Broken by the poet

1 before the dawn

Chris woke in a cold sweat. Tonight's nightmare had him back in Iraq with a kid dying in his arms, after being shot himself. He could feel the life slipping away in through his hands and there was nothing he could do. When he woke, he felt angry at himself because he couldn't remember the boy's name. He got up and walked toward the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.

While the coffee was brewing, he started poring over the files from the war. He needed to remember the name and not forget it. Maybe he should tattoo it on his ass. 'Yeah right Larabee. You don't get out enough, this would be a great addition to your non existent love life. This way if you ever forgot his name again all you'd need to do is look in the mirror or have your lover tell you what the name is while questioning why you've got some guy's name on your behind' he thought to himself. He laughed out loud at the thought. He got himself a cup of java, then he heard a knock on the door.

"Come on in Tanner, the door is unlocked" Chris said with a sigh as he went through a few more files on the table.

"What are you doing up so late. You have another one of your famous 'keep you awake at all hours' nightmares?" Vin asked as he went to pour himself a cup of coffee.

"I remembered that kid in Iraq who died in my arms after I got shot and for the life of me I can't remember his name. You know how I feel about that" he replied as he continued looking through his files.

"Oh you mean Jeremy Pike" Vin said as he sat in the leather sofa in the room next to the kitchen.

"I should have known you'd remember." Chris sighed as he got the whiskey and sweetened both of their coffees with it. "What's got you up this late checking my house anyway? Did your date fall through?"

"Something like that" he responded as he felt something buried under the cushions and pulled it out. He looked at it and was about to hand it to Chris, when he saw his friend's face go white and stumble back into the kitchen table.

He got up and went to his friend. "You all right Cowboy?" he asked while still holding the box in his hand.

2 the box

Chris took the box from Vin's hand. He had remembered carving it for Sarah,and had promised to fix the hinge. She was so upset when she broke it. He had told her not to worry and he would have it fixed before their next anniversary. It had been lost all this time.

He opened it despite the broken hinge and showed Vin the inscription:

Inside this box is all the time in the world. What surprises most people is how small the box is.

A tear slipped from his eye, as his fingers touched the two swans that had their necks crossed on the outside of the box. He looked at Vin and remembered Sarah with a quiet need of her.

Vin left him with his thoughts and was grateful that his friend had such a love to remember. He put the cup on the table and went home to his ranch next door. He knew that if Chris needed him, he would search him out.

3 two weeks later

Chris noticed Vin in his office doing paperwork at the end of a shift, if there was such a thing in their line of work. He smiled and knocked on the door frame.

"You have time for a drink with a friend?" Chris asked as the young tracker signed yet another report.

"Sure any place in mind?" he asked as he looked into the rested eyes of his boss.

"Follow me home and don't get any ideas" Chris said with a smile.

They got back to the house where Chris poured two generous glasses of whiskey and offered Vin a seat at the table. In the middle of the table sat the box with its repaired hinge.

"I owe you an explanation for this. It was before we were to be married that I made Sarah this box. I said it would be for our rings when we weren't wearing them. After we were married, she dropped it and the hinge broke. She was so upset and I calmed her. I told here I'd have it fixed by our next anniversary. It never came and the box was thrown away, or so I thought. Today's the day we were married all those years ago. Swans mate for life did you know that? I wanted her to know that there was no harm done and that I was looking forward to growing old with her..." tears formed and fell against his cheek as Vin looked on, willing to give a comforting hand if need be.

"I wish that words were enough to tell you what you finding this has meant to me. I'm grateful for your friendship and constantly amazed by your work and your compassion. If you tell anyone I said this, I'll deny it and whup your hide. You got me Tanner?" Chris added.

Vin felt the tears well up in his own eyes and looked at his friend. He took his glass and raised it high "To Sarah and Chris, a romance for the ages" he said with a smile.

"Here's to you my beloved. I'll never stop loving you because you were the best. I'll miss you with my last breath" he said as they clinked glasses.

epilogue

In the weeks that followed, Chris fought his way through the memories. He knew he was greedy in wanting more time with the woman he loved, but he was grateful for the time he had with her.

One day in particular, the memories were strong as the radio played songs they both loved and knew. He wrote some words that he hoped would give him strength in the dark hours.

There were no bands at your service
only a woman who sang our love song

I can hear it in my darkest hours
when I reach for you

So often I reach for you in the night
only to find nothing there
You're far from me
but ever near

Stay babe
Remember we mated for life
death won't stop what we feel

Death won't stop it from growing
- growing like a mighty cypress

Love never ends
It endures and it abides
it abides

finis