Bull sat on the couch in his office, invited Chunk to do the same. He didn't want to talk, but at least it was Chunk that was pushing him. As much as he loved his team, Bull only trusted Chunk and Marissa with most of his secrets.

"I know what you want, Chunk. I'm not all that interested in talking," said Bull.

"Why didn't you ever tell us about Scott? He was your best friend."

"It's nobody's business. My childhood wasn't the greatest, Chunk. Scott and his family were a welcome respite from everything that my father would inflict on my mother and I. So, yes, Scott was my best friend. And now he's dead. He died in front of me. I couldn't say goodbye."

"Oh, Bull. I'm sorry. I am so sorry."

"There's nothing you could have down. He's been sick for two years, and he had already defied the doctor's prognosis. We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when."

"That doesn't make it any easier."

"You don't have to tell me that."

"Have you sought counselling? You watched him die, Bull. You need to deal with it."

"When? I haven't even gone to his funeral yet."

"When's the funeral?"

"Saturday morning."

"I'll come with you. I didn't know Scott, but you can't face this alone."

"Chunk, I appreciate you trying to help, but this isn't making me feel any better. I don't feel like trying to fix my emotions just now."

"Then maybe you need to take time off from work. At least until after the funeral."

"No. I need to stay busy. This case is what I need to stay distracted."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. Let's get back to work please." Bull effectively ended the conversation and led Chunk out of the office.

"Did you get Bull to talk?" asked Benny as he and Chunk finished setting up the mock courtroom.

"A little. Turns out, Scott was his childhood best friend. The guy was sick for the past two years and surpassed his doctor's prognosis, but he died in front of Bull," answered Chunk. "The funeral is Saturday."

"Is Bull coping?"

"I doubt it. He's really down over this, and the guy was his best friend, after all."

"Do you think he'll accept our help?"

"Maybe once he's grieved, but not now. He wants to bury himself in work to ignore the pain."

"He's a psychologist, he knows better than to bury his feelings."

"You know what they say: the worst patients are doctors and nurses. So it makes sense that psychologists would be the worst people to take advice."

Benny laughed. "Don't you dare say that in front of Bull. Unless you want to die way before your time."

"I'm not that stupid, Benny." Chunk smiled, but wisely stayed quiet after that comment when he spied Bull heading towards them.

Saturday morning was sunny and bright, but Bull was miserable. He was missing his best friend more than ever that morning, and the knowledge of Scott's funeral being that day didn't help.

"Bull? It's time to go," said Marissa. "Chunk is waiting for us downstairs."

"I'm coming," grumbled Bull.

Marissa gave Bull a sympathetic smile a minute later. She led him out of his home, made sure that he had locked up and had everything he needed. Then she led him to Chunk's car, ensuring that he got in safely.

"Where are we going?" Chunk asked softly, glancing into his rear-view mirror at Bull.

"Church," Bull answered distractedly.

"It's five minutes from here," said Marissa gently. "NY Catholic."

"Okay. I know where that is." Chunk pulled out of the driveway and headed off to the church, glancing at Bull every time he stopped to make sure that everything was okay in the back seat.

Twenty minutes later, Bull was sitting in the second row of the church pews with Marissa and Chunk next to him. The priest was talking, but Bull wasn't listening. He was too busy trying not to cry over his best friend.

"Bull, you coming?" Marissa whispered. "It's time to say goodbye."

Bull looked up and saw that everyone had lined up at Scott's coffin. A quick glance to the front row told him that Scott's sister and brother-in-law were waiting for him to stand up before they joined the line.

"Yeah, I'm coming," said Bull quietly. He joined the queue just before the person in front of him reached the coffin. "I miss you, Scotty," Bull whispered to his friend. "I wish you were still here, laughing and being stupid with me. I wish we could have helped you get better."

"Jason?"

Bull turned teary eyes on Scott's older sister, Jeanette. "Hi," he said.

"Scott wanted you to have something. We found it in a box of his stuff yesterday." Jeanette handed over a book and an envelope. "I know that he would be honored to have you here. You were always his best friend, and he loved that you guys were friends. I can't count the amount of times that Scotty told me you two had gotten up to more mischief than anyone ever thought possible."

Bull smiled a little. "I miss him, Jeanette. I miss him so much."

"So do I. But at least he can rest comfortably now. I hated to see him in pain."

"Me too."

"Why don't you come over this afternoon? We aren't having a wake, but Ralph and I are going to sort out all of Scott's belongings. You should help, God knows how much the two of you loved spending time together. And, there are a few more items that belong to you- Scott had made it clear where he wanted most of his possessions to end up."

"Thank you. I think I'd like that." Bull sighed and pulled Scott's sister into a hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered into her shoulder. "I really am."

The End

A/N: Sorry for the abrupt ending- I have lost interest in writing this particular story, but I wanted to finish it still, so this is where it will end. I'm working on a new Bull story that I will hopefully put up in a couple of days time.