Fait Accompli
by Brate
ATF Universe
Warning: Deathfic
Silence.
Buck Wilmington had never thought of silence as a noise before, but now he understood the phrase "the silence was deafening." The doctor had just informed them there was no chance - their friend was as good as dead.
Vin Tanner would never wake up.
Everyone stood stock-still, faced with gruesome reality, and then turned as one to look at their leader and Vin's best friend, Chris Larabee. He looked as if he'd been gut shot.
Buck watched his oldest friend, a man who'd already seen more than his share of tragedy, push past the doctor without a word and slowly walk down the hall to the room where Vin - Vin's body - lay, kept alive merely by the power of machines.
"I'd better go talk to him," the ladies' man said. He caught Josiah's eye and nodded toward JD. The big man nodded back, acknowledging the unspoken request he would look after the youngest agent while Buck tended to their leader.
He took a deep breath and strode down the hall, pausing in the doorway to Vin's room. Chris was hunched down in the chair next to his best friend, not moving, simply staring at the comatose man. Buck pulled up a second chair and sat down on the other side of the hospital bed.
Neither man spoke. The silence never returned completely; beeping monitors and the hiss of the respirator kept it at bay.
After a long moment, Chris broke out of his self-imposed quiet. Not looking away from Vin, he whispered, as if to himself, "What was he thinking?"
Buck's heart wrung with pity at the pain in Chris' voice. He cleared his throat. "Vin was being Vin, pard. Protectin' his kids, like always." They'd gotten the story from Teresa Rhodes, who had witnessed the accident and ridden with the sharpshooter in the ambulance. She'd been in the waiting room when they'd arrived at the hospital. "Teresa said when Vin saw the car was headed toward Martin he didn't think; he just reacted."
Tanner had been playing basketball with some of his neighbor kids when the ball had gotten away from them. One of the younger boys watching, Martin Gutierrez, had run after it, anxious to be helpful to the older kids. Unfortunately, he hadn't paid attention and chased the ball into the street - straight into the path of an oncoming car. Only Vin's quick reflexes and athletic ability saved the boy's life, but they couldn't prevent his own deadly impact with the vehicle.
"His life meant somethin', and his death meant somethin'," Buck continued over the lump in his throat. He knew how much Vin had loved that kid. Hell, he'd helped raise him because Martin's father had left just after his birth. "What more could ya ask for?"
"For him to wake up and tell me he wants to get the hell outta this dump," Chris retorted angrily.
"And I'd give anythin' in the world fer that ta happen, but it ain't gonna-" Buck's voice cracked. "Ju Junior is dead."
"He can't be," Chris stated. The voice was devoid of all emotion, the monotone chilling.
"He is," Buck insisted. He had to set aside his own grief and break through his friend's, in order to make Chris take in the reality of the situation. "Vin wouldn't want this; it's not living." Wilmington motioned to the machines and surroundings. "You know how much he hated being in these places . . . he wouldn't be happy stuck here. He needs to be set free."
Larabee didn't say anything, even as he continued to watch the unmoving figure.
Buck knew no one but Chris could give the hospital permission to euthanize their friend. "Yer listed as next of kin," he said in a measured tone.
"I know." The words were spoken so low, Buck barely heard them.
"Chris, you have to let him go."
"No," the blond said with a hitch in his voice. "I can't."
"You have to."
"I can't do this," he whispered raggedly. "I can't do this again."
"Vin trusted ya to do what was best."
"Then he made a mistake." Chris reached out, but stopped before he laid a hand on Vin. He pulled his hand back as if afraid to touch the sleeping figure. "I won't let him go."
"Yes, ya will. I know you, pard. You'll do what's right, and then you'll go on livin', jest like Vin would want ya to. In fact," Buck added, with a faint grin, "I wouldn't put it past him to be watchin' over ya, and come back to kick yer ass if he sees ya wastin' yer life."
Chris bowed his head and smiled sadly. "Now that I can believe." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Glancing over, his face etched with sorrow, he said, "Give me a few minutes."
Buck stood and walked around the bed, placing his hands on Chris' shoulders. "I'll let everyone know." He tightened his grip and released it before walking out of the room and back to where the rest of his team - his family - waited.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
When the time came, every member of the team gathered in the room. No eyes were dry; there was perpetual throat clearing. Each of them stepped forward in turn to say good-bye to their friend and brother.
"Goodbye, Vin."
"You will be missed, my friend."
"Good journey, brother."
"Don't cause no trouble up there, Junior."
"Thanks for always believing in me."
Once the men were done, the doctor asked, "Are you ready?" At Chris' nod, the doctor motioned to the nurse, and she moved forward to Vin's side.
Chris clutched Vin's hand as she turned off the machines. "See you on the other side, Cowboy," he said as the equipment ceased breathing false life into his best friend. Everything was switched off and silence returned.
The doctor and the nurse departed quietly, leaving the men alone.
"At least I got to say good-bye," Chris said softly, as he pushed Vin's hair back from his face. "Something I didn't get with Sarah and Adam." He gave a sad smile.
"You gonna be okay, pard?" Buck ventured. He saw emotions flash across Chris' face, passionate, intense.
"I have to be. Someone has to look after Vin's kids now." He wiped his tears away and faced his men. "We have a job to do." He walked past them and out of the room.
"Will he be all right, Buck?" JD asked.
Buck placed his arm around the younger man's shoulder. "We'll make sure of it."
