Prologue

The human race had been separated at a young age before the nuclear holocaust of 2047. The history books claim that the governments of America, England, China, France, and Russia knew the war was inevitable so they began the endeavor to clear the Earth of as many people as possible.

Under the premise that the planet was becoming over populated, governments announced that they were going to create new colonies on other recently discovered planets. Most humans didn't like the idea of living on a planet where you had to wear protective clothing and breathing equipment just to go outside. The collective governments knew there wasn't a choice. A list was created that included people who could build a new world and encourage it to grow and survive under harsh conditions. The chosen weren't given the choice; they were forced to leave families, friends and their jobs behind. Once the selective group of humans colonised their planets, families were then sent to join them.

Nine years later, Iraq fired the first missile that would cause brutal destruction of all the powerful countries on the planet. Nuclear fallout destroyed what was left. The humans that had been sent out to colonise other planets nine years ago were now on their own; there was nothing to go back to.

A new government called The Authority had been formed five years after the destruction of Earth to control the colonies. They had created new laws but the criminal element that had been unknowingly sent along with the others, also changed to accommodate the new laws. The long distances between the colonies made it harder to keep criminals under control.

So it was decided that a chip would be inserted into all humans when they're born. This chip would hold information about the person. Information, that when read, would tell the Authorities everything they needed to know, from childhood information, programming information and criminal information. What the humans didn't know though, was that it also contained a homing device. When the Authorities knew who they were after, it was only a matter of inputting the person's ID and their position would be revealed on a universal map.

The human race though, never changed as they were expected to after the nuclear war. After forty years of the new law system, not everyone was happy with the way it was working. Some didn't like to be controlled; they wanted their freedom and privacy and fought for it. The Rebellion - as they had come to be known - considered the government to be the enemy and they began to fight back. They were prepared to do anything to bring down the Authorities.

The Government decided it was time to change their tactics. What they needed was an elite group of men who could go in and bring out certain criminals that were high up in the rebellion, criminals that organised crimes against the government. They called these men, who would become part of the Authorities, Bounty Hunters.

Chris Larabee - a forty one year old Caucasian male - was the leader of such a group known as Bounty Seven; aptly named because they were the seventh group to be formed. At the age of eighteen Larabee had been programmed with leadership skills, combat skills and war strategies. The intention had been for him to be a ranking officer in the Earth's army. Chris Larabee was an independent man who had other ideas. He wasn't prepared to fight a hopeless war against a life form the human race would never defeat. With his programming, Larabee had been the perfect choice to lead one of the groups.

Orin Travis, a man who had been programmed to be a Judge of the Court, had begun his recruitment of bounty hunters ten years earlier. He now had twenty-four teams working for him but there were more criminals than there were bounty hunters and things were beginning to get out of control.

Travis had also hired men to join the Rebellion to try and report crimes while they were in the making, rather than after the crime was committed. It was the publicity the crimes created that encouraged men and women to join the Rebellion. Most of the human race never understood why there was even a Rebellion. Life was good for all humans. They were provided with food, clothing and medical treatment at no cost to them; they were taken care of, not like the years before the war. They were programmed with skills that would allow them to take part in a certain profession, although no one really had a choice in what that profession would be. They were programmed in what was needed the most. Money still existed, so they were paid well for what they did.

The Rebellion though, was intent on destroying everything that was good. The Authorities weren't going to allow them to succeed. It was a new war that could one day, finish what the nuclear war couldn't, and that was to destroy the human race.

~ One ~

Chris Larabee, a man with a bad-assed attitude and a reputation to match, was tired and extremely pissed off at the situation he and his men were now facing. This was supposed to have been a simple collection of a bounty, go in, and take him out. Simple, that's what they said. Go in and take him out. If they could, they would have gone in and taken him out twenty minutes ago. The guy was supposed to be with a small group of criminals. They were told three, making it seven bounty hunters going up against one bounty and his three protectors. Although for some reason, Bounty Seven were now defending themselves against nine criminals (including the bounty) that were refusing to cooperate.

They had been able to stop the bounty (a man named Halis) from entering a docking bay on the planet simply known as Algera and escaping with his scalp intact. They were now caught in a large room packed shoulder high with crates and other useless objects.

'For the last time! Give yourself up!' Chris yelled over the top of the metal crate he was using for cover.

'No.' the answer had been simple, just like the extraction was supposed to have been simple.

'Why not?' Chris lowered his head. Why did he always get stuck with the idiots?

'I've already told you why.'

The man spoke with an ugly accent. It wasn't familiar but if the accent was anything to go by, the face of the person who owned the voice was just as ugly.

'Tell me again how stupid you are,' Chris said.

'We're not giving ourselves up because there are more of us than there are of you.'

This came from a man that was obviously unaware of Larabee's frightening reputation.

Larabee grinned at Buck Wilmington, a long time friend and member of his team. 'The man doesn't know what he's up against.'

'Then maybe we should show him.' Buck winked back at him. 'Hey, did I tell you I've got this young lady waiting for me at the bar? She said she's going to . . . '

'Shut up Buck.' Chris threw him a warning glance.

'Chris,' JD the youngest member of the team wore a serious expression on his clean features.

'Why don't we just let Buck bore them to death with his long list of desperate woman that he's claimed to have conquered.'

It was a suggestion that Chris considered for a full ten seconds.

'Your mouth is starting to get a little bit too smart lately JD!' Buck growled at him.

'Learning from the best Buck,' said JD.

'I'm going to count to ten,' Chris didn't yell this time, he knew they would hear him, 'and then we're going to come and get you. If any of you die in the process, well, that's your problem, not ours.'

'You're a bit over confident aren't you?'

This was a voice Chris hadn't heard yet. Whoever it was, he sounded calm, too calm, like he didn't have a care in the world.

'You're sounding a bit optimistic yourself for someone who is about to die.' Chris answered him.

'Yes,' the man sounded like an arrogant asshole, 'and you do realise that one of your men may die when you attempt to capture your bounty.'

'He dies first.' Chris decided.

'We knew about that death thing when we signed on.' Buck answered for Chris.

Chris looked at Buck who nodded back at him. He knew his men all thought the same way. They knew death came with the job and were prepared to die protecting each other. It was a decision they had made. The Rebellion were intent on destroying what was left of the human race, and Bounty Seven were a group of men who had every intention of being part of the Alliance that would eventually stop the Rebellion.

'Even young JD?' the voice called out.

'How does he know about me?' JD asked Buck.

'I haven't got a clue.' Buck shrugged but it had unnerved him that a criminal had information regarding JD.

'Well, are you going to allow a young man who hasn't even begun to live, die because you're too stupid and stubborn to walk away?'

'Did he just call me stupid?'

'Sure did.' Buck winked at Chris in an attempt to make him angrier.

'Vin?' Chris spoke to his second in charge on the portable headset.

'He's human.' Vin Tanner answered.

'How human?' Chris knew that Vin would be wearing his eye scope. Tanner was a master when it came to hitting a target at a great distance, (that's what he had been programmed for, that and tracking man or beast), but he always wanted and needed to see the face of the man he was about to shoot. He had once said that it made it easier for him to accept it if his target had a face, otherwise it felt like he was shooting the target in the back.

'Chestnut hair, green eyes.' The tracker began to explain.

'Green eyes are rare.' Chris pointed out to him.

'Your eyes are green.' Vin reminded him.

'I'm also rare.' Chris smiled in response. 'There's not another person like me out there.'

'Thank the heavens above.' The voice that whispered in Chris's ear came from Josiah Sanchez, the oldest member of the group.

Chris ignored him.

'Pale complexion, he looks as though he's sick, really sick.' Vin continued. 'Slim, close to skinny and he has this irritating smile that makes me want to slap it off his face. Good looking guy too.'

'You want to ask him out on a date Vin?' Buck teased him.

'If I did, you wouldn't hear about it from me.' Vin retorted.

'That supposed to mean something to me?'

'It means that you talk too much about the women you date.'

'That's because my conquests deserve to be talked about.'

Chris grimaced at the conversation. 'Buck that's enough about your women and Vin, if the guy's alive at the end of this, you can ask him out.'

'I don't want to ask him out.' Vin growled into the mouthpiece.

'Excuse me.' the voice called out again. 'I thought you were going to count to ten?'

'I'm counting already!' Chris growled.

'Then could you speak up please because we can't hear you.'

Chris could hear the laughter coming from the other side of the room.

'I hate him already.' Chris grumbled. 'If he doesn't die then I'm going to kill him.'

'Chris,'

'Yes Josiah.'

Josiah Sanchez was the man who often used his calm attitude to keep the group from taking drastic measures that would endanger their lives.

'Don't let the guy get to you. Just do your job and know that we'll be right behind you.'

'Ah . . .. Don't you mean right beside me?' Chris corrected him.

'No, I believe I meant what I said.' Josiah smiled at the expression that he pictured on his boss' face.

'Thanks for your support Josiah.'

Sometimes he wondered why he even bothered taking these men on. Each man was so different from the other, often clashing and arguing with each other but for some reason they considered each other as family.

'You're welcome.'

'We're still waiting for number one,' the voice yelled, 'or are you incapable of even counting to one.'

'I can shoot him now Chris.' Vin offered.

'No.' Chris smiled coldly 'I want to shoot that one myself.'

'Okay, but don't say I didn't offer.'

The smile dropped off Vin's face when he saw the bounty turn towards the guy with the rare green eyes. Heated words were spoken then the bounty fired his gun, the bullet entering low on the left shoulder of the other man.

'Chris, the bounty just shot the guy.' Vin reported to his boss.

'What?'

'The bounty . . . '

'Just shot the guy I wanted to shoot! I heard what you said Vin.'

'Then why did you say 'what'?'

'This is really starting to piss me off.'

'And here we were thinking that you were already pissed off.' Buck smiled at JD who was five meters to his left.

Chris ignored him. 'On the count of three guys.' he received five acknowledgements that they were ready. 'One . . . two . . . three.'

Chris, Buck and JD rose as one and began to fire on the group of men that now numbered eight.

From his position, Vin took out two men that were attempting to take the lives of his friends.

Nathan Jackson, the only black man in Bounty Seven came from the right side of the room, shooting a man that had his sights on JD. Chris managed to get close enough to the bounty to capture him, but one of the low life criminals that were protecting the bounty jumped in front of him. Larabee fired on instinct and with experience; the man was dead before he hit the floor.

That left four men, including the bounty. Chris quickly searched his immediate location; the bounty (who was wanted dead or alive) was twelve feet to his right. Larabee dove to his left and fired his weapon before the bounty could fire. Larabee was quick; anyone who knew this would not go up against him.

Seeing that the man who was paying them was now dead, the three remaining criminals gave themselves up. What was the use of dying for something they were no longer going to be paid for? They dropped their weapons and lifted their hands into the air to show that they were no longer a danger to the bounty hunters.

Chris lay where he was for a few seconds. This was supposed to have been an easy job. Now the bounty was dead - it didn't really matter to him if the bounty was taken in dead or alive - but that wasn't the point. He was told by his boss Orin Travis, that it wouldn't be a difficult collection, except that it had been.

'You okay down there cowboy?'

Chris looked up and saw Vin Tanner smiling down at him. 'You call me that again and I'll kill you!'

'Yeah, yeah, that's what you always say.' Vin put out a hand to help his friend up onto his feet.

'Well maybe one of these days I'll carry out that threat.' Chris couldn't help but smile when he saw the rest of his men moving towards the three remaining criminals. Everyone was okay.

'Everyone okay?' Nathan Jackson asked his usual question.

A mixture of groans answered him.

'I was only asking.'

'You always ask Nathan,' Chris grimaced at the thought of Nathan hovering over him if he had turned out to be injured, 'and we always tell you the same thing. We're fine.'

'Yeah, but most of the time you're lying.' Nathan growled.

'That's because you're not a very good doctor and we don't want you touching us.' Chris retorted.

Jackson, a man originally programmed to be a medical surgeon had decided not to go along with the order of things and work as a doctor. Instead he had traveled around the newly occupied planets and worked where he was needed. It was at one of these locations that someone had tried to kill him. Chris and his team had saved his life. The decision to stay with the group had then been an easy one.

'Ungrateful bastards.'

'Buck,' Chris called to him, 'give those three the usual speech and let them go. They're not worth anything to us but if we see them again, they're dead men.'

'I think you just gave them the speech cowboy.' Buck smiled at his long time friend.

'Son-of-a . . ..' Chris growled between clenched teeth. What was it with these guys that they always had to call him cowboy?

'I'll take what we need from the bounty so we can leave.' Nathan grabbed Josiah's arm and pulled him towards the body lying on the ground a few feet away.

'I'm going to check out this other guy. Put a face to the arrogant idiot.' Chris announced to the group.

'There's nothing you can do to him now, Chris.' Vin followed him to make sure he went to the right corpse.

They stepped around the crates to find four bodies. Tanner led him to the farthest one away from them. Chris stood looking down at the man. The head had rolled onto the injured shoulder. The right arm lay at his side while the left lay above his head. The legs were slightly spread, the right knee bent so the heel touched the calf of the other leg. Blood had soaked the ill-fitting white cotton shirt.

Vin had been right, the man did look sick, his skin was almost white, as though he had never seen the sun. The body was thin but slightly toned. He had been in good condition once but for some reason only known to the dead man, his condition had become poor.

Chris squatted on his heels and reached forward to check for a pulse. There wasn't one, not that he expected to find one. The flesh was warm, an indication that the human had only stopped breathing within the last few minutes.

'He's dead.'

'I could have told you that!' Vin took the opportunity to roll his eyes while his boss wasn't looking.

'I saw that!'

'Saw what?' Vin's face was a picture of pure innocence.

'I'm not an idiot. I know that all of you pull faces at me behind my back.'

'I didn't pull a face.' Vin answered truthfully.

Chris stopped staring at the corpse and turned his head so he could glare at Vin instead. 'Then what did you do?'

'I didn't pull a face.'

'What in the hell did you do!'

'Rolled my eyes.' Vin winced and stepped back at the same time.

'Next time you do that, I'm going to fix them into position so they stay that way until the day you die, which won't be very long.' Chris threatened him.

'Okay, sure, won't do it again cowboy.' Vin couldn't stop the smile from creeping onto his face, his pale blue eyes flashed with amusement.

Chris decided that he was, after all, going to kill Tanner. There wasn't a man in this universe that pissed him off more than Tanner did. The body at his feet had the potential to give Vin a run for his money, but now he was dead. Chris then lifted the eyelids so he could look into the green eyes. They were green all right, a brilliant deep green that he had never seen before. Even his own eyes weren't that green.

'Pity.' Chris lowered the eyelids. 'Someone's going to take these eyes out and sell them for a hefty price.'

'Yeah,' Vin agreed with him.

'Chris,' Nathan's voice got his attention, 'got the chip, we can go now.'

'Maybe we should take his, find out who he was.' Chris nodded to the corpse.

'Why?' Vin frowned at Chris.

'I don't know.' Larabee stood up and kept his gaze on the dead man's face. Good-looking guy Vin had said. 'The bounty shot him for a reason, maybe the answer's in his file.'

'Don't Chris.' Vin gripped his friend's shoulder. 'You didn't know him and you don't need to know him. He was a small time criminal getting paid to help protect the bounty. That's all, you don't need to know anything else.'

'Just curious that's all.' Chris allowed Vin to pull him away so they could join the rest of the group.

'I know.'

'Damn asshole pissed me off just like you do.' Chris chuckled.

'Thought you said I was the best.'

'You are, but that guy could have been just as good if not better.'

'Guess I better start putting in some practice then.'

'You do and you're a dead man.' Chris threatened him again.

'If I had a dollar for every time you said that to me, I'd have seven hundred and twenty three dollars.'

Chris violently pushed Tanner out of his way. 'JD, contact the Authorities in this place and let them know that there are some bodies here that need to be taken care of.'

'Sure thing boss.'

They left the area and the bodies behind and headed for the nearest alcoholic establishment to celebrate another successful operation, one among many.

~ Two ~

Suddenly his heart began to beat painfully against his chest. Lungs that had been starved of oxygen for more than twenty minutes gulped in the limited air that was available to them. Panic threatened to take control of his senses. He couldn't allow that to happen, it would cause him to lose all control of his abilities; what control he had left that was. Small breaths, he had to take small breaths so his lungs would catch up, they just needed a few minutes.

His eyes slowly blinked opened then closed quickly. He waited a few more seconds then tried again. All he could see was the white plastic sheet that covered him. I'm in the morgue already? Usually they don't clean up so quickly.

The smell of Infamel (the liquid used to protect bodies from decomposition) assaulted him. He gagged on the vomit that rose into his throat. Why did it have to be like this all the time? He forced himself to sit up so he wouldn't choke on what threatened to erupt from his stomach.

The sheet fell away from his face and bright lights caused a blinding headache to begin immediately. He closed his eyes, hoping the headache would ease but it didn't. At least the pain in his shoulder wasn't bad yet but it would get a lot worse once the drug in his system wore off.

He hadn't expected to be shot. Things had been going fine until Halis turned on him, accusing him of working for the other side. He denied it of course but Halis wouldn't listen. There was no way he could have saved himself from the bullet. The only thing he could have hoped for was that it didn't take his life. ORD, the illegal drug he had injected thirty minutes before the bounty hunters had cornered them was dangerous enough, but to throw in a bullet wound on top of it; he was lucky that his body was able to start breathing again.

After a matter of minutes he decided that it was time to move before the pain did become worse. He had to find somewhere to hide so he could take care of his wound. Once his shoulder was taken care of he was going to take a break. Damn Travis and his job. He needed time away so he could gain his health back. He'd been doing this shit for way too long now.

He opened his eyes and quickly scanned the room to find the other bodies that he knew were the men who were had been paid to help Halis escape from the bounty hunters. It had been his job to make sure the bounty team didn't succeed. Again, he failed to do his job.

Once the dizziness passed he slipped off the metal bed and allowed his feet to touch the floor. He gripped the bed to steady himself as another wave of nausea took control of him. When it had cleared a second time, he lifted his shirt so he could check his wound. Ouch! It couldn't have missed his heart by much. His arm reached over his shoulder to check for an exit wound. This wasn't good; no exit wound, the bullet was still in there. There was a chance he wasn't going to survive this one.

He moved slowly and carefully to the door. After creating a small gap, he poked his head out into the corridor. When he knew the area was clear, he left the cold room. He didn't know how long it was going to take to find a hiding spot and he didn't have a lot of time left. He was going to have to push his body past its physical limits to get anywhere.

Five minutes later and he was using the wall for support. The pain in his skull and shoulder had worsened. Sweat caused his clothing to cling to his body, revealing the thin frame beneath the material. He wasn't going to be able to do it. If he were in this condition after five minutes then he would be dead when he reached his planned destination.

His body slid to the floor. This was where he was going to die. He didn't want this. He hadn't wanted this life. But it had been either this or be classed as a criminal and he knew what happened to criminals. No, this wasn't the way he wanted to die. It wasn't the dying part that he was afraid of; it was the idea of dying alone that terrified him.

Voices caused his head to lift. The sight before him scared the shit out of him. Larabee and his men were walking towards him. He froze where he was, his body refusing to obey his brain's instructions. In a few seconds they would see him. Then what? Would they shoot first then ask questions later. He knew of Larabee's reputation. Chris Larabee was a hard, cold man. His attitude was well known within criminal circles. The man would just as easily kill you than look at you.

He no longer had the strength to run away from the physical violence that he knew was going to take place. So instead he allowed his head to fall so his face was hidden. Maybe they would walk straight past him without a glance. It was his only hope.

~ Three ~

Chris Larabee ignored the man on the floor and walked past him but he stopped when he realised that Vin Tanner was no longer by his side. Impatiently, he turned around to demand what was keeping him. A frown creased his handsome features when he noticed Vin staring at the stranger who was sitting with his knees against his chest and his head down, the man obviously didn't want to be noticed.

'Vin?' he didn't get an immediate response so he waited.

Vin Tanner knew that he'd seen this man before. The chestnut hair, the clothing and the body's frame beneath the material were also familiar to him. His eyes took in everything that was available for him to see, including the blood on the right shoulder . . .

No, it couldn't be, that guy was dead.

He'd seen the body himself and there had been no pulse. Tanner knelt down knowing that his friends were watching him. They would be ready to protect him if he needed it. His right hand reached forward, took the chin and lifted it upwards. Green eyes started back at him. It was the dead guy.

'Chris this . . .' but that was as far as he got.

Vin's first instinct was to grab his shin after the boot connected with it but the pain wasn't bad, only because he knew that the guy who kicked him didn't have enough strength to put behind the blow. He stepped after the man who was now crawling frantically away from him. Vin placed a boot on the man's back and pushed down hard enough to force the man onto the ground, stopping his forward movement.

'What's going on Vin?'

Vin turned and smiled at his friend. 'This is the dead guy.'

'What?' Chris stood beside Tanner and looked down at the man under Vin's foot.

Intense green eyes were now glaring at Vin, if there was any fear it had disappeared quickly.

Chris immediately recognised the man for who he was.

'He was dead.' Chris couldn't believe it.

'Yeah he was.' Vin agreed with him.

'So why isn't he now?'

'Why are you asking me that?' Tanner growled at him.

'Because you're the one that found him,' was the simple answer, 'if you hadn't stopped like you always do, I wouldn't be standing here feeling like an idiot.'

'You feel like an idiot?' Buck asked him with a smile.

'This guy was dead, I felt for a pulse and couldn't find one. He was dead, and now he isn't. That makes me look like an idiot.' Chris turned to look at Buck. 'And wipe that damn smile off your face.'

'Get off him Vin.' Nathan ordered the sharp shooter.

Eyes that were now beginning to fill with confusion, moved to take in Nathan's form.

Nathan pulled the injured man up until he was in a sitting position. A quick examination told him that the man was near death. He obviously hadn't died before, but he would die this time without medical treatment.

'We need to get him somewhere, if we don't, he'll die.' Nathan informed Chris.

'No!' the weak voice surprised everyone.

'Can't I just shoot him?' Chris asked Nathan.

'No!' this time the voice sounded shocked.

'Chris . . . '

'He's a criminal Nathan, why waste your time healing him only so he could spend the rest of his life in jail.'

'So you just want to leave him here to die?' Josiah placed a hand on Chris's shoulder and looked down at the dying man. He saw the hatred in the green eyes that were staring up at Chris Larabee.

'Well, no, but . . .'

'I agree with Nathan.' Josiah commented.

'Why?' Chris demanded of him.

'Because it's the right thing to do.' the older man shrugged.

'The rest of you think the same way.' His men refused to look at him. They were cowards all of them. 'Why not just hand him over to the medical staff here and let them take care of him.'

'No!' there was that damn voice again.

'We're not asking you.' Chris growled at the unknown man.

'Chris, we're doing this and we're doing it now.' Nathan nodded to Josiah and Vin.

The two men grabbed an arm each and began to haul the man to his feet. It wasn't easy because their burden was struggling to free himself from their grips.

'We're going to help you.' Josiah whispered into the man's ear. 'Stop fighting us!'

He wouldn't listen, he couldn't. These men were putting his life in danger. Word would be going around now that he was dead. This would allow him to take on a new identity so he could infiltrate another gang and gain information that was needed to stop the Rebellion. If the wrong person were to see him or hear that he was still alive, his life wouldn't be worth living. He would become a wanted man himself.

The pain tugging at his shoulder was becoming worse. The effects of the drug were wearing off and soon and he would feel nothing but pain and then death.

'Stop struggling.' Nathan ordered the man.

'He doesn't seem to have a lot to say anymore, does he?' Chris nudged Vin.

'I wouldn't either if I was in the same condition as him.' Vin grimaced as he fought to keep hold of the man.

'Does that mean he won't stop talking when Nathan fixes him up?'

'Probably.'

Nathan turned around but continued to walk backwards. He watched his patient's features. There was pain in the man's expression but not enough. The stranger shouldn't even be able to walk. Vin was also tugging at the wounded shoulder but the man wasn't reacting to the pain that Vin was causing him.

'Why aren't you in pain?' Nathan decided to ask him.

'Where are you taking me?' the man answered with a question of his own.

'We're taking you to our ship. Why aren't you feeling any pain?'

'Are we leaving this god forsaken planet?'

'Yes. Why aren't you feeling any pain?' Nathan asked again.

Chris felt like hitting the stranger. Couldn't he answer a simple question?

'What are you going to do with me?'

'Take care of you, and then when you're better, we'll discuss it. Why aren't you feeling any pain?'

'I will be in a minute.' the injured man whispered but the others heard him clearly.

Chris rolled his eyes.

'Why?' Nathan stopped walking.

He looked up at the dark man but refused to answer the question. There was no way he was going to give away his trade secrets. Pain suddenly erupted in his shoulder as the last of the ORD finally left his system. He tried to double over in an effort to ease the pain but he didn't get very far, the arms holding him pulled him back upright causing the pain to become even worse.

'Shit!' the words came out through gritted teeth.

'So now you're in pain.' Nathan stopped and crossed his arms. 'Why?'

A foot began to pound the floor while the body leaned closer to the sharpshooter to ease the pull on the injury. Eyes were clenched tightly and the head fell against Tanner's chest.

'Move!' Nathan ordered his two friends. 'Now!'

'I still say we just shoot him.' Chris commented as he began to follow the others back to the ship. He noticed that no one seemed to be listening so he tried again. 'You know, I keep getting this feeling that shooting him is going to save me a lot of problems . . . Is anyone actually listening to me?'

Nope, of course not, why would I think they would. So what was new? Nothing, absolutely nothing!

~ Four ~

When Vin and Josiah lay the stranger down on the medical table, Nathan immediately began to take the man's vital signs. They weren't good, which meant the man was closer to death than he thought he was. The medically programmed expert cut away clothing to reveal a form that would have eventually died of starvation. Even though there was still some muscle tone, the ribs could be easily seen as well as the pelvic bones. The man was underweight. Nathan couldn't understand why. There was always plenty of food around, the government made sure of that. No one was supposed to starve and yet this man seemed to have been doing that for a few months now.

His large hands moved to the shoulder wound. It was nasty because he had been too close to the shooter. The bullet was deep in the shoulder just above the heart. Jackson nodded to Josiah Sanchez who knew the simple body movement would tell him to begin getting everything ready for an operation.

'JD,' Chris stood by the door with his arms crossed against his chest, he didn't like seeing anyone in such a condition as the man on the table. Everyone knew what it was like before the Third War. So many humans died of starvation and disease. After the war it was decided that one government would rule the Earth. Everybody would be fed, housed, and given medical treatment. They knew it would cost a lot of money but now that weapons were no longer be being made there was more money that could go towards helping each other. 'Scan his chip, find out who he is.'

'Yes Sir.' JD ran from the room, knowing that he only had a few minutes before Nathan would kick them out and not allow them back in.

Chris smiled, JD was the only one in the group that referred to him as Sir, well sometimes anyway. He also had the nasty habit of calling him chief. At least the kid didn't call him cowboy like the others.

'What do you think Nathan?' Vin asked from his position at the side of the table.

'He'd be lucky to survive.' Nathan shrugged. 'Bullet's close to the heart, he looks like he hasn't eaten much in a long time, his body isn't healthy enough to fight against his impending death.'

'But you'll do what you can won't you?'

'You know I will Vin.'

'Ready when you are Nathan.' Josiah informed him.

'Okay guys, out you go . . . '

JD ran back in, quickly dragged the Informer across the chip that would have been placed at the base of the skull when the man was born then ran out again.

'Let's see what we can do for him Nathan.' Josiah injected five ccs of Equiten to make sure the patient wouldn't wake during surgery.

Once Nathan cleansed his hands, he began his attempt to keep the man on the operating table alive.

Chris paced the length and width of the ship's computer room. The information he wanted would only take a matter of seconds. He could have sat on one of the two long bench seats or on the two chairs that were on either side of JD but he didn't. He could have stared at the millions of stars through one of the windows but he didn't. He could have crawled the high walls like Buck seemed to be doing but he didn't.

Chris Larabee preferred to pace; he wasn't known as a patient man. He watched as JD entered the scanning information into the computer and then turned to pace the other way. A few seconds, he could wait a few seconds.

'Got it.' JD announced.

'And?' Chris stopped in the middle of the room and turned back to face JD.

JD read for a few seconds then began to read out loud when he heard the impatient stamping of Chris's foot.

'His name is Standish, Ezra Standish . . . Authority Agent Ezra Standish.' JD said with wonder.

'What?' Buck demanded.

'He's AA?' Vin couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

'He's an infiltrator.' JD continued. 'He gets in with the bad guys to get informa . . . '

'We know what an infiltrator is JD.' Chris stopped the explanation. 'What else?'

'There isn't a lot really. Thirty-four years old, and he was born on Earth. Not many people born there anymore.' JD shifted through some useless information. 'He works under Travis.'

'Interesting.' Vin commented.

'Yeah,' Chris added, 'explains why Halis shot him. The guy must have blown his cover.'

'It would be the first time.' JD told them. 'Says here he's had a perfect record so far. All the information he's gathered has led to a bounty being collected.'

'Does it say why he's in such poor physical condition?' Vin asked JD.

'Says here he suffers from Dimension Affliction.' JD answered Vin.

'He gets sick traveling through space?' Buck frowned in amazement. 'Why doesn't he just get himself the antidote?'

'Probably for the same reason that he doesn't eat.' Vin suggested.

'Why would someone refuse what's right in front of them?' JD shook his head.

'We can find out if Nathan is able to pull him through.' Chris folded his arms and allowed his head to fall towards his chest. A dozen or more questions went through his mind.

The others stood around watching him. They knew not to disturb him while he was thinking. If they interrupted his train of thought, he wouldn't be able to get it back.

'Okay, we're going back to base.' Chris ordered them.

Buck followed Chris out of the room and down the corridor to the flight deck. The two men walked down the main corridor that ran down the middle of the craft. Long windows on either side showed millions of bright stars. They entered the flight deck, both men sitting in the only two chairs available.

'You going to hand him over to Travis?' Buck asked.

'Yeah, the sooner the better . . . there's something about that guy I don't like or trust.' Chris growled while he switched on numerous buttons.

'You haven't even met him yet, none of us have.'

'I have a gut feeling.' Chris smiled at him. 'Call it instinct, call it whatever you like. I don't like him.'

'You don't even feel sorry for him?'

Chris gunned the engine before he answered. The ship moved quickly out of the docking bay and into space.

'Only if he gives us a good explanation as to why he blew his cover.'

'What about the way he looks?'

'Only got himself to blame for that Buck. You know there's plenty of food for everyone and medications. He's in that condition because he wants to be.'

'Yeah, whatever.' Buck muttered in response.

'JD!' Chris yelled out.

'Why don't you just use the radio!' Buck slammed his hand against the intercom.

'Because I like yelling.'

'Well, I don't like you yelling in my ear!'

'JD!'

'What!' JD's voice yelled back.

'You got those coordinates in yet?'

'I may be a computergenius Chris, but I'm not that quick!'

'I was told you were the best!'

'Would you please stop shouting!' Buck growled.

'I am the best! They're in!'

Chris leaned closer to Buck. 'Thanks JD!'

'Son-of-a-bitch.' Buck rubbed his ear.

Chris engaged the autopilot and jumped from his seat knowing that the craft was in safe hands. The computer would notify them of any other traffic in the area. They now had fourteen hours to relax and catch up on some sleep and the work that needed to be done on the ship; which they had secretly named 'Space Cowboys'.

~ Five ~

'Standish! . . . Ezra! . . . Come on, you need to wake up . . . Standish!' Nathan had been trying for at least ten minutes to wake up his patient. The fact that he had been unable to elicit a response from Standish made his chance of recovery even more doubtful.

'Is he going to wake up?' JD asked from his position by the door.

'I don't know JD. He should have woken up at least an hour ago.' Nathan answered while he checked Standish's vitals again. His condition had improved since the operation.

'Can't you just wake him up?'

'I tried already.' Nathan smiled up at JD.

'You think maybe . . . that he's dead.' the younger man joked.

Nathan frowned. 'He was before.'

'I was kidding Nathan.'

'I wasn't.' Nathan moved away from the bed. 'I think we should just let him wake up in his own time.'

'You going to leave him alone?'

'Yes I am.' Nathan activated the motion detector. 'This will let me know when he's waking up.'

'I can stay with him if you want.' JD offered.

'No, I'm sure Chris has some jobs for you to do.' Nathan closed the door after JD followed him out of the room.

'Done them.'

'Then go and bother someone else and leave me alone.' Nathan pushed JD away and glared at him until he disappeared from his sight.

Damn it! How the hell was he going to get out of here when there was a motion detector in the room? He'd been playing dead for over an hour, hoping they would leave him alone long enough for him to gain his freedom. Now he had no other choice but to find another way, and he had to wake up to do that.

All he had to do was move and the one called Nathan would return. He allowed his head to roll to the side and he opened his eyes to survey the room while pain stabbed at his shoulder. There was one exit. His eyes continued to study the area he was in. The only thing close to him that he could use as a weapon was a glass jug on a small cabinet by the bed. Ezra had no intention of killing anyone but he was desperate to get away from these men. He rested his good arm on his chest in preparation for his escape.

It was only a matter of minutes before the door opened. His eyes quickly moved to the form that was walking towards him. The black man was bigger than he remembered.

'You're finally awake, I was starting to get worried about you.' Nathan smiled and moved to the bed.

Ezra didn't hesitate, he couldn't, and he had to do this or die. He reached for the jug and when he had a strong grip he swung it in the other man's direction. The glass jug shattered with a sickening sound when it struck Nathan's skull.

Standish didn't even wait to see if Nathan was going to stay where he fell. There wasn't time. With a shaking hand, he pulled the attachments from his body and dragged himself from the bed. There were no clothes on his body. One quick glance at the unmoving form on the floor gave him his answer. He struggled to remove the clothes from the large body. Ten minutes had almost passed before he had himself dressed. The clothes were big, too big. He tore a strip off the bed sheet using his free hand and strong teeth and tied it around his waist to stop the pants from falling down. When he was sure he was ready, he stepped up to the door. He leaned against the doorframe and waited until his body was prepared to agree to continue standing up on it's own. Another five minutes and it was.

He started out slowly, keeping his back and right arm against the wall. His green eyes continued to glance behind him to make sure there was no one sneaking up on him. The long corridor made it hard for a person to hide from their enemy. Ezra stopped when he both felt and heard the soft humming of the ship's engine. They were on the move. How was he going to get away while they were traveling through space. Maybe there was a lifeboat on board; there would have to be. But how was he going to find it, if this corridor was any indication, the ship was pretty large. He was running out of time. They would know soon that he had escaped and they would be looking for him.

Something had gone wrong but he was yet to figure it out. He was sure it was nothing he had done. If that was the case, and he was sure it was, it meant that someone else had broken his cover. The only people who knew who he was and what he did were Travis and a small group of people that worked in Travis' office. Someone gave the wrong person his true identity. The thing he had to work out was if it was for money or if it was a mistake. He settled for someone selling the information. This made it even more important for him to get away. If Travis' office found out that he was still alive then the same person might sell that information. His life wouldn't be worth living; not that it was worth living now.

He had to keep moving, he couldn't stay here. The weakness he was beginning to feel told him that he didn't have much time. The sound of loud voices behind him made him move even though he didn't want to. They were now searching for him. A door appeared in front of him and he checked to see if it would open. It wouldn't.

'Standish!'

Ezra Standish spun around to find Chris Larabee standing at the other end of the passageway. He turned again and began to run. Fear gripped his heart for the first time in many years. Chris Larabee was a man to be feared. He heard his name being called again but this time it was different voice. He ignored it and kept moving. His breath started to come short and fast. A strong current of pain was developing in his chest and left shoulder. He couldn't keep going like this. He had to find a place to hide. There was another door up ahead. He quickly glanced over his shoulder. In a few more seconds, Larabee would be on top of him. This time the door opened for him. Ezra stepped into the room and saw a young man sitting in a chair by a window.

'Ezra!' JD was surprised at first then he became both confused and concerned. 'What are you doing, you should be in bed. Did Nathan let you . . .?'

Ezra choked off the words when he pulled the young man from the chair and wrapped his arm around JD's throat and turned him to face the door.

'Ezra . . . what . . .?'

'Shut up!' Standish growled into his ear.

'We're not going to hurt you Ezra, we just want to help.'

'I told you to shut up!' Ezra squeezed tighter so JD would have to struggle to breath.

The door automatically opened and Chris Larabee stepped into the room with Vin Tanner at his side.

'Come anywhere near me and I'll snap his neck.' Ezra warned him. It wasn't something he was sure he could do. At the moment he was using all of his strength to stand on his feet.

'Did anyone tell you that you have a very irritating accent?' Chris asked him.

'No, most women like it.'

'Oh, Buck's going to like this guy.' Vin chuckled.

'Is there something wrong with you people?' Ezra asked while he watched Chris move to a chair and drop himself down into it. 'I just threatened to kill Mr. Dunne and you don't seem to care.'

'You know his name then?' Chris raised an eyebrow at Standish.

'I know who all of you are. You have quite the reputation.'

'Did you blow your cover back there or did someone at the base decided they needed some extra money?' it was Vin who asked this question.

'I'm leaving.'

'What makes you think you're going to get very far?' Chris stood up again and took a few steps closer to Standish.

'I don't believe that I'll be able to take a step towards that door,' Ezra nodded towards the door behind Vin, 'before you shoot and kill me.'

'So even though you know the drill you're still going to try and leave.'

'Yes.'

'You saying that you want to die?' Vin frowned at the man who was close to his own age.

'I'm a dead man anyway.'

'What makes you think that?' Chris crossed his arms.

Ezra eased up on JD when extra weight began to pull him down. 'It's obvious that someone wants me dead. I don't know who and I don't know why. If I take a step now you'll kill me. I think I prefer a quick and painless death rather than a drawn out painful one.' he took a step towards Chris.

'I'm not going to kill you Standish.' Chris shrugged.

'You're not!' Vin voiced his shock. 'You kept saying that you wanted to shoot him.'

'Like he said.' Ezra added.

'I have my reasons.'

'And what reasons do you have to keep me alive?' Ezra frowned in confusion.

'I'm not going to tell you.'

Ezra glanced at Vin. The man smiled at him. This wasn't right. The situation was confusing the hell out of him. It was also scaring him. A trickle of sweat running down his back caused him to shiver.

'Why don't you let go of JD, he's going a bit purple and we'll take you back to the medical room so Nathan can take care of you.' Chris suggested.

'Shit!' they didn't know about what he had done to Nathan Jackson. Now he knew why they were being so nice to him. If they had known, he would be dead already. 'No.'

'You're going to fall down any minute now anyway.' Chris assured him.

'I think I killed Mr. Jackson.' Ezra took another step closer to what he hoped would be his killer.

'You think?'

'I didn't stop to check.' Ezra smiled. 'Don't you recognise his clothes . . . I'm wearing them.'

'I just thought you both had bad taste.'

'Are you sick or something?' Ezra asked Larabee

'What do you mean?'

'Are you sick mentally or are you just the cold bastard that everyone claims that you are?'

'Nathan's not dead but he does have a hell of a headache and he's pretty pissed off at you right now.' Vin explained.

'He's alright?' Ezra couldn't stop the sigh of relief that escaped.

'He's fine.' Chris confirmed.

Ezra no longer knew what he was doing. These two men weren't angry about what he had done and what he was now doing. They weren't willing to kill him, they seemed to want to help him. He'd never solicited help in his entire life. He was taught to look after number one and that's what he was going to do.

'If you have no intention of killing me, then allow me to leave.'

'No.' was Chris's simple reply.

'Either kill me or let me go!' Ezra growled at him.

'What are you going to do, fight your way out of here. You're not in any condition to do that.'

Ezra let go of JD and allowed the younger man to fall to the floor. He ignored the sounds of him dragging fresh air into his lungs. Instead he took another step forward.

'Why don't we find out.'

'You want to fight me?' Chris asked with surprise.

'If that's what it takes to get out of here then yes.'

'I'm not going to fight you.'

'How the hell am I supposed to get out of here if you won't play by the rules!' Ezra practically yelled at him. 'This isn't the way it's supposed to go.' he began to pace while Chris and Vin watched in amusement. JD just continued to stare up at him. 'You were supposed to believe that I was going to kill him. You should have let me go, or killed me before I killed Mr. Dunne.'

'My name's JD.'

Ezra stopped and looked down at JD. 'I don't care what your name is! You didn't exactly play your part either you know. You were supposed to struggle, kick me in the knee or bite my arm, something, anything to get away . . . '

'You weren't going to kill me,' JD smiled up at him, 'you don't have it in you.'

'What the hell makes you think that?' Ezra was starting to believe that he was still unconscious and that he was dreaming this disaster. This sort of thing had never happened before. People believed his threats. Not once did he have to back down from anyone or anything. He was capable of terrifying people with a look or the sound of his voice but not these people.

JD shrugged.

Ezra turned his attention back to Larabee.

'And now you won't fight me. What is this? Be nice day? Or am I still asleep and this is some terrible nightmare?'

'You talk a lot, you know that.' Vin was now standing with his hands on his hips. He was quickly loosing patience with Standish.

'You have no choice Standish, you're coming back to the medical room with us.' Chris told him.

'Yeah,' JD agreed, 'you don't look so good.'

'I feel fine.' Ezra argued even though he didn't feel fine, he felt like death walking and he knew he was going to collapse at any moment.

'No you don't.' Chris growled. 'Now you either come with us or we'll drag you there.'

'Looks like we're going to have a fight after all.' Ezra smiled.

'There's three of us and one of you.' Chris pointed out.

'That would be unfair and very ungentlemanly of you.'

'You saying that we're going to cheat?'

'You are going to cheat, you just said so!' Ezra was beginning to become severely aggravated with the two men in front of him. Patience was something he was well known for but these men were pushing him to his limit.

'I don't cheat.' Chris shrugged.

Ezra could do nothing but glare at the blond man for a few seconds. 'I guess its stalemate then.'

'I don't mind waiting until you fall flat on your face.' Chris replied.

'Then we wait.' Ezra stepped back and sat down in the chair that he had pulled JD from.

'We wait.' Chris agreed.

'Stubborn bastard isn't he.' Vin commented to Chris.

'Look who's talking!' Chris retorted.

'I'm not stubborn!'

'And neither am I.' Ezra spat out.

Chris glared at Vin first, and then at Ezra. Neither man blinked. He was in hell, he had to be. Why didn't he just shoot Standish when he had wanted to?

'You want some water Ezra?' JD stood up and made his way to the jug of water near his bed.

'No!' Chris and Ezra spoke in unison.

'You're supposed to be on our side JD!' Chris couldn't believe JD was willing to help the enemy.

'Just trying to help Chris. I mean, he doesn't look so good.' JD defended himself with confidence.

'May I ask what time it is?' Ezra looked up at Chris.

'No.' Chris answered.

'It's 14:02.' JD checked his watch.

'JD!' Chris growled at him.

'What?' JD raised his hands in the air, a look of innocence on his face. He widened his brown eyes at Chris.

'Get out!' Chris pointed to the door. 'Now JD before I throw you out.'

'Just trying to help.'

'Yeah but you're not helping!'

'Fine . . . I'll go check on Nathan then.' JD moved closer to Ezra. 'Chris is very short on patience, so if you piss him off enough, he's likely to just let you go.'

'JD!'

'I'm going . . . I'm going.'

JD marched out of his quarters and turned left and began to walk to the medical room. He moved quickly, his hands in his pockets, and he whistled a tune that his mother use to sing to him when he was a child. He only stopped whistling when he entered the medical room.

Josiah looked up and saw his young friend enter the room. 'JD, listen, Standish hit . . . '

'I know Josiah,' JD lifted his hand in the air in an effort to stop Josiah from explaining something he already knew. 'He's in my room with Chris and Vin. They're having a standoff.'

'A what? And why?' Nathan asked him.

JD took some time to look at Nathan. The dark man sat on the bed with his hand holding a cold compress against the side of his head. A grimace of pain covered his features. JD smiled at the sheet that was wrapped around Nathan, covering his exposed flesh.

'You okay Nathan?'

'Just fine! He hit me with that glass jug. Apparently, it broke on impact. I was lucky that none of the glass stuck in my skull. As it was I cut my foot when I got up. Can you believe it! I saved that guy's life and he does this to me.'

'Well, he just about choked me.' JD shrugged as though it meant nothing.

'What?' Buck jumped off the bed that he'd been sitting on.

JD hadn't seen him when he entered the room. 'It's okay Buck, he didn't mean anything by it. He didn't hurt me.'

'Why'd he do it in the first place then?' Buck moved forward and started to check JD's neck for bruising.

'To get away from Chris and Vin I would say.'

'You said they were having a standoff?' Josiah pushed him for more information.

'Yeah, Ezra wants Chris to shoot him, Chris won't. Ezra wants to fight his way out because Chris won't shoot him but Chris won't do that either. So Chris is waiting for Ezra to collapse and Ezra's waiting to leave.'

'Really.' Josiah shook his head.

'Yeah . . . don't know who's going to win, Ezra seems to be pretty stubborn.'

'Buck.' Josiah stormed through the doorway.

Buck winked at JD and ran after Josiah.

Ezra could feel a sudden weight taking over his body. His shoulder throbbed in pain with each beat of his heart. He wasn't going to last much longer but he had to. If he collapsed now, they would be in control of his body. They would lock him in a room, tie him down and drug him, then return him to Travis. No! That wasn't going to happen.

He didn't realise it was going to be this difficult. He was sure that Larabee would have killed him, but for reasons only known to Larabee, he hadn't. Not even after he had threatened to kill JD Dunne. There was the option of fighting his way out but Larabee was right, he was in no condition to fight two men.

The Infiltrator wanted to glare at Larabee but he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to pull it off. So he stared out of the same window that JD had been looking out earlier. The Star System was easily recognisable; they were only a matter of hours away from Base.

'Ezra Standish!' Josiah's voice echoed through the passageway.

The small giant walked into the room a few seconds later.

Ezra had looked up to see Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner trying to hide their smiles. He hid his own worry and put his poker face in place. These men were hard, cold hearted, scary and caring. It was the caring part that scared him the most. He inwardly flinched when the one called Josiah Sanchez stepped into the room.

'You hollered.' Ezra gave the man a look, a look that told Josiah not to mess with him if he didn't want to be hurt.

Josiah ignored the look, knowing that Standish wasn't capable of hurting a fly at the moment. He moved towards the man that looked as though he was going to collapse at any moment. Buck followed him, knowing what Josiah's intentions were.

Ezra quickly jumped to his feet and prepared himself for a fight. The only thing he managed to do was to cause himself a bout of dizziness. His body had had enough and was warning it's owner that it couldn't take anymore.

Buck and Josiah moved forward to grab an arm each. Ezra reacted and threw a punch that Josiah easily ducked. Buck wasn't quick enough to move himself away from the kick that came quick and fast. It struck him in the stomach, causing him to double over and struggle for breath.

Ezra was too busy fighting his body's need to rest and the man that was trying to grab him to see Chris move like a cat towards him. The next thing he knew, a fist slammed into his jaw knocking him to the floor. He stared up through a fog at Larabee.

'Looks like I win.' Chris smiled down at what he considered to be a stubborn-pain-in-the-ass-who-doesn't-know-what-was-good-for-him-imbecile.

'Not the impending fight.' Standish warned.

Chris shrugged and watched as the man struggled against the oncoming darkness.

Josiah didn't watch as Chris did. He bent down and picked the man up, throwing him over his shoulder. He ignored the grunt of pain and short struggle to escape, a few seconds later his burden became inactive.

'That's how you do it Chris,' Josiah growled at him, 'you don't wait for him to fall flat on his face!'

'Oh, you mean I should hit him all the time.'

'That's not what I meant and you know it.' Josiah said as he began to carry Standish through the passageways back to the medical room with the others following him. 'What the hell were you thinking? Were you waiting for him to die? Is that what you want?'

'It was his idea.' Chris argued. 'He was the one that wanted to fight. I knew he wasn't in the condition to do so, so I didn't fight.'

'He wouldn't give himself up either.' Vin added to the heated discussion.

'Why didn't you do what I just did?' Josiah asked Chris.

'I was enjoying myself too much.' Chris smiled.

Josiah growled and returned his attention to Standish. The man had to be an idiot to attempt what he did. He'd nearly died, and yet after he woke up from a life saving operation, he was moving around, threatening people and willing to fight his way out of what he must have thought was a dangerous situation. Either that or he was scared about what was happening around him.

Josiah moved quickly and purposely to the bed in the medical room and laid he burden onto it, he then stepped aside so Nathan, who was still clad in only a sheet, could check on his patient.

'Well?' Josiah sounded impatient.

'His wound is bleeding again but apart from that he seems okay.' Nathan began to remove his clothes from Standish's body. 'He's lucky he's not awake. I'd give him a mouthful if he was.'

'Don't know if you'd get a word in Nathan. He's pretty talkative.' Chris told him.

'He hasn't talked to me yet!' Nathan growled.

Josiah moved until he stood in front of Chris and the others. 'Why don't you guys leave so Nathan and I can take care of Ezra here.

'All of you seem to be on a first name basis with the guy and you haven't even met him yet.' Chris spun on his heel and marched out of the room.

'Think he's jealous?' Buck asked Vin.

'Maybe,' Vin answered, 'but he's got a point . . . we don't know the guy and yet here we are trusting him and treating him like someone we've known for years. Why does he want to get away from us? He knows who we are and yet for some reason he's afraid of us. Why?'

'You just said he knows who we are Vin. That's probably why he's scared.' Buck boasted.

'There's nothing about you that would scare any man Buck!' JD responded.

'No but I've got enough to scare any woman.' Bucked fingered his moustache as it grew with his smile.

'Get out!' Josiah yelled at them.

His voice caused the man on the bed to move and moan in pain. Josiah knew that Nathan was about to start berating the man so he quickly intervened on Standish's behalf.

'Nathan, leave him be for now, he's scared enough of us at the moment, we don't want him to be terrified.'

'He's not a child Josiah, I'm sure he's quite capable of taking care of himself.' Nathan pointed to his head injury to emphasise his point.

'Okay,' Josiah stepped back, 'you're right. Yell at him all you want.'

'Help me get these clothes off him then I'll change the bandage, and then, I'm going to take care of myself.'

'Okay, sure.' Josiah shook his head and then did as he was told.

~ Six ~

Ezra blinked. His eyelids were sticky and were refusing to stay open for more than a few seconds at a time. He lifted an arm and wiped his eyes with the knuckle of his forefinger. A gentle cough caused his survival instincts to take control. He bolted off the bed, tearing off everything that was attached to his body. A large arm wrapped around his waist, stopping him from going any further. Ezra's body fought with all the strength it could muster.

'Ezra!' a soft voice hissed in his ear.

How does this person know my name?

Ezra pulled away from him and looked up into the face. This man was familiar to him but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before. The gray-blues and three day growth fought to bring a memory to the forefront of his mind.

'Let me go!' Ezra growled menacingly.

'Not until you're back in that bed!' Josiah retorted.

Ezra frowned and looked around the man's shoulder to the bed that he just escaped from.

'Bed?' his face filled with confusion.

'Do you remember what happened?'

'I don't even remember who you are.' Ezra looked around the room and saw all the medical equipment. 'Am I in a hospital?'

'No, you're on a ship. You were shot, we found you and brought you here.' Josiah explained.

It all started to come back slowly. Halis had shot him. He struggled to remember why. The memory kept its distance from him. His eyes traveled back to the man who held his arm tight enough to cause a bruise. 'Josiah Sanchez.'

'Yes . . . Do you remember us now?'

'Regretfully,' Ezra scowled at him. 'You can let me go now, obviously I can't go anywhere.'

'You going to get back into that bed?' Josiah continued to squeeze the younger man's arm in annoyance.

'No.'

'Then I'm not going to let go.'

'I gather then, that neither of us are going anywhere.' Ezra smiled revealing a gold molar on the bottom right side of his jaw.

'I wouldn't bet on it son.' Josiah began to pull Ezra back towards the bed.

'Mr. Sanchez,'

Josiah turned. He didn't see the right fist, it's speed and accuracy astounded him. The strength behind the punch also surprised him. He felt the blow, then the floor as he hit it a few seconds later.

'No one calls me son!'

Josiah rubbed his jaw and gazed up at the man he had called son. 'It's a term of endearment, it didn't mean . . .'

'I don't give a fuck what it meant. Never use that term with me again. Do you understand me!'

'I understand.' Josiah nodded. 'Are you going to get back into that bed or do I have to throw you into it.'

'Where are my clothes?' Ezra pulled his arm away when the larger man tried to grab him again.

'They've been destroyed.' Josiah simply stated.

'Why?' Ezra growled at him.

'They were covered in blood, they had holes in them . . . would you like me to go on?'

'Are there other clothes that I could wear?'

'Yes, but you're not ready to wear them yet.'

'I'm fine.'

'You nearly died Ezra.' Josiah heard the sadness in his own voice. He was a man that was saddened by a stranger's death. He hated the thought of anyone dying.

'I didn't die, I'm fine!'

Nathan Jackson took that opportunity to return to the medical room. 'So how come you're fine!'

Ezra quickly turned and a wave of dizziness caused his legs to buckle. Large hands grabbed him and half carried him back to the bed. He struggled against them but his strength was deserting him. The two men literally threw him onto the bed then strapped him down before he knew what they were doing.

'You can't do this!' Ezra told them.

'It's for your own good,' Nathan growled at him, 'I didn't appreciate it the first time you hit me and I don't want it to happen again.'

'I can't go back!' Ezra pulled at the restraint with his right arm. He wasn't going to be able to get out of this situation. They'll take him back, the wrong person will find out that he was still alive, and then they'll be after him again. He might not be so lucky the next time.

'Why not?' Jackson crossed his arms and frowned down at the man. 'You know, you're doing pretty well for a man who was on his deathbed. You haven't been taking some sort of drug have you?'

Josiah glared at Nathan. It wasn't the sort of question you should ask an AA operative.

'I don't take drugs!' Ezra spat out through gritted teeth.

'I was only asking.' Nathan shrugged. 'I mean, you hit me pretty hard, and then what you did with JD and the others . . . you shouldn't have been able to walk . . . and yet look at you. It's as though you only twisted a finger or something.'

'I can't go back there.' Ezra repeated in a whisper.

'Why not?' Josiah asked.

'That's none of your damn business. Now let me the hell off this bed!'

'No.'

Ezra stared at Nathan. 'I should have hit you harder.'

'You can always try again.' Nathan smiled at him.

'Thank you . . . I will.'

Nathan, at first, thought the man was joking but the anger in the green eyes told him that he was very serious.

'Okay, but you have to be a man next time and make sure I'm ready for you.' Nathan winked at Josiah.

Josiah though didn't react, he wasn't finding the situation funny at all. 'Nathan, do you mind leaving us alone for a minute.'

Both Josiah and Ezra watched as Nathan reluctantly left the room. Ezra then turned his head away from the larger man and tried to think of a something that would get him out of danger. Normally he didn't care but there were six other men now involved. If they forced their protection on him then they too would be in danger. Ezra knew that it was something that Larabee wouldn't do by choice but if Travis had anything to do with it, Larabee wouldn't have a choice. Ezra needed to get away and deal with this on his own, that way no one who was innocent would be harmed.

'You want to tell me what's going on Ezra?'

There was no reply to his answer.

'Ezra?'

'I have to get out of here, isn't that enough.'

'No, it isn't. Maybe we can help you with what ever it is.' Josiah suggested.

'Help me,' Ezra turned his head to the right to stare at the man next to the bed, 'you don't even know me, why would you want to help me.'

'You're AA, one of us, we look after our own.'

Ezra started to laugh. 'That's funny . . . look after our own.' his voice then became serious. 'Who ever told you that!'

'I don't need to be told, it's in my nature to help people.'

'I don't need help. I take care of myself. No one else does it for me and I don't do it for anyone else.'

'Must be a lonely life not having any friends.' Josiah sat on the edge of the bed. There was more to this man than he had originally thought.

'I didn't say that I didn't . . . '

'You didn't need to. You look after yourself, no one else, that means you can't afford to have friends, they might need your help and you won't give it to them.'

Ezra chuckled again and shook his head. 'You've got that wrong Mr. Sanchez.'

'Josiah . . . and why don't you tell me your version.'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'Because it's none of your business.'

'Why did Halis shoot you?'

'I don't know.'

'Are you lying?' Josiah asked him. He received a glare for his answer.

Ezra glanced over Josiah's shoulder when he noticed a darkly dressed figure enter the room. Chris Larabee, the last person he wanted to see right now.

'You're not up to something nasty are you Josiah?' Chris slapped his friend on the back and fingered the restraints that held Standish's arms.

'He tried to get away again.' Josiah explained.

'You are one stubborn son-of-a-bitch aren't you Standish.'

'You have no right to keep here like this.'

'Why do we have him here like this?' Chris asked Josiah.

'So he won't get away again.'

'It's not like he's got anywhere to go.'

Ezra looked from Chris to Josiah then back again.

'He might hurt himself.'

'Like I care about that.'

Chris undid the first strap and leaned over Ezra's body to undo the other strap. He expected Standish to hit him or at least try and push him away but he didn't. He just lay there with a stupid expression written on his face.

'I hope you're not as stupid as you look right now.' Chris pressed against the man's stomach to help himself up.

Ezra let out a gasp of breath and swore at the blond man.

'Now that's not nice.' Chris shook a finger at him.

'I need some clothes.' Ezra said.

'Josiah.' Chris's simple use of the man's name told him to get Ezra some clothes.

'Chris, are you sure?'

'I'm sure.' Chris smiled again. 'Hell, for all I care he can jump ship and break his neck while he's doing it.'

'You're too kind.' Ezra sneered at him.

'So, how did you manage to make it look like you were dead?' Chris got straight to the point, he'd had enough of the small talk already.

'Purely accidental, I assure you.'

'You're lying.' Chris stated coldly. 'You weren't breathing and you had no pulse.'

Ezra shrugged and pushed himself up into a sitting position. His hissed out in pain when he pulled at his injury.

'How come you're lying there as though you scratched a finger instead of someone who came pretty close to dying?'

'I'm not using drugs.' Ezra insisted again.

'Didn't say you were.'

'You're doctor said I was.'

'Are you?'

'No.'

Josiah returned to the room with some fresh clothes for their passenger.

'You sure about that.' Chris watched as Standish caught the clothes that were thrown at him. 'There has to be a reason why you're recovering so well.'

Ezra threw his legs off the edge of f the bed and held on for dear life when the vertigo threatened to take him. He felt like shit but he wasn't going to allow these people to see what he was feeling. It would only make him look weak.

'Crap.' Chris leaned forward and slapped Ezra's injured shoulder.

Ezra bit his teeth against the cry of pain that emitted from his mouth. He lost his grip on the bed and began to fall towards the floor. Someone caught him and held him up. He tried to get his balance but the pain radiating through his shoulder caused his body to tremble. His mind couldn't register a coherent thought.

'Just what I thought.' Chris nodded.

'That wasn't a very nice thing to do Chris.' Josiah growled at him.

'What? You told me to hit him.'

'I also told you, that wasn't what I meant!' the larger man retorted.

Chris lifted his hands in surrender and stepped back.

When the arms that were holding him up let go, Ezra began his second trip to the floor. His fall was stopped inches from the cold floor.

'Let's get you back on the bed Ezra.' Josiah's voice was full of kindness.

'No wonder that man has a reputation.' Ezra muttered as he allowed Josiah to help him back onto the bed.

'You don't have anywhere to go, you can't leave this ship, so you may as well stay in bed and get some rest.'

Ezra nodded in resignation. 'How long till we arrive?'

'Just over three hours.' Chris told him from the doorway.

Ezra nodded again and closed his eyes. 'They're going to kill me, you know that don't you.'

Josiah glanced over his shoulder at Chris then back at the man on the bed.

'What are you talking about Ezra? Who's going to kill you? Ezra?' Josiah prodded the man's good shoulder. He was asleep already. 'What do you think that was about?'

'Don't know.' Chris shrugged and for the first time since he'd met the man he'd taken an instant disliking to, his interest had been activated.

~ Seven ~

Just because he was now curious in regards to the comment Standish made before he had fallen asleep, didn't mean that he liked the guy any more than he already did; or didn't in Chris's case. Yes he was interested in finding out what was going on, but he had no interest in helping the guy.

'Why not?' Josiah asked for a third time.

'Because I'm the boss and what I say goes!' Chris stood in the center of the room with his hands on his hips and his right leg slightly bent. He felt like a prisoner being interrogated.

'That's not a good enough answer.' Vin argued.

'Why should we help him?' Chris retorted.

'Because he needs help.' Josiah answered.

'That's not a good enough answer.' Chris smiled at him.

'Chris,' Josiah stepped forward and faced the man, 'he's one of us, his goal is the same as ours. He wants to help defeat the Rebellion. You remember who they are don't you, they're the people that want to destroy what's been the best thing for mankind since before the war. He thinks someone is out to kill him. He needs our help and we're going to give it to him.'

Chris contemplated what Josiah had said. 'Nice speech Josiah but I don't buy it. The guy doesn't want our help.'

'I thought you wanted to know what was going on?' Vin also stood and moved to confront his friend.

'I do. It doesn't mean that I want to help the asshole.'

'You can't do one without the other.' Buck had joined the two men that were trying to intimidate a man that could not and would not, be pushed into changing his mind.

'I'm Chris Larabee, I can do what ever the hell I want.'

Josiah looked at each man in turn and they all nodded in acceptance.

'We're going to help him.' Josiah told their boss.

'No we're not.' Chris bit back his anger.

'We're not talking about you. We, as in the rest of us, are going to help him. You'll be without a crew for a while, which I'm sure . . . '

'You're disobeying a direct order?' Chris narrowed his eyes and his men took a step back.

'Chris!' Vin's eyes held a touch of fear for his boss. 'If you didn't give us a direct order, we wouldn't have to disobey it.'

'I'm giving a direct order! We'll leave him at Travis' office, then leave.'

'I thought you wanted to find out what was going on?' Buck smiled at his long time friend when he repeated something that Vin had already said; he knew how to deal with Chris, always did, and that constantly pissed Chris off.

'Not anymore, this guy is already causing us enough trouble.'

'You don't want us to help him?' Buck continued to smile.

Chris frowned at his friend. 'I've given you a direct order not to.'

'We're going to disobey that order my friend,' Buck moved forward and slapped Chris's arm. 'When you're ready to help us help him, let us know will you.'

'I'm not going to want to help him.' Chris growled through clenched teeth.

'Yeah, that's what you keep saying but I know you Chris, you'll changed your mind. Underneath this gruff exterior, you're as soft as . . . as . . . JD here.'

'I'm not . . . soft!'

'We're going to be docking in thirty minutes. Why don't you take care of Halis' chip while we take care of Ezra.' Buck suggested then turned and walked away.

'I'm not soft!' Chris repeated to the five retreating backs. 'DAMN IT I'M NOT SOFT!'

Ezra had been searching for twenty minutes and he still couldn't find a decent place to hide himself until after they docked. He was unaware of the time but knew they could be arriving at any moment. He smiled in relief when he came across something that he should have found ten minutes ago. Cells. There were only two of them but one was enough for him. He knew how most people thought, they wouldn't look for him here, and he wouldn't even have to hide. He would be able to rest on the bed. A quick glance over his shoulder told him that he still wasn't being followed. He moved quickly into the cell and lay down on the bunk.

Sleep wanted to claim him but it was fighting a losing battle against the thoughts that raged through his mind. He needed to know who wanted him dead. The only person or persons he could think of was someone who was part of the Authorities. They were the only people with the knowledge of who he was and where he had been. They had known that he was going in to work on Halis and Larabee's team. He had never been given a reason as to why he was supposed to stop Larabee from taking Halis in.

The plan hadn't worked. Halis was now dead, his chip on it's way back to base, and somebody had hired Halis to kill him.

There was no way he could run his own investigation. He knew no one, had no friends. Other AA's didn't trust him enough to even talk to him let alone give him any of the information he required to answer the numerous questions that bounced around in his head.

Sanchez had offered to help him. No! He violently shook his head to try and vanish his mother's voice. He hardly ever saw her physically but whenever he became doubtful about what he should do, her voice was there to remind him of what she had ingrained in him since he was born.

'Trust no one Ezra, not even your own mother. Everyone will betray you, including me. You are number one in your life and you only look after number one.'

It was those words that told him that his mother cared more for herself than her only child. She used him for financial gain. Yes she loved him, he believed that, but . . . it wasn't a love that he enjoyed or even cherished. He could easily do without it and for the last five years he had.

Five years ago he had been a collectable bounty, thanks to his mother's selfish actions. A crime that she was committing had gone wrong and she had left him to take the fall. He'd become a wanted man. When he was caught - which was only a matter of hours - he landed in Travis' protective domain. Travis knew about Maude Standish, knew what type of mother she was to her son. It was then that Ezra Standish's life had changed for the better. But six months ago it had all gone wrong, he now lived in a nightmare that was ten times worse than his childhood.

He couldn't go back. He would run. It was the only alternative left to him. Run and hide from everyone and everything that could hurt him.

Chris Larabee was angry enough to kill just about anybody. But he decided that anybody wouldn't do. No, he wanted to kill Standish. The smug bastard had wormed his way onto his ship and now had control of its crew. They were willing to do anything for the man, including losing their jobs. If they wanted to be that stupid, then so be it. There was nothing he could do about it now.

He slumped further down into the flight deck chair and began to flick at certain switches to prepare for docking. A memory suddenly filtered through his mind. His lids closed over his green eyes in attempt to make the image clearer. Even though he still had pictures of his family, it was getting harder and harder to see them clearly in his mind. He knew what his wife Sarah would say to him if she were here and aware of what was going on.

'Help him Chris . . . help him like Buck helped you.'

Chris grimaced at the thought. If it weren't for his friend, he would be dead now, much like his wife and son.

'The guy's a pain in the ass.' Chris answered his wife's voice, the one that now communicated with him through his mind. He would often talk to her. He had used the voice to repeat many of their conversations and create some new ones; like the one he was having now.

'How would you know?'

'Because I know.'

'You once thought the same about Buck remember.'

He could almost picture the smile that she would have worn when speaking those words.

'Yeah I did.' he could feel the moisture begin to fill his eyes. God his missed his wife and child.

'Help him Chris.'

'I'll think about it.'

'That's good enough for me.'

The voice drifted away and he made one last attempt to create it once more. Maybe he should just do something stupid now so he could go and join them. It would be simple enough, a quick bullet to the head. The only thing that stopped him was the thought of his wife slapping him across the face when he reached the other side. She then wouldn't speak to him for at least an hour and after not seeing her for five years, that hour would be hell for him.

He wiped at his eyes when he heard someone enter the room.

'What's up?' Buck stepped into the flight deck.

'Nothing, just thinking.' Chris muttered a response but refused to look at Buck.

'Sarah?'

'Yeah . . . how'd you know?'

'I always know Chris.' Buck gripped his shoulder. 'She misses you as much as you miss her.'

'Yeah, just wish I could remember what Adam's voice sounded like. It's not the same making one up for him.'

'I can't help you there pard, I don't really remember either.' Buck's voice had filled with regret.

'I want to join them Buck. I don't think I can keep going on like this.'

'You know they're waiting for you, isn't that enough to keep you going?'

'That and what her reaction would be if I did something so stupid.' Chris smiled.

'Don't forget that you'll have to answer to the rest of us when our time comes.'

Now Chris winced in mock irritation. 'Did you have to remind me?'

'Let's put it this way Chris,' Buck became serious, 'if you did do something that stupid, I'll be right behind you and I'll make your afterlife a living hell. You got that!'

'I got it.'

It was this that kept Chris Larabee alive. Friends that cared about him, friends that he could care about, friends that were now his family.

Headquarters was a space station that had been abandoned by Earth after the final war. The view from the station reminded the Authorities of what had happened. Gone were the blue waters, white clouds and colourful landscapes. Instead the planet was covered in dark substance much like dust, making it hard to see anything beneath it. They had thought about moving the base to a different location but deep emotions required that they stay close to what had been lost to them.

The docking at headquarters was a simple procedure. Five minutes after it had started it was finished. Chris was ready to get drunk and sleep for the rest of the week. He didn't really have anything else to do. Not now that the others were going to spend their free time helping the asshole. That's what he was going to call Standish from now on; asshole. It seemed to suit him, either that or the smug bastard. He could use both terms to address the man.

Buck walked beside his friend as they made their way to the main exit. He knew what Chris was going to do. The man beside him no doubt thought that he was going to get drunk then sleep. But Buck knew Chris's conscience wouldn't allow that. He was going to change his mind and help them help Ezra.

They were only a few steps from the door when it was forced open. The two men stepped back and became tense at the sight of so many Authority guards standing before them, ten to be exact. Why would ten Authority guards force their way onto his ship? Chris narrowed his eyes when a familiar person strode through the middle of the group; they had stepped aside for their boss.

'Something I can help you with Magot?' Chris couldn't help but smile at the look of disgust that filled the ugly features.

'The name is Margot, and you very well know that Larabee!' Margot squeezed his long nose with stubby fingers.

'What do you want Magot?'

This time Margot ignored the mispronunciation of his name. 'We've come for Standish.'

'Who?' Chris didn't even flinch.

'Ezra Standish.' Margot nodded to his men and they began to move out.

'They can't come on my ship unless you have . . . '

'He's in your second cell Larabee.' Margot, Chief of the Authority guards began to follow his men.

'There are six men on this ship, and none of them go by the name of Standish.' Chris growled.

When the man continued to ignore him, Chris threw a quick glance at Buck who shrugged, then ran after the men who had invaded his ship without his permission. Chris knew that Standish wasn't in the cells. The asshole, . . . smug bastard was in the medical room. There had been no reason to keep him in a cell.

But for some reason, Magot was sure of where Standish was. How did the guy even know that Standish was on board? Chris knew that no man on this ship would betray the team, they weren't like that. The men that made up Bounty Seven were loyal to each other and the Authority.

Chris Larabee found it hard to hide his shock when they did reach the cells. Standish was sleeping on the bunk bed in Cell Two. This meant that the man had escaped a second time. Stubborn bastard, that was Standish's name from now on. Chris grabbed Buck's arm when his friend moved forward to stop what was about to happen.

The ladies man turned to Chris, the anger that he was feeling was written all over his face. He didn't question Chris when his boss shook his head. He trusted Chris, he knew what he was doing, and it wasn't just a matter of not wanting to help the guy anymore.

Four men moved forward and pulled the sleeping man from the bunk. They threw a sluggish Standish against the wall in an attempt to make him more coherent.

'There's no need for that!' Chris stepped forward to help Standish but six men stepped in front of him.

Margot though, thought there was every need for it. This man was scum. He deserved everything he got.

Ezra, on the other hand, was shocked. It took him a few seconds to realise what was going on and when he did there was nothing he could do to stop the situation from getting out of hand. A cry of pain escaped his throat when his injured shoulder hit the wall. His eyes glazed over and he bit his teeth against the nausea that hit him suddenly.

'Get up Standish!'

He recognised the voice immediately. Margot. Was he the man responsible for Halis almost taking his life?

Ezra lifted his head and his eyes caught a glimpse of Larabee and suddenly he knew this man had betrayed him. This is what his mother had always taught him.

'Trust no one Ezra, everyone will have the opportunity to betray you. Destroy them first Ezra because if you don't, you'll be the one to suffer.'

Chris physically flinched at the look of betrayal in Standish's eyes.

Margot nodded to the four men. They moved forward and lifted Ezra onto trembling legs.

'You want to tell me why you're doing this?' Chris moved to block the path that Margot and his men would take.

'Doing what?' Margot replied.

'Taking Standish. Is there any particular reason why you're doing it?'

'You mean this man,' he pointed to Ezra, 'the man that you claimed wasn't on your ship.'

'Yes this man that I didn't know was on my ship.' Chris crossed his arms and a frown covered his features. 'How did you know he was on board, but more important, how did you know his exact location?'

'That's none of your business Larabee!' Margot violently nodded to his men to take their prisoner away.

'No Magot, that's where you're wrong.' Chris smiled.

Buck knew the smile, he felt like saying 'I told you so', but it wasn't the right time.

'This is my ship,' Chris continued, 'you have forced your way onto it. Now that in itself is enough to piss me off but I'll let it go for now.'

'That's so good of you.' Margot sneered at him.

'I haven't finished,' Chris glanced at Ezra, the betrayal was still there, 'and unless you can give me a good enough reason . . . you're not taking Ezra anywhere.'

It wasn't spoken in a threatening tone but Margot knew Larabee's reputation. If and when this man put someone under his protection, he would die before he allowed that person to be harmed in any way. It had happened before and it would happen again. Larabee had a lot of important friends, including Travis.

'Well?'

Margot glared at Standish. 'He's a spy for the Rebellion.'

'Oh . . . so that's why Halis tried to kill him.'

'If you stop me from taking him in, you are committing a crime against the Authority and will be dealt with accordingly!'

'Yeah, whatever, tell me another one.'

Buck chuckled then broke out into a full belly laugh at the expressions worn on both Margot and Standish's faces. Margot wore a look of pure anger and Ezra's mouth was hanging open in shock. Buck wanted to step forward and close it.

'So where do you plan on taking him?'

'Again, that is none of your business.'

'I guess you're going to have to leave him here then.'

'He's not staying here, he is under arrest.'

'You said that already.' Chris dismissed the guy with a wave of his arm and stepped toward the infiltrator.

'What do you think your doing?' Margot demanded to know.

'I'm taking him back to the medical room, Nathan is going to make sure he's okay, then I'm taking him to Travis.'

This caused Ezra's mouth to close. The betrayed expression returned. 'I think I have a say in where I go.'

'You can shut the hell up!' Chris growled at him. 'You're the one that got me into this mess in the first place remember.'

Ezra pulled at the hands that held him but his attempt didn't loosen their hold. 'I don't believe that any this is my fault . . . I didn't start any of . . . '

'Stubborn-pain-in-the-ass-who-doesn't-know-what's-good-for-him-imbecile. That's what you are Standish!'

Standish's mouth dropped open again.

'What?' Chris stared at him, 'hasn't anyone spoken to you like that before.'

'Not by the look of it.' Buck nudged his friend's arm.

'You a mamma's boy?' Chris asked him.

The cold glare told him that Standish was quite capable of killing him with a look. No doubt it was something that Standish would bring back up later so he could retaliate.

'Sorry, guess that was a stupid question.' Chris apologised but knew that it hadn't done anything to ease the growing anger in Standish.

'Move out of my way Larabee!' Margot ordered him.

'No.'

'I will shoot you if I have to!'

'You'll shoot me?' Chris laughed, 'don't you mean you'll have one of your men shoot me. You Magot, don't have the guts. Leave now and I won't hurt you.'

'There are ten of us.' Margot reminded him.

'There's two of us,' Chris said simply, 'so we out number you . . . let's see . . . two to ten I think it is. Am I right Buck?'

'Yep, you're right. Ten of them and two of us.'

'You Mr. Larabee are an idiot!' Ezra growled at him. 'You'd risk your life and his just to stop them from taking me in?'

'It won't come to that Ezra.' Chris assured him.

'No it won't,' Ezra agreed, 'so if you would please move out of the way, Magot here has somewhere to take me.'

'Excuse me?' Chris wasn't too happy about being undermined by an asshole.

'I'm not going to be responsible for your death. You're not going to put that on me. Please, move out of the way.'

'You sure about that?' Chris could see something in the green eyes but he wasn't sure what it was or what it meant. He quickly decided to go along with what Standish wanted.

'Yes.'

'If that's what you want.'

'It's what I want.'

Chris moved to the side and grimaced at the smile of satisfaction on Margot's face.

'You really going to let them take him?' Buck had also moved aside and was now whispering in Chris's ear while he watched the guards take away a passive Standish.

'You heard him Buck.'

'I heard him Chris but I don't agree with him.'

'Neither do I but there was a look in his eyes Buck.'

'Yeah, I saw it too.'

~ Eight ~

He was determined not to look up. A man of his age and wisdom could out do any hard case that stood in his office. If they think they could make him look up before he finished what he was doing, then they were wrong. The nerve of them walking into his office without knocking. What did they expect him to do? Jump. Never. They could, and were, going to wait for him.

A cough? What? Did they think that was going to work? Another cough, this time louder. So they were starting to get impatient. Good. Let them. He was a patient man, he could out wait them.

'Sir?'

Damn! That meant he was going to have to answer. They had a nerve, they really did. But still, he wasn't going to answer straight away.

'Excuse me, Sir!'

How dare he raise his voice to me! Who does he think he is? That was it, now they could definitely wait longer. He wasn't going to give into their impatient demands. He was stronger than they were, more determined . . . more stubborn.

'Sir! We can't stand here all day, a man's life is in danger.'

He was about to look up when someone else began to speak.

'Does that mean you want to help him now.'

'I never said I wasn't going to help him.'

'Yes you did!'

'I did not.'

'You Chris Larabee are a liar.'

'You're calling me . . . a liar.'

'Yes I am. You said you didn't want to help, you even gave a direct order not to help, and now you're saying you never said that. Well I have five witnesses that will say you did.'

Travis had looked up at this point and he almost smiled at the sight of young JD Dunne standing up to Chris Larabee. The kid had guts. More than the others who seemed to be finding other things in his office more interesting than the conversation.

'I don't see them.' Chris Larabee smiled down at the youngest member of his team.

JD looked at the others and saw that they weren't ready to back him up. 'You have cowards working for you!'

'What do you want?' Travis had finally lost his patience.

'Ezra Standish.' Chris said.

'You want Ezra Standish? Why? What did he do to you?' Travis did his best to hide his surprise and he was sure that he succeeded.

'He didn't do anything to us except piss me off.' Chris growled.

Travis laughed. Ezra Standish was one of the few men that were capable of making him laugh these days. He liked Standish.

'What's so funny?'

'Why do you want him?'

'Someone tried to kill him on Algera.' Nathan spoke up. 'We actually thought he was dead . . . '

'He didn't have a pulse,' Chris added, 'and he wasn't breathing . . . '

'Then we found him on the way back to our ship.' Vin finished.

'He was dead, then wasn't.' Travis muttered. 'Son-of-a-bitch! I told him if he ever used that stuff again I'd kill him myself.'

Chris turned to Nathan, the man was frowning in confusion.

'Where the hell is he?' Travis had stood up and was making his way to the door.

'Magot's got him.'

'Magot? . . . You mean Margot?'

'That's what I said.' Chris shrugged.

'Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I have something to take care of.'

'Judge,' Chris gently grabbed the Judge's forearm to stop him from leaving the room, 'we want to help him find out who's trying to kill him.'

'Why would you want to help him?'

'Well, you see . . . I don't, they do and I'm out numbered.'

'I told you!' JD shouted in triumph. 'I was right, you are a liar.'

'You call me a liar one more time JD so help I'm going to hurt you!'

'This is why they're scared of you.' JD nodded in understanding while he moved to hide behind Buck.

'Come with me then, but stay out of my way.' Travis moved forward knowing that all six men of Bounty Seven were intending to follow him.

Ezra Standish was still in one hell of a mess with no way out. He gave the sparse room a quick glance then turned his eyes back to the man who sat in the chair on the other side of the large table. Usually the tables were smaller, but this one was wide, too wide. It gave the impression that the interrogator didn't want to be anywhere near the suspect.

The other man's eyes tried to boar into him but Ezra just returned the stare. This man didn't scare him.

'What are we going to do with you Standish?' Margot knew he could break this man, he was confident in his interrogation abilities.

'We?' Ezra raised an eyebrow at him.

'We as in you and me.' Margot smiled.

'If I have any say . . . I would say . . . let me go.'

'Can't do that.'

'Why not?'

'You're a spy for the Rebellion.' Margot pointed out what he thought was obvious to everyone.

'That's your opinion.' Ezra laid his right arm on the table and kept his left arm resting in his lap.

'Not only mine.'

'It's a rumour.'

'A rumour that will be proven.' Margot was happy with the way the questioning was going.

Ezra stayed silent. There was nothing he could do to prove that the rumours were false.

'You're not going to defend yourself against these rumours?'

'There isn't any use in trying to defend myself. You're not going to believe what I have to say.'

'You're right there.'

Ezra could feel his fear growing. He had no idea what was going to happen. He could easily be lost in the system, his body never found.

'How's your mother? Have you seen her lately?' Margot enjoyed the pain that flickered through the green eyes.

'I don't know and no.'

'She hasn't been keeping in touch then?'

'It goes both ways.' Ezra answered.

'She's your mother Ezra. Mothers like to know how their only child is doing. She can't think much of you if she hasn't been in contact in what . . . five years now isn't it.'

Ezra wanted to crawl under a rock and hide from this man, the man that knew every intimate detail about his childhood, his life and his mother.

'I spoke to her last month on Okania.' Margot told him.

The door opened and Ezra almost let out the breath that had been sucked into his lungs. He needed an escape and perhaps this was it.

'Magot . . . I mean Margot, you can leave now.' Travis shook his head and rubbed his forehead.

'Sir, I must insist on continuing my interrogation into the rumours that this man . . . '

'He isn't and that's all you need to know.'

'With all due respect Sir, you are letting your emotions make your decisions for you.'

'Do you like your job?' Travis stepped up to Margot who was now standing.

'Yes Sir.'

'Do you want to keep it?'

'Yes Sir.'

'Then get out!'

Margot didn't question Travis' tone. He left the room without another word. When he was gone, the Judge moved around the table and sat on the edge.

'Ezra?'

Travis smiled when the younger man refused to look up at him. 'I thought as much. What did I tell you?'

No sound came from the man in the chair.

'If that's the way you want it.'

Orin Travis was a man who knew how to deal with a difficult child, he'd had one of his own but his son had been murdered a week before his twenty-eighth birthday. Standish, in his own way, reminded him of his dead son. He stood up, grabbed the left ear of Ezra Standish in a painful grip and pulled him from his chair.

'Would you please let me go!'

Ezra attempted to use his right arm to swat Travis' hand away but the Judge growled at him and Ezra realised it was better to take his punishment like a man. He relaxed his body and obeyed Travis' angry body language. The young infiltrator thought that if he cooperated the Judge would let go of his ear. Travis didn't. Instead he continued to pull Standish through the doorway and down the corridor.

The pain radiated through his ear but he wasn't worried about that. It was the fact that he was being treated like a child in front of men that were capable of killing without hesitation that worried him. His cheeks filled with embarrassment when he heard the laughter trailing behind him.

This wasn't right. He still couldn't understand why he let this man treat him this way. Maybe it was because Travis was the first man he'd ever met that he could trust. He had also come to deeply respect him, something that he would never admit to him.

Ezra tried to raise his head so he could see where they were going. When he recognised the route he began to fight. There was no way in hell he was going in there.

'Don't you fight me Standish!' Travis pulled even harder on the ear and was satisfied when he heard a grunt of complaint. 'You know we can do this the hard way or the easy way.'

'The hard way!' Ezra replied.

Travis stopped and leant down closer to Ezra. 'The hard way it is then, and son, if I find out that you've used that drug again, there's going to be hell to pay!'

'I haven't used it!'

'You're lying. You wouldn't look like death warmed up if you haven't been using it.'

'I look like this because someone tried to kill me.'

'We'll discuss that at a later time. Right now, we're going to sort you out!'

'Do we have to?' Ezra pleaded with him.

'Ezra, we've had this discussion before,' the Judge's voice had softened, 'you can't keep going like this, look at what it's doing to you.'

'I'm fine.'

'Let's get this over with shall we.' Travis smiled at him then began to pull him by the ear again.

Ezra tried to dig his heels in but his boots only skidded along the floor. It felt as though his ear going to be pulled from his skull. He wasn't enjoying this at all, but it was about to get even worse.

Suddenly he was pushed from behind. He tried to use the momentum to escape but when he realised it was Larabee that had pushed him he gave up. He wasn't going to be able to fight seven men. Maybe he should just go along with it. Surely it would be over in a matter of minutes. The last speech had only lasted two. The Judge had become to frustrated and angry to continue it. That was his solution, the harder he fought, the longer it would take.

So he stopped fighting and walked by the Judge's side. The man still didn't let go of his ear though.

When they entered the small medical ward, Ezra began to shake. The two men that ran from the ward after seeing who had entered it didn't make him feel any better. They may have been afraid of him but the doctor wasn't.

'Again?' the doctor smiled but his tone was serious.

'Again,' Travis nodded, 'test him. If he won't cooperate, these men will make sure that he does.'

'Ezra?' the doctor spoke to him.

'I haven't used it!'

'Really.' the doctor was still smiling. 'You look like shit.'

Ezra could only sneer at him.

'What happened to your shoulder?' he moved forward and took his regular patient to the examination table.

Chris watched the three men interact. His own confusion grew. They seemed to know each other well, which meant that Standish spent time at the base, and yet he had never heard of Standish before.

'I was shot by a man who was extremely jealous of my good looks.'

'Who told you, you were good looking?' Zachary, a very patient man was one of the best medical men around. He was an excellent doctor with a wonderful bedside manner. He treated every man differently. Either with patience, guidance, anger, force or kindness, it was his emotional traits that had made him an excellent candidate for medical programming.

'Get up on the table Ezra.'

'This can be done with me standing.'

'Get up on the table Ezra.' Zachary spoke with more authority.

'I don't agree with any of this.'

'I don't care, so do as you're told.'

Ezra struggled to get himself up on the table. It took a few moments but he managed it without any help.

'When were you shot?'

'Yesterday.' Nathan Jackson answered for Ezra.

'He used it again.' Zachary informed Travis.

'You can tell that without a test?' Travis knew Zachary was good but not that good.

'Look at him Orin.' he bent down. 'You Ezra Standish are a dead man and I don't feel at all sorry for you.'

'How long do you want him for?' Travis asked him.

'Just let me check his shoulder then you can have him.' he winked at the young infiltrator, 'I'll be here when you're finished with him.'

'Aw hell.' Ezra grumbled.

Chris Larabee was leaning against the wall, his left heel also rested against it. His arms were crossed and he wore an expression of impatience. His light green eyes glanced at his watch; they'd only been standing here for two minutes but to him, it already felt like hours.

'Why are we here?' he asked the group of men that were huddled around Travis' outer office door.

'You don't have to be.' Buck retorted.

'He'll be fine now, he's with Travis.'

'You said that his life was in danger and that you wanted to help him find out who tried to kill him.' Buck reminded him.

'I said it to get his attention, he was ignoring me.' Chris growled back.

'We're going to help him, you know that so get used to it Chris.'

'What the hell did I tell you last time Standish!'

Five men jumped back from the door when Travis' voice reached them.

'I really can't remember.' Ezra shrugged.

He stood in the middle of the room, his hands clasped behind his back while Travis continued to circle him.

'You don't remember.' Travis stopped pacing and stood behind the smaller man and yelled into his ear. 'THIS IS WHAT THAT SHIT IS DOING TO YOU!' To emphasise his words he hit Ezra's head hard with the palm of his right hand. 'You're going to get yourself killed, you know that don't you!'

'Death is always a possibility in this job.'

'You open your mouth one more time and I'm going to kill you!'

'Yes Sir!'

'You want to die? Is that it? Are you going out of your way to kill yourself?'

'Not when someone else is going to do the job for me.'

Travis sighed when his anger suddenly left him. 'Sit down Ezra.'

'Judge, I know what you're going to say.' he sat down in one of the chairs facing the large desk.

'That's because I've said it before.' Travis growled then sat in the chair next to Ezra.

'It was a one off thing and it won't happen again.'

'A one off thing! Look at you! You've used it more than once, even I can tell that.'

'Then why ask Doctor Zachary.'

'Don't you start with that smart mouth of yours Standish. I won't have it!'

'I'm sorry Judge, but I couldn't . . . '

'This time you're doing it with help.'

'Help?'

'Yes, help. I don't trust you not to use it again.'

'Judge . . . ' Ezra began to plead for his life, 'I can do this, honest, I don't need to be put into a hospital.'

'I didn't say I was putting you in one.' Travis smiled at the relief on Ezra's face.

'Why don't we kill two birds with one stone.'

'Excuse me?'

'It's an old saying from before the war.'

'I know what it is!' Ezra retorted, 'I just don't know which two birds you're talking about.'

'Yes you do.' Travis stood up and squeezed Ezra's shoulder to stop him from running away. Stay here while I go and get your new team mates.'

'What!' he tried to jump up out of his chair but the Judge's hand was squeezing his injured shoulder. 'I . . . I . . . I don't have any . . . you can't . . . Judge . . . you just can't.'

'Watch me young man.'

'This is even worse than I thought it was going to be. Why couldn't Halis shoot straight?'

Travis raised his eyebrows at the statement, he could never figure out when Standish was serious or not. He left the room knowing what was waiting for him outside.

'You do know it's rude to eavesdrop.' Chris pulled JD away from the door.

'He's not yelling anymore.' JD whispered to anyone who was still listening.

'He hasn't been yelling for the last five minutes JD!' Buck swooped forward and knocked the antique cowboy hat off his head. 'Why you wear that stupid thing . . . I don't know.'

'It's an antique Buck!'

'Antique all right, I'm surprised it doesn't fall apart on you.'

'Shut up Buck!'

'JD!' Chris spoke with authority, 'leave Buck alone!'

'What?'

The door opened when Chris was about to explain. Call him a liar and you'll either die within a second or you'll pay for it for the rest of your life; and it didn't matter if he was lying at the time of the accusation.

'Gentlemen.' Travis greeted them. 'Would you like to come in?'

'What for?' Chris was immediately suspicious of Travis' friendly tone.

'Because I want you to.' Travis kept the smile on his face even though he wanted to yell at the man in front of him.

'Why?'

Good Lord, sometimes Chris could be almost as frustrating as Ezra.

'Get in here now!'

'Okay.' Chris agreed and entered the office.

Travis turned to the rest of the men.

'All of you!'

Judge Orin Travis decided that it might be best if he went and had a check up after dealing with this lot. He wouldn't be surprised if he suffered some sort of heart attack in the next ten minutes.

He followed them into the room. Five of the group was standing behind Standish while Larabee stood on his own on the other side of the room. Larabee and Standish were like chalk and cheese, they would never get along.

'Gentlemen, I have a new assignment for you.'

'Thank you someone.' Chris lifted his head skywards.

'Does that mean that we can't help Ezra?' JD asked the Judge.

'Ezra's your new assignment.'

'What!'

Ezra jumped out of his chair.

Chris charged the desk, he was almost crying. 'You can't do that to me.'

Buck moved around to face Ezra and reached out with his hand and closed Ezra's mouth.

Ezra blinked and stared at Buck. 'He can't do that. Can he?'

'He just did Ezra. Don't worry, we won't bite.'

Ezra used his arms to push Buck back against the table. 'That one threatened to kill me,' he pointed at Chris who was still fighting back the tears, 'that one hit me,' his accusing finger moved to point out Josiah.

'It was Chris that hit you Ezra, remember.'

Ezra grimaced in disgust and pointed at JD, 'That one is too nice for his own fucking good.'

'What are we supposed to do with him?' Chris growled when he got his emotions under control.

'Protect him, and find out who wants him dead . . . besides himself that is.' Travis threw that one in for Ezra.

'What did you mean by that?' Josiah hadn't like the suggested meaning behind those words.

'I mean that he doesn't care if he lives or dies.'

'Judge . . . I don't think that is any of their business and I would prefer it if you didn't talk about me to anyone that isn't me!'

'You're no longer a part of this conversation Standish so you better sit down and shut up.'

'Judge, I . . . '

'Sit down and shut up! Not another word Ezra, I mean it this time. I've had enough of trying to drag you out of the shit hole you allowed yourself to be thrown into. Every time I start to get somewhere, you do something that drags you back in and I still can't understand why you won't fight back!'

'Because it's a waste of my time!' Ezra retorted.

'You're a stupid son-of-a-bitch Ezra.'

'Yeah, tell me about it.' Ezra slumped back down into his chair.

'There's also something else that I want you to do . . . '

'Judge, not in front of them all . . . please.' Ezra was looking down at his hands.

'Nathan, you stay, the rest of you know what your assignment is. Make sure you do it right because as of now, Ezra is the new member of your team.'

'Excuse me.' Chris choked on the words.

'He's no longer an infiltrator, I won't allow it, he needs somewhere to go, and he's going with you.'

'This time I'm really going to cry.' Chris hung his head and searched out Buck for some emotional comfort.

'You can leave now.' Travis dismissed them. 'Nathan, take a seat please.'

'Sure, um . . . is this something medical?'

'Yes.'

'Do we have to tell him this, I know I can do it on my own.' Ezra knew he was wasting his breath.

'A year ago while on an assignment, Ezra made the mistake of using ORD to cover his escape.'

'That's addictive.' Nathan explained.

'We know.'

'I didn't have a choice,' Ezra told them, 'they had already killed . . . I . . . had to find a way to get the information back to base.'

'You took the drug so they would think you were dead?'

'Yes.'

'As you would guess, Ezra became addicted to the drug. We've tried to get him off it a few times but he keeps going back to it.'

'That explains his condition.' Nathan nodded. 'ORD suppresses the appetite. That's why you're so underweight?'

Ezra could only nod.

'How often do you use it?'

'Once a week, it's as long as I can go without it. I don't want to take it but I get so bad that I can't stand it anymore. I give in.'

'Do you eat every day?'

'Not for the first three days after I take it. I don't get hungry until the fourth day.'

'So, you're more or less a walking dead man.'

'Something like that.' Ezra agreed. 'I don't feel that bad though.'

'No, that's what it does, it makes you feel good afterwards, too good. The drug may leave your system after half an hour or so but for some reason the body goes on a high and stays there for a while. You still feel pain and other physical things but not as badly as you would without the drug. It's why so many people use it.'

'Who's been supplying you Ezra?' Travis asked him.

'No one you know. I get it while I'm working.'

'You're not using it again. Do you understand me Ezra?'

'Yes Sir.'

'Nathan, can you get him off the stuff?'

'Yeah, the worst part will take a few days.'

'Take him somewhere safe and take care of him for me.'

'Yes Sir.'

'When you've done that, you guys can find out who wants him dead.'

'Judge . . .' Ezra started.

'Ezra, I want you to do this, do it for me okay. I want you off this stuff for good.'

'Sure.' Ezra agreed.

'Promise me Ezra.'

'I promise.'

'Good, now go. I'll see you when you get back, we'll talk about things then okay.'

Ezra nodded and reluctantly followed Nathan out of the office. He knew what the next week was going to be like. It would be worse than hell. But maybe he would be a better man after it was over. He shook his head, that would never happen.

'What did I do Buck?'

Buck stood by his friend's side, his arm draped loosely across Chris's shoulders.

'You didn't do anything Chris, this has nothing to do with you.' Buck assured him.

'What did I do?' Chris repeated, 'I mean . . . I only kill when I have to, and it's not like I enjoy it or anything. I only beat the shit out of people when they deserve it. That I enjoy but I shouldn't be punished for it, and the last time I hit anyone was . . . '

'Yesterday.' Josiah reminded him.

Chris glared over his shoulder at the older man.

'Don't listen to him Chris, he's not the one that's suffering here.'

'He's going to break me Buck.'

'No he's not, he's a skinny little weakling that's all mouth. You're Mr. Tuff Guy. Look at you, you've got that glare that everyone fears, you have a gun under that jacket, which by the way is very nice . . .'

'You like it?'

'Yeah, very nice.'

'It's new.'

'Really, I've always wanted one like that.'

'You can borrow it when you want to.'

'Thanks, I think something like that would impress the ladies.'

'Guys, have you finished yet?' Vin questioned them.

'Back off Vin!' Chris yelled at him. 'I'm having a moment here, a moment that I'm not going to be able to have again, so just let me have it.'

'Okay.' Vin shrugged his shoulders.

'He's ruined it Buck.'

'It's not going to be that bad Chris, give the guy a chance okay.'

'No, I meant Vin, he's ruined my moment.'

'Oh.' Buck removed his arm.

Both men turned when the door to Travis' office opened. Nathan was gently leading Standish out into the corridor to join them.

'Chris, we need to go somewhere safe for a couple of weeks.'

'Why?'

'Travis' orders.'

'Why didn't he tell me?'

'You were a bit emotional at the time.' Nathan couldn't help but smile.

'Has it got something to do with Standish?' Chris refused to look at the man in question.

'Yeah it has.'

When Nathan didn't go into any details Chris nodded. He wasn't going to force Nathan to discuss something that was obviously private. If they were meant to know what was going on, Travis would have told them.

'You got any ideas?'

'Yeah.'

Chris pulled at his jacket, dealt with his emotions and took charge again. 'Tell me when we're on board. Let's go.'

~ Nine ~ Six men sat huddled together in the large resting area that was full of comfortable chairs, viewing screen and two fridges full of beer, it was all they needed to relax. The seventh sat in a corner away from them; he wanted to distance himself away from men that he only knew by reputation. His eyes were watching them carefully, looking for some clue that these men were going to turn on him. People always did, it was a way of life for him. He trusted no one, just like his mother had taught him. He hated his life and his personality and often wished that he could go back and change everything. He wanted to have friends, to care about people and have those people care about him. It was so easy for other humans to show their emotions, to tell someone what they were feeling. But he couldn't and he wouldn't, it would only show people how weak he was, another one of his mother's lessons.

'So where are we going?' Chris asked impatiently.

'Okania.' Nathan answered.

'No.' Ezra stated simply without showing his surprise.

'JD, Buck, get us started.' Chris nodded to the two men.

'I'm not going to Okania.' Ezra told them again when Buck and JD had left.

'Why Okania?'

'It's quiet and we know the Rebellion hasn't gotten to it yet-'

'You're an idiot if you think that's true.' Ezra snarled at the dark man. He knew that if his mother had been there a month ago then the Rebellion would be there now. His mother had been part of the Rebellion since it had started so many years ago. He had been born into it, into a world of violence and lies and lived it for fourteen years.

'Fresh air, fresh food and rooms that have locks on them.' Nathan continued.

'Rooms that have locks on them?' Chris was suddenly curious. 'You're going to lock him up?'

'No one is going to do anything because I am not going!' this time he raised his voice so he would be sure that the men ignoring him would hear him.

'I'm going to lock him up.' Nathan nodded with a smile.

'Are you not listening to me?'

'Is this something that I can watch?' A childish glint appeared in Chris's eyes.

Josiah groaned and shook his head in disappointment.

'No.'

Ezra was about to lose all patience. He had been ignored during his childhood life and he had promised himself that it would never happen again but it was happening now. These men who had been ordered to help him were ignoring him.

'Why am I being ignored?' Ezra demanded to know.

'Because you're an arrogant asshole who doesn't know what's good for him.' Chris gladly answered.

'You don't have a choice in the matter Ezra,' Nathan explained to him, 'Travis gave me my orders and I'm going to follow them.'

'I may not have a choice in the matter but that doesn't give you a reason to ignore me!'

'I don't need a reason.' Chris told him.

'Chris!' Josiah warned him.

'I'm not going to Okania.' Ezra repeated.

'You've said that four times already Ezra.' Josiah acknowledged him.

'I've said it four times because no one is listening to me.'

'You don't need to say it again Ezra because you're going.' Nathan told him in a forceful tone.

'I'm not going.'

'That's five.' Chris held up five fingers.

'How long is it going to take to get there?' Josiah asked Chris. He needed to occupy his leader's thoughts with something else.

'About twenty eight hours if I remember correctly.'

'That long.' Ezra sat down heavily in the chair that he had moved to the corner of the room earlier.

'Oh that's right, you've got Dimension Affliction.' Chris chuckled.

'We've got the antidote Ezra, that isn't a problem.' Nathan gave him a smile of reassurance but it didn't seem to work on the Infiltrator.

'I'm allergic to it.' Ezra grimaced back at him.

'Oh, that's not going to help.'

'Tell me about it!' Ezra growled back at him.

'Oh this is going to be great.' Chris rubbed his hands together.

'Leave.' Josiah ordered Chris.

'You can't tell me to leave Josiah, I'm your boss remember.'

'I don't care, leave and leave now.'

'Okay, I was starting to get bored anyway. I think I've had enough of this stubborn asshole.' Chris stood up and walked out of the room.

'I do have a name you know!' Ezra yelled after him.

'I know,' Chris yelled back over his shoulder, 'and as far as I'm concerned, its 'stubborn asshole'.'

Josiah hung his head in disappointment. Chris was a man who was respected by him and the team. Respect that the man had not only earned but also deserved. But at this moment in time he was truly ashamed by the way Chris was acting towards Standish. For some reason Chris had taken an instant dislike to the man, a dislike that he was sure Standish didn't deserve. He made a mental note to talk to Chris about it later.

'I'm still not going.'

'Why?' Josiah lifted his eyes to look at Standish.

'That's none of your business'

Josiah stood up hoping that his stature would intimidate the smaller man. 'We're going unless you can give us a good enough reason not to.'

Ezra lowered his eyes, he wasn't going to tell them anything, and if he did they would only use it against him at a later time.

'Tell them nothing Ezra.' His mother whispered into his mind.

'You're going.'

'Why don't we go and get something to eat and discuss it.' Nathan stood and waited for Ezra to follow his lead.

'I'm not hungry.'

'I know that Ezra but you need to eat something.' Nathan slipped into the roll of doctor easily.

'I'm not hungry.'

'What about something to drink? Coffee maybe?' If he could at least get him into the mess then he would be able to get him to eat.

Ezra thought about it for a moment then nodded, it had been a while since he had fluids and this was the first time someone had offered any to him. He stood up and followed Josiah and Nathan out of the room.

Ezra glared at the determined expression on Nathan Jackson's dark features after the man placed a plate of food in front of him. I thought we agreed that I wasn't going to eat. This man thought he could force Ezra Standish into doing something he didn't want to do. No one forced Ezra Standish to do anything. No one. There was a time when the only person who could do that was his mother. Ezra had become independent at the age of fourteen; he became a man who lived his own life. It had been a day of jubilee when he said no to his mother. The shock that broke out on the normally cold features was enough to convince him that he had said the right thing. She was no longer going to use him and neither was any other man or woman. It had happened to often in his short young life, but never again.

Without looking down at the food Ezra pushed the plate away. He wasn't hungry, he had told him that and Jackson had accepted it but now he was trying to get him to eat. Ezra couldn't help but smile when Nathan growled at him then pushed the food back.

'Eat it!' Nathan ordered the younger man.

'No.' Ezra pushed it back again.

'Ezra!'

'Yes Mr. Jackson?'

Ezra was aware that the rest of Bounty Seven were watching with baited breath to see who was going to win the small battle of wills. If they knew him, they would know the answer. But no one knew him, he had always kept to himself, a wall that had grown around him kept others from becoming familiar with his personality. He only allowed them to see what he wanted them to see. It had always made it easier to live this way.

'Ezra, I'm only going to say this once . . . '

'By all means, I wouldn't want you to have to repeat yourself.'

Nathan ignored him. 'If you don't eat everything on that plate, I'm going to drag you down to my medical bay, force a tube down your throat and force feed you. Do I make myself clear!'

'Yes you do.'

Nathan nodded in satisfaction and stood back to watch the man eat. JD leaned forward in his seat to look past Buck, who was eating with his usual finesse, to see if Ezra was going to do as he was told. Josiah who was sitting across from Wilmington hoped that Ezra was going to eat, the man needed the nutrition, and he also didn't want to see good food go to waste. Vin, who was sitting next to the ill man winked at Larabee who was sitting across from him. Chris ignored the entire situation, he didn't care if the man ate or not.

Ezra, still without looking at the food, lifted the plate and tipped it upside down. The vegetable stew Vin had made fell across the table leaving an imaginary image of meat, potatoes and carrots smiling up at the man who was now leaning against the table.

'Josiah,' Nathan moved around the table towards Ezra, 'could you give me a hand please.'

'What is it that you're going to do Nathan?' Josiah pushed his plate away and stood up.

'I'm going to do exactly what I said I was going to do.'

'This I have to see.' Chris jumped from his chair. 'It'll make the day worth while, may even help lull me to sleep tonight.'

'Chris!' Josiah growled.

'What?'

Josiah didn't want to go through this again. There was no reason for Chris to be acting this way. He glared into his leader's eyes and saw a type of amusement that seemed to make him look ten years younger. It was always good to see Chris enjoy life after what he'd been through, but Josiah preferred that this wasn't one of those times. This attitude that Chris had was going to force Standish to fight back, maybe even make him leave and try to defend himself against who ever it was that was trying to kill him.

'You're not coming.' Josiah pointed an accusing finger at Chris.

'Why not?' Chris demanded to know.

'Because I know you're going to enjoy yourself way to much watching this man suffer.'

'I'm going to suffer?' Ezra licked at his bottom lip.

'I'm going.' Chris moved away from the table and headed towards the medical room.

Ezra didn't worry about it, they were just trying to scare him, it was a game they were playing, a way to amuse themselves. They wouldn't hold him down while Jackson forced a tube down his throat. He wasn't scared. They wouldn't do it.

'Is there a need to do this?' Josiah turned his attention back to Nathan.

'Yes.'

Josiah heard the seriousness in Nathan's voice and saw the expression on his face. This was important. Nathan wouldn't force feed a man unless it was necessary.

'Okay, let's do it then.' Josiah grabbed an arm while Nathan grabbed the other one.

'Don't I have a say in this?' Ezra asked as they grabbed his arms and tore him from the chair.

'You had a say remember.' Nathan pulled at the man who was now fighting to escape.

'I did not have a say!' Ezra protested and tried to squirm his way out of Nathan and Josiah's grips.

'You emptied the plate of food.' Nathan said in warlike manner because he knew he was in for a fight.

'That wasn't a say, it was a protest against the force-feeding of men who are not hungry. Somebody has to stand tall for the cowards who won't fight for themselves.'

Nathan and Josiah stopped and looked down at Standish.

'Did you say tall?' Josiah smiled at Ezra.

'It's a figure of speech Mr. Sanchez.'

'It would have to be.'

'I'm going to give you one last chance Ezra, go back and eat or I force-feed you,' Nathan said.

'I see you had to say it more than once.' Ezra wore a smug expression that angered Nathan even more.

'That's it, I don't care, and you're going to be force fed and when you start to beg . . .'

'I don't beg.' Ezra warned him.

'You'd rather go through this than eat?' Josiah asked him.

Ezra, who was continuing to fight but only managed to keep his feet placed firmly on the ground, gave Josiah a look that equaled the same expression you would get from a stubborn two year old. He wasn't going to lose any ground in this small battle.

'I bet you were an only child Ezra.' Nathan shook his head and began to pull Standish along behind him. The sound of boots skidding along the floor didn't bother him one single bit, the man brought it on himself.

The three men entered the medical room to find that Chris had already prepared the bed. The covers had been pulled back and the restraints laid out for easy reach. Chris, the man himself, was standing in a position near the bed that would allow him to see everything. A cocky smile covered his features. The smile grew even more when he nodded to Standish then indicated the bed.

'Chris, I want you to leave! You're only going to embarrass him.'

'Leave him be Mr. Sanchez,' Ezra glared at Larabee, 'he obviously doesn't get a lot of enjoyment out of life, let him have this one.'

'Ezra, this isn't a damn show for people to watch and enjoy.' Josiah growled.

'Perhaps I should charge him an entrance fee.'

The three men didn't realise that Ezra was being serious.

'Get on the bed.' Nathan ordered his patient.

'You tell him Nathan.' Chris cheered the doctor on.

'Chris it's bad enough that you're here to watch, but do you have to verbalise your enjoyment!' Josiah reprimanded him.

Chris continued to smile, he was going to enjoy himself and nothing these men said was going to change his mind

'Ezra!' Nathan growled deep in his throat.

'You said you were going to force me, so force me.' Ezra smiled widely.

'If that's the way you want it.' Nathan couldn't believe a person could be so stubborn. Standish was willing to go through with this shit. Maybe it was the drug; it could be that it affected his mind. 'Josiah, Chris, give me a hand.'

'Gladly.' Chris quickly moved forward.

'Nathan, can't you just do it the normal way.' Josiah pleaded.

'No, you saw what he did, he won't eat the normal way. If you want to try and convince him then go ahead'

'Ezra, would . . .?'

'No, I wouldn't.'

'Nathan!'

'Josiah, it has to be done and if he continues to refuse to eat then I'm going to have to do this for the next five or six days at least.'

'Why that long?'

'I've been asked to do a job Josiah so don't ask me any questions. If you want to know what's going on you have to ask him.' Nathan nodded to the man in between them.

'Ezra?' Josiah nudged him with his elbow.

'It's none of your . . .'

'I know, it's none of my business.' Josiah nodded and grimaced at the same time.

'Josiah, grab his legs, Chris, take his arms. I'll do the straps.'

Ezra became tense; so far these men were going to go through with it. Ezra was sure though, that they wouldn't. They would go so far and then give in. He would win, he always did. These men wouldn't force-feed him. Still, he had to continue with his part, he had to make it hard for them. His body fought them, his legs kicked out but Josiah's strength was able to keep the legs from escaping. Arms struggled to grab hold of Chris's arms. His body bucked and twisted. Ezra didn't begin to use his voice; he still thought that they weren't going to go through it.

The two men managed to get Standish on the bed and Nathan, quickly and expertly put the restraints around Standish's four limbs. Nathan moved away and began to prepare what he needed to force-feed the man.

Ezra pulled at the restraints, there wasn't enough movement for him to continue his fight. His eyes were trained on Jackson's back. This was where they were supposed to stop. They had him strapped to the bed, they were going to try and scare him with the different instruments that Nathan said he would use. Then they would throw everything down in frustration, release him, and then tell him to go to hell and die. They would no longer care about what happened to him.

Nathan returned to the bed with a small tray that held a long tube in a bag that had been suffocated until there was no air left, and a large syringe that was filled with a thick white substance. It also held gloves, a bowl of water, and tape. He looked down into the green eyes that were staring back at him.

'Last chance Ezra. If you agree to eat, I won't have to do this.'

'That's three times Nathan.'

'Hold his head Josiah.'

'Ezra,' Josiah tried.

'I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat anything.'

Okay this was it. Nathan is about to throw everything down in frustration.

Josiah gripped Standish's forehead and chin firmly and pushed downwards to open his mouth.

Now hang on a minute. This wasn't supposed to be happening. I'm losing here and I don't lose.

Ezra watched, his eyes wide and staring as Nathan prepared the tube to be inserted. This wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening. Nathan wouldn't do it, he can't do it. But Ezra began to comprehend what was happening. They were going to do it. Fear began to fill him. He was strapped to a bed. He'd lost control of the situation, he was now vulnerable to these men.

'Nathan, I'll eat, I promise, I'll eat. You don't have to do this, really.' Ezra began to beg like he said he wouldn't. It was something he didn't normally do but he had an understandable fear of anything that had to do with doctors and medical procedures.

Nathan placed a hand on Ezra's shoulder and placed the tube at the entrance to his mouth.

'Please Nathan, you don't have to do this.'

He felt the tube enter his mouth. His mind began to scream and exaggerate the pain and discomfort. He coughed and choked when Nathan had to push harder to get the tube past his esophagus. Ezra instinctively began to chew on the tube as it traveled down the back of his throat.

Josiah wanted to stop Nathan. He had heard the fear in Ezra's voice. It had been a front, a brave stubborn front. Ezra didn't know Nathan though. When it came to helping people, nobody could beat Nathan when it came to being persuasive. But then again, anyone with a needle that held a sedative could win a fight, especially when the patient was strapped to a bed.

Ezra continued to fight, his body bucked and twisted but the movements did nothing to stop Nathan. He blinked when Nathan stepped back to check his work. Ezra's body decided that it couldn't breath with the tube in his throat so he began to drag in deep breaths through his nose to satisfy his lungs.

'Breath normally Ezra.' Nathan told him.

'How long is this going to take Nathan?' Josiah quickly glanced at Nathan.

'A few minutes.'

Ezra didn't feel the thick liquid enter his stomach like he had felt the tube. A few minutes, a few minutes were going to feel like an eternity. He closed his eyes and waited. Waited for what was forever until Nathan threw the syringe away.

'I'm done Ezra. I'm just going to take the tube out now okay.'

Nathan didn't receive an answer. Ezra still watched him through closed eyelids. That was okay with him, he didn't really want to look at those eyes. He had seen the fear in them but he refused to give in. If he hadn't force fed him, the man would never have eaten. The only thing he could have done then was watch him die. Travis wouldn't be happy.

Once the tube was removed, Nathan sprayed Ezra's mouth and throat with a liquid that would make it easier for him to swallow. He then nodded to Chris and Josiah to remove the restraints.

'Wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be.' Chris muttered to Josiah.

'Glad to hear it brother.' Josiah smiled in return.

'It's okay now Ezra. I want you to lie down for a while though, make sure you don't throw it up.'

Ezra groaned and rolled himself onto his side so his back was to the three men.

'Why don't we leave him be for a while.' Nathan began to walk away from the bed. 'Just call me on the com Ezra if you need anything.'

'Does that include the fact that I need you to die?' Ezra asked dryly.

'You're welcome Ezra.' Nathan growled and stormed out of the room.

Ezra's keen instincts told him that only two of the men had left and he knew that it was Josiah who had remained. He waited for the older man to say something, no doubt something that he didn't want to hear. He could hear the man's footsteps as he made his way around the bed. The sound of a chair being scraped along the floor caused him to cringe then the large form of Sanchez appeared in front of him.

'Ezra, you really didn't have to go through that.' Josiah waited for an answer but he didn't receive one. This is going to be hard, the man is a stubborn mule. 'You want to talk yet?'

'No,' Ezra croaked then began to cough. He pushed himself up onto his left elbow then felt himself fall to the bed when his shoulder decided it didn't want to go to the effort of holding his weight.

'Here.'

Ezra stared at the glass with suspicion, and then accepted it. He drank the cool water, enjoying it as it ran down his throat.

'Would he do that again?' Ezra handed the glass back.

'Yes he would.'

'Why?'

'Because he helps people Ezra.'

'You call that helping.'

'He says you need to eat, therefore you eat. If you say no, he'll make you.'

'I noticed that.'

'You think you're going to say no next time?'

'I'm not hungry Mr. Sanchez, why should I eat when I'm not hungry?'

'You'll get sick if you don't eat.'

'I'm going to get sick anyway. By the time it gets to eighteen traveling hours I tend to get sick. There's nothing I can do about it except suffer.' Ezra explained to him.

'At least you won't have to suffer on your own.'

Ezra looked up quickly and saw the truth in the older man's gray eyes. He'd always suffered alone. His mother never had time for a sickly child; she would pass him onto someone else to take care of him. It came to the point where he would lie about his health, anything just to spend what little time his mother would have for him. He'd spent his early years doing anything and everything to please his mother; he soon gave up in his attempts. Nothing seemed to please her. After that he had only wanted to get away from her and from the Rebellion she had made him a part of. He was nine when he made the decision to leave; it wasn't until five years later that he actually left.

'I wouldn't be suffering if you had left me back on Algera.'

'You'd be dead if we left you there.'

'At the moment I'm starting to think that I would prefer that option.' Ezra growled.

'You don't mean that Ezra.' Josiah was again saddened by Ezra's lack of self-preservation.

'You don't know me Mr. Sanchez so don't tell me what I don't mean.'

'So why do you think that way?'

'Think what way?'

'You don't seem to care about whether you live or die. In fact you give me the impression that you would be happier if you were dead. Why is that?'

'Like I said, you don't know me, you don't know what my life is like.'

At least he was no longer getting the 'it's none of your business' answer. 'Maybe you could tell me.'

'No.'

'Another time?'

'No.'

'You don't like talking about yourself do you?'

'No.'

'That can be a bad thing Ezra, not talking about things.'

'It's worked so far.' Ezra shrugged.

'It'll only work for so long and then it'll catch up to you and I think it's already caught up and now you're paying the price.'

'Think what you want to Mr. Sanchez, I don't care either way.'

'I think you do.'

'And I told you I don't care what you think.'

'Uh huh.' Josiah wasn't sure what to say next. He couldn't hold a one sided conversation; or could he. 'JD seems to have taken a liking to you. Then again he trusts people easily, too easily sometimes but he's learning. He's a good kid. His mother died last year, he didn't take it very well, had a hard time getting through it but he did with our help. We take care of our own Ezra.'

Ezra listened but he didn't comment. He would ask Sanchez to leave except something told him that he wouldn't go.

'Vin, now there's a quiet guy. He wouldn't talk much either when he first joined us. Likes his space does Vin. When we go on a break he sneaks off sometimes and we don't see him for days. Doesn't like crowds much. He was a bit of a loner most of his life. Never knew his dad and his mom died when he was five. Grew up with strangers until he was old enough to take care of himself.'

It hit a cord with Ezra; the man's life was similar to his own. Yes he had a mother but that didn't mean that she brought him up. He spent a lot of time with other members of the Rebellion when she left to do assignments for the cause. Always promising that she would come back for him within a month but that never happened, the shortest period of time she spent away was four months. Sometimes he thought she stayed away just so she didn't have to spend time with him. People assured him that she loved him; it was just a different kind of love that she gave him.

'Buck, what a guy. He's known Chris for a long time . . .'

'Is there any particular reason you are telling me all this?' Ezra asked him.

'You're part of the team now Ezra, thought you might like to know a bit about the guys you're going to be working with, and I thought you might want some company.'

'I don't want either.'

'Since they were in their late teens I think. Strange relationship . . . but they would die for each other. There are times though when you think they're about to kill each other. I've never been able to understand the two of them. Buck loves the women, can't live without them. Don't think he'll ever settle down though. He can't stick to one woman.'

Josiah sat back in his chair to make himself more comfortable. He'd been watching Ezra's face as he spoke. The younger man's eyes were closed but he knew he was awake. The way Ezra breathed and shifted his position told him that he wasn't asleep.

'Nathan's a good man. He doesn't help people because he was programmed to; he helps them because he wants to. I wouldn't go up against him again Ezra, you won't win. As you've already found out, he'll strap you to the bed if he has to. He won't let a man suffer.'

'Are you trying to make a point?'

'You noticed huh?'

'How could I not.'

'Who am I up to?' he'd lost track for a moment. 'Chris. Never take Chris as you see him Ezra. He may seem to be a cold, violent man who doesn't care but he does care and if you become part of his family you'll find that out. He had another family once, a wife and a son. They were murdered five years ago. They still haven't found the person responsible. He took it hard, nearly drank himself to death. It was Buck who brought him back. We all think of each other as family and take care of each other as though we were. We're a strange group Ezra but we care about each other and any one else who may join the family.'

Josiah sighed at the thought of what Chris had been through. The man always gave people the impression that he didn't care and people bought it. He'd been angry for a long time, but he had calmed down over the last year couple of years that they'd been together but that anger was till there deep down, ready to explode if the situation was right.

'Have you finished?'

'Not yet, I have to tell you about myself.'

'I've heard enough Mr. Sanchez, I don't want to hear anymore.'

'You're going to hear it Ezra, you need to.'

'You think that this is going to change my way of thinking. That I would get up and submit to whatever you want, say whatever you want.'

'No, but . . . if you won't talk I will.'

'Knock yourself out.' Ezra slammed his head against the pillow and prepared himself not to listen.

'I grew up with a dominant father, he wanted me to follow the lord and do everything that was good. For some reason the Authorities decided that I should be programmed as an Ambassador to new life forms. I met Chris and the others about eighteen months ago when Nathan suggested that I join the group. We'd met a few times before, kept in touch.'

'How enlightening.'

'Now that I've told you a bit about the rest of us, why don't you tell me something about yourself.'

'I like to be left alone.' Ezra answered quickly.

'Is there anything else? Have you got any family? How did you become an infiltrator?'

'I don't like answering questions.'

'So why don't you like talking about yourself?'

'Could you please leave, I'm tired and I would like to get some rest.'

Josiah eyed Standish for a moment and realised he'd been keeping the younger man awake. 'Sure, maybe we could talk later.'

'I'd rather not.'

'I'll come by later Ezra and see how you're going.'

'Please don't.'

Sanchez's facial expression turned to one of sadness. Standish was a troubled man. There were obviously a lot of tormenting emotions pouring through his system, emotions that were being kept hidden. Ezra was going to erupt one day and the emotions were going to win. He left the room and the young man alone.

~ Ten ~

Nathan Jackson moved slowly through the main corridor of the ship, he wasn't in a hurry to check on Standish, he didn't want to go through another verbal altercation with the man. It had been nearly seventeen hours since he had force-fed him and gratefully he didn't have to do it again. There had been no argument when he had asked Standish to eat something but he still managed to complain after every bite.

Josiah had offered to move Standish into one of the empty rooms, to which Standish reminded them that they didn't allow him to get his personal things that he kept in a locker on the base station. Once a room had been chosen, Sanchez showed the infiltrator around the ship.

The 'Space Cowboys' was a craft that had been made a few years after the citizens of Earth were split up and sent if different directions. It was old and in need of a lot of repair but it was reliable and loyal like it's crew. As a practical joke made by one of the crew, a cowboy had been painted on the side of the ship. Larabee hadn't been impressed and he was never able to determine who the culprit was so he left the image as is. The day man responsible was found would be the day that it would be washed off. The incident had happened nearly a year ago and the crew had decided that Larabee had no longer wanted to find the person who did it; Larabee liked the image of the cowboy but apparently he didn't want them to know that. The craft was large enough to hold twenty-four crewmembers. The craft had been supplied to Larabee by the Authorities with the intention of giving the ship it's full crew but Larabee had told them no. He was happy enough with the five men he worked with and didn't want any more. The truth behind the statement was that he didn't want any more men to worry about. It was bad enough being responsible for five as it was.

When the tour was completed, Standish was forced to stay in his room to rest. Josiah had stayed with him until he had fallen asleep. This knowledge worried the others; they knew how easily Josiah could take someone under his wing and try to guide them onto the right path. Somehow they didn't think Standish was going to appreciate it.

Jackson stopped outside the door trying to decide if he should knock or walk straight in. If Standish was asleep he wouldn't get an answer, then again there was nothing to say that he would get an answer if Standish were awake. Nathan decided on a compromise, he knocked then walked in. He noticed straight away that the bed covers had been thrown to the floor, leaving a trail of bed sheets that led to the bathroom. The sound of vomiting caused him to move quickly. He found Ezra leaning over the toilet, one hand holding up the toilet seat while the other hand gripped the edge of the shower stall.

'Already?' Jackson asked the sick man.

Nathan hadn't expected a response and he didn't get one. The last thing you want to do while you're throwing up is talk. Nathan nodded in understanding and stepped up to the sink. He grabbed one of the wash clothes and soaked it with cold water. From his position he was able to get a better look at Standish. The man's skin was pale and flushed with a fever. Damn, why didn't he call me?

Nathan placed the cloth on the back of Ezra's neck and waited. It was all he could do. Of course there was other medication he could give him for an upset stomach and a fever but it didn't work when Dimension Affliction caused the symptoms.

It was a few minutes before Ezra let go of the seat and collapsed back against the shower stall. He felt Jackson take the cloth from his neck and wipe his mouth and face with it.

'This wouldn't be happening if you didn't make me eat so much.'

'You had to eat Ezra, you need the strength to fight the withdrawal of ODR.'

Ezra nodded, 'I'm going to have a hell of a week aren't I?'

'Yes you are.'

'You wouldn't consider dropping me off at the nearest stop would you?'

Nathan chuckled at the attempt of humour. 'Sorry Ezra, Travis would kill me if I don't get you off that stuff. He seems to be pretty worried about you.'

'It's an emotion that's wasted on me.'

'So how bad does this get?'

'Let's just say that I would be better off taking up residence in this unwelcoming, cold room.'

'No need for that Ezra, we can put a large container close enough to you so you don't have to get up.' Nathan grabbed an arm and pulled Ezra to his feet. He held on when he noticed the smaller man swaying side to side.

'You going to throw up again?'

'I don't think so.'

'Back to bed then Ezra.'

'I don't believe I can make it that far.'

'You don't have to do it on your own Ezra! I'll help you.'

'I don't need your help,' Nathan's tone had made him angry, 'I can do this.'

'You just said you couldn't.'

'Then leave me here.'

'No.'

Jackson pulled Ezra towards the bed. At first Standish refused to cooperate but then began to make the effort to get to it on his own. Nathan could feel the small tremors that shook the younger man's form. He knew this wasn't going to help Ezra kick the addictive drug he was on. This sickness was going to leave him in a weakened state and before he would have the chance to recover the withdrawal symptoms would hit him. Standish was going to be a very sick man and he was going to need all the care he could get. Maybe he should inform one of the others, perhaps Josiah, to help him when Standish gets a lot worse.

'Here, lie down on your side, it'll help.'

Nathan picked the covers up and threw them over Ezra, covering him up to his neck.

'It's too hot for those.' Ezra pushed the blankets down to his waist.

'Ezra . . .'

'Don't tell me what to do Mr. Jackson. I've been through this more times than you have, I know what I'm doing.'

'I don't care.' Nathan pulled the covers back up. 'I'll be back in ten minutes, I'm going to get a few things.'

'You don't have to come back, I'm fine.'

Nathan turned around to frown at Ezra. 'You're not use to people helping you are you?'

'What makes you think that people don't help me?' Ezra frowned back at him.

'Is it because you don't ask for help or do you refuse like you're trying to now?'

'Neither really.' Ezra closed his eyes to end the discussion. Even if I did want someone's help they would only refuse to give it, but I'm not going to tell you that.

'I'll be back Ezra.'

He could only nod. His stomach was threatening to erupt again. God he hated this shit. Things never seem to go right for him. He was given a mother that didn't care about him, he grew up with the Rebellion, his mother had left him to take the fall for a crime she had committed and then to top it all off he had become addicted to a life-threatening drug and now he was part of Larabee's team. Life was hell and he was living proof of it.

The sound of footsteps registered in his mind. Ten minutes couldn't have passed that quickly. He opened his eyes to find Chris Larabee standing in front of him.

'Come to watch the show Mr. Larabee?'

'Nathan said you were sick.'

'Mr. Jackson is correct.'

'You're going to be more trouble than your worth aren't you?'

Ezra sighed. This man didn't want him here and Ezra didn't want to be here.

'I would gladly leave if you allow me too.'

'It pains me to say it, but I can't do that.'

'Judge Travis?'

'Everyone's scared of Travis,' Chris told him, 'even me at times.'

'So I'm stuck here then?'

'Yep, looks that way.'

'Wonderful.'

'I'm the boss of this outfit Standish. You do as you're told and we'll get along fine. Give me any trouble and I'll beat the shit out of you. Do we have an understanding?'

'I don't follow orders very well Mr. Larabee.'

'I have no problem believing that, but you're going to follow mine. Now, do we have an understanding or not?'

'And if we don't?'

'You can spend your time locked up in one of the cells.'

'Chris!' Nathan stormed into the room, 'I told you he was sick.'

'And I came to see if he needed anything.'

'Like hell you did! Get out before I throw you out!'

Chris gave Jackson a cold stare, a stare that was known to cause men to wet themselves.

'Chris . . .'

'Why does everyone want me to leave the room? I'm the boss and everyone seems to be forgetting that,' Chris walked out of the room as he continued to talk to himself, 'I'm going to have to call a meeting and go over the rules again. I'm the boss and you guys do, as I say, not the other way around. Me boss, you Neanderthals.'

'Sorry about that Ezra, I didn't realise he'd pay you a visit.'

'I can't work that man out.' Ezra admitted.

'Don't worry about him, it was just his way of seeing if you were okay. He's a softie at heart.'

'Really, somehow I don't think I'll ever see that side of him.'

'Here,' Nathan sat on the edge of the bed, his right hand held a glass of water, 'I want you to drink some of this so you don't get dehydrated.'

'Don't start on me Mr. Jackson, I . . .'

'You want me to force it down?'

'Do you know how much I dislike you right now!'

'I get that a lot from patients, you'll thank me when this is over.'

'Believe me when I say this Mr. Jackson, when I have my strength back I will beat the shit out of you for everything you've done to me and are going to do to me.'

'As long as you're physically healthy, I don't care what you do.'

'You're giving me permission to hit you more than once.'

'Sure, but as long as you know, I'll hit back.'

'I would expect you to.'

'So we have a deal? You get better then we'll fight.'

'Deal.' Ezra nodded then took the water.

'Good, so I expect no arguments during your recovery.'

'You Mr. Jackson must be joking.'

'I thought as much.' Nathan smiled, he couldn't help it, he was actually beginning to like the guy. Why? He had no idea.

~ Eleven ~

Nathan leaned over the sleeping form, he didn't want to wake him, Ezra had been sleeping for over an hour, the longest period of time since he had gotten sick. But they had arrived on Okania and it was time to settle Ezra into more accommodating quarters. He shook the blanket-covered shoulder until he got a response.

'Ezra, come on, I need you to get up.'

'I am not capable of getting up right now Mr. Jackson.'

'We're here Ezra, I have to move you.'

'Please not now.' Ezra moaned.

'You can't go through it here Ezra, too many distractions.'

'You mean drugs don't you!'

'Yeah.'

'It can wait until later can't it? Just give me a few more days and I'll be fine.'

'A few more days Ezra and you'll be going through hell.'

'You mean I haven't already?'

'Compared to what you're about to go through, ten hours of throwing up is nothing.' Nathan guaranteed him.

'I did more than throw up!' Ezra replied with frustration.

'I know Ezra but this is going to be a lot worse.'

'Can you please shoot me now?'

'No I can't. Now come on, Josiah's waiting outside to give me a hand with you.'

'You're not going to carry me are you?'

'No, not unless you want us to.'

'Good Lord no.'

'Then get up.'

'Why now? It hasn't started yet. I can stay here for at least another day or two and when my Achilles heel has gone, I can get up and walk anywhere you want me to.'

'That's what I'm afraid of.'

'You don't trust me?' Ezra opened his eyes and stared at Nathan.

'Under these circumstances? No I don't.'

Ezra nodded, he couldn't blame the man. He had never been the type of person who could be trusted easily.

'Let's go Ezra.'

Once the 'Space Cowboys' was settled in a docking bay on the outskirts of Okania, it's crew prepared to transport their responsibility to room in one of the local boarding houses. Visitors were welcome but no one was allowed to stay on a permanent basis. Three months was the length of time that someone could stay in town, after that you were forced to leave if you didn't leave of your own free will.

Standish had been covered in a blanket and rushed off the ship under a guard of security. Jackson and Sanchez walked on either side of him while Larabee and Tanner led the way off the ship.

Wilmington and Dunne covered the back. All the attention was causing Standish to feel very vulnerable. Didn't these men know that were only bringing attention onto themselves.

From beneath the blanket Ezra used his eyes to survey the area. Okania wasn't the way he remembered it. There was more to the town than there had been a year ago. The population was more than it should have been. When the Earth's government colonized the different planets they made sure that the towns built would not be over populated. That way there would be enough food and shelter for those who were there. New buildings were being built but obviously not quickly enough.

'Is this how you remembered it Mr. Jackson?' Ezra asked from under the blanket.

'No, it isn't.' Nathan glanced at the buildings as they passed them by. The town of Okania was growing when it shouldn't be.

'The Rebellion is here.'

'How would you know?' Josiah had heard the statement.

'They're everywhere.' Ezra nodded towards a group of men who sat in front of a drinking establishment. He easily recognised two of them; he had grown up with them. 'Rebellion, all of them. You can tell by the look in their eyes. They all have the same look.'

'And what look is that?'

'A look that says they're better than anybody else. A look that says they should be getting a lot more than they are.'

'You can tell that by looking at them?'

'I can read anybody Mr. Sanchez.'

'If that's the case we're leaving.' Chris turned around to face his men.

'I'm safe here.'

'You said the Rebellion was here Standish, we're bounty collectors, they may know our faces. We're not safe here.'

'I'm safe here,' Ezra repeated, 'and you're with me, that makes you safe. They won't touch you.'

'Ezra,' Josiah spoke into his ear, 'we've killed quite a few members of the Rebellion, I don't think we'll be safe here.'

'They won't hurt you as long as you're with me.'

'Spit it out!' Chris grabbed a fistful of the blanket that surrounded the smaller man and pulled Standish toward him. He managed to ignore the pale skin, the red-rimmed eyes and the smell of sickness that emanated from him. 'How do you know we're safe?'

'I know.' Was the only answer that Chris received.

'I need more than that. I need to know why?'

'That is something that I don't intend to reveal to you or anyone.'

'Then we're leaving.'

'If Ezra says we're safe, I believe him.' Nathan informed Chris.

'What?' Chris and Ezra spoke in unison.

Nathan went on to explain, 'We're hours from anywhere and I don't want him getting sick like that again, it's not going to do him any good. And besides that, I trust him. If he says we're safe, then we're safe.'

'You trust him and you want to stay here.' Chris was shocked.

'Yeah. I know it's more crowded than I remember it to be but I need to stay here. He needs a more natural environment and not that of the ship.'

'Solus is only a few hours away, we can go there.' JD suggested.

'He's weak enough as it is, I don't want him getting any worse. We have to stay here, we don't really have a choice now.'

'What is it about you guys not doing what I say anymore? Is it because you like him more than me? That's it isn't it?'

'Don't be so childish Chris.' Josiah admonished him

'Me boss, you Neanderthal. Remember Josiah, we had a meeting about this. I'm the boss.'

'And I'm bigger than you.'

'But I'm meaner than you are.' Chris glared at him.

'Oh would you please stop!' Ezra shocked the two men, 'I'm in hell and all you can do is argue over something as stupid as who's in charge of this pathetic group of men.'

'Watch what you're saying Standish!' Buck growled from behind him.

'I think you will find plenty of whores over that way Mr. Wilmington. Why don't you go and help yourself.'

'Son-of-a-bitch.' Buck went for him but Nathan grabbed him before he could do Standish any harm.

'Leave him be Buck.' Nathan stood between the two men. 'When he says he's in hell, he's telling you the truth and it's going to get a lot worse. He doesn't need you guys on his back.'

'Why is it going to get worse?' Josiah watched for a reaction from Standish.

Nathan also looked at Ezra but for another reason. He wanted permission to tell these men what he was going through. The unwavering glare that Ezra returned to him told him no, he didn't want them to know anything.

'Let's keep moving.' Vin suggested, he didn't like the way people were starting to look at them, especially Ezra.

They continued to walk along the paved road until they reached a building that offered accommodation to visitors. Ezra hesitated outside the front door when he noticed a man walking towards them, a man that he once knew. He removed the blanket that covered most of his head and waited until the man returned his stare. There was recognition in the man's blue eyes but there was no attempt to approach the infiltrator. Ezra watched him as he walked past, then turned and followed the man's progress until he disappeared around a corner.

'I can take it from here.' Nathan took Ezra.

'No way,' Chris turned again, this time placing his hands on his hips as he turned, 'we stick together.'

'Chris I have my orders, I have to do this on my own.' Nathan reminded him.

'I know that Nathan, but we're going to hang around, stick close to you. The Rebellion's here and I don't care what Standish says about us being safe.'

'Do you think I'm lying to you?'

'You don't seem to care if you live or die Standish, which is okay by me, but you're not going to take any of my men with you.'

'If I thought your men were in danger I would not stay here!'

'If anything happens to these guys you'll pay dearly for it and that is not a threat.'

'Chris,' Tanner got his attention, 'we better get going, we're starting to get an audience.'

'Damn! Let's go.' Chris grabbed Standish and roughly pulled him inside.

Ezra glanced over his shoulder and saw many familiar faces. He didn't mind seeing them; he just hoped that he didn't have to talk to any of them.

~ Twelve ~

The man moved quickly through the gathering crowd. The new visitors had been an unwelcome surprise but the man they had brought with them wasn't. He hadn't seen Ezra since he left the Rebellion at the age of fourteen. He thought that Ezra had died five years ago during an altercation with the Rebellion. He had been surprised by that because the Rebellion didn't kill one of it's own, even if the person hadn't been a member of the Rebellion for a number of years. He was looking forward to talking to Ezra again.

He entered the drinking establishment and found the man he was looking for. He pushed his way through the overcrowded room and sat in an empty chair at the table.

'You'll never guess who I just saw?'

The second man looked up. 'I'm not in the mood for your games Mike.'

'Larabee . . .' Mike couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face at the expression his fellow member wore.

'The Larabee?'

'Yes, and Jack, he had all his men with him.'

Jack Lambert tugged at his beard and allowed the different thoughts to run through his mind.

'What would he be doing here?'

'I don't know,' Michael, better known as Mike, leaned back in the chair and enjoyed the moment, 'maybe it has something to do with the guy they brought with them.'

'A bounty?'

'No.'

'Stop tossing me around Mike and just tell me!'

'Ezra.' Mike let the ball drop.

'Ezra . . . Ezra Standish?' Jack sat up in his chair. 'Ezra's here? I thought he was dead.'

'So did I.'

'Where is he?'

'The boarding rooms.'

'Why is he with Larabee?'

'I don't know Jack but he didn't look well.'

'He worked for the Authorities. Do you think he might be part of Larabee's team?'

'Maybe we should ask him.'

'Does Maude know?'

'No, I thought it best if I came to you first.' Mike fidgeted with his shirt. 'Thought maybe you could tell her.'

'Coward.'

'Yes I am, especially when it comes to that woman. She's a cold hearted bitch Jack.'

'She loved him in her own way Mike, did what she thought was best for him.'

'Yeah I know, but she could've at least told that she loved him. That woman has ruined that man's life'

'He knows Mike, I'm sure he knows.'

'Yeah.'

'Better get it over with then.' Jack finished his drink and stood up. 'Why don't you go over and wait, I'm sure you want to say hello to an old friend.'

'Thanks.'

Jack Rudderford didn't know how Maude was going to take the news that her son was not only alive but also here in Okania. He would never forget the night he had informed a mother of her son's death. At first Maude gave the impression that she wasn't affected by the news, she had even blamed Ezra for his own death. Saying that it was his own fault, that if he hadn't left he would still be alive. But the hurtful words soon turned to tears and she had spent the rest of the night silently crying for her child. Many believed that her mourning was a lie but Jack knew better. He had known Maude for a long time; they had been friends since they were children. He would have married her if she had allowed it but he didn't have enough money; Maude only married for money.

It didn't take him long to reach a large house on the outskirts of town. Maude lived in the wooden home alone. She didn't need or want company. He stepped up to the front door and knocked loudly. Jack had to knock twice more before the door was opened.

A tall, thin woman with blonde hair opened the door. She was dressed in an elegant outfit that consisted of a long blue skirt, white shirt and black boots. A thick black belt was strapped around her waist. She smiled to reveal large straight even teeth.

'Jack, what are you doing here?' she spoke in the same accent as her son.

'I've got some good news Maude.'

'I'd invite you in Jack but I was about to . . .'

'No it's okay.' Jack looked down at his shoes, he wasn't sure how he should say it so he blurted it out. 'Ezra's alive Maude.'

She wanted to open her mouth in surprise, to jump up and down and hug the man in front of her but she knew better. She held her emotions under control.

'What makes you think that?'

'Mike saw him about ten minutes ago.' Jack smiled at her.

'He saw him here? Ezra's here?'

'He's at the boarding house.' He reached out to take her hand. 'Want to come and say hello.'

'It's been five years Jack.'

'I know Maude but I'm sure he'd be glad to see you.'

'No he won't Jack. I thought he was dead. Why make contact with a dead child? If he knew that I thought he was dead he would have come back to prove to me that he wasn't dead. He doesn't know Jack. He probably thinks that I've wanted nothing to do with him.'

'We'll explain it to him.'

'Where is he? Is he okay?'

'He's at the boarding house with Chris Larabee and his team.'

'Good Lord no.'

'Don't worry, I think he was with them willingly, Mike didn't say otherwise but he did say that Ezra didn't look to good.'

'He's sick?'

Jack could only shrug.

'Jack you know I can't stand to be near sick people.' Maude wiped at her hair.

'He's your son Maude, you can at least go to him and say hello for Christ's sake.'

'Watch your tone Jack.'

'Well, I'm going to go and see him.' Jack turned away from her. 'You know where he is Maude.'

'I'll come with you Jack, but I'll only stay for a few minutes. I'll spend more time with him when he's better.'

'Well, that's better than nothing I suppose.'

'You don't know Jack so don't even begin to question my motives.'

'All I know is, that man is your son and you should treat him as such.'

'I treat him the way he should be treated.'

'He never liked it.'

'No one likes what's good for them.'

'I'm not going to argue with you Maude. Why don't we just go and say hello and take it from there.'

Maude offered her arm for Jack to take. She intended to be escorted to the boarding rooms. As she walked her mind went over the moment she had been told that her son was dead. She had been devastated but had refused to show any emotions. It wasn't the way she had been brought up.

Life had been hard for her and she had done everything to make sure that Ezra Standish received a better life than she ever had. And for him to do that he had to learn to look after no one but himself.

Nathan Jackson took one last look at the sleeping form then closed the door behind him. He turned to see the rest of the team watching him. Chris was standing at the front of the group with his arms crossed. Nathan knew the expression that his boss wore. Larabee meant business and he wasn't going to take shit from anyone, and that included his own men.

"What's going on Nathan? Why is his hell going to get worse?"

"I can't tell you that Chris, Ezra doesn't want you to know."

"Is there going to be any risk to my men and that includes you?" Chris watched as Nathan reached for the healed injury on his scalp that Standish had inflicted.

"Not to you or the others." Nathan admitted to him.

"And you?"

"I might be able to use Josiah's help." He now knew that he wasn't going to be able to do this on his own. He'd learnt that Ezra was too stubborn to allow anyone to help him and when he becomes desperate for ORD he had no idea what he might be capable of.

Chris looked back over his shoulder at Sanchez. "Are you willing to help with something you know nothing about?"

"If it helps Nathan and our new brother? Yes I am." Josiah moved forward to join Nathan's side.

"He's not our brother." Chris reminded them.

"He's going to be." Josiah replied.

"Whatever." Chris began to turn away. "We have rooms on this floor, if you need anything give us a call."

"Here." Nathan pulled a piece of man-made paper from his pocked. "It's a list of what I need. Josiah can get it for me, maybe Vin could help him."

"Vin.' Chris nodded to him.

"Glad to help."

Chris rolled his eyes and fully turned to walk away from what he knew was trouble. But he found himself staring into a pair of green eyes framed by a beautiful face.

"Excuse me." he muttered and stepped aside.

"Mr. Larabee." Maude greeted the man that had brought her son home.

"Do I know you?" Chris kept himself calm. He knew his men were prepared to pull their weapons if they needed to protect him.

"No you don't."

Chris eyed to two men who stood behind her. The older one with the beard looked as though he was ready to kill to protect the woman in front of him. The younger one on the right stood with a smile on his face. He was happy about something. Maybe he was just crazy and enjoyed confrontations.

"You seem to know who I am."

"Everyone in the Rebellion knows who you are."

This information caused his men to withdraw their guns. The two men behind the woman did the same but they didn't stand in front of her to protect her.

"Would you care to inform me of your identity." It was a demand not a question.

"Maude Standish and I have come to see my son." She took a step closer. "If you could please step aside."

"Your son?" Josiah moved around Chris to get a better look at the woman who claimed to be Ezra's mother.

"Yes my son. I've been told that he is in that room."

"He's asleep." Nathan stayed where he was in front of the door. He wasn't going to let anyone disturb his patient's sleep. And that's what Ezra was, his patient.

"I've also been told that he's sick. What's wrong with him exactly?" Maude continued to hide her emotions and disgust at the idea of being near a sick person, even if that person was her son.

"He has Dimension Affliction and he's also allergic to th -"

"I know about that already. He's suffered with that since he was born."

"Well then as you would know, he's been pretty sick. I've finally gotten him to sleep and I don't want him disturbed."

"You don't have a choice Jackson!" Mike told him. "You don't have a choice about anything here. At a single word we could have you dead and buried within the hour."

"He's sick and he needs to rest!" Nathan growled back.

"Move aside." Jack ordered them.

"No." Nathan wasn't going to allow them to enter.

"Nathan."

"Chris, you can't let them in, he's sle-"

"We don't have a choice Nathan, let them in."

"Ezra said that we were safe here."

"Ezra lied to you." Jack smiled easily as he told the lie. Ezra was been right. They wouldn't hurt anyone that was with their friend unless he was being threatened.

"Damn it! I knew it!" Chris spun on his heel and walked away. "NATHAN! You let them in. We're leaving this shit hole now!"

"Move aside please Mr. Jackson. I would like to see my son."

Nathan opened the door and stepped into the room. Maybe he couldn't stop them entering the room but he could at least be in there to make sure Ezra was okay with the visit. He moved closer to the bed but stayed at distance. His dark eyes watched as the woman slowly made her way to the bed.

Ezra's back was to the door so she wasn't able to see his face. When she reached the bed she reached out with one hand and gently touched the top of the sleeping man's head.

"Ezra . . . Ezra darlin' it's your mother." Maude spoke softly hoping that Ezra wouldn't hear her and continue to sleep.

Mike bent down and yelled into Standish's ear. "EZRA!"

Ezra jumped up in response and pushed himself up against the wall. His legs fought against the blankets that were now tangled around his body and he continuously blinked his eyes to clear his vision. He froze when he saw who was standing in front of him.

"Ezra?" Maude reached towards him again and was not surprised when Ezra jumped off the bed and moved away from her.

"Mother, I didn't expect to see you so soon." Ezra subconsciously moved closer to Nathan Jackson.

"It's been a while Ezra." Maude smiled at her son.

"Five years I believe."

Mike quickly moved forward and wrapped his arms around Ezra. "We thought you were dead." He stepped back and stared into the green eyes that were now full of emotion. "Five years now, we thought you were dead."

"Ezra," Jack nodded to the younger man, "it's good to see that you are still among the living."

"Jack," Ezra nodded in return.

"They're telling the truth. Someone, someone who we trusted, told us that you were dead."

"Who?" Ezra wouldn't look at his mother; he didn't like what he saw in her eyes. She obviously knew that he wasn't well and didn't want anything to do with him.

"Blake Henderson."

Ezra allowed his head to fall towards his chest. "He was the one that attempted to kill me."

"Oh." Jack growled through his anger. "Then the next time I see him, I'll return the favour."

"Thank you."

"Ezra," Nathan took the Infiltrator's arm and felt the emotion that was running through him, "you need to get some sleep."

"Yeah," he finally allowed his gaze to fall onto his mother's face. She hadn't changed at all during the five years that he hadn't seen her. He had tried to make contact through other people but never received a reply from her.

"As you wish Ezra."

He kept his thoughts to himself. He wanted to tell her that he hadn't asked her to leave. He was hoping that she would say that she intended to stay for a while. That maybe she would offer to stay with him until he fell asleep and then stay with him. He should have known better. The look in her eyes had already told him that she didn't want to be near him, but he still hoped that maybe one day she would treat him as her son.

"Good bye mother."

"I'll come by in a few days when you're feeling better." She made no attempt to move towards her son.

"I wouldn't bother mother, I won't be feeling better in a few days, in fact I'll probably be worse."

"Then perhaps we should make it a week."

"That would be more accommodating."

"A week it is then." She smiled then turned and walked out the door.

Ezra let out a pent up groan and slumped down onto the bed. He bent over and hid his face in his hands. He knew he would see his mother but didn't expect it to be so soon. He hadn't had time to prepare for the meeting and as usual, his mother had won.

"I'm sorry about that Ezra." Jack sat down next to him. "I was hoping that she would, you know, do a little more than that."

"Surely you would know by now Jack that she would never change, not even for me." Ezra didn't lift his head. He wanted to be sure that no tears would fall if he were to move his hands away from his face.

"I thought that after knowing that you were dead for five years she would react differently when seeing you."

"You should have thought better."

Nathan stood to the side of the room listening to the conversation. He didn't feel like he was intruding because they knew he was still there. It seemed that they had decided to ignore him and have their own discussion.

"So what's really wrong?" Mike asked him.

"Drug addiction, have to get off it, Judge's orders."

"You're going to need help to get through that." Jack commented.

"Nathan here is a doctor, he has orders to take care of me." Ezra informed them.

"Do you think he will?"

"He has no choice, it's look after me or lose his job."

"I don't see it that way Ezra." Nathan spoke up.

Ezra didn't answer him.

"We can help you." Mike said.

"You're too close." Jackson stepped forward. "He could easily convince you to allow him to go to the bathroom or something else that might destroy the treatment."

"He's got a point there Ezra. You've always been able to talk your way out of or into anything." Jack laughed.

"My mother taught me well."

"That's a load of crap Ezra, you have the talent, and you've always had it." Mike slapped him on the shoulder.

Ezra lifted his head and saw the glare that Nathan was aiming at him. "Guys . . . I have to . . . you know . . ."

"Yeah we know." Jack leaned sideways and gave Ezra a quick hug. "Call us if you need anything, and that goes for your friends too."

"Thanks Jack." Ezra smiled at his friends and watched them leave the room.

Nathan also waited them moved to stand in front of Ezra. "They said you lied."

"About what?"

"You said that we were safe as long as we're with you."

"You are."

"They said you lied."

Ezra sighed deeply then smiled up at Nathan. "They said that only so they could get in here and see me. Jack knows what would happen if he or any other Rebellion member hurt a person I'm with."

"You know them pretty well then?"

"Yes I do. I've known Jack and Mike since we were kids. We grew up together." Ezra frowned up at the doctor. "Is there anything else that you would like to know about my private life?"

"And what would happen if they did hurt or even kill us?"

"I would kill them," said Ezra. He then lay down under the covers and rolled onto his side so he was once again lying with his back to the door.

"Oh, okay. It's just that when he said that, we sort of believed him."

"I know."

"How would you know?"

"Mr. Jackson if you could let me sleep please."

"Sure, I'll be back later."

When he heard the door close he rolled over onto his back. The idea of sleep eluded him now. He was sure he was going to spend the next few hours lying awake while thinking about his mother and his previous life.

~ Thirteen ~

"Couldn't I at least have something for the pain?" Ezra was pacing the length and width of the room in a show of impatience.

"Ezra, it's only been two hours since you started having withdrawal symptoms." Nathan couldn't help but laugh at him.

"You think this is funny . . . and what the hell do you mean it's only been two hours? It feels more like twenty. And it's going to get a lot worse than this . . . isn't it?"

"I thought you said you've been through this before?" Nathan's brown eyes followed Ezra as he walked around the small room.

"Well, yeah . . . I have and it wasn't pleasant I can tell you." Ezra stopped and vigorously nodded his head.

"Bull shit and you know it!"

"I don't like being called a liar Mr. Jackson."

"Then tell me the truth."

"I was always sort of drunk when I tried to get off the stuff." He turned his back to the doctor. "So I don't remember a lot about it."

"You can't get off the stuff by being drunk Ezra." The smile on Jackson's face showed the amusement he was feeling.

"This is serious Mr. Jackson, I don't feel that you should be laughing at my situation."

"You're right Ezra," he waved at the younger man while he tried to stop laughing, "I shouldn't be laughing at you."

"Then why are you?" Ezra stopped pacing and placed his hands on his hips.

"The look on your face Ezra . . . you should see it."

"I assume that it is an expression of pain." Ezra changed his expression to match his words.

"Okay, I'll stop."

"Nathan . . ."

Jackson looked up in shock. The man had never used his first name, but then again he had only know him for a week.

"When does the pain start? And how bad is it?"

"That all depends on how long you've been using and how often." Nathan watched the man closely.

There was a hint of fear in the green eyes. Was it the pain he was afraid of or something else?

"Don't worry Ezra, you're not going to go through it alone this time."

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Ezra.

"What do you mean?"

"If I was on my own, I could give in and take the stuff so I would feel better. I can't do that with you here unless I beat you senseless and leave."

"When it gets that bad Josiah will be here with us, he'll-"

"You didn't tell him did you?"

"No but I may have to."

"Shit!" Ezra stormed to the east wall and slammed his fist against it.

"Ezra, you have to understand. After what you did on the ship . . . I don't want you doing that again."

Ezra let his shoulders sag. "I'm sorry Mr. Jackson. My life had been threatened, is being threatened and I had to get away."

"That's understandable Ezra but I still want Josiah here when you get to the worse stage."

The Infiltrator nodded and walked with heavy feet back to the bed. He allowed himself to fall onto it and covered his eyes with the crook of his right arm.

Josiah Sanchez opened the door slowly and stepped into the room. His eyes widened when he saw Ezra Standish sitting on the bed with his back against the wall and his knees drawn up to his chest. Blankets were wrapped tightly around the form but it didn't stop him from seeing the violent tremors that wracked the man's body.

"What's wrong with him?"

The larger man moved towards the bed and sat down on its edge. He placed his large hand against Ezra's forehead and felt the heat pulsating from his skin.

"Get the hell away from me!" Ezra threw his head to the side.

"Withdrawal symptoms," said Nathan.

"Nathan!" Ezra yelled at him.

Both anger and confusion lined Josiah's features. "Withdrawal from what?"

"ORD."

"That sounds familiar," said Josiah.

"Nathan! This is none of his business." Ezra hit the wall hard with the back of his head.

Nathan winced at the sight but it didn't stop him from talking. "If he's going to help he needs to know what he's dealing with Ezra." Nathan waited a moment then began to answer Josiah's question. "It stops the heart, feeds oxygen and blood to the brain then revives the user after about twenty minutes."

"He's been using stuff that kills him then brings him back?"

"Yes."

"Son-of-a-bitch!"

"Exactly." Ezra smiled.

"This time he's coming off the stuff." Nathan pushed himself out of his chair and filled a plastic cup with water. "This isn't the worst of it Josiah, I'm going to need you here when he gets violent."

"He's going to get violent?"

"ORD is hard stuff to get off, he's going to want it bad and he'll do anything to get it."

"Maybe he won't," said Josiah.

"Maybe, but I don't want to take the risk."

"How bad is he going to get?" Josiah's eyes glanced back at Ezra and noticed that Ezra's eyes were now closed.

"A lot worse." Nathan sat on the bed on Ezra's right side. "Ezra, drink this."

Ezra opened his eyes and pleaded with Nathan. "Do I have to Nathan?"

"You need it Ezra."

The patient leaned forward and allowed Nathan to hold the cup to his lips. He was too cold to lift his arms out of his cocoon.

Nathan was grateful that his patient accepted the water. He might not be as cooperative later.

"Is there going to be long term effects?"

"I don't think he's been using it long enough."

"And if he has." Josiah stared up at Nathan.

"Then there will be permanent damage to his heart and if he continues to use it, there's a chance that he may not come back."

Ezra listened to what Nathan was saying but he found it hard to accept the repercussions of taking an illegal drug.

"Damn, that doesn't sound good."

"No, it doesn't but like I said, I don't think he's been using it long enough, it's only been a year."

Both men looked up towards the window when they heard yelling outside the building. Josiah stood up and walked quickly to the window while Nathan stayed with Ezra.

"It's Jack and Mike with at least ten other men coming this way."

"What the hell do they want now?"

"I don't know Nathan but if it's Ezra they're after, they're not going to have him."

The sound continued to come towards the building and both men moved towards the door when they knew the members of the Rebellion were heading for Ezra's room. More shouting came through the door when Chris's voice joined the disturbance. After a few moments Chris Larabee stormed through the door with Jack Rudderford right behind him.

"The Authorities are on their way," Chris said. "We have to get Ezra out of here."

"What makes you think they're coming for Ezra?" Josiah questioned him.

"We have an informant at the Authorities head quarters," said Jack as he looked over his shoulder at the men waiting behind him, "he wasn't able to get the information to us until five minutes ago. The Authorities will be here in two hour. We have to get Ezra out!"

"You didn't answer my question!" Nathan stepped in front of the man.

"He told us that they are specifically coming here to pick Ezra up."

"How did they know he was here?" Josiah frowned in confusion as more questions filled his mind.

"The same way they knew Ezra was on our ship and exactly where he was," said Chris. Jack moved to grab Ezra's arm but Josiah stopped him.

"I'll take him."

The Rebellion member nodded and followed Chris out of the room.

Josiah struggled to get Ezra to his feet but Ezra wasn't making it easy for him. He was grateful when Nathan grabbed an arm and helped pull Ezra to his feet. They then had to drag Ezra along because he was refusing to walk.

"Damnit Ezra! You have to help us here." Josiah tried to pull him to his feet.

"I'm not going back on that ship."

"We'll find somewhere Ezra and get you there before you start getting sick again." Nathan assured him.

"And if you don't."

"We will." Nathan began to move faster when he felt the weight of his burden become lighter.

Ahead of them was the rest of the Bounty team and Ezra's friends. It was the first time he had seen enemies working together to save a human being.

When the group of men exited the building, Ezra searched the gathering crowd for his mother. He was hoping that she would at least say good-bye in her own way. There was no one that resembled his mother. He sighed and felt his shoulders and knees sag in defeat.

Sanchez took the extra weight the wrong way. "Come on Ezra," he said, "we're nearly there."

"I can walk on my own!" Ezra pulled his arms away from the two men who held him upright and immediately fell to the ground banging his knee against a large stone. "SHIT!"

The fall saved his life. The bullet that had been aimed at his skull cut through Nathan's left upper arm. Josiah pulled the doctor to the ground and covered both him and Ezra. Bullets began to kick up dirt around the fallen men.

Chris and the others couldn't return fire. Too many innocent people were running scared. Chris watched as two men fell to bullets that were aimed at his new team member. Someone wanted Ezra Standish dead and they were doing their best to make sure it happened.

Once the crowed cleared the men protecting Standish returned fire. Bullets tore up the building where the shots were coming from. Windows exploded and splinters of wood rained down onto the ground.

"Buck! Vin!" Chris fired another shot when he saw a man moved quickly pass his line of sight.

When the man fell dead to the ground Chris turned back to Vin. "Try and get around the back, we'll keep you covered."

"You got it cowboy," Vin replied.

"These aren't our guys," Jack said over the gunfire.

"Then who the hell are they?" Chris questioned him.

"They're your guys."

"Shit!"

Chris wanted to slam his fist against the dirt in a show of anger but he needed to continue firing at the enemy. He had known that the Authority wanted Ezra but now he knew it was also the Authority that wanted Standish dead. But why?

Ezra struggled to breath under the weight of Josiah. The man must weigh at least a ton. He lay chest down with his arms held against his chest within the blanket. He felt as though he was going to be suffocated and began to struggle beneath the heavy man. His breathing became erratic and panic took control of his natural survival instincts.

"Get . . . off . . . me!"

For some reason more pressure was placed on his upper body and his face was forced further into the dirt. He was afraid to breath in case the only thing that entered his mouth or nose was dirt.

Fear forced him to kick out at the force that held him down.

He could see nothing but darkness through his eyes. Something was blocking his view. He was trapped and he now knew it. There was nothing he could do but choke on the dust. If that didn't do it then he would suffocate under the weight on top of him Sounds of gunfire surrounded him. His only hope was that these men didn't die trying to protect him. Their lives were worth so much more.

Vin and Buck run like hell was on their tails as they made their way around the neighbouring building. Once they reached the back entrance they slowed down and crept towards the store that held the assassins.

Vin nodded to Buck and held up three fingers and mouthed on the count of three. He lowered one finger at a time then both men entered the building, guns held high and aimed towards the front.

They were prepared to fire at anything that moved. Each man walked with his back pressed against the wall. As they entered the next room they found a body of a young man lying on the ground. The way his neck laid at an awkward angle told them that his neck had been broken.

Again Vin nodded and indicated that he would go first, and then Buck was to follow. Buck nodded in agreement and took a deep breath.

Vin stepped into the front room, rolled to the side and opened fire on the men in front of him. He managed to take out two men before the rest of them turned to face him. There was six left. Who would send so many men to take out one man? The answer was someone who knew that Chris Larabee and his men were protecting that man. Gunshots from Buck's gun took out two more leaving four. Bullets from outside took out another one. The three remaining men started firing their guns at the two Authority men.

The sharpshooter heard a grunt of pain from Buck but did his best to ignore him. If he showed any sort of hesitation he would also be shot. A bullet missed his face with inches to spare. There was no need for him to fire again. The men outside had taken the opportunity that the lack of gunfire gave them and ran to the front of the building. Three more men died. Vin's first thought was for Buck. Ignoring the men that made their way into the building, he crab crawled to his friend. He found Buck lying on his back, clutching his side with both hands.

"It's okay now Buck. You're going to be fine. Nothing to worry about." Vin lifted the blood-covered hands to see the wound. It looked worse than it was.

"You think it's going to scar?" Buck asked Vin.

"Yeah, it is."

"Good, women love men with scars." Buck began to get himself to his feet.

"Wait for Nathan Buck. Let him look at you first."

"We haven't got time, we have to get Ezra off this damn planet!"

"Can you make it?"

"Of course I can make it. I can make it with any woman."

"Let's go Buck."

"Vin! Buck!"

"Here's trouble." Vin supported Buck's arm while they walked to the front door. "We're comin' Chris!" Vin didn't speak loud enough for his leader to hear him.

"You answer me now!"

"He's yelling loud enough to bust a vein," said Buck.

"Isn't he." Vin chuckled at the thought.

Ezra was beginning to think that he was going to die. He needed to cough but he couldn't draw in enough to breath to manage it. Somebody yelled that it was clear and the weight suddenly lifted from his back. He rolled over and sucked in huge gulps of air, causing a coughing fit to start so he pulled his knees up towards his chest hoping it would help.

"Where the hell did Josiah go?"

He struggled to get out of the blanket. When he was finally free of it he got up on his hands and knees. His mouth was to dry for him to spit out the dirt that had filled his mouth. All he could do was cough.

"How's Nathan?"

He heard Chris's voice and listened for the answer.

"I'll be okay."

It was Nathan's voice. Ezra felt some sort of relief that he wasn't accustomed to.

"Would someone check on Ezra!"

Nathan's voice again but this time there was some urgency to his words.

Ezra didn't want anyone near him so he began to crawl away from the men who were to his left. He could feel the cold seeping back into his bones and as a result his body shivered violently. This wasn't good. It had only been a matter of hours and he already felt like he was dying. What the hell was it going to be like in another few hours? He wasn't ready to do this. He couldn't do this.

"Ezra?"

It was Chris who had come to check on him. Why him? The man hated him. Ezra jumped when he felt the Chris's hand on his shoulder.

"It's Chris, Ezra."

The hand touched him again and he cried out in fear.

"Ezra. We have to get you away from here."

"No." Ezra whispered. "I can't do this."

"Do what Ezra?"

"This, I can't do this."

"Everyone's okay. Nathan and Buck have minor injuries, nothing that a few stitches won't fix."

"I'm not talking about that shit!" Ezra rubbed his face with his shirtsleeve.

"We haven't got time for your self pity Standish. We're leaving now so get up!"

Ezra pulled away from Larabee's arms but the man somehow got a stronger grip on him and lifted him to his feet. He could feel himself being dragged along beside the man. Ezra found it hard to walk and kept tripping over his own feet. His eyes finally focused on the images in front of him. Vin was helping Buck just as Chris was helping him. Blood soaked the side of Buck's shirt. Nathan was walking without help but blood covered his arm. These men had been hurt because of him. He ripped his arm from Larabee's grip so he could turn away from them. The thought of these men suffering for him made him sick to his stomach. He vomited until he could no longer take it. His knees collapsed and he fell to the ground.

"Josiah! Carry him will you or we'll never get out of here."

Ezra prepared himself for what was about to happen. He no longer had the strength to fight them. He felt himself being lifted and then carried by large strong arms.

"Josiah, please, leave me here."

"No."

"They're hurt because of me Josiah, I don't want that to happen again."

"We'll talk about this later Ezra."

"No, you have to leave me. Someone will get killed. You and the others don't deserve to die because of me."

"Not now Ezra, later."

"Josi-"

"Ezra! Shut up!"

Ezra grunted in surprise when Josiah adjusted his hold. He could feel his head falling back over Josiah's arm. There wasn't enough strength for him to lift it back up so he stared up into the blue sky. When he was young he wanted to travel through the stars. It was a wish that he thought would never happen but it did but he was struck down with a traveling sickness at a young age that destroyed any hope of enjoying long journeys through the growing galaxy.

"Stay with me Ezra."

It sounded like an order but he didn't like obeying orders. He closed his eyes to try and shut out memories of his childhood. They only seemed to make him either depressed or angry and the way he felt at the moment it would be depression that he would suffer. He heard Josiah's voice again and felt his body being shaken. It would be best if he didn't answer the man, it would be easier for both of them.

"Let's get you inside and settled Ezra."

The infiltrator closed his eyes, he wanted this to end and end now. Too many people had already been hurt.

~ Fourteen ~

Ezra sat cross-legged on one of the five beds and stared at Buck. Josiah had taken care of Nathan and now Nathan was stitching Buck's wound. He had done this, caused these men to be hurt. If Halis had done the job right in the first place this wouldn't have happened. Ezra pulled the two blankets that covered him tighter around his shoulders. Thicker clothing and more blankets did nothing to keep him warm, his body still felt chilled to the core. His eyes blinked when Josiah appeared in front of him. The bed creaked as he leaned sideways to look around the larger man. The need to know that Buck was okay was more important than what Josiah wanted.

"Ezra, you okay?"

"Mr. Sanchez, would you please move out of my way."

"I think we should talk about what happened," Josiah said.

"There's nothing to talk about so go away."

Josiah didn't realise Ezra's anger was growing because of the frustration that he was feeling and the temporary insanity that his drug craved mind was creating.

"This isn't your fault Ezra."

"Get out of the fucking way!"

Ezra pulled his right hand out of the blankets and tried to move Josiah out of his line of sight. He fell back onto the bed when Josiah pushed his arm away.

Nathan glanced over his shoulder to see what was happening. He could see the agitated expression that Ezra wore and the last thing he wanted or needed right now was a violent drug-starved patient.

"Leave him alone Josiah."

"He's blaming himself for this." Josiah moved to the side of the bed.

"Let him, there's nothing you could say or do at the moment that would change his mind. He's suffering from withdrawal symptoms remember. Who knows what he's going to be thinking over the next few days."

"I don't think that's it Nathan. He said like it had happened before."

"We'll deal with that when he's in a better state of mind," said Nathan.

Josiah decided to change the subject. He knew Ezra was worried about Buck but to afraid to ask the question. "How's Buck doing?"

"He's going to be okay, so am I."

"Good."

Nathan finished the stitching and began the processing bandaging the wound.

"I'll keep him here for a few hours to keep an eye on him," Nathan said.

"Who's going to keep an eye on you?" Josiah asked him.

"You. And you can also keep an eye on Ezra. I don't want him leaving and I don't want him anywhere near the drugs." Nathan nodded towards the locked drug cabinet. "Anything in there will set us back a week, he'd have to start all over again."

"You do realise that I'm sitting here and hearing your conversation?"

"We know."

Ezra scowled at Josiah's words then turned his head away when the older man smiled at him. Not only did he have to go through hell but he also had to put up with these assholes. Travis had a lot to answer for.

Chris Larabee walked into the room to have a short and blunt conversation with Ezra. After what happened on Okania a few hours ago he had to know what was happening. They needed information in order to find the person who was responsible for hurting his men. No one hurt a member of his team and got away with it. No one.

Firstly, he moved to his long time friend's side. "How's he doing Nathan?"

"He's fine. I sedated him to stitch the wound, he'll wake up in an hour or so." Nathan answered.

"How about you?"

"Me?" Nathan finished what he was doing and pulled the blood-covered gloves from his hands.

"I'm fine, although the strong pain killer I will wear off soon then I'm going to hurt like hell."

"That bad?"

"No, just painful."

"And him?"

Nathan turned to look at Standish. Josiah was still hovering by the man's side. "He wasn't hurt."

"Then why does he look so bad?"

He was full of questions today. "He's sick."

"Already?"

"No, this is something else, and he's going to get a lot worse so I suggest you take your anger and your bullshit and leave him alone for the next few days." Nathan didn't care, he'd had enough already today and he wasn't prepared to take anymore.

"Sure, if that's what you think is best," said Chris.

Larabee then walked straight to the bed Ezra was lying on.

"Chris!" Nathan should have known better and personally escorted his boss out.

"What's going on Standish?" Chris was as blunt as he planned to be.

"That is none of you-"

"Yes it is. My men were hurt and I want to know who's responsible."

"I don't know," Ezra said.

"Do you have any idea who might want you dead?"

Josiah's eyes continued to moved between the two men watching for signs that would tell him that the questioning was going to result in a violent outburst.

"A lot of people want me dead."

"Anybody from the Authority?"

Ezra frowned at the question then lifted his eyes. He had to blink a few times to bring Larabee into focus. "Why would you ask that?"

"Whoever it is has known where to find you. The question is how did he know."

"Obviously one of your men informed him of my where-"

Ezra didn't get to finish the sentence. His body drew back when Chris lunged for him. Luckily for Ezra, Sanchez intervened on his behalf. Larabee was pulled away from the bed and spoken to in a soft voice. Ezra couldn't make out the words so he stopped listening. He knew what they were saying to him anyway, he didn't need to listen.

Don't let him get to you Chris he isn't worth it. He's scum, and a traitor. He'd give any one of us up just to save himself. Leave him be, we'll be rid of him soon enough.'

It was more or less what everyone had to say about him. There had also been a lot worse things said that he didn't even want to think about. People didn't trust him. Why trust a man who couldn't even trust himself or anyone else for that matter. He'd always preferred to work alone, not wanting to have someone that he had to protect while waiting for that same person to stab him in the back. Ezra had learnt early in his life, thanks to his mother, that he couldn't trust people.

And it was that lack of trust that stopped people from trusting him.

"My men are trustworthy," Chris had freed himself of the arms that were trying to hold him back, "none of them would turn traitor on me or anyone else in the Authority.

Ezra couldn't help but hear the word traitor. Was this man accusing him of being one? Yes, why not. Everybody thought he was a traitor, everyone except Orin Travis.

"I need to speak to the Judge!" He pulled the blankets away from his shoulders and began to crawl to the edge of the bed. For some reason Josiah was there in an instant to stop him from getting off the bed. Ezra immediately kicked out and his booted foot slammed into the larger man's stomach. Josiah who was now bent over gasping for breath was easily pushed aside.

Larabee though was a different matter.

"You're not going anywhere until I get some answers!"

Chris had moved to the edge of the bed in time to stop Standish from running to the door. He was close enough to see the too pale skin and the sweat that was oozing from Ezra's pores.

"Who in the Authority would want you dead?" All he wanted to do was hit the irritating asshole even if he was sick, but that was going to have to wait until later.

"I have to talk to Travis!"

"No!"

"I need to . . ." Ezra began to fidget, he ran his hands through his hair and played with the cuffs of his shirt. He then began to twist his fingers and hands, squeezing them so tightly that you could see the blood being forced to the end of the joints. "I need to talk to the Judge, he can help me, you won't."

"The Judge told us to help you remember Ezra." Nathan spoke quietly. He could see how agitated his patient was becoming. This was exactly why he had told Chris to leave and not come back.

"Ordered," said Ezra.

"We've been through this already." Josiah straightened up and rubbed his stomach to make sure that there wasn't any damage.

"Who wants you dead!" Chris took another step closer causing him to stand face to face with the man who stood at least two inches smaller than him.

"I don't know! If I did I would just walk into his office and say here I am," Ezra spread his arms wide, "shoot me now!"

Chris could hear both anger and fear in the man's voice. Ezra wanted to die, just like he had wanted to when his wife and son had been murdered. He should be feeling sorry for the guy and helping him through whatever it was that was causing the suicidal thoughts that kept entering his mind instead of making it worse for him.

"I'll talk to Travis. And let me tell you this. I'm going to find out who it is and then I'm going to kill the son-of-a-bitch because no one hurts one of my men! You got that Standish!"

Ezra could only nod.

Josiah watched Chris storm out of the room then began to laugh. "Did you hear that Ezra?"

"How could I not." Ezra replied.

"He said you were part of his team. He's accepted you, he doesn't like you yet but he's brought you into the group."

"How in the hell did you get that from what he said?" Ezra resisted when Nathan and Josiah began to force him back onto the bed.

"You'll learn how to read behind the words and the emotions of Chris Larabee." Josiah forced Ezra to lie down then covered him with a blanket.

"I'll look forward to it."

"I'm sure you will."

"Josiah," Nathan interrupted the small talk, "I'm going to get some rest. Make sure he doesn't leave. Hit him over the head if you have to and don't take your eyes off him. He can be pretty sneaky so watch your own head."

"Don't worry Nathan, I'll watch over our young friend here. He's not going anywhere."

"Would you care to make a wager on that Mr. Sanchez?"

"No I wouldn't Ezra, I don't want to see you lose your money." Josiah refused to acknowledge the sight of Ezra's fingers twisting and pulling the sheet that covered him.

"The way I'm feeling at the moment and knowing that I'm going to get worse, I wouldn't lose my money."

Nathan had been right, this man was willing to do anything to get what he needed. He was going to be put to the test with this one.

Chris stared at the slightly blurred image of Judge Travis on the communications screen, the man's features were concentrating, trying to come up with the answer that Chris was looking for.

How did they know where Ezra Standish was? Chris was trying to wait patiently but it was difficult for him.

"Anything?" said Chris.

Travis rubbed his forehead and said, "No, I'm going to have to ask some questions."

"Ask who?"

"I have a few friends that I trust. Give me thirty minutes and I'll have your answers for you."

"You know I'm not a very patient man, Can you try and make it twenty?"

"Thirty minutes Mr. Larabee."

Chris sighed when the Judge reached forward, the screen went black. Thirty minutes. Damn! He hated waiting.

Pushing the chair away in frustration, he stood up and began to pace the room; it was what he did best. His legs moved, one step at a time, taking him from one end of the room to the other. More often than not, he would pace when one of his team had been hurt. The period of time not knowing robbed him of a longer life, he was sure that the stress and worry took years from him.

While he paced his mind tried to answer the questions it's own way. It had to have been a member of the Rebellion; no one else knew where they were. But to say something like that meant he was accusing a man who was a friend to Standish, a man he had grown up with. No, it couldn't have been one of them. There were arguments though to both sides. How would the Authority know where Standish was? They had told no one, not even Travis. Only the Rebellion on Okania knew he was there. The only answer was that Standish had an enemy among his friends. At least they were safe now. Only those aboard the 'Space Cowboys' knew where they were headed. What if Standish had told them himself? He had been left alone before they had arrived on the planet and he had plenty of opportunities to contact someone. Standish may be an irritating asshole but he wasn't stupid.

The communicator began to beep causing Larabee to stop in the middle of the room. A glance at his watch told him that thirty-two minutes had passed. Two long strides took him back to his chair and the expression he saw on Travis's face told him that it was bad news. There were no easy answers.

"Chris?"

"I'm here Judge, what do you have for me?"

Travis took a deep breath before giving the information he had uncovered. "This has come from the very top Chris, I pulled in a favour. The chip that every one has in the back of their neck has a homing device in it. Punch in the person's ID and you have their exact location within minutes."

"Shit."

"What are you going to do?" Travis asked him.

"The Chip, It's always been like this?"

"Yeah. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

"Let me know if you need anything."

"Sure."

"Chris . . . How's Ezra doing?"

"Considering the fact that I don't know what's going on I can't really tell you."

Larabee frowned when the screen went black a second time. Travis had literally hung up on him, but he didn't have time to worry about the Judge right now, he had things to discuss with Nathan and Standish.

~ Fifteen ~

His teeth rattled in time with the tremors, his body cold and yet the sweat was pouring from his pores soaking both his clothes and the bed sheets. Eyes were closed against the hazy images before him, if he opened them he was sure he would start throwing up all over the bed. Knees were kept bent and close to his chest, arms were wrapped tightly around the knees, anything to try and stop his body from shaking.

"Nathan,"

The voice was so quite that it was almost unheard.

"You need something Ezra?" Nathan asked as he stepped up to the bed.

"Anything, just something to stop this."

The pleading eyes did nothing to help persuade Nathan.

"I'm sorry Ezra, I can't give you anything, it'll only make it harder for you in the long run."

"I need something!" Ezra was becoming agitated, the anger flowing through his body like the drug had once flowed freely in his veins without any resistance.

"I-"

"Yes you can!" he yelled at the dark man. "You just don't want to."

"Calm down Ezra."

"If you're not going to help me you get away from me. Get the fuck away from me!"

Nathan did as he was told and walked away without turning his back on the growing anger before him. Ezra was beginning to crave what he needed and could soon be resorting to physical violence to get it. He was grateful that he had included Josiah in this, he didn't think that he would be able to handle Ezra without help. The man may be smaller than him but something told him that Standish didn't know what it was like to lose to anyone or anything.

"Think we should strap him in?"

Nathan spun around to face Josiah and answered his friend, "No, not yet."

Josiah nodded in acceptance. Nathan knew what he was doing, he would trust him and follow his orders. His eyes drifted back to the man on the bed. Standish was beginning to look like he had already passed on to the other side. The short auburn hair was soaked to his skull, the green eyes that would normally be bright and intelligent were now dull and sunken. Pale skin matched the sheets that covered the body, a body that didn't seem to be able to stop shivering. At least there would be no demons on the other side to haunt the young man but Josiah was sure there were many demons within the living world torturing Standish.

"Nathan!"

Nathan knew what that tone meant. Chris was in leadership mode and he wanted something and he wanted it now.

Chris stormed into the room with a dark cloud hovering above him, a cloud that was about to burst and abrupt into a flood of anger and confusion. "The chip, the one at the back here," he slapped the back of his neck, "they have homing devices, that's how they knew where he was and that's how they're going to know where he is. We either take it out, which means we take out ours or we keep moving and stay ahead of them."

"This means that it's someone in the Authority that wants him dead." Josiah shook his head slowly, this was going to make their job of protecting Standish a lot harder.

"We can't keep moving, he'll get sick and that'll just make this worse." Nathan argued.

Chris narrowed his eyes, turned and stared and the trembling form in the bed. "What the hell is going on Nathan?"

Josiah spoke up before Nathan could say anything. "Three months ago, it took us almost three days to find Buck, four months before that, it was nearly a week before we found you and you were lucky to still be alive. Something like this could stop that from happening. We could get to any one of us within hours. We don't have to spend days looking for what we might think is a corpse."

"He's got a point Nathan."

"It's a stupid point!" Ezra threw in. "Your need to see me suffer is interfering with what is the most logical idea. Take the fucking thing out or I'll take it out myself." He reached behind and began to scratch at the back of his neck.

"Okay, now we put the restraints on." Nathan ran to the bed with Josiah right behind him.

"What about Josiah's idea of just hitting him? Can I do it?"

Josiah was about to reprimand his boss - again - but saw that he was watching Ezra with a hint of concern on his features. Yes, Chris was finally coming around to see their point of view when it came to Ezra Standish.

"Will . . ." Nathan bit against his bottom lip and struggled to keep his patient's upper body down against the bed.

"I think he wants our help."

Chris nodded, "Then we'll help him." Chris grabbed Josiah's arm. "He's not contagious is he?"

"Would I be here if he was."

Chris looked upwards and saw the smile plastered all over the older man's face. "Yes."

"Help me will you!" Nathan yelled at them.

"What's in it for us?" Chris elbowed the man beside him.

"What's in it for you?" Nathan repeated. "I can put a laxative mixture in your coffee and you wouldn't even know about it until-"

"We're comin'." Chris growled in annoyance.

Ezra knew what they were trying to do and he was going to do his best not to allow them to succeed. The last thing he wanted was to be strapped to a bed. It would put him in a vulnerable position. He couldn't handle not being in control of his mind or body and this was the second time that Jackson had done this to him. The first time he thought it wouldn't happen, then hoped it wasn't going to happen, and then it had been to late to stop it.

They were stronger than he was, three men against one. Uneven odds to most men but Ezra decided that they were in his favour. They were stronger but he was smarter. They were standing close to him, bent over to hold him down. He went for the man he thought was weakest of the three. Chris Larabee. It was also a chance to repay Larabee for the punch that he had landed on him a week ago. It was a mistake.

His knee lifted and he tried to kick out towards the blond agent. He managed only to kick Larabee's upper thigh, causing a guttural curse to escape. Larabee's hold only strengthened. He was about to try again when a fist collided with his hip. He screamed more in frustration than in fear and began to fight with every ounce of strength he had. It didn't do him any good. First his arms were pulled wide and he could feel the leather straps around his wrists. He pulled at them hoping that his struggles would make it too hard for them to buckle the leather. The weight lifted from his upper body, two men now held his legs down.

He sat up as high as he could, his shoulders straining at the joints. He was still pulling with as much force as he could at the straps on his wrists when felt his right shoulder pop out of it's joint.

Ezra fell back onto the bed, pushing his head harder against the pillow. His teeth were clamped shut against the cry that was climbing up his throat. The strap pulled at his left arm when he tried to move his head closer to the injured shoulder, he needed to see it for some stupid reason.

The pain was overriding everything else: his anger, his fear, and his need for something to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal. It was something he could concentrate on, he had used the same tactic on other occasions and it had always worked for him. It could work again, not as well as it had before but it could help him when he needed a distraction.

After closing his eyes he forced himself to relax and began to concentrate on the pain. His breathing leveled out and the tension slowly drifted away from his limbs allowing his body to remind him of how cold he was and how much the rest of his body hurt. There wasn't a struggle when they pulled his legs apart and strapped the restraints around his ankles.

The pain and swelling would start soon, he was aware of that. All he had to do then was to try and move the shoulder and arm and pain would erupt. He hoped that Jackson or one of the others wouldn't notice the swelling that will occur in his shoulder.

"Why has he calmed down so suddenly?" Josiah asked.

"I don't know." Nathan looked down into Ezra's face and placed the palm of his hand against the man's forehead. There was a fever, there had been for the last twelve hours. "Ezra are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He willed himself not to show any pain. "You have to take it out Nathan. I can't do this and get sick again."

"What if we only take out Ezra's chip?" Nathan turned back to look at the other two men.

"Then they'll locate one of us." Chris told him. "They'll know where we are, and that he'll be with us."

"I can't keep him on this ship Chris, he's going to get sick again and that won't help him."

"What's going on Nathan?"

"Tell him Nathan!" Ezra lifted his head and felt the pain in his shoulder. "Tell the bastard everything. He doesn't give a shit what happens to me." his head fell back and he continued to speak as though he was alone. "No one ever gave a shit, not even Jack. Oh you may think he does but he'll do what my mother tells him. 'They say they're friends but they're not'. My mother taught me that, told me ever since I was a child. 'Make no friends Ezra', she had said. 'They only want something from you'. 'Don't trust anyone' was another one of her sayings. But my favourite is 'look after number one Ezra because no one else will'. It took me a while but I finally understood at the age of seven what she was saying. Number one. She was number one and she only intended to look after herself. She came before me. I know she loves me but it's a love that has conditions. When an attack went wrong she left me for the Authority. Saved her own skin and left me. BITCH! Did you hear that Larabee! She left me to die so she could save her own skin."

"Ezra . . ." Chris didn't know what to say to the younger man. At least he now knew why Standish had reacted so badly when he had called him a mamma's boy.

"Don't even bother, you don't want to so don't waste your breath lying to me."

"I wouldn't lie Ezra. I haven't lied to you yet have I?"

"Mr. Jackson, can you make him leave please."

"Chris," Nathan nodded to Chris, "we'll talk outside."

Josiah took a seat next to the bed and picked up a book he had brought to read. He knew Ezra wouldn't be in a talking mood and there would be no use in trying to force him to listen. The words on the pages of the book failed to reach his mind, it was too busy going over what Ezra had said. Why would a mother sacrifice her own son in order for her to keep her freedom? It was a question he couldn't answer. He glanced to his left to see Ezra lying still, there was no movement except for the occasional tremor. It had been a sudden change to the way he had been behaving five minutes ago and there had to be a rational reason for it.

He could feel Sanchez's eyes on him but he didn't care, the only thing he cared about now was the pain in his shoulder. The pain was now starting in the upper part of his arm. He wriggled his fingers and they felt numb. If left long enough he would require surgery to put it back in place.

And to add to everything his headache had decided to get worse. Sweat began to invade his eyes and he blinked trying to clear them of the moisture.

A hand reached over his face and wiped it with a damp cloth. Sanchez must have known what he was trying to do. No one had ever sat by him for such a long period as Sanchez, no one had ever wanted to. When Henderson had tried to kill him, he had spent three weeks on a medical ship.

There had been no visitors, no inquiries about his health. His mother hadn't made the attempt to find out if the rumour of his death was true. Normally she wouldn't take the word of any man, but this time she had. It was also unnatural for Jack to also accept it. They were probably grateful to get rid of him. If he ever had a friend it would be Jack but Jack did have his own personality problems, they just didn't always show themselves, especially in front of other people.

"You want me to read to you?"

"Huh?" Ezra was taken by surprise.

"My book, I could read it out loud if you like, it might take your mind off it," said Josiah.

"No. The last thing I want to hear right now is a voice."

"Headache?"

Ezra only nodded. He shifted his shoulder and concentrated on the pain. It took everything else away for a few minutes. It wasn't long enough but he knew the longer the shoulder was left, the more painful it would become.

"It's your decision Chris. What do we do?" Nathan was leaning against the wall. He had informed Chris of Ezra's condition and now there was a different look in the pale green eyes when Ezra's name was mentioned.

"How much will he suffer if we keep moving around?" Chris asked.

"Withdrawal symptoms and Dimension Affliction. How much do you think he's going to suffer."

"Josiah was right about the chip being useful to find each other when something goes wrong."

"How do we use it? Do we have to get Travis to pull in a favour every time we might need to locate our positions?"

"No, we get our own device to use."

"How are you going to make that happen?" Nathan knew he shouldn't ask.

"I'll get it any way I can."

"So we keep moving around?" Nathan allowed his chin to fall to his chest. He also knew that Josiah and Chris were right, he just couldn't stop thinking about what Ezra was going to go through.

"We'll help you Nathan. We can take shifts, do anything you need us to do. Even me," Chris said.

"Your first task is to tell Ezra."

They had taken the restraints off, it had only been an hour and they had taken the restraints off. Six men stood in a huddle close to the door. Occasionally one of them would look towards him and he knew by the expressions they held that they knew what was going on. He twisted his shoulder again and his chest lifted towards the roof in response to the pain, his eyes tightened and his teeth bit down hard on his cheeks. The taste of blood caused his stomach to turn. He had to keep his mind off the need for ORD; he wouldn't be able to do it otherwise. Another shift of his shoulder and the remaining thoughts and needs disappeared. Quickly, it had stopped working, he moved again and along with the extra pain came an attack of nausea. He didn't mind.

"Nathan." Ezra realised his eyes were beginning to water. "Nathan!"

"You need something Ezra?"

"My stomach . . ."

"Think you're going to throw up?" Nathan moved quickly and grabbed a large bowl.

"Know it."

Ezra pushed himself up into a sitting position with his good arm and leaned over to his left. He could feel the bile rising slowly in his throat and knew with a certainty that he wasn't going to be able to stop it. The bowl appeared in front of him and a hand began to rub his back in-between his shoulder blades. It wasn't Nathan's hand, he was holding the bowl with both of his hands. He wanted to look up to find out who it was but decided that it could wait until he was finished. It was probably Josiah anyway. That man was sticking to him like glue and it was causing him to feel slightly claustrophobic.

It was an awful feeling knowing that people were watching you empty your stomach. Spit and bile hung from his lips in between each bout of vomiting. His body continued to tremble and his shoulder and upper arm felt like they were on fire. He thought of nothing else but the pain, which is exactly what he wanted. No one had noticed that his right arm was almost lying on the bed behind him, he hadn't been able to lift it over his side without the pain showing on his face.

"Have you finished Ezra?"

Ezra shook his head at Nathan's question. "Are we moving or taking it out?"

"Moving." Chris informed him.

Ezra jumped in surprise and fell onto his back. His left arm reached for his right but he stopped it before it could make contact. The shock he felt was written all over his face. It was Larabee who had been rubbing his back.

"Why?" the question was whispered but Chris and Nathan heard it clearly.

"It's the best thing to do in the long run. I'll explain it to you when you're feeling better."

"I don't think that's going to happen, feeling better that is." Ezra sat up again and continued what he had been doing. The hand began to rub his back again and he wanted desperately to shake it off but he wasn't physically capable.

"Chris, could you get some fresh cold water for me so I can wipe Ezra's face when he's done."

Ezra slumped with relief when his stomach finally stopped. A cold wet cloth ran over his face, washing his mouth and wiping the sweat from his face and neck, it was gone in a matter of seconds but was back just as quickly. He refused to open his eyes when the cloth wiped the hair back from his forehead. Someone was actually taking care of him. With his eyes closed he couldn't see who it was, he could even pretend for a moment that it was his mother.

"Here Ezra," he was lifted and someone sat on the bed behind him to support him, "drink this."

Another hand, warm to the touch, lifted his chin while another poured the water into his mouth.

He coughed instead of swallowing, the water spurting all over the man in front of him. He opened his eyes and was again, shocked to see it was Chris that was trying to get him to drink something.

"God Damnit Ezra!" Nathan yelled at him. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?"

"He only coughed Nathan-" Chris started.

"I'm talking about this!" Nathan squeezed the injured shoulder.

Ezra cried out in pain, he couldn't keep it in.

"His shoulder is dislocated and he didn't tell me!" Nathan couldn't believe the strength of anger he was feeling right now. Why would someone who was already unwell go through pain like that?

"It helps." Ezra answered the man who was behind him.

"Helps what?"

"Helps keep my mind off the other thing."

"There's other ways Standish," said Chris.

"Then you tell me what other way I can not think about it. You tell me!" Ezra yelled into his face. "You have no idea what I'm going through!"

"No I don't Ezra, but we're here to help you through it. Anything you want," Chris smiled, "except for drugs. Anything Ezra."

"I could use a drink." It was all he could say, the statement had shocked him.

Chris lifted the glass again and held it while Ezra drank from it. When he was finished, the glass was taken away and his face wiped. He used his hand to push Chris's away from him. Someone wiping his mouth like that was too much for him to handle.

"Lay him down Chris, I have to put the shoulder back in place." Nathan ordered.

"Can't you just leave it alone for a while longer?"

"Ezra!"

"Nathan, just a little while, I've used this tactic before, it works fine."

"You've done this before?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, I-"

"You're not doing it again. Chris! Put him down."

Nathan pulled a sheet from one of the other beds. "Lift him up Chris."

"You just told me to put him down," Chris complained.

"And now I'm telling you to lift him up."

"What are you going to say after I lift him up?"

"I'm going to tell you to put him down," Nathan said.

"Then why in the hell am I lifting him up if you're only going to tell me to put him down again!"

"Who's the doctor here Chris?"

"You are."

"And do doctors know what they're doing?"

"No."

"Chris!" The word came out through gritted teeth.

"Fine! I'll lift him up."

"I can lift myself up you know," Ezra said.

"You've got no part in this Standish, this is between me and Nathan." Chris argued as he lifted the man up. He watched as Nathan gathered the sheet and put it under Ezra. He then waited for Nathan.

"Well," Nathan said.

"Well what?"

"Put him down!"

Chris let go of Ezra and allowed him to fall to the bed. "Sorry," he apologised when Ezra grunted in pain.

"Grab the other end of the sheet Chris. Vin can you help him." Nathan waited until Vin joined Chris's side. He then threw the other end of the sheet over Ezra's chest. "Grab an end each. I want you to pull when I tell you to."

"You're very good at telling people to do things Nathan." Stated Chris. "What are you like at being a doctor."

"Mr. Larabee," Ezra glared at him through puffy eyes, they were still watering and he couldn't do much about it, "could you not piss him off when he's about to carry out a medical procedure on my person. You can piss him off all you want when he's working on you."

"I'd rather not." Chris couldn't help but smile at Standish.

"Chris." Nathan's impatience was beginning to show on his face.

"Say when Nathan," Chris said.

Nathan began to lift Ezra's right arm off the bed.

"You're not going to give me an anesthetic?" Ezra asked.

"You're getting nothing until you get this ORD shit out of your system."

"That ORD shit saved my life a few times you know."

"And it's going to kill you."

There was no more arguing when Nathan lifted the arm further until it was level with the rest of Standish's body. "I'm going to pull on this side to put the shoulder in place, on the count of three guys. One . . . two . . . three."

Nathan pulled as hard as he could while ignoring Ezra's shout of pain until he felt the ball of the joint go back into the joint socket. "Stop pulling you guys, it's done. Josiah, can you get me one of those shoulder immobilisers."

"I don't need one." Insisted Ezra.

"You're going to have to wear one for at least two or three weeks." Nathan told him.

"I don't need one."

"What makes you think you don't need one?" Nathan caught the brace when Josiah threw it to him.

"It's something that always happens." Ezra shifted his hips to find a more comfortable position.

"Happens a lot then does it?"

"Yeah."

"When this is over you're going to have surgery to repair it so it doesn't happen so often."

"I don't need-"

"I don't give a shit what you need Ezra," Nathan wore a determined expression on his features, the same one he had been wearing when he had force fed Ezra, "things are going to change for you now that you're a part of this group and the first thing you're going to learn is that when I say you need something, you need it and you're going to get it."

Ezra glanced at Chris and saw that he was smiling, almost laughing. He didn't fail to notice that the rest of the group was doing the same.

"How the hell did I get into this shit?"

"By doing something stupid obviously," Chris said.

"Obviously." Ezra sighed deeply and waited for Nathan to finish putting the immobiliser on. He would take it off when Jackson wasn't watching. He then rolled onto his left side. "Stomach again."

~ Sixteen ~

" 'Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it? Yes'm. Powerful warm, warn't it? Yes,m. Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom? A bit of a scare shot through Tom--a touch of uncomfortable suspicion. He searched Aunt Polly's face, but it told him nothing. So he said: No'm--well, not very much. The old lady reached out her hand and felt Tom's shirt, and said: But you ain't too warm now, though. And it flattered her to reflect that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing that that was what she had in her mind. But in spite of tier, Tom knew where the wind lay, now. So he forestalled what might be the next move:' "

"You can keep reading Josiah, I'm only going to be a few minutes," said Nathan.

"I don't think he hears me anyway." Josiah shrugged and put the book down.

"You don't know that Josiah." Nathan was checking Ezra's heart rate when he frowned. "Too fast."

"That's not good is it?"

"It's to be expected," Nathan told him, "but I thought it would have started to slow down by now."

"Is he going to be okay Nathan? I mean he doesn't look like he's getting any better."

Nathan had asked himself that question already. It had been three days since he'd put Standish's shoulder back into place and the man had only gotten worse. Nathan knew that would happen but the withdrawal symptoms should be starting to ease already and the Dimension Affliction shouldn't be affecting him so badly. He looked down at the sweat soaked form and wiped the man's face with a cool cloth. Nathan could still feel the tremors that occasionally racked Standish's body. He then checked the drip he had put into Ezra's right arm to replace the fluids he was losing through his pores.

"Could you not give him something now?" Josiah asked.

"I don't want to risk it, not until I'm sure he's gone through the withdrawal process."

"And the only way to know that is to-"

"Land somewhere, let him get over this sickness and then see how he feels."

"We're going to have to talk to Chris."

Nathan brushed his fingers across Ezra's forehead and cheek, the fever was still raging. "I'll go talk to him," said Nathan, "you keep reading to him, I'm sure he can hear you."

Chris understood what Nathan was saying but he wasn't sure it was a good idea. Because of the homing devices they would know where Standish was right this minute, if they landed somewhere whoever was after Standish would be on him within a matter of hours.

"We can't land Nathan, anything could go wrong."

"Chris," Nathan was pacing, just like Chris normally did when he was frustrated and angry, "he's only getting worse, he's not stabalising, you've seen that yourself and I'm starting to get worried that he won't. I can't be sure of anything until we're on the ground."

"Nathan-"

"Chris! Don't give me that shit about protecting the team. Ezra is part of this team, we need to protect him, it's no longer a job at the order of Travis. This is something we have to do," he used his fist to hit the table, "if it was Vin or Buck you wouldn't hesitate. We have to land and we have to do it now!"

"And if we don't?"

"He might not get better Chris, I don't know what the Dimension Affliction is doing to his system or if there'll be any permanent damage. I've never dealt with the illness before, you usually give the patient the antidote and that's that. Ezra's been suffering from it for more than three days and the longer we keep moving the worse he could get."

"You're serious about this."

"Yes I am." Nathan sat down. "What if this kills him Chris? Do you want to be responsible for his death because I know I don't."

Chris stared at his knees and thought about what Nathan had just told him. Landing on a planet would help improve Ezra's condition, but it would also give the people who were after him a solid location. A location they may not be able to get away from quickly enough to escape the enemy's grasp. In a state of continuous movement the only life at risk was Standish. If they stopped then the entire crew would be at risk. Although Nathan was right about one thing, Standish was now part of this team whether he wanted him to be or not, and they took care of their own, they always did. They risked their lives for each other all the time. He couldn't make this decision on his own, it had to be a team decision, they had to decide if they were willing to risk their lives for a man who was made a part of the team because Travis wanted him protected.

"This has to be a team decision Nathan," said Chris.

"I understand."

"I'm going to say yes," Chris stood up and patted Nathan on the shoulder. "You're right Nathan. I don't have the right to force him to suffer like he is and if it was one of the others I would have done it differently."

"Thanks Chris."

"I'll get the others together and meet you in the medical room."

He opened his eyes when Josiah stopped reading and opened his mouth to ask him to continue. No sound came out, only a painful breath that caused him to start coughing. It was all that was required to set his chest on fire. Hands grabbed him and lifted him upright but it didn't help, the coughing was just as painful if not worse. He lungs felt as though they weighed a ton, filled with a heavy liquid that was drowning him.

Someone offered him some water but he refused it. The last thing he wanted was to put something in his stomach; it would only take the smallest amount of liquid or food to make him vomit. A voice told him that he had to drink something but he knew he didn't, he had felt the needle of the drip in his arm. Nathan would be taking care of him, he had to be, they wouldn't let him die. Travis wouldn't allow it.

At least he was no longer craving ORD as much as he had been, that was something. Now if only they would take him somewhere so he could get over this damn illness. He'd never been this bad before and he knew the drug withdrawal would not have helped him at all.

The man that was holding him seemed to be refusing to lay him back down. If he had the strength he would have struggled his way out of the person's embrace by now. But there was no strength, only a fear that he wasn't going to see his way through to the other end of this illness. An illness that didn't have to be. If Chris had allowed Nathan to take the chip out or if they could have just taken him somewhere else he wouldn't be suffering like this. It was Chris Larabee's fault, the man didn't give shit about him, but could he really blame him, it had been that way all his life, no one gave a shit about him or cared what happened to him.

He curled tighter into himself when his body shook. The tremors only made his chest feel worse. The man holding him must have mistaken his body language and thought he wanted to be closer so he was pulled further into the embrace. Damn he hated this type of physical contact with anyone.

Someone else took his chin in their hand and turned his head. Something was placed over his mouth and nose. Oxygen, Nathan was giving him oxygen. He found it was slightly easier to breath now that the oxygen was flowing into his lungs. His body jerked when he felt a needle prick his other arm. He had no idea what that would be for.

"It's okay Ezra,"

Ezra managed to open his eyes again slightly. Nathan was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Your lungs are beginning to fill with fluid. I'm giving you oxygen to help you breath and I've started you on antibiotics."

Ezra nodded so Nathan knew he was listening. He wanted to ask Nathan about the drug he was trying to get out of his system. He didn't know if antibiotics would affect him. He had gotten this far and he didn't want to have to go through it all again.

"We're going to be landing in about five hours," Nathan was continuing, "things will be better for you then. Okay?"

Again Ezra nodded.

"I'm sorry about this Ezra, you shouldn't be going through this."

Ezra didn't acknowledge the apology.

"Josiah's been reading to you, have you been able to hear him?"

Ezra nodded.

"Would you like him to keep doing it?"

He was only capable of a small nod this time, he was using too much energy, not that he had a lot to begin with.

"Okay, it won't be long now Ezra, you'll start feeling better soon."

This time the person holding him did lay him back down onto the bed. A blanket was thrown over him but he didn't have the motivation to remove it. His lungs struggle to take a deep breath on their own but it was too painful and he started to cough again. Someone rubbed his chest thinking that it would help, it didn't.

Ezra was going down hill fast and Nathan knew it. It was going to be another four hours before they reach Engaris; a planet that had been abandoned after the alien force had wiped out three of the four colonies, the last one not staying around to wait for the slaughter they knew was coming.

"Try not to take deep breaths Ezra, just breath normally."

There was no response, he knew Ezra was too weak to do any more than nod his head, which he had managed a few times but couldn't manage it now.

They had made the wrong decision, they had thought of themselves and what may happen in the future instead of a man in the here and now.

"Is he going to make to Engaris?" Chris was sitting in a chair next to the bed and was watching his feet closely. It didn't matter how much he disliked this man, he shouldn't have put Standish through this shit. He looked up and all he could see on Ezra's face was pain and misery. Every pore on Ezra's body was oozing sweat. The man was losing as much fluids as Nathan was pumping back into him. He could see the flush of the fever as Ezra's head occasionally rolled from one side to the other. Even his legs moved, the knees lifting then dropping quickly. Ezra Standish was sick, probably dying and Chris regretted every word had said to the man, regretted enjoying the pain and suffering during the first few days after meeting him.

"Yes . . ." Nathan answered.

"What's the but Nathan?"

"He'll get there if no more complications set in," he glanced sideways at Chris, "I didn't expect pneumonia, it's not serious but it could get worse."

"All this because he pissed me off," said Chris.

"No Chris, all this because someone wants him dead."

"But it was our job to protect him," Chris rubbed his forehead with more force than was necessary, "look at him now Nathan."

"He'll get better." Nathan was wiping Ezra's face again when his patient started to cough. He pulled Ezra up and caught his head when it fell backwards. Nathan then removed the oxygen mask and motioned to Chris to pass him a bowl.

Ezra could feel the cough coming from deep in his chest. The pain he felt made him think that his chest was about to tear in two. He needed to talk, to tell Nathan that something was wrong; something was breaking inside his chest. His body was lifted again and he didn't have the strength to hold his head up. It fell back and he began to panic at the thought of choking instead of coughing but the fear was short lived when a hand caught his head and supported it for him.

He then started to cough and he did his best to fight it, there was too much pain. There was no stopping it, the feeling of something heavy in his chest and throat had to be removed and coughing was the only way to do it. He could hear Nathan's voice telling him to cough and spit it out. It was easier said than done. He shook his head, he couldn't do it. There wasn't any strength left him to hold his head up and there was too much weight in his chest.

His body was pushed forward until his head was almost touching his knees. The coughing then turned into violent dry retching. At this moment he really wished he could die, a quick death would be better than this slow painful torture.

Nothing came from his stomach but he did feel something finally shift in his chest. The thick fluid rose into his mouth and he spat it out like Nathan had told him to. He continued to cough, his chest burning with pain as he began to struggle to breath again. The mask was back on his face in an instant and he felt himself being lowered back to the bed. Nothing changed. His chest was still heavy with fluid and his lungs were still drowning.

"The flem in his chest is starting to shift," said Nathan. "It's a good sign. I'll take another chest x-ray in a couple of hours to see if there's any improvement."

"How quickly will the Dimension Affliction improve?" Josiah asked.

"More or less straight away Josiah, as soon as the body realises that it's no longer in movement."

"What if he's too sick to notice."

"He'll notice."

"We still haven't worked out what we're going to do when he does get better," said Josiah.

"Take him back to the base." Chris lying on one of the near by beds. He had refused to go to his room and had given Buck orders to land the ship after they made their way through Engaris's atmosphere. "The person who wants him dead can come to us and then they'll have to go through us to get to him."

"You've changed your mind about our young friend then." Josiah smiled at Chris.

Young? Chris had thought Ezra was in his mid thirties but to look at him now, you got the impression that he was a lot younger.

"Let's just say that I'm feeling sorry for him and I'm angry at myself. As to liking him? I wouldn't go that far Josiah."

"Did Travis give you anymore information?" Nathan changed the subject, they needed to talk about something else.

"No but he's still digging through some stuff that he has."

Nathan nodded. There wasn't really anything they could do right now. JD had been through Ezra's file more than twenty times and there was nothing in it that would point to a reason that someone wanted him dead. It wasn't mentioned in the Infiltrator's file that he had once been part of the Rebellion but there were people in the Authority that would be aware of his past.

"What about Magot?" The thought had come to Nathan quickly. "He had used the chip's homing device to find Ezra and he didn't seem to like him at all."

"You can't really blame anyone for not liking Ezra, Nathan," Chris found his own statement amusing, "but if Magot wanted him dead he wouldn't have arrested him."

"Do you think it has something to do with Halis?" Josiah asked while his mind was in the middle of an answer.

"Could be." Chris replied.

"Then the someone we're talking about arranged for Halis to kill Ezra. Then when he found out that Ezra was still alive and was heading back to the base, he decided to question him, instead of killing him outright, to find out if Halis had told him anything, something that would reveal him as a traitor to the Authority. Could be that he was planning on killing Ezra while he was trying to escape."

Chris threw his feet off the bed, stared at Josiah and said. "I still don't think its Magot. The idiot probably got to Ezra before our culprit did."

"So it could be someone on the base." Josiah nodded

"Someone who worked with Ezra on the Halis case." Chris jumped off the bed. "I'm going to talk to Travis again."

The next two days were very confusing for Ezra, he didn't seem to understand anything that was happening and why it was happening. They had arrived somewhere, that much he knew. He thought he remembered Engaris being mentioned a number of times. There was an awareness of someone being with him all the time, he was never left alone which was something that he didn't feel comfortable with. Everything else was seen through a haze of pain and coughing fits where he spat up large amounts of phlegm. He was being taken care of in a way he'd never been taken care of in his life. They fed him, helped him drink fluids, bathed him, dressed him and held him while his sheets were changed. They weren't concerned about his privacy; they did everything for him. He tried telling them to stop because he felt vulnerable but it wasn't until early in the third day that he was able to talk and they had ignored all his complaints about what they were doing to him. They said it had to be done and he was too weak and ill to do it himself.

"Josiah, what are you reading?"

"It's called 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'." Josiah answered as he put the book down. He pulled his chair closer and rested his elbows on the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Compared to what?"

"Compared to how you usually feel," said Josiah.

Ezra laughed, he couldn't help himself. The pain in his chest wasn't as bad as it had been but it was still enough to cause him to try and roll onto his side.

"You shouldn't be laughing Ezra." Josiah grabbed Ezra's shoulder and held him as best as he could until Ezra stopped coughing.

"Sorry."

"No need to be Ezra."

"Where are we?"

"On Engaris. We've been here for a few days now. We made a group decision to land somewhere-"

"Why?" Ezra interrupted. He moved onto his back and forced his eyes open so he could look at the man he was talking to. There was someone sitting cross-legged on the bed behind Josiah but he couldn't really make out who it was.

"We were worried. You weren't doing very well Ezra, Nathan wasn't even sure you would get through it if we kept moving."

Ezra nodded. "I've never read it."

Josiah smiled and said. "Tom Sawyer."

"Yeah, I read some of Mark Twain when I was a kid. I had that book you've got but it disappeared before I could read it. I think my mother had something to do with its disappearance. She didn't like me spending time reading."

"You're talking to much Ezra, you need to save your energy." Josiah told him.

"Have you got many books?"

"I have quite a library. I collect books from the colonies, they trade them for things they need."

"Who's that behind you?"

Josiah glanced over his shoulder at Chris. The man was determined to stay as close to Ezra as he could until his was sure Ezra was going to be all right.

"Chris."

"Enjoying himself is he?"

"It's not like that Ezra." Josiah answered before Chris's mouth could get him into any trouble.

"That man doesn't like me." Ezra stated simply. "But then there aren't many people that do like me. I can count them on one hand."

"You can't be counting right then Ezra because we like you. That's another six."

"Whoopee."

"Well five actually but Chris will come around."

"Only if he stops pissing me off." Chris told them.

"You should get some rest Ezra." He pulled the blanket up to Ezra's neck and pushed it down around his shoulders.

"Josiah would you please stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Could you just move away a bit please, you're too close."

"Oh, sorry Ezra, I didn't mean to crowd you."

"Josiah . . . would you mind . . . could you keep reading out loud please."

"I don't mind at all Ezra."

Nathan felt Ezra's forehead and was relieved to find that it was nowhere near as warm as it had been that morning. He quickly removed his hand when Ezra rolled his head to the side. Nathan watched as Ezra lifted his right shoulder off the bed and move his hips further to the right. His patient was waking up.

"Ezra." He said the name softly at first so as not to scare him. "Ezra, I need you to wake up for me."

"Umm?"

"I need you to wake up."

"Why on earth would you want me to wake up? Don't you know I've been sick?"

"I'm going to take the IV's out," said Nathan.

"And you need to wake me because?"

"Because that's what doctors do. We wake our patients up so they can feel all the pain."

"You do remember our deal don't you?" Ezra opened his eyes and found Nathan leaning over him.

"What deal is that?" asked Chris Larabee.

"Aw hell. Is he still here or am I having a nightmare?" Ezra questioned Nathan.

"Hasn't really left Ezra."

"Why? Why is he still here?"

"Because I want to be Ezra," said Chris.

"This is a nightmare isn't it? Or have I died and gone to hell?"

"This is going to sting a bit Ezra." Nathan had pulled on a pair of gloves while Ezra had been complaining about his visitor. He pulled the first IV needle out and placed a small ball of cotton on it and applied pressure until the small amount of blood stopped flowing. He then repeated the process with the second IV. "I'm going to keep you on antibiotics for at least another two weeks but it'll be in pill form and I want you to start eating solid food instead of the soup we've been managing to get into you."

"I'm not really feeling hungry at the moment," said Ezra.

"I know Ezra, you'll feel that way for a few days yet but you don't have much of a choice, you have to eat." He sat on the bed again and stared down at Ezra. "You got pretty sick Ezra. You had me scared, didn't think you were going to make it."

"So Josiah told me."

"Was it a group decision because Mr. Larabee refused to do it?"

"The vote was unanimous Ezra." Chris told him.

"How are you feeling?"

"I thought you were the doctor." Ezra frowned at him.

"Are you feeling any withdrawal symptoms? You know what I mean."

Ezra closed his eyes and listened to what his body was telling him. "I still have a headache but there's not really anything else. I could be wrong though, my chest seems to be causing most of my pain at the moment."

"You developed pneumonia in both lungs. Happened pretty quickly. Your health has been suffering since you started taking ORD so your immune system was pretty weak. We need to get you fit and healthy again."

"I got through it then?"

"It's out of your system Ezra but it's going to be a day to day struggle. You'll start by doing it minute-by-minute, then hour-by-hour, then day-by-day. You probably don't feel the need for it at the moment because you're still sick. It's going to take at least another week before you're on your feet."

"How long have we been here?"

"Three days."

"And no one has come for me?"

"No," answered Chris, "and I'm starting to wonder why."

"Chris wants to ask you some questions about what's going on and run something by you, see what you think but I told him he has to wait a couple of more days."

"I can talk now," said Ezra.

"No, you're too tired and you're talking too much now as it is. You get some more sleep and when you wake up you can have something to eat."

Ezra nodded, he wasn't going to argue. If there was one thing in this world that he loved to do was sleep. He wriggled his head further into his pillow and grimaced when Nathan did the exact same thing that Josiah had done. Nathan had pulled the blanket back up and tucked it around his shoulders. He fell asleep before he could say anything to him.

Ezra woke up the next morning to find that Chris was still there. He was sleeping in a bed on the opposite side of the room. He didn't wake him; instead he tried to understand why the man was spending so much time with him. There was no reason for it, no reason that he could think of. Nathan had told him the day before that Chris had wanted to talk to him. Was that why he was spending so much time in the medical room? Did he want to talk to him before anybody else had a chance to? Was Larabee going to threaten him into being quiet so Travis wouldn't find out what had happened? That he'd almost lost his life because of Larabee's decision.

His eyes shifted focus when someone else walked into the room. It was JD and Buck. He tried to push himself up into a sitting position but fell back down on his good arm. He cringed when the two men rushed to his bedside to help him.

"You okay there Ezra?" Buck grabbed his arm and lifted him but he wasn't doing it right so only one side of his body was being raised and the weight was falling onto his sore shoulder.

"Buck, let go," said Ezra.

"Let me help Buck, you're not doing it right," JD intervened on Ezra's behalf but he didn't do much better.

"You're not helping!" Ezra growled at them.

"We wanted to see how you were doing." JD told him after stepping back. "Nathan said you were improving, so we thought we would come and see for ourselves. I mean we have been sitting with you but you were sick, too sick to talk to us but we talked to you. Tried reading that book Josiah had but I couldn't understand what they were talking about half the time. What's no'm? Is it no or is it something else? You look better. At least you don't look like you're dying anymore because you looked like you were dying for a while there. I didn't think you were going to die but Nathan, well you know Nathan, if you scratched a finger he would think you were dying. That way he could . . ." he stopped when he realised that not only Ezra and Buck were staring at him but Chris was as well. "What?"

"What time is it?" Ezra asked JD.

JD looked at his watch and answered. "Just after seven in the morning."

"And you have that much to say in one breath at this time of the morning?"

"He always does." Buck had crossed his arms over his chest and was standing by Ezra's side. Both of them were still staring at JD. "JD, you woke Chris up."

"Oh shit. Um, I've got things to do Ezra, I'll catch up with you later, okay."

"Now that motor mouth is gone. How are you feeling?" Buck twisted his position so he was facing Ezra.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? You should know how I feel."

"You seemed to have gotten better pretty quick." Chris growled. "Your smart mouth is getting back to normal."

"Trying to have a conversation here pard." Buck glared at Chris.

"And I'm butting in," said Chris.

"Yes you are and I would like you to but out."

"I wasn't asking Buck, I'm telling you, I'm butting in."

Ezra had raised his head as far as he could and held it for as long as he could, which was long enough to see the expression on Chris's face. The man was enjoying himself again. His head fell back to the bed and he groaned when the impact caused a strong ache to develop in his forehead. "Is it like this when one of you guys get sick?"

"You mean him," Buck nodded towards Chris, "hanging around you, irritating you, laughing at you, yelling at you-"

"He hasn't yelled yet." Ezra interrupted.

"That'll come. And so will the part where he will ignore the fact that you're still recovering from an illness or wound and expect you to carry out your duties plus more."

"I don't seem to have any duties." Ezra smiled at Buck.

"You will." Chris warned him.

"I'm sick."

"Not for long, Nathan's an excellent doctor, just don't let him know I told you that."

"And if I do?"

"Tell him and you'll find out." Chris was smiling but the threat was definitely there in his pale green eyes.

"I'll take you up on that when I'm feeling better because right now I don't feel very well."

Buck leaned over him and asked. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Get Nathan, Buck." Chris jumped off the bed and practically ran to Ezra's bedside.

"I'm getting." Buck answered.

"What's wrong Ezra?"

"My head hurts."

"Your head hurts. Is that it?"

"Yeah, but it hurts."

"A headache?"

"Yes."

"You're complaining about a headache?"

"I wouldn't be complaining if you didn't keep asking me if it's a headache!"

"So you've got a nasty headache?"

"It's a headache and it hurts. Okay!" Ezra lifted his left arm and held his palm against his forehead. To him it felt too warm.

"Okay," said Chris.

"Okay what?" Ezra eyed Chris looking for the angle the man was trying to play.

"Okay you've got a headache."

"Chris,"

Chris turned around to see Nathan standing behind him. "I didn't do anything Nathan, all I was doing was asking him what was wrong."

"What is wrong Ezra?" Nathan pushed Chris away.

"Headache and it hurts." Chris answered.

"That's what I said." Ezra nodded then frowned when the pain worsened.

"Okay, I'm going to check you over, the usual stuff." Nathan began his examination and when he was finished he moved to the drugs cabinet. He removed a small vial and a package that held a needle.

"What are you going to do with that?" Ezra shifted away from him as much as he could.

"Your headache is part of the withdrawal process."

"But you said it was out of my system."

"It is but you're going to have some bad headaches on and off for a couple of weeks. Nothing that a painkiller won't cure, as long as you let me know when they're starting and not when they're at their peak."

"Told you."

"Told me what?" Nathan asked after he injected the painkiller.

"Not you, him. Told him I had a headache and that it hurt but he had to keep asking me. He hasn't got a very nice bed side manner Nathan."

"I'm sorry Ezra. I've tried to keep him away but you can only threaten him so much. He holds a grudge you see, and he can make a person's life a living hell."

"Sounds like a challenge."

"Can I ask him some questions now Doctor Nathan?"

"Ask him whatever you want Mr. Boss." Nathan stood up. "I'll go get you something to eat. Josiah's making his famous pancakes."

"Pancakes?"

"You haven't had pancakes?"

"No, I don't think so."

"You'll love them." Nathan walked away but stopped next to Chris and whispered in his ear. "Don't be too hard on him Chris, he's still weak, just because he's talking so much doesn't mean he's okay."

"I'll have a double helping of pancakes and coffee thanks Nathan." Chris slapped Nathan on the upper arm.

Nathan glared at Chris's retreating back. The man really was too much sometimes.

Chris grabbed a chair on his way to the bed. He knew Ezra was watching him closely. He didn't seem to trust anyone.

"Are you up to talking?"

"Depends on what you want to talk about." Ezra answered.

"I want to find out who wants you dead."

"I don't know who wants me dead. Not anyone specific anyway."

"We had a talk about it and decided that it's someone at the base."

Ezra frowned. "What makes you think that?"

"What did Halis say to you before he shot you?"

"Halis? What has he got to do with it? Or is he still alive?"

"He's dead. We think that the person who wants you dead had Halis try and kill you. That's where it started." Chris explained.

"Oh."

"So what did he say?"

"My job was to stop you," Ezra started, "you Mr. Larabee, my job was to stop you from taking Halis in."

"Why?"

"I was told that he was worth more to the Authority out here, that he supplied good information."

"If that was the case, why wasn't I informed? It would have been easier if they had just told me, that way we wouldn't have gone after him at all."

"They told me you would disobey orders, that you'd done it before and killed bounties to save you the trouble of bringing them in."

"They lied."

"It doesn't make sense does it?"

"No. They sent you in so Halis could kill you. Why go to that trouble? Why not just kill you another way."

"I'm only on the base or out on a job. They wouldn't kill me on the base, they would have to send me out to have me killed."

"But why one of my cases?"

"Maybe you were their insurance." Ezra suggested.

"What do you mean?"

"If Halis didn't succeed you would have."

"It could have happened." Chris nodded. "Who sent you in?"

"Brooks."

"Is there any reason why he would want you dead?"

"None that I can think of. I hardly know the guy."

"Then he's working for someone higher up." Chris sat back in the chair. He could see that Ezra was getting tired. He should have listened to Nathan. This man obviously knew how to talk, even when he wasn't feeling well. "I'll leave it there for now, you're getting tired."

"I'm fine Mr. Larabee."

"No, it's okay, we've got something to go on now. I'll contact Travis, tell him about Brooks and let him know how you're doing." Chris waited a moment then added. "You're doing okay aren't you?"

"I'm doing fine Mr. Larabee. I'm just tired and my chest still hurts but apart from that I'm doing fine."

"Good."

"Is it?"

"Yeah it is."

Ezra nodded and closed his eyes. "Would you mind going away now."

"You don't like me being here?" Chris asked with a smile.

"No I don't."

"Okay, sure. I'll go talk to Travis then come back."

"You don't have to come back Mr. Larabee." Ezra glared at him.

"No, I don't have to, just want to is all." Chris left the room knowing that Ezra's mouth had dropped open in shock.

"What?" Chris couldn't believe it, just when they were getting somewhere this had to happen. "How?"

"He was murdered Chris, shot in the back. It happened right here on the base, I couldn't believe it."

"Whoever he was working for must be getting desperate." Chris knew this meant the whole situation was coming to a head. "We're bringing Ezra back to the base."

"How is he?"

"He didn't do to well for a while Judge, he got sick, so sick that we had to land somewhere so he could get over the travel sickness he gets."

"How is he now?"

Chris smiled knowing that it would give the Judge a sense of relief. "He's mouth is back to normal, does that give you any indication."

"Yeah it does," said Travis.

"His lungs are nearly clear. Nathan thinks it'll be another couple of days. He then wants him to have a few more days to start getting his strength back before we return to base."

"Do you have any idea why there has been no attempt on his life since Okania?"

"No," Chris rubbed his tired eyes, "I thought there would have been an attempt a couple of hours after we landed but there's been nothing. I can't understand why."

"Give me a call when you're on your way and I'll set up some protection."

"No, he won't try anything if there's too many people around Ezra. We need to bring him out."

"You sure about this Chris. The guy didn't have any problem killing Brooks."

"He wasn't dealing with us then Judge."

Travis nodded then said. "Call me anyway, let me know how Ezra's doing."

"Any particular reason why you like this guy Judge, because all I've seen has pissed me off."

Travis laughed then laughed even harder when Chris raised his eyebrows at him. "That's it exactly Chris, he pisses me off, and there's something about him. He never had what we had and for some reason, don't ask me why, I feel like I have to try and give it to him."

"You're not telling me that I'm going to end up doing the same are you?" Chris held his breath and waited for the answer.

"It depends on the person Chris, some people just don't like him. He's arrogant, independent, confident and he speaks his mind but what those people don't see is that he's also vulnerable, scared, and lonely."

"Ah shit!" His head hit the desk quickly. "I am going to do what you're doing. Why me? Why is it always me?" Chris lifted his head when he heard the Judge laughing again. "What's so damn funny?"

"I said exactly the same thing."

"God help me."

"Let me know Chris."

"Don't worry about him Judge, we'll get him through it, he'll be fine."

"I know Chris, just call me anyway."

"Call me as soon as you get anything." Chris told him then turned the screen off. He pushed himself out of the chair and headed back to the medical room to tell Ezra the bad news. If they couldn't find a connection from Brooks to the man who wanted Ezra dead then there was nothing that could be done to find him. The only way left to them was to wait.

~ Seventeen ~

'You need any help?' Buck had been watching as Ezra slowly and carefully dressed himself; he wouldn't allow anyone else to do it, he said they had invaded his privacy enough already. Two days they had been on the base and already Ezra was acting as though there had been nothing wrong with him. Nathan had warned them that he would still be weak and to not let him overexert himself or there would be hell to pay. So far no one had been able to convince Ezra to stay in bed and no one dared to try and physically force him into one; Nathan wouldn't like that and you didn't do what Nathan wouldn't like.

'Do I look like I need any help?' Ezra was trying to do the buttons on the pale blue shirt but he was having trouble with his fingers.

'Yes,' answered Vin who was sitting on the bed next to Buck.

'Looks can be deceiving.'

'Nathan says you should be wearing that shoulder immobiliser.'

'I don't need it.' Ezra moved his shoulder around in a circular motion to prove his statement. 'See.'

'Don't expect any help from us when Nathan drags you to the ground and has Josiah hold you down while he puts it on.' Vin nudged Buck's side with his elbow.

'He would do that wouldn't he,' said Ezra.

'Yes he would.' Buck agreed with Vin.

'Then I'm going to need some protection.' Ezra left the bedroom and began to search the small apartment for something that he could use against Nathan.

'What do you mean protection?' Buck jumped off the bed and followed Ezra.

'Something to protect myself with Buck. If Nathan decides to force me then I'll be required to protect myself.'

'You're talking about a weapon aren't you?' Vin was leaning against the doorframe of the bedroom.

'Yes I am.'

'You mean a weapon to use against him.'

'Yes I do.'

'You can't do that Ezra, he's trying to help you not hurt you.' Buck told him.

'I have spent almost every minute in a bed since I met the man.' Ezra turned and glared at Buck. 'Could you blame me for wanting to protect myself?'

'No, not when you put it that way Ezra.'

'Then perhaps you could help me find something?'

'Sure, what is it you're looking for?' Buck asked him.

'A weapon Buck, you know, the sort of thing you use to protect yourself with.'

'You do have a mouth don't you.' Buck grinned widely at the smaller man.

'Best protection there is Buck,' he turned around then added, 'best protection there is.'

'How about us?' Vin asked him.

'What?' Ezra spun around again and grabbed the nearest object to stop himself from falling over.

'Us. Why don't you use us for protection?'

'I can't see myself picking up either of you and throwing you at Nathan,' said Ezra.

'We can stand between you and him.' Buck understood what Vin was suggesting.

'I thought you said that you didn't do what Nathan didn't like?' Ezra couldn't understand why they were willing to take the risk. 'He already abused Vin for what he did.' Vin had allowed him to drink alcohol, a little too much alcohol. Ezra had considered it a celebration for being off ORD and Vin had agreed, but Nathan hadn't.

'Vin thought it was worth the risk and so do I.' Buck didn't feel too confident though.

'Why?'

'You're going to have to stop asking why and just accept it Ezra. This isn't a job anymore, you're part of the team and we look after our own.'

'This is too weird for me.' Ezra shook his head. 'I think I'm going to lie down for a while.'

'The bed is this way Ezra.' Vin nodded to the room behind him.

'The couch is fine thank you Vin.'

Vin shrugged, he didn't particularly care where Ezra slept. 'So what are we going to do Buck?'

'Well if there were a couple of ladies that were willing to-'

'There isn't so think of something else.'

Buck let out a sigh of frustration. He hadn't been with a woman since they'd gotten back. Chris had made it an order, no women and no drinking until it was over. 'Cards.'

'Did you say cards?' Ezra sat up and watched as Buck pulled a pack of cards from the bag he had brought with him that morning.

'Why? Do you play?' Vin was clearing the coffee table and didn't see the childish glint in Ezra's eyes.

'Yes I do. Poker actually, usually for money.'

'I've got plenty of money,' said Buck, 'Chris won't let me spend it on the ladies.'

'And you Vin?' Ezra's eyes were gleaming now.

'I've got some but I'm not sure I want to lose it to Buck.'

'I have a way with the game,' Buck laid his money out on the table, 'it seems that I win most of the time.'

'How about we change that,' Ezra smiled but then his face dropped, 'wait a moment, I just remembered that I don't have any money, it's all back in my quarters.'

'I'm sure I could lend you a few dollars Ezra, after all, I'm only going to win it back anyway.' Buck threw a few small notes over to Ezra.

'Why thank you Buck, I appreciate that.'

'Vin, are you in?' Buck asked him.

'Only to a certain amount.'

'Why don't you deal Ezra.' Buck handed him the cards. 'Such a shame we couldn't have some beer or ladies.'

'Maybe you should sneak some in next time,' Ezra said, 'not the ladies though.'

'You don't like women Ezra?' Vin asked.

'I like women, it's the type of women Buck's talking about that I'm not interested in. Give me a woman that can sit down and have an intelligent conversation any day rather than a women that will sleep with you because you have money that she wants.'

'My mother was one of those women.' Buck told him.

'I'm sure your mother was different.' Ezra rolled his eyes but Buck ignored him. Ezra was right because if it weren't for the money his mother wouldn't have been in that line of employment.

One hour into the game and it was Vin that had won most of the money. After the fourth game, Buck had started to accuse them of cheating, something they both denied with resentment. He knew it wasn't Vin, he had never cheated and Buck didn't think he knew how too. So it had to be Ezra but how could he accuse him of being the cheat, he didn't know how Ezra would react.

'You seem to have had a change of luck there Vin.'

'Don't know why. I've never had a change of luck before.'

'Maybe I'm your change of luck.' Ezra smiled as he dealt the cards out.

'What are you saying Ezra?' Buck had been right then; Ezra was cheating.

'Lucky charm is I.'

'Luck is right Ezra, I've never won this much.'

'And I've never lost so much money,' Buck glared at Ezra.

'You're not suggesting something are you Buck?'

'I'm not suggesting anything Ezra.'

'Good, because I don't cheat, there is no need for me to cheat.'

'You're that good are you?' Vin laughed.

'Yes I am.'

'Did you guys hear something?' Vin's head turned so he could see the door.

'Only my money going down the drown.' Buck retorted.

'I'm serious.'

All three men stopped and listened for the noise that Vin had heard.

'There, did you hear it?'

'Heard it.' Buck rose to his feet and was pulling his gun from it's holster when the door to the apartment flew open.

Six men wearing dark clothing and facemasks burst threw the opening into the apartment and immediately began firing at the two protectors.

'Ezra. Get down!' Vin pulled his gun and fired at the first man coming through the door.

Six men against two; there wasn't a real chance to fire back. They could only manage to take down two of the attackers before the fight was over.

Vin was taken out when a bullet struck his chest high on the right, his head hitting the table on the way to the floor. Buck's life was saved only by the act of bravery by one Ezra Standish. The Infiltrator had yelled out and dove towards Buck. He hit him side on and knocked him to the ground.

'Not for me Buck,' Ezra told him when two men began to drag him off the bounty hunter, 'you're not going to die for me.'

'On his stomach now!' The tallest of the four remaining men started giving orders. 'Get it out.'

Ezra was lifted and thrown onto the couch while all Buck could do was watch from his position on the floor, the gun that was held against his temple stopped him from doing anything; not only that but the words Ezra had spoken to him.

One man put all his weight on Ezra's back while another pushed his face into the cushion. His oxygen was cut off and he started to struggle for air. Once Ezra was in the position they wanted him in, a knife became visible. Buck knew immediately what they were planning on doing.

'Leave him alone!'

'Shut up Wilmington or you'll die now.'

When his shirt was pulled down and away from his neck, Ezra also realised what they had in mind. He screamed in pain when the knife cut deep into the base of his neck. He could feel the blood flowing down around him, soaking his shirt and the cushion beneath him. The fingers that began to probe the wound caused him to scream a second time, then the knife started to cut the flesh away from the information chip that had been imbedded in his neck when he was born. Struggling didn't seem to do him any good; the two men holding him down were too strong. Suddenly then the weight was gone and he was dragged off the couch and held up on his feet.

'You come after him and he's a dead man.' Buck was warned.

'You hurt him any more and you're a dead man.'

The man could only laugh. 'Let's get out of here, the boss is waiting for Standish.'

As soon as the four men had forced Ezra out of the room Buck rushed to Vin's side. There was too much blood. He pressed his fingers against the already pale and sweaty skin and let out a deep sigh of relief when he found a pulse. Now that he knew Vin was still breathing, he wanted to go after Ezra. But the only thing that would come out of that impulse would be two deaths, his and Ezra's. He had to call Chris; they needed everyone searching the base.

Ezra knew exactly where he was and it was going to be difficult for the others to find him. That's if they were looking for him. He was in a small room that was hidden behind the second engine room. The noise from the engines would be enough to drown out his cries for help, or would that be his screams of pain because they didn't seem to have any problem when it came to causing him pain.

The metal cuffs that held his hands above his head were already scraping the skin from his wrists. Another chain held his right foot firmly to the center of the floor. There was no way that he was going to be able to escape from this predicament.

His captors had left him alone three hours ago and no one had returned. He had no idea who these people were or what they wanted and he was beginning to think that he was never going to find out. As if on cue the door opened and four men entered the room. Three still wore black masks but the fourth one carried a bag and was dressed in a suit, the clean-shaven face was recognisable.

'I see we finally managed to get you.'

'All you had to do was ask Blake, I would have gladly come and spoken to you.' Ezra smiled at the man who had tried to kill him five years ago.

'Somehow I don't think talking would have been what you had in mind.' Blake Henderson replied.

'You know me so well.' Ezra tried to stop his body from becoming tense but he could no longer control it. He knew what this man was capable of.

Henderson laughed and shook his head. 'No one knows you Ezra, you keep to yourself too much. But somehow I think Bounty Seven are starting to get through to you.'

'What makes you think that?'

'How long have you been with them now? Nearly three weeks? They must like you. If they didn't they would have either dumped you or killed you already.'

'They're under orders from Travis, they didn't have a choice.'

'Larabee always has a choice.' Henderson moved forward until his face was close to Ezra's. 'You know he's not looking for you don't you? He's left it to the Authority Guards.'

'I know he's not looking for me Blake. Larabee will be looking for the man responsible for Vin Tanner's death.' Ezra held his breath and waited for the response.

'Oh, Tanner's not dead, nowhere near it in fact so I don't think his shooter would be his first priority.'

'I'm glad to hear that Vin's still alive.' Ezra didn't allow the relief to show on his face. 'You know, Larabee once told me that no one hurts one of his men and gets away with it.'

'I'm going to get away with it.' Henderson smiled.

'You can think that way if you want too.' Ezra's eyes tried to follow Henderson as the man began to walk a circle around him. 'Even if you kill me Larabee will still find you.'

Henderson ran his forefinger down the line of Ezra's backbone and smiled again when Ezra flinched away from him. 'What does Larabee know?'

'About what?'

'Did you give him any information?'

'About what?'

Henderson nodded to one of the three men who were standing in front of the door. Ezra didn't see the nod but the movement of the man coming towards him told him what was about to happen. He tried not to tense up knowing that it would only cause the physical abuse to hurt even more. The man moved behind him and Ezra twisted his neck to try and see what he was going to do. He winced when the open wound on the back of his neck exploded with pain. Even more pain followed when the faceless man pressed his fingers into his injury. Ezra gritted his teeth and tried to pull away from him but the man stayed with him, pressing even harder.

'Did you tell Larabee or any of his team?'

'Tell them what?'

'Don't play with me Ezra! I can make this very painful for you!'

'You already are!' Ezra tried kicking out with his free leg to stop the pain but the man easily dodged his foot.

'Ezra.'

'I don't know what you're talking about.'

Henderson waved his hand and his goon let go. He then changed his position so he was in front of Ezra and reached out and firmly held Ezra's jaw. His fingers dug deep into the flesh. 'What did you tell them?' he yelled into Ezra's face. There was no answer, only a look of defiance and anger in the green eyes. No fear at all. 'You're not going to tell me are you?'

Ezra spoke when Henderson let go of his jaw. 'I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.'

'One last chance Ezra, if you don't tell me what I want to know I'm going to have to resort to violence.'

'You know I can take whatever you throw at me.' Ezra knew that wasn't true. He was only human and could only take so much but he would be able to last a while.

'You don't want to do this the easy way?'

'No.'

'Okay, if this is the way you want to play it.' Henderson turned to face his men. 'Get one of the others, remove their chip, then bring them here.'

Ezra realised his mistake too late. 'Wait! You don't need one of the others. You're wasting your time anyway Henderson. I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know what information.'

'Too late Ezra, my men have gone and they will soon return with one of your friends.'

'They won't be able to help you.'

'Maybe not,' Henderson reached down into his bag and removed a roll of tape, 'but between the two of you, there should be one that will talk.'

'I told you that I don't know what you're talking about. If you tell me I might be able to answer your question.'

Henderson tore off a strip of tape and placed it over Ezra's mouth. He heard enough of the man's lies. If he wasn't going to talk then he would make one of the others talk. Another piece was used to cover the green eyes that had a way of making him fear his life but not this time. Standish was in a position that stopped him from doing anything.

The last time though had been the same. Standish had been unconscious and tied up. It took only one bullet to the chest. There was enough blood to make him think that Standish wouldn't last the night. He'd left him for dead. But someone had found him the next morning. He was alive and continued to be that way for five years. Standish could have been taken any time, it would have been easy but the man hadn't been a threat. Not until now.

The fist that hit him on the right side of his face caused him jump in response. Henderson always was a coward; he could only inflict pain when his victim was vulnerable. There was a second punch, this time to his stomach. All he wanted to do was bend over to try and ease the pain and struggle for breath. He could take this, he could take any of this. What he couldn't take was one of the others being beaten for information that he didn't know. The only thing for him to do was to lie. He would have to make something up. He could do that but he knew Henderson would only kill them anyway. The only hope they would have was the rest of the team finding them. Oh god, don't let it be JD, anyone of them but JD.

'What are you thinking Ezra?'

Ezra knew it was a question that didn't expect an answer. Henderson was trying to figure out what was going on in his prisoner's mind. Ezra was grateful he didn't have to answer because he would give himself away. In his answer would be the word fear. He was afraid that one of the men who had saved his life and put him back onto a road that held some sort of hope would get hurt. Ezra reminded himself that they had already been hurt. First Buck and Nathan, and now Vin. Henderson had told him that Vin wasn't dead but how long ago was that. He'd lost track of time and no longer had any idea of how much time had passed since Henderson ordered his men to take another member of Bounty Seven.

'Are you ready to give me my answer?'

Ezra shrugged his shoulders as best as he could.

'You're still trying to tell me that you don't know what I'm talking about.'

He hated being blind. His body was too tense and he was unable to calm down enough to try and judge where Henderson was at any given moment. The man kept moving as he talked. Damn. Why didn't he just get it over with?

'Did you tell Travis?'

Ezra frowned at the question. He wished he knew what the man wanted. He had to think so he ignored the ongoing questions and instead tried to think of what it was that Henderson was talking about. Obviously Henderson thought he knew something important, something that would bring the man down. Henderson had thought he had talked to Larabee or one of the others and now he was wondering about Travis. He thought back to the time that Henderson had tried to take his life. There had been a lot of talk before Henderson had given the final blow that sent him into unconsciousness. It wasn't until a week later that he found out that he'd been shot.

'It doesn't matter Ezra, I'll find out and when I do I'll let you go.'

Ezra was going to laugh but the door opened. The only sound he could hear was the struggle of men forcing another man forward.

He couldn't see anything but his senses told him that they were close to the engine room; there was enough noise to stop anyone from hearing you. The men dragging him stopped and a door opened. He was pushed through and forced into a corner where he was released. The hands that were held behind his back by a pair of metal handcuffs wanted to reach up and tear the tape from his eyes and mouth. It was a few seconds before someone tore them off for him. He saw Ezra in the middle of the room and was relieved to find him in one piece.

'Why in the hell did you get him?'

'He was the only one on his own. He was with Tanner, the take was easy, no one saw us.'

'You got rid of the chip?'

'Yes Sir.'

Larabee listened to every word but his eyes stayed on Ezra. Standish's hands were held above his head and a chain secured one leg to the floor. He could see fresh blood mixed with old on Ezra's shirt collar. It made him relive the raw pain he had felt when they had taken his chip. Once he was sure that there were no other injuries he turned his eyes to the man that seemed to be in charge. This had to be the guy that was behind everything that had happened from the moment Halis shot Ezra.

'Ezra didn't give you what you wanted?' Chris ignored the muffled groan that came from Ezra.

'Claims he doesn't know what I'm talking about.'

'Ignorant bastard isn't he.'

'No he's not Larabee, he just knows when to keep his mouth shut. Unfortunately for Ezra this isn't one of those times.'

'Are you going to tell me who you are?'

'Blake Henderson.'

'You're the guy that tried to kill Ezra.' Chris nodded when Henderson smiled. 'Jack sends his regards. Said that he was going to repay the favour the next time he saw you but he won't see you again.'

'And why won't he see me?'

'Because I'm going to kill you.' Chris heard Ezra groan at him a second time.

Henderson ignored the threat. 'Did Ezra tell you?'

'Tell me what?'

It didn't matter, he now had two men to question, and one of them was going to answer his questions. Henderson walked the few steps back to Ezra and ripped the tape from his prisoner's eyes and mouth. 'Are you ready to talk Ezra?'

'About what?'

The answer earned Ezra a crushing blow to his right cheek. Blood flew from his mouth. The force of the blow pushed him away from Henderson and caused his leg to pull against the chain. Ezra quickly regained his balanced only to be hit a second time.

'You okay Ezra?' Chris asked him.

'I'm fine Mr. Larabee, and you?'

'I'm okay.'

'Now the niceties are over, we can get down to business.' Henderson nodded to one of the three men.

Both Ezra and Chris watched as the man moved closer to Chris.

'Did you tell anyone?' The anger and frustration was beginning to sound in Henderson's voice.

'I don't know-' He grimaced when Henderson's man struck Chris sending him to the floor.

'I'm not going to keep asking you the same question Ezra. I want an answer and I want it now!' he shouted the last word into Ezra's ear.

Ezra was able to see Chris using the wall to push himself back up onto his feet.

'I haven't told anyone.'

'What haven't you told them?'

When he hesitated a second too long Larabee received another blow. Ezra wanted to voice his anger, to physically strike out at Henderson but he knew if he did that then Henderson would think that he cared about what happened to Larabee. He did care though, that was the problem. Chris was going to get hurt because of him. If he had any idea of what Henderson was talking about then he might be able to figure out a way to get Chris out of this without getting him seriously injured.

'Blake, I really don't know what it is you're talking about.'

'Ezra you can out con the best of them. You expect me to believe you?'

'I'm telling you the truth here Blake.'

Henderson was still standing in front of Ezra. He could see nothing in Ezra's eyes or expression. He considered Ezra to be a friend once and because of that he knew he was wearing his famous poker face. 'I don't believe you Ezra. You're hiding whatever you know behind that mask of yours.'

Ezra glanced around Henderson's shoulder at Chris who was wiping the blood from his mouth with his shirtsleeve. He couldn't allow his feelings to show in front of Chris. He promised himself that he would never show them in front of anyone. He'd made the mistake of breaking that promise twice. He wasn't going to do it again. Not for anybody.

'How about we exchange Larabee's life for your emotions?' Henderson nodded in understanding when he saw the fear flash in Ezra's eyes. The Infiltrator had no intentions of allowing Larabee to die; if it came to that choice he would easily break and tell him what he needed to know.

'I honestly don't-'

'Norman.'

Ezra almost cried out in shame when the man Henderson had called Norman started to hit Larabee. One physical blow followed another. Nothing was left untouched. Five minutes later it stopped. Chris was left lying on the floor with his knees up against his chest.

'Think about it Ezra.'

'Blake-'

Ezra's words ended with another violent blow to his face. 'Think about it Ezra.'

Henderson left the room with the three masked men following him.

'Chris?' Ezra pulled at his restraints. 'Chris?'

'What does he want Ezra?'

'I don't know.'

'Are you sure about that?'

Ezra narrowed his eyes. Did Larabee think that he would actually allow Henderson to do what he was doing just to protect a secret?

'You don't believe me either?'

'Of course I do.' Chris spat out a mouthful of blood and saliva.

'Is Vin okay?'

'Nathan said he'd be fine.'

'I'm sorry I've gotten you and the others into this. It has nothing to do with any of you.'

'You don't even know what it is Ezra.'

'And you're going to die because of that.'

Chris tested his ribs by lowering his legs. None were broken or cracked, they were only bruised so he shifted his body until he was sitting up and leaning against the wall and watched Ezra. 'How are you holding up?'

'The chains are helping.' Ezra answered.

'Ezra.'

'That man is going to come back here and torture you until I answer his question. How am I supposed to do that when I don't know the answer.'

'Lie.' Chris grimaced when the pain started to develop in his abused leg and back muscles.

'You mean lie convincingly.'

'You could try that.'

Ezra nodded and a flash of pain crossed his own features.

'Your neck okay?'

'Yeah, what about yours?'

'Could be better.'

'Chris, is there any chance they're going to find us?'

'Only if they look in this room.'

'That's what I thought.'

Chris could see that Ezra was tiring. His head starting to relax, his body following it's example and then his weight would pull at the cuffs around his wrists causing him to jerk awake. Chris wanted to lie down and close his own eyes but forced himself to stay awake so he could keep an eye on Ezra. Not that he could do anything for him. His watch was out of sight but he was sure that at least three hours had gone by. Add to that the amount of time Ezra had been on his own and it was a total of seven hours.

When the door opened Chris didn't take his gaze away from Ezra. He saw a flicker of fear in the set of green eyes but it was gone in a second. Ezra wasn't afraid for himself Chris knew that. He smiled when he saw the poker face back in place. He hoped Ezra knew what he was doing. His eyes finally moved when he heard Henderson's voice.

'Have you thought about it Ezra?'

'Go to hell!'

Chris rolled his eyes. He never expected Ezra to say that.

'It won't be me who goes to hell Ezra.'

Chris pushed himself against the wall when he saw Henderson nod to his men. Was a nod the secret code for beat the crap out of him?

'You can kill him for all I care Blake. You're not getting anything out of me!' yelled Ezra.

Bastard. This wasn't the sort of lies I was talking about Ezra.

Henderson watched Ezra's face when he heard Larabee cry out in pain. If Ezra cared there would something, even a glimmer of worry and fear. After the fourth cry there was still nothing.

'You're a cold son-of-a-bitch Ezra.'

'I learned from my mother. Look after number one.'

Henderson nodded. 'Look after number one. She always did say that didn't she.'

'I'm going to finally follow her advice.' Ezra smiled. 'I did tell. I told the people who needed to know. And you sure as hell aren't going to get anymore out of me.'

'Really?' Henderson was unsure for a moment. He had to think and think quickly. He didn't want Ezra to see his confusion so he turned and saw Chris Larabee curled up against the wall. 'Maybe you won't say anything but I'm sure he will.'

'What would he know!' Ezra kicked out with his leg and struck Henderson's thigh but he failed to keep the man's attention focused on him.

'What about it Mr. Larabee? Are you willing to tell me what I need to know?'

'He didn't tell me anything.'

'Tape his eyes and mouth.' When his man started to move towards Chris, Henderson held out his arm. 'Standish. I don't want him to see what I'm going to do.'

His orders were obeyed and within a matter of moments tape covered Ezra's eyes and mouth.

'Again Mr. Larabee, did he tell you anything?'

'Please call me Chris.'

'Did he tell you?'

'Now, if you told me what it is he was suppose to tell me I could tell you if he told me.'

Henderson ignored him and walked back to Ezra. He could see that Ezra was straining to hear anything in the silence that would tell him what was happening. He moved around the tense form and placed his fingers against Ezra's open wound and smiled when Ezra jerked away from him. He grabbed Ezra's shoulder to keep him still.

'Did he tell you anything?'

Chris didn't answer.

Henderson pressed with more force and Ezra screamed through his tape-covered mouth.

'Mr. Larabee?'

'He didn't tell me anything.'

'He must have told you something.' Henderson let go.

'Nothing.'

'Bring me my bag.'

Chris watched, his body filling will fear, when Henderson withdrew a long bladed knife from the bag.

'He didn't tell me anything that sounded important.' Chris knew Henderson wasn't listening to him anymore. 'Henderson! You hurt him anymore and I'm going to make sure you suffer a lot of pain before I kill you! Do you hear me!'

The words scared the hell out of Ezra. Henderson was planning on doing something to him and it was the not knowing that caused a thin film of sweat to cover his face. His shirt was pulled away from the back of his neck again and he waited for the pain to start but it didn't happen. Instead his shirt was ripped down the middle and pulled away from his shoulders exposing his back to the man behind him. His body shivered and he heard Henderson laugh.

'You scared Ezra?'

Ezra forced his body to stay still. He wasn't going to give Henderson the satisfaction of knowing that he was right. In his mind he could imagine all sorts of pain, knowing that Henderson enjoyed inflicting every sort of pain that he could think of. Ezra knew it was his back that was going to be abused. He heard Chris threatening Henderson with everything he could think of. If you had asked Ezra twenty-four hours ago if Chris cared or would try to do anything to stop someone from hurting him he would have said no but the threats coming from Chris's mouth told him something completely different.

He couldn't understand why Henderson wasn't answering Chris's threats. Usually the man scared easily and the threats were enough to make a man wet himself.

Henderson decided that it was time to inflict some pain. He didn't care what Larabee had to say, not at the moment anyway. He wanted the pleasure of hearing Ezra scream first. Then he would listen to Larabee and if the man didn't tell him what he wanted to hear then he would continue to enjoy himself with Standish. He placed the knife back into the bag and withdrew the small whip.

Larabee continued to make threats but he refused to listen to a man that had his hands restrained behind his back. The three men who worked for him helped his boldness. Larabee couldn't hurt him and once he found out who Ezra had spoken to, Larabee would be killed along with Standish.

He stood in front of Ezra and saw the sweat on Ezra's face. 'You are scared aren't you Ezra? Blindness can make everything more frightening for a person, even terrifying if they were in the position you're in.' He ran the tip of the whip's handle down Ezra's cheek. There was a slight shift in Ezra's position but he could tell that Ezra was trying hard not to show his fear. 'Not to worry Ezra, I'll have you screaming in no time.'

Henderson gave himself plenty of room and gave the first lash high across the shoulders. He smiled when Ezra started to scream and move away from him but he stopped suddenly. That was all right, he knew it would take more than one to get Ezra started. After a second blow in the same area Ezra's knees buckled.

He enjoyed using the whip. He liked the thin lines of broken flesh that appeared after each blow. The way the victim's body flinched no matter how hard they tried to stay still. Ezra was trying, he could see that, but his body still jerked each time the whip hit his bare skin. He stopped after ten lashes and moved to stand in front of Ezra.

'That was fun for me. What about you Ezra? Did you enjoy that?' He smiled when Ezra refused to answer him. 'You might find it more enjoyable next time perhaps.'

When he turned around to face Chris Larabee he had to force himself not to show any fear. Pale green eyes were staring fiercely through his soul.

'You're a dead man Henderson,' Chris said in a calm voice, 'even if I don't kill you one of the others will. When they see what you've done to him, they will kill you. They'll hunt you down and they will kill you.'

'And how are they going to know who I am?'

'They'll know.'

'No they won't.'

'My men aren't stupid.' Chris smiled up at Henderson, 'They'll work it out.'

'Your threats don't scare me Larabee.'

'Maybe you'll find them more threatening next time perhaps.' Chris repeated Henderson's own words.

'Did he tell you?'

'He told me nothing about a guy named Henderson.'

'Then what did he tell you?'

'What was he supposed to tell me?'

'Apparently I haven't hurt him enough for you.' Henderson slowly walked back towards Ezra. 'Why don't we try something else this time.'

'I don't know what it is you want!' Chris shouted. 'The only words that came out of his mouth were insults.'

Henderson returned to his position behind Ezra. Chris thought that he was going to continue to whip Ezra but he dropped the whip and pulled out a pair of gloves and a thin length of rope. Chris watched with fascination as Henderson pulled on the gloves and then place the rope around Ezra's neck, allowing the ends of the rope to hang down his chest.

Chris could see Ezra's body shivering in fear. Standish had no idea what was going to happen and that's what made it so fearful for him.

'I not messing around anymore Larabee, I want to know what he told you . . . Now!'

'I hardly talked to the guy and when I did it wasn't pleasant.'

Henderson lifted the rope ends so they crossed over and pulled with both hands until Ezra began to struggle for air.

What could he say? 'Yes he told me! Now let him breath for Christ's sake!'

'I want to know what he told you!'

'He told me everything. Okay! Everything.'

Henderson didn't see the trickles of blood beginning to flow down Ezra's neck when the rope burnt through the flesh but Chris Larabee could see it and he had to say something before Ezra stopped breathing. Words suddenly repeated themselves in his mind. 'Someone we trusted, told us that you were dead.'

'He told me you were a traitor to the Authority. That you gave information to the Rebellion.'

'What else?'

There's more? Use your brain Chris! Damnit! 'That you were a double agent, that you also gave the Authority information on the Rebellion.' It was a guess but it was all he had.

'Who else did he tell?'

'I don't know!'

Before him Ezra's legs collapsed as he fell into unconsciousness. Death would follow in a matter of seconds.

'The entire crew of Bounty Seven!' Henderson let go of the rope but Ezra didn't get up. 'He told all of us. I then told Travis. Who knows who he told. What are you going to do Henderson? Kill all of us?'

Henderson laughed. 'That's a load of shit and you know it Larabee.'

Chris sighed in disappointment and said again. 'I don't know anything.'

'I think I may have to use different tactics. Once I know what I need to know I'll take my time inflicting some pain on both of you, especially Ezra.' Henderson left the room again but this time he left once of his men behind.

Chris ignored the man who stood by the door and concentrated on Ezra who hadn't moved since Henderson had left. He had tried calling his name and when he tried to get closer the guard took a threatening stop closer to him.

'Ezra.' He would count to a hundred then call Ezra's name again. It wasn't until he reached six hundred that he received an answer. Ezra's feet shifted as he tried to take the weight off his wrists.

'Ezra, you're okay, he's gone.'

Chris wasn't sure if his voice was registering in Ezra's mind. 'Nod if you can hear me Ezra.' There was a slight nod but it wasn't enough to convince Chris that Ezra was fully conscious. 'You okay Ezra.' Ezra didn't respond this time. Chris could see that Ezra was putting everything into just staying on his feet. 'Don't worry Ezra, I'll take care of you. We'll get out of this.'

'I doubt that very much Mr. Larabee.' Henderson walked into the room and headed straight towards Ezra. He reached out with his hand and lifted Ezra's head then ripped the tape from his mouth. 'You're going to talk this time Ezra. I should have done it this way to start with but for some reason I enjoyed the idea of causing you pain but I'm running out of time.'

'Don't even think of hurting him again Henderson.' Chris told him.

'I don't intend to, not yet anyway.'

'Then what are you going to do?'

Henderson took a syringe from his pocket and showed it to Chris. 'This will get him talking.' He pulled down Ezra's shirtsleeve and smiled when Ezra pulled away from him. 'Come and hold him still!' One of his men came forward and held Ezra from behind. Henderson roughly inserted the needle and slowly forced the plunger down until the syringe was empty. 'It'll take a few minutes to get into his system.'

'Move away from him! Do it now!' Buck Wilmington stormed his way into the room and allowed Nathan and Josiah to take care of the two men at the door.

When Chris heard his long time friend's voice he ignored any pain he was feeling and carried out his threats. He jumped to his feet and lunged at Henderson. Chris rammed into his stomach and felt Henderson's fists slammed against his back. He was too full of hate, anger and fear to allow it to stop him. His body kept forcing Henderson backwards until they hit a wall. When Henderson doubled over Chris took the opportunity and brought his knee up and used it to break Henderson's nose. He then stepped back and began to use his feet much like Norman had on him. Someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him back.

'Take it easy Chris.' Buck spoke to him with a voice that told him everything was going to be okay now. That they had found them, they were safe and there was nothing more to fear.

'Ezra.'

'He's okay, Nathan's got him.'

~ eighteen ~

Chris Larabee lay back on the bed, (he would have been on his side but the bruising was too painful) watching Ezra sleep. Nathan had given him a full report, Ezra's injuries had looked worse than they actually were. Only two of the ten lashes had required stitching. The worst of the injuries had been the dislocated shoulder. Nathan had taken the opportunity to operate and repair the damage so the shoulder would no longer pop out of it's socket so easily. Ezra was going to be bed ridden for at least a week and wouldn't be able to work for at least two months. Nathan wanted Ezra to have the time to get his health back as well as give the shoulder the time it needed to heal.

When Nathan and Buck walked into the room he pulled his eyes away from Ezra. He waited patiently while Nathan went to check on Vin first. The Sharp shooter was asleep. Apparently he had stayed awake all night watching the two new patients. Chris watched Nathan's every move until he reached his bed.

'They okay?'

'They're fine Chris. You can see yourself that Vin's almost back to normal, he'll be leaving tomorrow. Ezra's fine but he's going to be sleeping a lot for a couple of more days, mostly because of the pain killers I keep giving him.' Nathan answered.

'So I've got some peace and quiet for a while?'

'Yeah, but you're not going to be staying much longer either. Your urine is almost clear of blood so I would say that you would be able to back to the ship in a day or so.'

'Good, now tell me how you found us and what the hell is going on with Henderson!'

'He's back to his normal self.' Buck slapped his friend on the shoulder.

'Yeah I am so tell me how you found us.'

'Well, you see, it's like this. You're not going to believe it Chris. I wouldn't if you told me. I mean, the chance of it happening, well the chance of me making something of it. You're going to laugh.'

'Buck, just tell me what happened.'

'JD and me were in the corridor near Travis's office and we saw this guy walking towards us with this pained expression on his face. He also had a couple of security guards with him. Now, I started thinking and thought that those two guards should be searching with the rest of the guards. Then the guy's expression sort of reminded of you when Vin pisses you off,' Buck stopped and tried to look innocent when Chris glared at him, 'when we piss you off. I was going to ask him what was going on but instead I decided to follow him. And therefore I, Buck Wilmington, a man loved by all women, was able to find you and rescue you. Pretty clever huh.'

'You followed the guy because he looked pissed off?' Chris was stunned. He couldn't wait to relay the explanation to Ezra.

'But it was the way he looked pissed off and the two guards of course.'

'You followed him because of the way he looked pissed off and because he had two guards that weren't taking part in the search?'

'Yep. I am greatness.' Buck raised his hands above his head in triumph.

'Wow.'

'That's all you've got to say?'

'Yeah,' Chris nodded, 'wow.'

'Henderson is part of the Authority but he works off a small base on Adelin. Brooks was his inside man here.' Nathan added.

'Why did he want Ezra dead?'

'He didn't know Ezra was alive,' Buck shrugged, 'it's as simple as that.'

'Said he saw him about six weeks ago.' Nathan explained. 'He would have killed him then but he found out that Travis had taken him under his wing so he decided that Ezra had to die in the line of duty.'

'Halis.' Chris nodded.

'Henderson had Brooks send Ezra on a job to infiltrate a group who's leader worked for him. Halis was supposed to kill Ezra. You were supposed to kill Halis. It would have worked except Ezra didn't die.'

'Why was it Ezra's job to stop us from taking Halis in?'

'That was a lie.'

'He needed something to get Ezra to do the job,' said Nathan.

'So he was worried that Ezra would turn him in for trying to kill him.'

'That's about it.' Buck was looking at Ezra when he answered.

'He went through all that trouble . . .' Chris started. 'Travis knows everything?'

'Yeah, he was here this morning to check up on you guys.' Nathan smiled.

'Did he say if Standish has to stay with the team or are we rid of him?'

They could tell by his face that he wanted Ezra to stay.

'He's staying with us.' Buck told him.

'Oh.'

'Do you have a problem with me staying with the team Mr. Larabee?' Ezra had heard most of the conversation but only now decided to take part in it. He gazed down at the arm that was strapped to his chest. 'Why is my arm like this?'

'I operated on your shoulder.'

'Why?'

'Because it keeps popping out when it shouldn't. I told you when this was over that I was going to operate to fix it.'

'But you didn't even give me the chance to refuse it. I didn't get to argue the point.'

'And we know how much you like to argue the point.' Chris rolled his eyes.

'You can argue now.' Buck suggested.

'I don't feel like arguing now and what use would it do me anyway. No one listens to me.'

'I wonder why.' Chris winked at Buck.

'I see our little adventure together hasn't changed anything.' Ezra said in disgust.

'It's changed everything Ezra,' said Chris, 'you're one of us now and don't you forget it. Me boss, you Neanderthal. Which means I can say what I want when I want. Got it.'

'Don't worry Ezra, we have ways of getting around all of that.' Buck was staring down at Chris. 'You could at least wait until he's better before you starting throwing insults.'

'That's two weeks or more.' Chris complained. 'I can't go that long without insulting him.'

'You're going to have to try. Either that or spend the time insulting Vin. He's been missing out lately and he's feeling a bit lonely because of all the attention you've been giving Ezra.'

'Really.' There was a lot that he could do to Vin. 'I think you've got an idea there Buck.'

'Does that mean I'm off the hook?' Ezra asked them.

'Only until Nathan tells me you're well enough to be picked on.' Chris growled back.

'Gives me time to come up with a plan.' Ezra muttered.

'What was that?' Chris sat up.

'I said that was not fair.'

'That's what I thought you said.'

'Time to rest guys.' Nathan ordered them. 'We're off to have a few drinks and get in a couple of games of poker. I'll come by and check on you later.'

'Bastards!' Chris and Ezra said together.

'At least that's one thing we agree on,' said Chris.

'I suggest Mr. Larabee that we give them thirty minutes then follow them.'

'You're not up to that Ezra. Your arm and your back aren't doing to well.'

'Chris, I am so full of pain killers right now that I can't even feel my back and I'm sure a cold beer and a stiff drink would do me the world of good.'

'Thirty minutes.' Chris agreed.

'Shall we take Vin?' Ezra glanced over at the sleeping form.

'No, just you and me Ezra, we need to deal with a few things.'

'Of course Mr. Larabee.' Ezra smiled. 'Does Nathan have credit at the bar?'

'He does.' Chris took quickly to the idea.

'Then I also suggest that Nathan pays for our drinks.'

'I knew I liked you for a reason Ezra.'

'Excuse me?' Ezra sputtered the words out.

'I liked you from the beginning Ezra. I could see right through you.'

'You Mr. Larabee are a liar.'

'Call me a liar again Ezra and I'm going to have to hurt you!'

'You Mr. Larabee are a liar.'

'Shit!'

The End.