Main Characters: Chris and Vin

Notes: It’s ATF (of course) and a C/V pairing (no shock there). Otherwise, nothing much. No sex, a little loving, some pain, some language. That’s about it. Originally written to celebrate Eric Close's birthday.

Webmaster Note This story was previously hosted at another website and was moved to blackraptor in July 2012.

Chris Larabee looked across the cab of his Dodge Ram, thinking once again that perhaps he had made the wrong move. Vin Tanner leaned awkwardly against the backrest, looking pale and fragile. Although the doctor assured him that his young partner hadn’t been badly injured, he wasn’t certain bringing him home from the hospital today was such a good idea.

Tanner had been injured three days earlier, during a raid. ATF’s team seven, along with teams four and nine, had been after a large underground organization that was shipping illegal weapons overseas. Just as the operation was winding down, Vin had been injured when his position was overrun by four of the bad guys. The wiry agent had been able to slip through their collective fingers, only to fall when he lost his footing. High above the main action, he had tumbled head over heels, falling to the floor several yards below.

Chris had watched it all, his heart stopping as he watched the younger man lying so still on the concrete floor. It had been almost twenty minutes before he could check on his lover. Vin had been unconscious, blood streaming from a gash in his head.

The trip to the ER had seemed endless, the wait afterward even longer. When the news was delivered that Tanner’s injuries weren’t life threatening and that their only concern was the concussion he had sustained, he had felt his knees go weak. Buck had eased him into a chair, keeping a brotherly arm around his shoulders while he composed himself.

He had spent as much time as possible at the hospital, keeping his partner company. Tanner slept most of the first day, waking for only a few minutes at a time. The second day, he was more coherent, managing to sit up and even walk from one end of the hallway to another with help. He groused at being cared for by both the medical professionals and his lover, but didn’t seem to be fighting the attention as much as he might have.

Now he sat on the passenger side of the big truck, the pain medication along with the long drive combining to send him to a light sleep. He wore his jeans and boots, but his upper body was clothed only in bandages. He had suffered a dislocated shoulder and hairline fracture to his left arm, having landed on that side. His ribs were also taped up, three of them being fractured as well. The result was that there was very little of his upper body that wasn’t bandaged, his arm bound to his side for support. Add to that, the bruises on his face from the blows he’d sustained before getting free of his attackers, and he didn’t look like someone ready to be home from the hospital.

But then Chris looked at the younger man’s face, and saw the expression of tranquility in the finely chiseled features. He smiled. Vin was relaxed for the first time since the accident, and that was primarily because he was coming home. Larabee just hoped that the homecoming he had planned wouldn’t be too much for his partner.

As they pulled up to the front of the house, he parked the black truck as near the porch as possible. Moving around the truck, he opened the passenger door to find his lover struggling to open the seat-belt. Gently nudging the fumbling fingers away, he said softly, “Let me get it.”

“Ain’t helpless,” Tanner groused.

“I know,” Larabee returned evenly. He undid the clasp and eased the belt back, before reaching for the slender body. Chris helped the groggy man out of the truck, holding him carefully as Vin gained his bearings. He was tempted to simply sweep the slender body into his arms, but knew he’d be in for a major argument. Instead, he slipped one arm carefully around the slim waist and the other beneath the other man’s uninjured elbow.

They moved toward the steps, the injured man leaning against his partner. As they reached the bottom step, Chris steadied him, and together they managed to get Vin up the three stairs and onto the porch. There they stood quietly for several seconds, while Tanner caught his breath before continuing on into the house.

“Couch or bed?”

“Couch,” Vin answered in a raspy whisper.

Larabee smiled, having expected that answer. Had his lover answered otherwise, the plans he had made would have to undergo some serious changes. Instead, they moved slowly down the hallway, Chris letting Vin set the pace.

As the neared the big double door that led to the den, Tanner finally looked up. He frowned as he noticed that one of the doors was completely closed, and the other one nearly so. He couldn’t remember ever seeing the doors closed before. “Wh-what’s up?”

“Nothing,” Larabee said vaguely.

“Door’s closed.”

“Oh, that. Well, that’s easy to fix.” Leaving his partner standing in the hallway, the blond casually opened the door. The opening clear now, he led his partner over the threshold.

As they moved into the room, Vin was startled as a chorus of “Surprise!” filled the room, soft enough that it didn’t cause his injured head to ache. He looked up, blinking as he realized that the room was filled with all of their friends and co-workers. His mouth dropped open, and his knees buckled as he took in the gathering.

They were all smiling and looking at him. Tanner barely registered the fact that Chris was all but carrying him now, as the blond guided him across the big room to the couch. He was surprised to find that the cushions were covered with sheets and pillows, his handmade quilt spread out and ready to embrace him.

Breathlessly he let his partner lower him to the couch, pulling off his boots before easing his legs up onto the cushions. He lay back against the stack of pillows, groaning softly as they threatened to swallow him up. His eyes closed as he took a few minutes to calm himself down. Vin could hear the others moving around, and worried that they were leaving, but couldn’t gather the strength to protest.

When he was finally able to open his eyes, Tanner looked to see that everyone was still there. Watching him. He frowned, searching for his partner. Chris knelt beside him, smiling with enough love in his eyes that Vin expected to drown in the depths. The tip of his tongue snaked out, licking his lips before he tried his voice. In a breathless rasp he asked, “What’s goin’ on?”

“It’s May 24, Vin,” JD supplied before Chris could answer. “It’s your birthday.”

Still frowning, the Texan said, “Y’all went t’ all this trouble for me?”

Nettie Wells leaned over the back of the couch, cupping his jaw in one hand. Looking at him with an expression of love, the old woman said, “Yes it’s all for you, son. We did it because we love you, Vin Tanner, and we’re very… very glad that you’re still with us.”

He reached out with his uninjured hand and wrapped it around hers, squeezing it gently. “Can’t say I’m real unhappy about that myself,” he teased.

“So, do you want to unwrap your presents now?” JD asked, ending the moment and eliciting a round of groans.

Tanner tore his gaze from his surrogate mother and turned to find the coffee table was now piled high with gaily wrapped gifts. His mouth dropped opened as he took in the splendor. “They all for… for me?”

“It is your birthday, Vin,” Buck offered. “Of course if you don’t feel up to it – “

“Get the hell away from the table, Bucklin,” Tanner growled playfully as he struggled to push himself up from the pillows.

Laying a restraining hand on his partner, Larabee said, “You lay still, I’ll bring them to you, and we’ll take things from there.”

Settling back gratefully, the younger man said, “Obliged.”

With Larabee’s help, Vin unwrapped the gifts slowly. The pace wasn’t only because of his injuries, but because he wanted to savor each moment. He’d had few celebrations in his life, and the gathering was almost too much to take in.

Each gift was a surprise, representing not only his tastes, but the person presenting it to him. He looked over each one, commenting on some aspect of it, and thanking the giver profusely.

By the time the last gift was opened, Chris was doing most of the work, Vin settled back against the pillows more and more heavily. His eyes began to droop and, with a gentle kiss on the forehead from Nettie, he drifted in a light doze as he sought to rebuild his strength.

When next he opened his eyes, the gift wrapping had been disposed of and the gifts and cards were neatly stacks on the hearth of the big fireplace nearby. On the coffee table now was a very large birthday cake… white chocolate frosting covering rich chocolate. Unlit candles were scattered over the top, just waiting to be lit. The table had been covered with a brightly covered paper table cloth, with stacks of matching plates, napkins and cups.

And it was all in a cowboy theme.

Tanner took in the child-like offering and felt his heart swell. A grin spread across his handsome features and a chuckle bubbled up from the center of his being. All he could manage to say was, “Ah… hell.”

Chris lit the candles, and they sang “Happy Birthday”. After that the entire gathering helped the ‘birthday boy’ blow out the candles. Chocolate ice cream and punch were brought in from the kitchen, and everyone was served plates filled with the chocoholic fantasy. Larabee helped his partner, making lewd comments under his breath each time the melting ice cream dripped on the younger man. While the others didn’t hear the words, several of them discerned the content from the deepening color that spread across the younger man’s pale features.

Shortly afterward, the party-goers made quick work of the room’s disarray and bid the two men good night. Tanner insisted on going to the door, and stood there with Larabee, waving good-bye as the parade of cars made its way down the long drive toward the road. He leaned heavily against his lover, exhausted but content.

Brushing a kiss over the tousled chestnut hair, Chris said, “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

“You goin’ with me?”

“I’m putting you to bed,” the blond said sternly.

Heaving a sigh, the younger man said, “Helluva way t’ end my birthday.”

“Better than taking a ride back to the hospital,” Larabee countered.

Together they got Vin back through the house and settled into bed. Chris slid his jeans off, leaving Tanner dressed only in his boxers. He saw the gentle swell beneath the gray jersey material, but only bit his lip. There was no way Vin was up to anything tonight. He pulled the covers up over the slender body before leaning forward to deliver a gentle kiss to the other man’s forehead.

Sighing once more, Vin said, “Hate t’ spend the rest of my birthday in here alone.”

Running his fingers through the loose curls, Chris said, “You won’t be. I’m just gonna go close things up and make sure everything’s put away. Then I’ll be back. You’ll be due for some pain meds by then, anyway.”

Grimacing, Tanner said, “They’ll put me t’ sleep.”

With a gentle smile, Chris said, “Which is the best thing for you, cowboy. We’ve got plenty of time for our own celebration later.”

“More celebration?” Vin’s voice was like that of a little boy. “Got more presents?”

Chuckling, the older man said, “as a matter of fact, yes. And before you say anything, no you’re not getting them tonight. You’re not in any kind of shape for what I didn’t give you earlier.”

Realizing the blond’s words meant that these were gifts far too intimate for their friends to share, Vin smiled. “Y’ sure? Not even one?”

“No,” Larabee gently smacked the hand that was creeping along his thigh. “And if you don’t behave, I’ll just take them all back.”

Feigning a pout, the younger man said, “Y’ just ain’t got no sense of adventure.”

Shaking his head and grinning broadly, the blond said, “I’ve got plenty… but I’m also smart enough to know better than to risk the best thing in my life.”

Seeing the other man’s expression soften, and hearing the love in his tone, Vin relented. Eyes glittering with emotion that suddenly threatened to overwhelm him, he moved his hand. Reaching up, he stroked the handsome face above him.

Chris took the other man’s hand and held it to his lips. Kissing each finger, he said, softly, “I’m so glad you’re all right. And I’m so glad you could be home for your birthday, Vin.”

Leaning down once more, Larabee kissed his lover, long and slow. As he broke the kiss off, he looked into the brilliant blue eyes. He saw the emotions he felt mirrored in their depths, and smiled once more.

“Happy birthday, Vin Tanner.”

The End

Comments to: lara_mee@yahoo.com
May 24, 2003