Date: Sat, 02 Mar 2002 19:33:34 -0500
From: readersstop@netscape.net
Subject: TFAP Diary Notes - 007 Joining Together (LJB)(MM BB Bb 1st anal
    oralteen1b  teen2b slow)(63/56)

This is the seventh set of diary entries, notes and discussions involving
characters and events introduced in the series "To Fulfill a Prophesy".  I
strongly suggest reading the original series before these entries to allow
understanding of the characters and their relationship to each other.

TFAP Diary - 07 Joining together

Jackson's impressions.  What a restless night it'd been.  Images of Pa and
Ethan flashed through my dreams.  Tall buildings and elevators and rooms
with indoor plumbing all showed up in places where they don't belong.  And
with each different segment of my dreams I'd see the young boy, Denny,
standing there watching everything.  None of the other new people appeared,
but he was always there watching the endless trail of pictures running
through my dreams.

We was back where we found Dean and Ted.  Pa was sayin' we was goin' to
take Dean and leave his friend.  I saw Ethan hit Dean ag'in for askin'
about his friend.  As the back of his hand connected with the side of
Dean's head, I woke and sat up in bed.  It took me a few breaths to realize
where I was.  I could see Dean still asleep in the other bed.  I was
startled when I suddenly realized the four boys was sitting facing me in a
circle around me on my bed with their legs crossed.

"Why have you gathered us here, Denny ?"  Jamie asked.

"I want you to help me decide how Jackson is to be punished."  Denny
answered all the while staring coldly at me.

"Why would Jackson be punished ?"  Davey asked.  "He tried to help Uncle
Dean save Dad's life."

"You don't know the truth."  Denny said.  "He and his family left Dad in
the woods to die.  They didn't take Uncle Dean to try to help, they took
him to make a slave worker out of him."  The boys all turned and looked
toward me and then behind me.  I turned and behind me was the forest where
we found Dean and Ted.  We was all there.  Pa, Ethan, me, Dean and Ted.  We
watched and listened as it all happened ag'in right in front of us.  At the
end, when we hiked off into the woods, everything disappeared.  I turned
back towards the boys.  They was all facing into their circle ag'in.

"I'm going to punish him, severely."  Denny told them.

"No."  Kevin said.  "You have forgotten.  Uncle Dean is telling it
differently.  There has to be a reason for that.  He would never protect
someone who tried to hurt Dad, if there was not a really good reason."

"Kevin's right."  Jamie said.  "Dad loves Uncle Ted every bit as much as
any of us, even you Denny.  If he's chosen to protect Jackson, we have to
respect his judgment and try to learn from it."

"They're both right, Denny."  Davey added.  "You said it yourself when
Uncle Dean asked us to see and possibly help Devon.  `As difficult as this
may be, it is our duty to abide by the request of our Fathers.'  By his
actions and words, Uncle Dean has requested us to support what he is doing.
It is our duty to do so."

"I agree with your observations."  the young boy spoke, but different from
before.  It was like he was someone else.  "We will leave this matter for
now, but it is not yet resolved.  Kevin, you and Anson will provide as much
support as you are able for Jackson.  The Father must be given all the
assistance he requests."

"Dale must be dealt with."  Davey said.  "His anger and hostility are at a
boiling point.  I felt it even before we left the `castle'."

"Dale knows the same things about this I know."  the young'un said.  "I
will deal with him.  The Father had to let him know what had happened in
the memory Jamie transferred to him.  Everyone please be clear.  If we do
not find a reason to excuse Jackson's complacency in what we all saw, I
will punish him more severely than anyone has imagined.  He will serve as
an example to any who would harm the Fathers."

As I watched, each of them, one at a time, nodded to the young'un and then
disappeared.  When he was the only one left, he looked at me.

"You are having a dream."  he said.  "It's time to wake up."  I opened my
eyes slowly and realized there was a little bit of sunlight comin' in
around the edges of the cloth coverin' the windows.  As my eyes adjusted, I
looked over at Dean's bed and saw Denny laying there tight up against Dean,
looking back at me.  There was a light knock at the door.

"Come on in, we're open for business."  Dean called out.  The door opened
and Kevin stuck his head in.

"There you are."  he said to Denny.  "I figured when I woke up and you were
gone, I'd find you here."

"Anson went to the hospital," Denny told him, "and I didn't think I should
wake up Uncle Eric or Dale.  They just went to bed."

"When did this all happen Denny ?"  Dean asked.

"Oh, about 6 o'clock this morning."  he answered.  "It's after nine now.
Anson said, we should all sleep in, besides I had other things to take care
of."  Denny looked at me when he said this.  His head quickly turned back
to face Dean.  "Dad just woke up.  He wants to see you."

Everyone started movin' at the same time.  Kevin went to call Eric and
Dale.  Denny run to his room to git dressed and git t'others up.  Dean
started t'move to the indoor john, when he stopped and looked back ta me.

"What did Denny mean, he had `other things to take care of' ?"  he asked,
but it seemed like he was talkin' more to hisself than to me.  "Did he say
anything to you this morning ?"

"No, sir."  I answered true.  "Not since we been awake.  He ain't never
said nothin' to me, ever."  He stood there a lookin' at me for the longest
time.

"Denny!!!"  he let out a roar so as the whole hotel might just have heard.
Quick as a fly headed for poop, Denny was standin' at the door.

"Yes, Sir, Uncle Dean."  the young'un quietly answered.  Dean just stood
and stared at him.  First Denny's eyes opened very wide and then slowly his
head drooped `til he was staring at the floor.

"I'm not going to take time now, when we can be with your Dad," Dean said
in a very quiet voice, "but when we get back, you and I are going to have a
very serious discussion."  Denny lifted his head a little and looked fast
at Dean and then me.  For the first time I saw not hardness and anger in
his face, but a little bit of fear and worry.  "Go get ready."

"Yes, Sir."  the small'un answered.

I sat in the waiting room while t'others went to see Ted.  Dean stayed with
him the entire time.  Denny and Dale didn't go until the very last.  This
time, I watched Denny as t'other people was called to go.  He was bein'
punished.  It was clear to him and even to me.  Anson finally came and told
him he could see his Dad along with Dale.  They was gone a long time.
Finally Anson appeared and asked me to go with him.

When I entered Ted's room, I found he was sittin' up in bed, lookin' much
bigger'n before.  Denny was sittin' on the bed beside Ted, tucked in under
his arm and turned, so his head lay tight against Ted's chest.  Dean sat on
a chair next to the bed with Dale standing beside him.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Jackson."  Ted said, reaching out his hand to be
shaken.  "I'm also happy to welcome you to our family.  Dean tells me
without what you did for him, he might not be here with me."

"T'wasn't enough."  I told him.  "T'wasn't soon enough and I didn't give
him enough help.  If I had, things might'a been different."

"Jackson, I have told Dean this same thing."  Ted said, looking me in the
eyes.  "'The past is gone and time spent worrying about what might have
been, is totally wasted.'  What has happened is past.  We now move on from
this point."  I liked this man and I knew I was gonna trust him.

"Denny has something he needs to say to you, Jackson."  Dean told me.  "He
and Dale have both had a wrong idea about you and rather than talk to me,
they decided to act on their own."

"I'm sorry Jackson."  Denny said.  "I've treated you unfairly, because I
made a mistake and I might have made a serious error if Uncle Dean had not
caught me.  I've learned from this mistake and I will not make it again."

"I too, owe you an apology, Jackson."  Dale told me.  "I allowed my
emotions to interfere with verifying my facts were complete and correct.
It is a lesson I will also take to heart and try never to repeat."

"I'm not really sure what y'all are talkin' `bout," I declared, "but I got
no hard feelin's toward either one of ya.  We're friends as far as I'm
concerned."  Denny got down offa his Daddy's bed and gived me a big hug and
smile, while Dale came over and shooked my hand.

"This does not mean it's over."  Dean said to Denny.  "You will still lose
your swimming and riding privileges for a month."

"Yes, Sir."  Denny said, looking at the floor again.

"'Scuse me, Dean."  I said.  "I would never interfere in somep'en whats
none of my business, but if this is over somep'en to do with me, can I ask
that Denny not be punished further.  Sometimes mistakes are made and if
they's learned from, then that's gotta count for somep'en."  Dean looked to
Ted and Ted shrugged his shoulders.

"We have to talk about this further with Denny."  Dean told me.  "When we
do, we will give your request fair consideration.  Okay ?"

"Yes, Sir.  That'd be right `preciated."  I answered.



Kevin's observations.  I had never imagined what it would be like if Uncle
Dean yelled, but the sound of Denny's name coming out from his bedroom left
no question in anyone's mind that our boy was in serious trouble.  Denny
had gone bursting into our bedroom, announcing to Davey and Jamie, Dad was
awake and wanted to see Uncle Dean.  We didn't need to ask any questions
about it.  We all knew Denny had been constantly monitoring Dad, waiting
for any sign his condition was changing.  By the time I followed him to our
bedroom, after having wakened and told Dale and Uncle Eric, the other three
were half undressed, rummaging through their suitcases for clothes to put
on.  The sound of Uncle Dean bellowing for Denny caused us all to stop
dead.

"Oh, oh."  Jamie gasped and turned to look at Denny, whose face had turned
an ashen white.  "Better get in there, right now."  Denny raced to the door
and I stood aside to let him pass through.  I looked out into the sitting
room.  Uncle Eric and Dale had opened their door and were standing watching
as Denny raced to the Master Bedroom and opened the door.  I could see
Dale's uncertainty as to whether he should follow Denny or not.  When he
looked to me I shook my head `no'.  We all seemed to hold our breath.

The seconds passed like minutes and the minutes like hours.  Denny finally
came out of the bedroom, closing the door behind himself.  His head
remained bowed as he trotted through the sitting room headed straight
toward me.  Reaching me, he flung his arms around my waist and buried his
face tight against my chest.

"I've done wrong, Kevin."  he told me quietly.  "I've done wrong and Uncle
Dean knows it."  I stroked the back of his head.

"What is it, Denny ?"  I asked.  I felt him project into my mind the events
which had transpired between the time Dad was left in the forest and Uncle
Dean was rescued.  I knew my brothers had seen the events at the same time.
Uncle Eric and Dale came over to us and Dale crouched down next to Denny.
Denny looked Dale in the eyes and then Dale closed his eyes and slowly
shook his head.

"I'm so sorry, Dale" Denny said as he wrapped his arms around Dale's neck.

"It's all right, Denny."  Dale whispered to him.  "This is just as much my
fault.  I know better than to let my feelings interfere with my actions.  I
failed you by not verifying everything you believed and not pushing Dean
for details."

"I'm sorry guys," Uncle Eric interrupted, "I understand there is some sort
of problem here which I don't know about, but we still need to get to the
hospital as quickly as possible."  Of course, he was correct.  We all
forced ourselves to re-focus and got ready to go.

When we arrived at the hospital, Uncle Dean went directly to Dad's room
while the rest of us went to the waiting room.  In a short while, Anson
appeared.  He told us all everything was going well and Dad was wide awake
and sitting up.  He said that Uncle Eric and I could go down to see him.

I was really nervous as we approached Dad's room.  Somehow it was easier to
control my emotions when Dad was unconscious and I had seen him just laying
there.  Now, as I walked through the doorway and he turned his head and
looked at me, tears started to run down my face.  Dad reached out to me and
I moved into his arms and felt the security of having him hold me tight
against him.

"It's all okay, big guy."  he said to me.  "There's no need to worry any
longer.  Everything is okay."  Just the sound of his voice made me feel it
was so.  With all the things going on, losing him and Uncle Dean, Denny in
trouble, Dad just recovering, Uncle Eric and Jackson being new to the
family, it seemed like I was about to do a very selfish thing, but I
couldn't help myself.

"Dad."  I said to him softly.  "When you're feeling better and we get home,
would you be willing to talk again about adopting me ?"

"I would be happy to talk about that any time you want, big guy."  he
assured me.  I knew it was the right thing to do.

Ted's observations.  I knew as soon as I looked at Dean there had been
trouble.  He hugged me and kissed me and then he pulled a chair over beside
the bed and sat.  After ascertaining I was fine, he told me the story about
what had happened after we leapt from the plane.  He told me about Jackson
being with him and his intention to bring him into the Family group.  He
had my whole hearted endorsement.

Dean asked Anson, who had been waiting patiently outside my door, to bring
Kevin and Eric to see me.  While Anson was gone, Dean filled me in on this
morning's activities and his suspicions about what had transpired.  It
didn't take long to realize there were a couple of serious issues to clear
up.

Kevin and Eric visited briefly.  Kevin finally broached the subject of his
adoption.  I had been waiting patiently, always believing it was meant to
be when Kevin finally decided he wanted it.  Now it looked like we would
start moving toward tying together all the loose ends and solidifying our
family structure.  It meant that he would finally have something lasting to
belong to.  We made a point of asking to see Davey and Jamie next.  There
was a message in making Dale and Denny wait and we knew they would
understand it.

Davey and Jamie were just as emotional as Kevin had been and they both
ended up cuddled in on either side of me, being assured that all was well.
I thought to myself how I needed to stop more often and make sure I
realized these four unique treasures were first of all children and had to
be allowed the needs of children.  Too often I and the other adults looked
to them as small adults and didn't give allowance for their emotional
needs.  I mentioned this to Dean as we waited for Denny and Dale to arrive.

Denny stepped inside the door, took one look at me and ran to me sobbing
uncontrollably.  I lifted him from the side of the bed to my lap and held
him tight to me as he cried and sobbed.  Dean came and stood beside me,
stroking the back of his head and neck.  Dale came over and rubbed his arm
and back gently.

"It's all right, Denny."  I soothed him.  "We understand."  And we did
understand.  The frustration of an eight year old boy when someone he loves
is injured.  Knowing that he can make that injury better, but if he does,
it is the only time he will be able to do so.  Needing to blame someone,
everyone.  Blaming Dean for leaving me, even though he knew there was no
choice.  Blaming Jackson without knowing the full extent of the story.
Blaming himself for letting me go in the first place.

"You have three people here who love you very much."  I assured him.  "We
all understand mistakes are made.  No one expects you to be perfect, if you
were you wouldn't need us to help guide you.  I am fine now.  You don't
need to worry about me.  You can ease up and just be Denny again."  His
tears lessened and in a few minutes he was able to control himself enough
to talk.

"I could have done something awful."  he told us.  "I might have hurt
Jackson very badly."

"Then you will have to take this as a lesson."  Dean explained to him.
"You know you aren't to deal with others unless you have discussed it with
your Dad.  If he is not available, come to me or Dale."

"I can't be included in this."  Dale interrupted.  "I'm more at fault than
Denny.  I would have let him hurt Jackson.  I'm not fit to guide anyone,
much less the fourth Guardian."

"Of course you are."  I corrected him.  "I know you, Dale.  What you were
thinking and what you would actually do are two different things.  You are
a practical man, you are also absolutely fair.  When it came to the final
word, you would not have proceeded without being 100% certain.  You had
just not reached the point of realizing it yet."

"Now, I think it is time we asked Jackson to join us here."  Dean
suggested.  I agreed.

Jackson was not anything like I had expected.  Although I knew him to be 21
years old, he did not appear near that age.  I realized after we talked for
a few minutes his adolescent image was not as much physical as his youthful
naivet^Â to our world.  Jackson was like a tuxedo at the beach.
Utilitarian in his own element, but totally foreign in the surroundings.  I
understood why Dean felt the need to protect him and help him expand his
understanding of his new environment.  Leaving him on his own in the woods
would have been almost as cruel as turning him loose to the modern world.

Dean mentioned the things which Jackson already found beyond his
understanding and belief.  Skyscrapers, elevators, helicopters, light
switches, television, restaurants, indoor plumbing, sheets and pillows,
tooth brushes, money and limousines were but a small part of the modern
conveniences about which he had no concept.  Dean also mentioned he didn't
think Jackson could tell time, or even knew what the concept of a clock was
about.  To him it was `light out', `dark out', or `a while after it was
dark out'.  Last night, Dean had sent for Tim, feeling his intervention
would provide the most benefit for Jackson.

"Dale," Dean said, "would it be okay if Kevin and Anson took Jackson out
for lunch, a haircut and some shopping, while you took the other boys back
to the hotel for lunch and whatever activities you approve ?  Eric can
select which group he prefers to go with, or he might like to stay here and
have lunch with Ted and me."

"Yes, Sir."  Dale agreed.


Eric's observations.  When Dale came back to the waiting room with Anson
and the boys, he outlined to them what each of the two groups were going to
do.  He then suggested to me that I could choose to go with either group,
or I might remain and have lunch with Ted and Dean.  I immediately knew the
latter would be my selection.

"Anybody here know where Ted Tanner is lounging around ?"  a voice inquired
from the doorway.  We all looked and there was Tim, a big smile of greeting
on his face.  As "Hello" echoed throughout the room, Kevin made his way to
Tim and was quickly engulfed in a warm and loving hug.

"Did you find them yet ?"  a young voice rang out and Tim stepped aside to
disclose Matthew standing behind him.  Kevin knelt down and received
another huge hug as the other boys moved over to greet their youngest
family member.

"He was concerned I'd get lonely on the plane all by myself."  Tim
laughingly commented as the greetings continued.  Kevin introduced Jackson
to the two new arrivals and both shook hands with him.  Kevin explained to
Jackson that Tim was their Teacher and also proudly designated him as his
own partner.  Jackson seemed slightly surprised.  Kevin glanced over at me.
It was the first time he had said the words in front of me, though I had
clearly seen the way they interacted with each other.  I gave him a
reassuring smile and nod.

I walked Tim and Matthew to Ted's room.  Matthew immediately climbed onto
`Uncle Ted's' bed and started his questions as to how he was.  While the
interrogation took place, Dean spoke to Tim about Jackson and the things he
knew and had observed.  Tim explained to him that most of Jackson's
learning would have to be done through living experiences, but agreed
having people capable of guiding him, such as Kevin, Anson and himself,
would make the experiences easier and more fulfilling.

"It would be even better if there were someone who could be with him when
the others are not.  I am talking about times like going to bed, shaving,
showering. You know, times when we will all be tied up with our own
partners and daily living."  Tim outlined.

"I don't think we can line up a lover for Jackson just to guide him through
his daily routines."  Dean chuckled.

"What about a roommate ?"  I asked.  "I would be happy to spend some time
with Jackson, if it would help and after being in boarding school and the
services, the thought of a roommate doesn't bother me.  There's lots of
space in that big room you have me in"

"That may be just the solution we are looking for, Eric."  Dean told me.
"Let's talk about it a bit and see if we can all work something out."

By the time we were done our discussion, Matthew seemed to have satisfied
himself Ted was going to recover.  He delivered a big hug to both of his
Uncles and received the same in return and then he and Tim were gone.

"I was hoping you would decide to stay and have some lunch with us."  Ted
told me.  "We haven't had hardly any time to talk."

"I felt the same way."  I replied.

"Hope you don't mind too much that I hung around too."  Dean said.  "I
haven't had time with him myself, so we can share him now and have him
separately later."

"Hey guys!  I'm starting to feel like I'm being carved up like a roast."
Ted chuckled.

"I'm glad you're here too, Dean."  I responded.  "Maybe you can help me
bring him around to renewing his acquaintance with his brothers and
sisters."  There was a pregnant pause at this point which made me realize
what I was asking was not going to be simple in any way.

"Eric," my brother began, "You have to remember that your experience with
the family was much different than mine.  I knew your brother and sisters
when our parents were still alive.  I was there to cushion the change for
you when they were gone.  You left the ranch four years earlier in your
life than I did, so we didn't experience the same things there."

"Is that why my scholarship was offered when I was 14 ?  So I wouldn't be
living there during those years ?"  I asked.

"Yes."  Ted certified.

"Why didn't you bring me to live with you, Ted."  I asked a question which
had bothered me for years.  "I needed you."

"I know."  he replied.  "I thought about it very seriously.  I even
discussed it with my partner, Davis.  We had been together for six years
and believed we would be so for the rest of our lives.  Then Davis was
killed in a car accident.  I was not in a position to raise a teenage boy,
so I selected your school as the next best choice."

"I'm sorry, Ted.  I never knew, so I never understood."  I told him.  "I'm
sure you did what you felt was best for both of us.  I still wish you had
contacted me."

"That would have raised your hopes for something I couldn't promise you."
Ted explained.  "I was always concerned about disappointing you.  I kept a
close eye on you and your progress.  You were happy at school and I was not
about to disrupt your life."

"It's true."  I admitted.  "I was happy and well cared for.  I realize now
you must have picked my school very carefully."  Ted didn't comment, but I
knew I had been loved and cared about, even back then, when I thought I was
alone.

"I have spent the last several days getting to know your family, Ted."  I
said as we sat eating.  "The people around you are a fantastic mixture of
personalities who have been pulled into a family unit of sons, brothers,
nephews, uncles, cousins and friends who compliment and enhance each other.
I am jealous because these are the relations I would have given anything to
have during my growth years.  I am honoured to have the benefit of their
association at this time of my life."  I took a deep breath and looked at
both Dean and Ted.

"Your son, Dean is a marvel and my nephews are three of the most terrific
boys I would ever hope to meet.  They are as much family to me as anyone
ever can or will be.  I would like to know when and if you are going to
tell me who your sons really are and how they can do the unbelievable
things I have witnessed during my brief stay ?"  Dean and Ted looked at
each other.

"If he's going to be with us for awhile and I hope he will be," Dean said,
"he will have to know.  He has become one of the inner circle because that
is where he should be."  Ted thought quietly for a moment.

"Eat your lunch slowly, Brother."  Ted told me.  "I have a story to tell
you which started over 5000 years ago and has now become our lives through
the fulfillment of prophesy."  I was totally mesmerized for the next hour.
Lunch itself was not special.  None of us had expected it would be.  There
are only a limited variety of hospital foods, but the story I was told took
my mind off everything else.

We received notice before leaving for the hotel, Ted would be released
tomorrow, barring any unexpected developments overnight.  This afternoon
Dean was taking Jackson to visit his father at the Psychiatric Hospital.  I
decided as Jackson's new roommate to accompany them.



Anson's thoughts.  Dean and Dale had both asked me to spend time with and
help to guide Jackson.  I guess because he was closer to my age than any of
the other security staff, except Brian, they felt we might better get along
and have some interests in similar things.  I thought how much more
isolated Jackson and his family had been in comparison to my time growing
up.  There were certainly similarities and I could indeed relate to some of
his feelings to the newness of things, but then I had lived in a modern
world and he was much more distanced from everything than I had been.

I didn't mind at all having the opportunity to spend time with Jackson.  He
was a very interesting person, intelligent, personable and full of wonder
about everything.  It was obvious he was suffering over the loss of his
brother, but having so many people around him seemed to help distract him
from his sorrow.  I hoped my support would help him through this emotional
period and allow us to form a lasting friendship.

>From the hospital, Kevin, Jackson and I took a limousine back to the
hotel.  Instead of having lunch in the main dining room where we had dinner
last night, we went to the coffee shop and introduced Jackson to hamburgers
and french fries with a Coke.  The food was well prepared and plentiful,
not your normal fare for a hotel.  Our next stop was the hotel barber where
Jackson had his first professional hair styling and shave.  He was
astounded when he saw himself in the mirror the barber directed him to.  I
must say, he is a strikingly handsome man when he's cleaned up.

Jackson was totally overwhelmed when we went shopping at the mall.  The
size of the building, the number of stores, the number of people, elevators
with glass doors and sides that allowed you to look out as your rode from
the bottom to the third or fourth level, the variety of choices, all these
things were unbelievable mysteries to him.  We took our time and allowed
Jackson to experience all the things he found of interest.  He readily
accepted guidance from Kevin and me in the clothing which he would be
needing.  As he had never been shopping before, he tried on several items
to determine what colours and styles suited him.  Again, it was obvious
when we dressed him up, this guy was going to be a major attraction.  If
Kevin and I were not in committed relationships...............

We returned to the hotel in the early afternoon.  Dean and Eric were
waiting for us to arrive.  They took Jackson to see his father at the
Psychiatric Hospital.  While they were gone Kevin and I joined the others
in a visit to the hotel swimming pool.  It was fun, but we found the
chlorine in the pool really strong compared to the pools at home and we
were all `red eyed' after an hour of play and swimming.  The hotel had an
arcade and Dale took us all to play the games there after we had changed
and cleaned up from our swim.  By the time we went back to the suite, Dean
had returned.

The rest of our stay was pretty uneventful.  A group of us went to see a
movie in one of the hotel theaters that evening.  We all turned in fairly
early. Sometime during the night Jackson woke to find Denny standing next
to Dean's bed.

"Denny ?  What's the matter, boy ?"  Jackson asked.

"I'm cold and Uncle Dean won't wake up so I can snuggle with him and get
warmed up."  Denny told him.  Jackson thought for a moment.

"You could come and snuggle with me if you wanted to."  Jackson offered.
Denny didn't need a second invitation as he dove into the bed and moved up
close against the grown boy.  "I use to snuggle with Ethan when I was a
young'n and felt the cold.  He said it was his job to be lookiin' after me,
but he really weren't mindin'.  He took good care of me and I'm gonna miss
him."  For the first time since all this had happened, Jackson cried.
Denny turned over to face him.

"It's okay to miss Ethan, Jackson."  he said softly.  "Soon you will
remember only the good times and they will make you feel happy again.  You
have joined our family now and there will be more good times.  Each day the
sadness and ache will grow less."  Holding onto each other, they both
drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

The next morning we picked Ted up from the hospital by 11:00 a.m.  The
Corporate jet left at noon and we were back to the `castle' greeting the
rest of our friends by 2:00 p.m.  It was Saturday and we had only missed
celebrating a part of the Labour Day weekend.