Lost

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

Warnings: Angst, Slash,

Rating: FRT

Lost
Chapter 20


Vin paced the small hospital room, impatiently waiting for the doctor to arrive with his discharge papers. It was amazing how much he had healed in just the last few days. Ever since Ezra taught the rest of the team how to use acupressure to help him with the pain, his recovery had improved. The doctor said it was because he was finally able to get the healing sleep his body needed. Vin supposed that made sense, he didn't really care, just as long as he was being released from the hospital.

Buck watched him pacing, an affectionate smile on his face. He knew how much Vin hated being confined to the hospital, hell they all knew about it. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was nearly 9:00 a.m., and he knew the doctor would be here soon. Standing up, he crossed the small space, coming up behind Vin and placing his hands on the younger man's shoulders. "He'll be here soon Vin, but you need to calm down," he spoke softly into Vin's ear.

"I'm calm Buck, just hate waiting."

Buck smiled as Vin unconsciously leaned into his touch. "I know ya do, but if the doc gets here and your blood pressure is up he might not let you go."

"Like hell," Vin snapped, turning to face Buck. He glared at the amused grin on his friend's face, "It ain't funny Bucklin."

"Oh, of course it's not," Buck calmly responded.

"You don't think he'd really keep me here, do ya?" Vin nervously asked.

"No I don't, but it isn't good for you to be pacing around here and setting yourself on edge. You're still healing Vin, just cause they're letting you go home doesn't mean you can go back to your normal day to day life."

Vin's shoulders dropped, defeated by Buck's words. Sinking onto the bed, he sat looking at his hands, the end of each finger still covered in a bandage. "I know, hell I can't even feed myself proper with these," he complained. "I'm sorry Buck, I shouldn't be taking this out on you." He did feel bad about snapping, it wasn't Buck's fault that he'd been hurt and the other man had been great about helping him. Vin understood why, but it didn't really matter why, the point was he'd been here for him the whole time. Had helped him with his meals, laughing and telling stories the whole time, so that Vin barely realized he was being fed. Nobody else had the knack for doing that, they all tried, but none of them seemed to be able to treat it as naturally as Buck did.

Josiah was a good man, but he had such a need for penance that he unintentionally gave an air of penance, or maybe service was a better word to helping. Whatever the word, it invariably left Vin feeling uncomfortable, reminding him of his dependence on the charity of others following his mother's death. Nathan on the other hand, inwardly Vin chuffed, he saw only that it was necessary for Vin to have help and couldn't understand why Vin couldn't just accept it. It never failed that if Nathan tried to help him, with anything, they would both become angry and exasperated.

The others weren't much better, JD was clearly uncomfortable, probably reminded him of watching his mother dying of cancer. The result of his discomfort was that Vin would end up feeling guilty for needing the help, in turn becoming angry that he needed anything. Chris was useless at helping, it wasn't that he didn't want to, Vin knew that. The problem was that Chris would get angry, every time he saw Vin's relative helplessness, and that anger would spill over into his attempts to help. Vin knew it wasn't him that was causing Chris' anger. It was Browner and the fact that he should have been locked up in prison, not out terrorizing young girls and torturing one of his friends, that was making Chris angry.

Vin sighed, he had no idea how Ezra would have done. Since telling Chris about Browner, he hadn't been back to the hospital. At least not that Vin was aware of, knowing Ezra he might have been by to check on him when he knew he'd be asleep. He wished his friend would talk to him, give him the chance to let him know he didn't need to feel guilty. God knew he didn't blame Ezra for what Browner had done. Unfortunately Ezra blamed himself enough for them both. He wondered if..."Hey Buck, is Ezra still working mostly from home?"

"Yeah," Buck confirmed. Chris had told them yesterday that the undercover agent was barely in the office, his guilt over Browner making him uncomfortable around the rest of them.

"You think we could stop by there on the way home?"

Buck smiled, not only at the idea, but at the sound of Vin calling his place home. Stop it Wilmington, he's just staying with you until he's completely healed. "Sure, that's a good idea Vin." Just then the doctor walked into the room. After a short exam and a few instructions, he signed the discharge papers. Clapping Vin on the shoulder, he expressed his wishes not to see the young man again for a while and said good-bye.

Vin headed for the door, almost before the doctor was through it, "Let's get out of here Buck."

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

Vin turned, his face hardening at the sight of the wheelchair Buck was leaning on. "I ain't riding in that thing."

"You are if you want out of here," Buck countered. "Aw, come on Vin, you know it's hospital policy. I tell you what, if you ride out in the wheelchair, I'll stop at Don Juan's and get lunch to take home with us."

"Don Juan's? You gonna let me have a Dos Equi with lunch?"

"I shouldn't, but yeah I'll grab a six pack," Buck quickly gave in. "You can only have one with lunch though, no more."

Vin grinned, quickly settling into the wheelchair. "What are we waiting for?" he asked, glancing up at Buck and giving him a wink.

"Beats me," Buck returned.

"Stop at Ezra's first though, okay?"

"Already planned to."


Ezra sat at his computer, checking through the information JD had found. Checking the information, against his own sources, he was soon convinced they were on the right track. The problem was, everything they were finding was circumstantial. Given his own reputation with the FBI, they weren't likely to launch an investigation into Barnes on his say so, no matter how much circumstantial evidence he presented them with. The sound of his doorbell brought him out of his thoughts. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was too early to be Chris. The blond had taken to stopping by during lunch each day, usually with some tempting meal in his hands. Ezra smiled, it had become something he looked forward to, even if Chris would, without a doubt, bring up his avoidance of the office. Looking through the peephole, he sighed heavily when he saw who stood outside his door. For a moment he considered not letting them in, the thought quickly passing. He owed Vin the chance to express his feelings over Ezra's failure to rid the world of Browner years ago. Bracing himself for what he was sure was coming, he swung open the door. "Gentlemen, to what do I owe this visit?"

"We need to talk Ez," Vin rasped.

"Certainly Mr. Tanner, won't you both come in," he offered, stepping aside. "Mr. Wilmington, it's a pleasure to see you."

Vin sighed, so back to formality was it? "It's Vin, not Mr. Tanner," he firmly corrected his friend.

"As you wish. What is it you wish to discuss?"

"I wanted to say thanks for starters."

Ezra stared at him, stunned by his words. "Ththanks? I don't understand."

"That acupressure trick of your's," Vin explained. "The doctor says me sleeping better is why I finally started healing enough for him to let me go home."

"You're quite welcome my fr...Vin."

"I am your friend Ezra, ya don't have to doubt that."

"Am I? Didn't they tell you of my failure to prevent Browner's continued preying upon the innocent?"

"They told me what you went through to get that man caught and sent to prison. Told me too, that somebody helped him get out and that's how he ended up in Denver. You didn't help him get out did ya?"

"Of course not," Ezra immediately replied. Clearly he was offended by the question.

"Then why should I blame you for what Browner did to me?"

"If I had..."

"Bullshit Ezra! What was it you told me when I was beating myself up over Eli Joe killing that man to frame me for murder?"

Ezra closed his eyes, he knew what Vin was getting at. "Considering my current feelings, I'm surprised you didn't hit me."

"For saying the truth? You were right Ez, I knew it as soon as ya said it. It wasn't my fault what Eli Joe did. Yes, I had the chance to kill him only a couple of days before that. Had him in my sights, but no matter what the wanted poster said, it would've been murder and we both know it. You said that, and these were your exact words; If good men become the very thing they are fighting to protect others from, we will soon have no good men left. Ya made me see that it wasn't my fault that Eli Joe did what he did, just like it ain't your fault what Browner did. Please Ezra, I don't want to lose your friendship. I don't have so many friends that I'm willing to give even one of them up."

Ezra finally opened his eyes, looking at Vin through vision blurred by unshed tears. "You have always had my friendship, I wasn't certain I had your's."

"Always," Vin responded, grasping Ezra's forearm to seal his vow.

"What of you Mr. Wilmington?"

"Oh hell Ezra, I ain't got any problem with you. Vin's right, it isn't your fault what Browner did, or that he got out of prison somehow." Buck didn't mention his first reaction, he was in fact ashamed that he had blamed Ezra, even if was only for less than an hour.

"That is gratifying to know."

"We do need to go soon though, got to get Vin's prescriptions filled before we go to my place."

"I admit I am surprised that Chris didn't object to Vin staying with you rather than at the ranch," Ezra commented.

"Well you know Chris has so much to do that he wouldn't be able to be home much and I need enough help that staying at Buck's makes more sense." Vin explained, not mentioning how much more at ease he felt when Buck helped him, or how uncomfortable he became when Chris helped, or tried to help.

"Chris mentioned that Buck had decided to take some vacation time."

"Yeah, I got some extra time accumulated so I figured what better way to use it," Buck commented.

"Indeed."

Now that the situation with Ezra had been resolved, the three of them relaxed considerably. For the next half hour, the undercover agent caught Vin and Buck up on the investigation so far. Another half hour was spent, kicking ideas back and forth as they tried to find a way to get the hard evidence they needed against Barnes.

"Excuse me," Ezra stood as the doorbell sounded. Glancing at his watch, he knew this time it would be Chris at his door. Opening the door, he smiled, "What are we having for lunch today Chris?"

"Got us something from Fuji's today," Chris grinned. The look of surprise on Ezra's face was worth the extra expense of the Japanese restaurant.

"I was not aware you were familiar with Fuji," Ezra finally spoke, once he recovered from the surprise.

"I do eat something besides steak and potatoes Ezra. You gonna let me in, or are we eating on the doorstep today?"

Ezra blushed, his mother would be so ashamed of him. Imagine, letting such a small surprise throw him off enough to make him forget his manners. "Pardon me, please come in."

"Don't mind if I do," Chris accepted with a smile. "Vin, Buck, wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Thought we'd stop by, clear the air with Ez," Vin explained. "We been going over the information y'all have about Barnes and Browner."

"Yeah? You got any ideas about getting some hard evidence?"

"Nah, sorry."

"Don't worry about it, we'll come up with something."

"You bet we will," Buck enthusiastically agreed. "Right now I think what we best come up with, is lunch, you ready to go Vin?"

Vin stood up, "Yep." As he reached the door, a stray thought stopped him in his tracks.

"Vin?" Buck called, concerned by the way he froze up.

"Hey Chris, everybody thinks Browner is dead, right?" Vin asked as he turned to face the room.

"That's right, why?"

"I was just thinking, they say dead men tell no tales, what if we could prove them wrong?"

A wolfish grin spread over Chris' face, the implications of Vin's question quickly becoming apparent to him. "You know that's not a half bad idea cowboy. I'll have to see what I can do about it."

"See y'all later, come on Buck."


Later, as they sat on Buck's front porch, enjoying their lunch, Buck brought Vin's words to Chris up. “So, you gonna tell me what that meant?

“Got to be more specific than that Bucklin.”

Buck gave him a mock glare, “You know what I mean. That dead men tell no tales stuff, what were you getting at?”

“Best if I don't tell ya,” Vin mysteriously replied.

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Come on Buck, you ain't that stupid. You know all about plausible deniability, you couldn't be in the Seals and not know about it.”

“Likely to get Chris in trouble?”

“Not unless too many people know about it.”

“Understood...I ever tell you about some of the things Chris got up to in the Seals?” Buck asked, by way of changing the subject.

Vin chuckled, whenever Buck asked a question like that a good story was bound to follow. “Like what?” he dutifully asked.

“I'm glad you asked,” and with that Buck was off on one of his wonderful stories. “Well, ya know that Sarah's daddy was in the Navy too?” Receiving a nod from the younger man, Buck continued. “He didn't approve any of Chris, thought he wasn't good enough for Sarah. He was right,” Buck added with a grin. “Sarah though, well that woman had a mind of her own, like most Irish girls do. She wasn't about to let any man, not even her father, tell her who to love and who not to love. Thing was, she didn't much care for Chris' attitude either. She half suspected, and was probably right, that a good part of why Larabee wanted to date her was cause her daddy didn't approve. She didn't much cotton to the idea of being the rope in their tug-o-war and she figured to let them both know it. She convinced Chris that he had finally convinced her into going to the next level in their relationship. I think she knew all along that Chris was the one for her, but she wanted him to want her for herself, not just a way to piss her father off. Anyway, she had Chris real worked up, just from talking to him over the phone. Then she tells him that she's really mad at her father for trying to run her life and she wants to symbolically show him that he can't control her. The best way to do this, she tells Chris, is to get together in his office. They won't do anything much there, just get things started so to speak, then they'd go somewhere more comfortable. Now Sarah was a hell of a woman, and damned smart. Too smart for Chris and her old man, that's for sure.” Buck smiled as Vin let loose a chuckle at that. “She knew old Chris wasn't really a bad guy, and she knew that he'd be sitting there in that office waiting for her, seeing all those family pictures her father had in his office...”

“She figured he'd start having second thoughts?”

“Exactly. Oh she had him pegged alright, by the time that office door opened, Chris had decided that he couldn't do it. Sarah was too good of a person and she didn't deserve to be used as a means of getting back at her father. He had his back to the door when it opened, and he didn't even turn around, just started talking. Sarah, he says, I really care about you, too much to be with you right now. I'm sorry honey, but I haven't been completely honest with you. I been going out with you to get at your dad and that wasn't right. I just thank God that I came to my senses before it went too far and I hope that you'll give me another chance. A chance to get to really know you, for the right reasons. It was about that time he turned around and of course it wasn't Sarah standing there, it was her father.”

“Damn, what'd he do?”

“Well he might've thrown Chris out that window, but about that time Sarah stepped out of the closet. He sure was mad, asked Sarah if she had heard what Chris had admitted to? Did she see now that he was right about him? Sarah waited for him to stop ranting and then she walked up to her father and slapped him. Before he could say anything to that, she slapped Chris too. Then she let them both have it. Told them both they were a couple of pig-headed fools and that she could and would date whomever she pleased. She also pointed out to her father that he wasn't right about Chris, because if he had been, Chris would never have had second thoughts about his plan to get back at the Admiral.”

“Bet he didn't like that any.”

“No, he didn't, but he wasn't a bad man, just harsh and very protective of his only daughter. After he thought about it, he admitted that she was right and as long as Chris was dating her for the right reasons, he wouldn't interfere. Then he made sure that Larabee knew what would happen, and he didn't spare any of the details, if he ever did anything to hurt that little girl.”

“How long after that did it take them to get married?”

“Well it was only about eight months after that first real date, so about nine months after that night in the office.”

“Wait a minute, it took Chris a month to get that first date?”

“Well it wouldn't have, but the Admiral thought he couldn't let Chris breaking into his office go without a word. He confined him to the base for the next month, kept him busy cleaning the toilets with a toothbrush.”

Vin threw his head back in laughter, “Damn, Chris must've hated that.”

“Oh he did, but he didn't have much choice. Besides it could have been worse and he knew it, the Admiral could have put him in the stockade for a month or more.”

Vin smiled as he looked down at his plate, “You did it again.”

“Did what?”

“Fed me a meal and I didn't even notice. I don't know how ya do it, but I appreciate it.”

“Just don't notice anything else with me in the room,” Buck teased.

“Might be,” Vin agreed.

Buck stared at Vin, surprised by the serious look in the younger man's eyes. The look he saw there, convinced him that now might be the time to ask something he'd been wanting to for a while. “Vin...would you,” he paused, licking suddenly dry lips. He couldn't believe how nervous he was, he hadn't been this nervous since, hell he didn't think he'd ever been this nervous. “I was wondering, when them bandages come off, would you join me for dinner?”

“On one condition.”

“Anything,” Buck quickly agreed.

“We go dancing after dinner,” Vin gave his condition, his eyes sparkling.

“Dancing?” Buck asked. He'd been so sure the condition would be something else, something serious, that it took him a moment to say anything else. “I can do dancing,” he finally agreed, a grin spreading over his face.

“Good, it's a date then.”

TBC

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