A/N Here it is, we are getting close. This chapter was a little harder to write. Hope you like it.
Follow the Lights Home
Chapter 8 Facing Demons
Truth is brighter than the light,
Falsehood darker than the night.
Revenge is keener than an axe,
And love is softer than melting wax."
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess
The second set of shots to be heard in the distance were beginning to fry at the nerves of the rescue team as the night wore on with them always being just a little too slow.
When they'd secured the the Royal house earlier; they were too slow to find the boys, arrest the bad guys and save the wounded that lay in the house. All Chris could see was arriving too late to a burnt out shell of a car only a few miles from home. His young nephew's blistered hands and hacking cough; trying to save his family. He remembered his anguished cry being echoed by Buck. The images morphed into two young boys gunned down in the dark and being to slow to save them. Gripping the reins tightly he spurred his horse for more speed. Blocking the images his mind couldn't help but wandered back to the Royal house and the promise he'd made as the horses rode closer to danger.
"You Larabee?" The question was interrupted by a painful coughing fit from the man on the dirty floor. The hair was a darker blond nearly brown but the blue eyes were almost an exact copy.
"Mr. Tanner?" Chris kneeled at the bleeding man's side putting pressure on his stomach.
"Vin?" He gasped searching the room for his son.
"We're going after him," Chris promised.
Tanner fell into another coughing fit this time sprinkling flecks of blood as he moaned, "My fault."
"Why is your fault Tanner," Chris wanted to know what he was riding up against.
"Got in too deep," Tanner's eyes glazed over slightly, "No way out…ran,"
"What'd you drag Vin into?" Chris's voice rose slightly causing his men to turn in concern.
"Was with the Agency, undercover mostly. Took a bribe, Emma was sick," His eyes closed in pain as his breathing worsened.
Chris increased pressure on the wound, "Stay with me Tanner,"
"Infos in the painted hills, Vin knows. Clear my name," The familiar blue pools bored into Chris's green eyes as Chris took his hand in comfort.
"Take care of Vin, please. I can't give him much but his name back. My daddy was a good cop so was my grandad. Now Vin's Dad can be one again too." The blue eyes closed.
Chris shook off those thoughts, mentally preparing himself, as they approached a steep incline that led up to a dirt road. The rescue team rode up cautiously. Their tired mounts became more alert, ears turned forward, as they got closer to where the guns last sounded.
Suddenly shots burst through the air in quick succession. Chris halted his spooked horse looking into the darkness for the source. This was a different gun than was earlier shot. This was more of what you heard during deer hunting season; like the rifle he'd given Buck for his birthday. He saw a light on the ridge. It pointed down the slope a few times before going dark.
Chris couldn't help the slight grin that grew on his face. Buck had seen way too many movies. Right after it became just the two of them they watched a classic western or an old spy movie together almost every night. They fell asleep in a pile on the coach, finding comfort in eachothers presence.
Squinting into the dark Chris and his men could make out a few shadowy figures climbing the ridge. Unfortunately Buck's warning had also alerted those chasing the boys of the rescue team's approach.
"Go for cover," was barely shouted out of Chris' mouth before lead started flying their way.
Hiding among the trees Chris struggled to keep track of everyone. He had his men shoot up but aimed low. Not in the hopes of really hitting anything just to provide enough distraction so the boys could make it on down the trail. He hoped they were leaving and not sticking around for the show.
"Chris I'm going to go up and secure the boys," J.D. panted running up to Chris getting ready to run up the ridge.
"No J.D." Chris firmly grabbed the young man's shoulder.
"Chris, I'm the fastest and the smallest. Besides you're needed here; you are the boss. I can get up to them on left hand side,' "J.D. stated confidently cutting down all of Larabee's potential arguments, "The boys need help. They are scared and alone with the bad guys closing in. Let me go and help them."
Chris continued holding him back even after his speech. Searching the large hazel eyes Chris finally nodded. Squeezing the shoulder in comfort he left go, "Watch your back kid."
"I'll protect them," J.D. called over his shoulder as he disappeared into the foliage.
Chris hoped he didn't make a fatal mistake. Sending a prayer skyward he watched the first lights of the night appear in the sky. As the clouds continued to clear from the sky he reloaded his gun before laying some cover fire; distracting the enemy from a small shadowy figure climbing to his left and two even smaller figures out of reach above him.