Not mine, no money but lots of fun.

I can't remember who first named Buck and JD's apartment the CDC Center for Disease Control Somehow it just seemed to fit. I borrowed it with out asking.

Bits and Pieces

Dr. Appleton released JD. Warning them of rough days to come. Josiah had recommended a psychologist. JD was hesitant until Ezra gave him a card saying, "I use this gentleman, Mr. Dunne."

"You go to a psychologist Ezra?" JD frowned.

"Yes JD, it is very easy to lose yourself when you go undercover," Ezra admitted with a haunted look. Slowly JD recovered some days were very rough. They could all see that he was healing. The psychologist did seem to be helping.

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On a Saturday after JD came home, Buck called the team. "JD's having a bad day. Think you can come over and we'll have some steaks and watch a few movies?" The others arrived with munchies and movies. JD remained withdrawn though. After a couple of hours Vin slipped out returning with a large cardboard box. Clearing off the table Vin laid down a piece of plywood and set out a soldering iron and some tools.

"JD, you wanta help me fer a while?" Vin called.

"What's that stuff Vin?" JD examined the soldering iron.

"Somethin' Sergeant Hawk started me on when I tole him 'bout tha broken glass...Took me a spell ta git balanced after tha hospital. I'se busted inside like a winda, all holler somethin' fragile was broke and I'se full of empty, broken bits a glass and cold wind...Didn't think it'd ever stop bleedin'," Vin's soft rasp explained.

The story unfolded in bits and pieces with long pauses. Vin began setting out several flat trays with colored bits of glass. The team sat silently pretending to watch the movie while listening to Tanner's story. Hoping not to break the spell that Vin was weaving.

"Sergeant Hawk, he was a full blood Cherokee. He never said but I always figured he was a Shaman...See tha sarg'nt made stained glass windas fer a hobby. Was real good at it too...

Sergeant tole me 'bout how they's stained glass windas thats hundreds of years old. Ain't that a wonder?...Said ya won't find a winda made outta plain glass nowhere near that old... Josiah can probably tell ya lots more 'bout em," Vin spoke lazily.

'They's lots of ways ta lay out yer piece. Some make a picture of somethin' they know.

Sometimes ya lay 'er out ta fit a certain size or shape. Sometimes I go fer different shapes. This one's fer feelin's," Vin laid down a piece of cardboard about 18" by 24". "I need it this size." he commented. Vin picked up a black piece of glass laying it in the center of the cardboard. "This'ns fer the way I felt when we found ya...I'se fearful angry. Wasn't much of a friend JD I'se ta angry...This red 'en is fer pain. I'se hurtin' bad 'cause I didn't find ya sooner."

Nathan started to rise with a gasp, "JD doesn't need this".

Buck pushed him back down, "Give Junior a chance, Nathan."

JD handed Vin a jagged black piece. "What's this'n JD?" Vin asked softly.

"I was so alone," JD whispered. JD picked out pieces, slow tears rolled down JD's cheeks as he talked. Pain showed in the faces of the watching agents. Vin's face was calm as he placed the pieces. Finally JD stopped. "I'm sorry Vin. Promised myself I wouldn't cry anymore," JD sobbed.

"Tears are mighty healing things. Don't figure father God would have given us tears if we wasn't suppose ta use 'em," Vin gently touched JD's hand. "Figure this here will keep JD. Lets spend sometime with tha others," Vin offered. He carefully set the cardboard safe on the end of the counter. "If it's all right with you I's gonna leave this here and we can work on 'er some more later?" Vin asked.

"Think I'd like that Vin," JD smiled slightly. JD was much easier the rest of the evening.

"Brother Vin has a healing way about him," Josiah acknowledged.

Vin flinched when Buck reached to hug him as he left. "Ah hell, Junior I wish ya wouldn't do that. Thank you for JD tonight," Buck spoke quietly.

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They were all together on Friday night at the CDC once again. "Feel like workin' on tha winda JD?" Vin asked. JD wandered over as Vin set out the glass pieces and cardboard. "I's feelin' some better. Been thinkin' on it some," Vin commented. He lifted up a piece of bright peach.

"This'n goes down here under the dark it 'minds me of Josiah...He's real good at showing me tha light in things. It's right sturdy piece ta build on...'siah's mighty good at liftin' folks up till they kin stand on their own...he's a scholar. Reckon his heads full of 'portant things...Preacher man's hurtin' right bad too...All them things he knows ain't helpin' him find answers fer ya." Josiah smiled softly at the bent head.

"Junior sure see's things through them blue eyes," Buck mused.

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Days passed and JD and Vin often worked on the window. Talking about many things, mostly JD. Every so often Vin would express a little more of his thoughts. Revealing a fine understanding of his companions. Much of Vin himself remained unknown. When Vin offered a little history it was often disturbing to the others.

"Sarge started me on this when I got sa bored wit' jigsaw puzzles," Vin noted...

"Jigsaw puzzles?" JD questioned.

"Yeah see I'se still learnin' ta use mah hands 'gain...They was feared I'se gonna lose 'em there fer a while," Vin answered not looking up. Disturbed gazes passed over Vin's lowered head. "It shames a man somethin' fierce not ta be able ta wipe his own ass," Vin grinned slightly..."Still have trouble wit' things like buttons some times," he admitted.

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Another time Vin held up another bright peach colored piece. "This'n fer Nathan...It's a sturdy piece. Looks kinda like it's got fingers reaching out...Nathan he's always trying ta fix things, make 'em right. Got him tha soul of a healer, Nathan does...Don't mean he's soft though...

Healers is funny folk...They struggle ta keep body and soul tagether...Then comes a point they cut tha evil out without even a blink...Healers are mighty hard folk when they's a need... Ole Nathan's more dangerous than Chris comes ta tha stickin' place...It plumb painful ta Nate you gettin' hurt an all. Goes against his spirit like."

"Brother Vin has a way of seeing right to the soul of a man." Josiah admired.

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Several days later Vin was again working on the window with JD's help. "This here one is a might darker then them others...It's mighty straight no bend to it. This'n fer Chris...He's a protector ole Chris is...Think Sarge woulda said Chris is one of tha guardians...Takes on other folks' burden to often though...Reckon he figures iffen he's in charge then he carries tha load...Chris is carryin' a heap a guilt over this. He ain't gonna lay it down easy...We gotta teach him different JD. Chris needs ta stop carrying such a load...Some burdens is ta much fer any man ta carry...Time fer Chris ta lay down some of that guilt...Takes away a man's pride when someone takes yer load. Even if they's got tha best of reasons... Don't mind help sometimes just don't break yerself down carryin' mah load...It'll only add ta what I's already carryin'," Vin spoke gently. Chris frowned at Vin's back feeling horribly exposed. Nods were exchanged amongst the others.

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Several Days later they were working again.

"Look at this'n JD." Vin held up a piece shaped like a smile. "This'n gotta be Buck don't ya think?...Bucklin now he'd like ya ta think he's bright and shiny like a new penny...You'd be doing him wrong. Ole Buck he's bedrock... Tough, solid with them roots set deep... He ain't gonna shift on ya...Buck makes a mighty fine foundation...He's kept Chris a standin' in some mighty rough storms...Iffen ya let 'em he'll make ya a shelter in that big ole heart of his that no storms gonna destroy...Buck's cut near in two over all this. Thinks he failed ya...That he caused yer grief...We gotta patch ole Buck back tagether or we're all gonna shatter...You look inta Bucklin there's a world of love...He's full of life Bucklin is 'cause he cain't hold all that love in...JD it's a mighty safe place restin' in Buck's heart. He ain't gonna fail ya...Buck's a warm blanket on a cold night...,"Vin chuckled softly.

Chris rubbed Buck's shoulder. "Damn Junior, you see to much.." Buck whispered a shaky hand wiped tears off his face.

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Some time later Vin commented. "This twisty lookin' piece is Ezra." Ezra raised an eyebrow in an expressionless face. "Them curves is 'cause Ezra is a seeker...Looks crooked, but if ya pay 'tention it's true from top ta bottom. See how it runs straight through the body of it. Only tha edges is wavy. That's cause in tha heart of him Ez's true as Chris...Don't never try ta make him inta somethin' else...It'll only 'cause ya grief...Ya take Ez as he is or leave him be...Ya try ta bend him ta suit yerself and he'll break in yer hand and leave ya bleedin' bad...You let him find his place an ya'll never regret it."

Ezra sat up straight his face for once easily read. Distress turned into intense scrutiny as he gazed on Vin. Turning his head he quickly assumed his poker face under Chris's smiling gaze.

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Days later Vin lifted a larger piece

"This'ns yers. Ain't decided fer sure what it's gonna be...If ya look close though it's got bits and pieces of all tha rest of 'em. Tha best parts I reckon...Do ya see how it holds the rest of 'em tagether JD. You do tha same thing fer us...Yer our faith boy...I thought we's finished there fer a bit...If we lost ya I didn't figure Bucklin would last long...Guilt and grief woulda pulled him under...Ole Chris needs ya ta believe in things he ain't got the heart ta no more...Josiah he's finding his way back. He's using ya fer his beacon in a mighty fierce storm...Nathan looks on ya and ya give him strength ta try one more time...Ezra see's ya fer a lodestone. He might wander a might, but ya lead him home...Ya give me fire ta rest by and a friend ta sit with and watch tha stars. Ain't had that in a mighty long time...Miss ya bad JD. When ya gonna come home?" Vin asked gently. JD's gaze was trapped in the calm clear blue eyes of Vin Tanner.

As the window grew JD healed. The others learned a little more about Vin and a lot more about each other. Slipping out early one Friday Vin went to the CDC and made his preparations. Vin carefully removed four of the small panes in the french door to the balcony. He cut the frame work making one spot out of four. He strengthened the frame and replaced the glass with the window.

The evening sunshine lit on the new piece lighting the living room wall with a picture that almost seemed in motion. Awed the six agents just stood and stared at the glowing piece. All the tiny pieces fitted with such care' were revealed at last. Powerful wings spread as the peregrine falcon prepared to take flight. Lifting hands supported the bird in it's bid for freedom.

"Look JD what all them bits a broken glass has made...Ain't the same as that simple piece it replaced...Don't do any better job of keeping out tha cold...But just 'cause it were busted and broken bits don't mean ya can't make something ta warm yer heart whilst ya keep out tha cold," Vin offered JD a shy smile.

"Mr. Tanner is an incredibly eloquent poet," Ezra whispered.