Author's Notes: Ah! It IS good to be back! And there ARE people who remember me! *sniffles* Hello again, Estel! I remember you! ^.^ Thank you for returning again to read the fic! And hello to all newcomers! A special Welcome to Ailsa! Dudes and Dudettes, I recomend her fics. ^.^ tis very good. (sorry if I embarrass you, Aisla, but I really do think they are good!) Anyhow...time for the next part of the fic.

Disclaimer: I own only Uncle Eric, but don't get any wise ideas. The idea of the plot came from me too! :P No mooching! ^.^ Ideas came from LOTR and JRRT. No mooching there either! ^.^

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Chapter Ten: Goodbye Samwise



"I don't understand any of this," Uncle Eric said with a shake of his head as he drove Frank home two days later. Frank, who was looking out the window of the car, didn't attempt to help his uncle understand what had been going on. At that moment, worry and concern for Sean was plaguing his mind.

Sean had promised to see him again but hadn't seen Frank since a few days after Frank met Andrew. Had something happened to Sean? Or had he merely been detained by his chores since his father was ill?

Whatever the case was, it worried Frank.

"You remember," Uncle Eric began, making his nephew jump. "what the doctor said?"

Frank sighed. "Lots of fluids, no stressing work--"

"That doesn't include homework," his unlce added with a grin. Frank made a face.

"And plenty of rest," he finished as they arrived at their trailor. Uncle Eric opened his door after turning off the engine but made no move to get out.

"Frank," he said with a serious tone. "I want to know what is going on. Gary told me that you're in some sort of danger--"

"Have you ever read Lord of the Rings?" Frank asked suddenly and quietly.

"Lord of the--? No...I don't think I have," Uncle Eric answered in confusion. "Why?"

Frank looked over to him with a small, half-felt smile. "Let's just say that I'm living a modern-day version of it," he said before climbing out of the car. Uncle Eric frowned and followed his nephew into the trailor.



That night Frank didn't dare to sleep. The Nazgûl had been silent for many day and, now that he was home, they might believe he would be in a false sense of security. Instead, Frank stared at the ceiling; thinking of the past, of the present, of the Ring--

He quickly grabbed the stone he now wore around his neck and willed himself away from those thoughts. The Ring was gone and he was in a different lifetime, but his soul still remembered Its influence and longed for Its presence once more.

Frank shivered, remembering the madness that had come in the Cracks of Doom. Madness much like the one Gollum had suffered for many a-year.

Sitting up and shaking his head, Frank sighed tiredly.

"I can't take this," he whispered to himself. "Not again..."



"The living dead," commented Peter the next morning and received a snort of laughter from Mark. Frank, too tired to say anything, just yawned widely and loudly.

"Did you sleep at all?" Mark asked curiously, knowing very well what had kept his friend awake.

"None," Frank answered, putting his face in his hands and rubbing it quickly, hoping to wake himself a bit.

Peter frowned. "That's not good."

"Yes, Peter, I know," Frank snapped in irritation. Peter put his hands up in a surrendering gesture while Mark watch the oldest boy curiously.

"You shouldn't think about it too much," he said, and only received a weary sigh in return. "You gonna be all right?"

"Yeah, I think so," Frank answered just as the bus. The three boarded, and Peter and Mark headed straight to their usual seat. Frank, however, froze as he noticed the empty seat in front of this friends.

He turned to the bus driver, paling considerably as he asked, "Did Sean get on this week?"

The bus driver, who Frank had known since he was young, looked at him through the mirror as he hesitated to move the bus.

"I thought you could have told me where he's been," he said, a fair bit of worry coming into his features for he was close friends with the quartet of boys.

Frank's heart skipped a beat, while Mark and Peter looked frightened. Both boys had been catching rides with each other's parents to visit Frank before going to school and hadn't known...

Frank grabbed his books, which he had place on a seat, and rushed toward the still-open door. He didn't even realize that Mark and Peter had followed until Peter called for him to wait for them.

And so he did, catching what little breath he could while his shoulder pulsed with a dull ache.

"Frank," panted Mark as they reached him. "We--"

"Sean hasn't been seen for days!" the oldest boy shouted in a panic, thinking of the worse that could have befallen his closest friend.

"I'm sure he's fine, Frank," Mark said, trying to calm him down, but Frank would have none of it.

"What if they have him! What if they're hurting him! He doesn't know anything!" Mark and Peter were startled to see tears threatening to spill out of their friend's eyes.

Peter bit his lip. "How 'bout we see if he hasn't been home? Maybe...maybe he's there?"

Frank doubted this but went along with the idea, hoping that Peter would be correct. When they reached Sean's house, however, he was almost certain that Sean wasn't there. In fact, the empty house seemed to make this point quite clear.

"I can't believe it," Mark breathed, pressing his face up against the window that looked into the study. "It's empty."

Frank's heart sank to his toes in sadness. Thinking Sean had been caught by Nazgûl was, by far, better than thinking Sean had left them without a word. Peter noticed this and rushed to raise his spirits.

"I'm sure that he hasn't gone far, Frank," he said, though his voice betrayed his uncertainty. Frank sat on the steps to the house with a look of despair.

"I can't do all of this without Sean," he said, desperation evident in his shaking voice. "Frodo had Samwise! Why can't I have Sean!"

Mark and Peter exchanged worried looks. "I'm sure--" Peter started.

"Oh, stop fooling yourself yourself, Peter!" cried Frank angrily. "You're about as sure of this as you are of twelve times twelve!"

Peter's mouth clicked shut with a hurt look. Mark was shocked at it all. Frank was falling apart.

Just as quickly as the anger came, it left Frank, making him feel saddened, lonely, depressed, and abandoned. "I'm sorry, Peter," he whispered, not looking at the youngest boy.

Peter gave an obviously false smile. "That's okay...I was never really good at math anyway."

There was no laughter. Not even forced laughter.

"We should find a way to get to school," Mark said slowly, watching the still figure on the steps, who shook his head.

"What's the use?" questioned Frank dully, which got Mark upset.

"We'll find Sean, Frank," he stated firmly and, when he saw no reaction, shouted, "Pull yourself together, man! You want the Nazgûl to catch you just because you fall apart--!"

"Why can't I fall apart!" Frank shouted back. "Aren't I allowed to at some point!"

"Well, you've picked the wrong time to do it," Mark said fiercely.

"It doesn't matter when I fall apart!' Frank cried, pushing his hands into his hair and clutching tightly to the roots. "Every time will be the wrong time!"

"Who said that?" demanded Mark, knowing that those were not Frank's own words.

"Andrew--"

"Screw Andrew, Frank!" cried Mark loudly, silencing his friend. "Andrew is not all-knowing and neither are you! He's not all doing and neither are you! Get over it!"

Silence fell on the trio, and Peter shifted uncomfortably.

Frank sighed, looking at the ground and letting his hands fall from his head. "You're right," he admitted before looking up. "It's just...just too much...sometimes...I scare myself...I can't...I-I think about the Ring...and I can't stop myself."

He shuddered slightly with his confession; and Mark, looking sympathetic, sat next to him.

"It'll be okay, Frank," he said, putting an arm around his shoulders. "It should be easier this go-'round."

"I hope so, Mark," Frank said, looking up and over to the house which was dark and empty. "I guess we should get to school."

Peter jumped in with a suggestion quickly, "We could get my mom to give us a ride."

Frank and Mark looked at each other before turning to the youngest boy, asking, "Breakfast?" in a hopeful tone.



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Well, that's all for that chapter. Now, I bet I know what you're thinking....You're thinking: "What happened to SEAN?! EVIL!" Well, it's all a part of the story--((Javexalot: *whispers* she is lying to thee--)) *shoves the Old English persona out of the way* You stay in the Hp section! ((Javexalot: Hmph! *goes back to the Hp fic*)) *sweatdrops* You saw none of that, but what she said was true...*sighs* I was inspired during Fine Art(music class....why do I take it when I'm in band already? I'll never know why....) and I came up with the idea. Don't worry, there IS a reason.

Hope you've all enjoyed your read and I'm sorry if it's too short. No worries, there. I have some of the next chapter written down on paper and should be up soon. It SHOULD be the longest chapter *sweatdrops* Well...ja ne! ^.~



PS: ".ti deveihca uoy woh ta rednow srehto tel dna eciuj eparg ekam ,snomel uoy sevig efil nehW" --Unkown
(see if you can read the Mirror Message ^.^ *is starting a tradtion* The one who posts the correct phrase will have the next chapter dedicated to them and, if they want, I will brag about their fics. ^.^ Good luck!)