Jim West laid there, his body torn and immobile in a twisted limp form. His bright steel blue eyes fluttered uncontrollably as his cheek was pressed against the hard cold floor. With much effort, Jim forced his dry lips to open to the taste of warm iron. He was bleeding. The Secret Service agent's whole body numb, he concentrated to move the nerve muscles in his sore bones.

Footsteps. West rapidly became still of the small quirks he'd been making out of his useless bulk. The wooden door, which had been locked, was quickly busted open with irritated force. "Jesus!" Jim's lips curved upward in a timid smile at the familiar voice.

Artemus "Artie" Gordon froze; a look of horror on his normally good-natured features. "Jim! God, what has Loveless done to you?!"

West relaxed as he felt the two firm arms grasp underneath his waist and prop his back up against the stone wall. Artie's chocolate brown eyes bored into his with concern. "Hi, Artie," the agent said causally.

Gordon's face twisted in aggravation. "Hi, Artie," his partner repeated in disgust. "A friendly hello? Have you looked in the mirror, James, my boy? You're not exactly a beauty contest entry."

Jim tried to make a cocky reply, but his throat gave out a horse rasp.

"Oh," Artemus fumbled in realization at his shoulder bag. He held up his canteen and let Jim slowly take in the water. "Here you go. Hey, hold on there!" His partner took away the cool liquid. "Take it easy, Jim. You'll get a nasty stomachache if you take in all that too fast." Ripping some of his own shirt at the end, Artie put some water on it and began dabbing Jim's cut forehead.

"Artie," West said with a smug look. "I think a stomachache is hardly the worst of my problems."

Gordon's eyes scanned over Jim's body. "You can say that again," he agreed.

West wheezed a tiny laugh at his friend's blunt humor. "What about the good doctor?"

His partner frowned and shook his head. "Nope. The Little Wizard got away again, James."

Noticing Artie's scorn at not capturing their oldest nemesis, Jim quickly pitched in, "We'll get him next time, Artie."

"Yeah," Artemus said, not sounding too convinced. "You ready to go?"

"I think I can manage."

"Let's hope so," Gordon grinned. "I don't want a new partner already. Was just finally getting used to you." A pause. A wicked smile appeared. "Of course, now that I think about it, maybe it wouldn't be too bad. With you gone, I might have a better chance with the ladies."

"Artie?" Jim pretended to look convincingly hurt and innocent.

"Alright, alright." Artemus put his hand around Jim's torso and supported his weight on his side. "Let's get you to a doctor, and then sit down and enjoy one of those wholesome scoldings from Col. Richmond about letting Loveless escape, again."

West smirked at his friend. "You know I'd hate to miss one of those, Artie."