Two days later, as JD controlled his annoyance at the six pairs of eyes keeping track of him due to his concern over Buck; Chris stepped off the elevator, snapping out, "Conference Room, now!"

Sensing something very unpleasant had gone on, six agents entered the conference room and sat down quietly while Chris slammed the door behind them, causing the keyed-up agents to jump slightly.

"Travis has made changes in the Oglethorpe bust," Chris said bluntly. "He doesn't think our team is up for it, so he's given it to Team Two."

Cutting off the protest he knew would follow, he continued. "We're assigned to the Cortez operation, all except JD."

"Chris?" JD squeaked in protest, wide hazel eyes fixed on his hero.

"Not my call, JD," Chris said, avoiding the young agent's eyes. Chris then turned and walked into his office.

The rest sat, stunned. Then JD stood up and fled to the bathroom.

Buck, predictably, knocked and without waiting for an answer, stormed into Chris' office. "What is this, Stud? Taking JD off a case he helped make against Cortez? And it was Ezra who did all of the work getting Oglethorpe to trust him. And that bunch of Neatherthals from Two get the credit?"

"Buck . . ."

"We are the best team in this agency, hell, the country and Travis is changing it up? And you're letting him? And dropping JD from the Cortez case, sensitive as he is?"

"Buck!" Louder and more forceful, but Buck was just getting going. "I thought you were tougher than that, Stud and fought for your men better. I'll just go up to Travis and . . . ."

"Get a week's suspension for your efforts, which I've already been threatened with. Now sit down and shut up, Wilmington!"

Buck, being Buck, did so, still muttering and Chris, noticing four pairs of eyes fixed on the drama, closed the blinds.

"Buck, I didn't have a choice," he said more quietly. "I spent the last thirty minutes arguing with Travis. But he happens to be right. Oglethorpe requires the best we have to offer and we can't even be slightly off our game – or we would lose some of our team. And I won't let that happen."

Buck finally seemed to be listening, but still protested. "We're not off our game, Stud, we . . . ."

"Every one of us has been off our game since JD was kidnapped," Chris stated firmly. "You, especially. What happens at the bust when you are so worried about JD you get shot – or get one of us shot?"

Buck hated to give in, but he nodded, grudgingly. "And Cortez?"

"Travis figures we can handle it – as long as JD is not around to take our focus off our jobs."

"So what about JD?"

"Travis will keep JD at his mansion south of Denver. JD loves the pool, remember. Travis will have him rest, do some computer work for him, and keep an eye on him until we bust Cortez and Oglethorpe." Chris hesitated slightly. "Travis thinks someone from one of their gang may be behind JD's kidnapping – to get us off our game and distract us. And even you have to admit it's worked."

None of the other agents were happy about the change of plans but went reluctantly along with it and did not argue when Travis sent two of his bodyguards to fetch JD. It took a long talk from Chris and a reference about Buck's worried behavior to get the Kid to agree. The others watched their unhappy youngest leave, vowing to take turns checking up on him to keep his spirits up.

Two days passed, with each visiting and teasing JD, and keeping him informed of the progress against Cortez. The bust went off without a hitch, and the other six breathed a sigh of relief. Until Buck, after finishing his paperwork first, opened the door leading to the pool and spotted JD, floating sitting up on a raft, book lying on his stomach along with a steady stream of red dripping into the pool.

Time seemed to stand still as Buck stood frozen at the sight, unable to command his body to move.

TBC