Fight or Flight II

Raylan walked into the living room the next morning stretching as he went. Tim was sitting at the table reading the paper and drinking a cup of coffee. "Morning," he said after taking a sip.

"You are an early riser," the senior marshal said heading towards the coffee pot in the kitchen.

"Ahh yes, but not as early as your son which would have been good to know. I thought he was just getting up to pee except he never came back. It was barely five. I got up to find him doing Tai Chi in the living room."

"Sorry about that, I forget he falls beyond the realm of normal in that capacity."

"Yeah, well I got my chi in order so it wasn't all bad."

"Good to know," Raylan said grimacing after tasting the hot coffee. "Um, Tim, where is my son?"

"I walked him down to his buddy's house so he could help him study for his spelling test. I'm going back to get him in five minutes. I checked the area and put a machine gun in his backpack. The neighborhood is quieter than death in the morning."

"Fine, why don't you go get him now so I can make a phone call without having to pretend to take a shower."

Tim smiled and reached for his jacket. He and Nate got back to the house several minutes later just as Raylan was finishing up his phone call and shower. "Good morning son," he said buttoning his shirt.

"Hey," Nate responded.

"How was studying?"

"Fine, I had to fight off a platoon of evil doers with grenade launchers to get there but I made it," Nate joked.

"Good for you, there's nothing like starting the day off with a little competition."

"They said to tell you hi," Nate said keeping his face serious.

Raylan smiled and nodded and Tim just grinned enjoying Nate's humor.

"Okay gang, it's time to buy some ice cream. I'll drive my car so I can get some estimates while we're out," Raylan explained. "Nate make sure you have your pills because I'm not sure when we'll get back; Tim, Nate can go with you."

"Why do we need two cars?" Tim asked.

"Well I may have to leave mine at the garage and without yours how will we get around?"

"Of course," Tim smiled knowing that at some point Raylan was going to take off. He had already been fairly warned so he could only do his best to keep the man within his sight. It was going to be a long day.

After the third convenience store Nate was wishing he was in school and Tim was wishing he was with him. "I'm going to go use the restroom," Raylan said handing the ice cream and some money to Tim. "I know what you're thinking and do I look like a guy would slip out the window of a restroom?"

Tim stayed quiet and shook his head at Nate who was absorbed in a magazine totally ignoring the adults. "Wait a minute; does this store have a bathroom?" Tim asked.

Nate turned and smiled, "you must have missed this class in marshal school." He put the magazine back and took the ice cream from Tim's hand and put it back in the freezer. "So we can go to a movie, go carts or the mall."

A half hour later they trekked across the massive parking lot. "Help me remember where we parked the car," Tim said as they headed towards the entrance of the mall.

The two went through a side entrance and passed by the movie theater. They went towards the middle and found a map. "Let's walk this way and then go upstairs," Nate suggested.

"Sure kid, whatever you think," Tim said winking, hoping that Raylan wasn't getting into too much trouble.

They had checked out several stores and Nate had Tim laughing in most of him with his playful actions; putting on hats, modeling skirts and finding all kinds of crazy bumper stickers and posters. They stopped to get some ice cream since they had both been in the mood since the convenience store.

"What kind kiddo?" Tim asked.

"Vanilla, it's the only flavor I can have."

"Two vanilla," Tim told the clerk.

"Awww are you two playing hooky?" she asked as she began to scoop the ice cream. "Your son is adorable."

Before Tim could correct the clerk Nate jumped in. "Yes I am," he interrupted. "Every so often Dad pulls me out of school for some quality time."

"That's great," she cooed handing Nate his cone.

They walked and ate until they came to a pet goods store that had several puppies and cats from a local animal shelter.

Nate looked up and licked his lips as he finished the last bit of his cone.

"Which do you like better, cats or dogs?" Tim asked.

"They both have their benefits. Cats are easy but dogs are more fun, but they take a lot of time and room in the bed."

"Would you like to hold one," the woman from the shelter asked.

"Sure," Nate answered.

"Is it okay with your dad?"

"Is it okay Dad?" Nate turned and asked Tim.

Tim unsure of how he felt continually being confused for Nate's father merely nodded and watched as Nate pulled the puppy to his chest. The woman began to talk about how fantastic the puppy was and what special relationships dogs and boys have while Tim kept smiling. Suddenly Nate looked like the eleven year old boy he truly was. He wasn't the boy who had marched into the woods after an armed faction or helped put a pedophile away or the kid that witnessed his father shoot an old friend, his grandfather and several strangers or was under the protection of a federal marshal due to being chased down and nearly shot the night before. He was simply a boy playing with a puppy.

"Please Dad," Nate whined holding the puppy up.

"Not in a million years kid, we need to move along," he said looking at his watch.

Nate handed the puppy back and followed Tim to the stairs. "Can you take me to the range?"

"Your dad takes you there."

"I know, but you can show me things he can't."

"Maybe one day with your dad's permission." Tim said.

"What was it like in Afghanistan?"

"It was war, and war is never good."

"Did you kill a lot of people?"

"My fair share I suppose, what's with all the questions?"

"I don't know, just curious I guess."

"Look we'll figure out who was after you last night, you'll be safe."

"I know, it's just that my life is so different from everybody else's. First off I'm sick and can't do a lot of stuff or eat what everybody else does and then to top it all off my dad runs around and shoots people. Some days I just want this to be my life; the simplicity of the mall. My mom would take to the mall in Miami and we would suck up the air conditioning and just relax and have fun."

"You can have fun with Raylan," Tim countered.

"I know, and I do, but it's like he is always looking over his shoulder instead of at me."

"He has a lot on his mind, we all do, it's just the nature of the job."

"Well I don't like it; I don't want to think about anything happening to him. I mean if it can happen to my mom then it can certainly happen to him."

Tim wasn't sure what to say as they continued their march to the car. They climbed inside, Tim wishing he knew what to say. This kid just poured his heart out to him and he was clueless as to how to respond. Nate was staring at his phone looking at the apps that colored his screen while Tim navigated the parking lot that like so many high traffic spots was full of chaotic bedlam; cars going every which way and not paying the least bit off attention. He looked over at his charge and pulled the car into an empty slot. He had no idea what to say but he knew he needed to say something, so he turned and looked over and just started talking.

"Bad things happen to good people all the time, but you found that out the minute your mother died. I have no idea why the world is the way it is and I have no idea how to find the words that will make your day better. What I do know is that your dad loves you very much; I can see it in every part of his day. Sometimes it just seems as if unseen forces pull you in directions you have no choice but to follow."

"Like you being a great marksman?"

"Right, it's what I am and sometimes it doesn't seem as if it was my choice. Your dad is an amazing lawman; he has a rapport with people and can handle situations that would consume everybody else in their attempts."

"He can't be anybody else other than what he is." Nate mumbled.

Tim inhaled and looked over at the very insightful boy and gave a weak smile. "Right and it doesn't mean he loves you less or doesn't care; it's just that there's a job to do and he is the one to do it."

"Even though it's dangerous," Nate added.

"Sometimes it is, but I've never seen anybody draw on a person faster than your daddy. I know life is scary and full of horror, much of which you've seen firsthand, but none of us can stop living or doing what we were meant to do out of fear or we've already lost."

"I'm supposed to die first, the doctor didn't think I could hear him but I did. He said that chances were good that my body would give out one day and that it might be before my parents," Nate said calmly.

"I'm sure he didn't mean for you to hear that. Well any one of us could die at any time; I personally prefer to remain blissfully ignorant."

"Yeah if I had to guess the parent that would die by gunfire it wouldn't have been my mother."

"It is all a mystery," Tim said putting the car back in drive.

"Life is a mystery, but most especially when it's all over," Nate said causing Tim to hesitate realize no truer words were spoken.

"So gang,we are meeting up and hanging out at Winona and Gary's place tonight," Raylan said as Tim and Nate got back to the house. "Did you two have a good day?" he asked kissing Nate on the top of his head.

"Yeah we went to the mall." Tim answered looking to Raylan for an update on his day. "Your kid is one of the best drivers of all time; he got into one of those simulators and had the highest score." Tim shared.

"Apparently I drive with reckless abandon," Nate said grinning.

"Well that's just awesome, you're driving then," Raylan grinned tossing Nate the keys.

"I remember when I was little and you let me sit in your lap and steer."

"You remember that?" Raylan asked secretly pleased.

"Yeah, I do," Nate said thoughtfully.

A half hour later the trio showed up at the Hawkins home Nate carrying a small pizza with his favorite toppings sans the sauce and a small jug of milk.

"Come on in guys, hello Nate how are you?" Winona asked smiling. "I'll show you to the kitchen. Gary you remember Nate, Raylan's son."

"Yeah how are you?" Gary managed to squeeze out, looking very uncomfortable.

Nate took a long look at the man before following Winona into the kitchen. She set him up at the breakfast bar and sat down next to him. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," Nate said taking a big bite out of his pizza. "You?"

"A little shaky actually. I don't know how you can act so calm," she said hugging herself. When Nate didn't respond she asked, "What kind of toppings to you have there?"

"Hamburger, mushrooms and black olives, extra cheese and no sauce."

"No sauce?"

"Can't have it in my diet, too acidic. I think I give your husband the creeps."

Winona looked momentarily confused. "What makes you say that?"

"He gets nervous whenever I look at him."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because he has something to hide," Nate said as he chugged some milk.

"Nate," Raylan barked from the doorway. He smiled at his startled ex-wife. "Sorry, just need a minute with my son."

"Sure, I'm going to tidy up a bit," she said leaving the two Givens alone.

"Hey, I thought we were going to keep this between us."

"We were?" Nate asked.

"Well we are, we don't know anything for sure so zip it, the less they know the better," Raylan explained.

"You don't think she might want to know she is married to a man that wants her ex axed?"

"Nate just do as I ask."

"Fine," Nate snapped.

"And Nate that order goes for now and into the future."

The awkward evening had stretched to epic proportions as the entire group sat around on the ginormous couch and all stared at the TV that none of them were truly watching. The televised offering not nearing the drama they were all intimately involved in.

Nate had slumped against Raylan as he finally gave up his fight to stay awake. Winona had gotten up and found a blanket to cover him with as Gary did his best to look anywhere but at the father and son unit taking up residence in his house. With Nate's earlier conclusion and Gary's agonized facial expressions Raylan had no doubt that there was something to the theory his son had put together earlier. Finally they decided to end the torturous evening and call it night.

"Tim or Raylan whichever of you wants it, we have another guest room upstairs; it's the first door on the right, next to the bathroom." Winona explained as she headed upstairs completely ignoring Gary. Rachel, who had already been guarding the house, had gone up to her resident room an hour earlier, tired of dealing with the awkwardness.

"I'll take the first watch while you get some shut eye and you can relieve me later," Raylan said getting up gently laying Nate on the couch.

"And I can count on you being here when I come down to relieve you?" Tim asked with his eyes wide.

"Yeah, I'm telling you I'll be here so I'll be here. Hey, I told you I what I was going to do today."

"And now you're telling me you are going to stay."

"Yeah so I'm going to stay," Raylan stated honestly meaning it.

"Fine, I'll take Nate and put him in the bed and take my new customary spot next to him on the floor."

"Sounds great, I'll go get your sleeping bag," Raylan offered. Tim pulled his keys from his pocket and tossed them to Raylan as he picked up the sleeping Nate off the couch.

"You need to feed this kid, he doesn't weigh anything," Tim said cradling the boy in his arms.

"I try but he can't eat anything. Be careful don't bang his head into the wall; he has enough problems already without brain damage."

Tim looked at Raylan and gave him a fake smile then turned and carefully maneuvered his way up the stairs with no body parts hitting any inanimate objects.

Raylan decided he was very grateful for Nate embracing Tim and vice versa. As a single parent he was realizing the necessity of a strong network of friends and babysitters. As soon as he stepped outside he saw the idling vehicle across the street. He did his best to study the scene while looking as if he hadn't even noticed the intrusion. Raylan grabbed the ever traveling sleeping bag, turned and walked back into the house. He ran upstairs with numerous scenarios going through his head.

"He never even woke up," Tim announced as Raylan entered.

He looked at his son who slept on as if he didn't have a care in the world. Tim took the sleeping bag and unfurled it and then grabbed a throw pillow from the chair in the corner. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Whenever Nate wakes up is fine."

"You'll be here?" Tim asked.

"Yes, I'll be here." Raylan assured.

But of course Raylan wasn't. It soon became clear after abducting the lurking intruder that Nate had been absolutely right about Gary masterminding his demise. He had hired Winn Duffy to make all his problems go away; those problems being Raylan. But apparently he had a heart after all and tried to call it off; his lost conscience found once again when he saw the face of the future orphan or perhaps the realization that Raylan most likely wouldn't be the only one dying; no witnesses is generally the hit man creed. But it was that face that had stared at him and deduced what Gary had been up to that had been his undoing. Raylan had taken his son seriously and it had paid off. He had a head start on the theory and where it led and was quite prepared to pick up the necessary game pieces and finish this diversion. By the end of the night Gary was heading several time zones away and Duffy was hoping to never see the marshal again.

"Thought you were going to be here; you said you were going to be here. So imagine my surprise when your son and I come tromping down the stairs at the ungodly hour of five o'clock to find an empty room and your car missing. Try explaining that to an unhappy eleven year old who wants to know where the hell his father is."

"I am sorry about that, I had fully intended to be here but something came up." Raylan defended.

"Something came up," Tim said nodding his head. "Always with the excuses." He accused acting like an angry wife.

"Where is my son?"

"In the kitchen trying to find something he can eat without dire consequences."

"Consequences life is just full of them isn't it?" Raylan asked nobody in particular.