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azombiewritesTitle: Stakeout
Rating: PG
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: ATF/ AU
Main Characters: Ezra and Chris and the rest of the seven
Summary: Ezra Standish has been recruited to investigate an agent but finds that the agent is also investigating him.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Notes: This story is set in an alternative ATF universe. I've written a different reason for Ezra Standish joining Team Seven and I've given him a sort of different history. Ever thing else is still more or less the same.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 30,319
Inside his body was tense and unresponsive, on the outside his features were passive, his speech slow. He sat on a long sofa decorated with a white over-throw and brown and cream cushions. Chris sat on one side of him, Vin was on his right and Josiah sat on the chair that had been pulled around so it could face the ‘patient'. Ezra couldn't understand why Vin and Josiah had to come along. He didn't need three men to look after him. All he had to do was go to bed, he didn't need help to do that.
"You want something to eat Ezra?" Chris asked him.
I could do with a sandwich, I'm a bit hungry.
"No."
"What about some coffee?" Vin spoke in his left ear.
Sounds great.
"No."
"Something stronger perhaps?" Josiah smiled.
Sounds even better.
"No."
"You want anything at all?" Chris tried again.
Why are they doing this to me? Are they setting me up for another fall? Maybe they did know about what had happened and were getting back at him in their own way.
"No."
"You tired?" Josiah frowned at the Southerner.
No, I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep tonight.
"Yes."
"How about we get you to bed then."
Anything, just get me away from these lies. That's what this is, it isn't friendship, and it’s a lie.
"Fine."
"Ezra . . . look at me." Chris demanded.
He didn't want to. Fingers closed around his chin and turned his face. Ezra tried to pull away but the grip became tighter.
"Are you okay, and tell me the truth."
"I'm fine, just tired that's all."
"I've fixed Adam's room up for you . . . " Chris started.
"Who's Adam?"
"My son . . . you can use it." Chris let go of Ezra's chin. The Southerner didn't know about his family. It wasn't something that Chris liked to talk about, he always kept his past to himself. Just like Ezra did.
Ezra saw the flicker of emotion in the light green eyes. "Won't he need it?"
"No, he won't be needing it."
"What if he . . . "
"He's away at the moment Ezra"
"Okay."
"Come on Ezra, you're tired, you need to get some sleep." Chris stood up and pulled Ezra to his feet. "Down the hall, second on the left."
Chris watched as Ezra disappeared down the hallway. When he heard the door open and close, he turned to Vin.
"How can I get him to talk?"
"What?" Vin looked at Josiah for an answer.
"The stake out . . . I'm going to be in a room with him for twelve hours. It's the perfect opportunity to get him to talk. He won't be able to leave, and surely, he can't keep changing the subject for that long. So how do I get him to talk?"
"Talk about what?" Vin asked him.
"Sorry, you don't know. This is just between us okay." when the two men acknowledge him, Chris repeated what the Judge had told him. He also mentioned the comment that Martin had made the day before.
"So he's got a past." Josiah was nodding as though it explained everything.
"A work past or a personal past as in his childhood?" Vin leaned back and crossed his arms.
"The Judge said personal but didn't say if it was recent or his childhood."
"Now I'm getting curious." Vin knew something was wrong, that there had been something that was stopping the Southerner from being himself. He suddenly wondered what Ezra would be like if he didn't have the personal problems that were stopping him from living.
"Well? Any ideas of how I can get him to talk."
There was complete silence for at least five minutes.
"Why don't you just ask him." Josiah suggested.
"Because that won't work." Chris growled at him.
"You're not going to be able to get him to talk any other way." Vin smiled.
"Why not?"
"Because we tried everything we could think of with you and nothing worked. Ezra's just as stubborn as you are if not more."
"So you're not going to offer me any advice then."
"Ask him Chris, that's all you have to do." Josiah repeated.
"Did you ask me?"
"Yes."
"Did it work?"
"No."
"Then why should I just ask him?"
"Because anything else would just make him angry and you'll never get anything out of him."
"I'm not going to just ask him! And if you're not going to help then I'll think of something myself."
***
Ezra groaned when the alarm went off. It wasn't natural to be woken up by the sound of bad music while it was still dark. A banging on the door caused his head to jerk upwards, his eyes blinked and continued to do so for at least ten seconds.
"You awake in there Ezra?" Chris' voice yelled through the door.
"Go to hell Mr Larabee." Ezra groaned and pulled the blanket up over his head.
"Not today Ezra." Chris was actually chuckling. "You've got ten minutes then I'm coming to get you."
"Wonderful."
It had been different the day before, no one had woken him, and he’d been left alone to sleep for as long as he wanted. When he did finally wake up, he found himself alone. A note had been left next to the pot of coffee. ‘Gone into work, you stay here, have the day off and rest up for tomorrow. You're going to need it. Chris' That short comment had ruined the day for him.
He'd spent the entire day doing absolutely nothing. He didn't worry, he didn't care, and he had accepted the inevitable. All he could do was wait and let everything play itself out.
"Ezra!"
"What?" his head lifted and the pillow fell back.
"Get up!"
"I'm up." Ezra allowed his head to fall back down onto the mattress.
"Get up!" Chris' voice growled as the blanket was torn from the bed.
The chill hit him immediately. He grabbed for the blanket but it was out of reach.
"Come on Ezra, we have to leave in thirty minutes." Chris lifted the pillow and glared at the confused expression the undercover agent was wearing.
"What time is it?"
"Four thirty."
"WHAT!"
"Fou . . ."
"I heard you the first time." Ezra growled. "Why in the hell are you waking me up at this time of night?"
"It's not night time Ezra, it's morning and our shift starts at six."
Ezra sat up and ran a hand through his unruly hair. "That's an hour and a half away, why get up now?"
"This is why."
"This is why what?"
"You taking so long to get up, you asking so many questions, you know, the usual things." Chris slapped Ezra on the back and walked out of the room. "Breakfast in five minutes."
Ezra groaned and fell back onto the bed.
***
5:54am
The thirty-minute drive had been full of one-sided conversations. Chris had done all the talking and Ezra had slept the entire trip. They were now standing face to face with the men they were replacing. Both accepted Chris' hand when he reached out to them.
"Morning boys." Chris shook both hands.
Ezra moved to do the same but they both sneered at him and refused to shake his hand.
Chris growled at them and was satisfied when their eyes dropped to look at something on the floor.
"Anything we need to know before you two leave?" Chris pushed past the man on his right.
"The folder is on the chair." the one that Chris had, more or less pushed out of the way, turned to watch the man in black.
"That's not what I asked you Stanton!"
"There's nothing you need to know," he shrugged, "the subject hasn't showed up yet."
"Then piss off!"
"Sir."
The two men left. Chris turned back around and found Ezra standing with his arms folded across his chest and his head turned over his right shoulder. He'd obviously watched the two men leave. Did one of them say something to him?
"I'd fire them all if I could." Chris apologised to Ezra for what everyone was doing to the Southerner.
"Does that include Buck and Nathan?" Ezra continued to watch the door.
"They'll come around Ezra."
"It would be easier if you fired me," Ezra finally turned around, "it would be less paperwork and of course, you would save the company from all those payouts."
"You know Ezra, sometimes you can be a real idiot!"
"Not according to my SAT's."
"You can't see what's right in front of you can you?"
"I don't want to."
"Then, you're an idiot." Chris moved closer to the younger man. "It's about time you open your eyes Ezra, this opportunity might not happen again."
Ezra blinked, but that was all he was willing to do.
"I'll take the first watch, why don't you get some rest, you look tired." Chris motioned to the bed on the other side of the room.
Ezra didn't argue. Even though he had slept quite a lot in the last couple of days, he was still feeling tired. He sat down on the bed and tested it. The pillow was soft, but it reeked of a foul odour that could only come from men that didn't give enough attention to their case of bad body odour.
"I think I'll take the chair." Ezra quickly got up and moved to the chair that was opposite the one Chris was now sitting in.
"Something wrong with the bed?" Chris raised an eyebrow.
"It smells."
"I'm not surprised."
He watched as Ezra sat heavily in the chair and lean his head back.
"You been sleeping much lately?"
"I've been sleeping fine." Ezra opened one eye and looked back at Chris. "Why?"
Chris shrugged. "I don't know . . . you just look . . . a bit off."
"Thank you." Ezra closed his eye and waited for Chris to say something else but he didn't.
Chris looked down at his watch, he had eleven hours and fifty minutes left to find out what was bothering the Southerner. That was all the time he needed. He just had to wait until Ezra felt more comfortable with him and opened up a bit more. He would let him rest and then start involving him in some conversation. The question was, what was he going to talk to him about. The only things he knew about Ezra was that he had a mother, no other family, started in the police force and was recruited into the FBI, twice injured in the line of duty, one of which almost caused his death, then Ezra was transferred to his team after the rumours of being on the take had started. He could be blunt and ask him about his professional life, even if it was the only thing left to talk about. After that, he could then start with his personal life and what it was that was stopping him from doing his job.
A bit off. What was that supposed to mean. A bit off. He felt fine, well apart from being tired and thirsty. There was nothing wrong with him. It could be the bruising that he had. They were sore but nothing else.
"My bruises still hurt a bit. Maybe that's why I look a bit off." Ezra explained.
"Could be." Chris nodded. He hesitated for only a second. "You been injured in the line of duty before?"
"The bruises weren't inflicted while I was working."
"Have you ever been injured in the line of duty?"
"Why are you asking?" Ezra knew there was something behind the questions, he just didn't know what and he didn't want to know.
"Just conversation." Chris took his position behind the camera with the high lens. He could see the building across the street and the front door. What were they supposed to do if the guy went in through the back entrance.
"A couple of times, nothing serious."
Nothing serious my ass. Chris looked at Ezra, the man was still leaning back with his eyes closed.
"So how come you don't like hospitals?"
"People die in hospitals." was the simple reply.
"They also get better."
It looked as though Ezra was going to say something but for some reason changed his mind. Chris decided not to push it.
"What about you?"
Chris hid his shock, he didn't expect Ezra to lead part of this conversation.
"Yeah, took one in the leg once and one nearly tore my brain in two. Pretty lucky to survive that one." Chris nodded as the memory flickered through his mind. "Helped to have Buck and the others around, they helped me through it. Life isn't good unless you have friends that care about you."
"Really Mr Larabee."
"You can take my word on that one Ezra."
"I'm going to have to."
Ezra, you let that one slip.
"Would you like some coffee Mr Larabee?" Ezra changed the subject before Chris could ask him what he meant. His dry throat and thirst was also urging him to drink some liquids.
"May as well, we're going to be here for a while."
"Another eleven hours and forty two minutes." Ezra muttered to himself.
7:36am
"You know Ezra, this is going to get pretty boring if we sit here in silence for the entire time we're here." Chris told the man who was staring out the window.
"I don't see that we really have anything to talk about." Ezra shrugged. "It's not like we’re friends."
Ouch! "You may think you're not my friend Ezra, but I'm yours, whether you want me to be or not."
Ezra's head slumped towards his chest. "Don't push it Mr Larabee, I'm not exactly in the mood for another argument about your so-called friendship."
"I'm not arguing with you Ezra, you're the one that's missing out."
Ezra drank the rest of the coffee in his cup and poured himself some more. His thirst was yet to be satisfied. Ezra started to think. He was going to be fired after this job anyway. He wasn't going to see Larabee or the others after this. Even at the hearing, he won't have to look at him or talk to him. What was wrong with being a little more open now. He could admit to things that Larabee won't be able to throw back in his face. Chris wouldn't tell the other members of the team, he wasn't like that. But the main thing was, if he spoke, then Larabee would have to also.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Don't start that again! Damnit! I'm trying here and all you can do is act dumb! I told you that I don't want an argument."
"Okay, I'm sorry." Chris leaned forward in the chair and rested his elbows on his knees. "Now, not to get too emotional here, you're a nice guy Ezra and I mean a good guy. You're funny, sarcastic, you could be loyal if you allow yourself to be, and you’re easy to talk to . . . “he let that sink in before he started on the other reasons.”You're lonely because you don't have any friends," he saw Ezra flinch as those words left his mouth, "you think no one cares about you. You don't seem to be able to trust anyone. You keep people at a distance and use words that are meant to hurt, to stop people from wanting to get close to you. You have no one to talk to about what's bothering you, there are other things too Ezra but I won't go on. Ezra, you need a friend and I want to be that friend."
"Why?"
"Because I like you. Some people click, others you dislike on the spot. I think we click."
"I don't need a friend, I've gotten by without one and I'm not going to change what works for me."
"But it doesn't work for you Ezra."
"What makes you an authority on the subject. You don't know what works for me. You don't even know me."
"That's because you won't let me get to know you. And I do know about not having friends, and pushing people away."
Ezra looked at Chris and saw the honesty in his green eyes. "How?"
"My wife and son were murdered . . . "
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"That's okay Ezra, it's something I don't like to talk about, and before you say it, I don't talk about it because it still hurts too much." Chris took a deep breath and sat back in the chair. He was about to take a big step here and he hoped some of it got through to the stubborn idiot that sat opposite him. "I wasn't there when it happened. Someone set the house on fire, they didn't know I'd gone away with Buck for the weekend. I came home to find the house burnt down and my family dead. You couldn't imagine the amount of guilt I was feeling. I quit the force and started drinking. I pushed everyone away, including Buck, I even tried to shoot him once when I was so out of it that I didn't know what I was doing. But he didn't give up on me, he wouldn't give up. He was and is a good friend Ezra, I don't think I would have survived without him. I ended up in the hospital, I nearly died from alcohol abuse. Buck stayed with me through it all and pulled me out the other end. I owe that man my life."
"When did it happen?" Ezra asked quietly.
"Just over five years now. I go and see them every weekend."
"I can't imagine it, losing a wife is one thing, but losing your son. You must have died inside when it happened."
"I wish I had, I probably wouldn't have felt anything, and it would have been a lot easier than drinking."
Ezra nodded. "How old was he?"
"Eight."
Ezra could hear the sorrow in Chris' voice. "We don't have to talk about this."
"It's okay."
"No, I can see that it still hurts too much."
"There are times when I can smile and laugh at some of the memories. Buck and I sit down sometimes and talk about old times, he can change it around so I laugh instead of cry. That's the sort of friend you need Ezra."
"There aren't many like Mr Wilmington."
"Probably not, but how are you going to know if you don't look for one."
"I'm going to make some more coffee." Ezra stood up and walked away from Chris. The man was right, he needed a friend but past experience stopped him from wanting one.
9:03am
"Ezra . . . " Chris stared at the younger man.
"What?"
"You don't look well."
"I feel fine Mr Larabee." Ezra muttered through the hands that held his chin.
"You're pale. You should have something to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten since last night." Chris reminded him.
"I'm not hungry, maybe later." Ezra took another sip of the coffee. He thought the caffeine would help him to wake up but the opposite seemed to be happening. He not only felt tired but his body felt like it had just gone twelve rounds with Buck Wilmington. Now there was a man that wanted to hit him until he bled.
"Ezra . . . "
"I said I'm not hungry."
"How old were you when your father died?"
"What makes you think he died." Ezra raised his eyes to look at Chris. The man was concentrating on watching the property across the street. At least that would make it easier for him to talk. Chris had given him a piece of his soul, he may as well return the favour, and it might get him off his back for a while.
"Your file."
"He left when I was six."
Chris turned his head to stare at him and saw Ezra look away. "Why does your file say that he died?"
"I lied when I filled out my paperwork."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want people to know that he left . . . because of me."
"He didn't leave because of you. I mean, hell, how does a six year old cause his father to leave."
"He didn't like me, was disappointed in the way I was turning out. At the age of five I was already winning money playing cards and conning old people into giving me money. My mother taught me from the moment I could walk and talk. He didn't like it so he left." Ezra shrugged it off as though it meant nothing.
"That wasn't your fault Ezra, you were too young to know any better and your father was an idiot for leaving." Chris saw the anger flicker in Ezra's eyes. "Don't tell me you're going to stand up for the asshole." Ezra's eyes lowered.
"What makes you think that's why he left anyway."
"He told me before he left." Ezra continued to look at the floor.
"Then he was a fucking bastard Ezra, you were better off without him."
"I don't know, maybe it would have been better if he stayed around."
"What makes you think that?"
"Nothing . . . can we talk about something else please."
"Well, at least I now know not to play cards with you." Chris smiled. "There's still the others though."
"I'm not staying remember."
"I've got time to talk you out of that."
10:13am
"Chris."
"Yeah." he looked away from the camera.
"If I asked you a question, a personal one. Would you answer it or tell me to shut up?"
Chris actually laughed. "I wouldn't know what my reaction would be until I heard the question."
Ezra stood up and began to stretch his back. A pain in his lower back had begun suddenly and was beginning to radiate towards his legs. Damn chairs. He started to pace the small room in an attempt to ease the cramping in his muscles.
"I'll tell you what Ezra. I'll answer your question, if you answer one for me."
Ezra stopped where he stood. He wasn't sure about that one. Chris could ask him anything. What if it was something he didn't want to talk about. He could simply say no.
"I'm not sure about that . . . "
"I won't ask you anything to personal." Chris lied.
Ezra began to pace again. He felt a small wave of dizziness flow through him. Where the hell did that come from. Was he scared of what Chris might ask him. Was this his mind's way of warning him to stay quiet. His green eyes drifted over Chris' frame as he walked passed him. There was something about that man that made him want to seek out everything he wanted in his life. He no longer believed that Chris was trying to con him to make this twelve-hour stint better. Especially after he told him that, his family had been murdered. He knew Chris didn't like to talk about things; neither of them did but they both had different reasons for doing it. Chris was a personal man, he didn't put his problems out there for people to talk about. Ezra was afraid that people would use his words against him, that they would come to believe that he was weak and a coward. A man that deserved everything he'd received in his life.
In less than eight hours, he would never see Chris again. He would make sure of that.
"Why won't you tell the Judge what really happened?"
"What?"
"You won't tell him the truth, a truth that would stop you from going to jail."
"The facts will speak for themselves Ezra!" Chris growled at him.
"The Judge says they won't, and he should know. He believes that it's going to go to court and that you'll be charged and found guilty of murder."
"Where the hell did this come from? Did Buck put you up to this?"
"Mr Wilmington won't even give me the time of day."
"Then how do you know so much about it?"
"When the Judge found out about this he asked me to try and talk you into speaking up for yourself."
"I won't tell him because it involves someone else."
"You're willing to go to jail for someone else."
"I won't go to jail."
"Chris . . . " Ezra sat down and ran his hand through his hair, "how long has Travis been a Judge?"
"About thirty five years I think."
"Was he good at his job, fair to both parties?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't you believe what he has to say? Why won't you trust his judgment?"
"I won't go to jail."
"Then you're a damn idiot!" Ezra put his hand against his back as the pain began to worsen. It was beginning to spread to his stomach.
Chris sat staring at Ezra for at least the fifth time since they sat down.
"You know, you really don't look well. Are you sweating?"
"Who is it? Someone you work with? A police officer? A snitch?" Ezra saw the truth in the pale green eyes. "It was your snitch. He saw something that could get you off the hook but if he comes forward, his life becomes endangered."
"Something like that!"
"You have heard of protective custody . . . haven't you!" the stupidity and loyalty of the man was causing his anger to rise. "Why risk your life for someone else?"
"You do that for friends Ezra. If you allowed yourself to have some, you would know what I'm talking about."
"Then you're a fucking idiot! Friends don't do that. They turn on you. They use you for what they can get then throw
you away. They make you feel good then tear your guts out and leave you bleeding to death on the ground. There is no such thing as a friend. People always want something and they get it by pretending to be a friend."
"That's bullshit Ezra and you know it!"
"No I don't know it!"
"Why don't you know it." Chris stood up and walked to Ezra's chair. He leaned over the smaller man then hesitated.
He could see the sweat glistening on Ezra's face, his skin was pale and clammy. "What is it that you had taken out of your file that you don't want people to know."
"Son-of-a-bitch!" Ezra pushed Chris out of the way and jumped to his feet.
The pain in his stomach became severe enough for him to double over and fall to his knees. One hand fell forward to hold his weight while the other arm wrapped itself around his stomach.
"Ezra?" Chris knelt down beside him and put a hand on the shaking shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know." Ezra groaned and fell onto his right side. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Hold on a sec." Chris began to frantically search for some sort of container.
"Can't."
Ezra tried to push himself up onto his knees. He only managed it because Chris took his shoulders and pulled him up. The older man continued to hold onto him while he vomited.
"Hang on Ezra, it'll be over in a minute."
It was actually five minutes.
"Let's get you back into the chair."
Chris hauled Ezra to his feet and began to turn him to sit in the chair when the Southerner collapsed against him.
"Ezra!"
10:46am
The pain caused Ezra's eyes to flicker open. He could feel the hands probing his body and he began to fight them. The pain worsened and he pulled his arms back to protect his stomach. He tried to roll onto his side but something stopped him.
"It's okay Ezra, they're trying to help you."
That was Chris' voice. His eyes searched for the man and he found him sitting on the floor next to him.
"Who . . . ?"
"The medics."
A face appeared above him. It was the type of face that wasn't comforting. Ezra became worried that this man wasn't here to help him.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
Ezra looked at Chris.
"Tell him Ezra."
Ezra hurt too much to argue, he just wanted them to give him something so the pain would go away. Maybe then, Chris would let him go back to the hotel to rest.
"My stomach and back hurt, my legs too."
The medic lifted the shirt that belonged to Chris. When the man had demanded that Ezra stay with him, he had failed to get Ezra some clothes from his hotel room.
"Does this hurt?" the medic pressed against Ezra's abdomen.
"Yes, that hurts!" he pushed the man's hand away.
"What's the pain like?"
"It's bad, my stomach and back, it's like a throbbing pain that won't ease up."
"Is it his appendix?" Chris asked.
"No."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No."
Chris moved closer to Ezra and gripped his hand. He felt Ezra panic and pull his hand away. Chris held on even though Ezra continued to try to free his hand.
"Bill, call in, let them know what we've got."
Both men listened as the medic made contact with the trauma room and listed Ezra's symptoms.
" . . . rapid pulse, clammy skin, severe sweating, vomiting, fainting, severe pain in back and abdomen and legs. Abdomen is rigid and with tenderness to touch."
"If it helps, he was also drinking a lot this morning and he's been tired." Chris offered.
"Also thirst and tiredness." the medic added.
There was a few seconds of silence, then a voice told them to get the patient to trauma ASAP.
"I don't need to go to the hospital." Ezra spoke up when he heard the urgency in the female voice.
"Sir, you need to go to hospital."
"No I don't!"
"You don't have a choice Mr Standish."
"I do."
"Ezra!"
"I can say no . . . " Ezra grimaced and gritted his teeth against the constant throbbing pain.
"Ezra please."
"No."
"Put him on the gurney and strap him in."
"Chris! NO!"
"Ezra, there's something seriously wrong. You're going, you no longer have a choice in the matter."
"I thought you wanted to be a friend."
"Friends do this too Ezra."
"Bastard!" Ezra hissed out through clenched teeth. "Get the hell away from me!" he pulled his hand from Chris’ grip. "I don’t want him near me." Ezra told the medics.
"I’m coming anyway Ezra."
"Sir, he said he . . . "
"Do you want to deal with him on your own, or do you want my help."
The medic nodded and grimaced when Ezra cursed at him.
Chris pulled out his cell phone and dialled in Vin's number while he watched the medics lift Ezra and put him onto the gurney. They strapped him place and began to wheel him out of the room.
"Vin . . . it's Chris . . . just listen will you! Something's wrong with Ezra, I had to call an Ambulance, we're going to the hospital now . . . hang on. Which hospital?" Chris asked the medic as he followed the gurney.
"Denver Memorial."
"You hear that Vin . . . yeah, let Martin know that he's going to have to get someone in here. I'm not staying . . . no, Ezra's not going on his own, he doesn't like hospitals. Thanks . . . yeah . . . I'll see you there."
***
Chris Larabee paced the surgical waiting room in an agitated manner. Hands ran through his hair, pulled at his shirt and moved in and out of his pockets. Ezra’s condition had worsened on the way to the hospital, the pain had become intense, and his stomach had become swollen, but for some reason he had continued to fight the medic and the straps that held him to the gurney. Chris’ stomach churned in sympathy for a man who was now on his own. They had forced him to leave the trauma room. Ezra had only been in there for a few minutes, they had then rushed him through for an abdominal CT. Chris had no idea what was going on now.
“Chris,"
He turned around to find Vin walking towards him.
"What’s happening? Is Ezra okay?"
"He’s having a CT at the moment, apart from that I don’t know anything."
"Do they know what’s wrong with him."
"No." Chris began pacing again, he wasn’t handling the idea of waiting very well. "Shit Vin, he was in so much pain and he was terrified of coming here."
"He’ll be okay Chris." Vin insisted.
"He doesn’t want me here. Used some colourful language to describe what kind of person I am."
"That doesn’t seem to be stopping you." the sharp shooter smiled.
"Hell no!"
Vin’s smile dropped from his face and he became silent at the thought of what Ezra was going through.
"What about Martin?"
"Wasn’t happy about it, but he didn’t insist on you staying there. Said he’d send a couple of guys over."
"Good. The others?"
"They’re on their way here."
"Here? Why? They don’t even like Ezra." Chris stopped and stared at Vin.
"They may not like him Chris but they’re not complete bastards."
"If one of them says anything . . . , anything at all, I’ll hit them, even if it’s JD."
"They won’t."
"Mr Larabee?"
Chris turned and saw a young man dressed in clean scrubs. No, not now, he didn’t deserve to die now.
"Yeah." Chris held his breath.
"I’m assisting Dr Jones during Mr Standish’s surgery. The Doctor asked me to come down and spend a couple of minutes with you to let you know what’s happening."
He wasn’t dead. "How is he?"
"Mr Standish has an abdominal aortic aneurysm and it has ruptured. We need to operate immediately."
"How would he get one of those?" Vin frowned.
"It’s something that’s caused by a physical trauma, but it takes years to develop. No symptoms show until it becomes more serious."
"But he’s going to be okay?" Vin asked for Chris.
"I’m sorry, but I can’t say for sure. Less than fifty percent of people who have a rupture survive. We’ll know more after we go in. We’ll either have to repair or replace the section of aorta that’s ruptured." the young intern allowed the information to sink in. "I have to go back, why don’t you guys wait in the surgical waiting room, we’ll come and let you know more after the surgery is completed."
"Thanks." Chris smiled weakly at the man then turned his back on him.
"I take it you haven’t had time to fill out any forms for him?" Vin started to walk to the front desk.
"Vin, I already have." Chris smiled when Vin gave him a confused look. "All I had was the information in his wallet. As to previous medical history, next of kin, I have no idea. They’ve had to go in blind."
"Isn’t his mother his next of kin?" Vin asked.
"Didn’t know she was still alive." Chris shrugged. "Besides, he left that part of his file blank. I asked him for a next of kin and he said he’d get back to me. That was three weeks ago."
"Yeah," Vin agreed. Even though Ezra had a mother, he had no one.
"Do you know how long the others are going to be?"
"They should be here in a few minutes."
"We’ll wait for them then head upstairs." Chris began pacing again.
***
Chris’ impatient manner hadn’t changed even after an hour of waiting. Five men watched him pace from one end of the room to the other. Each had tried to get him to sit down but he wouldn’t listen. They knew he was worried, some understood why, while others couldn’t understand his feelings towards the Southerner. Chris had hardly spoken to them since they arrived, he had refused to tell them what was wrong and when Vin had tried, he warned him with a cold glare. Chris wasn’t sure if they were there for him or Ezra.
"Chris," Buck was going to try again.
"Don’t Buck." was the warning.
"Why not?"
"Because I told Vin that I would hit anyone who said anything against Ezra, and I don’t want you to have the opportunity to talk."
"We’re worried about him too." Buck argued.
Chris glared at Buck as he passed him. "You don’t even like him, you won’t give him the time of day. That’s the way Ezra put it."
"He doesn’t . . . "
"Buck!" Vin shook his head at him.
"All I was going to say was . . . "
"Don’t!" Vin couldn’t understand him, Buck had known Chris a long time, and he should know that his friend would carry out his threat. Chris would do anything to protect his own, including dying for them. And Chris now considered Ezra to be one of his own.
"What happened to him?" JD asked.
"He’s got a stomach ache." was all Chris would say.
"Chris." Vin looked at him and nodded towards the doors. Judge Travis had entered the room.
"Boys." Travis greeted them. He stepped up to Chris. "How is he?"
Chris knew the Judge was concerned. "Not good."
"What happened?"
"The doctor said he had a ruptured abdominal," he looked at Vin.
"Aortic aneurysm." Vin finished for him.
"Damn." Nathan muttered.
"What’s that?" JD leaned closer to Nathan.
"It’s what it says it is JD. An aneurysm that’s burst."
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Probably not. The odds are against him."
"Shut up Nathan." Chris ordered him.
"Only telling JD the truth Chris."
"You really don’t think he has a chance?" Chris eyed Nathan.
"I’m sorry Chris, if he pulls through, it’ll be a miracle but there would be complications. He could have irreversible damage to his kidneys for one thing."
"Shit! So what you’re saying is that he might be better off dead."
"No one’s better off dead Chris."
Chris nodded. "Judge, can I have a word with you."
"Sure."
Chris lead the Judge to the other side of the room and stood with his back facing his fellow team members.
"I don’t appreciate you using Ezra to try and get me to talk!"
"What are you talking about?" Travis looked over Chris’ shoulder. His men were listening to the conversation.
"You asked Ezra to talk me into telling you what happened that day. I don’t want you using him like that."
"Did you agree to give the information I need to help you?"
"No."
"Chris! Damnit, you’re going to end up in jail."
"Don’t ever put Ezra in that position again."
"Chris, I didn’t, Ezra was doing his job." Travis explained to him.
"What do you mean doing his job?" Buck jumped out of his seat and joined the two men.
"Since the rumours, Ezra’s been used by the FBI, he didn’t have a choice, he either did it or he lost his job. I think he’s getting to the point where he doesn’t care anymore."
"How are they using him?" Chris pushed Buck away from them, he wasn’t a part of this conversation.
"They’re making him do the dirty jobs. They put him undercover in a team, and he investigates agents."
"So you did the same thing, you used him?"
"No, if he came through I was going to offer him a permanent position in your team."
"Really!"
"Yes."
"So, everything’s been a lie. The way he acts, the lack of friends, the information taken out of his file. It was all an act
to get me to talk! Is that it."
"No Chris. None of it was a lie, none of it was an act."
"And you would know that because?"
"You didn’t get a chance to talk to him did you?"
"No, I tried but then he collapsed, this thing, I don’t know, one minute he seemed okay, the next . . . "
"Why don’t we sit down and I’ll tell you what was taken out of his file." Travis waited to see what Chris would do.
"I like the guy, thought that I would be able to trust him at some point. Now I find out he’s been lying to me about everything."
"Chris."
"I don’t want to hear it from you!" Chris turned away from him but spun back around. "Shit! I talked to him about Sarah and Adam, about how I felt when they died. About what Buck did for me. All of that just so he could turn it around and make me talk."
"Maybe he was doing what he had to do." Travis suggested.
"I’m going for a walk."
Chris moved away and ran straight into Josiah. The older man gripped his arm tightly to keep him from leaving.
"Chris, sometimes you can be a selfish, idiotic, stubborn pain in the ass. Ten minutes ago, you were worried sick about Ezra. Are you saying that you’re not worried anymore, that you no longer care. Because that’s the impression that I’m getting. The Judge just told you that none of it was an act. Maybe if you stopped and thought about it, you’d realise that Ezra believes you’re innocent, and he hasn’t even heard your side of the story. He could have easily sided with everyone else, but he didn’t. That tells me that he likes and no doubt, respects you like the rest of us do. If Ezra comes through this they’ll take him into a room and leave him there, the only people he’ll see will be the nursing staff. There’s no one except you and the rest of us and at the moment, you’re the only one that will be able to help him get through this."
"How would he know if I’m innocent or not, he doesn’t know what happened."
"I just told you Chris." Josiah shook his head. "He respects you, it’s in the way he talks to you . . . he doesn’t talk to us like that."
"It was probably an act Josiah. He knew I wouldn’t talk if he acted the same way with me."
"No Chris, he respects you, you’re just to blind to see that."
Vin stepped up and stood beside Josiah. "You told me that he was terrified of coming here. Are you going to leave him alone now?"
"Chris," Travis pushed him towards a chair, "there are things that you need to know about Ezra Standish and I think you should all hear this."
Once everyone was seated, Travis turned so he could face Chris. This was the man he needed to convince. He wanted to make sure Ezra stayed with the team, but if Chris stayed in this state of mind, Ezra wouldn’t be able to work with him.
“When Ezra was eleven he was brought into my court room. The bruises were still visible on his face, his right arm was in a cast and he grimaced in pain every time he had to stand up or sit down." he saw the lack of understanding in Chris’ eyes, the others were looking at him in the same way. "His Uncle had beaten the shit out of him." Travis laughed. "The same Uncle was fighting for custody, can you believe it. He claimed Maude Standish wasn’t a fit mother. It was pathetic, a forty two year old, six foot two, two hundred and ten pound man, almost beat a scrawny eleven year old to death and then files for custody. At the time, I didn’t know who had beaten him, the Uncle had claimed it was Maude. She denied it. I had to talk to Ezra to ask him what had happened." Travis shook his head. "You couldn’t even touch the boy, he would cringe away from you and the fear in his eyes saddened my heart. It took me two hours just to get him to say something and another hour to tell me who had beaten him. Even though he was scared, he still used a smart mouth to keep me away, to stop me from comforting him in any way. He never smiled once. I threw the case out of court and had the uncle arrested."
"Is that what he had taken out of his file?" Chris asked him.
"No . . . "
Chris nodded.
"I don’t know what happened before that day and I don’t know what happened after it, but I’ve always remembered the expression on Ezra’s face when I closed the door to my chambers and we were alone. I didn’t hesitate about getting a female in there with us."
"You think he was sexually molested?"
"No, they checked for that when he was in the hospital after the beating. I think he was just scared that I was going to hit him."
"Was that the only time he was beaten?"
"I don’t know." Travis shook his head. "The next time I saw him was when he walked into my office four weeks ago. When I realised who he was, I checked his file to see how he turned out. He’s one of the best at what he does Chris."
"Did he recognise you?" Vin asked him.
"If he did, he didn’t say anything."
"So what’s stopping him from doing his job?" Chris took control of the conversation again.
"Eight months ago Ezra and his partner took part in a raid. Ezra’s partner went off on his own, told Ezra he’d seen someone and was going to check it out. Ezra told him to let it go, but the man took off before he could stop him. Ezra was with two of the men they’d arrested so he couldn’t go after him. When he finally got the chance, he went looking for him. When Ezra found him, he was near death, he’d been beaten, and the man who had done it was standing over him pointing a gun at the agent’s head."
"Who was it?" Chris urged the Judge to go on.
"It was the same Uncle who had beaten him . . . "
"Shit!"
"Ezra hesitated . . . and could you really blame him. His partner was killed. Ezra was suspended pending an investigation. There was nothing found in the investigation to take it any further. A month later the rumours that he was on the take started. Some claimed that he had taken a payoff to allow his partner’s killer to get away."
"He’s still out there?"
"Yes."
Chris fell back against his chair and stared up at the ceiling. He thought he had gone through some bad times in his life. No wonder Ezra was the way he was . . . is.
"How the hell is he supposed to deal with that!"
"Has he seen a shrink?" Vin asked him.
"Yes, and he was lucky the psychiatrist didn’t lay any assault charges against him."
"This time he’s talking to one and he’s going to listen." Chris told him. "Are you going to start the paperwork for a permanent transfer?"
"I put it in yesterday." Travis smiled at him.
"Good," Chris smiled back, "now all we need is for him to pull through."
***
Doctor Jones stepped into the waiting room to find seven tired and rough looking men lying in all sorts of positions. At least three of them lay on the carpeted floor while the other floor looked uncomfortable in the large chairs. He smiled at the sight. Jones coughed into his hand and received an immediate reaction.
"Gentlemen, I take it you’re all waiting for me."
"Don’t mess with us!" Chris threatened him as he pulled himself from his chair. His hand went straight to his back and he began to rub it.
"Mr Standish came through the surgery without any complications."
"So he’s going to be okay?"
"He still isn’t out of the woods yet, he’s very lucky, only a small percentage of patients fully recover." the doctor motioned for them to sit down again but they refused. "We know he doesn’t want to be here . . . "
"That’s putting it mildly." Chris nudged Vin.
"We’re going to keep him sedated, not fully though, he’ll be conscious but a lot calmer. The reason for this is so he doesn’t cause himself any injuries because he’ll fight us all the way if he was able to."
"When can we see him?"
"He’s being taken to ICU now, it’ll take them a few minutes to settle him in. You can see him in about ten minutes."
"Will it be okay if I stay with him?"
"Visiting hours are . . . "
"I meant stay with him. He’s going to be scared and I don’t want him to be alone in there."
"I’m sure we can arrange something for you. He’s not going to wake up for at least another two hours, you might want to go home and get a few things then come back."
"Thanks doctor." Chris reached out and shook his hand.
"You’re welcome and if you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to ask someone."
"Thanks."
"Ten minutes." Jones smiled at the group of men then walked away from. He enjoyed giving good news and he didn’t always have a chance to do that.
***
Chris Larabee rushed through the hospital corridor and politely pushed his way into the elevator. He was late, thirty minutes late. The doctor had told them that Ezra would wake up in two hours, and he was late by half an hour. Maybe it was for the better, Ezra had been angry at him when he allowed the medics to take him to hospital. Vin would probably have been a more of a friendly face when he woke up.
The elevator doors opened and Chris stepped out. His eyes drifted over the men who were watching him. He hadn’t expected them to still be here. Chris smiled at them then started towards Ezra’s room. He looked before he entered. Vin was sitting close to the bed and seemed to be talking to Ezra. Chris sat his bag near the door and laid the paper work he’d brought with him on top of it.
"Vin?" Chris whispered.
Vin turned his head and smiled at the fearful look on Chris’ face. "You coming in or are you going to hide there like the yellow coward you are?"
"Is he awake?"
"Woke up about an hour ago, they sedated him half an hour ago."
"I asked you if he was awake!"
"He’s awake but he’s groggy."
"What sort of mood is he in?" Chris still refused to enter the small room.
"He’s groggy Chris, he isn’t in any sort of mood."
"So at the moment, I’m safe?"
"Idiot." Vin’s smile grew. "Get in here."
Chris hesitated but moved forward. The angry words that Ezra had yelled at him in the ambulance kept going through his mind. He wasn’t worried about himself, he didn’t want Ezra to get angry. When he reached the bed, he smiled down at the younger man.
"Hey Ezra, good to see you’re awake."
Ezra’s only reaction was to blink at him.
"I see you’re in a better mood as well. You weren’t too happy the last time I spoke to you."
Ezra turned his head to watch Chris, he blinked a couple of more times. "Bastard." the word was whispered but Chris and Vin heard it clearly.
"I thought you said he wasn’t in a mood." Chris glared at Vin.
"Well you obviously put him in one." Vin shot back.
Ezra rolled his head back and closed his eyes.
"What were you talking to him about?"
"Talking? We weren’t talking, were we Ezra." Vin slapped Ezra’s upper arm.
A smile tugged at Ezra’s lips, but he didn’t have the strength to turn it into anything more.
"What’s he smiling about?" Chris pointed at Ezra’s face.
"Chris, that’s what you call a grimace of pain."
"No it’s not, he’s trying to smile."
Vin refused to say anything.
"Tell me or I’ll make your life a misery!"
"Okay," Vin shrugged, "I was telling Ezra that I need a partner in crime."
Chris raised an eyebrow, looked at Ezra who still had his eyes closed, then turned back to Vin.
"Well, it’s hard work pissing you off, I need a break every now and then and I thought Ezra would be the perfect one to take over when I’m not there."
"What?"
"He’s going to help me drive you crazy . . . "
"He agreed to that?"
"Not yet, I don’t think he really understood what I was talking about."
"Then why did he smile?"
"He was happy to see you."
Ezra moaned at the thought, happy to see him, like hell.
"You okay Ezra?"
"Go way." Ezra lifted a weak arm and tried to slap Chris’ arm away from his face.
"Sorry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m moving in until you’re ready to go home." Chris gently took the shaking arm and laid it back down on the bed and held it there. "I know you’re scared Ezra, I don’t want you staying in here without a friend by your side."
"Not a friend."
"Shut up Ezra and stop talking. That’s an order." Chris waited for Ezra to respond but it seemed the Southerner had gone back to sleep. "Did the Doctor have anything to say?"
"Said everything looked okay, won’t know for sure though for at least another twelve hours. He also said that Ezra would sleep a lot for another day or so because of the sedative."
"Good."
"Not so good when he wakes up though?" Vin asked him.
"I think he’s going to panic." Chris admitted.
"Well, we’ve got a couple of days to talk to him, convince him that it’s going to be okay."
"I think that’s going to be easier said than done."
"You’re going to have to do it Chris, the doc wants him in here for at least a week, longer if he doesn’t recover the way he’s supposed to."
"You hear that Ezra, the worse you make it for yourself, the longer you stay."
A low growl came from Ezra’s throat.
"I’ll take that as a yes." Chris smiled.
***
Ezra still didn’t understand what had been done to him. He had no idea why he was even here, no one had explained anything to him yet. A doctor kept coming in to examine him and he always spoke to Chris but his own mind was to messed up to understand any of the conversation.
He struggled to move his limbs but they felt too heavy, they were like lead. There was no way he was going to be able to stand up and walk out of the hospital. He was stuck here until his mind cleared and his body started to work again.
A hand rested on his shoulder and he blinked up at the face of Chris Larabee. Ezra tried to grimace at the sight but even his facial muscles didn’t seem to work. The hand shook his shoulder to get his attention. Chris’ mouth moved, words came out but they had no meaning.
He hated being like this. He had never had to rely on other people to help him. He’d been independent since he was seven. Now for the third time in his life he was in a hospital where the nurses did everything for him. He had no control what so ever over what was happening to him and he hated every minute of it. The sooner he could get out of here the better.
"What’s wrong with me?" he asked Chris.
"They needed to operate Ezra, you’re going to be weak for a while but you’ll get better." Chris explained to him.
"What’s wrong with me?" Ezra repeated because every word that Chris had spoken went in one ear and straight out the other. "Why can’t I move?"
"The doctor is keeping you sedated Ezra. He’s afraid you’re going to panic and that this was the best way to stop you from hurting yourself."
"I don’t . . . other people hurt me." Ezra felt angry but something stopped that anger growing to the point where he could let it out. His head ached because he couldn’t release the anger, it was as though every time he tried, a wall made of rubber appeared and it bounced the emotion around in his head. That was what caused the headache, if he could get rid of the anger, his headache would go away.
"No one is going to hurt you here Ezra, you need to understand that. I won’t let that happen." Chris tried to assure him.
"No." Ezra tried to move away from Chris but the man gripped his shoulder tighter.
"Ezra, they’re going to stop giving you the sedative tomorrow. When that happens you’re going to be more awake, you’ll be able to move around more. But you have to do one thing for me. Ezra, are you listening to me?"
"No."
"You’re going to have to stay calm. If you don’t they might sedate you again. Do you understand what I’m saying?"
Ezra nodded, he thought he understood some of what Chris said. The word sedated kept coming back to him. How long were they going to keep him like this. He wasn’t sure but as soon as they stopped, he would leave and no one was going to stop him.
***
Chris rubbed his red eyes until they watered. He was tired and he needed to sleep but it eluded him. He was afraid that if Ezra woke while he was asleep, the Southerner would get out of bed and walk away from his new life. But what made him so sure that Ezra wouldn’t walk away anyway. Once he was out of the hospital and fully recovered, he was going to be able to do what he wanted. He had to talk some sense into the guy, to try to convince him that what he needed was a new life that had six men that wanted to be his friends. Friends that wanted to take care of him, to show him what life could be all about.
"Ezra . . . " Chris started but hesitated.
"What?" Ezra wanted to turn his head and look at Larabee, but he just couldn’t be bothered.
"Travis filled out the required paperwork to have you transferred to us on a permanent basis. You’re now Team Seven’s new undercover agent."
Maybe if he had something else to stay for.
"Whatever." Ezra hadn’t understood much of that sentence.
"You’re staying in Denver Ezra, this is going to be your new home."
Did he say new home. He didn’t have a home. He didn’t stay anywhere long enough to need a home. No, when this was finished, he would have to move on again. Pity, he actually liked these men.
"When you’re better we’ll help you find a place. Don’t know if you’d want a house or a flat. You can’t stay in that hotel and when I say you can’t, well, I had Vin go over and get your things and fix up your bill."
"Let me sleep." Ezra muttered.
"You tired Ezra?" Chris looked down at his watch. It was seven forty five in the evening. Buck was due at eight thirty, he was going to stay with Ezra for a few hours while he caught up on some sleep. His bed would be the chair he was sitting in.
They were going to move Ezra to a private room in the morning. The doctor told him that they would make sure there was a fold up bed in the room for him.
"Ezra, are you tired?" he repeated when he didn’t get a response.
"What?"
"Buck’s going to be here soon. He’s going to sit with you for a while so I can get some sleep."
"I’m sorry but I don’t get half of what you’re saying." Ezra tried to lift his arm but what felt like a ton fell back to the bed.
"That’ll be the sedatives." Chris smiled. "Your head will be clear by this time tomorrow."
"My head?"
"Sedatives Ezra."
"Oh."
"Go to sleep Ezra."
"I’m tired." Ezra repeated again.
"I know, go to sleep."
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Master Fan Fiction List
Rating: PG
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: ATF/ AU
Main Characters: Ezra and Chris and the rest of the seven
Summary: Ezra Standish has been recruited to investigate an agent but finds that the agent is also investigating him.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Notes: This story is set in an alternative ATF universe. I've written a different reason for Ezra Standish joining Team Seven and I've given him a sort of different history. Ever thing else is still more or less the same.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 30,319
Inside his body was tense and unresponsive, on the outside his features were passive, his speech slow. He sat on a long sofa decorated with a white over-throw and brown and cream cushions. Chris sat on one side of him, Vin was on his right and Josiah sat on the chair that had been pulled around so it could face the ‘patient'. Ezra couldn't understand why Vin and Josiah had to come along. He didn't need three men to look after him. All he had to do was go to bed, he didn't need help to do that.
"You want something to eat Ezra?" Chris asked him.
I could do with a sandwich, I'm a bit hungry.
"No."
"What about some coffee?" Vin spoke in his left ear.
Sounds great.
"No."
"Something stronger perhaps?" Josiah smiled.
Sounds even better.
"No."
"You want anything at all?" Chris tried again.
Why are they doing this to me? Are they setting me up for another fall? Maybe they did know about what had happened and were getting back at him in their own way.
"No."
"You tired?" Josiah frowned at the Southerner.
No, I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep tonight.
"Yes."
"How about we get you to bed then."
Anything, just get me away from these lies. That's what this is, it isn't friendship, and it’s a lie.
"Fine."
"Ezra . . . look at me." Chris demanded.
He didn't want to. Fingers closed around his chin and turned his face. Ezra tried to pull away but the grip became tighter.
"Are you okay, and tell me the truth."
"I'm fine, just tired that's all."
"I've fixed Adam's room up for you . . . " Chris started.
"Who's Adam?"
"My son . . . you can use it." Chris let go of Ezra's chin. The Southerner didn't know about his family. It wasn't something that Chris liked to talk about, he always kept his past to himself. Just like Ezra did.
Ezra saw the flicker of emotion in the light green eyes. "Won't he need it?"
"No, he won't be needing it."
"What if he . . . "
"He's away at the moment Ezra"
"Okay."
"Come on Ezra, you're tired, you need to get some sleep." Chris stood up and pulled Ezra to his feet. "Down the hall, second on the left."
Chris watched as Ezra disappeared down the hallway. When he heard the door open and close, he turned to Vin.
"How can I get him to talk?"
"What?" Vin looked at Josiah for an answer.
"The stake out . . . I'm going to be in a room with him for twelve hours. It's the perfect opportunity to get him to talk. He won't be able to leave, and surely, he can't keep changing the subject for that long. So how do I get him to talk?"
"Talk about what?" Vin asked him.
"Sorry, you don't know. This is just between us okay." when the two men acknowledge him, Chris repeated what the Judge had told him. He also mentioned the comment that Martin had made the day before.
"So he's got a past." Josiah was nodding as though it explained everything.
"A work past or a personal past as in his childhood?" Vin leaned back and crossed his arms.
"The Judge said personal but didn't say if it was recent or his childhood."
"Now I'm getting curious." Vin knew something was wrong, that there had been something that was stopping the Southerner from being himself. He suddenly wondered what Ezra would be like if he didn't have the personal problems that were stopping him from living.
"Well? Any ideas of how I can get him to talk."
There was complete silence for at least five minutes.
"Why don't you just ask him." Josiah suggested.
"Because that won't work." Chris growled at him.
"You're not going to be able to get him to talk any other way." Vin smiled.
"Why not?"
"Because we tried everything we could think of with you and nothing worked. Ezra's just as stubborn as you are if not more."
"So you're not going to offer me any advice then."
"Ask him Chris, that's all you have to do." Josiah repeated.
"Did you ask me?"
"Yes."
"Did it work?"
"No."
"Then why should I just ask him?"
"Because anything else would just make him angry and you'll never get anything out of him."
"I'm not going to just ask him! And if you're not going to help then I'll think of something myself."
***
Ezra groaned when the alarm went off. It wasn't natural to be woken up by the sound of bad music while it was still dark. A banging on the door caused his head to jerk upwards, his eyes blinked and continued to do so for at least ten seconds.
"You awake in there Ezra?" Chris' voice yelled through the door.
"Go to hell Mr Larabee." Ezra groaned and pulled the blanket up over his head.
"Not today Ezra." Chris was actually chuckling. "You've got ten minutes then I'm coming to get you."
"Wonderful."
It had been different the day before, no one had woken him, and he’d been left alone to sleep for as long as he wanted. When he did finally wake up, he found himself alone. A note had been left next to the pot of coffee. ‘Gone into work, you stay here, have the day off and rest up for tomorrow. You're going to need it. Chris' That short comment had ruined the day for him.
He'd spent the entire day doing absolutely nothing. He didn't worry, he didn't care, and he had accepted the inevitable. All he could do was wait and let everything play itself out.
"Ezra!"
"What?" his head lifted and the pillow fell back.
"Get up!"
"I'm up." Ezra allowed his head to fall back down onto the mattress.
"Get up!" Chris' voice growled as the blanket was torn from the bed.
The chill hit him immediately. He grabbed for the blanket but it was out of reach.
"Come on Ezra, we have to leave in thirty minutes." Chris lifted the pillow and glared at the confused expression the undercover agent was wearing.
"What time is it?"
"Four thirty."
"WHAT!"
"Fou . . ."
"I heard you the first time." Ezra growled. "Why in the hell are you waking me up at this time of night?"
"It's not night time Ezra, it's morning and our shift starts at six."
Ezra sat up and ran a hand through his unruly hair. "That's an hour and a half away, why get up now?"
"This is why."
"This is why what?"
"You taking so long to get up, you asking so many questions, you know, the usual things." Chris slapped Ezra on the back and walked out of the room. "Breakfast in five minutes."
Ezra groaned and fell back onto the bed.
***
5:54am
The thirty-minute drive had been full of one-sided conversations. Chris had done all the talking and Ezra had slept the entire trip. They were now standing face to face with the men they were replacing. Both accepted Chris' hand when he reached out to them.
"Morning boys." Chris shook both hands.
Ezra moved to do the same but they both sneered at him and refused to shake his hand.
Chris growled at them and was satisfied when their eyes dropped to look at something on the floor.
"Anything we need to know before you two leave?" Chris pushed past the man on his right.
"The folder is on the chair." the one that Chris had, more or less pushed out of the way, turned to watch the man in black.
"That's not what I asked you Stanton!"
"There's nothing you need to know," he shrugged, "the subject hasn't showed up yet."
"Then piss off!"
"Sir."
The two men left. Chris turned back around and found Ezra standing with his arms folded across his chest and his head turned over his right shoulder. He'd obviously watched the two men leave. Did one of them say something to him?
"I'd fire them all if I could." Chris apologised to Ezra for what everyone was doing to the Southerner.
"Does that include Buck and Nathan?" Ezra continued to watch the door.
"They'll come around Ezra."
"It would be easier if you fired me," Ezra finally turned around, "it would be less paperwork and of course, you would save the company from all those payouts."
"You know Ezra, sometimes you can be a real idiot!"
"Not according to my SAT's."
"You can't see what's right in front of you can you?"
"I don't want to."
"Then, you're an idiot." Chris moved closer to the younger man. "It's about time you open your eyes Ezra, this opportunity might not happen again."
Ezra blinked, but that was all he was willing to do.
"I'll take the first watch, why don't you get some rest, you look tired." Chris motioned to the bed on the other side of the room.
Ezra didn't argue. Even though he had slept quite a lot in the last couple of days, he was still feeling tired. He sat down on the bed and tested it. The pillow was soft, but it reeked of a foul odour that could only come from men that didn't give enough attention to their case of bad body odour.
"I think I'll take the chair." Ezra quickly got up and moved to the chair that was opposite the one Chris was now sitting in.
"Something wrong with the bed?" Chris raised an eyebrow.
"It smells."
"I'm not surprised."
He watched as Ezra sat heavily in the chair and lean his head back.
"You been sleeping much lately?"
"I've been sleeping fine." Ezra opened one eye and looked back at Chris. "Why?"
Chris shrugged. "I don't know . . . you just look . . . a bit off."
"Thank you." Ezra closed his eye and waited for Chris to say something else but he didn't.
Chris looked down at his watch, he had eleven hours and fifty minutes left to find out what was bothering the Southerner. That was all the time he needed. He just had to wait until Ezra felt more comfortable with him and opened up a bit more. He would let him rest and then start involving him in some conversation. The question was, what was he going to talk to him about. The only things he knew about Ezra was that he had a mother, no other family, started in the police force and was recruited into the FBI, twice injured in the line of duty, one of which almost caused his death, then Ezra was transferred to his team after the rumours of being on the take had started. He could be blunt and ask him about his professional life, even if it was the only thing left to talk about. After that, he could then start with his personal life and what it was that was stopping him from doing his job.
A bit off. What was that supposed to mean. A bit off. He felt fine, well apart from being tired and thirsty. There was nothing wrong with him. It could be the bruising that he had. They were sore but nothing else.
"My bruises still hurt a bit. Maybe that's why I look a bit off." Ezra explained.
"Could be." Chris nodded. He hesitated for only a second. "You been injured in the line of duty before?"
"The bruises weren't inflicted while I was working."
"Have you ever been injured in the line of duty?"
"Why are you asking?" Ezra knew there was something behind the questions, he just didn't know what and he didn't want to know.
"Just conversation." Chris took his position behind the camera with the high lens. He could see the building across the street and the front door. What were they supposed to do if the guy went in through the back entrance.
"A couple of times, nothing serious."
Nothing serious my ass. Chris looked at Ezra, the man was still leaning back with his eyes closed.
"So how come you don't like hospitals?"
"People die in hospitals." was the simple reply.
"They also get better."
It looked as though Ezra was going to say something but for some reason changed his mind. Chris decided not to push it.
"What about you?"
Chris hid his shock, he didn't expect Ezra to lead part of this conversation.
"Yeah, took one in the leg once and one nearly tore my brain in two. Pretty lucky to survive that one." Chris nodded as the memory flickered through his mind. "Helped to have Buck and the others around, they helped me through it. Life isn't good unless you have friends that care about you."
"Really Mr Larabee."
"You can take my word on that one Ezra."
"I'm going to have to."
Ezra, you let that one slip.
"Would you like some coffee Mr Larabee?" Ezra changed the subject before Chris could ask him what he meant. His dry throat and thirst was also urging him to drink some liquids.
"May as well, we're going to be here for a while."
"Another eleven hours and forty two minutes." Ezra muttered to himself.
7:36am
"You know Ezra, this is going to get pretty boring if we sit here in silence for the entire time we're here." Chris told the man who was staring out the window.
"I don't see that we really have anything to talk about." Ezra shrugged. "It's not like we’re friends."
Ouch! "You may think you're not my friend Ezra, but I'm yours, whether you want me to be or not."
Ezra's head slumped towards his chest. "Don't push it Mr Larabee, I'm not exactly in the mood for another argument about your so-called friendship."
"I'm not arguing with you Ezra, you're the one that's missing out."
Ezra drank the rest of the coffee in his cup and poured himself some more. His thirst was yet to be satisfied. Ezra started to think. He was going to be fired after this job anyway. He wasn't going to see Larabee or the others after this. Even at the hearing, he won't have to look at him or talk to him. What was wrong with being a little more open now. He could admit to things that Larabee won't be able to throw back in his face. Chris wouldn't tell the other members of the team, he wasn't like that. But the main thing was, if he spoke, then Larabee would have to also.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Don't start that again! Damnit! I'm trying here and all you can do is act dumb! I told you that I don't want an argument."
"Okay, I'm sorry." Chris leaned forward in the chair and rested his elbows on his knees. "Now, not to get too emotional here, you're a nice guy Ezra and I mean a good guy. You're funny, sarcastic, you could be loyal if you allow yourself to be, and you’re easy to talk to . . . “he let that sink in before he started on the other reasons.”You're lonely because you don't have any friends," he saw Ezra flinch as those words left his mouth, "you think no one cares about you. You don't seem to be able to trust anyone. You keep people at a distance and use words that are meant to hurt, to stop people from wanting to get close to you. You have no one to talk to about what's bothering you, there are other things too Ezra but I won't go on. Ezra, you need a friend and I want to be that friend."
"Why?"
"Because I like you. Some people click, others you dislike on the spot. I think we click."
"I don't need a friend, I've gotten by without one and I'm not going to change what works for me."
"But it doesn't work for you Ezra."
"What makes you an authority on the subject. You don't know what works for me. You don't even know me."
"That's because you won't let me get to know you. And I do know about not having friends, and pushing people away."
Ezra looked at Chris and saw the honesty in his green eyes. "How?"
"My wife and son were murdered . . . "
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"That's okay Ezra, it's something I don't like to talk about, and before you say it, I don't talk about it because it still hurts too much." Chris took a deep breath and sat back in the chair. He was about to take a big step here and he hoped some of it got through to the stubborn idiot that sat opposite him. "I wasn't there when it happened. Someone set the house on fire, they didn't know I'd gone away with Buck for the weekend. I came home to find the house burnt down and my family dead. You couldn't imagine the amount of guilt I was feeling. I quit the force and started drinking. I pushed everyone away, including Buck, I even tried to shoot him once when I was so out of it that I didn't know what I was doing. But he didn't give up on me, he wouldn't give up. He was and is a good friend Ezra, I don't think I would have survived without him. I ended up in the hospital, I nearly died from alcohol abuse. Buck stayed with me through it all and pulled me out the other end. I owe that man my life."
"When did it happen?" Ezra asked quietly.
"Just over five years now. I go and see them every weekend."
"I can't imagine it, losing a wife is one thing, but losing your son. You must have died inside when it happened."
"I wish I had, I probably wouldn't have felt anything, and it would have been a lot easier than drinking."
Ezra nodded. "How old was he?"
"Eight."
Ezra could hear the sorrow in Chris' voice. "We don't have to talk about this."
"It's okay."
"No, I can see that it still hurts too much."
"There are times when I can smile and laugh at some of the memories. Buck and I sit down sometimes and talk about old times, he can change it around so I laugh instead of cry. That's the sort of friend you need Ezra."
"There aren't many like Mr Wilmington."
"Probably not, but how are you going to know if you don't look for one."
"I'm going to make some more coffee." Ezra stood up and walked away from Chris. The man was right, he needed a friend but past experience stopped him from wanting one.
9:03am
"Ezra . . . " Chris stared at the younger man.
"What?"
"You don't look well."
"I feel fine Mr Larabee." Ezra muttered through the hands that held his chin.
"You're pale. You should have something to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten since last night." Chris reminded him.
"I'm not hungry, maybe later." Ezra took another sip of the coffee. He thought the caffeine would help him to wake up but the opposite seemed to be happening. He not only felt tired but his body felt like it had just gone twelve rounds with Buck Wilmington. Now there was a man that wanted to hit him until he bled.
"Ezra . . . "
"I said I'm not hungry."
"How old were you when your father died?"
"What makes you think he died." Ezra raised his eyes to look at Chris. The man was concentrating on watching the property across the street. At least that would make it easier for him to talk. Chris had given him a piece of his soul, he may as well return the favour, and it might get him off his back for a while.
"Your file."
"He left when I was six."
Chris turned his head to stare at him and saw Ezra look away. "Why does your file say that he died?"
"I lied when I filled out my paperwork."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want people to know that he left . . . because of me."
"He didn't leave because of you. I mean, hell, how does a six year old cause his father to leave."
"He didn't like me, was disappointed in the way I was turning out. At the age of five I was already winning money playing cards and conning old people into giving me money. My mother taught me from the moment I could walk and talk. He didn't like it so he left." Ezra shrugged it off as though it meant nothing.
"That wasn't your fault Ezra, you were too young to know any better and your father was an idiot for leaving." Chris saw the anger flicker in Ezra's eyes. "Don't tell me you're going to stand up for the asshole." Ezra's eyes lowered.
"What makes you think that's why he left anyway."
"He told me before he left." Ezra continued to look at the floor.
"Then he was a fucking bastard Ezra, you were better off without him."
"I don't know, maybe it would have been better if he stayed around."
"What makes you think that?"
"Nothing . . . can we talk about something else please."
"Well, at least I now know not to play cards with you." Chris smiled. "There's still the others though."
"I'm not staying remember."
"I've got time to talk you out of that."
10:13am
"Chris."
"Yeah." he looked away from the camera.
"If I asked you a question, a personal one. Would you answer it or tell me to shut up?"
Chris actually laughed. "I wouldn't know what my reaction would be until I heard the question."
Ezra stood up and began to stretch his back. A pain in his lower back had begun suddenly and was beginning to radiate towards his legs. Damn chairs. He started to pace the small room in an attempt to ease the cramping in his muscles.
"I'll tell you what Ezra. I'll answer your question, if you answer one for me."
Ezra stopped where he stood. He wasn't sure about that one. Chris could ask him anything. What if it was something he didn't want to talk about. He could simply say no.
"I'm not sure about that . . . "
"I won't ask you anything to personal." Chris lied.
Ezra began to pace again. He felt a small wave of dizziness flow through him. Where the hell did that come from. Was he scared of what Chris might ask him. Was this his mind's way of warning him to stay quiet. His green eyes drifted over Chris' frame as he walked passed him. There was something about that man that made him want to seek out everything he wanted in his life. He no longer believed that Chris was trying to con him to make this twelve-hour stint better. Especially after he told him that, his family had been murdered. He knew Chris didn't like to talk about things; neither of them did but they both had different reasons for doing it. Chris was a personal man, he didn't put his problems out there for people to talk about. Ezra was afraid that people would use his words against him, that they would come to believe that he was weak and a coward. A man that deserved everything he'd received in his life.
In less than eight hours, he would never see Chris again. He would make sure of that.
"Why won't you tell the Judge what really happened?"
"What?"
"You won't tell him the truth, a truth that would stop you from going to jail."
"The facts will speak for themselves Ezra!" Chris growled at him.
"The Judge says they won't, and he should know. He believes that it's going to go to court and that you'll be charged and found guilty of murder."
"Where the hell did this come from? Did Buck put you up to this?"
"Mr Wilmington won't even give me the time of day."
"Then how do you know so much about it?"
"When the Judge found out about this he asked me to try and talk you into speaking up for yourself."
"I won't tell him because it involves someone else."
"You're willing to go to jail for someone else."
"I won't go to jail."
"Chris . . . " Ezra sat down and ran his hand through his hair, "how long has Travis been a Judge?"
"About thirty five years I think."
"Was he good at his job, fair to both parties?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't you believe what he has to say? Why won't you trust his judgment?"
"I won't go to jail."
"Then you're a damn idiot!" Ezra put his hand against his back as the pain began to worsen. It was beginning to spread to his stomach.
Chris sat staring at Ezra for at least the fifth time since they sat down.
"You know, you really don't look well. Are you sweating?"
"Who is it? Someone you work with? A police officer? A snitch?" Ezra saw the truth in the pale green eyes. "It was your snitch. He saw something that could get you off the hook but if he comes forward, his life becomes endangered."
"Something like that!"
"You have heard of protective custody . . . haven't you!" the stupidity and loyalty of the man was causing his anger to rise. "Why risk your life for someone else?"
"You do that for friends Ezra. If you allowed yourself to have some, you would know what I'm talking about."
"Then you're a fucking idiot! Friends don't do that. They turn on you. They use you for what they can get then throw
you away. They make you feel good then tear your guts out and leave you bleeding to death on the ground. There is no such thing as a friend. People always want something and they get it by pretending to be a friend."
"That's bullshit Ezra and you know it!"
"No I don't know it!"
"Why don't you know it." Chris stood up and walked to Ezra's chair. He leaned over the smaller man then hesitated.
He could see the sweat glistening on Ezra's face, his skin was pale and clammy. "What is it that you had taken out of your file that you don't want people to know."
"Son-of-a-bitch!" Ezra pushed Chris out of the way and jumped to his feet.
The pain in his stomach became severe enough for him to double over and fall to his knees. One hand fell forward to hold his weight while the other arm wrapped itself around his stomach.
"Ezra?" Chris knelt down beside him and put a hand on the shaking shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know." Ezra groaned and fell onto his right side. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Hold on a sec." Chris began to frantically search for some sort of container.
"Can't."
Ezra tried to push himself up onto his knees. He only managed it because Chris took his shoulders and pulled him up. The older man continued to hold onto him while he vomited.
"Hang on Ezra, it'll be over in a minute."
It was actually five minutes.
"Let's get you back into the chair."
Chris hauled Ezra to his feet and began to turn him to sit in the chair when the Southerner collapsed against him.
"Ezra!"
10:46am
The pain caused Ezra's eyes to flicker open. He could feel the hands probing his body and he began to fight them. The pain worsened and he pulled his arms back to protect his stomach. He tried to roll onto his side but something stopped him.
"It's okay Ezra, they're trying to help you."
That was Chris' voice. His eyes searched for the man and he found him sitting on the floor next to him.
"Who . . . ?"
"The medics."
A face appeared above him. It was the type of face that wasn't comforting. Ezra became worried that this man wasn't here to help him.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
Ezra looked at Chris.
"Tell him Ezra."
Ezra hurt too much to argue, he just wanted them to give him something so the pain would go away. Maybe then, Chris would let him go back to the hotel to rest.
"My stomach and back hurt, my legs too."
The medic lifted the shirt that belonged to Chris. When the man had demanded that Ezra stay with him, he had failed to get Ezra some clothes from his hotel room.
"Does this hurt?" the medic pressed against Ezra's abdomen.
"Yes, that hurts!" he pushed the man's hand away.
"What's the pain like?"
"It's bad, my stomach and back, it's like a throbbing pain that won't ease up."
"Is it his appendix?" Chris asked.
"No."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No."
Chris moved closer to Ezra and gripped his hand. He felt Ezra panic and pull his hand away. Chris held on even though Ezra continued to try to free his hand.
"Bill, call in, let them know what we've got."
Both men listened as the medic made contact with the trauma room and listed Ezra's symptoms.
" . . . rapid pulse, clammy skin, severe sweating, vomiting, fainting, severe pain in back and abdomen and legs. Abdomen is rigid and with tenderness to touch."
"If it helps, he was also drinking a lot this morning and he's been tired." Chris offered.
"Also thirst and tiredness." the medic added.
There was a few seconds of silence, then a voice told them to get the patient to trauma ASAP.
"I don't need to go to the hospital." Ezra spoke up when he heard the urgency in the female voice.
"Sir, you need to go to hospital."
"No I don't!"
"You don't have a choice Mr Standish."
"I do."
"Ezra!"
"I can say no . . . " Ezra grimaced and gritted his teeth against the constant throbbing pain.
"Ezra please."
"No."
"Put him on the gurney and strap him in."
"Chris! NO!"
"Ezra, there's something seriously wrong. You're going, you no longer have a choice in the matter."
"I thought you wanted to be a friend."
"Friends do this too Ezra."
"Bastard!" Ezra hissed out through clenched teeth. "Get the hell away from me!" he pulled his hand from Chris’ grip. "I don’t want him near me." Ezra told the medics.
"I’m coming anyway Ezra."
"Sir, he said he . . . "
"Do you want to deal with him on your own, or do you want my help."
The medic nodded and grimaced when Ezra cursed at him.
Chris pulled out his cell phone and dialled in Vin's number while he watched the medics lift Ezra and put him onto the gurney. They strapped him place and began to wheel him out of the room.
"Vin . . . it's Chris . . . just listen will you! Something's wrong with Ezra, I had to call an Ambulance, we're going to the hospital now . . . hang on. Which hospital?" Chris asked the medic as he followed the gurney.
"Denver Memorial."
"You hear that Vin . . . yeah, let Martin know that he's going to have to get someone in here. I'm not staying . . . no, Ezra's not going on his own, he doesn't like hospitals. Thanks . . . yeah . . . I'll see you there."
***
Chris Larabee paced the surgical waiting room in an agitated manner. Hands ran through his hair, pulled at his shirt and moved in and out of his pockets. Ezra’s condition had worsened on the way to the hospital, the pain had become intense, and his stomach had become swollen, but for some reason he had continued to fight the medic and the straps that held him to the gurney. Chris’ stomach churned in sympathy for a man who was now on his own. They had forced him to leave the trauma room. Ezra had only been in there for a few minutes, they had then rushed him through for an abdominal CT. Chris had no idea what was going on now.
“Chris,"
He turned around to find Vin walking towards him.
"What’s happening? Is Ezra okay?"
"He’s having a CT at the moment, apart from that I don’t know anything."
"Do they know what’s wrong with him."
"No." Chris began pacing again, he wasn’t handling the idea of waiting very well. "Shit Vin, he was in so much pain and he was terrified of coming here."
"He’ll be okay Chris." Vin insisted.
"He doesn’t want me here. Used some colourful language to describe what kind of person I am."
"That doesn’t seem to be stopping you." the sharp shooter smiled.
"Hell no!"
Vin’s smile dropped from his face and he became silent at the thought of what Ezra was going through.
"What about Martin?"
"Wasn’t happy about it, but he didn’t insist on you staying there. Said he’d send a couple of guys over."
"Good. The others?"
"They’re on their way here."
"Here? Why? They don’t even like Ezra." Chris stopped and stared at Vin.
"They may not like him Chris but they’re not complete bastards."
"If one of them says anything . . . , anything at all, I’ll hit them, even if it’s JD."
"They won’t."
"Mr Larabee?"
Chris turned and saw a young man dressed in clean scrubs. No, not now, he didn’t deserve to die now.
"Yeah." Chris held his breath.
"I’m assisting Dr Jones during Mr Standish’s surgery. The Doctor asked me to come down and spend a couple of minutes with you to let you know what’s happening."
He wasn’t dead. "How is he?"
"Mr Standish has an abdominal aortic aneurysm and it has ruptured. We need to operate immediately."
"How would he get one of those?" Vin frowned.
"It’s something that’s caused by a physical trauma, but it takes years to develop. No symptoms show until it becomes more serious."
"But he’s going to be okay?" Vin asked for Chris.
"I’m sorry, but I can’t say for sure. Less than fifty percent of people who have a rupture survive. We’ll know more after we go in. We’ll either have to repair or replace the section of aorta that’s ruptured." the young intern allowed the information to sink in. "I have to go back, why don’t you guys wait in the surgical waiting room, we’ll come and let you know more after the surgery is completed."
"Thanks." Chris smiled weakly at the man then turned his back on him.
"I take it you haven’t had time to fill out any forms for him?" Vin started to walk to the front desk.
"Vin, I already have." Chris smiled when Vin gave him a confused look. "All I had was the information in his wallet. As to previous medical history, next of kin, I have no idea. They’ve had to go in blind."
"Isn’t his mother his next of kin?" Vin asked.
"Didn’t know she was still alive." Chris shrugged. "Besides, he left that part of his file blank. I asked him for a next of kin and he said he’d get back to me. That was three weeks ago."
"Yeah," Vin agreed. Even though Ezra had a mother, he had no one.
"Do you know how long the others are going to be?"
"They should be here in a few minutes."
"We’ll wait for them then head upstairs." Chris began pacing again.
***
Chris’ impatient manner hadn’t changed even after an hour of waiting. Five men watched him pace from one end of the room to the other. Each had tried to get him to sit down but he wouldn’t listen. They knew he was worried, some understood why, while others couldn’t understand his feelings towards the Southerner. Chris had hardly spoken to them since they arrived, he had refused to tell them what was wrong and when Vin had tried, he warned him with a cold glare. Chris wasn’t sure if they were there for him or Ezra.
"Chris," Buck was going to try again.
"Don’t Buck." was the warning.
"Why not?"
"Because I told Vin that I would hit anyone who said anything against Ezra, and I don’t want you to have the opportunity to talk."
"We’re worried about him too." Buck argued.
Chris glared at Buck as he passed him. "You don’t even like him, you won’t give him the time of day. That’s the way Ezra put it."
"He doesn’t . . . "
"Buck!" Vin shook his head at him.
"All I was going to say was . . . "
"Don’t!" Vin couldn’t understand him, Buck had known Chris a long time, and he should know that his friend would carry out his threat. Chris would do anything to protect his own, including dying for them. And Chris now considered Ezra to be one of his own.
"What happened to him?" JD asked.
"He’s got a stomach ache." was all Chris would say.
"Chris." Vin looked at him and nodded towards the doors. Judge Travis had entered the room.
"Boys." Travis greeted them. He stepped up to Chris. "How is he?"
Chris knew the Judge was concerned. "Not good."
"What happened?"
"The doctor said he had a ruptured abdominal," he looked at Vin.
"Aortic aneurysm." Vin finished for him.
"Damn." Nathan muttered.
"What’s that?" JD leaned closer to Nathan.
"It’s what it says it is JD. An aneurysm that’s burst."
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Probably not. The odds are against him."
"Shut up Nathan." Chris ordered him.
"Only telling JD the truth Chris."
"You really don’t think he has a chance?" Chris eyed Nathan.
"I’m sorry Chris, if he pulls through, it’ll be a miracle but there would be complications. He could have irreversible damage to his kidneys for one thing."
"Shit! So what you’re saying is that he might be better off dead."
"No one’s better off dead Chris."
Chris nodded. "Judge, can I have a word with you."
"Sure."
Chris lead the Judge to the other side of the room and stood with his back facing his fellow team members.
"I don’t appreciate you using Ezra to try and get me to talk!"
"What are you talking about?" Travis looked over Chris’ shoulder. His men were listening to the conversation.
"You asked Ezra to talk me into telling you what happened that day. I don’t want you using him like that."
"Did you agree to give the information I need to help you?"
"No."
"Chris! Damnit, you’re going to end up in jail."
"Don’t ever put Ezra in that position again."
"Chris, I didn’t, Ezra was doing his job." Travis explained to him.
"What do you mean doing his job?" Buck jumped out of his seat and joined the two men.
"Since the rumours, Ezra’s been used by the FBI, he didn’t have a choice, he either did it or he lost his job. I think he’s getting to the point where he doesn’t care anymore."
"How are they using him?" Chris pushed Buck away from them, he wasn’t a part of this conversation.
"They’re making him do the dirty jobs. They put him undercover in a team, and he investigates agents."
"So you did the same thing, you used him?"
"No, if he came through I was going to offer him a permanent position in your team."
"Really!"
"Yes."
"So, everything’s been a lie. The way he acts, the lack of friends, the information taken out of his file. It was all an act
to get me to talk! Is that it."
"No Chris. None of it was a lie, none of it was an act."
"And you would know that because?"
"You didn’t get a chance to talk to him did you?"
"No, I tried but then he collapsed, this thing, I don’t know, one minute he seemed okay, the next . . . "
"Why don’t we sit down and I’ll tell you what was taken out of his file." Travis waited to see what Chris would do.
"I like the guy, thought that I would be able to trust him at some point. Now I find out he’s been lying to me about everything."
"Chris."
"I don’t want to hear it from you!" Chris turned away from him but spun back around. "Shit! I talked to him about Sarah and Adam, about how I felt when they died. About what Buck did for me. All of that just so he could turn it around and make me talk."
"Maybe he was doing what he had to do." Travis suggested.
"I’m going for a walk."
Chris moved away and ran straight into Josiah. The older man gripped his arm tightly to keep him from leaving.
"Chris, sometimes you can be a selfish, idiotic, stubborn pain in the ass. Ten minutes ago, you were worried sick about Ezra. Are you saying that you’re not worried anymore, that you no longer care. Because that’s the impression that I’m getting. The Judge just told you that none of it was an act. Maybe if you stopped and thought about it, you’d realise that Ezra believes you’re innocent, and he hasn’t even heard your side of the story. He could have easily sided with everyone else, but he didn’t. That tells me that he likes and no doubt, respects you like the rest of us do. If Ezra comes through this they’ll take him into a room and leave him there, the only people he’ll see will be the nursing staff. There’s no one except you and the rest of us and at the moment, you’re the only one that will be able to help him get through this."
"How would he know if I’m innocent or not, he doesn’t know what happened."
"I just told you Chris." Josiah shook his head. "He respects you, it’s in the way he talks to you . . . he doesn’t talk to us like that."
"It was probably an act Josiah. He knew I wouldn’t talk if he acted the same way with me."
"No Chris, he respects you, you’re just to blind to see that."
Vin stepped up and stood beside Josiah. "You told me that he was terrified of coming here. Are you going to leave him alone now?"
"Chris," Travis pushed him towards a chair, "there are things that you need to know about Ezra Standish and I think you should all hear this."
Once everyone was seated, Travis turned so he could face Chris. This was the man he needed to convince. He wanted to make sure Ezra stayed with the team, but if Chris stayed in this state of mind, Ezra wouldn’t be able to work with him.
“When Ezra was eleven he was brought into my court room. The bruises were still visible on his face, his right arm was in a cast and he grimaced in pain every time he had to stand up or sit down." he saw the lack of understanding in Chris’ eyes, the others were looking at him in the same way. "His Uncle had beaten the shit out of him." Travis laughed. "The same Uncle was fighting for custody, can you believe it. He claimed Maude Standish wasn’t a fit mother. It was pathetic, a forty two year old, six foot two, two hundred and ten pound man, almost beat a scrawny eleven year old to death and then files for custody. At the time, I didn’t know who had beaten him, the Uncle had claimed it was Maude. She denied it. I had to talk to Ezra to ask him what had happened." Travis shook his head. "You couldn’t even touch the boy, he would cringe away from you and the fear in his eyes saddened my heart. It took me two hours just to get him to say something and another hour to tell me who had beaten him. Even though he was scared, he still used a smart mouth to keep me away, to stop me from comforting him in any way. He never smiled once. I threw the case out of court and had the uncle arrested."
"Is that what he had taken out of his file?" Chris asked him.
"No . . . "
Chris nodded.
"I don’t know what happened before that day and I don’t know what happened after it, but I’ve always remembered the expression on Ezra’s face when I closed the door to my chambers and we were alone. I didn’t hesitate about getting a female in there with us."
"You think he was sexually molested?"
"No, they checked for that when he was in the hospital after the beating. I think he was just scared that I was going to hit him."
"Was that the only time he was beaten?"
"I don’t know." Travis shook his head. "The next time I saw him was when he walked into my office four weeks ago. When I realised who he was, I checked his file to see how he turned out. He’s one of the best at what he does Chris."
"Did he recognise you?" Vin asked him.
"If he did, he didn’t say anything."
"So what’s stopping him from doing his job?" Chris took control of the conversation again.
"Eight months ago Ezra and his partner took part in a raid. Ezra’s partner went off on his own, told Ezra he’d seen someone and was going to check it out. Ezra told him to let it go, but the man took off before he could stop him. Ezra was with two of the men they’d arrested so he couldn’t go after him. When he finally got the chance, he went looking for him. When Ezra found him, he was near death, he’d been beaten, and the man who had done it was standing over him pointing a gun at the agent’s head."
"Who was it?" Chris urged the Judge to go on.
"It was the same Uncle who had beaten him . . . "
"Shit!"
"Ezra hesitated . . . and could you really blame him. His partner was killed. Ezra was suspended pending an investigation. There was nothing found in the investigation to take it any further. A month later the rumours that he was on the take started. Some claimed that he had taken a payoff to allow his partner’s killer to get away."
"He’s still out there?"
"Yes."
Chris fell back against his chair and stared up at the ceiling. He thought he had gone through some bad times in his life. No wonder Ezra was the way he was . . . is.
"How the hell is he supposed to deal with that!"
"Has he seen a shrink?" Vin asked him.
"Yes, and he was lucky the psychiatrist didn’t lay any assault charges against him."
"This time he’s talking to one and he’s going to listen." Chris told him. "Are you going to start the paperwork for a permanent transfer?"
"I put it in yesterday." Travis smiled at him.
"Good," Chris smiled back, "now all we need is for him to pull through."
***
Doctor Jones stepped into the waiting room to find seven tired and rough looking men lying in all sorts of positions. At least three of them lay on the carpeted floor while the other floor looked uncomfortable in the large chairs. He smiled at the sight. Jones coughed into his hand and received an immediate reaction.
"Gentlemen, I take it you’re all waiting for me."
"Don’t mess with us!" Chris threatened him as he pulled himself from his chair. His hand went straight to his back and he began to rub it.
"Mr Standish came through the surgery without any complications."
"So he’s going to be okay?"
"He still isn’t out of the woods yet, he’s very lucky, only a small percentage of patients fully recover." the doctor motioned for them to sit down again but they refused. "We know he doesn’t want to be here . . . "
"That’s putting it mildly." Chris nudged Vin.
"We’re going to keep him sedated, not fully though, he’ll be conscious but a lot calmer. The reason for this is so he doesn’t cause himself any injuries because he’ll fight us all the way if he was able to."
"When can we see him?"
"He’s being taken to ICU now, it’ll take them a few minutes to settle him in. You can see him in about ten minutes."
"Will it be okay if I stay with him?"
"Visiting hours are . . . "
"I meant stay with him. He’s going to be scared and I don’t want him to be alone in there."
"I’m sure we can arrange something for you. He’s not going to wake up for at least another two hours, you might want to go home and get a few things then come back."
"Thanks doctor." Chris reached out and shook his hand.
"You’re welcome and if you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to ask someone."
"Thanks."
"Ten minutes." Jones smiled at the group of men then walked away from. He enjoyed giving good news and he didn’t always have a chance to do that.
***
Chris Larabee rushed through the hospital corridor and politely pushed his way into the elevator. He was late, thirty minutes late. The doctor had told them that Ezra would wake up in two hours, and he was late by half an hour. Maybe it was for the better, Ezra had been angry at him when he allowed the medics to take him to hospital. Vin would probably have been a more of a friendly face when he woke up.
The elevator doors opened and Chris stepped out. His eyes drifted over the men who were watching him. He hadn’t expected them to still be here. Chris smiled at them then started towards Ezra’s room. He looked before he entered. Vin was sitting close to the bed and seemed to be talking to Ezra. Chris sat his bag near the door and laid the paper work he’d brought with him on top of it.
"Vin?" Chris whispered.
Vin turned his head and smiled at the fearful look on Chris’ face. "You coming in or are you going to hide there like the yellow coward you are?"
"Is he awake?"
"Woke up about an hour ago, they sedated him half an hour ago."
"I asked you if he was awake!"
"He’s awake but he’s groggy."
"What sort of mood is he in?" Chris still refused to enter the small room.
"He’s groggy Chris, he isn’t in any sort of mood."
"So at the moment, I’m safe?"
"Idiot." Vin’s smile grew. "Get in here."
Chris hesitated but moved forward. The angry words that Ezra had yelled at him in the ambulance kept going through his mind. He wasn’t worried about himself, he didn’t want Ezra to get angry. When he reached the bed, he smiled down at the younger man.
"Hey Ezra, good to see you’re awake."
Ezra’s only reaction was to blink at him.
"I see you’re in a better mood as well. You weren’t too happy the last time I spoke to you."
Ezra turned his head to watch Chris, he blinked a couple of more times. "Bastard." the word was whispered but Chris and Vin heard it clearly.
"I thought you said he wasn’t in a mood." Chris glared at Vin.
"Well you obviously put him in one." Vin shot back.
Ezra rolled his head back and closed his eyes.
"What were you talking to him about?"
"Talking? We weren’t talking, were we Ezra." Vin slapped Ezra’s upper arm.
A smile tugged at Ezra’s lips, but he didn’t have the strength to turn it into anything more.
"What’s he smiling about?" Chris pointed at Ezra’s face.
"Chris, that’s what you call a grimace of pain."
"No it’s not, he’s trying to smile."
Vin refused to say anything.
"Tell me or I’ll make your life a misery!"
"Okay," Vin shrugged, "I was telling Ezra that I need a partner in crime."
Chris raised an eyebrow, looked at Ezra who still had his eyes closed, then turned back to Vin.
"Well, it’s hard work pissing you off, I need a break every now and then and I thought Ezra would be the perfect one to take over when I’m not there."
"What?"
"He’s going to help me drive you crazy . . . "
"He agreed to that?"
"Not yet, I don’t think he really understood what I was talking about."
"Then why did he smile?"
"He was happy to see you."
Ezra moaned at the thought, happy to see him, like hell.
"You okay Ezra?"
"Go way." Ezra lifted a weak arm and tried to slap Chris’ arm away from his face.
"Sorry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m moving in until you’re ready to go home." Chris gently took the shaking arm and laid it back down on the bed and held it there. "I know you’re scared Ezra, I don’t want you staying in here without a friend by your side."
"Not a friend."
"Shut up Ezra and stop talking. That’s an order." Chris waited for Ezra to respond but it seemed the Southerner had gone back to sleep. "Did the Doctor have anything to say?"
"Said everything looked okay, won’t know for sure though for at least another twelve hours. He also said that Ezra would sleep a lot for another day or so because of the sedative."
"Good."
"Not so good when he wakes up though?" Vin asked him.
"I think he’s going to panic." Chris admitted.
"Well, we’ve got a couple of days to talk to him, convince him that it’s going to be okay."
"I think that’s going to be easier said than done."
"You’re going to have to do it Chris, the doc wants him in here for at least a week, longer if he doesn’t recover the way he’s supposed to."
"You hear that Ezra, the worse you make it for yourself, the longer you stay."
A low growl came from Ezra’s throat.
"I’ll take that as a yes." Chris smiled.
***
Ezra still didn’t understand what had been done to him. He had no idea why he was even here, no one had explained anything to him yet. A doctor kept coming in to examine him and he always spoke to Chris but his own mind was to messed up to understand any of the conversation.
He struggled to move his limbs but they felt too heavy, they were like lead. There was no way he was going to be able to stand up and walk out of the hospital. He was stuck here until his mind cleared and his body started to work again.
A hand rested on his shoulder and he blinked up at the face of Chris Larabee. Ezra tried to grimace at the sight but even his facial muscles didn’t seem to work. The hand shook his shoulder to get his attention. Chris’ mouth moved, words came out but they had no meaning.
He hated being like this. He had never had to rely on other people to help him. He’d been independent since he was seven. Now for the third time in his life he was in a hospital where the nurses did everything for him. He had no control what so ever over what was happening to him and he hated every minute of it. The sooner he could get out of here the better.
"What’s wrong with me?" he asked Chris.
"They needed to operate Ezra, you’re going to be weak for a while but you’ll get better." Chris explained to him.
"What’s wrong with me?" Ezra repeated because every word that Chris had spoken went in one ear and straight out the other. "Why can’t I move?"
"The doctor is keeping you sedated Ezra. He’s afraid you’re going to panic and that this was the best way to stop you from hurting yourself."
"I don’t . . . other people hurt me." Ezra felt angry but something stopped that anger growing to the point where he could let it out. His head ached because he couldn’t release the anger, it was as though every time he tried, a wall made of rubber appeared and it bounced the emotion around in his head. That was what caused the headache, if he could get rid of the anger, his headache would go away.
"No one is going to hurt you here Ezra, you need to understand that. I won’t let that happen." Chris tried to assure him.
"No." Ezra tried to move away from Chris but the man gripped his shoulder tighter.
"Ezra, they’re going to stop giving you the sedative tomorrow. When that happens you’re going to be more awake, you’ll be able to move around more. But you have to do one thing for me. Ezra, are you listening to me?"
"No."
"You’re going to have to stay calm. If you don’t they might sedate you again. Do you understand what I’m saying?"
Ezra nodded, he thought he understood some of what Chris said. The word sedated kept coming back to him. How long were they going to keep him like this. He wasn’t sure but as soon as they stopped, he would leave and no one was going to stop him.
***
Chris rubbed his red eyes until they watered. He was tired and he needed to sleep but it eluded him. He was afraid that if Ezra woke while he was asleep, the Southerner would get out of bed and walk away from his new life. But what made him so sure that Ezra wouldn’t walk away anyway. Once he was out of the hospital and fully recovered, he was going to be able to do what he wanted. He had to talk some sense into the guy, to try to convince him that what he needed was a new life that had six men that wanted to be his friends. Friends that wanted to take care of him, to show him what life could be all about.
"Ezra . . . " Chris started but hesitated.
"What?" Ezra wanted to turn his head and look at Larabee, but he just couldn’t be bothered.
"Travis filled out the required paperwork to have you transferred to us on a permanent basis. You’re now Team Seven’s new undercover agent."
Maybe if he had something else to stay for.
"Whatever." Ezra hadn’t understood much of that sentence.
"You’re staying in Denver Ezra, this is going to be your new home."
Did he say new home. He didn’t have a home. He didn’t stay anywhere long enough to need a home. No, when this was finished, he would have to move on again. Pity, he actually liked these men.
"When you’re better we’ll help you find a place. Don’t know if you’d want a house or a flat. You can’t stay in that hotel and when I say you can’t, well, I had Vin go over and get your things and fix up your bill."
"Let me sleep." Ezra muttered.
"You tired Ezra?" Chris looked down at his watch. It was seven forty five in the evening. Buck was due at eight thirty, he was going to stay with Ezra for a few hours while he caught up on some sleep. His bed would be the chair he was sitting in.
They were going to move Ezra to a private room in the morning. The doctor told him that they would make sure there was a fold up bed in the room for him.
"Ezra, are you tired?" he repeated when he didn’t get a response.
"What?"
"Buck’s going to be here soon. He’s going to sit with you for a while so I can get some sleep."
"I’m sorry but I don’t get half of what you’re saying." Ezra tried to lift his arm but what felt like a ton fell back to the bed.
"That’ll be the sedatives." Chris smiled. "Your head will be clear by this time tomorrow."
"My head?"
"Sedatives Ezra."
"Oh."
"Go to sleep Ezra."
"I’m tired." Ezra repeated again.
"I know, go to sleep."
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
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