The Crow

People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a great sadness is carried with it, and the soul cannot rest. The sometimes, just sometimes, The Crow can bring the soul back to put the wrong things right.

THE BEGINNING…

Chris Draven and Buck Wilmington were the owners of a hot club called Heaven's Gate in Port Columbia, British Columbia. They had both known each other before their Navy Seal days and had always wanted to own a club, so when they retired from the Seals they decided to follow their dream. Buck and Chris both had apartments over the club and lived there to look after their investment. Chris was married to Sarah and they were expecting their first child. Buck had an adopted son called JD who had just been assigned to Vice.

Buck adopted JD at fifteen when JD's mother died. Since Buck was his only living relative JD was sent to live with him, and Buck asked if he could adopt him figuring it would cause less trouble for both of them in the long run. Both acknowledge that their relationship is more of a big brother and little brother than father and son, but it just seemed right for both of them and they were happy.

Buck and JD were away on a camping trip to celebrate JD's new job when five men broke into Chris and Sarah's apartment, brutally murdering both of them. Sarah was shot and stayed alive long enough to give descriptions of the suspects only to die on the way to the hospital; Chris, on the other hand, was killed instantly when he was thrown through the bay window of their warehouse apartment.

The two homicide detectives assigned to the case were Nathan Jackson and Vincent Tanner. They had been partners for three years and had seen many murders, but this one hurt them the worst. When Tanner looked at the body of Chris Draven it was as if part of his soul had died with the man lying at his feet. An overwhelming rage was lit within Tanner, and he promised the dead man that he would find the people who had done this to he and his wife. Jackson was making the same promise to Sarah as she died in his arms.

Vin Tanner was and is the best homicide detective in the Port Columbia PD; his skill at finding evidence and tracking down suspects and his ability with a gun had already reached legendary proportions within the police department. The other detectives never knew what to make of the man, for he was quiet and still like the ocean before a storm breaks and nothing could rattle him, but when he was stirred to anger woe to whoever had caused it. He was also different in that he made no secret that he was raised on a reservation and practiced his Native American beliefs. What he did keep quiet about was that he was a Shaman trained by his grandfather to be there for the Crow.

Both detectives kept their promise and had formed close ties with Buck Wilmington and JD Dunne during the year of trying to track down the Draven murderers, but they were not having much luck. Someone was interfering with the case and pressure was being put on Tanner and Jackson to close it as unsolved - their Captain, Guy Royal, being the one to pressure them the most.

Ezra Standish is the lead singer for a group called the Witching Hour, which had become the house band for Heaven's Gate. There is more to the man than anyone knows, for he is a warlock born with the capability of manipulating his surroundings through the living energy that surrounds everything. Figuring that he could use his abilities to protect those that couldn't protect themselves Ezra had joined the CIA and had become one of their best agents, but because truly unusual and spooky occurrences had happened while on various assignments he remained partnerless. These occurrences also had the other agents walking warily around him. Then, after an assignment had gone horribly wrong, it was decided by the brass that he needed an extended medical leave to recover.

Ever since the incident his powers have become unreliable and can have interesting results if he is rushed; his singing also has interesting results on the people in the club and things are never dull when he performs. Unknown to the other men, though, he had not come to Heaven's Gate by accident; while he was recuperating at his mother's villa in France Ezra received a visit from Director Owen Travis asking him to investigate the Draven murders. Something told him he had to help, and the band was born.

With his powers Ezra has access to the spirit realm, which will allow him to become the link between Chris and Sarah Draven.

Nathan Jackson was on his way to becoming a doctor when his father was murdered by group of racists. He then decided that he could do more as a cop and joined the police force instead. Jackson and Ezra Standish are both leery of each other. Jackson has noted the strange things that occur whenever Standish is around, but because he is grounded in only facts he always assumes that Standish is trying to pull some sort of con on he and his new friends; since he doesn't have any proof, he constantly watches the man. Standish, on the other hand, doesn't trust Jackson because he figures that if the man knew his true nature he would turn him over to the authorities to be studied.

The same couldn't be said for Vin and Ezra's relationship, for both recognized a fellow practitioner of the occult and welcomed each other at once. Over the course of the year they have formed a deep bond of friendship and trust, over the objections of Nathan.

Josiah Sanchez is a bookstore owner who specializes in the occult and can help the Crow to learn its true purpose and master its powers. He is also teaching Ezra about his powers and pushing him to grow. Unknown to Ezra, whom he supplies with the books and equipment for casting spells, Josiah is actually his father.

Chris Draven and CIA Director Owen Travis had had a long and friendly history together. While in the Navy Seals, Chris and Travis' son Steven met and became friends; both Buck and Chris were invited to the Travis home for holidays and vacations. Travis took a liking to both men, and when Chris was murdered he kept an eye on the case; when he noticed that the officers in charge of the case were being pressured to close it he became very suspicious and decided to ask Ezra to investigate to find out what had really happened. There were two reasons why Travis picked Ezra, the first being Ezra's outstanding investigation record and the second that he was worried about the man's condition. He hoped that this would help Ezra to recover from his ordeal and yet keep his mind busy.

And so the cast was set and unknown forces, both good and evil, occult and mortal, had arranged themselves around the seven men. The new battle would be fought between good and evil and the outcome no one could know, but the fighting spirit of the seven men would ensure that the battle would be truly Magnificent.

CHAPTER 1: THE RETURN

A man and woman stood on a hanging rope bridge suspended over a gorge with a wild river running through glorious foliage at the bottom. Both sides of the bridge were shrouded in mist, not showing what was waiting on the other side. The man had stopped in the middle of the bridge and the woman had turned to face him.

The man was tall, around six feet, slender but well built. His blond hair caught the filtered sunlight and spun a halo of light around his head while his blue-green eyes shifted color with his thoughts and moods. As he looked at the woman before him the love they shared was almost visible between them, but six ropes of light had tied themselves to his form and those were what made him stop.

The woman was shorter and more slender, but an iron will showed underneath the frail guise of femininity. Her soft, long auburn hair played in the wind and light, making it blaze with the colors of fire. Her green eyes were filled with love but also with sadness at what caused her soul mate to stop.

Chris looked into his wife's beautiful face and knew he could not stay. The need for vengeance and the tug of lifelines from the other side were calling for him to return.

Sarah could see the six lifelines that tied her husband to the living world and knew he had to return. Three of the lifelines were Buck, JD and Detective Jackson, the other three were unknown to her; but if her husband did not return those six other lives would be wiped out. Jealousy flared for a moment as she saw that two of the lifelines had attached themselves to her husband's soul and heart. Could she share her husband's heart and soul with two strangers? But as she looked closer she saw that those ties had always been with her husband and always would be, through every lifetime they shared.

Realizing he would not leave her unless she gave her permission for him to do so, she gently cupped that sweet, loving face in her hands and burned his features into her heart and mind. Softly she kissed him and said, "Go, Chris; there are six people who need you to return. Find the six, Chris, for if you do not they will die as well and evil will walk the world. There are two who are part of your heart and soul; let them in, for then each of you will be made whole."

Still Chris hesitated, not wanting to leave his beloved wife. Sarah simply smiled and told him, "I will wait here for you, Chris. Once you return we both will go into the Light. Now go, you have work to do."

Taking one last look at his wife, Chris Draven jumped over the edge of the bridge and disappeared…and a Crow went with him.

Chris Draven landed naked back in the apartment he'd shared with Sarah when they were alive, one year after their deaths. He saw that the furniture had been moved over to one corner and was blanketed by a sheet to protect it from the dust that covered everything. He then passed out.

The Crow that returned with the man settled quietly on one of the rafters in the apartment, keeping watched over the unconscious man. Then from the shadows stepped a Wolf and a Cougar, both of which made their way cautiously over to the man. Upon seeing its brother spirits the Crow cawed a greeting, which was returned. A silent conversation took place among the three spirit guides and then the Wolf and Cougar silently disappeared into the shadows from which they'd come.

Downstairs, Ezra was just finishing up his last set for the evening when he felt the birth of the Crow in the abandoned upstairs apartment. Quickly finishing and calling goodnights to his fellow band members, Ezra escaped back to his room to retrieve the items he'd created a year ago.

Vin and Nathan had noticed Ezra's hasty retreat, which went against his usual routine of sitting and talking to the other patrons of the bar; both instinctively knew something was up and followed the entertainer back to his quarters. Nathan thought he finally had something to nail the little weasel on. Vin, on the other hand, had felt the emergence of the Crow at the same time Ezra had.

Vin and Nathan arrived just as Ezra was exiting his quarters with what looked like folded leather clothing. To Vin's eyes it glowed faintly and he realized it was clothing that would protect the identity of the Crow from those who might try to use it for their own ends. Nathan, however, grabbed the leather clothing from Ezra and growled, "What are you up to, Ezra? What con are you up to now?"

After a year of putting up with Nathan's sly comments on his intentions and his character, Ezra snapped. He let loose with a right-hand cross that knocked Nathan on his ass. Bending to retrieve the clothing, he snarled into the detective's face, "Stay out of it. You wouldn't believe it if you saw it with your own eyes - or if it came and bit you on the ass."

Nathan's eyes burned and a triumphant grin appeared on his face, "I finally have you, Standish, for assaulting a police officer. You're going away for a long time if I have my way."

Vin had had enough of Nathan's hatred for the southerner as well and growled down at him, "No you won't, Nathan; you deserved it and I will side with him. You may be my partner, but you're blinded by something that Ezra didn't have a hand in. So leave him alone." Grabbing Ezra, he headed down the hall to the stairwell for the third floor.

Nathan sat on the floor and realized he'd had it coming - from both of his friends, for that was indeed what they were. Vin had never been wrong about anyone and could see through cons quicker than Nathan could; for Vin to defend Ezra meant that he did trust the southerner.

As to Ezra, Vin had always treated him with respect and dignity even when Nathan laid into him for any and all imaginary slights. Getting up, he followed the two men upstairs, hoping an apology would make a start at repairing two friendships.

When he got to the top of the stairs he saw the door open. Looking in, he saw both of his friends covering up a naked white man by wrapping him in blankets. When Nathan got closer he gasped; the unconscious man was no other than Chris Draven, a man who should be lying in his grave instead of lying naked on the floor of his abandoned apartment.

CHAPTER 2: VIN'S POV

One part of my brain had crawled into a corner and sat down in shock at the impossibility that rested naked on the dusty floor. The other part of my mind was rejoicing that this man had come back and I felt whole for the first time in my life.

Then I remembered something, a legend in my tribe that my grandfather had told me of. The legend told of seven warriors who were closer than brothers for they shared their lifelines with each other. Some of the stories said they shared themselves with one another as mates, while other stories told of the love of brothers so deep they would die for one another. These legendary warriors were fated to be born and to die over and over again to protect good from evil in many realms and times.

To know these men of legend it was told to look for one who is the leader and was Vengeance, his sign the Crow. Next would be the man of courage who walked in nature and his sign would be the Wolf. The third man would be the heart of the group and his sign the Cougar. The cougar was said to be quick of mind and humor but warning was given to take care of the him for he would be the one to try to sacrifice himself and without the cougar all would suffer. The fourth would be the man who is the protector and lover and his sign would be the Stag. The oldest would be the one of wisdom who talks with many spirits, his sign the Owl, and the youngest would be their innocence and gentleness, his sign the Whale - but like the whale he could kill with one blow. And last of the seven would be the healer of minds and souls, and his sign would be the Turtle.

To my astonishment I saw four of the spirit signs on the men in the room. Ezra was the Cougar, Nathan the Turtle, Chris was the Crow and I the Wolf. I instinctively knew that Buck was the Stag and JD was the Whale, but who was the Owl?

I took Chris' body into my arms and looking down at him I realized that I was bonded to this man by my heart and soul. But I wasn't the only one, for Ezra's heart and soul were bound to Chris as well. At this astonishing fact I looked up into a pair of beautiful but shocked green eyes and a moment of silence reached around us; and in that moment I touched his gentle, battered heart and soul and they were healed as he healed mine. We were bound, bound to each other as we were to the man sheltered between our bodies.

I had been attracted to Ezra from the first time I had seen him on stage and heard that smooth voice, watched that wonderful body as he moved to the music. When our eyes met, I'd felt his magic and desire had sizzled the air between us. That had shocked me, for there were not that many magic users and he was strong, very strong, but his control was weak and his shields were leaking. Then I'd seen it, the fear in his eyes, and I'd known then that someone had tried to take his power and had hurt him physically, mentally and emotionally. That was why his shields were leaking. His pain had called to my Shaman abilities and had recalled similar memories buried in my own mind and heart.

With my help he was slowly healing, although every once in a while someone would move too quickly or startle him in some way and I would see fear shine in his eyes. Ezra had then started to help us organize our information and had run down leads that wouldn't talk to us but would to him. I started to fall in love with that quick and mischievous mind, the gentle but battered spirit, the powerful warlock and the singer of souls.

But I'd also had to face the fact that I had fallen in love with Chris Draven, a dead man. It was hard for me to accept, but the more that I learned about Chris the more I wanted to know. Ezra and I had discussed it and tried to understand why we were so obsessed with the man who had died, but we couldn't find a reason. We were driven to learn about the man through talking with his friends, who made me envious of the fact they'd gotten to know him in life and I never could. Even that first night I saw him I'd sat in the morgue just looking at him, wishing that he was still alive, trying to understand why it felt like a piece of my soul had disappeared.

I felt my Shaman abilities tripled and stabilized by my bond to Ezra and Chris, allowing me to freely touch their power. Then I embraced my wolf spirit as it awoke from its slumber, bringing with it a desire to protect my mates. Now I had both my heart and soul back where they belonged and NO ONE was going to take them from me this time, and I accepted my fate with joy. I would protect what is mine, and the only way to harm them would be through me.

CHAPTER 3: EZRA'S POV

When I first came upon the Crow he was lying in a pool of moonlight that made his skin look like silver and I gasped, for I had never seen a more perfect form than the one before me. I had seen marble statues created by masters that were beauty incarnate but even they paled next to the body of Chris Draven.

I grabbed a dust cover from the furniture to wrap his body in to keep him warm. He lay unconscious, not moving or breathing, and if not for the aura of power that flowed around him one would think him newly dead. As I touched him that power flowed into me; I felt something stir and cat-like stretch awake in my soul and I was made whole. Then I realized that I was bound to this being heart and soul. That frightened me and all I wanted to do was run and hide, but I couldn't because I had seen the signs; if I ran, I would die as would many others and that must not be.

Vin was kneeling by Chris and was cradling him in his arms, and a look of wonder crossed his face as he beheld the man in his embrace. Then as had happened to me a burst of power flew into him and I watched as his powers stabilized. He looked up and for a moment I looked into a wolf's gaze, but it was gone in a blink and Vin's eyes … I was drowning in the blue depths and felt our battered hearts and souls touch and be healed.

I had been attracted to my Shaman from that first night we met. He'd walked into the club and it was like something as powerful and yet as gentle as nature herself had swept through me. It chased all the evil away and for the first time in months I felt safe. Then I'd looked over the sea of other faces to be captured by eyes so blue that they mesmerized me. In those eyes I saw help and understanding and knew he had gone through something like I had. My protector had come and I sang and performed only for him from that night onwards.

Vin had been gentle all those months, helping me regain my control and face my demons. Nothing I'd told him had made him think less of me and he helped me to rebuild my shattered self with encouragement and love. For I knew he loved me as I loved him, but my demons and his had to be slain before we could take that next step. Then while helping to solve the Draven murders I found myself thinking of another man, one who was beyond the veil of life, and I'd found myself falling for Chris as had Vin. We'd talked about why we would feel something for someone who'd died before we could ever meet. It became an obsession for both of us to find out more about the man and to punish those who had taken him from us.

Now everything made sense, for the knowledge that I had been bound to both men as a friend and as a mate through many lifetimes surged through me like a flood, washing away all my doubts and fears of abandonment and betrayal. And as I accepted this bond between myself and the two other men I felt the power of the Crow, Shaman and Warlock merge together to fulfill the prophecy of Albion.

The prophecy foretold of a time when a battle would rage between the forces of good and evil, which will bind the powers of death, nature and spirit into one. If that should occur then the time of battle was at hand. Then should be looked for the lover, the child, the healer, and the sage, for they would join with the three and as seven stand against the forces of evil. And if anyone one of those were not found evil would win the battle and good might lose the war.

CHAPTER 4: CHRIS'S POV

The first thing I noticed was the terrible pain that affected every nerve ending in my body - it was like my whole body had fallen asleep and was slowly waking up. The next thing I noticed was that someone was cradling my head in their arms and someone else was holding my hand. Both of them trying to help me with gentle caresses to my face and murmured words of comfort whispered to me.

Opening my eyes I was captivated by two pairs of eyes, emerald green and sapphire blue, and something within me connected to them. Then from deep within my being came the knowledge that I knew both of these men and they were here to help me. Sarah's words came back to me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Go, Chris; there are six people who need you to return. Find the six, Chris, for if you do not they will die as well and evil will walk the world. There are two who are part of your heart and soul; let them in, for then each of you will be made whole."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

… too much pain to understand.

… too tired to understand.

I tried to move but my body was sluggish. I could see that I was resting on the floor of our apartment, but it was different. It looked like no one had live there for months, that couldn't be right.

"Rest. Don't move, let me and Ezra help you," said a gentle raspy voice with what sounded like a Texas drawl. Ezra must be the name of the green-eyed man who was gently holding me down.

The blue-eyed man then turned to Ezra and asked, "Ez, could you do something? We have to get him off the floor."

With a flash of a dimpled smile the man answered, "I think you'd better keep an eye on Nathan, Vin, we don't want him to have a heart attack." Then with a wave of his hand the furniture started to move and settled in the positions that it had occupied while Sarah was alive.

OH GOD! SARAH!

I didn't know that I had cried that out loud but suddenly I was held in a warm, gentle embrace and Ezra's soft southern voice whispered, "Everything is all right, Chris. No one can hurt her now. Let it out."

Then gentle hands caressed by back and Vin's voice, tight with rage, whispered, "Don't worry Chris. We will make them pay for what they did to you both and what they tried to rob us of."

REVENGE! YES!

That was what burned in me; the need for revenge, to tear apart those who harmed what was MINE! I held on to the two men who offered me shelter from the storm of my emotions and knew that they would join me in my quest. I wasn't alone, and the flames of rage that were simmering in both of them flared into an inferno that matched my own. Sarah told me to find the six they will help me. I had found two, I was sure about that, but her last remark still didn't make sense. Sarah was the only one who'd ever made me whole and without her there was nothing but revenge…so who were the other two that she'd said would make me whole and themselves as well?

I don't know how much later it was, but once I was calm enough, my two friends gently picked me up off the floor and helped me to the bed. My limbs seemed too weak for me to walk without their support. They covered my nakedness with blankets and tucked me in as if I were a child, and then they sat beside me and each held one of my hands.

Gently they commanded me to sleep, for tomorrow would be the start of our quest.

CHAPTER 5: NATHAN'S POV

I watched my partner as he cradled the head of a dead man in his arms, and then a glow radiated from the dead man and surrounded both Vin and Ezra. I started forward, fearing that it was some type of chemical reaction, but it faded leaving the three men no worse for wear.

Then I watched as my straight partner looked into Ezra's eyes and was lost. I'd never seen him interested in anyone, male or female, the entire time I'd worked with him and the only one I'd ever heard him mention was a woman by the name of Charlotte Richardson. Vin never said much about her, but my impression had been that she'd decided to seduce him for fun. Ever since then he seemed to shun any relationship with anyone except friendship.

Most of our fellow officers had noticed Vin's lack of social life, and his complete indifference to both sexes had them wondering if maybe he was involved with a woman on the reservation but no one knew for sure, not even me. Others though he was a freak but would never say that to his face; they feared this soft-spoken man for two reasons. The first was his formidable fighting skill and the second, his practical jokes that could strike anywhere and anytime. So for the most part the other officers left him alone.

Now looking at him, I realized that he had fallen hard for both men and, judging by Ezra's expression, he had fallen just as hard. I didn't know what to make of it since neither of them had seemed to be attracted to the other before now.

Could it be some drug that was making them act this way?

The man lying protected between the two of them was obviously part of some trap, but unwilling or not he needed help. I knelt next to Vin and reached out to check the man's pulse but could not find one and his skin was cold to the touch. "Vin, he's dead. Why don't I get some uniforms and we'll find out what … HOLY SHIT!"

What the hell!

The dead man's eyes were open and he was moving.

NO WAY IN HELL this was happening.

I pushed myself as far from the ... thing ... as I could get and tried to figure out how this could be possible. The only possibility other than a dead man coming back to life was that I must be having a hallucination.

That was it! Standish must have knocked me out and all this was a dream.

I could hear Standish and Tanner talk, but couldn't understand any of the words, my mind was too much in shock.

NO, THIS HAD TO BE A DREAM! I'M DREAMING!

Then as I watched, the furniture seemed to dance into place like some crazy version of a Disney cartoon.

And then everything started to dim and it was like a curtain had came down on this strange play and everything went black.

CHAPTER 6 BUCK'S POV

It had been a good night, Chris would have been happy about how successful the club had become.

If he'd still been alive.

I eased my tire body down onto the barstool. I was getting to old for these late nights and too old to outlive good friends. Jessie must have sensed my mood because he placed a single shot glass of whiskey in front of me as I remembered the two friends I'd lost one year ago today.

I'd reached for the whiskey and started to lift it to my lips when I noticed how my hand was shaking. I had to restrain myself from smashing the glass into the bottles over the bar as my rage and grief overtook me. I wanted to tear something apart to ... to ... FIND THE BASTARDS WHO HURT MY FAMILY!

Even after a year the rage and grief still sometimes caused me to lose my control, but JD, my boy, helped me and kept me focused. The first few days after their deaths JD had been a rock and I was so proud of him. Even though he'd been grieving as much as the rest of us he'd made the arrangements for Sarah's and Chris' funerals and comforted the rest of us until we could stand for ourselves. Then he grieved.

I remembered when we returned early from our camping trip to find the club had become a murder scene and the cops told us that Sarah and Chris were dead. That whole night was a blur except for when I'd had to identify the bodies and had seen what they had done to my friends.

The only good thing that came out of that day was the friendship that JD and I had formed with the two detectives. Nathan Jackson and Vin Tanner had become good friends and their dogged attempts to find the murders had earned my respect. The four of us worked at trying to solve the case despite Captain Royal's attempts to close it. All four of us have started to receive threats to drop the case, but instead we kept it low key enough so that the threats stopped.

Ezra had seen us working on the case and had asked to help. At first all us except for Vin had brushed him off, for we all thought what could a singer know about detective work? Boy, were we wrong. He'd picked up leads that we'd dropped because no one wanted to talk to us, but for Ezra they spilled their guts out. He'd also help to organize the data we had collected and now we might be close to finding our suspects.

Checking the time, I decided to wait for JD to come home from his shift; I knew that he would like to join me as we toasted our missing friends.

CHAPTER 7: JD'S POV

I stood outside of the club and remembered that night a year ago. Our camping trip had been cut short because of flooding and we returned home that same night. Home to where two ... no three ... of our family had died.

Chris and Sarah would have had a son today.

If they had lived.

Now there is nothing except for Buck and me and three new friends to help us find out what really happened and why they were taken from us.

I breathed in the damp air and tasted the sea in it. Tonight was very much like that terrible night; the city of Vancouver and its suburbs were covered with a fine mist of fog that made everything gray and blurry and even the sounds seemed somehow muffled and eerie like those in old black and white English murder movies - except that tonight there were no flashing red lights, no reporters asking questions and taking pictures, no officers and no crowds to keep back. It was just him.

That night I'd had to grow up and be there for Buck. Even though he'd adopted me when I was sixteen he was more of a big brother than a father to me and that was fine with the both of us. I had never seen him so broken and Buck had seemed much older than his thirty-four years. He'd been my rock of safety when my mother, his cousin, had died and had saved his grief till later, so I had done the same for him.

I think the worst moment was when we'd had to identify Sarah and Chris. They had beaten Chris pretty badly, but from what Sarah had said he'd taken on all of them and had been wining when one came up behind him and cold cocked him. Then while they held him they raped Sarah and shot her when they were through. Sarah had told Nathan that they'd laughed as they threw Chris out the window and he'd tried to take them with him for what they had done. He hadn't succeeded.

Rage burned in me, rage and the desire for revenge. People have told me that I have changed since the murders and I've agreed with them; the grief and rage had forged me into a weapon of justice. Sometimes for Buck's sake I'll allow myself to become like I was before Chris and Sarah were taken, but it has become hard for me to do.

Taking a last breath I entered the club to find Buck. I didn't have to go far, he was waiting at the bar for me with two shots of whiskey.

Without turning he asked, "Good shift?"

Coming up along side of him I picked up the shot glass he slid towards me. "Yep. It's been pretty quiet, but I feel that something is going down and soon." Taking a sip of the whiskey I asked him, "Any trouble tonight?"

A lopsided grin appeared on his face. "Nope, for some reason nothing unusual occurred during any of Ezra performances."

I felt my eyebrow rise at that, for Ezra's performances are never dull or normal. I have seen two people fall in love at a glance, couples suddenly break up and men and women suddenly realize that they were gay, straight or bi. There had even been one woman who gained her eyesight back after being blind for ten years.

Looking around I didn't see our three friends so I asked, "So, seen Nathan, Ezra or Vin tonight?"

"They went upstairs after Ezra's last performance and I haven't seen them since." He downed the rest of his whiskey before continuing. "Come on, let's go and see what those three are up to. Vin probably has been refereeing all night and could use our help."

Grinning I finished my drink and followed him upstairs, both of us knowing Jessie would lock up for us. I didn't notice at first, but the door to Chris and Sarah's apartment was open. Alarm bells went off in my head when I saw it. Pulling my gun, I shoved Buck behind me as I quietly walked down to the stairwell. Doing a quick check to see if anyone was waiting on the stairs and seeing no one, I ascended the stairs expecting anything but what I saw.

The apartment was back to the way Sarah had arranged it and Nathan was out cold on the couch with a blanket covering him. Checking to see if there were any intruders I made my way to Nathan and felt for a pulse. Feeling a strong beat I then checked for any indication that he was wounded or concussed; finding nothing I gently shook him awake but covered his mouth in case the intruders were still present.

His eyes flew open and he was instantly alert. I removed my hand and leaning down towards him I whispered, "Where are they?"

Nathan looked at me in total confusion and asked in a puzzled whisper, "Where's who?"

"The ones who did this to you."

Before Nathan could answer, Vin answered, "JD, there are no intruders so please put the gun down." I turned to look at Vin as he stood in the doorway of the bedroom. He looked okay but there was a tension in his body that told me something was up. Nevertheless I put the safety back on and re-holster the gun.

"Then what the hell are you and Nathan up here for and why is the furniture out?" snarled Buck as he came into the Draven apartment. He hadn't been up here in over eight months, not since we packed up everything. He didn't allow anyone in here and had changed the locks so that he had the only key.

Sometimes I think he shut up the apartment because deep down he was hoping that they might come back. But the dead don't come back, that only happens in Hollywood.

"Buck, I think you should calm down. There's someone here that will need your help, but you've got to remain calm," was Vin's reply.

Nathan sat up with a groan and shakily said, "Then it wasn't a dream. OH God!"

The hairs on the back of my neck just stood on end and all my cop instincts were wailing on full siren. Both Buck and I exchanged glances and confirmed that both of us knew something had happened that wouldn't make any sense.

Buck walked very carefully to the armchair next to the couch and sat down slowly, almost as if Vin was a deer that he thought might leap away at any time in fear. "Okay Vin, I'm calm. Is it Ezra, did something happen to him?"

Vin simply leaned against the doorway and said, "Nope, pard, Ez is just fine. It's someone that you haven't seen in almost a year, but he's not the same person that you knew. Being dead does that to a person."

"What?!" was the joint reply from both Buck and I. The only dead people we hadn't seen in almost a year were Chris and Sarah.

CHAPTER 8: REUNIONS

Ezra and Vin had both felt the warning the wards gave when Buck and JD made their way into the apartment. Vin had then motioned for Ezra to stay and look after the unconscious man while he dealt with the three men in the living room.

Ezra couldn't help but laugh when they realized that Nathan had fainted at the sight of the future moving by itself; Nathan's logical and factual brain obviously hadn't been able to process the impossibility he was seeing and had simply shut down so he didn't have to witness any more. They'd picked up the unconscious man and dumped him on the couch, figuring he would wake up on his own. They'd then made their way back into the bedroom to be near the man who had bound them together.

Ezra could hear Vin trying to calm Buck down and the worry in Buck's voice when he asked about him lightened his heart for it showed that the man cared about him. Knowing that Vin would lead the three men back into the bedroom Ezra gently shook Chris awake. "Come on, Chris. Someone is here to see you. Wake up, Chris."

A pair of blue-green eyes looked up, slightly glazed. "Ezra? What is it?"

Ezra helped Chris to sit up so that he could slip in behind him. Settling Chris' head and back against his body brought a sense of peace and calmness to his being that he had been missing all his life. He gently caressed Chris to comfort him and relieve some of the pained shivers that racked the man's body.

Both Vin and Ezra had talked while Chris rested and his body adjusted to being the Crow. Each of them realized that nothing could be done until after the Crow's mission of vengeance had been completed, but with that completion Chris would cross back into the land of the dead and there was the possibility that either they would join him on that journey or that they would be driven insane from the tearing of the bonds. Either way they would not survive long without him.

A pact had been formed between Ezra and Vin not to tell Chris, for if he found out he would not complete his mission and that would result in the death of hundreds. Each man had confided in the other about their people's prophesies and had realized that they were on the front lines of a battle they could not afford to lose, for if they did evil would have won a major victory and that could not be allowed to happen. What was the cost of two lives compared to the welfare of hundreds or even thousands of others? So it was agreed upon that if they did not die with Chris then they would take each other's lives before the madness could take over, for in their insanity they could easily destroy what so much had been sacrificed to gain, and this could never be.

Vin straightened up and, looking at Buck and JD said, "Buck, JD…it's Chris. He came back from the dead but he isn't the same person…"

Before Vin could even finish Buck, JD and Nathan had pushed their way past him and crowded into the bedroom to look at the man lying cradled in Ezra's arms.

Buck backed up against the wall and slid down it as shock took over, staring at the form of his oldest friend who was blinking sleepy eyes at him. JD, on the other hand, had a completely different reaction and attacked the man with his fists, angrily snarling at him, "Who are you? How dare you? What the HELL do you want?"

Ezra had expected this reaction from Buck, not JD, but he nevertheless wrapped his body around Chris to protect him from the young man's rage. Vin and Nathan in the meantime pulled an angry JD away from the two men on the bed while he snarled at Ezra, "This is some con of yours! Get the hell out of here and take that fake with you!"

Vin saw the hurt that struck his green-eyed mate and the wolf in him reacted. Grabbing JD, he threw him into the wall, pinning him there and snarled into his face. Gone was the peaceful and quiet man, in his place stood a man with the golden eyes of a wolf. "You young fool, Ezra isn't pulling a con; that man is CHRIS DRAVEN!"

JD was so wrapped up in his rage that he ignored the changes in Vin and snarled back, "Chris Draven is dead! No way that's him."

Buck had recovered somewhat from his shock and, ignoring JD and Vin's heated exchange, made his way to the bed. Sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed he took a good look at this man that bore a striking resemblance to his dead friend. Licking his bottom lip in nervousness he asked, "Chris ... is ... are you..."

Chris looked at his shocked friend and answered, "Yeah Buck, it's me. I don't know how or why, but I'm here."

Needing to make sure that this man was Chris Draven, Buck then asked, "Chris, could I see your arm?"

Chris realized that Buck was only making sure that he was who he said he was and nodded his consent. Buck took Chris' arm and turned it so that an oddly-shaped scar was visible. Buck knew that there was no one who knew about that scar except for Sarah, Chris and himself. The scar had occurred the morning of the murders when Sarah had accidentally burned Chris with her curling iron; the autopsy had included the burn as part of the beating Chris had suffered, so there was no actual record of it except in memories of the three people who had been there when it happened.

Buck's hand tightened on Chris' arm as the reality of the proof sank in. Then with a joyful cry of "Chris!" he enfolded his old friend in his arms and shed tears of happiness as both old friends held each other and reaffirmed their bond.

The fight between JD and Vin stopped at Buck's cry and JD tried to break away from Vin to prevent Buck from believing a lie. "Buck. BUCK! That can't be Chris. We both saw the bodies. That ain't Chris."

Buck turned to face his adopted son and friend with a tear-streaked face, "No, JD; this is Chris." Buck turned Chris' arm so that everyone could see the unusual scar. "See that scar? Know one knew about it except for Sarah, Chris and me. Even the autopsy recorded the burn as part of Chris' beating so NO ONE else could know."

JD was not convinced, for it was not possible for Chris to be alive. "Buck, the only way that I'll believe he is Chris is if we do a DNA match."

Nathan was the only one who'd noticed how Vin's eyes had changed and it scared him. Everything that he'd based his life on, all the logical aspects of his existence were thrown out the window by the appearance of floating furniture, dead men moving and talking and the eyes of his partner changing color. Everything had again started to go black and he'd realized that he was about to faint again when he hear the word DNA.

That simple word allowed Nathan to focus on what was happening and the encroaching blackness receded. Nervously wetting his lips he offered, "JD, I could take some hair and blood from him and have Rain run a comparison. That would help everyone."

Vin was about to protest when Chris cut him off. "Vin, that would be a good idea. Then there will be no question of who I am."

After Nathan had gathered the blood and hair samples from Chris he left to take them to his fiancée Rain in forensics; she would be able to run the tests on the sly so they could keep it a secret. JD had stormed out of the apartment refusing to believe the man in the bed was Chris until the DNA tests were completed, and Buck had followed trying to reason with the young man.

This left Chris with the two strange young men who without question believed him to be who he was. He sensed that these young men were more than what they seemed, and it was confirmed when he watched Vin's eyes turn from gold back to blue. There was a wildness and untamed beauty within Vin that whispered of deep forests, snowcapped mountains and clear streams teeming with life. Ezra, on the other hand, was warm tropical breezes, exotic vegetation and the sensual pounding of the surf.

Then underneath everything Chris sensed a bond that reached into a place where only Sarah had ever been. No, that wasn't right; for as he looked into that place he saw that those bonds had always existed but had lain dormant waiting for the right time and circumstance to awaken.

Chris felt his eyes close as his body demanded that he sleep, but he felt safe in the knowledge that both Vin and Ezra would guard him while he rested.

Ezra felt Chris relax into sleep and slipped out from behind him, gently lowering him back onto the mattress. Looking up at Vin, Ezra motioned the other man to follow him out of the bedroom and over to the couch.

Vin caught sight of a bruise forming on Ezra's cheekbone and stopped the smaller man so that he could see the damage caused by JD's attack. Ezra winced away in pain from the gentle touch on his cheek, but Vin gently cupped the bruised cheek and allowed a small bit of healing power to erase the mark from his green-eye mate.

Ezra felt the gentle healing that Vin performed and reverently placed a kiss on Vin's palm in thanks, then closed his eyes and allowed Vin to cradle his cheek in his palm.

Vin moved closer and clasped the beautiful body of his mate against him with his free arm, marveling at how well their bodies molded together, and gently turned Ezra's beautiful face towards him so that he could claim their first kiss. As their lips touched both men felt their powers sweep over them and ignite in a passionate flame that roared for completion.

Sweeping his mate into his arms, Vin gently lay him on the couch and started to nibble on Ezra bottom lip, wordlessly begging to be allowed in to taste and explore that sweet mouth. Ezra parted his lips in invitation and each man slowly mapped the cavern of the other's mouth as quick fingers unbuttoned shirts and pants to allow questing hands to touch naked flesh.

The need to feel Vin's skin against his own drove Ezra to take control of their kiss. Leaning forward so that he started to push Vin towards the floor. Ezra slipped from the couch to blanket the semi-nude body of the man that completed him. Vin then rolled them over so that he was on top and pulled back to look at the flushed face of his mate, thanking every deity for the gift of his love. He then set out to worship the deities that had helped create this special man on the alter of Ezra's body. Unwrapping his precious gift from the gods, he whispered words that were more like prayers of love over and over to the man who held his heart.

Vin reverently caressed the golden skin, watching as the coiled muscles shifted underneath, drinking in and savoring the texture and taste that was uniquely Ezra as he licked, kissed and suckled his way down the slender neck to tease first the right and then the left nipple, wringing whimpers of delight and pleasure from Ezra. He mapped Ezra's body as he would a new place in the wilderness, first learning the lay of the land by gently caressing the contours of Ezra's body, then going in for a closer examination and noting every valley and hill that would cause Ezra to whimper, purr and howl with pleasure. Vin was unmerciful in his need to show his love to his mate and drove Ezra to the heights of passion, then calmed him before repeating it over and over until Ezra was keening his need for completion. Finally the inferno within Vin demanded that he quench its burning with the ambrosia essence of Ezra's seed. And as they climaxed Ezra and Vin's minds and hearts merged for an instant and they saw everything that made the other man who he was, every memory, every desire and wish, every hurt that each had experienced in their lives.

Vin was the first to recover and used the blanket that had covered Nathan to wrap around he and his lover's nakedness. He then used a small corner of it to clean both of them up before cuddling his exhausted mate into his arms, and both Vin and Ezra drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER 9: INTRODUCTIONS

Vin met Nathan at the station house as their shift started, both men too busy with their case loads to really discuss what had happened early that morning at Heaven's Gate.

In the light of day Nathan had tried to come up with a reasonable explanation as to last evening;s events and only three possible answers had occurred to him. The first was that he'd been drugged, but re-examining the evening he'd found his memories unclouded and those drugs that caused hallucinations would have left his mind in a fog. So that possibility was wiped out.

The second was that he was going crazy, but he didn't have any of the symptoms that normally came with a delusional condition and his last physical exam would have found some trace of a truly severe chemical imbalance. On top of that he just didn't feel crazy and he'd had no episodes previously or since. So that was a second possibility discounted.

The last remaining possibility was the hardest for him to accept, for that meant that everything that he thought had happened last night actually had. That scared him so much that he'd spent the morning trying to avoid his partner, the same man that he'd worked with for the past three years of his life and who'd saved his ass more times than he could count. The man who had displayed abilities that other people didn't have.

Then there was the fact that his partner was bi … gay … whatever and was involved with Ezra - and if Vin's behavior this morning was anything to go by he'd gotten lucky last night. Nathan had been afraid that Vin had somehow been druged and was about to be taken advantage of when he'd seen the instant attraction between his partner and Ezra. Now in the clear light of day he remembered how the two men had seemed to dance around one another since they'd first met. It was like something he'd read concerning the mating rituals of porcupines; both men had quills that they used to protect their battered hearts from others, and it took a great deal of time and trust before they would allow anyone past those defenses for fear of being hurt. He'd just have to see how the two men acted around each other and make it clear that if Ezra were to hurt Vin then Nathan would retaliate.

That of course brought up the whole issue of how he treated Ezra. Nathan was an intelligent man and he realized that he'd made a big mistake in his original assessment of Ezra. He'd been so sure that the man was up to no good just because Ezra reminded him of the spoiled rich white kids that used to pick on him as a child, but in his own way Nathan had been even worse than those children because as an adult he should have known better. Looking back on the times Ezra had helped them with the Draven case, Nathan had come to respect Ezra's quick mind and his ability to see a new angles on clues that they had overlooked. Nathan just hoped that Ezra would give him a second chance to become friends.

Vin knew that his partner was trying to work out and accept what had happened early that morning so he gave Nathan his space. He also knew that the best way to help his partner was to keep everything normal so Vin had tried to concentrate on the cases they were currently assigned but he'd found himself being distracted by memories of two pairs of eyes, one green and the other blue-green, and of the loving good morning he'd received from his new lover.

Ezra arrived while Nathan was on the phone with Rain arranging to meet her for lunch to discuss the results of the DNA test she had performed. Many of the detectives had noticed the beautiful, well-dressed man as he entered their department. He was wearing a simple pair of gray silk pants and a black ribbed knit shirt that hugged the contours of his broad shoulders, muscular chest and slim waist. The breadth of his forehead, his strong chin and refined features spoke of breeding and intelligence, while his large, cat-like green eyes twinkling with mischief, tousled auburn hair and sensual smile gave the impression that he had just arrived straight from a session of lovemaking. Simply put, he was sex on two legs.

Ezra paused to watch as his lover and his partner worked together in harmony before dragging both them out to lunch. Even though his relationship with Nathan had been rocky Ezra still respected the man's character and abilities as a detective and hoped that they could put aside their differences and work together, not in the least because Ezra and Vin had recognized that morning that Nathan, Buck and JD played an important role in both of their prophecies.

Vin, sensing someone watching him, looked up into Ezra's eyes and again their connection ignited and the air seemed to sizzle around the two of them. Suddenly dinner with Nathan and Rain took a back burner; all Vin wanted to do tonight was take his beautiful warlock home and make love slowly and tenderly for the rest of his life. Seeing a similar flame in his lover's green eyes made him step forward ready to whisk his love away…only to be stopped by Captain Royal, who intercepted Ezra as he moved to meet Vin.

Captain Royal had seen the sexy young man when he walked in the door and had recognized him as the lead singer of The Witching Hour; Heaven's Gate had become a popular hangout for off-duty cops, which allowed Royal to keep an eye on Tanner and Jackson without arousing suspicion. From the first time he'd seen this vision on stage he had wanted to meet him but never could get near because of Jackson and Tanner. Now was his chance to meet the man of his lust-filled dreams without his the two officers being able to interfere.

Intercepting Ezra as he moved to join his friends, Royal said smoothly, "I believe you are Ezra Standish of The Witching Hour, I have been wanting to meet you for a very long time. My name if Guy Royal, Captain Guy Royal."

Ezra looked up at the man who had invaded his personal space. He knew perfectly well who Royal was; Ezra had become very suspicious of the captain and his involvement with the Draven murders when he'd started to pressure Vin and Nathan to close the case. Ezra hadn't voiced his suspicions because he'd had no proof, but now a strong premonition was warning him to tell both Vin and Nathan. And he NEVER ignored those warnings, for they had been right every time he'd had one of them.

Guy Royal was a tall, well built man who took care of both his body and appearance. His white-blond hair was carefully combed and styled, his attire was not off the rack but expensive tailored clothing that he should not have been able to afford on his salary, and his body language spoke of strength and haughty confidence. He was handsome and intelligent and would have seemed to be pleasant company, but there was also an air of arrogance and selfishness about the man that set the singer's teeth on edge and his ice blue eyes raked over Ezra's body with undisguised lust.

Figuring it would be best to play along, Ezra hid his strong dislike of the man and replied pleasantly, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Royal. Vin and Nathan have spoken about you a great deal."

Ezra's suspicions were confirmed when he saw a tiny flame of hate appear in Royal's eyes. "Yes, I forgot that you are acquainted with Detectives Tanner and Jackson. Well since you are here on a social visit …" Royal paused as if to give Ezra the opening of saying otherwise before continuing. "I will let you go. I hope this will not be your last visit to our department, and next time I hope you will allow me to take you for coffee."

Ezra had no intention of ever having coffee or anything else with the man before him, but he also knew the illusion of civility must be maintained. "It would be a pleasure, Guy. Until next time, then."

Once he'd received that promise from Ezra the captain moved out the way so that the young singer could go meet his friends. Royal watched the impressive view as Ezra glided towards Tanner and thought of what he would like to do to that tempting piece of flesh before turning away.

But Royal hadn't turned away fast enough for Vin to miss the lustful gaze the other man had for his mate. He was torn between beating the crap out of Royal or making a very public claim of Ezra for all to see, but since here in the station he could do neither instead he though up a little surprise for his captain to teach him to not to poach on Vin's property.

Ezra had seen the little flash of possessiveness and then the mischievous light that appeared in his lover's eyes. He almost felt sorry for Royal, but he wasn't going to do anything to discourage Vin from whatever he had planned and even hoped that maybe Vin would allow him to participate.

When Nathan heard Vin growl he'd looked up and seen the exchange between Ezra and Royal. All the other detectives except for he and Vin thought that their captain was a great guy, but there was something distinctively rotten about Royal that Nathan couldn't explain. Simply put, Nathan really didn't like the man and avoided Royal's company whenever he could.

Then Nathan watched as Ezra and Vin greeted each other and relaxed somewhat, for Ezra was obviously as much in love with Vin as Vin was with him. They made a good-looking couple and Nathan was happy that his partner now had someone.

Vin leaned against his desk as he looked at his sexy mate and in a husky voice asked, "What are you doing here? How's … our visitor doing today?"

Ezra grinned as he replied, "Our visitor is doing much better and Buck wanted some time with him, so I thought I'd ask two friends to go to lunch with me." Then Ezra turned his head to look at Nathan and asked him, "Nathan, my friend, where would you like to go to dinner?"

Vin was proud of Ezra for making the friendly overture to Nathan and watched as relief flooded Nathan's face. Good; both men were willing to try to change and start a friendship with each other.

Nathan smiled in return. "Well, Rain just called and we've made plans to meet at Café Wells for lunch, but how would you two like to come with us?" A wicked twinkle lit his eyes. "Unless of course you two have a … how would you say it … a little private tete-r-tete planned?"

Ezra simply laughed at Nathan's teasing and answered, "We would love to have lunch with you and Rain." Then seeing Vin blush he couldn't resist adding, "I have plans for later this evening and Vin will need all the nutrition he can to survive them."

Both Ezra and Nathan laughed as Vin blushed even more.

CHAPTER 10: EZRA'S SONG - VIN'S POV

Ezra was on stage performing his last set when I walked into the club after work and as soon as I saw him all other thoughts went out the door. He was wearing leather pants that for the life of me I couldn't figure out how he'd gotten into them, it was almost as if they were painted on. A soft green silk shirt that clung to his hot, sweaty body, made his eyes sparkle like the emerald studs currently adoring his ears. His hair was tousled and clung to his face and neck in damp curls and his body swayed seductively to the music as he sang. All I wanted to do was go up there and take my tempting mate into my arms and haul him off to bed.

Jessie handed me a beer as I headed to my favorite corner to watch Ezra perform and I saw that it was already occupied. Chris was leaning against the wall watching Ezra with a frightening intensity, which he turned on me as I came closer. Those green-blue eyes captured and held me until his presence and Ezra's voice were the only things in my world.

He'd lifted his hand as if he were about to touch me when Ezra's song ended and the spell that it had cast over us broke. I was the first to recover and I told him, "Tonight we'll show you what evidence we have gathered, and maybe with your help we can piece together who did this to you."

I kept my expression open and friendly, letting him set the pace. His eyes were still searching my face as he tried to understand what was happening between us and he replied, "Sounds good … Cowboy." Then turning back to the stage, as Ezra was about to start another song, he said, "He's very good. He should have been snatched up by some record company by now."

I nodded my head; I'd wondered the same thing myself a time or two. I have seen record company execs trying to recruit Ezra before, but he'd always said he wasn't interested. You couldn't say the same for the rest of the band members, though, because he'd had to replace about six of them lost to better offers since The Witching Hour had started to play here.

I turned to watch my lover and realized that he was watching both Chris and myself with desire and need clear in the depths of his beautiful eyes. Then he started to sing to us:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eyes are the windows to the soul To which all mysteries unfold Stories and secrets untold When I look in your eyes I lose all control

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I was drowning in those green eyes and I didn't care, all I wanted and desired was the love that filled his gaze, the promise of eternity I saw offered there.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Outside Your House, Peek through your window I see through everything you hide No surprise, there's no use wearing a disguise I touch your hand, you pull away I feel the passion, why do you play this masquerade Can't you see, you can't escape your destiny

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

That was for Chris, and I could feel him struggle not to understand what Ezra was offering. I wanted to reach out and pull Chris' body towards me but I couldn't; all I could do was lean against him, adding my presence to the spell Ezra was weaving.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Why do you have to play the games you play Is the truth a heavy price to pay And your eyes don't lie what they're telling me No you eyes don't lie – any fool could see

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ezra started to sway with the music, and it was as if no one else existed in the room but us. Slowly he unbuttoned his sweat-soaked shirt, exposing more and more of that beautiful chest as his eyelids lowered seductively over passionate green flames. His hands started to caress his body and I found myself hard from the pure unadulterated sensuality that was rolling off him in waves as he incited and bewitched us with raw desire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I hear a voice outside my doorway Could it be you there in the Dark Even Now, I know that you can feel the spark So step inside into my life into a new world And take a tour of all my thoughts Why resist, you know this feeling can't be fought I'd never lie to you or lead you astray You'd better listen to the words they say Cause my eyes don't lie – what they're telling you No my eyes don't lie --- whatcha gonna do

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His shirt was finally open and hanging loose around his hips, and a flash of metal that caught my attention as he rolled his stomach and chest made me breathless with desire. I realized that small silver hoops pierced my lover's nipples – nipple rings – and all I wanted to do at that moment was take this bewitching nymph and ravish him on the spot.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Why do you have to play the games you play Is the truth a heavy price to pay I'd never lie to you or lead you astray Y'u'd better listen the words they say Cause my eyes don't lie – what they're telling you No my eyes don't lie – whatcha gonna do Cause your eyes don't lie – what they're telling me No Your eyes don't line – and fool could see

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He ran his hands from his jaw down his slender neck and across his perfectly sculptured chest to play fleetingly with the nipple rings before going lower to accentuate the seductive roll of his pelvis. His eyes never left ours even after the music stopped.

CHAPTER 11: THE CROW EMERGES

After the club closed the six men remained to go over the information that they had been gathering for the past year. Chris sat and listened as each man gave a detailed account of their various leads and suspicions regarding his and Sarah's murders while JD sat in stunned silence trying to absorb the fact that Chris had indeed returned from the dead.

The DNA report had shown a 99.999 percent match with one Christian Draven. As a cop, JD knew that with that high of a percentage it could only be Chris…and now he was faced with having to apologize to both Ezra and Chris for his behavior that morning and he didn't know how to do it.

Deciding that he owed Ezra the bigger apology, he finally asked to speak to the southerner in private. JD could feel Vin's eyes on him as he led Ezra to a private corner so that he could make his peace. "Ez, I'm really sorry for calling you a liar and accusing you of pulling something. I should know better, but ..."

Ezra placed a gentle hand on JD's shoulder and said, "That's okay, JD. You were in shock and just acted before thinking. Now you know better. Friends?"

"Friends." The two men shook hands and grinned at one another.

Ezra had decided that some facts needed to be aired if they were to help Chris solve his and Sarah's murder, and he thought now would be as good a time as any. "Mr. Dunne, I think I need to disclose some information. Why don't you return to our friends while I retrieve something from my room?"

JD looked curiously at Ezra but replied, "Sure, Ez. Anything I can help you with?"

Smiling at the young man's obvious attempt at postponing his apology to Chris, Ezra replied. "No, JD, but thanks. Why don't you have a little talk with Chris?"

JD cringed as he was caught trying to avoid the task. "Yeah, I guess I'd better apologize. I just hope that Chris can forgive me."

Ezra tried to convey his support to the young man with a gentle pat on his shoulder. "He will, JD. He will."

"I hope so, Ez."

Ezra watched as the young man made his way back to his friends, and then he went to retrieve his badge from its hiding spot.

The men stopped talking when JD came back and stood over their table. Buck looked up in puzzlement at his friend and asked "Something you want, JD?"

Clearing his throat JD replied, "Yeah Buck, there's something I need to do."

A knowing light came into Buck's eyes as JD looked right at Chris and said, "Chris, I'm sorry ... I'm sorry that I didn't believe ..."

Chris had gotten up as JD started his apology to go over to stand with the young man. Placing his hand on the JD's shoulder, Chris interrupted him. "That's okay, JD. HELL, I wouldn't have believed it myself." Then, holding out his hand he asked, "Friends?"

JD gladly took his friend's hand and replied, "Friends!" Then he grabbed the man who was his second big brother and hugged him, relishing the feel of Chris in his arms and thanking the God that allowed him to be able to do this once again.

A quiet cough interrupted the two men and everyone turned to Ezra, who was holding a bundle of leather clothing and two other objects, which he placed on the table. Their eyes widened as they saw the holstered gun and a badge wallet. Ezra handed Chris the leather duster and pants, ignoring the other two objects. "Chris, I think you'd better put these on. You will find that they will protect you far better than what you have on now." Chris simply raised his eyebrow at the black leather attire but made no comment.

JD picked up the badge wallet and opened it to see Ezra's CIA ID and badge. He turned shocked eyes to his friend and passed the wallet to Nathan, "Ezra, you're CIA? How? Why?"

The five men watched, worried, as Ezra's face paled and his eyes went flat and empty. In a voice devoid of any expression he said, "I'm on extended medical leave from the CIA after the last case I worked on ... didn't turn out too well."

Chris and Vin took in Ezra's haunted look and quickly moved to comfort and support him. Chris didn't have the faintest clue as to what had happened, but he knew that look; he had seen it on POW's that had been broken. A fury went through him that someone had hurt this man so and he felt something inside him stir and awaken.

Vin, in the meantime, had pulled up a chair and directed Ezra to sit and then squatted down beside him so that he could watch Ezra's face. Rage roared through Vin as he remembered exactly what happened to his heart and he wanted to tear the offenders from limb from limb. Keeping the rage to himself, Vin offered comfort to his hurting mate through a gentle touch on his leg and a soft caress to the hand he was holding.

Ezra and Vin both felt the awaking of the Crow and turned to watch as it emerged. Chris had lowered his face to try to keep his anger in place, but with the awaking of the revenging angel he looked up again; gone were Chris' blue-green eyes, instead burning black eyes stared out of a crazed harlequin face. His skin was pasty white, his lips and eyes stained black, and gray horizontal tear streaks were painted down his cheeks. An aura of rage sizzled around the figure and the other three men hastily backed away from it.

The Crow looked at the two men who had not fled from it and started to circle them only to stop once it was between the two groups of men. Ezra and Vin allowed their shields to drop and the Crow saw its brother spirits of Wolf and Cougar. It crouched down and with a gentle touch on Ezra's leg asked, "What hurt you, little one?"

Ezra's eyes reflect the remembered pain and torment that he had experienced and he replied, "They're all dead, either at their own hands or by the men sent to rescue me." Ezra paused as if to steady himself mentally before continuing his southern accent deepening as his distress grew. "My cover was blown by a traitor within the CIA. The Ali Gebar decided to teach the US a lesson … and used me to do it. They … they tortured me for five days … videotaped the whole thing." Ezra closed his eyes, trying to relax and not give into the panic attack that was closing in on him, but the memories of being tied down, beaten, burned, cut and raped came back along with all the pain. He also remembered someone tried to rob him of his magic through the haze of pain and blood, and a tiny whimper escaped him.

The Crow plucked the distressed man from the chair to tuck against his chest. When Nathan step forward to see if he could help the Crow simply snarled at him. The only one he allowed near them both was Tanner, who was ignoring everyone but the man who was caught reliving the pain and humiliations of his memories.

Vin moved so that he was as close to Ezra as possible. Trapping Ezra between the Crow's and his own body, he used their bond to reach the panicking man before he went into shock. He cupped that beautiful face in his hands and whispered, "Baby, come back to me. You're safe here. No one's going to hurt you. Come back."

Ezra's beautiful, pain-filled eyes opened to look deep into his mate's, gathering courage and support from Vin. He straightened in the Crow's embrace but did not pull away from either man and allowed his breathing to become calm and even. Smiling slightly at Vin he said, "Thank you, darlin'. Ah'm all right now."

When the Crow had emerged Nathan, Buck, and JD had scrambled as far from it as possible, then stood and watched as Vin lovingly comforted the distressed man. JD and Buck tried to grasp what their eyes were telling them, that two of their friends were obviously in a sexual relationship with each other, but that was taking a back burner to the presence of the creature. All three of them knew in some strange way that this thing was still Chris but that he had been transformed somehow.

Both Buck and Nathan had seen similar reactions in vets who had endured extreme torture and knew that Ezra must have undergone something terrible to have that same reaction. They had feared that Ezra would go into shock from reliving the terrible memory, but had relaxed when Vin seemed to have pulled him from the brink.

"My God, Ezra!" The voice didn't come from any of the men in the room. The Crow shoved Ezra into Vin's arms and turned to face the large man standing not three feet from them.

He was an older man in his forties with a powerful build that would give any or all them trouble if he could. His salt and pepper hair was as long as Vin's and his features rugged instead of handsome, but there was something about the man that made him resemble a lion.

A very angry and protective lion.

He advanced towards the Crow and growled out. "What THE HELL are you doing to my SON?"

The Crow crouched as the man started toward him, but when the stranger growled his question the Crow turned his head to check Ezra's response.

Ezra had recognized Josiah's voice and told the Crow. "Josiah is my mentor. I asked him here so that he could explain to you about who and what you are." Then turning to Josiah an exasperated Ezra continued, "Josiah, how many times do I have to tell you I'm not your son?"

The Crow had stepped aside as Josiah knelt down beside Ezra and cupped his face with his large hand. "Ezra, I really am your father."

Disbelief and hope dashed across Ezra's face. In a voice just above a whisper and filled with the same two emotions, he said, "It's not possible. Maude … Maude told me that you were taken away … to be studied. The government … took you away … she had to hide me. Told me … I would be next … if I tried to find you."

Josiah enfolded his son in his arms and held him., "No son, she lied to you. She took you from school to get back at me. She wanted to hurt me, and the only way she could do that was to take you away."

Ezra drew back from Josiah and asked, "But why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Josiah smiled at his son. "You'd been hurt, and I wasn't sure if you'd even want me back in your life - I wasn't sure what your mother had told you. I figured that to be your friend was all that I could ask for."

Ezra clasped his father close to him and said, "To know the man that helped me for years, the man I respect and love like a father is my real father…my prayers have been granted, Father."

The other five men in the room backed off a piece as father and son reunited. The older man sat holding his son on the floor as close as he could be without being in his father's lap. They held each other with death-like grips as though fearing that they would soon be separated again, tears of joy falling down both their faces.

Vin smiled as he watched his mate's young heart being healed and thought that by the look of things it would be awhile before they would be ready to continue, so he was surprised when Ezra raised his head and motioned Vin to come over.

Ezra gently pushed Josiah away so that he could get his attention. "Josiah, Father, I want you to meet someone." Ezra grabbed Vin's hand and pulled him down so that both Vin and Josiah were at eye level. "Father, this is Vin, my lover, my friend, and my mate."

Vin tensed, not sure what type of reaction Josiah would display, and readied himself to protect both of them. But Josiah simply looked at Vin and then reached over to him, extending his hand in friendship. Vin blinked and clasped the hand of his lover's father, and Josiah yanked Vin close and hugged him. "Ezra told me all about you, boy. Welcome to the family." Then dropping his voice so that only Vin could hear him he said, "You take good care of him. If you don't you … you'll have me to worry about."

CHAPTER 12: THE PROPHECY

It was quite sometime before the seven men once again gathered around the large table to discuss what to do next. The Crow had vanished, leaving everyone else - including Chris - with questions.

Josiah sat down across from Chris and said, "I bet you have some questions you would like answered?" Then looking at the rest of the men, except for Vin and Ezra, he added, "Probably you as well." He settled back and told them all, "You'd better get comfortable and let me tell you why Chris is back and the story of the Crow."

The men settled down with Vin and Ezra sitting near Chris, offering their support for what was coming. Josiah took a deep breath and got started. "Chris, there is no other way to tell you. Simply put, you are dead but you are also alive. Bullets won't kill you, but enough of them will slow you down till you recover. The only way for you to be destroyed is by killing your Spirit Crow."

Chris was puzzled and asked, "What a Spirit Crow?" Then from the rafters there came a flutter of wings and a Crow settled on the table in front of Chris. In the Crow's eyes Chris saw an intensity and intelligence that looked right into his soul and a bond open up between Chris and his guide. The bird hopped to Chris' right shoulder and settle there, watching the other men in the room as though daring them to say anything.

Josiah simply smiled at Chris and said, "I'd say that answers your question." Chris simply nodded his head in reply.

Josiah looked around the table at all six men and saw what Ezra had seen. His little boy was the Warlock, Chris the Crow, Vin was the Shaman, Buck the Lover, JD the Child, Nathan the Healer and he made the Sage. The Seven figures of legend had come together to fight another battle against the forces of evil. Deciding that the other four men had the right to know what was going on he continued, "Chris, the Crow is a very powerful persona and there are only a few currently present in the world. They can be man, woman or child, anyone who cannot rest until their wrong has been righted. In your case, that would be finding your wife's and your murderers. Once you have completed your mission you can return to the land of the dead, to be with your wife in the afterlife."

Josiah watched as pain flashed in his son's eyes. He had seen the bond that wove between Ezra, Vin and Chris and knew what would happen when Chris returned to the spirit world.

He would lose his son to death.

As a father he wanted to raise a face of rage to the heavens asking why bring his son back into his life only to lose him so soon. But the part of him that was a sage realized why, for with Vin and Ezra's presence the Crow could be protected and helped in fighting the evil that had taken over the city.

"You won't need to eat or sleep from this point onwards, and then there is the Crow. The Crow will emerge when you are angry or when you are feeling protective. You will be able to see through the eyes of your crow and can experience emotions and visions from objects in both forms. For example, if you hold a murder weapon you would see the murder and the victim as if you were there. You can share those visions with anyone that you need to." Then Josiah leaned over and grabbed Chris' hand in a crushing grip. "You must NEVER, EVER kill anyone with your powers, for if you do a Snake will be born and they are just like you except on the side of evil."

Chris looked at Josiah and asked, "What do you mean, with my powers?"

With grave eyes Josiah replied, "You are able to transfer all the pain and suffering contain in the object to the person responsible. Enough pain and suffering will kill the person receiving it, and that is how a Snake is born. If you kill them by any mortal means then they won't come back."

JD had listened to everything with wonder for it sounded like something straight out of a comic book, super heroes and villains included, but the reference to Snakes confused him. So he blurted out, "Excuse me, but that is the second time you have mentioned Snakes. What are these Snakes?"

Before Josiah could answer Vin spoke up. "JD, Snakes are the exact opposite of Crows. They were people who enjoyed pain and suffering, they are evil incarnate. The only way to destroy a Snake is by killing its spirit guide, a snake." Vin then placed his hand on Chris' shoulder to regain his attention. "Chris you have to be careful, for a Snake carries a knife that can destroy you - but it can also be used to kill a Snake. If you can get your hands on one of those knives it will help you."

"Vin, how do you know this?" inquired Buck, for he had seen how both Ezra and Vin seemed to have had some prior knowledge of what and who Chris was. The way they hadn't reacted when Chris transformed into that thing was foremost in his mind.

Vin looked at the other three men and decided that they needed to know everything. Figuring a demonstration would help in the long run he took a deep breath and centered himself, then started drawing in power from Nature and allowed his true self to be exposed. As the other men watched a breeze seemed to lift Vin's hair, his skin started to glow gold and the scent of pines and earth filled the room. Then he opened his eyes and four of the men gasped, for instead of blue eyes he now had the golden eyes of a Wolf.

Vin glanced over at Ezra and saw that the warlock had also exposed his power, his eyes still green but now having slitted pupils like a cat's and his skin glowing a deep bronze color. Tentacles of their power reached out for each other only to be met by the silver ribbons coming from Chris.

Chris sat back and looked at the two men who were exposing their magic and power to him. Something within him recognized the spirits within these two men and they called to him on some deep and binding level.

Brother to Brother.

Lover to Lover.

The only other time he had every experienced this feel of knowing someone so deeply was with Sarah. Now with these men it was as though he had know them in different times and places, as though they were brothers who had guarded each other and forged between them bonds of love, friendship and acceptance during their long battle against the dark. And with Vin and Ezra there was an even deeper feeling, a connection that ran soul to soul and heart to heart. He loved Sarah and would probably love her in other lifetimes as well, but she was not always there…and these two men were. How he knew this he could not say for sure, but just as he knew that the sun would come up tomorrow he knew that Vin and Ezra would always be there for him.

What was wrong with him?

Why was he thinking of these two men that he'd only met the night before in the same way he though of Sarah? He'd never though of men in that way before he died, was this part of what he had become? Had death opened his eyes or was there something else that drew him to these two men in that way? Sarah's words again came back to haunt him:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"There are two who are part of your heart and soul; let them in, for then each of you will be made whole."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * * * * * * * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Could she mean these two or someone else?

No, the best think to do would be not even to think of these two men in that manner. Besides, he reasoned, it was obvious the two of them were already a couple, so why would they even want him?

Someone who was dead.

Someone who had a wife waiting for him on the other side.

The best thing he could do for these two men would be to quickly find the murders, complete his mission and return to Sarah. They were only offering friendship and sympathy for what he had gone through, nothing else. He was just reading everything wrong…but that didn't stop his body from responding to the power that was pouring off the two men and mixing with his own.

Nathan, Buck and JD simply stared at the spectacle before them, just caught up in the wonder of what they were seeing. When the tendrils of power made their way towards them they weren't scared but only curious, and once contact was made they were caught up in the knowledge that they had always been together and always would be.

Josiah felt the circle of power increase as each of the men opened themselves to the others and he used it to put protection wards in place, preventing anyone from using their powers against them. Once the wards were in place he joined in the power meld himself, completing the circle. And once again the seven of them stood together against the forces of darkness.

The evil that lived in the city felt the building of a circle of power and tried to latch onto it, but she was met by wards far more powerful than anything she had come up against in one hundred years of undead life and it shook her to her core.

Fear finally touched her. She could not tell who or what was the source, but it was time to call in her own circle of darkness and complete her mission to destroy every person of the light she could find.

"WOW!" was the only response heard from JD.

"I agree with the kid. WHAT the HELL was that?" seconded Buck.

"That, gentlemen, was a circle of power," replied Ezra. "It is raised when people of power come together to form a circle. The seven of us are now part of the same circle and we will be able to find each other no matter what and will be able to tell when one of us is in danger."

JD was puzzled. "What power, we're not like you three … um four?"

Vin smiled at the young cop and answered him, "No, each of you have a power. Both you, Buck, and in a sense Nathan are Spirit Warriors with the ability to fight and protect people from the supernatural. You will know and feel when a person of evil comes anywhere near you and can take appropriate action. Buck, your spirit guide is a Stag, also known as the Lover. As with any stag you will protect your herd from danger, as well as…"

Vin shifted a little in embarrassment. "What?" demanded Buck.

Turning bright red Vin replied, "helping with reproduction. Your theory about your animal magnetism is … um … true."

"WHAT!!!" came from JD, Nathan and Chris.

Buck looked around the circle of men and smiled smugly at them all. "I told you so, but ohhhh no you didn't believe in old Buck. Now you heard it from someone else."

"What's mine Vin, Ezra?" asked JD eagerly.

"Mr. Dunne your sign is the Whale and you are also know in other prophesies as the Kid …" But before Ezra could finish, JD interrupted.

"A KID! Damn!" JD started to pull back from the table to sulk as the laughter from his friends started, but Ezra grabbed JD's arm and prevent him from leaving.

Josiah, Vin or Ezra weren't laughing and looked completely serious as Ezra continued, "No, JD, it's not what you think. Your gifts are very powerful, for you have the power of hope, innocence and faith at your fingertips. You are the light by which truths are revealed and nothing can hide from your light. You give us the sight and spirit to fight. Think of yourself as a lighthouse on a stormy night, guiding ships - us - safely to shore. Without that lighthouse we would be smashed upon the rocks in the darkness."

Vin turned to his partner, Nathan and told him, "Nathan, you are the Turtle and Healer. You are able to heal the mind, spirit and body if need be; I could see that you had always had that gift from the first time I laid eyes on you. You are the reason I and others have survived life threatening wounds, and that is why you are able to talk down suicides and calm down those who are mad. You really do help them, my friend."

No one spoke as three men who had never thought of themselves as anything but ordinary now had to come to terms with the idea that they were much more than that. Nathan was the first to break the silence. "Vin, what about you, Ezra and Josiah? What are your powers?"

The three men in question looked at each other to see who wished to go first. Josiah was the first to nod and then he turned to the other men. "I am the Owl or the Sage. My power comes through prayers and the knowledge that I have gained over the last hundred years."

"Hundred years!"

"How old is he anyways?"

"He doesn't look more than forty!"

Josiah raised his hand for silence, "I celebrated my hundred and thirtieth birthday in June. Those of us who have gained and tapped our power – by the way, this includes all of us – will age only one year for every ten years. Now we can die just like everyone else by accident, disease or murder, but until those events occur we can live a very, very long time."

Vin cleared his throat before he started. "My sign is the Wolf and I am also know as the Shaman in my prophecies, which means my powers come from nature. I can assume the shape of the wolf or werewolf if need be. It also means I can harness the forces of nature to affect my environment."

Ezra continued after Vin. "My sign is the Cougar and I'm a Warlock. My power is very rare and there is only one like me born every three hundred years or so. Everything, living and non-living, has a spirit and through those spirits I am able to move and change things. I'm also able to talk to the dead."

The two magi and the shaman waited as the others came to terms with what they had told them, then Ezra nodded to Vin to continue. "Guys, there is one more thing you should know. All of us are part of a prophecy in which we have to battle the forces of darkness. The reason Chris and Sarah were killed was due to the fact that through the birth of their children they could have changed the course of the battle between light and dark. They were killed by mortals who were following a creature of darkness orders."

Josiah told them, "There is a great evil in our city, a General in the army of darkness with a goal to turn our city so that only darkness survives. We must stop it, for hundreds or even thousands will die if we refuse our destiny and we will be the first to fall if we run."

CHAPTER 13: A NEW IDENTITY

After an hour of answering questions the men settled down to discuss battle plans and how they could hide Chris' return from dead.

Ezra was deep in though when an idea was formed. He leaned over to Chris and asked him, "Chris, are your parents still alive?"

Chris was puzzled by Ezra's question and it was reflected in his voice as he answered, "No, they've been dead for about ten years or more. Why?"

"Were you adopted? Do you have any siblings?" questioned Ezra.

Still puzzled Chris answered, "Yes, I was adopted and no, I don't have any brothers or sisters. Why, Ezra?"

Ezra's smile of satisfaction had Vin grinning as well, for he knew that Ezra had a plan. "Chris, do you know what your birth mother's last name was?"

The light came on for Chris and he grinned in the same manner as Ezra and Vin. "Yes, Larabee."

Ezra's grin became devilish as he looked at Chris. "Well, Mr. Larabee, I'm sorry that you came all the way from …"

"Syracuse, New York," supplied Chris.

"Syracuse, New York, only to find that your twin had died last year," finished Ezra. All the men at the table grinned as the plan came together.

Ezra had retrieved his laptop from his room and by using the resources of the CIA he was able to create a new identity for Christian Draven…and thus Christopher Larabee was born.

It was almost four in the morning when the men broke up the meeting, and it was decided that Nathan and Vin would try to get some of the evidence from the murder site to Chris. JD offered to get access to the police mug shots database so that Chris could look for the men that broken into the apartment and murdered he and Sarah.

Vin and Ezra were the first to say goodnight and they pulled Chris away to speak to him for a moment while the other four men cleaned up the leftover food and papers.

Ezra placed the leather duster in Chris' hands and held out the pants as he told him, "Chris, you need to wear these garments for they will conceal your presence from those who wish you harm and they will mend magically from any holes or tears that you might incur during our investigation."

Chris smiled as he put on the duster and felt the cool smoothness of the leather as it caressed his skin. He didn't notice the appreciative and lustful glances of the two lovers as they watched how the leather duster molded itself to Chris' lanky frame. It made his shoulders look wider, his waist narrower, and it gave him a sexy, menacing appearance that would have people falling all over themselves to get Chris into bed. "Thank you, Ezra." He eyed the pants a little uncertainly and asked, "But do I have wear the pants with the duster all the time?"

Ezra's first response was HELL YES. Just imaging those beautiful long legs and that perfect behind molded in tight leather, walking … snapping himself out of his fantasy, Ezra smiled at Chris. "No. The duster will be sufficient." The image of Chris in nothing but the leather pants blasted through his brain, and before he could stop himself Ezra had told Chris, "But you should wear the pants at night. It will help you to fit in."

Vin looked at his mate and felt the desire flash down their shared link, and he smiled. Then looking at the tight leather pants on his green-eyed temptation and the ones held out to the other beloved, a picture formed in his brain; both his mates in nothing but the leather pants, swaying to seductive music. In his mind's eye Vin saw Ezra being held in place against Chris' firm chest and Chris' hands caressing the golden skin, and the stark contrast of Chris' silver skin brushing against Ezra's made Vin catch his breath. The silver hoops piercing Ezra's nipples caught his eye as Chris' hands gently played with them, which resulted in Ezra's head arching back into Chris' shoulder. Green eyes almost black with desire looked out of hooded eyes and soft moans came from Ezra's lips as their hips rolled and swayed together with the beat of the music, enticing him with both eyes and body to join them.

Vin snapped out of his daydream only to grab his green-eye mate's arm to drag him off and let him know just how much he'd really appreciated Ezra's earlier performance. Catching the heated glance and the desire rolling down their bond Ezra turned away, but was stopped by Chris' hand on his arm. Chris looked down into the beautiful green eyes of the man who had helped him out, not asking anything in return, and told him, "Thank you." Then looking at Vin who had both supported him and given Chris his friendship he said, "Thank you both. I wish I had met you before all of this. I … thank you for being my friends."

Both men reached out and gently clasped Chris' shoulder and smiled warmly at their heart mate. Vin offered a crooked grin and with eyes filled with regret said, "Glad to be here for you, Cowboy. I just wish that I could have stopped them so that you never had to go through what you did."

"Chris, if you need anything or if you just want to talk, come and see us. Night or day." Then Ezra grinned and added, "Though I should warn you that I am NOT a morning person."

"Thanks, Ezra. I might take you up on that offer. Well, I'd better let you both get to bed."

"Goodnight Chris."

"'Nite, Cowboy."

Ezra led Vin to his room, where as soon as the door was closed Ezra found his back against it with Vin lovingly devouring his mouth. There was a furiousness to the kiss but he could also feel the love it contained, it was almost like a man who had been without water coming across an oasis and slowly, reverently drinking the cool waters.

Vin sighed as he pulled away from his soul mate to looking down in the flushed face and sparkling eyes. Gently he started to unbutton Ezra's shirt, and for every button he undid he placed a kiss on Ezra's chest or stomach until the shirt was open. Looking at the sculpted golden chest he spotted the little items that had tempted him all night, the silver nipple rings in the cinnamon nubs of flesh that hardened as he looked at them. Vin let temptation rule and he lowered his head to taste.

Ezra gasped, arching his head against the door and his chest into Vin at the first touch of Vin's talented mouth. Vin gently suckled and tugged at the pierced nipple, enjoying the tangy metallic taste of the silver and the sweet muskiness of Ezra. Encouraged by the breathless moan that was coming from his warlock he switched to the other nipple to visit upon it the same tenderness.

Once Vin was satisfied that both hardened nubs were fully sampled he pulled back to look at Ezra and was caught by the boundless love and desire in Ezra's green gaze. Ezra gently stroked his lover's face, memorizing the texture and planes of eyes, nose, cheeks and lips with wonder. "Do you know how wonderful you are? How safe and loved I feel just being in the same room as you? Look into my eyes, Vin, and you will see what you mean to me. When you search your heart and soul you will find me there waiting for you. I will sacrifice everything I am for you, for us, for there is nothing I want more. I will fight for YOU, lie for YOU, die for YOU, for YOU are my life."

Vin looked at the man who'd given him his heart and soul in exchange for his. This man was his mate and the one he had waited all his life to find. Gently he cupped Ezra's cheek and told him, "There is nothing like your love, for without YOU there is no light, no laughter, no love. There is no one who could give me love like you can. Ezra … Ezra everything I do, I do it for you. Take everything I am, take my life. I will freely give it all up for you are everything to me. I will walk the wild for YOU, I will kill for YOU Ezra." Then he gently kissed this man whom he would be forever connected with.

Pulling back Vin placed Ezra's hand on his chest and led him towards the bed, never breaking their loving gaze. Feeling the mattress against the back of his knees he said, "Ezra, make love to me …"

Ezra couldn't let him continue and put his fingertips against Vin's soft lips. In a voice filled with passion and love he whispered, "No Vin, I need you to take me. Claim me for you own."

Vin gently clasped the silencing hand and kissed each fingertip before releasing them, then placed his hand over Ezra's heart. "Love, you've had a bad shock tonight, reliving what happened before. I don't want to push you when you're not ready."

Smiling gently at this loving man Ezra shook his head. "No Vin, those animals make have taken my body, but they never touched me. You touch me, Vin, and when you fill me with your seed you will finally cleanse me of them. I only want to feel you, I want to be yours. Please."

Vin looked into Ezra's eyes and saw that he truly wanted this, and he kissed this man who had overcome pain, terror and humiliation to dare to give Vin everything that he was. Vin silently promised himself that he would take it slow and gentle. If it took hours then so be it, but he would not risk scaring or hurting the other half of his soul. Turning Ezra around so that the backs of his knees were against the mattress Vin lifted Ezra's right wrist. Unbuttoning the first little button he gently licked and then kissed Ezra's wrist before repeating it on the matching button at his left wrist.

Slowly Vin caressed Ezra's skin as he lowered the silk shirt from his lover's shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Kneeling in front of Ezra, never breaking their gaze, he opened the button to the leather pants and ran his hands down the leather-clad legs, feeling the heat from the body below the second skin. He directed Ezra to sit and then removed his boots and socks to kiss the top of each foot before placing it reverently on the floor. Grasping Ezra's hips, Vin pulled him up to remove the last layer that covered his gift from the gods.

Once the pants were removed Vin rested back on his heels just to look at the beauty of the man before him. Ezra was small boned, petite even, but he was still a vibrant, virile man and there was nothing feminine about him. Vin slowly stood, running his hands up Ezra's legs to his hips and then up the sides of his body to cup the back of his head before he devoured the sweet mouth.

Sweeping Ezra up into his arms he lay his love down in the center of the bed and stepped back. Vin spotted the candles beside Ezra's bed and, focusing a small finger of power, he ignited them. With a sweep of his hand the lights were shut off so that the candles and the moonlight filtering through the curtains were the only light. Vin then slowly began to undress to allow Ezra to truly see him.

Ezra watched as the man who was about to claim him body and soul undressed. It was like watching a work of art being unveiled, for Vin's clothes obscured the beauty of the bronzed, muscular body that was beneath them. Soon the last bit of clothing was gone and Ezra looked up at the man who stood before him. Vin was like some ancient forest god; lean, fierce, beautiful and wild, everything that a creature of the forest should be, and like the wolf that was his guide Vin had come to claim his mate.

Walking forward, Vin climbed onto the bed to straddled the southern warlock, allowing Ezra to touch and explore his body.

Chris watched as the two men left to go up to Ezra's room and wished for something, he didn't really know what.

Turning back he saw that Buck had walked Josiah and Nathan to the door of the club to let them out. JD had taken the garbage out to the back door and was going up to bed. As he passed Chris he asked, "Are you going up, Chris?"

Chris wasn't the least bit tired and Josiah had mentioned that he didn't need to sleep, so Chris told JD, "No. You go on up, I'll finish up down here."

Trying to suppress a yawn JD replied, "All right, Chris. ‘Night."

"'Night, JD."

Buck was the next to go up and he clasped Chris's shoulder. "Going to bed, Stud?"

Shaking his head at his oldest friend. Chris told him, "In a little while. Go on, tomorrow will be a long day."

Chris sat down at the bottom of the stairs once he was alone, just trying to absorb all the information he'd been given tonight and the fact that the others were here to help him. It must have been about thirty minutes later when something called tor him. It was like a siren's call, not giving him a choice, pulling him up the stairs to stop at Ezra's door. He couldn't turn away as he heard the sighs and moans of pleasure that seemed to wrap around him, refusing to let him break free. Placing his hand on the door his imagination slowly opened to allow him to see what was happening in the room.

The light from the moon and candles cast a soft white glow over the two men as they were making love. Ezra was lying under Vin, his legs wrapped around his lover's hips, holding him in place. They were beautiful and seemed to fit perfectly together. A sudden urge to touch to taste these two men overcame him, and he knew he could break down the door to do exactly that. But he couldn't. Closing his eyes, he leaned against the door.

Something must have triggered it, but to Chris it was like he was suddenly in the room with the two men. Able to caress the silk of their hair, touch the sweat-soaked skin and taste its salty tang. Then his perspective changed and it was like he was looking out of Vin's eyes, gazing down at the flushed face, parted swollen lips and hooded, passion-filled green eyes of the man below him. But at the same time Chris was looking out of Ezra's eyes up at Vin, those beautiful blue eyes filled with love for him, hearing the loving words and gentle touches as Vin prepared him for their joining. He was both of them and yet neither.

Chris gasped and slid to the floor as he felt Vin push past Ezra opening to enter him, it felt as if Vin was entering him. Then came Vin's sensations as Ezra's heat and tightness surrounded him and again to Chris it was like Ezra's internal muscles were squeezing him. It was the most erotic experience he'd ever been party to, the dual sensations of being made love to and actually doing the loving arousing him beyond anything he'd ever experience in his life. Every nerve, every inch of Chris' skin sizzled with pleasure and desire as somehow the men in the room touched him.

Vin and Ezra felt Chris open the link to join with them and registered his presence in the back of their minds, but they were too lost in pleasure to real think about it. Instead the dream, the fantasy, the hope that they would be in bed together someday drove Ezra and Vin to grasp Chris' tentative thoughts and pull him further into the link. To have every touch and taste amplified three times pulled them into a whirlwind of passion and love. Chris was the first to climax, pulling the other two along with him. Vin howled and Ezra snarled as their joint climax hit. They quickly spiraled down into the darkness of unconsciousness with Vin collapsing on top of Ezra.

Dragging himself to his feet, Chris was overcome with guilt as he realized what had happened. How he'd abused the trust and friendship of the two men in the room by invading a very private moment between them. Not only that, but he'd cheated on Sarah, the same Sarah who was waiting for him to return from the land of the living. How could he do that to her? How could he do that to these two men? Disgusted with himself, Chris went up the stairs to his and Sarah's apartment vowing never to let that happen again…but the experience was forever burned into his mind and heart.

The End