***************

Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Nothing M7 belongs to me and thank you Mog for the wonderful
universe.
Authors Note: Okay, this is a little different for me. Most of you know
I'm a Vin and Chris fan, as well as Buck and JD, but today is Veterans
Day and I felt in the mood for Josiah. The others will be in it but I
felt like delving into the missionary's son's past. Hope you enjoy!
PS: No beta!! ;-)
Meanings: -- stands for dreams, * stands for thought, -memory

****************

If I fall behind
Wait for me.
If I go to far ahead
I'll wait for you.
But remember this
I'll never leave you.

****************

--"Hey Sanchez, think you can catch up, we ain't got all day." Sgt.
Barry Collins looked back at his teammate and best friend Josiah Sanchez
and couldn't keep the mischievious grin off his face.

"Bite me." Josiah gave his partner a hard smile as he slapped him on the
back. "The day you leave me behind is the day I die, friend."

"That a threat or a promise?" Collins cocked a dark eyebrow at Sanchez.

"Oh, your just full of yourself today. Well, brother, either way you
want to view it will be a blessing." The missionary's son gave the
jungle around him a disgusting glance. "Getting out of this hellhole is
definitely first on my list of things to do today."

Barry snorted. "Good luck. The Lt. decided we were the guinea pigs in
today's recon. We gotta go check out a village about 2 clics from here.
We don't go in, just observe." Collins made sure the corporal understood
the instructions. Josiah was a hothead sometimes and tended to take
things personally when he saw some wrong-doing.

"Don't worry, sarge. I read you loud and clear." Sanchez passed the
other man and took point, ignoring his friend's shaking head.

Even though the two men were only months apart in age, Josiah had a
problem with authority and decided his long-time buddy deserved the rank
more than he ever could. The corporal was lost in these thoughts as he
resumed their course to the Vietnam village. He stopped suddenly when a
high whine penetrated his senses. At first he didn't recognize it, but
then the sound registered causing Sanchez's heart to drop to his knees.
He quickly turned to warn Collins, but as he got half way around with
the words poised on his tongue a hot blast of fire sent him flying.

He felt himself hit the ground, followed by a huge explosion nearby.
Josiah stayed where he landed for what seemed forever before he checked
himself for injuries. A few cuts, bruises, nothing major. He sighed
which turned into a gasp as one thought hit his mind. *Barry!*

The corporal jumped to his feet ignoring the protest from his body and
swiftly searched the area for the sergeant. What greeted him when his
eyes fell on the person caused his breath to catch. What once was his
friend was now scattered in three directions. He felt his stomach lurch
and his head began swimming as the black spots danced before his eyes
but something caught his attention. *What was that?* He shut his eyes
and focused on something, anything...there it is. His name. Someone was
calling his name.

"Jos..iah..."

Sanchez rushed forward, following the feeble whisper until he found the
source. Collin's top half of his body was still intact and he lay about
5 feet from the blast. He was covered with blood but his blue eyes were
wide open and his lips were moving. Josiah dropped to his knees by the
injured man. He raised Barry's head slowly and placed it on his lap. He
knew there was nothing he could do for his friend but be there with him.

"I'm here, buddy." The corporal laid his semi-automatic on the ground
and put his hand over Collin's chest. "Just rest, my friend, I'm here."

"Jos..iah?.." The choked gasp was followed by a rumbled cough, then the
blue gaze fell onto the face of his friend. "Yo..u...ok...ay..?"

Sanchez couldn't believe his ears. The sarge was more worried about him.
"Yeah, Barry, I'm fine. You just take it easy, save your strength."

Collins shook his head slowly. "No...use..." He tried to clear the blood
from his throat and mouth to continue. "I
guess....its...my...luc...ky..day..." He shut his eyes briefly before
continuing. "Its...true..ya...know..."

Josiah didn't know what the man was talking about. He figured it was the
pain and delirium. "Yeah, I know it is Bare." Sanchez wiped some sweat
and blood from his friend's face so he could see his eyes better.

"Don't...under...stand..." Collins drew in a heavy breath.
"If...you....leave...me...behind..."

Suddenly Josiah's words hit him from earlier, *The day you leave me
behind is the day I die, friend* and he began to shake. "Your not dying,
buddy. I'm gonna get you outta here, I promise."

Barry shook his head more vehemently this time. "No...you...have...to
...go...on, Jo..siah." The sarge tried to grasp his friend's hand but he
was too weak, so instead he hoped his eyes conveyed his full meaning.
"Even...if...you...leave...." he gasped, "me...behind...I'll
...never...leave...you...." Collin's smiled suddenly and then his body
went lax as his eyes slid shut.

"NO!!" Josiah began rocking back and forth with Barry clutched to his
chest. "NO!!" The shout fell from the man's lips and was instantly
swallowed in the jungle around him. The sobs quickly followed, but
Sanchez didn't care. Not about this damned war, not about this damned
country, the only thing he had cared about died in his arms. His friend,
his brother. As he sat there cradling his fallen comrade, the shrill
whine started again, but this time Josiah didn't react to it. Instead,
he welcomed it. He raised his head and stared into the blue sky waiting
for the impact, but it didn't come.

He blinked suddenly and glanced down to find Barry gone, but the whine
was still there...--

Josiah vaulted upright in his bed as the whine diminished and was
replaced by the ringing of his telephone. The ex-preacher swiped the
sweat from his face, noticing the shaking of his hands. He avoided
dwelling on the reason as he reached out and picked up the annoying
object.

"Yeah." Sanchez's voice was rough and husky from the nightmare, making
it deeper than usual.

"Josiah?" Vin's Texas drawl drifted over the phone line and over Josiah.
He didn't know why, but the ex-bounty hunter's voice sent a calming
sensation through his taut body.

"Hey, Vin, to what do I owe this early morning call?" Sanchez glanced at
the digital clock at his bedside to discover the time as 2 am.

"Sorry, Josiah, but Chris just called. The judge just got in touch with
him and he needs us to cover a stakeout for Team 3. Seems some of their
boys got struck with this flu and since Buck and the kid are out with it
and Nathan's out of town, we got stuck with the job." The big man could
hear the sharpshooter moving around and assumed he was getting dressed.

"What about Ezra?" He was never one to bow out of an assignment, but the
nightmare was still vivid and he didn't know what good he could
accomplish at his job.

"I called and lets just say his response wasn't very gentlemanly, plus
he sounded like a bullfrog." Tanner couldn't help but chuckle at the
memory. The undercover agent had been vehement about his immune system
being above average and he didn't have to worry about such trivial
things. *Looks like he should start worrying.* Vin smiled at the thought
but it soon vanished as he noticed Sanchez's quietness. "Something
wrong, Josiah?" The young agent stopped in his dressing and concentrated
on the man on the phone. He heard him clear his throat and waited.

"Nothing, Vin. I'm fine." Josiah tried to put some of his usual cheer in
his voice.

"Hey, if you can't do this, I'll call Chris and have him get to the
stakeout as soon as he can. I'm sure there won't be nothing happening
that I can't cover till he gets there." The sharpshooter could somehow
feel the turmoil of his friend through the phone. "Look, Josiah, why
don't you get some rest and I'll check in..." He didn't get to finish
his statement as the other agent's voice broke in.

"Forget it, I'm okay. Besides, you don't need to be out there without
backup, even if it is a simple stakeout. I'll throw some clothes on and
be ready when you get here." He didn't wait for the other man to answer
as he hung up the phone and left his bed to get ready.

**************

Vin glanced across the jeep for the thoushandth time to check on Josiah.
He had been silent since picking him up, but it wasn't the normal quiet,
this was different. "You wanna talk about it?" Tanner almost laughed at
the absurdity of that statement. He couldn't believe him of all people
had just said that. "Forget I said that." He shook his head and resumed
his vigil staring outside.

Sanchez cast a gaze toward the agent and smiled. It was rare for the
sharpshooter to want to delve into someone else's privacy but Josiah
knew his motives were good. Vin didn't like to see anyone in pain,
physical or otherwise. It was just who he was, especially when it
concerned one of his friends. He took it personally and felt the need to
take full responsibility for whatever was causing the agony.

"Its okay, Vin. I've just had some of my past creep back into my
memories." The ex-preacher sighed at the sheer tiredness in his words.

"Anything I can do?" The ex-bounty hunter took a sip of his coffee
before turning back to look at Josiah.

Sanchez smiled. "No, but thanks for the offer, brother." He reached over
and patted the younger man's arm affectionately.

The two continued their surveillance in a more companionable silence
which was suddenly shattered as gunfire erupted inside the house they
were watching. The agents leapt from the jeep and began running toward
the building. Josiah paused to take out his cellphone and call in backup
before following in Vin's wake.

The gunshots immediately halted inside the house but began again, this
time aimed at the two men outside. Sanchez took cover behind a parked
car in the driveway, while Vin ducked behind an overturned table in the
yard. They glanced toward each other to determine each were fine before
giving their attention back to the gunmen.

As they returned fire, they could hear the sirens approaching in the
distance and the two agents' relaxed somewhat. But this apparently
caused the bad guys to get antsy. The shots grew rapidly and both mens'
positions were being bombarded so much they couldn't return fire.

"VIN!" Josiah shouted to his partner when his mind suddenly latched onto
a plan, but there was no answer. The ex-preacher could feel the panic
welling inside his stomach as he yelled again. "VIN!" Still, no reply.
He risked a glance over the hood of the car at the house before he
dashed from his cover and raced to Tanner's.

The bullets erupted around his feet, but he didn't stop. The pounding of
his heart was beating a rhythm, a thunder of words that he remembered.
*The only way you'll leave me behind is if I die, friend.* The present
faded out and turned into the Vietnameze jungle. Josiah didn't know if
he was dreaming or awake, but the his mission was still clear. He needed
to reach Vin. He saw the sharpshooter slumped behind the overturned
table and ran harder. As he slid to a stop at the other's side, it was
no longer Tanner but Barry. *God, no!* Sanchez laid his sidearm aside
and picked up the body to rest against his chest.

*This can't be happening again. This isn't real.* The words played over
and over inside his head but his reality was confused, then suddenly a
voice. It was calling his name again. He shut his eyes tighter, not
wanting the scene to play out. He couldn't take it again.

"Josiah.." Vin had felt himself being lifted, but the pain hadn't
allowed him to register why until he heard the voice whispering above
him. He could only make out a few of the words, don't leave me. The
ex-bounty hunter knew it had to be Josiah holding him, so he fought the
pain and opened his eyes. His breath caught as he saw the big man's face
riddled in agony and tears streaming from his eyes. He knew his right
arm was useless, so he slowly raised his left to lay on his partner's
arm that was wrapped around his chest and tried calling out to him
again. "Josiah!"

*Dear God, not again. Please don't make me endure this tragedy twice.*
Josiah still rocked the body against him, blocking out anything and
everything around him. He felt the slight tug on his arm, but he didn't
care. He couldn't, no wouldn't allow this to happen again.

"Josiah, I'm okay." Vin could feel himself slipping into
unconsciousness, but he had to wait. Josiah needed him. His friend and
brother needed him. So, gathering all the strength he could muster, he
pulled hard on the big man's arm until he had the other's face with in
reach. He let go of Josiah's forearm and touched his cheek. This
apparently broke the spell Sanchez was under for his eyes blinked open
and he stared into Vin's blue eyes with some semblence of recognition.
"Its okay, Josiah. I'm okay."

The ex-preacher hadn't expected the contact on his face, but as he
looked down, another set of blue eyes stared back at him. Not Barry's.
Josiah had halted his steady rock but he still felt his body shaking. He
heard Vin's soft words but the fog was still clouding his mind. "What?"

Tanner smiled softly, he had gotten through. "I said I'll be okay,
Josiah. Its okay." The blackness was calling him again but he refused to
give in until his friend was okay.

Sanchez eased his grip on the younger man long enough to take in the
damage. He had taken a hit to the right side of his chest and the blood
was minimual, which meant the bullet was still inside. He had to get Vin
to a doctor. He returned his gaze back to Tanner's and noticed to
drooping eyelids and knew he was barely hanging on to consciousness
which the reason for quickly hit Josiah. "I'm okay, Vin. You just rest."
The ex-preacher and corporal watched the other man relax at his words,
relaxing himself. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna leave you behind." Sanchez
felt his words break but he didn't care. He hadn't left another friend
behind and that was all that mattered.

*****************

Two days later....

He had visited the hospital only once since following the ambulance here
with Vin. He could still feel the fear of this being a dream and when he
woke up Tanner would be dead just like Barry. He walked through the
quiet, white halls which suddenly changed as Buck Wilmington's voice
came bounding into the silence.

"I told you to turn it off, JD!"

Josiah started chuckling as he heard the kid's response. "Sorry, Buck. I
didn't know you even had the iron on. What were you ironing anyway, for
that matter, where did we get an iron?" Leave it to JD to turn a
scolding into a mystery. Sanchez pushed the door to Vin's room open
slowly, not wanting to disturb the discussion inside.

"We've always had an iron, kid. I've just never had the urge to use it
before." Buck slapped the young agent gently on the back of the head.
Dunne started to reply but his gaze locked on Josiah.

"Hey, Josiah's here." JD rushed to the big man's side and squeezed the
older agent's shoulder in greeting.

"Morning, brothers'. Thought I would look in on our missing lamb before
hitting the office."

"He's as ornery as usual." Chris caught Sanchez's gaze and held it for a
few minutes before smiling at the man. "But thats expected."

The baritone laugh that had been missing for a few days was a welcome
melody to the six men in the room.

"I'm fine, Josiah, but I'd be even better if they'd let me go home." Vin
through Larabee and Jackson an indignant scowl.

"Don't give us that look. Your the one who was passed out in the floor
when we got here this morning." Nathan glared at the younger agent. He
had nearly given them both heartattacks.

"Well, you didn't have to go tell the doc!" Tanner pushed himself higher
in the bed.

"Now, now, Mr. Tanner, is that anyway to talk to your elders'." Ezra
felt more then saw the deadly glares thrown his way. "You know they were
only looking after your best interests." Standish couldn't help but
smile at the distraught man in the bed.

"Shut up, Ez." Vin contemplated throwing his pillow at the smug face of
the undercover agent, but thought against it as he caught the look on
Chris's face. So, instead he settled into his prison.

"Well, its good to see you in usual spirits, Vin. I would stay longer,
but I've got paperwork that needs doing." Josiah turned to exit, missing
the concerned looks passing between the men.

"Uh, Josiah. Mind if I hitch a ride with you? My truck's in the shop and
I ain't too comfortable with the kid's hot wheels replica." Wilmington
reached out and grabbed the door.

"Sure. I could use the company." Sanchez walked out of the room, not
waiting for Buck to follow.

"He okay?" JD glanced from the retreating form to the others in the
room.

They eached sighed, not knowing how to answer, well everybody but one.

"Give it time, kid. Josiah's got a lot of memories to wade through.
He'll be alright once thats done." Vin was still staring at his friend's
back, remembering the stakeout and the quiet words being said over and
over again. -Don't leave me.- *Don't worry Josiah, we ain't going
nowhere without you.*

****************

The End.
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