The funeral was simple. Mostly just family and a few friends. Justin and the guys had all been invited by the family, since they had gotten so close with Doc over his last few weeks.
Justin had been very withdrawn since hearing the news of Docs passing. When Maureen told him, he just stared at her like he didn't understand what she had said. Ryan cried, and was expecting Justin to break down at any moment.
But he didn't. He put his arms around Ryan and comforted her, but not a single tear fell from his eyes.
He had informed all the guys, as well as Lois, all without any hint of emotion in his voice. No sadness or depression. Just an in control, monotone voice.
Ryan had talked to him a little about Docs death, telling him that it was okay to be upset and to cry. Justin insisted that he was fine, and would always ask that the subject be dropped.
Ryan knew that he was the kind of man who always held his emotions inside. He didn't like to show weakness of any kind, so the fact that Justin was holding back was not surprising to her. She just wanted him to understand that it was okay for him to be upset, and that she was there if he ever wanted to break down.
As the service ended, everyone turned to leave the cemetery.
"Justin?" an unfamiliar voice called from behind as he and Ryan headed for their car.
"Yes?" he said as he turned to face a young woman. She was around the age of twenty four, her long dark hair pulled back away from her flawless face. Her eyes were red from crying, as her tear stained cheeks were flushed.
"I'm Anna. Docs granddaughter." the young woman held a hand out to him, which he took.
"I'm very sorry about your grandfather. He was a wonderful man." Justin expressed his condolences.
"Thank you. He spoke very highly of you. I had come to visit him twice while you were in the hospital with him, and he had brought be across to meet you both times, but you were always asleep." the woman smiled.
Justin blushed slightly.
"I just wanted to thank you." she continued as she clasped her hands in front of her.
"For what?" Justin asked curiously.
"For making the last few weeks of my grandfathers life such happy ones. You brought out this youth in him that we hadn't seen in a very long time. He would sit and talk for hours about the things you two did, the jokes you would make, and the pranks you would pull on the nursing staff."
Again, Justins cheeks flushed.
The young woman looked down at the grass at her feet for a moment, before returning her eyes to Justin. He as a little shocked to see a single tear sliding down her cheek.
"He, um," she paused to control her emotions before continuing. "He called me the other night after he returned from his day out with you. He told me where you took him, and how much it had meant to him that he be there that day. He said that you had given him a sense of completion by taking him there, that it was his way of saying goodbye to my Nana. At first I didn't understand what he meant by that. But when the hospital called the next morning to tell us that he has passed on, I understood." She smiled at Justin as she finished. "You gave him closure. By taking him to the place he loved most, he was finally able to let go."
Justin was taken back a little by her words. She was thanking him for giving Doc closure, but that closure had taken him away.
The young woman noticed Justins confused stare and smiled. "He also wanted you to have this." she said as she extended a small box to Justin, placing it in his hands.
Squeezing his hand reassuringly, the young woman hugged Justin quickly before smiling sweetly at Ryan and turning to rejoin her family.
Justin watched her walk away, still confused at what she had told him. Looking down to the box in his hands, he ran a finger over the top.
Ryan stepped up to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Nodding slowly, Justin kept his eyes on the box. "Yeah." he answered softly.
Carefully, he removed the top from the box, and peered inside.
A smile slowly spread across his face as she stared inside at the contents.
Inside, was Docs favorite deck of cards.
Justin had remained quiet for the duration of the drive home. Everyone had agreed to meet at Joeys, for a private little farewell to Doc. They had been invited to the family gathering, but felt it was a personal time and didn't want to intrude.
As Ryan drove down the quiet highway, a light rain began to fall. Tiny droplets of water fell on the windshield, which were wiped away quickly with a swipe of the wipers.
Justin gazed quietly out the window at his side, deep in thought. He replayed Annas speech over and over in his head. She had thanked him. She thanked him for making Doc so happy before he died. Justin thought back to the day before, when they had taken him to the park. He could still remember the look of peace on Docs face so clearly that it almost resembled a photo in his mind. Sitting on the bench, his eyes closed peacefully, he was happy. He had been able to see his favorite place one last time, and was able to let go.
Looking down to the small box beside him, Justin picked it up and opened it again.
Inside were the cards he and Doc had used many times during his stay. They had played every game they knew, and had even made up a few new ones. Doc usually won, even when they had played the game Cups, which they had seen on an old episode of Friends. Justin couldn't believe that he was losing at a game where the rules were made up as you went along.
He remembered the laughter, and the happy smiles that shined from Doc as he chatted away. He was truly one of the most honest and wonderful people Justin had ever encountered.
Doc hadn't judged Justin by his career. He hadn't seeked him out and befriended him on the basis of his status. He didn't expect anything from Justin other than friendship and company. His only desire was for someone to talk to, and to occasionally play cards with. He didn't have any hidden agendas or ulterior motives. He befriended Justin Timberlake the man. Not Justin Timberlake of NSync.
Running his finger over the deck for what seemed like the millionth time, Justin smiled. This tiny deck of insignificant cards would forever hold the memory of one of the greatest men Justin would ever know.
Sliding into the couch in Lois' living room, Justin let his head fall back against the edge. He closed his tired eyes and cleared his mind.
The last few days had been tiring. He had laid awake till all hours, thinking over and over of things said between he and Doc, wondering if he should have or could have done anything differently.
One of the main memories that ran through his mind was the lecture Doc had given them at the park. To always tell the people you care for just how much they mean, because they wouldn't necessarily be there the next day.
Justin smiled at the memory of Docs exact words. It was almost like he knew that he wouldn't be there the next day.
Feeling the cushions move beside him, Justin opened his eyes to find Lois sitting next to him. She looked tired, her usually happy eyes drawn into sad pools. Her nose was red and her face pale.
"How are you doing?" she asked as she looked at him closely.
"Actually, I'm doing okay." Justin said honestly.
Lois looked at him curiously for a moment. She didn't want to question Justins devotion to their new friend, or push his emotions, but she wasn't sure she understood how Justin would feel nothing about what had happened.
Justin didn't miss the look that crossed Lois' features, and quickly explained. "Don't you see?" he said as a small smile pressed his lips. "We made his last day a happy one. We took him to the most important place in the world to him, and let him say his goodbyes. There was no where else on earth that he would have wanted to go that day than there. And we gave that to him." Justin smiled a little wider as Lois looked at her hands.
"Don't you miss him?" she asked quietly.
"Of course I do." he answered sincerely. "Ill miss him forever. He was a big part of my life, even if it was only for a short time. But there are only two things for certain in this world. Life, and death. Doc lived his life. And he died happy."
Lois nodded at her hands as she thought over Justins words.
He was right. It rarely happened, and she often wondered if the devil was down in hell with a parka selling snocones, but it did happen occasionally. And this was one of those times.
Looking up to Justins shining blue eyes, Lois smiled at him. He returned the smile genuinely before pulling her to him in a hug.
Justin had found it strange that he had no desire to cry at Docs death. That had been one of the things he wondered about over the last few days when he would lay awake at night. Why wasn't he crying? He was upset. He missed his new friend, but he wasn't feeling the need to cry.
Now he understood why. In some way, he knew that even though Doc was gone, that he would always be with him. Like he had said, he would always be in his heart.
Filing into the kitchen, the small group of friends all chatted quietly as Lois gathered glasses of champagne for a toast. Joey helped her, only dropping one glass on the floor. Surprisingly, she didn't yell at him. Too much, anyway.
Handing out the drinks, Lois waiting for everyone to quiet down before allowing Justin to make the toast. He was the one who had introduced them all to Doc, and he was the one closest to him. There was no one better to say their goodbyes to Doc than Justin.
Looking around the room, Justin smiled at his friends. His mother stood across from him, smiling at him warmly. JC and Lance stood at her right side, their drinks in hand waiting for the toast. Joey, Lois, Chery, Lynn and Monica all stood behind them, watching patiently for him to begin. Looking to his side, he smiled at Ryan. She had been by his side through everything. Through his accident, through his road to recovery, and now through the loss of a friend. He was thankful for her in his life, and knew then more than ever what Doc must have felt for his wife. Because he was feeling it now for Ryan.
Looking back out to the crowd, Justin cleared his throat.
"Well," he said, smiling at everyone. "I have made many speeches in my lifetime, but none compare to this. I can honestly say that there are no words to express the loss we all feel. But I can also honestly say that I am sure that we will never forget Doc. He brought so much to our lives in the short time we knew him, and I know that I for one will never forget the lessons he taught me." Looking to his mother, Justin smiled. "To never take the ones you love for granted. That they are what make life worth living" Looking at Joey and Lois, Justin laughed. "And that even an old guy can get a hand up on me at cards." Everyone laughed with Justin as he cleared his throat again. "I hope that where ever he is, that he is happy." Raising his glass, Justin nodded. "Heres to Doc, the best old fart I we will ever know."
A collective round of 'here heres' sounded through the room as they all toasted their lost friend.
Taking a sip from his glass, Justin added. "And I have no doubt that he is up in heaven right now, cheating God at a game of Cups."
