This was wrong. He knew it was wrong. For so many reasons, both complex and moral, this was wrong. Hell, for the reason that it could get him shot by numerous people, he knew it was wrong, and yet still he was doing it. Apparently reason and Vin Tanner had parted ways.

Something was definitely wrong with him because Vin Tanner does not molest an unconscious Ezra Standish Nah molest ain't right. I'm just touching him. Oh yes because 'just touching him' sounds so much better.

It had started off innocently enough when Nathan had left the clinic to gets some more supplies. He had volunteered to stay with the wounded gambler. Well, volunteered/leapt on the opportunity, what's the difference? After all it was his fault that Ezra was there so he should stay to help. It was his fault he should have been watching him. Vin didn't acknowledge that he was actually a little busy at the time trying to cover all of the seven, the innocent bystanders, and shoot ten bank robbers who didn't seem to appreciate Larabees line of "give up and I might not kill ya" (although Tanner was rather impressed as he wasn't expecting anything beyond a grunt and a few syllables). The extent of the chaos that encompassed Four Corners seemed insignificant though when the gambler fell. As soon as Tanner saw the bullet explode through the conmans body all his other responsibilities were petty. He'd let Ezra get shot. He actually barely remembered what happened between the time he saw Ezra fall and the time he was beside his side, but apparently he'd gunned down the remaining four robbers with a cold precision. He then proceeded to leap from his perch on the roof opposite the bank (which would have amazed anyone watching as that leap did not seem possible without physical bodily harm, but everyone's attention was on the gambler. The very still gambler.)

Ezra lay unconscious, by the water trough that was serving as his cover during the firefight. The blood seemed to be spreading to encompass the entirety of the gamblers tan jacket as Nathan pressed heavily against the spurting wound at his upper right chest. Vin found himself stuck to the spot, eyes fixed upon the gamblers paling features, which were in contrast to the stark blood soaked clothes.

He thought rather detachedly that it was a good job that Ez wasn't wearing his red jacket coz Ez loved that jacket and Vin didn't wanna be the one to tell him it was pretty much destroyed.

There was shouting. Vin calmly acknowledged that there definitely was shouting but he'd be damned if he had any idea where it was coming from. But as Larabee shoved him out of the way and helped Josiah and Buck lift Ezra's limp form he figured it was probably aimed at him, and concerned helping Ezra. The problem was Vin's mind seemed to be stuck on a loop. It consisting of seeing Ezra's chest explode, his bloodied yet pale features lax and unresponsive, and then, in comparison, the gamblers smiling face reassuring him that "as soon as this slight public disturbance is rectified we may recommence with relieving you good self of that honestly earned pay load, Mr Tanner."

Just before Vin's nightmare started.

As Ezra was carried away Vin felt a pull, as of he was on a lead, urging him to follow and keep the gambler in sight. Then all of a sudden the gambler was gone. Barricaded from sight by the solid, and seemingly impenetrable, door of Nathan's clinic. Vin went to try and open it when it was forcibly swung open and three other peacekeepers were ejected from inside by the towering figure of Josiah. Amongst the protests Vin could make out the noise of Nathan's frantic movements. Instruments were being picked up and discarded, water was sloshing as the gambler was cleaned, only to be covered in more blood and Nathan's deep voice reassuring either Ezra or himself that everything was gonna be fine he just had to stop the bleeding.

Then came the inconceivably long wait, within which people came and went (apparently some of the robbers had survived Vin's wrath and needed watching), the light faded and Vin became more and more dejected. Ezra's bloodied form swam before his eyes, constantly replacing the image of the gambler's handsome face lit up in an dimpled grin that flashed gold and a promise of unpredictability, until all Vin could see was blood and grief. He could scarcely feel Chris' reassuring pat on the arm or his words of reassurance, the sense of loss was profound, and the fact that he was feeling that loss was even more of an impact. When had he and the gambler grown so close? When had he started to care? Vin had always known that if Chris got hurt it would hit him hard, and that if, say, JD got killed that would hurt, coz it was the kid, and he got to everyone, but Ezra?

When the seven came together it seemed that they were on two very different sides of it, both parts of the whole but parts that never really touched, and now...? Now, he'd give anything to see the gambler healthy, laughing, winning all his money, he just wanted the gambler there, with him. Vin didn't know when the heart wrenching concern developed for the conman, so he sure as hell didn't know why he had an irresistible urge to wrap his arms around the gamblers form, feel him alive and well with his own hands, but he did. It was with this curious development in Vin's thoughts that the clinic door opened and a worn out healer emerged. Now Vin had been able to read people his entire life, know their moods and intentions and yet now he just didn't know. Nathan's look could be subdued satisfaction but was it satisfaction because Ezra was alive or dead. Damn it, Nate never liked Ezra, if he's dead I'm gonna kill that smug bastard. Ok, now he knew that wasn't fair, Nathan wouldn't wish anyone dead, especially not one of the seven but did he have to drag out the tension, and why couldn't Vin read him! Why were all these unexpected emotions screwing up the one thing he could always rely on?

Nathan addressed his audience, who were all waiting with baited breath and Vin was sure he could already hear the words "I'm sorry, he's dead". So he was left reeling when Nathan said "he's gonna be fine".

He didn't know whether to laugh, cry, jump in the air, or fall face first to the ground in shock. Suddenly everyone was rushing forward to pile into the clinic and Vin was carried along with the crowd until a stern voice rang out. "Now hang on a minute. I said he's gonna be ok, that don't mean he's up to seein' all your ugly mugs. Now just calm down and I'll tell you what's going on". Despite his worry Vin was rather amused to see the great Chris Larabee looking at his feet and shuffling towards the seat Nathan pointed him to, like a chastised schoolboy.

"Now the bullet tore through his upper chest, on the right, but it ain't hit anything too vital. He's lost a hell of a lot of blood though so he's weak and I'm worried 'bout infection, but Ezra's pulled through worse, so I'm pretty positive."

"So... can we see him" came the timid voice of JD who seemed even more reluctant about voicing his urge to see Ezra after Larabees chastising.

"Not just yet JD, although I reckon the wound will heal just fine, he ain't come to yet. I think he musta hit his head on the way down and he's still out cold. So with slight concussion and the amount of blood he's lost Ez'll be out of it for a day or so."

The news of Ezras impending recovery obviously relieved everyone, and although Vin was worried about infection, and Ez not being awake yet, he knew that as soon as he heard Larabee make a crack about the 'lazy southerner' probably stretching it out for a week that everything was going to be ok.

So with a lighter air the remaining seven were dismissed, as they weren't getting in the clinic until at least the next morning. Vin let himself be herded into the saloon but his thoughts were with Ezra, and after half an hour or so he dismissed himself, implying that he was heading for his wagon (though Chris looked sceptical). As he stepped slowly up the stairs to the clinic Vin kept telling himself that he would just pop in, have a look, and see that Ezra was ok for himself.

Arriving at the door and pushing it open he found Nathan sleepily pottering around trying to restock a shelf whilst continually checking on the gamblers still form. Vin received a scolding look for his entrance, but upon seeing the deep concern etched on the trackers face he relented from admonishing him and merely said "he's really gonna be fine Vin, honestly". Now Vin trusted Nathan but he sure as hell would feel better when Ez opened his eyes and he didn't think he'd feel truly relaxed until he heard one or two five-dollar words uttered in a honeyed southern drawl. So instead of responding to Nates assurances he bluntly pointed out that Nate looked like shit and should get some sleep, Vin could more than manage taking care of Ezra (and Vin was sure he'd kept the eagerness out of his drawl). Predictably Nathan declined sleep but did say he'd nip out, get something to eat and grab some more supplies whilst the gambler was unconscious and he didn't have to guard the door to prevent escape attempts.

And that's how he found himself doing something profoundly wrong, something Ezra would kill him for if he woke up, something Nate would gun him down for if he walked in on it and something the town would probably lynch him for if they ever got wind of it.

Once Nathan had left Vin turned his attention towards the gambler.

Ezra was lying deathly still in the only bed in the clinic. A white sheet was covering Ez up to his collarbones, with a thick blanket only as far as his waist (Vin figured that Nate didn't want to put any undue weight on the conmans injury). A white bandage was visible just above the sheet and amongst the amass of white the gambler looked deathly pale. For a moment Vin was struck by how helpless the gambler looked, and Ez and helpless just did not mix, a fact Vin knew all to well working by his side for so long.

Even from across the room the tracker could see the sweat starting to break out on Ezras face and neck. So pushing aside his initial shock concerning Ezras appearance Vin picked up a basin and cloth left by Nathan and sat on Ez's left side by his head. With immense tenderness he mopped the gamblers brow, then traced Ezras features with the cool cloth noticing the silkiness of his skin and his youthful appearance when asleep. Now Vin knew that he himself looked young, he'd been told so his entire adult life, the phrase "boyish good looks" had been used numerous times and that's why he usually let his stubble grow, to conceal this. Vin always figured it was hard for bounties to take him seriously if they kept arguing amongst themselves about how young he looked and how they shouldn't be caught by a kid. This topped with his shyness meant that Vin kept his face as concealed as possible. Now Ezra, he was always clean-shaven, never hiding behind anything, yet he always appeared older to Vin and he couldn't imagine anyone ever calling Ez kid. Maybe looking older than your years was the price of always being on show, always being judged, hell, maybe it was the price of having Maude as a mother. But now he looked young, vulnerable, deceptively innocent and Heck, boyish good looks would be an understatement for Ez, he's just plain gorgeous. With this revelation Vin switched to tracing the gamblers lax features with his fingers, trying to understand how a collection of features could be so appealing when placed together in the package that was Ezra Standish.

Finishing with the face Vin let his fingers trail down Ezras neck, and follow the line of his collarbone, revelling in the smooth textures his skin. Now Vin knew that he should have stopped there, but he had a huge urge to view even more of this wondrous creature that had just been revealed to him. So with trembling fingers, and numerous furtive looks at the door that Nathan could walk through at any time, Vin slowly peeled back the sheet covering the gamblers torso. He was telling himself he was just gonna take a quick glance, see what Ez looked like without a shirt, and of course he was really doing it to check the wound, he was being a good friend! With that excuse (that was feeble even to his own ears) in mind he revealed the conmans sculptured chest. Now as pale as the gambler was from blood loss and his own natural tendency to cover himself in layers, and even with a bandage covering his wound, he still looked stunning enough to turn the usually taciturn tracker into a full blown mute. Vin was blown away; the gambler was beautiful. Silky smooth skin and defined muscles that Vin would have never imagined the gambler possessing made the tracker curse the man who invented shirts, never mind layers! The sight he beheld eradicated any attempt that Vin might have made to just have a glance at the gambler. Running his fingers tentatively down the gamblers chest Vin felt his breath hitch at the feeling of such powerful muscles contained by what he was sure must be silk ('coz even though he'd never even seen silk he knew it could not possibly be any better than the texture his finger tips were beholding at that moment). Vins fingers seemed to be drawn to the small dusky nipple closest to him and before he could even start thinking of reasons why he shouldn't his fingers proceeded to caress and tease the sensitive nub, secretly rejoicing when they hardened under his ministrations.

Throughout his caresses Vin maintained an inner monologue of Oh my God, I'm touching Ezra, hell, I'm touching Ezra up! This is not supposed to happen, friends do not caress their other friends' chests, they do not tease their nipples! They DO NOT drool over the prospect of tasting them. DAMN IT! No, you cannot lick his nipple, you cannot lick his nipple... ah hell... Vin's tongue slowly circled the dusky nub, teasing, worshipping. Vin wondered at the taste like heaven! Fuck, I wonder what the rest of him tastes like!!! NO! That is definitely a line you cannot cross. Ok, so most peoples lines would have been crossed a long time before licking of nipples, but still the line has to be drawn! I have to stop, I have to stop! I can't do that to Ez. I can sort of justify what I've done so far, hell, if I really go out on a limb I can justify my raging hard on but I could not justify that! With great determination Vin raised his head from the gamblers chest, taking one last swipe at the straining nipple of his unconscious tempter. He gazed longingly at the body before him and he knew that he couldn't go any further, he'd already betrayed Ezra more than he imagined possible. Yet, still, he was so close to revealing the gambler in his full glory. Really it was just a case of curiosity, he was just curious to see if Nathan had really stripped him fully, yep that was it! Nathan had threatened to fully strip him naked and hide his clothes after the last time Ezra had escaped the clinic. It had nothing to do with the raging hormones thundering through his veins, it was curiosity. So as all of Vin's blood surged southwards this seemed like a perfect explanation and excuse.

Without further prompting the trackers trembling hands reached forward, grasped the thick blanket covering the gamblers full beauty from sight and lifted. OH GAWD.... There revealed in full glory was the gambler! Vin stared mesmerised at the sight that would surly cause a heart attack. His gaze trailed from top to tail, from the lax yet immeasurably gorgeous face, over every defined muscle (lingering on one particular well-defined muscle, though sadly it was also lax).

Despite his inner determination that he must not touch Vin could see his own hand reach out to caress his bewitcher. "WHAT THE HELL!"

Vins hand instantly snapped back, and he flung the coverings back over Ezra, to make him look presentable again. He whipped around ready to defend his indefensible actions, a hand on his mares-leg (just in case) when he realised that the room was empty, except himself and the oblivious gambler. The exclamation seemingly had come from the over-boisterous Buck as he ascended the stairs to the clinic with JD.

"WHAT THE HELL! JD you can't give Ez a gift like that. Buy him somethin' useful, buy him somethin' novel, just, hell, buy him somethin' else!"

"Soap is useful" came JD's subdued defence.

"Oh yeah, I can see it now, 'Hey Ez, glad your awake. Here, have some soap!'"

"I thought it was a good idea, you know how much Ez likes to be clean and when he wakes up he'll just be itchin' to get outta the clinic and get clean."

"Yeah, whatever kid". This last dismissive comment was uttered as Buck slowly opened the door to the clinic and tiptoed in (which seemed rather pointless after the duos boisterous approach).

"Hey Vin, Nate sent the kid and me up to keep you company, what with Ez out for the count must be pretty boring up here eh?"

"You alright Vin? You look a little tense."

Vin, at this point, was staring with a look akin to shock at Buck, whilst shooting glances at Ezras still form. His previously occupied chair was now placed strategically in front of himself, concealing an erection that even the shock of almost being caught touching up an unconscious gambler could not diminish. His fingers meanwhile were gripping the top of the chair with a vice like grip. Buck, at this time, was getting increasingly worried about the tracker, as he looked as if he was either ready to bolt out of the door or drop to the floor.

"Er...Vin, you sure your ok, you want me to go get Nate or something? It's not Ez is it?! Is he ok?"

Vin could just envisage Nathan charging up to the clinic with Chris and Josiah on his heels, everyone looking at him and Ezra, and he truly doubted that they wouldn't notice the blatant hard-on he was sporting or the guilty looks he kept shooting at Ezra.

"What? Nah, everything's fine Buck, Ezras fine.., real fine.., I mean good, were both doin' good."

"Right.... whatever you say Vin. You know maybe you should go get some sleep, you look nearly as bad as Ez here" at which point Buck got distracted by how pale Ezra actually did look and he and JD commenced fussing over him, straightening his blankets and mopping his brow.

Taking advantage of their distraction Vin silently edged his way to the door, after reluctantly letting go of his chair. Although he was loathed to leave Ezra, he definitely couldn't stay there in the state he was in. So using the door to shield the majority of his body he bid farewell to JD and Buck, telling them to fetch him if the gamblers condition changed. He then rushed off, using the night as a shield for his excited condition and used the back alleys to reach his wagon.

He had some serious thinking to do. His life had suddenly taken a huge dive into the unknown. Looking down at his straining erection, and seeing the image of a naked gambler with dimpled grin in his minds eye Vin Tanner slowly slid a callused hand around his pulsing manhood.

As he approached bursting point he knew that life in Four Corners had just become a lot more interesting.