Call and Fold Part 3: Third Party
When it became clear that this was turning into a series, I decided it needed a name. Therefore, I present: The Call and Fold Series
This is Part Three in the series: 'Third Party'
Title: Third Party
Rating: PG
Warnings: Slash, emotional wreckage
Pairings: Chris/Ezra, Ezra/JD, Buck/JD
Disclaimer: I make no attempt to pretend that I own the Magnificent Seven
Summary: In hindsight, Vin wishes he'd said something when it could have made a difference
Goddamnit, Ez, what the hell were you thinkin'?
Deep down, he knows Ezra isn't solely to blame. He knows better than anyone else - except from JD, maybe - because no-one else really saw what was happening. Ezra didn't ask for things to turn out like this. He can't even blame Ezra for running, not really, not knowing what was at stake.
He might not have had a fancy education like Ezra, but that doesn't make him stupid. And he'd bet nobody else had thought to put two and two together in their bewilderment as to how they'd ended up with four. Four was about right actually: four of seven. Ezra gone, and Chris and JD too hurt and confused to function normally. Which left the remaining four chasing their tails trying to fix whatever went wrong.
No, this isn't going to work. They need to be seven again. But he has to wonder what the odds are of finding Ezra when he doesn't want to be found. Man might think that what he did was for the best, but personal issues aside, they need him. Can't afford to lose any one of them.
He knew what was going on the whole time. In fact, he still doesn't quite understand why the others didn't: seems impossible to miss feelings like that flying around. A blind man could see the sparks flying between Chris and Ezra, although perhaps the others just saw it differently.
Now JD...he's a little hazy on how JD got mixed up in this mess. Didn't miss the kid sneaking up to the saloon at nights, though, and it's probably for the best that everyone else missed it. Violence would have ensued if anyone had noticed that their resident gambler made a man of the kid when no-one was watching. But feelings of fraternal protectiveness aside, he thinks it did JD good. He might not know the exact circumstances, but he does know his fellow peacekeepers. He knows JD isn't exactly helpless. He knows that if any sort of manipulation had been involved, JD wouldn't have been fool enough to go back for more...and Ezra would probably have gotten shot for his troubles. And most importantly he knows that, despite that self-centred facade, Ezra would never hurt anyone who placed that sort of trust in him.
So he's going to keep quiet about that one...maybe have a word with JD, make sure there's no danger of guilt triggering a confession. Buck would hit the roof, and more than likely Chris would too, and Nathan would naturally assume it was all some nefarious plot on Ezra's part, and any protestations JD made to the contrary would be overridden. And that's one fiasco he's hoping to avoid if at all possible. He's not sure exactly how it came about, but he hasn't missed that JD's more confident now, more self assured. Maybe their current problem will teach him something too, and he'll approach Buck before it's too late instead of making the same mistake Ezra did. Yes, Vin knows about that. It's a burden, sometimes, being more observant than the others.
He knows about the letter, too, although that's purely because Chris learned long ago that trying to keep secrets from him is an exercise in futility. He'd squirmed a bit on the receiving end of the Glare, finally admitting that yes, he knew before, but he hadn't wanted to interfere. He'd always assumed that they'd get round to getting together in their own time. In hindsight, he wishes he'd said something when it could have made a difference.
Something still bothers him about the letter, and it takes him a while to realise what. Then it hits him: Ezra expected them to think it was better that he'd left, to be glad he was gone. He certainly wouldn't be expecting them to come looking...which meant he wouldn't be taking too much care to cover his tracks, metaphorically or literally.
He's stopped dead in the middle of the street, but he doesn't care. The trail's barely twenty-four hours cold. They can still catch him. Vin grins: catch him, drag him back to town, then lock him in a cupboard with Chris and wait for the inevitable to happen. Then he'll do the same to Buck and JD. At that moment, anything seems possible.
He executes a neat about-face and heads for the saloon. He calmly but firmly intercepts the whiskey bottle on its way to Chris' mouth and sets it back down on the table.
"Saddle your horse, cowboy, we're goin' after 'im. You've got ten minutes to sober up - I'm gonna go round up the others."
He seems to be in charge whether he likes it or not, but it has to be done. He doesn't miss the beaming smile Inez sends his way. The rest of town is still under the impression that Ezra is on an extended patrol out towards Bear Creek, but Inez knows better. She likes Ezra, and as the manager of the saloon she knows everything that goes on there. Which is why she's noticed that most of his things are gone from his room, and why, come to think of it, she's been very sympathetic to JD. They got lucky there. If Inez had been a less open-minded sort, she could have made life very difficult for them.
He rounds up Josiah and JD and sends them to the stables, then explains the situation to Nathan and Buck before heading back to the saloon to make sure Chris is upright and functioning. All in all it takes fifteen minutes 'til they're riding out.
Josiah seems a little bewildered, but Chris looks almost hopeful and JD is grinning from ear to ear. Vin is determined: they're going to fix this mess. They're going to get their wayward southerner back.
They're going to find Ezra and bring him home.
This is Part Three in the series: 'Third Party'
Title: Third Party
Rating: PG
Warnings: Slash, emotional wreckage
Pairings: Chris/Ezra, Ezra/JD, Buck/JD
Disclaimer: I make no attempt to pretend that I own the Magnificent Seven
Summary: In hindsight, Vin wishes he'd said something when it could have made a difference
Goddamnit, Ez, what the hell were you thinkin'?
Deep down, he knows Ezra isn't solely to blame. He knows better than anyone else - except from JD, maybe - because no-one else really saw what was happening. Ezra didn't ask for things to turn out like this. He can't even blame Ezra for running, not really, not knowing what was at stake.
He might not have had a fancy education like Ezra, but that doesn't make him stupid. And he'd bet nobody else had thought to put two and two together in their bewilderment as to how they'd ended up with four. Four was about right actually: four of seven. Ezra gone, and Chris and JD too hurt and confused to function normally. Which left the remaining four chasing their tails trying to fix whatever went wrong.
No, this isn't going to work. They need to be seven again. But he has to wonder what the odds are of finding Ezra when he doesn't want to be found. Man might think that what he did was for the best, but personal issues aside, they need him. Can't afford to lose any one of them.
He knew what was going on the whole time. In fact, he still doesn't quite understand why the others didn't: seems impossible to miss feelings like that flying around. A blind man could see the sparks flying between Chris and Ezra, although perhaps the others just saw it differently.
Now JD...he's a little hazy on how JD got mixed up in this mess. Didn't miss the kid sneaking up to the saloon at nights, though, and it's probably for the best that everyone else missed it. Violence would have ensued if anyone had noticed that their resident gambler made a man of the kid when no-one was watching. But feelings of fraternal protectiveness aside, he thinks it did JD good. He might not know the exact circumstances, but he does know his fellow peacekeepers. He knows JD isn't exactly helpless. He knows that if any sort of manipulation had been involved, JD wouldn't have been fool enough to go back for more...and Ezra would probably have gotten shot for his troubles. And most importantly he knows that, despite that self-centred facade, Ezra would never hurt anyone who placed that sort of trust in him.
So he's going to keep quiet about that one...maybe have a word with JD, make sure there's no danger of guilt triggering a confession. Buck would hit the roof, and more than likely Chris would too, and Nathan would naturally assume it was all some nefarious plot on Ezra's part, and any protestations JD made to the contrary would be overridden. And that's one fiasco he's hoping to avoid if at all possible. He's not sure exactly how it came about, but he hasn't missed that JD's more confident now, more self assured. Maybe their current problem will teach him something too, and he'll approach Buck before it's too late instead of making the same mistake Ezra did. Yes, Vin knows about that. It's a burden, sometimes, being more observant than the others.
He knows about the letter, too, although that's purely because Chris learned long ago that trying to keep secrets from him is an exercise in futility. He'd squirmed a bit on the receiving end of the Glare, finally admitting that yes, he knew before, but he hadn't wanted to interfere. He'd always assumed that they'd get round to getting together in their own time. In hindsight, he wishes he'd said something when it could have made a difference.
Something still bothers him about the letter, and it takes him a while to realise what. Then it hits him: Ezra expected them to think it was better that he'd left, to be glad he was gone. He certainly wouldn't be expecting them to come looking...which meant he wouldn't be taking too much care to cover his tracks, metaphorically or literally.
He's stopped dead in the middle of the street, but he doesn't care. The trail's barely twenty-four hours cold. They can still catch him. Vin grins: catch him, drag him back to town, then lock him in a cupboard with Chris and wait for the inevitable to happen. Then he'll do the same to Buck and JD. At that moment, anything seems possible.
He executes a neat about-face and heads for the saloon. He calmly but firmly intercepts the whiskey bottle on its way to Chris' mouth and sets it back down on the table.
"Saddle your horse, cowboy, we're goin' after 'im. You've got ten minutes to sober up - I'm gonna go round up the others."
He seems to be in charge whether he likes it or not, but it has to be done. He doesn't miss the beaming smile Inez sends his way. The rest of town is still under the impression that Ezra is on an extended patrol out towards Bear Creek, but Inez knows better. She likes Ezra, and as the manager of the saloon she knows everything that goes on there. Which is why she's noticed that most of his things are gone from his room, and why, come to think of it, she's been very sympathetic to JD. They got lucky there. If Inez had been a less open-minded sort, she could have made life very difficult for them.
He rounds up Josiah and JD and sends them to the stables, then explains the situation to Nathan and Buck before heading back to the saloon to make sure Chris is upright and functioning. All in all it takes fifteen minutes 'til they're riding out.
Josiah seems a little bewildered, but Chris looks almost hopeful and JD is grinning from ear to ear. Vin is determined: they're going to fix this mess. They're going to get their wayward southerner back.
They're going to find Ezra and bring him home.