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 3
Chris dismissed his men and watched as one by one they left the room. Ezra lingering behind the others.
“When are you planning on telling them that this isn’t the costume?” he spoke quietly
“I wasn’t” Chris spoke his eyes sparkling with humour
“You can’t be serious?” Ezra spoke
“Of course not” he chuckled “The real costumes are being delivered to the CDC tonight” he spoke, laughing as he saw the wave of relief wash over the southerner.
“You have a truly devious mind Mr Larabee” Ezra smiled at him as he remembered the card game they had planned for this evening
“Yeah well it’s time the rest of you got some payback” he spoke as he followed the southerner from the room.
The silence throughout Team 7’s offices was deafening. It seemed that Chris had completely thrown the five men who weren’t aware of his plan into a tailspin that they could see no way out of. Chris couldn’t help himself, he kept leaving his office all afternoon, usually making a smart mouth comment about gymnastics or spandex, loving the way that Buck practically turned green every time the leotard was mentioned.
It was with heavy hearts that they made their way to the CDC for their regular card game, combined with a night of Josiah’s chilli and a few beers. The usual rambunctious atmosphere considerably more sombre, they were so depressed that Chris almost relented and told them of the real costuming, but he couldn’t, he had gone this far he had to see it through to the end.
Three hands into the night there was a knock at the door. Buck, his heart not in the card game at all rose to answer it. Returning several minutes later with seven large boxes.
“Hah” he spouted “Hah” he smiled triumphantly as he opened the box that bore his name. “I knew it” he almost danced around them room “I knew you wouldn’t make us wear those little elastic things”
“They’re called leotards Buck” Chris shook his head “You won’t be infected by them if you say the word”
“Whatever?” he spoke as he pulled a hat from the box, completely entranced by the new costume, the hat was large and made of white felt one side adorned with an abundance of blue feathery plumage. Sitting the hat on his head, he delved further into the box to find creamy coloured leggings, brown bucket top boots, a blue suede like shirt trimmed with white muslin cuffs and collars, a blue suede jerkin and a blue velvet cape. Lifting the whole lot from the box he was surprised to see a replica musket and a sabre.
The others intrigued by the display of Buck’s attire found their own boxes and unearthed identical clothing. It wasn’t long before the living room was turned into an impromptu costume shop. Chris still sitting at the card table looking like an indulgent father as he watched his men try their costumes on. Watching them he realised that he had made a fine choice. Not only were they all relatively happy, but they all looked contented, almost like they belonged in the attire.
In fact it had been a long time since he had seen his entire team looking so relaxed and happy. JD and Buck were happily having a fencing duel whilst Ezra was giving fencing and etiquette tips to a bemused Vin. Nathan and Josiah sat on the sofa, chatting amiably and picking pieces of lint from their velvet outfits.
“So what made you choose the musketeers Brother Chris?” Josiah asked tilting his head backwards to look at their leader
“To be honest, I’m not sure” he looked at all of them knowing that when he explained they would all understand “I went to a costume shop looking for a team theme we could use and stumbled across the musketeers.”
“Wasn’t there only three of them?” JD asked earning himself a whack on the rump with Buck’s sword
“Now even I know there was four” Buck spoke
“My god” Ezra feigned surprise “He does read”
“Ahhhh. Actually no, watched a movie not long ago. Cute girl in it” Buck grinned
“Why does that not surprise me?” Ezra rolled his eyes skyward as he turned back to Chris
“Can I explain for you?” he asked and at Chris’ nod he turned back to JD “The three musketeers was a classic written by Alexandre Dumas. It is the tale of d'Artagnan, a Gascon youth who travels to Paris to seek his fortune in the King's Musketeers, or personal guard. On his first day he meets three musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Although they get off to an abominable start they become the best of friends. Throughout the book they thwart the plans of the infamous Cardinal Richelieu and Milady de Winter” Ezra looked at the faces of his fellow agents “I believe that despite our numbering more than four we do indeed have the correct attitude for the musketeers”
“They had a motto” Chris looked at the other men “All for One and One For All” he shrugged his shoulders “I figured it sounded like us”
“Indeed” Ezra nodded “I believe you have made a fine choice” the others agreed and with a shrug of their shoulder Buck and JD went back to their sword play.
“Except” Chris shook his head “I think I should confiscate their swords”
“Oh I don’t know they may just kill each other” Ezra laughed
“Can you two stop that?” Chris bellowed at them and they both immediately stopped
“There will be a car here to pick us all up tomorrow night” Chris spoke “There will be no late arrivals” he looked at Ezra pointedly “We will arrive as a team and leave as a team” he looked at his team lothario who just shrugged his shoulders”
“Don’t worry Brother Larabee I’m sure we can all behave just for one night” Josiah spoke with a laugh
“I’d be happy with just civilised Josiah”
All thoughts of a card game fled from their minds as they packed their costumes back up, the terror of the fancy dress party now gone, it appeared to Chris that they were all actually looking forward to it. He just hoped things didn’t change in the next 24 hours.
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