Chris came back from his briefing with AD Travis and immediately called a conference for the team. He knew that this assignment was going to be a challenge for everyone, but he had a distinct feeling that it would be even harder for his best friend and lover, Vin Tanner.

They gathered and Chris explained that they would be working with the Denver Art Museum -- particularly with their special exhibits coordinator...and that five of them would be working undercover for the operation. Josiah would be going in as a tour leader since he had a good backround in the appropriate area.

"JD will be working in the van, monitoring the electronics, and the rest of you," he paused, looking around the table, "will be working with the special exhibition guard staff." Chris finished and again scanned the room expecting objections.

"Alright," Buck breathed. "Surrounded by young, nubile college co-eds."

Chris shook his head, "Buck...you touch one underage girl and I'll personally..."

"So, what's the catch?" Vin cut in. There was something that Larabee wasn't saying and seeing the tension in Chris's posture, he knew it had to be bad.

"No catch, Vin," Chris fired back, too fast. "But you will have to wear a uniform."

"Shit," Vin whispered.

"It's not THAT bad."

"I beg to differ," Ezra cut in. "I'm afraid that I simply cannot allow myself to be seen in public in a..." he paused, a grimace of distaste on his face, "uniform."

"Sorry, Ezra." Chris responded. "At least you won't have to make any sacrifices...not like Buck will have to."

"Sacrifice?" Buck squeaked.

"Sorry pard, but the mustache will have to go."

Buck sat a moment, letting the words soak in. "No, you can't...it's not fair."

"Buck." Chris's voice held a clear warning.

"But why?" The big man whined.

"It won't go with the uniform."

Vin looked up at Chris, what kind of uniform would not allow for Buck's mustache? "Ah...Chris," Vin finally spoke up, "just exactly what kind of uniform are we talking about here?"

Chris wanted to grin, but restrained himself. He knew that this would be difficult for his team, but a part of him was looking forward to seeing his lover in this particular uniform.

"The exhibit is the Egyptian Pharoah's of the Sun, and the guards are all wearing authentic ancient Egyptian attire."

"What does that mean?" Nathan finally spoke up.

"Aw, Hell," Vin cut in, he'd seen the advertisement for the upcoming show. "You've got to be kidding, Larabee...I ain't wearing no tiny little skirt and flip-flops."

The other three men turned to Vin, and seeing that he was serious then turned back to their team leader.

"Yes," Chris stated simply, "you will."

---

The next morning, JD was already set up in the van outside when first Josiah then Vin, Ezra, Nathan and Buck approached the back employee entrance of the Denver Art Museum.

They were wearing street clothes since the costumes were being kept in the museum locker room. The only thing different as they approached was the hairless state of Buck's upper lip.

JD laughed as the microphones, already in place on each of the agents, picked up the comments that the others made as each caught their first glimpse of the previously unseen portion of Wilmington's anatomy.

"You don't have to be so happy about it," Buck grumbled as they started up the stairs.

"We're not happy, Buck..." Vin answered, "just amused."

"Yeah," Nathan agreed. "The way you look you'd think you just lost your best friend."

"Rather lose my former best, doublecrossing...oldest friend..." Buck commented of Chris. "Than have to shave. What will the ladies think?"

"You saying that without your 'stache, you can't charm the ladies anymore?" Vin teased.

Buck stopped mid-step.

That couldn't be true.

"No, Vin..." Buck smiled, "take a lot more than that to put the ladies off ol' Bucklin. Guess I'll survive 'til it grows back."

Ezra rolled his eyes, bemused at the amount of attention a bit of lip hair could engender. "Well if you three are finally ready to get on with this assignment...we need to get inside and prepare ourselves. I just pray that no one who knows me shows up while I am dressed up in these...outfits."

"Relax, Ez, they ain't gonna be lookin at yer face...not with skimpy skirts to be staring at below," Vin rasped, sighing as he thought about walking around in public wearing less than he usually wore to the beach.

They reached the doors and entered just as JD heard a final curse come over the headset. "Damn, Larabee...gonna have to shoot him one a' these days.

If any of the men had known then what the assignment would really require, it was doubtful that any of them would have entered the building.

---

Two hours later after a short briefing, a longer session in the dressing room and a completely unexpected stop in the makeup room, the four men joined sixteen other guards as they headed into the exhibit area to prepare for the crowds that were already lining up outside the front of the museum. It was a sold out show, tickets already being scalped at an exorbitant rate on the nearby corners.

Each man was assigned to work with a partner from the regular staff. Nathan was partnered with another tall African-American, their costumes slightly different -- both being dressed as Nubian tribesman wearing similar, but regionally different attire.

The rest were wearing the traditional thigh length linen skirt, sandals, beaded breastplates and heavy bracelets on their upper arms and ankles. Each man also wore a headpiece with a wig attached and, much to the horror of all three, but especially Vin, their eyes were heavily outlined with the exaggerated eye makeup common to all Egyptian art, topped off with rouge lightly applied to their lips. They were given a belt pouch that was barely large enough for the small guns that they had been given for the assignment.

Vin looked down at the pouch distastefully as he and Ezra entered the main hall.

"Damn purse hardly even holds this little peashooter," he grumbled. "Iffin we need them we ain't even gonna be able to get them out."

"It is not a purse, Mr. Tanner," Ezra corrected, "it is a tool bag and, having used one of those peashooters on numerous occasions, I can attest to their ability to get the job done."

He straightened his skirt and headed out to meet his assigned partner.

Vin shook his head as he watched the southerner walk away, seemingly at ease in the skimpy outfit. If anyone had been near they would have heard him mumbling to himself, "Larabee...ya got Ezra in drag...not sure you'll ever get him out again..."

---

At one in the afternoon the exhibit officially opened with large crowds squeezing into the east wing of the museum. They were accompanied by camera crews from each of the local TV stations.

All in all it was a total circus.

The crates of guns that had been discovered by the museum staff remained in the storage area where the packaging for the exhibits would be kept during the four weeks that the show was in town. The team hoped that the buyer was here in Denver, and that the deal would be completed soon. None of the men wanted to be standing around in costume for any longer than absolutely necessary.

Josiah came through shortly after one with his first tour group. He was in his element, lecturing about the artifacts and enjoying the diversion from his usual activities. He winked at each of the others as he brought his group of retired schoolteachers past, and chuckled when several of the matronly women managed to move close enough to goose Vin. The young Texan was incredibly impressive in the Egyptian outfit despite his scowl...and the soft yelps that echoed after each pinch was delivered.

It was nearly four when Vin's sixth sense told him that Chris was near. He looked up and scanned the crowd until he located the blond towering over the crowds of elderly art partrons.

Their eyes met, Vin's sending irritated blue fire in response to the spark he detected in his lover's green orbs. Damnit, Chris was caressing him with his eyes...worse than the old women that had left his buttocks black and blue. He could tell that his lover liked the outfit and knew that before this assignment was over that Chris would be doing his damndest to get him home...in uniform.

---

Chris entered the room that Vin was guarding and, despite seeing two other sets of guards before finding him, was unprepared for the sight that met his eyes when he finally arrived at gallery 7. Vin looked like an Egyptian prince...his lean body and defined muscles accented by the bright white linen skirt, and the golden bands wrapped around his biceps.

When he saw an elderly lady lean close to cop a feel, he wasn't the least bit surprised...and more than a little bit jealous. He had to take a deep breath and turn his mind in a completely different direction, and fast, or he would be sporting very conspicuous and embarrassing evidence of his interest.

He knew from his check in with JD that there was nothing happening yet as far as the weapons were concerned. They would confiscate them before the exhibit moved on, but they hoped to also apprehend the buyers and sellers at the same time.

And he prayed that it would happen soon -- if the look on Vin's face was any indication, he wouldn't have long before he had a total mutiny on his hands.

---

After an eight hour shift, Vin was ready to scream. Between the itch from the heavy makeup and the bruises on his ass from more than a few of the women who passed through gallery 7, he felt like a bottle of Tylenol would only just take the edge off. He changed and hurried out the back entrance and was on his way to the ranch in record time.

He arrived well before Chris was due home, and was glad to have some time to regain his equilibrium. This assignment would not be an easy one for him. The costume and makeup aside, standing there in one spot nearly all day would soon drive him to distraction. He wasn't sure why that was, since when he was in position as a sniper he could sit or lay unmoving for hours on end, but standing there amidst the crowds required an entirely different type of patience... one that he simply didn't have.

He decided that a soak in the hot tub might help as much as anything, so he gathered his towel and a cold beer and headed out to the sunroom. He wasn't even aware that he had fallen asleep until the sound of the front door closing brought him awake. Minutes later Chris entered, two cold longnecks in his right hand and a towel in his left.

"Mind if I join you?" Chris asked only as a formality, as he set the beer on the shelf beside the tub and began to strip down.

"C'mon in," Vin drawled softly. "The water's fine."

Chris slid in and groaned as the hot water began to work its magic on his muscles.

They sat in comfortable silence for the next half-hour, sipping the beer and enjoying the quiet.

Vin decided that any more time in the hot water would leave him in a permanent prune-like state and rose.

"Going somewhere?" Chris asked.

"Gotta dry off 'for I melt."

Chris reached out to stroke Vin's thigh. "Thought maybe we could get a bit of exercise..."

"Think my ass has had enough of a workout for one day." Vin turned to display the blue bruises left by the over appreciative art patrons.

"Damn, Vin," Chris breathed. "They must have been eating you alive all day."

"You could say that." He muttered as he stepped out of the tub and wrapped himself in a towel. "What do you want to do for dinner?"

"Mmmm," Chris pondered, still bonelessly soaking in the hot water, "something easy."

"Yeah, sounds good, I'll see what's there," Vin said as he headed out of the room.

He was dishing up some reheated stew when Chris entered the kitchen and padded up behind him. He wrapped his arms around Vin and nuzzled his neck as Vin set the empty container into the sink.

"You looked good enough to eat this afternoon, " Chris whispered into the damp curls.

"Yer getting stew, Larabee," Vin growled, still steamed at the look Chris had given him at the museum. It was bad enough having to stand there nearly naked...but then to have your lover walk in and eye you up and down like a piece of meat on display...well, one horny blond was gonna find his bed cold tonight.

Chris was still clueless, unaware that Vin was pissed about the assignment in general and his looks in particular. He leaned around, kissing the slightly stubbled cheek and grabbed a bowl of stew before retreating to the table where a plate of rolls and butter were laid out along with silverware and two more bottles of beer.

Dinner was quiet, both men hungry enough to delay conversation. As they finished Chris finally asked about the rest of the men assigned to the museum.

"So, how are Buck, Ezra and Nathan taking to their positions?"

"Well," Vin began, "you gotta know that Buck is gonna find a way to get even with ya for the shave."

"Yeah, figured as much."

"And, strange as it may sound, I think Ezra is actually enjoying himself...skirt and all." He stopped and shook his head. "Ya know, you may have opened Pandora's box there..."

Chris laughed, he had seen Ezra and could tell that the undercover man was having a good time. "You may be right there, he seemed to be in his element when I passed through his gallery today. Be interesting to see him try to pass off the cost of an Egyptian outfit on his expense account."

"Yeah, I can see Travis's face now."

They both laughed as they rose to put their dishes in the sink before heading out to the barn to do a final check on the horses before heading to bed. It had been a long day and tomorrow would be equally trying.

True to his intention, Vin crawled into bed, kissed his lover chastly on the cheek and spooned up against the hard body and drifted to sleep almost instantly.

Chris lay still for a few moments. He had plans for the night that didn't include a sleeping partner. His cock was hard and ready...as it had been since walking in to the exhibit to see Vin standing there like an Egyptian deity. He thought for a moment that Vin was playing possum to tease him, but the soft snores coming from the prone man belied that hope.

Damnit, Tanner, Chris thought as he stroked himself, desperate for relief after waiting all afternoon and evening. You couldn't have worse timing if you planned it.

---

The next morning Chris came back into the bedroom after his shower to find Vin digging in his underwear drawer. He stood there in the doorway and watched as Vin slid on one, then another, and finally a third pair of briefs before pulling a thick pair of bicycle shorts on.

"Um, Vin," Chris began, barely holding his laughter in check, "you expecting a cold spell today?"

Vin jumped as Chris spoke, he'd been so busy pulling on the layers that he hadn't heard Chris enter. He turned, blushing, but was adament in his plan.

"Not cold..." Vin stated, "but I need some padding before I get so many bruises that I can't sit down."

Chris did laugh then.

"Not funny, Larabee...them grannies got strong fingers."

Chris laughed harder.

"Kiss my ass, Larabee."

"Well, if you hadn't gone to sleep so fast last night I would've kissed it and made it better."

"Yeah...right before you ravished me yerself."

"You never complained about that before," Chris whispered as he leaned closer.

"That was before ya ogled me in public...felt like some kinda...I don't know, some kinda thing, them ladies grabbin' me and you staring like ya never seen me before. Felt kinda creepy."

Chris paused as he realized that Vin really felt vulnerable in the skimpy outfit. "I'm sorry, Cowboy...didn't realize that it would bother you so much... But when I came into that room and you were standing there looking like some kind of Egyptian God, Vin, honest, I almost came in my pants."

"I know -- could see that, and it was nice in a way, but standing there in that little skirt and having all them women putting their hands on me..."

Chris reached out then and took Vin into his arms, hugging him tightly. "God, Vin, I really am sorry."

Vin leaned into the embrace -- it wasn't sexual, just warm and protective, and right now it was exactly what he needed.

They stayed that way for a few long minutes then, realizing that they both had places to be, gradually pulled apart, finished dressing, grabbed some breakfast, and headed for town.

---

The day was a twin to the one before, as were the next eight. Then, finally JD's research revealed a shady background for one of the men traveling with the exhibit. Robert Scotch had served time for dealing in illegal and stolen arms -- how he had managed to get hired and pass the background check was a puzzle that needed some answers before they could figure out what was going on. They checked further, watched Scotch closely, and by the end of the next week they were pretty sure that they knew who he worked for, and who the crates of weapons were for.

Now they just had to catch them in the act as they completed the sale.

To that end, JD and Josiah added additional microphones and cameras in the museum and in the Scotch's apartment. They were pretty sure that he would unload the guns here in Denver since taking them any farther than necessary would be a risk that only a fool would take. It was just a matter of time.

Time that suddenly ran out on Saturday afternoon.

They didn't know until later what tipped them off, but in the middle of the afternoon on Saturday, the busiest day for the exhibit, Scotch decided it was time.

Using the cover of the over-crowded museum, full with groups of school children, retired librarians, and everything in between cramming the hallways, Scotch and his men made their move.

The guards used staggered break system so that everyone got their lunch, but only two men at a time, thus leaving most of the guards on duty. Once team 7 had pegged Scotch, they made sure that one of their men was always assigned with him -- on duty, and on the breaks. Today Vin was working with him, and his sixth sense had been screaming all day. They were the last pair to take their lunch, and he kept a close eye on Scotch, fully expecting him to make a move. Vin was surprised when he didn't. They were just finishing up when the supervisor, Dusty Pointe, entered the small break area.

"You guys about done?" he asked as he entered the room.

Vin glanced at the clock. They still had a few minutes before they were needed back on duty. "Yeah," he drawled as the man came into the room. "Something up?"

"No, just got a lot of folks up there."

Vin nodded and started to rise but noticed a shadow behind him. He started to turn but it was too late. The gun butt caught him in the side of the head and he hit the floor in a boneless heap.

"Get him out of sight," Scotch demanded, taking the pouch and gun from Vin's waist.

The three men moved him back into the storage area and began to move the crates out through the back hallway towards the loading dock.

---

Josiah had been in and out all day, the tour guides all working overtime to keep up with the heavy crowds, and Chris was also in and around the gallery, adding one more set of eyes. He noticed when Vin and Scotch left and knew that they were due back on duty soon. He eyed his watch and the doorway that Vin was supposed to be guarding, the temporary man was still in place -- Vin was late...really late given the tight schedule.

He asked JD to try to contact him on the wire.

Another set of too many minutes went by before JD got back to Chris -- Vin wasn't answering. While JD let the others know that something was up and alerted the units that were stationed outside, Chris squeezed through the crowds, heading for the back hallway that led to the employee area.

Chris raced through the nearly deserted back halls and quickly checked the lunchroom and locker area before heading into the storage area.

Vin was not in sight, but as Chris turned to check the back dock he heard a low moan. Vin was just starting to come around when Chris found him on the floor behind a large crate.

"Hey, you okay?" Chris asked, voice shaking as he spotted the smear of blood on the side of Vin's face.

"'M fine," Vin mumbled as he staggered to his feet, Chris's hand on his arm keeping him upright as he swayed.

"Don't look fine to me," Chris stated as he pushed Vin onto a smaller crate.

"Pointe is in on it...they're getting away," Vin protested.

Chris listened over the link for a moment before responding, "No, our guys are on it."

"We should be helping." Vin started to rise, but again staggered.

Chris caught him, calling in to JD as he did. "I've got Vin down in the storage area, we're gonna need a medic when you get a chance."

He knew that until the chase he was listening in on was over, JD would be too busy to do anything but coordinate the teams as they rounded up the hostiles. Smiling, despite his concern for Vin, when he heard some of the comments flying between the men as they fought through the crowds to capture the three men.

Scotch, Pointe and the third man, Ron Gunner, had arrived at the loading dock and found themselves boxed in by Team 4, their only hope now was to turn back, into the museum and hope that the confusion of the crowds would aid in their escape.

They were wrong.

They didn't count on the tenacity of Team 7.

When they arrived back at the door that led out of the employee hallway into the public part of the museum, Buck, Nathan and Ezra were nearly at the door. They could see the three men as they came out of the hallway and, seeing the agents approaching, split up into different directions. The crowded room giving them a small lead as the ATF men approached.

The three agents were forced to split up, one following each of the suspects.

Ezra had been in the nearest gallery and was almost on top of his man as they headed out of the room into the connecting gallery. Gunner was a big man and was using his size to bully his way through the crowds, but what Ezra lacked in size, he made up for in agility, and he was soon only a few feet behind his quarry, his small weapon already out of the pouch and ready to aim if he could get clear of innocent bystanders.

Nathan ran after Pointe, and although the man was smaller than the tall black agent, he was quick and knew his way around the museum. It was all that he could do to keep the running man in sight and manage to avoid stepping on children and elderly museum partrons, but Nathan was determined to keep up and eventually catch up with the man.

Meanwhile, Buck was in a heated chase with Scotch. The man was big, and fast and was doing everything he could to slow his pursuer down. He began by pushing anyone who got in his way back at the oncoming agent, including several young women who he managed to catch and stready, muttering polite comments as he continued on. Then he started to get nasty. A glass display case crashed down in Buck's path, followed by a small cherub statue that actually fell against him. Buck skidded to a stop, catching the sculpture as it fell against his side, the arms with a bow and arrow twisting into his skirt. He set it upright and headed on after the man, vaguely aware of a tearing sound as he did so.

Ezra finally cornered Gunner, who grabbed a young woman and wrapped his arm around her throat, backing away from Ezra. He threatened to choke her if not allowed to escape. Ezra looked at the man and sighed, before putting a bullet in his leg.

The girl shrieked and swooned into Ezra's arms as Gunner went down clutching his bloody appendage.

He shushed her and handed her off to her school chaperone before looking at his reflection in a nearby display case, checking his wig and straightening his skirt before he called for backup to come and remove the garbage in Gallery 14 E.

Nathan actually ended up following his quarry all the way through the museum. Finally, he was able to tackle him as they reached the main lobby, he sat on the smaller man until a museum security guard loaned him his handcuffs.

Buck managed to keep sight of his man as he let go of the cherub he had just saved and ran after him, aware of a rather cool breeze as he moved and, that a number of the people he was passing seemed to be somehow amused by his presence. He supposed, in passing, it was because of the silly costume that he wore.

They reached the main hallway that surrounded the huge open marble stairway with several levels of the museum visible, each level crowded with visitors. Scotch headed for the stairs and as he started down the nearest set, Buck rounded the end and started to follow. Then it happened -- his sandal strap, never intended for the workout it was receiving, snapped, the loose footwear sliding on the slick stone stairs. Buck went down on his bare ass, skirt left far behind, hanging on cupid's arrow. He shot down the stairs like a 6'3" human toboggan, taking out Scotch just as he reached the landing.

When he looked up from where he sat on top of Robert Scotch, he found himself surrounded by females, aged 7 to 70 -- all smiling and cheering, and him clad only in his leopard print thong, some Egyptian jewelry and a smile.

Ezra waited until backup arrived to watch Gunner, then headed out after Nathan and Buck. He'd listened in as the other men chased their suspects and knew approximately where they were headed. The trail became pretty clear when he started to find tipped over display cases. Following the trail of debris he soon found himself in the over-crowded staircase and, moments later, spotted Buck.

Pushing through the masses of milling people, he arrived in time to offer the big man a hand up.

"You seem to be in a bit of a predicament, Mr. Wilmington," he offered as the tall man regained his feet.

Buck smiled before he replied. "Well hell, Ezra, I can't think of a predicament that I'd rather be in..."

"I suppose I should have figured that out...but nonetheless, I believe, in deference to some of the younger patrons," he nodded to several young women, "that you may need this." He offered the scrap of linen he had rescued from cupid's bow.

Buck's grin widened. "I guess so...just don't let THEM..." he gestured at the crowds of more mature women, "catch you -- some of them are gonna be mighty disappointed that you found this." He shook out the skirt and wrapped it around his hips just as Nathan arrived with more backup. The three men then headed back to the employee area to find the rest of their team.

---

Meanwhile, back in the storage area...

Chris had followed the chase via his headset while he sat with Vin, he was pretty sure his partner was concussed and the gash just inside his hairline was still bleeding despite the towel he had pressed against it. Chris knew that head wounds tended to bleed al lot, but he was still nervous and was relieved when JD finally contacted him to let him know that an ambulance was on its way and would arrive at the back entrance soon. And a few minutes later the EMTs arrived with a stretcher.

Vin was awake, but barely, his head pounding, vision blurred, and his usual awareness of every detail thereby diminished... But none of that was enough to prevent him from realizing that he was still in a very short skirt and very little else as the medics checked him over and prepared to load him onto the gurney.

"Don't need to go to the hospital," Vin declared, while he attempted to stand. He staggered against Chris who gripped his arm and steered him towards the waiting EMTs.

"Sorry, Vin..." Chris said firmly. "Regulations demand that you get checked out at the ER."

Vin glared, or at least tried to, the effect ruined by his wince as his head began to throb mercilessly. He groaned, knowing he was beaten..."Jist let me put some clothes on, dammit," he snarled as the EMTs reached for him.

Chris watched, trying very hard to suppress the grin that threatened to break out as he watched the two medics strap Vin down, blithely ignoring his protests.

The medics smiled as they called in to their dispatcher, reporting that their patient had a probable concussion and a nasty laceration, as well as being in an agitated state of mind.

They had both dealt with Team 7 before and knew their patient quite well, as did most of the hospital staff. They were secretly enjoying the prospect of transporting Vin to the ER -- as is. The nurses there would owe them big time for delivering him to them in his current state of dress...or undress as it were.

Buck, Ezra and Nathan arrived in time to hear the string of curses drift down the hall as the patient was pushed towards the door.

Chris turned back to wave at them, letting them know that while Vin was injured, he would be fine, and grinned wider as Vin switched to yet another language having run out of suitably descriptive words in English and Spanish.

"What is that?" Buck asked as a string of undecipherable words came echoing back to them.

"I believe, gentlemen," Josiah offered as he joined them, "that is Cherokee." He paused, listened some more and continued, "and I must say he does know some colorful phrases in that particular language."

The three men said that they would finish up at the museum so Chris could accompany Vin to the hospital.

"We'll check with you later," Buck called to Chris as he hurried to catch up to the medics and Vin, who had switched to yet another dialect.

"Damn, that boy knows almost as many curses as I know words of love..." Buck mused as he headed back to the storage area to oversee the removal of the contraband.

---

As the EMTs had predicted, Vin's arrival in a short linen skirt and very little else was just the treat the nurses had been waiting for. In fact, he was such a draw that the doctors had to finally send away some of the help when the room became so crowded that they could barely move.

Chris was waiting in the lobby but could see down the hall and shook his head as yet another nurse entered the cubicle...what was that, number six, or seven?

The excitement died down once the exotic outfit was removed and now Vin was just one more naked body...although a pretty nice naked body, and it was one that they had all seen before.

The costume was bagged and handed over to Chris, he had informed them that it belonged to the museum and they would expect it back.

Dr. Stone entered the room as the last of the extra personnel were chased out.

"Well, Tanner, it looks like you've outdone yourself this time." She couldn't help herself, knowing how shy the man was.

"Ain't my fault...them medics wouldn't let me change," her patient moaned, glad that the room was finally close to being empty.

"I also hear that you had an awful lot of layers on underneath?" Her smile widened at his blush.

"I had ta do something, did ya see what them biddies did to my backside?"

When she reached for the blanket to take a look, Vin blushed further, squeaking in protest. "Just keep yer hands off..."

She did laugh then. "Tanner, first you ask me to look at your bruises, then you act like I'm gonna make a pass at you. How dumb do you think I am with Larabee right down the hall?"

Vin's blush deepened further as he realized that she must have figured out that he and Chris were a couple. "Aw, Hell," he muttered, knowing that he was just getting in deeper and deeper.

"You're going to be fine, the concussion doesn't seem to be bad, and if you feel all right we will send you home as soon as your tests get back." She smiled again. As fond of the shy Texan as she was, she wished that she didn't see him quite so often...at least not as a patient. "I'll send Chris in before he bites the nurse's head off, and we'll see if we can find you something to wear home."

"Thanks, Doc." Vin sighed and lay back, closing his eyes. He was sore, tired, and his head still felt like someone had left a jackhammer inside, but he wasn't about to tell anyone how bad it hurt -- not if they were about to send him home. He'd much rather feel miserable at home than here in the hospital.

---

The next time he opened his eyes it was to see Chris sitting next to the bed, hand slipped through the bed railing to hold his own.

"No wonder the Doc knows about us," he complained with no heat behind the words.

"What do you mean?"

"The Doc, she's got us figured out...said she didn't dare flirt with me iffin you was around."

"Smart lady, that one," Chris agreed, a bit embarrassed that they were so transparent, but on the other hand, emotions always ran close to the surface when your lover was hurting.

"She didn't seem to mind or nuthin'," Vin realized, "seemed kinda like she thought it was sweet that you were so protective...said you were about to take out that desk nurse if she didn't let ya in here."

"Don't think I'd take that one on. Have you seen that new nurse? She could keep out the hounds of Hell and never raise a sweat." Chris winced, thinking of the 300 pound, 6 foot Viking of a woman guarding the ER hallway.

"Not even to rescue me?" Vin teased, the banter taking his mind off the pain for a few minutes... either that or that last shot of painkillers was taking hold.

"Not even!" Chris smiled, he could see the lines of pain easing on his lover's face.

They sat quietly for the next half hour until the doctor returned to let them know that the tests confirmed her diagnosis, and that he could now go home. She carried a set of hospital greens over one arm and handed them to Chris. "These should get him home without quite so many breezes."

"Thanks Doc," the two men responded and were soon on their way.

---

Epilogue:

One week later.

The note from the museum special exhibits staff arrived, thanking the team for their assistance and asking, by-the-way, if any of them had any idea where the four uniforms that they had been using had ended up -- not that they were accusing anyone or anything, and they did have spares, but if they did show up somewhere...

---

The next weekend.

Friday night at the Saloon seemed a bit sparse, JD, Josiah and no one else.

"I wonder where everyone is, Josiah?" JD asked for the third time.

"Don't know, JD, but I think that it's pretty clear that they aren't going to be here so have a drink and let's play a game of darts."

At Nathan and Rain's house, the Nubian serving man brought a feast of rich offerings into the bedroom where his Phoenician Princess awaited him...

At the apartment of Buck's latest girlfriend, a grad-student in ancient studies, the Egyptian Stud strutted his stuff while the archeologist scribbled in her journal, noting the habits and tendencies of her chosen subject. Next on the agenda, some up close and very personal research.

At Ezra Standish's townhouse the doorbell rang at precisely 10 p.m. The Pharoah opened the door to admit the two Egyptian serving girls the escort service had sent over. The townhouse had been completely re-decorated in a magnificent mid-Phaeronic style, complete with leopard skin print fainting couches and a gilded throne. The girls had been hired for the entire weekend and it was sure to be memorable.

And out at the Larabee ranch the tables had been turned...

After only being back on the job for a few days, Vin still had an occasional headache and today it had been a bad one. He rode home with Chris, took several pain pills and headed for bed. Now, waking up after a two hour nap he actually felt good. He sat up and gasped as he realized that the room that he had fallen asleep in was quite different from the one that he now awoke in...

There were two large potted palms, one on either side of the bed, and the furniture had been covered by rich tapestries, the bedside table holding a large bowl of fruit and a carafe of something that looked like beer but didn't quite smell like their usual brew. There was a loaf of bread, some cheese and some dates and of course, some -- not quite in period -- chocolates.

He was still taking in the new decorations when the door opened and he was met by a sight that sent a jolt of pure lust straight to his groin.

Standing there in the doorway was an Egyptian God. Skin tawny, muscles sleek and offset by the golden jewelry, the short linen skirt looking even shorter on the long lean legs that ended with the same sandals he had worn, straps wrapped up around the shapely calves.

"Jesus, God...Chris...." Vin managed to breathe out as the vision approached the bed.

"Bit different from that side, isn't it?" Chris returned with a smirk, his eyes were touched lightly with makeup that wasn't as extreme as what Vin had worn in the museum, but alluring nonetheless.

"I had no idea..." He looked down at his quickly responding body. "How on earth did you manage in public?"

"I managed...barely, um, so you're not mad about the look anymore?"

"God, no, I'm in awe...and really, really glad that it wasn't me walking into that museum room to see you dressed like that, hell, I'd a' been arrested for public indecency -- come here..."

Chris set the bowl of finger foods on the other table and moved to the bed...kneeling on the floor beside Vin.

"What would you like me to do, Master?" he managed to get out with a straight face.

"Fuck me..." Vin breathed out softly...not as a command as much as an expression of pure intoxication, but just loudly enough that the kneeling "servant" could hear.

"Your wish..." Chris began as he reached for his lover, "is my command."

He reached out to stroke the hardened flesh at Vin's groin, relishing the gasp of pleasure that the touch evoked.

Crawling up onto the bed he quickly stripped the underwear from the lean body and began to lick his way up from Vin's feet. He took extra time at each knee, knowing the the backs were especially sensitive before working his way up, tasting the soft skin on the inside of the creamy thighs. He made a feast there, slowly moving up, licking and nipping while his hands ran through the nest of curls at the jucture above. The moans and gasps coming from the head of the bed turned to pleading as he reached his destination.

"Was there something you wanted..." Chris purred, just before he ran his tongue up the hard shaft, then as he ran a hand down to caress the tightening sacs below he took the head into his hot mouth.

Vin's body bucked as the mouth enveloped him, ready to come from the lead up he barely held back as Chris began to suck.

"Oh, God..." Vin gasped, moaned and came as Chris added a hum to the mix.

Chris held Vin as he shuddered, kissing and stroking him as he moved up to take the lips in a kiss that held a sample of the seed that had just been released. His own erection, hard and begging for attention, ignored for the moment, time for that soon enough.

As Vin resurfaced he found hazel eyes watching him. He smiled contentedly.

"That was...mmmm"

"Yeah...pretty tasty." Chris licked his lips.

"Seems to me you might have a bit of a swelling there," Vin drawled, as Chris's shaft nudged his thigh, "think we can find a way to get it down?"

"Can think of a couple...and one in particular..." Chris rasped as his hand stroked down to slide along Vin's cleft.

Vin pushed back against the caress, leaning forward to take the kiss-swollen lips, tongue slipping inside to tease them further open. "Oh, yeah...please..."

The first finger slid in, coated in rich cum gathered from between their bodies, rimming and pushing to loosen the muscle. It was an easy job, the second and third digits entered and also found a warm welcome.

Vin turned, raising his hips and spreading his legs. "Now."

The servant complied, lining up his slickened shaft and pushing inside in one smooth thrust.

Both men moaned as the hot channel was filled.

Chris gently thrust, moving slowly...savoring the closeness, then thrust again, faster and harder, as Vin pushed back against him, seeking to take more and more of the shaft inside.

Soon they were moving, Vin's shaft hardened again and cradled by Chris's hand as they pumped faster and faster until they both cried out, voices merging in shared completion as they fell back onto the mattress, hearts racing and breath rasping as they sank into oblivion.

On the floor next to the bed was the hastily discarded skirt lying forgotten along with Vin's underwear and various pieces of Egyptian jewelry.

THE END