At the same time

Vin led the way in, sweeping the alleyway and the building with his silenced HK as he moved forward along the side of the building. With the lights off on the south side of the building he knew Salazar's men would expect them to come in from that direction, which was why he'd decided on a western approach.

As they neared a fire escape, he slowed and then stopped, crouching down in the shadows and studying the landing one floor above him. They had changed the frequency on their radio units so Salazar couldn't listen in on them, and Vin said softly, "Looks like a possible ambush." Here in the shadows, they were still invisible to the men inside the building, but if they went for the fire escape they would be visible for a brief moment as they crossed under it. "Second floor door is open off the fire escape."

Before anyone could reply, the soft thuppt from one of the silenced weapons echoed in the darkness. "Rear guard," Josiah said a moment later. "We're clear."

"Wait for my go," Vin said, then dropped down onto his belly and started forward along the edge of the building. Trash, cardboard boxes and garbage bins hid his progress. When he was almost directly underneath the fire escape landing, he rolled over onto his back and waited. Several minutes later he saw the end of a rifle poke past the door and then withdraw, the guard on the door sneaking a peek into the alley.

Vin rolled back over and crawled forward past the metal ladder that led up the door, then said softly into his lip-mike, "JD, y' feelin' fast?"

"What do you have in mind?" Buck asked into his ear.

"Need a diversion to pop the guard out so I can get a shot," he said. "Figger JD's the fastest one we got. Need y' t' sprint across the alley. Just graze the light."

"Jesus, Vin," Wilmington growled, "you're askin' him to be a target."

"I can do it," JD said over his comm unit.

"Like hell–" Buck started, but he was cut off by Nathan.

"You got your vest on, JD?" the former medic asked.

"I do," the younger man replied.

"On five," Vin said, getting into position to take the shot as he counted. "One… two… three… four… five."

JD burst from one side of the alley, charging for the opposite. He was visible for just a split second as he crossed into the light. And, in that instant, the shooter leaned out to take his shot.

Two silenced shots were heard as one in the alley. The guard dropped onto the fire escape landing, a hole between his eyes.

"JD, you okay?" Buck demanded.

"Fine," the younger man panted. "Missed… me…"

"Josiah, Nathan, JD, set up out here, make sure we got a safe route out. Ezra, Buck, follow me," Vin said, already moving to the metal ladder and climbing up as he was speaking.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Inside the old warehouse Vin led the others, his HK up, tracking wherever his gaze fell as he made his way through the building. He saw the bodies before he reached them.

The breath he had been holding escaped once he knew none of the fallen men were Larabee.

And then the firefight began. The agents used the cement pillars for cover, threading their way from one to the next so that one agent was moving, two providing cover for him.

Salazar's guards were quickly cut down by the three men.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Still tied to the chair, Chris listened to the gun battle that was drawing closer.

"You trained your people well," Lina said, hurrying over to him, an automatic pistol in her hand. "Let's see how they are at hostage negotiations…"

Before he could reply, Vin was there, his HK up and aimed at straight at Lina, who had slipped behind Larabee, holding the Tec-9 to his head.

"Put it down, lady," Tanner growled, his gaze locked with the woman's. It was cold and unwavering.

"We both were trained by the same government," she hissed at him, trying to make sure she was well protected by Larabee's body. "We've read the same manuals. You know I can't put this gun down."

"Then y' know I can't let y' walk out 'a here."

"Take the shot, Vin," Chris ordered, already more than tired of the situation.

Lina pressed closer to Larabee's back, snapping, "There's a seventy percent change I'll pull this trigger before I'm dead."

Tanner's finger slipped off the side of the HK and onto the trigger. "I don't think so," he said softly, his tone as deadly as Larabee had ever hear it. "Smart thing for y' t' do is put that weapon down… an' I'll letcha live."

Buck and Ezra joined Tanner on that, both men providing cover for the sniper if any more of Salazar's men showed up.

"We can all go home," Vin told her, still staring straight at the woman, blue eyes unblinking.

"Don't you know? You can't go home again," Lina sneered at him.

"Take the shot!" Larabee snapped at the sniper. "That's the order."

Tanner's finger tightened on the trigger, but he still didn't fire. He was waiting for the opening he needed. He knew he could drop her with a single shot that would kill her before the message to pull the trigger could travel from her brain to her finger, but he had to place it just right.

"Nothing left t' fight for," he told her.

Chris stared hard at Vin, wondering why he hadn't fired yet. Then he knew. Tanner wasn't going to take the chance that she might get that shot off, the one that could kill him. But be damned if he was going to sit here all night long.

"Salazar is dead," Ezra informed her. "Whatever you thought he could give you, it's gone."

Chris felt her stiffen at the news, heard the almost imperceptible gasp as she sucked in a breath. And he moved, jerking down and away from her.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

From where he stood, time and motion both slowed for Vin. He saw Lina's eyes widen as Chris jerked away from her. Saw the automatic response of her body as she jerked back and away from the unexpected movement, her autonomic nervous system kicking in before she could override it. And the Tec-9 moved as well, being pulled away from Chris as her muscles tightened in the anticipation of flight.

He had a clear kill shot, but he didn't take it. His eyes remained locked on hers, waiting to see what she decided to do.

And, a split second later, he saw her choice as she made it. She had nothing left to live for. She would rather die than face the consequences of her actions. But the only way she was going to die was if she forced him to kill her.

Her eyes narrowed with the decision, her muscles tightened again and she shifted her weight forward. The Tec-9 began to move, swinging back toward Larabee.

Vin waited until the last possible moment, giving her a chance to change her mind, but she didn't.

He pulled the trigger.

There was a soft "Oh!" as she was struck, then silence as she fell, dead. Her weapon clattered to the cement floor next to her, no chance for her last desire to pull the trigger to be executed.

Vin slowly lowered his HK, his gaze shifting to Chris for the first time. "Y' all right?"

"I am now."

"She's dead," Buck said, after having checked Lina's throat for a pulse. He looked up at Tanner, realizing once again just how deadly the man really was.

"Her choice," Vin said almost off-handedly as he moved forward to free Chris. She had, after all, nearly gotten the man he loved killed, and he wasn't about to feel sorry for her.

"Thought I told you to take the shot," Larabee growled as Tanner crouched down to cut him free.

Vin paused, looking up, blue eyes meeting green. "Y' want t' die?"

The muscles in Chris' jaws jumped with frustration, but he knew what the man was saying. Still, there was a principle here as well. "Next time I tell you to take the shot, you damn well better take it."

Vin's cheeks colored slightly, blue eyes flashed. "Fuck you, Larabee," he snarled, then stood and stalked off, leaving Ezra to finish cutting the man free.

Buck watched Tanner disappear, then looked back at his friend and said, "He just saved your life, stud."

"He disobeyed a direct order."

"Yeah, to save your sorry ass," Wilmington returned more hotly.

The Larabee glare silenced him, but it didn't keep Ezra from adding, "He'll never take a chance with your life. Surely you must know that by now. He cares too much for that."

That took Chris aback and he huffed out a breath, then drew a deep one. He owed Vin an apology, but he hated making them. He shook his head as his vision wavered, going completely fuzzy a moment later. "Shit," he whispered thickly as his eyes rolled up and he was jerked abruptly into the void of unconsciousness.

Monday morning
0610 Hours

Vin stood at the large window in the waiting room. Beyond the glass the mountains were just becoming visible in the pale dawn light. Chris had made it through surgery without any complications, and they had allowed him to sit beside the man in Recovery, but then they had taken Larabee, getting him ready to be moved into a regular post-op room, and Vin had been sent back to the waiting room once again.

The others had all gone home last night – Or was it early this morning? he wondered – once they knew Chris was out of surgery and doing fine. Vin had walked out with them, but instead of heading home, he'd waited for them to leave, then turned around and headed back into the hospital to wait. He knew he couldn't leave until Chris was awake, until he saw for himself the man was going to be all right.

So he had asked, and they had let him sit in Recovery, listening to the whirs and beeps of various pieces of medical equipment, watching the steady rise and fall of Larabee's chest. Before he knew it, he was shaking, uncontrollably, hard. He wasn't sure why it was happening, didn't want it to continue, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.

A nurse stopped by, asking if he was all right. He'd nodded, but she hadn't been convinced, because she brought him a blanket, draping it around his shoulders, and then left, returning a few minutes later with a chocolate shake from the cafeteria.

"He's doing great," she told him, lightly rubbing his back. "Really. He came through the surgery just fine, the wound wasn't that bad… He'll be as good as new in no time."

Vin nodded. He already knew that, it was what the doctor had told him and the others when Chris came out of surgery, but hearing her say it again seemed to help. He wasn't shaking as much now, and the blanket was chasing away the chill that had taken up residence in his bones, even with the shake, which tasted really good, even at that early morning hour.

He looked up at her and said, "I just need to see him awake, y' know?"

She nodded and smiled at him. "I know. And it'll be a little while yet, but then he'll wake up."

He nodded. "I'll just sit here with him 'til then… okay?"

"Okay," she said. "We'll be moving him to a regular room on the post-op ward in about an hour. He should be waking up around then."

Tanner nodded again and took another sip of his shake. She patted his shoulder. "I'll be around, if you need anything, okay?"

He nodded. "Thanks."

"No problem."

So he had sat and finished the shake; Chris continued to sleep.

The nurse returned in an hour and told him he'd needed to go wait in the waiting room while they moved Chris to his room. So, here he was, staring out at the mountains, waiting for the sun to rise, or for someone to come and get him.

He shifted his weight slightly and sighed, wishing they would hurry up and come get him.

"Mr. Tanner?"

He turned. It was the nurse, the one who had brought him the blanket and the shake.

"Mr. Larabee's in room three-oh-three. You can go up. He should be waking up any time now." She smiled at him. "He's still doing great."

"Thank you," he replied and headed straight for the elevator. Pressing the up button, he passed the time waiting for the car by scanning the directory posted between the two elevator doors. The names and specialties meant nothing to him.

The bell rang and one of the doors slid open. Vin stepped inside and poked the button for the third floor. The door slid shut and he started down, stopping on the third floor. Stepping out, he checked the numbers on plaques mounted on the walls and turned to the right, heading all the way down the hallway to the second to the last door. It was open, so he stepped inside.

Chris lay in the small bed, his eyes still closed. The symphony of beeps and whirs continued, unbroken. Vin sighed and walked over to the side of the bed. Reaching out, he took Larabee's hand in his and gave the lip fingers a tender squeeze.

Without really thinking about it, he began to sing softly.

You know our love was meant to be,
The kind of love that lasts forever,
And I need you here with me,
From tonight until the end of time.
You should know, everywhere I go,
You're always on my mind,
In my heart, in my soul.

You're the meaning in my life,
You're the inspiration.
You bring feeling to my life,
You're the inspiration.
Wanna have you near me,
I wanna have you hear me sayin',
No one needs you more than I need you.

And I know, yes I know, that it's plain to see,
We're so in love when we're together.
And I know that I need you here with me,
From tonight until the end of time.
You should know, everywhere I go,
You're always on my mind,
In my heart, in my soul.

You're the meaning in my life,
You're the inspiration.
You bring feeling to my life,
You're the inspiration.
Wanna have you near me,
I wanna have you hear me sayin',
No one needs you more than I need you. ⁷

Chris blinked and opened his eyes, staring up blearily at the sniper. "Vin…?"

Vin quickly wiped his eyes. "Hey, Cowboy, how y' feelin'?"

Larabee frowned, trying to remember where he was and how he had gotten there.

Recognizing the confusion, Vin said, "You're in the hospital. Summit."

"Hospital?"

"Y' got shot," he reminded the blond. "Doc says you'll be fine."

Larabee continued to frown, but the pieces began to fall into place – Lina, Salazar, the shooting, his rescue… "Anybody else get hurt?"

Vin shook his head. "Everybody's fine – except the bad guys."

Chris nodded, remembering that Lina Marcario had turned out to be one of the bad guys as well. Her choice, wasn't that what Vin had said? And it was true. "Owe you an apology," he said thickly, remembering that as well.

Tanner shrugged and glanced away.

"Thanks."

"For what?" Vin asked, confused.

"Saving my life," Chris said, the dull throbbing ache in his thigh beginning to penetrate the fog in his brain.

Vin nodded, still not meeting Larabee's eyes. "Just doin' my job."

"Like always," Chris said softly, his eyes closing, face pinching with the escalating pain.

Tanner reached over and pressed the button on Larabee's IV, delivering a dose of pain medication to the man. "M' job's keepin' you 'n' the others alive."

Larabee managed a tight grin, his eyes slitting open. "Not taking orders, huh?"

That prompted a grin from Tanner. "Depends," he said.

"Depends?"

"Whether the order helps keep y' alive or not."

"Should've known," Chris mumbled, his eyes falling closed again as the drug hit his system, erasing the pain and pulling him back into a healing sleep.

"Yeah, y' should've," he whispered, reaching out to tenderly cup the side of Chris' face. "'M not gonna let y' get yourself killed, Larabee, not if I can stop it. Need y' too much t' let that happen. Love y' too much."

2 June 2000

The rest of the week was filled with questions, debriefings, and paperwork for Team Seven, but by Friday morning the dust had settled or cleared, several DEA, CIA and FBI agents having been taken into custody, all of them on the payrolls of either Salazar or Anzar. And Team Seven had another round of commendations to add to their personnel folders.

"Thank God it's finally over," Ezra said, leaning back at his desk when he'd finished his last bit of paperwork.

JD looked around at the men, then grinned and added, "So, I guess we're on for tomorrow night, right?"

"Damn straight we are, kid," Buck replied, then lobbed a pencil at Vin, asking, "Right?"

The sniper glanced up, looking more than a little tired. He had faced some of the worst grilling at the hands of the higher ups from all the agencies involved. Some had wanted to know why he'd fired at all, others wanted to know why he hadn't fired sooner. There was no pleasing everyone. And Chris hadn't been there to watch his back either, still in the hospital for most of the debriefings. But at least he was out now, even if he was forced to walk with a cane. "Reckon so."

"Hey, we can't let the rest of the ATF down," Nathan offered.

Tanner offered a thin smile in response to that. "Ain't sure I give a damn 'bout the ATF right now, but I sure as hell don't want the FBI or the Marshals winnin', not if we can help it."

"That's the spirit," Buck replied, grinning. "You just wait 'til you hear what I picked for this round."

"No matter what it is, I assure you, it isn't going to get Miss Recillos into your bed," Ezra told him.

The ladies' man wagged his eyebrows. "You never know!"

The others just smiled or shook their heads. With Buck, hope sprang eternal.

3 June 2000, Saturday night

Inez smiled as she watched J. Watson's fill with the competitors and their supporters. Her original pool had dropped from fifty-four to twenty-seven, well, twenty-six, one of the Denver PD competitors unable to make it. His wife had given birth on Wednesday morning and he took leave to be with her and his new daughter. So tonight they would be thirteen rounds to see who would move on to next phase of the competition, where the remaining thirteen competitors would be winnowed down to a final winner. It was all rather exciting.

She smiled as Team Seven entered the bar and took over the table she had marked as reserved for them. On each table, and along the bar, she had left sheets of paper with the pairings for tonight's competition. Members of Team Seven would be appearing in rounds two, four, six, seven, eight and ten, and she was looking forward to hearing each and every one of them.

After a rather slow start by the first two singers, JD and one of the FBI agents took the stage. JD went first, diving right into his song and rocking the house with the popular tune by Journey.

Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Any way you want it… ⁸

The FBI agent who followed gave a stirring rendition of "God Bless the USA," making the decision a difficult one for the judges. In the end, the FBI man squeaked into the next round by one vote.

"You did good, kid. That feeb just didn't play fair," Buck told JD, seeing the disappointment on the younger man's face. Casey was also offering him her support, which, Wilmington knew, would probably make up for the loss better than his own words ever could.

Ezra was the next of the team to perform, his partner the last of the US Marshals left standing after the first go-round.

See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sunrise on a tropic isle
Just remember, darlin', all the while
You belong to me… ⁹

Once again the ladies in the audience watched the undercover man's performance with rapt attention. The poor Marshal didn't stand a chance, and Ezra smiled and nodded his thanks to the judges when they passed him into the third round.

Josiah was up next, in the sixth spot, and he graciously allowed a pretty Asian FBI agent to go first. She wowed the audience with her rendition of a Backstreet Boys hit and the big profiler knew he was beat before he began, but it didn't matter. The event was supporting a good cause, and he was enjoying himself. He was confident that one of the others, most likely Nathan or Vin, would win the competition, and that was just fine by him.

Still, he took the mike and nodded, launching into an obscure song he enjoyed, hoping his listeners did as well.

We rise again, in the faces of our children,
We rise again, in the voices of our song,
We rise again, on the waves out on the ocean,
And then… we rise again… ¹⁰

"That was real nice," Vin said as Josiah sat down and the profiler could see in the man's eyes that he meant it, that the song had touched him. That didn't surprise the big man; there were surprising depths to the man, strong feelings that ran deep. He just hoped Larabee realized one day that some of them were for him.

"Thank you, brother," he said, "but it appears my run is up." A moment later the judges proved him right.

"At least Ezra's still in the competition," JD said, trying not to sound disappointed, but he couldn't quite pull it off.

"You forgot about me, kid," Buck told him, trying to look more confident than he felt. All the weak singers had already been eliminated, so the competition this time around was much more dangerous.

JD rolled his eyes. "Guess we'll just have to wait and see," he told his friend and roommate.

"That we will," the ladies' man agreed.

Buck was up next, and he was grinning as he took the mike first. As he had in the first round, the ladies' man shielded his eyes for a moment and searched the crowd to find Inez. Once he had, he nodded he was ready and launched into his song as the music started. And, just like before, a wave of laughter rolled through the audience when they heard what the infamous womanizer had chosen.

As a young boy my mama used to make me walk the line,
But even then as now women were a weakness of mine…

I guess I was 'bout thirteen when this feeling came over me,
I started learnin' how to talk the girls out of their virginity…

Mama you can't give me no whippin'
Just for stayin' out all night…
Mama I think I've got something that the girls like
Mama I think I might have something that the girls like… ¹¹

There were hoots from the men and smiles and shaking heads among the women listening. Buck grinned and handed over the mike, scampering over to rejoin his teammates at the table. As he passed Inez he gave her a slight bow and suggested, "You might like it too."

She just tried not to smile and shook her head.

Buck's competition, a short, balding DEA analyst took up the baton, belting out a Michael Crawford tune that had Ezra's eyes closing with joy. Needless to say, he handily won the round.

Buck frowned as he watched the man accepting the congratulations from his fellow agents. He shook his head. "Voice like that… ought ta be criminal to put it a package like that."

"You're just mad 'cause you got beat," JD told him, looking a little smug. If he wasn't going to the third round, he was glad Buck wasn't either.

Raine clapped her hands excitedly as Nathan rose and headed to the stage. She blew him a kiss for good luck and crossed her fingers.

"Don't think you need to worry," Chris leaned over and told her.

She smiled back, saying, "I hope not."

Nathan waited until his opponent finished a solid performance of John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders," then took the mike and stepped up into the lights. A moment later he was rocking with Madonna's "Cherish," singing it to the woman he was engaged to be married to.

Cherish the thought
Of always having you here by my side (oh baby I)
Cherish the joy
You keep bringing it into my life (I'm always singing it)
Cherish your strength
You got the power to make me feel good (and baby I)
Perish the thought
Of ever leaving, I never would… ¹²

When he was finished the couples on the dance floor groaned their disappointment, but they allowed him off the stage. He hurried back to the table, getting a kiss from Raine when he sat down.

"Great job!" Casey said.

"Brother, you have a gift," Josiah told him, "a real gift."

"I think we have a winner," was Buck's comment.

"Sure do," JD agreed.

"And the odds are shifting in our favor," Ezra added, looking more than a little pleased.

A moment later there was wild applause at the table when the judges agreed with the team's assessment.

That just left Vin, who was singing once again at the end of the round. And, just as they had seen it happen in the first round, the members of Team Seven once more watched a transformation take place as Vin began his ballad, the rawness of the words touching every listener in the Saloon.

My one and only prayer is that some day you'll care
My hopes, my dreams come true, my one and only you
No one will ever know how much I love you so
My only prayer will be some day you'll care for me
But it's only make believe…

Josiah watched Vin carefully his time, noting where he looked and where he didn't as the song continued.

My hopes, my dreams come true, my life I'd give for you
My heart, a wedding ring, my all, my everything
My heart I can't control, you rule my very soul...
My hope, my prayers, my schemes
You are my everything, but it's only make believe…

And Josiah knew that he'd been right. The possibility shook him to the core, but it didn't bother him, not the way he had thought it might. In fact, it seemed… right when he stopped and really considered the possibility.

My one and only prayer is that some day you'll care
My hopes, my dreams come true, my one and only you
No one will ever know how much I love you so
My only prayer will be some day you'll care for me
But it's only make believe… ¹³

Glancing over at Ezra, the big profiler thought that, maybe, the undercover man might be thinking the same thing he was. But even if he was right, if they were both right, what could they possibly do?

Josiah's gaze shifted to Larabee, who seemed to be enjoying the song, but there was no recognition in his eyes, no understanding that Vin was singing the song to him. He frowned slightly.

Inez had come over to watch and she was standing just behind and to Larabee's right. Could Vin possibly be singing to her? It would be easier to think so, but he just didn't. His gut was telling him that Tanner had sung this song, and the last one, to and for Chris.

"Wow," JD said as Vin slid into his seat. "That was… amazing."

"I thought you hated country," Buck said, scowling at Dunne.

"Yeah, well, that didn't sound like country."

"Your range is impressive," Ezra added, making Vin blush.

"Just a song," the sniper mumbled.

"A very well done song," Josiah corrected him.

"Very," Nathan and Raine said in unison, then laughed.

Chris offered Vin a small smile, to let the sniper know he'd liked it without embarrassing the man any more.

"What do you mean it didn't sound like country?" Buck demanded.

JD rolled his eyes.

Tanner's competition took her turn at the mike, doing a fairly good job with an old Beach Boys tune, so it was clear that the gender line was no longer in place. But her song, while playful and fun, was nowhere near as powerful as Vin's had been and the judges made Tanner the third member of Team Seven to be passed on to the third round.

There was a slight intermission to give the thirteen singers who would be performing again a chance to grab something to eat, and Inez time to put their names into a hat, compliments of Station 12, and began pulling them in pairs.

Unfortunately for one of the DEA agents who had made it unto the third round, his beeper went off, letting him know that the bust he had been working was about to go down. He was forced to forfeit the round. Inez was actually glad that call had come in, since she'd been unsure how to handle the odd number of competitors.

The remaining twelve men and women went over to tell the man working the karaoke machine what their next selections would be, and the gathered crowd settled in to watch and to listen.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Raine drew in a deep breath and smiled her encouragement to Nathan as he stood up from the table. The first two competitors had battled it out with a pair of Alan Jackson songs, a DPD officer just squeaking past the second-to-last member of the FBI team.

Nathan's competition was a sheriff's deputy, and a member of a special multi-agency task force that had been set up for fugitive retrieval. She was tall and slender, her blonde hair cut short to keep it out of her eyes. She went first, giving them a stirring performance of the mega-hit from the movie Titanic.

Nathan knew she had touched the crowd when we saw several people wiping their eyes, including Ezra and Raine. But he couldn't change his selection now, so he took the mike from the woman and stepped up onto the stage. He was greeted by applause, which both surprised him and made him a little more hopeful.

The music started and he launched into his next song with all the joy and enthusiasm he could muster.

…Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there… ¹⁴

It only took a few moments before there were people dancing and, as soon as he saw that, Nathan relaxed, enjoying the song and singing for the sheer fun of it.

The judges debated a little longer than usual, but the votes were handed in, and Nathan sagged with relief as he survived another round.

"You are hot!" Buck told him, giving him a slap on the back.

"Very well done," Ezra added as he stood and headed for the stage.

For his part, Nathan was a little out of breath, which wasn't helped when Raine grabbed him and gave him a long, lingering kiss. The rest of the team laughed, then turned their attention to the undercover man.

Ezra's opponent was another DPD officer, a Latino, and he went first, belting out a show tune from The Man of La Mancha. The audience clapped and cheered afterward and Ezra worried that he had made a strategic error, picking another sedate yet challenging song for this round. But it was too late to change it now, so he accepted the mike and took to the stage to do his best with the old classic.

That certain night
The night we met
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square… ¹⁵

The applause for Ezra wasn't as enthusiastic as it had been for the DPD officer, and he returned to his seat, resigned to his fate.

"That was pretty impressive," JD said when Standish sat down.

"Yes, but my timing was off."

"No way you could've known what Sergeant Ortega would pick," Chris told him.

"Still…"

The judges debated longer than expected, but when the votes were counted, Ezra found himself squeezed out by a single vote. "That's life," he said, glad that he had placed his money on Nathan and Vin, rather than himself.

The next pair included the last of the FBI agents and another sheriff's deputy. The two women each chose Linda Ronstadt songs, the FBI agent eking out a victory with her version of "Cry like a Rainstorm, Howl like the Wind."

When Vin stood and headed for the stage, Ezra leaned over to Josiah and asked softly, "Am I mistaken, or have you also decided that Mr. Tanner has been attempting to communicate his ardor for Mr. Larabee with his selections?"

Josiah flashed the man a toothy grin. "That or he's wooing Inez."

That caused Ezra's eyes to round slightly and he settled back to watch the unfolding drama, a slightly unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach when he considered the possibility. Could he actually be feeling jealous?

At the same time as that conversation took place, JD leaned in next to Buck and said, "I think Vin's in love."

"What makes you say that?" Buck asked him, his dark blue eyes twinkling.

"His songs, they're so… real," the younger man concluded.

"Yep," the ladies' man agreed. "I think we finally found us a place where that boy can't hide."

"So he is in love?" JD asked.

"Been thinkin' along the same lines myself."

"Who is it?" JD asked him.

Buck's eyes danced with devilish merriment. "What, you haven't figured it our yet?"

"Figured what out?" JD asked him.

Raine leaned over and whispered into JD's ear and his eyes flew open wide. Casey giggled. "You can be so slow, JD," she scolded him.

JD just looked from Vin to Chris and back again, then turned his attention to Buck and Casey, both of whom nodded, grinning like fools.

JD's mouth opened and closed a couple of times, but then the music started and he shook his head and leaned back in his chair to listen. Vin in love with Chris? Now that wasn't what he'd expected. Not that there was anything wrong with a man loving another man, if he was gay. And maybe Vin was gay, but JD was pretty sure Chris wasn't, although he decided his boss might be a bisexual.

Casey snuggled next to him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, deciding it didn't really matter what Chris or Vin was, as long as they were happy. And if they were happy with each other, well, then more power to them.

Seeing JD and Casey, Nathan wrapped his arm around Raine's shoulders and pulled her in, kissing her on the cheek and asking, "What did you say to JD? He looked like he's been pole-axed or something for a second."

She smiled up at him through her eyelashes. "Nothing… Well, just that Vin was in love… with Chris."

Nathan blinked and almost shook his head to clear his ears, but he knew he'd heard her just fine. "Vin.. and Chris?"

She nodded and smiled innocently. "Isn't it sweet?"

Nathan's mouth opened and closed, and this time he did shake his head.

"It's about time Chris got on with his life," she whispered into his ear. "They'd be good for each other. Just hope Chris figures that out, and soon. Poor Vin must be pretty frustrated."

They'd be good for each other… Nathan didn't really hear what came after that. But he couldn't argue with it. He and the others all knew how close the two men were… Glancing over at Larabee, he grinned, then leaned in and gave Raine a kiss.

"Question is," Raine said into his ear as the music began, "how long is it going to take Chris to figure it out?"

Vin's competition was the last member of the Colorado State Patrol team. She went first, opting for an emotional ballad, "Song for Sarajevo," that Judy Collins had written and recorded. The piece was moving, and left many in the audience in tears, including most of Team Seven. Then the sniper took the stage.

Inez, seeing that Vin was almost ready, made her way over to the table Team Seven was sharing with Casey and Raine, and took up a position at the back of Chris' chair. "Can I get you anything?" she asked them over his shoulder.

They all shook their heads or answered in the negative, and by then Vin had started his song so she felt safe staying there until he'd finished. She'd noticed how it must have looked the last time, when she'd been standing close to Chris' chair while Vin had been singing. The least she could do was give him a little cover this time as well.

Vin had noticed it too, and while it scared him that Inez must have figured out his feelings for Larabee, he was grateful for the illusion she created, since it meant he could throw more of himself into the song without arousing suspicions. At least he hoped it did.

So you choose to look the other way
Well, I've got something to say
Don't try to run, I can keep up with you
Nothing can stop me from trying, you've got to…

Open your heart to me, baby
I hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key…

Open your heart with the key
One is such a lonely number…

Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Open you heart I'll make you love me
It's not that hard, if you just turn the key…

Don't try to run I can keep up with you
Nothing can stop me from trying, you've got to…

Open your heart I'll make you love me
It's not that hard, if you just turn the key…

Open your heart to me, baby
I hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key… ¹⁶

Chris sat, listening to the song, his foot keeping time with the beat as he enjoyed Vin's performance. He never would have guessed that the man could open up like that when he was up on stage. The transformation was amazing, and he found himself wishing that they saw more of that Vin on a day to day basis.

But, as the song progressed, a sense of unease began to settle over him. He knew Inez was still standing behind him, and he could swear Vin was singing the song directly to her. He glanced around the table at the others, finding them all smiling. He frowned slightly, unsure why he didn't feel happy for Vin. The man was too much of a loner, if he'd finally fallen in love, well, shouldn't Chris be happy for him?

So why didn't it make him happy?

His thoughts were scattered by the eruption of applause at the end of the song. And, a few moments later, Tanner was sliding into his chair, looking again like all he wanted to do was disappear.

"Nice job, Vin," Nathan said.

The sniper ducked his head and grinned. "Guess we like some of the same songs… 'n' singers."

Nathan nodded, grinning.

"Sounded good," Josiah said, giving Vin a light pat on the back. He hadn't realized that they had been respecting the man's space and not congratulating him as much as they had the rest of them, and he didn't want the man to think that they didn't appreciate his talent.

The judges conferred and, a few moments later Vin was promoted to the next round.

The final two competitors performed their songs, and while the judges voted, Inez took the opportunity to ask the patrons if they wanted to continue, or wait until next week to finish the competition. The overwhelming response was to continue. So, with six competitors left, they headed into the home stretch.

The four men and two women were treated to a free round of cold beers before they went up to make their next selections.

A hush fell over the crowd as Inez arranged the names. Nathan was up first against the DPD officer, who over-reached, performing Josh Groban's "You Lift Me Up." Nathan felt himself relax, knowing he was going to take the round.

Stepping up to the mike, he smiled, hoping that Raine knew he was smiling at her, then launched into his next choice.

…Brush away the tears of freedom
Now we're here, there's no turning back
We have each other
We have one voice
Hand in hand we will lay the tracks
Because the train is coming to carry you home
Come dance with me
Come on and dance into the light… ¹⁷

Once again, the end of Nathan's song was met with thundering applause and he received loads of congratulations from the rest of the team when he sat down at the table. The judges swiftly passed him into the final round.

The next two performers battled it out with more show tunes, Sergeant Ortega making it onto the finals. The DPD officers exploded into cheers, and the poor Sergeant nearly choked when one of the men pounded his back a little too hard while he was draining what was left of his beer.

That just left Vin and the remaining female singer, a DEA agent. She went first, doing a good job with Madonna's "Vogue," but it was clear that her voice was feeling the strain of overuse.

Chris felt himself stiffen when Vin took to the stage after her, his heartbeat picking up. He could feel the butterflies in his stomach, but that made no sense. Why was he feeling anxious? It was Vin who should be nervous, not him.

He glanced around and wasn't surprised to find Inez back, standing between him and Ezra, one hand on the back of each of their chairs. That sent a rush of jealousy coursing through his veins that took him by surprise. And, as Vin began to sing, Chris realized for the first time that his feelings for Vin ran deeper than he'd ever suspected.

He reached down, rubbing at his still-aching thigh and wondering what in the world he could do about his newly recognized feelings, especially if Vin had fallen in love with Inez. But, as he listened to the words Tanner was singing, each and every one of them hauntingly raw, he also realized that Vin wasn't singing to Inez after all, he was singing to him, telling Larabee how he'd feel if things had gone wrong in that old warehouse. And that realization rocked Larabee to his very soul.

How do I get through one night without you?
If I had to live without you,
What kind of life would that be?

Oh and I, I need you in my arms
Need you to hold,
You're my world, my heart, my soul.
If you ever leave
Baby you would take away
Everything good in my life.

Without you, there'd be no sun in my sky.
There'd be no love in my life.
There'd be no world left for me.

And I, baby, I don't know what I'd do.
I'd be lost if I lost you.
If you ever leave,
Baby, you'd take away
Everything real in my life.

And tell me how…
How do I live without you?
I want to know.
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go.
How do I ever, ever survive?

How do I, how do I
Oh, how do I live?

If you ever leave.
Baby, you would take away everything.
Need you with me.
Baby, 'cause you know that you're
Everything good in my life.
And tell me now,
How do I live without you?
I want to know.
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go.

How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I
Oh, how do I live.
How do I live without you, baby? ¹⁸

It was hard for Chris to draw a breath. He knew the last assignment had rattled Vin, but he hadn't truly appreciated just how much it had upset him. But maybe he should have. After all, he'd seen the pain and worry in Vin's eyes when he'd awoke to find the sniper standing at his bedside in the hospital.

And Tanner's words returned to him, the last thing he had heard as he'd drifted off to sleep: "'M not gonna let y' get yourself killed, Larabee, not if I can stop it. Need y' too much t' let that happen. Love y' too much."

Why the hell hadn't he remembered that? He should have gotten a clue then how the man had felt. Hell, earlier. Every song Vin had sung in this competition had been a clue; every glance, every concerned appraisal for the last twenty-eight months had all been clues. How the hell had he been so blind?

But he knew how. He hadn't seen it because he hadn't expected to be able to fall in love again. He'd given Sarah his heart, and it had died with her, and Adam. But, somehow, Tanner had given it back to him again, and he knew he couldn't waste this opportunity. Few people were so richly blessed twice in their lifetimes.

Cheers and stomping accompanied Vin back to the table and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that the man was going to the final round. The judges quickly confirmed that opinion.

"That was too good," JD enthused as Vin sat.

"Junior, you've been holding out on us," Buck said, grabbing Tanner's arm and jerking him closer.

"What?" Vin yelped.

"You aren't good, kid, you're great!" the ladies' man said, giving him a one-armed hug.

Vin tolerated it, but then pulled away.

Chris wanted to tell Tanner what he thought, too, but he couldn't find his voice.

Inez spared him, walking over to the stage and climbed up, holding up her hands to ask for their attention. As soon as the noise level dropped, she said into the mike, "All right, we have our final three competitors! It has come down to the ATF versus the Denver Police Department…" Loud cheers and hooting interrupted her for several moments, then faded when it was clear she had more to tell them.

"After conferring with the judges earlier, we have decided to run the final round a little differently. The judges are selecting at random one of the four songs that each of these fine gentlemen has performed to get him to the final round. They will be asked to give us a repeat performance of one of those songs. Each judge will then score the performances on a scale of one to ten. The man with the highest score will be our winner and will receive the trophy."

Dr. Longknife walked over and handed her a slip of paper.

"Okay, here are the songs… Nathan Jackson, ATF, 'Cherish.' Sergeant Danny Ortega, Denver PD, the number from Man of La Mancha. And, Vin Tanner, ATF, 'Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me.' Good luck, gentlemen!" And with that said she hopped down and hurried back over to the bar.

Nathan stood and walked to the stage, giving them another enthusiastic performance of the song. He knew it wasn't the strongest of the four numbers he had picked, but he put all of his feelings for Raine into it and knew he would be happy, no matter what the final outcome was, because he could see she knew he was singing from his heart – for her. He received a score of 67.

Sergeant Ortega took the stage and put his heart into the challenging song as well. Unfortunately, the slight coughing fit he'd endured earlier had strained his voice and the performance wasn't nearly as good as it had been the first time around. The judges gave him a final score of 65.

And that just left Vin, who looked over at Nathan and stuck out his hand. "I think y' ought t' win this thing," he told him as they shook.

"Well, I think it ought to be you," Nathan replied. "Just sing from the heart, that's the only way to do it," he added, and Vin had the uncomfortable feeling Nathan knew exactly who it was he was singing to and for. He hurried to the stage so he wouldn't have to think about that for too long.

With the mike in his hand, Vin did what he always did whenever he sang, be it in his shower, his rattle-trap jeep, or on a karaoke stage. He took a deep breath, reached down into the center of himself, and opened the cage to all the feelings he kept so carefully hidden away, letting them take flight in his dreams, even if he knew they would never be realized. Still, it was the only way he could keep the feeble hope alive, and that, in turn, kept him alive.

And, before he knew it, he was singing…

Come out, come out,
To the hopeless romantic inside.
Shout it's all right, all right,
To stay so dark
So close to the light… ¹⁹

The song was over before Vin consciously realized it, and the patrons in the Saloon were cheering. He ducked his head, handed the mike back to the man who had run the program for them, and quickly retreated back to his chair to await the judges' decision.

He glanced over at Nathan, who gave him a thumbs-up, his eye just catching Chris' as he did. Something in Larabee's expression didn't seem right and he turned his head slightly to meet the blond's gaze, but before he could say anything, Mary Travis announced, "The cumulative score for Agent Tanner is… Sixty-eight! We have a winner!"

Vin was enveloped by the members of his team, all of them pounding on him, hugging him, shaking him… He was almost overcome by a surge of claustrophobia, but then they released him, lifting their glasses to him, and to Nathan, who had taken second place. Other agents, officers and deputies came by, offering their congratulations to the two men as well, and Chris began harassing his counterparts from the federal building.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Inez called from the stage and the loud buzz in the bar subsided. "I just wanted to thank all of you for making this first competition a huge success, and to let you know that we raised over three thousand dollars for Quest Academy!"

The patrons cheered and the vice-principal from the alternative school stepped up to offer his thanks and receive a check.

Inez took the mike back and said, "The mike is now open! Do I have any takers?"

Chris pushed to his feet.

"Mr. Larabee?" she questioned, more than a little surprised.

Chris walked over to the man who ran the laptop and asked him a question. He checked the database and nodded. Turning to Inez, he said, "I'll give one a go."

There was a smattering of applause, but with the competition over some of the patrons had already headed to the back room where the pool tables were, while others had slipped into the dining room to grab a bite to eat. But the members of Team Seven stayed in their seats.

"I'll be damned," Buck said, shaking his head. "I never thought I'd see the day…"

They watched Chris huff out a nervous breath, and then he began to sing.

Love, you used to burn like fire
You'd lift me up, and then you'd take me higher.
There were times I thought I knew you well,
My how times change…

Dreams, I used to have my share of dreams,
But dreams come easy when somebody cares.
It's been so long, sometimes it's hard to tell,
If I'm still in the game…

Vin sat, his entire body having gone rigid with fear. Had Chris understood what he'd been doing? Did he know he'd been singing for him? Was this his way of letting him down easy, by telling him that he still loved his wife?

He was close to bolting, but then Chris reached the chorus and a hope like none Vin had ever experienced felt before swelled in his heart, sending tears to sting his eyes.

I'd be the first to fall in love again…
If it ever comes my way, I'd know it well.
I'd give my heart and my soul away,
And I'd be the first to fall in love again.

Love, you were my closest friend,
But times get hard and precious moments end.
That's not to say that I won't try again,
'Cause broken hearts mend.

As Chris launched into the chorus again, Vin had to fight to draw a breath. His chest felt like it was a huge, painful knot. What if he was reading this all wrong? He knew he couldn't bear to hear Chris reject him in spoken words.

I'd be the first to fall in love again.
If it ever comes my way, I'd know it well.
I'd give my heart and my soul away,
And I'd be the first to fall in love again. ²⁰

But something told him he didn't need to worry, even as another part couldn't help itself from doing just that. He still wanted to bolt, to flee, but there was nowhere to go, nowhere Larabee couldn't find him. No, better to stay and face the music now, and then, if he had to pick up and go on, knowing Chris could never return his feelings, then so be it. Because, no matter what, he knew he couldn't walk away from the man. He had given Chris his heart the moment he'd met him, and he'd never regretted it. Friendship would just have to do, if love was impossible.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

The Saloon had emptied out, most of Team Seven having already left as well. Nathan and Raine were headed home, JD was taking Casey home, and Buck had disappeared with the tall blonde from the fugitive retrieval unit.

Ezra was sitting at the bar, talking with Inez, and Josiah watched them for a moment, hoping they were able to find the kind of happiness he was sure Chris and Vin were headed toward. He stood, said his own goodbyes and then headed for the exit so the two men could, hopefully, get on with it.

Glancing over his shoulder, he caught Vin's eye and called, "Go get 'im, tiger." He chuckled at the half-shocked, half-scared look the comment prompted.

Chris glanced over at Vin, who hadn't said more than a word or two in the last couple of hours. "What did he say?"

Tanner shook his head. "Ain't sure."

"Well, guess it's time to call it a night, huh?"

Tanner nodded. "Reckon so."

"You want to take a ride up to the ridge tomorrow? See if any eggs have hatched?"

Vin grinned. They had seen the pair of hawks building their nest a few weeks back, just as some of the trees had begun to leaf out. He nodded, although he knew it would still be weeks before any baby hawks broke free of their shells.

"You got your back-up in the jeep?"

Tanner nodded again, he always a gym bag packed and ready in the Jeep, just in case.

"Grab it and I'll drive. This blasted medication's going to make me the designated driver for a few more days."

Vin offered him a small smile, but he pushed to his feet. He could drive just as easily as Larabee. He'd only had two beers, and he'd nursed those over the course of several hours. But it seemed the man wanted to talk, and there was no reason to put it off. "Fine by me," was all he said.

The two men stopped to say goodnight to Ezra and Inez. The undercover man was looking a little stunned, but he managed to congratulate Vin on his victory and compliment Chris on his performance as well.

"Next time I hope you'll be competing?" Inez asked the blond hopefully.

Larabee smiled, leaning on the cane he was using to help spare his healing leg. "Well, we'll see." Then he glanced at Vin and changed his mind. "Probably," he amended.

"A boon for us," Ezra complimented. "Although I doubt the other agencies will be willing to take us on again. Pity, too."

"Sure they will," Chris replied, his green eyes alight with merriment for the first time in far too long. "They're gonna want to take us down a peg."

"Well, then," Standish replied, "we will just have to hone our talents and show them who's truly gifted."

Gifted… Chris liked the sound of that. He glanced at Vin, who was blushing slightly at the subtle compliment he'd been paid. Well, he certainly felt gifted right now. All that was left was to break the news to Tanner.

0115 Larabee Ranch

Chris pulled up and parked in his usual spot. The two men climbed out, Vin carrying his gym bag. They headed inside, Larabee checking the security system and then rearming it.

Vin had gone on ahead to the guest room, dropping his bag onto the bed and opening it to pull out his shaving kit. He took it and headed into the bathroom, brushing his teeth, leaving the kit on the counter. Returning to the guest room, he undressed in the dark and pulled on a pair of soft flannel pajama bottoms, wondering if Chris was going to talk to him tonight, or wait for the morning. He got his answer a few moments later.

"We need to talk."

Vin turned. Larabee was leaning against the door jam, still dressed. He nodded.

"Give me a couple of minutes to get changed."

Tanner nodded. "Want me t' make some coffee?"

Chris thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Naw, just keep me up."

Vin sat down on the edge of the bed in the guest room when Chris headed off down the hall, his limp more pronounced. Then he pushed off and trailed after the man. He paused at the door to the dark master bedroom, waiting for the blond to invite him in. That invitation was quick in coming.

"Don't have to stand there," Chris said as he tapped a button on his stereo system, soft instrumental music beginning to play in the room.

"Reckon that depends on what y' got t' say."

That prompted a smile from Larabee, just barely visible in the dim light that filtered in from one of the security lights on outside. "First, I have a question."

"Might have an answer," Tanner replied.

"You singing to Inez, or to me?"

There was a short silence, followed by a choked whisper: "You."

Larabee shook his head. "Damn, Vin, I'm sorry."

Tanner shrugged. "It's all right… Won't do it no more."

Chris looked up. "No, I mean I'm sorry I was so damn blind, so slow."

That confused Vin. "Didn't want y' t' know," he said. "Weren't no reason…"

Chris had laid the cane on his dresser and had sat on the edge of the bed to remove his shoes and socks. Then he had stood and pulled off his flannel shirt and his undershirt, tossing them onto the back of his chair. He stopped there, eyes meeting Vin's. "Can I ask a favor?"

Surprise crossed Tanner's face, but he nodded, saying, "Sure."

"My leg's aching like a bitch, think you could help me?"

Vin felt the blood drain from his face, apparently headed to a new location south of his bellybutton. His mouth went dry and his skin began to tingle. "Uh, yeah," he managed thickly, "sure."

Chris unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them down, sitting on the edge of the bed again to pull them off completely. He tossed those over to join the rest of his clothes, then stood, and without looking at Vin, pulled his covers down and climbed into bed. It was warm enough in the room he didn't bother to pull the covers up, making sure that Vin had access to his leg.

Tanner moved into the room, making his way to the bed and sitting down on the edge and reaching out to begin rubbing Larabee's calf, slowly working his way up to the thigh, being careful to stay clear of the bandage covering the entrance wound. He was glad Larabee hadn't turned on a light and just hoped that his arousal wasn't as obvious as it felt to him.

"Mmm," Chris said, "feels good…"

"Y' mad?" Vin asked softly.

"Mad? About what?"

"Me," was the almost whispered reply.

"No, Vin, I'm not mad… I meant what that song said. I think I'm ready to fall in love again."

"But you haven't… right?"

"Think maybe I have… just hadn't realized it."

"Kinda hard to miss…"

"Depends."

"Depends?"

"On whether or not you think it can happen – I didn't think it could… but I was wrong."

Vin swallowed hard. "Y' sure about that?"

"I'm sure, Vin."

Tanner's hands continued to work, but he inched closer and closer to Larabee's groin, finally holding his breath and allowing his hand to brush lightly over it. He sucked in a sharp breath when he realized Chris was as aroused as he was.

"Mmm," the blond sighed.

"Chris?"

"I might be slow," Larabee told him, "but once I make up my mind… I'm good to go."

"Y' are, huh?"

"Well, not as good as I'd like, but good enough."

Vin chuckled softly. "Must be dreamin'."

"No dream, Vin… The dream's just getting started."

Vin shifted, climbing onto the bed, his exploration beginning in earnest, his hands rubbing over Larabee's belly, chest, ribs, and hips. He bent over, tongue laving over one hard nipple.

"Ah," Larabee grunted, his back arching slightly in response to the stimulation.

Vin smiled as he heard the first notes of an appropriate song beginning to play. He began to sing softly as he continued to touch Chris, his fingertips exploring the man's body.

You know our love was meant to be,
The kind of love that lasts forever,
And I need you here with me,
From tonight until the end of time.
You should know, everywhere I go,
You're always on my mind,
In my heart, in my soul.

Chris began to move under Tanner's arousing touch, his body seeking more stimulation, more contact, the words of the song, combined with what Vin's hands were doing, quickly leaving him hard and wanting.

You're the meaning in my life,
You're the inspiration.
You bring feeling to my life,
You're the inspiration.
Wanna have you near me,
I wanna have you hear me sayin',
No one needs you more than I need you.

Larabee lifted his hips, Vin taking advantage and carefully drawing his briefs down and off.

And I know, yes I know, that it's plain to see,
We're so in love when we're together.
And I know that I need you here with me,
From tonight until the end of time.
You should know, everywhere I go,
You're always on my mind,
In my heart, in my soul.

You're the meaning in my life,
You're the inspiration.
You bring feeling to my life,
You're the inspiration.
Wanna have you near me,
I wanna have you hear me sayin',
No one needs you more than I need you... ²¹

As the last words faded, Vin took hold of him, stroking him, rubbing his own leaking fluid over his shaft to make it easier. Chris was moaning, his body shaking and jerking, over-stimulated.

"Vin… please…"

Tanner leaned over, tongue licking across the over-sensitive head of Larabee's cock.

"Oh Christ," the blond gasped. "Vin."

Tanner kissed the tip, then began to lick over the glans, finally sucking the man into his mouth.

"I'm gonna come," Chris warned, his hips pumping even though he didn't want to. He wanted to make this last, but it had been so long, and his control was shot to hell.

And, as Vin's tongue began to rub along the sensitive underside of his shaft, Chris felt his control slip away and he was coming, shooting into the man's mouth.

Vin suckled him, provoking at least one additional surge of semen from his tingling balls. "Oh God," Larabee gasped, his body buzzing.

"Mmm," Tanner replied, licking Chris clean and then crawling up to lay down next to the man. "Thank you," he breathed.

"You're thanking me?"

Vin grinned. "I am."

"Well, you're welcome, but I think it's me who should thanking you. God, that was incredible."

"Glad," Vin replied. "Wanted it to be; been wanting to do that for so damn long…"

"Oh shit," Chris said, his head rolling to the side so he could look at Vin. "I didn't–"

"Didn't have to," the younger man interrupted with a grin. "Soon as y' started t' come, so did I."

"You leave a wet spot?"

"Probably," Tanner admitted.

Larabee chuckled. "Pull up the covers, maybe it won't get too cold."

"Hope not," Vin said, grabbing the covers and pulling them up to cover them. He snuggled up next to Chris, asking, "Your leg still hurt?"

"What leg?"

"Glad to hear it."

Chris wrapped his arm around Vin and pulled him in closer. "I should've seen it sooner, Vin. Wasted a helluva lot of time…"

"Wasn't wasted," Tanner told him. "You're m' best friend, m' family. This is… icin'."

"That all?" Larabee asked, trying to sound a little hurt. "Some say cake ain't cake without it, you know. What do you say?"

"That I feel damn lucky t' get cake, 'n' cake with icin' is a blessing."

Chris smiled. "Amen to that."

"I love y', Chris. Have since I met ya. Guess I will 'til I die." His voice caught and he couldn't stop the tears that sprang into his eyes. "Y' could 'a died," he choked out.

Chris hugged him tight. "Yeah, maybe, but it didn't go down that way. You didn't let it go down like that." He turned his head, planting a tender kiss on the top of the man's head. "I promise you'll never wonder if I love you again." He could feel Vin smile a little shakily, and he pressed closer, basking in the closeness they were sharing. Chris closed his eyes and allowed himself to do the same. He hadn't realized just how alone he had felt, how lonely, but now he knew, and he also knew those times were gone. Sleep tugged at him, and he surrendered to it, knowing Vin would be there beside him when he awoke. And when he did, he planned to make a few more wet spots…

Sunday morning

0840 Hours

Vin leaned against the door jam, watching Chris as he lay, sleeping peacefully in the bed. A lingering, pleasant heaviness remained in his balls and his heart felt like it was over-full with joy and love. He had never expected this to happen, had never expected Chris to return his feelings.

He wasn't sure how he'd gotten so lucky, but he didn't really care. All that mattered was that they were together.

When I see you in the morning
With that old sleep still in your eyes
I remember all the laughter
And the tears we shared last night
And as we lie here
Just two shadows
In the light before the dawn
The sweetest thing
I've ever known
Is lovin' you…

And I have never been afraid of losin'
And I have never wanted love to be a chain
I only know that when I'm with you
You're my sunshine, you're my rain
The sweetest thing
I've ever known
Is lovin' you…

Now you and I
We're not children
We have both been loved before
We have given and we have taken
Many rides on troubled shores
But all the heartaches and temptations
Only made me love you more
The sweetest thing
I've ever know
Is lovin' you…

And I have never been afraid of losin'
And I have never wanted love to be a chain
I only know that when I'm with you
You're my sunshine, you're my rain
The sweetest thing
I've ever known
Is lovin' you

The sweetest thing
I've ever known
Is loving you… ²²

When the softly sung song ended, Chris pushed himself up into his elbows, green eyes hooded with desire, a crooked grin on his face. "Damn, Tanner, you're nothing but a romantic."

"Reckon I c'n live with that," was Vin's reply as he stalked toward the bed.

"Hungry?" Chris asked him.

"Starved," he replied, climbing in under the covers, his mouth finding Larabee's. The kiss was long and passionate, leaving both men breathless when they parted.

"What do you want for breakfast?" the blond asked when they did.

"Got all I need right here," was Vin's reply.

Chris chuckled. "All you need is love…" he sang, then began working on breakfast.

The End, for now!

Comments

¹ Mel McDaniel, "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On."
² Frank Sinatra, "The Way You Look Tonight."
³ Doobie Brothers, "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On."
⁴ Kenny Loggins, "Danger Zone."
⁵ Juice Newton, "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me."
⁶ Brooks and Dunn, "Good Girls Go to Heaven."
⁷ Chicago, "You're the Inspiration."
⁸ Journey, "Any Way You Want It."
⁹ Dean Martin, "You Belong to Me."
¹⁰ Aselin Debison, "We Rise Again."
¹¹ Gary Morris, "Mama, You Can't Give Me No Whippin'."
¹² Madonna, "Cherish."
¹³ Conway Twitty, "It's Only Make Believe."
¹⁴ Madonna, "Like a Prayer."
¹⁵ Harry Connick Jr., "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."
¹⁶ Madonna, "Open Your Heart."
¹⁷ Phil Collins, "Dance into the Light."
¹⁸ Trisha Yearwood / Leann Rimes, "How Do I Live?"
¹⁹ Juice Newton, "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me."
²⁰ Gary Morris, "I'd be the First to Fall in Love Again."
²¹ Chicago, "You're the Inspiration."
²² Juice Newton, "The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Know."