for your loss Mrs. Perrasmith. He was a great man."
'He was a great man', 'A great guy'. That's all I've been hearing all day. I know he was great- that's why I married him.
After the single and only viewing, Jules and Megan went home. The funeral was going to be the next day.
Over the past week, they had received hundreds of notes and cards in the mail, and they were all put in a box, which they left on the table.
Neither of them was in the mood to eat, even though the last time they ate was when Spike had brought over some sandwiches from a new Italian place he had found on Bloor.
"We might as well start going through these." Jules said, as they sat down at the table.
Right away, as Jules sat down, her eyes immediately turned to the chair where he used to sit. She peeked a glance over at Megan beside her, who was doing the same, only with tears in her eyes, and her makeup starting to smear.
Jules grabbed Megan's hand and squeezed it.
"I know it's hard Megan. We need to do this."
Together they started to go through the cards.
As they went through the cards, they sometimes said the name aloud, and read the message aloud. If they didn't, at least they did was write the down the return address so a thank you card could be sent.
"Ruby Foster-" Jules said, "Your husband and father was my mentor in Unit 52. With him around, I felt invincible. He's the cop that every little boy wants to be."
"Rose Davis," Megan read, "If you don't know, I was his cousin- once removed. I had lost my dog, and he came to the house and he spent all day looking for him. He had even called into work saying that he couldn't come in because he was helping his cousin find her dog. He was very loving and unselfish. The world needs more men like him."
Jules opened one card, looked at it and asked, "Did your dad ever mention a Christine Griffin?"
"No- why?" Megan asked.
"Listen to this: I'm sorry to break this code of silence in a time like this. I haven't seen Kris in almost 30 years. We were in first grade together, and we never knew that we had the same grandmother. I'm sorry I never took the chance to get to know him."
"Michele Ward said that dad helped her become a paramedic- gave her an excellent recommendation. She donated $100 to the Toronto Police Services Fallen Officer Fund." Megan said, as she opened a card.
"Same thing- only with Frank Collins- I worked with Kris down east in the security company. He motivated me to join the military. I donated $100 to the Fallen Soldiers Fund in his name." Jules responded.
"Emily Williams worked with him in the Border Services and she donated $500 to the TPS Fallen Officer Fund." Megan said with a whistle.
"Patrick Bennett and Catherine Long send their sincere regards to the Perrasmith family in this time of sadness."
"Who are they?" Megan asked.
"They work in team five of the SRU." Jules responded, as she recognized the names, from hearing them in passing.
"From Lisa Perry," Megan read, "It's addressed to me. Your father was a great man who sacrificed himself for the greater good. I was, and am still proud to have worked with him in Unit 52."
"Joesph Smith," Jules said, "Captain of the Brockville Police Services. When I started in the Brockville Service, I was still wet behind the ears. Even though he wasn't my training officer, Sargent Perrasmith took me in, and showed me the ropes. It's because of him who made me into who I am."
Jules and Megan looked at the box of letters and cards. There was still easily at least another fifty of them.
"Your dad was a great guy." Jules said to Megan, as they continued opening and reading the cards of condolences.
"He wasn't just great," Megan said, "He was my dad, and now he's gone. All that's left of him is an empty chair and 18 years of memories."
"It's the 18 years of memories that you'll want to remember." Jules' said, as she tried to keep Megan's morale up.
But who's going to give me the pep talk when I need it? She thought.
"I only want to remember the last three years," Megan said, "Because that's when he was the happiest. I don't want to remember the fights."
Jules remembered Megan telling her about the fights she had seen Perra and Haley in, in the months leading up to their divorce.
"I'll never leave you. You're my daughter, and that's the way things are staying."
The next day at the funeral, three people got up and made a speech. The first one was Greg.
"My name is Greg Parker, and Kristopher Perrasmith was an Officer on my team in the Strategic Response Unit. It's always sad to see a co-worker pass away, but it's even worse to see a friend pass away. Kristopher was not only a compassionate, caring police officer, but he was also a father and a husband. He leaves behind his wife of two years, going on three; Julianna Perrasmith, and his daughter, Megan Perrasmith. It also brings me great sadness to mention that Julianna Perrasmith is expecting her first child, and that Kristopher will never be able to see his child born. May he rest in peace."
The next person surprised even Jules and Megan, who wasn't expecting it- Lauren Perrasmith.
"For those of you who don't know- my name is Lauren Perrasmith- Kris' adopted sister. I remember, when we were kids, we would play 'Cops and Robbers' in our backyard. He never wanted to be a robber, he always wanted to be a cop. Whenever he became a real cop, I remember telling him, 'Now you can never be a robber', and he laughed. That's the part I'll miss the most. How he made me feel, how he made anyone feel. There was something about him, even when we were kids that I knew I was safe when he was around. Without him here today, I feel like a part of me is missing."
"My name is Ed Lane." Ed said, as he walked up, "I was there when he died. Even in death, he wanted to make sure that people were safe. He told me and my co-worker to 'take care of them'. I didn't need to ask who he meant- I knew he was talking about his wife, Jules, his daughter Megan, and his unborn child. His family was the world to him, and he was an excellent police officer. I raise my badge to him."
Ed then removed his police badge from his belt, and raised it in the air.
All around Megan and as she looked behind her, she realized that over half of the people in the church had followed suit, and raised their badges in honor of her father.
After the service- Ed, Spike, Greg, Wordy, Winnie and Kiera carried the closed casket out to the cemetery where Kristopher Allison Perrasmith was finally laid to rest.