Universe: ATF
Main Characters: Buck, Ezra, Chris
Disclaimer: Don't own them but wish I did. Not making money off of this, wish I could.
Warning: Rated R contains sexual situations and rape scene If you are under 18 years of age, please do not read any further!
Thanks to all those who wrote in this universe before me, especially Sue Kelley. I hope I didn't step on any toes. Thank you Mog for this playpen. Marla and Katy, you've been great, thanks for the encouragement! Comments are appreciated but I barely got up the nerve to submit this one so please, no flames.
Jamie Conrad took his time washing the hallway floor. He moved the mop slowly back and forth, but his mind was on the room at the end of the hall. This was the day he had been recruited for and he swore to himself he was not going to disappoint his boss. He had taken this job as a janitor in the hospital six months ago and he had been paid very well for his time spent here. He had gotten an additional five thousand dollars every month besides his paycheck from the hospital. All that money paid for the deed he was to perform today. Besides, Chico had told him he could do it and he wasn't about to let Chico Martinez down. He loved Chico. Chico was the only one who had ever believed him capable of anything and Chico was the one who had talked Mr. Beddlington into letting Jamie handle this part of the scheme. No, Jamie would take care of everything just the way Chico had taught him to do. He just had to wait for the right moment.
Jamie saw the five men approaching the door to the room he was watching. He stopped his mopping and leaned on the handle, his eyes closely following the activities at the end of the hall. His pulse started to race as he realized that the time was near. He quickly checked his linen cart and found the special package of sheets and towels that lay in the corner of the second shelf. He patted it and turned his eyes back to the group which was now headed back toward him. One other man had joined them and they passed him, not a one of them looked directly at him. He put his mop back in the bucket of water and pushed his cart toward the end of the hallway.
Vin had entered Buck's room and motioned for Ezra to come out in the hall. Josiah pushed past Vin and took Buck's hand from the Southerner. Ezra made his way to the group that stood in the hallway, waiting for him.
"Gentlemen?" Ezra really did not want to leave the room, but Buck had finally fallen asleep about two hours ago and seemed to be resting quietly for the time being.
"Ez, do you think you can come down to the cafeteria with us for about half an hour. We need to know anything that Buck might have told you or anything you've picked up from him. We've got to try to catch this guy in the next twenty-four hours or he may slip through our fingers." Chris said matter of factly but Ezra could see that their leader was barely keeping it together. "Nathan and J.D. are already down there. Jerry and Orrin want to hear anything that you have to say. It could be important, Ezra."
"I hope that I can be of some assistance but Mr. Wilmington had not made any declarative statements such as you would wish. He has barely gotten out any words, let alone sentences. Let me quick double check with Josiah so he knows what's going on and I will join you."
A minute later, Ezra and the other four headed toward the elevator. Vin saw the janitor but he had noticed the nurses kidding with him earlier, and he had observed the young man working since seven in the morning, so he took no real notice of the boy. He walked silently with the others to the elevator and got on, hitting the button for the ground floor.
Jamie walked into Buck's room with a pile of towels and sheets over his arm. He was very quiet and had gotten almost to the bed when Josiah looked up at him.
"No, son, thank you but you can just leave those. We don't want you to do anything in this room." Josiah had also watched Jamie from his post outside of Buck's room for the past two hours. He had seen the young man going in and out of all of the rooms on the floor, taking in clean towels and sheets, coming out with soiled linens. He turned back to Buck as the big man whimpered in his sleep.
Jamie took a big breath and squeezed the bulb he held under the sheets he carried. He held his breath as the silent gas spread toward Josiah. Josiah heard the faint whoosh of air and turned to face the young janitor once again. He started to say something but it never came out. The gas acted fast and Josiah fell on top of Buck. Jamie laid down the pile of linen and quickly pulled the syringe out of his pocket. He removed the cap of the needle and squeezed just a little of the red liquid out onto the floor. Then he stepped up to the man in the bed that the big agent had fallen on and stabbed the needle into his arm. He pushed the plunger all the way in and then he quickly stepped back. The last thing he did before leaving the room was to place a video tape on the bed beside Josiah. Then he turned and ran out of the room. He headed for the staircase just at the end of the hallway and made his way down the stairs. As he got to the first landing he heard the scream of agony and he put his hands over his ears as he ran down the rest of the stairs.
Dr. Vincent, report to Room 465 STAT. Dr Vincent, report to Room 465, STAT
Ezra and the others heard the page as they were sitting down to eat some lunch and discuss the case of the abduction of Buck Wilmington, ATF agent. Ezra's heart caught in his throat as the words registered in his mind. He turned to Chris and, as one, the two of them ran for the elevator, followed very closely by the rest of Team 7. Impatiently, Chris led the way to the stairs and five men pounded their way up the steps to the forth floor, coming out right by Buck's room. As they passed the third floor landing, they heard the heart wrenching scream. They ran even faster. Chris burst into the room to find Josiah out cold on the bed. There was blood on the sheets but he didn't see Buck at all. Three nurses were huddled on the far side of the bed, two of them squatting before something in the corner.
"Get out of here, all of you!" The command had been issued emphatically by Ezra. The slight con man was pushing anyone in his way to clear a path to the man who now cowered in the corner, his arms flailing at anyone who tried to get near him, flinging blood from his left wrist where the IV had been instantly yanked out when Buck fled the pain.
Ezra threw a nurse away from Buck and turned to face the others. "Get out!" No one left but they all took several steps backward. "Chris?"
Chris nodded and started to push people towards the door. Dr. Vincent was trying to get in as the others were slowly leaving. Chris came back to Josiah and Dr. Vincent quickly felt Josiah's neck for a pulse. His pulse was strong and he seemed to be coming to, so Dr. Vincent moved to the huddled form on the floor. Both Ezra and the doctor knelt before the man who had his right hand in his mouth, biting down hard to try to ease the pain that coursed through his body. Buck rocked as he squeezed his eyes shut and pulled his legs tight to his body with his arms. All of a sudden, a scream pierced the air again as Buck threw his head back in desperation and anguish. The doctor reached for the man's arm but Ezra stopped him.
"I don't think there's anything you can do for him, Doctor. He knows nothing that can stop the pain. Producing panic in him would only make it worse. Leave him for now." Ezra's face reflected the agony that Buck was experiencing.
"We need to stop the bleeding. We can't leave him on the floor. It's just ... " Dr. Vincent had no idea what to do for the man writhing on the floor before him. The lab still had not sorted the components of the serum out of Buck's blood. They had no idea what kind of combination of drugs they were dealing with and he didn't want to give Buck anything that might possibly make the reaction worse, although at this point, Dr. Vincent didn't think anything could be worse than the excruciating pain Buck was experiencing.
"Doctor, I'll watch over him. Take care of Josiah."
Chris was helping Josiah to sit upright. The ex-preacher's eyes refused to focus and his head spun dizzily. His stomach rolled and he fought back the urge to expel the contents of his stomach. He lifted his head and tried to look at Chris.
"Josiah, what happened?" Chris was furious, his voice was low and dangerous.
Josiah coughed and then stammered, "The Š janitorŠ some sort...ofŠgas." Josiah slowly swung his head over toward the corner where Buck and Ezra were ensconced. "Not again,.. no, not again. Oh God, Š I am so sorry, Buck."
Chris helped Josiah to his feet and Dr. Vincent and Chris helped him out to a chair in the hallway. The doctor stayed with him, checking his vital signs. Chris came back to the door and with a face that spoke volumes about the anguish he felt for his oldest friend, he asked, "Ez, can I do anything for him?"
"No, Chris, I'll take care of him."
Ezra picked up the phone beside Buck's bed and dialed 9 for an outside line. He never took his hand off of Buck's chest. The sick man lay on his side, the pillow clutched tightly to his chest. He whimpered slightly every few minutes but he was too exhausted to do more than that. Ezra dialed the number and waited for an answer.
"Hello"
"Hello, Justin. It's Agent Standish. You remember me, don't you?"
"Yeah Š. what do you want?" the voice was suspicious. Just the month before, as part of an undercover sting, Ezra had spotted Justin Trumble, parolee, with a gun tucked in his belt. The agent had not said anything but Justin knew that he had been caught. He figured now he was going to pay the price for the agent's silence.
"Justin, you know what I saw, don't you."
"Yeah. It wasn't mine!"
"I don't care about that now, Justin. Do you still have that van of yours with the bed in the back?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because, Mr. Trumble, I need that vehicle. Perhaps for a month or so. This will be an exchange, your van for my silence. You know what would happen to you if I happened to tell your parole officer what I saw, don't you?"
"You swear, Standish. Nothin' will ever be said to my officer?"
"I swear, Mr. Trumble. Bring the van filled up with gas to St. Michaels Hospital. Leave it by the service door with the keys in the glove box. I want it here by one o'clock this morning or I make a phone call. Am I clear on my instructions?"
"Yeah. Well, I don't drive it much anyway. You swear, not a word?"
"I swear. Oh, one more thing, Justin. If you tell a soul who has your van, and there is trouble because of it, I will kill you. Do you also understand that, Justin?"
"Yeah, loud and clear."
Ezra hung up and dialed for an outside line one more time. He sat on the bed and stroked Buck's hair. The ladies man was trembling, his breath coming in small gasps. "Shhhhh, my friend, shhh. It's all right. Hush now, Buck, no one else will harm you. I broke my promise to you once, I will not do it again." He dialed a number and again waited for an answer.
"Roscoe's."
"Let me speak to Mick."
After a minutes pause another voice came on the line. "Who is this?"
"Tony Benedict, Mick. I need a favor. I'm in a bind. How much will you give me for the Jag?"
"Your Jag? You love that car, Tony. What's up?"
"I find myself in a bit of a jam and I need at least ten for it. What do you say, Mick?" Ezra held his breath. This plan would not work without cash and plenty of it.
"Tell you what, Tony. I like ya and I like that car. I'll give ya twelve for it. When do you want the cash?"
"St. Michael's Hospital at one thirty tonight. Second floor of the garage. I'll give you the keys there by the elevators. Thanks Mick. I owe ya one."
One more part of the plan needed to be put into place. He had to rely on one of the seven and he prayed he would cooperate. When Ezra had got the chance to view the video tape that Jamie had left on the bed beside Josiah, he knew what he had to do. No matter what the consequences to himself, he would protect Buck from the monster that laughed at them on the tape.
Beddlington had filmed the tape in front of Chris's black Suburban right out in the hospital parking lot. The tape showed him laughing, and then saying, "You're pitiful, Larabee! I thought he was a friend of yours. I can get to him any time and anywhere I want. You cannot protect him, Sergeant. I win! By the way, did you feel anything when you heard him scream? The serum burns like a furnace in your chest and it shoots flames out to every part of your body. Even your skin feels like it's on fire. There are also some interesting side effects but I guess you'll find out about those a little later. It was a pleasant reunion with your old friend, I bet. I'll say good bye for now, Sergeant. Give Wilmington my best. Oh, that's right, he's already had my best." He laughed again. The tape went blank.
Ezra walked to the door and asked Vin, who was on guard duty outside the door, to get Josiah. Josiah came in a few minutes later. He looked a little pale and his eyes were filled with guilt for letting the bastard get to Buck once again.
"What do you need Ezra? You want a break. I'll sit with him for a while. I owe him that much."
"Mr. Sanchez, I need your help. It will probably bring the wrath of Mr. Larabee down upon your head so, I'll hold no malice toward you should you decline the undertaking. Well?" Ezra did not want to give too much away before the big man agreed.
"Something to do with Buck?" Josiah eyed him suspiciously.
"Another abduction of sorts. I'm taking him out of here, away from Beddlington and anyone else who might try to harm him again. But I need your help, Josiah. Are you willing?"
Josiah noted the use of his first name. The man was serious. He was going to take Buck out of the hospital and Josiah was sure he would do it with or without his help. "Do you really think that is the wise thing to do, Ezra?"
"It is the only way I can keep my promise to him, Josiah. I will NOT let him be tortured again!"
It took only two seconds for Josiah to think about his decision. "Okay. What do you want me to do?"
Ezra opened the door a fraction and Josiah entered the room. He had arranged to take the three o'clock watch, stating that he had slept most of the afternoon from the after affects of the gas. He went to the bed and started removing the IV which had been put back into Buck's arm at about eleven in the evening. There were still no monitors hooked up to Buck's chest as he was too restless, tossing constantly from the pain that still burned in his chest. Josiah sighed and then leaned over to pick up the body of Buck Wilmington. He carried him to the door and waited for the commotion that Ezra would be starting right now. Josiah heard the loud beeping at the nurses station and then he heard Ezra yelling that the man in room 458 was down on the floor. He heard the sounds of shoes scurrying toward the other side of the hallway and he pulled the door open and eased himself and Buck out into the hallway. He hurriedly reached the stairwell and descended just as Jamie had fifteen hours earlier. A minute later, he heard the forth floor door open and a set of footsteps followed him down. Ezra caught him as they came out on the ground floor. Stealthily, they made their way to the service door by the emergency room. Ezra led Josiah to the dark brown 1997 Chevy van that had been modified to be a bedroom on wheels by its owner. Ezra unlocked the vehicle and stood aside while Josiah lifted Buck inside and laid him on the bed. Ezra had two pillows and a blanket with him and he laid them on the bed with Buck. He gave one of the pillows to Buck and watched as Buck held it close and curled his body around it. Then he covered him with the blanket and crawled back out to face Josiah.
"Thank you, Josiah. You'll have to face our irate leader without me. I hope your hide remains intact. Please give this to Mr. Larabee." He handed Josiah an envelope.
Josiah took the envelope from his hand and then pulled him into a quick bear hug. "Take care of him, Son. I'll pray for the two of you." He smiled at Ezra.
"I promise you and the others that I will take every precaution and I will not let our friend lack for any attention. I have plenty of cash and hopefully any paper trail will get the monster nowhere. Find the bastard and I'll return with our fallen comrade immediately." Ezra moved around to the driver's door and opened it
"God be with you both, Ezra."
Ezra tipped an imaginary hat and pulled himself inside behind the steering wheel. He quickly glanced behind him. Buck lay unmoving on the mattress, his pillow clutched protectively against his chest. The rogue agent took a deep breath and started the van. He drove away quickly, leaving Josiah in his wake.
Five minutes later, Josiah faced an angry group of men who wanted to lynch him. Three of them were yelling at him while one remained silent, seething with anger. Josiah humbly gave the envelope to Chris who immediately tore it open. One piece of paper was inside and he snapped it open to read.
Mr. Larabee,
When you have purchased a new cell phone that Beddlington cannot trace, call my cell phone and let it ring once. I will return your call ASAP. I prefer that none of you know my travel plans or final destination as it will be safer that way.
You may be angry with me, Chris, but I am doing this for Buck's well being. I swear to you, he will remain safe. I love him, too.
Ezra
"God damn, Josiah, you helped him kidnap Buck! How could you?" J.D. shouted in the older man's face.
"He needs to be in a hospital, not riding around in the back of a van!" Nathan was concerned with Buck's health. He never wanted to see any of them in trouble.
"What were you thinking, Preacher. He belongs here where we can all protect him. Not with some maverick who has no idea what medical problems he's facing!" Vin was furious.
J.D. turned to Chris. "What did the son of a bitch have to say for himself?"
"It's directions on how to get ahold of him if we need him." Chris said flatly.
"Well, call him Chris and get his ass back here!" Vin lashed out
Four sets of eyes stared at their leader. Chris looked at the letter again and then he met Josiah's look. He nodded almost imperceptibly to the ex-preacher. "No."
"NO! What the hell do you mean, Chris? He's got to bring Buck back here!" J.D. was outraged. His "big brother" was gone and he had no idea where the Southerner was taking him. He wanted Buck back where he could hold him and keep him safe.
"No, Ezra's right. He'll take good care of Buck and we'll find the monster who did this to Buck. We have a job to do. Let's get at it." He turned to go back in the hospital to retrieve the files and reports they had left behind.
The others watched him go, dumbfounded. Josiah smiled slightly at Chris's back.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Epilogue
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