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

Warnings: Angst, Slash, Violence

Rating: FRT

Found

Chapter 10

Chris straightened his tie for what must have been the fifth time. He hadn't been this nervous since the night he'd asked Sarah to marry him. "Get a hold of yourself Larabee, it isn't like you don't know the man," he admonished himself. Glancing at himself in the mirror one more time, he hoped that Ezra would like what he had chosen. He knew he looked good in the black dress jeans and dark blue shirt, he'd had enough searing glances from others whenever he wore the outfit to doubt that. However, he also knew that Ezra was a stickler for proper attire and he wasn't at all sure the man would appreciate the clothes Chris had chosen, even if he had made the concession of putting on a dark blue tie that matched his shirt perfectly. "God Larabee, could you sound any more like a woman?" With a nervous start he glanced around the room, wondering if it was possible for a ghost to smack him upside of the head; if Sarah had heard him he didn't doubt a smack, at the very least, was in his near future.

Giving himself a mental shake, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the front door. The drive to Ezra's townhouse had settled his nerves pretty well. Still, they returned in full force as he made his way up the walk. His breath caught in his throat as the door swung open, giving him a full view of Ezra's clothing. He had known the man looked good in whatever he wore, but this hadn't been anything like he had expected.

"Is something wrong Chris?" Ezra smirked. He knew exactly what was wrong and it took some effort to stifle the laughter which threatened to escape. Though he had known Chris would expect to see his dinner companion clothed in an Armani suit, Ezra had opted instead for an outfit very similar to his date's, with the exception that his shirt was a dark green rather than blue.

"No, um," Chris licked his lips, "nothing's wrong." Chris couldn't seem to stop staring, the black jeans hugged Ezra's body as if they had been made especially for him. Knowing Ezra, that might very well be true he supposed. "Are you ready?" he managed to ask, clamping down on his rising desire with some effort.

"Just let me get my jacket," Ezra replied.

"Thought everything you owned was Armani," Chris commented as they drove to the restaurant.

Ezra's green eyes sparkled mischievously, "What makes you think these aren't Armani?"

Chris threw him a startled glance, "I thought all they made was suits."

"They make quite a few things Chris," Ezra couldn't help chuckling. "I wasn't sure where we were going tonight, but I assumed you would be more comfortable in jeans than a suit," he added, growing serious. "I see I was correct in that assumption."

"Yeah," Chris agreed. "I'm glad you decided to go with jeans, I was just a little surprised is all."

"Understandable, after all the only time you've seen me in jeans was that awful day when Vin was missing. Though I don't suppose you even noticed what I was wearing that day, we all had more important things on our minds."

"I noticed, but I had forgotten."

Ezra acknowledged this with a tilt of his head, "Again understandable. Where are we going, if I may ask?"

"The Golden Europe Restaurant, I know how much you like the place."

Ezra smiled, touched that Chris would choose his favorite restaurant for their first date. "Thank you."

Chris gave him a bright smile, "You're welcome. I thought maybe after dinner we could go dancing, if you like."

"I would enjoy that," Ezra said, feeling suddenly shy.

The rest of the drive was made in companionable silence. Pulling up at the restaurant, Chris parked and uncertainly placed his hand on the small of Ezra's back as they walked inside.

Warmth suffused Ezra's body, beginning from the spot where Chris' hand lay. It was strange, or perhaps not, and though it could be seen as a possessive gesture, it didn't feel possessive, rather it felt loving and protective.

"I want to ask you something Ezra, but I'm not sure if I should," Chris said as the waitress left to get their drinks.

"Perhaps you should ask and if I deem it too personal or inappropriate I will simply refuse to answer," Ezra suggested.

Chris nodded, "How long have you known you liked men?"

Ezra smiled, he had wondered how long it would take the man to ask. "Since I was fifteen, and you?"

"I realized it when I was in college. I never had any serious relationships though until I met Sarah."

"I was never really attracted to women myself. I have met a few I admired, I suspect your Sarah would have fallen into that category, but I've never had a desire to become romantically involved with one."

"Have you had many serious relationships?" After a moment Chris began to regret his question. If Ezra's silence was anything to go by he must have upset him. "I'm sorry Ez, I shouldn't have asked you that," he apologized, assuming he had reminded Ezra of Doug Lawerence.

"No need to apologize Chris," Ezra quickly absolved the man. "I was simply considering the question. I'm not sure any of my relationships could be considered serious. There were a couple that lasted a few months each, but I wouldn't deem them to be truly serious." Ezra paused, he needed to explain this carefully lest Chris get the wrong idea, or even worse, the right idea. "I suppose my former relationship with Doug Lawerence was as close as I ever came to a serious relationship. Even so, it wasn't a true partnership as I suspect your marriage was. Doug always wanted to be in control and the feelings I had for him quickly began to wane. Then came the accusations of corruption and he ended the relationship." Even now it hurt to accept that he had been tossed away like a piece of trash at the first hint of any taint, in spite of his own waning feelings. "It's just as well he did, as I'm sure I wouldn't have continued the relationship for much longer any way."

"No, I don't suppose you would have," Chris smiled grimly. "I can't imagine you allowing anybody to control you Ez, any more than I would."

"It doesn't bother you?"

"Hell no," Chris swore. "If I wanted somebody to yes dear me I could've chosen Annie Price."

"Ah yes, the lovely Miss Price," Ezra smiled. "I wondered why you only offered to be her escort on a few occasions."

Chris laughed, he could hear the teasing in the other man's voice. "You knew," he accused good-naturedly.

"Of course," he smiled. "She was entirely unsuited to you. Though I will admit, I wasn't sure why, but I knew she wasn't right for you."

"Too timid, too quick to agree with my ideas and desires. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for daily fights, but I don't want somebody that's going to just lay down and let me make all of the decisions either."

"That's very nearly what Buck said."

"I wondered what he had said to make you decide to give me a chance."

Ezra blushed, he hadn't intended to say that. "Perhaps we should decide what we would like to order," he suggested, effectively changing the subject. Nothing more was said about relationships. After their orders were placed and during dinner, the conversation centered more on getting to know each other as more than friends and co-workers. From discussing their very different childhoods to talking about things such as political viewpoints, the two men spent their time learning all they could about each other.

Later at the club Chris had chosen for dancing, they spent most of their time on the dance floor in each other's arms. Though several admiring glances were given to each man, as well as offers for dances, the two would be lovers had eyes only for each other.

"I had a wonderful time Chris," Ezra smiled. Looking up at the blond, he wondered if Chris would kiss him.

"I'm glad Ezra," Chris quietly spoke. He traced down Ezra's cheek with one long finger, a smile forming on his lips. Aware of what the smaller man had all too recently been through, he hesitated. "Ezra," he whispered, "I want to kiss you."

Ezra smiled, his eyes sparkling, "I want you to ki..." that was as far as he got. Soft lips brushed over his as hands wrapped around him, drawing him closer. Ezra moaned into the wonderful kiss, parting his lips in silent invitation. Threading his fingers through Chris' hair, he pulled the man closer as the kiss deepened.

Chris felt like he was floating amid the stars; no kiss had effected him so deeply since the loss of his wife. For a moment he wondered if he had rushed Ezra and then the lips beneath his parted. A deep growl of desire sounded as he eagerly deepened the kiss, all doubt fleeing as the smaller man pulled him closer. "Wow," he breathed, awe-struck by the intense feelings of love and desire welling up from the depths of his soul.

"Indeed," Ezra whispered his agreement.

"I want to stay Ezra, but I won't," Chris quickly added. He hadn't missed the flare of fear in Ezra's eyes. "I want to do this right baby," he whispered. "I never want you to regret being with me, not for the smallest fraction of a second."

"Thank you," Ezra softly replied.

"Are you coming out to the ranch tomorrow?"

"Of course. Do you wish, that is, would you prefer that we are not open around the others?"

Chris quickly tamped down on the rage he felt towards Doug Lawerence. There was no mistaking the tension in the smaller man as he unconsciously waited for Chris' reaction to what was in fact a reasonable question. "Only if you want to keep it a secret. I've never hidden any relationship I've been in, serious or not, and I won't start now. Would you rather it was a secret?"

"No," came the quick reply. "I've never been comfortable hiding relationships, but I know some people prefer it that way."

Chris leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss across Ezra's lips. "Partners Ez, equal partners, remember that."

"I'll remember," Ezra smiled.

Over the course of the next month, Chris repeatedly proved his words to Ezra. They spent every night, allowable by their work load, together. Dinner, dancing, horseback riding, attending the rodeo for Chris and the next night attending a play for Ezra. The more time they spent together, the more they wanted to be with each other constantly. Luckily, as they both realized, that wasn't possible. If it had been, each man would probably have shot the other by the end of a month's time. As it was, the threat had been voiced at least twice by both men, surprising nobody, least of all the two men in question.

"I love you Ezra Standish," Chris whispered. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Do you not wish..."

"Hell yeah I wish," Chris quickly cut him off. "Fact is I've been wishing since we got you back from that bastard, but I don't want you rushing yourself for me."

Ezra smiled, "I love you Chris and if there were ever a man I would be willing to rush myself for you would be him, but I'm not rushing. I want to be your's in every way that counts, before I make you mine as well."

There was no mistaking the desire in Ezra's voice, bringing a lustful smile to Chris' face. "Sure you don't want to make me your's first?"

"I knew you were after him all along," a cold voice sounded from the hall.

Chris turned, instinctively placing his body between Ezra and the threat. Ezra was having none of it though as he moved to stand next to Chris; they would face this demon together. "What do you want?"

"Really Larabee you must know the answer to that," Doug sneered disdainfully.

"I am not your property Doug. I won't go with you," Ezra vowed.

"Oh but you will," Doug insisted. "The only question is, will Larabee be alive or dead when you leave here with me?"

Chris bristled, "He's not going with you."

Ezra glanced at his lover, "I have to Chris, I can't let him kill you."

"Ezra he's going to kill me any way," Chris softly pointed out.

"I don't believe he will, it is simply a feint," Ezra said, putting slight emphasis on the word feint.

Chris gave him a puzzled look, then it came to him. Last weekend the whole team had gotten up an impromptu football game. The winning play had been made by Vin, who had made a feint to the left, only to tumble to the right, throwing the ball for the winning touchdown as he came to his feet.

"May I have a moment to say good-bye?"

Doug scowled, reluctantly giving his permission. Still, even though he had given permission, he would have to punish Ezra later for his transgression.

Moving to stand in front of Chris, Ezra wrapped his arms around the taller man. As they kissed, he surreptitiously brought out the small derringer he always carried and slipped it into the back of Chris' waistband. "I love you," he whispered as the kiss ended.

"I love you too," Chris returned. If this ended badly he didn't want Ezra to have any doubts on that count.

"All right that's enough," Doug growled. "Come here Ezra," he ordered. To his shock the order wasn't obeyed.

Ezra suddenly dropped to the floor as Chris feinted left in a copy of Vin's move on the football field. However, when he came up it wasn't a ball in his hands, but a small derringer and like Vin, his aim was true. The force of the bullet slamming into his chest drove Doug backwards a step before he dropped to the floor.

He looked up at Ezra as he and Chris loomed over him. "You were always a temptation I couldn't resist," he whispered as he breathed his last.

"Are you okay Ez?" Chris gently asked, drawing his lover's attention away from the body on the floor.

Ezra forced himself to look away from the man on the floor. A small shudder ran through him, "I'm fine, are you uninjured?"

"Not a scratch on me," Chris smiled. "That was some quick thinking Ez," he praised. "Though I'm not sure if I should be insulted or not to find out you're taking a gun on our dates," he teased.

Ezra flashed him a small smile, a surge of gratitude flooding him for the man in front of him. "Habit I assure you, I'd feel naked without it."

Chris nodded his understanding, "Let's go in the den and call the police from there." He didn't wait for an answer, but simply placed his hand on Ezra's back, gently leading him from the bloody scene in the hall. After making the call, he phoned Buck. He quickly explained what had happened and after assuring his friend that they were both fine, he put Buck in charge at the office the next day, knowing he and Ezra would be taking the day off.

Events moved rapidly after that. Soon the police were there, along with the FBI and a representative of the ATF. Chris and Ezra were questioned separately and the derringer taken as evidence, along with Doug's gun. By the time the questioning was over, Chris was fuming. "You gonna tell me now how he got out and why we weren't notified?" he demanded of the agents milling about his living room. It wasn't the first time he'd asked, but he swore it would be the last.

Agent Wilkinson must have sensed that the blond agent was at the end of his patience, or his finely tuned sense of self-preservation finally kicked in. In either event he opted to answer the question. "He convinced a judge, actually we suspect bribery was involved, into setting bail. It was done at the end of the workday and I wasn't notified myself until an hour after his release. I did attempt to contact Agent Standish but was unsuccessful."

"Unsuccessful? I know he wasn't home but you were given his cell phone number, why didn't you call it?" Chris growled.

Ezra placed a calming hand on his lover's arm, "I just checked Chris, I have three missed calls on my cell phone. They most likely came in when we were dining." Ezra smiled at the puzzled look, "I can never receive calls within that building," he explained.

Chris nodded, accepting the other man's explanation. "Are we done here?" he asked Agent Wilkinson.

"Yes, but I must ask that you stay somewhere else until our investigation is complete. This is, after all, a crime scene."

He didn't like it, but Chris understood the reasoning. "Can I pack an overnight bag?"

"Yes, of course."

"Oh, and I assume it will be okay if I come out to take care of my animals or send somebody to do so."

"As long as they or you don't enter the house until we clear the scene, yes."

A short time later Chris and Ezra were once again in the truck, headed back to town. Nothing was said during the drive, each man lost in his own thoughts. Walking into Ezra's townhouse, Chris headed for the guest room.

"I thought perhaps you would...never mind," Ezra cut himself off. What was he thinking? Of course Chris wouldn't want him now. He had probably, rightly so, decided that he was more trouble than he was worth.

Chris turned, quickly closing the space between them. "You want me to share your bed?"

"You don't have to."

"Have to? Ezra I want to be with you, only you...I just thought you might not be up to it tonight."

"I admit it was an upsetting turn of events, but I will not allow that man to ruin our first time together."

"Are you sure?"

Ezra nodded, "Besides, I have a set of black silk sheets I still need to try out," he teased.

"Remind me to thank Buck later," Chris whispered.

Ezra tilted his head, giving Chris better access to his neck, a shiver of pleasure flowing through him. "We'll send him and Vin to a resort I know of; oh God, please Chris I need you," he moaned.

Chris' eyes darkened with lust. Without a word he scooped the smaller man into his arms and marched into the bedroom. As he set Ezra on his feet, he took in the dark coverings on the bed, a grin growing on his face. "Thought you said you hadn't tried them out yet," he teased as he reached for his lover's shirt buttons.

"I haven't, I was hoping to get the chance tonight."

"Why didn't you say something earlier?"

"Making love to you is more important than where, besides if we had stayed at the ranch they still would have been here tomorrow."

Chris laughed, "Good point." Taking a step back, his eyes swept over the naked magnificence of his lover, the desire he felt obvious to see. "Undress me Ez," he thickly ordered.

Ezra felt a surge of desire shoot to his groin; stepping forward he slowly carried out his lover's order. Stepping into the taller man's arms, he looked up at him.

"I've never made love on silk sheets," Chris whispered.

"I would have to say it is past time you did," Ezra returned, and with a gentle shove he pushed his lover onto the silk covered bed.

The End

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