Tuesday

Chris woke looking over he studied his paired. For the first time Larabee saw the human in a relaxed natural sleep. The unemotional mask had been shed revealing a sobering fact. Hell he really is a kid. There's not enough beard to shave. Chris studied the exposed face. Gently he brushed a curl back. How old did Josiah say he was?

Chris smiled trying to free himself from the human's embrace without waking the sleeper. Never thought you'd be a snuggler. Ten minutes later Chris was more trapped then before he started. The human was twined around him snugly. "You've got more moves then Buck," Chris announced when the sleepy blue eyes opened.

"Ain't interested in yah tha' way," Vin flushed and pulled back.

"I know that Tanner. You just didn't want to loose your pillow," Larabee smirked. Vin humphed and glared blearily. Standing up Vin took the covering blankets with him. "Shit Tanner it's cold!" Chris protested. There was a definite chill in the air. Faint embers of last nights fire lay dying in the ashes.

"Figured that out when yah was floppin' tha blankets 'round," Vin yawned widely. Tanner shuffled into the kitchen wrapped tightly in the blankets. "Hell it's after 10." Vin's disbelieving tone carried back to Chris. "Don' never 'member sleepin' this late iffen I'se healthy," Vin grunted shrugging. He started coffee.

Chris looked thoughtful as he considered. Come to think of it Tanner does seem to only take naps is that normal? "My shields are high," Chris stretched pleasantly content. "How are your pathways this morning?" Chris asked in concern.

"They ain't burning," Vin said in amazement.

OK so I need to back off and let him have some control too. "I'm too damn old to be sleeping on the floor," Chris groaned rising to his feet. "Looks like we might have this link thing whipped," Chris said as he stretched once more.

"It were easier seein' yah," Vin admitted. "It ain' finished by a long sight though," Vin warned.

"What do you mean? The link is sealed," Chris straightened listening intently.

"Bondin's deeper," Vin muttered distractedly while digging through the cooler for something to eat.

"Vin it's done. I've been linked before," Chris reminded kindly. I know how he feels. I expected something 'more' when Sarah and I bonded too.

"Larabee a bondin' goes deeper than this," Vin's voice held certainty. Turning the sapphire blue eyes seemed to hold the secrets of time it's self.

Larabee's phone rang interrupting the conversation. "Yeah Buck,...they've what?...How did you let that happen?...Well paint it ...They did what to your black book?...Alright I'll ask him..." Chris was now struggling not to laugh out loud. "Here talk to the demonic duo and tell them to quit pestering Buck will you?" Chris held out his phone.

"Like that's gonna do a damn bit a good," Vin smirked taking the phone. "Hey Ez whatcha gone and done ta Buck?... Cain't yah at least straighten out his courtin' papers... Man's gonna be a pain in tha ass iffen yah don'...JD yah best think on it...Iffen he don' git some company you and Ez might start lookin' good," Vin warned. "I tried Buck. Yah might try finding some'n they's willin' ta trade fer," Vin suggested before hanging up.

"What did they do?" Chris asked curiously.

"They done password-protected Buck's ladies file," Vin smirked.

"Buck can't get to the file?" Chris choked.

"Nope," Vin grinned.

"Oh Hell! I'm glad we're up here," Chris snickered.

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Following the human around the forest, Chris took note of just what he was seeing. He was flatly amazed at the survival skills hinted at by the human's actions and questions he asked. He's marking his territory. Chris noted with a certain amount of giddy relief. Tanner circled yet another tree rubbing against the bark. "Are you going to raise a leg there Tanner?" Chris teased.

Vin froze and tilted his head. Laughter danced in the blue eyes. "Tha's yer job," Vin smirked.

"What?" Chris spluttered.

"It's yer territory too," Vin said innocently.

"You're kidding right?" Chris demanded. Vin simply looked back calmly. "Hell," Chris walked over to the tree. "Tanner I don't need an audience," Chris snarled. Vin walked off a few feet. When Vin's stifled snickers carried Chris stiffened. The little shit set me up. Chris smiled to himself.

Chris found himself engaged in behavior that would have been deemed childish by any centurion watching. Tanner would disappear for upwards of half an hour only to reappear with a pounce. Sniffing his bonded and rubbing against him to 'mark' the centurion Vin would disappear once more. After the second such attack Chris changed the rules and began to actively 'hide' from Vin. After several hours of this Chris urged Vin back to the cabin for a meal.

Following Tanner back through the woods Chris considered what he had learned about his human during that short period. He smiled faintly pleased at how things had progressed. A twinge of sorrow suddenly disturbed his peace as he watched Vin explore his new world. How do humans raise their children? Was he ever allowed to be a child?

"How'd you catch it?" Chris demanded as Vin returned from a short foray into the brush. A pheasant seemed to be on the menu for supper tonight.

"Chucked a rock," Vin muttered. A piece to twine around its feet and Vin began tying it to Larabee's belt.

"Why am I carrying your kill oh mighty hunter?" Chris huffed.

"Cause yer not good fer much else. Trompin' 'round like an elefant," Vin huffed with a laugh. Chris scowled for a moment. "Don' see yah bringing home nothin' ta eat," Vin chuckled.

"Well I like pheasant so I'll carry your bounty this time," Chris huffed. I don't know if he even realizes he's doing it. Chris mused as Vin pressed against him for a moment before disappearing once more.

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"Oh that was good," Chris sighed. He rubbed his belly contentedly. Tanner had provided a meal entirely from the surrounding forest. Refusing to let Chris cook anything Vin had puttered in the kitchen all afternoon. No wonder they're not eating the rations if this kind of food is what they're used to. Very many meals like the last two days and I won't eat standards either.

Tanner did accept help with the clean up. Both men settled in by the fire once more content to relax. Chris dozed off in his recliner pleased with the efforts of his day. Stirring several hours later Chris opened his eyes to see the pallet made once more by the fire.

"Vin?" Chris asked softly in disbelief. Looking into the sapphire eyes he saw the growing need. I must be doing something right. He's asking to bond. Calmly Chris stood up walked to the bedding and prepared for the bonding. He lay down on his back and waited patiently for Vin to make the first move in this ancient dance. Afterwards Chris lay against a cushion contentedly sipping a whiskey. Vin lay with his back plastered against his side while they both gazed into the flames. That was different Chris mused to himself peacefully. Maybe this can work Larabee idly played with one to the loose curls lying across his chest.

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Wednesday

After checking in with the others Chris and Vin settled into another day of exploring and just learning to deal with each other. He's good company. Chris admitted to himself. This morning Chris had pulled out the fishing gear and was settled back on the creek bank peacefully. Vin would periodically make a foray into the woods but seemed content to lie in a patch of sunshine for the most part.

"Looks like your carrying my catch back this time," Chris indicated his catch. When Vin returned from one of his explorations.

"Rekin so," Vin smiled faintly before stretching out in a boneless sprawl.

As the day progressed Chris became worried. "That's three times," he growled pulling Vin out of yet another zone. "You're getting worse. We've bonded this shouldn't be happening," Larabee muttered.

"Bond ain't finished," Vin reminded softly.

He isn't a nose so maybe there is something else he needs. "What else do we need to do?" Chris asked in concern.

"Bond goes deeper than this link," Vin muttered.

"So how do we bond human style then?" Chris demanded.

"Tha guide starts presentin'," Vin muttered faintly.

"Presenting? What's that?"

"Bondin' behavior lettin' tha guardian know they's ready ta bond. It'll trigger tha guardian ta imprint 'em," Vin's color deepened while he avoided looking at Chris.

"What does bonding behavior consist of?" Chris asked uncomfortably. What have I got myself into?

"Guide indicates they's ready ta commit," Vin shifted nervously.

"Commit how?" Chris' discomfort grew as Vin's blush deepened.

"Guide comes inta season," Vin's voice was almost a whisper.

"Like a BREEDING HEAT?" Chris yelped.

"Ah hell it ain't sex Larabee," Vin growled.

"That's good 'cause I'm not interested in your scrawny ass," Chris' voice dropped back to normal. "So how do I ...come in season?" Chris asked in a mutter.

"We separate till yah loose yer shields," Vin sighed.

"Do you have any concept of how that will effect me?" Chris demanded.

"It'll make yah desperate ta bond. That's when yah start producing call scent," Vin answered. Chris frowned at this unknown bit of information. "Then I'll imprint ya and tha bond'll set," Vin continued. Vin paused a long moment. "Last bonding is done 'fore tha clan so's they's witnesses ta tha claimin'," Vin kept his eyes fixed on the creek.

"Do you need this?" Chris Larabee asked calmly. Vin nodded. "So we have to go back to Hunter Center".

"What fer do yah wanta go ta that place?" Vin's head swung around in horror.

"They have the closest bonding chamber," Chris said.

"Don' need it," Vin responded quickly.

"You do realize just how bad bonding in front of other people will hurt. With no barriers it's just laying ourselves open," Chris sighed. "They have bonding chambers for a reason".

"I'll make a fairy circle ta pertect yah," Vin promised.

"What's that?" Chris asked unfamiliar with the term.

"A shielded place," Vin answered hesitant at revealing the information.

"You can shield a location?" Chris blurted in disbelief. Vin simply nodded his response. "Damn," Chris breathed in amazement. I thought that was impossible. Just how different are you? "Can I have some time to think about this?"

"Sure," Vin sighed.

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Once supper was over Chris was once more settled into the old recliner. Happily digesting another Tanner meal. Opening his eyes Larabee watched as Vin settled onto the floor beside him. "Are you all right Vin?" Chris asked softly. At the tentative nudge on the link Chris immediately opened to the human. Chris almost held his breath as he waited for Tanner to start the bonding. Chris welcomed the clearly nervous human's overture. "That feels really good," Chris sighed contentedly when the link hummed to life. Vin sighed then slumped against Chris' leg letting his head rest on Larabee's thigh. A faint purr thrummed when Chris stroked the silky curls. It's going to be OK. Somehow I'll make it OK. How can I keep Hunter Center's hands off of him?