I figured this might be a better introduction to this list than the standard "Hi, how are ya." I'm hoping to get over my writer's apathy and finish a couple of other Ezra/JD stories I have going. :-)

The cold wind blew around the two men on horseback plodding their way through the deep snow.

Ezra suppressed a shiver as the wind blew snow around him. He looked back to make sure his companion was still behind him before huddling over his saddle in a futile attempt to stay warm.

JD turned the collar up on his coat and stared at the hunched back of his friend. He wished there had been some other way, but he'd run out of options. If one of the others had been with Ez maybe they could've stopped the whole thing before it got out of hand. As it was, Ezra had nearly got himself shot. Fortunately, he'd recognized what was happening from previous times and had their horses ready and waiting for them right outside of the saloon when the game had gone bad.

Frowning, JD watched Ezra turn around in his saddle again. He knew Ez was probably mad at him, but he couldn't figure out what he'd done. Buck would have been proud of him, he'd been real careful and paid attention to what was going on around him and had gotten himself and Ezra out in one piece. He shifted in his saddle and winced. OK, almost one piece, but what was he supposed to do, let them stab Ezra in the back?

Ezra squinted, trying to get a better view of the large shadow ahead of them, but couldn't quite make it out. They were still too far away. He looked back to say something to JD, but closed his mouth when he couldn't think of anything to say.

He just wanted to know why JD had felt it necessary to intervene. He'd had the whole situation under control until JD had shoved him aside and growled at him to get outside. Smiling, he had to admit he'd been rather impressed with the growl despite its oddly breathy quality. He'd found himself outside and on his horse almost before he'd realized what was happening. Not that he'd ever tell his young friend that. Much as he understood JD's efforts to make himself more like his hero, Chris Larabee, Ezra personally, and quite selfishly, prayed that JD would never completely succeed.

Peering through the heavily falling snow, Ezra felt a wave of relief when his hopes were realized. He turned his horse slightly to put them on a direct path with the small building.

JD looked up questioningly as he guided his horse to follow Ezra's. Before he could ask where they were going a gust of wind gave him a glimpse of their destination. I hope there's a fireplace he thought as a deep shudder ran through his slender frame. Flexing his fingers around the reins, he wondered idly when they had gone numb.

Mentally urging their horses to go faster, the two men steadily made their way to the small dwelling. As they got closer to their destination Ezra studied it carefully. Judging by the lack of smoke coming from the small chimney, the cabin was deserted. At least he hoped it was deserted; he really didn't feel like maintaining proper courtesies right now. He was cold , wet and tired.

Off to one side, he could see a small barn. Ezra patted his horse's neck, happy that their mounts would be out of the cold as well, instead of in the lee of the building sheltered only slightly from the wind.

JD nudged his horse forward until he was beside Ezra and pointed as they approached the cabin.

"I'll get the horses into the barn," he said, jumping down from his horse only to sink almost to his knees in the snow.

Ezra looked at the barn and watched as a strong gust of wind caused snow to obscure it from his sight. Firmly pushing down the fear and loss he felt at the thought of JD wandering off into the storm to freeze to death, Ezra shook his head.

"We stay together."

JD didn't respond, but struggled out of the snow and back onto his horse. Breathing heavily he gave his horse its head to follow Ezra's while he gathered up his strength.

When they reached the barn, Ezra got off his horse to open the barn door, handing his reins to JD. He found the latch and pushed up. It didn't move. Cursing softly, he tried again to no avail. Puffing out his breath, he bent closer to the latch to study it. Not seeing anything jammed in the lock he tried again and this time the latch gave with a loud screeching sound. Wincing, Ezra glanced back towards JD, expecting to see him reacting to the irritating sound as well. Instead, JD was standing in the snow, leaning face first into his horse's neck. Ezra's breath caught in his throat when he saw how still his friend was until he saw JD's hand move gently against the neck soothing the animal. Swallowing the lump in his throat Ezra turned back to the door as a strong gust of wind left him shuddering. He moved as quickly as the still increasing winds and deep snow would allow and pushed the doors open.

Taking the reins back from JD he led his mount inside, checking back every few steps until he saw JD start to follow him inside. Once inside Ezra went about getting his horse settled and comfortable for the night. He found himself unable to stop glancing at his young friend. There was something wrong. He watched with increasing concern as JD took care of his mount at a much slower and more cautious pace than he normally would.

Finishing up with his horse, Ezra gave the animal a consoling pat before walking over to JD.

"You ready?" he asked once he got JD's attention. JD nodded. Grabbing their bedrolls and saddle bags, the two men left the barn, closing the doors tightly before heading into the bone chilling wind towards the cabin.

JD grabbed Ezra's arm as they neared the building and pointed to a wooden bin he had spotted along one wall.

"There might be wood in there," he shouted over the wind.

Ezra didn't argue, but found it highly unlikely that there would be any wood. The odds were against them. JD reached the bin first and, after handing his things to Ezra, brushed the snow off the cover. Exhaling slowly, he lifted the cover. His vision darkened for a second as pain swept through his side, but he managed to not make a sound. Now wasn't the time. Taking a few deep breaths, he tried not to cough as the cold air hit his lungs. He looked inside the bin, then turned to give Ezra a big grin, before pushing the lid up until it was propped against the wall. He reached inside and started pulling out logs.

When both of them had as many as they could carry, JD looked at the lid then at the wood still in the bin. Scooting around to one side, he tried to use his elbow to push it down but it was too large and he could only get his corner to move.

Ezra watched JD struggle with the effort of closing the lid and wanted to tell him to leave it alone, but he also knew that JD was right; they might need the rest of that wood later. He moved to the other side and with a nod indicated they push together.

Watching JD move ahead of him into the cabin, Ezra was determined to find out what was bothering his friend. He had a worried suspicion that JD had been injured somehow, but he couldn't determine when that might have happened. The most likely time for JD to have been injured would have been back in the saloon but nothing had happened. They had gotten out without a fight. Or had they?

He paused in mid-step as the thought occurred to him and took a shaky breath at the idea of JD being hurt because of him.

Stomping his feet just outside the cabin door JD pushed it open slowly. Calling out before stepping inside, he peered around the gloomy interior. He spotted a lantern on a small table off to one side, he dropped his wood to the side of the door and walked over to it. Pulling off his sodden gloves he dropped them on the table, raising a small cloud of dust. He wrinkled his nose as he reached inside his jacket pocket to pull out the matches he'd learned to keep there when out on the trail.

His numb fingers fumbled with the matches until he was able to light the lantern. Lifting it to look around, he turned to find Ezra getting a fire started in the wood-burning stove. JD walked over to give him some more light. Once the fire was burning steadily, JD took off his wet jacket, laying it on the floor near the stove so it could dry. Holding his hands out close to the stove, he glanced over to find Ezra staring at him.

"What?"

Grimacing, Ezra turned back towards the stove. JD swore he could almost see the tension coming off Ezra's frame.

After several minutes, JD huffed, "Would you just say what's on your mind!"

"I had everything under control. There was no need for you to interfere," Ezra stated bluntly.

"No reason..." JD gripped Ezra's arm. "I saved your life!"

Swallowing hard against the anger he felt at JD risking his life for him, he said bitingly, "You could have been hurt!"

JD stepped closer and hissed, jabbing his finger into Ezra's chest with each word, "They were gonna kill you!"

The two men glared at each other.

"I don't believe this!" JD threw his hands up and turned to walk away.

"Oh no you don't!" Ezra grabbed JD by the shoulder and pulled him back around, causing JD to stumble into him. Hearing the younger man gasp, Ezra's eyes dilated in fear before he pushed JD back a step and began rapidly unbuttoning his vest. He batted away the hands that were trying to stop him.

"Where is it?" he rasped.

"Ezra. It's ok. It's not that bad." JD tried to soothe the other man, seeing the fear in his face.

Sharp green eyes stared at him disbelievingly before Ezra continued removing JD's vest. JD wanted to say something more, to respond to something he saw in those eyes, but he was afraid. What if he was wrong? What if it was just wishful thinking on his part? He didn't know what would be worse, knowing or not knowing. He was used to not knowing, having to pretend he didn't feel the way he did.

Ezra began to gently turn JD around, stopping when he saw the wet spot on JD's left side. Ezra drew a shaky breath and probed the area gently, grimacing in sympathy when JD let out a small hiss of pain.

Grabbing JD by the hand, Ezra pulled him over to the bed in corner of the cabin. "Sit," he ordered before turning to search for supplies.

JD watched as his friend agitatedly searched the small kitchen area. Realizing that Ezra was more upset than he wanted to let on, JD began to unbutton his shirt to make it easier for the gambler to treat his injury. He winced as he shrugged out of his shirt. While he was fairly certain it wasn't fatal, it still hurt like hell.

Ezra returned with a small basin of water and some strips of cloth. Not meeting JD's eyes, he tested the water to make sure it wasn't still too cold before wetting a cloth. He sat down on the bed next to the younger man, placing one of his hands on JD's shoulder to steady him and began to clean the area around the cut. After wrapping a bandage around JD's abdomen, Ezra tied it off. Resting his hand above the bandage, he idly rubbed his fingers against the smooth skin that he had been longing to touch.

"Ez..." JD's voice caught. He swallowed and tried again. "Ezra?"

The hand dropped into Ezra's lap. JD immediately missed its warmth.

"Yes." Ezra still wouldn't look at JD.

JD didn't know what to say next. Maybe he was reading too much into things. Maybe he should just forget the whole thing. Maybe....

Leaning forward, JD waited until Ezra turned to look at him and then pressed his lips to Ezra's. JD pulled back, holding wide green eyes with the emotions he was showing in his hazel ones.

Blinking rapidly, Ezra said, "We shouldn't..."

JD kissed him again. When he started to draw back, Ezra made a sound of protest. Tangling his fingers in JD's thick black hair, Ezra brought him back and deepened the kiss.

Laying his hand against Ezra's face, JD gently stroked his cheek. He didn't want the kiss to ever end, but he had to know. JD had to say the words. He had to say them at least once. Just in case this was a dream. He murmured, "Love you...love you...love you," punctuating each declaration with a kiss.

Scarce believing his ears, Ezra buried his face in the crook of JD's neck, wrapping his arms tightly around the slender body. Gathering his composure around him again, he shifted back until his hands were resting on JD's bare shoulders. Ezra gazed into JD's eyes and said, "I love you, too."

With a tender smile, Ezra pushed JD back on the bed and laid beside him. Running his hand over JD's chest, he asked, "Are you sure? This will change everything."

"I'm sure," JD answered as he began unbuttoning Ezra's shirt.

Ezra grasped JD's hands in his own and said, "Let me."

Bending his head, Ezra brushed his palm over one of JD's nipples. Kissing the hard nub, he began to suckle while rubbing and pinching the other.

JD cried out at the new sensations he was experiencing. He shifted his hips restlessly, his pants were becoming uncomfortably tight.

Ezra trailed his tongue down to the edge of the bandage before coming up to hungrily kiss JD while he unfastened JD's pants. He shifted back to JD's waist and trailed his tongue along the edge of JD's trousers. Hooking his fingers under the waistband, Ezra slowly pushed the pants down, kissing each new inch of skin as it was exposed. He deliberately avoided the groin area until he had completely removed the pants, then tossed them to the floor.

Sitting back, Ezra gazed at JD and marveled at his good fortune. He could never have imagined in his wildest fantasies that he would ever get to have the chance to show his love to this man. Trailing his hand along the outer edge of JD's leg, he bent and, opening his mouth, breathed on JD's inner thigh just beside his erection.

JD sucked in a deep gulp of air. "Ezra," he moaned.

Responding to the plea in JD's voice, Ezra kissed the head of his lover's cock before flicking his tongue across the sensitive skin. JD thrust his hips upward, pushing his penis into Ezra's open mouth. Holding onto JD's hips, Ezra held him in place as he swirled his tongue around the base. He trailed his tongue along the ridged underside of JD's cock before taking him into his mouth. Ezra moved one of his hands to grasp the base of JD's shaft.

JD thrashed his head around on the pillow. He'd never felt anything like this before. It was overwhelming. It was breathtaking. It was...Ezra. Always Ezra.

Glancing up, Ezra saw eyes blazing with desire watching him. He increased his suction and JD's head fell to the pillow, his back arching as he came. Ezra swallowed quickly, not wanting to miss a single drop. He pulled back and allowed JD's flaccid organ to slip out. Bending, he placed a lingering kiss on it before shifting up to give JD a chance to taste himself in his lover's mouth.

JD obligingly responded by taking Ezra's tongue into his mouth and sucking on it while running his hands up and down Ezra's spine. Slipping one hand between them, JD massaged the bulge in Ezra's pants.

"We should do something about that," he said shyly.

Ezra nodded and moved to take off his pants. He knew that JD, despite his assertions to the contrary, was not in any condition for strenuous activity. Drawing JD closer to him, he gave him a long kiss before taking one of JD's hands in his own and guiding it to his erection. Lacing his fingers through JD's he grasped his cock and began pumping.

JD, eyes wide, looked at Ezra with adoration. Bending his head, JD's dark hair covered his face as he kissed the center of Ezra's chest. With his free hand, he explored, his fingertips grazing the bottom of Ezra's ribcage before sliding up to his collarbone.

Their joined hands continued stroking in a slow, steady rhythm. Ezra began tightening his grip, alternately increasing and decreasing the speed and intensity of their strokes until he came, shouting JD's name.

Raising his head, Ezra captured JD's mouth in a moist, noisy kiss. JD slipped his hand out from under Ezra's and brought both of their hands up to his face. His heart in his large eyes, he sensuously took each of Ezra's slender fingers into his mouth, sucking them clean.

Before JD could start on his own hand, Ezra grasped it and began licking between and around each finger, slowly returning the favor. When their hands were clean, Ezra maneuvered them both under the covers of the bed and pulled JD to him.

His head pillowed on Ezra's shoulder, JD languidly caressed Ezra's chest until he fell asleep. Ezra kissed the top of his head and looked around the cabin. He would always remember this place with great affection. Once the storm passed they would have to leave for home. He didn't know what would happen once they got back, but right here, right now, it was perfect. With a loving smile on his face, Ezra tucked his chin against JD's head and drifted off to sleep.

Fin