A/N: This is a gap filler that takes place during Lady for a Night.

"Hey, Buck?" Lou called out softly as she came out of the shadows of the barn.

Buck didn't jump. He knew she was there waiting for something or someone. He wasn't sure if it was him specifically she was waiting for or if she was just waiting for someone other than Kid to appear in the barn.

"What's up, Lou?" Buck asked curiously. Lou rarely talked to him in a private one on one situation.

Lou walked further into the sunlight drifting into the barn from the door Buck had just walked through. Buck couldn't help but think of Lou in the dress she was wearing at the coming out party Emma held for her the other day. He and the rest of the riders had known for some time that Lou was a girl, but it really wasn't until they all saw her in that pink dress, that they learned just how much of girl Lou really was. The sight of her took his breath away and he was certain he was far from the only one.

"I was wondering if you could do me a favor," Lou asked. "I know things between us haven't always been easy, but you're only one who can help me."

Buck was intrigued. Lou was right about the strain between them. Every time there seemed to be a problem with the surrounding Indian tribes she had said something she later regretted. The others sometimes did as well, but it seemed to hurt Buck more when the words came from Lou.

"What do you need, Lou?" Buck asked sincerely. One thing he had learned in his young life was that the world did not operate on a give and take basis. Sometimes you needed to take a chance knowing it could hurt you.

"I need you to take my run tomorrow," Lou said. "I know I have never given you any reason to do me a favor, but you're the only one with time to take it and I really need the time off."

Buck could see the desperation and fright in Lou's face. In that moment he wanted to know what had spooked her. What had her on edge ever since she came back from Blue Creek?

"Is everything okay, Lou?" Buck asked carefully. He had learned that Lou kept things to herself a lot even when she could find help among the riders. It frustrated him that she did not trust the riders yet especially after what happened with her father, Boggs. They all risked their lives for her and would do it in a second again. None of them except Kid knew she was a girl then. It didn't then and it didn't matter to Buck now. He just saw in Lou's eyes she was in trouble.

"I guess not, that's why I need your help, Buck," Lou said with a reluctant smile. "I got some business to take care of in town."

Buck nodded unconvinced. "It's alright, Lou, if you want to talk about it," he offered.

Lou shook her head and looked at the ground. "It's just something I have to do," she said. "I made a mistake and now I have to fix it."

Buck walked over to her and put a hesitant finger under her chin. He tilted her face up so he could look her in the eye. "You have friends that will back you up," he said. "You don't need to do anything alone ever again."

"Thanks, Buck," Lou said, "but I really need to fix this and I ain't ready for everyone to know what kind of mistake I've made."

Buck nodded. "Alright, but promise me that you'll be careful and ask for help if you need it," he said seriously. "If I'm on your run I won't be able to help, but you know any of us would and most of us wouldn't ask why."

"I know," Lou said flashing him a pleading expression and then looked back at the floor. "So, you'll take my run then?"

"Yeah, Lou," Buck said with a worried smile. "I'll take your run."

"If anyone asks..."

"I'll tell them you had business in town," Buck assured her.