Unplanned sequel to "Now would be a good time for a miracle".
Contrary to popular opinion, Ezra really didn't work to perpetuate the notion that he was always late. He simply was not a morning person, regardless of what hour the morning started. Certainly, work days were even more of a challenge, but leisure days presented their own unique issues. When it was essential, like court appearances or when undercover, time never seemed to be an issue. But on his own, especially on a day off, getting it in gear was always a problem.
Today had been no different. The snooze alarm was almost worn out from repeated battering. Even when he was finally forced to arise to answer nature's call, he had to fight every instinct to refrain from crawling back under the covers. He pushed the button on the coffee maker as he passed by on his way to retrieve the morning paper. A quick glance at the headlines left him uninterested and he tossed it to the table to peruse with his breakfast.
Next stop was the shower, after a longing look at the inviting pillows and blankets. He reluctantly grabbed clean towels and his robe and spent the next 15 minutes under the pulsating showerhead trying to wash the stress of the past week away. His shiver as he stepped from the shower was only partially due to the damp chill. Memories of Christmas Eve flooded over him again, and all the feelings threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn't swear it was the worst day of his life, but he was hard-pressed to find one to top it. He didn't imagine the day would ever come that he could forget the deep-seated dread he felt believing the others of his team – his family – had died. Even now, a week later, he still had moments when he had to check to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
He wrapped the rope tightly around himself, toweling his hair dry as he headed back to the kitchen, pulling a mug from the shelf along the way. The coffee aroma soothed him a little, but the unsettled feeling wouldn't go away this morning. He set the paper aside, choosing instead to look online for the day's headlines. He generally preferred the more traditional and tactile experience of turning pages but since he needed to check emails anyway, he decided to go for the easier option.
He felt somewhat reassured to see Vin's name on an early-morning email, along with a late-night one from Buck. Both were just reminders that they were meeting at the ranch today to finish up year-end paperwork in advance of a quiet New Year's Eve celebration. Still, it was a comfort to see the names. He knew the celebrations had been pared down in deference to their recent shared experience, and particularly his reaction to it. He should have argued more vociferously about keeping the festivities as planned. But he had to admit he wanted to be selfish about this. About enjoying a quiet evening he thought would never come to pass. One that for a short time he didn't expect to live to see himself. He really should tell Chris that damned promise was the reason he was still around. That need to not fail the team had been the one thing that kept him from ending everything that night. But that would mean letting Chris know he had wanted to leave, to run out. He wasn't certain he could handle the disappointed look that would result from such a revelation.
The buzzing of his cell awoke him from his contemplations. A quick look at the time as he answered startled him. "Yes Vin, I know what time it is, and yes, I shall shortly be en route to the ranch. I have a couple of brief errands to acquire supplies for this evening's festivities, but I shall arrive as soon as is possible."
"Okay Pard. Just called to say there's no big rush. JD was fixing something or another on the computer here and it looks like there's some kind of virus going on, so we won't be getting a lot of work done. But you still should head out since Chris wants to do some brainstorming, as well as debrief on the job we were doing in Seattle last week."
Ezra felt that now all too familiar pit in his stomach at the reference. "I wasn't a part of that, so I really don't need to attend. You can commence that discussion without my presence."
"No such luck Ezra. Chris wants us all brought up-to-date. Apparently, this some new wrinkle. Nice try though."
"I should be there within –" he hesitated a moment, calculating his time, "about 90 minutes."
"Just in time for lunch. Sounds good."
Ezra smiled as he hung up and made his move to get dressed. The idea that he was being checked up on at one time would have been cause for him to lash out. Now, it made him feel a part of something bigger, and it never ceased to amaze them just how good that felt.
Ten minutes later, record time for him, he was exiting the elevator to the garage of his condo complex. Fishing for his keys, he was only vaguely aware of the movement behind him, and had no time to react to the blow to the back of his head. He had the fleeting thought that there was simply no way he would be on time for lunch before he lost consciousness.
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"You sure he said 90 minutes?" Chris growled again, looking at his watch for what felt like the 100th time.
"Said he had some errands, but yeah, 90 minutes.
"Only Ezra could turn 90 minutes into three hours." Buck smiled as he made the comment. "It's a gift."
"Yeah, well it's a gift he should return."
"Okay Chris, what's wrong? This is more than just the usual 'where the hell is he' crap." Josiah could tell there was something far more substantial bothering the man.
"The Brodsky case. From last week. Judge got a tip from Seattle that the bastard is looking for payback. He's making threats."
"Well that's nothing new." JD spoke up from the computer desk.
"Yeah, but according to reports, he sent some enforcers. I want to make sure we all know what's going on before they get here."
"I take at the Judge is taking this seriously?" Josiah asked with concern. Chris just nodded.
"I'll call Ezra again." A moment later Vin looked up. "It's going straight to voicemail."
"There could be a million reasons for that guys. Let's not assume the worst," Josiah cautioned.
"It's Ezra. Pretty safe to assume something's gone wrong." Nathan began pacing. "Did he say what errands Vin?"
"Just supplies for tonight."
"Donovan's Liquor Store and that fancy deli he likes so much then." Chris grabbed for her phone. "You call the deli, I'll call Donovan's." He looked at his phone. "What do you mean no signal?"
"Mine too," Vin added. The others reached for theirs as well, with the same result. All eyes went to JD.
"Don't look at me. Computer virus shouldn't be affecting the phones." He had barely finished speaking when the ranch is landline rang, causing them all to jump. Chris grabbed the receiver. "Larabee."
"Present for you Larabee. In the driveway. The price you pay for messing with us." The call disconnected and an instant later with there was nothing but static. Chris dropped the receiver and ran toward the front, stopping only to retrieve his weapon from the front hall desk. Seeing that, most of the others went for theirs as well, with only Josiah not bothering to stop. Chris got to the door, looking out cautiously, fighting the impulse to run out, letting his instinct for trouble guide him.
"God damn!" He choked out. He could see the 'gift' in the driveway. Ezra's jacket alone was a dead giveaway. Chris immediately regretted the choice of words. Josiah moved to head out.
"It could be a trap." Chris stopped him from advancing.
"Not likely. I'm betting they're responsible for screwing up the phones, so they likely want us to see exactly what's going on."
"Maybe, but give me 30 seconds." Chris reached into the storage locker in the hall cupboard and pulled out to bullet proof vests. Josiah looked at them in shock. "I was a Boy Scout," was Chris's only explanation.
The others were all at the door as well by now. "Stay put," Chris ordered. "If this is a trap, we aren't all gonna march into it."
They open the door slowly. The men forced themselves to focus on the area, watching for signs of an ambush or other trouble. Chris and Josiah wasted no time in getting to their downed colleague. Chris rolled him slowly.
"Holy mother of God." His stomach lurched when he looked in an almost unrecognizable Ezra. Josiah said nothing, but the tension in his body spoke volumes. "Can you lift him Josiah?"
"Not without it hurting him, but I'm guessing that's the point. Get the door. I'll be as gentle as I can. Ezra, this is probably going to hurt some. I'm sorry son, there's no other way."
He gently but quickly scooped Ezra up. The fact there was no reaction chilled him to his core. They were in the house a moment later with no action taken to try to stop them even though they were sure they were being watched.
"Where should I put him down? We aren't moving him twice. Nathan!" The shout brought the healer back to the moment. He, like the others, had been left speechless by Ezra's appearance.
"Which is the firmest bed here Chris? He needs to be supported, but I don't want to rest him on anything too hard."
"Mine." He led the way to his room, throwing a few things off the bed to clear it and pulling back the covering. Josiah lay Ezra down as easily as possible, and reached his hand out to check for breathing. He let out his own unconsciously held breath when he felt the movement.
"I need everything you can think of for bandages and antiseptic. Any pain meds you have too Chris. And ice. Gotta control the swelling." The men scattered to get Nathan his supplies, while Josiah remained at Ezra's side his hand resting gently on the unconscious agent's head.
"You hang tough Ezra. Nathan's going to patch you up. We're all right here for you Ezra."
Nathan said nothing as he slowly began to peel the bloodied clothing from Ezra's battered body. The jacket and shirt were going to have to be cut off. It would be impossible to get them off any other way. He could see Ezra's left hand had been mangled. The bruising was already showing, and looked like a shoe print as if the hand had been stomped on. His shoulder was dislocated, either in the beating or by being dumped. When it happened really didn't matter. Blood around his mouth made Nathan start to check for internal injuries. The chest and stomach were bruised, and Nathan was sure he could see the colour darkening before his eyes. He prodded gently, relieved to feel only slight smelling swelling and rigidity. Maybe they were lucky. Maybe it wasn't internal bleeding. He didn't realize Chris was back at his side until he felt the damp warm cloth being pressed into his hand.
"Buck's getting ice, but I figure you need to clean him up some to see just how bad this really is."
"It's bad Chris. Real bad. I haven't been able to check his pupils."
Chris started to ask why, but one look answered the question. Ezra's face was a mass of bruising. His eyes were forced shut by the swelling and sealed by dried blood. He reached out with his own cloth, checking for Nathan's reaction.
"Yeah, go ahead and try cleaning him up some, but no pressure. There could be damage to the eyes and the bones around the socket. Last thing he needs is for us to make it worse."
Chris couldn't imagine this being worse. He didn't take his eyes off the job as he slowly worked to clean Ezra up. He heard the others bringing in supplies, but the overall silence was ominous.
"JD, don't just stand there, figure out how to contact somebody. Anybody!"
"He's already on it Chris." Buck answered. "I'm going to get some more ice from the spare fridge."
"No! Nobody goes outside."
"Easy Chris. If you can't be gentle, let someone else do this." Chris waved off Vin's offer to take over, focusing again on the task. "Nobody's going out until we know what's waiting for us. Set up vantage point and scope things out. Keep me informed."
"Already checking. There's a car at the end of the drive. Watching. They have a camera, likely to share the play-by-play with Brodsky."
Chris spoke before anyone could move. "Sit tight. All of you. Not going to risk anybody else getting hurt. Nathan needs to be able to focus on Ezra, and he can't do that if he's digging bullets out of you all."
"If they wanted us dead, they had a clean shot at the two of us out there." Josiah didn't take his eyes off Ezra as he spoke.
"Brodsky doesn't want us dead. He wants us hurting. All of us. And this," he nodded towards their battered friend, "is one hell of a smart way to do it."
"Dumb way. Because he's gonna pay for it." Buck promised, his voice tight with rage.
"Okay Chris, let me take a look. I think I can check his eyes now." Nathan gently pulled an eyelid, and they were all both relieved and disturbed to hear a moan. "Easy Ezra. Don't doubt this hurts like hell. I just need a minute." Nathan was answered by another moan and a feeble effort to pull away. Josiah gently gripped Ezra to keep him still.
"Try to stay calm Ezra. We're going to get you fixed up. Just stay calm son."
"No."
"Yes Ezra. It's all right. I'm done." Nathan turned to Chris. "Reactions are a bit slow, but overall good. There doesn't seem to be bleeding either. I think what you cleaned up was from cuts and surface damage."
"What about the rest of this?"
"To early to answer that Chris. Best thing is to just let me get him looked over. You can do more good out there right now. He doesn't need to be crowded. I'll call for you if I need you."
"Let me know when he's awake."
"He can't handle being question Chris."
"I don't need to question him. I know what happened. Just want to talk to him is all."
"Of course. Sorry. I'll call you in."
"Thanks. Take care of him." He gently brushed a curl from Ezra's forehead before walking away.
As difficult as it was sitting with Ezra, sitting around and waiting for news was worse. They'd spent the time watching for Nathan or Josiah to emerge, and discussing what they could do about the situation. Every logical option had been considered, and rejected. They'd moved onto illogical ones.
"Do you think we're still being watched?"
Buck shrugged his answer to Chris. "Impossible to say. Car's gone. We can't see anything else, but short of stepping out the side to see if anyone takes pot-shots at us, there's no way of knowing."
"What about the computer? Or the phones?" Chris asked again.
"I'm working on it. They've got an expert on their team Chris. They've got it really jammed up."
"I thought we had an expert." Chris snapped back. JD said nothing. Chris held up his hand before the others could speak.
"Sorry JD. I know you doing your best and there's nobody I'd rather have working on this."
"I'll figure something out."
"I know you will. No doubt. Until he does, what else of we got? No idea is too stupid."
"Smoke signals." Buck offered.
"I take it back. That's stupid Buck." Chris grinned when he said it, taking away the sting.
"No. Not if we can get someone to call 911 it isn't."
"Too risky. We have no way of warning them they could be driving into a gun fight. Or the neighbours might come to check first. Same problem."
"I see your point. I guess riding out isn't an option either."
"Maybe later, after dark. But that's going to be risky too."
"I'd bet these guys have night vision goggles. They're too well-prepared not to." Vin added
"Anybody else? There's got to be –"
The ringing of the phone once again caused everyone to jump. Chris grabbed at it like a drowning man for a life preserver.
"Hello. Yes. Hello?"
"How's your boy Larabee?"
"You're gonna pay for this you son of a bench."
"Already did. You took one of ours. We took one of yours. Simply balancing the scales. You think this is bad, wait and see what happen if Brodsky goes to jail." There was once again nothing on the line but static.
"What?" Vin asked.
"Payback. One of ours for one of theirs."
"What? The guy we shot taking Brodsky down?"
"The guy I shot," Chris corrected. "Ezra wasn't even there."
"That's likely why they picked him. The idea was to make you hurt Chris. Send you off your game," Vin suggested.
"Not gonna work."
"Good."
"I mean to kill the son of a bitch."
"No arguments here," Buck agreed.
"Chris?" Nathan's voice quietly interrupted the discussion. "He's asking for you." Chris charged over but stopped when Nathan blocked his path.
"Hold up. You need to know what's going on. His left hand is busted up. Got cracked and broken bones. Same for his ribs and collarbone. He's having trouble breathing, but I don't think his lungs are damaged directly." He paused, gathering himself together.
"Can you tell if there's internal damage?" Vin asked.
"Not showing signs, but there is heavy bruising around his stomach and kidney. We'll have to watch for blood, not that we could do much about it."
"What aren't you saying Nathan?" Buck could see there was something worrying him.
"His pupils are reactive, but not to the extent they should be. Unfocused. They really pounded on him guys. Just beat him mercilessly. Jawbone is at least cracked. Compression cheek fractures, noses broken. Missing teeth. That's where the bleeding has been coming from that made me think he was coughing it up. Certainly, there is a severe concussion. I can't tell if there's a skull fracture, but I'd bet on it. He's been drifting in and out a bit, but not really making much sense when he talks. He seems a bit clearer now, but his speech is slurring and he loses focus fast.
"You said he was asking for me. That's a good sign, right?"
Nathan shrugged slightly. "It's not bad. But go slow with them Chris. He's confused and in a hell of a lot of pain."
"Can't you give him something?"
"What? We've got basic over-the-counter stuff. And putting anything in his stomach right now could just make things worse if there is bleeding."
Chris nodded his understanding, hating every minute of this.
"He can't take any stress, you understand?" Another curt nod was the only answer. He moved to let Chris pass.
"Can we see him Nathan?"
"Give them a few minutes JD. If he's still awake, I think it might help to hear your voices."
Josiah still sat at the top of the bed, quietly speaking to Ezra, reassuring him he was not alone. The only reply was soft moans and whimpers. Chris asked with a look to be left alone in the big man reluctantly stood. "I'll be right back Ezra. Chris's gonna sit with you for a couple of minutes." There was no reply and Josiah bit his lip as he left to keep himself quiet. God, he needed a drink.
"Nathan says you were asking for me Ezra."
"Need –" he gasped in pain at the effort of speaking and again at the pain the gasp caused.
"You don't need to do anything but rest Ezra. We know what happened. You don't have to tell us anything."
"You saved me." The voice was weak and strained.
Chris felt tears coming to his eyes and fought them off. "No Ezra. I wish I did. This is – well it doesn't matter."
"Not this. Christmas Eve." Chris figured Ezra must be confused, because that made no sense. "The damn –" he gasped again, "promise."
"Ezra, you need to rest. Whenever you're getting at will keep."
"No. Need to tell – was going to leave. Quit. You were all – I was alone. Jump. Oh damn." Ezra spasmed as another stabbing pain took his breath away. Chris was finding it almost as hard to catch his own breath.
"You were going to – dear God Ezra. Why?" He hoped this was just the confusion Nathan had warned him about, but he knew better.
"Alone. Again. Couldn't. Heard your voice. I had to rep-" he groaned loudly. "Oh God. Couldn't let you will down."
Chris stopped fighting the tears. "It's been a long time since that was an issue Ezra. But I'm glad it still worries you if it keeps you from doing something stupid."
Ezra was quiet again, aside from the soft moans. They sat for several minutes before Ezra whispered again. "Lying to me?"
"Is who lying to you? Nathan?"
"Can't see – thing."
"Your eyes are swollen shut Ezra. That's why we're putting ice on your face."
"That's why I'm cold?"
Chris smiled, pulling another blanket from the foot of his bed and covering him. "Yeah, sorry about that. You took a hell of a beating Ezra do you remember?"
No" the slurring speech worried Chris. "Don't worry about it. You'll be fine if you just do what you're told for a change. You rest. Will take care of everything."
"Time?"
"What Ezra?"
"Time?" He gasped out softly. Chris looked at his watch. "Just after 6 o'clock." He couldn't believe it as he said it. It had barely been three hours.
"December."
"Yes Ezra, you didn't miss New Year's Eve." Chris smiled. "I know how much you like a good reason to party. Ezra?"
"It's okay Chris." Nathan spoke from the door. "He needs to rest. Next time he wakes up I'll let the others in for a bit." Chris didn't move from his seat. "Don't go there Chris. This isn't your fault. Brodsky's bat shit crazy and –"
"Relax Nathan. I know. He's not the one messing with my head right now."
"What did Ezra say to you?"
"Nothing I care to repeat." He watched Ezra sleep.
"About Christmas Eve?"
Chris turned quickly. "He say something to you?"
"No, not directly. But I know it's been bothering him. It scared him bad, and I don't think he's over it."
"Scared doesn't seem to cover it." Chris was mostly speaking to himself.
Nathan nodded. "I get the feeling we could've lost him that night?"
"You read him well."
"Actually, Josiah saw it first. And then Vin."
"Did everybody but me pick up on this?"
"You're the one he's trying to hide it from him."
"For God's sake, why?"
"Because you're the one he's most afraid of disappointing. Of letting down."
Chris shook his head in wonderment and confusion. "Doesn't make sense."
"Sure it does. In the first place, you're the boss. Not that authority figures mean all that much to him, but in this case, he respects you, so he wants to make things work."
"He could try showing up on time." Chris joked weakly.
"Nah, that wouldn't prove anything." Josiah entered the room quietly. "He can play by the rules anytime he wants to – needs to. He needs you to know he won't let you down."
"Won't let the team down. That's what he said kept them going last week. How come I never saw this?"
"Because he fights like hell to make sure you won't. He needs to feel he earned it, not that it was given to him.
"It?"
"Your respect."
"Damn fool. He got that a long time ago."
"We know that. He can't quite accept it."
"Well," Chris sighed, "guess I just figured out my New Year's resolution."
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"Chris, you need to eat something."
"Not hungry."
"None of us are, but we need clear heads and that means taking care of ourselves. It ain't much but there are sandwiches on the counter." Chris knew Vin was right, so he stood up and slowly walked over. "What's here?"
"All the leftovers. Turkey, ham, bologna."
"Bologna? A Christmas left over?"
"Yeah JD, I always keep some around for Buck. Calls it his brain food." Chris grinned.
"Well that explains a lot," Vin replied.
"What do you want kid. Turkey or ham?" JD stopped walking. Chris repeated himself "JD – turkey or ham?"
"Ham!" He shouted.
"Fine, relax." Chris reached for a sandwich.
"No, Chris. Ham!" They all looked at him, convinced the pressure had finally made him snap.
"You showed me a shortwave radio before. In the basement. A 'ham' radio. You still have it?"
"It's in pieces JD."
"Pieces can be put back together."
Buck tossed a sandwich on the table. "Let's go kid. Time to Humpty Dumpty this thing."
"They couldn't put him back together," JD countered.
"They didn't have you."
M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7
TBC