the conclusion...

There's a light in the depths of your darkness
There's a calm at the eye of the storm
There's a light in the depths of your darkness
Let it shine…oh let it shine
Let it shine…oh let it shine
Let it shine…oh let it shine
Let it shine

7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777

The saloon darkened slowly until only one lamp remained lit. Neither of the peacekeepers moved to light another, both too caught up in their own thoughts.

Chris stared, amazed by the power of one tiny flame to cut through the thick darkness around them. It didn't light the entire room, but it was enough to split the night, enough to open his eyes and let him see what was close to him.

He glanced at Ezra but the Southerner had his eyes closed now, lost in another time. Chris never would have imagined that Ezra had been a husband, or a father for that matter and he knew that Ezra *had* been a father, if only for an hour.

Chris had seen the ring before; he was observant enough in that right, but in his mind it had always just been part of the Ezra Standish package. It was part of the conman's presentation and Chris had never considered that there was any real meaning behind it. Now, every time he saw the gold band he'd be reminded of what the two of them had in common. Every time he saw the glint of the sun's rays reflect off it as Ezra shuffled his cards or fought beside him, or pulled back on the reigns of his horse…every time now, he would see and he would remember.

Larabee wondered suddenly how many times Ezra had watched him come apart, losing control of his anger and thought less of him for it.

"It's not the same, really," Ezra spoke in the soft glow of the lone oil lamp, his eyes opening and fixing on Chris as if he was able to read his mind.

"What isn't?" Chris asked hoarsely. "We both lost."

"The loss may be similar," Ezra nodded, "but the circumstances were not," he pointed out gently.

"Don't make the pain any less," Chris answered honestly.

Ezra didn't respond, his emotions too raw and too close to the surface but Chris understood. Standish didn't judge or compare Chris' grief to his own, he just understood.

Chris didn't know when he'd closed his eyes, or slept but when he opened them again the saloon was bathed in the gray light of early morning. He heard them coming before they reached the entrance, their voices carrying in the cool morning air. He shifted, and his muscles protested their abuse. His head throbbed lightly from the after affects of too much whiskey.

Glancing at Ezra, he chuckled seeing the Southerner's slumped position. They'd be hearing Standish moan about missing his feather bed for the rest of the day.

"I can't believe you left them alone like that!" Nathan, Chris identified as he wiped a hand over his face, trying to clear away the fog of sleep.

"Ezra said they'd be fine, said he'd handle everything," Buck protested.

There was a disbelieving snort from someone and Chris heard Josiah say, "It's awfully quiet in there."

"Wonder if either of them are still alive?" JD asked.

"Didn't hear no gunshots last night," Vin pointed out.

"That don't mean much," Nathan stated angrily as the outer door was flung open and five anxious men poured into the room, Josiah leading the pack.

Chris watched quietly while they scanned the room, searching for answers. Vin spotted him and began making his way towards them just as the others caught sight of the wreckage.

"Damn." Buck let out a low whistle.

Vin focused on the crunching glass beneath his boots just long enough to kick it out of the path and squatted in front of Chris. "Everything okay here, Cowboy?"

"Fine." Chris' voice sounded grainy.

"Question is how's Ezra?" Josiah asked as Nathan pushed around him and knelt beside the Southerner, carefully avoiding the glass.

"He's asleep," Chris said.

"That should be 'was asleep,' Mr. Larabee," Standish half growled as he shifted and groaned, "how anyone can possibly sleep through this amount of noise is beyond me." His green eyes flickered open.

"What happened?" Nathan asked, leaning in to check the cut above his eye.

Ezra waved a hand lazily in explanation, "a piece of glass."

"Chris do that?" JD asked curiously, oblivious to the look of warning from Buck.

Ezra looked up and shook his head, ignoring the dizziness, "No, Mr. Dunne, I believe the culprit was a flying whiskey bottle, or parts of it anyway." He winced as Nathan prodded the wound.

"We need to get that cleaned up," the healer pointed out. "Make sure I don't need to stitch it up at all."

Ezra frowned but nodded.

"You hurt anywhere else?" Jackson asked.

Ezra began to shake his head no but Chris interrupted. "He banged his head pretty good on the wall…twice." If anyone detected the chagrin in Larabee's tone, they didn't say anything.

Immediately Nathan's long, agile fingers were ghosting over Ezra's head, searching for any sign of injury.

"I'm fine, Nathan." Ezra pulled away, voicing his agitation. "If someone would just be kind enough to assist me off the floor?"

Josiah stepped forward. "Sure thing, Brother." He grasped Ezra's wrist and pulled him easily to his feet. "Let's get you over to Nate's room."

Standish glanced back at Chris a moment, their eyes meeting briefly before he simply nodded, "Mr. Larabee, Gentlemen," and hobbled stiffly after Nathan and Josiah.

Vin watched the silent exchange and then held out a hand to help Chris up. Larabee grabbed his forearm and grunted as he came to his feet.

"You need Nathan for anything?" Tanner asked as Buck and JD righted the table and chair.

Chris shook his head, "no, just stiff."

"Better get the broom, JD. We need to get this cleaned up before Inez gets here or we're all in trouble." Buck grinned and pushed JD lightly in the direction of the back room before he turned to Chris and Vin. "Glad to see you didn't destroy the entire place," he kidded.

Chris shrugged and turned the action into a stretch.

"Left Ezra alive too." Vin smiled.

"Yeah well…" Chris shrugged again.

"So what happened?" JD returned carrying a broom. He stopped in surprise when Chris took it from him and started sweeping at the glass.

"Nothing much," Chris answered as he focused on the floor. He knew that answer wouldn't satisfy JD's curiosity so he added, "just talked."

JD had learned enough in his dealing with Larabee to recognize when a subject was closed so he nodded in acceptance.

"Come on, Kid." Tanner patted Chris once on the back and ushered JD towards the door, "we'll keep watch for Inez."

Buck was debating whether or not he should join them when Chris' voice stopped him.

"Sorry about last night."

Buck grinned. "It's okay, I understood."

"You were just trying to help."

Buck's eyes grew serious and his voice lowered. "Yeah I was, glad Ezra seemed to be able to though."

Chris knew his old friend was curious but he also knew he'd never break Ezra's confidence. If the gambler wanted the others to know about his past then he would tell them in his own time.

"How'd he get you to calm down and listen anyway?" Buck asked, moving out of the way as Chris brushed the debris towards the door.

Larabee paused beside a table and ran his fingers lightly over the lamp in the center. "Just talked," he answered finally, looking up and smiling at his friend, "and showed me some things I needed to see."

Coming soon...the sequel 'He Understands'