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 3
The Change
I hear them saying
You’ll never change things
And no matter what you do
It’s still the same thing
But its not the world that I am changing
I do this so
This world will know that it will not change me
Chris stood at the head of the Table with SSA Hunter, both watching as their teams sized each other up. The success of their mission was dependent on both teams being able to work together. Chris knew that his team would not hinder the relationship, but he also knew that they weren’t exactly as friendly as they could be when forced to take orders from others.
Technically speaking this case was still under FBI jurisdiction, but Teaspoon as the man who approached him a week ago had insisted on being called, had assured him that they were equal partners in the leadership of the joint unit. When he had thoroughly read the current background of the case they were to work on he understood the solemnity of the older mans promise.
No one should have to witness the brutality that was exhibited in the crime scenes, or in the cruel and demoralising way the culprit had driven home their perceived inadequacies on the FBI team. Chris knew that it wasn’t because they were inadequate, the man was a criminal mastermind, in twelve murders they had not been able to find any physical evidence to tie any one known Criminal to the case. Chris moved to the drop six folders on the table in front of his men, watching as they all lifted a folder and opened it. He knew that this case was going to be hard on them all, each of his men treated women, all women, with the respect and caring that they deserved, but this case would test their emotional strength more than any other they had faced. He fixed his eyes on the two agents he knew would take the pictures they were seeing hardest. Buck and Ezra, had enough respect for women to spread across the whole team, he knew that once they were aware of the details of the case, nothing would stop that pair from apprehending the culprit.
Chris was right in his assumptions. Buck Willington opened the folder and his tanned face blanched of all colour as he saw the photo that faced him as his eyes met it. Flicking through the photos he grew even paler, quickly turning them over to read the crime scene reports. His stomach churning as he scanned the reports quickly, he lifted his eyes, suddenly glassy with emotion at the pain that these women had endured before they were murdered, their only crime being unable to escape a life of abuse and degradation.
Ezra sat beside the ladies man, his eyes fixed on the top picture. It was completely beyond his comprehension, even after years of work in law enforcement that this should happen to a human being, let alone a woman. He sat for several minutes taking a deep breath to calm his nerves and looked up at the men who sat around the other end of the table. Some watching closely, other looking at their hands as they were folded on the table. It seemed to Ezra that they seemed almost ashamed that they hadn’t been able to solve this case on their own. There was no shame in teaming up, he thought, this person had to be stopped and stopped soon before any other women had to endure the pain he obviously inflicted.
Ezra’s brilliant green gaze met that of the only woman in the room. She was tiny compared to the men that surrounded her, and he wondered where she fit into the team. Beautiful in her own natural way, she watched him avidly, he wasn’t sure why, but he knew that they would become friends during the course of this case. He could see in her eyes the need to solve this case and stop the arrogance of the attacks before it happened again, and it was a feeling he shared with her. Promising her with his eyes he turned his head back to the file in front of him and tried to put aside the sickening images in the photos long enough to read the crime scene reports.
Back to Ridingtall
Back to Tall Tales
On to the next chapter
