ATF Universe
Note: Follows Carousel. I’m really not sure how interdiction works so please be open minded! Thanks to Judy for all advice and encouragement (there was much of both). And a belated thanks to Mog, who found a perfect fit.
"OK boys, jackets on." Chris checked in over his headset with Vin across the wide street. "Remember, this is Denver PD’s show. We assist, unless there really are guns. If there are we take ‘em." Chris got murmured acknowledgements from all on his team but he looked directly at Buck. Buck looked away.There was a problem there but Chris didn’t have time to worry about it. They were about to raid the home of one of Denver’s wealthiest private citizens. Last week, Captain Hall of the police department’s narcotics unit had contacted ATF Director Orin Travis. His crew had traced a recent influx of designer drugs into Denver back to Percy Macmillan and his younger brother Wallace. The elder Macmillan was a self-made man, a philanthropist and a pillar of the community. He was also, allegedly, a drug trafficker. The why was where Chris’ team came in. Narco’s snitch claimed that the brothers were starting their own militia and were arming themselves to the teeth. They were supposedly doing it all under the table, selling illegal drugs and buying illegal guns with the proceeds. Chris had JD comb the ATF’s database but he uncovered nothing that even tangentially mentioned the two men. So the feds were acting as backup, at the very least. Vin was kneeling at the window in the master bedroom of Macmillan’s neighbor, his rifle trained on Macmillan’s front door, just in case. The police had secured the warrants and Wallace had just arrived. The cops signaled they were ready to go.
Team Seven followed the police in, everybody identifying themselves and yelling, "Freeze!" However, a thorough search of the premises turned up exactly nothing. Chris was standing in the basement with Lieutenant Ramirez from the narcotics squad and both were pissed. Josiah came down the stairs.
"Warrant cover any outbuildings? There’s another garage or something set back a bit. Could be what we’re looking for."
Chris glanced at Ramirez, who nodded. "Let’s do it," Larabee uttered.
It was what they were seeking and more. The search turned up a bunch of handguns – Glocks, Brewsters, others – and over one hundred automatic and semiautomatic rifles. Denver PD turned them over to the ATF agents. The local law enforcement officers also uncovered a cache of the drugs tucked in a filing cabinet. In addition, the cabinet held some records, names and dates of deals. Most disturbing, however, were the photos. Hidden in the back of the bottom drawer was a large manila envelope. It contained explicit photos of Wallace Macmillan engaged in lewd acts with what were definitely underage possibly unconscious females. Chris’ team gathered around.
"Shit!" Buck exclaimed. JD approached but Buck warned him off. "Believe me, kid, you don’t want to see these."
Ezra let out a soft whistle. "We are clearly dealing with humanity at its most depraved. And among society’s crème de la creme." He added with some sarcasm, "Who would have thought?"
Josiah shook his head, searching out Chris’ gaze. "This is some ugly stuff, boss."
"Yeah, I know it," he said. "Get the guns and let’s get the hell outta here."
His team spent the rest of that day cataloguing the evidence they seized. The brothers were going to be arraigned the next morning. Their wives were already on TV, wiping away tears, claiming a terrible mistake had been made. Terrible enough to engage Colorado’s most pricey and notorious lawyer. She promised to exonerate her clients and sue the police and the federal government. There were only vague references to the photos so far, the media mostly latching onto the more tangible guns and drugs story line.
Chris crashed at Vin’s for a couple of hours but was back at the office early Friday morning. Vin was there, too, promising to hold down the fort until the others got in. Chris had to attend a meeting with Travis, Ramirez, Captain Hall, and the Mayor of Denver. Many important and influential people were none too happy to find out the Macmillans were at best drug dealers. At worst paranoid psychos and pedophiles.
The team did not see their boss all day. Or each other, really. Buck and Josiah sat in on the ultimately fruitless interrogation of the brothers while Nathan and Ezra helped interview the wives and the household staff. Vin and JD continued inventorying evidence. When they all reconvened at the office, minus Chris, it was almost five.
"I’ve seen some uncooperative witnesses but, man," Nathan said, shaking his head.
"I concur, Mr. Jackson. I think the lovely ladies Macmillan could give our fearless leader a run for his money in the glare department," Ezra said wearily.
Vin smiled. He looked up, seeing Chris come through the door. "Need a drink, cowboy?" he asked almost rhetorically.
"At least one," Chris mumbled. "Wait ‘til five then head over. I’ll meet you there."
"I think I’ll pass," Buck said but Chris ignored it and went into his office.
"You have to come, Buck," JD said. "I’m still dying to hear about your date with Alicia." It wasn’t the most sincere statement nevertheless it might entice Buck to go.
Ezra put his feet up on his desk. He’d been doing double duty, working his own lead and assisting on the Macmillan bust. Tonight he wanted to kick back, have a few laughs.
"I believe we could all benefit from some relaxation and cold libations," the undercover agent chimed in. "Not to mention a little hyperbole," he quipped, smiling slyly at Buck.
"I’ll give you ‘hyperbole’," Buck snarled but he agreed to go.
+ + + + + + +
Chris arrived about an hour after the others. He drank his first beer quickly, munching on pretzels. He ordered another and accepted Josiah’s challenge to a game of pool. He beat the big man easily, and Vin and Nathan as well. Ezra declined an invitation to be the next lamb to slaughter. JD shook his head and mouthed a silent, "No way." Buck sat at a corner table, refusing to even acknowledge the posturing going on. Chris glanced at Vin who shrugged. The blonde grabbed another beer and steeled himself.
He settled in next to Buck. "So you gonna tell me why you’ve been sulking all week?"
Buck eyed him fiercely. "I am not sulking."
Chris took a drink of his beer. "Yeah, you are. Don’t deny it. Spill it."
Buck looked at his old friend and frowned. "You’re in love again."
The other man laughed. "No, I’m not."
"Oh, speaking of denial," Buck said, twisting in his chair. "You’re in love and I can’t believe who with."
Chris’ eyes unintentionally flashed to Vin. He was sitting with Ezra, listening intently to whatever it was Ezra was saying. When Chris looked back at Buck his friend had a satisfied smirk on his face.
"You forget how well I know you, Stud."
"So maybe I’m a little in love. So what? Thought you’d be happy for me." Chris took another drink and studied Buck’s face. He looked pretty upset.
"Is that like being a ‘little’ pregnant?" Buck asked caustically. "For the record, I’ll be happy when you get married again. Have a family." "This," he added, jerking his head toward Vin, "is a mistake."
"Why?" Chris was feeling defensive, maybe even a bit angry.
"Uh, I don’t know. Because he’s a guy. Because you work together," Buck said testily.
"You’re a guy and I work with you. Was it a mistake when you-"
"Don’t," Buck cut in. "That was different and you know it." Buck downed the rest of his beer in one gulp and watched Vin from across the room.
Chris said quietly, "It’s really not so different, pard. I needed you and you were there. Now I need Vin…" his voice trailed off.
"Did you tell him?" Buck asked still staring at Vin. If Vin was aware of the scrutiny he didn’t show it. He was laughing now at something Standish said, their knees touching.
"No," Chris lied. Buck looked more than a little skeptical as he turned his attention back.
"I just think it’s a bad idea. Your career could end up in the toilet. You could be in for a lot of grief. You could get sick. And I think you’re avoiding falling in love again for real. Need more?" Buck spoke softly but there was a hint of anger in his voice.
Chris disregarded the ‘get sick’ part. He hadn’t thought about those things at first, Vin only reassuring him later that they were in the clear. He wasn’t about to discuss that with Buck, though.
He said instead, "’For real’? What’s that supposed to mean? As far as I’m concerned, this thing with Vin is ‘for real’." Chris said, getting annoyed. Why was Buck in such a rush lately to get people married off? Six months ago it was JD. Now him.
"I mean really in love, with commitment, a future."
"Who says I can’t have that with Vin?" Chris paused. He hadn’t even discussed these things with his lover. He was getting way ahead of himself.
"What about kids?"
Chris looked at him like he’d said two plus two is Finland. Of course he couldn’t have kids with Vin and of course he knew it. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Buck, wait. I’m not so sure Vin and I want a future together. We haven’t gotten that far. Right now we just want to be with each other, we enjoy being with each other. So far it hasn’t affected the job or my career. I don’t want it to affect you and me either. Just take it easy, ok? Let me have this one." He implored Buck with his eyes.
Buck just shook his head. He started to say something but stopped. He got up, pushing his chair away from the table. He said a few quick good nights and stalked toward the door. JD’s eyes followed him, confused. Chris’ eyes met Vin’s. There was no confusion there. Vin knew exactly what was going on.
He waited for Chris to tell him what happened but Chris was silent all the way back to Vin’s apartment. When a quick shower intended to wash out the stale beer and cigarette smells turned into something longer and a lot more fun, Vin supposed they were done talking for the night. He was almost asleep, clasping Chris’ hand, Chris’ warmth pressed against his back, when he heard the diaphanous whisper.
"Buck’s on to us. He’s not too happy." Chris tried to keep the anger out of his voice and ended up sounding sad.
"I kinda figured," Vin whispered back. He didn’t open his eyes but he clutched Chris’ hand more firmly. "You alright?"
Chris didn’t answer right away. He placed a lingering kiss at the base of Vin’s neck, inhaling his soapy clean scent. "Think so. Maybe he just needs some time. Hope he just needs some time."
"Anything I can do?" Vin asked, stifling a yawn. He wasn’t disinterested. Just the opposite, in fact. He sometimes wondered if Buck would prove to be the kink in the armor. If Buck, more than their jobs or anything else, would end up costing him Chris.
Chris pressed his cheek to Vin’s shoulder. "For now? Just sleep."
Unable to do anything else, Vin took it as sound advice.
+ + + + + + +
Chris rummaged around in his desk for the antacids and aspirin. "Ought to own stock in these," he groused. The minor headache he arrived with had mushroomed into an all-out brain crusher. The Macmillans walked this morning. Their lawyer got a judge to hear a motion on the warrants late last night. Nice being rich, Chris thought. It seems the garage they searched was on a plot of land adjacent to Macmillan’s house. Although Macmillan owned both, the plot technically had a different address and therefore the warrants did not apply. Even if the feds managed to get the guns reintroduced on a good faith argument there was no way the contents of the filing cabinet would ever be admissible. It was padlocked meaning the police gained access with a bolt cutter. That was, apparently, a no-no. It was also Denver PD’s problem but the whole thing was making headaches for the ATF, literally and figuratively. Chris would have to meet with the federal prosecutor about the guns. He jumped a bit when his cell phone rang in the quiet office.
"Larabee," he growled.
"Mornin’ sunshine." It was Vin.
Chris felt himself relax. "You heard?"
"Yep, it’s all over the news. By Monday it will all look like a bad dream and those guys will go right back to doing what they were doing. I think we’re in the wrong business, Chris." He paused then asked, "How are you holding up?"
"Fine for someone whose head is about to explode." Chris downed another aspirin. "You still coming home with me tonight?"
"Considering my jeep’s over there and my bike is dead, doesn’t look like I have much choice."
Chris could hear the teasing in his voice but he said anyway, "You always have a choice, Vin."
"Do ya want me to come home with you?"
"Very much."
"Call before you leave." Vin hung up, leaving Chris to his headache and a mountain of paper work.
Supper was quick and easy. Chris smiled when Vin suggested they retire to the bedroom for "dessert". They kissed and rubbed and sucked until the older man could barely keep his eyes open. Most days he figured he’d never get enough of touching Vin, but his lover just wore him out. The Texan’s soft drawl resonated in his ear, calming and comforting, helping him fall into a contented dreamless sleep.
Not long after becoming lovers, Chris and Vin had taken to sleeping in on Sunday mornings. Every other day they were on overdrive but whenever possible they took their Sunday mornings slow. Not this day. Their peaceful slumber was interrupted by the shrill ring of the telephone. Chris rolled to his side, pushing Vin back and reaching for the offending object.
"What?" he barked none too politely. Half asleep, Vin was glad he was not on the receiving end of that.
Chris scrambled over Vin. "Son of a bitch!" He said it again and Vin sat up. Chris disconnected the call and started dialing. "Fuck me," he mumbled.
+ + + + + + +
Chris looked out the windshield at a gray and threatening sky. Feeling the chill as he opened his door the Senior Agent wanted nothing more than to still be snuggled under the covers with Vin. Unfortunately he had work to do. Buck and Josiah were already at the scene. Chris headed toward Travis while Buck tried to bore holes into Vin with his eyes. Vin pretended not to notice. So did Josiah.
"What the hell happened?" Chris asked his boss, blowing on his hands.
Travis sighed. "Wallace Macmillan interrupted 8 am mass. Told the priest he needed absolution, that he couldn’t go back to jail and didn’t want to go to hell. The priest kindly told him he’d have to wait. He opened fire. Winged the padre but killed the altar boy. Kid was only thirteen." Travis stopped and looked around at the lingering chaos. Chris did as well. Macmillan had done more than kill an altar boy.
"The count is four dead and six wounded. One seriously. Lucky I guess that Macmillan picked an early mass." Travis frowned. "As so often happens in these situations he took the easy way out." He sounded appropriately disgusted.
"Where’d he get the gun?"
Travis shrugged. "You did a thorough search?"
"Top to bottom," Chris said nodding. "But it’s not like he didn’t know where to get one."
"Hmm." Travis rubbed his jaw. "Meet me at the office?"
Larabee nodded again. "See you there."
Chris pulled into his parking space in the basement of the federal building. Vin’s jeep was still there from Friday night. He turned off the ignition and caught his lover’s hand.
"Not much you can do here. Why don’t you head home?" Chris said, giving Vin’s hand a little squeeze.
"OK", Vin responded. "Call if you need me."
Just as they exited the vehicle Josiah pulled up. At the crime scene Chris had told Buck to go home but he needed Sanchez.
"See you, Vin," Josiah called out. "Be up in a minute, Chris. I’m going to grab some breakfast. Want anything?"
"Coffee," Chris said emphatically and headed for the elevator. Over his shoulder he called, "I’ll be in my office before I head up to Travis." Josiah nodded to Chris’ back.
At his desk, Chris heard the footsteps and looked up, expecting his profiler. But it was Buck who stormed into his office and shut the door.
"What the hell was that?" Buck demanded.
Chris looked up confused. "What was what?"
"That," he waved his arm ambiguously. "You showing up at a crime scene first thing in the morning with Tanner in tow and looking freshly fucked!"
Chris was stunned. "We were asleep when I got the call. Not that it’s any of your business."
"It’s also not the point."
"So what is your point?" He didn’t need this right now.
"It doesn’t look right, Chris. Vin’s hair was still wet for chrissake!"
"All that means is I got him out of bed. Not necessarily my bed." Got you out of bed, too."
Buck was not mollified. "Chris, you enter a room, show up at a crime scene, people notice you. Other guys watch you. Travis was watching. It was so obvious."
Chris thought about it for a minute. He shook his head. "Maybe to you. But you have information others don’t. No one knows I’m sleeping with Vin-"
"Not yet. They will if you keep this up."
Or if you keep yelling, Chris thought. He held up his hand and finished. "You know and you’re uncomfortable with it. It’s coloring you perception. Travis had other things on his mind. You should, too."
Buck sighed, pacing a bit. He turned to look at the man he knew so well. "Is it worth it, Chris? Is fucking Vin really worth ruining your career?"
Chris closed his eyes and willed himself to be patient. He looked up. "What do you want me to say Buck?"
Buck stared at him. Finally he said, "Just be careful, pard." His voice was so soft, tender even, catching Chris off guard. "I care about you. I’d hate to see anything bad happen."
Before Chris could respond, Buck was out the door.
+ + + + + + +
A few days later Chris sat in Travis’ office.
"Well," Travis said philosophically, "the mayor did say heads were going to roll."
"Yeah," Chris acknowledged, "but I didn’t know he meant ours."
Chris rubbed his eyes. He was exhausted. Things were not going well at all.
Macmillan’s lawyer was the queen of spin. She painted her clients as avid gun collectors, nothing more. The false accusations and arrest had exacerbated Wallace’s heretofore unpublicized depression, pushing him over the edge. After a quick and private funeral for his younger brother, Percy had set about rehabilitating his image. He pledged lifetime financial support for the most seriously injured of the "unfortunate accident," a man who was paralyzed by a bullet lodged in his neck. He underwrote the costs of all the funerals and compensated the families. Finally, Macmillan and his lawyer blasted the police for using unreliable criminal informants out to save their own skins. Chris wondered who’d be compensating the young girls in the photos but as far as the media was concerned, they were a nonissue. The drugs and the photos had been completely forgotten. Why not? Legally, they didn’t exist.
The police were no slouches in the spin department, either. Captain Hall immediately placed blame for the whole debacle in the ATF’s front yard. For one thing, he claimed that he had forwarded a report to Agent Larabee, detailing the Macmillans’ gun collection. He recommended the feds investigate independently but Assistant Director Travis had refused. Then they had jumped on the bust, demanding the guns while the police tried to get a new warrant. In addition, Hall accused Chris of mentally abusing Wallace Macmillan, a man obviously on the edge. Chris hadn’t had said two words to the Macmillans but that didn’t seem to matter.
The mayor bought Hall’s story. The public was outraged and he was looking for a scapegoat. Either Macmillan was a good choice in Chris’ mind but the mayor went for him. It was political, no doubt. Macmillan had donated money to the mayor’s first campaign and would likely do so again if this was handled correctly. And the mayor worked more directly with the police on a regular basis. Chris was the clear choice. His Honor held a news conference announcing that he had reports of malfeasance on the part of the ATF. His office would investigate fully and make sure that they paid for their screw-ups and aggressiveness. He vowed someone would pay for the altar boy.
Chris was almost too tired to care. He had done everything by the book and he had to hope that would win out. Plus, he was still getting the cold shoulder from Buck and he hadn’t had any down time with Vin since the weekend. Hadn’t had any down time at all to speak of between meetings, juggling his regular caseload and dealing with the ever-present media. But it was time with Vin he missed. In truth though, he was in a sort of self-imposed exile. He could have spent his nights in Purgatorio but there were so many things he needed to sort out on his own. It would help if he could sleep for a week or so first.
No chance of that. Chris got up slowly and stretched. "I’ve got to catch up with Ezra. He’s got a good lead on a couple of thugs dealing guns downtown. I’ll keep you posted."
"OK, and I’ll check the want ads," Travis said smiling. Chris rolled his eyes.
Larabee strode across the office and called to no one in particular, "Anyone know where Ezra is?"
"He had a meet with his informant," Josiah informed him. Chris nodded and headed into his office.
Vin watched his lover pass. He was walking stiffly, his back probably bothering him. No wonder, Vin thought, he’s been sleeping on that damn couch in his office. He sighed. Chris was stressed about the Macmillan fiasco and chewing over the whole Buck thing in addition to his usual worries. Not surprisingly, he wasn’t letting Vin in on any of it.
From the very beginning Chris had thrown himself into their relationship with whatever he had to give. Unfortunately he didn’t have much. Vin understood and gladly accepted what Chris offered, never demanding more and thankful for everyday that their partnership continued to grow. Sometimes he felt like he was taking Chris apart emotionally and putting him back together, one piece at a time. It was a slow, often painful process, Chris having so many ghosts and fears of letting go of his heart. But Vin did it willingly. What he did have with Chris was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. He’d had a few serious crushes before. With Chris, he knew, it was love. It was difficult, at times infuriating, but generally it just kept getting better. Except for times like these, of course, when he wanted to clock the stubborn old cuss.
He approached Chris’ office and leaned against the doorjamb. He spoke openly, casually. "You know, the couch at my place is a shade more comfortable than that old thing." He indicated Chris’ sofa with his head. "It’s yours if you need it."
Chris looked up. Vin’s mouth was partly curved into that lopsided grin that lit up his face. His arms were crossed over his chest, one denim clad knee bent. He looked totally at ease and unbelievably desirable. Chris briefly entertained the notion of grabbing him and flinging him on that old sofa so he could show him how much he’d been missing him.
When Vin’s smile widened, Chris was pretty sure the sharpshooter knew exactly what he was thinking. How was he supposed to resist Tanner?
As Chris tried to formulate an innocent response to his lover’s not-as-innocent-as-it- seemed invitation, JD pushed past Vin.
"You’re not going to believe this. I just found a file labeled, "Macmillan, Percy" and get this, it’s dated three weeks ago!"
"How long has it been there?" Chris asked angrily.
"Since sometime after Monday. I did another sweep of the database then. I wouldn’t have missed this twice," JD said confidently.
Chris was pretty sure he wouldn’t have missed it once. "Break it down, JD. Find out who loaded it and when. Call tech support if you have to." Chris got on the phone to Travis while Vin offered to help the younger agent.
+ + + + + + +
Late that night Vin was vaguely aware of his front door opening. He knew he should probably get up but didn’t open his eyes until he felt the mattress sag. Chris lay back, fully dressed. Vin leaned over and kissed him softly. He saw Chris’ tired smile in the dim ambient light. He rose off the bed to help Chris get undressed, though Chris really didn’t contribute much beyond rolling with Vin’s gentle ministrations. By the time Vin laid his dress pants over the chair, Chris was asleep.
It was still dark when Vin woke again a couple of hours later. Immediately he realized he was alone in bed. He rolled over. Chris was sitting on the windowsill, his handsome profile silhouetted by the moonlight. Vin’s eyes adjusted. He could just make out the melancholy, hangdog expression on his lover’s face as he stared out the window. Vin knew that look.
"I’m here, Vin," Chris said hearing his lover stir. He didn’t look at him.
"Dreamin’ about Sarah?" Vin asked mildly, his voice huskier than usual from sleep.
"Yep." Chris nodded slowly. He inhaled and let the breath out slowly. "It was so real, Vin. I could smell her perfume, hear her voice. I could feel her skin under my fingers." He rubbed his forehead, the rawness coursing through him.
"Then you woke up to find me sleeping beside ya, not her?" It was a simple, unloaded observation.
The blonde blinked rapidly, finally turning to Vin. "I’m s-"
"It’s ok," Vin soothed. "I’m sorry you’re having such a bad time."
"Not so bad, really. Part of me thinks if they want to fire me," he shrugged, "let ‘em. Might be doing me a favor."
Yeah right, Vin thought. He said, "Travis won’t let that happen."
Smiling, Chris responded, "Travis might be leading the way." He added, "At least I wouldn’t have to see Buck scowling at me everyday."
Vin sat up a little. "Don’t like coming between you and Buck, you know."
"I know", Chris said, moving off the windowsill. "I’ve been thinking about that."
Vin opened his arms to the older man as he climbed back into bed. They touched lips lightly. Vin gently stroked the back of his Chris’ neck and waited. Usually when Chris got to thinking it meant trouble.
As he settled against his lover’s chest, Chris sighed and asked quietly, "Do you think maybe we should end this before someone gets hurt?"
Vin pulled his hand away. "Shit Chris, do you ever have any trouble breathing with your head up your ass?" he asked pointedly.
Chris laughed, and pressed a kiss to Vin’s chest through his T-shirt. He said, "Too late, huh?"
"Yes. Maybe. I don’t know." Vin shook his head. "Look, I ain’t gonna pressure ya, Chris. Whatever you think is best I’ll go along." He ran his fingertips along Chris’ spine as much to calm himself as to relax Chris.
"Might be for the best," Chris said flatly.
Vin thought he’d made a lot of progress bringing Chris over from his despair and his loneliness. But he wouldn’t force it. Couldn’t force a man like Chris Larabee to acknowledge you, much less love you. What would be the point of that anyway?
"Like I said, Chris, no pressure. But I don’t rightly see how it would be best for you or for me to walk away," he said honestly.
Chris traced Vin’s nipple through his cotton shirt. His thoughts were garbled, apparently random but he decided to express them anyway. Josiah was always telling him he’d feel better if he opened up. Besides, after days of shutting Vin out he needed the Texan to help him sort through his tangled emotions.
His voice was so low Vin had to strain to hear. "It was so hard to keep caring after Sarah and Adam died. It wasn’t as if my grief didn’t consume me. It did. I was drowning in it. Thought it would kill me. Wanted it to kill me, maybe."
Vin listened quietly, using his other hand to stroke Chris’ hair. It didn’t escape his notice that they were doing this without looking at each other.
"It didn’t kill me," Chris continued. "Because I was too strong or too stubborn or too stupid to lay down and die." He paused then added softly, "Because I had Buck."
When Chris didn’t say more, Vin spoke. "I know how important Buck is to you. And I know part of you will always love Sarah. If you can’t reconcile those things with your feelings for me, it’s ok." Vin glanced out the window. Why was this so hard? He’d known from the start that Chris was a hard sell. That he might have to employ his well-honed skill of walking away. At least emotionally if not physically.
Chris shifted a little. "It’s different with you, Vin. It’s not reflex or habit. It’s you. I care because I feel alive, not because I have nothing better to do until I die."
Half of Vin’s mouth turned up in a cocky grin. "You lost me, cowboy. Are we breaking up or not?"
Hearing the playfulness in his lover’s voice, Chris sat up.
He pressed his lips to Vin’s, chuckling. "Hell if I know."
"Know what I think?" Vin asked. "I think you could always stick with me and I don’t know, let me help you with the things that worry you. Just once in a while, until you get used to it." The Cheshire Cat had nothing on Vin now, his white teeth gleaming in the early morning darkness.
Chris smiled, too. "Suppose we could try that. But Buck…"
"Buck loves you, Chris. He wants to protect you. Once he see you don’t need protecting, he’ll come around." Vin pulled Chris to him, nuzzling his throat and jaw. He whispered in his ear, "You’re not gonna make me beg, are ya?"
Chris turned and caught Vin’s lips in a sweet, soulful kiss.
"Kind of like it when you beg, Vin," he said breathlessly.
"That mean you wanna fool around?" Vin felt the familiar stirring down below but noted the dark circles under Chris’ eyes and tempered his desire.
"Almost time to get up. No use trying to sleep now." Chris deftly divested Vin of his sweats and lowered his head. Daylight was hesitantly peeking in the window.
Vin looked out at the coming dawn. "Now that’s the kind of thinking I like, Larabee." He just managed to get the words out when a well-placed nibble obliterated all conscious thought.
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