MCAT # 6

Additions & Apprehensions

Authors: tannertexaslady

Wendymypooh

E-mail:

Characters: Chris/Ofc, Vin/Ofc, Ezra/Ofc, Buck/ Inez, JD/Casey The rest of the seven~ Orrin Travis ~ Nettie, Rain, plus OC.

Rating: FRM, Profanity, Het, some violence. MCAT case deals with a sensitive subject matter. Story contains consensual sex sexual situations between heterosexual couples in committed relationships.

Finished: YES

Disclaimer: This is entirely a work of fiction for entertainment only, based on the characters from "The Magnificent Seven." I don't own them, but if I did I would run away with 'em and never be seen again. CBS and Co., Trilogy Entertainment, and MGM had 'em first and do not want to give 'em away. I only play at this for fun and do not make any money doing it. No infringement of any copyrights is intended. This is strictly a piece of fiction; any references to real places are only for fictional story use.

MCAT AU: MCAT (Major Crimes and Acts of Terrorism) is under the leadership of Commander Chris Larabee. It is an independent, versatile, responsive, and respected premier Federal law enforcement agency, demonstrating excellence in all aspects of its operations. In the last year, this MCAT unit has done outstanding work on a number of cases. Most notably, this unit has neutralized three terrorist's threats, halted at least two assassination attempts of high ranking officials, taken on serial killers, public corruption, computer crimes, and formed several specialized task forces to thwart major criminal activities.

Chris, along with three members (Vin, Buck, Nathan) of his extended family of brothers, and their families, reside on the Larabee 7. The seven men work together, and jointly own the ranch, where they are raising thoroughbreds, quarter horses and children. Ezra lives in town, while Josiah and JD reside on adjoining properties to the ranch, with their families.

This first series establishes relationships and provides background for the characters in this AU. 'Additions and Apprehensions' is sixth in the series…

MCAT: Turbulent Transition, found on Blackraptor.

Story: By the time May rolled around Chris felt as if his life was finally back on track. He was looking forward to all the new additions that were coming into his extended family, the most special one of all being the birth of the precious new life that he and Linda had created together. Little did he know that within four short months, a chain of events would unfold that would rip apart his team, cut through the heart of his family, and leave him alone to face a questionable future.

Acknowledgments: My thanks go to my friend and co-writer Wendy for her beta work and her great advice. It has been a fun experience to share writing this story with her. Tonny thanks for you editing and great feedback. Also to Stormm, and Barbara, I appreciate your input. Linda Clara, it may have been thirty-seven years, but I have never forgotten our friendship. Your life was cut way too short, but this is for all you would have done if given the chance. My thanks also go to the gracious readers that took the time to send me feedback for Transitions, Decisions, Past Transgressions and Illusions... Sherry

I fell in love with this creative new AU for the Seven the first moment I read Transitions...and then the subsequent stories that followed that drew me further into the lives, relationships, and intriguing cases of the Seven. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to work on this story with Sherry, because along the way, I've found a new friend. ..Wendy

Notes: Any mistakes are ours. The original characters I have created for this series are mine. I created 'em and really like 'em (most of them anyway) so, while you are welcome to borrow them and encouraged to play in this AU, keep them around and no slash pairing please.

Characters from the first six parts of this series:

MCAT Agents

Pamela Walton: Computer genius that worked for the Justice Department, 30 years old.
Kelli Coulter: Degree in criminology/criminal justice, worked New Orleans PD, State of Texas Criminal Task Force and the DEA, 26 years old.
Justin Michaels: Former homicide detective with Denver PD and then worked with the State Police investigations in Colorado, 43 years old.
Mark Westin: Excelled at the Police Academy, worked LAPD and California Highway Patrols, 26 years old.
Paul Roberts Worked Atlanta Metro police departments with excellent records, 31 years old.
Ross Anderson: Came from the Detroit Metro police departments, career until then focused on inner city crime, 34 years old.

Raphael Cordova: DEA fifteen years, military veteran, pilot, age 43.

Mallory Sanchez-: Former ATF team leader/left to have baby when MCAT formed/Returned to train on CASSIE age 43

CASSIE: (Collaborative Analysis System for Sensitive Information Engineering) is a state of the art computer system, and is a valuable team member to the unit

FORENSICS TEAM

Dr. Robert (Bones) Metfield, Chief of Forensics, Caucasian, medical examiner, born Dumas, Texas ME Tarrant County twenty-five years, 10 years as Chief Medical Examiner, six county area Amarillo, 62 years old

Greg Ramsey, forensic investigator, Native of New York, 37 years old

Katrina Santos, Latin American, certified medic, forensics investigator, coming from the Taos Police Department and the DEA, 31 years old.

Non-agents in MCAT office

Drusilda "Gunny" Montgomery, is administrative secretary to Commander Larabee and Captain Tanner

Judy Mullins is a data typist/ computer assistant 21 years old.

Suzanne Mills is administrative secretary to Director Travis

Other non-agents added to series

Linda Dubois co-owns the Southern Breeze with her brothers and is now married to Chris Larabee.

Mathew Glen Dubois is one of Linda's Brother and a veterinarian

George Ramos is the ranch foreman for Larabee 7

Ben Watson is the ranch foreman for the Southern Breeze.

Walter Andrews was a San Antonio police detective, retired after 25 years, previously served ten years in military.

Barbara Lindsey is an attorney. She specializes in cases involving children, and is actively involved in CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

Maxine (Max) Bowdrie is Gunny's sister 55 years old, spent 20 years in Navy as a nurse, retired as Lt.

Selina Cordova is Raphael's daughter and a Denver Police officer.

Additionally: Of course, the children.

Prologue

Journal Entry May 12

The last two weeks have been busy both personally and professionally. Personally, my repeat tests for AIDS and hepatitis both returned negative, thank God. Linda is in the last few weeks of her pregnancy and is very uncomfortable, but that is expected. I know she is apprehensive about the impending birth of our first child; but according to Dr. Ryder, she is doing well. I know she will do just fine and about this time next month we will be settled with our new baby.

Barbara wasted no time in moving forward on the adoption proceedings for Jason and Andi. She and Ezra even postponed their special weekend together to have the adoption completed first. Ezra understood Barbara's decision and was as eager as the rest of us, to see the children's future secured. Since it was a kinship adoption, with pre- approved applicants, things moved quickly, and as of this morning at ten, it is official; Jason Cameron Tanner and Andria Nicole Tanner are legal. The Tanners put their status as foster care parents on hold for a while and Vin is working hard on the plans for their new house. I expect they will be breaking ground to build anytime now. The kids are excited about the new house and they are looking forward to helping Vin build it. They have come a long way in the last few months and have definitely made themselves comfortable in their new surroundings.

Last weekend the Tanners celebrated their first wedding anniversary on the seventh and Vin's May tenth birthday a few days early with the kids. Then Linda and I had Jason and Andi overnight to give the Tanners some time alone at their cabin. Buck made a point of letting them know that they are not newlyweds anymore, and now that the children have come into their lives they are an old married couple like the rest of them. Somehow I don't think Vin and Kelli will ever settle into their marriage like the rest of the brothers and their wives have. Their relationship is unique, I expect they will continue to keep it as fresh, new and exciting, as it was when it started, and will give Buck plenty of ammunition for his good-natured teasing.

MCAT turns a year old in the next week. We have certainly given people something to sit up and take notice of for sure. Our cases are more distinctive and challenging than any others that we have tackled in the past, but that is what this unit is designed to handle. Josiah has come into his own as a profiler and his work is respected throughout law enforcement. Our team is tight and they work together well. The younger agents listen to and respect the experience of our original seven, and I couldn't be happier with the way the unit has turned out. Our success rate in clearing our cases is at 98% and we are no doubt the best tactical response unit in the country.

Of course, some times we take on cases for political reasons, which is, I suppose, all part of the price we have to pay for MCAT existing. JD has been grumbling about getting out in the field again and I have decided that he deserves to get out from behind that CASSIE desk once in a while. He is a good agent out in the field, as well as behind a desk. The next opportunity for his skills to come into play I will send him out. The forensic team that was established as a part of MCAT is extraordinary and I believe they are one of the reasons we have such a high conviction rate for our cases.

Nathan is expanding his role of medic and has enrolled in some forensics classes at the college. He has always been compulsive about staying on top of the latest techniques in emergency care and wants to be on top of this part of the investigative work as well. Having him liaison between the unit and Bones has proven to be effective and bonded both sides of our investigative unit, making our team even stronger. This weekend we will celebrate our MCAT Anniversary with a team barbecue on Sunday here at the ranch. I guess that catches me up and since I am meeting Vin early in the morning to ride I will close now.

Chapter 1

Larabee 7 Ranch

Sunrise was still twenty minutes away when Chris and Vin rode out. The sky overhead was soft lavender infused with strips of orange and pink through out, as the sun slowly broke from its nighttime resting place and prepared for its daily responsibilities. Peso and Pony were more than ready to be liberated from their confinement; and refused being reined in until all of their pent-up energy was expelled. They raced across the property side by side; their riders slouched over in the saddles, taking as much delight in the vigorous ride as the two horses were.

Finally, the two geldings complied with the commands of their individual owners, and slowed to a walk. Vin patted Peso on the neck, whispering words of affection to the black horse, in a soft tone that only the animal could hear. He straightened up in the saddle and turned towards Chris, to see the blond man rubbing Pony's neck affectionately. The sharpshooter flashed his best friend a wide smile.

"Whew!" Vin exclaimed, "That was one hell of a ride!"

"That it was." Chris agreed whole-heartedly.

They rode in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the serenity of unspoiled nature around them uninterrupted. From time to time, Chris would glance over at Vin when he knew the Texan wasn't looking, and thinking on how much the man had come to mean to him. He didn't want to think of how close he had come to losing Vin's friendship and respect a few weeks earlier because of his stubborn pride getting in the way of his admitting he had a problem with the painkillers.

Tanner didn't acknowledge the fact that he was aware of the glances that Larabee had cast his direction periodically throughout their ride. He had an inkling of the train of thought Chris' mind was moving in, and decided to put his best friend at ease once and for all.

*That's water under the bridge Cowboy…*

Chris met Vin's blue eyes with his own and held them. He didn't see any of the recriminations he felt inside him reflected in the Texan's eyes. He only saw only understanding, warmth and friendship in the blue orbs.

"Vin, I…"Chris began, but Vin cut him off.

"Let it go, Chris…I have."

Chris nodded after a moment, and the two men set their horses into motion once more. On the way back to the house, they stopped at the parcel of land on Larabee 7 that Vin and Kelli had selected to build their house. The Tanners had decided to build a log and stone multi-level on the slope of a hill that would afford them a spectacular view of the mountain meadow where they were married. It would also give them an excellent view of the sun rising over the mountains.

"It is a great place to build Vin. Are your blueprints finished?" Chris knew how much the Texan loved this particular place on the ranch and was not surprised that he had picked it to build on.

"Pretty much, we'll end up with over 3500 square feet of space. It will be a two-story hillside with five bedrooms, room for more if we need 'em, three and a half baths, wraparound deck and a two-story wall of windows. We'll have a daylight basement for at least two of those bedrooms, guest quarters, recreation room, storage area, and my office. The main floor will have a family room, utility, dinin', and kitchen area, along with Jason, Andi's, and mine and Kelli's room, plus a few extra spaces. I plan a loft area for the kids' playroom, and with good weather permittin' we should be able to move in before August."

"You have put a lot of thought into the plans Vin." Chris said. "But do you think that Jason and Andi are ready for their own rooms?"

"Yeah, I do." Vin said, turning his attention off of the land before him and onto his best friend. "They made the transition from sleepin' together to twin beds okay, and Kelli and I've talked to 'em about having separate bedrooms. They both get to choose how they want their rooms to look, and we promised 'em any type of mural they wanted. Jason wants mountains on one wall of his room and Andi wants clouds on her ceilin' with the moon and stars. I also promised 'em that there would be no solid closet doors anywhere in the house. I'll use batwing, bi-fold or louver doors instead."

Chris had a flash of a memory about Andi screaming when Jack locked her and Jason in the closet. "Not just anyone would have considered that. They seem so well adjusted now that I sometimes forget what they have been through in their short lives." Larabee mentally shook off the unwelcome reminders of his brother and his cruel treatment of his own children.

"They are doing great." Vin agreed. "Kel is livin' proof that early childhood trauma can influence your adult life and cause pain for a long time. I want Jason and Andi to have all the advantages that we can give 'em, to compensate for what they were subjected to. That's somethin' that Kelli never had and she paid for it in too many ways."

"I think they have the right parents to make sure they don't have to pay the same price." Chris knew that fate had intended Jason and Andi to be exactly where they were now. "With the records of the adoption sealed and them using the Tanner name, no one outside the family should be able to connect them to Jack. I' m glad the judge agreed with us on that one." *I should have been there to help Kel the way you two are helping Jason and Andi.*

Vin read where Larabees' thoughts were taking him and changed the subject. "I seem to recall a few pledges from you and the others to help when we were ready to build. I've already arranged a schedule for the foundation to be set, the plumbin' laid and the materials will be delivered in a few days to get started on the rest of it. I plan to do as much as I can myself, but I have some outside help coming in to get the exterior work done as quickly as possible."

"Count me in for whatever you want me to do and if you need some time off you have more than a few days coming to you." Chris grinned, "You gonna leave that hot tub for us to use?"

"Get your own Lar'bee. I have a private area planned off the master bedroom and Kel would have a fit if that hot tub wasn't on it."

"I'd bet she wouldn't be the only one that would miss it." Chris laughed because he was well aware that Vin would not give it up either.

"Damned straight," Tanner grinned.

*Race you home, brother.*

*No contest, but you can try, Cowboy.*

Jason and Andi loved to explore and always seemed to find something new that caught their attention. Kelli and Linda sat on the deck and watched the kids enjoy what was turning out to be a beautiful day.

Linda had been waiting for an opportunity such as this one to talk to Kelli in private. "It's hard to believe that you have two children now, while I am still waiting on one, but you appear to be very happy about it."

Kelli smiled, "I am. When we walked out of that courtroom yesterday and I realized that it was all over I felt so relieved. I still have to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream."

"Then tell me something," Linda leaned forward to watch Kelli's reaction. "Why haven't you and Vin tried to have a child of your own?" She was determined to find out the reason the Tanners had always insisted that they were not ready for kids yet.

Silence reigned between them while Kelli decided if she wanted to tell Linda the truth or not. Finally she made up her mind, "Jason and Andi are ours, regardless of the fact that Vin and I didn't create them. The reason why Vin and I haven't had a baby yet…" She broke the sentence off, not sure of how to end it, then took a deep breath and tried again. "We have been tryin' since we were married, but it just hasn't happened. Accordin' to the doctor…it might not happen at all."

"Oh Kel…" Linda thought about all the joking and comments that had been made over the last year by the other members of the family they found themselves a part of. "Why haven't you said something instead of listening to all that damn teasing about it?"

"Because I would rather hear the damn teasin' than give everyone an explanation." Kelli had thought it would get easier to accept as time passed, but it hadn't. "I have some internal scars from the abuse I received as a child that are causin' problems. My doctor said that even if I was to get pregnant, it would be risky and recommended surgery, but I am not ready to give up completely…not yet anyway."

Linda wrestled with her emotions and lost. She felt the tears forming as her own baby kicked, and placed a soothing hand on her stomach, even as she felt a profound sense of loss for her sister. "I'm sorry, I know it must be hard for you and I guess I haven't helped any with my own comments."

Kelli knew that if she looked at Linda and saw her crying she would start and kept her eyes on the children. "You had no way of knowin', so don't be sorry."

She laughed to lighten the mood. "Of course Vin gets the worst part, between all the emotions he's released in me since we meet each other, together with my damn hormones bein' so out of whack lately. I cry a lot lately, mostly over nothin' at all, but he understands nevertheless. He says it's because I know I have a safe place with him to let go and he doesn't mind. But the last few months with the stress over all that's happened, the uncertainty over the kids and the pressure from the doctor to have the surgery, he is getting' more than I think he bargained for."

"I don't think he sees it that way Kel and I'd bet that he doesn't mind at all." She had another thought, "Does Chris know?"

"He knows. I had to tell him when Nathan kept pushin' to update my medical records at work. He knew I was seein' another doctor and wanted me to sign a release for him to add 'm to my file. Chris was the only one who could override Nathan's request, but I had to tell him why. I asked him not to tell you so don't blame him for keepin' it a secret. I don't care if you tell him you know, but I would prefer not to share it with the rest of the family."

"Chris is the only one that I will say anything to, but if you need to talk, I'm here." Linda reached over and squeezed her hand. "Maybe it's time we find you a different doctor, too."

"You might be right about that and I have considered it. I have cried more in the last few months than the previous twenty years combined and I don't particularly like it. You think modern medicine has a cure for I emotional overload?"

Linda smiled, "If they do I haven't found it yet. Poor Chris, between my mood swings and the tears he's not sure what's safe to talk about anymore."

Kelli finally looked over at Linda and they both had the same thought about what Chris and Vin had to put up with in the past couple of months as their husbands.

They both burst into a fit of uncontrolled laughter at the same time, coinciding with Larabee and Tanner's return from their ride.

Chris bent forward and kissed Linda hello. "You two seem to be having fun." If he didn't know better, that Linda wouldn't drink while she was pregnant, he could have sworn that Linda and Kelli had been dipping into his stash of whiskey. "Vin, I don't think these two should be left alone without a keeper. "He sat down next to his blond.

"Hell, I don't think they even heard the kids yellin' at us when we came up from the barn." Vin put his hand on Kelli's shoulder and had her move forward on the lounge chair so he could straddled the chair and sit behind her. Pulling the laughing redhead back to him, the Texan wrapped his arms around her waist, kissed the back of her neck and whispered. "Miss me baby?"

"Always," Kelli gained control of her mirth and relaxed cozily into Vin's strong embrace.

"The love patrol has arrived! Keep that up and I'll have to cite you." Buck's booming voice was laced with amusement as he came up the porch stairs with Inez.

"I have two words for you Bucklin and it ain't thank you." Vin growled.

Chris snickered. "Bet I could guess what words they are."

"Me, too," Kelli commented. "By any chance do they start with 'F' and 'Y'?"

"Yep, those be the ones..." Vin acknowledged.

"You're awful ornery this morning Vin, did you get up on the wrong side of the thorn patch...uh...bed this morning?" Buck asked with a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes.

Kelli narrowed her blue eyes at Wilmington. "And just what do you mean by that?"

"Uh...just meant that Vin isn't his usually chipper self this mornin'...you holdin' out on him?"

"Buck!" Inez elbowed her husband in the stomach. "I can't believe you just said that."

"Why?" Buck said, turning to face his wife. "Kelli and Vin know I'm only funnin' with them

Tanner grinned, "That may be somethin' you might have to worry about Bucklin, but not me."

"You have the right to remain silent Buck. I suggest you use it." Kelli smiled, "Beside I would be crazy to cut myself off from my Texan's amazin' lovin'."

Inez shook her head at her husband. "You are impossible."

"I know… but you love me anyways." Buck said, kissing her soundly on the lips.

Inez smiled back at him. She could never stay mad at him for long.

"You just as well quit while can Buck; you don't stand a chance in hell when the Tanners start double teaming you." Chris enjoyed the banter.

"Reckon you're right." Buck said with a wide grin as he and Inez seated themselves in vacant chairs.

"Linda, we don't want you to have to worry about a thing for tomorrow, so we came over to prepare for the barbeque. The rest of the family will be here soon." Inez explained what they were going to do, "You just let us do all the work."

Linda laughed, "I have no problem with that, truthfully it takes all my energy to get up from this damn chair".

"Only a few more weeks to go though, and then watch out, she'll be back to her normal self… full speed ahead." Chris rubbed Linda's back as he spoke. "She will stay plenty busy after the baby arrives and then get back to working with the horses. This beautiful blond plans to keep the Larabee 7 running the way she did the Southern Breeze and I expect we'll all benefit from it."

"What do you need us to do Inez?" Tanner asked.

"I think since you and Kelli usually end up in the middle of whatever all the kids are doing, watching them will be easy for you. Also, it's good practice for the newest parents in the family." Inez laughed. "Chris, your job is to take care of Linda."

"I think I can handle that." Larabee grinned, "At least I won't have to chase her down like one of the little ones."

Kelli stood up and offered her hand to Vin. "Come on Tanner, by my count we have four of 'em to keep busy with more on the way over with Josiah and JD." It did not take long for them to find something to keep the kids occupied.

Buck watched the Tanners interact all the kids. "Chris, you would have been good with Jason and Andi, but I think you made the right decision about them. You know a year ago Kel would never have come back at my teasing; now she's downright sassy about it. She is one hell of a young woman and a daughter you can be proud of. Vin is gonna be a terrific dad to those kids, and together, I'd say they make a damn fine family."

Chris got up and laid his hand on Buck's shoulder." For everything there is a season, this is their season. It's all in the timing Buck. A year ago would have been too soon for Kel to take on being a mother, a year from now would have been right for me and Linda to adopt. For now though, this is how it was meant to be, they were in the right place in their lives at the right time and the kids will be the ones to benefit from it."

The remaining members of the wild bunch arrived and quickly went to work on the preparations for tomorrow. Ezra however had a different agenda on his mind and asked to see Chris alone. They closed themselves up in Larabee's home office for privacy.

"What's on your mind, Ezra?"

"While administrating my responsibility as legal representative for Larabee 7, a situation has come to light that requires your consideration." Standish retrieved an envelope from his jacket and handed it to Chris. "This was included with the correspondence intended for Larabee 7, once I was aware of its contents; I began to investigate the claim."

When Chris opened the envelope and read the letter inside he still had no idea what it meant." Confused, he looked to Ezra. "I have never rented a storage unit in Denver. What did your investigation turn up?"

"It appears that…"Ezra deeply inhaled before continuing. " It appears that Jack rented this unit in your name three years ago. The fee was paid in advance, once a year, and when a check failed to come this year, and with no response from letters to the primary address on the lease, it was sent to the secondary address.

"Let me guess, the Larabee 7 address," Chris sighed. "I assume that you have been in contact with the manager of these units?"

"I have. I also took the liberty of making arrangements for you to view the contents of the storage facility. Chris, I know you…as well as the rest of us are not eager to dredge up painful memories. However, the contents of this storage unit are all that remain from your brother's life and he set it up so that you would be notified in the event that he was unable to continue paying for it. It may be nothing but inconsequential items or it may contain a legacy for the children."

Chris still held the letter in his hand, caught up in the memories he would rather forget.

"If you prefer, one of us will do this for you. I would have taken on the matter myself, but I felt that you should have the final say-so in the disposition of this issue.

"I'll do it," Larabee said softly.

"Very well. This is the name and phone number of the manager. He has a key waiting for you at your convenience."

"Thanks Ez; I'll handle it from here."

Once Standish left the room, Chris mentally prepared himself to make the call. *You can do this Larabee, you need to do this, if for not other reason but to prove that Jack has no further claim on your life.*

Picking up the phone receiver, he dialed the number Ezra had given him. It was answered on the third ring. "Denver Storage Solutions, may I help you?

"My name is Chris Larabee…"