DSCWin, thanks for the help


THE GIFT (Set around a few years before the show)

When John Boy was fourteen years old, he got really sick. John and Olivia called a doctor who rushed out in the middle of the night. The doctor shook his head as he told the two parents that John Boy had gotten pneumonia from spending a lot of time outside in the rain in that miserable November weather, the worst that Jefferson County, Virginia had ever seen. John Boy's health had worsened just as the weather did the same. One night while the storm raged outside with thunder that sounded like the sky was being broken apart making the lights flicker and dance in their sockets, John had gathered his remaining six children that there was a possibility that they would have to take John Boy the hospital. But if they do take him to the hospital there were chances that the children wouldn't be able to visit him.

The younger children, Erin, Jim Bob and Elizabeth didn't understand the undertone message in their parents words. The older children Jason, Mary Ellen and Ben understood, they knew that if John Boy had to be taken to the hospital that the only way he could come home was only to be put in the ground. Ben's stomach twisted with fear as John and Olivia set the children to bed that night.

Between the storm that waged on outside and the words his parents had told him, Ben couldn't sleep. Each time he would close his eyes and try to sleep, his older brother's coughs will stir him. He didn't want to loose his older brother. Even though he loved Jason, John Boy was someone he could always talk to even when he would be busy with his writings. He was like a third father figure when his father John and Grandfather Zeb would often be busy or tired from working at the mill or out in the fields. He also didn't want him to die as he felt responsible for him getting sick.

He sat up in his bed as he thought back to when he begged his brother to go to down to Ike's to buy candies with money he had saved up. But as they were walking back excited and eating the candies they were caught with a storm and Ben had forgotten his coat back at the house, as it was an usually warm day in November. John Boy, not wanting his brother to get sick, pulled off his coat and gave it to his younger brother to protect him from the elements. Now John Boy was sick and Ben wished he didn't beg his brother for those candies.

Tears began to fill Ben's eyes as he was scared he had killed his older brother when the door slowly opened. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Grandpa Zeb peer into the room. Upon seeing his grandson awake, the older man smiled and walked in before sitting at the edge of Ben's bed.

"Ben why are you still doing up?" Grandpa Zeb asked looking curious at his young grandson. "Are you wanting something to eat? Grandma's making some soup for John Boy."

"No," Ben said his ten year old voice shaking with fear. "Grandpa, can I ask you something?"

"Sure thing, son. Ask me anything."

Ben lowered his eyes for a few minutes before looking up at his grandpa's eyes. From the other room, both Grandpa Zeb and Ben could hear John Boy's coughing. "Is John Boy going to die?"

The older man looked down at his grandson and slowly shook his head. "I wish I knew that answer, Ben." His matter of fact answer made Ben pull his knees closer to his chin. "But we mustn't give up hope for him. John Boy is a very strong boy. It's going to take more than pneumonia to take him. That I do know for certain."

"But Daddy said he would be needing to go to the hospital. Hospitals are where people who are sick die." Ben said his eyes filling up with tears.

Grandpa Zeb opened his arms to accept Ben into a reassuring hug. For a few minutes Grandpa Zeb gently rocked Ben back and forth rubbing his back to comfort him as he thought of what to say next. "You Daddy only meant to take John Boy there as it's been almost five days since John Boy had gotten sick. There at the hospital, there would be people who can be there to help John Boy get better quicker and all day. It's not where he's going to die."

Ben slowly nodded hearing his Grandpa's calming words. The young boy looked up and trembled slightly from the chill he felt. "Is there anything I can do for him? To help him get feeling better?"

Grandpa Zeb smiled seeing the heartfelt concern in his young grandson's eyes. "Maybe if you could give him something that would let him know you really love him. To let him know of who's waiting for him to come home, if he goes to the hospital." Grandpa Zeb looked down at Ben who twisted his face into deep thought. "Don't worry yourself of it now. God will watch over everything. Try and go back to sleep, Ben."

Ben nodded and climbed back into his bed. After his grandfather had tucked him in Ben watched as Grandpa Zeb disappeared out of his room. Ben listened to the sound of thunder slowly becoming less loud and the rain had slowed down as well. Ben's eyes fought to stay awake until he heard John Boy's coughing, which didn't sound nearly as rough as before. After a few more minutes, Ben didn't hear anymore coughs. Fear gripped him thinking he had just lost his older brother. But soon he could hear a much softer version of his coughing.

The young ten year old quietly rolled out of his bed and walked over to his desk. If John Boy needed to go to the hospital, Ben was determined to give him the best gift to remind John Boy how much he loved him. After a few minutes Ben found the perfect gift. After wrapping his hand around it and tiptoeing to his door, Ben slowly opened the door and slipped out. He hunkered down in the shadows while in John Boy's room he could hear his parents talking. Careful to not give away he was awake, Ben cracked open John Boy's door to eavesdrop on his parents.

"How's he doing, Liv?" John asked his voice showing signs of fatigue.

"His fever dropped a little." Olivia said her voice fighting to not sob. She sat on the edge of John Boy's bed and Ben could see that tears were already starting to fall from her eyes. "But I think we should take him to the hospital."

"Livy, I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But let's give him some time. He's a strong boy." John walked over and held onto his wife's shoulder making Olivia place a trembling hand on top of her husband's. "But we'll check in a couple of hours, if his fever hasn't dropped more, then we'll take him. But for now you need to get some rest."

Ben eased the door closed as he rushed to hide in some shadows as his parents walked out of John Boy's room. As soon as his parents disappeared into their own room, Ben took advantage and quietly slipped into his brother's room.

John Boy stirred slightly as he turned to see who came into his room. His eyes went wide, even though he wasn't fully awake, at the sight of his younger brother standing next to his bed. He covered his mouth when more coughs left his mouth. The cold washcloth on his forehead slide only to be caught by Ben who slipped it back into place. After a few minutes John Boy relaxed though is breathing was still proving difficult.

"John Boy..." Ben whispered as he didn't want to be caught by his parents.

"Ben..." John Boy whispered back his voice softer then his brother's. "Go...to bed..."

Ben shook his head. "John Boy I'm sorry I got you sick."

John Boy shook his head as it wasn't his brother's fault in the least.

"I brought you something to keep you company if you need to go to the hospital." Ben lifted his hand and opened his fingers.

John Boy squinted in the dimly lit room and began to cry at what his brother was holding. It was Ben's brand new pencil set that he had gotten for his birthday last year. John Boy shook his head not wanting to take Ben's gift but the young boy set it down on his nightstand. "No...Ben..."

"I know you love to write John Boy." Ben said with a smile. "This way you know that I'm keeping you company."

John Boy smiled as he picked up the kit and began to tear up when Ben had walked back out of his room.

_/_

The next day the Waltons were pleased to see that the rain had stopped. The sky looked clear. But what made them happier was the fact that John Boy's fever had dropped and therefor didn't need to go to the hospital. The Doctor had come by to check on John Boy and smiled at how quickly the young man's fever broke.

"He should be just fine." He told a relieved John and Olivia. "But he should still get plenty of rest."

John and Olivia had promised and hugged each other, relieved that their son was going to be alright.

"Through the years my brother Ben's pencil kit still sits on my desk as I write. Every time I feel that I have lost sight of who truly cares I see that and I smile. I then remember that I have a younger brother who gave up his precious birthday present in hopes that I would get better and to feel that he truly loves me."

END