Chapter 3: Funeral

The large elm and oak trees, still full of leaves due to the mild fall, casted a shadow on a group of mourners on an otherwise beautiful autumn day. The sun shined brightly as the morning birds sang their songs from the treetops. It was an entirely too nice of a day to say goodbye to Hans one last time.

Despite the warm weather, Bombay could feel a chill in the air. Not due to any weather or knowledge that Hans was gone but from the icy glare that Casey had shot him when he had arrived late to the procession. While he was late getting to the funeral, he could tell there was something more to that look than just being the last one to show up.

While only looks were exchanged between himself and his former girlfriend, he had to look no further than to Casey's left to see the reason behind Casey's icy glare. Charlie had a perpetual black cloud hanging over his head. While Bombay thought that Casey and himself had made strides in repairing their strained friendship and managed to remain cordial if only for Charlie's sake, the look that Casey had given him combined with Charlie's anguish told him otherwise.

Bombay had planned to spend some time with Charlie, and the team, after Hans' funeral, to see how they were doing at Eden Hall but it was easy to see that everyone was miserable. He could chalk it up to dealing with a close friend passing but it was more than that. All lot more.

After the funeral procession, Bombay made his rounds thanking everyone for coming. He stopped when he reached Casey. She was standing alone at the edge of the grave. During the service, Charlie had left abruptly in tears. Other than Bombay, and Hans' immediate family, Charlie was probably closest to Hans.

"Hey," Bombay said as he approached her.

"Hey," Casey replied impassively. She didn't lookup.

Neither one of them said anything. Bombay checked the time before jamming his hands into his pockets. Despite his legal past, words never came easy to him when it came to Casey. He could deliver an inspiring closing argument before a room full of people in the courtroom but he would always clam up when talking to Casey.

"Thanks for coming," Bombay said at last.

The two of them stood in silence. The ducks and the rest of the mourners had started to leave the cemetery but Casey showed no signs of moving.

"Aren't you leaving?" Casey asked.

Bombay was surprised by the question. He had nowhere to be. He was the executor of Hans' will but that could wait.

"No." Bombay hesitated. "Aren't you?"

Casey looked up. "No. I was hoping to talk to Hans." Casey paused. "Alone."

Normally Gordon would make a joke to lighten the mood but this wasn't the time nor the place. Bombay stepped aside and motioned for Casey to go ahead. Casey stepped forward. She opened to mouth to say something but nothing came. "This is stupid," She muttered to herself. She turned to Bombay. "When was the last time you spoke to Hans?"

"It's been a while. I spoke to him when I landed in California but haven't spoken to him since." Bombay was confused. "Why?"

Casey huffed. "Of course."

Bombay was starting to get annoyed. "What's that supposed to mean?" he shot back.

While their relationship did not end on the best of terms, there was blame on both sides. Bombay never kept in touch and Casey moved on too quickly.

"Let's not go there today Gordon," Casey said firmly.

"Agreed."

"I was just hoping you spoke to him more recently. " Casey looked over to where Hans' grave was. "I think Charlie was the last one to talk to him before he passed."

"He didn't…" Bombay trailed off.

Casey shook her head no. "One of the home care nurses found him. Charlie didn't find out until the evening."

"What do you think they talked about?" Gordon asked.

"I don't know." Casey sighed. "Charlie won't tell me. Every time I ask him about it, he gets this heart-wrenching look on his face."

"I see," Bombay looked at Casey. "Would it be okay if I dropped by tomorrow, early if possible, and spent the day with Charlie?'

Casey opened her mouth and then hesitated. "I don't think that would be the best idea."

"Why not?" Bombay was bewildered."If this is about John.."

Casey shook her head. "It's about Charlie."

Bombay was in shock. "What?" Bombay asked in disbelief.

"Charlie changed when you left," Casey said wistfully. "I love him. I always will but he is not the kid you remember anymore."

Bombay blinked. "I don't believe that. He's older now but he's still Charlie."

"It almost broke him when you left the first time. You weren't around so you didn't notice. Besides, he had Hans then." Casey left out a small sniffle. "Hans is gone now and if you leave again, I don't see him.."

Casey couldn't finish the sentence but she didn't need to. Her eyes met Bombays. "He might not show it but you meant everything to him. "

Bombay was touched. He knew Charlie looked up to him but had no idea how deep it went. Bombay stiffened with resolve. "And he means everything to me," Bombay declared. "Let me spend the day with him."

"Then you need to tell him that," Casey insisted. "And you need to stay in his life from now on. I mean that."

"I will," Bombay promised.

For the first time in a while, Casey smiled. "You mentioned stopping by early tomorrow. How early is early?"

Author's Note: Had something entirely different planned for this chapter. Its shorter then my normal chapter. But this is what came. Fulton chaper next.