The Fireside
The team gathered the next afternoon as Dr. Appleton spoke with them.
"He seems to be tolerating the pain meds and his antibiotic. I intend to send him home tomorrow if he has someone to stay with him," she said.
"He'll stay with me," Chris growled.
"Good, let me explain what to expect and look out for," she smiled.
"Dr. Appleton!" a nurse burst in, "We've lost Vin Tanner".
"HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!" The doctor fumed.
"Dr. Farr checked his sutures and he seemed awfully upset. I went to get a sedative and he was gone when I got back. He pulled out his IV and just disappeared. The new orderly wasn't warned and he parked the clean laundry in front of his room. Vin grabbed some scrubs and slipped out," the nurse explained.
"Well, at least this time I got him casted and taped before he got away," Dr. Appleton sighed.
"Buck, you and JD head for the parking lot. Nathan take the east doors. Ezra are you up to checking the north side?" Chris demanded.
"Certainly Mr. Larabee," Ezra drawled as he limped off.
"I'll take the south side. Josiah, will you be all right till we get back?" Chris asked.
"Go find Brother Vin. I'll be fine," Josiah rumbled.
Ten minutes latter Chris called the others.
"He's gone. Some nurses saw him catch a cab," Chris reported.
The agents met back in the waiting room to make plans.
"What I would like to ascertain is in what manner did Mr. Tanner procure funding in which to purchase his transportation. Mr. Sanchez is in possession of Mr. Tanner's garments, weaponry, and wallet," Ezra spoke in an admiring manner.
"Vin keeps some bills hid here at the hospital for emergencies," JD spoke up.
"Hell, JD why didn't ya say something," Buck groaned.
"I thought it was safe since we had his pants," JD glared back.
"With Brother Vin one should never relax if he's where he doesn't want to be," Josiah laughed.
"You all seem to forget he's out there hurt and confused," Nathan growled.
"Junior, doesn't want to be found, so were not going to find him," Buck spoke up.
Chris looked towards the doors with a frown. "I know Buck.. But he doesn't need to be alone right now."
"Buck, What are we going to do?" JD beseeched.
"Leave Mr. Tanner alone," Ezra walked towards the door.
Nathan glared at the retreating conman.
"Brother Ezra is correct," Josiah agreed "Vin has gone to find some peace. He'll return in a few days. He needs the silence now. We have something that Vin isn't prepared to leave behind".
"Josiah?" Chris asked.
"You Brother Chris, Vin will be back because of you," Josiah chuckled.
Friday and still no sign of Vin. The men gathered that evening at Chris'.
"I sure hope Josiah's right," Buck grunted as he watched Chris pace.
Brooding silence fell as the men acknowledged their missing friend.
"There is a remarkable silence with Mr. Tanner's absence," Ezra sighed.
"For a man that quiet he sure makes his presence known," Nathan agreed.
Chris stopped pacing as JD tensed at the window.
"Chris do you see something," JD demanded pointing.
Chris stared and strode rapidly to the door.
"There's a fire on that rise to the north," Chris exclaimed.
The five agents quickly followed Chris out. Piling into Chris's truck they hung on as Chris headed north on almost nonexistent trails. Stopping further back the men cautiously approached the campfire on foot.
"They's drinks coolin' in tha spring yonder," Vin spoke without turning. He was wearing a wore out coat and a pair of worn out far to large jeans.
Chris sucked in a breath suddenly furious with Vin. Buck laid a cautioning hand on Chris's arm and shook his head.
"That's right friendly Vin, thank you," Buck sauntered over to the spring.
"You shouldn't be drinking Vin," Nathan warned.
"It's Mountain Dew, Nathan. I best leave tha liquor 'lone," Vin answered.
Nathan moved over to check Vin out. Patiently Vin allowed the examination.
"Damn, you've lost weight already. Aren't you eating?" Nathan demanded.
"I's takin' tha 'botic. Them pain pills was tearing up my stomach somethin' fierce. I'se able ta eat some now that I stopped takin' 'em," Vin answered honestly.
"When did you get antibiotics and pain pills?" Nathan demanded.
"On tha way outta tha hospital I stopped at tha pharmacy. Doc Appleton done had mah 'scriptions ready," Vin explained.
Nathan glared at the unrepentant sharpshooter as the others snickered.
"Damn Junior" Buck laughed, "that poor rabbit's skinnier than you are". Buck indicated the roasting animal.
"I'se mighty sorry Bucklin. Don't have no excuse fer cuttin' ya like that," Vin raised shamed eyes.
"Do you know what happened in the warehouse Vin?" Buck asked gently.
"I saw Mohammed Farrar," Vin's voice shook.
"Whose Mohammed Farrar?" Chris asked.
"Feller I'se tryin' ta get ta," Vin explained.
"His name is Achmid Mohammed Saddam," Josiah spoke. "You got confused Vin".
"First time I met him it was Mohammed Farrar. He's a member of Al Queda," Vin replied.
Josiah, Buck and Chris exchanged glances as Vin mentioned the terrorist organization.
"He just disappeared out of lockup," Chris spoke. "You have anything to do with that?"
"The Israelis' been looking fer Mohammed fer sometime," Vin admitted.
"Mr. Tanner is a man of many talents." Ezra observed to Nathan quietly.
//I didn't touch him. I'se just called David.// Vin assured Chris. "Ya look like a raccoon Chris," Vin noted.
"You have a hard head Tanner," Chris smiled slightly in return.
They exchanged a long glance and Vin nodded.
"I'se sorry 'bout yer leg, Josiah," Vin shifted uncomfortably.
"All's forgiven Brother," Josiah sank to the ground by the fire.
"Ezra," Vin began.
"Think no more of it Mr. Tanner. Although any future altercations will see me strenuously avoiding the end with teeth," Ezra flashed his dimples. "Surely you do not intend to partake of that pitiful carcass," Ezra examined the roasting rabbit.
"It is a mite scrawny, but it'll do," Vin replied.
The men gathered around the fire. Buck handed around bottles of everyone's favorites. They sat comfortably in the silence among friends.
JD asked suddenly, "Vin how'd you met a terrorist".
Vin calmly turned the rabbit.
"I'se in tha Rangers a spell back JD," Vin muttered.
"Texas Rangers? what do they have to do with terrorists?" JD asked in confusion.
"Army Rangers JD, special forces," Buck explained.
"I cain't tell ya nothin' 'bout it, it's classified," Vin didn't look up from the fire.
"In the dark?" Chris whispered.
Vin met his eyes with a closed off look.
"Vin are you all right with this?" Chris spoke softly as he reached for Vin's shoulder.
"Need ta tell ya. Try ta explain tha' damn warehouse," Vin shifted away from the reaching hand. "Don't touch me Chris can't stand it right now".
JD was upset by the closed expressions on the faces of Buck, Josiah, and Chris. Ezra studied the roasting rabbit carefully not making eye contact with anyone.
Vin spoke without emotion "I helt him close fer a bit and promised him ta take care a Sharron. He smiled up at me and says thank ya Vin. He was mah friend," Vin hoarse whisper ended abruptly.
"Reckon tha' rabbit's done." Vin pulled it from the flames.
JD's face was white and he moved towards Vin. Buck shook his head pointing him back to his place.
"Needs ta cool a mite. Man could get burned as hot as it is," Vin mumbled.
The men sat patiently waiting for some type of cue from Chris or Vin on what to do next.
"Don't reckon I's hungry after all. Ya want this Chris?" Vin asked.
Chris forced himself to choke down several bites of the rabbit. Vin took a drink of the Mountain Dew and tossed a log on the fire. Vin growled,
"When I's clear of them hospitals, I's gone and didn't look back."
"Where'd you go Vin?" Josiah asked very gently.
"Found me a high place. Strange thin' happened up yonder Josiah. Tha Silence filled up some of tha empty. Stayed up there till tha first snow. Listenin' ta God move in them mountains. Had me a long talk with mah Jesus. Times I could feel him. That's a mighty fine feelin'. When I saw Mohammed I lost that feelin' fer a bit. Had ta go scour tha' hate out so's I'se clean again," Vin voice was calm and his face peaceful.
"Are you OK now Cowboy?" Chris asked.
"No, but I'se gonna be fine. Got me an appointment with a fella that helped before. Time I faced some nightmares," Vin looked up with a faint grin as he put the fire out. "Can I catch me a ride down?" Vin asked.
"Let's go home Vin," Chris smiled.