Two As One

By sablecain

M7 belong to the powers that be, no harm or copyright infringement intended with their use!

This is the first of a 4 story series I wrote WAY back when I first got involved in the M7 fandom. I hadn't even seen all the episodes when I wrote this first story. It's a bit rough in places and I've always intended to go back and rewrite it. That doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon so at the request of a couple of good friends who think it needs to be online again (it's been off for years)- I'm reading through it, doing a quick edit (all mistakes are tragically mine) and reposting. I'll be posting each story in parts to give me time to try and fix them a little. Hope you enjoy it.

part 1

Kara jogged briskly along the path that wound it's way through Four Corners Town Park. It was still early and though the sun was just breaking through the clouds there were a few runners already hitting the path with her. Her focus… Chris Larabee. Agent Chris Larabee to be exact. He ran at a much faster pace then she was even willing to attempt, but Kara prided herself in at least being able to keep him in her sights. She knew the man's schedule better then her own. It was why she'd been hired.

If the jogging path was to be pulled up and straightened into a oblong circle it would form the perfect high school track, but instead it wound through trees and benches and bushes and gave the runners a cross country feeling. Kara watched undaunted as Larabee circled and headed into a tight grouping of trees. Normally she would keep pace and get him back into her sight as she exited the woods but today was different. It was contact day. She felt her adrenaline start to pump as she entered the wooded area. She had an idea what was coming but the unexpectedness of it was part of her role. Her heart beat a little quicker with each step.

Suddenly from no where an arm was around her neck dragging her into the trees. Instinctively she let out a piercing scream and struggled against her assailant. Kicking at him she fought and struggled as he slammed her against a tree. A sharp blow across the face stunned her for only a moment before she began screaming wildly.

Larabee ran out his frustrations every morning. He nodded curtly to those who were sociable enough to acknowledge his presence at this early of an hour. He wore a simple black jogging suit and kept a change of clothes in the truck parked a few hundred yards away. He'd shower and change at headquarters and still be the first one in the office. No one on his team were known for their punctuality.

A scream pierced the morning and he stopped searching for the person in distress. Another scream directed him toward the wooded area he'd just passed through.

Kara fought and screamed for what felt like an eternity and then suddenly he was there. The assailant was flung into an opposite tree. Kara looked up to see Larabee punching the stranger and quickly hand cuffing him.

"You are under arrest," he hissed throwing the man aside. Other runners were approaching now. Larabee reached for her. "You okay lady?"

Kara shook uncontrollably as tears formed in her eyes. Numbly she nodded, "I I think so." She felt like she was about to collapse.

"Here," protectively Chris put an arm around her and led her a few feet away from the prone attacker. "Let me just call this in and we'll get some one here to look you over."

"Y-you're a cop? " she asked her voice little more then a whisper.

"Of a sort." He pulled a cell phone out of the same zipper pocket he had pulled the handcuffs. "Yeah, Larabee here, need a squad and ambulance at Four corners town park." Kara listened still shaking. "Assault and battery looks like. Yeah victim appears okay but needs to make a statement and all. Yeah, uh huh, right. I'll be here."

Kara looked up her steel gray eyes meeting his deep blue ones. "Are you going to stay with me?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am though I need to ask some questions too."

She nodded wiping a tear away. Already she heard the sirens approaching. Larabee settled on the ground beside her.

"You sure you're all right ma'am."

She nodded, "It's Kara, Kara Billings," she said.

"Pardon? "

"My name, it's Kara Billings, in place of Ma'am." She smiled then winced and touched her cheek.

"Larabee," he grinned slightly "Chris Larabee."

The police were there then, sweeping her in one direction and him in the other. She was seen to by an ambulance crew but assured them she was okay. She insisted that she was not going to the hospital. She answered all their questions quickly and honestly. Then she was free to go.

"You're gonna have a shiner I think." She jumped slightly at Chris' comment. "Sorry I didn't mean to startle you."

"Thank you for coming to my rescue. " Kara smiled waving away his apology. " I don't know what I would have done if you…" her voice faded and her eyes clouded.

"Hey, it was nothing. You sure you are okay?"

She nodded "I will be"

"You have a way home?" he asked concern thick in his voice.

"My car is in the parking lot."

"Let me walk you." Without waiting for a reply he took her by arm and started toward the parking area. "You know if you find you need anything, please don't hesitate to go into the hospital, or even the police station."

"Will you be there?" she asked looking again into his blue eyes.

He ran a hand through his blond hair and grinned.

"No, Ma'am..I mean Kara," he corrected at her look "I don't work out of the police station, but."

"This is my car." she interrupted stopping in front of a average looking early 90's ford . He stopped and opened the door for her and helped her in.

"But," he continued blocking her ability to close the door. "If you need to reach me for any reason," he emphasized, "here is my card." He handed her a small white business card. She put it in the drink tray and turned back to him.

"Thank you again Mr. Larabee."

"Chris," he corrected.

"Chris," she smiled.

He nodded and stepped away from the door. Making sure she was all in he closed the door and stepped back from the car. With a wave he headed for his truck. He was very late and the guys were either gonna be worried or gonna be more then willing to give him a hard time, most likely the latter. He smiled as he thought of his team of agents. The Magnificent 7 they were nicknamed by the other ATF teams. They worked well together and their friendships bonded them as family instead of just coworkers. Starting his truck he shifted it into gear. With a glance at the clock on the dash, he sighed. Yeah, he was gonna hear it from them for being late.

Kara watched as Chris pulled away and smiled to herself. She touched her face and winced cursing under her breath. Gracefully she picked up the white card and flipped it over. In plain black letters it read Chris Larabee and two phone numbers where he could reached. She ran her finger tip over his name and laughed softly.

"And so it begins."