"Cute kid," was the verdict the came from the man sitting in the shadows of the room as he watched the action at the pool. "Hate to see the handprints on his butt, Wilmington's hands are bigger than kid's hips."

"Otter set it up perfectly. Kid mildly doped, the ketchup dripping in the pool and of course Wilmington going berserk."

"And no marks on the kid except Wilmington's rather large handprints," the first man laughed.

"I can't believe how well this has turned out. This is Travis' proud and joy, Team Seven."

"Cortez would disagree."

"Cortez is small potatoes. Let them have a small taste of success before they unravel for good."

"What about the kid running off?"

"He'll run out of adrenaline soon enough. Wait – there's Evie Travis. Just relax. We'll just wait."

The driveway to the mansion was long and winding and JD was running faster than he ever ran in his life. A stitch in his left side finally got his attention and his vision blurred as a limo wound its way towards him.

Evie Travis rolled down her window. "Why, JD!" she exclaimed as JD fell to his knees and then knelled completely over.

Chris and the others followed at a dead run and then stopped as Evie and the driver knelt by JD. "Christopher Larabee, what on earth is going on here?" Evie exclaimed.

Chris looked up, distracted but Evie waved him off, tsking over JD. Nathan was checking JD's vitals and then pulled JD's green swim trunks down slightly, winching at the large red handprints there before he remembered Evie Travis was watching and quickly pulled them back up.

"What happened?" Evie demanded. "Christopher, did you touch that child?"

Chris opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, looked at Vin, who shrugged, Josiah, who was standing back; and finally in desperation at Ezra.

"Brute that he may be, Mr. Larabee would never lay a hand on that young man," Ezra drawled. "Mrs. Travis, how about we take our lad back to the house and get him out of this heat? I myself could partake of a refreshing beverage and food – a successful apprehension of miscreants gives one an abnormally large appetite."

Evie Travis allowed herself to be distracted enough to let Ezra steer her to the car and the others piled in beside her.

Nathan made haste to assure her JD was only tired from swimming and running and Evie seemed satisfied for now.

"Probably hadn't eaten, fretting about the bust," she said. "I'll have Nancy whip up sandwiches and drinks for everyone. Josiah, dear, why don't you let JD rest in the corner room?" she suggested as the large man carried JD into the mansion.

Buck, who had been unusually quiet during the activity followed Chris' silent order to follow them upstairs.

Josiah put JD on the bed on his stomach while Nathan checked vitals again and then Chris, looking accusingly at Buck, pulled down the green trunks.

Buck winched at the evidence of his anger.

"Why, Buck? Of all of us, I would have thought you would have been the last one to hit JD in anger! Joking, yes, but this!" Chris' green eyes narrowed in anger and he clenched his fists.

Buck hung his head. "I . . . don't know, Chris. I thought JD was dead. I was so scared . . ."

"Christopher!" Evie called. "Come downstairs and eat!"

Chris glared at Buck, motioned for him to leave. Chris stared at JD, totally bewildered by the day's events, before following Buck down.

TBC