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azombiewritesTitle: Retribution
Rating: PG
Warnings: Strong Language.
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: ATF
Main Characters: Ezra, Chris and the rest of the guys.
Summary: Chris is seriously injured when he saves Ezra. This results in an extremely pissed off Ezra Standish, an angry and hurting Chris Larabee and a very irritating Buck Wilmington.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Notes: This story was written for Robin from the Chris Larabee Fan Fiction site. She asked for to write a story for a challenge, which is CHALLENGE #1: LARABEE LASHINGS. Robin wanted me to hurt Chris in much the same way that I do Ezra and because she is also a fan of Ezra, I was encouraged to include and hurt Ezra Standish as well. I thank her for the challenge and I enjoyed writing it. It has also caused me to include Chris more in future stories.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 31,360
Ezra threw the blankets aside and sat up. His heart was pounding in his chest, the sweat running down his face, chest and back. He used the sheet to wipe himself dry. A voice called his name but it was distant, he couldn’t recognise who was calling him. Sunlight burned into his eyes, causing him to open them. Everything was blurred, objects drifted in and out of each other. There wasn’t any difference to his sight after he rubbed his tired eyes with his hands. How could sleeping so much make you feel so bad, he couldn’t understand it.
“Ezra? You okay?”
It was another few seconds before he recognised the voice. “I’m not talking to you.”
“Just need to know if you’re okay, you need the nurse?”
“No.” Ezra sighed and put his head in his hands.
“You’re sure.” Ezra lifted his head and glared at Chris. “Okay, you’re sure, I’ll leave you alone now. I’m here though if you want to talk.”
“I said I’m not talking to you.” Ezra returned his head to his hands.
Chris silently watched him. He could see the younger man’s shoulders shaking, it must have been a bad one. He wanted to talk to him, tell him that he was sorry for what he’d done, that everything would be okay but he knew Ezra wouldn’t listen to him. His own body jerked when Ezra’s head flew up and his green eyes stared at him.
“Where is everyone?”
“Buck’s the only one here, everyone else went home.” Chris frowned at him.
“Where’s Buck?”
“You want to talk to Buck,” it finally dawned on him, “now hang on a minute Ezra . . . “
Ezra pulled the drip from his hand and stood up. His legs were a bit wobbly but they were going to carry him out of here, he would make sure of that. He began to search the cabinet drawers for his clothes.
“Ezra, you’re not going anywhere, you can’t go. You’re sick . . . that guy’s still out there.” he knew the stubborn bastard wasn’t listening. “Damn it Ezra!” Chris reached for the call button and began to buzz for a nurse.
Ezra found his clothes in the third drawer. He threw them on the bed and removed the hospital clothing. He dressed as quickly as his bruised ribs would allow him to. He ignored Chris’ words, the man didn’t know what he was talking about. The only thing he couldn’t find were his shoes and wallet. Damn. It didn’t matter, he had ways of getting the money he needed. He walked to the door and carefully opened it.
“Ezra!”
Buck wasn’t anywhere in sight. How lucky could he be. Ezra frowned, he couldn’t be lucky, this was only one thing that had gone his way in a while.
“Ezra!”
He allowed the door to close behind him. His eyes searched the floor he was on. The elevator was to his right and the stairwell to his left. He didn’t want to use the elevator in case he ran into Buck. The stairwell was his only choice. A chill was sent up from the tiled floor through his feet and into his stomach. His body shivered in response. Was he cold or scared? Probably both. Ezra made his feet obey the instructions that had been sent to them a few seconds earlier. He needed to reach his only means of escape before Buck showed up. The elevator dinged to a stop causing Ezra to run the last couple of metres to the door. He pulled it open and stepped inside to what he thought was a safe area.
________________________________________
Buck stepped off the elevator to see a nurse running into Chris and Ezra’s room. The vision scared the crap out of him. He’d been stupid enough to allow Chris to talk him into going and getting some breakfast. It would only take you five or ten minutes, nothing could happen during that time, Chris had told him. He shouldn’t have listened. What if the guy who had tried to kill Ezra found them. What if one or both of them were dead. He dropped his breakfast and ran to the room.
“You have to find him now!” Chris was yelling at the nurse.
“Chris!” Buck practically threw the nurse out of the way.
“Ezra, he just left. Go and find him Buck.”
“When did he . . . “
“Now, just a few of minutes ago.”
“I just came off the elevator, so he’s still on the floor.” Buck ran out of the room and searched the floor like Ezra had done. His eyes rested on the stairwell door.
________________________________________
Ezra had only taken one-step when he heard a nose behind him. Buck had found him. He turned around ready to give him an explanation and if he didn’t accept it, he would hit him then keep going. It wasn’t Buck who had come in to join him.
“You’re not looking too well Standish.”
The face brought instant recognition. “Hello Bill.”
Bill Alkoyed threw his fist and struck Ezra across the jaw. “Glad you finally recognised you’re murderer.”
Ezra fell, he put his hands out to stop himself but they only found air. His side struck the stairs and he began to roll. His first thought was to wrap his arms around his head, the last thing he wanted was to spend more time in this damn hospital. He cried out in pain when his elbow hit the edge of a stair. His fall ended in a matter of seconds when his body slammed against a wall at the bottom of the stairs. Ezra tried to get up but all he could do was fall back down again. He looked upwards to see his attacker coming towards him.
“You’re not as good as you use to be Standish, there was a time when you could beat me.”
“I haven’t been myself lately and you do seem to be attacking me when I’m at my weakest, which I may add is the only time that you could beat me.”
Alkoyed jumped the last couple of steps and slammed his boot into Ezra’s side. He was about to give another violent blow when the door above them opened. “I’ll finish this another time Standish.” Alkoyed quickly left the scene leaving Ezra lying on the floor with his arms holding his stomach and side.
“Ezra!”
“Buck! He’s here.”
“Damn it Ezra.” Buck ran down the stairs and knelt beside Ezra.
“He’s here, down there.” Ezra nodded to the stairs. “Blue denim jacket and jeans, black t-shirt, short brown hair, brown eyes and he has a scar on his left cheek.”
“Got him.” Buck stood up. “You okay till I come back.”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t want to leave him lying there but this was his chance to get the guy that had hurt Ezra and Chris. The man’s image was in his mind and he quickened his step knowing that he wouldn’t be far ahead of him. He stopped and looked over the railing. A flash of blue denim told him that he was right. He pulled his gun, hoping that he would get a chance to use it.
Buck took two steps at a time. His anger was being controlled by deep steady breaths. He had no intention of hurting the guy, he knew Ezra would want to inflict serious bodily harm on the asshole. He saw the back of the man as he swung around to take the next flight of steps. Buck fired his gun in the man’s direction.
“ATF! STOP WHERE YOU ARE!” Buck identified himself then fired a second time.
He was surprised when the man stopped and raised his hands above his head. The man turned around and smiled at him.
“Something wrong Agent . . . ?” Alkoyed innocently asked the agent.
“You’re under arrest for the attempted murder of an ATF agent.” Buck smiled back at him but the man didn’t seemed faze by the accusation.
“I did not such thing Sir. What reason would I have to try and killed an ATF agent.”
The smug expression the man Alkoyed was wearing, was causing Buck to lose control of his anger. He wanted to hit the guy; badly. Instead, he motioned to him with his gun for the man to begin the climb back to the floor Ezra was on.
“Let’s go smartass.”
When they reached the area he had found Ezra, the undercover agent was nowhere to be seen.
________________________________________
Ezra pushed himself up off the floor, he seemed to be spending a lot of time on the floor lately; he wasn’t very impressed about it. He wanted to go after Buck, to give him a hand but he truly didn’t have the strength to do it. Ezra decided that the best thing to do, would be to just go back to bed. The sight of the stairs above him almost made him sit down again but he wanted to sit on the floor a lot less than climbing the small flight of stairs.
One step at a time, that’s all he had to do, he counted them before he started. Six, that was all there was, six. That couldn’t be too hard. The right leg first, then the left. When he reached the third, a gunshot echoed through the stairwell. It was Buck, he was sure it was Buck that had fired. It could only be Buck. He heard Buck’s voice then another shot. It was Buck. He let out the breath he was holding.
Three steps left, two steps, and one. He’d done it, no more steps. Now he just had to open the heavy door that kept him from his bed and sleep. God he needed to sleep. He reached out with his right hand and gritted his teeth against the pain that shot through his elbow. His left hand took its place and he opened the door. The sight of the room and what seemed to him to be the most comfortable bed in the world caused his step to quicken. Ezra pushed the door open, ignored Chris who had somehow sat up on his own and walked to the bed.
“Ezra?” Chris frowned at him. He could see that the Southerner’s lip was bleeding again, he was also holding his side and favouring his right arm. Hell, not again. “Ezra!”
He didn’t answer, he didn’t want to talk to Chris Larabee, in fact, he still wasn’t talking to Chris Larabee, and he was going to have to remember that. Ezra looked longingly at the bed then got into without undressing. The pillow was welcomed by the warm flesh of his face. His body sighed as he shifted it into a more comfortable position. The blanket was pulled over his head. As far as Ezra was concerned, nothing else and no one else existed in this world. It was only him, his bed, pillow and blanket.
“Ezra! Talk to me. Tell me what happened out there. Where’s Buck?”
Chris was trying to do what Buck told him, he didn’t want to get angry but he could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface. It was going to blow if he didn’t force himself to calm down. His green eyes stared at the unmoving form under the blankets. That was it, if the man wasn’t going to answer him, or even look at him, then he was going to go to Ezra. That meant he had to get up and walk. Could he do it? Well, he could at least try. It helped knowing that he was doing it for Ezra.
“Ezra,” he may as well try one last time, “if you don’t answer me, I’m coming over there.”
It was a warning that Ezra seemed to be ignoring. Damn Southern bastard’s going to make me go over there. What if he was sleeping? He might not be answering because he was sleeping. But he just woke up. Damn it! Do it anyway. You were the one that wanted to get out of this bed. Do it now!
Okay, this wasn’t going to be so hard, he was already in a sitting position, his side ached with a passion, but he could cope with that once he was standing. It was only a matter of swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, standing up and walking. What was so hard about that. Chris threw the blankets off. He moved his right leg, no pain, which was good, considering there was nothing wrong with it except for maybe a few bruises. Now the hard part. He wrapped his hands around his injured leg, both hands gripping the knee and he lifted.
“Fucking hell!”
Chris swung it over instead of putting it straight back down. Gawd that hurt, that hurt more than life itself did at times. There was no use stopping now, he couldn’t stop now even if he wanted to. How was he going to get his leg back up on the bed. He pushed his butt off the bed and landed his weight on his right leg. He thought about hopping over, that way he wouldn’t even have to put his left leg on the ground. It needed to be tested, he had to test it. First the toes then the heel, then a bit more weight. The toes touched the cool floor. That wasn’t too bad, hardly any pain at all there. The heel was slowly lowered, very slowly lowered. It also touched the floor. That was okay also. A little bit of weight, equalled a little bit of pain in his hip. Did that mean if he put a lot of weight on his leg, that there would be a lot of pain in his hip. Probably. He tested it to find out. Yep, there was more pain. Using the bed as support he lifted the hospital gown he wore - why did they put a gown on him, Buck had brought Ezra pyjamas and left him practically bearing his butt for everyone to see - the entire hip area and upper thigh was covered by deep purple bruise. Shit, no wonder it hurt so much. He wasn’t going to be able to put his full one hundred and sixty three pounds on that leg. He would have walk on his toes.
He used the bed to support his weight, much like a crutch would. Small steps was what was needed. By the time he reached the end of his bed, the back of his shirt was beginning to soak up the sweat that ran down his back. He used the back of his hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead.
“I’m coming Ezra, and when I get there, you better talk to me. You hear me!”
Chris contemplated what he was going to do next. It wasn’t far to Ezra’s bed. He was going to hop, he hadn’t done it since he was a kid, but he was sure he could still do it. He tried it, yep, he could still do it. He continued, and with each step, he had to hop faster as his weight began to fall forward. His hands grab the end of Ezra’s bed.
“I’m here Ezra.” Chris smiled at the form. “You’re going to talk to me now, you southern bastard.”
Chris used his toes again. Physiotherapy. Who the hell needed that. He sure as hell didn’t, he was doing fine all on his own. The door flew open. Chris jumped in surprise, landed on his bad leg, howled in pain and fell flat on his face.
“Chris!” Vin rushed to his side. “What do you think you’re doing down there.”
“Looking for something to hit you with.” Chris spoke through clenched teeth.
“Why don’t you just use your fist, that’s what you usually do.” Vin smiled at him then looked at the occupied bed. “Is that Ezra?”
“Yeah.” Chris glared back at the sharpshooter. “Are you going to help me up.”
“In a minute.”
“What do you mean in a minute?” Chris yelped. “You can’t leave me down here.”
“You got yourself there, you can stay there.”
“What!”
Vin moved to the bed and pulled the covers down to reveal Ezra’s face. The blood from his split lip was soaking into the pillow . The Texan could see that Ezra was fast asleep. He put the blanket back then walked to the door.
“Buck! Ezra’s in here. He’s asleep again.”
“He’s asleep!” Chris couldn’t believe it. “I did all this for nothing.”
“Looks like it cowboy.” Vin answered.
“Don’t call me cowboy and get me off this damn floor.” Chris raised his arm but Vin was just looking at him.
“You weren’t going to hit him were you?”
“I don’t deserve that Vin.” Chris growled.
Vin shrugged and grabbed Chris’ arm. “Just looking out for Ezra.”
“I wouldn’t hit him again. Hell, I don’t even remember hitting him the first time.”
Chris allowed Vin to pull him to his feet and help him back to his bed. He was literally picked and put back into it.
“Oh by the way. Buck’s got the guy who hit you with his car.”
“What?”
“Ezra ran into him in the stairwell, that’s where Buck found Ezra, who gave him a description and Buck went after him. Buck’s got him outside, he’s waiting for the police to show up.”
“It’s over, just like that?”
“I don’t think so. We still have to prove that he’s the guy. You didn’t see him and neither did Ezra. It’ll be his word against you guys. We can get him for hitting Ezra but that’s all. Ezra didn’t even see him when he attacked him in his home.”
“So there isn’t a lot we can do then.” Chris wasn’t happy.
“Nope.”
“Shit.”
“Shit yeah.”
________________________________________
“What’s wrong with him?” Chris strained to see through the group of men that surrounded Ezra’s bed.
“He’s exhausted. Simple as that.” the doctor explained. “He’s put a lot of stress on his body, he obviously hasn’t been eating or sleeping properly. Between that and the beatings he seems to keep getting,” he shrugged, “his body has shut down. He just needs plenty of rest to give his body a chance to catch up again.”
“We have to get him to rest?” Buck couldn’t believe it.
“You don’t have to worry about that, his body isn’t going to give him a choice.” the doctor smiled at Buck.
“I’ll come back later.”
“Thanks doc.”
“You’re welcome.” he pointed a finger at Chris. “Don’t let that one get out of bed again.” he walked passed Chris on his way to the door. “I’ll have you strapped to the bed if I have to.”
“Whatever.” Chris growled in return.
Chris glared at the doctor’s back until he disappeared from the room. “Who’s the asshole Buck?”
“Uh Chris, that’s the doctor and I don’t think you should be talking about him like that, he’s the one . . . “
“I mean the guy you arrested, you fucking prick!” Chris yelled at him. “I’m not in the mood for any of your shit, and that goes for all of you.”
“Chris, you’re going to wake Ezra up and I don’t he think he’ll be very pleased about that, I mean, he’s already not talking to you, what do you think he’ll do if you disturb his beauty sleep . . . cowboy.” Vin crossed his arms across his chest and challenged Chris to shut him up. The smile on his face caused Chris’ face to redden with anger.
“Vin,” Chris spoke quietly and Vin knew he was in trouble, “I may not be able to do anything at this moment because I’m in a hospital bed, but when I get out of here and I’m walking on two legs . . . I’M GOING TO BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF YOU!”
“Chris, you don’t want to yell like that,” Nathan warned him, “the nurses might think you’ll need a sedative and if they don’t, then I’ll tell them that you do.”
“You’ll be after him.” Chris warned him. “Buck?”
“What?”
“Who’s the asshole you arrested?”
“What asshole?” Buck looked at Vin then back at Chris. “I arrested an asshole.”
“You’re dead, all of you are!”
“What did I do?” choked JD.
“You’re in a room with him.” Chris nodded at Buck.
“So Chris, you want to know who the guy is that I arrested?” Buck asked him.
One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five . . .
“Chris?”
Six . . . seven . . . eight . . .
“I think he’s gone to sleep.” Vin told Buck.
“With his eyes open?”
Nine . . . ten.
“Yes Buck I would like to know who he is.”
“Finally, I thought you were ignoring me for a minute there.” Buck decided to sit down. “He’s name is Bill Alkoyed. Ex FBI agent, kicked off the force, well actually he was arrested for manslaughter and was sent to jail. The key witness for the prosecution was one, Ezra .P Standish. Guess the guy didn’t like that.”
“I checked the files on the case,” JD continued, “seems the guy was assigned to Ezra during an undercover operation. During the arrests, the guy used too much force on one of the suspects, he died later in hospital.”
“And he was only charged with manslaughter?” Josiah asked.
“It was either that or let him go, they could get him on a wrongful death, but all that would have done . . .” JD wasn’t allowed to finish.
“They would have just taken his badge and gun.” Buck finished.
“And his pension.” Vin nodded in agreement.
“What were you able to get him on?” Chris frowned at Buck.
“Assaulting an ATF agent. His arraignment is the day after tomorrow.” Buck explained.
“Good, gives me a chance to go and have a little chat with him.” Chris smiled.
“You’re not going anywhere!” Nathan was adamant that Chris stayed where he was.
“Oh yes I am. Even if I have to find my own way there.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to get the doctor to strap you to the bed.” Nathan smiled.
“Nathan, I feel fine . . . “
“What makes you think you feel fine?” Nathan questioned him.
“My head doesn’t hurt that much now, it’s just like a headache.”
“Your ribs?”
“They’re sore but a painkiller will take care of that.”
“No it wouldn’t.” the ex-medic warned him. “Your hip.”
“I’ll use crutches.”
“You’re supposed to start physio tomorrow.”
“I’ll do it afterwards.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Nathan repeated.
“That’s what you think.” Chris smiled his all-knowing grin and the others knew it was going to be hard convincing him to stay in bed.
________________________________________
Chris watched as Ezra slept. The two of them were alone now, he’d insisted that the others go home for the night. They only agreed because he had promised not to go anywhere during the night. He stared at the drip that was releasing vital fluids into Ezra’s blood stream. Only an hour before a nurse had been in to inject antibiotics into the tube. It would be a few days before Ezra began antibiotics in tablet form.
There hadn’t been any nightmares and he hoped that Ezra would get the sleep he needed. Jesus, how was he going to sort this shit out. Ezra was mad at him and it looked like that anger wasn’t going to let up any time soon. If only he could remember what he had said and done. He knew Ezra wouldn’t lie about what had happened but if he could recall the events leading up to the accident, then it would be easier for him to work out the best tactics available to him. He needed to convince Ezra to stay and accept his apologies and forgive him for what happened.
Ezra’s form shifted and he was silent no longer. The Southerner was finally waking up. Chris smiled at the use of profanity. It made Ezra seem more human, too often his undercover agent kept his anger in check and his emotions hidden. It was unnatural for a person to do.
“You’re using a few words there that I don’t even know Ezra.” Chris laughed.
“Shut up!” was Ezra’s only response.
“No.” Chris decided that if Ezra wasn’t going to talk then he would do the talking for both of them. “You been sleeping a lot lately.”
Only silence answered him this time. Chris thought Ezra had fallen asleep again. The blankets were thrown off revealing a wide-awake Ezra Standish. Chris could see that Ezra was examine the room, no doubt looking for his guards.
“They’ve all gone home again.” Chris answered the questioning look Ezra held. “Don’t worry, they’ll be back tomorrow.
Ezra contemplated another escape, he sat up, then fell back down again. His body wasn’t up to it.
“Feelin’ any better Ezra?”
There was still no response, Ezra was also refusing to look at him.
“You look better, you were looking a bit green around the gills yesterday. Not surprised though running into Alkoyed again. That got a response, even if it was a brief changed in his expression. “I’m going to go talk to him tomorrow.”
Chris could tell that Ezra wanted to say something. The Southerner was biting his bottom lip in an attempt to keep silent.
“Buck got him yesterday. He was arrested for assaulting a federal agent. Can’t get him on attempted murder, not yet anyway. No witnesses.”
“And you think that’s my fault!” Ezra growled.
“Why would it be your fault?” Ha! He’d turned it around, now Ezra had to answer his own question.
But he didn’t, there was just silence again. Asshole!
“I’m starting physio tomorrow, then I’m outta of here.” Chris wore a huge smile, especially when one tugged at Ezra’s lips. “I’m going to be kicking butt again before you know it.” Shit! That slightest hint of a smile just fell off the Southerner’s face. Wrong choice of words there Chris, next time think before you talk.
“Vin called me cowboy.”
Nothing. He had to get that smile back.
“Nathan’s treating me like a baby.”
Still nothing. He wasn’t going to be able to do it. He couldn’t make people laugh, not like Buck and Ezra can. Buck used his charm and his love of life to do and Ezra just had a wicked sense of humour that didn’t come out very often.
“All the nurses can see my butt.”
That didn’t even bring out a hint of a smile.
“Ezra, I don’t know what to say to you.”
“Then don’t say anything.”
“I don’t want to say nothing.”
“I’m tired.” Ezra told him.
“Okay. Get some sleep then Ezra, we can talk tomorrow.”
Ezra stretched his body as much as it would take, then rolled over onto his side. He didn’t cover his face with the blanket this time, it was too warm. The small light illuminated Chris’ shadow on the wall. He watched it for a moment and realised that Chris was watching him. He closed his eyes and patiently waited for sleep to claim him.
Chris wanted to sleep, knew that he had too but he couldn’t. His eyes refused to look away from Ezra. He was worried about the Southerner and he had every right to be. Maybe he should arrange it so Ezra could go with him to question Alkoyed. It would be a chance for Ezra to vent some of his anger; on Alkoyed of course. It sounded like a good idea. He was going to have to wait to see wait Nathan thought about it.
________________________________________
Nathan didn’t like it, of course not, why would he, it was a stupid idea. But in the long run Chris had won the argument. Now both he and Ezra sat in the back of Josiah’s car. Ezra was slumped against the passenger door, his body still lacked the strength he needed to carry out every day activities. The doctor hadn’t been impressed that the two men had decided to go on an outing, at least they were going to go back; not that the doctor had any choice about the matter.
Chris looked sideways at Ezra, the Southerner gave the impression that he was sleeping. Chris knew he wasn’t. Ezra was no doubt thinking about what was coming.
“You okay with this Ezra.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“You up to seeing him?”
“I said I’m fine with it Chris, now drop it!” Ezra growled at him without opening his eyes.
“Okay, long as you’re fine with it.” Chris nodded and looked out the side window. “As long as you’re fine about it. You are sure you’re fine with it aren’t you?”
“Shut the fuck up Chris.”
“No problem.” Chris folded his arms. “Nice day for it.”
Buck looked over his shoulder at Chris. “Why don’t you just hit him Ezra.”
“I don’t have the strength Buck.” Ezra muttered.
“You want me to hit him for you?”
“Would you please, at least shut him up for me.”
“Chris, shut up, or I’ll hit you.” Buck glared at Chris the best way he knew how.
“Excuse me!” Chris raised an eyebrow.
“You heard me. Shut up or I’ll hit you.”
“And I said! Excuse me!”
“Sorry Ezra, I did my best.” Buck quickly turned around and faced the front again. He grunted in frustration when Josiah elbowed him.
Chris smiled in satisfaction and shifted the crutches that lay next to him. He purposely bumped Ezra with one of them.
“Sorry.”
He shifted them again and hit Ezra harder.
“Sorry ‘bout that Ezra.” Chris apologised, all though he didn’t mean it.
“I would bite Mr Larabee but I’m too tired.”
“Maybe later then.” Chris pulled the crutches closer to his own body. “Got the hang of these things pretty quick didn’t I.” he patted the simple invention that could help people to walk. “Didn’t even fall over once.”
“That’s because I wasn’t there to push you over.” Ezra told him.
Chris shot a glance at Ezra and watched as the younger man shifted his position. He talked, he actually talked to me. It wasn’t something overly pleasant but it was something.
“We’re here.” Josiah announced.
Damn, just when he was getting somewhere with his undercover agent, this had to happen. Couldn’t Josiah have the common sense to see that and drive around the block a few times. Sometimes his men can be really stupid.
Josiah parked the car, then got out and opened Chris’ door. His intention was to help his boss walk into the police station. Chris wasn’t going to walk in there like he was a cripple. Chris slapped his hands away and growled at him like an animal that was about to strike and kill its prey. Josiah backed off.
Buck had an easier time. Ezra wasn’t in the position to fight off the ladies man. He had no choice but to allow him to help him. Buck held Ezra’s arm just above the left elbow. It looked as though an agent was holding onto his prisoner so he wouldn’t escape.
Ezra was looking forward to the confrontation. He didn’t have the strength to beat the crap out of Alkoyed but he had other ways of getting his point across. He just hoped that no one was going to stop him. Buck and Josiah wouldn’t allow them to be alone in the room with the guy; not in their condition. Ezra didn’t think Alkoyed would do anything stupid, he wasn’t that dumb. He just had a temper that at times, he couldn’t control. That’s why Sorrenson had died, Alkoyed had lost control. He had tried to stop the agent but received a broken rib for his trouble. Ezra smiled. All he needed to do was to make him lose his temper.
“Planning on enjoying yourself Ezra?” Buck had seen the smile.
“Something like that.”
They made their way to the front desk and after explaining who they were and what they wanted, they were asked to sit down and wait. Both Chris and Ezra were grateful for the opportunity. Although Chris had no problem using the crutches, it was causing his side to scream at him on regular occasions. Nathan was right, painkillers didn’t help his ribs. He didn’t really care. He was grateful to be out of that damn bed and out in the fresh air.
“You got anything in mind Ezra?” Chris shifted along the bench and pushed Buck out of the way.
“I might.”
Chris smiled and nudged Josiah. He pointed at Ezra and smiled even more. Josiah had no idea what Chris was talking about. Chris’ smile dropped and he nudged Josiah again. He never knew Josiah could be so stupid. He’s talking to me, Chris mouthed at him. Oh, Josiah mouthed back and nodded. Idiot, Chris mouthed again.
“So what is it?” Chris asked Ezra.
“If I tell you, you won’t let me do it.”
“You’re not going to hurt him are you?”
“Do I look like I’m capable of hurting him.” Ezra turned his head to look at Chris who was smiling at him.
“I’m still not talking to you.”
“Sounds to me like you are.”
“This is business, we’re at work, sort of.” he turned away again.
“Either way, you are talking to me.”
“Whatever.” Ezra shrugged at him.
Buck walked back to the three men, a plain-clothes policeman walked by his side. Josiah stood up, he was the only who could.
“Guys this is Detective Jones, he’s been questioning the asshole . . . “
“I thought you said you didn’t arrest an asshole.” Chris shot at him.
Buck ignored him. “Nothing so far, except the guy doesn’t have an alibi.”
“I don’t know what you guys are going to manage to get out of him, I couldn’t get much.” Jones looked at the two injured men.
“That’s because you’re an idiot.” Ezra informed him.
“Don’t mind him,” Buck slapped Jones on the back, “he’s not feeling well, he’s in a bad mood, and he’s acting like a four year old.”
“He’s still an idiot Buck.” Ezra spoke again.
“You don’t even know me.” Jones protested.
“I don’t have to, I can read people, and you sir, are an idiot.”
“Can you make money doing that?” Jones asked seriously.
“Can we see the asshole now please.” Chris growled.
“Sure, he’s been taken to interview room number five.” Jones nodded to the right. “You guys need me to come with you.”
“No.” Chris told him as he stood up.
Ezra pushed himself up and began to follow the others. Buck stayed with him in case his legs gave way.
“Buck,” Ezra stopped walking, “do you trust me?”
“What?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Do you trust me enough to put me in a room alone with that man?” Ezra looked towards Chris and Josiah who had stopped when they realised that their friends were no longer following them.
“What do you have in mind Ezra.” Buck smiled.
“I’ll need your gun.”
Buck didn’t even blink. “As long as you promise not to kill him, or, and I repeat that, or, Chris when you’re done.”
“Deal.” Ezra stood in front of Buck to hide the exchange. “I owe you one for this Buck.”
“I’ll be thinking of a way you can return the favour while you’re in there. And Ezra, don’t do anything stupid, you don’t need any more injuries.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
They continued to walk and when they reached the room, Buck indicated physically for Josiah to move out of the way. When he did, Buck opened the door for Ezra. After the Southerner entered the room, he closed the door.
“Buck?” Chris looked at the closed door then Buck. “What are you doing?”
“We can watch in the other room.”
“You’re leaving Ezra alone in there with that asshole.”
“It’s what Ezra wanted.”
“What?”
“It’s what Ezra wanted.”
“Buck!”
“We’re missing the show Chris.”
“I’m really starting to hate you Buck.”
“You’ll change your mind when Ezra returns the favour.”
________________________________________
Ezra closed the door behind him. Alkoyed looked up to see who his visitor was and smiled. Ezra smiled in returned and walked slowly towards the chair. He had to make sure that Bill didn’t see him hurting. Things wouldn’t go his way if Alkoyed did. He sat down, the gun was tucked into the back of his jeans where the man who sat opposite him couldn’t see it.
“Long time no see Ezra.”
“Only yesterday wasn’t it.”
“Not that I remember.” Alkoyed lied. “Last time I saw you, it was at my trial.”
“Where I gave evidence against you.” Ezra nodded. “Something I enjoyed doing. You deserved to go to jail, you just didn’t go for long enough as far as I’m concerned.”
“Really.”
“Yeah.”
“The guy deserved what he got. He was pumping drugs into thirteen and twelve year olds.”
“It didn’t matter if he deserved it. You dishing out your own punishment caused you to lose your job and spend time in jail.”
“So I went a little too far.”
“A little? You smashed the guy’s head in. He was lucky to live as long as he did.”
“To long.”
________________________________________
Buck opened the door for Chris and Josiah then followed them in. He could see Ezra, his back was to the mirror. Damn. He loved to watch Ezra at work, his facial expressions were enough to piss anyone off, even the Pope. On the other hand, he could see the asshole. This was going to be fun. He passed Chris and sat down in the only chair without thinking. He silently wished for some popcorn.
“Buck.”
“What?” he didn’t take his eyes off the back of Ezra’s head.
“Do you mind.” Chris was practically leaning over him.
“Mind what?”
“The chair.”
“You want me to mind the chair?” Buck was confused.
“Get out of the damn chair and let me sit down!” Chris was ready to hit him with a crutch.
“Huh?”
“My hip!”
“Oh yeah, right, sorry.” Buck blushed and got out of the chair. “It’s just the way you talk Chris, you wouldn’t know you weren’t capable of pissing on your own.”
“I honestly, truly, hate you right now Buck Wilmington.”
“You said that already.”
“Josiah.”
“Yes Chris.”
“Am I allowed to quit?”
“Anytime you want to Chris.” Josiah chuckled.
“Then I quit.”
________________________________________
“You wanted him to die?” Ezra raised an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I.” Alkoyed leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “You wanted him to die as well.”
“I tried to stop you remember. You hit me with a two-by-four for my trouble.”
“That was the fun part. I would have hit you a few more times but the cavalry arrived.”
“So what did I do to piss you off so much?” Ezra had just learnt something that he’d never known about.
“I never liked you, no one did. You had a way of letting people think you were better than them. Too good to come to the bar to have a drink with your co-workers. You were a loner and people don’t like that.”
“You hit me because you didn’t like me?”
“That’s right.”
Ezra nodded in understanding. It was something that happened plenty of times before. “You should have a chat with Chris Larabee, he thinks along the same lines as you do.”
Behind the mirror, Chris visibly winced at the words that were meant to sting.
“Who’s Chris Larabee?”
“The guy you hit with your car.”
“I hit a guy with my car.”
“You must have been pretty disappointed that you missed me.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about Standish.”
There it was. Alkoyed used his last name, he was getting pissed off.
“You never were good at your job, but you knew that didn’t you.” Ezra also leaned forward and smiled at Alkoyed. “That’s why they put the idiot with the loner.”
“I’m not an idiot.”
“Only an idiot would have missed me when trying to run me down with a car.” this time Ezra winked at him.
“If I had tried it, you’d be dead by now!”
“I don’t think so. You see, you couldn’t tie your own shoelaces until you were twelve.”
Alkoyed leaned back into his chair. “You’re trying to make me lose my temper aren’t you. Think that maybe I’ll admit to something that I didn’t do.”
“No, thought you might give me the opportunity to kick your ass like I use to.”
“You were lucky.”
“That you missed with your car.
“No, that you use to beat me.”
“You were easy, you fight like a girl, and actually a girl could beat you to a pulp.”
“I had no trouble beating you in that hospital stairwell.” Alkoyed was smug.
“I had my back to you. You cheated, that’s the only way you could beat me. It was the same in my home.”
“I beat you fair and square.”
There was one, he didn’t deny being in his home or beating him.
“The doctor says I’m suffering from exhaustion, not enough food, sleep, that sort of thing. Don’t even have the strength raise my arm over my head. But I could still beat you with one hand tied behind my back. You were always a coward Bill, you could never do anything face to face, and it always had to be done behind someone’s back.”
“So if I wanted to, I could take you right now.”
“You could try.” Ezra reached behind him and took the gun from his jeans waistband. He placed the gun in the middle of the table. “Remember Chris Larabee, I mentioned him earlier. He feels the same way that you do. He doesn’t like me, hates me actually. Do you know what I was doing in the middle of that road? No. He put me there believe it or not. Now there’s a man who’s earned my respect.”
“You respect a man that hates you?” Alkoyed kept glancing at the gun.
“He hates me for the all the right reasons.”
________________________________________
“What’s he doing?” Chris had stood up so he could get closer to the mirror. “And where the hell did he get that gun? Why does he think I hate him? He respects me?”
“You’re getting off the subject there Chris.”
“I know! So what is he doing?”
“Trying to piss him off, just like the guy said.”
“Where did he get the gun?”
“I gave it to him.” Buck admitted.
“Buck . . . why . . . did . . . you . . . give . . . him . . . a . . . gun?” Chris spoke very slowly, making sure he emphasised each word.
“Because he asked for it.” Buck shrugged.
“I wish you were dead right now Buck.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why he respects you.” Josiah was leaning against the mirror watching the events play out in the other room.
“He respects me because he thinks I’m cool.”
“He thinks you’re cool?”
“Yep.”
“Cold more like it.” Buck corrected him.
________________________________________
“What reasons are they?”
“He hates my independence, my ability to take care of myself without the help of others. He hates my ability to hide my emotions, to be cold when I need to be. He hates the way I dress, it makes it easy to blend in the with the wrong crowd. He hates the way I piss him off so easily, but that’s something I really enjoy doing. There’s plenty of other reasons but I don’t have time to go into them.”
“So, what are you planning on doing with the gun?” Alkoyed asked him.
“I plan on killing you with it.” Ezra smiled wickedly.
“You’re going to shoot me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Like I wanted to beat that guy to death.”
“No. I’m going to kill you because it will be self-defence. You tried to kill me, there’s nothing to say that you won’t try again when you get out.”
“You’ll go to jail for it.”
“Remember what you asked me when you were beating the shit out of me at my house?”
Alkoyed frowned at Ezra and leaned his head to the left. His eyes continued to glance at the gun. To him it was a means of escape.
“You said no one should waste their own life to save mine."
Alkoyed stared at Ezra, he had no idea what the guy was talking about.
“My life isn’t worth saving, Chris shouldn’t have risked his to save mine. So I’m going to shoot you, which in turn will send me to jail. That way they’ll never have to risk their lives to save my sorry-good-for-nothing-ass again.”
“You’re not serious are you?”
“Have you ever known me to bluff?”
“No.” Alkoyed felt a trickle of sweat run down his back. He knew Ezra was capable of doing such a thing. Hell the man would probably even get away with it. He had the luck of the devil, things may start out bad for him, but in the long run, everything always turned out okay for him. If he was going to get out of here, he was going to have to make a move.
________________________________________
“Buck,” Chris glared at the man standing next to him, “what’s he doing!”
“It’s called a bluff Chris, he’s trying to make the asshole make the first move.”
“And if he does?”
Buck looked sideways at Chris. “Ezra will beat him to it.”
“If you’re wrong Buck . . . “
“What? You going to hit me with your crutch?”
________________________________________
“Well?”
“Well what?” Alkoyed glanced nervously at the gun. He had to beat the Southerner, if he was as sick as he claimed to be.
“Are you ready to die.” Ezra leaned forward. “I need to go back to bed and I don’t want to stay here all day.”
“No I’m not.” Alkoyed’s hand shot forward and he grabbed the gun before Ezra could even move. He aimed it at the undercover agent and pulled the trigger.
________________________________________
“BUCK!” Chris yelled at the back that was disappearing through the door.
“It didn’t fire Chris.” Josiah relaxed then made his way to the door. “The clip’s empty.”
“Damn son-of-a-bitch, I’m going to kill him myself!”
________________________________________
“You just attempted to murder a Federal Agent.” Ezra smiled at him.
“Fucking bastard!”
Alkoyed stood up and swung a wide ark with his gun arm. The barrel hit Ezra squarely on the right cheek. The force knocked him from his chair and he slammed against the floor. Alkoyed threw his chair away and followed Ezra. He heard the door open behind him but he was going to strike another blow before anyone could stop him. He held the gun’s barrel with a death grip, raised it over his head, he brought it down with all his strength behind it and hit the back of Ezra’s skull as he was struggling to get up. Ezra fell back to the floor and lay in an unmoving heap.
Buck ran forward and grabbed Alkoyed by the arm, he swung him around and slammed his fist against his face. The asshole landed on the table, Buck lifted him and hit him again. He continued to hit him until he fell unconscious to the floor on the other side of the room.
When Buck finally turned around, he was heaving, his breath was rapid and he was scared to death. He could see Josiah kneeling next to Ezra, Chris was standing as best he could next to them. Buck slowly walked over to them and glanced down at Ezra. Blood had pooled around his skull. Josiah was applying pressure to the wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
“Fucking idiot!” Chris Larabee was seething. “Damn fucking idiot.”
“Leave him be Chris, Ezra only did what he thought was the only option that was left to him.”
“He’s still a fucking idiot and I’m going to tell him that when he wakes up. Damn him!”
“Just don’t hit him Chris.” Buck struggled to smile.
“I really want to hit you right now Buck.”
________________________________________
Ow . . . ow . . . ow. Now that hurts, that really hurts, in fact, that hurts too much. You can let go now. I said you can let go! I’ve counted to ten already, why haven’t you. One, two, five, eight, ten. See, I’ve counted to ten twice now. That makes twenty as far as I’m concerned. Why do you have to push so hard. I’m going to hit you if you don’t let go and I don’t care if you’re a hundred and ten pound, five foot two woman who wears glasses.
“Okay Mr Larabee, I think that’s enough for today.” his physiotherapist lay his leg back down onto the mat.
“You sure, I’m ready to do some more.” Chris smiled, although, behind the smile he was ready to commit cold-blooded murder.
“We can do a couple more if you really want to.” she reached for his leg.
“Ah . . . no . . . that’s okay . . . if you think I’ve done enough for today, I won’t do anymore.”
“That’s what I thought,” she reached forward and pinched Chris’ cheek, “behind the tough exterior there is a big softie struggling to get out.”
Chris wanted to grab the wrist and break it in two.
“Why don’t we get you back into that chair so you can go back to your room.”
Chris did as much of the work as he could. He didn’t want to rely on this woman, this woman that was shorter than him and weighed less than him. He hated this shit.
“I can get back there on my own thank you very much.” Chris forced a smile to light up his face.
“No problem, I’ll see you tomorrow then Mr Larabee.”
Chris watched her retreating back.
“Bitch.”
“I heard that and as a punishment we’ll do an extra two tomorrow.”
“Shit!”
________________________________________
The wheel of Chris’ chair hit the doorframe causing a spill of foul language. He reversed then moved forward again. There was a group of men watching him, no doubt laughing at him, they had been since that morning. Even if they threatened him with physical torture, there was no way he was going to tell them what that, skinny, boney-assed girl, did to him. The information wasn’t going to be dragged from him in any form.
“Stupid bitch pinched my cheek like I was some overweight five year old.” he growled as he wheeled his chair closer to his bed. “Said I was a softie at heart. Who does she think she is! Doesn’t she know I could kill a man where my bare hands. Is she stupid or what.”
“Pretty accurate I would say.” Vin didn’t move to help Chris get into bed.
“I’m still going to beat the shit out of you Vin Tanner.”
“Want some help there Chris?” JD came forward and help Chris into bed and into a more comfortable position.
“I’m sure she counted to fifty when she was only supposed to count to ten.”
“Maybe she couldn’t count.” Vin continued to enjoy aggravating Chris.
“Chris!” Buck tried to get his friend to think about something else.
“What do you want asshole.”
“Ezra’s awake.” Buck smiled.
“And what would you like me to do about it?”
“You could shut up,” Buck suggested, “Ezra’s got a headache, told me that himself he did.”
“He’s got a headache.” Chris mimicked. “What about my damn hip, that’s sore, hurts like hell after that bitch was through with it. Not to mention that my head was in a lot of pain for a while there, and my side, and the rest of me for that matter. I don’t care about his head. If the idiot was stupid enough to pull a stunt like that then he deserves a headache.”
“He’s got a point there Ezra.”
“Did he call me an idiot?” Ezra asked Buck.
“Yes he did Ezra.”
“I’m still not talking to him.”
“You don’t have to tell him, I can hear you over here!” Chris yelled at him.
Ezra winced as the voice screeched through his skull.
“He also called you a fucking idiot, which is what you are, for the stunt you pulled with the asshole.” Buck informed him.
“Asshole?” Ezra frowned.
“Alkoyed.”
“I had to do something, it was his word against mine.” Ezra closed his eyes.
He hadn’t remembered anything after the first time Alkoyed had hit him. When he did finally wake up in a coherent state, he was told that he had a serious concussion and he’d been in and out of it for two days. Most of the time was spent throwing up and cursing Chris Larabee.
“What you did nearly got you killed!” Chris continued in his angry tone. “You’re an idiot Ezra Standish. A stubborn-good-for-nothing-pain in the ass-southern idiot who doesn’t know what’s best for him.”
“He’s pretty pissed then is he.” Ezra smiled at Buck.
“You could say that.”
“When you get out this damn hospital, which will be sooner than me because some stupid doctor decided to keep me in for a few more days, you’re staying at Nathan’s,”
Chris saw the shocked expression on Ezra’s face and kept going before the stupid idiot could say something.
“Yes, you heard me. He’s going to get you back for all the things you did to me, all the name calling over the past two days, Buck and Vin’s attitude towards me because they felt they had to protect you! Like you need protecting, stupid smartass. He’s going to make you eat crap, get up before five, go to bed at five then make you do it all over again. And when you’re well enough to go back to work, I want you there at seven am sharp. Do you hear me Standish!”
“Sorry I lost you after you said you were staying in for a few more days.” Ezra forced himself into a sitting position. “Actually, I think I might go home now. What do you think Buck.”
“I think you’re an idiot who’s staying in a hospital bed until the doctor says you can go home.”
“Bastard!”
“That’s nothin’ Ezra. Chris has been calling me all sorts of names. He even hates me right now. Don’t you
Chris.”
“If I wasn’t in this damn bed I’d hit you right now.”
Buck winked at Ezra and walked over to Chris’ bed. He leaned over it and faced his cheek towards his friend. “Go on then Chris, if you want to hit me so badly then hit me.”
Chris smiled and Vin who was watching knew what was about to happen. Chris did hit Buck, he hit him hard enough to knock him off his feet.
“Vin Tanner! You’re next. I haven’t forgotten that I’m going to beat the living shit out of you.”
“See Ezra,” Vin shrugged at him, “you’re not the only that he hits.”
“But I didn’t do anything.” Ezra protested.
“All you have to do with Chris is get out of bed.”
“Vin,” Ezra motioned to him to come closer. Ezra wasn’t surprised when Buck joined his side. “I still don’t want to talk to him.”
“That’s okay Ezra.” Vin patted Ezra on the arm.
“Why did she have to die?” the Southerner whispered.
“Because four assholes decided it would be easier to kill her than to tell her to get the hell out of there.” Vin told him in a low voice. He was aware that Ezra didn’t want Chris to hear any of this.
“Why couldn’t I stop them?”
“Four men with guns, no one person could have stopped them Ezra.” Buck whispered back.
“What are you guys talking about?” Chris was curious.
“We’re not talking to you.” Buck stood up, poked his tongue out at Chris then returned to his position.
“I should have been able to do something.”
“You’re not God Ezra, if he didn’t do anything, what makes you think you could have.”
“I don’t know Vin. I just think . . . “
“Then don’t think Ezra. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was nothing you or anyone could have done to save her.”
“Vin, can I stay at your place when I get out of this dump.”
“Sure you can Ezra.”
“Hey, what about my place,” Buck complained, “you could stay with me and JD if you want.”
“Your place is a dump Buck, I wouldn’t go in there if I was healthy.”
“There’s gratitude for you. I beat the crap out of the asshole for you and you insult me.”
“You beat up Chris?” Ezra raised an eyebrow.
“No Ezra! Alkoyed.”
“Oh.”
“You think you can forgive Chris for what happened?” Vin was still whispering.
“Once I stop being angry at him, I might.” Ezra nodded. “More so if I can watch him beat the crap out of you.”
“That’s not going to happen Ezra. I’m not an idiot.”
“I want to know what you guys are talking about.” Chris demanded this time.
“Ezra’s escape plan.” Vin said.
“What! You’re not going anywhere and leaving me here.”
“We’re not talking to you right now Chris. You hit Ezra, you hit me . . . “
“You stuck your face in front of my fist, what was I supposed to do.”
“And you’re threatening to hit Vin. We don’t like that, so you can stay here.”
“You don’t mean that, do you.”
“You hit Ezra.” Buck repeated.
“Ezra,” Chris started, “I . . . hell, I’m not going to apologise for something I don’t even remember doing. Besides that, he probably deserved it.”
“I didn’t deserved it.”
“I thought you weren’t talking to me.”
“I’m not, I just thought I’d throw that in before you continue.” Ezra shrugged.
“That’s not it.” Chris smiled. “You want to talk to me, you just don’t want to be the one to give first.” he gave Ezra the finger. “I’m not talking to you Ezra Standish.”
“Now Chris is acting like a four year old.”
“We’re leaving.” Vin and Buck spoke together.
“You can’t leave me alone with him.” Chris warned them.
Ezra wanted to say the same thing but kept his mouth shut.
The two men didn’t listen to Chris’ complaints, instead they walked out of the room, allowing the door to slam close behind them.
Chris stared at Ezra, who stared back at him. Neither man flinched.
________________________________________
Buck Wilmington and Vin Tanner decided that they needed a well-deserved drink, maybe even get drunk. Tomorrow was a Saturday, they could stay in bed, suffer from a hangover and not care about anything or anyone. If Chris and Ezra ended up in a physical brawl, they weren’t going to be there to stop it, these two men no longer cared. As for the other members of the group, they knew they were already at their local hangout. The three men had refused to enter the hospital room that was holding a lot of anger. They were cowards. If you tore the shirts from their bodies, you would find a yellow streak down their backs.
Vin entered the bar first and made his way to the three men that were waiting for them. Cold beers were on the table, ready for Vin and Buck to drink, shots of whiskey stood beside the glasses. The whiskey quickly disappeared and so did the beer.
“JD, why don’t you get us another, and bring the bottle back with you.”
“How’s Ezra and Chris?” Nathan asked, his voice a little slurred.
“If you weren’t such a coward you would know.” Buck shot back at him.
“I’m not a coward!”
“Really.” Vin grabbed what was left of Nathan’s beer and downed it in one gulp.
“They're not talking to each other, I don’t know who’s going to break first.” Buck explained.
“I say Chris.” Josiah nodded.
“How would you know, you were too scared to make an appearance. Poor Ezra thinks you don’t like him anymore.” it’s was Buck’s turn to take a shot at the men. “JD I can understand, he’s still young and he shouldn’t see that sort of thing. It’s not good for him. But you, you’re supposed to stand by him, protect him from Chris’ wrath . . . “
“Chris’ wrath?” Josiah leaned forward, “where did you get that one from.”
“I do read you know.” Buck protested.
“Girlie magazines.” Vin joked.
“They have some good articles you know.”
“Really?” Vin was shaking his head.
“Yes really. Why only the other day I was reading one about how a certain drug can cure a stroke, well it’s a fifty percent chance and the stroke has to be caused by a blood clot, the other fifty percent is that it could kill by causing a haemorrhage.”
“Really?”
“Yes really.”
“Buck,” Nathan knew Buck could be stupid, but not this stupid, “that’s old news.”
“It was an old edition.”
________________________________________
Three Hours Later
“What the hell do they think they're doing?” Vin growled to no one in particular.
“Who?” Nathan who had his back to the door had no idea who Vin was talking about.
“Chris and Ezra.”
“They’re probably sleeping right now.” Nathan told him.
“Is that what they call sleeping these days.” Buck couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
“What?” JD frowned at Buck then looked over his shoulder to see what the two men were talking about. He nearly fell out of his seat at the sight.
Ezra was struggling to stay on his feet while he was assisting Chris who seemed to have lost one of his crutches. Chris was still wearing scrubs and Ezra was dressed in jeans and a lose fitting t-shirt. The two men slowly made their way to the bar. Ezra sat while Chris stood. The backs of both men were soaked with sweat. Ezra ordered drinks, then spoke to the barman, his thumb pointed over his shoulder towards the five men watching them.
“I think the drinks are on us.” Josiah read Ezra’s body language.
“They shouldn’t be here.” Nathan warned the others once he realised that the two subjects of the conversation were here in the flesh.
“You tell them that.” Buck growled at Nathan.
“I will.” Nathan stood up. “Josiah, want to give me a hand.”
“No.”
“I’m not going over there on my own.”
“See,” Buck smiled, “cowards.”
“I’ll go.” JD wasn’t scared of them, only because he knew the two men would never do anything to hurt him, verbally or physically.
The four men watched, intrigued by what was happening. It only took five minutes then JD returned to the table.
“Well?” Vin leaned towards him then looked at Ezra and Chris’ backs.
“Well what?” JD drank from his glass.
“What did they say! Are they going back to the hospital.” Nathan asked him.
“They said they weren’t talking to you guys.”
“What?” Buck couldn’t believe what he just heard.
“Chris and Ezra, said they weren’t talking to you guys.” JD repeated himself.
“They're not talking to us?” Vin shook his head in disbelief.
“Yeah, us as in you guys. They're still talking to me. In fact, I’m going to drive them home once they get drunk enough to forget their problems.”
“You’re taking them home!” Nathan growled. “They should be in a hospital bed!”
“Well, when I say home, I actually mean Vin’s place. You see, Vin said that Ezra could stay with him and they thought that Vin wouldn’t mind if Chris came too.”
“I really hate those two right now.” Vin growled.
~~The End~~
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Master Fan Fiction List
Rating: PG
Warnings: Strong Language.
Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
AU: ATF
Main Characters: Ezra, Chris and the rest of the guys.
Summary: Chris is seriously injured when he saves Ezra. This results in an extremely pissed off Ezra Standish, an angry and hurting Chris Larabee and a very irritating Buck Wilmington.
Disclaimers: The guys are owned by CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp.
Notes: This story was written for Robin from the Chris Larabee Fan Fiction site. She asked for to write a story for a challenge, which is CHALLENGE #1: LARABEE LASHINGS. Robin wanted me to hurt Chris in much the same way that I do Ezra and because she is also a fan of Ezra, I was encouraged to include and hurt Ezra Standish as well. I thank her for the challenge and I enjoyed writing it. It has also caused me to include Chris more in future stories.
Spoilers: None
Status: Complete
Total Word Count: 31,360
Ezra threw the blankets aside and sat up. His heart was pounding in his chest, the sweat running down his face, chest and back. He used the sheet to wipe himself dry. A voice called his name but it was distant, he couldn’t recognise who was calling him. Sunlight burned into his eyes, causing him to open them. Everything was blurred, objects drifted in and out of each other. There wasn’t any difference to his sight after he rubbed his tired eyes with his hands. How could sleeping so much make you feel so bad, he couldn’t understand it.
“Ezra? You okay?”
It was another few seconds before he recognised the voice. “I’m not talking to you.”
“Just need to know if you’re okay, you need the nurse?”
“No.” Ezra sighed and put his head in his hands.
“You’re sure.” Ezra lifted his head and glared at Chris. “Okay, you’re sure, I’ll leave you alone now. I’m here though if you want to talk.”
“I said I’m not talking to you.” Ezra returned his head to his hands.
Chris silently watched him. He could see the younger man’s shoulders shaking, it must have been a bad one. He wanted to talk to him, tell him that he was sorry for what he’d done, that everything would be okay but he knew Ezra wouldn’t listen to him. His own body jerked when Ezra’s head flew up and his green eyes stared at him.
“Where is everyone?”
“Buck’s the only one here, everyone else went home.” Chris frowned at him.
“Where’s Buck?”
“You want to talk to Buck,” it finally dawned on him, “now hang on a minute Ezra . . . “
Ezra pulled the drip from his hand and stood up. His legs were a bit wobbly but they were going to carry him out of here, he would make sure of that. He began to search the cabinet drawers for his clothes.
“Ezra, you’re not going anywhere, you can’t go. You’re sick . . . that guy’s still out there.” he knew the stubborn bastard wasn’t listening. “Damn it Ezra!” Chris reached for the call button and began to buzz for a nurse.
Ezra found his clothes in the third drawer. He threw them on the bed and removed the hospital clothing. He dressed as quickly as his bruised ribs would allow him to. He ignored Chris’ words, the man didn’t know what he was talking about. The only thing he couldn’t find were his shoes and wallet. Damn. It didn’t matter, he had ways of getting the money he needed. He walked to the door and carefully opened it.
“Ezra!”
Buck wasn’t anywhere in sight. How lucky could he be. Ezra frowned, he couldn’t be lucky, this was only one thing that had gone his way in a while.
“Ezra!”
He allowed the door to close behind him. His eyes searched the floor he was on. The elevator was to his right and the stairwell to his left. He didn’t want to use the elevator in case he ran into Buck. The stairwell was his only choice. A chill was sent up from the tiled floor through his feet and into his stomach. His body shivered in response. Was he cold or scared? Probably both. Ezra made his feet obey the instructions that had been sent to them a few seconds earlier. He needed to reach his only means of escape before Buck showed up. The elevator dinged to a stop causing Ezra to run the last couple of metres to the door. He pulled it open and stepped inside to what he thought was a safe area.
________________________________________
Buck stepped off the elevator to see a nurse running into Chris and Ezra’s room. The vision scared the crap out of him. He’d been stupid enough to allow Chris to talk him into going and getting some breakfast. It would only take you five or ten minutes, nothing could happen during that time, Chris had told him. He shouldn’t have listened. What if the guy who had tried to kill Ezra found them. What if one or both of them were dead. He dropped his breakfast and ran to the room.
“You have to find him now!” Chris was yelling at the nurse.
“Chris!” Buck practically threw the nurse out of the way.
“Ezra, he just left. Go and find him Buck.”
“When did he . . . “
“Now, just a few of minutes ago.”
“I just came off the elevator, so he’s still on the floor.” Buck ran out of the room and searched the floor like Ezra had done. His eyes rested on the stairwell door.
________________________________________
Ezra had only taken one-step when he heard a nose behind him. Buck had found him. He turned around ready to give him an explanation and if he didn’t accept it, he would hit him then keep going. It wasn’t Buck who had come in to join him.
“You’re not looking too well Standish.”
The face brought instant recognition. “Hello Bill.”
Bill Alkoyed threw his fist and struck Ezra across the jaw. “Glad you finally recognised you’re murderer.”
Ezra fell, he put his hands out to stop himself but they only found air. His side struck the stairs and he began to roll. His first thought was to wrap his arms around his head, the last thing he wanted was to spend more time in this damn hospital. He cried out in pain when his elbow hit the edge of a stair. His fall ended in a matter of seconds when his body slammed against a wall at the bottom of the stairs. Ezra tried to get up but all he could do was fall back down again. He looked upwards to see his attacker coming towards him.
“You’re not as good as you use to be Standish, there was a time when you could beat me.”
“I haven’t been myself lately and you do seem to be attacking me when I’m at my weakest, which I may add is the only time that you could beat me.”
Alkoyed jumped the last couple of steps and slammed his boot into Ezra’s side. He was about to give another violent blow when the door above them opened. “I’ll finish this another time Standish.” Alkoyed quickly left the scene leaving Ezra lying on the floor with his arms holding his stomach and side.
“Ezra!”
“Buck! He’s here.”
“Damn it Ezra.” Buck ran down the stairs and knelt beside Ezra.
“He’s here, down there.” Ezra nodded to the stairs. “Blue denim jacket and jeans, black t-shirt, short brown hair, brown eyes and he has a scar on his left cheek.”
“Got him.” Buck stood up. “You okay till I come back.”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t want to leave him lying there but this was his chance to get the guy that had hurt Ezra and Chris. The man’s image was in his mind and he quickened his step knowing that he wouldn’t be far ahead of him. He stopped and looked over the railing. A flash of blue denim told him that he was right. He pulled his gun, hoping that he would get a chance to use it.
Buck took two steps at a time. His anger was being controlled by deep steady breaths. He had no intention of hurting the guy, he knew Ezra would want to inflict serious bodily harm on the asshole. He saw the back of the man as he swung around to take the next flight of steps. Buck fired his gun in the man’s direction.
“ATF! STOP WHERE YOU ARE!” Buck identified himself then fired a second time.
He was surprised when the man stopped and raised his hands above his head. The man turned around and smiled at him.
“Something wrong Agent . . . ?” Alkoyed innocently asked the agent.
“You’re under arrest for the attempted murder of an ATF agent.” Buck smiled back at him but the man didn’t seemed faze by the accusation.
“I did not such thing Sir. What reason would I have to try and killed an ATF agent.”
The smug expression the man Alkoyed was wearing, was causing Buck to lose control of his anger. He wanted to hit the guy; badly. Instead, he motioned to him with his gun for the man to begin the climb back to the floor Ezra was on.
“Let’s go smartass.”
When they reached the area he had found Ezra, the undercover agent was nowhere to be seen.
________________________________________
Ezra pushed himself up off the floor, he seemed to be spending a lot of time on the floor lately; he wasn’t very impressed about it. He wanted to go after Buck, to give him a hand but he truly didn’t have the strength to do it. Ezra decided that the best thing to do, would be to just go back to bed. The sight of the stairs above him almost made him sit down again but he wanted to sit on the floor a lot less than climbing the small flight of stairs.
One step at a time, that’s all he had to do, he counted them before he started. Six, that was all there was, six. That couldn’t be too hard. The right leg first, then the left. When he reached the third, a gunshot echoed through the stairwell. It was Buck, he was sure it was Buck that had fired. It could only be Buck. He heard Buck’s voice then another shot. It was Buck. He let out the breath he was holding.
Three steps left, two steps, and one. He’d done it, no more steps. Now he just had to open the heavy door that kept him from his bed and sleep. God he needed to sleep. He reached out with his right hand and gritted his teeth against the pain that shot through his elbow. His left hand took its place and he opened the door. The sight of the room and what seemed to him to be the most comfortable bed in the world caused his step to quicken. Ezra pushed the door open, ignored Chris who had somehow sat up on his own and walked to the bed.
“Ezra?” Chris frowned at him. He could see that the Southerner’s lip was bleeding again, he was also holding his side and favouring his right arm. Hell, not again. “Ezra!”
He didn’t answer, he didn’t want to talk to Chris Larabee, in fact, he still wasn’t talking to Chris Larabee, and he was going to have to remember that. Ezra looked longingly at the bed then got into without undressing. The pillow was welcomed by the warm flesh of his face. His body sighed as he shifted it into a more comfortable position. The blanket was pulled over his head. As far as Ezra was concerned, nothing else and no one else existed in this world. It was only him, his bed, pillow and blanket.
“Ezra! Talk to me. Tell me what happened out there. Where’s Buck?”
Chris was trying to do what Buck told him, he didn’t want to get angry but he could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface. It was going to blow if he didn’t force himself to calm down. His green eyes stared at the unmoving form under the blankets. That was it, if the man wasn’t going to answer him, or even look at him, then he was going to go to Ezra. That meant he had to get up and walk. Could he do it? Well, he could at least try. It helped knowing that he was doing it for Ezra.
“Ezra,” he may as well try one last time, “if you don’t answer me, I’m coming over there.”
It was a warning that Ezra seemed to be ignoring. Damn Southern bastard’s going to make me go over there. What if he was sleeping? He might not be answering because he was sleeping. But he just woke up. Damn it! Do it anyway. You were the one that wanted to get out of this bed. Do it now!
Okay, this wasn’t going to be so hard, he was already in a sitting position, his side ached with a passion, but he could cope with that once he was standing. It was only a matter of swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, standing up and walking. What was so hard about that. Chris threw the blankets off. He moved his right leg, no pain, which was good, considering there was nothing wrong with it except for maybe a few bruises. Now the hard part. He wrapped his hands around his injured leg, both hands gripping the knee and he lifted.
“Fucking hell!”
Chris swung it over instead of putting it straight back down. Gawd that hurt, that hurt more than life itself did at times. There was no use stopping now, he couldn’t stop now even if he wanted to. How was he going to get his leg back up on the bed. He pushed his butt off the bed and landed his weight on his right leg. He thought about hopping over, that way he wouldn’t even have to put his left leg on the ground. It needed to be tested, he had to test it. First the toes then the heel, then a bit more weight. The toes touched the cool floor. That wasn’t too bad, hardly any pain at all there. The heel was slowly lowered, very slowly lowered. It also touched the floor. That was okay also. A little bit of weight, equalled a little bit of pain in his hip. Did that mean if he put a lot of weight on his leg, that there would be a lot of pain in his hip. Probably. He tested it to find out. Yep, there was more pain. Using the bed as support he lifted the hospital gown he wore - why did they put a gown on him, Buck had brought Ezra pyjamas and left him practically bearing his butt for everyone to see - the entire hip area and upper thigh was covered by deep purple bruise. Shit, no wonder it hurt so much. He wasn’t going to be able to put his full one hundred and sixty three pounds on that leg. He would have walk on his toes.
He used the bed to support his weight, much like a crutch would. Small steps was what was needed. By the time he reached the end of his bed, the back of his shirt was beginning to soak up the sweat that ran down his back. He used the back of his hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead.
“I’m coming Ezra, and when I get there, you better talk to me. You hear me!”
Chris contemplated what he was going to do next. It wasn’t far to Ezra’s bed. He was going to hop, he hadn’t done it since he was a kid, but he was sure he could still do it. He tried it, yep, he could still do it. He continued, and with each step, he had to hop faster as his weight began to fall forward. His hands grab the end of Ezra’s bed.
“I’m here Ezra.” Chris smiled at the form. “You’re going to talk to me now, you southern bastard.”
Chris used his toes again. Physiotherapy. Who the hell needed that. He sure as hell didn’t, he was doing fine all on his own. The door flew open. Chris jumped in surprise, landed on his bad leg, howled in pain and fell flat on his face.
“Chris!” Vin rushed to his side. “What do you think you’re doing down there.”
“Looking for something to hit you with.” Chris spoke through clenched teeth.
“Why don’t you just use your fist, that’s what you usually do.” Vin smiled at him then looked at the occupied bed. “Is that Ezra?”
“Yeah.” Chris glared back at the sharpshooter. “Are you going to help me up.”
“In a minute.”
“What do you mean in a minute?” Chris yelped. “You can’t leave me down here.”
“You got yourself there, you can stay there.”
“What!”
Vin moved to the bed and pulled the covers down to reveal Ezra’s face. The blood from his split lip was soaking into the pillow . The Texan could see that Ezra was fast asleep. He put the blanket back then walked to the door.
“Buck! Ezra’s in here. He’s asleep again.”
“He’s asleep!” Chris couldn’t believe it. “I did all this for nothing.”
“Looks like it cowboy.” Vin answered.
“Don’t call me cowboy and get me off this damn floor.” Chris raised his arm but Vin was just looking at him.
“You weren’t going to hit him were you?”
“I don’t deserve that Vin.” Chris growled.
Vin shrugged and grabbed Chris’ arm. “Just looking out for Ezra.”
“I wouldn’t hit him again. Hell, I don’t even remember hitting him the first time.”
Chris allowed Vin to pull him to his feet and help him back to his bed. He was literally picked and put back into it.
“Oh by the way. Buck’s got the guy who hit you with his car.”
“What?”
“Ezra ran into him in the stairwell, that’s where Buck found Ezra, who gave him a description and Buck went after him. Buck’s got him outside, he’s waiting for the police to show up.”
“It’s over, just like that?”
“I don’t think so. We still have to prove that he’s the guy. You didn’t see him and neither did Ezra. It’ll be his word against you guys. We can get him for hitting Ezra but that’s all. Ezra didn’t even see him when he attacked him in his home.”
“So there isn’t a lot we can do then.” Chris wasn’t happy.
“Nope.”
“Shit.”
“Shit yeah.”
________________________________________
“What’s wrong with him?” Chris strained to see through the group of men that surrounded Ezra’s bed.
“He’s exhausted. Simple as that.” the doctor explained. “He’s put a lot of stress on his body, he obviously hasn’t been eating or sleeping properly. Between that and the beatings he seems to keep getting,” he shrugged, “his body has shut down. He just needs plenty of rest to give his body a chance to catch up again.”
“We have to get him to rest?” Buck couldn’t believe it.
“You don’t have to worry about that, his body isn’t going to give him a choice.” the doctor smiled at Buck.
“I’ll come back later.”
“Thanks doc.”
“You’re welcome.” he pointed a finger at Chris. “Don’t let that one get out of bed again.” he walked passed Chris on his way to the door. “I’ll have you strapped to the bed if I have to.”
“Whatever.” Chris growled in return.
Chris glared at the doctor’s back until he disappeared from the room. “Who’s the asshole Buck?”
“Uh Chris, that’s the doctor and I don’t think you should be talking about him like that, he’s the one . . . “
“I mean the guy you arrested, you fucking prick!” Chris yelled at him. “I’m not in the mood for any of your shit, and that goes for all of you.”
“Chris, you’re going to wake Ezra up and I don’t he think he’ll be very pleased about that, I mean, he’s already not talking to you, what do you think he’ll do if you disturb his beauty sleep . . . cowboy.” Vin crossed his arms across his chest and challenged Chris to shut him up. The smile on his face caused Chris’ face to redden with anger.
“Vin,” Chris spoke quietly and Vin knew he was in trouble, “I may not be able to do anything at this moment because I’m in a hospital bed, but when I get out of here and I’m walking on two legs . . . I’M GOING TO BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF YOU!”
“Chris, you don’t want to yell like that,” Nathan warned him, “the nurses might think you’ll need a sedative and if they don’t, then I’ll tell them that you do.”
“You’ll be after him.” Chris warned him. “Buck?”
“What?”
“Who’s the asshole you arrested?”
“What asshole?” Buck looked at Vin then back at Chris. “I arrested an asshole.”
“You’re dead, all of you are!”
“What did I do?” choked JD.
“You’re in a room with him.” Chris nodded at Buck.
“So Chris, you want to know who the guy is that I arrested?” Buck asked him.
One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five . . .
“Chris?”
Six . . . seven . . . eight . . .
“I think he’s gone to sleep.” Vin told Buck.
“With his eyes open?”
Nine . . . ten.
“Yes Buck I would like to know who he is.”
“Finally, I thought you were ignoring me for a minute there.” Buck decided to sit down. “He’s name is Bill Alkoyed. Ex FBI agent, kicked off the force, well actually he was arrested for manslaughter and was sent to jail. The key witness for the prosecution was one, Ezra .P Standish. Guess the guy didn’t like that.”
“I checked the files on the case,” JD continued, “seems the guy was assigned to Ezra during an undercover operation. During the arrests, the guy used too much force on one of the suspects, he died later in hospital.”
“And he was only charged with manslaughter?” Josiah asked.
“It was either that or let him go, they could get him on a wrongful death, but all that would have done . . .” JD wasn’t allowed to finish.
“They would have just taken his badge and gun.” Buck finished.
“And his pension.” Vin nodded in agreement.
“What were you able to get him on?” Chris frowned at Buck.
“Assaulting an ATF agent. His arraignment is the day after tomorrow.” Buck explained.
“Good, gives me a chance to go and have a little chat with him.” Chris smiled.
“You’re not going anywhere!” Nathan was adamant that Chris stayed where he was.
“Oh yes I am. Even if I have to find my own way there.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to get the doctor to strap you to the bed.” Nathan smiled.
“Nathan, I feel fine . . . “
“What makes you think you feel fine?” Nathan questioned him.
“My head doesn’t hurt that much now, it’s just like a headache.”
“Your ribs?”
“They’re sore but a painkiller will take care of that.”
“No it wouldn’t.” the ex-medic warned him. “Your hip.”
“I’ll use crutches.”
“You’re supposed to start physio tomorrow.”
“I’ll do it afterwards.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Nathan repeated.
“That’s what you think.” Chris smiled his all-knowing grin and the others knew it was going to be hard convincing him to stay in bed.
________________________________________
Chris watched as Ezra slept. The two of them were alone now, he’d insisted that the others go home for the night. They only agreed because he had promised not to go anywhere during the night. He stared at the drip that was releasing vital fluids into Ezra’s blood stream. Only an hour before a nurse had been in to inject antibiotics into the tube. It would be a few days before Ezra began antibiotics in tablet form.
There hadn’t been any nightmares and he hoped that Ezra would get the sleep he needed. Jesus, how was he going to sort this shit out. Ezra was mad at him and it looked like that anger wasn’t going to let up any time soon. If only he could remember what he had said and done. He knew Ezra wouldn’t lie about what had happened but if he could recall the events leading up to the accident, then it would be easier for him to work out the best tactics available to him. He needed to convince Ezra to stay and accept his apologies and forgive him for what happened.
Ezra’s form shifted and he was silent no longer. The Southerner was finally waking up. Chris smiled at the use of profanity. It made Ezra seem more human, too often his undercover agent kept his anger in check and his emotions hidden. It was unnatural for a person to do.
“You’re using a few words there that I don’t even know Ezra.” Chris laughed.
“Shut up!” was Ezra’s only response.
“No.” Chris decided that if Ezra wasn’t going to talk then he would do the talking for both of them. “You been sleeping a lot lately.”
Only silence answered him this time. Chris thought Ezra had fallen asleep again. The blankets were thrown off revealing a wide-awake Ezra Standish. Chris could see that Ezra was examine the room, no doubt looking for his guards.
“They’ve all gone home again.” Chris answered the questioning look Ezra held. “Don’t worry, they’ll be back tomorrow.
Ezra contemplated another escape, he sat up, then fell back down again. His body wasn’t up to it.
“Feelin’ any better Ezra?”
There was still no response, Ezra was also refusing to look at him.
“You look better, you were looking a bit green around the gills yesterday. Not surprised though running into Alkoyed again. That got a response, even if it was a brief changed in his expression. “I’m going to go talk to him tomorrow.”
Chris could tell that Ezra wanted to say something. The Southerner was biting his bottom lip in an attempt to keep silent.
“Buck got him yesterday. He was arrested for assaulting a federal agent. Can’t get him on attempted murder, not yet anyway. No witnesses.”
“And you think that’s my fault!” Ezra growled.
“Why would it be your fault?” Ha! He’d turned it around, now Ezra had to answer his own question.
But he didn’t, there was just silence again. Asshole!
“I’m starting physio tomorrow, then I’m outta of here.” Chris wore a huge smile, especially when one tugged at Ezra’s lips. “I’m going to be kicking butt again before you know it.” Shit! That slightest hint of a smile just fell off the Southerner’s face. Wrong choice of words there Chris, next time think before you talk.
“Vin called me cowboy.”
Nothing. He had to get that smile back.
“Nathan’s treating me like a baby.”
Still nothing. He wasn’t going to be able to do it. He couldn’t make people laugh, not like Buck and Ezra can. Buck used his charm and his love of life to do and Ezra just had a wicked sense of humour that didn’t come out very often.
“All the nurses can see my butt.”
That didn’t even bring out a hint of a smile.
“Ezra, I don’t know what to say to you.”
“Then don’t say anything.”
“I don’t want to say nothing.”
“I’m tired.” Ezra told him.
“Okay. Get some sleep then Ezra, we can talk tomorrow.”
Ezra stretched his body as much as it would take, then rolled over onto his side. He didn’t cover his face with the blanket this time, it was too warm. The small light illuminated Chris’ shadow on the wall. He watched it for a moment and realised that Chris was watching him. He closed his eyes and patiently waited for sleep to claim him.
Chris wanted to sleep, knew that he had too but he couldn’t. His eyes refused to look away from Ezra. He was worried about the Southerner and he had every right to be. Maybe he should arrange it so Ezra could go with him to question Alkoyed. It would be a chance for Ezra to vent some of his anger; on Alkoyed of course. It sounded like a good idea. He was going to have to wait to see wait Nathan thought about it.
________________________________________
Nathan didn’t like it, of course not, why would he, it was a stupid idea. But in the long run Chris had won the argument. Now both he and Ezra sat in the back of Josiah’s car. Ezra was slumped against the passenger door, his body still lacked the strength he needed to carry out every day activities. The doctor hadn’t been impressed that the two men had decided to go on an outing, at least they were going to go back; not that the doctor had any choice about the matter.
Chris looked sideways at Ezra, the Southerner gave the impression that he was sleeping. Chris knew he wasn’t. Ezra was no doubt thinking about what was coming.
“You okay with this Ezra.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“You up to seeing him?”
“I said I’m fine with it Chris, now drop it!” Ezra growled at him without opening his eyes.
“Okay, long as you’re fine with it.” Chris nodded and looked out the side window. “As long as you’re fine about it. You are sure you’re fine with it aren’t you?”
“Shut the fuck up Chris.”
“No problem.” Chris folded his arms. “Nice day for it.”
Buck looked over his shoulder at Chris. “Why don’t you just hit him Ezra.”
“I don’t have the strength Buck.” Ezra muttered.
“You want me to hit him for you?”
“Would you please, at least shut him up for me.”
“Chris, shut up, or I’ll hit you.” Buck glared at Chris the best way he knew how.
“Excuse me!” Chris raised an eyebrow.
“You heard me. Shut up or I’ll hit you.”
“And I said! Excuse me!”
“Sorry Ezra, I did my best.” Buck quickly turned around and faced the front again. He grunted in frustration when Josiah elbowed him.
Chris smiled in satisfaction and shifted the crutches that lay next to him. He purposely bumped Ezra with one of them.
“Sorry.”
He shifted them again and hit Ezra harder.
“Sorry ‘bout that Ezra.” Chris apologised, all though he didn’t mean it.
“I would bite Mr Larabee but I’m too tired.”
“Maybe later then.” Chris pulled the crutches closer to his own body. “Got the hang of these things pretty quick didn’t I.” he patted the simple invention that could help people to walk. “Didn’t even fall over once.”
“That’s because I wasn’t there to push you over.” Ezra told him.
Chris shot a glance at Ezra and watched as the younger man shifted his position. He talked, he actually talked to me. It wasn’t something overly pleasant but it was something.
“We’re here.” Josiah announced.
Damn, just when he was getting somewhere with his undercover agent, this had to happen. Couldn’t Josiah have the common sense to see that and drive around the block a few times. Sometimes his men can be really stupid.
Josiah parked the car, then got out and opened Chris’ door. His intention was to help his boss walk into the police station. Chris wasn’t going to walk in there like he was a cripple. Chris slapped his hands away and growled at him like an animal that was about to strike and kill its prey. Josiah backed off.
Buck had an easier time. Ezra wasn’t in the position to fight off the ladies man. He had no choice but to allow him to help him. Buck held Ezra’s arm just above the left elbow. It looked as though an agent was holding onto his prisoner so he wouldn’t escape.
Ezra was looking forward to the confrontation. He didn’t have the strength to beat the crap out of Alkoyed but he had other ways of getting his point across. He just hoped that no one was going to stop him. Buck and Josiah wouldn’t allow them to be alone in the room with the guy; not in their condition. Ezra didn’t think Alkoyed would do anything stupid, he wasn’t that dumb. He just had a temper that at times, he couldn’t control. That’s why Sorrenson had died, Alkoyed had lost control. He had tried to stop the agent but received a broken rib for his trouble. Ezra smiled. All he needed to do was to make him lose his temper.
“Planning on enjoying yourself Ezra?” Buck had seen the smile.
“Something like that.”
They made their way to the front desk and after explaining who they were and what they wanted, they were asked to sit down and wait. Both Chris and Ezra were grateful for the opportunity. Although Chris had no problem using the crutches, it was causing his side to scream at him on regular occasions. Nathan was right, painkillers didn’t help his ribs. He didn’t really care. He was grateful to be out of that damn bed and out in the fresh air.
“You got anything in mind Ezra?” Chris shifted along the bench and pushed Buck out of the way.
“I might.”
Chris smiled and nudged Josiah. He pointed at Ezra and smiled even more. Josiah had no idea what Chris was talking about. Chris’ smile dropped and he nudged Josiah again. He never knew Josiah could be so stupid. He’s talking to me, Chris mouthed at him. Oh, Josiah mouthed back and nodded. Idiot, Chris mouthed again.
“So what is it?” Chris asked Ezra.
“If I tell you, you won’t let me do it.”
“You’re not going to hurt him are you?”
“Do I look like I’m capable of hurting him.” Ezra turned his head to look at Chris who was smiling at him.
“I’m still not talking to you.”
“Sounds to me like you are.”
“This is business, we’re at work, sort of.” he turned away again.
“Either way, you are talking to me.”
“Whatever.” Ezra shrugged at him.
Buck walked back to the three men, a plain-clothes policeman walked by his side. Josiah stood up, he was the only who could.
“Guys this is Detective Jones, he’s been questioning the asshole . . . “
“I thought you said you didn’t arrest an asshole.” Chris shot at him.
Buck ignored him. “Nothing so far, except the guy doesn’t have an alibi.”
“I don’t know what you guys are going to manage to get out of him, I couldn’t get much.” Jones looked at the two injured men.
“That’s because you’re an idiot.” Ezra informed him.
“Don’t mind him,” Buck slapped Jones on the back, “he’s not feeling well, he’s in a bad mood, and he’s acting like a four year old.”
“He’s still an idiot Buck.” Ezra spoke again.
“You don’t even know me.” Jones protested.
“I don’t have to, I can read people, and you sir, are an idiot.”
“Can you make money doing that?” Jones asked seriously.
“Can we see the asshole now please.” Chris growled.
“Sure, he’s been taken to interview room number five.” Jones nodded to the right. “You guys need me to come with you.”
“No.” Chris told him as he stood up.
Ezra pushed himself up and began to follow the others. Buck stayed with him in case his legs gave way.
“Buck,” Ezra stopped walking, “do you trust me?”
“What?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Do you trust me enough to put me in a room alone with that man?” Ezra looked towards Chris and Josiah who had stopped when they realised that their friends were no longer following them.
“What do you have in mind Ezra.” Buck smiled.
“I’ll need your gun.”
Buck didn’t even blink. “As long as you promise not to kill him, or, and I repeat that, or, Chris when you’re done.”
“Deal.” Ezra stood in front of Buck to hide the exchange. “I owe you one for this Buck.”
“I’ll be thinking of a way you can return the favour while you’re in there. And Ezra, don’t do anything stupid, you don’t need any more injuries.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
They continued to walk and when they reached the room, Buck indicated physically for Josiah to move out of the way. When he did, Buck opened the door for Ezra. After the Southerner entered the room, he closed the door.
“Buck?” Chris looked at the closed door then Buck. “What are you doing?”
“We can watch in the other room.”
“You’re leaving Ezra alone in there with that asshole.”
“It’s what Ezra wanted.”
“What?”
“It’s what Ezra wanted.”
“Buck!”
“We’re missing the show Chris.”
“I’m really starting to hate you Buck.”
“You’ll change your mind when Ezra returns the favour.”
________________________________________
Ezra closed the door behind him. Alkoyed looked up to see who his visitor was and smiled. Ezra smiled in returned and walked slowly towards the chair. He had to make sure that Bill didn’t see him hurting. Things wouldn’t go his way if Alkoyed did. He sat down, the gun was tucked into the back of his jeans where the man who sat opposite him couldn’t see it.
“Long time no see Ezra.”
“Only yesterday wasn’t it.”
“Not that I remember.” Alkoyed lied. “Last time I saw you, it was at my trial.”
“Where I gave evidence against you.” Ezra nodded. “Something I enjoyed doing. You deserved to go to jail, you just didn’t go for long enough as far as I’m concerned.”
“Really.”
“Yeah.”
“The guy deserved what he got. He was pumping drugs into thirteen and twelve year olds.”
“It didn’t matter if he deserved it. You dishing out your own punishment caused you to lose your job and spend time in jail.”
“So I went a little too far.”
“A little? You smashed the guy’s head in. He was lucky to live as long as he did.”
“To long.”
________________________________________
Buck opened the door for Chris and Josiah then followed them in. He could see Ezra, his back was to the mirror. Damn. He loved to watch Ezra at work, his facial expressions were enough to piss anyone off, even the Pope. On the other hand, he could see the asshole. This was going to be fun. He passed Chris and sat down in the only chair without thinking. He silently wished for some popcorn.
“Buck.”
“What?” he didn’t take his eyes off the back of Ezra’s head.
“Do you mind.” Chris was practically leaning over him.
“Mind what?”
“The chair.”
“You want me to mind the chair?” Buck was confused.
“Get out of the damn chair and let me sit down!” Chris was ready to hit him with a crutch.
“Huh?”
“My hip!”
“Oh yeah, right, sorry.” Buck blushed and got out of the chair. “It’s just the way you talk Chris, you wouldn’t know you weren’t capable of pissing on your own.”
“I honestly, truly, hate you right now Buck Wilmington.”
“You said that already.”
“Josiah.”
“Yes Chris.”
“Am I allowed to quit?”
“Anytime you want to Chris.” Josiah chuckled.
“Then I quit.”
________________________________________
“You wanted him to die?” Ezra raised an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I.” Alkoyed leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “You wanted him to die as well.”
“I tried to stop you remember. You hit me with a two-by-four for my trouble.”
“That was the fun part. I would have hit you a few more times but the cavalry arrived.”
“So what did I do to piss you off so much?” Ezra had just learnt something that he’d never known about.
“I never liked you, no one did. You had a way of letting people think you were better than them. Too good to come to the bar to have a drink with your co-workers. You were a loner and people don’t like that.”
“You hit me because you didn’t like me?”
“That’s right.”
Ezra nodded in understanding. It was something that happened plenty of times before. “You should have a chat with Chris Larabee, he thinks along the same lines as you do.”
Behind the mirror, Chris visibly winced at the words that were meant to sting.
“Who’s Chris Larabee?”
“The guy you hit with your car.”
“I hit a guy with my car.”
“You must have been pretty disappointed that you missed me.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about Standish.”
There it was. Alkoyed used his last name, he was getting pissed off.
“You never were good at your job, but you knew that didn’t you.” Ezra also leaned forward and smiled at Alkoyed. “That’s why they put the idiot with the loner.”
“I’m not an idiot.”
“Only an idiot would have missed me when trying to run me down with a car.” this time Ezra winked at him.
“If I had tried it, you’d be dead by now!”
“I don’t think so. You see, you couldn’t tie your own shoelaces until you were twelve.”
Alkoyed leaned back into his chair. “You’re trying to make me lose my temper aren’t you. Think that maybe I’ll admit to something that I didn’t do.”
“No, thought you might give me the opportunity to kick your ass like I use to.”
“You were lucky.”
“That you missed with your car.
“No, that you use to beat me.”
“You were easy, you fight like a girl, and actually a girl could beat you to a pulp.”
“I had no trouble beating you in that hospital stairwell.” Alkoyed was smug.
“I had my back to you. You cheated, that’s the only way you could beat me. It was the same in my home.”
“I beat you fair and square.”
There was one, he didn’t deny being in his home or beating him.
“The doctor says I’m suffering from exhaustion, not enough food, sleep, that sort of thing. Don’t even have the strength raise my arm over my head. But I could still beat you with one hand tied behind my back. You were always a coward Bill, you could never do anything face to face, and it always had to be done behind someone’s back.”
“So if I wanted to, I could take you right now.”
“You could try.” Ezra reached behind him and took the gun from his jeans waistband. He placed the gun in the middle of the table. “Remember Chris Larabee, I mentioned him earlier. He feels the same way that you do. He doesn’t like me, hates me actually. Do you know what I was doing in the middle of that road? No. He put me there believe it or not. Now there’s a man who’s earned my respect.”
“You respect a man that hates you?” Alkoyed kept glancing at the gun.
“He hates me for the all the right reasons.”
________________________________________
“What’s he doing?” Chris had stood up so he could get closer to the mirror. “And where the hell did he get that gun? Why does he think I hate him? He respects me?”
“You’re getting off the subject there Chris.”
“I know! So what is he doing?”
“Trying to piss him off, just like the guy said.”
“Where did he get the gun?”
“I gave it to him.” Buck admitted.
“Buck . . . why . . . did . . . you . . . give . . . him . . . a . . . gun?” Chris spoke very slowly, making sure he emphasised each word.
“Because he asked for it.” Buck shrugged.
“I wish you were dead right now Buck.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why he respects you.” Josiah was leaning against the mirror watching the events play out in the other room.
“He respects me because he thinks I’m cool.”
“He thinks you’re cool?”
“Yep.”
“Cold more like it.” Buck corrected him.
________________________________________
“What reasons are they?”
“He hates my independence, my ability to take care of myself without the help of others. He hates my ability to hide my emotions, to be cold when I need to be. He hates the way I dress, it makes it easy to blend in the with the wrong crowd. He hates the way I piss him off so easily, but that’s something I really enjoy doing. There’s plenty of other reasons but I don’t have time to go into them.”
“So, what are you planning on doing with the gun?” Alkoyed asked him.
“I plan on killing you with it.” Ezra smiled wickedly.
“You’re going to shoot me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Like I wanted to beat that guy to death.”
“No. I’m going to kill you because it will be self-defence. You tried to kill me, there’s nothing to say that you won’t try again when you get out.”
“You’ll go to jail for it.”
“Remember what you asked me when you were beating the shit out of me at my house?”
Alkoyed frowned at Ezra and leaned his head to the left. His eyes continued to glance at the gun. To him it was a means of escape.
“You said no one should waste their own life to save mine."
Alkoyed stared at Ezra, he had no idea what the guy was talking about.
“My life isn’t worth saving, Chris shouldn’t have risked his to save mine. So I’m going to shoot you, which in turn will send me to jail. That way they’ll never have to risk their lives to save my sorry-good-for-nothing-ass again.”
“You’re not serious are you?”
“Have you ever known me to bluff?”
“No.” Alkoyed felt a trickle of sweat run down his back. He knew Ezra was capable of doing such a thing. Hell the man would probably even get away with it. He had the luck of the devil, things may start out bad for him, but in the long run, everything always turned out okay for him. If he was going to get out of here, he was going to have to make a move.
________________________________________
“Buck,” Chris glared at the man standing next to him, “what’s he doing!”
“It’s called a bluff Chris, he’s trying to make the asshole make the first move.”
“And if he does?”
Buck looked sideways at Chris. “Ezra will beat him to it.”
“If you’re wrong Buck . . . “
“What? You going to hit me with your crutch?”
________________________________________
“Well?”
“Well what?” Alkoyed glanced nervously at the gun. He had to beat the Southerner, if he was as sick as he claimed to be.
“Are you ready to die.” Ezra leaned forward. “I need to go back to bed and I don’t want to stay here all day.”
“No I’m not.” Alkoyed’s hand shot forward and he grabbed the gun before Ezra could even move. He aimed it at the undercover agent and pulled the trigger.
________________________________________
“BUCK!” Chris yelled at the back that was disappearing through the door.
“It didn’t fire Chris.” Josiah relaxed then made his way to the door. “The clip’s empty.”
“Damn son-of-a-bitch, I’m going to kill him myself!”
________________________________________
“You just attempted to murder a Federal Agent.” Ezra smiled at him.
“Fucking bastard!”
Alkoyed stood up and swung a wide ark with his gun arm. The barrel hit Ezra squarely on the right cheek. The force knocked him from his chair and he slammed against the floor. Alkoyed threw his chair away and followed Ezra. He heard the door open behind him but he was going to strike another blow before anyone could stop him. He held the gun’s barrel with a death grip, raised it over his head, he brought it down with all his strength behind it and hit the back of Ezra’s skull as he was struggling to get up. Ezra fell back to the floor and lay in an unmoving heap.
Buck ran forward and grabbed Alkoyed by the arm, he swung him around and slammed his fist against his face. The asshole landed on the table, Buck lifted him and hit him again. He continued to hit him until he fell unconscious to the floor on the other side of the room.
When Buck finally turned around, he was heaving, his breath was rapid and he was scared to death. He could see Josiah kneeling next to Ezra, Chris was standing as best he could next to them. Buck slowly walked over to them and glanced down at Ezra. Blood had pooled around his skull. Josiah was applying pressure to the wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
“Fucking idiot!” Chris Larabee was seething. “Damn fucking idiot.”
“Leave him be Chris, Ezra only did what he thought was the only option that was left to him.”
“He’s still a fucking idiot and I’m going to tell him that when he wakes up. Damn him!”
“Just don’t hit him Chris.” Buck struggled to smile.
“I really want to hit you right now Buck.”
________________________________________
Ow . . . ow . . . ow. Now that hurts, that really hurts, in fact, that hurts too much. You can let go now. I said you can let go! I’ve counted to ten already, why haven’t you. One, two, five, eight, ten. See, I’ve counted to ten twice now. That makes twenty as far as I’m concerned. Why do you have to push so hard. I’m going to hit you if you don’t let go and I don’t care if you’re a hundred and ten pound, five foot two woman who wears glasses.
“Okay Mr Larabee, I think that’s enough for today.” his physiotherapist lay his leg back down onto the mat.
“You sure, I’m ready to do some more.” Chris smiled, although, behind the smile he was ready to commit cold-blooded murder.
“We can do a couple more if you really want to.” she reached for his leg.
“Ah . . . no . . . that’s okay . . . if you think I’ve done enough for today, I won’t do anymore.”
“That’s what I thought,” she reached forward and pinched Chris’ cheek, “behind the tough exterior there is a big softie struggling to get out.”
Chris wanted to grab the wrist and break it in two.
“Why don’t we get you back into that chair so you can go back to your room.”
Chris did as much of the work as he could. He didn’t want to rely on this woman, this woman that was shorter than him and weighed less than him. He hated this shit.
“I can get back there on my own thank you very much.” Chris forced a smile to light up his face.
“No problem, I’ll see you tomorrow then Mr Larabee.”
Chris watched her retreating back.
“Bitch.”
“I heard that and as a punishment we’ll do an extra two tomorrow.”
“Shit!”
________________________________________
The wheel of Chris’ chair hit the doorframe causing a spill of foul language. He reversed then moved forward again. There was a group of men watching him, no doubt laughing at him, they had been since that morning. Even if they threatened him with physical torture, there was no way he was going to tell them what that, skinny, boney-assed girl, did to him. The information wasn’t going to be dragged from him in any form.
“Stupid bitch pinched my cheek like I was some overweight five year old.” he growled as he wheeled his chair closer to his bed. “Said I was a softie at heart. Who does she think she is! Doesn’t she know I could kill a man where my bare hands. Is she stupid or what.”
“Pretty accurate I would say.” Vin didn’t move to help Chris get into bed.
“I’m still going to beat the shit out of you Vin Tanner.”
“Want some help there Chris?” JD came forward and help Chris into bed and into a more comfortable position.
“I’m sure she counted to fifty when she was only supposed to count to ten.”
“Maybe she couldn’t count.” Vin continued to enjoy aggravating Chris.
“Chris!” Buck tried to get his friend to think about something else.
“What do you want asshole.”
“Ezra’s awake.” Buck smiled.
“And what would you like me to do about it?”
“You could shut up,” Buck suggested, “Ezra’s got a headache, told me that himself he did.”
“He’s got a headache.” Chris mimicked. “What about my damn hip, that’s sore, hurts like hell after that bitch was through with it. Not to mention that my head was in a lot of pain for a while there, and my side, and the rest of me for that matter. I don’t care about his head. If the idiot was stupid enough to pull a stunt like that then he deserves a headache.”
“He’s got a point there Ezra.”
“Did he call me an idiot?” Ezra asked Buck.
“Yes he did Ezra.”
“I’m still not talking to him.”
“You don’t have to tell him, I can hear you over here!” Chris yelled at him.
Ezra winced as the voice screeched through his skull.
“He also called you a fucking idiot, which is what you are, for the stunt you pulled with the asshole.” Buck informed him.
“Asshole?” Ezra frowned.
“Alkoyed.”
“I had to do something, it was his word against mine.” Ezra closed his eyes.
He hadn’t remembered anything after the first time Alkoyed had hit him. When he did finally wake up in a coherent state, he was told that he had a serious concussion and he’d been in and out of it for two days. Most of the time was spent throwing up and cursing Chris Larabee.
“What you did nearly got you killed!” Chris continued in his angry tone. “You’re an idiot Ezra Standish. A stubborn-good-for-nothing-pain in the ass-southern idiot who doesn’t know what’s best for him.”
“He’s pretty pissed then is he.” Ezra smiled at Buck.
“You could say that.”
“When you get out this damn hospital, which will be sooner than me because some stupid doctor decided to keep me in for a few more days, you’re staying at Nathan’s,”
Chris saw the shocked expression on Ezra’s face and kept going before the stupid idiot could say something.
“Yes, you heard me. He’s going to get you back for all the things you did to me, all the name calling over the past two days, Buck and Vin’s attitude towards me because they felt they had to protect you! Like you need protecting, stupid smartass. He’s going to make you eat crap, get up before five, go to bed at five then make you do it all over again. And when you’re well enough to go back to work, I want you there at seven am sharp. Do you hear me Standish!”
“Sorry I lost you after you said you were staying in for a few more days.” Ezra forced himself into a sitting position. “Actually, I think I might go home now. What do you think Buck.”
“I think you’re an idiot who’s staying in a hospital bed until the doctor says you can go home.”
“Bastard!”
“That’s nothin’ Ezra. Chris has been calling me all sorts of names. He even hates me right now. Don’t you
Chris.”
“If I wasn’t in this damn bed I’d hit you right now.”
Buck winked at Ezra and walked over to Chris’ bed. He leaned over it and faced his cheek towards his friend. “Go on then Chris, if you want to hit me so badly then hit me.”
Chris smiled and Vin who was watching knew what was about to happen. Chris did hit Buck, he hit him hard enough to knock him off his feet.
“Vin Tanner! You’re next. I haven’t forgotten that I’m going to beat the living shit out of you.”
“See Ezra,” Vin shrugged at him, “you’re not the only that he hits.”
“But I didn’t do anything.” Ezra protested.
“All you have to do with Chris is get out of bed.”
“Vin,” Ezra motioned to him to come closer. Ezra wasn’t surprised when Buck joined his side. “I still don’t want to talk to him.”
“That’s okay Ezra.” Vin patted Ezra on the arm.
“Why did she have to die?” the Southerner whispered.
“Because four assholes decided it would be easier to kill her than to tell her to get the hell out of there.” Vin told him in a low voice. He was aware that Ezra didn’t want Chris to hear any of this.
“Why couldn’t I stop them?”
“Four men with guns, no one person could have stopped them Ezra.” Buck whispered back.
“What are you guys talking about?” Chris was curious.
“We’re not talking to you.” Buck stood up, poked his tongue out at Chris then returned to his position.
“I should have been able to do something.”
“You’re not God Ezra, if he didn’t do anything, what makes you think you could have.”
“I don’t know Vin. I just think . . . “
“Then don’t think Ezra. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was nothing you or anyone could have done to save her.”
“Vin, can I stay at your place when I get out of this dump.”
“Sure you can Ezra.”
“Hey, what about my place,” Buck complained, “you could stay with me and JD if you want.”
“Your place is a dump Buck, I wouldn’t go in there if I was healthy.”
“There’s gratitude for you. I beat the crap out of the asshole for you and you insult me.”
“You beat up Chris?” Ezra raised an eyebrow.
“No Ezra! Alkoyed.”
“Oh.”
“You think you can forgive Chris for what happened?” Vin was still whispering.
“Once I stop being angry at him, I might.” Ezra nodded. “More so if I can watch him beat the crap out of you.”
“That’s not going to happen Ezra. I’m not an idiot.”
“I want to know what you guys are talking about.” Chris demanded this time.
“Ezra’s escape plan.” Vin said.
“What! You’re not going anywhere and leaving me here.”
“We’re not talking to you right now Chris. You hit Ezra, you hit me . . . “
“You stuck your face in front of my fist, what was I supposed to do.”
“And you’re threatening to hit Vin. We don’t like that, so you can stay here.”
“You don’t mean that, do you.”
“You hit Ezra.” Buck repeated.
“Ezra,” Chris started, “I . . . hell, I’m not going to apologise for something I don’t even remember doing. Besides that, he probably deserved it.”
“I didn’t deserved it.”
“I thought you weren’t talking to me.”
“I’m not, I just thought I’d throw that in before you continue.” Ezra shrugged.
“That’s not it.” Chris smiled. “You want to talk to me, you just don’t want to be the one to give first.” he gave Ezra the finger. “I’m not talking to you Ezra Standish.”
“Now Chris is acting like a four year old.”
“We’re leaving.” Vin and Buck spoke together.
“You can’t leave me alone with him.” Chris warned them.
Ezra wanted to say the same thing but kept his mouth shut.
The two men didn’t listen to Chris’ complaints, instead they walked out of the room, allowing the door to slam close behind them.
Chris stared at Ezra, who stared back at him. Neither man flinched.
________________________________________
Buck Wilmington and Vin Tanner decided that they needed a well-deserved drink, maybe even get drunk. Tomorrow was a Saturday, they could stay in bed, suffer from a hangover and not care about anything or anyone. If Chris and Ezra ended up in a physical brawl, they weren’t going to be there to stop it, these two men no longer cared. As for the other members of the group, they knew they were already at their local hangout. The three men had refused to enter the hospital room that was holding a lot of anger. They were cowards. If you tore the shirts from their bodies, you would find a yellow streak down their backs.
Vin entered the bar first and made his way to the three men that were waiting for them. Cold beers were on the table, ready for Vin and Buck to drink, shots of whiskey stood beside the glasses. The whiskey quickly disappeared and so did the beer.
“JD, why don’t you get us another, and bring the bottle back with you.”
“How’s Ezra and Chris?” Nathan asked, his voice a little slurred.
“If you weren’t such a coward you would know.” Buck shot back at him.
“I’m not a coward!”
“Really.” Vin grabbed what was left of Nathan’s beer and downed it in one gulp.
“They're not talking to each other, I don’t know who’s going to break first.” Buck explained.
“I say Chris.” Josiah nodded.
“How would you know, you were too scared to make an appearance. Poor Ezra thinks you don’t like him anymore.” it’s was Buck’s turn to take a shot at the men. “JD I can understand, he’s still young and he shouldn’t see that sort of thing. It’s not good for him. But you, you’re supposed to stand by him, protect him from Chris’ wrath . . . “
“Chris’ wrath?” Josiah leaned forward, “where did you get that one from.”
“I do read you know.” Buck protested.
“Girlie magazines.” Vin joked.
“They have some good articles you know.”
“Really?” Vin was shaking his head.
“Yes really. Why only the other day I was reading one about how a certain drug can cure a stroke, well it’s a fifty percent chance and the stroke has to be caused by a blood clot, the other fifty percent is that it could kill by causing a haemorrhage.”
“Really?”
“Yes really.”
“Buck,” Nathan knew Buck could be stupid, but not this stupid, “that’s old news.”
“It was an old edition.”
________________________________________
Three Hours Later
“What the hell do they think they're doing?” Vin growled to no one in particular.
“Who?” Nathan who had his back to the door had no idea who Vin was talking about.
“Chris and Ezra.”
“They’re probably sleeping right now.” Nathan told him.
“Is that what they call sleeping these days.” Buck couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
“What?” JD frowned at Buck then looked over his shoulder to see what the two men were talking about. He nearly fell out of his seat at the sight.
Ezra was struggling to stay on his feet while he was assisting Chris who seemed to have lost one of his crutches. Chris was still wearing scrubs and Ezra was dressed in jeans and a lose fitting t-shirt. The two men slowly made their way to the bar. Ezra sat while Chris stood. The backs of both men were soaked with sweat. Ezra ordered drinks, then spoke to the barman, his thumb pointed over his shoulder towards the five men watching them.
“I think the drinks are on us.” Josiah read Ezra’s body language.
“They shouldn’t be here.” Nathan warned the others once he realised that the two subjects of the conversation were here in the flesh.
“You tell them that.” Buck growled at Nathan.
“I will.” Nathan stood up. “Josiah, want to give me a hand.”
“No.”
“I’m not going over there on my own.”
“See,” Buck smiled, “cowards.”
“I’ll go.” JD wasn’t scared of them, only because he knew the two men would never do anything to hurt him, verbally or physically.
The four men watched, intrigued by what was happening. It only took five minutes then JD returned to the table.
“Well?” Vin leaned towards him then looked at Ezra and Chris’ backs.
“Well what?” JD drank from his glass.
“What did they say! Are they going back to the hospital.” Nathan asked him.
“They said they weren’t talking to you guys.”
“What?” Buck couldn’t believe what he just heard.
“Chris and Ezra, said they weren’t talking to you guys.” JD repeated himself.
“They're not talking to us?” Vin shook his head in disbelief.
“Yeah, us as in you guys. They're still talking to me. In fact, I’m going to drive them home once they get drunk enough to forget their problems.”
“You’re taking them home!” Nathan growled. “They should be in a hospital bed!”
“Well, when I say home, I actually mean Vin’s place. You see, Vin said that Ezra could stay with him and they thought that Vin wouldn’t mind if Chris came too.”
“I really hate those two right now.” Vin growled.
~~The End~~
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
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