ATF

Ezra bit his knuckle as he observed the scene. “My compliments on your choice, Mr. Wilmington. I thought you’d gone crazy, but this is wonderful!”

Buck’s eyes sparkled with fun. “Nathan said he’d done this as a kid and I couldn’t resist throwing his party here.”

Giving up the fight, Ezra snickered helplessly as Josiah moved past. “Those love-beads really complement the whole tie-dye ensemble, don’t they?”

“Man, look at Chris. He’s actually good!” Vin exclaimed.

“JD, too,” Buck pointed out.

Exchanging a grin, the three agents joined the rest of their team at Rico’s Roller-Disco, ready to boogie down.

ATF (double-drabble)

“Would it kill you to give a thumbs-up once in awhile?”

Chris Larabee looked up from his papers, startled by the abrupt question. “What?”

“Every one of us busted his ass to get this case completed. We worked long and hard and got it done without a shot fired, but you couldn’t even unbend enough to tell the boys they did a good job,” Buck growled. “You can’t keep doing this, Chris. With you, it’s always, ‘not bad but next time do better’. A man can only take so many back-handed compliments before he decides he’s been slapped around enough.”

As Buck spun on his heel and left, still grumbling, Chris considered his words. He wasn’t one for lavishing undue praise, but what about when it was deserved? Every one of his men complemented the team in their own unique style, giving 110% every day. Did they really not know how much he appreciated them?

Six men looked up as Larabee emerged from his office. “Great work today, all of you,” he barked. “Drinks are on me tonight.”

As the office door slammed shut again, Buck grinned widely. Ezra voiced everyone’s thoughts as he asked him, “What just happened here?”