Lost

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

Warnings: Slash, Violence, Angst

Rating: FRT


Lost
Chapter 21


"Everything ready JD?" Chris asked. A nod from JD brought a feral grin to Chris' face as he pushed open the door to the interrogation room. Tossing the file he held on the table, Chris leaned on it and stared at the suspect. "Hello Rupert," his calm voice sounding suspiciously like a growl.

Rupert Browner calmly returned the stare, unflinching in the face of this man's obvious intimidation attempt. "I'm not answering any questions without my lawyer."

"Wrong."

"I know my rights Agent Larabee, you can't question..."

"Rights? You have no rights Rupert...you're dead, remember?"

"Obviously I am not dead, therefore I have rights," Browner countered.

Chris straightened to his full six foot height as he stared down at the living dead man before him. "I want the name or names of whoever helped in your escape, fake death and continued freedom."

Browner shot him a disdainful look, "I'm afraid I don't remember."

"I'd suggest you work on the memory or I'll arrange for your death to become a bit more permanent."

Browner's eyes drifted to the security cameras in the room, "Thank you Agent Larabee, you've just guaranteed my release."

"Do you really think I'm that stupid Rupert? Those cameras aren't working, neither are any of the recording devices in the room. I'm afraid they've suffered a glitch, something I have my best computer expert working on now."

"You don't scare me," Browner tried to bluff. Between the space of one breath and the next, Larabee was around the table and Rupert was in a classic headlock.

"Something you should know about me Rupert," Chris voiced in a deadly whisper. "I was in the Seals, I know at least a dozen ways to silently kill a man and half a dozen to dispose of the body so that it will never be found."

Rupert Browner swallowed hard, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. "What is it you wish to know Agent Larabee?" he asked, as calmly as he could manage. Ruthless and greedy he might be, but he wasn't stupid.

"Not much Rupert, just the names of anybody who helped in your escape, faking your death and your continued freedom. I also want the details of how it was done."

"I was helped..."

"Ah, ah, ah, not yet. First we have to set up a camera, we don't want any faulty memories to mess up the trial later on." Stepping to the door, he opened it, allowing JD into the room, a digital video camera and tripod in his hands. "Now," he continued as he shut the door, "when Agent Dunne has the camera ready we can begin. And Rupert, any deviation from what we discussed will result in the disc being destroyed and our earlier discussion becoming reality."

"I understand," Rupert solemnly acknowledged.

Getting the signal from JD, Chris sat down opposite Browner. He began with the date and who he was speaking to, before diving into the questions. "Now for the record, would you state your name?"

"Rupert Browner."

"Mr. Browner, you were convicted ten years ago of murder, extortion and weapons charges, correct?"

"You know it is," Browner scowled.

"What was your sentence?"

"There was more than one, but it amounted to life with no chance of parole."

"Then how is it Mr. Browner, that you came to be living in Denver, Colorado only ten years later, freely operating a business?"

"I escaped."

"Could you explain to me, how that occurred?"

"Certainly, I never entered prison. I paid another man to serve my sentence, assuring him that he would be allowed to escape within a few weeks of becoming incarcerated. I was aided in this deception by Agent Dan Barnes of the FBI. Agent Barnes falsified the records so that this other man's fingerprints and picture would become a part of my file. Thus when the prison officials checked his prints, it would of course tell them he was me. What the man was not told, was that his escape would be accomplished through death. Once he was dead, I would be free to move about the country and I wouldn't even need to change my name. Agent Barnes has ran interference, for a cost, when needed in the intervening years."

"I see, was Agent Barnes aware of your business enterprises in the state of Colorado?"

"Of course he was, he even, sampled some of the merchandise on occasion."

"I think that will be enough," Chris decided.

JD turned off the camera and quickly left the room.

"Thank you for your cooperation Mr. Browner. We will of course need any documentation you have to support your story."

"That won't be a problem," Browner assured him.

"Good, you just write down where we can find it and give us written permission to retrieve what we need, without a search warrant." Sliding a piece of paper and a pen across the table, Chris sat back and waited for Browner to comply.

Without a word of protest Rupert Browner gave the man sitting across the table from him, everything he asked for. He had quickly come to the conclusion that his only chance for survival would be dependent upon his cooperation with this man.

Chris pocketed the paper as he pushed himself to his feet. “Thank you Rupert, somebody will escort you back to your cell shortly.”

“What happens to me now?”

“You'll be tried for the kidnapping and assault of Agent Tanner.”

Rupert could practically hear the 'unless' that hung unspoken in the air. “Unless I do what, precisely?”

“You testify against Agent Barnes and you'll be returned to Georgia to serve out your original sentence. Refuse and, you'll be tried for your actions against Agent Tanner. I'm sure I don't have to explain to you how prison guards view men who have hurt a fellow officer.”

“I would be happy to assist you in bringing Agent Barnes to justice,” Browner smiled.

“I thought that's what you'd say. I'll make the arrangements.” With those words, Chris opened the door and left the room.



Vin sat on Buck's back deck, curled up on the porch swing. To anybody watching him it would seem he was enjoying the spectacular view from the deck. Buck knew better, he was certain Vin didn't even see the mountains in the distance. Today had been Vin's first visit with the department shrink, it wasn't hard to see that it hadn't gone well. Sighing heavily, he quietly approached the swing. “Mind if I join you?” His question was met with silence, though Vin did shift his legs, making room for him. Sitting down, he drew Vin's feet into his lap without a word. “Want to talk about it?”

Swinging his feet to the floor, he sat up and grabbed one of the beers Buck carried. “Nothing to talk about,” he replied, washing down the reply with a long swallow of beer.

“That bad?”

“I hate shrinks,” Vin rasped, taking another swallow of beer.

“What'd he say?”

“She,” Vin quickly corrected. “The department seems to think it'll be easier for me to talk to a woman than a man, considering what Browner tried to do. Idiots,” he sneered. “Hell I don't want to talk to anybody about it, but I sure can't talk to a lady about it. The things he said...what he almost did...what he did do.”

The pain in Vin's voice had Buck again wanting to kill Browner, slowly. He couldn't do that, not if he wanted to have a future with the man he loved, wanted to be here for him. That didn't keep him from the desire though. Hesitantly, he moved closer, carefully draping his arm over Vin's shoulders. “Did you ask if there was somebody else you could talk to?”

“Yeah I did, there isn't,” Vin softly replied. Taking strength from the man beside him, he leaned closer. “Stupid huh?”

Surprised by the question, Buck didn't reply for a moment. It was almost a moment too long. He felt Vin beginning to pull away, in more ways than one. Quickly tightening his hold, he tugged him close again, “What do you think is stupid?”

“You're kidding?”

“Wouldn't ask if I knew what you meant?”

Vin looked up at him, searching his face for any sign of deception. Seeing none, he settled his head back on Buck's shoulder. “Me, acting like some kind of scared little kid over talking to a shrink.”

“There ain't anything stupid about that Vin,” Buck firmly and quickly vowed. “Aw Vin, don't you know most men would have fallen completely apart after what you've been through. Especially considering that it came on the heels of what I did.”

“Don't Buck,” Vin quickly cut him off. “We've been through this, I don't blame you for what happened. It wasn't you, it was Spencer that raped me, he just used your body to do it.”

“Do you have any idea how amazing you are?” Buck asked in a choked voice. “I just wish it had never happened and that Browner hadn't gotten the chance to remind you of it.”

“He didn't Buck.” Vin saw the doubtful, guilty look on Buck's face, “I swear he didn't.”

“I don't know how that can be.”

“Because what he did to me was brutal and what he planned to do would have been just as brutal as the rest of it. What you did, under orders from Spencer, wasn't brutal or no more so than it had to be.” Takes a breath, searching for the words he needed to take away the guilt the other man still felt for what had happened. “Buck, there's something you said a minute ago that I have to argue with.”

“What's that?” Buck managed to ask.

“You said you wished it had never happened...”

“Now Vin, I'll believe a lot of things, but I won't ever believe you're glad it happened.”

“I don't know if glad is exactly the right word, but if it hadn't happened we might never have known about each other. I mean, you weren't telling me ya was attracted to me because you were worried about messing up our friendship and I was keeping quiet for the same reason.”

Buck smiled softly, understanding now what Vin meant. “I see what ya mean, and I'll say it again...you're an amazing man Vin Tanner.”

“I ain't anything special Buck, just a man trying to make sense of his world.”

“Well now sweetness, that's one I'm gonna have to argue with.” Taking a chance, he brushed a kiss over Vin's temple as he held him tightly in his arms.

“Thanks Buck, too bad the department won't let me talk to you instead of that shrink.”

“Any idea how long you'll have to see her?”

“Nah, you know how it goes Bucklin. I'll have to see her for however long her and the department thinks I need to. Sorry, I don't mean to whine about it...”

“Don't apologize Vin, I don't know a man alive that wants to talk to a shrink. It can help though, if you give it a chance.”

“You talk like a man with experience.”

“After Sarah and Adam died, the guilt was eating me alive. I tried to deal with it, mostly by trying to help Chris. Problem with that was, the only way I seemed able to help him was as his punching bag. Wasn't healthy for either one of us, Sarah's father made me realize that and talked me into getting some help for myself.”

“And it helped?”

“Don't I seem well-balanced?” Buck asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

“You really want me to answer that?” Vin teased.

Buck pretended to think about that for a minute, “I guess maybe I don't.”

“Chris ever go to see anybody?”

“I'm not sure, we lost contact for a couple of years. It was the best thing for us both, my shrink said we needed the distance. Guess he was right, when Chris came to see me about the ATF I could tell he was better than he had been. Then you joined the team and he really started coming out from behind those walls he'd built.”

“I imagine you and time had more to do with it than me.”

“Nah, trust me Vin, it was you. You became like a brother to him almost from the moment the two of you met. It was just what he needed,” Buck assured him.

“Must have made you mad,” Vin softly commented.

“It did, at first,” Buck admitted. “I got over it pretty quick though, about the time I realized that it didn't matter who brought the old Chris back, as long as he was back. Well as much as he ever could be anyway.”

“I don't reckon he'll ever be exactly the same. He couldn't be after something like that.”

“No, he couldn't be.” The sound of the phone ringing interrupted them. Reluctantly Buck let go of Vin and hurried inside. “Wilmington,” he growled.

“Well hello to you too Buck,” Chris replied. “Interrupt something?”

“What's up Chris?” he asked, ignoring the question. He couldn't help being glad that Chris couldn't see the blush that was covering his face, he'd never let him live it down. Imagine, him, Buck Wilmington, getting embarrassed over nothing more than holding Vin as they enjoyed a quiet conversation.

Chris noticed that Buck ignored the question, but he decided to let it go in favor of more important things than teasing his friend. “Tell Vin his plan worked.”

“His plan? What plan?”

“To get Browner to talk, hell Buck you were there when he brought it up.”

“I was?” Buck scratched his head, trying to remember such a conversation.

“He said dead men tell no tales, wouldn't I like to prove them wrong,” Chris reminded him.

“That was a plan? Never mind, of course it was. Y'all did that silent communication thing again, didn't ya?”

Chris smirked, he knew it drove the rest of the team crazy when he and Vin did that. “Guess we did. Anyway, it worked, he talked.”

“What'd he say?”

“Admitted that it was Dan Barnes that helped him and told us where to find the evidence that will prove it. He also agreed to testify against Barnes...”

“What did you have to promise him?” Buck nearly snapped. He had a bad feeling about this.

“He won't be tried for what he did to Vin, instead he'll be returned to Georgia to serve out his original sentence.”

“Damn it Chris, that bastard needs to pay for what he did to Vin!”

“You think I like it Buck? I hate it, but it's the only thing we have to bargain with and I want Barnes to pay too. If it hadn't been for him, Browner wouldn't have been out of prison and able to hurt Vin or anybody else.”

“Damn, I hate it when you're right.”

“You'll tell Vin?”

“Yeah, I'll tell him. Chris?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for calling, talk to you later?”

“Sure thing, bye.”

“What's up?” Vin asked from the doorway. He smiled when Buck jumped, “Sorry, didn't mean to startle ya?”

“That was Chris.”

“Figured, what's up?”

“He said your plan worked,” Buck replied. He was curious, wondering if Vin would understand what Chris had meant.

“Browner talked?”

“Damn, y'all have got to tell me how you do that.”

“Buck.”

Buck nodded, “He said it was Barnes that helped him, told Chris where to find the evidence to prove it. He also agreed to testify against him.”

“In exchange for?”

“No charges for what he did to you,” Buck reluctantly answered. “You say the word and I'm sure Chris would take back the offer.”

Vin felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He should have seen that coming, after all it was the only thing Chris had to bargain with. He wanted to call Chris and tell him hell no! “Guess this means I won't have to testify about what he done,” was what he finally said.

Buck didn't like the look on the younger man's face, he was entirely too pale and silently he cursed Chris for the deal he'd made. “No, I guess you won't,” he responded. Stepping closer to Vin, he carefully pulled him into his arms. “You okay?”

“No, but I will be.” Leaning against the taller man, he once again found himself gratefully drawing strength from his friend.


TBC

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