Journey Big Bang - Code Black - Part One
Title: Code Black
Author(s): Caitriona
Artist(s): nickygabriel
Fandom(s): Magnificent Seven (ATF AU)/Glee crossover
Type: Gen
Rating: PG13/T
Word Count: 17,000
Characters/Pairings: Chris Larabee, Ezra Standish, Vin Tanner, Nathan Jackson, Josiah Sanchez, JD Dunne, Buck Wilmington, Noah Puckerman, Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez, Brittany Pierce, Tina Cohen-Chang, Mike Chang
Warnings/Spoilers: Terrorism is a part of the plot, so if that is a bother, please don't read.
Summary: Two groups of people are just trying to get home. When a storm traps them in the airport, they find themselves in the heart of danger.
Author’s Notes: This is my first big bang, my first time writing the ATF AU, and my first major fic for Glee. I'm completely nuts! I apologize if any of the characters seem to OOC - hopefully that will improve as I continue writing. Some beta work done in early stages by sinfulsparkle and icarus_suraki. I took some suggestions, but not all, so please hold only me responsibile for any errors.
Link(s) to Art Master Post(s): http://nickygabriel.livejournal.com/573877.html
Nondescript little motel on the outskirts of Denver
As the maid entered room 102, she frowned at the excessive amount of trash and debris scattered around the room.
“Odd,” she muttered to herself as she peered around.
The occupant of the past month had usually kept things neat as a pin. Most days, she and the other cleaners had commented on how much they preferred to work on his room as it took so little effort. Mr. Ibn Ayyub was a quiet man, composed and reticent. He had been a little standoffish perhaps, but polite, and that was a marked difference from the drunks they normally had to deal with. There had been a good deal of gossip among the staff as to why such a man was staying in a place like this. They had finally decided that the bad state of the economy had led to his current situation. Still, he had been a wonderful guest to have. He must have had a very bad night to leave things in such a state. With a deep sigh, she began gathering the trash and torn paper scattered throughout the room. If she had taken a closer look at some of that torn paper, she might not have been so casual.
Finally, it is time! In a few more hours my martyrdom will be nearing completion! My service has been brief, for I saw not the truth until such a short time ago. May Allah forgive me for my blindness! Thanks to the intervention of those wise men who proclaim the teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, I have been brought into the light of belief. Now, I can atone for allowing darkness to influence my life; I will give everything over to Him for His glory. When fire rains from the sky, may Allah grant that all who witness it be awakened to His truth and His power. Death to the oppressors! Death to those who subject the people! Allah summons all to the struggle.
Denver International Airport - Glee
A weary group of teenagers gathered in one of the many seating areas to wait for their flight. According to their original itinerary, they should already be on a plane back to Ohio; they had only stopped in Denver as a brief layover - no more than two hours. That had been almost five hours ago. Not an hour after landing, the airport had been closed due to harsh weather conditions. A massive storm system had been threatening Denver for almost two days, but prevailing wind currents had kept it at bay. Those winds had finally shifted, and the storm had roared down from the north with all of its pent up energy seeking new prey. Patience began to erode as boredom set in - they had not been prepared for a lengthy wait.
One of the teens, a lovely blond with a slightly vacant air about her reached for her carry-on and dragged out a journal. Shifting around to sit cross-legged in the chair, she leaned over the book and began to write.
August 6th
Well, now we’re stuck in Denver…our plane’s been held up by the snow. Quinn’s complaining about wanting to get home - she’s had enough with cheap hotels and the lack of a good shower. I thought our hotel was nice! At least the people were - no one looked at me funny like they do back home. Disneyland was fun! I’m glad we got to go to the invitational out there; Mom and Dad can’t afford these kinds of trips, but Principal Figgins said he’d find the money for us to go to such a “wonderful exhibition of talent”. (I had to ask San how to spell exhibition…still not sure what that means, but I guess it’s what we did.)
It was really kind of weird though. I mean, people made all kinds of changes in Disneyland…I guess the magic in the Magic Kingdom really works…at least on some people. Not everybody changed, but now some people aren’t talking and others are dating…I don’t think they’re having sex though. Sex is not dating…I guess that means dating is not sex either.
(Lord Tubbington - if you read this, you cannot talk about it. This is a private diary, not a gossip blog.)
So, changes…well, Rachel and Finn were dating when we left Ohio, but when we left California, they weren’t. He kept wandering after Quinn and leaving Rae on her own. Three days into our trip, after we finished with the competition for the day, she went to the restroom and Q. called him, so he left. He just left her there in the middle of the park - she didn’t know where anybody was, so she was lost! Puck got really pissed about that…he doesn’t like it when Finn just leaves her on her own. He’s been doing that a lot since school ended.
Anyway, Rae called Finn, but he wasn’t answering his phone. Mercedes told her later that he’d left the park with Q. They went back to the hotel to fool around, and didn’t tell anybody they were leaving. Mr. Schue wasn’t happy because he’s supposed to have a General idea of where we are. (What does an Army officer have to do with Glee club? I’ll ask Mr. Schue later.)
So, anyway, when Finn didn’t answer, Rae called Puck…she always goes to him first, it’s really kind of cute! San thinks it’s sickening, but she means it in the so-cute-its-sick way. He’s really into her. (Rae I mean, not San - they don’t do that anymore.) So, when she called, he went to find her and spent the rest of the day with her. Sometimes we saw them, but usually they were off on their own. They were good though; they didn’t leave the park.
Finn and Q. got into trouble and San said they deserved it. I’m not sure what happened between San & Q., but something did and San’s ignoring her whenever she can. If it’s not for Glee or Cheerios, then San doesn’t give her the time of day. (That’s what Kurt said, but I still don’t get why he pointed that out - San’s not talking to her at all, so of course she wouldn’t tell her what time it was.)
Finn tried to sit next to Rae at dinner and apologize, but Rae told him off. It was kind of funny, and San thought it was great. When Rae gets going, she gets loud and scary, and I think almost the whole place was staring. Kurt recorded it too. San really liked this part:
“And just why do you think I would want to be anywhere near you, Finn Hudson? You can take yourself back over to the blond bit of fluff you have been with all afternoon. I already have companions for dinner and even if I did not, I certainly would not welcome any advances from the likes of you. I do believe your presence would turn my stomach.”
Finn got all puppy-eyed and tried to talk to her again, but Puck pushed him away, and Mike helped block him from coming back. When Finn protested, San actually got involved. She walked up from behind Finn and sat down next to Rae, pulling me into the seat on her other side. She gave Finn a good glare.
“Pretty sure you heard the midget, boy toy. She’s already got company and there’s no more room. So shoo.”
With everybody staring, he went to sit by Q. She acted all upset with him since he had tried to talk to Rae, so he ended up just talking to Mr. Schue. San actually talked some to Rae, though more to Puck who sat on Rae’s other side. The next day, after we did our performance, Rae told San that she had done a wonderful job on her solo. When we got to go out and wander the park again, it ended up being six of us in a group - me, San, Rae, Puck, Mike, & Tina. I kind of think we’re all friends now. And that’s really cool because I like all of them!
The last few days in California ended up being like that. Finn kept trying to talk to Rae while messing with Q. on the side. (That’s what San said anyway, but Q. was never beside Finn when he went to Rae. I don’t get it.) Any way, since he kept trying to talk to Rae, Puck got really pissed and ended up hitting him at one point. Nobody said anything though, so Puck didn’t get in trouble. San still calls Rae midget from time to time, but normally it’s Rae or Rach. She says I’m not allowed to write what she’s calling Q. (You know, just in case you tell on her, Lord Tubbington!) Puck and Rae are being “friends,” but San laughs every time they say that and teases them about how long that will last.
Ouch! San just elbowed me in the side, but it was a good thing! Eye candy! Well, they’re nice to look at, even if I don’t know if they’re sweet or not. There are seven of them that just walked in the room. Looks like they’re looking for places to sit, but they don’t look too happy.
The guy in front is blond and mean-looking. It doesn’t look like he smiles much - he’s got frown lines, not smile lines. Still, he’s got really nice eyes…maybe he’s the kind that looks scary but doesn’t mean it? Eyes are always good ways to judge people. Of course, he’s dressed in all dark colors which make him look meaner, but Tina dresses all dark too, and she’s really sweet.
The guy behind him is scruffier…is that a word? Anyway, he’s got some stubble on his chin and longer hair, but he’s got some gorgeous blue eyes. He looks nicer than his friend…he’s smiling more and just kind of seems, I don’t know, softer? Sweeter? I don’t know - it’s just a feeling.
San’s eying the third guy, but I think that’s because he’s dressed so fancy. He looks like he’s got a nice credit score, and she’s always been kind of big on that. He’s about the same height as the second guy, but he’s got this great chestnut hair and clear green eyes. His jacket looks like it’d be soft, but his smile is kind of…amused, like he’s laughing at someone.
There’s a taller guy who smiles kind of like Puck does when he’s “playing.” The smile that says “I like girls…and they like me.” He’s really friendly looking, and has gorgeous dark blue eyes, but I don’t know about the moustache…I don’t really like facial hair that much. It scratches. He noticed us looking, and gave us all a wink. Definitely a Puck-kind of guy.
Next to him is the youngest of them…he’s not even watching where he’s going. He’s too busy typing away on some kind of hand-held. Maybe he’s texting. It’s hard to tell what he looks like, ‘cause he’s got this longish black hair hanging down around his face. He’s almost walked into two walls and three people just since they entered the room. The Puck-guy is keeping a hand on his shoulder to direct him around. It’s kind of nice that they’re not yelling at him to pay attention.
I wish people would be that nice to me…though to be fair, San usually is, and so is Puck…and Rae…well, I guess I do have some nice people around me too. So, I’m glad he does too!
Now, the oldest guy is really…well, old. He’s not the biggest of them, but for some reason he makes me think of a big bear…not a teddy bear, but a bear-type bear. You know, all careful and kind of slow-like but can get powerful and mean? I don’t get it - why he feels that way I mean. He’s got gray hair and what Q. always called a strong chin…which I still don’t get, but that’s the shape it’s got. To me it just looks kind of square.
Next to him is the tallest of them. He’s a really nice looking black man with a nice smile. It’s a big, wide smile, kind of like Rae’s but without being scary like hers. You know, until I met Rae, I didn’t know smiles could be scary like that. Puck says it’s ‘cause she’s crazy, but…anyway, his isn’t scary, it’s nice. He must be the one who takes care of everyone, because he’s got a first aid kit over his shoulder. It’s a big kit though…I’ve never seen one that big before, and that’s including Coach Sylvester and her “prepped for anything” way of doing things.
That’s all of them, and they’re going on through the room. I’ll bet they’re looking for somewhere less crowded. They’d have to split up to sit in here, and they’re sticking pretty close together.
Ouch! San’s got some pointed elbows…oh, looks like Puck’s going to go off on Finn any minute. Boy, is he dumb or what? He keeps trying to talk to Rae while holding Q.’s hand. Rae’s ignoring him, but if she shifts any further away, she might as well just climb in Puck’s lap…not that he’d mind, but Mr. Schue is already looking at them funny. That might get them in trouble.
Uh, oh…there he goes…write more later.
Denver International Airport - Mag 7
“Damn.”
Five men turned their eyes toward their boss at the hissed expletive as he looked around the crowded seating area while their youngest member never looked up from his handheld. Denver’s ATF Team Seven had just gotten home from a long shared assignment in Texas when the massive storm system blew in from the mountains, trapping them at the airport. Everywhere in the place appeared to be crawling with people - those coming and those going all now trapped together. Big as it was, the airport was not set up for a long-term stay by so many folk.
Five pairs of eyes raked the room, looking for places to sit. After the case they had just finished, they had planned to hole up at the ranch for some well-deserved downtime to clear their heads. It had been a nasty one - the gunrunners had been the side business…the Ladislao clan’s main job had been a slavery operation. Children, women, young men - they ran everything, for work in sweatshops and fields, for prostitution, and even for organ harvesting. While proud of their part in bringing them down, they needed some clean air and time to heal from the things they had seen.
Being stuck in an overcrowded airport was not helping.
“Let’s go see if we can request some space in the employee areas,” suggested Buck Wilmington, even as he winked at a group of high school girls who were staring at them. The ladies’ man had played back-up for most of the mission, but sported a bandaged left arm - the bullet had come a little too close.
“An excellent notion,” replied Ezra Standish with a practiced smile that belied his green eyes darting about, conveying how desperately uncomfortable he was in the crowded room. The undercover agent had been in the worst part of the mission, pretending to be a buyer and having to watch as the “merchandise” was set before him. When the bust went down, he had been the obvious target and his ribs still hurt from the tackle that had moved him out of harm’s way.
Chris Larabee gave a brief nod and began stalking towards the exit, silent and menacing, knowing his men needed some space - the sooner the better. Despite their best efforts, there had been an exchange of gunfire, and two close calls for his team. That never went down well with the overprotective boss.
Vin Tanner tailed the leader and undercover agent, his blue eyes focused on both of them with concern. The sharpshooter was even scruffier than usual after three days in a blind waiting for the word to take out the Ladislao boss. His very distance had kept him relatively safe, both physically and psychologically, but his friends had not been so lucky.
“Come on, hotshot,” said Buck, pulling JD Dunne along by the arm as he ambled after them. As usual, the youngest of them felt the need to focus on the cyber-world a little while longer, and proved to be a danger to both himself and the people around him.
The last two men exchanged tired glances and then trailed along behind them. Nathan Jackson rolled his shoulders to release some tension and then hoisted his first aid kit back up on his shoulder. The agent could only be grateful that his services as medic had barely been necessary.
“We best move along, brother,” said Josiah Sanchez in his deep, rumbling voice. “They’ll leave us behind at the rate Chris and Ezra are going.”
“Not that I can blame them for running,” replied Nathan, giving him a wide grin. The group’s profiler simply gave him an amused smirk. Josiah could foresee some difficult days as each member dealt with the particularly troublesome case. Chris and Ezra were simply going to be the two worst.
Lord, if you’re listening, we could sure use some rest.
After a few words with airport security, the team was shown to a half-hidden seating area. The room itself was reserved for employees only, but they had been granted leave to relax there. The seven men sprawled out in the corner furthest from the door. The seats formed a square-shaped “U”, with four seats against the wall, and a line of seats going up either side of the row.
Folding his jacket and putting it under his head, Vin stretched out on the floor and propped his feet up on one of the chairs against the back wall. He may have been relatively safe in his blind, but staying at the ready, waiting for the call, had not allowed him to rest. The plane ride certainly had not provided any relief, and now he just wanted to find a flat surface and sleep. If it had to be the floor, then so be it.
Ezra glanced down at his teammate and gave a tired smile.
“I would be wearing Armani today,” he muttered, shifting in the cushioned seat. “If I thought for one moment that Judge Travis would have the kindness of heart to allow my expense report by, I might just join you down there, Mr. Tanner.”
“Don’t even think about it,” murmured Chris, his eyes closed and head tilted back against his own chair on the right side of his agent. “I wouldn’t pass it along.”
The other five agents gave soft laughs as they found their own ways to relax.
“Humph,” snorted the undercover agent, covering a wince as he shifted his ribs. “Plebeians, the whole lot of you.”
Nathan gave the Southerner a searching look, noting the lines of pain deepening around his mouth and at the corners of his eyes. Digging into his pack, he pulled out a bottle of water and some aspirin. He sat down to Ezra’s left. As the chestnut haired man cracked his eyes open to peer at him in curiosity, he gave him a direct look.
“You need to go ahead and take these.”
Ezra tilted his head and spotted the pills. He frowned, but Nathan gave a minute shake of the head.
“They’re just aspirin. I don’t want to give you anything stronger when we don’t know how long we’ll be here. I can see the pain you’re in though, and this will just take the edge off. Your side has got to be hurting…Josiah packs a wallop even when he’s not trying.”
“Mr. Jackson,” Ezra began.
“Shut up, Ez, and take the pills,” interrupted Chris. The team leader had opened his eyes when Nathan began talking. Buck’s injury had only been a scratch really, but Josiah had tackled Ezra as the bad guys had tried to cut him down with a hail of bullets. Neither of them had taken a hit, but that had been a whole lot of power for the ribs to take.
Clear green eyes shifted to meet his gaze as the owner clearly weighed the idea of arguing. With a shrug, the undercover agent gave up on the idea and took the pills without further argument. Chris’ eyes narrowed on his friend’s face for a long, searching moment. Ezra blinked, brow wrinkling in confusion. Vin gave a tired laugh from the floor, closing his eyes even as he chuckled. As the other men looked down at him and the silence grew, he opened his eyes to give them a bland stare.
“What?” he asked. “Ez didn’t really try arguing about takin’ the pills, and to top it off, he didn’t say a word about Chris callin’ him ‘Ez’. Any wonder the boss is suspicious?”
Nathan gave a big grin as Josiah chortled, wagging a finger in Ezra’s direction.
“He’s got you there, brother! You aren’t usually so casual.”
“Yeah, Slick, you’re slipping,” teased Buck. His legs were stretched out and his chin rested on his chest, but his eyes peered at his friend across the aisle. He nudged JD, but their technology expert just gave him a light shove in return and continued focusing on his hardware. The older man just rolled his eyes as the younger ignored him.
Ezra gave a frown to the entire group, though they could see it was merely a façade. He slumped back down in his chair and stretched out his legs. Closing his eyes, he folded his arms over his chest and ignored the chuckling from the other men.
“Oh, shut up, all of you,” he grumbled, shifting as he tried to get comfortable.
Josiah gave another chuckle and settled back to try and get some rest, as Nathan moved back over next to him, taking a seat in the chairs against the wall, stepping over Vin as he did so. The sharpshooter just shot a grin up at Ezra from his place on the floor as he watched his injured friend get checked over by their leader one last time. Ezra did not even bother to open his eyes, just flicked a hand at him in exasperation. A hint of a smile drifted across Chris’ face as he shot Buck a look of mingled amusement and affection. Buck just shrugged, tilting his head towards the oblivious JD as the hacker’s fingers flew across his miniature device with confidence.
His tired eyes scanning his men and the room one last time, Chris leaned back in his chair and stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankle. Folding his arms over his chest and lowering his chin, he tried to settle in for some well deserved rest. Fortunately for all concerned, Judge Travis had given them a month’s leave, citing personal and medical necessity. The team had volunteered to give up their saved vacation time if necessary, but the judge had pulled some strings with the higher-ups, and used all of his influence to get them this time as paid leave. It was an unusual move, but they had been going non-stop for nine months now, and although their physical injuries were lighter than usual, their psychological wounds ran deep. He closed his eyes, determined to get what rest he could while they were stuck here.
Damn, I want to be at the ranch right now…why is there always bad weather when we’re trying to get home?
Puck opened his mouth, ready to give Finn hell when Rachel’s elbow caught him in the side. Moving his gaze to hers, he spotted her giving Schue a wary look. Sure enough, their teacher had a careful eye on all of them. Rolling his eyes, he tried to shift himself into a more comfortable position. They had been stuck in the airport for way too long. If they were on the plane, they would at least be moving. Being trapped in a building on the ground had started to wear on everybody’s nerves.
This being stuck really sucks. I’m ready to go postal on Hudson, Satan’s going to eat Q alive any minute now, Beyonce’s snapping at ‘Cedes, and Rae’s being quiet. Okay, normally wouldn’t complain about that one, but that shit’s not normal.
He glanced to his right as Rachel shifted again. She only had another couple of inches or so before she would have to give up and either climb into his lap or sit somewhere else. His vote would be for the first option, but it pissed him off that Hudson could not seem to learn when to back off. Even as he watched, Finn tried once more to shift closer to Rachel, ignoring the dirty look Quinn gave him as well as the irritation practically pouring off of Puck. When Rachel shifted again, turning her back to him, and Finn began to reach out to touch her shoulder, Puck decided enough was enough.
Standing abruptly and pulling Rachel to her feet, Puck looked over towards their teacher.
“Hey, Mr. Schue, be okay if Rae and I take a walk? This sitting around is getting lame fast.”
Although he did not want his students scattered around an airport in a strange town, Will Schuster knew some of his students had short fuses and limited patience. At the rate things were deteriorating, he could only be happy no one had gotten physical as yet. Although both he and Emma had a private bet on who would lose their temper first, the one thing they agreed upon was the victim of the attack. Finn Hudson had charm, an excellent singing voice, and some leadership abilities, but he could occasionally be thick as a post. Letting Puck and Rachel stretch their legs might bring the whole situation back to a simmer before it boiled over.
“All right, Puck. Don’t go too far, and one of you has a phone, right?” he asked.
“Yes, of course, Mr. Schuster,” answered Rachel. “I have my phone, and it has been fully charged and I have already checked to make sure we have a signal. It is not as strong as it could be, but it should still…”
“Great,” interrupted Puck. “C’mon Berry, let’s book.”
He began striding away, pulling Rachel along with him. Glancing back over his shoulder, Puck caught the hangdog look Finn sent after them even while Quinn rolled her eyes. Santana threw him a wink while Brittany smiled. He sent a shrug to the two Cheerios, and continued walking at a fast pace until they were out of sight. Once the rest of the glee club had vanished in the crowd, he slowed down.
Rachel looked up at him as they began to just stroll along.
“In a hurry, Noah?” she asked.
He snorted.
“I figured if we waited too long, that douche might decide to invite himself along,” he replied.
“Oh, good thinking,” she sighed. “I am not entirely sure exactly what his problem is. I will admit that it hurts, but I have accepted that he will always choose Quinn Fabray when it comes to the sticking point. However, I do not believe that in any way gives him the right to continue pursuing me and not letting me move on. By the way, I do apologize for practically climbing into your lap, but he kept trying to touch me. As a matter of fact, it is beginning to get a bit disturbing. I think he may be the slightest bit obsessive, and while I know as a young starlet I may have to deal with such stalkers, I believe high school is a little early to begin having that kind of a headache.”
Puck huffed out a laugh and she looked up at him with a brilliant smile.
“I was wondering where you’d disappeared to,” he teased.
When she frowned in confusion, he shrugged. Tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow, he maneuvered them both around a group that had chosen to sprawl across the aisle.
“Before you answered Schue about the phone, you haven’t said five words together in over an hour. Even Satan was beginning to look worried,” he finally said.
“Now, Noah, I know I am one of the more verbose in our small set, but I do not believe I talk quite that extensively…at least not enough for you to worry when I am simply…”
She broke off as he fixed her with a direct look and one raised eyebrow. Scrunching up her nose, she considered what she had just said and lifted her shoulders in surrender.
“All right,” she conceded. “I do talk more than most, but I do not consider that a bad trait.”
“Not saying the talking shit’s bad,” answered Puck. “Just saying it’s weird when you go quiet for too long. It’s not normal.”
With her free hand, she gave him a small smack.
“Noah, language!”
“Whatever, Rae,” he laughed, rolling his eyes.
Both of them chuckled and then continued wandering. As she relaxed, Rachel fell back into her habit of talking about Broadway, music, and just about everything else. Puck just grinned down at her whenever they had to stop to avoid walking into people. He usually did not mind her talking, even if he would complain about it just to see her get wound up. Letting her do all the talking let him enjoy the scenery. Her eyes would light up when she got going, and her delicate hands would move in their own dance, providing a supporting argument for whatever she was discussing. Best of all, he could usually get away with staring at her legs. While he had always preferred tall, stacked girls, it was hard to deny that Rachel had a great pair of legs. No one that short should have legs that went for miles.
“You are not listening to me at all, are you Noah?” asked Rachel, smiling up at him.
“Sorry, Rae, were you talking?” he replied. “Hadn’t noticed.”
She rolled her eyes and then shifted closer to him to avoid stepping on someone as they rounded a corner.
“Damn,” Puck said half in amazement as he looked around. “How many people fit into this place anyway?”
“Well, it is a rather large international airport,” she answered as her eyes roamed over the crowd.
“Wait, look, that hallway looks less full.”
With that, Puck began steering her through the crowd until they reached the less congested hallway. As they strolled down it, she hugged his arm just a bit tighter and leaned into him. Looking down at her, he gave her an affectionate half-smile. They glanced into the open doors they wandered past until they found a room with plenty of empty chairs. As Puck walked in, he noticed a group of familiar looking men sitting in the back corner. It was the same group that had passed the glee club earlier in the crowd. Giving them a long intent look, he continued into the room until Rachel pulled him to a stop.
“Noah,” she said, looking back over her shoulder. “We are not supposed to be in here.”
She pointed to a sign on the wall by the door - “Airport staff only”. He groaned softly and gave her a pleading look, but she shook her head. His shoulders slumped slightly, but he began to follow her back out. A voice from behind them brought them to a stop.
“You might as well have a seat,” said a tall, mustached man from where he lounged. “The staff’ve got more important things to worry about than someone sittin’ in here. We’ll tell ‘em we said it was okay.”
The man’s friends smiled or nodded at the two teens, but Rachel still looked undecided. The youngest of the men stood up and walked over, pulling something like a billfold out of his pocket. When he flipped it open, it revealed a badge declaring him to be Agent Dunne of the ATF.
“Really,” he said reassuringly. “It’s awful crowded out there, and you’ll be a lot more comfortable here.”
She bit her lip and looked up at Puck. He stared at the agent and then over to the rest of the team; his eyes serious and considering. Despite everything, Rachel trusted his instincts in dangerous situations over hers. When he gave a slow nod, she gave a sigh of relief and smiled at the men.
“Would it be all right if we invited a couple of more friends?” she asked. When the men exchanged glances, she hurried to reassure them. “I promise we will keep the numbers contained. It should only be four more people.”
At that, the men looked to a lanky blond man who gave a quick nod. Agent Dunne turned a boyish smile on the pair of teenagers.
“Sure,” he answered. “Four more people won’t hurt anything.”
Rachel turned her brightest smile on the group. A couple of the men blinked and gave her odd looks, but the others melted just a bit, smiling back at the pretty brunette.
“Thank you so very much! I cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciate this. Those crowds were simply too much! Anyway, my name is Rachel Berry, and this is…”
“Puck,” he interrupted before she could give his full name.
With another smile from Rachel, the two teens moved to the other side of the room. She pulled out her phone and typed out a lengthy text. Puck gave her a questioning look.
“I texted Santana,” she replied. “I told her where we were in case she, Britt, Tina and Mike wanted to join us.”
He nodded before sitting down and stretching out. Groaning as his joints popped, he gave her a relaxed grin.
“Just think we can do our waiting without having to deal with Saint Finn or…”
“All right,” she interrupted, taking a seat beside him. “I am certainly glad to be away as well, but we do not have to belabor the issue. We can just forget they are here for a bit.”
“I’d ask if you wanted to make out,” he started, grinning.
She laughed.
“Not in public, Noah.”
He blinked at her answer before a wicked smile broke over his face.
“So,” he said, “how about we talk about it when we get home, somewhere private?”
She just gave him her sweetest smile and then put her legs across his lap so she could look at him as they talked. His hands came to rest on her shins and rubbed gently. They talked and laughed quietly, paying no attention to the ATF agents across the room.
“Well,” Nathan observed, “they are a bit of an odd couple.”
“A bit clichéd if you ask me,” replied Ezra. “What could be more Hollywood than the well-spoken, educated good girl and the dangerous but golden hearted bad boy?”
JD blinked at him before glancing over his shoulder at the pair.
“How’d you get that, Ez?” he asked.
The undercover agent shifted, and looked at his young teammate. Searching the curious hazel eyes, he realized JD seriously wanted to hear his answer.
“Let me begin with the girl then. When they first entered and she caught sight of the warning sign, she immediately tried to lead him back out. Obviously, she has been raised to have a great deal of respect for the rules and regulations. She may not be slavishly dedicated to following the law, but I believe it would it take something more serious than overcrowding to make her break the rules. In addition, she used very few, if any contractions, and her vocabulary choices as well as her manners were definitely more appropriate than the normal teenager might usually use in the same situation. Her hair is worn in a classical style, and her clothing choice is more modest than many her age would wear while still being more high maintenance than simplistic.”
“All right,” Buck said. “What about him?”
“First off, he does not have the same regard for the rules as his companion. He appeared more than willing to ignore the sign if she had allowed him to. Also, he scrutinized each of us carefully when they first entered, and then again after JD showed them his badge. Please note, he did all of this while keeping the young lady carefully to the side where he could get her out of harm’s way had it proven necessary. He may or may not be a law-breaker, but he certainly has had to deal with law enforcement, and not all of it positive. He does not seem hardened enough to be an actual criminal, but it is possible that he has been marked as a trouble maker and has to deal with overzealous members of his local police force. His hairstyle and his nickname both indicate a rebellious nature while his choice of blue jeans, white t-shirt, and black leather jacket reflects a more simplistic, casual style.”
Chris smirked when a couple of the others gaped at Ezra.
“And that,” the leader said softly, “is why he does the undercover work.”
“What I find interesting,” Ezra continued as the others made sounds of agreement, “is the trust that the young woman has in her companion. Despite the badge, and JD’s rather open, trustworthy appearance, she still turned to see how he reacted first.”
“Trusts his natural instincts,” noted Vin from his spot on the floor.
“How do you mean, brother?” Josiah asked.
“Well,” replied the sharpshooter. “Some kids learn early to spot trouble. They grow up hard or in broken homes, and some kids come home to empty houses because both parents work. Either way, survival and safety depend upon spottin’ that one thing that’ll lead to someone gettin’ hurt, or worse. Rachel knows he’s got better instincts for danger.”
Silence descended upon the agents as they considered the truth behind Vin’s words. What they tried hard not to dwell on was why their friend would have such insight into broken homes and endangered kids. Chris glanced down, green eyes meeting blue, and gave his friend a slight nod. Vin just shrugged. He used what he had gone through to help others. It had long since stopped bothering him. That healing had taken place a few years ago when he had taken a risk and opened his heart enough to trust six of the most stubborn, annoying, and loyal men he had ever had the privilege to meet.
A few minutes later, they looked up as four more teenagers entered the room. The agents watched as the group made their way over to the original couple. The greetings and opening comments flew back and forth between the six teens.
“Hmm,” Josiah hummed to himself for a moment. “An interesting dynamic in that group.”
The others turned to look at their profiler. He paid them no attention, focusing his observational skills on the group across the room. Buck waited for a moment before balling up some scrap paper and tossing at the older man.
“Well, Preacher,” he said, grinning at Josiah’s fake annoyance. “You goin’ to follow that up with anything?”
Leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest, Josiah glanced over his group.
“It’s a fascinating mix of characters, at least based on appearance and general attitude. Most obvious, the group looks like it should be unbalanced, with four females and two males. However, one of the girls, the Latina one, has a more aggressive personality. While she seems quite sultry, her very aggressiveness is less seductive and more forceful. I have no doubt she can be quite the female, but she walks very close to the line between masculine and feminine behavior.”
Buck’s eyebrows rose in surprise as he turned to look over the teens once more. He had pegged the girl for full-out temptress.
“What else?” asked JD, tilting his head in consideration.
“Look at the way everyone reacts to Rachel and Puck,” continued Josiah as he warmed to the topic. “They are the actual leaders of the group. They were the only two not to defer to the Latina girl. Puck just replied in kind while Rachel watched both of them with amused exasperation. However, La Dama…”
“Who?” JD interrupted.
“The Latina girl,” answered Josiah with a smile. “It means ‘lady’. As I was saying, La Dama may have been vocal and pushy, but she looked both of them over carefully to make sure they were all right. As a matter of fact, given the submissive behavior of the other three, I would say that she’s second in command of their little group, with Puck being the leader.”
“So,” commented Vin, peering up from his spot on the floor, “Puck’s alpha of their pack, Rachel’s his mate, and La Dama’s the beta?”
The older man nodded. Vin closed his eyes once more while the others watched as the teens joked and laughed with one another. After a few minutes, the novelty wore off and the men began shifting themselves around once more to get comfortable. Sleep had just begun to descend upon them when a cheery voice interrupted.
“Um, hi! Can you help me?”
All of them turned to see one of the girls walking up to their group. Tall, blonde and pretty, she would turn most men’s heads. Her large blue eyes however were distressingly vague. The phrase “bubbly blond” did cross several minds as she sat down next to Chris. She gave them a bright smile.
“Rae says you’re feds. Is that right?” she asked.
Chris nodded, but before anyone could say anything, Rachel came hurrying over.
“Brittany, what are you doing?”
The blonde turned her smile on her friend.
“Rae, you said they were feds. I’m hoping they can tell me who to talk to about Lord Tubbington.”
“Oh, well, these agents do not deal in that sort of thing, Britt.”
“I know,” Brittany nodded. “Puck told me they go after the men who run with guns. Still, they should know who I can talk to, right?”
“Rachel?”
Both girls turned as the call crossed the room. The men watched as the girl waved to the Latina girl in reassurance. She then turned back to her friend.
“What is Lord Tubbington doing now? Is he reading your diary again?” asked Rachel.
“Yes,” answered the blonde, “but I’ve about given up on getting him to stop doing that. This time I think he stole my X-Box.”
“I really do not think we should be bothering these gentlemen with that. Or,” she hurried to say as Brittany’s face dropped into a pout, “at least not until we have tried everything else. Jumping straight into accusing him of something federal is a really big step.”
The pout morphed into a frown as the blonde girl thought about Rachel’s words. She gave a slow, reluctant nod.
“Well, I guess that’s true, but what do I do first?”
Rachel frowned in thought.
“You know, I could probably ask Noah to have a talk with him. What do you think?” she asked.
Brittany nodded with enthusiasm.
“Oh, yeah, that would be good. He’s always better behaved for a while after getting good talking to from Puck.”
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Rachel. “I will ask Noah to go over and talk to him just as soon as we get home.”
The blonde girl gave a little squeal and clapped her hands as she jumped up. She tossed her arms around Rachel, pulling her up into a big hug. The smaller brunette just let her be, patting her back and waiting her out. When Brittany finally released her, Rachel directed her back to their group.
“Go on back now, Britt,” she said. “I think Santana wants to talk to you for a moment about your new dance number.”
“Ok, Rae,” she replied already bouncing away. “See you in a minute.”
Rachel watched her leave with a fond smile before turning to the ATF team. She sighed and lifted her hands in a shrug.
“I am terribly sorry about that. Usually we watch her a little more carefully, and head her off before she can get started on strangers.”
“Is she…” Ezra started to ask and then paused, obviously searching his mind for a delicate way to phrase the question burning in their minds.
Rachel just shook her head, still smiling.
“No,” she answered. “Brittany is not crazy. She is just a little…simple. She has perhaps the most positive, optimistic outlook of any one of us, and she still sees the world with a child’s viewpoint.”
A moment of silence settled over the group as they mulled over her answer. Finally, Chris gave her a direct look.
“While I’m not entirely certain I want to know, do you mind telling us who Lord Tubbington is?” he asked.
She gave a little groan and buried her face in her hands for a moment. Looking up, she gave a fond, but slightly vexed smile.
“Lord Tubbington,” she answered, “is Brittany’s cat.”
The men gaped at her for a long moment before JD lifted his hand slightly in question.
“I’m sorry, but her cat stole her X-box?”
Vin snorted. “I’m curious as to how her cat is readin’ her diary.”
Rachel shook her head even as she turned to begin walking back towards her own group.
“We really do not discuss that situation. It gets Britt all worked up.”
As she sat down next to her friends, she sent a smile over to the men who still stared at her. Nathan cleared his throat.
“Suddenly I’m really glad I’m not responsible for that group.”
His teammates traded nods and quick smiles. Vin chuckled under his breath every so often, and even Chris smiled a little more. Ezra closed his eyes and tilted his head back. His final remarks brought a fresh round of laughter to the group before they settled into slumber once more.
“A kleptomaniac feline that peruses private journals as a hobby…do remind me not to get one of those. Lord only knows what he might tell you…or worse, what he might tell Mother.” He paused. “Actually, on second thought, perhaps I should look into acquiring one. It would certainly be a wonderful gift for her.”
Reviews are always welcome!
Author(s): Caitriona
Artist(s): nickygabriel
Fandom(s): Magnificent Seven (ATF AU)/Glee crossover
Type: Gen
Rating: PG13/T
Word Count: 17,000
Characters/Pairings: Chris Larabee, Ezra Standish, Vin Tanner, Nathan Jackson, Josiah Sanchez, JD Dunne, Buck Wilmington, Noah Puckerman, Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez, Brittany Pierce, Tina Cohen-Chang, Mike Chang
Warnings/Spoilers: Terrorism is a part of the plot, so if that is a bother, please don't read.
Summary: Two groups of people are just trying to get home. When a storm traps them in the airport, they find themselves in the heart of danger.
Author’s Notes: This is my first big bang, my first time writing the ATF AU, and my first major fic for Glee. I'm completely nuts! I apologize if any of the characters seem to OOC - hopefully that will improve as I continue writing. Some beta work done in early stages by sinfulsparkle and icarus_suraki. I took some suggestions, but not all, so please hold only me responsibile for any errors.
Link(s) to Art Master Post(s): http://nickygabriel.livejournal.com/573877.html
Nondescript little motel on the outskirts of Denver
As the maid entered room 102, she frowned at the excessive amount of trash and debris scattered around the room.
“Odd,” she muttered to herself as she peered around.
The occupant of the past month had usually kept things neat as a pin. Most days, she and the other cleaners had commented on how much they preferred to work on his room as it took so little effort. Mr. Ibn Ayyub was a quiet man, composed and reticent. He had been a little standoffish perhaps, but polite, and that was a marked difference from the drunks they normally had to deal with. There had been a good deal of gossip among the staff as to why such a man was staying in a place like this. They had finally decided that the bad state of the economy had led to his current situation. Still, he had been a wonderful guest to have. He must have had a very bad night to leave things in such a state. With a deep sigh, she began gathering the trash and torn paper scattered throughout the room. If she had taken a closer look at some of that torn paper, she might not have been so casual.
Finally, it is time! In a few more hours my martyrdom will be nearing completion! My service has been brief, for I saw not the truth until such a short time ago. May Allah forgive me for my blindness! Thanks to the intervention of those wise men who proclaim the teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, I have been brought into the light of belief. Now, I can atone for allowing darkness to influence my life; I will give everything over to Him for His glory. When fire rains from the sky, may Allah grant that all who witness it be awakened to His truth and His power. Death to the oppressors! Death to those who subject the people! Allah summons all to the struggle.
Denver International Airport - Glee
A weary group of teenagers gathered in one of the many seating areas to wait for their flight. According to their original itinerary, they should already be on a plane back to Ohio; they had only stopped in Denver as a brief layover - no more than two hours. That had been almost five hours ago. Not an hour after landing, the airport had been closed due to harsh weather conditions. A massive storm system had been threatening Denver for almost two days, but prevailing wind currents had kept it at bay. Those winds had finally shifted, and the storm had roared down from the north with all of its pent up energy seeking new prey. Patience began to erode as boredom set in - they had not been prepared for a lengthy wait.
One of the teens, a lovely blond with a slightly vacant air about her reached for her carry-on and dragged out a journal. Shifting around to sit cross-legged in the chair, she leaned over the book and began to write.
August 6th
Well, now we’re stuck in Denver…our plane’s been held up by the snow. Quinn’s complaining about wanting to get home - she’s had enough with cheap hotels and the lack of a good shower. I thought our hotel was nice! At least the people were - no one looked at me funny like they do back home. Disneyland was fun! I’m glad we got to go to the invitational out there; Mom and Dad can’t afford these kinds of trips, but Principal Figgins said he’d find the money for us to go to such a “wonderful exhibition of talent”. (I had to ask San how to spell exhibition…still not sure what that means, but I guess it’s what we did.)
It was really kind of weird though. I mean, people made all kinds of changes in Disneyland…I guess the magic in the Magic Kingdom really works…at least on some people. Not everybody changed, but now some people aren’t talking and others are dating…I don’t think they’re having sex though. Sex is not dating…I guess that means dating is not sex either.
(Lord Tubbington - if you read this, you cannot talk about it. This is a private diary, not a gossip blog.)
So, changes…well, Rachel and Finn were dating when we left Ohio, but when we left California, they weren’t. He kept wandering after Quinn and leaving Rae on her own. Three days into our trip, after we finished with the competition for the day, she went to the restroom and Q. called him, so he left. He just left her there in the middle of the park - she didn’t know where anybody was, so she was lost! Puck got really pissed about that…he doesn’t like it when Finn just leaves her on her own. He’s been doing that a lot since school ended.
Anyway, Rae called Finn, but he wasn’t answering his phone. Mercedes told her later that he’d left the park with Q. They went back to the hotel to fool around, and didn’t tell anybody they were leaving. Mr. Schue wasn’t happy because he’s supposed to have a General idea of where we are. (What does an Army officer have to do with Glee club? I’ll ask Mr. Schue later.)
So, anyway, when Finn didn’t answer, Rae called Puck…she always goes to him first, it’s really kind of cute! San thinks it’s sickening, but she means it in the so-cute-its-sick way. He’s really into her. (Rae I mean, not San - they don’t do that anymore.) So, when she called, he went to find her and spent the rest of the day with her. Sometimes we saw them, but usually they were off on their own. They were good though; they didn’t leave the park.
Finn and Q. got into trouble and San said they deserved it. I’m not sure what happened between San & Q., but something did and San’s ignoring her whenever she can. If it’s not for Glee or Cheerios, then San doesn’t give her the time of day. (That’s what Kurt said, but I still don’t get why he pointed that out - San’s not talking to her at all, so of course she wouldn’t tell her what time it was.)
Finn tried to sit next to Rae at dinner and apologize, but Rae told him off. It was kind of funny, and San thought it was great. When Rae gets going, she gets loud and scary, and I think almost the whole place was staring. Kurt recorded it too. San really liked this part:
“And just why do you think I would want to be anywhere near you, Finn Hudson? You can take yourself back over to the blond bit of fluff you have been with all afternoon. I already have companions for dinner and even if I did not, I certainly would not welcome any advances from the likes of you. I do believe your presence would turn my stomach.”
Finn got all puppy-eyed and tried to talk to her again, but Puck pushed him away, and Mike helped block him from coming back. When Finn protested, San actually got involved. She walked up from behind Finn and sat down next to Rae, pulling me into the seat on her other side. She gave Finn a good glare.
“Pretty sure you heard the midget, boy toy. She’s already got company and there’s no more room. So shoo.”
With everybody staring, he went to sit by Q. She acted all upset with him since he had tried to talk to Rae, so he ended up just talking to Mr. Schue. San actually talked some to Rae, though more to Puck who sat on Rae’s other side. The next day, after we did our performance, Rae told San that she had done a wonderful job on her solo. When we got to go out and wander the park again, it ended up being six of us in a group - me, San, Rae, Puck, Mike, & Tina. I kind of think we’re all friends now. And that’s really cool because I like all of them!
The last few days in California ended up being like that. Finn kept trying to talk to Rae while messing with Q. on the side. (That’s what San said anyway, but Q. was never beside Finn when he went to Rae. I don’t get it.) Any way, since he kept trying to talk to Rae, Puck got really pissed and ended up hitting him at one point. Nobody said anything though, so Puck didn’t get in trouble. San still calls Rae midget from time to time, but normally it’s Rae or Rach. She says I’m not allowed to write what she’s calling Q. (You know, just in case you tell on her, Lord Tubbington!) Puck and Rae are being “friends,” but San laughs every time they say that and teases them about how long that will last.
Ouch! San just elbowed me in the side, but it was a good thing! Eye candy! Well, they’re nice to look at, even if I don’t know if they’re sweet or not. There are seven of them that just walked in the room. Looks like they’re looking for places to sit, but they don’t look too happy.
The guy in front is blond and mean-looking. It doesn’t look like he smiles much - he’s got frown lines, not smile lines. Still, he’s got really nice eyes…maybe he’s the kind that looks scary but doesn’t mean it? Eyes are always good ways to judge people. Of course, he’s dressed in all dark colors which make him look meaner, but Tina dresses all dark too, and she’s really sweet.
The guy behind him is scruffier…is that a word? Anyway, he’s got some stubble on his chin and longer hair, but he’s got some gorgeous blue eyes. He looks nicer than his friend…he’s smiling more and just kind of seems, I don’t know, softer? Sweeter? I don’t know - it’s just a feeling.
San’s eying the third guy, but I think that’s because he’s dressed so fancy. He looks like he’s got a nice credit score, and she’s always been kind of big on that. He’s about the same height as the second guy, but he’s got this great chestnut hair and clear green eyes. His jacket looks like it’d be soft, but his smile is kind of…amused, like he’s laughing at someone.
There’s a taller guy who smiles kind of like Puck does when he’s “playing.” The smile that says “I like girls…and they like me.” He’s really friendly looking, and has gorgeous dark blue eyes, but I don’t know about the moustache…I don’t really like facial hair that much. It scratches. He noticed us looking, and gave us all a wink. Definitely a Puck-kind of guy.
Next to him is the youngest of them…he’s not even watching where he’s going. He’s too busy typing away on some kind of hand-held. Maybe he’s texting. It’s hard to tell what he looks like, ‘cause he’s got this longish black hair hanging down around his face. He’s almost walked into two walls and three people just since they entered the room. The Puck-guy is keeping a hand on his shoulder to direct him around. It’s kind of nice that they’re not yelling at him to pay attention.
I wish people would be that nice to me…though to be fair, San usually is, and so is Puck…and Rae…well, I guess I do have some nice people around me too. So, I’m glad he does too!
Now, the oldest guy is really…well, old. He’s not the biggest of them, but for some reason he makes me think of a big bear…not a teddy bear, but a bear-type bear. You know, all careful and kind of slow-like but can get powerful and mean? I don’t get it - why he feels that way I mean. He’s got gray hair and what Q. always called a strong chin…which I still don’t get, but that’s the shape it’s got. To me it just looks kind of square.
Next to him is the tallest of them. He’s a really nice looking black man with a nice smile. It’s a big, wide smile, kind of like Rae’s but without being scary like hers. You know, until I met Rae, I didn’t know smiles could be scary like that. Puck says it’s ‘cause she’s crazy, but…anyway, his isn’t scary, it’s nice. He must be the one who takes care of everyone, because he’s got a first aid kit over his shoulder. It’s a big kit though…I’ve never seen one that big before, and that’s including Coach Sylvester and her “prepped for anything” way of doing things.
That’s all of them, and they’re going on through the room. I’ll bet they’re looking for somewhere less crowded. They’d have to split up to sit in here, and they’re sticking pretty close together.
Ouch! San’s got some pointed elbows…oh, looks like Puck’s going to go off on Finn any minute. Boy, is he dumb or what? He keeps trying to talk to Rae while holding Q.’s hand. Rae’s ignoring him, but if she shifts any further away, she might as well just climb in Puck’s lap…not that he’d mind, but Mr. Schue is already looking at them funny. That might get them in trouble.
Uh, oh…there he goes…write more later.
Denver International Airport - Mag 7
“Damn.”
Five men turned their eyes toward their boss at the hissed expletive as he looked around the crowded seating area while their youngest member never looked up from his handheld. Denver’s ATF Team Seven had just gotten home from a long shared assignment in Texas when the massive storm system blew in from the mountains, trapping them at the airport. Everywhere in the place appeared to be crawling with people - those coming and those going all now trapped together. Big as it was, the airport was not set up for a long-term stay by so many folk.
Five pairs of eyes raked the room, looking for places to sit. After the case they had just finished, they had planned to hole up at the ranch for some well-deserved downtime to clear their heads. It had been a nasty one - the gunrunners had been the side business…the Ladislao clan’s main job had been a slavery operation. Children, women, young men - they ran everything, for work in sweatshops and fields, for prostitution, and even for organ harvesting. While proud of their part in bringing them down, they needed some clean air and time to heal from the things they had seen.
Being stuck in an overcrowded airport was not helping.
“Let’s go see if we can request some space in the employee areas,” suggested Buck Wilmington, even as he winked at a group of high school girls who were staring at them. The ladies’ man had played back-up for most of the mission, but sported a bandaged left arm - the bullet had come a little too close.
“An excellent notion,” replied Ezra Standish with a practiced smile that belied his green eyes darting about, conveying how desperately uncomfortable he was in the crowded room. The undercover agent had been in the worst part of the mission, pretending to be a buyer and having to watch as the “merchandise” was set before him. When the bust went down, he had been the obvious target and his ribs still hurt from the tackle that had moved him out of harm’s way.
Chris Larabee gave a brief nod and began stalking towards the exit, silent and menacing, knowing his men needed some space - the sooner the better. Despite their best efforts, there had been an exchange of gunfire, and two close calls for his team. That never went down well with the overprotective boss.
Vin Tanner tailed the leader and undercover agent, his blue eyes focused on both of them with concern. The sharpshooter was even scruffier than usual after three days in a blind waiting for the word to take out the Ladislao boss. His very distance had kept him relatively safe, both physically and psychologically, but his friends had not been so lucky.
“Come on, hotshot,” said Buck, pulling JD Dunne along by the arm as he ambled after them. As usual, the youngest of them felt the need to focus on the cyber-world a little while longer, and proved to be a danger to both himself and the people around him.
The last two men exchanged tired glances and then trailed along behind them. Nathan Jackson rolled his shoulders to release some tension and then hoisted his first aid kit back up on his shoulder. The agent could only be grateful that his services as medic had barely been necessary.
“We best move along, brother,” said Josiah Sanchez in his deep, rumbling voice. “They’ll leave us behind at the rate Chris and Ezra are going.”
“Not that I can blame them for running,” replied Nathan, giving him a wide grin. The group’s profiler simply gave him an amused smirk. Josiah could foresee some difficult days as each member dealt with the particularly troublesome case. Chris and Ezra were simply going to be the two worst.
Lord, if you’re listening, we could sure use some rest.
After a few words with airport security, the team was shown to a half-hidden seating area. The room itself was reserved for employees only, but they had been granted leave to relax there. The seven men sprawled out in the corner furthest from the door. The seats formed a square-shaped “U”, with four seats against the wall, and a line of seats going up either side of the row.
Folding his jacket and putting it under his head, Vin stretched out on the floor and propped his feet up on one of the chairs against the back wall. He may have been relatively safe in his blind, but staying at the ready, waiting for the call, had not allowed him to rest. The plane ride certainly had not provided any relief, and now he just wanted to find a flat surface and sleep. If it had to be the floor, then so be it.
Ezra glanced down at his teammate and gave a tired smile.
“I would be wearing Armani today,” he muttered, shifting in the cushioned seat. “If I thought for one moment that Judge Travis would have the kindness of heart to allow my expense report by, I might just join you down there, Mr. Tanner.”
“Don’t even think about it,” murmured Chris, his eyes closed and head tilted back against his own chair on the right side of his agent. “I wouldn’t pass it along.”
The other five agents gave soft laughs as they found their own ways to relax.
“Humph,” snorted the undercover agent, covering a wince as he shifted his ribs. “Plebeians, the whole lot of you.”
Nathan gave the Southerner a searching look, noting the lines of pain deepening around his mouth and at the corners of his eyes. Digging into his pack, he pulled out a bottle of water and some aspirin. He sat down to Ezra’s left. As the chestnut haired man cracked his eyes open to peer at him in curiosity, he gave him a direct look.
“You need to go ahead and take these.”
Ezra tilted his head and spotted the pills. He frowned, but Nathan gave a minute shake of the head.
“They’re just aspirin. I don’t want to give you anything stronger when we don’t know how long we’ll be here. I can see the pain you’re in though, and this will just take the edge off. Your side has got to be hurting…Josiah packs a wallop even when he’s not trying.”
“Mr. Jackson,” Ezra began.
“Shut up, Ez, and take the pills,” interrupted Chris. The team leader had opened his eyes when Nathan began talking. Buck’s injury had only been a scratch really, but Josiah had tackled Ezra as the bad guys had tried to cut him down with a hail of bullets. Neither of them had taken a hit, but that had been a whole lot of power for the ribs to take.
Clear green eyes shifted to meet his gaze as the owner clearly weighed the idea of arguing. With a shrug, the undercover agent gave up on the idea and took the pills without further argument. Chris’ eyes narrowed on his friend’s face for a long, searching moment. Ezra blinked, brow wrinkling in confusion. Vin gave a tired laugh from the floor, closing his eyes even as he chuckled. As the other men looked down at him and the silence grew, he opened his eyes to give them a bland stare.
“What?” he asked. “Ez didn’t really try arguing about takin’ the pills, and to top it off, he didn’t say a word about Chris callin’ him ‘Ez’. Any wonder the boss is suspicious?”
Nathan gave a big grin as Josiah chortled, wagging a finger in Ezra’s direction.
“He’s got you there, brother! You aren’t usually so casual.”
“Yeah, Slick, you’re slipping,” teased Buck. His legs were stretched out and his chin rested on his chest, but his eyes peered at his friend across the aisle. He nudged JD, but their technology expert just gave him a light shove in return and continued focusing on his hardware. The older man just rolled his eyes as the younger ignored him.
Ezra gave a frown to the entire group, though they could see it was merely a façade. He slumped back down in his chair and stretched out his legs. Closing his eyes, he folded his arms over his chest and ignored the chuckling from the other men.
“Oh, shut up, all of you,” he grumbled, shifting as he tried to get comfortable.
Josiah gave another chuckle and settled back to try and get some rest, as Nathan moved back over next to him, taking a seat in the chairs against the wall, stepping over Vin as he did so. The sharpshooter just shot a grin up at Ezra from his place on the floor as he watched his injured friend get checked over by their leader one last time. Ezra did not even bother to open his eyes, just flicked a hand at him in exasperation. A hint of a smile drifted across Chris’ face as he shot Buck a look of mingled amusement and affection. Buck just shrugged, tilting his head towards the oblivious JD as the hacker’s fingers flew across his miniature device with confidence.
His tired eyes scanning his men and the room one last time, Chris leaned back in his chair and stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankle. Folding his arms over his chest and lowering his chin, he tried to settle in for some well deserved rest. Fortunately for all concerned, Judge Travis had given them a month’s leave, citing personal and medical necessity. The team had volunteered to give up their saved vacation time if necessary, but the judge had pulled some strings with the higher-ups, and used all of his influence to get them this time as paid leave. It was an unusual move, but they had been going non-stop for nine months now, and although their physical injuries were lighter than usual, their psychological wounds ran deep. He closed his eyes, determined to get what rest he could while they were stuck here.
Damn, I want to be at the ranch right now…why is there always bad weather when we’re trying to get home?
Puck opened his mouth, ready to give Finn hell when Rachel’s elbow caught him in the side. Moving his gaze to hers, he spotted her giving Schue a wary look. Sure enough, their teacher had a careful eye on all of them. Rolling his eyes, he tried to shift himself into a more comfortable position. They had been stuck in the airport for way too long. If they were on the plane, they would at least be moving. Being trapped in a building on the ground had started to wear on everybody’s nerves.
This being stuck really sucks. I’m ready to go postal on Hudson, Satan’s going to eat Q alive any minute now, Beyonce’s snapping at ‘Cedes, and Rae’s being quiet. Okay, normally wouldn’t complain about that one, but that shit’s not normal.
He glanced to his right as Rachel shifted again. She only had another couple of inches or so before she would have to give up and either climb into his lap or sit somewhere else. His vote would be for the first option, but it pissed him off that Hudson could not seem to learn when to back off. Even as he watched, Finn tried once more to shift closer to Rachel, ignoring the dirty look Quinn gave him as well as the irritation practically pouring off of Puck. When Rachel shifted again, turning her back to him, and Finn began to reach out to touch her shoulder, Puck decided enough was enough.
Standing abruptly and pulling Rachel to her feet, Puck looked over towards their teacher.
“Hey, Mr. Schue, be okay if Rae and I take a walk? This sitting around is getting lame fast.”
Although he did not want his students scattered around an airport in a strange town, Will Schuster knew some of his students had short fuses and limited patience. At the rate things were deteriorating, he could only be happy no one had gotten physical as yet. Although both he and Emma had a private bet on who would lose their temper first, the one thing they agreed upon was the victim of the attack. Finn Hudson had charm, an excellent singing voice, and some leadership abilities, but he could occasionally be thick as a post. Letting Puck and Rachel stretch their legs might bring the whole situation back to a simmer before it boiled over.
“All right, Puck. Don’t go too far, and one of you has a phone, right?” he asked.
“Yes, of course, Mr. Schuster,” answered Rachel. “I have my phone, and it has been fully charged and I have already checked to make sure we have a signal. It is not as strong as it could be, but it should still…”
“Great,” interrupted Puck. “C’mon Berry, let’s book.”
He began striding away, pulling Rachel along with him. Glancing back over his shoulder, Puck caught the hangdog look Finn sent after them even while Quinn rolled her eyes. Santana threw him a wink while Brittany smiled. He sent a shrug to the two Cheerios, and continued walking at a fast pace until they were out of sight. Once the rest of the glee club had vanished in the crowd, he slowed down.
Rachel looked up at him as they began to just stroll along.
“In a hurry, Noah?” she asked.
He snorted.
“I figured if we waited too long, that douche might decide to invite himself along,” he replied.
“Oh, good thinking,” she sighed. “I am not entirely sure exactly what his problem is. I will admit that it hurts, but I have accepted that he will always choose Quinn Fabray when it comes to the sticking point. However, I do not believe that in any way gives him the right to continue pursuing me and not letting me move on. By the way, I do apologize for practically climbing into your lap, but he kept trying to touch me. As a matter of fact, it is beginning to get a bit disturbing. I think he may be the slightest bit obsessive, and while I know as a young starlet I may have to deal with such stalkers, I believe high school is a little early to begin having that kind of a headache.”
Puck huffed out a laugh and she looked up at him with a brilliant smile.
“I was wondering where you’d disappeared to,” he teased.
When she frowned in confusion, he shrugged. Tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow, he maneuvered them both around a group that had chosen to sprawl across the aisle.
“Before you answered Schue about the phone, you haven’t said five words together in over an hour. Even Satan was beginning to look worried,” he finally said.
“Now, Noah, I know I am one of the more verbose in our small set, but I do not believe I talk quite that extensively…at least not enough for you to worry when I am simply…”
She broke off as he fixed her with a direct look and one raised eyebrow. Scrunching up her nose, she considered what she had just said and lifted her shoulders in surrender.
“All right,” she conceded. “I do talk more than most, but I do not consider that a bad trait.”
“Not saying the talking shit’s bad,” answered Puck. “Just saying it’s weird when you go quiet for too long. It’s not normal.”
With her free hand, she gave him a small smack.
“Noah, language!”
“Whatever, Rae,” he laughed, rolling his eyes.
Both of them chuckled and then continued wandering. As she relaxed, Rachel fell back into her habit of talking about Broadway, music, and just about everything else. Puck just grinned down at her whenever they had to stop to avoid walking into people. He usually did not mind her talking, even if he would complain about it just to see her get wound up. Letting her do all the talking let him enjoy the scenery. Her eyes would light up when she got going, and her delicate hands would move in their own dance, providing a supporting argument for whatever she was discussing. Best of all, he could usually get away with staring at her legs. While he had always preferred tall, stacked girls, it was hard to deny that Rachel had a great pair of legs. No one that short should have legs that went for miles.
“You are not listening to me at all, are you Noah?” asked Rachel, smiling up at him.
“Sorry, Rae, were you talking?” he replied. “Hadn’t noticed.”
She rolled her eyes and then shifted closer to him to avoid stepping on someone as they rounded a corner.
“Damn,” Puck said half in amazement as he looked around. “How many people fit into this place anyway?”
“Well, it is a rather large international airport,” she answered as her eyes roamed over the crowd.
“Wait, look, that hallway looks less full.”
With that, Puck began steering her through the crowd until they reached the less congested hallway. As they strolled down it, she hugged his arm just a bit tighter and leaned into him. Looking down at her, he gave her an affectionate half-smile. They glanced into the open doors they wandered past until they found a room with plenty of empty chairs. As Puck walked in, he noticed a group of familiar looking men sitting in the back corner. It was the same group that had passed the glee club earlier in the crowd. Giving them a long intent look, he continued into the room until Rachel pulled him to a stop.
“Noah,” she said, looking back over her shoulder. “We are not supposed to be in here.”
She pointed to a sign on the wall by the door - “Airport staff only”. He groaned softly and gave her a pleading look, but she shook her head. His shoulders slumped slightly, but he began to follow her back out. A voice from behind them brought them to a stop.
“You might as well have a seat,” said a tall, mustached man from where he lounged. “The staff’ve got more important things to worry about than someone sittin’ in here. We’ll tell ‘em we said it was okay.”
The man’s friends smiled or nodded at the two teens, but Rachel still looked undecided. The youngest of the men stood up and walked over, pulling something like a billfold out of his pocket. When he flipped it open, it revealed a badge declaring him to be Agent Dunne of the ATF.
“Really,” he said reassuringly. “It’s awful crowded out there, and you’ll be a lot more comfortable here.”
She bit her lip and looked up at Puck. He stared at the agent and then over to the rest of the team; his eyes serious and considering. Despite everything, Rachel trusted his instincts in dangerous situations over hers. When he gave a slow nod, she gave a sigh of relief and smiled at the men.
“Would it be all right if we invited a couple of more friends?” she asked. When the men exchanged glances, she hurried to reassure them. “I promise we will keep the numbers contained. It should only be four more people.”
At that, the men looked to a lanky blond man who gave a quick nod. Agent Dunne turned a boyish smile on the pair of teenagers.
“Sure,” he answered. “Four more people won’t hurt anything.”
Rachel turned her brightest smile on the group. A couple of the men blinked and gave her odd looks, but the others melted just a bit, smiling back at the pretty brunette.
“Thank you so very much! I cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciate this. Those crowds were simply too much! Anyway, my name is Rachel Berry, and this is…”
“Puck,” he interrupted before she could give his full name.
With another smile from Rachel, the two teens moved to the other side of the room. She pulled out her phone and typed out a lengthy text. Puck gave her a questioning look.
“I texted Santana,” she replied. “I told her where we were in case she, Britt, Tina and Mike wanted to join us.”
He nodded before sitting down and stretching out. Groaning as his joints popped, he gave her a relaxed grin.
“Just think we can do our waiting without having to deal with Saint Finn or…”
“All right,” she interrupted, taking a seat beside him. “I am certainly glad to be away as well, but we do not have to belabor the issue. We can just forget they are here for a bit.”
“I’d ask if you wanted to make out,” he started, grinning.
She laughed.
“Not in public, Noah.”
He blinked at her answer before a wicked smile broke over his face.
“So,” he said, “how about we talk about it when we get home, somewhere private?”
She just gave him her sweetest smile and then put her legs across his lap so she could look at him as they talked. His hands came to rest on her shins and rubbed gently. They talked and laughed quietly, paying no attention to the ATF agents across the room.
“Well,” Nathan observed, “they are a bit of an odd couple.”
“A bit clichéd if you ask me,” replied Ezra. “What could be more Hollywood than the well-spoken, educated good girl and the dangerous but golden hearted bad boy?”
JD blinked at him before glancing over his shoulder at the pair.
“How’d you get that, Ez?” he asked.
The undercover agent shifted, and looked at his young teammate. Searching the curious hazel eyes, he realized JD seriously wanted to hear his answer.
“Let me begin with the girl then. When they first entered and she caught sight of the warning sign, she immediately tried to lead him back out. Obviously, she has been raised to have a great deal of respect for the rules and regulations. She may not be slavishly dedicated to following the law, but I believe it would it take something more serious than overcrowding to make her break the rules. In addition, she used very few, if any contractions, and her vocabulary choices as well as her manners were definitely more appropriate than the normal teenager might usually use in the same situation. Her hair is worn in a classical style, and her clothing choice is more modest than many her age would wear while still being more high maintenance than simplistic.”
“All right,” Buck said. “What about him?”
“First off, he does not have the same regard for the rules as his companion. He appeared more than willing to ignore the sign if she had allowed him to. Also, he scrutinized each of us carefully when they first entered, and then again after JD showed them his badge. Please note, he did all of this while keeping the young lady carefully to the side where he could get her out of harm’s way had it proven necessary. He may or may not be a law-breaker, but he certainly has had to deal with law enforcement, and not all of it positive. He does not seem hardened enough to be an actual criminal, but it is possible that he has been marked as a trouble maker and has to deal with overzealous members of his local police force. His hairstyle and his nickname both indicate a rebellious nature while his choice of blue jeans, white t-shirt, and black leather jacket reflects a more simplistic, casual style.”
Chris smirked when a couple of the others gaped at Ezra.
“And that,” the leader said softly, “is why he does the undercover work.”
“What I find interesting,” Ezra continued as the others made sounds of agreement, “is the trust that the young woman has in her companion. Despite the badge, and JD’s rather open, trustworthy appearance, she still turned to see how he reacted first.”
“Trusts his natural instincts,” noted Vin from his spot on the floor.
“How do you mean, brother?” Josiah asked.
“Well,” replied the sharpshooter. “Some kids learn early to spot trouble. They grow up hard or in broken homes, and some kids come home to empty houses because both parents work. Either way, survival and safety depend upon spottin’ that one thing that’ll lead to someone gettin’ hurt, or worse. Rachel knows he’s got better instincts for danger.”
Silence descended upon the agents as they considered the truth behind Vin’s words. What they tried hard not to dwell on was why their friend would have such insight into broken homes and endangered kids. Chris glanced down, green eyes meeting blue, and gave his friend a slight nod. Vin just shrugged. He used what he had gone through to help others. It had long since stopped bothering him. That healing had taken place a few years ago when he had taken a risk and opened his heart enough to trust six of the most stubborn, annoying, and loyal men he had ever had the privilege to meet.
A few minutes later, they looked up as four more teenagers entered the room. The agents watched as the group made their way over to the original couple. The greetings and opening comments flew back and forth between the six teens.
“Hmm,” Josiah hummed to himself for a moment. “An interesting dynamic in that group.”
The others turned to look at their profiler. He paid them no attention, focusing his observational skills on the group across the room. Buck waited for a moment before balling up some scrap paper and tossing at the older man.
“Well, Preacher,” he said, grinning at Josiah’s fake annoyance. “You goin’ to follow that up with anything?”
Leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest, Josiah glanced over his group.
“It’s a fascinating mix of characters, at least based on appearance and general attitude. Most obvious, the group looks like it should be unbalanced, with four females and two males. However, one of the girls, the Latina one, has a more aggressive personality. While she seems quite sultry, her very aggressiveness is less seductive and more forceful. I have no doubt she can be quite the female, but she walks very close to the line between masculine and feminine behavior.”
Buck’s eyebrows rose in surprise as he turned to look over the teens once more. He had pegged the girl for full-out temptress.
“What else?” asked JD, tilting his head in consideration.
“Look at the way everyone reacts to Rachel and Puck,” continued Josiah as he warmed to the topic. “They are the actual leaders of the group. They were the only two not to defer to the Latina girl. Puck just replied in kind while Rachel watched both of them with amused exasperation. However, La Dama…”
“Who?” JD interrupted.
“The Latina girl,” answered Josiah with a smile. “It means ‘lady’. As I was saying, La Dama may have been vocal and pushy, but she looked both of them over carefully to make sure they were all right. As a matter of fact, given the submissive behavior of the other three, I would say that she’s second in command of their little group, with Puck being the leader.”
“So,” commented Vin, peering up from his spot on the floor, “Puck’s alpha of their pack, Rachel’s his mate, and La Dama’s the beta?”
The older man nodded. Vin closed his eyes once more while the others watched as the teens joked and laughed with one another. After a few minutes, the novelty wore off and the men began shifting themselves around once more to get comfortable. Sleep had just begun to descend upon them when a cheery voice interrupted.
“Um, hi! Can you help me?”
All of them turned to see one of the girls walking up to their group. Tall, blonde and pretty, she would turn most men’s heads. Her large blue eyes however were distressingly vague. The phrase “bubbly blond” did cross several minds as she sat down next to Chris. She gave them a bright smile.
“Rae says you’re feds. Is that right?” she asked.
Chris nodded, but before anyone could say anything, Rachel came hurrying over.
“Brittany, what are you doing?”
The blonde turned her smile on her friend.
“Rae, you said they were feds. I’m hoping they can tell me who to talk to about Lord Tubbington.”
“Oh, well, these agents do not deal in that sort of thing, Britt.”
“I know,” Brittany nodded. “Puck told me they go after the men who run with guns. Still, they should know who I can talk to, right?”
“Rachel?”
Both girls turned as the call crossed the room. The men watched as the girl waved to the Latina girl in reassurance. She then turned back to her friend.
“What is Lord Tubbington doing now? Is he reading your diary again?” asked Rachel.
“Yes,” answered the blonde, “but I’ve about given up on getting him to stop doing that. This time I think he stole my X-Box.”
“I really do not think we should be bothering these gentlemen with that. Or,” she hurried to say as Brittany’s face dropped into a pout, “at least not until we have tried everything else. Jumping straight into accusing him of something federal is a really big step.”
The pout morphed into a frown as the blonde girl thought about Rachel’s words. She gave a slow, reluctant nod.
“Well, I guess that’s true, but what do I do first?”
Rachel frowned in thought.
“You know, I could probably ask Noah to have a talk with him. What do you think?” she asked.
Brittany nodded with enthusiasm.
“Oh, yeah, that would be good. He’s always better behaved for a while after getting good talking to from Puck.”
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Rachel. “I will ask Noah to go over and talk to him just as soon as we get home.”
The blonde girl gave a little squeal and clapped her hands as she jumped up. She tossed her arms around Rachel, pulling her up into a big hug. The smaller brunette just let her be, patting her back and waiting her out. When Brittany finally released her, Rachel directed her back to their group.
“Go on back now, Britt,” she said. “I think Santana wants to talk to you for a moment about your new dance number.”
“Ok, Rae,” she replied already bouncing away. “See you in a minute.”
Rachel watched her leave with a fond smile before turning to the ATF team. She sighed and lifted her hands in a shrug.
“I am terribly sorry about that. Usually we watch her a little more carefully, and head her off before she can get started on strangers.”
“Is she…” Ezra started to ask and then paused, obviously searching his mind for a delicate way to phrase the question burning in their minds.
Rachel just shook her head, still smiling.
“No,” she answered. “Brittany is not crazy. She is just a little…simple. She has perhaps the most positive, optimistic outlook of any one of us, and she still sees the world with a child’s viewpoint.”
A moment of silence settled over the group as they mulled over her answer. Finally, Chris gave her a direct look.
“While I’m not entirely certain I want to know, do you mind telling us who Lord Tubbington is?” he asked.
She gave a little groan and buried her face in her hands for a moment. Looking up, she gave a fond, but slightly vexed smile.
“Lord Tubbington,” she answered, “is Brittany’s cat.”
The men gaped at her for a long moment before JD lifted his hand slightly in question.
“I’m sorry, but her cat stole her X-box?”
Vin snorted. “I’m curious as to how her cat is readin’ her diary.”
Rachel shook her head even as she turned to begin walking back towards her own group.
“We really do not discuss that situation. It gets Britt all worked up.”
As she sat down next to her friends, she sent a smile over to the men who still stared at her. Nathan cleared his throat.
“Suddenly I’m really glad I’m not responsible for that group.”
His teammates traded nods and quick smiles. Vin chuckled under his breath every so often, and even Chris smiled a little more. Ezra closed his eyes and tilted his head back. His final remarks brought a fresh round of laughter to the group before they settled into slumber once more.
“A kleptomaniac feline that peruses private journals as a hobby…do remind me not to get one of those. Lord only knows what he might tell you…or worse, what he might tell Mother.” He paused. “Actually, on second thought, perhaps I should look into acquiring one. It would certainly be a wonderful gift for her.”
Reviews are always welcome!