Chapter 12

The ambush had come like they knew it would. Although they hadn't realized how tough their opposition had been until it began. The Cobras were out for blood as they came in firing rapidly at anything that moved. Mantaya's men were just as ruthless and Jesse began to wonder why he and his boys were even in this fight. Was it really worth it? His doubts plagued him until he began to second guess his every move. His knees suddenly gave way and he slid down the wall he had been leaning against.

The last battle he endured had been between him and Raab. That guy had been intent on hurting him. He knew something was up when the man gunned for him, separating him from his boys. They had both succeeded on injuring one another, but his concern for his gang pushed him on. He remembered hearing Sly's shout and someone else's cry yet he hadn't a clue as to who it belonged to.

Pain engulfed his left side as he tried to stand and he immediately continued to apply pressure to that particular spot. His brain was two steps ahead trying not to back track and focus on the blood oozing from the gunshot wound. He had no time for this. The need to round up his boys and find his dad and Buck overwhelmed the urge to just lie down and wait for help to come along. Even though Jesse knew the reception from his father was not going to be pretty; he still needed to face him. The expected punishment would come and he would accept it. He missed his dad in so many ways.

The scenes before him unfolded like a nightmare. He could not quite suppress the small gasp as he looked upon the carnage around him. A slight thump to his shoulder told him this indeed was real.

"Ezra you okay?" The normally steady Josiah gazed at him with much concern.

"Not unless you believe in deja vu." Ezra mumbled.

Vin had come up from behind and heard Ezra's answer. He placed a reassuring hand upon Ezra's shoulder and gave a small squeeze. "We'll find him. We will find all of them. Watch yer back and spread out."

The shouts of 'ATF freeze' were heard clearly amid the sporadic gunfire. Chris and Buck managed to find safety behind a small concrete wall. It offered them enough cover.

"Where are the boys?"

"Which ones?"

"All of them!"

Buck chanced a look and saw nothing but chaos. "Sorry pard it's a mess out there. Good news Howie and his team have Mantaya. Bad news, I have no idea where Cervantes is."

A cold hearted voice from somewhere over their shoulders replied, "Right behind you." They turned, sure enough there they were behind them.

Chris immediately locked eyes with Raphael looking for reassurance as to his son's safety. The man conveyed nothing. A voice from above froze all of them in their collective places.

"Nobody move! ATF!"

Buck almost sighed in relief upon hearing that familiar voice. Senor Cervantes thought differently and grabbed Raphael's gun when another voice brought him back to the cold harsh dregs of reality. "You heard him! He said don't move! ATF!"

Cervantes conceded defeat as the group of ATF agents surrounded them. They were all read their rights and promptly handcuffed. Both the cousins were placed in a vehicle together, while the rest of them were duly given a rough time. Once the primary vehicle left, the cuffs came off and the search for their boys began.

"I am so glad you are on our side." Commented Buck to Raphael. "The only one we need to find now is Raab."

"All I can say is we better find Jesse; since the last time I saw either of them Raab was hot on his heels."

This brought Chris' head up with a snap. "What did you say?"

In another area a pair of expensive shoes stopped in front of a young man lying face down upon the ground. The heat combined with the dust swirled amid the chaos. His nightmare was real. He barely registered the shouts and sporadic gunfire as he knelt down next to the unmoving figure. His inner turmoil shouted 'No it cannot be!'

Ezra tentatively reached out and placed two figures upon the teen's neck and found to his relief a pulse. The giddiness and relief almost overwhelmed him yet he kept a cool head. "Teddy…Teddy….Are you hurt son?"

A moan answered his question. "Oh thank the Lord you are alive."

The teen slowly rolled to his side. "Ezra?"

"It's me."

"Is it over?"

"It is." Ezra did a quick sweep of the area. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." The Southerner rolled his eyes. Yes sir, this one would fit in well with his growing family. He helped Teddy to his feet.

Teddy swayed a little as Ezra stayed close enough to catch him. "Easy. Let me take a good look at you."

"Ezra I'm fine. I suggest we take some cover first."

A couple of stray bullets zinged past them miraculously none found a home on their persons. "I concur. Lean on me."

"Way ahead of you."

They hobbled over to the Communications Vehicle where J.D. and Nathan were ensconced. "Nathan we could use your assistance."

"I said I was fine."

The medic shook his head in disbelief. Not only did he have to hear those particular words from his teammates he now heard them from Jesse and his friends. Amazing how much influence Team Seven had on this young bunch. "When I say you're fine then you can say it. Have a seat."

Teddy looked to Ezra who raised his eyebrows then tilted his head. He knew when he was outnumbered and the warmth he felt as people doted on him truly amazed him. "What are you going to tell Inez?"

"The truth, speaking of which I would like to hear it from you more often. Do we have a deal?"

Shit. They warned me about this. "I'll try." Teddy winced as Nathan touched upon a tender area.

"Mmhmm. You're fine. Must run in the family," Nathan continued to mumble out loud to anyone within hearing distance. He rolled his eyes as he began a closer inspection of that particular tender area. "Or it runs only in this crazy family."

The teen watched as Ezra's smile grew revealing that one gold tooth. Soon he also smiled wondering what it would be like to call someone 'dad'.

Chuckling Ezra said, "You wouldn't want it any other way now would you Mr. Jackson?"

Nathan shot him a glare almost worthy of Mr. Larabee's expertise. However his answer didn't match it. "You are most right, Ezra. That you are."

A certain ringtone caught the others attention as well as a certain sharpshooter. He quickly answered, "Sly." His face lost all expression as he listened intently. "Where are you? Okay. We're on our way." His worried eyes met Chris'. "We better hurry, Jesse's been shot."

Josiah quickly got the attention of the medical personnel on duty by whistling sharply and waving them over as he kept the others within sight. "We have an injured team member, follow me."

Somehow they all made it to his side or at least all but one. "Has anyone seen him?"

They sadly shook their heads no. He sounded weak even to himself. "Are you sure you saw him fall?"

"Yeah, I did. I wish I could have…"

"Don't do it Sly…"

"Yeah man, he's tough, I'm sure he made it." Joe tried to reassure Jesse.

A voice called out, "Sly! Where are you?"

Two figures rounded the corner to meet the other men.

"How is he?" Chris asked.

Sly recapped everything he knew. "He's hurting, lost some blood, Josh thinks it's more like a deep graze and as far as he can tell the bullet isn't lodged anywhere."

Joe continued with his version of the situation. "Actually, in my opinion, it looks like a helluva a long scratch across his side…"

The two boys knew they were babbling but they couldn't help themselves. As they came from around the corner Chris locked on the figure on the ground. He was next to his son in little less than three strides.

"Jesse."

His son looked up and said the first thing that popped into his head. "Sorry dad."

Chris nodded. "Stretcher is right behind us. They'll have you at the hospital in no time."

"It was Raab. We squared off. What I don't understand is why the man hates me so much?"

"Guilt by association," Chris said.

"Any idea where he is now?" Raphael asked.

"Probably off somewhere licking his wounds we messed each other up pretty damn good."

"Chris," Vin checked the area in which they stood. "I'd say he went off in that direction."

"Should we go after him?"

"He's probably long gone by now. We'll catch up with him again."

Jesse added, "You bet we will. He so much as guaranteed it."

That was not what any of them had wanted to hear. The older men looked to one another concern flashed across each of their faces.

Chris' anger went up a degree. How dare he threaten his son?

"Hey!" Jesse knew he needed to change the subject. "You ridin' with me?"

"Of course, you can't get rid of me that easily."

"Thanks dad. I…"

"Not now. We'll talk much later."

"But dad, I need…."

"Jesse, save your strength."

Luis interrupted by saying, "He wants to know how Teddy is?"

Josiah heard the question as he rounded the corner. "Boys he's fine. He's already on his way to the hospital. Ezra and Nathan are with him. They want to make sure he doesn't have a concussion."

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey Buck!" Team Five's leader came running up to him holding something small.

"What do you have there?"

Howie threw the small device to Buck. "Pulled it off of Mantaya figured it belonged to you. He kept pressing it like it was supposed to do something. The more he pressed the button the redder he became. I don't think I've heard someone swear that much in another language."

The rogue smiled then eventually laughed wholeheartedly. "This little contraption," Buck held between his fingers, "was supposed to blow those weapons sky high." He opened the little box to reveal it was nothing more than a decoy. "ATF one bad guys zero."