The Transitive Property (5/6) - Mag7/Make It Or Break It
Title: The Transitive Property (5/6)
Author: strangevisitor7
Fandom: Magnificent 7 & Make It or break It
Beta: ithildyn
Rating: PG
Universe :: Mag 7 ATF and Pre-series for MIOBI
Characters: : Ezra Standish, Vin Tanner, Steve Tanner, Lauren Tanner and the rest of the seven are around
Summary: Vin Tanner returns to Boulder, Colorado to stay with his brother Steve when he takes a job with Chris Larabee's ATF team in Denver. Vin doesn't know what to think when meets Ezra Standish, who could be his brother's twin.
A/N: You don't need to know anything about Make it or Break It except that Steve Tanner and Ezra Standish are both played by Anthony Starke. Steve Tanner has a 17 yr-old daughter who is an Olympic Level Gymnast
Chapter List: Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chris was pissed. He paced the hallway of the hospital like a caged panther. The rest of his men were seated in the hard plastic chairs that lined the waiting room just staying out of his way.
Buck was finally elected to talk to him. "Hey pard, maybe you want to sit down. You're wearing a groove in the floor," he said cautiously as he approached.
Chris glared at his old friend. "What happened, Buck? How the in the hell did Vin get shot?"
"It was an accident," Buck said. "One of those random things no one sees coming."
He hated to admit it, but Buck was right. It was one of those freak injuries that just happened, but that didn't lessen the guilt Chris felt about his agent getting hurt on his watch. Vin had been up in the rafters when the bust had gone down. There was a brief exchange of gunfire that the ATF team had put down with ease. It wasn't until all the bad guys were subdued and Chris called for a check-in that they'd realized anything was wrong.
"A bad angle, maybe a ricochet, no other way to explain how that bullet got by his vest," Buck said, trying to steer Chris to a seat. He pulled away from Buck's grip and began pacing again.
When Chris hadn't gotten a response from Vin, all eyes had looked up to see the sharpshooter draped over his rifle, blood dripping down his side and onto the ground. He felt his heart drop as he raced up the stairs to the rafters. With Ezra's help, they'd gotten Vin down, but he'd been unconscious and so pale that it had scared him. Vin'd been gut shot and it didn't look good.
Now they were waiting and no one had told them anything about Vin's condition. Chris' attention was drawn to the flurry of activity at the nurses' station and he headed in that direction determined to get information on his wounded man, but was cut off by Buck and Ezra.
"Allow me to question the nurses this time," Ezra said. When Chris attempted to move around the shorter man Ezra put a hand on his chest. "I think this situation calls for more tact and diplomacy that you are capable of achieving at this moment."
Reluctantly Chris nodded and Ezra went off to see if there was any news.
"Now will you sit down?" Buck asked.
Chris sighed and slumped onto a chair while Buck settled in beside him. When Ezra returned the others gathered to hear his report.
"Well?" Chris snapped.
Ezra frowned. "Just as before, they refused to tell us anything as we are not family, and until Mr. Tanner is in a position to countermand that edict, I'm afraid we will remain in the dark."
"We'll see about that." Chris rose, but this time Nathan stopped him.
"His brother'll be here soon. We got no right to be demanding anything."
Nathan was right, but that didn't mean he had to like the situation. Chris was listed as next of kin on the others' medical information, but that that was not the case for Vin. "Then where the hell is this mysterious brother? Anybody call him - what's his name - Steve?"
Nathan nodded. "He's on his way."
Raised voices at the nurses' station caught their attention. All six ATF agents turned toward the confrontation and were shocked by what they saw.
"I already told you, Mr. Standish, that I can not release any information on Mr. Tanner's condition except to family members." The nurse stood pointed down the corridor. "Now, please go sit down."
The man's hand slammed onto the counter. "I told you, you stupid woman, I am not Mr. Standish. I am Steve Tanner and Vin Tanner is my brother, so you either tell me what room he's in now or this will be the last job you hold in the medical profession."
Chris looked from the man at the counter to Ezra. Ezra was staring slack jawed at the irate man who'd identified himself as Steve Tanner.
"Ezra?" Chris asked.
The agent shook himself and looked up at Chris briefly before returning his gaze to his doppelganger. Chris knew this was bad as he'd yet to see a time when Ezra was speechless. The others were just as gobsmacked and stood shifting their gaze between their friend and the new arrival trying to determine if they were seeing things.
Chris looked back at Steve Tanner, who had now removed his wallet and shoved some identification in the nurse's face. "Satisfied?" he snapped.
He'd been so distracted by Tanner that he'd failed to notice the blond girl standing next to him until she spoke.
"Daddy," she tugged at his sleeve. "Daddy!"
"Not now, Lauren."
"You have to look at that guy," she insisted and pointed toward them.
No Chris corrected himself, she was pointing at Ezra.
Steve looked up and met Chris' eyes before shifting his gaze to Ezra. His eyes grew dark and the anger he'd just displayed was nothing compared to what Chris saw now. He pulled his daughter closer. "Ignore them!"
Chris knew that Steve was understandably upset about what had happened to Vin, but the hatred he saw seemed a little extreme. So far, his team was still too stunned to say anything and it was up to him to smooth things over with Vin's brother.
He stepped up to the counter. "Mr. Tanner, I'm Chris Larabee, Vin's boss. I'm sorry that we have to meet under - "
"Save it, Larabee," Steve cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I have nothing to say to you, " he glanced back to where the others were standing, "or your men."
"I understand that you're upset. We are all worried about Vin."
Steve huffed a laugh of disbelief at him. "I doubt that," he said as he moved by Chris.
Chris would not be dismissed so easily. "Mr. Tanner!"
Steve didn't stop as he barreled by the others dragging his daughter with him. "Daddy, that man?" Lauren craned her neck to look back at Ezra as they passed by.
"Don't look at them, Lauren. They're the ones who got your uncle hurt. We have nothing to say to them."
Chris felt slapped by his words. The guilt he'd heaped upon himself stopped him from challenging Steve's accusation because he did feel responsible for Vin's injury. He stood helplessly by as the two disappeared through the security doors and into the patients' wing where Vin was sequestered.
JD was the first to recover his voice. "He looked just like - " he glanced at Ezra.
"I know, kid. It was uncanny," Buck agreed.
Chris sat beside his undercover agent who had collapsed into a chair after Steve had left. "Ezra, do you know why Vin's brother looks so much like you?"
Ezra ran a hand through his hair and slumped back. "I am at loss to explain the resemblance."
"Vin wasn't kidding when he said Steve looked like Ezra," Nathan said.
"Guess you really are a twin," Buck teased trying to lighten the mood.
Ezra just glared at him and Josiah took the opportunity to smack Buck on the back of the head causing JD to chuckle.
"Not so much fun on that other end, is it, Buck?"
"Shut it, JD."
Chris suspected from the look on Steve's face when he saw Ezra that he knew the reason the two men looked so much alike. Chris patted Ezra on the shoulder trying to comfort his agent.
"What do we do now?" JD asked.
"We wait," Chris replied.
********************************
The doctor was just exiting the room when they arrived and stopped to give Steve an update as Lauren entered the room first. She wasn't prepared for what she saw. Uncle Vin looked so pale and there were IV's and other things sticking out of him.
"Is he gonna be ok, Daddy?" she asked when he'd finally joined her at Vin's bedside.
Steve took Vin's hand. "The doctor says he should be fine. He's just sleeping off the anesthesia."
He looked back at Lauren and noticing her stricken look reached out to stroke her hair. "I shouldn't have brought you."
"There's no way you leave me behind." Though Lauren suspected it wasn't just seeing her uncle this way that had him concerned for her.
The call about Uncle Vin had come during practice and Lauren had insisted that she was coming too, but seeing him like this, she thought maybe her dad was right and she should have waited until he was feeling better.
Steve sat down in the chair next to the bed, never letting go of Vin's hand. Lauren perched on the armrest and put her arms around her dad's shoulders. Steve smiled faintly and with his free hand rubbed the arm she had slung around his neck.
The two of them sat there watching Vin breath before Lauren finally broke the silence. "Daddy, who was that man?"
"They're your uncle’s co-workers."
"I know that." Lauren could tell he knew exactly who she was referring to and had tried to avoid the question. He should know better then to think he could outmaneuver her when she wanted something. "The man who looks exactly like you. Is he the long lost brother I heard you and Uncle Vin talking about?"
Steve pushed her back slightly to look into her face. "I don't know what you mean."
Lauren rolled her eyes and stood. "Really Daddy, I'm not stupid. I heard you both talking about him. What's his name?" She searched her memory. "Ezra. It's him, your brother. Tell me the truth."
"Can we not do this now, Lauren?" Steve begged as he gestured back at Vin. "Not while your uncle is fighting for his life."
"I think I won," came the raspy voice from the bed. Steve and Lauren moved quickly to his side.
"Hey, little brother," Steve said clasping his hand once again. "How're you feeling?"
"Hi, Uncle Vin," Lauren chimed in.
"Like I was hit by a truck." He coughed and Steve handed him a cup of water that had been waiting on the night stand and then raised the bed so Vin could drink.
When he'd finished, Steve took the cup form his trembling hand. "Better?" Vin looked as weak as a kitten and too pale to Lauren's eye.
Vin nodded. "What happened?" Then as if remembering something, his eyes went wide. "Chris and the fellas, they ok?"
"They're fine, Unc; just waiting down the hall for you to wake up." Lauren got a mischievous grin on her face. "Should I go get them?'
"No, Lauren! I told you we are not doing this now." Steve narrowed his eyes at her before turning back to Vin. "Don't worry about them. You need to rest."
"Good to know they're alright." Vin sank back into the pillow and closed his eyes.
The door opened and a nurse entered. "I just need to check on Mr. Tanner," she said as she circled the bed.
Lauren knew that her dad wasn't going to let those men in to see Vin, but she desperately wanted to find out about her dad's brother. Seeing that Steve was caught up in conversation with the nurse, she took her chance and quietly exited the room.
She approached the double doors and peered through the window. She could see the six men in the waiting area. Her dad's twin was slumped in a chair and she watched as he waved off any attempts by the others to talk to him.
Looking down at her gym sweats, Lauren wished she'd had time to change, but getting to the hospital had been more important. At the time, she had no idea that this was going to be her first meeting with a new relative. Her dad seemed firm in his desire to ignore his double and Lauren really wanted to know why.
Her dad may not have confirmed the familial relationship, but he hadn't denied it either which, in her experience, meant that she was right. Lauren was determined to find out what Ezra - Uncle Ezra she corrected herself -- knew and telling them all that Vin was awake was a good excuse to approach him.
She pushed the door open with more force than necessary, causing it to bang against the wall. They all turned toward her. Well, she did want their attention.
A lanky blond met her halfway, the other five trailing behind.
"How's Vin?" he asked.
She looked up into the concerned hazel eyes. "He's going to be fine. In fact, he's awake and even asked about you guys. I told him you were all ok."
The blond breathed a sigh of relief and the others murmured their thanks at knowing that Vin was recovering.
"You must be Lauren. I'm Chris Larabee, Vin's boss." Chris proceeded to introduce the others including Ezra, confirming in Lauren's mind that he was indeed the man she'd heard her dad refer to as his brother.
She turned her attention back to Chris, not yet ready to talk to her new Uncle. "I've heard Uncle Vin mention you. You’re the one who wants to steal my horse," she teased.
"I thought it was Vin's horse."
"He thinks so, but Peso loves me best."
This elicited a few chuckles from the men, except for Ezra who seemed intent on simply staring at her and it was starting to unnerve her. She could tell he wanted to ask about her dad.
"Can we see Vin?" Chris asked.
Lauren had come to talk to her new uncle and she thought it was time to lay her cards on the table. Lauren directed the answer to Chris' question at Ezra. "Would you like to see Vin, Uncle Ezra? I don't know if Daddy will let everyone else in, but you're family."
Ezra's eyes went wide as he sputtered, "Unc..uncle?"
"What are you talking about?" Chris asked. The others were staring at her demanding some explanation while Ezra simply plopped onto one of the hard plastic waiting room chairs.
She was in no mood to deal with these men and their concerns. Lauren glared at them. "I'd like to talk to my uncle in private if you don't mind."
Chris started to protest when Buck took his arm and dragged him a respectful distance away. The others had followed, and while it gave her and her uncle a semblance of privacy, she knew they were all listening.
Satisfied that they wouldn't interfere she sat beside Ezra who looked at her with the same green eyes as her dad. She could read his confusion clearly, and it made her feel really awful that she'd shocked him like this. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew. I overheard Daddy and Uncle Vin talking about you." Though she'd suspected that they hadn't told Ezra of the family connection, Lauren hadn't been positive until now.
"They know for sure?" Ezra asked. "I'm really - " he could bring himself to finish the admission.
"I don't know the whole story, but yeah you're really my uncle and they're really your brothers" She knew that when her Tanner grandparents had died, Steve and Vin had been sent into the foster care system. Lauren wondered if maybe her dad hadn't been able to rescue Ezra like he had Vin, but then she'd never heard anything about a missing brother so maybe something else was going on.
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events."
Lauren smiled at him wondering why it was so much easier for her to accept the connection than him. "It's going to be great. I mean I know Uncle Vin really likes working with you. And Daddy's really a Teddy bear; I know he didn't seem that way earlier."
Ezra quirked a small smile at her. "Vin said that?"
"Oh yeah, talks about you and his teammates," she gestured toward where Chris and the others had retreated to, "all the time. He really likes the ATF. Though Daddy thinks its too dangerous - " she trailed off as she realized that maybe her dad was right.
"You're father is correct to be concerned. It is dangerous work, but what happened to Vin was an accident."
Lauren sensed he was trying to comfort her and she thought that was awfully nice of him. "The doctor said he's going to be ok." She studied Ezra, trying to read the familiar and yet younger version of her father's face. "You're really worried about him?"
"Of course!" Ezra seemed surprised that she would doubt that. "We are all concerned with Vin's health and now I guess I have and even bigger reason to be."
She didn't understand why her Dad had been so mean to Ezra, or why they hadn't told him. Ezra seemed like a nice guy just like in the stories that Uncle Vin had shared about his teammates. Lauren suddenly realized that, in his own way, Vin was preparing her for this day. Preparing her to like this man and accept him as family. Well if Uncle Vin liked him that was good enough for Lauren.
Not really sure what was motivating her, but sensing that it was the right thing to do, she leaned over and gave Ezra a hug. "Welcome to the family," she said.
"I have a niece," he said the disbelief clear in his voice as he automatically returned the hug.
She laughed as she released him. "Yes, you do, Uncle Ezra," she said as she poked him in the shoulder emphasizing their connection.
Ezra no longer looked as confused, though he did seem a bit skeptical at her easy acceptance. It was odd that she kept recognizing her dad's expressions on his face. She supposed that was another reason that she felt so comfortable with him. It would just take him a little longer to realize that he adored her. She smiled at that thought and wondered if he would be as easy to manage as her dad and Uncle Vin.
They sat staring at each other and it felt to Lauren like he was looking for the familiar parts of himself in her. He seemed to find what he was looking for as he said, "I suppose my mother has some explaining to do."
"I have a grandmother?" Lauren asked excitedly. She'd never had any grandparents.
.
Ezra smiled at her enthusiasm. "My dear, I would not get too excited over the prospect of being related to my mother."
"Don't you like your mother?" Lauren frowned. Her mother had been out of her life for too many years now and she was envious of anyone who still had that relationship.
Realizing he'd made a mistake, Ezra took her hand in a comforting gesture. "Of course I love my mother, and I'm sure she will adore you."
At the sound of snuffling, she glanced up to see some of the others trying not to laugh at Ezra's declaration. She wasn't sure what to make of their reaction, but she knew she didn't want to continue this conversation in front of them.
"I should get back before Daddy realizes I've gone. Come on." She stood and pulled on his hand.
"Perhaps all of us should go see Mr. Tanner." Ezra motioned toward his co-workers
Lauren giggled. "Mr. Tanner? He's you brother, you should call him Vin."
"Yes, of course," he said as he stood and straightened his jacket.
Lauren studied him. "You're pulling 'the face' just like Daddy."
"I'm sorry, 'the face'?"
"Yeah, that face he uses when he doesn’t want me to know how much something is bothering him. That face; you're doing it." Lauren wanted to reassure her new uncle that he should be happy to be part of their family and leaned in to whisper, "I know it's a shock and Daddy was a bit mean before, but I know exactly how to handle him, so don't worry."
Ezra gave a small laugh. "I do believe we will get along just fine."
Author: strangevisitor7
Fandom: Magnificent 7 & Make It or break It
Beta: ithildyn
Rating: PG
Universe :: Mag 7 ATF and Pre-series for MIOBI
Characters: : Ezra Standish, Vin Tanner, Steve Tanner, Lauren Tanner and the rest of the seven are around
Summary: Vin Tanner returns to Boulder, Colorado to stay with his brother Steve when he takes a job with Chris Larabee's ATF team in Denver. Vin doesn't know what to think when meets Ezra Standish, who could be his brother's twin.
A/N: You don't need to know anything about Make it or Break It except that Steve Tanner and Ezra Standish are both played by Anthony Starke. Steve Tanner has a 17 yr-old daughter who is an Olympic Level Gymnast
Chapter List: Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chris was pissed. He paced the hallway of the hospital like a caged panther. The rest of his men were seated in the hard plastic chairs that lined the waiting room just staying out of his way.
Buck was finally elected to talk to him. "Hey pard, maybe you want to sit down. You're wearing a groove in the floor," he said cautiously as he approached.
Chris glared at his old friend. "What happened, Buck? How the in the hell did Vin get shot?"
"It was an accident," Buck said. "One of those random things no one sees coming."
He hated to admit it, but Buck was right. It was one of those freak injuries that just happened, but that didn't lessen the guilt Chris felt about his agent getting hurt on his watch. Vin had been up in the rafters when the bust had gone down. There was a brief exchange of gunfire that the ATF team had put down with ease. It wasn't until all the bad guys were subdued and Chris called for a check-in that they'd realized anything was wrong.
"A bad angle, maybe a ricochet, no other way to explain how that bullet got by his vest," Buck said, trying to steer Chris to a seat. He pulled away from Buck's grip and began pacing again.
When Chris hadn't gotten a response from Vin, all eyes had looked up to see the sharpshooter draped over his rifle, blood dripping down his side and onto the ground. He felt his heart drop as he raced up the stairs to the rafters. With Ezra's help, they'd gotten Vin down, but he'd been unconscious and so pale that it had scared him. Vin'd been gut shot and it didn't look good.
Now they were waiting and no one had told them anything about Vin's condition. Chris' attention was drawn to the flurry of activity at the nurses' station and he headed in that direction determined to get information on his wounded man, but was cut off by Buck and Ezra.
"Allow me to question the nurses this time," Ezra said. When Chris attempted to move around the shorter man Ezra put a hand on his chest. "I think this situation calls for more tact and diplomacy that you are capable of achieving at this moment."
Reluctantly Chris nodded and Ezra went off to see if there was any news.
"Now will you sit down?" Buck asked.
Chris sighed and slumped onto a chair while Buck settled in beside him. When Ezra returned the others gathered to hear his report.
"Well?" Chris snapped.
Ezra frowned. "Just as before, they refused to tell us anything as we are not family, and until Mr. Tanner is in a position to countermand that edict, I'm afraid we will remain in the dark."
"We'll see about that." Chris rose, but this time Nathan stopped him.
"His brother'll be here soon. We got no right to be demanding anything."
Nathan was right, but that didn't mean he had to like the situation. Chris was listed as next of kin on the others' medical information, but that that was not the case for Vin. "Then where the hell is this mysterious brother? Anybody call him - what's his name - Steve?"
Nathan nodded. "He's on his way."
Raised voices at the nurses' station caught their attention. All six ATF agents turned toward the confrontation and were shocked by what they saw.
"I already told you, Mr. Standish, that I can not release any information on Mr. Tanner's condition except to family members." The nurse stood pointed down the corridor. "Now, please go sit down."
The man's hand slammed onto the counter. "I told you, you stupid woman, I am not Mr. Standish. I am Steve Tanner and Vin Tanner is my brother, so you either tell me what room he's in now or this will be the last job you hold in the medical profession."
Chris looked from the man at the counter to Ezra. Ezra was staring slack jawed at the irate man who'd identified himself as Steve Tanner.
"Ezra?" Chris asked.
The agent shook himself and looked up at Chris briefly before returning his gaze to his doppelganger. Chris knew this was bad as he'd yet to see a time when Ezra was speechless. The others were just as gobsmacked and stood shifting their gaze between their friend and the new arrival trying to determine if they were seeing things.
Chris looked back at Steve Tanner, who had now removed his wallet and shoved some identification in the nurse's face. "Satisfied?" he snapped.
He'd been so distracted by Tanner that he'd failed to notice the blond girl standing next to him until she spoke.
"Daddy," she tugged at his sleeve. "Daddy!"
"Not now, Lauren."
"You have to look at that guy," she insisted and pointed toward them.
No Chris corrected himself, she was pointing at Ezra.
Steve looked up and met Chris' eyes before shifting his gaze to Ezra. His eyes grew dark and the anger he'd just displayed was nothing compared to what Chris saw now. He pulled his daughter closer. "Ignore them!"
Chris knew that Steve was understandably upset about what had happened to Vin, but the hatred he saw seemed a little extreme. So far, his team was still too stunned to say anything and it was up to him to smooth things over with Vin's brother.
He stepped up to the counter. "Mr. Tanner, I'm Chris Larabee, Vin's boss. I'm sorry that we have to meet under - "
"Save it, Larabee," Steve cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I have nothing to say to you, " he glanced back to where the others were standing, "or your men."
"I understand that you're upset. We are all worried about Vin."
Steve huffed a laugh of disbelief at him. "I doubt that," he said as he moved by Chris.
Chris would not be dismissed so easily. "Mr. Tanner!"
Steve didn't stop as he barreled by the others dragging his daughter with him. "Daddy, that man?" Lauren craned her neck to look back at Ezra as they passed by.
"Don't look at them, Lauren. They're the ones who got your uncle hurt. We have nothing to say to them."
Chris felt slapped by his words. The guilt he'd heaped upon himself stopped him from challenging Steve's accusation because he did feel responsible for Vin's injury. He stood helplessly by as the two disappeared through the security doors and into the patients' wing where Vin was sequestered.
JD was the first to recover his voice. "He looked just like - " he glanced at Ezra.
"I know, kid. It was uncanny," Buck agreed.
Chris sat beside his undercover agent who had collapsed into a chair after Steve had left. "Ezra, do you know why Vin's brother looks so much like you?"
Ezra ran a hand through his hair and slumped back. "I am at loss to explain the resemblance."
"Vin wasn't kidding when he said Steve looked like Ezra," Nathan said.
"Guess you really are a twin," Buck teased trying to lighten the mood.
Ezra just glared at him and Josiah took the opportunity to smack Buck on the back of the head causing JD to chuckle.
"Not so much fun on that other end, is it, Buck?"
"Shut it, JD."
Chris suspected from the look on Steve's face when he saw Ezra that he knew the reason the two men looked so much alike. Chris patted Ezra on the shoulder trying to comfort his agent.
"What do we do now?" JD asked.
"We wait," Chris replied.
********************************
The doctor was just exiting the room when they arrived and stopped to give Steve an update as Lauren entered the room first. She wasn't prepared for what she saw. Uncle Vin looked so pale and there were IV's and other things sticking out of him.
"Is he gonna be ok, Daddy?" she asked when he'd finally joined her at Vin's bedside.
Steve took Vin's hand. "The doctor says he should be fine. He's just sleeping off the anesthesia."
He looked back at Lauren and noticing her stricken look reached out to stroke her hair. "I shouldn't have brought you."
"There's no way you leave me behind." Though Lauren suspected it wasn't just seeing her uncle this way that had him concerned for her.
The call about Uncle Vin had come during practice and Lauren had insisted that she was coming too, but seeing him like this, she thought maybe her dad was right and she should have waited until he was feeling better.
Steve sat down in the chair next to the bed, never letting go of Vin's hand. Lauren perched on the armrest and put her arms around her dad's shoulders. Steve smiled faintly and with his free hand rubbed the arm she had slung around his neck.
The two of them sat there watching Vin breath before Lauren finally broke the silence. "Daddy, who was that man?"
"They're your uncle’s co-workers."
"I know that." Lauren could tell he knew exactly who she was referring to and had tried to avoid the question. He should know better then to think he could outmaneuver her when she wanted something. "The man who looks exactly like you. Is he the long lost brother I heard you and Uncle Vin talking about?"
Steve pushed her back slightly to look into her face. "I don't know what you mean."
Lauren rolled her eyes and stood. "Really Daddy, I'm not stupid. I heard you both talking about him. What's his name?" She searched her memory. "Ezra. It's him, your brother. Tell me the truth."
"Can we not do this now, Lauren?" Steve begged as he gestured back at Vin. "Not while your uncle is fighting for his life."
"I think I won," came the raspy voice from the bed. Steve and Lauren moved quickly to his side.
"Hey, little brother," Steve said clasping his hand once again. "How're you feeling?"
"Hi, Uncle Vin," Lauren chimed in.
"Like I was hit by a truck." He coughed and Steve handed him a cup of water that had been waiting on the night stand and then raised the bed so Vin could drink.
When he'd finished, Steve took the cup form his trembling hand. "Better?" Vin looked as weak as a kitten and too pale to Lauren's eye.
Vin nodded. "What happened?" Then as if remembering something, his eyes went wide. "Chris and the fellas, they ok?"
"They're fine, Unc; just waiting down the hall for you to wake up." Lauren got a mischievous grin on her face. "Should I go get them?'
"No, Lauren! I told you we are not doing this now." Steve narrowed his eyes at her before turning back to Vin. "Don't worry about them. You need to rest."
"Good to know they're alright." Vin sank back into the pillow and closed his eyes.
The door opened and a nurse entered. "I just need to check on Mr. Tanner," she said as she circled the bed.
Lauren knew that her dad wasn't going to let those men in to see Vin, but she desperately wanted to find out about her dad's brother. Seeing that Steve was caught up in conversation with the nurse, she took her chance and quietly exited the room.
She approached the double doors and peered through the window. She could see the six men in the waiting area. Her dad's twin was slumped in a chair and she watched as he waved off any attempts by the others to talk to him.
Looking down at her gym sweats, Lauren wished she'd had time to change, but getting to the hospital had been more important. At the time, she had no idea that this was going to be her first meeting with a new relative. Her dad seemed firm in his desire to ignore his double and Lauren really wanted to know why.
Her dad may not have confirmed the familial relationship, but he hadn't denied it either which, in her experience, meant that she was right. Lauren was determined to find out what Ezra - Uncle Ezra she corrected herself -- knew and telling them all that Vin was awake was a good excuse to approach him.
She pushed the door open with more force than necessary, causing it to bang against the wall. They all turned toward her. Well, she did want their attention.
A lanky blond met her halfway, the other five trailing behind.
"How's Vin?" he asked.
She looked up into the concerned hazel eyes. "He's going to be fine. In fact, he's awake and even asked about you guys. I told him you were all ok."
The blond breathed a sigh of relief and the others murmured their thanks at knowing that Vin was recovering.
"You must be Lauren. I'm Chris Larabee, Vin's boss." Chris proceeded to introduce the others including Ezra, confirming in Lauren's mind that he was indeed the man she'd heard her dad refer to as his brother.
She turned her attention back to Chris, not yet ready to talk to her new Uncle. "I've heard Uncle Vin mention you. You’re the one who wants to steal my horse," she teased.
"I thought it was Vin's horse."
"He thinks so, but Peso loves me best."
This elicited a few chuckles from the men, except for Ezra who seemed intent on simply staring at her and it was starting to unnerve her. She could tell he wanted to ask about her dad.
"Can we see Vin?" Chris asked.
Lauren had come to talk to her new uncle and she thought it was time to lay her cards on the table. Lauren directed the answer to Chris' question at Ezra. "Would you like to see Vin, Uncle Ezra? I don't know if Daddy will let everyone else in, but you're family."
Ezra's eyes went wide as he sputtered, "Unc..uncle?"
"What are you talking about?" Chris asked. The others were staring at her demanding some explanation while Ezra simply plopped onto one of the hard plastic waiting room chairs.
She was in no mood to deal with these men and their concerns. Lauren glared at them. "I'd like to talk to my uncle in private if you don't mind."
Chris started to protest when Buck took his arm and dragged him a respectful distance away. The others had followed, and while it gave her and her uncle a semblance of privacy, she knew they were all listening.
Satisfied that they wouldn't interfere she sat beside Ezra who looked at her with the same green eyes as her dad. She could read his confusion clearly, and it made her feel really awful that she'd shocked him like this. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew. I overheard Daddy and Uncle Vin talking about you." Though she'd suspected that they hadn't told Ezra of the family connection, Lauren hadn't been positive until now.
"They know for sure?" Ezra asked. "I'm really - " he could bring himself to finish the admission.
"I don't know the whole story, but yeah you're really my uncle and they're really your brothers" She knew that when her Tanner grandparents had died, Steve and Vin had been sent into the foster care system. Lauren wondered if maybe her dad hadn't been able to rescue Ezra like he had Vin, but then she'd never heard anything about a missing brother so maybe something else was going on.
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events."
Lauren smiled at him wondering why it was so much easier for her to accept the connection than him. "It's going to be great. I mean I know Uncle Vin really likes working with you. And Daddy's really a Teddy bear; I know he didn't seem that way earlier."
Ezra quirked a small smile at her. "Vin said that?"
"Oh yeah, talks about you and his teammates," she gestured toward where Chris and the others had retreated to, "all the time. He really likes the ATF. Though Daddy thinks its too dangerous - " she trailed off as she realized that maybe her dad was right.
"You're father is correct to be concerned. It is dangerous work, but what happened to Vin was an accident."
Lauren sensed he was trying to comfort her and she thought that was awfully nice of him. "The doctor said he's going to be ok." She studied Ezra, trying to read the familiar and yet younger version of her father's face. "You're really worried about him?"
"Of course!" Ezra seemed surprised that she would doubt that. "We are all concerned with Vin's health and now I guess I have and even bigger reason to be."
She didn't understand why her Dad had been so mean to Ezra, or why they hadn't told him. Ezra seemed like a nice guy just like in the stories that Uncle Vin had shared about his teammates. Lauren suddenly realized that, in his own way, Vin was preparing her for this day. Preparing her to like this man and accept him as family. Well if Uncle Vin liked him that was good enough for Lauren.
Not really sure what was motivating her, but sensing that it was the right thing to do, she leaned over and gave Ezra a hug. "Welcome to the family," she said.
"I have a niece," he said the disbelief clear in his voice as he automatically returned the hug.
She laughed as she released him. "Yes, you do, Uncle Ezra," she said as she poked him in the shoulder emphasizing their connection.
Ezra no longer looked as confused, though he did seem a bit skeptical at her easy acceptance. It was odd that she kept recognizing her dad's expressions on his face. She supposed that was another reason that she felt so comfortable with him. It would just take him a little longer to realize that he adored her. She smiled at that thought and wondered if he would be as easy to manage as her dad and Uncle Vin.
They sat staring at each other and it felt to Lauren like he was looking for the familiar parts of himself in her. He seemed to find what he was looking for as he said, "I suppose my mother has some explaining to do."
"I have a grandmother?" Lauren asked excitedly. She'd never had any grandparents.
.
Ezra smiled at her enthusiasm. "My dear, I would not get too excited over the prospect of being related to my mother."
"Don't you like your mother?" Lauren frowned. Her mother had been out of her life for too many years now and she was envious of anyone who still had that relationship.
Realizing he'd made a mistake, Ezra took her hand in a comforting gesture. "Of course I love my mother, and I'm sure she will adore you."
At the sound of snuffling, she glanced up to see some of the others trying not to laugh at Ezra's declaration. She wasn't sure what to make of their reaction, but she knew she didn't want to continue this conversation in front of them.
"I should get back before Daddy realizes I've gone. Come on." She stood and pulled on his hand.
"Perhaps all of us should go see Mr. Tanner." Ezra motioned toward his co-workers
Lauren giggled. "Mr. Tanner? He's you brother, you should call him Vin."
"Yes, of course," he said as he stood and straightened his jacket.
Lauren studied him. "You're pulling 'the face' just like Daddy."
"I'm sorry, 'the face'?"
"Yeah, that face he uses when he doesn’t want me to know how much something is bothering him. That face; you're doing it." Lauren wanted to reassure her new uncle that he should be happy to be part of their family and leaned in to whisper, "I know it's a shock and Daddy was a bit mean before, but I know exactly how to handle him, so don't worry."
Ezra gave a small laugh. "I do believe we will get along just fine."