DISCLAIMER: The characters from the television program The Magnificent Seven are the property of Trilogy and The Mirisch Co. I am making no money from their use.
This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
RATINGS: PG - violence, mild language
WARNING: This Story contains an alternative Universe theme, if this type of story is not to your liking or will somehow offend you please delete this mail immediately and do not read any further Furthermore this story contain semi graphic images of a terrorism nature, if you feel this may disturb you please find a different story that you will enjoy.
NOTES: Eternal thanks to Mog for letting me play in her ATF AU sandpit. Thanks heaps to Enid (known affectionately here as my font of all knowledge) for all the brainpicking I have done. Thanks to my net sisters Lyn and Dayna for all the collaboration and characterisation help, couldn’t have done it without you. Keep your tissues handy.
PART 2
None of the men had missed the evil glint in Chris’ eye as he had left the room, so when the allotted time arrived they were all standing inside the conference room, some pacing, some fretting, all knowing that an evil plot was hatching in their leaders mind and it was going to take all of them to talk him out of it. All this from men who had no idea what he was thinking.
They were all startled at the sound of the outer office door slamming and sank into chairs to await the dreaded announcement. Chris had to fight to hide the glimmer of laughter in his eyes as he entered the conference room. Finally after three years of practical jokes, stubborn patients and just downright juvenile pranks he felt sure that he was about to get his own back. And then some.
He looked at the almost fearful faces of the men around the table, choking back his laughter and disguising it as a cough. His eyes flew to the face of his undercover specialist knowing that if anyone picked up on his mirth it would be him. Ezra’s clear green eyes met his, full of innocence and something that Chris couldn’t quite read, but the slight tilt of Ezra’s head told him all he needed to know. Even if he knew what Chris was up to, he wouldn’t give the game away.
“Where’ve you been Chris?” Buck asked quietly his voice missing its usual spark of humour.
“Well thanks to JD, I had an idea, thought I would go and follow up on it” the corners of his mouth tugged upwards as he watched the embarrassed flush creep up JD’s cheeks, knowing that the young man thought the trouble they were about to find themselves in was somehow his fault.
“Pray Brother Larabee” Josiah was a little wary of the uncommon expression on the face of his team leader “What did you come up with?”
“well as you all know, they call us the magnificent seven right?’ he spoke as if addressing a class full of children as he walked around the table dropping a sealed bag on the table in front of each of them.
“We have to show more ingenuity than to costume ourselves as the original Magnificent Ones” he pondered watching as each of his men eyed the packages in front of them suspiciously, a grin growing wider on the downcast face of the southerner.
“So I remembered when we worked the security at the Atlanta Olympics Buck” he spoke and almost laughed as Buck’s wide eyes flew to his. “Ezra you probably worked there too” he indicated the agents former FBI days.
“Certainly did Mr Larabee” he paused his eyes meeting Chris’ briefly sharing a conspiratorial wink “Fascinating event” he finished turning his face back to the table, desperate to laugh but not willing to give up the game, he now knew exactly what his team leader was doing and couldn’t help but admire the man’s evil wit.
“Gentlemen” Chris announced with a flourish “Your costumes are in the bags”
“In these liddy biddy bags?” Buck spoke reticently
“Can’t fit much in these bags Chris” Nathan spoke not sure that he wanted to touch the bag let alone look at the costume.
“Yep we will be attending as a team alright” he almost laughed as he watched his men tip there bags upside down on the conference table. Each of the men finding a small mound of white spandex trimmed with red, yellow and blue in front of them.
“the US Women’s Gym Team otherwise known as the Magnificent Seven”
He would remember the reactions of his team until the day he died he was certain. Ezra bless his heart, having worked out in his own mind what Chris was doing, played the gag for all it was worth, he held the leotard up and sized it against his frame. Nathan lifted the costume up with one hand, alternating his glance between the rest of the men and his leader, not sure exactly what was going on but sure that he was not happy about it. JD sat motionless, his gaze moving between the scrap of spandex on the table and Ezra who was diligently stretching his own costume across his chest, testing its sizing, his face glowing red, not sure exactly how to cope with the days events. Josiah was lifting the leotard with a pen his face a picture of confusion. The funniest by far were Vin and Buck. Buck had stuffed the leotard back into the bag and was watching Ezra’s modelling, all the while shaking his head. Vin had pushed his chair away from the table and was backing away from all of them, almost as if he truly was terrified of the spandex. The look on his face was that of a cornered animal and Chris was loving every minute of it.
“Well Gentlemen” Chris asked, trying desperately to hold his mirth in for long enough to hear their arguments.
“An admirable choice” Ezra spoke ducking his head with a refined cough as he couldn’t contain his laughter
“Ah Chris” Josiah started trying to be reasonable “You have remembered we are men, haven’t you?” he asked
“We’ll be the laughing stock of the bureau Chris” Nathan tried to reason
“Chris you can’t really mean it” JD spoke his eyes full of youthful embarrassment at the mere thought of being seen in the leotard.
“I don’t care if I get busted back to foot patrols” Buck swore “I am not wearing that thing” he punctuated each word with a glance at the bag, sure that the costume was going to escape the bag on its own
“You got something to say Vin” Chris spoke watching the sharpshooter inching his way back towards the table
“Yeah” he started to speak about to tell them that he wasn’t wearing no spandex outfit that wouldn’t cover….well wouldn’t cover anything, but something about the glint in Chris’ eye pulled him up. Suddenly it dawned on him, he knew beyond doubt that this was a joke, so settling into his practical joker role he turned the tables on his boss
“For you I will do it.” He spoke “I won’t be happy but I’ll do it” he answered, watching Chris’ slightly crestfallen expression at the display of faithful loyalty from his best friend.
May be this wasn’t such a great idea after all.
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