Disclaimer:  F/X: The Series did not belong to me so obviously I'm not making any money out of this story...  BTW - I don't think those that did own it should have killed of Leo McCarthy, he was one of my favourite characters.

Requiem for a Cop - Missing Scene

The Enigma  
 

Angela Ramirez opened the door of the F/X workshop and walked inside, Rollie Tyler following her quietly.  Neither spoke as Angie placed the car keys on the end of the workbench and walked over to the mini-kitchen in the corner of the workshop lounge to put the kettle on for tea. Rollie stood at the top of the entrance stairs and watched his assistant quietly go about her business.

The Australian was dressed in a black suit, crisp white shirt and a black tie, his shaggy hair was brushed tidily and a small piece of butterfly tape was stuck over an inch long cut just below his left eye.  The young woman was also dressed in black, a black hat covering her shoulder length blonde hair.  She turned to look at her boss, the pain evident in her eyes.  "Rollie," she whispered.

Rollie looked her in the eyes, his own shiny with tears.  He shook his head.  "Go home, Ange."

Angie walked back around the sofa, stopping just in front of her grief-ridden friend, she spoke quietly, "No Rollie.  I'm not leaving you."

The tears in the eyes of the tall man were threatening to spill as he angrily pushed past the young woman and walked to the base of the stairs up to his loft.  "Just go..." he growled.

Angie spun on her heel, facing the retreating form of her friend, she called out, "No!" Then she dropped the tone of her voice again as she followed Rollie across the room, "Rollie, you didn't leave me alone after Dad died.  I'm not leaving you alone now..."

Rollie turned to face the young woman again and slumped down onto the bottom step of the stairs.  He watched Angie as she sat down on the step above his, "Angie, I don't want you to see me like this.  It's not...  I can't..." The first sob wreaked the thin frame, "Oh god, Leo..."

Tears formed in Angie's eyes as she pulled her boss close.  The Australian wrapped his arms around his friend's waist and began sobbing in earnest. The young woman quietly cried as she held Rollie close, allowing him to release the pent up grief.  She looked around the expansive room and remembered...

...the time she had been sitting in the very spot and had Leo apologising profusely for putting their lives on the line yet again after a contract shooter had tried killing them in this very building.

...the time she had yelled at Rollie, telling him he thought he was some Batman equivalent over by the workstation for agreeing to help the middle aged cop yet again.

...the time the three of them had been having tea with Lucinda the morning after she had starred in Medea, and giving her a hard time to reduce her swollen head from the rave reviews.

...and the time Leo had held an ice pack to his black eye and bruised lip after the bar-room brawl when they all had been trying to get Rollie's father out of trouble.  And they had all looked over the picture of that very interesting doll.

Angie smiled at the memories, she was sure Rollie would too, one day... Leo had been a great cop, and a wonderful friend to the Australian, and to her too.  He wasn't a man you could forget...