Warning [5SOS]

Funeral

Greendale looked in the mirror and fixed his black bow tie to perfection. His eyes came across the picture on the book shelf of him and McGee with their police squad and a soft smile crept onto his face. The ever present tears began to form as he reached for the picture frame and brought it closer to his eyes "Melissa" he said trying not to choke on his words "are you ready?" He asked still fixing his gaze on the photo in his hand.

"Just finishing up Michael's tie" she replied busily tying the black silk tie around Michael's neck.

"Mel" Michael whispered "I'm sorry"

"For what?" She asked quietly.

There was a pause "for letting this happen, I could've stopped Jay, I could've saved McGee, It's-"

"Not your fault" Melissa looked up into his eyes "Michael, you aren't responsible for what happened at the police station that day" she reassured him "please don't think you are"

"I just..I feel like I could've prevented it" he shook his head and looked down grabbing her hands "I should've.." He corrected himself.

Melissa rested her forehead against Michael's "let's go" she said softly.

Michael let for of her left hand but kept the right one intertwined with his. They walked to the door and met up with Greendale.

"It's raining" he said giving them a black umbrella and taking one for himself "like it always does at funerals" he opened the door and stepped outside.

Michael and Melissa followed. Melissa
linked her arm with Michael's instead of holding his hand "I hope he'll be okay" she said about her father.

"Me too" Michael replied opening the umbrella and stepping out into the pouring rain. He held it for both of them but covered Melissa completely.

The three of them got into Greendale's black SUV and pulled out of the driveway "now, I've got to say a few words" Greendale spoke keeping his eyes on the road through the rain drop dazzled windshield "but I'm no good at public speaking..McGee knew that" he laughed "have any tips?" He asked looking in the rearview mirror at Melissa who sat closer to Michael than Greendale wanted.

"Speak loud and confidently" she replied giving a weak smile at the end.

The car was silent the rest of the way except for the rhythmical sounds of the windshield wiper clearing rain of the windshield and the sound of rain hitting the car roof. They finally pulled up to the funeral home and saw the familiar sad expressions of the police squad mixed in with a few unknown faces.

Greendale parked his car and sighed as he reached for his umbrella. Michael did the same and opened the door giving a hand to Melissa who smiled "since when were you so polite?" She asked taking his hand and stepping out of the car.

"Since I fell in love with the girl that deserves to be treated the best way possible and nothing less" he replied holding the umbrella directly over Melissa and getting wet in the rain.

"You don't have to do that" she said moving the umbrella to his side.

"But I want to" he denied the coverage and they walked to the group of people standing over a coffin. As they arrived the ceremony began taking place.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Thomas Parker McGee" the priest said allowed from a podium behind the black coffin "Thomas wished to have two men speak at his funeral, John Greendale and Michael Clifford"

Michael froze "m-me? Me?" He asked twice, once looking at the priest and again to Melissa who shrugged "but I didn't write anything! I didn't know he'd want me to..that means he had said something before he died that he'd want me to speak at his funeral! That means that-"