Disclaimer - just borrowing these characters to have some fun.
The story takes place right at the at the end of season 19 and during season 20. This is the first chapter. I hope to be able to figure out how to add more. Sorry, I know this is total exposition. I plan the next chapters to have more drama and dialogue I needed this to get me started!
Matt
Matt Dillon is riding back from Hayes City. He was returning from first trip out of Dodge after having his gun arm seriously wounded, and he is thinking about the past couple of months.
When he had returned from his self imposed exile after his right arm was wounded, he had gone to see Kitty first. He told her that he was back to stay. His commitment to her was unbreakable as far as he was concerned, and he wanted to make sure that she felt the same way. The look on her face upon his return reassured him. After the sweetest of kisses and a brief embrace they agreed to have dinner together that night.
His next stop was to see Doc. Doc had already been informed of his return. Word had spread like wild fire when Matt was seen riding in. Matt knew his arm was improving. He was able to use his fingers to buckle a belt, load a gun, handle a reins, use a fork and so on. These were simple tasks but Matt felt better with each small accomplishment. He needed Doc's opinion and expertise. Doc welcomed Matt back and took a look at the arm. He asked Matt to do some simple things and was very surprised by the improvement in the arm and hand. The strength and dexterity although still limited, was greater than Doc had thought would be possible in so short a time. Doc gave Matt some exercises to do with his hand and fingers, and a weight to lift with his forearm. He told Matt to remove the sling and keep working the arm. Doc couldn't guarantee that the arm would fully recover, but he was a lot more optimistic than he had been.
Next he took Buck to the stable. Moss was expecting him along with Louie, Burke and a number of other people who had gathered there to greet him. The welcomed him back with a touching sincerity, and expressed hope he'd be Marshal again. Moss insisted on taking Buck from him, Matt protested thinking that Moss thought he couldn't put the horse up himself. He quickly realized that Moss just wanted to show how glad he was to see him back. and he handed over the reigns with a smile.
Next he went to the Barber shop for a shave and hair cut. It took some time because everyone he met stopped to inquire about his arm and express hope that he'd return as Marshal.
The last stop before returning to the Long Branch for dinner was the Marshal's office. Festus & Newley were waiting for him and gave him a big welcome. Festis had said "Golly Bill, you look kind of skinny Matthew, but like my Aunt Thede always said thems things that can be fixed by some good cookin ain't no problem." Matt laughed, and gave Festus and Newley a warm greeting, once again being reminded of how much he missed Dodge and his "family."
Matt asked to speak to the new Marshall alone. He told the man straight out that he hoped to get his job back but would take a day or so for him to decide if it would be possible. The new Marshall told him that he was sure the War Department would be happy to hear that, and the he himself would be happy to move on. Matt had found that last statement strange, but thanked the man.
By now it was time to meet Kitty for dinner upstairs in the Long Branch. He took out his key and unlocked the door with a feeling of happiness that he hadn't felt since before he had been shot. Kitty turned with a smile when she heard the door unlock. As Matt entered she flung herself into his arms and kissed him passionately. The time for dinner and talk would be later, for now there were sweet embraces and need to reconnect in every way.
Dinner was delicious. She had noticed that he had lost weight and gone out of her way to make his favorite dishes. After dinner as she sat on his lap, and cuddled into his chest. He told her that he was working towards being Marshal again. He thought she'd protest, but the amazing woman that she was, had figured out that he would need to do everything possible to try return to the job. She knew he wouldn't be the Marshal forever but it would be best for his sense of self and peace of mind if he could quit when he was ready, not because he felt that he was forced to.
The next days were filled with practicing shooting with his left hand and excruciating painful excercises with his right hand. Doc continued to be amazed at his progress and Kitty continued to be supportive. Sometimes his hand, wrist and forearm throbbed with pain, but he pushed on through it.
It wasn't long before he sent a wire to the War Department asking to be reinstated. He couldn't believe how quickly they responded with an affirmative. He also couldn't believe how fast the new Marshall was leaving. The man felt the town was unfriendly – go figure.
Matt continued the exercises, lifting heavier weights with his fore arm and manipulating small objects with his fingers. He had reached a point when he could shoot very accurately with his left hand but didn't have a fast draw. He knew it was time to change to a right sided gun belt and start practicing his right hand draw. He worked for hours at a time.
He was sure that his right hand draw was fast once again. Was it as fast as it had been – no way to tell. Matt knew that focus and confidence sometimes made the fraction of a second difference in a gunfight. It was crucial that he train his mind to erase any self doubt.
After a few weeks back on the job Matt decided that he could not continue to send Newley or Festus out of town for jobs. Something came up that had the potential to be particularly dangerous and he knew he couldn't be Marshal and not take on the hard stuff. The job was to track and arrest Joe Bates, a ruthless killer who had escaped from prison. Matt knew Kitty wished he wouldn't go, but she also understood that he had to. She was undoubtedly the bravest person he knew. She had kissed him goodbye and wished him luck. He had seen the tears in her eyes that they both knew she didn't want to acknowledge.
The job had gone well. Late one night, after a few days of tracking, Matt saw what looked like a small campfire glowing in the distance. Matt approached quietly and saw Bates sitting by the fire. With the element of surprise on his side, Matt was able to arrest Bates without too much trouble. Bates tried to escape a couple of times before they got to Hayes City, but it was nothing Matt couldn't handle.
He had wired Kitty from Hayes City - All went well. Heading home. Matt. - Now he was riding back to Dodge and most importantly to Kitty.