The Magnificent Seven Fic - 'A Man Reborn' - 3/6

[azombiewrites]

Title: A Man Reborn
Rating: PG
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: Space Cowboys
Main Characters: All Seven.
Summary: Six men make up Team Seven, a group of professional bounty hunters. After a fellow bounty hunter’s cover is blown, he joins the team and begins the journey of changing his life forever.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 58,220



'I really can't remember.' Ezra shrugged.

He stood in the middle of the room, his hands clasped behind his back while Travis continued to circle him.

'You don't remember.' Travis stopped pacing, stood behind the smaller man, and yelled into his ear. 'THIS IS WHAT THAT SHIT IS DOING TO YOU!' To emphasise his words he hit Ezra's head hard with the palm of his right hand. 'You're going to get yourself killed, you know that don't you!'

'Death is always a possibility in this job.'

'You open your mouth one more time and I'm going to kill you!'

'Yes Sir!'

'You want to die? Is that it? Are you going out of your way to kill yourself?'

'Not when someone else is going to do the job for me.'

Travis sighed when his anger suddenly left him. 'Sit down Ezra.'

'Judge, I know what you're going to say.' he sat down in one of the chairs facing the large desk.

'That's because I've said it before.' Travis growled then sat in the chair next to Ezra.

'It was a one off thing and it won't happen again.'

'A one off thing! Look at you! You've used it more than once, even I can tell that.'

'Then why ask Doctor Zachary.'

'Don't you start with that smart mouth of yours Standish. I won't have it!'

'I'm sorry Judge, but I couldn't . . . '

'This time you're doing it with help.'

'Help?'

'Yes, help. I don't trust you not to use it again.'

'Judge . . . ' Ezra began to plead for his life, 'I can do this, honest, I don't need to be put into a hospital.'

'I didn't say I was putting you in one.' Travis smiled at the relief on Ezra's face.

'Why don't we kill two birds with one stone.'

'Excuse me?'

'It's an old saying from before the war.'

'I know what it is!' Ezra retorted, 'I just don't know which two birds you're talking about.'

'Yes you do.' Travis stood up and squeezed Ezra's shoulder to stop him from running away. Stay here while I go and get your new team mates.'

'What!' he tried to jump up out of his chair but the Judge's hand was squeezing his injured shoulder. 'I . . . I . . . I don't have any . . . you can't . . . Judge . . . you just can't.'

'Watch me young man.'

'This is even worse than I thought it was going to be. Why couldn't Halis shoot straight?'

Travis raised his eyebrows at the statement, he could never figure out when Standish was serious or not. He left the room knowing what was waiting for him outside.

******

'You do know it's rude to eavesdrop.' Chris pulled JD away from the door.

'He's not yelling anymore.' JD whispered to anyone who was still listening.

'He hasn't been yelling for the last five minutes JD!' Buck swooped forward and knocked the antique cowboy hat off his head. 'Why you wear that stupid thing . . . I don't know.'

'It's an antique Buck!'

'Antique all right, I'm surprised it doesn't fall apart on you.'

'Shut up Buck!'

'JD!' Chris spoke with authority, 'leave Buck alone!'

'What?'

The door opened when Chris was about to explain. Call him a liar and you'll either die within a second or you'll pay for it for the rest of your life; and it didn't matter if he was lying at the time of the accusation.

'Gentlemen.' Travis greeted them. 'Would you like to come in?'

'What for?' Chris was immediately suspicious of Travis' friendly tone.

'Because I want you to.' Travis kept the smile on his face even though he wanted to yell at the man in front of him.

'Why?'

Good Lord, sometimes Chris could be almost as frustrating as Ezra.

'Get in here now!'

'Okay.' Chris agreed and entered the office.

Travis turned to the rest of the men.

'All of you!'


Judge Orin Travis decided that it might be best if he went and had a check up after dealing with this lot. He wouldn't be surprised if he suffered some sort of heart attack in the next ten minutes.

He followed them into the room. Five of the group was standing behind Standish while Larabee stood on his own on the other side of the room. Larabee and Standish were like chalk and cheese, they would never get along.

'Gentlemen, I have a new assignment for you.'

'Thank you someone.' Chris lifted his head skywards.

'Does that mean that we can't help Ezra?' JD asked the Judge.

'Ezra's your new assignment.'

'What!'

Ezra jumped out of his chair.

Chris charged the desk, he was almost crying. 'You can't do that to me.'

Buck moved around to face Ezra, reached out with his hand, and closed Ezra's mouth.

Ezra blinked and stared at Buck. 'He can't do that. Can he?'

'He just did Ezra. Don't worry, we won't bite.'

Ezra used his arms to push Buck back against the table. 'That one threatened to kill me,' he pointed at Chris who was still fighting back the tears, 'that one hit me,' his accusing finger moved to point out Josiah.

'It was Chris that hit you Ezra, remember.'

Ezra grimaced in disgust and pointed at JD, 'That one is too nice for his own fucking good.'

'What are we supposed to do with him?' Chris growled when he got his emotions under control.

'Protect him, and find out who wants him dead . . . besides himself that is.' Travis threw that one in for Ezra.

'What did you mean by that?' Josiah hadn't like the suggested meaning behind those words.

'I mean that he doesn't care if he lives or dies.'

'Judge . . . I don't think that is any of their business and I would prefer it if you didn't talk about me to anyone that isn't me!'

'You're no longer a part of this conversation Standish so you better sit down and shut up.'

'Judge, I . . . '

'Sit down and shut up! Not another word Ezra, I mean it this time. I've had enough of trying to drag you out of the shit hole you allowed yourself to be thrown into. Every time I start to get somewhere, you do something that drags you back in and I still can't understand why you won't fight back!'

'Because it's a waste of my time!' Ezra retorted.

'You're a stupid son-of-a-bitch Ezra.'

'Yeah, tell me about it.' Ezra slumped back down into his chair.

'There's also something else that I want you to do . . . '

'Judge, not in front of them all . . . please.' Ezra was looking down at his hands.

'Nathan, you stay, the rest of you know what your assignment is. Make sure you do it right because as of now, Ezra is the new member of your team.'

'Excuse me.' Chris choked on the words.

'He's no longer an infiltrator, I won't allow it, he needs somewhere to go, and he's going with you.'

'This time I'm really going to cry.' Chris hung his head and searched out Buck for some emotional comfort.

'You can leave now.' Travis dismissed them. 'Nathan, take a seat please.'

'Sure, um . . . is this something medical?'

'Yes.'

'Do we have to tell him this, I know I can do it on my own.' Ezra knew he was wasting his breath.

'A year ago while on an assignment, Ezra made the mistake of using ORD to cover his escape.'

'That's addictive.' Nathan explained.

'We know.'

'I didn't have a choice,' Ezra told them, 'they had already killed . . . I . . . had to find a way to get the information back to base.'

'You took the drug so they would think you were dead?'

'Yes.'

'As you would guess, Ezra became addicted to the drug. We've tried to get him off it a few times but he keeps going back to it.'

'That explains his condition.' Nathan nodded. 'ORD suppresses the appetite. That's why you're so underweight?'

Ezra could only nod.

'How often do you use it?'

'Once a week, it's as long as I can go without it. I don't want to take it but I get so bad that I can't stand it anymore. I give in.'

'Do you eat every day?'

'Not for the first three days after I take it. I don't get hungry until the fourth day.'

'So, you're more or less a walking dead man.'

'Something like that.' Ezra agreed. 'I don't feel that bad though.'

'No, that's what it does, it makes you feel good afterwards, too good. The drug may leave your system after half an hour or so but for some reason the body goes on a high and stays there for a while. You still feel pain and other physical things but not as badly as you would without the drug. It's why so many people use it.'

'Who's been supplying you Ezra?' Travis asked him.

'No one you know. I get it while I'm working.'

'You're not using it again. Do you understand me Ezra?'

'Yes Sir.'

'Nathan, can you get him off the stuff?'

'Yeah, the worst part will take a few days.'

'Take him somewhere safe and take care of him for me.'

'Yes Sir.'

'When you've done that, you guys can find out who wants him dead.'

'Judge . . .' Ezra started.

'Ezra, I want you to do this, do it for me okay. I want you off this stuff for good.'

'Sure.' Ezra agreed.

'Promise me Ezra.'

'I promise.'

'Good, now go. I'll see you when you get back, we'll talk about things then okay.'

Ezra nodded and reluctantly followed Nathan out of the office. He knew what the next week was going to be like. It would be worse than hell. But maybe he would be a better man after it was over. He shook his head. That would never happen.


*******

'What did I do Buck?'

Buck stood by his friend's side, his arm draped loosely across Chris's shoulders.

'You didn't do anything Chris, this has nothing to do with you.' Buck assured him.

'What did I do?' Chris repeated, 'I mean . . . I only kill when I have to, and it's not like I enjoy it or anything. I only beat the shit out of people when they deserve it. That I enjoy but I shouldn't be punished for it, and the last time I hit anyone was . . . '

'Yesterday.' Josiah reminded him.

Chris glared over his shoulder at the older man.

'Don't listen to him Chris, he's not the one that's suffering here.'

'He's going to break me Buck.'

'No he's not, he's a skinny little weakling that's all mouth. You're Mr. Tuff Guy. Look at you, you've got that glare that everyone fears, you have a gun under that jacket, which by the way is very nice . . .'

'You like it?'

'Yeah, very nice.'

'It's new.'

'Really, I've always wanted one like that.'

'You can borrow it when you want to.'

'Thanks, I think something like that would impress the ladies.'

'Guys, have you finished yet?' Vin questioned them.

'Back off Vin!' Chris yelled at him. 'I'm having a moment here, a moment that I'm not going to be able to have again, so just let me have it.'

'Okay.' Vin shrugged his shoulders.

'He's ruined it Buck.'

'It's not going to be that bad Chris, give the guy a chance okay.'

'No, I meant Vin, he's ruined my moment.'

'Oh.' Buck removed his arm.

Both men turned when the door to Travis' office opened. Nathan was gently leading Standish out into the corridor to join them.

'Chris, we need to go somewhere safe for a couple of weeks.'

'Why?'

'Travis' orders.'

'Why didn't he tell me?'

'You were a bit emotional at the time.' Nathan couldn't help but smile.

'Has it got something to do with Standish?' Chris refused to look at the man in question.

'Yeah it has.'

When Nathan didn't go into any details, Chris nodded. He wasn't going to force Nathan to discuss something that was obviously private. If they were meant to know what was going on, Travis would have told them.

'You got any ideas?'

'Yeah.'

Chris pulled at his jacket, dealt with his emotions and took charge again. 'Tell me when we're on board. Let's go.'


Nine


Six men sat huddled together in the large resting area that was full of comfortable chairs, viewing screen and two fridges full of beer, it was all they needed to relax. The seventh sat in a corner away from them; he wanted to distance himself away from men that he only knew by reputation. His eyes were watching them carefully, looking for some clue that these men were going to turn on him. People always did, it was a way of life for him. He trusted no one, just like his mother had taught him. He hated his life and his personality and often wished that he could go back and change everything. He wanted to have friends, to care about people and have those people care about him. It was so easy for other humans to show their emotions, to tell someone what they were feeling. But he couldn't and he wouldn't, it would only show people how weak he was, another one of his mother's lessons.

'So where are we going?' Chris asked impatiently.

'Okania.' Nathan answered.

'No.' Ezra stated simply without showing his surprise.

'JD, Buck, get us started.' Chris nodded to the two men.

'I'm not going to Okania.' Ezra told them again when Buck and JD had left.

'Why Okania?'

'It's quiet and we know the Rebellion hasn't gotten to it yet-'

'You're an idiot if you think that's true.' Ezra snarled at the dark man. He knew that if his mother had been there a month ago then the Rebellion would be there now. His mother had been part of the Rebellion since it had started so many years ago. He had been born into it, into a world of violence, lies, and lived it for fourteen years.

'Fresh air, fresh food and rooms that have locks on them.' Nathan continued.

'Rooms that have locks on them?' Chris was suddenly curious. 'You're going to lock him up?'

'No one is going to do anything because I am not going!' this time he raised his voice so he would be sure that the men ignoring him would hear him.

'I'm going to lock him up.' Nathan nodded with a smile.

'Are you not listening to me?'

'Is this something that I can watch?' A childish glint appeared in Chris's eyes.

Josiah groaned and shook his head in disappointment.

'No.'

Ezra was about to lose all patience. He had been ignored during his childhood life and he had promised himself that it would never happen again but it was happening now. The men who had been ordered to help him were ignoring him.

'Why am I being ignored?' Ezra demanded to know.

'Because you're an arrogant asshole who doesn't know what's good for him.' Chris gladly answered.

'You don't have a choice in the matter Ezra,' Nathan explained to him, 'Travis gave me my orders and I'm going to follow them.'

'I may not have a choice in the matter but that doesn't give you a reason to ignore me!'

'I don't need a reason.' Chris told him.

'Chris!' Josiah warned him.

'I'm not going to Okania.' Ezra repeated.

'You've said that four times already Ezra.' Josiah acknowledged him.

'I've said it four times because no one is listening to me.'

'You don't need to say it again Ezra because you're going.' Nathan told him in a forceful tone.

'I'm not going.'

'That's five.' Chris held up five fingers.

'How long is it going to take to get there?' Josiah asked Chris. He needed to occupy his leader's thoughts with something else.

'About twenty eight hours if I remember correctly.'

'That long.' Ezra sat down heavily in the chair that he had moved to the corner of the room earlier.

'Oh that's right, you've got Dimension Affliction.' Chris chuckled.

'We've got the antidote Ezra, that isn't a problem.' Nathan gave him a smile of reassurance but it didn't seem to work on the Infiltrator.

'I'm allergic to it.' Ezra grimaced back at him.

'Oh, that's not going to help.'

'Tell me about it!' Ezra growled back at him.

'Oh this is going to be great.' Chris rubbed his hands together.

'Leave.' Josiah ordered Chris.

'You can't tell me to leave Josiah, I'm your boss remember.'

'I don't care, leave and leave now.'

'Okay, I was starting to get bored anyway. I think I've had enough of this stubborn asshole.' Chris stood up and walked out of the room.

'I do have a name you know!' Ezra yelled after him.

'I know,' Chris yelled back over his shoulder, 'and as far as I'm concerned, its 'stubborn asshole'.'

Josiah hung his head in disappointment. Chris was a man who was respected by him and the team. Respect that the man had not only earned but also deserved. But at this moment in time, he was truly ashamed by the way Chris was acting towards Standish. For some reason Chris had taken an instant dislike to the man, a dislike that he was sure Standish didn't deserve. He made a mental note to talk to Chris about it later.

'I'm still not going.'

'Why?' Josiah lifted his eyes to look at Standish.

'That's none of your business'

Josiah stood up hoping that his stature would intimidate the smaller man. 'We're going unless you can give us a good enough reason not to.'

Ezra lowered his eyes, he wasn't going to tell them anything, and if he did, they would only use it against him at a later time.

'Tell them nothing Ezra.' His mother whispered into his mind.

'You're going.'

'Why don't we go and get something to eat and discuss it.' Nathan stood and waited for Ezra to follow his lead.

'I'm not hungry.'

'I know that Ezra but you need to eat something.' Nathan slipped into the role of doctor easily.

'I'm not hungry.'

'What about something to drink? Coffee maybe?' If he could at least get him into the mess then he would be able to get him to eat.

Ezra thought about it for a moment then nodded, it had been a while since he had fluids and this was the first time someone had offered any to him. He stood up and followed Josiah and Nathan out of the room.

Ezra glared at the determined expression on Nathan Jackson's dark features after the man placed a plate of food in front of him. I thought we agreed that I wasn't going to eat. This man thought he could force Ezra Standish into doing something he didn't want to do. No one forced Ezra Standish to do anything. No one. There was a time when the only person who could do that was his mother. Ezra had become independent at the age of fourteen; he became a man who lived his own life. It had been a day of jubilee when he said no to his mother. The shock that broke out on the normally cold features was enough to convince him that he had said the right thing. She was no longer going to use him and neither was any other man or woman. It had happened to often in his short young life, but never again.
Without looking down at the food, Ezra pushed the plate away. He wasn't hungry, he had told him that and Jackson had accepted it but now he was trying to get him to eat. Ezra couldn't help but smile when Nathan growled at him then pushed the food back.

'Eat it!' Nathan ordered the younger man.

'No.' Ezra pushed it back again.

'Ezra!'

'Yes Mr. Jackson?'

Ezra was aware that the rest of Bounty Seven were watching with baited breath to see who was going to win the small battle of wills. If they knew him, they would know the answer. But no one knew him, he had always kept to himself, a wall that had grown around him kept others from becoming familiar with his personality. He only allowed them to see what he wanted them to see. It had always made it easier to live this way.

'Ezra, I'm only going to say this once . . . '

'By all means, I wouldn't want you to have to repeat yourself.'

Nathan ignored him. 'If you don't eat everything on that plate, I'm going to drag you down to my medical bay, force a tube down your throat and force feed you. Do I make myself clear!'

'Yes you do.'

Nathan nodded in satisfaction and stood back to watch the man eat. JD leaned forward in his seat to look past Buck, who was eating with his usual finesse, to see if Ezra was going to do as he was told. Josiah who was sitting across from Wilmington hoped that Ezra was going to eat, the man needed the nutrition, and he also didn't want to see good food go to waste. Vin, who was sitting next to the ill man winked at Larabee who was sitting across from him. Chris ignored the entire situation, he didn't care if the man ate or not.

Ezra, still without looking at the food, lifted the plate and tipped it upside down. The vegetable stew Vin had made fell across the table leaving an imaginary image of meat, potatoes and carrots smiling up at the man who was now leaning against the table.

'Josiah,' Nathan moved around the table towards Ezra, 'could you give me a hand please.'

'What is it that you're going to do Nathan?' Josiah pushed his plate away and stood up.

'I'm going to do exactly what I said I was going to do.'

'This I have to see.' Chris jumped from his chair. 'It'll make the day worthwhile, may even help lull me to sleep tonight.'

'Chris!' Josiah growled.

'What?'

Josiah didn't want to go through this again. There was no reason for Chris to be acting this way. He glared into his leader's eyes and saw a type of amusement that seemed to make him look ten years younger. It was always good to see Chris enjoy life after what he'd been through, but Josiah preferred that this wasn't one of those times. This attitude that Chris had was going to force Standish to fight back, maybe even make him leave and try to defend himself against whoever it was that was trying to kill him.

'You're not coming.' Josiah pointed an accusing finger at Chris.

'Why not?' Chris demanded to know.

'Because I know you're going to enjoy yourself way to much watching this man suffer.'

'I'm going to suffer?' Ezra licked at his bottom lip.

'I'm going.' Chris moved away from the table and headed towards the medical room.

Ezra didn't worry about it, they were just trying to scare him, and it was a game they were playing, a way to amuse themselves. They wouldn't hold him down while Jackson forced a tube down his throat. He wasn't scared. They wouldn't do it.

'Is there a need to do this?' Josiah turned his attention back to Nathan.

'Yes.'

Josiah heard the seriousness in Nathan's voice and saw the expression on his face. This was important. Nathan wouldn't force-feed a man unless it was necessary.

'Okay, let's do it then.' Josiah grabbed an arm while Nathan grabbed the other one.

'Don't I have a say in this?' Ezra asked as they grabbed his arms and tore him from the chair.

'You had a say remember.' Nathan pulled at the man who was now fighting to escape.

'I did not have a say!' Ezra protested and tried to squirm his way out of Nathan and Josiah's grips.

'You emptied the plate of food.' Nathan said in warlike manner because he knew he was in for a fight.

'That wasn't a say, it was a protest against the force-feeding of men who are not hungry. Somebody has to stand tall for the cowards who won't fight for themselves.'

Nathan and Josiah stopped and looked down at Standish.

'Did you say tall?' Josiah smiled at Ezra.

'It's a figure of speech Mr. Sanchez.'

'It would have to be.'

'I'm going to give you one last chance Ezra, go back and eat or I force-feed you,' Nathan said.

'I see you had to say it more than once.' Ezra wore a smug expression that angered Nathan even more.

'That's it, I don't care, and you're going to be force fed and when you start to beg . . .'

'I don't beg.' Ezra warned him.

'You'd rather go through this than eat?' Josiah asked him.

Ezra, who was continuing to fight but only managed to keep his feet placed firmly on the ground, gave Josiah a look that equalled the same expression you would get from a stubborn two year old. He wasn't going to lose any ground in this small battle.

'I bet you were an only child Ezra.' Nathan shook his head and began to pull Standish along behind him. The sound of boots skidding along the floor didn't bother him one single bit, the man brought it on himself.

The three men entered the medical room to find that Chris had already prepared the bed. The covers had been pulled back and the restraints laid out for easy reach. Chris, the man himself, was standing in a position near the bed that would allow him to see everything. A cocky smile covered his features. The smile grew even more when he nodded to Standish then indicated the bed.

'Chris, I want you to leave! You're only going to embarrass him.'

'Leave him be Mr. Sanchez,' Ezra glared at Larabee, 'he obviously doesn't get a lot of enjoyment out of life, let him have this one.'

'Ezra, this isn't a damn show for people to watch and enjoy.' Josiah growled.

'Perhaps I should charge him an entrance fee.'

The three men didn't realise that Ezra was being serious.

'Get on the bed.' Nathan ordered his patient.

'You tell him Nathan.' Chris cheered the doctor on.

'Chris it's bad enough that you're here to watch, but do you have to verbalise your enjoyment!' Josiah reprimanded him.

Chris continued to smile, he was going to enjoy himself and nothing these men said was going to change his mind

'Ezra!' Nathan growled deep in his throat.

'You said you were going to force me, so force me.' Ezra smiled widely.

'If that's the way you want it.' Nathan couldn't believe a person could be so stubborn. Standish was willing to go through with this shit. Maybe it was the drug; it could be that it affected his mind. 'Josiah, Chris, give me a hand.'

'Gladly.' Chris quickly moved forward.

'Nathan, can't you just do it the normal way.' Josiah pleaded.

'No, you saw what he did, he won't eat the normal way. If you want to try and convince him then go ahead'

'Ezra, would . . .?'

'No, I wouldn't.'

'Nathan!'

'Josiah, it has to be done and if he continues to refuse to eat then I'm going to have to do this for the next five or six days at least.'

'Why that long?'

'I've been asked to do a job Josiah so don't ask me any questions. If you want to know what's going on you have to ask him.' Nathan nodded to the man in between them.

'Ezra?' Josiah nudged him with his elbow.

'It's none of your . . .'

'I know, it's none of my business.' Josiah nodded and grimaced at the same time.

'Josiah, grab his legs, Chris, take his arms. I'll do the straps.'

Ezra became tense; so far, these men were going to go through with it. Ezra was sure though, that they wouldn't. They would go so far and then give in. He would win, he always did. These men wouldn't force-feed him. Still, he had to continue with his part, he had to make it hard for them. His body fought them, his legs kicked out but Josiah's strength was able to keep the legs from escaping. Arms struggled to grab hold of Chris's arms. His body bucked and twisted. Ezra didn't begin to use his voice; he still thought that they weren't going to go through it.

The two men managed to get Standish on the bed and Nathan, quickly and expertly put the restraints around Standish's four limbs. Nathan moved away and began to prepare what he needed to force-feed the man.

Ezra pulled at the restraints, there wasn't enough movement for him to continue his fight. His eyes were trained on Jackson's back. This was where they were supposed to stop. They had him strapped to the bed, they were going to try to scare him with the different instruments that Nathan said he would use. Then they would throw everything down in frustration, release him, and then tell him to go to hell and die. They would no longer care about what happened to him.

Nathan returned to the bed with a small tray that held a long tube in a bag that had been suffocated until there was no air left, and a large syringe that was filled with a thick white substance. It also held gloves, a bowl of water, and tape. He looked down into the green eyes that were staring back at him.

'Last chance Ezra. If you agree to eat, I won't have to do this.'

'That's three times Nathan.'

'Hold his head Josiah.'

'Ezra,' Josiah tried.

'I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat anything.'

Okay this was it. Nathan is about to throw everything down in frustration.

Josiah gripped Standish's forehead, chin firmly, and pushed downwards to open his mouth.

Now hang on a minute. This wasn't supposed to be happening. I'm losing here and I don't lose.

Ezra watched, his eyes wide and staring as Nathan prepared the tube to be inserted. This wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening. Nathan wouldn't do it, he can't do it. But Ezra began to comprehend what was happening. They were going to do it. Fear began to fill him. He was strapped to a bed. He'd lost control of the situation, he was now vulnerable to these men.

'Nathan, I'll eat, I promise, I'll eat. You don't have to do this, really.' Ezra began to beg like he said he wouldn't. It was something he didn't normally do but he had an understandable fear of anything that had to do with doctors and medical procedures.

Nathan placed a hand on Ezra's shoulder and placed the tube at the entrance to his mouth.

'Please Nathan, you don't have to do this.'

He felt the tube enter his mouth. His mind began to scream and exaggerate the pain and discomfort. He coughed and choked when Nathan had to push harder to get the tube past his oesophagus. Ezra instinctively began to chew on the tube as it travelled down the back of his throat.

Josiah wanted to stop Nathan. He had heard the fear in Ezra's voice. It had been a front, a brave stubborn front. Ezra didn't know Nathan though. When it came to helping people, nobody could beat Nathan when it came to being persuasive. But then again, anyone with a needle that held a sedative could win a fight, especially when the patient was strapped to a bed.

Ezra continued to fight, his body bucked and twisted but the movements did nothing to stop Nathan. He blinked when Nathan stepped back to check his work. Ezra's body decided that it couldn't breathe with the tube in his throat so he began to drag in deep breaths through his nose to satisfy his lungs.

'Breath normally Ezra.' Nathan told him.

'How long is this going to take Nathan?' Josiah quickly glanced at Nathan.

'A few minutes.'

Ezra didn't feel the thick liquid enter his stomach like he had felt the tube. A few minutes, a few minutes were going to feel like an eternity. He closed his eyes and waited. Waited for what was forever until Nathan threw the syringe away.

'I'm done Ezra. I'm just going to take the tube out now okay.'

Nathan didn't receive an answer. Ezra still watched him through slitted eyelids. That was okay with him, he didn't really want to look at those eyes. He had seen the fear in them but he refused to give in. If he hadn't force fed him, the man would never have eaten. The only thing he could have done then was watch him die. Travis wouldn't be happy.

Once the tube was removed, Nathan sprayed Ezra's mouth and throat with a liquid that would make it easier for him to swallow. He then nodded to Chris and Josiah to remove the restraints.

'Wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be.' Chris muttered to Josiah.

'Glad to hear it brother.' Josiah smiled in return.

'It's okay now Ezra. I want you to lie down for a while though, make sure you don't throw it up.'

Ezra groaned and rolled himself onto his side so his back was to the three men.

'Why don't we leave him be for a while.' Nathan began to walk away from the bed. 'Just call me on the com Ezra if you need anything.'

'Does that include the fact that I need you to die?' Ezra asked dryly.

'You're welcome Ezra.' Nathan growled and stormed out of the room.

Ezra's keen instincts told him that only two of the men had left and he knew that it was Josiah who had remained. He waited for the older man to say something, no doubt something that he didn't want to hear. He could hear the man's footsteps as he made his way around the bed. The sound of a chair being scraped along the floor caused him to cringe then the large form of Sanchez appeared in front of him.

'Ezra, you really didn't have to go through that.' Josiah waited for an answer but he didn't receive one. This is going to be hard, the man is a stubborn mule. 'You want to talk yet?'

'No,' Ezra croaked then began to cough. He pushed himself up onto his left elbow then felt himself fall to the bed when his shoulder decided it didn't want to go to the effort of holding his weight.

'Here.'

Ezra stared at the glass with suspicion, and then accepted it. He drank the cool water, enjoying it as it ran down his throat.

'Would he do that again?' Ezra handed the glass back.

'Yes he would.'

'Why?'

'Because he helps people Ezra.'

'You call that helping.'

'He says you need to eat, therefore you eat. If you say no, he'll make you.'

'I noticed that.'

'You think you're going to say no next time?'

'I'm not hungry Mr. Sanchez, why should I eat when I'm not hungry?'

'You'll get sick if you don't eat.'

'I'm going to get sick anyway. By the time, it gets to eighteen travelling hours I tend to get sick. There's nothing I can do about it except suffer.' Ezra explained to him.

'At least you won't have to suffer on your own.'

Ezra looked up quickly and saw the truth in the older man's gray eyes. He'd always suffered alone. His mother never had time for a sickly child; she would pass him onto someone else to take care of him. It came to the point where he would lie about his health, anything just to spend what little time his mother would have for him. He'd spent his early years doing anything and everything to please his mother; he soon gave up in his attempts. Nothing seemed to please her. After that, he had only wanted to get away from her and from the Rebellion, she had made him a part of. He was nine when he made the decision to leave; it wasn't until five years later that he actually left.

'I wouldn't be suffering if you had left me back on Algera.'

'You'd be dead if we left you there.'

'At the moment I'm starting to think that I would prefer that option.' Ezra growled.

'You don't mean that Ezra.' Josiah was again saddened by Ezra's lack of self-preservation.

'You don't know me Mr. Sanchez so don't tell me what I don't mean.'

'So why do you think that way?'

'Think what way?'

'You don't seem to care about whether you live or die. In fact, you give me the impression that you would be happier if you were dead. Why is that?'

'Like I said, you don't know me, you don't know what my life is like.'

At least he was no longer getting the 'it's none of your business' answer. 'Maybe you could tell me.'

'No.'

'Another time?'

'No.'

'You don't like talking about yourself do you?'

'No.'

'That can be a bad thing Ezra, not talking about things.'

'It's worked so far.' Ezra shrugged.

'It'll only work for so long and then it'll catch up to you and I think it's already caught up and now you're paying the price.'

'Think what you want to Mr. Sanchez, I don't care either way.'

'I think you do.'

'And I told you I don't care what you think.'

'Uh huh.' Josiah wasn't sure what to say next. He couldn't hold a one sided conversation; or could he. 'JD seems to have taken a liking to you. Then again, he trusts people easily, too easily sometimes but he's learning. He's a good kid. His mother died last year, he didn't take it very well, had a hard time getting through it but he did with our help. We take care of our own Ezra.'

Ezra listened but he didn't comment. He would ask Sanchez to leave except something told him that he wouldn't go.

'Vin, now there's a quiet guy. He wouldn't talk much either when he first joined us. Likes his space does Vin. When we go on a break, he sneaks off sometimes and we don't see him for days. Doesn't like crowds much. He was a bit of a loner most of his life. Never knew his dad and his mom died when he was five. Grew up with strangers until he was old enough to take care of himself.'

It hit a cord with Ezra; the man's life was similar to his own. Yes, he had a mother but that didn't mean that she brought him up. He spent a lot of time with other members of the Rebellion when she left to do assignments for the cause. Always promising that she would come back for him within a month but that never happened, the shortest period of time she spent away was four months. Sometimes he thought she stayed away just so she didn't have to spend time with him. People assured him that she loved him; it was just a different kind of love that she gave him.

'Buck, what a guy. He's known Chris for a long time . . .'

'Is there any particular reason you are telling me all this?' Ezra asked him.

'You're part of the team now Ezra, thought you might like to know a bit about the guys you're going to be working with, and I thought you might want some company.'

'I don't want either.'

'Since they were in their late teens I think. Strange relationship . . . but they would die for each other. There are times though when you think they're about to kill each other. I've never been able to understand the two of them. Buck loves the women, can't live without them. Don't think he'll ever settle down though. He can't stick to one woman.'
Josiah sat back in his chair to make himself more comfortable. He'd been watching Ezra's face as he spoke. The younger man's eyes were closed but he knew he was awake. The way Ezra breathed and shifted his position told him that he wasn't asleep.

'Nathan's a good man. He doesn't help people because he was programmed to; he helps them because he wants to. I wouldn't go up against him again Ezra, you won't win. As you've already found out, he'll strap you to the bed if he has to. He won't let a man suffer.'

'Are you trying to make a point?'

'You noticed huh?'

'How could I not.'

'Who am I up to?' he'd lost track for a moment. 'Chris. Never take Chris as you see him Ezra. He may seem to be a cold, violent man who doesn't care but he does care and if you become part of his family, you'll find that out. He had another family once, a wife and a son. They were murdered five years ago. They still haven't found the person responsible. He took it hard, nearly drank himself to death. It was Buck who brought him back. We all think of each other as family and take care of each other as though we were. We're a strange group Ezra but we care about each other and anyone else who may join the family.'


Josiah sighed at the thought of what Chris had been through. The man always gave people the impression that he didn't care and people bought it. He'd been angry for a long time, but he had calmed down over the last year couple of years that they'd been together but that anger was till there deep down, ready to explode if the situation was right.

'Have you finished?'

'Not yet, I have to tell you about myself.'

'I've heard enough Mr. Sanchez, I don't want to hear anymore.'

'You're going to hear it Ezra, you need to.'

'You think that this is going to change my way of thinking. That I would get up and submit to whatever you want, say
whatever you want.'

'No, but . . . if you won't talk, I will.'

'Knock yourself out.' Ezra slammed his head against the pillow and prepared himself not to listen.

'I grew up with a dominant father, he wanted me to follow the lord and do everything that was good. For some reason the Authorities decided that I should be programmed as an Ambassador to new life forms. I met Chris and the others about eighteen months ago when Nathan suggested that I join the group. We'd met a few times before, kept in touch.'

'How enlightening.'

'Now that I've told you a bit about the rest of us, why don't you tell me something about yourself.'

'I like to be left alone.' Ezra answered quickly.

'Is there anything else? Do you have any family? How did you become an infiltrator?'

'I don't like answering questions.'

'So why don't you like talking about yourself?'

'Could you please leave, I'm tired and I would like to get some rest.'

Josiah eyed Standish for a moment and realised he'd been keeping the younger man awake. 'Sure, maybe we could talk later.'

'I'd rather not.'

'I'll come by later Ezra and see how you're going.'

'Please don't.'

Sanchez's facial expression turned to one of sadness. Standish was a troubled man. There were obviously a lot of tormenting emotions pouring through his system, emotions that were being kept hidden. Ezra was going to erupt one day and the emotions were going to win. He left the room and the young man alone.

Ten


Nathan Jackson moved slowly through the main corridor of the ship, he wasn't in a hurry to check on Standish, he didn't want to go through another verbal altercation with the man. It had been nearly seventeen hours since he had force-fed him and gratefully he didn't have to do it again. There had been no argument when he had asked Standish to eat something but he still managed to complain after every bite.

Josiah had offered to move Standish into one of the empty rooms, to which Standish reminded them that they didn't allow him to get his personal things that he kept in a locker on the base station. Once a room had been chosen, Sanchez showed the infiltrator around the ship.

The 'Space Cowboys' was a craft that had been made a few years after the citizens of Earth were split up and sent if different directions. It was old and in need of a lot of repair but it was reliable and loyal like it's crew. As a practical joke made by one of the crew, a cowboy had been painted on the side of the ship. Larabee hadn't been impressed and he was never able to determine who the culprit was so he left the image as is. The day man responsible was found would be the day that it would be washed off. The incident had happened nearly a year ago and the crew had decided that Larabee had no longer wanted to find the person who did it; Larabee liked the image of the cowboy but apparently, he didn't want them to know that. The craft was large enough to hold twenty-four crewmembers. The craft had been supplied to Larabee by the Authorities with the intention of giving the ship it's full crew but Larabee had told them no.

He was happy enough with the five men he worked with and didn't want any more. The truth behind the statement was that he didn't want any more men to worry about. It was bad enough being responsible for five as it was.
When the tour was completed, Standish was forced to stay in his room to rest. Josiah had stayed with him until he had fallen asleep. This knowledge worried the others; they knew how easily Josiah could take someone under his wing and try to guide them onto the right path. Somehow, they didn't think Standish was going to appreciate it.
Jackson stopped outside the door trying to decide if he should knock or walk straight in. If Standish was asleep he wouldn't get an answer, then again there was nothing to say that he would get an answer if Standish were awake. Nathan decided on a compromise, he knocked then walked in. He noticed straight away that the bed covers had been thrown to the floor, leaving a trail of bed sheets that led to the bathroom. The sound of vomiting caused him to move quickly. He found Ezra leaning over the toilet, one hand holding up the toilet seat while the other hand gripped the edge of the shower stall.

'Already?' Jackson asked the sick man.

Nathan hadn't expected a response and he didn't get one. The last thing you want to do while you're throwing up is talk. Nathan nodded in understanding and stepped up to the sink. He grabbed one of the wash clothes and soaked it with cold water. From his position, he was able to get a better look at Standish. The man's skin was pale and flushed with a fever. Damn, why didn't he call me?

Nathan placed the cloth on the back of Ezra's neck and waited. It was all he could do. Of course, there was other medication he could give him for an upset stomach and a fever but it didn't work when Dimension Affliction caused the symptoms.

It was a few minutes before Ezra let go of the seat and collapsed back against the shower stall. He felt Jackson take the cloth from his neck and wipe his mouth and face with it.

'This wouldn't be happening if you didn't make me eat so much.'

'You had to eat Ezra, you need the strength to fight the withdrawal of ODR.'

Ezra nodded, 'I'm going to have a hell of a week aren't I?'

'Yes you are.'

'You wouldn't consider dropping me off at the nearest stop would you?'

Nathan chuckled at the attempt of humour. 'Sorry Ezra, Travis would kill me if I don't get you off that stuff. He seems to be pretty worried about you.'

'It's an emotion that's wasted on me.'

'So how bad does this get?'

'Let's just say that I would be better off taking up residence in this unwelcoming, cold room.'

'No need for that Ezra, we can put a large container close enough to you so you don't have to get up.' Nathan grabbed an arm and pulled Ezra to his feet. He held on when he noticed the smaller man swaying side to side.

'You going to throw up again?'

'I don't think so.'

'Back to bed then Ezra.'

'I don't believe I can make it that far.'

'You don't have to do it on your own Ezra! I'll help you.'

'I don't need your help,' Nathan's tone had made him angry, 'I can do this.'

'You just said you couldn't.'

'Then leave me here.'

'No.'

Jackson pulled Ezra towards the bed. At first, Standish refused to cooperate but then began to make the effort to get to it on his own. Nathan could feel the small tremors that shook the younger man's form. He knew this wasn't going to help Ezra kick the addictive drug he was on. This sickness was going to leave him in a weakened state and before he would have the chance to recover the withdrawal symptoms would hit him. Standish was going to be a very sick man and he was going to need all the care he could get. Maybe he should inform one of the others, perhaps Josiah, to help him when Standish gets a lot worse.

'Here, lie down on your side, it'll help.'

Nathan picked the covers up and threw them over Ezra, covering him up to his neck.

'It's too hot for those.' Ezra pushed the blankets down to his waist.

'Ezra . . .'

'Don't tell me what to do Mr. Jackson. I've been through this more times than you have, I know what I'm doing.'

'I don't care.' Nathan pulled the covers back up. 'I'll be back in ten minutes, I'm going to get a few things.'

'You don't have to come back, I'm fine.'

Nathan turned around to frown at Ezra. 'You're not use to people helping you are you?'

'What makes you think that people don't help me?' Ezra frowned back at him.

'Is it because you don't ask for help or do you refuse like you're trying to now?'

'Neither really.' Ezra closed his eyes to end the discussion. Even if I did want someone's help they would only refuse to give it, but I'm not going to tell you that.

'I'll be back Ezra.'

He could only nod. His stomach was threatening to erupt again. God he hated this shit. Things never seem to go right for him. He was given a mother that didn't care about him, he grew up with the Rebellion, his mother had left him to take the fall for a crime she had committed and then to top it all off he had become addicted to a life-threatening drug and now he was part of Larabee's team. Life was hell and he was living proof of it.

The sound of footsteps registered in his mind. Ten minutes couldn't have passed that quickly. He opened his eyes to find Chris Larabee standing in front of him.

'Come to watch the show Mr. Larabee?'

'Nathan said you were sick.'

'Mr. Jackson is correct.'

'You're going to be more trouble than your worth aren't you?'

Ezra sighed. This man didn't want him here and Ezra didn't want to be here.

'I would gladly leave if you allow me too.'

'It pains me to say it, but I can't do that.'

'Judge Travis?'

'Everyone's scared of Travis,' Chris told him, 'even me at times.'

'So I'm stuck here then?'

'Yep, looks that way.'

'Wonderful.'

'I'm the boss of this outfit Standish. You do as you're told and we'll get along fine. Give me any trouble and I'll beat the shit out of you. Do we have an understanding?'

'I don't follow orders very well Mr. Larabee.'

'I have no problem believing that, but you're going to follow mine. Now, do we have an understanding or not?'

'And if we don't?'

'You can spend your time locked up in one of the cells.'

'Chris!' Nathan stormed into the room, 'I told you he was sick.'

'And I came to see if he needed anything.'

'Like hell you did! Get out before I throw you out!'

Chris gave Jackson a cold stare, a stare that was known to cause men to wet themselves.

'Chris . . .'

'Why does everyone want me to leave the room? I'm the boss and everyone seems to be forgetting that,' Chris walked out of the room as he continued to talk to himself, 'I'm going to have to call a meeting and go over the rules again. I'm the boss and you guys do, as I say, not the other way around. Me boss, you Neanderthals.'

'Sorry about that Ezra, I didn't realise he'd pay you a visit.'

'I can't work that man out.' Ezra admitted.

'Don't worry about him, it was just his way of seeing if you were okay. He's a softie at heart.'

'Really, somehow I don't think I'll ever see that side of him.'

'Here,' Nathan sat on the edge of the bed, his right hand held a glass of water, 'I want you to drink some of this so you don't get dehydrated.'

'Don't start on me Mr. Jackson, I . . .'

'You want me to force it down?'

'Do you know how much I dislike you right now!'

'I get that a lot from patients, you'll thank me when this is over.'

'Believe me when I say this Mr. Jackson, when I have my strength back I will beat the shit out of you for everything you've done to me and are going to do to me.'

'As long as you're physically healthy, I don't care what you do.'

'You're giving me permission to hit you more than once.'

'Sure, but as long as you know, I'll hit back.'

'I would expect you to.'

'So we have a deal? You get better then we'll fight.'

'Deal.' Ezra nodded then took the water.

'Good, so I expect no arguments during your recovery.'

'You Mr. Jackson must be joking.'

'I thought as much.' Nathan smiled, he couldn't help it, and he was actually beginning to like the guy. Why? He had no idea.





Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four


Master Fan Fiction List