SIX WEEKS IN THE LIFE OF…

Next Day

Ezra let his chair glide to a stop beside the youngest member of the team."

"You're getting pretty good with that chair Ezra. You'll be racing soon."

"I intend to be out of it before long that scenario could come to pass my young friend. So, tell me – what details of the last 6 months have you to share with me?"

"What do you want to know?"

"Well, for one thing, have you and the lovely Casey set a date?"

"Set a date? What's he talking about JD? Did you propose?" Buck stared at his partner.

"Did who propose? Buck, close your mouth, you're starting to drool." Vin threw a napkin at him as he walked into the room, ducking when it was tossed back.

"It seems JD here has proposed to Casey, and it sounds like she was fool enough to say yes."

"That's great Kid. When did all this happen?"

JD looked a little embarrassed. "Well, it was actually Valentine's Day."

"Wait a sec. You proposed two months ago, and you're just now getting around to telling us?"

"I was gonna tell the rest of you when I got to work the next day, but you were in a bad mood Chris. Something about paperwork that didn't get done right. And then Buck was ranting about having to do it all over, and Josiah spilled coffee on himself and he was pissed. Then Nathan started complaining about wedding planning stuff and – well it just didn't seem like a good time. I couldn't seem to find the right time, and then it started getting closer to – well to the six months, and then it sure didn't feel right so Casey and I decided to keep it quiet until after things settled. Maybe after Nathan and Raine get hitched."

"That's right Nathan – I should be extending my congratulations to you as well. I fully expect to have a dance with your bride on the date – seeing as how it will be my birthday."

"I'm sure Raine will expect the same." Nathan grinned, then paused. "Who told you about the date?"

"Hang on." Chris turned to JD. "You said tell the rest of us. You told Ezra. On Valentines' Day."

"Well no, I proposed on Valentine's Day. Told him the next morning, on the way to work."

"And you mentioned it again…?"

JD's face froze in astonishment. "I didn't. Haven't mentioned it to anyone else. Ezra? How?"

"You told me, just like Nathan told us of his date."

"Ezra, you were in coma when I told the team we'd picked a date. And when JD must have shared his news."

"Not possible. I remember it clearly. JD was exuberant about my predication being accurate. As for you, Nathan; you've discussed wedding plans any number of times with the others, as well as countless phone calls on the matter. Gentlemen, will you please refrain from regarding me as if I had grown a second head?"

"He told you on Valentine's Day. Ezra, you were in a deep coma. And when I was on the phone with Raine? You shouldn't know any of that. What else do you remember?"

"Nathan, please stop looking at me as if I was a lab experiment." He sat quietly for a moment, trying to dredge up memories, but no specifics came to mind immediately. "I remember voices, but not words. I remember football games? I have the sensation of dreadful Christmas Carols, but surely you would not have subjected me to something called "Grandma got run-over by a reindeer" so that must have been an hallucination."

Buck and JD tried to play innocent, and Ezra merely groaned.

Vin saved them any retribution. "Do you remember Maude visiting?"

"Mother was here? Astonishing! I would not have imagined she would feel the need to show up for such an unprofitable escapade. There was actually maternal concern. Will wonders never cease?" He saw the look that passed between Vin and Chris and his spirit fell for just a moment before regaining the poker face. "Ah – I have presumed too much. She came with the expectation of what – ensuring my estate was not diminished by extravagant care? Yes, that would be far more in her nature. I imagine she was less than pleased with the situation."

"She settled some when she found out the cost was being covered – in the line of duty after all."

"Really? I should like to see the paperwork you completed to make that claim work Chris. It appears I have been a negative influence on you after all." Chris merely shrugged.

"Still, I am surprised she didn't try to make life difficult. Was she made aware of the nature of my will?"

"I had the satisfaction of sharing that with her. Along with the news that any effort she made to challenge it would be as futile as her threats to remove Vin from his position."

"She threatened what?"

"Relax Ezra. She kind of misunderstood the situation. Not surprising under the circumstances of her arrival."

Vin glared at Chris. "He doesn't need the details."

"I do now. Vin? Fine, Chris – share."

"Vin was helping out with your physiotherapy at the time. Doctor had told us blood circulation was important to keep you comfortable – avoid cramps and the like. So, the physio taught Vin how to give you a massage. A full massage.'

"Oh Lord."

"Yeah, she walked in on the session."

"You gentlemen do know I would trade my Jag to see a photograph of her face at that moment."

"That ain't the best part."

"Buck" Vin growled, but was ignored.

"She accused him of seducing you away to get your power of attorney."

"Yeah" JD added. "She thought the two of you got married."

"Thank you so much Chris, for sharing the story with everyone."

Ezra desperately wished he had the strength to laugh. "I assume she was properly offended by the entire situation. Apoplectic one would hope."

Vin finally grinned. "Turned shades of red and purple I have never seen on a human being before. Got to admit Ezra, telling her off may have been the highlight of this whole sorry mess. It felt real good to give her a piece of my mind."

Ezra chuckled for a moment, then quieted. "She didn't make things harder for you – she didn't fight this did she?"

"With the lawyer you used, and the Judge as a witness? Maude knows when to back down. Didn't show her face again." Vin cursed himself for the offhanded way he'd said that. "I'm sorry Ezra – I didn't mean it like that."

"No, it was fair. Clearly she had no reason to return to my side. Tell me, has she been informed that I am still among the living."

"Yeah – JD tracked her down. She wouldn't take calls from us, but we have left messages and when we can be sure where she's gonna be the Judge is using some of his Interpol connections to make sure she gets the word."

"It is hardly necessary for such measures. I deeply suspect it will not be of any concern to her."

"She should be told. How she responds, how you do, that's not up to us. But I told her I'd keep her informed, and I'll do that."

"You told her that to keep her away."

"It worked. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize Chris. You made it easier on Vin, and that's what matters."

"Not apologizing Ezra. I'm just sorry you have to deal with that – with her. You deserve a better family."

Ezra smiled and glanced around the room. "I have one."

"So what else do you remember from the time you were out of it?" JD found the idea fascinating.

"I cannot say for certain. No specific incidents or situations come to mind, more a sensation of people coming and going. I can state with confidence I have no recollection of feeling afraid or alone at any point."

"Well that's good to know."

"Yes, but it does raise a concern." He looked to Vin. "I believe I had instructed you to go on with your life. To ensure what happened to me did not take over your existence."

"I was fine Ezra." He scowled at the others as they huffed and snorted their disagreement.

"You were most assuredly not. Even in my state I was aware of your almost constant presence."

"I wasn't alone in staying with you Ezra. I swear the others were there too."

"I never intended to imply otherwise, or to disparage their sacrifice and contributions in my recovery. What I am stating is that you were there far more than was requested or required."

"Not true Ez. I was just doing what I had too, no more."

"Fine. I shall not offend you my proclaiming my complete and abject disbelief of that statement."

"Vin, that is probably the fanciest way you have ever been called a liar." Josiah grinned.

"So tell me Vin…what have you been doing in my temporary absence? I have heard of the escapades of most of the others, and I have no doubt the tales from Buck will prove entertaining as soon as I am deemed healthy enough to hear them."

"Oh – you know Ezra. Just doin' the usual kind of things. Work and stuff."

"Now, now Vin. There must have been more than that. Chris tells me you took a fair bit of time off works, so surely something else must have been occupying your waking hours. Travel? A new hobby? Perhaps there is a lady in your life now – might there be yet another wedding in the offing?"

"Nothing like that. Just stuff. If I'd known you'd be so interested I would have kept a diary." He looked to the others for support, but they were far too busy relishing his discomfort.

"I would have enjoyed reading such a document. I have always been an avid fan of well written fiction."

"Ezra –"

"Why Vin? Why would you feel it necessary to camp out by my side for 6 miserable months? Surely you didn't doubt the care I was receiving. You would not have place me in an institution whose standards did not meet your criterion. Realistically you did not expect me to awaken, so concerns over my being alone does not provide an explanation. Even if that had been the case, there were many others who, for reasons I will always be grateful for, even though I fail to understand, would have sat by my side. And there was no reason for you to feel any guilt or responsibility for my condition, so the famous Tanner angst, almost equal to the Larabee standard, was not in play." He paused, noticing an uncomfortable shift in Vin's posture.

"Vin? Mr. Tanner!?" You could have heard a pin drop in the room. When Ezra resorted to 'Mister' in that tone, an outburst was ahead.

"You shouldn't have been alone."

"I beg your pardon?"

"That morning – when it happened. You shouldn't have been alone. If you'd had back-up…" he let the sentence fade off.

"I did not require back-up for a Saturday morning drive. It was a simple outing to the store. Or are you implying that perhaps I am incapable of handling even the most basic of outings on my own? While I acknowledge I do seem to attract my fair share of unfortunate incidents-"

"More than your share" Buck interjected.

"…that is no reason to feel the need to wrap me in safety blankets or shadow my every step."

"That's not what I meant Ezra. Hell, there's nobody I trust more at my back than you, all of you. And I've seen you undercover. Nobody handles anything, especially the unexpected better."

Ezra remained silent, but arched his eyebrow to restate the question.

"You asked me to drive to Chris's with you. More than once. It was like you knew something was gonna happen."

Ezra stared at him slack-jawed. For several seconds the only sound was the suddenly very loud ticking of a wall clock. Then, the explosion.

"Are you completely out of your mind? You believe, on top of all of my other vast and unique gifts, I can now claim psychic precognition as a part of my repertoire? I knew something was going to happen? For God's sake Vin, I just wanted some company. We'd had a couple of tough cases, the second of which I was on my own for the majority of the time. I just thought it would be nice to drive out there with company."

"Well, that's just a bad. You needed a friend and I was too busy – too selfish."

"Mr. Tanner." Shit – he was really pissed. "I do not need you to hold my hand. If I had NEEDED company, I would have made that abundantly transparent. I merely thought some conversation would be nice. Apparently, I was excessively insistent on that theme, and you took such persistence on my part to indicate you and you alone were answerable for the status of my emotional security. Well I hate to disabuse you of your opinion of your self-worth, but I do not need you or anyone else to hold my hand!"

He collapsed back into his chair, drained in every sense. His heavy breathing brought concerned looks from all of the others, but each was now reluctant to make a move toward him. He closed his eyes, mortified at the tirade he had so ardently articulated. These men, all of them, had sacrificed for him and suffered because of him for months on end, and continued to do so. He had now repaid them by telling them they weren't needed. Vin had given up almost everything to be there, and he had been victim to the worst of Ezra's wrath. He forced himself to look at them again, and wanted nothing more to crawl into a deep hole at the hurt on their faces.

"I do not," he repeated much more quietly, "NEED any of you to hold my hand, take care of me, or even call me friend. But I do very much WANT you all to do just that. Why you would want to do so in return remains one of the great mysteries in my life." He drew on the last energy he had to turn the wheelchair toward the door and start his slow departure. His path was quickly blocked by Chris, who had knocked his own chair over in his haste to intercept the weakened man. He squatted down in front of the chair.

"Ezra – look at me. Damn it Standish, after a rant like that you owe me eye contact. That's better." He glared for a moment, making certain he had the man's full attention. "Not one of us did anything we weren't 100% willing to do over the last 6 months. Would have given anything not to have to be there, cause the only way we didn't have to be there would have been if you weren't. I don't care what you want to call it – want, need – doesn't matter. We were there for you, and each other. Just like you would have been for any of us. Wasn't easy. Important things rarely are. There were moments when it looked like things were falling apart, but we got through them, 'cause it would have been a damn site harder to not be there. Being there is what family does. Always. Got it?"

Ezra took a few seconds to get himself under control, then slowly allowed a grin to cross his face. "Got it Chris." He lowered his head slightly. "Would it seem incredibly hypocritical after my rant for me to request some assistance in returning to my room?" Nathan smiled and stood, but JD beat him to the back of the chair. "High speed or a leisurely stroll Ezra?" the young man asked with unbridled enthusiasm.

"Leisurely, please my friend. I have seen your driving."

"If you're feeling up to it a bit later we should all go outside for a bit. Chaucer's getting harder for me to handle now that he knows you're home."

"That would be an excellent excursion."

"Ezra?" Vin had stepped next to the chair and walked slowly keeping pace. "We OK?"

"No Vin, we are not OK." Vin's heart dropped. "We are so much better than OK I do not believe a word exists to properly express the significance of our kinship." Ezra reached up and grasped his friends arm. "Are you OK with that?"

"Absolutely. You get some rest – I'll take you out to see Chaucer in a while."

- TBC

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