ATF Universe
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just having a lot of fun playin' with them, in ATF world CBS, Trilogy and MGM own the rights, Lucky ********.
Comments: Big thank you to Jude...
The blue eyes slowly scanned the room, peering through the smoke-tinted haze into the darkest recesses of the bar where he knew his target would be found. Locking eyes on the object of his search, Vin sighed as he watched the blonde toss down the contents of his glass, only to refill it just as quickly.He knew the reasons that drove Chris to try and anaesthetize his heart with liquor and Vin understood them, but he still didn't like what it did to his friend. The loss of a wife and child would crush any man, but when that man believed that he was the cause of those deaths, then there was more than the usual grief to carry.
Not that Chris was suicidal, far from it. The man was the best ATF leader Vin had ever seen. Quick, efficient and loyal to a fault when it came to his team. Chris Larabee was a man Vin was proud to call friend, but every once and awhile, a memory, or an anniversary would bring the quiet man's world crashing down around him.
Vin had noticed Chris becoming more distant and all business over the last couple of weeks, the sharpshooter had guessed that his friend's world had lost it's footing again and he could see he was right.
Knowing that it would not be personal, but that he would not be welcome at his friend's table, Vin took a deep breath and sauntered over anyway.
"Anybody claimin' this seat?" Vin asked, gesturing to the empty sit opposite his inebriated friend.
"Yeah, I am," Chris gruffly replied, refusing to take time away from his drink to look up at his visitor. "Go away."
Ignoring his friend's words, Vin sat down. "Could do with a drop of that myself," he said nodding toward the half-empty bottle of whisky that stood close to Chris's hand.
"You know where the bar is?" Chris replied tersely as he wrapped his hand protectively around the bottle.
"Yer goin' to make me walk all the way over there? Surely, ya can shout yer friend one drink?" Vin pushed as he reached for the bottle.
"Can't a man get any peace!" Chris snapped as he ungainly rose to his feet. "You want it," he shoved the bottle toward Vin, "It's all yours, enjoy!"
Vin's hand snaked out grabbing the black material of the wavering man's sleeve, "Damn it, Chris! Talk to me!"
Pain filled green eyes met pleading blue in an emotionally charged impasse.
"Talk to me," Vin whispered.
Chris's lips parted as if he was going to speak, before suddenly snapping shut. Pulling his sleeve from the sharpshooter's grasp, he stalked through the crowd toward the exit.
"Damn ya Larabee, yer not getting away from me this time," Vin vowed, as he jumped up to closely follow at Chris's heels.
Chris had to get of the bar, away from Vin. Why did he have to turn up anyway? He thought to himself as he fumbled in the pocket of his jeans for his keys. What right did Vin have to keep digging where he didn't belong? Why did he always have to be in his face, those blue eyes trusting him with his friendship?
Chris's trembling fingers pulled the keys from the pocket of his jeans. He couldn't remember how much he had drunk, but it was enough for him to let the keys slip through his fingers and crashed to the asphalt.
"Ya gotta be kiddin me?" The familiar Texas accent drawled from behind him. "Ya were thinkin' of drivin'? Then yer more of an idiot than I thought Larabee."
"Did I ash-ask you?" Chris stumbled over his words as he shakingly stooped to pick the keys.
Moving quickly, Vin knocked Chris onto his butt and snatched the keys from the ground before his intoxicated friend could react.
"Damn you Tanner, fuck off and leave me alone," Chris shouted as he lurched to his feet.
"Ya don't want to tell me why ya've been avoidin' me for the last couple weeks, fine and ya want to be left alone, that's fine too. But I ain't goin to lose sleep wonderin' if ya killed yerself gettin' home," Vin shouted back as he pointed his finger at his friend. Exasperated, Vin shoved the keys in his pocket and turned away. "Ya get a taxi home and sleep it off. Yer keys will be on yer desk in the mornin'."
Suddenly, Vin felt himself grabbed from behind and pushed into the alley behind the bar. "Damn it Chris!" Vin hissed as his back found the hard surface of bricks and mortar. "What are ya playin' at?" He demanded.
"You wanted to know what was bothering me didn't you?" Chris harshly whispered as he pressed himself against Vin. "You wanted to know why I've been avoiding you all these weeks?"
"Chris? Damn it ya hurtin' me," Vin entreated as he tried to lever himself from under the older man's body.
Chris ignored Vin's pleas as the closeness of the sharpshooter and the alcohol at last freed his tongue. "This is why!" He answered as he harshly pressed his lips to Vin's gaping mouth.
Stunned at the sudden turn of event's, Vin went limp as Chris's tongue explored his mouth sucking all the air from his lungs, before releasing him.
Confused at the feelings that Chris had revealed to, and in him, Vin pushed the older man away. "What--what the Hell was that?" He demanded.
Green eyes suddenly sobered and an embarrassed Chris Larabee fumbled for his words, "Jesus Vin--I'm sorry--I didn't mean-- it was--"
"It was what?" The blue eyes glared, "The alcohol? Ya throw me against a wall and kiss me and it's because yer pissed? Well, to use yer own words Larabee...Fuck you!" Vin's chin trembled as he pushed past Chris and walked away.
+ + + + + + +
"Damn you Larabee!" Vin cursed as he slammed the door to his apartment, tossing his weapons on to the bed as he stalked over to the fridge to get a drink. "Damn ya to Hell," he blasted the absent man as grabbed a can of beer.
Taking a mouthful of cold liquid didn't work as Vin could still feel the acid like burn that marked his mouth their lips had touched. "Why did you have to do that?"
Making his way over to the couch, Vin collapsed on to it and closed his eyes. The feel of Chris's hot breath on his face and the touch of the hard athletic body pressed into his assaulted him. "Why'd ya have to change everything?"
Trembling fingers gingerly made their way to his mouth and gently traced the area that had been touched by Chris's lips. It had felt so good.
It had been six months since Vin knew his feelings for his friend had become more and he had struggled every day of those six months trying to keep his emotions under control. He hadn't wanted to spoil what they had. Risk losing what was the most important relationship he had ever had, now Chris in a moment self pity had changed it forever.
The ATF leader would come in tomorrow and apologize, swear that it would never happen again. He would explain that he wasn't thinking straight, that it was the alcohol that made act the way he did. Don't worry Vin, he will say it will never happen again and because his mind was already over burdened with self-loathing and guilt, it wouldn't.
With a deep sigh, Vin closed his eyes, haunted by what might have of been.
The End
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