How Green Becomes Wood

Catching it, Cooger held the gun up in mock salute and said, "Love ya," before chasing down after Xander, continuing to absolutely soak him.

Hearing this commotion, Dark pried himself off of Daizi, fixed her lipstick with his thumb, and the pair of them crept back around the side of the house to see what was happening. At that moment, Cooger was chasing Xander straight towards him, and seeing the dire state his son was in, he reached down and unholstered Daizi's gun from where it was holstered to her thigh, aiming it straight at Cooger's face, in a move reminiscent of what Russ had done earlier. "Now you are going to leave my son alone," Dark said, while Cooger skidded to a stop.
 
Xander ran, yelping and laughing from Cooger, covering his head as if that would do anything at all. He almost ran into Dark but managed to duck down and to the side just in time. He grinned when he saw Dark stepping up. "Thanks, Ba."
 
Dark nodded to Xander, stepping so his son could move behind him.

"See here," Cooger said, panting from exertion, raising his gun to Dark, "This son of yours is an enemy of the law. He robbed my town. He made an attempt on my life. He needs to go into the laws hands."

"He may," Dark replied, standing with his shoulders back and admittedly feeling kind of cool with his hat and his wife holding onto him, "But you will not harm him to do so, you will have to go through me."
 
Xander stood back behind Dark and Daizi, and, though he might not have actually admitted doing so, admired how awesome his father looked in that moment. The hat really helped, but even if he didn't have the hat, he was pretty cool in that moment.

Alec was peeking around the corner, and he openly admired Dark. After a moment of fumbling with his phone, he took a series of quick photos and hoped hard that at least one of them would come out.
 
"If you let me take him alive, no one else has to get hurt," Cooger said, somewhat hesitant.

"I do not know if I can take a lawman at his word," Dark said.

"Who'll look after your kids if you're in jail for shooting me?"

"I saved your life earlier," Dark reminded him, "You still owe me."

"You got yours, I let you sell your wares."

"No," Dark said, "Not good enough." He was just about to pull the trigger when a low, raspy mrow caught their attention. Hank, still with his little hat and bandana on, stretched, hopped off the balcony, and strode towards them, cool as anything. He then rubbed his body between Cooger's legs.

"Aw hell," Cooger sighed, "I think my Deputy here is asking me to be merciful.'
 
"Now that's a deputy," Xander said with a nod.

Alec suppressed a tiny squeal, reminded of just how cute Hank was, and caught a few pictures of him.

Lex sauntered around after Cooger, not having bothered with running. "So, what's happening here? Looks like quite the standoff. Is Hank there asking you to let them go?"
 
"That he can't be trusted," Cooger said, hoping she remembered the way she had teased about Dark earlier.

"I saved your life," Dark replied, "All I am asking is you spare my son's life in turn."
 
"Very true," Lex agreed, nodding, "very true, but, then again, when the kid's life is on the line, what parent can't be trusted to do what they think is best for them? Besides, he did save your life from that sneaky assassin attack."

"He did, indeed," Xander agreed. "You do owe him for that, and selling some bottles of mystery stuff can't possibly make up for it, can it?"
 
Cooger hesitated. This standoff couldn't go on forever, because eventually the game would grow stale and they'd all get bored. It was already, perhaps, a bit drawn out. Yet some childish part of him desired victory. It was, after all, his birthday.

"Think," Daizi said, "If you let us go, think of the clandestine services we can offer your town."

"My town is full of corpses after your gang ripped through here," Cooger said.

"Not dead, only dying," Dark shrugged, "Are you really going to shoot down the only man capable of fixing that just to get to some kid?"

After a few moments, Cooger looked at Daizi, "What kind of help?"

"More than one outlaw gang in the west," She said, "If you let us all go, we can make sure they don't come poking around here. Everybody wins. Then, forget being the Sheriff, you could be the mayor. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me," She turned her head towards Xander, still holding onto her husband's arm, "That sound like a pretty good deal to you?"
 
"It's the best deal we're going to get where we all walk out of here alive," Daizi said.

Cooger still hesitated and then commanded Dark to set his gun down first. Normally, Dark would refuse, but since it was Cooger's birthday, he agreed to the request and then stepped back with his hands up. "Okay," Cogger nodded, "Y'all can go, but mark my words, if y'all ever cause a ruckus in my town again, I won't be so merciful."
 
"Alright. You got your wish, Sheriff. We'll go. You got off easy," said Xander as if he wasn't dripping wet and had clearly been hit more times than Cooger had.

"And cut!" Alec chirped. "Excellent shot! I'd say that's a wrap! You're all beautiful."
 
As soon as Alec yelled cut, Cooger started laughing and went over to dap Dark up, "That's the closest I've ever come to wanting to shoot you dead, brother."

"Second closest for me," Dark teased, slapping Cooger on the back, "I am taking one of your towels with me, though, I do not want Xander to soak my car."

"That's fair," Cooger agreed.
 
"Oh, man, it's cold!" Xander blurted, shaking off his arm as best as he could. "Should have done this at midday."

"I think that's why most gunslinging duals happen at noon," Alec grinned. "That, or because that's when you can be sure the sun's going to be in a fair position and not blinding one or the other."

"Probably," Xander agreed.

"Alright, you lot. The place was almost cleaned up, so let's get that done and send you on your way so you can warm up before you catch your death," Lex laughed. She went to get a trash bag and help finish picking up whatever was left. Almost all of it was soggy.
 
Dark went inside to get a towel, and before coming back out, he cleaned up inside a little bit. Daizi, meanwhile, called her boys over to help bring in and pack up any non-soggy foods and pack any of their belongings back into the car.

After Dark came back outside, he handed Xander a towel and then, going into his trunk, he said, "I have one of my sweatshirts in here if you want to put it on."
 
Thankfully, Alec and Xander had both had the foresight to pack away and hide the food so that it would not get soaked in the crossfire. No one wanted to waste food! Especially not birthday cake. They helped Daizi pack up and get everything nice and tidy.

Xander dried off as best as he could and nodded to Dark. "A sweatshirt might be nice," he admitted. "Thanks. Good timing, by the way."

Lex was seeing Toby off and making sure he had everything. Toby didn't like driving, but, unlike Alec, he was still willing to do so. He packed up what was needed, told his mother goodbye, and bid Cooger a final happy birthday before leaving.
 
"You are welcome," Dark replied, going into his trunk for the sweatshirt he had kept in their every day since the time he was shirtless at Ciara's apartment. This one was long enough to reach his wrists comfortably, and big enough that Daizi wore it comfortably (and regularly) in her final month of pregnancy, which is to say it was not designed for someone of Xander's build. Frankly, it wasn't designed for someone of Dark's build, only for someone of his height, which is how it became the assigned emergency car sweatshirt. It was a warm, cozy thing which smelled strongly of Dark's cologne, so if Daizi discovered where it had been hidden, it was likely a different sweatshirt would have to swiftly replace it in the trunk.

Thankfully, Daizi had gone upstairs to fetch her sleeping baby and do her absolute best to lift her up off the bed and carry her downstairs without waking her. It was like diffusing a bomb. Getting her into her car seat without waking her was even harder.

Cooger, meanwhile, was busy saying goodbye to all his guests and his parents, feeling satisfied he had hosted a really legendary party.
 
Xander climbed into the sweatshirt and immediately had the sensation of being four again and borrowing an adult garment. He tried to shake it off as he pulled, and pulled, and pulled the sleeves up until he could find his hands. "It's warm. Thanks," he told Dark gravely while behind him, Alec stared fixedly at the stars and tried not to laugh.
 
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