Universe: ATF LB
Author's Note: A while ago, Selene issued a challenge to write an LB story about a black out. This came shortly after I myself had experienced a major power outage, at the time I started a story, this isn't it. We just had another big storm, a summer type one this time, as opposed to the winter one of before. We never lost power, but there was some awesome lightning, and it got me thinking about this challenge, and I wrote this, which is completely different from the fic I started the first time. Anyway...
Thanks: Major thanks to LaraMee for the use of Ringo and Elvis, who first appeared in her "Merry Christmas and Chicken Pox to You".
Warning: Not beta'ed
"Ringo, come here," Vin called to his dog, but the malamute remained cowered under the table. Ringo and Elvis had been acting strange for the past hour. At first Vin hadn't been paying much attention; Uncle Ezra, with the Chris's endorsement, had assigned Vin an hours worth of reading every day, and Vin had been too absorbed in that to notice. Now though, he was done and looking for something to do, and his only companions were cowering under the table. Buck had taken JD to the doctor, and Chris was working outside, he was nearby, but Vin had been warned not to bother him unless it was an emergency.
Which left Vin with two cowering puppies as his only companions. "Ringo, come here." The puppy edged towards where Vin was crouched down just out from under the table, but then skittered back with a whimper.
Vin stood up with an exasperated sigh. It wasn't fair. Buck was gone and JD wasn't here to play with, and they'd probably get to go to McDonald's before he came home. Chris was out with the horses, and because he had said to stay away, Vin couldn't even go out to see Peso. And now Ringo wouldn't play with him either.
Vin went into the living room and plopped down on the sofa, a scowl on his face. After a while of sitting there not doing anything, Vin reached for the remote and turned the TV on.
Even the cartoons didn't distract him that much, though they did manage to distract him from the storm growing outside. Quite suddenly, from Vin's perspective at least, a loud boom sounded, accompanied by a flash of light, and the TV suddenly went out.
Vin tensed, it was like the house had stopped breathing. Everything stopped, sounds Vin hadn't even been aware of suddenly ceased, leaving a silent void. The next boom was even closer and, into the silence left by the first, louder. Vin just about jumped out of his skin. In the kitchen he could hear the dogs whining.
A third crash of thunder had Vin up and racing for the door.
Just as he reached it, the door swung open and Chris appeared. Reacting with the speed of thought to the frightened child running towards him, he bent down and scooped Vin up into his arms.
Vin wrapped his arms around his father's neck and buried his head in the crook of Chris's neck.
"Shh, Cowboy, it's okay," Chris soothed, rubbing the back of the trembling child in his arms. "It's just thunder."
"'s loud," Vin murmured, his warm breath tickling Chris's neck.
"I know it is." Chris walked into the house, carrying the child. "But if you're careful, it won't hurt you."
"What happened to the TV?"
Chris glanced at the television, which was off, then at the VCR, which no longer displayed a time. "The power went out," Chris explained. "Lighting probably hit the power line. It'll come back on soon."
"Promise?"
"Yep." Chris turned then, and headed back for the door. He couldn't take a shower now, but there was something he could do. "How 'bout, while we wait, we watch the storm."
Vin looked up at him with a suspicious frown on his face.
"Come on," Chris grinned, "I'll show you."
Chris carried Vin outside and settled the two of them on the swing on the porch, positioning Vin so that he was still snuggled against him, but facing outward toward the mountains. "When I was a kid," he told Vin, "my father and I used to sit out on the porch and watch lightning storms. You think maybe we could do that?"
Vin nodded slowly, eyes fixed on his father's face.
Another loud peal of thunder made Vin jerk. Chris steadied him easily. "It can't hurt you," he promised quietly. "Just watch."
Vin turned his attention to the sky beyond the porch awning. At first, he couldn't see what Chris's fascination was, all he saw was dark storm clouds roiling across the sky, then a concentrated streak of light leapt across the sky. Seconds later a roll of thunder sounded. "Wow," Vin murmured, awestruck.
Chris tightened his hold on the small boy.
The sky was a mass of churning clouds. Dark blues and greys fought for dominance, yet through it all the not-so-distant mountains remained illuminated by a hidden sun. With an increased frequency lightning traced it's way across the sky, always followed by a thunderous drum roll. The sounds had ceased to inspire fear in the little boy anymore, and all that remained was an awe that he was unable to express in words. It didn't matter though, because Chris could see the wonder shining in his son's eyes. He was glad that he had been able to share this remembered pleasure with Vin.
Eventually the storm moved on, as storms are wont to do, but the two observers remained where they were, content to continue staring out at the vast expanse in front of them, despite the fact that Mother Nature had called the thunder gods to order.
Behind them, the house breathed, but both of them were too engrossed in the moment to notice.
Finis
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