Sorry for the delay in posting. Got wrapped up in RL and getting my kids back in school this week!
On a prayer
In a song
I hear your voice and it keeps me hanging on
Ahh, raining down against the wind
I'm reaching out 'til
We reach the circle's end
When you come back to me again
Ezra's chest burned. His body shivered and ached as he rocked with violent fits of coughing. McDowell had returned, angry over "Junior's" show of compassion and the trip to the bathroom, and had taken it out on Ezra.
After the first blow, Ezra really couldn't remember anything further about the incident except "Junior's" voice reminding McDowell that they needed him alive, for now.
He'd lost track of time in the constant darkness, unsure of how long or how many times even, he had slipped in and out of consciousness. The floor heaved beneath him and for a moment he swore he'd go rolling into the opposite wall. The fact that he stayed stationary was the only thing telling him that he was the one spinning, not the room. Constant nausea felt like a never-ending motion sickness. At least,so far he'd managed to keep from throwing up,but he figured that was due more to his body's lack of strength then his own self-control.
His head throbbed in time with his heartbeat and he struggled to breathe. He tried a slow, deep breath, but was rewarded with a sharp, vice-like pain and a renewed bout of coughing. "Oh God, please," he pleaded, gasping again for air.
It took a moment, but finally he lay exhausted, his breathing settled back into shallow gasps. He hovered on the edge, between the darkness where he could feel everything and the darkness that would make everything go away. It would be so easy to just let go, give up the fight and surrender to the soothing peace of nothing.
What was stopping him after all? His friends? Were they his friends or were they like almost everybody else in his life the he'd ever let close? He was supposed to be the conman after all, the drifter and the cheat. Why was it that he always seemed to screw up and let someone in when he knew it always led to the same thing, betrayal and pain. He was a sad excuse for an uncaring bastard, no matter how hard he tried. Larabee and his team had gotten past his walls and closer to the true Ezra Standish then anyone before them and now...now what?
Was he just supposed to let go and trust that there was an explanation for their apparent lack of trust? Maybe his mother was right. Maybe the only one in he world he could depend on was himself. For a moment he was suddenly back in the saloon, cleaning chairs and listening to the soft strains of a familiar song, the words jumbled but clear. "Desperado come to your senses...let somebody love you before it's too late."
Was it really just a matter of him letting the others in? Ezra frowned as he began to cough again, his throat burning and dry from thirst. Maybe it was just too late already. The darkness was calling.
"Ezra, wait!" Chris' command resounded so loudly through Ezra's memory that he actually opened his eyes, his heart racing with the hope that Larabee was there with him. But he was alone, in the dark and, as much as he unexpectedly felt the need to not let Chris down, Ezra was afraid he that he couldn't hold on much longer.
"Okay, Chris, I've got three names for you." Nathan entered Larabee's office without knocking.
Chris looked up from his computer screen and listened as Jackson detailed the three recent parolees to him. He rubbed a hand roughly over his face as he accepted the printouts from Nathan.
"Our best candidate is this one here." Nathan tapped the top picture.
Chris read the name. Jason McDowell, it didn't sound familiar or particularly threatening. "What makes him stand out?" he asked.
"Paroled over two years before he should have been eligible." Nathan pointed to the dates and sentencing information.
Chris frowned, his suspicions growing even as he asked,"Wonder why?"
"Don't know for sure, but look who vouched for him at the hearing."
"Morse?" Chris' suddenly wide eyes met Nathan's.
"Yup. I have JD looking for any Denver connections."
Chris could almost hear the pieces of the puzzle clicking together. As Nathan went back out into the main office, he stared at the black and white photo of McDowell. The man was huge, twice the size of Ezra at least. He shook the thought from his head and turned back to his computer.
So, Agent Morse had testified on behalf of McDowell, getting the man paroled early, but who had moved the man's eligibility up? Staring at the file on screen, Chris focused on a name. Schoolcraft.
"Damn it," hecursed softly. Somehow, he immediately knew that Schoolcraft was behind the scenes of this whole fiasco and Chris had the sinking feeling that there would be no evidence trailing back to the man. Brian Schoolcraft was smart enough to cover his tracks and protect his career above all else. That didn't stop him, however, from going out of his way to try and destroy Ezra's.
Chris remembered vividly that Schoolcraft had been one of the strongest forces behind the original investigation in Atlanta. The large man had a short temper and Ezra had perfected the ability to set him off. More than once, Schoolcraft had publicly ranted that Standish's career was finished. Needless to say, the man didn't appreciate the irony of Team Seven's"magnificent" reputation or Ezra's role in it.
"You busy?" Vin's soft voice interrupted Larabee's thoughts as the sharpshooter eased into the office.
"What did you find out?" Chris had sent Vin and Buck back to the bar where Ezra had disappeared.
"Nothing new." Vin sighed. "Same bartender. Still insisted he couldn't help."
"Think he's telling the truth?" Chris asked.
"Yeah." Vin stepped over to the window and stared out into the dismal afternoon. "Said there was a handful of guys, but couldn't give any details except they were big. Place is so dark inside it's a miracle he even remembered Ezra." Vin ran a hand through his damp hair and then shoved his hands into his jean pockets.
"Ezra's hard to miss," Chris joked lightly.
Vin responded with a small laugh.
"It's raining again," Chris said absently, momentarily hypnotized by the sight and sound of raindrops on glass. His mind toyed briefly with a picture of Ezra in the bed of a pickup.
"Nathan pulled this." Chris chased the image away before it had fully formed and Vin turned his attention to the printout Chris held. He moved to a chair across from the desk and took the picture, examining it closely.
"McDowell? Think he's our man?" Vin asked.
Chris nodded slowly. "Morse helped with his parole, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if Schoolcraft's behind the eligibility."
Vin didn't comment, but Chris saw the frown.
"What the hell?" Buck's indignant shout brought both men instantly to their feet. A look of confusion exchanged between friends was the only pause before Chris headed into the main office, knowing Vin was right behind him.
Chris wasn't sure what had brought about Buck's outburst,but the sight of a half a dozen FBI agents and one angry looking Isaac Nelson was not what he had expected.
JD, Buck, Nathan and Josiah were all standing,their stances defensive in the tension filled room.
"What's this about?" Chris asked evenly, but there was cold anger rising quickly in his eyes.
"We're here to pick up Agent Standish." Nelson's voice was harsh, his words short and clipped.
"You need seven men for that?" Vin asked, his tone low and threatening.
"If there's a chance of resistance, I'm always prepared," The IA man responded.
"Is this an investigation or an arrest?" Josiah asked, watching the FBI agents carefully.
"Besides the initial IA investigation, Agent Standish is the lead suspect in an assault charge."
"Assault on who?" Buck's voice was only slightly lower than a shout.
"Agent Morse was attacked while trying to catch a cab from the airport this afternoon," Nelson explained angrily.
"And you think Ezra had something to do with that?" Chris asked sharply.
"Him or you," Nelson threw back.
Chris felt Vin's iron grip on his arm holding him back as he tried to advance on the IA man. It calmed him, instantly reminding him of the six armed agents backing up Nelson.
Nelson grinned smugly as if Chris' small advance had proved his point. "The tapes that Morse had incriminating your agent were taken in the attack."
"That's convenient," JD muttered sarcastically.
"That's exactly what I was thinking, Mr. Dunne."
"I don't like your insinuations,Mr. Nelson," Chris growled.
"Well, I'm not here to please you, Larabee." Nelson met the ATF team leader's glare without flinching. "I know the rep of this team. You stick together and personally, I don't think it's beyond you to do whatever it takes to protect one of your own."
Nathan stepped forward, his posture stiff with anger. "Now you listen, Nelson. We might stick together,but we're not a bunch of vigilantes. We follow the law."
"I'm sure that claim could be challenged with a thorough review of this team's case files. Face it,gentlemen, your team is not known for conventional methods of operations. Why else would a rogue like Standish fit in so damn well?" The smaller man's eyes flashed as he spoke. "Save yourselves time and the hassle of a long drawn out Internal affairs review. Standish is going down and you can either turn him over to me now or dig your heels in and watch while I tear you all down with him."
Chris didn't respond immediately, instead stared hard at Nelson until his burning urge to hit the man had been reinedin. Finally, he shrugged and held his arms out at his sides, offering himself as a target. "Take your best shot."
"Where's Ezra Standish?" Nelson asked, his face growing red with anger at Larabee's mocking attitude.
"I don't know," Chris answered honestly, unable to keep the challenging smirk off his face.
"I could arrest your entire team for aiding and abetting," Nelson tried to threaten.
"And we'd all be out by nightfall," Josiah reminded him. "We don't know where Ezra is."
"Mr. Jackson?" Nelson looked at Nathan, searching for the weak link.
Nathan shook his head. "Ezra disappeared last night. We have no idea where he is."
"Convenient." Nelson looked at Buck who shook his head and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Mr. Tanner?"
Vin merely stared through the man.
"What about you, Mr. Dunne?" Nelson stepped toward the youngest. "Are you ready to go to jail to protect someone like Standish?"
"You don't get it do you?" JD asked incredulously.
Nelson shook his head. "Don't avoid the question, son. Do you want to go to jail? You know what happens to former federal agents in prison?"
Buck stepped forward at Nelson's implied threat, but one of the FBI agents blocked him.
"Don't threaten me," JD snapped angrily, stepping up to meet Nelson's challenge.
Nelson's agents had each moved into place, effectively muting any interference from the others.
"Why not,Mr. Dunne? My threats scare you?"
"Hell no!" Both men were yelling now. Nelson was slightly taller than JD but the ATF agent held his ground. "You don't scare me and your stupid threats don't scare me either!"
"You won't like prison, kid. You're too cute for your own good." Nelson sneered.
JD never flinched. "I can watch my own back." His voice lowered in a frightening copy of Larabee's, causing more than one grin to appear around the room.
"Don't doubt that I'll make good on my threat." Shouts had fallen to barely heard whispers.
"I have no doubts," JD answered.
"I will send you to prison."
"So you said." JD was livid. He knew Nelson had singled him out because he was the youngest. What did this man think? He'd just roll over on Ezra to save his own hide? Even if he knew where his friend was, without question he'd never tell this character. "You still don't get it, Nelson." Though he was conscious that the others were still there, JD saw only the angry man in front of him. Ezra was a friend, a brother and this stranger dared to walk into his family and question their loyalty?
"Is he really worth it?" Nelson took another step closer, his voice dropping so low JD almost couldn't hear him. "You'd throw away everything for him?"
JD shook his head as he stepped close enough that they were nose to nose, then leaned his mouth in towards Nelson's ear, his own voice a mere breath. "I'd die for him."
The IA agent jumped backwards as if JD had physically slapped him. His mouth open in shock, brow furrowed with confusion.
"And," JD continued, his voice starting at a whisper and increasing in volume as he spoke. "I'd do the same for any other member of this team so BACK THE HELL OFF!"
Vin was in motion, daring the FBI thug watching him to even try to stop him, but the agent just followed his movement closely. JD felt a hand on the back of his neck, gripping lightly and pulling him to back to the side. "Easy, Kid," Vin soothed, not releasing him. "I think you're done." He looked evenly at Nelson, challenging him.
Nelson nodded, still stunned and signaled his agents to follow him. He paused at the outer door and looked back at the stone-faced group, his eyes stopping on JD. "I'll be back with warrants."
Once Nelson was gone five pair of eyes turned to JD.
"What the hell did you say to him, Kid?" Buck asked. "You'd a thought you tongued the man's ear the way he jumped away from you."
"Nothing. He just pissed me off." JD ran a hand through his hair, pushing his dark bangs out of his face.
"You okay?" Vin asked. He still had a grip on Dunne's neck.
JD nodded. "Until he comes back to arrest me, yeah I'm fine."
"He's not arresting anyone." Chris scowled.
"What do you think about this attack on Morse?" Nathan asked.
"Sounds like the perfect plan to get Ezra in deeper and not have to hand over evidence of his accusations," Josiah answered.
"Sounds demented," Buck added.
"Think he actually hired someone to grab Ezra and beat himself up?" Nathan ran a hand over his face. It had been a long night and day already and he hoped they weren't just grasping at straws.
"Oh!" JD jumped suddenly and hurried to his desk. "Sorry." He grinned at the startled expressions. "I forgot, right before Nelson showed up I found some information on that McDowell guy." He picked up a paper from the printer. "Jason McDowell, he had a cousin. Um...Kevin McDowell, lives here in Denver. I ran the name. No adult record but a sealed juvie file. Got an address."
He handed the printout to Chris who merely glanced at it before motioning to the door. "Josiah, call Travis for a warrant, then we ride."
TBC...