Death is only the Beginning (EDITING)

Chapter XX

Then he got out a knife and carved out 'Here lies Stacy. Loved Sister, Loved Daughter, Loved Friend' and today's date. Rebecca got out a picture of Stacy wearing the uniform of her former work place smiling at the camera and nailed it into the cross, underneath the inscription. In that picture Stacy looked peaceful and smiled at Rebecca and Mike, who stood by her grave as the sun disappeared into the hills, basking the city in an eerie orange glow.

After muttering a last goodbye and a last tear, Mike and Rebecca got into the truck and drove off. The grave stood by the hill and the Stacy continued smiling at the truck as it disappeared into the city. As the two got into the apartment, none uttered a word as Mike heated up some soup and the two began to eat. None knew what to say and the silence wasn't welcome. Just then Mike got up and approached his pack. He then got out a bottle, half full of a leather brown liquid.

"What is that?" asked Rebecca in a weak voice.

"It's 35 year old scotch. I've been saving it for years and thought about raising a glass to Stacy"

"But I don't drink"

"Then it will be your first time" said Mike as he got out a couple of glass cups and filled each with a sip of the brown liquid. As he handed a cup to Rebecca she sniffed the liquid and made a disgusted expression. Mike held in the laughter as he sat down across of her and held up his glass. Rebecca followed and did the same.

"Through my years of service I have encountered many kinds of people, but never anyone like Stacy. No one as courageous, trustworthy, caring, and loving as Stacy. She greeted the day with a smile on her face ready to help no matter how big the problem. It saddens that she can't sit by us tonight but I am relieved knowing that she'll always be by our side. So I raise this glass to you Stacy. Loved sister, loved friend. We both will miss you greatly."

Tears filled her eyes and a smile formed on her face at Mike's heartwarming speech. She and Mike then both drank the sip of Scotch in one go. She had to cough while Mike laughed.

"Hey this is not funny!" said Rebecca before she too laughed. Then they stopped laughing and looked at each other.

"I'm sorry Rebecca" said Mike.

"Don't be. Stacy and Jenkins would want us to laugh again" said Rebecca as she poured herself another sip.

"Hey now that bottle cost me 250 dollars go easy on that stuff" said Mike as he grabbed the bottle and poured himself a sip.

"What? Why would someone pay so much for a drink that I am having a hard time enjoying?"

"For an occasion like this. It brings people together. Now I do want to raise another toast. For this expensive bottle needs to be drunk with purpose"

"Is that so?"

"Yes so I raise this glass to you Rebecca"

"To me?" asked Rebecca as she blushed.

"Yes. You give me hope, and you give me will. Before I met you I had no reason to go for this risky mission but after meeting you I have a reason to get up in the morning and fight. Your smile is what I fight for and if I had the option I would give anything to see that smile again." Mike was about to take a sip when Rebecca made a gesture for him to wait.

"Then I shall raise a glass to you Mike. Thoughtful, caring, and always there when needed. You taught me the basics of survival in this harsh world and you just know how to make the best out of any situation. You are the reason that I continue fighting and never give up and your smile is gives me hope and your sense of humor keeps me going. So I raise this glass of expensive scotch to you Mike" said Rebecca while smiling at Mike who smiled back. As they clinked their cups together and sipped on the scotch, began asking.

"So why did you want to join the BPD? You don't seem the cop type"

"Because of my father. When I was little, he would tell me and Stacy the most fantastic night time stories like how he took down three armed bandits with his bare fists. I was so fascinated by those tales that I wanted to become a police officer and also tell such amazing tales. So I studied human psychology in college and applied for the BPD"

"And? Did you get accepted?"

"I don't know. All hell broke loose before I got a reply" said Rebecca before sighing and a tear rolling down her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.."

"No it's just, I miss them so much. After loosing dad I barely handled it and now without Stacy..." said Rebecca before bursting into tears

"Hey. It's alright. You still got me remember?" said Mike as he got up and grabbed her hand as he sat close to her.

She smiled at Mike and said "Yes I do" as she wiped away here tears. Then she asked "So why did you join the military?"

"I already told you that didn't I?"

"No you told me how you got into the military not why"

"Oh well I guess it all began when I was 16. I lost my parents to a car accident so I grew up in a foster home. We had this soldier who would come to visit me and the children and tell great tales of where he's been, all greater than the last. I will never forget him. Lieutenant Boxer, uniform covered in medals and ribbons. I was so fascinated by him because he was so respected and loved that I wanted the same so I signed up for the Marine Corps the day I turned 17. It changed my life forever and made me who I am today.

"May I ask you something Mike?"

"Go ahead"

"Have you lost any soldiers in your years of service?"

Mike sighed at that question and sat in silence.

"I'm sorry I.."

"No it's alright. You're just curious. I like that about you." Rebecca blushed.

"But I have. It's the number one thing next to shooting that the military teaches you how to deal with loss even with the ones lost because of my bad decisions"

"I'm sorry Mike. Do you have any siblings?"

"I have a little brother, Alex. You remind me so much of him"

"How so?"

"Whatever he had in mind and wanted to do he never stopped. Since I was all he had and to him, I was his biggest hero and when I joined the Marines he wanted to become one just like me. I told him so many times the life of a Marine isn't as glorious as it seems but he didn't care. He just wanted to make me proud and despite the my protests, he signed up on his 18th birthday." Rebecca then noticed Mike's eyes getting watery and saw a side of Mike she's never seen before.

She asked "What happened?"

"He uh..he..I remember that day like it's yesterday. It was Christmas Eve, two years after he signed up. We agreed to meet at our foster home to see everyone and celebrate Christmas there. He just came back from a tour in Afghanistan and I came back from Iraq. The foster care was in a small town in New Hampshire and his plane arrived from Newark and was supposed to come by taxi but he never arrived. Then I get a phone call saying he got into a serious accident in Newark. I drove there as fast as I could and after...and after three hours I arrived at the hospital. He...he was on life support and was...so happy to see me. It has been two years..and a month since we talked. He was so beat up but I didn't care. We talked...and then gave me his necklace. The same I gave him when we were little. I didn't want to accept it but he persisted...saying that it will bring me good luck like it did for him. Then he...then he...closed his eyes and the life support beeped. The doctors rushed in and the security guards had to drag me out. Then they told me." Mike then got up and walked towards the sink with his glass, wiping away his tears.

He then heard Rebecca get up and felt her hands turn him around as she hugged him and said "I am so sorry Mike. I am so sorry." She looked up and into his hazel green eyes while he looked into her ocean blue eyes. Silence filled the apartment again as the two got closer. Then, they kissed, and kissed, and kissed.