SERIES/UNIVERSE: SG-7
DISCLAIMERS: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al, SG-1 characters belong to Gekko, MGM, and Showtime. Original characters (mainly Adriana in this story, though others are mentioned) are all mine ... don't mind if you borrow them, just ask first, give them back intact and give credit where credit is due. Mindy belongs to herself and my neighbors, though she still thinks my family and I belong to her.
SPOILERS: For Mag7, all twenty-one episodes are fair game, along with my previous stories, More than Friends, A Light in the Distance, Under the Sun, Days of Yearning, Sun, Fun, and Ezra on the Run, Full Circle, Open House and Return to Innocence; also all five seasons of Stargate SG-1.
WARNING: None that I know of ... I'm not planning on having any violence or any other mayhem in this story, but you know what the boys are like. Possibly some bad language.
Just as an fyi ... this series, this universe, ignores the events of the later fifth season of Stargate SG-1. Specifically, Meridian and Revelation. Which also gets rid of Jonas Quinn in sixth season.
When he got his hands on Wilmington, he'd fucking break his neck! Who the hell did he think he was, telling Will how to treat his wife? Will could handle Charlotte just fine, he didn't need help from some space cowboy Casanova! Will was fuming even as he washed his hands. Which was probably why he never even saw the two men come into the men's room behind him.
At least until a deep voice rumbled, "Evenin,' brother ... you look a mite disgusted there." Will jumped a foot in the air and whirled around to face the two newcomers. Josiah Sanchez favored him with a toothy grin which was probably specially designed to strike fear in the hearts of men all over the world. Will hated to admit it, but in his own case, he'd have to say it was working.
"We just came on back here to have us a little talk. See, everyone else is back in there, havin' a grand ol' time ... which gives us some privacy," Wilmington replied. Will just glared at the big major, who continued, his face growing stony, "Now, I want one thing to be real clear. Charlotte didn't know anythin' was comin' when I got up on that stage. So if you get it into your teeny-tiny head ... "
"He means your lower brain, which is the one you usually think with anyhow," Sanchez offered. Will looked away from Wilmington long enough to glare at the older man, and quickly regretted it, as Wilmington was immediately in his face, and almost literally breathing down his neck.
"Let me rephrase that ... you do anythin,' and I mean anythin,' to harm your wife or your little girl, and I will find out. I will find you, and I will kick your miserable ass clear to the fucking moon, do I make myself clear?" Wilmington growled. Will tried to pull back, suddenly making the discovery that Larabee wasn't the only dangerous one in SG-7. Wilmington could be just as scary. Maybe even more so.
But that didn't mean he would allow this oversized hormone to tell him how to treat his wife! Sanchez added softly, "You may be thinkin' we ain't got the right to interfere. Maybe we don't. But we do got the right to make sure Charlotte don't pay for something that ain't her doin.' Somethin' else. You seem to think your wife has unlimited patience. She don't. And you're stretchin' it to the limit. That girl's been tryin' to get through to you all night, and you just keep pushin' her away."
"Charlotte will never leave me," Will replied smugly, "she came back when she could have left forever, and she'll come back if she leaves. She'll keep comin' back. Because she knows she can't do any better than me." Bad thing to say. Because a split second after that, he found himself up against the wall ... literally, with Buck Wilmington's flashing eyes only inches from his own.
"Now you listen to me, you smug son of a bitch! I'm tellin' ya right now. You take her for granted, and next time, she'll leave for good! That woman has been carryin' the load of your bullshit, your little girl bein' sick, and the baggage of your first little girl's death, too. Yeah, asshole ... you think it hasn't scared her? Wondering if she might lose this baby, too? And instead of bein' at her side, where you belong ... you've been god only knows where! Now, that lady is my little sister's friend ... that makes her my concern. And Charlotte's a real nice lady, but she ain't a saint. She's a human being. And if she can't get what she needs from you, she will go somewhere else ... you'll lose her for good this time, and you'll lose your little girl. Again," Wilmington fired back.
"Now ... if you think you can scare her into staying? Say, by threatening to take Tansy away from her? You should know ... we ain't gonna let that happen. So, either you straighten up and fly right, do right by your wife ... or suffer the consequences. And you start by takin' her home tonight, carryin' her inside the house, so she don't put any more weight on that bad ankle of hers. You know the one? The one she broke because of your stupidity?" Sanchez added.
Well, it would be kinda difficult to forget, since someone was shovin' Will's face in it every five minutes, but really, how was he supposed to know that it would trigger a damn rockslide? That wasn't his fault! Somewhere in the back of Will's mind, the part of him that was capable of thinking like a grown man, instead of a whining child, he knew he had been stupid ... but he was also proud.
But wasn't that how he got into this mess? How he almost lost Charlotte twice now? Because he was too damn proud? Because he wouldn't ask help, to protect his wife and daughter? Because he couldn't accept that maybe, just maybe, Allison's death was nobody's fault? But as had been the case from the first time he laid eyes on Vin Tanner and realized this was a dangerous man, Will refused to see what his eyes ... what his very soul ... was telling him.
Instead, he lashed out, retorting, "You know, you're just as bad as your sister! For years, she kept trying to tell me how to talk to my wife! She had no idea what went on in a relationship, she had no idea of how the world worked!" Big mistake. Buck Wilmington's dark blue eyes glazed over with a mixture of shock and fury ... right before he slammed Will into the wall a second time.
"She knew a helluva lot more than you did, jackass. Even before she and Charlotte became friends, she saw what you were doing to your marriage. She was trying to protect you, you asshole! Trying to protect you from your own stupidity. And then, she actually got to know Charlotte and ... that's it, isn't it? It isn't just Vin. It's anyone who reaches out to Charlotte who scares you ... anyone who diverts her attention from you is a threat. Whether it's me, my sister, Vin ... that's it," Wilmington repeated, nodding.
"Makes sense ... Adriana and Vin aren't a threat, in the way we think of it. But because she has them to lean on, Charlotte negates some of her husband's control on her. They don't threaten the marriage or the relationship ... they threaten his control," Sanchez put in, his blue-gray eyes narrowing. Will just looked from one man to the other, breathless. No. No, that couldn't be right.
It couldn't be, because it made him sound like a goddamn control freak! Sanchez continued, as if Will wasn't even there, "It does make sense. He's still struggling with the death of their older daughter ... and since that was something he couldn't control, he takes control over what he can. Their younger daughter, Charlotte herself ... and he runs away from what he can't control. Tansy getting sick."
First they called him a control freak, now he was a coward. Will had enough, and he growled, "You wanna talk about control, Wilmington? Then you start keeping better control of your sister and that long-haired bastard. You keep them away from my wife and daughter, away from my marriage. Because so help me god, if either of them interfere again ... " He never finished the sentence. He couldn't. He couldn't even breathe as Wilmington pressed his forearm over his throat.
"Now you listen to me, you bastard ... you just crossed the line. No one, but no one, threatens my little sister, or my little brother. You understand? No one! Much less some miserable son of a bitch who thinks the world is supposed to revolve around him. For some unknown reason, there's still a part of my sister that's fond of you ... that's why she keeps trying to get you to wake up and smell the coffee, before you drive Charlotte away. But you know something? You're right. She should stay out of it. She should just be a friend to Charlotte, concentrate on her work and her man," Wilmington snarled.
She should just be a friend to Charlotte, concentrate on her work and her man. Concentrate on her man. For some reason, that kept repeating in Will's mind, over and over. If Wilmington planned to say anything more, Will would never know, because a strong voice filtered into the men's bathroom. What was the name of that song? The singer was Clint Black, he remembered that, and it was from the 'Maverick' soundtrack. Charlotte loved Westerns, and insisted on dragging him to that damn movie.
The song attracted the attention of his two ... companions. More to the point, the singer. Josiah Sanchez said softly, "Buck ... that's Nathan. Nathan's singing!" Wilmington looked away from Will, his dark blue eyes widening with surprise.
"I'll be damned," he breathed, "you're right, Josiah! I know that song. I hear Charlotte playing it on her CD player when she's working. She's just like DeeDee in that respect ... gotta have music playing to get some work done. 'A Good Run of Bad Luck,' isn't it?" Yeah, that was the name of it. Will could never remember the name. He didn't like country music. His wife liked all music. Almost all, at least.
"Yeah ... let's go. Moral support is always good," Sanchez intoned. He looked closely at Will, saying very quietly, "Understand me, and understand me well. You harm Vin or his lady, and you'll answer to me. After Buck and Chris are finished with you." Assuming there was anything left of Will after those two were finished with him. Will wasn't stupid enough to think Larabee would be any easier on him than Wilmington if he harmed Larabee's kid brother.
Wilmington, for his own part, started to follow Sanchez from the men's room ... but before he reached the door, he turned and his fist connected with Will's jaw. The archaeologist ended up on his ass, staring up at the big major, who hissed, "That was a warning ... and a payback. I never did return the favor when you went after Vin right before the wagon train. You touch him or my sister, and I'll do a helluva lot worse. And that is a promise." With that, Wilmington stalked out of the men's room behind Sanchez, leaving Will to stare after him in shock.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: "A Good Run of Bad Luck," was written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas ... and doesn't it just have Ezra written all over it?
After Josiah and Buck went to the men's' room to have their little talk with Will, Vin turned his attention back to the booth. There was nothing he could do about them, and honestly, he thought their mission was a good idea. He didn't trust Will not to take the kiss out on Charlotte. He didn't understand that man. He acted as if his marriage was a game. He acted as he had when Vin first met the couple, eight years earlier.
Instead of worrying about that ... now, what had Liam O'Shea called him? Oh yeah ... nine fingered shitehawk (Vin wasn't sure what the exact translation was, but it sounded like a good description of Will). Instead of wondering about him, Vin turned his attention to the conversation and to the sensation of having his lady curled against him. Vin was quite aware that his lady was, in her own unique way, seducing him. She didn't seduce in the same way her brother did, but then, she wouldn't. She had a very different personality from her brother, and very different experiences. Vin had decided he kinda liked Drina's seduction style. Ok ... he liked it a lot. And not for the first time, he wondered what it would be like ... to wake up beside her.
She wasn't quite ready for that, he thought...or maybe she was.
Maybe she was trying to tell him that she was ready for them to take the next step. That would make sense ... but he was too wary. His lady had been hurt too many times before. He didn't want to misread the messages she was sending out to him. He didn't want to do the wrong thing. Maybe he was, as Ezra said, waitin' for an engraved invitation, but it was better than the alternative.
That decision could wait until later. For whatever signals she was sending out, if it came to it, Adriana would tell him outright. Ask him to track a human or an animal, and he was fine. Ask him to guide a group of scientists to their new home on a new planet, and he could do that. But where human emotions were concerned, especially his own, and Vin often found himself fumbling. 'Sides. Where was it written that he had to make the first move? Vin kinda liked the idea of being seduced.
Vin turned his attention to the current conversation, and had to shake his head at the ladies. His aunt, Maude, Mary, his lady ... them three were somethin' else. He figured it could be worse, though. Just imagine what the conversation would be like with Carly or Charlotte over here. The conversation centered on the decision reached by the ladies at the booth, to start playing matchmaker for Liam O'Shea. Major Paul Davis wasn't around enough for the ladies to play matchmaker for him, and Liam was.
And just what was it with women trying to matchmake? Vin got his answer, in a roundabout way, when his aunt observed in response to a question from Chris, "Well, darlin,' it's like this. I've met some of the girls who seem attracted to Liam. They're not good for him. And we're not directly setting him up ... just planning to invite girls we know who would be good for him to a picnic or something, so he can choose for himself."
Mary added, nodding, "That's exactly right. Let's face it, there are a lot of gals out there. We just want to make sure Liam has the pick of the crop. He's a nice man, nothing like that brother of his, and this is our way of looking out for him." What scared Vin wasn't the idea of his lady, his aunt, and Mary putting their heads together ... it was how much sense Mary's last sentence made.
Chris observed with a faint smile, "And the fact that Priscilla Meadows, rest her soul, did a fair amount of matchmaking in your own life, Adriana, has nothing to do with it?" Vin glanced at his lady, who responded with an innocent 'who, me?' look which fooled absolutely no one. Chris chuckled, saying, "That's what I thought. Chanu mentioned a conversation he had with her ... she told him that she decided early on that you and Vin would be good for each other."
He paused, grinned, then added, "I don't know if I should be pleased by her ability to judge character, or worried that someone else could read my brother as well as I can." Vin glared at his older brother, who continued with a grin, "Then I remember how well she took care of these two, and decide just to be grateful." Vin looked at Drina, who returned the gaze, then on cue, the pair looked back at Chris and stuck their tongues out at him.
"Now, now, children ... that's no place to be putting your tongues!" Mary chided. It took Vin a moment to realize her double-entendre, and when he did, he groaned, closing his eyes and shaking his head. Mary just laughed and Vin felt his face turning bright red. She added, "Good, I'm glad to see I didn't have to say anything more! I always knew you were smart, Vin ... just wanted to make sure you were on the right page."
"Right page and right line," Aunt Jo chimed in as Vin opened his eyes once more. The guide just glared at her, and Aunt Jo continued, glancing over at Maude, "My poor nephew thinks one of his glares can scare me. If Chris can't scare me with his glare, does Vin really think one of his glares can do any better?" Her brown eyes twinkled with laughter, and any attempts Vin might have made to answer vanished when Adriana put her hand on his thigh.
Okay ... that was kind of hard to misinterpret! He almost inhaled his beer, catching his breath at the way his body reacted. Nathan looked at him in amusement, and Rain said softly, "Having some trouble breathing, Vin?" The guide felt his face turn bright red with embarrassment and ... something else. Which he really didn't want to think about. Rain continued, evidently deciding to cut Vin some slack, "Nathan, you haven't sung tonight."
"Haven't decided what I want to sing, yet ... we got another few hours left," Nathan answered. Beside Vin, Drina perked up and Vin glanced at his lady. What was she up to? On second thought, maybe it was best not to ask. Nathan looked at her almost indulgently, asking, "Ya got some ideas?" Drina nodded and leaned over to whisper something to him. Nathan's dark eyes narrowed, then he grinned and nodded. What the hell? Nathan said, "Reckon that'll do just fine."
The pair looked toward Ezra with evil grins pasted on both faces. The Southerner looked at them nervously, asking, "What? What just happened there?" He looked at Maude, who looked just as confused. Then again, whatever Nathan and Drina cooked up 'tween the two of em, would probably be worth it, just to see that expression on Maude's face. Wasn't every day he saw her look confused. It was sorta the same as Ezra's 'what just happened there' look.
"Oh ... nothin,' Ezra ... nothin' at all," Nathan replied with an innocent smile which fooled no one. First it was the evil grins, now it was the innocent smiles which seemed to be going around. Nathan formally lifted Adriana's hand from the table (the one that wasn't resting on Vin's thigh) and kissed it, saying, "That's perfect. If y'all will excuse me, I have a request to fulfill." Nate winked at both Drina and Rain, then there was a mini-exodus from the booth as the others slipped out to allow Nathan to leave.
There was a break, and as so often happened, people looked around each other nervously, as if trying to force each other into going next. But Nathan strode up to the stage, and Vin saw expressions of relief cross several faces. Whew, saved this time! Still, Vin couldn't blame them. As much as he hated being in front of crowds, he couldn't blame them at all. As Buck had, Nathan snapped up the microphone, and Aunt Jo said softly, "Should someone go to the men's room and retrieve Buck and Josiah? I have a feeling they'll want to see whatever's about to happen."
"Naw ... I'm sure they're having entirely too much fun laying down the law for the male Dr. Richmond ... or, as Drina calls him, 'the prize pain.' Can't argue with that," Mary answered cheerfully. Vin raised his brows at her, and Mary continued with an evil smirk, "I know I would. I know I did earlier." Earlier? Oh. When she, Carly, and Aunt Jo were dancing to 'Too Good to be True.' Vin didn't think he would ever forget Will's expression when Buck kissed Charlotte.
Or, for that matter, Charlotte's expression when Buck pulled her upright then eased her into the booth with her husband, Carly, and Rafael. Priceless ... absolutely priceless. Though it was nothing compared to the expression on Ezra's face when Nathan said into the microphone, "This song is for my good friend, Ezra Standish. Few months back, a mutual friend loaned my friends and I a copy of her favorite movie, 'Maverick.' The song I'm about to sing comes from that movie ... and Ezra's gonna understand exactly why I chose this for him."
He gave his booth a wink and cheeky grin, then began to sing. Vin settled in the booth more comfortably, drawing Adriana's hand from his thigh to hold it tightly, with his free arm around the back of her shoulders. He tentatively rubbed his thumb along the silky skin of her upper arm. Drina shivered and looked up at him with a blinding smile. Vin swallowed hard. Okay, he definitely didn't misinterpret that!
And suddenly, the song Nathan was singing was appropriate for another reason. He listen to the lyrics intently.
A high roller even when the chips are down
To win her over, I'd seen the tables turn around
She's ten the hard way, I can feel it in my bones
She'll be makin' my day and not another night alone
'Til it's time for a windfall and not a single moment too soon
I've been too long overdue, now I'm gonna shoot the moon
You wanna talk about double entendres? Oh, there was the obvious meaning ... the one which was a gimme for Ezra. And then there was the other mean, which was equally obvious when you thought about it. What a gamble love was. Vin locked eyes with Nathan, who just smiled impishly again. The damn song was full of double meanings. Especially that last line, 'I've been too long overdue, now I'm gonna shoot the moon.'
How long had Adriana been part of his life? Eight years, with a two year hiatus, as Ezra would put it. Eight years. He had met her when they were nineteen years old, and while they were both older than most nineteen year olds when they first met, they were still children. Vin had only to think of those early arguments, to remember that, and he winced. God, had he really been that stupid? Adriana had only tried to protect him, and he lashed out at her, accusing her of being ashamed to be seen with him.
He looked at the dark-haired woman beside him, who was now wearing a faint smile as she listened to Nathan, her head bobbing in time with the music. His insecurity could have destroyed his friendship with her ... but she had proved more stubborn than that. She apologized for ever giving him reason to believe she was ashamed of her relationship with him, her friendship with him, but it wasn't her doing. It was his. Because it wasn't just a matter of insecurity ... it was his deep-seated fear that he really wasn't good enough for this smart, well-educated young girl. Not even as a friend. Much less for ... anything else. Vin thought about what Daniel said once, about how he thought they fell in love with each other in college.
Was that true? Had he fallen in love with Adriana while they were still teenagers? Had she fallen in love with him? He didn't know. It wasn't a matter of losing time. They had been comfortable in their friendship, in being more than friends and not quite lovers, because it felt right to them. Until recently, neither of them had been ready for the next step. He still wasn't sure if he was reading her right, that she was ready. But he knew he was ready.
I'd bet it all on a good run of bad luck
Seven come eleven and she could be mine
Luck be a lady, and I'm gonna find love comin' on the bottom line
There was no 'could' about it. They had declared themselves to each other, as Ezra put it. She was his, and he was hers, and he wouldn't have it any other way. He had found his love, that was the bottom line. He couldn't argue with the assertion that luck was a lady, because the luckiest day of his life was the day he found his lady. And as he looked back up at Nathan, Vin wondered if Nathan had ulterior motives in selecting this song. Well, no, because Drina suggested it. While Nathan was probably the most forthright of all of them, Vin knew he could be sneaky when he wanted.
I've been to the table, and I've lost it all before
I'm willin' and able, always comin' back for more
Squeezin' out a thin dime 'til there's no one hanging on my arm
I've gambled on a third time, a fool will tell you it's a charm
If I'm bettin' on a loser, I'm gonna have a devil to pay
But it's the only game I know to play, it doesn't matter anyway.
Yes ... that was true. That was true. How many times had he believed he had lost everything, and kept fighting ... only to find he still had so much? He didn't know any other way to be, and, looking over at Ezra, Vin could see Ezra was reacting the same way. Neither of them knew any other way to be, but still, found themselves changed by the rest of SG-7. By their newly found family.
I'd bet it all on a good run of bad luck
Seven come eleven and she could be mine
Luck be a lady, and I'm gonna find love comin' on the bottom line
I'd bet it all on a good run of bad luck
Seven come eleven and she could be mine
Luck be a lady, and I'm gonna find love comin' on the bottom line
Nathan finished as Josiah and Buck returned from the men's restroom, identical expressions of glee on their faces. That was downright scary ... what had those two done? Nathan rejoined them before either man sat down, and Josiah said, "That was a damn fine job, brother ... we listened to you from beside the stage."
Vin smiled at his friend, who was beaming. Ezra said, his voice faltering slightly, "Mr. Jackson ... thank you. But I dare say, that song wasn't meant just for me." Nathan's smile got even wider as he slid back into the booth beside Rain, and shook his head. The others took their places, and Ezra continued, his eyes sliding over to Vin, "I imagine you were sending a message to another member of our strange little family."
"Reckon ya'd be right ... but don't plan on spoilin' the surprise. Didn't realize 'til I got to singin,' that the song would be good for someone else. I hope ya find yer Lady Luck, Ezra, like I done," Nathan replied. He looked at Vin, and the guide's sense was proved correct. The question became now, what did he do about it? He looked at the young woman beside him and found her staring back at him.
The carefree atmosphere which had permeated the group ever since Karaoke Night (well, aside from when Buck kissed Charlotte in front of her fuming husband) seemed to dissipate. At least for Vin, as he gazed at his lady. There was no expectation in the dark hazel eyes ... the only expectation was in Vin's soul. But that brought no relief, because Vin didn't know what to do next.
He had never considered himself a coward ... there were times when he made the wrong decision, and he didn't consider himself particularly brave. But he didn't run from things. Unless they involved the emotional minefield which he was now walking through. What if he did the wrong thing? Nathan was right about one thing, when he was singing that song ... love was a gamble.
And not even that could quiet his nerves. He didn't notice Will Richmond returning to the booth beside his own. There was so much riding on what he decided to do about his own readiness to take the next step. He kept coming back to the same question. What if he did the wrong thing, and frightened Adriana? What if he misread the clues she was sending out, and totally misinterpreted what she was ready for?
It was two sets of eyes which calmed him ... the dark hazel eyes of his lady, which told him they could face the new step. Together. Just hold onto her, and things would take care of themselves. The other set of eyes belonged to his brother, as Chris quietly called his name. Vin tore his eyes from Drina's, to look at his older brother. There was a quiet, serene comfort there. Something Vin couldn't name, until his brother said without words, as they always had, You can trust yourself, little brother. You would no more hurt her, than she would have hurt you while you were a child.
Drina had taken care of him while he was a child. No pressure. Just simply ... she was there. She only retreated when she was faced with memories she hadn't allowed herself to face. But even then, Vin remembered, she wasn't alone. He wouldn't be alone, either, because he didn't have to be. He wasn't alone. He didn't have to face this new territory by himself ... his brother and his lady would be at his side. As they always were.
With that settled, Vin turned his attention to teasing Buck and Josiah, asking, "So, what exactly took y'all so long? I was startin' to wonder about ya, tryin' to figger out just what the hell ya done." There was a growl behind him, followed by a yelp. And Vin would have puzzled that one out as well, but he happened to see his lady's free hand reach over the back of her shoulder to swat Will upside the head.
Josiah gave him a toothy grin, the kind of grin Josiah always produced when he was feeling particularly devilish, and replied, "Why, brother Vin, what makes you think we done anything we shouldn't have?" Vin just looked at the man who had become like a father to him, who would likely end up making his aunt Jo very happy (he better make her happy, or Vin would kill him), and Josiah added, "We just ... showed him the error of his ways, that's all, son."
"With some help from somebody's right hook, I saw," Chris observed, winking at Vin. The sharpshooter raised an eyebrow at his brother, and Chris continued in a voice just loud enough for Will, Charlotte, Rafael, and Carly to hear, "Yeah, that was one helluva bruise I saw on his jaw, Buck, but I couldn't be sure if you hit him ... or Josiah ... or maybe the lady Dr. Richmond."
"Choose a number, get in line, half of the SGC wants to kick his ass," Drina fired back. There was another rude remark from behind them, and again, Drina's hand swiped at Will. She added with a contemptuous look over her shoulder, "Ignore him for the rest of the night. We've had such a great time tonight. I don't want that nine-fingered shitehawk to ruin what's left of it."
"Which reminds me ... whose turn is it to sing?" Chris asked, turning the conversation back away from Richmond. He stared pointedly at Vin, who was already shaking his head. Chris continued, "Oh, come on! I've sang, Drina and Mary have sung, Buck, Josiah, Ezra, even Nathan. It's only fair. You should sing something, too, little brother." And Vin just kept shaking his head.
Someone totally unexpected saved him, saying softly, "I'll do it. I wasn't gonna sing tonight, because they wouldn't have the song that's been repeating in my head. But free style is something else." Vin looked over his shoulder at his twin sister, who was leaving her booth. She smiled as she stood, and said, "This song is for ... everyone. For anyone. For everyone. For you and Chris ... you'll understand when you hear it." With that, she made her way up to the stage. Chris and Vin exchanged a look ... what the hell did she mean by that???
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Over the weekend, I went to the Celtic Festival, a yearly event in my area for the last seven years. Being the sucker I am for King Arthur and Avalon, my eye was drawn by a CD by a group called 'Avalon Rising.' I was glad it was, because on that debut CD, I found the following song, which had Chris and Vin written all over it. 'Reborn' was written by Pete Gascoyne (one of the lead singers of Avalon Rising).
Lord and Lady ... what was she thinking? And wasn't that an indicator, of just how worried she was? Using one of Adriana's phrases, when Carly was Christian and Adriana was pagan. Still, Carly knew her decision made more sense. Out of the twins, she was the more outgoing, the one better able to get up in front of a crowd and sing. That didn't stop her from shaking inside as she approached Inez, who was currently behind the bar.
The owner of the saloon had put her niece to bed upstairs in her apartment several hours earlier, and turned on her pager. Inez explained to Carly, and the rest of their booth, that her pager was linked to the monitor in Toria's room ... if her niece needed her, the pager would buzz. The young woman smiled as Carly approached, asking, "Hola, Carolina ... is there something I can do for you?"
Carly smiled ... she liked how Inez used the Spanish version of her name. In some ways, it reminded her of Adriana calling Charlotte 'Carlota.' Inez never called Mary 'Maria,' for reasons she didn't explain. Maybe because Mary liked her name as it was, and Carly liked it when Inez called her ' Carolina,' Carly didn't know. She asked, "Mind if I borrow your guitar? I know you don't have this on your karaoke machine."
"Claro ... but I didn't realize you could play la guitara. You are full of surprises, just like your twin. Both of your brothers, I should say," Inez replied as she handed over the guitar. Carly didn't insult the woman by asking if it was tuned. She knew better ... Inez took care of everything and everyone within her little realm. That included her guitar, a present from Ezra on her last birthday. Instead, Carly thanked the other woman with a smile and walked to the stage. The brief conversation with Inez had served to calm her nerves. A little. Yes, it was definitely a GOOD thing that she was up here, instead of her twin brother.
She walked up onto the stage and picked up a stool sitting just off stage, all too aware of the eyes now on her. Carly knew she was pretty. She came from a good gene pool, in terms of looks ... her two brothers were both very handsome men, and Lacey was showing the promise of turning into a beautiful young women. Carly was used to stares. But this was the first time she had ever done anything like this. Karaoke was one thing ... but this was more personal.
Ever since she heard this song on Sam Carter's CD player, it had haunted Carly. For some reason ... maybe because of their silent communication ... it just screamed her brothers. She settled herself on the stool, adjusted the microphone, then said, "This is 'Reborn,' by a Celtic rock group based out of San Francisco, called 'Avalon Rising.' I heard this for the first time a few weeks ago, during a family crisis, and haven't been able to get it out of my head since. This is primarily for my two brothers ... but I think everyone can relate to it ... or would like to."
She swung her long blonde hair over her shoulder, strummed the guitar, then began to sing, staring at her brothers and the rest of that booth all the while,
When I was younger, 'bout a thousand years ago
I was a tiger and a warrior of the snow
Once born a creature that I hardly could describe
My lives were many and so many times I've died.
The wonders that I've seen
are fodder for a thousand dreams
I've touched so many lives
and changed the course of so many tides
You seem familiar, I've seen your soul before
Our first encounter, twenty-one or fifty-four.
That was the hook for Carly ... that second line of the song. You seem familiar, I've seen your soul before ... our first encounter, twenty-one or fifty-four. That screamed her two brothers at her, every time she remembered the story of the first time they met. By now, it had been repeated so often, it was considered passe by the others, but it never failed to send a thrill through Carly. And even in the one lifetime each of her brothers had lived (she wasn't sure if she believed in reincarnation, but that wasn't the point), they had each touched many lives ... and changed the course of still others.
I've traveled over space and over time
I've lived in bodies that didn't feel like mine
I've been on planets encircling distant suns
Magical landscapes where life had just begun.
Carly looked at her family, all gathered in one booth. There were some missing ... Billy, Mindy, and Lacey, still at the ranch. Grandpa ... Jessica. But it seemed to Carly that everyone who mattered to her was sitting right there. And then there was the evil one, as she and Charlotte had taken to calling Adriana. People only thought she was innocent. HA! They didn't see the evil smile now decorating her face. Just you wait ... you'll get yours, Carly told her old friend.
Our paths have crossed before
A distant world, a foreign shore
We've shared a time and place
And occupied a common space
You feel familiar, I've shared your soul before
We've been connected, I want to know you more.
Here, she switched her gaze to her brothers' faces once more, because looking at Adriana's broad grin was starting to hurt Carly's face. Chris was staring at her, his mouth hanging slightly agape, and Mary was too entranced in the song to close it for him. And Vin looked absolutely ... the best Carly could do, to describe his expression, was 'wonderment.' That created a warm rush through her body, and she knew she had been right to choose this song ... or, had it chosen her?
Surely time kept us apart
Though you're remained inside my heart
Four hundred years in solitude,
yet each day held something new.
No matter what happened, Carly knew that her brothers would remain inside each others hearts. They would have, no matter what their blood connection. It took her breath away, that bond between her brothers, and she found herself envying them that connection. She never felt that sort of bond with anyone in her life ... no one except Vin, and he had bonds of a similar nature with Adriana and Chris.
We've been alone so many times and still we've gotten through
I'd gladly be reborn each time anew
If I could spend eternity with you.
And so my story doesn't seem to have an end
we are both riders on a journey here and then
If we are lucky, our lives will touch again,
You, my companion, are my close and dearest friend.
Yes ... yes, that was right. Chris and Vin were each other's close and dearest friends. And yet, they hadn't shut the others out. Carly blinked back tears as she came to that understanding. No, they hadn't shut the others out, but had expanded until everyone was included within that magic circle. And, she found, if reincarnation really did happen, she found she wanted to believe that her brothers' lives would touch again ... and that their family would remain intact throughout all of the lives to come.
The world needed men like Vin Tanner and Chris Larabee. It needed the Josiah Sanchez and Nathan Jacksons of the world. It needed all of them, for all the gifts they brought to this world or any other. And the men needed each other, needed the rest of their extended family. Carly remembered something Adriana once told her, back when they were in college, about why she never complained about doing the grunt work on the digs. She had given Carly a faint smile and said softly, "An army needs its support group ... so do archaeologists." So many years later, Carly now understood what her friend had been saying.
We'll get along just fine
in separate worlds in separate times
And we'll be born somewhere
as two souls in a body shared
You're so familiar, I've been your soul before.
We lack as separates, combined, we're so much more.
I've traveled memories to be reborn.
We lack as separates, combined, we're so much more. That was true of Vin and Chris, it was true of the Seven as a whole. It was true of them all. Or, to put it another way, the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. And God, she was so proud of them. Of her two brothers, of the men who made up the rest of the Seven. She was so proud of them all! That was why she was crying as she finished the song, and she made no attempt to wipe away her tears.
The entire bar erupted into cheers and applause as she finished, easing herself from the stool. The booth containing her family were ... oh God. They were giving her a standing ovation. All of them. Buck ... Nathan ... Josiah. Ezra. Aunt Josie, Rain, Mary, Chris, Vin, Drina. All of them standing. Except Maude, but she was smiling and applauding politely. Carly felt a smile stretch across her face as she bowed first to her family's booth, then to her own booth.
There, Charlotte was on her feet ... a bit unsteadily, but on her face, and applauding wildly. If not for her broken ankle, Carly was sure her old friend would have been bouncing up and down. As it was, she had a big ol' grin on her face. Rafael was smiling as well, his dark eyes filled with ... pride. He was proud of her. Just as her two brothers were proud of her, just as her aunt and college roommate were proud of her. Well. That
She made her way back down the stage steps, her legs shaking as she returned the guitar to Inez. The saloon owner swept her into a fierce embrace, whispering, "Muy buena, Senorita Carly ... muy buena!" 'Carolina' had given way to 'Senorita Carly,' and the biologist wasn't sure if she had been given a promotion or not. But she thanked Inez with a broad grin, then made her way back to the booths.
Chris and Vin were both out of their seats and the pair hugged her at the same time, a ferocious embrace that would have taken her breath away if she hadn't been ready for it. Fortunately, the expressions on her brothers' faces had warned her ahead of time. It had been a long time since Carly enjoyed a group hug, and she didn't even say the words to her two brothers. She just laughed and held onto them both as Mary and Adriana left their respective seats to join the ever-growing group hug. From the corner of her eye, Carly could see Charlotte removing her camera from her purse.
Enjoy it while it lasts, Carlota, Carly thought with more than a little amusement, I don't think you'll ever see members of the Magnificent Seven in a group hug! Charlotte snapped the picture, her smile growing broader by the moment. Yup, she was taking evil lessons from Miss Evil herself, Adriana. Well, there was one more song to be sung tonight, and Carly resolved to have a talk with Charlotte. She had just realized the perfect song for her twin to sing, and she would need Charlotte's help to make it happen.
Adriana wasn't the only one who could suggest fitting songs, after all. Carly knew damn good and well that she had put Buck up to singing 'Too Good to be True.' That was part of their deal, after all. He lost the bet, and Adriana chose his 'free for all' song. Then she suggested 'Good Run of Bad Luck' for Nathan. And that really was perfect for Ezra. Absolutely. But now, Carly had something up her own sleeve.
As her brothers settled her on her feet again, both green and blue eyes glowing with pride and happiness, Carly exchanged hugs with the ladies of her brothers. Once everyone who wanted to hug Carly, had, the young biologist slipped back into the booth ... beside Charlotte. She whispered, "I have the perfect song for Vin, Carlota, but I need your help to make this happen. Can you make the stage again, if you have help?"
Charlotte nodded, and Carly continued, "Great. This is the plan." She quietly outlined what she was thinking, rewarded as Charlotte's eyes grew steadily wider. At the same time her eyes were growing wider, her smile was growing more and more evil. From the corner of her eye, Carly saw Rafael and Will exchange an uneasy look. Good. If she was scaring those two, she had a better than even chance at making her plan work.
"I can do it, Carly. But we need to work out a few kinks. We have about an hour before closing time. I think Vin should be the last one to sing ... oh. Carly! That's perfect. We usually stick around after hours, to help her clean up ... if we can get him to sing, after everyone goes home, that's half the battle right there!" Charlotte whispered excitedly. Carly canted her head to one side, having no idea how much she resembled her brother in that moment ... her twin.
"You're right," she said after a moment, "Okay, that's half the battle. Now, we gotta figure out a way to get him on the stage. Oh. How does this sound?" She explained her idea to Charlotte, who nodded ... her smile getting progressively bigger. Oh, this would be so much fun! All they had to do was be patient, because Vin's Robin Hood tendencies would do the rest. Who said chivalry was dead?
Charlotte said, "I think that would work just fine. Do you think you'll be able to wait until closing time? You keep bouncing like that in your seat, and you might just give the plan away." Carly glared at the other woman, who laughed, adding, "Just making sure. Besides, I'm happy to be part of this. I've been practically hearing Vin second guess himself all night, trying to figure out if he's interpreting Adriana's signals correctly, poor thing."
Carly snorted softly, replying, "Adriana has been pretty clear in her intentions, I think, but if we have to draw him a map, so be it. Save her the aggravation of an engraved invitation." Charlotte responded with a reproving look, and Carly knew she wasn't being fair to her twin. But sheesh! Adriana knew exactly what she was doing ... why was Vin making things so damn difficult for them all?
Because that was part of what, and who, Vin Tanner was. When her little sister wasn't losing herself in old Transformers cartoons, she was dragging Carly into watching Gargoyles with her, and an oft-repeated on that cartoon held true for Carly's twin. Gargoyles protect. So did Vin Tanner. The trouble was, this time, it wasn't protection which was desired or needed. Well. Carly had a few ideas on how she would straighten out her sweet Robin Hood twin brother. Ha! She wasn't chosen as the Matchmaking Queen in high school and college for nothing!
Starting with this song. Charlotte asked softly, "And this is a song he knows?" Carly nodded, grinning evilly. Yes, she knew he knew it. She overheard him singing along with the entire song, when the CD was in the player. Charlotte said, "Well ... then all we have to do is be patient and be ready for the end of the night. In the meantime ... we work out a few more kinks?" Carly nodded, and the two women set to making their plans, careful to keep their voices low.
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