Chapter 6: The Funeral and Mourning
It seemed fitting to Kaidan that they held the funeral on a Wednesday. It was an indistinct day. There was a fog that morning that had only just started to lift, leaving everything a little hazy. Anna and Hannah seemed to be taking it as well as any family could, given the circumstances. There had been some friends who gave their condolences before the ceremony, but everything was small and kept to the family. Anna had flinched for the first shot in the 18 gun salute, but remained still through the rest of it. After the service, everyone went back to Kaidan's home. It wasn't until later that Kaidan heard either of them lose their cool.
"I'm going with you! I'm not leaving you alone!" He heard Anna shout from upstairs.
"Anna, I have a ship to run! You have to receive your implant! Karin can't do that; she isn't skilled enough! You are staying on Earth, young lady!" Kaidan heard the unmistakable sound of Anna stomping. "What are you doing?" A muffled reply. "YOU COME BACK HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!"
"Or what?! You'll make me leave Earth? You'll send me to an orphanage?! YOU'RE ALL THE FAMILY I HAVE LEFT!" Anna was panting by the time she reached the bottom of the steps. "Oh wait, that's right. You don't want me anymore. FINE!" A flash of red and black bolted through the door and outside. Kaidan quickly got up, running to his hoverbike while Hannah ran after Annalisa.
"I'll look for her. Maybe I can calm her before I bring her back," he shouted as he rode into Hannah's range. Hannah stopped and nodded to Kaidan.
"Just come back before dark!" Kaidan acknowledged the order and left. He had a good guess as to where Annalisa was heading. And his hunch was correct. He found her near a pond on the edge of the tree farm. She was moodily kicking at the stones on the pond's edge. Before he could announce his presence, she took a stone and threw it at a tree, listening to it ping off. Kaidan didn't wish to disturb her, so he kept the hoverbike silent. She threw stone after stone, working out her frustration. He felt her biotic power wind up before she threw the stone, readying himself to react to her. She couldn't be forcing it. That biotic throw launched the stone through the worn dent in the tree, cleaving it. Before it could fall on her, he shifted the tree's momentum, shielding her. Anna looked around, then looked at her hands.
"I was hoping I'd find you here instead of somewhere worse," Kaidan stated as he revealed his presence. Anna started and whipped around, relaxing when she realized who followed her.
"I just want to go with Mom. I just want to keep her safe." He powered down the hoverbike and got off, softly approaching Anna.
"I know. And she wants to protect you as well. Right now, getting the implant is the best thing. And all the best surgeons are here, on Earth. It's also better that you do it here because I," he tapped his implant for emphasis, "am also a biotic. I happen to know what you will be going through. Not to mention the fact that my parents will be able to handle taking care of another biotic teenager. They'll also have a lot of advice for your mom. Plus, it'll be harder for you to train elsewhere because other biotics will have had a few more years of experience than you. But if I give you help here, I can try to make up the difference. It won't be easy, but if we both work at it, we can do it."
"We?" He heard the suspicion in her voice and almost laughed.
"Teaching isn't just you listening and doing what I say, though that is a big part of it. It would also be me teaching you how to be a biotic. Being patient with you." She punched his arm as he placed an emphasis on patient. "Now are you ready to head back?" Anna took a deep breath before nodding. "Get on, then." He slipped onto the bike and Anna curled up behind him, letting the auto-pilot take them home. "It'll get better. I promise. Just come to me when things are getting bad, ok?" He felt her nod against his back, and he squeezed her hands.
The next few days were tense, but somehow they managed to pass the time without another major outburst. But as things wound up to the surgery, Kaidan grew more worried for Annalisa. He heard their parents talking, and their talks were always laced with worry about the girl. He often caught her staring off into blank space, and he couldn't fully set aside his fear for her. Nights were rarely peaceful, even though Hannah had taken to sleeping in the same bed as Anna. So when she didn't come back down after lunch, Kaidan took it upon himself to head up to her room and make sure Anna was ok.
He found Annalisa sitting in the dark, staring at Kennan's omni-tool. She then reached over and touched a few buttons. An old, slinky jazz tune started up. Kaidan quietly began to approach her as the singer started singing.
"It's "Sunny" by Frank Sinatra. Dad wanted to play the original version by The Mills Brothers at his wedding, but Mom loves Frank Sinatra. They stumbled on this version by accident, and this was their first dance." She whispered to no one in particular as she continued to stare off into space. "I keep waiting for him to walk through the door: battered but here; injured but safe; tired but alive." He could barely make out the last words as he drew closer to her. He finally put a hand on her shoulder, and she all but barreled into his arms. He gave a small 'oof' in response, but didn't push her away. They both knew she had been avoiding the idea of therapists, and she needed to release her emotions. And she finally began to sob in his arms. "He used to sing it to me when Mom and I would get on the same ship as him. He'd hug us and rock us as he sang it," she choked out between sobs. He hugged her all the tighter as he felt his own heart ache for her. And the whole time, Frank Sinatra sang to them, oblivious to the pain in what Kaidan realized should have been a joyful song.
My sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true, I love you
He finally began to rock her as she continued to sob, trying to bring her any comfort he could. Slowly, she began to embrace the rocking, and he began to rock them in time to the music.
Sunny, sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet
Sunny, thank you for the love that you brought my way
She was beginning to shake again, though he didn't feel more tears falling onto his shirt.
You gave to me your all and all
Now I feel just about ten feet tall
Sunny one so true, I love you
He looked down to see Annalisa with her eyes closed, singing along. But her voice held such sadness, it almost broke his heart. She was finally dancing with him, singing along. He held her long after the song was over, until the next bout of tears had stopped. He would be there for her. He would be the friend she needed for however long she needed him.