JD glanced at his computer screen, his eyes widening as he read. Pulling up his instant message program he sent a short note to Ezra's computer. 'Check out this link. Something big.'
Ezra read the message, glanced at JD who nodded slightly, checked out who might be around him, then opened the email and clicked on the link. Buck was out by the reception desk flirting with a temp worker, Nathan and Josiah both had their heads bent over a report, Chris was in his office, and Vin was grabbing his duffle from the break room in preparation for some time at the shooting range.
The only reaction Ezra showed about the news on the link was an inhaled breath that he quickly changed into a cough and then a slight nod back to JD.
"Back in a couple," Vin called out as he headed toward the door. Ezra watched as inconspicuously as possible until Vin entered the elevator, then counted to five before moving, just in case. Ezra headed to Chris' office as JD bounced out of his chair and hit the office door.
"Mr. Larabee, we've found something."
"Buck! Get in here!"
As the two men entered the office JD was already at Ezra's computer, sending the view of the link to a screen on the wall across from their desks.
Chris began reading immediately as the others gathered around. Buck gave a low whistle. Nathan ran his hand over his face and smiled while Josiah cast a glance upward toward the ceiling.
"JD, I want this info verified at least three ways. Ezra, do you have any frequent flyer miles?"
"Sufficient amounts to get the job done."
"Then plan on heading there the minute this information is confirmed. I want a face to face on this one. Good job men," he added as he walked back to his office. The other men added their accolades, clapping the two on the back before heading back to their desks with somewhat silly smiles on their faces.
~7~7~7~7~7~7~7~
The following Saturday found six members of Denver's ATF Team 7 at Chris Larabee's ranch house for the Saturday football game. Half time had come and the men were outside playing a friendly game of flag football that usually turned into a not so friendly game. The men were so involved in the game that they missed the sound of the car door slamming.
Ezra entered the house through the front door, his guest following behind him. The living room was empty but the sound of the football game half-time program could be heard coming from the den. Ezra walked in that direction, glancing in the kitchen as he went by and finding it empty.
"Hello?" he called as he walked down the hall and stuck his head in the den, finding it empty as well. It was then that cheers and shouting could be heard from outside. "This way," he said to his guest. "They must have gone out back." Ezra walked through the den, opened the sliding door and let his guest precede him, then stepped out onto the back deck himself just in time to watch Vin grab Chris around the waist and pull the man off his feet and onto the ground. JD swooped in and grabbed the football Chris dropped as he landed and ran the few feet to the goal, doing a little victory dance.
The sharpshooter used the momentum of the tackle to roll and push himself up into a standing position, laughing as he did. Taking two steps back he stood over Chris, his shirt tails flapping in the breeze, one hand extended to pull his boss and friend to his feet.
As Chris got to his feet, he glanced over at the deck and smiled. Vin followed his glance briefly, expecting to see Ezra or even Nettie, then did a double take as he saw a stranger there. As he looked, Ezra stepped off to one side allowing full access to the steps down off the deck. Vin's eyebrows began to knit in puzzlement as he watched the woman on the deck take a step down, her hands covering her mouth.
Her eyes widened as she looked at the young man before her, taking in the faded and worn jeans, unbuttoned blue work shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a white t-shirt underneath, slightly long wavy brown hair and tanned skin. And of all things, the man was barefoot, which probably explained the cowboy boots sitting by the steps.
Vin's head shook back and forth slowly as he stared at the woman. She was about 5 foot 6 inches with brown hair and blue eyes. He studied her more carefully, his memory registering the familiar tip of her nose, the slight curl to her hair. And he was certain that under the hands that seemed to be holding back a sob there would be dimples.
He took a tentative step forward, not even registering Ezra as he walked past him and joined his five other friends who had gathered behind him. As Vin took another step he stumbled, as if his legs were refusing to hold him upright, but he recovered and continued moving forward stopping within two steps of the woman, who seemed to be searching his face as he had hers.
The other six men stood in a group ten feet behind their friend, Buck's arm resting on JD's shoulder as JD cradled the football they had just been playing with. When casual conversations about family heritage the past weekend lead to JD and Ezra wanting to track Vin's roots for him, the pair had dubbed their work "Operation Family History". No one had expected it to develop into "Operation Family Reunion".
"I thought you were dead," Vin said, his Texas twang back in full force.
"I almost was," she whispered. "I was very sick and almost died several times. By the time I recovered you were gone, and they couldn't tell me where."
"It's really you?" He knew even as he said it how silly the question was, but he had to voice it.
"Yes, Vin, it's really me."
The small exchange seemed to be all the two needed. They both took a step forward and Vin gathered the woman in his arms, his nose buried momentarily in her hair, breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo and the same perfume she had worn all those years ago.
Vin could only say one word and it was barely a sigh. "Ma…"
The End
