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+ + + + + + +It was another two days before Vin was able to come over again, and when he did it was late evening. Chris pulled Vin toward the bedroom, and hungry mouths and hurried hands had them soon undressed.
Vin's hands moved across Chris's back, reaching up to the broad shoulders and then across his back. He nipped at the lower lip, teasing it with his teeth before moving toward the sensitive earlobe.
Chris shivered as all the blood in his body shot right to his groin. He felt his cock lengthen and harden as Vin worked erotic magic with his lips and teeth.
Larabee's hands pressed against Vin's sides, smoothing down the ladder of ribs still too prominent from his weight loss these past few days. He hoped this bust came down soon, before Vin wasted away to nothing. It was already near the danger zone, since Vin would almost always get sick when he spent too much time studying and preparing for an op and far too little time eating and sleeping and taking care of himself. His hands continued down to the tiny waist and the hollow belly below the hard jut of bones at Vin's hips.
"Gotta feed you, Tanner," Chris growled, nestling into Vin's soft curls.
"Mmm..., sounds good ta me, Cowboy," he rasped, reaching down to grasp Chris's lengthening member firmly in his hand. "Need fillin' up."
Chris gasped and Vin chuckled.
"Pretty smug, there," Chris scowled.
Vin just grinned up at him, a wicked light glinting in his eyes.
Just then Chris used his strength and the element of surprise to flip Vin over onto his back, pouncing on top of the younger man and sitting on his thighs as he grabbed Vin's wrists and pulled them over his head.
Vin's eyes flared with momentary fear and panic, until he focused again on the face of his lover. His heart was still beating wildly, and as he struggled to calm himself Chris was flooded with guilt.
"God, Vin. Jesus, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to startle you, pard. You know I'd never hurt you."
Vin just nodded, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Vin? Cowboy?"
"I know, Chris. I..., ya jist..., it just startled me a minute."
Chris knew that Vin wanted to drop it, and he didn't press the issue.
"Do love that blush on you, though, babe."
"Did you jist call me 'babe'?"
Chris grinned and waggled his eyebrows while he leered down with a feral smile at the wild child in his bed.
"Been hangin' around Buck too much, I guess. But it suits you."
"Suits me!" Vin glared.
"Yep," Chris gave a firm nod. "Especially when you're squeaking."
"I am not... squeaking!"
It might have had more effect if Chris hadn't moved his hands down from the slender wrists to ghosting his hands across Vin's ticklish ribs, and the last of Vin's sentence had ended in a breathless squeak.
Chris laughed, and Vin squirmed beneath the bigger man trying to get away. Vin's twisting only served to draw them closer, and their two proud cocks stroked and fought against each other. Vin's breathless protests were punctuated by giggles and he couldn't stop the squeaks when Chris's long fingers found a particularly sensitive area.
Suddenly Chris leaned forward, pressing their two shafts tightly between the two firm bellies, and latched onto a tiny, rosy nipple. His tongue laved the small bud until it tightened to pebble hardness, and then he nipped it lightly with his teeth. His fingers left the sensitive ribs and his hand found the other nipple, drawing a gasp of desire from the smaller man.
Vin reached his hands up to Chris's hair, threading them through the short golden strands, pushing his head tighter where his mouth and fingers were latched onto Vin's nipples. Vin ground his hips higher, straining to arch his back into Chris's embrace. His strong fingers pressed against Chris's back, moving across his body almost frantically. Vin's head began thrashing back and forth as he was driven crazy by Larabee's talented mouth and hands.
"Need ya, Cowboy," Vin gasped.
"Need what?"
"Need... you."
"Say it," Chris whisper was harsh in his ear.
"Fuck me, Chris. Need ya t' fuck me. Hard."
Chris responded with a sound that was part gasp, part growl. Nothing was sexier than Vin's voice, the sound like honeyed whiskey over sandpaper. Just the sound of Tanner's voice could make Chris come, and he fought against the tide that threatened to erupt before even entering Vin's body. He pulled his mouth from Vin's chest, then pressed wet kisses to the smooth, hairless skin between Vin's nipples. He continued down the rock hard ridges of muscle that quivered as the bigger man touched and soothed as Vin moaned and whimpered under him.
"Shh..., easy now. Gonna take care of you real good."
"Now, Chris," Vin demanded. "Need ya now."
Chris reached a long arm up and opened the drawer of the dresser, pulling out the tube of lotion that they'd discovered was their favorite brand. He pushed himself up until he was kneeling between Vin's slender thighs, staring down at his beautiful lover. Vin gazed up at him with blue eyes nearly darkened to navy with desire, his body flushed and golden with a light sheen of sweat. Chris nearly had to look away before the sight alone sent him over the edge.
Vin licked his lips as his eyes tracked Chris's hands while they opened the tube. Chris's breath caught, and he nearly poured too much out while he was distracted.
"Chris..., I'm hurtin' here, Cowboy."
"God, Vin..., just looking at you is making me come."
Vin's eyes flew up to his, and their gazes locked while Chris rubbed the lotion between his hands to warm it. He held Vin down firmly by grasping a lean hip with one hand while moving his other hand down between their bodies. Vin nearly shot off the bed when Chris's long fingers found the opening he was searching for, and he bit his lips between clenched teeth.
"Easy..., shh..., easy now."
Chris worked the lotion into Vin's body, pressing more inside as he worked up to two fingers, scissoring them and finally added a third. Vin was whimpering and soft gasps escaped as he pressed his body into Chris's fingers, trying to push them further into his warm body.
Finally Chris felt the tight ring of muscle relax and give, and knew that Vin was ready for him. He reached up for one of the decorative, rolled pillows, knowing that it was the best for supporting Vin's back for this type of love-making.
"Fuck me, Chris. I need ya ta fuck me now."
Chris pulled up on the slender hips, and Vin held his body there while Chris slid the firm pillow under him. Moving his hands to Vin's inner thighs, he pushed them wider apart. Chris's breath caught at the sight of Vin, spread wide and open to his gaze. Vin was incredibly flexible, and could do splits to the left, right, and center. It was this ability for center splits that caused Chris to gasp, hardly able to breathe as he pushed Vin's legs even wider.
"God, Vin. Jesus..., hell! Oh, God...."
"Hurry, dammit!"
"God, Vin.... So beautiful. So fucking beautiful."
"I'm gonna shoot ya in a minute if ya don't fuck me, Lar'bee," Vin growled.
Taking one hand from a slender, muscled thigh, Chris guided the tip of his cock into the beckoning hole. It took all his considerable self control to keep from ramming his dick hard into that willing body, and slamming into Vin over and over. He drew a shaky breath while forcing his eyes up to Vin's face. He watched while Vin's eyes were pressed tightly shut, panting slightly, and the younger man tensed as his body adjusted to the fullness and pressure. Chris knew the moment Vin relaxed as he felt the opening give, and then he leaned up to thread his hands with Vin's long fingers, pressing into the mattress on either side of Vin's head.
Slowing pushing his hips forward, Chris entered Vin's body, the tight heat driving him crazy. Their eyes stayed locked, both green and blue dark and deep with passion. Chris moved until he was buried deep, his body pressing into the surprisingly soft curls at Vin's groin.
Both men were panting, struggling to maintain that tremendous rush of feeling threatening to bring a too-quick close to their love-making. Chris bent low and leaned to kiss Vin, his long neck stretched back to meet him, tongues teasing and tasting, mouths pressing and devouring. Chris broke the connection finally, sitting back on his heels. He took Vin's hands and placed them up on the headboard rails, circling his own hands around Vin's to hold them there a minute.
"Stay."
Vin swallowed hard, then nodded.
Chris smoothed his hands down the long, slender muscled arms, then pressed his hands across the powerful shoulders and down the firm pecs, stopping to roll the tiny nipples between the thumbs and forefingers of each hand. He knew he couldn't spend too much time there or they would both lose it. As his hands trailed down across the flat belly, the muscles quivered with tension as Chris's fingers traced the hollows and curves of abs and ribs.
"Move, dammit, Cowboy," Vin hissed between gritted teeth. He was panting, and Chris saw the beads of sweat break out across his forehead.
"Can't take my eyes off you, Tanner," Chris grinned with a mixture part feral and part tender. "God, you're so beautiful. I love your body. I love looking at it, and I love looking at it while I'm fucking you."
Vin gasped, his eyes widened as they darkened further.
"You ain't so bad yerself, Lar'bee, all ivory and golden," Vin gasped. "But if'n ya don't start movin', I'm gonna have ta shoot yer sorry self."
Chris leered down at Vin. "Gonna take ya now, Cowboy. Gonna make everything better."
With that Larabee grasped the slender hips, his thumbs and fingers pressing into the protruding bones and soft skin that curved around to Vin's perfect ass. He stared down to the joining of their bodies, marveling at the powerful, slender thighs spread wide to his gaze. He saw his dick slowly pulling out of Vin's body, stopping just when the head reached the opening.
He gasped at the sight. "Oh God, Vin. Jesus.... Fuck!. So tight..., so hot...."
Vin was breathing hard, trying to maintain control. He had to look away from Chris's face, because just seeing Chris staring at him, watching with such fascination as he buried himself into Vin's ass was nearly more than he could handle.
"God, Vin. So sexy..., so fuckin' sexy...."
"Chriisssssssssss....,"
Larabee tightened his hold on the younger man's narrow hips, raising them up another few inches as he slowly watched himself press into that tight, narrow heat. Vin felt the pressure fill him, and it seemed to push into his belly. He tried to slow his breathing, but each man was panting from the overwhelming sensations engulfing them. Chris stared down as if mesmerized by the vision of his cock pushing into and pulling out of Vin's ass.
"Mine."
Vin gasped as the slow movement tortured him. His pulse was racing and Chris glanced at his face. Their eyes locked, and Larabee realized it was time to stop with the delicious torment and put his lover out of his misery. He slid his hands further around Vin's ass, the tips of his longest fingers finding the crack as his large hands spread over the curve of ass cheeks. He gasped at the sensation that Vin's butt was so small he could easily cover each cheek with his long fingers, and he pulled the ass cheeks further apart.
Tanner's breath quickened even more, and his whimpers and small moans had Chris struggling to hold on just a little longer. He tilted Vin's body one inch higher as he pulled out as far as the head of his long, swollen member, and then slammed hard into Vin's pliant body. Vin cried out as Chris's cock hit the small nub inside his body, causing jolts of ecstasy to fire through him.
Chris couldn't stop himself then after Vin's cry. The feel of heat and tightness, combined with the sight of Vin's gorgeous body writhing underneath him and the sound of Vin's small cries and whimpers overloaded all of his senses. Holding tight with a bruising grip, Chris slammed into that perfect ass over and over, his large hands alternately pulling Vin's ass cheeks apart and pushing them together, all the while tilting Vin's hips up or down slightly to vary the angle.
He knew in the back of his mind that Vin would have bruises on his hips and butt tomorrow, and might very well be tender when he was sitting down, but nothing could stop him from his relentless pounding. He also knew that Vin didn't want him to stop. They often made love gently, slowly, carefully, but there were times when Vin seemed to need hard and fast and ruthless, and at those times Chris couldn't back off and slow down even if he'd wanted to. There was something so incredibly powerful in making his calm, cool Texan lose all control. Knowing that he only let go like this with Chris was an overwhelming rush.
Chris didn't think he could hold on much longer, although he wanted the fucking to never end. His cock slammed into the tight, hard body over and over, his belly and balls pressing against the soft curls until he couldn't get any further inside. Suddenly Vin clenched his muscles around Chris's cock, and the older man screamed as he came, shooting his hot seed deep inside his lover. Vin's body shook as he came a split second later, his own seed shooting high across his belly and chest in long, ropey streams. Chris pounded inside Vin a few more times, drawing himself out slowly and holding it for a second before slamming hard into Vin's ass, then holding Vin's hips he turned the smaller body a little to vary the angle, before repeating it again, and again a third time.
Finally both men were completely spent, long shudders trembling their limbs until Chris couldn't hold himself up any longer. He reached under Vin and pulled the pillow out from where it helped support his lower back, and then collapsed on top of his younger lover.
Both were panting hard for a few minutes, hearts racing until they gradually calmed. Chris felt the younger man take in a deep breath and realized that he was probably too heavy to stay there. When he felt Vin shiver, he knew that his Texan was getting chilled. He pushed off the bed, hearing the faint whimper of loss when his limp cock slid out of Vin's body. He padded into the bathroom, running hot water over a couple washcloths to warm them. Bringing them back to the bedroom with a couple towels, he cleaned Vin off and then himself. When he leaned over Vin to toss the damp material on the floor, Vin reached up and cupped the back of his neck, pulling him down for a kiss.
"Damn," he rasped softly, his eyes glittering with a mixture of love and amusement.
"Damn is right," Chris grinned down. "So you liked that?"
"I think 'liked' isn't the word. But I sure as hell don't know what is."
"Maybe we need to invent a new word for it."
"Well, I ain't askin' Ezra fer any suggestions."
"Ha!" Chris's laughter barked as he shook his head at Vin. The younger man was rolling out of bed to head to the bathroom and he swatted at the tiny butt. "You'd better not be sharing this with him."
Vin turned back and grinned wickedly, sitting on the edge of the bed with one knee bent to the side and the other foot on the floor.
"You don't think ol' Ez would have a word a little fancier than 'nice'?"
"I think Ezra has a lot of words, but I ain't lettin' you ask. I don't share, remember?"
Vin's face softened and he blinked away a sudden rush of unbidden tears as he got completely still. He reached out and cupped Chris's face gently with the long fingers of one hand.
"I remember," he whispered. "And I kinda like that ya don't share. Don't like ta be shared."
"Vin........?"
"No. No, Cowboy. Not now. Jist want ta enjoy.... 'nice.'"
Chris smiled and leaned forward to press a tender kiss to Vin's lips. The smaller man leaned into the kiss, smiling when they pulled away.
"Love ya, Chris."
"Love you, too, Vin Tanner."
"Think I'm gonna take a shower," Vin said, finally pushing himself off the bed and heading for the bathroom.
"Great," Chris teased. "And leave me to change the sheets... again!"
"That's my plan!" Vin's lopsided grin flashed, his eyes narrowing with laughter as he scooted away from Chris's reaching arm.
"You could always join me..., when you're done!"
"Smart-ass!"
"Thought you liked my ass."
Chris gasped as he caught a last sight of that perfect ass before it disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of the water turning on would have drowned out any reply he might have made, but he whispered into the silence, "Oh, yeah. I love your ass. And everything else about you."
Chris quickly stripped the sheets and put them in the hamper, then decided to put on flannel ones instead of the regular soft cotton. One year for Christmas Ezra had given him an Egyptian cotton sheet set, and Chris almost hated to admit how much he loved the feel of really good sheets. But the weather was turning colder and he had the feeling that Vin would appreciate flannel sheets. He'd bought them a couple weeks ago without telling Vin, and had washed them in secret to take out that starchy feel they always had when first out of the package.
After a few more minutes Chris looked up and frowned. Vin still wasn't out of the shower, and Chris had thought he was just going to be in there a couple minutes to basically rinse off. He smoothed the last bit of the sheets, turning down the corner with a wry, mocking grin at himself for turning into Susie Homemaker. God-damned, long-haired, scrawny-assed Texan was turning him domestic.
And he wouldn't have it any other way.
Chris walked into the bathroom and noticed that Vin wasn't moving under the shower. He got a warm smile on his face when he saw that Vin was leaning on the wall of the shower, resting his head on his folded arms just letting the steamy heat of the water warm him.
Chris opened the sliding door of the shower and Vin didn't even open his eyes.
"Comin' in? The water's fine."
"You need to come out," Chris told him firmly. "You're falling asleep in there."
"Mmmm...?" Vin murmured, still not opening his eyes.
"Vin...," Chris repeated. "Time to get out before you get all wrinkly."
"Can't move," the younger man protested. "Too tired."
"It's gonna get cold soon," Chris warned.
Finally Vin opened one eye and pouted. "Yer no fun. Besides, ya need ta get a bigger water heater."
Chris just snorted. "I got the biggest one they make, Tanner. With all the hot water you want to use I'd need to get one the size of a city water tower."
"Smart ass," Vin sulked, pushing himself away from the wall finally. He leaned down to turn off the water and Chris winced as he got his first look at the bruises on Vin's hips and the firm globes of his ass cheeks.
Chris was holding up a fluffy warmed bath sheet when Vin stepped out of the shower, and the younger man allowed himself to be wrapped in the towel. Chris placed the soft heated material around the slender form of his lover, and kept his arms circled around the narrow sculpted chest while pulling Vin back against him. Vin practically purred, and Chris was grateful again that he'd sprung for the towel heater that he'd thought was an unnecessary extravagance at the time.
Seeing how much Vin enjoyed and appreciated the luxury of getting out of the shower to warmly heated towels was a pleasure he was thrilled to be able to give to the younger man. Anything he could do for his young lover he was grateful to have the means to do. He hated to think of the hardships and poverty to the point of destitution Vin had suffered as a child and throughout his teens. Whenever anyone did the smallest kindness for Vin, Tanner would go completely still and his eyes would widen, stunned that anyone would want to do anything nice for him.
Thinking about that, Chris nuzzled the damp hair off Vin's neck.
"Love you, Cowboy," he whispered, hugging the lean body back into him.
Vin sighed heavily and leaned back into the embrace. "Love ya, too, Lar'bee."
Chris moved to towel-dry Vin's hair, leaning down to breathe in the scent he loved.
"Smell good, too," he grinned.
Vin looked up and grinned back. Ezra had been horrified when he'd discovered that Vin used off-brand grooming products and had admitted that he bought whatever was the cheapest on sale. He had announced to their team leader as the group was finishing lunch in the saloon that he and 'Mr. Tanner' had an urgent errand to run and would be back to the office as soon as they finished what they needed to do. Grabbing the bewildered Texan by the arm, Vin shrugged at the rest of them as Ezra nearly pulled him from the room.
Ninety minutes later they had arrived back at the office, Vin's soft curls barely trimmed but shaped enough to give them a relaxed yet polished look. Ezra had followed behind proudly, carrying a designer bag holding shampoo and conditioner - Vin having drawn the line at mousse or gel or other products. Vin had rolled his eyes and protested he was coerced, and told the team how Standish had nearly blackmailed the man at the salon into working Vin into his fully-booked appointment schedule. The team had teased them both good-naturedly, but Standish was clearly pleased with the result, and when Vin caught Chris's eye and saw the hunger and desire in them, it gave him an answering thrill that maybe he'd have to find a way to thank Ezra after all.
Chris had followed Vin into the break room after noticing from his open office window that the Texan had gone in there alone. He came up behind the smaller man, pressing his face into those soft curls. The shampoo just smelled like Vin - a mix of rain and cedar and outdoors. Later that night he had shown Vin just how much he loved the new shampoo, and had also thought to try to find a way to thank Ezra anonymously.
Chris realized just how exhausted Vin really was when the younger man allowed him to dry him off. He didn't even protest when Chris had him sit on the closed lid of the toilet seat while Chris got out the blow dryer and dried Vin's hair. Chris thought again that Tanner was part cat; he was not only lithe and graceful and silent, but while Chris was carding his fingers through the damp curls and gently untangling them, the man was damn near purring.
Larabee snapped off the dryer and Vin didn't even open his eyes.
"Come on, you. Let's get you to bed."
"No. Sleep here," Vin mumbled, sounding more like a petulant five-year-old than a strong, powerful, intense and highly skilled twenty-five year ATF sharpshooter.
"Come on...," Chris pulled him up by the arms and led him, shuffling, into the next room. His voice couldn't hide his teasing grin. "Beddy-bye time."
Vin squinted a slitted blue eye open and tried to glare.
"C'n still shoot ya, even half asleep, ya know."
"I know. Big bad sharpshooter. Big bad guns..."
They stopped right before the bed and Vin looked down, suddenly seeing the new sheets. His eyes widened and flew up to meet Chris's, a look of shy pleasure flooding his face.
"New sheets, Lar'bee?"
"Like 'em?"
Vin ran long fingers over the fabric and turned back to Chris. "Yeah. They're real soft. Bet they're real warm. You do this fer me?"
Chris was going to make some smart comment about no, he did it for himself to protect his legs from Vin's ice-cold feet, but the look of awe and gratitude on the handsome face stopped him. He reached out and placed his hand under the long hair to reach the skin on the back of Vin's neck, and pulled him closer for a gentle kiss.
"Yeah, Vin. I did this for you."
Vin's breath caught, and then he sighed. "Well then, best be tryin' 'em out, I 'spect."
Chris laughed. "You want any sweatpants or a tee-shirt, Tanner? Maybe some wool socks for those ice cubes you call feet?"
"Nah. I got me a long, tall cowboy ta keep me warm."
Chris felt a stirring in his groin at the sound of Vin's suggestive rasp. God, he'd never get enough of that man if he lived to be a hundred.
"Bed," Chris ordered, and held up the blanket and comforter while Vin slid between the soft warm sheets. He pulled them up to Vin's shoulder as Vin nestled even further into the covers, sighed deeply while pulling them over his ear until only the top of his head showed. Chris wondered whether he'd even left his nose out enough so he could breathe.
"Hey, Cowboy, I'll be in soon. Just going to lock up the house and set the alarm and come to bed."
There was only a faint mumble from the bed, and Chris grinned as he left the room. Suddenly he thought of something else and turned back.
"Vin..., hey Vin...," he called softly, finding a shoulder under the covers and shaking it gently.
"Go 'way."
"Did you take anything? Any Advil before you got in the shower?"
There was a sound that might have been a negative response but was probably, 'm fine.' Chris headed toward the bathroom, returning a moment later with two ibuprofen and a glass of water.
"Here, take this," he nudged Vin's shoulder.
When Vin didn't move, Chris had to get more persistent.
"One quick sip and then you can go back to sleep," Chris couldn't keep the smile from his voice. "Besides, you don't want to be really sore tomorrow, and this is going to help."
Vin huffed and shoved the blankets down to raise up on an elbow, taking the pills in one hand to toss them in his mouth, then reaching for the glass. After he swallowed he handed the glass back to Chris.
"Thanks," he sighed. "You take good care of me."
"One crack about me making a good mama and you'll be sleeping in the barn," Chris warned, having caught sight of that glint in Tanner's eye and knowing what was coming next.
"Was gonna say ya make a real good lover. Ain't nobody ever taken such good care a me."
And then it was Chris's turn to gasp, and he saw the love and affection shining from those big blue eyes.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you, Vin. I saw the bruises. Don't want you hurting tomorrow."
"Shh...," Vin pressed his hand to Chris's lips. "Ain't hurtin'. You weren't hurtin' me, you were lovin' me. And I ain't never gonna complain about that."
"Get some sleep now," Chris said as he pulled up the covers again, watching as Vin settled on his side with a deep sigh. He knew that Vin would be asleep by the time the few minutes passed that it would take him to shut up the house and get to bed himself, but he also knew that Vin would find him even in sleep, resting his head on Chris's broad chest and flinging an arm across his body as Chris's arm circled his shoulders. Chris couldn't imagine sleeping in any other position, and hurried to get into the warm bed and his even warmer Texan.
+ + + + + + +
The mood was quiet and somber in the Team Seven offices as Vin's assignment of a couple days turned into five turned into a week turned into ten days and counting. Seemed as though every time they expected the bust to go down, their perp got more anxious and nervous, constantly needing to be reassured. While that was hard on Team Five, it was also hard on Tanner's teammates on Team Seven.
They barely saw Vin, as he spent his days working with Team Five, and most of his evenings were spent with their team as they went over more details and worked out all the logistics. Tanner never saw the rest of his friends on Team Seven, as he spent most of his evenings with the other team going over plans and getting up to speed on a project the rest of them had spent weeks on. And Larabee's famous temper flared fast and hot and often.
One night a few days into Vin's loan, the remaining members of Larabee's team headed for the Saloon after work. They were enjoying each others' company, laughing and talking, rolling their eyes at Buck who was thoroughly rebuffed by Inez, as usual. Even Chris seemed to be making a real effort to enjoy himself. Or at least not ruin the evening for the rest of them.
Ezra blinked when suddenly Chris sat up straighter, staring toward the entrance. He looked over to see what had caught their leader's attention, and noticed a group of agents from Team Five coming in together. Vin Tanner was in the middle of them, and surprisingly their shy Texan was not looking especially uncomfortable. As their group at their usual table watched they saw the flash of white teeth as he smiled up at something Eric Sutherland was saying. The slightly taller man was grinning down into Vin's laughing face, and the sharpshooter seemed to be relaxed and happy.
Vin looked over toward Team Seven's usual table, and smiled. He threw a hand up in greeting to them, but then Eric's arm was across his leather jacket clad shoulder leading him to Team Five's table. Chris couldn't help feeling his stomach clench at the sight of the handsome, younger agent with his arm thrown across his Texan.
'Mine,' he thought, his green eyes turning frosty. Then Chris struggled to compose himself. He drew a deep breath and reached for the pitcher of beer, making sure to keep the expression on his face neutral.
Only Ezra seemed to notice the change in Larabee, glancing thoughtfully across the saloon. The events could get quite interesting, if only one was observant enough to pay attention. And Ezra's mother didn't teach her son not to be observant.
"Hey, guys!" JD exclaimed, jumping up from the table. "Vin's here!"
"We know, Kid," Buck rolled his eyes.
"Well, I'm gonna go say hello," he told them, and left before the rest of them had a chance to answer.
"Ah, the excitable youth," Josiah grinned.
Nathan smiled at them. "You'd think Vin was never going to come back to us."
All of them turned to watch, as Vin looked up and smiled as JD approached. For a split second Vin's gaze caught and held Chris's, his expression unreadable, before turning to introduce JD to the rest of the guys. While JD was talking, their waitress delivered two big pitchers of beer and followed with several bowls of nachos and snacks.
Eventually JD bounded back to their table. "Boy, those guys are really nice. Well, and Tiffany's nice, too. She's their female agent."
Ignoring their smirks and barely concealed eye-rolling, JD plunged ahead in his usual rapid-fire speech.
"What a name - Tiffany! I usually think of 'Tiffany' as someone tiny and delicate, but she could kick some serious butt. Seriously, Buck, I bet she could take you. I've never seen muscles like that on a girl. Heck, she might even have bigger muscles than Vin. But Vin could take her. You'd have to be a lot bigger than Tiffany to beat Vin at anything. Anyway, all the guys are really nice. Vin says they've been working really hard and Eric insisted they come here to relax. Eric's the one with the dark curly hair. He's been working the closest with Vin. The two of them spent all day at the warehouse where the bust is taking place. The other guys wanted to come here sooner, but Eric said he'd wait with Vin because Vin wanted to go work out before coming. I guess the other guys - well, and Tiffany, of course - went to dinner first, then decided to meet up here."
"Damn, take a breath, Kid!" Buck interrupted.
"Well, I just thought you'd want to know," JD pouted. "Oh, and Vin says hi."
Chris smiled, but it felt to himself more like a grimace. So Eric Sutherland went and spent all day with Vin, huh? Just the two of them needed an entire day to scope out a warehouse? He knew he wasn't being fair. He knew first hand that Vin would explore every possible inch of a place to find the best location, the best possible angles, taking into effect the changes in lighting throughout the day and evening hours, to any possible drafts from openings. He'd seen Tanner spend hours making sure he had their backs covered, and the sharpshooter would do nothing less for anyone or any team.
But what did JD say about Vin staying to work out? And how Eric didn't want Vin to stay alone, so volunteered to stay, too. Probably volunteered to shower with him, as well.
Chris drained his beer mug and slammed it down on the table, startling the rest of them.
"Ready for another, Stud?" Buck grinned.
Vin stood and slowly made his way across the room, gliding through the increasingly rowdy customers almost as if he were a sleek, lithe cat. His bright blues eyes were focused solely on sea green, and Chris felt a little bit of the ice melt from around his heart. Vin was his, and nothing would change that.
"Hey. How's it goin'?" Vin drawled, leaning hipshot against the wall by Larabee's chair. Chris had to fight to keep from looking straight in Vin's crotch, instead pulling his eyes up toward that fine-boned face. He swallowed hard when he suddenly became well aware that Vin was wearing his fuck-me jeans. Thin and soft from years of use, and worn in all the right places, it drove Chris crazy whenever Tanner wore them. There was just the smallest of tears in the fabric directly under Vin's left ass cheek, and the material was molded to that fine body. They were the perfect fit between nice and snug, but stopped this side of being too skin tight. Chris knew how the long legs, firm sculpted thighs and tight butt would feel through the soft, worn fabric. He had to tear his eyes away from the worn material caressing Vin's cock.
The men made small talk, glad to see Vin and he was glad to see them. He filled them in on how the case was going. Mostly, though, Chris knew Vin was smirking at him, silently laughing at Larabee's unease.
'Just wait until I get that little shit home,' he growled to himself. 'I have half a mind to bend him over my knee and paddle that sweet ass, or maybe just fuck him senseless.'
"Hey, Tanner!" Eric called from across the room. "Our pool table just opened up. Come on!"
"Well, gotta go," Vin smiled. "See ya'll soon."
"Is it exceedingly warm in here?" Ezra asked innocently.
"What?" Chris heard his voice croak.
"The temperature," Ezra explained. "I do believe Inez is having trouble with the furnace again. It does seem to be very warm."
"Lookin' at that boy," Buck leered, eyebrows waggling suggestively, "I'd say it's gettin' downright hot in here."
The temperature was indeed bordering on uncomfortably warm, and Chris noticed that everyone not only had their coats and jackets off, which sometimes they tended to leave on if only stopping in for a quick drink, but many of them also had removed outer sweaters or layers of clothing.
Pretending not to stare, Chris had a perfect view into the back room and the pool table that Vin was now leaning over. He closed his eyes for a minute, trying to catch his breath. His mind raced, not only able to picture that perfect, tight ass bent over the pool table, but with the fuck-me jeans ripped off and nothing on that sweet, hot body but his own bare skin draped across it.
He took another long pull at his beer, and thought briefly of ordering something stronger. With the next thought he struggled to maintain control, and realized that he'd better stop drinking right now before he did something foolish and dangerous.
JD had seen a friend from the IT department and scampered over to talk about the latest surveillance equipment they were hoping to buy. Since both SACs had denied the funding, the two computer experts were now busily plotting to see whether the teams could split the cost and share the equipment. Nathan, Ezra, Josiah, and Buck were willing to stay at Team Seven's table and keep Chris company. Buck decided he liked the view of the pool table, also, and swung his chair around next to Chris's.
Buck's mouth dropped open, and Chris barely kept from choking at the sight they saw next. Eric reached out and placed his hand over top of Vin's, holding it there for the slightest pause before sliding it off his hand and onto the pool cue. With a gentle tug, Eric pulled it away to hold it, all the while talking to Vin. They saw Vin shaking his head, and Chris frowned. He knew Tanner could take care of himself, but wondered just what the hell this Eric Sutherland thought he was doing.
Finally after more discussion, Vin finally shrugged. Chris saw his lopsided grin from across the room where it angled up to smile at the taller man. Eric grinned as Tanner just shook his head, then peeled out of the leather jacket.
Time slowed to a crawl and all sounds faded to a hush as the sight had nearly half the bar staring open-mouthed and slack-jawed - including all the women and more than half the men. Because obviously Vin hadn't planned to remove the jacket, and hadn't had a complete set of clothing back in his locker. Chris knew that Tanner didn't usually work out without planning to ahead of time, but also knew the younger man would go for a long run, or hit the weights hard to blow out the cobwebs after a particularly grueling session of plans or reports or studying. Chris figured Vin had grabbed the only clean thing he had in his locker, planning to leave the leather jacket on while he stopped for a quick beer and then head home.
But suddenly Chris, and the entire Saloon, was getting a look at Vin Tanner in low-slung, body-hugging, fuck-me jeans, and a tiny white tank top that revealed tanned broad shoulders, lean-muscled arms, and powerful pectorals. Every outline of his eight-pack abs was clearly defined. The sight which mesmerized them also included about three inches of smooth, silky tanned skin between the bright white fabric that ended just below his navel to the top of the soft faded denim of the jeans slung low on slender hips. The only hair on his body was the faint golden hair on his forearms, which seemed to glow in the dim light of the bar. The small tank top revealed that there was no hair on Vin's chest, back, or belly, and his long, freshly washed curls were shiny and fell in rich, dark waves to his shoulders.
"Hot.... Damn!" Buck gasped, eyes nearly gaping out of his head. His mouth hung open in shock. "That boy looks good enough to eat!"
Ezra looked stunned, and even Josiah and Nathan looked intrigued. If Chris thought his pants were uncomfortable before, right now his aching shaft was throbbing painfully. Chris seriously wondered whether he'd be able to walk, or whether he'd shoot his load right there at the table. Damn that boy.
"Brother Tanner seems to have drawn a lot of attention," Josiah grinned hugely, big teeth flashing and eyes alight was humor.
"I'm thinkin' that boy is about the sexiest thing I've seen in this place for quite some time. Maybe even including Inez," Buck breathed in awe. "Let me tell you, if I went in for a walk on the wild side, I'd grab that boy and throw him across that pool table, yanking those jeans off and making quick work of getting rid of that tiny little tank top."
Chris almost panicked at hearing his own fantasy given voice to by his oldest friend. Chris had been in the middle of picturing his mouth latching onto one of those perfect nipples, teasing and tweaking them through the soft white fabric. His eyes widened momentarily in fear before realizing that Buck didn't have any clue that Chris was thinking the very same thing.
Vin, however, was completely oblivious to the stir his appearance was creating in the saloon. He laughed up at Eric, white teeth flashing, taking back the pool cue and handing over his jacket in exchange. Vin walked around the table lining up his shot, and then bent over to reach across this his pool cue. Chris's mind fumbled through everything he could to take his mind off the sight of that tight, perfect ass and the inches of creamy, tanned, smooth skin across the lower back and smooth belly of his young lover. Only Chris, of all of them, knew just how satiny soft that skin actually felt, how delicious that tanned skin really tasted. And what delights and treasures would be revealed once that tiny little top and those decadent jeans were pulled off that taut, hard body.
'Oh, God. Think! Must not look! No looking. Oh, God... Spinach. Porta-potties. Nuns. My parents. JD. JD and Casey. Okay, ick. Not helping. Nothing is helping. Goddamn that sweet ass to hell for putting me through agony like this. What the hell!'
"Hey," Buck chuckled. "Look at that! Seems like maybe old Eric is a little bit fascinated by our boy there. Maybe Team Five has an agent who walks on the wild side, huh?"
Sutherland was obviously checking out Vin's body, and using the opportunity of having Vin's attention on his shot to ogle Tanner. His eyes clearly caressed the body, from the long, strong arms down the lean torso to the tiny waist, and then Team Seven watched as Eric moved around to lean against the wall and stare blatantly at the tempting ass.
Chris felt himself flush with fury, and knew that if Eric even so much as flicked one finger near that little tear in the denim under Vin's butt cheek, he'd tear that finger right off his hand, shove it down his throat, and paperwork be damned.
"I'd be willing to wager that half the bar is fascinated with Mr. Tanner," Ezra announced, eyes taking in the sight of so many people suddenly mesmerized by a game of pool. While most of the women were blatantly staring, Ezra noted a good number of men who were trying to subtly watch without been caught looking. He grinned ruefully to himself, and turned a thoughtful eye to their team leader. Mr. Larabee was looking pretty uncomfortable about the whole situation. The question was, was his concern merely of a friend worried that a younger, shy friend would feel embarrassed? Or was that look one of something more? Something a little, deeper, shall we say. Perhaps even a little... possessive? Ezra made a note to monitor the situation a little more closely.
Many people started slowly migrating toward the pool tables, and Chris thought it would have been almost comical if it wasn't so infuriating. And the whole damn upshot of the thing was that Vin had no idea people were staring at him. Chris had never met anyone so truly unable to comprehend what he looked like. Vin would stammer and blush furiously whenever Chris told him he was beautiful, convinced that Chris was teasing or even mocking him. Nothing Chris said had been able to convince him that his looks were genuinely stunning, and he had never met anyone so beautiful who was completely in disbelief of that fact.
Vin leaned the pool cue against the wall. He reached up to catch his hair and tie it back away from his face. That movement served to accent the powerful shoulders and sculpted arms of his highly toned body. Vin raising his arms also pulled the tiny ribbed white top higher to reveal more of his taut, flat belly up just past his shallow navel. Chris swallowed hard, and he could have sworn there was an audible gasp that echoed throughout the room.
Eric grinned at Tanner as he held out the pool cue, and Larabee gritted his teeth at the pure lust he saw in the taller man's face. He clenched his fists under the table when Vin bent over to take his next shot.
Chris watched as a stray wisp of curl escaped from the loose ponytail holding Vin's hair back from his face, and yearned to go over the push it back behind those adorable small ears he loved so much. Either that or pull the old shoelace holding the rest of those wild, silky curls free, and run his fingers through the soft tangles.
'Get a grip, Larabee,' he hissed to himself. 'Much more of this and you're not going to have to worry about the government's don't ask/don't tell policy. Everyone in the fucking bar is going to know exactly what isn't their business to ask.'
Chris felt a momentary fury with the situation that forced himself and Vin to continue the charade that they were merely good friends. If Vin had been female, their only problem would be a superior dating a subordinate. Chris snorted out loud, causing Nathan to look at him questioningly until Chris waved a hand that it was nothing. They didn't come much more insubordinate than Tanner. But if Vin weren't a man and was working with another team, it would be Chris over there watching his young lover play pool, slipping a finger in that tempting slit of fabric to play with smooth upper thigh and maybe discreetly tear the fabric just a little bit more to reach the sweet curve of that tight ass. It would be Chris standing there while Vin waited his turn, running his big, work-calloused hand across the smooth skin and teasing at the belly showing above soft denim. He wondered about the world who insisted their love wasn't real. How could anything about the way they felt for each other, how could the deep, abiding intensity of emotions and love between them be wrong?
JD bounded back to the table, flopping noisily in a chair and blowing a huge puff of air up his face to flip his bangs up.
"Dang, it's hot in here!" he announced unnecessarily. He slurped noisily at the soda he'd retrieved from the bar on his way back to the table.
"And gettin' hotter every minute!" Buck chortled, enjoying the show of watching Vin play pool and the rest of the patrons in the bar watching Vin playing pool. He was pretty sure he enjoyed the sight of Vin more than watching everyone else watch, but that was fun, too. He got a kick out of seeing some of the most hard-assed, by-the-book, possibly borderline homophobic agents checking out one of their own. Hell, he - and possibly Ezra if they hooked up - could make a killing with a little informal blackmail if he only had a camera phone. Too bad they weren't on a stake-out. Where was that little shit, JD, with some wowwy-zowwy electronic gizmo when you needed it!
"Vin's got the right idea," JD told them. He reached to the sides and pulled his sweater off over his head, making his hair stand up straight from the static. He tugged his button down shirt and smoothed it, sighing with relief when his sweater came off. "Cool! Now me and Vin match."
Buck and Ezra stared at him, open-mouthed. Poor JD. It was almost comical to hear him compare himself in the same breath as Vin, but he obviously wasn't thinking that Vin was beautiful. To him Vin was just another friend and teammate. Ezra took a sip of white wine to hide his amusement.
"Yes, I do believe the climate is rather ... balmy, for a winter evening."
The talk around the table settled down into discussion of other topics, and Chris intently forced himself to focus on anything but the lean Texan in the other room. He managed to calm his raging erection, and thought to himself he'd never been so grateful as he was to listen to Josiah droning on about the latest seminar he planned to attend on the dilemma of faith healers. So he was surprised when Vin appeared at his elbow, leather jacket now back on and zipped part-way up.
"That was quite an interesting game of billiards," Ezra told him.
"Huh?" Vin looked clearly perplexed. He knew they hadn't been close enough to the pool tables to watch.
Josiah snorted. "Never mind, Son."
"Jist stopped ta say good-bye," Vin told them, his smile including everyone at the table.
"You headed home?" Chris asked, putting only the slightest emphasis on the last word, hoping Vin would pick up on his inflection and realize he meant the ranch.
"Yep," Vin answered smoothly, and Chris heard the 'no' in his answer. "Need ta get back ta my apartment and git some sleep. Gonna be another long day tomorrow."
"Lookin' good, Junior," Buck teased, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Vin flushed a delightful pink, and Chris thrilled to see that blush. He suddenly frowned when Eric Sutherland appeared at their table.
"You ready?" the tall young man asked Vin. He smiled around at all of them at the table, nodding a greeting and a good-bye at the same time to them, but clearly his attention and focus was on Vin.
Chris looked at them both smoothly, but inside his stomach was clenching again. Damn, but this assignment was going to give him an ulcer. He knew Vin wasn't going home with Eric - or wouldn't invite Eric up to his apartment. But at the same time, it seemed like this new agent was just a little too pushy for his taste.
Chris smiled up at Eric with a look resembling a shark. His grin deepened further when he saw the younger man flinch and blink.
"Have a safe ride home, Cowboy. Get some rest and we'll see you around the building tomorrow."
"'Night, Cowboy. Bucklin. Boys."
They turned to leave and Chris didn't know whether to be angry or relieved when Eric walked behind Vin, blocking his view of that little butt and the tight denim with the sexy little tear in the fabric. His feral grin intensified when he saw the rest of Team Five meeting them at the door, and watched as they all went out together as a big, noisy group. Any plans Eric might have made for getting Vin alone by his jeep were long gone, as they had more than enough innocent chaperones halting any chance of a private conversation.
"Boy, that Eric sure is nice," JD commented. "He seems to really be looking out for Vin. It's good Vin has somebody like that on their team. He wants to be with him all the time, the other guys told me. It's his job to get Vin up to speed, and he's really taking it seriously."
"Oh, yeah. Real seriously," Josiah intoned, an enigmatic grin on his face.
"All their team is really young, too. Not that, of course..., I don't mean..., I didn't say you guys were old or anything," JD stammered, turning beet red. "I just mean, it's kind of unusual for everyone on a team to be in their mid to late twenties, don't you think? Vin's about twenty-four, and he's the youngest. I asked Eric how old he is and he said twenty-eight. That's a good age. I think when I get to twenty-eight I'd like to just stay there forever. But anyway, except for Frank Morgan, of course, everyone's pretty young."
"You know, Kid, you can stop with that line of conversation any time now," Buck leaned over and smacked the back of his head.
"Ow!" JD yelped. "All I meant was...., I'm glad Vin has someone there looking out for him since we can't be there to look out for him. And in a weird sort of way, I think Vin and Eric look sort of cute together."
"Oh Lord and saints preserve us," Ezra moaned.
Josiah snorted, and Buck stared open-mouthed.
"Shit, kid! What kind of fool comment is that!?" the dark-haired agent hissed. He looked around furtively. "You want half the federal agents talking about that tomorrow at the water cooler?"
"What? I didn't say anything! I just said the team's young. Vin's young, Eric's young. The two of them look good together."
"All young. Yes, we get it," Nathan repeated, looking annoyed.
"It's just something we say," JD said defensively. "Heck, it's not like Vin's gay. Just because two people look good together, they're both tall and fit and good looking and y.. - "
"If you say 'young' one more time I'm going to beat your ass," Buck threatened.
" - slender," JD obviously changed his adjective, sticking out his tongue at his older roommate.
"Everybody knows you can't be a federal agent and be gay," JD rolled his eyes. "Vin sure as hell isn't gay, and Eric's one tough guy to be as advanced in his career as he is. He came in right after college, and is clearly all man. But I still insist that he and Vin make a cute - "
"JD....!"
" - fine. I won't say it."
"Thank you!" Ezra muttered, turning to retrieve his jacket from the back of his chair and standing to leave.
The rest of them got ready to go, and Chris felt a headache throbbing behind his eyes. He would give anything to be going home to find Vin there, still wearing the tiny top and those damn sexy jeans. He sighed, knowing that it was going to be a long, lonely drive back to a dark lonely ranch.
And damn JD for harping on Vin's age, anyway. It wasn't like the two of them didn't tease each other. Vin liked to call Chris 'Old Man,' and Chris got a kick out of wearing out the 'Kid.' But when JD kept going on and on about Vin being twenty-four, and Eric only twenty-eight with the others on Five about the same, it got him to feeling every bit of his nearly forty years.
Unfortunately, the next few days went more along the same lines, and Chris didn't get time alone with his Texan like he'd hoped. The team missed Tanner's quiet presence in their office, but Chris missed it more than the rest of them. He wasn't the kind of person who normally shared his feelings, but it grated on him to hear Buck talking about his dates, JD sharing details of places he was going with Casey, Nathan talking about plans he was making with Raine. Even Josiah was dating a woman he'd met who also volunteered at the shelter. He was missing his lover terribly yet couldn't tell anyone. It just pissed him off.
Then in the evenings he and Vin weren't able to get together either. Many times they'd catch a quick phone call, and Vin would tell him that he was working late. Chris tried to casually pull some details from the younger man, and found out that while sometimes the entire Team Five was there, many times it was Sutherland who wanted extra time spent going over everything with just the two agents alone.
When they grabbed a quick phone call, Chris tried to listen for any hint of guilt in Vin's voice, but heard nothing except a professional agent doing his best for the job. The teasing comments he was able to slip in, sometimes only at night when Vin was nearly asleep in his own apartment, were the only things keeping Chris from being completely jealous. He wondered whether he'd ever be able to lend Vin out to another team again - provided he survived this one.
The only time the guys saw Vin was when Team Five would gather at the Saloon while Team Seven was also there. Wilmington and the others would be settled in around Larabee, and about an hour later the agents from Five would come in. Vin looked surprisingly comfortable around them, but Larabee's eyes would narrow to see it was Eric always standing almost protectively right by his side. Chris could have sworn that Sutherland turned his way and stared at him, just long and hard and challengingly enough to send a message.
'If that bastard wants to fight for Vin Tanner, he doesn't have any idea what he's getting himself in for,' Chris snarled to himself, a feral grin reaching his face.
Only Ezra happened to notice the look, and followed the ice green gaze of the blond across the room. He saw Sutherland nod and smirk in acknowledgement before turning protectively around Tanner. Damnation. If only Ezra hadn't developed some sort of conscious, he'd be frantically placing bets among his teammates on the outcome of a confrontation between Mr. Larabee and the upstart Mr. Sutherland over a certain young sharpshooter's affections. But he wouldn't do that to Vin Tanner, and therein lie the rub. Mother would be so appalled.
When another round of beers were delivered to Team Seven, including a soda for JD, Buck started teasing their youngest agent about being a kid. When JD protested, Buck lovingly reached out and squeezed his neck, calling him the baby of the team.
"I'm not a baby!"
"Aw, Kid. You know how it is," Buck grinned, looking around at the rest of the team, then snickered and turned his voice into one sounding like a parent. "No matter how old you get, you'll always be our baby."
Even Chris had to laugh with the rest of them at the look of indignation on JD's face.
"Hey!" He frowned. "Besides, if I'm the 'baby,' what does that make Vin? He's only three or four years older than I am!"
Larabee felt his stomach clench. He could no more imagine an intimate relationship with JD than he could with... Adam. Was he really some kind of dirty old man, that he felt it was okay to be romantically involved with Vin, who wasn't much older than JD?
"Come on, JD," Buck teased. "You still have your baby fat."
"I do not! I'm just..., big boned. I'm... healthy. Besides, I'm nearly the same age as Vin! You don't think of him as a baby!"
"JD," Josiah intoned, shaking his head. "You'll never be as old as Vin Tanner was when he was ten." He looked thoughtful and added quietly, "None of us will."
There was a moment of reflective silence as each man privately contemplated the truth of that statement. Buck turned to Chris then, trying to lighten the suddenly somber mood.
"Remember what we were getting up to when we were kids like Vin and JD? We were in college, flirting and drinking and barely going to class - just enough to get the grades. Of course, I was doing more of the flirting and you were doing more of the going to class."
Chris forced himself to smile as Buck prattled on about their escapades when the two of them were younger, but inside he couldn't get the image out of his head that maybe he was doing the wrong thing. Maybe it wasn't fair to Vin to be saddled with an older man.
He unwillingly glanced across the crowded bar and saw Vin, surrounded by younger teammates than he had on Team Seven, and saw his faint, crooked smile turned toward Eric as the handsome, dark-haired agent leaned closer to tell him something private. They did look good together. They looked..., right, somehow. What if Vin had been recruited by Team Five from the beginning? Would Vin be having a relationship with Eric if he'd never met Chris? Was Eric more his type? Maybe younger and more physically able to keep up with his young, energetic lover? It made him want to throw up.
"Hey! Speaking of age," Buck abruptly interrupted himself., "We need to start planning Chris's surprise birthday party!"
"I do believe, Mr. Wilmington, that the concept of a surprise birthday party is that the guest of honor not be aware of it's actual existence until the moment of arriving - astonished - at the festivities. Thus the term, 'surprise'...?"
"Aw, Ez. You know nobody can keep a secret from the Old Dog here! Besides, this is the big four-oh! Larabee's over the hill this year."
"Ah," Josiah nodded and grinned. "I remember forty. In the far distant past. It was a very good year."
"Wow, Josiah - how old are you?"
"Shit, JD!" Buck snorted and rolled his eyes. And JD thought he was as old as Vin? Ha!
"I'm fifty-seven," Josiah told him, glaring down his nose at the squirming young man. "And getting older by the second."
"Cool! You could be my grandfather!" he chirped, totally oblivious.
Ezra nearly choked on his drink, and Nathan snorted, staring intently into his beer mug.
"Vin and JD are mere pups, right, Chris?" Buck said, putting his arm around his oldest friend's shoulder. Hell, JD's practically a teenager, and Vin's, what? Twenty-three? Twenty-four maybe? They're kids! Practically half our age."
"Well, Vin and I are less than two-thirds your age, anyway."
"Show-off," Buck swatted at JD, who grinned and ducked away. "Can always tell the math majors in the crowd."
"Computer Science and Technology."
"Same thing. Now, let's make plans for the party. Lots of black balloons...."
"You know, Buck," Josiah added thoughtfully, "psychological studies show that men who tease others most about their age are the ones most worried about their own virility."
Buck's eyes widened as the others all roared with laughter, leaving Buck sputtering and denying the truth of that.
Nathan leaned closer to Josiah.
"Is that true?" he whispered.
"Not in the least!" Josiah assured him happily. "In any event, I never actually came across a study proving it."
Ezra had overheard enough to know what they were saying, and raised his glass in a mock salute as they watched in amusement as Buck tried to back his way out of the situation.
Just then Inez came over with more beer, and another glass of wine for Ezra and soda for JD.
"Anyone need anything else?" she asked, smiling fondly around at the men, while at the same time standing next to Ezra and away from Buck Wilmington and his groping hands.
"Sure, Darlin'," Buck grinned up at her. "We're having a party for the Stud here. Wonder if you could make the cake for the party?"
"I would be happy to bake a cake for Senor Larabee."
"Can you make black frosting?" JD piped up, then started coughing as the bubbles from his soda tickled his nose.
Inez just shook her head and told them she would make a beautiful cake, in honor of a beautiful man. She winked at Chris as she turned away, and he had to smile at her as she left Buck sputtering and protesting that he was the beautiful one at the table.
'Maybe,' Chris thought to himself, 'but only because the most beautiful man in the room is sitting at another table instead of right here where he belongs.'
They continued with some other planning, but Chris's birthday was a month away so it wasn't like they needed to finalize anything right then. JD went off to call Casey, and came back and said he was going over to help her study. After a few minutes of Buck teasing the younger agent about just what exactly he was going to help her study, the younger man pulled away and left. The rest of them all got up to leave, stretching and pulling on jackets.
Vin looked up from across the room, and Chris went over with the rest of Team Seven to chat briefly with their sharpshooter. Chris was the last to leave, and Vin stood up and reached for his jacket. He said goodbye to the guys of Team Five, and Chris couldn't help the self-satisfied smirk on his face at the look of dismay that crossed Eric Sutherland's handsome features.
Vin followed Chris out to his Jeep, where he'd lucked into finding a parking spot next to the big Ram. They talked quietly, but Chris wished he was able to hold that smaller, lean, hard body next to him, and kiss that luscious mouth. Vin's hair was glowing in the light from the security lights, all soft and shiny-looking. Chris had to clench his hands into fists and force them to remain at his sides when all he wanted to do was run his long fingers through their tangled silk.
"Miss ya, Cowboy," Vin's low rasp sent a shock through Chris's nerve endings, and every bit of blood seemed to flow straight to his groin.
"I miss you, too, Tanner. Can't wait until this bust is over."
"You an' me, both."
"Can you come out to the ranch?" Chris asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. Or too desperate.
The younger man shook his head. "I better not. I jist need ta git some sleep."
"I could come over...,"
"I said sleep, Cowboy."
"I'll watch you sleep."
Tanner looked like he was considering it, then shook his head again. "You come over and next thing you know we'll be getting each other all hot and bothered."
"I kinda like hot and bothered."
"But then we'll be pullin' off clothes b'fore we git the door open, and then round one'll be in the front room, we'll stumble to th' bedroom for somethin' slow an' sweet. Then I'll git in the shower..., an' you'll follow me..."
Chris didn't think he could breathe. If Vin kept up his narrative in that soft, sexy, raspy voice, he'd be throwing Vin's body in the back seat of his Ram and threatening to moon any patrons leaving the Saloon as he fucked him senseless right in the parking lot.
"You..., you say that like it's a bad thing," Larabee croaked, his mouth dry.
"I need ta go, Chris," Vin said softly. "Won't be much longer. I promise."
"You okay?" Chris asked, concerned about the shadow that crossed Vin's face.
"'M fine. Really."
His mouth tightened in mock frustration as Chris's eyebrow raised questioningly.
"Really. Jist kinda tired, and want this to be over with. I miss th' guys. I miss you."
"I miss you, too, Vin. God, I miss you."
"Soon. G'night, Cowboy."
"Love you."
"Love you, too."
+ + + + + + +
Chris tried to see Vin over the next few days, but they barely even had time to talk on the phone. Chris promised himself he wouldn't call over the weekend, but by Saturday night without hearing from Vin he did call.
Vin picked up his cell phone after about five rings.
"Yer dime."
"Hey," Chris grinned.
Chris heard the answering smile in his voice when Vin spoke.
"Hey yerself."
"Was wondering if you could come out."
"Nah. I cain't. Things are busy still."
Chris frowned, and then heard a lot of commotion in the background. Then he heard cheering. He tried to keep himself from getting angry.
"You at home, Tanner?"
"At Eric's. The guys are here. We were workin' on th' case."
"Sounds like you must have made a breakthrough," Chris sniped sarcastically. "Lots of cheering going on."
Vin sighed heavily.
"Takin' a break, Cowboy. Th' pizza jist got delivered, an' they're takin' a break to watch th' game while we eat. We got papers spread out all over the kitchen."
"You don't have to explain to me," Chris hated the way his voice sounded so nasty, and yet he couldn't seem to help it.
"It sounds like I do," Vin replied softly.
There was more noise in the background, and Chris heard a muffled voice asking Vin who he was talking to, and Vin covered the phone with his hand to tell them it was Chris. The voice told him to hang up 'on the old guy' and come back and eat before the pizza got cold. Chris heard Vin telling him he'd be there in a minute.
When Vin came back to the phone, Chris was fuming even more when he heard Vin's sigh.
"Wish this was over," Vin said softly.
"Do you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means it sounds like a party. It means you seem to have a new group of friends. It means you seem to fit in there real well."
"Shut up, Lar'bee," Vin snapped. "You don't want ta be followin' th' trail you seem ta be headed down. You think about how much fun we have on Team Seven, and how many breaks we take when we're gettin' a case t'gether."
"I'm just saying that you're spending a lot of time with them, and I know it's the case, but you look....right. When I see you with Team Five, you fit in."
Vin frowned. "What're ya tryin' ta say, Chris? Yer makin' my hair hurt."
"They're all your age, Vin. You're all the same age."
Chris heard the smile in Vin's voice as he flirted, "I like yer age."
"Maybe I'm too old for you." He paused slightly, then added, "Maybe you're too young for me."
Vin caught his breath at the serious tone of Chris's reply. His stomach dropped and he felt slightly dizzy. Vin reached out and grabbed hold of the kitchen counter and hoped he wasn't going to be sick.
"What..., whaddya mean?"
Chris sighed. "Team Five seems a better fit. Everyone there looks to be under thirty, other than Frank."
"That don't matter. You know that."
"Well, maybe it's just me, then. Maybe I'm too old. Maybe you need to be with someone closer to your own age."
"Chris..., Cowboy...," Vin couldn't breathe. Shit! When had his life fallen apart like this? His mind was reeling. He'd always feared that Chris would one day realize he wasn't good enough, wasn't smart enough for the poised, confident, powerful natural leader. This assignment had taken him away from Chris, and now Chris knew that he was better off without him.
There was more commotion in the background, but Vin barely heard them calling his name. He wasn't even sure the floor was still under his feet.
"We need ta talk," Vin managed faintly. He couldn't hear himself over the buzzing in his ears.
Chris heard the pleading in the younger man's voice, but he was still feeling angry and resentful. He couldn't stop himself from snapping.
"You should go. I'll let you get back to your friends. I'll let you get back to Eric."
"No, it ain't like that!"
"Vin! Come on, babe! Pizza's getting cold, and you gotta see this replay!"
Eric's voice was practically in his ear, and Chris was furious even as he heard Vin telling the other man to leave him alone.
"Goodbye, Vin," Chris said firmly as he clicked off his phone.
"Chris - wait!" Vin called, but there was nothing but dead silence.
"Who was that?" Eric said, coming up to put his arms around Vin's shoulders, then quirking a smile as Vin shrugged him away. "That old guy? Your boss? What's he doing bothering you on the weekend? It's late enough Larabee should be in bed by now."
"Leave me alone," Vin snapped. "Jist..., leave me alone."
"Hey, you okay? You look a little pale."
"Jist..., need some air."
Vin opened the door and went out into the cold. He walked around the house until he found a space against the siding that wasn't in view of any windows, and leaned against the wall trying to breathe. He felt himself getting sick, and bending over he emptied his stomach behind the dead branches of the shrubbery.
'Stupid, stupid, stupid. Of course Chris wouldn't want anyone s' young an' stupid. Should a' known, Tanner. What the fuck made you think someone like Larabee would have anything ta do with a dumb-ass fuck like you. Jist took bein' apart ta make him realize the truth. Hell, prob'ly wanted ta do it earlier; was jist waitin' fer th' right time.'
Feeling like his life was over, Vin finally took a deep breath. He was shaking from the cold, and his stomach felt like it was going to be shaky for a long time. He straightened his shoulders, and shoved himself off the wall to go back inside. He still had a job to do, and he'd do it. Maybe Chris was going to kick him off Team Seven. Maybe he wanted to transfer him to Five. It was too much to think about right now, but Vin didn't think he could survive being around Chris and having Chris ignore him. He just didn't think he could go back to being friends, not after being lovers.
Vin closed his eyes and swallowed hard. He took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders and shoving his hands deep in his pockets. He needed to calm down before reaching for the door knob and going inside again.
'Yer a stupid fool, Tanner. Ya knew better'n ta give yer heart ta nobody. Ya should be used ta gettin' it stomped on. Ya know not ta trust anybody, but ya do it over an' over an' over. Ya deserve ta git yer ass kicked fer bein' such a dumb-ass. What were ya thinkin', anyway? Jist thinkin' with yer dick. Jist like he was. Wanted someone different. Jist an itch needed scratchin.' Then realized how young an' stupid ya were, and that he didn't want ya after all. He prob'ly decided he wants Mary Travis, have a normal, respectable relationship. Had his kicks. You w's jist a mid-life crisis fling, 'r somethin'. Ya dumb shit.'
Vin leaned his head against the wall, almost surprised by the tears that sprang to his eyes. Hell, it'd been a lot of years since he'd cried for any man, and he wasn't going to cry for Larabee. Not yet, anyway. He'd do this job, focus all his attention on it. Then he'd see what happened. Chanu had kept in touch over the years. Maybe if he left the ATF he'd look him up. Go spend a week or two with his old friend, look into bounty hunting again. But that was for later. Right now he had a responsibility to these men inside. He was a Tanner, and that meant taking his responsibilities seriously.
Chris and Vin had both been badly shaken by the phone conversation. Chris knew he was being unreasonable, letting JD's comments about Vin's age and Buck's teasing about his over-the-hill fortieth birthday bother him. He needed to think about this more, because everything was jumbled up in his mind. Things didn't usually bother him like this. He knew what he wanted and went after it, consequences be damned. But Vin was too important to him to do that to. If he was too old for Vin, better that the young man realize it now and not later when it would hurt him more.
+ + + + + + +
Over the next days, when Team Seven finished for the day they still called up and invited Vin along to go for a beer with them. He wasn't ever able to go, but when he wasn't with them he wasn't with Chris, either. When he finally got done with the planning and studying for the Team Five case, he would go back to his own apartment and collapse into sleep, barely staying awake to get through the shower. He knew he was getting sick, but he had to hang on until they caught this guy. Team Five had worked too long and too hard for him to pull out and ruin it at the last minute.
When his friends saw Vin around the federal building, none of them liked what they saw. Tanner was pale, with dark circles under his eyes. None of them had to look hard to see that Vin's pants hung off his lean hips, and he seemed to be bundled up in more layers than was usual even for him.
When the five remaining members of team seven retreated to their office space, they selfishly prayed for a speedy end to Vin's assignment with the other team. Chris was restless and snarling at them. They didn't have a current case, so were working on some background of possible leads, as well as catching up filing and other details that tended to be shoved aside during an active case. They didn't know what would be worse, having something break for them which would mean pulling Vin back from Team Five, or having things continue the way they were with Vin missing from their group.
Unfortunately, their team leader took his frustration and worry out on the rest of them. He was snarling and snapping at the remaining team. Buck tried to get him to come with them to lunch or meet at the Saloon after work, but while he was there he wasn't participating in the conversation or even managing to relax at all. Ezra managed to vanish for hours, supposedly to meet with a snitch. JD nearly leapt at the offer to go catch up filing in the storage room on the lower level of the federal building. Nathan spent a lot of time on line at his computer, checking on medical supplies. And Josiah had looked to be meditating on more than one occasion, in addition to playing soft, soothing music over the speakers of his computer.
Buck decided that Chris just had to lighten up, and he decided on the perfect distraction.
"Hey, Stud," Buck called, striding into Chris's office one morning without knocking.
The team leader was sitting at his desk, a hand running through the straight blond hair as he stared in front of him at nothing.
His head whipped up and he glared at his oldest friend.
"Door. Knock. Wait to be acknowledged."
"Oh, yeah," Buck waved vaguely at the open door. "Sorry. Anyway, Stud, I've got just the thing you need to cheer you up and take your mind off Junior."
Chris breathed heavier, trying not to let his anger explode. The last thing he wanted - or needed - was to have his mind taken off Vin.
+ + + + + + +
The next couple days were somber and tense in the Team Seven offices. Chris was angry and impatient, but the thing that left the men staring at each other in puzzlement and shock was his attitude toward Vin. He'd stopped mentioning their missing sharpshooter, stopped talking about how Vin would need to be brought up to speed on their current case that was in the process of being researched when he was finished with his current assignment. And even more puzzling to the rest of them was that he had stopped talking about Vin completely.
They knew it was serious when Buck mentioned calling Vin to see whether he could join them at lunch, and Chris just snapped that he was busy with his current team, and to leave him alone. There were other similar instances when Chris would be walking through the bullpen and someone would be talking about Vin, saying they missed him or whatever, and Larabee would snarl at them to get back to work before heading into his office and slamming the door behind him.
With the mood that Larabee had been in, Buck and the others were almost surprised when Chris joined them for lunch. Josiah had noticed the hesitation, and then saw the determined set of his jaw as he made the decision to come along. JD and Buck tried for their usual light-hearted joking and teasing, but when they started in again on Chris's age and his upcoming birthday, both Ezra and Josiah noticed that Chris, while pretending to be taking it in good stride, seemed to be getting really pissed off. Josiah interrupted the conversation to start talking to Nathan about the upcoming medical conference he would be attending in the next month, and Ezra easily slid into the new topic as well.
After lunch the noisy group was waiting in the lobby for the elevator up to their floor, but Chris was silent and uptight, standing slightly away from them.
"Hey! Vin!" JD called.
Everyone turned, and saw Vin and Eric walking together through the metal detectors and going through security. They had obviously been coming back from lunch together, and it was only Ezra, and possibly Josiah, who noticed Eric's challenging look toward Larabee as he moved even closer to the slender Texan.
Vin's smile didn't reach his eyes as he came over to the group. He talked to them, looking slightly sad and lost. Chris stared at him, seeing the faint wariness he had around the others, and the almost imperceptible flinch as Buck threw and arm around his shoulders. Chris frowned, but then made sure to keep his face neutral. He further tensed when JD commented on how good Eric was looking.
"That's a great sweater, Eric," JD grinned happily. "The light gray matches your eyes."
In fact, the tall, well-built agent did look exceedingly sharp. The sweater wasn't tight, but it was snug enough to show off the powerful shoulders and tapered waist, and coordinated well with the charcoal dress slacks. Eric had taken off his black leather coat when he was going through security, and had it thrown casually over his arm. Chris felt his stomach clench and knew he'd need to get an antacid when he got back to his office after seeing Vin and Eric standing there together.
Both men were handsome and very attractive in different ways. Eric's dark wavy hair was cut fairly short but was still long enough to show the curl, and his blue-gray eyes were bright in his handsome face. Vin looked good beside him, slightly shorter, more slender, and his eyes looking almost cobalt blue above his bright white tee-shirt and medium blue denim shirt. Chris couldn't help thinking that they looked like two male models on break from shooting, one for a GQ-type magazine, and the other a more rugged, outdoor-athlete spread.
"You're looking good, too, Junior," Buck teased, swatting JD. He turned to their youngest agent. "Not that you're supposed to be noticing how good other men look. Except for me, of course. Nobody can help that."
"You're so full of crap, Buck," JD rolled his eyes.
The elevator arrived, and everyone waited for people to get off before entering the space. It would have been tight, but they could have all made it. Instead, Eric reached out and placed his hand lightly on Vin's arm, telling the rest of Team Seven that the two of them would wait and catch the next elevator.
Vin's eyes searched for Chris's, and he almost looked like he was going to protest. Then whatever he saw made him change his mind, because he just looked away and shrugged.
When everyone got back into the office, JD was chattering about Chris's over-the-hill party, and saying that maybe they should wait for making more plans until they could talk to Vin. JD was sure his other young teammate would have some good ideas.
"And maybe Vin will want to bring Eric. They sure look like they're close. Eric's seems like a great guy, and he sure seems to like Vin."
Ezra's eyes widened as they sought out Buck's, and even the office rogue seemed to comprehend that maybe this wasn't the best thing for Chris to be hearing right now. He had been looking at their silent leader with speculation, and it was all coming together for him.
Chris was jealous.
Buck had been forced to sit back and watch a scrawny, long-haired, blue-eyed Texan a good dozen years his junior become his oldest friend's new best friend. He'd struggled with feelings of jealousy, but in the end knew that Vincent Michael Tanner was the best thing to happen to Chris since the deaths of Sarah and Adam.
But in a few short days, Chris was watching as Eric Sutherland seemed to want to replace Chris as Vin's best friend. And was there more than friendship that Eric was interested in, he wondered. A quick look around the room and he got the sense that Ezra and Josiah were thinking along the same lines.
None of them had seen Vin dating, even though the younger half of the female population of the federal building had practically thrown themselves at him, and the older half were busy showing him pictures of their daughters and nieces, and in some cases, granddaughters. Eric's interest seemed a little more familiar, even intimate. No wonder Chris was threatened. What if Larabee's best friend found himself a romantic partner? That could endanger the genial mood around the office, as Chris had gradually become more relaxed and good-humored the longer he was in the presence of their new sharpshooter.
Would Chris go back to being angry and short-tempered and reclusive all the time if he lost the friendship of his 'brother'? If Vin spent more of his time dating someone? How would Chris reconcile a brother-type friendship when Vin was with his romantic partner all the time? Sure, Nathan brought Raine to a few of their gatherings, but he also missed a lot of them with the team to be with her and her family. How would the group handle it if Vin brought Eric along? Or didn't come at all because he was going out with Eric on a date with just the two of them?
Nathan wanted to head down to the library to check on some books he'd requested, and JD went along with him to make a stop at the tech lab. Chris had stormed into his office and slammed the door behind him as soon as they got back from lunch, and they hadn't heard a sound since.
Ezra, Josiah, and Buck sat looking at each other.
"I'll go talk to him," Josiah sighed. "I might be the best choice in this instance to provide reassurance to our team leader."
"Do you actually have confidence that the current situation will resolve itself without long-term damage to the team?"
"Nothing is ever constant," Josiah smiled gently.
"True," Ezra said, adjusting his cufflinks. "However, I must confess I've grown accustomed to our little 'family' of teammates, and find that I treasure our times together. I would hate to see us torn apart by outside forces."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Josiah said, standing and straightening his shoulders.
"That skinny little, blue-eyed, whiskey-drawled Texan has brought my best friend back from a path of destruction even I'm not sure I could have saved him from. I hate to think somethin's come between them to send the old dog back down the spiral of misery he was living in before."
"We won't let that happen."
"I'll do everything I can, even if it means hauling that little denim-clad butt out of Team Five's office and back into his chair in here if we have to."
"You know," Ezra added thoughtfully, "I believe that Mr. Larabee's friendship has been a positive thing for our young Mr. Tanner, as well. And while there is some hint of, perhaps, attraction toward him by Team Five's charming Mr. Sutherland, I'm not convinced that the affection, if you will, is mutual."
"Not yet, anyway," Buck muttered darkly.
"Patience, Mr. Wilmington. Patience. Affairs of the heart are precious things, and we're none of us sure just what is going on in this tangled web of a triangle. The only thing we are sure of is that we don't want to see either Mr. Larabee or Mr. Tanner hurt."
"Any worse than they already are," Josiah added as he reached Chris's door. "They need to know they have our support to work on getting their friendship back on an even keel."
Chris looked up as he heard the knock on his door. He reached for the glass of water and swallowed the two aspirin quickly, hoping it would at least dull the pounding in his head.
"Come in," he called, then blinked in surprise when he saw it was Josiah. He'd been expecting Buck. Then again, Buck wouldn't have knocked.
"Do you have a minute, Chris?"
"Sure. Have a seat. What's on your mind, Josiah?"
The big man looked thoughtful, and he briefly wondered whether he was making a mistake.
"You seem..., troubled, lately."
"I'm fine."
Josiah grinned. "That's seems to be a popular expression we've heard before."
Chris glared at him, but Josiah smiled back at him, unperturbed.
"We're concerned that our young sharpshooter's absence is affecting all of us, but yourself perhaps even more."
"Tanner is with Team Five. It's a temporary assignment, then he'll be back."
Josiah waited patiently, hoping his silence would encourage Chris to open up more.
Chris stood and turned to look out over the Denver skyline. "He fits in there. They like him. I talked to Frank Morgan. They want him."
"You're not seriously thinking of letting him go?" Josiah was truly shocked.
Chris shrugged. "Maybe it's where he belongs. They're all young. Maybe he'd be happier there."
Josiah had an 'ah, ha!' moment the minute Chris mentioned that they were young. All the talk of Vin seeming to fit in well with all the young agents in Five, the teasing comments about Vin and Eric looking good together and JD's reiteration of them being near the same age and both attractive, as well as everyone noticing that Eric seemed to want more than friendship from the young agent. He groaned inwardly, to realize that Buck starting the talk of Chris's fortieth birthday party, combined with their teasing plans for the black balloons and black-frosted cake, certainly didn't help anything. Especially not when JD pointed out that Vin wasn't even two-third's of Chris's age, and Buck talking about things they did in high school before Vin was even born.
If Josiah was a cursing man, he would have started swearing. As it was, he prayed for guidance.
"I never figured you for a coward."
"What?" Chris's head whipped around so fast Josiah thought it was a wonder he didn't get whiplash.
"You just seem to be giving up on Vin pretty easily."
"I'm not giving up on Vin," Chris replied, breathing deeply and struggling to maintain an icy control.
"It looks like you might be," Josiah went on. "All this talk of Vin fitting in with the members of Team Five so well. The younger members."
"I'm just thinking of what's best. For him."
"Are you?"
"Just what is that supposed to mean?"
Josiah sighed, and hoped he was doing the right thing. If looks could kill, he would be a dead man. As it was, the glare he was getting made him wonder if he would leave the room without being seriously maimed.
"Vin Tanner is a tough young man. He's seen a lot, suffered more than anyone should have to. Endured, and survived. Eventually thrived, even. But he was lost before he came here, and even though he wouldn't let any of us see it, he was scared. Scared to trust that anyone would be there for him, because no one had ever been there for him for all his short, painful life. But gradually he opened up, relaxed a little. Let himself breathe."
Josiah paused to give Chris a chance to think over his words before continuing.
"And it was because of you, Chris. From the moment the two of you locked eyes across that warehouse floor, he gave you his trust. And that's a gift that boy doesn't part with easily."
"That's for sure," Chris muttered, but not as sarcastically as Josiah would have expected.
"Now Chris, I don't mean any disrespect, but lately we've done a lot of kidding about your age. And JD and Buck like to point out that you're older than Vin."
"A lot older," Chris corrected. His head was throbbing and he did not want to be having this conversation. He knew Josiah, hell, all of them, were worried about him. And worried about Vin, and what was going to happen to their friendship, and how it would affect the team. But right now his head hurt, his stomach was churning, and he just wished that none of this had happened.
"Okay, a lot older," Josiah grinned, then turned serious.
"Chris, when you look at Vin, do you see a son?"
Chris's head whipped up and Josiah nearly paled at the look of anger on their team leader's face.
"Just what the hell are you implying? That I see Vin as some replacement for Adam?"
"No! No, Chris. That's not at all what I mean, and I apologize. I'm sorry, Chris. All I was trying to say was that I don't believe age is as important as some people would have us believe. I'm as many years older than you as you are to Vin, and while I sometimes may get paternal feelings toward all of you on this team I don't see myself as a father figure to any of you. I don't think you see Vin as your son any more than Vin looks at you and sees the father he never had."
"Now hold on a minute...,"
"Please. Let me finish. Buck likes to talk about the two of you, things you did when you were younger, chances you took, risks you thought were worth it. But the chances and the risks you took were the ones you knew would work out, when you followed your gut and followed your heart. Your father wanted you to stay in the midwest, near Indiana, maybe go into business near him, but you went and joined the Navy Seals, with oceans as far apart from Indiana as you could get. From what I've heard, Sarah's family wasn't convinced you were the right man for their daughter, but you didn't let their disapproval stop you from having a wonderful marriage and fathering a son and having a beautiful family."
Chris's eyes narrowed warningly, and Josiah knew he'd have to talk fast before Chris threw him out of the office on his ear.
"Vin needs you to take that risk on him now. You did when you fought to get him on your team, when he didn't have a college degree - heck, he barely passed the GED - and didn't have the kind of background the federal government was looking for in their employees. He struggled with his learning disability, to get through the reading and the written exams with his dyslexia. But you believed in him and that helped him believe in himself. Don't make him think he doesn't fit in with us any more. Don't make him think he's too stupid - or too young - for us, for you, now."
"I appreciate your concern, Josiah...,"
Chris had been trying to calm down, and Josiah's soothing voice combined with his gentle sympathy was working. Chris felt a slight easing in the pain behind his eyes, and his stomach wasn't churning quite so fiercely. He wondered if Josiah had any idea how close to the truth he was when he mentioned Vin in the same conversation as family. He knew the guys still thought of himself and Vin as just good friends, although as close as brothers. They joked that Vin knew what he was thinking, that they had complete conversations without even speaking. Chris knew it was true, and it was something that had baffled and amazed them both, and they'd learned to accept it as one more sign that they were truly meant to be together. Chris wondered what kind of a conversation he'd be having with Josiah - hell, with any of them - if the big profiler had any idea just how close he was to the truth when he referred to Sarah when he was talking about Vin. Somehow he imagined that conversation to be far different.
"Chris, let me finish. Please. I'm afraid that I'm making things worse when I only wanted to make them better. Our team works, maybe not in spite of being all different ages, but because of that. Look at how Buck and JD's friendship works."
"Yeah. Because they're both seventeen."
Josiah laughed out loud. "Exactly! All of us bring strengths to this team, and the small, conceited part of me likes to believe the rumors that we are the Magnificent Seven. You've put together a great mix of people who complement each other well, and our different backgrounds and experiences pull together to make a great whole. I would hate something like this to pull us apart."
"Thanks, Josiah. I guess I needed to hear that. I never expected to feel so torn."
"Our Brother Tanner has a quiet calmness to him that is deeply missed when he's not here. Amazing how silent it can get when someone so quiet is missing."
Chris smiled at Josiah as the big man turned to leave.
"Thanks again, Josiah. And don't worry. Team Five isn't going to get Vin without a fight from me."
"Without a fight from all of us."
"From all of us."