Follows The Saloon.
Disclaimer: The guys do not belong to me, they belong to Trilogy, Mirisch, MGM, and CBS. Though I think they have a better time with me.
Notes: Many, many thanks to my ever-loyal beta-reader, Kathye. She's the one that makes sure I don't keep repeating the same phrases over and over and over and adds in most of the commas since I'm still dealing with my comma phobia.
Ezra shut the door behind him and leaned back against it wearily. After a few moments, he rubbed his hands over his face then walked over to the window. He stared vacantly into the late night, lost in thought.A distressed sound came from the man in the bed. Ezra whipped around and was beside him in an instant.
JD was tossing back and forth, occasionally making a low moaning sound.
"...no...Buck, please...don't hurt him...please..."
Ezra could stand no more. He placed his hand on JD's chest and spoke softly into his ear. "It's all right. I'm here."
JD's eyes flew open. Surging up from the bed he wrapped his arms around Ezra and held on with all his strength. Still shaking from his dream, JD kissed Ezra fervently. Not giving him a chance to respond, JD kissed his way down Ezra's face until he was nuzzling the crook of Ezra's neck.
Wrapping his arms around JD, Ezra made a low, soothing sound and closing his eyes, pressed his cheek against JD's head.
When he felt JD's trembling begin to subside, Ezra started to pull back only to have JD tighten his arms around him and mumble, "Just a few more minutes?"
"All right." Ezra sighed contentedly, enjoying the closeness.
A short while later he felt JD pull back. He opened his eyes to find hazel ones filled with worry watching him.
Cupping Ezra's cheek, JD's thumb brushed back and forth. "You look tired. Have you gotten any sleep?"
Ezra caught the hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss in the palm. "I'm fine."
JD just looked at him without saying a word until Ezra found himself adding, "Really, I'm fine. I'll get some sleep later."
"No."
Ezra blinked in surprise.
"Not later. Now." JD's tone was firm.
"I don't want to leave you alone..." Ezra's voice trailed off as he protested.
"Good, because I wasn't suggestin' you leave." JD shifted over on the bed with a small wince.
Ezra looked at the door, then at JD, before moving to lay down beside him. The bed was small so it took a few minutes of maneuvering before they found a position that was comfortable for both of them. Wrapping his arms around the younger man, Ezra rested his cheek on JD's head and they both drifted off to sleep.
+ + + + + + +
Nathan waved good night to Vin before closing the door.
"I just don't understand what has Buck so riled, Josiah." Nathan glanced at his friend sitting on the bench outside the jail before continuing, "He kept going on about how Ezra was a bad influence on JD and he was going to ruin the boy's life."
"He say anything else?" Josiah asked in his deep voice.
"No. He passed out before he could say anything." Staring off into the street, Nathan missed the fleeting look of relief mixed with concern that crossed the preacher's face.
"Why now?" Nathan asked after pulling out a cigar and lighting it. He turned his head, catching Josiah's quizzical look.
"I mean, what's changed? I've been saying for a long time that Ezra was a bad influence." Nathan grimaced before admitting, "I know he tries to do the right thing, but a man don't change over night."
"Maybe he hasn't changed? Maybe we're just now seeing the truth." Josiah stood and stretched before stepping off the boardwalk. He adjusted his hat saying, "I think I'll stop in and see how our young friend is doing before turning in. You coming?"
Nathan's teeth flashed brightly in his dark face as he smiled at Josiah before motioning towards the jail door with his cigar. "Think I'll wait a little bit more and check on Buck before heading back."
"All right then. See you in the morning."
"Night, Josiah." Nathan took a deep drag on his cigar before slowly exhaling, watching his friend walk down the street.
+ + + + + + +
JD's eyes blinked open, finding Josiah standing in the doorway staring at the scene before him in surprise.
Shaking his head, Josiah chuckled. JD met his gaze squarely, not flinching.
"No wonder Buck's over a barrel."
Frowning, JD opened his mouth, but Josiah held a hand up and he closed it without making a sound. Josiah shut the door behind him and sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"Just answer a few questions first. Is he..." He nodded towards Ezra. "...the one you've been fretting over for the last few months?"
Bringing his hand up to rest on Ezra's arms, JD smiled, not wanting to move for fear of waking Ezra from his much needed slumber.
Josiah's gaze flickered up to look at Ezra before returning to JD. "Does he feel the same for you?"
JD's eyes shone. "Yes."
"More," Ezra said tenderly, opening his eyes. He tightened his arms around JD while continuing to rest his cheek on the black hair. Receiving a reassuring squeeze on his arms, he let his breath out slowly.
Josiah watched the brief interaction with bemusement. Looking at the floor for a few seconds, he cleared his throat and looked up to find green eyes watching him inquisitively.
"How is he?" Ezra asked.
"He'll be fine. Have one hell of a headache in the mornin' though."
JD stiffened in Ezra's arms as it dawned on him who they were talking about.
"What did Buck do?" He tilted his head back to see Ezra's face. When Ezra wouldn't look at him, he turned his dark eyes on the preacher and asked again, "What did Buck do, Josiah?"
"He had a little bit too much to drink and tried to start a fight..." Josiah paused before adding, "We have him in the jail cooling off. He was ranting about you and Ezra something fierce."
"Did he..." Ezra wasn't sure how to phrase his question, or even if he wanted to know.
"He didn't say anything specific. I don't think he's let himself think it through that far." Josiah looked at Ezra before adding, "It might be a good idea if you made yourself scarce for a few days."
"I think that might be wise. I have some things I need to get in Eagle Bend, perhaps a trip out of town would be in order. A few days might give Mr. Wilmington enough time to calm down and regain control of his actions." Ezra paused as a thought occurred to him. "Except that I am to watch over the town tomorrow while the rest of you go out and warn the surrounding ranches."
Josiah pursed his lips in thought. "Well one of the rest of us will have to remain in town with JD."
"I can watch over the town. I'm not hurt that bad." JD objected. Ezra and Josiah both looked at him steadily until JD sighed in acquiescence.
"Ezra," JD said softly, his head bowed as he stared at the bed covers, "be careful."
Ezra looked over at the older man, an unspoken plea in his eyes. Josiah nodded, stood up and headed towards the door.
"Good night. I'll let Vin know to wait until you're out of town before letting Buck out in the morning and we'll square your leaving with Chris."
"Thank you, Josiah," Ezra murmured just before the door closed behind the preacher.
Stroking JD's arm, Ezra tried to get him to relax. "JD...it will be all right." He reached out and placed his index finger under JD's chin, raising his head until JD was looking at him. Seeing the worry and fear in his eyes, Ezra bent his head and lightly kissed each eye closed, then brushed his lips over JD's.
JD's arm stretched up around Ezra's neck, his fingers tangling in his hair as he opened his mouth. Ezra made a small sound, accepting the invitation. His tongue slipped inside and began exploring, running against the back of JD's teeth. The world receding until it was just the two of them.
"What the hell is going on!"
Ezra and JD jerked apart, gasping for breath, to find a furious Nathan Jackson standing in the doorway.
"Nathan..."
"Mr. Jackson, I assure you..."
With a disgusted snort, Nathan waved them silent and moved to the foot of the bed.
"I think you should leave. JD needs his rest."
"Now, wait just a minute," JD huffed.
Ezra patted JD's shoulder comfortingly, saying, "He's right. You need to rest and besides..." Ezra ran his finger down JD's cheek and across his lips. "...I need to pack."
Seeing the worry still in his lover's eyes, Ezra leaned in and whispered in JD's ear, "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
"Love you Ez."
Hearing Nathan's warning growl, Ezra glanced warily at the healer before brushing JD's lips with his own.
JD watched Ezra leave the room before shifting down in the bed, already missing his lover's warmth. He glared at the man still at the foot of the bed, before resolutely closing his eyes.
"JD." No response. Nathan tried again, "JD, we should talk."
"Not now Nathan."
"I don't think you know what Ezra is gettin' you into..."
"I said Not. Now," JD growled menacingly.
Nathan took a step back. He nodded mutely before leaving the room, acutely aware of the glare directed at his back.
Standing outside, Nathan exhaled slowly and shook his head. This was not good. Not good at all. He looked down the main street and saw Josiah walking towards his church. Nathan rushed down the stairs and hurried after the older man. Josiah would know what to do.
"Josiah!"
The older man stopped at the base of the church steps and sighed. He was never going to get any sleep at this rate. "What is it Nathan?"
"We need to talk."
Looking at his friend with mild exasperation, Josiah opened his mouth to make an excuse when Nathan spoke again, "It's about JD and Ezra. I walked in on them."
Josiah raised an eyebrow, before gesturing for Nathan to go ahead of him up the stairs. Nathan opened the door and walked towards the front of the church. Josiah leaned against the railing, his arms folded across his chest.
"Like I told you outside, it's about JD and Ezra. They were....the two of them were..." Nathan stared at the stained glass intently. He stood stiffly in front of the pulpit, brushing his fingers across the wood as he tried to find the words.
"Nathan, just say it, whatever it is." Josiah looked across the room at the other man and grimaced. He had a suspicion he knew what was coming next.
The healer moved to the front pew and sat down heavily, his eyes staring straight ahead. "It's bad, Josiah, I still ain't sure I can believe what I saw." He swallowed convulsively before saying, "Ezra was...being intimate with JD."
Josiah sat down next to Nathan, bowing his head briefly before asking, "What did you see, exactly?"
"They were," Nathan grimaced, his chin on his chest as he looked at the floor. "...kissing." His head whipped up and around to stare as Josiah let out a sharp burst of laughter.
"Is that all?" Josiah chortled in relief.
"Is that all?" Nathan repeated incredulously. "You aren't shocked?"
"This isn't a surprise to me, Nathan. I've known for awhile." Seeing Nathan's outraged expression, Josiah covered his relieved smile with his hand.
Leaping to his feet, Nathan rounded on Josiah angrily. "How can you claim to be a man of god and say you don't care about this kind of behavior?"
"I never said I didn't care. I said I already knew," Josiah said soothingly. He motioned for Nathan to sit back down.
Shaking his head, Nathan stood in front of Josiah, his arms held rigid at his side. "What are you doing about it?"
"I'm supporting them the best I can." Josiah said seriously, looking up into the other man's face.
Nathan could not believe what he was hearing. "You aren't doing anything to stop it?"
"No."
"We have to protect JD. Ezra's just going to use him." Nathan paced a few steps away, his back to his friend. "JD don't know what he's gettin' into. He don't know what he really wants."
Josiah gave a small smile. "JD knows exactly what he wants. He wants Ezra."
Whirling around, Nathan said vehemently, "What? Are you listening to yourself?" His voice trembled from the strain of not shouting. "What they are doing is wrong! You, of all people, should know that!"
"Why are you so certain it's wrong?" Josiah watched Nathan continue to pace back and forth.
Pausing in front of the pulpit, Nathan rested his hand on the bible placed there. "Everyone knows that it's wrong. It's in the bible."
Josiah got up from the pew and stood next to Nathan saying, "People also know that the black man is inferior and they use the bible to prove that too."
"You don't believe that," Nathan stated firmly.
"No, I don't, but there are still some people who do."
Nathan realized he was being side-tracked and said abruptly, "It ain't natural."
"It's just as natural as the love between a man and a woman. This isn't a new thing Nathan. It has been around for a very long time. It was an accepted part of Greek and Chinese culture for many centuries. Even the Indians accept it. They would call JD and Ezra two-spirit people. Among the Mescalero Apache, they would be considered to be people of great power because they have maleness and femaleness totally entwined in one body."
Frowning, Nathan ignored what Josiah had said and took one last attempt to get Josiah to see his side. "It ain't right and we can't trust Ezra. He's just gonna hurt that boy."
"JD isn't a boy, Nathan. Young, yes, but not a boy. He has the right to make his own decisions."
Nathan shook his head. "I can't accept that Josiah. I have to do something." Nathan turned and walked away.
Halfway down the aisle in the center of the church, Nathan turned and gazed sadly at Josiah. "I was really hoping you'd support me in this."
fin
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to be continued in Recuperation and Plans