I don't own the Magnificent 7 or any of the other characters in the TV series and don't make any money from this story.
This story is in the ATF universe but there are some differences.
AU: Young Buck and Josiah Alternate ATF Universe (ATF created by MOG)
Rating: PG
Open: Feel free to write stories in this AU although it will be best to wait until I have posted some more to set up the AU a bit more.
Characters: Ezra, Buck, Josiah
Warnings: I don't think there's anything that needs warning, sorry if anyone feels differently.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Mog for creating ATF, to the Little Britches writers for inspiring me to write Mag 7 children stories. Thanks to KT and J for their advice and feedback. Thanks to Az for being my beta. Thanks to Lara for giving me the initial idea for this and for her feedback.
PART 1: THE BRIEFING
Denver ATF Building Wednesday morning...
It was mid-week and JD and Vin arrived at the Denver ATF building. Vin drove his car which he was sharing with JD this morning, into the parking lot.
"Damnit, that's the last straw," exclaimed Vin, as he found his usual parking space, but couldn't get in as it was taken up by a familiar car. Unfortunately, the car belonged to his friend and teammate, Nathan Jackson. Vin was certain the man was doing it on purpose. It was the third time this week that Vin had been forced to park farther away from the front entrance, meaning he had farther to walk to the entrance.
He settled for a parking space farther over and parked up.
Meanwhile, watching from Nathan's car, was Nathan himself. He grinned as he watched Vin parking farther away. He had decided recently that Vin was putting on weight, so anything that would give the man more exercise was worth it. He daren't tell Vin what he thought - let the sharpshooter think whatever he wanted.
Nathan waited until Vin and JD had gone inside, before getting out of his car and slowly walking towards the building. He just saw Vin and JD starting up the stairs to the floor their office was on, at least because of Vin's claustrophobia, the sharpshooter wouldn't use the less healthy way - the elevator.
Nathan didn't hear Ezra coming in the front entrance behind him, and jumped slightly when the undercover agent tapped him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jackson - I didn't intend to scare you," said Ezra.
"It's okay, Ez. Have you noticed that Vin's putting on weight recently?"
"Yes, I have observed our sharpshooter's increase in cholesterol."
"He needs to get a lot more exercise and cut down on the treats," explained Nathan.
"Good luck, Mr. Jackson. You would have better fortune in stopping Mr. Larabee from glaring," chuckled Ezra.
"What was that, Ezra?" asked an angry voice from behind him.
"Nothing of much relevance, Mr. Larabee. You're here bright and early this morning."
"Your sucking up won't get you a pay-rise, Ezra," said Chris angrily.
"I would prefer a week's vacation," said Ezra, hopefully.
"Forget it, we're snowed under with work for the next six months," said Chris, as he started for the elevator.
Nathan called after him, "Why don't you take the stairs, Chris?"
The blonde team leader grunted back at him, not turning round.
Nathan dismissed the issue and started for the stairs. Ezra followed after him, not wishing to be under Nathan's wrath if he took the less healthy way up.
Denver ATF Building Wednesday morning, 15 minutes later...
"If everyone's here, we'll get started," said Chris, counting the team members and noting that they were all there. He had called a meeting in their conference room to discuss a bust they were soon to carry out. It wasn't just any bust though - this was on a place where people were being made to work against their will, preparing illegally gained drugs before they were sold at extortionate prices.
Chris turned back to the plan of the building they were going to break into soon. He pointed to the front entrance. "Ezra will be masquerading as a new associate appointed to replace a recently deceased one," Chris paused, remembering how he had felt quite satisfied when he had shot the guard and watched him stumbling, until the man had finally collapsed and died. He didn't normally feel so satisfied at killing someone, but he knew that this man had been instrumental in the death of his wife two years ago. It was a start - but the people who had planned the bomb meant for him, were still out there somewhere. Unfortunately things had gone downhill after Chris had shot the man, and that bust had been hurriedly postponed afterward, meaning that the bad guys hadn't been caught and the labourers hadn't been rescued.
"Mr. Larabee? Is that all you had to tell us this morning?" asked Ezra, impatiently.
Chris woke up from his reminiscing and replied, "No, Ezra - that is not all. Ezra, as you know, you will be wearing a tiny microphone and when you give the signal, I, Vin and JD will storm in with the machine guns we will be allocated by the arms division. We will secure the area, then when it's safe we'll head for the laboratory which is located here," Chris pointed to a large rectangle on the floorplan in the centre of the building. "Then, we'll take all the criminals prisoner and release the hostages. Any questions?"
"This operation isn't completely foolproof is it?" asked Ezra.
"No, it's not - but it's the best we could come up with at such short notice," answered Chris.
"We can handle this, piece o' cake," replied Vin.
A dimly-lit laboratory, other side of town, about the same time…
Two boys talked quietly while they worked.
"How much longer do we have to do this?" asked Buck, the younger of the two, being only 6 years old.
"Not too much longer. Someone's going to rescue us real soon," answered his ten-year-old cousin, Josiah.
"D'ya think my parents will come and get us?" asked Buck, hopefully.
"Kid, they can't come and get us - they're gone now," explained Josiah, gently.
Buck started crying and Josiah hugged him tightly.
"You two, get back to work," shouted their supervisor, waving his gun at them.
The two separated and went back to their work. They were seated on stools next to each other at a large table.
Buck's neighbour - a pretty young blonde woman called Mary - whispered to the boy, "If we get out of this, you can both live with me."
"Thanks, ma'am," said Buck, smiling his cute smile at her.
"Seein' as I can't have any children of my own, I'd be happy to help," she whispered back, looking down at her chest where she had been shot. Their captors had provided a doctor to check her and she'd been told she would never be able to have children. She had wept for a long time after, until her captors had waved their guns at her, threatening her if she didn't stop.
"I hope people are getting on with their work over there; we have to finish that order by tomorrow," said the supervisor, who had very good ears and was sure he had heard whispering. He had only put the blonde with the boys, on the condition that she made sure they got on with their work.
The intercom outside sounded then, and the supervisor ordered a worker to answer it.
End of Part 1