You’re Only Human (Second Wind)

By MTopaz

Josiah Sanchez held his sister’s hand, soothing her with quiet words.  Even when she was at her worst his very presence helped

to calm her.  His gentle words and gestures gave away none of the turmoil he actually felt inside.  Hannah was doing so much

better at the private hospital run by the sisters than she had at the state-run institution.  But how long could he afford to keep her

there?  He needed a job.

After he’d found her, he tried to go back to law enforcement.  But he found himself always at odds with his co-workers and

superiors.  The world wasn’t as black and grey as it had been and he could no longer just blindly follow rules and regulations.  

Unfortunately, he now had a reputation as a hot-tempered troublemaker.

You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good

You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood

It's alright, it's alright

Sometimes that's what it takes

You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes

He would make things right for her and for himself.  Josiah wouldn’t make the mistakes of the past.  He couldn’t change what

had happened, but the future was still uncharted.

Josiah had been thinking a lot about how he’d let his temper control him.  He’d let it ruin several chances he’d been given

to start over.  

You better believe there will be times in your life

When you’ll be feeling like a stumbling fool

So take it from me you'll learn more from you accidents

Than anything you could ever learn at school

No more.  Josiah had been attending anger management classes to get himself under control.  He’d also been taking an honest

look at himself.  It was a hard thing to admit how much he was like the man he hated.  The anger, the violence.

Don't forget your second wind

Sooner or later you'll get your second wind

It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain

You're gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again

It's alright, it's alright 

Though you feel your heart break

For the first time in his life he was able to accept his share of the blame for the things that had gone wrong in his own life.  Yes,

his father had played an important role in that, but Josiah knew he was responsible for his own actions.

He still felt the fires of anger burn within him, but he was better at controlling it now.  If he wanted to make thing right for him

and Hannah, he needed to keep on controlling it or find an acceptable outlet for it.  Those were things he’d have to figure out

on his own.  No one else could tame his inner demons.

You're only human, you’re gonna have to deal with heartache

Just like a boxer in a title fight

You got to walk in that ring all alone

You're not the only one who's made mistakes

But they're the only things that you can truly call your own 

Josiah sighed.  Somedays it was so hard.  He looked at Hannah, locked in her own world, and despaired.  It fueled the anger

he tried so hard to conquer when he sat with her like this, praying for her sanity.  Why her?  What had she done to deserve this?  

Why gentle Hannah and not someone like him?

You've been keeping to yourself these days

Cause you're thinking everything's gone wrong

Sometimes you just want to lay down and die 

That emotion can be so strong

But hold on

Till that old second wind comes along 

He lightly squeezed her hand, reminding her that he was still there.  He shouldn’t let his thoughts drift in that direction.  It wasn’t

productive or healthy.  

He’d been given so many chances.  Having Hannah alive and safe should be enough for now.  That was its own miracle.  But

Josiah hoped for at least one more.   

You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else

But I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself

It's alright, it's alright

Sometimes that's all it takes

We're only human

We're supposed to make mistakes

He’d heard of a man who was putting together a specialized ATF team and was looking for people with a wide range of

backgrounds and experience.  Josiah didn’t think he stood a chance with his reputation, but Chris Larabee had called him.  

The man insisted on meeting him for an interview.

Josiah was shocked.  Surely he’d heard of the problems Josiah had caused in a few of his positions?  The man in black had only

smiled a strange half-smile and told him he understood that kind of trouble.  Larabee wasn’t interested in the past.  He only

cared about what kind of commitment Josiah would give him in the future.

A year ago, Josiah wouldn’t have been able to give him fifty percent.  But now he could honestly say he was ready and willing

to do the kind of job Larabee wanted.  Would he get the chance to?  Would the man actually hire him?

But I survived all those long lonely days

When it seemed I did not have a friend

Cause all I needed was a little faith

So I could catch my breath and face the world again

Josiah’s cell phone began to vibrate.  He promised Hannah he’d be right back and stepped outside.  When he answered the

phone, a now-familiar voice met his ears.

“Josiah Sanchez?  It’s Chris Larabee.  Do you have a few minutes?”

Don't forget your second wind

Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in

Don't forget your second wind

Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in

The End

You’re Only Human (Second Wind)

You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good

You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood

It's alright, it's alright

Sometimes that's what it takes

You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes 

You better believe there will be times in your life

When you’ll be feeling like a stumbling fool

So take it from me you'll learn more from you accidents

Than anything you could ever learn at school 

Don't forget your second wind

Sooner or later you'll get your second wind

It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain

You're gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again

It's alright, it's alright 

Though you feel your heart break

You're only human, you’re gonna have to deal with heartache

Just like a boxer in a title fight

You got to walk in that ring all alone

You're not the only one who's made mistakes

But they're the only things that you can truly call your own 

Don't forget your second wind

Wait in your corner until that breeze blows in 

You've been keeping to yourself these days

Cause you're thinking everything's gone wrong

Sometimes you just want to lay down and die 

That emotion can be so strong

But hold on

Till that old second wind comes along 

You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else

But I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself

It's alright, it's alright

Sometimes that's all it takes

We're only human

We're supposed to make mistakes

But I survived all those long lonely days

When it seemed I did not have a friend

Cause all I needed was a little faith

So I could catch my breath and face the world again

Don't forget your second wind

Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in

Don't forget your second wind

Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in

--Billy Joel