Summary: *ATF/AU* The beginning is where it all starts. It only takes a brief seemingly random encounter to change your whole world. Is it destiny, fate, or sheer force of determination? It was meant to be that they would cross paths.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything "The Magnificent Seven" related, Characters of M7 do not belong to me, I like so many others before me am merely using the amazing universe of the ATF, no monetary compensation received, just the pleasure of creative writing as stress relief
Rating: T
Author's Notes: This story sets in motion the story arc I have been creating. It will establish a beginning for the other snippets I am posting (out of order as I finish them). It follows most of the ATF canon, but new characters are being introduced. I thought of this after being inspired from reading stories posted by all of you much more talented authors. I can only hope I gain more finesse at writing and have posted something others will enjoy reading.
If ideas or plot twists seem similar, it could be either: great minds think alike(I have no delusions of grandeur), or we are all running out of original ideas (grin) or I liked that idea so much it just became a part of my personal ATF universe (most likely). In either case, please take it as a compliment. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, (except in the US where it is called copyright infringement :)
If I ever create an idea, that others are able to run with and it inspires great works of creative writing, I would be honored, to be that muse
Please be kind in your reviews! Not Betaed, How do I get a Beta? Any one interested in being a Beta for me?
Return to Me—The Beginnings by Sapphire Lee
It was rare that the men of ATF Team 7 had a Friday night off duty. This was one of those nights. John Daniel Dunne, JD as he was called by his friends, was pondering various things they could do with the free evening.
"Lets all go out" JD announced to his friends, teammates, and fellow ATF agents.
"Where to?" Buck Wilmington asked, from his desk positioned closest to JD.
"There's a country western club downtown, The Crazy Horse, I've been interested in checking it out." Taking in the faces around him, he saw various states of disinterest, he could sense they were going to decline, he needed better incentives for the men to come out, "Bound to be lots of lovely ladies there"
"I'm in!" Buck exclaimed, thinking it would be a prime opportunity to unleash his animal magnetism on the female population.
"They also have happy hour drink specials, tons of new beers, and did I mention, low prices on whiskey shots," Time to go for the clincher, "lots o pool tables, darts, and a dance floor with good country music".
"Ah believe I could be persuaded into attending." Ezra Standish said, his green eyes twinkling and a momentary flash of his dimpled smile, then resuming a façade of indifference. Appearances to maintain after all.
"Guess I don't got anything else pressing that I gotta do, what the hell, if Ez is going, then I will go" Vin Tanner said, "besides, someone's gotta keep an eye on you trouble magnets" directing that sarcastic comment at JD, Buck, and Ezra. In reality Vin was as big or bigger of an instigator of pranks, mischief, and trouble than the others.
"Lets all go, come on Nathan, Josiah? What about you Chris, you in?" Chris Larabee exchanged glances with his other team 7 members Nathan Jackson and Josiah Sanchez, JD looked so excited about hanging out with everyone, the guys didn't have the heart to disappoint him. But they did enjoy making the kid sweat a little, " now I don't know, I was really looking forward to going home to the ranch and relaxing for once" Chris said.
"Come on Chris, it won't be the same without you, it wouldn't be a good night out with the boys if you were missing. You remember fun right? It can't have been that long since you had some" JD practically whined.
"Ah, come out with us Chris, you can pretend it is a reconnaissance mission to compile intel on the opposite gender. We'll use Buck as the undercover" Vin said jokingly. Chris' face cracked into a wide grin. He just shook his head at JD and Vin's persuasive tactics, he looked questioningly at Nathan and Josiah.
"I suppose Selena won't mind if I go out for the night, she was talking about seeing a movie with some girlfriends" Nathan shuddered to think of being forced to see the chick flick with the women. "It will be a nice change of pace to leave my medic bag at home".
"I wouldn't go that far" Vin said chuckling, "You never know what we might get into".
"Don't I know it" Nathan replied, shaking his head, as scenarios flashed through his mind, bar fight, broken glass, bar fight, gun shot, bar fight, concussion…
"Brother JD, I would be honored to come share wine with you."
"I don't think they serve wine at the bar Josiah" JD replied, taking the comments literally.
"He doesn't mean wine literally" Buck clarified.
"Well why didn't he say so, sometimes he talks just like Ez, I can never follow most of what he says on a good day".
Ezra shot JD a disdainful look, "I take umbrage at that comment. My discourse is just fine Mister Dunne, just because I don't butcher the English language like the rest of you, you don't have to disparage my verbal communication skills…" Try as he might, JD couldn't keep up with Ezra when he tore off on a tirade, which Ezra knew, and used to his advantage. JD just shook his head and shrugged back at the others in confusion.
Looking to head off a brewing argument, Chris stepped in & acquiesced "Alright, alright, we're in JD, all of us will come to the club, but don't expect me to dance, you got it?" Chris warned halfheartedly. "We are due a relaxing night, why not spend it with good company, good drinks, and good looking women".
"Amen!" several voices answered.
The first to arrive at 9pm in the parking lot of The Crazy Horse was Chris and Vin. Chris turned off the engine of his Black Dodge Ram. As they sat in the vehicle waiting for the others to arrive, they could hear music mixed with lots of voices drifting over the parking lot. One by one the others drove in and parked in the near by spots. With everyone assembled and accounted for they turned towards the club "Did you ever wonder why we park in the driveway and drive on a parkway?" JD asked out of the blue.
Several loud groans from Team 7 could be heard at JD's comment, "Oh man, JD give it a break already, that's worse than those fool jokes you are always unloading on us" Buck said in conjunction with playful shove at the kid, "We are here to have a good time, not try to understand how your fool mind works".
"OK, OK, I was curious is all, geeze no need to get in a huff" JD muttered, while approaching the front door of the club with the rest of his friends.
The men entered the club and proceeded to the bar. After grabbing a pitcher of beers, several shots of whiskey, and a table, they scoped out the patrons in that evening. Sounds of Toby Keith, Get my drink on, was playing across the dance floor, some people were dancing, others were socializing along the sides. Vin sat down in the chair next to JD and bumped his arm off the armrest, as any good big brother would do. JD shoved him back, as any good younger brother would.
"Mister Larabee, how ever did you get Mister Tanner to leave his guns and knives at home? He must feel positively naked tonight" Ezra drawled, teasing Vin was one of his favorite pastimes.
"Naw, I got my knife right here, Ez, I never leave home without it" Vin retorted.
"What tha, how did you get that knife strapped back on?" Chris sputtered, "I specifically saw you put it in the drawer, before we left your house" Chris had stopped by Vins to give him a ride to the club. JD and Buck had arrived in one vehicle and the others had arrived via their own cars.
Vin just grinned vexingly at the others. He raised his eyebrows tauntingly.
"Mister Tanner you are obnoxious, you know that don't you?"
"Yup, Ez, I sure do"
"BTW, that means by-the-way. My name is EZRA! Ezra, not Ez, not the other abominations you cretins come up with. The indigity to my poor name!" Ezra muttered, with mock irritation. "Why do I even bother sometimes is beyond me?"
"I don't know why you bother either EZ" Vin said, sarcastically.
"You boys, better stay out of trouble tonight" Chris jokingly threatened at his trouble makers Buck, JD, Vin and Ezra. He was such a mother hen, so protective of his men. Just he happened to be a mother hen that would shoot your head off iffen you provoked him.
"Chris you know good and well Ace and Slick wouldn't embarrass us in public" Buck teased.
Vin and Ezra grumbled at Buck and Chris, then slyly smirked at each other. "Oh fair enough." Ezra muttered dramatically. Ezra enjoyed being dramatic in front of an audience, it was one of the things that made him such a superb undercover man.
JD casually sipped his beer, observing the goings on, like he was in surveillance mode. JD made several observations of his fellow team members, who were more of a family than co-workers. At 38 Josiah, was the oldest member of the team, followed by Nathan, Chris, and Buck who were all 35yrs old. Ezra and Vin were 30 and 28 respectively. And that left himself, JD at 25. There was a 13 year age gap between oldest and youngest, yet it was imperceptible when the guys worked together. Sometimes JD felt like a kid among his teammates, but they never made him feel like he didn't deserve to be with them.
Looking around the joint, Buck grinned in delight, seeing many potential candidates for the evening. Chris had opted for his usual intimidating scrawl on his face, determined to repel any inquisitive people. Nathan and Josiah were involved in a conversation, both being in committed relationships, had no desire to meet women, but were in attendance for the support of their brethren. That left the two remaining single members of the team, Vin & Ezra. Both men were unattached and open to meeting women, as was JD and Buck.
JD turned his observations to both agents. Vin had on a white V-neck T-shirt peeking out of a denim button down shirt and faded blue jeans. At 28, Vin was lean and 6'0 tall, muscular, and had an outward appearance of confidence, though it didn't smack of arrogance, since he was reserved and wasn't overly vocal unless he felt strongly about something. The unassuming appearance belied the snipers dangerously lethal force Vin could unleash if provoked. JD made a mental note never to really- truly tick off the Texan.
Turning to look over 30yrd old Ezra, JD suddenly noticed just how muscular the 6'1 southerner was. Tonight he wasn't wearing his usual designer suit clothing, which camouflaged his physique. Ezra had on a snug navy T-shirt which was stretched across the man's biceps and chest, showing just how much work Ezra put into keeping his body in tip top fighting shape. The artfully constructed outward appearance of the undercover man belied another dangerous foe to tangle with, as Ezra had a penchant for exacting vicious deadly force when provoked, head shot kills was a specialty of his. JD made a mental note not to ever get into a knock down fight with Ez. Apparently Buck noticed Ezra's wardrobe this evening, never one to hold back a comment to his brothers, burst out, "For a man that doesn't do much physical labor if you can avoid it, you sure do keep fit, Ezra. How so?"
"A gentleman never tells," Ezra quipped with his lazy southern accent
"You always have style Ez, even when you dress casual" JD responded with a laugh.
Ezra tipped his head regally in acknowledgment of the comment.
JD continued making observations on his other team mates. Chris was dressed in his customary black ensemble, at 6'2 he was the epitome of the "bad element". JD imagined that Chris would be agreeable to a no strings attached fling if he could find a girl brave enough not to flinch at his death glare. But since the death of his wife and son, Chris had singlely devoted himself to his team, work, and his ranch (in that order).
JD turned to observe Buck. Now Buck had no intentions of settling down any time soon, he loved all ladies and followed the philosophy of devoting himself to as many woman has he could. Buck had on a snap button short sleeve plaid shirt, tucked into his wrangler jeans. At 6'5 he was the tallest of the group and had heavy muscling to boot. He was the most easy going and friendly of the men. Buck was very protective of those he considered close. He had a nasty temper if you ever crossed him and he could and would destroy a person in a blink. Thankfully, it took a lot to set off the easy going man. However, JD knew how to push his buttons, if for no other reason than to get a rise out of him from time to time.
JD rotated in his seat to look at Nathan. Nathan was the most understated of the group, at 5'11, not drawing much attention to himself, he preferred it that way. He was dressed casually in blue jeans and hunter green shirt. Nathan had been married to his wife Selena for 3 years, she provided the necessary calm that the medic needed to offset the chaos & injuries that occurred frequently to Team 7. Also contently off the market was Josiah, he had no immediate plans to get married and his woman Catherine just fine with that. At 6'3, Josiah had a natural tendency to act as the voice of reason and mediate disputes, but god forbid if someone truly set off his temper, he would put Chris to shame in ferocity. Josiah had some powerful demons in his past that he was dealing with. The few times JD had spent with Catherine he noticed her peaceful affect she had on Josiah.
That just left himself, at 25 yrs old and 5'10, he was the runt of the litter as he like to joke. But several female co-workers in the office building had remarked that he was the poster child for an Abercrombie & Fitch model, so that was a complement to his good looks, he supposed.
Vin tapped Ezra on the arm and gestured to a group of women a ways over that had caught his attention. Looking across the room at the women in question, Ezra didn't see anything that caught his interest, but he would gladly play wingman to his shy brother.
"I like the way you think Mr. Tanner, let us go make the acquaintance of those enticing young ladies. Perhaps they have need of a libation?" Ezra said as he latched on to Vin's arm and dragged him from the table. Vin will be the perfect co-pilot in this meet and greet Ezra thought wickedly, perhaps one of the ladies will take a fancy to our Mr Tanner.
"Ummm, I don't know Ez, …." Was heard from Vin as he was dragged across the room. Chris grinned, as Nathan and Josiah couldn't stop the grins from spreading across their faces at the other twos antics. Buck decided it was time to make his move and exited the table, indicating to Chris, "You got my back there Chris?"
Chris chugged the last mouthful of his beer, put the mug down, picked up Vins forgotten beer, saluted the others at the table and walked off with Buck to another group of women.
"Well I'll be damned, never thought I'd see the day, Chris, voluntarily interacted with people" JD sputtered.
"Ah, well, you see Brother Dunne, Chris always has had Bucks back, no matter how distasteful the participation may be" Josiah remarked grinning, "don't see things a changing any time soon. In fact Chris would have any of our backs in any situation".
Shaking his head, JD said, "I'll buy the next pitcher, be right back boys" JD scooted out of the booth and headed up to the bar for a new pitcher of beer. While leaning against the bar, he listened to the music playing, watched couples dancing across the dance floor. A cute blond woman wedged herself in at the bar, hoping to get the bar tenders attention, she was pressed slightly against JD, he looked her over from the corner of his eyes and found he liked what he saw.
"Damn" she muttered after a few moments of being ignored. She leaned more suggestively across the bar counter top trying to gain the bar tenders attention. "Rats" still not getting served, she turned around and leaned back against the bar, looking out across the room. She glanced at the man next to her, "you waiting to be served also?"
"Yup, slow service tonight."
"Not conducive to good tips, no sur-ry." She replied "Tell you what, if I get served first, I'll put in your order as well, if you get helped first, you do the same for me?"
"Sounds good" JD replied, with a smile. "I'm JD, what's your name?" JD extended his hand out in greeting.
"Oh, how silly of me, I'm Marie. You here with friends?" she inquired
"Yes, my buddies, Chris, Nathan, Josiah, Buck, Ezra, and Vin, we wanted to check this place out. Heard it was good, so far I'd say it is living up to expectations" JD turned suddenly as the bar tender asked him what he would like, " a pitcher of beer, 4 shots of whiskey, and" turning to Marie, he gestured for her to put in her order.
"Oh, I'd like two kamikazes" she said with an easy smile. One the order was served up, Marie helped JD carry the drinks back to his table. She was introduced to Nathan and Josiah who poured themselves beers from the pitcher. Chris and Buck came up to the booth at the same moment and picked up a shot of whiskey each. "I have to say, I am relieved meeting all of you" Marie winked, "I was a little concerned when I saw JD order all the alcohol and thought he was going to down it all himself" she smiled brightly. "It was a pleasure meeting you all. I gotta get back to my girl friends, save me a dance later JD?" Marie didn't wait for his reply, just walked off with an inviting wink at JD over her shoulder.
"That is a girl who wants to be chased" Buck said with approval at JD's taste in women. "Kid, you better give chase, don't let a fine woman like that get away". JD grinned at the direction the night was moving in.
December 2011
More Chapters coming
Review please, I would be interested in your thoughts, if you liked it, how it can be improved, positive constructive advice, apprentice writer here, Thanks
