All Too Familiar

By: phantombabe

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the members of the Magnificent seven (dramatic sigh). I also don't own any of the horses they are riding (accept Chris', because I couldn't remember it's name) : )

Rating: PG-13 for some language and violence.

Comments: I am soooooooo sorry it took me this long to update. I just haven't felt like writing. I have probably lost all of my readers too because of it. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! I'll make it up to you I swear! XOXO to all of my fans (or what's left of them)

All Too Familiar

The stage was scheduled to come into town right around lunchtime. Which didn't make Ezra a very happy person. He couldn't stand to miss a meal… especially when gambling was involved. He checked his pocket watch for the third time in the last eight minutes.

"Good Lord! Whoever is coming in on this stage had better be the Pope himself, because if it isn't, I am going to kick somebody's ass for making me miss lunch."

"Calm down you old pard. It should be hear anytime now, and then you can get back t your beloved poker games." Buck said wiping the sweat from his neck with a handkerchief, which he carefully placed back in his pocket.

"Who mentioned anything about poker? I am only guilty of looking forward to the lunchtime special of steak and potatoes." He said, putting on his best "innocent face". Which he had mastered the day he learned how to walk. He was used to using his dazzling smile to get himself out of any trouble that he encountered along the way… or any trouble that he brought on himself… which was usually the case.

"Yeah, sure." He replied, rolling his eyes. He looked down from his perch on top of the bank roof to see Nathan all-but falling asleep in his leaned-back rocking chair. "Man if they don't hurry up, we're all gonna die of starvation and boredom."

"Most likely the latter." He said, leaning his head back to rest on the back of his, rather uncomfortable, chair.

"Don't you fall asleep on me, or Chris will have my hide." Buck said, gently punching Ezra's shoulder. When he got no response, he decided to take more drastic measures. He used the butt of his rifle to knock the legs of the chair out from under his sleeping friend. Ezra landed quite ungracefully on his back.

"Why you egotistical, arrogant-" He didn't finish his line of insults, because the stage came tearing into town with a group of riders hot on it's tail.

"Show time." Buck said, raising his rifle.

Chris had his feet kicked up on the railing of the porch to the saloon. His eyes never left the south entrance to town. He was trying desperately to keep his mind off of his nightmare, but to no avail. He couldn't get the sound of her screams out of his head. It had happened six years but they were as fresh as if they had only happened yesterday.

He looked up at the rook where Buck and Ezra sat. Buck waved and Ezra just nodded his head. He then looked over to Nathan, who appeared to be fighting sleep. Then he glanced over to where Josiah and JD were walking up the street. They had to walk up and down the street to make sure that everything in town was still running smoothly. They nodded their heads and kept walking. Vin was on his horse, patrolling the perimeter of the town, he said that he didn't want to just sit around and wait so it gave him something to do until the stage arrived.

After scanning the area, his mind wandered back to his dream. Why was it happening all of a sudden, after six years? He couldn't get his mind straight. He glanced back up at Buck and Ezra in time to see Ezra fall over backwards, and Bucks triumphant grin. He couldn't help but laugh in spite of his fowl mood.

Suddenly he heard the sound of the stage tearing into town. His head jerked to the side and he saw that the stage was being tailed by a group of riders, and they didn't look too friendly.

"Well this is gonna be fun." He said to himself as he jumped over the rail and got between the stage and the riders.

"Can I help you gentlmen?" He said, smiling slightly as he saw the leader reach for his gun.

Well it was kinda short, but I thought that that was as good a place as any to end this chapter. I promise that it won't take me that long in the future to update my stories. XOXO to all of my fans. Don't forget to review!