Conference Day 9
Seminar on Apprehension
On the ninth day the team gathered for a exercise in take down and self defense moves. "Who's this jerk?" Buck grimaced as a federal Marshall was taken down hard.
"He's being awful rough," the concerned healer in Nathan was out in full force. Their instructor, Ben Weber, seemed less interested in teaching than in just beating the shit out of them. He was pushing the line on physical and verbal abuse. Weber and his assistant took turns on the mats with the students. Weber seemed to be taking great pleasure in pushing the limits with the smaller or less trained personnel.
Chris watched with concern as Vin paced near the doors. Tanner had been watching Weber's actions and the joy the instructor was taking in battering his pupils was eating away at the sharpshooter. The barely tame man had been stuck inside classrooms for the last nine days and now this instructor was offending his sense of justice. The hair on the back of Chris' neck was starting to rise. He didn't like the feeling whatsoever. Instead of the now familiar 'warm fuzzy'. Vin's presence was agitated and disturbing.
"Mr. Tanner is quite overwrought," Ezra noted.
"The walls are closing in," Chris grunted.
"This isn't good," Josiah exclaimed, "Weber is going to try to set Vin off". Vin walked over took a seat by Chris. Chris kept darting glances at Vin.
It's like he's preparing for a bust. Chris realized suddenly.
Josiah limped back to his seat, Nathan was fussing quietly as he checked out Josiah's leg. "I think it's just bruised," he finally allowed. JD handed over an ice pack.
"Thank you Brother," Josiah sighed. Chris, Buck and Nathan were sporting bruises and Ezra a sprained wrist.
"If he tries that shit on JD I'm gonna shoot him," Buck swore softly.
"Tanner your next," Weber called with a smirk. Vin sauntered out onto the mat facing Weber. "Well, well look at all the pretty hair," Weber sneered.
"Yer comb-over needs attention," Vin returned with a matching smirk..
"Pretty Boy, your gonna suffer some then I'm going to break your playmate in half," Weber growled nodding towards JD. Vin's whole demeanor changed.
"Ya won't touch JD," Vin warned.
Vin's going to take him apart. As one Team 7 had a single thought. They were prepared to put an end to things before Vin killed him. Weber ordered Vin into a restrained position, from which Vin was to attempt to free himself. The watching agents were unable to follow the moves. The end result was Vin was free and Weber was wearing handcuffs lying on the mat.
"That skinny kid's damn good," an older US Marshall named Gerard exclaimed. Weber was freed and ordered Vin into another position. Chris cursed as Weber went for Vin's eyes. Vin went under the move and rolled out of reach. Springing to his feet he danced out of Weber's clutches. Vin twisted, turned, kicked and punched staying out of Weber's grasp. Team 7 was on it's feet preparing to put an end to the farce. Gerrard's team of US Marshals surged to their feet at the same time.
Weber's assistant took Vin off his feet allowing Weber to reach Tanner. A brutal scuffle ensued. Weber was cursing and grunting. Vin fought in silence. Gerrard grasped the assistant and tossed him to Josiah. "Why aren't you stopping it?" Gerrard asked Chris.
"Vin blacked both my eyes last time I broke up one of his fights," Chris grimaced in sympathy as Weber landed a punch. Deputy Marshall Cooper spoke to Nathan.
"Weber must out weigh him by a 100 pounds. He's got at least 6 inches on Tanner. He's going to kill your friend," She spluttered.
"Junior's tougher than ya'd think," Buck reassured.
"Ouch! that had to hurt," JD groaned when Vin planted a knee under Weber's chin.
"I never saw some of these moves before," Cosmo spoke in awe.
"I would wager Mr. Tanner finishes Mr. Weber in the next 90 seconds," Ezra declared.
"Your on $20!" Cosmo replied. Vin somehow acquired a head lock on Weber.
"42 seconds," Ezra held his hand out. Cosmo shook his head and pulled out his wallet. Gerrard gasped as he noted the arm position.
"Vin leave him," Chris ordered softly. Vin kept his hold, the tension in his arms clearly visible.
"Tanner, stand down. Stand down now!" Chris thundered. Vin looked up slowly.
"Ah hell Chris I jus' wanna break his neck," Vin offered a lopsided grin.
"It's very rude for a guest to leave rubbish strewn about, Mr. Tanner," Ezra lectured.
"Junior, let's go get ya one of them hot chocolates you like so much," Buck suggested settling on his haunches next to the tracker.
"Wit' whip cream?" Vin asked.
"Them chocolate sprinkles too," Buck sighed in relief as Vin finally freed the terrified Weber.
"Whip Cream and sprinkles?" Bobby, one of the Marshals asked with a soft chuckle.
"Vin's got a powerful sweet tooth," Nathan explained.
"Ah Shit!" Vin groaned as he climbed to his feet. Vin snarled "I'se fine," as Nathan strode over with a determined look.
"Yah ain't fine," Chris snarled back. Vin sighed and stood for Nathan's examination.
"Thank you Agent Tanner," an unfamiliar voice spoke. Vin turned and looked at a grizzled well built older man. "Andrew Smith, I've written up Weber numerous times for excessive force. If you will report this I can finally get rid of him," Smith spoke.
"He's gonna kill somebody way he's actin'," Vin agreed, panting softly. "Couple of them moves was to kill er cripple". The two men moved over to a bench and Smith pulled out a tape recorder.
Chris who had been watching Gerrard, realized that something was bothering the experienced Marshall. Gerrard kept turning back to study Vin.
"Why's Tanner bothering you?" he asked protectively.
"I've met that kid somewhere. For the life of me I can't place him," Gerrard frowned at the sharpshooter.
"Let's figure it out over dinner," Buck suggested.
After Nathan finished checking over the walking wounded to his satisfaction they separated briefly to shower and change clothes. A short time later they met up again in the lobby to walk to a local restaurant together.
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Restaurant
They pushed some tables together to make room for all of them to eat.
"Coop, you remember Tanner?" Gerrard asked softly as they sat down.
"Sam I've been trying to place him all day," she admitted.
"Do I know you young Man?" Sam Gerrard finally asked.
"Was wondering if ya'd 'member," Vin answered softly. He then shyly addressed Agent Cooper. "Ya feelin' better Ma'am?"
"Oklahoma," she blurted smiling widely.
"Bobby Badel," Cosmo murmured his eyes danced looking over at Gerrard.
"The smart ass in the parking garage," Gerrard glared.
"Iffen ya'd run faster ya coulda caught 'em. Ya done good chasin' 'em down fer an old feller like you," Vin smirked as Sam scowled at him. The whole group laughed at the exchange, settling down to an enjoyable evening together.
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Airport
Denver, Colorado
The team arrived back in Denver. Glances were shared and Chris was pinned with six glares. "Alright everybody take the day off tomorrow. You've earned it," Chris sighed tiredly. "Be at the office at 8:45 Thursday morning. I'm going to see our Travel Planer you're welcome to come with me," Chris had a mean look in his eyes.
"We wouldn't miss it," Josiah grunted. Vin nodded and headed rapidly for the exit.
"Grab Vin's bag would you?" Chris asked Buck as the carousel rotated the duffel bag past them.
"I'll see that Junior gets it Thursday," Buck promised.
"Is it the flying or the closed in that bothers him so much?" Nathan wondered out loud.
"Closed in and so many people crowding him," Chris answered.
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"Who?" Chris demanded Thursday morning.
"JT Sloan," Ezra answered softly.
"Where?" Chris glared.
"Fourth floor room 412," Ezra replied. Chris turned and stalked out of the office the other six fell in behind him taking up flanking positions as the headed out. Other agents quickly stepped into door ways to avoid the approaching group. Relieved sighs were heard as the hunters passed by. The elevator doors opened and the occupants rapidly vacated for the men waiting. The doors closed.
"I don't want to be them," Jeff Wilson of team 3 whispered.
"Who?" a new agent demanded.
"The poor fool that has all of Team 7 hunting them," Mark Johns of Team 1 answered.
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Local Diner
Denver, Colorado
Lunch Time
"Man I thought Larabee was bad," Agent Johns admitted over lunch.
"Don't let that peaceful manner fool you Josiah Sanchez is worthy of notice when he's righteous," Agent Walker shook a fry for emphasis.
"Did he really ask Sloan the condition of his soul?" Alfred Miller asked.
"Yeah, he did."
"All the while Jackson was sharpening a knife sitting on the edge of Sloan's desk," Walker answered.
"I thought Jackson was going to perform a autopsy right then," The rookie Stuart reflected in awe.
"Jeez did ya see Dunne?" Jeff Wilson asked awed.
"Reckon Sloan's going to find his missing suitcase?" Walker smirked.
"I would," Wilson retorted, "that baby-faced kid was scary".
"It was a nice touch Wilmington telling the secretaries what Sloan did to 'em," Agent Jack Walker chuckled.
"Sloan is in deep, deep kimchee with the ladies all right," Johns chortled.
"Standish is something else isn't he? He was just so cool about the whole thing," Ferguson spoke up from another table.
"How does he get that kind of information?" the rookie asked the others.
"Don't know, don't want to know. Just glad I wasn't the target," Walker instructed kindly.
"Tanner never even spoke," Ferguson shook his head.
"Larabee has nothing on that one," Johns shuddered.
"I thought Tanner was the calming influence," Walker sighed.
"Not today," several men answered softly.
"Tanner just glared and Sloan wet himself," Stuart whispered in disbelief. Agent Tony Melton walked over to the table.
"Sloan's asked for a transfer to Alaska," he laughed.
"Alaska?" Voices questioned.
"Guess he heard Tanner and Standish don't like the cold," Melton snickered.
The End
For your information:
Anyone who has ever been to a sleep over or an old fashioned chivaree will remember some of the pranks. Since there were no newlyweds I didn't bell the bed.
Animals can and will get drunk. Horses love beer and find it quite easy to empty long necks. It isn't easy to load a drunken horse into a trailer though. As they say that is another story.
The greased sneakers were a lot kinder than the original get even. My brother Darryl put straight pins in the toes of Micheal's sneakers.
One time we really did move a bed with a sleeping inhabitant out into the courtyard of their apartment.
And yes there is a little bit of a cross over in there. The Fugitive and U. S. Marshalls