The Funeral: Chapter 6

[shelbecat]

Title: The Funeral: Chapter 6
Authors: shelbecat and rachel_wilder
Rating: T (aka PG-13)
Summary: Continuing from Reunion and The Wedding, we follow our characters through the highs and lows of a five year span until we reach The Funeral.


The Funeral
Chapter 6
August, 2024

Julie stood just inside the front door of the funeral home. Matt had come out twice to ask her to come inside where the urn filled with ashes was sitting on display along with all the photographs from a long career, but she just couldn't, not yet. Not until everyone who had loved and been so close to him had arrived.

The door swung open and Julie heard a low murmur run through the few people standing outside the doorway. Brian 'Smash' Williams was still a famous person in Dillon, even though he was now retired from the NFL.

"Julie Taylor," Smash said quietly, bending slightly to hug her.

"Julie Saracen," Julie corrected him, forcing a smile to her tired face. Her body ached just from the effort of standing. It seemed like weeks had passed since that terrible phone call-weeks of plans and tears and decision she never thought she would be the one making-but it was really only a few days. And now all that was left to do was grieve.

"Matt here?" Smash asked.

"He's inside, with..." Julie couldn't say it. Couldn't bring her mouth to say his name yet.

Smash gripped her hand tightly then walked away to pay his respects. Just behind him Julie recognized some former Panthers filing morosely into the viewing area. He hadn't lived here in a long time, but a funeral always drew a crowd in Dillon.

Especially the death of one so revered in this town.

The door opened again and Tim and Tyra walked in. They were both wearing dark sunglasses; Tim practically holding Tyra's body upright with his strong arm.

Julie pressed her hand to her mouth as Tyra paused near her. She could barely bring herself to hug her grieving friend. It hurt too much to think about the impossibility of what had happened. How someone so strong could have been taken from her, from them.

"Any word from Jason and Lyla?" Julie finally asked, directing her question at Tim.

Tim gave a short nod, stopping to pull Tyra a little closer to him. "He said they'd try to get here."

Julie followed Tim's head as he turned to look at the crowd overflowing out of the largest viewing room the funeral home had. They had opened up the entire main floor, and yet it still wasn't enough room to hold everyone who wanted to pay their respects.

Stopping to give her a hug, while still holding Tyra to his side, Tim didn't say anything as he gripped Julie's shoulder tightly. And he didn't have to. Julie knew they felt exactly the same way-it didn't require words. She just had to remain strong and get through this day and the funeral tomorrow. Then this would be over and done with and she could go back to thinking it was all just a bad dream.

The door opened again and Julie saw a few of her coworkers from the school walking in. Then, right behind them, she recognized her mother's wheat blonde hair. Why was she alone? Julie had thought her Aunt Shelly would be bringing her mom over. She stepped forward; anticipating the grief when her mother's eyes met hers, and then stopped.

Her mother wasn't alone. Behind her, his hand firmly supporting her back like it had done for so many years, stood her father. Julie's eyes welled up at the sight of him. She'd thought he was away on a scouting trip and wouldn't be able to get back in time. But he'd made it. He knew how important this was to her and Matt, and he'd come through.

"Oh Jules," her mother said, hugging her daughter tightly.

Julie closed her eyes and leaned into her mother's embrace, a tear slipping free from each eye.

"It's okay, honey. It'll be okay," Tami whispered.

"He was a good man," her father added. "A damn shame. Damn shame."

But the words did little to ease Julie's torment. Damn shame didn't even come close to describing the death of Landry Clarke.

Jason followed Lyla up to the door of the office building. He watched as she paused at the door, took a deep breath and then pulled it open. The past few years had been hard for her-hard for both of them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Street?" A woman in a khaki skirt and a simple plaid blouse stepped forward. She held her hand out which Lyla took. "I'm Mrs. Wilson. I spoke to your husband on the phone yesterday."

"Thanks for coming in early," Jason said. "As I mentioned on the phone, we have a family emergency in Dillon, so we're hoping to get on the road as soon as possible."

Mrs. Wilson ushered them back into her office. "Yes, I understand. And as I said, this is somewhat unusual and frankly, since we spoke, it's become a bit more complicated."

"What's wrong?" Lyla said quietly as she sat down in front of Mrs. Wilson's desk.

The woman opened the folder on her desk. "Well, it's much as I said before-the mother does want to surrender her rights and place the baby now, but she's now shared some additional information."

Jason reached down and took Lyla's hand in his.

"There's a son-he's nearly 4 years old and she wants to place him as well." The social worker looked up from her paperwork. "This isn't how we traditionally do this, but if you agree to adopt both children, she's willing to waive her sixty days."

The sixty day waiting period. It had been the thing that had scared them the most about a domestic adoption. They had both heard horror stories about babies being taken away after they had bonded with the adoptive family. Finally Jason had told Lyla that they just had to have faith.

"The boy is in good health. He's been living with a foster family who was not able to adopt him. The mother really was taken with your profile and she asked if you would consider the additional placement."

Jason leaned in toward Lyla. "What do you think?" he asked.

She turned her head toward him, tears threatening at the corners of her eyes. "He's Jesse's age."

The social worker slid a photo across the desk toward them. "His name is Dylan."

Jason looked at Lyla, her eyes widened and a small smile played at the corner of her mouth. It had to be fate. He watched as Lyla reached out and pulled the photo closer. He had dark hair and dark eyes. He looked so much like Lyla.

"Dylan," he said, enjoying the sound of the word in his mouth. It felt right. It felt like it was meant to be.

He knew what he wanted, but would Lyla want it as well? She studied the photo, then turned to him.

"A son," she said quietly.

Mrs. Wilson slid another photo across the desk. "And a daughter."

A family, Jason thought. It was what they had been hoping, praying and working for.

"Yes," Jason said. "We should do it." He looked to Lyla for agreement. She smiled at him and nodded.

"Yes," she echoed.

Matt stood at the side of the room watching all the people file past him. Landry would have gotten a big kick out of this. Of course he would have expected a little Patsy Cline to be playing in the background.

"I don't mind the travel, but small planes freak me out. I don't really need to pull a Buddy Holly to be famous," Landry had said.

Matt reached up and brushed away the tear that formed at the corner of his eye. Damn it all, Landry, he thought.

"Matt?"

The voice was familiar and the time of the call (2:30 am) had made him sit straight up in bed.

"Mr. Clark?" he replied. "What? How? When?"

He sat quietly listening as Landry's dad explained about the plane crash in the mountains in Colorado.

"What about Ken?" Matt asked.

"He was with him, son," Mr. Clark said. "He's gone, too."

Matt finished the call and hung up. He picked up the remote control and turned on the news.

"Local music star Landry Clark is believed to have died in a plane crash in the western Rocky Mountains. Clark, a graduate of Dillon High School, was the lead guitarist of the band Hometown Hero. Mr. Clark is survived by his parents, Chad and Dorothy Clark of Dillon."

Julie reached over and took his hand. "What happened?" she asked. "Is he really gone?"

Matt nodded. His best friend in the world. His heart was empty-he hadn't felt like this since his grandma died.

"Hey, Matt," Tami said as she walked up to him and took him in her arms. "I'm so sorry, honey."

Matt rested his head against her shoulder. He couldn't believe Landry was gone. Tami held him for a moment, then Matt took a half step back and reached his hand up to wipe the tears that had formed in his eyes.

"I don't know how I'm going to be able to say anything," Matt started. He reached up to his eyes again. "I can't stop..."

"Its okay, Matt," Tami replied. "It's natural. People will understand."

"You know, I'd never have had the nerve to ask Julie out if it wasn't for Landry," Matt said. "And honestly, I don't think we'd be back together now if it wasn't for him."

Matt drove down the dirt road, looking out for the red mailbox. A red mailbox on a deserted country road-those were the directions Landry had given him when he called and asked Matt to meet him. Sometimes he wondered why he ever listened to Landry.

His headlights picked up a flash of red partially hidden in the brush at the side of the road. He slowed and checked the numbers stuck to the side of the mailbox. This was it. He glanced down the darkened road to where the lights from the cabin illuminated the surrounding trees. Hadn't he been here once before?

As he eased his car down the driveway, really more of a rough path carved through the bushes, he cursed Landry up and down under his breath. Whatever reason Landry had for dragging him out to the middle of nowhere just so they could 'hang', it had better be a good one. Otherwise Matt was making him pay for the detail-job.

Slipping his jacket on as he climbed out of the car, Matt blinked at the familiar cabin in front of him. He had been here before-a long time ago with Julie. It used to belong to Bradley Cole's uncle, maybe still did. But why was Landry here?

Matt reached up to knock on the door but it opened before he had a chance. Before him stood Julie, her blonde hair glistening in the light of dozens of candles placed around the room. Behind her Matt could see food spread on the ancient coffee table. A blanket hid the deer head still hanging on the wall after all these years.

"What..." he stammered.

"Landry helped me set it up," Julie blurted. "Don't be mad at him. He was trying to help."

Matt stepped inside, looking around at the detail that had obviously gone into this evening. He recognized his favorite beer sitting already opened on the table. A CD of classic Eagles music, his and Julie's favorite, played in the stereo. She had worked hard to create this scene.

This scene of a happily married couple, which Matt and Julie were not.

"I don't understand," Matt said, turning around to stare at his estranged wife.

Julie was quiet, bowing her head away from him. When she looked up her eyes shone with tears. "Do you know what today is?" she said, her voice little more than a whisper.

Of course he did. It was May 8th-their wedding anniversary. Exactly three years ago today they had gotten married in a quiet little ceremony in their home. The home they were supposed to raise their family in. The home that Matt now lived in with the boys while Julie stayed in a tiny one-bedroom apartment.

"Julie..."

"Please, Matt. Please. Just give me a chance, I'm begging you. You don't have to enjoy it; you don't even have to stay all night. But Landry is with the boys and he promised not to call even if they screamed. Which, you know is never going to happen once he starts singing to them."

Matt smiled. EJ and Andrew really did love their 'Uncle' Landry.

Walking over to the coffee table, Julie sunk down on one of the cushions resting on the floor. She looked up at Matt expectantly.

"I want to try," she said softly. "Can't we just try?"

The door was so close. It would be so easy to turn around and leave and forget that his wife was still in love with him. But truthfully, he was still in love with his wife too. He'd tried not to be. Hell, he'd worked harder at that than he had at saving their marriage. But ultimately he was in love with Julie Saracen. She'd taken his name a long time ago, and he wanted her to have it forever.

Approaching the table slowly, Matt avoided her eyes as he sat down. The beer was icy cold, just the way he liked it. All of his favorites were spread across the table and Julie looked as beautiful as she had 15 years ago when they first spent an evening in this same cabin.

He raised his bottle to clink against her wine glass. "Happy Anniversary."

"He loved both of you so much," Tami said as she put her hand up on his shoulder to comfort him. "And he knew how much you both loved him. He knew."

Matt nodded his head but inside he still felt empty. He didn't know if he would ever be able to fill this void.

Lyla reached over and slid her arm behind Jason shoulders, reaching up and massaging his neck lightly.

"You want me to drive?" she asked.

"I'm okay," Jason said as he looked over at her and smiled. "We should be there in a couple of hours."

"Do you think we should have warned your parents?" she asked, a half smile creeping across her face.

Jason shook his head. "No, but I want you to have the camera ready when they come out to the car."

"I wish my mom was going to be there," Lyla replied, wistfully. "What a time to go to Alaska on a cruise."

"I'm sure she'll get your message and call," Jason responded.

"Dad will probably close down the dealership for some sort of 'Welcome Dylan to Dillon' party." She paused and looked down at her hands. "After the funeral of course."

Jason's expression matched her own as she turned to look into the backseat of the car at their children. "How can something so happy happen at such a sad time?" she asked.

Jason took one hand off the steering wheel and reached over to touch her leg. "We'll just take it one day at a time. At least we'll get to see everyone again."

Jason didn't say his name, but she knew he was thinking about Tim. And Hannah, who they had never even met. She felt so horrible for carrying a grudge against the Riggins' for so many years. Her pain wasn't their fault. It was just so difficult to celebrate someone else's good fortune when she felt dead inside. She had to hope that Tyra and Tim would understand and forgive her...in time.

She looked back at her kids again. "I can't believe they're sleeping so soundly."

"It's been quite a day for them," Jason replied.

"For all of us," Lyla answered.

Jason and Lyla waited in the small room next to the social worker's office. It felt like they'd been in there forever.

Finally the door opened and Mrs. Wilson walked in with a baby in her arms and a small boy hanging onto her right hand.

"Dylan, this is Mr. and Mrs. Street," she said as she paused a couple of feet away from Jason and Lyla.

Dylan looked up at them shyly.

"Hi, Dylan," Lyla said as she crouched down in front of the little boy. "I'm Lyla."

Dylan tucked his thumb in his mouth, then pulled it out and pointed at Jason. "Why's him like that?"

Jason pushed his chair forward so he was next to Lyla. "My legs don't work right, so it helps me get around."

Dylan stood silently and stared at the wheelchair.

"Lyla?" Mrs. Wilson said.

Lyla stood up as the social worker held the baby out to her. Lyla took her in her arms. She was so soft and little.

"I'll go get the rest of their things," the social worker said. "Will you be okay here?"

Lyla nodded. They were her children now. Things would not necessarily be easy, but they were her family now.

"I wonder how Tyra is doing," Lyla said as she focused her eyes on the road ahead.

"Yeah," Jason replied, quietly.

"What do you want to do when we get to town?" Lyla asked.

Jason took a deep breath and let it out. "We should probably go straight over to Mom and Dad's, but once we get there, they won't let us out of their sight."

"I'd...I'd like to see Tyra tonight, if we can, just to see how she is," Lyla replied. "Would your mom and dad ever forgive us?"

Jason looked over at her quickly and smiled before turning his eyes back to the road. "I don't think there are any rules for this situation. Mom and Dad are going to be grandparents for the rest of their lives. I think tonight has to be about our friends-they need us now."

She looked over at him but the words remained unspoken. Had they waited too long?

"Hey, let's go sit over here," Tim said as he steered Tyra toward two chairs near the edge of the room. He could see the picture of Landry set up on a stand near the urn at the front of the room, flowers displayed all around. He didn't want to think about why they'd made the quick decision to cremate his body. He couldn't think of Landry that way.

He took a look around the room, nodding at Smash who was standing across the room quietly talking to Coach. Mrs. Taylor was with Matt and Julie. And Six was missing again.

It had been three long years of Jason and Lyla taking a pass on everything, good and bad, in their friends' lives. He wanted to understand, but sometimes it was harder than others.

Tim stood by the door to the gym waiting for the scrimmage to end. Finally the door pushed open.

"Six," Tim said as he stepped forward toward Jason.

Jason pulled up short.

"I'd come down there, but I can't kneel anymore because of the new knee, plus, I tried that with you once before," Tim said, trying to keep his tone light.

"What're you doing here, Tim?" Jason asked.

Tim shrugged. "I guess I figured if I showed up here you wouldn't be able to ignore me." It had been months since they talked, longer since he'd seen Jay. He knew they were still dealing with Jesse's death, but he couldn't just stand by and not try to be Jason's friend. And he needed Jason to be his friend too.

"I really need to get home to Lyla," Jason said.

"Well, I've really needed to talk to my best friend for about ten months now," Tim replied.

"Not fair, Riggins," Jason responded, his voice low and measured.

"You think?" Tim replied. "I'm thinkin' the not fair part is a best friend who isn't there when your dad dies, when you find out about a sister you never knew you had. A friend who isn't there when your kid is born and might not even know he's supposed to be her godfather. It's a girl, in case you wondered. Her name is Hannah."

Jason looked down at his legs, unable to meet Tim's eyes. "I can't, Tim. You have to understand that."

"I guess I can't, Jay. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Jason looked up at Tim. "You have no idea how hard this has been for Lyla-how hard it's been for both of us. I know I'm not being the kind of friend you need, but I can't be happy for you and your new baby, not now, not with our son dead and we can't even seem to get pregnant again. It took me six months to get Lyla to agree to even try again and since then it's failed every single time. So, it's kind of hard to be so happy for you and your family when we're never going to have one."

"So let me be there for you-let us be there for both of you," Tim pleaded.

Jason shook his head. "I wish it was possible, Tim, I really do, but not now."

Tim watched as Jason pushed down the hall and out the front door.

He had tried. He didn't know what else he could do. Now he would just have to wait for Jason.

Beside him, Tim felt Tyra's shoulders shake. She was crying again. An improvement over the stonewall she'd been since that morning.

"You want to go up there?" he asked, gesturing toward the front of the room.

Tyra turned toward him, her face covered with half-dried tears. "Yeah, I...yeah, we should," she choked out.

He helped her up from the chair and they began to walk slowly, his arm tucked solidly around her waist.

None of this seemed possible.

"Tim?"

It took him a minute to recognize the voice. "Julie?" he had said. "What's wrong?"

"They just called," she replied, her voice choking on the tears.

"Who?" he asked. "Your mom? Is something wrong with Coach?"

"No, Tim," Julie responded. "It's Landry. There was a plane crash."

"What's going on?" Tyra asked, her voice still sleepy. "Who's on the phone?"

He held his hand up so she'd be quiet while he got the details. "Okay, we'll be there as soon as we can," he said before he hung up the phone.

"What's the matter, Tim?" Tyra said as soon as he hung the phone up. "What happened?"

He just stared at her. He wasn't sure he could tell her, that he could hurt her this way. He took a deep breath and took her hands in his.

"Tyra-it's Landry. He's gone."

Tyra shook her head at him. "No...no...he's coming here next week. We're taking the kids to Disneyworld before school starts. He's not...he's not..." Her voice broke down in tears.

"What's wrong, Dad?"

Tim looked up and saw Jake standing in the doorway. He reached out his hand to Jake. His son crossed over and sat on the bed next to Tim and Tyra.

"I'm so sorry, buddy," Tim said as he reached his free arm around his son.

No one should have to go through this kind of loss at Jake's age. Landry was a second father to Jake. It had taken a long while for Tim to come to terms with that, but he knew how much Landry adored Jake and Hannah. She wasn't going to understand why 'Unca Andy' never came around anymore. None of them would ever get used to it.

The crowd before them parted and he and Tyra were suddenly standing in front of Landry's picture. It had been taken at his wedding five years before. Down in the corner of the frame was tucked a smaller picture of him and Ken. Beaming and smiling as they played onstage together at their last tour.

Tyra let out a low moan and Tim tightened his arm around her. Then her knees buckled and she slumped against his body.

"Tyra?" he called, sinking down with her so that she rested on the floor. He shook her face gently with his hand. She was out cold.

"Dad? I found a bottle of water."

Tyra listened as Jake spoke to Tim; Tim's reply coming low and hushed. She kept her eyes closed, relishing the relative peace and quiet for a few moments longer. She'd fainted, or that's what everyone was whispering when she reopened her eyes. She remembered being led to a couch in another room, and thankfully someone had placed a cold cloth on her forehead. Reaching up, she slid it down to cover her eyes.

"She's awake," Jake said.

"Why don't you give us another minute?" Tim replied.

The couch sunk as Tim sat near her waist. His hand was warm as it cupped her arm, kneading her skin softly.

"You coming back to us?" he asked.

Reluctantly, Tyra removed the cloth, blinking her eyes against the light. She stared at Tim, his face etched with worry. What a horrible thing to do to him today. He had to miss Landry too, but now all the attention was on her.

Tyra tried to push herself upright but Tim pressed on her shoulders.

"Not yet. You might have hit your head."

"I'm fine," she said, but didn't fight his stronger arms. Lying back against the small pillow, she stared up at him thoughtfully. "You know we're filthy rich, don't you?"

Tim looked confused.

Tyra let out a shrill laugh. "Landry. He left everything to us. I helped him go over his will last year." She laughed again, the giggles coming faster and higher.

"Tyra," Tim said cautiously.

"I mean, just think of it," she continued, her mind racing. "I can quit my job. Oh wait! I don't have a job anymore!" This was the funniest thing she had thought of in years, and it sent her laughter bubbling over.

Tim pushed off the couch, pacing to the other side of the small room and back.

Tyra watched him, still smiling widely. "You should keep your business though. The money will be tied up in court for months...years. But I bet we can put a down payment..."

"Stop it." Tim's voice was dark when he spoke, his tone reverberating off the walls.

"But don't you want a boat?" Tyra continued, nonplussed.

Tim sat down in a chair near the couch-close, but not touching her. His words were measured when he spoke. "Mrs. Taylor asked if you'd like to see a doctor. I said no, but..."

"You think I need to be drugged?" Tyra spat, sitting up quickly. Her head spun and she clutched her forehead.

Tim slid onto the couch beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Tyra shrugged him off, sliding to the far end of the couch. "Drugs are not going to make me forget Landry. And they're not going to change the fact that he's dead."

"Tyra, I..."

She shook her head, silencing her husband. A part of her knew Tim was right-this was too much to deal with on her own. A few pills to make her forget everything for a couple of hours, or a few days, sounded like exactly what she needed. But Landry couldn't forget what happened to him. He couldn't make any decisions anymore; couldn't eat, sleep, breathe. He was gone, and she wasn't going to let some doctor take away her right to ache for him.

Supporting her weight on the arm of the couch, Tyra stood up. The blackness was gone from her vision, her head steady and clear. She knew what she had to do. She had to be strong. For Landry.

"I need to be with him now," she said to Tim.

Standing, Tim approached her slowly, like he was afraid she might shatter.

She stared into his eyes, so full of concern for her. So sad for what they had both lost.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "I'll be fine. I just have to get through this day, and the next day. And one day I'll wake up and maybe I won't think about him anymore." At her words, Tyra broke into fresh tears.

Tim's arms encircled her back, enveloping her in his embrace. His breath was soft on the top of her head, his touch soothing. It wasn't enough to make her forget the pain of losing her dearest friend, but it was a start. Together they'd get through anything. And thanks to Landry, their kids would have one hell of a head start in life.

"So...all of these people I've never seen before talkin' like they're Landry's best friend is starting to bug me," Matt said as he stood by the door of the viewing room with Smash, Tim, and Julie. "Anyone want to get out of here?"

Tyra looked up at him from where she sat on a chair near the exit. Viewing Landry's picture next to the urn, next to what was left of someone so vibrant, had been awful, but she'd done it. Now Tim wanted her to leave, but she couldn't, not yet. She wasn't ready to leave Landry alone with all these people-these strangers who wanted nothing more than to gawk at the spectacle of Landry's death. They weren't his friends; they were the ones who always wanted another piece of him, the ones who kept him on the road in tiny airplanes.

Smash coughed and shook his head. "You said it, Saracen."

"Yeah," Tim replied quietly.

"Okay, this is really sad," Julie interjected. "But I think that woman from Entertainment Weekly is pretending to cry."

Tyra let a tight laugh out, then clapped her hand over her mouth. Tim placed his hand on her shoulder and gripped tightly. She wasn't going to lose it again.

"Nah, it is sad, Julie," Smash drawled. "But Landry would love it."

"The heck he would," Tyra said, looking around the room. "All of these people, being so fake, and it's all stuffy with the doom and gloom. I mean, it's what his parents wanted, but this isn't Landry."

"I just meant the fake crying, Tyra," Smash said quietly.

"Oh," Tyra said. Man, her nerves were on edge.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do," Julie said. "The viewing is almost over anyway. I'm going to call my mom, have her go pick up some food and you are all going to come over to our house. And in Landry's honor, Matt is going to wear his 'Member's Only' jacket."

Tim released Tyra's shoulder and began to unbutton his shirt.

"Whoa, Riggs...this is a family place," Smash said.

Tim kept unbuttoning his shirt until his 'Crucifictorious' t-shirt was exposed. "Figured I'd get big bucks for this on eBay some day."

Tyra smiled. In his own way, Tim really loved Landry. She was so lucky to have had them both in her life.

"We should go find the kids," Tyra said, standing up. "I think Jake took them outside to play."

"Sounds good," Julie said as she looped her arm through Matt's. "Let's go have the wake that Landry would have planned."

/tbc/

Disclaimer: All characters who appear in these stories belong to their respective creators, including Imagine Entertainment, NBC Universal Television Studio and Film 44.
Authors' Note: Thanks once again to our fabulous beta, devilc.