Foolish Words

JD stared out over the land. He had come here to be by himself and go over things from the last few weeks. Two weeks ago for the first time in his life, he'd been licked, and by Chris no less. He remembered afterwards how each of his friends had made sure he was alright each in their own way. Especially Ezra who had fetched him from town and Josiah who had listened to him as he talked. He had even made his peace with Chris and everything had been fine between them all.

The day after, they had all sat and talked about it and how they all wanted to make sure JD didn't take foolish or unnecessary risks. They then proceeded to explain how they would go about this, and JD balked. He proceeded to tell them that they had no right and that he wasn't a kid.

Two Weeks Ago

"You want to what?! No! You have no right! No right at all to treat me like a child!" JD shouted as he paced furiously back and forth in the kitchen where the men had gathered.

Josiah explained it to him in another way. "JD remember our talk in the barn after you and Ezra came back?" Josiah asked as he watched the younger man stop his pacing. He noticed the way JD thought about the question a moment and when he nodded, Josiah continued. "You told me that you were born an only child and came out here seeking adventure and got six older brothers to boot. Now were you just saying that or do you truly believe that?" Josiah asked.

JD suddenly found himself under the scrutiny of six pairs of eyes. He looked around at each man, then back at Josiah. "I wasn't just saying it Josiah. You're like family to me, but what's that got to do with it?" JD finally asked.

"Well hell kid I would hope so. We feel the same about you and each other. Otherwise I don't think we would've decided to buy this place and live here together." Buck said slapping the younger man heartily on the back, casually ignoring the question tossed on at the end.

"Mr. Wilmington is correct in his postulation. We all feel a brotherly quality towards each other and as for what our reasons are, well I believe that as your older brothers, it is our duty to educate you in certain things and sometimes that education includes some chastisement from time to time when you refuse to heed our warnings." Ezra spoke as he regarded JD from his seat.

JD blushed slightly with a small smile as he heard the affirmation from everyone. He sighed and stared down at the top of the table. When he looked up a few minutes later, he said, "I know you all want to do this because you care but, does it really have to be like that?" He asked his voice sounding a little mortified at what they were proposing to do.

Vin placed his hand on JD's shoulder causing the younger to jump. "Easy JD. I think we decided on that way because of several things, main one bein' that it's personal and us considerin' each other brothers we figured it'd work."

The room went silent. They all watched JD as he stared a bit at Vin then looked down. They weren't sure what the youngest of them thought…well they knew what he thought, but they weren't sure if he'd accept it. They hadn't wanted to force it upon him, but the day before, Chris had taken things into his own hands and the others still felt JD should at least have some say in it.

Present Day

JD whistled for his horse and when she trotted over, he got on and nudged her towards town. His mind was a in a whirl and he was only vaguly aware of things when he got back into town. Suddenly there was a scream that jolted JD out of his thoughts.

"Get down JD!" Chris yelled from where he was hidden behind a wagon.

The shout was enough to get JD moving. He dropped quickly from his horse and went running for cover. He was swiftly grabbed as he passed one building and his gun was in the person's face before any words were said. His eyes widened and he carefully lowered his gun. "Dammit Buck I could've killed you." He ground out as he looked at his friend.

"I know, now turn and shoot them." Buck said calmly turning his young friend towards the streets.

A quick nod and JD was joining in the fray. A few minutes later the gunfire stopped and the seven peacekeepers begin to emerge from their hiding spots.

"Everyone okay?" Chris asked of his men.

Everyone had said they were alright when Ezra came forward limping slightly. "Mr. Jackson, I believe I have need of your assistance." He said as he dropped to the ground.

"Alright someone help me get him up and to my place!" Nathan shouted as he began to lift Ezra. Vin was by his side and helping Nathan get Ezra to his feet. All three went into Nathan's office a few moments later.

JD had a look of pure shock on his face. He turned to Buck and asked, "What happened?"

"Well kid, we were in the saloon when these guys showed up and started acting up. Couldn't figure out what they wanted though. Chris you ever get a reason?" Buck asked as he looked over at Chris an put his hand on JD's shoulder.

"Nope. Ain't one alive to ask either." Chris stated.

JD sighed. He then shrugged Buck's hand off his shoulder. "Leave me alone Buck."

"Hey alright ok." Buck said holding up his hands and backing up a step.

JD looked at all of them a moment then turned and strode towards the church. He could feel the eyes of the others as he walked up the steps. JD hesitated slightly at the door, then went in and shut it behind him. He walked up to the front pew, took his hat off, then removed his gunbelt and laid it next to him as he sat down.

"I should've been here. I had to go off and take time to think about things and I should've been here. How could I have been so stupid. I ain't no good to any of them if I'm not here to help out when they need me. I'm worthless Lord. I'm also a lousy shot. I didn't hit a one." JD spoke into the emptiness of the church.

Well not so empty as blue eyes brightened with anger at the condemning words. Long strides brought Josiah quickly down the aisle and directly next to JD. "John Daniel, I can't belive my ears at what I'm hearing."Josiah admonished sharply.

Startled at the voice, JD jumped up and stared at the owner of the voice. "Damn Josiah you scared me." He said not registering the preacher's words.

"I'm gonna do more than scare you son. What do you think you're doing talking like that about yourself." Josiah asked looking at the younger man sternly.

"It's true Josiah. I should've been here. If I had been, then you would've had an extra gun from the beginning and Ezra wouldn't have been shot." JD said scooping up his hat and gunbelt.

Josiah grabbed JD's arm to keep him from leaving and asked, "You know that for a fact John? Do you honestly think that if you had been here that Ezra wouldn't have gotten shot?"

"I'm almost certain." JD said trying to remove himself from Josiah's grip.

Josiah shook JD slightly. "Almost certain? If you're almost certain and not absolutely certain then it's safe to say that had you been you been here from the beginning then Ezra would've probably still have gotten shot. Correct?" Josiah asked as he looked at JD.

JD sighed and shrugged. "I guess it's possible, but what if it happened because he didn't see someone to another side of him and I could've prevented it from happening if I had been here." He said looking at Josiah with a look of desperation.

"Son Ezra's fine. Nathan said so. The bullet only nicked Ezra and Nathan's patching him up now. I know because I went there and then came here just in time to hear those terrible words against you." Josiah said as he stared into those chocolate colored eyes.

"He's gonna be alright?" JD asked looking at Josiah with a mixture of disbelief and relief.

"Yeah son he is." Josiah told him as he began to regard JD with a fond affection. He knew the kid would beat himself even more if he though Ezra was in a more serious condition. Josiah was glad he had checked on Ezra before coming into the church so he'd be able to share that small bit of good news with the kid. The look on JD's face told Josiah that he had put this off long enough and that it needed to be finished. "John turn around and grab the back of the pew." Josiah ordered firmly as he began to turn JD himself with his hand still on JD's arm.

JD looked at Josiah with huge wide eyes at the order. He was about to ask what for, then realized what Josiah planned to do and began to fight him. "No way! What did I do?" He asked trying to wrench his arm away from Josiah's firm grip.

"You know exactly what you were doing son. You were sitting here discouraged and instead of asking for help, you started berating yourself and worse making disparaging remarks about yourself and your abilities. None of those things you said are true about you son and I aim to see that you realize that. Now…uh." Josiah paused and gestured towards the pew.

A look behind him at the gesture and JD turned big brown eyes back to Josiah. He swallowed hard as he stared at the big man a moment. Being forced to accept and accepting willingly were two different things and JD wasn't sure he could willingly do what Josiah was asking him to. JD closed his eyes and finally forced himself to turn and bend to grab the back of the pew.

Josiah watched as JD fought internally with himself over whether to do it or not. When he saw the younger man close his eyes, turn and take hold of the pew, Josiah took a deep breath and sighed slightly. "John," He started as he put a hand on JD's back, "I told you once before that I had a good mind to impart some brotherly attention on you for your choice of words, I have that good mind again and this time, I'm acting on it." He said his voice quiet but resounding in the empty church. He lifted the back of JD's jacket up over the younger man's back and brought his hand back.

JD could feel the tail of his jacket being lifted and before he could do anything he felt Josiah's powerful hand descend onto his backside. His eyes bulged at the smack and he hissed loudly at the pain that followed quickly. He gripped the back of the pew tightly as Josiah's hard hand continued to fall on his backside.

When it was over, Josiah helped JD to stand and then, after taking in the miserable and downhearted expression on the young man's face, Josiah drew JD into a hug, his right hand gently cupping the back of JD's neck while he patted the young man's back gently. He didn't speak knowing that JD would prefer the quiet. The fine trembling of JD's back told the preacher that his young friend was finally giving in to his tears.

"There's no shame in tears John. God gave them to us to shed when we needed to whether in compassion for someone else as well as for when we we're also in pain." Josiah spoke in the silence of the church.

JD nodded, though he still silently shed tears and tried not to give away that he was crying. He pulled away after a while, his eyes red and puffy and his head hung slightly. He looked up after a minute of standing that way. "Thanks Josiah. I…I guess I deserved that. Mama wouldn't have liked me talking about myself that way neither." JD said a small smile appearing on his face.

"That's good and now you know that neither do I. You are a very loved and valuable team member John Daniel. Always know that." Josiah said as he put a hand on JD's shoulder and squeezed it affectionately.

A small nod of JD's head acknowledged that he understood. "I should go, it's my turn at the jail." JD said after a minute. He turned to go, but was stopped by the hand still on his shoulder.

"JD, we have it covered son. Why don't you go home and lie down?" Josiah said as he smiled.

JD shook his head. "No I'm fine. It's my job Josiah. I'll be alright. I'll just lean against the rail outside or the side of the building. It's nothing." JD assured him with another smile more genuine gracing his face.

Josiah nodded and removed his hand knowing JD wanted no special treatment afterwards. He just wanted to go on with the way things were though a little wiser in his actions and thoughts. He watched as JD slipped out the door and headed down the street to Nathan's office to check on a friend before heading to the jail.