Chris woke up feeling better than he had in a long time. He knew the flashbacks could come again, but he wasn’t going to live his life as a prisoner to them. Talking about the hallucinations and the pain the memories brought had done him a world of good and he opened his eyes. He smiled as he spotted the tracker seated beside the bed. Vin’s head lay on his arms which in turn rested on the bed beside him. Chris tried not to move as he listened to the soft snores emanating from the exhausted man. His head snapped up and he placed his finger to his mouth as the other five men entered the room.
“What’s wrong with Vin?” JD asked softly.
“Nothing, he’s sleeping,” Larabee whispered.
“Sleeping beauty was supposed to be watching you, not the other way around,” Buck said, the grin on his face showing he wasn’t serious.
“I guess it all caught up with him,” the blond answered.
“While I’m sure Mr. Tanner would not appreciate being likened to the female lead in Sleeping Beauty, I think it is an apt description,” Standish offered.
“Chris, any chance you’d shoot them for me?” Tanner asked, lifting his head and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“Can’t, don’t have a gun,” Larabee told him.
“Damn!” the tracker winced.
“How do you feel, Sleep...”
“Say it, Bucklin, and I swear you’ll be singing soprano for a month!”
“Only a month, Brother?” Sanchez asked.
“Figure that’s as long as we could put up with his so called singing,” the sharpshooter said with a smile.
“Hey, what’s wrong with my voice?” the ladies man asked indignantly.
“Nothing if you’re a horny Tom cat! Dunne answered.
“Mr. Dunne, I’d advise you to run!” Standish warned of the look on Buck’s face.
“Hell, Kid, you’re gonna get horny Tom cat!” Wilmington said and chased the kid around the small area between the bed and the bathroom.
Chris watched the game between Buck and JD, knowing it was done for his benefit. He couldn’t help laughing as the Buck grabbed the kid’s baseball cap and slapped him with it.
“What’s the matter, Buck, can’t handle the truth?” Dunne asked.
“Oh, Kid, you’ll pay for that one.”
“You couldn’t catch a cold if you were naked in a snowstorm, old man!” Dunne said as he pulled open the door and raced out of the room, Wilmington close on his heels.
“Those two should get a job at a comedy club,” Sanchez said as the door closed behind the two men.
“Yeah, they’d be better than most of the acts that have played there lately,” Jackson agreed before turning back to the injured man. “How are you feeling, Chris?”
“I’m better, Nathan. Susan was here and...well we talked...actually I talked and Susan and Vin listened. I told them everything and yes I remember what happened when you guys left to get the coffee,” he saw their faces pale as he spoke and he smiled at each man.
“Still haven’t had the damn coffee.” He was pleased to hear the soft laughter his words elicited.
“Mr. Larabee, I shall endeavor to bring you the finest coffee...”
“From that secret place you won’t tell us about, Ez?”
“Of course,” he leaned close to the blond’s ear and whispered. “A man does have to keep certain things private.”
Chris smiled knowingly. He figured out long ago that the coffee was Ezra’s own special brew, ground at his home and brewed to his own specifications. Chris could not remember ever tasting a finer coffee.
“So when can you deliver, Ez?” he asked.
“When do you want it?” the conman asked.
“As soon as I get out of here.”
“That sounds like a plan. Do you know how long you’ll be gracing the interior of these four walls?” Standish asked.
“Doctor Midland is supposed to come by this afternoon and let me know for sure, but I was supposed to stay just one night,” Larabee explained as Wilmington and Dunne returned.
“Well, the doc is out at the nurses desk and I do believe she’s coming this way...can’t resist the pull of my animal magnetism,” Wilmington said with a grin.
“Actually, Buck, she’s right behind you,” Jackson said.
“Buck, there are shots that will get rid of that odor,” Midland said, smiling at the look of disbelief on the scoundrel’s face.
“Oh, where do we sign him up?” Dunne asked and received a swat on the shoulder.
“Shut up, Kid!” Wilmington hissed and turned back to the doctor. “Ah, hell, Doc, the things I could teach you.”
“You might be surprised, Stud,” Midland said, smiling at the slight blush on the scoundrel’s face, something she knew rarely, if ever happened.
“Whoa, Doc, you did it...You rendered Buck speechless!” Jackson laughed along with the others, until even Buck joined in.
“Damn, Doc, you got me!”
“That she did, Bucklin,” Tanner agreed.
“She’s got your number, Buck,” Sanchez said.
“Yeah, she does, and I wish she’d use it,” The ladies man whispered huskily, smiling as his comment brought a flush to Midland’s face.
“Dream on, Buck,” the woman said.
“Oh, I will, Doc, believe me,” Wilmington said and heard the groans from his friends.
“Good, because that’s all you’ll have,” the doctor assured him, and turned to her patient as Wilmington tried to come up with a quick come back.
“Now, Chris, how’re you feeling?”
“Great,” Larabee answered as she checked his eyes.
“Truth?” Midland said, knowing by his eyes that he was still in pain.
“Still have a headache, but it’s not as bad as it was.”
“Alright, how’s the stomach?”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Midland asked.
“Still a little queasy, but again not as bad as it was.”
“Well, that’s good news. I talked with Susan and we’re in agreement that you can go home...”
“Hooyah!” The blond shouted,
regretting the move immediately as the sound reverberated through his skull.
“Maybe I should keep you an...”
“N...no, Doc, I’m fine, really I am...well,” he said sheepishly. “I am as long as I remember not to shout.”
“Well...”
“Ah, Hell, doc, have pity on him,” Tanner said.
Midland smiled at the seven men, knowing Chris would probably get better care with these guys watching over him than he would in the hospital.
“I’ll make a deal with you.”
“What kind of deal?” Larabee asked softly.
“Well, if you promise to come back if there are any problems...”
“I will...”
“Let me finish. Plus you need to have someone stay with you for a couple of days. You’ve had a serious blow to the head and I don’t want you alone.”
“Mr. Larabee, if you stay with me I could guarantee you lots of coffee.”
“Stay at your place, Ez?” Larabee asked.
“That’s correct. This way you’re close to the hospital and the office. I’ve got that spare room and you’re more than welcome to use it.”
“Hell, Chris, Ezra’s got that heart shaped Jacuzzi too,” Wilmington smiled as he looked towards the doctor.
“I think I’d better be going,” Midland remarked. “Chris, I’ll sign the discharge papers and fill out a prescription...”
“No need, Doc, he’s still got the ones left from Washoe,” Jackson told her.
“You’ll never change, will you?” Midland asked as she walked towards the door. ‘None of you will,’ she thought as she heard Chris trying to sit up.
“You might as well stay put until I send the nurse in to remove the IV, Chris,” she ordered.
“So, Mr. Larabee, are you going to grace my humble abode...”
“Humble abode...Jesus, Ezra, there’s nothing humble about your abode!” Tanner said of the two bedroom penthouse apartment the conman lived in. The luxurious suite was located on the upscale side of town and most people couldn’t afford the rent.
“You sure you don’t mind, Ez?” Larabee asked.
“Not at all,” the gambler assured him.
“Looks like you’ve got yourself a houseguest for a couple of days,” Larabee told him.
“Well, if one of you will escort our illustrious leader, I shall go home and prepare his room.”
“I’ll drive him to your place, Ezra,” Sanchez said.
“Thanks, Josiah,” Larabee said gratefully.
Two hours later Chris was dressed in the familiar black jeans, Nikes, and charcoal grey t-shirt. The others had left except for Sanchez and Tanner. The nurse was waiting with the wheelchair and the injured man gratefully sank into it. By the time they arrived at Ezra’s apartment Jackson was there with Larabee’s painkillers and the blond took them with very little argument.
The gambler pulled back the white down comforter and blue satin sheets as Jackson led the blond into the room.
“Chris, do you need any help?”
”No thanks, Nathan, I can get undressed on my own,” Larabee said, his face pale
and his eyes clouded with pain.
“Mr. Larabee...Chris, if there’s anything you need just call,” Standish said.
“I will,” the blond said and waited for the two men to leave. He slowly pulled the clothes from his body, carefully avoiding the bandage on his head. The only thing he didn’t remove were the soft boxers, covered in tiny pistols, Wilmington had bought him as a joke for his birthday the year before. The ladies’ man would’ve been shocked that the blond found them so comfortable. Chris lay back on the bed and pulled the blankets up over himself, sighing contentedly as the soft satin enveloped his aching body. ‘No one can fault your tastes, Ez,’ he thought.
Ezra closed the door as Jackson and Tanner left. He assured them that he could handle the blond and would call them if any problems came up. He locked the door and walked back to the bedroom his guest occupied. He looked in and smiled at the tuft of blond hair sticking out from under the comforter. ‘Sleep well, Chris,’ he thought, switching off the light and bathing the room in comforting darkness. He left the door open in case his friend needed anything during the night.
Chris opened his eyes, and winced at the early morning light streaming in through the partially open drapes. He frowned as he tried to remember where he was, then smiled at the cool satin sheets enfolding his body. He shifted on the bed and his head touched the soft pillow, sending a shockwave of pain through his skull. He waited for the mind numbing agony to ease and opened his eyes once more.
“Chris, here, take these.”
Larabee focused on the man standing beside the bed and smiled weakly at him. He slowly sat up, swinging his legs over the edge and placing his head in his hands. He felt a hand on his shoulder and finally met the gambler’s concerned gaze. He accepted the offered medication and the glass of water, grateful to the younger man for knowing they were needed.
“Thanks, Ez,” the blond said as the glass was taken from his hands.
“Why don’t you lie back down, Chris?” the gambler asked.
“I will, but I could use one of your special coffees,” Larabee said hopefully.
“Are you sure?”
“Y...yeah.”
“Well, you just relax and I’ll bring you a cup...”
“Tired of lying down, Ez. Rather sit up for a while.”
Standish smiled at the pale man. Knowing how Larabee hate being down, and being tended to, he helped him stand up and wrap one of his own spare bathrobes around him.
Chris fingered the finely tailored robe and shook his head, wincing slightly as they walked towards the outer room. “Ez, my compliments to your tailor.”
“Andre does do a wonderful job, doesn’t he?” he asked as he helped Larabee sit in the brown Italian leather recliner.
“Yeah,” the blond said, closing his eyes to ward of the building nausea.
“You relax and I’ll bring you that coffee. Would you like some breakfast?”
“I don’t know, Ez, don’t think my stomach can handle very much right now.”
“Well then I will make you something light. It shouldn’t take long.”
“Okay,” the blond said as he pressed the button and lay back against the soft leather. He smiled as he felt Standish place a thin blanket over him before going into the kitchen. The strong pain medication began to take hold of his throbbing head and he felt himself drifting towards sleep. He relaxed as his mind conjured up the image of a beautiful auburn haired woman who would soon be close enough for him to touch. He remembered how soft her hands were when she massaged his temples and shoulders. The delicious sensations her lips sent through him when they brushed against his. The wonderful scent he’d come to associate with Anne Sheridan.
“Chris.”
The blond opened his eyes and reached for the cup in Standish’s hand. He sipped at the aromatic brew, relishing the flavor as it burned its way soothingly down his throat. He looked gratefully at the gambler and smiled.
“Ez, thanks...”
Standish’ eyebrows drew together as he looked at his leader and friend.
“For what, Chris?”
“For letting me stay here last night, for being a good friend. Not only last night, but ever since I’ve known you. I know we’ve had our differences, but you need to know I trust you with my life, Ezra...and you’ve proven you can be trusted over and over again. You’re as much a part of my family as the rest of this team and I’m proud to call all of you friends...brothers.”
The gambler was at a loss for words, never had Chris spoken so openly about how he felt about any of them. He knew it was probably the accumulative shock of the last six weeks, plus this new injury, flashbacks, and pain medication, but it was something he was proud to have heard.
“Thanks, Chris, I’ll try not to let you down.”
“You never have, Ez,” Larabee knew they needed to lighten the mood a little and he smiled at the younger man. “Now, what about that offer of breakfast?”
“Coming right up, Mr. Larabee!” Standish said, the soft smile belying the formality of the title.
Chris watched him move back into the kitchen and smiled as he thought about his team, his family. Each man was special to him in his own way. They had the ability to break down self imposed restraints and see who a person really was. The blond could list numerous times when one of them had been able to lift him from the depression he’d been in, and for that he would always be grateful. He knew he’d done the same for the others, but to have them care this much for him was far beyond anything he expected. He sipped at the coffee, enjoying how it warmed him from the inside out.
Ezra watched the blond relaxing in the chair and was pleased to see some color returning to the handsome face. Chris had been through hell, and might have more flashbacks, but he would never have to face any of it alone. He had friends who cared what happened to him, and they’d be there for him. Larabee was a man who valued his friends, but sometimes didn’t realize how much his friends valued him.
“Penny for your thoughts, Ez.”
“Huh...Pardon me...sorry, Chris,” the conman stammered as he continued into the room with the whole wheat toast.
“Nothing to apologize for,” the blond assured him. “You just looked miles away.”
“I probably was.”
“I bet...”
“Ah, yes...bet....seems to me you owe me...”
“Ah, hell, Ez, I was kind’ve hoping you forgot about that.”
“Oh, Chris, a wager is something I never forget and I do believe you...”
“Damn!” Larabee interrupted with a grin. “You know that was one bet I didn’t mind losing, but I think the wager should’ve been different.”
“Yes, well, the beautiful Miss Sheridan will be here in a week, right?”
“She sure will,” the blond said wistfully.
“Mr. Larabee...Chris, I do hope things work out for the two of you.”
“We’re going to give it a try, Ezra. There’ll be times when she has to travel and we won’t see each other for a couple of months, but...”
“I can just imagine the reunions,” the conman said and was pleased to see the look on Larabee’s face.
“Ezra!” the injured man choked.
“Is there a problem with the coffee, Chris?”
“N...no...just never expected you to say something like that.”
“I try to keep you on your toes, Chris,” the gambler told him.
“Yeah, I’ve noticed that a lot lately.”
“Eat your breakfast, Chris,” the gambler said.
“You going in to work today?”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” the conman explained.
“I’m okay, Ezra, you don’t need to stay with me.”
Standish knew Larabee hated disrupting the lives of his friends, yet he wasn’t sure Chris should be alone right now. Before leaving the previous night, Nathan explained how important it was to let Chris know they trusted him. That if he really wanted to be alone, then they needed to do that, to let him build up his confidence once more.
“Are you sure, Chris?”
“Hell, Ezra, the office has got to be more exciting than sitting here watching me sleep. That’s about all I’m going to do. I’m gonna eat this toast and head back to bed.”
“Alright, Chris. I’ve left a small container of Nettie’s homemade chicken soup in the refrigerator. Just warm...”
“Ez, I can take care of myself!” Larabee said, his voice edgy as he glared at the conman.
“I know you can...just call the office if you need anything.”
“I will. Now go!” the blond ordered.
“There’s more coffee in...”
“Ezra!”
“Sorry,” the gambler said. “I’m going.”
Chris watched the other man scurry around the apartment, smiling at the way the gambler would stop and gaze at him every few minutes. He watched him reach for the handle of the door and hesitate before turning back towards him.
“Don’t make me get my gun, Standish!” he warned.
“Okay, okay, I’m going. You know where everything is, right?”
“Yep, and I can even manage the potty by myself,” Larabee said with a grin.
“Your medication is in the...”
“Ezra, just go. If I don’t know where something is, I’ll search for it. If I can’t find it, I’ll call. Okay?”
“Okay,” the conman said. He opened the door and reluctantly walked out of the apartment.
Chris watched the door close and let his body relax into the chair once more. His head was pounding again and he knew he needed to get back into the bed. He placed the half finished cup of coffee on the side table and pushed himself out of the chair. He stumbled into the bedroom and climbed on top of the bed. Removing the bathrobe he lay back on the satin sheets and bit back a groan as the pain continued unabated. He pulled up the blankets, his lean body trembling beneath them until he fell into a sound sleep.
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