Missing Scene--Pilot 
by Surreal
Feedback:  surreal666@hotmail.com
Disclaimer:  Not mine, never will be.  I live vicariously through
these people.
Archive:  LGM mailing list
Summery:  First installment of the Missing Scenes series, where
I will fill in my version of events that we don't see on the screen.
This week:  Pilot.

********

"This is his son,"  Byers’ voice was softer than before, just a
touch of fear but for the two men who knew him better than he
often knew himself, the anxiety in his words came out loud and
clear.  

As Byers listened in the growing silence, Langly and Frohike 
exchanged a worried, questioning look.  

Swallowing audibly, Byers' head dropped and he closed his eyes.
"Yes, thank you.  I--thank you,"  he mumbled, the hand reaching
to hang up the phone shaking badly.  

"Hey, buddy--everything okay?"  Frohike asked apprehensively,
wincing at how lame that sounded.  Obviously everything wasn't
'okay', the way the younger man was visibly shaken.  

Byers glanced over his shoulder briefly.  "No," he replied, barely
a whisper.  His hand clutched the edge of the table in an effort
to remain on his feet.  

Langly saw how badly his friend was struggling and rushed forward,
one hand pressed firmly to Byers' back, the other on his arm to gently
guide him to the stool next to the table, silently sitting him down.  
Frohike moved to stand in front of the trembling man, carefully 
put his hands on Byers' arms and holding his focus.  "Hey, it's okay,
we're right here," he assured Byers softly, rubbing his arms.  "You
wanna tell us what's going on?  What that call was about?"

The seated man shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the table
next to him.  "That...it was the police," he started quietly.  "My...my 
father's car ran off the road and--" his voice broke and he choked
back the emotions threatening to overwhelm him.  "...he's dead," he
finally said, disbelief coloring his words.  "God, he's dead..."  

"Jesus, dude..."  Langly muttered from behind him, the hand gripping
Byers' shoulder tightening in support.  He felt helpless, unable to do
anything but stand by and watch his closest friend struggle to come
to terms with the sudden loss. 

With a sharp gasp, Byers finally let go.  Slumping forward, he let
the tears fall and found himself enveloped in Frohike's arms, and
welcomed the friendly comfort.  Langly felt the ragged sobs as he
gently smoothed his hand over Byers' back, offering what little
support he could as he stared at the floor uncomfortably.  

After a while Byers came back to them, sniffling quietly and 
wiping his face with his sleeve.  His cheeks were flushed, part
from his tears and part from his embarrassment at having lost
control in front of the other two.  "M'sorry," he mumbled 
apologetically.  Frohike gave him a questioning look and the
younger man nodded, a silent reassurance that he was all right.

Frohike gave him a gentle smile.  "Listen, there's a lot of stuff
to be taken care of.  You got some calls to make, right?"  Byers
nodded, sniffing again.  "Okay.  Just tell us what you need us to
do and we'll do it, all right?"

Byers looked up sharply.  "No, this has nothing to do with you guys,
I can't ask you to get involved," he argued.  

"Hey, man - no way we're gonna let you go this alone,"  Langly told
him firmly, his hand again wrapping around Byers' shoulder.  

Byers looked between them, a faint, appreciative smile on his lips.
"Thanks, guys.  Really, that means a lot."  


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

End.