Author Comment: Another short, fun piece - with special thanks to Darla. (You know why, Darla.) I hope you enjoy this story. If you have any comments, please let me know. I would love the feedback. By the way, I want to thank all of the wonderful people who took the time to comment on my previous stories.

"I didn’t ask for your opinion, Larabee!"

"Well, you’re getting it!"

They were in the livery. They weren’t happy.

"What the hell gives you the right to be tellin’ me what to do?" Vin demanded, throwing his saddle on the ground and approaching the other man. "I don’t remember anyone putting you in charge."

Chris glared at the younger man, tossing his own saddle down. "This isn’t about being in charge. This is about you thinkin’ you can do what you want when you want without listening..."

"And who the hell says I can’t?! You?!" Now, they were standing less than a foot apart, the fury each felt ready to ignite in an explosion of anger. "You and I just signed on for the same job, Larabee. Nothing more."

"That’s right, we did. Seven of us did. But you..."

Vin snorted and turned to leave. Larabee grabbed him and spun him around, Vin instantly shoving the other man away.

"Get your hands off me!" They stared at each, both panting - both needing to release their emotions after almost having been killed.

"You took an unnecessary chance! You should have waited."

"I knew what I was doin’, so back off. Who gives a stuff what you think anyway?!"

Larabee’s eyes darkened as he stepped closer to his fellow peacekeeper. There were times when Vin was the most sensible men he knew. Of course, he was also the most stubborn as well. "What you did was fool hardy and unnecessary."

"Stop treatin’ me like I some sort of *&^#in’ Kid!"

"Then stop acting like one!"

The rage in Vin’s stomach lurched into his throat. "I’ve been takin’ care of myself since I was five, Larabee! I don’t need you to start interfering!"

"You ungrateful bastard! I was gettin’ shot at because of you!"

"Exactly!! I had a responsibility to..."

"Responsibility!! What the hell would you know about responsibility?! You’ve never had any!" Chris spat.

"But you of course, have?!" The phrase hung in the air for several seconds.

"Don’t go there!" Larabee whispered in a lethal voice.

"Why? You think you’re the only man whose ever been hurt? Who’s suffered? I lost the only family I had when I was five! I got framed for a murder I didn’t commit and so now I’ve got a &*&%in’ bounty on my head that‘s there for all time."

"Because of me, is that what you’re saying?! Because I killed Eli Joe to save your worthless hide?!!"

"Whatever."

"You listen to me you sonofabitch, I..."

Vin attacked - tackling Larabee and bringing him to the ground. The two rolled over several times, their fists flying with deadly accuracy. The horses in the stalls moved uneasily.

The fight was long, severe and bruising.

**********

Nathan rushed into the saloon. Mary had sent for him. Her message - "Vin and Chris have been hurt!"

The concerned healer spotted his two friends seated at the same table sharing a bottle of whiskey. Vin’s face was bloody and bruised. His coat was torn and he was holding a large piece of beef on his right eye. Across from him was Chris. Larabee’s left eye was swollen closed, his lip was split and the gunfighter had his battered knuckles in a jar of ice water.

"What the hell happened to you two? How many of them were there?" It had to have been at least a dozen the way this pair could fight.

Vin glanced at Chris. "Just one."

"One, but how..." Suddenly Nathan realized what had happened. They had done this to each other! "You can’t be serious?! What the hell were you thinking?" There was disgust in Nathan’s voice.

"He started it," Vin stated grinning.

Chris glanced across at his best friend and allowed a smile to settle on his battered face. "It was a good fight."

"I enjoyed it," Vin agreed, gingerly pushing the bottle of whiskey across to his friend.

Nathan stared at them. "What the hell were you fighting about?"

Chris sighed. "Damn fool saved my life."

"WHAT?!" Nathan was becoming more confused by the second.

The story was simple. A couple of bounty hunters had come after Vin when he and Chris were delivering a message to Eagle Bend. In the ensuing battle, one of the men had got the drop on Chris. The man had raised his rifle.

"Jumped in front of &*&%ing rifle." Chris shot a look at Vin, the anger beginning to return. "You took an unnecessary chance."

"I ain’t some &*%@in’ Kid, Larabee. I make my own decisions. Besides, I knew the rifle was empty."

"So why did you jump between it and me?" Chris growled.

Vin shrugged. "I was pretty sure he was out of bullets."

"God damn it Vin, when are you going to stop acting so irresponsibly?! Buck and J.D. were on their way."

"By the time they would have got there you could have been wearing a rifle bullet!"

"You didn’t know the rifle was empty, you just admitted it!"

"&*%@ you, Larabee."

"Dammit, Vin. I told you to stay hidden behind..."

"What the hell gives you the right to be tellin’ me to do anything? Who the hell died and made you God?!"

Chris glared at the younger man. "This isn’t about me giving orders. This is about you taking unnecessary chances. They didn’t want me!"

"Well the bastard with the rifle sure looked like he was serious!"

"Stop it!" Nathan roared, glaring down at the them. The two men paused and looked at the healer with total surprise. What the hell had got into Nathan? "Will you just listen yourselves?! You’re abusing him because he saved you life and you’re abusing him because he doesn’t want you to get yourself killed! You’re both acting like a pair of damn kids!"

"He started it," Vin insisted.

"Did not."

"Did too!"

I would really love to know what you thought.
You can drop me a note here.

© January 2001 Aussie Lass : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to MGM and Trilogy Entertainment and thank them sincerely for turning a blind eye so I can borrow them. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while.