Surprise

Having left Denver cold and snowy, still deep in Old Man Winter's grip, Vin happy pulled off the brown leather bomber jacket, loosened his tie and then rolled up his shirt sleeves to above his elbows. "Ah, just what the Doc ordered. Sun, fun and warm weather", he thought happily as he picked up the beaten up brown leather duffle he used routinely as carry on luggage. Slantering down the concourse of Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans was already easing the strain he had been under for the last three weeks. Just ain't so used of being shot no more," he mused under his breath as he followed the rambunctious crowd to the escalator that would bring him to the luggage claim carousels. "Get my bag, catch me a cab and it's to the French Quarter I go," he happily swung his bag past the two college age girls who were scrambling to reach their own. "Y'all need so help with them bags, girls?" the lanky Texan asked as the bag eluded the brunette for a second time.

The young women looked gratefully at he tall slender Texan standing behind them, a gentle smirk of amusement evident. "thanks honey, you'd be a prince," the petite red head answered.

"Y'all just gonna have to tell what ones are y'alls , and how many," Vin looked ruefully at the giggling girls.

"Only two of them, handsome and that's them with the purple, green and gold ribbons tied around the handles... You here for Mardi Gras?" asked the brunette.

"Yeah, and business as well," Vin replied as he reached for and quickly snatched up a blue soft side suite case with the gaudy Mardi Gras coloured ribbon tied around the handle.

"The better to see it at baggage claim," the red head giggled.

"Reckoned that one, all on my own," Vin smiled back.

Thanking him the girls, Julia Grant (brunette ) and Pamela Gordon (redhead), college co-eds from upper New York state invited Vin to share their taxi ride into New Orleans, concluding with, "this way the three of us can split the fare and it's cheaper that way," Julia finished up.

"Sounds like a plan, only thing is I got reservations at the Royal Senista in the French Quarter, is that close to where y'all going to be staying, " Vin asked as they settled into the cool air-conditioned interior of the cab. He had forgotten how quickly the humidity caught up with a body. "It's better'n snow," he murmured after giving the cabby his destination. The cabby having assured the three that the two hotels that they were staying at were close by and that the fare could be split three ways, pointing out the printed notice in the cab pointing out the benefits of fare splitting.

Interstate 10 Vin mused hadn't improved any since the last time he'd been in New Orleans and the girls awed murmurs as the passed the Super dome carried the conversation in the cab until the first of the hotels were arrived at. Bidding the girls goodbye, Vin and the cabby wished them a happy Mardi Gras and it was on to Vin's hotel.

Vin had always hated check-ins, but somehow this one had been relatively painless. "Must be ‘cause the ATF made the reservation, for Special Agent Tanner, not just ol' Vin Tanner looking for a room," he mused as he walked across the room to open the shutters to look down at the already gathering throngs in the streets for that night's reverally. Picking up the phone Vin quickly completed that necessary long-distance call to Denver. He knew that Chris and the rest of Team 7 wouldn't leave the office until he's checked in and let them know he'd arrived safely.

"Larabee," the gruff voice of his supervisor and best friend answered on the first ring.

"Hey Cowboy, lettin' ya know I'm here," Vin laughed as he watched the antics of two rotund human/toucans strut their stuff along Bourbon Street. Damn Chris I'd sure forgot how some folk can act a fool during Carnival. ‘Cause ya'd never believe what just walked by," Vin chuckled as several brave, foolhardy or just plain drunk college boys tried to removed a tail feather from each of the toucans.

"Somehow Cowboy I can just imagine," Chris chuckled back, happy to hear the life and enjoyment in Vin Tanner's voice. For too long had it been missing from that Texas twang.

"Boys gone for the day yet Chris?' Vin asked.

"Nah," came the reply, "I pay'em to do a days work, that includes Fridays," Chris teasingly groused, "hang on goin' put ya on speaker phone,"

Vin heard Chris place the receiver down on the desk he knew at least an inch deep in paper, and hollered, " Vin's on the phone, come on."

Vin could just make out the sounds of 4 other men rapidly pushing back chairs and moving towards Larabee's office, a click then a more metallic sound, he could hear the boys, coming through the door, or in JD Dunne's case bouncing through.

"Hey Vin , just tell me that it's 40 degrees and it raining," Buck Wilmington moaned as the other two quickly followed him through the door.

"Nah Bucklin it's about 75 and the sun's just a shinin'," Vin laughingly replied.

"Damn least the weather could help, and make it nasty. Ain't fair Chris that Junior got to go to New Orleans by hisself, during Mardi Gras and the weather has been be nice," Bruck growled as he continued to stare at this long time friend.

"Shut up Buck," Larabee growled back glaring at the lady's man who casually sat on the edge of his desk, disrupting his carefully organized reports.

"How ya feelin Vin," Nathan called out.

"Good Nate a mite tired, but not too bad. Goin to git me some chow, and maybe meet up with the Connor, the fibbie. He left a message to meet up with him by about 7, and we'd have a few drinks."

"Not too much activity Vin, take it easy," Nathan Jackson reminded, "just a drink or two and no bar crawling Vin. Ya only outta the hospital a week Vin. And don't take any of the pain pills iffen ya gonna drink."

"Nate quit. I'm okay, and I lef'em pills home. Don' like the way they make me feel," Vin acknowledged ruefully.

"Vin, " came Nathan's voice.

"Let'im be Brother Nathan. Our little brother has plenty of sense the Good Lord give'em, and he knows to behave," Josiah Sanchez the eldest member of the team, and resident father figure stated. It's gonna be hard to git'im iffen he's in New Orleans and we're here. So you just behave Vin Tanner, have a good time, and the Good Lord will watch over ya'."

"Thanks Josiah, gonna try to have some fun, ‘cause I ain't up ta too much" Vin assured his friends and co-workers quickly. "there's the seminar tomorrow, the weekend and one on Monday, and Tuesday, I'm gonna do a little parading maself."

"Heard from the FBI yet Vin?" Josiah asked.

"Yeah gotta a note from Connor, also gotta a note from his boss, Assistant Director Smith, and y'all never guess what else," Vin spoke excitedly.

"What Vin," JD asked.

"NOPD interdepartmental relations sent over a fruit basket, with a note too. Going to meet with a Detective Boudreaux tomorrow, after the seminar. Seems like the local cops want to get in on some of this fancier anti-terrorist stuff too," Vin stated.

"Yeah well Vin after last year, I think that every cop no matter the jurisdiction wants to be able to know what to look for," Chris Larabee mused thoughtfully. "And seeing as we just got us a major bust of guns, runners and dealers, the powers that be figure we did somethin' right and wanna us to teach it to a few others."

"Well I'd better git, iffen I'm gonna shower and meet Connor. I'll call y'all Sunday, y'all still gonna be doin poker at the Ranch ain't ya Chris?"

"Yeah Cowboy gonna have'em to the ranch. You be careful and good," Chris advised glaring again at Buck, "git off of my desk, ya goin have them papers all over the floor and I'm gonna have ta kill ya,"

Vin chuckled softly at the rude noise that followed Larabee's pronouncement.

"Vin ya take care, hear," Nathan spoke over the escalating argument in the background.

"Nite Vin, have fun," JD laughed, as the sound of Larabee getting up from behind his desk was heard.

"Good night brother, you'll be in my prayers Vin," Josiah said.

"Nite boys, see y'all next Friday," Vin concluded as he hung up the phone.

Vin had to admit the shower had been something close to miraculous. Unlimited hot water and room enough to easily move around in. "Ah Vin ole boy, ya could get spoiled real quickly like," he thought a smile forming on his lips. Striding easily through the crowd Vin made his way down Bourbon street heading for Pat O'Brien's one of the most famous, or perhaps infamous landmarks in New Orleans. Passing through the doors, he waited his turn to be carded, and watched with amusement as the young bouncer looked stunned at the ATF id and badge in his wallet.

"Damn bro ain't you a little young to be a fed, and a big fed at that," mused the musical Cajun accent handing back Vin's wallet.

"Nah ain't all that young, and I was a army ranger first, joined up when I was 18 straight outta high school." Vin replied easily. "I'm lookin for the piana bar, and a guy, about 6' 3" black hair, dark complexion."

"More then one guy here tonight looks that bro. Going to have to help me out some more," came the softly accented reply.

"Never mind, jus found'em. Thanks anyway," Vin smiled at the bouncer as he walked towards a smiling FBI Special Agent Connor.

"Tanner been awhile," Special Agent Robert Connor, grasped the extended hand Vin Tanner held out.

"Yeah Connor been awhile. How ya been, wife and the kids?" Vin asked as he nodded to the waitress' inquiry about a beer, "Draft please."

The two old friends began to catch up on lives over the past few years, with Vin culminating his story with Team 7's last bust, his own wounding, recovery and the combination holiday/business trip that brought one Vin Tanner to New Orleans the weekend before Mardi Gras.

"Sounds like it hasn't been dull Vin, I'll give you that. You get on with that team of yours; you always were the lone wolf?" Connor finished his sentence and beer at the same time.

"Yeah Bob, found me a home, and a family too. All good men, men who'd watch my back fer me and more." Vin replied.

The two talked an hour more and then at Connor's suggestion they left the bar and walked back to Bourbon Street and looking in the windows and at the displays on show in the crowd. There was singing, dancing, groping, grabbing, drinking and all sorts of legal and illegal substances making their rounds through the crowds.

"Yeah just the usual Mardi Gras stuff, Vin, maybe just a little quieter then usual, given last September, but not too much so." Connor commented on the actions of the crowd around them.

"Yeah but a big mite more'en I'm used of Bob. Ya just don't git this kind of stuff in Denver, or Texas where I came up. This is the big bad city stuff, the ole ladies use'ta mutter about. Ya know that stuff that would lead ya straight to hell." Vin laughingly dodged the groupings of the drunken college kids surrounding the two federal agents.

"Hey Vin, Vin Tanner, having fun yet?" chimed the melodious voice of Julia Grant.

"Hey girls, y'all havin' fun?" Vin replied smiling at his two college girl taxi partners.

"Yeah a blast," giggled Pamela.

"Now y'all be careful," Vin warned, "Y'all could run into some trouble iffen y'all get too drunk."

"Nope I'm the designated sober one tonight;" Julia hastened to reply, "And Pam's had her limit too."

"Good ‘cause I'd hate ta hear somethin' happened ‘cause y'all got too looped," Vin said, waving as the girls were moved away with the college crowd.

Two hours later Vin Tanner found himself outside of Preservation Hall, alone now, Robert Connor having left to return to his home; after arranging for the two federal agents itineraries of the next few days; for the meetings scheduled the day after Mardi Gras. Looking into the smoky interior Vin was intrigued by the slow sexually charged jazz that drifted over him. Moving inside he spied a stool at the bar and slantered over and took a seat. Ordering a draft from the bartender he turned halfway around and slowly and deliberately caught the green eyed gaze that had tracked him from his entrance to seating. The man seated at the corner table intrigued Vin. Classically beautiful with deep emerald green eyes and chestnut coloured curls he oozed the smoky sexual allure of the jazz playing in the background. Vin allowed himself to meet the stranger's eyes, raising his glass in a toast of the acknowledgement he read in those eyes, the carnality of the atmosphere in the bar. The other man raised an eyebrow and made a graceful elegant gesture inviting Vin to his table. Ambling easily his stride even more languidly then usual, his hips moving to the rhythm, Vin slid into the proffered chair and set his beer down on the table. "Vin," he offered quietly as the band started their next number, a number that musically personified sexuality in its most basic form..

"Ezra," came the softly southern accented reply.

Ezra took a long slow sip from the glass, his eyes never leaving the slender man seated at his table. He could feel the lust starting to roll off of him and focus onto his table companion. It was a feeling that Ezra was familiar with but not one that he acted on often. Leaning back in his chair Ezra looked towards the band as the sax filled the room with its sensuous howl. Blood stirring and pooling in his groin, he felt his cock lengthen and fill out the dark grey trousers he wore. Looking up Ezra met the stirring blue eyes and decided at that moment he was going to be spontaneous…………….irregardless of the Maude sounding voice in his ear that decried his wants as foolhardy.

"Your place or mine," Ezra spoke into the hush between them, his voice rolling smoothly like silk over Vin's ears and body the sound initiating an answering twitch in his cock.

"Either, got a hotel room, couple of blocks over," Vin replied licking his lips provocatively.

"Mine then", Ezra replied, "it's just a block over and no one else there to disturb us."

The two men rose effortlessly from the table each surreptitiously adjusting their erections inside of the pants they wore. Vin smiled down at the smaller man, catching a deep waft of the spicy scent he wore. A mixture of man, smoke, and musk. A scent Vin was growing more eager to discover the taste of. Ezra half turned his stride a provocative sway, his look a glance half over his shoulder……………the green of his eyes deepening the closer he got to the door. Vin grimaced as his cock tightened further in the already much too snug jeans and quickly followed his soon to be lover out into the mayhem that was New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

The patio garden gave off lush earthy scents as the two men entered in its quiet realm. Vin hadn't noticed the amount of noise that had surrounded them in the street…… now only noting its absence. Ezra turned to Vin in the dim light of the garden and motioned him to follow, the almost silent hinges of the door gliding inward. The room was dim, a hushed whoosh of the ceiling fan gently revolving above their heads. Ezra reached and seized Vin's shirt in his elegant hands and pulled him hard up against him. Vin gasped hoarsely as their open mouths met wetly tongues slickly moving against each other. Vin wrapped his arm around Ezra's waist and deftly began to unbutton the silk shirt, the thought: "no tie thank God, easier to get to skin."

Ezra sucked strongly at Vin's bottom lip, shuddering as Vin's long limber fingers found a nipple and twisted it sharply. Ezra's hands weren't idle either, opening the snaps on the chambray shirt Vin wore and moving his mouth eagerly down Vin's jaw lapping and nipping sharply, moaning softly with each groan from deep within Vin's chest. Vin's hands pulled at Ezra's hips grinding hardened shafts together.

"More skin, now," Vin harshly panted. "Gotta taste yer cock. Want to make ya cum so hard we'll both see stars."

"Yesssssssssss," Ezra hissed as Vin unbuckled the thin black leather belt. "Suck me, GODDDDDDDDDDDD," Ezra throatily croaked as Vin licked eagerly at the plum coloured head moving the foreskin back and forth with fingers and tongue. Ezra could feel his knees begin to give turning to rubber as the lean Texan sucked more and more of the silken shaft into his throat. Bitter salt exploded unto Vin's tongue as he tasted Ezra's pre-cum. Manna from heaven wouldn't have tasted better to him. Sliding his hands with the pants and silk boxers down Ezra's thighs, Vin felt the fine tremors of those firm runner's muscles. He reached up with gentle fingers and cupped the soft, almost hairless sac, moving the full testicles around feeling them move closer to the base of the shaft he eagerly worked with mouth, tongue and throat. Looking up at Ezra Vin was enchanted the by the debauched angelic look of his lover, a lover he knew next to nothing about. Ezra forced himself to look down as Vin reached up to brush a nail against a turgid nipple, flicking the flesh softly. "The way heavens must have cried when they lost you to us mere mortals," Ezra though in the lust ridden corridors of his mind.

"I want to fuck you. I want us both to cum with me inside of you. I want to feel your ass tighten around me, my cum filling you up. Hot tight and oh so sweet." Ezra whispered to Vin as he framed his hands around Vin's face gently removing that oh so talented mouth from his cock. "Let's go to bed. Come lover this way. My bed, it's this way," Ezra continued crooning as he helped Vin stand and slowly began to manoeuvre them down the narrow hallway towards the other end of the house.

Vin allowed his shirt to slide off of his shoulders and wisp to the floor at his feet. Narrowing his eyes he watched as Ezra allowed his pants and boxers to slide off his narrow elegant feet, ending up bunched over the black loafers Ezra toed off with socks still in the shoes. The solid rasp of the zipper of Vin's jeans, ended the silence between them as Ezra reclined on the large pedestal bed, reaching to the bedside table to wave a tube of lubricant and a condom at Vin. "Hurry lover," Ezra purred his drawl longer, slower and more sensuous then earlier.

Vin shucked the well worn jeans and briefs in one long easy motion. His cock jumping to freedom curving tautly over his abdomen, spreading strands of silvery pre-cum across his belly. Lazily Vin pumped his cock briefly enjoying the feeling of pleasure ease into his balls. He slowly crawled up the mattress to meet his green-eyed enchanter, brushing a soft lick over the deeply purple head of the cock enticing him closer. "Ya want me lover………………come fuck me lover. I want to feel ya so deep that neither of us will know where we end," Vin whispered to Ezra as he sharply bit down on the tempting ear lobe.

Ezra deftly flipped the taller man over and dived into a breathless kiss. Caressing the smooth hairless chest underneath him Ezra opened the lube and squeezed out generous amount of the clear gel onto his palm. Moving down the writhing body Ezra tongued Vin's navel shallowly smiling at the quiver to the abdominal muscles before him. Meeting Vin's eyes, Ezra raised an eyebrow while looking down at the still angry line of partially healed surgical scar that ran along Vin's lower left flank, just above the narrow plains of his hips. "Didn' move jus the right way, and got in the way of some flyin' metal" Vin murmured, "spent a week in the hospital back home. Job thought I otta have a vacation outta it. Didn't argue."

"I think that maybe a kiss to make it better," Ezra teased his breath moving caressingly over the scar.

"Nah not were it hurts lover. Hurts so bad right here," Vin directed Ezra to his swollen shaft curled over his lower abdomen. "Gonna need lots of help to git that hurt it's got."

"I must concur, this does appear to be extremely painful. Perhaps some oral application would ease your pain," Ezra tutted as his tongue snaked out to dance with the eager cock in front of him.

"ARGHHHHHH, damn, ya keep that up and I'm gonna cum all over yer face. Thought ya wanted to fuck me," Vin moaned.

Ezra continued his tongue dance with the magnificent cock in front of him. Long, thick and beautifully curved upwards, Ezra almost gave in to his desire to suck it and the man who owned it dry. But his cock had other ideas, and its main idea was to bury itself in the tight heat of this writhing man's ass. Ezra smoothed a finger into the lube warmed in this palm, and gently traced down the taut skin of Vin's perineum. Vin moaned deeply spreading his long legs wider the invitation to his lover clearly spelled out by his wanton movements on the bed. Ezra gently teased the snug puckered secret entrance to Vin's body. "More give me more," Vin rasped. Ezra smirked at the Texan's eagerness, allowed his finger to press forward against the muscles that guarded the entrance to the luscious man's body. Hotter, tighter velvet caressing his finger. Ezra moaned along with Vin as he worked his finger in and out of his lover's body. Adding more of the lube Ezra inserted two fingers through Vin's pucker, slowing their movements at the hint of pain in Vin's moan. "Nah don stop, Jesus God that feel so good. More," Vin panted thrusting his hips upward to get more of those magic fingers.

"Hush, my divine one, slowly. I do not want any harm to you. You are so beautiful like this. Wanton, luscious, made for this act. The gods above must envy you, "Ezra murmured as he added a third lubricated finger into the anus of his lover. Waiting only long enough for Vin to begin thrusting his hips to meet Ezra's fingers, Ezra bent his head to the drooling cock and licked delicately at the tip. Vin screamed as Ezra's tongue lapped at the oozing slit of his cock and his fingers rub firmly across the sweet spot deep inside of him.

"Now I am going to fuck. Slowly and deep, fast and hard. Until both of us have seen Nirvana. And it's going to be sooooooo good," Ezra crooned as his slicked his own cock, rocking backwards and forwards on his knees into his own fist the pleasure of his own touch zipping up and down his spine with each stroke.

Vin sat up abruptly and pulled Ezra close, closing his lips firmly over Ezra's and forcing open his mouth. Vin's tongue swept into Ezra's mouth, dancing over Ezra's tongue and teeth. Leaning back, Vin whispered hoarsely, "Now FUCK ME now."

Vin lay back spreading his legs wide and drawing up his knees against his chest opening his most private spot widely. Ezra moved to settle between Vin's widely spread thighs angling his cock down to the waiting pucker. Heat, satin softness, and tightness beyond anything else he had ever felt. This was paradise found. Flexing his hips Ezra moved slowly until he was fully seated, his balls rubbing against the satin soft skin of Vin's perineum. The hissed breath from Ezra the only sound in the hush surrounding the lovers. Leaning down Ezra wrapped his lips around a turgid nipple and began sucking to the same rhythm his hips flexed into and out of Vin ass. Vin clenched the soft sheet beneath him and arched upward as each movement in and out of Ezra's cock brushed his prostate sending spikes of intense pleasure through this body. Ezra angled his thrust downward, drawing the two men's abdomen's closer and in so firmly brushing Vin's cock with each stroke. Vin howled loudly and tightened his muscles against the cock thrusting energetically within him. Ezra gasped his pleasure as the satin sheath held him closer, feeling his balls tighten impossible against his body. His orgasm screaming forth from his body. Vin jerked upward as he felt the large cock within him swell and begin to spasm in spite of the latex between their flesh. Ezra's elegant movements broke into disjointed thrusts and jerks as he wheezed out the force of his orgasm. Vin's voice joining his in ecstasy spurting his own semen on to their bellies and chests.

Slowly withdrawing from Vin's sated body Ezra deftly discarded the used condom in the ornate waste basket by the bed. Ezra felt his bones zinging with pleasure but as he lay next to the man who shared his bed, his agile mind again began to move. The thoughts whirling quickly through his mind………..while anonymous sex was wonderful at times, it was the awkward afterwards that had kept him from often partaking of this pleasure. Vin leaned up on his elbow. "Getting to ya ain't it?" he questioned into the deepening silence.

"Don't do this offen. Guess ya don't either huh?" Vin continued.

"No I don't often meet some in a bar and take them home. I must say that it was worth it though." Ezra replied. "I must admit (and here Ezra cringed internally at the honesty he was about to offer a virtual stranger), that the awkwardness is the worst part of it."

Vin leaned over and gently kissed his lover, understanding flashing in sapphire depths of his eyes. "Iffen ya want I'm gonna be in town til next Thursday. Got some meetin's I gotta to go too. Maybe we can get together and spend some time together." Ezra tenderly rubbed his knuckles over Vin's stubbled cheek. "Yes I do believe that I would like that. I can show you some of the sites of this fair metropolis."

Vin rose from the bed and began looking for his clothing. Ezra lay back and raised a curious eyebrow. "Gonna git. Think that will be for the better tonite atleas. Give us a chance to," Vin paused as he looked mentally for just the right phrase. "Give us a chance to get use ta what happened. And maybe we kin git together tomorrow."

"A little to late sir. It's been tomorrow for a number of hours now. By this I believe you mean later today?" Ezra enquired.

"Yeah maybe we can meet up ‘bout supper time?" Vin asked as he pulled on his pants, glancing coyly over his shoulders at the man still naked on the large bed. "Give us a chance to catch some sleep."

"A splendid idea my dear sir. How shall we reacquaint ourselves at this later time?" Ezra asked.

"I'm staying at the Senista Hotel, the name's Tanner. Room 223." Vin replied. "I'll be waitin on ya, lover." Vin walked over to the bed to tenderly kiss the man sitting cross legged on it. "Now tell me how to git back to where I need to be, and see me otta here. Sooner I go sooner we git together again."

Leaving the blue wooden door to close behind him, Vin found himself back into the unending party of the streets. Shaking his head in fond exasperation of the people still actively partying in the street Vin leisurely strolled through the crowds back to his hotel.

The heat and splash of the water in the shower soothed the last of the sore spots on Vin's body. The feel of the water much like the fingers that had stroked and touched his flesh with such passion not much earlier. Reaching for his shampoo Vin could not help but relive the events of this night. Part of his psyche was astonished that he'd all but jumped into an sexual affaire with a stranger. A stranger in a strange city, one where he had little or no back up. At least at home in Denver he had the team to back him up if things got out of hand. The other half of his mind dwelt on the man in whose arms, bed and cock he had so much pleasure in. It had been a while since he had let himself go so far. At least both of them had the presence of mind to use a condom. Safe sex wasn't foremost on his mind during the encounter Vin ruefully thought. Drying off from his shower Vin slid boneless into bed and sleepily stretched out the tired (and sated) kinks in his body and settle off to rest.

"Mr Tanner, a message sir," the hotel clerk called out to Vin as he crossed the sumptuous entry way of the hotel.

"Thanks," Vin replied taking the envelope from the clerk's hand. Opening the envelope Vin squinted at the elegant hand writing on the fine paper in rough calloused fingers. Concentrating intently Vin slowly read the message. "Vin, unfortunately something has come up in the course of my employment that has necessitated that I leave New Orleans today. I am very deeply distressed that we will be able to meet again before you must leave the city. I sincerely hope that you enjoy your visit here. And I will remember our evening with the fondest of memories. Perhaps one day our paths will cross again. Sincerely Ezra." Vin leaned back against the mirrored wall of the elevator, his shoulders bowing with a sadness he had no name for. "Guess a one nighter was all he wanted," he muttered sadly the hurt spreading quickly.

Six Months Later - Denver ATF Building

"Come on Chris, it's Friday afternoon and we've all got plans for the weekend. Can't this meeting wait til Monday, when we're at least goin to be interested?" Buck whined, as team 7 moved into their usual seats in the team meeting room.

"Shut up Buck. I'm paying ya for a days work. And that means ya work all day. Not take off at 4 o'clock just ‘cause it's a Friday and ya'v an itch in ya drawers. Take yer mind offa yer cock and listen up. The FBI has agreed to the transfer and we're about the git an undercover man. File says this guy is one of the best. Got an education to beat the band, and can infiltrate jus about anything," Chris started the meeting.

"Iffen he's so good, why'd the fibbies let'em go Chris?" JD asked.

"He's probably got a discipline sheet a mile long, that why kid," Nathan theorized. "Only reason the fibbies'll let anythin go."

"Got it there Nate," Chris replied. "Guy's supposed to be here at 4:30 to do the meet and greet. Means ya'll behave, ‘specially you Buck. We need this guy on the team. We need a good undercover man. And this guy Standish is the best, and since we're the best he needs to work with us."

Hearing the murmur of voices approaching the door the men of ATF team 7 settled more comfortably into their chairs, wondering about the soon to be newest member of the team. Each of them hoping that this new man would fit into the close nit family that they were.

A sharp rap at the door, followed without pause by the door opening inward to admit the Judge and the man with him. Looking up Vin felt as though the universe slammed to a halt. Ezra his Mardi Gras lover sauntered through the door. Vin's eyes grew impossibly large as Ezra coolly smiled and shook hands with Chris Larabee his new supervisor and leader of team 7. Vin heard the Judge saying some words, but for the nothing on this earth could he make out what was being said. He felt as though he was surrounded by some kind of fog. He heard Chris chuckle at something that the Judge said to him as the Judge left the room. Vin's heart began to thunder as Chris drew Ezra's attention to the other men in the room and began to introduce each of the team to their newest member. Distantly hearing the introductions continue until Chris reached him, Vin mentally braced himself. "And this is our sharpshooter and weapons expert Vin Tanner. He'll be the one the get ya qualified on our range. ATF qualifying is slightly different the FBI," Chris concluded.

"I'll certainly look forward to any instructions that you may have Mr. Tanner and at your connivance of course. I am at your disposal," the smooth southern drawl flowed over Vin.

"Monday sound good for ya?" Vin surprised himself with his ability to speak coherently when he still felt the deep seated shock.

"I shall look forward to Monday Mr. Tanner. Now gentlemen if y'all have no further need of me, I would appreciate the opportunity to unpack and settle into my accommodations," Ezra stated.

Vin looked over at the southern and before he knew what was going to come out asked, "Need some help?"

"Certainly Mr. Tanner I would appreciate some assistance. And perhaps you can give me a small tour of the city so that I can begin to acquaint myself with Denver," Ezra replied with a clandestine yet saucy wink at Vin.

Vin felt his heart leap at the gesture. He didn't know where this was leading but it appeared that Ezra was interested in the exploration.

The End