A handsome young man, long light brown hair flying in the wind, ran swiftly along the paved road. "Yehaw!" he yelled back at his younger and smaller friend wearing a green bandana around his dark hair that matched his green shorts.
The smaller man was trying vainly to keep up with the long-legged roadrunner. His arms pumped visibly, and his legs were doing all they could; but to his frustration, he couldn't catch up with the taller friend and sighed loudly.
The handsome young man turned, grinning and jogging backwards. "C'mon, JD! Can't you go faster than that? Everyone is always saying how fast you can run!"
Huffing, JD retorted, "Compared to normal people! Didn't say I could outrun the road runner!"
Vin Tanner laughed in a way that would have amazed his other friends. He loved running in the wind and feeling the tightening of muscles. He also loved interacting with his young friend. There was no expectation of him being the dyslexic, shy young man he seemed to others. JD, the only one of the seven younger and smaller; looking more like a mid-teen, looked up to Vin and would help Vin on anything he needed rather than tease if Vin was truly frustrated. Vin appreciated that.
But Vin frowned a bit as he thought. JD usually kept up with him better than that. Either the kid
was not feeling well, or Vin had merged into supersonic speed. He deliberately slowed, still
jogging backwards with JD about fifty yards behind. "Hey, turtle, catch up!" he called. He
expected the dark-handed youngster to retort and speed up; but he was puzzled as he watched JD's hazel ones widen as he pumped his legs and arms faster than Vin had ever seen and yelled something unintelligible at Vin. Vin dimly thought JD was trying to prove something and said, jokingly "Hey don't run me down!" when JD launched, tackling Vin and twisting both to the side of the road, ending with both tumbling down a rocky ditch, filled with many plants, some unpleasant to land on. Both felt the whish of the wind from the pickup whizzing by. Scrapped, bruised, bloodied and with a few thorns poking into both; both lay wheezing, JD laying a few feet away while Vin had been stopped by a small bush full of thorns.
"Damn it, JD," he got out before gasping in frustration at the thorns piercing his body in multiple places.
Stones were sliding into Vin as he sat up and called out, "Hey watch the rockslide!"
Vin was not too surprised the stones were set off by Chris, Buck, Nathan and Josiah scrambling down to assist the fallen young men. From the opposite side a black Jaguar screeched to a halt with Ezra hurrying down as well, though he was careful not to discharge rocks.
"Vin! JD!" All yelled anxiously. Predictably, Chris and Josiah ran to Vin as Buck and Nathan
headed a few yards beyond to drop beside JD.
"All I did was call him a turtle and he tackled me!" Vin exclaimed, still brushing off the dirt.
Chris chose to ignore the comment as he asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah, cowboy, I'm used to being tackled by Batman's Robin," he grouched using one of the most commonly used nicknames for Buck and JD. "Kid all right?" he asked a bit anxiously as he noticed JD gasping for breath as Nathan and Buck kneeled beside the boy.
"Nathan'll take care of JD," Josiah soothed.
"Let me up," Vin demanded, though he suddenly groaned, favoring his left foot and grimacing.
"Think you broke it?" Chris asked casually, knowing Vin would be upset if he fussed.
"No," Vin ground out, "but it hurts. Never mind, get me over to JD," Vin demanded.
Chris and Josiah shrugged, knowing their protests would fall on Vin's deaf ears, and they helped Vin limp the few yards to where Buck and Nathan were fussing over the small kid.
"How's JD?" Vin asked anxiously as JD's eyes were filled with panic as he looked back and forth from Buck to Nathan.
"Breathe slow, you had the air knocked out of you," Nathan advised, as Buck held JD's right hand and ruffled through the silky dark hair to comfort the youth.
Sometimes, sometimes, as Vin watched the other five now huddled around JD, he wished he could have the attention JD always got when hurt. But then, JD, all of twenty, looked fifteen, innocent and vulnerable.
Vin was only a few years older, but no one would call Vin Tanner innocent and vulnerable. The tough exterior he was proud of kept fussing to a minimum.
As the others gathered, JD was finally able to slow his breathing and relax.
"Nice tackle, Mean JD Green," Vin grumbled. "Could've killed me."
"You need to laud him, Mr. Tanner, the lad saved your life and if all you have to complain of is a
hurt ankle, better that than being a mangled body in a coffin."
Chris blew out his breath, confirming. "Cost me 10 years of my life, watching that pickup bearing down on you and knowing that JD couldn't possibly run fast enough to save you."
Josiah nodded, "Took 10 years of my life and at my advanced age, I can't spare that."
Buck said crossly, "Well, I've lost 20 years and it won't come back until I know JD is all right."
JD managed a small smile then patted his neck, looking panicked.
Ezra looked for and found the small silver chain and put into JD's grateful right hand. "Here is your lucky St. Patrick's charm, my young friend, though we made need to get Mr. Tanner one after today."
Vin said gently. "Thanks, Kid. 'ppreciate you saving my sorry hide and all. You should sign up for the next Olympics, no road runner could beat your speed in the 100 meters. 'course I know no Olympic medal could compete with your mama's gift on your 18th birthday."
Hazel eyes met the blue eyes and JD nodded, patting the cherished gift, the last one from his adored mother. JD's heart was still pounding from fright at seeing a pickup speeding and seeming to swerve straight for Vin. JD had shouted a warning, but Vin hadn't caught what he was yelling about. JD wasn't about to let his friend get hurt, but for a brief second, thought he wouldn't be in time to save Vin. JD felt he had lost 10 years of his life, too.
Vin put a head to his head, feeling a bit dizzy as the adrenaline rush left, then growled as he noticed Chris and Nathan eyeing him with concern. "Can't a man show concern for a kid just saved his worthless hide without an audience?" he snapped.
"As long as the man don't fall over himself," Nathan retorted and smiled at Vin's visible annoyance.
Nathan was more concerned about JD's injuries and stripped his green t-shirt off to JD's annoyance.
Everyone stared at the bruises made even more visible by JD's white skin.
"Nathan!" JD complained.
"Don't worry, Kid; I won't let Nathan strip you nekkid, and even iffen he does, you've nothing to be ashamed about, according to Casey," Vin teased, loving the rosy blush that stained JD's cheeks.
JD clutched his shirt back to him when Nathan examined the back of JD's throbbing head. "You have a nasty knot back there. Your wrist might be broken the way it is swelling. We need to get you and Vin checked out."
That brought a bellow from Vin. "Oh, no, you don't! I ain't going to no hospital." Vin expected the glares from Josiah, Nathan, Ezra and Chris, but Chris simply turned away with an "Okay," much to the confusion of the other men expecting no-nonsense Chris to order Vin to go.
Chris turned and knelt by JD, whose blinking eyes were filled with pain and confusion. Chris touched JD gently on the shoulder, patted it and then went over to Vin. "You'll be okay, JD." Chris reassured, standing between the two. We'll get you to a hospital to check you out."
"No!" JD suddenly screamed, surprising the other men. "I'm not a baby, I don't need a hospital, just take me home and let me rest!"
Buck, startled, tried to persuade his young friend. "Kid, you are hurt, Nathan knows better than you, a head injury is serious and so is that wrist."
"Don't care, Buck," JD snapped, yanking his uninjured arm from Buck.
The other men were startled at this unusual response from JD and they looked at him in bewilderment.
Each of the other men tried to reason with JD, but he was unyielding. Buck was going crazy and Vin was looking ashamed.
Ezra moved to Vin and said quietly, "If you would go, JD will follow your example."
Josiah leaned in to add softly, "JD admires you, and if you're tough enough to skip the hospital, he will, too."
"Call the ambulance," Vin gripped, as he sat besides JD. "We may be tough, Kid, but I can't run on a bum ankle and if you are seriously hurt from saving me, I won't forgive myself."
"Okay, Vin," JD said in a small and meek voice, and then JD closed his eyes.
Looking at the gratitude and relief in Buck and Nathan's eyes, Vin didn't complain about going to the hospital again.