Pairing: Chris/Vin

Disclaimer: As usual, I have no claim on the creations of the Magnificent Seven, the ATF universe or the slash genre. I make no money from this fiction.

Warnings: m/m sex and smarm… a dangerous combination.

Webmaster Note: This fic was previously hosted at another website and was moved to blackraptor in May 2012.

Vin Tanner shuffled along the corridor, flanked by a nurse and an orderly. He knew them both by name, and that bothered him more than he cared to admit. He had been stuck in the hospital for almost two weeks. Two very long weeks. He cursed the idiot who had run him down with a truck while Denver’s ATF Team Seven was on assignment. He couldn’t say he was particularly upset that the man had been behind bars since then. The sharpshooter only hoped that he would be well enough to attend the man’s upcoming trial.

But there was something even more important that he wanted to be out of the hospital for. Only that wasn’t to be.

Today was Valentine’s Day. The first one for he and Chris. He wanted more than anything to be whole and well and back at the ranch to celebrate. But the doctors were worried because he continued to run a low grade temperature, and they wanted him to stay put for observation for at least two more days. Forty-eight hours longer than he could bear.

“You’re doing wonderfully, Vin,” the nurse said cheerfully.

“Thanks Jenny,” he murmured, wishing he felt as happy as she sounded. Hell, he was happy about living through the ordeal. They hadn’t given him very good odds when he’d been brought in with head and internal injuries. His first three days as a patient were made up of disjointed images and disembodied voices. A single image and a single voice gave him the only indication that those three days even existed. Chris’ face. Chris’ voice.

Larabee had been there almost constantly for the first week, only leaving under protest. The medical staff conspired with the rest of their team to kick him out for twenty-four hours when it became clear that the man wasn’t going to leave on his own. While he had known his partner needed the rest, Vin’s heart had nearly leapt through his chest as he watched the blond leave. His eyes had stayed locked on the empty doorway for several minutes after Chris left under the watchful eyes of Ezra Standish, Buck Wilmington and JD Dunne. Only the deep, peaceful baritone of Josiah Sanchez pulled his mind away. The big man, taking turns with Nathan Jackson, had kept him company throughout the long hours until Chris had returned.

When he had gotten well enough that Larabee felt safe in leaving, still a day didn’t go by that wasn’t filled with the blond’s presence. He would check in on his way to work, spend the lunch hour at Vin’s side if at all possible, returning again in the evening. In between would be phone calls, brief respites in his routine of physical therapy, sponge baths and blood work, letting him know that he was loved.

But today Chris had called to say he couldn’t make it in. Something had come up on the Landers case, and they had to act on it immediately. He had done his best to convince the other man that he would be fine, even though his heart was breaking. Larabee didn’t even seem to remember what day it was.

St. Valentines Day. The day for lovers to celebrate their lives together. And he was alone. “Ah hell,” he thought angrily, “ain’t like you’ve ever had much of a reason to celebrate before.” But that had been just one more reason this year was so important. He had someone to celebrate with this year… someone to celebrate for. But Chris didn’t even remember it was February 14^th.

Struggling to hold back the hot tears of frustration, the slender man allowed himself to be helped back to bed. For once he was happy to see the tiny room, he needed some time away from prying eyes. Time to mourn for this day, lost forever.

They helped him onto the bed, not turning back the heavy quilt Nettie had made him, and that Chris had brought in from the ranch. Instead, they lay him on top of it, draping a lighter, hospital issue cover over him. He considered arguing about it, but it didn’t seem important enough right now. Nothing did. Instead, he sank into the bed and closed his eyes.

“You get some rest, we’ll leave you alone for a couple of hours now,” Jenny promised.

“’Kay,” he answered listlessly. He listened while they left the room, the rubber soles of their shoes squeaking softly on the linoleum. Folding his hands across his taut belly, he simply lay there, trying not to think of anything. But slowly he became aware that he wasn’t alone in the room. Blue eyes flashed open, searching the dimly lit area for signs of an intruder.

“Chris?”

The blond was lounging in the chair near the foot of his bed, simply watching him. At the call of recognition, he smiled and levered himself to his feet. Always one to be understatedly stylish, Larabee looked amazing. His blond hair was combed in that casual, almost-mused way Vin loved. He was wearing a dark red shirt, the sleeves rolled to the elbow, and tailored black slacks. He came to stand next to the bed, a broad smile on his face. “Didn’t know if you were going to wake up or not.”

“But… I thought you were working today?”

“I lied,” he said simply, lowering the side rail and sitting on the mattress beside his younger lover. Reaching out to comb through the loose chestnut curls, he continued, “there’s nothing in this world that would keep me from you today. Especially today.”

Vin smiled, reaching out to run his hand along the handsome face before him. A single tear rolled down his face, but he didn’t care. Chris hadn’t forgotten after all! “Thought you forgot.”

“Forget today? There’s no way in hell I would ever forget today… not after… after what we’ve been through.” His voice cracked as his own emotions threatened to break through. “Especially not now, pard.”

Tanner pushed himself up, wrapping his arms around his lover. Chris pulled the slender man into an embrace, winding himself around the Texan as if he would never let go. That was what he dreamed about, anyway, holding Vin like this for the rest of their lives.

Suddenly realizing where they were, the Texan tried to pull away. Pushing against the broad chest, he said softly, “Someone’s gonna walk in, Cowboy, they’ll see…”

“Not this time,” Larabee’s voice was filled with desire, with just a hint of humor. “We’ve got two hours, uninterrupted.”

The nurse’s voice came back to him then – “We’ll leave you alone for a couple of hours now” — and he leaned back to look at the other man. “What’cha got up yer sleeve Larabee?”

Smiling his most dazzling smile, the blond said, “Nothing much. Just called in a couple of favors… made good on a couple more. The long and short of it is that Buck won’t be pestering Jenny for the next month, JD will be doing some work on Carl’s computer next weekend… and you and I have two hours of uninterrupted bliss.”

With a chuckle, the sharpshooter said, “Reckon anyplace alone with you’s bliss… even here.”

“Well, I guess we’ll have to see if we can make it just a little more blissful.” With that, Chris stood and carefully pulled his lover from the bed. Folding back the handmade quilt, he revealed deep red satin sheets covering the hospital bed. Turning away quickly, he crossed the room, clicked the lock on the door and returned to where Vin still stood. Turning the slender body to face him, he slipped the two hospital gowns, worn front to back, from the younger man’s body. Wincing slightly at the dark reminders of the accident still evident on the trim torso, he pulled his mind away from the past. Vin was here and he was getting better every day. That was all that was important right now.

Sliding his hands gently down the well-honed sides, he hooked his thumbs on the waistband of the baggy cotton pants that hung from the slim hips. Grinning lustfully at his partner, he pushed them down the long legs until Vin shook them off and pushed them aside. With his partner vulnerable before him, he felt a fire begin in his belly, spreading quickly to engulf him. Leaning forward, he wrapped the other man in his arms once more, dipping his head to claim the slightly parted lips. Nipping gently at them, he ran his tongue along the perfect teeth, then delved into the waiting mouth. His hands slid down, each tenderly cupping around one tight ass cheek.

Vin moaned softly, wrapping his arms around the other man’s neck. He pressed as close as he could into his lover’s embrace, needing to feel Chris along every inch of his body. The fingers of one hand braided themselves through the thick blond locks, while he sucked with more intensity on the invading tongue.

Panting now, Chris struggled with his needs and desires, and pulled away from the nude body. When the other man groaned softly at the loss of contact, he pressed a finger against the pouting lips. “Sh, it’ll be okay. We’ve got plenty of time, pard, I want it all to be just right.”

He led Vin to the bed, coaxing him down onto the satin sheets. Pulling the top sheet up over the trim form, he hurriedly set up his preparations. In a record-breaking five minutes, Chris Larabee had transformed the sterile room into a love nest.

“Damn,” Tanner whispered as he took in the scene. While he couldn't get them to look past real candles, Chris had battery operated ones on every horizontal surface, and incense filling the room with earthy scents. A single red rose turned its face toward him from a trim, silver and onyx vase. A huge box of chocolates sat on the bed tray, each one a favorite flavor. Soft music played from a CD player, a mix of both their favorites. It was perfect.

His eyes gleaming with the knowledge that he had been able to give his lover such a gift, Chris quickly slipped out of his own clothes. Draping them over a chair, he slipped beneath the sensual sheets beside the other man. “You like it?”

Tears glistening in his sky shaded eyes, Tanner could only nod as he struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. Unable to say what he felt, he turned and lay his head on Chris’ chest, wrapping his arms around the other man.

Stroking a hand once again through the tousled curls, the blond bent down and planted a slow, sweet kiss atop the younger man’s head. When he finally managed to speak, his own voice was thick with emotion. “I wanted this day to be special, Vin, to let you know how much I do love you. When that bastard hit you… when I saw you fly through the air… I… I… “

Tanner lifted his head, placing his hand over the other man’s trembling lips. “Don’t, Chris. I’m okay, and we’ve got the chance to celebrate this day.”

Kissing the long fingers, Chris moved the hand from his lips and placed it over his heart. “And we’re going to celebrate it. Just like we’re going to celebrate every day for the rest of our lives.”

Wide eyes glittering with merriment, the young agent broke the darkening mood with a wicked grin. “Good, I say we start with some chocolate then,”

Reaching across the lean body, Chris retrieved one of the largest candies from the box. Leaning back, he grinned and placed half of the chocolate in the waiting mouth. He quickly covered the other half with his own mouth, and the two men shared the sweet confection. Larabee licked at the smear of chocolate on the other man’s sensual lips before he pulled away.

“Don’t think I’ve ever had a piece of chocolate taste so good in my life,” the older man whispered huskily.

Reaching behind him, Vin picked up another chocolate and popped the entire thing into his mouth. Swallowing it, he fished a third out, this time placing only the very tip in his mouth.

Reading the invitation in the gleaming eyes, Chris took the other end between his own teeth. The two men nibbled at the sweet confection, meeting near the middle, where they nipped and tongued at one another’s mouths.

Chris rolled to his back, pulling Vin onto his chest. Pulling the shaggy head to him, he resumed his mouth’s work, teasing at the chocolate-laced lips. His hands ran tenderly along the trim back and sides, massaging still aching muscles as he went. As his hands reached the other man’s firm ass, he growled softly, wanting so badly to take their love-making to the next level. He knew better, though, Tanner wasn’t up to anything too boisterous.

Vin moaned softly, the bond he shared with the older man telling him quite clearly what Chris wanted to do. He wanted it as well, but knew as well as Larabee that he wasn’t physically able to perform at his typical energetic level. He leaned back, his eyes locking with his lover’s and letting him know how much he hated to disappoint him.

“It’s okay,” Chris whispered, “We have all the time in the world.”

The lean man managed a smile, then let his hands trail along the blond’s broad chest, and down the well-defined six pack to the golden thatch of hair at his groin. He moaned as he felt the thick shaft rising hard against his hand. One finger trailed down the pulsing vein that ran along the blond’s cock, and he felt Chris shiver in response.

“Vin,” Larabee protested, “Please, don’t – “

Covering the protesting mouth, the Texan kissed him deeply. As they parted, he said, “S’okay, I ain’t goin’ no farther. S’okay Chris.”

Searching the gleaming eyes and flushed face, the blond smiled when he saw no hesitation. Carefully he moved them both, until they faced one another on their sides. He slipped one arm beneath the slender body beside him, cradling him. Then, his hand slid down toward the Texan’s own beckoning cock.

As one, each man closed a hand around the other’s waiting sex. Each found a rhythm, forming a duet of sorts. However, the true lovemaking was elsewhere, and far more exhilarating for the two men. Chris delivered a series of feather-soft kisses, his lips brushing lightly across Vin’s face, throat, shoulders and chest. He nipped at an earlobe that peeked from beneath the loose curls, sucked at each lip, caressed each eyelid. He held the other man close, not only to protect the still-weak man from injury, but to have yet another point of physical contact.

Vin trembled as his lover carried him away to a place beyond existence. His eyes were closed, his mouth slightly parted as the blond covered every inch of his upper body with his lips. “Oh… Chris… Chris… I love you… oh God…”

“I love you, too,” Larabee murmured against the warm flesh of his lover’s chest. He leaned up, his lips brushing across Tanner’s.

Capturing the roving lips with his teeth, Vin nipped at the little dip in Chris’ lower lip, then ran the tip of his tongue down to the shallow cleft in his chin. He took over now, his mouth leaving a fiery trail along the ruddy flesh. It was Larabee’s turn to tremble now, as he nibbled and sucked at the long neck and broad shoulders.

Sensing that they were both moving quickly toward climax, the blond pulled his lover tight against him. The sensations of their bodies straining against one another, their throbbing cocks trapped between them, pushed them over the abyss. Bound to one another with passion and love, they climaxed together, their hot seed mixing, and coating their writhing bodies.

Collapsing into one another’s arms, the two men lay entwined, panting softly as they sought to recover. After a few moments, Chris released his hold on Vin and rose on unsteady legs. Going to the little bathroom, he returned with a warm rag and thick towel. Pulling the younger man to his back, he lovingly bathed the sticky residue from his glistening body. As he moved to dry him, he found the soul-deep eyes watching him. He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed his partner.

Cleaning himself up as well, the blond stretched out next to the young Texan. Gathering him to his chest once more, he wrapped the convalescing man in the quilt as well as his own loving arms. Stroking the long hair tenderly, he coaxed the already drowsing man to sleep. As he felt the slender body grow heavier against him, he smiled.

Suddenly he felt the fear and worry of the past two weeks melting away. It had been far too close this time, he had nearly been forced to bury the second great love of his life. But whatever fates looked out for the two of them came through once again. He would have Vin home with him in a couple of days; home where he could fuss over his young lover as only he could. Already his mind was spinning with plans… riding out to their spot as soon as the weather broke, spending a long, lazy weekend in front of the fire. So many plans.

But for now, it was a time of celebration. A celebration of their love, their life together, and the fact that he had not lost either.

“I love you,” he whispered softly against the thick tumble of curls. In response, Vin mumbled and sighed in his sleep, snuggling even closer against him.

Chris Larabee smiled and allowed a single, joyous, tear roll down his cheek. Definitely a time of celebration.

The End

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Valentine's Day 2002