Part 4

The sun was barely over the high and hilly horizon when a shout of alarm broke through the stillness of the morning.  The once quiet camp was suddenly alive with shouts of shock and fear.

“Ezra!”

“Vin!”

 “JD!”

 “Where the hell are they?”

 “I don’t know!”

 “Boys, answer, please!”

 “Any sign”

 “Nothing, it’s like they just disappeared.”

 “JD…JD!”

 “Vin, Ezra, JD!”

“Please answer!”

“Ok boys, this isn’t funny!”

“Their gone…”

“No, they are here, somewhere.  They have to be…”

“Boys!  JD, Ezra, Vin!”

“This is my fault, I should have bunked with them.”

“It’s not your fault, maybe we all should of split up the sleeping arrangements differently”

“Well we checked around here, I’m going to go down by the river to look.”

Those words stopped everyone.  No one wanted to think of that area as a possibility to look to the three youngest of their family. 

“Chris do you really think…” Josiah regretfully asked.

“We can’t discount it”

“But they were taught and told to stay away from there without an adult.”  Nathan defended his missing brothers.

“I don’t want to check there, it scares me to think that we might find… we have to eliminate every possibility.  You all stay here and I will go…”

“No Chris!”  Buck broke in with a choked voice.  “You are not going there alone, not if there is a possi…you aren’t going alone”

“Nate.”  Josiah looked worriedly at the young man.  "Maybe you aught to stay here incase they show up…”

“NO!”  Nathan was angry.  Angry that by morning the peaceful serenity of the night before was broken.  Angry because he felt he should have been able to stop this and angry because he was being excluded from the search.  He knows that Josiah is only trying to protect him from witnessing the demise of his family, protecting him from a possibly gruesome sight if they were… but he was their older brother.  He knows these boys and how they think.  They have looked to him over the years for answers and at times protection.  He was not going to let them down by sitting around camp while the others did all the work.

“I’m going too…no Josiah!”  He shouted once again when Josiah went to protest.  “They are my brothers too and if they are there and hurt I am the one with the most medical knowledge.  I. Am. Gong!”

With that said Nathan grabbed the first aid kit and his life jacket.  The Devil himself couldn’t keep him from helping to find his brothers.

A very somber and agitated group headed down to the river.

“There are some sneaker tracks hear.”  Buck called from a short distance up the trail.

“Yeah it looks like three different sets.  So they either came this way together or they all went in the same direction.  What did the sheriff say?”  Chris asked as he and Buck waited for Nathan and Josiah to catch up to them. 

Josiah stayed back with Nathan and contacted the sheriff by the radio they bring with them on their camping trips.

‘Just in case’ Bobby used to always say.

Josiah never thought he would live to see the ‘just in case.’

Looking down at the radio in his hand he likened himself to Atlas.  “He said they would get a search and rescue team organized but it could be more than 24 hours before they could respond and that at the moment they weren’t really consider missing as long as there was no sign of them being taken.”

“Shit.”  Chris and Buck both whispered in despair. 

Looking down at the tracks they found, they continued to follow them towards the river each not believing that this was happening.

“Two roads diverged in the wood,” Josiah mumbled upon seeing that they were at the location where one direction led to the inlet and the other to the river.

“…and I took the one less traveled by,” Nathan added.

“…and that has made all the difference.” Chris finished the famous Robert Frost poem. 

The tracks led towards the river.

Part 5

The first sensations to hit Ezra were pain, then cold, then wetness and finally sound.  This was not right.  Sure he complained about camping and sleeping on the ground but he didn’t remember ever waking up this sore or to this loud of noise, not in the woods where they camped.  Then the memories hit him.  Just before dawn when the slightest tinge of light illuminated the landscape Vin and JD had awakened him…

“Ezra…Ezra!”  Was excitedly whispered into his ear.  “JD has to go…BAD!”  Vin continued to try rousing him by vigorously shaking his shoulder in an attempt to get him awake before JD had an accident.

“I’m up, I’m up.”  Was the sleepy reply.

Slowly making their way out of the tent, Ezra led the boys, Vin decided he had to go too, to the designated area for the “facilities.”  As they walked there JD talked nonstop about the story of Orion.  He said he had a dream that he was one of Orion’s dogs and that he had swam after his master when he chased Scorpio into the ocean and that he had saved his life even after Artemis shot him with an arrow.

After all the boys took care of their business, they began to head back to the camp.  Ezra was happy to try to get more sleep, he knew the others would be up soon and want him to participate in whatever ‘fun’ they were going to have that day.

JD was still talking about his dream and saying something about how well he could swim in the dream and that he was sure that the gods themselves had visited him that night and gave him the ability to swim faster and stronger than ever before.  Vin and Ezra started to refute the idea when JD suddenly turned around and ran up the path towards the watering hole still talking about his “new” swimming ability.

Vin and Ezra, still a little tired and shocked by JD’s move, took just a moment to look at one another before they tore up the path after JD.  When he wanted to he could run fast for having such little legs.  Neither of the two older boys realized that JD took the wrong path and instead of heading to the relatively safe watering hole he ended up heading to the full-blown river.

By the time the two boys reached the river, JD was already working his way into the water.

“JD!”  They both shouted. 

“Get out of there now!  This isn’t the inlet, this is the river!” Ezra shouted to him as he himself began to wade in after him.

“JD, get out of there!”  Vin added frantically. 

Ezra, realizing that Vin was also wading into the water, turned to tell Vin to go back for their older brothers when a cut-off shriek filled the air.  He turned just in time to see JD falling into the river and being swept down stream.  Neither of the boys thought of anything else but to get to JD.

They both swam after him and Ezra being the strongest swimmer, reached him first.  Getting a hold on JD was difficult at first.

“Please, JD!  PLEASE!  Calm down, I have you…that’s it, I have you.”  Ezra continued to calm him as he was finally able to get a proper hold on the youngest and start to swim for shore.  As he was heading in that direction he noticed Vin holding onto a tree branch that was partially submerged in the water and silty bottom.  With what little air he had Ezra shouted at Vin until he looked at him.

“Hold on!  I will be right back!”

Vin’s only response was a nodding of his head as he clung for dear life onto the branch.  The water was cold, being this early in summer and before sunrise.

Ezra swam with all he had against the current and was finally able to make it to shore with JD.  All three boys were swept fairly far form their starting point but at least Ezra was able to deposit JD on the same side of the river as their camp.

Huffing and puffing, trying to drag in as much air into exhausted lungs, Ezra crawled with JD to the highest point on the bank in that area.  Drawing in some big breaths, he gaspingly told JD to wait there and to not move no matter what.  As he turned to go back into the water JD grabbed a hold of his hand.

“No, no, no!  Please don’t leave me!  Please!”  He begged with the little bit of strength he had left.

“JD, I will be right back but I have to help Vin.  Do you understand?”  He asked the youngster.  JD seemed to come out of his shock and nod in resignation.  “Now promise me that no matter what happens you will stay right here.”  At the beginning of a shake of his head Ezra reemphasized the urgency of the situation.

“JD, promise me!  I have to help Vin and I can’t do that if I have to worry about you ending up in there again.  Now please, help Vin.  Promise me you will stay right here no matter what.”  Again JD reluctantly nodded in affirmation to Ezra’s request.

Ezra wasted no more time, once he secured JD’s promise to remain on the bank of the river he quickly dove back in and fought his way to Vin and his life saving branch.

Vin had been close to Ezra when cramps had hit his legs.  The pain rendered him almost useless and he almost went under if it wasn’t for the branch that was lodged in the riverbed.  ‘It must be from last year when the river flooded.’  He absently thought as he waited for Ezra to come back and help him.

Vin was unaware of Ezra’s return until his almost completely numb body felt a tentative touch on the back of his neck. 

Ezra was scared when he reached Vin.  He had been calling him for some time and he wasn’t answering.  He quickly realized that with the cold and the circumstances of their being here this was all causing Vin to go into shock.  Seeing Vin’s eyes finally focus on his, Ezra was able to get Vin to let go of the branch and he took his full weight and began to pull him to safety.

Half way to the shore Ezra couldn’t do this anymore.  He fought against his body’s exhaustion but in the end there was nothing else he could do.  Still trying to reach shore and get Vin to safety, he began to fall into darkness.  He knew though that if he gave in that they would both drown.  By now JD was out of site.  Ezra’s weakening condition has caused them to float further down stream but at least his fighting against the inevitable caused them to get closer to shore.  Just as his feet were able to touch bottom and he took a couple of steps with Vin hanging on him, Ezra collapsed into oblivion.

Cursing himself for everything possible, Ezra slowly but as quickly as he could started to get up.  Though his body would not let him react quickly enough his mind was frantic with the knowledge that Vin was with him.

Nightmares of a time in the past flood through his thoughts.  He is blinded with his self-recrimination and hatred that he almost misses Vin lying beside him.  Crawling over to the still body, Ezra is struck with the fear that he had failed again.  They would surely want to get rid of him now.  Twice he had been entrusted with JD and Vin and twice he has hurt them.  He knew Vin was alive because he saw the heavy deep breathes that the young man was taking.  ‘Please god,’ he prayed ‘I don’t care if you strike me down with ailment, physical pain or disability, just please protect Vin and JD.  They are the ones that everyone loves.  I would most likely not to be missed but please, protect them!’

Ezra was in a state of shock.  His only thought was to keep Vin safe, get him moving and to get back to JD.  He no longer registered the badly cut, freely bleeding, dislocated arm attached to his body.  It never registered that he was only able to use one arm.

After finally getting Vin up and moving upstream to where they had to abandoned JD, Ezra suddenly wished that he had paid more attention in Earth Science back in 8^th grade.  They had studied topography and one of the topographical maps was of this area of Colorado.  He jokingly thought with his wry sense of humor that the camp was probably up over that hill but some one probably made this long ‘scenic’ route because they were bored. 

‘That was it!’  As soon as they get back home he was going to study the map of this area. If there was an easier way he would find it.

Together he and Vin walked while supporting each other.

Part 6

JD was crying.  JD was crying!  While that was a scary thought it was also a blessing.  Once they saw the tracks lead into the water they had all thought the worse.  But here they were, surrounding JD, trying to calm him and find out about Vin and Ezra.

Soothing tones did little for JD.  He clung to Buck the moment they walked around the bend of the river.  Sobbingly he related their tale.  The other brothers were now worried.  How much further had Vin and Ezra traveled and what would be their condition when found?

Deciding that Buck would stay with JD and Nathan would stay behind to help check JD over, Chris and Josiah headed down river.

They made it about a hundred feet when they saw the most beautiful and heart wrenching site in the world.  There sitting on the ground was Vin.  He had Ezra’s head cradled in his lap as he gently petted his hair.  A quiet murmur could be heard coming from Vin but the words were not distinguishable until they came closer.

“It’s not your fault Ezra.  It’s not.  I’m not hurt, I’m ok. We love you Ezra and we won’t let you go.”

Vin has been repeating these words to Ezra for the last ten minutes.  That is when Ezra finally succumbed to his bodies need for rest.  The entire time they were walking back towards JD, Ezra had been unconsciously verbalizing all of the fear and pain he has suffered since Vin’s accident.

Cautiously approaching, Chris and Josiah knelt down beside the two brothers.  “Vin?”  Chris quietly called his brother.  Tear filled blue eyes looked up at Chris.  Vin’s breathing became erratic and his control on his emotions was lost.  Vin realized that Ezra was no longer resting against him and briefly panicked.

“Easy, Vin.”  Josiah reassured.  “I have him.  You did a good job but now let me take care of him and Chris can take care of you.”

Vin collapsed with relief into Chris’ arms.  He cried out his pain and the secrets that Ezra hid.  Chris and Josiah were shocked to hear all of the words and confessions of their most troubled brother come pouring out of their most quiet.

“We better get them back to the others, Chris.  Ezra has a big nasty cut here and most likely a dislocated shoulder.”  Both of them stood, cuddling and protecting their separate charges and headed up stream to the other three.

Part 7

The week of vacation did not go exactly as the brothers had planned.  They spent a total of one day at their camp.  Shortly after finding Vin and Ezra, Josiah once again radioed the sheriff and asked for assistance, this time it was for medical reasons.  Soon Josiah, Vin, JD and a still unconscious Ezra were off to the hospital via helicopter.

Chris, Buck and Nathan were now stuck with cleanup and packing duty.  If it had been under different circumstances Josiah would have had a chance to tease the two older brothers but as it was they just all agreed to hurry up and get to the hospital where the youngest need them.

All three suffer from a cold now.  Being stuck in that chilly water caused a bad case of the sniffles.  Vin had a few cuts and bruises but they would eventually heal.  Ezra on the other hand had the most injuries, though none were immediately life threatening.  He did suffer from a dislocated shoulder and a huge gash on his arm that required thirty-four stitches.  All three boys were kept overnight for observation and then released the following morning.  So the week of vacation away from home turned out to be a week at home.

Ezra is enjoying one of his favorite shows and munching on crackers.  He is quite enjoying himself when he feels the couch dip.  Looking out of the corner of his eye he sees Chris sitting and watching him.  Knowing that Chris wants to talk, Ezra leaves out an exasperated sigh and uses the remote to turn the television off; he sits and wait.”

“It wasn’t your fault and none of us blame you.”

Ezra knows he has that deer-caught-in-the-headlight-look but for the life of him he is either unable or unwilling to remove it.  He tries to respond but his brain over rules his mouth.  Subconsciously he wants to believe the words and that is why he can offer no argument to them.  The logical side that was raised by Maude curses his failure at hiding his thoughts.

“When you are ready to talk, one of us will be ready to listen Ezra.”

Not wanting to embarrass the young man any further, Chris grabs the remote, scoots a little closer to Era and turns the television on.  Behind his calm exterior his heart races a mile a minute and a smile threatens to appear.  After all it isn’t everyday someone can render Ezra speechless.  The trouble is that he would rather have him talk.  Ezra is slowly dying inside and he doesn’t know how to stop it from happening.  Trying to get more comfortable Chris places an arm along the back of the couch and sits back to enjoy the program.

Still unsure of what is happening Ezra decides that just this once he is going to accept what was offered.  So after staring at Chris in shock for another five minutes, Ezra finally makes up his mind.

Quietly and slowly Ezra leans into Chris and rests his aching body along his side.  After watching TV a little longer he decides to rest his soul.

“Thank you.”  He whispers so quietly that Chris almost missed the softly spoken words.  “Thank you for, for…

…just thank you,”

Chris tightens his hold around Ezra’s shoulders and remains quiet.  He knows that that was very difficult for the closed off teenager.  Chris accepts the gift of trust given to him while he quietly fights back tears and prays that this is a new beginning.

The End