PART SEVEN

Author's notes: This part is dedicated to Tidia, Tipper, Heatha' F., and jinx7985 …I do have a soft spot for that Dirty Water. (side note: Jinx, I discovered your stuff recently and have seen two similarities so far in your writings that are like things in this story. Please know it's purely coincidental. Great minds, and all. ;-) ).

-Tuesday, early afternoon-

The source of frenetic energy in the bullpen was hard to pinpoint. Ezra stood at the unmarked perimeter of Team Seven's area swinging his arms slightly before clasping his hands behind his back. He stayed that way until the edginess crested once more, channeling its way through his arms, and starting the pattern over again.

"JD, we do still have traffic to contend with."

"I'm coming!"

Buck rode JD's heels as the young man darted about the area, taking care of a few things before leaving with Ezra to meet Vargas.

"Did you leave your wallet?" Buck asked.

"It's in the top drawer of my desk."

"And you got the other one?"

"Yes!" JD tapped the back of his jeans pocket where a thin billfold held miscellaneous pieces of identification for "JD Donovan."

"Ain't you wearin' a mic?"

"Jeez, Buck, were you listening at all during the briefing? Josiah will be monitoring us. Ezra's wearing the lavalier, just like he always does."

"Well… stick close to him."

JD stopped suddenly and whirled on his friend, whispering sharply. "Would you quit with the m.h.!"

"Huh?" Buck replied.

Vin looked up from his computer, sporting a mischievous grin. "Mother Hen."

JD's face reddened with embarrassment and he shot Buck a dirty look for not understanding the abbreviation. Josiah smiled and rose from his desk. He pulled his jacket on while addressing the youngest member of their team.

"Son, is it too warm in here for you? You're looking a bit red."

This resulted in the young man blushing more. "Shut up, Josiah. Shouldn't you be at the restaurant already?"

"Walking over there now." Then he added with a wink, "It'll feel good to get out of this heat."

JD crossed briskly to the paper shredder to feed in a half-dozen sheets and was thankful when Nathan called to him.

"Hey JD, you still have that 2-hole punch?"

"I think so, look through my desk."

A strained southern drawl vied for his attention. "JD…we have an appointment. I believe it's important that we be on time."

What tumbled out of JD's mouth next brought them all to silence. "SO DON'T I! Jeez, Ez, not fuh nuthin', Ah'm doin' stuff heeah, ahright! Go down the garage 'n' wait if ya whant, Ah'm ahbout awlsetta go."

Several seconds of quiet passed and it was Ezra who found his voice first. "What?"

"I believe our brother may be speaking in tongues," Josiah said.

Buck addressed his partner first, before explaining to the others. "Damn, kid, you are a little strung, ain't ya? He's gone Boston on us—not tired, so must be jacked up. It's that weird negatives-for-positives thing… so don't I means so do I. Not for nothin', well, in this case think of it as 'not that it matters'. Down the garage and the I'm all set to go, you can probably figure those out." He gave Ezra a meaningful look. "You boys best be on your way before he starts tossing around 'pissah' and 'wicked'."

JD rolled his eyes and called to Nathan who was sitting in the young man's chair, searching through the drawers.

"Do me a favor will ya, Nate? I left my system in remote-dial-up mode; monitor it for me and if you see a long yell for help running down the screen—come get me out. I don't trust any of these clowns."

Nathan looked up from the lower drawer of JD's desk with the two-hole paper punch in one hand and sporting something else he had found there—a pair of black plastic glasses with fuzzy eyebrows, mustache and large plastic nose. "I'm here for you, buddy."

JD shook his head as he walked toward the elevators. "And I'm the one they call kid?"

…

Seated in the passenger seat of the Jaguar, JD absently flipped the tip of his tie between two fingers. He was comfortable enough in the casual jacket and dress shirt required for lunching at Ellyngton's, one of The Brown Palace's restaurants, he just worried about heat and nerves making him sweat. He watched the downtown traffic shuffle and weave in front of them and wondered if Josiah had arrived at the hotel yet.

Yesterday, the two of them utilized a small, secluded office adjacent to Ellyngton's dining area. It had provided an excellent space from which to monitor and record Ezra's first lunch meeting with Vargas. With one of "Judge" Travis's old friends as part-owner of the hotel, the team had been afforded the luxury of leaving their surveillance equipment untouched from the day before.

"Why couldn't we just walk over to the Palace like Josiah?"

The young man's question was a sudden non-sequitur to Ezra's train of thought. He had been speaking to JD on and off since they had left the federal building, firing out bits of advice as he thought of them. He paused for a moment as his brain switched gears.

"And Misters Simpson and Donovan just happened to be within walking distance of the hotel? On the other hand, I suppose we could let Ian know we just nipped over from the office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives but I'm not sure how productive that would be for the rest of the meetin'."

"Oh. Right."

"Now, what was I sayin'? Oh, never volunteer information. If they want to know somethin', they can ask. Silence encourages talkin'…don't fall into that trap."

"I know."

"And never lie when the truth will do."

"I know."

"That's why you always use your given name. Less to remember means less to mess up. If things get tense the last thing you want to be thinkin' about is what name you're supposed to be callin' your partner."

"I know."

"And pay attention. Listen to what's bein' said. Don't just hear… listen."

"I know, Ez. You told me that already."

"And never dismiss your gut instinct. As Josiah would say—the good Lord gave us a little voice for a reason."

"Christ, Ezra! I know!"

He hadn't meant to snap, but Ezra's chatter only managed to wear on nerves that were already keyed-up. The southerner immediately fell silent and coolly fixed his attention on the traffic in front of them. JD cursed himself. His mind scrambled to come up with something to say but Ezra spoke first.

"My apologies."

The clipped words said volumes. Over the years of working with Ezra, his teammates discovered one of the things that truly scared him was watching out for someone other than himself. JD's Mensa-level IQ made him an excellent problem solver; however, it lent little to his skills of perception and common sense. It had taken some explaining from Buck but JD finally understood that Ezra felt as bewildered by protective instincts as Buck felt natural with them.

JD knew his friend was feeling enough strain already with the case. With the additional self-imposed idea that he was responsible for JD's safety, it was no wonder the undercover man felt pressure to maintain a sense of control.

Ezra gripped the leather-wrapped steering wheel and tried to ignore the uncomfortable silence he had managed to bring on. Just keep your mouth shut and drive, you idiot. As if the boy doesn't get enough of this sort of thing from Buck. I seriously doubt he appreciates—

"I appreciate what you told Chris." JD's voice cut into Ezra's thoughts. The surprised look he received prompted him to elaborate. "He called last night to ask me about doing this. I asked him if you were okay with it and he told me the stuff you said."

JD busied himself with running one finger along the edge of a seam by the door's handle. "I just feel like, even back when I was with BPD I've had to work a lot at not being treated like a rookie… like a kid. Being talked about as a professional, well… I appreciate it." He glanced at his friend, who was again focused on the traffic. "And the advice too."

Ezra caught JD's gaze for a moment. "I just want… that is to say, it's only because…." He struggled to express how he felt but the words stayed in his head. It's only because I want you to be safe.

He didn't have to say anything, however, JD knew him well enough. The earnest look in the southerner's eyes communicated everything. JD smiled sheepishly. "I know."

Ezra returned the grin and pulled the Jag into the hotel's valet parking line behind a Porsche Boxster and a bright yellow Hummer. Slipping his phone from the inside pocket of his suit jacket, he passed it to JD.

"Once we're inside, I'll find Vargas. You do a reception check with Josiah; make sure the lavalier is clear."

"Jeez, Ez, I know. You think I'm some kinda rookie?"

The levity in JD's voice caught Ezra off-guard and made him smile despite himself. If the boy was already joking about the tension from moments ago then he must be feeling more confident. Good, Ezra thought, that's what gets you home at the end of the day.

JD spoke again. "Hey, uh… what's he gonna talk about? Vargas, I mean."

"If it's anything like yesterday, himself. People respond very well to talkin' about themselves. Just keep askin' banal questions and you can keep the focus away from yourself for a remarkably long time."

Ezra edged the car forward while an attendant spoke with the owner of the Hummer. He fell silent and JD was suddenly aware of a different energy in the air. Glancing at his partner, he noted a familiar ritual taking place. Ezra's closed eyes snapped open and the warm smile JD saw a moment earlier was replaced by a hard intensity.

Knowing how Vargas unnerved an experienced undercover agent, JD suddenly wondered if it was too late to back out of the meeting.

…

JD stopped just outside the doorway to Ellyngton's as he finished his call with Josiah. He watched Ezra maneuver through the elegant room to a table in the back where three men sat. Surveillance photos he had viewed during briefings allowed him to identify them: Arthur Pentilide; Aaron Janquist, a "security advisor" a.k.a. bone breaker; and Ian Vargas.

There was no mistaking which of them was in charge—Vargas commanded a strong presence. He stood as Ezra approached and shook the southerner's hand with both of his. JD exhaled a deep breath and made his way to the table.

"…must stop meeting like this, Ezra. People will talk."

JD watched his friend flash back a smile. "Nonsense, Ian. Everybody knows what happens to people in our line of business who talk."

This struck Vargas as particularly humorous. "I do like a man with a wicked sense of humor." He turned his gaze on JD. "Should I expect the same from your associate?"

"I can't really say," Ezra answered. "I never know what to expect from this one. Ian Vargas… JD Donovan."

There were times in JD's life when he really hated not being tall. This was one of those moments. Having a man like Vargas look down at him was, in a word, unnerving.

Ian shook JD's hand firmly but didn't let go right away. "And what does the 'J' stand for?"

The young agent couldn't help but wonder if this was how a mouse felt while being stared at by a snake. He tried not to let it show, pretending instead he was simply talking to someone's father. "John."

An oily smile stretched Vargas's lips and he gripped JD's hand a bit tighter. "Well, I never met a john I didn't like." The double entendre was not missed by anyone at the table. "I'm so glad Ezra offered me your services."

JD could only nod as he casually pulled his hand away.

Just over an hour later Ezra had finished off a bottle of San Pellegrino and most of an impressive pan roasted red meat trout. He only wished the company had been better. As it was, he'd had a notably subdued appetite.

A tall, muscular man approached the table and Ezra had a sudden flashback to the previous day's meeting. Vargas apparently shared the southerner's misgivings. He fixed a piercing, cold stare at the bodyguard and warned him.

"Timothy… Your news will be better than yesterday."

The man spoke softly into Vargas's ear and Ezra reminded himself not to react to anything. He shared a look with JD, as if trying to communicate the same idea.

Vargas grinned, his mood lightening in a split second. "Gentlemen, your ship has come in, and so has your plane. Finish your drink, Arthur, we have business to attend to."

It took Ezra a few seconds to process the statement and he could tell JD had yet to interpret. He allowed himself to reveal a bit of genuine surprise. "Ian, my friend, aside from the fact that the merchandise will not fit in my Jaguar, I am to be at a friend's weddin' rehearsal dinner at five o'clock tonight."

JD was amazed at how quickly and easily the lie slipped from Ezra's mouth. Vargas glanced at the heavy, silver Breguet watch encircling his wrist and smiled. "That's three hours from now, enough time to get to my strip and back."

"Strip?" Ezra queried.

"I had everything flown in from the ship to a not-quite-authorized airstrip. And I'm a fool for anything classic; I have two old DC-9s. Private planes are marvelous. You should get one."

JD shot Ezra a surprised look. Everything was going much too fast. Ezra, however, didn't acknowledge his fellow agent. "I hadn't planned on needin' to call up my trucks and drivers till at least tomorrow-"

The hard intensity JD had seen dealt to the bodyguard a minute earlier was suddenly focused on Ezra as Vargas hissed a reply. "We're supposed to be engaging in a multi-million dollar deal and you're telling me you can't organize a fucking U-Haul rental?"

Ezra laughed off the question with a casualness that JD knew he, himself, never would have been able to muster. "Of course not. There's nothin' to worry about. I just have to make a call or two. You'll excuse me." He smiled at JD. "You still have my phone?"

"Uh…yeah. Here ya go."

JD watched his friend walk toward the front of the restaurant where he could find a private place to talk. Left in an awkward silence, the young agent's mind raced to fill the quiet void and he recalled the advice Ezra gave him.

Banal questions, banal questions…Okay, think like Buck. He talks up women he doesn't know all the time. What would Buck say?

"So… what's your favorite part of Denver?"

Vargas never took his eyes from JD's face and answered with a slow smile. "Oh, definitely the scenery. It's very pretty."

All JD managed for an answer was a nod and a non-committal, "Ah." His inner voice, however, let loose a stream of obscenities at Ezra for leaving him at the table.

…

Josiah answered on the third ring and a familiar accented voice addressed him in a dry tone.

"I was beginnin' to wonder if you were still there."

Sanchez parroted Vargas. "Call waiting is marvelous. Sorry about the delay, I have Chris on the other line, bringing him up to speed."

"Then, I take it you heard everything? Flown in…imagine that. What happened to the ground transport?"

"Raphael did say the man likes to do things quickly. Tyler is scrambling his Tact. teams now, he said he can get air support too. Buck will be one of your drivers and Rafe will have the other truck. You can stay on cell with us and give us directions as you go. We shouldn't be any more than thirty minutes behind you."

"Josiah, I don't even know where we're goin'. It's a private air strip. God only knows if it's even on a map. Knowin' Vargas, we're lookin' at a line of dirt cut into the top of a mountain. I've no idea what kind of cover, if any, is goin' to be available."

Josiah could hear tension building in his friend's voice. "The only one who'll need to worry about cover is Vargas. We got some folks here looking to shake the pillars of Heaven—FBI wants good headlines and DEA wants paybacks."

"And what, pray tell, does ATF want?"

"Brother, we're just lookin' for a good time."

Ezra could hear the smile in Josiah's voice. The big man's sense of humor had appealed to him from the first day they had met. He was especially thankful for it at that moment. He smiled in spite of himself but was forced to end the call abruptly. "Follow the leader is about to begin. We'll call you later. Bye."

JD eagerly sidled up to Ezra as Vargas, Arthur and the two bodyguards approached. The southerner smiled as they neared.

"No problems at all. My people should only be about half an hour behind us."

JD relaxed a little when he saw that familiar cocky grin. If Ezra was feeling okay then he knew everything would be fine.