Consider it bribery fic for more of the WIP that are being posted slowly to this list.

"Chris Larabee, you, sir, have a lot of gall."

"I was about to ask you if I could join you but I'll find somewhere else to sit," said Chris Larabee's voice from beside him.

Ezra started, his glance darting to Chris' handsome face. Discovering the object of his thoughts and affections beside him was a shock. His blond hair, his face, his lashes and his black leather duster all glistened with droplets of rain. His face was somber, his lips drawn down and a muscle was twitching in Chris' jaw. Hazel eyes that last looked on him in anger were now watchful as Chris stared at him as if he was unsure of his reception.

It was the first time that he had ever seen the ATF leader so unsure of himself.

Good.

Ezra gave Chris a smile that he knew did not quite reach his eyes. He motioned to an empty chair on the other side of his table. Chris shrugged off his duster, draping it across another chair before sitting down. Inez walked over to the table and sat a whiskey down in front of Chris.

"Thank you." His fingers wrapped around the glass. Chris stared into the amber liquid. Ezra sat there, silent. Chris obviously had something to say but he would not make it easy for Chris. The love he felt for the older man had not drained what intelligence he possessed into his nether regions. Maude raised him better than that. Chris had created the problem. Let Chris be the one to find the solution.

Finally Chris looked up from the whiskey. "What happened back at the warehouse?"

"You want to know why I ran out on you?" Ezra threw back the words that Chris said to him at the warehouse that afternoon. The words hadn't been said in anger, just uttered in a matter-of-fact tone. Which triggered Ezra's temper. Instead of connecting his fist with Chris' jaw, which was his first and second impulse, he turned on his heel and walked out of the warehouse. He returned to the office where he turned in his equipment, wrote his report, and left the signed document on Chris' desk. He had been in the Saloon for the past two hours, nursing the same glass of bourbon, deciding if he wanted to stay with the team or mail Chris his resignation from some place warm and sunny. "Did Mr. Tanner request that you ask me?" He lofted the glass of bourbon to his lips, downing the liquor in a single gulp.

"What the hell does Vin have to do with anything?"

Ezra licked his lips before speaking. "I was under the impression that Mr. Tanner was your conscience."

"Vin has nothing to do with his. This between you and me. No one else." Chris gave him a tight smile. "Unless you want to call Josiah. Then I'll call Vin. They can act as seconds if need be."

"If you are challenging me to a duel, you might want to invite Mr. Jackson. I am a crackshot as well as adept with a sword, Mr. Larabee."

Lightening quick, Chris reached across the table, grabbing Ezra's wrist. "Chris. My name is Chris. Frankly, I'm getting tired of you calling me Mr. Larabee."

"Mr. Larabee, I do n..."

Chris' fingers tightened.

"Chris."

His grip loosened. Chris settled back in his chair, his thumb caressing the pulse that beat underneath Ezra's skin. "Was that so hard to say?"

Ezra fought the urge to close his eyes and to give into the pleasure of Chris' touch on his skin as the anger he felt towards Chris drained away. "N-n-no." He felt the flush creep pass his collar and into his face.

The smile that Chris gave him could only be called salacious. Could Chris be as interested in him as he was in Chris? "Want to tell me what happened?"

"My position had already been taken by one of Starr's men. Since we were under a communication blackout, I could not warn you. By the time, I obtained a more advantageous position, you, the rest of the team and Agent Riley had been captured." Ezra lifted his shoulder in a shrug. "Then I did what I could to see to your emancipation."

"Then when we were 'emancipated', I assume that you ran out on us before changing your mind and coming back." Scrubbing his face with his free hand, Chris muttered, "I'm an idiot."

"You'll have no argument from me," Ezra said, without thinking.

Chris glared back at him. "You didn't have to agree with me."

Ezra smiled back.

Chris pushed himself to his feet, pulling Ezra with him. "C'mon. I'm buying your supper."

"We could order our meal here."

"I believe you prefer Greek."

"How..."

"I believe in finding out everything that I can about people that I care about. And I care about you."