Sam nodded at Oliver as he got out of his truck.
Oliver looked at him solemnly.
"You ready for this?"
Sam shrugged and held up a pizza box.
Oliver nodded.
"Everyone here?"
Oliver nodded again.
As they approached they heard the music growing louder.
Sam looked at Noelle.
"Is that it?"
She nodded.
"Yep. Jerry's playlist."
They all looked at Frank.
He pulled a framed picture out and set it against the gravestone.
It was the five of them, Rookie year.
Sam stared at the gravestone and tried to swallow the lump in his throat.
He pulled out the watch and stared at the inscription. To the good times. Somehow that gave him the strength he needed.
He held down next to it and put a hand on the gravestone.
"You were my first friend Jerry."
He brushed a hand over his eyes and swallowed again.
Noelle put a hand on his shoulder.
He shook his head.
"I should have been there…"
Oliver crouched beside him.
"No. No, no, no. You are the best cop Sammy, Jerry was the best detective and you both knew what you were doing. Jerry would be laughing at you Sammy, hanging onto this for so long. He'd punch you and tell you to move on, and get over it."
Frank chuckled sadly.
"He was the most scatter brained detective I'd ever seen."
Noelle nodded.
"Losing his notes."
Oliver smiled as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"It's a good thing our rookies don't know what we were like."
Frank and Noelle nodded.
Suddenly Noelle pulled a twenty out of her purse and laid it on the grave.
"I lost my bet."
Oliver nodded and pulled out a twenty laying it beside hers.
Frank looked confused for a moment and then he smiled and found a twenty.
Sam just stared at the gravestone.
He remembered. Shortly after they had been cut loose Oliver and Jerry had been getting ready for their weddings. The five of them had been at the Penny and he had just gotten done flirting with some hot girl. They had started teasing that it would never be him-that he would never actually fall in love enough to want to marry someone-Jerry had swung an arm around him and made a bet that he would.
Sam pulled a twenty from his wallet and laid it by the others.
Frank shook his head.
"First time I ever lost a bet to Jerry."
For the next few hours they stood there remembering Jerry.
Frank and Noelle left first. Finally Oliver stood and put a hand on Sam's shoulder.
"You ready?"
Sam shook his head.
Oliver nodded.
"I'll see you in a couple weeks Sammy."
As Oliver walked away Sam's memories started faster and faster.
Jerry and him at academy causing no end of trouble.
Jerry as his backup the first time he had killed someone. He hadn't left his side.
Jerry messing up his undercover. Jerry telling him about Traci. Jerry asking him to be his best man. Jerry on the floor…dying.
It wasn't supposed to end like this. You were supposed to be there…you were my brother.
Oliver glanced back and saw Sam shoulder's shaking.
He nodded and wiped his face quickly before getting into his squad car.
It's about time.