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 16
One hand reaches out
And pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for
They say what good have you done
By saving just this one
It’s like whispering your prayers
In the fury of a storm
Jimmy stood towards the back of what was once the lobby of the four storey building, shifting rubble away as he moved through the debris. He leaned against one of the twisted pylons and pushed his hair from his face. Damn this was hard. He wasn’t sure what could be worse than not knowing. Yeah he did, knowing that his friends had not survived would be worse than having to face his own death.
He turned and kicked the pylon he leaned against furiously succeeding only in moving the pylon and hurting his foot, the concrete slab he stood on suddenly moving precariously. Knowing the danger of capsizing the balancing concrete he moved rapidly off of it and that was when he heard it.
Vin rested his head against Louise’s his hand gently stroking her arm. He wasn’t sure what they were going to do, but he was damn sure they weren’t going to die in this hole. All he wanted to do right now was savour the feeling of companionship. Sure he liked to be alone, in fact he enjoyed it, but that was until he thought he was going to die. Alone in a tiny concrete tomb, cut off from everything he held dear to him. Chris was probably frantic right about now. He could almost see him snarling at the others. Hell the others probably weren’t all that far behind him.
He chuckled at the picture in his mind of what could be going on outside.
“What’s so funny?” Lou asked softly, her fingers stroking the unconscious Cody’s hair from his face.
“Just thinking that the others are probably making life hell outside for anyone who is out there”
“I think Hell would probably be an easier place to live” she spoke as he felt her smile against his chest.
An ominous rumbling from above them halted all conversation. Both watched, their eyes wide, as the huge slab of prefab concrete teetered precariously on the girders and brickwork that held it up. As it hung, suspended above them, good luck more than anything else keeping it from crushing them, Vin slid out from beside the young woman. Glancing quickly around their probable tomb, he knelt beside her and brushed the hair from her face.
“I’m sorry Lou” he spoke as he slipped his arm underneath her legs, his other hand behind her back and lifted her in his arms. Carrying her gently, he heard her try to suppress the scream of pain as her injured leg was pressed against his body, he ducked under the remains of the staircase tucking Lou under a ledge giving her a little more protection. He returned to move Cody, moving him quickly to Lou’s side, worried when he never even stirred. Standing in the middle of their own personal hell he yelled
“Hey is anyone up there?” he paused “We’re down here!” he called
Lou heard what he was trying to do and added her voice to his, pain clouding her mind but she knew that this may be their only hope, not wanting to miss a chance to get out of their tomb. Her throat hoarse from her cries she paused as Vin held a finger to his lips requesting her silence. Both faces breaking into wide grins as they heard a sound sweeter than any angel’s voice.
“Lou”
“Vin? Is that you?” Jimmy called
“Jimmy” Vin yelled at him “The roof is gonna fall on us” Vin explained “Cody needs a doctor”
“Man it is so good to hear your voices” Jimmy grinned like a fool as he placed his fingers between his lips and whistled to his friends.
All activity now focussed on the mass of concrete that Jimmy had moved with his temper. The agents stood just out of the way and watched as the firemen worked to move the concrete without it falling on their comrades. It seemed to take an eternity but they eventually broke through and lifted most of the massive block away from the opening. Even then the men weren’t able to go down to their friends they had to wait while paramedics climbed into the hole.
Chris was ready to hit someone, he hated the not knowing, but he hated the waiting even more. He knew that Vin, Lou and Cody were there, but what of Buck and Ezra, they were so close and yet so far from having their respective families reunited. He only hoped that theirs could be reunited as happily as his counterparts.
They all watched, holding their breath, as a flurry of activity increased around the opening, watching as first one stretcher and then another was lifted from the hole. Anxious faces searched for some sign of who was injured. Instantly recognised the white blonde hair of Cody, they moved on to the second stretcher, pain glazed brown eyes scanned the circle of men that watched, then locked on the anxious blue eyes she sought. Kid hadn’t realised that he had been holding his breath until he had read the assurances in her eyes. Breathing deeply he smiled at her and winked cheekily as he moved to follow the stretchers with the rest of the Nebraska team.
Team 7 stood watching the opening, waiting for some sign of their missing number. They watched silently as the paramedics and firemen climbed out of the hole.
“No” JD murmured his voice no more than a whisper.
Chris put a reassuring arm around his shoulder, both men drawing comfort from the other as they watched. The four of them were abut to give up when a shaggy brown head appeared over the rim of the concrete.
“Hey cowboy” he called, his voice weary his eyes shining with joy as he climbed the ladder to his freedom.
They met him halfway, he and Chris colliding in a tight brotherly embrace which he returned with equal fervour. Moving to hug all four men before he stepped back to question them.
“Buck and Ez?”
“No sign yet” Chris spoke sadly, the joy at finding his best friend tinged with the sadness of their missing friends.
“Mr Larabee” a voice spoke from behind him
Chris turned to see the firechief standing behind him waiting patiently for his response
“Chief Whitman?” Chris questioned him with a frown
“We thought you should know” he paused “The search is being scaled down”
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