Title: A Night on the Town

Author: Kim

Series: Night Life - Part 1

Category: Humor

Fandom: The Magnificent 7

AU: LAW

Archive: Sure go ahead, just let me know where.

AN: This was the first fic I ever wrote. Non-beta-ed, but re-read by me just tonight, so I've cleaned it up a bit.

Summary: Josiah's been moping around, can the boys help him deal with it?

A Night On The Town
by Kim

"Now come on Josiah, you know you want to go! There's some mighty fine waitress' there that'd catch your eye," Buck chuckled, accentuating his proposal with a hardy slap to his coworkers back.

"Buck, if I don't finish this file soon, the wraith of God will be brought down upon me ...." Josiah glanced up at the door as his reason of dismissal suddenly walked in.

"What's going on here?" The senior PI walked through the door, instantly aware of the fact he had just stepped into a bear trap by the innocent look he got from Buck.

"Now don't get all riled up Chris... we were just talkin' about..."

"Well Buck here would like us all to go to Karaoke tonight... all of us," he saw the start of a scowl cross his bosses face, sure that he had just got himself out of going out for a night on the town. He didn't want to go, the memories of the week before still haunting him and his dreams. It wasn't a time to be merry, it was a time to search deep down in your soul.

"Sounds like a good idea. I think we all need a little fun after that McGinty case," the smirk turned into a full out grin when he caught sight of Josiah's surprised features.

"Whooiee!" the obviously pleased LAW mechanic clapped and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"You can't be serious," if possible, at Josiah's shocked chortle, Larabee's grin grew even wider.

"Actually I am. We're all going."

Josiah searched the jade eyes of the senior PI, and saw that they showed him his own inevitable destiny.

"Alright. Nine o'clock like usual?" the huge security officer gave in with a likewise sigh, his head bowed slightly as Larabee gave the affirmative nod.

"Be there."

The LAW office door was left wide open as the big man left the room, undoubtedly to psyche himself up for what lay ahead that night. As the faint noise of the elevator bell dinged to inform the
general vicinity of it's arrival, Larabee turned to his partner in crime.

"What was that all about?"

"Hell Chris, we all know Josiah's been moping around here like a kid who just found out there ain't no Santa. Figured if he'd just have a good ole night out on the town with his buddies, he'd be good as new!"

"Hope your right," they all knew that Josiah hadn't been quite himself those past few days, but certainly had no clue on why.

They both looked up as an outraged cry of protest sounded even before the southern undercover agent was visible from the hallway door.

"Mr. Larabee! I have just spoken to our Mr. Sanchez in the lobby, and I must object to tonight's demand of observing human stupidity at its worst," Ezra's stride into the LAW office was
purposeful and directed straight to his boss to plead his case.

"Don't start Ezra, we're all going."

"Yes, but..."

"No buts."

Emerald pools searched their counterparts, coming up with the same answer that Josiah had just moments before. A sigh of surrender quietly left his lips.

"Very well, but if our Mr. Wilmington breaks out in another rendition of `Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' with a few of his minor lyric changes, I assure you that I will not be held responsible for
my actions," Ezra drawled with a smirk as Buck started his usual protest, but knew the validity of his partners statement and desisted.

The grin remained on Larabee's face, reminiscing over that eventful day last month where the robust LAW man had stepped up to the mike at Ciro's, the local Karaoke bar, and commenced to sing his own version of the Cyndi Lauper melody.

"I'm right there with you Ezra," Chris spared a glance over at the butt of many a joke, his famous stoic gaze in place once again though his eyes held a twinkle of mischief, yet couldn't help
but break out in a chuckle at the flabbergasted look on Wilmington's mug after a moment of contemplation.

"I can't believe you two! That was a great song!"

"Yes, was being the operative word, Mr. Wilmington. See, when you decided to butcher it to `Buck just wants to have fun' with the opposite sex, I do believe it lost some of its` splendor," the well-dressed undercover agent shook his head wistfully. "Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have matters to attend to before tonight," Ezra walked over to his desk and picked up his discarded jacket.

"Remember Ezra… nine o'clock."

"Of course, until then gentlemen," Buck and Chris were left to themselves as the southerner quickly made his leave, jacket in tow.

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

"Where the hell is he?" for the fifth time in thirty minutes, Chris Larabee checked between his watch and the front door of Ciro's for the late as usual southerner. His patience was wearing thin with the elusive PI.

"Calm down Chris," Vin Tanner sat beside his boss with a smirk that matched the rogues. "He'll be here… hell, know I would if I were him."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chris glanced over to his friend as the waitress placed their beers on the table for the second time that night.

"Anything else?" The young girl whose nametag read 'Mel' took a look around at the 5 LAW men. Their forensics officer had business which conflicted with their outing, making him unable to come. If they didn't know any better, they would have sworn Nathan had planned it like that.

"Tequila," the big bear of a security officer requested as he looked at the beer, deep in thought until all eyes were on him. "Something new," he answered the quizzical looks he received with a shrug. They didn't know, and he sure as hell wasn't about to tell them.

Mel nodded with the usual joyful smile plastered on her face and moved to the bar to fill Josiah's order.

"Now, what did you mean Vin?" The senior PI posed again, never taking his eyes off the ex-parole officer.

"Just saying that...."

"I do believe what our Mr. Tanner was referring to was the fact that he, like the rest of us, would not wish to feel the `Wraith of Larabee' if we did not carry out your orders," the undercover agent replied from behind the team, his drawl holding a grin that all the LAW men knew by now.

All but one of the men turned to look at him, wondering how long he'd been there, but knowing at the same time he did it just to drive Chris insane. It was like a game to them both, only Larabee
didn't like to play.

"'Bout time" Chris never took his eyes off his drink as Ezra made himself known and sat down between the kid and rogue, though on the opposite side of the table from Larabee.

"Hey Ezra, what's that?" the young computer tech looked at the package Ezra sat on the floor next to Buck.

"That, my young friend, is just a little… insurance, to guarantee our Mr. Wilmington will not try to serenade us tonight," the drawl was laced with a grin as Buck warily looked down at the bag. "Which is why I was late Mr. Larabee. Surely you would agree that tonight warranted the need for a backup plan should Mr. Wilmington decide to, as he calls it, sing."

Josiah smiled at the waitress as she set his drink down in front of him, along with the bottle. "Sorry about the delay," she apologized, "big night. So, any of you guys gonna try it up there?"

All eyes went to Buck, though his own eyes were pasted on the waitress.

"Huh? Oh uh, don't think so. You boys are more than welcome to go up there, though don't think for a minute you could top me at it," the LAW man grinned, looking around at his fellow partners.

"Don't," came the order from Larabee, his gaze on Ezra.

"Why Mr. Larabee, ye of little faith. I had no intention of making a fool of myself in public."

"That ain't what I meant," and Ezra knew it. His patented Larabee glare sent the message of: keep that smart-ass comment to yourself, to which Standish replied with a grin.

"Well uh, if you boys'll excuse me, I think I see someone who needs a little Buck in their life," Buck's eyebrows danced as he sighted a woman alone at her table. "Now kid, remember what I told
ya?"

"Yeah yeah," JD nodded as he fingered the strap of his high-tech zoom camera which lay in front of him. He barely noticed as Buck removed himself from the table.

"What's that all about?" Vin spoke up, turning his head to watch as Buck tried to work his magic.

"Oh, Buck just wants a picture of him and some girl tonight... something about a Wall of Fame or something," he shrugged. "Figured I could try out the new camera while he`s making a fool of himself."

The men all nodded, never quite knowing why Buck did the things he did, especially when it involved a woman.

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

The night wore on, each man having a few or more beers to wash away their worries of the day… or week as it were with Josiah. Reminiscing over past cases, jokes, friendships, relationships, and
just having a good time listening to the idiots who really thought they could sing.

Buck had rejoined them after only two minutes of talking with the brunette.

JD sniffed the air as the rogue sat down at the table, "Smells like...Buck, you smell like beer."

Vin smiled, taking a glance behind his shoulder at the woman before commenting to the LAW man, "That wet shirt her way of tellin' you to leave 'er alone?"

Buck just glowered at the team as the camera shutter clicked, JD making a memory for the team.

No one said anything when they noticed the LAW security officer drink an entire bottle of tequila, figuring he could handle his liquor. They were right too, until he got the notion that he'd try to sing his pains away with a little Elvis.

Without a word, the big man got up, albeit unsteadily, and made his way to the top of the stage. He looked around at the patrons and grinned as he informed the DJ he'd be singing `Blue Moon'.

"Hey he's even better than Buck drunk!" the kid stated with a sweep of his hand at the stage as Josiah began to croon.

"Hell JD, a love-sick calf makes a better noise than Bucklin," Vin chuckled at the indignant look Wilmington shot him. Even Chris couldn't contain his chortle as the rogue leaned back in his chair and sent them all a good natured glare.

"An apt description Mr. Tanner."

"Like you boys could do any better," the tormented LAW man retorted, looking up at Josiah on the stage.

"Seems Josiah is doin' well," Chris informed with a glance up to the big man singing, and the rest of the team followed his gaze.

Surprisingly all went well for the drunk PI as he happily sung up on stage. Of course, that was until he got to the chorus. They shouldn't of been surprised that when Josiah started singing the refrain, he turned around and dropped his pants for all the establishments' eyes to see, his bare bottom hanging in the breeze, but they were.

The front door opened up wide, Detective Brown strolling into the institution just in time to see the supposedly respected LAW man drop his drawers, the cat-calls resounding in his ears as he just stood there, frozen at what he had witnessed.

The bar broke out with fits of laughter as the LAW men sat there, dazed. Ezra finally broke out of his astonishment and commented on the sight he beheld, "Dear lord, I do believe that man has seen 'Grease' one time too many."

Ciro's security quickly dragged the singing lunatic behind the curtain as camera shutters clicked from all around the establishment, the flashcubes making themselves known.

"So much for our night out," Vin commented, trying to keep the laughing to a minimum and failing miserably.

"I don't know… thought that was kind of funny," Larabee's grin matched the rest of the teams as JD piped up with his bit of news

"Yeah, it'll be something Josiah ain't gonna forget," he patted the high-tech machine in front of him.

"You took a photograph of our Mr…?"

"Yep," he remarked, taking glances at each of his partners in turn. "What? This isn't something he's going to forget!"

Chris and Vin shot a look at each other, both with matching grins.

"I'll pick it up tomorrow."

"What's that Vin?" Buck looked between Larabee and Tanner.

"Picture frame," Vin chuckled and watched as his partners jaw dropped slightly before smiling.

"Yes indeed, that was definitely a Kodak moment that Mr. Sanchez would treasure," The southerner replied before looking over his shoulder at the front door that had been slammed.

Brown stood there, grim features set in stone, as he sent a silent message to Chris.

**What the heck just happened here? You boys are supposed to be respective men in this community!**

**Don't ask me, I just sat back and watched the show**

All the LAW men exchanged glances to each other, aware that the night just got more interesting.

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

After 20 minutes of conversing with the Detective, Ezra Standish made his way back to the table the five still occupied. Wearily, he sat down and looked at the anticipation building in each face of the men he'd grown to know.

"I have just explained to our dear Detective Brown, that Mr. Sanchez's actions were completely devoted to solving a certain assignment we are currently working on here. He seems to have
bought into it, and will not be jailing Mr. Sanchez for unlawful exposure anytime soon."

Each man let out a sigh of relief.

"Nice job Ezra," Chris commended with a nod, and stood up. "Well boys, time to get going. This place closes in 5 minutes."

Vin and JD both nodded, rising from their chairs "We'll make sure Josiah gets home safe," the sharpshooter punctuated with a nod.

"See that you do."

After all the "good night"s and "see you in the morning's" were said and done, Buck and Ezra were left alone. The LAW mechanic, after hours of eyeing the supposedly harmful surprise bag, couldn't take it any longer and snatched the package from the undercover agents seat. To his surprise, the southerner just grinned as he stood up. "Good night Mr. Wilmington, enjoy." The delighted smile stayed on his features as he walked out of Ciro's and towards his car.

The burly law man stood there for a moment before ripping into the bag and producing a t-shirt. He unfolded it carefully, aware that the southerner always had a trick up his fancy sleeve.

Holding the new navy blue t-shirt in front of him, that undoubtedly would be missing the sleeves and neckline the minute he got home, he read the bold white bubble letter inscription across the chest;

That which does not kill us… surely didn't come from my mouth

"Ezra!!"

THE END