Vin was about to attack Josiah and Chris had started for him as well when Jim commanded, “Stop!” Then dragging Vin back towards Chris he told the two men, “Let me handle it.”

Jim turned to Josiah and got up in the man´s face. “Josiah, you don´t understand about the guide and sentinel relationship. A guide is chosen for life, there is no way a sentinel would ever abandon his guide. What these three men have is a lifetime commitment to each other. Simply put, they are mated till death. What you almost did would kill each of them very slowly.”

Josiah knew that Ellison was telling the truth and he paled as the full realization hit him. Collapsing back onto the couch he looked at the three men. “Oh God! What did I do? I was just trying to protect him.”

Chris was still angry with Josiah, but the man´s obvious concern for Ezra was slowly mollifying him. Kneeling in front of the older man Chris told him, “Look Josiah, you made a mistake but you were only looking after Ezra, I can´t hold that against you. Now you know how much Ezra means to Vin and me. I promise we will look after him and love him with all our hearts and souls.”

Josiah looked deep into Chris´ eyes and saw only the truth. Resting his hand on Chris´ shoulder Josiah told him, “I´ll hold you both to that promise, and I will make sure that Ezra knows how much you both love him. I will go help JD and Buck track down some leads now. Don´t worry Chris, we´ll find him.”

Smiling up at the older man Chris said, “Thanks, Josiah.” Then he turned an angry glare on the other culprit, but he knew this one hadn´t had Ezra´s best interests at heart. “Okay Jackson, your turn. What the hell did you do to him?”

Nathan wasn´t about to be put off by Josiah´s change of heart. “Look, this is so full of holes that you can drive a truck through it. Why are you three mated and not Ellison and Sandburg? I´m telling you that Ezra is up to no good and he´s slipped you something to make you and Vin think that you have enhanced senses.”

Ellison reached out to drag Chris back from lunging at the disbelieving man. “Look Jackson, Blair can show you test after test that proves sentinels do exist and that both Chris and Vin are what they are. The reason Blair and I are not mated is because our bond doesn´t require it - but theirs does.”

Nathan just looked suspiciously at the detective. “I have done some research on your partner and he is just as shady as Ezra. He admitting to lying about modern-day sentinels. He should have been thrown off the police force for that, but instead you´re protecting him. Why? Or maybe he is your supplier is that it?”

It was Chris´ turn to hold Ellison back from making a lunge at the medic. “Blair had to retract everything because the thesis was making our lives a living hell. He ruined his reputation to protect me. “

Jim made another attempt at getting to Jackson, who suddenly found himself looking up into eyes that were no longer blue but gold and slit like a cat´s. Nathan knew that only contacts could do something like that, but there was no way that Ellison could have slipped them in. Fascinated he asked, “How did you do that? How did you change your eyes?”

The three men though that Jackson had finally flipped. “What are you talking about?” demanded Vin.

Then it dawned on Ellison, his spirit guide was emerging because his guide was in danger. He turned to look at his brother sentinels to see if they too were showing the same signs, but they were not. Instead the two panthers were pacing around the two men and growling softly in worry and anger.

Vin gasped at the change in the older sentinel but then he noticed the two large panthers, one of which he had seen in the dream world. If that one was his spirit guide then the other was Chris´. He saw the little white wolf at the same time the two cats did; it lay on its side blindfolded and bound and whimpering in pain. Somehow he knew that it was reflecting what was happening to his beloved southerner.

Both Blair and Ezra were bound and blindfolded as the van sped away from Denver, but not before two of the four men roughed them up. They told the two lawmen that they were being taken to the Donaldsons as bait for Ellison.

Ezra had seen Vin and Chris with Jim and had seen their fear and rage as he was taken from them. Maybe Blair was right, maybe they did love him and were committed to this relationship between the three of them.

When Blair had caught up to him in the garage all he´d wanted to do was drive away and never return, but the younger man wouldn´t let him leave. He kept telling Ezra that the bond between Sentinel and Guide was for a lifetime, that the bond between the three of them was forever and that Vin and Chris could never abandon him nor love each other more than they did him. In the end the young man had talked him into going back to the office to talk with Vin and Chris, but that had all changed because of the Donaldson brothers.

Blair was trying to reach Jim on the spirit plane to let him know where they were, but nothing was happening. He was frightened for himself but he was more afraid for Jim; they wouldn´t do anything bad to him if they wanted Ellison to come to them, but if Jim did then he would die. Blair couldn´t allow that to happen.

About thirty minutes later the van stopped and both Ezra and Blair were dragged out of the vehicle and up some stairs into a house. The two men were shoved into chairs and their blindfolds removed to come face to face with the Donaldson brothers. Eric Donaldson ignored Blair and grabbed Ezra´s chin to make the ATF agent look up at him. “Who are you?”

Ezra tried to yank his chin way from his captor´s large hand but wasn´t able to break his hold. The man smiled at him and started to rub his thumb back and forth along his cheek, the lust in his eyes sending shivers down Ezra´s spine. Hardening his eyes and voice Ezra snarled, “Ezra Standish, ATF.” The southerner´s whole body language screamed ‘try it and you´re dead´.

Laughing, Eric removed his hand and turned towards Blair. “Well Mr. Sandburg, we finally meet. I do hope that your lover wants you back enough to come alone.”

Blair looked at Eric in confusion, “Ellison and I are not lovers, we´re partners.”

Andrew Donaldson walked up to Blair, his voice mirroring his disbelief, “Really Mr. Sandburg, you expect us to believe that when you two live and work together. Please don´t try to insult our intelligence.”

The older Donaldson then pulled out Ezra´s cell phone and started to go through the phone numbers stored on it. Finding Chris Larabee´s number, Eric dialed it.

Ezra could hear Chris growl, “What!” from where he was sitting. Eric just smiled and asked, “Is this Chris Larabee of the ATF?”

“Yes! What do you want?”

Walking behind Ezra he told Chris, “Well, I have your man Standish and Sandburg. If you want them back alive then give us Ellison and we let them go free. If not, then you will get them back in tiny pieces.” Then he reached down and yanked Ezra´s head back. The unexpected attack made the southerner cry out in pain. Chris started to yell Ezra´s name but Eric interrupted him. “You have a very beautiful agent, Mr. Larabee. I shall enjoy getting to know him. I will call you back in an hour with instructions.”

Turning to the two goons that were standing watch over the their captives, Eric asked, “Is everything at the warehouse ready?”

The goon replied, “Yes, Mr. Donaldson, the explosives are ready.”

Smiling a tight smile Eric said, “Good, we will be leaving in about half hour. Take Mr. Sandburg here to another room and tie Mr. Standish´s legs together, will you? I think Agent Standish and I should have a little talk.”

Andrew grabbed his brother´s arm as he was about to reach out to the southerner. “Eric, we don´t have time for this.”

Yanking his arm away from his brother Eric told him, “Don´t worry, Andrew. I just want a little fun.”

The three men left, leaving Ezra alone with the oldest brother who was walking around the chair and observing him from all sides. All the undercover agent could do was wait and glare at the man who was circling him. Any time that Eric reached out to touch him Ezra would jerk away and give him a stare that would do Chris proud, but all it did was made Donaldson laugh.

Eric unbuttoned Ezra shirt to reveal the love mark placed on his neck by Vin before running his large hands over the bound man´s chest. “You know, Pet, you are the prettiest little thing I have ever seen.” He then dragged a chair around so that he could sit and look at Ezra. “So Pet, I give you a choice; die with your friends or live with me. I would enjoy training you.”

Ezra snarled at Eric and told him, “I´d rather die then be with you.” He then started to tell Eric exactly what he though of him and his proposal.

Smiling, Eric got up and moved to a cabinet; opening it he extracted something and returned to Ezra´s side. “Now Pet, I can´t have you talking like that.” Then before Ezra knew what was happening he was gagged with a ball gag. Unable to curse the man out loud, he allowed the hate and contempt show through his hard green eyes. Those same eyes widened as he watched Eric produce a soft leather collar which he quickly slipped around Ezra´s neck. Even though Ezra could not prevent himself from being collared he still tried to get away.

Dragging the collared man out of the chair he pulled Ezra´s body towards him, liking how the smaller man appeared so petit against him and how he could mold the beautiful body to his. Wrapping his arms around the wiggling undercover agent, Eric started to nuzzle and kiss Ezra´s neck.

Ezra was outraged that this man was manhandling him and there was nothing he could do to stop him. His struggles only seemed to encourage the other man, so he stopped and stood as still as a statue.

There was a knock on the door and the younger brother called out, “Eric, we have to leave now. Stop playing and get out here.”

Eric looked up at the knock and replied, “Be right there.” Then looking back down at the man in his arms he told Ezra, “Sorry Pet. You would have been fun to break in, but you made your choice.” He then bent down and slung the agent over his shoulder before leaving the room.

Ezra was never so embarrassed, for the Eric´s hand was kneading his butt as he carried him down the hall to the garage. When Eric lowered him into the limousine he saw that Blair was already there with the other Donaldson brother. Eric then stepped in and pulled Ezra´s unresponsive body to sit in his lap.

Blair was gagged to prevent him from yelling for help and could only watch as the older man molested the southerner. Ezra and Blair locked gazes, each trying to send each other support through their eyes.

Five minutes into the drive Eric phoned Larabee and told him to have Ellison come alone to 3456 Forest Lane. Ezra could hear Chris demanding to speak to him before Eric shut off the phone. He could hear the anger but also the fear in his lover´s voice.

Chris threw the phone across the room in frustration, his worry for Ezra escalating by the minute as he watched Ezra´s spirit guide go from being blindfolded to being muzzled and having both set of legs bound. The green eyes of the wolf looked pleadingly at the two panthers that were wrapped around it´s body, offering comfort to the distressed animal. He turned to the other two men in the room. “They want Ellison to meet them at 3456 Forest Lane and to come alone. Come on, we can get there in fifteen minutes. Let´s move.”

The men met up with the other four and headed to the black ATF van, ready to take on the men who had taken one of theirs.

Eric was getting frustrated because the agent wasn´t struggling to get away, instead he simply glared at him, hate the only emotion showing in the beautiful green eyes. He was about to dump the unresponsive man on the floor, but then the black leather collar caught his attention and he started to caress it. The southerner´s skin was so white and soft against the collar that he could not help but bend in to taste it.

Ezra jerked as the wet tongue rasped against his neck. All he wanted was to rip this man apart for what he was doing to him and his lovers. A sharp bite caused him to cry out but was muffed by the gag in his mouth; he could feel something warm and wet dripping down his neck and knew that it was his blood. Eric was moaning, “You … taste so good … Pet … I just might … keep you … after all.”

Ezra could feel a hand ghosting down his body to his pants buckle and zipper. Taking a desperate chance Ezra threw himself to the right and onto the floor. As he hit it he rolled over onto his stomach to protect himself.

Eric was angry with the man for ruining his fun and was about to kick him when he simply smiled and bend over to Pet Ezra´s head like a dog´s. Reaching into his pocket Eric pulled out a leash and attached it to the collar around the ATF agent´s neck. “That´s right, Pet. Rest at your master´s feet.” Then he put his feet on Ezra´s back, pressing the bound man´s body into the floor while he jerk the leash to force Ezra to look up at him or risk being strangled. “That´s my good little Pet.” Eric then laughed as Ezra promised him a long slow death with his eyes.

The ATF team got to the site fifteen minutes after the call and scanned for the enemy. Finding none the team spread out to take positions that would allow them to take out the Donaldson brothers. As Jim took up position he smelled something and as he started to investigate it came to him.

Explosives.

Grabbing Larabee´s attention he told the ATF leader of the threat and took him to the first bomb. Chris called out to Buck, who came over and showed the men how to disarmed the simple device. Between the three men they quickly located and disarmed all the explosives.

Vin meanwhile had climbed up into the rafters to get a good spot from which he could take out anyone who might harm Ezra or any of the other men. Calmly he checked his position and weapon, but a raging storm was stirring inside the gentle Texan. Someone had dared to take his guide … his friend … his mate.

Mate. Yes. That is what his southerner gentleman, his lover was.

Looking down into hazel eyes that were tinged green with anger, Vin acknowledged Ezra´s and his other mate. A silent vow was exchanged that once this danger was past they would take Ezra someplace to claim and love the southerner as he had never been loved before.

JD´s voice came over the wire. “Show time, guys.”

The team faded into the shadows, waiting to retrieve what was theirs.

The black limousine pulled up along with a van from which five armed men stepped out to make their way to the other vehicle. The first one to step out and survey the area was Eric Donaldson. The three sentinels growled, for this was the man who´d arranged to have their guides taken. The man was arrogant for he had even brought a Pet with him, and the team tensed ready to pounce if the animal indicated their presence.

Chris watched as two of the hired guns reached in to the interior of the limousine to drag something out; he snarled silently as his friend, his lover, his mate was dragged out of the car. Ezra´s hands and ankles were bound, a ball gag was in his mouth, his shirt was undone and a thick black collar encircled his neck and was attached to the leash in Donaldson´s hand. Chris could see the formation of bruises along Ezra´s ribs and stomach and rage flashed through him at the thought of someone hurting what was his. Then he smelled it.

Blood.

Scanning Ezra´s form he spotted the drying blood on his neck. The significance and placement of the wound told him that someone had tried to take Ezra from them, violate him against his wishes. He looked into those precious green eyes expecting pain, fear and despair but instead saw a promise of death directed at the man who held Ezra´s leash.

Chris could smell the lethal rage that came from the southerner and a deadly smile appeared on his face. He had seen Ezra this mad only once before when a gang of gunrunners had been holding both Vin and himself and was about to kill them. Ezra had attacked them viciously, smashing elbows into faces, breaking kneecaps, jaws, ribs and noses. It was a dance of death, beautiful in its savagery. Chris was tempted to just free the southerner and watch him take out the men, but he wanted a piece of the man who´d marked Ezra as his. Checking up into the rafters he locked gazes with his other mate and saw the same desire to take this man out. Slowly.

Seeing no one he returned to stand over his little Pet, and taking the support of the bound man from his two bodyguards he told them, “Please take Mr. Sandburg out of the car and secure him to that beam. I will take care of Mr. Standish.”

Eric crushed the tempting body close to his, running his hands over the warm and soft flesh, loving how the southerner seemed to fit perfectly against him. Lowering his hands until he cupped the perky little butt of the ATF agent he lifted him up so he could feel the other man´s groin against his. “Well Pet, last chance to save yourself.” Then looking into eyes that showed only rage he told Ezra, “No? Tsk tsk, what a waste of such a beautiful body.”

Ezra swallowed and a trickle of fear entered his body as a hungry light came into his captor´s eyes. Eric called out, “How much time do we have?”

One of the men who were securing Blair to a warehouse support beam answered, “About ten minutes, boss.”

Blue eyes smile lustfully down into wide green with a look that caused the captive man to struggle madly to free himself. Eric told the men, “I will be back in about five minutes, look after things.”

Andrew Donaldson had climbed out of the limousine and knew what his brother had planned. He called out, “Eric, forget it! Just leave him alone and let´s get out of here. I don´t like it. Let´s leave the men to take care of things and go.”

Not even looking at his brother, Eric replied, “Andrew, get in the car and leave. I´ll meet you later, but I have something that I need to take care of.” He then swept the struggling agent up in his arms and walked away.

Angrily Andrew got into the limousine and had the driver leave. If his brother wanted to make a mess of things then he wasn´t going to stay around and watch.

Both Nathan and Josiah watched as Donaldson carried a struggling Ezra between the two of them to disappear into the office. Both men locked angry gazes and silently started after the pair. Moving quietly so as to not give themselves away, both men crept up to the door and slipped inside.

Eric had Ezra bent over a table, the undercover agent´s pants and underwear down around his ankles. Donaldson was using one hand to hold the southerner down on the table while the other was freeing his erection.

Nate moved to grab Ezra away while Josiah cocked his gun against the Eric´s ear. Donaldson froze and Josiah whispered, “I don´t think so.”

Eric raised his hands, surrendering for now. Nathan had grabbed Ezra from the table in case Donaldson tried anything. Ezra kept struggling until Nathan whispered to him, “Easy Ezra, we got you. He won´t hurt you again.”

Ezra looked up into the brown gaze of the medic and jerked away in fear that Nathan would hurt him again, but instead sad, pleading eyes locked with his and Nathan slowly reached out to bring the southerner close to him. “I´m sorry, Ezra. I was frightened, angry and confused and I took it out on you.” He gently sawed through the binding on Ezra´s wrists and helped the other man cover himself back up. Reaching up he undid the buckle and removed the gag. Massaging Ezra´s jaw Nathan continued, “I had my eyes opened today and I had no right to hurt you. I´m sorry Ezra and I hope you are happy. I hope you know that Chris and Vin love you a lot. Look after them.”

Ezra was shocked at the complete about-face the healer had undergone and the sincerity that was evident in both Nathan´s eyes and voice. The hurt caused by the man´s words this morning still stung, but it was slowly easing under the total acceptance in the man´s eyes.

Nate looked into Ezra´s eyes and asked, “I hope you can forgive me, and I would like a chance at earning back your friendship. I don´t have so many good friends that I could afford to lose one.”

All walls down, Ezra told him, “I ‘d like that.”

Josiah had taken care of Eric and now came to kneel down beside Ezra and free the undercover agent´s legs. Green eyes full of hurt looked down at him, and taking a deep breath he said, “I´m sorry too, Ezra. I love you like my own child and I didn´t want to see you get hurt.” Josiah could feel tears starting in his eyes and he couldn´t stop them from falling. “I couldn´t bear the thought that they would hurt you for I knew that it would destroy you. I didn´t want that to happen. I wanted to protect you from that pain.”

Ezra searched the blue eyes of his friend and the man he did consider in his heart a father. The tears falling from those loving blue eyes had Ezra reaching out and wrapping his arms around the older man. The pain was still there, but also the knowledge that this man didn´t do it to hurt him but to protect him. Ezra told Josiah, “Josiah, I´m a big boy and I can take care of myself. Chris and Vin are what I want.”

Josiah clutched Ezra close and continued, “Ezra, I was so wrong about them. They both love you so much and I think if anything happened to you it would destroy them.”

Eric was watching the interaction between the three men and sneered, “So that´s the way of things.” Contempt laced his words. “Well well well, it appears, my Pet, that you´re a little slut. Looks like you will sleep with just about anyone.”

The three men turned to look at the bound man and before Josiah or Nathan could stop him Ezra lunged at the man, hands like claws as he reached out to rip Eric to pieces. The other two agents were struggling to drag the southern spitfire back from the man when they heard gunfire, and the three men promptly abandoned their captive and went to help their teammates.

Jim had watched as Eric carried Ezra away and had started to go after him, but then he saw both Jackson and Sanchez follow the man inside so he readied himself to take out the men that had come with Donaldson. Jim checked out his guide once again and could smell the anger coming of Blair, his deep blue eyes snapping in anger as he continued to look toward where the undercover agent had disappeared; from where he was tied he couldn´t have seen Ezra´s teammates going in after him.

Chris gave the signal and called out, “ATF, freeze!”

Jim immediately darted forward to wrap Blair and himself in a bulletproof drop cloth. The battle was short and over in minutes, and as Jim lowered the blanket both men saw Ezra being protected by both Josiah and Nathan. Quickly untying his guide and removing the gag, Jim led Blair over to Ezra.

Blair checked over Ezra and looking into the other man´s eyes he asked, “Are you all right, Ezra?”

Smiling reassuringly at his fellow guide Ezra told him, “Nate and Josiah´s timing was …” But before the southerner could finish Vin and Chris were there, both men checking to see if the other man was all right and growling when Nate stepped too close.

Jim signaled the other four men to follow him, allowing Chris and Vin the time to reassure themselves that Ezra was all right. “You might want to leave them alone for a bit. Right now they are focusing on Ezra and any movement towards him would be looked on as a threat.”

Ezra stood still, somehow knowing that his lovers needed this, needed to check to make sure that he was unharmed. Then he heard Vin growl and felt the sharpshooter´s slender fingers removing the collar from his neck. Vin threw it as far as he could before turning to wrap his arms around his guide, nuzzling and kissing Ezra´s neck, trying to erase Donaldson´s mark.

Chris meanwhile was caressing Ezra´s face, gently touching the bruise forming on one high cheekbone. Looking into those beautiful jade eyes, Chris leaned in and captured Ezra sweet mouth in a gentle kiss. He then wrapped his arms around both Vin and Ezra, holding them both close to whisper, “Oh God baby, I love you. Come on, let´s get you home and let me and Vin take care of you.”

Both Vin and Chris sheltered their lover between their bodies and started to lead him out of the warehouse, but as they came abreast of Josiah and Nathan Chris paused to look at the two men who had rescued Ezra.

When he´d seen Donaldson carrying Ezra off he´d known the man was planning to rape his mate and he couldn´t do anything to stop it. He´d been about to break cover and probably would have gotten himself killed doing it when he´d seen the two men sneaking after Eric. “Josiah, Nate, thanks. You look after Donaldson for us.”

Josiah and Nathan nodded, both men knowing that Chris may not have forgiven them for what they had done but that saving Ezra had gone a long way toward repairing the damage between themselves and the other three men. Josiah told them, “Don´t worry, we´ll take care of Donaldson - you go home and take care of Ezra.”

Both Chris and Vin smiled in thanks as they led their guide to Chris´ truck.

Donaldson in the meantime had gotten the razor blade out of the heel of his boot and freed himself from the plastic bindings that the big ATF agent had tied him with, then he quietly exited the room. On his way out he came across the leather collar he had put around his Pet´s neck. Tucking it into his pocket he make his escape, but he did catch a glimpse of his Pet in the arms of two more men. The blond man must be Chris Larabee, the leader of the Magnificent Seven. Well, well. Maybe he should pay Larabee a visit and finish what he´d started with his little Pet, maybe even play with Larabee´s other Pet. Running his eyes hungrily over the long, lean body of the sharpshooter, he imagined both his green eyed temptation and the blue eyed man together. Yes, he would take both men while Larabee watched, and there would be nothing the black-clad man could do about it.

Chris drove the two men back to his ranch, intent on protecting both his mates. When Buck called to tell them that Donaldson had escape he´d wanted to take his two precious gifts far away, but knowing that the others will come to help he continue on to the ranch. The other men were only about an hour behind him and Chris was sure they could protect themselves until their backup arrived.

Eric Donaldson followed, keeping a discrete distance between his car and the truck, all thoughts of escape gone. Everything was Larabee´s fault and he wanted the man to suffer before he killed him. When Larabee slowed to turn into a long driveway he continued on past for a little ways before turning around and hiding the stolen car in the woods, and using skills picked up in his younger days as an Army Ranger he stealthily made his way to the house.

Breaking the latch on the basement window he quietly entered the house. Hiding in the unfinished basement he listened to the three men moving around on the first floor, hearing Larabee tell the other two men. “Vin, you finish checking the first floor and Ez, you take the second. I´m going to check the basement.”

Perfect! Eric hid beneath the stairs and waited for his prey to come to him.

Chris knew something was wrong as soon as he opened the basement door. Senses tingling, he slowly descended the stairs and realized that someone was hiding under them…but it was too late. Donaldson grabbed his ankle and he was falling, but tightening his finger around the trigger of the gun in his hand he sent a couple of bullets flying as a warning to other two men upstairs. Then everything went black.

Ezra and Vin heard the shots and knew Chris was in danger. Both men hurried towards the sound and came to a stop at the basement entrance.

Ezra looked down from the doorway and saw Chris unconscious at the bottom of the stairs. Starting down toward him and keeping a cautious eye on the shadows for any sign of Donaldson, a muffled shout behind him made him spin around and he saw Eric framed in the doorway with a gun held to Vin´s head. “Why don´t you put down the gun, Pet, or I will kill him.”

Ezra slowing lowered the gun, never allowing his eyes to stray from the two men before him, his rage slowly building. “Good, Pet. Now why don´t you come back up here?”

The southerner climbed the few stairs back up into the kitchen, and Donaldson had the same sick smile as before as he told Ezra, “Now let´s go find a more comfortable place.” Ezra turned around without a word and walked out to the living room, then started up the stairs to the bedroom knowing that Donaldson would be following; they had only one chance and he hoped Vin would know what to do.

One of the steps had a loose board, requiring the person ascending the stairs to either stay on the right side of the stairs or to avoid that step entirely. Both Vin and Ezra automatically sidestepped the faulty step but Donaldson didn´t; he felt himself start to fall and tried to use his captive to save himself but the man yanked himself down, momentarily steadying Eric but not for long. Ezra did a backward kick that connected with Donaldson´s face and Eric flew down the stairs, his neck breaking as he hit the floor.

Both men took a moment to hug each other and then hurried to check on their third, neither of them having had a chance to see if their leader had been dead or alive. Vin was the first to reach Chris; reaching out his hearing he heard Chris´ heart beat and sagged in relief. Ezra saw his lover relax and knew that Chris was alive. Reaching out gently to touch the fallen man´s face Ezra gently patted his cheek while softly calling his name. “Chris … wake up. Please, Chris … come on darlin´ … you´re scaring Vin and I.”

Chris heard the thick southern accent and felt the gentle touch through the fog that filled his mind, the call of his guide, his mate calling to him to return. Chris moaned as he opened his eyes to look up at his southern heart, the look of utter love and worry in those perfect green eyes had him reaching up and dragging Ezra down so that he could kiss him.

Ezra gave a muffled hum of pleasure which had Vin grinning. “Well, I guess the ol´ man is all right if he can kiss like that.”

Chris released Ezra and then grabbed the sharpshooter´s shirt to drag him down for the same treatment. The only other kiss that Vin had shared with Chris was the one from yesterday that had been so very gentle; this one was full of passion, want and desire and left him breathless.

Chris smiled as he looked up into two sets of dazed eyes…and then he remember Donaldson. Shoving both men behind him he fumbled on the ground for his gun, determined to protect his mates, but both Vin and Ezra wrapped their arms around him and pulled him back against them, whispering that Donaldson was dead. Gradually their words sank in and Chris relaxed, knowing the danger had passed.

The two men helped Chris to stand and made their way past the dead body and up to the master bedroom to lay Chris gently on the bed. Vin got a wet cloth which he used to gently pat the lump on the back of Chris´ head as Chris lay listening to Ezra´s heartbeat. Vin then cuddled up against Chris and allowed the anxiety to leave him, reaffirming their bond to one another.

Josiah was the first in the front door and noticed Donaldson´s body but no Chris, Vin or Ezra. Fearing that his friends were in danger he called out to the. Hearing a muffled shout from the master bedroom he quickly made his way in, followed by the rest of the men.

Vin and Ezra had Chris cradled in between them and Vin told Nathan, “Nate, could you check out Chris? Donaldson tripped him and knocked him out.” He got up so that the medic could sit down beside Chris. Nathan checked the hurt man for signs of concussion and, finding that he had a mild one, suggested going to the hospital to make sure that everything was all right.

Nathan was prepared for a fight, but when Ezra pulled Chris´ face towards him and said, “Please Chris. Let´s have it checked. For Vin and me,” the stubborn look disappeared and Chris meekly agreed. Nathan had to grin; finally, a way to get the stubborn men to do what they were supposed to do without getting into a pissing match. This relationship between the three men was getting better by the minute.

Josiah, JD, Ellison, and Blair stayed to wait for the police to arrive while Buck and Nathan took the three men to Mercy Hospital.

Nurse McCall saw the five men come in the emergency entrance and shouted out code M7, alerting the emergency staff that ATF Team 7 had arrived. Quickly the team leader was wheeled away, curiously quiet and calm as the team´s undercover agent went with him, and the doctor and nurse were surprised at how quiet and peaceful the short- tempered man was throughout the examination and the x-rays which determined that he had a slight concussion but could go home to recover.

And as Larabee was leaving, an arm around Standish´s shoulders, the undercover agent whispered something to his black clad leader. Chris Larabee then turned and told the doctor and nurse, “Thank you,” before disappearing out of the cubicle, leaving a stunned medical staff in his wake.

The police had come and had removed the body by the time they returned to the ranch, and Josiah and Blair had a started a meal. The seven men needed to be around one another right now to reaffirm the bonds of friendship that had been damaged but not shattered.

Jim watched the interaction among the seven men as he held his sleeping guide close and saw that they were adjusting to the new dynamics of their group. There were a few moments of uneasiness, but even those were becoming few and few as the evening progressed. Waking a sleepy Blair, he wished the men a good night and took his guide out to their room.

Chris walked them out and watched them walk over to the barn. The youngest Donaldson was still free and it looked like he´d escaped them for now, but he had a feeling that wouldn´t be the last either team would see of the man.

Sighing he closed the door and turned back to his family; seeing JD and Ezra yawn made him realize how late it was. Walking over to Ezra he gently pulled the man to his feet to hold against him and told the rest of their friends, “I think it´s time for Ez and me to hit the hay. You´re welcome to stay, you know where everything is.” Then looking over to his other mate Chris told him, “Why don´t you help me, pard?”

Grinning, Vin came up along side both men and wrapped an arm around Ezra´s waist and helped both men to the master bedroom, where the three of them quickly stripped and fell into bed to cuddle, all of them too exhausted mentally and physically for anything else.. The rest of the men quickly locked things up and retreated to their own beds.

Chris stood on the porch and watched as Ellison and Blair left to go back to Cascade, sorry to see the men go even though both parties had promised to keep in touch. Turning around, he made his way back into the house only to find that both Tanner and Standish had disappeared from the living room, a trail of clothes the only indication as to where they had gone.

Grinning, he followed the trail till he pushed open the bedroom door to find a sight that took his breath away. The bedroom curtains had been drawn, the resulting darkness lit by soft candlelight and both men were sitting on the bed totally nude, the golden glow making their eyes glitter like jewels. The total love and acceptance in those eyes drew Chris toward them as they reached out their arms to engulf him and quickly stripped him of his clothing.

Chris growled and pulled Ezra down between he and Vin, each man grabbing a wrist to prevent the southerner from moving. Ezra lay still as his two Sentinels focused their senses to imprint the feel of his skin and his scent in their minds, driving him insane with desire. When Chris and Vin took turns licking the top of his leaking shaft to absorb his taste Ezra arched his back and cried out in passion, pleading with them to do something, anything.

Both men caressed him until he calmed down and then urged him to turn over. As gentle fingers breached his opening Ezra tried to get to knees to urge them on but they held him down. Vin gently showed Chris how to prepare Ezra for their lovemaking, continuing to caress their mate´s body with one hand and while using the other to stretch the tight hole. Once Ezra was prepared they helped him to his knees while Vin moved behind Chris and showed him what to do.

Chris was in heaven as he breached Ezra´s entrance for the first time, feeling how tight, how hot and how right it felt. Slowly he rocked further inside until his balls rested on the smooth skin of Ezra´s ass while the man groaned in pleasure. Holding his mate close to his chest Chris told him, “Baby … you´re so perfect. I love you.”

Ezra was in heaven, the man that held half his heart and soul had finally claimed him. First Vin had made him feel loved and now this man had as well. To encourage Chris to continue he rocked and wiggled his hips, urging him on. Chris took the hint and started to slowly slide in and out, keeping up a murmur of loving words as he increased the pace until he was pounding into the tight body, urged on by the cries of passion from his mate.

Vin sat back to watched the beauty and love before him, gently touching and encouraging each man as they made love. Vin reached out and gently stroked Ezra´s erection when he could tell both men were close and it was that final act that made Ezra climax, pulling Chris with him.

Both men were sated, but the needs of the guide and sentinels had been awaken and Vin was pulled down between them. Ezra and Chris took it in turns to kiss him and touch him, and then Ezra leaned in to spread lubricant on Vin´s swollen shaft and whispered, “Vin, I need you … please take me … let me feel your love.”

Vin rolled Ezra over onto his back and settling between the southerner´s spread legs he kissed his green-eyed mate and slowly entered the willing body beneath him. Once seated in heaven Vin turned to Chris and panted, “What … are you … waiting for … pard, … an … invitation?”

Wide eyed, Chris picked up the tube and spread some onto his shaking fingers. He then moved to straddle Vin´s legs and prepared him for claiming. He knew that Vin loved him, but to allow him to take him like this touched Chris deeply. Doing as Vin instructed he slowly entered Vin´s opening and then paused to savor the feeling. Jesus! Vin was as tight as Ezra and felt just as perfect. Slowly he pushed the rest of the way in, hearing both men under him groan in pleasure. Then Vin started to rock between the two men, setting a pace that they quickly picked up. The room echoed with words of love and cries of passion as the three men reached nirvana and collapsed alongside one another. Sighs of satisfaction quickly became soft, even breathing as the three men curled around one another and dropped off to sleep, together as one.

The End ... or is it?