Ezra rolled over and sighed in frustration as he cast a weary glance at his clock. The illuminated numbers seemed to mock him every time he looked their way. 1:30 a.m. and all he wanted to do was sleep. Well, no, that wasn't the truth either. What he wanted was just down the hall, waiting…calling…and driving him slowly into insanity.
Letting out another dramatic sigh, Ezra flopped onto his back, clasped his hands behind his head and stared at the dark ceiling. He could get up and do it anyway, he supposed. But with Chris asleep in the guestroom and Vin crashed out on his couch he wasn't sure he wanted to take the risk. He wondered how in the world his guests could have timed their invasion any better. First there'd been a drive-by shooting at Vin's apartment, preventing the sharpshooter from gaining access to his home for the night. Then, Chris' truck had broken down and since he couldn't stay at Vin's and wouldn't stay at Buck and JD's place…the only one left with the room was Ezra.
Frowning, Ezra ran a hand over his face and looked at the clock again. "This is ridiculous," he muttered softly. It wasn't like it was a big deal. Just a little indulgence, what could they say if they found out? He groaned and closed his eyes, imagining the comments and jokes that a revelation would elicit. Was it really worth the risk?
"Ah hell." Pushing back the lightweight covers, Ezra grabbed for his silk pajama bottoms. Larabee was asleep in the guestroom and heaven knew Tanner could sleep like the dead most of the time. "It's my damn home.,," he reminded himself quietly.
Slowly Ezra eased his bedroom door open and stealthily made his way down the darkened hallway. The guestroom door was closed and as he paused in the entrance to the kitchen he could hear Vin's soft snores coming from the living room. With a sly smile and one last furtive glance around he slipped into the kitchen.
His bare feet made no noise on the cold linoleum floor as he moved quickly toward the cupboards. Figuring it was easier to take what he needed back to his bedroom where it would be less likely to wake anyone up he grabbed a stoneware bowl from the strainer and cursed himself for not indulging in the simplicity of plastic as he placed it on the counter. Next he snatched a spoon and set it carefully inside the bowl. Opening the next cupboard he easily slid aside the box of gourmet crackers and healthy cereal, reaching instead for the hidden box that had been pushed to the back. Quickly he grasped onto his prize like a lifeline.
"Whatcha got there, Ez?"
Ezra jumped and yelped as Vin's soft question broke the silence, spinning around and shielding his eyes as the kitchen was suddenly bathed in bright light. His prize dropped with a clatter onto his bowl, hitting the spoon at just the right angle to send it flying rather loudly into the metal sink.
"Dear Lord, Mr. Tanner. Are you trying to give me heart failure?" Ezra
gasped, trying to regain his normal heart and breathing rates. "I hate when you
sneak up on me like that," he added.
Vin grinned knowingly. "Seems to me you were doing the sneaking. What da ya got?"
Ezra searched blindly for an answer but knew it was too late when Vin's blue eyes widened.
"Yer kidding me!" Vin moved towards him but Ezra grabbed the box and tried to thrust it behind him. "Give me that." Vin reached and caught the edge just enough to pull it back, creating a small tug of war.
"What the hell is going on in here?"
Both men looked up guiltily at Chris standing in the doorway with his hands on his hips. His hair standing up on end and the pattern of the bedspread still plain on the side of his face.
"He's got Cocoa Krispies." Vin pointed to the box as Ezra groaned.
Chris raised an eyebrow and looked from Ezra to the box. "And you're the one always so quick to hassle us about the junk we eat?"
"That's Nathan.," Ezra quickly pointed out.
"Yeah but you're always ordering the fancy crap and saying you wouldn't be loathe to eat any of our common food. Yer just a big fraud," Vin accused.
"I am no such thing.," Ezra stated calmly trying to pull the box of cereal from Tanner's grasp. "How dare you accuse me of being a chiseler," he muttered as Vin pulled back, not ready to release his grip.
"Chiseler?" Vin mouthed at Chris, who just shrugged.
"So…" Chris waited until Ezra looked at him, "are you going to share?"
Ezra frowned in confusion at first then nodded slowly. "Of course."
Five minutes later the three men sat around the dining room table. Each one contently focused on their bowls of chocolate confection. Vin chuckled softly and shook his head. "I can't believe you like this stuff." He flashed Ezra a wicked grin.
"You're going to enjoy informing the entire office of this aren't you?" Ezra asked, stirring his cereal.
"Now would we do that Ez?" Chris asked as he reached for the milk.
"I'm quite positive you would."
"Well now," Chris smiled. "I swear on the grave of your sainted mother, I won't."
"My mother is alive, Mr. Larabee."
"Just a figure of speech, Ez." Chris took a large mouthful of cereal and winked.
"Oh dear lord." Ezra moaned, then shrugged as he reached for the box so he could refill his bowl.
The End
