John didn't want it to happen and didn't really know when it did but he fell asleep to the rain. And hours passed. The storm passed and the sun rose. A young brown haired green eyed boy named Michael awoke and prepared to do his morning chores. First thing was to feed the horses and turn them out.

Michael stepped outside and paused at the cool air. The storm had brought in some cold weather with it. He went back inside and grabbed a long sleeved shirt and shrugged it on. He also put his father's hat on before he started for the barn. The hat was a little big but he didn't mind.

Michael stopped halfway to the barn when he noticed the door was hanging open. He walked forward slowly hoping the storm had done that even though he remembered locking the hatch. The boy got to the door and slowly opened it. He wasn't sure whether or not to be relieved when he found two horses inside.

"Hello?" Michael asked. The horses came over to him and smelled him. Michael looked around them and saw two people lying on the hay pile. He went to the work bench and grabbed his squirrel rifle. He aimed it at them and approached them. One man had his face hidden by his hat and the other was an Indian. The Indian didn't look so good. For a Redskin he was extremely pale. Michael reached out and put a hand in front of his mouth. He was breathing but not by much.

Michael then lifted the other man's hat and found him to be masked.

"Outlaws," Michael took a step back and then poked the masked man with the end of his gun. He jolted from his sleep and looked up at Michael.

The ranger saw the kid and the daylight coming in the barn.

"Tonto!" He gasped and looked to his friend. He held Tonto's face but he didn't respond.

"He's still breathing!" Michael said to him, not lowering his gun. The ranger actually looked at Michael.

"Easy Son, I'm not at outlaw," John told him.

"Then why are you wearing a mask?" Michael asked.

"I have my reasons, where does the doctor around here live? My friend was shot chasing down horse rustlers," John told him.

"I know where the doc lives but I'm not leaving you here. On your feet we're taking that Injun inside and see what my Ma has to say!"

John didn't want to force the boy into doing anything. The ranger didn't realize how warm his cocoon was until he got out from under those covers. His still wet, warm, clothes began to steam in the cold air. John made sure Tonto remained bundled and picked him up. John walked from the barn with the boy in tow. Silver and Scout wandered out behind them and made their way to the grass area behind the house.

"Ma!" The boy yelled out. They got to the door of the house and it opened.

"What you yellin' fer, Michael?" A little girl answered the door.

"Open that door and get out the way Lizzy!" The boy said. The young lady listened to her bother and opened the door. John carried Tonto inside and laid him across the daybed in the living room.

A woman came in and gasped when she saw the Ranger.

"What on Earth?" She exclaimed.

"Found these two sodbusters in the barn Ma, that Redskins hurt pretty bad," Micheal explained.

"A Good Indian is a dead Indian!" The woman spat bitterly. John stood tall. In a swift move he yanked the squirrel gun from Michael's hands and pulled out one of his revolver's.

"Ma, I'm sorry," Michael said.

"It's all right boy,"

"Listen here, this man is my friend! He's saved my life time and time again. And we're both on the side of the law despite this mask. Now he needs a doctor, are you going to help me or not?" John snapped.

"Michael, go get Dr. Pierce and bring him here," The boy's mother said.

"Wait, Richard Pierce?" John asked. She nodded.

"Yes, you know him?" She asked.

"Give him this and he'll come immediately," John said and gave Michael a bullet from his belt. Michael took it and looked at it.

"Silver…a Silver bullet?" The boy gasped when he realized who was standing before him.

"Dr. Pierce," John said.

"Yes, Sir!" The boy said and darted out the door and ran for the barn to get his horse.

The ranger holstered his gun and handed the woman the boy's gun. She took it suspiciously. John sat down on the edge of the daybed and reached to Tonto. He was warm to the touch. He pulled the blankets off of him and looked at the gauze. It was soaked through but he didn't dare pull it free.

"Mister what happened?" Lizzy asked and came over.

"He was shot by one of the men who stole horses from the K bar k," John answered and pulled the blanket back up.

"He was trying to get them back?" Lizzy asked.

"Yes he was," The ranger answered.

"Poor Indian," Lizzy went to kiss Tonto but her mother grabbed her.

"Don't touch him Elizabeth!" She snarled. John gave her a stern look.

"Racism is quite ugly on you Ma'am," John said.

"I have my reasons for hating his kind and it's Mrs. Parker," She answered him.

"Well, he'll be gone as soon as he's able, I apologize for the inconvenience," John said snidely.

"Excuse me I have to fix breakfast, I trust you're not hungry," Mrs. Parker just shook her head and went into the kitchen.

"She's just upset because Daddy isn't home yet," Lizzy said and climbed into one of the chairs.

"Lizzy, come help me please!" Mrs. Parker said sternly from the kitchen.

"Yes ma'am," The little said and got back down. She walked past them.

"Don't worry, I'll sneak you some bacon," Lizzy whispered before going through the door into the kitchen. Any other day that little girl would have made him smile but he just didn't have the heart.

John had never seen time pass so slowly. He began to pace as he waited for the boy to return. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Tonto take in a deep breath and come too.

"Tonto!" John came back to his friends side.

"Kemsoabe….me can't breathe…" Tonto managed.

"Alright Tonto I can loosen your bandages," John said and pulled the blankets away from Tonto.

"Kemo…sabe…." Tonto then went completely limp.

"Tonto! TONTO!" John yelled. When Tonto didn't respond John tried to feel his pulse not even realizing he was wearing his gloves. He failed to feel a pulse from Tonto and laid his forehead against Tonto's chest. He felt rage building up in him along with grief. He took in a deep breath and tried to fight back tears.

The ranger put his forehead to Tonto's.

"I'm Sorry Kemosabe, I failed you," John said and slipped Tonto's head band off and wrapped it around his hand. John got to his feet and turned towards the door.

"What are you going to do?" Mrs. Parker asked. She had come in when she'd heard him yelling.

"Tell Dr. Pierce to take care of Tonto and take his horse with him, I will come back for him in a few days to take him home," He told her.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry. I can tell he meant something to you even if he didn't to me," She said. John paused before he continued out the door.

Dan Reid pulled up his reins as he came to the house of Dr. Richard Pierce. He was on his way to meet up with Tonto and his uncle. He was passing through Stockton and his uncle had told him about Dr. Pierce. Dan tied Viktor to the hitching post and made his way to the house. He knocked on the door and waited. He could hear someone in the house.

"Good Morning," Dr. Pierce said upon opening the door.

"Morning, are you Dr. Pierce?" Dan asked.

"I am, can I help you?" Dr. Pierce asked.

"Well a friend of mine told me if I ever pass through Stockton I should stop by. My friend has a horse like mine, carries bullets like this, and wears a mask," Dan said holding out a silver bullet.

"Ahh yes, come on in. I was just sitting down to breakfast," Dr. Pierce invited Dan in.

"Thank you," Dan said and started to go inside. Dr. Pierce was distracted by someone coming down the road.

"Well Breakfast may have to wait," He said. Dan looked back to the road and saw a young boy coming to a hard stop at the hitching post next to Viktor.

"What is it Michael?" Dr. Pierce asked.

"It's the Lone Ranger, he said to come quick to give you this," Michael said holding out a bullet.

"Is the Ranger hurt?" Dan asked as he and the doctor walked across the yard.

"No it's his friend, the Indian," Michael told them.

"Tonto?" Dan asked,

"I'll get my bag," Pierce said.

"Where's your horse?" Dan asked.

"The corral, the saddles just inside the barn on the left," The doctor answered. Dan ran around the house to the barn and got the horse ready. When both men were mounted they followed Michael back to his home.

They came to a stop and Dan saw Scout grazing on his own, still tacked up. He didn't see hide nor hair of Silver. He was getting a bad feeling about that.

"Where's Uncle John?" He whispered to himself as he dismounted and tied his horse. Dr. Pierce hurried inside with Michael. Dan was right behind them.

"Dr. Pierce…I'm afraid you're too late," Mrs. Parker was holding her daughter and pacing the living room. Dr. Pierce looked to the daybed and saw Tonto. He went over to investigate what had happened.

"He said to take care of him and his horse, that he'd be back in a few days to take him home," She added. Dr. Pierce sat next to Tonto and pulled back the blankets. He went to undo the bandages and Tonto jolted and cried out in pain.

"Oh thank God!" Dan said putting a hand on his chest and the other on his belt. He walked around the bed to Tonto's other side.

"Kemo…sabe," Tonto tried and opened his eyes.

"He's not here Tonto, it's Dan and Dr. Pierce," Dan said and held Tonto's hand.

"Dan? Me…can't breathe!" Tonto asked. Dr. Pierce pulled out his stethoscope and began to listen around the wound.

"I'm going to apologize in advance Mrs. Parker, There's going to be a lot of blood." Dr. Pierce said and began to pull everything from the wound.

"I may need your help," Dr. Pierce said with a glance to Dan.

"Anything," Dan said.

"So how do you know Tonto and the Ranger?" Dr. Pierce asked as he began to work.

"I've ridden with them since I was a kid, I've been in college for a few years now and I visit them on my vacations," Dan answered. Dr. Pierce looked at him.

"Where are you studying?"

"Yale, I'm studying law," Dan told him.

"You come all the way from Connecticut just to visit people you used to ride with?" Dr. Pierce asked. Dan watched as he got out tools and bottles, rinsed his hands and Tonto's wound, and then took the tools to the bloody mess that was Tonto's side. Tonto had clenched his eyes shut and put his head back.

Dan looked around for the woman. She had taken the children into the kitchen. Dan looked back at the Doctor.

"Tonto's my legal guardian," Dan said.

"Tonto?"

"Yes, you can't exactly have an identity when you wear a mask can you?" Dan asked.

"You look like him, the shape of your face, your jaw, and your eyes," Dr. Pierce said.

"He's my uncle, now I'm only telling you this because you seem like someone I can trust," Dan started.

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul," Dr. Pierce said and made an incision and Tonto began to bleed profusely.

"There we go," Pierce said.

"I'm glad that puts you at ease, it's scaring the hell out of me!" Dan snapped.

"He was bleeding on the inside of his body, it was building pressure and making it hard for him to breathe," Pierce explained. Tonto began to breathe easier and lost a lot of the tension he had been holding.

"Now the hard part begins," Dr. Pierce said.

"Fantastic," Dan replied sarcastically and sat up to help him.