Coming To Terms chapter 12

Disclaimer: Own the seven?! You must be joking, I can only just afford to feed the cat!

A/N There is a book called The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. In it it states that time is an illusion….so when I said that this chapter would be up in a few days it obviously just seems longer…..sorry!

A/N 2 There is mention of alleged racism in this chapter. I mean no offence by anything I have the characters say or think. There are those who adhere to canon who would argue with my depiction of Ezra's opinions given that there was racial tension in the series between him and Nathan (at least in the pilot episode) but please remember that those attitudes were born of the period the story was set in. I cannot imagine for a moment that a modern day Ezra would have such thoughts, especially as Old West Ezra managed to discard them so quickly.

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Nathan, in his rage, didn't notice the looks on the faces of his brothers and was therefore startled into silence as Chris grabbed him by the arm and yanked him into the study. Buck and Josiah followed, the oldest Larabee listening for a moment to make sure that Nathan's diatribe hadn't disturbed the three youngest who had fled upstairs before he closed and locked the study door.

"What!?" Nathan queried snippily as he saw the disapproving and concerned looks on his brother's faces.

"What the hell was that all about?" Chris elected himself spokesperson, not that the others were in any hurry to take on the role. Still feeling a little foolish about his own ill founded suspicions Chris wasn't sure whether to feel vindicated that he wasn't the only one who had a beef with the southerner or humiliated that they were both a pair of judgemental idiots. If only the damn con man didn't get his brain all turned around between hatred and admiration!

Buck, ever the practical brother, proffered a small glass of brandy to his adoptive brother and it was testament to Nathan's level of agitation that he drank it straight down without complaint about the early hour. 'Whooee' thought Buck with a grin, 'gotta admire ol' Ez's pissin' off power….man doesn't even have to be in the same room' He also mentally kicked himself for his own reaction to JD's involvement with Ezra earlier. He shouldn't judge the kid by his age; the boy was obviously smart enough to see through any computer scam - they were his world after all….still that didn't mean that Ezra could be trusted and two of his most savvy brothers were suspicious which was surely no coincidence. Buck had to admit that he was confused. His own instincts told him that Ezra was one of the good guys but the man's actions did nothing to support that and his other brothers were convinced that he was a villain yet they had come to that decision before they got to know him, though Vin seemed to have had the exact opposite instincts.

While Buck sorted through his feelings, Josiah took up a position sitting on the metaphorical fence and Chris poured himself a drink and wondered if the newcomers were going to finally give him that ulcer Orrin was always warning him about Nathan felt the soothing warmth of the brandy ease it's way down and finally began to breathe evenly, an act he hadn't been able to manage since he had seen Ezra leave the doctor's office a couple of hours before. He had a feeling, however, that his calm wouldn't last long. It never did once he started thinking about the injustice of the whole sorry saga, even without having a traitorous brother added to the mix.

Josiah kept his own council. He had waited too long for the opportunity to have a proper family to screw it up by taking sides but he figured that it must have been an extraordinary event to have gotten the even tempered doctor to lose his cool quite so spectacularly. It didn't take a psychologist to see that Nathan was not normally the type to lose his temper. As close as he had become to Nathan in the last few days both living and working together it was, strangely enough, Ezra that intrigued and worried him. He obviously had major trust issues which wasn't surprising in his supposed profession and with his background but he couldn't help think that there was something darker behind his behaviour. In fact if he didn't know better Josiah would think that Ezra bore the hallmarks of past abuse. However Josiah was sure that whatever his problems with Maude had been their father wouldn't have abandoned his child if he had been in any danger. Josiah sighed, he loved puzzles but Ezra was a conundrum wrapped up in a riddle, and surrounded by an electrified fence. And with his brothers circling the southerner like a pride of lions facing off with an interloper he just hoped that he worked out the answer to Ezra before they either drove him away or tore him, emotionally at any rate, to pieces.

"So Nate, think you can tell us what he's done now without having a conniption?" Buck kept his tone light as he and the others gathered on the leather couches facing the window that looked over the garden which Ezra was renovating. Chris hadn't paid much attention to Ezra's landscaping efforts, figuring the whole idea was a way of getting out of proper chores but he was surprised to see his mother's garden reappearing out of the undergrowth. It brought a lump to his throat. Nathan glared at the garden and wondered if there was any way at all of getting away from the southern fried imbecile!

"Sorry guys" Nathan sighed as he dragged his eyes from the sight outside, the tiredness evident in his normally rich and gentle voice. "It's just…he's…he's supposed to be family y'know, yet he acts like we're nothing, like we're some sort of enemy, and it's not as though he never had a family, even if it was Maude Standish so he's got no excuses about how to act" the others nodded but then frowned as he seemed to go off on a tangent.

"I'm a damn good doctor for crying out loud! I know I made an error of judgement at the beginning over his records but he'd already edited them. I mean maybe I can understand that he would want to see a doctor outside the family but the clinic has other doctors…But oh no! He had to go all Benedict Arnold and visit that…that quack in town!"

Eyebrows had raised at the increasing pitch, volume and vitriol in Nathan's voice but at that final comment they understood their brother's resentment. Nathan had always dreamed of owning his own medical practice in his hometown and it had looked like he had finally gotten his chance when old Doc Finnigan had announced his retirement to Florida. Unfortunately for Nathan's plans Finnigan had a long running feud with their father and refused categorically to sell to a Larabee. They also understood that the new owner had nothing to do with the whole saga and they knew that deep down Nathan knew that too but it just hurt to much for him to think rationally. Add Ezra into the mix and Nathan's reaction wasn't surprising. Chris ran a hand through his blond hair and wondered if the weasel had done this just to get revenge for the file incident while Josiah wondered if Ezra even knew of the tense situation between Finnigan and the Larabees. He hadn't known either until he began working at the hospital. As Nathan fumed it was Chris who had the thought that none of them wanted to have and later he would come to wish that he had thought it through instead of blurting it out.

"Perhaps his reasons don't have anything to do with your doctoring skills or your name."

Nathan looked puzzled for a moment and then paled.

"You think…..you think he might be racist?"

"Shit!" Buck slumped down in his seat. It made sense…And it would explain why Chris and Nathan had instinctively doubted him. Neither of them were quite as trusting and gregarious as he was and sometimes his instinct to see the best in people backfired on him. Josiah frowned, a sadness in his eyes. Why did the others have to be so ready to jump to the worst conclusions. He had seen signs of a higher level of unease when Ezra was around Nathan than with the rest of them but no disgust or hatred. But then again his overly analytical mind argued, it was possible, given that Maude mixed in some very unacceptable circles and had been described to him as a social climber and a snob, that she had passed on some unpleasant social mores to her son. He just hoped that if that were true then it was a simple unconscious intolerance and not a deep ingrained prejudice.

Nathan considered himself a lucky man. He had not had to face much racial prejudice growing up aside from some taunting at school. Four Corners may have been a predominantly white town but he had always been part of it, and more importantly part of the Larabee family and no-one would have disrespected the Larabees by disrespecting him. So he had to admit that possibly being the victim of racial prejudice was a shock but it did explain why Standish wouldn't want his lily white body to be touched by someone of colour…and he WAS a southerner, a rich white southerner. Nathan watched the pieces fall into place and his anger grew. Meanwhile Chris was busy rejecting his own theory. Ezra was smart and he was sophisticated and while that didn't necessarily preclude being a racist the man was also the most anti-social creature he had ever met; he hated everyone…or thought that everyone hated him. Either way Chris was sure that Ezra was an equal opportunities xenophobe.

Unfortunately before Chris could repair the damage he had done things went from bad to worse and he began to wish he had been an only child…or possibly a turtle because then he could retreat into his shell and shut out the mess he had just created.

"Well now you've crucified him are ya gonna bury him or just leave him out with the rest of the trash?!"

The occupants of the room turned as one on hearing the disgusted Texan twang behind them by the door - the door that Josiah was sure he had locked and that the others had seen him lock. They supposed, however, that you didn't grow up among crooks without learning a few tricks, including illegal methods of entry. Josiah just wished that the two men standing there before them, one angry as a rattlesnake and the other as calm and expressionless as a robot, hadn't been tempted to invade their private conversation. No good ever came of eavesdropping as he suspected they were all about to find out. He addressed an as yet silent Ezra, his own guilt at his lack of trust in the man colouring his words with a sharpness he didn't really mean.

"Ezra surely you know the meaning of a locked door. We were having a private discussion. If you have heard comments that you find upsetting I'm afraid you only have yourself to blame and it's unfair of you to drag poor Vin into this situation with you.""And since you did hear how about giving us some answers?" Chris continued in an icy calm voice. Just when he had persuaded himself to defend the weasel's honour the damn man has to do something to put his hackles up again. The blond felt his stomach churn and wished he hadn't thrown out his Dad's ulcer medication after he had died. He tried to catch Vin's eye to apologise for his unwittingly involving him and his understanding that he would be angry on another's behalf - even though he couldn't understand why Vin had taken the rodent under his wing - unfortunately when he did meet the Texan's eyes the normally bright blue orbs had darkened to the colour of a stormy ocean. He looked away quickly, unable to face the condemnation in those eyes. He didn't even dare try to meet the sub zero green eyes that he knew would hold no expression at all.

Buck was first and foremost a man of action and he couldn't stand the frozen tableau in front of him. He figured it was down to him to lance this particular boil.

"Well Ez, what've you got to say for yourself? And do you make a habit of picking locks?"

Before Ezra could decide on which course of action to take - either turn and leave the room with as much dignity as he could muster, pack his bag and run like hell back home, or tear the kangaroo court to shreds with his bare tongue Vin broke in and Ezra had to force himself to remain impassive. He was not used to having people defend him. It was… disconcerting, and strangely warming.

"I picked the lock. Heard Nathan ranting and figured that me and Ez should know what's being said behind our backs. And see if you all had the guts to repeat it to our faces"

"Nothing was being said about you Vin.""Where the hell did you learn to pick a lock?!"

Chris and Buck's exclamations made Ezra wince; partly because the Larabees less than friendly attentions were being turned on someone else due to his own actions, or at least what they, incorrectly, assumed to be his actions, and partly in sorrow because he knew that the comments would be far more unpleasant if they had been delivered at his own person rather than Vin's.

"Never said there was" Vin answered Chris "But I thought that being a brother meant that if you insult one you insult all…must have been mistaken, being an only child an' all, same as Ez. It can be hard to figure out how you're expected to behave." Hearing the comment Chris was aware that there was more to it than appeared on the surface and he had the decency to blush. It hadn't occurred to him just how much being an only child could affect family behaviour. It would explain a lot.

Vin turned his attention to Buck's query. "Was a bounty hunter remember? Never know what 'skills' are going to come in handy on a job." Turning to Nathan he added "And it was me who suggested he see Doc Turner."

Ezra tried not to smirk at Vin's masterful handling of the situation. Maude would have been proud - he made a mental note to make sure that she never met him, she would either want to 'hone his skills' …to her own benefit of course… or marry him!

Ezra's flash of amusement soon died, however, as he saw the light of anger flare once again in Nathan's eyes. It disgusted him that he could be thought to be the kind of man to base his opinions of people on something as arbitrary as the colour of their skin.

"You may not have gone to that quack till Vin suggested it Ezra but I don't hear you defending the allegations. What's the matter, words not coming so easy without a white sheet to hide behind?"

Ezra made it a personal policy not to lose his temper in public. Arguing, in his experience, much of which had been garnered the hard way in childhood, had taught him that defying someone bigger and stronger than yourself usually ended in pain. That the logical part of his brain pointed out that Nathan was obviously not the hitting kind was a fact that his sense of self preservation ignored. He could have explained why he had frequented the new doctor's practice but that would raise other questions. Ones he still wasn't prepared to answer. He could have pointed out that by living with a black family in the deep south he had seen more racism than any of his new brothers, including the chilling sight of Klan gatherings. He did none of these things.

Everyone waited with baited breath to hear Ezra's reply, each with their own thoughts on the matter but all hoping that he could clear his name because to think of having a bigot in the house was an intolerable burden. Puzzlement and bewilderment covered the assembled faces as instead of marshalling his defence Ezra withdrew his wallet and removed a photograph from it. Mouths opened to question but closed again at the glare from Vin and they stood silently as Ezra placed the picture on the desk and without looking at anyone turned and exited the room. Vin followed as though protecting his brother's back which for some reason made Chris feel very small.

As soon as the two men had vacated the room the remaining occupants descended on the small, slightly tattered round the edges, picture.

"Damn!"

"SHIT!"

"Hell!"

"Dear Lord Above!"

The expressions were different but the feeling on seeing the individuals portrayed in the picture was the same mixture of guilt, regret and sorrow.

They stared as one at the smiling teenager who stood between the two happy and proud adults. The teenager was obviously Ezra and he was holding some sort of trophy. The proud adults who each had an embracing arm around his shoulders were both black. The state of the picture indicated that it had been much handled and much treasured.

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In the next few days that passed each of the conclusion jumpers had tried to engage Ezra in conversation, to apologise for their mistrust and their comments only to meet a polite and frosty nod of acceptance which felt more like a knife to the heart. Chris had handed the picture back and asked who the others in the picture were. Ezra's reply of "Family" was given in such a tone as to indicate that family was about more than blood and the Larabees had failed the audition for the role. It didn't help that once Nettie got to hear of the events, and Nettie always seemed to hear of events one way or another, she, too, gave the four eldest brothers a rather cold shoulder and some exceedingly unpleasant chores. Since no-one was willing to face the wrath of Vin, the revenge of Nettie, the hurt bewilderment of JD who couldn't understand how anyone could have been so mean to fellow family members once Vin had filled him in, or the silent accusation of those frighteningly expressive green eyes housed in the bland poker face of the man they had falsely accused a silent agreement was reached that nobody should say anything at all and they should let sleeping dogs lie.

Once a semblance of normality had been achieved, Vin spending most of his free time either with Ezra or in meditation; JD either riding with Buck, out with Casey or on one of the three computers that had taken over his bedroom and Ezra staying as far out of everyone's way as possible, although he was a frequent visitor at his 'neighbour's' bedroom where Vin was teaching him the ways of his people having insisted that his own Cherokee heritage should not go unexplored. Fly would accompany him on these visits but was not impressed with the meditation sessions. She understood the need for quiet and patience when hunting but when there was no prey to be caught she thought it more than a little dull and quite redundant. What on earth was the point of shutting your eyes if you weren't going to have a nap. On these occasions she would venture out on little visits of her own having found that Vin's door to the main house did not shut properly unless forced.

"EZRA STANDISH! GET YOUR SORRY ASS DOWN HERE…NOW!"

Ezra sighed. Just when he was starting to get the hang of this spirit walking thing. He rose to his feet having eventually gotten over the embarrassment of having to accept help to do so and gave a rude gesture to a smirking Vin as he went to answer the call of the force of nature.

"You bellowed Mr Larabee." It wasn't often that Ezra was allowed onto the corridor that housed most of the bedrooms though what they thought he would want to steal from them he couldn't imagine…Buck's collection of Hawaiian shirts maybe or perhaps Josiah's stack of bibles; he'd often had to swear on a stack of bibles but he had never actually felt the urge to possess one. "Sorry Mr Larabee, I didn't quite catch that…it's quite hard to make out words when all one can hear is the sound of grinding tooth enamel."

Chris took a deep breath and silently counted to ten. He had to admit, though never out loud, that it was good to see the spark of battle back in the jade eyes but feared it would probably be the last thing he saw before he expired…any minute now…in his own hallway.

"Remove it…NOW"

Ezra peered round his larger brother to see into the man's bedroom although he knew perfectly well what he would find. He had tried reasoning with her that cats only had nine lives and she shouldn't waste the ones remaining to her on such a volatile individual but as Buck had so helpfully put it 'once a lady takes a shine to a fella there ain't much you can do but give in gracefully and hope she still has all her own teeth'

"I can hardly be held responsible if you insist on luring mah darlin' girl away from me Mr Larabee. In fact Ah do declare that it is I who should feel aggrieved at this turn of events…why if it were but a few years ago and in mah home state Ah would feel obliged to demand satisfaction Sirrah."

With that Ezra swept dramatically past a speechless and rather red faced Chris and scooped up Madame Butterfly from the centre of his bed. As they left Chris could swear that along with a wide fang filled yawn the cat gave him a saucy wink while Ezra gave him a wicked if rather smug smile.

Chris waited until the diabolical couple were out of sight, popped an indigestion tablet in his mouth, collapsed on his bed and gave into the mirth that had been building from the moment Ezra had arrived. He buried his head in his pillow to muffle his laughter and suddenly began to sneeze. Cat hair! For some reason, although that should have made him angry, it just made him laugh harder. He laughed until he cried and something tight and painful inside suddenly gave way leaving him feeling better than he had in years. Damn cat! Damn southerner!

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Buck was a happy bunny. Buck was almost always a happy bunny but today he figured that he had more reason than ever for his good mood. He had a date. Not that Buck Larabee having a date was anything extraordinary. He prided himself that his little black book extended to several volumes, alphabetically organised - though he didn't need them any more seeing as JD had organised an electronic doohickey that stored all the salient details of his conquests and future targets. No, Buck was happy because he had finally worn down…or rather persuaded….Brandy Barber to go out with him, and it had only taken him six months. Only Inez was more difficult to charm and he hadn't given up hope yet…faint heart ne'er won fair lady indeed and they didn't come much fairer than Brandy Barber!

Buck thought happy thoughts of his plans for the following night as he mashed the potatoes for dinner. While Nettie's anger over the 'Ezra incident' had worn off she wasn't their housekeeper and so several nights a week they were left to fend for themselves but between them they usually managed to put together a halfway decent meal.

"DINNER" yelled Josiah whose powerful baritone managed to reach all parts of the house with ease. He watched with amusement as the family gathered round the table, some with more enthusiasm than others. He had noticed that while Chris Buck and Nathan, and he supposed, himself, tended to treat dinner as a chance to catch up with each other and the days events Vin would attack every meal as though it would be his last. He suspected that being raised in such uncertain circumstances taught the Texan to grab what he could when he could. Once he was full enough he would join in the conversation. JD meanwhile would eat quickly and politely but always as though his mind were still upstairs with his computers. He would nearly always be the second to leave the table. Josiah suspected that the conversation of the older brothers bored him a little. The first to leave the table, of course, would be Ezra. He would eat the least, though he would often raid the kitchen later for a snack. He, too, would eat quickly and quietly but he never engaged in conversation. He didn't seem comfortable dining with company and would excuse himself as soon as he could. But at least, Josiah thought thankfully, they did come together physically at least for a while and maybe with time they would come together spiritually as well. He could but hope.

Josiah said Grace as the last of them, minus Nathan who was on evening shift at the hospital, settled themselves and the serving dishes were passed round. As usual Vin wasted no time in beginning to eat and as soon as he'd passed the bowl of potatoes along to Ezra he lifted a forkful of the vegetable to his mouth.

Ezra froze in shock as Vin's hand shot out and knocked the bowl of mashed potatoes out of his hand and onto the floor but once the Texan also spat out the food he had begun to eat and gave him a wild look Ezra realised what had happened.

"What the…!" Chris's words stopped dead as he watched with horror his younger brother begin to gasp unsuccessfully for air and Ezra dash to the kitchen drawer. It took him a moment to understand the southerner's words as he gave instructions but by then Josiah was already on his way to start the car, his heart racing but his mind clear. Chris moved to Vin's side knowing that he could do nothing but give encouragement but by the small thankful smile and squeeze of his hand he knew that it was enough. Ezra returned quickly with the slim black case they had seen that first day they had come together and quietly and almost professionally gave his brother the dose of epinephrine that he needed. As they half carried Vin to the car for the short trip to the hospital, they silently agreed that they didn't have time to wait for an ambulance. Buck sat stunned at the dining table. He couldn't believe what he'd done. He had been so caught up in his own plans he hadn't thought, he'd just added the milk and butter to the mash as normal…'Oh God!' He put an unsteady hand to his mouth, what if he'd killed his brother….Hell, if it hadn't been for Vin's quick thinking they would have two sick brothers…and it was all his fault!

TBC

A/N What?! Oh you know you love a cliffhanger, yes you do! Oh and I'm not sure about the wallet - is it called that in the states or is it a billfold - well I'm sure the context made it obvious what it was but let me know if I confused you.

A/N2 Breaking News! While I admit to a very late update the past three days have not been my fault - AOL have had 'connection problems' I really am going to have to switch. Sigh. Apologies once again since I doubt that AOL will bother…..okay, make that FIVE days!!!!