Found

Disclaimer: I don't own the Magnificent Seven, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Warnings: Angst, Slash, First Time

Rating: FRT


Found
Chapter 2


Ezra stretched lazily, a small smile forming on his handsome face as he remembered the events of the previous evening. Even Doug's unwanted arrival hadn't served to dampen his good mood. He had never liked surprises, they had always been unpleasant occurrences in the past. Last night, however, Chris and his other friends, mostly Chris, if Buck were to be believed, had proven to him that a surprise could be a good thing. It had been a wonderful thing that had been done for him, he really should do something special to show his appreciation. He would have to give this some thought, whatever he did for Chris needed to be as meaningful as what the blond had done for him. Throwing back the covers, he climbed from the bed and began to get ready for the day.


"Wonder who it's from?" JD asked again, eyeing the package sitting on Ezra's desk. He glanced at Vin, "It was here when you got in?"

"Yes JD, I done told you that three times already."

"Sorry Vin," JD apologized, shooting his friend a sheepish smile. "Aren't you curious?" He couldn't see how the other man could just ignore the mysterious package resting on the desk across from his.

"None of my business," Vin shrugged.

"Leave it be JD," Nathan advised from across the room.

"Good morning gentlemen," Ezra greeted them as he stepped into the bullpen.

"Hey Ezra, somebody left you a gift," JD immediately informed the undercover agent.

Ezra turned towards his desk. Curious as to what it could be, he quickly crossed the distance to his desk. Picking up the beautifully wrapped package, he looked for a card. Seeing none, he carefully opened the gift, perhaps there was a card inside. Opening the elegant wooden box, the moment he saw the bottle of Germain Robin Old Havana Brandy he knew the identity of the gift giver.

"What is it Ezra?" JD asked, anxious to satisfy his curiosity.

"A bottle of very fine brandy, it is, however, a brand I no longer enjoy. Perhaps you would like to have it Josiah." He was sure the profiler would be able to appreciate the quality of the drink.

"Are you sure Ezra?" Josiah asked. There was something about the look on the younger man's face that was bothering him.

"Quite sure Josiah," Ezra confirmed. As he moved to place the bottle back in the box, he spotted a gift card. Removing the card, he placed the bottle inside and shut the lid, handing the box to Josiah.

"Thank you son, I'm sure I'll enjoy it," Josiah graciously accepted.

"You're welcome," Ezra smiled tightly. "If you gentlemen will excuse me, I believe I will avail myself of a cup of coffee."

"But Ezra..." JD called after him, Buck's hand over his mouth cutting him off. The moment Buck removed his hand, JD whirled on him, "What'd ya do that for? I was just going to remind him he'd brought in a cup from Starbucks."

"I figured that JD, it's why I stopped you."

"Huh?"

"He obviously wants to be alone, didn't want you to take away his excuse," Buck patiently explained.

"Oh," JD's eyes lit with understanding. "You could've just said so, ya didn't have to grab me like that," he complained.

"I tell you what JD, you start talking slower and I won't grab you to keep ya from saying something ya shouldn't," Buck teased.

Ezra closed the door behind him, he leaned against it. With short, angry movements he pulled up the envelope flap, tugging the card from it.

Happy Birthday Tempter,

I remember fondly the many workdays which
ended over a snifter of fine brandy, followed
by a night of lovemaking. You are, as always,
a temptation I find myself unable to resist. I
am staying at the Denver Carelton, room 436.
Please don't destroy my hopes with a refusal to
see me.

Love,
Doug

"Bastard," he hissed between clenched teeth. What right did he have to attempt a reconciliation? Did he honestly believe there was any chance that he would ever be forgiven? Ezra had only to read the card to know the answer to that question. Of course he did, and calling him Tempter, the son of a bitch! He remembered those days too, the nights of lovemaking which Doug more often than not used almost as a punishment. Though Doug had made the first move, he always claimed that Ezra was a male siren, tempting men with the promise of pleasure to gain what he wanted, just as the sirens of myth had done. He had never understood the reasoning, hell until Doug approached him he had barely even been aware of the other man's existence. With an angry snarl, he slowly ripped the card into tiny pieces, dropping them into the trashcan. Calmer by the time he'd finished, he took a deep breath and returned to his desk. Ignoring the curious glances coming from his friends, he turned on his computer and got to work.

Doug looked at his watch, 11:30, hmmm, nearly lunch time. Picking up the phone, he dialed the offices of the Denver Federal Building.

"Standish," Ezra absently greeted his caller.

"Hello Tempter, did you receive my gift?" Doug asked in a low voice.

"I did," Ezra coldly replied.

"Do you remember those evenings..."

"I remember telling you I have no interest in pursuing anything with you," Ezra interrupted him. He gave Vin a grateful glance as the other man walked away, granting him some much needed privacy.

"Now Ezra, why must you play hard to get?"

Keeping his voice pitched low, Ezra quickly refuted Doug's claim. "I am playing at nothing. I wish for you to leave me in peace. Do not call me. Do not come to my home. Do not send me gifts. I fail to see how I can be any more clear with you. Good-bye." Ezra hung up the phone, glaring at the instrument as though it were complicit in Doug's games. Heaving a sigh, he attempted to return to his work, quickly discovering an inability to concentrate as he should.


Doug smiled as he hung up the phone. He wasn't fooled, he knew his Tempter was only playing hard to get. That was all right, he would let the minx have his fun; it would make their reunion all the more special when it happened. His hunger for the younger man was strong, luckily his patience was stronger. Humming a haunting tune, Doug climbed from the bed and headed downstairs for lunch.


"Hey Ez, we're going to lunch, you coming?" Buck asked.

"Pardon?" Ezra looked up, distracted from his thoughts by Buck's booming voice.

Buck raised an eyebrow, "Lunch, you coming?"

"No, I think not Buck, I'm not very hungry, but thank you." Dismissing the other man from his thoughts, he turned back to staring at his computer screen as he pretended to work.

Buck frowned, Ezra hadn't been acting like himself since opening his gift this morning. He opened his mouth to issue the invitation one more time, some instinct telling him not to leave the younger man alone.

"Buck come on," Vin interrupted him. Grabbing his lover's arm, he nearly dragged him from the room and towards the elevators, where the others waited.

"What'd ya do that for Vin? Ezra's upset by something, don't you want to help him?"

"Yep, but pushing him isn't going to work," Vin pointed out. "The muscles in his cheek were twitching Buck, if you'd pushed he was just going to dig his heels in more."

Buck sighed, he knew Vin was right but that didn't mean he had to like it. "How are we gonna get him to tell us what's wrong then?"

"We're not," Vin replied. "He is," he added, nodding towards Chris who was already returning to the office.

"Oh," Buck grinned, "thanks for stopping me sweetness."

"Buck," Vin growled, the effect ruined by the blush coloring his cheeks. He swore silently. He'd shoot his lover but then he'd have to find a place to hide the body. He glared as the taller man simply grinned; enjoying the embarrassment he was causing for Vin. He stalked into the elevator, his agile mind quickly considering and discarding ways to return the favor. \

Buck swallowed hard, following Vin into the elevator. He could tell by the look on his lover's face that he was plotting his revenge. Damn, one of these days I'm going to learn, he silently vowed.


Chris hadn't seen Ezra's reaction to the gift left on his desk, but he'd heard about it. Buck had come to his office within thirty minutes of the other man's arrival, quickly filling him in. He had spent the rest of the morning surreptitiously watching Ezra, he had seemed to have gotten past whatever upset the gift had caused him. Then the phone rang and Ezra, after a short conversation had spent the time since simply staring at his computer screen. He'd noticed the others watching Ezra and knew they were as worried as he was. When Buck and Vin emerged from the office without the undercover agent, Chris decided it was time for a talk. Stalking up to Ezra's desk, he perched on the corner, "We need to talk Ezra."

Ezra looked up, obviously startled to find Chris so close. "Is there a problem Mr. Larabee?"

"You tell me," Chris replied. He was surprised to discover that it hurt to hear Ezra being so formal with him. He shook it off, he could deal with that later.

"I don't know what you mean Mr. Larabee," Ezra feigned ignorance.

"Bullshit! I thought we were friends Ezra," Chris softened his voice.

"We are," Ezra confirmed.

"Really, because I don't call my friends mister and I don't lie to them."

Ezra blushed, Chris was right, he was letting Doug have control that wasn't his to claim. "I apologize Chris, you're right."

"Hell Ezra, can I get that in writing," he teased.

"You are my friend Chris, but I am not that foolish," Ezra flashed him an amused smile.

"What's bothering you Ezra?"

The conman sighed, "You know of the gift I received this morning?" He waited for Chris' nod before continuing. "It was from somebody who wishes to renew a relationship I have no desire to pursue."

"I see," Chris quietly spoke. "That's who the phone call was from?"

"It was," he confirmed. "I made it very clear that I have no interest in renewing our relationship, I am not certain the message was received."

Chris scowled, he didn't like the sound of that, "You think it'll be a problem?"

Ezra hesitated, he wasn't sure how to answer the question. He didn't want to worry Chris, especially as he had no reason to believe Doug would continue to pursue him. "Oh, there may be a few more calls or gifts, but I'm sure that if I ignore them the message will get through," Ezra assured his friend. "Shouldn't you be at lunch?" he asked, just realizing the time.

"Forgot something," Chris smiled.

"Well don't let me keep you."

"You won't, if you'll grab your jacket and come on," Chris said, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet.

"Chris?"

"You're what I came back for Ezra, come on and have lunch with your friends," he smiled.

"You know, now that you mention it, I believe my appetite is returning." Grabbing his jacket, he slipped it on as he followed Chris to the elevator. "Thank you Chris," he murmured while they waited.

Chris threw his arm over Ezra's shoulder, "No problem Ezra, it's what friends do for each other."

Ezra noticed that Chris kept his arm casually thrown over his shoulder as they stepped into the elevator. Though he knew that the blond was only expressing the friendship he felt; probably didn't even realize that he still held Ezra close to him, tucked into his side as if he belonged there; Ezra allowed himself to enjoy the feel of being in Chris' arms for the few fleeting seconds it lasted.

TBC

Hope y'all enjoyed it, please feed the muse with reviews. I know it's short, but Ezra wanted the chance to savor his time in Chris' arms before we go to the next scene. ;)