Reassurances and Revelations
ATF Universe
Part of the Adiutor Amor Cervus series.
Buck supported himself in the corner of the deep end of the pool, one long arm on each edge rail, gently exercising his leg in the warm water. He had done forty lengths, including at least ten at full speed, now he was doing the stretching exercises his therapist had given him. As he did he watched Ezra ploughing through the water. JD had done twenty fastish lengths before he had got bored and headed for the weights room. Ezra was powerfully built, something the rest of the team, including Buck had been amazed about the first time they had seen Ezra without a shirt, because he never appeared to do any exercise. What Buck now knew, but no one else, including JD, was that Ezra's two-bedroom apartment, actually had three bedrooms. The third room, was a small dressing room, only accessible through the master bedroom. In this room Ezra had a very expensive home gym and weights. He never exercised in public -except for swimming, since he didn't have the luxury of a private pool."Everything a gentleman does should appear to be effortless, no exertion, no sweating, no huffing and puffing if at all possible," he had explained.
The room was fixed up with cable TV, a video and DVD player and Ezra, and now Buck, would work out while watching classic movies.
All that work had played off handsomely, as the southerner powered evenly thought the water. Buck watched the way the water rolled off his shoulders as he created his own wake. The way the little droplets of water spun off his hair as he turned at the end of each length. The way he breathed every third stroke, never missing, never interrupting his stroke, never slowing. And as he watched, his mind went back to that night, the night Ezra had fastened the symbol of his love around Buck's wrist.
ooOOOoo
Ezra had remained on one knee gazing at Buck's wrist, now adorned with his gift for some time, not moving, Buck for his part just left his arm where it was, but eventually his patience wore thin. He turned his arm over and, extending his middle finger, slowly brought it up until the finger made contact with Ezra's chin, then as it continued its upward path, it brought Ezra's chin up until Buck could once more see his lovers emerald green eyes.
Then, as Ezra gazed, like some love-struck teenager into Buck's midnight-blue eyes, a look of pure devilment came over Buck's face. "C'mere you." With that he grabbed Ezra by the shoulders and pulled the startled man up and onto his lap, enveloping him in a bear hug as he did.
"I plan on living t' be a hundred -at least! So I hope you got stamina fer a long haul Ezra P Standish," he exclaimed.
"Oh you would be surprised at my stamina Mr Wilmington." Ezra was now grinning like the cat that stole the cream.
"Would I now? Well that is somethin' I aim t' test, real soon…tonight in fact…if not now!"
Ezra suddenly realised what Buck was proposing. They hadn't made love since before the shooting, and much as he missed having Buck possess him, and take him to such highs of erotic pleasure he thought he would never come down -JD had been right about Buck being a great lover- he was still concerned for his health.
"I don't know Buck, you're not fully recovered yet."
"The hell I'm not! Damn it Ez, I'm goin' back t' work day after tomorrow! Besides, bullets or no bullets, I got needs!" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "It's been a whole month! It ain't natural fer a man t' go that long…without."
"It may come as a surprise to you, but it is not unknown for men to go months -plural- or even years 'without'," Ezra pointed out, while still making no effort whatsoever to escape Wilmington's embrace.
"Well they ain't me." With that Buck tightened his grip and before Ezra realised it he had stood up, still holding the much smaller, but solidly built Ezra in his arms. His leg twinged, and trembled for a second until he was fully upright, but he made it, not letting the sudden daggers of pain show. He knew they would pass, and with the help of his pain meds, it would return to a dull permanent ache he had become used to.
"Oh, you are going to pay for that in the morning lover," Ezra warned good-naturedly.
"Details, details." With that Buck strode into the master bedroom, and lay Ezra down in the centre of the huge bed.
Than he stood back admiring the view for a few moments before bending down to remove the navy socks. As he did this Ezra sat up and began tugging off his own silk socks. Buck now barefoot, looked up.
"Oh no you don't," he warned stepping closer. "What's the fun in having a 'get well' present if it takes off it's own paper? You just lie still babe," he instructed.
"Get well? I thought you were well?" Ezra propped himself up on his elbows.
"Don't be pedantic," returned Buck.
"Well it is good to see our relationship has improved your vocabulary." Ezra grinned evilly.
Buck just shook his head and slipped of his jacket, and in deference to Ezra, he did not just let it fall to the floor in a heap, but hung it over the back of a chair. Then, as Ezra watched transfixed, Buck crossed his arms, and taking hold of the bottom edge of his shirt, he removed it in one smooth movement. The shirt he rolled into a ball and threw in the general direction of the bathroom. Ezra drank in the site of a bare chested Wilmington, the small silver St Christopher that hung around his neck glinted as he moved. It was so worn that the saint's head and arm were now indistinguishable shiny blobs. On the back, in fine cursive script were the letters BW. Buck's mother had fastened it around his neck on his first day at school and he had never removed it -other than to periodically replace the chain when it broke or became too worn. His eyes were distracted from this symbol of a mother's love when Buck -with a mischievous grin- struck several body builders poses, displaying his muscles. Ezra couldn't help it, much as he was enjoying the show he began to laugh
Buck grinned at this reaction. "Well? Do I measure up?" he asked.
Ezra just laughed even harder as Buck dropped his latest pose and knelt beside him on the bed, muttering about 'over dressed rich boy southerners'. Buck removed Ezra's tie and undid his denim shirt -Ezra's nod to informality, even if it was ironed and starched- then he moved lower. Ezra watched passively as all this happened. Buck's large but nimble fingers then began to map out little patterns over Ezra's abdomen, running back and forth over his 'six pack', circling the belly button, tracing the lines of the well defined chest muscles. As Ezra began to react, he noted every intake of breath, every shiver, every gasp his lover made in response to this attention. Finally he very slowly undid the fastenings of Ezra's pants, he inched the zipper down with agonising slowness, gratified to see the prominent silk clad swelling it revealed. Apart from Ezra's gasps and murmurs and Buck's mutterings the whole thing had happened in silence. Finally Buck spoke.
"Now you know how I feel about them red silk ones," he looked up at twinkling green eyes, "can't stand the damn things babe, just hate 'em."
"Oh do tell. What do you do with things you find in the bedroom you can't stand Mr Wilmington?"
"Well you know Mr Standish, I remove them forth-with!" With that Buck pulled both silk boxers and pants down in one move, Ezra obligingly raising his hips to facilitate their removal. Ezra's cock stood proud once it had been released from its silk prison.
"Now that is what I call a beautiful sight in the bedroom," Buck purred appreciatively.
He stood up and quickly let his own chinos fall to the floor. "Commando?" Ezra queried seeing no sign of underwear and enjoying the view of Buck's impressive erection. It wasn't that he hadn't seen Buck naked in the last month. But there was no comparison to helping your injured, hurting lover out of the bath and seeing him standing before you proud, healthy, erect, the very picture of a wanton eager lover. He barely noticed the fresh scar on Buck's thigh.
"Seemed to be a waste t' put 'em on just so as I could take 'em off," Buck explained as he returned to the bed.
"You planned all this," Ezra gasped as the realisation hit him.
"Uh-huh, well not this…" He fingered the bracelet lovingly. "But we were always going to end up here. I told yer I got needs, now…"
Buck straddled his lover, his knees were either side of Ezra's hips, pinning his shirt against his thigh. Buck had hooked his ankles over the smaller man's knees. Then he leant forward, pushing the soft denim to one side with first one hand, then the other. He bent forward and brushed a kiss against Ezra's sternum. Slowly he worked his way up the smooth, muscular chest in a straight line until he encountered Ezra's lips, the kiss became less gentle and more passionate, lips found lips, tongue found tongue. Finally the need to breathe forced the lovers to separate.
"You know, you have too many clothes on," Buck commented.
He sat up a little and eased the denim down passed Ezra's shoulders and down passed his powerful biceps -and there he stopped. With the tails trapped against his hip by Buck's knees, the half removed shirt now effectively trapped Ezra's arms. Settling back, Buck rested his weight down on to Ezra's powerful thighs.
"So… you bugged the apartment so you could listen in without telling me?" Buck raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Ezra admitted hesitantly.
"Illegal use of government equipment to spy on your male lover, hmmm? What would Orin say? No, I think I will have to punish you!"
Despite the fact that the words were clearly a joke, a momentary flash of fear ran through Ezra; would Buck really punish him? He had had lovers who had lured him to bed with honeyed promises, and than taken their pleasure with no thought for him, a few had even hurt him. Stop it! He told him self. Buck. Will. Not. Hurt. You. He loves you and you love him, he will never ever hurt you, he would in fact die to save you -trust him.
"But you said you understood…you forgave me…" Ezra stammered out.
"I forgave you your concern, not your actions, besides you corrupted the kid."
"Me? Corrupt him? In what universe?"
Buck looked shocked and instantly set about his punishment of Ezra.
"Oh stop!…No…Ahhh!" Ezra cried. "Please….I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I!" he howled. "Oh God, please stop!"
"Will you ever bug the apartment again?" Buck enquired without relenting.
"No…oh dear God, no! Please, I'm begging you, stop!"
Without stopping, Buck asked, "do you admit you corrupted JD, who is totally innocent?"
"He is not! Oh shit…oh fuck…ohhhhhh! Yes…yes anything you say!"
"Say it!"
"JD is totally innocent , I corrupted him…there I said it, please stop," Ezra begged.
"Mmmm…maybe, I'm kinda having fun…let me see…errr…"
"What? What anything…oh God help me!"
"You gotta promise not ta' yell when I leave the seat up," Buck decided.
"I will not, it's disgus…ting. Ahhhhh! Okay, okay, I won't yell…Please?" Ezra begged one more time.
"An' not t' scowl when I drink the orange juice from the carton straight from the fridge?"
"Oh please we have to have some stan…noooo! Oh help! Please…oh…oh…right, yes alright, you can drink from the carton. Please?"
"Well I don't know…" Buck looked down at his writhing, red-faced lover, whose green eyes were now red and puffy with tears. "Oh, alright." Finally he stopped tickling Ezra and let him catch his breath.
"I…never…" Ezra gasped, "knew just how…devious you could be."
Buck just winked at him as he released Ezra's lower legs and eased him out of the shirt. This required Ezra to sit up since he was now hopelessly entangled in it. As a result both men ended up kneeling in the centre of the bed facing each other. Ezra was still panting after his tickling punishment, as Buck began to kiss his shoulder.
"This shoulder is yours, and so it is mine, and I love it," he whispered. "And this neck…and the ear." Ezra gasped as Buck kissed and nibbled at his ear.
As Buck's kissing exploration of his newly acquired property continued, Ezra began a little territory claiming of his own. His hands explored the chest in front of him, running his fingers through the fine, soft, sparse hair on Buck's chest, he encountered and hard, erect nub of Buck's left nipple. With his hand flat and using only his palm, he rubbed over the proud little bud, exiting it and teasing it. Finally his ministrations were too much for Buck, who broke off from kissing and nuzzling Ezra's neck and ear, throwing his head up and arching his back and thrusting his chest forward. Never one to miss an opportunity, Ezra lowered his head and took possession of the other nipple with his mouth, sucking, nipping and biting. Finally, under this dual onslaught, Buck began to writhe and moan. As the two of them moved, their erections were rubbing and knocking into each other, heat rising in both of them. Buck eventually placed his big hands on either side of Ezra's head and pulled him up.
"We carry on like this we ain't even gonna get to the main event," he warned.
ooOOOoo
As the memory washed over him, Buck relaxed even more into the embrace of the warm water, no longer exercising he unconsciously let his body drift up until he was floating on the surface. Still holding gently on to the pool rail his head back, resting on the same rail in the corner of the pool, eyes shut.
"Now Beloved, what are you thinking about I wonder?" Ezra's voice cut into the nice warm haze of memory.
"Mmmm?" Buck responded with out opening his eyes.
"Let me guess -this morning?"
Buck did not respond.
"Last night?"
No response.
"No? Well yesterday in the shower?"
Still Buck did not respond.
"Ahh, so it is Saturday night you are replaying?"
A shit-eating grin spread across Buck's face.
"Well, clearly the remembrance was quit…er…well vivid!"
Finally Buck opened his eyes to find his lover beside him, his arms crossed and resting on the side of the pool. The look on his face was that of undisguised mirth. Wilmington arched and eyebrow questioningly. In response Ezra looked over his shoulder toward the taller man's floating midriff. Still puzzled Buck's eyes followed his gaze -to discover a very prominent rise in his swimming shorts as his hips bobbed and floated on the surface of the water.
"Oh shit!" He instantly thrashed in the water trying to get his suddenly uncooperative legs to sink below the surface. "Oh hell, now what am I gonna do?" He implored once the 'evidence' was safely out of sight.
Ezra grinned evilly as he uncurled one arm letting it slip under the water, were it came to rest with the palm flat against Buck's abdomen.
"Well…" he purred. The hand slipped down and under the waistband of the shorts. "This has been known to work." His hand wound its way around the engorged shaft.
"Ezra!" Buck hissed. "This is a public pool, you ca……annnnnn…'t -oh God- do that here!"
"Tish, there is but one door, I can see it clearly from here, no one will surprise us." With that he began to stroke and squeeze and massage Buck's aching cock beneath the water.
"But ain't it a bit…" He paused to catch his breath. "…like piddling in the shallow end?" Buck asked.
"Well apart form the fact that this is the deep end, there is -as my eyes will attest- enough chlorine in here to kill and elephant's worth of…whatever."
Buck's body decided for his rational mind, that that was a good enough exploration and his head dropped back, as he enjoyed the ride, letting his mind float back to the place it had been before Ezra interrupted him. If the memory had been good before, it was as nothing to what was to come with Ezra's extra 'stimulation'.
ooOOOoo
Cupping a hand around Ezra's neck he gently lowered him down on his back in the centre of the bed. By now both of their cocks were weeping copious amounts of pre-cum, as a deep inner heat flushed their skin, which now glistened with perspiration. Ezra was now realising what Buck meant about his 'needs' and what going without for a month could do to you.
He had gone for three years once with out finding sexual relief with anyone but himself, and thought nothing of it. As a teenager he had had a few unsatisfactory or down right unsuccessful encounters with girls, it had taken him until his senior year at collage to admit to himself, that his singular lack of success with women was because he was gay. There had, in that final year, been one or two enjoyable encounters with young men, the thrill of unknown, the first time, probably adding rose tinted spectacles to the memories. After that a career in the FBI made casual encounters difficult, and proper relationships near impossible. In his relationships Ezra found he needed to be taken care of, to be almost submissive –almost, but not quite. He always bottomed, because he liked to feel possessed, taken care of, pleasured. More times than not his partners had taken advantage of this need. His own psychology, told him he was searching for the affection and care Maude had never given him. His ever loving mother had wanted her son to be independent, and to a degree so had he, but sometimes children, however old, however independent and self reliant, need someone to come and just take over and look after them. No-one had ever done that for Ezra, until Buck.
And Buck needed to be needed, he needed to have someone to take care of and protect, once he had had Sarah and Adam, once. Their deaths had hurt him almost as much as it did Chris, but he had never been able to express the loss because he had to take care of Chris. Then just as Chris no longer needed him, JD came into his life. Now JD was striking out alone, a confident, independent young man, a credit to Buck's care, love and attention. And right on cue there was Ezra, in need of care and attention, but Ezra's need would never diminish. Ezra had wondered if Buck was only interested in him as a substitute for JD, just another lost puppy in need of his care. But he knew now that was wrong, it was just luck - serendipity- that he had come into Buck's life just when he needed someone and that he had fallen hopelessly in love with that someone.
Once Ezra was lying down Buck positioned himself between his legs.
"Love you so much," he cooed. "Gonna make you feel so good Baby, gonna take you to heaven and then carry you home."
Reaching out his hands he ran them up Ezra's torso, and back down.
"Gonna make you all mine, forever, ain't no one ever gonna hurt you again." With that had bent down and treated Ezra's nipples to the kind of attention he had been on the receiving end of not a few second ago. At the same time, his hands were trailing through the luxuriant silky curls at the base of Ezra's shaft, finding his balls and rolling them in their soft velvety sack until Ezra cried out in wanton desire.
"Not yet babe, not yet," Buck warned reaching out on hand toward Ezra.
In a now well practised routine Ezra picked up the lube from the bedside table and placed a generous amount in Buck's outstretched palm. Buck sat up briefly to rub his hands together warming the lubricant, then slowly and seductively, knowing full well how much Ezra enjoyed the show, coated his impressively large erection in the now warm, clear gel. Cupping the base of his shaft he pulled his thumb and forefinger along its length, scooping off the dollop of lube that collected at the end and as Ezra pulled his legs apart even further, use one well slicked finger to push it deep inside Ezra.
"Ahhh," Ezra sighed at that first wonderful intrusion.
"I told you babe, ain't natural t' go so long 'without'," Buck explained, as his finger moved in and out, searching for and finding Ezra's prostate.
Ezra shuddered, as the merest feather light brushing of his sweet spot sent of fireworks of pleasure throughout his body. How did I ever go three years without this? He asked himself. Because it was never like this before. Came the answer.
"Ready for number two?" Buck asked.
"Oh yes," Ezra replied in a dream like haze.
The second finger stretched him further, at first just moving in and out with the first then scissoring gently. Little by little, opening Ezra out, always gently and with infinite patience. With his free hand, Buck grasped Ezra's cock, feeling the throbbing pulse within it and, skilled and practised lover that he was, matching his hand strokes to Ezra's own inner rhythm. Already high on endorphins, Ezra didn't even register the third finger. Finally Buck withdrew his hand and guided the head of his cock into the well stretched opening. Ezra gazed at him with eyes so full of love and adoration, Buck though that he would never be so happy again in all his life.
Instinctively rather than because of any rational thought, Ezra locked his legs around Buck's hips and the taller man leant forward to rest his hands on the bed, either side of Ezra's chest. Buck kept up the same rhythm, as he thrust ever deeper into Ezra, first brushing, then hitting and finally pounding Ezra's prostate. The inner fireworks were replaced by ever bigger explosions, Ezra's whole body convulsed, it seemed to him his very skin was on fire. Buck felt the tight hotness of Ezra claim his shaft, pulsing around him, pumping toward the climax his body craved, he felt his arms trembling as he lowered himself close enough to claim Ezra's mouth. It wasn't so much kissing, as devouring each other, all rational thought gone. Ezra's hands clawed at his lover's broad back, pulling him ever closer. Finally Ezra threw his head back, and Buck felt the strong ring of muscle around him convulse and spasm as Ezra's climax erupted from him, coating his and Buck's abdomen and chest. He called out, shouting Buck's name, but no coherent word escaped his lips, just a primeval call of ecstasy.
"Oh God! Ezraaaaa!" Buck shouted, as his own climax overtook him, filling Ezra with his seed, claiming him once more.
Neither man had ever experienced such a powerful orgasm, or ejaculated for so long before.
ooOOOoo
Ezra felt Buck shudder, and a deep heart-felt sigh escaped his lips. Glancing down, he smiled as he watched the little pearls of evidence slip away to disperse and die in the chlorinated water. Buck's head was back on the rail, his eyes shut, the very picture of sated pleasure.
"Well did we get there together?" Ezra asked softly as Buck came back to the here and now.
"Oh yeah, thanks lover." Buck opened his eyes to look upon Ezra's gold toothed grin.
"No thanks necessary, it makes me happy to make you happy, you know that."
Ezra pulled his hand free from Buck's shorts and trailed it, under water up his lean torso until it reached his neck, then he pulled him close for a long sweet kiss. A kiss Buck readily returned.
"A-hum."
The dramatic clearing of the throat above them went unnoticed.
"A-HUM!"
Still the lovers embraced, unheeding of their audience. Finally, the watcher tapped Ezra on the shoulder. Instantly Ezra pulled away, looking up to find JD smiling down at them from the poolside.
"Christ almighty boy!" Buck exclaimed, "you trying to kill us with heart failure?"
"Heart failure will be the least of your worries if it was anyone else but me, you know! God guys, you gotta be more careful!" The smile was gone, replaced by genuine concern.
"You are of course right, it was my fault, I said I would keep watch and I didn't, I allowed myself to be distracted," Ezra apologised.
"Now Ez, it takes two to tango you know, I didn't exactly say no, don't go blaming yourself," Buck countered.
"No Buck, I was the one who started all this, I shall shoulder the responsibility."
"I, err… seem to recall it was my little -actually not very little- problem that started it."
"STOP!" The two heads in the pool swung up to JD. "God, you two are like Vin and Chris, it was no-one’s fault, no-one is going to 'take all the blame'. Just learn from it -okay?"
"What ever you say father," Ezra said quietly.
"Yes dad," Buck added.
As he stood and watched the two of them exit the pool, JD shook his head. "You know what guys?"
"No JD tell me," Buck returned.
"It's not fair, it just ain't right that in a free country, you guys have t' sneak around, I mean if it were me an' Casey in there kissing, no one would bat an eye, would they?"
"No it isn't, but it is the way the world is and you were right, we should be more careful." Buck put an arm around JD. "Thanks JD."
"Fer what?"
"For being a good friend, for supporting Buck and me, for knocking some sense into me, for everything -thank you John Dunne," Ezra explained.
"I'm only doing what any friend would do," the young man protested.
"If any friend would do it, we wouldn't be sneaking around. Ez is right kid, thanks, for all of it, we owe you -big time."
"Honest guys you don't owe me I…"
"Now who sounds like Vin?" Buck enquired. "There a precious few people who would go out on a limb for us like you have, and we…" He glanced up at Ezra, who nodded. "…aim to show our appreciation in some way, and that's an end to it, okay?"
JD blushed and looked down, but nodded as they walked toward the showers.
ooOOOoo
As the three of them approached Team Seven's office, JD discovered he had failed to do his sports bag up properly and his trainers were now littering the corridor outside the elevator, as Buck and Ezra entered the office he was sprinting back to reclaim them.
"That boy would forget his own head if'n it weren't screwed on," Buck commented as he pushed door open.
The remainder of Team Seven were all sitting, with their backs to the door, around Josiah's computer. Either on a chair -Josiah, straddling a chair –Vin, or perched on the desk behind Josiah -Chris and Nathan.
"Okay," Chris was saying. "If Vincent Michael meant Victorious and God Like?" Vin took a bow at this, the most God-awful grin on his face. "What does Ezra mean?"
Buck and Ezra froze just inside the office.
"Ezra, Ezra…oh here we go, Ezra means…helper."
There was silence for a second or two, then Nathan began to say. "But wasn't that what…"
"Yeah it was," Josiah confirmed hesitantly.
"But that would mean…" Vin suddenly caught on.
"No way!" Chris gasped.
"That Buck's bracelet reads, 'Ezra loves Buck'?" Vin clarified.
"Can't be, just can't," Chris insisted. "Just not possible, I mean Buck? Ezra -maybe- but not Buck."
"Maybe Ez has a crush on ol' Bucklin," Vin speculated. "Buck ain't t' know what all that fancy letterin' says."
"No, no Ezra would never be that deceitful, besides Buck is not as dumb as he likes us to believe, he could work it out, same as us, Ezra wouldn't do that," Nathan attested.
"I guess so," Vin admitted. "Well what do you know? Ezra and Buck. Just goes to show you never can tell about folk. You reckon all them women were fake? Reckon Buck was out with men all along?"
"No!" Chris insisted. "Josiah, you said you weren't sure you read it right, maybe it was one of them other words, not 'helper'.
"Adiutor amor Cervus, means just what you think it means," Buck announced.
Four faces swung around to see the two men in question standing in the doorway.
"Oh," was all Nathan said.
"Errrr…that is…um…fer real?" Vin stammered out.
"Yes Mr Tanner, for real." Ezra confirmed.
Josiah composed himself before he pushed back his chair and stood. "Well I for one would like to congratulate you two, I hope you make each other happy."
Buck grinned at the worldly older man. "Thanks Josiah, we do, very happy."
"Indeed Mr Sanchez, I can safely say I have never, nor will I ever be happier," Ezra added.
Nathan stood quietly beside Josiah. "I ain't gonna say it ain't a shock, 'cause it is, an' I don't rightly know how to react right now, but -you are my friends, so my reactions are my problem, you got a right to love whoever you choose. Just….well take care -okay?"
Trust Nathan to be thinking practically, Buck thought, knowing full well what Jackson was referring to. "Thanks Nate you can't say fairer than that, and we have -taken care that is- have no worry on that score."
"This is fer real -right? This ain't no wind up -Buck?" Vin looked at Buck for conformation.
"It's real Vin." To emphasise this he put his arm around Ezra and pulled him close. "Fer real and ferever, right Babe?"
Ezra gazed up at Buck. "Absolutely Beloved, forever."
"Holy shit!" Vin exclaimed. "I mean, fuck me!"
"Nah you're not my type, way to scruffy and scrawny, I like my men neat and solid." Buck grinned at Vin, pulling Ezra even closer.
Vin just gazed open-mouthed for a second or two, then he broke into a broad smile. "Hell this is great, couldn't have happened to two nicer guys, congratulations!"
Just than JD barrelled into the office talking nineteen to the dozen as usual.
"Oh guy's you know I dropped m' socks too, in the elevator, had t' wait for it to go all the way down and back up before…" his voice trailed off when he took in the scene before him. "Oh."
"It's alright JD, they know," Ezra explained.
"Holy shit!" The youth exclaimed.
"Indeed," Ezra agreed. "Holy shit indeed."
"You knew!" Chris suddenly exploded into life. "How long JD, how long have you known?"
JD bristled with righteous indignation. "Ain't none of your business," he retorted.
"The hell it isn't, boy!" Larabee raged.
"Chris don't you call him 'boy', he ain't the one yer mad at and we both know it," Buck started. "He's know from the start, three months, and he's been a good friend all that time, so don't go raggin' on him just 'cause yer mad at me!"
Ezra cringed inwardly as Buck did it again, brought down the Larabee storm onto himself to save others, he was never going to be able to change Buck. But at least now the big hearted man had someone who understood how much it hurt when he did it, and would always be there to soothe the hurt away.
"I know you Buck Wilmington, and this is not you, I don't know why you’re doing this but it is wrong, because it won't last. You're just not like that."
"You don't know me Chris, you never have, you know what I let you know, that's all. I've always swung both ways, I just didn't do anything about that side of me for a lot of years, but it was always there, always a part of me. It took someone very special, unique in fact, to awaken it, but it was always there. And it will last. Ezra?"
Buck turned to face Standish.
"I wanted to give you this, that night, and then again on Saturday, but I wanted it to be special, like this."
He held up the wrist with the bracelet on it. With that he fished in his pocket and retrieved a small leather drawstring bag.
"I was going to give you this tonight, but with your permission I'd like to do it now, here, a public affirmation of my love and commitment. Well?"
Ezra looked around the room once than back to Buck. "I would be honoured my love."
Buck handed over the pouch to Ezra, who received it reverently. He pulled the tiny gold string to open the bag and let the contents fall into his palm. What came out was a small gold St Christopher. Similar, but not identical to, Buck's silver one, though not quite so worn.
"You know my Ma gave me mine on my first day of school?" Buck said. Ezra nodded, not looking up. "Well her Ma gave her that one. Ma left it to me, she always told me, 'honey, when I'm gone you give this to the person you most want to keep safe in the whole world.' I was gonna give it to Adam, his first day at school, but well…I never got the chance." He glanced at Chris' still thunderstruck features, "an' one or two times in that damn hospital, I though of puttin' it around the kid's neck, but something, don't know what, always stopped me." He glanced at JD, " Sorry kid."
"Don’t be; it's right it should be Ezra's," JD confirmed.
"I would have given it to you Saturday, when you gave me mine, but well, I wanted it to have something special on it too."
Ezra turned the small talisman over. There on the back was an intricate fancy capital B and below it an equally fancy E, in between them a love knot.
"There weren't room fer no fancy sentiments, I figured if'n anyone asked you can say it belonged to you grandma or something?" Buck offered hopefully.
Unable to speak because he couldn't trust himself not to break down, Ezra handed the jewellery back, and then looking up at the love of his life through tear filled eyes he turned his back. Buck broke out in a huge grin and quickly fastened the fine but strong chain around Ezra's neck. Then Ezra turned back, fingering the worn gold. Eventually he brought it to his lips and kissed it lovingly, before slipping it under his shirt to lie next to his skin. Emerald green eyes gazed up at midnight blue. Ezra reached out with both hands and heedless of their audience, pulled Buck down for a long, slow, deep kiss.
"My!" exclaimed Nathan.
"Well that is a beautiful sight," Josiah cooed.
"Hot damn!" exclaimed Vin.
"Don't worry guys, they do this a lot," JD explained, as the kiss went on and on. "You get used to it."
"No I won't, no fucking way!" And with that Chris was out of the door.
The lovers broke away as Vin started to follow Larabee. "Chris?" he called.
"No Vin," Buck commanded as the young Texan passed him. Placing a restraining hand on his chest, he bent low so the others, except Ezra still held tight in his embrace, couldn't hear. "He's just confused, this is all too close for comfort for him, he'll come around, you'll see. It will all come around, for all of us." Vin turned stunned azure blue eyes on Buck. How did he know how he felt about Chris, and was he really saying there was hope for his dreams? "All of us." Buck reiterated as if reading Vin's mind. "He may not know me but I do know him -trust me Vin."
Vin turned his questioning blue eyes on Ezra and then back to Buck. "Takes one to know one son," Buck confirmed.
Ezra lent his head against Buck's shoulder. "And believe me Mr Tanner, it is worth the wait."
The End
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