CH. 7

10:06am

Uppercuts Bar

Dallas, TX

Nathan looked at Butch after they had moved Chris to the office and had him on another couch, "I need a bottle of whiskey. It look's like I'm going to be doing some quick field medicine."

Butch nodded and left the room, as Buck and JD left to get more medical equipment from their pick-up.

Chris grabbed Vin's arm, "Take care of Mary and our girl, Vin."

Vin shook his head, "Yeah, with your help, Cowboy. Even if I have to drag your hide back here."

"You're willing to follow me to hell," Chris hissed through clinched teeth, as Nathan pulled the bandages back.

Vin slightly smiled, "I've already done that, Chris, but I'd be willing to do it again in a heartbeat."

Butch returned with a shot glass and a full bottle of the drink and Nathan poured a glass, before handing it to Chris, "Drink it, because once I get started on your shoulder, I won't stop 'til I'm done."

A sharp intake of breath from behind the group of men had them turn to see Nikole sitting on the edge of the couch pulling the pieces of tape off her chest, "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm fine? Cowboy, I sure hope you pass out quickly, because my shoulder is on fire right now."

She went to remove the IV, but Chris's voice stopped her irritated muttering, "Nikolette, you so much as think of removing that IV and I will kick your rear until next month."

Nikole glared at him, but complied, smiling evily when he tried to fight the three men off, insisting that he was fine, "Chris, I have Mary on speed-dial, and I'm sure, even 8 months along she can beat your backside."

It was his turn to glare, as the others laughed, "You're just evil, Morgan, just evil," he said as the seditive took effect.

"What did you do?"

Nathan smiled, "I gave him a seditive about an hour ago, right after it happened, mixed with water. Used whiskey to calm him down as it took effect. Not the best thing to do, but we use what we have."

JD came in followed by Ezra after they finshed their rounds. Butch was helping Vin hold Chris down, while Josiah held a lamp so Nathan could finish stitching up their leaders shoulder.

JD noticed Nikole, "Nikole, you're awake," he said, a smile on his face.

"Shouldn't I be?" she asked with a slight smile of her own.

Ezra went and knelt in front of her, "Nikole," he said softly, "no, you shouldn't. You still have a fever, and if I'm not mistaken, you are in a great deal of pain as well."

Vin and Butch both looked at each other, as she bit her lip, "I'm not weak, Ezra," she said looking down.

Carlos was about to say something but Butch shook his head and Kim took his arm and started showing him a stack of files on a table.

"I know you aren't, honey." Ezra said, his regular gamblers charm forgotton, "but you really need to rest. We're snowed in here until we are rescued or it lets up, whatever happens first. We don't need you hurt any more so that what you already are."

Buck was standing in the doorway, watching the exchange, "And they say chivalry died with the middle ages." he thought as Ezra went to a more human side, dropping his pokerface, to comfort a friend.

CH. 8

10:01 am

Travis Ranch

Teec Nos Pos, AZ

"Bring my grandson back," General Orrin Travis had stated, but never had he thought that it would prove nearly fatal to one of his own.

The six investigators mounted on their horses and headed into the woods that led to the solitary hunting shack that bordered the Travis Ranch. They had been on the trail for three hours, when Vin jumped off his horse, signaling the others to remain quiet.

No one knew what was going on at the shack, until they rode in after hearing gunshots.

Chris had Billy pulled tight against him as he returned gunfire, cringing as a bullit found its mark in his left shoulder.

By the time the shooting was over, all but one of the would be assassines had been killed and Billy had ran to his mother who had tagged a safe way behind the men.

Vin held onto Chris' arm as Billy walked up to the remaining gunman, that Buck and Ezra were holding, and pulled out his antique pocket watch.

Billy looked the man in the face then turned to the lawmen, "He killed my father."

Chris looked at the young boy, "He won't be able to hurt anyone else, Billy; we got him."

Orrin was later told that Chris had passed out due to the blood loss and it was two days before Nathan deemed him well enough to go home. One of the spare rooms was given to Nathan to use as a make-shift clinic, until Chris was totally out of the woods.

Mary walked in, "Call the boys, please," she said, almost desperately.

"Is something wrong, Mary?" Orrin asked, reaching for his phone,

"I don't know, but check on them, for me."

While her former father in law was on the phone, Mary looked out the window at the light snow falling, as Billy played in the yard.

Mary watched as Billy identified the man who had killed Stephen and looked at Chris when he spoke, just realizing that he had been hurt protecting her son.

"He won't be able to hurt anyone else, Billy; we got him."

Mary gasped when Chris passed out and ran to his side, as Vin called Nathan over. She sent Billy with JD and Ezra, while her, Buck and Vin helped Nathan.

Chris ended up with a high fever by early morning, having someone stay with him. Mary fought tooth and nail to stay with him for a few extra hours, hoping to find a time to tell him thank you for saving her only childs life; but also something else, something more important to say.

Chris woke just as the sun was rising, to her setting by him, watching, "Mary?" he whispered, wondering if it was really her.

"Shh, Chris. It's okay," she said, as she gently brushed the damp hair off his forehead.

"Billy?"

"He's fine. He fell asleep not long after we found ya'll."

Chris weakly grabbed her hand, "Mary, I love you," he whispered, before being claimed by the much needed sleep, he'd een trying to fight for five minuets.

"I love you, too, Chris."

Mary never thought that that she would ever say those words to the self- proclaimed "bad element," but she did, and she meant every word of it.

Orrin Travis stood behind Mary for a moment, debating how much to tell her, "They're fine, Mary."

Mary didn't turn from the window, "No, Chris and Nikole are both hurt, Orrin. You can tell me that, I'm not fragile or anything."

11:25 am

Uppercuts Bar

Dallas TX

Nikole Morgan walked from the tent and was met by her commanding officer, "Captain Morgan, it's our watch."

Nikole saluted, "Yes, sir."

Major Christopher Larabee looked at the young woman by him, for a moment, "Kole, I've been promoted to colonel."

Nikole didn't look at him; she knew what that meant. He would be placed with a new team and they would wind up with his replacement.

But she knew that this was what he had been waiting for, "You have my congratulations, Colonel Larabee."

"So, are you ready to take over, Major Morgan?"

Nikole stopped and looked up at him, "What?"

"General Travis told me to choose my team. You are my successor, Belladonna," he said, using her handle, letting her know the seriousness of what they would be taking on. They were already on recons, that never existed, but now, they would be taking on rescue missions; that didn't exist.

"What of the others?"

"I got a good team, Bella, I'm keeping them. You are nw able to go on your own missions when you are not with us. We are the Magnificent Seven, but you are the glue that holds us together. You are number eight, but we need you as the unofficial….liaison for us."

Nikole nodded; she was going to be with her group. Seven men, one woman, but with all their expertise combined, they were a deadly force to reckon with.

They walked away from the next tent, and kept watch. It had been nearly four hours, and they were headed back, when the bomb hit.

The colonel threw her to the ground, as pieces of buildings went everywhere.

Nikole was pinned under Colonel Larabee, until the Magnificent Seven, arrived with help and the major and colonel were taken to the doctor, as the other soldiers went to ground zero.

That night had been the worst, the eighteen year old had seen, and had stayed with her every since.

They buried almost every orphan that had been residing in the school, and the entire village mourned the loss of the innocent.

Chris quickly sat up with a quiet cry of Bella on his lips, as Nathan and Butch ran into the room, "Chris, you're okay," Nathan said, as he checked his former CO's shoulder.

"Where's Belladonna?"

Butch cocked his head, "Who?"

"Nikole's handle was Belladonna while we were in the military." Nathan answered, "She was silent, but deadly and someone compaired her to the nightshade. It stuck and that was and is who she is to us. But also, she became a little sister to us all, which is more important than anything. Ezra, go see if you can find her she's not here."