2 weeks later

Four heads turned in reaction to his arrival. They were spread around the room, all close to the bed, but only one actually beside it. Vin sat in the chair close to Ezra's head, speaking softly. He alone failed to react to Chris's entrance. Josiah pushed himself off the wall he'd been leaning on and walked toward the final arrival. It wasn't until the two men stood side by side that he realized he had no idea what to say. Chris smiled sadly at him, acknowledging the emotional strain, then moved closer to the bed.

"Vin?"

"Really Chris – you can't even be bothered to say hello to our host first?" The bitterness was clear in his voice. "Seems like it's the least you could do."

"Vin, don't make this worse than it is. None of us want to be here."

"Yeah – I know. Bein' here is something you've avoided as much as possible lately."

Buck started to responded, but Chris silenced him with a look. "You know that's not what I meant." He watched as the fight drained from his friend.

"I know Chris – I'm sorry." The voice was barely a whisper. "It's just – this ain't right. It doesn't feel right." Chris moved forward to reach the bed and pulled up a chair to sit opposite to Vin.

"You're not wrong there. Nothing about this has been right from the start. He shouldn't be here. None of us should have to be here with him now, not like this."

"It's not time Chris. Still too early in the day."

"Your gonna play this down to the last letter of the law, aren't you."

"We made the promise to each other. Six months. It's not time yet." Vin sat back in the chair, closing his eyes for a moment. "Not yet."

Chris settled in his seat as well. "No, not quite yet."

They sat quietly for the next few hours. A few words were spoken, but softly and with no real interest in creating a conversation. From time to time a staff member would enter the room, usually turning away quickly on seeing the tableau of sadness.

The only other disruption to the silence came from the buzzing of Nathan's cell phone. He left the room briefly, coming back in with the first genuine smile of the day. "Jacob Ezra Daniels has made his entry into the world. Patricia gave birth to a healthy perfect baby boy about an hour ago. That was her husband in the phone."

"That's great." Chris voiced, as Josiah chuckled softly. All heads turned to him.

"Sorry – it's just that in many cultures they believe when a spirit leaves its body it can re-join the world by entering the body of a newborn."

Nathan caught on and grinned widely. "So you're think Ezra might have found himself a new home?" Josiah merely shrugged.

"If you're right," Buck added, trying not to laugh, "the Daniels are in for one interesting child rearing experience."

"Amen to that brother."

Shortly after 1:00 Ezra's doctor came in. He nodded at the others, but went directly to Vin's side pulling up a chair to sit next to him.

"I'm sorry Mr. Tanner. It's the agreed upon time." Vin simply nodded. "I'm going to have someone come in now to detach the support systems. You don't need to stay in the room."

"Yes I do. I made a promise."

"I'm sure he would understand."

"Thanks Doc, but I promised. I need to be here."

"He won't die alone Doc. We're staying with him." Vin looked at Chris gratefully.

"We're all staying." JD added.

Buck looked at him in surprise. "You sure Kid?"

"Absolutely. I have to be here for him, for all of you. For me too."

Buck nodded. "Guess you're right." JD tilted his head, puzzled. "I need to stop calling you Kid."

The doctor left, and a few moments lighter there was a soft knock at the door. They all watched quietly as the technician efficiently went about her business. In just a matter of moments Ezra had been disconnected from all that had been keeping him with them. She placed her hand on his briefly before she left, looking over to Vin. "He must have been very special to have such magnificent friends."

"You have no idea."

Chris looked at the men he had come to accept as brothers. All seemed lost in their own worlds, not willing to, not ready, to deal with the moment at hand. He felt he should be saying something, but had no idea what it should be. Apparently, he was not alone.

"You know," Nathan broke the silence, "Ezra would know exactly what to say right now."

"Yeah," Buck agreed. "And he's have damned fancy way to say it too."

JD walked up to the bed. "Doesn't matter what happens to me for the rest of my life Ezra. I'm never gonna forget you. Never gonna forget all you taught me." He turned and moved to the window, his back to the room, unable to watch the process. Buck moved quietly to him and place an arm around his shoulder.

"Buck?" He continued when he got a nod. "Think maybe I'd like you to keep calling me Kid – at least for a while. I think I need a big brother now." Buck squeezed the shoulder a little tighter.

"You got one Kid – you got a bunch of them."

Josiah closed his eyes, trying to bring a prayer to mind, and to his heart. Still not entirely certain of the value of the effort, he mumbled softly. "Take care of him Lord, he was one of your best. We need him more than you do, but guess you don't see it that way." He looked over to Ezra. "Bet you never expected to become anyone's guardian angel, did you son?"

Nathan had tried to keep a professional detachment through all of this. He had enough medical knowledge to understand what was be happening, and had decided as he lay awake a 3:00 that morning, that a little knowledge was a shitty thing to have. His detachment didn't last long as he fought back the tears, looking away from the reason. He couldn't find the way to voice his feelings.

Chris had moved to the chair vacated by the doctor, needing to be near Vin right now. He watched his men, feeling ridiculously proud as one of the worst moments of his life unfolded in front of him. Despite the heart-wrenching pain of the moment, of the last 6 months, they were all here – together. This was going to hurt them; it was going to change them. But he now knew with certainty, it was not going to end them.

He was sufficiently lost in thought that he jumped when he felt Vin grab onto his arm. "It's over" he thought to himself, as he looked to his friend. Vin hadn't taken his eyes from Ezra, and Chris knew he was going to see a lot of hurt there now. Instead, he saw shock and confusion as the younger man was staring, wide eyed at the bed, trying to speak. As Chris turned to follow the gaze, Vin found his voice. "Nathan, get the doctor back here."

They all turned to him, and imitating Chris's reaction, looked to the bed.

Ezra was awake.

TBC?

M7- M7- M7- M7- M7- M7- M7

Of course TBC!