Chris Songfic: Gimme Back My Bullets
By Monica

ATF Universe


To call the ice house that Chris and Buck found themselves in a dive would be offering it a compliment that it certainly did not deserve.  Yet this place, simply called Jake's, was where both men came when it was just the two of them. The Saloon was for the seven of them; Jake's was a private place for the two oldest friends of the team.

Chris leaned on the bar, his foot planted on the bottom railing as he ordered a beer.  After paying for it, he turned and leaned backwards against the bar, mimicking Buck's posture. Both men allowed their eyes to rove over the patrons of the bar, which were mostly male of the hard living and hard drinking variety.  There were a few women among them but they were of the same variety as the men.  Not a pleasant crowd at all and yet somehow there was a sense of camaraderie among them as these people were regulars and knew each other well. There was a time when Chris was a regular here as well, but he had drank alone and had not had much to do with anyone else except for the few brawls that he had either started or gotten into the middle of.

"You alright?" Chris asked suddenly though his eyes never turned to Buck as he took a swig of his beer.

Buck settled back a bit more against the bar, the taller man finding it more difficult to look and feel as much at ease as Chris did. He knew exactly what Chris was asking and when he answered, his low voice held his appreciation for the question, especially considering that is was the second time that day that he had asked. "Yeah."

Chris gave a quick nod, accepting his friend's answer. "Good. 'Cause otherwise I'd have to cut your lunch hour."

Buck laughed at that, a great chuckle that ended in a wide grin as he gave Chris a nudge with his elbow and then flashed him another huge grin and a wink. "Didn't know you cared that much," he teased.

Chris settled himself back against the bar and hid his small smile with a shake of his head. It was a shame really that there was only one Buck Wilmington in the world.  Everyone needed to have a friend like him in their lives, so that they could experience what true friendship and loyalty was all about.  "Someone's got to look after you," he countered easily.  Then after another swig of his beer he added in a much lower tone, "'Sides I still owe you."

Buck looked around the ice house again, but this time he was not seeing it in its present form, but the way it had looked all those years ago when he had charged into Jake's bound and determined to make Chris see that he could not give up on living.  It had been a struggle and both of them were scarred by the demons they had fought off and still fought off to this day.

Buck would not be able to say what drove him over to the jukebox suddenly. Maybe it was because their playing "Gimme Three Steps" earlier had put Lynyrd Skynyrd in his head. And maybe it was because he and Chris were back here where their friendship had been tested and not found lacking.  Buck just was not sure. But the one thing he did know was that both he and Chris were exactly where they belonged.

So he leaned up against the jukebox as he flipped through the selections. Amazed that he actually found what he was looking for, he put his quarters in and made his selection.  When the song began to play, he saw Chris immediately turn his way with that accusatory glare in his eyes. Buck merely smiled over at him and raised his beer in a salute to his old friend.  The other man smirked in response and then raised his beer as well. He understood the message that his friend was sending with that song. They had a job to do and neither would ever turn their back on that or on each other.

Buck made his way back over to the bar and again settled against it as he and Chris silently reminisced over the strange path of their friendship to the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Gimme Back My Bullets". And Chris could not help but think that the song was truly fitting for what he often thought of as his second chance at living and making a difference. He had almost given up his bullets and his badge but never again. He had found where he belonged; with his team and family.


Gimme Back My Bullets
(Gary Rossington - Ronnie VanZant)

Life is so strange when it's changin', yes indeed
Well I've seen the hard times and the pressures been on me
But I keep on workin' like the workin' man do
And I've got my act together, gonna walk all over you
Gimme back my bullets
Put 'em back where they belong
Ain't foolin' around, 'cause I done had my fun
Ain't gonna see no more damage done
Gimme back my bullets

Sweet talkin' people done ran me out of town
I drank enough whiskey to float a battleship around
But I'm leavin' this game one step ahead of you
And you will not hear me cry 'cause I do not sing the blues

Gimme back my bullets
Put 'em back where they belong
Ain't foolin' around, 'cause I done had my fun
Ain't gonna see no more damage done
Gimme back, gimme back my bullets
Put 'em back where they belong

Been up and down since I turned seventeen
Well I've been on top, and then it seems I lost my dream
But I got it back, I'm feelin' better everyday
Tell all them pencil pushers, better get out of my way
Gimme back my bullets
Put 'em back where they belong
Ain't foolin' around, 'cause I done had my fun
Ain't gonna see no more damage done
Gimme back, gimme back my bullets
Oh put 'em back where they belong
Gimme back my bullets