A New Day Dawns

"Boys!" Russ yelled from the bottom of the stairs. "It is time for dinner. Get washed up and come down so we can eat all this food."

The sound of the kids running around to get ready for the food was heard in three different zip codes Dan thought as he helped Helen and Teri carry in the platters of hamburgers from the grill.

"Isn't it amazing how the mention of the word food can get the attention of kids faster than almost any word in the English language," John said to nobody in particular.

"Food?" Justy said. "Where's the food? If I don't eat soon my pants won't stay on anymore."

"Don't worry kiddo." Chip replied. "The day you start missing meals, I will personally seek out medical attention for you. Besides, your pants aren't going anywhere on that big ole trunk you got going there."

Justy sat there for a moment trying to pick his jaw up from the floor and then started doing some kind of instinctive dance trying to get a glimpse of his rear end to see what was big about it when Chip finally calmed him down and told him, "Gotcha."

At this point the tribe of kids started making their way downstairs in time to see Justy dancing around. Cory piped up and said, "Yo, Justy ... you got jock itch or something, or do you need to pick at your seat?"

Cory ducked in time to keep from getting his head pummeled with a flying zucchini, and swore he heard something that sounded a lot like, bite me.

As everyone started to make their way to the proverbial serving line, Sara asked, "Where is DJ?"

"He said he wasn't hungry again and stayed lying down," Beau said. "He sure is acting strange the last few days. All he does is mope around, and I don't think he has eaten much for the last three days now."

"Dan, I think it is time for you to start talking to him," Teri said. "He is on a downward spiral and I am afraid that we might end up with a Cory type situation if we don't do something for him.

Sara agreed and said, "In all my time as a nurse, I have seen this happen so many times. If we don't intervene soon we might have more to deal with than we can handle. We need to nip this in the bud."

"Ok, I will go and talk to him after supper and we can start working on dealing with his issues right away," Dan agreed. "This means boys that I will need your help in making sure that DJ is supported in anyway that he needs. He has been trough a great deal in a short amount of time and the only way he can regain a sense of normalcy is to start dealing with those issues. I am not going to lie to you. It is going to be tough. Cory, you will understand this more than anyone here what I am talking about."

Everyone nodded in agreement and then started to eat.

Dinner was a lively event and the conversation was what you could usually expect from a gaggle of hungry boys when Cory looked over at Russ and noticed he was off in another world and decided he was going to see if he was still the master prankster.

"Hey Mom," Cory inquired? "I think I want to get a tattoo. You know now that I am an adult and a commissioned officer."

Russ looked over at Teri as she said, "What do you think you want Cory?"

Russ looked at Cory as he said, "I want to tattoo an elephant in my crotch."

This time Russ just started to smirk as he took a sip of his soda. Kids and their imaginations he thought.

Right on cue Sean burst in and said, "Oh how cute ... A baby elephant with a teeny tiny little trunk.

Half the table had to duck and take cover as two streams of Dr. Pepper launched 10 feet from each of Russ's nostrils as Cory pumped his fists in the air in triumph.

Then it hit him ... Little trunk? Little? "You are so gonna get it now Sean," Cory quipped.

"There you go Cory," JC said. "You got gotten, while you were trying to get someone. I believe that is bonus points to Sean, wouldn't you all agree?

Everyone voiced their agreements as Cory just sat back and said, "Awww mannnnnn."

Cory just sat back and shut up as he was starting to conjure up the perfect revenge when he looked over at Timmy who was starting to slump over at the table. Just as he got ready to ask him if he was ok, Timmy fell from his chair and went into convulsions.

As everyone around the table started to scramble to help Timmy, they looked in astonishment as Timmy began to go back and forth between war paint and normal.

Before they had a chance to react to the situation though, Ricky also broke into full war paint, screamed "DJ," and ran from the room followed by both birds screeching at full volume.

In that instant as they watched Ricky, Timmy's skin finally settled on full war paint, and he tried to follow Ricky on wobbly legs, before collapsing and being caught by a concerned Cory.

Dan, having the presence of mind to assess the situation just said, "oh shit," and then began to run.

As people scattered in all directions trying to follow Ricky, Sean looked at Timmy and said, "What's wrong son?"

"We gotta find DJ ... Uncle Mikey said quickly, before it is too late!"

"What do you mean by too late?"

"He is gonna die."

At this moment Timmy started to vomit and fell back to the ground in convulsions. Cory looked around the room quickly and said, "everyone go and search for DJ, split into pairs and search every room in the house. Doc, you stay here and see if you can stabilize Timmy. Move!"

Everyone scrambled out of the room at record speed trying to find where DJ was and to see if they could help the situation. Shouts were heard throughout the house yelling his name, and reports of not here, bathroom clear, and so on.

As they scoured the house Dan made his way into the bedroom that he and John were using and what he saw almost made him scream. There on the dresser was a note from DJ and an empty bottle of anti-depressants that was full the day before.

Dan quickly made his way to the intercom on the wall and pressed the button to say, "I found a note and my bottle of anti-depressants totally empty. Find him quick. If he took all of them then we have close to no time before he is gone."

Dan started to leave the room to continue the search when he saw the two birds appear circling above his Camaro, so he yelled, "Outside everyone – NOW! – Duke and William are circling my Camaro."

Everyone made a mad dash outside into the 100 degree heat of the late summer afternoon and sprinted towards the black 1993 Camaro.

John was the first one there and when he looked inside he saw DJ scarcely breathing and laying in a pool of his own vomit. When he realized that the doors were locked and he saw the keys inside, he instinctively pulled off his tee shirt, wrapped it around his fist and made short work of the passenger side window of the car. He opened the door and pulled DJ from the car and carried him to the lawn.

Antonio was close behind with the med kit and began trying to do what he could. He worked in frustration as everything he was trying to do was having the wrong or no effect at all. "We need to get him to a hospital, I don't have the necessary things to reverse this," Antonio said dejectedly.

People started making decisions at once. Chip got on his communicator and called up to the Enterprise.

"Enterprise, this is Dodds ... Keep a lock on the party I am with right now and be ready for emergency transport. We have a youth suicide attempt and all means used thus far have been futile. Send a med team to the cargo bay transporter room and be ready to bring us all there if needed. We are attempting transport to Mercy General Hospital, Des Moines Iowa at present time with assistance of local law enforcement, Dodds out.

"Enterprise here, this is Uhura, Chip we copy and the Captain says use all means necessary. Enterprise out."

John hearing Chips words flipped open his cell phone and called into the back line of Polk County Sheriff's Office and filled in the dispatcher of the situation.

"This is John; we are in transport in a blue Suburban in route to Mercy General hospital, advise all local authorities of our situation and be prepared to clear all lanes of traffic through the west mixer. We have a serious medical situation and have no time for medical assistance."

The dispatcher said, "We have you covered John, be safe. We will clear all roads that we can and will notify the hospital of your E.T.A."

As John hung up they all ran to the suburban with Dan and Cory carrying DJ. When they got in a few more of the clan joined them and the rest got into other vehicles. Teri hit the gas and they were on their way while Dan began to read the note that DJ had left.

---

DJ's Note

Dear Everyone,

I am not quite sure how to begin this, or perhaps to end this. These last few years have been something out of a horror movie for me. First I lost my mother, and then everything went downhill with my father. I watched as Tanner went through his problems when he lost his parents, and then with all that happened with Steve and Mary.

Then we come to the last few weeks. I am not quite sure to handle this, and I am sure that I am in need of more counseling than anyone could ever provide and to be honest, I don't have the strength to even deal with it anyway. I am having constant nightmares about watching my father killed. I am still living in the horror of getting shot. Then I find out that I have a brother who is younger than me physically and in all actuality he is also older than me. My whole life has been a living lie and deception.

Someone please tell me where this has all come from because I can't seem to understand anything anymore. I don't care much for anything. Russ and Sara have been kind enough to take all of us in, and I can see now that the people I care about; Tanner, Beau, and Toby are all happy. That is wonderful for them, but I have to be honest. I am not happy at all. I feel nothing but numbness. I don't want all of this change. I want a simpler time in my life. Baseball games, hot dogs, scouts and friends

I know that they say that suicide is chicken shit and it is selfish to the ones you love, but I have always been the survivor. Whenever someone was down I tried to do for them anything that I could to make it better for them. I have always done for everyone else. I have always taken the brunt so someone else could feel less pain. What about me? When do I get to count? When does it matter to anyone? The only answer I can seem to find is that it will never matter.

Please know that I love you all in so many ways, but this is finally the time for me to do for myself. And the only thing that I want right now is for it all to end. I want the voices in my head to shut up. I want the pain to go away. I want to stop worrying about everyone else and start something different. I want to go where my emotions won't take over my soul and destroy me.

I am sorry for the pain that you will feel now that I am gone, and I hope that someday you can forgive me for causing you this pain, but please know that I am finally free, and I don't have to hurt anymore. I can finally be at peace and never have to deal with the labels that society will pin on me, or have to deal with the pain caused by my father. I am going home to be with my mother. God I need her right now to save me. I swear I can hear her calling me from beyond the veil saying come home. I pray that God will let me in, and that I haven't destined myself to an eternity in hell. However, it is too late to second guess that now. The pills are all down.

I am sorry.

DJ

---

"Christ," Dan said. "This wasn't a random act Teri, he actually thought this through and is prepared to die and face eternal consequences. He really wants to die!"

As they hit the highway Antonio along with Doc Austin continued to monitor DJ's rapidly decreasing vital signs. "Punch it Teri," Doc Austin said, "He's fading fast."

Teri buried her foot into the floor and the eight cylinder motor made the suburban lurch forward. She looked in her mirrors to see 5 police cruisers hit the highway and flank her and then a few jumped in front motioning her to keep up as they passed by. As the speeds approached 115 miles per hour Teri began to be very thankful for the defensive driving classes that she took two years ago, and even more grateful for the alignment and new shocks that were just installed as the ride was amazingly smooth and stable.

As they made it to the hospital, orderlies and staff began to run toward the vehicle and grabbed DJ with astonishing speed and ran inside. Teri began to follow and was stopped by the hospital administrator who said, Ma'am I am sorry but the doctors are requesting that nobody come inside just yet. Also, as this appears to be a suicide attempt we need to call in a psych team and DCFS to evaluate the situation.

Dan made his way through the crowd and told him who he was as Teri pulled out her Starfleet ID to also identify herself. The administrator just laughed and walked away and told the security officer to "See them out."

As the security guard made his way towards the group Chip and Teri both circled wide around him and went into DJ's room. When they got in they saw a doctor tying DJ to the gurney and a nurse preparing a charcoal flush. They also heard the sound of the security guard as he burst through the door yelling at them that they were under arrest.

Chip flipped out his Starfleet ID and identified himself at which point he found himself on his butt sprawled on the floor after the massive fist of the security guard put him there.

Chip then pulled out his communicator and said, "Enterprise, get us all out of here and take everything with you. Security to yellow alert at the cargo bay.

In an instant the entire clan and all the contents of DJ's hospital room were transported to the lower cargo bay on board the Enterprise where they were met by Lt. Thompson and Doctor McCoy.

"Grab him!" Chip said as he pointed at the security guard.

Lt. Thompson pointed his phaser at the guard and made it poignantly clear that he shouldn't move very much, and to his credit, he actually understood the point.

McCoy rushed over and along with Antonio, took DJ at high speed to the sick bay, and as they left the room Tanner handed McCoy DJ's note. Dan also followed and was explaining to McCoy what the drugs strength and amount were.

"Damn," McCoy exclaimed. "That is one nasty drug, and not always easy to counteract. It slows down the heart rate and breathing as it also acts like an anti-anxiety drug. I can't make any promises, but I will give him everything I can. The rest is up to him."

---

Tanner's Thoughts

'OK, so I thought we were always going to be together. I thought that we finally had found something that was going to make our lives better. Now you have to go and pull something like this. You selfish little Brat! You think you always had to be the survivor? News flash, I had to survive too, and you don't see me trying to check out early. Well if that is the way you want it, fine! Go ahead and die. I can make it without you. I don't need your sniveling little whiny butt around me. You cant bring me down. I am stronger than that. If you could hear me right now I would scream at you and tell you to go to hell. But you were always one for getting that last word in. You always have to have it your way. What about me? You think you don't count? What does this say for me? Part of me wants to die now as well, but I won't give you the satisfaction of seeing me on the other side. No! You are going to have to wait for that one DJ. You will have plenty of time to sit there and think about what you did. I hope you are miserable thinking about it. I hope you look down on all of us and see that we are doing fine without you and that we have such great lives. Maybe then you can regret what you did. Hell with this back... I am out of here you bastard. I gotta get away from these people before they drive me bloody insane.'

---

As the rest of the adults started to go toward the sick bay area, Cory was trying to herd up the kids and take them somewhere out of the way. "Come on Guys, let's go and hit the forward lounge. We need to stay out of the Doc's way. All we can do now is pray."

He then stopped and asked, "Did anyone see where Tanner went?"

"No," Adam said. "I bet he went with DJ though."

"Mom said that only the adults were there," Cory stated. "Oh hell. We have to find him."

Cory then pulled out his communicator. "Ensign Cory to Lt. Thompson."

"Go ahead Cory."

"Sir, we have a missing clan member. Tanner is nowhere to be found and I am concerned that he is vulnerable considering the events of today. I am requesting a detail to locate him."

"Acknowledged Ensign. Lt. Thompson to Bridge crew – bring the ship to active alert. All stations report – be advised that we have a missing child – go to deck computer stations for more information and current photos. Thompson out."

---

**Sick Bay**

"Damn it," Bones said as he threw another injector across the room. "This should have worked. Antonio, team, tell me if I missed something. Let's do a checklist.

1.) Induced vomiting to expunge any remaining pills – check

2.) Charcoal bolus to contain any drugs in the stomach – check

3.) Lactated ringer drip .5% saline solution to hydrate – check

4.) Counter drug added to combat the effects – check

At this point we have reached a stable bio rhythm.

Next we began the correct formulation, based on body size, to bring him to homeostasis, and regain consciousness. He should, from every reading I see on the bed, be regaining consciousness, but he isn't. We have done 2 injections now, and the most that we can give is three. Do I have any suggestions? Is there anything that I missed?"

There was a collective negative nod of heads. Everyone agreed that the proper protocol had been followed to the tee.

"I think we should give him the third injection sir," Antonio said, and everyone agreed.

As Bones reached into his pocket to grab the third and final injector he found a piece of paper. "What's this," he said to nobody in particular. The he remembered the paper that Dan had handed to him as they rushed to the sick bay wards. He opened it up and began to read.

---

Dear Everyone,

I am not quite sure how to begin this, or perhaps to end this. These last few years have been something out of a horror movie for me. First I lost my mother, and then everything went downhill with my father. I watched as Tanner went through his problems when he lost his parents, and then with all that happened with Steve and Mary.

Then we come to the last few weeks. I am not quite sure to handle this, and I am sure that I am in need of more counseling than anyone could ever provide and to be honest, I don't have the strength to even deal with it anyway. I am having constant nightmares about watching my father killed. I am still living in the horror of getting shot. Then I find out that I have a brother who is younger than me physically and in all actuality he is also older than me. My whole life has been a living lie and deception.

Someone please tell me where this has all come from because I can't seem to understand anything anymore. I don't care much for anything. Russ and Sara have been kind enough to take all of us in, and I can see now that the people I care about; Tanner, Beau, and Toby are all happy. That is wonderful for them, but I have to be honest. I am not happy at all. I feel nothing but numbness. I don't want all of this change. I want a simpler time in my life. Baseball games, hot dogs, scouts and friends

I know that they say that suicide is chicken shit and it is selfish to the ones you love, but I have always been the survivor. Whenever someone was down I tried to do for them anything that I could to make it better for them. I have always done for everyone else. I have always taken the brunt so someone else could feel less pain. What about me? When do I get to count? When does it matter to anyone? The only answer I can seem to find is that it will never matter.

Please know that I love you all in so many ways, but this is finally the time for me to do for myself. And the only thing that I want right now is for it all to end. I want the voices in my head to shut up. I want the pain to go away. I want to stop worrying about everyone else and start something different. I want to go where my emotions won't take over my soul and destroy me.

I am sorry for the pain that you will feel now that I am gone, and I hope that someday you can forgive me for causing you this pain, but please know that I am finally free, and I don't have to hurt anymore. I can finally be at peace and never have to deal with the labels that society will pin on me, or have to deal with the pain caused by my father. I am going home to be with my mother. God I need her right now to save me. I swear I can hear her calling me from beyond the veil saying come home. I pray that God will let me in, and that I haven't destined myself to an eternity in hell. However, it is too late to second guess that now. The pills are all down.

I am sorry.

DJ

---

Then it hit him. He knew at this moment that there wasn't a damn thing he could do from a medical standpoint to save the life of the thirteen year old boy in front of him. He knew that you can't save someone who didn't want to be saved. He realized that the young man in front of him truly wanted to die.

"Damn it boy," He yelled! "I might be a cranky old coot, but I know that there are people who love you and would give anything to have you here with them. Why in the world would you think that this is the best way to go? Fight God damn it! You are only a child. Your life hasn't even begun. Live to see what comes next for the love of Pete!"

Bones looked around the room at the people who were as silent as church mice, wide eyed and staring at him. He then handed the note to his assistant and slowly made his way to the communicator which was lying on the table.

---

**Captains Ready Room**

"Chip," Kirk began. "What in the hell happened here today?"

"To be honest sir, I am not sure. We have been keeping an eye on DJ for the last few days and have been trying to let him ease into an adjustment period. We even discussed a course of action at dinner to get him the counseling that he needed. I guess we just didn't act fast enough. I take full responsibility for that."

"Why would you take responsibility for that Chip," Kirk asked? "You know that neither you nor anyone else can predict the mind of a young boy."

"I should have forced the counseling issue immediately Captain."

"Well Chip, all we can do now is pray. Try not to beat yourself up too bad. You need to be strong for everyone now. And hopefully we can find Tanner quick enough to get him some help too ... He has to be hurting inside more than anyone of us could possibly imagine."

Chip just nodded his head and continued to explain the events to the Captain, when his communicator went off.

"Dodds," he replied.

"Chip, its Bones. Get the clan together and meet me in sick bay."

"Is everything ok Bones?" Kirk asked.

"I wouldn't waste any time Jim, McCoy out."

---

To Be Continued

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