THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

AU: ATF UNIVERSE

FIRESTORM OF THE HEART

CHAPTER 1

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and there is no profit expected. The Magnificent Seven belong to Mirsch, CBS, MGM and Trilogy. No copyright infringement is intended.

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Language, Violence, Adult Situations

NOTES: I have written three complete TMS fanfics set in the old west and have a fourth in progress. This is my first attempt at a TMS AU ATF fanfic.

Summary: A new woman enters Chris Larabee's life and, for the first time since losing his wife and son, he feels he may just be ready to love again. All the usual folks are present plus some new faces.

(ATF Team Leader Chris Larabee and his Second-In-Command Vin Tanner are in Chris' office discussing one of the several open cases assigned to their team when the rather loud and boisterous entrance of J.D. Dunn, the team's computer hacker extraordinaire, into the outer office gets their attention. Exchanging a long-suffering look, Chris and Vin step out of Chris' office and listen, along with Buck Wilmington, Ezra Standish, Josiah Sanchez, and Nathan Jackson, as J.D. informs them of the reason for his excitement.)

"I was just down at the Courthouse testifying in the Roberts case and when I was leaving I ran into Mark Tompkins from the F.B.I. He said Washington has finally decided to replace the Supervisory Special Agent in charge of their Major Crimes Unit, and the whole office is in an uproar."

"Why would they be in an uproar, J.D.? They knew they were going to get a new SSA eventually. I'm surprised it took the F.B.I. this long; Bill Peterson retired almost six months ago."

"That's why they're in an uproar, Nathan. They had a good thing goin' over there after Peterson left. Imagine they're a little upset that their party's about to come to an end."

"Now, Mr. Wilmington, you know quite well that the F.B.I. is one of the most professional agencies in the Federal law enforcement community. Just because our closed case percentage is higher than theirs is no reason to be rude and insulting."

"Shut up, Ezra."

"You all need to shut up so I can tell you the rest of what Tompkins said. The new SSA's name is Catherine Stewart and she's supposedly a force to be reckoned with, a go-getter."

"The F.B.I.'s new SSA is a woman?"

"Yeah, Buck, but don't you go gettin' any ideas. Thompkins said they're all pretty pissed because rumor has it she's a real ball-buster."

"Sounds to me like they're judgin' the woman before she even gets here."

"Some men don't handle a woman being in charge too well, Vin. 'Course, the way I figure it, the Lord sent her here because she's good enough to handle the job."

"Still, Josiah, they don't need to form an opinion about her until they give her a chance. What d'you think, Chris?"

"I agree with you, Vin, and, since the F.B.I. and the ATF work fairly closely together, we need to keep an open mind, too."

(An hour later, Chris is sitting at his desk reading a case file when his phone rings. Caller I.D. indicates it's Judge Orin Travis who happens to be Chris' immediate superior. Chris gave Judge Travis a status report on the team's current cases first thing this morning so he can only surmise that the reason for the call is to discuss the F.B.I.'s new SSA and the need to keep the relationship between the F.B.I. and the ATF on an even keel. Turns out, he's right.)

"Larabee. . ."

"Chris, I'm sure you've heard by now that the F.B.I. has finally replaced the SSA in charge of the Major Crimes Unit here in Denver."

"Yes, Sir, J.D. ran into Mark Thompkins at the Courthouse and told us all about SSA Catherine Stewart."

"First in her class at Yale and holds a law degree from Harvard. She was also first in her class at the F.B.I. Academy and has been on the fast-track up the ranks since graduating. Coming to the Denver office from Quantico where she spent the last two years as a Profiler with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. I wouldn't be surprised if she isn't the Director one day."

"Sounds almost too good to be true, Judge."

"She is good, Chris. I know Catherine Stewart, she and Mary are very good friends, and she's a damned fine agent. I wanted to talk to you before you and your team met her because I know that some, if not all, of the agents in the Denver Major Crimes Unit have some pre-conceived ideas about Catherine and they aren't very happy about her being their boss. We've always had a good working relationship with the F.B.I. and I want it to stay that way. To that end, I'm going to personally bring Catherine over to your office this afternoon and introduce you. I think that, once you meet and get to know her, you'll agree that she's going to be an asset to the F.B.I.'s Denver office and, in turn, to the ATF, as well."

"I'll be here, Judge."

(For a few moments after ending the call with Judge Travis, Chris thinks about their conversation and lets his mind wander. Catherine Stewart's credentials are impressive and the fact that Judge Travis has given her his personal stamp of approval goes a long way toward putting her in the plus column in Chris' way of thinking. What seals the deal for him is the fact that she is close friends with Mary Travis, Judge Travis' widowed daughter-in-law and a Detective with the Denver Police Department. Mary, Chris, and the members of his team have been good friends since the seven first came to Denver, and Chris trusts her judgement. Deciding he should probably give his team a heads-up, Chris ambles out of his office and informs the others of the impending visit of Judge Travis and F.B.I. SSA Catherine Stewart. As expected, both Buck and Ezra have a certain gleam in their eyes that sparks to life as soon as they find out SSA Stewart will shortly be in their midst. J.D. is nearly beside himself thinking of the opportunity to meet someone he's already built up to near-legendary status in his mind, Nathan and Josiah take it right in stride, and Vin's face is thoughtful. As for himself, Chris has never worked closely with a woman before. In their line of work, women tend to be less numerous in the field than men; Mary Travis being one of the few exceptions in his personal experience. However, he's willing to give the woman a chance.

An hour later, Judge Travis walks into the ATF bullpen followed by a tall, extremely beautiful, green-eyed woman with long, silky, honey-blonde hair. There is a moment of complete silence in which a pin could almost be heard hitting the industrial carpeting on the floor as the seven men are temporarily struck dumb. A small smile hovers around Judge Travis' mouth as he steps back and watches the interaction between his seven men and Catherine Stewart. Chris is the first one to come to his senses and he quickly steps forward and offers his hand to the stunning woman standing before him. As soon as her fingers touch his, a jolt of awareness shoots through him and he is shocked by the suddenness and intensity. Catherine Stewart, too, feels a jolt of something strange as her eyes lock with those of the tall, handsome man standing before her. Chris Larabee's eyes are a light green where Catherine's are emerald and his hair is a dark blonde where hers is lighter. Catherine is quite sure she has never before seen a more attractive man anywhere, and the realization startles her.)

"Judge Travis has told me some very impressive things about you, Agent Larabee. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's Chris, and I understand that you have quite a few impressive accomplishments yourself. Allow me to introduce you to my team; Vin Tanner, Buck Wilmington, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Josiah Sanchez, and J.D. Dunn."

"Gentlemen. I understand that the Denver offices of the F.B.I. and the ATF have a long history of working well together, and I'm going to see that it stays that way. The better all of us work together, the more quickly and efficiently we can get some very bad people off the streets."

"I believe we're going to get along just fine, Agent Stewart."

"Catherine, and I believe we are, too, Chris."

(Although it isn't overly apparent to the others, Vin has instantly picked up on the fact that both Chris and Catherine are a little "thrown" and he feels a spurt of optimism. It's been three years since Chris' wife and son were killed by a Columbian drug lord and Chris has been in a rather dark place ever since. That his friend has shown even the slightest bit of interest in Catherine Stewart gives Vin hope that Chris will find his way back to the living. As for the lady in question, Vin has no doubt that she is as good an agent as Judge Travis says she is and he is looking forward to working with her and her team; especially if she can hold Chris' interest.

Seeing that his presence is no longer needed, Judge Travis slips out of the office while Chris invites Catherine into his office so that they can discuss more specific details regarding their two agencies working together. Once Chris is sitting behind his desk and Catherine is sitting across from him, he does his best to get his mind back on business. The black pants, pale gold, cowl-necked sweater, and black, tailored jacket Catherine is wearing fit her shapely form perfectly; not even the Glock 22 riding in its holster on her right hip diminishes the fact that she is all woman. When it suddenly occurs to him that he is actually thinking about what her body looks like underneath the clothes she is wearing, Chris mentally smacks himself and focuses on the business at hand.)

"I appreciate you telling my team you want our working relationship to continue on good terms."

"No problem. I meant what I said."

"I've known the men on your team for a long time. They've been more or less on their own since Bill Peterson retired and the Special Agent In Charge of the Denver office was willing to leave them on their own as long as their case closure rate remained high. They're all good agents."

"I'm sure they are or they wouldn't be Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. . . Just what is it you're trying to say, Chris?"

"You're in a new office in a new town with new people. Might want to ease into things."

(The expression on Catherine Stewart's face is inscrutable as she silently gazes across the desk at him. Worried that he's made a slight tactical error, Chris widens his smile and attempts to soften his words.)

"I'm just saying that some people don't take change as well as others. Those boys over at your office have never really worked all that closely with a woman before let alone had one as their supervisor. A gentle approach would go a long way toward making them, and you, more comfortable with one another."

"I see. Well, thank you for taking the time to talk with me, Agent Larabee. If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my office."

(And before Chris can comprehend that he has made a huge mistake, Catherine Stewart rapidly makes her way out of his office and, graciously bids the rest of his team goodbye before making her way out of the building altogether. Her abrupt departure hasn't gone unnoticed by his six friends and they all, Vin included, send questioning looks in his direction.)

"Stepped off into it, did you, Stud?"

"Don't know how, Buck."

"Well, what did you say to her?"

"Just mentioned that she might want to ease her way into her new position, get to know her team before she makes any changes."

"How do you know she wasn't plannin' to do that all along?"

"I . . . don't. You're right, Nathan. I should have kept my big mouth shut. Well, Hell, I seem to have just done the exact thing Judge Travis didn't want; caused friction between us and the F.B.I."

"I don't know, Chris, Catherine seemed like a pretty level-headed person to me. Maybe, if you grovel for a while she'll forget all about it."

(Vin's words, accompanied by a slight smirk, earn him an irritated glare from Chris before he goes back into his office and shuts the door. Ten minutes later, Chris is still sitting and staring out the window at nothing in particular. He only rouses himself when, after a couple of raps on his door, Vin saunters into the room and settles his tall frame into one of the more comfortable chairs in the room.)

"You know, Chris, you're not the only one who got thrown when Catherine walked in here. We all got caught up in her spell. Woman's got presence with a capital P."

"'Cuse me?"

"Kinda figured you wouldn't see it . . Or admit to it."

"You ain't making much sense, Vin."

"Oh, I think I am. If you'd give it half a thought, you'd know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Look, Vin, I really don't know what you're talking about, and I appreciate you comin' in here to give me a pep talk, but the fact of the matter is that I'm the one who screwed up so I've got to be the one to fix it."

"How you plannin' to go about doin' that?"

"Don't know yet, but I'll figure something out."

"A friendly dinner might be nice. Tell her you want to start over and take her some place casual."

"Might work. Don't know, though, I don't think she's too interested in talkin' to me right now."

"Don't know until you try. 'Sides, if you two don't get back on good terms Judge Travis is goin' to be pretty pissed with you."

"There is that. Okay, I'll call her."

"All right then. Just don't make the same mistake twice."

"Don't plan on it."

(Vin returns to his desk and digs into a case file all the while hoping that he just got the ball rolling on something that turns out to be a positive for everyone; especially Chris. It's been far too long since he's seen his friend really happy. . . . Chris has picked up his cellular phone three times to call Catherine Stewart and three times he's put it back down on his desk without completing the call. The direct line to her office is programmed into his phone since he and Catherine's predecessor, Bill Peterson, used to talk all the time in the course of their work. He and Catherine will be talking a great deal as well so why can't he push the button for the speed dial that will connect him to his counterpart at the F.B.I.? Because his counterpart at the F.B.I. is a woman; an extremely intelligent, extremely capable, extremely beautiful, woman. One to which he attracted and that thought bothers the Hell out of him. Of course, he's a man with a man's needs but he's managed to take care of those needs with women who aren't looking for any emotional entanglements. Emotional entanglements are no longer part of Chris Larabee's working vocabulary. Losing Sarah was the most painful experience of Chris' life and he never again intends to put himself in danger of losing anyone else. Realizing that he is, once again, slipping into the deep, painful darkness he's been fighting all these years, Chris snatches up his phone and pushes the speed dial button for Catherine's direct line before he can change his mind.)

"Stewart."

"Catherine, it's Chris Larabee. I think we got off on the wrong foot this afternoon, and I'd like to ask you if you're willing to start over."

(In the process of wading through a rather boring report, Catherine neglected to look at Caller I.D. before answering the phone and now she wishes she had. If she had seen Chris Larabee's name and number flash up on the led screen on her desk phone, she would have allowed the call to go to her voice mail. Mentally counting to ten and expelling a slow, cleansing breath, Catherine attempts to make her voice neutral as she responds.)

"Perhaps we should, Agent Larabee. After all, we are going to be working together so we need to be able to get along with one another."

"Exactly, and I was thinking that we could have dinner tonight so we can review the joint cases that are active, and, please, call me Chris."

"I don't think dinner's a good idea, Age. . Chris. I'm really swamped over here and I still have a lot of boxes to unpack at home."

"All the more reason for you to have a decent meal. Can't work on anything if your energy level is down."

"I was planning on ordering some take-out and eating dinner in my office."

"Nope. That won't work, either."

"Why not?"

"Because you need to get away from the 'same four walls' every now and then to clear your mind. Come on, I know a great place not too far from your office that serves the best bar-b-cue in town."

(And now humor is beginning to spread through Catherine and she smiles in spite of herself.)

"And what if I'm not in the mood for bar-b-cue?"

(And now it's Chris' turn to relax as he hears the amusement in Catherine's voice.)

"Well, how about I come by your office around six-thirty and you can tell me what you are in the mood for; I know all the really restaurants in town."

"How about you call me around six-thirty and, once we agree on the menu, I meet you at the restaurant."

"Be easier for you if I picked you up."

"I know my way around Denver, Chris. Besides, the GPS in my Bureau SUV is most definitely up to date."

"Okay, then. I'll call you a little later."

(Once the call is complete, Chris is somewhat surprised to find that he's actually looking forward to having dinner with Catherine. After all, they aren't going on a date, for Pete's sake; just two colleagues discussing business. He doesn't even realize that there is a smile lurking on his face as he goes about taking care of paperwork for the remainder of the afternoon. He certainly doesn't see the speculative glances his team members keep casting in his direction as they all try to figure out what has put him in such a good mood.)