A/N: Lola7495, please forgive me. I was in the process of replying to your kind feedback when my twitchy finger hit the tab button once too many times and POOF...the reply (with nothing in it) was sent and once gone cannot be responded to again.

So I take this moment to say thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my spooky tale and hopefully this chapter will bring you some of what you're hoping for.

Enjoy.

Laurel

Connections:

Chapter 4

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Ezra was enjoying the classical station having given up on his CD player which was constantly changing over to his Beethoven CD when the lilting strains of the concerto were interrupted by the strident blaring of the emergency broadcast signal.

Ah, yes, he mused, real life intrudes as we are constantly reminded of the need for security and emergency updates. Expecting to hear the usual voice saying…"This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System" Ezra was surprised that all he heard was silence and then the station returned to music only this time it was playing a selection from Fidelio.

Before he had time to process that it was the fifth time that piece had interrupted another selection he was disturbed again by the buzzing of the intercom. Stepping to the intercom system he pressed the Talk button.

"Hello."

"Hello, Ezra, sorry to drop by, it's Nathan."

"Ah, Mr. Jackson, I'll buzz you in."

The buzzer sounded, Nathan grabbed the door and entered the secured foyer that gave access to the quartet of condos one of which Ezra lived in.

Walking to Ezra's door he was about to reach out for the doorbell when the door open and Ezra ushered him inside.

"What brings you to my domicile on this lackluster day?"

"I came to return your CD. Rain and I went to the performance today at Proctor's Theater. It was excellent and I was able to understand and appreciate the music so much more because of listening to this all week."

Nathan pulled from his coat pocket the CD of Beethoven's opera and handed it to Ezra. Ezra took it and blanched as he realized what it was. Staring at Nathan he opened his mouth as if trying to speak but no sound came out. Concerned Nathan reached out to take him by the arm afraid the man might fall he had gone so pale in the face.

"My dear, Nathan, this – I –"

Turning away Ezra strode to his CD player, clicked open the changer and rapidly removed all of CDs. To his astonishment the slot that had repeatedly switched on interrupting his Mozart CD was empty.

Feeling more than slightly dizzy Ezra swayed a bit. Nathan stepped up behind him, grasped him gently by the elbow and led the stunned man over to the chair. Squatting down in front of him Nathan felt for his pulse and found it racing.

"Ezra, what's going on, do I need to call for an ambulance?" Nathan had his cell phone out and was about to press for 911 when Ezra's hand on his arm stopped him.

"No, my good man, it's just the most amazing…ah, never mind. I'm sure I was just imagining things."

"Ezra, I don't believe for a moment that it, whatever it is, is nothing, nor am I leaving here until you tell me what's going on, what were you imagining?"

Nathan used the tone of voice he saved for only the most serious of times. Not one to overreact to a situation Nathan was nonetheless highly concerned at the clammy feel of Ezra's skin, the rapid pulse and the pallor of the normally tanned, unflappable agent.

"I don't suppose there would be something like 'doctor/patient confidentiality' that we could impose here, Mr. Jackson."

"Hmm, we go from my dear Nathan, to my good man to Mr. Jackson, now I know you have something that you're hiding. I tell you what, I'll make a deal with you." Nathan smiled inwardly as he saw the familiar light return to Ezra's eyes at the mention of a deal.

"You tell me what you think you heard or think happened, or whatever it was that had you so shaken by my handing you that CD and, if it is in no way a health concern to you, I shan't breathe a word of it to anyone.

Ezra thoughtfully turned the offer over in his head and then said, "And if what I mention causes you to think that perhaps I'm going crazy –"

"Ezra, I've always thought you were crazy so that isn't a serious health concern, now get on with it, why did you nearly go into shock when I handed you that CD. I thought you liked Fidelio?"

"I do, I do very much. The oddest thing today while I was putter – erh, putting some things in order. I was playing a Mozart CD and no less than four times that CD player suddenly stopped playing, shuffled the CDs and then I – I –"

Ezra stopped unable to continue.

"You what, Ezra, come on, what happened next?"

"IswearIheardBeethovenplay." Ezra mumbled and jumbled the words so quickly Nathan had to replay it again in his mind and then suddenly he got it.

"You swear you heard Beethoven play? You mean this CD, this one that I just brought you?" Nathan held Ezra's hand up that still clutched the Beethoven CD that Nathan had given him.

"Shhhh. Yes, that's what I said." Ezra whispered looking around him.

"Who are you looking for? There isn't anyone but you and me and we're inside your place, what's going on with you? Sheesh, and here I thought it was something serious."

"You're not going to tell anyone, right, Nathan, that was the deal, and an honorable man does not go back on his word."

"Calm down, Ezra, calm down. I'm not going to tell anyone – unless you don't behave next time I tell you to."

Looking both relieved and chagrined at having someone having a hold over him Ezra got up and walked over to his CD player and slowly filed all the CDs back in their slots, including the Beethoven CD.

Nathan watched his defeated posture and began to chuckle. "This is too good; with one opera I've got something on you and on Vin that will keep you both in check for some time."

"What do you mean you've got something on me and Mr. Tanner over this opera; will you be so kind as to share your good fortune with me?"

"I'll tell you, but I'd better not find out you use this without me 'cause if that were to happen then I'll tell everyone about your little haunted CD player, you hear me?"

Ezra affected a hurt expression which Nathan merely scoffed at.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, you're innocent and all that. All right. Look at this."

Nathan produced the color program from the opera and flipped to the page he and Rain had been peering over earlier.

"Why that man bears a remarkable resemblance to Mr. Tanner, 'course his hair is much more refined than our Vin but ---"

Nathan interrupted him excitedly. "You should have seen him, Ezra, Vincent I mean." Nathan jabbed a finger at the photo. "This guy's name is Vincent and he has a wig of long hair because he plays the part of Florestan in the opera ---"

Ezra looked up as Nathan abruptly stopped speaking and stood still with his mouth hanging wide open. This time it was Ezra who reached out a steadying hand concerned for his colleague's sudden apparent state of shock.

"Vin, Vin, Vin. Nah, couldn't be." Nathan mumbled after a few moments.

"What couldn't Vin be, Mr. Jackson?"

Without answering Nathan pulled out his cell phone and dialed information, and then he asked for the number for the city's department of public works, upon receiving that information he dialed the number and was connected to the phone menu of departments. Anxiously dancing from one foot to the other all the time being warily watched by Ezra he finally exclaimed 'Aha' when told what number to hit for an emergency and was instantly connected to a dispatcher who asked the nature of his emergency.

"My name is Nathan Jackson, I'm an ATF agent and I want to know what the trouble is on Florestan Avenue that you have a road sign alert for."

Ezra listened carefully to the one-sided conversation. His curiosity was already awakened by Nathan's intense focus and at the mention of the name Florestan the hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he shivered as he felt a flash of cold steal over his skin.

"I see," Nathan was saying to the dispatcher. "There is no road sign alert anywhere in the City of Denver at this moment, you say? Well, thank you, must be – can you tell me where Florestan Avenue is located which part of the city?" Nathan listened, his eyes going wide as he stared at Ezra stunned.

Ezra watched barely able to control the shiver that threatened to shudder through his frame. "What, Mr. Jackson, where is Florestan Avenue?"

"Purgatorio."

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Hell, Vin thought. Waiting is getting me nowhere. Summoning his waning strength Vin pushed his back against the wall and levered himself up using his left leg as a brace. Once he was upright he leaned to the right and grasped the column that was a short distance away and then agonizingly lurched over to it until he was practically hugging it.

After steadying his stance and slowing his breathing again he took another hesitating step this time to the left which brought him to the base of the stairs.

Okay, here's the deal, he thought. One step at a time, don't think about the fact that there's a total of 18 of them, take it one at a time.

Holding his left arm tight to his chest Vin reached out with his right arm and grasped the right-side railing high enough that his entire forearm could lay flat on the rail. Then he pressed down as hard as he could all the while pulling himself upward so that he placed minimal pressure on his right leg and as he 'hopped' up one step he was also able to minimize the jolt to his collarbone.

One.

Taking a moment to breathe Vin was gathering his strength to tackle the next step when an icy blast swept down the stairwell and wrapped around him chilling him to the bone.

Fighting the urge to shiver knowing the agony that would occur if he did he repeated his previous actions and tackled another step.

Two.

This time the result was a dual blast of icy air from above and through the windows at the basement level. Vin heard the thunder rumble and roar louder and closer and heard a sizzle as a blast of lightning struck somewhere close outside.

Having made his decision Vin was not to be deterred, in fact, the icy wind and the worsening storm only strengthened his resolve to get himself out of this basement and to safety.

Three.

By now Vin was panting with the exertion and bleeding from his lip having bitten down trying to keep from crying out in pain. Somewhere some therapist would have quite a field day with him not wanting to cry out in pain, like there was anyone to hear if I did, he laughed painfully to himself in his head.

Four.

Suddenly the wind ceased, the thunder and lightning halted and the rain silenced. Vin was about to tackle the fifth step and stopped, amazed at the absolute stillness in the air.

"Mama."

Damn it, he thought, there it is again, that dang child's cry.

"Mama."

The plaintive cry was followed by the soft sobbing sounds of a child in distress. Vin gave it only a momentary thought before resolutely grasping the railing and pulling himself up another step.

Five.

The reaction was immediate, wind whirled down the stairs at him blowing papers and dust, thunder and lightning roared and crackled through the air and the sound of the pouring rain sounded like the roar of Niagara Falls.

In Vin's mind a soft voice urged him faintly onward, "You're a Tanner."

"I know, ma, and I'm gonna get myself out of here."

Six.

TBC…