Leaning back in his seat, JD blinked up at the ceiling of the van and yawned. "You think Ez is as bored as we?" he asked his companion who was sprawled in the seat next to him. "He sure ain't saying much."
"He's all alone, kid. Wouldn't be good if the bad guys came and found him talking to himself... 'Sides, he seemed to have a lot on his mind today." Buck turned to look at the abandoned air strip again. "Although, everytime he goes as quiet as this, I have to worry. Wish we could see them."
The meeting had been scheduled for seven pm, which was now less than five minutes away. A gun running group, specializing in dealing guns to white supremacist organizations would soon be flying in, expecting to find one Evan Smithers with a lot of money waiting in exchange for their load of weapons. The guns wouldn't be on the plane, but stashed somewhere not far from the old airport. Hoping that for once everything would go down smoothly, Buck gazed up at the summer blue sky. Then he frowned.
"I'm not seeing any planes. If they were to be here at seven sharp, we'd see them by now."
Next to him, JD had sat up as well. "They could already be here. But then Ezra would have seen them..." With skilled fingers he ran a check of the surveillance equipment. "Everything seems to be working ok. Maybe they're just late."
"Maybe..." Buck didn't sound convinced. "But I think I'll call in, just in case. I'm getting a bad feeling about this."
Before he could do anything else, JD stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Wait. What was that?"
They both listened intently for a few seconds, before the small sound came back. JD easily recognized it as fabric moving over the concealed wire. It was a common sound, but along with the undercover agent's absolute silence it was giving him an eerie feeling.
Then a sudden tap on the mic startled them both.
"Boys....oh boys, I know you can hear me," a strange voice singsonged. "Come on now, it took me a while to find this thing, now it better be working... Oh that's right.." There was a slight pause. "You can't tell me if you hear, can you?" The words were followed by a chuckle. "Guess we just have to hope for the best of luck then?" The voice changed, hardening.
"Seems I've got something of yours here. You guys want him back?"
The next words came along with a name that made Buck sit up even straighter in his seat.
"Larabee, you with them over there?" The voice was suddenly filled with supressed glee and anticipation. "Bet you're not that far away, anyway. You're never far away from your boys, are you...? We got some catching up to do, you and me. Well, best be going now, but don't worry." The chuckling was back. "I'll be in touch."
Then the mic went dead.
In a split second Buck was out of the car, gun pulled. "Call in back-up," he told JD. "I'm going in."
With fingers flying over the keyboard of the computer, JD was already halfway out of the car himself. "Wait up, Buck! Damn it, just be careful, okay?"
The taller man moved quietly over the dusty road, heading for the worndown control tower at the end of the single runway. Keeping himself hidden and out of range of potential snipers, he made his way to the place where Ezra's car would be parked. The black Cadillac was still in place.
Minutes later JD joined him, his own gun in his right hand. "They're on their way. Any sign of him?"
The words seemed to echo back in the sudden and alarming silence. The taller man was standing still, gun lowered at his side.
"No. Ain't nothing here. We were too late."
For once the bullpen was quiet. Buck had been the one telling the others, his voice clipped and short.
"JD got it all on tape. Just the guy speaking though, he must have moved like a goddamn spirit..." At his cue the younger agent hit the play button and the tape he'd made started. He had done everything he could to try and wrestle some more information out of the few seconds of speech, but for all his efforts he hadn't been successful. The only clue they had right now, was the mention of their leader's name.
"That's it," he commented after the unknown man had stopped talking. "When we got to the car, Ez was gone. Just like that."
JD's words were followed by silence, the tape stopping by itself. Four sets of eyes lifted to find their leader who was staring at the tape recorder as if it was a poisonous snake ready to strike. Then he took one step back, curling shaking hands into fists.
"Chris, you ok?" Nathan softly intoned. He didn't get an answer as the blond suddenly turned and walked quickly back to his office. The sound of a door slamming shut followed.
Buck got to his feet. "I'll take care of him. You guys let Travis know." Turning his back on them, he walked towards the office door, shutting out the wondering, worried looks aimed at him. Noone spoke, for which he was grateful. A second before he was about to open the door, his shadow fell over the wooden panel, looming like something living on its own. He shrugged the uneasy sensation off; they all had demons in their pasts clinging to them with a vengeance like hungry animals. Today one had broken free and entered the real word.
Entering the office, Buck quietly closed the door behind him. Chris stood across from him, staring out the window. His face was pale. The tightness of his jaw and the clouded eyes told Buck of the emotions held in check.
"You wanna tell me what that was about?" Buck asked, keeping his distance, knowing from past experience what to do. As his words were met with silence, he walked a little closer. "You know that guy on the tape. What did he do to you?"
A pained expression showed on the familiar face and Chris crossed his arms protectively over his chest. "It was a long time ago, before the team."
"So?" Buck carefully pressed. "By the look on your face when you heard that voice, it seemed like an awfully fresh memory for me." Taking another step closer, he didn't touch the other, just stayed close. He didn't say anything else either, waiting for his friend to make the first move.
Keeping his arms tightly hugged around himself, Chris' hazel eyes were staring out the window, not really seeing the azurian sky that was peppered with a few, white clouds. Instead he seemed lost in events from several years back, now brought back into the light with a vengeance.
"I..." he haltingly started. A deep breath later he continued, voice forcefully calm. "It happened when I was with the Denver PD. We were investigating a serial killer...I wasn't so much involved in the actual investigation as I was doing ground work and such..." He shrugged, "I was still kinda young and naive, figured it would be exciting to be a part of something like that." There was enough of selfloathing in his words to make Buck place a reassuring hand on his upper arm, the touch conveying what he wanted the smaller man to know. I'm here for you.
His friend leaned almost imperceptibly into the small touch. "Was I ever wrong... You see, the killer's prey were young men. All of them, and he had gotten seven at the time, had fair hair and a slim build... He'd follow them around for some time, stalking them and taking pictures, before he'd take them. Then they all turned up dead, left in a ditch by the high way, like a piece of trash thrown from a passing car. Beaten to death...and raped."
The sinking feeling in his gut was making him nauseous. "Oh my God, Chris..." Buck breathed out, not able to continue, his hand tightening reflexively in its grip on Chris' arm.
"They'd brought in a couple of specialists from the FBI," Chris' tone was strangely flat as he went on. "They found the place he was staying... The walls," there was a nearly unnoticable hitch in his voice, "were covered with photos. Every one of them of me. But by then it was too late."
The office seemed devoid of air now, the past brought to life again as a sickening fog in the heavy silence.
"Do you know what we called him, Buck?" Chris was taking a detour around and away from the most painful memories, which Buck could understand. The emotions in him fought as well. Most of all, he wanted to take the other into his arms, and just hold on tight and promise that everything was going to be alright again. But he couldn't stop this, the words needed to be said and he needed to hear them. Chris didn't seem to notice the lack of an answer and continued.
"Snake Eyes. A bit because of the way he'd stalk his victims, most because he'd leave two playing cards on the bodies. Always the ace of spades and the ace of hearts. Like he was dealing the cards, inviting us to play."
Buck moved around to stand in front of Chris, drawing the other man into a gentle hug before he spoke. "How did you get away?" How much did he hurt you? he really wanted to ask, but didn't dare, at least not yet.
"I didn't." Chris let himself be embraced, relaxing into Buck's taller frame, and looped his arms around Buck's waist. "They tracked us down, to an old house, more of a mansion really, that had been empty for decades. At least that's what they told me. The first thing I remember after... The first thing I remember is waking up in a hospital room, a doctor telling me I have been out for days."
Tightening the hold, Buck felt himself go cold. "Why didn't you... I mean..."
"Why didn't I tell you? I couldn't."
"You should have told me. I'd have come back right away, you should have told me, Chris..."
He felt more then heard Chris' denial.
"No. I couldn't tell anybody. Hell, I couldn't even be near people in the first time after I got out of the hospital. I saw him in everybody, no matter who they were. As you probably have noticed," Chris didn't look at him, his voice dry. "I wasn't coping very well."
All Buck could think about was the fact that he hadn't been there. He hadn't been there for his friend, when Chris needed him the most. And for some reason, known only to Chris himself, he hadn't wanted him there. And as if he knew what Buck was thinking, Chris kept talking.
"It was never about you, Buck. I just couldn't bear the thought of anyone close to me after what he...did to me. And I didn't want to associate you with that. I wanted to keep you, and our friendship, pure. The one thing he couldn't taint, something to hold on to... You understand, don't you?"
Hearing the silent plea, Buck nodded. "I do, Chris, I really do. But you still should have told me. You shouldn't have to go through that alone."
"I managed." Chris sounded tired. "After a not very successful attempt at drinking myself into courage, oblivion or what the hell I was trying to find those days, I finally wised up about what I was doing. I started getting angry, instead of scared. From there I pulled myself back. Got back on the force and started working my way up."
Buck's arms were like a vise around him, like the man was trying to fuse them together permanently. The strong hold made Chris feel safe, a feeling that always came to mind when thinking of Buck. With a small sigh he let himself melt into the hug, taking refuge in the offered comfort and love. He'd let himself stay here for just a little while, gain himself some footing so that hopefully, when they returned to the world outside of Buck's safe arms he wouldn't lose the balance he had worked so hard to regain.
Not even noting the way his right hand had reached up a broad back and wide shoulders to entangle in soft, blonde locks of hair, Buck focused on the steady, warm exhalations of breath that slightly fanned the side of his neck. The light touch of warmth was obvious evidence that the killer hadn't succeeded in taking his best friend away, that Chris had survived. In every way. A thought slid like a black snake into his mind...survived only to go through it all again. Only this time he was standing on the sideline, watching it happen to one of his friends instead.
"Are you going to be up to facing the others?" he gently asked, fingers meeting the smooth skin on the back of the smaller man's neck.
"You can't protect me from this, Buck." The answer surprised him and made him a bit unravelled. Chris pulled back a little so he could meet Buck's eyes.
"I'm going to have to face this. All of this. The bastard has got Ez. And he's using him to get to me." A hard, determined look came over Chris' face. "I am going to finish what I should have finished back then. I am not going to fail again."
Buck's hand closed around his chin, lifting his face to meet an equally determined blue gaze. "Don't ever say that again," Buck's voice was silk-laced steel. "I am not letting you blame yourself for this. Not for what happened to you back then and not for what is happening now. You hear me, Chris?"
Chris didn't get a chance to answer as their attention was drawn to the raised, angry voices outside the door.
A few seconds before running steps had bounded into the office and then Vin skidded to a stop right infront of JD. The sharpshooter's normally calm blue eyes were blazing. "What the fuck happened? I thought you were supposed to look out for him!?"
"We..." JD started. "We didn't hear anything, we thought everything was ok..." He didn't get further before Vin cut him off again, still seething.
"You thought? Some bastard's got Ez, and you thought everything was fine?"
"Calm down, Vin," the rumbling voice of Josiah broke into the conversation. "This is not the time for accusations. JD and Buck did their job. Now we have to focus on what to do from here."
Taking to pacing over the floor Vin ran a hand through the already tousled curls. "I just can't believe it! He was wearing a wire for Christ's sake, how could somebody get to him without them hearing? It doesn't make sense..."
"It's not their fault, Vin." Chris' quiet voice had everyone turning to him. "I don't think there was anything they could have done."
Vin's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying this guy is that good," Chris sighed, making Buck place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "He's a damn ghost. If he doesn't want to be found, he doesn't get found."
"Sounds to me like you're giving up already." Vin's anger had left him a little, replaced by confusion and surprise over their leader's unusual behavior.
Hazel eyes met his, holding determination mixed with a multitude of other emotions Vin couldn't quite make out.. "Oh no, I'm not giving up, Vin. But for now we're going to play his game. It's just..." Memories dragged a dark veil over his eyes. "It's easier that way."
"You know him." Vin wasn't asking. "Who is he?"
"Elijah Joseph Gaines. Or Eli Joe, if you prefer that." To Chris' own ears the name sounded ominous in the room. He hadn't spoken it out loud in a long time, and it still made him feel like hiding, bringing with it all the accompanying feelings of fear, selfloathing and desperation again. Buck's hand tightened on his shoulder and he leaned thankfully back into the familiar touch. "Yeah, I know him."
When Chris stopped, Buck knew that the other man wasn't going to be able to tell what had taken place with Gaines another time, so he turned to JD. The young man was watching him back with serious, dark eyes.
"Pull up the file, kid. Let them read for themselves."
The quiet clicking on the keyboard was his only reply. He could clearly see JD's face paling as he scanned through the contents of the file. His eyes flickered to Chris for a second, then back to the screen. The electric whine of the printer made them all jump. When it was quiet again, JD got up and gathered the sheets of paper. Again his eyes moved to Chris, but the older man kept his eyes directed towards the floor, and Buck's hand stayed on his shoulder. The rustling of paper was the only sound along with the hushed sounds of his footsteps as JD gave Josiah, Vin and Nathan a copy of the file each.
Nathan was the first to react. Immediately getting the gist of it, he looked towards Chris, shocked.
"Chris, what did..."
"Just read the damn file, Nate!" Buck snapped. The look on the medic's face told him clearly that the message had been received. Don't ask any questions now. He looked to Josiah to try and gauge the big profiler's reaction. He knew very well how much the older man cared for their undercover agent. But it was Vin's reaction that shocked him the most.
The Texan had been quiet and still, reading through the pages of the report with a face growing steadily paler. As the last page was turned, blue eyes gone dark were aimed at Chris. The papers fluttered to the floor in graceful arcs. Then Vin turned and left, the door swinging shut with a definite bang after him. Seeing the hurt on Chris' face, the emotion quickly subdued, Buck was a heartbeat away from following Vin and beating him into a pulp without a second thought.
Josiah came to his aid.
"Let's give brother Vin some time to cool off," he calmly suggested. "The boy is not thinking clearly at the moment."
"Who of us is?" Nathan asked, sounding dazed.
"He has his own reasons," was Josiah's cryptic reply. "He'll come around."
"He better."
Chris reached up to cover Buck's hand with his own at the tone of his friend's voice. Most of all he wanted to turn around and bury himself in Buck's embrace, letting himself believe in the other's assurances that everything was going to be alright. But there was no time for that. The memory of the expression on Vin's face before he left, was a painful stab. The younger man blamed him for Ezra's disappearance. As he did himself.
Next to their office building was a small park, not really more than just a scattering of trees and a few flower beds holding on for dear life against dogs and birds and playing children. In the far end a group of leaning oaks made a small shelter with a white painted bench underneath. Any other day Josiah would have enjoyed the warm, sunny day and fresh air, but right now he was on a mission. Sitting down on the bench with a comfortable sigh, he leaned back.
"You know, that wasn't very nice of you," he stated to the unresponsive figure next to him.
"Buck send you to yell at me?" was the sour reply.
"No, he is still in the office. But he isn't very pleased with you right now, I'll tell you that. Chris believes that you blame him."
"Well, I do!" The outburst was followed by a more timid: "I mean, he should have told us!"
The leaves on the tree closest to them were trembling as the breeze tore through the tree tops. Watching a green leaf become unfastened and separated from the rest. Josiah followed it coming to rest on the ground. He bent forward and picked it up.
"We all have things in our past, Vin. Can you honestly say that there isn't someone out there somewhere, who wants to get to you? Someone who wouldn't think twice about using your loved ones to get back at you?" He kept his voice docile, hoping that he had read the younger man correctly and that he did indeed know the reason for Vin's uncharacteristic behavior.
"I guess so," came the reply at least.
"And these persons...you have told us about them?"
This time Vin looked at him. "No. No, I haven't." Josiah kept quiet, letting him sort out his feelings on his own.
"It's just that... Just knowing..." Intense blue eyes met Josiah's. "You read what he did to Chris. He is going to do the same to Ezra. And I can't stop him."
"Not alone." A large hand covered Vin's. "But together we will."
Vin's fingers curled around his.
"And when he comes back, you'll tell him?"
"Yeah." Vin's reply was low, but his voice was confident. "I'll tell him."
"Good." Josiah allowed himself a smile. "Now, you're coming back to the office with me and you're going to apologize to Chris. Then we're going to start working on catching that piece of scum Gaines and getting out lost brother back." He got to his feet, knowing without looking that Vin stood up as well. He glanced back, taking in the look of despair on the younger man's face, wishing that he had the right words to comfort him. The trip back to their office was spent in silence.
Facing Chris was harder than Vin had thought. Once the initial shock had worn off somewhat, he'd had time to think just what it was that his boss had been through. And he felt ashame and angry with himself for allowing his feelings to take control. He forced himself to meet the hazel eyes.
"I'm sorry, Chris. I had no right to put the blame for this on you, I'm..." His gaze dropped to the floor. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok." But the usual understanding between them was lost, Vin hoped that it was just momentarily.
"Ok," he repeated, moving back. "I'll get back to work then." He turned and was heading for his computer when suddenly a tall figure was in his way. Vin looked up to meet the cold stare of Buck Wilmington.
"You ever hurt him like that again, Tanner, and it won't be Josiah coming to look for you, you got that?"
"Got it."
"Good." Buck's look hadn't changed at all. "Oh and Vin..." he tossed over his shoulder as he was leaving. "Make sure you apologize to JD as well."
Uncurling his fists, Vin lifted his hands to study crescent shaped, bloodied marks on his palms. "Sure, Buck," he softly said, more to himself than anyone else. "I got it." With one last look at Buck's retreating back, he busied himself at his computer, trying to figure out where to start. All while pushing the conflicting emotions down, they would have to wait for later.
The phone had been ringing for quite some time before Nathan leaned over and picked it up. One by one did the five others around him notice that something was happening and turn silent. JD was the first to get the idea and hit the recorder before he immersed himself in the tracking program. Then Nathan looked up, his dark brown eyes unsure.
"He wants to talk to Chris."
Chris moved forward before Buck could protest. Picking up the phone with a shaking hand, he answered it shortly.
"This is Larabee."
JD had put on the speakers, allowing them all to hear the smooth voice of the caller.
"There is no need for such formalities, is there, Christopher?" The answer was closed with a chuckle. "After all we do know each other quite intimately, you and I..."
"What do you want, Gaines?" The anger was barely concealed both on Chris' face and in his voice.
"Patience, patience," Gaines chuckled back. "I haven't spoken to you in such a long time, Christopher," the voice was almost dreamy. "I have waited and waited...I wanted everything to be perfect. And," another highpitched chuckle, "now it is."
"I want my man back." Chris had no patience for word games.
"Always straight to the point, aren't you?" Gaines still sounded amused. "But, I am not sure if I do want to give him back, he really is beautiful. Almost as beautiful as you."
Closing his eyes in quiet despair, Chris took a forced breath. "If you have touched him, harmed him in any way..."
"Relax, Christopher. You always were my favourite. This one is beautiful as well, but he's not like you. He doesn't taste like you." The statement produced a half strangled sound from Vin, like a trapped animal.
Gaines apparently hadn't noticed and continued. "It has been nice talking to you again, Christopher. But unfortunelately I have matters at hand to tend to. I will call you later today after I finish."
"You fucking piece of shit," Chris ground out. "I'll get you for this, Gaines, you worthless bastard..."
"Such language. Oh well, it must be the company you are keeping these days. I remember you as much more well-behaved. I'll be off then. And do remember to check your email. I have sent you a little souvenir. Just something to help you remember." Then the line was dead.
The tall blond sagged back as if his strength went with the phone line, Buck was at his side in a heartbeat. "You got him, JD?" he asked as he pulled Chris into a hug, not caring about what the others may think.
"Sorry. He got some anti-tracing device on his phone. Kept bouncing me all over the place."
"Don't worry." Chris was the one replying. "He's not far away. He likes to watch." Carefully extracting himself from Buck, he moved closer to JD. "Access my email account. Get the return address and see if you can trace that."
"I'm on it." It only took JD a few seconds to bring the right program up. "One new mail, from E. J. G., no subject header." With a few more press on the keys he had the mail opened. To his surprise it consisted of an image instead of words. Five playing cards, picture side down, fanned out into a half circle."
"He is inviting us to play," Josiah commented, trying hard not to think about their resident gambler and his ever-present deck of cards. The Southerner had once confided in him that the cards made him feel safe, a sort of a lucky charm. One of the few constants he had had during his childhood, and one of the few things he could excel at that would bring his mother's approval as well. With a heartfelt prayer to his god Josiah hoped he'd soon have the man he had come to think about as a wayward son back safe and sound.
JD's voice broke into his thoughts.
"I can turn the cards. Just give me a sec..."
One by one the cards were flipped, revealing a pair of eights and a pair of aces, all black.
"The Dead Man's hand." Vin's words spooked them all. "Wild Bill Hickock was shot holding that hand in a poker game," he explained.
The white arrow hovered over last card. "And the last one?" JD asked, for some reason he felt hesitant about turning the last one.
"Nobody knows for sure."
JD clicked on the mouse and the background image melted into another picture. But not into a playing card as he had expected.
There was a flurry of sound around him, but they all sounded like they were far away as JD found himself staring at a photograph. Their missing agent, lying flat on his back, eyes closed and stripped to the waist. His arms were tied to the bedpost of a large bed, the bruising on his face and torso more than evident on the colour Polaroid.
"If he is playing, then what's the stake?" Nathan was the only one seemingly keeping a clear head. "He's using Ezra as bait, betting him against...."
"Against me." Chris didn't bother to look up. "If we win, we get Ez back. If he wins...he gets me."
"Ain't gonna happen." Buck's reply was instant. "We'll get Ezra back, and then I am going to rip Gaines' head off."
"Not if I beat you to it." Vin hadn't been able to take his eyes of the photograph. "I'll enjoy killing him." Rage turned him cold inside, numbing the painful emotions. "I just have to figure out where he is."
"Together, Vin, remember?" Josiah reminded him. "We'll get Ezra back together."
"Really." Vin didn't sound at all convinced. "You think so too, Buck? Or are you willing to sell him down the river so you can keep Gaines away from Chris?"
"I am not even going to answer that, junior."
"Why? Because you know it's true?"
"Vin, what the hell has gotten into you?" Josiah's patience was large, but now the sharpshooter was beginning to wear it out. "You know Buck will do everything he can to get Ezra back, there's no call for talk like that."
"The hell there isn't!" Vin had spun around to face the profiler. "Don't pretend you don't see it. As long as his precious Chris is safe, Buck couldn't give a damn what happens to Ezra!"
The rest of the team had gotten up as well, forming a circle around the agitated Texan.
"Come on, Vin, you know that isn't true." Nathan didn't have Josiah's patience. "Every one of us will do his best to get Gaines. You're not helping with that attitude of yours. We're wasting time here."
"No." Vin looked around himself. "I'm wasting time. Don't bother, Nathan, I know what you really think about Ez." He waved the darker man off. "I don't need you guys."
Before he could say anything else, he was lifted off the floor by the front of his shirt.
"I don't know what the hell has gotten into you, Vin," Buck growled. "But I'm not going to stand here listening to you acting like an idiot. If you're not going to come up with something helpful, then get the fuck out of here." He pushed the younger man back, almost sending him to the floor.
"Stop!"
Every set of eyes turned to Chris.
"Don't you see that this is what Gaines wants? This is what he gets off on, right? Controlling people. Either we turn on each other and let him win without even entering the game... Or," the hazel eyes were burning. "We stand together and kick his ass."
"I for one am all for the ass kicking," Josiah voiced his opinion. Nathan and JD quickly agreed. Chris sent them a thankful smile.
"So am I," Buck stated, staring at Vin. "Tanner?"
"Yeah. I'm in."
Chris let out a breath he hadn't been aware that he was holding. "Good! Then let's get back to work."