The Magnificent Seven Fic - 'A Man Reborn' - 4/6

[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



Eleven


Nathan leaned over the sleeping form, he didn't want to wake him, and Ezra had been sleeping for over an hour, the longest period of time since he had gotten sick. But they had arrived on Okania and it was time to settle Ezra into more accommodating quarters. He shook the blanket-covered shoulder until he got a response.

'Ezra, come on, I need you to get up.'

'I am not capable of getting up right now Mr. Jackson.'

'We're here Ezra, I have to move you.'

'Please not now.' Ezra moaned.

'You can't go through it here Ezra, too many distractions.'

'You mean drugs don't you!'

'Yeah.'

'It can wait until later can't it? Just give me a few more days and I'll be fine.'

'A few more days Ezra and you'll be going through hell.'

'You mean I haven't already?'

'Compared to what you're about to go through, ten hours of throwing up is nothing.' Nathan guaranteed him.

'I did more than throw up!' Ezra replied with frustration.

'I know Ezra but this is going to be a lot worse.'

'Can you please shoot me now?'

'No I can't. Now come on, Josiah's waiting outside to give me a hand with you.'

'You're not going to carry me are you?'

'No, not unless you want us to.'

'Good Lord no.'

'Then get up.'

'Why now? It hasn't started yet. I can stay here for at least another day or two and when my Achilles heel has gone, I can get up and walk anywhere you want me to.'

'That's what I'm afraid of.'

'You don't trust me?' Ezra opened his eyes and stared at Nathan.

'Under these circumstances? No I don't.'

Ezra nodded, he couldn't blame the man. He had never been the type of person who could be trusted easily.

'Let's go Ezra.'

******

Once the 'Space Cowboys' was settled in a docking bay on the outskirts of Okania, it's crew prepared to transport their responsibility to room in one of the local boarding houses. Visitors were welcome but no one was allowed to stay on a permanent basis. Three months was the length of time that someone could stay in town, after that you were forced to leave if you didn't leave of your own free will.

Standish had been covered in a blanket and rushed off the ship under a guard of security. Jackson and Sanchez walked on either side of him while Larabee and Tanner led the way off the ship.

Wilmington and Dunne covered the back. All the attention was causing Standish to feel very vulnerable. Didn't these men know that were only bringing attention onto themselves.

From beneath the blanket, Ezra used his eyes to survey the area. Okania wasn't the way he remembered it. There was more to the town than there had been a year ago. The population was more than it should have been. When the Earth's government colonized the different planets, they made sure that the towns built would not be over populated. That way there would be enough food and shelter for those who were there. New buildings were being built but obviously not quickly enough.

'Is this how you remembered it Mr. Jackson?' Ezra asked from under the blanket.

'No, it isn't.' Nathan glanced at the buildings as they passed them by. The town of Okania was growing when it shouldn't be.

'The Rebellion is here.'

'How would you know?' Josiah had heard the statement.

'They're everywhere.' Ezra nodded towards a group of men who sat in front of a drinking establishment. He easily recognised two of them; he had grown up with them. 'Rebellion, all of them. You can tell by the look in their eyes. They all have the same look.'

'And what look is that?'

'A look that says they're better than anybody else. A look that says they should be getting a lot more than they are.'

'You can tell that by looking at them?'

'I can read anybody Mr. Sanchez.'

'If that's the case we're leaving.' Chris turned around to face his men.

'I'm safe here.'

'You said the Rebellion was here Standish, we're bounty collectors, they may know our faces. We're not safe here.'

'I'm safe here,' Ezra repeated, 'and you're with me, that makes you safe. They won't touch you.'

'Ezra,' Josiah spoke into his ear, 'we've killed quite a few members of the Rebellion. I don't think we'll be safe here.'

'They won't hurt you as long as you're with me.'

'Spit it out!' Chris grabbed a fistful of the blanket that surrounded the smaller man and pulled Standish toward him. He managed to ignore the pale skin, the red-rimmed eyes and the smell of sickness that emanated from him. 'How do you know we're safe?'

'I know.' Was the only answer that Chris received.

'I need more than that. I need to know why?'

'That is something that I don't intend to reveal to you or anyone.'

'Then we're leaving.'

'If Ezra says we're safe, I believe him.' Nathan informed Chris.

'What?' Chris and Ezra spoke in unison.

Nathan went on to explain, 'We're hours from anywhere and I don't want him getting sick like that again, it's not going to do him any good. And besides that, I trust him. If he says we're safe, then we're safe.'

'You trust him and you want to stay here.' Chris was shocked.

'Yeah. I know it's more crowded than I remember it to be but I need to stay here. He needs a more natural environment and not that of the ship.'

'Solus is only a few hours away, we can go there.' JD suggested.

'He's weak enough as it is, I don't want him getting any worse. We have to stay here, we don't really have a choice now.'

'What is it about you guys not doing what I say anymore? Is it because you like him more than me? That's it isn't it?'

'Don't be so childish Chris.' Josiah admonished him

'Me boss, you Neanderthal. Remember Josiah, we had a meeting about this. I'm the boss.'

'And I'm bigger than you.'

'But I'm meaner than you are.' Chris glared at him.

'Oh would you please stop!' Ezra shocked the two men, 'I'm in hell and all you can do is argue over something as stupid as who's in charge of this pathetic group of men.'

'Watch what you're saying Standish!' Buck growled from behind him.

'I think you will find plenty of whores over that way Mr. Wilmington. Why don't you go and help yourself.'

'Son-of-a-bitch.' Buck went for him but Nathan grabbed him before he could do Standish any harm.

'Leave him be Buck.' Nathan stood between the two men. 'When he says he's in hell, he's telling you the truth and it's going to get a lot worse. He doesn't need you guys on his back.'

'Why is it going to get worse?' Josiah watched for a reaction from Standish.

Nathan also looked at Ezra but for another reason. He wanted permission to tell these men what he was going through. The unwavering glare that Ezra returned to him told him no, he didn't want them to know anything.

'Let's keep moving.' Vin suggested, he didn't like the way people were starting to look at them, especially Ezra.

They continued to walk along the paved road until they reached a building that offered accommodation to visitors.

Ezra hesitated outside the front door when he noticed a man walking towards them, a man that he once knew. He removed the blanket that covered most of his head and waited until the man returned his stare. There was recognition in the man's blue eyes but there was no attempt to approach the infiltrator. Ezra watched him as he walked past, then turned and followed the man's progress until he disappeared around a corner.

'I can take it from here.' Nathan took Ezra.

'No way,' Chris turned again, this time placing his hands on his hips as he turned, 'we stick together.'

'Chris I have my orders, I have to do this on my own.' Nathan reminded him.

'I know that Nathan, but we're going to hang around, stick close to you. The Rebellion's here and I don't care what Standish says about us being safe.'

'Do you think I'm lying to you?'

'You don't seem to care if you live or die Standish, which is okay by me, but you're not going to take any of my men with you.'

'If I thought your men were in danger I would not stay here!'

'If anything happens to these guys you'll pay dearly for it and that is not a threat.'

'Chris,' Tanner got his attention, 'we better get going. We're starting to get an audience.'

'Damn! Let's go.' Chris grabbed Standish and roughly pulled him inside.

Ezra glanced over his shoulder and saw many familiar faces. He didn't mind seeing them; he just hoped that he didn't have to talk to any of them.


Twelve


The man moved quickly through the gathering crowd. The new visitors had been an unwelcome surprise but the man they had brought with them wasn't. He hadn't seen Ezra since he left the Rebellion at the age of fourteen. He thought that Ezra had died five years ago during an altercation with the Rebellion. He had been surprised by that because the Rebellion didn't kill one of its own, even if the person hadn't been a member of the Rebellion for a number of years. He was looking forward to talking to Ezra again.

He entered the drinking establishment and found the man he was looking for. He pushed his way through the overcrowded room and sat in an empty chair at the table.

'You'll never guess who I just saw?'

The second man looked up. 'I'm not in the mood for your games Mike.'

'Larabee . . .' Mike couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face at the expression his fellow member wore.

'The Larabee?'

'Yes, and Jack, he had all his men with him.'

Jack Lambert tugged at his beard and allowed the different thoughts to run through his mind.

'What would he be doing here?'

'I don't know,' Michael, better known as Mike, leaned back in the chair and enjoyed the moment, 'maybe it has something to do with the guy they brought with them.'

'A bounty?'

'No.'

'Stop tossing me around Mike and just tell me!'

'Ezra.' Mike let the ball drop.

'Ezra . . . Ezra Standish?' Jack sat up in his chair. 'Ezra's here? I thought he was dead.'

'So did I.'

'Where is he?'

'The boarding rooms.'

'Why is he with Larabee?'

'I don't know Jack but he didn't look well.'

'He worked for the Authorities. Do you think he might be part of Larabee's team?'

'Maybe we should ask him.'

'Does Maude know?'

'No, I thought it best if I came to you first.' Mike fidgeted with his shirt. 'Thought maybe you could tell her.'

'Coward.'

'Yes I am, especially when it comes to that woman. She's a cold hearted bitch Jack.'

'She loved him in her own way Mike, did what she thought was best for him.'

'Yeah I know, but she could've at least told that she loved him. That woman has ruined that man's life'

'He knows Mike, I'm sure he knows.'

'Yeah.'

'Better get it over with then.' Jack finished his drink and stood up. 'Why don't you go over and wait, I'm sure you want to say hello to an old friend.'

'Thanks.'


******

Jack Rudderford didn't know how Maude was going to take the news that her son was not only alive but also here in Okania. He would never forget the night he had informed a mother of her son's death. At first, Maude gave the impression that she wasn't affected by the news, she had even blamed Ezra for his own death. Saying that it was his own fault, that if he hadn't left he would still be alive. But the hurtful words soon turned to tears and she had spent the rest of the night silently crying for her child. Many believed that her mourning was a lie but Jack knew better. He had known Maude for a long time; they had been friends since they were children. He would have married her if she had allowed it but he didn't have enough money; Maude only married for money.

It didn't take him long to reach a large house on the outskirts of town. Maude lived in the wooden home alone. She didn't need or want company. He stepped up to the front door and knocked loudly. Jack had to knock twice more before the door was opened.

A tall, thin woman with blonde hair opened the door. She was dressed in an elegant outfit that consisted of a long blue skirt, white shirt and black boots. A thick black belt was strapped around her waist. She smiled to reveal large straight even teeth.

'Jack, what are you doing here?' she spoke in the same accent as her son.

'I've got some good news Maude.'

'I'd invite you in Jack but I was about to . . .'

'No it's okay.' Jack looked down at his shoes, he wasn't sure how he should say it so he blurted it out. 'Ezra's alive Maude.'

She wanted to open her mouth in surprise, to jump up and down and hug the man in front of her but she knew better. She held her emotions under control.

'What makes you think that?'

'Mike saw him about ten minutes ago.' Jack smiled at her.

'He saw him here? Ezra's here?'

'He's at the boarding house.' He reached out to take her hand. 'Want to come and say hello.'

'It's been five years Jack.'

'I know Maude but I'm sure he'd be glad to see you.'

'No he won't Jack. I thought he was dead. Why make contact with a dead child? If he knew that I thought he was dead he would have come back to prove to me that he wasn't dead. He doesn't know Jack. He probably thinks that I've wanted nothing to do with him.'

'We'll explain it to him.'

'Where is he? Is he okay?'

'He's at the boarding house with Chris Larabee and his team.'

'Good Lord no.'

'Don't worry, I think he was with them willingly, Mike didn't say otherwise but he did say that Ezra didn't look to good.'

'He's sick?'

Jack could only shrug.

'Jack you know I can't stand to be near sick people.' Maude wiped at her hair.

'He's your son Maude, you can at least go to him and say hello for Christ's sake.'

'Watch your tone Jack.'

'Well, I'm going to go and see him.' Jack turned away from her. 'You know where he is Maude.'

'I'll come with you Jack, but I'll only stay for a few minutes. I'll spend more time with him when he's better.'

'Well, that's better than nothing I suppose.'

'You don't know Jack so don't even begin to question my motives.'

'All I know is, that man is your son and you should treat him as such.'

'I treat him the way he should be treated.'

'He never liked it.'

'No one likes what's good for them.'

'I'm not going to argue with you Maude. Why don't we just go and say hello and take it from there.'

Maude offered her arm for Jack to take. She intended to be escorted to the boarding rooms. As she walked her mind went over the moment she had been told that her son was dead. She had been devastated but had refused to show any emotions. It wasn't the way she had been brought up.

Life had been hard for her and she had done everything to make sure that Ezra Standish received a better life than she ever had. And for him to do that he had to learn to look after no one but himself.

******

Nathan Jackson took one last look at the sleeping form then closed the door behind him. He turned to see the rest of the team watching him. Chris was standing at the front of the group with his arms crossed. Nathan knew the expression that his boss wore. Larabee meant business and he wasn't going to take shit from anyone, and that included his own men.

"What's going on Nathan? Why is his hell going to get worse?"

"I can't tell you that Chris, Ezra doesn't want you to know."

"Is there going to be any risk to my men and that includes you?" Chris watched as Nathan reached for the healed injury on his scalp that Standish had inflicted.

"Not to you or the others." Nathan admitted to him.

"And you?"

"I might be able to use Josiah's help." He now knew that he wasn't going to be able to do this on his own. He'd learnt that Ezra was too stubborn to allow anyone to help him and when he becomes desperate for ORD he had no idea what he might be capable of.

Chris looked back over his shoulder at Sanchez. "Are you willing to help with something you know nothing about?"

"If it helps Nathan and our new brother? Yes I am." Josiah moved forward to join Nathan's side.

"He's not our brother." Chris reminded them.

"He's going to be." Josiah replied.

"Whatever." Chris began to turn away. "We have rooms on this floor, if you need anything give us a call."

"Here." Nathan pulled a piece of man-made paper from his pocked. "It's a list of what I need. Josiah can get it for me, maybe Vin could help him."

"Vin.' Chris nodded to him.

"Glad to help."

Chris rolled his eyes and fully turned to walk away from what he knew was trouble. But he found himself staring into a pair of green eyes framed by a beautiful face.

"Excuse me." he muttered and stepped aside.

"Mr. Larabee." Maude greeted the man that had brought her son home.

"Do I know you?" Chris kept himself calm. He knew his men were prepared to pull their weapons if they needed to protect him.

"No you don't."

Chris eyed to two men who stood behind her. The older one with the beard looked as though he was ready to kill to protect the woman in front of him. The younger one on the right stood with a smile on his face. He was happy about something. Maybe he was just crazy and enjoyed confrontations.

"You seem to know who I am."

"Everyone in the Rebellion knows who you are."

This information caused his men to withdraw their guns. The two men behind the woman did the same but they didn't stand in front of her to protect her.

"Would you care to inform me of your identity." It was a demand not a question.

"Maude Standish and I have come to see my son." She took a step closer. "If you could please step aside."

"Your son?" Josiah moved around Chris to get a better look at the woman who claimed to be Ezra's mother.

"Yes my son. I've been told that he is in that room."

"He's asleep." Nathan stayed where he was in front of the door. He wasn't going to let anyone disturb his patient's sleep. And that's what Ezra was, his patient.

"I've also been told that he's sick. What's wrong with him exactly?" Maude continued to hide her emotions and disgust at the idea of being near a sick person, even if that person was her son.

"He has Dimension Affliction and he's also allergic to th -"

"I know about that already. He's suffered with that since he was born."

"Well then as you would know, he's been pretty sick. I've finally gotten him to sleep and I don't want him disturbed."

"You don't have a choice Jackson!" Mike told him. "You don't have a choice about anything here. At a single word we could have you dead and buried within the hour."

"He's sick and he needs to rest!" Nathan growled back.

"Move aside." Jack ordered them.

"No." Nathan wasn't going to allow them to enter.

"Nathan."

"Chris, you can't let them in, he's sle-"

"We don't have a choice Nathan, let them in."

"Ezra said that we were safe here."

"Ezra lied to you." Jack smiled easily as he told the lie. Ezra was been right. They wouldn't hurt anyone that was with their friend unless he was being threatened.

"Damn it! I knew it!" Chris spun on his heel and walked away. "NATHAN! You let them in. We're leaving this shit hole now!"

"Move aside please Mr. Jackson. I would like to see my son."

Nathan opened the door and stepped into the room. Maybe he couldn't stop them entering the room but he could at least be in there to make sure Ezra was okay with the visit. He moved closer to the bed but stayed at distance. His dark eyes watched as the woman slowly made her way to the bed.

Ezra's back was to the door so she wasn't able to see his face. When she reached the bed, she reached out with one hand and gently touched the top of the sleeping man's head.

"Ezra . . . Ezra darlin' it's your mother." Maude spoke softly hoping that Ezra wouldn't hear her and continue to sleep.

Mike bent down and yelled into Standish's ear. "EZRA!"

Ezra jumped up in response and pushed himself up against the wall. His legs fought against the blankets that were now tangled around his body and he continuously blinked his eyes to clear his vision. He froze when he saw who was standing in front of him.

"Ezra?" Maude reached towards him again and was not surprised when Ezra jumped off the bed and moved away from her.

"Mother, I didn't expect to see you so soon." Ezra subconsciously moved closer to Nathan Jackson.

"It's been a while Ezra." Maude smiled at her son.

"Five years I believe."

Mike quickly moved forward and wrapped his arms around Ezra. "We thought you were dead." He stepped back and stared into the green eyes that were now full of emotion. "Five years now, we thought you were dead."

"Ezra," Jack nodded to the younger man, "it's good to see that you are still among the living."

"Jack," Ezra nodded in return.

"They're telling the truth. Someone, someone who we trusted, told us that you were dead."

"Who?" Ezra wouldn't look at his mother; he didn't like what he saw in her eyes. She obviously knew that he wasn't well and didn't want anything to do with him.

"Blake Henderson."

Ezra allowed his head to fall towards his chest. "He was the one that attempted to kill me."

"Oh." Jack growled through his anger. "Then the next time I see him, I'll return the favour."

"Thank you."

"Ezra," Nathan took the Infiltrator's arm and felt the emotion that was running through him, "you need to get some sleep."


"Yeah," he finally allowed his gaze to fall onto his mother's face. She hadn't changed at all during the five years that he hadn't seen her. He had tried to make contact through other people but never received a reply from her.

"As you wish Ezra."

He kept his thoughts to himself. He wanted to tell her that he hadn't asked her to leave. He was hoping that she would say that she intended to stay for a while. That maybe she would offer to stay with him until he fell asleep and then stay with him. He should have known better. The look in her eyes had already told him that she didn't want to be near him, but he still hoped that maybe one day she would treat him as her son.

"Good bye mother."

"I'll come by in a few days when you're feeling better." She made no attempt to move towards her son.

"I wouldn't bother mother, I won't be feeling better in a few days, and in fact I'll probably be worse."

"Then perhaps we should make it a week."

"That would be more accommodating."

"A week it is then." She smiled then turned and walked out the door.

Ezra let out a pent up groan and slumped down onto the bed. He bent over and hid his face in his hands. He knew he would see his mother but didn't expect it to be so soon. He hadn't had time to prepare for the meeting and as usual, his mother had won.

"I'm sorry about that Ezra." Jack sat down next to him. "I was hoping that she would, you know, do a little more than that."

"Surely you would know by now Jack that she would never change, not even for me." Ezra didn't lift his head. He wanted to be sure that no tears would fall if he were to move his hands away from his face.

"I thought that after knowing that you were dead for five years she would react differently when seeing you."

"You should have thought better."

Nathan stood to the side of the room listening to the conversation. He didn't feel like he was intruding because they knew he was still there. It seemed that they had decided to ignore him and have their own discussion.

"So what's really wrong?" Mike asked him.

"Drug addiction, have to get off it, Judge's orders."

"You're going to need help to get through that." Jack commented.

"Nathan here is a doctor, he has orders to take care of me." Ezra informed them.

"Do you think he will?"

"He has no choice, it's look after me or lose his job."

"I don't see it that way Ezra." Nathan spoke up.

Ezra didn't answer him.

"We can help you." Mike said.

"You're too close." Jackson stepped forward. "He could easily convince you to allow him to go to the bathroom or something else that might destroy the treatment."

"He's got a point there Ezra. You've always been able to talk your way out of or into anything." Jack laughed.

"My mother taught me well."

"That's a load of crap Ezra, you have the talent, and you've always had it." Mike slapped him on the shoulder.

Ezra lifted his head and saw the glare that Nathan was aiming at him. "Guys . . . I have to . . . you know . . ."

"Yeah we know." Jack leaned sideways and gave Ezra a quick hug. "Call us if you need anything, and that goes for your friends too."

"Thanks Jack." Ezra smiled at his friends and watched them leave the room.

Nathan also waited them moved to stand in front of Ezra. "They said you lied."

"About what?"

"You said that we were safe as long as we're with you."

"You are."

"They said you lied."

Ezra sighed deeply then smiled up at Nathan. "They said that only so they could get in here and see me. Jack knows what would happen if he or any other Rebellion member hurt a person I'm with."

"You know them pretty well then?"

"Yes I do. I've known Jack and Mike since we were kids. We grew up together." Ezra frowned up at the doctor. "Is there anything else that you would like to know about my private life?"

"And what would happen if they did hurt or even kill us?"

"I would kill them," said Ezra. He then lay down under the covers and rolled onto his side so he was once again lying with his back to the door.

"Oh, okay. It's just that when he said that, we sort of believed him."

"I know."

"How would you know?"

"Mr. Jackson if you could let me sleep please."

"Sure, I'll be back later."

When he heard the door close, he rolled over onto his back. The idea of sleep eluded him now. He was sure he was going to spend the next few hours lying awake while thinking about his mother and his previous life.

Thirteen


"Couldn't I at least have something for the pain?" Ezra was pacing the length and width of the room in a show of impatience.

"Ezra, it's only been two hours since you started having withdrawal symptoms." Nathan couldn't help but laugh at him.

"You think this is funny . . . and what the hell do you mean it's only been two hours? It feels more like twenty. And it's going to get a lot worse than this . . . isn't it?"

"I thought you said you've been through this before?" Nathan's brown eyes followed Ezra as he walked around the small room.

"Well, yeah . . . I have and it wasn't pleasant I can tell you." Ezra stopped and vigorously nodded his head.

"Bull shit and you know it!"

"I don't like being called a liar Mr. Jackson."

"Then tell me the truth."

"I was always sort of drunk when I tried to get off the stuff." He turned his back to the doctor. "So I don't remember a lot about it."

"You can't get off the stuff by being drunk Ezra." The smile on Jackson's face showed the amusement he was feeling.

"This is serious Mr. Jackson, I don't feel that you should be laughing at my situation."

"You're right Ezra," he waved at the younger man while he tried to stop laughing, "I shouldn't be laughing at you."

"Then why are you?" Ezra stopped pacing and placed his hands on his hips.

"The look on your face Ezra . . . you should see it."

"I assume that it is an expression of pain." Ezra changed his expression to match his words.

"Okay, I'll stop."

"Nathan . . ."

Jackson looked up in shock. The man had never used his first name, but then again he had only know him for a week.

"When does the pain start? And how bad is it?"

"That all depends on how long you've been using and how often." Nathan watched the man closely.

There was a hint of fear in the green eyes. Was it the pain he was afraid of or something else?

"Don't worry Ezra, you're not going to go through it alone this time."

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Ezra.

"What do you mean?"

"If I was on my own, I could give in and take the stuff so I would feel better. I can't do that with you here unless I beat you senseless and leave."

"When it gets that bad Josiah will be here with us, he'll-"

"You didn't tell him did you?"

"No but I may have to."

"Shit!" Ezra stormed to the east wall and slammed his fist against it.

"Ezra, you have to understand. After what you did on the ship . . . I don't want you doing that again."

Ezra let his shoulders sag. "I'm sorry Mr. Jackson. My life had been threatened, is being threatened and I had to get away."

"That's understandable Ezra but I still want Josiah here when you get to the worse stage."

The Infiltrator nodded and walked with heavy feet back to the bed. He allowed himself to fall onto it and covered his eyes with the crook of his right arm.

******

Josiah Sanchez opened the door slowly and stepped into the room. His eyes widened when he saw Ezra Standish sitting on the bed with his back against the wall and his knees drawn up to his chest. Blankets were wrapped tightly around the form but it didn't stop him from seeing the violent tremors that wracked the man's body.

"What's wrong with him?"

The larger man moved towards the bed and sat down on its edge. He placed his large hand against Ezra's forehead and felt the heat pulsating from his skin.

"Get the hell away from me!" Ezra threw his head to the side.

"Withdrawal symptoms," said Nathan.

"Nathan!" Ezra yelled at him.

Both anger and confusion lined Josiah's features. "Withdrawal from what?"

"ORD."

"That sounds familiar," said Josiah.

"Nathan! This is none of his business." Ezra hit the wall hard with the back of his head.

Nathan winced at the sight but it didn't stop him from talking. "If he's going to help he needs to know what he's dealing with Ezra." Nathan waited a moment then began to answer Josiah's question. "It stops the heart, feeds oxygen and blood to the brain then revives the user after about twenty minutes."

"He's been using stuff that kills him then brings him back?"

"Yes."

"Son-of-a-bitch!"

"Exactly." Ezra smiled.

"This time he's coming off the stuff." Nathan pushed himself out of his chair and filled a plastic cup with water. "This isn't the worst of it Josiah, I'm going to need you here when he gets violent."

"He's going to get violent?"

"ORD is hard stuff to get off, he's going to want it bad and he'll do anything to get it."

"Maybe he won't," said Josiah.

"Maybe, but I don't want to take the risk."

"How bad is he going to get?" Josiah's eyes glanced back at Ezra and noticed that Ezra's eyes were now closed.

"A lot worse." Nathan sat on the bed on Ezra's right side. "Ezra, drink this."

Ezra opened his eyes and pleaded with Nathan. "Do I have to Nathan?"

"You need it Ezra."

The patient leaned forward and allowed Nathan to hold the cup to his lips. He was too cold to lift his arms out of his cocoon.

Nathan was grateful that his patient accepted the water. He might not be as cooperative later.

"Is there going to be long term effects?"

"I don't think he's been using it long enough."

"And if he has." Josiah stared up at Nathan.

"Then there will be permanent damage to his heart and if he continues to use it, there's a chance that he may not come back."

Ezra listened to what Nathan was saying but he found it hard to accept the repercussions of taking an illegal drug.

"Damn, that doesn't sound good."

"No, it doesn't but like I said, I don't think he's been using it long enough, it's only been a year."

Both men looked up towards the window when they heard yelling outside the building. Josiah stood up and walked quickly to the window while Nathan stayed with Ezra.

"It's Jack and Mike with at least ten other men coming this way."

"What the hell do they want now?"

"I don't know Nathan but if it's Ezra they're after, they're not going to have him."

The sound continued to come towards the building and both men moved towards the door when they knew the members of the Rebellion were heading for Ezra's room. More shouting came through the door when Chris's voice joined the disturbance. After a few moments, Chris Larabee stormed through the door with Jack Rudderford right behind him.

"The Authorities are on their way," Chris said. "We have to get Ezra out of here."

"What makes you think they're coming for Ezra?" Josiah questioned him.

"We have an informant at the Authorities head quarters," said Jack as he looked over his shoulder at the men waiting behind him, "he wasn't able to get the information to us until five minutes ago. The Authorities will be here in two hour. We have to get Ezra out!"

"You didn't answer my question!" Nathan stepped in front of the man.

"He told us that they are specifically coming here to pick Ezra up."

"How did they know he was here?" Josiah frowned in confusion as more questions filled his mind.

"The same way they knew Ezra was on our ship and exactly where he was," said Chris. Jack moved to grab Ezra's arm but Josiah stopped him.

"I'll take him."

The Rebellion member nodded and followed Chris out of the room.

Josiah struggled to get Ezra to his feet but Ezra wasn't making it easy for him. He was grateful when Nathan grabbed an arm and helped pull Ezra to his feet. They then had to drag Ezra along because he was refusing to walk.

"Damnit Ezra! You have to help us here." Josiah tried to pull him to his feet.

"I'm not going back on that ship."

"We'll find somewhere Ezra and get you there before you start getting sick again." Nathan assured him.

"And if you don't."

"We will." Nathan began to move faster when he felt the weight of his burden become lighter.

Ahead of them was the rest of the Bounty team and Ezra's friends. It was the first time he had seen enemies working together to save a human being.

When the group of men exited the building, Ezra searched the gathering crowd for his mother. He was hoping that she would at least say good-bye in her own way. There was no one that resembled his mother. He sighed and felt his shoulders and knees sag in defeat.

Sanchez took the extra weight the wrong way. "Come on Ezra," he said, "we're nearly there."

"I can walk on my own!" Ezra pulled his arms away from the two men who held him upright and immediately fell to the ground banging his knee against a large stone. "SHIT!"

The fall saved his life. The bullet that had been aimed at his skull cut through Nathan's left upper arm. Josiah pulled the doctor to the ground and covered both him and Ezra. Bullets began to kick up dirt around the fallen men.

Chris and the others couldn't return fire. Too many innocent people were running scared. Chris watched as two men fell to bullets that were aimed at his new team member. Someone wanted Ezra Standish dead and they were doing their best to make sure it happened.

Once the crowed cleared the men, protecting Standish returned fire. Bullets tore up the building where the shots were coming from. Windows exploded and splinters of wood rained down onto the ground.

"Buck! Vin!" Chris fired another shot when he saw a man moved quickly pass his line of sight.

When the man fell dead to the ground Chris turned back to Vin. "Try and get around the back, we'll keep you covered."

"You got it cowboy," Vin replied.

"These aren't our guys," Jack said over the gunfire.

"Then who the hell are they?" Chris questioned him.

"They're your guys."

"Shit!"

Chris wanted to slam his fist against the dirt in a show of anger but he needed to continue firing at the enemy. He had known that the Authority wanted Ezra but now he knew it was also the Authority that wanted Standish dead. But why?

Ezra struggled to breath under the weight of Josiah. The man must weigh at least a ton. He lay chest down with his
arms held against his chest within the blanket. He felt as though he was going to be suffocated and began to struggle beneath the heavy man. His breathing became erratic and panic took control of his natural survival instincts.

"Get . . . off . . . me!"

For some reason more pressure was placed on his upper body and his face was forced further into the dirt. He was afraid to breath in case the only thing that entered his mouth or nose was dirt.

Fear forced him to kick out at the force that held him down.

He could see nothing but darkness through his eyes. Something was blocking his view. He was trapped and he now knew it. There was nothing he could do but choke on the dust. If that didn't do it then he would suffocate under the weight on top of him Sounds of gunfire surrounded him. His only hope was that these men didn't die trying to protect him. Their lives were worth so much more.

Vin and Buck run like hell was on their tails as they made their way around the neighbouring building. Once they reached the back entrance, they slowed down and crept towards the store that held the assassins.

Vin nodded to Buck, held up three fingers, and mouthed on the count of three. He lowered one finger at a time then both men entered the building, guns held high and aimed towards the front.

They were prepared to fire at anything that moved. Each man walked with his back pressed against the wall. As they entered the next room, they found a body of a young man lying on the ground. The way his neck laid at an awkward angle told them that his neck had been broken.

Again, Vin nodded and indicated that he would go first, and then Buck was to follow. Buck nodded in agreement and took a deep breath.

Vin stepped into the front room, rolled to the side and opened fire on the men in front of him. He managed to take out two men before the rest of them turned to face him. There was six left. Who would send so many men to take out one man? The answer was someone who knew that Chris Larabee and his men were protecting that man. Gunshots from Buck's gun took out two more leaving four. Bullets from outside took out another one. The three remaining men started firing their guns at the two Authority men.

The sharpshooter heard a grunt of pain from Buck but did his best to ignore him. If he showed any sort of hesitation, he would also be shot. A bullet missed his face with inches to spare. There was no need for him to fire again. The men outside had taken the opportunity that the lack of gunfire gave them and ran to the front of the building. Three more men died. Vin's first thought was for Buck. Ignoring the men that made their way into the building, he crab crawled to his friend. He found Buck lying on his back, clutching his side with both hands.

"It's okay now Buck. You're going to be fine. Nothing to worry about." Vin lifted the blood-covered hands to see the wound. It looked worse than it was.

"You think it's going to scar?" Buck asked Vin.

"Yeah, it is."

"Good, women love men with scars." Buck began to get himself to his feet.

"Wait for Nathan Buck. Let him look at you first."

"We haven't got time, we have to get Ezra off this damn planet!"

"Can you make it?"

"Of course I can make it. I can make it with any woman."

"Let's go Buck."

"Vin! Buck!"

"Here's trouble." Vin supported Buck's arm while they walked to the front door. "We're comin' Chris!" Vin didn't speak loud enough for his leader to hear him.

"You answer me now!"

"He's yelling loud enough to bust a vein," said Buck.

"Isn't he." Vin chuckled at the thought.

Ezra was beginning to think that he was going to die. He needed to cough but he couldn't draw in enough to breath to manage it. Somebody yelled that it was clear and the weight suddenly lifted from his back. He rolled over and sucked in huge gulps of air, causing a coughing fit to start so he pulled his knees up towards his chest hoping it would help.

"Where the hell did Josiah go?"

He struggled to get out of the blanket. When he was finally free of it, he got up on his hands and knees. His mouth was to dry for him to spit out the dirt that had filled his mouth. All he could do was cough.

"How's Nathan?"

He heard Chris's voice and listened for the answer.

"I'll be okay."

It was Nathan's voice. Ezra felt some sort of relief that he wasn't accustomed to.

"Would someone check on Ezra!"

Nathan's voice again but this time there was some urgency to his words.

Ezra didn't want anyone near him so he began to crawl away from the men who were to his left. He could feel the cold seeping back into his bones and as a result, his body shivered violently. This wasn't good. It had only been a matter of hours and he already felt like he was dying. What the hell was it going to be like in another few hours? He wasn't ready to do this. He couldn't do this.

"Ezra?"

It was Chris who had come to check on him. Why him? The man hated him. Ezra jumped when he felt the Chris's hand on his shoulder.

"It's Chris, Ezra."

The hand touched him again and he cried out in fear.

"Ezra. We have to get you away from here."

"No." Ezra whispered. "I can't do this."

"Do what Ezra?"

"This, I can't do this."

"Everyone's okay. Nathan and Buck have minor injuries, nothing that a few stitches won't fix."

"I'm not talking about that shit!" Ezra rubbed his face with his shirtsleeve.

"We haven't got time for your self-pity Standish. We're leaving now so get up!"

Ezra pulled away from Larabee's arms but the man somehow got a stronger grip on him and lifted him to his feet. He could feel himself being dragged along beside the man. Ezra found it hard to walk and kept tripping over his own feet. His eyes finally focused on the images in front of him. Vin was helping Buck just as Chris was helping him. Blood soaked the side of Buck's shirt. Nathan was walking without help but blood covered his arm. These men had been hurt because of him. He ripped his arm from Larabee's grip so he could turn away from them. The thought of these men suffering for him made him sick to his stomach. He vomited until he could no longer take it. His knees collapsed and he fell to the ground.

"Josiah! Carry him will you or we'll never get out of here."

Ezra prepared himself for what was about to happen. He no longer had the strength to fight them. He felt himself being lifted and then carried by large strong arms.

"Josiah, please, leave me here."

"No."

"They're hurt because of me Josiah, I don't want that to happen again."

"We'll talk about this later Ezra."

"No, you have to leave me. Someone will get killed. You and the others don't deserve to die because of me."

"Not now Ezra, later."

"Josi-"

"Ezra! Shut up!"

Ezra grunted in surprise when Josiah adjusted his hold. He could feel his head falling back over Josiah's arm. There wasn't enough strength for him to lift it back up so he stared up into the blue sky. When he was young, he wanted to travel through the stars. It was a wish that he thought would never happen but it did but he was struck down with a travelling sickness at a young age that destroyed any hope of enjoying long journeys through the growing galaxy.

"Stay with me Ezra."

It sounded like an order but he didn't like obeying orders. He closed his eyes to try to shut out memories of his childhood. They only seemed to make him either depressed or angry and the way he felt at the moment it would be depression that he would suffer. He heard Josiah's voice again and felt his body being shaken. It would be best if he didn't answer the man, it would be easier for both of them.

"Let's get you inside and settled Ezra."

The infiltrator closed his eyes, he wanted this to end and end now. Too many people had already been hurt.



Fourteen


Ezra sat cross-legged on one of the five beds and stared at Buck. Josiah had taken care of Nathan and now Nathan was stitching Buck's wound. He had done this, caused these men to be hurt. If Halis had done the job right, in the first place this wouldn't have happened. Ezra pulled the two blankets that covered him tighter around his shoulders. Thicker clothing and more blankets did nothing to keep him warm, his body still felt chilled to the core. His eyes blinked when Josiah appeared in front of him. The bed creaked as he leaned sideways to look around the larger man. The need to know that Buck was okay was more important than what Josiah wanted.

"Ezra, you okay?"

"Mr. Sanchez, would you please move out of my way."

"I think we should talk about what happened," Josiah said.

"There's nothing to talk about so go away."

Josiah didn't realise Ezra's anger was growing because of the frustration that he was feeling and the temporary insanity that his drug craved mind was creating.

"This isn't your fault Ezra."

"Get out of the fucking way!"

Ezra pulled his right hand out of the blankets and tried to move Josiah out of his line of sight. He fell back onto the bed when Josiah pushed his arm away.

Nathan glanced over his shoulder to see what was happening. He could see the agitated expression that Ezra wore and the last thing he wanted or needed right now was a violent drug-starved patient.

"Leave him alone Josiah."

"He's blaming himself for this." Josiah moved to the side of the bed.

"Let him, there's nothing you could say or do at the moment that would change his mind. He's suffering from withdrawal symptoms remember. Who knows what he's going to be thinking over the next few days."

"I don't think that's it Nathan. He said like it had happened before."

"We'll deal with that when he's in a better state of mind," said Nathan.

Josiah decided to change the subject. He knew Ezra was worried about Buck but to afraid to ask the question. "How's
Buck doing?"

"He's going to be okay, so am I."

"Good."

Nathan finished the stitching and began the processing bandaging the wound.

"I'll keep him here for a few hours to keep an eye on him," Nathan said.

"Who's going to keep an eye on you?" Josiah asked him.

"You. And you can also keep an eye on Ezra. I don't want him leaving and I don't want him anywhere near the drugs."

Nathan nodded towards the locked drug cabinet. "Anything in there will set us back a week, he'd have to start all over again."

"You do realise that I'm sitting here and hearing your conversation?"

"We know."

Ezra scowled at Josiah's words then turned his head away when the older man smiled at him. Not only did he have to go through hell but he also had to put up with these assholes. Travis had a lot to answer for.

Chris Larabee walked into the room to have a short and blunt conversation with Ezra. After what happened on Okania a few hours ago, he had to know what was happening. They needed information in order to find the person who was responsible for hurting his men. No one hurt a member of his team and got away with it. No one.

Firstly, he moved to his long time friend's side. "How's he doing Nathan?"

"He's fine. I sedated him to stitch the wound, he'll wake up in an hour or so." Nathan answered.

"How about you?"

"Me?" Nathan finished what he was doing and pulled the blood-covered gloves from his hands.

"I'm fine, although the strong pain killer I will wear off soon then I'm going to hurt like hell."

"That bad?"

"No, just painful."

"And him?"

Nathan turned to look at Standish. Josiah was still hovering by the man's side. "He wasn't hurt."

"Then why does he look so bad?"

He was full of questions today. "He's sick."

"Already?"

"No, this is something else, and he's going to get a lot worse so I suggest you take your anger and your bullshit and leave him alone for the next few days." Nathan didn't care, he'd had enough already today and he wasn't prepared to take anymore.

"Sure, if that's what you think is best," said Chris.

Larabee then walked straight to the bed Ezra was lying on.

"Chris!" Nathan should have known better and personally escorted his boss out.

"What's going on Standish?" Chris was as blunt as he planned to be.

"That is none of you-"

"Yes it is. My men were hurt and I want to know who's responsible."

"I don't know," Ezra said.

"Do you have any idea who might want you dead?"

Josiah's eyes continued to moved between the two men watching for signs that would tell him that the questioning was going to result in a violent outburst.

"A lot of people want me dead."

"Anybody from the Authority?"

Ezra frowned at the question then lifted his eyes. He had to blink a few times to bring Larabee into focus. "Why would you ask that?"

"Whoever it is has known where to find you. The question is how did he know."

"Obviously one of your men informed him of my where-"

Ezra didn't get to finish the sentence. His body drew back when Chris lunged for him. Luckily, for Ezra, Sanchez intervened on his behalf. Larabee was pulled away from the bed and spoken to in a soft voice. Ezra couldn't make out the words so he stopped listening. He knew what they were saying to him anyway, he didn't need to listen.

Don't let him get to you Chris he isn't worth it. He's scum, and a traitor. He'd give any one of us up just to save himself. Leave him be, we'll be rid of him soon enough.'

It was more or less, what everyone had to say about him. There had also been a lot worse things said that he didn't even want to think about. People didn't trust him. Why trust a man who couldn't even trust himself or anyone else for that matter. He'd always preferred to work alone, not wanting to have someone that he had to protect while waiting for that same person to stab him in the back. Ezra had learnt early in his life, thanks to his mother, that he couldn't trust people.

And it was that lack of trust that stopped people from trusting him.

"My men are trustworthy," Chris had freed himself of the arms that were trying to hold him back, "none of them would turn traitor on me or anyone else in the Authority.

Ezra couldn't help but hear the word traitor. Was this man accusing him of being one? Yes, why not. Everybody thought he was a traitor, everyone except Orin Travis.

"I need to speak to the Judge!" He pulled the blankets away from his shoulders and began to crawl to the edge of the bed. For some reason Josiah was there in an instant to stop him from getting off the bed. Ezra immediately kicked out and his booted foot slammed into the larger man's stomach. Josiah who was now bent over gasping for breath was easily pushed aside.

Larabee though, was a different matter.

"You're not going anywhere until I get some answers!"

Chris had moved to the edge of the bed in time to stop Standish from running to the door. He was close enough to see the too pale skin and the sweat that was oozing from Ezra's pores.

"Who in the Authority would want you dead?" All he wanted to do was hit the irritating asshole even if he was sick, but that was going to have to wait until later.

"I have to talk to Travis!"

"No!"

"I need to . . ." Ezra began to fidget, he ran his hands through his hair and played with the cuffs of his shirt. He then began to twist his fingers and hands, squeezing them so tightly that you could see the blood being forced to the end of the joints. "I need to talk to the Judge, he can help me, you won't."

"The Judge told us to help you remember Ezra." Nathan spoke quietly. He could see how agitated his patient was becoming. This was exactly why he had told Chris to leave and not come back.

"Ordered," said Ezra.

"We've been through this already." Josiah straightened up and rubbed his stomach to make sure that there wasn't any damage.

"Who wants you dead!" Chris took another step closer causing him to stand face to face with the man who stood at least two inches smaller than him.

"I don't know! If I did I would just walk into his office and say here I am," Ezra spread his arms wide, "shoot me now!"

Chris could hear both anger and fear in the man's voice. Ezra wanted to die, just like he had wanted to when his wife and son had been murdered. He should be feeling sorry for the guy and helping him through whatever it was that was causing the suicidal thoughts that kept entering his mind instead of making it worse for him.

"I'll talk to Travis. And let me tell you this. I'm going to find out who it is and then I'm going to kill the son-of-a-bitch because no one hurts one of my men! You got that Standish!"

Ezra could only nod.

Josiah watched Chris storm out of the room then began to laugh. "Did you hear that Ezra?"

"How could I not." Ezra replied.

"He said you were part of his team. He's accepted you, he doesn't like you yet but he's brought you into the group."

"How in the hell did you get that from what he said?" Ezra resisted when Nathan and Josiah began to force him back onto the bed.

"You'll learn how to read behind the words and the emotions of Chris Larabee." Josiah forced Ezra to lie down then covered him with a blanket.

"I'll look forward to it."

"I'm sure you will."

"Josiah," Nathan interrupted the small talk, "I'm going to get some rest. Make sure he doesn't leave. Hit him over the head if you have to and don't take your eyes off him. He can be pretty sneaky so watch your own head."

"Don't worry Nathan, I'll watch over our young friend here. He's not going anywhere."

"Would you care to make a wager on that Mr. Sanchez?"

"No I wouldn't Ezra, I don't want to see you lose your money." Josiah refused to acknowledge the sight of Ezra's fingers twisting and pulling the sheet that covered him.

"The way I'm feeling at the moment and knowing that I'm going to get worse, I wouldn't lose my money."

Nathan had been right, this man was willing to do anything to get what he needed. He was going to be put to the test with this one.





Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five


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