What's Important

By: Cin

Okay since certain people felt if I issued the challenge I should take part in the challenge (don't know where they got that rule, is that in the guidelines somewhere??) I did come up with a story.

This took a completely different turn from how I started it several different times. The fingers did the typing I'm not sure the brain was involved. Sorry for smarm.

Believe me no money could be earned with this one.

And it's PG with only a couple of mild curse words.

ATF Universe

Chris Larabee looked up from his seated position in the recliner as Josiah announced his return from the kitchen with his deep rumbling laughter.

"Hopeless right?" He asked as Josiah sank onto one end of the sofa.

The large man nodded, "That's one Lazarus even the Lord couldn't save."

Larabee smiled as he took a sip of his beer and sighed.

"Another holiday, another disaster," came the slow Southern drawl as Ezra Standish joined his teammates in the den.

Chris shrugged his shoulders, taking another sip of his beer and turning back to watch the football game on TV. Sanchez exchanged a look with the Southerner and they both shrugged.

"I am sure Mr. Wilmington and Mr. Dunne will be back shortly with an adequate replacement," Ezra tried to assure the solemn man.

"Yes and Nathan said he'd bring whatever leftovers he could from his dinner with Rain," Josiah added. "We still have the stuffing and other side dishes."

A slow nod was the only response from the dark clad man in the chair. His two companions shared another look wondering at their friend's seeming disinterest. It was nothing they hadn't seen before, and his current mood was only a continuation of the one he'd been having for the last two weeks. As the other members of the Magnificent Seven team made plans for the Thanksgiving celebration their stoic leader just seemed to close himself off more and took no part in the planning other than agreeing to have it at his place.

The dark cloud that hung over the blond's head only seemed to grow darker as he remembered the morning's events. Buck was determined to have an old fashion Thanksgiving, what ever that was. He was sure his old friend didn't even know what one was but he was doing his best to create one. And create a mess of his kitchen, Larabee thought as he sipped again from his drink.

The other members of the team all contributed a dish or two to the feast. Casserole dishes filled with sweet potatoes, green beans, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and baked corn lined the counters. The refrigerator held bowls of fruit salad, cranberry sauce and of course plenty of whipped cream. Nettie Wells sent an apple pie, one of mincemeat and two pumpkin pies. Mrs. Potter added to the feast too, dropping off fresh baked yeast rolls. There was plenty of food to go with the main course. . .just no turkey.

Buck assured his teammates he had it all under control when they offered their wisdom on preparing the large bird for their meal. Where he obtained this knowledge was anyone's guess. Most figured one of his many lady friends instructed him on the task. He'd spent the night at the ranch in order to get his masterpiece in the oven early; he knew it would take a long time for the large bird to cook. He wanted everything ready so it would all be all set to eat before the games came on.

= = Earlier that morning = =

"JD, what are you looking for?" Buck asked as he stood near the sink chopping onion and celery.

"That squeegee thing," Dunne declared as continued searching through the kitchen drawers.

"The what?"

"You know that long thing with the rubber bulb on the top," JD tried to describe the object of his search with hands. "You use it to baste the turkey. You know to keep it moist."

Buck just looked at his friend with a strange expression on his face.

JD looked back at his friend sheepishly, "Well that's what mom use to do."

"Well that ain't the way I'm going to do it JD," Buck blew out breath. Gathering his chopped vegetables he began stuffing them into the large turkey sitting in the sink. "Besides I don't think Chris even has a turkey baster."

"My mother use to put ours in a bag," Josiah offered his own advice as he deposited another casserole dish on the counter.

"They had those cooking bags way back then?" At the same time he received a sharp elbow from his friend, JD's eyes widening in horror at what he had said.

Josiah just gave him a patient look, shaking his head. "No, JD, she used a paper bag."

"A paper bag?" JD's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Didn't that burn up in the oven?"

"No," the large man shook his head again with a look of puzzlement on his face. "Seems it should have doesn't it. Never knew the wonder of it, but it always worked." He sighed as the smile on his face showed he was taken back to pleasant memories.

"Well this is the modern age my friends," Wilmington declared. "It just so happens I have one of those little bag things right here." He shook out a large plastic bag and handed it to JD to hold open as he wrestled his now seasoned bird inside. He tied the end together and placed it in the large aluminum pan on the counter. "Now we'll just pop this beauty in the oven."

"So how long does it need to cook for?" JD asked.

Wilmington shrugged, "A couple of hours."

"Where's the instructions?" Josiah asked.

"Instructions?" Buck looked between the two.

"They were in the box weren't they?" JD asked looking around the counter for the box.

"Don't know, friend of mine gave me her extra bag," Wilmington said.

The other two men exchanged a knowing glance.

"Besides the turkey will tell us when it's done," Buck informed them.

"Not even live birds talk Buck," Josiah looked skeptical.

"Oh no," Buck waved his hand and pointed to the prepared bird in the oven. "See it's got one of those pop up things in it. When it's done it'll pop out, so all I have to do is check it every once awhile."

Josiah made a note to himself to remind Buck to keep a close eye on it as he looked at JD and shook his head.

= = 7 = =

"Junior get your nose out of that oven!" Buck yelled for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"When's it gonna be ready, Buck?"

"When it's ready which may be never if you don't quit opening the door and letting the heat out." Wilmington slapped the sharpshooter's hands away.

"Come on Buck," Vin pleaded. "It's been in there a long time. The smell is killin' me, I'm hungry."

The rogue smiled. Tanner was usually quite, patient, fearsome when he was on the job. But give the boy a holiday and it was a different story. The guy became more like a kid in a toyshop with every one. Although none of them knew the whole story, the others figured it had something to do with Vin's childhood. Or more importantly the one he never got the chance to have.

"It ain't done yet, the little timer thing hasn't popped out," Buck stubbornly declared.

"Buck it's been five hours I think even the largest bird would be done by now," Chris added his own opinion as he came into the kitchen.

"Turkey's take a long time, you know that Chris," Buck defended himself.

Josiah followed behind and opened the oven door easily evading Buck's attempt to stop him. They all stepped back when a puff of smoke escaped.

"What the," Buck moved forward grabbing the oven mitts as he did so. Gingerly he lifted the aluminum pan from the oven and set it on the stove.

"Nice bird there Buck," Chris commented about the blackened shape in the baked plastic. He made no further comment as he grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and moved back out to the den.

Buck couldn't believe what he was looking at. He grabbed a knife and cut through the bag, stepping back as more steam escaped. "But the thing never popped out."

Josiah moved up beside him with a fork. He located the timer and pulled it out bringing it up to show Buck the melted piece of plastic. "The bag cooks hotter."

"Oh wow! That's one burnt bird," JD exclaimed as he slid into the kitchen to see what the fuss was about. He then scowled remembering dinner. "So what are we going to do for a turkey?"

"Oh, shit!" Buck exclaimed. "Maybe we can find a store open, come on JD." Buck grabbed the young man around the collar and pulled him towards the door. "Tell Chris we'll be back in a bit," he yelled over his shoulder as he pulled JD after him.

"Oh my!" Ezra waved a hand in front of his face as entered the kitchen and peered at the blacken mess Josiah was poking a fork into. "What form of neveau cuisine do you call this?"

"Bite me, Ez," Buck yelled as he and JD ran out the door.

Josiah and Ezra shared a chuckle as they looked at each other then down at the corpse.

= = Two hours later = =

"Where is everyone?" Nathan asked as he entered the house and found his three somber teammates in the living room. The coffee table held remnants of a vegetable snack tray and chips as well as several beer bottles. But the usual boisterousness of their group gatherings was missing, and it was hard to admit but he missed it.

"The Dynamic Duo went to try to procure a new main course," Standish reported.

Nathan nodded. "Sorry guys not much left at Rain's folks. Did manage to bring some cranberry sauce," he held up the container he held in his hands. He looked around. "Vin go with them?"

"Vin. . ." Ezra stopped and looked around puzzled. "Where is Mr. Tanner?"

Josiah frowned and for the first time since they first sat down Larabee stirred from his recliner and looked around.

"Did you see if he left?" Chris looked concerned. He stood up to look around. Silently chastising himself for letting his own self-pitying mood blind him to his friends. Just because the holidays didn't mean that much to him anymore did not mean the others had to suffer. Then he wanted to kick himself again for just realizing that.

"Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing him since we took the turkey out of the oven," Josiah left to check the kitchen.

"It's frozen Buck," JD's loud chastisement announced the return of the two shoppers. "It'll be at least a day before we can even think about cooking it."

"We'll put it in hot water," Buck answered him. "That'll thaw it out quicker."

"Not that fast," JD grumbled thinking this was another Thanksgiving down the tubes.

"Did Vin go with you?" Chris asked, stopping the two from starting one of their usual verbal battles.

"No," JD shook his head as Buck moved to carry his prize into the kitchen.

"Thought I saw him walking toward the barn when we left," Buck called over his shoulder. "Had to drive all the way into town to find a store open. Now how am I going to cook this thing?"

"Peso's not in the barn," Josiah announced as he came back into the house. "He must have gone for a ride."

"I'm sorry, Chris," Buck said softly. "I guess I spoiled things. I know how much the holidays mean to Vin."

Larabee looked at his friend and saw the sorrow written all over it. The same statement could be seen in the others gathered around. Chris thought he should join them in that feeling. But he'd been thinking on past holidays for the last several weeks as Thanksgiving and the Christmas season drew closer. The holidays just weren't the same anymore. Didn't feel the same? But did that make them worse? He missed Sarah and Adam but as he looked around he knew these guys were his family too, and a damn good one at that. This day wasn't ruined, it was just food, that wasn't what the day was about. At least they were all together and healthy for once. Well that is if they could find Vin.

"I don't think Vin's the only one you disappointed, Buck. I think you were looking forward to today as much as he was." Chris stated his observation.

Chris smiled. The others looked a little puzzled. "You know Buck you are going to be in for a lot of grief over this one."

Buck stared at his friend for a moment. Chris was teasing him? Where had the old Chris Larabee gone? Damn what just happened here?

"I'm sure Vin was a little disappointed and . . ." anything further Chris was going to say was interrupted by the back door slamming open and the noise of someone rummaging around in the storage room.

The six men moved back to the kitchen. There on the counter was a large carcass of what looked to be a fresh turkey.

"Chris where's that big box of peanut oil ya bought?"

The question was yelled from the small storage room off the kitchen.

"Vin what are you doing?" Larabee asked.

"Found it!" Vin declared and he exited the storeroom with a large box in one hand and a large metal pot in the other. He was grinning triumphantly. "Best get them casseroles warmed up boys, the turkey'll be done real quick."

"Where did you get that bird?" Buck looked suspiciously at the young man. "All the stores around here were closed, and no one had a fresh one."

Vin looked at the mustached man like he had two heads, "I hunted it. Found a group of wild turkeys a few weeks ago on the back of Chris's property." He hefted his bounty and headed to the patio and to the barbecue pit Larabee had there.

Josiah chuckled as the others looked at each other in astonishment. Chris moved over to the counter and looked at the bird. It did look fresh. He turned it over looking at the carcass carefully.

"It won't be the best," Vin declared coming back into the kitchen. "Won't have a lot of time for the marinade ta set in it, but it'll be eatable." He pushed Wilmington aside with a playful shove as he rummaged through Larabee's cabinets for some seasonings.

"Vin," Chris drew the young man's attention to him. "There are no wounds in this bird." Larabee figured Tanner could have managed a headshot on the bird with his skills but it was unlikely.

The other men were amazed again as it looked like their teammate was blushing.

"Okay fess up Junior," Buck waggled his eyebrows at him thinking he had a huge secret to reveal.

Vin didn't look at the other men as he began mixing some oil and seasonings on a pan on the stove. "Told ya I hunted it."

"If there is no evidence of a fatal wound. . ." Standish began to ask the question all of them wondered. They'd never know Vin Tanner to lie. He was the most honorable among them and the last one to brag on himself. They were truly just interested in how the young man pulled off this seemingly miraculous feat.

"Gun jammed couldn't shoot `im," Vin mumbled.

"What?" Larabee wasn't sure he heard right.

"Well damn boy what did you do? Tackle him?" Buck laughed still not believing Vin just didn't know someone nearby he'd managed to talk the turkey out of.

Vin tried to glare at them to leave him alone as he continued to work on preparing the turkey. They weren't going to believe his story anyway, so why couldn't they just be glad they were going to have their Thanksgiving dinner, despite their usual disaster.

"Horseshoe kilt `im."

"What?" The surprised voices came from all six men.

Vin finished injecting the bird with his special mixture and moved it onto a pan to carry outside to the heating pot of oil. He decided to get the explanation and kidding over with. He turned around to face the others.

"Okay I went to try to find a turkey. Got lucky they were still hangin' around. Tried to shoot one and damn gun jammed." Vin paused a moment letting out an exasperated sigh and ran a hand back through his hair. "Thought they would be too scattered all the noise I made, figuring I lost my chance, so I headed back when Peso came up lame."

The others looked concerned knowing how much Vin cared about his horse.

"He lost a shoe," Vin continued his explanation. "I was so mad I wouldn't be able to make the holiday right for ya, I picked up the horseshoe and threw it."

The others looked at him like they were waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Vin shrugged and picked up the pan with his turkey in it to go outside. "It hit this turkey and kilt it." He finished in a no nonsense manner and walked out of the room, leaving six stunned, disbelieving faces behind him.

Josiah smiled as he moved to begin putting the various casserole dishes in the oven to warm. "The Lord does work in mysterious ways."

= = 7 = =

"Sorry I messed up the turkey earlier guys," Buck apologized again as they finally gathered around the table to enjoy their feast.

"I should have taken the opportunity to increase my monetary status," Ezra smiled. "I usually know a sure thing."

"What and me burning the turkey was a sure thing?" Buck looked astounded at the thought.

"Yes," came the chorus from six voices around the table.

"That's the thanks I get for trying to do an old fashion Thanksgiving," Wilmington mumbled.

"We had hot dogs last year," JD reminded them.

"I had some steaks we could have grilled," Chris admitted, thinking sadly he really distanced himself from the others to not offer before.

"Had to be turkey," Vin stated flatly. He looked around at the others knowing they were going to ask. He didn't want to admit how important this year's meal was to him. No matter where'd been when he was younger or how bad it was, he knew that the Thanksgiving holiday was the one day could count on. Even if it was at a shelter. The one day there was plenty to eat and there was always turkey and dressing. He'd given up a lot over the years; he didn't want to give up his memories. He'd gained a lot too, especially with these six men. He finally had a family. It was a new memory he wanted to make, with a special meal.

He saw the others waiting for him to continue and was grateful they weren't pushing him to reveal more. "Old fashion Thanksgiving has to have turkey," he shrugged repeating what Buck lectured them with all week.

Larabee sensed there was more to it but knew Vin didn't feel comfortable revealing too much about himself or his past. He could understand he worked hard enough at his own demons. Today he was thankful that he was able to lay a few to rest, or was beginning to.

"Food's good but it's not everything," he waited till all eyes turned to him. "This is what's important." He lifted the glass in front of him and raised it. He offered his friends, his family a rare smile as he toasted, "To friends."

= = 7 = =

The meal though delayed was a success. Six stuffed bodies lazed around the spacious living room of Chris Larabee's ranch house. Not even Standish was anxious to leave enjoying the quiet evening amongst friends. The owner of the house was the only one missing. He'd gone out to check on his livestock for the evening.

"Vin?" The six men turned their gaze back to their leader as he re-entered the room. "I just checked Peso." Larabee looked stunned. "He has a shoe missing."

The End

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