ATF Universe
The office was a flurry of activity Friday morning. JD traced the origin of the planted file back to an ATF agent on Team Two. It took some effort since the guy had hidden his tracks well. It wasn’t the first time Team Seven had come up against a fellow agent not the least bit disinclined to try and make them look bad. But this one told Travis he had mostly done it for the money Hall offered him. He was supposed to go public with the file and some other bogus reports with the intention of making Chris look sloppy. Maybe even incompetent. JD had beat him to the punch. Now Travis was heartily congratulating the young tech.Buck slapped him on the back. "Dinner’s on me tonight, kid, nicely done," he said. Nathan and Josiah joined in the accolades. Vin looked on cheerfully.
Travis shook JD’s hand and turned toward Chris’ office. He had a meeting with the mayor, who specifically told him to come alone, but he had business with his Senior Agent first. The he would go demand a full and public apology.
"Go home Chris. You look like shit," he said, sitting across from the team leader.
Chris grunted. "It’s not over because we can prove Hall is an asshole instead of just suspecting it. We need to get those guns readmitted, Ezra’s out on assignment, I have a million things to do, and-"
"Tanner!" Travis yelled, startling Chris.
Vin neared his boss’ office cautiously. He stood in the doorway, glancing quickly at Chris. "Yes sir?"
"You are going to escort Agent Larabee home. Now."
"I am?" "He is?" Their retorts coming out simultaneously.
"Well you or Wilmington or someone. Agent Larabee is to go home and not show his face in this building until Monday morning."
"Monday?" Chris said incredulously. "What about Standish and all the reports I have to do?"
By this time Nathan and Josiah had congregated in the doorway. "Don’t worry, boss," Josiah said, "we’ll keep you up to speed. See you Monday." Nathan was nodding in agreement. "You’re worn out, Chris," he offered.
"But," Chris protested.
Travis shook his head. "You’re going home Chris and you’re going to rest. End of discussion." He ignored Chris’ mumbles about working from home anyway and lousy no-good supposed friends.
Chris left grudgingly fifteen minutes later calling out last minute orders as Vin practically dragged him to the elevator.
Around six that evening, just before he left the office Buck called Chris. Someone had to and Josiah insisted it be Buck. The ever-perceptive profiler knew something was up but politely stayed out of it, only recommending that Buck keep his long years of friendship with Chris in mind.
Vin answered. "Where’s Chris?" Buck asked.
"He’s asleep."
Buck was astonished. Tired or not it was rare for Chris to sleep during the day when he wasn’t sick or hurt.
"How’d you manage that?" Buck asked letting his surprise show.
"How do you think?"
An image of Chris and Vin writhing naked together popped into Buck’s mind. He shook his head vigorously but laughed in spite of himself. "He sure didn’t look like he was in the mood when you left."
"He wasn’t. I convinced him. Sometimes Chris just don’t know what’s good for him."
Buck was quiet for a minute or two. He let out a deep breath, the truth of it hitting him. "You are good for him, aren’t you Junior?"
"I try. Everything alright over there?"
"Yeah," Buck answered. "You ever do anything to hurt him and you’ll answer to me."
"Gotcha. But you didn’t call to tell me that."
"Oh right. Hold off as long as you can then tell Chris Ezra’s got a date."
+ + + + + + +
Vin held off until Monday morning on their way into Denver. Any other time and Chris might have been annoyed. But he’d had such a good weekend. They’d taken the horses out for an early morning ride on Saturday. It was cold and Vin complained but Chris felt the fresh air invade and invigorate his soul. Having his lover with him, cold-blooded and whiney or not, helped. He forgot about the job because he realized his job wasn’t the most important thing in his life anymore.
To make sure Vin got that message he’d made love to him that afternoon with excruciating patience and tenderness. Chris had stayed inside his lover until he was hard again and made love to him some more. He prided himself a little on turning Vin into a quivering mess. He hadn’t thought much about Buck at all, although by Monday morning his old friend seemed more like his old self. Chris knew enough not to question it.
But now it was Tuesday and the job was priority one.
He stared out his office window at the lights below. It was late. If they didn’t get a solid lead soon, Ezra would go to his buy with only an unarmed Nathan backing him up. They knew where the undercover agent and his "bodyguard" were being picked up but not where the actual deal would go down. They could tail them, would try to, but would it be enough?
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his door closing. He turned to see Buck crossing the room.
"Hey pard," Buck said hugging him tightly.
Chris laughed. "Whoa, what’s this for?"
Buck pulled away. He’d wanted to talk with Chris for a couple of days but they were busy working their asses off. He didn’t want to wait anymore.
Buck shrugged, tugging on his thick moustache. "Do you think maybe I’m jealous?" he asked, grinning like the alleged feline with the proverbial bird.
Chris smirked. He remembered what Vin had said. "No, I don’t think you’re jealous. I think you’re concerned and I love you for it. But we can’t keep talking about it here."
"I know. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. I want you to love someone who’s gonna love you back the way Sarah did."
Chris folded his arms over his chest and looked out the window again. "If anyone can love me like Sarah did, it’s Vin." His life was different now, he was so different, but the things he felt with Vin were the same. He recognized them – safety, security, abiding love and infinite patience. Didn’t mean Vin always agreed with him or always let him have his way. But then, Sarah hadn’t either.
Buck nodded. "It’s just that, well, you know …guys like Vin. Monogamy isn’t their strong suit."
Chris raised his brows. "Said the pot to the kettle." He put his hand on Buck’s shoulder. "We’re not talking about ‘guys like Vin’. We’re talking about Vin. You know him. Give him a chance, pard. For me?" Chris jokingly made a pouty face.
Buck smiled and hugged Chris again. "For you, I’ll try." He added quietly, "Only for you."
Chris’ cell phone rang and he pulled away. Buck went for the door, Larabee not far behind.
"JD, I need everything you can find on the Moravian cemetery on High Street. Get me the layout, the name of the caretaker, anything. The rest of you, Conference Room."
+ + + + + + +
Vin swore to himself. Chris was going to pay for this. There was an eerie silence that unsettled the Texan as he sat waiting. He thought back to last night.
Ezra had returned to the office after calling Chris. He’d learned that his new business associates conducted all their business in a large cemetery.
"Given the thoroughness of their pat downs," Ezra shuddered noticeably, "it would be unwise for me to be wired or armed. They’ll take Mr. Jackson’s weapon and check him for listening devices as well." He turned to the sharpshooter. "We must rely on you, Mr. Tanner, to watch our backs."
"No problem, pard," Vin responded. "But how? JD says this place is wide open."
He arched one eyebrow. "Am I gonna be climbing trees again?" he asked his boss.
"Not exactly. No trees close enough for our purposes but there is a mausoleum. We’re going to have to remove the glass from the windows." Chris watched Vin, knowing his lover’s claustrophobia might be an issue. Unfortunately, they didn’t have much choice.
"Mausoleum?" Vin repeated looking uncomfortable.
"Ew!" Buck exclaimed. "You mean where they keep the corpse?" He shuddered.
"In a big stone casket," Chris replied. "You’re not helping, Buck." He turned to Vin. "It’s all we’ve got, partner."
So here Vin sat shivering in a mausoleum next to a big stone casket holding some poor guy’s corpse. Chris and the others were sequestered in the tiny chapel, which was downhill from the cemetery and therefore not an option for the sharpshooter.
The silence was broken by Chris’ voice in Vin’s headset.
"How’re you making out, partner?"
"How do you think? I’m freezing and I’ve got a serious case of the creeps," Vin responded not kidding by half.
Chris chuckled then said, "Head’s up, here they come!"
Vin looked out and soon saw the big black limo approach. Two men got out. Vin recognized them from Josiah’s surveillance photos of Ezra’s previous encounter with them.
"I’ve got a visual on the suspects," Vin told Chris. "Now I see our boys. Fuck!"
"What? Vin what is it?" Chris asked alarmed.
"They’ve got another guy with them. Big as a house, blocking my view." Vin was getting a very bad feeling but he had no way to signal his two friends.
"Say the word, Vin, and we’ll be up there," Chris said more calmly.
"Wait, shit!" Vin fired.
"Something’s wrong. Let’s move." Chris said tersely to the others. Before they were out the door they heard the first shot.
One more shot sounded. Chris was out of the surveillance van before Josiah had pulled it to a full stop. He hit the ground running, heading toward his men. They were all, he noticed immediately and thankfully, still standing.
He heard Vin shout, "ATF! Don’t move a muscle!"
"What the hell happened?" Chris demanded. Nathan took Vin’s handcuffs and secured one suspect. The other two were dead. It was then that Chris noticed how pale Ezra was. "What?" he repeated.
"I very nearly met my maker, Mr. Larabee." Ezra laughed but it was a nervous choked laughter. "Mr. Patterson here," Ezra kicked the dead man, "panicked and fired his gun at me. Thankfully he was not very bright. He still had the safety on." Ezra took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow. Even with the chill in the air he was perspiring. Josiah came up beside him and rested a big hand on his shoulder.
"He removed it," Nathan finished, "and went to fire again. That’s when Vin shot this big dirtball. That distracted them."
Nathan looked to Vin. "Nice shot." Vin nodded.
"Then this genius pulled his gun, too. I tackled him and Vin took out the first guy before he could get Ezra." Nathan shook his head. "I think those were the most intense two minutes of my life!"
"Yes," Ezra said vaguely. "Intense. Dear Lord I need a drink." He turned and walked away.
Vin went after him, handing his gun and his radio to Larabee. "Give us a minute Chris, then we’ll help with the clean-up."
Chris nodded. He called Travis, instructing Josiah to call the coroner while he waited for his boss to pick up. The others searched the limo for the guns Ezra was supposed to buy. He glanced around and saw his undercover agent sitting on a headstone. Vin stood next him but Chris couldn’t tell if they were talking. It was strange to see Ezra out of sorts. Travis’ voice in his hear brought his attention back to the job.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra returned to the office with the others and completed his paperwork. He made a few jokes about the whole situation, trying his best to demonstrate that he’d recovered his equilibrium. But he was off kilter. Vin could see it, they all could. He left just after six, declining Buck’s invitation for a cocktail. The sharpshooter watched him go, cool on the outside but a little frazzled on the inside. Or so Vin suspected. He finished his own reports over an hour later and told Chris he was off to check on Ezra.
"Good luck," was all Chris said.
Vin buzzed Ezra’s apartment. The buzzer was connected to Ezra’s phone and Vin waited patiently for the man to pick up. He did.
"Go away whoever you are."
Vin spoke into his end. "I drove all the way over here, Ezra. Least you can do is invite me up for a drink," he said airily.
"There’s a bar on the corner. Good night, Mr. Tanner." Ezra sounded tense.
"Ez, I ain’t leaving." Could one of his friends not be so damn mule-headed? Was that so much to ask? He heard the buzzer.
Ezra opened his door and said, "I’m fine. Go home." He was clad in an emerald green silk robe, his hair wet and his skin flushed.
Vin eased past him. "Thanks, Ez, think I will come in and sit for a spell."
Standish closed the door and leaned against it. "Well, what can I get you to drink? I actually have beer, I believe."
"Oh no thanks," Vin replied. "Just came by to see how you’re doing."
Ezra pursed his lips and shook his head. He headed for the living room. "I certainly hope you don’t object to my indulging a little."
"Indulge away, pard," Vin said, smiling and following Ezra into the other room.
Ezra picked up his wineglass. An open bottle of Chardonnay was on the coffee table. "Now what can I do for you?"
Vin shrugged. "Ain’t everyday you get a gun pointed in your face."
"No, mercifully it isn’t. But I assure you I am fine." As usual, Ezra’s expression was unreadable. But Vin could tell something was going on inside his head.
"I know you’re fine, Ez, thought maybe you might want someone to talk to." He shrugged again. "Or something." Vin felt uncomfortable but he didn’t know why.
"You want to help me out, do you? Be a friend, comfort me in my distress?" There was an edge to Ezra’s voice, a hard gleam in his eyes.
"Yeah, I guess." Vin eyed his friend curiously. He seemed to be angry. As much as Ezra always asserted his independence Vin still found it strange that a gesture of friendship would piss him off.
Ezra put his glass down. He stared back at Vin, appraising him with one eyebrow arched. The sharpshooter was beginning to feel like a prize heifer when Ezra finally spoke.
"You want to help me, Vin?" his tone so much softer he was practically purring. He opened his robe and let it slip from his shoulders. "Then take off your clothes."
Vin was shocked by the command. He felt the color rise to his cheeks. Not knowing where to look he stared at the floor, stuffing his hands into the back pockets of his jeans.
"Mr. Larabee need never know, I assure you," Ezra said in a voice as smooth as the silk lying at his feet.
Vin’s eyes shot to Ezra’s face.
"Don’t be so surprised, Mr. Tanner. It’s my job to read people." Ezra elegantly touched his exposed chest. "I usually do it a lot better than I did it today, I might add." He licked his lips, heat and desire emanating from his lean frame.
Vin flushed more deeply. "Ez, I-," he started to say.
Ezra moved quickly, taking the younger man in his arms. "I am not asking you to marry me, Vin," he said softly. "I’m only asking for a little of what I believe Mr. Wilmington would call, ‘hot monkey sex’."
Vin laughed. "Yeah, that’s what Buck-,"
He didn’t get to finish. Ezra sealed his mouth over Vin’s cutting off all further conversation. It took Vin more than a second to realize he was kissing Ezra back. Only when he felt Ezra’s arousal press against him did he pull away.
Vin ran his hand through his hair. "I can’t. I’m sorry." He didn’t know what else to say.
Ezra glowered. "Does the collar ever chafe, Vin?" he asked, the edge returning to his voice. Ezra’s emotions were all over the place and even he didn’t understand his sudden anger.
"Ain’t no collar on me," Vin said defensively.
"Then what?" Ezra asked, his tone still hard. He twirled his fingers around the loose strands of hair at Vin’s neck. The sharpshooter swallowed but said nothing.
"Let me guess. You love him?" Ezra chose to sound patronizing but he was shocked. He felt an unexpected surge of disappointment too but stubbornly refused to let that show. The normally poker-faced agent made a conscious effort to get his feelings under control.
"Reckon I do. Reckon I don’t want to be with nobody else." Vin reflexively pointed his chin up in defiance as he spoke. He watched as Ezra’s features softened a little. He was glad. He wanted Ezra to understand.
So he added, "Six months ago I’d have probably said yes. Hell, six days ago, maybe. I don’t know. I just know that Chris means the world to me and I don’t want to screw it up."
"He’d never know," Ezra said gently.
"Yeah, but I would." Vin’s tone was apologetic. He was sorry. He liked Ezra a lot. But not enough to ever jeopardize his relationship with Chris.
Ezra backed off. He bent over to pick up his robe. Vin tried not to stare at his muscular thighs and firm ass. He closed his eyes and cursed silently.
"Six months," Ezra said. "Hmm, normally I have such impeccable timing."
Vin opened his eyes and smiled. Ezra looked and sounded much more like his usual self.
"Please Mr. Tanner, partake of some spirits and afford me the opportunity to recapture at least a shred of my dignity."
"Spirits sound good," Vin responded. "And Ez, your dignity’s fine."
+ + + + + + +
Chris checked his watch wondering if Vin was still at Ezra’s. He decided against calling him. Ezra was likely to be rankled enough from Vin’s visit. If Chris called the Texan and he was there it would only look like Chris was checking up on Ezra, too. He could always go to Vin’s and wait for him if he wasn’t home yet. Or he could head out to the ranch. The one thing he refused to do was sleep on his couch again. Chris gave the offending object a dirty look, a phantom pain shooting down his back.
Chris’ thoughts were interrupted by a whoosh of air accompanying the opening of the office door. He looked up to see Vin enter. The sharpshooter came and stood by Chris’ desk. Chris sensed something amiss.
"Ezra ok?" he asked.
"Think so."
Chris tilted his head. "You ok?"
"Yep," Vin replied. "Want you to come home with me. Or I’ll go home with you. Whichever. Want to sleep with you tonight."Chris glanced at the door, a panicked expression on his face. He expected Buck to bring up personal matters at work, he had zero discretion, but he couldn’t believe Vin just did.
"It’s almost midnight, Chris, ain’t nobody around to hear me." Vin sat down and waited.
"Are you sure you’re ok? Chris eyed his lover suspiciously.
"I’m fine. You coming home or what?" Vin sounded impatient. That was odd for Vin and only made Chris more skeptical.
He just shook his head. "Let’s go."
+ + + + + + +
Chris stood at the counter in Vin’s kitchen emptying his pockets and removing the clip from his gun. Vin came up behind him and slipped his arms around Chris’ waist. Chris could tell he was already naked.
"Come on, cowboy, I’m waitin’ on ya." Vin bit Chris’ earlobe while rubbing his groin against his lover’s ass.
Chris turned in Vin’s arms. Vin captured his lips in a hungry demanding kiss. The younger man pushed his fingers into Chris’ hair and held his head in place. He used his lips and tongue to force Chris’ mouth as open as possible, wanting to taste every inch of him. Vin was already as hard as a rock. He moved one hand to the blonde’s ass and hugged tightly, letting Chris feel his need.
Chris pulled away panting. "Jesus, Tanner, you’re gonna kill me," he rasped.
"Hope not," Vin said, his eyes twinkling. "Think I’m starting to like ya. Wanna keep ya around for a while."
Chris laughed and allowed himself to be pulled into the bedroom. Vin kneeled on the bed and kissed him again. The heat and intensity were palpable. The sharpshooter’s mouth moved to his jaw and neck, licking and sucking until his lips met fabric. Vin growled and began unbuttoning Chris’ shirt. Chris watched his progress, running his fingers through Vin’s hair.
Stripped of his dress shirt, Chris helped Vin remove his T-shirt. With Chris’ arms still in the air, Vin snagged a small taste of the sensitive skin at the juncture of his neck and shoulders. He ground the tender skin hard between his front teeth.
"Ow!" Chris yelped. Vin smothered any further protest with his mouth. He sucked on Chris’ tongue, digging his nails into Chris’ back. The older man pulled away and pressed his lips to Vin’s neck, his hand stroking Vin’s leaking erection. Vin bent his head, latching onto a nipple and biting down. Before Chris could complain he laved the little bump with his tongue and blew a warm breath across it. Chris groaned, his own erection straining against his pants. Vin ran his hands down Chris’ sides and stopped.
"What are these still doing here?" he asked, tugging on Chris’ trousers. "Get rid of ‘em."
Obediently Chris undid his pants and slid them off his hips. Vin pounced, knocking him off his feet. He hit the floor with a thud, his lover landing atop him.
"Jesus, Vin, you are trying to kill me!"
"Sorry, can’t wait. Want you bad." Vin’s last words were muffled by Chris’ cock as he mouthed the swollen head.
Chris grunted. Vin ran his tongue along his lover’s shaft, fondling his balls roughly. Chris didn’t know what to make of it. It wasn’t unusual for Vin to be aggressive during lovemaking but this was something else entirely.
Just when he decided to lay back and enjoy it Vin was off. The draft on his moistened cock sent a shiver down his spine. Chris sat up, intending to finish removing his pants and shoes. Maybe get up on the bed. Vin had other ideas. He’d grabbed the lube from the nightstand and straddled Chris’ legs. By the time the blonde’s brain registered the pleasure of Vin’s hand on his penis it was gone. He opened his eyes as his lover settled on him.
"Giddyup, cowboy," Vin said, his voice raw. They moaned in unison as Vin sank all the way onto Chris’ cock. He kept his eyes open watching Chris as he rode him hard and fast.
Chris held Vin’s hips and tried to read his expression. Vin was rapt, eyes dark and mouth open slightly but Chris couldn’t tell what his lover was thinking, beyond the obvious. Then he saw only stars, closing his eyes when he came. He hadn’t meant to shoot his load so soon but Vin didn’t seem to mind. He kept rocking on Chris’ penis, running his hands along the older man’s face, neck and shoulders. Chris wrapped his hand around Vin’s cock and pumped it furiously. The sharpshooter threw his head back and cried out his lover’s name.
Chris watched the sweat run down his lover’s taught throat as he came. He snaked his arms around Vin’s narrow waist, Vin’s head coming to rest on his shoulder. As they cooled they both felt the chill. Vin kneeled up, grimacing when his body separated from Chris’. Silently he removed the rest of Chris’ clothes then climbed into bed. Chris’ head was spinning from the whirlwind he’d just experienced. It seemed only a minute ago they were coming through the front door. Now Vin was on the bed and he was still on the floor trying to catch his breath.
Chris stood and took in the sight of his lover stretched out on the bed. Vin was breathing harshly as well. He looked up at Chris and smiled. The sex had been pretty wild but Vin was serene now, holding out his hand, a different kind of desire coloring his face. He wriggled his fingers, beckoning. If he hadn’t known it before Chris realized in that moment that Vin was his. And he was Vin’s. He saw his future in those tranquil blue eyes where a storm had just raged and he knew he was finally ready to go there.
Chris took Vin’s hand and climbed in bed. He covered Vin with his body, kissing him. No urgency this time. Just a wordless demonstration of what they held in their hearts.
He moved onto his side, head propped on his hand, and began rubbing his lover’s belly gently.
Vin’s eyes were closed, Chris’ soft touch almost lulling him to sleep. Almost.
"Damn, Chris, you’re like a dog with a bone." He tried to sound angry but he was so far from it.
"What? I didn’t say a word." Chris feigned as much innocence as he was capable.
Vin opened one eye, then the other. "I just didn’t want to be alone tonight, you mind?"
"No, I don’t mind," Chris said. "I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t want to be alone every night. Long as it was me you did want to be with."
The sharpshooter grinned. "Gettin’ possessive on me, Larabee?" He moved his hand down to cover Chris’, twining their fingers.
"A little, I guess. If we’re gonna do this, Vin, we should do it right. Don’t you agree?"
"Hmm, I don’t know. Might want to think on it," Vin said in an oh-so-very serious voice. He waited all of two seconds and said, "Ok, I’m in." He leaned his head up and Chris met him on the way. Slow and easy, their lips joined in the sweetest kiss.
Vin let go of Chris’ hand and placed it on his shoulder, pushing lightly. He saw the hickey he’d given Chris and figured he was going to have to pay for that. The thought made his cock twitch but he only grabbed the blankets and laid down, his head pillowed on Chris’ chest. Vin felt Chris’ strong arm close around him and he closed his eyes again.
"Night, cowboy."
Chris kissed the top of his head. "Night, Vin."
This was exactly where Vin wanted to be. He had definitely made the right decision.
Finis
Next story: Prelude
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