by Kim
This follows But I Know, It's My Own Damn Fault in the M7-SoA crossover A/U.
Six weeks after Vin comes to Four Corners
Eli Joe and Marshall bounced down the stairs. Eli Joe was whistling and Marshall had a smirk. They ignored Buck, Josiah, Nathan, and Ezra drinking together at one of the small tables near the bar. Josiah watched them grab beers out of the cooler and then flop down on the sofa. They laughed at something and then bumped fists.
Josiah frowned. "Have you noticed a pattern developing?" he asked quietly.
Buck shrugged.
Nathan shook his head.
"What type of pattern?" Ezra asked.
Josiah said. "Eli Joe and Marshall just came down."
"So?" Buck asked. "They like getting laid. Hell, I like getting laid."
"It's not them going upstairs," Josiah said. "It's what's happening when they're up there."
Nathan frowned. "What's happening when they're up there?" he asked.
"I'm not certain," Josiah admitted. "Maybe nothing."
"Maybe something?" Nathan asked.
"Maybe," Josiah agreed.
Buck glanced at the couch."I don't see anything," Buck said. "Except two happy men. Vin's a talented guy. If I'd spent the last hour up there, I'd be happy, too."
"What is it we're supposed to be noticing?" Nathan asked.
Eli Joe and Marshall left the clubhouse the clubhouse together.
"Gentlemen, I have business to conduct. I'll have to rely on you to tell me if Mr. Sanchez's observation of a pattern is borne out," Ezra said, standing up.
"Wait please," Josiah said. He nodded toward the upstairs. "Watch," he said. "If I'm right, it won't be long."
"What won't be long?" Buck asked.
"Vin will come down and you can judge for yourself," Josiah said.
Five minutes later Vin came out of the bedroom. He took the stairs cautiously, moving without his usual ease. He paused at the bottom of the stairs and then walked stiffly to the whiteboard and changed the color from green to yellow.
"Is that the pattern?" Ezra asked quietly.
"They go up and he comes down hurting?" Nathan asked.
"Fuck," Buck whispered.
They watched Vin sit on a sofa. All of them noticed the wince when he sat down.
"I should see if he's OK," Nathan said and stood up.
Ezra put a hand on his arm. "Sit down," he said.
"Ezra, he's hurting. I'm not going to ignore that just because he's not a brother," Nathan said angrily.
Ezra's eyes narrowed. His face took on an angry expression, which he quickly masked. "Sit down," he said quietly. "I'm not asking you to ignore it. He is." Ezra nodded toward Vin. "Would you take away his dignity along with his choice?"
"Sit down and let's figure this out," Buck said.
"What's there to figure out?" Nathan grumbled, but he sat down.
"I'm assuming he hasn't spoken to either of you," Ezra said looking at Josiah and then Buck.
"No," Buck said.
"Not a word," Josiah said.
"Why would he?" Nathan asked.
Ezra sighed. "I told him if anyone got overzealous he should inform one of you gentlemen. I assured him you would take action."
"You're right about that," Buck said.
"Why didn't he say something?" Nathan asked.
"He doesn't trust us," Josiah said quietly.
"I can't imagine why he wouldn't trust us," Buck said sarcastically.
"That had to be done," Ezra reminded them all.
"It had to be done," Nathan agreed, "but us bein' part of it didn't leave him anyone he could trust with this."
"Fuck!" Buck hissed. "I'm gonna kick Chris's ass."
"Reminding Mr. Larabee of how stupid keeping the red light on for two weeks was will not solve this problem," Ezra said.
"No, but it will make me feel better," Buck retorted.
"You think he's OK?" Nathan asked looking at Vin again, with a worried expression on his face.
"He may consider it the price of doing business," Josiah said.
"Not in this house," Ezra said quietly, before Buck could.
"I'll speak to Eli Joe and Marshall," Josiah said. His eyes narrowed and an evil grin slid across his face. "And, see to it that there are no more misunderstandings about how they treat anyone in this house."
"You do that," Buck said coldly. "Let 'em know that if they mistreat anyone and I mean anyone in this house, they'll have me to deal with." He looked toward Vin. "And Chris," he added.
"That's half the problem," Nathan said. "What are we going to do about the other half?"
"I don't know," Ezra said.
"I'll talk to Vin," Buck said. "I don't know if he'll believe me, but I'll talk to him."
NEXT: Ask Me No Questions
(I'll Tell You No Lies)