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azombiewritesTitle: A Hiking We Will Go
Rating: PG
Warnings: Strong Language.
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: ATF
Main Characters: Ezra, and the rest of the guys.
Summary: Chris and Vin decide that it would be a good idea to go hiking for a week. Ezra doesn't want to go, but he has no choice.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 25,059
Ezra woke up to a room full of filtered light. He frowned and rolled his head to his right. Chris Larabee was staring at him. Ezra returned the glare then faced the other wall. There was silence in the rest of the room. He searched for the others and found them lying on the floor in various positions.
“Nathan.” Ezra could see him leaning against the wall, the ex-medic’s head rested against an upright knee. “Nathan.”
Nathan lifted his head quickly, he was sure it was Ezra’s voice he heard. “That you Ezra?”
“Yeah Nathan.” Ezra whispered and rubbed his aching head with his free hand.
Nathan stood up and tip toed over to Ezra, he sat on the bed and looked into Ezra’s eyes. “How you feelin’?”
“I hurt all over, but my head is killing me.” Nathan pulled Ezra’s hand away. “It hurts Nathan.”
“I know Ezra.” Nathan gently rubbed the Southerner’s forehead, his temperature was rising. “Think you can go back to sleep?”
“No . . . “ Ezra shook his head slowly.
“Want me to give you something for the pain?”
Ezra raised an eyebrow in Nathan’s direction.
“Stupid question.” Nathan smiled. “I’ll be back in a minute. What about you Chris? You need something?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Chris was still watching Ezra. “Hey Ezra.” he waited but Ezra didn’t look at him.
“Not now Chris, I hurt too much.”
“In the morning then Ezra, we need to talk.”
“Fine.”
Nathan went to Ezra first. “How many fingers do you see Ezra?”
“Do we have to do this now Nathan?”
“Yes!”
Ezra looked at the hand. “Three.”
“Good, doesn’t look like you have a concussion.”
“No, just feels like someone took to my head with a sledgehammer.”
“You have a laceration on the back of your head Ezra, I had to stitch it.”
“And that explains it?” Ezra grimaced.
“Should.” Nathan prepared the syringe. “I’m going to roll you onto your side. This’ll ease your headache, you should be able to get some more sleep then.”
Ezra tensed himself up in preperation for the quick sharp pain he knew was coming. He hardly felt the needle as it entered his buttock.
“It’ll take a few minutes Ezra.”
“Thanks Nathan.”
“You’re welcome Ezra.”
Nathan rolled Ezra onto his back and sat with him until he fell back to sleep. It took approximately eight minutes. He moved to his next patient and did the same for Chris.
“Don’t fight this Chris, you need to sleep.”
“Ezra’s okay then.”
“Yeah, he should be. I’ll give him a bit longer, then I’ll change the bandage on his leg.”
Chris nodded in satisfaction and closed his eyes. It was also only a matter of minutes until he was also asleep.
________________________________________
Day Five
Ezra frowned, didn’t he just go to sleep, or was it morning already. If it was morning then why was he still on this stupid vacation instead of lying in a dreaded hospital bed. There must be something wrong.
“Why are we still here?” he knew someone would answer him.
“Helicopter was down, couldn’t get here last night. They’ll be here in about an hour.” Vin explained to him.
Ezra opened his eyes and looked at Vin. “Truthfully, am I in hell?”
“It’s starting to look like that Ezra.” Vin nodded.
“Aw hell, why did I have to come.” he wiped his eyes with his hand then hit the side of the bed in a fit of frustration.
“You’ll be out of here soon Ezra.” he was assured.
“Yeah, only to spend how many days in a fucking hospital, then be cared for like a baby for who knows how long.” Ezra growled. “This fucking sucks!”
“I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy your vacation.” Chris spoke from the other bed.
“Enjoy it! You’ve got to be kidding. I hated every fucking minute of it!”
“As long as we understand how you feel about it.” Chris shrugged.
Vin knew he wasn’t going to be able to calm Ezra down. The Southerner was too angry to take part in a calm conversation.
“Vin, you want to leave us alone please.” Chris asked him.
The sharp shooter only frowned at Chris then Ezra.
“Leave, if you don’t then I will break one of your bones when I’m healthy. If I don’t want to wait that long I will make sure that you are on foot patrol with the local police department for the next year.”
“Sure, anything you want Chris.” Vin quickly stood up.
“That goes for the others to.” Chris growled. “Give them the warning will you.”
Chris pushed himself up into a sitting position. He gritted his teeth against the pain. “Ezra, I know . . . ”
“Not now Chris!”
“Ezra . . . “
“No!”
Chris stayed silent for a few minutes. He needed another tactic, something that would get Ezra to talk. He smiled when he thought of one.
“You know this is your fault, don’t you.” Chris growled at the man who sat on the cot next to him.
“How is this my fault?” Ezra asked him.
“If you hadn’t taken me with you when you fell, I wouldn’t be sitting here with a broken leg.”
Ezra shook his head in disbelief and he found Vin Tanner’s pale blue eyes staring at him. The sharpshooter - he understood what Chris was going to try and do with Ezra - winked at him and nodded towards Chris. He was telling Ezra to give back as much as he was getting.
“Chris . . . can I ask you a serious question?”
“Of course you can Ezra.”
“Did I want to come on this camping trip?”
Chris looked sideways at Ezra.
“No,”
“Was I forced to come on this trip against my will.”
“Yes,” Chris mumbled. This was going the wrong way fast.
“Who was it that forced me to come?”
“Me,”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
“Me!” Chris raised his voice so everyone could hear him.
“So, as I see it, if I stayed at home like I wanted to, I wouldn’t have hurt my leg, therefore, you would never have fallen because I wasn’t here.”
Chris didn’t say anything.
“Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“So who’s fault was it Mr Larabee?”
“Mine.”
“Who’s?”
“Mine!”
“So all this,” Ezra pointed out their injuries, “is your fault.”
“Yes!”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ezra smiled at Vin who nodded in return. He had done well as far as he and Vin were concerned. The others were also smiling but it wasn’t going to last. The two most stubborn men of the group were injured and in a lot of pain. It wasn’t going to be easy for the others.
Ten minutes passed without anyone speaking. No one dared to check on the injured, not after being threatened with physical violence and foot patrol duty for the next year. The two men were in a bad mood and willing and ready to take it out on anyone.
“My leg hurts.” Chris informed Ezra.
“I know.”
“And how do you know my leg hurts?”
“Because you just told me.”
“I told you because it hurts.”
“My leg also hurts and so does my arm.” Ezra told him.
“My leg hurts more than yours.” Chris argued.
“Prove it.”
“What?”
“I said . . . prove it.” Ezra repeated.
“How am I supposed to prove it? It’s a broken leg, so it has to hurt like hell.”
“You said that it hurts more than my leg. Prove it!”
“I can’t prove it.”
This was supposed to get Ezra to talk? What the hell was he thinking when he came up with this idea. It wasn’t working at all. They weren’t talking, they were complaining and trying to out do each other.
“Then shut up before I break the other leg!” Ezra growled at him.
Everyone else looked up in shock. Ezra had just told ‘the’ Chris Larabee to shut up in a very unpleasant tone. This wasn’t good. Ezra was going to pay dearly for that, if not now then later.
“Okay,” Chris shrugged, he wasn’t going to allow himself to get angry, “still hurts more than yours though.”
Okay? That was it? This meant that Ezra was going to pay for it later. Ezra growled in response and was a little relieved that he was going to pay later, he would be in better shape to defend himself.
There was another five minutes of silence.
“You know I’m going to have to spend the next eight weeks behind a desk don’t you.” Chris started again.
Isn’t this supposed to be the other way around. Aren’t I supposed to be pissing him off. “It only takes six weeks for a broken bone to heal.” Ezra informed him.
“It’s a bad break, it’s going to take longer than usual to heal.”
“How would you know it’s a bad break?”
“Because it hurts like one.” Chris said.
“Of course.” The Southerner rolled his green eyes skyward.
Nathan was becoming more angry with each word he could hear. Were these men really that stupid. He wasn’t too happy with Chris to start with. He had woken up a few times during the night and while he had been awake he’d made plenty of demands. Now he had to sit here and listen to this shit.
Ezra looked at Chris’ leg then at his face. A slight sheen of sweat covered his skin. He wiped his own forehead with the palm of his left hand and it came away wet. They were both in a lot of pain. His leg and arm. There was also the cut on the back of his head, it also hurt like hell. He pushed himself up into the same type of position Chris was sitting in. It was hard with one arm strapped to his chest. Shit! At the moment his life was a fucking mess.
“You already sit behind a desk.” Ezra tried to ignore the combined pain of his own injuries and Chris’ one injury.
“But this will be different.” Chris tried to make it sound worse than it was going to be. “Things are going to be more difficult to do.”
“Such as?” Ezra really wanted to know how a broken leg was going to make it more difficult to sit behind a desk all day.
“Have you ever tried to sit in my chair with a broken leg?” Chris asked him seriously.
“Yes,” Ezra waited for a response but he didn’t receive one, so he continued, “and it was very comfortable.”
“Really.”
“Yes, really. It was Buck’s idea actually. He thought that we should have stolen it, then wait until you bought a new one. When the old one showed up, it would have been suggested that I got it. Of course I talked him out of it.”
“Of course you did.” Chris glared at Buck, but the ladies man refused to meet his eyes.
“Such as . . . ?” Ezra repeated.
“Such as what?”
“You were going to tell me why it was more difficult for you to sit in your chair behind your desk all day.”
“Well, for a start, I don’t sit in it all day.” Chris said harshly. “Apart from that, it would be much harder to jump out of my chair, run out of my office and yell at one or all of you when you’re pissing me off. Which, I remind you, is all the time.”
“That it?”
“No, that’s not it. I can’t put both of my legs up on my desk.” Chris frowned at the thought. He liked to sit with his feet resting on the corner of his desk.
“That it?”
“I can’t pace the room.”
“We’re talking about sitting in your chair, not walking around your office.” Ezra reminded him.
“I’m thinking.” Chris crossed his arms over his chest.
“So you’ve only got two.”
“For now.”
“I don’t see what the difference is going to be.” Ezra shrugged.
“What do you mean? ” he frowned at Ezra.
“You sat before you broke your leg, you’re going to sit after you broke it. Most of the time you yell from your chair instead of getting up. You make us come to you, you don’t come to us. It’s just going to be the same for you as far as I can see.”
“Is that what you think? That I just sit on my ass all day?”
“Most of the time yes, unless you’re out on a bust.”
The conversation was beginning to worry the others. Someone was going to say something that they were going to regret. That is if Ezra hasn’t said it already.
“I’m going to forget you said that!”
“Why? You didn’t hit your head!” Ezra stabbed his skull with his forefinger and winced at the pain it caused; which was mostly to his finger.
“Ezra . . . be careful of what you’re saying.” Chris warned him.
“Why? You going to fire me? Send me back to Atlanta? You don’t want me here so why not!”
Chris decided not to say anything. He was angry and he might say the wrong thing.
Another ten minutes of silence followed.
“My leg and arm are going to make it difficult for me to do my job.”
Here we go, now I’m going to hear his story. But Ezra’s got a point. It’s going to be harder for him than it is for me. Chris turned to him. “Pray tell, how is that?”
Ezra ignored him. “I’m usually out on the street doing undercover work, risking my life, getting shot, almost dying at times and then suffering the humilaty of staying at your place. It’s what I enjoy, not the staying at your place part, and now I have to sit behind a desk for the next three months.”
“Three months, you’ve got to be kidding.”
“It’s a bad break, I can tell by how bad it hurts.” Ezra smiled and winked at JD who was listening to every word of their conversation, he also seemed to be worried about something.
“Uh huh.” Chris nodded.
“Have you ever tried sitting in my cramped office in my very uncomfortable chair behind that small desk with a broken arm and an infected leg.”
“No and it’s not infected.”
“It could be.” Ezra stated simply.
“It isn’t.”
“How would you know?”
“NATHAN!” Chris yelled.
“WHAT! What the hell do you want now?” Nathan glared over his shoulder at the two men. It was bad enough that he had to listen to them arguing, now they were going to make him a part of it. No way in hell!
“Is Ezra’s leg infected?”
“NO!”
“Are you a doctor Mr Jackson?” Ezra mistankenly asked him.
Moans sounded around the room. Four men couldn’t look, they had to turn away. Chris tried to shuffle himself further away from Ezra but he couldn’t manage it. Too much pain.
Nathan stood up to his full height and walked slowly to the two men. He put his hands on his hips and leaned over Ezra. The expression that his face held told Ezra that he was about to die.
“Excuse me?”
“Um . . . ah . . . he said it.” Ezra pointed at Chris.
“Since when did he gain a Southern accent?” Nathan didn’t even look at Chris.
“He . . . well . . . I . . . “ Ezra hung his head. “Sorry Nathan.”
“I don’t want anymore shit from either of you!” Chris’ head moved into the same position as Ezra’s. “Not a word until the medics get here. Do you understand me?”
There was absolute silence.
“Well!”
“Okayyyyyy.” Ezra groaned.
“Chris!”
“Got it already.”
Nathan nodded and moved away. Chris and Ezra looked at each other and shrugged. They couldn’t understand why Nathan was so pissed off at them. It wasn’t like they had done anything to cause his anger.
The other five men sighed in relief when the room filled with silence.
Five minutes of silence passed.
“Ezra, . . . what you said about . . . “
“CHRIS!” Nathan yelled without looking at him, “what did I say?”
“You said you didn’t want anymore shit from us,” Chris yelled back. “this isn’t shit so mind your own damn business!”
“That’s going to cost you.” Nathan whispered so Chris couldn’t hear him.
“Ezra, what you said about staying in Atlanta and that I didn’t want you here. What did you mean by that.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it Chris.” Ezra told him.
“Then why did you say it? Don’t you feel welcome here?”
“I’m fine here.”
“Ezra!”
“I’m not fine here. I didn’t want to come, I don’t want to be here, and I don’t want to come here again.”
“Okay, I can understand that after the couple of days you’ve had.” Chris sympathised with him.
“If you didn’t force me to come, I wouldn’t have had a ‘bad’ couple of days. I would be enjoying myself right now instead of hating every minute of my passing life!” Ezra retorted.
“It’s not that bad is it? You don’t hate being with us that much do you?”
Ezra turned his head away, the silence became awkward.
“Ezra, would you please talk to me about this.”
“You don’t enjoy being around me, neither do the others.”
“That’s not true Ezra, we wanted you to come.”
“Remember what you said in the car before we left?” Ezra still wouldn’t look at him.
“What did I say?” Chris couldn’t remember.
“You said that you weren’t going to let me stay at home and end up thinking that I didn't go because you didn't want me there.” Ezra paused. “Is that really why you made me come?”
“I wanted you to come so you wouldn’t stay at home alone. You always seem to be alone Ezra.”
Ahhh shit! “The thing is this . . . you were right.”
“I was?”
“Yeah, I would have been fine the first couple of days, then I would start to think that you didn’t want me to come. That if you did, you would have forced me to go with you.”
JD leaned towards Buck and whispered in his ear, “I’m getting confused.”
“Ezra said that Chris was right.” Buck answered.
“So Ezra did say it.” JD smiled.
“So I was right,” Chris’ face held a smug expression, “you were wrong.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that.”
“I said yes!”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So we’re okay?” Chris looked into Ezra’s green eyes.
“Only if you don’t make me go places.“
“But you just said . . . “
“I know, but I’m not enjoying myself Chris and that’s making it hard for you guys. You’re not really enjoying yourself either are you?” Ezra didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m in a bad mood and I’m taking it out on you guys. That’s putting you in a bad mood and you’re taking it out on me. It’s been getting worse with each passing day.”
“I noticed that.” Chris admitted to him.
“I stay at home, if I begin to think that you didn’t want me to go, I’ll have to deal with that myself.”
“Sure Ezra, I understand that. Next time we’ll ask once and once only. Then it’ll be up to you.”
“Thanks.”
“My leg still hurts more than yours though.”
“CHRIS!” Nathan yelled a second time.
________________________________________
Two medics stepped into the cabin to find four men pacing, one younger man sleeping on the floor and two injured men arguing with each other. Maybe they should turn around and go back. It didn’t look like the two men were dying, if anything they looked like they were about to be shot by one of the four pacing men. One of them even began to turn around.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to take care of those two assholes.” Nathan stopped his movements and put his hands on his hips. “Well?”
“Sure, sorry.” the medic who stood closer to the two men made his way over to them.
Nathan followed them. “This one,” he pointed a finger at Chris, “ is going to need a rectal examination.”
Chris’ mouth dropped open in shock. Ezra stared at Nathan and made the best decision he could at the time. He shut his mouth and said absolutely nothing.
“Why?” the medic asked in a serious tone.
“Because he’s full of shit.” Nathan growled.
The fear left Chris’ face and a smile replaced it. The medic would be on his side.
“What about a suppository?” the medic suggested. “We can let the doctor know when we take him in. That would get rid of all the shit.”
Chris’ face dropped again, while Ezra continued to stay silent.
“Traitor.” Chris growled out of the corner of his mouth at the coward who sat beside him. Ezra didn’t even blink. He wasn’t going to get anything shoved up his ass.
“Sounds fine to me.” Nathan smiled down at Chris who stared back with an expression of fear.
“What about this one?” the medic looked at Ezra.
“He’s actually suffering, I won’t worry about him until he’s feeling better.”
Ezra turned to Chris and winked at him. “Told you mine hurts more. Nathan likes me, he doesn’t like you.”
“Nathan likes me.” Chris insisted.
“Then why is he suggesting that they stick something up your butt and not mine.”
“Nathan!” Chris growled at him. “Why are you doing this to me? I haven’t done anything to you. Have I?”
“We’ll discuss this later Chris, you need to rest, you have a long afternoon ahead of you.” Nathan smiled and walked away.
The medic’s decided that one would work on Chris while the other worked on Ezra. Neither wanted Chris so they had to do ‘Rocks, Scissors, Paper’ to decided who got Chris.
James Peterson, a veteran medic of fifteen years sat beside Ezra. His blue eyes searched the patient for any visible injuries. The only ones he could find were on the left calf and right forearm. He needed to know of any injuries that weren’t available for him to see.
“You want to tell me where it hurts?”
Ezra rolled his eyes. Some people could be really stupid. Wasn’t it obvious to this trained person that his injuries were there for him to see. Was he blind as well as stupid. Probably. Wasn’t everyone in the medical profession that way. As far as Ezra Standish was concerned, yes they were.
“You see that bandaged area on my left calf, and the blood that’s soaked through it?” Peterson nodded as though he were talking to a child. “It hurts there.”
Chris nudged Ezra’s knee but the Southerner ignored him, he was on a roll and nothing, not even Chris Larabee, was going to stop him.
“I assume that you can also see the splint on my right arm,” the medic nodded again and recieved a sympathetic look from his partner. A look that didn’t help him. “That hurts more than his leg.” Ezra pointed at Chris’ leg.
“Really,” Peterson was still nodding, “more than his.”
“Yes really.” Ezra leaned forward and bent his head. “All that blood would tell you that I have an open head wound. That also hurts.”
“Anywhere else?” Peterson asked him patiently.
“No. Not unless they have another trip planned.”
“The only thing left to do is to make you more comfortable for the ride back to the hospital,” he looked at Ezra, “and to ask you not to say another word.”
“Why?”
“Just thought it would be easier for you.” the medic lied to him.
“Why would it be easier for me?”
Peterson hung his head. “We’ll fix your arm for travel then strap you to the board . . . “
“What do you mean me? And I’m not going on that thing.” Ezra retorted.
“It would make the flight more comfortable for you.”
“Flight?”
“Ezra! Just do as you’re told.” Chris told him.
“I’m not doing it!” Ezra would have crossed his arms if he could.
“You want to walk back to the Ranger’s Station and go by car?” Peterson expected the answer to his question to be no.
“Yes. I’d rather walk for three days than . . . “
“Try six or even eight,” Peterson interrupted him, “you’ve got an injured leg, a broken arm and a head injury. It’s going to take you a lot longer. May even kill you.”
“So you’ve noticed my injuries then.”
“How could I not, you told me about them.”
“I’m still not going on that thing.”
“He’s not arguing.” Peterson nodded to Chris.
“That’s because he’s been threatened with a rectal examination.” Ezra smiled.
“I can change my mind Ezra.” Nathan called to him.
“You wouldn’t dare. I’d sue the hospital for an unnessary examination.”
“It doesn’t have to be put in your records.” Peterson smile at the expression Ezra was now wearing. “No one will know.”
“You wouldn’t.” Ezra groaned.
“We would.” Nathan and Peterson spoke together.
“You couldn’t.”
“We could.” the two men again, spoke as one.
“Bastard!”
“Him or me?” Nathan chuckled.
“Chris! I’m going to fucking kill him for this!” Ezra growled.
________________________________________
Day Six
Chris lay in his hospital bed with his leg elevated. He’d never been in such a humilating position in his life. The fingers of both hands figited with his bed sheet. His eyes drifted to Ezra’s sleeping form. A drip was filling him antibiotics, the leg had become invected, if only slightly. He wasn’t looking forward to Ezra waking up. The Southerner was going to be in a very bad mood.
The medics had to sedate him to get him to co-operate back at the cabin. They hadn’t been in the mood to argue or to try and convince him that the best way to transport him was to strap him to a board and fly him back in a helicopter. The only way it was going to be done peacefully was to knock him out. He’d come to in the emergency room but that didn’t last long. He’d been sedated a second time so he would stop struggling and fighting the nursing staff. X-rays had to be done, a cat scan also. His leg had to be unstitched and re-cleaned and the arm had to be re-set and plastered.
Chris had also been sedated so his leg could be set. It wasn’t a bad break like he had first thought. He knew Ezra was going to say ‘I told you so’. He’d sent the others home earlier in the evening. Everyone had been in a bad mood and they all needed time to relax and calm down. Their orders were not to come back until the morning. They were also told to bring some hot coffee and sugar coated donuts, he wasn’t going to eat hospital food, neither was Ezra.
He watched as the clear fluid dripped into the thin tube that ran to and entered Ezra’s arm. Chris sighed, all he had wanted to do was to include Ezra and show the stubborn man what kind of fun they had when they went camping together. He wanted Ezra to be a part of that. It had turned into a disaster. Ezra probably wouldn’t want to do anything with them again, but maybe he would allow them to do something with him.
Movement from the bed next to him caused him to search for another indication that Ezra was waking up. Couldn’t he sleep for a bit longer, like another eight hours. That way the others would be there to protect him from the undercover agent. Ezra could be very mean physically and verbally when he was in an extremely bad mood. Chris had witnessed it for himself when Ezra took that anger out on a persecutor of violence.
Chris watched as Ezra tried to roll over onto his right side. The broken arm stopped him from completing the movement. A curse was muttered in a Southern accent before Ezra rolled back over onto his left side. Chris relaxed as Ezra settled back down.
There was more movement. Shit! He was waking up, he knew it. There was only one thing that could save him from this mess. Chris grabbed his buzzer and called for the duty nurse. It was only a matter of seconds before she showed her homely face in the open doorway.
“What can I do for you . . . Mr Larabee?” she had to read his name off the board above the patients head. She tapped her fingers calmly on the door frame.
“Ezra here isn’t sleeping too well, and he seems to be in a lot of pain. Perhaps you can give him something to help him sleep, you know, until at least lunch time tomorrow.”
It should be safe then, he should be on his way home while Ezra still slept.
“Are you a doctor Mr Larabee?” the nurse asked him.
“Yes.” Chris lied.
“That’s funny, your records say that you’re an ATF agent.” she smiled knowlingly at him.
“Can’t I be both.” he growled back.
The nurse shook her head.
“So, it’s okay for Dana Scully to be both an FBI agent and a doctor but I can’t be.”
“I didn’t say you can’t.” the nurse shrugged. “Okay, I’ll get him something to help him sleep better.”
“Thank you.” Chris reached up towards the ceiling with his arms then crossed them behind his head. No one could ever say he was stupid. Nope, not him, he was the smart on.
The nurse came back a few minutes later, she carried a tray which held a syringe. The smile fell off Chris’ face when she made her way to his bed instead of Ezra’s. She was making a mistake, she had to be. He would calmly point the mistake out to her.
“Ezra’s over there.” Chris told her.
“I know, but you see, he’s already been given something. Mr Standish will sleep through until the morning.”
“Oh.” was all Chris could say.
“You on the other hand, should be asleep.”
“Oh.” he repeated.
“It’ll work quickly Mr Larabee.” she smiled as she injected the needle into his thigh.
He hadn’t even realised that she had pulled the covers from his body. Stupid! He slapped his forehead with an open palm. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
________________________________________
Day Seven
He wanted out and he wanted out now. They weren’t willing to allow him to leave though. The only alternative that was left available to him, was to escape. If only he could get rid of his bodyguard. That wasn’t going to be easy, his last four attempts of escape had failed, now they were ready for anything.
Why did he have to stay longer than that so-called son-of-a-bitch he didn’t know. Nathan! That . . . that . . . bastard that takes care of me so often probably told them something to keep me in longer. Were they afraid that I was going to attempt to kill Chris Larabee. Ezra had a plan to get his revenge, but it didn’t involve physical violence, he wasn’t capable of doing that. No, his revenge was going to be dealt out by a guilty ladies man. He still needed to escape.
“Wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee.” Ezra smiled sweetly at Vin.
“You just had one,” Vin growled, “and don’t smile at me like that, it makes me feel ill.”
“I’d like another one thank you, and the women will do anything for this smile.”
“No, and you sound like Buck.”
“Why can’t I have a cup of coffee?” Ezra asked him.
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“You’re not a child Ezra so stop acting like one!”
“I need to go to the bathroom.”
“No you don’t.” Vin argued.
“I want to go home Vin.”
“I know, but the doctor’s want to keep you here until that infection clears up.”
“How come Chris got to go home this morning?” Ezra questioned him.
“You know why.”
“I didn’t think I was right.” Ezra looked down at his leg.
“ You’re usually always right.” Vin shrugged.
“But why did I have to be right this time.”
Vin didn’t answer him.
“Someone hates me.” Ezra grimaced.
“No one hates you Ezra.”
“Then why was I forced to go on a hiking trip that I wanted no part of, where I received three nasty injuries and a very bad mood.”
“It could have been worse.”
“How much worse could it have been Vin!”
“You could have enjoyed yourself.” Vin smiled at him.
“Good Lord! You’re right.”
“Maybe there’s something we can do to make it up to you.” Vin suggested.
“There is nothing you can do,” Ezra smiled wickedly, “but there is something Buck can do.”
“Buck?” Vin frowned. “He’s feeling pretty guilty right now Ezra, I don’t think you should take advantage of that.”
“I won’t be taking advantage of him.”
Vin didn’t like what he was hearing.” What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business Vin. This is between Chris Larabee and myself.”
“Maybe I can help.”
Ezra looked closely at Vin. “You can tell Buck that I would like to see him, then you both can get me out of here.”
“I can do the first but we’re not doing the second. You’re in here for a reason Ezra. That leg is infected and you’re not going anywhere until the doc says you can.”
“I’ll remember that the next time you’re stuck in one of these damn beds.”
________________________________________
Buck stepped into the private hospital room to find Ezra sleeping heavily and Vin sprawled out on a large comfortable chair. He had no idea why Ezra wanted to see him and he really didn’t want to find out. He was having a bad enough time dealing with Chris and now Ezra was going to confront him about what had happened. He could easily turn around and walk out of the door but one look at Ezra’s sleeping face kept him from running away. It was best to face this now rather than later. He moved quietly into the room and sat in the only available chair.
It had turned out that the broken arm and open head wound had been nothing to worry about, they hadn’t been serious. It was the piece of metal that had found it’s way into Ezra’s that had been causing a serious problem. It had become infected without anyone knowing it, not even Nathan. The Southerner was now stuck in a hospital bed until the infection cleared. Buck knew Ezra wasn’t happy about that and he now expected the younger man to take his anger out on him; Chris was no longer available. The cowared wouldn’t come in and see how Ezra was doing. It was being left to the others, himself included.
“About time you got here.” Vin stretched and raised his hands above his head. “This chair may look comfortable but it’s like sleeping on a piece of wood.”
“Why does he want to see me?” Buck whispered.
There was no way he was going to wake Ezra, the longer this took to happen the better.
“Seems that you’re going to help him get back at Chris, return the favour . . . “
“Like hell!” Buck raised his voice and his eyes shot towards Ezra. “I’m not doing anything of the sort, Chris already hates me, don’t know why.”
“Perhaps it’s because you broke his leg.” Ezra told him.
“Shit.” Buck’s head fell into his hands.
“You feeling guilty at all Buck?” Ezra’s head was still hidden by the thick blanket.
“No.”
“You’re lying Mr Wilmington.”
Mr Wilmington? Ezra was serious.
“I’m not doing it Ezra. Whatever it is I’m not doing it.” Buck tried to sound convincing but he knew Ezra was going to talk him into it.
“Why don’t you listen to what I have to say. Maybe Vin might even decide to help you.”
“Why don’t you do it?” Buck stared at the blanket that stopped him from seeing Ezra’s face.
“I’m stuck here . . . remember!”
“How can I forget.” Buck mumbled.
Ezra threw the blankets off and pushed himself upwards. “This is what I want you to do . . . “
Five minutes later . . .
“I ain’t doing that!” the ladies man protested.
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Vin chuckled.
“You don’t have a choice Buck, if you don’t then you may find it happening to you.” Ezra smiled.
“Fuck you Ezra Standish.”
“Chris already offered.”
________________________________________
One Week Later
Chris Larabee who now walked with the aid of crutches stepped into the elevator that would take him to the seventh floor of the ATF building. It was his first day back. As far as he was concerned he was fit enough to return to work the day he got out of that damn hospital. The reason for his good health was that he hadn’t seen Ezra since he left the prison they all hated. He closed his eyes and thanked whoever it was that had saved him from retaliation.
Vin had assured him that Ezra wasn’t planning on doing anything. He couldn’t blame anyone for what had happened. Vin continued on to say that Ezra was now grateful that they had included him, even if the week had gone badly. It was the thought that counted was how he put it.
A smile crept onto Chris’ face, he had gotten away with it. The smile disappeared when a young woman that he recognised as one of the clerks from the file room stepped in beside him. She stared at him with a look of dissapointment. What the hell was going on with her, he didn’t know her personally so he couldn’t have done anything to her.
The elevator stopped on the sixth floor and the woman got out. A man that Chris didn’t even recognise joined him in the confined area and stood close to him, too close. Chris yelped when the man in question pinched his buttock. He didn’t ask any questions, instead he used a closed fist to do his talking. Chris would have asked what the hell he was doing but he was worried that he would hit him again instead.
He got off on the seventh floor and walked down the hallway to his office. He hated these crutches and when he was able to walk without them he would break them into a dozen pieces. Chris walked passed the bulletin board then stopped. His features turned up into a frown. He didn’t turn his head to look at what he thought he saw. Two steps backwards, just two and it would be revealed to him. That’s what he did, he stepped back two paces and his head turned towards the board.
There he was, his face was easily recognisable and so was the t-shirt he was wearing. It was Buck’s gay t-shirt. Someone had taken a photo of him and stuck it on the board. He remembered the two people in the elevator, they obviously thought he was gay. The photo had been put on every notice board in the building. Ezra! No, he’d only gotten out of the hospital yesterday It had to be someone else that did this to him.
“VIN!”
~~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, and the rest of the guys.
Summary: Chris and Vin decide that it would be a good idea to go hiking for a week. Ezra doesn't want to go, but he has no choice.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 25,059
Ezra woke up to a room full of filtered light. He frowned and rolled his head to his right. Chris Larabee was staring at him. Ezra returned the glare then faced the other wall. There was silence in the rest of the room. He searched for the others and found them lying on the floor in various positions.
“Nathan.” Ezra could see him leaning against the wall, the ex-medic’s head rested against an upright knee. “Nathan.”
Nathan lifted his head quickly, he was sure it was Ezra’s voice he heard. “That you Ezra?”
“Yeah Nathan.” Ezra whispered and rubbed his aching head with his free hand.
Nathan stood up and tip toed over to Ezra, he sat on the bed and looked into Ezra’s eyes. “How you feelin’?”
“I hurt all over, but my head is killing me.” Nathan pulled Ezra’s hand away. “It hurts Nathan.”
“I know Ezra.” Nathan gently rubbed the Southerner’s forehead, his temperature was rising. “Think you can go back to sleep?”
“No . . . “ Ezra shook his head slowly.
“Want me to give you something for the pain?”
Ezra raised an eyebrow in Nathan’s direction.
“Stupid question.” Nathan smiled. “I’ll be back in a minute. What about you Chris? You need something?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Chris was still watching Ezra. “Hey Ezra.” he waited but Ezra didn’t look at him.
“Not now Chris, I hurt too much.”
“In the morning then Ezra, we need to talk.”
“Fine.”
Nathan went to Ezra first. “How many fingers do you see Ezra?”
“Do we have to do this now Nathan?”
“Yes!”
Ezra looked at the hand. “Three.”
“Good, doesn’t look like you have a concussion.”
“No, just feels like someone took to my head with a sledgehammer.”
“You have a laceration on the back of your head Ezra, I had to stitch it.”
“And that explains it?” Ezra grimaced.
“Should.” Nathan prepared the syringe. “I’m going to roll you onto your side. This’ll ease your headache, you should be able to get some more sleep then.”
Ezra tensed himself up in preperation for the quick sharp pain he knew was coming. He hardly felt the needle as it entered his buttock.
“It’ll take a few minutes Ezra.”
“Thanks Nathan.”
“You’re welcome Ezra.”
Nathan rolled Ezra onto his back and sat with him until he fell back to sleep. It took approximately eight minutes. He moved to his next patient and did the same for Chris.
“Don’t fight this Chris, you need to sleep.”
“Ezra’s okay then.”
“Yeah, he should be. I’ll give him a bit longer, then I’ll change the bandage on his leg.”
Chris nodded in satisfaction and closed his eyes. It was also only a matter of minutes until he was also asleep.
________________________________________
Day Five
Ezra frowned, didn’t he just go to sleep, or was it morning already. If it was morning then why was he still on this stupid vacation instead of lying in a dreaded hospital bed. There must be something wrong.
“Why are we still here?” he knew someone would answer him.
“Helicopter was down, couldn’t get here last night. They’ll be here in about an hour.” Vin explained to him.
Ezra opened his eyes and looked at Vin. “Truthfully, am I in hell?”
“It’s starting to look like that Ezra.” Vin nodded.
“Aw hell, why did I have to come.” he wiped his eyes with his hand then hit the side of the bed in a fit of frustration.
“You’ll be out of here soon Ezra.” he was assured.
“Yeah, only to spend how many days in a fucking hospital, then be cared for like a baby for who knows how long.” Ezra growled. “This fucking sucks!”
“I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy your vacation.” Chris spoke from the other bed.
“Enjoy it! You’ve got to be kidding. I hated every fucking minute of it!”
“As long as we understand how you feel about it.” Chris shrugged.
Vin knew he wasn’t going to be able to calm Ezra down. The Southerner was too angry to take part in a calm conversation.
“Vin, you want to leave us alone please.” Chris asked him.
The sharp shooter only frowned at Chris then Ezra.
“Leave, if you don’t then I will break one of your bones when I’m healthy. If I don’t want to wait that long I will make sure that you are on foot patrol with the local police department for the next year.”
“Sure, anything you want Chris.” Vin quickly stood up.
“That goes for the others to.” Chris growled. “Give them the warning will you.”
Chris pushed himself up into a sitting position. He gritted his teeth against the pain. “Ezra, I know . . . ”
“Not now Chris!”
“Ezra . . . “
“No!”
Chris stayed silent for a few minutes. He needed another tactic, something that would get Ezra to talk. He smiled when he thought of one.
“You know this is your fault, don’t you.” Chris growled at the man who sat on the cot next to him.
“How is this my fault?” Ezra asked him.
“If you hadn’t taken me with you when you fell, I wouldn’t be sitting here with a broken leg.”
Ezra shook his head in disbelief and he found Vin Tanner’s pale blue eyes staring at him. The sharpshooter - he understood what Chris was going to try and do with Ezra - winked at him and nodded towards Chris. He was telling Ezra to give back as much as he was getting.
“Chris . . . can I ask you a serious question?”
“Of course you can Ezra.”
“Did I want to come on this camping trip?”
Chris looked sideways at Ezra.
“No,”
“Was I forced to come on this trip against my will.”
“Yes,” Chris mumbled. This was going the wrong way fast.
“Who was it that forced me to come?”
“Me,”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
“Me!” Chris raised his voice so everyone could hear him.
“So, as I see it, if I stayed at home like I wanted to, I wouldn’t have hurt my leg, therefore, you would never have fallen because I wasn’t here.”
Chris didn’t say anything.
“Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“So who’s fault was it Mr Larabee?”
“Mine.”
“Who’s?”
“Mine!”
“So all this,” Ezra pointed out their injuries, “is your fault.”
“Yes!”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ezra smiled at Vin who nodded in return. He had done well as far as he and Vin were concerned. The others were also smiling but it wasn’t going to last. The two most stubborn men of the group were injured and in a lot of pain. It wasn’t going to be easy for the others.
Ten minutes passed without anyone speaking. No one dared to check on the injured, not after being threatened with physical violence and foot patrol duty for the next year. The two men were in a bad mood and willing and ready to take it out on anyone.
“My leg hurts.” Chris informed Ezra.
“I know.”
“And how do you know my leg hurts?”
“Because you just told me.”
“I told you because it hurts.”
“My leg also hurts and so does my arm.” Ezra told him.
“My leg hurts more than yours.” Chris argued.
“Prove it.”
“What?”
“I said . . . prove it.” Ezra repeated.
“How am I supposed to prove it? It’s a broken leg, so it has to hurt like hell.”
“You said that it hurts more than my leg. Prove it!”
“I can’t prove it.”
This was supposed to get Ezra to talk? What the hell was he thinking when he came up with this idea. It wasn’t working at all. They weren’t talking, they were complaining and trying to out do each other.
“Then shut up before I break the other leg!” Ezra growled at him.
Everyone else looked up in shock. Ezra had just told ‘the’ Chris Larabee to shut up in a very unpleasant tone. This wasn’t good. Ezra was going to pay dearly for that, if not now then later.
“Okay,” Chris shrugged, he wasn’t going to allow himself to get angry, “still hurts more than yours though.”
Okay? That was it? This meant that Ezra was going to pay for it later. Ezra growled in response and was a little relieved that he was going to pay later, he would be in better shape to defend himself.
There was another five minutes of silence.
“You know I’m going to have to spend the next eight weeks behind a desk don’t you.” Chris started again.
Isn’t this supposed to be the other way around. Aren’t I supposed to be pissing him off. “It only takes six weeks for a broken bone to heal.” Ezra informed him.
“It’s a bad break, it’s going to take longer than usual to heal.”
“How would you know it’s a bad break?”
“Because it hurts like one.” Chris said.
“Of course.” The Southerner rolled his green eyes skyward.
Nathan was becoming more angry with each word he could hear. Were these men really that stupid. He wasn’t too happy with Chris to start with. He had woken up a few times during the night and while he had been awake he’d made plenty of demands. Now he had to sit here and listen to this shit.
Ezra looked at Chris’ leg then at his face. A slight sheen of sweat covered his skin. He wiped his own forehead with the palm of his left hand and it came away wet. They were both in a lot of pain. His leg and arm. There was also the cut on the back of his head, it also hurt like hell. He pushed himself up into the same type of position Chris was sitting in. It was hard with one arm strapped to his chest. Shit! At the moment his life was a fucking mess.
“You already sit behind a desk.” Ezra tried to ignore the combined pain of his own injuries and Chris’ one injury.
“But this will be different.” Chris tried to make it sound worse than it was going to be. “Things are going to be more difficult to do.”
“Such as?” Ezra really wanted to know how a broken leg was going to make it more difficult to sit behind a desk all day.
“Have you ever tried to sit in my chair with a broken leg?” Chris asked him seriously.
“Yes,” Ezra waited for a response but he didn’t receive one, so he continued, “and it was very comfortable.”
“Really.”
“Yes, really. It was Buck’s idea actually. He thought that we should have stolen it, then wait until you bought a new one. When the old one showed up, it would have been suggested that I got it. Of course I talked him out of it.”
“Of course you did.” Chris glared at Buck, but the ladies man refused to meet his eyes.
“Such as . . . ?” Ezra repeated.
“Such as what?”
“You were going to tell me why it was more difficult for you to sit in your chair behind your desk all day.”
“Well, for a start, I don’t sit in it all day.” Chris said harshly. “Apart from that, it would be much harder to jump out of my chair, run out of my office and yell at one or all of you when you’re pissing me off. Which, I remind you, is all the time.”
“That it?”
“No, that’s not it. I can’t put both of my legs up on my desk.” Chris frowned at the thought. He liked to sit with his feet resting on the corner of his desk.
“That it?”
“I can’t pace the room.”
“We’re talking about sitting in your chair, not walking around your office.” Ezra reminded him.
“I’m thinking.” Chris crossed his arms over his chest.
“So you’ve only got two.”
“For now.”
“I don’t see what the difference is going to be.” Ezra shrugged.
“What do you mean? ” he frowned at Ezra.
“You sat before you broke your leg, you’re going to sit after you broke it. Most of the time you yell from your chair instead of getting up. You make us come to you, you don’t come to us. It’s just going to be the same for you as far as I can see.”
“Is that what you think? That I just sit on my ass all day?”
“Most of the time yes, unless you’re out on a bust.”
The conversation was beginning to worry the others. Someone was going to say something that they were going to regret. That is if Ezra hasn’t said it already.
“I’m going to forget you said that!”
“Why? You didn’t hit your head!” Ezra stabbed his skull with his forefinger and winced at the pain it caused; which was mostly to his finger.
“Ezra . . . be careful of what you’re saying.” Chris warned him.
“Why? You going to fire me? Send me back to Atlanta? You don’t want me here so why not!”
Chris decided not to say anything. He was angry and he might say the wrong thing.
Another ten minutes of silence followed.
“My leg and arm are going to make it difficult for me to do my job.”
Here we go, now I’m going to hear his story. But Ezra’s got a point. It’s going to be harder for him than it is for me. Chris turned to him. “Pray tell, how is that?”
Ezra ignored him. “I’m usually out on the street doing undercover work, risking my life, getting shot, almost dying at times and then suffering the humilaty of staying at your place. It’s what I enjoy, not the staying at your place part, and now I have to sit behind a desk for the next three months.”
“Three months, you’ve got to be kidding.”
“It’s a bad break, I can tell by how bad it hurts.” Ezra smiled and winked at JD who was listening to every word of their conversation, he also seemed to be worried about something.
“Uh huh.” Chris nodded.
“Have you ever tried sitting in my cramped office in my very uncomfortable chair behind that small desk with a broken arm and an infected leg.”
“No and it’s not infected.”
“It could be.” Ezra stated simply.
“It isn’t.”
“How would you know?”
“NATHAN!” Chris yelled.
“WHAT! What the hell do you want now?” Nathan glared over his shoulder at the two men. It was bad enough that he had to listen to them arguing, now they were going to make him a part of it. No way in hell!
“Is Ezra’s leg infected?”
“NO!”
“Are you a doctor Mr Jackson?” Ezra mistankenly asked him.
Moans sounded around the room. Four men couldn’t look, they had to turn away. Chris tried to shuffle himself further away from Ezra but he couldn’t manage it. Too much pain.
Nathan stood up to his full height and walked slowly to the two men. He put his hands on his hips and leaned over Ezra. The expression that his face held told Ezra that he was about to die.
“Excuse me?”
“Um . . . ah . . . he said it.” Ezra pointed at Chris.
“Since when did he gain a Southern accent?” Nathan didn’t even look at Chris.
“He . . . well . . . I . . . “ Ezra hung his head. “Sorry Nathan.”
“I don’t want anymore shit from either of you!” Chris’ head moved into the same position as Ezra’s. “Not a word until the medics get here. Do you understand me?”
There was absolute silence.
“Well!”
“Okayyyyyy.” Ezra groaned.
“Chris!”
“Got it already.”
Nathan nodded and moved away. Chris and Ezra looked at each other and shrugged. They couldn’t understand why Nathan was so pissed off at them. It wasn’t like they had done anything to cause his anger.
The other five men sighed in relief when the room filled with silence.
Five minutes of silence passed.
“Ezra, . . . what you said about . . . “
“CHRIS!” Nathan yelled without looking at him, “what did I say?”
“You said you didn’t want anymore shit from us,” Chris yelled back. “this isn’t shit so mind your own damn business!”
“That’s going to cost you.” Nathan whispered so Chris couldn’t hear him.
“Ezra, what you said about staying in Atlanta and that I didn’t want you here. What did you mean by that.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it Chris.” Ezra told him.
“Then why did you say it? Don’t you feel welcome here?”
“I’m fine here.”
“Ezra!”
“I’m not fine here. I didn’t want to come, I don’t want to be here, and I don’t want to come here again.”
“Okay, I can understand that after the couple of days you’ve had.” Chris sympathised with him.
“If you didn’t force me to come, I wouldn’t have had a ‘bad’ couple of days. I would be enjoying myself right now instead of hating every minute of my passing life!” Ezra retorted.
“It’s not that bad is it? You don’t hate being with us that much do you?”
Ezra turned his head away, the silence became awkward.
“Ezra, would you please talk to me about this.”
“You don’t enjoy being around me, neither do the others.”
“That’s not true Ezra, we wanted you to come.”
“Remember what you said in the car before we left?” Ezra still wouldn’t look at him.
“What did I say?” Chris couldn’t remember.
“You said that you weren’t going to let me stay at home and end up thinking that I didn't go because you didn't want me there.” Ezra paused. “Is that really why you made me come?”
“I wanted you to come so you wouldn’t stay at home alone. You always seem to be alone Ezra.”
Ahhh shit! “The thing is this . . . you were right.”
“I was?”
“Yeah, I would have been fine the first couple of days, then I would start to think that you didn’t want me to come. That if you did, you would have forced me to go with you.”
JD leaned towards Buck and whispered in his ear, “I’m getting confused.”
“Ezra said that Chris was right.” Buck answered.
“So Ezra did say it.” JD smiled.
“So I was right,” Chris’ face held a smug expression, “you were wrong.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that.”
“I said yes!”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So we’re okay?” Chris looked into Ezra’s green eyes.
“Only if you don’t make me go places.“
“But you just said . . . “
“I know, but I’m not enjoying myself Chris and that’s making it hard for you guys. You’re not really enjoying yourself either are you?” Ezra didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m in a bad mood and I’m taking it out on you guys. That’s putting you in a bad mood and you’re taking it out on me. It’s been getting worse with each passing day.”
“I noticed that.” Chris admitted to him.
“I stay at home, if I begin to think that you didn’t want me to go, I’ll have to deal with that myself.”
“Sure Ezra, I understand that. Next time we’ll ask once and once only. Then it’ll be up to you.”
“Thanks.”
“My leg still hurts more than yours though.”
“CHRIS!” Nathan yelled a second time.
________________________________________
Two medics stepped into the cabin to find four men pacing, one younger man sleeping on the floor and two injured men arguing with each other. Maybe they should turn around and go back. It didn’t look like the two men were dying, if anything they looked like they were about to be shot by one of the four pacing men. One of them even began to turn around.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to take care of those two assholes.” Nathan stopped his movements and put his hands on his hips. “Well?”
“Sure, sorry.” the medic who stood closer to the two men made his way over to them.
Nathan followed them. “This one,” he pointed a finger at Chris, “ is going to need a rectal examination.”
Chris’ mouth dropped open in shock. Ezra stared at Nathan and made the best decision he could at the time. He shut his mouth and said absolutely nothing.
“Why?” the medic asked in a serious tone.
“Because he’s full of shit.” Nathan growled.
The fear left Chris’ face and a smile replaced it. The medic would be on his side.
“What about a suppository?” the medic suggested. “We can let the doctor know when we take him in. That would get rid of all the shit.”
Chris’ face dropped again, while Ezra continued to stay silent.
“Traitor.” Chris growled out of the corner of his mouth at the coward who sat beside him. Ezra didn’t even blink. He wasn’t going to get anything shoved up his ass.
“Sounds fine to me.” Nathan smiled down at Chris who stared back with an expression of fear.
“What about this one?” the medic looked at Ezra.
“He’s actually suffering, I won’t worry about him until he’s feeling better.”
Ezra turned to Chris and winked at him. “Told you mine hurts more. Nathan likes me, he doesn’t like you.”
“Nathan likes me.” Chris insisted.
“Then why is he suggesting that they stick something up your butt and not mine.”
“Nathan!” Chris growled at him. “Why are you doing this to me? I haven’t done anything to you. Have I?”
“We’ll discuss this later Chris, you need to rest, you have a long afternoon ahead of you.” Nathan smiled and walked away.
The medic’s decided that one would work on Chris while the other worked on Ezra. Neither wanted Chris so they had to do ‘Rocks, Scissors, Paper’ to decided who got Chris.
James Peterson, a veteran medic of fifteen years sat beside Ezra. His blue eyes searched the patient for any visible injuries. The only ones he could find were on the left calf and right forearm. He needed to know of any injuries that weren’t available for him to see.
“You want to tell me where it hurts?”
Ezra rolled his eyes. Some people could be really stupid. Wasn’t it obvious to this trained person that his injuries were there for him to see. Was he blind as well as stupid. Probably. Wasn’t everyone in the medical profession that way. As far as Ezra Standish was concerned, yes they were.
“You see that bandaged area on my left calf, and the blood that’s soaked through it?” Peterson nodded as though he were talking to a child. “It hurts there.”
Chris nudged Ezra’s knee but the Southerner ignored him, he was on a roll and nothing, not even Chris Larabee, was going to stop him.
“I assume that you can also see the splint on my right arm,” the medic nodded again and recieved a sympathetic look from his partner. A look that didn’t help him. “That hurts more than his leg.” Ezra pointed at Chris’ leg.
“Really,” Peterson was still nodding, “more than his.”
“Yes really.” Ezra leaned forward and bent his head. “All that blood would tell you that I have an open head wound. That also hurts.”
“Anywhere else?” Peterson asked him patiently.
“No. Not unless they have another trip planned.”
“The only thing left to do is to make you more comfortable for the ride back to the hospital,” he looked at Ezra, “and to ask you not to say another word.”
“Why?”
“Just thought it would be easier for you.” the medic lied to him.
“Why would it be easier for me?”
Peterson hung his head. “We’ll fix your arm for travel then strap you to the board . . . “
“What do you mean me? And I’m not going on that thing.” Ezra retorted.
“It would make the flight more comfortable for you.”
“Flight?”
“Ezra! Just do as you’re told.” Chris told him.
“I’m not doing it!” Ezra would have crossed his arms if he could.
“You want to walk back to the Ranger’s Station and go by car?” Peterson expected the answer to his question to be no.
“Yes. I’d rather walk for three days than . . . “
“Try six or even eight,” Peterson interrupted him, “you’ve got an injured leg, a broken arm and a head injury. It’s going to take you a lot longer. May even kill you.”
“So you’ve noticed my injuries then.”
“How could I not, you told me about them.”
“I’m still not going on that thing.”
“He’s not arguing.” Peterson nodded to Chris.
“That’s because he’s been threatened with a rectal examination.” Ezra smiled.
“I can change my mind Ezra.” Nathan called to him.
“You wouldn’t dare. I’d sue the hospital for an unnessary examination.”
“It doesn’t have to be put in your records.” Peterson smile at the expression Ezra was now wearing. “No one will know.”
“You wouldn’t.” Ezra groaned.
“We would.” Nathan and Peterson spoke together.
“You couldn’t.”
“We could.” the two men again, spoke as one.
“Bastard!”
“Him or me?” Nathan chuckled.
“Chris! I’m going to fucking kill him for this!” Ezra growled.
________________________________________
Day Six
Chris lay in his hospital bed with his leg elevated. He’d never been in such a humilating position in his life. The fingers of both hands figited with his bed sheet. His eyes drifted to Ezra’s sleeping form. A drip was filling him antibiotics, the leg had become invected, if only slightly. He wasn’t looking forward to Ezra waking up. The Southerner was going to be in a very bad mood.
The medics had to sedate him to get him to co-operate back at the cabin. They hadn’t been in the mood to argue or to try and convince him that the best way to transport him was to strap him to a board and fly him back in a helicopter. The only way it was going to be done peacefully was to knock him out. He’d come to in the emergency room but that didn’t last long. He’d been sedated a second time so he would stop struggling and fighting the nursing staff. X-rays had to be done, a cat scan also. His leg had to be unstitched and re-cleaned and the arm had to be re-set and plastered.
Chris had also been sedated so his leg could be set. It wasn’t a bad break like he had first thought. He knew Ezra was going to say ‘I told you so’. He’d sent the others home earlier in the evening. Everyone had been in a bad mood and they all needed time to relax and calm down. Their orders were not to come back until the morning. They were also told to bring some hot coffee and sugar coated donuts, he wasn’t going to eat hospital food, neither was Ezra.
He watched as the clear fluid dripped into the thin tube that ran to and entered Ezra’s arm. Chris sighed, all he had wanted to do was to include Ezra and show the stubborn man what kind of fun they had when they went camping together. He wanted Ezra to be a part of that. It had turned into a disaster. Ezra probably wouldn’t want to do anything with them again, but maybe he would allow them to do something with him.
Movement from the bed next to him caused him to search for another indication that Ezra was waking up. Couldn’t he sleep for a bit longer, like another eight hours. That way the others would be there to protect him from the undercover agent. Ezra could be very mean physically and verbally when he was in an extremely bad mood. Chris had witnessed it for himself when Ezra took that anger out on a persecutor of violence.
Chris watched as Ezra tried to roll over onto his right side. The broken arm stopped him from completing the movement. A curse was muttered in a Southern accent before Ezra rolled back over onto his left side. Chris relaxed as Ezra settled back down.
There was more movement. Shit! He was waking up, he knew it. There was only one thing that could save him from this mess. Chris grabbed his buzzer and called for the duty nurse. It was only a matter of seconds before she showed her homely face in the open doorway.
“What can I do for you . . . Mr Larabee?” she had to read his name off the board above the patients head. She tapped her fingers calmly on the door frame.
“Ezra here isn’t sleeping too well, and he seems to be in a lot of pain. Perhaps you can give him something to help him sleep, you know, until at least lunch time tomorrow.”
It should be safe then, he should be on his way home while Ezra still slept.
“Are you a doctor Mr Larabee?” the nurse asked him.
“Yes.” Chris lied.
“That’s funny, your records say that you’re an ATF agent.” she smiled knowlingly at him.
“Can’t I be both.” he growled back.
The nurse shook her head.
“So, it’s okay for Dana Scully to be both an FBI agent and a doctor but I can’t be.”
“I didn’t say you can’t.” the nurse shrugged. “Okay, I’ll get him something to help him sleep better.”
“Thank you.” Chris reached up towards the ceiling with his arms then crossed them behind his head. No one could ever say he was stupid. Nope, not him, he was the smart on.
The nurse came back a few minutes later, she carried a tray which held a syringe. The smile fell off Chris’ face when she made her way to his bed instead of Ezra’s. She was making a mistake, she had to be. He would calmly point the mistake out to her.
“Ezra’s over there.” Chris told her.
“I know, but you see, he’s already been given something. Mr Standish will sleep through until the morning.”
“Oh.” was all Chris could say.
“You on the other hand, should be asleep.”
“Oh.” he repeated.
“It’ll work quickly Mr Larabee.” she smiled as she injected the needle into his thigh.
He hadn’t even realised that she had pulled the covers from his body. Stupid! He slapped his forehead with an open palm. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
________________________________________
Day Seven
He wanted out and he wanted out now. They weren’t willing to allow him to leave though. The only alternative that was left available to him, was to escape. If only he could get rid of his bodyguard. That wasn’t going to be easy, his last four attempts of escape had failed, now they were ready for anything.
Why did he have to stay longer than that so-called son-of-a-bitch he didn’t know. Nathan! That . . . that . . . bastard that takes care of me so often probably told them something to keep me in longer. Were they afraid that I was going to attempt to kill Chris Larabee. Ezra had a plan to get his revenge, but it didn’t involve physical violence, he wasn’t capable of doing that. No, his revenge was going to be dealt out by a guilty ladies man. He still needed to escape.
“Wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee.” Ezra smiled sweetly at Vin.
“You just had one,” Vin growled, “and don’t smile at me like that, it makes me feel ill.”
“I’d like another one thank you, and the women will do anything for this smile.”
“No, and you sound like Buck.”
“Why can’t I have a cup of coffee?” Ezra asked him.
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“You’re not a child Ezra so stop acting like one!”
“I need to go to the bathroom.”
“No you don’t.” Vin argued.
“I want to go home Vin.”
“I know, but the doctor’s want to keep you here until that infection clears up.”
“How come Chris got to go home this morning?” Ezra questioned him.
“You know why.”
“I didn’t think I was right.” Ezra looked down at his leg.
“ You’re usually always right.” Vin shrugged.
“But why did I have to be right this time.”
Vin didn’t answer him.
“Someone hates me.” Ezra grimaced.
“No one hates you Ezra.”
“Then why was I forced to go on a hiking trip that I wanted no part of, where I received three nasty injuries and a very bad mood.”
“It could have been worse.”
“How much worse could it have been Vin!”
“You could have enjoyed yourself.” Vin smiled at him.
“Good Lord! You’re right.”
“Maybe there’s something we can do to make it up to you.” Vin suggested.
“There is nothing you can do,” Ezra smiled wickedly, “but there is something Buck can do.”
“Buck?” Vin frowned. “He’s feeling pretty guilty right now Ezra, I don’t think you should take advantage of that.”
“I won’t be taking advantage of him.”
Vin didn’t like what he was hearing.” What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business Vin. This is between Chris Larabee and myself.”
“Maybe I can help.”
Ezra looked closely at Vin. “You can tell Buck that I would like to see him, then you both can get me out of here.”
“I can do the first but we’re not doing the second. You’re in here for a reason Ezra. That leg is infected and you’re not going anywhere until the doc says you can.”
“I’ll remember that the next time you’re stuck in one of these damn beds.”
________________________________________
Buck stepped into the private hospital room to find Ezra sleeping heavily and Vin sprawled out on a large comfortable chair. He had no idea why Ezra wanted to see him and he really didn’t want to find out. He was having a bad enough time dealing with Chris and now Ezra was going to confront him about what had happened. He could easily turn around and walk out of the door but one look at Ezra’s sleeping face kept him from running away. It was best to face this now rather than later. He moved quietly into the room and sat in the only available chair.
It had turned out that the broken arm and open head wound had been nothing to worry about, they hadn’t been serious. It was the piece of metal that had found it’s way into Ezra’s that had been causing a serious problem. It had become infected without anyone knowing it, not even Nathan. The Southerner was now stuck in a hospital bed until the infection cleared. Buck knew Ezra wasn’t happy about that and he now expected the younger man to take his anger out on him; Chris was no longer available. The cowared wouldn’t come in and see how Ezra was doing. It was being left to the others, himself included.
“About time you got here.” Vin stretched and raised his hands above his head. “This chair may look comfortable but it’s like sleeping on a piece of wood.”
“Why does he want to see me?” Buck whispered.
There was no way he was going to wake Ezra, the longer this took to happen the better.
“Seems that you’re going to help him get back at Chris, return the favour . . . “
“Like hell!” Buck raised his voice and his eyes shot towards Ezra. “I’m not doing anything of the sort, Chris already hates me, don’t know why.”
“Perhaps it’s because you broke his leg.” Ezra told him.
“Shit.” Buck’s head fell into his hands.
“You feeling guilty at all Buck?” Ezra’s head was still hidden by the thick blanket.
“No.”
“You’re lying Mr Wilmington.”
Mr Wilmington? Ezra was serious.
“I’m not doing it Ezra. Whatever it is I’m not doing it.” Buck tried to sound convincing but he knew Ezra was going to talk him into it.
“Why don’t you listen to what I have to say. Maybe Vin might even decide to help you.”
“Why don’t you do it?” Buck stared at the blanket that stopped him from seeing Ezra’s face.
“I’m stuck here . . . remember!”
“How can I forget.” Buck mumbled.
Ezra threw the blankets off and pushed himself upwards. “This is what I want you to do . . . “
Five minutes later . . .
“I ain’t doing that!” the ladies man protested.
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Vin chuckled.
“You don’t have a choice Buck, if you don’t then you may find it happening to you.” Ezra smiled.
“Fuck you Ezra Standish.”
“Chris already offered.”
________________________________________
One Week Later
Chris Larabee who now walked with the aid of crutches stepped into the elevator that would take him to the seventh floor of the ATF building. It was his first day back. As far as he was concerned he was fit enough to return to work the day he got out of that damn hospital. The reason for his good health was that he hadn’t seen Ezra since he left the prison they all hated. He closed his eyes and thanked whoever it was that had saved him from retaliation.
Vin had assured him that Ezra wasn’t planning on doing anything. He couldn’t blame anyone for what had happened. Vin continued on to say that Ezra was now grateful that they had included him, even if the week had gone badly. It was the thought that counted was how he put it.
A smile crept onto Chris’ face, he had gotten away with it. The smile disappeared when a young woman that he recognised as one of the clerks from the file room stepped in beside him. She stared at him with a look of dissapointment. What the hell was going on with her, he didn’t know her personally so he couldn’t have done anything to her.
The elevator stopped on the sixth floor and the woman got out. A man that Chris didn’t even recognise joined him in the confined area and stood close to him, too close. Chris yelped when the man in question pinched his buttock. He didn’t ask any questions, instead he used a closed fist to do his talking. Chris would have asked what the hell he was doing but he was worried that he would hit him again instead.
He got off on the seventh floor and walked down the hallway to his office. He hated these crutches and when he was able to walk without them he would break them into a dozen pieces. Chris walked passed the bulletin board then stopped. His features turned up into a frown. He didn’t turn his head to look at what he thought he saw. Two steps backwards, just two and it would be revealed to him. That’s what he did, he stepped back two paces and his head turned towards the board.
There he was, his face was easily recognisable and so was the t-shirt he was wearing. It was Buck’s gay t-shirt. Someone had taken a photo of him and stuck it on the board. He remembered the two people in the elevator, they obviously thought he was gay. The photo had been put on every notice board in the building. Ezra! No, he’d only gotten out of the hospital yesterday It had to be someone else that did this to him.
“VIN!”
~~The End~~
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
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