Just a thought that ran through my head. What happens after someone gets hurt, what do the others go through? No I don't own them or they'd been around for ten years and still kicking. Please review and best wishes.

Ezra sat in the saloon shuffling his deck of cards, yet his mind was not on what his hands were doing but what had happened over the past week. Chris had sent him and Vin on an errand for the Judge. They'd spent the night in a local town, instead of playing the tables Ezra had opted to stay at the hotel with the tracker, instead enjoying their game of chances, which amounted to matchsticks.

On their journey home however a man claimed that Ezra had in some way cheated him out of money and no arguing in the world would change his mind. In order to save the gambler Vin had stepped into the path of a bullet meant for Ezra. Ezra had struggled for the next day and a half to get Vin back to Nathan in plenty of time before he either bled to death or died from infection. The gambler had been forced to remove the bullet on the trail and had been in a panic ever since that he might have done more damage than good.

When he returned the rest of the seven had tried to let him know that he had actually saved the man. But Ezra had refused to leave the clinic until Vin was over the fever and able to move about some with help of Ezra or Chris.

Ezra took a deep breath as he reshuffled the cards in his hands again, he saw Chris take a seat to his right and waited for him to comment. "You should be sleeping Ezra you haven't gotten any since you got back. Won't do you any good to get sick."

"I suppose."

"Want to talk?" Ezra didn't look at him. "Vin told you to stop blaming yourself for this. You'd do the same for him that is what friends do Ezra." Chris waited excepting the drink that the gambler placed in front of him.

"I'm still not used to it Chris." The gambler said softly. "No one before has ever been willing to do what Vin did."

"Scary ain't it?" Chris said tossing back the drink.

"Yes it is." Ezra swallowed his whisky in one gulp. "When I realized why he did it all I could think was I was going to let him down. That he was going to die because of me." Ezra swallowed another drink. "I have never had anyone care before whether or not I lived. I finally found someplace I could call home. A place that I had friends who truly were there for me. Who were more liker brothers and I was watching it all fade away. I knew you all would blame me. That in some way it was my fault and I was going to lose everything I had come to love." He downed a third drink and reached for another when Chris pulled it away.

Chris was stunned by the honesty from the gambler who usually kept things locked away in his own head, unless he talked to Vin. The two men had striked up an unusual relationship, now Chris figured it was because they were so much alike. They were friends they all were but in situations like now Chris realized that in a little over six months the seven men had grown a bond, a brotherhood.

Chris toyed with his glass. "You're right Ezra I would have been." He saw the pain on the gamblers face. "IF. You hadn't done what you did. But I've always known you would be there Ezra I've never doubted you." He saw relief spread across the man's face. "Nathan's letting Vin out today. He wants to see that you're alright." Ezra nodded.

At that moment Vin slowly shuffled into the saloon and made his way towards them, rolling his eyes as Nathan hovered. He took the chair to Ezra's left leaving his back to the door, Ezra looked surprised at the Tracker. "Hey Ez you doing alright?"

"I am now Vin."

Vin nodded extending his hand to the man. "I want to say thanks again."

"I would do it any time Vin without a thanks." The gambler went to except the hand but instead Vin took his forearm in the similar clasp he only held for Chris. Ezra looked up surprised at Vin and saw the grin and nodded, the others had gathered. "Figured Ez that we might as well be brothers seen as how we bled together the other day." Ezra narrowed his eyes at the tracker.

"I remember you bleeding my friend but I certainly did not." He tried to ward of Nathan who suddenly appeared behind him.

"I remember you cursing about your arm or something." Vin said scratching his chin.

"I said my arm could no longer take carrying you and we need to stop. Any blood you saw was your own I assure you Mr. Tanner."

Vin gingerly shifted positions. "Now I'm sure I saw you trying to bandage your arm while I was supposed to be asleep."

"You were delirious Mr. Tanner." Ezra's voice had dropped glaring at the tracker who was grinning.

"Nope not likely not yet any way. That why you've kept that right arm of yours away from Nathan and you kept rubbing it while you were sitting with me."

"Mr Tanner." Ezra yelped as Nathan grabbed his upper arm.

"Ezra Standish what is he talking about."

"Mr. Jackson. Nathan you know very well."

'That you'll hide any injury in order to save one of us I know. Clinic."

"I am perfectly capable of."

"Walking on your own brother?" Josiah asked grinning.

Ezra glared at them waving away Nathan's hand on his forehead. "You have a start of a fever Ezra."

"I would prefer to stay here if you don't mind Mr. Jackson."

"I do." Chris said standing. "I want you two back to the clinic and you." He pointed to Ezra who was now pouting. "To let us take care of you till Nathan says other wise."

Ezra rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well at least now I'll have a cell mate." Vin said with a grin as Josiah helped him stand, and Chris sat Ezra's hat on his head.

"Why don't you admit Ezra that you're hurt and sick?" Chris asked quietly as they trooped over to the clinic.

"Because Mr. Larabee I forgot." Chris nodded with a grin as the gambler began to shuffle a bit.

"Well now you don't have to. Looks like it's good timing too."