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: : This is the sequel to the recently completed The Change. The song that inspired the Title is by Garth Brooks on his NO fences 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 4
And it don’t matter who you are
It treats everyone the same
All you need’s a heart
To be a victim of the game
Five men and one woman gathered in her apartment. All gathered around the table in the kitchenette, poring over files, a laptop computer whirring quietly as it searched cyberspace for answers to their dilemma. Worried eyes followed the young woman as she paced back and forward.
“Lou” Jimmy spoke softly “You need to get off your leg or you will be useless tomorrow” he flicked his long hair out of his face
“Don’t you mean more useless than I already am?” she spat at one of her oldest friends
“Nobody said you were useless Lou” Ike stated, his deep rich voice going part way to breaking the tension in the room
“But you all think it don’t you” she turned away to lean her head on her refrigerator door
“Why would we think that?” JD frowned confused by her words
“She’s my sister” Lou’s words were muffled, her head pressed against the cold white appliance “Dammit I should have some clue of where she is”
Buck stood and walked to her side rubbing her gently on the back “Darlin, she’s been living on the street for at least two years” he paused “How could you know the people she knows?”
“I should know” she almost sobbed “Hell I should have been able to keep her off the streets”
“It’s not your fault she is there Lou” Jimmy spoke angrily “She made her own choices”
Jimmy clearly remembered the fight that Lou and her baby sister had the last time they had spoken face to face. Lou had been in hospital recovering from a gunshot wound inflicted by her father. The man who supposedly loved his children. Hah, he loved them so much he was going to kill his first born daughter to prevent her informing on his drug dealing syndicate. Kid had protected his partner as best he could, if he hadn’t Lou would most certainly be dead now. In saving her life, however, he had shattered her fragile peace she had with her siblings. Louise had struggled for three days to cling to life, never once visited by her younger siblings, their mind poisoned by their vicious father. The day after she regained consciousness Theresa had arrived at the hospital with a back pack full of clothes on her back. Armed only with he 14 year olds view of the world, a surly attitude and a hatred of law enforcers instilled by her father, she had announced to her devoted sister that she was leaving, because Lou had ruined her life. It didn’t matter how hard they searched they couldn’t find the rebellious 14 year old. The only time Lou had heard anything from the young girl was when she was arrested for many and varied misdemeanours. It had nearly broken the hearts of the entire team the first time she had been arrested for soliciting, but short of holding the then 16 year old captive, there was nothing they could do to steer her from the self destructive path she had taken.
“I should have been able to stop her” Lou wiped her tired, teary eyes with the backs of her hands and turned back towards the men who would help her find her.
“Is there anywhere else you think she might have been?” Jimmy asked softly trying to get their minds back on track and away from the pain of her past.
“I’ve been through her known pimps, the dealers that my father worked with, the girls she went to school with” she sat at the table resting her forehead in her hands. Ezra lifted a hand to stroke the back of her head as she struggled to get her control back.
“We will find her Lou” he stated, it wasn’t a promise it was just a simple statement of foretold truth. He would find the young girl who meant so much to Louise.
The five men looked at each other, and nodded in agreement. Then as if by mutual agreement, they all made their preparations to leave. Lou walked them to the door hugging each of the men as they shrugged into their jackets. Opening the door, they were stunned to see Kid sitting across the corridor, his back against the wall his elbows on his knees. Lou saw him there and saw red that he would sit outside her door like some sort of gatekeeper. He was not her keeper, he was barely even her lover anymore. His petty and unfounded jealousies had come between them in more than just there professional lives.
Turning back to the men that were leaving her apartment, she glanced at each of her friends, knowing that they would be confused by Kid’s inability to ring the doorbell and gain admittance to their after hours meeting. A small wry smile tilted her lips as she saw the look of understanding on Ezra’s face. She knew that he of all people would understand what she was about to do.
Lou waited at the door, hugging each of the men as they passed her, but as Ezra made his way out of the apartment she slid her arms around his waist and leaned up to kiss him. Ezra was no man’s fool. He knew she was trying to make her lover jealous, or giving him something to base his assumptions on. Risking a glance in the other man’s direction, he saw the anger and the jealously all over his face. Giving himself over to the beautiful young woman in his arms, he kissed her back with all the passion and fervour that she was showing him. Both of them sank into the kiss, finally pulling their lips from each other, their breathing heavy, their hearts racing, their minds awhirl. Leaning into him, she rested her head against his chest and breathed deeply, trying to catch her breath, her mouth curling into a smile as she listened to the staccato beat of his heart under her ear.
Looking over the top of her head, Ezra was surprised to see Kid had left, glancing up and down the corridor, he realised that the younger man had gone. Shaking his head in abject confusion, hie spoke his voice husky and passion filled even to his own ears.
“Well that went well” he shook his head wondering just how he had managed to find himself in this situation.
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