Obsessed by Nikbait

Morning time in the town of Four Corners had come. Judge Orin Travis had set out to talk to Chris Larabee, leader of the seven men hired to protect the town from indians, robbers, or any of the bad element that might decide to rear its ugly head in the town.

Judge Travis found Chris Larabee talking with Vin Tanner down at the stables.

"Hey Chris. Can I speak with you for a minute?"

Chris excused himself from Vin's presence and went to speak with Orin. He was surprised by the Judge's attitude, it must be a private conversation, he thought. They stepped away from the stables.

"What's up, Orin? Somethin' wrong?"

"I need your help to escort Mary and Billy back to Denver for a few weeks."

"Why so long?"

"Her mother is ill and she feels like she needs to be there. I tried to convince her to stay, but she insists on going. I told her she could go but only if one of you were to escort her there and back."

"Sure, Orin. Have you discussed this with the boys?"

"I spoke with Nathan, Ezra and Josiah. They are all in agreement. I left telling Tanner up to you, you know how he gets when you go somewhere by yourself."

"I do. I will talk to him." Larabee wondered why Travis didn't go himself, but he didn't question the older man. He went back to the stables, and found Tanner fixing his horse Peso for a ride.

"Hey cowboy. What was that all about?"

"Travis wants me to escort Billy and Mary to Denver and back for a few weeks. Says I'll be with them til they're ready to come home. 'Parently her mother's ill."

"Shit cowboy. Sounds like fun ta me. Though I don' fancy ya goin' alone. Mebbe I should go with ya."

"No, we'll be all right. It's only a three day ride there and three days back."

"I still don't like it, pard. Too many bad things happen when ya go out an' do things on yer own. I should talk to Orin."

"No, Vin. I said everything will be all right. Besides, I got you to rescue us if anything happens."

"All right, pard. But I swear if anything happens to either you or to Mary or Billy, I will be talkin' to Orin 'bout it."

"All right Vin. Now, help me get packed up, will ya?"

"Okay."

Overnight, Chris and Vin prepped for the long ride to Denver. Vin kept his reservations about the trip to himself, for he and Larabee were the best of friends and he did not want to try that friendship. By morning, the wagon was ready to go and Vin got the horses prepped. Chris went from his room at the boarding house to the stables. There, he met up with Vin.

"Chris, don' be gettin' into any trouble out there. I ain't gonna be there to pull yer ass out. Take care o' the kid an' Mary."

"Yes, Vin. Now, if you don't hear from me in three days, you know what to do, regardless."

"I know, be careful cowboy. I swear, anythin' happens...." Vin sighed, knowing he'd place all responsibility on the Judge's head if anything happened to Larabee or the Travises.

"We will be careful," Chris said to Vin. They shook each other on the forearm in their familiar handshake. Chris got into the wagon to head to the newspaper office to pick up Mary and Billy. Vin saw him off, the unease in his gut almost making him stop the wagon, but he let Chris go, the gunslinger could handle himself.

Chris picked up Mary and Billy and headed off. The rest of the seven waved them off as they walked up to the wagon as it began the journey out of town.

"Thank you, Chris. You are wonderful. I appreciate this very much," Mary said to Chris as they headed out of town.

"You're welcome, Mary. I sure do hope that your ma gets to feeling better soon. When we get there, I need to send a message to the town, especially to Vin."

"Why just Vin?"

"He almost didn't let me go. He's got that gut feelin' of his and I told him we'd be fine. I assured him once we got there, I'd let him know we arrived safely. And me being a gunslinger, I ain't no good at those telegraph machines you use."

"I would be glad to send them a message once we get there."

"Mom? How long do we have to go?" came Billy from the back of the wagon.

"Oh honey, we just got started. It is going to take us three days to get to see grandmother."

"Three days!? Why on earth so long?"

"That's just the amount of time it takes son," she said. "Now, lie down and get some rest."

"Okay," he said, lying on his blanket and soon was asleep.

Chris held the reins for the remainder of their first day. He let the Travis's sleep, and he knew that if he could get as far as he could see, they'd arrive in Denver sooner. So, they rode until just after dark had set in. He set up camp and the Travis's went to bed soon after they ate.

When morning came, the three set out again on another long day's journey to Denver. Billy was getting restless, and Chris knew that the sooner they got to Denver, the better. He pushed the horses to their fullest capabilities and by noon, everyone was ready for a break. They pulled up alongside an abandoned campsite and stopped for a break.

The trio ate their food and were prepping to pack up and head out when all of a sudden four armed men come rushing into the campsite.

"Hold it right there!" one of the men said. He and his companions pointed their pistols at Chris. "Put your guns down!"

"Whoah. What do you want?" Chris said plainly, knowing if he showed any fear for the woman and boy with him, they would all be dead. He did as he was told, placing his guns on the dirt.

"You," came the reply.

"Me? What for?" Chris stated.

"Our boss told us we'd find you on this trail. Your presence is requested immediately."

"I ain't goin' anywhere until you tell me what this is all about," Chris said, his anger starting to come forth. He wasn't going anywhere until he got things straightened out. He glared at the men.

"I already told you, Chris Larabee," said the leader.

Chris stopped his movement as the man said his name. Someone was after him, and whoever it was knew his name. He knew that Mary and Billy were in danger.

"All right, I will go with you. But, you leave the woman and the boy out of this. They've done nothing wrong. If it's me you want, you'll get me and me only."

"All right," the man said. He started to walk towards Chris when one of the other men dismounted. Chris was getting very weary at this time, knowing his guns were on the ground.

The man who had just dismounted took his gun and before Chris had the time to react, the man shoved the butt of the gun into his stomach, sending him off-balance and gasping for air.

"What the..?" Chris managed.

"Get up!" the man yelled.

Chris slowly got up, despite his body's unwillingness to cooperate. He stood shakily where he was. "What the hell?"

"Get over there," the man said. He shoved Chris to their horses.

"Chris!" Mary said, trying to warn the gunslinger.

Chris turned around, only to be struck behind the right leg with the gun. "SHIT!" he cried. "Mary, get outta here!" Chris cried.

Mary safely tucked Billy into the wagon and she got into the front of the wagon. She was frozen in shock at the sight of what she saw before her. The men were beating on the gunslinger, using their guns, their fists and their feet. She saw them hit him in the face, the chest, the gut. She got the horses moving and as she looked back, she saw the man she was falling in love with being beaten nearly to death. Tears stung her eyes as she forced her way out of camp. She wanted to go back, but she knew she and her son would surely face the same fate or worse if she did.

"Chris. We'll send help," she whispered to herself. She could only hope that by the time she got to Denver and sent for help, that Chris would still be alive.

Vin was taking Peso out for a ride, checking on the outskirts of the town when a terrible flash of pain hit him square in the gut.

"Damn!" he said. He stopped his horse and dismounted. He felt it again, this time much stronger. He then knew the pain was emanating from Chris. He felt the bond with the man growing weaker. He knew then that Larabee was in trouble. "Damned fool. I knew it," he said. "Hang on cowboy, I'm comin'," and he took off for town to let Nathan know he was on his way to find Chris.

The four men continued their barrage of hitting, punching, kicking on Larabee. They hit him in the face, bloodying his right eye, gashing his forehead. They used their gun butts to break his right arm as he tried to defend himself, they broke several ribs as they pummeled his chest. They did this until the man's body was a mass of bruising and bleeding. The men marveled at the injuries caused by their barrage. Chris cried out in anguish when they tied him up, his broken arm tied tightly behind his back.

"Ohhh," he moaned.

"Shut up," called the leader of the group. The leader took out his gun and without a second thought, shot the gunslinger in the belly. Chris let the call of darkness overtake him. He finished binding the man up, then gagged and blindfolded Larabee and threw him onto a horse. "Let's go. We shouldn't keep the boss waiting," he said to his buddies. So, they rode off to their own campsite not too far from where Chris and the Travises had stopped.

Vin headed to the clinic, where he found Nathan bandaging a woman. "Nate!"

"Vin, you okay?" Nathan said as he finished his work and let the girl go.

"No, I ain't. Chris's in trouble. I'm headin' out now."

"Vin, how do you know?"

"I jest do. Now, ya gonna help me or not?" he said, his anxiety growing.

"Yes, of course. Let me get you some medical supplies, just in case."

"Yes. Please do," he said. Vin took all the supplies from Nathan and headed out to Peso.

"Be careful Vin. We don't need you down too," Nathan said as Vin made his way out the door.

"I will," he said. He raced Peso out of town before the other men could stop him.

The men arrived at their campsite with Larabee. "Wait here," Roy, the leader said. He dismounted and yanked Larabee off the horse. He carried the limp body into their boss's tent.

"Ella, I got him here," Roy said.

"ROY! He's hurt! Damn it, I told you not to hurt him! He's no good to me if he's injured, stupid fools!" Ella Gaines yelled at him. Ella looked at her prize.

"Ohhh. No, please don't," Chris moaned in his half-conscious state. He opened his left eye to find Ella Gaines staring at him. "Oh god, noo," he cried.

"Chris. I am so sorry. They weren't supposed to hurt you!"

"I'd r-rather d-die than b-be here w-with you," Chris managed, knowing now when he spoke that his jaw was dislocated. He tried to move his battered body, but it refused to budge an inch. He could now feel all his injuries, as they were singing their presence. He started coughing uncontrollably, noting the blood coming out of his mouth. From experience, he knew that was a bad sign, it meant he had worse internal injuries.

"Shit. P-please l-let m-me go," he begged of the woman he'd long come to hate, the woman who'd had his beloved wife Sarah and his son, Adam murdered in cold blood.

"Sorry Chris. I can't do that. You and I were meant to be together. I will not let anything come between us again."

"Ah Christ," Chris mumbled. He let the darkness overtake him once more as the pain grew out of control.

Ella walked out of the tent to find her four men sitting by the campfire. "Stupid idiots, do you realize what you have done?"

"We's just doin' our job Ella. He's the one who put up a fight."

"His men will be looking for him, I am sure. Especially that long-haired one. Now that you did this, you have to find a wagon so I can take him home. I want you two," she said pointing to the younger ones, "Go get the wagon from back home. Bring it here."

"Yes, ma'am." they said in unison and they left on their horses.

"You two," she said pointing to Roy and his brother. "Guard the campsite, make sure no-one comes looking for trouble."

"Yes, ma'am," they said. They got onto their horses and started their rounds.

Ella made her way back to the tent. She picked up some bandages and cleaned up some of the wounds on Larabee's chest. "I'm sorry Chris. I'll get you home, I'll get you better. Then, we can be together forever."

Vin never stopped riding for sleep or to eat. He knew he had to get to Larabee before whoever had him decided to do something bad to him. He pushed Peso as far as the tired horse could go, but knew it wasn't fast enough. He hated whoever had done this even though he had no idea who it was. By the time his horse could go no further from one and a half days of hard riding, Vin had arrived at the campsite where he knew Chris and the Travises had stopped that day. He got off Peso, let him graze, drink some water and rest. He looked around for any sign of Chris or Mary. Not finding much but some drops of blood and torn material from Chris's shirt, he sat down to rest. He closed his eyes in hopes of connecting with his best friend.

"Chris, where are ya cowboy?" he whispered. "I'm comin' fer ya, I'm tryin' to hurry."

Chris awoke to Vin's voice calling him from far away. "Vin?" he cried weakly. "Please hurry," he whispered before falling back unconscious.

Ella heard Chris calling a name, Vin. She knew that was the long-haired man and knew he'd be coming for his friend. She cursed her stupid men that she'd hired to do this job, for they had bungled it all up.

"Don't worry Chris, you'll be home safe with me very soon," she whispered. "No-one will be able to come for you then."

Mary had made it with Billy safely to Denver. The first thing she did was head to the newspaper office. She knew that she had to wire Four Corners and let the men know what had happened. It was late in the evening and the man in the office was heading out.

"Excuse me sir? Can I use your telegraph office?"

"Ma'am?"

"I just came from Four Corners. My escort has been kidnapped and he's been beaten pretty badly. I need to wire the men down in Four Corners to come find him."

He looked at her, "You know how to use that machine?"

"Yes, sir. I have my own paper down there and use the telegraph quite frequently. I won't be long."

"All right miss.."

"Travis, Mary Travis. My son is Billy. My father-in-law is Judge Orin Travis."

"OOOHH! I'm sooo sorry, Ms. Travis! Let me get you in there right away! We've been expecting you, your mother is very ill."

"Yes, I know. But this is a priority to me. This man means everything to me."

"Well, let's get on it then."

The man showed her into his office. He showed her everything. "Will you be all right, Ms. Travis?"

"Yes, sir, Mr..."

"Joey. Just call me Joey."

"Thank you Joey," she said. She made her telegram and then headed to the clinic to let the doctor know that he should be getting a patient in the next couple of days that was severely injured, and she told him the story. He gathered his supplies and was prepared for the man by midnight.

Vin made his way out of the campsite, and kept going towards Denver. He got only about 10 miles from the campsite he was just at when he came across smoke, obviously from a campfire. He dismounted Peso and made his way around the campsite. He noticed two armed men guarding the perimeter. He somehow knew in his gut that Chris was in the camp somewhere. He stopped walking, loaded his guns, knowing that when he had killed the two men, whoever was at the camp would surely know that somebody was there. But, he had to find Chris first and fast.

Vin snuck past the men and walked quietly into the tent on the far side of the camp. Inside, he instantly smelled blood. He crouched next to the figure he knew was Chris and saw his duster, all torn and bloody. He fought back the tears as he saw remnants of old bandages littering the back of the tent. Vin pulled the blankets down and gasped at what he saw. Cuts, bruises, gashes, a broken arm and leg, a bad gunshot wound, and a dislocated jaw met Vin's eyes as he examined the gunslinger.

"Chris?" he whispered. He gently shook the injured man. "Cowboy, it's me, Vin. I'm here."

"V-vin?" came a low whisper from the man in black. He opened his one good eye to find his best friend sitting beside him. "G-get m-me outta h-here."

"I will pard. Who did this to ya?"

"Ella."

"As in Ella Gaines, the woman who tried to destroy your life?"

Chris could only nod his head.

"God. Where is she now?"

"Right here, Mr. Tanner." came Ella's voice from the tent's opening.

"YOU!" Vin growled. He got up and he hit her in the face. He never in his life had hit a woman, but never had his best friend been hurt so badly. "Bitch! How could ya?"

"Chris is mine," she said simply.

Chris moaned. Vin glanced his way as he tied and gagged the woman. Vin could see tears forming in Chris's left eye. Seeing Chris this way made Tanner furious. He collapsed beside him once he had the Gaines woman secured.

"Hang on cowboy. Don'cha leave me jest yet. I'm takin' ya home, okay?" he whispered, the emotions he fought with choking his voice. He held Chris's left hand. "I ain't gonna let ya die out here Chris. I'm gonna take ya home ta Nate."

Chris shook his head. "M-mary 'n' B-billy. I-in Denver."

"Then that's where we'll go. She'll be there."

Chris nodded his head before once more falling unconscious. Vin could only sigh as he worked on getting Chris to Denver. He went back to Ella, and ungagged her.

"I want to know now, where's yer wagon?"

"It's on its way, Vin. Two of my men went for it."

"Good. Then, when they show up, you can tell them that I'm takin' it ta Denver 'fore Chris dies out here, do you understand me?"

"Yes. I really didn't mean for this to happen."

"Like hell ya didn't. All ya've ever done is hurt Chris!" he yelled. He clamped on his anger at the woman, knowing it would do Chris no good if he went to jail. Vin stopped in his tracks and heard noise. He re-gagged Ella and went outside of the tent. Two men in a wagon rode up.

"HOLD IT!" Vin yelled. He aimed his guns at the two men. They put up their hands. "Get down!"

The men did as they were told. They got out of the wagon and Vin bound and gagged them both.

"Don'cha try to run boys, I ain't in a very good mood. Ya tried to kill my brother, now ya both will pay." He went and got his horse, Peso from the field and tied him to the wagon.

Vin pulled Ella from the tent and tied her to the front seat of the wagon. He then took both men and tied them onto Peso and the other horse being led behind the wagon. Lastly, Vin got several blankets and placed them inside the wagon. He went to the tent and sat beside Chris.

"Heya pard. We're gettin' outta here. I got to get ya in the wagon though. This is gonna hurt like a son-of-a-bitch, but I gotta get ya outta here," he whispered.

Chris, for his part, lay unconscious. So, very gently, Vin picked up the man in black and carried his limp body to the waiting wagon. He gently was able to place the injured man inside and covered him with blankets. Vin got into the front seat and he was ready to go.

By midmorning, Vin had managed to pull the wagon and passengers into Denver. He made his first stop at the jailhouse, and unloaded his prisoners. He took them to the sheriff's office first.

"Excuse me. I have three prisoners I need locked up," Vin said to the man wearing the badge.

"What for Mr..?"

"Tanner, Vin Tanner. Kidnapping and attempted murder of a peace officer. We come from Four Corners. Chris Larabee is the leader. These men and this woman tried to kill him. He's very badly injured back in the wagon, where can I find the clinic?"

"Oh, yes. Mr. Tanner. We've been expecting you." He pointed down the street to where the sign said medical clinic. "Mary Travis has been waiting for you for some time now, you will find her there."

"Thank you sir," Vin said. He left his prisoners with the sheriff and the sheriff put them in the cells. Vin went back to the wagon and rode it to the clinic, for it was too far to carry Chris's badly injured body that far. He got out of the wagon once there, and went inside the clinic. Inside, he found Mary and Billy sitting in one of the chairs.

"MARY!"

"Vin!" she cried, getting up.

"I need yer help."

"Where's Chris, how is he?" she asked, her anxiety growing.

"Out in the wagon," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "He's purty badly busted up, Mary, I don' think Billy needs to see him this way."

They both went out to the wagon, leaving Billy inside. Vin got up into the wagon and picked up Chris. He managed to get out of the wagon with Chris in his arms.

Mary gasped as the blanket fell from Chris's ravaged body. She saw the cuts, the gashes, the gunshot wound, the broken limbs. "Chris? Oh my god. Vin, what did they do to him?"

"They beat 'im bad."

Mary opened the door for Vin as he carried Chris into the clinic. She went to her son and picked him up, covering his eyes. "Billy, time to go son."

"NO! Mommy!" he said.

Billy pulled from her grasp and ran to Vin. Vin lay the man in black on a table and covered his body with a blanket. He choked back tears as Billy came rushing up to him. He picked up the little boy and carried him out of the room.

"Billy, son you don' need to see Chris that way."

"NO! Want see Chris!" Billy cried.

Vin carried Billy to Mary. "Take 'im outta here. He don' need ta see Chris this way. Where's the doc?"

"I'm here Mr. Tanner," came a soft voice from behind him.

Vin turned to see an older man coming into Chris's room. He shook hands. "Hi, sir."

"Call me, John."

"John, this man here is m' best friend, Chris Larabee."

"What happened?"

"Was beaten up. Busted arm, leg, ribs, dislocated jaw. Gunshot to the belly. He's got some gashes and cuts that need sowin'."

"All right. Mary, I think you need to take Mr. Tanner and get him some food. I will come for you when I am finished."

"No! I wanna stay. He needs me," Vin said, his anguish over Chris growing.

"Chris is in good hands, Vin. You are exhausted, I can tell. Let me get you some food and some rest," Mary said, pulling on his arm.

"Mary, what if he wakes up an' I'm not in there? I need ta be here fer 'im."

"He already knows, Vin. If what you said is true about him sending his voice to you, then he already knows you're here with him."

Vin sighed, she was right. Chris would sense that Vin was nearby. He only hoped that it would be enough to keep the gunslinger calm. He let Mary lead him to the eatery where she set him up with a hot meal and a nice glass of whiskey. She went to put her son to bed in the boarding room they got when they arrived.

Vin ate his food hurriedly, drank his whiskey and was prepared to head back to the clinic when a familiar voice called his name. "Vin."

Vin spun around to find Buck Wilmington behind him, along with the other men. "Hey Bucklin'."

"How's Chris?" Nathan asked. He knew Chris had been beaten badly, that much he'd gotten from Mary's telegram.

"Dunno. Doc's in there with him now," Vin said, his shoulders slumped. "He was beat purty bad. Broke leg, arm, and ribs. Gunshot wound to the belly. Dislocated jaw, cuts and some nice gashes."

"He's gonna be alight, Tanner," Buck said. "Chris is a strong man. He'll be puttin' up a fight to get outta that clinic in no time."

"Dunno about that, Buck. He's bad this time. Plus, we gotta protect 'im."

"Why?" JD Dunne said.

"'Cause the one who did this is Ella Gaines. She put her men onto Chris an' she held 'im captive."

"Ella Gaines? As in the Ella that had Chris's wife and son murdered? The one he was gonna run away with?" Buck asked, his anger boiling just under the surface. He knew that the Gaines woman was no good from the start.

"Yes. That would be her," Vin said. "Found Chris in her tent."

"That woman is good as dead if I get my hands on her!" Buck said.

"Buck, right now her and her two remaining men are in the jailhouse. They aren't goin' anywhere til Judge Travis gets here. I'm gonna make sure that they pay. An' I hate ta think..." he didn't want to say it, but he knew if Chris didn't make it, that she'd be facing murder charges as well.

"He's gonna make it, Vin," Josiah said. "Got to have faith in him."

"I do J'siah. It's the law that I sometimes don't got any faith in. If she walks free, then Chris's life is in danger."

"You know Judge Travis won't let that happen," Nathan said. "He'd be a damned fool if he did."

"Well, you never know. She could escape, she could do just about anything to get to Chris," Vin said. "Which is why I ain't takin' any chances. I stay with Chris at all times. She could have people here that I don' know about, they could try to take 'im out. I don' need to bury m'best friend. I..." Vin's emotions were getting the best of him, so he decided to head back to the clinic. "'Scuse me. I'm gonna sit with Chris now."

"Vin..." Buck started. He saw the pained features of the tracker. "We'll make sure that nothin' happens, okay?"

"Thanks Bucklin', ya're a good friend," he said, then headed towards the clinic. Mary came out of the boarding house to find the rest of the seven standing there, watching Vin Tanner head to the clinic.

"Hey guys."

"Mary," they said in unison.

"How is Vin really doin', Ms. Travis?" Nathan said.

"He's taken this really hard. He blames himself for not going along with us."

"Sounds like Vin alright," Buck said. "Any word from the Judge yet?"

"No. It's likely he won't be here for a few more days. Being as how it takes three to get here, he may not come for another week or so," she said.

"Is Chris well enough to have visitors?" JD asked.

"No, Vin just brought him here not too long ago himself, the doctor's been with him since Vin brought him in. I don't know how things are doing yet. I've been taking care of Vin and Billy since Vin got here."

"Thank you, ma'am. It's greatly appreciated that you're takin' such good care o'Vin. He's a stubborn ol' fool, jest like Chris, so it's hard on 'im."

"Yes, it has been. He was worn out when he got here, hasn't stopped but to eat a bite and drink some whiskey."

"He's not gonna stop til Chris comes around, even then he'll be there with Chris," Nathan said, knowing his fellow men all too well from having to patch them all up a time or two.

"True enough," Mary said. "Would you boys like some food and drinks?"

"Oh yeah," came the uniform reply.

Mary led them to where she took Vin to eat not long before. She set them up with some food and drinks, then excused herself to see her mother, then to see Vin and Chris.

Vin went into Chris's room, sat down and sighed. He didn't see the doctor, so he made himself comfortable.

"Heya pard. I'm here now," he told the sleeping form.

The doctor made good on fixing up Chris's wounds. It was hardly noticeable that he had a gash on his forehead. Bandages lined the gunslinger's body from head to toe. The leg was in a box filled with sand to keep it steady. The arm was in a sling and his chest was wrapped up completely. Vin figured that the doctor got the bullet out with no problems. Vin clasped the man's free hand. He shuddered as his emotions threatened to spill out. A lone tear crept down his dirty cheek as he recalled the recent events that nearly claimed his best friend's life.

"Chris, heya cowboy. Look, I know that things are gonna be rough these next coupla weeks. They banged ya up purty good. But, I ain't leavin' til ya kick me outta here. I gotta keep that Gaines woman from gettin' to ya."

Chris could hear a lone muffled voice echoing in his ears. He managed to open his left eye and saw a blurry Vin Tanner looking down at him. "V-vin?"

"Yup, it's me pard," Vin said.

"W-water," Chris moaned. The throb in his skull almost made Chris want to cry. Vin brought a glass of water to Chris's lips and let him drink. He took it away when he thought the man had had enough.

"M-mary? B-billy?"

"They're fine, cowboy. Nobody got to 'em. Don'tcha go worryin' about anythin' but gettin' better. Ya was hurt bad."

"H-how bad?" Chris couldn't remember anything from the past few days. He briefly could recall taking Mary and Billy on a wagon ride out of town, but past that was gone.

"Bad. Beat up. Broke leg, arm, ribs. Ya was shot. Dislocated jaw and some nice cuts and gashes."

"What h-happened?"

"Ella Gaines' men got a hold o' ya."

"Ella?"

"Yeah. She ambushed ya on the trail to Denver. Took ya and held ya. I found ya in her tent, half-dead."

"Oh boy," Chris moaned. He closed his eye to the oncoming headache.

"I'm sorry pard," Vin whispered.

"For?"

"Fer not bein' there when ya needed me. Ya were hurtin' bad. Had I been there,"

"B-both of us c-could be like t-this. Vin, you c-can't b-blame yourself," Chris said. He moaned as the pain in his leg, his arm and his gut reached a peak. "Damn. Oh God," he continued.

"Chris?"

"H-hurts Vin. Oh God, i-it h-hurts s-so bad."

"I know cowboy. They got ya good. Ya was hardly breathin'."

"H-hurt to breathe. 'Tween the gunshot and the broken ribs, it nearly killed me to breathe each time."

"Chris..." Vin stopped, unable to continue.

Chris could see Vin struggling with his emotions. He squeezed the tracker's hand. "Hey, if you hadn't gotten to me when you did, I WOULD be dead. You saved my life Vin, once again."

"'S m'job. Your a part o' me now Chris. Don' know what I'd done if you'd died. Kills me ta see ya this way."

"I'll be okay Vin," Chris said, falling unconscious once more.

"I hope so pard, I hope so," Vin said. He lay back and in less than a minute, was fast asleep.

Outside the door to the room that held the two men, Mary sat. She had tears in her eyes. She knew that Chris's ordeal was far from over. The sheriff in town had let the Gaines woman go, for she played him up and made him feel guilty. She had to warn Vin and the others that Chris's life was once more in danger. She went inside the room and awoke Vin.

"Vin!" she said, shaking the poor man.

Vin woke with a start. "HUH? Mary? What's goin' on?"

"It's Ella. The sheriff let her out."

"WHAT!? HOW could he!?"

"She played his emotions, so he let her go. Chris is in danger!"

"Ah shit," Vin said.

"How is he doing?" Mary said, noting the pale color of Chris's face.

"Hurts bad. He's been through a lot. I'm surprised he's made it this far Mary. He ain't as young as he used to be."

"No, but he's got you as his best friend, which helps."

"Some. Well, I guess we better be gettin' on our way to findin' where that damned woman went to 'fore she decides she wants another shot at Chris," he sighed. "He won't survive if she gets a hold o' 'im."

"We won't let her get that far Vin."

"I sure hope so."

Despite his misgivings about leaving Larabee alone, Vin knew that he had to warn the others about what was going on. He and Mary went to the saloon where he found Buck and Josiah. "Guys, we need ta talk."

"Vin, how's Chris?" Buck asked.

"Not good pard. He's had about as much as he can take with this. And it gets worse. Ella is out. Seems our friendly town sheriff decided to let her go."

"WHAT?!" Buck said, his anger quickly rushing to the surface.

"I know Buck. Chris's life is in real danger now. He wouldn't survive if she got a hold of him again. He's very sick. He's got a bad fever brewin'. We gotta find that bitch 'fore she finds him."

"I can help, Vin," Mary said.

"No, Mary. This is too dangerous. Chris would kill me if something happened to ya," he said, pulling her aside. "He cares 'bout ya, ya know. I don' think I could forgive m'self if somethin' did happen to ya. Neither would Chris."

"Okay. I will stay with Chris. You guys let me know when you do find her," Mary said, heading for the clinic once more.

"We will Mary," Vin said.

Mary went to the clinic. The doctor was in with Chris.

"How is he?" she asked.

"I don't know Mary. His fever is getting worse. The infection seems to be getting worse as well. I'm doing all I can for him, he's got to want to fight this in order to survive. He just doesn't seem to want to get better."

"John, he's been through hell. Vin said he was lucky he found him alive at that camp. He'll pull through, I have to believe that," she said. She held onto Chris's good hand.

"You love him, don't you?" John noted. He sighed.

"Yes, I do. He's been such a good man to us, to Billy and I. He deserves to be happy."

"I had heard a few years back about what happened to his wife and son. That was horrible."

"Yes, the woman who hired the men who killed them is here on the loose. Apparently Vin had found her in the camp where he had found Chris. She was holding him captive. Vin brought her here with two of the men that attacked Chris. The sheriff let her go."

"Oh my God."

"Yes, and we must do what we can to protect him, for she would not hesitate to come back after him and finish the job. She says she loves him, is even obsessed about him, but there's no love in what she had done to him this time."

"No, I would think not. Well, I will do my best to make sure that nothing happens while he's in here," John said. He finished cleaning up the wounds he was working on and bandaged them. "I'm going to cover his right eye. The wound to his face is pretty bad."

"You mean the bruises and the gash above his eye?"

"Yes. I think he might have a facial fracture as well. I'll have to wait and see when he wakes up."

"Yes, John. Thank you for taking such good care of him."

"It's my job Mary. Besides, I think that he's in good hands with all you guys hanging around."

"I hope so," she said. She watched the older man leave. She wiped beads of sweat from Chris's face. She flipped back locks of blond hair from his left eye. "Oh Chris. I am so sorry," she apologized to the man, but didn't really know why she was. She felt the man stir under her touch. "That's it, wake up for me Chris. It's all right."

Chris could hear a female voice telling him to wake up. He didn't want to wake and see that Gaines' woman's face again. "Nooo," he moaned. He turned his head away.

"Chris, it's me, it's Mary. Please wake up," she pleaded.

Finally, the name registered in Chris's brain. It wasn't Ella. It was Mary Travis. "Ma-ary?"

"Yes, Chris. It's me," she whispered. She turned his head to look at her.

"M-mary. W-where's Vin?"

"He's with the others. They're about to go find Ella Gaines."

"She's o-out?"

"Yes. That dumb sheriff let her go. She used her wondrous talking magic on him to let her go."

"D-damn woman," he said. He sighed. He turned his head back the other way. Mary could tell he was in so much pain.

"Chris? Please, talk to me."

"C-can't. Hurts t-too much," he managed.

"I'm sorry Chris. I wish I could make the pain go away."

He nodded, too sore and exhausted to talk any further. Mary knew that Chris was living on borrowed time if they couldn't find that woman. She could see that his breathing was very shallow and labored. She was beginning to think he had a collapsed lung. Mary left to go find Vin.

At the saloon, the rest of the seven were preparing to go after Ella Gaines. Mary made her way to where Vin sat.

"Vin. Hey guys."

"Mary? What's wrong?" Vin asked, sensing that something was wrong. "Is it Chris?"

"I think maybe you should sit with him for awhile. He's not breathing too well."

"Mary, we gotta find that damn woman 'fore she does any more harm to him."

"I know that Vin, it's just that I think you should be there for him. He wasn't really responding to me."

Turning to Buck, Vin said, "Buck, think I'm gonna sit this one out. Ya can find her right?"

"Sure we can, Vin. You go sit with Chris, make him better. We'll find that damn woman, sure as hell we will," Buck said.

So, Vin went with Mary to the clinic. Vin's gut was telling him that something was really wrong with Chris. When they got upstairs, he turned to her. "Do ya mind if I try to talk wit' 'im alone?"

"No, go ahead. I need to make sure that Billy is all right."

"I'll holler if anythin' happens," Vin assured her.

"Okay Vin, please do," she said, before leaving she put a reassuring hand on Vin's shoulder.

He smiled at her and then he went into the room that held Chris Larabee, noticing how pale Chris had become. He sat down beside the sick man. Vin sighed, only too aware that Chris was barely breathing on his own. He picked up the one hand Chris had available and clasped it as if it were the lifeline to his best friend.

"Chris. Hey pard," Vin said, choking back the tears. "Don'cha leave me here by m'self. This ol' gang o' peacekeepers ain't nothin' without ya pard. Oh come on, Chris, wake up pard," Vin pleaded with the gunslinger to open his eyes, to give him some kind of sign that he was still alive. Not getting any sort of response, the tracker just sat there, clinging to Chris's hand, hoping against all odds that the gunslinger would not die that night.

By mid-afternoon, Buck and the others had managed to find Ella's hideout and trapped her in her camp. Buck and Josiah captured her, and the men made their way with their catch back to Denver that evening.

When they arrived, Buck put her into the jail house, and JD and Josiah watched over her. Buck and the rest of the gang went to the clinic to see how Chris was faring. Buck knocked on the door to the room. No answer followed, so he slowly opened the door, not wanting to wake Vin if he was sleeping. He went in and saw Vin indeed asleep by Chris's side. Buck closed the door and he and the boys went to the saloon. Buck sat down at the bar and ordered drinks for everyone. Ezra and Nathan sat beside him.

"Buck, you know Chris is gonna be fine." Nathan tried to comfort his friend.

"He's got Vin and Mary looking over him. He'll be okay. We got that bitch, it's just a matter of time for him to heal."

"Yea, here's to Chris's recovery," Buck said. The men drank their drinks and then went to the boarding house to get some sleep.

Vin awoke sometime in the middle of the night. He went and relieved himself, then went back to the clinic. He went back into the room holding Larabee. The doctor was in there, treating Larabee's leg.

"Hey doc. What time is it?"

"It's early son. Why don't you go get some rest at the boarding house?"

"Nah, I need to be here fer Chris."

"He's doing better son. I think he'll be just fine. His leg's looking better, the fever has come down and the infections seem to be going away."

"That's the best news I've heard," Vin said. "I still need ta be here fer him."

"V-vin, g-go," Chris said, waking up to the voice of his friend beside him.

"Chris? Hey pard. How ya feelin'?" Vin said, sitting down and flicking away a stray lock of blonde hair from Chris's forehead.

"Tired. S-sore. W-where am I?"

"Denver. We haven't taken ya back to Four Corners yet. Doc says yer too weak ta do much yet."

Chris sighed. He wanted to be home, in his bed and away from this horrible place that held so many bad memories. "I w-want to g-go home, Vin."

"How'd I know ya was gonna say that? Right now, Chris, ya can't. Ya ain't damn near strong enough yet. I almost lost ya cowboy, I don' wanna even take that chance gettin' ya home," Vin said. He knew he was going to lose the battle with Chris on this one. Once the man had his mind made up, that was that.

"Ella?"

"We got her. She's sittin' in jail with Josiah and JD watchin' her to make sure she don' get out again. Listen to me cowboy, she can't hurt ya any more."

"Already has. T-twice now." Chris sighed, remembering his beautiful wife and his son. "She t-took everything away f-from me Vin."

"I know she did pard. God I wish I could bring 'em back pard, ya know I would. But, they're gone and ya gotta move on. I'm here fer ya, whenever ya need me."

"Thanks Vin. But, I still want t-to go h-home."

Vin looked the gunslinger straight in the eyes. He could see all the pain and sorrow behind the green orbs.

"Listen cowboy. I will take ya home when ya're stronger. I won' risk losin' ya on that three day ride back home."

"D-damn it V-Vin. I'm goin' home," Chris said. He tried to sit up, but fell back against the pillows when the pain became too much. His breathing became ragged and the doc stepped in.

"Chris, you aren't near strong enough to go on a three day journey home. You're just starting to heal. How does your face here feel?" he asked, touching Chris's right eye.

"Hurts."

"Does it feel broken?"

"N-no," Chris said. He knew that his eye socket wasn't fractured, just badly beaten on. "Just hurts, doc."

"Okay, at least that's not broken then. I want you to rest, Chris."

"I c-can't. I want outta here."

"What's goin' on in here?" said Buck upon arriving at the room. He hadn't slept well and had decided to see how Chris and Vin were doing. From the looks of things, they were dealing with a very impatient Chris Larabee.

"Wanna go home Buck," Chris stated.

"Ya can't stud. Not right now." Buck moved to sit beside Chris. He held the man's free hand. "Listen to the doc stud. He's right. You just are startin' to heal stud. We don' wanna mess all that up by takin' ya home right now."

"Damn it, I thought you would be on my side, Buck. This place h-holds too many b-bad memories. I want out," Chris said. He sat up and managed to stay up this time. His breathing was heavy, sweat was rolling down his face. "P-please guys. I'm beggin' ya both, get me home."

Vin was getting impatient with the injured man. He knew how badly Chris wanted to be home. "Listen Chris," he said, his anger rolling in his voice. "I am not gonna risk yer life damn it! Ya mean too much to us, to Mary. What do ya think she would say about all a' this?"

"She'd..."

"She would what?" came Mary's voice from the doorway. She rushed to Chris's side. "Hey, what is going on you guys? He's drenched in sweat."

"Chris thinks he's gonna make us take 'im home," Vin said.

"Chris? Is this true?" Mary asked him.

"I want to go home," was all he said.

"Chris, you know you can't. You're too weak and you have to heal first."

"NO! Why won't anyone listen to me?!" he yelled. "I am fine! Just get me the hell outta here!" Chris yelled. The argument was taking its toll on the gunslinger, for he collapsed back onto the bed. "God damn it, just let me die then," he whispered.

Mary was stunned. The man she had come to love was giving up. She put her fingers under his chin and forced him to look at her. "Listen to me Chris. I will take you home if that is what you want," she said, knowing that it wasn't what anyone else wanted, but if she didn't take him home, he would simply give up the fight, the will to live. "I love you, Chris Larabee, and I don't want you to die."

"Then take me home," he said simply.

"Okay," she said.

She motioned for everyone to move out of the room. "I will be right back, Chris," she told the half-conscious man.

She and the others went out into the hallway.

"Just what in the hell do ya think yer doin' Mary?" Vin said, angry.

"I'm taking him home. Vin, did you see his face when he said to let him die? He's going to give up if we don't take him home. Is that what you want? Do you want Chris to die? Because that will happen if we don't do this."

"No, I don' want to lose my brother, Mary. It would kill me if he were to die. I'm just so worried."

"And so am I. He's not in the best shape right now, nor is he in the right frame of mind. All this place reminds him of is of Ella, of the life she took from him. He can't keep doing that," she said. "Now, I will be responsible for him. I love him Vin. I will do what it takes to get him home safely."

"Damn right. But, we're all goin' with ya."

"Okay, but we have to do this today. So, why don't you and the boys get prepared for the journey. We'll need lots of blankets, medical supplies, food and water for Chris," she said.

"I sure hope you know what you're doin' Mary," Buck said. He was worried as everyone else was about Chris Larabee and getting the gunslinger home safe.

Mary went to the telegraph office and send a telegram to Judge Travis that they were all on their way home. She hoped that he would get it soon.

"I sure hope I do too Buck," Mary stated simply. She went back to the room while the men went to get the wagons ready for the ride home. She shut the door behind her, intent on not letting anyone else upset the blond. She went to his side. She could tell he was asleep, so she decided not to wake him up until she had to.

Mary prepped some of Chris's things for the ride home. She packed his clothes, his guns and his hat. She packed some medical supplies, after she spoke with the doctor about what she would need for the journey. She put them into the wagons, and when it came time to put Larabee into the wagon, she went to get the boys.

Mary went to the saloon where the boys were making their plans for the ride home. They knew they'd have to take Ella and her men along as their prisoners so they could face charges once they all got back to Four Corners. Vin was more than a little upset at the thought of the woman so close to Chris, especially with him so weak and sick.

"Hey guys," Mary said upon walking to them.

"Mary, I sure as hell hope ya know what yer doin'," Vin said. "'Cause I ain't riskin' his life any longer than I have to. This is dangerous for Chris, 'specially with that damned woman goin' along."

"I understand your fears, Vin. But, we have everyone to protect him. Everything will be okay."

"I hope so."

So the six men and Mary went to the clinic. Buck, Vin and Nathan went upstairs to carry Chris to the wagon. Ezra, Josiah and JD went to the jailhouse to pick up Ella Gaines and her two men.

Buck was the first one into the room at the clinic. He got some blankets out of the closet and went to where Chris was sleeping. "Heya stud. It's Buck. Time to wake up pard," he whispered to his friend.

"B-buck?" Chris managed. He opened his good eye. "We goin' home?"

"Yep. I got to wrap ya up in these here blankets though, okay?"

"Okay."

So Buck gently lifted the injured gunslinger and wrapped several blankets around his thin frame. Nathan and Vin got within distance and the three of them carried the man to the waiting wagon. Vin stayed with Chris while the rest of the boys went to get Ella, her men and more supplies for the trip home.

Vin sat down in the wagon, prepared his spot for the long journey home. He eased himself next to the gunslinger. He propped Chris's head onto his lap so the man could breathe easier. "Hey cowboy, we're goin' home," he whispered to the older man. He knew Chris was barely conscious, from both the pain and the drugs that the doctor had given him before they moved him into the wagon, so he just stayed with the gunslinger.

Mary and Nathan went back to the clinic to make sure they had all the supplies they needed before they took off.

"Mary, are you sure you want to do this? Chris is in no shape to be out of bed. He needs to be resting," Nathan said.

"Yes, I'm sure, Nate. He needs to be at home, where he can recover much faster."

"Alright. But, you're the one who told him he could go. I am going to hold you responsible if something happens."

"Nathan, he needs to be home. He just wants to give up right now. I couldn't bear it if he gave up and died."

"We're gonna make sure that he doesn't," Nathan said.

Buck and Josiah picked up their prisoners and went to the wagon train that held their leader. They put them in the farthest wagon, and tied them down. Josiah and JD stayed in the wagon while Buck went to the wagon with Mary, Vin and Chris.

"Are we ready to go?" Nathan went to the third wagon with Ezra.

"Yes, I think so," Mary said. "Vin's with Chris, Buck."

"I see," he said. He glanced at the tracker, then at the gunslinger. "He doin' okay Vin?"

"So far Buck. He's resting right now. Hasn't opened his eyes since he was in the room," Vin said.

"Listen Buck, if he shows any signs of illness, stop the wagon," Nathan said from the last wagon.

"Will do, Nathan."

So the trio of wagons set off for Four Corners. Nathan knew that the trip was not going to be an easy one for their sick and injured leader. He could only hope that they would get him home in one piece.

The three day ride back to Four Corners ended up being a four day journey. Chris got sick on the second day and they had to stop in order for him to rest up. When they got back to Four Corners, Judge Travis was waiting for them at the clinic. Buck got out of the wagon, stiff as a board and tired. "Hey Orin."

"Buck. How is he doing?" Orin Travis said as he looked at the injured gunslinger.

"Not good. He's been runnin' a high fever and his breathin' ain't so hot. Nate says we gotta get him upstairs fast, so he can fix 'im up."

"Okay. Mary..," he said to his daughter.

"Hi Orin," she said. She got out of the wagon with his help. They exchanged a hug and the Judge helped Buck and Vin ease the gunslinger out of the wagon.

"Ohhh," Chris moaned. "V-vin...h-hurts. S-soo cold."

"I know, cowboy. We're gonna fix ya up," Vin said, trying to reassure the hurt man. He could feel the fever raging through the sick man's body and gasped as he felt just how hot Chris was. "Oh pard," he whispered.

The trio got the sick man up the staircase to the waiting bed in the clinic. Nathan was right behind them. "Okay, everyone out."

"Nate.." Vin started. He didn't want to leave Chris in the condition he was in.

"No buts, Vin. He's very ill. If I don't get this fever down, he's gonna die. Now, out." He motioned for the tracker to leave.

"I'll be back soon Chris," he said to the sick man. He kissed his forehead and squeezed the man's hand. "Take care of 'im, Nate."

"You know I will," Nathan said. With that, Vin left reluctantly and Nathan began his work to heal the gunslinger.

Vin didn't go very far, for he knew that Chris needed him and he would be there for the sick man. So, he went to the saloon and talked to the boys.

"Hey Bucklin'," Vin said to Buck as he walked in.

"Vin. How's he doin'?"

"Dunno pard. He's been runnin' that damned fever too long."

"He'll be fine Vin," Josiah said. "You gotta believe that. He needs you to be the strong one right now."

"I know. But..." Vin trailed. He knew Chris was a lot sicker than Nathan led on. He could feel the gunslinger's sickness just taking a hold of the weakened body. "He's a lot sicker than we thought."

"Damn, I just knew it," Buck said. "I knew bringin' him back here was a mistake."

"No, Buckin', it wasn't. He woulda given up there."

"I just hope that Nathan can fix 'im up quick," Buck said. He gulped down his beer. "I'm headin' into bed for the night. If anythin' happens, wake me up."

"I will, Bucklin'," Vin said. He sat down and drank a beer and ate some food. After he was done, he made his way back to the clinic. Mary was sitting outside the door that held his sick friend and leader.

"Mary," he nodded to her. He sat beside her.

"Vin, Nathan's been in there a long time."

"Chris is very sick Mary. The fever's got a hold of 'im good," he sighed. "Has he let you in?"

"No."

"Well, I'm goin' in," he said. Vin opened the door and went in.

"Out Vin," Nathan barked. "He's not doing so well. I don't want you to see him this way."

"He's m'best friend Nate. He could use my company." Vin sat down, despite Nathan's orders.

"Vin..," Nathan said. "I think you should prepare the guys for the worst."

"What?! Nate, he's gonna make it! Oh god," Vin said. He held Chris's hand. "Hey cowboy. I'm here. Wake up fer me." Vin knew that Chris was in danger of losing his life if he didn't wake up soon.

"Vin..." Nathan began. "I think he's given up. There's no reason for him to not be healin'. He was doin' fine up in Denver." Nathan got up to leave the man alone with Chris. "I'll be back soon. Give you two a chance to talk," Nathan said.

"I'll see ya in a bit. Chris," he said to the gunslinger.

"Wake up pard." Vin's eyes misted at the very thought of losing his best friend. They'd been through worse before and Chris always came through okay. Something about this time was different, though, Vin had a feeling.

"V-vin?" Chris managed as he awoke. He looked at his best friend's eyes. "What's w-wrong pard?"

"N-nothin' pard," Vin said, wiping his face. "I'm jest worried about ya. God Chris, I dunno what I'd do without ya. I dunno what WE would do. Ya know yer the lifeline of this ragtag group that we call the Magnificent Seven, don'tcha?"

"Why can't I just die Vin?" Chris whispered.

"What'cha talkin' about Larabee?"

"I just want to b-be with S-sarah and A-dam. When Ella had me captive in her tent, Sarah came t-to me."

"Oh Chris. Ya know ya can't be t'gether right now. Someday, but not right now," Vin said, the grief for his best friend showing in his voice.

"She s-showed me something," Chris continued. His eyes misted up. He looked at Vin.

"What did she show ya cowboy? What's got ya so upset?" Vin said, trying to get a feel for where the gunslinger was going with the conversation.

"She showed me..." he stopped. Vin could tell the memory was very hard on Chris. "She s-howed me that w-we w-were gonna have a baby. She w-was pregnant when E-ella took her and my son from me. We were gonna have another baby, Vin. And now that's gone. All gone," Chris said. He started to cry. "Oh god. Why h-her? Why A-adam? Our baby?"

Vin was stunned. No-one had said a word that Sarah had been pregnant when she was murdered. "Chris, hey cowboy," Vin said. He looked the gunslinger in the eyes. "She's gonna pay for what she did to ya an' to yer family, okay? Oh god Chris. I am soo sorry, cowboy."

"D-don't be. Not your f-fault," Chris sighed. "Just let me be."

"No, cowboy. I'm here an' ain't leavin' ya. I care about ya. Your my best friend." There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Vin said. Mary walked into the room and sat beside Vin.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Vin said. He held the gunslinger's hand. "Chris, I'll be back in a minute."

"Don't g-go," Chris said, his voice rapidly getting weaker.

"I gotta do my duty, I won't be gone long," he reassured the man. "'Sides, Mary's here."

"Mary?"

"Yes, Chris, I am here," she said. She turned his head to her. The pain and suffering she saw in his eyes made her want to cry.

"Why can't I j-just die?" he asked.

"Because you are needed here, Chris."

"I w-want S-sarah," he said before he collapsed.

"Oh Chris," Mary whispered.

"I'll be right back, Mary. Just got to relieve m'self," Vin said quietly. He left and was back within only a couple of minutes. When he arrived, Nathan was in the room again.

"Nate," Vin whispered. He sat down.

"Vin," he said calmly. He looked the tracker in the eyes. "He's not doing so good."

"I coulda told ya that, Nate. Did Mary tell ya what he just said?"

"No."

"Chris told me that Sarah came to him while Ella had him. He said that Sarah showed him that they were going to have another child," Vin said, his voice cracking. "He said that he just wants to be with them. He's givin' up, Nate."

"We can't let that happen Vin. For his sake, please don't leave," Mary said.

"I ain't goin' nowhere 'til he gets better." He turned to Chris. "Hey cowboy. Wake up pard. Nathan's here."

"Vin, don't," Mary said. "Let him sleep. He needs to rest."

"I know that Mary. But.."

"V-vin?" came the gunslinger's weak voice. He opened his eyes.

"Hey pard," Vin whispered. He flicked a stray lock of hair from Chris's forehead. "V-vin. I j-just want t-to die," Chris said.

Shock again came upon Vin's face at the truthfulness of the words. Vin knew that he was Chris's only strength left.

"I ain't gonna let ya die cowboy. Your all I got left in this damn town. Ah God, Chris. Don' do this ta me," Vin pleaded with the sick man. He knew he was on the verge of losing Chris. He motioned for Mary and Nathan to leave. He so desperately wanted to get through to the sick man. He sat up straight and looked the sick man in the eyes. "Listen ta me, cowboy. I am yer best friend, yer brother. I care 'bout ya. I don' want ya to die. Without ya, there ain't no us. There ain't no peacekeepers. God Chris, yer the one who set up this bunch. I know its gotta be hard. I never knew yer wife or yer son. They love ya pard, just like I do. They ain't far off. It just ain't yer time yet."

Chris looked away, in too much pain to talk. The unshed tears for his family slowly made their way down his cheeks. He knew Vin was right. But somehow, his mind didn't want to really believe he could ever go on again after finding out what he did.

"I never knew them Chris, but they were special, I know that. I know yer hurtin' right now. The pain of findin' out plus yer injuries. That's why I'm here, pard. I ain't here just to see ya rot away. I care," Vin said. He shed his tears quietly before the gunslinger. "I care 'bout what happens to ya."

"T-thanks V-vin," Chris said. "I'm s-sorry."

"For what? Ya ain't got nothin' to be sorry for. Nothin', do ya hear me cowboy? We all care 'bout ya. That's why we brought ya back home, so ya can get better."

"If you hadn't been there to rescue me, Vin, I'd be dead, you know that. I don't know if I could have hung on if you didn't show up," Chris stated simply. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"Ya need to rest cowboy. I got to go talk to the boys."

"No, Vin. Don't leave. Please," Chris said. His eyes lit up in fear.

"Hey cowboy. Ain't nobody comin' in here to hurt ya," Vin whispered. He saw the sheer fear in the gunslinger's eyes and knew where it was coming from. "Ella's in jail. Her men are too. Ezra, JD, and Josiah are taking turns watching them so they can't do anything stupid. She can't hurt ya anymore pard. No more, do ya understand? She will be hung for what she did to yer family. And with the knowledge that she killed Sarah while she was pregnant, that'll be the end of that woman. She can't hurt anyone anymore, the Judge will see to it, Chris."

Chris just stared at the wall. "I can't begin to thank you enough for what you have done, Vin. You saved my life, once more. You caught that damned woman for me."

"Hey, what're friends for Chris? That's why we're all still here. We're all here for each other," Vin said. He could tell the gunslinger was exhausted. "I'm gonna let ya get some sleep. I'll be in the saloon, won't be long."

"Okay. Hey, will you tell Mary to bring Billy with her when she comes back?"

"Sure thing, Chris."

So Vin left Chris to get some sleep, and went to the saloon. Buck and Nathan were both there. Vin sat down beside them. "Hey guys."

"Vin? How's Chris?" Nathan said. "Mary went to check on Billy. Said she'd be back to check on Chris later."

"He's sleepin' now. Chris asked for Mary to bring Billy the next time she showed up," Vin said. He ordered a drink and gulped it down. "Think I'm gonna go find her." Vin got up and left to find Mary.

Buck sighed. The whole bout with Chris being injured and Ella being responsible was taking its toll on the man. He knew what Chris was going through. He also knew Sarah very well and hated the thought that Ella killed her while she was pregnant. He decided to call it a night and headed for his room at the boarding house.

Vin went to the newspaper's office and found Mary there with Billy in tow. "Mary."

"Hi Vin. We were just headed out to go see Chris."

"That's what I was gonna come talk to ya about."

"Oh?"

"Ya. Chris's been through a hell of a lot recently. I jest hope that yer intentions are good, 'cause he deserves the best."

"They are, Vin. Don't worry. He's a good man and he's in good hands. How is he doing?"

"Well, good considerin' everthin' that's happened. I think he needs to rest though, so we shouldn't be too long, okay?"

"Okay," she said. The three of them made their way to go to the clinic to see Chris. Nathan had gone to check on his patient after Buck had left. He cleansed the leg wound then rebandaged it and placed it back into the sand box. He made sure Chris was comfortable then left to go find Vin. He found Vin with Mary and Billy down by the newspaper office.

"Mary, Vin." Nathan greeted them.

"Nathan. How's Chris? We were just headed back up there to go see him," Mary said.

"Doing a little better. I cleansed the wounds."

"Ready to go?" Vin said.

"Yeah."

"I'm gonna go with you," Nathan said.

"Okay," Vin said. So the four of them headed to the clinic to see their fallen friend.

Josiah and JD were at the jail, keeping their ever-watchful eyes on their prisoners.

"Josiah?"

"Yeah?"

"How's Chris doin'?"

"Dunno kid. Vin 'n' Buck I'm sure would know."

JD sighed. Even though Chris was a hard-headed, stubborn man, JD looked up to him, for he was really still just a kid. "Would it be all right if I went to see him?"

"Sure kid. Just don't be too long."

"I won't. Thank you," JD said to the older man. He went to the clinic and stopped at the door.

"JD?" came Vin's voice from behind him. JD turned around.

"Hi guys. Josiah said I could see Chris for a few minutes."

"Go on, go ahead," Vin said.

"How is h-he?" JD asked, his voice filled with fear and worry.

"He's down, a bit depressed. But, at least his injuries are healing nicely," Nathan said.

"That's good," JD said. He went inside the room. Mary and the rest of the bunch sat outside the room to let JD have some time alone with the gunslinger. JD sat down beside the only light in the room. He saw the extent of Larabee's injuries as he looked over the man. Tears stung his eyes. "Oh Chris," he whispered.

"J-JD?" came the hoarse reply.

"I'm h-here Chris," JD said, moving his body so Chris could see him with his left eye. "How are you feelin'?"

"Like s-shit, kid. Where's everyone?"

"Waitin' outside. They wanted to give me some time alone with you."

"That's good. I'm glad you came. Don't you worry, everything will be fine," Chris whispered. He looked into the kid's eyes and saw in them nothing but fear and worry. "Don't be afraid, JD. She can't hurt anyone anymore."

"I sure hope so. It's just..." JD shuffled his body.

"Just what JD?"

"I overheard her talkin' to one of her men. Says you're gonna pay."

"It's just talk, JD. Her men are all either dead or in jail."

"I don't know about that, Chris."

"Don't worry about it. Ain't nothing gonna happen."

"Okay," JD said, getting up to leave. "Get well soon."

"I will," Chris said.

JD left the room and went back to the jail. The four awaiting entry to the room went in.

"Hey pard," Vin said. He sat down beside the gunslinger. "I know it's late, but I jest wanted ta bring Billy by."

"Chris, okay?" Billy asked, running to the gunslinger.

"Easy Billy. Chris has a broken leg and arm," Vin said as the youngster climbed onto the bed.

"Sorry," he apologized.

"It's okay son," Chris said. "Come here." He motioned for the boy to rest beside him. "You been behaving for your ma?"

"Yes."

"That's good. Now, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure!"

"I want you to make sure that you take good care of your ma while I'm here, okay?" he said, looking from Billy to Mary.

"I will, Chris."

"Good."

"Okay guys, time to go," Nathan said. He could see the utter exhaustion in Chris's eyes. "You're exhausted, Chris."

"I am. Vin..."

"I'm here."

"You make sure nothing happens to them."

"Chris..."

"Vin, please."

"Okay, all right. I'll be back later, it's late. Might be back in the mornin'."

"That'll be fine, Vin."

With that, the four of them left Chris to get some sleep. Nathan went to his room a few doors down the hallway, and the others went to their rooms at the boarding house.

Ezra made his way to the saloon after realizing he couldn't sleep anymore. He ordered a few drinks and sat down at the bar. He glanced at his clock, 1 AM. He finished both drinks and was about to head back to bed when he noticed three strange men at the other end of the bar. He curiously kept an eye on them, noting their clothes and their faces. One man seemed to be talking about a fire. He thought that was very strange. Ezra wasn't quite sure what to make of the whole scene, so he decided to tell Vin. He left the saloon, and headed to the boarding house. He knocked on Vin's door.

"Mr. Tanner. Please open up."

"Ez? What's goin' on?" Vin said, upon opening the door. Bloodshot eyes met Ezra's.

"I just happened to be in the saloon when I happened to see..."

Before he could finish, a huge explosion rocked the building. Vin's eyes widened. "CHRIS!" he yelled, for Chris was his first thought. Vin put on some clothes and the two ran out the door, down the stairs, and outside the boarding house. Vin gasped as he saw the clinic engulfed in flames. "OH GOD NO! CHRIS!" Vin yelled. He started to run towards the clinic, but Ezra held him back. "LET ME GO, EZRA!!"

"You'll be killed, Mr. Tanner!!" Ezra yelled above the roar of the flames.

By this time, most of the town had come out of their houses and were all gasping at the sight of the clinic in flames. Buck, Josiah, Mary and Billy rushed to Vin. "VIN! CHRIS IS IN THERE!" Mary yelled.

"I KNOW!" he cried. He again tried to rush the building, this time Buck stopped him. "VIN NO!" Buck cried. He saw a small part of the second floor collapse. "You'll be killed," he yelled. Buck knew that Nathan was also up in the building and that both he and Chris were on the top floor at the time of the explosion. "They're gone Vin."

"NO! I refuse to believe that Buck!" Vin said, escaping Buck's hold and rushing the building.

Some of the townsfolk had begun a water line with buckets to try and put out the flames. Vin ignored their pleas for him to not go in. He had one mission: to save Larabee and Jackson. He ignored the searing heat and the choking smoke as he went upstairs.

"CHRIS!" he yelled as loud as he could. He heard a faint cry for help, it was Larabee. "I'm comin' cowboy!" Vin yelled back. He made it to the second floor just as he ran into Nathan.

"NATE! You okay?" he asked, seeing burns on Nathan's arms and face. He could also see that Nathan was limping.

"I'm fine, we have to find Chris!"

"I know damn it!" Vin said. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "CHRIS!" he yelled again. As they headed to Larabee's room, more of the floor collapsed. A side wall to Chris's room fell. "NOOO!" Vin cried.

"VIN! WE HAVE TO GO!"

"NO! I ain't leavin' him here to die!" Vin cried. He yanked free of Nathan's grasp and ran to the door of Chris's room. He opened it and where there used to be a floor now was a gaping hole. "NOOOO!" Nathan rushed to Vin. He saw the hole in the floor where the bed had been and knew Chris could not have survived the fall.

"Vin! Come on!" Nathan said, just as the rest of the second floor fell from underneath them. The two of them fell into a heap of burning wood and smoke-filled rooms.

Outside, the rest of the gang watched in horror as the second floor of the clinic finally collapsed.

"NOO!" Mary cried. She collapsed beside her son.

"Dear Lord," Josiah said. The men hung their heads, knowing they'd just lost three of their men. The rest of the town stared in shock as the building collapsed into a pile of burning wood and smoke.

Vin opened his stinging eyes to flames licking the remaining walls. He made to move off the floor, but searing pain in his back stopped him. "NATHAN! CHRIS!"

"Vin!" came a weak reply. It was Nathan. He crawled to the voice, and found Nathan buried under some rubble.

"Find C-hris!" Nathan said.

"You hurt?"

"Yeah, but never mind me. Go find Chris."

Vin pulled Nathan out from under the rubble. "Go on, get out! I'll find 'im!" Vin said. He crawled a few feet further and found what he was looking for. Larabee's body was crumpled underneath the bed he'd been laying in. His legs were both bent at awkward angles, they were both broken. Vin felt for a pulse on the injured man's neck.

Finding a weak pulse, he persisted to clear the rubble from his friend's nearly lifeless body.

"Cowboy, I'm here," he said, coughing fitfully. "Chris!" he yelled, trying to get a response from the gunslinger.

He noted more severe injuries all over the man's body. He had burns on his chest, face and arms. His right arm had re-broken, and he could see some ribs that were poking through the ribcage. "Oh Lord."

Nathan had managed to crawl from the building. Buck saw him and pulled him out. "Nate!" Buck said. He lay the healer on the ground. Mary rushed to them.

"Nathan!"

"Oh my Lord," Josiah said, noting the broken leg and burns.

"Vin and Chris are still inside!" Nathan said. He was breathing heavily from the smoke inhalation. The pain in his leg made him cringe.

"Alive?" Josiah asked.

"Don't know," he said barely above a whisper.

"I'm goin' in," Buck said. He knew if Chris and Vin were still alive, they were not getting out without help. He rushed inside, calling their names. "CHRIS! VIN!" Vin heard Buck call his name.

"Buck!" he called weakly. The smoke inhalation was taking its toll on the tracker. "Over here."

Buck heard Vin's voice and ran straight into him as Vin stood up. Buck knocked the tracker over as he ran into him. "Vin!"

"Here Buck, he's alive, but just barely," Vin said. He collapsed near Chris as the smoke overtook his taxed body.

Buck took one look at Chris and knew he was in trouble. "Hang in there stud," he said. One by one, Buck pulled Vin and Chris's bodies from the rubble of the clinic.

Josiah, Mary and some of the townsfolk helped Buck pull the injured men from the building.

"We have to get Chris to shelter now," Nathan said as they pulled the gunslinger close to him for him to examine. "He's badly burned and he's got major injuries. I wouldn't be surprised if he's got major internal damage as well." Nathan examined Vin as well, not finding any major injuries, he woke up the tracker who'd lost consciousness in the building.

"Huh?" Vin said. He was dazed. He looked at Nathan. "What's goin' on Nate?"

"We're trying to decide where to take Chris."

"We could use my office. We could clear off the tables and use them as a makeshift bed," Mary said.

"That won't work. We have to have blankets, immediate access to water, and a soft area to work with. How about the boarding house?" Nathan said.

"Whatever, let's just get 'im there. He's hurt bad," Vin said, his voice betraying his fear and his worry over their friend.

"Vin, calm down. We don't need to have to worry over you too. Chris is gonna be okay do you hear me?" Nathan said. He looked the scared tracker in the eyes. "He's got to have your faith and trust. He needs you to be all here okay?"

"Yeah, okay," Vin said.

He helped Buck pick up the gunslinger while Josiah helped Nathan as they all walked to the boarding house. The men went inside and found an empty room on the first floor. Buck carried the injured gunslinger into the room and lay him on the bed. Chris moaned loudly as he was placed on the bed. He tried to open his eyes, but the burns on his face prevented it. He began to panic, trying to thrash about on the bed. Vin collapsed beside him and spoke softly to him.

"Heya cowboy. It's me. I'm here." Vin held Chris's left hand. The soothing words instantly calmed the frightened man. Chris calmed down and sighed as he could hear Vin right beside him. Vin glanced over his friend's injuries and sighed. "Nathan."

"Right here," Nathan said behind him. Josiah helped Nathan into a slouched position by the bed. "Okay, everyone out but Buck. Mary, Josiah, I need the two of you to round up any supplies you can find in the store, or from whoever might have some in their homes. We need blankets, towels, water, some laudanum, salve, bandages. I've got to have some boxes to lay his legs in. Go find the others and have them help you."

"Okay." Josiah said.

"What about you Nate?" Mary said, pointing to his broken leg.

"It'll have to wait, unless someone else out there knows how to set a broken leg. My priority right now is Chris."

"We're on it," they said. Both of them left, leaving the injured healer and the tracker to try and save the gunslinger's life. Vin kept his grip on Chris's left hand.

"Nate, how we gonna do this?"

"We have to get these clothes off of him. Then, we have to cleanse those burns with some water. That is the first thing we need to do."

"Alright," Vin said. He pulled out one of his knives and began cutting away what remained of Chris's charred clothing. When he got done with that, Josiah and Mary had arrived with a woman from town and some supplies. They'd rounded up all the medical supplies they could find.

"Nathan," Josiah said. He handed the healer the blankets, the medical supplies and the towels and they set the buckets of water down beside the injured man. "Okay, Nathan. This woman here knows how to set a leg."

"Nathan."

"Kerie. Thank you for coming."

"I just heard what happened. I am so sorry about what happened to Chris."

"Not as sorry as those idiots are gonna be when we find them," Vin said.

"What are you talking about Vin?" Buck said.

"Ezra said he saw three men in the saloon this morning really early, said they were talkin' about a fire. He said before he left, he saw them leave the saloon. Don't know where they went to, but I have a distinct feelin' they're behind all o'this," Vin said, anger in his voice rising. He could feel Chris move beneath him. "Hey cowboy." Chris was trying to talk. "Don't try to speak. Your face is burned badly."

"Chris." Nathan spoke. "I've got to get your burns cleaned up. This is gonna hurt, but I just want you to be aware of what I am doing, okay?"

Chris could only slightly nod his head. He was in such excruciating pain, the tears stung his hurting eyes and he gasped. He let the emotions go of what had just happened to him, and Vin was right there beside him.

"Oh Chris," he whispered. Vin met Nathan's eyes. Tears were in everyone's eyes as Nathan began to cleanse the burns. Chris clenched his jaw tight to prevent from screaming. The pain was enormous and he didn't want to show his weakness. Vin could feel the gunslinger tighten up as Nathan cleansed the burns on his face, his arms, his chest.

"Relax Chris. Let it go pard. We're all here fer ya. Don't hold it in. Oh God," Vin said. His tears stung his eyes, and fell down his cheeks.

Mary could only watch as Nathan cleaned Chris's wounds up. She nearly cried as Chris let his emotions go and a cry so horrible erupted from his throat. She crumbled next to the gunslinger as Kerie helped to set Nathan's broken leg while he was working on Chris. Kerie fixed up Nathan's leg, and she left the supplies with the men. She had to leave, for the scene was breaking her heart. She never knew the gunslinger, but nobody deserved what had happened to him. Nathan continued his ministrations on the gunslinger, hoping the cries would stop, but they continued into the morning hours as Nathan finally finished cleaning the burns and wrapping them. He was exhausted, Vin could tell, but didn't stop to rest. He persisted on starting the setting of the broken legs, the arm and the two ribs sticking out of their place at the bottom of the ribcage.

"Nate. Stop," Vin said, all of a sudden. He could feel Chris go limp. "He's limp."

Nathan felt for Chris's pulse. "He's unconscious, Vin. Surprised it took him this long to go. Now it'll be easier on him now that he's out to set these bones."

"Vin, you need a break," Buck said. "Go with Mary and get some rest."

"No. I ain't leavin' him."

"Vin, why don't you go," Nathan said. "Buck can help me with this."

"Vin, let's go. You need some rest," Mary said. "He'll be fine. He's in good hands."

"Alright. But, I ain't gonna be long," Vin said. He was reluctant to leave, fearful the gunslinger would notice that he was gone. He whispered something in Chris's ear and squeezed his hand. He looked at Buck, then at Nathan. His reddened blue eyes met their gazes, then he looked away, knowing if he didn't leave, he wouldn't go. Mary led him out of the room and down to the saloon.

Buck helped Nathan set the broken legs, the arm, and the two ribs. Buck and Nathan were exhausted by the time they got done, Buck went to his room after they were finished, he couldn't look at his best friend the way he was any longer. Nathan just sat beside the gunslinger, hoping that the injuries weren't too severe enough for the man to get better.

Ezra and Josiah decided that they were going to hunt the men down who'd blown up the clinic. The two men knew they were outnumbered, but they also knew that they had the advantage of knowing the area very well. Soon after they started, they found the three men camped out only a mile out of town. They snuck up on the men and Ezra shot one of them as he raised his gun at the two gunmen. Ezra yelled, "Hold it right there mister!" to one of the remaining men. "If you don't want a bullet in your gut, I would suggest that you do exactly what we tell you." The man put his guns down immediately and the other man did the same. "Now, Josiah, would you be so kind as to tie these men up?"

"Sure thing, Ezra," Josiah said. He tied the two men up, and he and Ezra put them onto one of their horses. "Now, you will be coming with us to face Judge Travis. You three are working for Ella Gaines, aren't you?"

"Y-y-yes," the younger of the two said.

"That's a good boy," Ezra said. "Now, let's go Josiah."

"Are you sure that one on the ground's dead?"

"Do I ever miss, Josiah?"

"No."

"There's your answer preacher," Ezra said.

They led the two men remaining back to town.

"Mary..," Vin said as they sat down. He kept looking at the door. His eyes misted again.

"Vin, it's okay. Chris will make it," she said, trying to ease the tracker's worries. She knew how upset he was about everything. "Hey, he's gonna be alright," she said, putting her hand on Vin's shoulder.

"I wish I could share your enthusiasm. But, you didn't see just how bad he was when I pulled him out from under that bed. Plus, he's got the crap from before," Vin said. He sighed, trying to keep the tears at bay. "He don't deserve all this shit. He's been a good guy to this town. Why would someone want to hurt him so badly? I just don' get it."

"Because Ella is evil, Vin. She cares about no-one but herself. This is evident in what she just had done to him. She doesn't care. She will stop at nothing to make sure he pays the ultimate price for not loving her and not coming to her beck and call."

"She ain't gonna stop 'til he's dead Mary. I can't protect him and the town too," Vin sighed. He knew that as long as Ella Gaines was alive, Chris's life was in danger. "Mary, as long as that bitch is alive, he's not safe. He cannot protect himself, he can't even walk now. That bitch took everything from him now. He doesn't even have his dignity now that he can't walk and he's crippled."

"He's not crippled, Vin. He will heal. He will make it through this and get better."

Vin got up to head to the boarding house. He didn't feel safe leaving Nathan and Chris by themselves. "I got to go, Mary. I don' feel safe leavin' 'em there."

"Vin...she's in jail. The guys went to find those three men."

"I don't care. The two of them are sitting ducks in there," Vin said. His anxiety was growing by the minute. "Let's go, Mary. I can't wait any longer."

"Okay. Let me get Billy first."

So, they went and picked up Billy first and then went to the boarding house. Vin literally ran to the room when they arrived. He opened the door very fast and surprised Nathan. "Nate."

"Vin, you okay?" Nathan said. He noticed Vin was pale. "What's wrong?"

"Just got a feelin' is all. How's he doin'?" he asked as he sat down beside Chris's makeshift bed. Mary set Billy next to Vin. Vin was exhausted, Nathan and Mary both knew it. Mary motioned for Nathan to talk to her outside.

"Vin's been running on empty Nathan. He's exhausted. I can't get him to take a break."

"Mary, there's something about them that you don't quite understand. They have this bond between them. They share similar stories about life. When one of them is injured, the other will not rest until he is better."

"I know, I understand, but he's going to exhaust himself to the point where he is gonna need help. He won't do Chris any good if he ends up sick or hurt."

Vin held the gunslinger's hand. He tried to feel inside their bond for any sign that the man was still with him. "Chris," he whispered. He knew the gunslinger was very ill, and knew that he might not make it through the day. The fever raged through the ravaged body and Vin wished he could make the pain go away. "Chris. Please, talk to me cowboy."

"Vin?" came Billy's voice. "Chris okay?"

"No, son. Chris's not okay. He's hurt mighty bad."

"No," Billy said. He started to cry. "Chris," he whispered. Billy held the man's other hand, which was partly in the sling holding his right arm.

"Ah son. It's okay. He'll be okay," Vin said. Tears stung his eyes. Vin knew the boy cared for Chris like he was his father. Chris loved the boy, despite what he'd say. Mary knocked on the door, then she and Nathan came back in. "Vin?"

"What," Vin said, his patience being sorely tested. "I'm not leavin' and that's that."

"We're not asking you to leave, Vin. We're just asking that you take a break. You're exhausted."

"I'm fine," Vin stated. "'Sides, there's somebody here that needs me now," he said, looking at Chris, then at Billy.

"Billy's coming with me. I think we're going to let you get some rest here," Mary said.

"Okay, but.." Vin started, but he lay his head down on the cot next to Chris, and he was instantly out.

"That's a good boy," Nathan said. "Let's go, Mary. He'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. He's here with Chris, and now he's getting his rest."

"Vin, get some rest," Mary whispered. Mary left with Billy, while Nathan stayed in the room next to Chris's.

Ezra and Josiah arrived in town with their prizes just before dusk set. They put the two men in a separate cell that was adjacent to Ella Gaines'. JD was relieved by the two men and they started their watch. Josiah planted himself near the window, just far enough away that he wasn't able to hear their conversation. Ezra was in the back, making sure everything was tight and secure. She looked disgustedly at them, not at all happy that they had been captured.

"You two disgust me."

"But Ella, they surprised us. We didn't even see them coming."

"It doesn't matter now. What matters now is me getting out of here so I can finish the job that you two were unable to do."

"Ella..." said the younger one. He knew that he didn't want anything else to do with the woman's plans on killing the gunslinger. "They know that you're behind all of this."

"I know. That makes it easier. They won't expect anything," she said slyly. She had her plans on escaping the jail and killing the gunslinger herself.

"Ella, haven't you done enough?" the young man said. He wanted no part in any of her plans. "That man has suffered enough because of you," he said, knowing what Ella had done to Chris's family, and what she'd had them do to him just a while ago.

"If you aren't with me, Jake, then you might as well just die here, because I don't want anything to do with someone who would betray me just like this."

"Ella..." he started.

"No, you have been loyal to me up until now, but why quit now while you're ahead, Jake? We could be off somewhere once the deed is done and we could be rich."

"I don't want any part of your schemes anymore. Too many people are getting hurt or killed. Please Ella, don't do this."

"I am going to do whatever I please, with or without you," she said. She turned away from her men, not amused with what she was hearing. She was going to have to kill Chris Larabee by herself. "I'll get my payback, Chris, I always do," she whispered. She stopped the conversation as Ezra came back into the jail.

"My, my, my. Ain't you all just a pretty sight," Ezra stated. He knew these people were behind the bombing of the clinic, and that Ella was their leader. "I sure hope you know that paybacks are a bitch," Ezra said to them. "You'll all get what is rightfully coming to you."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that Mr..."

"Standish. Ezra Standish, Ms. Gaines. I will see to it myself that not a one of you gets your hands on Mr. Larabee ever again."

"Don't bet on it, Ezra," Ella said. "Chris is mine. He will always be mine, no-one else can ever have him."

"Wow," Josiah said, making his way to the jail cells. "I have never known a lady to think she's like a man. You are the most pitiful woman I have ever seen," Josiah quipped. "Too bad all of your runners are in with you now, huh?"

"He'll get what is coming to him," Ella said.

"Not before you all hang for what you have done to Chris, and to Nathan," Ezra said.

"Oh, I always get my way, Mr. Standish. Chris has found that out the hard way."

Josiah and Ezra went to the front of the jail, too disgusted with the woman and her men to look at them. "Ezra, we have to warn Vin. If by some miracle, she has more people waiting for her, she might just get the upper hand. I know that Chris ain't gonna survive another attack. We got to warn the guys."

"Yes, Mr. Sanchez, you are right. Will you be okay in here with all of them?"

"Should be, just send someone back."

"I will surely do," Ezra said. He left the jail to go find Orin Travis, and the rest of the Seven to warn them.

Josiah sat down in his chair, and began to read. He knew that he wasn't safe with any of the people in the jail at the moment, especially now that he was alone. He just ignored their taunts, hoping they would give it up. He was about to check on the cell locks, when he heard a bang coming from the back of the jail. He went to the back, knowing that he had no chance of fighting off someone if they'd decided to make it a fight. He looked outside, but found nothing. So, he went to the front of the jail. By this time, it was dark outside and Josiah never knew what hit him. He was knocked out cold onto the floor of the jail by a blow to the head.

Ezra found Judge Travis in with Chris and Vin. "Mr. Travis, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Sure, Ezra. What's wrong?"

"I have a distinct feelin' that something is going to happen to our prisoners in our jail."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, Ms. Ella Gaines confessed that she was going to do what it takes to make sure Mr. Larabee pays for what he's done. She said she's going to get out and she wants to kill Chris."

"What?" Vin said upon awakening. He jumped up at the words. "What the hell are we gonna do, Orin?"

"Calm down, Vin. We don't know for sure how many more guys she's got out there. She might just be bluffing." Travis said. He looked at the gunslinger and knew that he was in no position to fend off more attackers.

"I'm not listenin' anymore, damn it. I knew something like this was gonna happen."

"Vin, please," Chris said, upon awakening. He could hear the conversation, but could not see anyone with the bandages over his eyes. He knew that Ezra was right.

"Cowboy. Thank god," Vin said, he sat down. He held Chris's left hand. "I'm here cowboy.

"Ezra's right. She's got more men, I'm sure," Chris whispered to Vin. "But, someone's got to watch the jail."

"Oh damnation. I was supposed to send someone back there to help Josiah."

Just then, gunshots rang out in the night. "Josiah!" Vin said. He got up, but staggered back as dizziness overcame him. "Ah," he said.

"Vin, lie down," Nathan said, knowing the tracker probably was suffering a concussion from the fall.

"NO! We got to go now b'fore Ella gets out."

"Vin," Chris whispered.

"Yes, pard."

Chris took his hand and pulled off the bandages. He squinted in the light as the lamp hurt his eyes. "Whatever happens out there, just remember I'm here."

"Oh God, Chris. What am I gonna do?"

"Take her out. Do what you have to do before she gets in here. She will stop at nothing to kill me. If she gets in here, she knows how to use a gun. She will make sure that there are no survivors."

"Got it."

Vin, Judge Travis, and Ezra left the boarding house room to find out what was going on.

Ella's men had blown a hole in the back of the jail. She and her men in the jail got out. The young one, Jake, ran away.

"Forget him," Ella said. "He'll be dead by morning anyways," she told the other men. "I want Larabee, now."

"Okay, Ella. Let's go boys," they said. The remaining men fired their way through the oncoming crowd. They recognized the long-haired man, along with his friends. Josiah was knocked out on the floor of the jail, and Ezra found him unconscious. He stayed with the preacher while the others went to detain the escapees.

"ELLA GAINES!" Vin yelled as he approached the men and Ella.

"Right here," she said. She had her gun out.

"I ought to shoot ya right here," Vin said, staggering from the dizziness that still had its hold on him.

"Well, half-breed," Ella said, pointing her gun at him.

"Ain't no breed," Vin retorted.

"I don't care what you are or aren't. You are standing in my way."

"I ain't about to let ya hurt Chris anymore! He don't deserve this, Ella! Why? If you truly loved him, then you wouldn't have hurt him," Vin said, doing his best to keep the woman at bay while someone went inside the boarding house with guns to protect Nathan and Chris.

"I'm not about to let you stop me, Mr. Tanner," she said, pulling the trigger on her gun. The bullet landed in Vin's side and he went down.

"NOW!" Judge Travis said, not waiting for anyone else to get hurt before they killed the woman.

Ella ran inside the boarding house, managing to miss the bullets flying her way. She found her way inside the room holding Chris. Nathan was in front of Chris, guns drawn.

"Hello Ella," Chris said, severely weak and unable to move.

"Oh my dear Chris." Ella said. "Why oh why must you make me do this?"

Chris, unable to move, just lay there. He knew Nathan was no match for the strong woman with his bad leg.

Outside, Judge Travis managed to pick Vin up and he carried him to the newspaper office, where Mary and Billy were hiding. "Mary, clear a place. He's wounded badly." Mary cleared off a table for the injured tracker. She could clearly see he was losing a lot of blood.

"Oh my god Orin. He's bleeding badly."

"Yes, I know. But, I have to get these men before they kill everyone."

"Be careful."

"I will," he said, kissing her on the forehead. He left the building, and found two of Gaines' men hiding behind the boarding house. He shot them both, killing them instantly.

Inside the room, Ella pulled the trigger to her gun, aiming it at the wall next to Nathan. She then made her way to Chris. She lay on top of the injured gunslinger and pressed on his broken ribs.

"AH." he cried. He bit his lower lip to prevent further noises from his lips, knowing it would only cause more pain for him in the long run.

"You were always mine, Chris. No-one can ever have you, if I can't," she said, pointing her gun to his chest.

"NO!" Nathan yelled. "Please, Ella. Don't do it."

"What do you have to say ,slave?" Ella retorted to the healer. "You don't know me."

"I know that you claimed to love Chris."

"Yes, that I did. That was until he betrayed me and almost shot at me. Too bad your friend didn't hit the mark, huh, Chris?" she said, turning her gun onto the gunslinger once more.

"Ella," he said, barely above a whisper.

"Oh why do you make me do this Chris? I loved YOU!" She said, her last word echoing across the room. She aimed the gun at Chris's left side. "I loved you and you betrayed me!" she said as she pulled the trigger. The bullet entered Chris's side and Nathan jumped on the woman as fast as his broken leg would allow.

"Damn you!" Nathan said. He managed to get the gun from her and he hit her on the head with the butt of the gun. She went limp next to the gunslinger.

Vin felt the instantaneous burst of pain in the bond with Chris. "Chris!" he whispered. He opened his eyes to find Mary standing above him. "M-mary. Chris's in trouble!"

"I know, Vin. Ella's in there."

"He's hurt, badly again. She shot him I think."

"How?"

"Don't know. Got to get to 'im fast," Vin said, getting up off the table. He almost fell over from dizziness, but righted his body just in time.

"Vin, you're losing a lot of blood. You need to rest."

"NO! Chris's hurt. He needs m-m' help," Vin said, walking out the door, blood trailing on the floor as he walked out. He managed to make it to the doorway of the boarding house room before he collapsed from blood loss. "Chris." was his last word before falling unconscious.

Nathan saw Vin collapse in the doorway and crawled to the tracker. "Vin.." he whispered. He saw the fresh blood oozing from the gunshot wound. "Mary...help me move him next to Chris," he said to Mary. The two of them pulled the tracker to the gunslinger's side. "Mary..."

"Ella shot him Nate. She shot him then came in here. Did she..."

"Yes, she got one round off into Chris's side. I need you to find Buck. He can help me get the bullets out. We have to act fast, Vin's losing too much blood."

"Okay," she said, leaving Nathan to stem the flow of blood from Tanner's side. He managed to get a part of a blanket covering Larabee and held it in the wound to Vin's side. He pressed hard, trying to stop the bleeding. "Oh Vin," he said.

Mary ran next door to the room Buck told her that he would be in. He was sitting in a chair and napping, Mary woke him. "BUCK!"

"Mary?"

"Nathan needs you now! Chris and Vin both have been shot!"

"God," he said, as they both headed back to the room next door. The sight that met Buck's eyes when he walked in the door was one of utter terror. Chris and Vin were both bleeding from their sides and Nathan was trying his best to stop the flow.

"BUCK! Help me," Nathan said. "We've got to get the bullets out. Vin's lost so much blood. I'm afraid he might be haemorrhaging inside."

"Okay doc," Buck said. He turned to Mary. "Go find as many blankets as you can. Find some bandages as well. Hurry."

"On it," Mary said. She rushed to her office where she held a few blankets in the storage room.

Her son rushed to her after Orin let him go. "MOMMY!"

"Oh Billy," she said, picking him up. "Orin, where was he?"

"He was hiding in the closet. He heard the gunfire and ran. He's okay, Mary."

"That's good because Chris and Vin aren't. They've both been shot," she said, hanging her head. "Are they all dead?" she said, asking of the men that tried to kill the peacekeepers.

"Yes, they are, thank god. Did they get Ella?"

"Yes, her body's still in the room. Nathan's trying to save Vin and Chris from bleeding to death," she said, "I have to go, Orin."

"Okay. Let me keep Billy here."

"Billy, you need to stay with your grandfather for now, okay?"

"Chris?"

"He's hurt, honey."

"Daddy," he whispered.

"He's gonna be okay, you believe that! Now, be a good little boy! I love you!"

"I love you too, mommy."

"I'll be at the boarding house, Orin."

"Be careful, honey."

"I will," she said, and left. She found some bandages left in the newspaper office from when Orin had Vin on the table. She grabbed them and ran back to the boarding house.

"Nathan, here!" she said, giving the blankets and bandages to the healer. Buck grabbed some bandages and the two men applied them to the freshly stitched wounds. "How are they?"

"We got the bullets out okay, but Vin was haemorrhaging. Had to cauterize the wound to stop the blood flow."

"Is he..."

"I don't know, Mary. He's lost so much blood. I'd be surprised if he makes it through the night."

"How's Chris?"

"Not as bad, but the burns are infected on his chest. He's developed a fever."

"Oh no."

"Yeah, it could kill him if we don't watch it," Nathan said. He put some salve onto Chris's burns on the right side of his face and neck, and some onto his arms. "I just pray that Vin makes it, for I don't think Chris will survive if Vin dies."

"He will make it. He has to," Mary said. She sat beside Chris. She helped Nathan put the salve onto the remaining uncovered burns. "Chris. It's Mary. Listen to me, you're gonna be okay. You can fight this," she said, whispering to the man she loved. She sighed as they finished cleaning up the injured men. Buck pulled Ella Gaines' body out of the room, outside to the pile of bodies in the middle of the street.

"Buck!" cried JD.

"Hey kid," Buck said, in defeat. "Here's that damned woman's body. Let's burn 'em all."

"Buck? H-how are Chris and Vin?"

"Not good kid. Both been shot."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes. They're both alive, for now. Vin lost a lot of blood and Nathan doesn't know if he's gonna make it."

"Dear god. Why did this have to happen?"

"Dunno son. Wish I could tell ya." Buck drug the Gaines' body to the pile of bodies in the street. "Burn in hell witch!" he yelled. Buck started the bodies on fire and was quite pleased that that damned woman was no longer alive to hurt his friends. Buck let the fire burn out and he and JD went to the boarding house.

All was deathly quiet in the town of Four Corners as the day turned into night. The peacekeepers were all huddled inside the boarding house, sitting next to the door of the room of their fallen compadres. JD and Buck sat down next to Ezra and Josiah, who was still recovering from the blow to the head.

"How are they Ez?" Buck asked.

"Don't know, Mr. Wilmington. The door has been shut since Buck took Ella Gaines' body out of there."

"I think Nathan's trying to keep a quiet atmosphere, Buck." Josiah said. "Both Vin and Chris were shot by that blasted woman."

"Damn it!"

"Calm down Buck. Gettin' all pissy and hot under the collar ain't gonna do the boys any good. They need us all right now in a healthy frame of mind, not half-cocked," JD said. He knew the ladies' man just needed reassurance that their friends were going to be okay, but no-one was in the position to know at that current moment. At that statement, the door opened and Mary came out. "Boys."

"Mary..." they all said in unison.

"Not right now, okay?" she said, her eyes all red from crying. "Nathan's trying to keep them alive, please don't disturb him."

"But.." Buck started.

"No buts, Buck," JD said. "Listen to her."

Buck was silent after that. He just looked at the door as Mary closed it. "I need one of you to help me pull the dirty blankets out from under them."

"I'll do it," Buck said, being the only one who really had any kind of upper arm strength. "JD, watch over Josiah, make sure he don't fall over."

"Okay, Buck," JD said. He moved to sit next to Ez and Josiah.

Buck went with Mary to find more blankets to lay the injured men on. "So, how are they really, Mary?"

"Vin's within inches of losing his life, Buck. Nate says he lost nearly two pints of blood, which is too much in his current condition. That fall gave him a nasty concussion too. The burns on his arms are another concern. They're getting infected." She stopped, tears welling once again in her eyes. "As for Chris, the bullet wound is closed, that's the least of his worries. The burns on his chest are infected. He's got a high fever, but Nate says he's gonna be okay. As long as we can keep the fever down, and the burns infection-free, he'll be okay."

"Damn."

"Yes. Damn that woman to hell for what she's done to them."

"She'll be there, believe me," Buck said.

The two managed to get some blankets from the general store and one of the owners gave them some food for the rest of the men as well. "Thank you." was all Buck could manage before he left the store, tears stinging his eyes. They headed back to the room gave the men their food, and went inside, shutting the door behind them. Buck took one look at the pool of blood under Vin's side and nearly vomited. "Holy Jesus." he whispered.

Together, Nathan, Buck, and Mary pulled the dirty blanket from under Vin first. They replaced it with a clean one. They did the same to Chris. "Buck..." Nathan started. Unsure of how to continue, he spilled it. "Vin may not pull through this. He's lost two pints of blood, and that's a lot for someone in his condition, with the fall and the burns to boot. If Vin dies, we may lose Chris too. I want you to prepare everyone in case it happens."

"But Nate, you don't expect it to happen right?"

"Buck, right now, I am not expecting anything. We could use nothing less than a miracle right now."

Buck sighed. The weight of his friend's injuries was taking its toll on the ladies' man. "Jesus."

Mary sat beside Chris, holding his left hand, watching the ever-so-slow rise and fall of his chest. She let her tears fall. "Nathan, I need to get Billy."

"No, Mary. I do not want that boy to see Chris and Vin this way."

"Damn it, Chris is like a father to him. He deserves to see him. Maybe it will help pull them through the night."

"Mary, it's not a good idea," Buck said. "That boy's been traumatized enough, don't you think?"

"Yes, but he thinks of Chris as his father now. He needs to be able to see him," Nathan spoke quietly. "For a few minutes only, Mary. I need to tend to m'needs, I will be back shortly. Buck, will you help me?"

"Sure Nate," Buck said, helping the healer out of the room. He half carried the man to the outhouse and let Nathan do his deed. Once done, Nathan and Buck made their way back to the room. Outside the door sat JD, Ezra, and Josiah.

"Nathan." JD started. "How are they?"

"Alive, JD," Nathan said, and continued back into the room. They shut the door.

Mary left once they settled back down in the room and went to get Billy. Nathan and Buck knew it was not a good idea for the boy, but maybe Mary was right, maybe it would help keep the men alive through the night. She found her son with Orin back in the newspaper office, in the back where Mary kept extra beds. "Billy." she called, knowing her son was asleep, put to bed by her father-in-law.

"Mary," came Orin's voice.

"Orin."

"Any news?"

"No. They're still alive, that's all we can say right now. I'm taking Billy to see Chris."

"That's not such a great idea."

"He needs to see him. Chris is like a father now."

"Okay, but just don't be too long."

"I won't."

She took her son back to the room holding Chris and Vin. She went in, this time leaving the door open. "Now, Billy, I want you to be quiet, okay? Chris and Vin are hurt bad."

"Okay," was all he said. He sat beside Chris, and held the gunslinger's hand in his own two little ones. Tears formed in his little eyes. "Daddy hurt."

"Yes, son. Chris is hurt. But, he will get better soon," Nathan said.

From outside the room, the rest of the seven could hear Nathan and Mary try to explain to the boy about Chris and Vin's conditions. Buck could only blink back tears at the thought of them possibly losing their two best friends.

"Buck?" JD asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin' kid. Just hate to hear those words comin' from Nathan's mouth while he's tryin' to talk to that little boy. Billy don' need to be seein' Chris this way."

"But Buck, you heard Mary. Billy considers Chris to be his father now," JD said.

"I know kid, but it still ain't right. That boy's suffered enough."

"Buck, leave it be," Josiah said. "Nathan's doin' what he thinks will keep our boys here with us. If that boy keeps Chris here, then so be it. Chris loves that boy just as much as the boy loves Chris, you should know that by now."

"Ah hell J'siah," Buck said. They calmly talked to each other, trying to keep their minds off of their fallen friends.

Mary, Nathan, and Billy stayed in the room through the remainder of the night keeping a vigil on the injured men.

When morning arrived, Nathan was pleased to see that Vin and Chris were still alive. Billy was curled up next to Chris's left side, and Mary was asleep next to Vin.

Nathan did not disturb them and went outside the room. Everyone was asleep when he opened the door to the room, so he just stepped out for a minute to do his duty and returned. When he got back, everyone was awake. "Nate? How are they?" Buck said.

"They're alive, Buck, that's all I know right now. I haven't had a chance to really examine them that much."

"Nathan?" came Mary's voice from the room. She got up, noticing Nathan wasn't in the room. She stepped outside the room, and saw everyone was up. "Nathan?"

"Right here."

"How are they?"

"Let's find out." so the two of them went into the room to check on their patients. When they went back in, Chris was awake. The pained look on his face told everything.

"Chris!" Mary exclaimed in excitement as she sat beside the gunslinger, holding his left hand to reassure him.

"M-mary," he whispered. He looked around the room, then found Nathan's face. "V-vin?" he inquired.

"Chris...Vin's right beside you," Nathan said, avoiding eye contact with the gunslinger.

"What happened?"

"Ella got a round into his side. He lost quite a bit of blood, but he should be okay."

"Oh no. Is she..."

"Dead, yes. Thank the Lord someone did the right thing."

"Who?"

"I killed her, Chris. She would have killed us both," Nathan said. He bent down, mindful of his leg and examined Chris. "How do you feel?"

"I hurt. Feel like I've been hit by a train. How's Vin?"

"Well, he should be okay, given time to recover. The blood loss is my major concern."

"Vin?" Chris asked, looking towards his friend. He pulled his good hand from Mary's grip, and clasped his friend's hand. He hissed as he felt how cold Vin was. He shifted his body to be able to see his friend in a better view. The pale face of the tracker startled Chris. "He's so pale."

"Yeah, he will be. He lost two pints of blood. That's a lot."

"Damn it," Chris said. "He should have known better than to try to go after her alone!"

Vin stirred, and Chris felt it. He silenced himself, not wanting to disturb the tracker at all. But, it was too late. The man Chris called his brother was slowly awakening. Chris squeezed his hand in Vin's. Vin managed a weak reply.

"Hey pard." Chris whispered. He looked at the tracker, waiting for him to open his eyes and look at him. Vin opened his baby blues and stared at the ceiling.

"Cowboy?" he asked.

Again squeezing his hand, Chris spoke. "Vin, I'm right beside you pard," Chris said, turning his own head so the tracker could see him.

Vin turned his head slightly and saw the pale face of Chris laying beside him. "Chris. You're okay."

"Weeelll, I wouldn't say okay," Nathan spoke up. He sat by Vin in his line of sight.

"What?" Vin asked.

"Ella shot us both pard," Chris said.

"Ah hell," Vin said, trying to sit up, but only pushed back by Nathan.

"No, you don't Vin. You are not going anywhere right now."

"But.."

"No buts, Vin. You are in no shape to be goin' anywhere," Nathan said.

"Ella.," Vin said.

"Dead. As are all of her men. We had one hell of a fight last night."

"Thank god," Vin said. He looked at Chris, then at Billy. "How's Billy doin' with all o'this?"

"He's doing fairly well, considering," Mary said. "He hasn't moved from Chris's side since we got here last night."

"Do you think it's such a wise idea fer 'im to see Chris like that?"

"It's okay Vin," Chris said. "He'll be okay."

"Alright," Vin said. He sighed, and closed his eyes. His side ached like hell and he felt lightheaded. "Nate?"

"You gettin' sick Vin?" Nathan asked.

"Yep. Feel dizzy."

"Just lay still, it should pass."

"Damn," Vin said. He was unable to keep the contents of his stomach from boiling to the surface, and he vomited.

"Vin?" came Chris's concerned voice.

"S'all right cowboy. Just a' upset stomach," Vin said, hoping to reassure the blond lying next to him.

"Are you sure?" Chris asked, the concern still in his tired voice.

"Sure," Vin said, falling back asleep after Nathan cleaned up the vomit.

"Nate?" Chris asked.

"He'll be okay. That dizziness is probably from a concussion he might have sustained from that fall."

"God, I sure hope so," Chris said. He hissed as the bandages covering his burns shifted, causing the pain to go sky high. "Damn it."

"Chris?" Nathan asked. "You okay?"

"Ya, just these damn burns hurtin' is all."

"Chris?" Mary said.

"Mm..," he said, as he was falling asleep.

She bent down to whisper in his ear, "I love you." He opened his eyes and looked into hers. The pain in his eyes when he looked at her made her want to cry. "Oh Chris."

"M-mary."

"I think I'll step out Mary," Nathan said, and he left the room to give the pair some time alone. He went outside and sat beside Buck.

"Nathan?"

"Giving Mary and Chris some time alone. They need to work things out."

"Ah shit," Buck said, knowing Chris was thinking about his lost family again. "Damn that Gaines woman. She nearly took Chris from me when she had his family killed, Nathan."

"I know, Buck."

"I almost didn't get him back from his destructive behavior."

"He's a different man now though, Buck," JD said. "He's a better man."

"JD, sometimes things just don't go away for a person. Chris's had his fair share of bad shit that has happened to him. I just can't see him gettin' on with Mary quite yet. He's still dealin' with what that damned Gaines woman did to him."

"But, he's gonna be okay," Josiah piped in. "He's a fighter, Buck."

"I know it J'siah. But, I just hope that he can deal with all o'this."

"He will," Nathan said. "He will."

Back in the room, Chris and Mary were trying to find a place to start talking. "M-mary," Chris said again. He couldn't look her in the eyes anymore. He knew what she was thinking, but he didn't want to face her.

"Chris, it's okay. I know what you must be feeling right now. God, I love you with all that I am, and I don't want to lose you now, Chris. You do understand how much Billy loves you, don't you? God, we know how much you've lost, Chris. We know and we understand."

He looked at her, then at the boy sleeping beside him. "Yes, I do. I just..." Chris stopped, too choked up to continue. The thought of gaining another family scared him to death. "I just.." he couldn't talk any longer. The pain in his heart ate at him. "She took everything from me. Sarah and Adam were all that I lived for. When they were taken from me, it nearly killed me. I didn't think I could go on without them," he said.

She looked into the green orbs that held so much pain. "Chris...I nearly died when I thought that you had been killed in the clinic fire. I.." she paused. "I need you in my life. I want you in my life, and in Billy's life."

"Mary...I just don't know if I'm ready to do that yet. I need some time to deal with this shit." He moved his good arm over his body, indicating the broken legs, the burns and he pointed at Vin. "Vin needs me right now too. He's been hurt because of me."

"Don' needin' to be worryin' 'bout me," Vin said, waking up to Chris's strained voice. He looked into Larabee's eyes. "It ain't yer fault, cowboy. I's tryin' to keep her from gettin' in here. Too bad I failed at that."

"Vin," Chris said. He turned his head to get a better look at the tracker's face. "How you feelin'?"

"I's been better. But, you don' need to be worryin' 'bout me, like I said. You got more important things to worry 'bout, like the boy layin' next to ya."

"I'm sorry I got you involved in this, Vin. I never meant for anyone else to get hurt, especially not you."

"Chris, sometimes things happen fer a reason. I think this' one of those times. This shit has brought all of us closer, am I wrong?"

"No."

"Alright then. You jest concentrate on gettin' better, an' gettin' on with yer life, Chris. You deserve so much better than what ya was dealin' yerself. I know ya's my brother, an' I care 'bout ya. Is why I say these things. Don't let Mary an' Billy slip away, cowboy. They need ya as much as ya need them," Vin said, the pain in his side giving him fits, but he needed to let Chris know just how much he was loved. The gunslinger had had enough pain in his life to last two men a lifetime, and it was time he got on with his life.

"Thanks, Vin."

"Your welcome, cowboy."

"Thank you, Vin," Mary said. She held his hand and Chris's hand in her own hands. She only hoped that with time, Chris would come through with his healing process and they would eventually become a family. She could only imagine what life would be like with the gunslinger she had fallen in love with.

THE END