CHAPTER 2

The team met for lunch the next day. Buck laughed himself sick.

"Got me some bruises is all," the clearly uncomfortable sharpshooter snarled at Nathan.

"Were you a bad boy?" Buck chuckled. "Did ole Chris have ta paddle yer scrawny ass?" he chortled.

"Bucklin, I'se really gonna shoot ya," Vin snarled.

"How'd you get bruised Vin?" Nathan demanded.

"Got mah butt pinched," Vin finally admitted.

"Is that all?" JD giggled.

Ezra started sorting bits of paper and business cards on the table as he emptied pockets of the fringed jacket. Standish's dimples flashed, "If Mr. Tanner only got pinched by every other person that gave him a phone number. . . " Ezra whistled softly as he laid a check to the side.

Vin glared at the mounting pile of papers and notes. Several more checks were laid to the side.

"Holy Shit!" JD gasped as Ezra pulled out folded bills.

Stunned gazes lifted to the highly embarrassed tracker.

"Damn Junior, Chris could make a fortune putting ya out ta stud," Buck smirked.

Pain filled eyes lingered on the table then Vin blinked and was out the door before anyone else could move.

"Shit! Me and my big mouth," Buck sighed as he stood and started after Vin.

"Let him be brother," Josiah suggested.

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Tanner came limping back a few hours later.

"Vin," Buck started.

"I know ya didn't mean nothin' by it Bucklin, don't be draggin' yer chin," Vin gave one of his half grins. "Ya wasn't ta know ya was steppin' on mah toes," Tanner sighed.

"You okay Vin?" Nathan asked.

"Most of me," Vin grimaced as he started to sit down in a chair. "Thanks JD," Vin sighed as a cushion was slid between his bruises and the seat.

Vin finally raised his head and an almost imperceptible groan greeted Chris' grin. Josiah's booming laugh was soon joined by five more.

"Mr. Tanner, your suffering posterior raised $1,700 dollars," Ezra smirked.

Vin carefully shifted his weight and grimaced. "Mah butt and I agree, I ain't quittin' mah day job," he asserted.

"What should I do with the phone numbers?" Ezra asked.

"Give 'em ta Buck, he kin always use a good ass whoopin'," Vin suggested to the laughter filled room.

Buck picked up a business card. "Hell I been trying to get her number for close to a year," Buck blurted.

"Send her a bouquet a switches and ya might gitcha a date Bucklin," Vin grinned.

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The rest of the team were highly amused as Vin took to nearly hiding in the Aspen office. Over the next few days photos, made from security cameras, of the doeskin clad Tanner, appeared on bulletin boards throughout the building. Women with the flimsiest of excuses, kept appearing at the office bearing gifts.

"When ya figure they'll go away," Vin sighed as another lady was escorted out by Buck.

"I hope it lasts for a while," JD ignored Vin's glare.

"I don't ever remember eating this good," Josiah agreed.

"Some friends ya'll are and quit eatin' tha cookies they's mine," Vin snarled and grabbed the tin stashing it in his borrowed desk with a glare.

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While backing up Team 3 on Wednesday and things got a little out of hand. Vin ended up getting stitches for a knife slash across his chest.

By the next morning, when Spencer and his team joined Team 7 in the conference room, Vin had an array of bruises on both his face and body.

"Mr. Larson, will be meeting with Mr. Marini at 7 p.m. tonight at The Play Room," Ezra informed the group.

"Very exclusive," Agent Spencer frowned.

"I suggest that Vin not be assigned guard duty, tonight," Ezra sighed exchanging a glance with Chris and Vin. "Since it is abundantly clear that Mr. Larson's toy is currently under discipline," Ezra suggested, thus easily explaining any potential questions about Vin's injuries.

"Josiah and Nathan will take bodyguard duty," Chris decided.

"Let Josiah drive and I'll be bodyguard," Buck said.

"Buck, we need you and JD to keep up with surveillance," Chris growled.

"You won't be able to wear a wire," Buck pointed out.

"Nah, but won't nobody fault him fer puttin' a homin' beacon on a mighty expensive piece a livestock," Vin drawled , stunning the group. "Put a tracker inta tha collar, Bucklin," Vin smirked.

"JD, that new bug yer sa proud of, how good is it?" Vin asked softly.

"Considering it's size, it's fantastic," JD enthused.

"Tough little bugger?" Vin asked seriously.

"Yeah, it's good. Equipment can fail but so far this one never has," JD answered easily.

"It's 'bout as big as mah little finger nail?" Vin asked.

JD nodded slowly "It's as thick as a penny".

"Would it work from under tha skin?" Vin demanded.

"Vin have you got one of your feelings,'" Buck demanded.

"Maybe," Vin allowed.

Team 7 exchanged concerned looks.

"JD?" Chris asked softly.

"It should work," JD stated firmly.

"Nathan, kin ya slide that thing under mah hide? Say in tha edge of mah scalp and slap in a few stitches. Won't be like it'd be real noticeable if ya was ta set it in this bruise," Vin grinned across the table, indicating an extensive bruise on the side of his head running back into his hair.

Nathan frowned, but finally nodded.

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"Wire's working fine," Buck acknowledged.

"Homer in the collar is working," JD grinned. "Wait till you see Chris," JD giggled.

Larabee stalked in, black leather pants hugged the long legs and lean hips. The black silk shirt was open to the waist. A waist length leather vest hung open. Spurs chimed on the heels of the black boots. Fingerless black gloves graced his hands.

"Damned if you don't look like a daddy's nightmare," Buck drawled.

Amy LaPlant, one of the FBI agents walked around the glaring Larabee.

"Mm, mm, Mmm," she breathed. She made a sizzling sound when she patted Chris' butt on the way to her seat.

"Not a word," Chris threatened as the color rose in his cheeks.

Grins graced faces as a heartfelt "Ah hell!" echoed down the hall.

Vin backed through the door and slid a chair under the handle hurriedly. "What's wrong wit' them ladies," he growled as he turned around.

Vin was wearing tight, tight, tight black silk pants that lovingly followed each ridge and hollow of his body. A light chain had been used to lace them onto the lean form, a small padlock secured the lacing. Black boots graced his feet. A black short sleeve silk T-shirt covered the surprisingly broad shoulders. The shirt had been purchased a size too small and hugged the sharpshooter's torso tightly, outlining the ring gracing Tanner's left nipple. Black leather bracers covered the forearms and had been locked in place. Several strategically placed rings were worked into the bracers making them into convenient restraints. Vin's eyes appeared huge in his tanned face, his hair pulled back in a pony tail exposing the nape of his neck. Ear rings glinted in the lobe of one ear.

"Ezra, maybe you should've gotten a chastity belt while you were at it," Buck finally broke the silence.

"No underwear?" Josiah grinned at the nervous tracker.

"Hell, ya kin tell?" Vin snapped.

"Oh yeah," a feminine sigh was heard from the end of the table.

Vin's color rose as he spotted Amy LaPlant.

"Looking like a Russell Stovers store and me with a sweet tooth," she snickered.

Vin snatched up Chris' duster and crawled into it. "Buyin' mah own clothes from now on. Ez gets 'em too small," Vin growled.

Chris picked up the steel collar and started for Vin.

"Chris wait a second, I cain't breath," Tanner whispered.

Chris frowned "Vin?"

"Just give me a minute ta git it tagether," Vin requested. Finally the sharpshooter stepped forward and waited, his eyes locked with Chris'. Both men flinched as the lock snapped shut.

Damn, he looks so small all of a sudden. He's younger than I thought. Agent Spencer frowned wanting to stop the whole thing.

We're going to melt that damn thing down soon as this case is over.//

//It's all right Chris, got ya'll ta watch mah back. Let's do her.//

The two men nodded and headed for the door. Larabee pulled the chair out from under the knob and flashed a feral grin as he stepped into the hall. Vin slid into his position at Chris' left shoulder. Each of the seven fell into place, flanking Chris as he stalked the hall.

Personnel backed into the rooms, clearing the hallway for the hunters.

Spencer shook his head and waved his people out. "We need to work on attitude people. No one clears the way for us."

Amy snickered as she continued to admire the view of the seven from behind.