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azombiewritesTitle: Loyalties
Rating: PG
Warnings: Strong Language.
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: ATF
Main Characters: Ezra, Chris, Buck and the rest of the guys.
Summary: When JD and Ezra are placed in a life-threatening situation, Ezra finds out where Buck's loyalties lie.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 25,256
Chris rushed to his front door when the sound of someone knocking echoed through the front area of his home. He feared the sound would wake the sleeping agent that filled his double bed. He opened the door and the light filtered around the group of men who stood waiting to gain entrance to his comfortably furnished home.
Josiah stepped through the welcoming opening and was followed by Nathan, Buck and a noisy JD. Chris frowned at the younger man but JD refused to take the hint. Chris tried slapping him across the upper arm but the silent request still went unheard.
"JD!" Chris growled as he tried to keep his voice low. "Ezra's still sleeping."
"He okay?" Nathan's expression was suddenly filled with concern.
"Yeah, he's just not use to early mornings." The smile on Chris' face told everyone that he had been enjoying every moment of Ezra's convalescence.
"I think I'll check him anyway." Nathan nodded.
"Just don't wake him. If you do, you'll have me to answer to." Chris warned him but the smile still covered his face.
"You're enjoying this. Aren't you?" Josiah's face couldn't stop the huge grin that filled his own features.
"You can tell?" He raised his eyebrows and turned his expression into a serious one.
"It's a bit hard not to notice Chris." Vin joined in.
"Are we forgetting something here!" Buck growled. All eyes turned to him. "Someone may have tried to kill JD."
Chris glared at Buck then turned and walked into the large living area. He sat down on the huge corner sofa and watched Nathan enter the main bedroom, the door closed silently behind him. He looked to his left when he felt someone sit down next to him. It was Vin.
"You do realise that Ezra's going to get you back don't you?" Vin whispered.
"It'll be worth it." Chris agreed. "Buck?" His voice grew slightly in volume. "Did you find anything?"
"No." Buck glanced towards the bedroom. He wanted to talk to Ezra, to apologise and thank him for saving JD's life. He wanted to tell the Southerner that he was wrong, that he had misjudged him. But something was different between the two men, and he thought that the distance could not be closed. Ezra was angry at him, he had a right to be, and he was taking that anger out on him. This was not the best time to apologise. Buck didn't realise how wrong he was. "We didn't find anything that stood out. It could be anyone."
"Why don't you just talk to him Buck." Chris told him.
"He's too angry." Buck replied, he still hadn't taken his eyes away from the bedroom door.
"Maybe he's angry because you haven't talked to him." Josiah sat down next to the ladies man. "Today is the first time you've seen him since he got hurt. If I was in Ezra's shoes, I would be angry too. I would think that you still blamed me. Ezra's slightly paranoid Buck, he can easily take things the wrong way. The longer you leave it, the worse it's going to get."
"I'll wait." But Josiah was right. If he had done it straight away, it would be all over now but he had left it. He didn't even go and see Ezra at the hospital. The guilt that he felt had been too strong, it still was. Ezra Standish had saved his friends life and all he could do was accuse him of not doing his job, of allowing JD to be hurt. Ezra had taken five bullets that he felt were meant for JD Dunne. If someone had asked him before this situation happened if he would do the same for Ezra he probably would have said no. But now it was different, he wouldn't hesitate in risking his own life for Ezra's. If the man was willing to do it for them then they could do it for him. "I'll wait until this is over."
"It might be too late then Buck." Chris spoke up.
"I'll wait." Buck repeated. He finally pulled his eyes from the door and looked at Chris. "I'll wait."
"If that's what you want. But I'm warning you Buck, if I have to lose one of you over this, it will be you not Ezra" Chris warned him.
"What?" Buck frowned in confusion.
"He's the best undercover agent there is Buck. He's also a good man that needs an opportunity like this. He belongs here, with us. There isn't anywhere else for him to go. He can finally have some friends, people who will care about him, look after him. I want him to have that. You can still have that when you leave, but Ezra won't. He'll be the one that stays."
Buck looked down at the floor. Confusion filled his face, he couldn't believe it. Chris would choose the Southerner over his long time friend.
"You'd do that?" Buck mumbled.
"No hesitation at all." Chris spoke with absolute seriousness.
Buck nodded in agreement.
"Josiah did you get anything?" Chris changed the subject.
"They have a name." He saw the surprise on Chris and Vin's face. "Julia Saunders. They're waiting for you. If you want to talk to her, you can. Apparently, her mother went into a nursing home one month ago. An expensive one, she can't afford it on her wage. There was ten thousand dollars deposited into a bank account. It took this long because false names were used and they had to trace it back to the original source."
"I'll give John a ring later and arrange a time. Ezra might also want to be in on it." Chris nodded.
________________________________________
Nathan closed the door behind him and moved towards the bed that held the sleeping occupant. He sat down on the side of the queen size bed and looked down at the slack features of Ezra Standish. Nathan placed his large hand against Ezra's forehead, his gentle touch didn't cause the man to move under his weight. His hand made Ezra's face look small, it made him look even younger than he was. His skin felt cool to the touch so he pulled the covers up around his neck.
He had been surprised at Ezra's efforts to save JD, he hadn't thought the man had it in him but he was wrong. He wondered if he was wrong about everything else, he had thought about him. Nathan didn't like him when he first met him, he thought he was selfish, stuck up. He took to many risks, and the risks he took could get someone killed. He had argued with Ezra a lot and to think about it now, he was the one that had always started the verbal abuse not Ezra.
"I'm sorry Ezra." Nathan's voice wasn't loud but Ezra still heard him. "I jumped to conclusions, I shouldn't have, and I should have waited. Chris, Vin and Josiah did. They saw the real you, I couldn't or wouldn't. I didn't give you a chance. I can't understand why you hide away like you do. Why is it so hard for you to show people the real you."
"It's easier that way Nathan." Ezra didn't open his eyes, he was still tired. Why Chris had to get him up at five every morning he didn't know. "You let people get close and they hurt you, I don't like being hurt, it happened too often."
"It won't happen again Ezra, not with us." Nathan wasn't surprised that Ezra was awake.
"That's what Chris said, but I can't accept that at face value, I have to wait for proof."
"I can understand that Ezra. We've got plenty of time, so when you’re ready we'd like to meet the real you."
Nathan patted his shoulder then stood up. "Don't tell Chris I woke you, he'll kill me."
Ezra chuckled. "You'll owe me one."
"Sure." Nathan smiled down at the inert figure.
________________________________________
Nathan moved quietly into the living area, he kept his eyes down so Chris could not see his face. He sat down next to Vin and looked across at Buck.
"You woke him up didn't you." Chris accused him.
"He was already awake." Nathan stuttered out.
"Uh huh." Chris nudged Vin. "You'll wait."
Nathan winced. He hoped that Chris had been joking when he threatened him, obviously he hadn't.
"Did he go back to sleep?" Chris looked around Vin so he could see Nathan's face. He really was enjoying this.
"Ah, yeah." Nathan began playing with one of the cushions on the sofa.
"Did you talk to him?" Josiah could see Nathan's embarrassment.
"Yeah, he's got a lot of problems." He commented.
"That's why he's staying." Chris said. "I'm not going to add any more problems, where going to start helping to solve them."
"That's going to be our hardest mission yet." Vin smiled.
"And our most satisfying." Josiah nodded.
Buck looked around at the men he sat with, they all seemed to be agreeing with Chris. It wasn't bothering them that he was the one that would have to leave if things couldn't be sorted out between himself and Ezra. He would have to work at it because he didn't want to leave either. These men were his family, he would have to accept Ezra as part of that family. He trusted him now, but he should have trusted him from the start.
"Is Ezra angry at me?" JD's question took everyone by surprise.
"What makes you think that?" Chris frowned at JD.
JD shrugged his shoulders. "He just seems different, he's keeping his distance from me."
"He's trying to sort a few things out JD, I'm sure it's not intentional." Josiah told him.
"He's not distant with you guys." JD had observed the different way Ezra treated him to the others.
"Maybe you should ask him." Chris suggested.
JD stayed silent, he didn't really want to ask Ezra in case it was something that he had done. He kept going over the incident and the days after. He constantly visited Ezra in the hospital and in Chris' home. Ezra always talked and listened but he was different. He didn't smile at him or laugh at his attempts at humor. JD leaned back onto the sofa and went over the incident again. His mind went through the seconds after Ezra's shouted warning. He had missed when he fired, this had allowed the man to take aim. That's when Ezra had pushed him into the hole of the floor.
"It's because I didn't do my job." JD told the men.
"Not another one." Chris growled.
"I'm serious Chris. I fired to soon, my shot went wide, and it gave the guy the chance he wanted. Ezra had to look after me, he had to do my job for me. If I did it right, Ezra wouldn't have been hurt."
"You just keep thinking like that JD." Chris told him "But I think Ezra will see it differently."
"See what differently?" Ezra's voice was groggy as he came through into the living room. He slumped down onto the couch next to Chris.
"Nothing." JD answered before anyone else could.
"I thought you were sleeping." Chris glared at Ezra.
"A person can only sleep for so long Mr Larabee." Ezra yawned.
"Your still tired."
"Tired of sleeping, I assure you." Ezra leaned back and relaxed more into the sofa. "Have you cooked dinner yet?"
Everyone but Buck and JD smiled, the two men stared at Ezra but for different reasons.
"No." Chris turned away from him.
"When are you going to cook it. I'm getting a bit hungry." Ezra smiled.
"I'll cook it when I cook it." Chris told him.
The smile transferred from Ezra's handsome features to Chris' rugged visage.
"You won't win." Ezra repeated.
"Yes I will." Chris also repeated his assurance of winning his own game.
________________________________________
Chris, Vin and Ezra walked into the offices of Team Eight and headed to the office that occupied the leader of group, John Malcom. Chris motioned for Vin and Ezra to wait outside and knocked on the door. He received a shouted response immediately. He opened the door and stepped in, he closed it behind him.
"John." Chris leaned over the large desk and shook the man's hand. He then settled into one of the larger chairs and faced the man before him.
"Chris." John Malcom sat back down. His firm solid frame was hidden by the heavy jacket that he wore. He tucked his shoulder length brown hair behind his ears and looked over Chris' shoulder. The vertical blinds were open and he could see Ezra Standish leaning against the window.
"How's Ezra doing?" Malcom asked. Everyone knew what Ezra had done for JD.
Chris looked back over his shoulder at Ezra.
"He's doing fine John. He'll be going home at the end of the week." Chris smiled.
"That's good, we were all worried there for a while." Malcom returned his gaze to Chris, his blue eyes held the truth of his words.
"It would do him a lot of good if people told him that. He's going through a rough time at the moment." Chris told him.
"Sure, no problem." John stood up. "Shall we go and talk to Julia Saunders."
"Be glad to." Chris stood up and opened the door for the other man.
John Malcom stepped into the corridor and saw Vin Tanner standing next to Ezra, he shook his hand then turned to Ezra. He smiled widely at him as he shook his hand.
"It's good to have you back Ezra, we were all worried about you for a while there." John saw the look of doubt that flashed across the undercover agent's face before he quickly placed his well-known poker face in place.
"Thank you." Ezra spoke but he was shocked by the words that the man had spoken. He could tell that he was being sincere, he just didn't know why.
Vin and Malcom walked away. Ezra made to follow but was stopped when Chris put his arm around his shoulders.
"See Ezra, people do care." Chris gave him a brotherly hug that Ezra accepted.
"Did you tell him to say it?" Ezra was a pessimist when it came to believing in mankind.
"John said it first, I just told him that it would be better if he told you, not me." Chris told him.
"It's a feeling I'm not use to." Ezra admitted.
"Having friends." Chris raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah that and everything that goes with friendship. I don't know if I can return the favour yet Chris." Ezra pulled out of the embrace and looked Chris in the eye.
"That's okay Ezra, you have plenty of time, and you’re not going anywhere." Chris pushed him towards the elevators where Vin and John were waiting for them.
Chris noticed that Ezra was fidgeting with his hands. The agent seemed to have lost the self-confidence that always seemed to ooze from his body. But he knew that given time, Ezra would be back to his normal self and hopefully this time he would allow his associates to be his friends.
The four men stepped into the interview room to find Julia Saunders waiting for them
________________________________________
Julia Saunders was a petite bottled blonde, the bleached hair only managed to reach her shoulders. Her brown eyes searched the faces of the men who came into the room. She used a small bare hand to wipe the tears from her face and nose. She sniffed hard and choked on the emotions that threatened to escape once more. Julia griped her trembling hands and looked away when Malcom sat down in the chair on the other side on the table.
"I'm sorry," she started to blurt out, "they told me that no one was going to get hurt, they said they just wanted to know when the bust was going to take place. They said they wouldn't show up . . . I'm sorry . . . I needed the money . . . for my mother . . . she's . . . sick . . . " Julia Saunders placed her face in her hands and openly wept.
"Who are 'they' Julia?" Malcom asked her.
"They promised me . . . no one would be hurt." She lifted her moist eyes and her gaze settled on Ezra. "I'm sorry Agent Standish, they said no one would get hurt."
Ezra didn't turn away from her, the woman was genuinely sorry for what had happened. He folded his arms
across his chest and leaned against the closed door.
"Why don't you start from the beginning Julia." Ezra suggested to her in a calming tone.
Julia managed to smile slightly, the man that had nearly lost his life didn't blame her, that's what she had feared most, that and going to prison.
________________________________________
Buck watched as Ezra moved away from Chris and Vin and headed towards the small kitchen, he followed him. The older agent stood in the doorway and leaned against the frame and waited. He wasn't sure what he was going to say but knew he had to do it now or he never would. Chris had been serious in his threat so he had to do everything he could to sort things out between himself and Ezra. He didn't want to leave the team.
"Ezra . . . " He couldn't miss the tension that caused Ezra's body to stiffen. "We need to talk."
"No Mr Wilmington, you need to talk." Ezra kept his back facing the doorway and continued to make his coffee.
Buck looked at the floor, he held his stare for a few seconds and when he looked up Ezra was facing him, his back was leaning against the counter and his feet and arms were crossed.
"I was worried about JD." Buck stated.
"You're always worried about JD. He is capable of looking after himself." Ezra glared at him. "If he ever gets hurt it will be because your smothering him instead of doing your job."
"I always do my job Ezra. JD would never get hurt because of me." Buck growled.
"Maybe not, but I'm sure that someone else could be." Ezra continued.
"What do you mean by that?" Buck stepped forward, he noticed that Ezra didn't move.
"Did you want to apologise or something Mr Wilmington." Ezra changed the subject. It was one of his favorite tactics.
"Don't make this any harder for me Ezra." Buck moved forward until he was standing in front of Ezra, the Southerner still hadn't move.
"I wouldn't dream of it 'Buck'." Ezra allowed the sarcasm to show when he spoke Buck's name.
"Ezra, I'm sorry about what happened. I didn't mean any of it."
"No they never do." Ezra turned around and lifted his coffee cup with his right hand.
"What?" Buck was confused, he looked sideways at Ezra's profile but his expression didn't give anything away.
"People don't trust me, it's something they never mean to do. People don't like me, it's something they never mean to do. People don't care, it's something they never mean to do. You didn't trust me, you didn't like me or care about me. That didn't bother me, I'm use to it. It's been that way all my life."
"What is it then Ezra?"
Ezra faced Buck and looked up into the taller man's eyes. "You thought that I would allow someone like JD, an innocent person to die."
"Yeah I did, I didn't think you would risk your own life to save someone else's but I was wrong Ezra. I misjudged you and I'm sorry about that. It won't happen again." Buck assured him.
"I believe you Mr Wilmington and I accept your apology." Ezra didn't smile or shake his hand, he walked
away and left the other agent standing in the small kitchen.
________________________________________
Chris Larabee once again sat at the end of the large table in the conference room. He looked at the faces of his men, they all wanted revenge. They wanted payback for Ezra's injuries, the attempt on JD's life and the intentional harm that was meant for Buck Wilmington. His own blue eyes kept looking at Ezra, there was a strange look in his eyes, one that he had never seen before. He wanted to question him about it but there hadn't been time. They had a job to do and he had to think of a way of keeping Ezra out of the way. He still wasn't physically fit for duty and if he went in on an operation, he may not be able to take care of himself. Chris wasn't willing to allow one of the others to do it.
"Julia Saunders wasn't able to give us a name but she does have a contact phone number." Chris looked at Buck, the man hadn't taken his eyes off Ezra since he entered the room. The despair was no longer evident on his features. The talk he had with Ezra must have gone well. "John is with her now, she's calling the number she has to arrange a meeting. Julia is going to give him a story, she'll tell him that we suspect a snitch within the agency and she's afraid of getting caught."
"What makes you think that he'll meet with her?" Buck asked him.
"Ezra told her what to say." Chris smiled.
"That should do it." Josiah laughed. Ezra raised his left eyebrow in pure innocence and Josiah laughed even harder.
"John is going to come down when they're finished." Chris added.
"Who's going in?" Vin was sitting next to Ezra again.
"We are. John understands that we have a better reason to be the main team on the operation."
"I'm going in too." Ezra knew what the answer was going to be.
"NO!" Chris, Vin, Josiah and Nathan all spoke at once.
"Why not?" Ezra was prepared to argue, he would do whatever it took to catch the men who had tried to kill JD.
"Because you haven't fully recovered yet." Nathan pointed out.
"It's my decision. You’re not going." Chris growled at him.
"Don't you trust me." Ezra knew his comment would hit the mark. "You think that I may get someone hurt?"
"It won't work Ezra." Chris told him.
"Then I'll keep trying." Ezra warned him. "And I'll put more effort into the game."
"Game?" Nathan and Josiah questioned Ezra.
"You mean you’re not even trying now?" Chris raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I assure you Mr Larabee that I am not trying at all." Ezra smiled.
"I'll think about it." Chris didn't commit to any more than that.
"Ezra can team up with me and JD." Buck was looking at Chris so he didn't see Ezra's reaction.
"No!" Ezra spoke harshly. Everyone turned to look at him. "No."
Ezra realised that he had said what had been on his mind since the original incident had occurred. He lowered his eyes, he didn't want to see the surprise that was written all over everyone's faces, especially Chris'. He knew that he could no longer trust Buck but he wasn't willing to admit it to anyone. But now he had blurted it out. They were going to demand an explanation. How could he say that he didn't trust Buck when he had been angry over the fact that the other agent hadn't trusted him. He told him that he had been use to it, but it was different with these men. He had hoped to finally find the trust that he needed. If someone else trusted him then he would be able to begin to trust himself again. Now he had ruined any chance that he thought he had.
Chris could see the anguish on Ezra's face. Something was wrong, he thought that it had all been sorted out. His blue eyes turned to Buck, the surprise on his face told him that Buck had been thinking the same thing. That everything was alright between them.
"Why?" Buck wanted to know, he was confused by Ezra's reaction. The expression that the undercover agent held scared him.
"It's like Nathan said, I'm not fully recovered, and my side still hurts. I won't be able to react quick enough. I might get someone hurt." Ezra spoke quickly.
"I thought we sorted that out Ezra." Buck frowned at him.
"You sorted it out Mr Wilmington, I'm still working on it." The Southerner admitted.
"Guys." Chris nodded towards the door. His men received the hint and left the conference room quietly.
Ezra made to stand up but Chris' strong grip pulled him back down. He was afraid of that. He hoped that it wasn't going to come to this. If Chris found out that, he didn't trust Buck he would ask him to leave the team.
Chris stood up and sat on the table. It was a type of body language that would give him more control over his subject. Ezra Standish. But it didn't work, Ezra wasn't so easily intimidated.
"What's going on Ezra?" Chris rested his feet on the chair that he had been sitting on.
"Why should there be anything going on." Ezra didn't want to admit to anything. He didn't want to leave the team that he thought he could become a part of. Both physically and emotionally.
"I want to know Ezra and I want to know now!" Chris growled down at him.
"I think it would be better if I just put in for a transfer." Ezra flicked his tongue out over his bottom lip.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I don't want to say Chris, it'll just make things awkward for everyone."
"I'll make things awkward for you Ezra if you don't tell me what's wrong." Chris made himself calm down but his tone was still serious.
"If I tell you I'll have to leave."
"You're not going anywhere. I already told Buck that if I have to choose between the two of you, that Buck would be the one to go." Chris explained what he wanted.
"What?" Ezra looked up in surprise. "You can't do that. You've known Buck longer than me. He's your friend."
"So are you Ezra. But you and this team would have more to lose if you leave." Chris put his hand on his shoulder. "Now tell me what's wrong."
"I find that hard to believe." Ezra's tone was full of sarcasm.
"Don't you believe what I told you yesterday." Chris asked him.
"I'm trying to Chris but when you’re stuck in a rut it's a bit hard to get out of old habits."
"Then believe me when I tell you this. You’re not going anywhere. Even if I have to tie you down." Chris couldn't understand why it was so hard for his agent to understand his thoughts and feelings. It was beyond his comprehension that the Southerner didn't trust him.
"I don't want to be the reason that Buck leaves." If that was to happen Ezra knew that the others would blame him, it would bring out a hatred that he had already been through. Even Chris would eventually hate him. But he decided that he wouldn't allow it to come to that. If someone had to leave the team, it would be him. He wouldn't allow them to push Buck away because of something that he was going through.
"I don't trust him." Ezra wouldn't look at Chris.
"What do you mean you don't trust him?" Chris used his hand to lift Ezra's face. "Why don't you trust him Ezra?"
"If we were in a dangerous situation and he had to choose between me and JD, it would always be JD, even if I was in more danger." Ezra looked away again. "I won't be able to work like that. It should be me that leaves, not Buck."
"Wait here a minute Ezra, I'll be right back." Chris got off the table and walked towards the closed doors. Before he opened them, he turned and looked at Ezra. He shook his head. Things were not right, if anything they were worse. And none of it was Ezra's fault but he was taking the blame for something that wasn't his responsibility.
Ezra waited like he was told, he thought he knew what Chris was going to talk to the others about. This news would change his decision about who was going to leave the team.
Chris closed the door behind and noticed that the rest of the team were standing close to the doors. He looked at Buck then stepped up to him. The others were watching him in confusion but they stayed silent. They knew that he was going to do something and they didn't want to interrupt him.
"Buck. JD is about to be attacked by a man holding a hunting knife. Ezra is facing a man with a gun, a man that we know is capable of shooting someone in cold blood. Who do you help first?"
Buck turned to look at JD, he then turned back to Chris. "Ezra."
"Jesus Buck!" Chris growled. "It's too late, the man just shot Ezra while you were making your decision."
"What was that all about Chris?" Vin stepped forward.
"Ezra doesn't trust Buck and now I know why. And Buck was the one who was accusing Ezra of not watching anyone else's back."
Vin looked at Buck in surprise. "I wonder if it would be the same with the rest of us."
John Malcom walked into the corridor that the six men filled with their presence. He could also feel the tension in the air and wondered what was going on.
"Chris." His voice brought his arrival to their attention.
"Did you get a meeting?" Chris asked as he turned his back on his men. It was all turning out to be a hell of a mess.
"Yeah. Eleven tomorrow morning. It will give us time to arrive early and get into position." Malcom smiled.
"There's something else. The guy she spoke to had an English accent."
"Mean anything to you Buck?" Chris wouldn't turn around. He couldn't look at his long time friend. He wasn't even sure he could trust him anymore. Vin was right, would Buck choose JD over all of them.
"Yeah it does." Buck answered. The fear in his voice was evident to everyone around him.
________________________________________
It was ironic. Chris found himself standing outside the same warehouse where the operation with Team Eight had gone terribly wrong. But he wasn't taking much of an interest in it. He was too busy arguing with Buck Wilmington. The man that had arranged an attempt on JD's life was a forty two year old Englishman that Buck had arrested eight years ago. The agent had also killed the man's brother during the arrest. He had sworn revenge at the trial. Buck hadn't expected the threat to be carried out.
Ezra stood to the side of the two men, the argument wasn't about him but he knew he was the cause of it. He shouldn't have told Chris what the problem was. He didn't want this. The two men had been friends for fifteen years, and he was the one that was going to end their friendship.
"What if Ezra's right?" Chris was like a bear with a sore head.
"He isn't." Buck practically yelled back. "I had the opportunity to hesitate back at the office. I wouldn't do it in a real life situation. You of all people should know that."
"You’re right, I should know that. But there is a doubt in my mind now Buck and it's the same with everyone else on this team."
"Oh great! So it's turned around now has it. I'm the one that's no longer trusted on this team. Well at least I never ran out on us!"
Ezra visibly flinched at that statement.
"Ezra's proven himself since then. I know that he wouldn't do it again. I would even risk my life on it." Chris retorted.
"Would you risk someone else's?" Buck snarled at him.
"Yes I would." Chris answered confidently. "Now we have a job to do so I don't want to hear anymore from you. We'll deal with this later. Right now, you stay here with Ezra. I don't want either of you near that warehouse. That's an order." Chris turned and looked at Ezra. The expression on his face emphasised his words to the undercover agent.
Chris walked away from the two men and made his way to the warehouse. They had been there since five am. It was now six. The first hour had been spent checking the area to make sure that there wasn't anybody already waiting for them like last time. He glanced over his shoulder and watched the two men separate. Buck got into the front of the van and Ezra made his way into the back. No doubt to sleep. The van was wreckage on the outside, anyone passing would think that it had been stolen, stripped of anything valuable then left there. Buck and Ezra would be safe there, as long as they stayed like they were ordered too.
Buck sat in the front of the van and looked over the back seat at Ezra. He had made himself comfortable in the back. It only took ten minutes for him to fall asleep. He was lying on his back with his chin resting on his left shoulder. Buck watched the undercover agent's chest rise and fall slowly. He thought about what Ezra had said to Chris. Would he really help JD over someone else. He didn't think he would but Ezra did. And Ezra knew how to read people. During the four months that he had been with the team, he had never read a person incorrectly.
He held his breath when Ezra's breathing pattern change, the agent rolled over onto his left side. He saw the pain that crossed his handsome features before he rolled over onto his right side. His ribs must still be giving him trouble. Buck winced in sympathy. He looked down at his watch. They still had four hours to wait. If Ezra had stayed awake, they could have talked about their problems.
________________________________________
It was ten, an hour before the meeting was scheduled when Buck saw two men walking towards the building. He recognised one of them as James Henderson, the man that had threatened him. His hair had grown and turned grey, his face seemed to have aged fifteen years. The dark sunglasses stopped Buck from seeing the grey eyes that could cause a person to cringe in fear.
Buck looked back over the seat. Ezra was still sleeping heavily. He glanced towards the warehouse then back at Ezra. The decision was made. He quietly opened the vans passenger door and got out. Buck closed the door and checked that he hadn't woken Ezra. He waited a few seconds to be sure then jogged across the street to follow Henderson into the warehouse.
Buck stopped at the open doorway and glanced around the doorframe. He could see the man that had come with Henderson standing in the middle of the warehouse floor. The man's back was to him. He took the chance and glanced around the room but he couldn't see Henderson anywhere. He was about to move into the building when he heard Chris make the teams presence known. Gunfire then erupted around the first floor. He watched as the man before him crumpled to the ground when one of the team's bullets struck him. He moved further into the building. He saw Chris and Vin run towards the man that was now dead. They needed to make sure.
"Where the hell is Henderson?" Buck spoke aloud.
"Right here Wilmington."
Buck hung his head and turned to face his nemesis. What he saw shocked him.
________________________________________
Henderson suspected a setup. He knew that Wilmington would be there and it would be his only chance to kill him or someone close to him. He had left his right hand man standing in the middle of the warehouse while he made his way towards the hole in the wall that had been hidden by dirty mattresses. And as he did, he heard the ATF warning. A bullet struck the wall beside him but he didn't stop. He planned to get away then wait for Wilmington to come out. He would then decide who he was going to kill.
He managed to get out of the building and run across the street. His intention was to hide behind the van that was parked on the street. It would give him enough cover. He didn't care if he was caught or even killed. All he wanted was revenge. For his brother and for himself.
Henderson stopped behind the van. He was bent over for better cover. He slowly stood up and looked through the windows. He couldn't believe his luck. The agent that had stopped them from killing Dunne was sleeping in the back. He looked towards the warehouse, no one was coming out after him as yet but he knew he wouldn't have much time. He moved to the back of the van and opened the doors. He reached in and grabbed an unmoving leg and roughly pulled the agent towards him. The man woke with a jerk but the gun that he shoved into his face stopped him from doing anything stupid.
"Your coming with me!" Henderson growled at Ezra as he pulled him out of the van.
He pushed Ezra towards the warehouse and the man he wanted to seek revenge against.
________________________________________
"Aw hell." Was Buck's muttered reply.
Ezra though didn't know what the hell was going on. One minute he was sleeping in the van, the next he was standing in the middle of the street in the grip of a madman and a gun pointed at his right temple. How the hell did he get into this position. Where had Buck been, he was supposed to be in the van, he was ordered to stay there. He should of warned him, woke him up so he could protect himself. The only answer was that Buck left him alone. He left him vulnerable to man that was now capable of killing him.
"We're the hell were you!?" Ezra yelled at Buck.
"Shut up!" Henderson slammed the butt of his gun against the back of Ezra's skull.
Ezra's knees buckled but he didn't lose consciousness. Henderson easily pulled him back up and pressed the barrel of the revolver into the flesh of his temple hard enough to draw blood.
"Let him go!" Chris yelled at the man before him. He had left the building the same way Henderson had, but obviously too late. The man had enough time to gain a hostage and that hostage was Ezra Standish. Vin stood at Chris' side, his gun aimed at the head of the man who was holding onto Ezra.
Ezra refused to look at Chris, he was staring at Buck. "Now we're even Mr Wilmington. You have run out on me."
"I told you to shut up." Henderson pushed the gun harder against Ezra's skull, forcing the undercover agent's head to the left, it was nearly resting on his shoulder.
The movement gave Vin enough of the man's head to hit him squarely between the eyes, he just wasn't sure if Henderson would pull the trigger and kill Ezra as a reflex action.
"I hope you can live with the guilt of my death Wilmington!" Ezra yelled again. If he could get the man to move the gun again then Vin would be able to take his shot.
"I'm sorry Ezra." Buck didn't know what Ezra was doing.
"Like that is going to help me now!" Ezra retorted.
"You want to see your friend die Wilmington." Henderson smiled at him as he pressed even harder against Ezra's skull.
Buck was watching Ezra's face, it was contorted with pain.
"You know I don't." Buck growled at him.
"If Ezra dies so do you!" Chris warned him.
"I don't care, it was my intention to die afterwards. As long as I get to see his face after I kill his friend. That's all I want."
"He won't care." Ezra tried to turn so he could face the man. He hoped that the gun would move away from his head. "He doesn't even like me. You grabbed the wrong guy."
"I don't think so." His grip on his hostage grew stronger at his attempt to turn around.
"Why would he leave me sleeping in the van. Because he doesn't care. He'll lose his job over this." Ezra felt the pressure of the gun lessen. "If he was concerned he wouldn't have left me alone. His face won't even flinch when you pull that trigger."
Josiah, Nathan and JD moved up behind Buck, they had heard what was happening. Their job was to protect Buck if Henderson fired in his direction.
"No. But he would if I shot Dunne." Henderson chuckled quietly in Ezra's ear. No one else heard the comment.
"JD! Get out of here!" Ezra yelled as he began to struggle in Henderson's grip. He grabbed at the large arm that was wrapped around his upper arms and chest. The man was larger than he was and stronger so his attempts were futile.
Henderson knew what his hostage was trying to do. He moved his arm up so it would wrap around Ezra's throat. His grip tightened as his hostage continued to struggle. He made sure he placed the man's head in front of his own for protection. He drew his gun back and hit Ezra's skull again. This time the force was enough to knock him into oblivion. His arm stopped the head from falling forward. His gun arm quickly changed its direction to aim at its new victim. JD.
Vin took aim but Ezra's head and body were in the way.
Buck stepped in front of JD. He waited for the bullet but it didn't come. Henderson wanted to kill JD not him.
Henderson changed direction again. This time he aimed the gun at Chris'.
Buck started to walk towards Henderson. He knew he wouldn't shoot him. His eyes took in Ezra's slack features, he had to do something to help him. He was sure that Henderson was going to kill Ezra anyway. He noticed Henderson's grey eyes flick towards him then back to Chris again. Buck kept walking. He was only a few feet away from him.
"Come any closer and I'll kill him." Henderson returned the gun to Ezra's right temple.
"You heard what he said. Killing him won't bother me. And I will lose my job for what I did. It's all his fault anyway." Buck took another step closer. "My job isn't my life, so that won't worry me. The only way you could hurt me is by killing one of the others."
Vin held his breath and waited for the right moment. It came quickly.
Henderson's eyes flicked around the men in front of him trying to find the right victim. Buck took his chance and ran forward. His left arm grabbed the gunman’s wrist and pushed it away from Ezra's head. A gunshot was fired. The bullet entered the side of Henderson's skull. Vin's bullet had hit it's mark without resulting in an injury to Ezra. Buck allowed the man's hand to fall from his grip and his arms quickly wrapped themselves around Ezra to stop him from falling to the pavement.
"Nathan." Buck called to him.
"I'm right here Buck." Nathan knelt down beside him.
"How did he get to Ezra!" Chris demanded as he pushed Buck out of his way.
"I left the van to follow Henderson into the warehouse." Buck admitted to Chris.
"You've done everything that you accused Ezra of doing." Vin told him.
"I know." Buck moved away and sat down on the gutter. He watched Nathan as he checked Ezra to see how bad his head injury was.
"How is he Nathan?" Chris had taken over holding Ezra's head off the footpath. He laid the Southerner's head on his thigh. Nathan had rolled his head onto its side so he could check the back of his head. Chris continued to wipe the damp hair from Ezra's forehead.
"Nasty bump," Nathan reported, "but he should be okay."
"Buck, JD. You can stay here and take care of the clean up. We'll take Ezra to the hospital." Chris looked for Josiah. "Josiah could you carry him."
Josiah didn't have to be asked twice. He quickly bent down and lifted the smaller man into his arms and began to carry him to the vehicle that was two blocks away. Chris threw a radio to JD then followed Josiah and the others.
________________________________________
Ezra was livid, his anger could easily beat Chris' worse mood. The headache he was now suffering from didn't help. He stormed out of the elevator with three men trying to calm him down. But his anger had progressed to breaking point. There was nothing they could do now to stop him, they weren't willing to physically restrain him, not yet anyway. Ezra walked straight to Buck's office.
Buck looked up from his desk when he heard the voices. He frowned at the thought of Ezra being released from hospital, he thought that they would keep him overnight, well he hoped they would. It would have given the Southerner time to calm down. But luck wasn't on his side at the moment. He stood up and stepped into the open, he was ready for the inevitable. He would take what was coming to him.
Ezra walked into the room and without saying a word he stepped up to Buck and with his right fist he knocked him to the ground.
"You could have gotten me killed!" Ezra yelled down at him. "What the hell what were you thinking?"
"I didn't expect him to come back out." Buck wiped the blood from his split lip.
"If it was JD that was sleeping in the van you wouldn't have left him!" Ezra growled.
"He did risk his life to save you Ezra." Chris informed him.
"It was Buck who put my life in danger in the first place." Ezra argued with his boss.
"You do have a point there." Chris agreed.
"How am I suppose to trust you?" The undercover agent asked him. "Aw hell, I have to sit down."
Nathan grabbed his arm and led him to the chair in front of Buck's desk. Ezra leaned forward and placed his head between his knees. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Just relax Ezra." Nathan put his hand on the back of Ezra's neck and knelt down next to him. "Better?"
"A bit." Ezra nodded.
"I would have left JD in the van Ezra. I wanted to get Henderson, I didn't think that it was right that Chris was leaving me out of it. The guy went after JD in the first place because of me. I wanted to be the one to get him."
Ezra looked up at Buck then quickly looked back down again. "I still don't trust you Buck."
"You have a right not to. But you can believe me when I tell you that I wouldn't hesitate in giving my life to save yours or one of the others."
"He did that today Ezra. Henderson could have killed him but it didn't stop him from helping you." Chris sat on the corner of the desk and looked at the back of Ezra's head. "Looks like you'll be staying with me a bit longer."
"Hell!" Ezra scowled up at Chris. "You're trying to change the subject."
"If it helps me win the game Ezra, I'll do it. Even if I have to cheat." Chris was smiling.
"Do you trust me?" Ezra kept looking at the floor.
"Of course I do." Buck didn't' hesitate in answering the question.
"I find it hard to trust people Buck." Ezra warned him.
"You can trust me Ezra, I won't let you down again. I promise you that."
"I don't even trust myself." Ezra lifted his head and leant back into the chair.
"It's about time you did Ezra. We do." Chris told him.
"I suppose you’re going to take me home and put me to bed."
"Yep."
"Let's get it over with then." Ezra sighed.
"Are things okay between us Ezra?" Buck needed to know.
Ezra stopped to think about. He had to take a chance, he couldn't go through life pushing people away, not trusting them. It was a life he no longer wanted. He needed these men, needed their friendship and their trust. He had to take the chance or his life will continue to be lonely.
"Yeah Buck. They will be." Ezra pushed himself out of the chair and grabbed the arm closet to him. Chris'.
"Sorry about the lip."
"I deserved more." Buck smiled in return.
"Come on Ezra, let’s go." Chris held onto Ezra's grip and began to lead him out of the room.
"If you wake me up early tomorrow Mr Larabee, I will shoot you." Ezra growled at him.
Chris looked over his shoulder at the others and winked at them.
"He's enjoying this way too much." Vin was actually beginning to feel sorry for Ezra Standish.
The End
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Master Fan Fiction List
Rating: PG
Warnings: Strong Language.
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: ATF
Main Characters: Ezra, Chris, Buck and the rest of the guys.
Summary: When JD and Ezra are placed in a life-threatening situation, Ezra finds out where Buck's loyalties lie.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 25,256
Chris rushed to his front door when the sound of someone knocking echoed through the front area of his home. He feared the sound would wake the sleeping agent that filled his double bed. He opened the door and the light filtered around the group of men who stood waiting to gain entrance to his comfortably furnished home.
Josiah stepped through the welcoming opening and was followed by Nathan, Buck and a noisy JD. Chris frowned at the younger man but JD refused to take the hint. Chris tried slapping him across the upper arm but the silent request still went unheard.
"JD!" Chris growled as he tried to keep his voice low. "Ezra's still sleeping."
"He okay?" Nathan's expression was suddenly filled with concern.
"Yeah, he's just not use to early mornings." The smile on Chris' face told everyone that he had been enjoying every moment of Ezra's convalescence.
"I think I'll check him anyway." Nathan nodded.
"Just don't wake him. If you do, you'll have me to answer to." Chris warned him but the smile still covered his face.
"You're enjoying this. Aren't you?" Josiah's face couldn't stop the huge grin that filled his own features.
"You can tell?" He raised his eyebrows and turned his expression into a serious one.
"It's a bit hard not to notice Chris." Vin joined in.
"Are we forgetting something here!" Buck growled. All eyes turned to him. "Someone may have tried to kill JD."
Chris glared at Buck then turned and walked into the large living area. He sat down on the huge corner sofa and watched Nathan enter the main bedroom, the door closed silently behind him. He looked to his left when he felt someone sit down next to him. It was Vin.
"You do realise that Ezra's going to get you back don't you?" Vin whispered.
"It'll be worth it." Chris agreed. "Buck?" His voice grew slightly in volume. "Did you find anything?"
"No." Buck glanced towards the bedroom. He wanted to talk to Ezra, to apologise and thank him for saving JD's life. He wanted to tell the Southerner that he was wrong, that he had misjudged him. But something was different between the two men, and he thought that the distance could not be closed. Ezra was angry at him, he had a right to be, and he was taking that anger out on him. This was not the best time to apologise. Buck didn't realise how wrong he was. "We didn't find anything that stood out. It could be anyone."
"Why don't you just talk to him Buck." Chris told him.
"He's too angry." Buck replied, he still hadn't taken his eyes away from the bedroom door.
"Maybe he's angry because you haven't talked to him." Josiah sat down next to the ladies man. "Today is the first time you've seen him since he got hurt. If I was in Ezra's shoes, I would be angry too. I would think that you still blamed me. Ezra's slightly paranoid Buck, he can easily take things the wrong way. The longer you leave it, the worse it's going to get."
"I'll wait." But Josiah was right. If he had done it straight away, it would be all over now but he had left it. He didn't even go and see Ezra at the hospital. The guilt that he felt had been too strong, it still was. Ezra Standish had saved his friends life and all he could do was accuse him of not doing his job, of allowing JD to be hurt. Ezra had taken five bullets that he felt were meant for JD Dunne. If someone had asked him before this situation happened if he would do the same for Ezra he probably would have said no. But now it was different, he wouldn't hesitate in risking his own life for Ezra's. If the man was willing to do it for them then they could do it for him. "I'll wait until this is over."
"It might be too late then Buck." Chris spoke up.
"I'll wait." Buck repeated. He finally pulled his eyes from the door and looked at Chris. "I'll wait."
"If that's what you want. But I'm warning you Buck, if I have to lose one of you over this, it will be you not Ezra" Chris warned him.
"What?" Buck frowned in confusion.
"He's the best undercover agent there is Buck. He's also a good man that needs an opportunity like this. He belongs here, with us. There isn't anywhere else for him to go. He can finally have some friends, people who will care about him, look after him. I want him to have that. You can still have that when you leave, but Ezra won't. He'll be the one that stays."
Buck looked down at the floor. Confusion filled his face, he couldn't believe it. Chris would choose the Southerner over his long time friend.
"You'd do that?" Buck mumbled.
"No hesitation at all." Chris spoke with absolute seriousness.
Buck nodded in agreement.
"Josiah did you get anything?" Chris changed the subject.
"They have a name." He saw the surprise on Chris and Vin's face. "Julia Saunders. They're waiting for you. If you want to talk to her, you can. Apparently, her mother went into a nursing home one month ago. An expensive one, she can't afford it on her wage. There was ten thousand dollars deposited into a bank account. It took this long because false names were used and they had to trace it back to the original source."
"I'll give John a ring later and arrange a time. Ezra might also want to be in on it." Chris nodded.
________________________________________
Nathan closed the door behind him and moved towards the bed that held the sleeping occupant. He sat down on the side of the queen size bed and looked down at the slack features of Ezra Standish. Nathan placed his large hand against Ezra's forehead, his gentle touch didn't cause the man to move under his weight. His hand made Ezra's face look small, it made him look even younger than he was. His skin felt cool to the touch so he pulled the covers up around his neck.
He had been surprised at Ezra's efforts to save JD, he hadn't thought the man had it in him but he was wrong. He wondered if he was wrong about everything else, he had thought about him. Nathan didn't like him when he first met him, he thought he was selfish, stuck up. He took to many risks, and the risks he took could get someone killed. He had argued with Ezra a lot and to think about it now, he was the one that had always started the verbal abuse not Ezra.
"I'm sorry Ezra." Nathan's voice wasn't loud but Ezra still heard him. "I jumped to conclusions, I shouldn't have, and I should have waited. Chris, Vin and Josiah did. They saw the real you, I couldn't or wouldn't. I didn't give you a chance. I can't understand why you hide away like you do. Why is it so hard for you to show people the real you."
"It's easier that way Nathan." Ezra didn't open his eyes, he was still tired. Why Chris had to get him up at five every morning he didn't know. "You let people get close and they hurt you, I don't like being hurt, it happened too often."
"It won't happen again Ezra, not with us." Nathan wasn't surprised that Ezra was awake.
"That's what Chris said, but I can't accept that at face value, I have to wait for proof."
"I can understand that Ezra. We've got plenty of time, so when you’re ready we'd like to meet the real you."
Nathan patted his shoulder then stood up. "Don't tell Chris I woke you, he'll kill me."
Ezra chuckled. "You'll owe me one."
"Sure." Nathan smiled down at the inert figure.
________________________________________
Nathan moved quietly into the living area, he kept his eyes down so Chris could not see his face. He sat down next to Vin and looked across at Buck.
"You woke him up didn't you." Chris accused him.
"He was already awake." Nathan stuttered out.
"Uh huh." Chris nudged Vin. "You'll wait."
Nathan winced. He hoped that Chris had been joking when he threatened him, obviously he hadn't.
"Did he go back to sleep?" Chris looked around Vin so he could see Nathan's face. He really was enjoying this.
"Ah, yeah." Nathan began playing with one of the cushions on the sofa.
"Did you talk to him?" Josiah could see Nathan's embarrassment.
"Yeah, he's got a lot of problems." He commented.
"That's why he's staying." Chris said. "I'm not going to add any more problems, where going to start helping to solve them."
"That's going to be our hardest mission yet." Vin smiled.
"And our most satisfying." Josiah nodded.
Buck looked around at the men he sat with, they all seemed to be agreeing with Chris. It wasn't bothering them that he was the one that would have to leave if things couldn't be sorted out between himself and Ezra. He would have to work at it because he didn't want to leave either. These men were his family, he would have to accept Ezra as part of that family. He trusted him now, but he should have trusted him from the start.
"Is Ezra angry at me?" JD's question took everyone by surprise.
"What makes you think that?" Chris frowned at JD.
JD shrugged his shoulders. "He just seems different, he's keeping his distance from me."
"He's trying to sort a few things out JD, I'm sure it's not intentional." Josiah told him.
"He's not distant with you guys." JD had observed the different way Ezra treated him to the others.
"Maybe you should ask him." Chris suggested.
JD stayed silent, he didn't really want to ask Ezra in case it was something that he had done. He kept going over the incident and the days after. He constantly visited Ezra in the hospital and in Chris' home. Ezra always talked and listened but he was different. He didn't smile at him or laugh at his attempts at humor. JD leaned back onto the sofa and went over the incident again. His mind went through the seconds after Ezra's shouted warning. He had missed when he fired, this had allowed the man to take aim. That's when Ezra had pushed him into the hole of the floor.
"It's because I didn't do my job." JD told the men.
"Not another one." Chris growled.
"I'm serious Chris. I fired to soon, my shot went wide, and it gave the guy the chance he wanted. Ezra had to look after me, he had to do my job for me. If I did it right, Ezra wouldn't have been hurt."
"You just keep thinking like that JD." Chris told him "But I think Ezra will see it differently."
"See what differently?" Ezra's voice was groggy as he came through into the living room. He slumped down onto the couch next to Chris.
"Nothing." JD answered before anyone else could.
"I thought you were sleeping." Chris glared at Ezra.
"A person can only sleep for so long Mr Larabee." Ezra yawned.
"Your still tired."
"Tired of sleeping, I assure you." Ezra leaned back and relaxed more into the sofa. "Have you cooked dinner yet?"
Everyone but Buck and JD smiled, the two men stared at Ezra but for different reasons.
"No." Chris turned away from him.
"When are you going to cook it. I'm getting a bit hungry." Ezra smiled.
"I'll cook it when I cook it." Chris told him.
The smile transferred from Ezra's handsome features to Chris' rugged visage.
"You won't win." Ezra repeated.
"Yes I will." Chris also repeated his assurance of winning his own game.
________________________________________
Chris, Vin and Ezra walked into the offices of Team Eight and headed to the office that occupied the leader of group, John Malcom. Chris motioned for Vin and Ezra to wait outside and knocked on the door. He received a shouted response immediately. He opened the door and stepped in, he closed it behind him.
"John." Chris leaned over the large desk and shook the man's hand. He then settled into one of the larger chairs and faced the man before him.
"Chris." John Malcom sat back down. His firm solid frame was hidden by the heavy jacket that he wore. He tucked his shoulder length brown hair behind his ears and looked over Chris' shoulder. The vertical blinds were open and he could see Ezra Standish leaning against the window.
"How's Ezra doing?" Malcom asked. Everyone knew what Ezra had done for JD.
Chris looked back over his shoulder at Ezra.
"He's doing fine John. He'll be going home at the end of the week." Chris smiled.
"That's good, we were all worried there for a while." Malcom returned his gaze to Chris, his blue eyes held the truth of his words.
"It would do him a lot of good if people told him that. He's going through a rough time at the moment." Chris told him.
"Sure, no problem." John stood up. "Shall we go and talk to Julia Saunders."
"Be glad to." Chris stood up and opened the door for the other man.
John Malcom stepped into the corridor and saw Vin Tanner standing next to Ezra, he shook his hand then turned to Ezra. He smiled widely at him as he shook his hand.
"It's good to have you back Ezra, we were all worried about you for a while there." John saw the look of doubt that flashed across the undercover agent's face before he quickly placed his well-known poker face in place.
"Thank you." Ezra spoke but he was shocked by the words that the man had spoken. He could tell that he was being sincere, he just didn't know why.
Vin and Malcom walked away. Ezra made to follow but was stopped when Chris put his arm around his shoulders.
"See Ezra, people do care." Chris gave him a brotherly hug that Ezra accepted.
"Did you tell him to say it?" Ezra was a pessimist when it came to believing in mankind.
"John said it first, I just told him that it would be better if he told you, not me." Chris told him.
"It's a feeling I'm not use to." Ezra admitted.
"Having friends." Chris raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah that and everything that goes with friendship. I don't know if I can return the favour yet Chris." Ezra pulled out of the embrace and looked Chris in the eye.
"That's okay Ezra, you have plenty of time, and you’re not going anywhere." Chris pushed him towards the elevators where Vin and John were waiting for them.
Chris noticed that Ezra was fidgeting with his hands. The agent seemed to have lost the self-confidence that always seemed to ooze from his body. But he knew that given time, Ezra would be back to his normal self and hopefully this time he would allow his associates to be his friends.
The four men stepped into the interview room to find Julia Saunders waiting for them
________________________________________
Julia Saunders was a petite bottled blonde, the bleached hair only managed to reach her shoulders. Her brown eyes searched the faces of the men who came into the room. She used a small bare hand to wipe the tears from her face and nose. She sniffed hard and choked on the emotions that threatened to escape once more. Julia griped her trembling hands and looked away when Malcom sat down in the chair on the other side on the table.
"I'm sorry," she started to blurt out, "they told me that no one was going to get hurt, they said they just wanted to know when the bust was going to take place. They said they wouldn't show up . . . I'm sorry . . . I needed the money . . . for my mother . . . she's . . . sick . . . " Julia Saunders placed her face in her hands and openly wept.
"Who are 'they' Julia?" Malcom asked her.
"They promised me . . . no one would be hurt." She lifted her moist eyes and her gaze settled on Ezra. "I'm sorry Agent Standish, they said no one would get hurt."
Ezra didn't turn away from her, the woman was genuinely sorry for what had happened. He folded his arms
across his chest and leaned against the closed door.
"Why don't you start from the beginning Julia." Ezra suggested to her in a calming tone.
Julia managed to smile slightly, the man that had nearly lost his life didn't blame her, that's what she had feared most, that and going to prison.
________________________________________
Buck watched as Ezra moved away from Chris and Vin and headed towards the small kitchen, he followed him. The older agent stood in the doorway and leaned against the frame and waited. He wasn't sure what he was going to say but knew he had to do it now or he never would. Chris had been serious in his threat so he had to do everything he could to sort things out between himself and Ezra. He didn't want to leave the team.
"Ezra . . . " He couldn't miss the tension that caused Ezra's body to stiffen. "We need to talk."
"No Mr Wilmington, you need to talk." Ezra kept his back facing the doorway and continued to make his coffee.
Buck looked at the floor, he held his stare for a few seconds and when he looked up Ezra was facing him, his back was leaning against the counter and his feet and arms were crossed.
"I was worried about JD." Buck stated.
"You're always worried about JD. He is capable of looking after himself." Ezra glared at him. "If he ever gets hurt it will be because your smothering him instead of doing your job."
"I always do my job Ezra. JD would never get hurt because of me." Buck growled.
"Maybe not, but I'm sure that someone else could be." Ezra continued.
"What do you mean by that?" Buck stepped forward, he noticed that Ezra didn't move.
"Did you want to apologise or something Mr Wilmington." Ezra changed the subject. It was one of his favorite tactics.
"Don't make this any harder for me Ezra." Buck moved forward until he was standing in front of Ezra, the Southerner still hadn't move.
"I wouldn't dream of it 'Buck'." Ezra allowed the sarcasm to show when he spoke Buck's name.
"Ezra, I'm sorry about what happened. I didn't mean any of it."
"No they never do." Ezra turned around and lifted his coffee cup with his right hand.
"What?" Buck was confused, he looked sideways at Ezra's profile but his expression didn't give anything away.
"People don't trust me, it's something they never mean to do. People don't like me, it's something they never mean to do. People don't care, it's something they never mean to do. You didn't trust me, you didn't like me or care about me. That didn't bother me, I'm use to it. It's been that way all my life."
"What is it then Ezra?"
Ezra faced Buck and looked up into the taller man's eyes. "You thought that I would allow someone like JD, an innocent person to die."
"Yeah I did, I didn't think you would risk your own life to save someone else's but I was wrong Ezra. I misjudged you and I'm sorry about that. It won't happen again." Buck assured him.
"I believe you Mr Wilmington and I accept your apology." Ezra didn't smile or shake his hand, he walked
away and left the other agent standing in the small kitchen.
________________________________________
Chris Larabee once again sat at the end of the large table in the conference room. He looked at the faces of his men, they all wanted revenge. They wanted payback for Ezra's injuries, the attempt on JD's life and the intentional harm that was meant for Buck Wilmington. His own blue eyes kept looking at Ezra, there was a strange look in his eyes, one that he had never seen before. He wanted to question him about it but there hadn't been time. They had a job to do and he had to think of a way of keeping Ezra out of the way. He still wasn't physically fit for duty and if he went in on an operation, he may not be able to take care of himself. Chris wasn't willing to allow one of the others to do it.
"Julia Saunders wasn't able to give us a name but she does have a contact phone number." Chris looked at Buck, the man hadn't taken his eyes off Ezra since he entered the room. The despair was no longer evident on his features. The talk he had with Ezra must have gone well. "John is with her now, she's calling the number she has to arrange a meeting. Julia is going to give him a story, she'll tell him that we suspect a snitch within the agency and she's afraid of getting caught."
"What makes you think that he'll meet with her?" Buck asked him.
"Ezra told her what to say." Chris smiled.
"That should do it." Josiah laughed. Ezra raised his left eyebrow in pure innocence and Josiah laughed even harder.
"John is going to come down when they're finished." Chris added.
"Who's going in?" Vin was sitting next to Ezra again.
"We are. John understands that we have a better reason to be the main team on the operation."
"I'm going in too." Ezra knew what the answer was going to be.
"NO!" Chris, Vin, Josiah and Nathan all spoke at once.
"Why not?" Ezra was prepared to argue, he would do whatever it took to catch the men who had tried to kill JD.
"Because you haven't fully recovered yet." Nathan pointed out.
"It's my decision. You’re not going." Chris growled at him.
"Don't you trust me." Ezra knew his comment would hit the mark. "You think that I may get someone hurt?"
"It won't work Ezra." Chris told him.
"Then I'll keep trying." Ezra warned him. "And I'll put more effort into the game."
"Game?" Nathan and Josiah questioned Ezra.
"You mean you’re not even trying now?" Chris raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I assure you Mr Larabee that I am not trying at all." Ezra smiled.
"I'll think about it." Chris didn't commit to any more than that.
"Ezra can team up with me and JD." Buck was looking at Chris so he didn't see Ezra's reaction.
"No!" Ezra spoke harshly. Everyone turned to look at him. "No."
Ezra realised that he had said what had been on his mind since the original incident had occurred. He lowered his eyes, he didn't want to see the surprise that was written all over everyone's faces, especially Chris'. He knew that he could no longer trust Buck but he wasn't willing to admit it to anyone. But now he had blurted it out. They were going to demand an explanation. How could he say that he didn't trust Buck when he had been angry over the fact that the other agent hadn't trusted him. He told him that he had been use to it, but it was different with these men. He had hoped to finally find the trust that he needed. If someone else trusted him then he would be able to begin to trust himself again. Now he had ruined any chance that he thought he had.
Chris could see the anguish on Ezra's face. Something was wrong, he thought that it had all been sorted out. His blue eyes turned to Buck, the surprise on his face told him that Buck had been thinking the same thing. That everything was alright between them.
"Why?" Buck wanted to know, he was confused by Ezra's reaction. The expression that the undercover agent held scared him.
"It's like Nathan said, I'm not fully recovered, and my side still hurts. I won't be able to react quick enough. I might get someone hurt." Ezra spoke quickly.
"I thought we sorted that out Ezra." Buck frowned at him.
"You sorted it out Mr Wilmington, I'm still working on it." The Southerner admitted.
"Guys." Chris nodded towards the door. His men received the hint and left the conference room quietly.
Ezra made to stand up but Chris' strong grip pulled him back down. He was afraid of that. He hoped that it wasn't going to come to this. If Chris found out that, he didn't trust Buck he would ask him to leave the team.
Chris stood up and sat on the table. It was a type of body language that would give him more control over his subject. Ezra Standish. But it didn't work, Ezra wasn't so easily intimidated.
"What's going on Ezra?" Chris rested his feet on the chair that he had been sitting on.
"Why should there be anything going on." Ezra didn't want to admit to anything. He didn't want to leave the team that he thought he could become a part of. Both physically and emotionally.
"I want to know Ezra and I want to know now!" Chris growled down at him.
"I think it would be better if I just put in for a transfer." Ezra flicked his tongue out over his bottom lip.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I don't want to say Chris, it'll just make things awkward for everyone."
"I'll make things awkward for you Ezra if you don't tell me what's wrong." Chris made himself calm down but his tone was still serious.
"If I tell you I'll have to leave."
"You're not going anywhere. I already told Buck that if I have to choose between the two of you, that Buck would be the one to go." Chris explained what he wanted.
"What?" Ezra looked up in surprise. "You can't do that. You've known Buck longer than me. He's your friend."
"So are you Ezra. But you and this team would have more to lose if you leave." Chris put his hand on his shoulder. "Now tell me what's wrong."
"I find that hard to believe." Ezra's tone was full of sarcasm.
"Don't you believe what I told you yesterday." Chris asked him.
"I'm trying to Chris but when you’re stuck in a rut it's a bit hard to get out of old habits."
"Then believe me when I tell you this. You’re not going anywhere. Even if I have to tie you down." Chris couldn't understand why it was so hard for his agent to understand his thoughts and feelings. It was beyond his comprehension that the Southerner didn't trust him.
"I don't want to be the reason that Buck leaves." If that was to happen Ezra knew that the others would blame him, it would bring out a hatred that he had already been through. Even Chris would eventually hate him. But he decided that he wouldn't allow it to come to that. If someone had to leave the team, it would be him. He wouldn't allow them to push Buck away because of something that he was going through.
"I don't trust him." Ezra wouldn't look at Chris.
"What do you mean you don't trust him?" Chris used his hand to lift Ezra's face. "Why don't you trust him Ezra?"
"If we were in a dangerous situation and he had to choose between me and JD, it would always be JD, even if I was in more danger." Ezra looked away again. "I won't be able to work like that. It should be me that leaves, not Buck."
"Wait here a minute Ezra, I'll be right back." Chris got off the table and walked towards the closed doors. Before he opened them, he turned and looked at Ezra. He shook his head. Things were not right, if anything they were worse. And none of it was Ezra's fault but he was taking the blame for something that wasn't his responsibility.
Ezra waited like he was told, he thought he knew what Chris was going to talk to the others about. This news would change his decision about who was going to leave the team.
Chris closed the door behind and noticed that the rest of the team were standing close to the doors. He looked at Buck then stepped up to him. The others were watching him in confusion but they stayed silent. They knew that he was going to do something and they didn't want to interrupt him.
"Buck. JD is about to be attacked by a man holding a hunting knife. Ezra is facing a man with a gun, a man that we know is capable of shooting someone in cold blood. Who do you help first?"
Buck turned to look at JD, he then turned back to Chris. "Ezra."
"Jesus Buck!" Chris growled. "It's too late, the man just shot Ezra while you were making your decision."
"What was that all about Chris?" Vin stepped forward.
"Ezra doesn't trust Buck and now I know why. And Buck was the one who was accusing Ezra of not watching anyone else's back."
Vin looked at Buck in surprise. "I wonder if it would be the same with the rest of us."
John Malcom walked into the corridor that the six men filled with their presence. He could also feel the tension in the air and wondered what was going on.
"Chris." His voice brought his arrival to their attention.
"Did you get a meeting?" Chris asked as he turned his back on his men. It was all turning out to be a hell of a mess.
"Yeah. Eleven tomorrow morning. It will give us time to arrive early and get into position." Malcom smiled.
"There's something else. The guy she spoke to had an English accent."
"Mean anything to you Buck?" Chris wouldn't turn around. He couldn't look at his long time friend. He wasn't even sure he could trust him anymore. Vin was right, would Buck choose JD over all of them.
"Yeah it does." Buck answered. The fear in his voice was evident to everyone around him.
________________________________________
It was ironic. Chris found himself standing outside the same warehouse where the operation with Team Eight had gone terribly wrong. But he wasn't taking much of an interest in it. He was too busy arguing with Buck Wilmington. The man that had arranged an attempt on JD's life was a forty two year old Englishman that Buck had arrested eight years ago. The agent had also killed the man's brother during the arrest. He had sworn revenge at the trial. Buck hadn't expected the threat to be carried out.
Ezra stood to the side of the two men, the argument wasn't about him but he knew he was the cause of it. He shouldn't have told Chris what the problem was. He didn't want this. The two men had been friends for fifteen years, and he was the one that was going to end their friendship.
"What if Ezra's right?" Chris was like a bear with a sore head.
"He isn't." Buck practically yelled back. "I had the opportunity to hesitate back at the office. I wouldn't do it in a real life situation. You of all people should know that."
"You’re right, I should know that. But there is a doubt in my mind now Buck and it's the same with everyone else on this team."
"Oh great! So it's turned around now has it. I'm the one that's no longer trusted on this team. Well at least I never ran out on us!"
Ezra visibly flinched at that statement.
"Ezra's proven himself since then. I know that he wouldn't do it again. I would even risk my life on it." Chris retorted.
"Would you risk someone else's?" Buck snarled at him.
"Yes I would." Chris answered confidently. "Now we have a job to do so I don't want to hear anymore from you. We'll deal with this later. Right now, you stay here with Ezra. I don't want either of you near that warehouse. That's an order." Chris turned and looked at Ezra. The expression on his face emphasised his words to the undercover agent.
Chris walked away from the two men and made his way to the warehouse. They had been there since five am. It was now six. The first hour had been spent checking the area to make sure that there wasn't anybody already waiting for them like last time. He glanced over his shoulder and watched the two men separate. Buck got into the front of the van and Ezra made his way into the back. No doubt to sleep. The van was wreckage on the outside, anyone passing would think that it had been stolen, stripped of anything valuable then left there. Buck and Ezra would be safe there, as long as they stayed like they were ordered too.
Buck sat in the front of the van and looked over the back seat at Ezra. He had made himself comfortable in the back. It only took ten minutes for him to fall asleep. He was lying on his back with his chin resting on his left shoulder. Buck watched the undercover agent's chest rise and fall slowly. He thought about what Ezra had said to Chris. Would he really help JD over someone else. He didn't think he would but Ezra did. And Ezra knew how to read people. During the four months that he had been with the team, he had never read a person incorrectly.
He held his breath when Ezra's breathing pattern change, the agent rolled over onto his left side. He saw the pain that crossed his handsome features before he rolled over onto his right side. His ribs must still be giving him trouble. Buck winced in sympathy. He looked down at his watch. They still had four hours to wait. If Ezra had stayed awake, they could have talked about their problems.
________________________________________
It was ten, an hour before the meeting was scheduled when Buck saw two men walking towards the building. He recognised one of them as James Henderson, the man that had threatened him. His hair had grown and turned grey, his face seemed to have aged fifteen years. The dark sunglasses stopped Buck from seeing the grey eyes that could cause a person to cringe in fear.
Buck looked back over the seat. Ezra was still sleeping heavily. He glanced towards the warehouse then back at Ezra. The decision was made. He quietly opened the vans passenger door and got out. Buck closed the door and checked that he hadn't woken Ezra. He waited a few seconds to be sure then jogged across the street to follow Henderson into the warehouse.
Buck stopped at the open doorway and glanced around the doorframe. He could see the man that had come with Henderson standing in the middle of the warehouse floor. The man's back was to him. He took the chance and glanced around the room but he couldn't see Henderson anywhere. He was about to move into the building when he heard Chris make the teams presence known. Gunfire then erupted around the first floor. He watched as the man before him crumpled to the ground when one of the team's bullets struck him. He moved further into the building. He saw Chris and Vin run towards the man that was now dead. They needed to make sure.
"Where the hell is Henderson?" Buck spoke aloud.
"Right here Wilmington."
Buck hung his head and turned to face his nemesis. What he saw shocked him.
________________________________________
Henderson suspected a setup. He knew that Wilmington would be there and it would be his only chance to kill him or someone close to him. He had left his right hand man standing in the middle of the warehouse while he made his way towards the hole in the wall that had been hidden by dirty mattresses. And as he did, he heard the ATF warning. A bullet struck the wall beside him but he didn't stop. He planned to get away then wait for Wilmington to come out. He would then decide who he was going to kill.
He managed to get out of the building and run across the street. His intention was to hide behind the van that was parked on the street. It would give him enough cover. He didn't care if he was caught or even killed. All he wanted was revenge. For his brother and for himself.
Henderson stopped behind the van. He was bent over for better cover. He slowly stood up and looked through the windows. He couldn't believe his luck. The agent that had stopped them from killing Dunne was sleeping in the back. He looked towards the warehouse, no one was coming out after him as yet but he knew he wouldn't have much time. He moved to the back of the van and opened the doors. He reached in and grabbed an unmoving leg and roughly pulled the agent towards him. The man woke with a jerk but the gun that he shoved into his face stopped him from doing anything stupid.
"Your coming with me!" Henderson growled at Ezra as he pulled him out of the van.
He pushed Ezra towards the warehouse and the man he wanted to seek revenge against.
________________________________________
"Aw hell." Was Buck's muttered reply.
Ezra though didn't know what the hell was going on. One minute he was sleeping in the van, the next he was standing in the middle of the street in the grip of a madman and a gun pointed at his right temple. How the hell did he get into this position. Where had Buck been, he was supposed to be in the van, he was ordered to stay there. He should of warned him, woke him up so he could protect himself. The only answer was that Buck left him alone. He left him vulnerable to man that was now capable of killing him.
"We're the hell were you!?" Ezra yelled at Buck.
"Shut up!" Henderson slammed the butt of his gun against the back of Ezra's skull.
Ezra's knees buckled but he didn't lose consciousness. Henderson easily pulled him back up and pressed the barrel of the revolver into the flesh of his temple hard enough to draw blood.
"Let him go!" Chris yelled at the man before him. He had left the building the same way Henderson had, but obviously too late. The man had enough time to gain a hostage and that hostage was Ezra Standish. Vin stood at Chris' side, his gun aimed at the head of the man who was holding onto Ezra.
Ezra refused to look at Chris, he was staring at Buck. "Now we're even Mr Wilmington. You have run out on me."
"I told you to shut up." Henderson pushed the gun harder against Ezra's skull, forcing the undercover agent's head to the left, it was nearly resting on his shoulder.
The movement gave Vin enough of the man's head to hit him squarely between the eyes, he just wasn't sure if Henderson would pull the trigger and kill Ezra as a reflex action.
"I hope you can live with the guilt of my death Wilmington!" Ezra yelled again. If he could get the man to move the gun again then Vin would be able to take his shot.
"I'm sorry Ezra." Buck didn't know what Ezra was doing.
"Like that is going to help me now!" Ezra retorted.
"You want to see your friend die Wilmington." Henderson smiled at him as he pressed even harder against Ezra's skull.
Buck was watching Ezra's face, it was contorted with pain.
"You know I don't." Buck growled at him.
"If Ezra dies so do you!" Chris warned him.
"I don't care, it was my intention to die afterwards. As long as I get to see his face after I kill his friend. That's all I want."
"He won't care." Ezra tried to turn so he could face the man. He hoped that the gun would move away from his head. "He doesn't even like me. You grabbed the wrong guy."
"I don't think so." His grip on his hostage grew stronger at his attempt to turn around.
"Why would he leave me sleeping in the van. Because he doesn't care. He'll lose his job over this." Ezra felt the pressure of the gun lessen. "If he was concerned he wouldn't have left me alone. His face won't even flinch when you pull that trigger."
Josiah, Nathan and JD moved up behind Buck, they had heard what was happening. Their job was to protect Buck if Henderson fired in his direction.
"No. But he would if I shot Dunne." Henderson chuckled quietly in Ezra's ear. No one else heard the comment.
"JD! Get out of here!" Ezra yelled as he began to struggle in Henderson's grip. He grabbed at the large arm that was wrapped around his upper arms and chest. The man was larger than he was and stronger so his attempts were futile.
Henderson knew what his hostage was trying to do. He moved his arm up so it would wrap around Ezra's throat. His grip tightened as his hostage continued to struggle. He made sure he placed the man's head in front of his own for protection. He drew his gun back and hit Ezra's skull again. This time the force was enough to knock him into oblivion. His arm stopped the head from falling forward. His gun arm quickly changed its direction to aim at its new victim. JD.
Vin took aim but Ezra's head and body were in the way.
Buck stepped in front of JD. He waited for the bullet but it didn't come. Henderson wanted to kill JD not him.
Henderson changed direction again. This time he aimed the gun at Chris'.
Buck started to walk towards Henderson. He knew he wouldn't shoot him. His eyes took in Ezra's slack features, he had to do something to help him. He was sure that Henderson was going to kill Ezra anyway. He noticed Henderson's grey eyes flick towards him then back to Chris again. Buck kept walking. He was only a few feet away from him.
"Come any closer and I'll kill him." Henderson returned the gun to Ezra's right temple.
"You heard what he said. Killing him won't bother me. And I will lose my job for what I did. It's all his fault anyway." Buck took another step closer. "My job isn't my life, so that won't worry me. The only way you could hurt me is by killing one of the others."
Vin held his breath and waited for the right moment. It came quickly.
Henderson's eyes flicked around the men in front of him trying to find the right victim. Buck took his chance and ran forward. His left arm grabbed the gunman’s wrist and pushed it away from Ezra's head. A gunshot was fired. The bullet entered the side of Henderson's skull. Vin's bullet had hit it's mark without resulting in an injury to Ezra. Buck allowed the man's hand to fall from his grip and his arms quickly wrapped themselves around Ezra to stop him from falling to the pavement.
"Nathan." Buck called to him.
"I'm right here Buck." Nathan knelt down beside him.
"How did he get to Ezra!" Chris demanded as he pushed Buck out of his way.
"I left the van to follow Henderson into the warehouse." Buck admitted to Chris.
"You've done everything that you accused Ezra of doing." Vin told him.
"I know." Buck moved away and sat down on the gutter. He watched Nathan as he checked Ezra to see how bad his head injury was.
"How is he Nathan?" Chris had taken over holding Ezra's head off the footpath. He laid the Southerner's head on his thigh. Nathan had rolled his head onto its side so he could check the back of his head. Chris continued to wipe the damp hair from Ezra's forehead.
"Nasty bump," Nathan reported, "but he should be okay."
"Buck, JD. You can stay here and take care of the clean up. We'll take Ezra to the hospital." Chris looked for Josiah. "Josiah could you carry him."
Josiah didn't have to be asked twice. He quickly bent down and lifted the smaller man into his arms and began to carry him to the vehicle that was two blocks away. Chris threw a radio to JD then followed Josiah and the others.
________________________________________
Ezra was livid, his anger could easily beat Chris' worse mood. The headache he was now suffering from didn't help. He stormed out of the elevator with three men trying to calm him down. But his anger had progressed to breaking point. There was nothing they could do now to stop him, they weren't willing to physically restrain him, not yet anyway. Ezra walked straight to Buck's office.
Buck looked up from his desk when he heard the voices. He frowned at the thought of Ezra being released from hospital, he thought that they would keep him overnight, well he hoped they would. It would have given the Southerner time to calm down. But luck wasn't on his side at the moment. He stood up and stepped into the open, he was ready for the inevitable. He would take what was coming to him.
Ezra walked into the room and without saying a word he stepped up to Buck and with his right fist he knocked him to the ground.
"You could have gotten me killed!" Ezra yelled down at him. "What the hell what were you thinking?"
"I didn't expect him to come back out." Buck wiped the blood from his split lip.
"If it was JD that was sleeping in the van you wouldn't have left him!" Ezra growled.
"He did risk his life to save you Ezra." Chris informed him.
"It was Buck who put my life in danger in the first place." Ezra argued with his boss.
"You do have a point there." Chris agreed.
"How am I suppose to trust you?" The undercover agent asked him. "Aw hell, I have to sit down."
Nathan grabbed his arm and led him to the chair in front of Buck's desk. Ezra leaned forward and placed his head between his knees. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Just relax Ezra." Nathan put his hand on the back of Ezra's neck and knelt down next to him. "Better?"
"A bit." Ezra nodded.
"I would have left JD in the van Ezra. I wanted to get Henderson, I didn't think that it was right that Chris was leaving me out of it. The guy went after JD in the first place because of me. I wanted to be the one to get him."
Ezra looked up at Buck then quickly looked back down again. "I still don't trust you Buck."
"You have a right not to. But you can believe me when I tell you that I wouldn't hesitate in giving my life to save yours or one of the others."
"He did that today Ezra. Henderson could have killed him but it didn't stop him from helping you." Chris sat on the corner of the desk and looked at the back of Ezra's head. "Looks like you'll be staying with me a bit longer."
"Hell!" Ezra scowled up at Chris. "You're trying to change the subject."
"If it helps me win the game Ezra, I'll do it. Even if I have to cheat." Chris was smiling.
"Do you trust me?" Ezra kept looking at the floor.
"Of course I do." Buck didn't' hesitate in answering the question.
"I find it hard to trust people Buck." Ezra warned him.
"You can trust me Ezra, I won't let you down again. I promise you that."
"I don't even trust myself." Ezra lifted his head and leant back into the chair.
"It's about time you did Ezra. We do." Chris told him.
"I suppose you’re going to take me home and put me to bed."
"Yep."
"Let's get it over with then." Ezra sighed.
"Are things okay between us Ezra?" Buck needed to know.
Ezra stopped to think about. He had to take a chance, he couldn't go through life pushing people away, not trusting them. It was a life he no longer wanted. He needed these men, needed their friendship and their trust. He had to take the chance or his life will continue to be lonely.
"Yeah Buck. They will be." Ezra pushed himself out of the chair and grabbed the arm closet to him. Chris'.
"Sorry about the lip."
"I deserved more." Buck smiled in return.
"Come on Ezra, let’s go." Chris held onto Ezra's grip and began to lead him out of the room.
"If you wake me up early tomorrow Mr Larabee, I will shoot you." Ezra growled at him.
Chris looked over his shoulder at the others and winked at them.
"He's enjoying this way too much." Vin was actually beginning to feel sorry for Ezra Standish.
The End
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
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