Author's note: Here is a shout out to all of the wise readers who figured out each of the Seven's spirit animals: Great work Terry Kay, Niteowl, Ladyinwaiting, fierynightangel, Cassandra30, lunaz, sisturnickyahoo, mikiss. Plus special congratulations to MissDoctorDonna, marmilady and Diggedydog for also figuring out the kestrel and lynx despite them only getting a passing reference here and in 'Just the Facts'. For the record here is everyone's spirit animal: Chris – black wolf / Ezra – fox kit / Vin – puma cub / JD – river otter / Buck – black bear / Nathan – eastern diamondback rattler / Josiah – badger / Adam – kestrel / Sarah – lynx.

This chapter does not have a beta so all mistakes are mine.

M7-S-M7-S-M7-S-M7

Ezra heard his voice first. It sounded low and gravelly despite its youth, with an unmistakable flavoring of Texas. Ezra also thought he recognized more than a bit of worry coloring the tone. Wanting to know what upset Vin, Ezra struggled to focus on his little brother's words.

". . . need to hear from you that you're going to be okay." Vin's voice paused with a sigh. "Come on Ezra, you know I ain't much for talking. You're the one who's good with words and chatter. What do you call it? Entertaining and distracting the masses?"

Ezra nodded to himself with a smile, pleased to hear Vin apparently took at least some of his lessons to heart.

"Ezra, are you awake?" Vin tone became suddenly excited. "Come on, open those big green eyes and talk to me."

This made Ezra frown. He didn't want to open his eyes to a room he was sure would be too bright. It was probably some absurdly early hour too, like 6 or 7am. Ezra would never understand why Vin seemed to enjoy waking at such times, as far as Ezra was concerned, anything before 10am was uncivilized. Ezra felt his arm being wiggled and began to realize Vin would not be easily ignored.

"I see you frowning Ezra. I know you're awake," Vin declared, "so you might as well open your eyes and talk to me for a minute so I can let you get back to sleep."

Despite all of the trials and tribulations of the last few months, Ezra had never for a moment regretted agreeing to become Vin's blood brother. For the first time in his life he had someone, besides himself, to count on; to always be looking out for his best interests. Sadly, not even his darling Mother could be depended upon to do the same. Still, there were moments, though few and small, when he missed not having to worry about anybody but himself.

"Leave me alone. I'm still tired," Ezra ordered imperiously, or at least that was what he intended to say. Instead, his ears heard his mouth issue a much less dignified, "'Eve me lone. 'm still tire." Vin's responding laughter was embarrassing, but Ezra ignored it for the sake of sleep. Then he heard two strange masculine chuckles join in. He panicked to realize he and Vin were not alone; Ezra's eyes shot open.

"Whoa! Ease up there," Vin soothed, trying to stop Ezra from sitting up. The pain flaring through his arm agreed with Vin. "We're safe. We're among friends."

"Trust has to . . ." Ezra began to quote.

". . . be earned," Vin finished. "I know, but I figure taking a bullet to protect us earns at least a bit."

With his eyes finally coming back into focus, Ezra realized the other voices he'd heard belonged to Agents Larabee and Jackson. The former standing between his bed and the door in a guard position, while the latter moved up to check Ezra's pulse and begin a litany of questions designed to assess Ezra's condition. The boy answered the queries absently, leaving most of his focus on Vin, reading his little brother's physical and mental state. Ezra relaxed a bit after noting Vin looked not only healthy but more relaxed than Ezra had seen in months. He hadn't realized how heavy the burden of their flight from Humboldt weighed on Vin until now, seeing it lifted. Clearly, his attempts to shield the younger boy from the dangers they faced did not fully succeed. Deciding he had answered enough of Agent Jackson's questions he asked one of his own. "Has Humboldt been arrested yet," he inquired.

The scowls over taking the faces of the agents, answered before either man spoke. Agent Larabee replied, "A warrant has been issued for his arrest, but so far he has escaped apprehension."

Ezra thought over this development. While the warrant could be considered progress, he still didn't like the idea of Humboldt roaming free while he lay vulnerable in a hospital bed, even including the armed federal agents as bodyguards. "And what is to happen to my brother and me until Humboldt is arrested and put on trial?" If they were planning to send the boys to some group home, or worse split them up, Ezra wanted to know as soon as possible to begin working out plans for escape. He would not allow Vin to again become a victim of the foster care system.

"I've received protective custody of both you and your brother. At the moment, that includes temporary guardianship," Agent Larabee explained. "Vin said the two of you were on your own, but if you can think of anyone we should contact, maybe a family member who might be concerned about you, now is the time to speak up."

Ezra met Larabee's inquiring gaze with a simple reply of, "No one of consequence needs to know where or how we are." Though a small voice whispered urgently to mention his Mother, Ezra quickly smothered that thought. Maude had been looking out for no one but herself when she ordered Ezra to copy Humboldt's computer hard drive. While Ezra honestly believed Maude underestimated how dangerous the man was, it didn't change the fact that when he sought her help she promptly disappeared. It was Vin who freed Ezra from the locked wine cellar after Humboldt caught the boy snooping in his office. Vin who helped him escape the mansion and grounds, and went on the run to protect the information Ezra stole from the arms dealer. It would be better for all concerned if Maude continued to remain her own highest priority, and stayed away from Ezra and Vin. Especially since she would be unlikely to support his little misdirection about he and Vin being brothers. Besides, as Vin had made them blood brothers in the way of his mother's tribe, it wasn't even technically a lie.

Agent Larabee stared at Ezra a moment longer, skepticism clear on his face, "You're sure?"

Putting his best poker face forward Ezra insisted, "Absolutely certain."

"Alright then," Larabee decided to accept Ezra's declaration. "When you are released from the hospital you and Vin will stay with me under protective custody until Humboldt is arrested, tried and convicted." Larabee grinned and offered, "I'll see about setting up the guest room so you two can be comfortable during the next couple of months of your stay."

Seeing Vin's brilliant smile was enough to convince an increasingly sleepy Ezra that Lady Luck had finally dealt then a winning hand. Within moments Ezra was again asleep.

M7-S-M7-S-M7-S-M7

One month later.

M7-S-M7-S-M7-S-M7

Both boys were out with Chris in his barn when the cell call came. Vin made no secret of his keen interest in Chris's horses. Over the past month he developed an especially strong connection with one ornery gelding by the name of Peso. Ezra always made a fuss about being 'dragged into the foul smelling equine abode,' but Chris saw him sneaking carrot and apple slices to his horse, Chaucer, so he took Ezra's complaining with a grain of salt. Fresh air was good for both boys, and could only help Ezra's recovery, despite how he might whine. Chris merely asked the boys to keep him company while he tended the animals' needs. Vin insisted on helping exercise the animals. Ezra's injured arm prevented him from joining the younger boy, though he did seem to enjoy 'supervising'. Hearing a persistent ring, Chris pulled his cell from his pocket and answered, "Larabee here."

"We've got the bastard," Senior Supervisory Agent Ryan Kelly announced without preamble, "We've arrested Humboldt, and he's being processed as we speak."

"Details," Chris demanded. He needed to know for certain the arms dealer would never again threaten to the boys. He also knew Vin and Ezra would want to know as much about the man's downfall as possible.

"We snagged him trying to flee to Bali, Indonesia out of O'Hare International," Kelly shared. "Apparently it didn't occur to him that we would be watching all of the airports and boarders, not just Denver International. Kirk said the first words out of Humboldt's mouth when he walked into interrogation were, "Let's be reasonable and cut a deal."

Chris literally growled into the phone. It didn't matter that he knew Humboldt could provide them with evidence and testimony to lock up dozens of criminal associates. The last thing Chris wanted to hear involved some 'deal' where Humboldt testified against a bunch of his former friends and business partners, earning him a mere five years in jail, or worse; placed in witness protection. Humboldt already put a price on Vin and Ezra's heads once. Chris vowed to fight any 'deal' allowing the arms dealer a chance to finish what he started.

"Relax, Larabee," Kelly insisted with a chuckle. Thankfully, Kelly remained one of the few men tough enough to stand firm against a pissed off Larabee. A shared moral code and thirst for justice meant the two men understood each very well. "I already informed the prosecution team. After hiring hit-men and even entire gangs to murder two boys; actions which lead to the shootings of several federal agents and the deaths of two gang members, Humboldt will not get anything weaker than life in prison." After a pause Kelly added, "With all of the evidence we've already pulled off the hard drive the boys gave us, Travis happily backed me up."

"Good," Chris grunted, at least some of his fears relieved. "I'll have to thank Travis next time I'm in his office. Copy me on your reports. Right now there are two people I need to share the news with." Chris ended the call to find Ezra and Vin's eyes lock on him, their faces tense yet hopeful. "Humboldt has been arrested, and the prosecution has been instructed to throw the book at him. With any luck he won't see the outside of a prison before he's one hundred and ten."

"So we're finally safe from Humboldt and his people?" Vin asked hopefully.

"Safety will always be an illusion," scoffed Ezra. "I won't be convinced this threat is eliminated until Humboldt is convicted and his organization completely dismantled."

Looking from Vin's now diminishing smile to Ezra's grim cynicism, Chris couldn't deny Ezra's dark view seemed fully justified given what the boys had gone through in the past few months. So Chris again did what he had been doing with the boys every day since their arrival in his life. He told them the brutal honest truth to the best of his ability. "Ezra's right in that there is still a lot of work to do in regards to taking Humboldt's organization apart; we've frozen all accounts connected to him and his businesses, and already begun the process of seizing his funds and assets. What's more our seizures have made headlines; everyone knows we have Humboldt's money, so at the very least the bounty to find and bring you boys to Humboldt is neutralized. I said before, I plan to keep you both in protective custody until Humboldt's trail is over and he's been convicted. A trial this big will likely take months or more, assuming Humboldt isn't smart enough to simply plead guilty."

Vin's face now looked relieved while Ezra's held a hint of smug satisfaction. Thinking he wouldn't get a better opportunity to suggest the idea floating through his thoughts for the past few weeks Chris began, "I've been wondering if, once the trial is over, you boys would consider continuing our current arrangement on a more permanent basis?"

Chris suspected the two weren't really half brothers, but he knew family was about more than blood and he intended to fight to keep both boys in his life regardless of DNA. Assuming, of course, they wanted to be in his life.

"Permanent, like we keep living here with you?" asked Vin, his eyes unusually bright.

"Are you offering some sort of foster situation?" Ezra demanded details. He knew what Vin wanted this to mean, but Ezra's own hopes had been crushed in the past, he couldn't afford to think in terms of happily ever after.

"Permanent, as in, I would like to legally adopt both of you, if you are willing," Chris clarified. His heart felt like it was pounding out a hard rock rhythm in his chest. Since he'd lost Sarah and Adam, Chris did his best to keep his emotions on lock down, allowing only anger and grief to occasionally escape. Yet somehow Vin and Ezra crept past all of his defenses and into his heart. The intense connection he'd formed with Vin soothed the ache of his family's loss, while Chris couldn't help but respect Ezra's intelligence and cunning while he protected his younger brother. Chris wanted to remain a guiding force in their lives, hopefully helping them to become the extraordinary men he knew they could be.

Vin's wide smile followed by a tackling hug nearly knocked Chris off his feet, "Ain't nothing I'd like more!"

Chris let out a pleased chuckle, relief sweeping away the nervousness that had crept in. Both males looked to Ezra to find the boy biting his lip pensively. Noticing their attention he offered, "You should definitely begin the adoption process for Vin, immediately."

"You too," Vin insisted in a pleading tone. Gaining a father would be a hallow victory if he lost his brother at the same time.

Ezra for his part barely maintained a cool façade. After he'd recovered from the bullet wound and subsequent infection, Ezra found he felt happier than any other time he could remember. Neither Maude nor any of the many partners/paramours/marks she'd kept company with ever invested even half the time and effort Chris put into protecting and caring for him. Admittedly, the agent remained a bit black and white in his perception of the law, but Ezra was willing to work around that. Further, even when his career demanded Chris's attention he always made sure the boys were protected by others from Team Seven. All of whom seemed to welcome Ezra and Vin's company far more willingly than the numerous relatives Maude had dumped Ezra on through the years. JD in particular always treated both boys as equals, never as children to be handled.

Ezra didn't want the situation to end; yet he knew it would eventually, from the moment he'd first uttered the lie about being Vin's half brother. Maude may have vanished for the moment, but it was only a matter of time before she reappeared to reclaim her 'darling boy', shattering their current, happy existence. Better to let Vin start his new life with Chris while Ezra faded into background, than risk Maude ruining things for everyone. Though Maude seemed loathe to properly meet her parental responsibilities, Ezra new she wouldn't let him go. She'd reappear at the worst possible moment, with some sob story about her disappearance while proclaiming to all and sundry how horrible it had been to be separated from her only child. Ezra remembered being six when an 'aunt' (really a third cousin of Maude's) tried to get permanent custody of Ezra. While many of the details were kept from him, Ezra did know Maude got what she wanted (in this case Ezra) and he had never been allowed to see Aunt Susan again.

"Is it being adopted, you don't like," Chris asked gruffly. There was still so much Ezra kept hidden. Chris was certain both boys enjoyed staying with him, but Ezra didn't reveal any clues to explain his negative response.

"I'm afraid I've been less than entirely forthcoming with you, Agent Larabee," Ezra admitted. The man frown at the formal address while Vin shook his head as if warning Ezra away from revealing all; a bit ironic given their usual predilections. "Vin is a true orphan with no close relatives interested in his wellbeing. I, on the other hand. . ." Ezra paused to swallow past his suddenly dry throat. "While my father died a decade ago, my mother is still alive and will no doubt reclaim me when she finds it convenient."

Chris struggled to rein in the anger at being blindsided by Ezra's surprising announcement. He suspected the boys were still keeping secrets, but he assumed it was about the boys not really being half brothers. Where on God's green earth had Ezra's mother been all these past months while her son was running for his life; nearly dying in a hail of bullets? For that matter, "What exactly do you mean by 'reclaim you when she finds it convenient'?" Chris demanded through gritted teeth.

Ezra expected Chris to be upset about being lied to; he just hadn't counted on this level of anger. "Simply, that she is a busy business woman who has many demands on her time and attention." Intellectually, Ezra knew most families worked differently than his own, yet Ezra only ever experienced life with Maude flitting in and out of his company on her own schedule; for him that was normal. Seeking to calm the ATF agent Ezra added, "She will come find me eventually. She always has in the past."

Chris's hands fisted as he fought the impulse to verbally lash out at a woman who would desert her child. Falling into a shouting match with a boy who still cared enough for his mother to defend her despite her absence would be counterproductive. Chris took a deep breath and tried to decide how best to question Ezra without further upsetting either of them.

Vin seemed less worried about Maude than Ezra, "Maybe you shouldn't want her to come find you. It was Maude's fault we ended up on Humboldt's hit list in the first place." Vin turn to Chris, "Ain't there laws about child abandonment or endangerment or something? Would he still get sent back to his mom if the judge knew she was the one who left him with Humboldt?"

"Vin!" Ezra gave a warning shout. Ezra might not be happy with all of Maude's choices but she was still his mother, and he didn't want to see her end up in jail. Besides, revealing such secrets would not support the appearances Maude preferred to present.

Meanwhile Chris teetered between anger and shock. "Your mother left you with Humboldt?"

Ezra hesitated a moment as he tried to summon a worthy excuse. "In her defense, Mother did not know Mr. Humboldt was involved in the illegal gun trade."

"But she knew he was into something illegal," countered Vin. He wasn't about to let Ezra's misplaced loyalty to Maude ruin their chances with Chris. "That's why she told Ezra to snoop through Humboldt's office and copy files off his computer. She wanted something she could use as blackmail and figured no one would suspect a kid of being able to get that kind of information." Vin could see Ezra clenching his jaw in some mixture of anger and distress, but figured in for a penny in for a pound. Chris needed to know exactly what kind of mother Maude was if they were to have any sort of chance at keeping Ezra as part of their family. "When Humboldt caught Ezra where he wasn't supposed to be, and things started to get bad, Maude just up and vanished with no more than a note telling Ezra to do the same. Only Humboldt already locked Ezra in his wine cellar by then, and I was the one who got Ezra out." With a final glance at Ezra's crumbling composure, Vin turned desperately to Chris, "Ain't there laws saying if you don't take care of your kids right, you don't get to keep them?"

Chris wanted to insist that, yes there were such laws, and he would personally make sure Maude fell victim to them. However, the hint of panic in Ezra's eyes cautioned Chris to act with more subtlety then his normal tendencies. "Yes there are laws regarding how children must be cared for by their parents and guardians, but the court also puts a priority on keeping families together whenever possible," Chris admitted. Deciding he needed to know all the details of the boys' situation before choosing his next move Chris continued, "Usually that would include keeping siblings together, but I think you may have also exaggerated when you said you were brothers." When Ezra's sad face looked away rather than deny Chris's assertion, it confirmed Chris's suspicion; the boys weren't really related.

Surprisingly, Vin folded his arms and insisted emphatically, "We're blood brothers!" with stomp of his foot and stubborn glare, challenging any to deny their connection.

"Vin," Ezra began, "While your mother's native tribe may still hold such connections as sacrosanct, the family courts of most states would give little weight to such a bond." Ezra tried his best to plaster an encouraging smile upon his face. "This is all the more reason for you to move forward with Mr. Larabee's plan. Then you won't be left alone when Mother eventually comes for me. Mr. Larabee has already proven himself an excellent parental role model, certain to properly guide you into adulthood."

"Quit with the five dollar words, Ezra," insisted Vin, swiping angrily at the moisture gathering in his eyes. "Chris being a good Dad, don't make it okay for you to be dragged off by your 'too busy to see if her own son is alive or not' mother. If you let Chris get custody of you now it will be too late for Maude to take you away from us."

"The process of a full adoption takes time and requires the biological parent's rights first be terminated," explained Ezra. This was something Ezra researched as soon as he saw how close Vin had grown to Chris. What he found, combined with his knowledge of Maude's methods left little room to hope he and Vin would be allowed to stay together long term. Though Ezra once considered running away with Vin to escape a potential separation, now he believed adoption by Chris was the best possible outcome for Vin. This meant Ezra would have to sacrifice his own preferences, but he deemed fulfilling Vin's need for a father, worth the price. "I may not know when Mother will choose to reappear, but I am certain she will prevent an adoption from taking place."

"Ezra," began Chris after forcing his thoughts into focus. "Do you object to me maintaining custody until your mother does return?"

"Not at all," assured Ezra. "I just don't want to raise Vin's hopes up regarding anything more permanent. It did not end well for the last person who tried to take me from Mother."

"What do you mean?" asked Chris.

"My Aunt Susan, well actually she was a distant cousin of Mother's," explained Ezra, "Anyway, she petitioned the court for permanent custody of me when I was six, after Mother left me in her care for what was supposed to be two weeks but ended up closer to seven months. Yet, when Mother did return, she easily convinced the judge I belonged with her. I wasn't allowed to see or contact Aunt Susan again." Ezra turned to Vin. "That's why we can't do anything which might draw Mother's ire. As long as we don't cause her any problems, she should let me stay in contact with you." Ezra hated the idea of having his contact with Vin limited to letters, emails and the occasional phone call, but as the most likely alternative was no contact at all, Ezra would take what little he could get.

"Okay," Chris sighed after a deep breath. "First, I will start the process of legally adopting Vin." Seeing Vin prepare to argue, Chris insisted, "Ezra, is not going to thank either of us if I pursue an adoption he's not ready for. Besides, adoptions can be a long drawn out process even under the best of circumstances, better to start yours immediately. While that process is happening, I will find out what I need to do to make custody of Ezra as permanent as possible while also looking into where Ezra's mother is." Seeing Ezra begin to protest Chris continued, "We have to find out where your mother is, if only to confirm she also escaped Humboldt." Chris hated seeing Ezra's suddenly worried face but really couldn't see any other reason a parent would fail to claim their child. "Hopefully, you're right and your mother is simply taking care of business elsewhere, but to verify that I need her full name, birth date and any other information you can give me."

"Don't forget her aliases," Vin insisted a bit sullenly.

"Aliases?" asked Chris.

"Mother sometimes finds it necessary to employ a nom de guerre while conducting business transactions," Ezra rushed to explain.

Chris did his best not to react to yet more information indicating Maude was little more than a selfish con woman. "Having any nom de guerres Maude may have used in the past could definitely help us find her."

Ezra hesitated. Maude was quite clear about the necessity of keeping such information secret, but he hadn't heard anything from her, not a call, not a text, not even an email to their prearranged mail box in months. What if something really had happened to her? Ezra finally nodded his surrender, "Maude Rachel Standish, Rachel Stanhope, Mary Stanley . . ." Ezra continued to recite names, dates and locations while Chris scrambled for a pen and paper.

M7-S-M7-S-M7-S-M7

Seven and a half months later.

M7-S-M7-S-M7-S-M7

Chris Larabee sat on one side of a metal table bolted to the floor in a drab beige meeting room within the Kentucky Women's Correctional Facility. After a few minutes Maude Standish (she of over two dozen aliases) was brought to the room by a guard and instructed to sit in the empty chair across from Chris.

"Maude Standish?" Chris extended a hand in a friendly, yet business like greeting. "My name is Chris Larabee. I'm a senior supervisory agent with the ATF. I'm here today because your name came up in regards to a recent investigation." Chris kept his best acting skills forward as he kept his tone even while he pulled a recorder from his brief case, "With your permission I would like to record our conversation. Be advised you are not required to answer any questions, but your cooperation could help you at your next parole hearing." Chris spotted just the barest hint of calculation before Maude's countenance morphed into one of sweet southern charm.

"Of course, I would be delighted to help a fine upstanding officer of the law like yourself," assured Maude, "though it might help if I knew exactly what investigation you are referring to."

"We recently arrested Michael Humboldt on numerous weapons trafficking charges. Your name was on the list compiled of current and former associates," Chris explained. "Anything you can tell us about him will be greatly appreciated."

"And rewarded too, I hope," pled Maude. "After all a lady in my unfortunate circumstances simply can't afford to be completely altruistic. I'm not asking for much, just a kind word to the board at my parole hearing as you promised. For all the valuable information I'm willing to provide about that horrible Mr. Humboldt."

"To clarify," countered Chris, "I haven't promised you anything. I said your cooperation could help you at your next parole hearing. But how many kind words I share with the board will depend entirely upon how honestly you answer my questions." Watching the wounded innocence Maude affected, Chris admitted the woman was a skilled actress. It was probably just as well, he already knew the answers to most of the questions he planned to ask. "Let's start with the first time you recall meeting Michael Humboldt."

During the next thirty minutes Chris prompted Maude to reveal many of the details of her relationship with Humboldt. He even got eye-witness corroboration when Maude described a dinner meeting with Mexican business men that matched a dated reference to a cartel meeting. Yet through all of Maude's descriptions there was one person very notably missing.

". . . at that point I realized just how dangerous Mr. Humboldt was and I left immediately. In fact, it was my desperate flight from that criminal which led me to make the foolish choices lead to my incarceration." Chris could not help the way the left corner of his mouth twitched up as he listened to Maude blame Humboldt for her current residence. Never mind the gun runner had nothing to do with the con woman's scheme to sell forged artwork as valuable masterpieces.

"It was probably wise of you to leave Mr. Humboldt when you did," Chris agreed. Looking over his notes Chris decided he was unlikely to get any more information for Kelly regarding the investigation. Now the time had come to ask some much more pointed questions about her part in Ezra's abandonment. "Can you tell me if there were others in Humboldt's sphere of influence who might have been unaware of his criminal activities, as you say you were, or perhaps someone innocent of any participation in his crimes?"

"Well I doubt the maid was involved in Michael's business, I also seem to recall a couple of stable boys that were no doubt innocent of any wrong doing," Maude offered. She was clearly fishing for information when she continued, "I do hope wait staff and those poor boys weren't hurt when Humboldt was arrested."

Chris reminded himself that screaming at Maude for pretending her son did not exist or was merely some unrelated stable boy would not be a productive end to this meeting. Taking a breath Chris gave Maude one more chance to reveal Ezra's existence. "There were no injuries during Humboldt's arrest," Chris replied. "Is there anyone else you can think of who might have useful knowledge about Humboldt or his organization?"

"No," assured Maude, "I can't think of anyone else who might possess information of any value. Though if I learn of someone who does I will, of course, contact you immediately." Maude was really poring on the charm, though it failed to distract Chris.

"So you don't know anyone who might know more about Humboldt's criminal organization?" persisted Chris.

Maude's sweet southern smile faltered for the first time. "Surely, you don't think I would try to hide anything from an officer of the law like yourself," Maude's voice held more than a bit of wounded offence.

"Are you saying," demanded Chris, "that you didn't instruct someone to copy Humboldt's hard drive for the purpose of potential blackmail?" Chris's glare cataloged Maude's every body tick and facial reaction. He gave her several chances to mention her son, now it was time to lay cards on the table and see what excuse Maude would come up with for abandoning Ezra.

Maude's expression flickered through surprise and worry before settling on anger. "I would like to know precisely who has accused me of such things," she demanded in a haughty manor.

"The person who freed Ezra from Humboldt's locked wine cellar thereby saving his life," Chris replied watching her reaction to her son's name.

"Ezra," Maude's voice cracked for the first time.

"You do have a thirteen year old son named Ezra, correct," Chris said.

Maude nodded somewhat hesitantly.

"I find it interesting that there is no mention of Ezra in your file or with the Kentucky Health and Family Services," Chris commented. "In fact, we could not find any reference to the name or social security number of Ezra Standish after a custody battle in Georgia six years ago. I believe a distant cousin of yours was suing for guardianship of Ezra and charging you with abandonment."

"Scurrilous charges that were found to be entirely without merit by the presiding judge," Maude replied heatedly.

"The presiding judge you blackmailed into ruling in your favor by threatening to reveal his affair to his terminally ill wife," Chris countered. Maude appeared shocked Chris knew about the leverage she'd used against the family court judge. Smiling somewhat predatorily, Chris explained, "The Judge's wife died five years ago, after which Judge Parson not only married his mistress but also stepped down from the bench, admitted his wrongdoing and accepted censure regarding your case. The judge who took over Parson's caseload tried to bring you and Ezra back to reevaluate the case but as I mentioned before, Ezra seemingly disappeared as did you."

"I simply did what was necessary to protect the integrity of my family from those trying to tear us apart; as any devoted mother would," Maude declared passionately. "Only another parent could understand the extremes we are willing to go to protect our children."

"But I am the parent of three sons," Chris admitted. "Losing my firstborn and his mother to murder has only made me more protective of the two boys left in my care."

"Then you can understand," insisted Maude, "I had to protect my son."

"I believe you and I have a very different definition of protecting one's child," Chris disagreed. Then he began to pull new papers from his brief case. "Over the last few months I've spoken with dozens of boarding schools, summer camps, sleep away camps, and nannies. Despite your efforts to make Ezra disappear we've put together a very complete timeline of where Ezra has been and who he has been with since you took him from your cousin Susan Hayward's care. According to these you haven't spent more than fifteen weeks in Ezra's company in any of the last seven years. In fact, in the year leading up to Humboldt's arrest you were with Ezra only three weeks before instructing him to copy Humboldt's computer hard drive, and subsequently abandoning him when caught Humboldt caught Ezra in his office."

"I didn't abandon Ezra," Maude protested. "I left him a note when I realized how dangerous Humboldt was. Ezra was supposed to meet me somewhere safe as soon as he could get away."

Chris jaw clinched in anger. He pulled another set of papers from his brief case, turning them towards Maude. "This is a sworn statement from Humboldt's maid, Mariah Reese, detailing how she told you Ezra had been caught snooping in Michael Humboldt's office by Mr. Renfrew, and then locked in Humboldt's wine cellar. Instead of going to release Ezra, you grabbed a few belongings, announced you had more shopping to do and left with only a note in Ezra's room which he had no way to reach. You abandoned Ezra to the tender mercies of a gun runner and never looked back," Chris charged. "Were it not for the interference of a third party Ezra's body would likely be laying in a cold shallow grave."

"That is not how it happened," insisted Maude, "I trained Ezra well. I knew he would easily be able to escape something as simple as a locked room."

"What about the armed guard Renfrew assigned?" asked Chris, "Was Ezra supposed to fight his way out?"

"I taught Ezra to out think his opponents," Maude declared, "Which he clearly did or you wouldn't know so much about what happened. Ezra is an extraordinarily talented and intelligent boy, just as I raised him to be."

Chris lifted a brow at Maude's claim. "It takes more than a few scattered days and weeks in someone's company to raise them," said Chris. "Though I find it interesting that you are claiming Ezra now; when you were arrested; and even all through you trial and conviction you claimed to have no children."

"I was protecting Ezra from the inadequacies of governmental childcare," Maude explained. "My Ezra doesn't belong in some group or foster home."

"Then you will be happy to know Ezra is in neither," Chris told her. "He has been permanently placed in a home with his blood brother, Vin." At Maude's confused look, Chris clarified, "Vin is the one who rescued Ezra from Humboldt and helped him stay safe while they fled Humboldt's men and the bounty Humboldt placed on their heads. It took them months to find a safe haven, months during which Ezra tried to contact you repeatedly begging for help. Help you never gave." Maude started to sputter, but Chris pressed his advantage. "You chose to abandon Ezra to his fate, so now his fate has been taken out of your hands." Chris removed a final set of documents for Maude to look at. "This is a court order suspending your custodial rights regarding the minor Ezra Standish. You will receive copies of Ezra's report cards, medical updates and other information on his continued growth and development, but you will have no further say in how he is raised. The green paper contains times and contact information should you wish to reconnect with Ezra via telephone or video conference."

"Of course I want to see my darling baby boy," declared Maude while pulling the green sheet to the top. "I should be allowed to see him in person. Other prisoners are allowed to visit with their children. I want Ezra brought to me now," she demanded with bluster.

"We will not be dragging Ezra across state lines just because your most recent whim is to play mother to the child you refused to acknowledge just ten minutes ago," Chris asserted. "And let me be very clear. Your actions more than meet the legal definitions of abandonment: A. to leave a child without financial support or information regarding the parent's return or B. to place the child in an unsafe situation with the potential for serious harm. Either action is grounds for terminating parental rights and you did both. Even if you somehow convince others of your love and devotion for your son; time is not on your side. The Adoption and Safe Families Act requires State agencies to file a petition to terminate parental rights when a child has been without parental guidance or in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months," Chris revealed. "Ezra was on the run for three and an half months after you left him behind, and has been in protective custody for the eight and a half months since. You are not due to be released for another five months, even if you can sweet talk the parole board into granting you an early release that is still two months away."

Chris closed the brief case and stood. "Despite all you have done and failed to do, Ezra still wishes to maintain some contact with you, Ms. Standish. When you've been released you can petition the courts for supervised visits with him."

"Supervised?" asked Maude in dismay.

"Supervised," Chris confirmed. "Even Ezra doesn't trust you not to do something foolish and illegal. I won't allow you to place him in harm's way again."

"Why do you care so much?" wondered Maude. "What's your angle?"

"Unlike you I don't need an angle to care for my boys," said Chris. At Maude's confused expression Chris revealed, "When I mentioned being protective of the two sons remaining in my care, Ezra was one of the sons I was referring to. I've been protecting him from Humboldt and all other threats for more than eight months and I intend to continue protecting him until he's an adult no longer needing my care."

"You think you can take my son from me?" demanded Maude angrily.

"I never had to take him from you," replied Chris with a hint of derision. "You walked away from him; left him behind as though he were nothing. I will never make the same mistake. Don't try to fight me for Ezra," Chris warned, "You won't win."

"Ezra is my son! My blood," Maude declared, "He belongs to me. Nobody takes what's mine."

"If you want to fight, I'll have my lawyer petition to sever your maternal rights immediately," Chris replied with surprising calm. He turned off the recorder and slipped it into his pocket before walking out of the room.

M7-S-M7-S-M7-S-M7

"Boys," Chris called out as he entered the ranch. "I'm home."

"Dad!" a missile in the shape of an eleven year old Vin Tanner tackled Chris around his middle. "I'm glad you're back."

Chris noticed Ezra hanging back and teasingly challenged, "Didn't you miss me, Ezra?"

"I may have noticed a decided absence of bellowed orders," Ezra admitted aloofly.

"Don't listen to him," countered Vin. "He's asked everyone of the team when you'd be back at least twice."

"Actually," JD entered the conversation, "I think he asked Buck about five or six times, but I think that was more about trying to irritate Buck when he started going on as he does." JD shut down and closed up the laptop he'd brought for his say at the ranch.

"That is a gross exaggeration," insisted Ezra. "I was merely curious as to when you would return so that I might better plan for our upcoming move to Cascade." Ezra edged closer before asking, "Did you speak with my mother?" with a heavier than usual southern accent.

"Yeah," admitted Chris. "How about we sit down while I tell you about it?"

"I'll grab my stuff," JD offered, "and get out of your way so you can talk in private." JD felt certain Chris would let the team know anything they needed to know after he talked it out with the boys. Grabbing his overnight bag JD slipped out with a quick goodbye.

Chris, Ezra and Vin settled at the table with sandwiches and juice. Chris pulled out the recorder he'd been carrying since Kentucky. "For the record I didn't shoot Maude despite great temptation," Chris began, "I didn't even threaten her," at Vin and Ezra's disbelieving looks he qualified with, "much."

"What did Mother have to say?" asked Ezra

"I recorded the whole conversation so you can listen to it later if you need to, but in summery; I spent the first part of our conversation interviewing her about Humboldt and what she knew. I gave her several opportunities to mention you, but when she didn't I confronted her. Things got a bit heated, she claimed she knew you'd be able to escape without her help and was protecting you by remaining silent. I found her excuses less than compelling, but still gave her the contact information so she could call you."

Ezra studied Chris for several quiet seconds before asking, "Are you expecting her to fight your guardianship of me?"

"Yes," admitted Chris, "but I expected that walking in." Chris still could not understand why any parent would abandon their child. "That's why we waited as long as we did. Not only to give ourselves time to build an airtight case in our favor, but to allow Maude's own continued silence to confirm her guilt." Chris rested a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "Right now Maude doesn't have a legal leg to stand on, and we've got the whole team backing us up to make sure she never gets the chance to try anything illegal."

"Actually, I'm beginning to wonder if she would really bother. It's been a year since she left me behind in Humboldt's mansion, and not once during that time did she do anything to even acknowledge my existence." The past eight months with Chris had radically changed the way Ezra viewed his mother and her actions. When Chris first suggested adoption barely a month into their stay Ezra still believed Maude cared for him and would come for him. But as Ezra checked into the email accounts his mother had set up and month after month and received no reply his faith in his mother faded. When Chris confirmed Maude survived her flight from Humboldt unharmed it only drove home her disregard for her child. "If she is suddenly acting the role of caring mother, well she's likely doing so because she believes it will impress the parole board or whoever else she thinks matters most. Once she's free though, she's just as likely to disappear as she has in the past. Then we can move forward with the abandonment petition. We could even file an adoption petition . . . assuming you still want to." Ezra's voice cracked on the last few words. While his eyes shimmered with vulnerability the young conman seldom revealed.

Chris pushed up out of his chair only to drop to his knees in front of Ezra. "Look at me Ezra," Chris insisted when the boy's eyes dropped to the ground. "It doesn't matter what the law says. I'll always want you as my son. I'll always love you as my son." Ezra's only response was to draw in a shuddering breath before launching forward to wrap his arms around Chris in a rare hug.

The sound of a wooden chair sliding across the floor heralded Vin's arrival as the youngest of the three wound his arms around the other two and declared, "We're going to be family forever."

"Forever," Chris agreed, despite the harsh life experiences which taught him such promises were easily broken. The only thing that could have made this moment better would have been sharing it with Sarah and Adam. Maybe it was just a foolish fancy but Chris felt certain Sarah and Adam would love Vin and Ezra as much as he did. Just as Chris began expecting the boys to pull back from the hug in typical male embarrassment, he felt a whisper of finger near his ribs signaling the first volley in an all out, three way tickle war.

Sometime later all three found themselves lying on their backs panting in happy exhaustion with no clear winner, not that any of them really cared. "So here's the plan," declared Chris. "Tonight, I'll contact the lawyer to move forward with both petitions and tomorrow we'll start packing for our move to Cascade, Washington. Questions?"

"No" from both boys led Chris to stand and offer each a hand up.

"Then go get ready for bed," instructed Chris. "We're going to have a lot of work to do in the morning."

For the first time in quite a while all three males were looking forward to the future.

M7-S-M7-S-M7-S-M7

The End