Title:  Forbidden Zone
Author:  Jean

Warnings:  Language and Adult Sexual situations
Main Character(s):  Vin and the boys OFC & OMC 
Universe: ATF – Thank you MOG for the playpen
Genre: Adult  HET

Disclaimer: They are not mine and I make no money for their use.

This is my first attempt at ATF – This is not BETA'd so the mistakes are mine.

Feedback:  Yes please

Summary:  Vin meets a new lady and a new case brings other friends into the picture. 

 Forbidden Zone

 The Saloon

Inez moved over to the table in the back where what she liked to consider "her Guys" sat enjoying a cool drink after work.  She sidestepped the arm that was winding itself around her waist and moved to sit the tray down.  "Buck! Keeps your hands to yourself, please!"  And with a wink to the other men she went back to the bar.

It had been a hard day and they were still coming down off the adrenaline high from the bust, sitting back to enjoy a cold one and each other's company.  Happy to be together and alive and no one hurt this time.  That in itself was reason enough to celebrate.

Vin was just finishing his drink and looked up toward the door and then looked down at his watch.  "Fuck"

That brought the attention to the other men at the table, they stopped playing the card game that Ezra talked them into and looked over at their sharpshooter to see what that was all about.

Vin saw her come through the door, and moved not to them but toward the bar.  She knew that he liked his personal life to be private, his first thought was why didn't she call him knowing he was late in meeting her and second what was she doing down here?   He didn't want the two parts of his life to meet, he was very private when it came to relationships and although he loved to joke around with the guys and they teased Buck about his women, Vin didn't think he would hold up under that type of teasing himself.

He tried not to notice that everyone was still starring at him to see what was wrong, he ignored the other men and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.  "Shit" And that brought the heads back to him again after they had just turned back to the game.

"Vin?"  Larabee questioned wondering what was up.

He looked up at the other man and said quietly  "nothin" He had turned his damn phone off, so he switched it on only to hear several beeps indicating that he had messages.   Well too late now and no point in bothering to check them when he knew that other than the men he worked with Janna was the only other person that had the number.

Making his decision, he moved to stand, "Fella's, excuse me for a bit."  And moved away from the table without waiting for a reply.

"What do you suppose that was all about?"  Ezra asked as he watched the younger man maneuver through the press of people heading toward the bar.

"Well, looki here boys, what is that Tanner just sidled up to?'  And the Lady's man made a move to get up only to find a restraining hand on his arm.   He turned to look into the Green eyes of their leader.

"Leave it Buck" Was all that was said but enough that took every ones interested gaze to the bar where they saw Vin walk up beside a beautiful young woman.  All was noticing the familiar touch of his hand on her waist as he leaned in to her ear.

Janna had been so worried when Vin did not show up at 6:00 to pick her up.  It was Friday night and they were going to dinner and then back to her place for the weekend.  Vin had never invited her to his place in Purgatorio', telling her that it was too rough a place to bring her.  She also worried because her man was an ATF agent and that was a dangerous job.  When he didn't show by 6:30 she called his cell phone and left a message, then 7:00 rolled around and she called again, still no answer.

She was not one to needlessly worry, and she liked her relationship with Vin because he did not put demands on her that other men had tried.  They both were independent people and enjoyed a certain amount of freedom in a relationship, but she knew that she was falling hard for him and it was both a blessing and a curse. 

She never planned this, he was up front with her to begin with that he was very private about this part of his life and needed her to understand and respect that part of him.  She did, really and felt the same as well, but after two months of seeing him.  Over six weeks of holding him in her arms, making love to him and with him, she was falling in love and didn't know how to stop it.

So when he did not come or call after her third try, she called the Federal Building that housed the ATF offices, she got the security office since it was after hours and stated that she was looking for someone on Team 7.   They told her that they headed out over an hour ago.  They of course would not tell her where they went, but she knew it would be the "saloon" as she had hear Vin call the bar, and didn't have any trouble getting the number and then the address. 

She almost stopped herself several times on the cab ride over, she was not really upset that he did not make the date, but was hurt that he didn't think enough of her to call.  That is when the self-doubt started, the self-questioning.  "Does he care?"  "Yes" she had answered herself, no man could make love like that to a women if he did not have some feeling for, could he? 

Standing outside the bar, she took a deep breath and moved in looking around her as she went at the memorabilia of the old west.  Her wanderings were cut short when she heard a laugh and looked toward the back of the saloon.  Vin was sitting back there with all his friends drinking a beer, and then he had looked up and caught her staring at him.  She moved to the bar feeling that he would not welcome her in amongst the people he worked with. 

Vin started across the bar and watched as she turned from him to order a drink.  He felt bad, almost like he'd been caught out with another woman by the feeling in his gut.  When he moved up beside her and leaned his right side against the bar facing her he placed a hand on her waist.  He opened his mouth to apologize for not calling and then closed it when he saw the tears that spiked her lashes.  Not knowing anything else to do he took her in his arms right there in the crowed bar and rocked her back and forth.

The other ATF agents at the back table could not see the woman clearly but were very surprised when they saw Vin holding her.  More than one was curious about what that meant.

Chris sat back nursing his beer watching the scene play out with his best friend and the woman in his arms.  He knew that Vin had been seeing someone for several weeks now, not that Vin had to say anything, Chris just knew by the change in him.  Changes that only a well satisfied man would show, and his absence during the weekends becoming more and more frequent.  

Janna was embarrassed by the unexpected flood of tears, thank god she held them in or she thought she did, knowing that for the lie it was when Vin wordlessly took her in his arms.

She slightly pulled back from him and said the first thing that came to mind, "I'm sorry."  And looked at his chest.

Vin felt worse if that could be true when she wouldn't look at him and gave him an apology, knowing full well that it was not for the tears but for coming here.  For the first time he thought, when did keeping his private life private and letting her think that he did not want anyone to know about her get mixed up. 

But before he could say anything, she caught him off guard as she stepped back out of his arms and delivered her next words.  "This isn't going to work is it?"  Maybe more of a statement and less of a question. 

He stood rooted to the spot for a moment hoping he did not get her meaning, but before he could say anything else, he caught Inez's eye.  She motioned with her head toward the back room.  He gave her a grateful smile as he reached out to take Janna's arm saying, "We got to talk."

She moved in front of him taking direction from the light grip on her arm.  She hesitated when she saw the men at the back table looking at them.

Vin looked past her shoulder to his friends who were now staring at them in open unashamed curiosity.  He just might get past them without a word.

Buck had sucked in his breath when Vin turned the woman in their direction, not from the act itself but from the woman.  She was enough to take his breath away.  Long waving black hair pulled back at the sides, she came to Tanners chin, legs encased in black dress pants with a white long sleeve top molding to her curves.   She was small wasted and generously endowed for a woman her size.  Boy was Tanner a lucky fellow he thought with a grin.

Buck turned and noticed all the boys were watching her as they came closer, but for Chris who was watching Vin.

Vin moved in behind her headed toward the back room, he looked over at Chris and sent him a silent message that he had business to take care of and would be back. He received a nod of the head in return. 

Part II

After moving into the back room that also was an office for Inez, Vin let go of her arm and toed the door shut.  He didn't bother with the lights as the slotted vent above the door let in enough light for him to see her.  And see her he did, with her back to him and shoulders low, head tilted down.  He was at a loss, knew that he was not a man of many words and that she had never expected it of him before, so he didn't really know what to say.  This was far beyond a missed date or a missed call, and he was determined not to let her out of this room until it was cleared up for him.

Janna was ready to lose it, she just knew she was going to blow this relationship.  She remembered back when they first met, he came down to the courthouse to pull some records for a case and her being the records supervisor went to help.  Thinking how handsome he was, she made sure to give him her personal attention and by the end of the hour, he had her phone number and she had the memory of his smile.

Over the next two weeks they had talked on the phone, kids stuff really, late night "What are you doing" turned into "what are you wearing" until she challenged him to come and find out.  Her fiend Sissy called it a "Booty Call" and they laughed over Janna being bold enough to challenge this man.

But Janna didn't laugh when she remember that night, when she issued the challenge part in jest but mostly serious, she never thought that being with him would make her feel like this.  Not sure that she liked it, the feeling of losing control, she was not an emotional woman, but he could make her shed tears when they made love just with the power of his touch and those soulful eyes. 

Oh, she had been in relationships before, purely sexual, not wanting to get that close to anyone, but with Vin you couldn't just have casual sex.  When he made love it was with every part of him and that is what had her hooked.

Vin stepped up to Janna and placed a hand on her shoulder, knowing by the way she jumped that she was lost in thought, but she turned to him. 

"First I need to tell ya that I'm sorry.  Me an the boys went out on a raid today.  I won't go into detail, but it was a near thing."  He took a breath and leaned back against the door, partly to block anyone coming in and also to block her trying to leave.  "The only thing that I was thinkin' was to wined down and I know I should've called."   It hit him then like a bullet between the eyes when she looked up, it was the fact that he could so easily forget her that had her hurting. 

She saw at that moment that he understood why she was upset and turned her eyes from his.  "Vin, it's ok.  I just wanted to make sure that you were alright, now that I have I'll just go."  And she made a move toward the door intent on leaving and saving herself any further embarrassment. 

"Ah, Hell" He thought to himself, how was he going to fix this?  She looked pretty determined to get out of the office as she reached past him to grab the knob on the door.  He moved and in a catlike motion had her up against the door with his palms flat on either side of her before she could take a startled breath.  Leaning in so close that his lips were almost on hers.

 "Don't go." She heard whispered so lightly before his mouth took possession of hers. 

Liquid heat shot from the points his body pressed to hers, "God he could do this to her without using anything but his mouth and the press of his body. " She understood herself well enough to know that was what both drew her and scared the hell out of her at the same time.

They both were breathing harder now as he lifted his mouth and placed his forehead against hers.  "Don't go," he said again.

She laid her palms flat against his chest and whispered back, "I'm right here." And it was her turn to rise up and bring his mouth back to hers.

"What do you think they are doing in there?"  JD muttered and then flushed as he realized that Buck heard and was going to answer him. 

"Well Kid, if you don't have any idea, then let me tell you……….."  He was interrupted by several voices.

"Shut Up!"

JD, curious as ever, "Do you think he knows her?" 

Chris and Buck exchanged looks with some of the other men at the table and just shook their head, not willing to try to get into the birds and the bees here at the table.  Although Buck would not have minded until he saw the look that Chris was sending toward the closed door.

Buck read worry all over the blonde's face, worry for a friend. 

The Lady's man clipped their leader on the back of the shoulder "Ah, Chris he's a big boy."

Chris just turned back to the card game and their beers.

Janna and Vin broke apart from another Kiss, both breathing heavy, both heated and ready for more.  As Vin moved back in to take her mouth cupping his hands around the side of her breast and brushing his thumbs across her distended nipples, he felt a hand in the middle of his chest.  "Vin, not here." 

She watched as a slow sexy smile appeared on his lips, "Lets go then."  He said and moved back to open the door, only to realize that he was going to have to wait a few or the boys were really going to have some fun with him.

Janna knew that they still needed to talk, but she needed him inside her taking away the ache that he started.  She smiled at him and leaned on the door crossing her arms over her chest.  "Well, how long do you think." And winked at him.

His smile got bigger as he reached down and pulled his shirttails out letting it cover him down the front to hide his arousal.  He held a hand out to her and they walked out together. 

  The other men at the table looked up when the door opened, all of them smiling to see Vin come out looking a little disheveled and the woman come out with her hand in his.

Janna was not prepared when Vin pulled her around in front of him, stepping behind her, he introduced her to his team. 

"Boy's this is Janna."

"Hello" she said and received head nods and hellos and howdy's in return.  

That was all the explanation that Vin gave before grabbing his jacket and turning with a "See ya on Monday." And out the door they went.

Ezra turned back to the rest of the men "How do you think he obtained a treasure like that." 

Buck caused laughs all around with his response, "Pirate Booty, my boy." 

Chris just sat back and shook his head knowing that this was the very reason that Vin tried to keep that part of his life separate. 

Part III

Once inside her apartment their cloths came off in hurried movements of tangled limbs, bodies swaying to the hot rush of desire.  No lights were needed; they felt their way to where they needed to be.  Their urgency showing in hurried strokes of mouth and tongue and flesh. 

Once undressed Vin picked Janna up in his arms and her legs went around him to add support.  He was no movie star and was not going to take her up against the wall like one, but he needed her close, needed in her hard and deep so much that his body shuddered with it. 

Taking her to the bed he started to lay her down, only to be stopped by the whisper in his ear "I want on top."  So he made the adjustment quickly and brought her down with him as he lay back across the bed.

Janna didn't need anything but the man in her arms to stroke her desire to a fever pitch, nothing but him inside her right now.  So she moved over him using one hand to brace herself and one to guide him home.

"Aha feels so good" was the response he received as he grabbed her hips and moved up while pulling her down on him.  Both stopped for a moment to let the feeling rush over them.

Janna braced her hands on his chest and moved up to engage in an hot open mouth kiss, their tongues moving with the same motion as their bodies below.

"God you feel so good" he hissed as she changed angles and the speed of her thrust, she was moving now with urgency.  He wanted both of them to find the end together and he needed to be in control in order to make that happen, so he pressed her down on him effectively stopping all movement. 

Close, she was so close she thought as she opened her eyes breaking her concentration and let out a frustrated sigh.

Vin just smiled as he rolled her onto her back, taking her legs in his hands and pulling them up high up on his chest, he went as deep as he could and she arched her back groaning, her head falling backward.  He started to moved and at the same time brought his hand between her legs, finding what he was looking for and stroking with his thumb in tune with the movements of their bodies.

He felt her inner muscles clench around him in release and that speeded his own, dropping her legs as he pulled out and rolled to her side, breathing heavy and trying to bring his body back under control.

After a few moments, Janna rolled over and kissed him softly saying  "Thank you" against his mouth.

He just smiled back as he watched her get up and go to the bathroom.   The smile left his face when the door closed, they still needed to talk about tonight, and he needed to know what was wrong and how she could say that it was not going to work after what just took place between them. 

Janna looked in the mirror as she ran a wash cloth over her face, "I am lost" she thought and then "Sissy" she knew her best friend would be able to help her understand her feelings.  She looked back at the closed door toward the bedroom wondering how she let this happen. 

6:30am Saturday

Vin and Janna were sitting at the table finishing breakfast and starting to plan their day when Vin's beeper went off.  He excused himself knowing that it could only be one of the guys paging him.  He had a brief thought that if he'd given the beeper number to Janna then last night at the saloon would not have happened.

He picked up his pager and immediately went to his cell phone upon seeing Chris's number and a 911 listed after.

"Larabee"

"Need another cup of coffee cowboy?"  Vin countered the gruff answering of the phone.  Chris was defiantly not a morning kind of man.

"Vin, we got a lead in on one of the gun runners.  A little shop in Purgatorio called Larry's Pawn Shop."

"I know the one but can't be Chris, I've known Larry for over 8 years.  Not his style to be selling guns to kids.  He lost his brother that way."  Vin couldn't believe that Larry would knowingly be mixed up in something like this.

"Well all the more reason for you to get down here."  Chris did not bother to ask if Vin was at home, knowing that he'd left with Janna last night. "When can we expect you at the office."

Vin looked over his shoulder at Janna who was moving about the small kitchen clearing the table and loading the dishwasher.  "I'm only about 20 from there."

"We'll see you there then." Chris could hear the disappointment in the younger mans voice but they had a job to do even if it cut into personal time.  He hung up the cell and started calling the other men in.

Federal Building

"You hound dog you!"  Buck slapped the sharpshooter on the back wiggling his eyebrows.  "She got a sister?"

Vin shrugged off the other man's arm and moved to his desk without responding.  He needed to get the keys to the gunroom and check the equipment while they waited for Ezra to show.

"Buck, it's no wonder that Vin keeps to himself, you're enough to give a Vegan heartburn."  Nathan scowled good-naturedly at the Lady's Man.

Buck threw his hands in the air "What! All I'm trying to find out is if that fine little filly has a sister."   As he started to turn away he whipped back around to the Medic "What the Hell is a Vegan?" 

JD spoke up "I even know what that is Buck." 

"Well do you mind sharing with the rest of us?"  Buck asked the younger man, moving in to swat at the baseball cap turned backwards on the boy's head.

Nathan turned back to his computer with a shrug.  He knew that Buck was basically harmless, couldn't find a more fun loving or big-hearted man.  But sometimes he forgot that other's were not like him and especially Vin.  That boy was closed mouthed about his personal life for a reason and he for one respected that.  He smiled as he heard JD tell Buck to look it up and then some good-natured fighting started between the two.

Chris was getting antsy, it was after 7:30 and Ezra had yet to show, he'd gotten in touch with him first knowing that he would take the longest to get here.  They needed to set up surveillance before the shop opened and he needed Standish to start a cover as a potential buyer.  "AND" they needed to work out the plan.

He reached for his cell phone as it rang "Larabee" per his usual response.

"It's 7:35, do you know where your under cover agent is."  And then the sound of a laugh.

"Damn, Tanner don't you have anything better to do than bug me."  Chris laughed in spite of himself and looked up as Vin came through the door holding his cell phone to his ear and a cocky smile on his face.

"Hey Cowboy! Got a minute?" 

"Well I sure as hell hope Standish gets here soon but yea come on in."  He sat back down in the chair as the other man closed the door the smile dropping from his face.

Vin was bother by this assignment; it was too close to home for him.  They had worked many cases over the last couple of years that would bring them down to Purgatorio.  It was where the bad element was in this town, but Larry was a friend and he didn't feel right about this.

"Where'd you get the information on Larry?"

As Chris was about to ask Vin what was so different about this case to him, Buck burst through the door without knocking, he hung his head around the door "Ez is here." And back out he went into the bull pin.

Chris looked over at Vin as he stood up and moved toward the door "What's wrong Vin?  You know something we don't" He challenged and then saw as the younger mans shoulders stiffened with that question.

Vin turned back around to the other man, "No, but I can't picture Larry in the middle of something like this and I aim to find out who's pointing a finger at him."  Then he was gone out the door to join the other men. 

Chris knew that Vin had spent several years in that rat hole he called home and knew many of the people there.  Some things were not open for discussion with his friend and even though he loved the younger man like a brother, there were things that neither one were willing to share.  He was sure that Vin's memories were as painful as his own were so he'd let it go for now until or unless his sharpshooter stepped out of line.

He stepped out of his office "Come on Ladies, times wasting." 

Janna's apartment

"You want a wine cooler? I have Tropical Breeze and …….."  She laughed "Tropical Breeze.  How about a beer, yes I have some in here somewhere."

Sissy was in the living room and could hear Janna's voice getting fainter as she dug deeper in the fridge.  "Wine cooler is fine."  And she turned back to find a radio station with some soft rock.  Talking music she liked to call it.  She had gotten a call from her friend just after 8 this morning asking if she would be free later in the day just to hang.   She had some plans but nothing that she could not put on hold to be there for a friend, so she changed her plans and came over.  It was around 2 now and she has barley gotten through the door before Janna was offering her something to drink or eat.

Sissy knew that Janna was nervous about something, as long as she'd known her it always came out in busy chatter and almost constant movement.  Sissy also knew that given enough time Janna would speak her mind.  One of the things that she liked best about Janna was how direct she was, no beating around the bush and although she could be diplomatic, she rarely pulled her punches, considering it a disservice to not be honest with people. 

So Sissy had learned over the years not to ask Janna unless she wanted the truth.  She finally found a station that she liked and went into the kitchen to get her a drink before Janna got lost in there, hiding from herself as well as her friend.

"Whatcha want to do today?"  Sissy asked taking the drink and a chair at the kitchen table.  She watched her friend move around the kitchen wiping things that really didn't need wiping and moving things that didn't need moving.

Janna stopped what she was doing and turned to her friend; "I need a shrink."  And then they both burst out laughing. 

"Come on girl, have a seat and take a load off.  We'll look through the phone book and make crank calls like we used to in high school.  Maybe run across a good therapist" She could see Janna start to relax as she took the seat across form her laughing.

"I don't know what's wrong with me Sissy!  I meet this great guy.  We have a great sex.  He has his life and I have mine, just like I like it.  No strings, no pressure, no jealousy, no attachment.  He wants the same kind of relationship" 

"What the problem if it's so perfect?"  Sissy was puzzled, Janna had always handled her relationships with men this way.  Love 'em and Leave 'em.  She also knew that Janna didn't have close relationships with women either, she counted herself as the closest and knew that Janna didn't have any family living.

 "I'm the problem I think.  You know me Sissy, how I like things.  It just feels different with Vin.  You want to know how bad it is let me tell you what I did last night."  And she proceeded to tell her friend about her calls and what happened at the saloon.

"Sounds like you're in love." 

"I can't be, it's to soon for that." 

"Well you're definitely in lust."  And they both laughed together.

 Part 4

Most of Team Seven filed back into the office after a long day of surveillance on the pawnshop.  Buck and JD engaged in their playful banter, Nathan and Josiah were at their desk talking quietly and Ezra was still out working his cover. 

Vin followed Chris in to his office "Something's not right here Chris.  I don't care what we saw today." He took the chair opposite his friend and boss.

Chris didn't know how to break it to the young man but they all saw the delivery, he couldn't dispute what was right in front of him, but he also trusted Vin's instincts.

He looked across at Vin, "So tell me what you thought was happening while everybody else watched them unload the guns from the pawnshop into the van and drive off."  He was not trying to be a smart-ass here but needed more information.  They didn't want Larry, the wanted the buyer and the one responsible for distributing the guns into the hands of kids.  "I don't know why you aren't angry about this, these guns are going into your neighborhood, to be used to take the lives of people you know."

Vin sat forward in his chair, running his hand down his face in a frustrated swipe, he could not dispute what Chris was saying, but he knew Larry or thought he did.  Now he was having doubts after seeing what went down today, but he also had known this man for many years, went to the funeral when his younger brother was gunned down by a kid with a stolen gun.

"I am angry, it just feels like something is out of place.  Can't put my finger on it." 

"Well we aren't going to solve the mysteries of the world in Purgatorio today so I suggest we head out to the Ranch and throw some steaks on the grill.  We can go over the case there over a few beers."  He moved to get up.  "Get in touch with Eara too, I want him there."

Vin stood on a groan, "Damn Larabee you sure know how to spoil a weekend.  Let me make a call and I'll be right with you."  He moved out of the office and to his desk.  He told Janna when he left this morning that he might not be able to get back tonight depending on how the day went.  She seemed like she was ok with it, so he would call like he should have done the last time and maybe hook up tomorrow.

"Hello" Janna grabbed the phone after seeing the caller ID.

"Hey.  I just wanted to call and let you know that this is going to take me longer than I thought.  How about I come make you breakfast to make up for it."  Vin was smiling envisioning her in bed and him performing more than meal service.

Janna laughed "What?  chocolate chip pancakes? Just make sure and have some bacon too.  OK, I'll see in the morning." And she hung up the phone.

Ok I had better go get some stuff so we can eat she thought to herself.  She now wished she'd taken Sissy up on her offer of a movie, but she has hoped that Vin would be back tonight and she was not about to call Sissy back.   She would get a book at the store and catch up on her e-mail, which should keep her busy for the evening.

Neither would have guessed that they would end up at the same store.

Janna was just pulling in when she saw Vin and his boss come out carrying a couple of 12 packs of beer and a couple of grocery bags.  She wondered if this was part of the assignment and she didn't want to intrude.  Vin had not seen her, so she just stayed in the car.

Janna had a sinking feeling in her stomach when she heard one of the other men yell out to Vin.

Buck and JD came out of the store carrying more beer and some munchies "Vin?  Did you get enough steaks?  I feel like I could eat two!"  And he hurried to catch the other man. 

"Yeah Buck I got you an extra large for the grill."  He said as he danced away from the other man's attempt to peek into the bag he was carrying.

"Well Hell Junior, you know me I like a lot of meat."  He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at the younger man.

Janna sat in her car as she watched the men pull out.  "He lied to me!" was the first thing she thought.  "Why" was the second and all at once she lost her appetite, but she went into the store anyway to get her book and some things she needed.

7 am Sunday

"Coming!"  Janna yelled as she pulled her robe tighter opening the door to Vin.

"Morning" He said as he leaned down to kiss her.  He noticed right away that she seemed subdued, and not at all excited to see him.  "Something wrong?"

Janna moved toward the kitchen running the conversation she'd had with herself over in her head and hoping that it came out right.  She was not a shy person, always up front but she was shy and nervous around him.  She was honest enough with herself to know that she didn't want to risk losing him but she also could not keep quiet about how she felt.

Vin watched as Janna moved to the coffeepot she poured both of them a cup and brought it back to the table.

"Vin, I like you" She started

"Oh no here it comes, the I like you but this is not working speech."  Vin only responded with "Yes and?"

Janna didn't make eye contact and that was another thing that was unusual in this relationship, so she just jumped right in.  "I feel like the other woman, and I don't like the feeling" She looked at him then to see his response.

Surprised by what she'd said Vin put his cup down and sat back in his chair. "The other woman?  I don't have any other woman, what are you talking about here Janna.  Straight up."

She took a deep breath hoping everything came out right, "I know that when we started seeing each other, it was agreed that this was just between the two of us.  That we would see each other when we could and our lives outside of that would be our own."  She stopped to take a sip of her coffee

"So what's changed about that?"  He asked trying to track where she was headed and figure out what was wrong.

Janna looked up at him then, "I have."

"Explain to me why you feel like the other woman."  Vin asked

"You come here to sleep with me when your friends or your work is not in the way.  You come to my apartment, I have never been to yours."

"First, let me tell you that I come here because I want to be with you and the area I live in is not safe.  As far as my friends and my work, well I can't and won't change what I do, so I don't know how to fix that for you."

"It's not the job Vin, it is the separation.  It's not your fault that I feel like something that should be hidden.  I am an adult and I understood up front that we would not be out on the town or socializing with your friends.  I am just telling you that my feelings have changed and I didn't expect them to."  She watched those expressive blue eyes to see if she could gauge how he was taking this all in. 

Vin thought he understood where she was coming from "I don't want to hide you Janna.  I love being with you and would be proud to have you at my side anywhere, but my job is dangerous and I won't have you get caught up in something just because you choose to be with me."  He took her hand hoping she understood.

Janna still did not think that Vin was getting her point and he seemed to be trying to make on of his own, she felt better for having said how she felt and was willing to let it drop for now.

"How about we get that breakfast?"  She leaned across the table her intent clear in her eyes and was happy to see him meet her half way for the kiss.

He was still a bit confused but willing to let it slide "Sounds good to me."

They spent the rest of the day together, soft music playing in the background, they made love several times between napping, eating and showering.

Vin kissed her good night and went home around 8 with a promise to call next week.

Part 5

ATF Building 8 am

Vin had been at his desk for over an hour now.  He had gotten up earlier than usual, the case with Larry and some things with Janna playing on his mind.  He decided to speak to his best friend about it and get another point of view, sure that he was missing something with his Lady. 

He loved to get here in time to make the coffee, real stuff Cowboy Coffee he called it, nice and black and strong.  The other fella's complained often enough about it that he just ignored them most of the time.  He'd offered in the beginning to bring his own pot in but nobody ever said and they drank the stuff, "Don't know what they were complaining about anyway, rite tasty with a snickers too." 

Vin looked up to see his boss come in the door "Mornin" and all he got back was a nod of the blond head as he disappeared into the little kitchen.

"Damn, Tanner!"

Vin grinned as he heard the soft cussing as the other man poured himself a cup of coffee and came back out into the bull pin.

"This stuff is gawd awful." 

The sharpshooter watched as the other man took a sip, "Gets better the longer it sits."  And couldn't contain a chuckle at the expression on Larabee's face.

"Hey, Chris"

The blond stopped and turned back from his office door with a raised brow.  "Yea"

"You got a minute, maybe I could chew on your ear?"

Chris laughed outright at Vin and nodded his head as he moved into the office.  "You sure got some way with words, pard"

Chris sat down at his desk and watched as the younger man moved to look out the window arms crossed over his chest and his head was tilted to the side as if he were thinking of what he wanted to say.  He started his computer up while he gave Vin a few moments to gather his thoughts.

Vin turned back from the window crossing the room to drop in a slumped heap in the chair opposite his boss and friend.  "Chris?"  He started to get the other man's attention and continued when the blond head came up and the hazel eyes met his.  "I think I got a problem with Janna and I ain't rite sure what it is." 

Chris was a bit surprised that Vin would talk to him about this, he had figured it was about the case they were working on and the man involved that Tanner had called a friend.  He maintained eye contact and asked, "What do you think the problem is?"  Not sure that he was going to be of any help here and for a moment thought about telling him to talk to Buck.  He reversed that thought as soon as it came, knowing Vin to be private and if he was sitting here wanting to talk, the ATF Leader knew it had been thought on long and hard before the decision made.

Vin dropped his eyes, it was hard enough to sit here and talk to Chris about this stuff, but he understood that something was left unsaid with Janna and he cared enough try to understand.  He figured that since Chris had been married before that he would be the best one to talk to and Chris being his best friend too, it just made sense to him. 

Vin cleared his throat, "Well, we met at the records department, and things just kinda went from there."

"How long it been?"  Chris interrupted

The sharpshooter looked up "Huh?"  Not sure he understood what Chris was asking

"How long you been seein her?"

"Oh! Couple of months."  He cleared his throat again, this was the hard part, telling personal stuff even to Chris but he knew he needed another point of view, "It was just ..ah… well we agreed to ..  Ah hell Chris I don't know how to tell this and make it sound right!"  He was frustrated at his own inability to put his relationship with Janna into words that didn't make it sound bad even to his ears.

Chris leaned his arms across the desk, understanding dawned as he saw the color rise on the younger mans face.  "You're friends Vin?  Intimate Friends, is that what you mean?"  He hoped he was right on this trying to save the other man some embarrassment. 

Vin looked across and saw the understanding on his friend's face, "Yea, friends like that."  He was relieved to get past that part of his disclosure.   Felling a bit better about talking to Chris he went on, "It started that way, partly because it's what she said she wanted, and that was fine by me, less complications."  He bobbed his head as if to confirm his own thinking.

"And now?"  The blond threw in the question.

"The other night when she came to the Saloon, I had forgot to call her.  I guess you and the boy's noticed she didn't come right over." 

"Yea, we noticed alright."  Chris couldn't help the grin that came to his face.

Tanner kept talking not catching the smile on his friend's face, "Well she was upset the other night, started to talk to me about it but then just dropped it before I could really understand what all was wrong."  He dropped his chin in his hand "She said she felt like the other woman and started talking about me not wanting to be seen with her.  That's not true Chris but I don't think I got her to believe me."

"Let me think on this a minute." 

Chris was pretty sure he knew what the problem was but not really sure how he could help Vin fix it, if that was what the other man wanted. "Now you tell me Vin if I got it right."

"'kay" He sat back, Chris knew him better than anybody had for many a year.

"You met Janna and both decided that you wanted to be together?"  He arched a brow at the younger man to see if he was on the right trail.

Tanner nodded back at him.

"She don't want no strings and neither do you, so you go see her when you can.  I got that right?" 

"Yea." He decided to pick things up from here.  "I don't want her down in Purgatorio, ain't no place for a lady like her and there ain't too many places I go without it bein work or with one of you fella's."  He picked up his coffee cup and took a drink. 

"Chris, I think she thinks I don't want nothin to do with her other than to sleep with her."  His checks colored a bit with that disclosure.  Damn sure was a nascence to color up like he did but he sure couldn't help that.

"And do you?"  Larabee decided to play devils advocate.

Vin's head whipped up "What?"

"Simple Vin, do you want something from her other than to sleep with her?"

"Well, at first I was fine with the way things were, but….."

"But?"  Chris urged.

"But, now I ain't so sure.  The only thing I know is that I like being with her."  He caught the look on the other mans face.  "Not just like that Chris!"  And couldn't help but smile himself.

"Well then the answer is right there for you." 

Vin leaned on the desk, "How so?"

"Ask her out."  The blond shook his head and the simplicity of youth and the one in front of him in particular.  He knew Vin to be in his mid to late 20's and he knew the man had been involved with women before this one. 

"Shit Chris, ain't that like closin the barn door after the cow got out?" 

Chris laughed outright "Sure do have a way with words cowboy, you sure do.  We got the cookout at the Ranch this weekend, ask her.  Mary and Billy's gonna be there.  JD is brining Casey and you know Buck once he knows there will be some females there he'll ride in with one too.  Nathan will bring………….."  He was cut off.

"I get the picture Larabee" Vin laughed and stood up reaching across to take the other mans hand in thanks.

Chris watched as Team 7's sharpshooter walked out.  That man could shoot the wings off a fly, kick ass with the best and knew how to watch his pard's back, but he sure needed a bit more schoolin on how to deal with women.

"Hello Denver Court House, records office, how may I help you?"  Janna answered the phone. 

Vin smiled as he recognized his lover's voice, "Well, you could go to a cookout with me this Saturday."

"Vin!"  Janna lost her breath as she realized what he had asked her.

"Hello anybody there?"  He chuckled

She recovered quickly, "Sure, yes I mean yes I would love to go with you.  Vin?"

"Yea?"

"Is there going to be other people there?"  Janna cringed at how that sounded.  She smacked her forehead as she heard his husky laugh come across with his answer.

"I suppose there might bein as it's a cookout." 

She laughed with him, "What time are we expected?  What do I need to bring?  How many people are …."

"Whoa there little lady, I'll fill you in when I see you Friday."

"Sounds great."

Vin sat with Janna watching Chris and Buck toss a ball to JD and Billy.  He had a great day, with his friends including the woman at his side.  At that moment he thought life could not get better.

The case with Larry was still open and he would deal with that come Monday.

The End of this story maybe :0)