It took Ezra a bit of time when he woke up to figure out where he was. The couch he was on was comfortable, but clearly was not his own. After a few moments he recognized the décor – he was at the ranch. That realization brought the recent hours fully into focus for him and he wondered fleeting if the blanket covering him was something he could use to smother himself. Given that such an action was not a viable plan, he looked around to see if he would be able to slip quietly from the room, avoiding contact with whoever else might still be in the house. The first rays of dawn gave enough light to the room to quickly show that plan was out of the question.

Chris sat in the large rocker in the corner, near the door. The book on his lap had been abandoned, but was proof he'd been there most if not all of the night. He may appear to be dozing, but Ezra knew the man well enough to know the first footfall would have him conscious and ready for any encounter. Buck lounged at the far end of the second couch in the room, legs stretched out and feet resting on the corner of the coffee table. JD was taking up the rest of the space, with his feet resting on Buck's lap. Josiah had taken over the love seat, sprawled in what appeared to be a ridiculously uncomfortable position. He would be feeling that in his back for the next day or two. Nathan was nowhere to be seen, but Ezra was willing to bet he was curled up in the comfy chair located the far corner behind him.

Which left Vin, who at this moment sat on the floor just feet way from Ezra. He'd been stretched out beside the couch, but pulled himself up at the first sound of life from above. Now, as Ezra looked over, he couldn't avoid making eye contact.

"Don't even think about going anywhere Ezra. Chris has placed you under house arrest."

"What fabricated charge has he decreed to validate such a threat?"

"Well, we discussed the possibility of public intoxication, or maybe disturbing the peace. But then we would have had to arrest Buck and JD as well, so that wasn't gonna work."

"I recall Buck having a number of libations last night, but JD?"

"Yeah, well... he felt the need to have a few after we got you settled in last night."

"So what you are trying not to say is that I drove him to drink?"

"Had that effect of all of us Ezra." Chris's voice was at the same time soft and hard, tinged with concern yet still coloured by barely controlled anger he knew was inappropriate, but could not dispel. "Had us all pretty damn scared."

"Scared – surely this is not the first time you have seen someone pass out from too much alcohol and not enough rest or care."

"Wasn't what you did Ezra – it was what you said." Ezra had won the bet with himself, as he heard Nathan's voice coming from behind him.

"Still, not an offense. And despite Buck's chosen moniker of "kid' for our young colleague, he is well past the age I could be accused of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, so I ask again what charge I am being 'detained' under."

"We're thinking perjury."

"Won't stand up Vin. I was neither under oath, nor lying."

"Well, we don't see it that way."

"I cannot be held responsible for your erroneous interpretations of reality. Now, if you will all excuse me -"

"You're not going anywhere Ezra."

"I beg to differ. I passed out and spent the night on a couch. I now have need of the opportunity to perform my morning ablutions, amongst other things. I assume I can be trusted to carry out the activity on my own?"

He knew challenging their trust was a cheap shot under the current circumstances, but he was in no mood to be arguing right now. He needed a few minutes, at least, to get himself pulled back together, and start feeling a little more like himself. If that required playing mind games, well that was his specialty.

"Fine – you fix yourself up and we'll get some breakfast going. But Ezra," he paused until the younger man looked at him, "this ain't over. Not by a long shot."

An hour later the team had regrouped around the breakfast table. They'd all taken a bit of time to freshen up. The ranch had been used so often as an escape or recovery locale that all had taken to leaving a change of clothing and a few basic supplies in the guest rooms. They were a rather motley looking crew, dressed in everything from sweats to jeans to leather, but they were united in determination to set things right for Ezra. How they would achieve that goal was far less certain.

He was the last to join them, having wandered out again to check on Chaucer. Few things settled his nerves as much as spending time with his equine confidante. Here there was no judgment, no guilt, no sense of disappoint, just companionship and a special bond. Try though he might, he had never been able to accept that his teammates might feel the same way about him. He came to the table and stood behind his seat, not quite ready to join the others.

"I cannot begin to communicate my shame over my comportment last evening. I would put the culpability on liquor and sentiment, but I suspect you would not, and should not accept such a feeble justification. My words and deeds caused you apprehension and anxiety, and I assure you that was not my intent. You gentlemen do not deserve to be stressed in such a fashion. I can only request, but do not presume to expect, your indulgence and forgiveness." Hoping that would be the end of the matter, he pulled out his chair to sit. He hadn't completed the motion before Buck had leapt to his feet.

"Well you ain't getting my forgiveness. Not that easy."

"Buck, take it easy." JD looked up at his partner. He'd rarely seen him so angry, and never directed at one of their own.

"No kid, I'm not taking it easy. Look Ezra; I know you're upset, and I know this is a bad time, but that don't change the fact you said some rotten things last night about one of the best friends I've got. One of the best people I've known. And you've got no right to talk about him like that."

Ezra was confused. Perhaps he'd had even more to drink than he was aware of, but he could not recall making any disparaging remarks about Chris, or JD, or any of the team. He could only conclude Buck felt the team had been sullied by his presence, which would be a valid assertion no doubt.

"I assure you Buck, I did not mean to disparage the team, or any of you gentlemen in my declarations. I understand the concept of guilt by association, and it was not my intention –"

"Damn it– you can't be that stupid. I can guarantee you that the crap you said about Ezra Standish was a giant load of pure unmitigated, unfiltered 100 per cent bullshit. I will not let you get away with spewing out garbage like that about one of the best agents I've ever worked with."

"He's right Ezra." Chris's voice was calmer, but every bit as resolute. "Do you think any one of us would work beside a man like the one you described last night? Would trust our lives, and the lives our friends to such a man? You think we'd invite him to sit at our table? Cause if you do, you must not have too high an opinion of us."

"No. That's…you couldn't be more wrong on that. My opinion of you, all of you, is far beyond what you imply."

"Really, cause that's not how I read this. You think we could be friends with the man you talked about?"

"I think the man I spoke about is an expert at obfuscation. He inherited the gift of the grift. I think he is not worthy of your concerns."

"Well, you're dead wrong." Vin smiled at him warmly. "That guy hasn't been around for a long time now. I know you have trouble seeing that, and we are all going to have to do a better job of making sure you figure it out. Don't think we don't know we helped keep some of that delusion going, 'specially in the early going. But it don't hold water any more Ezra – and I think deep down you know that. You've never taken a bribe, you've never sold out anyone, here or in the Bureau. You've put your life on the line for all of us, and you've got the scars to prove it. Can't think of a time you lied to any of us – least not about anything important. You MAY have been that guy in the past, when you were younger and Maude gave you no choice, but that is not the man you have become."

Not one of them doubted for a moment that was the longest speech Vin Tanner had ever made. It was also the best, but Ezra was alone in doubting that. He couldn't deny the facts – he had in fact never taken a bribe or done most of the things he'd been accused of in his adult life. But he still could not force his mind, his heart, to reach the same conclusion the others seemed to have found. He looked around the table, forcing himself to meet the eyes of each man. He searched for the slightest indication of insincerity in them, and found none.

"I have always deemed you six men to be the most principled and honest individuals I have encountered, not just in law enforcement but in life. And if, for rationales I cannot begin to comprehend or fully acknowledge at this time, you have determined I am indeed worthy to be a part of your realm, I suppose I must concede to your better judgement. I shall endeavor to make the effort to get to know your Ezra Standish, but I beseech you all to be patient. It appears that, on some matters, I can be a very slow learner."

Buck smiled for the first time that day. "Hell Hoss – we got all the time in the world. Now will somebody please hand those flapjacks down here."

They ate, joked and shared as if nothing had happened, all while watching Ezra closely, and they thought, covertly. He smiled to himself at the attention, and accepted that he was going to have to get used to it for a while.

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

TBC