I haven't seen the challenge that inspired three wonderful missing scenes this week, but I decided to take a shot at the missing scene myself. Hope you like the results.
My eyes have seen
Hardcastle couldn't believe his ears. The kid wanted to know what had taken him so long? He said the first thing that came to mind, "Vague directions." That earned him a weak attempt at a grin, and then Mark's eyes slid shut as his body went limp.
Hardcastle reacted without thinking, his hand coming up to tap gently on Mark's cheek. "Mark. Mark, wake up." The urgent tapping sped up until the younger man moved his head slightly and moaned at the pain even that small movement caused. Hardcastle felt his pulse slow as he realised that Mark wasn't planning on leaving him just yet. He didn't think he could handle his own grief and guilt as well as Millie's, if the worst were to happen. Then he thanked his lucky stars that the kid didn't have the energy to suggest comparing pulse rates. Hardcastle didn't like to lose, especially not at a game he'd invented.
Dropping to his knees next to Mark, he debated what to do next. He didn't want to leave the younger man alone again, not after he'd just managed to find him. But Mark needed medical attention immediately. Deliberately, he reached out and placed one hand on each side of Mark's face, gently turning Mark's head so that the younger man was looking at him. Waiting until the glazed eyes focused on his face, he spoke, "Mark, I'm going up the hill to get Millie to fetch the police and an ambulance. Hold on for me, okay? Just stay awake. Promise me."
Mark struggled to get his lips to move. He was so cold, and tired. He didn't think he'd be able to do what the judge wanted this time. Hardcastle had a tendency to ask for the impossible, and somehow expected things to arrange themselves to suit him. Mark wondered if anyone had ever said 'no' to the judge and been able to make it stick. The gentle warmth on his face made him realise that Hardcastle was still there, still holding him and waiting for his answer. Trying to scrape together enough energy to reassure the judge, Mark had a revelation. The judge had found him, in spite of Millie's predictions and where he'd been dumped. Maybe impossible things were possible in the judge's universe. In which case … "I promise." he whispered.
The relief in Hardcastle's eyes was worth the effort. Patting Mark's cheek once more before leaving, the older man clambered quickly up the hillside. Halfway up, he yelled as loudly as he could, "Millie!" Luck was with him, and a few seconds later, her face appeared above him. "Millie, take the truck back along the road and lead Frank here. Ask him to get an ambulance." As she nodded, Hardcastle yelled once more, "I'm going back to Mark," and then he turned and moved back down the hill as fast as he could.
Mark had heard the judge's yells, but he lacked the energy to listen hard enough to decipher what was being said. It was enough to know that the judge had found him. The judge always found him. It had been that way since they'd met, and lying on the edge of death, Mark understood how precious that kind of support was. He knew that without the belief that Hardcastle would find him, he'd have given up during the night. If he'd allowed himself to believe Millie's visions completely, he wouldn't have been able to hang on. But his eyes had seen something that hers never would, and the certainty that was Milton C Hardcastle had been enough to make him wait.
A sudden rustling beside him marked Hardcastle's return, and then he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I thought I told you to stay awake, kiddo." The words were stern, but the tone gentle. Mark forced his eyelids open a crack, and joked quietly, "Just resting my eyes, Judge."