"Oh Shit! It's Bob Stokes," Buck hissed, recognizing the Lieutenant of the security team.
"This we don't need," Josiah sighed.
"There is a problem gentlemen?" Ezra demanded.
"Bad blood between him and Chris. Chris whipped his ass, then got him court marshaled. That's why he's only an LT now," Buck grunted.
"Certainly not an auspicious start for a judicious handling of our immediate situation," Ezra lamented. "JD, Be prepared to help me subdue Mister Tanner."
Buck took in Tanner's stance. Vin was standing well to the left of Chris and some six foot away leaning against a tree. The guardian was slouched and seem even smaller than normal. The human seemed to be fully engrossed in staring into the vandalized quarters.
"Don't tell me Scruffy isn't aware of how mad Chris is," Buck grunted.
"It would appear that our compatriot has become a non-entity, unobtrusive, inconspicuous. Of little concern to your far superior security team," Ezra's ironic tone held suppressed humor.
"What a lovely rabbit skin to wrap a baby lupar in," JD huffed.
Buck's eyes widened as he once more looked at the guardian. This time he actually 'saw' Tanner. An instinctive shiver raced down his spine in the presence of a dangerous predator.
"Buck, you want to try and keep those fools from fighting? Vin will end up killing somebody," Nathan growled.
"You have your medical kit?" Buck demanded before walking toward the up coming confrontation.
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"Lieutenant Stokes." Chris' soft voice was icy.
"Colonel Larabee, What might be your problem?" Stokes sneered.
"Our quarters were broken into while we were out at Sanctuary," Chris purred.
"I guess somebody doesn't like you much," Stokes laughed. The members of his patrol grinned and laughed.
Colonel Lindburg was reassigned to Dolon three. Who's in charge of base security now, Lieutenant?" Chris asked in an icy whisper.
"That would be Colonel Anderson, sir," Stokes smirked.
"Place has been trashed. I don't see a forensic team with you. I know you were asked to bring one when we called this in," Buck snapped disregarding his intended role of peacemaker.
"We didn't have a team available . . . Sir," Lieutenant Stokes grinned.
"Nathan, do you have any seal bags in your kit?" Chris asked calmly.
"Yes, Colonel," Nathan responded quickly.
"Are you and Scruffy gonna take a look-see?" Buck asked.
"Yes, Since a forensic team isn't available. Vin is a hunter. It's a matter of record. It shouldn't be a problem for us to collect your evidence for you," Chris' smile wasn't friendly at all.
"You can't do that," Stokes spluttered.
"I can't?"Larabee raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?" Buck asked, keeping a worried eye on Larabee.
"Chain of evidence. Your hunter's abilities haven't been tested," Stokes protested desperately.
"Maybe you should call and see if a team might be available then. I'd hate to have to call General Travis to get the go ahead," Chris gave a sharkish smile.
"Yeah. I'll call and see if anyone's available yet," Stokes grunted before stalking off to make his call.
"Colonel Larabee, One could safely assume that you have received numerous notations on your school record for not playing well with others," Ezra smirked as he walked up. The emerald eyes studied the security guards dispassionately.
"It shows?" Buck smirked.
"Abundantly," Ezra huffed.
"A team is on the way," the disgruntled Stokes announced as he walked up.
"Good," Chris grunted.
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The security team seemed content to stand around directing insults toward the 'kids'. At the same time the humans were working hard to restrain their Centurion teammates.
"It'll only git yah reprimanded. Git used ta it. This is gonna be tha way things are from now on." Vin's raspy whisper seemed exhausted. A distracted frown kept appearing on the tracker's face as he kept scenting the stench coming from the open door of the team quarters.
"Vin." Chris shook Tanner's shoulder as the human seemed to freeze.
"Ain' zonin' Larabee. They's a scent layin' 'neath tha stench. I jest cain' figure out what it is," Vin growled.
The forensic's team arrived and prepared to enter. One of the security team began to unload gear necessary to scanning the building.
"Ain' nobody in there," Vin called.
"Like I'd believe a human," the tech spat as he finished setting up his gear.
"There's a life sign, Lieutenant," the tech reported, sneering over at the human. "So nobody's in there, huh?"
"Vin?" Chris asked curiously noting the spark of mischief in Vin's sapphire eyes.
//Rekin he's pickin' up tha' dog prowlin' out back.// Vin answered.
"Corporal, are the life signs consistent with a sapient?" Chris asked sharply.
"Crap! No sir, it is most likely a canine," the embarrassed tech muttered.
"'Bout fifteen yards on past the buildin'," Tanner reported.
"About fifteen yards on the other side of the building," The tech reluctantly verified.
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Stokes finally started his investigation. He asked questions of the Centurion members of Larabee's team. He demanded to know where they were when this happened and if they had witnesses. The humans were ignored for the most part and preferred it that way. Two of the techs entered the contaminated building wearing air breathers to protect them from stench from inside. They began to take samples.
"This is going to do as much good as spitting in the wind," Buck huffed to Vin as they both looked in the door. The forensic techs were doing a haphazard job at best if they weren't deliberately destroying evidence.
"DOWN!!!!" Vin suddenly yelled pushing Buck and the closest members of his tribe to the ground, who in turn knocked down those closest to them. Tanner reached out and jerked Chris off his feet and threw himself over Chris' head and shoulders. A deafening roar and flame shot out the building through the open door. Tanner sat up and did a quick check on his guide. He then made a quick examination on each of his team members before standing up.
"Vin, NO!" Chris' anguished scream filled the air as the human darted into the building.
Buck and Josiah pinned the smaller man under them as Chris struggled to follow his bonded. Chris lay shivering under the two bigger men, no longer fighting. Larabee was lost in a nightmare of another explosion and fire. The loss of loved ones that he had barely survived.
//On mah way out now, calm down, Detholuva. Tha sprinklers 've cut in. Was a vapor fire, jest tha one flash. I won' leave yah,// Tanner soothed his bonded mind to mind.
"Chris?" Buck asked frightened by the sudden stillness.
"He's on his way out," Larabee sobbed faintly in relief.
"That's good, Stud. You stay here with me. Scruffy doesn't need to be worrying about you right now," Buck rubbed his friend's trembling shoulders.
Josiah's big hand rested for a moment on Chris' head.
"Looks like our sheepdog found himself a stray lamb," Josiah said heading over to where he could see Vin pulling a rug towards them through the smoke. Willing hands reached out and helped pull the rug on out the door. Vin immediately dropped down and grabbed the man's wrists squeezing tightly once the rug was out of the building. Ezra silently took over the left arm. Both men raised the mangled arms up keeping pressure on the wrists while reaching down to place indirect pressure under each arm. JD paled but carefully raised the injured man's feet.
Nathan gasped, grabbed his medical bag and rushed over. Both of the man's hand's were missing, gaping wounds showed through tears in the uniform. Jackson worked desperately trying to stop the bleeding. Buck turned his back and called emergency services. Josiah carefully nudged JD aside, his gentle hands took over holding up the injured Centurion's feet.
"JD, find us something we can use to prop his feet up and some kind of blankets, son," Sanchez ordered.
Dunne nodded and hurried over to their gear.
Chris laid a trembling hand on Vin's back then stood guard on his team. He stared in disgust as the security team did . . . nothing. They simply stared at the building and their injured comrade as if in shock.
"Nate, yah need to let go now," Vin rasped quietly as he lowered the arm he was holding up. Ezra silently followed suit and stepped away. "He's gone Nate. They was jest to much wrong. Nothin' more yah kin do fer him," Vin coaxed laying a hand on Jackson's shoulder.
Nathan looked up angrily. "I don't just give . . . " His harsh words cut off as he watched a tear run down the Sentinel's sooty face. Nathan frowned as he took in the human's appearance. Tanner had blood splattered across his face and over his chest. Both arms looked like he had dipped them in blood.
"How much of that is yours?" Nathan's voice softened, taking in the human's misery. Jackson stood up and stepped back from the body, intent on Vin now.
"Don' think any of it is," Vin muttered distractedly while trying to wipe the blood off.
"You're the clan healer, Sargent Jackson," Ezra spoke in a low calm tone offering a wet towel and nodded toward Vin.
"Get me a few more of these. Thanks for your help, Ezra. Don't forget to clean up yourself," Nathan reminded.
JD walked over with one of Josiah's old shirts. Kneeling down he closed the dead man's eyes. Folding his hands the human bowed his head in prayer for a moment before covering the body with the shirt.
Buck reached down and helped JD to his feet tucking the youngster close to his side.
"Thanks kid," Buck choked out. Right now I'm pretty damn ashamed to be Centurion. This guy served with them and strangers, HUMAN strangers offered more kindness then those jerks.
"Let Chris and me help clean you up." Nathan slowly approached the clearly agitated Guardian.
//I kept yah out a tha backlash?// Tanner examined his guide, still worried about how the empath was effected by the sudden deaths.
"I'm fine, Vin. What has you so . . . territorial?" Chris coaxed.
"Challenge! That was tha odor. She's tryin' ta claim yah. She was in our quarters," Vin snarled.
"She?" Chris asked in bewilderment
"Who?" Buck snarled protectively sandwiching Chris between him and Vin.
Vin grabbed Chris and pulled him close. "MINE!" He growled.
"Now and always," Chris promised relaxing into the desperate hold instinctively calming his sentinel. Patiently he waited for Vin to loosen his hold.
"You ready to get cleaned up now?" Nathan asked after a few minutes.
"Got some'at ta do first, Nate," Vin sighed. Turning he started to climb the tree he had been leaning on earlier.
"Tanner, what in hell are you doing now?" Chris snarled.
"Takin' care a' tha dead," Vin answered sadly. The human had removed his bloody shirt to wrap something in. Slowly Tanner climbed back down using one arm cradling his burden carefully. Reaching the ground Vin moved over to the body and slid his laden shirt under the makeshift shroud. Bowing his head his soft voice carried to the others in a faint murmur. After a moment Tanner turned and walked away.
"Vin?" Nathan asked faintly as he moved in and began wiping the blood off Tanner's face with his towel.
Chris moved over with another towel and started washing off the blood covered hands and arms.
"Tha other'n's head, rest a him's still in there," Vin whispered worried eyes lingered on his bonded..
Chris wordlessly wrapped his arms around the bloody human for a long moment. //Gavin, I'm alright. You shielded me from the deaths. I'm not hurt. Let me take care of you now.//
Gently, Vin was washed off as well as possible.
Ezra appeared with a fresh shirt and allowed himself to be scanned.
Vin then made the round, checking on each of his teammates before settling.
Another team of security had arrived in the meantime and stood watching the interaction curiously. The captain of that unit started over.
"Stop. That's close enough for right now," Buck held up a hand.
"The hunter is distressed?" The captain asked softly.
"Yeah Captain . . . Miller," Buck read the officer's name tab.
"I really need to get started here," Miller sighed.
"We'll be at the infirmary," Nathan said in a no nonsense tone. "I want everybody checked out now."
"That'll work out fine. It'll give me time to set things up here. If it's alright I'll stop by in an hour or so to take your statements," Captain Miller offered.
"Only if Vin's calmed down," Chris warned.
"I understand, Colonel." Miller nodded.
"May we take our personal duffel?" Ezra inquired waving at the duffels piled on the lawn.
"Were they in there?" Miller indicated the damaged building.
"No. We just got here and discovered the vandalism. Only Chris and Ezra actually got past the door," Buck answered.
"Take 'em, then. One less thing for those idiots to trip over," Miller scowled over at Stokes and company.
lupar- a wolf like animal, symbol of the Larabee family
Detholuva-elvish for chosen