DISCLAIMER: The Magnificent Seven characters are the property of MGM, Trilogy, and the Mirisch Company. I have just borrowed them, and then will give them back.
RATING: PG13 — (language — violence)
NOTE: This is my first story, and it's unbeta'd.
As it just so happens, Chris and Vin both came into town not 30 minutes from each other.
Chris was a bit worried at not finding the tracker but finding the two graves on the other side of where he figured Vin had camped. He just knew that was Vin's handy work and was glad to see Peso in his stall all bedded for the nite.
He took a deep calming breath as he took care of his own horse and went in search of his friend. Probley at the Saloon, well he hoped because the blood on the rocks on what he considered Vin's side of the hill, although not a lot was worrisome anyway. He needed to make sure that Vin was alright and if he wasn't, then he dam well better be with Nathan getting better.
Dam stubborn tracker so use to taking care of himself that he often didn't bother Nathan with what he considered "minor hurts" and the only reason Chris ever found out about them was to see blood stains on clothing and ask. Only to find that the hurt was now an old one.
Nathan would rant and rave at Vin, and being Vin he would just sit quiet and listen to Nathan or sometime Chris himself, nod his head like he understood why they were mad and then go on about his business.
"Well, he's gonna see Nathan this time if I have to hog tie him." Chris thought with a frown and headed to the Saloon.
"Let me see Vin what ya done gone an done to ya self." Nathan said as he kneeled in front of the tracker sitting on the bed in his clinic. He wanted to be gentle cause he knew if he was not careful Vin'd just take off an take care of things his ownself. It was not often that the tracker was hurting enough to come to see the healer on a voluntary basis. And Nathan was a mite surprised to see him at his door a few minutes before with a blood soaked hand to his left shoulder.
Nathan had ushered him in an got him to sit on the bed. "I need ya take that coat off Vin and then yer shirt too, so's I can take a look, ok."
Vin just nodded his head and did what Nathan asked. He did not plan on coming here and thought for sure his shoulder would be fine, but he guessed the pull and tug first from taking care of the two guys he'd killed and then getting back to town had opened the wound back up. By the time he was just outside town, he could feel how wet his shirt was, and figured Nat could throw a couple of stitches in an he'd be good as new. So here he was sitting quiet and doing whatever it was that Nate wanted cause he sure as hell did not have the strength to do anything else. He took only a moment to wonder at why that was anyway?
Chris just entered the Saloon, eyes scanning for his query and starting to get pissed at not finding him within. He took a step back that brought him out of the Saloon again. His eyes fanning the street and wondering just were the HELL that fuckin tracker was. He was starting to get mad now, at Vin for going off and licking his wounds on his own when he had friends to help and himself for even caring this much what the fuck the tracker did or didn't do.
He was not in the livery, he was not at the bathhouse, he was not at his wagon and he for dam sure was NOT in the saloon. He brought his head up with a jerk and looked over toward Nathan's clinic, seeing a light on in the window was not unusual, but...
His feet were taking him that way before he could complete his thought. "If Vin came into town hurt and one of the boys saw him, they woulda taken him to Nates." He never dreamed that Vin would have taken himself there unless he was half dead, and not liking that thought he moved faster.
Chris burst threw the door of the clinic without so much as a by your leave. Worry written in every line of his face and he went a little pale to see the tracker laying on the bed in the clinic with Nathan bent over him.
"What, the hell?" Nathan put the gun down that he had drawn, and Vin took his hand off his Mares Leg when he saw it was Chris.
"Chris, what ya mean comein here like that, I coulda hurt Vin durin my stichen or one of us coulda shot you dead?" Said without heat as he turn back to Vin's shoulder to finish what he was doing.
Chris dropped his head a bit at the healer's setdown and then smiled when he caught site of Vin's smile and the twinkle in his eyes.
Wasn't to often some one got away with talkin to the gunslinger that way and Vin was enjoying it even through the pain in his shoulder. Nathan had offered him Ludlum, but Vin would rather suffer the pain then the sickness that stuff brought. Once was enough for him, it was worse than any bad drink and fuddled his brain as well. "Nope, nona that stuff fer me" but he had expressed his thanks to Nathan for offering.
"Chris, I know you are bustin with questions and so am I, but just sit on down an let me get this done." Said to the man in black pacing back and forth before the now closed door. Nathan turned his eye back to Vin. "This is gonna hurt worse than that stichen, Vin. That Carbolic is gonna burn somthin fierce."
"Jus get to it Nate." Vin was already gritting his teeth and then thought to add "please"
Nathan smiled a little at that but the frown on his face was back in a flash just thinking about the pain the tracker was going through. "Chris, come here an help me hold him, don't want him messing up my fancy work."
Chris moved quickly to the other side of the bed and placing on had firmly on Vin's good shoulder, he leaned across and grabbed his other arm at the wrist. Looking down at Vin he saw that the tracker's eyes were closed tight in anticipation of the pain.
"Here goes, Vin." Said as Nathan poured the Carbolic in and around the entry point of the wound.
"Fuck me" hissed out between the tracker's lips as he tried to come up off the bed. When he was caught by an immovable force, he opened his eyes and looked right into that green eyed glare of none other than Chris Larabee. Pulling to test if he could get away, he was once again met with resistance and a hushed "Steady Vin, I got ya."
That helped him focus and he worked through the burn of the pain, only to look at Nathan and find a sad sympathetic look on his face. It only took a moment for him to realize that there was also an exit wound as well.
"Ah, Hell, Nate just get it done or I'm gonna get sick all over the both of ya." The tracker tried to relax his body and prepare for the next jolt of pain he knew he was going to get.
"Nate, how you wanna do this?" Chris asked looking over the body of his friend to the healer.
Nathan looked back at Chris "I hate to hafta cause him more hurt, but's got ta be done, if'n he espects to heal up." He looked down at Vin, "You wanna turn on to yer belly or sit up?'
Vin took less than a second to decide that belly down was not an option as he would feel to venerable and that would only add to the pain. "Let me sit up Nate." Already moving to rise only to find Chris still holding him down.
"You think we can do this alright with him sittin up?" Chris ignored the now slightly struggling Vin to ask Nathan. Not willing to let Vin do anything without an OK first.
"Yeah, Chris he'll be fine, an I think it's causen him more hurt you holdin' him down like that." He pointedly looked down at Vin and then to the gunslinger's press of shoulder and wrist to keep the tracker still.
Vin took the opportunity to take his unrestrained hand and grab Chris's forearm to start trying to forcibly remove the other mans hands.
"Stop it damit the both of you." Nathan yelled as he viewed what looked to be on it's way to an all out fight with Vin trying to get up with everything in him and Chris just as determined he was not going anywhere. "This ain't helpin t'all."
Chris and Vin both stopped all movement as much due to what was said but more based on the tone it was delivered in. Neither ever remembering Nathan yelling so loudly before.
"Alright, Alright. I'll let go when you let go." The gunslinger said as he looked down at his friend.
Vin being in pain was not in the mind nor mood for a negotiation, "get the fuck off me Larabee fore you make me do somethin you'll regret!"
Nathan leaned in over Vin to make sure his presence was known " How bout I knock the two of ya in the head an leave ya here to take care of each other come mornin?"
Chris realized at that point that he was not helping and only making things worse. His worry translated in to control and anger most times and he could not help that nor would he apologize for it either. So his answer was to let go of Vin, shaking Vin's hand off his arm, taking a step back and put his hands on his hips.
Vin's response was a little slower in coming as he was tired, hungry, thirsty, in pain and just wanted this over with so he could get out of here and take care of those things. So he sat up slowly, moving his legs to the side and stood up. A little shaky at first but gaining his legs, he walked over and took one of the chairs by the table, flipped it around and sat down facing the back. He then threw Chris a smug look that said, "don't need you fussin over me I can take care of myself" and then a look to Nathan that said, "Lets get it done."
Nathan just grabbed the stuff he would need and went over to the tracker shaking his head and he went. "Alright then"
Both men in the room with the tracker noticed the scars that stood out as Nathan repositioned himself behind Vin. Bullet wounds, arrows, knife wounds and what looked to Nathan to be some light thin marks that could have been from a whip but did not look at all like the ones that he himself carried. The front was no better and although he had seen the front of Vin, he just now realized that he had never seen the back of him and took a moment to wonder at that as many times as he had fixed this boy up in the past several months. Never at the bath house the same time, as the rest, but he knew Vin to be a very private man so that was not unusual.
Oh well not time to dwell on it now, he wanted to get this done and find out what happened same as Chris. He threw a look to the gunslinger that by all accounts was leaning casually against the door, but upon closer inspection he and Vin were locked eye to eye and seemed to be having a private battle. In truth Chris was hoping to keep Vin focused on his earlier anger long enough to let Nathan do his job as it seemed that Vin did not care for any hands being laid on him even in helping heal. He too noticed all the scars but would never bring them up, as he understood that a man had a right to his past and to keep it private if he wished. So he just stood there and let the tracker know with his eyes that he was not getting out the door without some explanation. Chris had a responsibility to this town and the other men who rode with them, and he needed to know if there was trouble coming up their ass.
Nathan also noticed the slight curve to Vin's spine, and wondered if it caused him any pain. Sure would explain the posture and now helped him understand it. Sure would like to see if he could help but knew that it would not be asked for nor would be appreciated if forced. So he let it go and pressed the Carbolic soaked dressing to the exit wound and was grateful that the tracker was able to stay seated. Looking over Vin's shoulder he found that his hands had a white knuckled grip on the chair and his head had dropped down chin almost touching his chest and his breathing was fast.
After the dressing's were applied and Vin put his coat on without his shirt, he turned to Nathan extending his hand, "thanks Nate" The healer took a firm grip of that same hand and bent his head to catch the other mans eye "Yer welcome Vin, an you come talk to me if'n anything is causen ya pain. I'd like ta help, if'n I can, you hear." Vin nodded his head in response and turned to the door.
Chris was still blocking the door and moved out from it just an bit and said "Now we're gonna talk, or should I say your gonna talk, and then you go get some rest."
Vin did not have it in him to fight Chris to get out of the clinic. He was bone weary and although part of him was ashamed that he might have brought more trouble to the boys with this bounty and thought he should take care of this himself. Another part just wanted to let them know what was going on, knowing that they — all of them — would watch his back. "Don't wanna go out thata way." He thought bringing his right hand up to close about his exposed throat. He looked up quick at Chris and saw the dawn of understanding on the older mans face.
"Can't do it alone, Vin. Not gonna happen. You got me an the boys now to watch your back. If your all fired sure you are gonna leave the clinic tonite and Nate says its ok." He held up his hand to stop the argument on Vin's lips before it started "then lets get you something to eat, a bath and a bed. Then we'll talk in the mornin"
It would take some getting use to, having other people try to tell him what to do and where to do it and when to do it, but he understood the intention and he did ride with these men. He would give them his take on what happened today and why he thought that it happened. He might even sleep in that bed, just for tonite, til he got some of his strength back.
"Sounds good Chris."
With that the three men headed out the door.
"They don't know us, so I say we just mosey on into town, hit the saloon. Find out what is what and then we will make our plans. Hell, with Joe and Carl gone we've got less room for mistakes." Clem looked over to Jessie.
"I'm with ya Mr. Whit." Jessie said, evil smile showing some missing teeth. Hair black as a crows wing and dull brown eyes. Don't know why he never noticed the man's eyes before, dead eyes not life in them. Oh Well.
Clem just shook his head, could not believe that first Jim would leave, well maybe he could, but he just took right off after finding what they had come to believe to be Joe and Carl'ss graves. Then just yesterday when they were making plans to mosey on into Four Corners and make themselves at home and get the lay of things, Cole and Bo showed up missing this morning when he awoke. Now he was left with Jessie, but that was just fine with him. Jessie was a mean son of a bitch and that would soot this job fine.
The man in black sat back in his chair twirling a half-empty whisky glass in his hand and pondered on the conversation that took place just outside the jail a couple of nights ago.
"Vin, you ok?" JD stepped up to where the other men were and taking note of Vin without his coat on standing off from the others.
"Yep" was all the answer he got, so he just took an open spot beside Buck and settled in. He had already heard from his friend that Vin had been shot and was anxious to find out what was going on. Always felt like he was the last to know and being the Sheriff, "Should be the first to know." He thought briefly before turning his attention back to what was going on before they started without him.
The man in black leaned back against the wall of the jail and stared at the tracker waiting like the rest to hear what was going on. His demand to have Vin talk to the rest of the men about what occurred, was more from a desire to help get him to open up to them, than anything else. He had wanted him to do it this morning but could not get all the men together at the same time.
Just as he was about to prompt Vin in to talking, he felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle in warning and looked up at the same time that his palm came to rest on the gun at his hip. He saw two men passing on their way to the saloon. Green eyes met the cold eyed stare of the man dressed all in black, much like himself. "Odd" he thought briefly before dismissing them when they passed on their way.
Vin looked to Larabee to see what his reaction was to the two men, as he had an uneasy feeling at the way the tall man in black was looking at his friend. He let it go when he noticed the gunslinger did.
Vin didn't know what to say to them that would give them any more information than he had. They already knew about the bounty, so he didn't see what all the fuss was about. Specially from Larabee, not like he never got shot, as a matter of fact he could probably remember a time all of them had been hurt if he put his mind to it. And "Why the hell not?" he would take a minute and put his mind to it.
Ezra was missing a sterling opportunity at the gaming tables and did not appreciate in the least being called forth to bear witness to "Whatever" this was he thought waiving a mental hand in the air. His impatience growing by the moment when the aforementioned person was not immediately forthcoming with this font of information that they were being held captive to hear.
Buck was getting board and thinking of the multitudes of ladies missing out on his charms while he sat here with the other regulators. What the hell was Chris wanting Vin to tell them anyway? They all knew of the bounty, Nathan had told them Vin was shot but not why. Buck was patience itself as he settled back against a post and started thinking about his latest conquest, a big smile forming on his face as he tilted his head up and to the left to ponder on his next move.
Josiah was thinking of the tracker and what he knew of him and saddened to realize that was not a lot. He found himself feeling a little fatherly toward both Vin and JD. He smiled to himself as he thought about all the men and what a difference they made in his life. He looked toward the tracker and saw the other man was lost in his own thoughts.
JD was getting a little anxious at all the silence. "weren't they here to find out something very important from Vin? How could they all be so calm, it must be bad to call them all together and Vin doin the talkin, yep must be bad." He was startled when Nathan started talking, not expecting it from him as he was so focused on Vin.
"Vin? Vin? Now I've had bout as much as I can take an don't ya think it's bout time you tell us what's goin on?" He had stepped up to the tracker.
Vin pulled out of his own thoughts did not appreciate finding someone almost in his face. He moved so fast that it startled all but the gunslinger, when he dipped down and to the side coming up behind Nathan. Taking a long step back into the street and having them all in front of him now, he simply stated, "Bounty came after me, got shot, killed em, buried em." And then turned to go.
"Oh! No you don't, get your ass back here now!" The man in black came off the wall and took a threatening step toward the retreating man.
"What, Larabee, ya want me ta tell em how I shot em? What, tell em how I drug one body down the side of that hill, trailin blood behind ta burry em under rock? What?" He narrowed his eyes as he nearly shouted at the gunslinger and then turned abruptly and walked toward the livery.
"No, Vin" Gentler voice now, "No" and the man in black turned and walked toward the saloon head down. Not sure what it was that he really wanted Vin to say or do and not wanting to be in this town or with these men at this moment. Caring cost too much - hurt too much and he damb well did not want it or need it.
The remaining men looked from one retreating back to the other. One to the haven of the saloon and a bottle and the other to the wide-open spaces.
"What the hell just happened?" Buck stood looking at the other men.
"I, for one refuse to dwell on they why's of those two individuals. Mr. Willington, might I suggest that we do what they obviously do so well and mind our own business?" with that the gambler tugged sharply at his vest, tipped his head at the other men and headed to the saloon.
Josiah clapped a hand on the healer's shoulder " Care to join me in a drink?"
Nathan sent a smile and a nod of his head in agreement and walked off toward the saloon.
Buck started to follow, but felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to look at JD. Raising his eyebrows in question.
"Did I miss somethin, Buck? What just happened here?" Stated with obvious confusion.
Buck put his hand up and gripped the back of the young sheriff's neck and gave an affectionate tug. "Well, JD. It's kinda hard to explain, but you see, Chris is a hard man. Don't let much get close since his family an all."
"I know Buck" he interrupted.
Buck released an long sigh "JD, you gotta understand that men like them don't always do things that make sense. Vin got hurt." And he looked at the Kid as if that explained it all.
Still puzzled and trying to work this out in his own mind, "Chris was worried? Right?"
A smile and a pull toward the saloon "Yer getting it Kid one little bit at a time." And knocked the funny hat off the kids head in the middle of the street.
Vin was coming out of the livery leading Peso when he heard JD fussing at Buck. It brought a smile to his face but them was quickly replaced by a frown when his site came to rest on the gunslinger coming threw the batwing doors, and dammed if he wasn't headed right in his direction. "Fuck" can his day get any worse.
The man in black stepped directly into the path of the tracker and his horse. "I want you in town for the next few days." Said simply and not as a request and then he turned to leave before finding out if his command would be obeyed.
The tracker was on the verge of getting on the horse and riding out when he heard a noise coming from the alley to his right.
Trailing Peso's rains over the hitching rail, he pulled out his sawed off. Stepping up to the front of the building, tipping his hat back so as not to give him away and got ready to take a look around the side, he was stopped by what sounded like a muffled scream and sounds of struggling.
Forgetting caution for a moment, he came around the corner brining his gun up and yelled "Hold it right there, mister!" He could see a man pressed up against what looked to be a woman but was hard to see much of anything with it being so dark. He was also feeling a sharp pain in his left shoulder from his wound but was not going to let that distract him if someone was in trouble.
"Both of ya move this a way, real slow" He moved to the middle of the alley still holding his mares leg steady on. "Mister, don't think ya got no business here. Me 'n the whore here was jus' havin a lil fun. Weren't that right darlin?" the dark haired stranger turned a wholly evil look on the women with him daring her to deny what he said.
"That's right, Vin. " he could see it was one of the saloon girls speaking as they came closer toward the light of the fire burning in the street and that she was shaking and would not look at him. He found this odd, as she was bold enough to make him blush whenever he was around her.
As they came out, Vin could see the man with her was toting a worn duel rig. As he took note of the direction of tracker's gaze his hands drifted down at the same time and they both startled at the intruding female voice. "There you are, Vin. I was worried when you didn't show up."
The tracker did not take his eyes off the man in front of him as he responded. "Recon I jus forgot Miss Mary, could maybe we do this nother time?" As he was speaking he moved to stand directly in front of Mary Travis blocking the suddenly interested view of the man in the alley.
Mary just now realizing that this was not the best time for her to be distracting Vin responded " Well, tomorrow then." Both a question and a statement and putting a hand to her throat to settle the sudden beating of her heart she turned to go. Headed toward the saloon and Chris Larabee.
"Best get on home now." said again without changing the direction of his gaze and he silently cussed himself for forgetting he was to meet her tonight to start his study lessons again.
The saloon girl had taken the distraction of the two men as an opportunity to slip off.
The gunslinger came to his feet so fast the chair flew back against the wall. Before the woman could finish her sentence, he was already headed toward the batwing doors and the remainder of the seven were at his back. She had run here and rushed right up to the regulator with an urgent plea to get to the alley beside the livery cause Vin was in trouble.
He came through the door and came flush against none other than Mary Travis. Grabbing her by the elbows to steady her and her arms went flat on his chest. She only could stare into his eyes for a moment before they both started to speak at the same time.
"Vin... "
"Gotta run..."
"What?"
"What?"
Chris stepped back from Mary and inclined his head to allow her to go first, impatience driving at him to get to Vin.
"Mr. Larabee, I think Mr. Tanner is in..." not completing her sentence as he moved past her in a rush.
Mary was still savoring the feeling of being in his arms, well "Somewhat" as she moved off toward where there appeared to be crowd gathered.
Another man dressed in black came to his feet. Not hearing what was said but knowing that he had seen Jessie not 30 minutes ago with that particular saloon girl as he had her by the elbow and was headed outside. So he followed the rest of the men out as well.
Chris came to a sudden stop seeing Vin and another man facing each other. The other man being one of the two he had seen earlier this evening head into the saloon. His hand rested on his gun as he scanned the area looking for the other man, knowing that Vin could handle this one if it came to it.
Finding the man coming to a stop not two feet from him and again meeting a cold gray eyed stare. This time not dismissing it but feeling like it was directed at him personally. But he did not have time for anything but watching his friend's back.
"Ya gotta bring your buddies to back you up, boy!" Spit out with hateful intent. Jessie was not pleased to have his pleasure interrupted and by this piece of trash in front of him. Why not just take care of him quick and then Mr. Whitt won't have to worry none.
"Jessie" Clem Whitt was NOT going to have his plans ruined by this idiot, so he decided he had better step in fast before Jessie could do something stupid.
"Sorry, my friend here has had too much to drink. Let me to take him to his room and there won't be anymore trouble here tonight." He stepped between the two men and looked Jessie in the eye and hissed under his breath. "Get your ass outa here now." Then turned to send a false little smile to the tracker but his eyes shifted of their own accord to the gunslinger.
Once the other two men were away, Vin holstered his gun and turned to find, not only the other six regulators but Mary Travis and a several other people there as well. He ignored them and took Peso's rains and headed to the livery. He was not staying because Chris told him to, no he was staying because he'd felt something when that other man stepped in-between him and the man from the alley. He did not like the look that man cast to one of the people behind him, and meant to find out which one. He was not going to go off and leave the town and the other men here.
"I anin't goin anywhere but uptop the Church to keep an eye on things, you alright with that?" Said to the gunslinger he knew was at his back as he untacked Peso.
Chris was not surprised that Vin knew he was there, "Can a man ask what changed your mind? Cause if I ain't mistaken, you were headed out even after I told you not to." He put one boot up on the slat at his back and crossed his arms over his chest prepared to wait his friend out.
The tracker turned to the gunslinger to address him, both to look him in they eye and out of the respect he felt, "Chris, you're a good friend, an I don't take that lightly" He took a breather to continue, trying to find words to make himself understood.
"Same here" said with a small smile playing around the corners of the gunslinger's mouth. "but"
Vin looked up "But?"
"Yep, Vin I hear a but in there somewhere. But out? Is that what you are trying to say, Vin?" He leaned toward the tracker planting both feet on the ground. " You're part of this town Vin, by your own word. This bounty" he took note of the slight flinch from the younger man at the word. "This bounty is a problem but not one that we can't handle together. You hear me pard?" He dipped his head down trying to catch the other man's eyes, they could not be seen as the tracker head had tilted down so his hat would cover his face.
"Do I have to beat the shit plumb out of ya to get that through your thick head? What affects one affects us all." A moment more he stood there eye to eye and then stated firmly. " Vin, you got us at you're back, don't have to stand alone anymore. You here me, but you gotta stand still a fuckin minute so we can catch up." More than he was used to saying at one time.
Vin took the words deep and looked up at the man in black " Well, sometimes you jus' gotta knock me in the head." A grin "Preciate it Chris, you an all the boys." He dipped his head down again. "jus' don't always know how to have someone keepin watch at my back an knowin' I can trust 'em." Brief flashes of a painful past rose up in him an when he looked up at his friend a moment it was reflected in his eyes.
"A man stands alone, Vin. A friend has someone to stand with." And he turned to go but was stopped by Vin's next words.
"You recon that man in black out there got somthin' agin' you?" He was not pleased to note that his guess that it was the gunslinger the man sent his hate filled stare to was right, by the look on the other man's face.
"Don't know, Vin. Never seen him that I know of, but I did notice a couple times him lookin' at me." He turned to go again, and then threw back over his shoulder " Hey, but I got friends to watch my back." a grin and he was gone back to the saloon.
The tracker just shook his head and went out to perch atop the church for his watch.
Clem shoved Jessie up the stairs to the hotel hissing behind him in a low breath " What the fuck do you think you were doing out there? If this is how you handle yourself, then maybe I should find someone else to work with!"
Jessie was seething mad, not only at the tracker but now at this man standing beside him. How dare he talk to him like he was a kid. How dare he interfere in his business. Well he might have plans for the gunslinger but that piece of shit tracker was his. And he needed the money from his boss, so he did something he rarely ever did and bit back his instinctive reaction and said "That tracker's gonna be at the paper office tamarra nite. You wanna get 'em then?"
Clem stepped back at this piece of information. "Lets watch a couple of days. I don't want to ruin things by jumping to fast."
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