Burial
Title: Burial
Author: 1stargazer
Characters: Detective Stills, Detective Fusco
Rating: PG 13
Summary: Reese said Fusco was only doing it out of loyalty.
Warnings: Cursing, Alcohol use, Character death
Word Count: 862
Fusco knew he was running a risk stopping at the store with Stills body in his trunk but he couldn’t help it. Once he was back in the car he headed out to Oyster Bay. It was a long, somber drive. Turning off the interstate he watched as civilization slowly disappeared. He drove by the abandoned buildings, right down to the dock. Turning off the car, he sat there, steeling himself for the task that lay before him. Sighing he popped the trunk and grabbed the plastic bag before getting out of the car. One look at the body in the trunk had him reaching for the six-pack he had bought from the store. There was no way he was doing this sober.
“Hey Fusco; you need a rope there buddy? Looks like you’re drowning in all those parts. ” He teased.
“Shut up, it’s for my kid’s birthday.” Fusco grumbled. “How the hell is this thing supposed to go together?” He growled aggravated.
“Here let me help. There’s no way that toy can outsmart two of New York’s finest.” Stills joked.
Glancing around to make sure he was alone, Fusco started to strip the body. It took a few more beers but he finally managed to get Stills cleaned up and redressed in the clothes he had bought from the mart. It was a risk but dammit, he owed the man. Not like they would be able to trace it back to him anyway. He paid for everything at the shop with cash. By the time Stills body surfaced there wouldn’t be any evidence left. Fusco stopped to rest. It was hard work redressing a dead man; harder still when that man had saved your life more than once.
“Jeeze Fusco, what the hell were you thinking? He yelled glaring at the man lying in the hospital bed.
Fusco just stared helplessly at the man. He hadn’t been thinking, he’d just reacted when he heard the woman scream.
“Shit.” Stills said tiredly, running his hands through his hair. “Just… wear the vest next time you decided to do something stupid, ok?” he whispered. Mutely Lionel nodded.
Opening another can, Fusco took a swig before wrapping the body in the tarp. He placed several heavy rocks inside the tarp before tying it closed. Struggling with the weight, he carried it to the small rowboat tied up to the dock. He casted off and headed for the middle of the bay. It took a while. The rowing was repetitive, and in combination with the rocking of the waves, hypnotic. It was oddly soothing to lose himself in the rhythmic motion; to focus only on pushing the oars, forwards and back; making the small boat glide forward in the water.
“I don’t think we should be doing this.”
“Come on, have I ever steered you wrong?” Stills asked. Seeing Fusco’s unconvinced expression, he added. “It’s just the one time. I swear. Nobody will ever know.”
When he was far enough out Fusco hesitated. Neither of them had ever been that religious but it somehow it seemed wrong just dump Stills body over the side without saying type of scripture or prayer.
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.” He murmured quietly. Carefully he rolled Stills over the side of the boat and watched him sink beneath the waves. Slowly he turned the boat around and started the long trip back.
“Hey look at me man. I said look at me!” Reluctantly Fusco turned to face the angry man.
“You really gonna quit on me now, huh? After everything I’ve done for you? You owe me. You gonna back out of your promise?” Stills spat before stalking off. After a moment Fusco grudgingly followed.
It was almost dark by the time he made it back to the dock. Quickly he set about collecting every trace of what he had done and put it in a pile. Pulling a lighter from his pocket he set it on fire. Grabbing the last beer Fusco set down next to the burning debris. Broodingly he looked out across the water. How had it come to this, he wondered. After everything, why was he the one sitting on the beach? What made him so special to still be breathing while Stills wasn’t? It wasn’t supposed to be this way. They had promised, both of them. Silently he watched the stars emerge in the water’s reflection. And when that reflection blurred, he blamed the smoke. It had to be why his eyes were stinging and why he had such trouble breathing. Damn smoke.
“You didn’t have to join in, you know.”
“You’re my friend you idiot. You really I think I was just gonna sit there and watch them beat you up? Friends look out for each other.”
“You know they’re going split us up.” Lionel whispered.
“I’d like to see them try. Nothing can get in our way. We’ll be friends no matter what.”
“Promise?” he asked softly.
“I promise.” Came the adamant reply.
The door to the principal’s office opened. “Mr. Stills, Mr. Fusco get in here.”