Disclaimer: I don't own them, and I don't make profit from these stories.

Thoughts are in // italics.//

Thanks to Angela B and to Silvia for all their help. Remaining mistakes are all mine.

I needed to fit the shows together so I took some liberties with them. (Hope all of you don't mind.)

If you want to know the basics of the characters of either show, the descriptions are at the end of the first chapter. The important thing, however, is that Eric Close played both "Vin Tanner" on The Magnificent Seven (M7) and "Martin Fitzgerald" on Without a Trace (WAT).

***

*WAT *

The next day, Judge Fitzgerald arrived at the town with a small army troop.

At the hotel, he went over the material that Malone's team had gathered. Martin was well enough to be present like the rest of the team.

*

Close to midday, they finished with the case. The judge was pleased. "Good work," he said to Malone while handing the notes he had taken to a soldier for safekeeping. "We have a good case."

"Ah, Sir," interjected agent Taylor, "There is another thing we want to discuss with you."

Malone glared at the soldiers in the room. "Alone, Sir." letting clear the importance of the request.

The judge nodded to the soldiers and they left the room. Then he waited until Danny closed the door to find what had the team so concerned.

*M7 *

Vin got back to town that noon. Nettie came with him to talk to the judge about Guy Royal and his men.

She knew there was something more on the tracker's mind, but decided that the young man would tell her when he was ready.

Vin went directly to the hotel where the federal agents had been staying. Outside the building, on one of the benches, they saw J.D. talking animatedly with Vin's look-a-like.

When the young sheriff saw them, he quickly went to help Nettie climb down from her wagon. All the time he was smiling and looking at Vin and Martin.

"Mrs. Nettie, this is Martin Fitzgerald, Federal Agent," he introduced. Unfortunately, they were ignored as Martin and Vin stared at each other in shock.

They had expected the resemblance, but never at this degree. Vin ran a hand through his long hair while Martin blinked at the sight.

By the time they got out of the trance, they had gathered quite a crowd, the closer ones being the town peacekeepers and the federal agents.

"Let's talk inside," suggested Jack leading the way.

*

Inside J.D. introduced Nettie to all the agents and judge.

"Nice to meet you, Madame," offered the tall judge politely. "I'll talk with you about the case in a minute, I just want to clear something up before we get to that," he informed, looking intently at Vin Tanner.

*

The judge had been intrigued when the agents had explained about the similarities between his son and the Four Corners tracker but, seeing himself the resemblance between his son and the Texan was uncanny, and he had to shake the feeling of dread; no one in his line of heritage would become so low as to become a bounty hunter, not to mention being linked to any kind of criminal allegations.

He mentally shook his head to clear his mind before addressing the longhaired man.

"I was informed of the bounty placed for your capture, so from this moment I declare you under arrest for the murder of Jess Kincaid," he said authoritatively.

The six peacekeepers as one stepped in front of Vin, hands on the handles of their guns. "He's innocent," growled Larabee.

*

Chris had discussed the Guy Royal's case with the judge and had found the man hard to read, but honest enough to seek justice. The blond berated himself for being a fool.

"Gentlemen, please." continued the judge, "I was also informed of that possibility, and that's why I have put Mr. Tanner in custody of the six peacekeepers of this town and under the supervision of the Judge Orin Travis until I check personally on his case in Texas. I have also sent word to the authorities about the capture of the suspect and of my imminent arrival at the town of Tascosa as soon as the trial of Guy Royal is finished."

The judge smiled slightly, "Agent Malone has volunteered his team to investigate your case, so be sure the truth will be discovered."

That, in fact, left the town peacekeepers speechless.

"Why?" asked the con man of the group, he wanted to be clear in knowing what was expected of them.

This time it was Malone who answered, "Because we can't have the face of one of our agents on a wanted poster. It could be dangerous to the entire team, so it concern us directly."

Addressing all the gun fighters, he continued, "And, if somebody from my team were in trouble, let's just say that I'd want him to have the best team as back-up."

Chris chuckled and extended his hand, "Don't worry Malone, let us know and you'll have it."

Jack's mouth twisted in a small smile as he took Chris' hand in a firm handshake.

*

"Okay, gentlemen, we have to set a trial and the sooner the better," said the senior agent while herding all the people out.

"Oh, and before I forget, since Martin shouldn't go with us to Tascosa, for obvious reasons, we thought you seven could keep an eye on him."

Martin turned toward his boss worried, "Sir?"

Danny managed to lock his arm around the younger agent shoulders, "Come on, Marty. You can't go out alone until the matter is settled," he hauled the man toward the door. "and who would be better to look after you, than the men who have kept Vin alive all this time."

*

Still inside the room, Vin turned to Chris, "You have kept me alive?" he asked with a smirk.

Chris shrugged, "I'd like to think we have helped."

"I sense that at least having you, Mr. Tanner to keep an eye on him would improve his chances to survive in our little town," chuckled Ezra.

Vin resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and he followed the rest of his friends outside.

How hard could it be to baby sit his look- a-like?

They couldn't be that different, could they?

*END*

Hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Please, please, please review (be kind, I'm still learning English)