Disclaimer: The Magnificent Seven don't belong to me, no matter how much I may want them to. This story, however, is mine, so please ask first, kay? Enjoy. Note: That stupid song was going around and around in my head all day. I finally decided to put it to some good use. Second note: If it sounds like Vin and Chris are using an awful lot of run-on sentences - it *was* one o'clock in the morning when I wrote this, okay? ________ Make New Friends But Keep the Old... Vin stepped out of the saloon and glanced around. The streets were empty of all but a few people, and even they moved with a lethargic slowness that Vin found massively irritating for all that he knew he wasn't much better. It was early summer, and the small town of Four Corners was being hit hard by the heat. Already the temperature was hot enough to cause some of the ladies and elderly citizens to have trouble, and it would only get worse as the season continued. Tired of the saloon, but not willing to give into the heat by retiring to his room - not that his closed, cramped little room would offer him any sanctuary - Vin set out toward the jail. Someone was always on guard down there, especially at times like now when there were prisoners. Maybe he could find someone to talk into a game of cards. He was still a dozen strides away from the jail when he heard the raised voices and sounds of an argument. He was about to break into a run when the voices registered and he relaxed. Buck and JD at it again. No danger there, on the contrary, it was almost relaxing to listen to those two go at it. There was an amusing give-and-take between the two that never failed to entertain Vin. Vin paused in the doorway and watched the goings-on. JD Dunne was literally sprawled across the sheriff's chair, one foot propped up on the desk, the other dangling over the arm of the chair. His hat lay discarded on the desk, his jacket and vest were missing. His dark hair was damp with sweat, a few stray curls clinging to his forehead. Buck Wilmington sat on the edge of the desk, leaning forward, arms braced against his knees. He too had removed his hat and coat and was plucking at his shirt absently with one hand, pulling it away from his chest in a vain effort to get some cool air in there. At first glance they both looked like Vin felt; hot, tired and thirsty. None of that seemed to be interfering with the rapid-fire back and forth taunts and teasing they were tossing at each other, however. On the far side of the room, watching the two with quiet amusement was Chris Larabee. Chris was a mystery to Vin; a family man who'd lost everything and become a determined loner who worked hard at severing every tie he had. He played the part well. Or he had until somehow, less than a year ago, Chris had found himself the unofficial leader of a band of mercenaries-turned-vigilantes. 'Course,' Vin thought cheerfully. 'We ain't vigilantes right now. Thank God for Judge Travis - always nice to get paid an honest salary for doing what you would have done anyway.' Chris had turned his attention from the bickering pair to Vin. He offered the bounty hunter a vague, half smile - the closest Chris usually could bring himself to an actual smile. It tended to take a major catastrophe to get a full-fledged smile out of the man. Chris never looked happier than when dealing with the bad guys. Vin sauntered in and leaned against the wall beside Chris. Buck and JD each offered him a half nod, never breaking the stride of their argument. Vin leaned down and offered Chris a smile of his own. "Cute, aren't they?" Chris rolled his eyes heavenward. "Nauseatingly so. I'm tempted to shoot them both just to shut them up, but I figure it's just punishment for our friends back there." He tilted his head toward the cells in the back , where Vin knew there were at least three prisoners, all drunks sobering up. He also knew Chris was just complaining for the sake of it. For a hard nosed mercenary, Chris had a soft spot for these two. Buck was his oldest friend, and JD... Somewhere along the line Chris had stopped prophesizing the many ways JD would get himself killed and started to count him as one of the few people he trusted to watch his back. He tended to treat both of them with a paternal patience that he extended to few others, Vin and the others included. Right now, though, his expression seemed melancholy, and his eyes seemed to be looking at something besides the obvious. Vin walked back to the door and grabbed the chair that rested just outside it. Returning, he set it beside Chris' and settled in. "Want to talk about it?" Chris lifted an eyebrow, but didn't glance at him. "Talk about what?" "How should I know?" Vin asked good naturedly, keeping his voice low. "If I knew I wouldn't be asking if you wanted to talk." "Interesting logic," Chris replied, voice just as low, "but there's nothing wrong." "Didn't say anything was wrong," Vin parried. "Just that maybe you needed to talk." He waited a long moment in silence. "Ain't no shame in talking to a friend, Chris." "Never said there was," Chris said easily. "Just isn't something all that easy to put into words." He gave Vin a sideways glance. "Besides, I know it sounds worse in my head than it will once I put it into words." "So say it and stop worrying about it," Vin told him. "Honestly, Chris, I think you like doing things the hard way." A bland smile was turned toward him, and blue eyes glinted ever so slightly. "Wherever did you get that idea?" "Smart ass." They were silent again, but Vin didn't push any further. You could only go so far with Chris before he started to push back, often violently, and Vin was too tired to deal with an argument. Finally, Chris sighed and shifted in his chair. "Those two," he said, inclining his head toward their two companions, "are making me think about things, and I'm not altogether certain I like the things I'm thinking about." "What are you thinking about?" Vin asked, keeping his voice pitched low, knowing whatever it was they were talking about, Chris wouldn't want anyone else overhearing. "A lot of things. The first thing that occurred to me was that I was glad Buck has finally found a friend he can really relate to. Buck's good with the ladies and the kids, but there are only a few men he'll really call friend." "Like you?" Vin inquired softly. "Maybe, maybe not. We used to be. But I'll be the first to admit that after Sarah and Adam died I wasn't the best friend a man could ask for. I did everything but raise my hand to him, which is a line I'm very glad I never crossed." He sighed. "I was so caught up in trying to forget that I forgot the things I should've remembered." "Including Buck." "Including Buck," Chris affirmed. "And the truth of it is, we never had much in common. Different interests, different upbringing, different outlook on life. We agreed on the important stuff though, and that always seemed like enough. This," he gestured toward the still arguing pair, "we never could have done this. It would have turned into a real argument by now and we'd probably spend the next two days trying to figure out whether we were tired of not speaking yet." Vin nodded. He could understand that. Chris wasn't the teasing type - hell he was barely the conversation type. This was probably the most Vin had ever heard him say at one time. "So I'm sitting here, thinking good for Buck, when something else hits me. Somewhere along the line, things changed between us. Time and distance, whatever, but... ah, hell, I don't know what I'm saying." "Afraid you're losing your best friend?" Vin asked softly. "No. Afraid I already lost him." "Buck wouldn't say you had." "Haven't, I know that," Chris shrugged. "But things aren't the same anymore, Vin." "Everything changes. So do people, if you give 'em enough time." "Yeah. Y'know, there's a part of me wondering if it's really such a bad thing. Like you said, people change." "Maybe the two of you are just changing in different directions." "That makes more sense than anything you've said yet." "Thank you. Why isn't it so bad?" "Cause. All else aside, if I need him to watch my back he'll be there." Chris seemed to be uncertain whether he should continue, but finally did. "And I know the rest of you will, too." "We will." Vin carefully didn't Chris's eyes as he added. "Doesn't sound to me like you've lost anything." Chris smiled that half smile again. "More like maybe I've gained something?" "Five somethings?" "Sounds about right. You want to get something to drink? I'm dying here." "Sounds like a plan." Chris stood and crossed to the doorway, Vin right beside him. End