Disclaimer: Don't own

A/N This is a rewrite of Home Lights Burning, I had to change a few things in order to make it a longer story. Thanks to all of you who read the first version. Hope you still enjoy it.

Follow the Lights Home

Chapter 1 Hope's Light

"But hope is no less realistic than despair. It is still our choice whether to live in light or lie down in darkness."

― Rick Yancey, The Isle of Blood

Vin Tanner didn't know where he was. His wrist hurt the most but he was achy all over. Trying to stand up he found himself held down. Panicking in the dark for a few moments he realized he was just seat belted in. Fumbling with the straps he hissed at the pain in his left wrist. Trying again one handed he was finally able to free himself.

Once he was untangled he glanced around the darkened car interior. A vague memory of his father's shout of alarm caused him to panic.

"Dad, Dad you alright?" his desperate pleas landed on deaf ears.

Stumbling his way one handed over the front seat, he hesitantly called out to his dad again, "Please, wake up I don't know what to do, dad." Leaning against his father's seat belted chest Vin broke down and sobbed.

"I've got to get help," he whispered to his father," Dad, I'll go find you help."

Looking about him he sniffled trying to compose himself. Shivering he began to feel the cold from the broken back window. Looking around he found the tattered car blanket and draped it across his dad. His dad had done it many times for him on their camping trip across the country. He tried to locate his hiking boots, but they were nowhere to be found. Heaving a sigh he reached over to the driver's side door handle. Yanking on it he tried to open it. Having no success he climbed to the passenger side the same result. Sliding into the back seat he didn't even bother with the child safety locked doors. He brought his knees to his chest. Dropping his head he began to sob in despair. Feeling something cold against his face caused his head to shoot up. Glancing up he felt snowflakes from an early September snow fall, coming in from the broken window.

He tried to carefully climb out the window. Feeling the glass bite into him he gasped, but continued. He slid out and down reaching the ground with a cry of pain. Wiping his bleeding hands on his already dirty clothes he made his way to his bare feet. Cradling his sore arm he walked around the car finding it in a ravine. Trying to determine which direction to head; unable to see passed the trees he could see nothing in which to make his way towards. It was extra dark with the overcast sky, but at least it had stopped snowing.

Glancing once more back towards the car he strengthened his resolve. Using his dad's teachings he was pretty sure he was headed north. Stumbling through the dark he finally spotted a light in the distance. Running in excitement he tripped over a protruding tree root. Falling with a scream he landed on his cradled wrist. Seeing dark spots he threw up his dinner. Writhing next to the mess he sobbed. He finally wiped his face and got shakily to his feet. Tentatively he walked slowly towards the light. Now with his excitement controlled he could see the light was quite a distance away.

He fought through unseen overhanging tree branches he stumbled over rocks and roots. Wincing in pain and stopping to inspect his feet at first; eventually it all just became one big hurt he continued on. He only stopped to catch his breath. Branches tore at his limbs and clothes, leaves and dirt clung to his bloody feet, and his slightly long, dark blond hair clumped with grim and blood.

Coming to a little stream he hesitated. His cold and sore feet refused to go into the freezing water. Seeing the light teasingly flickering across the water, he forced his legs to move, teeth chattering he waded across. Huddling in a ball on the other side he tried to warm his numb limbs but water clung to his jeans. Using a nearby tree he dragged himself up, once again heading towards the light.

The ground began to slope up. He lost sight of the light. Filled with dread he forced his tired legs to move as fast as he could. Tripping up the slight hill panting, he let out a strangled sound of relief at the top, once again, in view of the light. Collapsing he faded out of conscience for a few minutes. Thinking of yesterday and hiking with his dad; the sun had been so warm.

Once he came back to himself he began his trek once again. With thoughts of his father he continued on. The first time they went camping, just the two of them, after his mama died; how he wished he had that big fire now, sitting next to his dad as he told his star stories. His shivering kept jolting his hurt arm causing him to moan as he traveled on.

The snow that had stopped without sticking when he left the car began to fall once more. The wet flakes melted on contact with his goose-bumped flesh but settled in his hair. Sloshing and sliding in the mud he continued towards the light, and hopefully warmth as he became drenched. His dad had taken him and his Mama on a trip up north to a ski resort before she got sick. He remembered falling in the snow in his big snow suit, he couldn't even walk in it. He wished he had that suit now.

Losing his footing he felt himself sliding down the side of a slight trial. Trying to find something to grab on to he found nothing, being carried away by the weak ground. Landing on the ground with a cry of pain he fought his way out of the mess of wet dirt. Disoriented he looks around trying to find the light after his rapid descent. Unable to see it he closed his eyes and fell to his knees cold, tired and hurt. Opening his tear filled blue eyes he spotted the light from his lower vantage point.

Carefully standing up he stumbles his way through the trees. Closer than he imagined he tries to call out as he enters the yard. Unable to get any sound out he clings to the porch railing as he makes his way to the door. Cautiously he brings up his hand and knocks on the door.

It takes too long so he knocks again with more force. He starts to feel despair when the door finally opens. He squints into the sudden flood of light, stepping back in surprise. He stands a moment in shock just staring at the silhouette of the man dressed in black against the light. With a sigh of relief he collapses in the doorway exhausted. He has made it to help. He reached the light.

A/N Stay tuned the next chapter I will be posting quite soon.