AN: I'm afraid this chapter is low on humor; I did a wee bit of a twist on the next part (from the movie), and you'll see how this event influences Jack's personality in the future. Although it's a little short, it is an important building block for the plot/background. Next chapter, however, I promise, will be much more light-hearted and funny.

Please review! I'm always so suprised when people like my writing--I appreciate it so much to get feedback. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Two:

With Joseph's words, the stars fade in front of the angels' eyes. Joseph clearly sees something, but Milo, with his typical puzzled look on his face, could only see an indistinguishable blur.

Where? I don't see a thing, he said.

Oh, I forgot, Joseph smirked. You haven't got your wings yet.

Oh, ha ha, Joseph.

Now look, I'll help you out, Joseph said, calmly. Concentrate. Begin to see something?

With that, the blurry view clears, and the angels observe a group of boys splashing around at the beach on a hot summer day.

Why, yes. This is more amazing than il dire! Milo exclaims.

If you ever get your wings, you'll see all by yourself, said Joseph in response, muttering under his breath,

Oh, how wonderful!

The boys all face the incoming waves, jumping as they roll in, crashing towards the shore, allowing the current to pull them along with the wave.

shouted a tall boy with a head full of unruly brown curls.

At the sight of his hair, Milo speaks up, Hey, is that him? Jack?

No, that's his older brother, Alex, answered Joseph, again rolling his eyes. he said, pointing to a small boy watching the others from the safety of the shore, is your problem; Jack Bristow.

A little boy?

That's him when he was seven, back in 1959. Something happens here you'll have to remember later on, Joseph explained.

The short little boy stood, digging in the sand with a piece of driftwood. He crouched down, spying a hermit crab, and poked it, watching as it scuttled inside its shell. The boy studied it closely, only looking up when he heard the shouts of the other boys. He looked up at the group, wistfully, and suddenly threw down his stick and waded into the water. The others continued their antics, throwing themselves into the waves and letting themselves drift along in the water. The little boy reached them, and decided to join in the fun.

And here comes the scare-baby, my kid brother, Jack Bristow, shouted the older Bristow boy, Alex, as a towering wave began to roll in.

I'm not scared, said Jack, petulantly.

The rest of the boys joined Alex, shouting, Come on Jack! and Attaboy, Jack!

Jack eyed the wave cautiously, the words of his mother, don't swim out too far now, Jack, echoing in his mind. But Jack wasn't one to back down from a challenge, and as the wave crashed down, he threw his little body head first into the wave.

Minutes went by, and no sign of Jack was seen.

Then, a fair distance from their original spot, Jack's head popped up from beneath the waves, and promptly sank back down again. The other boys looked at each other; the strong current was not a thing to joke about, and Jack was quickly being swept away from shore.

Without a second thought, Alex shouted, I'm coming, Jack! and dove into the water and started to swim out to where Jack was struggling. Grasping Jack from under the arms, he felt himself being pulled out with the tide, and started kicking his legs to keep the two of them above water.

At this sight, the other boys raced out of the water and over to the lifeguard station, panting as they told them about the other two boys who were swept up with the current. After searching for over two hours, the lifeguard found the Bristow brothers; Alex treading water as he held up his little brother.

Jack's older brother saved his life that day. But his brother caught a bad cold which lead to a case of pneumonia. Cost him his life. It was weeks before Jack could even bear to get up out of bed in the morning, narrated Joseph, seeing the familiar look of confusion on Milo's face.

TBC