ATF Alternate Universe
TWO
Vin led them down the trail at an easy-going pace. JD followed eagerly behind him taking in everything around him. Buck and Chris followed in silence.
"Hey Vin, how long will it take us to get up to the lake?" JD asked
"We'll hike most of the way there today," Vin answered. "We'll stop for the night at this great spot I know. We should be to the lake by tomorrow before noon."
As the got further away from the road, the birds could be easily heard. The trail was wide enough so they could walk side by side and Vin called JD up next to him. He started to point out things of interest to the younger man. JD listened intently to Vin as they walked.
"Junior seems to be enjoying himself," Buck commented.
"Yup," Chris agreed. "JD doesn't look like he hates it either."
"I just hope Vin doesn't fill his head with all those tree-hugger ideas," Buck complained.
"I think Vin respects the environment, but I don't see him as a tree-hugger or a Greenpeace type of guy. Besides I know Vin likes to hunt."
Chris walked next to Buck as he watched Vin grab a leaf from one of the trees and show it to JD. Vin pulled one from each of the trees he passed as he walked. Chris figured he was telling JD what the trees were. Chris could also hear him tell JD how to tell the difference by the bark. They hiked for about an hour and Chris could hear Vin quizzing JD about the trees. Chris knew a few of them but JD had absorbed the information like a sponge and got them all right. Buck called up saying he was a show off. Next Vin started to point out the different birds.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra was looking forward to work today. He pulled into his assigned spot in the garage and parked his Jaguar. As he got out, Cuervo came out from underneath Nathan's Cherokee and greeted him.
"Good morning, my feline friend," Ezra said.
Ezra looked around the garage to see if it was empty. When he was sure he was alone he bent down to pet Cuervo. He had a reputation for hating the cat but most people didn't realize Ezra had a soft spot for animals. He was never allowed to have one as a child and had secretly longed for a pet. He finished feeding Cuervo the tuna he had brought, then headed for the elevator. He entered and hit the button for the 11th floor. When the doors opened he headed for the office. When he came in he saw Josiah and Nathan already at their desks. He walked over to his desk humming the overture from The Marriage of Figaro.
"You're in a good mood," Nathan commented as he watched Ezra sit behind his desk. "Any reason."
"Do you hear that, Mr. Jackson?" Ezra asked.
"I don't hear anything," Nathan said puzzled.
"Exactly," he answered and booted up his computer and started humming.
"Are you saying you are enjoying the absence of the other team members?" Josiah asked.
"Just two, Mr. Sanchez," Ezra confirmed.
"They wouldn't happen to be named Buck and JD?"
"As a matter of fact they would," he answered as he typed in a file name. "Don't get me wrong, gentlemen, I admire both of them but their constant antics can be quiet distracting. I hope to get a number of things accomplished today."
Ezra reached over to the file cabinet in his desk and pulled it out. As he did, a stream of old fashioned snakes in a can popped out of the draw. Ezra had been taken by surprise and jumped back in his chair causing it to fall over. He cursed the quiet sharpshooter as he righted his chair and resumed his seat.
"How do you know it was Vin?" Nathan asked.
Ezra grumbled and picked up one of the snakes and showed it to them. Pinned to it was a note that read 'So you wouldn't miss me, Vin'. Josiah burst out laughing as he turned back to his computer. Ezra ignored them and went back to work. He smiled to himself as he thought of Vin. He hoped they were having a good time.
+ + + + + + +
Vin was having a great time. JD was eager to learn the different things he was willing to teach him. Every once in awhile he would glance back towards Chris and Buck. He could see them talking and he was glad. He knew he had taken Buck's place and sometimes he regretted it. He had asked Buck about it once and had told him he was sorry. Buck told him he wasn't. That he was glad someone had been able to bring Chris back from the edge. Buck assured him that he and Chris were still close and not to worry.
"Vin look," JD whispered.
Vin looked to where JD was pointing. A short distance off the trail was a fox. It watched them for a few seconds than darted through the undergrowth.
"Wow," JD's said excitedly. "I've never seen one that close."
"Didn't you ever go hiking back east, Kid?" Buck asked as they got closer.
"Not much," he said. "My mom couldn't get away. She was always busy at work. Didn't get into hiking until I got to college. It wasn't the same as this though. The group I went with always made so much noise we never saw anything... So, when are we going to stop to eat?"
"Just a little further," Vin answered.
They started hiking again but this time JD dropped back to walk with Buck. Chris moved up next to Vin.
"Enjoying yourself, cowboy?" Chris asked.
"Yeah," Vin answered.
"JD seems to be an apt pupil."
"He's a damned sponge, is what he is," Vin laughed.
Vin led them to a small stream where they took their break. They took off their packs and pulled out lunch. They each pulled out something different. JD pulled out some carrot sticks. Buck had trail mix. Chris brought out some crackers and cheese and Vin added some Elk jerky. Vin leaned back on his pack and got comfortable. He bit into the jerky and gave it a good pull. He slowly chewed as he listened to JD telling Buck about the fox. When he was finished he pulled out his water purifying kit and went over to the stream with his canteen. JD followed.
"What're you doing?" he asked.
"Filling my canteen," he answered as he put the tube in the stream.
"Ain't the water clean?" JD asked.
"It's tough to say," Vin answered. "That's why you always want to bring one of these."
"Um Vin," JD mumbled. "Can I barrow that?"
"You men you didn't bring one?" Buck asked surprised.
"Well no," JD admitted. "I've never been camping like this before. When I hike with the others we always stopped where there was shelter and water."
"Don't worry JD," Chris said. "Buck's just giving you a hard time. We decided last night we only needed one since we weren't going for that long."
"You rat!" JD exclaimed and hit Buck.
Vin smiled as he listened to JD give Buck hell. He finished filling all the canteens and put the kit back in his pack. Vin looked around the area to make sure they had picked up everything. JD walked over and whispered something in his ear. Vin smiled and handed JD a small shovel. Buck and Chris were checking the equipment and didn't see. Vin whispered in JD's ear.
"Thanks, Vin," JD said sincerely.
"Anytime kid," Vin answered.
Vin watched as JD moved off amongst some bushes. He bent down and finished closing up his pack.
"Where'd the kid go off to?" Buck asked.
"Taking care of some business, Bucklin," Vin answered.
JD came back and handed Vin the shovel. Buck grabbed him around the neck and asked if he had watched out for poison ivy. JD punched him in the ribs and pulled out of his grip. Once Buck let him go JD walked over to the stream to rinse his hands. As he bent down he noticed some footprints in the soft mud.
"Hey, Vin," he called. "Do you know what made the tracks?"
"A raccoon," Vin said as he bent down to get a closer look. "He brought his food here to the water's edge and washed it."
"The raccoon washed it?" JD asked surprised.
"Yeah, they're known to do that," Vin said.
They strapped on their packs and Vin moved out at the pace he had set earlier. JD walked back with Buck telling him everything Vin had shown him. Chris walked next to Vin and he smiled when he caught Vin's eye.
"You realize Buck's going to kill you," Chris said.
"I don't think JD will let him," Vin commented. "He made me promise to teach him how to track game."
Chris and Vin walked next to each other in silence. Vin enjoyed times like this. The two of them were comfortable with each other and they always knew what the other was thinking. They were walking along the trail when they heard a cry. They were walking across a clearing and Vin looked up.
"Hey, Vin, What is that?" JD asked as he pointed to a bird making lazy circles above.
"I can tell you that one, Kid, It's a hawk," Buck answered.
"Actually it's a falcon, a Peregrine falcon," Vin said.
They continued to hike across the field. JD kept up his questions that Vin did his best to answer. Chris shook his head and fell back to walk with Buck. They hiked back under the trees where it was dark. They hiked until the late afternoon. It was still summer time and it wouldn't get dark until late. Buck asked how much further before they stopped. Vin said not far as he took them off the trail. As they walked Chris started to hear a soft rumble. He was walking next to Vin and gave him a questioning look. Vin just smiled and led them passed and out cropping.
"Whoa!" JD exclaimed.
"You said it JD," Buck agreed.
Vin had brought them to a small waterfall. At the base of the falls was a small lake and next to the lake was a meadow. As they entered they had frightened off some deer that were eating in the meadow. Vin walked them through and as they went by, the fragrance from the wildflowers was overwhelming. He led them to a clearing on the opposite side of the falls. It was a sandy area that met the pond and backed by the forest. Vin took off his pack and leaned it against a tree.
"Is this where we'll spend the night?" JD asked.
"Yup," Vin answered. "If this is OK?"
"OK? This is incredible!" Buck said astounded.
"This is some spot you found," Chris commented.
"So do we put up the tents?" JD asked.
"We won't need them tonight," Vin said. "It's not supposed to rain. Figured we could just sleep next to the fire."
"Sounds good to me," Chris said.
"Come on, Kid, let's go gather some wood," Buck said grabbing JD.
Vin walked over to the water and gathered some of the larger rocks. Chris gave him a hand and they had a fire ring formed by the time JD and Buck came back. They dropped the sticks next to the ring and Vin took JD to gather some more. When they came back Vin set up the fire but didn't start it.
"So what's for dinner?" JD asked.
"Whatever we can catch," Vin said pointing to the pond.
They unhooked their fishing gear and took up spots along the water's edge. Vin took off his boots and socks and waded into the water. He cast his line and waited patiently for something to take a nibble. JD was the first to get something and reeled it in. Vin could see it was a large mouth bass but it was too small. JD was excited and Vin hated to tell him he had to release it.
"I'm sorry JD, but it's not big enough, you'll have to release it," Vin said.
"But why?" JD asked
"Sorry, JD, but there's a size limit on Bass," Buck said. "Let me show you how to release them."
Buck came over to JD and unhooked the Bass. Buck took a firm hold on it and moved close to the water's edge. He placed the fish in the water and it wiggled out of his fingers.
"Why couldn't you just throw it back?" JD asked.
"It's too much of a shock on their systems," Buck explained. "They are already shook up when you catch them so you want to hold them in the water and let them wriggle out on their own."
They fished for an hour and caught nine fish in all. Vin had stopped before them and had started the fire. When the others came back carrying the fish the fire was nice and hot.
"OK who gets stuck cleaning them?" Buck asked holding up the string of fish.
"I hate this part," JD said.
"We don't have to take the scales off just clean out the guts," Vin said, taking the fish.
He moved far away from the camp and gutted the fish. When he came back he had all the fish covered in clay on a piece of bark. When Buck saw them he was surprised.
"What'd you go and do that for?" he asked.
"Watch," Vin said.
He walked over to the fire and placed the clay-covered fish directly into the fire. Once he had them arranged he built the fire up around them. Once the fire was blazing Vin walked back down to the waters edge. This time JD followed. It was eight o'clock and it was starting to get dark.
"What are you looking for?" JD asked.
"This," Vin said as he pulled out something that looked like grass.
"What is it? JD asked.
"Watercress."
Helped Vin gather watercress, wild garlic, and other edible plants. They walked back over to the fire and Vin stirred the coals around the clay-covered fish. He flipped them over then covered them with the coals. He pulled a small frying pan from his pack and began to cut up the plants. Chris gave him a hand. The fish had been cooking for almost an hour when Vin brushed off the coals and pushed them off to the side to cool. He placed the frying pan on the fire and began to sauté the greens. Chris took the pan from him and Vin moved over to get the fish. He took an old towel out of his pack and carefully grabbed one of the fish. JD could see the clay had baked hard around them.
"Now what happens?" he asked.
"Watch," Vin smiled.
He turned the clay fish on its side and carefully cracked all around the edge. He laid it flat and pried off the top. When he did the scales stuck to the clay.
"Neat trick," Buck said impressed.
Vin did that with three of the other fish and left the remaining ones in the fire. The clay acted as a plate and Chris spooned some of the fried greens onto the fish. Before they started Vin just warned them about the bones. JD took a bite and said it was great. They finished dinner and cleaned up the "dishes". Vin had them bury the bones and the clay in the woods. The other fish they left for breakfast. They spread out their sleeping bags around the fire. Once they got everything they needed out of their packs, they hooked ropes to them and pulled the pack off the ground into the trees. Vin had changed into dry jeans and socks. He spread the others close to the fire to dry. By the time they were finished with dinner it was around ten o'clock. Vin stretched out on his bag and stared up at the stars. In the distance an owl could be heard calling. It was a barred owl and Vin decided to answer it.
"Jesus, Vin!" Buck exclaimed. "Next time warn a guy when you're going to go crazy."
"I was calling the barred owl," he said.
"You can call it?" JD asked excited.
"Yeah, if you listen you can hear him say 'Who cooks for you who cooks for y'all'." Vin said.
They listed and the owl called again. JD laughed it did sound like he was saying that phrase. Vin called the owl and it answered. JD could also tell it was getting closer. Vin called again and the owl was even closer. The moon was full and they could all see when the owl went flying over head to land amongst the trees. When the owl realized there was no other owl, it left.
"How come we didn't hear it fly by?" JD asked.
"Owls feathers are hallow so they are silent fliers," Vin answered. "Well I'm going to get some sleep."
Chris watched as Vin climbed into his sleeping bag and got comfortable. He put a couple of logs on the fire and did the same. Buck and JD soon followed.
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