This story occurs during SHATTERED it's what happened between Vin and JD at the hospital

Vin silently entered the hospital room carrying a hand carved wooden box and a gallon sized glass bottle. He nodded to Buck and moved toward the bed. Gently he sat the box down on the foot of the bed.

"JD, ya ain't asleep. Will ya listen fer a spell?" Vin requested. JD looked towards Vin and nodded slightly. Vin took a deep breath at the shattered look on the kid's face. JD wouldn't meet Vin's eyes. "I brought ya something. Need ta tell ya 'bout it first," Vin paused struggling for words. Taking a deep breath he began.

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"I's in tha hospital a couple of years back. I's messed up real bad. Just wanted 'em ta let me die. Sergeant Hawk come ta see me, he was a twenty year man. Tough old man coulda kicked tha ass on any of us youngsters. Iffen he practices Chris might have a glare as good as tha' Sergeant's in another 20 years. Reckon that's why Chris' glare don't bother me none," Vin spoke painfully.

"Sarge looks me over and says ya gonna quit? Don't waste mah time on worthless people. Your hurtin', don't seem like it'll ever stop. Ya don't want ta hear this, but it'll get better. He come back most ever'day. Took me up ta his fishin' camp when I got outta tha hospital. If that hard nosed old bastard hadn't been there I'd be dead," Vin spoke softly. JD's distressed brown eyes fully met the peaceful blue. Vin lifted the empty gallon glass jar and set it on the table where JD could see it.

"You brought me an empty bottle?" JD asked exhaustedly.

"Yah asked 'bout mah rainbow jar once. Figured this'd be a good time."

"One night I's sittin' on Sarge's porch with mah gun laying there on tha rail. Decided I's gonna eat me a bullet;" Vin began the story. Buck's breath caught in shock. "Stood up ta walk out in tha yard. Wouldn't be such a mess tha' way. Tha's when Sarge flipped on tha porch light and spoke ta me. Only time he ever called me by mah first name. Mighty poor manners, Vin. Ya listen ta me till dawn then I won't stop ya."

"I sat down and he carried out tha' bottle and a plastic bag full them colored beads," Vin's voice was calm. "He sat that bag down in mah lap. They's all kinda colors. What's yer ver' first memory he asks. I 'member momma reading me a story. You look at them beads and pick out one that's colored like that memory makes ya feel he told me. I picked outta bright blue one tha' looked like momma's eyes. Well put it in tha jar Tanner, he says. What's the next thing you 'member? Momma laying in a hospital bed and tha awful feeling when she left me. What color was that time? I picked up a black bead it was hard and dull jus' like tha' day. It made a dull clunk when it landed in tha bottle. He says how did yer momma make ya feel? I found me a golden bead looked kinda like fire it was warm and safe. I dropped it in tha' jar. It made a sound kinda like a bell."

"So I sat there picking out colored beads and droppin' 'em in tha' jar. Sometimes I'd tell Sarge 'bout tha memory sometimes not. I dropped me one of them black beads in las'. I's done. 'bout time Tanner. He picked up tha jar and set it up on tha rail 'side that Colt ," Vin continued. "Damn if it weren't dawn JD. Tha sun just peeked up and light come fer me. It lit on them beads and tha porch was covered in colors. Blues, greens, red, purples, black and yella. Ya know somethin' JD? They's lots more colors in tha' jar then hurt and sorrow. Sarge just got up and picked up his pole and tackle. Ya gonna fish or nap, son? We never spoke on tha' night," Vin's voice was full of wonder.

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"I's still put me beads inta that jar not ever'day. Sometimes it gets a couple of em. One day I put me in seven. One seemed ta change colors of green like his eyes that was fer Chris. They's one that was a bright flashy blue made ya wanta grin when it moved. It was just full of warmth and fun that there was fer Buck. They's a calm green one fer Nathan. Don't know why always thought of healers as green like growing things. Josiah his was a funny mossy looking thing the center was kinda clear crystal. Had me a hard time finding one for Ezra. His is a bright emerald green if ya tilt it just right there's streaks of gold in it. Yours were hard too it were brown like yer eyes but when the light hits just right its just full of different colors. Put me in one more it was a sunny yella and gold a lot like tha one I put in fer mah momma, it wer fer family," Vin spoke huskily.

Trying to reach JD he had revealed more about himself then he was comfortable with. "I'll tell ya tha rest of tha story later JD. We'll take us a ride up in tha hills out at Chris'. Build us a fire and share a bottle and talk 'bout things." Vin offered.

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He sat the wooden box in JD's lap. Lifting the lid JD looked at the glass beads in every shade of color that he had ever seen. Shakily JD lifted a bright bead in Tanner blue and dropped it into the jar. Vin's rare smile greeted JD's timid gaze. A gentle hand brushed JD's hair out of his eyes. Vin leaned over kissed JD on the forehead.

"I love ya JD don't let Martin steal yer colors," he whispered. Vin hurriedly left. JD turned at the strangled sound from Buck. Unashamed of his tears Buck shook his head "Damn ain't Junior something".

"I'm sorry I shut you out Buck," JD raised tired eyes.

"We're gonna be all right JD?" Buck asked.

"Yeah Buck we're gonna make it," JD promised. A weight lifted from Buck's soul as he watched JD began searching through the beads. There was a steady series of plunks as JD worked. "Vin's wrong ya know Buck," JD whispered.

"What do ya mean JD?" Buck questioned.

"Your not blue at all your pure gold," JD spoke. Buck grinned as a large golden bead dropped into the jar. Slowly JD started telling Buck about the memory and why he picked the color. Sadly JD picked up a dark, dark red bead and dropped it in.

"JD?" Buck asked in a worried tone.

"That one was when my Mom died," JD whispered.

"Red?" Buck asked.

"It hurt so much to lose her Buck. She was hurting so bad that's why it's red and not black. She wasn't hurting anymore," JD murmured.

"Your right JD that memory ain't black" Buck answered sympathetically.

"Buck you wanna start a rainbow jar? You can share these beads," JD offered. Buck sat still for a moment. Reaching out he picked up a brilliant red bead with touches of yellow.

"My Momma had her a dress that was this color. Reckon I'm gonna have ta get me one of those big bottles like on the water fountain. I got a lot of memories," Buck's eyebrows wiggled. JD's giggle reached into the hall. Bringing a smile to the waiting tracker.

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ATF Team 7 Offices

"What are you doing here Buck?" Chris demanded. Buck had entered his office without knocking.

"Need to talk some Chris. Vin's with JD so now's the best time," Buck sighed as he sank into a chair.

"Something wrong with JD?" Chris asked in concern.

"Nah, today's been good," Buck answered calmly. "Chris, Vin tried to talk to JD and he wouldn't listen none till Vin told him about his rainbow jar," Buck told him.

"What's the problem? It worked Buck," Chris asked in confusion.

"It's about Junior. Chris he ripped the heart right outta me talking to JD," Buck answered sadly.

The door opened and the other men slipped in quietly. "Junior's mighty shy. There he was rippin' the scabs off some mighty painful places, trying to reach the boy. I don't think I ever saw anyone with that kinda courage before," Buck admitted.

"Tell me about the jar Buck," Chris asked softly.

"Vin was telling JD about this old Sergeant that came to the hospital when he was in there a couple years back. After he was out he took him up to his fishing camp for awhile. It was a mighty dark time for Junior. Vin said he was sitting on the porch and figured it wasn't right to leave such a mess so he was starting out into the yard before he ate the barrel on his Colt," Buck's voice was shaky. Chris turned pale and the room was filled with pained gasps. "That Sergeant flipped on the porch light and told ole Vin that he was showing mighty poor manners." Buck spoke softly.

"It appears the sergeant could read Mr. Tanner rather well," Ezra noted. Buck looked around startled by the others presence.

"Sergeant asked Vin to talk for a while then if he was still determined then at dawn he wouldn't stop him. That's when Vin was given his bottle and a bag of beds. Must have been a knife in that man's guts to hear Vin say the second thing he could remember was his momma dying," Buck choked. "The sergeant sat that jar on the rail right beside the Colt, just as the sun rose. Junior had this wondering tone when he told JD how many colors was in that jar," Buck's voice lightened into a smile.

"What happened next?" Nathan asked.

"They went fishing, never talked on it any more," Buck chuckled. "Chris, Junior has some mighty raw places inside. It troubles me to think of him hurting like that. I don't want that boy slipping back into the dark again," Buck struggled to find the words. "Vin's always standing in the shadows. He needs to be in the sunshine," Buck finally said.

"Buck, I believe that with patience we can coax Brother Vin into the light," Josiah offered, "He's like a wild thing we can't rush him".

"Mr. Wilmington, Mr. Tanner allowed you to embrace him yesterday. He would not have accepted such an overture a month ago," Ezra reminded.

"He's finding his way into this twisted family. We just need to make sure the doors open wide enough not to spook him," Chris mused.

"It won't be easy," Nathan's voice was heavy with emotion.

"I do know Vin won't quit till he feels like JD's all right," Buck stated firmly.