ATF Universe
There was nothing
strange about the seven gathered together to share a holiday, Chris Larabee
thought, sitting and nursing a tepid beer. It was the almost complete absence
of noise in the house that was unusual. Noise was an integral part of their
lives; most of them were not overly loud, but when they got together, they
talked loud, argued loud, and generally got loud. Silence, while welcome,
caught his attention. It meant either something was wrong, or some sort of
intervention was needed.
Contemplating the quiet,
Chris thought maybe it wasn't so strange after the kind of year they had. Rough
to say the least, they had survived it. They were here safe and sound in body,
if not all in heart and mind.
Looking over the members
of his team, the leader smiled at the profiler.
Sprawled in the
recliner, an open book lay open and forgotten on Josiah's stomach while the big
man snored. He deserved his rest, Chris thought, knowing the compassionate man
did double duty during the holidays. Putting in full days at work, then helping
at the local mission to help provide holiday meals to the homeless and
underprivileged, the man ran himself ragged, but wouldn't hear of slowing down.
It was his penance, Josiah would say, but Chris knew it was the man's generous
heart talking. Sanchez had made his way to the ranch after serving the last
meal of the year at the mission tonight. It had been a tough few months, with
more seeking help than ever, and Chris knew the kind-hearted soul regretted he
couldn't do more.
The TV flickered with
the sights and sounds of the crowded streets of New York as revelers noisily
waited and watched for the ball to drop to signal in the New Year. At least
given the crowd shown on the cameras, Chris imagined it was noisy. Just the
thought of being surrounded by that many people at one time was disconcerting
to him; he wasn't up to large crowds to begin with, and now that he wasn't
twenty-one, the thought of being there appealed to him less. The television's
sound was turned down; the others in the room only glancing at the activities,
more to mark the time than taking an active interest.
Chris watched three
friends playing a game of cards at the table in the back of the room. There had
been five, but Nathan slipped off to call Raine, who
was working the late shift at the hospital. The team leader knew Nathan was
hoping it wouldn't be so busy for her, that if the lovers couldn't be together,
at least they could have a few moments hearing each others
voice as the New Year began. He also realized Nathan spent more time with the
people here now than with his lover; the cost of their profession was high,
only somewhat balanced in a twisted way with Raine's
own hectic schedule. Both paid the price for choosing public service oriented
careers, but with their desire to help others, nothing else would do.
Vin slipped out earlier with the declaration he was
going to check the horses. Larabee knew it was more just a feeble excuse for
the young man to grab a few minutes of quiet time for himself, than the horses
actually needing attention. Leaving for a short time was something Vin did often at even the smallest gatherings; but knowing
from experience, tonight would see Tanner bringing in the new year with his own
quiet contemplation. The sharpshooter was one of those people that no matter
how small or large the gathering, he needed fresh air every once in a while,
and usually wanted that time by himself. Chris imagined the years spent on his
own made him seek that familiar comfort, but was glad the six of them could
provide him the family he never had growing up.
Shifting his attention
to a different guest, Chris noticed the solemn expression of his old friend's
face. Buck may have been the only one who had plans tonight, having said he
wouldn't be coming at all this year earlier in the week. Larabee was surprised
when Wilmington showed up at the ranch not long after the others' arrival.
Seems his date canceled, after her boyfriend showed up for a surprise visit. In
fact, Buck was angry not so much because the date was broken, but that the
woman failed to mention she even had a boyfriend. Wilmington, who loved all
women and rarely said a rude thing about one, was not speaking too kindly of
this latest.
That brought confusion
and skepticism from the rest of the group; Buck had been known to date a woman
that was otherwise taken by another man. His furious expression silenced them
into listening. His agitation was understandable only after he explained the woman's
boyfriend was a marine who just returned from the war for a short holiday
visit. Buck didn't believe the whole situation was right, he loudly proclaimed;
the guy was fighting, risking his life, thinking and believing he had a loving
woman waiting for him at home, when in fact she'd been playing the town. Her
behavior and omission didn't sit well with the gregarious man, and dampened his
usual holiday spirit quite obviously. He felt if she couldn't remain true, she
should at least be honest with the guy. It was just another example of how high
Wilmington valued truth and loyalty to those he cared about.
JD was pining for his
own lack of female companionship. His girlfriend, Casey, was still away with
her Aunt Nettie visiting family for the holidays. Chris knew JD had been hoping
the two would get to see the New Year in together, but the younger man
understood Casey wanting to be with her family too. They all had so little, if
any family themselves; it was something they all held dear.
Finally, Chris turned to
their undercover agent. He still looked tired, Larabee thought. The man had
been on an assignment in deep cover until just before Christmas. Only an
unexpected tip allowed the case to finally be closed before the holidays. The
last month had been round after round of debriefings and the usual endless
mountains of paperwork. Not only had Ezra worked his butt off with minimal
contact and support from his team, but now he was required to justify every
little thing he did. Chris wondered if Standish regretted not being able to
spend the holidays with his own mother, but if he did, he never let on.
Privately, the team leader thought that Ezra needed the quiet of their
friendship versus the chaos that Maude usually brought with her, but he
wouldn't say that aloud.
Chris' eyes flicked to
the picture of the pretty, smiling woman and young blond-haired boy that sat on
the fireplace mantle. His own family, suddenly lost to
him several years ago. The loss made more tragic by his grief that led to
self-destructive tendencies. Just a few years ago, he could not have looked at
the photo without going into a fierce rage. Today, he still felt their loss and
missed them, but it was with only a mild melancholy. He found he could handle
it with only a thought of wistfulness at what might have been if they could
still be with him. His ability to cope with the loss now was due in part to the
men he now contemplated.
Larabee sighed, finished
his beer and set the bottle down on the table beside the couch. He missed his family,
just as the others missed theirs from time to time, as these special days
brought their losses close to the surface to be felt and remembered once more.
It really didn't matter, he thought, how much any of them missed their
families; the others made up for it and helped them deal with the feelings. At
one time or another, they'd all made the comment that they felt they'd found a
new family with each other.
Chris noticed the images
on the TV changing, the faces more excited and the camera cut away to the start
of the ball dropping. As he thought about the New Year about to begin, he felt
a gentle peace finally settle over his shoulders. They all had their chance at
offers to go to one party or another, whether they admitted it to the others or
not. They could have gone. Their jobs, unlike some law enforcement, allowed
them to technically be off tomorrow to recover. But with the heightened alert,
they were still on call and still mindful something could interrupt any
celebration they had planned. As the others turned to watch the ball's descent,
Chris thought none of the wild celebrations mattered this year anyway.
After the year they'd
had, this was the way to bring in the New Year. In the company of family and
friends, the people who were most important no matter what type of year you
left behind, and for sure the people you wanted with you as you faced the
uncertain future.
Josiah snorted awake as
if some unseen hand shook him awake, and Nathan entered quietly and stood at
the doorway into the room, still holding the phone to his ear. Everyone watched
quietly and silently as the past year ended, and each thought hopefully a
better one began.
The quiet was all around
them as the final seconds ticked down; it seemed no one was even breathing waiting
for that final second. It was then that the faint sounds of the harmonica
reached them from outside. A soft smile graced each of their faces as they
listened, while still keeping to their own thoughts. Words were not necessary
to convey the emotions felt by all.
=
= 7 = =
With a deep sigh, Vin
Tanner sank into the deck chair outside Larabee's back door. He breathed deeply
of the cool crisp air and exhaled, letting the quiet of the night settle around
him. He loved coming out to Larabee's ranch. It was peaceful here, especially
tonight. No illegal fireworks, more importantly, no one using guns as
fireworks. It was just quiet and rejuvenating, the perfect way to celebrate
what was and what will be in his opinion.
He was not sad to see
the year end. Seemed like it never would. The cases
they worked this year seemed tougher than usual, especially the last one with
Ezra being under for so long. It had them all worried. Then the holidays and
the kind of craziness and stress this time of year always seemed to bring to
even the sanest people. And now the country was on high alert again. The
reminder that their world had changed so much that nowhere was safe from
terrorist attack anymore was very sobering. It didn't make it easy for them to
get into a holiday spirit, especially cursed with the knowledge that they had
access to, information that the public would never find out.
It didn't matter, Tanner
thought as he looked up at the clear night sky, and the stars twinkled down on
him like diamonds. He was here and his family, the one of the heart he cared
most about, was safe and sound. His memories of the past, while still sad, were
less painful, and he knew it was the same for the others too. Searching the
sky, he found the special star; it always seemed to wink at him. It was his
special star, the one that appeared in the sky right after his mother died so
many years ago. He felt she was still watching over him, making her loss a
little easier to bear throughout the years.
Silently, he said a
little prayer of peace and renewal. Reaching in his pocket, he brought out the
battered harmonica. It was the only thing left from his childhood. The one
treasure he'd fought often and hard to keep.
"Happy New Year,
Mom," he said quietly as he brought the small instrument to his lips.
=
= 7 = =
Inside, the commotion on
the TV was continuing as the celebration continued in its own silent way. What
could be heard, from the player outside their view, was
the last few notes of Auld Lang Syne, as it sadly
came to a close.
"Happy New Year,
boys," Chris declared softly. They all saluted each other and smiled as Vin rejoined them from outside.
"Pray it will be
peaceful," Josiah added.
"Amen," six
voices rose in agreement, as the seven welcomed the
New Year in together.
********
May We All Have A Happy,
Peaceful New Year!
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