Chapter: 42

The Death of an Angel

Chris “Mickey” Larabee drove through the streets of Vegas with a purpose. He had a mission to accomplished and was determined that nothing got in his way of completing it. After leaving one of his informants, he had found out that Robert DeCorsia was in town. Mickey figured he probably was checking up on his untrustworthy son.

Since he had found out from Nadia that there was no cure for his current ailment, he knew he should put all of his efforts into getting his revenge. If he was going to die, then he was going to make sure that it was not alone. He planned to take the DeCorsias and Nadia with him. He had declared war and it was going to be nasty one. He just prayed that the others would stay out of it, or they might become unfortunate casualties.

“Their your friends!” said a voice in the back of his mind which made him twitch in pain.

“The Devil doesn’t have friends, only enemies,” retorted another voice.

“You can’t do this to them. They care about you,” came the voice again.

“Bullshit!” exclaimed the other voice. “Ya know that’s a bunch of crap. No one cares about ya. Nadia has already proven that.”

“But Nadia never loved you.”

“But she said she did and look how she treats ya.”

“Shut the fuck up!” yelled Mickey to the voices. “Just shut up. I don’t wan’na hear anymore.”

The voices were suddenly silent, but he knew they might return if he let them. He had to keep control. If he lost that then his tormentors would win.

Finally reaching his destination, Mickey pulled his truck into the back underground garage behind Silver City Hotel on Las Vegas Blvd South.

He knew Roberto DeCorsia was staying at the El Morocco Hotel with several of his henchmen, but that did not affect Mickey in the least. He knew Roberto’s operation, in and out. Mickey knew everything that Chris knew, after Chris had spent several months in Roberto’s organization as his arbitrator. He knew everything including how Roberto usually set up his security. He would have two men in the lobby of the hotel scoping out any suspicious individuals. Then he would have two men on the hotel floor where his room was, guarding the corridor. And last, he would have one man inside his room as his personal bodyguard.

Mickey had decided not to opt for a frontal attack. He avoided the front of the Silver City Hotel and parked his truck around back to the underground parking garage. The Silver City Hotel and the El Morocco Hotel were close to each other. In fact, they were so close that they shared a tunnel that ran between the two garages. Mickey had decided that this was the best course of action.

He exited his vehicle, making sure he was armed appropriately before taking the walk through the tunnel to the El Morocco. Mickey suspected that Roberto was not stupid. He would probably have a guards posted in the garage, but it was a huge garage and it had several levels. Most likely they were posted on the top level since that was where the elevators where to the hotels. He would deal with it. Either way, he was not going to let anyone stop him from getting his revenge.

He pulled his long black duster closer to his body, feeling a chill in the air. He knew it was not cold and that it was his own body’s internal system trying to fight the poison. He reached in his pocket as he walked and felt the vial that lay there. It played with the vial as he walked towards the elevators that would lead to the upper level. His body craved what was inside, but his mind knew to give into it would cost him more than just his life.

He reached the elevator and pressed the button for Level 1. As the door closed he realized that he had two wars to fight. One was waiting for him upstairs. The other one was waiting for him once he was alone.

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Vin slowly awoke to loud voices. He could not make out what they were saying, but he could tell there was anger and frustration in their tones. He cracked an eye open and looked around the hospital room to find Josiah, Ezra and Buck standing near the door. Ezra and Buck seemed to be tense and they were engrossed in an argument with Josiah. He turned a little to the side and found himself looking at the one person who he thought he would never see.

Vin struggled to pull himself up out of his sick bed, his eyes never leaving the face of Nadia Diaz. The others did not notice him as they were so engrossed in their conversation. Nadia noticed him, though. Her eyes glowed in triumph as she watched him try to make his way over to her.

“How?” came Vin’s soft croak.

The others finally turned to see the young Texan putting unsteady legs onto the floor.

Josiah and Buck quickly ran over to him, while Ezra kept an eye on Nadia. Ezra glanced back and forth between Vin and Nadia and knew Vin’s soft question was about her.

“Vin! Get back in that bed now,” demanded Josiah, as he grabbed the young curly haired man by the waist and moving him back towards the bed.

“What the hell do ya think ya doin’, Stud?” asked Buck, also adding his help to the preacher as they both pushed the sick man back onto his bed.

“How?” asked Vin again angrily and this time more clearly. No one had answered his first inquiry and he was getting annoyed.

“Take it easy, Vin,” said Josiah, as he and Buck helped him to lie back upon his bed, fluffing his pillows as they did to get the young sharpshooter more comfortable.

“We acquired Miss Diaz in her domicile located in town,” explained Ezra.

“And…what about Chris?” came Vin’s question that Ezra dreading to answer.

“Ah, well, Mr. Tanner, we found Chris…” started Ezra.

“And then we lost ‘im,” finished Buck.

“What? How the dang hell did ya do that?” exclaimed Vin, trying to rise again. “I knowed it! I should of look for ‘im myself.”

“Listen, Vin,” said Buck, trying to gently push the young man back down into the bed. “We didn’t want to let ‘im go. But we had to. You didn’t see ‘im. He ain’t Chris.”

“What cha mean he ain’t Chris? Of course, he’s Chris.”

“No, Mr. Tanner. I must agree with Mr. Wilmington. That man was not Chris Larabee. Whoever he was before is gone.”

“How can ya say somethin’ like that, Ezra? Buck! He’s ya best friend!” yelled Vin becoming more and more agitated. They were not telling him something he wanted to hear.

“Vin! Vin! Listen to me! He shot his own brother! He shot Lucien!”

“What?”

“Yeah. Right in front of Ezra and me. It would have been me, Vin, but Lucien jumped in front of the bullet.”

Vin shook his head in disbelief. He could not believe that Chris would shoot his brother, or Buck for that matter. What the hell was going on? His eyes then turned to the woman who was the cause of all of this. She was smiling as if she knew what he was thinking.

“Tell me what happened?” Vin asked the two men.

“We received a communication from Mr. Caymen requesting our presence at Nadia in town address. We met Mr. Caymen and proceeded to the apartment. When we accessed the premises, we found Mr. Larabee holding a gun pointed at Miss Diaz here,” elucidated Ezra.

“Yeah. We thought to find Chris there, but instead it was Mickey.”

“Mickey?”

“Yeah. Mickey was the name Chris went by back in our old haunts in New York. Back when he was a bad boy and working for Lobo. He used the name even when we were in the Pen. But he had changed when he met Sarah, but since their death, things seemed to be going down hill.”

“So, now, Mickey’s back,” said Vin thoughtfully.

“Yeah and it ain’t good, Pard. He talked like he was on mission or something. Said something about managing a takeover. We think he’s gon’na try to take over the DeCorsia organization, alone. Listen, Vin. Mickey was crazy. More dangerous than Chris, though at times I did not think it possible. He’s mean and now he’s desperate.”

“Desperate? How?”

Buck and Ezra both turned eyes towards their new captive.

Nadia knew they were looking at her, waiting for her to answer. She leaned back against the wall she was standing near and crossed her arms, making a statement that she refused to answer.

“Tell him, Miss Diaz!” ordered Ezra.

Nadia glared at him, but then she moved from the wall and said, “There is no antidote. I purposely made it that way.”

“Oh, no,” said Vin, his hopes dashed.

“Unfortunately so, Mr. Tanner. But we still have a chance. Nadia here does know the composition of the chemical currently in Chris’ bloodstream. I believe with that information that maybe the CDC could determine an antidote.”

Ezra’s statement had brought Vin some hope that they might still be able to help his friend.

“And what makes you think that I will tell you?”

They all turned eyes of anger and hatred towards Nadia. She felt threatening glares they all gave her singe her skin.

“You will tell us, Miss Diaz. I have never in my life would think of hurting a person of the female persuasion. But if you do not tell us the chemical formula, I will regret that I will have to renege on my previous vow,” said Ezra in a threatening voice.

“You wouldn’t dare!” spat Nadia.

“Wouldn’t I? Are you willing to bet on that?”

Nadia looked into Ezra’s green eyes and knew that he was serious, deadly so.

“It won’t help you or Chris. I made this. Do you think I would make it that easy for Chris? Chris is too smart. I had to make sure that once I had him, I had him for good and this was the only way.”

“You bitch!” yelled Buck, trying to get over to the woman. Josiah quickly grabbed him by the arms, preventing him from doing what they all wanted to do.

“This is not how we will help Chris,” said Josiah calmly.

“Just save it, Preacher! She deserves to die!”

“And what do you think will happen to Chris once she takes the information we need with her?” asked Josiah trying to reason with the distraught man.

Buck nodded reluctantly, but once this was over there would be no one to stop him from getting his revenge.

“Sister, you have just been saved from a fate worst than death. You need to repent for your sins and the only way God can forgive you is by giving us the information we need.”

“I don’t need God forgiveness, Reverend,” laughed Nadia.

“I think you will, sister. Cause I can tell ya right now, he’s the only one who can,” said Josiah ominously.

Nadia knew Josiah was making it known that no matter what happened she still had them to deal with. She just hoped her men would hurry up and find her. She had found the young Texan. Now she needed escape. She thought pensively on what she could do and decided her best bet was to stall for time.

“Alright, Josiah. I will give you the information on one condition.”

“And that is?” asked Ezra distrustful.

“Leniency, Ezra. I want the Chief to make a deal that I won’t be doing hard time.”

Buck and Ezra chuckled at the thought. But Vin and Josiah knew it was no laughing matter.

“Lady,” said Vin. “After all ya done, what makes ya think the Chief’s gon’na go along with that?”

“If he don’t then you will loose Larabee. I am sure that Archangel Michael is worth something to him,” she said smiling.

They knew she had them and there was nothing they had to bargain with. But Vin knew there was one thing Nadia did not know they had.

“Ezra, why don’t cha lock Miss Diaz up for the time being. I think we need to discuss this…in private,” said Vin eyeing Ezra with a meaning.

Ezra turned to Nadia and said, “Come my dear. I am sure that I can find you adequate accommodations.” He then pulled the woman out the door towards what he deemed was a suitable place for her to be held.

Once they were gone, Buck turned confused eyes to Vin. “I don’t understand. What is there to talk about? We need her to help Chris.”

“I know, Buck. But she thinks we have nothing to bargain with,” answered Vin.

“And we do, brother?”

“Yep. We sure do, Josiah. The disk.”

“The disk? Why would Nadia be interested in the disk? I thought all she cared about was getting’ Chris?”

“I don’t think so, Buck. I think Nadia wants that disk just as much as everybody else.”

“What about our two visitors from before?” asked Josiah. He knew they would return soon looking for their lost property.

“I wouldn’t worry about them, Josiah. I’m sure we can handle them. What I would worry about is Chris. If Buck says he’s as dangerous as he say he is, then we’re in deep shit.”

“Ya think Chris is thinkin’ about takin’ over the DeCorsia’s organization?”

“No, Buck. I think Chris, or Mickey is not out to take over DeCorsia’s organization. I think he’s out for revenge.”

“Revenge?” questioned Josiah surprised by this information.

“Yeah,” said Vin trying to rub out the pain from his head. “I don’t think Mickey wants the organization. I think he wants to get rid of the competition and also get his revenge at the same time.”

“Ya know, that sounds like somethin’ Mickey would do,” inputted Buck.

“So what do we do?” queried Josiah concerned.

“I say we let him,” said Buck resolutely.

“Are you crazy?” asked Josiah shocked by Buck’s comment.

Vin would have a tendency to agree if it was not for the fact that it would do nothing to save Chris from what he was going through now.

“I wish we could, Buck,” admitted Vin. “Buck it won’t help Chris any. All it’ll do is leave a bloodbath around Vegas and Chris would be in jail for murder.”

“Well, it ain’t like he didn’t beat it before…” said Buck. He stopped, realizing that he had said too much.

“That’s my point, Buck. He’d be the same person like he was before and although Travis likes our boy, I don’t think he gon’na let him get away with it. He ain’t dealing with local authorities here. He’s got the government involved in this one.”

Buck knew that Vin spoke true. Chris would not be able to beat this charge with Travis being involved. He got away with it last time because it was some small time hood. But a body count that went way past one was much noticeable. He remembered when he and Chris were what they called “Little Bitches” back in the Pen. Little Bitches were inmates who had a twenty years or more sentencing. With this type of body count, he knew they would be calling Chris a “Big Bitch” in the pen, a Lifer, someone with a mandatory life sentence, never been able to see daylight ever again.

Vin, on the other hand, he had his own doubts about Chris’ guilt on the first murder charge, although Buck seemed to be sure. But Josiah had told him a lot of it was circumstantial evidence and without solid proof they were not able to convict him. They had got Buck and Chris on other charges, but not murder. Not yet. And he planned to keep it that way. He wanted Chris back, not Mickey and we would do everything in his power to do so.

“So what do we do, Vin?” interjected Josiah.

“Let’s wait to Ezra get back and Buck why don’t cha go and get JD. We gon’na need his expertise.”

“Be right back,” said Buck walking out of the door.

“What do you have in mind, Vin?” asked Josiah curious.

“I think it’s time we took the offensive, Josiah,” said Vin looking at him grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Josiah found the grin infectious and his face lit up with the same grin.

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Chapter: 43

An Angel’s Revenge

“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”

Matthew 5:29

Lucien awoke to pain in his arm. He had to focus hard to finally realize where he was. Ah, now he remembered. Hospital. Shot by brother. Ow! How could his day get any worst?

He sat up gingerly in the bed and found Buck asleep in a chair near the wall. The man looked terrible. Lucien knew he probably had not slept since they lost Chris a couple of days ago. He also knew that his brother’s long time friend was just as worried as he was about his brother being missing and his need of medical assistance.

“Buck!” he called softly.

The snoring man did not answer, but just kept up his monotonous symphony.

Finally, Lucien took one of the pillows behind his head, which caused him some pain twisting his sore arm around. He then with all of his strength, which was not much right now, threw the pillow directly at the slumping man.

“Ow! What the hell…” said Buck sitting up straighter in the chair and looking around bewildered. He then spied Lucien looking at him annoyed.

“Lucien! You’re awake!” exclaimed Buck who moved over to the sick man’s bed.

Lucien roved his tongue around his mouth, trying to bring moisture to it. He felt as if he had been eating cotton. “How…How long?” came his rasping voice.

“Here,” said Buck putting a glass of water and straw near his mouth. Lucien took a long sip and sighed as the moisture saturated the starving cells within his mouth.

“Thanks, Buck. How long has it been?”

“You’ve been out about five hours. They had to do surgery to get the bullet out.”

“What about Michael?”

“Um…Listen Lucien…”

“No. Answer my question, Bucklin.”

Buck eyed him irritated. It was the first time in a long while he had heard his given name.

“We had to let ‘im go,” answered Buck guiltily.

“Damn! I was hoping it was all a bad dream,” stated Lucien, running his hand through his short blond hair in frustration.

Buck smiled at the action, wondering if the young blond knew just how much he was like his brother.

“Lucien, listen, we’ll get ‘im back. I promise ya.”

Lucien looked at him with eyes of understanding. He knew it was not the big man’s fault. In fact, it was only one person’s fault that he could think of and he wished he had her tiny little throat within his grasp. Then the thought came to him.

“Nadia! Where is she, Buck?” he asked excitedly.

“Take it easy, Stud. She ain’t goin’ nowhere right now. We got her locked up down the hall.”

“Buck, the things she did to him…”

“I know, Luc. We can’t worry about that now. We gotta help Nathan and the CDC to develop an antidote. It’s the only way to save Chris.”

“So when do we start?” asked Lucien trying to rise from his bed.

Buck pushed the young man back down on the bed. “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, Pard. You need to rest up, kid.”

“But Chris…”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry. Vin got a plan and we gon’na need you, JD and Josiah to stay here with Nathan until we get back.”

“Why? What have you got planned?” asked Lucien apprehensively.

“Well, Vin figured out that Chris don’t plan on taking over DeCorsia’s organization. He thinks Chris is out for revenge considerin’ he was told by Nadia that there was no antidote, so I guess he figures he ain’t got nothing to lose.”

“That’s what Vin figures. What do you think, Buck? You’ve known him longer,” said Lucien looking at him pensively.

Buck lowered his head and was studying the floor in thought. “I don’t know, Luc. I think Vin’s is right about Chris lookin’ for revenge, but I think it’s a lot more than that.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that we’re not dealing with Chris anymore. This is Mickey and Vin don’t know Mickey.”

Lucien knew he was right. No one but Buck really knew Mickey.

“So you think he has something more planned?”

“Yeah. I think he has a death wish, Luc. Mickey is gettin’ pushed into a corner and he’s preparin’ to die and I don’t think he’s goin’ alone.”

“Buck, I don’t understand. Are you saying that Chris is going to commit suicide?”

“No, Luc. I mean Mickey is goin’ to commit suicide. What we call in the Pen a suicide run. He knows he’s dying and he’s knows there no antidote. He ain’t got nothin’ to loose. When we were in the pen he told me that if he ever got into a losing situation he was goin’ out with a bang. He meant that up until the time he met Sarah. When he met her, his whole outlook changed and the person that was Mickey was put to rest. Now he has arisen and I don’t think he’s gon’na go back to sleep until this ends.”

“But why, Buck? That’s the question.”

“I don’t know. The only thing that I could think of is what Travis told us. Chris went undercover and found out somethin’ that he wasn’t suppose to.”

“But Buck, I don’t think anything Chris found out in DeCorsia’s organization could turn Chris the way it has.”

Buck thought about it long and hard. Yeah, there was not much that would turn Chris back into Mickey. The only thing that could even drive Chris this insane was… No. It couldn’t be.

“Luc! I think I know what it is!” yelled Buck.

“What? Don’t keep me in suspense!”

“I have to check something first with JD and the others,” said Buck moving towards the door.

“But Buck…”

It was too late. Buck had quickly exited the room. Lucien hoped that whatever it was, it was enough to help them understand Chris’ plans.

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Mickey had made it to the floor where he knew DeCorsia normally stayed. He peeked around the corner of the wall in the corridor and saw two men standing around the room where DeCorsia was housed.

He had decided on his walk up the back staircase that he would need a diversion. He had place a call earlier to one of his informants who had owed him a favor. The man was the perfect diversion for this particular job and he would get the guards away from the door.

Suddenly, as if on cue, a man dressed in bellboy’s uniform came running off the elevator towards the door where DeCorsia was.

“Hi. I have a suspicious looking gentlman being monitored downstairs by two of Mr. DeCorsia’s bodyguards. They are requesting assistance. They believe he is armed,” said the bellboy trying to catch his breath.

The guards at first looked at him thoughtfully, then one of the guards nodded to the other.

“Mr. DeCorsia?”

A voice came from inside the room said, “What is it?”

“This man is saying that there’s some trouble in the lobby. Says the others need help.”

“Very well. You both go and see what it is about.”

“Yes, sir,” answered the guard. He then motioned for the other man to follow him to the elevator. They did not see as the bellboy took the stairs that would lead him out of the building.

Once he was sure that the guards had left, Mickey pulled his gun from his pocket and crept towards the door. Once there he surveyed the area again to see if anyone was about and then knelt down near the lock.

He first tried to turn the doorknob gently, but found it was locked from inside. He then took out his lockpick set and started to work on the lock. Once he heard the click of the mechanisms, he put away his kit back into his pocket and with one hand turned the knob ever slowly. He then pulled out a small mirror from his pocket and pushed it out through the door, but had it facing himself so that he could see around the room. The mirror showed that everything was clear. DeCorsia was probably in the bedroom and the guard was nowhere to be seen.

He then replaced the item back into his pocket and gripping his gun tightly in front of him started to walk into the suite.

Mickey had noticed that no one was around. He knew there had to be a guard here, but he did not know where. He was warily looking around when he heard something like the flush of a toilet. He jumped back behind the wall that led to the entranceway.

He peeked around the wall and noticed the guard come out of the bathroom. The guard turned towards his direction and he quickly moved back into concealment. He heard the man move towards the living room area and slowly Mickey came from behind the wall to stand in back of the man.

“Don’t move,” he whispered to the man. “If ya do, ya’ll fine some lead in that nice jacket of yours. Understand?”

“Yes,” answered the guard slowly.

“Put ya hands up where I can see them,” ordered Mickey.

The guard did as he was told and raised his hands where Mickey could see them.

Mickey then cautiously leaned closer to the man to search him. He took the gun that was in his shoulder holster and put it in his pocket.

“Now, from now on, don’t say a word. If I ask ya a question nod yes or no, do ya understand?” said Mickey threateningly.

The guard nodded that he understood.

“Is Mr. DeCorsia in the bedroom?”

A nod.

“Are ya the only guard here?”

Another nod.

“Move into the bathroom,” directed Mickey.

The guard moved into the bathroom with Mickey close behind.

“Nighty night, big boy,” said Mickey, hitting him with the butt of his gun.

The guard almost fell to the bathroom floor, but Mickey had grabbed him by the waist and quietly dumped him into the tub. He then made sure the guards hands and feet were tied with the plastic ties that he had brought along for this very reason.

As soon as he was sure the guard would not be able to get loose, he walked out of the bathroom and closed the door. Silently he crept towards the bedroom in the back that held his most hated enemy.

The bedroom door was opened and as he peered into the room, he saw Roberto DeCorsia sitting at his desk near the bed, busily working on a laptop. The older man had not heard the blond as he entered the room and his back was to the door. Mickey silently crossed the room until he was a couple of feet away from him.

“Don’t move,” said Mickey, pointing the gun directly at the man in the chair.

“Well, Michael. I see that my actions to retrieve you were a waste of effort,” said Roberto, turning to face him.

“Damn! Did I not tell ya not to move?” yelled Mickey.

Roberto sat staring at this man. He seemed different. He did not have the calm demeanor that was the signature of Chris Larabee. Roberto looked into the man’s eyes and saw the wildness that existed there. No. This was not the Larabee he knew.

“It…it was just that I need to look at the man who is about to take my life,” said Roberto trying to calm his fears.

Mickey laughed hysterically at this comment. He liked this man. In another time they would probably have been friends. “Ya are very perceptive, Mr. DeCorsia.”

“Mister? You use to call me Berto.”

“Yeah, I did, didn’t I. Well, things have changed and so have I.”

“I can see that very clearly,” said Roberto eyeing him.

“Ya know the old saying, out with the old and in with the new. Ya lookin’ at the new. Do ya like it?”

“Not really,” said Roberto thoughtfully.

“Too bad. I like you, Mr. DeCorsia. I really do. But we have one problem.”

“And that is?”

“Your son and your daughter-in-law.”

“And how is that a problem, Michael?”

“Ya can stop callin’ me Michael.”

“Then what should I call you? Mr. Larabee?”

“Call me Mickey for now.”

“And Mickey, what is the exact problem between you, my son and my daughter-in-law?”

“Well, for one thing, I don’t think you know your son as much as you think you do. As for Nadia, I think you put too much trust in her.”

Roberto placed his hands in his lap and said, “Explain.”

“Ya do know ya son is plannin’ to off ya and Nadia is helpin’ him.”

“I had some information as to the affect, but I could not prove it.”

“Well, the reason why ya can’t prove it is because of the disk.”

“The disk? The one you stole from me?”

“Yeah, well that sort of was my life insurance policy. Ya see, there is a name on that disk and that person can give you the proof ya need.”

“There are a hundred names on that list. I would not be able to tell which one is the one.”

“I can give ya that!” answered Mickey, walking over to the wall and leaning against it.

“And how much would it cost me?”

“Not much. I only want one thing.”

“And that is?”

“I want the bastard that killed my wife and son. I know he came from your organization.”

Roberto looked at him in understanding and nodded his head contemplatively. “Have a seat, Mr. Larabee. Maybe we can work something out to both our benefits,” replied Roberto pointing to the chair on the other side of the room.

Mickey smiled and grabbed the chair, placing it in front of the man. “Then let’s talk turkey,” said Mickey.

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Chapter: 44

Dancing with the Devil

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

Vin watched from his sick bed, as Nathan argued loudly with Ezra and Buck. Nathan was trying to convince them that Vin going with them was too dangerous for the man. But for Vin, although he still was less than up to par, there was nothing that would keep him from finding his friend.

“You’re not listening, Buck, are you? That man can’t leave here! He’ll fall flat on his face,” shouted Nathan.

“Well, then you want to tell ‘im he can’t go?” asked Buck, knowing that they would definitely have a fight on their hands if they tried.

Nathan looked at Buck and knew he was right. These men were all stubborn and bullheaded. He threw up his hands in exasperation. “Alright, then! Let him kill himself!” He then walked over to the chair and sat down fuming at the young sharpshooter.

“Nate, I’m goin’ whether you like it or not. Chris ain’t got much time.”

Nathan knew he was right. But it still did not mean that he did not think the young Texan should be strapped down and given a sedative. Nathan was afraid as much as for Vin as he was for Chris. The doctor had come and did his examination and said if Vin took one more hit to the head, he would not be held responsible for the outcome. Doctor Cohen also thought it was a bad idea to release Vin from the hospital. Nathan sighed dejectedly. Well, if Vin was determined to do this, then Nathan was going along.

“My dear compatriots, you have forgotten one little item,” interjected Erza.

“And that is?” asked Josiah.

“Those Neanderthals may be returning here.”

“He’s got a point,” said Josiah eyeing the others.

“They want the disk so why don’t we give it to them,” suggested JD.

“Give them the disk? Are ya off the rocker, boy?” exclaimed Buck. “It’s the one thing that is keepin’ ‘em off our backs.”

“No, Buck. Listen. What if we made a copy before we give ‘em back the original?” said JD, smiling.

“Ah, I understand, Mr. Dunne. A switch, per say?”

“Yeah, Ez. I can easily make a copy of it.”

“But what would keep them from thinking the same thing? That we would make a copy of it?” asked Josiah.

“Mr. Sanchez, I believe that these miscreants do not have the intelligence to consider this possibility.”

“And how do you come to that conclusion?”

“They haven’t found Mr. Larabee yet,” said Erza assuredly. “They can’t be very good.”

“But Chris ain’t a good example,” put in Vin. “He’s the exception to the rule. We can’t even seem to find ‘im.”

Just then they heard Buck’s cell phone ring.

“Who the hell?” thought Buck. Then he said into the phone, “Buck Wilmington, your time, my dime.”

“How ya doin’, Pa?”

“Chris? Is that you?”

The others stared at him and the phone.

“Buck, is that Chris?” asked Vin excitedly. “Let me talk to ‘im.”

“Where is he?” asked Nathan. “How’s he feeling?”

“Is he alright?” asked JD.

Buck held up his hand for silence.

“Chris? Where are you?” he asked, motioning for JD to try and trace the call.

JD ran out of the room to where his laptop was set up to start a trace.

“Sorry, but Chris can’t come to the phone right now. He’s tied up at the moment,” said the voice and then Buck heard hysterical laughter.

“Mickey.”

“Yeah, Pa,” said Chris using the nickname he used for Buck when they were in prison.

“Listen, ole son, ya need to tell us where you are,” said Buck using the nickname that he called Chris when they were in the pen. Buck tried to calm his already frayed nerves. They had to find out where Chris was and fast and he would play along to get that information.

“I saw Eve Laurente today. I was very disappointed. Eve told me ya have my package. I had to punish her.”

“Punish her?” yelled Buck. “What did the hell did ya do to her?”

“Calm down, Pa. I wouldn’t hurt a lady, if that’s what ya mean,” replied Chris, giggling into the phone.

“And what if we do have the disk?” continued Buck, trying to keep his demeanor unthreatening. He knew if he did, then Chris might hang up and they would never find him.

“I want it back, Buck and I want it back now,” said Chris menacingly.

Buck knew Mickey was dangerous and even more so when he did not get what he wanted. He was like a spoil child, but spoil children did not shoot someone when they did not get what they wanted.

“Why?” asked Buck, referring to the disk.

“I made a deal with someone.”

“Who?”

“None of your damn business!” yelled Mickey.

“Well, maybe we can come to a deal, Mickey,” said Buck trying to stall for time.

“Ya stallin’, Buck. Listen. Meet me at Grand Boulevard and Sunset in an hour. Bring the disk. Oh and by the way, don’t bother trying to trace this and don’t try to copy the disk. I put a security trigger on it. If you try to copy it, it will be erased. And tell Vin, I’ll be seein’ ‘im soon. See ya, Pa.” And the line was disconnected.

Buck took a few seconds before he closed the phone and then looked into the eyes of the others.

“What did he say?” asked Vin concerned by the look on Buck’s face.

“He says he wants the disk. He also said not to try to copy it. He put some type of booby trap on it.”

“Damn!” exclaimed Vin.

“Mr. Larabee seems to have acquired skills in computer technology,” said Ezra.

“Indeed,” added Josiah.

At that moment, JD came quickly back into the room. “I lost ‘im, Buck.”

“We know, JD. Chris knew I was having the line traced. He also said not to try to copy the disk. He booby trapped it.”

“What? How?” came JD’s flurry of questions.

“It seems that Mr. Larabee has acquired the skill of programming,” explained Ezra.

“Ah, Vin?”

“Yeah, Buck?”

“He also said to tell ya that he would be seein’ you soon,” said Buck confused. “Why would he be tellin’ you that?”

“Don’t rightly know, Buck. Ya think he’s up to somethin’?”

“Ya got to remember, Vin. This ain’t Chris. This is Mickey. He’s always up to somethin’. I just don’t know what.”

“So what’s the plan?” asked Josiah, looking at first Buck, then Vin.

Just then Lucien came into the room. He face was flushed and Nathan could tell that he was feverish. His arm was in a sling and Nathan knew the way he cradled it, he was in pain.

Nathan ran over to him and grabbed the man by the elbow, leading him into the chair he had just vacated.

“What the hell are you doing up?” yelled Nathan. “What is it with you guys? You are not supermen. Your bodies are fragile and they can be harmed.” Nathan glared at each of them disgusted.

“Nate, we know that, it’s just that Chris needs help more,” said JD.

Nathan continued his raving as though he had not heard a word JD had said. “And now you got him doing the same thing! You men don’t have a brain between the six of you.”

“Listen, Nathan, I’m fine. I’m more worried about Chris right now,” said Lucien from his seat, grimacing as he jarred his shoulder accidentally.

“Nathan, calm down, brother. They’re just concerned about Chris,” said Josiah trying to keep his best friend from blowing a gasket.

“I know, Josiah,” said Nathan gently now. He too was concerned about Chris. He knew time was running out and Nadia was not being cooperative with the information. When they interrogated her, she kept saying that she knew only two of the chemicals, but Nathan had a feeling she was lying through her teeth.

“So, what is the plan?” asked Lucien.

They all turned surprised eyes at him.

“You ain’t goin’,” said Buck.

“What do you mean I’m not going? Of course, I’m going. He’s my brother.”

“Luc, this ain’t Chris. Ya’ll just don’t understand what I keep tryin’ to tell ya. This is Mickey. Bad Boy Mickey and he ain’t nothin’ like Chris, including the way he thinks.”

“Buck, he may be Mickey, but he’s still Chris,” insisted Vin. “And I ain’t lettin’ ‘im get away. So we can stop the jarrin’ and get down to business.”

Vin was right. No matter how Chris had changed, they knew there still had to be a piece of the old Archangel Christopher Michael Larabee there. They just needed to find him.

“Alright,” spoke up Nathan. He had been quiet up to this point, but it seems his friends were determined to go after the crazed blond. “If we’re going to do this, then we do it right.” He looked at the others waiting for their reactions.

“Okay, Mr. Jackson. You have our attention. Please continue,” said Ezra.

“Well, first we can’t stay here any longer anyway. Those two goons might come back. Second, we found out two of the three chemical components to the drug. We’re just missing one now and Nadia claims not to know what it is. I think we should take her along with us. If she doesn’t know the answer, she probably does know who does, plus I think her men will be looking for her soon and we can’t outrun everybody. Third, I think we need to be realistic and realize that we might have to administer the drug to Chris in order to keep him alive until we can discover the antidote.”

Vin scowled at this statement. He did not want Chris to get even more addicted to the drug, but then if it came down to saving his friend’s life, he would do it.

Nathan continued his thoughts to them. “That is another reason why we need Nadia along. She probably knows where more of the drug is and once we get Chris back, she can take us to it.”

“That’s quite a plan, Mr. Jackson.”

“It is Ezra, but there is one condition. Vin and Lucien will stay in the car when we go to meet Chris.”

Nathan watched as Vin and Lucien turned to glare at him. “Uh, oh,” he thought. “Here it comes.”

“But Nate…” started Vin.

“But Nathan…” started Lucien.

“Don’t but Nate and Nathan me you two! You got an injured shoulder and you have a concussion still and injured ribs. I haven’t done all this work so that you two could go and destroy it.”

The two young men looked at him thoroughly chastised. They knew Nathan was worried about them and they knew that he was worried about Chris too. If they became a liability, it would cost them not only their lives, but Chris’ as well.

“Alright, Nate,” replied Vin acknowledging defeat. “Ya got a deal.”

Lucien nodded that he too would agree to Nathan’s request.

“Good,” said Nathan relaxing some. “Now, JD is that laptop of yours wireless?”

“Sure is, Nathan. Wouldn’t have it any other way,” answered JD.

“Then you go get together what you need,” ordered Nathan. “Buck, you and Ezra help get these two invalids together and into the car. Me and Josiah will be going to get Nadia from her room and meet you there.” He then motioned for Josiah to follow him out of the room.

After they had left, the others looked at each other perplexed. Who would have thought that Nathan was so good at being a leader? A healer, yes, a leader, no. But of course, they realized that each one of them had it in them. They just needed something to bring it out and Nathan’s concern for them had done just that.

“Well, boys, let’s get you two together and out of here,” said Buck walking over to the closet and getting Vin’s clothes.

“I can dress myself, Buck,” said Vin annoyed.

“Yeah, ya could, but that don’t mean ya can stand up and do it,” said Buck laughingly.

“One day Bucklin, I’m gonna do what Larabee’s been promisin’ to do for a long time,” said Vin under his breath.

Buck had heard him clearly as he took the clothes from the closet and brought them over to the young Texan.

“Yeah? And what is that?”

“Shoot ya,” said Vin, snatching the clothes out of the big ex-con’s hands and throwing them beside him on the bed.

As Vin started to get dressed, Buck just smiled even wider. He knew the young curly-haired man was hurting and worried about his oldest friend. They both were. Chris had come into his life years ago and although there were bumps in the road, he would not have changed that meeting ever. He knew it was the same for Vin and knew that Chris would probably shoot him if he let anything happen to young sharpshooter.

“I’ll tell ya what. Once we get Chris back and everythings back to normal, I’ll give ya the gun to do it with,” said Buck jokingly.

Vin smiled gently at the older rogue. He too knew how much anxiety the man held for their lost friend. They would find him and they would bring him home, safe and sound. Even, if they had to go through hell to do it.

“I think we had better be expedient as I believe our Mr. Jackson will probably vacate the premises within the next few minutes.”

“You’re right, Ez,” said Buck as a thought occurred to him and he started to grin. “Also Ez, I think I won the bet.”

“And what bet would that be, Mr. Wilmington?”

“The bet on Eve. Remember? Well, when I spoke to Chris or rather Mickey, he said he had met with her and found that she had given the disk to us. He also said that he had to punish her and when I asked him what he had done to her, he said that I should know that he would never hurt a lady. See! I told ya!”

“That is still not reliable proof,” stated Ezra doubtfully.

Buck eyed him in disbelief. “What?” he exclaimed. “Ya know, Ezra. I never believed ya for a sore loser.”

“I have never been as you say, a sore loser, Mr. Wilmington. I will concede as soon as reliable proof is given to me. That means until I speak with Mr. Larabee himself, the bet is still on.”

Vin and Lucien stared at the two men confused. “What the hell are you two jarrin’ on about?” asked Vin curious.

“Nothing,” piped up Buck immediately and then eyeing Ezra as if to say don’t say a word.

Ezra took the hint from Buck and said, “It’s just something he and I need to determine. Don’t worry about it.”

Vin and Lucien both looked at the two men slyly. They knew there was more to this bet than they were saying.

“Well, we can figure this out later. Right now, we got to get going,” replied Vin, as he finished putting on the rest of his clothes.

Once he was done, he then gingerly stood up from his sitting position on the bed. Buck noticed how he held his right hand close to his the side of his injured ribs. “Ya gon’na be okay?”

“Yeah, Buck. Let’s get goin’,” he answered curtly, stifling the rogue’s concern.

They all followed the two invalids out of the door and into the hospital corridor. The door was closed silently behind them as they went off to find their lost angel.

************************************************************************

Mickey sat on the couch in the hotel suite of Roberto DeCorsia. He leaned back, taking in the quiet comfort that was up in the penthouse. DeCorsia had left him to continue his work and they had let the guard out of the bathroom. Once DeCorsia had explained to his men that he and Larabee had come to an agreement, they went back to their work, although the one he locked in the bathroom looked like if given the chance, he would have shot him.

He had discussed his deal with DeCorsia in detail. What he did not tell the older man was that his plans had ulterior motives to them. Roberto or Berto as he had insisted he call him, had agreed that Marco and Nadia were a danger to his organization.

He also agreed he would call his dogs off his friends, since they were bringing the disk to him. The part of him that was the old Chris that was still aware had put this piece into the deal.

Mickey, himself, did not care either way. But if it kept the whining noise of Chris Larabee that constantly invaded his head to a tolerable level, he would concede to it.

Mickey, on the other hand wanted two things. First he wanted to rebuild his old organization. He knew in order to do that you had to have friends in high places. Mickey was working on that with Roberto DeCorsia by helping him retrieve the disk.

The second thing he wanted was Nadia and the man who had his family killed. That man, what Mickey found out from Roberto was none other than his son, Marco DeCorsia.

The part of him that was Chris’ mind could not accept the information that the man who had destroyed his life was always right under his nose. That which was Chris Larabee, burrowed deep down into his psyche once he heard the news. Mickey had heard his pitiful cries of anguish, but had tuned it out. Mickey smirked at the thought since he did not have a heart. Not really.

He had lost whatever he had for a heart years ago in the pen. In the pen he and Buck had to survive and in order to do that you had to prove that you had strong corners. He and Buck had developed a strong corner in the pen and everyone knew you did not mess with Mickey Larabee or whoever was part of it. But in order to build a strong corner, you needed to turn your heart to stone. During their time there, he watched as Buck kept looking at him day by day, at every action he did, as if he was something with two heads. Buck had even gone on to say at one time that he did not even know who Chris Larabee was anymore, that he was a different person than the man he grew up with. Little did he know that he was not far from the truth.

Mickey glanced at his watch. It was time he went to meet his friends. He stood up from the couch and yelled, “Berto, gotta go!”

Roberto DeCorsia came quickly walking out of his bedroom. “But I thought we had a deal?”

“We do, Berto. We do. Take it easy. I just got somethin’ to take care of. You’ll have your property in the next three hours. Meet me over at the Twenty-One Club say around 7:30.”

“Okay, Mickey. I’m trusting you to bring me my property. If you are not there, then you better find a deep hole to hide in, cause once I get my hands on you, I’ll rip your heart out,” threatened Roberto.

Within one quick motion Mickey walked to stand directly in front of Roberto DeCorsia. He was so close that he could smell the man’s breath. He swiftly pulled out a knife and held the point to Roberto’s throat, his hand sturdy and sure as he held the knife.

Roberto did not even see where it came from. It had all been too quick. One minute the man was on the other side of the room and the next he was holding a knife to his throat, the point’s edge touching his skin like a mosquito getting ready to for its daily feast.

“Listen, don’t ever threaten me again,” came Mickey’s soft reply. “I don’t like to be threatened and ya don’t want to mess with me. I ain’t Chris Larabee and I wouldn’t have second thoughts about splittin’ ya ear to ear. Got it!”

Roberto had never seen such anger and darkness in a man’s eyes before, and this man was wallowing in it. He showed no weakness and from the conversation Roberto had with him, he had no heart to speak of. Roberto tensed, knowing that this man was unpredictable. He had to tread lightly around him.

“Okay, Mickey. Take it…Take it easy. I just want to make sure we understand the terms.”

Mickey smiled at that and pulled the knife slowly away. He flicked it in the air and caught it one deft motion. He then placed it back into his secret hiding place behind his back and said, “I understand the terms, Berto. Just make sure you do.”

Mickey then nodded slightly at the man and walked out of the apartment suite.

Once he was gone, Berto sighed in relief. This man was going to be trouble. He knew once he had the disk in his hands, he had to eliminate him without delay.

***********************************************************************

Mickey had arrived at the Grand and Sunset much earlier than expected. He sat in his truck, hunched down hoping that the pain in his stomach and head would go away. The truck seemed a little too warm and Mickey had the air-conditioning running full blast as the truck engine ran.

His fingers constantly fiddled with the small vial that was still in his pocket and he had thoughts of using it. The only problem was that he wanted to be clear headed when dealing with the others. He was afraid that the drug would make him careless and he knew at this moment he could not afford to be.

At that moment, another pain lanced his insides and he almost doubled over on himself trying to ride it out. His breaths came in short gasps as he tried to hold on to consciousness. After a while it the pain eased somewhat and he was able to sit up straighter in the seat. The darkness surrounding his vision slowly receded and his mind became clear again. Damn! He could not afford any more episodes like that. To him it was a sign of weakness.

He was determined not to the let the pain or the drug take control. He did not trust Roberto one bit and he knew the man would probably have to get rid of him once he had the disk. He would have done the same thing had he been in his position. Mickey knew he had to be cautious and he had already developed a plan that would insure he came out of this alive and on top.

He hunched back down into the seat, making sure his eyes could see everything within the area. He had made sure that no one was following him when he pulled up to the intersection, but he also had an escape route just in case.

The corner of Grand Boulevard and Sunset was the perfect choice. It was a cross section street that led directly to the highway. He would make a great escape route if things did not go the way he had planned.

As he sat in the truck, brooding over his plans and what he need to do next, two cars pulled up to the curb directly across from him. He knew by the cars that his friends had arrived. He smiled wickedly and slowly stepped out of the car.

Buck, Josiah and Nathan stepped out of the vehicles. JD stayed in the car with Lucien and Vin, while Ezra had Nadia sitting in the other car next to him, a gun in his hand pointed at her.

As they others vacated their car, he saw Chris exit his truck from across the street from them. He hoped the others would be careful since after their earlier entanglement with their leader had proven harmful.

Vin and Lucien eyes widened at image of Chris Larabee as he exited his vehicle to meet the others. He sauntered towards the men, his walk nothing like the old Chris. His steps seemed to be gliding across the pavement, instead of the sure stomping that was the walk of Chris Larabee. They watched as Chris stopped five feet from the three men and smiled like a Cheshire cat at them. They both knew that Chris was up to something, but they just did not know what.

Mickey stopped five feet from the three Archangel agents, not wanting to get any closer or give them any opportunity to try something. He knew they could hear him from here and that he didn’t need to get any closer to complete his business.

“Stop right there. Where’s the disk, Buck?” asked Mickey, eyeing his old friend in annoyance. But the smile he wore never left his face nor never touched his eyes.

“Mickey. How ya been, Pard?” replied Buck, trying to figure out how they were going to get close enough to him.

“Ya know,” answered Mickey shrugging his shoulders. “I’ve been hangin’ in there. How about you?”

“Well, all this is kind of a surprise, Mickey. Ya know what I mean?”

“Yeah, Pa, I do,” replied Mickey and he watched as Buck flinched when he heard the old pen name. “How’s Vin doin’?”

Vin, who sat in the car with Lucien and JD, heard the question and wanted to get out of the car, but Lucien held them fast in the seat. “You can’t go out there, Vin. There’s something going on here and it just doesn’t feel right.”

“But that’s Chris we’re talkin’ ‘bout!” exclaimed Vin. “He needs us.”

“No. He needs us to keep our heads and not go out there half-cocked. Let Buck and the others handle it.”

Vin sighed despondently, but he knew Lucien was right. He did not know how to deal with Mickey and he had to let the others try their plan. But he swore, if that did not work, come hell or high water, he was going after his friend, with or without the others.

“Vin’s okay. Ya know ya hurt ‘im pretty bad,” said Buck trying to garnish sympathy and bring back the old Larabee.

“Aw, tell ‘im stop bein’ such a baby. I didn’t hit ‘em that hard,” said Mickey childlike.

“He just cares about ya, Pard. We all do.”

“Listen, are ya goin’ to stand there all day talkin’ shit, or are we goin’ to do this?” asked Mickey angrily. A scowl had come across his face. He was tired of talking. He wanted the disk and he was getting impatient.

“So, what you gon’na do once I give it to ya?” asked Buck.

“I told ya it was none of ya damn business! Shit! Don’t you guys listen!” he yelled.

Nathan looked over to Buck. He thought Buck was pushing it and he was afraid that the blond would turn and run and then would loose him again. “Buck, ease up,” whispered Nathan.

“No, Nate. You don’t understand ‘im like I do,” Buck whispered back to Nathan. He then returned to Mickey and said, “So how we gon’na do this?”

Mickey relaxed a little. Maybe he would get want he wanted after all without resorting to violence. But that always took the fun out of things. Oh, well. He could live with it as long as he got what he wanted.

“Before we do this, I want something first,” said Mickey, putting his plan into motion.

“And that is?” asked Buck.

“I want to see Vin. I know he’s with ya.”

Buck inwardly cursed himself. How could Chris know that Vin was with them? But then he thought about their unusual link which most of the time he had chalked up to mumbo jumbo. Damn! He wished he knew how he did it.

Nathan and Josiah turned to look at him as if to say play ignorant. But Buck knew it was not going to work. Not if they could not complete the plan. He shook his head at them, motioning to them that he had to admit to it. Nathan and Josiah let out a breath of defeat, knowing that Buck was giving away their ace in the game.

Buck turned towards the two vehicles parked in back of them and shouted, “Vin? Chris wants to see ya.”

Vin looked at Lucien doubtfully as he exited the vehicle. As he started to walk away, JD volunteered to go with him. “No, JD. Ya stay here and keep this car runnin’ just in case. Alright?”

“Sure, Vin,” answered JD disappointed.

Vin then walked slowly over to where the others were standing, his hand still on his hurting ribs.

Once he got next to Buck, he said, “I’m here, Chris.”

“The name’s Mickey. Not Chris, Cowboy.”

Vin looked at the blond man startled. Chris was the only one to use the name Cowboy when referring to Vin.

“Chris?” asked Vin tentatively.

Suddenly Mickey felt strange. It was as if everything was sinking into darkness. “No!” he shouted in his mind, grabbing his head into his hands. “Ya not comin’ back out! I won’t let ya!” He started slowly to sink down to his knees as they gave out.

A voice deep in the back of his mind said, “You have no choice. It’s my body! You don’t belong here anymore!”

“I won’t let ya! Ya not gon’na destroy what I have started!”

Vin and the others looked on in silence as they watched their friend grab his head as if in pain and slowly start to sink down onto his knees. It seemed to them that the man was writhing in pain and they continued to watch as he fell to the ground.

“Chris!” shouted Vin as he ran over to the body on the pavement. Buck and the others quickly followed once they overcame their shock. When they reached Chris, Vin was already kneeling down next to him, trying to still his rolling movements on the ground.

“Chris! Chris! Can ya hear me?” He looked up to Nathan who then knelt beside the hurting Vin and man who seemed to be in the midst of convulsions.

“Vin, don’t try to hold him.”

“Nathan, what’s wrong with ‘im?”

“I think he’s going into convulsions. But I can’t be sure. That damnable drug is too new for me to say.”

As seconds ticked by, the others watched while they waited for the torment their friend was going through to end. The battle continued on as the two personalities tried to wrestle for domination, each causing pain to the already weakened body.

Suddenly, the body on the ground stilled and Vin pulled Chris into his arms while he knelt on the ground. “Chris? Chris? Come on, wake up, Cowboy. This ain’t no time for layin’ around.”

At that statement, Vin found himself staring into green eyes, trying to focus. He could not believe that Chris was awake.

“Chris? Ya can hear me?”

“Ow,” gasped Chris. “Who hit me?”

Vin smiled knowing that it was Chris that spoke and not Mickey. “Chris, ya back?”

“Don’t shout. I can…hear ya.”

“I’m sorry. It just…”

Vin had not finished his sentence and had become silent. Chris knew something was wrong, but his mind seemed fuzzy and not able to focus.

“Vin, what…what happened?” asked Chris, trying to raise his hand to touch his head.

“Ya just had an accident, Pard,” lied Vin. “That’s all.” Vin gazed up at the others, hoping that they would not recount his lie.

“I did?” asked Chris still in a fog. He wished he could remember what happened. He then tried to focus on the faces above him, but they kept going in and out and he had a headache that played havoc with his head.

“Can someone…tell me in…five words or less what happened?” he asked trying to glare at them.

Vin eyes turned to his companions for help.

“Well, Chris,” started Nathan. “Why don’t we get you home first and then we’ll talk. I’m sure this ground can’t be comfortable for you.”

Vin breathed in relief at Nathan’s suggestion.

Chris nodded, still dazed by everything and watched as his friends lifted him from the ground. One of his arms was thrown over Vin’s shoulder and the other over Buck’s.

“Let’s take ‘im to JD’s car. Josiah, you and Buck ride with Ezra.”

Nathan looked at Vin confused about his decision. Vin motioned with his head over Chris’ for him not to question his decision. Nathan let it go. He knew whatever Vin’s reason was he trusted the young sharpshooter’s logic behind it.

“Okay, Vin,” said Nathan. Josiah and Buck did not understand, but nodded that they would also go along with Vin’s suggestion.

Chris felt his legs were like lead as he stood between his friends. He did not know why he felt so weak. The last thing he could even remember vaguely was being in the hospital.

Vin noticed the daze look on his friend’s face, but said nothing. He was too much elated by the fact that they had got Chris back that nothing else mattered. They would sort it out later.

They walked back to their vehicles, much to the bewildered looks on Ezra, Lucien and JD’s faces. Nadia on the hand was not so bewildered as the others. She just smiled as they walked over to the cars.

Vin, with the help of Buck quickly ushered Chris to the car he and Lucien was using and placed Chris in the back seat.

Lucien had an inkling of what Vin was doing and he knew it had to do with Nadia. He did not want his brother to see the woman in the car with Ezra. Why, though? He could not understand, but he would help. He pulled Chris closer to him and as he did, he felt Chris’ full weight on him. What the hell? He grabbed his brother face gently and raised it so it would be looking towards him. The eyes were closed and Lucien knew his brother was unconscious.

“Vin!”

Vin immediately moved into the car, followed by Nathan who was leaning in. “What happened?” asked Nathan.

“I don’t know. All of sudden he went out like a light,” said Lucien.

Vin touched Chris’ neck and felt the strong pulse there. “I think he just passed out,” stated Vin.

“Well, let’s get him to the ranch. I’ll take a look at him there,” said Nathan closing the door behind Vin and then walking over to the front passenger seat.

Once everyone was loaded the two vehicles drove off slowly towards the outskirts of Vegas.

Translations:

Corners - "A corner is defined by whom a man hangs out with. That's his corner. Lot's of times, even a loner is hooked to a certain corner, so within that you've got `strong corners,' `weak corners,' etc. Once you know all the corners, where they are, and what their guidelines are, then you get an easy feel for the pulse of a prison." -- Dannie Martin, Committing Journalism.

***************************************************************************

Chapter: 46

The Fallen Prince of Light

Michael is sometimes known as Sabbathiel and some think that like most humans, all angels have a first name and a last name. In the case of Michael his full name would be Michael Sabbathiel.

While I don’t know if this is true or not it would explain why many of the same deeds are attributed to differently named angels. In addition, he has been identified with the angel who stayed the hand of Abraham when the latter was on the point of sacrificing his son Isaac.

Among the recently discovered Dead Sea scrolls there is one titled War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness. Here Michael is called the "Prince of Light." He leads the angels of light in the battle against the legions of the angels of darkness, the latter under the command of Belial.

He is also said to have informed the fallen angels of the Deluge. Michael is the best known of the Archangels. He was said to be God's champion and is usually pictured with an unsheathed sword. He is credited with winning the first battle against Satan, hurling him out of heaven.

http://www.rjatropical.com/WEB2003/ang1.html

Christopher Michael Larabee also known as Archangel Michael became conscious of the world around him slowly. He opened green eyes and found that he needed to close them quickly. A stabbing pain had taken residence behind them and his stomach was fairing no better. He fought off the nausea and tried to keep the pounding inside his skull down to a minimum level.

He felt a pressure of warmth lying upon his arm and with eyes still closed, tried to remove its presence. But it would not be budged and Chris grew annoyed at the fact.

He pried one eye open and glanced to where his arm should be and found a curly-brown head, lying haphazardly on his forearm. He opened the other eye slowly and tried to focus on the form that seemed to be sleeping on his arm and realized it was Vin Tanner who seem to be slobbering all over his arm.

He opened his mouth to call the young man’s name, but found it dry and when he finally did make a sound it came out a whispered croak. He tried to find some saliva that was left in his mouth but it was dry as a desert. Again he tried his call.

“V…in. Vi…n!”

Vin awoke with a start and a snort at the rasping sound near his ear. He pried opened his sleep-filled brown eyes and found them looking directly into the green ones of his best friend.

“Chris? Chris! Ya awake,” exclaimed the young Texan, sitting up quickly from his resting position.

“Hey…cough…cough…water?” croaked Chris.

Vin jumped up from his seat and walked over to the dresser where a pitcher and glass was positioned. As he did this, Chris took the time to look around and noticed that he was in his own bedroom on his ranch.

Vin walked back to him and held a glass of water in his hand. With the other hand, he carefully lifted Chris head from the pillow and held the glass to his lips. Chris drank long and deep and was only satisfied when the glass was empty. He then sighed contently and lay back upon the pillow again, suddenly tired.

Vin then put the glass back onto the dresser and retook his guarding position that he had through the night, next to his friend. Vin’s blue eyes looked at him, questioning, wondering if Chris was Chris again.

Chris saw the look in those deep seeing eyes, but he was confused as to what they were asking of him. He said, “Vin? What…happened?”

Vin was caught off guard by the question. He knew it was too soon for Chris to learn about Mickey and his exploits. He decided it would be best to be evasive to keep the man calm. He knew too well how Chris would take the information and it would not be a pretty sight. “Ah, ya had an accident, Cowboy.”

“I…did?” asked Chris, his eyebrows quirking in doubt.

“Yeah. Don’t cha remember?”

“No. No…thing. What…What kind?”

“Head injury,” said Vin quickly. It was a little too quick for Chris. He knew something was wrong and his friend was trying to avoid telling him.

“Vin? Truth, Cowboy,” said Chris decisively.

“Chris, we can talk about this later. Right now I think ya need to get some rest.”

“No, Vin, now. I need to know.”

Vin saw the anguished in Chris’ eyes and knew that the man did not remember anything that had happened.

“Chris, ya remember bein’ in the hospital? Right?”

“Yeah,” replied Chris tentatively.

“Well, ya remember why?”

Chris lay there quiet, concentrating on the images that just seem to be a little out of reach. He sighed despondently when they drifted away to settle again back into his subconscious, a place he currently could not reach. He turned wavering eyes to Vin, imploring him to tell him.

“Nadia poisoned ya, Pard. Do ya remember that?”

“Sort of. I was at her house,” said Chris recalling the events. “And she gave me something. I don’t know what it was, but it…” He stopped suddenly and turned pained eyes towards Vin.

Vin saw that something was wrong and asked, “Cowboy? What’s wrong?”

Chris did not immediately answer him. He lowered his eyes to stare at his hands that lay in front of him. He was busy trying to keep the guilt that he felt from rising to the surface. He did not want the young Texan to know how much he had enjoyed the feeling the drug had given him. He was too ashamed of his weakness.

“Chris? Look at me,” said Vin. He knew that whatever was bothering the older blond he could not let it fester. He knew that Chris was the type of person who would take things internally and let it eat him up inside. This was the same reason why he had got addicted to the drugs and alcohol in the first place.

Chris refused to meet the young sharpshooter’s eyes. He felt he had betrayed them all. The images of what he had done to Vin and how he had hurt him appeared in his mind, making it hard for him not to jump up and run out of the house in disgust with himself. How could he have done that to the one person who always stood by his side? How could he do the things that he had done to his brother and to his other friends? It ate at him like a tumor in his mind, chipping away at his strength of mind and character.

Vin felt as if he was losing the battle. His leader and friend still did not answer him and would not look him in the eyes. He said, “Chris, ya was sick. Ya didn’t know what cha was doin’.”

Chris still did not respond. He lay there staring at his hands, turning them over and over as if he was trying to find something wrong with them.

“Chris.” continued Vin. “I know ya didn’t mean to hurt me or the others. I know it was the drug that was doin’ it to ya, Cowboy.”

The blond closed his eyes, his heart beating hard in his chest as he tried to calm himself and not speak out what really was bothering him. He had enjoyed it, every bit of it. What did that say for the type of person that he was? Chris could hear the voices at the back of his mind, fighting to get to the forefront. He ignored them, telling them to be quiet or he would find a way to silence them forever. The voices would not let him rest. They wanted him to finish it and finish it now. Chris closed his eyes tighter, gritting his teeth as he tried to tune them out.

Vin watched carefully as Chris closed his eyes, waiting for the man to speak. But Chris was still uncommunicative and Vin started to agonize over his decision to tell him the truth. Vin wordlessly cursed himself for not staying with his initial decision of keeping the truth from the blond until he was better.

At first, Chris was not going to speak to Vin, but once he saw how anguished the curly-haired man looked, he knew he could not stay his tongue. Even if it was just to allay the young man’s guilt. He did not feel that Vin should feel guilty about anything. It was his fault, not Vin’s for all that had happened.

“Vin,” said Chris softly, still keeping his eyes on his hands. “It ain’t your fault. None of this is.” He twirled the gold ring around his ring finger around and around as he spoke.

“Chris, Nate and the others…I mean we just want to help. Nathan is close to coming up with the antidote, ya know. We just need ya to hold on.”

“Vin, I can’t do this anymore,” came Chris’ tired reply.

“What do ya mean?” asked Vin, his heart now in his throat. “Ya can do it, Cowboy. I know ya can.”

“I c…can’t, Vin! I can’t!” screamed Chris, turning to face his friend, tears forming in his green eyes.

Vin grabbed Chris by the arms. “I know it’s been hard for ya. We all understand. But ya gotta be strong for me, Pard. I need ya to stay in the here and now. I need ya to stay focused.”

Chris stopped his struggles and stared at the young Texan with bewilderment. “Stay here and now? What’s that suppose to mean?”

Vin sighed disgustedly. He had said too much. “I didn’t mean…”

“What didn’t you mean, Vin?” asked Chris tensely. “Tell me.”

Vin did not want to tell Chris about his alter ego. He did not want him to know what Mickey had done over the past few days. It frightened him to think that Mickey was once a part of Chris and although he was gone for now, he could return and that worried him the most.

“Chris, I think ya should rest. Ya haven’t had any for a long time now and I promise, as soon as ya have some, we can talk.”

“About what you didn’t mean and what you did mean?” asked Chris, his eyes glaring at Vin.

“Yeah, somethin’ like that,” said Vin smiling softly at him.

Chris had to admit. He was tired and even though he had just woken up, he felt as if he had not slept in weeks. He lay back against the pillow in his bed and settled in. He would get some sleep, but he would not forget about having that conversation with Vin. Slowly, his eyes closed of their own accord and he was gradually drifting towards sleep.

Vin watched the older blond with apprehension and regret as Chris closed his eyes and sink into a deep sleep.

When he was sure that the man would not wake again, he stood up on shaky legs and stretched the muscles that had been tensed for the past few days. As he did, he felt the twinge that stabbed at his side and hissed in pain. He sat back down with a thump and tried to breathe slowly as he waited for it to subside.

At that moment, he heard the door being opened and turned to find Buck and Lucien walking into the bedroom.

“How is he?” asked Lucien looking tired and worn out.

Vin smoothed his face to hide how much pain he was in and smiled at them. He said, “He woke a few minutes ago.”

“Yeah?” said Buck, hope coloring his tone.

“Yeah. But I think he’s still needs some rest,” answered Vin. He then turned his face in the direction of sleeping friend and went back to his silent vigil.

Buck did not like the way Vin had clammed up so quickly. Although it was in the sharpshooter’s nature to have a quiet demeanor, it did not bode well when the man became too silent.

“What is it, Vin?” Buck asked.

Vin turned to face the man and could see the concern on Buck’s face and it troubled him. He wanted to calm the big man’s fears, but knew to do so he would have to speak and right now, he did want to. His mind was still in turmoil about what he would do once Chris awoke again.

Buck seeing the expression on Vin’s face when he turned around knew it had something to do with the blond asleep on the bed. Vin always tried to put up a strong front when it came to his feelings for their leader and friend, but Buck always saw right through. It was because Buck had the same feelings as he did. Being Chris’ friend for a lot longer time than the younger man had made his awareness acute when it came to people who had strong feelings for Chris. He knew now that the lanky haired Texan was feeling guilty about something and he knew in the middle of it was Chris.

“Vin,” started Buck. “I’m sure Chris is going to be okay. He’s been through rough times before and this ain’t no different.”

“I’d like to believe that, Buck,” answered Vin softly. “But I think that a man can stand so much before he breaks.” Vin then turned back with a guarded appearance.

Buck considered Vin’s words. He knew that it was Chris that he was referring to, but he did not know what had brought this up. He could tell from Vin’s face that whatever had started this thought for the young man must have happened when Larabee came awake.

“Vin, why don’t we talk about it?” suggested Buck, moving closer to the man in the chair. He figured if he got the young man to talk about it then maybe he could figure out how to fix it.

But Vin knew what he was trying to do and knew there was no way Buck could fix this. He had to make a decision and he had to do it before Chris woke up and before someone else told his best friend exactly all the terrible things he had done when he was not in the right frame of mind.

Vin turned to face Buck with anguished eyes and said, “Buck. This can’t be fix.”

“Vin…”

“Buck, I mean it! Ya can’t fix this, so leave it be.” Vin then quickly turned back to the man on the bed.

Buck sighed, knowing he had lost this argument, but stayed there trying to figure out what to do next. He did not notice Lucien who walked over to stand at his side.

Buck looked at Lucien and noticed that he motioned for Buck to leave. He was signaling to Buck that he would handle the situation with Vin. Buck nodded reluctantly and quietly exited the room.

Vin had heard the retreating footsteps and the door as it closed softly behind him. He knew one person had left the room, but his taut senses told him that someone else was still in the room with him. He glanced behind him quickly and found Lucien standing there silent looking on.

“I thought ya both left,” said Vin tentatively.

“Buck did,” was all that Lucien replied.

“Why didn’t ya leave too?”

“Because I did not get what I came here for,” answered Lucien, walking over to the other side of the room and grabbing another chair. He then placed the chair directly next to Vin’s and sat down tiredly.

“You know, Vin. It’s not your fault and Chris doesn’t blame you for any of this,” said Lucien knowingly.

Vin turned and glared at the man. He felt indignant at this man’s comment. Who was he to tell Vin what Chris was feeling? He knew Chris better than any of them, except Buck of course, but certainly more so than a wayward brother.

Lucien saw the look that Vin had given him. It was understandable that he would have misgivings concerning a brother who went missing when his brother really needed him. What kind of brother did it make him? In fact, what kind of person did it make him? Lucien had lived with this guilt and doubt for over the past two years. He was now trying to change that.

“I know you don’t think that I care about him, Vin. But I do. You don’t know how it was growing up, knowing that you had a brother, but not being able to make anyone, including your own father and mother acknowledge it,” explained Lucien vehemently.

Vin turned to face him, his blue eyes looking into the mirror of his own.

“Chris and I didn’t find out about each other until the day of the death of his mother. It was then that our father decided that it was time we met. I was happy at first to know that I had a brother. I was the only child of an only child. My mother’s family had wanted nothing to do with her or me because who our father was and our father was already married to a crack addict.”

“Chris’ mother,” stated Vin knowingly.

“Yes. I saw Chris here and there on the streets or whenever our father thought it would be a nice treat for us to get together. Every time I saw him, he seemed to change a little. Day by the day, his attitude changed and his moods became darker and scarier. Even Buck sometimes found it hard to deal with it at times.”

Vin smiled gently. It did not seem any different to him than they way Chris was now. Chris always had dark and scary moods, but Vin had a tendency not to give them much credence. It was just the way he was and Vin dealt with them as they came. But it was never anything like the way they described Mickey.

Lucien seeing that Vin was trying to contemplate this decided to continue with his story. “You see the one good thing about my life is though I did not have relatives that were close to me and around me all the time I still had the love of my mother. That alone made me able to survive the streets and become something different from what the cause and effect should have been. Chris on the other hand was not so lucky. He had a father who was more faithful to his mistress than his wife and a mother who was too high all the time to care. Chris grew up on the streets alone and learned to survive on his own, without support from anyone, save one person.”

“Buck Wilmington,” Vin replied having already made up his mind as to whom Lucien was referring to.

Lucien eyed him, his face carrying a smirk. “Yes. Good ole Buck. Always by Chris’ side through thick and thin. Even in prison. Buck Wilmington, a JD and the son of a whore, was the only support Chris had. Coming from the same place as Chris mentally, Buck was the one person who understood Chris’ dilemma. He was also the only one who saw Chris change as the world became harsher and harsher and he knew when he became that other piece of shit that you met earlier.”

Vin could see the disgust that Lucien felt at the mention of the other persona of Chris. He did not know what Mickey had done to Lucien that made him harbor so much anger and hatred towards the other persona. But then again, Mickey had shot Lucien and even Vin could see his reasoning for being so heated when it came to conversations about Mickey. As a matter of fact, so was Buck. He would have to question Buck about it when he got a chance.

“What do ya know about Mickey, Lucien?” asked Vin curious.

This seemed to throw Lucien off kilter. Vin knew he was not expecting that question and it looked like at first he was not going to answer. Then he sighed deeply and said, “Well, not a lot. I didn’t meet Mickey until years later when I got out of college. You see Chris and I had very little contact while I was away at college. I didn’t even know that it was Chris that paid for my college tuition until my mother told me. When I came home things had changed dramatically. Our father had died the year before, car accident. My mother was living alone and grieving for him. And Chris. Chris was Mickey, the right hand man for El Lobo.”

“That was the man that Buck told me he and Chris worked for back in New York.”

“Yes. El Lobo was small time and he thought he could manipulate Chris, but what he didn’t know was there was no Chris. There was only Mickey. From what Buck told me, Mickey had everyone fooled, including Lobo. Lobo thought that Chris had only one agenda. That was to work by his side, helping him to build his empire.”

“But Mickey didn’t,” replied Vin, his eyes glancing at the sleeping blond.

“No, he didn’t. Mickey had a bigger agenda, one that did not involve Lobo. Lobo was a means to an end and Mickey took it. Vin. I know…I know something that could damage Chris’ career, maybe even his life.”

Vin looked at him in bafflement. He did not know what Lucien was getting at. What information did he know that could damage Chris’ career or even his life? This worried Vin tremendously.

Lucien knew he needed to get to the point, so he just blurted it out. “I know he killed Lobo.”

At first Vin was unsure of just what Lucien had said. Then slowly it started to filter into his mind. Vin turned anguished eyes on the young man. No. It could not be true. It was too hard to believe and too hard for Vin to swallow. He turned his gaze back upon the sleeping Chris. Vin’s blue eyes watched as Chris turned restlessly back and forth on the bed, twisting his body tighter into the sheets that lay covering him. Vin carefully straightened the sheets and made sure that the older blond leader was once more comfortable among the bedding.

Lucien had seen the young man’s actions and he saw the soul of the man who held his brother’s friendship that was a mirror of his own. He saw the look in the other man’s eyes and knew he had brought pain to this man’s world. But he wanted him to know the history behind Mickey and Chris and why it was not his fault, nor Chris’, nor Buck’s, nor his. It was the way fate had dished out hands.

Vin then turned to face Lucien and asked the one question that Lucien was not ready to answer. “How do ya know its true?”

Lucien turned his blue eyes away from the one that stared at him, waiting for an answer and let them lay on the figure on the bed. “Because Mickey told me.”

Vin moved his eyes towards the man on the bed. Vin’s heart dropped twice into his chest. The first time was at Lucien’s announcement and now it happened at Lucien’s spoken confession. Vin did not know what they were going to do. How would Chris survive this in one piece, body, mind and soul? He did not know. But he did know that he would stand besides the blond archangel through whatever came. And should it lead to the forsaken path then so be it.

Lucien stood up from his seated position and leaned closer to the form of his sleeping brother. Brushing back a stray lock of blond hair, he moved his lips to hover closely to his brother’s right ear and whispered, “I love you, Chris, as any brother could love another. Please don’t let Mickey win.”

Although Lucien spoke in low tones, Vin still heard the plea and it broke his heart. Here was someone else who would sacrifice everything for the sleeping man. Lucien was his brother by blood and Vin was his brother by heart. Both of them had to be strong to make sure that the man would survive his current tabulations. He just hoped it was enough.

Lucien then turned to leave. With his back towards Vin he said, “I’ll…I’ll send Nathan in and…let him know that he was awake.”

“Lucien,” called Vin gently.

Lucien stopped his walk towards the door, but did not turn to face him.

“I just want ya to know that I can ‘preciate ya feelings for Chris and I understand how much he means to ya.”

“I know you do, Vin. I just hope he does,” answered Lucien without turning around. He then proceeded out the door, closing it silently behind him.

Vin sighed deeply, his gaze taken in the slow rhythmic breathing of the person on the bed. He then said in a low voice, “I just hope ya do, Chris, cause iffen ya don’t I have feelin’ that boy ain’t gon’na be able to take the outcome.” Vin hoped that Chris had heard his words; otherwise he knew there was going to be a lot of hurt and the Fallen Prince of Light were going to be in the middle of it.

JD – Juvenile Delinquent also known as juvies.

***************************************************************************

Chapter: 47

The Princes Bane

And Satan replied: I was the first angel created, for when God made the heavens, he took a handful of fire and formed me first, Michael second, the captain of the hosts above, Gabriel third, and myriad's of other angels to populate each of the seven heavens.  (According to excerpts from the apocryphal gospel of Bartholomew)

http://www.rjatropical.com/WEB2003/ang1.html

Chris awoke to pain and confusion. He remembered having a conversation with Vin earlier, but it seemed the young Texan was not around now and Chris sorely missed the voice that he considered his conscience.

Chris threw his legs over the side of the bed and sat up, noticing that his wrists and side was bandaged, but could not remember how or why. He sat on the bed, his head in his hands as he felt weariness lean on him hard. He could not remember when the last time he had felt so tired. It was like his body was waging a war and losing badly.

Standing on shaky legs, Chris walked precariously over to what he knew was his closet.

Once there, he opened it and pulled out several items of clothing, among them was a black pair of jeans and a black silk shirt that had silver buttons. He then leaned down, trying not to fall flat onto his face and grabbed a pair of black boots.

After discarding the items onto the bed, he walked to the bureau in his bedroom and pulled out a pair of socks and a pair of black boxer shorts.

Putting the those items with the others on the bed, he then absently passed a hand through his frayed blond hair, trying to get rid of the cobwebs that existed in his head. He needed a shower and badly. He could feel the dirt and grime all over his body. Looking down at the bandages on his side and around his wrists, he sighed dejectedly. Damn! He was not willing to put it off. He then delicately removed the bandages from his side and wrists and threw them into the garbage pail against the wall.

He stared at his wrists and saw the thinly cut line that ran across them and grimaced in sorrow. Flashes of images showing him in a tub of water, a razor in his hand slicing through the delicate skin and the blood flowing freely turning the water a pinkish red came unbidden. They made him double over in shame and anger at the thought of what his friends went through when they found him so.

After finally winning his fight to control the bile that wanted to free itself from his throat, he stood up painfully and walked slowly over to the bathroom door. His right hand nervously shook as he reached for the knob and placed his hand on the cool metallic surface and turned it to unlock.

He gagged involuntarily as he opened the door and more images filled his mind. Images of Nadia, enticing him into bed with her and of him, savagely lavishing her with kisses without conscience or concern popped into his head furiously. He was disgusted by how he acted and what he did. He closed the door quickly as he felt the bile that he had previously controlled come back with a vengeance and ran to the toilet to expel the nasty tasting substance.

Vin came back into the room and found that the bed that had once contained Larabee was empty. It was at that moment that he heard retching coming from the bathroom and knew where the distraught blond was.

“Aw, Chris,” he said softly and felt distressed at his friend’s suffering.

He walked over to the door of bathroom and knocked softly. “Chris? Are ya alright?”

Chris did not answer as he dry heaved into the toilet again.

“Hey, Cowboy, I’m comin’ in, okay?” asked Vin as he reached for the knob.

Chris, afraid of how Vin would see him, quickly replied, “No! No, don’t. I’m comin’ out. Just…Just give me a moment, okay?”

Vin sighed in sympathy. He knew that the blond was embarrassed, but as far as Vin was concerned he had nothing to be embarrassed about. The man had gone through hell and he would be surprised if there was anything left that would pass as sanity in the man after all he had been through.

He was then brought out from his reverie when he heard water running. The next minute, Chris came out of the bathroom, pale and using a towel to dry his face. He eyed the young Texan with sheepish eyes and moved quickly to where his clothes lay.

“Goin’ somewhere, Pard?” asked Vin trying to lightened the mood in the room.

“Tired of laying in bed all the time,” was Chris’ short reply as he grabbed the clothes and started to walk back to the bathroom.

“Chris,” said Vin, touching the blond lightly on the shoulder as he passed.

Chris flinched slightly at his touch, which startled Vin.

“Chris, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing…Nothing. Just need to get clean,” replied Chris, shivering somewhat.

“Chris, come on, Cowboy. We gotta talk about this,” said Vin persistently. He knew something was bothering his boss and friend.

“No!” shouted Chris, entering the bathroom and slamming the door behind him.

Vin heard the door lock and his head dropped in defeat. “Damn!” He was about to knock on the door and try to coax the blond out from his refuge, when he heard the shower turn on and knew that it was Chris’ way of saying he wanted to be left alone.

“Okay, Cowboy,” said Vin silently to himself. “I’ll leave ya alone, for now.” He then turned towards the door that led to the others and left Chris to his solitude.

************************************************************************

Lucien had saw Vin coming out of Chris’ bedroom and noticed that a worried adorned his face.

“Vin? Is everything okay?” he asked.

“I don’t know, Luc. Chris is awake.”

“And?” questioned Lucien, his eyebrow raised in suspicion.

“And I don’t think he’s got his head on straight right now. He actin’ strange.”

A horrible thought shoved its way into Lucien mind. “Like when he was Mickey?”

“No, no. Nothin’ like that. He just don’t seem like Chris.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it seems he’s scared.”

“Scared?”

“Yeah. I ain’t never seen Chris scared of anythin’ in all the time we worked together. I seen him sad, happy, in pain and even downright angry as a mad dog. But ain’t never seen him scared.”

“I know what you mean by angry,” agreed Lucien. “It was the reason why nobody in Brooklyn walked over his shadow.”

“Huh?”

“It’s an expression from the gang days in Brooklyn. Chris was the kind of man that you did not walk anywhere near his shadow. It was considered disrespectful and usually anyone who did, ended up with a bullet for his troubles.”

“Damn!”

“Yeah. I always thought the same thing.”

Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching them. They both turned to find Buck and Nathan coming down the corridor.

“What are you two doing?” asked Nathan, curious as to why the two young men were out in the hall and not in the room with Chris.

“Hey, Nate. I was just tellin’ Lucien that Chris is awake,” replied Vin. He felt compelled to leave what the rest of the conversation was about out. He did not know if Chris was up to their scrutiny right now.

“It’s about time!” exclaimed Buck as he started to walk over to the door.

“Wait, Buck,” said Vin, grabbing the man’s arm. “I think he needs a little time alone.”

Buck turned to face the young Archangel with a look of exasperation. “What are ya talking about? He’s had too much time alone is what I think.”

“Buck…” started Vin.

“Don’t Buck me, Vin. I think I know Chris a lot longer than you and I think the man does not need to be left alone anymore.”

“Buck, listen,” interrupted Lucien. “Vin’s right. Chris needs sometime alone in there. How do you think he feels after realizing what he’s done over the past few days? The man has done everything against the grain of his nature. Whether it was the drugs or something else, Chris has to live with the guilt of it and right now he needs some time to deal with it.”

“Lucien, I tend to go along with Buck right now. Chris isn’t in the best of health right now and he may have a relapse. We got to keep an eye on him,” stated Nathan.

Lucien and Vin could tell that the dark-skinned doctor was worried about Chris and he had only the best intentions towards him. But they both looked at each other and then back to Nathan and Buck and knew that best intentions were not going to be enough this time.

“Nate, ya got to think about Chris’ frame of mind right now,” pleaded Vin. “He’s got a lot to deal with right now and what he needs is our trust. He ain’t gonna get that with us hovering over ‘im every minute. I know ya worried about ‘im. So am I, but I also know what he’s feelin’ right now and he needs to have some self-respect left and we ain’t gonna give that to ‘im by treatin’ ‘im like a prisoner.”

Buck and Nathan stood silently in thought at Vin’s declaration. It was the most they had ever heard out of the quiet man and they knew if he was this passionate about it, then they had better heed him.

“Alright, Vin,” said Buck reluctantly. “We’ll give Chris his time alone.”

Vin nodded and Lucien breathed a sigh of relief, but Vin also knew there was a “but” coming.

“But…” said Buck. “If he’s in there too long, we go in. Understand?”

“Anythin’ ya say, Bucklin,” responded Vin smirking and he watched as Buck and Nathan walked back towards the living room area.

Once they were gone, Lucien sidled a look at Vin and said, “Do you think we did the right thing?”

Vin hearing the doubt in the other’s man’s voice said, “Yeah, I do. Come on and I’ll make ya a cup of coffee.” He then grabbed the young blond by the arm and led him back towards the kitchen.

“I don’t know. I heard a lot about your coffee making skills,” said Lucien laughingly, letting the young Texan lead him away.

*********************************************************************

Chris had showered and dressed swiftly. He had also washed and combed his hair, making him look a little more human. He stared at his reflection in the mirror and groaned forlornly.

His hair was much longer than he remembered and he wished he could get a hair cut. Also needed a shave as the stubble started to appear thicker on his face. He could ask Ezra to do it, as the man claimed to have impeccable taste when it came to grooming and often cut his own hair instead of going to one of those what he called “butcher barbers” to have it done. Chris smiled a little at the thought, but the smile faded when he thought about how long ago that was. It seemed like it was years ago when he and Ezra had had the conversation, although it was probably only a month ago. So much time was lost to him and he was afraid of what his memories would show him when they finally reemerged.

He looked at himself one more time before walking out of the bathroom. To his surprise, none of the others were around. It was a relief to his battered soul as he did not think he could take their pity right now.

He walked over to the door that led to the corridor and to the rest of the house with apprehension. He had no idea what lay on the other side of it. He felt the nausea start up again, but this time knew it for what it was, nerves. He had to get a hold of himself, but he just could not shake the feeling that once he step through the portal, everything that he was trying to avoid would come crashing down on him. But he realized he could not stay in the room forever.

Determined, Chris pushed back his shoulders, his lean body taking the normal Larabee stance and opened the door. As he stood at the exit, he turned and glanced back at the room. No. He was not going to hide. He was going to fight and no matter what, he would go down fighting.

He walked through the door to meet whatever lay for him on the other side and started the long walk towards living room area and his friends.

*****************************************************************************

Chapter: 48

The Devil’s Brood

Chris walked down the hall and was about to go into the living room when he heard a noise coming from the extra bedroom. He turned to the door and tried the knob, but it was locked.

Chris never locked any of the rooms in his house. It was unthinkable considering he was the only one who lived here. He knew the boys had locked it and something lay behind it.

Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys. The keys to every lock on his ranch was always at his fingertips. He put the key for the room into the door and heard the lock click open. He then turned the knob and pushed the door cautiously open.

When the door was pushed back, he gasped in surprise at what he found there. Quickly stepping inside, he closed the door firmly behind him.

Nadia lay on the small bed of the bedroom they had locked her in. She had tried to escape, but the windows had iron wrought bars and were locked. So she sat waiting for an opportune moment.

As she waited patiently, she heard the door unlock and knew that the men were returning, probably to question her further.

She gasped at who entered when the door opened slowly and then a depraved smiled crossed her face.

“Nadia?” came the voice of Chris Larabee.

“Christopher. How nice to see you again,” purred Nadia.

Chris closed the door silently behind him. “What are you doing in my home?”

“Love, don’t you remember? You invited me,” she said laughingly.

Chris eyebrows rose in doubt. “Nadia, you must believe that I’m that stupid or otherwise you would have never said anything like that. I would never, ever invite you here. Not what the hell are you doing here and don’t play games with me, understand,” said Chris threateningly.

It was then that Nadia realized that either the drug had worn off or they had found a cure. He was no longer under her influence. But that would not be hard to fix. She was glad that the foolish friends he had, had not search her boot. If they did, they would have found the syringe wrapped up in plastic that contained more of the drug. Nadia was always prepared for any eventuality.

“Christopher, darling. I would never, ever try to deceived you,” Nadia said reaching in her boot and palming the syringe into her hand. She leisurely got up from the bed and starting moving closer to him.

“Yeah, right. And pigs can fly. Why are you here?”

“Your friends think that what I know can help you,” said Nadia truthfully. She then walked closer to him, making sure he could not see the syringe in her hand. She was now. So close she could taste his lips on hers.

“You expect me to believe that?” asked Chris, eyeing her suspiciously with a glare.

“It’s the truth, Christopher. I swear.”

Chris glared at Nadia, knowing the woman would say anything to get on his good side. The dark side known as Mickey agreed.

“We’ll see. I’m going to talk to the boys and if I find out your lying…” said Chris leaving the threat to hang in the air between them.

“I’m not, Christopher. At least not now,” replied Nadia, putting her arms around him and silently popping the cap off the syringe once her hands were behind his back.

Chris wanted to pull back from her. He knew how dangerous Nadia could be, but something inside him liked the way her arms felt around his neck, her body close, almost pressing her breasts against his chest. He had cared for Nadia at one time in his life. She had come at a time when Chris was wanted to die. Meeting her had given him the will to live again, until he found out her true nature.

He looked at her as memories came of another night, bodies entwined in the sensual act of lovemaking. He could almost feel the kisses that were placed up and down his naked body and the ones he had given her in return.

“Nay, Nay, it’s no good anymore,” he whispered as he came back to senses and as she started kissing him on the neck and then on the cheek, moving upward to his forehead.

“You’re wrong, my love. We’re still good for each other. Do you remember the night we first met? When you took me to your bedroom and we made love all night long until we were totally exhausted?”

Chris smiled at that. Yeah. They did have good times back then. Nadia as vivacious and wild and Chris just as much so. They had spent many a nights lying in each other arms, not thinking about what the future would hold, only the now.

Chris was jerked back to the present when he felt a stab of pain in his neck. He pushed Nadia away forcefully and back up towards the door. He watched as a syringe fell on to the floor.

“What the hell did you do?” he shouted.

“Now, now, Chris. Is that anyway to treat the woman that you love?” teased Nadia. She smiled as she went to lie back on the bed.

Chris felt the liquid burning as it flowed through his body. The euphoria he had felt before had now returned in full force and Chris felt his equilibrium start to tilt dramatically.

Nadia jumped up from the bed and grabbed Chris by buckle of his pants. She pulled him towards her and back towards the bed. “Christopher, dear. You seem not to be able to hold on to your liquor darling,” laughing at her own joke.

“What?” asked Chris, his mind seeming to drift on its own as he landed on the bed with Nadia on top of him. Alarm bells went off in his head, but his mind was not able to understand why. “Nay? What’s…what’s going on?”

“Don’t worry about it, lover. Things will be better now,” she said kissing him on the lips. “Like they were before…you know.”

“Nay…Nay I don’t…think this is right,” said Chris, his mind stumbling and trying to grasp onto something solid within his mind. His breath came in quick sessions, making him feel lightheaded and hot.

“Relax, Christopher. Just relax. I’m here, you’re here. What could be wrong?”

Chris could not resist the smell from her perfume. It was so tantalizing and sensuous to his sense. It made him think of the past when he and Nadia were two wild and crazy people, living, loving and thwarting danger in their jobs. He started kissing the nape of her neck and then her face, at first slowly and then frantically.

Nadia responded back, loving all the affection that Chris was giving her. She was so enraptured by Chris’ actions, that she did not hear the door open.

“What the hell?” came the voice that she recognized as Vin Tanner’s.

Nadia turned to see Vin and Lucien standing in the doorway. Surprise and disgust were on their faces and she could see that anger was not far behind.

Nadia tried to jump up from the bed but found she could not since Chris was still holding tightly to her.

“Where ya goin’, baby?” murmured Chris, kissing her again on the neck and starting to work on her earlobe.

“You need to let go of me, darling. It seems your friend and your brother are here,” she answered evasively trying to get Chris to release his grip on her waist.

“Unh, uh. Ya not goin’ anywhere,” replied Chris continuing with his onslaught of kisses.

Vin and Lucien walked quickly over to the bed and pulled Nadia from Chris’ arms. She was jerked back into Lucien’s arms and he held onto her tightly, while Vin kneeled on the bed trying to examine Chris.

“Chris! Chris! Talk to me!” shouted Vin, taking his friend’s head into his hands and shaking it hard.

Chris only started laughing hysterically and tried to reach for Nadia again.

“Stop it, Chris! She’s drugged ya again!”

“No, no,” replied Chris as he tried to stop a laugh and ended up snorting. “We just havin’…a…little fun.”

Vin could see that Chris was starting to have trouble verbalizing and knew the drug was having a euphoria affect on him. Vin had hoped that Chris was finally getting control over his addiction, but this set back was probably going to be the last straw.

“Damn! Bitch! What did ya do to ‘im?” shouted Vin angrily at Nadia.

Nadia shrugged her shoulders and smiled. She knew these men would not harm her. As far as she was concerned, they did not have it in them to harm a woman, unlike some men she knew.

Lucien looked to the floor and spied the empty syringe on the rug.

“Vin,” he said nodding to where the syringe lay.

Vin walked over to the syringe and picked it up, careful not to touch the needle. “I knew we shouldn’t have trusted her! How did she get this?”

“I don’t know, Vin,” said Lucien shaking his head. He too was surprised at the turn of events. “She must have had it on her.”

“What? Why wasn’t she searched?”

“I don’t’ know, Vin. I just don’t know. Maybe the others can shed some light on it. We were so caught up in finding Chris…”

Vin nodded, knowing that none of them were to blame for the current predicament, but it did nothing to console his rage. He then told Lucien that it was best to relock Nadia up, this time in handcuffs and take Chris back to his room.

Vin placed the syringe onto the nightstand. It still had some of the drug left in it and he figured maybe Nathan could discover the missing element that was used by testing the substance.

He then started to grab for Chris’ arm to lift him up and that was when Vin thought all hell had broken loose.

Vin suddenly found himself amid flinging arms and legs of his friend as Chris tried to get away from him. Chris jabbed him in the side with fist and Vin almost doubled over in pain.

“Chris! Chris! It’s me, Vin! Come on, Chris. Don’t do this.”

As Vin wrestled on the bed with Chris, who was getting in some good punches and kicks, the door burst opened and the others came in.

“What the hell is goin’ on here?” exclaimed Buck.

Vin tried to answer him, but he was too busy trying to get a hold of the drugged blond man.

Vin heard Lucien reply, “She drugged him again.” He then heard what sounded like Nathan sighing.

“Josiah, Buck, help Vin,” commanded Nathan.

Josiah and Buck ran over to the bed to help Vin subdue the fighting blond. They each grabbed a pair of legs and arms and helped Vin haul the man off the bed into a standing position.

Vin got swatted by one of Chris’ hands and said, “Chris! Stop that!”

Chris turned green glazed eyes to Vin and started laughing. “Vin, Vin, my…fr…friend!”

Vin rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Damn! The man was high as a kite. “Let’s get ya back to ya room, Cowboy,” said Vin as he hoisted the man as he started to fall back to the floor.

“What should I do about her?” asked Lucien as Nadia tried to remove herself from his grip.

“Shoot her!” said Vin vehemently, as he started to drag his friend towards the door.

“Vin?” questioned Lucien. He was also angry with the woman, but he could not shoot a woman in cold blood.

“Ya heard what I said!” exclaimed Vin as Josiah and Buck helped him with the blond out the door.

Ezra and JD came towards the room and watched their friends take the listless blond down the hall. They then stepped into the room and glanced at Nathan and Lucien.

“What happened?” asked JD concerned.

“She drugged Chris again,” answered Nathan, staring at the woman with so much hatred that if Nadia could feel it, it would have burned.

“I see,” replied Ezra. “Well, then, I think we need more drastic measures of confinement.” He then grabbed the woman hard from Lucien and pushed her towards the door.

“What ya goin’ to do with her, Ezra?”

“My dear, Mr. Dunne, it seems the lady needs to be taught some manners and I happen to be the one that can accommodate her,” said Ezra glaring at Nadia.

Nadia felt her blood grow cold at the green eyes that seem to almost bore into her heart. She knew she was in trouble now and she saw no way out of it.

Ezra started dragging the woman from the room. Nadia knowing that whatever the man had planned for her was going to be something she liked, started screaming.

“Chris is mine! He’ll always be mine! You can’t change that!”

“My dear lady, if you do not desist with your enumerable howling, I shall take actions into my own hands to shut you up,” said Ezra threateningly.

Nadia closed her mouth immediately, silencing her the words that were ready to come out of her mouth.

“Smart woman,” said JD smiling.

With that, Ezra pulled the woman down the hall. To where, JD and Lucien did not know and they thought it best that they were kept ignorant of Ezra’s plans.

When they could no longer see the obstinate woman or their friend, Lucien sighed despondently. He said particularly to no one, “Damn! She’s the Devil’s Brood incarnate.”

“Huh?” asked JD, whom Lucien forgot was still there.

“Nothing, JD. Just talking to myself,” and Lucien walked out the door to where his brother was taken.

JD shook his head and followed, thinking he should of just stayed in bed today.

TBC.

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