Something

By: The Immortal and Saaa

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: We don’t own them, unfortunately. But God wouldn’t it be great if we did!

Author’s Notes: Saaa would like to thank the Immortal and the Immortal would like to thank Saaa. Thanks to Mog for the wonderful ATF universe. Why does everyone call it a sandbox? What if it’s a swimming pool? Wouldn’t you rather see the seven wet than sandy? Or maybe, we could create the perfect universe and they could be at the beach. Then they would be wet AND sandy. Woohoo! Sorry, tangent. God Bless Kiddie Valentine Cards and G.I. Joe and Loony Tunes and Maverick cards and Veggietales and Disney and masking tape and scotch tape and the Bible and the Corinthians and Paul for writing to them and carrots worldwide and Styrofoam cups and mocha lattes and coffee and fruit rollups and Mirsch and Triology and MGM and TNN and Micheal and Andy and Anthony and Eric and Dale and Ron and Rick and the American Standard Calendar for noting that Feb. 14 is Valentine's Day and Cupid and the color red and the number 7 and the letter M and all the different synonyms for walking. I guess what we’re trying to say is…..Thanks

Chris strolled down the office corridor to the large room that was designated as his office. The gold letters that spelled Chris Larabee, stared back at him. He stopped for a minute and looked at them, wondering how the hell he had made it this far. He shook his head and entered the dark room.

The leader walked around to the other side of his desk and set his steaming Styrofoam cup of coffee down. After shrugging off his long black duster, the leader set down and reveled in the quiet. The office wouldn’t remain like this for long. He sighed. Sometimes his boys could get pretty rowdy. Actually, they were always rowdy. But at least it made life interesting.

Chris sighed and reached for the large manila envelope that lay on his desk. It contained the details of their newest case.  He pulled it across the desk and was surprised when something fell out and onto the floor. Curious, Chris bent down to retrieve the small rectangle of paper that had fallen.

He immediately recognized it as one of those cheap kiddie valentines. He laughed softly to himself as he carefully peeled open the back flap. Mary must’ve snuck in and dropped him a valentine from Billy. He pulled out the valentine and his quiet chuckle turned into an outright laugh. G.I. Joe adorned the valentine.

Chris turned the card over to read what Billy wrote but was utterly surprised when he recognized JD’s handwriting.

Hey Chris,
I just wanted to thank you for making me a part of the team. You don’t realize how much it means to me. I figured V-day was a good day as any to express my appreciation. Thanks.
~JD

Chris broke into a wide grin. “Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.”

Vin Tanner ambled down the office corridor to his desk. Most of the building was still dark but Vin knew Chris was already here. He was always the earliest and Vin had seen the black Dodge Ram in the parking garage. Vin smiled when he noticed that no one else was in yet. He wasn’t surprised. Nathan would probably be in next, followed closely by Josiah, then the dynamic duo and last, would be Ezra. The southerner had a natural aversion to mornings.

Vin went to his desk and immediately noticed that someone had messed with his things. He frowned. No one was here yet besides Chris, and the team leader knew better than to mess with Vin’s desk. The sharpshooter began to look around his desk to make sure nothing had been taken. It was then that he noticed the small white envelope sitting next to his computer with his name printed on the front.

Vin opened the envelope and smiled when the grinning face of Woody the cowboy greeted him. He flipped the valentine over and read the message on the back.

Hey Vin,
Thanks for everything and always being there. And thanks for not groaning at my jokes. Happy Valentine’s Day.
~JD

Vin smiled. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a roll of scotch tape. He carefully taped the Toy Story valentine to the side of his computer where everyone could see it.

Nathan meandered down the office corridor toward his desk and nodded to Vin when he passed him. The young healer shook his head when he saw Woody, the cowboy taped to Vin’s computer. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Vin.”
Vin just shot him a silly grin.

Nathan silently wondered why his friend was in such a good mood this morning. He chased the thoughts from his mind as he pulled out his chair to sit down and abruptly stopped when he saw a brown paper bag sitting on the cushion.

He shot a quizzical look to Vin who just shrugged and smiled.

Tentatively Nathan opened the bag. He reached in and pulled out a long carrot that had a Bug’s Bunny valentine taped to it. He flipped it over and read the message on the back.

What’s up doc?
Just wanted to thank you for keeping us all together. Get it? Oh and eat the carrot, it’s good for your eyesight.
~JD

Nathan laughed and set the carrot in a prominent place on his desk. He would eat it as his mid-morning snack.

Josiah sauntered down the office corridor toward his desk. He waved to Vin, who had a silly grin plastered on his face and nodded toward Nathan. He shot the carrot a look but Nathan just chuckled. Josiah silently wondered if someone had spiked the coffee again.

Josiah noticed his Bible was open on his desk and there was a white envelope sticking out of the binding. Josiah picked up the envelope and carefully opened it. It was a small cardboard valentine with Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato from the Veggietales on it. He flipped the card over and read the message on the back.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
~JD
 P.S. Not placed by the Gideons.

Josiah knew the verse well but looked in the Bible anyway.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, it is not pulled up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

“Thanks JD,” Josiah whispered.

Buck moseyed down the office corridor toward his desk. He waved and smiled to all his friends that made it to the office before him. Everyone seemed to be having a good day thus far. And his day had been going pretty well too….until he saw his computer.

A small white envelope was taped to his computer monitor. That didn’t bother him. The fact that four rolls of masking tape had been used to adhere the card in its place, did. Buck knew only three people who would do such a thing. Vin, who was sitting as his desk and looking innocent, JD who hadn’t arrived yet and the southerner who wouldn’t be arriving for another thirty minutes. He would determine the culprit after he removed all the masking tape.

Buck began to pull furiously at the tape almost ripping the monitor from its stationary position. Several minutes and a large ball of tape later, Buck managed to get the card off his monitor.

He ripped the envelope opened to reveal Pepe Lepew, lover skunk extraordinaire. He flipped the card over and read the message.

Hey Buck,
Is that animal magnetism I smell or Pew? Get it? Good Luck with the ladies tonight, big brother. Happy Valentine’s Day.
~JD
P.S. aren’t you glad it’s not scratch and sniff?

Buck threw back his head and laughed uproariously. It was a good day after all.

Ezra walked gracefully down the office corridor toward his desk. He didn’t even acknowledge his other associates. It was just too early in the morning. He set his mocha latte down on his desk and threw his briefcase onto the chair.
His sharp green eyes noticed the stack of Maverick cards that lay atop his desk. He reached down with nimble fingers and carefully picked them up. The undercover agent shuffled the deck a few times and cut to the middle to reveal the Ace of Spades.

However it wasn’t a usual Ace of Spades. It had been written on in penmenship that look suspiciously akin to that of the youngest agent.

Wow, Ez. You are attuned to the mystical Ace of Spades. I had to go through the deck four times before I found it. I was beginning to think this particular deck didn’t have one. Anywho, Happy Valentine’s Day.
~JD

Ezra broke into a wide grin that showed his gold tooth. He lifted his gaze and met Vin’s blue eyes from across the room. His grin grew and he showed the card to the sharpshooter. Vin pointed to the side of his computer and smiled. Nathan lifted his carrot, Josiah pointed to the open Bible, Chris yelled from his office. “I got one!” and Buck proudly showed off his gigantic wad of tape.

“Well, I’m glad to see that you smuggled out Epcot but the rest of us got Valentines.”

Buck threw the ball at the southerner. He caught it with ease and then turned and threw it at the sharpshooter. Chris saw if fly by his office door.

“Yep. A typical day”, he muttered.

Vin dodged the wad easily and picked it up from the floor. He sidearmed the tape to it’s original owner but only managed to nail the entering JD in the head.

JD picked his cap up off the floor and grinned. “So, I take you liked them?” he asked.

A collective, “Thanks kid,” was heard.

“JD! Come in here!” Chris yelled. The youngest ATF member quickly walked into his boss’s office.

“I swear, I put yours in the envelope? Did you not find it?” JD frantically tried to explain to Chris.

Chris shook his head. “No, JD. I found it. Thanks.”

JD looked confused. “Then why…”

“I know you were having a hard time finding something for Casey,” Chris interrupted. “So, I got you a little something to give her. Don’t feel obligated. I just thought you might want it.” Chris said as he handed JD an expensive box of chocolates.

“Gee, Thanks Chris.”

The other five men walked into Chris’s office.

“We got you some things to give to her too.” Nathan added as he handed JD a bouquet of wildflowers.

“Yeah, figured she wouldn’t want Buzz Lightyear,” Vin joked as he handed JD a book of poetry.

Josiah handed JD a bottle of perfume. “Smells a little better than animal magnetism in my opinion.”

Buck put on a face of mock hurt. “I don’t smell.”

“Yes and that is exactly why Mr. Dunne thought a card with Pepe LePew adorning it was appropriate for you.” Ezra commented as he presented JD with a very expensive bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.

“Wow thanks guys. I really appreciate it.”

Buck wiggled his eyebrows. “Ah, you guys took the mushy route. This is Valentine’s Day.” He scolded as he gave JD a box. “Hey, Marvin Gaye rhymes with Valentine’s Day. And to quote him, ‘Let’s get it on.’”

The other six men looked at Buck with a knowing grin while JD stared at him with a confused expression upon his face. He tentatively opened the box and picked up the item.

“What is…OH MY GOD!” he yelled.

The other men broke out into laughter. “Ms. Wells just learned how to get the plastic off the back of a fruit rollup, I don’t think she will appreciate the delectable lingerie.”

“Edible underwear, Buck?” Chris asked disgusted. “I can’t believe we let JD live with you.”

Nathan smiled and blushed. “Rain liked hers.”

Josiah slapped Nathan hard on the back. “Right on, brother.”

Nathan sheepishly grinned. “Was that out loud? I have to work on my inner dialogue.”

Buck smile grew. “Well, JD can use it if he wants. And if doesn’t, he can give it back because I’m sure I’ll run out before the night is over.”

The quiet sharpshooter chuckled. “Or he can give them to Nathan.”

Everyone laughed at Vin’s comment.

“Ok, we get the point,” Chris broke the moment of levity. “We all love each other, yada yada yada, let’s get some work done.”

Ezra saluted. “Go Joe!”

“Yeah, yeah, Happy Valentines to you too Ezra.” Chris laughed.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” they all chorused in unison.

THE END!
(aren't you glad?)