< Honoring the Dead - det_stephens >

[knowthenbreak]

Nadine had managed to sit through the memorial. Numerous speakers had made their voices heard, but she had not been able to get up, not been able to say anything on behalf of the man, the hero, they were saying goodbye to. All she could do was sit there, fingers woven together, hands pressing into her lap as she fought not to cry. That, at least,

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[det_stephens]

"Ms. Lewis?" Detective Jeff Stephens had been watching the woman, curious as to how she'd hold up during the memorial service. Now, she seemed ready to fall apart and he wondered if this was all too much so soon after her ordeal - both of them.

[knowthenbreak]

"Detective," she said with as much of a smile as she could manage. Just the faintest hint of one, weak, nothing more than an act. For once, she couldn't manage even a passable smile. She couldn't pretend everything was okay this time. "How are you? My mother mentioned..." she trailed off, sort of motioning to her neck, about the spot where the bandage on his neck was.

[det_stephens]

"I'm fine - thanks for asking," Stephens said, a hand brushing briefly across his neck. "How--how are you holding up?"

[knowthenbreak]

"I--" she stopped. "As long as I don't stop, I'm okay." Nadine closed her eyes and took a long, slow breath in before opening them again. She then asked, not seeming to know (or perhaps just not caring) how odd a question this was at this particular moment, "Did Caroline or Pat get your jacket back to you?"