Chapter Seven

Special Agent Bobby Manning narrowed his gaze as he studied his best friend across the small table at Slappy's. The table was filled with food, but neither man was very interested.
"So, Spark, what's on your mind?" Bobby half-heartedly slid a French fry through a pile of ketchup before popping it into his mouth.
Jack's head snapped up in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, mate. As much as we love Slappy's, I don't think either of us has much of an appetite right now. I know you'd rather be spending time with the beautiful Miss Thomas. So, being the highly trained investigative agent I am, I figure there must be something going on in that thick skull of yours."
Jack shrugged. He picked up his Sloppy Joe then set it down again. "How are you doing, Crash? I mean, with Stanley and everything?"
Bobby sighed heavily. He reached for an onion ring and twirled it around one finger. "I don't know. It doesn't seem real. Stanley was one of the best. Just like Shep."
"And Wes."
Bobby nodded slightly. "It hurts." He took a sip of his Code Red Mountain Dew. "And it hurts even more to know that Tara is hurting. What about you?" Bobby nodded his head at his friend. "How are you holding up?"
Jack fiddled with the straw stuck into his Coke, seemingly fascinated by the piece of plastic. He shrugged one shoulder. "I'm alright." He hesitated. "It's made me think about a lot of things."
"Yeah, like what?"

Bobby's innocent question filled Jack with dread.
How could he explain to Bobby his concern for his friend's eternal destiny after years of silence? Would Bobby even listen? A moment of silence stretched by as Jack wrestled with his thoughts.
Bobby began twirling the onion ring again. Distracted, Jack plucked the onion ring off Bobby's long finger and took a bite. "Hey!"
"Didn't your mom ever tell you not to play with your food, Crash?" He mumbled.
"Didn't yours ever tell you not to talk with your mouth full?" Bobby shot back.
Jack smiled slightly and quickly swallowed the mouthful of greasy food. His face became serious again. "Bobby, where do think Stanley is now? What do you believe happens after death?"
Bobby was quiet. His eyebrows drawn together in thought. But he didn't seem surprised by the question.
Finally, he shrugged one shoulder. "I don't know, mate. I mean, it's nice to think that there's a heaven and we'll all be together again. But I don't know. I guess I've always kind of thought that death was the end. Nothing left." Tears burned his green eyes as he thought of Shep, Wes, Stanley, and others he had loved and lost simply ceasing to exist.

Gritting his teeth to keep the tears away, Bobby glanced back at Jack. "What about you? What do you think?"
Jack swallowed hard. "Well, first I think I owe you an apology." He shook his head. "No, I know I owe you an apology." Bobby shifted uncomfortably and started twirling another onion ring. At Jack's look, he chuckled and took a bite instead. "For what?"
"For not being a very good friend."
Bobby stared at him in confusion. "What in the world are you jabbering about, mate?" He lifted his sandwich and finally took a bite. Though not as large a one as normal.
"I've failed you as a friend by not telling you some very important things." Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "See, I don't believe that death is the end. I never have. I believe that everyone ends up in one of two places forever. And you don't get to heaven by just being one of the good guys. I failed you by never telling you how you can go to heaven. And I haven't been living the life I should. So, I'm going to be making some changes."
"What kind of changes?" Bobby's voice was quiet.
"Yesterday I joined the church Sue and Lucy attend. I made a commitment to be there as often as I can. And I'm going to start going to a men's Bible study too. I need the accountability. I need to get back to my relationship with God, to learn, and grow. I would like for you to go to church with us. And to the Bible study." Jack paused and took a long sip of his Coke. Bobby glanced around the small dining area of Slappy's uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken.
But he was also curious. "Ok. So, if being one the good guys doesn't get you to heaven, what does a bloke have to do?" "That's just it, Bobby. There is nothing we can do. Our sin has separated us from God. We can't earn or work our way to heaven. It is only through God's Son that we can get there."
Jack swallowed hard. "I don't know where Stanley is. Or Wes. I do know that Shep was a Christian. I have to know where my friends stand, Bobby. I can't lose another friend, Crash and not know where he is."
Bobby sat back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. "Jack, I understand your urgency if you really believe this. And I know you do. I'll listen to you. And give it some thought. But you're going to have to take it slow." He shrugged. "I don't even know if I believe in God. So, I can't just jump into whatever this is with you. But I do want to know more. Just not right now. Not here. You've given me enough to chew on for the time being."
Jack sighed and nodded. "Fair enough. I would like for you for to go to church with us and to the Bible study. It'll be every other Monday night."
Bobby shrugged. "I might do that."

Jack nodded and popped a now cold French fry into his mouth. He studied his friend and knew that Sue was right. Bobby had not really been himself for a long time.
"Okay, Crash. Your turn. I'll do even better than you. I'll give you a dime for your thoughts. What's been going on with you?"
Bobby looked away, feeling panicked. He didn't want anyone to know about the hole in his heart. Not even Jack. But he didn't know if he could carry the pain alone anymore. He stared at the food in front of him.
When he raised his gaze his face was haunted. "It's Darcy."

Jack frowned. "Darcy? What's wrong with her? Is she alright? I thought you two had gone your separate ways when she went to LA."
Bobby looked back down. "We did. By her choice. I was all set to go with her. Ready to give everything else up if it meant I could be with her. But she said no." He balled his napkin up in his fist.
Raising his head, he briefly allowed the anguish to show in his green eyes. "I love her, Jack."