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 8
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
Ezra watched his smiling colleague approaching and knew that the ladies man was going to steal his dance partner away.
“Miss Louise” Ezra spoke softly “I believe your chariot awaits”
He almost felt her smile against his chest before she lifted her head and turned towards the newcomer.
“Buck” she smiled at him, the friendship they had begun to forge that day in the ladies room had strengthened, both becoming firm friends.
The slick conman wondered just how close the two people in front of him had become and wondered if that was the reason for the FBI Team Leaders occasional black moods. He knew that Buck knew about the relationship and he was certain that he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise that relationship, so he was almost sure that nothing was happening.
Buck watched Ezra’s inquisitive looks and realised that Ezra was speculating on his relationship with Louise. Outside of Team 7, he had formed a close relationship with the younger woman, she was smart intelligent and witty, not to mention beautiful. A woman that he loved like a sister, in the time they had shared together they had shared things that he had never told any of the men he called family, even JD. Just as she had told him of her fledgling relationship with her Team Leader. So any of them could think whatever they liked, in fact he was almost enjoying watching Ezra’s speculation, it wasn’t often he could confuse the perceptive southerner but he was enjoying Louise’s friendship and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise it.
“Is Cinderella ready to go home” Buck spoke softly as Ezra released his partner into his arms.
“See you tomorrow at the briefing Ezra” she looked into the sea green eyes of her ‘pimp’ and waiting for his nod before turning away. Buck waved a mock salute at his friend before he walked his companion off the dance floor and out the back door of the bar to his waiting truck. He helped her into the passenger seat and whistling softly to himself he jogged around to the drivers side and slid in behind the wheel.
“thanks Buck” she murmured her head resting against the headrest her eyes closed wearily, the wire she had been wearing now in her lap. He reached across to clasp her bare knee reassuringly hearing the despair in her voice
“We’ll catch him Lou” he spoke softly, then smiled one of his dazzling 1000 watt smiles “Your place or Kid’s” he chuckled
“Does it matter since we are neighbours you fool?” she laughed at the innocence in his expressive eyes.
“Nope guess not” he laughed and started the truck up. Driving out of the alley he headed towards Lou’s Cherry Creek apartment. Noticing that Lou was beginning to doze he slipped a cassette into his cassette deck and drove in comfortable silence.
Singing along with the soothing tones of his favourite country songs, casually tapping out the beat with his thumb on the steering wheel as he drove.
Lou drifted in and out of a light sleep, watching her companion drive, feeling secure enough in his company to trust his skill. She couldn’t help but wonder why this man, in fact why any of Team 7, weren’t in steady relationships. These men all deserved a woman to share their lives with, her current companion being a case in point. All so gentle, caring and protective. As her eyes drifted closed again she decided to make it her business to find out more about these men.
Passing through near deserted streets, Buck was taken by surprise when a car sped out of a side street heading directly for the truck. Reefing the steering wheel with both hands he tried to turn the truck away from the imminent danger. All he succeeded in doing was turning the truck so that the other car hit just behind the drivers door. Knowing there was nothing he could do to stop the damage he could see in his minds eye, he braced himself, his booted feet pressed tightly against the floor. One hand pushing hard against the steering wheel, his other arm pressed across Lou holding her back against her seat, her brown eyes open and filled with fear as she watched a light pole approaching them. One hand wrapped around Buck’s the other pressed against the seat trying to cushion some of the impact. The last thing she saw as the world exploded into blackness around her, a sad apology in Bucks pain filled blue eyes as his side of the car crumpled in around him. Almost like the hand of God was crushing an aluminium can, she watched his head fall against the steering wheel blood trickling down his brow as she gave in to the waves of numbing blackness that beckoned her.
Neither of them noticed the man that climbed out of the steaming wreck that had rammed them. He pulled the helmet from his head, lifted a video camera from the seat of the car and walked slowly around the car. Panning in closely on the faces of his victims and almost laughing at the ease with which he had caught his quarry. Walking over to the truck he, slid a hand through the window to check the pulse of the driver. Laughing he walked around to the other side and pulled the door open. Pushing Lou back against the seat he picked up the small transmitter from the floor and threw it on the ground under the truck. Roughly pulling her fingers from where they lay twined in the big mans hand he slipped his arm under her and carried her away from the car. He had plans for this woman. Plans that far surpassed anything he had ever done before.
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