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 5
You know its really getting to you
When you take to tellin’ lies
And you can try to fool your friends
But you can’t look ‘em in the eye
There ain’t no standin tall
In the shadow of the shame
When everybody knows
That you’re a victim of the game
Lou fought against the tears that welled in her eyes and pushed away from her friend so she could look up into his face.
“I’m sorry Ez” she murmured “I shouldn’t have done that”
“Nonsense” he smiled at her “I’m always here if you need me. In fact” he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips “I would be insulted if you didn’t use me anytime you like” he smiled at her and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. Before waiting for her to move inside her apartment. He waited to hear the locks slide into place and walked down the hallway towards the elevator, a silly grin on his handsome face.
Moving towards his Jag in the car park, he couldn’t even be depressed by the pain that sliced through his calf as he almost hobbled through the car park. He had known that he should be using the cane the doctors had advised him on, but he refused to show any kind of weakness. Looking up as he neared his car, he almost paused in his tracks, Kid leaned against the drivers door, his face still full of his rage. Lord knew he understood the man’s anger, but now was not the time to be pushing the already fragile emotions of the young lady in question. She needed his support not his mistrust, his unconditional love not his petty jealousy. The anger on the younger man’s face annoyed him more than he cared to admit. He steeled his shoulders and straightened his back as he spoke his voice full of icy disdain. The green ice in his eyes showing his true feelings for the man leaning on the jag.
“I would appreciate you moving your worthless hide from my vehicle Agent Thomson”
Kid took umbrage at the tone in Ezra’s voice and looking for any excuse leapt off the car, swinging at the man who taunted him. One solid blow connected with Ezra’s nose, the force of the blow pushing him back against the vehicle behind him. Tiny white lights danced before his eyes as he struggled to gain control of his consciousness, as blood started to gush from his nose. Shaking his head quickly as Kid stormed him and pushed him back against the car, he slipped his arms up the inside of his attackers arms forcing them off his neck with a quick flick of his elbows. His own hands grasping quickly at the throat of his attacker.
In the blink of an eye, Ezra had Kid by the collar and turned, gasping at the pain in his leg as he moved too quickly. Banging Kid up against the station wagon, he took a moments satisfaction from the sickening thud of his head against the roof.
“This is the second time you have attacked me without cause” he snarled “I might understand it and even sympathise with you, but next time I won’t be so lenient” he explained carefully his voice flat and expressionless.
“There is nothing going on between Lou and anyone else” he kept talking “She loves you, you damned blind fool” he spoke “But if you hurt her again you will have Buck and I to answer to” he finished. Ezra released the now silent man and stepped back, smoothing down his lapels, extracting a snowy white handkerchief to wipe the blood that now trickled from his nose. Without another word he took his keys from his pocket and climbed into his car, his head throbbing with the beginnings of a headache he didn’t want, as if nothing had happened. Leaving a slightly befuddled Kid in his wake.
If anyone noticed the bruising under Ezra’s eyes the next morning they never said anything, but no-one could miss the naked animosity in his eyes when they collided with Kid’s. Kid had the good graces to actually look guilty when his eyes met those of the handsome southerner. He had a lonely night to dwell on his relationship with the female undercover agent and had realised that he wasn’t exactly rational where his feelings for her were concerned. He knew he owed the suave southerner an apology, but to apologise you had to admit that you were at fault and he wasn’t sure if he could do that publicly yet. He knew one thing for certain, Lou was not happy with him. She had taken one look at the bruising on Ezra’s face when they had met that morning and without even looking for an explanation she had turned on Kid her eyes full of fire and an emotion he couldn’t quite explain.
To his credit Ezra had tried to hide his face from the young woman, but she had stalked up to him and lifted his chin with her hand. Staring deeply into his green eyes, she tried to read the reason for the bruising in his eyes but he wore that damned poker face she was growing to hate. Kid could only be grateful for the offhanded way that Ezra had brushed aside Lou’s questions and in his own inimitable way removed her concerns from her mind. Kid knew that his own mind was not on the job, instead of delving into the past of Lou’s baby sister, his mind had been consumed by his relationship and the downhill spiral it seemed to be caught in.
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