By the time Chris, Vin and the others got to the park they were prepared to
see mass bloodshed, one lost boy and one dying agent.
What they did see was quite the opposite. JD sat beside an old man. The senior citizen had a fishing hat with tackles dangling off the brim, a kakhi vest and pants and sat patiently listening to the dark-haired boy explain the game.
Beside him Ezra lay blinking lazily, a bloody patch of tarp held against his side by a pale hand but very much alive. In one of JD's hands was a grubby dime, the other half of a melted chocolate bar. His face covered with most of the
chocolate he had already eaten. The topic of conversation was hockey and the marvelous game Ezra had shown the young boy.
"Hey Lil' Bit what'cha doing?"
JD's eyes lit up and he stood and turned and raced for Buck, screaming out his name the whole time. Chris, Nathan and the others quickly went to Ezra's side, questioning the gentleman with him as well. Ezra for the better part of this 'rescue' was clue-less, lost in the pain that had refused to die after his last move and trying to figure out just when the others got there.
And just how they got there so damned fast.
"Thank you, Mr. Clark, you don't know how much we appreciate you coming to his rescue."
The aged blue eyes twinkled a little.
"Oh, it was my pleasure son. That little boy is a real treasure."
Chris looked up and smiled slightly, his heart still pounding in his chest but he could at least breath clearly now. He nodded back to Buck who was now handling both boys.
"Yes they are."
"Nathan?"
The black medic looked up, after checking the bandage and the wound.
"He's real out of it . . . but he should be fine. Lost a lot of blood. Damn fool probably wouldn't sit still and kept opening the wound."
Josiah nodded to himself mostly, standing across from Nathan and watching Ezra's passive face. Almost upon their arrival Ezra had heard the voices and relaxed into unconsciousness.
Josiah had to smile . . . finally the man was trusting them. Finally they were acting like family. All seven, the young boys included, were becoming a family.
Kneeling beside Ezra he laid a palm against the sweating forehead and stroked the hair back. Nathan watched him for a moment, thinking much the same thing and agreeing. Slowly the family gathered around the wounded and waited for the ambulance.
What they did see was quite the opposite. JD sat beside an old man. The senior citizen had a fishing hat with tackles dangling off the brim, a kakhi vest and pants and sat patiently listening to the dark-haired boy explain the game.
Beside him Ezra lay blinking lazily, a bloody patch of tarp held against his side by a pale hand but very much alive. In one of JD's hands was a grubby dime, the other half of a melted chocolate bar. His face covered with most of the
chocolate he had already eaten. The topic of conversation was hockey and the marvelous game Ezra had shown the young boy.
"Hey Lil' Bit what'cha doing?"
JD's eyes lit up and he stood and turned and raced for Buck, screaming out his name the whole time. Chris, Nathan and the others quickly went to Ezra's side, questioning the gentleman with him as well. Ezra for the better part of this 'rescue' was clue-less, lost in the pain that had refused to die after his last move and trying to figure out just when the others got there.
And just how they got there so damned fast.
"Thank you, Mr. Clark, you don't know how much we appreciate you coming to his rescue."
The aged blue eyes twinkled a little.
"Oh, it was my pleasure son. That little boy is a real treasure."
Chris looked up and smiled slightly, his heart still pounding in his chest but he could at least breath clearly now. He nodded back to Buck who was now handling both boys.
"Yes they are."
"Nathan?"
The black medic looked up, after checking the bandage and the wound.
"He's real out of it . . . but he should be fine. Lost a lot of blood. Damn fool probably wouldn't sit still and kept opening the wound."
Josiah nodded to himself mostly, standing across from Nathan and watching Ezra's passive face. Almost upon their arrival Ezra had heard the voices and relaxed into unconsciousness.
Josiah had to smile . . . finally the man was trusting them. Finally they were acting like family. All seven, the young boys included, were becoming a family.
Kneeling beside Ezra he laid a palm against the sweating forehead and stroked the hair back. Nathan watched him for a moment, thinking much the same thing and agreeing. Slowly the family gathered around the wounded and waited for the ambulance.
