Disclaimers: Mag7 does not belong to me. This is for fun.
Notes: Thanks to Mog for creating the ATF universe.
Summary: Chris spills a secret and almost loses Vin.
Pairing: Vin and Chris
Warning: Language, graphic m/m sex, violence.
There was utter silence as ATF Team 7’s sharpshooter Vin Tanner swung his fist and hit his boss Chris Larabee. The blond staggered back and fell landing on his butt next to chair containing his old friend Buck Wilmington.The men watched as Tanner cast them all a glare that would put Larabee’s infamous glare to shame. Tanner then stalked off the deck refusing to slow down as Josiah said his name.
Josiah hurried around the side of Chris’s ranch house in pursuit of his friend.
Barely making it to the jeep before Vin could drive off, Josiah put his hands on the door.
Vin stopped, not willing to take a chance on hurting his teammate and friend.
Josiah watched as Vin turned his head, staring out the passenger window, but not before he saw tears filling the blue eyes.
“It’ll turn out okay, Vin. This will blow over and Chris will come to his senses.”
Vin turned his head around and hissed, “How the fuck do you figure that, Josiah. You guys knew I was gay, but Team 5 didn’t. At least, they didn’t before Larabee opened his big mouth. Now it’ll be all over the building Monday morning. Larabee just fucked me over. You know what’s so funny, I wonder which time he fucked me he enjoyed the most. When he did it last night with his body or just now when he used words. Why don’t you ask him that question?”
Josiah jumped back and Vin peeled out of the driveway.
Nathan and Ez rushed up and had heard what Vin had said just before he left.
“So, Chris finally took Vin to bed,” Ez said. The whole team had wondered when the blond was finally going to get off his ass and follow through with his poorly hidden feelings for his best friend.
“Looks like it, and it looks like the boss is now regretting it,” Nathan commented shaking his head.
“Well, we all know that Vin would never make the first move, so therefore Chris did. If he is regretting it now, then he should have talked with Vin in private about it, instead of speaking up in front of a team of men who will love to hound Vin about being gay,” Josiah said totally disgusted with his team leader.
“True, Jim will never keep this a secret. Vin is in for one rough ride,” Nathan said thinking of Team 5’s leader.
Jim Cavanaugh was an excellent leader, but he was a loud mouth and he had made it plain that he didn’t like gays in the ATF. It wasn’t a place for the dainty things he had been heard to say. It was also a fact that Jim’s oldest son was gay and the man had never gotten over the revelation. Only his son getting beaten half to death made Cavanaugh take the young man back into his life. The anger still festered though, and Cavanaugh made no bones about the fact that despite his son, he still had little use for gays.
“We shall have to be vigilant in watching Vin’s back,” Ez commented.
The three men strolled back around the ranch house to where the rest of the men were.
Chris was now sitting in a chair looking sick to his stomach, just now realizing the enormity of what he had done.
Buck was furious and looked about ready to beat the crap out of someone. JD hung on to his teammate's arm trying to calm him down.
Buck couldn’t decide whom to beat up first; his old friend or Cavanaugh, who hadn’t stopped laughing at the revelation that Vin was gay.
Cavanaugh finally stopped laughing, especially since Buck had taken a step towards him intent on doing bodily harm to the man.
“I can’t believe it. We had a fag in our midst for the last two years. Gotta give Tanner credit . He hid it well.”
“Vin is not a fag,” JD said hotly, his own temper beginning to snap.
“Sure he is son. I do find it admirable that you guys kept him on your team and treated him like he was normal. That was real nice of you,” Cavanaugh said.
“Vin Tanner is very normal and he is a decent, kind man,” Josiah said, stomping up to the group.
Cavanaugh just smiled thinking poor Team 7; their nasty little secret was out.
Len Abrams, Team 5’s sharpshooter was thrilled. He had hated Tanner from day one. Tanner got all the glory and the bastard pretended like he didn’t care, didn’t want the awards and the adulation. Bullshit, every man wanted that and now that Tanner’s secret was out it would be Abrams time to shine.
Ezra hung back and watched Team 5 closely. Other than Cavanaugh and Abrams the only other man who might give Vin a hard time was Milt Doyle. Doyle came from money. His family owned a shipyard and several factories on the Alabama coast. Doyle had always disliked Vin mainly because Vin was quiet, yet everyone seemed to like him. Doyle was so full of himself that people generally hated him. Every now and then Vin would say something to let Doyle know that he wasn’t as great as he thought he was and when that Tanner sarcasm came out people were amused. It infuriated Doyle to be made fun of. Now Doyle thought it looked like it was time for Tanner to pay.
The other three members of Team 5 all liked Vin, and this revelation made no difference to them. If a man did a good job that was all they cared about. The way Nick, Brian and Tony figured Tanner had saved their lives so many times who gave a shit if he liked men better than women?
“Man oh man, come Monday do we have some juicy gossip to pass around,” Abrams crowed his life looking so much brighter.
“I would suggest that you be very careful what you say about our teammate,” Buck hissed.
Doyle just smiled as Team 5 got to their feet.
“Oh we’ll be careful, only the truth will be told,” he said.
“Yeah, Vin Tanner, sharpshooter extraordinaire is a cock sucking faggot,” Abrams said.
Nathan who had been quiet up to that point suddenly jumped forward and planted his fist in the foul-mouthed bastard's face, sending him falling backwards into the pool.
Nick helped his teammate out of the pool while, Brian and Tony held the rest of their team back.
As it looked like it might develop into a free for all, Chris stood up. He had listened to all the talk and knew the hell that he had plunged his team into. The blond also knew that Vin take the brunt of the attack.
“I know it’s too late to take back what I said and I should have kept quiet. Vin is a great ATF agent and the best sharpshooter in the country. Jim, he has saved your life countless times, the same goes for the rest of you. A person’s private life is just that, private. I would appreciate it if this was not spread around,” Chris said, his green eyes filled with remorse, anger and self-hatred.
Doyle just shook his head.
“Don’t think I can keep this little tidbit to myself. Besides it shouldn’t surprise anyone, I always knew Tanner was a low life piece of scum this just proves it.”
This time as Doyle and Abrams moved to clash with Nathan, and Buck, Chris and Cavanaugh both stepped in between their teams.
Cavanaugh had stopped laughing and was doing a lot of heavy-duty thinking. Maybe this could work in his favor, besides Doyle’s comment pissed him off. Larabee was right; Tanner had saved his life several times.
If he kept Tanner’s little secret Larabee would be beholden to him and that was a good thing. Larabee had no desire to climb the corporate ladder; he had turned down several promotions. Cavanaugh wanted to climb the ladder and if he could do this for the blond ATF leader then that would be an IOU in his pocket for later use.
“Doyle, chill out. I do have to admit that if you think all fags are low life pieces of scum then you must think that of my son,” Cavanaugh said his dark eyes scanning his team.
Doyle backtracked quickly all the while seething that Tanner wasn’t even here and he was winning the battle.
“No, sir not at all. But Tanner…” his voice trailed off as he realized he should just shut up or make it worse.
Abrams swallowed and bit his tongue. Well it looked like Cavanaugh was going to play the secret game but he wasn’t going to. Later he would get with Doyle and the two of them would decide on how to bring Tanner down..permanently.
Cavanaugh turned to Chris and held out his hand.
“Okay, Chris. We will keep Tanner’s secret, but don’t expect us to treat him like one of the guys when he isn’t. You owe me one.”
With those last words Team 5 left. It was apparent that Abrams and Doyle still planned on stirring up trouble from the glares they sent Team 7.
After they heard the cars carrying the other team go down the driveway, Buck turned on his friend.
“How in the fuck could you do that to Vin? Do you know what you have done?” Buck yelled.
“Yes, Mr. Larabee do you have any idea how Vin feels?” Ezra hissed totally pissed at his boss.
Chris lost it. He was upset about what he had done, what he feared he had thrown away and what he had lost. Vin would never forgive him and he couldn’t blame his best frie…no there was no way Vin would consider him a friend, let alone a best friend.
”Yes I fucking know how Vin feels. Vin’s skin is so soft, his hair made of silk and you know something else, he tastes wonderful.”
Looking around at his stunned team Chris all but screamed, “Do you know why I know that? Because I finally made my move last night, I made love to him. I loved it, then I wake up and I….fuck it. I’m done, party over.”
Chris stalked into the house and slammed the door behind him locking it.
There was silence then Buck got a look on his face that did not bode well for the blond.
“Okay, here’s what we are going to do. Josiah, you and Ez go after Vin. Get him to talk; I’m afraid he is going to run after this whole fiasco. JD, Nathan and I are going to corner the lion in his den. Then let's meet back at my place at 5:00.”
As Josiah and Ezra drove off, the other three men headed to the door. Buck found the key Chris kept hidden and they all went into the house.
The blond was in the family room nursing a drink, the bottle of Jack Daniels sitting on the coffee table. It was apparent that Chris was planning on drinking himself into oblivion.
“What the fuck is going on, Chris? Do you realize what you have just done to Junior?” Buck growled looking like he would love to plant his fist right in his old friends face.
“This doesn’t concern you, Buck. Let's just say I made a mistake last night and so did Vin,” Chris snapped taking a long drink.
“What do you call outing your best friend to another team called, another mistake? They are going to make Vin’s life hell on earth,” Nathan said, his dark eyes filled with worry and fear for his young friend. He knew all about prejudice and what could happen.
“Cavanaugh won’t do a damn thing and he’ll keep his boys in line,” Larabee said refusing to look his men in the face.
“Abrams and Doyle hate Vin, you think they’re going to keep this quiet?!”
Chris suddenly jumped up and yelled, “I told them that I should never have opened my mouth. I said that Vin was the best sharpshooter in the ATF and his private life was his own. What the fuck else did you want me to tell them?”
“How about I know Vin is gay because I took him to bed last night and we made love.”
The words barely left Buck’s mouth before Chris lunged at him. Buck easily sidestepped the enraged blond.
Anger and whisky slowed the blond down, as Nathan and JD tossed their leader back on the sofa.
“I never said we made love,” Chris hissed knowing he was lying; he had said it and the truth of the statement nearly overwhelmed him. He was in love with his best friend.
“You said it, stud. Even if you hadn't said it I would've known because you had that just been loved to death look and the only one around was Vin.”
“Besides Chris, you look at Vin when you don’t even realize it,” JD piped in.
“God, Buck. I have so fucked everything up.”
Buck motioned for JD and Nathan to leave the room.
“What happened last night, Chris?”
Larabee shut his eyes and leaned his head back on the sofa. Sighing deeply he told his old friend the whole story.
+ + + + + + +
Vin had followed him home last night to help get ready for the BBQ today. Both men had a couple of beers nothing more than that. Chris had been walking down the hall to his bedroom when Vin had left the bathroom, stark naked. Blushing furiously, Vin had said he had left his towel in the guest bedroom. Things moved fast from then on. Chris had shoved Vin up against the wall and literally devoured his friend’s mouth. The two men had been dancing around each other for months, neither one willing to take the first step. Now it looked it like the first step was being taken big time.
Here Chris paused to take a sip of his drink before taking up the story.
Chris had tumbled Vin into the guest room and onto the bed. Both men were frantic for more. Chris barely prepared the younger man before he buried his hard cock inside.
Here Chris looked up, anguish in the green eyes.
“I swear Buck I never meant to go that hard and fast.”
“Did Vin fight?” Buck asked.
“No, he was hissing at me to go harder and faster.”
“Then I would say that he wanted it just as bad as you. So if you’re thinking you assaulted him, get that out of your head.”
“I guess you’re right, I just never was that hot or out of control before.”
After both men had found their release and collapsed on the bed Vin had innocently asked if they were going to sleep in that bedroom or the master bedroom.
Chris had just tugged the covers up and told the younger man he was too tired to move.
“That was a lie. I realized in that second what I had done. I had for the first time since Sarah died had sex in our house. I felt like I had betrayed her and I couldn’t take another person into our bedroom and our bed. It would have made it even worse.”
“I’m sure that Vin would understand that,” Buck replied knowing that Vin would never hold such a sentiment against the man he loved.
“He probably would have if I hadn’t been so hateful the next day. I took all my feelings out on him.”
The story continued.
“This morning I was up first and went into the bathroom to take a shower, I was regretting the night before, and I felt so guilty. Like I said, I felt like I had betrayed Sarah and I had hurt Vin. Then when I came out of the shower, Vin was waiting. He had taken a shower in other bathroom. He smiled that crooked little smile he had and walked towards me. I knew what he wanted and God help me I wanted it to, but I just couldn’t do it. This was our bedroom, Sarah’s and mine. I told him that last night was mistake and he needed to go back to his own bedroom and get ready for the day. I was sorry and the whole thing was my fault. Vin got so angry, but he was hurt too. He just looked at me with those big blue eyes and said ‘I guess I’m good enough to fuck in the spare bedroom so you can get off, but I’m not good enough to fuck in your bedroom. Screw you, Larabee’ then he turned and left. Until you guys got here it was pretty strained. We were polite to each other and that was about it.”
Finishing his story, Chris said, “I don’t know why I told Team 5 he was gay. Maybe to make him leave, you know get rid of the temptation, show him I’m not what he needs or wants. Shit, Buck, I am so fucking confused right now.”
Buck put his arm around the blond’s shoulders and wondered how the hell this mess was going to be fixed.
The three men stayed at the ranch until late that afternoon. Chris assured them he would not drink anymore and he would see them the next day at the office.
The five men arrived at Buck’s place right on time.
Josiah and Ez reported that they got the same story from Vin. The young man was hurting from the betrayal by his best friend and worried about what was going to happen at work. He was relieved when Ez assured him that they would back him all the way.
It was decided to take it one day at a time and hopefully the two men would get back together if not as lovers then friends. As far as Team 5 was concerned they would be watched very closely for any attacks verbally or physically against their sharpshooter.
The following week was not a pleasant one for Team 7. Vin and Chris only spoke to each other as it pertained to work. Chris confided to Buck that every time he tried to talk to the younger man so he could apologize Vin just told him to forget it. The whole thing didn’t mean anything anyway. It was just two men getting their rocks off.
That comment hurt Chris more than he thought possible, but he knew that he deserved it. Vin had thrown his shields back up to protect himself from any hurt and became very quiet.
The team was surprised by the lack of comments concerning the sharpshooter. Sure enough while Cavanaugh had kept his mouth shut, he had been unable to keep Abrams and Doyle from spreading the word about Tanner.
However they had not realized the depth of respect that Tanner had amongst the rest of the ATF teams. The young man had saved practically every man's life at least once. While some of the men did not like the gay lifestyle they figured that what you did in your own home and on your own time was your business. Besides, what if Tanner liked men, he was still the guy they wanted protecting their backs. It didn’t hurt that Vin was a nice guy willing to help anyone if they just asked him.
This just served to enrage Abrams and Doyle more. The two men decided that they were the only ones who had the decency to do something about this sexual pervert in their midst.
The weekend following Chris’s revelation, Team 7 met at Inez’s for a couple of beers. The rift between Larabee and his second in command was very apparent as Vin chose to sit between Buck and Josiah, not by the blond.
No one commented on it, but everyone saw the tension between the two men. The consensus between the rest of Team 7 was that Chris was in the wrong and it would take more than a simple apology to make it up to the longhaired sharpshooter. Chris had betrayed his best friend. Vin did not trust many people, but he had trusted the blond and Chris had then shit on that trust. Larabee had turned a night of pleasure and love into something sordid and disgusting. An encounter that Vin had yearned for but would never have instigated on his own as the friendship he had with the blond was so precious he didn’t want to lose it.
Vin was deeply hurt. It felt like Larabee had ripped his heart out and stomped on it. Vin had never thought to replace Sarah and Adam in Chris’s heart, but had hoped to find his own little place. Obviously Chris had no intention of allowing anyone into his heart just like he never had any intention of allowing anyone into his bed. So Vin pulled back and decided that he had made the mistake of letting people get too close to him. Now he would just be one of the guys, forget having anything more, the hurt just wasn’t worth it.
After staying an hour with his friends, Vin excused himself saying he had plans for the weekend and needed to get some sleep.
As Vin reached his jeep he was hit from behind, falling to the ground. Disoriented from the blow to the back of the head, he was unable to protect himself from the kicks that landed on his ribs and stomach.
Just then he heard a shout and his attackers took off, but not before one of the men gave him one last kick to the ribs as he hissed in a slow drawl, “Damn faggots, you should be dead.”
Vin just lay still, his body throbbing in pain. Gentle hands were on him turning him over and gathering him up into strong arms. For just an instant he had hope that it was Chris who held him, but his hopes were dashed in the next second.
“Easy, Vin. I gotcha,” came Josiah's low soothing voice.
Then Nathan was there checking him over.
Vin finally got his breath back and insisted on getting into his jeep. Josiah complied with his request but put him in on the passenger side.
Vin flashed him a dirty look, but the big man just ignored him. Nathan checked his young friend over.
“I’d like you to go to the hospital and have those ribs checked out, Vin,” Nathan said, already knowing the response he was going to get.
“I’m fine, Nathan. I’ve had broken ribs before and I know there is nothing they can do for them. Besides I don’t think they are broken,” Vin insisted.
“I am so glad to hear your diagnosis, Dr. Tanner,” Nathan said sarcastically.
Vin just glowered at his friend, but his heels were dug in, no way was he going to the hospital.
“Okay, but I am going to take you home and check you out good. Josiah go back inside and tell the others what happened,” Nathan ordered.
“Tell them not to come over. I don’t feel like having an apartment full of men,” Vin said.
As Josiah started to walk away he said, “Do you have any idea who attacked you?”
Vin replied, “Oh yeah, a good idea. That southern drawl I’d remember anywhere. It was Doyle and the other one was probably Abrams. But I got no proof and I can’t visually ID them.”
Josiah got a grim look on his face, a look that scared most sane men.
“That’s okay. We’ll have a little talk with the two of them.”
“No Josiah, it will just make them worse. Let it go. I was expecting this anyway. Not like this is the first time it has happened.”
Vin then laid his head back on the car seat missing the look that passed between his two friends.
Nathan put the seat belt around his friend and took him to his apartment.
Josiah meanwhile told the other five men what had happened and Vin’s response to the attack.
Buck, JD and Ez were ready and willing to go after Abrams and Doyle. Chris just sat quietly his face pale.
The blond processed what he had just been told. Vin had been attacked because of his sexual preference. A preference that no one had known about except Team 7 until he had opened his big mouth. Vin was now hurting because of him and Tanner didn’t want anyone at the apartment right now except Nathan. Chris was well aware of the fact that it should be him taking care of the young man, but he had lost that right when he had disclosed his friend’s secret.
“Calm down, Buck. Vin’s right, he can’t identify them,” Josiah soothed although if he was truthful he wanted to rip the two men apart with his bare hands.
“Maybe so, Josiah, but we can make life very difficult for them,” Chris said the green eyes glinting.
“Does that mean you have your shit together?” Buck asked turning to glare at his old friend.
“Yes, Buck, I finally have my shit together.”
“About time you got your thoughts running in the right direction,” Ez said.
“What are we going to do about Abrams and Doyle?” JD asked.
The five men sat back down and formulated their attack, which would start on Monday.
When they were finished talking, Chris called Nathan’s cell phone to check on Vin. After being told that the sharpshooter was asleep and that Nathan was going to spend the night to keep an eye on him, the five men headed home.
Vin arrived at work on Monday, stiff and sore, but his heart was lighter. His six teammates had all called him to make sure he was doing fine, even Larabee had called. While having his boss and one time lover call him felt nice there was no way he was letting the blond get that close to him for a long time. It just hurt too damn much when he was rejected.
Before the six men could put their plan into motion to take down Abrams and Doyle both teams were called in for a sting on a major gunrunner.
Vin assured his team that he was healthy enough to do his job. Nathan agreed with him, so Vin found himself perched up on the roof of a nearby building close to the warehouse where the sting was going down.
The sting went down perfectly.
As Vin was coming down the fire escape on the side of the building he saw Cavanaugh was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. Chris had said that he had talked to Cavanaugh about the attack so Vin figured that the man wanted to talk to him and get his opinion of the matter.
Out of the corner of his eye Vin saw a shooter. Moving quickly he dove on Cavanaugh covering him with his body as he shot the man.
As Vin was standing up another man appeared and held his gun on Vin and Cavanaugh.
“Bye, bye pigs,” the man hissed.
Over the man's shoulder, the two ATF agents saw Abrams, but the man wasn’t even raising his gun to protect the two vulnerable agents.
As Cavanaugh scrambled for his gun, Vin raised his knowing that he was going to be too late and they would both die.
A shot rang out and the gunman fell to the ground dead. Buck stepped out and approached. Abrams knew he was now dead meat. He had not attempted to save the two men and would be brought up on charges.
With nothing to lose he raised his own gun ready to take Tanner down. Another shot rang out and Vin looked down. Cavanaugh had pulled his gun and shot his own man in the shoulder.
Abrams screamed and dropped his gun as he fell to the ground. JD ran over and picked up his gun.
It was a very hectic hour before everything calmed down.
+ + + + + + +
Team 7 and Team 5 met over drinks at Inez’s. Doyle was very quiet; he was shocked that Abrams had tried to kill Tanner and their leader. He hated Tanner but didn’t want the guy dead.
As the men had sat down at the table Chris had maneuvered it so he was sitting next to Vin. If the sharpshooter noticed it he didn’t let on.
Cavanaugh looked over at Vin and quietly yet firmly said, “I want to thank you again Vin for saving my life. I want to apologize to you for all the shit you’ve had to take the last several days due to the rumor mill, rumors started by my own men. Isn’t that right, Doyle?”
Doyle jerked his head up, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Staring around the table he noticed for the first time that he was sitting between Josiah and Buck. He had been so caught up in what had happened and trying to figure out how to save his ass that he didn’t pay attention to who was sitting next to him.
Josiah smiled a smile that made shivers go down everyone’s spine.
“Yeah, Doyle. Just what do you know about the rumors?” Josiah moved a little closer to the silent man and put his arm on the back of Doyle’s chair.
Doyle swallowed nervously. He knew how strong Josiah Sanchez was, hell he had watched the guy lift weights and had been amazed at the massive muscles rippling across the chest and arms.
“And you know what Doyle some low life attacked Vin outside Inez’s the other night. Now Vin here didn’t see his attackers but he said the voice sounded like your drawl. What do you think of that?” Buck added sliding his chair over and getting into Doyle’s space.
By now Doyle was sweating and wishing he was the one in jail and Abrams was the one sitting here like a rabbit caught between two wild wolves. Hell it was a table of wild wolves; even his own team was glaring at him.
Finally he jumped up, shoving his chair back so hard that it fell over.
Planting his hands flat on the table he glared at Tanner, the hatred shooting daggers out of his eyes.
“Fine, yes, I helped Abrams that night to beat up on Tanner. He deserved it and still does. However I had nothing to do with trying to kill the bastard and certainly not killing you Jim. Tanner is a blight on the reputation of the ATF. He should be…”
Here Doyle’s venomous spiel was cut short as Josiah’s massive arm went around his neck and applied enough pressure to cut off his air.
The men sat passively at the table watching as Doyle began to gasp for breath.
Ez piped up, “I bet that it will take at least 60 seconds for Doyle to pass out from lack of oxygen.”
Nathan chuckled, “I’ll take that bet, Ez. I think he is so full of hot air it will be at least 90 seconds.”
“No, Doyle is a chicken shit, I give him 30 seconds,” Tony replied enjoying watching his teammate gasp for breath.
Chris actually laughed out loud but didn’t stop Josiah from squeezing the life out of the little prick.
Cavanaugh waited then stood up.
“Okay, Josiah, we got the confession we wanted. Let him go.”
Josiah sighed deeply but let go.
The men watched impassively as Doyle dropped to the floor gasping for breath as he clutched his throat.
Just then two uniformed cops appeared and yanked him off the floor.
To Doyle’s shock they read him his Miranda rights and informed him that he was being arrested for the attack on Vin Tanner.
Doyle was then yanked out of the bar.
“You know he will never make it to trial,” Vin said quietly. He had to admit he had enjoyed watching Doyle squirm, but he was realistic. Doyle was rich and would get out of it.
“Why not, Vin. He attacked you?” JD said his world still consisting of right and wrong and nothing in between.
“Because JD, Doyle has money and can hire a fancy lawyer. They’ll bring out the fact that I like men and case closed. Doyle will walk,” Vin said softly.
“That…that’s just not right,” JD said, incensed that his friend would not get justice.
“No, it’s not JD. But I guarantee you he won’t work for the ATF again,” Cavanaugh said.
Jim Cavanaugh had been appalled when he realized the depth of hatred that his two men had for homosexuals. While he was still bitter that his son was gay, he certainly didn’t hold with violence or making that person’s life hell.
Tanner was a decent man and had saved his life even knowing that he didn’t care for the gay lifestyle. That was a man he was thankful was on his side.
“We can’t just let him walk, Junior,” Buck said not liking the look of defeat that was on his friends face.
“I know that, let the whole thing run its course, but I guarantee you it will never come to trial.”
Chris had to silently admit that his friend was right; it would never come to trial. Doyle would cut a deal and while he would no longer work for the ATF he had enough money that it didn’t matter.
For the next hour the men continued to talk until one by one they left to go home.
Chris caught up with Vin at his jeep.
“Vin, I need to talk to you,” Chris said laying a hand on his friends arm.
“Not tonight. I’m exhausted and really need to get home to get some sleep.”
“Okay, how about tomorrow night then?” Chris pressed, needing desperately to talk to the younger man, try to make things up to him.
“I’ll think about it. See you tomorrow,” Vin said as he opened the car door and drove off.
Chris stood for several minutes until he could no longer see Vin’s jeep.
Straightening his back, the blond was resolved. Tomorrow he would begin to make amends to the sharpshooter. He just knew that he could make Vin understand why he had reacted the way he did, at least he hoped he could or his future was looking very bleak.
+ + + + + + +
Chris was ready to pull his hair out. Vin was the most stubborn, infuriating man he had ever met. The sharpshooter seemed to have a sixth sense where the blond was concerned.
Every time Chris tried to corner the younger man to have that talk, Vin slipped through his fingers.
It had been a week since Doyle had been arrested. Sure enough it looked like Doyle was going to get off with just a slapped wrist. Doyle’s fancy lawyer was saying that Tanner couldn’t positively identify his client. When it came to his client’s confession well that came about because of the intimidation he suffered from the other men at the table.
Vin was realistic about the whole thing, however his team and team 5 were livid.
As Vin continued to avoid the blond, Chris’s mood went straight to hell. It had gotten so bad that the rest of the team had taken to hiding when the blond came into view.
The only one Chris didn’t take his bad mood out on was the person responsible for his mood…one Vin Tanner.
The rest of Team 7 got together at Ezra’s condo. After brainstorming they had come up with an idea to get the two men back together. It was simple really; they were going to lie through their teeth to the two men.
Buck, Ez and JD headed on over to Purgatory to talk to Vin. Since Buck had known Chris the longest he had the best chance to convince the sharpshooter that Chris was out at the ranch getting stinking drunk.
The team knew that Vin had convinced their leader not to turn to the bottle to drown his worries and sorrows. Though Vin was still mad at Chris, he truly did love the man. Vin eyed his three friends carefully and finally decided that they were telling him the truth, which pissed him off big time.
Vin stormed out of his apartment and climbed into his jeep. He told his three friends that he would straighten Larabee out if he had to beat him to death to do it.
The three men shook hands and congratulated each other on a job well done. Of course when the sharpshooter found out he had been laid to…well let's just say Vin had a way of getting revenge that could be just plain mean.
Ez called Nathan so he and Josiah could time their talk with the blond. If everything worked out, Vin would arrive at the ranch right after their leader was told the young man had confessed he was leaving the team, a confession that was guaranteed to scare the hell out of the blond.
Chris was indeed scared. He couldn’t believe it, Vin was thinking of leaving the team, leaving him. That damn scrawny Texan wouldn’t even talk to him, give him a chance to explain was just going to take off. The hell he was.
Nathan and Josiah had told their boss the news and watched as Chris paled then turned red with fury. For a few seconds they worried that maybe they shouldn’t have infuriated the blond so much, it might backfire on them. But then they realized that no matter how mad Chris was he would never physically hurt Vin.
Excusing themselves saying that they had just wanted to clue Chris in on Vin’s plans and now they had to get back to town, the two men hurried out of the ranch house.
Josiah and Nathan drove their car behind the barn where it would not be seen from the house or the drive. Buck, JD and Ez were supposed to meet them there. The five men had decided to stay close just in case they were needed to mediate between the two bull headed men.
While they waited it started to rain until they couldn’t even see the ranch house.
Meanwhile Vin was almost to the ranch when it started to rain, if he had bothered to look behind him, his friends were about three cars back from him. The jeep was not the most waterproof vehicle so he was getting wet which was making his mood even darker.
Vin peeled into the driveway and as soon as the jeep was stopped he jumped out and headed for the front door. By the time he got there he was drenched, the clothes clinging like a second skin, his wet hair starting to curl.
As Vin had been driving to the ranch, Chris had been storming around trying to figure out what to do.
Out loud Larabee snarled, “You are not leaving me, Tanner. If I have to I’ll hogtie your ass to the bed and make you listen to me. Then I’ll leave you tied to the bed and make love to you until you scream.”
Chris snatched up his truck keys and stalked over to the front door. Anger and fear controlled his emotions as he yanked the door open.
As Chris pulled the door open Vin had been reaching for the doorknob to enter the house not even bothering with knocking.
Vin stumbled as the door suddenly opened. The two men stared at each other.
Vin opened his mouth, ready to let his friend have it when a hard hand grabbed the front of his wet shirt and he was jerked into the house.
Chris slammed the door shut and shoved the younger man up against the door.
Vin found his wrists pinned over his head as a hard mouth descended to his stopping anything he was going to say.
Chris pushed his tongue into the hot haven of his lover’s mouth. Yes, lover that was what Vin was and would always be, his lover, his mate…HIS.
Anything Vin had been thinking went out the window as the talented tongue danced with his, his very breath stolen by the blond tornado who had him pinned and at his mercy. But the one thing that crystallized in his mind was that Chris had not been drinking, he did not taste of liquor at all. He had been tricked and damn if he wasn’t going to kill his friends after he had great sex of course.
Chris tore his mouth away from Vin’s leaving them both gasping for breath.
Green eyes glared down into dazed lust filled blue eyes.
“You are not going anywhere. You belong on this team and you belong to me,” Chris hissed sparks shooting out of the team leaders eyes.
Vin then realized that both of them had been set up, but he wasn’t about to say anything yet, he was enjoying seeing the blond so bent out of shape.
Glancing down Chris finally noticed that Vin was wet and nothing was left to the imagination as the clothes clung like a second skin to the lithe body.
Growling Chris grabbed the top of Vin’s shirt and yanked ripping it down the front baring the wet smooth chest.
Vin yelped as a warm tongue licked at his nipples then sucked them gently.
Vin found himself pulled tighter into Chris’s embrace, his arms pulled behind his back. The blond slid the remains of Vin’s shirt down to the sharpshooter’s wrists and loosely tied the wrists together.
Vin was pushed back against the door as the blond went to his knees.
“Oh, shit,” Vin hissed as he let his head fall back and his eyes shut.
Long fingers were at his waist removing his belt and slowly unzipping his jeans. Hot lips and tongue tormented his belly button then the tender skin was nipped sharply.
The wet jeans and underwear were pushed down to the long legs to pool on the floor.
Chris paused to admire the wet, red cock that bounced in front of his face.
Vin yelled as a hot wet mouth sucked his cool wet cock inside. He couldn’t help but thrust inside the heat.
Chris smiled around the cock. Reaching around the slim hips he gripped the firm ass with both hands holding his lover in place.
Using his mouth, tongue and teeth the blond nibbled, sucked and licked the hard cock. As he tried to bury his tongue as far inside the slit as he could, Vin bucked and whimpered.
Chris slipped one hand up to rest at his lover's lower back holding him still, the other hand played with the furry balls.
As the ball sac was pulled on, Chris sucked hard gratified to hear Vin scream his name as he came.
Chris swallowed all the hot cum then licked the shaft clean.
In one movement Chris stood, putting his shoulder right in Vin’s stomach. Chris walked towards the master bedroom with Vin over his shoulder.
As Vin finally regained his senses from the orgasm he found himself on his stomach, stark naked in the middle of Larabee’s bed…in the master bedroom. A pillow was under his hips raising his ass in the air.
Where his boots had gone to he really didn’t give a damn as he felt his legs spread apart and the blond knelt between them. Vin’s arms had been pulled over his head, the shirt still tied around the wrists and now attached to the headboard.
Chris ran his hands over the smooth tight ass. He loved the feel of Vin’s skin beneath his hands.
“You are so beautiful, cowboy,” Chris murmured as he gazed down at the body spread out for him to enjoy.
Vin was still trying to assimilate the fact that he was in Larabee’s bedroom. A bedroom that he had been told was not for him to be in…to be made love to in…a bedroom that was almost sacred to the blond.
Chris moved until he was lying on top of the sharpshooter. Vin loved the feel of his lover weighing him down, he had always loved being dominated by his lover's and Chris was nothing if not a dominating man.
Chris had to make sure that Vin was okay with he was going to do.
“I want to make love to you, cowboy. I want to be inside your gorgeous body. Is that okay?”
“Oh yeah. Just shut up and do it,” Vin moaned his body igniting again as the blond wiggled on top of him.
Starting at the neck Chris licked and kissed his way down the sweet body. Grabbing some lotion out of the bedside table he slowly coated one finger then slipped it inside his lover's puckered hole.
Vin sighed and pushed back encouraging his lover to add another finger as the tight muscles slowly relaxed.
Chris worked until he was able to get three fingers inside scissoring his fingers until the tight entrance was loose and ready to receive his hard cock.
Placing his hands on Vin’s ass, the blond spread the cheeks wider and placed his lubed cock at the impossibly small hole.
Vin groaned as his lover’s large cock inched inside his ass. They had only made love that one night so Chris wanted to go slow, he didn’t want to rush anything, but the way he felt he knew that he wouldn’t last long.
Vin finally had enough of careful; he braced his hands on the bed and shoved backwards.
Chris was caught off guard, he gasped and grabbed Vin’s hips to hold them both steady.
“Damn it, cowboy. You could hurt yourself doing things like that.”
“I’m not made of glass, Larabee, so fucking move,” Vin hissed wiggling his hips causing his lover to gasp and slam forward sinking further inside the hot channel.
“You are a damn tease, Tanner, but I have you right where I want you,” Chris said picking up the speed of his thrusts.
Vin thrust his hips back meeting his lover’s hard plunges inside his ass.
Reaching underneath Vin, Chris grasped his lover’s cock and stroked it until it was hard again.
Angling his cock Chris knew he was sliding over his lover’s prostate as the younger man arched up with a yell.
Chris sat back on his heels bringing the other man with him. Vin whimpered as he sat down on Chris’s lap. The big cock in his ass slid in deeper until he was filled completely.
As Vin lay his head back the blond kept his hand stroking his lover's cock as the other one turned Vin’s face towards him.
Chris claimed the slightly swollen lips, devouring his lover's taste.
Chris continued sliding inside the hot passage, trying to get deeper and deeper.
Vin was writhing in his arms, the sharpshooter's cock was sliding in and out of the blond's fist while his ass was being plundered without mercy.
Chris was lost in the feel of the man in his arms, the smooth slightly wet skin, and the muscles rippling under his fingers.
Vin rested one hand on Chris’s hip while the other one curled around the blond's head holding him in place as he did his best to steal his lover's breath.
Vin was close, so close, Chris used his rough thumb and rubbed across the wet red cockhead as he stroked.
Vin arched up and tore his mouth away from Chris’s as he screamed. Ropes of cum spilled over his lover’s hand as he shuddered and gasped in the arms of steel that were around him.
Chris grasped him tightly as he bent Vin over and surged inside hard and fast, the tight muscles clamping down on his shaft the pulsating heat driving him crazy.
Chris screamed Vin’s name as he came, his cock being milked by his lover’s unbelievably tight ass.
Both men collapsed onto the bed, totally spent yet feeling so good.
Chris finally struggled to his feet and cleaned the both up with a towel he got out of the bathroom. Grabbing up a clean blanket, Chris urged Vin to his feet.
To the astonishment of the younger man, Chris tossed the blanket over the wet spot then climbed into bed.
The blond held his arms out. Vin blushed, smiled his crooked little smile and curled up in his lover’s arms.
Actions speak louder than words.
Chris had made love to him in the bed he used to share with Sarah. Now the blond wanted them both to sleep there wrapped up in each other's arms.
Stroking the long golden brown hair back off Vin’s face, Chris whispered, “I am so sorry for being such a bastard. I had no right to take my insecurities and confusion out on you. I sure as hell had no right to tell people you were gay. That was unforgivable and you got beat up and harassed because of my big mouth. When Josiah and Nathan told me you were leaving the team I knew it was my fault. I don’t want you to leave, Vin. Give me another chance.”
Vin lay quietly, and then he said, “I was never going to leave the team. I thought about it, but I wasn’t going to do it. You hurt me bad, cowboy, real bad, but I can understand why you reacted the way you did. Sarah meant a lot to you, to take someone else to her bed seemed like a betrayal. I know your temper and I know you probably said what you did to Team 5 because it was your way to push me back…distance yourself.”
“You're awful smart for a scrawny assed Texan,” Chris chuckled amazed at Vin’s perception, but he really shouldn’t have been. Vin was a very thoughtful, insightful person. Hell he knew Larabee better than the blond knew himself.
“Just now figured that out did you. Well guess what we both got tricked by our so-called friends. They told you I was leaving and they told me you were drinking yourself into a stupor. That’s why I came out here, I was pissed at you.”
“Well if that was a sample of you being pissed at me, then I can't wait to really make you mad," Chris teased.
"Larabee, you get me that mad and you might not be able to walk straight for a week," Vin threatened.
There was no response from the blond and Vin began to worry that he had overstepped his bounds that while Chris would take him he did not want Vin to reciprocate.
Then a low husky voice said, "Just what would make you that mad? Just for curiosities sake of course."
Vin choked back a laugh. Guess Larabee did want to have some wild loving… Texas variety.
"Oh, I don't know. Tell you what I'll think on it and let you know. You might want to start a list."
"I think I'll do that. I can start at number one and go through the list, then when we finish we can start all over."
"Sounds like a plan," Vin chuckled snuggling in closer.
"I wonder if the guys are going to call to see if we killed each other?" Chris mused out loud.
"I doubt it. When I pulled up I noticed Nathan's car behind the barn. They thought they were hiding. On the way here I was being followed. The guys really need to practice on their surveillance techniques."
"Well, I think I can take care of that. I think that for the next month any team needing extra help tailing someone or covering a stake out will have a member of Team 7 helping them. I think I will volunteer the five meddlers."
"Of course, Chris, we do owe them. They did get us back together," Vin reminded his lover.
"Okay, only two weeks. How long should we let them sit outside wondering what is going on?" Chris wondered.
"For a while, because you know what, cowboy? Just thinking about how they set us up really makes me mad," Vin said slowly sitting up.
Chris smiled his green eyes already darkening with the anticipation of what was to come.
"Can't have then can we. Take out all your frustrations and anger on me. That's what lover's do, help each other out," Chris whispered as he tugged Vin down into his arms.
For the several hours the two men helped each other out a lot and sure enough Chris was walking a little stiff the next day, but then again so was Vin.
The five meddlers paid their penance grumbling about it, but were secretly thrilled with the results of their efforts. Of course none of them had the courage to comment on the way their friends were walking or the dark circles under their eyes due to lack of sleep.
After all two weeks of stakeouts were bad enough. A wrong comment and they might be doing penance for a long time. So they just talked amongst themselves and watched as the two men got closer and closer until Vin made the move to the ranch.
Chris told Travis that they were together and to hell with what anyone thought. The blond threw a big party and invited all the ATF teams from Denver. For the most part everyone showed up and didn't seem fazed at all by the fact that the notorious Christopher Larabee was living with and in love with his team's male sharpshooter.
Those who didn't care for it either kept their mouths shut out of self-preservation or didn't come to the party.
Jim Cavanaugh was there and his team. After the fiasco at the warehouse he had met with Vin alone. What was said was kept between the two men. It was obvious that the two men had buried the hatchet and had become if not close friend's then two people who could work together and get along. Cavanaugh was pleased to tell Team 7 that Doyle was in prison and would serve at least a year. He was no longer in the ATF and his family had all but cut him off. No one had any sympathy for the man.
At the end of the day, the two men saw all their friends and colleagues off.
Looking over the back deck they noticed some cups and bottles still left lying around.
Vin frowned and put his hands on his hips.
"You know what, cowboy. People who leave their trash around for me to pick up just really pisses me off."
Vin turned his bright blue eyes on his lover a smile crossing his face.
Chris raised his eyebrow and started backing up.
"Mad, huh. Damn and I really wanted to go riding tomorrow. If you're mad then I won't be able to sit on a saddle," Chris said laughing as he ran for the door.
Vin was right behind him.
"Maybe not, cowboy. But you can sit on me and ride."
Laughter rang out as Vin caught up with his lover and showed him just how mad he was.
The End