Author's note: I do not have experience in hypnotherapy, psycho analysis, or any other psychological treatment methods. Everything that follows in this chapter is literary license.

Promptly at 6:00 pm Dr. Dawson arrived at Chris's ranch. "Well, this is a full house," she said as she was escorted into the living room by Chris. In addition to Ezra, Vin, Josiah, and Maude; Nathan, Buck and JD had also arrived.

"My associates have insisted on being here for support," Ezra explained then gestured to Maude, "as has my mother."

"Well, it's important to have the support of family and friends, but I'm not sure this is the best time for everyone to be here." She took in all those in the room. "It could actually make it a little harder to help Ezra if he has such an audience."

The six men and Maude stubbornly looked back without anyone making a move to leave. Chris ended up speaking for all of them. "We promised Ezra we'd be here to watch his back and that's what we're going to do."

Ezra surprised everyone when he let out a little chuckle. "Mr. Larabee, I don't think the good doctor means me any harm." He looked over to Dr. Dawson, "You'll have to forgive them. They're a bit...protective."

Dr. Dawson returned the chuckle. "So, I see. You must be a pretty special guy for them all to want to be here for you."

Ezra colored at the words. "Just really lucky," he corrected her.

"There's no such thing as luck, Ezra. I thought I taught you better than that," Maude quickly corrected.

"Mother, please. Not now," Ezra begged.

"All I'm saying, Darlin', is that it's not luck that these men are standing with you. One way or another, you earn and create everything you have." Silence fell over the room that lasted for a few second but seemed like longer. "And I'm not leaving," Maude added to break the silence.

Observing the stubborn set to Maude's jaw and the way none of the other men were making a move to leave, Dr. Dawson let out a small sigh. "How about a compromise. Mrs. Standish can stay and just one of you...provided that's what Ezra wants."

"Mrs. Halden," Ezra off-handedly corrected. "My mother has remarried." He left off mentioning how many times. "I believe your plan will be acceptable." He looked between Chris and Josiah. He knew Chris should probably remain since he was the team leader, but he was still feeling more comfortable with Josiah than any of the others.

Chris took matters into his own hands and spared Ezra having to make a choice. "Josiah, why don't you stay. The rest of us will go in the kitchen and leave the four of you alone." He stood up and looked at the other four pointedly then made his way to the kitchen.

"So, what do we do now?" Ezra asked once the door to the kitchen had swung closed.

"Why don't you start by telling me what's happened since last night. When I spoke with Mr. Sanchez, he said you'd regained some memories but also had a couple of flashbacks."

Ezra looked quickly toward his mother suddenly unsure of her presence. He was afraid of seeming weak in her eyes when she heard about how he'd acted when he had the flashbacks. Even worse, he was afraid of what she might do. The last thing he wanted was for her to go off on her own and deal with Anton MacDougall/Clayton Traynor or whatever name he happened to be using.

"I can't help you if I don't know what's been going on," Dr. Dawson prompted him when he hesitated. She caught how he kept glancing at his mother. "Would you feel better if you mother wasn't here."

"No," Ezra said with a quick shake of his head. One way or another, he knew Maude would find out what had happened. Haltingly, he began to tell the doctor about what he could remember of the two flashbacks as well as what he could now remember about the month he'd been missing. What he couldn't quite remember about the flashbacks, Josiah supplied since he'd been there both times.

"And this man, he's related to you?" Dr. Dawson asked when he was finished.

This time, it was Maude who spoke explaining how she recognized the man in the photo as her cousin and what had happened the summer Ezra was eight.

"I barely remember any of that," Ezra added on when Maude was done. "I just remember being hungry, an apple, and pain in my wrist...and then I was in a hospital and Mother was there."

While Ezra, Maude, and Josiah had been talking, Dr. Dawson had been taking notes. It's not unheard of to block out traumatic memories from childhood." She closed the notebook and put it and the pen she'd been writing with on the floor. "I'd like to try something with you...see if I can guide you through the memories you do have and try to recover others. Based on what you've already told me, it may not be pleasant."

Ezra took a deep breath and let it out. "I think I uncovered enough evidence to get an arrest warrant for MacDougall...Traynor. If it means I can remember what that is and put him away, I'm willing to deal with unpleasantness. I want this to end."

"Ok." the doctor noticed that Ezra was sitting in a recliner. "Why don't you put your feet up and get comfortable."

As soon as he had, Kenny hopped up to sit on the arm of the chair and stared at the doctor. One paw dangled down making contact with Ezra's leg. Ezra smiled slightly and gave her a quick pat on the head. "I don't suggest you try to dissuade her to leave. She'll prove even more stubborn than my mother and compatriots."

"I think she'll be just fine where she is." Dr. Dawson motioned to Josiah. "Can you sit next to Ezra and put your hand on his ankle." When both Ezra and Josiah looked questioningly, she further explained. "Like I said, things might not be pleasant. Josiah's going to act as your anchor to the present. Anytime it starts to feel like things are too intense, I want you to concentrate on the feel of Josiah's hand on your ankle."

"Ok." Ezra shifted just a bit settling more comfortable in the chair. "So, what now."

Dr. Dawson leaned down to pick up the pen and notebook again. After opening the notebook to a blank page, she held up the pen, and began speaking in a low, level voice. "I want you to look at this and just listen to me. Block out any other sounds you're hearing. Just concentrate on my voice and the pen. Let yourself relax."

As the doctor spoke, Josiah and Maude could see Ezra's body gradually relaxing. With his hand resting on Ezra's ankle, Josiah was able to feel the tension lessen. After little more than a minute, Ezra pulled in a deep breath and let it out on a sigh as his body completely relaxed. Josiah looked to the doctor in concern.

"He's all right," she assured him. "He'll be able to better access his memories if he's in a relaxed state."

"Would having anyone else in the room cause an issue for him at this point?" Josiah asked.

"It shouldn't. Why?"

"I think it might be a good idea for at least Chris to join us. It's probably better that he hears what happened right from Ezra instead of second hand."

Dr. Dawson nodded then turned to Maude. "Mrs. Halden, would you mind asking Chris to rejoin us?"

"He awake?" Chris asked as he followed Maude back into the living room. With his eyes nearly closed and his breathing slow and shallow, Ezra looked as if he were asleep.

"He is," Dr. Dawson assured him. "He's just in a deeply relaxed state. As I explained to Mrs. Halden and Josiah, he'll be better able to access his memories if he's completely relaxed. Stress can prove to be a block to access traumatic or repressed memories."

"So, now that he's not stressed..." Chris trailed off.

"He should remember." Dr. Dawson moved over to Ezra. "Ezra," she called in a quiet but authoritative voice. "I'm going to touch your hand. When I do, you're going to tell us what happened when you were abducted. If you start to feel upset or stressed, I want you to concentrate on the feeling of Josiah's hand on your ankle and you'll feel secure again." She gestured for Josiah to squeeze Ezra's ankle. "Do you understand me."

"I do," Ezra answered. His voice had an almost dream-like quality to it.

"Here we go, then," she said then lightly touched Ezra's hand. "Where are you?"

"I'm home…in the kitchen. I have some information I need to pass on to Mr. Larabee, but it's Monday night and I need to take the trash out. I'll just take a few brief moments to do that, or I may get caught up in work and forget. No, Kenny. You'd best stay inside. It's chilly out and you won't like it."

Chris and Josiah exchanged brief smiles at the mention of the cat.

"I'm putting the bag in the trash can and taking it out to the sidewalk. I forgot to close the back door. Kenny's probably going to sneak out. I'm turning around to go back in the house." A shiver went through him. "It's quite cold. I should have put on a coat. I can hear a vehicle pulling up behind me."

As Ezra spoke, Chris tapped the doctor on the arm. "Would it make sense for me to ask him some questions? I know what information we need?" he asked in a whisper.

Dr. Dawson looked between Chris and Ezra. "It's highly unusual, but we can try. You'll just need to keep your voice level and calm."

"Got it."

"Ezra, I want you to listen carefully. Chris Larabee is going to ask you some questions. I want you to remain relaxed. Do you understand?"

"I do."

The doctor nodded giving Chris the go-ahead to ask questions. "Ezra, did you see the vehicle you heard?"

"Present tense," Dawson whispered. "Use the present tense."

Chris nodded and re-asked the question. "Can you see the vehicle you're hearing, Ezra."

"I'm trying to look, but someone has grabbed me from behind. I think...I think I cansee a white van but here's someone else. They're restraining me."

"That's good Ezra. How about who grabbed you. Did...do you see them? Can you describe them?"

Ezra was quiet for a couple of seconds. His brow knit in confusion as he tried to answer the question. "No. They have masks of some type on. I'm trying to fight, but they're bigger than me. I can't get away." As he spoke, his respiration picked up and he started to tense up.

"You're safe," Dr. Dawson said as she held a hand up for Chris to hold. "You can feel Josiah's hand on your ankle. You're safe." As she spoke, the tension once more left Ezra's body. Once he was once more relaxed, she indicated to Chris that she was going to take over questioning again. "What else is happening? You can't see their faces, but can you see anything else?"

"They're putting a hood over my head, but I can see one of their arms. It's pale, like he doesn't see the sun."

"He?" the doctor question. "You know it's a man?"

"I can hear voices. They're both masculine."

"What are they saying? Can you understand them?"

Again, Ezra's brow knotted as he pulled up the memory. "They're saying to grab me, I'm the one MacDougall wants...complaining because I'm trying to fight. One of them says to stick me. There's a prick in my shoulder. Everything's hazy."

"That's good. You're doing good. Now what? What's happening now?"

"My hands are tied behind my back then I'm being pushed into a vehicle...a van? I can't concentrate. Everything's hazy. I feel sick...going to be sick."

"Ezra, you're safe," Dawson said. "You can feel Josiah's hand. You're safe."

Chris exchanged looks with the doctor. "Must have been whatever they gave him."

"What else is happening, Ezra?" Dr. Dawson prompted.

For the next ten minutes, Ezra recounted his time in captivity. The four who listened were in turns sickened and angered by what he described. At times, he'd been kept in a cold, dark room with no contact with his captors; deprived of food and water. Other times, he'd be beaten and made to kneel for hours with his arms crossed behind his back while MacDougall demanded over and over that he tell him where the evidence was. Then there were the pricks in his arms as we drugged over and over.

When he got to the part about eating the piece of bread that was on the table in front of him only to have a baseball bat crash down on his wrist because he hadn't asked for permission, Maude had to be physically held in place to prevent her from going to her son to comfort him. "I'm hungry," he kept repeating in a whimper.

"You're safe, son," Josiah crooned as he gently squeezed the ankle his hand rested on. "You're safe."

"How...you're escaping. How are you doing that," Chris asked, once Ezra had calmed.

"They're taking me back to the room. MacDougall's done questioning me for now. They push me in but they're not tying my hands this time. My hands are free. There's a window. I push it open and climb out. Everything's so hazy, though. It's hard to think."

"I know it is, Ezra, but keep telling me what you're doing."

"There's a road. I'm running up it and I see headlights in the distance. It's a truck. It's stopping. The driver wants to know if I need a ride. Take me to the federal building. They'll protect me." His voice trailed off to just louder than a whisper. "I don't know who they are, but they'll keep me safe."

Again, Josiah gently squeezed his friend's ankle. This time, it wasn't to comfort Ezra, but to comfort himself that he was safe with them. He looked over to Chris and nodded slightly. Ezra's words now confirmed what he'd told Chris earlier. They'd won Ezra's trust and he knew he could come to them.

"We will keep you safe," Chris stated. The tone of his voice conveyed that anything else was unacceptable to him. "Ezra, can you tell us what the evidence is that MacDougall thinks you have? You said you had information to pass on to me. What is it?"

Ezra's brow quirked as he pondered the question. "A list of payoffs he'd made. A list of upcoming transactions. I should have sent you the information right away, but I was distracted."

Chris had to resist the urge to agree with Ezra that it was information he should have passed on right away. It must have shown in his face because both the doctor and Josiah shook their heads at him. Instead, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. They needed to know what the information was. That was more important than a rebuke. "Where is it? Where did you put it?"

"It's on a SIM card. I took photographs of pages in the book that had the information."

The answer was a little more literal than necessary. "Where's the SIM card," Chris prompted.

"I didn't want it to be any place obvious while I stepped out. I put it in the bottom of the box of trash bags. I didn't think anyone would look for it there."

Chris and Josiah traded looks. If the SIM card was still where Ezra had left it, it could have everything they needed to put MacDougall, or whatever his name was, away for a long time. That is, if Ezra hadn't told MacDougall about it. "Ezra, did you tell MacDougall where it was? Does he know about the SIM card?"

"He knows about the photographs. He must have had someone watching me. I didn't tell him where it was." Ezra's voice trailed off and he started to tense up again. "If I told him where it was, that would be like running out on you again. I promised you that would never happen. It didn't matter how hungry I was or how much he had them hurt me. I promised you. I didn't want to lose your respect."

Silence fell over the room. Chris felt like he'd been gut punched. How had he missed it when Josiah had seen it clearly, had even tried to explain it to him the other day? He got up from where he was sitting and crouched by Ezra. He put out his hand to squeeze his shoulder, but stopped at the last second afraid of what the contact might do to Ezra in the state he was in. He looked over to Dr. Dawson and caught her nodding at him. When she did, he lightly squeezed Ezra's shoulder. "I do respect you, Ezra. I don't think I could have done what you did. You're a good man. You have to trust me on that."

"I do trust you, Chris." The confidence in Ezra's voice was unmistakable.

Before anyone could say anything, a ringing cellphone was heard. Maude quickly reached for her bag and pulled out the phone to silence it. When she did, she caught sight of the incoming caller and pulled in a quick breath. She started to say something, but Dr. Dawson held up a hand to silence her. "Ezra," Dr. Dawson said as she got up from her chair and walked over to him. "I'm going to touch your hand again. When I do, you'll be fully aware, and your memory will be sharp and clear." She lightly touched Ezra's hand. When she did his eyes blinked open. It was then that Maude finally spoke.

"It's Amy. Clay's sister."