Lost

Disclaimer: I don't own the Magnificent Seven, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Warnings: Angst, Slash

Rating: FRT

Lost
Chapter 11


Vin glared at the man standing in front of him. He couldn't believe the bastard had the nerve to come to him with this. Did he really think Vin would be willing to help?

"Mr. Tanner," Mr. Dodd tried again, "I have heard that you're a fair minded young man."

Vin's eyes narrowed suspiciously on Phillip Spencer's lawyer. "What do ya mean you've heard?"

Mr. Dodd took a step back, instantly realizing he'd made a mistake. However, he hadn't gotten where he was by an inability to read a situation and right now his instincts were telling him that only complete honesty had a chance of working. "I didn't mean any offense Mr. Tanner, but I have done some research into your background. I'm sure you can agree that when approaching somebody you don't know to request help, it's best to know something about the person."

"I reckon," Vin hesitantly agreed. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for the man to continue.

"Mr. Tanner, I won't deny that what my client did was wrong, but he's not a well man..."

"That mean he should get away with what he done?" Vin glanced at the clock, silently groaning when he saw there was still thirty minutes left for lunch. Damn, he should've gone with the others to the saloon, but he'd had some paperwork to take care of and he was hoping to get out of the office early today.

Mr. Dodd sighed. If his client's victim hadn't been a federal officer, if the witnesses had been the man's teammates, he would've tried to get his client acquited. That wasn't possible though, not with the evidence and witnesses against him. That left him with only one other option if he was going to keep Philip Spencer out of prison, an insanity defense. "Mr. Tanner, I know what my client did to you and Mr. Wilmington..."

"You mean what he did to Buck," corrects. "He didn't do nothing to me."

"We both know that's not true Mr. Tanner," Dodd stubbornly insisted. "Surely you can see that he's not in his right mind. If you knew my client, knew the type of man he is, you'd know that he would never hurt another human being if he were thinking straight." Thomas Dodd was very good at what he did, had in fact gained sympathy for the devil many times in the past, but it didn't seem to be working this time. What did you expect, he asked himself. "I'm not asking you to let him get away with what he did."

"What are ya asking then?"

"I've requested a sanity hearing, I'd like you to testify. Help me to make sure Philip Spencer gets the help he needs. Hasn't his mother suffered enough Mr. Tanner? She's already lost one son, don't make her lose the other," he plead. He hid the smile that tried to escape at the wounded look in Tanner's eyes. His research had been right, this young man had a real soft spot for mothers. No doubt due to the loss of his own mother at such a young age.

Buck had been thinking about what JD had told him for the past two weeks, couldn't think of hardly anything else. The night JD had revealed Vin's feelings, Buck's dreams had been filled with images of Vin. It seemed as though he'd spent the entire night dreaming of living his life with Vin. Upon waking, Buck had taken the coldest shower of his life. It was that intensely strong reaction to JD's news that convinced him to do his best to show Vin how much he loved him. He didn't make any overt moves, knowing that the younger man didn't need the pressure of Buck's feelings weighing on him. Instead he accepted the renewed chance to be Vin's friend, and took what opportunities arose to express his love, being as subtle as he could.

When the team had went to lunch, he had of course noticed Vin's absence. Making a quick detour, he checked the breakroom fridge, quickly determining that Vin had brought no lunch with him. Smiling fondly, he shook his head and left the office, catching up to the others in a matter of minutes. Knowing Vin, he was sure the sharpshooter would grab something from the vending machine down the hall. With that in mind, Buck ordered a lunch for Vin when he ordered his own. Finishing his own meal in record time, he had grabbed Vin's lunch and headed back to the office before anybody else.

"Who the hell are you?" Buck demanded angrily. The look in Vin's eyes had him wanting to punch this asshole who had obviously said something to upset him.

"He's Spencer's attorney," Vin supplied.

Buck moved to stand next to Vin's desk, glaring at the attorney.

"Thomas Dodd," the middle-aged lawyer introduced himself.

"Mr. Dodd, since when do defense attorney's talk to prosecution witnesses alone?"

"I assure you I meant no harm..."

"Don't look that way to me," Buck scoffed. "What do you want with Vin?"

"I was hoping he'd help me to make sure my client gets the help he needs."

"Help you? How? By changing his testimony? That it, you want him to perjure himself?"

"No sir I don't, but then he already is, isn't he?" Dodd countered.

"I ain't perjured myself," Vin denied, rising to his feet in one fluid movement.

"You're denying what happened in Mr. Wilmington's apartment, with the result that my client won't get a fair trial."

"That isn't perjury Mr. Dodd, as you lawyers would say, it isn't relevant," Buck pointed out.

"Of course it is."

"If the victim doesn't press charges, ya can't bring it up in court so it's not relevant and Vin can't be committing perjury."

Mr. Dodd turned his attention back to the man he'd come here to see, ignoring Wilmington, knowing he wouldn't help. "I can't force you to do the right thing Mr. Tanner, I can only hope that you will consider the unfairness of punishing my client's mother with the loss of her last child."

"You son of a bitch," Buck growled. He had a good idea now of why Vin had been wearing that wounded look when he walked through the door. "Get the hell out of here and if you're real lucky we won't be reporting you to the disciplinary board."

"I'm going, but I'm not giving up," Dodd warned.

Buck watched him go, his blue eyes flashing with anger. Turning to Vin, he grabbed the unnaturally pale man and pushed him into his chair. Hurrying to the breakroom, he returned with a cup of coffee, heavily laced with sugar. Wrapping Vin's hands around the hot cup, he helped him to take a sip, not letting go until he was sure Vin had a good hold. "You okay?" he quietly asked, rocking back on his feet as he squatted next to the chair.

"Are we doing the wrong thing Buck?" Vin asked, his voice nearly inaudible. "Would my ma be ashamed of me?"

"No!" Buck took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Laying his hand on top of Vin's, he looked him in the eye. "Vin, your ma would so proud of the man you've become."

"But I destroyed that tape, I'm not telling the whole story."

"You were victimized Vin, hurt in a way no man should ever be hurt, there ain't nobody that would blame you for not wanting to relive it in court."

"But if the jury knew the whole story they'd likely say he was insane and send him to a hospital instead of prison."

"You don't know that Vin," Buck gently pointed out.

"Ma would expect me to do what's right."

"Alright, and if I press charges over what happened at the apartment, that means he's facing more prison time."

"If they send him to prison," he pointed out, "after they know the whole story, they might not."

"He knew that what he was doing was wrong Vin, his actions prove that."

"So," Vin sullenly whispered, glancing away.

"Vin, you've been in law enforcement long enough to know that to be judged insane he can't have known that what he did was wrong. If he knew it was wrong, understood the difference between right and wrong, then he's not legally insane."

Vin looked at him again, he hadn't thought of that. Ever since Mr. Dodd had brought up his mother he hadn't been able to get passed the fear that his ma would be ashamed of him. "Thanks Buck, I wasn't thinking."

"I know sweetheart...damn, I'm sorry Vin that just sort of popped out. I didn't mean to say it, I know ya ain't wanting anything like that with me," Buck babbled, pushing himself to his feet and backing away.

Vin rose to his feet, in three steps he stood in front of Buck, looking into his worry filled eyes. "It's okay Buck, I don't mind," he soothed.

Buck swallowed hard, licking his lips nervously. "That mean there's a chance?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't bother me knowing how ya feel," Vin honestly answered. "What are ya doing back so early?"

It took a second for the question to register. "Brought ya some lunch," he pointed towards the desk.

Vin smiled, turning to look, "Thanks Bucklin." Walking back to the desk, he opened the bag, smiling when he saw his favorite lunch, burritos, refried beans and rice. "What, no Dos Equis?" he teased.

"Well I would've but Chris was there," Buck grinned. "I'll buy ya a couple after work," he offered, "would ya settle for a soda now?"

"Sure," Vin agreed, sitting down at his desk.

Buck nodded. Walking to the breakroom, he quickly returned with a soda, setting it on Vin's desk. "Ya got plans for the weekend?"

Vin nodded, "We're having a community picnic at the park tomorrow. Gonna play some baseball, roast some weiners, that kind of thing."

Buck opened his mouth to ask, but Vin beat him to it.

"You're welcome to join us if ya want," he casually offered.

Buck wanted to jump on the offer, hell he felt like whooping for joy. Sure Vin had started hanging out with him again, but always when one or more of the others was there. This was the first time, he'd ever invited him to hang out, just the two of them. Okay, he mentally shrugged, the two of them and Vin's entire neighborhood, but who was counting? "Ya sure?" he had to ask.

That question alone told him he'd made the right decision. "I'm sure," he confirmed. Standing up, he carried his trash into the breakroom. He paused next to Buck, "I don't plan to let him win," he let fall. Not waiting for Buck to respond, he continued into the other room. He heard the others returning to the office, calling out greetings to Buck as they settled back at their desks. He made no move to join them, needing a moment to pull himself together so they wouldn't read anything on his face.

Chris peaked into the breakroom, one look was all he needed. "Vin, my office," he ordered.

Vin looked up, wondering what was up. Shrugging, he followed the blond into his office, shutting the door behind him. "What ya need cowboy?"

"You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be? Did Buck tell you what happened?"

Damn it, he was gonna kick Buck's ass, Chris silently growled. "I'm sorry Vin, I saw him heading this way. I should've stopped him."

"You saw...I can't believe you let him ambush me like that. Thought we were friends," Vin accused. If Chris hadn't admitted it himself, he would never have believed he would let Dodd waylay him.

Chris flinched at the hurt and anger he heard in Vin's voice. "I am Vin, I thought it'd be okay."

"How in the hell could you think.... You know what, nevermind, I don't want to hear it."

"Vin I..."

"Said I don't want to hear it," he cut him off. "I'll be at the firing range if ya need me," Vin growled. Turning on his heel, he slammed out of the office, ignoring the concerned looks he was getting from his teammates.

When Buck saw Vin storm out of Larabee's office, his face set in a mask of stone, he knew it was bad. He just didn't know how bad.

"Wilmington, get your ass in here now!"

He jumped at the unexpected yell. Angry himself, he stormed into the blond's office, "You bellowed?"

"Don't you start with me," Chris snapped. "Shut the damned door."

The door slammed in response, "What the hell is your problem?"

"You," he bit off. "You're my problem."

Buck was even more confused now, what did this have to do with Vin storming out? "Me, what'd I do? And why are ya taking it out on Vin?"

"I ain't taking nothing out on Vin, he's mad cause I didn't stop you."

"Didn't stop me from what?"

"That's what I want to know. I saw you headed this way, knew Vin was here alone and I should've stopped ya. Then I come back and he's in the breakroom, obviously avoiding you."

"That's why you called him in here?"

"Yeah," Chris nodded. "I wanted to apoligize to him for not stopping you. That's when he got mad, said he couldn't believe I let you ambush him like that. Now I want to know what in the hell did you say or do to him?"

"I didn't do anything to him, why would he say I did?"

"Come off it Buck, who else could've ambushed him?"

Understanding hit him like a runaway freight train, leaving him staggering with relief. "Dodd," he quietly answered.

"Who?"

"Dodd, he's Spencer's attorney. I found him talking to Vin when I got here, he was trying to convince him to testify about what happened at the apartment. He's trying to claim Spencer is insane and should be sent to a hospital instead of prison. I think Vin was handling it pretty well until the little bastard brought up his ma, said she'd want him to do the right thing. Got the boy to thinking that his mother would be ashamed of him for not telling the whole story. I think I convinced him that it wouldn't matter cause Spencer knew what he was doing was wrong, legally that makes him sane."

Chris hung his head, "Damn and he thinks I meant Dodd." Raising his head, he looked Buck in the eye, "I'm sorry Buck, I shouldn't have assumed."

Buck shrugged, "I would've assumed the same thing if I was in your shoes. Hell anybody would," Buck quickly absolved. "You going after him?"

"Yeah," he stood up. "Hold down the fort?"

"You got it." Buck sagged the moment the door closed. He really didn't blame Chris, but still it hurt that his oldest friend didn't trust him completely. Collapsing onto the couch, he hung his head. He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice when the door opened and Josiah slid quietly inside.

Josiah looked at the forlorn figure on the couch, shaking his head sadly. Moving to the couch, he sat down next to Buck, laying a large hand on the younger man's back. "Want to talk about it?"

"Chris thought I said or did something to Vin," Buck finally answered after several minutes had passed.

"You didn't?"

"No, I don't blame him for thinking so, but it hurts. I thought out of all of ya Chris understood the best that I didn't have a choice in what happened."

"He does understand that Buck, we all do. Even JD seems to have figured that out," he smiled. "I don't think he was worried about you deliberately hurting brother Vin."

"Then what?"

"He knows how you feel about our sharpshooter, I suspect he was worried that you were pressuring the boy."

"I wouldn't do that," Buck protested.

"I got one word for you," Josiah rumbled, his eyes twinkling, "Inez."

Buck blushed, his own eyes twinkling as he thought of the beautiful owner of the Saloon. "That was different."

"How so? You were in love with her too at one time."

"This is different," Buck corrected.

"I don't understand."

"I was in love with Inez, but I ain't just in love with Vin. I love him, I'm in love with him, I can't stop thinking about him," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion. "God, it goes so much deeper than anything I ever felt before."

"You can see then why Chris was concerned about you putting pressure on Vin. If you didn't feel as deeply for Inez and hounded her the way you did, how much worse will it be with Vin?"

"That's just it Josiah, I won't do that to Vin cause it's too important with him."

Josiah nodded, "Now I understand."

"You think anybody on the team is ever gonna trust me again?"

"We all trust ya Buck, but we know how you can be when you're in love so we worry. I'll explain things to everybody else if ya like, I don't think they'll worry if they understand."

"I'd appreciate that Josiah but maybe ya better not."

"Why is that?"

"Well I got to admit you have a point about how I get. Maybe if they're worried about it one of them will notice if I get carried away and push too hard. Not that I plan to," he hastily added.

Josiah laughed, "That might be a good idea brother Buck. You feeling better now?"

"Yeah, guess we better get back to work."


Chris arrived at the firing range not long after Vin did. He didn't make his presence known right away, instead he just leaned back and watched, waiting.

Vin knew he was there, but he didn't want to talk to him now. No, right now he needed to clear his head. "Why did you do it?" he finally asked.

"I didn't," Chris sighed, bracing himself for the coming explosion and still he flinched.

"What the hell are you playing at Larabee?" Vin snarled. "Ya told me you saw him, that ya didn't stop him, now you're denying it?"

"It was a misunderstanding Vin."

"A misunderstanding? You let Dodd ambush me and ya call it a misunderstanding," Vin shook his head. "Thought we were friends."

"We are Vin, damn," he cursed as Vin bolted. Pushing himself off the wall, he ran after him, grabbing his arm. "I didn't know Dodd was coming to see you."

"Then why did ya say..."

"I thought Buck had said something to upset ya. I knew he was coming back to the office early and when I saw you in the breakroom I thought ya was avoiding him. Figured he said something to ya," he shrugged.

Vin quickly replayed their conversation in his mind. "Guess I can see how the misunderstanding happened."

"So I'm forgiven?"

"Nothing to forgive."

Chris nodded, "You want to come out to the ranch tomorrow? We could go for a ride up to the lake," he tempted.

"Thanks cowboy, but I got plans already. Could come out early on Sunday if ya want."

"Sure, we'll go for a ride before the game. You coming back to the office now?"

"Yeah, soon as I clean my gun. I still got some paperwork to take care of, want to get out of here early."

"Hot date?" Chris teased.

Vin chuckled, "Yep, with Mrs. Rosario's oven," he winked. "Thermostat went out on it, I told her I'd put a new one in for her. Need to leave early so I can get to the hardware store before they close," he explained.

"I'll tell Ezra to help you with the paperwork so ya can make it."

"Thanks Chris, see ya in a bit."


At four o'clock Vin, with Ezra's help, finished his paperwork. Gathering it up, he carried it to Chris' office, depositing it in his in box. "See ya Sunday cowboy."

"Bye Vin, be careful."

Vin raised an eyebrow, "It's just a thermostat Chris."

"I know, but I have faith in you," he teased of Vin's penchant for finding trouble in the oddest places.

"Ha, ha, you're a regular comedian ain't ya?"

Chris grinned, "Don't you have a hardware store to visit?"

"Yeah I do, bye." Walking back into the bullpen, Vin grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. Stopping at Buck's desk, he leaned down. "See ya at the saloon about six?"

"I'll be there."

"Alright, and Buck, if I'm not there I'm just running late is all," he assured before making his exit.

Buck watched him going, a grin spreading over his face.

"Something going on you wish to share Mr. Wilmington."

"Huh? No, nothing," Buck denied as a blush grew.

"Of course not," Ezra agreed. "Gentlemen?" he glanced around the room as he drew out his betting book.

"Put me down for ten dollars and four weeks," JD called.

"I believe you're wrong JD," Josiah opined.

"What shall I put you down for Mr. Sanchez?"

"Ten dollars and three weeks."

"This is wrong," Nathan shot.

"Of course it is Mr. Jackson and your wager is?"

Nathan sighed, what the hell, "Ten dollars and six weeks."

"Now y'all just hold on a minute," Buck roared. "You can't be making bets on me and Vin."

Ezra stared at him, "Why ever not Mr. Wilmington?"

"Because..."

"Yes?"

"It ain't right," he lamely replied.

"You only say that because you can't place a wager on this outcome."

"What are we betting on?" Chris asked as he joined them.

"How long it'll take Buck to get Vin to go out with him on a date."

"Oh, that. What are the wagers so far?"

Ezra outlined the bets the others had placed.

"What are you betting Ezra?"

"I believe I shall take 20 dollars and five weeks," he replied after a moments thought.

"Put me down for 20 and four weeks, two days. Buck?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't let me down, you know how I hate to lose money," Chris teased.

Buck grinned, "Yes sir."

"Alright, everybody back to work," Chris ordered, before disappearing back into his office.

Buck bowed his head, the grin still covering his face. He understood that the bets were their way of letting him know that he had their support, the knowledge left him feeling peace in his heart.


TBC

Hope y'all liked it. Dos Equis is a brand of Mexican beer. Please feed the muse with reviews.