Chris Larabee, the leader of the unruly ATF outfit known as The Magnificent Seven was sitting back in his leather chair enjoying the peace and quiet of the office, not only the office, but his office. The ignoramus' were out there but he had warned them of physical violence if they interrupted his mood. They would pay dearly if his mood changed. Even Ezra had taken heed of the warning and that man lived to piss Chris off.

The blinds were open. The sun, taking advantage of it, lit up the office on the seventh floor of the building. It even flowed around the handsome features of Chris Larabee. The natural sunlight took ten years off his face, erasing the strain of mourning for his dead family and the stress of leading six unbearable assholes that drove him almost to the point of insanity. Only God and Chris Larabee knew what kept him walking on the straight path of normality.

His feet were crossed and resting on the desk. A steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee made by Josiah sat in his right hand. A thin cigar, the smoke filling the room like a shroud, was held in his left hand. If only it was like this all the time.

The door slowly opened. The intruder too afraid to open it fully looked inside. A neat cropping of chestnut hair appeared first, then the pale skin, intelligent green eyes were asking the question concerning admittance.

"No." Chris simply answered. He took another sip of the wonderful coffee then a long drag on the cigar. The nicotine was pulled into his lungs; thank goodness he didn't do this often enough to get lung cancer, but then again you didn't have to smoke to get that fateful illness.

The door continued to open and Ezra Standish stepped into the room and before Chris could politely tell him to fuck off the phone rang. Chris wasn’t worried, this day wasn't going to be a bad day, it couldn't start out so good only to be ruined.

The right hand put the cigar down and picked up the phone. "This is Chris Larabee, how may I help you!" He even said it with a smile.

Ezra raised an eyebrow in surprise. Maybe the bad news wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

"Chris, it's . . . "

"Vin unless this is important, I don't want to know about it." he warned him in a threatening tone.

"Of course it's important it's . . . "

"Hang on a sec Vin, there's someone on the other line."

"Chr." Vin's voice was cut off.

"Chris Larabee."

"Chris it's, he's . . . "

"What do you want Buck?" he watched as Ezra found a seat and sat down. There was a smug look on the Southerner's face. Chris frowned then went back to the conversation.

"It's Ho."

"Hang on Buck, 'nother caller." After the peace and quiet everyone wanted him.

"Larabee!"

"Better hide Chris, he's . . . "

"Josiah, if this is joke, I'm going to kill someone."

"No joke Mr Larabee." Lenny Hoskins stepped into the office and sat down next to Ezra. “And I see you still haven’t learnt to listen to people.”

Chris jumped up, both from the shock of seeing an asshole walk unannounced into his office, the man didn't even knock, and the coffee that just spilt all over his jeans. Damn it. He threw the cup into the bin and stormed out of the office.

"Why didn't any of you bastards warn me!" Chris yelled out to them.

"What?" Vin's mouth fell open. When Chris had put him on hold he'd hung up and decided to warn him in person. Hoskins beat him to the office. "I phoned you to tell you but you put me on hold!" Vin was totally gob smacked.

"Yeah right, likely story Tanner. Next time you warn me!" Chris turned to Buck who threw his hands up in the air. "I suppose you were trying to tell me on the phone as well. Josiah too. Well you didn't try hard enough. The bastard is in my office now. Why didn’t you just physically stop him. How could you have let him get so far knowing how I feel about him. How the hell am I going to get rid of him, I can't . . . " he stopped and turned around. The slow movements told the group of men that were watching that someone was about to die.

Ezra tried to hide his smirk when Chris came back into the office. He had heard the conversation outside the office, it was difficult not to hear the yelling.

"You low down, good-for-nothin' son-of-a-bitch!" Chris growled in a low voice. "You knew he was coming Standish, you came in here to watch the show didn't you. Bastard!" "And Ezra told me that you'd be happy to see me." Lenny's handsome face held a look of disappointment. "I'm hurting, right here." he tapped his chest with his fist.

"Well I'm not happy and you know I'm not!" Chris glared down at him. "Get the hell out of my office, you scheming piece of shit!"

"Don't you want to know what I want?" Lenny wasn't in the least bit surprised at the polite request.

"I was talking to Ezra."

"Oh . . . " Ezra groaned.

"He stays, he's the reason I'm here." Lenny smiled.

"What the hell did you do this time!"

"I think it's time I left." Ezra got up and began to sneak towards the exit. The yellow streak he swore he never had, suddenly appeared.

"You sit down." Lenny grabbed the lapels of Ezra's jacket and pulled him back down into his seat. His eyes never strayed from Chris' face. "This was your idea remember."

"Actually I don't. If I recall you said something about wanting to . . . "

"No I didn't." Lenny growled at him.

"Yes you did!"

"No I didn't, now respect your elders. You know they're always right!"

"Elder is right," Ezra muttered under his breath, "by at least thirty years.”

“Shut up.” Hoskins growled at him.

“Dido.” Chris added.

"Why do I get myself into these things."

"Because you're stupid." Lenny told him.

Ezra just nodded and slumped down in his chair. Yep, he was stupid, he would have to be to come in here when he knew Lenny was coming. Why did he do something so stupid? He wish he knew. He had known what Chris' reaction would be. If he survived this he would be a very lucky man.

"I came to visit with Ezra this weekend, but apparently he's now going up to your cabin for the weekend and, well, you see, I didn't want to stay at his place on my own so Ezra thought that . . . "

"I didn't think." Ezra's head was turned away from the two men, his hand covered his mouth.

Lenny ignored him. "maybe you would allow me to come along. So it wouldn't be a wasted trip . . . so to speak." he smiled.

"Ezra can stay here." Chris didn't suggest it, he demanded it.

"And not include him in this family outing." Lenny enjoyed the anger and guilt that flashed across Larabee's face. "I mean after what happened you did say he was family and that he was going to go on your weekend trips." he knew he had him but why he had allowed Ezra to talk him into this he didn't know.

"Fine, but I hate the idea. And I'm only doing it for Ezra!" Chris had to accept it, what choice did he have after what Hoskin's just said. He knew how Ezra would feel if he didn't allow either of them to come with them. Why he allowed them to talk him into this he didn't know.

"I knew you would see it Ezra's way." Lenny stood up and walked to the door. "My stuff is in the car, Ezra said you would agree. I'll just hang around the office shall I, get reacquainted with the guys."

“You can say it Lenny, Chris won’t mind.” Ezra smiled up at his friend.

Lenny nodded in agreement. “Assholes, I’ll go out and reacquaint myself with the assholes.”

Of the seven members of Team 7, there was only one who liked Lenny Hoskins, the other six hated him with a passion just like Larabee but they put up with him because of Ezra. They knew that Hoskins and Standish were close friends and they didn't want Ezra to choose between them because deep down they knew he would choose Hoskins. It would be a tough decision for him though.

Chris waited until the man's back was turned. He then pulled his gun from his shoulder holster and aimed for the area between the back of the shoulders. He wouldn't kill him quickly. Suffering is what he wanted to see. The trigger was pulled without hesitation and the FBI agent's body jerked then fell to the floor. Chris stepped forward and . . .

Lenny walked out of the room with a knowing smile on his face. The men that created a human tunnel for him to proceed through held open mouths and wide eyes. "I'm going to get some extra things for the First Aid Kit." Nathan Jackson announced to his friends.

"I'll help you, you're going to need some extra hands to carry it all." Josiah Sanchez nodded and ran after him.

"What are we going to do?" Buck Wilmington first looked at Vin then at JD Dunne. They both shrugged. Not that they could say anything anyway, both of their mouths were still open. "He's going to ruin the whole weekend."

"Aw hell." Vin spoke.

"We gonna stand here all day?" JD asked them.

"Aw hell." Vin repeated.

"We'll take that as a no." Buck and JD both grabbed an arm and lead the shocked Texan away.

Ezra was trying to sneak away. Maybe he could get past his boss while he had that dreamlike expression on his face.

"This is your fault Standish." Chris broke himself out of the trance he had fallen into. He had enjoyed the picture for a moment but snapped out of it. "Why in the hell did you invite him along?"

"I didn't . . . " Ezra stammered, "he invited himself along. I told him on the phone last week that I was busy. He came anyway . . . what am I supposed to do." It wasn't all the truth.

"You could have told him no!" Chris moved forward and slammed the office door closed. If someone was going to pay for this, it was going to be this Southern bastard.

"You try saying no to him!" Ezra growled back.

"He's suppose to be your friend and that means listening to YOU!" he finished the sentence with a yell that was heard through out the office.

"No it doesn't!" Ezra disagreed with him.

"Yes it does." Chris retorted.

"Are you my friend?"

Chris frowned. The sneaky son-of-a-bitch was up to something. "Yes." the tone was suspicious and so was the body language.

"Do you listen to me?" the Southerner raised an eyebrow that he knew would annoy his boss and friend.

"GET OUT!"

Ezra ran from the office and flinched when the door was slammed shut a second time. "We'll that went well." he smiled and adjusted his jacket then made his way to his office whistling softly under his breath.

The eight men had split into two groups for the rest of the afternoon. Lenny had insisted that Ezra stay with him while the others were grouped together in Chris’ office, trying to work out a way to cancel the weekend without hurting Ezra’s feelings. Their excuses included; well they included; there was the idea where they were going to, well they were going to . . . They changed their mind and instead decided on, it was something that would . . . No, that wasn’t going to work either. Then they thought of something brilliant. They would just . . . no they couldn’t kill him, that would hurt Ezra’s feelings, but what if they killed Ezra, that would only hurt Lenny’s feelings and they didn’t really care about what he felt. Then again they would be upset over Ezra’s death. What if they weighed how they would feel over his death, over how they would feel spending three days with Lenny Hoskins. Decision made, Ezra had to die.

How were they going kill him, and who was going to kill him. It was also decided that they would hire a contract killer because neither of them had the heart to do it. They also realised they didn’t have the money to hire one. They weren’t cheap. They were going to have to take him with them, there was nothing else they could do. If Ezra Standish died in a boating or hunting accident, then so be it. At least then they would never see Lenny Hoskins again and that was the important thing.

They made their way down to the ATF parking garage underneath the building. Two cars had been assigned to take the group of men. Chris’ dodge and Josiah’s run down vehicle - they no longer recognised what it was. As soon as the elevator doors opened, the race was on. Nathan, Buck, JD and Vin ran for Josiah’s car. Vin yelled in frustration when Buck tripped him up just as they reached it. Buck and JD, practically dove into the back seat while Nathan jumped into the front.

“Fucking bastard!” Vin yelled at Buck. “You tripped me up on purpose just so you wouldn’t have to ride with that . . . that . . . irritating shit-head.”

“Yep.” Buck smiled at the downed man and slammed the car door shut.

“Sounds like Mr Tanner doesn’t want to ride with you Mr Larabee.” Ezra commented as he walked behind Chris; out of striking distance of course.

“You’re going to die before this weekend is over Standish.” Chris warned him.

“I think I’ve already died and gone to hell.” Ezra complained. “I don’t know why I allowed either of you to talk me into this.”

“I didn’t!” Chris and Lenny spoke together.

Chris stopped and glared at Hoskins. “Looks like you’re riding with me.”

“An honour Chris, I assure you.”

“Ezra, you’re also . . . where the hell did he go?”

Ezra, the coward that he sometimes is, tried to sneak into Josiah’s vehicle. Chris ran after him and literally dragged him by the ear to the dodge and threw him into the front passenger seat where he could watch him.

“That’s where you’re going to stay Standish, and don’t you dare throw up in my car!” it was a threat that Ezra heard clearly but decided to ignore.

“You know I get motion sickness if I’m not driving.”

“You’re not driving.”

“Then I’m going to throw up in your car.”

“You do and I’ll rub your face in it.”

Ezra turned to look over his seat at Lenny who had slipped unnoticed into the back seat. “Lenny, are you going to allow him to talk to me like that.”

“I think you can handle this on your own Ezra, you don’t need me.”

“You were the one who decided to come along, not me, so you should be going out of your way to protect me!”

“I think I’m going to be spending all my time protecting myself Ezra so you can go to hell.”

Chris smiled, Lenny and Ezra felt threatened, that’s the way it should be, it’ll make the weekend easier for the rest of the team.

All three men jumped when a grumbling Vin Tanner crawled into the back seat and slammed the door shut. He then proceeded to go as low as he could and buckled his seat belt.

“I’m not talking to anyone, especially him,” he pointed at Lenny, “or the idiot in the front seat, so don’t even bother saying anything to me.”

“Okay.” Chris shrugged.

“Fine by me.” Lenny smiled at him.

“Mr Tanner,” Ezra turned in his seat, “did you remember to go to the toilet first? Because you need to with that incontinence problem you have.”

“You’re going to die on this trip Ezra, I’ll make sure of that.” Vin growled at him.

“Lenny!” Ezra wined.

“I already told you to go to hell! This is you’re fault Ezra, I don’t know why I let you talk me into this.”

“I didn’t.”

“Sickness pills. Do you have any?” Chris was sick of this already, he just wanted to leave.

“No.”

Chris growled through clenched teeth and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. He pressed a speed dial button and waited a few seconds.

“Why haven’t we left yet?” was the answer he received on the other end.

“Nathan, have you got any motion sickness pills in your bag?” Chris ignored the question.

“Chris, I have everything from band aids to embalming fluid.” Nathan explained. He even had to bring a second bag to carry everything.

“You have embalming fluid in your doctor’s kit?” Chris asked as he looked over his shoulder and smiled at Lenny, who raised an eyebrow in return. “Why would you be carrying embalming fluid?”

“Thought it might come in handy . . . you know . . . when Ezra, somewhat dies.”

Chris turned his eyes to take in Ezra’s innocent expression and smiled at the undercover agent. “You’re right there Nathan,” Chris winked at Ezra, “it will come in handy to have embalming fluid, but right now a motion sickness pill will have to do because I don’t want him throwing up in my car.”

“Sure, send him back . . . “

“No way in hell, he’ll disappear on me and I’ll never be able to exact my revenge on the little bastard.” Chris was still smiling at Ezra, mostly because of the hint of fear that had appeared in the green eyes staring back at him.

“Wouldn’t it be better if he disappeared, Hoskins might go looking for him, they both might get lost.”

“Now there’s another point. I’ll send him back for one.” Chris hung up without waiting for a reply. “Go and see Nathan.”

“What for?” Ezra narrowed his eyes at the man who sat across from him.

“Just do it!” Chris growled through clenched teeth.

Ezra glanced at Vin, then Lenny. He opened the door and got out of the car. He faced Chris, smiled, and slammed the door as hard as he could.

“Son-of-a-bitch.”

“You got that right Larabee.” Lenny agreed.

“It’s about the only thing we agree on Hoskins.”

“That and Ezra.” Lenny nodded. “This was his idea you know . . . to bring me along. He knew you wouldn’t say no, that there would still be too much guilt for you to refuse him.”

“I’m gonna kill him.”

The door opened and Ezra got back into his seat.

“Slam it and I swear to God Ezra, I’ll hit you so hard, you’ll be unconscious for the entire trip.”

“You wouldn’t.” Ezra told him.

“Try me.” Chris dared him.

Ezra couldn’t help himself, he slammed the door.

Chris let fly with a powerful right that slammed into Ezra’s jaw. Chris didn’t even flinch when he heard the undercover agent’s head hit the side window.

“Don’t ever push me Ezra Standish, you won’t win.”

“At least the trip will be more peaceful.” Lenny smiled as he gazed at the back of his young friend’s head that was now lying against the window.

“Only if you shut up!” Vin retorted. He didn’t give a shit about what Chris had done either.

“I thought you weren’t talking?” Chris eyed him in the rearview mirror.

“I’m not!”

“Then shut up.” Chris started the engine, then after a second thought, he leant over Ezra’s slumped form and buckled him into his seat belt. “Let’s get this nightmare started shall we.”

Ow, ow, ow, ow! He actually hit me. The son-of-a-bitch hit me. Ezra could tell by the way his jaw hurt, even the side of his head hurt. Ow! His head bounced against the window when Larabee drove over a pot hole. Ezra assumed that Chris had been doing that through the entire trip. That man could be a real bastard sometimes, well most of the time, okay, all of the time.

“OW!” Ezra voiced when his head hit the window again.

“You shouldn’t be leaning against the window then, should you!” Chris yelled back at him.

“You hit me.”

“I told you not to slam the door.”

“And you know, telling me not do something, makes me do it.” the Southerner protested.

“So it’s my fault then is it.” Chris gripped the steering harder.

“Yes.” was the simple answer.

“Shut up Ezra . . . just shut the fuck up!” Chris warned him.

Ezra folded his arms and used his eyes to familiarise himself with the area they were in. The trees that lined the road told him they were still a few hours from Chris’ ranch.

“Are we there yet?” Ezra asked innocently.

“No.” Chris growled through gritted teeth.

“How much longer until we arrive?”

“At least three hours.”

“That long huh?”

“Yes.”

“So what have you guys been doing to pass the time?” when he didn’t get an answer from Chris, he shifted in his seat to look at Vin and his good friend Lenny. They weren’t going to answer him either, they were too busy staring daggers at him. “Oh, it’s been like that has it?” still no answers.

“We’ve had a peaceful trip so far and we would like it to stay that way.” Chris finally answered.

“Are you suggesting that I talk to much?”

“Yes.” three voices spoke together.”

“What is this? Pick on Ezra Standish day?”

“Try Ezra Standish weekend.” Chris smiled and took a quick glance at his undercover agent.

“This wasn’t my idea Chris. Lenny suggested it, and when I said no, he made me do it, said that you wouldn’t say no because of what happened with . . . you know.” Ezra slumped down in his seat.

“Hoskins said it was your idea.”

“He’s lying.”

“Hoskins?” Chris was ready to kill someone and it was only three hours into the long weekend.

“Ezra’s lying.” Hoskins shrugged.

“That’s a lie.” Ezra protested. “Who are you going to believe Chris? Me, you’ve known me for six months now or him,” he pointed his thumb to the back seat, “someone you would kill if God gave you permission.”

“And how many times have you lied during those six months Ezra?”

“In a court of law you wouldn’t be allowed to do that.” Ezra told him.

“Do what?” Chris hated it when the Southerner was to smart for his own good.

“Bring up my past, the case would be thrown out of court. Therefore you lost and I don’t have to answer the question. And! I am now noted as being innocent as you weren't able to convict me because you didn’t make a strong enough case against me. Chris, I really hope you don’t work like this in the ATF, too many criminals would be let back onto the streets.”

“You Ezra Standish are talking through your anus.”

“Worth a try.” Ezra shrugged.

“Are you through?” Chris glanced at him to give him a warning glare.

“With what?”

“With being an anus that seems to have pro-lapsed.”

Ezra had no idea what to say to that. He didn’t even think Chris had it in him to come up with such a thing.

“Did you know that Coca-Cola was originally green?” Ezra asked the three men.

Absolute silence, except for the grinding of teeth.

“Polar bears are left-handed. Did you know that Vin?”

“No Ezra I didn’t and I would have preferred it if you hadn’t told me.” Vin spoke calmly and softly.

“If one synchronised swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too?”

Lenny leaned forward, reached around the seat and slapped Ezra across the side of the head.

“Ow! What did you do that for?”

“Because you’re being a pain in the ass. What the hell is wrong with you today?” Lenny practically yelled at him. “You sick, or just sick in the head? You seem to be going out of your way to piss everyone off. Is there a reason for that, or do you just have a death wish?”

“This was you’re idea Chris, I don’t know why I allowed you to talk me into this.” Ezra wore a pouting expression.

“What the hell are you talking about!” Chris thought about slamming on the brakes and pulling the . . . the . . . the undercover agent from the car and beating the crap out of him.

“This trip was your idea, if you hadn’t arranged it this it wouldn’t be happening.”

“The hell it is! You’re not going to blame me for any of this.” Chris warned him.

“Well, it’s not my fault, you organised this trip, and it’s not my fault that Lenny decided to come along. You could have told him no.”

“Not another word Ezra, not another word. If you say anything I will hit you again. And you know I will.”

Ezra looked at Chris. He shifted his jaw into an awkward position causing it to hurt. The pain reminded him that Chris had carried out his last threat without remorse. That was fine, he could make payback. This trip was going to be a failure because of Chris and Lenny. They were going to make his life miserable by arguing with each other, probably to the point where it would end with a violent disagreement. He didn’t want that, he wanted to keep both men as friends. He had decided that the best thing to do was to make them both angry at him, that way, they wouldn’t be angry at each other.

Ezra opened his mouth to say something, closed it, then smiled when another idea came to him. He would wait for half an hour or so then begin the next step to bringing Lenny and this group of men together.

“Mr Larabee.”

“Yes Ezra.” Chris didn’t look at him, instead his mind began to search for an idea of what Ezra might be up to.

“I feel ill.”

“You feel ill.” Chris shook his head in disbelief. “How can you feel ill when Nathan gave you something that’s supposed to stop you from being sick.”

“You have to take one every three hours and it’s been three hours and forty two minutes. Now I feel ill, and I believe, I may even throw up.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before you started to get sick.”

“You told me not to say another word, if I did, you would hit me.” Ezra repeated Chris’ warning.

“Son-of-a-bitch!” Chris slammed on the brakes, not caring whether or not Josiah hit the back end of his car.”Get out! Now!”

“You have parked in the middle of the road.” Ezra observed.

“All the better to have someone run you down Ezra.” Lenny spoke from the back.

“Great friends you guys are.” Ezra retorted as he made his way out of the car. He then ran face first into Josiah’s chest.

“What’s wrong now?” the larger man stood over Ezra.

“Chris needed a break, you know how old he’s getting, can’t sit for long periods of time. And Vin, well, that incontinence problem, he needs a toilet break.” Ezra explained and for some reason managed to smile at the same time.

“Then why are they still sitting in the car?”

“Beats me.” the Southerner shrugged and walked around Josiah so he could move off the road before someone ran him over.

Josiah watched him then turned back around. He opened the door and leaned over so he could look into the car. He chuckled when he saw the expression on Chris’ face.

“You getting out or what?”

“What.” Chris retorted.

“What? What as in what did I say or what as in you’re doing what.”

“I’m doing what.”

“Ezra said that you needed a break and Vin’s needs a toilet break.”

“Ezra wants to die.” Chris explained.

Lenny got out of the car and stretched his back. “Ezra said he was going to throw up.”

“Oh,” Josiah turned around and began the search for the Southerner. He found him sitting cross legged on the side of the road. “Doesn’t look like he’s throwing up to me.”

Chris leaned over the passenger seat and looked towards where Josiah was pointing. “I’m going to kill him.”

“Before or after me.” Lenny asked him.

“Before.” Chris followed Lenny’s lead and got out of the car. “Vin! Move the car.”

Vin hesitantly removed himself from the car and did as he was told. Ezra Standish was going to pay for a weekend that had turned bad as soon as Lenny Hoskins had showed up.

Chris attempted to walk faster than Lenny without actually running. He realised that Hoskins was doing the same thing. The ‘before or after me’ had been a serious statement that both men were willing to fight over. Both men reached Ezra at the same time. They glared down at the man who was sitting cross legged on the side of the road.

“Something wrong gentlemen?” Ezra enjoyed the sight of seeing the two men he respected the most in life wearing the same expression, and the look wasn’t aimed at each other, it was aimed at him. This was what he wanted.

“Thought you were going to throw up.”

“You said you were sick.”

“Are you sick or not?”

“Or are you just lying through your teeth again.”

“Tell me the truth, are you sick or not.”

“Because if you’re not, then you’re going to be.”

“Do I have to force you to say something.”

“You don’t look sick to me.”

“You look quite healthy from what I can see.”

Ezra’s eyes just managed to move from one friend to the next as each one spoke in turn. His eyes widened when they finally stopped questioning him.

“Well?” asked Josiah. He was looking forward to hearing what Ezra had to say.

“I was . . . I said I felt ill . . . not . . . I am certainly not . . . not . . . what are you going to do to achieve that Mr Larabee . . . no, I can’t get a word in . . . I didn’t say I was . . . depends on how you look at me.”

“What?”

“I said . . . “

“I heard what you said!” Chris now stood with his hands on his hips. “What I want to know is, what the hell are you talking about?”

“I was merely answering your questions.” Ezra raised an eyebrow at him.

Chris hated that. “Are you going to throw up or not?”

“No, that’s passed.”

Lenny stood with his arms crossed. “Then why are you just sitting there?”

“Well, I can hardly get up with three men hovering over me now can I.”

“Josiah,” Chris held his anger back, “you’re with us. Ezra, you can drive Josiah’s car.”

Ezra was left on the side of the road while the three men returned to Chris’ car, which sped off as soon as the doors were closing. The Southerner sighed. On the good side, Chris didn’t kick Lenny out of the car before he left. Ezra wondered if Chris even realised that Lenny was in the back seat. He looked over his shoulder and smiled slightly at Nathan who was staring back at him.

“That went well.” Ezra stood up and brushed himself off as he prepared for another confrontation.

“What just happened there?” Buck asked from his position in the back seat of Josiah’s car.

“Beats me.” JD shrugged.

Nathan was watching Ezra carefully for any indications of motion sickness. It would be the only explanation as to why Chris left him behind. But it didn’t explain why he had taken the driver of this car and not one of it’s passengers; but he wasn’t about to complain, he rather it was Josiah that was going to suffer the rest of the trip and not him.

Ezra’s face disappeared as he reached the door but Nathan continued to watch as the Southerner opened the door and got into the driver’s seat. The features seemed to be perfectly calm and slightly tanned. No paleness or sweating. Ezra looked fine to Nathan.

“What happened out there?” Nathan repeated Buck’s question.

“Mr Larabee was pissing me off with useless titbits of information that I didn’t need to know.” Ezra growled as he turned the ignition on. “I told him so and I was delegated to this vehicle.”

“Something wrong with being in this vehicle Ezra?” JD piped up from the back.

“You mean apart from the poor conversation, idiotic music and lessons given in morals . . . not really.”

“What’d you mean by poor conversation?” Buck yelled.

“There’s nothing idiotic about the music we listen to.” JD added.

“And I only give lessons because you need them.” Nathan retorted.

“What do you plan on talking about for the next three hours Mr Wilmington?” Ezra searched the rear-view mirror for any on-coming cars and when there wasn’t any, he pulled out onto the road.

“Well, I’ve been tellin’ Nathan and JD here about my latest conquest and . . . “

“Exactly, not only a poor but also a stupid and mentally boring conversation.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t Chris that was getting pissed off?” Nathan asked.

“Are you calling me a liar, Mr Jackson?”

“Don’t I always.” the ex-EMT couldn’t help but smile at the smug bastard that sat opposite him.

“Yes you do and may I tell you that it’s quite an irritating habit.”

“I habit that I just can’t seem to break.” Nathan conceded the point.

“A habit, that one day, may be broken with physical force.”

“Are you threatening me Ezra?” Nathan looked at the undercover agent’s profile.

“Yes.”

Nathan had no intention of continuing the conversation. Ezra hadn’t meant what he’d said. Anger was fuelling the conversation. Silence filled the car as the threat hung in the air.

“There’s nothing wrong with my music.” JD complained again.

“You can’t understand it, it’s always too loud and the lyrics are stupid.”

“The only reason you don’t like our music is . . . is . . . is because you don’t like it.” JD nodded his head and crossed his arms.

“Good one JD.” Buck elbowed him.

JD nodded his head again as if he was thanking Buck for the compliment he thought he had just received.

“A stupid point JD.” Ezra deflated JD’s ego with four words. “Of course I don’t like it.”

JD mumbled something that Ezra didn’t catch. He leaned to his left and removed the cd from the CD player. “You see this,” Ezra lifted the cd above his shoulder so the two men in the back could see it, “would I do this if I liked your music.” Ezra threw the cd out the window.

“Uh Ezra, that was Josiah’s new cd.” JD glanced sideways at Buck.

“He’s not going to like what you just did with his new cd.” Buck was smiling from ear to ear.

“I don’t care what he likes and what he doesn’t like.” Ezra shrugged his shoulders. “It was probably full of religious crap anyway.”

“He’s not going to be happy Ezra.” Nathan assured him.

“So, are you going to give me one of your lessons now Nathan?”

“I might.”

“If you do, I’m going to stop this car, drag you out of it and kick your black ass all over the road.” Ezra hoped that Nathan didn’t call his bluff, he didn’t want to hit Nathan, he didn’t want to hit anyone. The only way he would resort to physical force is if it was the only option he had left.

“Black ass?” Nathan glared at Ezra.

“Yes, your black ass.” Ezra repeated without taking his eyes off the road.

“I’m going to let that ride Ezra, but if you talk to me like that again, I’ll take you up on that threat.”

“Is that a promise Nathan?” Ezra glanced at his passenger and smiled wickedly at Nathan.

“Fuck you Ezra.” Nathan retorted.

Ezra smiled inwardly. Why was it so easy to make these men angry at him.

Ezra got out of the vehicle and smiled at the sight before him. Chris, Lenny and Vin stood in front of the steps that led up to Chris’ cabin. To any other person, it would have looked as though the men were waiting for someone. A someone that they wanted to kill and kill slowly. The Southerner decided that he was going to go all the way, he was enjoying himself too much. The idea that Chris and Lenny being in the same car without him made the physical reprimands worth it. He won’t get angry and he won’t get petty. He was just going to enjoy himself and in the end, the rest of the seven were going to be friends with Lenny.

The Southerner got out of the car and purposely walked up to Josiah, who was leaning against the dodge with Ezra’s bag at his feet. Ezra picked it up and whispered something to him then began to make his way to the others.

“Buck!” Josiah boomed at the top of his lungs. “That was a new cd that you threw away! I only bought that last week!”

“What?” Buck took a step back and glared at Ezra. “I didn’t do it. Ezra threw it out the window. He said he didn’t want to listen to your religious crap.” he pointed a finger at Ezra. “Ask Nathan and JD if you don’t believe me.”

“Ezra . . . “ Josiah caught up to the ex-con and spun him around to face him.

“Yes Josiah.” Ezra was wearing an innocent expression on his face.

“Did you throw my new cd away?” Josiah was calm, well he was trying to stay calm.

“Now why would I want to throw your new cd away?”

“Perhaps you could tell me that.” the larger man put his hands on his hips and moved closer in attempt to threaten the smaller man.

“Now if someone else had done it, I would say it was because they didn’t want to listen to what you call music, because it’s frightening nonsense that only encourages people to carry out ritualistic killings.”

“This is you you’re talking about isn’t it!” Josiah growled at the innocent face in front of him. Although he felt closer to Ezra than he did to the others, it didn’t stop him from wanting to beat the crap out of him to teach him a lesson. And at the moment he was very close to doing just that.

“You see, if you played your cd backwards, you’d hear instructions that tell you how to do a ritualistic killing using a dog or is god, I’m still not sure yet, it could be running forward as well as backwards.”

Josiah was speechless, too angry to talk. This unfortunately gave Ezra the opportunity to continue talking.

“It’s madness, it’s dreadful music . . . it’s grotesque, hideous, horrid, monstrous, repellent, repulsive and crude. It’s gothic, that’s what it is and I don’t want it anywhere near me.”

“Are you finished?”

“Why? Do you want me to go on?” Ezra raised an eyebrow.

“That’s why you threw it out the window?”

“No, I threw it out the window because Buck told me too.”

“Like hell I did.” Buck protested. “Chris!”

“What do you want me to do? I already hit him once and it doesn’t seem to have done any good.”

“You hit him.” Nathan smiled.

“Yeah I did, he was pissing me off!”

“He said you were pissing him off . . . “ Nathan shook his head in amusement, this was going to be a very long weekend.

“Why you good-for-nothin’ son-of-a-bitch!” Chris moved forward but was stopped by Josiah’s large hand.

“If you don’t mind Chris,” Josiah continued to stare at Ezra who was smiling back at him, “I haven’t finished with him yet.”

Ezra’s smiled dropped and his eyebrows moved towards the heavens. “But I have done nothing wrong Josiah.”

“Why are you lying Ezra.”

“To cover my back of course, why else would I lie.”

“I want you to apologise and when we get back to town, you’re going to buy me a new cd.”

“I will not apologise for ridding the world of that dreadful music and I will not waste my money buying another one, only to have it thrown out of the window.”

“Ezra.” Josiah growled with impatience.

“Lenny!” Ezra called over his shoulder to his friend.

“Yes Ezra.” Lenny had been watching the scene play out before him. He was filled with confusion as to why Ezra was behaving like he was. He was also angry because Ezra was embarrassing the crap out of him.

“You will please tell this giant oaf to stop making demands for me to do things that I don’t want to do.” Ezra kindly asked him.

“No.”

“May I ask why not?” Ezra glanced over his shoulder and noticed that Lenny had joined Chris’ side.

“Because you’re going to do what Josiah asked you to do.”

“And that is?”

“That’s it!” Lenny stormed forward and grabbed Ezra’s left arm. The FBI agent began to drag his young friend down towards the lake. He intended to have a private talk with Ezra but he was surprised when Chris Larabee began to follow them.

“This conversation is a private one Mr Larabee.” Lenny spoke without stopping.

“You sure? Thought you might need some help.” Chris continued to follow the two men.

This time Lenny stopped and turned around. “You want to help me?”

“Yeah . . . I know what a lying, sneaky bastard Ezra can be. It might be easier with two of us questioning him rather than one.”

Lenny had to think for a moment. Was this a trick or did Larabee really want to help. He glanced at Ezra and saw the small smile that played with his lips.

“I think I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

“Then let’s get on with it shall we.”

“Are we going fishing Mr Larabee?” Ezra smiled to the man who had taken his right arm.

“No Ezra, we’re not.”

“Swimming perhaps?”

“No.”

“You and Lenny aren’t going to have an argument are you?”

“No.”

“You’re not really one for conversation are you Mr Larabee.” before Chris could reply, Ezra turned to Lenny and smiled at the angry expression his friend wore. “Lenny, did you know that Mr Larabee wears ladies underwear. Pink ones to be exact.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Lenny pulled Ezra to a stop and stepped in front of him. “Why are you acting like this?”

“I’m not acting like anything. This is my normal self,” Ezra turned to Chris, “isn’t it Mr Larabee?”

“If you want to call, being an aggravating asshole who is attempting to piss his friends off enough to want to kill him, then yes, you’re being normal.”

“See, Mr Larabee agrees with me.” Ezra smiled smugly at Lenny Hoskins.

“That’s not what he said Ezra.”

“Are you calling Chris a liar Lenny?”

“He didn’t call me a liar Ezra, he called you one.” Chris retorted and shoved Ezra away from him. “Why are you doing this? Is it payback for making you come? Or are you mad that Lenny came with us.”

“I’m not mad. Lenny here, forced himself upon this expedition and you’re the one who agreed to allow him to come. It had nothing to do with me. None of this was my idea. I don’t know why I let either of you talk me into this.”

“First of all,” Lenny pointed a finger against the Southerner’s forehead, “I didn’t force this on anyone, and secondly it was all your idea.”

“Now it is you who are lying.” Ezra leaned against the finger and stared into Lenny’s pale blue eyes.

“Are you sick?” Lenny pulled his finger away and replaced it with the palm of his hand. “Is that what’s wrong with you?” Ezra’s forehead felt fine, there was no heat emanating from his skin.

“Maybe you’ve got a tumour and it’s causing you to act this way?” Chris suggested.

“If only, because if I did, I wouldn’t have to be here listening to this childish conversation with two men who think they are my parents.”

“Who do you want to be Lenny. Dad or mum?”

Ezra felt something click inside. It felt good to listen to these two men talk to each other in a civilised manner without any anger.

“With my short hair, I think I should be the dad. Besides, I’ve known him longer and I’d feel more comfortable belting the crap out of him.”

The younger man raised an eyebrow and stepped away from the two men.

“You’ve got a point there. But Lenny, would I have to wear a dress?”

“You’d look quite cute in a dress . . . damn, look whom I’m talking to.”

“I ain’t shaving my legs for anyone!”

Ezra took two more steps then turned around and began to walk back to the cabin. He had taken six more steps before Lenny and Chris noticed that he was gone.

“EZRA!” They both yelled then ran after him.

Ezra looked over his shoulder and saw them coming. He bolted. There was nothing else he could do. Maybe if he hid behind Nathan, the ex-medic might protect. When he got closer to the group of men, he saw that they were beginning to create a human wall to stop him. Ezra slid to a halt but still managed to slide into Nathan.

“Um, Nathan, would you care to help me?”

“You want my black ass to help you?” Nathan glared down at the undercover agent.

“If you would be so kind.”

“No.” Nathan folded his arms.

“No?”

“This black ass said no.”

“Oh . . . even though they threatened to beat me senseless.”

“They did that?” Josiah stepped forward.

“Well no, not exactly.” Ezra shrugged.

“You’re lying again, aren’t you.”

“No.”

“Ezra I’m going to . . . “

“Yes I’m lying.”

“Why?” Josiah didn’t look at Chris and Lenny as they came to a stop behind Ezra.

“Because I can, and, I’m good at it.”

“Just answer why Ezra.” Lenny spoke up from behind him.

“Why what?”

Lenny whacked him across the back of the head. “You know what!”

“No I don’t know what.”

“Then you can stay out here until you figure it out.” Chris told him.

“You want me to stay out here?” Ezra turned to face Chris.

“Yes.”

“And figure it out?”

“Yes.”

“Out here in the cold . . . “

“It isn’t cold Ezra.”

“In the rain . . . “

“It isn’t raining! For Christ sake Ezra! Stop acting like a fucking four year old.”

“And snow.” Ezra continued.

Chris pushed his way past Ezra and didn’t even blink when he heard the exaggerated cry of pain when Ezra fell to the ground. He continued on into the house where he was going to have a strong drink or two.

Ezra watched from his position on the ground as the others followed Chris into the house. He felt a twinge of disappointment when Lenny shook his head at him. He looked away and found something interesting on the dirt floor.

“So far so good.” Ezra muttered to himself when the front door of the cabin slammed shut. “But now what.”

“You gonna make him stay out there all day?” Vin handed Chris a hot steaming cup of coffee.

“Yep. The man’s being an idiot and I want to know why.” Chris was standing at the window watching the Southerner as he continued to sit where he had fallen. “An idiot. Look at him, he hasn’t even bothered to get up off the ground. He’s just sitting there. What in the hell is wrong with him today.”

“He was fine yesterday, even this morning. It all started in the car on the way up here.”

“You don’t think it was something I said do you?” Chris glanced at Vin.

“It usually is.” the sharp shooter smiled at him to show that he hadn’t meant any harm by the choice of words he had used.

“Why is he going to the effort of pissing me off?”

“All of us actually.”

Chris looked at Vin.

“He tried very hard to get Josiah angry,” Vin added. “and Buck, he kept blaming him for the cd thing.”

“He’s trying to make us angry at him. What for?”

“Beats me.”

“Maybe Lenny knows.” Chris suggested.

“Knows what?” Lenny asked as he stepped up beside Chris. The FBI agent leaned forward and pulled the curtain back, he didn’t care if Ezra saw him watching him. “He still hasn’t gotten up yet. That’s not like him to sit in the dirt.”

“You know what’s going on with him?” Chris took a long sip of his coffee.

“Apart from going to all the trouble of making us angry? No, I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

“Then what are we going to do?” Vin asked them.

“I don’t know yet.” Chris answered.

“Larabee . . . you don’t think it’s something like you said before do you . . . I mean, Ezra having some sort of tumour that’s making him act like this.”

“I think we should talk to Nathan.”

At Chris’ suggestion the three men took one last glance at Ezra then headed for the kitchen. They crowded the table that Nathan and Josiah were sitting at. Chris pulled his chair out and turned it around and straddled it. Neither man wanted to ask such a serious question so they just sat there, watching Nathan slowly eating his sandwich.

Nathan glanced over the top of the chicken salad roll he was eating and was surprised to see three sets of eyes staring at him. He looked to Josiah for an explanation but the older man just shrugged back at him.

“You want something?” Nathan asked them.

Chris looked at Lenny, who looked at Vin, who looked back at Chris. The leader of Team Seven sighed and glared at Lenny, who glared at Vin, who glared back at Chris.

“What do you want?” Nathan asked again.

Chris growled at Lenny, who growled at Vin, who growled back at Chris. This was going nowhere, he had to try another tactic.

“You ask him!” Chris ordered Lenny.

“You ask him!” Lenny ordered Vin.

“Why don’t you ask him Chris.” Vin suggested to his boss.

“Why do I always have to do it? Why doesn’t Hoskins do it?”

“Why should I start now? You never asked me to ask before.”

“Why should I ask him, you’re the boss.” Vin whined.

“Would someone just ask the damn question!” Josiah growled at the group of men.

“I’m not sure I want to.” Chris said.

“I know I don’t want to.” Vin added before Lenny could say anything.

Lenny looked at Chris who was smiling at him. His eyes then travelled to Vin who was looking way to smug.

“Okay! I’ll ask the damn question!”

“Knew you could do it Lenny.” Chris slapped him on the back. This caused both Nathan and Josiah to frown in confusion at Chris’ behaviour.

“We were wondering . . . “ Lenny started but stopped again.

“Ask him.” Vin nudged him.

“I am!”

“Nathan we were wondering if the reason . . . “ he stopped again. He couldn’t help it, he was too scared that Nathan would say yes.

“Ask him!” Vin pushed him harder.

“I am asking him!”

“No you’re not.” Chris growled at him. “All you’re doing is adding a couple of words each time you try.”

“You ask him then.” Lenny retorted.

“I don’t want to.” Chris replied.

“Well neither do I.”

“You were the one who volunteered to ask him.” Chris reminded him.

“I didn’t volunteer, I had no choice. You’re too much of a coward to ask him.” Lenny accused him.

“Can you blame me.”

“No.”

“Then ask him.” Chris continued to urge him.

“We were wondering if the reason Ezra was acting so strangely was because of some sort of tumour in his head.”

Nathan frowned in understanding. He knew why they were having so much trouble asking him such a question and his answer wasn’t going to help.

“It’s possible. Tumours on certain places of the brain can cause a change in a persons behaviour.”

Three men groaned as one.

“But I don’t think that’s what’s wrong with Ezra. There would be other symptoms and he looks and acts quite healthy to me.”

“Then why is he doing it?” Lenny slapped his forehead in frustration. “There has to be a reason for it.”

“Has he ever acted this way before?” Josiah aimed the question at the man who had known Ezra the longest.

“No,” Lenny shook his head. “I have no idea why he’s acting the way he is. He’s never acted this way before now.”

“I agree,” Chris nodded, “well at least, over the nine months we’ve known him. There’s been no abnormal behaviour what so ever from him.”

“Ezra hasn’t been on a difficult case has he?” Lenny frowned at Chris.

“No, the last case was a week ago and he only went under for a few days. It was a simple bust with no complications.” Chris explained.

“Burnout?” Josiah suggested

“No,” Nathan told him, “there would be other symptoms like there are with a tumour.”

“We’re just going to have to play it out then and see what he’s up to.” Chris told them.

“Or wait for any symptoms to show up,” Lenny nodded, “at least then we’ll know what’s going on and we’ll be able to do something about it.”

“So, we’re in agreement then?” Chris asked Lenny.

“Yeah, I don’t see what else we can do.” Lenny agreed.

“Are we going to leave him out there or bring him in.” Vin was watching Chris.

“What do you think Lenny?”

“Bring him in. We can’t watch him out there. He could be doing anything.” Lenny glanced at Chris and both men jumped out of their chairs and ran to the front door with the others following them.

Five men stood on the verandah and stared at the area Ezra had been sitting. He was no longer there, neither was his bag.

“Where the hell did he go?” Lenny jogged down the steps and searched the immediate area with his eyes.

“Vin, go check the barn. Josiah, check the cars, Nathan go check the boat house.” Chris ordered them.

“Where are you going to look?” Nathan asked him.

“The house!” Chris and Lenny answered together.

Ezra had decided that he’d spent long enough on the ground. His friends were no doubt inside trying to work out what was wrong with him. Was it something physical or was he just being an idiot. Ezra knew it was neither of those two choices. He just wanted his friends in Denver to get along with his Atlanta friend. He wanted to invite Lenny up here on other occasions and know that it wasn’t going to end in a fist fight. He was tired of the small group of men putting Lenny down. Ezra knew that their intention wasn’t to hurt but the words did. The last thing he wanted to do was choose between them. He’d finally found men he could trust and be friends with, he wasn’t going to lose them now.

He stood up, brushed the dirt off his trousers, picked up his bag and headed to the door at the side of the house that led into the large kitchen. His movements became quiet when he heard voices coming from inside. They were talking about him; not arguing. Ezra smiled, this is the way it should be all the time. What was that? Chris had actually asked Lenny what he thought. This was amazing. If he had know it would be this easy, he would have done it earlier.

Suddenly the men got up and ran from the kitchen into the living room. Ezra raised an eyebrow and shrugged. He stepped into the kitchen and his mouth watered when he smelt the coffee. His first mission was to pour himself a cup, his second mission was to finish the sandwich that had been left on the table. When the first mission was completed he moved to the table to make the second one a success.

The coffee was good and so was the sandwich. He could tell that Josiah made the coffee and the chicken salad was Nathan’s. The ex-medic knew how to make a salad sandwich. Ezra should know, Nathan had made plenty of them for him when he was recovering from an injury.

He was just about to put the last bit of food in his mouth when Chris and Lenny showed up. They moved to the table and sat on either side of him.

“That wasn’t your sandwich.” Chris informed him.

“Yes it was, I wouldn’t be eating it if it wasn’t.” Ezra filled his mouth with the last of the sandwich.

“You know it wasn’t yours Ezra.” Lenny argued with him.

Ezra continued to chew his food with his mouth closed, just like his mother had taught him.

“I’m not going to argue with you over a sandwich Ezra, it’s not important.” Chris sighed and rubbed his face. “Are you going to tell us what’s going on?”

“There is nothing going on Mr Larabee, everything is perfectly fine.” Ezra smiled then took a drink from his cup. “Who made the coffee?”

“Josiah.” Lenny answered him.

“Very nice. I haven’t had any caffeine since we left the office.”

“Is that what it is?” Chris leaned forward and placed his forearms on the table. “All this crap because you haven’t had any coffee for seven hours.”

“What crap? There hasn’t been any crap. The only problem here is your bad mood Mr Larabee. A person can’t say anything without you going off at the deep end. You have no sense of humour. Either of you.”

“My mood has nothing to do it!” Chris yelled at him.

“There you go again Chris, you’re mood is dictating this conversation.”

“I’m not . . . “

“Chris.” Lenny gripped Chris’ arm and gave it an encouraging squeeze.

Ezra saw the gesture and almost chocked on his coffee. It was only a life time of training to hide his emotions that stopped him.

“Why don’t we let him sleep on it and see what his mind is like in the morning.”

“You really think that’s going to make a difference?”

“No, but if I continue to listen to this pile of shit he’s dishing out, I’m going to hit him.” Lenny admitted.

“I’m just glad I already had that chance.” Chris smiled at Lenny.

“Then you’re one up on me. Maybe I should just hit him now and make it even between us.”

“Go ahead.” Chris pushed his chair back to give Lenny some room.

“You think I should?” Lenny was actually shaking with excitement.

“I don’t see why not.” Chris shrugged and glanced at Ezra. He saw the slight hint of amusement in the green eyes that were watching Lenny. “He’s laughing at you Lenny, he doesn’t think you’ll do it.”

What! How in the hell did he see that. I must be slipping.

“Are you laughing at me Ezra?” Lenny glared at his young friend.

“Why would I laugh at you Lenny. I just finished saying that you don’t have a sense of humour.”

Ezra didn’t know what hit him. One second he was smiling at the man he considered a brother, then before he could react, Lenny’s fist him in the same area that Chris had hit him that morning. He felt himself free falling for a few seconds then his body hit the cold tiled floor of the kitchen. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, OW!” Ezra rolled onto his left side and used his right hand to hold his jaw. If things kept going like this, he was going to end up with a broken jaw. He looked up in time to see Chris and Lenny give each other a high-five. The pain he was feeling now was well worth it. The two men at the table weren’t even aware of the fact that they were being nice to each other. They were acting as friends would. “Son-of-a-bitch! You hit me!”

“It felt good too.” Lenny got up and walked away from Ezra.

Chris couldn’t help but smile at the expression Ezra was wearing. He stood up and took the few steps needed to reach Ezra. He crouched down. “You sure you don’t want to tell us what’s wrong.”

“There is nothing wrong . . . well except for . . . ,“ Ezra gripped his jaw harder. “you two idiots. What do you have to keep hitting me for? I didn’t do anything to either of you.”

“You pissed us off Ezra. As far as I’m concerned, it’s enough.”

“Bastard.” Ezra mumbled.

“I’m sorry?” Chris leaned closer to Ezra.

“I said,” Ezra sat up suddenly and used all his strength to hit Chris across the jaw. The force of the blow sent Chris sliding against the floor. He stopped when his back hit the fridge door. “Bastard!”

“You hit me.” Chris growled at him. “And you hit me a lot harder than I hit you.”

“Serves yourself right for being such an irritating Bastard. You’ve been pissing me off all day, all of you have. What is wrong with you guys!” Ezra was standing now. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into coming on this trip Chris, I really don’t.” he was shaking his head in mock disappointment.

“Nathan is going to check you over.”

“I’m not the one lying on the floor Mr Larabee.”

“NATHAN!” Chris pushed himself up off the floor and stormed towards Ezra. He grabbed the Southerner’s arm painfully and pulled him into the living room and threw him down onto the couch. “NATHAN!”

“Do you really have to yell Mr Larabee, I mean, it’s not like Nathan’s deaf. I’m sure he can hear you quite well. Maybe he just doesn’t want to answer you.”

“Shut up Ezra.”

“What’s going on.” Lenny had run back into the room, he was followed by Nathan, Vin and Josiah.

“Where’s Buck and JD anyway?” Ezra searched the room. “Did you chase them away Chris. You didn’t show them your ladies underwear did you?”

Chris ignored him. “He hit me.”

“Don’t you mean, I hit him.” Lenny corrected him.

“No, he,” Chris pointed at Ezra then at the side of his jaw, “hit me!”

“Ezra hit you?” Lenny was shocked. “Ezra, what did you hit him for?”

“He called me a Bastard.” Ezra shrugged.

“I did not!” Chris protested.

“You’re lying again aren’t you.” Lenny sat down on the couch with Ezra. “Why?”

“I’m not lying.”

“Nathan!” Chris glared at the ex-medic. “I want you to check him over, make sure there isn’t anything physically wrong with him.”

“Sure.”

“Can we do it in private please Nathan?” Ezra smiled at him.

“Why?”

“I don’t really feel comfortable undressing in front of a man who wears women’s underwear.”

“Who wears women’s underwear?” Nathan wasn’t sure if this was a lie; he could have been talking about Hoskins.

“Chris.” Ezra pointed at his boss.

“I’m not going to react Ezra.” Chris folded his arms.

“Let’s go Ezra, my stuff is in the spare room.”

Ezra stood up to follow Nathan but before he started walking, he gave the men who were smiling at him the finger. He smiled when Chris grabbed Lenny’s arm to stop him from doing anything. The undercover agent more or less bounced into the spare room.

“So what’s really going on Ezra?” Nathan closed the door and leaned against it.

“Nothing. Why do you ask?” Ezra sat on the bed and began to take his jacket off.

Nathan moved forward and watched the younger man as he began to unbutton his shirt. “Well first of all, you’ve never done this before without an argument. That in itself tells me that there is something wrong.”

“You should know, you’re the one that claims he’s a doctor.” Ezra removed his shirt, placed it carefully on the bed and laid his hands in his lap.

“I’ve never claimed to be a doctor Ezra.” Nathan stayed where he was as he continued to watch the man before him.

“Maybe not, but you certainly act like one. You seem to think you can save the world.”

“Are you ready?”

“For what?”

“For me to examine you.”

“Ready when you are Mr Jackson-who-thinks-he’s-a-doctor.”

“I don’t know why you’re doing this Ezra, but I hope you have a good reason for it.” Nathan grabbed his bag off the table and began to examine his patient. Patient? What a load of crap. There was absolutely nothing wrong with Ezra Standish. The man was just being a pain in the ass like he always was. Except he was acting even worse than he usually did.

Nathan checked Ezra’s blood pressure and pulse. He checked his ears, eyes and throat. He made him cough and stick his tongue out. He put a cold stethoscope on his chest and back to check his breathing.

“There’s nothing wrong with you.” Nathan stated.

“I know that, I don’t know why you even bothered going ahead with it.”

“I did it because the others are worried about you.”

“And you’re not?”

“No, I know you’re just doing something stupid.” the ex-medic packed his bag and put it back on the table. “You’re being an idiotic asshole that doesn’t know when to stop pushing people.”

“You do know that both Chris and Lenny hit me, don’t you.”

“I’m sure they had good reason to.”

Ezra took his shirt and put it back on. He took his time doing up the buttons. “I don’t think that Josiah was very happy about Buck throwing his cd away.”

“You threw it away, not Buck, and you know that.”

“No I don’t know that.”

“You better know what you’re doing Ezra and I hope you don’t push us too far.”

“I’m not doing anything Nathan and no one is being pushed. People are just abusing me for some reason and I have no idea what that reason is.”

“You pissed them off Ezra.”

“I certainly did not! You’re lying through your teeth Nathan.”

Nathan shrugged. “Whatever you say Ezra, whatever you say.”

“I didn’t say anything Nathan.” Ezra smiled at him.

“You won’t get a reaction from me Ezra. I’m not going to get angry at you and hit you like Chris and Lenny have. I won’t do that.”

Ezra stood up. He had no understanding as to why he wanted to say it, only that he had an urge to and he desperately wanted Lenny to be accepted by these men. The Southerner stood up slowly and stepped towards Nathan.

“Not even if I call you a nigger.” Ezra snarled the last word.

Nathan hit him. No one, not even a friend was going to call him a nigger.

“You lied to me again Nathan, you said you wouldn’t react.” Ezra lay on the floor, his hand holding the right side of his face.

“You Ezra Standish are a Bastard, born and bred!” Nathan spat out the words the stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

“That went well.”

Ezra got himself off the floor, took his jacket and left the room. When he walked into the large living room he saw the others talking to each other. He coughed. They turned around, looked at him, glared at him, snarled at him, then turned away from him. Ezra decided it was time for a walk.

“I’ve decided to go for a walk. You know how much I enjoy the outdoors. Thought I would take in some of this wonderful weather while one of you cook dinner. I’ll be back in an hour, when the sun goes down. I expect my food to be on the table when I get back.” he gave them a two finger salute then walked out the front door.

Chris glanced at Ezra as the Southerner passed him and couldn’t help but notice the reddish mark on the right cheek.

“Did you hit him Nathan?” Chris raised an eyebrow.

“Bastard called me a nigger.” Nathan spoke quietly.

“What?”

Everyone stood with their mouths open. They couldn’t believe what Nathan had just told them.

“He called me a nigger.”

“There has to be something wrong with him.” Buck told them. “Ezra wouldn’t say that for no reason at all.”

“I didn’t do or say anything to provoke him Buck!”

“I know that Nathan, I’m just saying, Ezra wouldn’t . . . that’s not like Ezra.”

“When he comes back, we tie him to a chair and find out what’s going on.” Chris decided.

Lenny nodded in agreement then moved to the open doorway. He placed his hands on his hips and watched Ezra’s retreating back. Something was going on, and he wished he knew what.

Ezra Standish, a man on a mission, stepped into the kitchen exactly one hour later. The large kitchen table was bare. What did he expect? That they would cook dinner and have it waiting for him. A noise behind him caused him to turn around. Chris Larabee was standing a few feet away from him. In Larabee’s hand was a roll of tape. His face wore a confident smile. Ezra knew the man was up to something. He opened his mouth to make a comment but a nod from Chris stopped him.

“Get him!” Chris ordered his men.

Ezra’s first thought was to fight but when he saw six men swarm towards him, he decided that it was better if he ran. But where was he going to run. Nathan and Josiah were coming up from behind. Buck and Vin took the left and right side. JD joined Chris to come in from the front. Where was Lenny? Ezra saw him just before he was tackled to the ground. His friend of ten years, was standing next to a chair, he was also wearing the same smug smile that Chris Larabee had been wearing.

His back slammed against the floor when his friends forced him to lose his balance. He was then pulled to his feet and dragged towards the waiting chair and Lenny Hoskins. They pushed him into the chair and while they held his limbs, Lenny began to tape his arms and legs to the heavy chair. It only took a few minutes before they were sure they had Ezra securely taped to the chair. He wasn’t going anywhere. They would have used their handcuffs but knew he was capable of escaping from them within seconds. Rope hadn’t even been a choice, they didn’t want to hurt him, they only wanted to know what was going on.

Ezra glared at Lenny first, then turned his stare to each of the men that surrounded him. He hadn’t expected this. He had underestimated them.

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Why didn’t we think of that?” Vin asked them.

“What? You need to go to the toilet?” Buck smiled at Vin.

“Not me! Him!” Vin pointed at Ezra.

“You’re the one with the incontinence problem.” Ezra smiled at Vin.

“Shut up.”

“Okay.” Ezra shrugged.

“I mean shut up about that incontinence thing!” Vin practically yelled at him.

Ezra watched as Chris walked into the kitchen, grabbed one of the chairs, bring it back and sit it in front of him.

“Something I can do for you Mr Larabee?”

“You can tell me why you’ve been acting like an asshole?”

“I’ve been doing no such thing!”

“You’re staying in that chair until you give me an answer Ezra.”

“Lenny, are you going to allow them to do this to me?”

Please say yes. Please tell me that you agree with what they’re doing. Please tell me that you are working together. Please tell me that you and Chris are helping each other. Please Lenny, please don’t allow what I’m doing to be a wasted effort.

“Yes I am Ezra. I . . . we want to know why you’re doing this to us and yourself.”

Thank you Lenny, thank you.

“So you agree with them tying me to a chair?”

“Yes.”

Ezra smiled inside. It was working, his plan was working. Now, if he could only manage to put up with this for a few hours; once he was sure that things were going to be okay, he would be able to tell them about his plan. They may not talk to him for a few days, maybe a week or two, or possibly a month. It didn’t matter, it will all be worth it.

“You agree with them questioning me for a crime that I have not committed.”

“You’re as guilty as the day you stole that car for me.” Lenny grinned and nodded at Chris.

“You stole a car?” JD asked him.

“It was in the line of duty.” Ezra retorted.

“Why Ezra?” Chris continued with his questions.

“Because Mr Hoskins there asked me to.”

Lenny grimaced at the use of his last name.

“Not that you idiot!”

“Then what, are you referring to?”

“The way you’ve been acting!” Chris growled.

“How have I been acting?” Ezra raised an eyebrow at Chris.

“I can’t do this.” Chris threw his hands in the air and stood up. “I can’t do it, I’m going to end up killing him.”

“I’ll have a go.” Lenny moved forward and took Chris’ place. He watched Ezra for at least five minutes before he spoke. He noticed that Ezra wouldn’t look back at him. “Ezra.”

“Yes Lenny.”

“I’ve known you for nearly eleven years now and I have never seen or heard you act this way before.”

“Have you been with me twenty four hours a day during that nearly eleven years?”

“No, but . . . “

“Then how would you know?”

“I know, because, I know you. I know how you think and how you feel. You’re doing this for a reason and I just haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Did anyone make dinner?” Ezra glanced at Josiah. “I’m hungry, I haven’t eaten since this morning.”

“We haven’t made dinner yet Ezra.” Josiah informed him.

“Oh, that’s a shame. I assume then, that you’re going to try and starve the information out of me.”

“You know we wouldn’t do that Ezra.” Lenny patted the Southerner’s knee.

“You’re going to drown me then?”

“Drown you?” Lenny frowned.

“I need to go to the toilet.” Ezra stated simply.

Lenny turned in his chair to silently ask Chris a question. Chris shook his head.

“No.” Lenny told him.

Ezra pulled at the tape that held his arms to the chair. Lenny had done a good job. He was most definitely stuck.

“Why did you call Nathan a nigger?” Josiah asked the question.

Ezra would have jumped in surprise if it hadn’t been for the tape holding him down. His eyes drifted to Josiah who was wearing a look of disapproval, then to Nathan who’s face held a hint of disgust. He had gone to far with that one word. He would do anything to take it back. Nathan hadn’t deserved that, he could have gotten him angry some other way. For now he was going to have to deny it. Later when they knew, he would grovel on his hands and knees for Nathan’s forgiveness.

“I didn’t.” Ezra lied.

“Yes you did Ezra.” Nathan told him.

“You Mr Jackson are a liar.” Ezra growled at him.

“Ezra!” Lenny got his young friend’s attention.

“Yes Lenny.”

“Why are you doing this to your friends, to me?”

“I’m not doing anything Lenny, I keep telling you that. These men are lying.”

“Ezra, why?”

“Lenny, I’m not doing anything.”

“Does someone else want to have a go?” Lenny stood up and walked away.

He was beginning to get worried. Maybe it was something physical. Ezra wasn’t like this, he would never treat a friend this way, he would never treat him this way.

“I will.” Josiah stepped forward and took Lenny’s place.

“Are you feeling okay Ezra?” Josiah leaned forward and ran his fingers along the bruising that was breaking out on Ezra’s jaw and cheek. The younger man flinched away from him but he knew Ezra couldn’t go far. His hand moved to Ezra’s forehead and he felt for a fever.

“I’m fine!” Ezra pulled his head away but the large hand stayed where it was. “Josiah, get off me.”

“If that’s what you want.” Josiah hesitated for a few seconds then removed his hand.

“Got a headache?”

“No.”

“Feeling sick at all?”

“No.” Ezra frowned at him. “Isn’t this usually Dr Jackson’s job.”

“Nathan isn’t a doctor.”

“Mr Jackson thinks he is. He even carries a bag.” Ezra smiled and nodded.

“He isn’t.” Josiah narrowed his eyes. “Did somebody hit you on the head or anything like that?”

“Did you know that Coca Cola started out as being green. Can you imagine that. Drinking something that’s green.” Ezra shook himself. “And how would someone know that a Polar Bear is left handed.”

“That’s some useless information you have there Ezra.”

“I have a lot more. Do you want to hear some?”

“Yes I would.”

Ezra hid his surprise. More useless information. He was going to have to wrack his brain now. What can he say? What on earth could he say?

“I need to go to the bathroom.” it was the only thing he could think of.

“Go and get a bucket or even yet a plastic bottle for him to piss in.” Chris ordered someone, anyone.

“I will not urinate in a bucket.” Ezra would rather hold it in than humiliate himself.

“Why can’t you just say, ‘piss in a bucket’ like everyone else.” Buck was shaking his head.

“Because unlike some,” Ezra glared at Vin, “I have an education.”

Whoops, did he really do that?

Vin glared at him then walked away.

Yes, it seems I did. Sorry Vin.

Ezra raised an eyebrow when Lenny grabbed Vin’s arm. He pulled him closer and whispered something into the sharp shooter’s ear. Ezra was shocked to the core when Vin laughed then turned to smile at Ezra.

“What did you just say to him?” he had to know.

“I told him about that test you failed at the academy.”

“What test? I didn’t fail a test? You know my SAT scores. How could I fail a test?”

“You, you little prick, failed a test and you know it.”

“I did not!” now Ezra was getting angry.

“You failed the psych test!” Lenny yelled back at him.

Everyone looked at Lenny then Ezra who was sitting with his mouth wide open. “I . . . I . . . I . . . it was a stupid test.”

“If he failed the test, how come he’s FBI?”

“He made them give him the test a second time. He claimed that he was trying to prove that he would make a good undercover agent the first time around.”

“It’s true, I would.”

“They thought he was an idiot.” Lenny chuckled and elbowed Vin in the ribs. “I still have a copy of it and their report. I’ll send it to you when I get back to Atlanta and then you can read about a person who claims they have an education.”

“No you won’t!” Ezra yelled.

“Tell me what you’re up to and I’ll change my mind.”

“Lenny,” Chris smiled at him, “I want to read the report and test.”

“Sorry Ezra, it’s seems I no longer have a choice. I’m going to have to send it to these guys.”

“Over my dead body.” Ezra was actually beginning to turn red. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. It was all going wrong.

“Did you believe him?” JD asked Lenny.

“Did you know that JD still sleeps with a teddy bear?” Ezra tried to change the conversation.

“No,” Lenny ignored Ezra and answered JD, “and I still don’t. You see, well, Ezra here isn’t too good with people. That’s something you already know. So he acted his normal self during the test. He made himself look like an idiot. It took him a few days to realise what he’d done wrong. Then it took him five minutes to convince them to allow him to take the test again.”

“Five minutes?” Vin was still standing close to Lenny.

“He threatened them. He had certain information that would get them thrown out of the FBI, so he claimed anyway. I still don’t know what that information was.” Lenny shrugged.

“I did not threaten them, I simply convinced them that it was in their best interests if I sat the test a second time.”

“In other words you blackmailed them.” Lenny ended the conversation by turning his back to Ezra, and starting up a conversation with Vin Tanner.

Josiah had continued to watch Ezra but he was unable to see anything in the man’s features that could tell him what was going on with the Southerner.

“Ezra.”

The undercover agent turned to face Josiah and raised an eyebrow at him. “Yes Josiah?”

“Has something happened? Something we should know about?”

“Only that you gentlemen are pissing me off.”

“There!” Buck pointed at Ezra. “You can say pissing.”

Ezra rolled his eyes at the ladies man. “You are an uncouth idiot Mr Wilmington.”

Buck growled in response.

“Do you want to hit him?” Chris asked Buck.

“Can I?”

Ezra didn’t want to be hit a fourth time. “You would hit a man that was tied to a chair. That’s the coward’s way.”

“He’s got a point Chris.” Buck was disappointed, he really did want to hit the bastard though.

“Ezra.” Josiah got the younger man’s attention again.

“Yes Josiah, the man who thinks he’s my father but would never be.” Ezra saw the sadness hit Josiah like a bolt of lightening. He didn’t regret the words, but he did regret the pain he had just caused. But this man would never be his father and Josiah needed to know that.

“Did something happen during the last case?”

“No.”

“Is it something to do with your mother? Did she say something or do something to you?”

“You know,” Ezra changed his mind, he wasn’t going to bring his mother into this, “never mind.”

“Never mind what?” Josiah leaned forward.

“Never mind what I said.”

Ezra didn’t like this. Things were being turned around. The plan was working too well. Maybe it was time to end it. His green eyes surveyed the room. It seemed that Vin and Chris were okay with Lenny, but he had to make sure that Buck, JD and Josiah were also. No, he was going to have to keep this going a bit longer.

“But I do mind.”

“Did you know that they raise square watermelons in Japan. Apparently they stack better than the original shape.”

“Useless information.” Josiah nodded.

“You said you wanted to hear more.”

“Yes I did.” Again Josiah nodded.

“So JD,” Ezra called to him, “have you learnt yet that you can’t hide broccoli in a glass of milk.”

“I don’t . . . “ JD crossed his arms and pouted.

“Leave him alone.” Buck warned Ezra.

“You’re not his father Buck, he’s quite capable of looking after himself.”

“I know he can . . . “

“Then stop treating him like a twelve year old idiot!”

“Ezra!”

Ezra blinked in surprise when he felt Josiah’s open palm hit his right cheek. It was the same cheek that Nathan had hit. Tears of pain sprung to his eyes and he saw the sudden remorse on Josiah’s face.

“That’s enough Ezra. I won’t have you talking to my friends like that.”

“There you go again Josiah. Acting as though you’re my father.” Ezra spat out the blood that had filled up his mouth. He contemplated spitting at Josiah but knew that it would be too much. “My mother would make a better parent than you ever would.”

Aw hell! And those words weren’t too much. They weren’t going to forgive him for this. They may gain Lenny as a new friend but they were going to lose another. He was going to have to think before he spoke from now on.

“God Damnit Ezra!” Lenny yelled at him. “What in the hell are you doing? You have no right to talk to any of these men like that! They’re trying to help you!”

“Tying me to a chair, questioning me like a mere criminal is not trying to help me. Oh! And don’t forget the physical abuse that I’m receiving.”

“You deserved it!” Josiah growled at him.

Ezra smiled at Josiah then turned his face away from him. He heard the chair scrape along the floor then there was nothing but silence. Ezra hung his head and closed his eyes. The thought of whether or not this was really worth it crossed his mind. The plan had been to make them angry, not to hurt them and that’s what he was doing. He was pushing them away from him and it was going to be hard to close the distance that was now separating them. He wasn’t very good at this friendship thing. Maybe he should have asked one of the others to help him. How could he though when none of them liked Lenny. They wouldn’t have helped him, they would have talked him out of it, or worse, tell the others of his plan.

No one took Josiah’s place. He had done this the wrong way. By the second day of the three day weekend they were supposed to be laughing together, fishing together, playing football together and teaching Lenny how to ride a horse and he, Ezra Standish, was still going to be tied to this chair. Nope, this was not working the way it was supposed to.

“I need to go to the bathroom.” Ezra tried again.

“Buck, untie him.” Chris wouldn’t look at his undercover agent.

“You want me to go with him?”

“No, I don’t care what he’s up to anymore. Whatever it is, it isn’t worth this. He shouldn’t be treating us like this.”

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

I think that maybe I’ve gone way to far with this. Maybe? You think!

Buck grabbed a knife from the kitchen. He used it to cut the tape from Ezra’s limbs. Ezra sat in the chair for a few minutes before he got up and walked up the hall to the bathroom. He kept his gaze directed to the floor. They weren’t looking at him, he knew that, he just didn’t need to see it. They also probably thought he was an idiot.

He closed and locked the door behind him and moved to the only empty corner of the room. He leaned his back against the wall and allowed himself to slide down to the floor. His knees were pulled up until they were pressing against his chest and laid his head down on his knees. He needed time to think of a way to turn this around back into his favour.

“Lenny.” Chris nodded to the FBI agent to follow him into the kitchen.

Hoskins, who was still staring at the point in the hallway where Ezra disappeared, hesitated then turned to find out what Chris wanted. When he saw the ATF agent nod in the direction of the kitchen, he nodded in return and followed him.

Chris poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Lenny. “So, what do you think is going on with him?”

“I don’t know Chris. I have no idea.” Lenny had returned his gaze back to the hallway. “I wish he’d just tell us what it is.”

“You know Ezra, it’s hard to get him to talk about anything.” Lenny kept his back to Chris.

“I thought that he would talk to you, I thought that he talked to you about everything.” Chris hadn’t mean any offence by what he had said and Lenny hadn’t taken any.

“He does, always, but not today. Chris,” he finally turned around, “I’m worried about him. Something has to be wrong. He wouldn’t just do this, it isn’t like him.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you guys didn’t, you know . . . “

“Not that I know of. Things were fine up until the drive up here.” Chris frowned. “You don’t think it was because I hit him do you?”

“No, he would only be angry at you, and he wouldn’t call Nathan a nigger because you hit him.”

“You’re right there.”

“Then why is he doing it?”

“Lenny, truthfully, who’s idea was it for you to come on this trip?”

“It was Ezra’s. He phoned me last week and invited me to spend the three days with him.”

“Why is he claiming that it was your idea?”

“You think that has something to do with it?”

“Could be.” Chris’ mind was beginning to tick over. “When did he tell you about this trip?”

“This morning on the way to your office.”

“He invited you to stay the weekend with him, even when he knew that I had arranged this weekend trip. Which means that he wanted you to come with us. He planned the whole thing.”

“But why treat everyone the way he has been. There’s no reason for that.”

“I know.” Chris agreed.

“Maybe we should let him sleep on it. See what he has to say in the morning.” Lenny suggested.

“Why not. I can’t think of anything else to do.”

“You up for some dinner, or would a sandwich do you?” Lenny moved to the kitchen counter and removed the bread from the bread box.

“Sandwich.” Chris smiled. “I’ll give you a hand, the others will want something as well.”

Josiah moved quietly to the bathroom door and leaned his left ear against it. There was no noise coming from the other side of the door. He lightly tapped on the door to try and get the occupant’s attention. He knew that Ezra hadn’t meant what he said. He himself had reacted in the heat of the moment. Josiah knocked louder.

“Ezra?”

“Go away Josiah.”

“Are you going to let me in so we can talk?”

“No, I am incapable of holding a normal conversation with another human being. That test I failed said so.”

Did I just say that?

“That’s not true Ezra, a test can’t tell you what kind of person you are.” Josiah didn’t want to talk through the door so he tried to open it, only to find it locked. “Ezra.”

“Go away Josiah.”

“I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.” Josiah sat down on the floor. Ezra was stubborn, this meant he was going to be sitting here for a while.

“I’m tired Josiah, I would like to get some sleep.”

“You’re in the bathroom Ezra.” Josiah chuckled.

Ezra laid his head back until it rested against the wall. “I knew that.”

“Come out and talk to me . . . to us Ezra.”

“No, just go away Josiah.” Ezra needed to think, to see if he could come up with a way to get himself out of the hole he had dug himself into.

“I told you I’m not going anywhere.”

Ezra nodded but said nothing.

Ten minutes later Josiah was asked to move away from the door by Lenny Hoskins. Josiah didn’t hesitate, he took the offered sandwich and walked away.

“Ezra I’m not messing around anymore! Let me in now!” Lenny spoke through the door just like Josiah had done.

Ezra obeyed his friend and unlocked the door. He didn’t open it though, instead he slowly moved back to his position on the floor. The door opened but he didn’t look up.

“You want something to eat? Chris and I made some sandwiches.”

“You and Chris made sandwiches?” Ezra looked up at him.

“Yeah.”

“Together?”

“Yeah, you want one.

“No thank you.”

“Ezra, what’s wrong?”

Ezra refused to answer him. Lenny would think that he was being an idiot. The fact that it was true didn’t mean that Lenny could think or say it.

“Come on Ezra, you know you can tell me anything.”

Ezra shook his head. No, he didn’t want it confirmed that he was an idiot.

“Why not?”

“I have my reasons.”

“They are?”

“Like I’m going to tell you.” Ezra snorted.

Did he just snort. Oh lord this was getting worse than it should have been.

“You tell me everything else. Why not this?”

The younger man shook his head again.

“They’re all sitting out there in the kitchen Ezra. They’re worried about you. Like me, they think you’re being an idiot.”

There it was. Confirmation that he was being an idiot. He wasn’t an idiot, his SAT scores say he’s not an idiot.

“I, Ezra Standish, am not an idiot.”

“Prove it.”

“I don’t have to.” Ezra shrugged.

“Well, I think you’re an idiot, the six men out there think that you’re an idiot.”

“You are wrong. If I was an idiot, would I be sitting on a cold bathroom floor defending myself against the accusation that I’m an idiot.”

“I think you just admitted that you’re an idiot Ezra.”

“Fine! I’ll tell them. But if they don’t talk to me for a month, it’s going to be your fault.”

“Sure Ezra, whatever makes you feel better.”

Ezra allowed Lenny to help him up and followed him through the house into the kitchen.

“Guys,” Lenny stood next to Ezra in case he needed some sort of physical persuasion to talk. “Ezra here wants to explain what’s been going on.”

“We’re ready when you are Ezra.” Chris informed him.

“You gentlemen, if that’s what you are . . . “

“Ezra.” Lenny growled a warning at him.

“I’m telling them in my own time and my own way.” Ezra retorted. “You gentlemen, if that’s what you are, have a way of talking about Lenny that hurts me.”

“What?” Chris was dumbfounded.

“Whenever I mention Lenny’s name, you start putting him down. You talk about him like he’s a piece of shit and not a human being who is like a brother to me. You act like four year olds . . . “

“Ezra we . . . “ Vin started.

“Shut up! I haven’t finished yet.”

“Okay.” Vin shrunk back into his chair.

“You put him down, you call him names, you . . . you . . . you . . . and I’m right there in the room. I don’t like it and I’ve had enough of it!”

“Doesn’t explain why you’re acting like an idiot.” Chris glanced at Lenny to see his reaction but there wasn’t any.

“Have you been angry with Lenny today?” Ezra asked the group of men.

They all looked at each other then at Ezra.

“Exactly . . . you don’t know what I’m talking about do you?”

“No.” Lenny answered for the group of men.

“Chris didn’t throw you out of the car with me. You stayed in the car. Did you react when he hit me?”

Lenny shook his head and smiled. He was beginning to understand where Ezra was headed with his explanation. The man really was an idiot.

“You agreed with each other. Both of you got together to try and figure out what I was doing. You even discussed who was going to be the mum and who was going to be the dad.”

“Excuse me?” Vin winked at Chris.

“Did you, or did you not, give Lenny a high five when he hit me?”

“Uh yeah, I did.” Chris shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“Lenny, you stopped Vin and cheered him up by telling him that outrageous lie about that test.”

“It wasn’t a lie.”

“Yes it was and you damn well know it.”

“We’ll find out when Lenny sends us the report.” Vin told him.

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up!”

“Yeah you did.” Vin shrunk even further into his chair; if that was possible.

“You haven’t shown an angry bone in your bodies towards each other. Chris and Lenny made sandwiches together for Christ sake. You’ve been acting like friends and not men who hate each other.”

“He’s got a point there.” Josiah nodded.

“So!” Ezra pointed a finger at the men and also glared at them. “This is how it’s going to be from now on. There will be no anger directed at each other. You will never put Lenny down again, whether it be in front of me or not. On occasion you will invite Lenny to join us on these long weekends and at Christmas. And most of all, none one is going to hit me again!” Ezra stopped talking but his chest continued to heave in anger. “DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!”

“Yeah, sure.” Chris shrugged.

“No problem here.” Vin agreed, even though he’d been told to shut up twice.

“Okay by me.” Buck said and nodded to JD who nodded back in agreement.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?” Nathan stood up and moved to confront Ezra.

“Me?” Ezra raised an eyebrow at the larger man.

“Yeah, you.”

“Vin, apologise to Nathan.” Chris ordered him.

“For what?”

“For calling him a nigger.”

“I didn’t . . . I would never . . . Ezra . . . God Damnit it.” Vin pouted, he hadn’t even had the chance to hit Ezra. “Nathan, I’m sorry for calling you that name.”

Nathan continued to look at Ezra.

“I am so very sorry Nathan.” Ezra whispered to him. “I will do anything to take it back.”

Nathan nodded and smiled. “That’s okay Vin, you can pay for your mistake at a later date.”

“And my cd and the father comment?” Josiah decided it was his turn.

“Buck will buy you a new cd when we get back.” Chris told him.

“I will not!”

"After all, Buck did throw it out the window.”

“Chris! What the hell are you doing?” Buck demanded to know.

“JD, tell Josiah you didn’t mean it when said Maude would make a better mother.”

JD looked at Buck, then Vin, then Chris. His boss was serious.

“I’m sorry Josiah.”

Josiah was also watching Ezra. He smiled in return when Ezra mouthed that he was sorry.

“I think I would enjoy Lenny’s company. After all there are a lot of things about Ezra that he can tell us.” Josiah winked at Ezra.

“That won’t happen!” Ezra growled.

“Oh I think it will Ezra.” Lenny slapped him on the back.

Ezra glared at Lenny.

“Doesn’t really explain why you were pissing us off.” Chris sat back in his chair.

“What are you? An imbecile?” Ezra could see that he wasn’t going to get an answer. “By making you angry at me, there was no time for you to be angry at each.” He raised his shoulders and arms up in the air. His body language saying; ‘are you an idiot or what, can’t you figure it out for yourself. Do I have to tell you everything’.

“You’re an idiot Ezra.” Chris told him.

“I am not! It was a brilliant plan and may I add that it worked.”

“You’re an idiot Ezra.” Chris told him a second time.

“Why do you keep saying that?” this is what he had been afraid of. He knew he was an idiot. They weren’t supposed to know he was an idiot. Somehow they had caught on to his con.

“You had this whole thing planned from the beginning didn’t you?” Vin asked him.

“Yes I did.”

“You’re an idiot Ezra.” Vin repeated what Chris had said.

Before Ezra had a chance to answer, Josiah called him.

“Ezra.” Josiah wanted the younger man to look at him. “You’re pretty proud of yourself aren’t you.”

“For the most part, yes I am. Except for what I said to you and Nathan, but you have to realise what I was trying to do. Nathan was being stubborn, he wouldn’t get angry with me. Can you believe it. This is a man who wakes up in the morning and says to himself, I’m going to spend the day being angry at Ezra. Now, he hasn’t got an angry bone in his body.” Ezra rubbed the side of his face. “Well, he did for a moment because of what I said.” Ezra turned to Lenny. “He hit me pretty hard Lenny.”

“You’re an idiot Ezra.” Josiah told him.

Ezra growled, if one more person said that, he would, he was going to, they would end up . . . well, he just would.

“Does this mean that my music isn’t stupid?” JD asked Ezra.

“No,” Buck slapped JD across the back of the head, “the music you listen to is stupid.”

“I thought you were on my side.” JD whined at Buck.

“Ezra!” Buck forced the man to look up at him. “You’re an idiot.”

“What did I do to make everyone call me an idiot!”

I thought I was going to do something to the next person who called me an idiot.

“You said my conversations were stupid and boring.”

“He said that?” Chris frowned at Buck.

“Yes he did.” Buck crossed his arms.

“He’s right.” Chris informed Buck.

“What?”

“Buck all you talk about is women. Women, women, women.” Chris continued. “Have you ever thought that maybe we want to hear about something else.”

“There’s nothing wrong with talking about women.” Buck growled at him then leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. “There was this red head that . . . “

“Shut up Buck!”

Eight men spoke at once.

“My music isn’t stupid.” JD stood up. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“JD, your music is banned from vehicles, stake outs and the office for a month.”

“Chris! That’s not fair.” JD protested. “I didn’t do anything. Ezra you’re an idiot!”

“And you,” Chris stood up and stormed towards Ezra, “are an idiot.”

“Oh for pete’s sake, will you please stop calling me an idiot.” Ezra threw his hands in the air.

“You’re an idiot Ezra.” Lenny told him.

Aren’t you going to hit him. Hit Lenny? No fucking way!

“So now what?” Chris stared at Ezra.

“Don’t look at me. I’m an idiot remember.”

“Lenny?” Chris turned his stare to the man that he knew was somehow going to become a friend. Not a close friend, but a friend anyway.

“Well, me, I think we should tie the shit head to a chair and go and get a cold beer.”

“Sounds good to me.” Chris nodded to the rest of his men.

“That doesn’t sound like a very good idea to me.” Ezra protested when Chris and Lenny grabbed an arm each.

“We don’t listen to idiots!” JD yelled when he ran past them so he could grab the tape.

“Now gentlemen,”

Ezra, say something, anything, just get yourself out of this.

“and that’s what you are,”

They forced him back into the chair.

“gentlemen through and through, and very understanding,”

It wasn’t going to work. JD was already taping his arms to the chair.

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

They weren’t listening to him. JD was now taping his legs to the chair.

“I really do need to go to the bathroom guys . . . guys.”

They were walking away now.

“Guys, you don’t want to do this. You know I’ll retaliate!”

The front door was opened.

“Lenny!”

Seven men stepped through the door out into the night.

“You can’t leave me here like this!”

The door was closed.

“They’ll be back in a minute. I know they will. They won’t leave me sitting here all night. Not when they know I need to go to the bathroom. They’ll come back. I’m not an idiot. I’m not an idiot who is in dire need of going to the bathroom but can’t because he’s taped to a chair in the middle of the living room. They’ll come back any minute now.”

He heard a two cars start then pull away.

“They’re just trying to scare me. They’ll be back in a minute.”

He could hear nothing.

“GUYS! COME ON GUYS! I NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!”

Still silence.

“I hate those idiots! I don’t know why I allowed them to talk me into coming on this trip in the first place. Never again. GUYS!”