ATF Universe
Vin and JD splashed around and floated in the sparkling azure water, so clear they could see all the way to the sandy bottom of the ocean floor."Sure is peaceful out here, huh JD," Vin said with a smile.
"Yep, doesn't get much better than this Vin," JD agreed, wiggling his toes into the sand.
Just then they heard Buck shouting to them from the shore.
"What do you think he wants?" JD asked Vin.
"Don't know," Vin shrugged, then smirked as a devious thought popped into his head. "Let's ignore him. Maybe he'll go away."
"Fat chance Vin," JD retorted, as he continued to stare at Buck, in the distance. "Now he's waving his arms."
"Hell," Vin muttered. "Guess we better see what he wants." With a long suffering sigh, he began swimming back to shore, JD in tow.
A few minutes later, they waded through the water, reaching the shore.
"What's up Bucklin?" Vin asked.
"You fellas shouldn't be so far out," Buck admonished.
"What?" Vin asked with exasperation. "So far out? Hell Buck, we were on a sandbar. The water only reached up to our necks at the deepest part."
"Just stick closer to shore, will ya?" Buck said shortly.
"What's the deal Buck?" JD asked, confused.
"Don't start with me, kid," Buck snapped. "And when was the last time you put any sunscreen on?"
JD rolled his eyes at Vin, then shrugged back at Buck. "I dunno, guess it's been a while."
"A while?" Buck repeated. "JD, this sun is wicked. You need to reapply more often."
"What are you, a commercial for Coppertone or something?" Vin drawled.
"Very funny Vin," Buck said, turning to him. "And what about you? When was the last time you put any sunscreen on?"
"Sunscreen? What's that?" Vin deadpanned.
Before Buck could react, Josiah ambled over.
"How's it going over here?" the big man asked.
"Well, these two geniuses are bound and determined to get sun poisoning, or worse," Buck groused.
"And Buck's driving us crazy with the 'Daddy Dearest' routine," Vin answered back.
"Sounds like another fun filled day with Team Seven," Josiah laughed. The other three began to smile.
"Sorry boys, guess I overreacted," Buck apologized.
"That's okay Buck," Vin replied good-naturedly. "And I do feel a little hot. Maybe I should put a little lotion on me or something."
"Vin, you really should...." Buck began, then caught himself.
Laughing, the four walked back to the cluster of lounge chairs where the rest of their friends awaited.
"I'm getting hungry," Nathan said as the four men approached. "Anybody up for checking out some of the local restaurants?"
"Sounds good to me," Vin said.
"I, as well, would be interested in consuming some native cuisine," Ezra answered. "Shall I procure a reservation?"
"Nah, let's just walk around and pick a place," Buck suggested.
"Sounds like a plan, brothers," Josiah added.
"All right, then, let's meet in the lobby in twenty minutes," Nathan said.
+ + + + + + +
On the way to find a restaurant all six men could agree on, they passed past numerous bars, eateries and shops. An outdoor market, displaying native wares, caught JD's attention.
"Casita Azul Mercado," JD read off the sign. "Hey, it's a flea market," he said to the others excitedly. "Anybody wanna look around?"
"Sure, I'll look around with you, JD," Vin said, moving toward a pile of Mexican blankets stacked in one of the stalls. His eye focused on a display of leather clothing and accessories, just behind the blankets.
"Vin, JD, come on," Buck said. "We're all hungry, let's get to a restaurant. We can come back later and look around."
"Okay," Vin said reluctantly, his eyes focused on a pair of black leather pants, hanging on a rack, just out of reach. It was the perfect gift for Chris, the perfect addition to the new black leather jacket Vin had bought him for his birthday. Vin gazed longingly at the leather, as he left the storefront, glancing back at the pants as he walked away, JD walking next to him.
"I just wanted to look around for a minute," JD grumbled.
"Yeah, me too," Vin agreed. "They had some cool stuff in there."
"You wanna check it out later, Vin?" JD asked.
"We gonna tell big brother first?"
"I won't if you won't," JD said with a mischievous grin.
"Tell him what?" Vin asked, and the two broke out in laughter.
"What's so funny you two?" Nathan asked.
"Oh, nothing," JD said. "Let's find something to eat." He winked at Vin. They'd be back at the Casita Azul Mercado on their own terms.
+ + + + + + +
"That was a mighty fine meal you picked out for us Ezra," Buck said, patting his belly as the six men left the restaurant.
"Thank you Mr. Wilmington," Ezra said, flushing slightly with pleasure at the unexpected compliment.
"Yeah, it was really good Ezra," JD agreed. "But it seems kind of funny to be eating Italian food in Mexico," he added.
"Does seem a little strange, doesn't it?" Nathan agreed, then yawned hugely.
"Tired Nate?" Josiah asked.
"Yeah, long day," Nathan said. "And that sun really takes it out of you."
"Well, who's for hitting a club?" Buck said, rubbing his hands together with glee.
"Not me Buck," Nathan said. "I'm gonna go back to the hotel and call it a night."
"Afraid I'm with Nathan," Josiah agreed.
"JD? Vin?" Buck asked anxiously. "You boys up for some clubbing?"
JD and Vin met each other's eye briefly, the plan forming in their heads quickly.
"Not for me Bucklin," Vin said. "I'm gonna turn in early. I'm beat."
Buck and the others weren't too surprised. Vin was notoriously an early riser, but he was definitely not a night owl.
"Kid?" Buck turned to JD.
"Uh, no, not tonight," JD said. "I told Casey I'd call her tonight, and then I think I'll watch a movie. Phantom Menace is on one of the movie channels on the TV at the hotel. I checked earlier." He looked to see if Buck was buying his story, and decided to move in for the kill. "And I'm a little bit tired, too." He feigned two small coughs for added emphasis.
Buck immediately went into parent mode. "You feeling okay JD?"
"Yeah, just a little tired, I guess."
"Well, I guess I'll just head back to the hotel with you all then," Buck said, slightly dejected, and a little worried about JD.
"You neglected to inquire as to my preferences," Ezra piped up.
"You Ez?" Buck said. "Are you up for some club hopping?" he asked hopefully.
"I'd enjoy nothing better, on a night such as this," Ezra smiled.
Buck hesitated, looking at JD with concern.
"Buck, go on, I'm fine. I'm just tired." He glanced at Vin guiltily, worried that he'd laid it on too thick.
"You'll walk back to the hotel with Josiah and Nathan?" he said to JD, then turned to include Vin in his stare. "Both of you?"
"Yeah, we'll walk to the hotel with Nate and Josiah," Vin said impatiently. "We'll even hold hands when we cross the street, okay?" he joked sarcastically.
"That, Mr. Tanner is a picture I'd love to see," Ezra chuckled. He turned to the mustached man. "Mr. Wilmington, are we ready?"
"So you four are heading straight back to the hotel, right?" Buck asked, hesitating.
"Yes Buck, we are," Nathan said, beginning to get irritable. "We'll make sure JD and Vin stay with us, too."
"Okay," Buck said. "And we're all meeting for breakfast in the morning, right?"
"Yes dad," Vin and JD joked together. "Nine-thirty in the lobby," they chimed in unison.
"Very good children," Buck said with a crooked grin, as he and Ezra took off to experience the Cancun nightlife.
+ + + + + + +
"Good night Nate, 'night Josiah," Vin said as he slipped his key in the lock and slipped into his hotel room. He waited five minutes, then rang JD's room.
"You ready JD?" he asked.
"Yeah," JD replied. "You sure Nathan and Josiah are in their rooms?"
"Better meet me in the lobby in ten minutes, just to be sure," Vin replied.
"Okay," JD agreed.
Ten minutes later, two of the five sets of elevator doors opened into the marble lobby area, JD emerged from one elevator, Vin from the other.
"Talk about perfect timing," JD laughed.
"Yeah," Vin smiled. He glanced at the large clock hanging over the registration desk. "C'mon JD, it's almost nine-thirty."
"Wonder what time that flea market closes?" JD asked.
"Don't know, but I hope they stay open late," Vin answered, as he steered JD clear of the main hotel doors, routing him through to the side exit. "There was something I wanted to look at tonight."
+ + + + + + +
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the flea market. The place was nearly deserted and Vin and JD were disappointed, thinking it was closed.
"No Vin, look, that sign says, 'open,' in Spanish," he explained proudly. "Remember all that studying I did before we left?"
"Don't remind me, JD," Vin answered, remembering the tortuous hours the team had endured, listening to JD massacre Spanish phrases and words.
"Hey, it wasn't that bad, and my Spanish has come in handy so far," JD mumbled.
"Just look around at stuff, will ya, JD," Vin snapped, hoping to shake JD.
"Okay Vin," JD said, slightly hurt. Vin seemed like he wanted to get rid of him. And it had started off as such a fun adventure, ditching Buck and the others. Suddenly, he didn't feel like shopping at all. He drifted to the outer fringes of the market, as Vin walked closer into the center. A few more steps backward, and JD was away from the market, and heading back to the hotel. He wouldn't stay where he wasn't wanted. The idea of calling Casey and watching a movie began to look better and better.
Vin reached for the black leather pants, relishing the buttery soft feel of the material. These were perfect for Chris. He frowned slightly as he looked around the store, wondering where JD had gone. He felt bad, not meaning to be so sharp with JD, but he was nervous and a little excited about buying the black leather pants for Chris, and it had made him a little touchy. Maybe JD wouldn't have even figured out the pants were for Chris, and not for Vin himself, but Vin doubted it, since Chris was the one who wore black. Vin worried that JD would interpret the gift as something more than two friends would give each other. And he and Chris were not ready yet for the rest of the team to know about their relationship. With a shrug, Vin decided to try on the pants, to make sure they would fit Chris, and then head back to the hotel, and apologize to JD.
"You want to try on Senor?"
Vin whirled at the voice, finding himself staring at a middle aged Mexican man.
"Yes, I would," Vin replied. "But first, how much for them?
"Eight hundred pesos, or eighty dollars," the man said proudly.
Vin did a mental calculation, gauging the price of these pants against the prices in the US and made a decision. He would buy the pants here, even at eighty dollars, but he would try to haggle at bit, first. "Let me try them on to see if they fit, first," Vin said, mostly as a stall tactic, since, after looking at the size on the tag, he was pretty sure they'd fit.
"Of course Senor, right this way," the man said, leading Vin into the dressing room in the interior of the market.
"Hey, what's going on?" Vin yelled, as he was pushed into a tiny room, the Mexican entering right behind him and slamming the door shut.
"Your wallet Senor," the man ordered.
"Aw, jeez," Vin moaned. "A holdup? I can't believe it."
"Better to do as he asks Senor," a new voice advised, as another man entered the small room, from the door on the other wall. The new arrival held a large gun, that he cocked and held near Vin's head.
Vin dug into the pocket of his jean shorts and pulled out his wallet. "Here," he said contemptuously. "Take it."
"Very good Senor," the first Mexican taunted, as he picked up the wallet. "You are rich," he concluded, after thumbing through the money in Vin's wallet.
"No I'm not," Vin said. "And I work hard for my money. Honest work, but I guess you two wouldn't know about that," he spat out.
"You talk too much Senor," the man with the gun sneered. Before Vin could react, the man drove the pistol down hard, connecting brutally with Vin's skull. Vin collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
"Get him out of here, Antonio," the first man ordered.
"Si Marco, I will take him in my taxi," Antonio said. "Get some blankets to roll him up in, and I will make him disappear."
FOUR
JD ambled down the sidewalk, into the crowd, moving slowly in the stifling heat. Angry at Vin, and feeling very sorry for himself, he managed to lose his way to the hotel. He glanced around, suddenly noticing that he was no where near the hotel."Senor, you look thirsty. Cold beer for you? Only two American dollars," a street vendor called out.
JD looked toward the man, realizing that he was really thirsty. He moved to the sidewalk stand and bought a beer, downing it quickly.
"That hit the spot," he said to the man.
"Better than water, and much safer to drink down here, Senor," the vendor agreed with a good-natured chuckle.
JD smiled at the small joke, and decided to buy another beer to drink for the trip back to the hotel. He asked directions from the man as he bought the beer, and began walking again.
He drank the last few swallows of beer as he reached the market where he and Vin had separated. Feeling a little woozy, from the combination of the heat, and the two beers he had consumed, JD stopped for a minute to rest, leaning up against a building. He stared into the sea of people meandering down the thoroughfare, lost in though. Suddenly, there was a break in the crowd, and he caught sight of two very familiar faces, headed his way. Buck and Ezra were walking toward him, but fortunately, there were enough people between them, that he hadn't been noticed. Yet. And he sure as hell wasn't going to stand there, and get caught, then have to endure one of Buck's lectures about being out alone at night in a strange city. He lurched away from the building, and started across the street, determined not to get caught by the two men. His reflexes dulled by the alcohol, he darted out in front of a car, sure he would be able to get across before the car got close. A sudden, sickening'§
JD's eyes popped open as he crashed into the curb, staring up at the man hovering near him. "Buck?" he whispered weakly.
"Senor, are you all right?" the man asked worriedly.
"Buck? "I'm sorry," JD whispered again, his head lolling back down onto the asphalt, as he lost consciousness.
A police siren wailed in the distance, and just a few feet away, Buck and Ezra entered another nightclub, following the crowd that surged toward the high energy dance music and the beautiful people inside. The duo had never even noticed JD standing on the sidewalk, or weaving across the street, and the horrible sounds of the crash had been all but obliterated by the loud, grinding music of the disco. Buck was having the time of his life. Knowing he didn't have to worry about JD and Vin, back at the hotel sleeping, safe and sound, and out of his hair, he felt free to flirt, drink and dance to his heart's content. And he intended to enjoy every minute of it.
"Bar's don't close until four down here, Ez," he shouted above the din of the music.
"So I've gathered," Ezra answered back.
"You do know what that means, don't you," Buck yelled into Ezra's ear.
"Enlighten me, Mr. Wilmington," Ezra shouted back in his southern drawl.
"It means that the night is still young! C'mon!" Buck grinned back at Ezra with a wink, then disappeared into the crowd with a whoop.
+ + + + + + +
"Adios, Senor," Antonio said as he dumped Vin into the dirt. He scanned the deserted area, relieved that all was quiet. His passenger remained unconscious, emboldening the taxi driver. He knelt down over Vin's prone body, yanking off his wristwatch, tee-shirt, and shoes.
"Many thanks, Senor," Antonio whispered with mock seriousness. "We love all things American down here, my friend. And your Nikes and tee-shirt will fetch a good price." He slapped the watch onto his own wrist, smiling with satisfaction as he pressed a small button on the side, and the watchface lit up. "And your watch?" Antonio said. "I think I will keep this for myself." He stared down at Vin again, his expression devoid of any pity for the injured, nearly naked man. And then he turned, climbed back into the taxi cab and drove away, leaving Vin laying in the dirt, a small cloud of dust, kicked up by the wheels of the taxi, swirling around him.
+ + + + + + +
JD's eyes flickered open, then shut just as quickly. The light was too bright, and it make his head hurt.
"Senor? Senor Dunne? Please, can you hear me?"
"Wha....? Where....?" JD asked groggily.
"Senor Dunne, you are at the hospital. There was an accident," Dr. Manuel explained carefully. "Can you hear me?"
"I....hear you," JD answered, his voice barely a whisper as he tried to open his eyes again, and his head began to pound.
"Senor Dunne? Senor Dunne?"
JD tried to answer, but the voice seemed to get farther and farther away. He struggled to push his eyelids open again, but they felt so heavy. He let his body relax, and fell back into the dark void.
+ + + + + + +
Josiah jerked awake, startled out of his dream by a noise that he finally recognized as a ringing phone. Reaching out of pick up the receiver, he glanced with disbelief as the bedside clock showed 2 am. "Who the hell's calling now?" he muttered, as he spoke into the receiver.
"Hello," he intoned flatly, still half asleep.
"Senor Sanchez?"
"Yes, this is Senor Sanchez," he replied, stifling a yawn.
"I am calling from the Santa Maria Hospital, Senor. We have been treating a Senor Dunne here. I believe you are travelling with Senor Dunne?"
Josiah shook his head quickly to clear it. "Yes, we have a Senor Dunne in our party," Josiah answered tightly. "He's hurt? How is he now? What happened?"
"He was struck by a car, Senor. He is unconscious, with a concussion. I am calling on behalf of Dr. Julio Manuel. You will please come to the hospital?"
"Yes, of course, we'll be there right away." Josiah hung up, then immediately called Buck's room. There was no answer. He tried Nathan, and after a few rings, Nathan picked up the phone.
"Nathan, I just had a call from Santa Maria Hospital. JD's been hurt, we need to go there," Josiah explained.
Nathan sprang into action, instantly awake. "I'll meet you downstairs in 10 minutes. Did you call Buck?"
"There's no answer in his room. He and Ezra must still be out," Josiah answered.
"Okay, I'll leave him and Ezra a message. What about Vin?"
"I'll try him now," Josiah answered.
"Okay, see you downstairs," Nathan said.
+ + + + + + +
Ten minutes later, the two were in a taxi, heading for the hospital.
"You talk to Vin?" Nathan asked, surprised that the sharpshooter wasn't with them.
"There was no answer," Josiah explained. "He must be asleep. Said he was pretty beat. I left him a message."
"He can ride over with Buck and Ezra when they get the messages I left for them," Nathan said.
A few minutes later, the taxi pulled up to the hospital.
+ + + + + + +
"How is he doctor?" Josiah and Nathan asked simultaneously.
Dr. Manuel smiled, trying to put the two worried men at ease. "I believe he will make a complete recovery, Senors, but he has a very severe concussion at the moment. He has been in and out of consciousness, but the tests we have done so far show no permanent injury."
"Can we see him?" Nathan asked anxiously.
"Of course," the doctor replied. "But he will probably not wake up for you, so please do not become alarmed," he cautioned. "Please follow me."
The three men walked into the hospital room, Josiah and Nathan making a beeline for the bed.
"JD? JD? We're here now son, everything's going to be all right," Josiah said, squeezing JD's hand lightly, hoping the unconscious man would feel comforted by the slight pressure.
"Doc says you're going to be just fine," Nathan added, patting JD gently on the shoulder. "You just rest, JD, best thing for you right now." He looked over at Josiah, perched at the other side of JD's bed. "Where the hell is Buck?" he asked, starting to get angry. "He should be here. What if JD wakes up? You know he's gonna be asking for him."
Josiah shook his head. "Must still be out partying with Ezra. All this night life is just too much for him to pass up." He looked down at JD, smoothing back a shock of the dark hair as the younger man began to stir and moan in the bed. "It's all right JD, we're here with you. Everything's all right," his soft, deep voice intoned.
The soothing tone lulled JD back to sleep, and after another few minutes, Josiah spoke again.
"Let's give Buck another call, Nate."
"I'll do it, you stay here with JD," Nathan said.
Josiah nodded, and settled himself into one of the bedside chairs. It looked to be a long night.
FIVE
Vin stirred as he felt the first drops of the gentle rain sprinkle his bare torso. Opening his eyes, he tried to focus on the hazy surroundings. He rolled sideways and lifted his head slightly, instantly regretting the action. His head ached, throbbed. Pounding spikes of pain travelled down the top of his skull, all the way to his neck. He began to pant heavily as everything started to spin. Sickened, Vin laid back down onto the ground and closed his eyes, willing the nausea to pass. When the hard rain began moments later, Vin was already unconscious. The rain poured down to earth in huge sheets, drenching the helpless man.+ + + + + + +
'Five o'clock. Where did the time go?' Buck grinned to himself in the darkness of his room, the glowing red numbers on the bedside clock, the only light. He fell into bed, thinking about his night of carousing. He hadn't had this much fun in years, and it was only the first night of their trip. Burying his head under the pillows, he fell asleep with a smile on his face. He couldn't wait to tell JD and Vin about all the fun they missed.
+ + + + + + +
Two hours later, a ringing phone startled him out of a deep sleep. Dazed, he reached for the receiver.
"H'lo?"
"Buck, where the hell you been?" Nathan's exasperated voice sounded from the other line.
"Asleep Nate, what do you think?" Buck answered with annoyance, his brain starting to unfog as he spoke.
"Didn't you get my messages?" Nathan demanded.
"Messages? What the hell you talking about Nate?"
"JD's hurt. I've left you...."
"What!" Buck shouted, cutting off Nathan. "JD! Where is he! Where are you? What the hell happened!"
"At Santa Maria Hospital, Buck. JD's gonna be okay, but he has a severe concussion."
"Oh God! Nathan....when.....when did this happen?" Buck asked, closing his eyes, trying to calm himself so he could think clearly.
"About 1am near as they can tell," Nathan answered.
"One am? But, he was asleep? Wasn't he?" Buck said with confusion. "Never mind, Nathan," he added. "We can talk about this when I get down there."
"Good idea Buck," Nathan said.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," Buck promised, then hung up the phone. Looking down at himself, he decided to take a quick shower. He knew he smelled like smoke and alcohol, no way to arrive at a hospital bed.
Ten minutes later, he was grabbing a taxi and headed for the hospital.
+ + + + + + +
Nathan walked back into JD's room, carrying doughnuts and hot coffee.
"Josiah," he said softly.
"Nate," Josiah said, turning around from his place next to JD's bed.
"Any change?" Nathan asked.
"No, still out," Josiah said morosely. "You reach Buck?"
"Yeah, called him right before I went to get this stuff," he said, gesturing to the food and drink. "He's on his way over now."
"Thank the Lord for that," Josiah said, reaching for a doughnut and coffee. "Boy's gonna want to see him as soon as he wakes up. And I didn't want to be the one to tell him that Buck wasn't here."
"What do you think happened Josiah? Why would JD be out on the streets, when he said he and Vin were...." Nathan started to say, then stared back at his friend, horror stricken. "Josiah, what about Vin?"
"I'll try his room," Josiah declared, springing up to use the phone. "He's probably just waking up."
"Hope you're right, but I've got a bad feeling about this one," Nathan said. "You know as well as I do, that when Vin or JD gets into trouble, the other one isn't far behind."
"You've got a valid point there, brother," Josiah said, hurrying off to try and reach Vin.
"Josiah!"
The big man turned, seeing Buck tearing down the hall toward him.
"How's JD?" Buck said frantically.
"He's still asleep," Josiah answered. "Nathan's in there with him. I'll be right back."
Buck nodded, then walked into the room, steeling himself for the sight of JD, laying in the hospital bed.
"Nate?" Buck said softly as he approached the bed. "How's he doing?"
"He just stirred a minute ago Buck, I think he's gonna wake up soon," Nathan said with a small smile.
"Jesus Nate," Buck said, brushing back a patch of dark hair that spilled over the white bandage covering most of JD's forehead. "No matter how many times I've seen JD in the hospital, it still chokes me up something fierce to see him lying there. Ain't a sight I'm ever gonna get used to," he whispered as tears welled up in his eyes. "JD being this quiet, it ain't right Nathan," he said, fighting back tears as he reached down to squeeze JD's hand lightly.
"He's gonna be fine Buck," Nathan said, coming around the bed to lay a consoling hand on the mustached man's shoulder.
"B....Buck?" a small, trembling voice sounded from the bed.
"JD, yeah pard, it's me," Buck said, "Come on now and wake up for ol' Buck," he whispered in his best friend's ear."
"Vin...." JD moaned.
"What about Vin, JD?" Nathan asked, leaning over the side of the bed. "Was he with you JD?"
"Vin.....with me?" JD said, seeming confused. "No....no...." he began to stay, then his eyes closed and he slipped back asleep.
After he was sure JD was back asleep, Buck turned to Nathan. "What's this about Vin? What does he have to do with this?"
"Don't know if he does have anything to do with it, but Buck, think about it," Nathan said. "Those two are thick as thieves when there's trouble. And they both said they were going to bed early. Then JD's out wandering around and gets hit by a car."
"So then where the hell is he?" Buck hissed. "He just up and left JD all by himself?"
"We don't know anything for sure Buck, just settle down," Nathan said. "Josiah's calling the hotel now. And JD just said Vin wasn't with him."
Josiah entered the room.
"Bad news brothers. Vin isn't answering his phone. I woke Ezra up and he's checking Vin's room for us. One of the nurses said she'll have a phone brought in here for us, and Ezra said he'd call us back in a few minutes."
Josiah pounced on the phone when it rang.
"Ezra?......Vin's room's empty? You're sure?.....okay, okay.....sorry........We'll leave Buck here with JD and come back to the hotel and help you look......sure......see you in a few minutes."
"I shoulda known they were up to something," Buck said flatly. "Shoulda known better than to believe the two of them were gonna turn in early last night."
"Buck, don't beat yourself up over it, this isn't your fault," Josiah said. He turned to Nathan and motioned toward the door with his head. "I told Ezra we'd go back and help check around the hotel for Vin. Maybe he's at one of the restaurants, or at the pool or the beach."
"Chris is gonna kill me," Buck said, shaking his head.
"It isn't your fault Buck," Nathan said, echoing Josiah's words. "And we aren't even sure Vin's really missing. He could be out swimming in the ocean for all we know."
"Let's get going Nate," Josiah said. He looked over at Buck. "We'll keep you posted."
"Call me as soon as you can," Buck said and watched as the two men left the room.
+ + + + + + +
He was hot. His skin felt like it was on fire, his mouth dry as the desert. Vin cracked open an eye and peered around. White, sandy ground stretched all around him, dotted with a few scrub brushes and some scraggly vegetation. He rolled over, bringing the other side of the area into view. A cluster of metal, drywall and bricks, that at one time could have been small buildings, or even houses, lay strewn across the barren landscape on his left. He forced his other eye open, slitting both against the bright sunlight as he took in the entire picture of his surroundings.
He was lost. Didn't have a clue where he was, other than in the middle of nowhere.
His head pounded, but he brought himself up slowly onto hands and knees, and tried to get his bearings.
Chris was gonna kill him.
The thought sobered him, making him lurch to his feet and start walking, trying to find his way out of this nightmare. In the distance, he could make out the vague outline of a white building. He plodded forward in the sweltering heat, parched, limbs shaking from weakness, head a mass of splintered agony.
What had happened to him? Why was he all alone, out in the middle of nowhere?
"JD," he whispered, closing his eyes as a sudden, blinding vision of his younger friend, standing with him at the market near the hotel flashed before him.
"No....Oh God...no," he said, suddenly remembering what had happened to him as everything started to spin. What happened to JD? Had the two men robbed him, too? Was he laying somewhere, hurt? "It's my fault," he rasped out miserably. "I made him mad. He walked away from me. JD....I'm sorry JD," he said, knees nearly buckling. But then he staggered forward, determined to keep walking until he reached the building. He would find help there, he was sure.
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