Right Place At The Right Time
(Old West)

The pain was a flare; it started in his lower left side and worked its way up and across his chest and shoulders. By the time he had managed to climb up on his horse he was reeling and feeling faint, yet he knew that to pass out now would be his death.

With a click of his tongue on teeth and a gentle squeeze of his knees, he started the horse forward. Its slow pace, swaying from side to side, nearly pitched him off again. He had quite a few miles to travel into town and he only hoped that he could manage it.

He let his head fall back, allowing the sun the soak onto his face. He knew that he really ought to keep his attention on just staying on the horse, but the urge to sleep was an almost overpowering emotion. He swallowed hard and licked at dry lips. He hated it when his days were ruined by the sound of a bullet going into the breech of a rifle. He was lucky that the silence of the surrounding area allowed him to hear the sound, which had caused him to dive down and to the side. He had managed to save his life at that moment, but had not managed to totally escape harm.

He didn't know why the lone gunman had wanted him dead, but the not so silent killer had paid the ultimate price for missing. Vin's aim had been instinctive and true, and the man had slid down the small incline to land as a corpse in the still water that the bounty hunter had been drinking from.

With a jerk he pulled himself back upright. He had slowly begun slipping sideways and gasped as pain again flared from his injured side. He felt the world tilt again and knew that he was in serious trouble. He squinted into the distance and saw a distant rider, slowly coming towards him. Vin tilted his head and tried to check out his own position. He was in the open and cover was scarce. He could see a rocky outcrop and knew from memory that there was a cave up there that he had used on occasion. He also knew that he would not be able to reach it now, in his present condition, without the rider seeing him. If the approaching rider was hostile, then he was dead.

Knowing that there was little he could do, he decided that continuing his forward momentum was the only option open to him. He would waste precious energy trying to get to safer ground, and if the rider was an enemy then he could easily follow Tanner and finish the job the other had started.

As the other horse drew closer, Vin slowly reached down and rested his hand upon his weapon. Drawing it slowly from its resting place, he laid it casually across his legs. It was a comforting weight.

"Hey Vin?" came a voice that the bounty hunter knew. He squinted again, leaning forward on his horse as he did so. This sent a raw flash of agony though his body and he felt himself dip to one side. He was not able to prevent himself from falling from his horse. The torment grew to unbearable proportions as he hit the hard earth and consciousness fled under the onslaught of agony.

***

JD was enjoying his ride. The open range was spread out before him, the sun was high but with a gentle breeze to take the edge off the heat, and he planned on delivering the message about the captured cattle rustlers to the Henderson Ranch and be back in town before night fall. He might even get time to stop off at the small watering hole that was used as a swimming lake.

He had been pleasantly surprised to see Vin Tanner heading towards him, the slow plod of the other's horse telling him that the bounty hunter was in no hurry and might even be persuaded to turn his mount about and accompany him on his journey and planned swim that afternoon.

JD quite liked Vin - out of the other six men, Vin was the only one who didn't act as if JD was still a wet behind the ears kid. The bounty hunter allowed the youngest member of the seven to make his own mistakes, but had always been there to support JD when he found himself in trouble.

The nearer JD got to Vin the more his concern grew, there was something not quite right about the way the bounty hunter sat his horse, and he was swaying too much to the side almost as if.... "Hey Vin," JD called out when he was close enough, and then watched in horror as the other man groaned loud enough for him to hear and slid from the saddle to land hard upon the earth.

"Vin.... VIN!" JD cried as he raced his horse towards his fallen comrade, sliding from his own horse even before the mount had stopped. He stumbled a few steps and then fell to his knees beside the obviously injured man. As he gently tugged the bounty hunter over he gasped out loud at the sight of his bloodied front. "Damn Vin... what the hell happened to you?" JD asked, not really expecting an answer and not surprised when he didn't get one.

Hearing a noise behind him, he jumped up and managed to catch up with the two loose horses and secured their reins to the ground via a fairly large rock. JD knew enough to know that if he lost the horses then they might both be dead. Once that was done he moved back to Vin and began to carefully check his friend over. Seeing the bloodsoaked cloth folded under the rawhide strip, he gently removed it and inspected the dark, angry-looking wound. Even as he watched, more blood oozed up out of the small hole.

"JD...." Vin gasped, slowly climbing back up to consciousness. He squinted up at his friend and saw the pale worried features and knew that the youngster was close to shock. "JD..." he gasped again, drawing the boy's attention away from his wound. "Got to... stop... the bleeding...."

"Bleeding," JD repeated, his glance moving back to the wound. He took a deep breath and nodded, understanding what was being asked of him. "Stop the bleeding," he stated again, jumping up and moving towards his horse. He had packed a towel for his afternoon swim and quickly gathered it, tearing it into sections and strips. He knelt back beside his friend and gently laid a piece of the towel over the wound.

"Press..." Vin insisted, "Press harder... need to stop... the bleeding... tie it tight..."

JD licked at dry lips and did as asked, wincing as Vin cried out before fainting from the torture. The younger man felt bile rise and swallowed hard. He felt every moment of pain and, biting his lip, he wished that he could take the agony away. After several minutes where JD finished securing the makeshift bandage, Vin started to revive and gasped for water. JD lifted Tanner's head and allowed him to sip from the canteen that he had retrieved. The injured man swallowed deeply, knowing that he needed the fluid.

Vin was panting; it was a shallow, gasping sound as he fought to overcome the pain. He had to think clearly. He now knew that he was not going to be able to make it back to Four Corners. The bullet was still in there, and he had to get it out. Tilting his head, he looked over towards the rocky outcrop and a plan slowly began to form in his befuddled mind. If JD could get him to the cave, help him remove the bullet and cauterise the wound, then Vin could wait in the cave while the younger man rode back into town for help.

"JD..." Tanner began, reaching up a shaking hand and weakly grasping at the arm nearest him. "Help me up... we need to get to shelter..."

"Shelter..." JD said, looking about, uncertainty filling his features as he looked at the wide-open space that surrounded them.

"Cave..." Vin panted, every word and breath costing him strength. "Up in that rocky outcrop... large enough... won't survive... in sun."

JD glanced over to the rocks that Vin was talking about. He bit his lip again, then looked back at Vin - the man was barely conscious, his head moving from side to side as if to deny his weakness. JD saw this action and realised that he was the one in charge. Tanner was in no condition and it was up to the young sheriff to save his friend - getting the injured man out of the sun and to the shelter of the cave seemed like a good idea. With that in mind, he moved Vin's horse closer and after much struggling, in which the bounty hunter tried to help, he managed to get Vin up on his horse. The animal acted as if it knew that it was important to remain still. JD knew that Tanner was in no condition to ride on his own, so he kept a hand on Vin's leg to ensure that he stayed on the horse. He quickly attached his own horse behind and then swung as carefully as he could onto the bounty hunter's horse. Moving up behind Tanner, he allowed Vin to rest back against him. Slowly he turned the horse and made his way towards the rocks.

It did not take too long to reach the cave, and thankfully it was not too difficult a path for the horses to walk. JD was off the horse and supporting Vin's weight as the other man slipped from the saddle. The younger man staggered under the weight, but managed to half-carry the other man into the shelter. It was a lot cooler inside the cave and JD carefully settled Vin down, leaning against the rock wall just inside the entrance, then he went to get their equipment from the horses.

Soon Vin was lying on the blanket-covered earth with the younger man's blanket covering him. Seeing Tanner starting to shake from the cold, JD gathered the makings of a fire and was attempting to light it a short distance from the injured man. "Nearer... the entrance," Vin said, squinting at the other man as he tried to strike a match that was fighting against it.

"What?" JD questioned, looking over at his friend, surprised and pleased to see him awake.

"Set the fire... near the entrance so that... the smoke has a way... to escape, otherwise... this place will fill with smoke...." JD did as asked and soon had a fire blazing brightly. Vin lay and watched the other man as he shuffled about the cave, talking the entire time, telling Tanner exactly what he was doing, so it was no surprise when JD disappeared outside to take care of the horses. He returned in record time, carrying first one saddle and then the other. Then he moved to squat beside his friend. Holding out the water canteen, he again assisted his friend to swallow the warm liquid.

Once Vin was resting back against the saddle that raised his head just enough to allow for some comfort, JD asked, "How do you feel?" As he spoke, JD reached out and gently rested a hand on Vin's forehead. It was hot. The bounty hunter allowed the touch and smiled weakly up into the concerned face. Tanner knew that what he was going to ask the boy to do was hard, and he wanted JD to understand that he trusted him.

"Not so good," Tanner answered honestly, before he continued, "JD... I'm sorry... but... the bullet needs... it needs to come out."

"Come out?" the younger man repeated as if Vin had spoken in a foreign language, his face going slack with shock as the implications of Tanner's words suddenly hit him. "I could ride to town and get Nathan..." he began in a panicky voice, starting up. His reaction was halted by Vin's hand on his arm - it was surprisingly strong, considering his present state.

"JD... this can't wait... I..." Vin paused and swallowed against the pain. "You need to remove it..."

"I... I don't think I can," stammered the younger man, honestly. "I mean... I've never... I...." He started to breathe heavily as the shock of what was being asked of him started to sink in.

Tanner, seeing the fear on the other man's face, gently but firmly squeezed the arm under his hand, saying, "JD, I know... that you can do this... I will talk you through...." He paused, gasping for breath, the words having used up his little remaining strength. He knew that he had to get JD to agree to remove the bullet, it was his only chance. "If you don't... then I will die."

"Die?" JD gasped, his eyes growing even larger than before. Vin was mildly surprised that JD had not actually realised this before, but then the boy's innocence had blinded him to this. "But I can ride to town... get Nathan..." the youth argued. "We can be back before night fall."

"JD.... JD..." Vin felt dizzy, the youngster's face kept blurring in front of him and he knew that if he was going to be fit enough to help JD, then the lad had to remove the bullet soon. "This can't wait... it needs to come out NOW." He slumped back, his energy spent; he had done all he could, now it was up to the other man.

The sheriff of Four Corners looked at his injured friend and knew that he had no choice. He trusted Vin's opinion, and if the bounty hunter believed that he would die unless JD removed the bullet then the young man knew that he had to remove the bullet. And no matter how unpleasant it was for him, it was going to be a lot harder and more painful for his friend. He took a few steadying breaths and, nodding slowly, said with conviction, "All right Vin, what do you want me to do?"

The man in question also let out his breath before he began, slightly breathlessly, "You need to get my knife and heat it up... make sure it's red hot... then allow it to cool... then using the tip... you need to work the blade... under the bullet and ease it out." Vin stopped, waiting a few seconds before he added, "Knife... in my saddle bag... get it."

"Is that all?" JD asked, feebly attempting humour that was lost by the tone that was shaking with the knowledge of what he was expected to do to his friend. "Isn't that going to hurt?" he finally asked as he turned about and began to dig through Vin's equipment, looking for the knife in question.

"Not getting it out... will hurt in... a more... permanent way," gasped Vin, watching JD as he held the knife over the fire. Soon it began to blush red and JD removed it from the flames and held it up, allowing the hot metal to cool. Then he carefully laid the knife down, making sure that the tip was off the ground as he remembered a conversation with Nathan once, about how dirty knives and saws had killed more men during the Civil War than a major battle had.

He carefully helped remove Vin's upper clothes and the rough bandage. "Now..." Tanner gasped, peering down at his own injury, "get a... a couple of bullets out of my pack...." He watched while JD did as asked. Seeing the younger man look at the cartridges with some confusion Vin went on, "I have some tools in there... yes, that's it... now open the top of the bullet... so that the black power is exposed." Again he watched while JD did as asked. "Keep it somewhere handy... once you've removed the bullet... sprinkle the powder... into the wound... then light it."

"Light it!" JD gasped, his glance shooting up to fix upon Vin's bright eyes.

The trapper nodded and confirmed, "Yes, light it... it will help seal the wound... stop the bleeding..."

JD fought against the bile that threatened to rise. He was not sure that he could hurt his friend in that manner. Then, seeing the pale, pain-filled expression of the injured man, he knew that Vin would not be instructing him to do that if there were another way to save his life.

"All right," he finally agreed, placing the equipment he would need by his feet and concentrating on the task at hand. Finally he had a couple of the bullets open and, after checking that he had everything in position, he moved back to Vin's saddle bag and removed a bottle of whisky that he had seen there. Moving over, he opened it up and laid the edge of the bottle to Vin's lips. "Drink," JD commanded firmly. Seeing the look that Vin gave him, he offered, "When one of the grooms broke his leg, they gave him whisky to dull the pain before they set it...." He paused and urged the open bottle to the pale lips, stating, "If you don't drink, I'm not sure I can do this... not when it will cause you so much pain."

Vin looked deep into the young man eyes and saw the truth shining there. JD's eyes were wide with fear, his lips almost trembling at the thought of what he was going to have to do, sweat standing out on his brow as if it were he who had the fever. "All right," Vin finally murmured, before gratefully swallowing the strong liquor. It burned a pathway down to his gut and he forced back the urge to cough, knowing that it would only cause more pain. The bottle gently touched his mouth once more and he swallowed again. When the whisky was finally removed, Vin could feel the balmy effects of the alcohol as it began to course about his system and he gave JD a warm, encouraging smile.

JD smiled back, but it was a bit wavering. Then, pulling himself together, JD picked up the knife and began to carefully explore the area where the bullet had entered his friend. It was several long, agonising minutes before he had the blood-smeared bullet in his shaking hand. He glanced up at Vin and saw that the other man was clenching his teeth tightly together, fighting not to move or cry out. JD wanted to cry out for him, such was the expression of torment on his face.

With a shaking hand, JD picked up one of the opened bullets and sprinkled a small amount of the black powder over the wound. He hissed when he saw that the fresh-flowing blood was washing it away. He picked up the second bullet and quickly upended the entire contents over the wound, then he leaned back and grabbed a lighted stick and jabbed it at the wound. There was a sudden blinding flare, accompanied by an unholy screech of agony. Tanner's body jerked up off the blanket before he slumped back, unconscious.

JD stayed long enough to check that the torment he had caused had worked and that the wound had stopped bleeding. Swiftly he pressed a clean cloth to it and secured it as best he could with shaking hands. Rising, he stumbled in his haste to get out of the cave. A short distance away, his knees gave way and he threw up his stomach's contents. He was shaking so badly that he only managed to stagger to the cave entrance before he again slipped to his knees and cried. Drawing his knees up and resting his weary head upon them, he wept bitter tears that shook his whole body... he had not wept like this since the night his mother died.

Time passed slowly and finally JD managed to pull himself together enough to go in and check on his friend. Vin was still lying as he had left him, his face too pale. Looking down at the sleeping man, JD prayed that the pain he had caused had not been in vain.

Moving about, he picked up the knife and bloodied bandages. The knife he carefully cleaned and placed back into Tanner's saddlebag, the useless bandages he buried outside the cave. That done, he tended the fire and spent the next few hours watching over his friend.

***

Vin slowly climbed to consciousness. Blinking, he wondered how he had managed to get kicked in the middle by a mule, and then if he was in Nathan's small room. Slowly opening his eyes, he waited until they settled from the fading in and out that annoyed him. Once it had stopped, he could just make out the rocky ceiling of a cave. Even as this thought slipped into his mind, so did the memory of what had happened.

He tilted his head slightly and saw JD sitting behind him. The boy looked exhausted, worn and aged, his face as pale as Vin knew his own face to be. He could see that the youngster was holding a cloth loosely in one hand and a closed canteen lay by his feet. Vin realised that JD had been trying to cool his fever with the water and dirty rag. Tanner felt warmth for the lad rise within his chest as he saw that it looked like the young man had fallen asleep during this task, exhaustion overtaking him.

Glancing towards the entrance of the cave, he could see that the fire was still burning but it was very low and would soon need some more wood. He saw a stack of twigs and kindling near it and knew that JD had been busy since he had passed out.

Suddenly JD started awake, coming up from the deep sleep with a jerk and a pain-filled cry of "VIN!" He stopped, gasping in breaths before he turned and saw the man in question's eyes on him. "Vin?" he repeated, this time moving closer and peering into the injured man's flushed face.

"How long?" Vin asked, surprised as how raspy his voice sounded. JD immediately opened the canteen and assisted the injured man to swallow the water. After several long sips, Vin lay back exhausted on the make-shift bed. "How long?" he questioned again.

"Several hours..." JD answered, looking towards the entrance of the cave. "I think it's early morning now." He paused, then noticing the fire, he stepped over and placed a few twigs and a piece of kindling on the dying embers. Soon it was blazing brightly, casting eerie shadows about the cave walls. When he turned back, he enquired, "How do you feel?"

Vin considered the question honestly before he answered, "Not too bad, considering... slightly hot... dull pain in my side... but not much worse than when I got kicked by a mule.... I don't think I have an infection..."

JD nodded, pleased with the answer, then started up again as another thought came to mind and he twisted back across the other side of the fire and produced a small, cooked rabbit. "Got lucky with a shot earlier on," he said, bringing the freshly cooked meat over to Vin.

The bounty hunter looked at the food and began to slowly shake his head, then seeing the intense look that JD was giving him, he knew that it would only worry the lad if he didn't eat. He forced a smile to his lips and slowly took the offered meat, asking, "Have you eaten?" He looked up when JD didn't answer right away.

"Sure..." the boy said, not quite meeting the other man's eyes. He didn't want to tell Vin that he'd been unable to eat, as just the mere thought of food after what he had done still turned his stomach, and anyway he'd only been able to kill one of the rabbits. "I, er... caught two," he lied. Vin frowned, but didn't question his statement. If JD said that he'd eaten, then the injured man would believe him - it was as simple as that.

They sat in silence for several minutes as Vin carefully ate the rabbit. He was surprised to discover that once he started on the tender meat, he was quite hungry and had soon finished it off. After that he drank some more of the water and drifted off to sleep again, without even realising that his eyes had closed.

JD sat for several minutes watching his sleeping friend, then standing, he made his way outside to check on the horses. He knew that, with any luck, the others would be out looking for them come morning, because - while it might not be unusual for Vin to spend the night outside of town - JD had arranged to meet Buck and Ezra in the saloon for a poker game. He smiled warmly at that thought. It was really more of a poker lesson than a game, as the handsome gambler had decided that JD needed to be taught the art of gambling - explaining in words that JD could hardly understand that the only reason he was doing it was so that JD would never be fleeced by anyone during a game. Buck insisted on sitting in on it, at first because he did not trust the gambler not to take advantage of the younger man. Later, it was to supply his own not-so-small amount of knowledge of the game, and the two of them usually ended up with a friendly argument over the rights and wrongs of gambling, and how easy it was to make a living at it. JD really enjoyed those times, as the normally unreachable Ezra seemed much more approachable and willing to talk about his past and the experiences he'd had in the gaming houses and saloons from St. Louis to the furthest reaches of the Western plains. JD sighed again, his mind coming back to the start of his thoughts. Buck had known where he was headed that afternoon and of his intention to take some time out at the swimming lake, so at least the others would have a direction with which to start their search in the morning.

The horses were quiet, and JD moved to look out over the plain that reached out below him. In the bright moonlight it looked almost unearthly and he realised once again why he had come to love this place. A groan from inside the cave drew him quickly inside, and he crouched by Vin to feel the other's forehead. It was still too warm to his gentle fingers. Settling back into the cramped position he'd had before, he opened the canteen and spilt some water onto the cloth and began to bathe his friend's face again. He licked at his dry lips and swallowed hard. He had not allowed himself a drop of water since discovering the bounty hunter, as he knew that with only the two canteens between them, the injured man was going need all the water they had.

***

Night slowly passed and the next time Vin awoke there was bright sunlight streaming into the cave. He looked around for JD, but he was in the cave alone. He started up in sudden fear for his younger friend, but the pain from his middle prevented him from rising fully and he collapsed back onto the ground, writhing in agony as he did so. This was how JD found Vin when he entered the cave a few moments later. Without a thought he threw down the twigs that he had been collecting and rushed over to his friend's side.

"Vin...! Vin! Are you all right?" he called, desperately trying to prevent his friend from moving too much and opening his wound.

The bounty hunter held out a hand and gripped the other man's hand, still riding out the pain. Finally he nodded his head, tears surfacing within his eyes but never flowing. "I'm fine," he gasped painfully. "I just tried to... move too fast... not really up... to it... wondered where you were?" he finished, the words a question as the pain lessened and he could look up at his young friend. He did a double take when he saw the whiteness of JD's features, and the slight uncontrolled shake in the other's body. "Are you all right?" he demanded suddenly, not liking what he was seeing.

JD impatiently waved off the other man's concerns, explaining, "I didn't get a lot of sleep last night... but I'm feeling fine.... I was, er... just off looking for some more firewood..." He indicated the wood that he had tossed aside on entering the cave. Then, seeing that Vin had slumped back, his strength totally gone, JD lifted the canteen and helped him drink, saying as he did so, "I'm also keeping a lookout for Chris or one of the others. I figure they will be out looking by now." He smiled and added, "Or at least Buck will be... you know how he's always fussing about the fact that I ain't...." He stopped and looked away from Tanner. He didn't need to explain Wilmington's behaviour; all in town knew about the gunslinger's younger brother complex that he had for the youngest member of the seven. "Well, you know how Buck is," JD finally finished lamely, very conscious of his young age in the eyes of the other men.

Vin, as usual, saw more than was being offered and stated, "Well, once he sees just how well you've looked after me, he's going to have to change his view somewhat."

JD looked up, startled, and then broke into a genuine wide smile. "I guess I did all right, at that," he commented shyly.

The bounty hunter broke into a wide grin of his own and agreed warmly, "You did do a good job... and JD," he continued, wanting to put his feelings into words but suddenly discovering that he didn't have a lot of experience with what he wanted to say. He tried anyway, "it isn't just any man who could have done what you did... to hurt a friend, even if it's for his own good, takes more courage than to face an angry mountain lion."

JD, as if sensing that Vin was revealing more than he liked, swallowed hard and, standing, he changed the subject by saying, "I guess I'd better get that fire built up again; the smoke should attract some attention, if they pass this way."

"Yeah..." Vin said, watching as JD moved over towards the fire. He frowned again when he noticed the way that the other man seemed to waver. "JD?" he asked, drawing the youngster's attention back to him. "Are you sure you're all right?"

JD straightened and smiled warmly. His face was dirty and desperately in need of a shave, but it brightened as he stated firmly, "Hell, Vin, you're starting to sound as bad as Buck.... I said I was fine and I am, now you just concentrate on getting some more sleep, 'cause the trip back to town is really going to tire you out... once the others arrive."

Vin gave JD a long, hard look before he settled back. He knew that, while JD was smiling, he was not impressed to keep having his words questioned. "Okay JD," he finally agreed, helplessly feeling a wave of exhaustion sweep over him.

The young sheriff, seeing his friend slip toward sleep, smiled gently and said, "Why don't you try to sleep some more; I'll get this fire built up and go keep a lookout outside."

Vin hazily nodded in agreement as he settled down, listening to JD as he moved quietly about the cave. While he was tired, he felt all slept-out so he just lay there, letting life pass him by, not quite asleep and yet not totally awake. As he lay, his mind drifted back to the day before and the man who had attacked him. He began to worry that the attack might have been from another bounty hunter after him for the price on his head. If that was the case, then he would have to give some serious thought about moving on - these incidents were coming too often, and the next time one of his friends could step into the path of a bullet meant for him. With this thought in mind, he drifted through the morning. He was startled awake by JD appearing in the entrance, shouting excitedly, "There's four riders coming this way.... I can't be totally sure, but I think it's Chris and the others.... I mean, the one in front is dressed all in black... with a flat hat... just like Chris..." He began to throw more brush on the fire and a heavy smoke began to billow from the cave. Some of it drifted back towards Vin and he coughed as it caught in his throat. JD was by his side instantly, stating, "Here, let's get you out into the fresh air.... I didn't mean to smoke out the cave," he continued, throwing a look back towards the blazing, smoking fire.

"You did right," Vin offered, about another cough that tore at his middle. He groaned and doubled over as JD tried to help him sit up. With the younger man supporting him, they managed to get out of the smoke-filled cave. Vin collapsed just outside the cave, deeply breathing in the fresh air. JD followed him down, his own legs giving out under him.

"JD? VIN!" cried Chris, from lower down the rocky slope.

"Up here," JD cried back, leaping up and waving his arms. "Vin's been hurt... shot.... Is Nathan with you?" he asked, looking back at his injured friend who was still recovering from the smoke and his hurried removal from the cave.

"I'm right here," the man in question stated, suddenly appearing at JD's side. He gently moved the other man aside, so that he could get a closer look at his patient.

Chris, Buck and Ezra followed the darker man into view. "Are you all right?" Buck demanded of JD, swinging down from his horse and reaching over to grip the younger man's shoulder, as if to reassure himself that the kid was all right.

"I'm fine, Buck..." JD snapped, moving out of Buck's reach, "don't start fussing."

"Hey," Wilmington shot back, "I was only asking 'cause I was concerned." He was the picture of outraged innocence.

JD took a few steps back and, placing his hands firmly on his hips, shot back, "No, you think I can't look after myself out here... well, I did.... I managed just fine, and I even helped Vin... so I don't need you, or anyone..." he glared at the other men to emphasise his point, "mollycoddling me." He again moved back a few steps, placing a firm distance between Buck and himself, glaring at the man in question as he did so. Spinning about, he headed back into the cave to gather their things.

"JD did just fine, Buck, but it's been a rough night.... It might be an idea to cut him some slack," Vin said to the gunslinger. He wanted to defuse the heat between the two men, and could see that his words did have a calming effect on them both. At the same time he gave Chris a look and a slight nod that did much to reassure the darkly dressed man.

Buck made as if to follow JD, but Chris intervened, "Buck..." Seeing the man look towards him, he slowly shook his head. The gunslinger looked back towards the cave, then turning he made his way silently back to his horse.

Jackson diverted everyone's attention by asking in some surprise, "Who cauterised this wound?" The dressing had been removed and he was busily inspecting the injury with tender fingers.

"JD did," Vin answered bravely, wincing as his injury was pressed and prodded. "He had to dig the bullet out as well..." he gasped, using the words to take his mind off the pain. "It wasn't easy," he gasped, "but he did well and kept his cool."

"Who shot you?" Chris asked, coming to kneel beside his wounded friend.

Vin closed his eyes, remembering the ambush: the flash of a gun, the blaze of pain, his own weapon firing and the body that slowly cartwheeled down to land near his feet. "I don't know," he answered honestly, "but I got him, over by the swimming lake..." He paused, then confessed - as if it was a sign of weakness, "I didn't get time to plant him... nor could I find his horse."

"And you were in a condition to look for it?" Wilmington questioned, coming to stand over Tanner, his arms firmly planted on his hips, his body blocking the sun.

"I should have looked for it..."Tanner shot back. "The animal could have been tied up, unable to get loose.... To leave it like that out here would be to kill it," snapped Vin, before he glowered at Nathan, saying, "Damn it, Nathan, JD didn't hurt as much when he dug the damn bullet out."

"Sorry, but I need to check it - the wound is pretty near your hip bone," apologised the other man, reaching into the black bag where he carried his medical equipment. "You did good, JD - the wound looks clean and is healing nicely..." Nathan continued, seeing that JD had returned from the cave, carrying Vin's saddle. The younger man nodded distractedly at the healer's words, then set about saddling the bounty hunter's horse. "I'll just put a new dressing on and then we can see about getting you back to town, Vin," Jackson finished, turning his attention once more back to the injured man.

"I think that I can ride," Vin said tentatively, glancing over towards his horse, which suddenly looked very large and uncomfortable. JD finished and turned back to the group. He still refused to meet anyone's look - especially Buck's, who had been trying to capture his attention since he left the cave.

"That's fine," Nathan stated, swiftly replacing the torn towel with a clean, white bandage, "as long as you don't mind someone riding with you." Vin opened his mouth to argue, but then a flash of pain helped change his mind.

"Will you, Ezra and JD be all right getting Vin back to town, Nathan?" Chris asked, throwing the man in question a look before turning his attention back to the plain that was spread out below them.

Nathan nodded. "Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem.... We'll have to take it slow, though."

"And what, may I ask, are you and Mr Wilmington going to be doing?" Ezra enquired, moving forward to join the group. As usual he had stood back, watching the scene unfold before him. Once he realised that Vin would survive his wounds, he had felt the knot in his stomach dissolve. With a concerned frown he wondered when these men had become so important to him. He pushed that thought away, as that was not an area that he wanted to inspect too closely.

"I think we'll take a ride out to the swimming lake and take a look at the guy who shot at Vin... maybe follow some tracks... find the horse if we can, and see what we can find out."

"Do you want me to come with you?" JD asked, looking hopefully over at the older man. Chris turned his intense gaze on JD, and he frowned. The kid really did look like death warmed over, and there was something not quite right about his stance.

"No," Chris said slowly, choosing his words with care, as he did not want to upset the younger man needlessly again. "I think that it would be best if you go with Nathan and the others back to town...." Seeing the protest on JD's lips, he offered firmly, "With Vin out of action 'cause of an unknown gunman, I'd like to have more than a token show of force in the town... just in case the dead man had friends who come looking for him." JD looked slightly disappointed, but then squared his shoulders - after all, his first duty was to the town of Four Corners. Chris, seeing this, added, "I think it's important that you're there, JD... being the sheriff and all."

JD's face could not make up its mind whether to be upset at not going with Chris and Buck or proud that Larabee was saying that he was needed in the town. Seeing this, Chris added, "You did good." From the darkly dressed man, that was high praise indeed.

"That's right," Nathan put in, standing up from tending Vin. "Your actions saved his life, JD, no doubt about that... and from the looks of it, he's going to be all right... but," he added, giving the injured man a stern frown, "I'm still going to give you some laudanum to help with the trip back to town." Seeing Vin open his mouth to protest, he interrupted, "And this is not open for discussion - you either take the laudanum or we wait while someone goes back for a wagon.... Your choice, Mr Tanner?"

Vin scowled, not liking the thought of taking the drug, but also knowing that he wasn't going to win. He shrugged. "I guess I'd better follow the doctor's orders, in that case."

"You'd better," Nathan smiled, before reaching back into his bag and pulling out the potion.

The group parted at the bottom of the slope. Nathan, Vin, Ezra and JD headed towards town, and Chris and Buck headed out the way that Vin had come the day before.

***

The journey back to town was slow. Vin was slumped in the saddle with Nathan seated behind him, keeping a careful hold on the injured man who was drifting through the effects of the tiring journey, cocooned within the drug's comforting embrace. Nathan had not given the bounty hunter enough laudanum to totally knock him out, just enough so that the journey would pass in a pleasant haze for him.

Ezra and JD rode slightly behind, Vin's horse attached to Ezra saddle. JD had been silent and uncommunicative since leaving the rocky outcrop and the gambler was trying to draw him out. To this end, Nathan was listening as Ezra informed JD how worried Buck had been the night before when the young sheriff had not returned to town as expected; how he had spent the night walking the main street and, by morning, had roughly roused Chris and the others to form a search party.

Ezra suddenly paused and asked, concern filling his voice as he saw the smaller man sway dangerously in his saddle, "JD, are you all right son...? JD!" Before he could make a grab for the boy, Ezra watched in horror as the youth slipped gracefully off his horse in what appeared to be a dead faint. "Nathan!" the gambler cried, already swinging down from his own mount.

Nathan had been alerted by the gambler's initial cry and had already spun his own mount about, feeling a ripple of shock at seeing JD sprawled lifelessly on the ground. With some hindrance, he carefully slipped off from behind Vin and assisted the injured man down; the bounty hunter was just a boneless bundle and he slumped to the ground, a smile still tugging about his mouth. Nathan checked to make sure that he was comfortable before he hurried over to the other young man.

Nathan knelt beside Ezra, who had pulled JD over and was resting his head on his lap, gently wiping the boy's long hair from his eyes. "What's wrong with him?" the gambler asked, his tone indicating just how concerned he really was. Nathan threw him a startled look; while the con man gave the air of being unaffected by the people about him, it was evident that he had some feelings for the kid.

"I'm not sure...." As he spoke, Nathan began to feel along the unconscious youth's arms and legs, looking for an obvious injury. After several minutes he sat back on his heels and frowned. "I can't find an injury to explain his unconscious state..." he said, almost to himself. Then he reached out and rested a hand upon JD's forehead. "He's a bit warm, but not uncommonly so.... No sweat... cracked lips..." Then the light dawned and, jumping up, he snatched Ezra's canteen from his horse and, kneeling back down, he tilted the open bottle towards JD's lips and allowed the water to dribble into the slack mouth, saying as he did so, "Damn, I reckon he's dehydrated.... I think JD didn't drink any of the water 'cause he thought Vin needed it.... Vin also said that he thought our young sheriff didn't eat anything yesterday - that, combined with the stress and this heat, just got to him." Even as he spoke, JD began to stir, groaning loudly and waving an arm about as if to discourage an annoying fly. Nathan poured a liberal amount of water onto JD's necktie that he had removed and wiped it about JD's face, paying special attention to the cracked lips. This last act brought the boy fully out of his faint.

"What?" JD gasped, looking about in some confusion, his face pale, eyes bright with the beginning of a fever. "What... what happened?" he asked again, this time trying to ease himself up, wincing at the pain this brought from his recently abused body. Both Ezra and Nathan placed a restraining hand on JD's chest to prevent him from rising any further.

"Take it easy, JD," Nathan warned, before adding, his tone laced with annoyance, "You didn't drink any water yesterday, did you?" It was not so much a question as an accusation, and the look of guilt that flashed across JD's face confirmed it.

"Damn it, JD," Nathan began with real anger at his friend's stupidity, "I swear, sometimes I agree with Buck and wonder how you ever survived long enough to get to the outskirts of Boston."

"Vin needed the water," JD argued, trying to justify his actions to the irate medical man.

"And food... did you even eat yesterday?" Nathan snapped, just getting over the shock of seeing the boy sprawled out on the ground. Seeing the answer reflecting in the other's eyes, he informed the downed man, "That's the surest way of getting yourself killed out here, JD." Seeing the youth's face start to close up, shutting out all expression before their very eyes, Nathan took a steadying breath and carried on, trying to sound reasonable, "I mean, looking after Vin the way you did was commendable, but not to drink or eat... hell son, how did you expect to continue to help Vin if we hadn't found you?"

"I couldn't eat... not after what I had to do to him," snapped JD, his tone sounding teary but his eyes granite hard. This time he pushed the helping hands aside and struggled back to his feet. He swayed dangerously and would have fallen, if Ezra had not moved to capture him under his arm and hold him upright.

"JD," Ezra finally spoke, his glance silencing Nathan. The darker man fell back under the glare and held his tongue. "I... we know that what you did was hard, but you did it to save Mr Tanner's life and, to be honest, I'm not sure that I would have had the courage to do so.... That is not what Mr Jackson is so, er... displeased about... he is upset by the fact that you needlessly endangered your own life by your actions."

"I was only doing what I thought was for the best, Ezra," JD stated, twisting about in the secure grip and seeking approval for his actions.

Ezra, seeing the look in the younger man's eyes, swallowed hard and offered, "I know you were, but Vin would not want his life saved at the cost of your own... he would not carry that heavy burden well."

JD looked deep into the gambler's eyes and saw that what he was saying was true and, with a sudden flash of insight, he realised that Ezra was sure of this because it was a similar feeling to his own. "I guess I was a bit rash in not drinking," he finally offered, looking towards Nathan, a trembling smile falling from his lips.

Nathan, seeing that the young man was calming down, gave him a smile of his own and said, "Sorry I lost my temper, JD, but I was just concerned for you.... Now," he added, moving back to his own horse and pulling out some dry food that he had in the saddlebag, "I suggest we camp here for a while and let you rest, eat and drink plenty of water."

After a short rest where JD did as Nathan had requested, he was back on his feet and heading towards his horse, ignoring the others' protests.

"I really do believe that you ought to listen to the good doctor and take it easy," Ezra jumped up with him and again steadied him when he swayed.

"I feel fine," JD argued, trying to push Ezra's support away. The gambler looked over towards Nathan who just shrugged; the lad had eaten a small amount of food, each swallow looking like it took a tremendous effort, and he'd drunk nearly a whole canteen of water, so Nathan was feeling better about letting him continue the journey into town.

"All right, Nathan said, knowing that he was not going to win the argument and that he still had an injured man to get back to town, but he did insist, "JD, you just sit down there while Ezra helps me get Vin up on the horse, then he can help you up.... Now, just sit there!" he snapped, seeing the younger man about to attempt to get on his horse.

JD wanted to disagree but then, looking at Vin lying on the ground, he realised that, if he did, it would not be himself he would be harming. "All right," he finally agreed, and accepted the canteen that Nathan held out to him.

"Drink some more of that water..." Nathan said, before continuing in a grumpy voice, just loud enough for the young sheriff to hear, "Falling off your horse is the best way of getting your bones broken."

JD watched as both Ezra and Nathan helped get Vin back on the horse, then the darker man swung up behind him. Once settled, Nathan nodded to the gambler to say that he was in place. Ezra moved away and held out a hand towards JD. "Here you go, Mr Dunne, let me help you."

"I can manage," JD tried to protest, but the world was still spinning about him and, in the end, he gratefully accepted Ezra's help on to his horse. Then the gambler was up in his own saddle and keeping his horse very close to JD's. Nathan checked the group over once, giving and receiving a nod from Ezra; the gambler would keep a close eye on the younger man. Pulling his horse about, he urged his mount on.

"Don't mind Mr Jackson too much," Ezra offered in a quiet tone to the sulking lad. "He too was quite distressed by your unscheduled absence last night, and it must have given him another fright, seeing you laying on the ground like that...." The gambler smiled weakly before he said in a sincere tone, "To tell the truth, Mr Dunne, you gave me quite a turn as well."

JD opened his mouth to inform the gambler that he was quite capable of looking after himself, but the words froze on his lips as he witnessed the shadow of fear that Ezra always got when he allowed one of the other six to see more than just his normal, carefree façade of indifference. The expression on the gambler's face made JD uneasy; he knew that Ezra did not give his friendship easily and that, in the past, the other man must have been hurt very severely indeed to have such a strong defence about his heart. JD, not wanting to betray the trust he felt that he had been given, said, "I know... I'm sorry, too... for scaring you and Nathan.... It's just that Vin did need the water... and I knew that you'd come looking for us.... I..." he stopped, swallowing hard as the world was still a bit unsteady about him.

The gambler, seeing this by the slightly unsteady grip of the younger man, offered hesitantly, "Look, I'll ride close to you... then if you feel unwell or faint... just let me know.... I'll catch you... all right?" Ezra looked hopefully at the younger man, and finally JD nodded, feeling the warm flush of friendship spread about his body.

It was late afternoon by the time the small, weary group made it back to town. Chris and Buck had not managed to catch up with them, so Nathan and Josiah carried the still-drugged bounty hunter up to Jackson's small room and soon had him comfortable on the bed.

Ezra just managed to catch JD as the boy slid from his horse and continued on to the ground, his legs refusing to support him. The young sheriff looked totally surprised at this particular betrayal from his body, but the gambler just informed him that after such a long ride, in his condition, it was not unusual for it to happen.

With a careful hand, Ezra assisted the younger man to his room and was pleased when JD accepted the advice to retire to bed for the best of the day. The young man was asleep before his head hit the pillow. The gambler continued to remove JD's boots and carefully pulled the blanket up over the lad, then he turned to look out the window, his own thoughts trying to figure out the moment when these other men had become so important to him.

This was how Nathan found them twenty minutes later, when he came to check on the young sheriff. "He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow," Ezra explained, waving towards the sleeping boy.

"I'm not surprised," Nathan commented. "I reckon he didn't get too much sleep last night, either."

"How's Vi... I mean, Mr Tanner?" Ezra enquired, moving over to the window and looking down at the quiet street below. He always felt awkward asking about the other men; he could almost hear his mother's southern drawl admonish him for showing his emotions so openly. Mentally he pushed her tone away and concentrated on Nathan's answer.

Instead Nathan snapped, "You know, you can call him Vin... I'm sure it won't hurt your gentlemanly honour to acknowledge that you have a bounty hunter for a friend."

Ezra closed his eyes and forced back a tired sigh that wanted to escape. There were times when he felt that he would never be able to say the right thing to the man who stood before him.

Nathan, as if sensing that he had stepped over some invisible line, had the grace to look slightly shame-faced as he continued, "I'm sorry...." He wiped his hand over his face; he was tired, as he also had not slept well the night before because of his concern for the young man who now lay sleeping in the bed beside him. "That was uncalled for." The gambler said nothing, just turned his curious gaze upon the other man, waiting for him to continue. "Vin is asleep as well... I checked the wound and it's still showing no sign of infection.... He has a slight fever, but then that's to be expected... the shock to the body alone would cause that.... I think that he will be up and about in a week or so."

"That is indeed good news, Mr Jackson," Ezra stated, then turned his look pointedly to the prone figure laying on the bed.

Nathan followed his gaze and offered, "He drank a fair bit of water and ate something...." He moved closer and inspected the sleeping face. "His lips are slightly better... and he's sweating some, so I guess that sleep is the best thing for him now... but I would like him to drink some more water when wakes up."

Ezra nodded, then pulling up a chair he said, "I take it you will be staying with Mr Tann....." He stopped, swallowing before he continued, "Vin... so if you'd like I shall remain with our good sheriff here and make sure that he does drink when he revives."

Nathan looked at the man for a few moments, but the gambler just drew out a pack of cards and began to slowly shuffle them one-handedly. Finally the darker man sighed and offered, "I'll get some water sent up, and some food... see if you can get him to eat at the same time."

The gambler just nodded, his attention seemingly intently fixed on the cards in his hands. Nathan felt a slight twinge of sorrow that he had snapped at the man, as he knew that his actions had caused the man to rebuild the wall that he kept secure in place about his emotions. Knowing that there was nothing further he could accomplish by remaining, he left.

Ezra kept his eyes firmly on the cards until he heard Nathan leave, then slowly his hands stilled and he looked once more at the sleeping boy, wondering if the friendship he felt for the other six men was really worth the pain he had felt at Nathan's words. Slowly he turned over the top card of his deck; it was the ace of spades. The cards that he had bet his life on so many times had spoken and the hand had been dealt... and Ezra was nothing if not a good-enough gambler to remain until the end of the game.

***

Epilogue

Vin was slowly going stir crazy. Nathan had put him to bed in the small room that he used and was now refusing to allow him up until at least a week had passed. Five days into it and the bounty hunter wanted out. His injured side felt a lot better and he was sure that he could make it back to his own wagon. Yet, every time he suggested it, the other man just slowly shook his head.

Vin had to be honest and admit that he had tried to leave the bed the day before and had only made it halfway across the room before he collapsed in a noisy, sprawling heap, bringing Nathan, Chris and Buck racing into the room. He was not in a hurry to repeat that humiliating half-hour of his life.

He could not remember much about the trip into town, nor the first few days there, as he had fallen into a fever and had taken a while to shake it. He had been concerned to hear about JD's collapse on the way into town, but Nathan had been quick to assure him that, after a few days' rest, food and water, the boy had bounced back with the resilience of youth. He was now back in the sheriff's office, with Buck reading him the riot act about how to survive out on the open plains. Vin had winced at that bit of information, but when JD had visited him the day before he'd discovered that the lad was taking it all in his stride. Giving the young sheriff a sidelong glance, Vin decided that JD had grown a bit over the last week and it sat well on his shoulders.

The door opened and Vin was pulled from his thoughts to see Chris standing in the doorway. The older man smiled at his injured friend and then came to sit by the bed. "How you feeling?" he asked, tilting his head to inspect Vin's face.

The bounty hunter pulled a sour face. "Going out of my mind just laying here, cowboy," he finished, with a slight smile.

"Well, if it's any consolation," Larabee retorted, his tone indicating that it was anything but a relief, "I heard Ezra and Buck talking in the saloon earlier and I think they are planning on bring JD's poker lesson over here tonight... so if you plan on having a relapse, now might be a good idea."

"Nah... I find Ezra and Buck entertaining," Vin offered about a smile of his own, remembering the day before when Ezra had walked in to visit the bounty hunter, only to find Buck, along with JD, sitting in the room. The ladies' man had been seeking Vin's agreement on the stupidity of JD's actions by not drinking - an agreement that the injured man was not willing to give, as the younger man's actions had saved his life. The gambler had unexpectedly come to both JD's and Vin's aid by taking up the matter of the rights and wrongs of the situation, arguing the point in such a manner and with such long words that the other man had thrown his hands up in the air and stomped out of the room.

"Entertaining... now there's a word I'd never thought to see attached to those two." Chris paused and looked out of the window, which was open to allow a cooling breeze to freshen up the room. "I got a telegram back from Crooked Knee about that man you shot last week... the one who jumped you."

Vin was now all sharp attention: he could not pretend and say that he had not been worried about the fact that he had been jumped. The concern for his friends was still fresh in his mind, and he was still considering leaving Four Corners to keep them safe.

"He wasn't after you for the bounty," Chris stated firmly, seeing the bounty hunter's expression. This caused Vin to glance up again in some surprise. "It seemed to be worrying you during your fever," the gunfighter explained, seeing the look the other man gave him.

"So why did he take a shot at me then?" Vin finally asked, accepting what he had said in his fevered state and pushing it to the side - that was a matter he would think on later.

"I mentioned that Buck and I found his horse about four miles out from the lake... dead... ridden hard.... I sent out some telegrams, giving a description and details, and this came back today." He held out the telegram that he had taken from his pocket.

Vin looked at it for a few seconds before reaching out to snag it. The message was short and to the point: "Crooked Knee bank robbed last Thursday. Description matches missing robber. Money found on first robber killed. Second escaped."

"He was only after your horse, Vin... not you.... He didn't know about... hell, he more than likely didn't even care who you were."

Vin looked back down at the telegram before he said, a cold feeling settling in the pit of his stomach, "JD was heading out towards that lake; a couple of hours later and he might have taken the bullet."

Chris nodded, his face firm; that thought had crossed his mind as well. His eyes flashed fire as he offered, "And a couple of hours earlier and he would have missed you totally."

The bounty hunter suddenly let out a ripple of laughter. Seeing the enquiring look on Chris's face, he said, "Hell, here was I co=nvinced that I was shot because of that damn bounty, and it turns out that I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Chris slowly nodded before he added solemnly, "But at least JD was in the right place at the RIGHT time."

Vin looked up at that and also nodded, before he commented, "He did good, Chris... he did really good. He saved my life."

Whatever else they might have been about to say was lost as the door burst open and JD and Buck fell into the room, followed by Ezra who was carrying a bottle of whisky. "We heard that you were getting a bit bored with your enforced captivity, Mr Tanner," he explained, moving aside while the wild twosome of the bunch straightened themselves out, "so we decided to come and entertain you."

Chris looked at Vin and saw the smile light the other's eyes. Standing, he said, "Well, I will leave you gentlemen to your entertaining." As he moved towards the door he paused, his hand resting on the handle, then turning towards the young sheriff he said warmly, "JD, you did good out there last week. I'm real proud of you."

The three other men remaining in the room were blinded by the smile that creased the youngest member of the seven's handsome face.

THE END

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