❝you're in danger here, spencer.❞
❝we'll worry about that later. right now all that matters is you and me.❞
hazel finley is afraid. afraid of being alone. afraid of losing the people she loves. afraid of making mistakes. afraid of falling back into...
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❝And who here is not buried in another person's heart?❞
RICHARD JACKSON
✩
3.6 : 1214 westview drive
ESTHER IS CREMATED SOME TIME AFTER FIN IS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL. She lets Spencer handle all of the paperwork; she refuses to know the date or where it was, refuses to let Esther occupy her mind any longer. She will be free of Esther's chains.
But she is sure to attend Adrian Bauer's funeral the weekend after she is discharged. She must make sure that Melissa is alright. She promised Bauer she would.
It is a balmy September morning, humid and cloudy, threatening rain, and the cemetery is largely deserted, except for the small group huddled around a single casket. The entire team is there at Fin's request, along with several other FBI agents and friends of Bauer's, his parents, Lars, and Melissa, who is very pregnant and oddly very unemotional.
Fin leans heavily on Spencer's arm, only half-listening to the minister. It's still difficult to walk, as the muscles in her stomach are not fully healed, but she's getting better. She refuses to use a walker or a wheelchair; she will stand for this. Adrian deserves that much respect.
When the service is over, Fin makes the rounds, shaking his friends' and parents' hands and offering her condolences, and then walks over to Melissa. She is staring at the casket, as the pallbearers lower it into the ground, her eyes entirely dry, one hand resting on her stomach.
Fin looks up at Spencer, letting go of his hand. "I need to do this one on my own."
Spencer raises his eyebrows at her. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Fin nods. "I'm sure."
Very carefully, focusing on her balance, she steps closer to Melissa, who swallows hard, refusing to meet her eyes.
"Melissa, I'm so sorry for everything," Fin says softly. "I didn't know Adrian very well, but I know how much you meant to him, and how much he fought to be with you."
Melissa does not reply, but now there are tears pooling in her eyes.
"He loved you very much," Fin continues, despite the lump in her own throat. "And before he–before he was killed, I promised him I'd do whatever I could to make sure you and your baby were safe. I intend to keep that promise. So if you ever need anything–and I mean anything–I want to be your first call." She hands Melissa her business card with a shaking hand.
"Thank you," Melissa whispers, finally meeting Fin's eyes, a single tear escaping down her cheek. "Thank you so much."
Fin pulls her into an embrace, hiding her own tears as quickly as she can. "I would have given my life for his," she says, fighting a full-on breakdown with all her might. She is so close to crying these days, but it is understandable, all things considered. "In a heartbeat."
