A/N: So many updates so close together. Wow. I know this chapter is very short compared to recent chapters, but I believe this needed to be this way. Short, sweet, and to the point. I hope you enjoy.
Matt came home later that day, and the both decided it would be best if he stayed at Gabby's apartment. That way, he could be close and Gabby didn't have to leave Shay. And two days later, the trio was getting ready for a funeral. It was very somber as they got ready, all in their Class A's. Gabby had worn hers once before, in Detroit when she'd lost her partner. It brought back more memories that she wanted to push down.
She sat on the couch, waiting for Matt to get ready. Shay came out, wiping her eyes. Gabby looked up at her, giving a small smile.
"I'm glad you're okay," she told Shay. "I lost my first partner in Detroit, Vivian. We were on a call related to gang violence and she was caught in the middle of a drive by." She bit her lip, nodding as she told Shay. "I wouldn't know what I'd have done if I'd lost you." Shay sat beside her, hugging her tightly. When they'd heard Matt walk in, they separated.
"Ready?" he asked. Gabby nodded and stood, pulling Shay up with her. They all walked out and down to his truck. Shay drove and Gabby sat in the middle. Neither she or Matt were cleared to drive yet, mainly from the pain killers. Gabby was pushing for being cleared for duty by next month, but they all knew Matt had a little bit longer. As did Otis, Kelly, and possibly Mouch if he could ever be cleared. None of them would be there today except for Kelly.
Shay parked behind the line of cars at the cemetery, the three getting out and preparing themselves to say goodbye to their friend. Gabby straightened out her uniform and walked over to the crowd. She stood with the other firefighters who were there - Boden, Herrmann, Cruz, Capp, Toney, and Kelly, along with those not from the house who'd known Mills. She kept a straight face the best she could, seeing his mother crying while clutching onto his sister. Shay and Casey stood on either side of her, ready to get this over with.
"Today, we kneel for his family and for our brothers and sisters that worked with him. Tomorrow, we will stand for him. His boots saw sorrow, they walked where most men fear. It took a special man to fill those boots, those of a firefighter," Chaplain Orlovsky started. "Peter Mills died protecting the people of our city, and this loss had affected all in his life." Gabby heard Ingrid start sobbing. Tears came to her eyes, but she could not break, not right now. "From his family to his brothers and sisters that put their lives on the line with him every day. But we must realize that this is not goodbye, not forever. We'll be reunited with him again when it's our time. God had plans for us all, and Peter fulfilled his quicker than most do. Losing someone so young is a tragedy, but God was ready to bring him back home. His mortal body could no longer house his soul. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
As the Chaplain finished, Ingrid walked up to her son's lowering casket and dropped a handful of dirt onto it as it descended. Each of those in the crowd that were not firefighters or paramedics followed suit. When the casket hit the bottom, Boden walked over to Ingrid with the folded flag that represented everything her son had done. She gave him a look of sadness and hatred, and Gabby understood. How could he allow this to happen, but Ingrid didn't understand that it wasn't Boden's fault. Her son chose this life, knowing the risks that came with it. But, losing your husband and son would make anybody lose faith.