Back at the Travis mansion, in the basement, Otter was lounging against the wall watching the punching bag whip back and forth as JD alternated left and right jabs, keeping the bag moving.

JD was sweating, t-shirt and hair dripping, and he showed no sign of slowing down.

"Picturing Buck's face on the bag?" Otter said wryly.

JD glanced over, gave one last hard punch to the bag; and nodded thanks as Otter tosses a towel to him.

"Didn't know you had it in you, Kid. Where did you learn to box like that?" Otter said with admiration.

"Josiah. He used to box in college. Said it was a great way to work off aggression. The bag doesn't fight back, but well, I wouldn't want to take on Josiah in the ring!" JD rubbed the sweat off roughly, leaving his pale face red.

"Not sure I would want to box you either, JD," Otter complimented. "You're a good swimmer, a very fast runner . . . were you in sports in school?"

The look JD gave him Otter couldn't read. "Naw," JD answered, plopping down on the bench. "Too busy working, studying and taking care of my Mom." He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I'm fast because of bullies. Had to outrun and out zig and zag them, running through alleys."

"Sorry."

H

"No, I'm lucky. Vin, Nathan and I play basketball; Josiah is showing me boxing; Vin self-defense, and we all play football and baseball. I usually go running two or three times a week with Buck," and JD stopped at the mention of Buck's name.

"Buck is the most loyal friend you will ever have, JD," Otter said solemnly. "Best friend I ever had. Don't throw that type of friendship away."

"How come Buck never mentioned you?" JD asked, picking up his water bottle and gulping it down, pouring the last of it over his hair.

Otter looked away. "We were pretty tight, especially when Chris was busy with his wife and son. Then – when they were killed, Buck was occupied trying to keep Chris together and that was a full-time job. He told me he was sorry we couldn't get together; but Chris needed him more. No matter how badly Chris treated him – Buck stayed by his side, even though most friends would have given up at one point. That's Buck. You need to think seriously about it, JD, before you throw a friend like that away."

JD's long black hair hid his face, but his eyes watered at Otter's words. "Buck's like the big brother I always wanted. He's the closest thing to family since my Mom died. I need to see him, Otter."

Before Otter could answer, another man JD knew to be security, came down the stairs and called to Otter. "Mac wants to see you."

"We'll talk later," Otter promised JD as he went up the stairs. "There's a shower to the north when you're finished working out. This is Mike Temple, JD."

JD didn't catch the worried glance Otter gave him before he left.

The other man, now known as Temple, grunted to JD and picked up one of the magazines. He showed no interest in conversing with JD.

JD stop up, attacking the boxing bag again.

TBC