Chapter 2: Helping Hands
Series: Lessons in Love
Altnernate Universe Into The Fold
The late duty nurse was making her rounds and pushed the door open to check on the patient. Walking over to the bed she reached for the IV line and even though she'd been warned she was a little surprised to find that it was not attached to the patient. With a shake of her head she reached for the patient's arm and frowned when all she touched was the bed. Snapping on the light the nurse gave a small gasp when she found the hospital bed empty. After checking the bathroom she ran out and called security.
At that same moment a haggard barely lucent man exited the hospital dressed as an orderly and promptly hailed a taxi. A few minutes later this same man sat at his computer waiting for the letter he'd just typed to finish printing. Once it was done, he signed it and placed it in an envelope. Stumbling into his room he packed a small bag then reached into the back of his closet and removed a large case with a combination lock on it then headed for the door.
It took a couple of tries with his shaking hand, but he finally managed to get the car door unlocked. With a sigh he settled in behind the wheel and started the engine. He needed a hiding place and if it was one thing he knew it was how to hide. Pulling out onto the road he suddenly remembered that he knew someone that lived in the country south of here. He could stay with his . . . friend for a couple of days. South? He thought and then swore as he made an U-turn and after stopping at the post office he hurried on his way.
The sun was just appearing over the horizon as he pulled into Four Corners. With a frown he looked around and somehow didn't think the town would have been this big. For some reason he remembered the directions his friend had given him when they'd run into each other in Denver a few months back. Turning onto the dirt road leading to his friend's and his five adopted brothers' house he started having second thoughts and pulled to a stop behind a large tree. Maybe he should have called first. Well, no time like the present, he thought and took out his phone. Punching in the numbers, he waited for someone to answer.
~/~/~
Vin had thought about what Josiah told him off and on all night. And reluctantly admitted that his older brother was right. Once the challenge of getting a guy to come home with him past . . . so did Vin's interest. The ringing of the phone made him jump and broke him out of his thoughts. He snatched it up before it could wake everyone. "Yeah?" Vin said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"May I please speak with Mr. Josiah Sanchez?"
The Texan nearly dropped the phone as the sexiest voice he'd ever heard washed over him making him tingle. He'd always had a thing for accents. Especially southern ones. And this guy's husky southern voice caused an instant reaction within his body.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" he heard the voice say.
"Y..yeah, hold on just a moment," he finally managed to say. He turned to get his brother only to have Josiah walk into the room. "There's a guy on the phone with a sexy southern voice wanting to talk to you," Vin said handing the phone over.
"Hello?" Josiah said then yawned really big. "Hello?" he repeated.
"J..Josiah," the voice said causing the big man on the other end to almost drop his coffee cup.
"Ezra?" he asked. "Is that you? Where are you? Is something wrong? Talk to me, son."
"I . . . I need some assistance," Ezra said.
"Are you in trouble?"
"Aren't I always," he replied causing Josiah to smile.
"I'll help you any way I can," Josiah told him. "Where are you? Do you need directions?"
"Actually I'm in your driveway, behind a big oak tree," Ezra said.
Vin watched as Josiah walked to the door and looked toward the road. "Why didn't you just drive on up?"
"Well, I thought it prudent to call first."
"Ezra, Ezra, Ezra," Josiah mumbled, "you never cease to amaze me. Come on in and I'll fix you some breakfast."
"There's just one thang," Ezra said. "Oh, well, never mind you'll find out soon enough," he told him then hung up.
Vin stood beside Josiah as a shiny black Porsche pulled into the yard. "Damn, Josiah what's your friend do?" he asked.
Josiah pushed open the screen door and walked toward the car.
Curiosity got the better of Vin and he followed his brother. He watched as a man with chestnut colored haired stepped from the car and quickly put his jacket on. Even from where he stood Vin could see the cuts and bruises on the man's handsome face.
"Ezra!" Josiah exclaimed and went to take the smaller man into his arms only to be stopped by a look that Chris would have envied.
"No hugs, if you please," the Southerner said from where he stood on the other side of the car door. "I've had a rather rough night and don't think I could survive one of your bear hugs."
"Damn, Ezra you look awful," Josiah told him.
Ezra shot him a look and said, "Gee, thanks Josiah."
"Sorry, son, but you do. What happened? Are you hurt?"
"Would you mind if we went inside?" Ezra asked.
"Oh! Sure, come on."
Vin stared at the man as they approached and decided that even with the bruises and cuts he was the sexiest looking man he'd ever seen.
"This is, Vin Tanner, one of my brothers," Josiah said. "Vin this is Ezra Standish."
"Ezra," he replied and took the offered hand and felt a jolt of desire race up his arm as they touched. Ezra must have felt the same thing because he quickly pulled his hand free.
"Mr. Tanner," Ezra said then followed Josiah inside.
Vin was mesmerized. He'd never reacted like that to a man before. He grinned and winked at the green-eyed man when he turned back and looked at him. Well, now things are starting to look up around here, he thought to himself. That was until he walked back into the kitchen and saw his 'date' from last night enter the kitchen.
The Texan frowned as Dave, his date, eyed Ezra as he walked past him. Dave stepped up and kissed him lightly on the lips then said, "Call me sometime."
He just nodded his head as the man left, but knew he wouldn't. There wasn't any way Vin was going to let Dave near Ezra any time soon. For some reason Vin felt guilty that Ezra had witnessed the kiss. Looking at the shorter man Vin ran his eyes over him then gave a start and felt his face heat up at being caught staring. Ezra boldly met his gaze giving nothing away.
"So you did go out last night," Josiah stated causing Vin to look away.
"Yeah," was all he said. Vin watched as Ezra made a face as he took a sip of coffee and grinned. His coffee wasn't the weak at heart. Or those with a weak stomach.
"Have a seat Ezra. Stay awhile," Josiah told him as he almost stepped on him.
"Bossy ani't he?" Vin asked.
"Extremely," Ezra said as pushed away from the counter he'd been leaning against.
Vin exchanged a look with Josiah as they heard Ezra grunt as he sat down. "Are you okay?"
"Of course, why do you ask?"
They didn't get a chance to answer as Chris and the others walked into the room. After the introductions were made they all sat down and enjoyed the big breakfast that Josiah quickly prepared.
Vin frowned as he watched Ezra nibbled on a piece of toast. He could see a fine shine of sweat on the man's face and he was breathing kind of shallow like. Darting a glance over Vin saw that Josiah had noticed as well.
"Ezra are you okay?" Vin asked and went to touch him only to have his hand batted away.
Ezra was saved from answering as Nathan walked into the kitchen. "Hey whose fancy car?" he asked as he headed straight for the coffee pot. "Who made this?"
"Vin."
"Well, no coffee this morning then," he commented and poured himself a glass juice. "Why can't one of you ever make the coffee?"
"Because Vin us beats up," JD replied.
Vin and the others laughed as they heard Ezra say, "Your brother beats you up if you make coffee?"
"What?" JD asked with a grin of his own. "No, I meant he wakes up before the rest of us," he explained with a laugh.
The Southerner grinned and nodded his head in understanding.
"Ezra this is Nathan Jackson our other brother," Josiah told him and the two men nodded at each other in greeting. "The Porsche belongs to him."
"You drive a Porsche?" JD asked in awe and just resisted the urge to run to the window and look.
Ezra nodded his head.
"You guys aren't going to believe what happened. Jimmy and I had to transport a patient to Denver and when we got to there all we heard about was how some guy had walked right out of the hospital. Must have been someone important too 'cause there were cops and hospital security everywhere," Nathan told them with a grin. "They even searched the ambulance before we left."
Vin watched as a small smile played at the corners of Ezra's mouth and he found that he wanted to see this man smile. He gave a small jump as Josiah suddenly reached over and slapped Ezra on the back of the head.
"Do you mind?" Ezra stated then grinned as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Dammit Ezra!" Josiah snapped. "How badly are you hurt?"
The Southerner raised one eyebrow at the older man and asked, "What makes you think it was me?"
"Do you take me for a fool?" the older man wanted to know. "This is just your style. Now tell me how badly you're hurt?"
"I don't believe that's any of your concern."
"Tell me."
"No."
"Ezra . . ."
"Josiah . . ."
The two men stared at each other for a moment.
"Not enough to warrant an over night stay in that torture chamber," Ezra finally said.
"Don't make me get up," Josiah warned him.
"Go ahead," he said calling the big man's bluff.
They watched as Ezra began to weave in his chair and Vin pushed his chair back he fell to his knees beside him and asked again, "Are you okay?" Then placed a gentle hand on his forehead and frowned at how warm he felt. "Nathan I think he's got a fever."
Ezra got to his feet and said, "It nothing that a little sleep won't cure."
Nathan hurried to his side and swore at the blood he saw on his shirt through his open jacket. "You're bleeding. We need to get you to the hospital."
"No. I'm not going back to the hospital," he told them. "It's . . . not as . . . bad as it . . . looks," he continued in a breathless voice. "Please, Josiah, no hospital."
"I'll make you deal . . ."
"No. No deals. I'll leave . . ."
"You'd never make it to the door," Nathan told him.
"Wanna bet?" Ezra dared him. "I drove all night like this. Making it to the door . . . would be a piece of cake."
Vin found himself speaking before any of the rest of them could. "No hospital. I promise, Ezra," he said and took his arm. "I don't much care for that place either."
"Fine. He can rest in my room," Josiah said. "But you can carry his heavy ass up the stairs."
"Gladly," he said. "But let's put him in my room. It's closer."
"Oh, no we won't," the older man said.
"Why not? What's wrong with my bed? It's just as good as yours."
"Have you forgotten that you had company in your bed last night," Josiah reminded him.
Vin flinched and found he had no argument for that. "Fine," he conceded. Vin knew that he wouldn't want to sleep in Ezra's bed if he'd made love to another man. He tightened his hold on Ezra's arm. Vin felt an almost white hot flare of temper at even the thought of Ezra making love to someone else. Ezra was his dammit and he would not share him with anyone.
"Please, Mr. Tanner," Ezra said as he pulled his arm free, "I have enough bruises."
"Sorry," he mumbled. Vin didn't know where this possessiveness came from. Especially given that he didn't know squat about Ezra.
Continues in Discoveries