Seasons
By 1st Endeavor
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thank you for your reviews
Chapter 4:
The shimmering, bright light had returned, attempting to draw him into it, but Tom recoiled from its touch. Whispering, familiar voices urged him to step into the light but he wasn't ready to go with them; there was an important matter left undone, unfinished.
In a split second his life had ended and now he wandered through a world that he could still see but could no longer interact with. He was no longer afraid or in pain but he had a sense of sadness and regret that others would have to pick up what he had been forced to let fall.
His gaze drifted around his old home, coming to rest on the young man sitting on the sofa: Charlie still needed him. Tom gazed sadly at his young friend; somehow there had to be ways that he could reach him and make him understand that it was time to let go….time to let him go.
This ethereal form of existence confused him and left him in a state of perpetual uncertainty. He still felt the same as he had in life and had all of his old memories but he also had new ones too, and yet, he had no body….. no corporeal form. Despite this fact Tom had stood in Charlie's office when Schiller attacked him and had tried to intervene but he had no substance and could only watch helplessly as Schiller brutally beat his friend. Afterwards, he sat by Charlie's hospital bed along with Alan and Don urging him to wake up. Tom had been able to make contact with him then, only Charlie had thought that he had just been a figment of his imagination.
Thomas Hill had stood on Johnston Ridge beside his friend when Charlie released his ashes to the wind and had soared over the valley seemingly free of all earthly bonds….save one…and unknowingly that one kept pulling him back.
There had been a few occasions where Tom was sure that Charlie had heard him but each time his friend would find some logical reason to explain it away. He had tried to help Don as well, but just like his brother he refused to acknowledge his existence. Tom was going to have to come up with a more drastic measure to get their attention and it had to be something that Charlie's analytical mind wouldn't be able to reason away. To that end he had already set a plan in motion and tomorrow at his dedication ceremony Tom would see it come to fruition. It would be a shock to Charlie and Don but he sensed that this was the only way that he could get them both to move on.
Tom stepped further into the shadows and watched in silence as Amita emerged from the bedroom and joined her husband on the sofa. He was glad that she was there for Charlie and regretted never having the chance to meet her while he was alive. He grinned at their antics and smiled fondly at Charlie's tortured expression while he was on the phone with his brother; laughing out loud as his friend raced to the bedroom door. He could have followed them; doors and walls were no longer barriers for him, and although he had hardly left Charlie's side since his death there were times like this that he would keep his distance. In life he had loved the young man as if he was his "little brother" and although Charlie would never know that he was watching him he still refused to betray the friendship they had shared by viewing the intimate moments that Charlie shared with his wife; Tom had not been a voyeur in life and had no intention of becoming one now.
Instead he turned his gaze back to the shimmering light. It was beginning to dim, fading away as it accepted the fact that he was not ready to join them yet. Tom knew it would be back for him and hoped that the next time he would be able to step into the light and leave this lonely existence behind.
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"Charlie sounded a little distracted." Alan remarked, frowning as he passed Don's cell phone over the front seat to Robin. "I hope he's not coming down with something."
"They're probably just waking up," Robin said reassuringly with a glance at her watch. "It isn't even six-o'clock yet."
"They got more sleep than we did," Don grumbled good-naturedly, hiding a relieved grin as he took a sip of coffee; distracted or not, just hearing his brother's voice had helped to ease his unsettled nerves.
"Tell me about it." Larry mumbled sarcastically from the rear; the diminutive professor had been snoring until the phone conversation had begun.
"What are you complaining about? " Alan huffed, tucking a small pillow behind his head. "You've been sleeping ever since we left the motel."
But Larry was already starting to drift off again and didn't respond to Alan's comments. "Figures," Alan grumbled irritably closing his own eyes.
Grinning over the antics of the two men Robin shifted around in her seat to face Don. "I'm really looking forward to the hike up Mt. St. Helens." She took a sip of coffee and tucked a strand of her shoulder length brown hair behind an ear. "You haven't hiked it before either, have you?"
"No," Don answered, slowing down as he rounded a sharp curve, "but Charlie has. He climbed it several times with Tom and because Tom worked for the US Geological Survey he was able to get special permission to take Charlie inside the crater too."
"Charlie took his death pretty hard, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he did," Don said, frowning. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure that he is completely over it yet. I'm hoping this dedication will help him find some closure."
Robin eyed him thoughtfully. She wasn't so sure that Don was over it either but she didn't want to get into to it in front of his Dad so she changed the subject. "I thought that we were going to get to see the crater too."
"Don't worry, we will see it, we just won't be allowed to enter the crater.
"Oh, that's good."
Shafts of light began to filter through the graying darkness around them as they drove along the mountainous highway; daylight had finally arrived. Patches of blue sky were appearing in the gray morning sky and the dark storm clouds were disappearing over the distant horizon. In a matter of minutes the sun was rising over the mountain and the surrounding forests began to take shape around them. Gray and black shadows that only seconds before had been invisible in the darkness began to morph into individual entities….some living and some dead.
"Oh my!" Robin exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand. "I've seen pictures of this but in person it's…it's just so stark….and haunting."
As far as the eye could see, blackened tree trunks stood amid the scorched earth; silent testimonials to the powerful explosion that had rocked Mt. St Helens in 1980, destroying 153,000 acres of forest in the process. When the volcano erupted the first trees in the path of the blast became part of the gas cloud that descended down the mountainside. As the force began to decline it blew all of the standing trees down and beyond that, the trees that were left standing were incinerated in the intense heat.
"That's a sobering sight, isn't it?" Don asked somberly, glancing briefly at the woods to his right. "Those standing dead tree forests are known as ghost forests. I learned all about them when Dad and I drove up with Charlie to attend Tom's funeral last year."
"I can understand why they're called ghost forests," she said softly, her eyes locked on the scorched landscape. "They look so…so…gray...and lifeless. I get an eerie feeling just looking at them. It's hard to imagine the kind of power that it would take to cause so much destruction."
"Twenty- four megatons of thermal energy." Fleinhardt mumbled sleepily from the back seat.
"What?" Robin asked, her head swiveling around to face Don.
The agent shrugged his shoulders and glanced in the rear view mirror. "I thought you were asleep, Larry."
When no answer was forthcoming, Robin twisted around so she could view the back seat then faced Don with an amused expression on her face. "He is asleep."
"He's just like Charlie," the agent chuckled, "even in his sleep he talks like a scientist."
Robin laughed then stared out the window again; her mirth fading as they drove along. An eerie silence fell between them as Forest Road 99 took them through acres and acres of the decimated forest; it's devastation a stark reminder of how fragile life really was.
The mountainous road was full of dips and turns so it was a slow drive through the darkened forest and it was a relief to both of them when the morning light began to reveal signs of life growing between the burnt patches of dead woods and soon after, they entered the living forest once again.
Robin broke the silence first. "Now that's a beautiful sight. "
"It sure is." Don agreed, releasing a relieved breath.
The young woman searched the road ahead then glanced sideways at Don. "Ah… do you think that we could make a pit stop soon."
The agent nodded, bringing the SUV to a stop at an intersection then took the 503 spur towards the small town of Cougar. He glanced at the gas gauge and frowned; he'd have to fill up before they crossed the mountain.
"We'll gas up in Cougar," Don told her. "It's the last place to get gas on this side of the mountain and they have a public rest area there.
"Good," Robin sighed, relieved by the news. "I was starting to get a little anxious."
Don laughed, "Yeah me too.
Twenty-one miles later the small town of Cougar came into view. The town consisted of a restaurant, store, rest area, a private campground and a gas station. Don veered off the road and eased the SUV alongside of the gas pump.
"This is really a town?" Robin asked doubtfully, gazing at the few standing buildings as she climbed out of the car.
"Sure is," Don chuckled, twisting off the cap to the gas tank. "Rest rooms are over there."
She turned in the direction that he had nodded and hurried over to the building.
"Dad?" Don called out, rapping on the passenger window. "Larry? If you guys need to take care of business now would be a good time."
"Mmm fine," Larry mumbled drifting back to sleep.
Alan opened one bleary eye then shifted around to get more comfortable." Me too," he grumbled falling back to sleep.
"Yeah…well don't say that I didn't ask." Don warned them, returning the hose to the gas pump just as Robin sidled up next to him. They entered the station together and while he paid for the gas she sauntered over to the coffee counter. Robin had just finished filling up a second cup when Don joined her.
"Better get two more," he said, placing an empty Styrofoam cup beneath the coffee machine.
"Why? They're both asleep."
Don snapped the lid on the full cup then reached for another empty one. "I have a feeling that they'll both be awake by the time we get back to the car."
"Really? What makes you so sure?"
"Wanna make a bet on it?"Don asked, giving her a wolfish grin. "I can think of a very interesting bet to make."
"I'm sure you can," Robin said, inclining her head and staring at him suspiciously. "But I don't think I'll take your bet," she replied slowly, "you're way too confident. I'm not an assistant district attorney for nothing, Eppes. Come on…give it up. How'd you know?"
"Ahhh…you got me." He confessed with a grin. "I saw them get out of the car while I was paying for the gas."
"Hah!" She exclaimed victoriously. "You can't fool me that easily."
"Yeah…yeah." Don chuckled, placing the four cups in a carrying container then nodded at some pastries sitting on the counter."Let's get some of those or my stomach's going to be growling all the way to Charlie's."
Robin picked up a box of freshly baked doughnuts that had just been delivered from a bakery in Castle Rock and followed the agent to the cash register. Don helped her carry the stuff to the car then quickly disappeared to take advantage of the rest rooms. When he returned a few minutes later Robin, Alan and Larry were all munching contentedly on the doughnuts.
"Hey, save me one of those." He teased as he hopped behind the wheel and pulled out onto the highway.
"Don't worry," Alan chuckled, passing the box back up to Robin. "There's plenty to go around."
"Hmmm," Don said a few minutes later after biting into one of the doughnuts. "This is really good."
Robin nodded her head in agreement then took a sip of coffee. "How much further is it to the cabin?"
"Not far," he answered, pausing to swallow. "Another fifteen minutes and we should be there."
True to his word after another fourteen and a half minutes he rounded a bend in the road and the entrance to Castle Rock Cottages came into view.
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It was the roar of the SUV engine as it drove up the driveway that gave Charlie and Amita the first clue that they had run out of time.
"Oh, my God!" Amita exclaimed frantically, scrambling to get her blouse buttoned. "They're here!"
The two of them had enjoyed the "shower" so much that they had lost track of the time and were now rushing to get dressed so that they could greet their family.
"Yeah, I got that." Charlie commented dryly as he hurriedly slipped on his jeans. He had dried quickly but droplets of water still clung to the dark hairs on his chest and back as he sat down on the bed to put on his socks and shoes. He hopped up a few seconds later, scooped up his shirt and strode rapidly toward the door.
"Ready?" he asked, sparing her a brief glance before flinging open the bedroom door. He shrugged into his tee shirt on the way to the front door but because his chest and back were still wet it was clinging to him so he was still struggling to get it in place when he jerked the door open.
They stepped out on the porch just as Don, Robin, Alan and Larry clamored out of the SUV.
"Hey, it's good to see you." Charlie exclaimed warmly, giving his Dad and Robin a light hug. He patted Larry on the shoulder before walking around to the rear of the car to greet Don as he popped open the trunk. Amita smiled, hugged them all then took Robin inside to show her the cabin.
Charlie clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Wow, you guys really made the trip in good time."
"I told you we would be here before seven, bro," Don grinned, hooking an arm around his brother's neck in a light embrace. He let him go quickly and began to unload the luggage, hoping that Charlie wouldn't see how relieved he was when he touched him; the anxiety he'd felt earlier all but disappeared with the physical contact. "We made it with five minutes to spare."
"Well, I think that we should give some of the credit to the wind," Alan said wryly, picking up his suitcase."Some of those gusts were so strong that I thought we were going to take flight."
Larry picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. "You know, Alan," he said thoughtfully, tapping a finger against his lips, "in mountainous areas, local distortion of the airflow can become severe."
"Oh no," Don groaned softly, sharing an amused glance with his brother and father.
Unperturbed, Larry went into lecture mode as they unloaded the car. "Jagged terrain combines to produce unpredictable flow patterns and turbulence, such as rotors, which can be topped by lenticular clouds."
"Ah, Larry?"
But the professor was too caught up in his explanation and motioned animatedly with his hands as he continued to speak. "Strong updrafts, downdrafts and eddies can develop as the air flows over hills and down valleys."
"That's what I said,Larry, strong gusts of wind pushed us along the highway." Alan said quickly, seeing his chance to get a word in. "Right?"
Larry paused, one finger in the air, momentarily distracted by Alan's comment. "Ah…right."
Charlie chuckled, clapping his friend on the back. "Come on Larry, let's get this stuff inside."
The three bedroom cottage boasted of one large bedroom which of course, was occupied by Charlie and Amita and two smaller rooms; one furnished with a full size bed and the other, two twin size beds. Alan and Larry were sharing the bedroom with the twin beds while Don and Robin took the other one. Since time was an issue they didn't bother to unpack but hurried to the kitchen to have breakfast before they left to meet up with the ranger at the Climbers bivouac.
While Amita and Charlie cooked the others set the table and soon they were all enjoying healthy portions of eggs, toast, and sausage. Amid lively conversation plates were emptied and coffee cups were filled, drained and filled again.
"Amita, this mountain air must agree with you." Alan said, smiling at his daughter-in-law. "You're cheeks are positively rosy this morning."
"Ah... thank you Alan," she blushed, turning an even deeper red. "Wow, these eggs taste really good this morning," Amita added in a desperate attempt to change the subject; it was far more likely that her rosy glow was due to her recent sexual activities than to the mountain air. "Don't you think so, Charlie?"
Charlie had ducked his head as soon as Alan had finished his sentence, concentrating on his breakfast in an attempt to avoid getting drawn into the conversation but he could tell from the tone of Amita's voice that he had better join in.
"Ah…yeah ….they ah…really hit the spot," he stammered, blushing slightly. 'Hmmm…ah…I think I need some more coffee." He grabbed his cup and headed for the counter planning to stay there until his color returned to normal.
Don's eyes had flickered between Charlie and Amita while he ate his breakfast and he'd noted the secretive glances between them. Her deepening color when Alan had complimented her and then Charlie's blush as he left the table had given him his final clue. Sensing an opportunity to tease his brother Don grabbed his mug and rose from the table.
"I could use a little more coffee myself."The agent announced, strolling casually over to the counter. He positioned himself behind Charlie as if he was waiting his turn to fill up his cup but leaned down and whispered in his brother's ear.
"That must have been one long, hot, and steamy shower, bro."
"What…what are you talking about?" Charlie squeaked, turning a deep crimson and almost dropping the coffee decanter.
"It's simple math, Chuck", Don smirked, reaching over to take the decanter from his hand.
"Math, huh?" Charlie's asked, turning around to face his brother. "You're going to teach me about math?"
"That's right bro," Don replied smugly, thoroughly enjoying himself. "For instance, the way the two of you kept sneaking looks at one another tells me that there's something that you don't want us to know… that's number one."
Really?" Charlie crossed his arms, deliberately assuming his professor persona in an attempt to throw his brother off track. "And what other empirical evidence do you have to base your theory on?"
"Empirical evidence, huh?" Don snickered. "Well, number two is the fact that you both keep blushing. " He held up two fingers then added a third before Charlie could protest. "Number three is the condition of your shirt."
"My shirt?" Charlie exclaimed defensively, sparing his shirt a brief glance. "What's wrong with my shirt?" So much for trying to throw Don off track, when his brother got wind of something he was like a dog with a bone and he would keep at it until he was satisfied.
"Your shirt is wet in a number of places suggesting that you put it on while you were still wet."
"I…I could have spilled some water on it."
Don arched an eyebrow. "That's possible, but doubtful since the back of your shirt is also wet. O, yeah, and then there's number four."
Charlie cleared his throat and asked in a skeptical tone. "Four?"
Don reached over and tapped the ends of his brother's hair. "You were going to take a shower when we finished talking and that was almost an hour ago but your curls are still wet." He held up four fingers and wriggled them at him. "So one, two, three and four equal one long, hot, steamy shower for two." He chuckled and pointed two of his fingers at his own eyes then back at Charlie's. "I see everything, man. It's what I do, remember?" Don glanced over his shoulder to make sure that no one had heard them then turned back, keeping his voice low. "I told you, Chuck, I see everything. Just like I figured it out when the two of you were trying to keep your engagement a secret, remember?"
Charlie rolled his eyes and picked up his coffee cup. "Dad told you about the engagement….and don't call me Chuck."
"Well…yeah…but I knew something was up." Don retorted defensively, his confidence taken down a bit. "I'm right about this, though…right?"
No longer blushing, Charlie stepped up beside of Don and gazed at his big brother. Brown eyes met brown eyes, both shining with an identical mischievous light.
"That, my dear brother, is an answer that you're never going to get," Charlie replied, the corners of his lips turning upwards in a secretive smile. He turned away and with a slight swagger to his step rejoined the others at the table.
The agent watched his brother walk away and nodded to himself. He was right…he just knew it! Don stuck his tongue in his cheek to keep from grinning as he sat down opposite Charlie and tried to concentrate on the conversation at the table. Charlie's deliberate refusal to look at him was making it more difficult for him to keep his mouth shut and he was just about to say something else when Robin elbowed him in the ribs.
Surprised, he looked over and whispered. "Ow! What's that for?"
"For tormenting your younger brother."
Don's jaw dropped. "How did…?"
Robin interrupted him before he could finish and leaned closer. "You're not the only one who can put two and two together, Agent Eppes." She grinned broadly then came to Charlie's rescue by changing the subject and asking about Tom.
"Charlie, tell me about Tom? He was Don's age, right?"
"That's right."
"So he was someone older that you looked up to at Princeton." She smiled softly. "It must have been nice to have someone there besides your Mom that you could relate too, you know, a friend that could help keep you on the right path and out of trouble."
Larry chuckled. "Oh my dear, I'm afraid that you're forgetting that Tom was just a young man himself and, as such, was prone to the many pitfalls that befall all young men of a certain age. So suffice it to say that he did lead young Charles astray on a few occasions."
"Really?" Alan huffed. "Do tell."
"No way, "Don exclaimed in surprise. "Mom always bragged about Tom, said he was level headed and that she could rely on him to keep you from getting into any trouble."
Charlie grinned smugly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "It's true. We did have our moments."
"Okay, let's hear it." Don demanded. "We have a little time before we have to leave."
Charlie and Larry exchanged glances then spoke one word simultaneously, "The keg party!"
Alan's eyes widened in surprise; leaning forward he peered at his youngest over the tops of his glasses. "Keg party? Margaret never said anything about a keg party."
"That's because she never found out about it, Dad."Charlie smirked, taking a sip of his coffee.
Larry leaned forward conspiratorially. "Alan, there is a highly secretive tradition at Princeton that the senior students keep from their parents. It's sort of a rite of passage, if you will, that all seniors try to observe before they graduate. Obviously, it is not sanctioned by the University but they tend to look the other way as long as things don't get out of hand."
"Wait. You were supposed to throw a keg party?" Don asked in disbelief, staring at his brother. "You were still in puberty, kid. There's no way you would have been able to throw a party."
"Hah," Larry exclaimed gleefully, throwing his hands in the air, "that is where the intrepid Mr. Hill entered the picture."
Stunned at the revelation, Alan stared at his youngest. "How did you manage to get that by your Mother?"
Charlie shrugged his shoulders. "Mom wasn't there, she had gone home to attend a function for Don and I convinced her to let me stay at Princeton. I simply told her that I needed to study for my finals."
"You were just sixteen," Alan said disapprovingly. Frowning he turned to face Fleinhardt. "Larry, you knew about this?"
"Actually, Alan, I found out about it in a rather "round about" way," he replied, shaking his head at the memory, "and, if I may point out in my defense, my involvement came about after the deed was done."
Amita tilted her head to the side, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "But Charlie, didn't you tell me that Marshall stole the keg?"
Before Charlie could answer Don leaned around Robin to catch Amita's eye. "Marshall Penfield?" When she nodded he turned to face his brother. "So, somehow you managed to get a party together but Penfield stole the keg?" He let out a soft whistle."No wonder you two didn't get along."
Alan stretched out his hand and tapped his youngest on the forearm. "Ah…you are going to tell us the story, right?"
Charlie's eyes drifted around the table, noting the eagerness in their eyes. He'd never spoken to anyone about that weekend, had never shared the story with another living soul. It had been an experience that he and Tom had kept between themselves, not even Larry had heard the full story.
But Tom was gone now so perhaps it was time to share those experiences with the people that were closest to him, and in doing so, maybe it would help him move on. He didn't think that Tom would mind, and besides he told himself, the story would give his family a better understanding of the man that they had all gathered together to honor.
Tom's ghost moved from the shadows and stopped behind his friend's chair. "It's okay Charlie," he whispered softly. "I would like to hear the story again too."
TBC
