Chris Larabee, the leader of the ATF's Group Seven Team leaned back against the ATF vehicle, he shrugged his shoulders and stretched his neck to the left then the right to force the large droplet of sweat that seemed to have taken up a permanent position at the base of his neck, to fall and run down his back between his shoulder blades to join the rest of the moisture that had begun to soak into the black t-shirt that was tucked into his jeans. The blond agent looked up and grimaced at the bright early morning sun that glared down at him then turned to look at the abandoned warehouse they were preparing to enter.

It was a three storey building that had been empty for five years. The Colorado weather had peeled away the paint work on the outside of the building revealing the dark brickwork underneath, the true colour of the brickwork was no longer visible. The windows were broken. Chris knew it was the neighborhood kids practicing their baseball skills, he wondered if they had hit the mark on their first attempt or if it had taken four or five stones. He also knew they would have plenty of time to be patient, the streets that surrounded the warehouse were also empty, the police would not have shown up at the sound of breaking glass, there was no one to report the vandalism.

His eyes turned to the group of men that stood before him. A group of misfits if he'd ever seen one, none of the group were alike, each man was different, they argued, they drank together, they were friends. Family. All but one of them that was, one that kept himself from getting close to the group of men, a man that kept himself at a distance from the six men, never allowing them to get close enough to understand him. But Chris felt that an understanding had begun in his own mind about his undercover agent, he thought he knew the reasons behind the Southerner's aloofness.

The intelligent bright blue eyes of the leader watched as Buck and JD helped each other with their bullet proof jackets, he then glanced towards Josiah, he was helping Nathan who then returned the favour, he himself had just done the same with Vin. His eyes looked for his undercover agent, he found Ezra to the left of the group, he was helping himself with his own jacket. The group of men, as always, paired off just like they had done five months ago when the team was originally recruited. Ezra had joined the group last, a month after the rest of the team, he had never attempted to become part of the group socially and Chris had realised later that they had never really tried to bring him into it. That was going to change.

At first when the Southerner stood on the outskirts of the tight knit group, Chris had once thought it was because the agent had easily manipulated them into thinking that being left alone was what he wanted. But he saw the lonely expressions that his undercover agent's handsome face held when he thought no one was watching him, he wanted to belong but something held him back. The understanding that had come to him was due to studying the agent for four months, watching him carefully. Chris realised his solitude was related to his lack of trust in mankind, he had to learn to trust people again. The reason was yet beyond Chris but he knew that the the rumors that ran riot regarding the agent being on the take had destroyed any trust that he had with his fellow FBI agents. But the younger agent trusted no one, it wasn't just his fellow agents, it was everyone, the man didn't even trust his own mother. Chris Larabee had all intentions of finding out why and bringing the trust that Ezra needed back into his life.

Chris shifted the weight from his left leg to the right as the nagging feeling once more chewed at the stomach that was empty, he didn't eat breakfast before he went to the office for the meeting, he also hadn't slept well. Something was going to go wrong, he knew it. He hoped that the nagging feeling wasn't because of Ezra, the man had a way of making you worry about him, he took risks that he didn't need to. Sometimes Chris thought the man had a death wish, a wish that he shared with the Southerner. At times after the death of his own family Chris thought that he would welcome death and took his own risks, but his men didn't question it because they knew better. When Chris questioned Ezra about it he was always confident that it wasn't a reckless risk, he always stated that the cards were decked in his favour, that he didn't play against the cards when they weren't.

His undercover agent wasn't only the best in his field but he was also resourceful in all other areas of the job, he was what Chris called an all rounder. He was perfect for this sort of assignment as were the rest of the team, that's why they were backing up Team Eight while they were making a bust on a drug smuggling ring. Ezra had a way of seeing things that other people missed, he shared this talent with Vin Tanner. But he always worried about Ezra because of the risks he took and he knew the Southerner would do the same thing inside this building.

Chris watched as Ezra struggled with his jacket, the long delicate fingers that had mystified the team when he shuffled a deck of cards that he carried in his suitcase, tried to pull the too small jacket together. Due to Ezra's smaller body type, Chris had insisted that he wear a smaller jacket for better protection but it was a bit too small and the agent usually had trouble getting it on but Chris knew the effort was going to be worth it in the long run. Ezra had complained at first but when the jacket had protected him from a bullet to the stomach two months ago the complaints stopped. Chris had won the argument that Ezra wouldn't admit to loosing. He continued to watch the man he knew wasn't going to ask for help, the man never did, he was too stubborn for his own good.

Chris' eyes moved back to the rest of the team looking for someone to help the younger agent. He saw Buck look at Ezra, the ladies man had noticed his struggles but failed to offer his help to the undercover agent, instead he turned away and began to talk to JD. Chris shook his head, no wonder the man had trouble allowing them in, they didn't exactly make an effort to pull him into the group. Chris stormed over to Ezra, his anger already beginning to show on his rugged features.

"Let me help you with that Ezra!" Chris growled at him and attempted to help the Southerner.

"I'm fine Mr Larabee, I am quite capable of doing . . . " He grunted when Chris grabbed his left arm and pulled him around until he was showing him his profile. Chris felt Ezra tense up under the touch but ignored his silent body language.

"That was an order Ezra!" Chris wasn't in the mood for Ezra's distant personality, they were on an operation, a dangerous one, the thought of his agent taking a risk and causing himself a physical injury angered him, he knew that Standish would never risk one of the others but he had no hesitation when it came to risking his own life, he played his life like he played a game of poker, he made sure the deck was stacked in his favour but even a gambler can make a mistake. He didn't want to get angry at the Southerner, but there was something about Ezra that caused you to be angry just by looking at him, he had once decided that it was the facade that he always kept in place.

He finished doing the jacket up and then handed Ezra his blue identification jacket, then laid Ezra's ATF cap on the always neat hairstyle and made sure that it wouldn't be so neat when the cap came off. Ezra took the cap off again and Chris had been correct in his assumption, the light brown hair was no longer neat. He smiled at the scowl that Ezra gave him and watched as he put the cap back on but backwards, Ezra always insisted on wearing his cap that way. When asked about it he had told them that when worn the correct way it obstructed his view. Buck had then commented that he shouldn't be looking at himself when on an operation, Ezra hadn't replied but instead kept his facade calmly in place. Two days later Buck had arrived at his office to find a mirror on his desk with a photo of himself stuck to it, which did not allow him to see his reflection. A black marker pen had been used to disfigure his features.

Ezra nodded his thanks to his leader, a man that he had come to respect but would not admit it to him, he didn't allow the scowl to leave his own features, he knew Chris was angry but he didn't understand why he was angry at him. Ezra had managed to get up that morning and arrive at the office before seven am, actually two minutes pass but that didn't constitute lateness in his standards. He hadn't opened his mouth all morning so he couldn't have said anything that would have aggravated Chris. Ezra shrugged, maybe it was Chris who had gotten up on the wrong side of the bed on this warm summer morning.

Chris returned to his original position against the ATF van, he then glared at his men, knowing that they would sense his unvoiced demand for their attention. Everyone but Ezra looked at him, he was checking that his leader had done his jacket up correctly. But he wasn't surprised by Ezra's lack of attention, the man went out of his way to antagonise authority. The team's leader really wasn't in the mood for this assignment or Ezra.

"Listen up, and that means you as well Ezra, I don't want any of your smart mouth before I even start." Chris knew that he was aiming his frustrations at the wrong person but he couldn't stop himself, Ezra was also making it easy for him. There was a smug look on the handsome face and it was a look that Chris sometimes found hard to deal with, especially when he was angry. The Southerner had been silent all morning but would no doubt make up for it once this was over. He nearly lost his temper when the smug look grew into a smile that was aimed directly back at him. Chris took a deep breath. It was hard to get under Ezra's skin without resorting to underhanded tactics that he would never allow himself to use, he wasn't that type of person and never would be. But one day he would succeed and he would do it by using legitimate methods, it was now a game between the two men and Chris welcomed it, it was a way of bringing the distant Southerner closer to him and the rest of the team without him knowing it. But sometimes his undercover agent pushed him too far in this game of friendly competition.

"As you wish Mr Larabee." Ezra stood to the side of the group and gave his leader his full attention, and his best smile, his eyes sparkled and his dimples appeared, the false facade hid what he was really thinking and feeling.

Chris moved his steady gaze away from the aggrevating Southerner so he could take in the serious expressions of the other team members. At least some of them had their minds on the job that floated about them like a shroud, everyone was concerned about it but no one more than himself. His eyes flicked back to Ezra and held his stare for a few seconds then returned to his men again.

"As you already know Team Eight have finished the ground work in gaining incriminating evidence against Jose Gonzalez and are going to bust him today in one hour. It will go down on the second floor of the warehouse. Team eight have already gone through the warehouse for various stakeout positions. Nathan, Josiah, there is an office in the back left corner of the second floor, I want you in there. Buck your with Vin and me, we'll follow Gonzalez and his men in and wait at the bottom of the stairs on the first floor . . . "

"What about JD?" Buck interrupted his leader, he subconsciously wiped the moustache that adorned his upper lip. "He usually goes with me."

Chris continued on without answering his weapons expert. "Ezra, JD, I want you on the third floor, appraently there is a hole in the floor that is big enough for you to use to cover the agents." He heard a groan come from his long time friend but that friendship didn't stop him from turning his anger towards his friend.

"You have a problem with that Buck?" Chris glared at him.

"Nope." Buck looked at him and made sure that Ezra couldn't see his expression, it was one full of doubt. The ladies man still didn't fully trust the undercover agent, he knew he also took risks and it would be just like him to put JD's life at risk so he could put another notch on his belt.

Chris knew what Buck was thinking, the Southerner was yet to prove himself worthy of their complete trust, he had run out on them on their first operation together, but he had returned. It was because of the troubled times he had gone through with the FBI that Chris gave him a second chance, the man deserved one. Ezra had silently accepted it with a simple facial expression and a two finger salute that he still used, Chris knew it was a mark of respect and he in return respected Ezra Standish. The man had been through hell and back with the FBI, he was transferred to the ATF without his knowledge. He had been discarded as though the commendations and undercover work meant nothing to them. As far as Chris was concerned they were lucky to have him, he was the best undercover agent that he had worked with, he was second to no one. But the others were still doubtful at times and it was on these types of operations when that mistrust surfaced. But Chris believed the agent had proven himself, if he hadn't he wouldn't be here.

"I believe Mr Wilmington doesn't trust me enough to watch JD's back." Ezra said what they were all thinking, but there was no malice in his voice, it was as though he believed they had a right not to trust him. He was also use to working alone, this was a new thing to him. Other people relying on him to watch their backs and protect them. He grew up watching his own back and this trait continued on into his adult life. Ezra also knew that if something did happen to JD that the rest of Team Seven would blame him, but he would also blame himself and take any reprimands for his mistake.

"Ezra, it's not that, it's . . . " Buck was startled by the anger in Chris' voice when he spoke.

"I don't give a fuck what it is Buck! Ezra will watch JD's back, he always has and he will today! Now, I don't want to hear anymore out of any of you." Chris raised his voice and stared at Ezra daring the man to say something, and he did.

"Perhaps Buck would like me to not cover his back in there instead of JD's." Ezra commented, he didn't flinch at the glare that was thrown at him. He decided that if Larabee didn't have a real reason to be angry at him that he may as well give him one, it would also give Ezra an explanation, he didn't think it was just because the man didn't like him.

"Don't push me Ezra, you'll know what will happen." Chris growled at him, he stepped towards the smaller man when he raised an eyebrow in innocent submission at him.

"Chris." Vin spoke softly. "Deal with him later, we have a job to do."

Vin knew Chris was angry about something and he also knew that Ezra wasn't the cause of that anger, the undercover agent was just giving him an excuse to take his anger out on him. He couldn't understand why Ezra had to keep pushing him, Chris would only take so much. The other five members of the team were oblivious to the game their leader and undercover agent were playing against each other. If they had, they no doubt would have taken bets on who would break first. The ex-bounty hunter was still having trouble trying to work the Southerner out, every time he thought he knew what made the man tick he would find out that it was exactly what Ezra wanted him to think, then the process would start all over again.

But he had plenty of time, he knew Ezra wasn't going anywhere, he may not think of himself as part of the group yet but they would make sure that he did. It was just going to take time to convince the stubborn Southerner that he was deserving of their trust and that he was needed but it was going to be hard because Ezra didn't trust himself, and he believed that the rest of the team didn't trust him. Buck had just put another brick in the wall that some of them were trying so hard to break down. Just the small moan that had escaped his lips would give Ezra more proof to prove that his own theory of not being trusted was true. Vin was also determined to make sure that a friendship was built between the undercover agent and himself, he knew Ezra needed a friend, but it was something the man would never admit to.

Chris tapped his headset then positioned it closer to his mouth. "Team eight, this is Team seven, my men are ready to go in."

Chris listened to the reply. "Get going." He nodded to his men. "If anyone gets themselves shot they'll have me to answer to."

"And if we are dead?" Ezra asked innocently.

"Your going to be dead anyway Ezra after I finish with you." Chris retorted angrily. 'This just isn't going to be a good day.' he added quietly.

Chris moved towards Ezra and angrily pushed him forward towards the warehouse. For a man that didn't involve himself with the rest of the group he knew them well enough to know which buttons to push, and push them he did. The man obviously had a death wish, he was always treading the line to see just how far he could push them, one day it was going to be too far and one of them would retaliate physically. Chris feared that it was going to be today and that he was going to be the one to teach the undercover agent a lesson.

Ezra ignored the violent forward momentum that Chris inflicted on his person, he was also angry, the fact that Chris was angry at him for no particular reason made him angry so he pushed back using his words, it was his best line of defense. He knew how to hurt people with his vocabulary and he knew how far to push them before they broke but if Chris kept at him like he had been so far then he would push back until Larabee did break. He was also willing to defend himself if it came to a physical altercation.

Ezra didn't fail to notice the look that passed between Buck and his young friend before JD joined him, he expected it from Buck but he had thought that JD was different. He inwardly sighed, these men were never going to trust him, but then why should they, he hadn't earned their trust, he ran out on them once and they expected him to do it again. No, he couldn't blame them. Hell, he didn't even trust himself anymore.

Ezra moved in and followed behind the other men, he could feel three pairs of eyes burning into his back, a blue pair seemed to be holding a lot of anger towards him. Why? He didn't know. A brown pair held mistrust and fear for the person that Ezra had been paired up with. That he could understand. He wasn't use to looking after someone else, even after working as part of a team for four months. The final pair of light blue eyes held understanding, a need for a developing friendship. Why? He didn't have an answer to that question either.

His own green eyes took in each man before him. He new that Nathan, the groups dark ex-medic felt the same way that Buck did. He went as far as informing Ezra on a regular occassion that he didn't like him or approve of his ways. The larger man who walked beside Nathan was a different matter, Josiah seemed to have decided, for some reason beyond Ezra's comprehension, to take him under his wing and look after him as a father would. Why? He didn't know, he didn't want to know and he certainly didn't want that kind of relationship with a man that he had only known for four months. He didn't want that kind of relationsip with a man he'd known for thirty years. And then there was JD, the kid looked up to everyone, including the undercover agent who's personel file claimed that he'd once been under internal investigation for curruption. Why did JD look up to him? He couldn't understand it, no one had looked up to him before, no one had even thought of him as an equal, yet JD did.

Ezra's trained eyes looked up and down the empty street before he entered the building, there was no one in sight. He knew that Team Eight's two undercover men would enter the building in thirty minutes, half an hour before the drug runners were due to arrive. They would make sure that the men wouldn't search the warehouse. The waiting ATF men would remain oblivious to the drug runners. Ezra had to wait a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the darker interior of the warehouse. What he then saw disgusted him, the corner to the right of the front door was full of stained mattresses, he didn't know what the stains were but he wouldn't be surprised to find out that it was a mixture of blood, urine, excreatment and vomit. The smell that assaulted his breathing passages began to confirm his suspicions. He eyes quickly glanced around the remainder of the floor, there were similar piles of beds throught the building's first floor.

The undercover agent's childhood training caused him to look closely around him, he noticed two other exits where someone could enter the building, both were mentioned in Team Eight's building report. The stairs that led to the second floor were at the back of the building. The group of men walked towards them. Ezra followed his team to the top of the stairs. JD started to continue on to the third floor.

"JD. Wait." Ezra told him.

JD frowned at his fellow agent but did as he was told. He wasn't sure what Ezra was doing but he knew that the man knew his job and he did it well. He reached up and tucked a piece of loose dark hair back under his cap, freeing his left eye of it's view blocking obstruction. He then watched and waited, hoping to learn something from the Southerner.

Ezra waited for Nathan and Josiah to reach the office that they were going to use for protection, he hoped that they wouldn't been seen in there, they were in the most dangerous position. Once the two men reached their destination Ezra moved into the middle of the room, he could feel JD's eyes watching him. He lifted his emerald gaze upwards, looking for the hole in the ceiling. It was towards the front of the building. It was going to be an awkward angle to view the bust from. He returned to the stairs and nodded to JD to continue to the third floor. He listened as Josiah reported that they were now in position.

When the two men reached the third floor they headed towards the area that held the man made opening. Both men leant over and looked into the hole and saw the floor of the second level beneath them. They moved around the square shaped opening and laid down on their stomachs. Ezra scanned the floor beneath him while JD reported their arrival. He could see most of the floor but the left and right side were obstructed by the lack of a larger hole. If he leaned further into it he'd risk being seen or falling through it.

"Chris?" Ezra spoke into his headset.

"What is it Ezra?" Chris growled.

Ezra's head hung lower at the tone of anger that was still in his leader's voice, anger that was still aimed at him and there was no real reason for it, Ezra was at a total loss, he had no knowledge of what he'd done to deserve the anger.

"The left and right side of the third floor are not visible to us." He reported in a neutral tone, his eyes began a search around the third floor for any means of entrance that wasn't in the report that they had gone over that morning.

"Shit!" Was the only reply that Chris gave him.

"Have you got anything else to say?" Ezra asked calmly.

"Shut it Ezra!" Chris hissed through the headset.

"Shut it I will." Ezra told his boss, he listened as a deep breath was taken and slowly let out, he smiled to himself.

"Keep a close eye on the area you can see. Understood?" Chris ordered, he then had to wait through the silence for the answer that wasn't coming.

Ezra slapped JD's arm.

"Understood Chris." JD's voice was hesitant, he knew something was going on between the two men but he didn't know what it was.

Ezra heard the muttered threat that came over his headset, he knew that Chris wouldn't actually kill him but he would try and make his life difficult for a while but Ezra was okay with that because he could do the same in return. He was very good at making other people's lives a misery, he learnt from the best. His mother. She had made her only son's childhood a misery, she had left him in boarding schools throughout his young life, he either spent his holidays at the school or at a relatives house, and some of them did not welcome him with open arms, there were a few closed fists. But his mother did teach him how to gamble, how to con people out of their life savings. She drilled it into him from an early age to hide his emotions from other people and not to let anyone get close. This had been her way of life, she hadn't let her only child get close to her and she had wanted him to live the same way.

But Ezra was different, he longed for friendship, a family, people he could get close to and care about. He had allowed some people in during his life but they had betrayed and hurt him. He decided that he wouldn't do it again, it wasn't a game that he was willing to play. His mother had been right, if you let people get close, they hurt you. It was safer, emotionally, to keep people at bay. He had never really encountered anything that could be considered a real and true friendship, there never was a person that he could talk to about his fears, his emotions, his dreams. They had all been kept to himself, no one, not even his mother knew the real Ezra Standish. He hoped that someday somebody would.

"JD?" Buck's voice came over both JD and Ezra's headsets.

"Yeah Buck, what do you want?" JD looked sideways at Ezra but the curious stare was not returned, he knew that Ezra would be listening even though his eyes and mind were elsewhere, they were on the job like his should have been but they still had forty five minutes before the bust went down.

"You be careful okay, I don't want to have to clean you up afterwards." The tone of the ladies man's voice was serious and caring. JD treated Buck as an older brother and he knew that Buck felt the same way, the two of them even shared an apartment together.

"I can look after myself Buck, I'm not a kid you know!" JD stated confidently.

"You watch your back."

JD looked sideways again and thought he noticed a difference in Ezra's expression, but he turned his clean shaven face further away from him.

"Buck . . . " JD started, he didn't like the way this conversation was going.

"You hear me?" Buck growled through the headset. JD knew what the features of the older man would be holding, but his own concern had been turned towards the agent that was laying on the filthy floor next to him.

"Yeah I hear you." JD muttered.

"Any advice for me Buck?" Ezra muttered under his breath but loud enough for all to hear.

"Shut up all of you!" Chris yelled at them over their mikes.

"Perfect timing as always Mr Larabee." Ezra continued, his own anger continued to build. He had known the meaning behind the conversation, Buck was telling JD to watch his back because he didn't believe that Ezra would.

"Ezra." Chris' voice held a warning.

"You want me to shut it. I know and I will endeavour to do so." Ezra continued to look around the third floor of the building, something had caught his eye but he couldn't quite make it out from where he was positioned, his eyes moved on to other areas of the building while his mind continued to try and figure out what that something was.

"We're going to have a nice little chat when this is over." Chris told him, his voice had become calm, the anger finally leaving his voice.

"I suppose that means that I will be shouting the drinks." Ezra asked and also made sure that the sigh he gave was loud enough to be heard.

"If you are then I'll be there." Vin jumped into the conversation.

A chorous of 'me too' were also added. This time the sigh was real. He really had to learn to keep his mouth shut.

The silence had become deafening, no one spoke, the sound of his own watch began to echo the minutes that were passing by. He could feel the hesitation that the young man beside him felt, he knew JD wanted to defend what Buck had said, Ezra wasn't interested. Buck could defend himself when Ezra approached him on the subject after this was finished, he intended to have it out with the older man. He knew he wasn't trustworthy but it wasn't a subject that should be made available to ears outside of Team Seven. He didn't need the rest of the ATF to know that his own team didn't trust him, that should stay within the group.

JD placed his left hand over his mouth piece. "Ezra."

"Not now JD." Ezra growled, he hadn't bothered to cover his own, he knew the others had heard, he expected a comment from Buck but his voice didn't sound in his ears, the man kept silent, maybe he was waiting to hear what was going to be said.

"I just want to . . . "

"I said not now!" Ezra turned to him. "This isn't the time or the place."

"What the hell is going on with you two?" Buck's voice finally came over his ear piece, the suspicion was heavy in his tone.

"No need to worry Mr Wilmington, you will be part of this conversation when this is over and yes I know Mr Larabee. I will now shut up." Ezra growled into his mike, he'd finally had enough.

Ezra leaned further into the hole knowing that JD's eyes were boaring into him, the younger man knew what his words had meant just like Ezra had known the meaning of Buck's words. JD no longer wanted to defend Buck's word but was now willing to help defend him physically. Ezra didn't care, if JD was going to stand by his friend then it meant that he too felt the same way in regards to thinking that he wouldn't watch their backs. They were wrong, he would give his life for any of them but he feared that they wouldn't return the favour, not out of dislike but they didn't care about him like they did each other, they just wouldn't think of throwing themselves in front of a bullet for him.

He saw the two men that he had heard entering the building, they were the two ATF undercover agents. The men walked from the top of the stairs to the middle of the room. They looked towards the office at the back of the building then up towards the ceiling. One of them waved to Ezra but the Southerner didn't return the gesture, he suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Something was wrong. Something was going to go wrong. He was unaware that Chris had had the same feeling all morning.

Ezra kept his thoughts to himself, he didn't want to worry JD or the others and he knew that Buck would never shut up if he voiced his concerns. The first thing that he would want would be to join JD so he could protect him in a way that he didn't think that the undercover agent would. Ezra was tired, he was tired of all of it, all he wanted was to belong, to belong to a family, a group of people that would care about him, he started to think that he wouldn't find that with this group of men. He knew that before anyone would trust him he would have to trust himself but he didn't think that he was worthy of that trust, not yet anyway but one day . . . he left the silent thought unfinished.

He moved back into his original position and began to scan the room again, his green eyes found the area of the brick wall that he was facing, there was something wrong but he couldn't pinpoint it. There were at least four stained mattresses leaning against the wall, he found this strange but didn't question it. He turned his eyes to JD, the man was still watching him, he felt like reprimanding him, telling him to concentrate on his job instead of the conversations that had taken place earlier. He continued to keep his mouth shut.

The next thirty minutes passed by slowly, then the next forty. The drug smugglers were late or they weren't coming.

Ezra heard Chris' deep breath, he knew the leader was about to say something. It was a wasted effort, but the nagging feeling continued, this wasn't over yet.

"Team Seven, this is Team Eight. I think were wasting our time, they're not going to show." A voice came over the headsets of the men that were in position within the warehouse.

"Any idea why?" Chris asked.

"No. I'll bring my men out then yours can follow."

"Agreed." Chris stated simply but the frustration was clearly evident in his voice.

For a second time, Ezra leaned further into the hole, he watched as the two men glanced up to him then towards the office, they then left quietly, he knew they would be positioned outside, ready to cover them if need be. Just because the bad guys didn't show up didn't mean they could stop being careful. He had a feeling that something was still going to go wrong. He quietly waited for the order for him to follow them out. Chris would get them to leave the floor and then cover Josiah and Nathan as they left their cover.

Ezra and JD only had to wait a few minutes for the order to leave the building. They both stood up and walked around the hole. Ezra's eyes glanced once more to the position that held the mattresses, the movement saved both his and JD's lives. He saw the mattresses move. This was what was going to go wrong, he heard gunshots from the floor below and outside the building.

"JD!"

Ezra yelled a warning when he saw the mattresses fall to the floor, two men entered through the hole that lead to the roof of the warehouse. Ezra heard the gunshot as JD fired his gun but he missed, it gave the man time to bring his gun up. Ezra's first bullet struck the first man in the forehead, he fell to the ground. The second man retaliated against JD. Ezra felt the breath of the bullet as it passed close to his face. His heart froze when he saw the automatic weapon being aimed at JD, his instinct took over, he wasn't prepared to let the young man die. He used his body to push JD into the hole and fired on the second suspect, the owner of the automatic weapon returned fire, five bullets struck Ezra's chest, the force of the bullets striking the life protecting vest held him in place for a moment then he fell backwards into the hole to follow JD.

Ezra cried out in pain when the left side of his body hit the floor, he heard bones break and felt his left shoulder dislocate itself on impact. He fought against the darkness that wanted to take him, he hadn't taken the second suspect down, he couldn't give in to his body's physical shock, he still needed to protect JD. He lifted his gun arm and aimed it at the opening above him, his arm shook, he tried to lift his left arm to grip his right so he could use it as a steadying force but it refused to obey his commands. The seconds passed by agonisingly slow but they weren't silent, he could hear the gun fire on the other side of the room, he didn't dare look towards the sound. He gritted his teeth against the pain and blinked the sweat out of his eyes, he needed to see the gunman before he saw him.

The suspect leaned over the edge of the opening in the floor and before he could distinguish the shapes in the darkness below him a bullet entered his forehead, he crumpled to the floor.

He allowed his head to fall until it hit a solid object, his gun arm followed it, he closed his eyes and hoped the darkness would take him, the pain that filled his upper body was unbearable. He waited patiently but he could still hear the short ragged breaths that escaped his own body, the pain also continued to worsen. He could also hear the slow steady rhythm of JD's breathing, he turned his head and saw the unmoving form that lay next to him.

Ezra felt the floor shift beneath him.

"Aw hell." He muttered through clenched teeth.

The floor shifted again, he listened as the floor boards cracked, he tried to get up but couldn't manage it.

"JD, get up." He didn't receive a reply.

Ezra felt the floor give way beneath him, he tried to prepare himself for the impact, it wasn't as bad as the first one, it didn't do anymore damage to his already established injuries but the pain was worse. He tried to roll over onto his back so he could protect JD from the falling debri but the pain caused him to curl back up onto his side. He lifted his right hand to cover his face, it was over in a matter of seconds. He gingerly lifted his head and turned to look at JD. He was lying on his right side, his back was to Ezra.

"Oh great . . . I'm a dead man . . . they're not going to forgive me for this." He gasped out. "JD?" Ezra didn't even bother to try and sit up, the agonising pain in his side, shoulder and chest stopped him from attempting the obviously stupid body movement. "JD?" The continued lack of response worried him.

"Chris?" Ezra spoke into the headset, he didn't get a response but he could hear their voices, he could hear Buck calling for JD. "Chris!" Still no answer.

There was also silence around him, the gunfire had ceased, he lifted his head again but the pain was too much, he let it fall back to the floor. He would just have to wait until they found them which should be as soon as Buck runs into the building looking for JD. He was still receiving but he couldn't send any messages out. Ezra closed his eyes and listened.

"JD! Answer me!" Buck's voice echoed in Ezra's right ear, the level of his voice caused the Southerner to grimace.

"Better do as your told JD." Ezra smiled, he watched the lights dance in front of his eyes, he cursed the darkness that wouldn't take him away from his pain.

"If JD's hurt I'm going to kill that Southern Bastard!" Buck yelled into Ezra's ear.

"I'm right here Buck, why don't you come and get me." Ezra told him but he knew he couldn't hear him, his headset must be broken.

Ezra tried to roll onto his back, he needed to check on JD, he screamed out in pain and immediately moved back into his previous position, he berated himself for making the obviously stupid move that he had refrained from doing earlier.

"JD!" Ezra yelled out to him. There was still no answer.

"Ezra?!" It was Chris' voice. At least someone remembered that he was here. "Ezra!"

"I knew it, I told you Chris, Standish wouldn't risk his own selfish hide to protect one of us." Buck's words echoed through Ezra's soul but that didn't stop him from laughing at his situation, he was lying here feeling like his entire body had been broken because he protected one of them but that wasn't going to stop Buck from killing him for pushing JD through the hole and onto the next floor.

"Ezra, JD we're coming for you!" Ezra felt some sort of comfort that Chris was thinking of him, or was he feeling guilty because of the anger that he had shown towards him earlier.

"Yeah and when I get my hands on you . . . !" Buck left the threat open.

"And when I no longer feel any pain you'll have your chance." Ezra accepted the threat.

Ezra heard the running footsteps as they ran into the building. Chris saw him immeadiately and ran to his side, Buck and Vin were right behind him.

"We've got two agents down on the ground floor!" Chris yelled into his mouth piece.

Chris didn't take his eyes off the building in front of him, he wouldn't relax until his men were with him, he still had a nagging feeling that was continuing to eat away at him. He had decided that fate intended to interfer, something was still going to go wrong. His worst fears became reality when he heard the first gunshot. He moved forward with the intention of protecting his men, but movement in the alley caught his eye, he yelled a warning to the two agents with him and then dived for cover behind the large blue garbage bin that was across the street from the warehouse. It had rusted through in areas, large gaping holes allowed the sunlight to shine through but Chris thought it would still allow him enough protection to save his life.

He opened fire at the two men who were dressed in black. He had a bad feeling about this. It was beginning to look more like a set up than a bust. It was obvious that they were after someone in the building, someone in Team Seven because they had waited for the undercover agents of Team Eight to leave the building. He listened as Vin and Buck joined him in desposing of the two men. It only took a few seconds, their own gunfire stopped but the sounds still reverbrated through the warehouse.

The sounds of gunfire ended as abruptly as they had started, he hesitated long enough to hear Nathan report that they were okay. He began to walk across the street while he waited for JD and Ezra to call in. Chris listened as Buck called out to JD. There was no response, the man beside him continued to talk into his headset, his own voice joined him but his concern was not only aimed at JD but also Ezra. He had been worried about his undercover agent since the operation had begun that morning, it was as though he had a premonition emotionally, not physically.

Chris entered the building carefully, his eyes adjusted quickly, he scanned the floor for any sign of danger, what he saw caused his heart to drop. He ran towards Ezra and JD, he didn't acknowledge his own voice when he reported that he had two agents down.

"JD!" Buck yelled as he knelt down beside JD. "Ezra you were supposed to watch his back, what the hell happened?"

"Not now Buck." Chris told him, he was already using his eyes to check Ezra over. "Ezra? You okay?"

"Just great Mr Larabee." Ezra grumbled. "JD?"

"He's unconscious." Buck growled at him.

"Vin go up and help Josiah, send Nathan down." Chris looked over his shoulder at him, he could see the concern on his face, he knew that his own held the same image, the pain that contorted Ezra's face told them that he was in serious trouble. "Buck, you go out and wait for the medics."

"I want to stay and make sure that JD's alright." Buck argued.

"And I want to make sure that JD and Ezra are alright. Your not blaming anything on Ezra until we know what happened." Chris growled at him but he kept his voice low hoping that Ezra wouldn't hear him, but he forgot about the headset.

"I know what happened Chris." Buck spoke with confidence.

"So do I Buck but my idea doesn't agree with yours." Chris said in defence of Ezra.

"I don't want to interrupt your argument but I really don't want to hear this now." Ezra spoke with a strained voice.

"Medics Buck, now!" Chris turned away from him and back to Ezra. He heard Buck's muttered curse but chose to ignore it, he listened as his footsteps faded then stopped altogether.

Chris only had to wait for a short period of time before he heard Nathan's loud footsteps on the stairs, he knew he was running, he felt him come to a stop and kneel down next to him.

"Ezra?" Nathan leant over him. The ex-medic had been instantly concerned when Vin told him that Ezra and JD had been hurt.

"Check JD first." Ezra spoke through gritted teeth and he wasn't sure if Nathan understood him because the larger man was hesitant, he was about to repeat his demand when Nathan moved away, his face was replaced with Chris'.

"Where does it hurt Ezra?" Chris asked him.

"From the waist up." Ezra even managed a smile. "JD?"

"He's got a nasty bump on the head Ezra." Nathan explained from his position next to JD. "Might have a concussion but apart from that he seems to be okay."

"Good, for a moment there I thought I killed him." Ezra told them. "I pushed him into the hole in the floor."

Chris looked up, it was obvious that the second floor had been damaged enough for them to fall through it as well. "For his protection." Chris nodded, he fingered the bullet holes that he found in Ezra's vest, when his finger entered the fifth bullet hole he felt the thick warm moisture on his fingers. "Nathan." Chris lifted his fingers when Nathan turned to look at him, the blood dripped from the long calloused fingers.

"Some protection." Ezra grimaced, even the light touch that Chris was applying to his chest caused him pain, his eyes were squeezed tightly against the pain that drifted up from his chest to assualt his mind.

"We'll go over it later Ezra, that way you'll be more coherent when I convince you that you did the right thing." Chris smiled down at him, he didn't like lying to the Southerner but he also didn't want him to know how seriously he was hurt.

"Are you going to protect me in . . . the mean time?" Ezra seriously asked his leader, he saw the confusion on Chris' face. "Buck."

"You don't need . . . "

"I can still receive . . . on my mike Chris." Ezra informed him, he smiled through his pained expression at the muttered curse that Chris tried to hide behind a cough.

"Chris, move over and let me have a look." Nathan nudged Chris aside and then took his place when he crawled away from Ezra, but he stayed close. "Ezra, you want to tell me where it hurts." He leaned closer to Ezra and placed his hand against the hole that the blood had started to slowly leak from.

"No. You'll just poke and prod me and . . . cause me even more pain." Ezra was unaware of what Nathan was doing to him.

"I'm going to prod and poke anyway Ezra, you may as well tell me, it'll save you a lot of trouble and pain." The concern that he felt sounded in Nathan's voice.

Ezra looked up at his friend and saw the serious expression that he held, he gave up, the pain in his chest was worsening and he was beginning to find it hard to breath. "I think my left shoulder is . . . dislocated, my ribs are . . . broken and my chest hurts like . . . hell."

"Is that all." Nathan raised his eyebrows at him.

"No but I'm sure . . . there will be when Buck's . . . finished with me." Ezra looked over his shoulder at JD's back.

"Buck!" Chris questioned the man waiting for the medics. "Are the paramedics here yet?"

"They'll be here in about ten minutes." Buck replied. "How's JD?"

'Shit' Chris thought to himself, he looked across at Nathan, he knew what he was thinking. He was trying to decide if they should put Ezra and JD in a car and take them to the hospital but as the seconds passed he realised that Nathan had decided that it was best to keep Ezra still.

"How bad is JD hurt?" Buck demanded when his question of concern wasn't answered.

Chris had had enough, the expression on Ezra's face caused the anger to explode. "BUCK! SHUT UP! That's an order!" He turned back to Ezra. "I'll make sure he apologises when I explain what happened."

"He'll say it but he . . . wont mean it." Ezra muttered, he wished the darkness would just take him away.

"Ezra," Nathan spoke to him and got his attention, "it may take a while for them to get here . . . "

"And?" Ezra stared at him through narrow eyelids.

"I'm going to put your shoulder back in place . . . " Nathan reached out and grabbed the retreating Southerner, who wasn't really going anywhere, the pain saw to that. "Ezra if I don't then it'll be harder to put back in place, there will be less pain now for you."

"Aw hell Nathan." Ezra knew how much it hurt, it had happened during the first operation they did together, he had fallen when he was fired upon and the left shoulder dislocated, Nathan had expertly put it back in place, but it had hurt like hell, he didn't want that again, not on top of the pain that he was already feeling.

"Let's get you on your back first Ezra." Nathan gently rolled Ezra over onto his back, he winced when Ezra voiced his pain, he knew there was going to be even more pain and that he was the person that was going to cause it. "I'll be as quick as I can Ezra."

"Just do . . . " Ezra's scream interrupted his words.

Nathan used the distraction to grab Ezra's arm with his right hand, he placed his left hand firmly against the undercover agent's shoulder then pulled the shoulder joint back into place. The ex-medic put a calming hand on Ezra's forehead and waited until the painful tremors subsided, his other hand pressed against the wound in his chest. Ezra was still unaware of the fact that one of the bullets had pierced the jacket.

Chris gripped Ezra's shaking right hand and squeezed it tightly. He tried to reassure him with a simple gesture of physical contact when he knew that he wouldn't be able to say the words that would comfort the younger man. He felt Ezra try and pull his hand away, this only caused the leader of the group of different personalities to grip the hand even tighter. Ezra relented and allowed the usually difficult man to hold his hand. It was a form of emotional comfort that he wasn't use to. Even his own mother had never given him the physical contact that a normal childhood was full of. He didn't know what it meant to feel physical contact.

Nathan continued to apply pressure to the wound in the Southerner's chest as the minutes passed, the distant sirens broke the silence that hovered over the four men. He used his free hand to wipe Ezra's forehead, eyelids flew open to reveal green eyes that were filled with pain. Nathan wanted to ease that pain but there was nothing that could be done until the medics arrived. He knew it would be at least another five minutes. The empty area that was filled with abandoned buildings was silent enough for them to hear distant noises. In an occupied area they wouldn't have heard the sirens until they were pratically on their doorstep.

"A few more minutes Ezra." Nathan felt the nod under his large hand.

The minutes continued to pass slowly, Chris felt the tremors work there way through his undercover agent, the pain filled orbs were hidden behind closed eyelids but there was a permanent grimace on the handsome face before him. He wanted to talk to him, to reassure him that he was going to be okay but he wasn't confident of his survival himself. He was worried about the gunshot wound.

"Medics are here!" Chris heard Buck's voice as they ran towards them but his eyes kept a permanent watch on Ezra's pale contorted features.

"We'll get you out in a minute Ezra." Nathan told him. He stood up and looked into the face of the young paramedic who was mirroring his gaze. "One's unconscious and the other has multiple fractures."

"What?" Buck muttered, he had heard Ezra's scream but didn't ask due to Chris' anger.

"Chris!" Ezra's voice was a hoarse whisper. He was beginning to think that something was wrong, there was an intense pain that was centered in his chest, he didn't remember that part of his body impacting with the floor, it was something else, it had to be.

"Hang in there Ezra, just hang in there for me okay." Chris wiped the hair that was beginning to drip with sweat from Ezra's forehead.

The medic knelt down next to Ezra while his partner began to examine JD.

"He has a bullet wound to the chest, ribs on his left side may be broken, his left shoulder was dislocated, I put it back in place." Nathan informed the medic.

"What's his name?" The blond medic asked as he adjusted his eyeglasses.

"Ezra." Nathan sat back down on his heels.

"Ezra? My name's Chad, I'm going to quickly check you over to find out what injuries you have. Okay?"

Ezra nodded and turned his frightened eyes towards Chris. He took strength from the man who was finding it hard to comfort him, he could see the concern on his face, it was a different and welcomed expression from the one of anger that he had projected towards him since that morning.

Chad lifted the eyelids and checked the pupils of the injured ATF agent and expertly carried out a quick examination, he then used his gentle touch to check the bullet wound that Ezra was yet to be told existed.

"Simon how is the other patient?" Chad questioned his partner.

"He has a head injury, no doubt a concussion, no other visible injuries." Simon reported, he flicked his long pony tail back over his shoulder then joined his partner by Ezra's side.

"Broken ribs on the left side, dislocated shoulder that has been put back into place and a bullet wound to the chest." Chad repeated nearly word for word what Nathan had told him. "We move this one first."

"Okay." Simon headed back to the ambulance to retrive a gurney with collapsable legs.

"Did he say . . . what I thought he . . . said?" Ezra asked Chris, he saw the hesitant nod then looked away from him.

Chris squeezed Ezra's hand then looked towards Buck, he felt his anger boil, so far he had shown absolutely no concern towards Ezra, he hadn't asked how he was doing, even at the mention of the bullet wound. His angry blue eyes moved back to Ezra to find that he was once again returning his stare, he smiled down at him but the emotion that he tried to display was not returned. He hid the confusion that he was now feeling.

The darkly dressed leader moved out of the way when the long haired medic named Simon wheeled the gurney to a position close to Ezra. He then left again to get the second gurney for JD.

"Help me get Ezra onto it." Simon lifted Ezra's legs and Nathan took his shoulders, he had to ignore the cry of pain that was forced out between clenched teeth as they moved the injured man onto the gurney.

Chris didn't let go of Ezra's hand, he jogged along side the gurney. "Nathan, you and Buck stay here and help clean up. That's an order." He called out over his shoulder before he had to let go to allow the gurney and medic to fit through the door.

He moved quickly so he could catch up and once again hold Ezra's hand, he had seen the fear of the unkown in his agent's eyes, he didn't want him to be alone. He stepped up into the ambulance and sat on the gurney, he was careful not to sit on Ezra's legs. He had to wait a couple of minutes for JD to join him and Ezra in the back of the ambulance. The speed that the vehicle used to leave the area caused Chris to worry even more. He watched as the medic called Chad inserted an IV unit into the back of Ezra's right hand. The saline solution began to drip through the thin clear plastic tube.

Chris lifted his eyes to look at the clock above him, the minutes were now passing slowly, too slowly, only forty five minutes had gone by since the large nurse in green scrubs stopped him from following Ezra and JD through to the emergency rooms. His cold hard look hadn't scared the woman, she had given him the appropriate forms and pointed in the direction of the waiting room. He wished that time would go faster, he didn't think he could cope waiting for news on Ezra's condition, he'd been assured in the ambulance by Chad that JD would be fine but he hadn't offered any advice on Ezra pulling through, that scared him. His troubled blue eyes looked down at the admission forms, only the first form for Ezra's admission had been completed, he'd put his own name down as Ezra's next of kin. He knew it would take too long to contact Ezra's mother, he wouldn't have any idea where to start looking. He scratched his head and realised that he still wore his headset, he looked down to see the bullet proof jacket that still covered his upper body. Chris put the clip board aside and removed both articles from his body.

The man who had given Ezra Standish a second chance threw the confusing admission forms away and leant over his knees, his elbows were positioned on the knees and he placed his face in the palm of his hands as his mind remembered distant memories. The thought of loosing another person in his life nearly tore him apart. He didn't know Ezra well but he connected with the man, he knew if Ezra let him in that they could become close friends but the Southerner went out of his way to keep him and the rest of the team from getting close. Why? He knew that a lack of trust was one reason. He knew that the agent hadn't had any friends in the FBI, that's why they had turned their backs on him so easily when the rumours started. Judge Travis had once told him that you couldn't trust a person if they were difficult to know and that was Ezra. He was a man that was very difficult to get to know.

If there were other reasons, he was still unaware of them. Ezra had never given away any of his secrets, he never spoke about his childhood or family, all he knew was what was in his file. He only knew about his mother, Maude Standish, because she had phoned the office looking for her son, Ezra had taken the call privately in his office. Chris watched the man carefully whenever he had the opportunity and tried to get into his mind but it seemed as though Ezra had been aware of his intentions and always led him down a wrong path. Ezra had a way of changing a person's direction without them knowing it until it was too late. That's why he was the best undercover agent around, nobody could take on another personality like he could, he had a way of gaining a criminal's trust, even their friendship. It was something he didn't do with his workmates, Chris wished he knew why.

Chris thought about the other members of the team. Vin trusted Ezra and the ex-bounty had a way of reading people, if he trusted and liked the Southerner then so did he. Vin had been a loner, like Ezra, when he first joined the team but unlike Ezra, he had no trouble committing himself to a friendship and social life with his new workmates. Josiah had taken the younger man under his wing at the first sign of aloofness, he seemed to think that Ezra was a troubled young man who needed someone to help him through life. On his first attempt of giving Ezra that guidance, the young man had taken him aside and calmly spoke to him. Josiah returned to the group with a look of confusion on his face, he had said that even though he was unaware of what Ezra had said, Chris smiled at the thought of Ezra's large vocabulary, that he thought he'd just been told off.

After the friendly conversation Josiah continued to look out for Ezra and take care of him but at a distance, he thought that Ezra was unaware of his continuing guidance but Chris wasn't so sure. Ezra was the type of person who made sure that he was aware of his surroundings and what was going on in the social domain that he kept himself from existing in. Maybe Ezra just wasn't ready to push it, he didn't want another enemy within his own team. Buck and Nathan were the enemies, Buck didn't trust him and Nathan just didn't like him. But Chris knew he could be trusted, even after running out on the first operation, the trust had been there, the agent had thought that he wasn't trusted, he wasn't willing to go through the same fight all over again.

And as to being liked, the man was likeable, he had a sense of humour, he had a way with people and it was facinating to watch him work. The way he was able to get himself out of a fix with the use of words was remarkable and Chris always looked forward to the confrontations that he had with the man, if only Ezra didn't get him so angry but then that was part of the game, he usually broke first and Ezra knew just how to make him break. Chris also knew that deep down Ezra had a caring nature, he just wasn't willing to show the better person to the rest of the world.

Vin stepped through the open doorway that would take him into the waiting room, the sight of his friend's body position caused him to stop in his tracks. His concern for Ezra grew. Nathan had told them everything about Ezra's injuries, also JD's. They knew JD was going to be alright but neither man knew about Ezra. The team was worried about their fallen team mate.

"Chris." Vin's tone was neutral but was filled with reassurance that he himself didn't feel. He knew that Chris would need someone to help him through this if Ezra didn't make it. The two men weren't close, you wouldn't even consider them as friends but Chris would feel responsible for Ezra's injuries and if they resulted in his death the guilt that he would feel would be devestating. He had gone through it once before when his wife and son were killed. This would be no different, the same guilt would result from any of the team's death.

Chris lifted his head at the sound of Vin's voice, he could see the confidence in his features but his light blue eyes told a different story, he was worried. He looked at the faces of the men who stood behind him. They were waiting patiently for Vin to move into the waiting room so they could follow, their faces were also full of concern, even Buck's. Chris knew that concern wasn't for Ezra, it was for JD.

The leader of the team of men who stood before him looked above the worried expressions at the clock, two hours had passed. His gaze turned back to the floor. Vin couldn't help but see that the bright blue eyes were now dull. He walked towards the empty chair that was next to Chris and sat down, he leant over and picked up the admissions forms that were on the floor. Only one had been completed, he looked at the others and placed the forms in the open palm of the usually emotionly strong ex-medic. Nathan had offered to complete them.

"Heard anything yet?" Vin knew the answer already but he knew the rest of the team needed comfirmation.

"No." Chris answered simply.

"You okay?" The ex-bounty hunter continued.

"I'm fine." Chris lied.

"No, but you will be." Vin squeezed his shoulder in support.

Chris Larabee was pacing, his feet shuffling across the carpet. He no longer had the energy or the need to make any effort to lift his feet and place the heel of his boot down first. The agent was tired of waiting, his patience had run out long ago. He turned once again and headed towards the chairs that his men occupied. All but two of his men. He took in Buck's solemn features, he realised that the ladies man hadn't voiced his concern for JD since his arrival. At that moment in time, he didn't care. He turned again, and like each time he turned he looked at the clock above the door. His men had been in the waiting room with him for thirty minutes, that made it two and half hours since the ambulance brought in his two injured men.

He reached the door and turned, he looked straight into the eyes of Vin Tanner. Chris made to step around him but he was intercepted. He gave up, Vin could be a force to reckon with when he was serious. Chris let out a sigh and his shoulders slumped. He ran his right hand through his hair and looked away from the man who stood before him.

"Nathan told us about Ezra's injuries." Vin explained.

"Umm . . . " Chris was confused.

"Particularly Buck, that's why he hasn't said anything." Vin continued. He actually enjoyed the look of confusion on his friend's face. He just hoped that it wouldn't turn into an expression of mourning.

Chris looked over Vin's shoulder at Buck. "A bit of guilt will do him the world of good."

Vin smiled in understanding and stepped aside, when he did he saw a Doctor coming towards them. "Doctor's coming."

Chris watched as his men stood up, the hope that they felt was clearly written on their faces. He didn't feel the same way.

"Would one of you gentlemen be Chris Larabee?" The Doctor asked.

"I'm Chris Larabee." Chris took the offered hand and shook it. The grip was firm considering the man looked to thin to be healthy. The fine greying beard made his face look pale and his brown eyes seemed hollow with a permanent shadow beneath them.

"My name is Dr Mortimer, I'm Mr Dunne's doctor." He finished shaking Chris' hand and looked at the other men.

"How is he?" Buck stepped forward to stand next to Chris.

"He's fine, a slight concussion and some bruising." he explained to them as he looked at each man in turn. "We did a skull xray and cat scan, they were both clear. We're going to keep him overnight just to be sure but I'm confident that there wont be any complications."

"What about Ezra?" Chris asked with a small hint of anger in his voice.

"Ezra?" The Doctor turned from Buck to look at Chris.

"Ezra Standish, he came in with JD." Chris told him.

"I'm sorry I don't have any information on Mr Standish . . . "

"Then I suggest that you go and get some information on Ezra's condition." Chris growled at him.

"I'm sure that his Doctor will be with you soon, he'll be able to . . . " He stepped back from the cold glare that was aimed in his direction.

"I wasn't asking you, I'm telling you. Go and find out what you can!" Chris only waited a moment. "Now!"

"There is no need to be like this . . . " The Doctor started once again.

"Yes there is, I've been waiting for nearly three hours and no one has told me how my undercover agent is doing. I want to know and I want to know now!"

Dr Mortimer opened his mouth to argue but at the shake of Vin's head he changed his mind and walked away from the confrontation that he had become an unwilling participant of.

Chris returned to the empty chair that he had occupied for two hours to continue the wait. But he didn't have to wait long , a second doctor arrived. He walked into the waiting room and was assaulted by the appearance of five men. His green eyes took in each man then settled on Chris Larabee.

"Doctor Henderson." The heavyset man introduced himself but returned his hand to his side when the man in front of him ignored his attempt to shake his hand.

"I want to know how Ezra is." This was Chris' only attempt at an introduction with the doctor.

"He's going to be fine, we're moving him to a recovery room now." The doctor looked down at his stained scrubs as though to emphasize a point. "The bullet that entered his chest didn't go very deep so it wasn't that serious but he does have some severe bruising on his chest. Three ribs are broken and there is bruising on his hip."

"I want to see him." Chris demanded.

"We'll be moving him to a private room later, you can see him then." Henderson answered.

"I'm going to see him now and I want him moved into the same room as JD Dunne." Chris took the doctor's arm and led him out of the room. The expression on his face stopped the doctor from protesting against his demands.

The others hesitated then followed, they also wanted to see their friends and Buck was anxious to talk to JD to find out what had happened. He regretted not showing concern towards Ezra but he still thought that the Southerner hadn't done his job and that's why they had been injured.

They sat around the two beds in the large private room. Buck sat next to JD, they had talked earlier but Chris had stopped them from discussing what had happened. He wanted to do it professionally in the office, he also wanted Ezra to be present so he could defend himself against any allegations that Buck might make. Chris noticed that Buck constantly looked towards Ezra's bed, it was though he wanted to say something but the mistrust that he felt towards Ezra stopped him.

Chris' objectional view told him what had happened. Ezra had put his own life on the line to protect JD. He knew that he would do it and wondered if he thought they would give their own lives for him. Chris knew that he himself and Vin would do it. Josiah too. JD would now after what happened, he would return the favour. He wasn't sure about Nathan and Buck but after this situation was over and they knew the facts that they would. Ezra's efforts to protect one of the team finally made him a permanent member of a team of men who would now trust him fully with their lives.

Chris rubbed his tired eyes. Everyone else had managed to get some sleep but he couldn't. He hadn't moved from Ezra's side, he didn't want him to wake up thinking that he was alone. This was the type of situation when a person needed their friends, they needed the concern and comfort that they would give them. He knew that Ezra didn't consider them as friends but that wasn't going to stop them from helping the agent through his ordeal. It would be a first for them, it was the first time that Ezra had been injured in the line of duty or his personal life while he was with the team.

He looked back towards Ezra and watched when the Southerner rolled his head to the side. He waited. Chris wasn't sure if he was waking or if the movement was caused by a dream. The movement repeated itself.

"Ezra?" It was only a whisper, he didn't want to wake him if he was asleep.

"Ezra?" He spoke louder when he saw the eyelids flutter open to slowly reveal the green orbs that had been hidden from him since they brought him to the room fourteen hours ago.

Ezra's eyes focused on the person leaning over him, it took a few minutes for him to recognise Chris Larabee. The man who hadn't been truthful with him about his injuries but then neither had Nathan. But what else could he expect from people who didn't trust or like him.

"Doctor says your going to be fine Ezra, you just need plenty of rest." Chris assured him. He remembered the fear that he'd seen in the Southerner's eyes when he found out he'd been shot.

Ezra nodded, it was all he could do. He didn't dare move, he knew the broken ribs would cause him a lot of pain. He could feel the bandage that strapped his left arm to his chest and supported the ribs

"I don't want you to tell me what happened yet, we'll wait a few days." Chris squeezed the hand he was holding.

"Buck." Ezra managed to croak as he pulled his hand from Chris' grip. He wasn't afraid of his team mate, he just wasn't physically able to defend himself and it was something that he wanted to be able to do when the accusations were thrown in his direction. And he knew Buck wasn't going to be the only one.

"He wont say or do anything." He smiled at the man before him, he thought that something else was wrong. "Why don't you get some rest Ezra."

"JD?" Ezra tried to turn his head to look around the room, but stopped when the pain in his shoulder and chest ignited.

"He's fine Ezra, he'll be going home in a few hours." Chris told him.

Ezra closed his eyes and rolled his head away from his associate, it wasn't long before he was asleep again.

"Any idea what's wrong." Chris asked the man that sat in the corner of the room, he knew that Vin was awake.

"I'd say he's taking responsibility like he always does, and probably thinks that he'd be blamed for it. He was always the scapegoat at the FBI, he doesn't think that it'll be any different here." Vin offered.

"That's what I was thinking." Chris agreed.

Ezra woke to the sounds of an argument, he recognised the voices and knew the argument would be the same as it always was. The two men could never agree on anything. A whispered voice told them to be quiet and when the argument continued the whispered voice grew in volume.

"Would you please take it outside." Ezra added to the reprimand.

"Sorry Ezra." JD apologised.

Buck stayed silent though.

Nathan moved closer to Ezra's bed and placed his hand on the Southerner's forehead. The slight fever that he had during the night was now gone. The ex-medic poured some cold water into a cup and allowed Ezra to take a small drink through a straw.

"Better?" Nathan asked.

Even though Nathan's voice told him that he was sincere with his concern, Ezra couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the man. "Yes thank you."

"Are you in a lot of pain?" Nathan asked. "I could get a nurse or find your Doctor."

Ezra raised the eyebrow he'd just lowered. He was confused as to why this man was being nice to him. Nathan had always given him the impression that he didn't like him. "Yeah a bit."

"I'll go and find the nurse, see if she can give you something." Nathan patted Ezra's uninjured shoulder then walked away from the bed. He was unaware of Ezra's eyes watching his departure.

"Ezra." Chris interrupted his agent's watching gaze.

Ezra turned towards the leader of the team that he thought he would no longer be a part of. They would make him the scapegoat, just as they did in the FBI. He was expendable.

"You okay?" Chris frowned at him.

Ezra raised another eyebrow, what was with the strange attention that was being given to him.

"I don't mean physically, that would be a stupid question. I'm talking about emotionally." Chris elaborated.

"I'm fine." It wasn't a lie. Ezra accepted his fate, he knew it would happen one day.

No one was going to take him on after this, he would have to revert back to his old line of work. The one his mother taught him. Poker, and conning people out of their life savings. He didn't want to, but what else was there. Undercover work was his life but now that life would be over.

"You'll be okay Ezra, none of this was your fault. You did the right thing, all of us would have done the same. You wont be blamed for anything." Chris explained. "You'll probably get a commendation for saving JD's life."

"I was doing my job." Ezra protested calmly.

"Yes you were and you did it well, like you always do Ezra. I'm glad to have you on my team and your going to stay." Chris enjoyed the confused expression that Ezra's face held. "And when the doctor says you can leave, your going to stay at my place." He saw that his agent was about to argue with him. "That's an order Ezra."

Ezra closed his mouth and nodded in resignation.

Ezra shifted in the large chair that was provided for him, he knew he was under scrutiny, as he had been for the past week. He winced at the pain that went through his side, there was also a slight twinge in his chest but he ignored it, the pain wasn't as bad as his side. He looked around the conference room and made sure that his eyes didn't make contact with his leader. The meeting was due to start in thirty minutes. He was early because Chris had dragged him out of bed at five, the sun didn't even get up that early.

His mind travelled over the events of the past ten days, he hadn't been left alone in the hospital. Chris, Vin and Josiah took turns staying during the night, he had argued that he didn't need anyone but his protests fell on deaf ears. And JD had been a constant unwelcomed visitor during the day. Ezra had been glad that the younger man was alright but he always became over exuberant after the first couple of hours. Nathan also visited during the day, something which the Southerner was uncomfortable with. Buck had not visited. Chris had explained that he was no longer angry or blamed him for JD's injuries but Ezra knew that he still didn't trust him.

Then Chris had taken him to the Larabee home. Ezra had gotten to the point where the out of character concern was aggravating him. The anger that he'd felt was taken out on those around him. In some cases the anger was returned with a vengeance, Chris was apparently enjoying the game that he was now winning. Ezra wasn't use to losing, having people worry about him or take care of him. It was something that his mother had never done or anyone else. He didn't know how to react to it so he had resorted to his anger.

"You okay?" Chris asked when he saw Ezra wince when his body shifted.

"Fine." Ezra retorted.

The undercover agent knew he shouldn't be angry but he was sick of the concern, he didn't know what to do about it and the people around him didn't seem to realise that, it they had they would have given him more room instead of smothering him.

"You don't seem fine." Chris replied with a smile.

"If you let me go back to my own home and stop treating me like a child then perhaps I would be more 'fine'." The agent snapped back.

"Your not use to it are you?" Chris asked him.

"Use to what?" Ezra tried to kept the surprise off his face and play dumb.

Chris continued to observe Ezra Standish. After spending so much time with the man over more than a week he'd realised that he didn't understand or know the man. He was more than aloof, he was arrogant, moody, disrespectful and very angry. He seemed to go even more out of his way to keep everyone at a distance. He argued with all of them. He wouldn't do what he was asked, he always insisted that he was quite capable of taking care of himself. It was only when he had fallen over in the bathroom and injuring himself more, that he accepted a small amount of help.

He lifted his blue eyes to look at the fading bruise and healing abrasion on Ezra's right forehead. He silently sighed. The man was as stubborn as a mule and there seemed to be nothing that he could do about it. But he wasn't just stubborn, he was also lonely, and it was even more obvious when he was within a group of people. It also turned out that Ezra had a very hard time accepting concern, probably because he had never received it before he joined this team. But Chris was determined to make the man realise that he was worthy of the caring emotions that they felt towards him.

"Being taken care of, having people worry about you." Chris continued to smile, he was finally winning the game that the two men played and he was going to enjoy every minute of it because once things were back to normal Ezra would then be winning as he always did.

"I don't need to be taken care of or have people worry about me." Ezra growled. "I can take care of myself."

"I can tell by the bump on your head that you are quite capable of taking care of yourself." His slight chuckle seemed to make Ezra even more angry.

Ezra tried to calm himself by drinking some of his coffee. The room fell silent once more but he knew that his boss continued to watch him. He glanced over at him, the smile on the man's face caused him to grimace in return. Fine, if that's what he wanted he would play the game.

"Why?" Ezra asked. His voice was a hoarse whisper.

"Why what?" Chris raised his eyebrows.

Ezra coughed into his hand and Chris could see that he felt awkward about what he was going to say.

"Why do you care? Why do you worry about me? Why all of this?" Ezra made sure that his voice sounded more confident even though the inner man didn't.

"Your one of my men." Chris answered simply.

"You feel obliged to?"

Chris leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table, it was going to take a lot to convince Ezra that they truthfully do care about him. It was unfortunate though that the care they felt didn't happen until after he almost lost his life saving JD's. Chris regretted that. He knew that there was something good in the man who sat before him, it was another reason why he gave him a second chance. Vin also saw it, but Ezra's aloofness hid it from the rest of the men.

"I care about all of my men, not because I have to but because I want to. And as to worrying about you. Ezra, you give me and the others cause to worry about you. You take risks that no other man on this team would. You care more about the others lives than your own and I don't understand why."

"They have more to loose than I do and I believe that you and the others wouldn't like the idea that I survived instead of one of the others." Ezra admitted.

"Not true Ezra, your an equal on this team in all areas."

"Tell that to Buck." Ezra looked away towards the open doorway. He wished that he hadn't asked the question.

"I already have." Chris was serious. He had spoken to Buck the day after if happened. Chris had insisted that Buck apologised which was something that he was yet to do but he would make sure that he did it at this meeting in front of everyone.

"But does he trust me?" Ezra still wouldn't look at Chris.

"After what you did for JD! Of course he trusts you, the whole team now trust you with their own lives." Chris assured him.

"Uh huh." Ezra mumbled. The conversation was over, he wasn't going to talk about it anymore.

Chris noticed the facial expression that told him that Ezra was finished with the conversation, he had seen if often during the time that Ezra was staying with him. He wasn't going to let him leave until the end of the week, that was four days away.

"Why do you think we shouldn't care?" Chris saw the flicker of hurt that crossed the handsome features. He saw the tongue flick out over the bottom lip in a nervous reaction to the question. "Ezra."

Ezra turned to look at Chris. The answer was something he'd never spoken about, he never had anyone to talk to about it. Actually no one had ever asked him this type of question before, they hadn't been interested in how he felt about things.

"There's nothing to care about." He looked down at his hands.

"I think there are a lot of things in you that a person can care about." Chris frowned at his agent.

Ezra had always seemed cocky, confident in his life and his abilities. This was the first time that he had shown a different, scary side of his personality.

"Mr Larabee, if that was true then why did I go through life without someone caring about me." Ezra looked up but when he found Chris' concerned gaze staring at him he looked back down. He couldn't talk about this sort of thing face to face.

"Your mother cares about you." Chris told him but a nagging doubt filled his mind, a feeling that Ezra confirmed in words.

"She has never cared. That's why she sent me to boarding schools so she didn't have to deal with me. I spent holidays with relatives or I stayed at the school. It was only when I was older that she spent more time with me and that was to teach me her trade. To make me take part in her cons."

"That explains a lot Ezra." Chris now understood Ezra's personality a lot more.

"What do you mean?" Ezra became suspicious and finally looked the man who considered himself to be his friend.

"It explains why you won't let people get close to you, why you stay away from social events." He leaned forward even more and saw Ezra flinch under his gaze. "What are you afraid of Ezra?"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." Ezra stated.

"You've been alone all your life." He was correct in his assumption, the expression on Ezra's face told him that he was. "Haven't you?"

"It's by choice." Ezra answered. His voice no longer held the false confidence that he tried to show.

"I don't believe that."

"But I believe it." Ezra faced him again. "It's the only way I can deal with it."

"You don't have to anymore Ezra. You have friends now who care about you." Chris pushed himself away from the desk and stood up.

"I don't have friends, I have associates." Ezra argued.

"You may think that now Ezra but give yourself a few months and you'll accept us as caring friends. You may even begin to care about us but you already showed that you do by saving JD's life." Chris reached his agent's chair and placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently. "Just give yourself a chance Ezra."

"You were angry on the day it happened. Why? What did I do to deserve that anger?" Ezra felt the hand apply more pressure to his shoulder.

"You didn't deserve it Ezra." Chris pulled out the chair and sat down next to his agent. "I had a feeling that something was going to go wrong that day. And like I said before, you take risks. I was worried that the feeling I had might have something to do with you. I didn't want to be angry at you Ezra, I couldn't help myself. You have a way about you. Besides, I was losing the game."

"You always loose the game Chris, you should stop playing." Ezra smiled at the man next to him.

"Not until I win Ezra."

"That will never happen."

"Would you care to bet on that Mr Standish?" Chris raised an eyebrow and looked sideways at Ezra. He could see that some of the tension had left his face.

"I do love the sound of that word Mr Larabee." Ezra left it to Chris to make the wager.

"Are you corrupting our leader Ezra?" Vin walked into the conference in time to hear the wager being made. He moved to the only empty chair next to Ezra, it was as though he and Chris were his protectors who wanted to stay close to their charge.

"I corrupted him." Chris admitted.

"Now that I could believe." Vin smiled then looked at Ezra. "How you doin' Ezra?"

"My side is sore but apart from that I'm okay." Ezra smiled in return.

"And your head?" Vin winked at Chris. He could tell that Ezra's mood had improved, he would have to ask Chris what he said to him.

"You know, thick skull, takes a lot to break it." Ezra slumped down in his chair and yawned.

"That and stubbornness." Vin couldn't help himself.

"Being stubborn could be a good thing." Ezra protested.

"Depends on who's being stubborn." Chris joined the verbal assaults.

"I'm only stubborn when someone gets me up at five in the morning. You know I'm not a morning person." Ezra yawned again.

"All part of the game Ezra." Chris commented seriously.

"Game?" Vin looked at both men. The smirks told him that something was going on that he didn't know about.

"I'll tell you about it after I win." Chris said.

"That will never happen." Ezra repeated.

"I think I will." Chris retorted. He knew he wouldn't win the game, but that was okay, it wasn't his intention to win. What he wanted to do was bring Ezra into the group, make him a part of it. Have him become friends with the rest of the team and get him involved socially. When that happened then Chris would be the winner. Ezra just wouldn't know it.

Ezra could hear the voices as they made their way down the hall towards the meeting room. It wasn't the way he wanted to continue the already bad day. JD could be too energetic at this particular time of the day. And Buck. He still had a problem with Buck. The voices became louder as they got closer. The two men entered the room and made their way to the seats opposite the three men. JD sat across from Ezra and Buck sat opposite Chris.

Ezra could feel Buck's eyes staring at him but he refused to acknowledge him. He knew he was being childish but he had reasons to be. He hadn't seen Buck since he took JD home from the hospital. If he no longer blamed him for what happened then why did he refuse to see him. No apology had been given, he hadn't thanked Ezra for saving JD's life. Ezra had come to the conclusion that Buck did still feel the same way. He still didn't trust him and he still blamed him for JD's injuries.

But that no longer bothered him because he didn't trust Buck Wilmington. Ezra wasn't sure if he could trust the others either, he didn't think that they would believe he was worth taking a bullet for, or even dying for. Chris said they did. It would take on-the-job experience to prove it to him. He had learnt to watch his own back and take care of himself, it was a way of life for him. When the rumors of him being on the take began at the FBI, he'd lost all trust in his fellow agents. They stopped watching his back, they weren't willing to die for an 'assumed' crooked agent.

"Morning guys." JD smiled cheerfully at the three men opposite him.

He received two cheerful replies and one grunted. The younger agent frowned at Ezra but the man who had saved his life looked away. JD looked at Chris but the man just shrugged back at him. Buck had stayed silent while he continued to watch Ezra.

Nathan and Josiah were the last to enter the room. Josiah sat next to JD and looked at Ezra. He knew something was still wrong and that the something was Buck. But hopefully that situation would come to an end at the close of this meeting. Nathan sat next to Buck. His brown eyes looked over Ezra physically. Because he was the ex-medic of the group, it was only natural that he take care of the members of the team when one of them was injured.

"How ya feelin' Ezra?" JD asked. His attempt at starting a conversation failed.

"I'm fine JD." Ezra answered.

"You sure?" Nathan wanted confirmation.

"He's sure." Chris interrupted. "Now lets get on with business."

Chris opened the first folder on his desk and looked sideways at Ezra. It was the undercover agent's report on what had happened. It had been hand written and then typed up by one of the other members of the team. The most appropriate member. Buck Wilmington.

"Has everyone read Ezra's report that Buck so kindly typed up for him." Chris saw the flicker of a smile play on Ezra's lips. He hid the smirk that threatened to break out on his own features. Chris remembered the expression on Buck's face when he ordered him to type up the report, the expression was then filled with guilt when he returned it. He knew they had, he just wanted to make a point. "So now we all know what really happened. Don't we Buck?"

"Yes." Buck grumbled in return.

Ezra glared at the ladies man when an apology or thank you didn't follow the short statement.

"Did Team Eight come up with anything?" Vin asked as he also hid the smile that began to creep onto his face. It had been a good morning when Buck finished Ezra's report.

"They got an ID on four of the six we killed." Chris went through the short list of names but none of his team recognised them.

"They're still checking out the people who knew about the operation?" Josiah continued the questions.

"Yeah, but they don't have anything yet." Chris confirmed the lack of success.

"And no one has any idea why it happened." Vin looked around at Chris. "I mean the drug dealers wouldn't have gone to all that trouble. Normally they just wouldn't show up."

"They have talked about a few things but nothing that sounds interesting." Chris nodded in agreement.

"They were after JD." Ezra commented to no one in particular, his green eyes were looking down at his hands.

"What makes you think that." Buck's voice was quiet but menacing.

"Because I know how to do my job." Ezra allowed his anger to show.

"Are you saying that I don't." Buck leaned forward.

Ezra didn't move, but his eyes looked up at the man across the table, his body language showing his confidence. "Yes."

"Ezra!" Chris growled at him but his angry blue eyes stared at Buck. Both men understood the warning.

"You want to explain why you think they were after JD." Vin nudged Ezra with his elbow.

"The first man distracted me while the second one stepped forward and aimed his gun directly at JD. I believe it was his intention to shoot JD." Ezra explained.

"Why would anyone want to kill me?" JD was shocked. He hadn't been in the ATF long enough to make any enemies.

"To get at Buck." Ezra suggested.

All eyes turned to Ezra then Buck.

"Why would you think that?" Chris asked him.

"Because it's easy to make enemies when you have a personality like Mr Wilmington's" Ezra smiled at Buck.

"Ezra!" Chris warned him a second time.

"Ezra could have a point." Vin agreed with the Southerner.

"About his personality?" Ezra looked sideways at Vin and felt the hand that slapped the back of his head. He turned around and looked at the angry expression on his leader's face. He decided to keep his mouth shut from now on.

"Any thoughts on the matter Buck and I mean the case." Chris stared at Buck.

"I don't know who would want to hurt me." Buck answered truthfully. "Or why they would kill JD to do it."

"Let's find out then shall we. You can start going through your past case files. JD can help you." Chris ordered. "Nathan and Josiah, you can help Team Eight do the checks on our people, see if anything unusual comes up. We need to know how the information on the operation got out. Then maybe we can get the name that's behind all of this."

"And what are you going to do?" Josiah asked as he pushed himself out of his chair. His tall frame towered over the men who sat around the table.

"We're going to take Ezra home, give him some breakfast, have a chat, then put him to bed." Chris smiled.

"What?" Ezra was shocked.

Chris rushed to his front door when the sound of someone knocking echoed through the front area of his home. He feared the sound would wake the sleeping agent that filled his double bed. He opened the door and the light filtered around the group of men who stood waiting to gain entrance to his comfortably furnished home.

Josiah stepped through the welcoming opening and was followed by Nathan, Buck and a noisy JD. Chris frowned at the younger man but JD refused to take the hint. Chris tried slapping him across the upper arm but the silent request still went unheard.

"JD!" Chris growled as he tried to keep his voice low. "Ezra's still sleeping."

"He okay?" Nathan's expression was suddenly filled with concern.

"Yeah, he's just not use to early mornings." The smile on Chris' face told everyone that he had been enjoying every moment of Ezra's convalescence.

"I think I'll check him anyway." Nathan nodded.

"Just don't wake him. If you do, you'll have me to answer to." Chris warned him but the smile still covered his face.

"Your enjoying this. Aren't you?" Josiah's face couldn't stop the huge grin that filled his own features.

"You can tell?" He raised his eyebrows and turned his expression into a serious one.

"It's a bit hard not to notice Chris." Vin joined in.

"Are we forgetting something here!" Buck growled. All eyes turned to him. "Someone may have tried to kill JD."

Chris glared at Buck then turned and walked into the large living area. He sat down on the huge corner sofa and watched Nathan enter the main bedroom, the door closed silently behind him. He looked to his left when he felt someone sit down next to him. It was Vin.

"You do realise that Ezra's going to get you back don't you?" Vin whispered.

"It'll be worth it." Chris agreed. "Buck?" His voice grew slightly in volume. "Did you find anything?"

"No." Buck glanced towards the bedroom. He wanted to talk to Ezra, to apologise and thank him for saving JD's life. He wanted to tell the Southerner that he was wrong, that he had misjudged him. But something was different between the two men, and he thought that the distance could not be closed. Ezra was angry at him, he had a right to be, and he was taking that anger out on him. This was not the best time to apologise. Buck didn't realise how wrong he was. "We didn't find anything that stood out. It could be anyone."

"Why don't you just talk to him Buck." Chris told him.

"He's too angry." Buck replied, he still hadn't taken his eyes away from the bedroom door.

"Maybe he's angry because you haven't talked to him." Josiah sat down next to the ladies man. "Today is the first time you've seen him since he got hurt. If I was in Ezra's shoes I would be angry too. I would think that you still blamed me. Ezra's slightly paranoid Buck, he can easily take things the wrong way. The longer you leave it, the worse it's going to get."

"I'll wait." But Josiah was right. If he had done it straight away it would be all over now but he had left it. He didn't even go and see Ezra at the hospital. The guilt that he felt had been too strong, it still was. Ezra Standish had saved his friends life and all he could do was accuse him of not doing his job, of allowing JD to be hurt. Ezra had taken five bullets that he felt were meant for JD Dunne. If someone had asked him before this situation happened if he would do the same for Ezra he probably would have said no. But now it was different, he wouldn't hesitate in risking his own life for Ezra's. If the man was willing to do it for them then they could do it for him. "I'll wait until this is over."

"It might be too late then Buck." Chris spoke up.

"I'll wait." Buck repeated. He finally pulled his eyes from the door and looked at Chris. "I'll wait."

"If that's what you want. But I'm warning you Buck, if I have to loose one of you over this, it will be you not Ezra" Chris warned him.

"What?" Buck frowned in confusion.

"He's the best undercover agent there is Buck. He's also a good man that needs an opportunity like this. He belongs here, with us. There isn't anywhere else for him to go. He can finally have some friends, people who will care about him, look after him. I want him to have that. You can still have that when you leave, but Ezra won't. He'll be the one that stays."

Buck looked down at the floor. Confusion filled his face, he couldn't believe it. Chris would choose the Southerner over his long time friend.

"You'd do that?" Buck mumbled.

"No hesitation at all." Chris spoke with absolute seriousness.

Buck nodded in agreement.

"Josiah did you get anything?" Chris changed the subject.

"They have a name." He saw the surprise on Chris and Vin's face. "Julia Saunders. They're waiting for you. If you want to talk to her you can. Apparently her mother went into a nursing home one month ago. An expensive one, she can't afford it on her wage. There was ten thousand dollars deposited into a bank account. It took this long because false names were used and they had to trace it back to the original source."

"I'll give John a ring later and arrange a time. Ezra might also want to be in on it." Chris nodded.

Nathan closed the door behind him and moved towards the bed that held the sleeping occupant. He sat down on the side of the queen size bed and looked down at the slack features of Ezra Standish. Nathan placed his large hand against Ezra's forehead, his gentle touch didn't cause the man to move under his weight. His hand made Ezra's face look small, it made him look even younger than he was. His skin felt cool to the touch so he pulled the covers up around his neck.

He had been surprised at Ezra's efforts to save JD, he hadn't thought the man had it in him but he was wrong. He wondered if he was wrong about everything else he had thought about him. Nathan didn't like him when he first met him, he thought he was selfish, stuck up. He took to many risks, and the risks he took could get someone killed. He had argued with Ezra a lot and to think about it now, he was the one that had always started the verbal abuse not Ezra.

"I'm sorry Ezra." Nathan's voice wasn't loud but Ezra still heard him. "I jumped to conclusions, I shouldn't have, I should have waited. Chris, Vin and Josiah did. They saw the real you, I couldn't or wouldn't. I didn't give you a chance. I can't understand why you hide away like you do. Why is it so hard for you to show people the real you."

"It's easier that way Nathan." Ezra didn't open his eyes, he was still tired. Why Chris had to get him up at five every morning he didn't know. "You let people get close and they hurt you, I don't like being hurt, it happened too often."

"It won't happen again Ezra, not with us." Nathan wasn't surprised that Ezra was awake.

"That's what Chris said, but I can't accept that at face value, I have to wait for proof."

"I can understand that Ezra. We've got plenty of time, so when your ready we'd like to meet the real you." Nathan patted his shoulder then stood up. "Don't tell Chris I woke you, he'll kill me."

Ezra chuckled. "You'll owe me one."

"Sure." Nathan smiled down at the inert figure.

Nathan moved quietly into the living area, he kept his eyes down so Chris could not see his face. He sat down next to Vin and looked across at Buck.

"You woke him up didn't you." Chris accused him.

"He was already awake." Nathan stuttered out.

"Uh huh." Chris nudged Vin. "You'll wait."

Nathan winced. He hoped that Chris had been joking when he threatened him, obviously he hadn't.

"Did he go back to sleep?" Chris looked around Vin so he could see Nathan's face. He really was enjoying this.

"Ah, yeah." Nathan began playing with one of the cushions on the sofa.

"Did you talk to him?" Josiah could see Nathan's embarrassment.

"Yeah, he's got a lot of problems." He commented.

"That's why he's staying." Chris said. "I'm not going to add any more problems, where going to start helping to solve them."

"That's going to be our hardest mission yet." Vin smiled.

"And our most satisfying." Josiah nodded.

Buck looked around at the men he sat with, they all seemed to be agreeing with Chris. It wasn't bothering them that he was the one that would have to leave if things couldn't be sorted out between himself and Ezra. He would have to work at it because he didn't want to leave either. These men were his family, he would have to accept Ezra as part of that family. He trusted him now, but he should have trusted him from the start.

"Is Ezra angry at me?" JD's question took everyone by surprise.

"What makes you think that?" Chris frowned at JD.

JD shrugged his shoulders. "He just seems different, he's keeping his distance from me."

"He's trying to sort a few things out JD, I'm sure it's not intentional." Josiah told him.

"He's not distant with you guys." JD had observed the different way Ezra treated him to the others.

"Maybe you should ask him." Chris suggested.

JD stayed silent, he didn't really want to ask Ezra in case it was something that he had done. He kept going over the incident and the days after. He constantly visited Ezra in the hospital and in Chris' home. Ezra always talked and listened but he was different. He didn't smile at him or laugh at his attempts at humor. JD leaned back onto the sofa and went over the incident again. His mind went through the seconds after Ezra's shouted warning. He had missed when he fired, this had allowed the man to take aim. That's when Ezra had pushed him into the hole of the floor.

"It's because I didn't do my job." JD told the men.

"Not another one." Chris growled.

"I'm serious Chris. I fired to soon, my shot went wide, it gave the guy the chance he wanted. Ezra had to look after me, he had to do my job for me. If I did it right, Ezra wouldn't have been hurt."

"You just keep thinking like that JD." Chris told him "But I think Ezra will see it differently."

"See what differently?" Ezra's voice was groggy as he came through into the living room. He slumped down onto the couch next to Chris.

"Nothing." JD answered before anyone else could.

"I thought you were sleeping." Chris glared at Ezra.

"A person can only sleep for so long Mr Larabee." Ezra yawned.

"Your still tired."

"Tired of sleeping, I assure you." Ezra leaned back and relaxed more into the sofa. "Have you cooked dinner yet?"

Everyone but Buck and JD smiled, the two men stared at Ezra but for different reasons.

"No." Chris turned away from him.

"When are you going to cook it. I'm getting a bit hungry." Ezra smiled.

"I'll cook it when I cook it." Chris told him.

The smile transferred from Ezra's handsome features to Chris' rugged visage.

"You won't win." Ezra repeated.

"Yes I will." Chris also repeated his assurance of winning his own game.

Chris, Vin and Ezra walked into the offices of Team Eight and headed to the office that occupied the leader of group, John Malcom. Chris motioned for Vin and Ezra to wait outside and knocked on the door. He received a shouted response immediately. He opened the door and stepped in, he closed it behind him.

"John." Chris leaned over the large desk and shook the man's hand. He then settled into one of the larger chairs and faced the man before him.

"Chris." John Malcom sat back down. His firm solid frame was hidden by the heavy jacket that he wore. He tucked his shoulder length brown hair behind his ears and looked over Chris' shoulder. The vertical blinds were open and he could see Ezra Standish leaning against the window.

"How's Ezra doing?" Malcom asked. Everyone knew what Ezra had done for JD.

Chris looked back over his shoulder at Ezra.

"He's doing fine John. He'll be going home at the end of the week." Chris smiled.

"That's good, we were all worried there for a while." Malcom returned his gaze to Chris, his blue eyes held the truth of his words.

"It would do him a lot of good if people told him that. He's going through a rough time at the moment." Chris told him.

"Sure, no problem." John stood up. "Shall we go and talk to Julia Saunders."

"Be glad to." Chris stood up and opened the door for the other man.

John Malcom stepped into the corridor and saw Vin Tanner standing next to Ezra, he shook his hand then turned to Ezra. He smiled widely at him as he shook his hand.

"It's good to have you back Ezra, we were all worried about you for a while there." John saw the look of doubt that flashed across the undercover agent's face before he quickly placed his well known poker face in place.

"Thank you." Ezra spoke but he was shocked by the words that the man had spoken. He could tell that he was being sincere, he just didn't know why.

Vin and Malcom walked away. Ezra made to follow but was stopped when Chris put his arm around his shoulders.

"See Ezra, people do care." Chris gave him a brotherly hug that Ezra accepted.

"Did you tell him to say it?" Ezra was a pessimist when it came to believing in mankind.

"John said it first, I just told him that it would be better if he told you, not me." Chris told him.

"It's a feeling I'm not use to." Ezra admitted.

"Having friends." Chris raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah that and everything that goes with friendship. I don't know if I can return the favour yet Chris." Ezra pulled out of the embrace and looked Chris in the eye.

"That's okay Ezra, you have plenty of time, your not going anywhere." Chris pushed him towards the elevators where Vin and John were waiting for them.

Chris noticed that Ezra was fidgeting with his hands. The agent seemed to have lost the self confidence that always seemed to ooze from his body. But he knew that given time, Ezra would be back to his normal self and hopefully this time he would allow his associates to be his friends.

The four men stepped into the interview room to find Julia Saunders waiting for them

Julia Saunders was a petite bottled blonde, the bleached hair only managed to reach her shoulders. Her brown eyes searched the faces of the men who came into the room. She used a small bare hand to wipe the tears from her face and nose. She sniffed hard and choked on the emotions that threatened to escape once more. Julia griped her trembling hands and looked away when Malcom sat down in the chair on the other side on the table.

"I'm sorry," she started to blurt out, "they told me that no one was going to get hurt, they said they just wanted to know when the bust was going to take place. They said they wouldn't show up . . . I'm sorry . . . I needed the money . . . for my mother . . . she's . . . sick . . . " Julia Saunders placed her face in her hands and openly wept.

"Who are 'they' Julia?" Malcom asked her.

"They promised me . . . no one would be hurt." She lifted her moist eyes and her gaze settled on Ezra. "I'm sorry Agent Standish, they said no one would get hurt."

Ezra didn't turn away from her, the woman was genuinely sorry for what had happened. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the closed door.

"Why don't you start from the beginning Julia." Ezra suggested to her in a calming tone.

Julia managed to smile slightly, the man that had nearly lost his life didn't blame her, that's what she had feared most, that and going to prison.

Buck watched as Ezra moved away from Chris and Vin and headed towards the small kitchen, he followed him. The older agent stood in the doorway and leaned against the frame and waited. He wasn't sure what he was going to say but knew he had to do it now or he never would. Chris had been serious in his threat so he had to do everything he could to sort things out between himself and Ezra. He didn't want to leave the team.

"Ezra . . . " He couldn't miss the tension that caused Ezra's body to stiffen. "We need to talk."

"No Mr Wilmington, you need to talk." Ezra kept his back facing the doorway and continued to make his coffee.

Buck looked at the floor, he held his stare for a few seconds and when he looked up Ezra was facing him, his back was leaning against the counter and his feet and arms were crossed.

"I was worried about JD." Buck stated.

"Your always worried about JD. He is capable of looking after himself." Ezra glared at him. "If he ever gets hurt it will be because your smothering him instead of doing your job."

"I always do my job Ezra. JD would never get hurt because of me." Buck growled.

"Maybe not, but I'm sure that someone else could be." Ezra continued.

"What do you mean by that?" Buck stepped forward, he noticed that Ezra didn't move.

"Did you want to apologise or something Mr Wilmington." Ezra changed the subject. It was one of his favorite tactics.

"Don't make this any harder for me Ezra." Buck moved forward until he was standing in front of Ezra, the Southerner still hadn't move.

"I wouldn't dream of it 'Buck'." Ezra allowed the sarcasm to show when he spoke Buck's name.

"Ezra, I'm sorry about what happened. I didn't mean any of it."

"No they never do." Ezra turned around and lifted his coffee cup with his right hand.

"What?" Buck was confused, he looked sideways at Ezra's profile but his expression didn't give anything away.

"People don't trust me, it's something they never mean to do. People don't like me, it's something they never mean to do. People don't care, it's something they never mean to do. You didn't trust me, you didn't like me or care about me. That didn't bother me, I'm use to it. It's been that way all my life."

"What is it then Ezra?"

Ezra faced Buck and looked up into the taller man's eyes. "You thought that I would allow someone like JD, an innocent person to die."

"Yeah I did, I didn't think you would risk your own life to save someone else's but I was wrong Ezra. I misjudged you and I'm sorry about that. It won't happen again." Buck assured him.

"I believe you Mr Wilmington and I accept your apology." Ezra didn't smile or shake his hand, he walked away and left the other agent standing in the small kitchen.

Chris Larabee once again sat at the end of the large table in the conference room. He looked at the faces of his men, they all wanted revenge. They wanted payback for Ezra's injuries, the attempt on JD's life and the intentional harm that was meant for Buck Wilmington. His own blue eyes kept looking at Ezra, there was a strange look in his eyes, one that he had never seen before. He wanted to question him about it but there hadn't been time. They had a job to do and he had to think of a way of keeping Ezra out of the way. He still wasn't physically fit for duty and if he went in on an operation he may not be able to take care of himself. Chris wasn't willing to allow one of the others to do it.

"Julia Saunders wasn't able to give us a name but she does have a contact phone number." Chris looked at Buck, the man hadn't taken his eyes off Ezra since he entered the room. The despair was no longer evident on his features. The talk he had with Ezra must have gone well. "John is with her now, she's calling the number she has to arrange a meeting. Julia is going to give him a story, she'll tell him that we suspect a snitch within the agency and she's afraid of getting caught."

"What makes you think that he'll meet with her?" Buck asked him.

"Ezra told her what to say." Chris smiled.

"That should do it." Josiah laughed. Ezra raised his left eyebrow in pure innocence and Josiah laughed even harder.

"John is going to come down when they're finished." Chris added.

"Who's going in?" Vin was sitting next to Ezra again.

"We are. John understands that we have a better reason to be the main team on the operation."

"I'm going in too." Ezra knew what the answer was going to be.

"NO!" Chris, Vin, Josiah and Nathan all spoke at once.

"Why not?" Ezra was prepared to argue, he would do whatever it took to catch the men who had tried to kill JD.

"Because you haven't fully recovered yet." Nathan pointed out.

"It's my decision. Your not going." Chris growled at him.

"Don't you trust me." Ezra knew his comment would hit the mark. "You think that I may get someone hurt?"

"It won't work Ezra." Chris told him.

"Then I'll keep trying." Ezra warned him. "And I'll put more effort into the game."

"Game?" Nathan and Josiah questioned Ezra.

"You mean your not even trying now?" Chris raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"I assure you Mr Larabee that I am not trying at all." Ezra smiled.

"I'll think about it." Chris didn't commit to any more than that.

"Ezra can team up with me and JD." Buck was looking at Chris so he didn't see Ezra's reaction.

"No!" Ezra spoke harshly. Everyone turned to look at him. "No."

Ezra realised that he had said what had been on his mind since the original incident had occurred. He lowered his eyes, he didn't want to see the surprise that was written all over everyone's faces, especially Chris'. He knew that he could no longer trust Buck but he wasn't willing to admit it to anyone. But now he had blurted it out. They were going to demand an explanation. How could he say that he didn't trust Buck when he had been angry over the fact that the other agent hadn't trusted him. He told him that he had been use to it, but it was different with these men. He had hoped to finally find the trust that he needed. If someone else trusted him then he would be able to begin to trust himself again. Now he had ruined any chance that he thought he had.

Chris could see the anguish on Ezra's face. Something was wrong, he thought that it had all been sorted out. His blue eyes turned to Buck, the surprise on his face told him that Buck had been thinking the same thing. That everything was alright between them.

"Why?" Buck wanted to know, he was confused by Ezra's reaction. The expression that the undercover agent held scared him.

"It's like Nathan said, I'm not fully recovered, my side still hurts. I won't be able to react quick enough. I might get someone hurt." Ezra spoke quickly.

"I thought we sorted that out Ezra." Buck frowned at him.

"You sorted it out Mr Wilmington, I'm still working on it." The Southerner admitted.

"Guys." Chris nodded towards the door. His men received the hint and left the conference room quietly.

Ezra made to stand up but Chris' strong grip pulled him back down. He was afraid of that. He hoped that it wasn't going to come to this. If Chris found out that he didn't trust Buck he would ask him to leave the team.

Chris stood up and sat on the table. It was a type of body language that would give him more control over his subject. Ezra Standish. But it didn't work, Ezra wasn't so easily intimidated.

"What's going on Ezra?" Chris rested his feet on the chair that he had been sitting on.

"Why should there be anything going on." Ezra didn't want to admit to anything. He didn't want to leave the team that he thought he could become a part of. Both physically and emotionally.

"I want to know Ezra and I want to know now!" Chris growled down at him.

"I think it would be better if I just put in for a transfer." Ezra flicked his tongue out over his bottom lip.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I don't want to say Chris, it'll just make things awkward for everyone."

"I'll make things awkward for you Ezra if you don't tell me what's wrong." Chris made himself calm down but his tone was still serious.

"If I tell you I'll have to leave."

"You're not going anywhere. I already told Buck that if I have to choose between the two of you, that Buck would be the one to go." Chris explained what he wanted.

"What?" Ezra looked up in surprise. "You can't do that. You've known Buck longer than me. He's your friend."

"So are you Ezra. But you and this team would have more to loose if you leave." Chris put his hand on his shoulder. "Now tell me what's wrong."

"I find that hard to believe." Ezra's tone was full of sarcasm.

"Don't you believe what I told you yesterday." Chris asked him.

"I'm trying to Chris but when your stuck in a rut it's a bit hard to get out of old habits."

"Then believe me when I tell you this. Your not going anywhere. Even if I have to tie you down." Chris couldn't understand why it was so hard for his agent to understand his thoughts and feelings. It was beyond his comprehension that the Southerner didn't trust him.

"I don't want to be the reason that Buck leaves." If that was to happen Ezra knew that the others would blame him, it would bring out a hatred that he had already been through. Even Chris would eventually hate him. But he decided that he wouldn't allow it to come to that. If someone had to leave the team it would be him. He wouldn't allow them to push Buck away because of something that he was going through.

"I don't trust him." Ezra wouldn't look at Chris.

"What do you mean you don't trust him?" Chris used his hand to lift Ezra's face. "Why don't you trust him Ezra?"

"If we were in a dangerous situation and he had to choose between me and JD, it would always be JD, even if I was in more danger." Ezra looked away again. "I won't be able to work like that. It should be me that leaves, not Buck."

"Wait here a minute Ezra, I'll be right back." Chris got off the table and walked towards the closed doors. Before he opened them he turned and looked at Ezra. He shook his head. Things were not right, if anything they were worse. And none of it was Ezra's fault but he was taking the blame for something that wasn't his responsibility.

Ezra waited like he was told, he thought he knew what Chris was going to talk to the others about. This news would change his decision about who was going to leave the team.

Chris closed the door behind and noticed that the rest of the team were standing close to the doors. He looked at Buck then stepped up to him. The others were watching him in confusion but they stayed silent. They knew that he was going to do something and they didn't want to interrupt him.

"Buck. JD is about to be attacked by a man holding a hunting knife. Ezra is facing a man with a gun, a man that we know is capable of shooting someone in cold blood. Who do you help first?"

Buck turned to look at JD, he then turned back to Chris. "Ezra."

"Jesus Buck!" Chris growled. "It's too late, the man just shot Ezra while you were making your decision."

"What was that all about Chris?" Vin stepped forward.

"Ezra doesn't trust Buck and now I know why. And Buck was the one who was accusing Ezra of not watching anyone else's back."

Vin looked at Buck in surprise. "I wonder if it would be the same with the rest of us."

John Malcom walked into the corridor that the six men filled with there presence. He could also feel the tension in the air and wondered what was going on.

"Chris." His voice brought his arrival to their attention.

"Did you get a meeting?" Chris asked as he turned his back on his men. It was all turning out to be a hell of a mess.

"Yeah. Eleven tomorrow morning. It will give us time to arrive early and get into position." Malcom smiled. "There's something else. The guy she spoke to had an English accent."

"Mean anything to you Buck?" Chris wouldn't turn around. He couldn't look at his long time friend. He wasn't even sure he could trust him anymore. Vin was right, would Buck choose JD over all of them.

"Yeah it does." Buck answered. The fear in his voice was evident to everyone around him.

It was ironic. Chris found himself standing outside the same warehouse where the operation with Team Eight had gone terribly wrong. But he wasn't taking much of an interest in it. He was too busy arguing with Buck Wilmington. The man that had arranged an attempt on JD's life was a forty two year old Englishman that Buck had arrested eight years ago. The agent had also killed the man's brother during the arrest. He had sworn revenge at the trial. Buck hadn't expected the threat to be carried out.

Ezra stood to the side of the two men, the argument wasn't about him but he knew he was the cause of it. He shouldn't have told Chris what the problem was. He didn't want this. The two men had been friends for fifteen years, and he was the one that was going to end their friendship.

"What if Ezra's right?" Chris was like a bear with a sore head.

"He isn't." Buck practically yelled back. "I had the opportunity to hesitate back at the office. I wouldn't do it in a real life situation. You of all people should know that."

"Your right, I should know that. But there is a doubt in my mind now Buck and it's the same with everyone else on this team."

"Oh great! So it's turned around now has it. I'm the one that's no longer trusted on this team. Well at least I never ran out on us!"

Ezra visibly flinched at that statement.

"Ezra's proven himself since then. I know that he wouldn't do it again. I would even risk my life on it." Chris retorted.

"Would you risk someone else's?" Buck snarled at him.

"Yes I would." Chris answered confidently. "Now we have a job to do so I don't want to hear anymore from you. We'll deal with this later. Right now, you stay here with Ezra. I don't want either of you near that warehouse. That's an order." Chris turned and looked at Ezra. The expression on his face emphasised his words to the undercover agent.

Chris walked away from the two men and made his way to the warehouse. They had been there since five am. It was now six. The first hour had been spent checking the area to make sure that there wasn't anybody already waiting for them like last time. He glanced over his shoulder and watched the two men separate. Buck got into the front of the van and Ezra made his way into the back. No doubt to sleep. The van was a wreckage on the outside, anyone passing would think that it had been stolen, stripped of anything valuable then left there. Buck and Ezra would be safe there, as long as they stayed like they were ordered too.

Buck sat in the front of the van and looked over the back seat at Ezra. He had made himself comfortable in the back. It only took ten minutes for him to fall asleep. He was lying on his back with his chin resting on his left shoulder. Buck watched the undercover agent's chest rise and fall slowly. He thought about what Ezra had said to Chris. Would he really help JD over someone else. He didn't think he would but Ezra did. And Ezra knew how to read people. During the four months that he had been with the team he had never read a person incorrectly.

He held his breath when Ezra's breathing pattern change, the agent rolled over onto his left side. He saw the pain that crossed his handsome features before he rolled over onto his right side. His ribs must still be giving him trouble. Buck winced in sympathy. He looked down at his watch. They still had four hours to wait. If Ezra had stayed awake they could have talked about their problems.

It was ten, an hour before the meeting was scheduled when Buck saw two men walking towards the building. He recognised one of them as James Henderson, the man that had threatened him. His hair had grown and turned grey, his face seemed to have aged fifteen years. The dark sunglasses stopped Buck from seeing the grey eyes that could cause a person to cringe in fear.

Buck looked back over the seat. Ezra was still sleeping heavily. He glanced towards the warehouse then back at Ezra. The decision was made. He quietly opened the vans passenger door and got out. Buck closed the door and checked that he hadn't woken Ezra. He waited a few seconds to be sure then jogged across the street to follow Henderson into the warehouse.

Buck stopped at the open doorway and glanced around the door frame. He could see the man that had come with Henderson standing in the middle of the warehouse floor. The man's back was to him. He took the chance and glanced around the room but he couldn't see Henderson anywhere. He was about to move into the building when he heard Chris make the teams presence known. Gunfire then erupted around the first floor. He watched as the man before him crumpled to the ground when one of the team's bullets struck him. He moved further into the building. He saw Chris and Vin run towards the man that was now dead. They needed to make sure.

"Where the hell is Henderson?" Buck spoke aloud.

"Right here Wilmington."

Buck hung his head and turned to face his nemesis. What he saw shocked him.

Henderson suspected a setup. He knew that Wilmington would be there and it would be his only chance to kill him or someone close to him. He had left his right hand man standing in the middle of the warehouse while he made his way towards the hole in the wall that had been hidden by dirty mattress's. And as he did he heard the ATF warning. A bullet struck the wall beside him but he didn't stop. He planned to get away then wait for Wilmington to come out. He would then decide who he was going to kill.

He managed to get out of the building and run across the street. His intention was to hide behind the van that was parked on the street. It would give him enough cover. He didn't care if he was caught or even killed. All he wanted was revenge. For his brother and for himself.

Henderson stopped behind the van. He was bent over for better cover. He slowly stood up and looked through the windows. He couldn't believe his luck. The agent that had stopped them from killing Dunne was sleeping in the back. He looked towards the warehouse, no one was coming out after him as yet but he knew he wouldn't have much time. He moved to the back of the van and opened the doors. He reached in and grabbed an unmoving leg and roughly pulled the agent towards him. The man woke with a jerk but the gun that he shoved into his face stopped him from doing anything stupid.

"Your coming with me!" Henderson growled at Ezra as he pulled him out of the van.

He pushed Ezra towards the warehouse and the man he wanted to seek revenge against.

"Aw hell." Was Buck's muttered reply.

Ezra though didn't know what the hell was going on. One minute he was sleeping in the van, the next he was standing in the middle of the street in the grip of a madman and a gun pointed at his right temple. How the hell did he get into this position. Where had Buck been, he was supposed to be in the van, he was ordered to stay there. He should of warned him, woken him up so he could protect himself. The only answer was that Buck left him alone. He left him vulnerable to man that was now capable of killing him.

"We're the hell were you!?" Ezra yelled at Buck.

"Shut up!" Henderson slammed the butt of his gun against the back of Ezra's skull.

Ezra's knees buckled but he didn't loose consciousness. Henderson easily pulled him back up and pressed the barrel of the revolver into the flesh of his temple hard enough to draw blood.

"Let him go!" Chris yelled at the man before him. He had left the building the same way Henderson had, but obviously too late. The man had enough time to gain a hostage and that hostage was Ezra Standish. Vin stood at Chris' side, his gun aimed at the head of the man who was holding onto Ezra.

Ezra refused to look at Chris, he was staring at Buck. "Now we're even Mr Wilmington. You have run out on me."

"I told you to shut up." Henderson pushed the gun harder against Ezra's skull, forcing the undercover agent's head to the left, it was nearly resting on his shoulder.

The movement gave Vin enough of the man's head to hit him squarely between the eyes, he just wasn't sure if Henderson would pull the trigger and kill Ezra as a reflex action.

"I hope you can live with the guilt of my death Wilmington!" Ezra yelled again. If he could get the man to move the gun again then Vin would be able to take his shot.

"I'm sorry Ezra." Buck didn't know what Ezra was doing.

"Like that is going to help me now!" Ezra retorted.

"You want to see your friend die Wilmington." Henderson smiled at him as he pressed even harder against Ezra's skull.

Buck was watching Ezra's face, it was contorted with pain.

"You know I don't." Buck growled at him.

"If Ezra dies so do you!" Chris warned him.

"I don't care, it was my intention to die afterwards. As long as I get to see his face after I kill his friend. That's all I want."

"He won't care." Ezra tried to turn so he could face the man. He hoped that the gun would move away from his head. "He doesn't even like me. You grabbed the wrong guy."

"I don't think so." His grip on his hostage grew stronger at his attempt to turn around.

"Why would he leave me sleeping in the van. Because he doesn't care. He'll loose his job over this." Ezra felt the pressure of the gun lessen. "If he was concerned he wouldn't have left me alone. His face won't even flinch when you pull that trigger."

Josiah, Nathan and JD moved up behind Buck, they had heard what was happening. Their job was to protect Buck if Henderson fired in his direction.

"No. But he would if I shot Dunne." Henderson chuckled quietly in Ezra's ear. No one else heard the comment.

"JD! Get out of here!" Ezra yelled as he began to struggle in Henderson's grip. He grabbed at the large arm that was wrapped around his upper arms and chest. The man was larger than he was and stronger so his attempts were futile.

Henderson knew what his hostage was trying to do. He moved his arm up so it would wrap around Ezra's throat. His grip tightened as his hostage continued to struggle. He made sure he placed the man's head in front of his own for protection. He drew his gun back and hit Ezra's skull again. This time the force was enough to knock him into oblivion. His arm stopped the head from falling forward. His gun arm quickly changed it's direction to aim at it's new victim. JD.

Vin took aim but Ezra's head and body were in the way.

Buck stepped in front of JD. He waited for the bullet but it didn't come. Henderson wanted to kill JD not him.

Henderson changed direction again. This time he aimed the gun at Chris'.

Buck started to walk towards Henderson. He knew he wouldn't shoot him. His eyes took in Ezra's slack features, he had to do something to help him. He was sure that Henderson was going to kill Ezra anyway. He noticed Henderson's grey eyes flick towards him then back to Chris again. Buck kept walking. He was only a few feet away from him.

"Come any closer and I'll kill him." Henderson returned the gun to Ezra's right temple.

"You heard what he said. Killing him won't bother me. And I will loose my job for what I did. It's all his fault anyway." Buck took another step closer. "My job isn't my life, so that won't worry me. The only way you could hurt me is by killing one of the others."

Vin held his breath and waited for the right moment. It came quickly.

Henderson's eyes flicked around the men in front of him trying to find the right victim. Buck took his chance and ran forward. His left arm grabbed the gun man's wrist and pushed it away from Ezra's head. A gunshot was fired. The bullet entered the side of Henderson's skull. Vin's bullet had hit it's mark without resulting in an injury to Ezra. Buck allowed the man's hand to fall from his grip and his arms quickly wrapped themselves around Ezra to stop him from falling to the pavement.

"Nathan." Buck called to him.

"I'm right here Buck." Nathan knelt down beside him.

"How did he get to Ezra!" Chris demanded as he pushed Buck out of his way.

"I left the van to follow Henderson into the warehouse." Buck admitted to Chris.

"You've done everything that you accused Ezra of doing." Vin told him.

"I know." Buck moved away and sat down on the gutter. He watched Nathan as he checked Ezra to see how bad his head injury was.

"How is he Nathan?" Chris had taken over holding Ezra's head off the footpath. He laid the Southerner's head on his thigh. Nathan had rolled his head onto it's side so he could check the back of his head. Chris continued to wipe the damp hair from Ezra's forehead.

"Nasty bump," Nathan reported, "but he should be okay."

"Buck, JD. You can stay here and take care of the clean up. We'll take Ezra to the hospital." Chris looked for Josiah. "Josiah could you carry him."

Josiah didn't have to be asked twice. He quickly bent down and lifted the smaller man into his arms and began to carry him to the vehicle that was two blocks away. Chris threw a radio to JD then followed Josiah and the others.

Ezra was livid, his anger could easily beat Chris' worse mood. The headache he was now suffering from didn't help. He stormed out of the elevator with three men trying to calm him down. But his anger had progressed to breaking point. There was nothing they could do now to stop him, they weren't willing to physically restrain him, not yet anyway. Ezra walked straight to Buck's office.

Buck looked up from his desk when he heard the voices. He frowned at the thought of Ezra being released from hospital, he thought that they would keep him overnight, well he hoped they would. It would have given the Southerner time to calm down. But luck wasn't on his side at the moment. He stood up and stepped into the open, he was ready for the inevitable. He would take what was coming to him.

Ezra walked into the room and without saying a word he stepped up to Buck and with his right fist he knocked him to the ground.

"You could have gotten me killed!" Ezra yelled down at him. "What the hell what were you thinking?"

"I didn't expect him to come back out." Buck wiped the blood from his split lip.

"If it was JD that was sleeping in the van you wouldn't have left him!" Ezra growled.

"He did risk his life to save you Ezra." Chris informed him.

"It was Buck who put my life in danger in the first place." Ezra argued with his boss.

"You do have a point there." Chris agreed.

"How am I suppose to trust you?" The undercover agent asked him. "Aw hell, I have to sit down."

Nathan grabbed his arm and led him to the chair in front of Buck's desk. Ezra leaned forward and placed his head between his knees. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"Just relax Ezra." Nathan put his hand on the back of Ezra's neck and knelt down next to him. "Better?"

"A bit." Ezra nodded.

"I would have left JD in the van Ezra. I wanted to get Henderson, I didn't think that it was right that Chris was leaving me out of it. The guy went after JD in the first place because of me. I wanted to be the one to get him."

Ezra looked up at Buck then quickly looked back down again. "I still don't trust you Buck."

"You have a right not to. But you can believe me when I tell you that I wouldn't hesitate in giving my life to save yours or one of the others."

"He did that today Ezra. Henderson could have killed him but it didn't stop him from helping you." Chris sat on the corner of the desk and looked at the back of Ezra's head. "Looks like you'll be staying with me a bit longer."

"Hell!" Ezra scowled up at Chris. "Your trying to change the subject."

"If it helps me win the game Ezra, I'll do it. Even if I have to cheat." Chris was smiling.

"Do you trust me?" Ezra kept looking at the floor.

"Of course I do." Buck didn't' hesitate in answering the question.

"I find it hard to trust people Buck." Ezra warned him.

"You can trust me Ezra, I won't let you down again. I promise you that."

"I don't even trust myself." Ezra lifted his head and leant back into the chair.

"It's about time you did Ezra. We do." Chris told him.

"I suppose your going to take me home and put me to bed."

"Yep."

"Let's get it over with then." Ezra sighed.

"Are things okay between us Ezra?" Buck needed to know.

Ezra stopped to think about. He had to take a chance, he couldn't go through life pushing people away, not trusting them. It was a life he no longer wanted. He needed these men, needed their friendship and their trust. He had to take the chance or his life will continue to be lonely.

"Yeah Buck. They will be." Ezra pushed himself out of the chair and grabbed the arm closet to him. Chris'. "Sorry about the lip."

"I deserved more." Buck smiled in return.

"Come on Ezra, lets go." Chris held onto Ezra's grip and began to lead him out of the room.

"If you wake me up early tomorrow Mr Larabee, I will shoot you." Ezra growled at him.

Chris looked over his shoulder at the others and winked at them.

"He's enjoying this way too much." Vin was actually beginning to feel sorry for Ezra Standish.

The End

Page One - ATF/AU Fan Fiction