A/N – Usual disclaimers apply, I do not own anything and if I did then M7 and Sentinel would still be going.
Hope you like this chapter and I really dislike the Alpha of Denver.
Sentinel Legend.
The growled name sounded in Buck's ear, the tall man stood still, he waited to see what Chris would do. Chris moved in front of Buck, Buck got his first look at Chris and he struggled to keep his anger in check. The blond man was dressed in blood stained clothes, he looked exhausted, his eyes where red rimmed and Buck could see a painful looking rash on the bare skin on the blonds arms.
"Hi Chris." Buck grinned at the lean man, he slowly moved forward towards Chris who watched him closely.
Buck gently wrapped his arms around the too thin man; he ignored the smell of blood from Chris. He smiled as Chris buried his face against his neck, he could hear and feel the man snuffling at his throat. Buck ran his hands over Chris feeling for any injuries, other than some bruises he could not find anything wrong. Chris leant more heavily on his close friend, he could feel the blood pounding in his veins, he focused on Buck's slow and steady heartbeat, the strong beat soothed his frazzled senses. Buck gently ran one large hand up and down Chris's back; he felt Chris settled more weight against him.
Buck could feel the heat coming off Chris in waves, he was essentially holding the other man up, as Chris had relax completely in his hold, or so he thought as he felt the man grow rigid and begin to growl. Buck tightened his hold and continued to rub his hand soothingly on Chris's back.
"It's alright Chris, it's just the doctor who is going to help you." Buck nodded at the healer who slowly advanced towards them.
"Hello Chris, I'm not going to hurt you." Nathan approached cautiously he could hear the growls from the man, Buck hand cradled Chris's head against his neck.
Buck placed his nose against Chris neck and inhaled, he felt Chris snuffle him in turn. He lifted his head and nodded at Nathan who gently placed his hand on the now silent Larabee's back.
Nathan nearly jumped when he felt the power under his hand, he had touch many sentinel's before and none had felt like this man. He considered where to start, he had told Spikes to stay out of the house as Buck seemed to be doing alright. Nathan could feel each individual rib on the lean man, he saw Buck was watching him, he held up the sedative filled syringe, Buck nodded. Nathan saw Buck tighten his hold on the now quiet sentinel, Nathan quickly injected the contents of the syringe into the sentinel.
"Easy Chris." Buck nearly jumped in shock as Chris teeth bit gently but firmly where his shoulder met his neck. Buck felt the man sag, and his head loll against his shoulder. Buck moved to the large comfortable looking couch and laid Chris down on it.
Nathan moved to take the sedated man's pulse, it was slower than he liked but the amount of drugs in his system could account for that.
"Well Dr Jackson?" Buck sat on the couch he lifted Chris's head and rested it on his knee he gently stroked the sweaty head.
"I think we need to get back to the SGF building and then I can examine him more fully." Nathan lifted an eyelid he could see that the green eyes where slow to react to light. "Let's get the chopper back to Denver asap."
"I don't want Spikes touching him." Buck snarled, he felt Chris stir slightly at his angry tone, he started stroking the blond head again. "Shush Chris, its nothing to worry about."
"Jesus." Nathan nearly yelped as he caught sight of the timber wolf sat starring at him, he tried not to react as a second even bigger wolf with bright blue eyes sprawled next to the green eyed wolf, he saw a third wolf which was midnight black which also moved to sit next to the watching wolves, the black one slowly began to approach Nathan who watched fascinated, the cold wet nose touch his outstretched hand.
"Do you see them Nathan?" Buck whispered he stared at the huge blue eyed wolf who toothily grinned back at him. "Is he mine?"
"I think their our spirit guides." Nathan had never seen his spirit animal before, he had always been disappointed by that fact, but now looking at the jet black wolf he was overjoyed that he had witnessed this event. He rubbed the large black head amazed that he could feel the fur under his hand.
The huge wolf with the blue eyes rolled on its back in front of its green eyed pack mate who looked disdainfully down, Buck laughed as the blue eyed wolf licked the smaller wolf's muzzle. The silver wolf grumbled as the blue eyed wolf stood up and began to lick the silver ears. Snorting Buck knew that the silver wolf was Chris's and the licking wolf was his, it seemed as though the brown wolf was laughing as it nudged the silver wolf, which eventually raised a paw and smacked the other wolf on the nose, which caused the animal to sneezed and shake its huge head, but then it flopped on its side in front of the regal silver wolf and whined, the silver wolf lowered its head and began to wash the whining wolfs head, happy sounds burst from the wolf and its tail began to wag.
The wolves slowly faded away, Buck calmly stood up he picked up his best friend like a child and headed to the chopper, Buck noted Spikes come charging over. Buck growled angrily at the man who stopped some distance away, Buck's lip curled as he snarled angrily.
Spikes could not believe his eyes, the arrogant man had managed to do what his team had failed at. The tall sentinel cradled the other man like a child, Spikes went to move closer but Wilmington's snarls increased, the guide doctor held his hand up for him to stop.
"We'll take Sentinel Larabee back to Denver, I'm sure you can let Director Royal and Alpha James know that we're coming." Nathan rested his hand on the snarling sentinels arm he projected calm to the other man. He again felt the strangeness from the sleeping Larabee. "Buck you'll wake Chris up."
Buck looked down at Chris who had stirred slightly as he growled at Spikes, he turned his back on Spikes and walked rapidly to the helicopter, he settled Chris in a seat and fastened the restraints, Buck sat beside the sedated man, he was not keen on taking Chris to the foundation building but the man needed help.
A medical team met the men as they landed, Buck noted that a large number of the Denver pride where present as Chris was wheeled in on the stretcher, Buck could hear the whispers as they took in his blood covered condition. The barrel chested sentinel who was bonded with Nathan Jackson rushed forward to check his guide was unharmed.
"I'll be right out Josiah and I'm fine I'm unhurt." Nathan grinned at his sentinel, before he followed his patient into the treatment room he quickly began issuing orders as the man was stripped of his clothes and the examination began.
Josiah could feel Nathan's excitement from where he stood, his guide was happy about something and Josiah had a feeling it involved the sleeping sentinel. He turned away from the door and nearly bumped into a taller moustached man.
"Buck Wilmington." Buck held his hand out to the other sentinel.
"Josiah Sanchez." Josiah could tell the man was not happy about having to wait outside, he hoped that Nathan finished quickly.
Nathan watched as the sleeping sentinel was gently washed by the two nurses, they where both low level guides and Nathan could see that touching Larabee was having a profound effect on both women.
"Doctor Jackson, what is this sentinel?" Nurse Paula Froggat whispered as she ran a warm wash cloth over the leanly muscled body of the man on the bed.
"I don't know, but lets make him as comfortable as possible." Nathan smiled gently as the man on the bed was finally clean and dressed in lightweight cotton pyjama bottoms; he had rolled onto his side and curled into a ball. Nathan touched his wrist and again felt a enormous sense of peace and calm, as well as restrained power, Nathan barely batted an eye as the huge silver timer wolf jumped on the bed, turning in a circle before it settled at Larabee's feet, the animal yawned widely as it watched Nathan with its striking green eyes.
Nathan opened the door to find the tall sentinel waiting with Josiah, he smiled at both men.
"He's sleeping now and he seems calm and relaxed." Nathan wanted to say more, he could see the two guide nurses with their heads together whispering to their bonded sentinels, all four kept shooting glances to the room where Chris Larabee slept.
"That's great, I'm going to sit with him." Buck moved into the room, smiling at the sight of the blond who had kicked off his blanket and was sprawled on his stomach. Buck settled himself on the floor by the bed as that was the only furniture in the room.
Josiah walked into the room carrying a chair, he smiled at the other sentinel, he placed the chair by the bed. Buck had stood up as soon as he entered and Josiah looked down at the sleeping blond, he could not wait to get Nathan alone so he can find out what had got his guide so excited, the whole of the Foundation building seemed to be buzzing about the sleeping man.
"Thanks." Buck watched as Josiah looked at Chris, who rolled onto his back, Buck moved closer to the bed, he could see that his friends eyes where slightly open, but Buck was not sure how awake the other man was. "Hey Big Dog."
Buck rested his hand on Chris's head, the man sighed and his eyes closed again, Buck looked at Josiah to see if the man would say anything as most sentinels did not really touch each other if they could help it.
"He trusts you." Josiah voice fit his body deep and resonant.
"Yes he's my best friend, the nearest thing to a brother I have." Buck hand had started stroking the sleeping man's head of its own volition. "I can't believe he's come online on his own, I should have been there for him."
Buck started in surprise as his wrist was gripped, sleepy green eyes starred at him, Chris rolled onto his side, tucking Bucks hand against his chest against his heart as he yawned. Buck and Josiah kept still as the man's eyes blinked sleepily, according to Nathan the sedatives he had been given should have kept him under for hours, but the man must have picked up on Buck's distress.
The green eyes focused on Buck, Chris smiled at the man stood over him, Buck grinned in return, Josiah kept still he did not want to disturb the exhausted man. Chris eyes swung onto the broad sentinel, he looked the man over, Josiah dare not move as the green eyes looked into his own blue ones, Josiah found himself unable to look away.
"Josiah." Chris muttered as another yawn nearly made his eyes water.
"Go back to sleep Chris." Buck used his other hand to stroke Chris's head as his other hand was held securely against Chris's chest. He used a trick on the adult Larabee that used to work on Chris's son Adam, he ran his finger down the man's nose, repeating the gesture, he held in a smile as Chris went cross eyed to look at his finger.
Josiah chuckled softly as the sleepy man closed his eyes, the sound of his steady breathing filled the room.
"Nice move Buck." Nathan had quietly entered the room and watched the moustached man settle the blond. "But it looks like you're stuck for a while."
Buck sat back in the chair, he would get Chris to release his hand in a while, he was fine for the moment, he could feel the thin man breath and his heart beat was slow and steady. Nathan and Buck left him alone, the two men entered Nathan's office, where Nathan turned on a white noise generator he kept there.
"Nathan." Josiah waited for his guide to sit behind his desk; Josiah threw himself on the small couch. "What's got you so excited?"
"Chris Larabee is something special Josiah." Nathan almost bounced in his excitement. "I saw my spirit guide Josiah, and it was a wolf a black one."
Josiah laughed at his guide's delight, Nathan rushed over to Josiah who made room for him on the couch. Josiah bent his head and scented at Nathan's neck, the two settled into their bond, Nathan rested his head on Josiah's chest listening to the steady thumping of the big man's heart.
"I wonder if he will test at a level ten?" Nathan mumbled, no sentinel had tested at a level ten for over fifty years and if he remembered correctly the last sentinel who did had gone mad because he did not have a guide to help him.
"Who knows, but I'm sure the testing will be interesting." Josiah squeezed Nathan as he felt his senses balance out.
Buck struggled to hold in a yawn, he rested his head on one hand as Chris had not released his other one yet. Buck was glad to see that Chris was deeply asleep, and as Buck ran a sensory check over him he was glad to find the other man unharmed. Buck thought that after Chris got released by the Sentinel Guide Foundation, then he intended to stay with him until he got used to his new sentinel abilities and also to feed the man up, as Chris had always been lean, but now he was bordering on the thin side, and Buck did not like it. His head rested on his chest as he nodded off.
Guy Royal watched the two men, he frowned as he considered the matter of Buck Wilmington and his power of attorney, Royal wanted to be in control of Larabee, especially if he was a powerful as initial indications showed. A knock sounded on his office door.
"Come in." Royal called, the Alpha Sentinel and Guide pair walked into his office. "Alpha Sentinel James, Alpha Guide Wickes."
Royal watched as the two people sat down in the chairs on the opposite side of him.
"Director Royal. We have decided tonight that the Sentinel and Guide who allowed our gifted children to be stolen will be punished." Alpha Sentinel Stuart James declared, his guide nodded at his side. "I have called a meeting of all the pride, except the children to witness the punishment."
"Alright the pride is yours to do with as you see fit." Director Royal felt sorry for the young guide and sentinel as the Alpha's punishment was bound to be painful and harsh.
"When will you be testing Larabee?" Alpha James questioned the other man.
"Guide Doctor Jackson does not believe he will be fully awake until tomorrow, and so hopefully then we can begin testing depending on how cooperative Sentinel Larabee is." Director Royal smiled gently at the annoyed looking Alpha.
"Oh he'll cooperate I'll see to that." Alpha James growled.
"The guide nurses who cleaned him up commented on the strange feelings they received from the man, he is causing quite a stir." Royal could not help baiting the other man on how special people thought Larabee was.
"Well lets just see what the testing shows."Alpha Guide Samantha Wickes smiled at Royal, she knew what the man was attempting in baiting her sentinel, she gently ran her hand down the Alpha's arm sending calming feelings across the bond to him.
A few hours later Nathan had regularly checked on Larabee and found the man asleep every time, Buck had also been dozing off and on.
Nathan and Josiah made there way up to the large Sentinel and Guide hall, as they and every other member of the Denver pride had been summoned to a meeting. The men slowly entered the room, they both immediately noted the wooden cross which was fixed at the top end of the room. Nathan looked at Josiah in concern he did not like the look of this, unhappy murmurs ran through the gathered sentinels and guides.
"I have asked you all here tonight to witness punishment." Alpha Stuart James loudly announced he stood at the front of the room next to the wooden cross. "This sentinel and guide failed in their duty to our children."
Alpha James pointed at the cowed pair, the young sentinel had pushed the guide behind him, and he was trying not to show how frightened he was.
"And a punishment has been decided for the pair." Alpha James snapped, he pointed at the sentinel, who reluctantly stepped forward. "The sentinel shall receive two dozen lashes from Alpha Spikes."
Alpha Bob Spikes moved forward he held in his hand a bull whip, horrified mutterings could be heard.
"Silence." James roared. "The guides punishment is she will care for the sentinel once he has received his lashes."
"No this is not right." One of the parents of the stolen children stepped forward. "There is no need for this."
"Do you challenge my right to lead this pride?" Alpha James scowled at the smaller weaker sentinel.
The sentinel looked around he was only a level four and he was a fireman not a ex soldier like the Alpha, he looked appealingly to the people around him but nobody stepped forward to support him. Nathan kept a tight hold on Josiah, he new that Josiah would get seriously hurt if he went up against the younger bigger Alpha.
"No Josiah please." Nathan whispered into the struggling man's ear.
Two men tied the young sentinel to the wooden cross, he had been stripped to the waist, the guide was lifted to her feet an placed at the side of the sentinel.
"I'm sorry." The young sentinel was determined that he would not give the Alpha the satisfaction of screaming, he was just devastated that the guide would be hurt by this punishment.
"Begin." James commanded, he could feel his guide against his back, she was clearly enjoying the prospect of the young sentinel being punished.
Spikes raised the whip and sent it out, the sentinel jerked, he bit his lip to keep from crying out. The guide dropped to her knees and began to cry, the surrounding sentinels, cradled their guides close, the unbonded sentinel and guides clung to each other as the second strike drew more blood.
Buck nearly fell of his chair as Chris shot up, the man was snarling and growling. Buck attempted to keep him on the bed.
"No Buck." Chris snapped he sent what he had felt to the other sentinel, who gasped in shock.
"Jesus Chris." Buck released the blond who stood up, he stormed out of the room and ignoring the looks from the medical staff who after being growled at did not attempt to stop the two men.
Chris jabbed the elevator button, he continued to growl, he could hear Buck beside him, who was growling with him, nobody dare approached the two sentinels, but someone quickly phoned the director's office to let him know that Sentinel Larabee was on the move.
Alpha James watched the punishment being delivered, he wanted to reinforce his position of Alpha and this was a guaranteed method of showing the other sentinels that he was a force to be reckoned with, regardless of what they found with regard to Chris Larabee.
Spikes jumped back in shock as huge silver timber wolf suddenly appeared directly in front of him, blocking his access to the bleeding sentinel. A shocked silence greeted the wolf appearing, a second even larger wolf stood protectively next to the hysterical guide who was sobbing uncontrollably. Both wolves had their hackles raised and where growling and snarling at Spikes and James, every time Spikes made to move he was copied by the growling green eyed wolf.
"Alpha James." Spikes did not know what to do, he could see the sharp fangs glistening with saliva as the wolf snarled at him.
The Alpha stared hard at the wolves who growled angrily at him, his guide whispered to him, he moved closer to Spikes taking the whip out of the other man's hand he raised the whip and aimed it at the green eyed fiend snarling angrily at him. The wolf dodged out the way, snapping at the whip, James made to lash out again suddenly the great doors to the meeting hall flew open.
Alpha James and Spikes quickly turned to face the open doorway, as did everyone else in the room.
Chris stood framed in the doorway, bare chested and clad only in black cotton bottoms, he walked further into the room towards the Alpha and the whipped sentinel and crying guide. Every eye followed his progress, Buck walked at his left hand side.
Chris walked straight passed the Alpha Sentinel, he did not acknowledge the other man, he gently placed his hand on the bleeding sentinel's shoulder, the man immediately sagged against the bindings that held him. Chris held his hand out to Buck who handed the other man a knife, he quickly cut the ropes and gently lowered the unconscious man to the ground. Standing up he moved to the guide, who cringed away from him in fear.
"Look at me guide." Chris commanded.
The female guide could not resist the commanding voice, she looked into the green eyes. Chris gently reached out his hand he pulled the guide upright and cradled her against his chest; she stopped crying and relaxed against him. The sentinels and guides watched silently as a serene look appeared on the young woman's face, picking her up Chris gently laid her next to the sleeping sentinel, he laid a hand on both of the sleeping youngsters heads, they moved closer together and embraced each other. Chris stood up, he turned and faced Spikes who took a step back at the feral look in the bright green eyes.
Alpha James suddenly found his voice.
"You dare to interfere." James shouted.
Chris just smiled, James looked confused as the other man grinned.
"Nathan come here." Chris called the healer over, the man rushed to obey Josiah at his side, the doctor began to gently examine the sleeping sentinel and guide, he had expected both the youngsters to be in some considerable distress, but surprisingly both appeared to be deeply asleep. Nathan had expected the guides barriers to have failed but they where high and still in place, in fact the young sentinel was shielding the guide.
"You dare to ignore me?" The enraged Alpha yelled.
Chris considered the shouting man, he was four inches taller and was built like a tank, he must be atleast fifty pounds heavier. Chris sneered at the man, his eyes twinkling as he then smiled.
Alpha Stuart James thought he saw insanity in the green eyes but he could not ignore the insult to his authority. He looked closely at the blond, he saw a thin but well muscled man, who was smaller than he was, he would use his superior strength and weight to punish the man.
Chris smiled as he made ready to take down the other man.
"Stop."