Many much thanks to Cassandra30 and Katharina-B for thier sweet reviews. You two have no idea how much it means to me
Chapter Specifics:
Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort
Spoilers/Warnings: Chinatown
Characters: Ezra/Pi Long, Nathan
Time Set: End of Chinatown
Theme 2: Love
It's so late. It's not often something causes me to lose sleep. Something about money maybe, but not something like this…something like her. Nathan inquired as to what came over me…I still have not drawn a conclusion in the matter. It is beyond me to figure out why I sit here scribing a letter I will never send. Longing for someone I scarcely knew.
She was of fair beauty, but that was not the basis for this sensation. There was just something in her eyes. There was a certain grace and latent strength just beneath the surface. It is my truest regret that I did not know her long enough to see it manifest.
I claimed I would inform Mr. Jackson when I concluded what had come over me, but in all honesty I do know. I cannot commit the words to writing, though I am not sure whether it is my unsteady hand or stubborn mind that won't allow it.
How could this happen? How could I have fallen for her…how could I let her go?
-Ezra P. Standish
Slowly the gambler stood, his eyes tracing over the words he had just wrote. He crumpled up the paper and threw it at the wall.
Silently Ezra left his room and headed over to the saloon. It was days like this he really needed a drink. He saw the youngest member of their group and their healer sitting a table in the corner. The gambler forced a smile and walked over.
"Mr. Dunne, Mr. Jackson," he inclined his hat slightly and took a seat. Nathan seemed to study him for a few minutes.
"Where's Li Pong?" he asked. Ezra's green eyes raised sharply, a hint of emotion in their emerald depths.
"On her way to San Francisco I imagine," the gambler replied, his characteristic poker face sliding back into place. "I just remembered I have business to attend to, gentlemen." Ezra quickly got up to his feet.
"Don't you want a drink, Ezra?" JD asked, oblivious as usual.
"I really must depart." Standish was half way to the door before the words even left his mouth.
"He left awfully quickly," JD commented.
"A little too quickly," Nathan replied, standing and following after their friend. "Ezra." He caught the gambler by the arm.
"Mr. Jackson?" the southerner inquired, doing well to hide the emotions everywhere but in his eyes.
"I never apologized for accusing you of…"
"It's forgotten, good sir," Ezra said his voice level, but his face betraying his gratitude. The southerner turned his gaze toward the horizon as if it would answer his questions; the subtle action was not lost on Mr. Jackson.
"Why is Li Pong going to San Francisco?" the healer asked cautiously.
"It's what she wanted," Ezra replied, his voice faltering for a second. Without another word the gambler escaped down the street. Nathan watched him go, realization written on the healer's face.
"My…he's in love!"