Found

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

Warnings: Angst, Slash

Rating: FRT

// and/or italics indicates a dream

Found
Chapter 3


Ezra sighed as he came home two weeks later to the sight of yet another package waiting on his doorstep. What was it going to take to get through to that man? Wearily he retrieved the box and let himself into his townhouse. He didn't even bother to open the gift this time. "Room 436 please," he requested a moment later.

"Hello."

"Mr. Lawerence..."

"Hello Tempter, did you like the gift?"

"Mr. Lawerence I have asked you repeatedly to cease sending me gifts. We are finished sir, have been finished for years and I have no desire to rekindle our relationship. If you do not cease and desist I shall be forced to have you charged with harassment, good day sir." Slamming down the receiver, Ezra began to rub at his aching head. Hefting the box, he carried it to the dumpster, wishing to rid himself of it as soon as possible. If only it were that easy to rid himself of Doug Lawerence. It had been two weeks since his arrival in Denver, hopefully his vacation time was nearly up and he would leave soon. It couldn't be soon enough for Ezra.

Doug smiled, he wasn't fooled. Ezra just needed to see that he was serious, needed to know that he wouldn't walk away again. Perhaps when he found out that he had taken the position of Deputy Director for the Western Division of the Bureau it would convince him that he was serious. Surely he would see that for Doug to give up all he had in Atlanta just so he could be closer to Ezra; he must be determined to make their relationship work. Work would begin tomorrow on his new home. By the time the renovations were completed, Ezra would be his again!


Chris watched as his undercover agent threw another small gift in the trash. He hadn't missed the number of gifts over the past few weeks, nor the stress it was causing Ezra; it was beginning to worry him. "Damn," cursing himself for not noticing sooner, Chris rushed from his office just in time to catch Ezra before he hit the floor.

Ezra could feel it coming on, the stress of dealing with Doug's continued presence in his life was becoming more than he could handle. Tossing the gift into the trash, he sat staring into the small receptacle as the nausea surged. A sudden blinding pain hit him directly behind his eyes, dropping him towards the floor. He was barely aware of the feel of strong arms supporting him as the pain threatened to rob him of consciousness; if only it would. A cacophony of sounds surrounded him; an involuntary whimper escaped as he burrowed against a soft body, desperately trying to escape the light and sound raging around him.

It took Chris a few moments to realize the effect the others were having on Ezra. The moment he realized it, he glared them to silence. Without a word, he scooped Ezra into his arms, carrying him into his own office and laying him on the couch. As he tried to move away, he was surprised to find the undercover agent had a death grip on his shirt. "Shhh, let go Ezra," he whispered, "I'm going to turn off the light." A pitiful whimper was his answer as the grip on his shirt increased. Damn, he needed to get the light out, but how? Suddenly the room was pitched into darkness.

"Figured you needed a hand," Nathan whispered as he backed out of the room, quietly closing the door.

As the silence and darkness did their work, Ezra's grip on his shirt lessened. Chris sighed with relief when he was free to move. He hadn't minded holding Ezra, but it had prevented him getting a warm washcloth for his forehead. Now that he could, it was the first thing Chris did. Returning from his small washroom within thirty seconds, he laid the folded cloth over Ezra's forehead. Resuming his seat on the couch, he drew the smaller man into his arms.

Awareness returned gradually as the pain receded. The first thing he became aware of were the strong arms that held him. The second thing was the scent of cologne and the feel of a hard chest against his cheek.

"You back with me Ezra?" Chris whispered.

"Chris?" Ezra questioned. What was he doing in Chris Larabee's arms? "Tired," he mumbled.

"I bet you are," Chris smiled. Since Ezra had confessed to getting migraines, he had done some research. The research hadn't prepared him for the sight of his friend collapsing towards the floor, his head held between his hands, his face a picture of anguish. However, it had told him the steps to take to help Ezra and what to expect when the migraine passed.

Ezra wanted to ask why he was in his boss's arms? He tried to find the words that would allow him to ascertain what events had brought him to this pass, but his tired mind refused to cooperate. "Happened?" he finally managed, wincing at the inelegance of his question.

"Migraine, you collapsed," Chris quietly explained.

"Mother," Ezra winced. His mother would be appalled.

Chris frowned, "Your mother isn't here Ezra." Maybe he'd better go see if Nathan was in the bullpen. He started to shift Ezra from his arms, stopping when the smaller man grabbed his shirt.

"No, please stay," Ezra plead. The show of weakness appalling him as much as it would have his mother, had she been there.

"I'm just gonna get Nathan," Chris explained, trying again to free himself.

"Don't...tired," Ezra mumbled.

"Ezra please let me get Nathan for you," Chris plead. Silently he thanked God that none of the others were in the office, especially Buck. He'd never let him live it down. Chris Larabee, the man who could instill the fear of God with nothing more than a look, pleading to be released by a man he could easily overpower.

Giving in, Ezra released the hold he had on Chris' shirt. He watched through hooded eyes as the tall blond moved to the door. At Chris' instruction, he closed his eyes before the door was opened, allowing the other man to leave.

"Nathan, can you come check on Ezra?"

"He's okay, isn't he Chris?" JD asked. It had scared him badly when Ezra had collapsed. Nathan had told them it was a migraine and Ez would be fine; but in spite of Nathan's assurances, JD had continued to worry about his friend.

"Yeah JD, but his migraine is starting to go away and I want Nathan to see if it'd be safe to take him home," Chris easily spoke the half truth. As he and Nathan stepped back into his office, he whispered his concern over Ezra's confusion.

Nathan nodded, making his way to the couch. "Ezra, how you feeling?"

"Tired," Ezra replied, one arm thrown over his eyes.

"Do you know where you are?"

"Office?"

"Chris said you thought your mother was here?"

"No," Ezra denied.

"He asked for her," Chris explained when Nathan turned a questioning glance his way.

"Appalled," Ezra tried to explain, but he was just so tired.

Chris suddenly understood, "Your mother would be appalled?" A small nod was his only answer, "Sorry Ezra, I misunderstood."

Nathan grinned, that was just like Ezra. Collapse from a migraine and worry about appearances. "How bad is the pain now Ezra?"

"Five."

"You think I could get him home Nathan?"

Nathan thought about it carefully. Ezra would rest better in his own bed, but how to get him there? "Lock out the elevator so nobody else can use it. Take it straight to the parking garage and use his car, the tinted windows will be easier on him. Get him inside as quick as you can and into bed with a warm cloth on his head. Keep as much noise out as you can..."

"Soundproofed," Ezra quietly interrupted.

"What Ezra?" Chris asked.

"Bedroom soundproofed," he mumbled.

"Well that will make it easier," Nathan smiled. "You heard me telling Chris how to get you home, you think you can handle it?"

"Yes," Ezra quickly replied. As enjoyable as it had been to lay in Chris' arms, he knew he would rest much better in his own room with it's soundproofing and blackout curtains.

"Get him some sunglasses to wear until he's home," Nathan told Chris.

"Got some in my desk." Chris pulled the glasses from his desk and slipped them on Ezra's face. Gently helping the other man to his feet, he led him into the other room and out of the office. The trip home was painful for Ezra and Chris found himself grateful for Nathan's suggestions. He couldn't imagine how bad it would have been for his friend without Nathan's good advice. As he helped Ezra into his townhouse, he was unaware of the eyes that watched from a nearby car.

"What is he doing with my Tempter?" Doug growled as he saw Larabee taking Ezra into his home. "He has no interest in you," he spat. "I knew you were lying Tempter. Why must you try to deceive me?" Doug glared at the door of Ezra's home, becoming angrier with each passing moment. As he watched, his mind was filled with images of the two men moving together under the sheets of Ezra's bed. "It should be me," he slapped the steering wheel. "It will be me," he vowed.

Chris moved slowly, knowing from his research that each movement would be sending pain through Ezra's head. Helping the smaller man into the bedroom, he gently helped him into the bed. Reaching for Ezra's tie, he grinned when his hand was slapped away.

"What are you doing Mr. Larabee?" Ezra asked, though in truth he didn't mind, but appearances, after all are everything.

"Relax Ez, just helping you to get more comfortable so you'll rest better. Lie still now and let me help," Chris softly ordered. Moving as quickly as he could, he stripped the constricting clothing from his friend and pulled the covers over him. "You rest now Ezra, I'll be in the other room if you need anything."

"Thank you Chris," Ezra whispered gratefully.

Chris smiled softly, "You're welcome Ezra." Retreating to the living room, Chris stretched out on Ezra's couch and picked up the television remote. Keeping the volume low, he settled in to wait.


//The green eyes of his lover sparked with lust as he lowered him to the bed. Lowering his head, Chris claimed the other man's lips in a passionate kiss. As though he were standing outside himself, Chris watched as the two bodies on the bed moved together in a dance as old as time.//

Chris stretched awake, the feel of his lover's lips so real that his hand moved to his neck, searching for evidence of the other's touch. Where in the world had that dream come from? He hadn't dreamed of making love to another man since the first time he'd seen Sarah. Over the years, he had managed to convince himself that his youthful experiences with male friends had been nothing more than curiosity. It hadn't been hard, his love for Sarah had been all consuming and he had never looked at another, man or woman, after meeting her. Even after her death, he had turned to other women only when need overrode his grief, usually prostitutes. It must be the similarity to Sarah's coloring and the sensation of holding a man in his arms that had brought about the dream, he told himself.

Shaking off the dream, he glanced at his watch, surprised to see how late it was. Pushing himself to his feet, he moved to the bedroom to check on Ezra. Quietly opening the door, he glanced into the room, smiling as green eyes turned his way. "Feeling better?"

"Much, thank you Chris," Ezra smiled. "I am surprised you're still here."

"Didn't want to leave until I was sure you were okay."

Ezra smiled softly, the caring gesture touching him deeply. "As you can see, I am feeling much better."

"Good, you think you could eat?"

"I believe I could."

"What would you like?"

"I have some vegetable soup in the refrigerator, would that be acceptable?"

"Sounds good to me, I'll heat us up some while you take a shower."

"Are you implying that I my scent is less than pleasant?" Ezra asked, pretending to be offended.

"Well I wasn't going to say anything, but now that you mention it," Chris teased. "I thought it might make you feel better."

"I agree, and thank you again. It seems I continue to be in your debt sir," Ezra said, giving a small bow of his head.

"No debt Ez, it's what friends do for each other."

Ezra smiled as Chris left the room. Throwing back the covers, he headed for his shower. A short time later, he joined Chris in the kitchen. "I see I'm just in time."

"Yep, it just got done. Where'd you get this anyway?"

"I made it, why?"

"Really? It smells great," Chris smiled.

"Thank you," Ezra responded, his face flushing red. "I suppose I'll be needing a ride to work in the morning," he commented as he took his seat at the table.

"Nope, drove you home in your car," Chris informed him as he joined him.

"Oh," Ezra mumbled.

"I was going to take a cab to the office to get my truck, but it's getting kind of late."

"Would you like to stay here tonight? The bed in the guest room is quite comfortable." Careful Ezra, he cautioned himself, don't sound too excited at the idea of Chris sleeping in your home.

"I was hoping you'd say that Ez," Chris grinned.

"Oh, but what of the horses?" he suddenly remembered.

"Buck called while you were in the shower, him and Vin already took care of it."

Ezra smiled, "Then it's settled."




Doug sat outside Ezra's townhouse, fuming as the hours passed. Damn him! He wasn't going to get away with this. Coming to the conclusion that the blond ATF leader would be remaining with his Tempter for the night, Doug started his car. "Ezra belongs to me and I will have him," he vowed as he drove away.


TBC

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