Title: Devil's Hand
Author: Cindy Ryan
Story status: Complete
Universe: ATF—created years ago on the Magnificent Seven fanfiction list. The boys live in modern day Denver as members of an elite ATF team.
Category: Angst
Summary: An old enemy of Buck's and Chris's resurfaces intent on shattering the team. But nobody takes down the Seven. Not without a fight.
Notes: I wrote this story about five years back and have had it posted at other sites. Decided to post it here so I'd have all my stories in one spot.

"JD, can you toss me the can of crushed tomatoes?" Buck Wilmington asked his voice muffled as the dark haired man lifted the lid on the steaming pot.

"Its not here," JD Dunne replied as the youth began opening and closing cabinet doors in the small kitchen.

Buck replaced the lid on the pot and turned to face his room mate, "Did you put it in the cart?"

"I thought you did," JD replied absently running a hand through his short dark hair.

Buck glared at the younger man, "No,I told you to. Now how am I supposed to finish my world famous spaghetti casserole surprise?"

It's Denver's ball at the Bear's twenty yard line. With two minutes left in regular play the question is will the Broncos throw the ball or run it?

Buck waved his hand in front of the kid's eyes jerking JD's attention away from the big screen tv in the living room,"Earth to JD..."

"Huh?"JD asked his mind still on the football game.

Buck snatched his truck keys off the nail by the refrigerator,"The tomatoes ,JD,I need you to run down to the store and get them. Chris and the others will be here any minute."

There's the snap.

"JD!"

The youth glared at his friend as he snatched the keys away from Wilmington,"Fine,I just hope this thing is worth missing the best playoff game of the year."

JD raced outside hoping to catch the play on the radio. As he thrust the key in the truck's lock he never saw the group of three men approaching him from the right.

The young ATF agent barely had the driver's door open before hands grabbed him by the shoulders. JD struggled against his attackers but it was no use.

Seconds later a white cloth drenched in chloroform was pressed over JD's mouth and nose.

Buck had just put the garlic bread in the oven when the all too familiar sound of an explosion reached his ears.

Dread crept up his spine as he raced toward the window hoping his instincts were wrong.

Wilmington however never had a chance to look outside as the fire from the explosion reached his truck's gas tank.

The shockwave from the explosion rocked the apartment building. Buck was thrown backwards as the window broke,sending shards of glass everywhere.

When Chris Larabee and the rest of his team of ATF agents arrived at their friend's apartment Chris felt like he had been rudely tossed back into his past.

A past he had just finally found a way to live with.

Chris stepped out of the car and felt a restraining hand on his left shoulder. He turned to face the concerned blue eyes of Vin Tanner.

"Easy,pard," the long brown haired sharpshooter said softly,"We don't know anything yet. They might not even have been home."

Larabee barely spared his friend a glance as he strode through the barricade of police cars ,ambulances ,and fire trucks. The blonde agent ignored the elevator and took the stairs two at a time.

Once they arrived at Wilmington and Dunne's apartment they found the door wide open.

Forcing aside the fear Chris stepped through the doorway to find two paramedics struggling to get Buck to sit still.

Josiah,Nathan and Ezra left to see what they could learn from those outside and coordinate the investigation.

Each of them hoping what they feared was not a reality.
That they hadn't lost one of their own tonight.

As Chris moved toward his old friend Vin spotted a pair of forensic officers by the window and went to speak with them.

Buck seemed to notice Chris then and he stopped struggling. His face was very pale and he had a large cut over his left eye.

But his eyes were what scared Chris the most...there was no life in them.
They were dull and barely focused.

Larabee gently knelt next to his friend placing a hand on Wilmington's right shoulder,"Buck, its Chris."

"He's in shock, Sir," one of the paramedics replied as he took a fresh bandage out of is kit,"I don't think you'll get any information out of him."

Chris ignored him as tried again,"Buck, what the hell happened?"

Silence.

"Buck,"Chris asked as he struggled to keep his voice neutral,"Where's the kid?"

For a long moment Chris thought Buck hadn't heard him. Then as Larabee started to turn away he heard Wilmington reply in a barely audible voice;"He's with his mamma."

A young blonde paramedic turned to face Chris,"Sir,we have to take him to the hospital now," she said as she helped her partner shift Buck to the stretcher.

Larabee nodded as he stood,"I'll be right behind you."

As the paramedics left Tanner approached him,"How's he doin'?"

Chris sighed as he turned to look out the broken window,"I think his emotional scars are gonna be a lot worse than the physical ones. Did you find out anything?"

Vin nodded sadly,"The kid triggered the bomb when he opened the truck's door. He never had a chance, Chris."

"Damn," Larabee swore as he turned around,"I want everyone on this. I don't care what other cases we're workin' on, or what the brass says. I want every square inch investigated. I want to know everyone who even breathed near that truck in the last twenty four hours."

Tanner nodded,"We'll get the bastard who did this."

Chris started toward the door,"We better get him before Buck wakes up. I wouldn't want to be in the son-of-a-bitch's shoes when Buck gets a hold of him."

Vin Tanner glanced at the somber group gathered in the ER waiting room. Everyone looked exhausted, and it was no wonder. They had finally wrapped up a case in northern California culminating six months worth of work.

Now to loose JD on top of that...

Vin sighed as he leaned against the right wall next to Josiah. He knew they had been too lucky for too long. Vin could only hope they didn't loose the group because of this.

They needed each other now more than ever.

Buck Wilmington struggled to open his eyes. Even through the pain he wondered how much he had to drink the night before.

A bad hangover had to be the only explanation for the pain that sliced through his temple like a razor.

If he didn't have a hangover that meant something bad had gone wrong with a mission.

Which meant something terrible had happened to one of the Seven.

And that was a thought that Wilmington couldn't bear.

With a renewed bought of strength Buck was able to open his eyes. At first he thought something was wrong with his eyes because everything was dark.

It took him a moment to realize the lights were off.

As Wilmington's eyes adjusted to the dark he took in his surroundings. He was in a hospital room the drapes were drawn.

The door was closed halfway allowing a small shaft of light into the room.

Buck turned his head and saw a human form slumped in a chair,"Chris," Wilmington called hoarsely. Try as he might his voice only came to a whisper.

Somehow Larabee heard him anyway. The blond agent jerked awake instantly reaching toward his friend.

"Hey, pard," Chris said quietly,"How ya feelin'?"

"Better than you look," Buck replied with a grim smile as he took in the dark circles under Chris's eyes.

Chris swallowed hard hating to be in this position. Hating the people who had put him there,"Buck, do you remember anything about what happened?"

Wilmington heard the quiet fear in his friend's voice and felt dread start to form in the pit of his stomach,"Not much," he replied shaking his head,"Just seein' glass goin' everywhere..."

Larabee stood and walked around the bed to turn the lights on stalling for time.

"Forget the damn lights, Chris," Buck demanded,"Tell me what happened? Where's JD? Is the kid okay?"

Larabee sighed inwardly and retook his seat. He didn't mince words knowing there was no easy way to say what he had to say.

"JD's dead, Buck," Chris replied softly,"He was killed in the car bomb outside your apartment."

"No," Buck protested softly as he shook his head. This all had to be a nightmare...

"He was killed instantly,Buck," Chris said as he watched his friend closely.

"My truck?"Wilmington asked in a choked whisper.

Larabee nodded,"Yes."

"Meant for me then...," Buck replied as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the pillow.

Chris shook his head,"We don't know that for sure,Buck."

"Of course we do," Buck snapped,"The kid hasn't been with us long enough to make that kind of an enemy."

"Buck..."

Wilmington turned his head away from his old friend,"Just leave me be,Chris. Leave me alone."

"I don't think that's a good idea...," Chris began.

Buck's eyes flew open as he swiped the contents of the nightstand to the floor with a loud clatter,"I don't give a damn what you or anybody thinks,Chris! I said I wanted to be alone..." his voice began to tremble forcing him to clear his throat and try again,"Please."

Larabee sighed as he rose to his feet and walked to the door,"If that's how you want it,Buck,but I'll be back in the morning."