JD had ran, stumbled, and ran down the stairs, bursting into Chris' office and falling before the couch where Buck lay. Trying to control his frantic breathing, he put his hand on Buck's chest, watched his slow breaths and sighed. Buck turned his head and mumbled slightly and JD carded through Buck's hair, whispering, "Easy, Buck. You're okay. You're okay." Tears leaked through his eyes.
The others watched, moved. After a beat, Chris pulled JD gently to his feet and steered him out of the office.
JD wiped his tears off on his sleeve and turned his hazel eyes accusingly at Chris. "You left him alone! You don't know they are after me!"
"JD, Buck was in the office, and there are guards," Nathan began.
"They took me from the Saloon with all of you there, too!" JD's breathing was still erratic and he stumbled against Chris, struggling to breath.
Nathan quickly took charge, lowering JD to his knees and holding JD's face between his hands. "It's okay, JD, breathe slowly."
JD's frightened eyes were fixed on Nathan's face as he raised his hands to his chest.
"Paper bag, someone, quick!" Nathan barked.
Anxious to help, Ezra and Vin almost ran into each other, when finally Vin reached his desk and triumphantly snatched up his leftover paper bag from lunch.
He and Ezra both skidded to a halt upon seeing JD had collapsed as Chris held the boy close.
Josiah had moved over to Buck, soothing him as his head tossed fretfully.
"Nathan?" queried a worried Vin.
"He'll be okay," Nathan said calmly. "He couldn't catch his breath so he passed out. Josiah, let's move JD to the breakroom couch."
"I'll do it," Vin said guiltily, remembering how he had snapped at the boy earlier. "Poor Kid. We've all been worried about JD and he is just as worried about us."
Vin eased the boy onto the sofa, mussing his dark hair. "Sorry, kid."
A yell from Chris' office startled all of them as Buck burst into the breakdown, screaming JD's name and saying, "No! No! You can't save him!" pushing Vin harshly out of the way and snatching JD up as he sobbed. "JD! No!"
Josiah followed, rubbing his head.
"What happened?" Chris demanded sharply, pulling Vin to his feet.
Josiah shook his head. "Buck screamed, jumped up, hit me, yelled for JD. I tried to tell him JD was okay and in the breakroom, but it was like he wasn't seeing me at all, just wild-eyed. I've never seen Buck like this before."
Both Ezra and Nathan, worry showing in their eyes, were trying to soothe Buck, "It's okay, Buck. JD is okay. It's going to be fine."
As if in answer, JD stirred, yawned, and smiled sleepily at his big brother.
"JD?" Buck said in disbelief. "JD, are you okay?"
"Better than you are," JD said as he became more aware of his surroundings. "What happened?"
"Yes," Ezra said softly under his breath. "What just happened here?"
And no one answered him.
TBC