By the end of his first week back at work, Chris was convinced he had been lied to, and had actually been away from his desk for at least a year. It was the only explanation of how so much paperwork could have piled up. But, between recovering from his own injury, the trial and staying with Ezra until he was released from hospital in San Francisco, it had really only been three weeks. Three very long weeks.

The good news had been the bullet that hit Ezra hit him high in the chest, and at an angle that kept it clear of being able to do any critical damage. The bad news was that the subsequent fall broke his arm in three places. Surgery and recovery kept him hospitalized, and his mood crept lower with each passing hour. Realizing there was a security guard outside his door hadn't helped matters.

"I'm done. I need to be out of here. I need to be home."

Nathan had tried, repeatedly, to explain to him why that wasn't possible yet, but Ezra was being uncommonly thick skulled about the matter. No amount of logic, threats or tirades could get through to him. "Ezra, you can't fly home two days after surgery. A couple more weeks."

"There is more than one way to travel. Train, limo. Bus, donkey cart - I don't care. I need to be away from here. I need to get the hell out of this city. I used to love San Francisco. Now, I never want to see that damned bridge again. Please Nathan. Chris. Make the necessary arrangements. If I have to stay in a hospital, we know our local facility is more than capable of providing whatever I need."

There was no defense against the pain he was feeling. Finally, they caved in. The next day, arrangements were made for a private car to drive the three men back to join the others already at home. Ezra agreed to do everything he was told, which in and of itself was an unsettling occurrence. A compliant Ezra was not something they were familiar with. He spent the first week at home, as promised, quietly resting. Not necessarily as quietly as he had planned, since it was rare that more than an hour went by during the day when he didn't have a visitor, or a call, or both. He actually contemplated checking himself back into the hospital, thinking it might be more restful there. Eventually, the others listened to his pleas and backed off, a little, in their overpowering guardianship role.

Even the outcome of the case, and the arrests, had done little to help his mood. They had assumed the fact he wouldn't need to testify again would boost his spirits. Realizing guilty pleas were the only choice they really had, Will and Davy made their deals, and Trevor caved in as well, with Mike was being sent east for his incarceration away from the family. Ezra expressed relief at the news, and thanked everyone profusely for their roles, but didn't break free of his funk.

Now, he was due to come back to work - desk duty - on Monday, and Chris wanted to be sure everything relating to this whole sordid mess that had been playing out for a little more than four months (God, was it only that long?) had been cleared away. So, when JD tentatively knocked on the door and poked his head around and slowly walked a few steps in, he got a somewhat less than enthusiastic greeting.

"Unless this is life and death, I really don't have time now. All this business has put me miles behind on all the filing and claims and –" he stopped when he realized JD hadn't moved or responded. "Shit. Life and death?"

"Kinda."

He knew where four of the six men on his team were and swallowed past the lump in his throat before asking. "Ezra, or Josiah?"

"Ezra. But not in the way you're thinking. He's fine." Chris sighed with relief before JD added. "For now."

"He in danger?"

"Not the way you're thinking." JD repeated.

"Stop telling me what I'm thinking and tell me what's going on."

"I've been keeping an eye on Maude."

"Shit." Chris repeated himself.

"Yeah. Anyway, keeping an eye on her. She's back in the states. In New York now."

"How long as she been here?"

"Little over a week, but as long as she was staying away I was gonna let it be. Figured Ezra's had enough crap going on. We all did." Chris nodded his understanding. JD should've told him, but the point was valid.

"It's an issue now? What she done?" There was silence again. "JD. What the hell has she done?"

"She went to a couple of other cities - Rochester and Boston - before ending up in New York. The cities have one thing in common."

Chris pushed him up himself up from his desk and slowly, deliberately circled around it. It was to the young man's credit that JD didn't step back. "Have you ever noticed that you tend to stall a lot when someone asks you something you don't want to answer? Cut to the chase JD."

"They each have one of the best cancer treatment centres in the country." Chris froze in place. "That's where she's been going Chris. Nowhere else. She's been to a couple outside the country too."

No way. This was not possible. "She's running some kind of charity scam?" He never thought he'd hope to hear Maude Standish was planning a swindle.

"Don't think so. I managed to get some security camera footage – don't ask – showing her arrival at Sloan-Kettering. She's in a wheelchair." He swallowed hard before continuing. "She looks bad Chris, real bad."

"Find out what you can – through proper channels. Don't get into trouble on this. I don't need the added paperwork." JD nodded and turned to leave. "Oh, and JD?"

"Don't worry Chris, nobody else knows."

"Okay. But I was going to say – good job."

Chris waited until the door before leaning forward at his desk, head in his hands. He couldn't do this. He could not be the one to tell Ezra his mother was dying. Not now. Not after everything else. For God's sake, the man deserved at least a small break. He deserved better than this. No one should have a year like the one Ezra had dealt with, and now it was clear it wasn't over.

Reluctantly, and with no option, he reached for his phone. "Hi Katie, can you put me through to Judge Travis. Yeah, pretty urgent." He waited a moment until the call was picked up. "Judge," he stopped, his voice cracking slightly. "Oren. I need a huge favour."

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He knew he was reading the room correctly. Six faces watched him, trying not to stare, not to make real eye contact. No, that was wrong. Chris wasn't turning away. He never did when there was news to share. Wasn't his style to avoid the responsibility.

Ezra's mind began processing scenarios, and not one of them was any better than the others. With all they had been through, all he and his family had put these men through, he was genuinely terrified of the idea there was more trouble ahead. He had no doubt that was the case.

"An escape? A new sibling or relative who has elected to make his presence known? Another contract?"

"Nothing like that. Sit down Ezra." Chris's suggestion sounded more like an order, and he forced himself to settle his anxiousness. "Please."

"No, I think I prefer to remain standing. I have the distinct impression I may be needing to leave the room momentarily."

"You really should sit, son." It felt right to Josiah to be using that term again, even under these circumstances. Maybe especially under them.

Ezra moved to one of the chairs, but stood behind it, leaning slightly over the back, arms locked to keep him upright, subconsciously bracing himself for whatever fresh hell was coming. "It cannot be any worse that what we have had to deal with recently. You are all here and healthy, so that concern is removed. Based on your dismissal of my initial questions, I feel I can conclude that the paternal side of my family has not triggered any new concerns. That leaves only one option. What has mother done?"

He'd been thinking about how to answer that question for the past 36 hours, since JD had briefed him. Chris had yet to come up with a good answer. There was no good answer.

"No easy way to say this Ezra. She's dying."

For several seconds there was nothing but the ticking of the clock. No movement other than its second hand, no sound beyond the relentless steady beat. Then a laugh. Actually, more like a snort at first, then a short, humourless, barked out laugh.

"Seriously? You do recall that is where all of this started. Mother dying is all but an annual event in my life. Hardly the cause for such long faces and deep concern."

"It's not a scam Ezra. We've checked it out. Wouldn't be telling you any of this otherwise." Chris watched closely for signs Ezra was accepting any of this. He hadn't seen a hint of it yet. He nodded to JD to proceed. The young agent looked like he would prefer to be just about anywhere else on the planet.

"Tracked her visits to a half dozen medial clinics Ezra over the last 10 weeks or so. And other specialists. Oncologists."

"It is a scam of some kind gentlemen. Fund raising stings are simple and effective, provided the bait is appropriate."

Chris cut him off. "It's no scam Ezra. Travis made a few calls. Cashed in a few favours and spoke to her doctor. It's no scam." He turned back to JD. "Show him the picture."

JD hesitated. The still he took from the video showed a very different Maude Standish than any of them were familiar with. When the others had seen the photo earlier in the day there was unanimous shock. He didn't want to think of how hard it would hit Ezra as he pulled it from the folder.

"I'm sorry Ezra."

He started at the image of his mother as if examining a crime scene photo. Looking for something that was out of place, something to negate the facts before him. His voice was calm and steady when he spoke. "Where is she?"

"New York. I've already booked us two seats on the red-eye to fly out there."

"Why?"

Chris froze in his steps, but it was Buck who reacted first. "Why? Why do you think?"

"I have no intention of going to New York. There is no reason to."

"Don't do that son. You need to go see her."

"Look Ezra. The doctor wouldn't go into details – couldn't. But he did tell Travis that if there was any family, they should get there sooner rather than later. She doesn't have a lot of time left."

"That is none of my concern. I told her months ago that she was no longer welcome in my life. Nothing has changed that fact. If anything, recent revelations have underscored and reinforced that declaration. Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

"You're gonna come to regret this Ezra." Vin advised softly. "You might want to at least give it some thought."

The fact that Ezra's arms were still locked in position, supporting him against the chair was a sure sign to Chris that there was a hell of a lot more going on than Ezra was ready or willing to give voice to.

"You can't be angry about all that now Ezra."

Ezra abruptly pushed himself away from the chair. "Oh, you would be surprised at how angry I can continue to be. The woman has lied to me my entire life, about everything that held any importance to me. About who I was. About my father. For God's sake Chris – I never even knew I had a brother, let alone the rest of the lunatics I get to call my extended family. Her actions have been self-centred and self-serving since the day she took her first breath. They have endangered me, and far more importantly, endangered each and every one of you. I defy you to explain to me why I should give a damn about her now."

Chris thought back to the last words Maude had said to him, back in San Francisco when she walked out of Ezra's life. Keep taking care of my boy. You're far better at it than I ever was. "Because, even though she's never had a clue about how to do it, she is your mother. And all evidence to the contrary, I think – hell, I know – she loves you. More importantly, despite everything you just said, everything you've ever told us and what I am damn sure is a shitload of stuff you've never told us – you love her. Because you are a good man, and a good son. And if you don't go, you would regret it for the rest of your life. We are not going to let that happen."

"You have no say in the matter Chris. I appreciate your concern and accept that you have what you believe are my best interests at heart. I told her we were done. She knows that, and she knows why. I am not changing my mind. Good evening gentlemen."

Buck moved to block his exit. They stared for a moment, then Ezra broke the eye contact. "Please, don't make this into any more than it already is."

Vin reached out and gently tugged Buck away from the door. "It's his call. Leave him be."

Ezra barely nodded his thanks and left without looking back.

"What do we do now?" JD asked.

Chris sighed and looked at the rest of his team. The pain on their faces made him proud of each one of them. "Pack a bag Josiah. I've got two tickets, and we are flying out there. He'll want to know someone was with her. That someone said goodbye for him."

tbc

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