Ezra walked into the bullpen earlier than usual, a call from Chris that morning telling him there was someone waiting in the offices on him brought Ezra out of his slumber. Finding the bullpen empty Ezra made his way down the hall to discover his six teammates seated around the large mahogany conference table.
"Agent Standish, Assistant Director Walter Masters, FAIAU," the bald man said extending his hand to Ezra.
The usually southern gentleman just stood looking at Masters, a cold expression on his face.
"I understand your dislike towards our agency, but I am here regarding a matter I believe you will find to your advantage," Masters said.
"Good News! The Federal Agencies Internal Affairs Unit never comes bearing gifts," Ezra said harshly.
"Please join your team and I will get to why I am here," Masters said taking a stance at the head of the table.
Ezra hesitantly took a seat beside Buck and waited for the man before them to continue.
"I have asked that your team be here, I feel they should know what Agent Winters uncovered as well," Masters proceeded.
The seven men all perked up at the name used. The name of the woman, a supposed undercover agent lent them from Atlanta that turned out to be FAIAU, and sent in on the grounds Team Seven was dirty. They all knew Ezra and Chloe had had a relationship during her short stint with them, leaving Ezra to feel betrayed by her, as they all did. Chloe had earned all their trusts; they had all fallen for her charms.
A.D. Masters continued on, dismissing their looks," After returning from her case with your team, Chloe asked for a personal favor. She wanted to go after Agent Ronald Stewart, FBI."
"Wasn't that your partner, Ezra? The one that set you up?" Buck asked.
"Yes, one in the same," Ezra answered bitterly at the memory.
"Chloe presented me with sufficient evidence to back up her claims and I allowed her to go in and pursue Stewart. After three long months, she finally got him and along the way cleared your name Agent Standish." Masters said, watching as Ezra just blinked in astonishment.
All of Team Seven looked down the table to Ezra. They all knew he had been innocent of the accusations brought down on him three years ago by the FBI and his partner. They also knew the 'dirty agent' sign that followed him to the ATF bothered the southerner more then he allowed it to show.
"Where is Chloe?" Josiah asked, suddenly feeling the guilt over all the harsh accusations he and his team had thrown Chloe's way after finding out her real mission had been to come into the team with a 'seek and destroy' mission.
"I don't know Agent Sanchez," Masters answered not masking his grief over this.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Chris asked sarcastically.
"Chloe turned in her badge after getting Stewart. Said she wasn't cut out for going after the same team anymore. I haven't seen or heard from her since that day and that was three weeks ago." Masters answered.
"I need some air," was all Ezra said before standing and walking out of the room never making eye contact with anyone.
Ezra went right for the roof a place he hoped he would find privacy to deal with all that had been handed him in a matter of ten minutes. Thankfully he found himself alone and headed right for the ledge of the roof and looked out over the city, allowing the last time he had set eyes on Chloe to play back in his mind.
"You're a nark?" JD gasped.
"In a sense yes JD, I'm the top female agent from FAIAU, I was sent in to uncover any illegal activity Team Seven was a part of." Chloe answered looking to each of the seven men.
"Well now you know we aren't dirty!" Buck blasted back.
"You bend the rules a bit Buck, but no, you're not dirty; the first team I have ever infiltrated that wasn't," she responded, trying her best to keep her emotions in check.
"I almost went to Travis and asked he make you a permanent part of the team!" Chris said, breaking his silence, face red with anger.
"I know, I'm sorry. I never meant to get so personally involved with you, any of you," she said looking to Ezra who had yet to say a word.
"I think you should go Chloe, you don't belong here," Josiah said with abhorrence in his voice.
"I won't apologize for doing my job, and I don't regret coming here. You are an extraordinary team and that's what I plan to put in my report," Chloe said looking each man in the eye and then made for the elevators.
Chloe was about to get in her car when Ezra grabbed the door, pulling it back venom in his eyes. Chloe didn't fear him, most women would have at that moment, but she knew he would never hurt her.
"Ezra," Chloe whispered.
Ezra stood back from the car his way of telling her to exit the car; he wanted to talk.
"Do you always get romantically involved with your objectives?" he asked indignantly.
"God no!" she gasped.
"How the hell do I know,, for that, matter I don't even know you. Everything you told me was a lie!" Ezra shouted.
"Ezra everything I told you about my past, my family, everything but my job was true!"
"And in the throws of passion when you told me you loved me?" Ezra asked.
Chloe gasped the sobs racking through her body, "I do love you Ezra, like no one before," she begged him to believe.
"Lies!" Ezra roared.
"Ezra if you believe nothing else at least believe I love you," Chloe said coming to him, touching his cheek, only for him to turn away at her touch.
"You're nothing but a whore; you slept with me hoping I would turn on my own team!"
Chloe stepped back and slapped Ezra across the face; the pain showing in her eyes over his comment spoke volumes. With that Chloe got in her car and with a few screeches of tires and a revved engine…she was gone.
Ezra came back to present day the city before him coming back into focus and he realized for the first time what a fool he had been. Chloe was cut from the same mold as he, the same 'never let them in and the heart will never bleed.' Chloe had allowed her guard down with Ezra and they had shared their volatile pasts with one another; something neither had ever done voluntarily.Being with Chloe was like being home, now after learning everything she'd sacrificed to clear his name, putting her life and career on the line; now all he wanted was to go home.
Three Months Later
Ezra sat back in his chair, running his hands through his hair then down to rub his tired, bloodshot eyes. After a heavy sigh he stood, grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his chair and leaned over his desk to extinguish the only light illuminating Team Sevens bullpen. He slowly made his way to the elevator and leaned his shoulder against the wall awaiting the ding of the elevator, when it finally arrived he entered just as his cell phone rang.
"Standish."
"Hey Ez, where you at?" came Bucks voice.
"I don't think I will be joining you this evening," Ezra drawled into the phone.
"You have to come Ez, it's your birthday," Buck said.
In truth, Buck wasn't surprised Ezra was trying to get out of the celebration. Ever since the visit from Masters telling them Chloe had gone missing, Ezra had pulled back into himself more than usual.
"I plan on retiring to my home and acquire some much needed respite, Buck." Ezra said while stepping off the elevator and into the empty parking garage.
"Ezra you can't hide out forever," there was a pause of silence, "Ez, you still there?"
"Yes, I'm still here," Ezra answered, letting himself into his Jag.
"Sunday then. If you aren't at Chris's by one then I will come lookin' for you."
"Yes Buck, I shall be in attendance. Good-night." Ezra said, closed his phone then put his car into gear.
As Ezra drove through the city, as much as he tried his mind wondered back over the few weeks he had spent with Chloe and the guilt he still felt over the way he had treated her. He now believed she had truly loved him and didn't regret telling her of his past, his childhood, and his unbearable loneliness, the loneliness that now consumed him even more now with her gone.
Ezra parked his car and sat staring at the small bar he wasn't sure for how long, until he was finally able to force himself to move and enter the smoky establishment. He slowly made his way to the bar and ordered a double shot of whiskey, having been here before on several occasions with Chloe; Ezra knew the dingy bar didn't have his usual drink of choice.
He gathered his drink and made for the jukebox, knowing he was gluten for punishment, but after all it was his birthday and he could celebrate anyway he chose to.
He pushed the H2 button and made his way to the booth in the back, the same one he and Chloe had shared their first kiss. Then the song he chose started to play.
I, I can't read the future
But I still want to hold you close
Right now, is all I want from you
So give me the morning
Sharing another day
With you, is all I want to know
Ezra allowed the song to engulf him and he sat looking down at his drink, unaware of the person that was making her way to his table.
And baby I, I've tried to forget you
But the light of your eyes still shine
You shine like an angel
A spirit that won't let me go
Chloe stood and watched him for a moment, not believing he was here, in their hideaway, where they had come to conceal their romance from Ezra's team and Chloe's supervisor. This was where they shared their first dance, their first kiss, the very place she realized for the first time she loved Ezra and couldn't live without him.
I, I didn't want to tell you
Things I didn't want to know myself
I was afraid to show
But you gave me reason
A reason to face the truth
To face the truth, face the truth, face the truth
Feeling eyes on him Ezra looked up from the intense study of his drink and for a moment believed he was seeing things, but when Chloe held out her hand to him and he took it, the spark that passed through the touch was real. Ezra pulled her into him and held her so close it was almost as if they were one being. They swayed to the music taking in each other's familiar scents that both had missed so much.
And baby I, I've tried to forget you
But the light of your eyes still shine
You shine like an angel
A spirit that won't let me go
Won't let me go
Let go of my heart.*
When the song ended Ezra pulled back and took her face with both of his hands and looked into her blue pools, "Where have you been?" he asked.
"I took a much needed vacation, but of course I had to return today. Happy Birthday Ezra!" she exclaimed then took his mouth with hers as they partook in a searing kiss. When they finally parted she looked back into his eyes happy to find all the resentment that was there the last time she saw him was gone, it was completely gone.
"I'm sorry my love for all the things I said," Ezra whispered, his breath tickling the end of her nose.
"I'm sorry too, but let's put that behind us, shall we? Just take me home," she whispered seductively.
"I'm already home," he said with a smile and then recaptured her mouth.
The End
