Lost

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


Warnings: Slash

Rating: FRT

Lost
Chapter 12


Buck sat at the bar, nevously swirling the beer in his mug and glancing at the door each time it opened. Looking over at the empty table the team usually claimed on Friday nights, a bemused smile crossed his face. He wondered again if the guys had heard Vin as he left the office. Oh well, he certainly had no objections to being alone with the younger man. If he ever got here, he sighed, glancing at his watch and noting the time was now six-thirty. Damn, now what? Had Vin changed his mind? No, if he had he would've called, that much Buck was sure of. Maybe he'd had an accident? Galvinized by that thought, Buck reached for his phone at the same moment he pushed to his feet.

Vin chanced a look at his watch as he neared the door of the saloon. Reaching for the door, he took a step back in surpise as it came open before his hand could make contact with it. "Get tired of waiting?"

Buck nearly dropped his phone, the unexpected rasp catching him completely off-guard. "Where have you been?" he snapped.

Vin glared, "I don't answer to you Bucklin, told ya I might be late."

Buck sighed, scrubbing a hand through his thick brown hair, instantly contrite. "Sorry, didn't mean to snap."

"Something going on I should know about?"

He shrugged, "Guess I was getting a little worried."

"Worried?" Vin questioned, confused by the admission. "What's there to be worried about?"

"You're kidding me," Buck snorted. "Hell Vin you could have an accident driving to work, in fact you have had one or two. Add to that you're always on time and then you wonder why I'd be worried."

Vin knew he'd had more injuries than most of the others, but that didn't mean he couldn't take care of himself. It was bad enough he had Nathan and Chris playing mother hen every time he turned around, he didn't need Buck starting up too. "Ya make it sound like I can't leave my apartment without getting hurt," Vin complained.

"Like you need to leave the apartment to get hurt," Buck scoffed.

"Ha, ha," Vin growled. "You gonna buy me them beers you promised or not?"

Buck grinned, "Sure, let's go on in. Everybody had things to do," he began as they walked in the bar, "so do you want to sit at the bar or at the table?"

"Let's grab a booth, no point in taking up our regular table if it's just us," Vin pointed out.

"Sounds good to me," Buck quickly agreed. "I'll get the beers, you grab a booth. Dos Equis, right?"

"Yep," Vin confirmed before sauntering off through the crowd.

Buck grinned, unconsciously licking his lips as he watched Vin moving away from him. "Damn," he whispered in admiration. Soon he was sliding into the booth, opposite of his friend and handing him a beer. "So why were ya late?" he casually asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Vin firmly refused, keeping his eyes glued firmly on his beer.

Buck straightened up, instantly concerned, "Vin?"

"It ain't no big deal Buck," he insisted. "Want to shoot some pool?"

Buck knew exactly what Vin was doing, "Maybe later, after you answer my question."

Vin glared, "You ain't gonna let it go are ya?"

Buck grinned, "Nope."

A heavy sigh met him, along with a slight shifting of the younger man's weight in the seat, followed by a small grimace. "I promised Mrs. Rosario I'd fix her oven, she needed a new thermostat. So I got the old one off, stubborn piece of shit didn't want to let go either." Absently Vin rubbed at knuckles that had come in contact with various parts of the old oven. "Finally got the damned thing off and headed for the hardware store for a new one." Grimacing, he took a long pull on his beer before continuing. "So I get to the hardware store and they couldn't find the one I needed."

"They were out of stock?" Buck asked sympathetically.

"No, they had it, just couldn't find it. Some idjit had put it in the wrong spot, and of course it was the only one left. Well I had to have that part, couldn't let Mrs. Rosario down."

"She's the one always baking you cookies?"

Vin nodded, catching the twinkle in Buck's eyes, he glared at him. "That ain't the reason I couldn't let her down," he vowed. "I promised her is all."

"So what'd ya do?"

"Only thing I could do," Vin sighed, "started looking for it. We finally found it, up on the highest damned shelf they got. Guess the idjit thought it'd be a funny trick to hide it so far up. I suppose I could've waited for the clerk, but I was irritated, knew Mrs. Rosario would be wanting the oven so she could cook supper and you'd be waiting..."

"And?" Buck encouraged.

Vin shrugged, "I was in the Rangers, been a bounty hunter, work as a sniper, hell heights don't bother me none. I looked around, didn't see no ladder. Then I looked them shelves up and down, figured I could handle it, so I started climbing."

Buck sputtered, spewing beer over the surface of the table. "Damn Vin you could've got yourself hurt bad pulling a stunt like that!"

Vin cringed, dreading the next part of the story. "Figured that out, about the time the shelves started falling over with me hanging from them," he quietly admitted.

"What! Are you okay? Damn it Vin you shouldn't be sitting here having a beer, ya should be at the hospital. Come on," Buck ordered standing up and reaching for the younger man.

"Sit the hell down Buck," Vin ordered, pushing himself into the corner of the booth. "I ain't hurt bad."

"But ya are hurt?" Buck demanded.

"I ain't answering that until ya sit down."

"Fine," Buck growled, sliding back into his seat.

"I seen what was gonna happen and managed to swing myself free of the shelves as they fell. All I got was a couple of bruises when I tumbled into the wall. Hell Buck, hurt my pride more than anything," he assured him.

"You're sure ya didn't get more than a couple of bruises?"

"I'm sure. I did get the oven fixed though and Mrs. Rosario was cooking up a storm when I left."

Buck chuckled, "You got a real talent, ya know that Vin?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Only you could get into trouble in a hardware store," Buck laughed. "I'm just glad ya didn't get hurt bad," he added, sobering instantly.

"Me too, I'd hate to miss the picnic tomorrow."

"What time does it start?"

"We'll start setting up about nine, but it doesn't officially start until about eleven. It won't end until sometime in the evening. Got a permit to have a small bonfire for the kids to roast marshmallows. Of course even with that, it's a little chilly to be out there too long after dark, so I imagine it'll end by eight or nine."

"Want some help setting up?"

"If ya want, but you don't have to."

"I want to," Buck softly responded. "Should I bring anything?"

Vin thought about that for a few minutes, with a small smile he made his request. "Could you bring some of your guacamole?"

Buck grinned, "I should've known."

"Ah hell Bucklin, ya know I've never been able to resist your gucamole. Besides it's the one thing I know you can make without poisoning folks," he teased.

"Y'all won't ever let me live that down, will you?" Buck good-naturedly complained.

"Hey you're the one who said you knew your mushrooms. I think your exact words were; I've been hunting shrooms for years, I know what I'm doing."

"It was an easy mistake to make, could've happened to anybody," he sulked.

"Suppose," Vin conceded, "but your easy mistake put you in the hospital overnight. I tell ya Buck I've been sick before, but I've never been sick enough to tear a hole in my stomach lining. I sure didn't envy you that experience."

"Ya sure didn't miss anything, but don't worry I won't put any shrooms in the guacamole," he joked.

"Good, folks will appreciate that."

"Want another beer?"

"Sounds good," he nodded. "Want to shoot some pool?"

"Yeah, you rack 'em while I get the beers."

"You got it," Vin grinned as he slid out of the booth.



Buck woke the next morning, a smile on his face as he remembered the relaxed, fun evening he'd spent with Vin. He had been sure that what Spencer had forced that night in his apartment would destroy his friendship with the younger man. Hell, he'd figured it'd cost him everything. If anybody had told him that almost two months later he and Vin would be able to hang out again, he would've suggested they get professional help. If they had told him there was an actual chance of a relationship that went beyond friendship developing, he would've driven them to the state hospital himself. Here he was though, getting ready to spend the day with Vin, after having spent the previous evening with him at the Saloon, and he couldn't be happier. He knew that this was just the beginning, that he would have to take things slow, but at least there was a chance. Something he hadn't dared to even hope for and he wasn't about to waste it.

Vin stepped out of his apartment, a bag of charcoal and a bottle of lighter fluid in his hands. "Buenas Dias Senora," he greeted Mrs. Rosario as she peeked out her door.

"I was hoping it was you I heard mi hijo," she smiled.

"There a problem?"

"No, no, I have something for you."

"Could I get it later?"

"Come inside Vincente," she ordered, holding the door wide.

Vin smiled, he hadn't expected her to let him get away with that. "Yes ma'am."

"You were out late last night?"

"You waiting up for me again?" he scowled, though truthfully he was touched by the concern.

"Of course, and don't scowl it makes you look like a punk," she scolded. "Did you eat any supper?"

"Yes ma'am," he replied. It had really only been pickled eggs and popcorn at the bar, but he didn't think she needed to know that.

She eyed him suspiciously, she hadn't raised two boys for nothing, "A full meal?"

Vin ducked his head, "No ma'am."

"This is what I thought and you probably had no breakfast either, did you?" She nodded grimly when he confirmed with a shake of his head. It was as she had thought, "Yet you intend to do a full morning's work on an empty stomach. It es no bueno I will not have this. No mas," she ordered. Pressing a small lunch pail into his hand, she fondly patted his cheek, "You take these, eat them before you do any work."

"Yes ma'am, thank you."

"Will any of your friends be there today?"

"Buck will."

"None of the others? I'm surprised, you usually spend weekends with them, don't you?"

"Not all weekend," he protested, thinking it made him sound as if he was dependent on his friends.

"It isn't a bad thing mi hijo. Could none of them spare the time?"

Vin blushed, "I only invited Buck."

"I see," she slowly acknowledged. "Well I should let you go, I know you have many things to take care of, as do I." Practically pushing him towards the door, she shooed him out, her mind already on the picnic. She knew Vincente wouldn't like it if he knew her plans, but somebody had to look out for the boy. His friends did a good job with it, at least where his work and play time were concerned. This however wasn't work or play, it was far more serious than that and needed a woman's watchful eye. She would watch carefully while at the picnic, she would see how deep this man's feeling ran for her hijo. She decided that she would determine her next step once she had this information.

Vin looked back at the apartment door. He felt dazed, he didn't think Mrs. Rosario had ever ran him off and he wondered if he'd said something wrong. Stop being paranoid Tanner, he scolded himself, she probably just realized that y'all both got a lot to do before the picnic. He glanced at the elevator and decided he wouldn't trust it today. Four flights of stairs later, he was stepping outside into the bright sunshine. Loading the jeep, he hopped in and headed for the store to grab some sodas, and ice. He hoped that Mr. Lopez would have the washtubs at the park by the time he arrived.

It didn't take long for Vin to get what he needed, soon arriving at the park. He smiled when he saw several steel washtubs waiting for the ice and sodas he'd brought with him. Quickly he and Mr. Lopez filled the tubs, covering them with large towels to keep the sun off them until the start of the picnic. By the time they finished, others in the neighborhood were arriving to help with the setup. Some set out the things they would need, condiments, plates, cups, each family contributing what they could. Others off-loaded the brush one resident had gathered for the bonfire. Following Vin's instruction, they arranged it carefully in the area set aside for it. While all of this was going on, Vin sat at a table, sharpening a stack of green sticks for roasting marshmallows.

"What ya doing pard?" Buck asked, setting his gucamole on the table behind Vin.

"Sharpening sticks," Vin smirked.

"Dumb question?"

"Just a little," Vin teased.

"Need some help?"

"Sure, have a seat." As he spoke, Vin moved down the bench, giving Buck room and putting the unfinished sticks between them. "Ya didn't put any mushrooms in the gucamole did ya?"

Buck heaved a put upon sigh, "No Vin I didn't. I'm saving those for the spaghetti sauce I'm bringing to Chris' tomorrow," he teased.

"Remind me not to eat any spaghetti sauce."

Buck laughed, "Don't worry, I bought them."

"Ya know I'm gonna have to make ya pay for that."

"Thanks for the warning."

From a distance Mrs. Rosario watched the two men, smiling at the comfortable way they spoke to each other. Throughout the day she was never far from them, always watching and often smiling. She liked the way Buck gave Vin his space, yet always seeming to be near. It was obvious, to any who cared to look closely, that he was very much in love with the younger man. It wasn't as easy to be sure of Vin's feelings. He was certainly enjoying spending time with Buck, at times casting his eyes over the park to see where he was. However, there was a certain wariness in his manner as well. The longer she watched them both, the more convinced she was that there was a very good chance they would end up together.

The day was coming to a close, soon they would be lighting the bonfire and passing out marshmallows. As the adults began to gather the leftovers together, Mrs. Rosario saw her opportunity. "Senor Wilmington," she greeted, slipping her hand around his elbow. "Walk with me," she invited.

Buck smiled, patting her hand, allowing her to lead him away from the group. "What can I do for you senora?"

"Perhaps I just wish some company."

"I can do that," he smiled.

"I didn't always live here, in Purgatorio," she casually offered.

"No?"

"No," she confirmed. "I grew up in the country, my father worked on a cattle ranch. He was a vaquero, my mother cooked for the owner. It is how they met, it was a wonderful place to grow up."

Buck smiled, "I bet it was."

"When I was little I used to watch the men working with the cattle. I was permitted to help them when I was older."

Buck gave her a surprised look, "That's unusual isn't it?"

"Si, but my papa was an unusual man. When he passed away I was given the task of sorting through his things. Some went to other members of the family, some to charity and a few I kept. One of the things I kept was a set of tools used for castrating bulls. Have you ever castrated a bull senor?"

Buck swallowed, like most men he was uncomfortable with the topic, "No ma'am."

"It is really a simple process. You take a castration knife and place it below the testicles. You then close the knife and cut the bag from side to side. After that you can use a castrating tool to finish the job," she matter-of-factly explained.

"That's, um, interesting," Buck politely commented, even as his balls drew up and his stomach roiled.

"I helped with this job many times." Stopping in her tracks, she tugged on his arm until he stood facing her. "I see the way you are with Vincente, I know you feel deeply for him. I also notice that you are giving him the time and space he needs, this is good. He didn't tell me details, but I know you hurt him and that you were forced to do so."

"Yes ma'am I was, ain't no other way I could ever hurt Vin."

"This is good," she patted his hand. "Still, I must tell you, my honor demands that you be given fair warning."

"Warning?" Buck whispered.

"Si," she replied. "If you ever hurt my Vincente...I will give you a personal demonstration of the process I have described. Comprende?"

Buck swallowed, his balls already shrunk after her story, were now actively trying to hide. "Yes ma'am."

"Bueno," she smiled. "Perhaps we should return to the picnic," she suggested.

Buck nodded, letting her lead him back to the others. As quickly as he could, he excused himself from her side, seeking out Vin. Seeing him sitting on a bench, loading sticks with marshmallows for the kids, he joined him.

"Where'd ya disappear to?" Vin asked, casting him a sideways glance.

"Went for a walk?"

"Ya okay Bucklin? You're not looking too good."

"I'm fine, just..."

Vin raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to glance at him, "Just?"

"You ever had a daddy give you a talk before ya take his daughter out?"

"No, but I've heard about it."

"I have," Buck said. "Dated this one girl in high school, her daddy was an ex-Marine. I tell ya Vin, that man was downright scary. Took me out, told me what he expected and made it clear if I didn't treat his little girl right, I'd regret it."

"Yeah?" Vin wondered where he was going with this.

"Yeah, and he couldn't hold a candle to Mrs. Rosario."

Vin choked back a laugh, "Warned ya off?"

"Oh no, she's all for me and you getting together, if ya want it," he quickly added. "She just made sure I knew what would happen if I ever hurt ya," Buck explained, his face unnaturally pale as he remembered her words.

"Damn Buck, what'd she say to ya?"

"Did you know she knows how to castrate a bull?"

"No I didn't...that's what she threatened ya with?" Vin asked in a whisper, his own balls shrinking in reaction.

Buck nodded, "Said she'd give me a personal demonstration."

"Aww Buck, you know she wouldn't really do that," Vin soothed.

"I don't know about that Vin, I think she meant it."

Vin grinned, "Guess ya better make sure ya behave then," he teased.

Buck scowled, "You're enjoying this ain't ya?"

"Well, have to admit it feels kind of nice."

"She threatened me with...and you think it's nice?" Buck asked, his voice tight.

"No, but it's nice to know she cares enough to make the effort," Vin quietly explained.

Buck suddenly felt about an inch high, sometimes he forgot how little caring Vin had experienced in his life. But, she had threatened his manhood, ya just don't do that, he silently whined. "Well, as long as you don't approve of the threat I guess I can forgive ya."

"Thanks." Grinning mischievously, he glanced at Buck. "Maybe I should have her talk to Chris next time he threatens to shoot me." Vin's face fell as Buck just stared at him, damn, maybe Buck wasn't ready for joking about it.

Suddenly Buck threw his head back, roaring with laughter. "Can't ya just imagine the look on his face?"

"He'd have a cow," Vin joked.

Buck groaned, "That was awful Vin, you've been hanging around JD too long."

"How do you like living in the country?" Vin asked, changing the subject.

Buck blinked at the sudden change of subject, "I like it a lot. It's peaceful, quiet," he softly spoke.

Vin nodded, "Big difference from the city."

"Sure is, you're welcome to come out anytime ya like," Buck almost shyly offered.

"I might do that sometime, I'd like to see the place."

"You do that," Buck smiled. "I had a real nice time Vin, thanks for inviting me."

"I did too, I'm glad you came," Vin answered with a soft smile.

"I think I better go now though," he continued, suddenly finding it hard to resist the urge to kiss Vin. "See ya tomorrow at the ranch?"

"I'll be there, see ya," Vin smiled.

TBC

Hope y'all like it. Please feed the muse with reviews.