Ezra came into the bar in the morning. He knew only bad drunks started this early, but he needed the drink. After receiving a call that his mother was coming into town in a day's time, he wanted to prepare for it.

A big man was at a booth staring at a game of chess. Ezra sat at the bar near where Nathan was cleaning when he decided to walk on over.

"I see you have the Queen cornered." Ezra gestured to the piece.

"Yes." The man smiled up at him, "I can be difficult to play against yourself."

"Indeed." Ezra said, sitting across from him, "Out witting yourself can prove quite the battle. Have you figured out which side is winning?"

"Not yet." Chuckled the man. "I wouldn't mind starting anew and playing against you."

"It's as good as any time to brush up on my skills as any."

The two played for hours, Ezra learning his name was Josiah. They talked, mostly about Josiah's life since Ezra wasn't too keen to share his. Chris came in his usual time, sitting in front of his shot glass. Buck and JD came next, already arguing as they came through the door. Vin was last, shaking off the rain that had started to down pour. Ezra was surprised at the change in the forecast and wished he had brought an umbrella.

Ezra greeted the others and after a bit of chatting, they all ended up sitting at the corner table. He found that he enjoyed their company. They were all pretty lively. Nathan came and joined them when he went on break.

Sighing, Ezra grunted that he was going to get another beer as he stood up. Vin watched him for as Buck told him to throw in a good word for him to the female bartender.

Ezra smiled at the woman as he approached, "Jack Daniels."

She nodded and returned with the bottle, charging it to his open tab. He took his drink and paused, trying to understand why she kept looking at him strange.

"Is there something on my face?" he joked as an attempt to start a conversation.

"No mister. Just fascinated is all." She said, but she didn't seem fascinated.

"With what exactly?" Ezra frowned.

"You mister. You have a very active imagination."

Ezra chuckled lightly and cleared his throat, "Sorry I don't know to what you are referring to."

"Well, for the four days now, you've been chatting away, like you're on the take or something."

"Excuse me?" Ezra's volume became a little higher.

"Ezra, you coming man?" called Buck.

Ezra turned around to see the others waiting for him.

He started to walk over to them when he heard her, "Maybe you shouldn't be drinking."

He casted one look back at her before reaching the table again and sitting down. The rest of the time he spent with his new friends he was quiet. Vin watched him silently a bit of worry on his face.

Inez closed her bar and locked the doors. She turned to walk to her car and jumped a little when she saw the man from the bar.

"I own a Taser sir. That and I know self-defense."

"Those will not be necessary for me. I just wanted to finish our conversation from earlier."

Inez sighed, "About what?"

"For starters you thought or think I'm on drugs."

"That was the only friendly reason I could think of."

"I'm not on drugs." The woman looked a little sympathetic to Ezra and he shifted uncomfortably, "Why would you assume so?"

"It was the only reason, the only nice reason, as to why you were talking to yourself for the past four days here."

"Talking to myself? I wasn't—"

"Sir, I've seen a lot of drunks come in here talking when they are drunk. Mumbling words and finishing left off conversations to whoever was supposed to be the real recipient. You, well you've been carrying on conversations with some invisible people. Giving them names, 'playing' pool with them and darts. Today was chess. Then you say around a table and was laughing by yourself." Inez felt horrible, watching the man grow pale, "Other customers think that there's something wrong with you. I just tell them it's drugs because I couldn't think, I didn't want to assume."

"That I'm schizophrenic. Is that what you were going to say." Ezra swallowed the lump in his throat, "Well you're wrong because they do exist. Nathan sees them."

"Who?"

"Nathan, he works for you." Ezra waved a hand frustrated at her.

"There are no employees by that name." Inez said, shaking her head. "Please, let me try to help you. I have a friend who has seen this before."

"Thank you, but you're wrong. They are real. I'm not making this all up."

"Why don't you try and look you friends up. See if you can find them." Inez suggested.

Ezra stiffly nodded his head before making his way to his car.

At home, he didn't wait before getting on his computer. He started out by typing in their names but his searches came up empty. Running his hand through his hair trying to think of something else to try. He didn't have any of their numbers and didn't know where any of them lived. Vin and Josiah's little history about them didn't include where they were from really.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I shall get answers.