The Return of The Prince

The Return Of The Prince
Author: Vinsmouse
Vinsmouse@yahoo.com


Warnings: Angst, Slash, Established Couple, Graphic M/M Sex


Universe: ATF


Rating: FRM

Pairing: Ezra/Vin


Summary: When a secret is revealed, how will it effect Ezra's life? Written for Dail's birthday on the batteredbirthday's group. Happy birthday Dail, hope you enjoy.


Archive: Yes


Feedback: Please


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


Italics and/or * indicates thoughts

The Return Of The Prince
By: Vinsmouse
Chapter 1


Hurrying into the ranch house he shared with Vin, Ezra was barely in time to answer the ringing phone. "Hello Mother," he answered the phone, expecting Maude with her usual excuses for missing his birthday, he was caught off-guard by the male voice in his ear.


"Hello, I'm trying to reach a Mr. Ezra Standish," the deep, official sounding voice informed him.


"Speaking," Ezra replied, holding up one finger towards Vin, silently asking him to wait.


"Mr. Standish, this is Dr. Phillip Benson at Mercy Health Care Center," the man introduced himself, naming a nearby hospital.


"Dr. Benson, what can I do for you?"


"Mr. Standish, do you know a Maude Standish?"


"Yes sir, that would be my mother," Ezra answered simply.


"Mr. Standish, I'm sorry to tell you this; your mother was in an automobile accident and is in critical condition."


Seeing Ezra pale as he listened to whoever was on the phone, Vin moved closer.


"Dr. Benson, what exactly do her injuries involve?" Ezra asked. He leaned against his lover as Vin moved behind him, and wrapped his arms around Ezra's waist, offering his support.


"I'd prefer to discuss that in person Mr. Standish..."


"Dr. Benson, I would prefer to be informed of my mother's exact injuries, now please tell me."


"Very well Mr. Standish, amazingly most of her injuries are minimal. A slight concussion, several contusions and lacerations, though nothing serious. The problem is, her kidneys were badly damaged and are not functioning. We are doing what we can to help the healing process, however if they don't heal, your mother will need a transplant to survive," the doctor calmly explained.


"I see, I will be there forthwith Dr. Benson. Please set up whatever tests are required to determine if I would be a suitable donor for my mother. Good-bye," Ezra ended the conversation, hanging up the phone and turning in Vin's arms, drawing on the younger man's support.


"Ezra?"


"Mother has been in an accident, her kidneys are damaged and if they don't heal she will need a transplant to survive," Ezra explained.


"I'm here Ez, ya ain't alone," Vin soothed, feeling the smaller man shuddering in his arms as he tried to contain his fear and grief.


Several minutes passed before Ezra felt as though he was once again in control. Drawing slightly away from Vin, he wrapped one hand around the back of Vin's neck and pulled him down for a gentle kiss. "Thank you darlin', and now I suppose we should convey ourselves to the medical facility where Maude is currently housed."


"You sure you're ready?"


"As I will ever be," Ezra replied, turning away and moving outside, followed closely by his lover.


"Ezra, Vin, everything okay?" Chris asked, from where he sat watching the antics of Buck and JD as they tossed a frisbee around the yard.


"Maude's been in a car wreck, we need to go to the hospital," Vin replied. "Could you let the boys know and..."


"Go on, I'll lock the place up and let everybody know what's happening," Chris interruped, knowing what Vin was about to ask.


"Thanks cowboy," Vin replied, hurrying towards Ezra's Jag and grabbing the keys from his lover's hand.


"Please return my keys Vin, I am quite capable of driving," Ezra protested, trying and failing to retrieve his keys from Vin's grasp.


"No you're not Ez," Vin insisted, taking Ezra's arm and gently manuevering him to the passenger side. "Now you just get on in here and let me do the driving for once, okay? Please babe, let me help you?" Vin plead with him, cutting off the protest he was about to make.


With a short nod of acceptance, Ezra opened the door and climbed into the car. The ride to the hospital was made in silence, as Ezra sat staring out the window wondering if he would be in time. *You better be there when I arrive Mother. This is taking your tradition of missing my birthday to extremes...Lord please don't let her die, she's the only family I have.* Ezra silently prayed, feeling more lost and alone than he ever had before. As though he knew what the other man was thinking, Vin reached across the seat and took Ezra's hand in his own.


"I'm here Ez, you're not alone. I promise ya ain't ever gonna be alone again," Vin vowed, drawing the hand he held to his lips and brushing a soft kiss across the knuckles.


"Thank you Vin, I needed to hear that," Ezra softly spoke, leaning towards his lover and laying his head on the other man's shoulder. He had no idea what he had done to deserve this man's love, but he promised whatever deity might be listening that he would never take Vin for granted.


A short time later, they were pulling into the parking lot of Mercy Health Care Center. Finding a spot near the entrance, Vin parked the Jag and turned off the engine. For several minutes neither man moved, finally Ezra took a deep breath and as though steeling himself for the task ahead, opened the door. The moment Ezra moved, Vin was climbing out the driver's door and heading to the other side of the sportscar.


Inside the hospital, they headed directly to the intensive care unit. Stepping out of the elevator, they quietly walked over to the nurse's desk.


"Excuse me, my name is Ezra Standish. I believe my mother Maude Standish is a patient here," Ezra explained to the middle-age nurse behind the desk.


Looking up from here paperwork, Margaret Holmes smiled sympathetically at the young men standing before her. "Yes sir, I'll just page Dr. Benson for you," Margaret told him as she reached for the intercom button.


A few minutes later, an older white-haired doctor stepped up to the desk.


"You paged me Margaret?"


"Yes sir, Maude Standish's son is here," she explained, nodding towards the chairs where Ezra and Vin sat waiting.


"Thank you," Dr. Benson said, turning towards the two young men. In only a few steps he was standing in front of the chairs, "Mr. Standish, I'm Dr. Benson," he introduced, holding out his hand.


"Dr. Benson, it's a pleasure to meet you, though I wish the circumstances were better," Ezra replied, Maude's admonishment that appearances are everything ringing in his ear. "How is my mother?"


"As I explained on the phone Mr. Standish, her condition is critical. Though if it weren't for the damage her kidneys sustained that wouldn't be the case. We currently have her on a dialysis machine, letting it do the work of her kidneys. Unfortunately that is all we can do at this time, we're hoping that if given the chance her kidneys will recover or at least one of them will. However if there is no improvement within a week, we will have to consider a transplant as that or continual dialysis will be her only options for survival. Do you have any questions?"


"I remember reading that in a situation such as this relatives are the best candidates for a match. What will you need to determine my compatibility as a donor for my mother?"


"Not much, we just need to draw some blood from you to begin with. If you appear to be a good candidate at that point, a few more extensive tests will be needed to determine if you could donate a kidney to your mother. So would you like to see your mother now?"


"Actually, I believe I would prefer to visit the lab first. After all, the sooner the tests can be performed, the sooner we shall know if I am a match," Ezra explained. Letting the doctor lead him towards the lab, Ezra ignored the knowing look Vin was currently aiming in his direction.

"Would you like to find something that will pass for sustenance?" Ezra asked Vin a short time later as they left the lab.


"No Ez I don't want to get anything to eat. I know what you're doing babe, ya can't put it off forever," Vin softly spoke, stopping and grabbing Ezra's arm as he spoke.


"I don't know what you mean Vin, I simply thought you might require nourishment as we missed dinner," Ezra explained.


"No you didn't, Ez look I know you're scared of seeing Maude. I think anybody would be in your place, but putting it off ain't gonna make it easier later."


"I am guilty of doing that, aren't I?"


"Yeah."


"Well we mustn't have that, no cowardice permitted," Ezra said, taking Vin's hand and once again walking down the hospital corridor.


Standing outside the cubicle in Intensive Care, in which Maude lay, Ezra took a deep, calming breath. Feeling a light squeeze on his hand, he gave Vin a grateful look. Giving his lover a small smile, Ezra slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside the small room. "Mother," he whispered, shocked to see his vibrant beautiful mother lying in a hospital bed, looking small and helpless amidst the many machines. Carefully stepping to the bed, he gently picked up her hand and began to speak, "Mother, can you hear me? It's Ezra mother, I'm here and you're going to be just fine," he softly whispered.


"Of course I can hear you Ezra darling, there is no need to whisper," Maude replied, startling Ezra so that he nearly dropped her hand.


"Mother, you're awake. Are you in any pain? Should I call the nurse?"


"Ezra, please maintain a semblance of dignity," Maude coldly requested as Ezra rambled out his questions.


"I'm sorry mother," Ezra apologized, visibly flinching from her cold manner.


Pushing away from the wall when Ezra flinched, Vin laid a supportive hand on his lover's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Ez babe," Vin spoke loud enough for Maude to hear, knowing the term of endearment bothered her. "I think maybe ya should get Margaret," Vin suggested, having noted the nurse's name earlier.


"Margaret?" Ezra questioned, the fact that he had missed the nametag on her uniform a measure of his concern and fear for his mother.


"The nurse, go on now, I'll stay here with Maude," Vin firmly instructed.


The moment Ezra left the cubicle, Vin turned to the woman in the bed. "I don't know what your problem is Maude, and I don't care. Ez is worried sick about you and you ain't gonna make him feel like he can't do anything right. I don't know if you just don't love him, or you're too self-centered to think about anybody else, don't care about that neither. What I do care about is Ezra, and you're gonna treat him right."


"How dare you speak to me like this?" Maude snapped.


"I dare because I love your son, yeah I know ya don't like that either. Just haven't figured out if it's the idea of him being gay or the idea of me being poor that bothers you most." Vin told her with a smile. "Now I know you're hurt bad and you're probably scared too, but you just remember you ain't the only one hurting here." Vin stopped talking as the door opened and the nurse walked into the room.


Stepping out of the small room, Vin went in search of his lover. It didn't take him long to find where he sat in the small waiting room, staring blankly at the wall. "Ez, ya okay?" Vin asked, sitting down beside him, gently running a hand down his arm.


"Vin? Oh yes, I'm fine. I only thought that perhaps I should allow mother to rest for a while," Ezra said, offering a feeble excuse for his failure to return with the nurse.


"Probably a good idea," Vin agreed, ignoring the obvious excuse. "That offer for dinner still open?"


"Of course," Ezra replied, standing up and pulling Vin to his feet. "I believe there is a small diner across the street, or would you prefer something else?"


"Diner sounds fine to me."


Stepping out of the waiting area, they saw Margaret back at the nurse's desk and walked over to her. "Excuse me Margaret. I wished to give you my cell phone number, my companion and I will be at the diner across the street having a small repast if you need to reach me. We shall return shortly," Ezra explained, handing a card to the nurse as he spoke.



"Ez, your ma's gonna be fine," Vin assured his lover as they sat in the diner, neither man really eating.


"Oh I am aware of that Vin, Maude Standish would never consent to being cut down in her prime," Ezra agreed, a sad smile playing around his lips. "I do wish to apologize for earlier..."


"Apoligize?" Vin shouted, drawing attention from the other patrons in the crowded diner. "Sorry," he apoligized not only to Ezra but to the room at large. "Ez, what do you think ya need to apologize for?"


"I shouldn't have left you alone with Maude. It was my mistake that had garnered her disapproval, I should not have forced you to handle the aftermath."


"Ez, look at me please," Vin begged, hating the defeated slump of his lover's shoulders as he sat staring at his plate. "That's better," he quietly said when Ezra finally looked up at him, his emerald eyes shimmering brightly with unshed tears. "You didn't do anything wrong, either when you were asking Maude them questions or when you left. Remember babe, I asked you to leave and the day I can't handle Maude Standish is the day I turn in my badge, so no more guilt," Vin ordered. "I just wish she would stop keeping you at arms length, I know how much that hurts you."


"Perhaps someday, if she survives her current situation she will change her ways. Though I wouldn't suggest placing any large wagers on that outcome," Ezra replied, a bit of his usual dry wit returning.


"Can I get you anything else?" The young waitress asked, stepping up to the table and interrupting their conversation.


Looking at his lover, Ezra could see the agreement in his deep blue eyes. "Actually my dear, I'm afraid our appetites have deserted us. If you could bring the check please, we would appreciate it."

A few seconds later, their conversation was interrupted again by the ringing of Ezra's cell phone. Glancing at the caller i.d. with trepidation, Ezra gave a sigh of relief when he saw Chris' number. *Who would ever have expected relief at that?* Ezra thought to himself, with a small chuckle as he flipped the small phone open. "Standish."


"Ezra, how's Maude?" Chris asked, coming straight to the point as usual.


"Mother is...mother and she is still with us. They are running a test to determine if I will be a suitable donor, should it prove necessary. In the meantime there is nothing to do but wait," Ezra explained.


"Donor?"


"My apologies Mr. Larabee, I forgot you are unaware of the details of mother's situation. Mother's kidneys are badly damaged and if they do not heal a transplant will become necessary. The only other option being continual dialysis and I simply cannot imagine Maude Standish subjecting herself to the limitations such a life would place upon her."


"Anything else?"


"No, that is the only serious injury. Her only other injuries are a concussion, along with contusions and lacerations," Ezra explained, never allowing his voice to waver from his normal calm tone.


"Is there anything me and the boys can do to help?"


"Perhaps one of you could care for the horses?"


"Done, anything else?"


"Not that I can think of, thank you Mr. Larabee."


"Not a problem Ezra. You take care of yourself and I don't want you or Vin to worry about work next week," Chris said.


"Thank you, I will endeavor to do so, goodbye," Ezra replied, breaking the connection and returning the phone to his pocket.

Several days later, Dr. Benson approached them as they sat in the small waiting area between visits with Maude. Looking up as the doctor came into the room, Vin noticed the strange look on the other man's face and felt a twinge of worry for his lover.


"Ezra, wake up doc's here," Vin whispered, nudging Ezra with his shoulder.


Jerking awake suddenly, it took Ezra a moment to remember where he was and why he was leaning against Vin as he slept. "Doctor? Oh yes, Dr. Benson is there a problem?"


"Mr. Standish, I need to speak with you privately, I'm afraid I have some disturbing news."


"Doctor anything you need to say to me, you may say in front of Vin," Ezra informed him, taking Vin's hand in his and remaining seated.


"Very well, I just got the results of your blood work Mr. Standish. Now you did say that Maude is your mother, correct?" At Ezra's confused nod, the doctor continued with his unusual task. "Mr. Standish, I've never had to tell anybody this before and frankly there is no easy way to do so; Maude Standish is not your mother."

TBC