DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. 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. In addition it is a The Young Riders/The Magnificent Seven Crossover, so if crossovers are not your cup of tea, please go no 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: The song that inspired the Title is by Garth Brooks on his fresh horses album. 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.
Chapter 12
What I do is so
This world will know that it will not change me
Outside of the building it had become a hive of activity, the ten federal agents had sunk slowly into the background letting the people who knew what they were doing get on with the business of saving their friends. Men crawled all over the rubble, fire fighters in heavy coats, police in blue windbreakers with DPD emblazoned on the back in large yellow letters.
Chris watched the activity begin to wear on the men around him. The FBI team seemed to fold back in on itself. Almost as if it drew its strength from its unity. He knew that his own team was very much the same way but they were missing the three men who always provided their hope and optimism. Chris shook his head as he looked at JD.
He was the picture of desolation. He stood against a police car, his head resting on his folded arms, his loss carried like a shroud around him, his leader could almost see him losing hope. JD had seen too much too young in this line of work, and he would be damned if he was going to let him lose hope like this. Reaching into the back of his car he pulled out two ATF windbreakers and walked towards the kid.
Reaching his side, Chris placed a hand on his head and stroked his soft hair, wanting to give him comfort but not knowing the words to use. Damn where was Ezra and his five dollar words when you needed him. His touch seemed to work JD lifted his head his eyes full of unshed tears and looked at his hero. Chris didn’t need to speak at first, he handed JD a windbreaker and shrugged his shoulders.
“I figure they could use a hand” he spoke quietly “Wanna help me out?”
JD wiped ineffectually at his eyes and slipped his arms into his jacket. He knew Buck wasn’t dead, he couldn’t be. Surely he would feel it if Buck was gone, he could still feel him with him, as he always could. He didn’t care what any pieces of paper said Buck was his big brother, in all the ways that counted they were related and Buck would never leave him alone in the world. Not without saying goodbye.
JD looked at the building and spoke almost as if to himself. “He’s not dead” he stated
“I will not believe it”
“That’s it kid” Chris spoke beside him “While just one of us believes, they will never be gone” he looked back at the building “Remember that”
“Where do we start?” JD asked
“That room looked like a basement” he paused “My guess is they will be down there somewhere” Chris pointed towards the back corner of the building. He was barely finished speaking before JD was jogging in the direction that Chris indicated. The other men had watched this exchange with interest. Josiah and Nathan already wore their ATF jackets and without a moments hesitation they followed their teammates into the fray.
Teaspoon looked at his four remaining agents. Seeing a quiet flare of hope lighting in their eyes at the actions of the other team. Plucking their own FBI jackets from the car they moved rapidly towards the wreckage. The agents forming a human chain passing pieces of rubble along the line and off the mountain that lay over their friends.
The tall bald man tried to move but found that he was unable to rise. Feeling around the small prison he found himself in, he opened his eyes and realised what his problem was, a large iron girder had fallen and was all that was holding a sheet of prefab concrete back from squashing him. In fact if the girder had fallen another six inches closer he would probably be crushed underneath it now. Wriggling all his extremities he realised he wasn’t pinned down just trapped. Reaching for his cell phone he pulled it from his pocket and prayed that he was still able to use it.
Feeling the number pad with his fingers he pressed a memory number and prayed for it to work. He listened to the subdued ringing that sounded in his ear, praying that the call didn’t switch over to voice mail.
Buck hear his cellphone ringing and actually considered not answering it. His best friend was trapped in a collapsed building, he didn’t want to make small talk on the phone. However, his manners got the better of him and he plucked the phone from his pocket. Hitting the answer key as he lifted the phone to his ear he almost barked his answer into the phone.
“Chief” he barked
“Buck” Ike’s voice answered him
“Ike” he almost dropped the phone as he heard his best friends voice “Where are you?”
“In more trouble then you could imagine” he laughed wryly
“You always could find trouble” Buck laughed along with him
“He blew the building up” Ike started to explain “We found Buck and Lou. We were almost out and the building blew”
“We’re digging you out buddy just hold on” Buck assured him “Are you all together?”
“No I don’t know where the others are. I’m pinned under a sheet of concrete in the lobby. The others were on the steps from the basement. I have no idea where they are now” he spoke.
“Ike I need you to listen to me” he spoke “I want you to hold on to your phone and call me if you need to talk okay” Buck soothed his friend “We’re gonna get you all out Ike” he spoke as Ike stopped the call.
The group of agents looked at each other and they just knowing that one of their number was alive was enough for them to redouble their efforts. All now working feverishly on clearing the upper levels of rubble to burrow through to their friends.
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