Title:   The Plan 

Series: Wind & Rain  - part VI

Author: Barb Marx

Pairing:  Ezra/OFC

Universe:  ATF

Archive:  http://het_oasis.tripod.com/hot4het.html (adult pages)

Summary: The boys involvement continues

Series: Wind & Rain - Part VI

Open fandom: Yes

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: The M7 characters are owned by Trilogy, MGM and Mirisch, 

No copyright infringement was intended. For sheer entertainment

Warning: None

Dedications: Thanks to TJ who did a great Beta job and LV for her background magic.

******************************************************************************

The Plan

Travis was on the warpath. Nothing had gone right for him for weeks. Not since he’d fired his secretary, Martha. She was an incompetent who was foisted on him by the powers that be. The final straw came when she deliberately booked a meeting for him with a congressman Orin absolutely loathed and had been avoiding for months.

Larabees’ assistant, Kate, had been attempting to find him a replacement but she was having no luck. Travis had even asked several of the other assistants in the building if they knew of anyone worth hiring but thus far, he was striking out.

~~7~~

During their coffee break, Kate was talking to Lori and Sharon about Orin’s current dilemma. “I’ve almost exhausted the temp pool. I don’t know who else to palm off onto AD Travis. I’ve reached the bottom of the barrel and there are only two ladies left. Both of whom are truly awful secretaries.”

Lori shook her head. “I was shocked to discovery that many lousy assistants. I think that the federal government goes out of its way to find them.”

Sharon couldn’t stop herself from chuckling. “I know this last one Francis? She's beyond help. Travis will kill you if she's sent up to assist him. I don’t know how you do it, Kate? I bow to your deviousness.”

Kate smirked. “I learned everything I know from Larabee and Team 7. They mastered sneaky and I but followed they’re example. Besides since the AD has been on the secretary hunt he hasn’t terrorized Chris and the boys. That alone is worth it. That little vein on Larabee’s forehead hasn’t had a workout in days.”

Buck, Vin and JD walked into the cafeteria and the women’s laughter drew them like flies to honey.

“Ladies, what’s so funny?” Buck asked as he sat beside Lori and snuggled up to her.

Meanwhile Vin had sat next to Sharon and smiled at the woman he had secretly fallen for.

Sharon returned the sly grin. “We were discussing AD Travis’ recent secretary troubles,” the equally smitten woman replied.

Initially, the three women had been surprised at Buck’s request to prevent the AD from getting an adequate secretary, until they were informed as to the reason why. They quickly agreed to do whatever they could to help reunite the separated lovers.

JD started bouncing in his chair. “I know isn’t it great? All we have to do now is get Adrian here and the rest should fall into place.”

Kate shook her head. “JD, it isn’t that simple. Adrian isn’t an American she can’t just come here and get a job. She needs a green card, which she doesn’t have. They take months to get.”

“Nope, that's where you're wrong, Kate,” Dunne replied smugly. “I’ve been doing some research. Adrian doesn’t need a green card right away. All she needs is a special permit stating that she is essential to the position and then Travis can get her a card after she’s been working there for six months.” Leaning back in his chair, the kid looked quite proud of himself. 

Buck whistled. “Well, that’s sweet. Of course, it still doesn’t solve how we’re gonna get Adrian here to Denver and then into ole Travis’ office.”

“Then there’s Ezra. We have to deal with him at the same time,” Vin quietly stated.

“You’re going to have your hands full when Standish finds out your meddling in his life.” Lori wasn’t too worried but she wanted the fellas to think everything through. They didn’t need to make the situation worse by not taking into consideration every possible outcome from their interference.

“Nah, it will all work out okay,” JD wasn’t being naďve. He knew that Adrian and Ezra needed each other and that, as their friend, he had a responsibility to help out any way he could.

~~7~~

“Transferred? Transferred! God, what am I going to do now?” Adrian stared at the paper in her hand. The brunette couldn't believe what she was seeing.

The multi-national law firm that Delaney worked for was opening another branch office, this time in England. The receptionist/secretary had just received word that she was going to be transferred there to head up the support staff. It was a great opportunity for her and if she had received the offer 4 months earlier she would a have jumped at it.

Now Adrian regarded the transfer with something akin to horror. “Why, when I finally find someone, does this have to happen? What’s Ezra going to think?” the brunette dreaded telling the southerner. It was bad enough that she lived in Canada and he in the US but now, to be separated by an ocean. What was it going to do for their relationship?

Adrian looked at her computer and sighed. She couldn’t even contact the ATF agent because he was currently undercover and wasn’t expected to wrap up the case for another month. This was the longest time the two lovers weren’t in communication with each other. Delaney was anxious and was forever checking her e-mail for the daily messages from the southerner’s teammates. She couldn’t get over how great they had been. Even Ezra’s boss, Chris Larabee, had sent her an e-mail to let her know that Standish was alright.

Looking at the letter again, Adrian figured she had two options. One: to take the transfer and hope that the distance didn’t kill her fledgling relationship, and two: to quit.

“God what am I going to do?”

~~7~~

Ezra was having dinner with one of the vilest men of his acquaintance. The undercover man’s latest assignment had him infiltrating a gang of gunrunners who were attempting to expand westward, starting with Denver. Standish was expected to ingratiate himself with the leader and take the crew down from the inside. Tonight two months of research, a month undercover, along with patience and persistence had paid off. He had finally been introduced to the headman, and was now having dinner with the loathsome individual.

Adept at multitasking while undercover, Ezra’s concentration was split between convincing the miscreant that he could deliver an endless supply of firearms, and trying to solve the problems inherent with a long distance relationship. Thus far reeling in the ‘bad guy’ was easier.

He prayed that this assignment would soon be over so that he could devote his attention solely to figuring out what to do about Adrian, and his feelings for her.

Almost missing what his mark was saying, he mentally shook his head and brought his attention back to the task at hand. There would be enough time later to sort everything out.

~~7~~

ATFLOVER:   So that’s what we know so far. Ezra’s all right and has made contact. So, how’re you doing darlin’?

SeaNymph:  I quit!

ATFLOVER: Come again?

SeaNymph:  I quit my job today, Buck. The senior partners wanted to transfer me to the new office in England, so I quit.

ATFLOVER:  Now Adrian, there has to be more to it than that.

SeaNymph:  There was. I told them that I didn’t want to be transferred overseas. They said I couldn’t stay here and when I asked them if I could be transferred to an office in the States instead, they still said no. So I quit.

ATFLOVER:  What are you going to do now?

SeaNymph:  I don’t know, look for a job. Right now I want to eat a vat of ice cream and cry. What am I going to do? I don’t have a job anymore! I have a mortgage and bills to pay. Oh god, what’s Ezra going to say? He’s going to be so disappointed in me. He’s never quit at anything. Even when things were at their worst with the FBI he still stuck with it. Damn, I’m so hosed!

ATFLOVER:  Hosed? Adrian! Calm down girl! Things will work out all right, you’ll see. Ez won’t be disappointed in ya. Hell, I’m not disappointed in ya, what more do you want?

SeaNymph:  Sorry, this whole day has been awful and I panicked just a little.

ATFLOVER:  BG! Don’t you worry none. You’ll figure it out. Now just follow Dr. Buck’s orders and grab that ice cream and hop into bed and make an early night of it?

SeaNymph:  LOL Dr. Buck? Huh? All right, I’ll say goodnight and thanks for lending an ear to my ranting. Goodnight.

ATFLOVER:  Night darlin’.

     Signed off at 12:34 pm

~~7~~

Shutting off her computer Delaney watched as her new call sign faded to black. For the longest time Adrian had used Earth Angel, which was a holdover from her youth. As a girl the brunette used to watch Frankie Avalon movies on the Saturday Afternoon Matinee, and her parents took to calling her Earth Angel as a way to tease her. SeaNymph had been Ezra’s idea. The southerner had been calling her that since they met that first time on the beach. When they started to chat on line, she changed her call sign to her new nickname.

With this call sign, every time Adrian logged on to a chat room or fiction list she was reminded of Standish. It was slowly driving her insane. 

~~7~~

“Yes!” Buck signed off of the computer and did a victory dance around the loft.

JD watched his roommate and couldn’t help but laugh at the big man’s antics. “What’s got you in such a good mood?”

“Adrian quit her job!” Wilmington grabbed JD and started ruffling the kid’s hair. “She quit her job, isn’t that great?”

“Buck! Stop it! What do you mean Adrian quit her job? I thought she loved her job? Wasn’t that why we were having a problem figuring out how to get Ez and her together?” JD’s mouth was moving as rapidly as his scattered thoughts.

“Got to call Vin,” the surveillance expert thought aloud, and started to reach for the phone.

JD slapped Buck’s hand away from the receiver. “No way, Buck! It’s past midnight. Vin will kill you if wake him up. Besides, there’s nothing we can do tonight.”

“You’re right kid, but this is great! It’s one less obstacle we have to deal with. Now that Adrian doesn’t have a job, all we have to do is figure out a way to get her to Travis’ office, the rest should all fall into place.” Buck was still flying high, and JD could tell that he hadn’t thought the situation through.

True now that Adrian was without a job, she could move to Denver, but they still had to figure out how to convince her to do so. Sighing JD headed to his room to get some sleep. He’d bring Buck back to reality tomorrow morning.

~~7~~

Chris was relaxing with Kate snug in his arms. The new lovers were still basking in the afterglow of making love all evening. Gently stroking the space between his lady’s breasts Chris asked, “What are you chuckling about?”

Kate stretched like a lazy cat and smiled at the green eyed man beside her, “Just thinking about all the planning Buck, JD and Vin are doing trying to keep Ezra and Adrian together.”

“What the hell are they up to now?” Chris growled, not angry with his teammates just concerned that they were meddling where they weren’t needed or wanted.

“Don’t worry, Sharon, Lori and I are keeping their enthusiasm reined in.” Kate soothed Chris and placed a kiss on his lips. “We’re just making sure that AD Travis doesn’t have adequate secretarial help until we can figure out how to get Adrian here in Denver permanently. She’ll be the perfect secretary for Orin.”

“How do you know whether Adrian can handle the job?” The blond man asked.

“Hmmm?” Kate looked up from where she was slowly lapping at Chris’ chest. “Oh Sharon and Lori chat with Adrian all the time and they found out exactly what Adrian does at the firm that she works in.

Suitably distracted, Chris drew Kate up to his face and proceeded to kiss her until they both forgot their previous conversation.

~~7~~

Vin was sitting at his desk going over his report from the team’s last bust. His mind continually wandering to the last conversation he had with Ezra. The sharpshooter was worried for his ‘brother’. Standish had sounded despondent which wasn’t like the man at all.

Assured that Ez’ assignment was going ok, Vin concluded that the undercover man’s mood was due to the fact that he was away from his family as well as missing his lady.

“Damnit! This can’t go on much longer!” The ex tracker swore to himself.

“What’s wrong, Cowboy?” Larabee asked as he wandered over to Vin’s desk.

Startled that he had been overheard, the blue eyed man’s head snapped up and he smiled sheepishly at his friend. “Just thinkin’ about Ez and Adrian.”

“Is there a problem with them? I thought you, JD and Buck were working on some grand plan to get the two of them together?” Chris couldn’t help laughing at Vin’s ‘deer in the headlight’ expression.

“How’d you know about that?” Vin asked stunned that they had been found out.

“I’m the boss, I know everything.” the blond smirked

“Kate told ya, didn’t she?” Vin tried to act disgusted but failed miserably.

“She might have mentioned it last night.” Chris smiled remembering the conversation they had the night before.

Vin caught the look in his friend’s eye and chuckled. “So ya ain’t mad at us for trying to get Ez and Adrian together?”

“No, I’m not mad. Just want you guys to be careful and make sure that no one gets hurt. I like Adrian; she’s definitely good for Standish. He’s finally opening up and letting us in, and if you fools do anything to make Ez back away from us I’ll string you all up by your balls. You hurt Delaney in anyway and you’ll not only have Ezra to deal with, but Josiah and myself as well. Understood?” Larabee leveled one of his sternest glares at the sharpshooter; he meant business and wanted to be sure that his best friend knew it.

The ex bounty hunter nodded, he knew that Josiah treated Ezra like a son, and now that Standish was seeing Adrian it soon became apparent that the profiler was treating her like a favourite daughter-in-law. Vin knew that if the shit hit the fan, Sanchez would be right by Ezra’s side when the retribution was doled out. If Standish was scary when he was mad, Josiah could be downright terrifying.

“Understood. If this backfires I’ll provide the rope myself.” The ex-bounty hunter said, his expression proving to Chris that he took the warning seriously.

That said and understood, Larabee slapped Vin’s shoulder and turned towards his office.

Just as Tanner was about to continue on with his report, JD and Buck rushed into the bullpen with all the exuberance of a whirlwind.

Spying their fellow conspirator both men changed their direction and almost ran towards the Texan.

“You’ll never guess what happened last night?” Buck asked not really expecting an answer. “She quit! Isn’t that great?”

JD shook his head fondly at the surveillance expert. The kid smiled at the expression on Vin’s face; sure that it was the same one he wore last night at his roommate’s pronouncement.

The big man continued oblivious to the two young men’s expressions, “Spoke to Adrian last night and she told me she quit her job. Some whooey about her bosses wanting to transfer her to England.”

Vin sat back amazed. “How is she? Is she ok? What’s she gonna do now?”

Before either Buck or JD could answer the stunned man, Kate walked into the office. “What’s up, boys?”

“Adrian quit her job.” JD replied.

“When did that happen?” the blond woman asked.

“Yesterday, she had a difference of opinion with her employers, so she told them where they could stuff their job.” Buck answered.

“She did, did she?” Kate looked at Buck not convinced at the truth of this last statement.

“Well … okay, she didn’t tell them where to go, but she did quit.” Buck smiled sheepishly. He never could lie to a woman and even this exaggeration sounded too much like a falsehood for him not to be embarrassed.

Wilmington quickly explained to Vin and Kate what Adrian had told him last night culminating with the question of what to do next.

“Well, we have to get Adrian to Denver and then into Travis’ office.” JD stated as if that was the next logical step.

“I know, JD, but we have to be careful. Delaney will be feeling a little vulnerable right now. You can’t force her into anything at the moment. We’ll have to move very carefully,” Kate remarked. She glanced at her watch and swore, “Damn! I don’t have time to think about this right now. Why don’t you meet me at lunch and we can discuss it then. I’ll contact Sharon and Lori and hopefully by lunchtime we’ll have some ideas.”

Vin nodded, his mind working overtime. “Okay Kate, we’ll meet y’all at lunch and figure out what to do next.”

Buck and JD agreed as well and wandered off to their desks to complete their own reports.

~~7~~

Ezra was currently waiting to meet the number two man in the gun running ring. The undercover man was pleased with the way his assignment was progressing. In another week or two he would have enough information and evidence gathered that this organization would be shut down permanently.

The agent allowed his mind to wander in whatever direction it pleased while his senses were alert to any danger. He had thought long and hard and finally come to the decision that he was going to ask Adrian to live with him. If she wouldn’t move to Denver then Ezra would move to Canada. The one thing he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that he could no longer live without her.

While Ezra loved his job and the family it brought him, he loved Adrian even more. That realization had at first frightened the undercover man, but after much thought he realized that as long as he had the brunette by his side, he had nothing to fear.

The idea that this might be his last undercover assignment as an agent with the ATF had saddened him, but his resolution was strong. He was either going to bring his lady home with him or he would quit and move to Canada to be with her. That meant leaving the agency and the men that were his brothers. Ezra didn’t fool himself, it would be difficult to leave his job, and family but he would do it if it became necessary.

“Yo, Bubba!”

Ezra sighed to himself, he hated being called Bubba. Why was it that if you were of the southern persuasion, everyone thought that your nickname was ‘Bubba’. Plastering a grin on his face, he turned to see the man he was to meet walking towards him. ‘Show time.’

~~7~~

Delaney looked out the window of the plane. She couldn’t believe that she was flying to Denver. The brunette was still trying to figure out how Buck and Vin had talked her into visiting. No matter how she argued against it, they had managed to convince her to accept their offer of plane fare.

Adrian was fooling herself if she said that she didn’t know why she had accepted the tickets. The thought of seeing Ezra tomorrow was the real reason she was flying to Denver.

Buck and Vin told her that the assignment that Ezra was on would be over with tonight and that tomorrow the undercover agent would be home.

Two days ago she had been arguing with the two men about coming to Denver. She had almost convinced them and herself that it was better to stay in Canada until she found a job. Only after informing her that Standish was coming home, and that, he missed her, that her resolve faltered and she capitulated.

Now she was on a plane only an hour away from Denver and the man she loved. Delaney wasn’t sure how she was going to explain why she had quit her job. But, for now the hazel-eyed woman was going to concentrate on what she was going to do to Ezra when she had him in her arms again.

~~7~~

“Ya know … we’re so screwed when Adrian finds out that Ezra is still undercover, and not expected back until next week,” Vin commented to Wilmington while watching the Arrivals board.

The two men were waiting for Adrian’s flight. According to the board, the flight was on time and they only had to wait for Delaney to pick up her bags and go through customs.

“Nah, she’ll be okay,” the surveillance man wasn’t worried.

Tanner looked at Buck. The sharpshooter was amazed that his friend was standing there like he didn’t have a care in the world. The blue-eyed man still couldn’t believe that Wilmington, JD and the ladies had talked him into this crazy plan.

They lied to Delaney. Convinced her that Standish was coming home tomorrow and that he missed her. The only thing they hadn’t lied about was the fact that Ezra missed Adrian.

Vin wasn’t sure what the Canadian’s reaction would be, but he was pretty sure that the myth about Canadians being so easy going and peace loving was about to be proven wrong.

~~7~~

Adrian was tired. All she wanted to do was check into her hotel, shower and get some sleep. She had gathered her bags and had just gotten through customs. Spying Vin and Buck, the brunette waved and headed towards them.

Wilmington was as she remembered him, all charm and puppy dog enthusiasm. What had JD called it….yes his animal magnetism or maggotism as he was teased by the young computer genius. The surveillance expert grabbed Delaney in a giant hug and held her tight.

When he released her, Vin stepped up and gave her a shy hug. Adrian couldn’t help but smile at the ex-tracker. It was easy to see what Sharon saw in the young man. If the brunette hadn’t have met Ezra first, she knew she could have easily fallen for Tanner.

Adrian was concerned about the sadness she saw in Vin’s eyes but she didn’t have a chance to ask him what was wrong. Buck was soon ushering them to the door and to his truck. Delaney made a note to herself to make sure and corner the sharpshooter at the first opportunity.

She longed to ask them about Ezra but knew that they wouldn’t say anything because he was still undercover. The brunette allowed Buck’s chatter and Vin’s support to ease her and soon she was dozing off.

Later, when the two men escorted her to her hotel room, they told her that someone would pick her up and take her to the office. She could wait there until the southerner was free of his debriefing.

Adrian sighed as she closed her door. She welcomed the silence and, deciding to forgo a shower, she quickly changed and went to bed.

~~7~~

Adrian awoke to a dismal day. The rain started sometime after midnight and had yet to ease up. It seemed somewhat fitting that it should be pouring when she was going to see Ezra again. Every time the lovers got together there was some sort of precipitation. She was beginning to wonder whether Mother Nature had it in for the two of them?

Delaney had just walked into the lobby when she was confronted by Josiah. She was pleased to see the big man and chuckled when he enveloped her in a massive bear hug.

“I wasn’t expecting you to pick me up,” Adrian managed to gasp as Josiah squeezed the ‘stuffing’ out of her.

Gently lowering the young woman to the ground, the profiler wrapped his arm around her and escorted her to his suburban. “I volunteered to pick you up as the boys had a meeting this morning.”

Grinning at the big man she couldn’t help but ask, “Are they in trouble again?”

Josiah’s smile disappeared at Adrian’s question.

Seeing this the brunette became concerned. “Josiah? What’s wrong? Are they in trouble? Is it Ezra? Is he ok?”

“Calm down. Ezra is fine. The boys are fine,” The ex-preacher hurried to stop her concerns.

“Then, what’s wrong? Tell me, I know there is something wrong,” Delaney laid a gentle hand on Josiah’s arm. “Please.”

“You’ll find out soon enough, but I didn’t want to be the one to tell you. Though I’m sure my brothers knew that you wouldn’t kill me for being the messenger,” He rambled while trying to figure out how to tell Adrian what was wrong.

“Just tell me. Does it have to do with Ezra? Did he find out I’m here and isn’t very happy about it?” Delaney’s biggest fear was about to come true, she just knew it. She was about to find out that Standish didn’t want to see her any more.

“What? No! That’s not it at all,” the profiler hastened to comfort her. “Ezra doesn’t know that you’re here.”

“Then, what’s wrong?” The young woman was getting worried. What weren’t they telling her?

Josiah pulled the car over to the side of the highway. Turning to look at Delaney, he took a deep breath, “Ezra is still undercover.”

“I know, but...” Adrian started to say but was cut off.

“Wait, let me finish. The thing is he’s not expected to finish for another week.”

Silence. Neither person said another word. Each one wrapped up in their own thoughts.

Josiah was getting worried. He was amazed that he couldn’t read the young woman beside him. It was like she had closed a door and it frightened him.

Adrian’s mind was in a whirl. Buck, Vin and JD lied to her. Why? For what purpose? Ezra wasn’t expected back for another week! What was she supposed to do for a week while waiting for him to finish his assignment? Anger was quickly replacing the fear that had enveloped her. Delaney wanted to know why they did this to her and she wanted to know now!

Turning to Josiah she asked. “Did you know about this?”

“No, absolutely not. I only found out this morning when Buck asked me to pick you up at the hotel. If I had known, I would have put an end to their plans immediately.” Looking in Adrian’s eyes, Josiah was very glad that he knew nothing about what the three men were plotting.

The angry woman nodded and gave Josiah a brittle smile. “Let’s go.”

“Are you going to be okay?” The profiler didn’t like the look on her face and cringed to think that a ticking bomb was sitting beside him. He sent up a quick prayer to whatever deity protected errant agents because they were going to need it.

TBC

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