Disclaimers: No copyright infringement intended, strictly a work of fiction
Pairing: V/C
Author's Notes: Thanks to Judy for the great beta, as always. Spoilers for The New Law (obviously).
After the conclusion of the episode:
"Savin' a town sure works up a helluva thirst, don't it Vin?" Buck asked with a chuckle, slapping the tracker lightly on the back as they walked side by side, following the rest of the seven into the saloon.Vin favored Buck with just the trace of his usual crooked grin as they walked through the batwing doors, but didn't answer. Buck was too wound up from the gun battle to notice Vin's lack of reply, his mind already wandering, trying to figure out how long it would be before the saloon girls got back to Four Corners.
"Vin! Catch!" Josiah's voice boomed from across the saloon, a split second before the bottle of whiskey sailed toward the sharpshooter, launched from the big man.
"Barkeep can put it on the Judge's tab," Josiah said to Vin, with a quick wink, as he stepped out from behind the deserted bar, grabbing shot glasses with one hand, and two bottles of whiskey with the other.
When Vin hung back slightly, Josiah nudged the younger man toward the table in the rear of the saloon. "C'mon Vin, isn't polite to keep thirsty men waitin'," Josiah urged with a smile.
Vin nodded and headed toward the table.
"How gracious of you both to secure the libations," Ezra drawled as Josiah and Vin approached the group.
"Don't mention it Ezra, just drink it," Josiah replied cheerfully.
The two chairs next to Chris had been left empty, and Vin surprised Chris, and the rest of the table, by taking the one farther away from the gunslinger. Josiah slid into the chair immediately next to Chris, and began pouring the whiskey. Vin downed his shot, reached for the bottle and poured, then swallowed two more shots in rapid succession.
"Easy pard, there's more where that came from," Chris cautioned.
Vin ignored him and kept drinking more whiskey.
As the day wore on, more of the townsfolk, who had fled in terror not twenty-four hours earlier, began to trickle back to their homes. The saloon soon began to fill up, and first Ezra, then Buck, drifted away from the table. Within minutes, Ezra was in the midst of a poker game with several of the returning town merchants, while Buck had managed to snare two of the working girls who had made it back into town. After downing the last of his milk, JD decided to pay a visit to the Wells Ranch, to check on Nettie and Casey. Nathan wanted to unpack his medical journals and supplies, and Josiah figured he'd check on the church. The three men departed together, leaving Chris and Vin at the table alone.
"You're even quieter than usual Vin. Somethin' on your mind?" Chris said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Nope," Vin replied stubbornly.
Chris poured the last of the whiskey in their two glasses, and drank his down, setting the glass back on the table and looking Vin meaningfully in the eyes.
"Come on and get somethin' to eat with me," he asked quietly.
"Nope," Vin repeated, ignoring the drink Chris had poured.
"Gonna let good whiskey go to waste?"
"Ain't thirsty no more," Vin replied.
"Hell, then I'll drink it," Chris spat out, starting to get angry. He swilled down the drink and slammed the glass down on the tabletop. "What's your problem, Tanner?"
"Don't got a problem. Just see the way things are is all," Vin answered tightly.
Chris squinted back at Vin "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
"You should know," Vin answered curtly.
"I don't know what you're talkin' about Vin," Chris replied. 'What the hell was the matter with him?' Chris asked himself, staring at the stiff, tensed up body of his lover. 'Was Vin still worried about the town? That the men would come back and try to finish what they'd started? Was Vin just being extra cautious?' Chris felt his anger dissipate as he looked at Vin, figuring maybe that was the reason.
"Vin, is it the town? Ya still worried? 'Cause there ain't no reason to be," Chris reassured in a soft voice, resting his hand on Vin's shoulder gently.
"Get off 'a me!" Vin snapped, jerking Chris's hand off his shoulder, then standing up abruptly.
The saloon sounds died away to nothing as all movement stopped. All eyes were glued to Vin Tanner and Chris Larabee.
"Vin!" Chris shouted, rising to his feet and watching with disbelief as the younger man stormed out of the saloon doors.
Noticing the eyes of the saloon patrons on him for the first time, he forced himself to calmly walk over to the bar, order a shot of whiskey, drink it, then walk out of the saloon, slowly. 'Whatever the hell your problem is Vin, we're settlin' it now,' Chris said to himself as he walked toward the livery.
+ + + + + + +
Vin was just about finished with saddling Peso, when Chris stalked into the stable. Glancing around the area quickly to be sure that they were alone, he pushed the door to the livery shut, then advanced on the smaller man.
"Mind fillin' me in on what's causin' your moods?" Chris asked in a menacing voice.
"You're one to talk Chris," Vin said, fastening the last buckle on Peso's saddle. He grabbed the reins and steered the large animal toward the door. "Mind gettin' outta my way?" Vin asked flatly.
"Yeah, I do," Chris shot back, leaning into Vin, causing the younger man to back up.
"Get outta my way," Vin barked, bumping back against Chris angrily.
"Not 'til you start talkin' some sense," Chris retorted, pushing Vin back.
Vin stepped back, appearing to Chris that he had given up on the idea of leaving. But as soon as the gunslinger relaxed, Vin made his move, bringing his fist forward with lightening speed, catching Chris squarely on the jaw.
Chris staggered back from the force of the blow, shocked that Vin had struck him.
"What the hell are you doin' Vin?" he shouted angrily, pushing the younger man back away from him.
"Get outta my way!" Vin repeated, lunging at Chris again.
"'Fraid I can't do that," Chris said in a steely tone, recovered from the unexpected punch.
Vin sprang forward, and Chris easily pinned him back against the wall of the livery. Even stone cold sober, Vin couldn't best him. And considering the tracker had consumed quite a bit of alcohol in a short time, he had been lucky to get the punch in. Now, Chris was ready for him, and there was no way Vin would surprise him again.
"What's goin' on Vin? You never took a swing at me before," Chris demanded harshly, his face only inches from the younger man's.
"Just back off Larabee," Vin snarled back. "Don't know why you're so all-fired wantin' to talk to me now."
"'Cause I got some things I wanna talk to you about Vin," Chris replied, trying hard to swallow his anger. He hoped he sounded more reasonable than he felt.
"Ha, that's real funny Chris," Vin snorted derisively, twisting futilely in the older man's grasp. "You sure didn't have nothin' much to say to me a few days ago. Seems to me that ya couldn't wait to take off outta here."
Chris head snapped back at Vin's words. Suddenly it all made sense.
"Vin, you don't think.....I wasn't gonna just leave you," Chris said incredulously. "Is that what this is all about?"
Vin refused to answer, his body tense, ready to spring at the first opportunity to escape. He'd been humiliated long enough, and had only come back to help when the town was in danger. The crisis was over and he was getting as far away from Chris Larabee as he could.
"Vin? Vin? Say somethin'," Chris said, softening his tone.
"Nothin' much to say, is there," Vin said flatly, his blue eyes narrowed with anger.
"Vin....I-I care about you," Chris said frantically, near to pleading now as his younger lover continued to stare at him silently. He loosened his hold on Vin slightly, bringing one hand up to stroke his cheek. Vin flinched away.
"Don't touch me," Vin hissed.
Chris's heart dropped at the venom in Vin's tone. This was not how he'd hoped their reunion would be. He decided to try another tact.
"Vin, what exactly do you think happened when we all split up?" Chris asked quietly.
"Reckoned ya had better things to do than go to Tascosa with me," Vin answered bluntly. "After all those months of bein' together, layin' with each other..." Vin's face grew hot and he lowered his eyes as he remembered the horrible day, when five of them had decided to leave town, and he discovered that he and Chris were going in two separate directions. The shame was almost too much to bear. He'd fallen for Chris, and thought that Chris had felt the same way about him. And Chris had just ridden off and left him with barely a word good-bye.
"Vin, don't ya remember? I asked what direction you were headin'. Figured you understood what I was askin'." He shook his head at the memory. "Hell Vin, everybody says we can understand each other without sayin' a word. Guess they're wrong," he finished lamely.
"Yeah, I understood it all right, Larabee," Vin replied, unmoved. "You were so hell bent on findin' out who killed your family that you...."
Vin never finished his thought. Chris had gotten tired of trying to explain things to Vin, when it was obvious the younger man wasn't in the frame of mind to listen. Deciding that action, instead of more words would be the best plan, Chris pinned Vin back him up against the barn wall again, pressing his hard body tight against Vin's. The older man's lips seared Vin's mouth, pushing the tender flesh open, hungrily probing the moist cavern with his tongue.
Chris broke the kiss then, anxious to make things right with his lover, hoping Vin was now ready to listen. He hurried to explain his actions, so they could move onto other matters.
"Vin, you gotta believe me. I wanted to get some things taken care of, about my family, then I had every intention of goin' to Tascosa with you. I asked what direction you were headin', and then I figured I'd catch up to ya in a few days." He dipped his head and kissed Vin again, hard. Vin tried wriggling out of the firm grasp, but Chris held him tight, grinding his body against the smaller man's. Vin could feel his resistance weakening.
"Chris..." Vin started to protest, but the words died off, ending in a soft moan instead, as Chris began to nip at his neck.
"Vin, when Mary and I found you at the artillery wagon, and I told ya I'd been lookin' for ya, I meant it," Chris whispered, his lips poised just inches from Vin's own. "You weren't where you said you'd be, and I dragged Mary over half the countryside tryin' to find you. Don't know what I woulda done if I hadn't found you."
"Well, guess there woulda been one less person to help against the outlaws," Vin said slowly, still stubbornly clinging to his injured pride.
"That ain't what I mean and you know it," Chris whispered hoarsely, staring deeply into Vin's eyes. He lifted a hand to caress Vin's cheek, and this time the sharpshooter did not pull away. "I'm sorry Vin," Chris apologized. "I shouldn't have taken off like that, even if I was gonna come and find you later."
Vin smiled slightly, his heart feeling much lighter than when he'd first entered the livery. Chris did care about him. "It's okay cowboy, guess I overreacted a little."
Chris cautiously released Vin, hoping the younger man wouldn't bolt. When Vin stood firm, Chris felt encouraged to make his next move.
"Vin? Will ya go somewhere with me now?"
"Right now?" Vin asked dubiously.
Chris nodded in reply.
"Where do ya wanna go?"
"Just trust me, okay?" Chris replied.
Vin looked at Chris, trying to read his lover's thoughts, but coming up empty. After another split-second of hesitation, he decided to let Chris have his way. "Okay Chris, I'll go with ya."
Finally, Chris allowed himself to smile. Vin had forgiven him, and things were almost back to the way they should be.
"Thank you Vin, you won't be sorry," Chris said. "Do ya mind saddling up my horse after you finish up with Peso?"
Vin shook his head. "I'll take care of 'em Chris, don't worry."
"I ain't worried now," Chris said with another flash of a grin. He turned to leave, then called back over his shoulder, "Oh, and grab your bedroll, then meet me at Potter's store. I need to pick up a few things."
Vin nodded his agreement, then turned back to the horses, wondering what exactly Chris had up his sleeve.
+ + + + + + +
"I'm sorry things are such a mess Mr. Larabee, but with all the commotion around here, and having to evacuate the town, the mercantile is a mess, and I'm sure to be in short supply of some things," Gloria Potter apologized.
"It's all right Mrs. Potter," Chris reassured. "I can find everything I need myself." True to his word, in minutes, he had located coffee, cans of staple food items, and some sugary treats for Vin. Taking his purchases to the counter, he got Mrs. Potter's attention and pulled out some coins.
"Oh no Mr. Larabee, please, I couldn't take any money from you. After all you've done to help us, it just wouldn't be right," Mrs. Potter insisted.
"Mrs. Potter, that's very kind of you," Chris murmured, but still made to pay.
"Please, Mr. Larabee, I insist."
"Well, I never could say no to a lady," Chris said with a smile.
"Why Mr. Larabee," Mrs. Potter chuckled, as she bagged up Chris's items, "I'd expect something like that from Mr. Wilmington, but not from you."
Chris shrugged good naturedly, took the bag from Mrs. Potter, tipped his hat politely and headed for the door. Vin waited for him on the boardwalk, their two horses saddled and tethered to the hitching post.
"Ready Vin?"
"Yep. Where we headin'?"
"You'll see," Chris replied mysteriously.
"Ain't ya gonna even give me a hint?" Vin asked playfully.
"Nope," Chris replied with a chuckle, stubbornly refusing to divulge any details.
+ + + + + + +
They rode in silence for a half hour, then Chris led Vin up a slight rise, then through a copse of trees. He pulled up the black at the edge of the clearing and motioned for Vin to stop.
"Here we are," Chris said simply.
"The old Wilkerson place? What does this have to do with anythin'?" Vin asked puzzled.
"It ain't gonna be the old Wilkerson place for much longer, Vin," Chris said happily. "I'm buyin' it."
"You are?" Vin said in bewilderment.
"Yeah, was talkin' to the bank about it before the railroad sent that Kansas lawman to town. Can't see myself as a peacekeeper for the rest of my days. Been wantin' to try my hand at ranchin' again, and figured a small spread would be manageable for now, while I'm still workin' for the town. Then, whenever they decide to bring in a real lawman again, I'll have this to fall back on."
"Oh," was all Vin could get past the sudden lump that had formed in his throat. Chris was making plans for his future, and it sounded like they didn't include him.
"You like it Vin?" Chris asked with a smile at the younger man.
"Uh, y-yeah, it's real nice Chris," Vin muttered thickly, swallowing hard to force the lump back down. "Sounds like it'll be real nice," he repeated again, realizing that he was babbling, but unable to stop himself. "Thanks for showin' it to me. Now if that's all, I'm gonna head on outta here."
"Why would you be leavin'?" Chris asked with exasperation. "Don't ya like our place?"
Vin stopped dead at Chris's last words. "Our place?" he whispered.
"Hell yes, our place!" Chris exclaimed. "Who did ya think was gonna run this place with me? I sure as hell can't do it alone!"
"Figured Buck would be helpin', just like he did before, with you and Sarah and Adam," Vin said with some confusion. His ears heard one thing, but his heart still refused to believe.
"Buck's a little busy with the saloon girls, or haven't ya noticed?" Chris joked sarcastically. Then he became serious. "Besides, I'm want this for us, not for me and Buck. You're the one I wanna be with."
"I am?"
"You are," Chris replied. "When I couldn't find you Vin, all those hours of lookin' for you." He stopped and stared back at Vin, his heart in his mouth. He'd never believed it would have been possible to love again, like he had with Sarah. But here it was again, staring him in the face, in the form of a lean, long-haired sharpshooter. "When I spent all that time lookin' for you," he began again, "it made me realize how much I needed to be with you Vin. I-I'm lost without ya," he said humbly, bowing his head as the rush of emotions overwhelmed him.
"Chris," Vin said softly, coming forward quickly and hugging the older man. "I'm so stupid," he chided himself. "I thought ya didn't want to be with me no more. Figured you were ridin' out on me." He tilted his head upward and captured Chris's lips with his own, in a sweet, soft kiss. "Can ya forgive me, Chris?"
"Nothin' to forgive ya for Vin," Chris replied. "I was the one that caused..."
"Then let's just forget about it, then, all right cowboy?" Vin interrupted. Now that they both understood each other, he didn't want to waste anymore time talking.
"Sounds good to me Vin," Chris said with relief, so happy that Vin liked the idea of the ranch. He hadn't wanted to press Vin, and make him feel like they were moving too far, too fast, but he was desperate to have the younger man at his side, always.
He smiled over at Vin. "You wanna go take a look at the cabin?"
"Nope. Got somethin' else in mind right about now," Vin said huskily.
Chris's smile grew, understanding exactly what Vin was thinking. The two men moved as one toward the horses, pulling off the saddles, then grabbing the two bedrolls and spreading them out in the space behind the tall grass. Chris grabbed his saddle bag and placed it near the blankets, then sat down and pulled Vin down next to him.
"It's real peaceful out here, isn't it, Vin?"
"Yeah, it is, Chris," Vin answered with a contented sigh as he laid down on the bedrolls. "Feels good to be out of town."
"That's another reason why I wanted to buy this place, Vin," Chris replied, stretching out next to the younger man. "You and me can be together out here, and nobody's gonna know. It'll be our own private place."
"Yeah, but ain't people gonna wonder about us ridin' off together and comin' out here?" Vin asked worriedly.
"Well, there's one other thing, Vin," Chris said with an edge of concern in his voice. "I don't want ya to go to Texas."
"What?" Vin asked with shock, sitting back up.
"I'm worried for ya Vin. What if they don't believe ya back in Tascosa? I could lose ya forever. Ain't gonna sit back and see you hang Vin," he said in a tight voice.
"I figured all this was for when we got back from Tascosa," Vin said softly.
"No Vin, I want ya out here, where I can keep ya safe. We'll build an addition onto the cabin. It'll have two bedrooms and that way, nobody can say anything. 'Course nobody has to know that second bed ain't gonna have nobody sleepin' in it." He flashed a quick smile at Vin. "We'll pass the word around that you're livin' with me so I can watch your back. We've been lucky so far, nobody's come for that bounty. Think word's gettin' around about "the Magnificent Seven," like they're callin' us in town and people are thinkin' twice about ridin' into Four Corners and challengin' us."
Vin shook his head dubiously. "I dunno Chris..."
"Vin, please just give it a try," Chris pleaded. "Let the Judge see what he can do about Tascosa. You bein' a lawman 'a sorts here, hired by a Territorial Judge has got to count for somethin'. We'll talk to the Judge about things next time he comes to town."
Vin looked around the tranquil setting, feeling the tension ebb from his body. Then he looked back at Chris, meeting the sharp, green-eyed stare head on.
"Okay Chris, I'll give it a try," he said hoarsely.
A slow smile spread over Chris's face. Good," he answered back, then pushed Vin back onto the blankets. "Now, we're gonna celebrate," he whispered throatily, hurrying to unbutton and pull off Vin's shirt, then moving to cover the smaller man's body with his own.
Vin moaned softly as the older man began to nip at his sensitive neck with his sharp teeth, then gasped as Chris worked his way lower, using those same sharp teeth to bite at his nipples.
"Oh...God....Chris...yes....more," Vin begged, from behind clenched teeth, as Chris eased open the buttons to his trousers, then reached his hand inside and carefully drew out his lover's semi-erect penis. Chris's green eyes glinted back at Vin's, enjoying the sight of the flushed face and trembling limbs of his lover.
"You want me to stop, Vin?" Chris teased, his mouth poised over Vin's rapidly swelling erection.
"No, no, please Chris," Vin urged desperately, trying to bring his now fully hardened cock closer to Chris's mouth.
Chris opened wide, lowering his lips around Vin's heated organ, swallowing as much of it as he could. Vin sighed with pleasure as the wetness surrounded him, and began to thrust his hips.
Chris greedily plunged his mouth up and down the rock hard shaft, in perfect rhythm with Vin's thrusts. Soon, with a strangled cry of rapture, the younger man began to spurt his creamy fluid into Chris's mouth. Chris eagerly drank all of Vin's essence, pleased at his ability to bring the younger man over the edge so quickly.
Rising up from Vin's groin, he kissed his lover on the lips, then reached for his saddle bags, producing a small bottle of lotion.
"Ready for some more cowboy?" he asked lustily.
"Yeah....ready....more...." Vin gasped out, still recovering from his orgasm, but hungry to feel his lover's cock buried deep inside his body.
Chris slicked his fingers with the lotion, then slowly eased one, then two digits into Vin's body. A third finger soon followed, and Vin began to writhe with the sensation, trying to impale himself even deeper onto Chris's fingers.
"Chris, give it to me now," Vin begged.
Chris nodded, barely hanging on to his self control. He wanted nothing more than to drive himself into Vin's hot, willing body, but he forced himself to wait until he was sure Vin was ready for him.
"Chris, now," Vin urged again.
That was all Chris needed to hear. He whipped Vin's legs over onto his shoulders, poured some of the lubricating lotion onto his stiffened cock, and positioned himself at Vin's entrance. Bending forward to capture his lover's lips in a soulful kiss, he plowed into Vin in the next second, just as their lips parted.
"Yessss, " both men sighed in unison as Chris's large organ breached Vin's opening, driving forward, until he was completely sheathed in the younger man.
Waiting a moment until Vin adjusted to the fullness, Chris spread more lotion onto his hand and grasped Vin's wilted member, stroking softly, urging the pliant flesh back to life. Soon Vin was sliding his shaft up and down Chris's slippery fist, letting the friction stimulate him into another erection.
Chris began to move in and out of Vin, once again in perfect sync with his lover. A few more quick thrusts on both their parts and their heated flesh erupted simultaneously, Chris pouring his seed deep into Vin's body, Vin coating Chris's hand with his white hot fluid.
Sated, and completely spent, Chris eased himself out of Vin, then lay back on the blankets, drawing the younger man close.
"I'm glad ya decided to stay Vin," he whispered hoarsely, kissing Vin lightly on the lips.
"Me too, cowboy," Vin answered back with a yawn.
"I wanna show you the cabin and the rest of the place tomorrow," Chris murmured, eyes closing sleepily.
Vin's answer was a soft snore, already asleep in the arms of his lover.
THE END
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