EM7 Stand Alone
The Answer is No
It Ain’t Over ‘til the Colonel Sings
By Aussie Lass
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AUTHOR NOTE:
It ain’t over 'til the Colonel sings. “No.” “But, Chris…” “No.” The colonel calmly continued to tidy his desk without looking up at his
Lieutenant. “Look, will you just give me a chance to…” “No.” There was no emotion in Larabee’s voice. It was a simple
statement. No, he wasn’t going to give Vin a chance. “Damn it, Chris. Let me…” “No.” Satisfied that everything was replaced where it should be, Chris
returned his attention to his best friend who was perched atop a set of
crutches. “No. “God, damn it, I…” “No.” Tanner’s anger and frustration reddened in his cheeks. They had been
having this ‘discussion’ for almost four hours and Larabee wouldn’t listen…
wouldn’t even let him finish! Chris smirked at his small victory. He had no intention of listening to
Vin’s reasoning on this matter for the simple reason Vin had a habit of
‘getting around him’ to coin one of Buck’s phrases. So the colonel had
decided not to give Tanner the opportunity to squirm out this… or, more
correctly, squirm his way into the mission this afternoon. “You need cover from that roof. You know it and I know it,” Vin
insisted. Chris shrugged. “So you agree!” Triumph raged from the sharpshooter’s eyes. “You need
me to cover you!” “No.” Vin threw his arms up in exasperation which caused his crutches to fall
to the floor, clipping a file on his leader’s desk and causing it to spill
onto the carpet. The colonel shook his head. “Finished?” “Chris, you need me on that roof,” Vin growled, the lines of irritation
entrenched deeply around his expressive blue eyes. “I need someone who can walk.” “No, you need someone who can…” “No,” Chris cut him off, realizing he had created the smallest of
openings for Vin. Tanner took a single hobbled step forward. Chris’ left eyebrow rose to
make his point. Vin slammed his fist down in the middle of the desk. “I’m
going.” “No,” Chris stated simply as he rose from his chair and walked around
the desk. He glanced down at Vin’s badly bruised and swollen ankle and
winced. Yesterday, when the boys had been playing a ‘friendly’ game of
basketball in the gym, Tanner and Wilmington had collided and Vin had ended
up under his larger friend. A howl of agony was ripped from the sharpshooter
that sent Buck scurrying to the side and Vin to his feet, assurances flowing
from his mouth at the speed of light. However, within minutes the ankle had
doubled in size and Nathan had diagnosed a torn ligament. Larabee picked up Tanner’s crutches, handed them to him and headed out
of the door, Vin hot on his heels. “LARABEE!” “No.” “%^^%$! Will you give me the chance to speak?!” Chris paused, sighed and shook his head. “No. Vin, no matter what you’ve
got in mind, the answer is no. You can’t walk. The answer is, and will always
be, no.” With that, Chris continued on his way toward the gymnasium to work
out. Ezra and J.D., the only other occupants of the office, watched Larabee
go and then turned their attention to Vin who was cursing quietly under his
breath. “It would appear that is the last of it, my friend.” “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings,” Tanner growled, following
Chris. “And she ain’t even warmed up yet. LARABEE, you stubborn, pigheaded,
son-of-a-bitch…” J.D. shook his head as Vin disappeared. “You reckon he has a chance of
convincing Chris this time?” Before Ezra could reply, the fat lady sang her first and last note in
the form of the Em7 Colonel’s voice – loud and clear. “Lieutenant, it’s
finished. The answer is no!” “… But, Chris…” Ezra grinned. “I do believe the opera is over.” |
This story and its artwork have been rescued. We have tried to contact the
author, but gotten no reply. Since we had permission to list her stories on
Lady Angel's M7 Library (now M7FC), and I hate to see good stories lost, we
are hosting it here for safe-keeping.