Josiah smiled at J.D.  He held great affection for the boy, the young man’s thirst for understanding something Josiah respected.  He had taken it upon himself to be a teacher and in J.D. he had a willing pupil.

The older man leaned on the steps of the church where he and J.D. were resting and pursed his lips considering his young friend’s question.

“Well, son.  Let me see if I can explain.  It comes down to fire and water.”

J.D.’s face screwed up.  “Huh?”

“What do you know about fire?”

“But that has nothing to do with...”  Josiah raised an eyebrow.  J.D. sighed.  “Okay, Josiah.  Fire.  Umm, it burns.  It’s dangerous.”

“And water?”

“It’s cool and good to drink?”

Josiah chuckled.  “That is exactly the answer most would give.”  He lifted his eyes to the sky and watched a cloud change shape... moulded as if by the hands of God Himself.

“Josiah?”

Josiah glanced at J.D.  “Fire.  Seen by most as the great destroyer.  It burns all who come near it - apart from water.  When hell is described, inevitably there is reference to the heat and the scalding nature of fire. It consumes all before it until there is nothing left to consume and thus, in many ways, it acts to destroy itself.  For without anything to consume, it withers and dies.  Yet, when controlled, it gives heat and light, two things we desperately need.”

J.D. blinked.

Josiah smiled gently.  “Some would suggest that fire is the strongest and most dangerous thing around us. However, fire can’t survive water.”

“Okay.  I understand that.”

“Let’s take water, now.  Cool, good to drink... quiet... calming.  But water is a silent killer. It holds hidden dangers.  Ones that aren’t obvious but underestimate it and you will drown.  Fall into freezing water in winter and it will steal your life, sneaking up on you and overcoming you before you know it.”

“Cold sickness,” J.D. murmured.

“Hypothermia.  Water also can destroy fire, or more importantly, it is able to temper, control and turn fire’s destruction into something positive.  Of course, fire can temper, control and destroy water, too.  It can heat water to assist a healer bring a baby into this world - something I saw Nathan do only yesterday.  Use cold water on that baby to clean it and it dies.  Use warm water and the baby lives.  Fill a freezing man with warm liquid and he receives comfort.  Without the heat that same liquid would give him chills. And fire can boil water until it boils dry - destroying it. Fire and water. One is as dangerous and as helpful as the other.  Exact opposites.”

“Josiah, I just wanted to know...”

“A great forest choked by weeds.  Rain falls trying to assist the struggling plants and animals, but the weeds take what is given leaving nothing for anything else.  Then the mighty hand of God steps in - a lightning strike.  Fire springs up.  It consumes and mows down everything in its path indiscriminately, until there is nothing left to consume.  As a result, the fire dies leaving nothing but the burned embers of death.  Then the rains come again.  And from the ash springs new life.  The trees grow.  The animals return and the weeds are gone.   Fire and water are the perfect partners, J.D.  Their relationship is unique.  They balance each other’s extremes, complementing the other in a way nothing else can.  Only together are they complete and able to do the task God set for them. Do you understand?”

J.D. stared at Josiah, opened his mouth to say something, closed it and then smiled.  “Not a single word, preacher.  All I was asking was why do you think Chris and Vin get on so well? They’re nothing alike.”

Josiah sighed and stared across the street to where the objects of discussion were seated ‘not’ talking.

“They are the perfect partners who balance each other’s extremes.  Their relationship is unique.  One fire. The other water. Equally dangerous.  Both with an innate drive to protect their fellow man.  Yet, they are opposites in so many ways.  Despite all their strengths, it is only together they are complete and able to do the task God set for them.”

At that moment, Vin turned and said something to Chris.  Larabee responded and both men chuckled.

“Yep, fire and water.  Perfect partners.”

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© Sept 2010 Aussie Lass. : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to MGM and Trilogy Entertainment and thank them sincerely for turning a blind eye so I can borrow them. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while.