Hello Mag7 fans! I had no idea there were still so many!
A/N: Although I have written fanfiction before (Law and Order Criminal Intent and Hawaii Five-O), this is my first Mag7 story. This is set after "Obsession", sadly the very last episode of Mag7. Chris and Mary's relationship was so bittersweet. I think things between them were just coming to a head when the show was canceled. Chris had his answers and a relationship with Mary was now possible. This is my take on what happened next.
Chapter 1: Broken
"Mary," he said. It was more of a question, really. And she answered him with a look that let him know she was done. He watched her close the door to The Clarion. He knew he deserved every bit of her disdain and more. What had he been thinking, running out on her and her town? For what? For answers? No, not for answers. But answers are exactly what he had found. Ella had killed Sarah and Adam, the same as if she had lit that fire herself. And he had played right into her sick charade two weeks ago. He came home with a bullet hole in his gut which was less, much less than he deserved. He had left to find an escape. Life had gotten too comfortable in Four Corners. Mary had gotten inside his heart whether he wanted to admit it or not, Billy too for that matter. It was easy with Ella. He knew exactly what she wanted from him and it wasn't much. She wanted his presence, his attention, and his body, but not his heart. He wasn't in much danger of losing that to her. He couldn't see Sarah's face anymore. He couldn't hear her voice or remember her smell. Adam was a ghost as well. He didn't ache from loss anymore either. There was only guilt now. The guilt of not being there when they died, the guilt of not dying with them, and now the guilt of forgetting was too much for him to carry. He lusted for answers. The third anniversary of their death had sent him into a tail spin. Ella was just a distraction at first. She needed his help. He was always glad to help because it was good to be needed. But then she offered him a refuge, a safe haven from responsibility, all responsibility. And it was easy. Damn it all, it was so easy.
Then he had discovered her secret room full of trinkets from his past. Sarah's locket was there, the one he had given her when they were married. In that moment of discovery, he couldn't breath. The room was spinning and he could taste the bile as it rose in the back of his throat. Then he heard the gunshots and realized that he had drug his friends into this nightmare too. He was instantly armed and at their side. Vin was next to him when the blinding pain of the bullet knocked him off of his feet. He watched from the ground as Ella disappeared over the ridge. He should have shot her when he had the chance. He knew she would be back. She new about Four Corners and, undoubtedly, she knew about Mary and Billy too. He knew that as long as he stayed here, they were in danger. He wouldn't let Ella have them too. He crumpled the letter and set the picture of him and that witch to blaze. He held the burning photograph until it singed his fingers. He dropped it to the ground and stamped out the fire with the heel of his boot. It still hurt to move and he winced with the effort he spent. Another boot came into his line of sight as he stared at the small pile of ashes in front of him. Vin swiped the ashes into the wind. "How you feelin'?"
"Better, thanks."
"I brought ya' some coffee. It's a might chilly this mornin'."
Chris took the cup thoughtfully. Vin leaned against the post and looked out across the town. "You worried about her showing up here?"
"Nope," Chris said as he brought the cup to his lips for another hot sip of coffee. "I'm worried she'll send someone else here to do her dirty work."
"You think she'll come after Mary and the boy?"
"Don't you?"
"The thought crossed my mind." Vin turned to face his friend.
"You got any thoughts on what I ought to do about it?"
"I think you need to start by being honest with Mary. Throwing her out of Nathan's like you did when you woke…" He cocked his head. "I just think she deserves better than that."
Chris drew in a long breath. "Yeah, she does... but people I care about seem to end up hurt or worse."
"I aint much on givin' advice, especially when it comes to women, but... Mary's special. I think she's worth the effort."
Chris started to nod. "Yeah," was all he said.
JD trotted across the street. "Hey, fellas'."
"JD," Chris acknowledged. Vin nodded at their young counterpart. "Nathan said to give you these." He handed Chris a handkerchief tied neatly with a piece of twine.
"Right."
JD rocked back and forth on his heels. "I'm supposed to make sure you take those down."
"I'll make sure he does. Go finish your breakfast."
"Thanks." JD took off back across the street toward the hotel restaurant.
Vin tossed what was left of his coffee onto the road. He started toward the street but stopped and turned back to Chris. "Look, I know ya' got a lot spinnin' around in your head right now, but… just try to remember what's really important. That ought to give ya' some sort of direction."
One corner of Chris's lip slowly curled upward and he nodded to his friend. With that, Vin headed toward the restaurant for a little breakfast too.
Mary emerged from The Clarion mid morning to find an empty chair where Chris had been. As angry as she was at him, she still felt a pang of disappointment at not seeing him there. She took a steadying breath and headed to Nathan's clinic with the stack of clothes Billy had outgrown. Every Tuesday, Nathan and Josiah rode out to the reservation to offer whatever help was needed. Sometimes all they did was set and talk, Josiah especially enjoyed time spent in conversation with the tribe's leader. Nathan obviously enjoyed his time with a certain curly headed young lady. Mary gave a cursory knock as she entered Nathan's clinic. She stopped short. Chris was standing in front of the window holding his shirt in his hands. The sun spilled across his chest and abdomen outlining not only its beauty but also the green and purple bruising that radiated around the charred and forming scar where he had been shot. Slowly she lifted her eyes from the wound and met his gaze. His eyes were so full of sorrow. It was overwhelming. Against her better judgment, as if being pulled by an invisible rope, she dropped the pile of clothes on the bed and moved steadily toward him. He watched her advance, their eyes trapped within each others. She hesitated, an arms length away. Tentatively, she reached for his face and ran her hand softly down his cheek. He closed his eyes and slowly released the breath he had been holding. What she did next, he never expected. But that was Mary's way. She never did what was expected. She gently began to trace the outline of the wound with one steady finger. Chris recoiled at her touch and she flinched. Undaunted, she stepped closer and began again. She watched as the muscles in his stomach tightened, but this time he didn't pull away. When she had traced the wound completely, she stepped back and wrapped her arms around her chest. Lifting her chin, it was Chris's turn to reach for her. It wasn't until he wiped a tear away with his thumb that she realized she was crying. She swiped at her eyes with both hands.
"You know, Chris…" Mary jumped as Nathan entered the room. "Oh, excuse me, Mary, I didn't realize…"
"No, Nathan, its fine..." She rubbed her cheeks and wiped her hands on her dress. "I, uh, I just brought some of the clothes that Billy can't wear anymore. I thought they might could use them at the reservation."
"Oh, right, thank you. I'll take 'em with me tomorrow."
Mary took in an audible breath and fixed a smile on her face. "Good… now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the paper." She nodded at Nathan and headed quickly out the door."
Nathan started to speak, but thought better of it. He listened as Mary hurried down the steps. "Hey, um, I didn't mean…"
"You didn't."
"Well, let me check your wound then. How you feelin'"
"Better and better, thank you."
Hope you like the start. This story is a rewrite of my previous fic entitled "Broken". I had complete writers block. I'm back with a new train of thought. I will complete the story in a timely manner. Chapter 1 did not change. New Chapter 2 already posted. Thank you for reading! Reviews are always welcome!
