ATF Universe
Friday afternoons were always a boisterous time with most of men jostling each other as the entire team made their way from the seventh floor of the federal building to the warm interior of Inez's Cantina. It was tradition for the seven to close out the week with a few rounds of beer and some good-natured teasing. On this particular Friday, Inez found not seven but six tired men lounging around their favorite table."Where is Senor Standish? He is not ill, is he?"
"Nah," Nathan assured the petite woman. "Said he had other things to do tonight."
Vin and Chris looked at one another, sharing a knowing look. It had not gone unnoticed by either man that Standish had been avoiding any contact with anyone from the team outside of the office. It was beginning to feel like it did all those months ago when he first arrived in Denver. Chris knew that if something wasn't done and done soon, the team might be short one undercover agent. The blasted southerner was running full steam away from the guys and the only person who could put on his brakes was struggling with his own demons.
The sharpshooter had been more withdrawn than normal since his return to the office. Of course, his quiet nature and the after effects of a concussion could contribute to his silence but Chris knew that Vin was chewing on the situation. Trying to figure out what to do. Did he approach the southerner and admit that he heard his early morning declaration? And, if he did, would Vin want to pursue a relationship with the man?
Chris' head ached with all the unanswered questions. No matter which direction Vin chose to take, the team would be directly affected. If Vin and Ezra did decide to make a go of it, how would it affect the team? Would the others be accepting of the two of them? Could the team withstand the secrecy that would be necessary in order to survive. It was a well-known fact that the federal government could not discriminate against anyone who was gay but federal agencies were known to take personal action in dissuading others from that course of action. Any hint of an improper relationship could be the end of a person's career.
On the one hand, Chris wanted what was best for his two friends. He knew that they were both great guys who deserved the chance at happiness. He knew, all too well, that happiness was fleeting and didn't always make its appearance in a person's life. He wanted them to have that chance, if that was what they both wanted but he just wasn't sure if it was the right thing. But on the other, Chris had to watch out for the bigger picture. He had been entrusted with the opportunity to create a unique team of ATF agents who were the best in the business. The team had to be protected, even if that meant picking the good of the team over the good of two of its members.
`Damn it! Why did everything have to be so complicated?' He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to erase the thoughts as they tumbled over one another. With a small shake of his head, he reached for his refilled beer and redirected his attention to his friends sitting with him.
Buck watched as his oldest friend struggled with the tension that had crept into the air around the table. He wasn't exactly sure what Chris knew but he knew that he was worried about Ezra's sudden absence from their inner circle. He had kept a close watch on both Ezra and Vin all week long and had seen the intricate dance the two of them were displaying as they both tried to find their way with one another. Knowing Ezra's feelings for the sharpshooter and guessing that Vin had finally discovered them as well, Buck had decided to take a step back and see what direction the two of them were headed. Unfortunately, as the week ended, the two men were no closer to a resolution and the others around them were picking up on the tension. Personally, the big man wanted to see romance win out over all else. He knew that should Vin and Ezra find their way to one another that they would find their way together to what could possibly be the best thing they would ever have in their entire lives.Looking around the table, Wilmington took each man's measure, trying to figure out how each would react to a possible relationship between the two men in question. Josiah would be understanding of the match, he thought. He may not completely agree with the thought of two men sharing a bed but he wouldn't condemn it either. Most likely, the profiler would accept it and overlook any part of the relationship that was at war with his own personal beliefs out of respect for the team and the two friends in question.
Next to Josiah was his full-time partner and part-time prankster, JD. Now from what Buck could see, he would be accepting of it. If anything, he would take his cues from the men around him and act accordingly. The two of them had never needed to discuss that type of relationship since they were never faced with it until last February. Buck found out that the young agent had a couple of buddies from the Boston police academy who were in a committed relationship and the kid had been worried about Buck's reaction to his friends' commitment. Hell, he could remember JD trying to explain Jack and Peter's relationship to him when they had come out for a skiing vacation last winter. The poor kid hinted around for over two weeks before finally just sitting Buck down and telling him that no matter what Buck personally thought, these two guys were the best damn cops he knew. If Buck couldn't accept them for who they were, then maybe Buck ought to make himself scarce during their visit. All of JD's worries were soon laid to rest when he saw how well his best friend got along with his two buddies from Boston. In fact the four of them had made plans for a hiking trip for the following fall.
Buck couldn't take Nathan's measure on this. He knew that the medic would go to the mat for any of his teammates in a gun fight but he was the most outspoken of the entire group when it came to morals and values. He knew that Jackson was a fair man but felt that the world around him was mostly seen in black and white. Not in a racial sense mind you, but in a clear right versus wrong way. Buck knew that the man was head over heels in love with his lady Raine, but he had no idea how he felt about same sex relationships. Hell, they would cross that bridge when they came to it. As long as their relationship didn't hurt the team, Buck couldn't see any problem that Nathan would have if his two friends were happy.
Chris was a bit tricky. Buck would like to state without any reservation that Larabee would have no problem whatsoever with Vin and Ezra being a couple. But, he just wasn't positive. He knew that a lot more rode on the team leader's shoulders than any of them ever had to handle. Not only did he have to keep the team together and going, he had to protect them from the upper ranks. This was proving to be a difficult job right now based on their unorthodox ways they handled their cases. To throw this monkey wrench into the equation, this just might prove to be too much for Chris to juggle. Sure, he knew that Larabee would protect the two men as much as he could, but he had to put the team first, no matter what.
`Hell. For something so wonderful as love, it sure was a pain in the ass to deal with. Even if you weren't one of the two participants in its wonderful play.' The self-professed ladies man slammed back the rest of his beer and turned the glass upside down on the table. With a sigh, he pushed himself up and grabbed his jacket.
"Where ya goin', Buck?"
"Got something to take care of, JD. I'll be home later." With a nod to the rest of the table, Wilmington made his way to the front of the bar and quickly pressed a kiss to Inez's right hand before braving the cold winds.
"Why me? Why does this always seem to happen to me?"With a muffled curse, the well-dressed man tossed back the remaining contents of his snifter before struggling to his feet. Darkness had fallen as he had been steadily drinking himself towards oblivion. Unfortunately, his foolproof plan fell short of its objective. With a grimace, Ezra Standish realized that his brain still functioned. In fact, his brain kept betraying him, returning to the source of his misery. Vin Tanner.
Several minutes had passed before his muddled brain processed the information that someone was persistently banging on his front door. He grabbed the refilled glass and slowly made his way to the front hallway. He swung open the door to find Buck Wilmington poised to pound a fist on the center of his forehead.
"Mr. Wilmington. To what do I owe this honor?"
The slow, heavy drawl alerted the visitor to the fact that his friend had been indulging in his private stash of alcohol. "Well, hell Ez. Do I need a reason to stop by and see a friend?" The big man brushed past the southerner and casually dropped his wet leather jacket over an arm of one of the antique chairs. "Aren't you gonna offer me some of that?"
"Of course," Ezra sarcastically answered. "Where in the hell are my manners my mother so diligently pounded into me?"
Buck watched as the smaller man stalked back to his wet bar and filled up a second snifter. "Your drink, Mr. Wilmington."
"Thanks, Ez." The ladies man settled himself in the overstuffed couch and propped his boots up on the corner of the coffee table before sampling the aged liquor. "Nice. Real smooth."
"Nothin' but the best for me and my misguided visitors."
A sharp bark of laughter escaped from Buck as he nestled deeper into the furniture, watching the other man nervously resume his place in the chair that looked out over the view of the Rockies. Normally, the southerner would be berating him for daring to make himself comfortable on his furniture. Slapping his feet off of his polished tabletop. Seeing him sit there, spinning the crystal in his hand as he studied the amber liquid it held confirmed the nagging suspicion that Buck was right in coming here tonight.
"Ezra?"
The chestnut head raised up from its liquid observations and met the concerned gaze of his friend. He blinked a couple of times, trying to clear his sight. In a desperate attempt to forestall the discussion, he tossed back his drink and slowly stood. "It seems, I have depleted by libation. If you will excuse me for a moment, I will rectify this unfortunate situation."
"Damn it, Ezra. Sit down," Buck ordered. "You don't need any more brandy. Hell, you're going to be paying a price for what you have already had tomorrow morning at our meeting."
Shocked at the sudden animosity in his friend's voice, he sank back into the chair and stared Wilmington.
"You and me are gonna have a little talk. I was hopin' to do this when both of us were sober but …"
"I don't recall anything that we need to discuss, Mr. Wilmington," Ezra drawled, squinting his left eye shut as he tried to see only one man on the couch instead of the two headed figure that resided there right now.
After placing the glass on the end table, Buck leaned forward and thrust his fingers through his hair as he tried to find the exact words he wanted to say. With a sigh, Buck pushed himself off of the couch and moved towards Ezra and knelt down in front of the confused man. "Listen, Ezra. There ain't nothing wrong. I just think that I know of a way to help you out. You know, help you get what you want."
"Get what I want?" Ezra stammered, shaking his head slightly to clear out the cobwebs. "How can you possible know what I desire?"
"Just by being your friend. I know you, Ez. I can see what's going on."
"I have no idea what you are inferring, Mr. Wilmington."
Buck gently placed his hand on Ezra's left knee before responding to the defense that Ezra was trying to mount. "I'm talking about what's goin' on between you and Vin."
Ezra's mouth dropped open for a few seconds before the man remembered to snap it shut. `What in the hell does he mean?' Just as quickly as he was stunned into silence, he regrouped for the counterattack that he needed if he was to keep his life and place on the team. He shoved Wilmington's hand off of his knee and abruptly stood up.
"I have no idea what in the hell you are trying to say." He sidestepped the kneeling man and turned away from him.
"Ez. I just mean, I can see that you care for Vin and want you to know that .."
"Of course I care for Mr. Tanner. He is my friend," Ezra said. He tried to say it with a firm conviction but his voice betrayed him when it caught on the word `friend'. "I care for all of my friends. The few that I am fortunate to have."
Buck climbed to his feet and moved to face the other man, forcing him to look him directly in the eye. "Ezra. You don't have to pretend to me. I can see.."
Buck's words were cut off as the sharp ring of Ezra's cell phone cut through the room. Relief flashed in the green eyes as the southerner moved to grab the phone. "Simpson…Yes…Of course I know of the establishment…I would be glad to meet you there…Yes, forty-five minutes would be most convenient." After terminating the call, he turned around and started towards his bedroom.
"I hate to be rude, but it seems my informant has come into possession of some vital information that he needs to share with me. It seems, that we must continue this enlightening conversation at another time."
Buck nodded briefly and moved towards the chair to grab his jacket. "You want me to tell Chris or are you gonna call him?"
"I shall inform Mr. Larabee of the impromptu rendezvous. It's just a preliminary one, nothing to worry about."
"Hey, Ez. Be careful," Buck called as he pulled the front door open. "Don't want to have to finish our talk over a hospital bed."
"You should know by now, Mr. Wilmington," Ezra said quietly, "I always take care of myself. I have grown quite adept with that charge."
After Buck left the condo, Ezra quickly changed into a worn pair of jeans and a light sweater before slipping on a pair of inexpensive boots that he pulled from the far recesses of his closet. As one of the best undercover agents in the area, he had several types of wardrobes to match to the different clientele that he had to deal with. Tonight called for the blue-collar casual look. He had been trying to make an inside connection with one of the local gangs that were supposedly running a small gun ring on the side of their normal drug trade. When the local DEA office kept running into roadblocks, they had to concede defeat and ask for help from the ATF. After several days of running down leads and dropping hints that there was a new guy in town that had his own stuff to move, it seemed that Ezra's hard work was paying off.Ezra climbed into the cab he had called for and gave an obscure address that had the driver looking back at him for confirmation. It wasn't every day that he picked up a client from the high end of town and take him into Purgatory. After getting a sharp nod from his passenger, the driver called in his fare and silently made his way towards the small bar as requested. Ezra sat in the backseat, drinking the black coffee he had quickly brewed at the condo, trying to clear his mind and concentrate on the upcoming meeting. He knew that this was just a quick meet and greet so he wasn't overly concerned with the short notice. If anything, maybe this might take his mind off of the other problem that was constantly plaguing him.
If anyone were to ask Ezra what happened, the only excuse he would have been able to come up with was his mind had not been fully in the game. Sure, he could have blamed the amount of alcohol he had drank earlier but the simple truth was, he had not paid attention to his surroundings. If he had, he would have noticed that his snitch was more nervous than usual. He would have instinctively known, that someone else was taking an extraordinary interest in their meeting. Instead, he had been preoccupied with Buck's visit and how it might affect his place on the team. He never saw the two men who followed him out of the smoky bar. The first hint of trouble that finally made its way into his subconscious was when he felt the cold metal of a switchblade slice through his beige sweater and into his right side. He tried to twist away from the pain, only to have his head hit the brick wall of the bar. As he slumped to the graveled drive, he barely registered the words that were being harshly whispered into his ear.
"Keep your damn nose out of our business. This is just a taste of what will happen if you try and horn in on our territory."
The final thought that ran through his brain before the blackness settled over him was the fact that he had forgotten to call Larabee to let him know the location of his meet.
Restlessly tossing and turning in his sheets, Vin Tanner found himself caught in the grips of the same dream that had been haunting his nights ever since that fateful hospital visit. He had struggled with the images that kept popping up in his mind at the most inopportune times. Several times over the past couple of days, he caught himself staring at Ezra, trying to figure out what he wanted from the man. He knew that he was physically attracted to the wily southerner. There was no question to that fact. Hell, he had accepted that attraction when it first made itself known just a few months after the man transferred in from Atlanta.The two men had just finished working out in the basement gym at the federal building and had retreated to the showers after agreeing to meet up at Inez's for a quick drink. Thinking that the other man had already finished dressing, Vin had quickly finished his shower and slung a towel around his slim hips before making his way over to the lockers. Just as he rounded the corner, he caught sight of Ezra's naked form and his breath caught. Unconsciously he had stepped back into the corner and watched as the southerner slowly stretched his frame, Vin's eyes caressing each muscle and bone as they were prominently showcased. He felt himself harden as Ezra turned to grab his towel and reach up to dry his hair. Vin's gaze focused on the long, lean fingers as they ruffled the damp tendrils, taming them into place. Then, he dropped further down and relearned the sharp angles and curves of the man's face, stopping for a moment on the full lips that were slightly parted.
Without realizing, Vin's right hand had dropped to his hard penis and was slowly stroking it. Causing the warmth to run through his body as he continued to take his stolen inventory of the man before him. Vin could see that Ezra was in top shape by the looks of his abdominals. There wasn't an ounce of fat on the man. He wasn't stick thin, just lean and muscular. His gaze was redirected as it circled the slight indention of the belly button and began to follow the path of fine hair that lead to the other man's groin. Vin was lightly sweating and was forced to breathe through his mouth as his hungry eyes caressed the soft, inviting penis that was nestled in the wiry chestnut curls.
Somewhere along the line, Vin's towel had fallen to his feet as his hand was picking up speed. His left hand was not idle, finding its way to Vin's right nipple. Pinching and rubbing it at the same speed his right hand had set. Vin let his eyes drift from the forbidden territory it had been greedily feasting on to skim over the muscular thighs, down to the size ten feet. He reached his climax just as Ezra turned to pluck out a pair of briefs from his duffel. The cum spurted out over his hand, coating the calluses with its hot juices, bringing the sharpshooter back to reality. With a muffled curse, he snatched up his towel and retreated back to the showers to erase any trace of his voyeurism. Silently, the Texan had cursed himself, wondering what kind of person he was to hide behind a set of lockers and spy on his friend while fantasizing about plunging his cock into his friend's ass. Hell, he had no reason to even believe that the man was remotely interested in other men. Some friend he was. There he was, taking advantage of the man, enjoying the show he had unsuspectingly given the sharpshooter.
That brief moment in time had seared itself into Vin's brain. He had fought the memories, trying to force them to the back of his mind. At one time had believed he had won the battle but ever since Ezra's bedside confession, they had been coming back to him in Technicolor. He had finally returned to his apartment two days after the warehouse incident and had wearily made his way to his double bed, hoping for oblivion. What he found was the newest in a long line of fantasies that wheedled its way into his dreams.They all started the same way. Ezra appeared in the middle of the night on his doorstep, asking to come in. Telling him he needed to talk with him about something he couldn't say at the office. Vin never quite made it through the conversation since his overanxious imagination would propel the two men into his bedroom. The next image that Vin savored was that of one Ezra P. Standish sprawled out on his bed wearing nothing but a smile. His green eyes were smoky, full of desire for only him. He could almost feel Ezra's cool hand reaching out to him, tangling in his hair as he pulled Vin to him. Their lips would meet in a brutal kiss, knocking the breath out of both men. They would pull away, gasping for air as their hands flew over each other's bodies.
Vin would sometimes wake at this point in the dream to find one of his hands caressing his erect penis while the other was stretched out above his head, grasping the headstand. He would be so caught up in the fantasy that his eyes would drift shut, picturing his dream lover as he hovered above him. He could feel the whispered touch of Ezra's hands as they ran down his ribs, one taking a side trip up towards his nipples to tease the light sprinkling of chest hairs there. Picturing Ezra's hand in his mind, Vin's hand would mimic the dream hands and circle around the sensitive nub there, teasing it to almost a painful point before pinching it into submission. With just enough pressure to combine pleasure with pain, the ultimate feeling swept through his taunt body. After a few more minutes of toying the dusky nipples, his hand would find its way down to run along the inner thigh. A sigh would escape the sleeping man as he shifted on the rumpled sheets and open his legs wider as his dream lover would encourage him to do so.
He would feel his heavy ball sacks being cupped in a warm hand as sweat droplets made their way down his forehead to be caught in his light brown curls. The pressure on his cock would increase as the hand raced up and down its length, igniting the tingle that he knew so well at the base of his spine. With a groan, his overly stimulated brain faintly registered a cool finger entering his tight ass as the strokes continued to a fevered climax. Hot cum shot out of his stiff penis, coating the sweaty chest, some of it pooling in his belly button, just as Vin screamed out Ezra's name. Slowly, his breathing would even out and he would become aware of a hand gently caressing his chest and stomach. The man would be lulled into a deep sleep, only to be abruptly shaken from his bed by his alarm clock a couple of hours later. The only evidence of the prior night's visitor was the sticky essence of spent sex that had dried on him and the sheets around him.
This night was no different than the rest. He was just to the point of his dream that he loved the most. The place where Ezra would gently grasp his balls, rolling them between his nimble fingers as he told the man below him just what he had planned to do to him. Just as his idle hand had drifted down to his cock, he was startled out of his dream by a loud banging on his front door. With a grimace, he carefully climbed out of the sheets and pulled up a pair of sweatpants over his straining member. He grabbed his revolver and slid to the front door.
"What?""Open the door."
A few seconds elapsed as Vin's mind registered the muffled southern accent that whispered those three words. `What in the hell is Ezra doing here at this time of night?' Vin unlocked the deadbolt and pulled the door open, just before Ezra fell to the floor on the landing. After slapping the gun on the nearest table, he grabbed a hold of Ezra's shoulder and called out to the man, trying to get some response from him.
"Must you shout, Mr. Tanner?" Ezra asked through clenched teeth. "I have a headache and your yelling is not doing it any good."
"Ez, what's going on? What are you doing here?" Vin stooped down in front of the fallen man, trying to see what was going on.
Ezra reached up a shaking hand and grabbed Vin's right forearm, gripping it tightly when a sharp pain raced through him. Vin glanced down at the hand and finally saw the blood that explained why Ezra was lying on his doorstep. Vin expertly ran his hands down Ezra's arms and legs, trying to find the source of the blood. When his light touch made its way to the southerner's side, it came away covered in the warm, sticky liquid. He grabbed the sweatshirt he had dropped by the front door earlier that evening and pressed it against his side, trying to staunch the flow of blood. His ministrations was greeted with a low groan from the usually articulate man.
After a couple of minutes of continuous pressure, the bleeding had slowed enough for Vin to step back into his apartment to grab his cell. He quickly called 911 for an ambulance before hitting speed dial 2. A husky growl greeted Vin as Larabee answered the phone. Nothing good ever came from phone calls at 3:37 in morning. Vin hastily filled Chris in on what little he knew and told him to meet him at the hospital.
After hanging up, Vin concentrated his full attention on the pale man lying before him. "Ezra. Don't worry. I'll take care of you." His left hand was busy holding the makeshift bandage to the wound so he reached out and gently ran his fingers through Ezra's hair, tenderly soothing the large knot he found hidden there. Trying to let him know that he wasn't alone.
The ride to the hospital passed in a blur for both men. One was busy fighting the pain that was shooting though him while the other was busy fighting to keep his senses about him. Chris and the rest of the team ran into the emergency room to find a shirtless Vin sitting in a hard plastic chair staring at a small examination room door. Nathan went directly to the nurse's station to see what he could find out about Ezra's prognosis. Buck and JD quickly found a couple of chairs near Vin and settled in for the wait. Josiah headed off to find something for the younger man to change into once he saw the blood stains on his pant legs. Chris took the seat directly next to the Texan."Vin? What happened?"
Tanner redirected his attention away from the white door and looked at Chris for the first time since the team had entered the hospital. "Ain't sure. All I know is Ezra showed up and fell on his face when I opened my door for him." A small shudder ran through his lean frame as he remembered how useless he felt those first few seconds, when he saw the man he had just been dreaming about lying in a heap at his feet. "He didn't say anything. Don't know what happened. Just know I found a knife wound on his right side and tried to stop the bleeding the best I could. Got a good size goose egg on the back of his head too. Grabbed the phone and called the medics and then you."
Buck saw the Texan begin to shake and quietly took off his jacket and placed it around Vin's shoulders. The only sign that the other man even noted the offering was the slight nod before he resumed his former contemplation of the door before him. The four agents sat silently, waiting for Nathan to come out with some word on their friend. Josiah reappeared and offered a clean pair of scrubs to Vin, who took them and laid them on his lap. Josiah placed a firm hand on Vin's shoulder and shook it slightly. "Vin, you need to put on these scrubs. Can't have you walking around half dressed." The sharpshooter nodded slightly but made no move to pick up the clothing. Instead, he kept staring at the door, as if he was able to see through it.
Nathan walked over to the small group, catching Chris' eye. "Looks like he was stabbed. Not too bad though. Didn't slice anything important. Looks like he hit his head. They think he might have a concussion."
"Then he's gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, JD. He's gonna be fine. They are stitching him up right now and plan on keeping him here overnight."
Vin slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes for a brief moment. Then, with a small smile he grabbed the scrubs and made his way to the bathroom. Buck kept track of his progress, mentally noting the relief that flooded through the sharpshooter's body. He smiled, thanking the man above that his friend had been kept safe for yet another day.
Ezra slowly began to surface from the warmth, his mind registering the tightness in his side and the ache in his head. Without opening his eyes, he began to mentally take inventory of his body. He could tell by the smell of antiseptic that he was in the hospital, wrinkling his nose in disgust at this finding. Slowly, he wiggled his toes and ankles, pleased to note that there was no pain in that movement. He slowly bent the fingers on his right hand before trying to raise his arm before discovering that his movement was hampered by some sort of impediment. `Aw, damn. It's an IV.' A disturbing thought flitted through his mind and he slowly stretched his right hand as far as he would reach, smiling when he found that there was no catheter attached to him. When he tried to move his left hand, he found it impossible. After three attempts, he finally gave up and cracked open one eye. He must have made a sound because his one-eyed stare was immediately caught in the concerned gaze of two blue eyes.Vin's light sleep had been interrupted when he heard a small gasp from Ezra. He had finally been allowed into the semi-private room three hours after they had admitted Standish into the Emergency Room. After all six of the men had seen Ezra with their own eyes, Vin had made it extremely clear that he would be the one staying with Ezra. Chris made a move to take up residence in the second visitor's chair but Buck had stopped him from settling in for the duration. After a few minutes of whispered discussions, Buck had convinced the other four men that it wasn't necessary for all of them to stay. Ezra was in good hands. He wasn't suffering from anything life- threatening injuries so they should all take advantage of their good fortune and get back to their comfortable beds. Chris looked across the bed at Vin and agreed to go after Vin assured him that he didn't need to stay. The two men clasped forearms across the prone figure before Buck guided Chris out of the room.
"Hey, Ez." Vin gently smiled, lifting his head off of their two joined hands. Ezra looked at the clasped hands and then looked back at Vin in silent question. A slight blush stole across Vin's face but he didn't make any attempt to let go of Ezra's hand. Instead, he reached over to the small table and snatched a cup filled with water and brought it to the other man's dry lips. After a couple of small sips, Ezra leaned back against the pillows.
"What happened?" he whispered.
"Was kinda hoping you could tell me. All I know is you came to visit around three this morning and we ended up taking a joyride in a city ambulance."
Several flashes of memory invaded the southerner's addled mind as the previous night's events began to piece themselves back together. "I had a meeting with Tommy at Slick's. He gave me a couple of names and then, when I was on my way outside to catch a cab, two guys caught me from behind. Not sure what happened then. Only know that one had a knife and the other clubbed me pretty hard on the back of my head."
Vin was unconsciously rubbing the back of Ezra's knuckles as he told his story. "Then what happened?"
Ezra tightened his grasp on Vin's hand slightly as he turned his head to look directly at Tanner. "The next thing I remember is slowly making my way into your building and up those infernal stairs to your doorway. Guess it was a good thing the meet was close to your humble abode."
"Damn it, Ezra," Vin chided softly. "Why didn't you call Chris or one of us to let us know where you were going? What in the hell were you thinking? If we had known the time and place of your meet, we could have given you some backup."
Ezra's mouth tightened at the harsh tone and he tried to pull his hand away from its captor. "Tommy is the nervous sort. I couldn't chance my getting into the game by having too many strangers around." He had finally given up the struggle to free his hand from Vin's tight grasp and concentrated on the stinging that was running up his right side. After a couple of minutes, he turned back to Vin and ruefully admitted, "I forgot to call Mr. Larabee before I left for my meeting. I really didn't think that it was going to be anything more than a quick twenty minutes."
Vin caught Ezra's gaze and looked hard into his eyes before saying, "Don't do anything that stupid again. Promise me."
After a couple of minutes, Ezra blinked, breaking their stare. "I promise," the man whispered tiredly, as his eyes drifted shut.
The next time Ezra drifted back to the land of the living, he was met once again by Vin's unflinching gaze. He knew, without looking, that the man still laid claim to his left hand, but he had no idea why. After drinking more water, Ezra took a chance – one of the most risky ones he had ever taken – and held Vin's undivided attention. "Mr. Tanner, may I ask why you insist on keeping my left hand captive?"With a nervous laugh, Vin pushed back his hair from his face with his other hand, trying to buy a couple of minutes before answering. "Hell, Ez. If I thought you really needed it, I would have given it back sooner. Whatcha need it for?"
"Nothing at the moment. I am just unaccustomed to waking up and finding one of my appendages trapped in another person's grasp."
Vin leaned closer to Ezra, his lips a few inches away from the undercover agent's. "That's just a damn shame. Maybe that's something we need to work on then, huh?"
Before Ezra had a chance to respond, the hospital room door was shoved open and JD came piling into the room, followed closely by Buck, Nathan and Chris. Josiah brought up the rear, carrying a couple of bags and a tray of coffee cups. Vin pulled back from Ezra, slipping their joined hands underneath the blanket.
"Hey, Ez! You're awake!"
"Of course I am, Mr. Dunne. How can one sleep with the herd of you barreling through the hospital floors?" Ezra asked with a smile.
He watched as the five other agents huddled around the table, laying claim to the coffee and donuts that Josiah had placed on it. Vin turned back and whispered to the injured man, "We got all the time in the world, Ez. Don't think that I'm giving you back your hand without a fight."
Ezra nodded his head slightly, agreeing silently that the two of them would continue their conversation at a later date. He was too tired to do anything more than lay back and watch his friends as they made themselves at home around his room, as they waited on the doctor to discharge him.
`Not sure how this happened or where this is going but it can't get any worse than what it has been. Maybe I am not as unlucky as I thought I was.' Ezra thought to himself. `What's that phrase Josiah is always spouting? Oh, yes. When a door closes, there is always a window that is left open.'
END
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