Ezra was feeling exhausted. The only thing that kept him from skipping out on work or coming in looking disheveled was his mother's words. Appearances were everything.
Hell if appearances were everything then his coworkers could learn from this.
Vin usually dressed in flannel and a jacket over it, his long hair was definitely in need of a cut.
JD just wore t-shirts with whatever fandom he chose to be in for the day.
Nathan and Josiah were the only ones who wore suits, but the ties agent Sanchez chose to wear always seemed to clash. It almost was painful to watch the pattern thing fly by him as the man walked by his desk.
Chris wore his habitual black suit. Everything was black on that man. One the occasions he wasn't wearing his suits, he was wearing a black tee and black jeans. A black leather jacket covered his tee. The man was consistent and at least kept it mostly professional.
Wilmington could be wearing nice clothes when he walked in, but before the day was over, he'd be in shorts and a t-shirt. This was mostly the case because of Vin and JD's little pranks, but other times the man spilled coffee on his pants in a rush to complete something or got mustard on his shirt while eating.
At times, Standish wondered if he wanted to stay on the team. While the men were great, they played around a lot. Buck could've stopped the pranks the first time it happened. Instead he let it continue, thus chaos continued to reign in the room.
A text appeared on his phone and he pushed himself from his chair and smoothed out his suit. Making his way to the director's office, he caught the straying glance of Tanner. He wondered if the man had any clue of what he was.
Travis had Ezra sit down across from him and handed him a folder.
"Your next assignment. Here's the location you'll be headed."
Ezra frowned. What were the odds?
"Why mister Wilmington? He seems perfectly fine to me. His behavior is not out of the ordinary."
"Wilmington is very good at not letting people on about what is really going in his head. He's like you in that manner." Ezra wanted to snort at the comment but he didn't, "I think you're aware that Buck and Chris are old friends."
"Yes sir."
"He knew Chris's wife and son. They were family to him too."
Ezra nodded, understanding better now.
"So how long? Are you going to have him take a few days off like mister Larabee?"
"No, I think you can do this in the small time he's at home after work."
Ezra wanted to make a comment that Buck prided himself on never being at home because he was at some woman's house.
"He'll be home. It's the anniversary of the Larabee family's death after all." Travis said, obviously understanding what Ezra was thinking.
"Do I have a time limit?"
"Would that benefit Buck if you did?"
Ezra nodded, it was about his 'mark's' happiness, not how quickly he could get the job done.
Buck ran through the rain towards the townhouse he rented. The sky had suddenly decided to turn sour and open up. His clothes were soaked through by the time he reached his porch. To his surprise, there was something already there.
A dark brown retriever was curled up, also soaked to the bone, trying to keep out of the worst of the storm.
"Hey there Hoss, what you doing out here by yourself? Where's your home?" Buck bent down and patted the dog on the head.
The dog looked up and sniffed at Buck before getting up and shaking some of the water off of him.
"Why don't we go inside so we don't die of phenomena?" Buck suggested and unlocked his door.
The dog went in grateful to get out of bad weather and Buck paused by the door to take off his overcoat which didn't do much protecting.
"Let's get you dried off then." Buck sighed.
Ten minutes later Buck was sitting on his couch with a towel laid out for the dog. Ezra was surprised at how bare the place was. Though it was furnished, there were no pictures on the walls. A stack of boxes sat in the corner untouched. The only thing that looked unpacked was the television and a box of video games.
When Ezra had been imagining what Buck's place would look like, he had in mind a bachelor set up. Clothes thrown around and dirty dishes lying in the sink. Buck's place was mostly, well empty.
The stuff that was used was clean, dishes washed and no clothes lying around. It was a nice contrast to the disheveled looking man he sometimes would see at work.
Buck played around with his phone while running his hand through the dog's hair.
He's pretty mellow right now, Ezra observed.
Placing a paw on Buck's thigh, he saw the man pull his attention away from his device.
"Sorry about that. Just seeing if I got a text." Buck slipped his phone into his pocket and turned to scratch the dog behind the ears, "So what should I call you, Hoss? Never was good at naming anything." Buck laughed at a past memory, "Chris said that'd he'd never let me name any child of his because I suggested the name Marley. I can understand though. Marley and me was a pretty sad movie." Buck's hand stopped moving, "Thinking about it now, Marley died too of old age. Let's not call you Marley. Maybe something fun like Rupert or Buck." Buck laughed.
Ezra snorted and pushed himself up into a sitting position.
"Okay. Okay. Not Buck. I'll come up with something eventually. For now, how about we eat."
Buck got up from his seat and strolled over to the fridge. The man had a life's supply of protein shakes and fruits and vegetables.
This totally threw Ezra off.
"Sorry I don't have much. Trying to keep up my image for the ladies. Means I spend most of the time drinking this awful stuff. Doubt you'd want any. I have some turkey lunch meat if you want some of that." Buck sifted through a drawer in the fridge and pulled out a container of lunch meat. He offered it to the retriever who took it and began chewing it down.
Buck chuckled, "Man you have no idea how easy you have it Hoss. I mean granted you were stuck outside in the cold rain, but you don't have to worry about your friends going on suicidal watch or having to live with the guilt of being the one to take your best friend away from his family right before he lost them."
The man sighed and pulled out a protein shake and drank the whole thing before taking a breath.
"He seems better this year though. No calls from the emergency room or nothing. I sat up the whole night waiting for a call that weekend, but it never came. Maybe he's found peace this year."
Ezra winced inwardly. Though he did help the man, he wouldn't say what he did had cured the man of his grief. He'd still feel it. Hopefully less, but it'll still be there.
"You want some more, Hoss?" Buck asked as he offered his companion more lunch meat.
Buck was very different in his non-work mode and non-dating mood. He was actually calm and quiet. Most of the time he spent either running on his treadmill while watching something on his television, or he was sitting next to his phone and on his computer.
Ezra yawned and laid there wondering why the need to exercise on a rainy day. Most people would lay down and take naps.
After Buck had ran for over an hour and a half did Ezra notice the pained look on Buck's face. Getting up from his place on the couch, he stood beside the man on the treadmill. Sure enough the man looked frustrated and tired. He was pushing himself even though he looked ready to collapse.
Ezra barked, trying to get the man's attention, but Buck couldn't hear him over the high volume of his show.
Hell, Ezra wasn't about to hop on the treadmill and risk injuring himself.
Looking around, he noticed a pillow on the couch and he ran over and grabbed it. He went to the front of the treadmill and prayed this wouldn't turn out bad.
Dropping the cushion on the speeding machine, Buck slipped on the pillow, but caught himself on the bars. He looked down and saw Ezra barking at him.
Stopping the machine, he got off and took out the plugs.
"Sorry Hoss. Lost track of time. Need to go outside?"
No. Ezra wanted to say, but the man of course wouldn't be able to understand that.
The retriever resisted against Buck's pull as he led him to the back door and practically pushed him out the door.
It was still raining and the overhanging barely kept him from getting wet.
"Go on and do your business." Buck said as he waited at the door.
No way was Ezra going to do any 'business' outside in the rain, especially while being watched. Unfortunately, the man didn't seem like he was going to let him back in until he did.
Ezra sat facing the door.
"Go on." Buck said, trying to encourage the dog.
Ezra gave a low growl of irritation.
Buck shrugged and walked away from the door and him.
Whoa wait! He needed to get back in still.
Ezra barked, trying to get Buck to come back to the door. All he needed right now was for the man to get back on the treadmill and run himself into the ground.
Maybe if I pretend to go then he'd reconsider.
Ezra walked to the edge of his shelter and lifted his hind leg. Enough water was coming down you shouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Once he figured it was a convincing enough time wise, he went back to the door. Sure enough Buck opened it up and let him in.
Never was that going to happen again.
It was almost time to go and all he figured out was that Buck was feeling guilty for separating the family just before their deaths. He'd have to work tomorrow after work apparently.
Buck crashed on his couch which was kind of sad. Ezra found a blanket and after a minute of pulling it open and another trying to cover the legs and chest of the man, he was finished.
Taking a few minutes to count, he transformed back to his human self and snuck out the door. His clothes were hidden around beside the house in a plastic bag that was sealed. Luckily the rain had finally stopped.
Once he was dressed, he walked down the street to where his car was parked on a street over and went home.
At work there was talk of the stray dog Buck had found after work the other day. To make matters worse, Chris had apparently divulged to his good friend about the dog that had showed up at his door. That was the last thing he needed right now, was for them to start making connections early and putting the puzzle together.
"What do you think Ezra?" JD asked.
"What am I supposed to think mister Dunne?"
"Hoss or Todd? Which is the better name for our mystery dog?"
Ezra shrugged, "Which ever suits the person I suppose."
"What would you name him? Apparently everyone is starting to think of names for him."
"A name? Well I haven't heard about this until now." Ezra lied.
"Chris calls him Todd and Buck calls him Hoss. He's a dark brown retriever so I'm thinking Rex or something."
"Wow." Ezra said accidently, "I mean to each their own moniker I suppose for the animal."
"I wonder what his real name is though." Vin said as he joined the conversation.
"I wouldn't know."
"You boys better be talking about work." Chris called from his office.
The undercover was grateful that both men went back to their seats to work on their assignments.
Buck looked his usual jovial self. Not letting on the slightest of what he was truly feeling.
The man could rival him on that point.
When it was six and everyone was leaving, Ezra slipped out the door to get a head start to the town house.
"You think it's strange that Ezra seems to be getting personal missions from the director recently." Vin asked as he fiddled with a pen in his hands.
"I mean the man is an undercover agent. He's bound to be needed on a lot of cases." Nathan shrugged.
Buck decided that it was warm enough for him to go on a run outside. He had changed into sweats and was about to head out when he heard a familiar bark.
Looking around, he spotted the dark brown retriever sitting underneath a tree.
"Hey, there you are. I was wondering how you got out last night. Must've snuck out somehow." Buck said as he stretched a little, "You tagging along today again?"
The dog got up from his seat and walked towards the man.
"Hope you can keep up." Buck grinned before setting out.
The dog ran alongside him.
Ezra panted alongside the man as they ran around another corner.
When would the torture end? Ezra's legs were tiring out fast, not used to this much physical exertion.
He looked up at Buck who was focused on looking forward. The undercover agent wasn't going to keep this up much longer.
To his relief the man stopped when they came to an intersection that was big enough that it needed stop lights.
Ezra collapsed on the piece of grass that was available. He needed water.
Buck looked down and noticed the dog was no longer standing.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry." Buck bent down and ran his hand over the dog's head. "I should've stopped a long time ago."
Ezra was too tired to lift his head or even open his eyes. He felt strong arms pick him up and carry him. The position was uncomfortable, but he didn't care greatly about it. About an hour later, and a stop to a little shop where Buck had gotten someone to pour a cup of water for Ezra, they made it to the town house.
Buck took a quick shower while Ezra rested on the couch.
He knew he was going to smell after his workout, but he was going to be damned if he was going to have another coworker wash him.
Buck came back into the front room and then passed into the kitchen. He was in there for a while before kneeling down in front of Ezra with a thing of dog treats.
"I figured you'd return so I bought some of these just in case. You deserve them for putting up with me."
Ezra took the treats. Most of them tasted kind of funny, but his ability to eat almost anything except chocolate helped him to swallow it down.
Buck rubbed the dog behind the ear and then got comfortable on the floor with a sigh.
"Seems like I hurt someone else I care about. That's all I'm good at apparently. It's not because I'm oblivious—I'm actually pretty observant—but for some reason when I start something, I can't stop." The man ran a hand through his hair, "I suppose that's why I run. Running from my problems and mistakes. Trying to get rid of all this energy so when the time comes I can stop and actually be there for the people I care about."
Ezra wasn't sure that that all made sense, but thinking about it a little longer, it started to become more clear.
"I can never ask for Chris's forgiveness. Just being on the same team is enough."
Ezra couldn't believe how much guilt these two men felt. Chris felt bad for being the one who lived when it was he who was the target apparently. Buck was feeling horrible for being the reason his friend was separated from his family at the time of the murders.
In Ezra's opinion, while yes Chris lost his family and that was devastatingly horrible, Buck had saved his life. There was no guaranty that the whole Larabee family wouldn't all be killed. Of course he never had to be in that situation before so he wouldn't know what it was like to lose someone and have that weight on you for the rest of his life.
Ezra sat in Travis's office after having to spend three days outside of work with Buck. The last day had gone by a little better than the day before, so he was grateful for that.
"So would you count this as a success, Standish?" the old man asked.
"I wouldn't know really. I learned a great deal about both men. I've yet to learn how to actually comfort someone when they are hurting emotionally." Ezra sighed, "So I guess with that I'm to be transferred then."
"Why do you think I'd transfer you? These men have been dealing with these issues for years. I don't expect them to get better in a span of two to three days. This is also your first time using your other form as an emotional support animal so there are bound to be some bumps in the process. Buck won't completely heal until Chris does, if that helps you in anyway."
Ezra nodded. With that, the meeting was over and he got up from his seat and straightened his clothes.
"You didn't fail this time around with Buck. I think he knows he needs to stop running now from his problems. There's no reason also to only be there for them when it's absolutely necessary." Travis called from the door.
Ezra nodded again and then walked out.
In the room of Team seven, everyone was packing it in to leave for the weekend at Chris's ranch.
Vin turned to the undercover agent who was packing his things to go home.
"Hey Ez, you going to final join us this weekend?"
Ezra thought about it, and saw from the corner of his eye Chris waiting for his answer.
"If it is alright with the owner, then I'd be happy to come." Ezra said finally.
Even if he wasn't in his other form, he could use from what he learned during that time to make a difference.
