London's Burning - A friend lost, but not forgotten

Written by: Gemma Lambourne
Chapter first published online on: 20TH November 2002
Archive: Just as me.
Disclaimer: All characters used aren't owned by the author. 'London's Burning' characters are copyright to London's Burning, LWT and their affiliates.
Authors Notes: This was written when I was bored. It's a stand - alone fic and is based in Series 14, episode 2. It's just descriptions really and I thought I'd write something with lots of descriptions, which would hopefully sound nice and not too depressing :)
Summary: Recall's funeral - thoughs and descriptions.

Silence. The majority of the day was taken up with that. The Blue Watch remained silent on the way to the church as they stood tall proud dressed in their London Fire Brigade suits.

An old blood red pump ladder appliance drove slowly through the streets of east London. It's front displaying a plaque 'E44 Blackwall' and it's ladder lay awashed with yellow flowers on the roof decorated in different coloured ribbons. The Blue Watch stood solemn, yet proud, as the appliance carried them towards the church, passing other fire fighters and higher - ranking brigade officers who stood proudly to attention, on the roadside.

Tributes were made to a friend who they had all lost, but not forgotten. The Blue Watch laid the coffin in the church and the proud son Ben, seated the helmet on the coffin, which was draped in a Union Jack flag with a bed of red roses seated on top.

George, stood proud, yet physically choked, as he read the Eulogy and tears were shed from Ben and fellow Watch members Sally and Adam. Ben felt the proudest son alive, among with the angst and the anger he felt towards fire fighting - the profession he had grown to love, then despise all in one, after is deprived him of his father. He wanted to be like him so much. Sally and Adam thought of their colleague, who was more of a friend to them.

Sally remembers the joking, happy person who used to let her win, when running drills up the Watch Tower. Adam remembers the friend who wasn't always the friend. The person who was in love with his mum and was to be his step - father. The person who gave him advise and promised that he'd always be there for him, whatever happened.

The service overall was nice. Friends, family and colleagues - they all felt priviledged that they knew Recall and classed him a hero. Hero was a powerful word in itself, but Recall was one. He devoted years of his working life to the Fire Brigade. Helping, rescuing and saving lives. He was one in a million and by the looks on the individual faces in the congregation, that was certainly known.

The service ended. The Reverend, the Blue Watch, Elaine, Ben and Lisa all semi - circled the coffin out in the grave yard. The Blue Watch's hands clasped in front of them, their shiny white gloves over - powering the colour of the suits. The Blue Watch then lowered the coffin to the ground as straight faces watched and peered down. Adam tried to be of some comfort to his mum with his facial expressions as much as his words, although he felt partly hopeless and partly to blame after watching Recall die and he could do nothing about it.

The camera leaves, scooting backwards. Flowers were visible beside the grave. 'Recall' displayed in big white flowers. Fire fighter Stuart Mackenzie's brigade nickname after he was known to be able to recite large amounts of text after reading over the certain source just once. Various other flowers were laid - the huge bunch of red roses and more red, white and yellow flowers along with scattered leaves that covered the ground of the church yard and surrounding area on that autumn day.

The day was peaceful, the appliance stood parked on the quiet street outside, the church stood in the background amongst bare trees whose leaves had fallen to the floor, turning crisp brown in colour. The sky was grey, which could really help lighten the mood and was similar really to the moods of the watch.

Adam placed a comforting hand on his mother's shoulder, he couldn't think of any words of comfort. Elaine glanced up at Adam and he smiled a meek smile, saying nothing.