ATF Alternate Universe
"You ok, cowboy?" Chris Larabee, leader of the ATF Team 7, ran his hands over the sharpshooter's back and chest, checking for injuries.Vin Tanner leaned into the gentle touch for a moment before twisting reluctantly away.
"Ain't hurt too bad. Why don't you go check on JD?" The sharpshooter was so busy looking anywhere but at his friend, that he missed the flash of emotion in Chris Larabee's green eyes.
Giving the firm chest one last lingering touch, Chris straightened up and went over to where Nathan was kneeling next to a prone JD Dunne.
"How's he doing, Nate?" Chris questioned tersely.
"He'll be fine, Chris. Won't even need stiches."
"Ouch! Nathan! Thought you said this wouldn't hurt." JD's grumbling tone reassured the older man even more than the ex-medic's words. He smiled slightly and walked back over to the sharpshooter, pulling out his cell phone and beginning the business of mopping up from their latest go around with the criminal element as he went.
Another Day. Another Scene.
"Dammit, Chris! Ya can't die. I...""Ain't dead, Vin. Hurt too bad to be dead." Chris Larabee's raspy whisper cut off whatever words the sharpshooter had been about to utter.
"Gonna hurt a lot worse when them docs get hold of ya, cowboy." Vin Tanner's grin was bright enough to light up the night sky. His emotions plain as day on the usually stoic countenance. But Chris Larabee's eyes were tightly shut as he fought off a fresh wave of pain. And so he missed the brief display.
Yet More Of The Same.
"You doing anything this weekend, Vin?" Chris leaned against the sharpshooter's desk and began tapping his pencil on the sheaf of papers he held in his hand. A nervous habit that the lean, blackclad ATF leader did not usually indulge in."Was thinkin' about takin' care of a few things. But nothin' that can't wait. Why?"
"Would you like to go camping? Terry, down in records, was telling me about this place she knows. Supposed to be real pretty." Chris' voice grew soft on the last few words, causing the sharpshooter to frown, a hint of jealosy apparent in his face. To the close observer. Which Chris wasn't. Too busy attempting to act casual.
"Sure, Chris. Matter of fact, why don't we ask the rest of the boys if they want to go? Or maybe some of the kids from my neighborhood. Ain't too often they get out of the city. That is, if you think Terry wouldn't mind?" Just the faintest hint of spite colored the quiet drawl.
"Terry? Why would she...? Sure, Vin. That sounds fine," Chris sighed and trudged back to his office.
Same Old Stuff.
"What the hell is takin' them so long?" Vin Tanner paced up and down the corridor in the ER of the local hospital."It hasn't been that long, Vin. The doctor said he'll be fine," Nathan attempted to soothe the agitated young agent.
"I know." Vin stopped and ran his fingers through his shoulder length brown hair. "It's just that Chris is... I mean, I..."
"You can see him now." The tired looking doctor chose that moment to enter with the good news.
"Only two of you at a time. And only for a few minutes," she cautioned, smiling briefly. "He'll be fine. But he needs to rest."
Vin was already moving towards the doors before she finished speaking and with a glance at his companions, Ezra thanked the doctor and followed the sharpshooter into the other room.
Chris Is Starting To Feel A Bit Awkward As He Grapples With His Feelings.
"Vin isn't hurt, is he?" Chris crouched down beside Nathan."Naw. Just banged up a little. Why don't you finish bandaging him up while I go see to Buck?"
"Uh...no. That's ok. You take care of Vin. I'll see to Buck." Chris stood up quickly and almost ran over to where Buck lay moaning and cursing.
Vin's Turn To Grapple.
"I can't make it out to the ranch today, Chris. Ya'll can go ridin' without me." Vin fidgeted nervously as he spoke, his gaze fixed on Chris' desk."Everything ok?"
"Just fine." Vin continued staring at the desk as he backed out of Chris' office.
The Rest Of The Boys Decide To Take A Hand In The Matter.
"That's it. I can't take it anymore. It's like watching one of them old movies where everyone stands around and sighs and then falls over dead at the end because they were too noble to say 'I love you.' Too stupid is more like it." Mustache quivering in annoyance, Buck Wilmington threw up his hands and flung himself onto the couch in Ezra Standish's living room.The elegant southern agent winced slightly as his very new, very expensive, couch groaned in protest. At least he'd had the foresight to demand that Buck remove his boots before entering the condo.
"Stupid is not the word I would choose in regards to Mr. Larabee and Mr. Tanner," Ezra murmured. "Irksome. Remarkably unperspicacious. Doltish, perhaps."
"You forgot incredibly annoying," JD put in his two cents.
Josiah raised his eyebrows and glanced at the young agent. "I didn't realize this had become such an issue for you, JD." The big man's voice was a low rumble.
JD flushed slightly. "It's just...that's all Casey wants to talk about every time I see her. How cute they are together. How sweet the whole thing is. Do you think they'll ever tell each other how they feel. Makes it hard for a fellow to... you know."
"Well now, JD. That's as sorry a tale as I've ever heard." Josiah's attempt to maintain a straight face failed miserably. He burst out laughing, as did the others.
"Oh shut up," JD muttered, sinking further into his chair.
"The boy's right, though. We gotta do something. Chris is like a bear with a sore toe. And Vin is walking around looking like someone just ran over his dog."
"Sexual frustration can do that to a man," Nathan spoke sagely from his position in the rocking chair.
"Yep." The five men shared a moment of commiseration. Wasn't a man alive, even Buck, who didn't know what that was like.
"So, what are we going to do about it?" JD brought them all back to the question at hand.
"I believe I may have an idea," Ezra said thoughtfully, as he slowly took a sip from his glass.
The First Part Of The Plan Is Put Into Effect.
"Call maintenance, Buck," Chris spoke absently, ignoring the gentle tugging on his arm."They've gone home for the evening. We're the last ones here, remember?" Frustration sharpened the other man's usually genial tone. He tugged harder on the arm in his grasp.
Chris shot an annoyed glance at his oldest friend before sighing in surrender.
"Fine, Buck. I'll go take a look. Although what you expect me to do..." Chris' voice could be heard muttering imprecations concerning idle loafers and lack of peace and other rather unflattering things about the man who was trailing along behind him, surreptitiously digging through his pockets for a particular key.
Chris Doesn't Know What The Plan Is. But He Knows He Doesn't Like It.
I don't see anything wrong..." Chris Larabee whirled around at the sound of the door to the storeroom being slammed shut. The sound of the key turning in the lock added to his confusion."Buck?" he called sharply. Wanting to make certain the other man was ok.
"Now, Chris. This is for your own good. You'll thank us for it. One day." Buck's voice receded in the distance as he began walking off, leaving a very confused and extremely angry Chris Larabee behind.
"Buck? Buck! You get your ass back here. What's going on? If this is some kind of practical joke..." There was no response.
"If you don't unlock this door you're going to wish you were still scrubbing latrine floors in the Navy when I get through with you. Dammit, Buck." There was still no response.
"I'll tell Jenny where you really were last weekend." Chris was pulling out the big guns now.
"Awwww, Chris. I'm telling ya. This is for your own good." That was Buck's story and he was sticking to it.
The Rest Of The Plan Is Put Into Effect.
When the sounds coming from the locked room had finally faded to a dull roar, Buck Wilmington picked up the phone and dialed a number."Didn't know Chris knew the dirty words in that many languages. What was that last one? Arabic or something?" Buck wondered aloud as he waited for Ezra Standish to answer on the other end of the line.
"Bring him on down," Buck interrupted Ezra's long winded greeting, hung up the phone and went back to the latest computer game he and JD had received for Christmas.
Ezra Is Certain That Being Annoyed Was Not Part Of His Original Plan.
"Why does Chris want me to meet him in the storeroom?" Vin Tanner asked yet again. Ezra Standish gritted his teeth. This was at least the fourth time in the last fifteen minutes."I do not question the orders of our illustrious leader. I merely obey them," Ezra said stiffly. And not entirely truthfully.
Vin grunted in disbelief. But he settled back down against the Jag's plush interior, trying to shake the spider sense, as the kids in his building would say, that was telling him something wasn't quite right. If this hadn't been Ezra, he'd almost have suspected he was being set up.
Vin Doesn't Like The Plan Any More Than Chris Does.
Vin struggled fiercely against his captors and was rewarded by a muffled cry of pain."Dammit, Vin. That hurt. Josiah, grab that arm," Buck whispered fiercely. He didn't want Chris alerted to Vin's presence. It was going to be tricky enough trying to get Vin through the door without all hell breaking loose. Should've just drugged them both., he thought sourly.
Ezra Standish ignored the heated exchange taking place behind him and concentrated on getting the door open quietly enough so as not to alert their leader.
"Ready?" he turned and mouthed silently to the struggling trio.
Two emphatic nods and one angry glare were his only response.
Ezra flung open the door and quickly stepped to the side as Chris Larabee came charging out. Buck and Josiah heaved the sharpshooter into the room. Right in the path of a very surprised Chris. Leader and sharpshooter went down in a tangle of flailing limbs as the door was slammed shut and locked with sighs of relief.
Vin And Chris Begin To Understand The Plan. And They Still Don't Like It.
What the hell's goin' on, Chris?" Vin demanded angrily, once they'd gotten themselves untangled. He didn't look directly at his companion. A fact which did not go unnoticed.The blonde man stared icily in his direction. "Do I look like I have any answers, here?"
"Sorry, pard." Vin sat down with a sigh across from the other man and leaned back against a box of office supplies.
"Have they just gone plumb loco?" he asked a few moments later.
Chris shrugged. "It's as good an explanation as any."
"You wouldn't happen to have your cell phone, would you?" Chris asked without much hope. He knew his team's attention to detail. They were the best.
"Nope."
"You tried talkin' to them?" Vin got up and walked over to the door.
"Yep. But go ahead and give it a shot." Chris waved a hand in Vin's direction.
"Ezra? Buck? Josiah? Can ya'll tell us what we're supposed to be doin' in here?" Vin was proud of how calm and reasonable he sounded. Exactly the way you were supposed to sound when dealing with madmen.
"See now? That's exactly it. Shouldn't have to ask that question. If you knew what the hell you were supposed to be doing, we wouldn't have had to resort to such drastic measures. Sheesh," Buck said in disgust.
"Ezra? What's he talkin' about?" Vin appealed to the southern agent, a note of desperation beginning to creep into his tone.
"I suggest you employ yourselves in a productive manner. Monday is a long time away. And shall seem even longer with the somewhat limited facilities at your disposal." The southern agent went to his desk and pulled out the deck of cards he kept in the top drawer.
"Just think about it, Brother Tanner. I'm sure one of you is bound to see the light." The encouraging words were marred by the somewhat doubtful tone in the ex preacher's voice.
"You do something to piss them off?" Vin shot a questioning glance at his companion.
"No more so than usual." Chris' lips quirked in a slight smile.
"So, what do ya think they're up to?"
"Don't know. I do know that I'm going to shoot Buck first thing. Soon as I get out of here. Someplace nice and painful." Chris' green eyes were thoughtful as he contemplated where that particular place might be.
"You been sayin' things like that to them out there?" Vin jerked a thumb towards the door.
Chris shrugged. "What else was I supposed to do?"
Vin regarded the other man through narrowed eyes. "You're bein' awful calm about this." he accused.
Chris shrugged again. "Getting upset ain't going to get us out of here."
"What will?" Vin walked over and sat down next to Chris, who responded by edging away slightly.
"I ain't got cooties." Vin told the other man irritably.
Chris eyed his companion warily. "Didn't think you had," he replied mildly.
"Then why are you always movin' away every time I get near you lately?" To prove his point, Vin scooted a bit closer to Chris who began automatically drawing away, before catching himself. He folded his arms defiantly and glared at the sharpshooter. Daring him to say something.
"Why don't you ever look me in the eye, anymore?" Chris demanded. Two could play at this game.
"I do," Vin replied weakly, eyes skittering away. He forced them back to meet Chris' green gaze.
"Don't."
"Do."
"Don't."
"Awwww hell. Ok, I don't. Are ya happy now?"
"No. I want to know why you don't."
"Well, I want to know why you flinch every time I touch ya."
"Ok, then."
"Ok."
"You feel like giving that window a go? You can stand on my shoulders."
"Think it'll work?"
"No. You want to try?"
"Yep."
An Unplanned Accident Occurs.
Vin balanced himself precariously on his companion's shoulders. He stretched his arm out. Just a bit further and he could reach. Almost there...THUD!! CRASH!!! OOOOMPH!!!!
"Oh shit. Oh Vin. Are you all right? Answer me, dammit. You're always getting hurt. Making me worry." The blonde agent's hands were busily checking for injuries as he spoke. The touch became an unconscious caress as Chris realized that the sharpshooter was uninjured except for a few minor bumps and bruises.
"Chris?" the sharpshooter said when he'd regained his breath.
"What?" the hands were still absently rubbing his back.
"You're touchin' me," Vin pointed out.
Chris jerked his hands back like they'd been burned.
"No. I...I...didn't mind. Don't mind," the sharpshooter said softly.
The two men stared at each other for the space of a heartbeat. Then they became aware of the sound of frantic voices outside the door.
"What happened in there? You boys ok?" Josiah's bass rumble cut through the din of voices outside.
"It's probably just a trick. Wouldn't put anything past those sly dogs." Buck sounded as if he were speaking more to reassure himself than out of any real conviction.
"We're fine. Now go away," Chris ordered in his best "I'm the Boss" voice.
There was complete silence outside the door. Then Ezra's smug voice could be heard.
"I believe you gentlemen owe me a sum of money."
Changing One's Mind Is Not Just A Woman's Prerogative. Vin And Chris Now Like The Plan.
"So does this make us the loco ones, now?" Vin smiled ruefully."I know I've been feeling pretty crazy lately." Chris sat back and stared levelly at the sharpshooter, who sat up with a groan.
"Yeah. Me too."
"So what do we do about it?"
"What do ya want to do?"
"This." Chris moved close to the sharpshooter and reached out to brush his lips lightly across his companion's mouth.
"And this." He ran a questing hand under Vin's shirt to touch the smooth flesh beneath.
"Yep. That's what I wanted to do, too." Vin was breathing heavily, the words coming out in gasps as Chris' hands and lips continued their exploration.
"You know what this means, don't you?" Chris whispered as he nibbled on a sensitive ear.
"That you can tell Terry from records she ain't invited on our next camping trip." Vin pulled away from Chris to look him in the eye as he spoke.
"Hell, Vin. You were the one who invited her on the last one. I had no intentions of asking her."
"I was a damn fool, wasn't I?"
"Yep." At the look in the blue eyes, Chris relented. "Ok. We both were."
"But not anymore?" The sharpshooter asked, heart in his eyes.
"Never again." Chris agreed.
THE END
Comments to: mismiz@alltel.net