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.
This heart still believes
That love and mercy still exist
While all the hatreds rage
And so many say
That love is all but pointless
And madness such as this
Its like trying to stop a fire with the moisture from a kiss
A heavy silence enshrouded the table, as the horror of Chris’ words sank in. JD was surprisingly the first one to speak.
“I think I can manipulate the video to try for a picture we can match” he spoke softly looking up at his leader. Surprisingly all heads at the other end of the table turned to Ike, who sat there silently, a red bandanna tied across his bald head, considering the words JD had just spoken. A simple nod of his head was all it took for them to accept JD’s words.
“Go JD” Chris urged him “See what you can come up with” he spoke quickly, knowing that they needed to move quickly on this before the small leads they had evaporated.
“Ike” Teaspoon spoke “see if you can help” Ike unfolded his lanky form from the chair he sat in to follow JD. The others watched them leave then turned back to Chris and Teaspoon.
“We need a plan” Chris stated softly
“I want to go under” Lou spoke her voice firm with her convictions “I know I can reel him in Teaspoon” she looked into his eyes pleading.
The Chorus of no from all the men at the table was almost deafening.
“I might be your only choice” she reasoned with them “The victims all match my size and colouring, if he’s looking for a hooker, who better than one who knows what he wants” she shrugged
“I’m not letting you do that” Kid spoke through clenched teeth
“Funny I can’t recall asking your permission” she spoke back at him her eyes shooting fire at her team leader “Last time I checked this was a team and you didn’t own me!” she had not raised her voice but no one missed the venom in her tone.
Ezra sat at the other end of the table watching the angry exchange with an interested eye. He wondered if the other team knew that two of their team members were in a relationship, he also knew the words he was about to speak would make an enemy of the younger man if he was not careful, but still he had to.
“What if she wasn’t alone?” he almost winced as every man in the room turned toward him.
“I’d go in as her pimp” he stated evenly “Maybe even take a couple of you as heavies. Enough to keep her safe but still draw him out if we can” he scanned the faces in the room carefully trying to judge where the opposition to the plan would come from.
“She is right though” he spoke calmly “This may be our only chance from what I have seen to draw him out and she is the only one from either team that can attract him”
He saw the dawning recognition on their faces and knew that they were at least considering this as an option. His eyes met the grateful brown of the young lady at the other end of the table and nodded slightly. At least he already had one ally on the other team.
JD moved quickly out of the room and towards his desk where he made a couple of phone calls. Noticing that one of the other men had followed him out of the room he turned to introduce himself.
“Hi” he spoke extending a hand to the taller man “I’m JD Dunne” he introduced himself
“I know” the other man spoke, a low rich voice that obviously wasn’t used enough “I’m Ike McSwain” he nodded towards the video tape in JD’s hand “Want a hand?”
“Sure” JD nodded his eyes suddenly sombre at the memory of what was on the tape “Just going down to the video lab” JD started to walk out of the office letting Ike follow him as he walked.
“How can you even think about going along with such a ridiculous stunt?” Kid spoke fury in his eyes as he looked across the table at Ezra. Furious blue met cool green in a battle of wills that would not be won or lost at this table. Neither man was willing to break eye contact with the other. A loud crash came from the table as Lou slammed her file on to the table.
“Let’s just get one thing straight” she almost hissed “One of those women is probably my baby sister” tears welled in her eyes but she refused to give in to the emotion “I am going to catch the bastard that didn’t give me enough sister to bury” she stalked from the room determined to get away from the men before she broke down.
The men sat in silence at the table watching this heated exchange, waiting to see if these details were going to prove a problem for a cohesive working team. Teaspoon and Chris both waiting for the explosion of temper from their more volatile agents, knowing from experience that none of them would back down
Buck Wilmington watched the emotional response from the young woman and his tender heart went out to her. Trying so hard to keep control, even though she had lost so much, he slid his chair back and nodding silently at his team leader slipped from the room to go in search of the young woman. He never could stand to see a woman hurting.
Both Jimmy and Kid watched the other man leave and made to leave their own seats. Teaspoon pinned them both with a steely gaze “Sit Down boys” he spoke and that was all it took both men sat back into their seats. Chris watched the exchange with interest he wished he had that much control over his agents. Hell, at times he wished he had any control over his agents.
“Now that we have all finished marking our territory” Chris spoke a wry grin on his face “Do you think we could get down to business, and come up with a plan that might work?” he watched as all heads at the table turned toward their files, looking for something that might catch the insane man who was tormenting them
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