It's Just Sad

"JD?" Buck walked through the living room. He stopped in front of his roommate, who was slumped down on the couch in front of the large television.

JD ducked his head, wiping a hand over his eyes and then across his cheeks. He looked up at his best friend, his eyes red rimmed, his face still wet. "Yeah?" he croaked out.

Buck cocked his head, his brow furrowed as he stared down at him. "You okay?"

Nodding quickly, JD looked away. "Sure."

"What's wrong?"

JD shrugged and then pointed the remote in his hand at the TV. "I was... I'm just..." he sighed. "I'm watching Animal Cops: Houston."

"Oh." Buck nodded and then sat down hard on the couch next to him.

Both men stared at the TV.

Wiping his eyes again, JD watched the officers and veterinarians on the show talk about an emaciated stallion and starving puppies. They'd just said that they were going to have to put the puppies down and that the horse wasn't going to make it.

"Jesus," JD hissed, turning the TV off and then looking down. He hunched his shoulders.

Buck grasped the back of his neck. "Sucks, don't it."

JD nodded. "Why do people do that?" He wiped his face with his shirttail and then glanced up at his best friend. "Why do they have animals if they don't want to take care of them?"

"I don't know, kid." Buck nudged him with his shoulder. "Hell, JD, I have no idea why people do what they do - to animals, and to other people."

"Yeah," JD agreed, sighing deeply. "I know." He was silent for a minute before he laughed self-depreciatingly. "It's just stupid, sitting here crying about a TV show." He leaned forward to sit on the edge of the couch cushion.

Buck let go of JD's neck and moved up to sit shoulder to shoulder with him. Staring down at his hands, Buck pursed his lips and then let out a harsh breath. "Ain't stupid, kid. Hell, I've done the same thing. And," he looked over at him, "you know what? If this stuff didn't bother ya, I wouldn't think so much of you."

JD glanced over at him. "Thanks," he said, his voice cracking.

Buck didn't say anything, he just nodded once.

JD sighed, looked down at the remote in his hand and then away.

"So." Buck slapped JD on his knee, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Wanna watch Old Yeller next?"

JD barked out a laugh. "Oh, no." He grinned. "What about Where the Red Fern Grows."

"Sounder," Buck countered.

"Bambi."

"The Yearling."

"Charlotte's Web."

"Charlotte's Web?" Buck squeaked out. "How could that be sadder than Old Yeller?"

"It is!" JD nodded enthusiastically. "And what about Spirit? Remember when we all watched it out at Chris' house, the part when Spirit's on the train car in the snow and he's thinking about his family and he sees them..."

Buck shuddered. "Don't remind me, kid. Didn't think Vin would ever let me live it down when he caught me crying."

"He was only raggin' on ya cause he was cryin' before that, you just didn't catch him."

Buck's eyebrows rose high. "Really?"

"Yep." JD grinned.

"So, kid." Buck smiled widely. "I'll tell you a little secret."

"What?"

Buck put his hands up. "But don't ever tell him that I told you."

"Who? What?"

"Seriously, JD," Buck said, his face dark, "if you ever tell anyone that I'm telling you this I'll die a slow, horribly painful death."

"And I wouldn't want that because...?" JD smirked.

Buck clapped him across the back of his head.

"Ow!" JD yelped, glaring at Buck who had a Cheshire grin on his face. "Tell. Me!" He growled trying to punch his best friend in the stomach.

"Okay." Buck smiled as he blocked the hit. "Drum roll..."

"I'm going. To kill. You now." JD stood.

"All right. All right." Buck pulled him back down. He let out a long sigh. "Here it is..."

JD stared at him, holding his breath in anticipation.

"Chris can't make it all the way through Dumbo." Buck slapped his hands on his jean-clad thighs.

"What?" JD squawked.

"Yeah. Dumbo! It just kills Chris. Always has." He got a far away look. "I remember this time when we were in the SEALS and Dumbo was on. The whole lot of us were sitting there watching it." He grinned. "Chris got the sniffles. Had to leave the room!"

"No," JD breathed out.

"Yep!" Buck chirped merrily. He waved his hand. "Oh, Chris kept saying it was allergies," one eyebrow went up, "but I knew better." He laughed.

JD shook his head in wonder.

"All I've got to do to piss Chris off is even just mention Dumbo."

"Oh, man!" JD grinned.

"Yeah," Buck sighed, his look turning morose. "It's really sad. Poor Chris." He grinned happily as he bobbed his eyebrows. "Guess what I'm getting him for Christmas!"

The End