After Festus finished the whiskey, he tossed the empty bottle away before struggling to his feet.

But he sat back down hard before taking a step as his empty stomach rebelled the onslaught of hard alcohol.

Suddenly, he was leaning over a dry log retching and throwing up everything in his stomach.

Matt check a few of the usual places that Festus usually liked to go before spotting Ruth tied up at the pond and the hill man slumped over next to the mule.

A cold chill ran down Matt's spine as he rushed to Festus side but it quickly abated when he realized his friend wasn't hurt but passed out drunk.

Grabbing his canteen, the Marshal opened the container and poured the water inside over the hill man's face.

"C'mom," Matt said pulling the deputy to his feet. "Let's get you back to Dodge!"

Matt got to his feet as Doc stepped out of his spare room and closed the door behind him.

"Is he awake," Matt asked as Doc shuffled over to the stove, the stethoscope around his neck moved from side to side with each step.

"Not yet," Doc replied helping himself to a cup of coffee.

"I need to talk to him as soon as he does," Matt said frustrated.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Matt," Doc said before taking a sip of coffee.

"Why?" Matt replied looking slightly confused. "He was just drunk?"

"It's more than that," Doc said walking to his desk, he took a seat in his chair before looking down at the medical text book on his desk. "I've seen solders on the field react in the same way Festus has."

"I don't understand what your telling me?" Matt said taking the seat next to Doc's desk.

Doc leaned back in his chair and Matt could see by the look on the physician's face that he was deep in thought.

"It's something like, battle exhaustion but basically, it's the human response to trauma," Doc said slowly. "Festus is having a hard time dealing with his friends death and the guilt associated with it so his mind is just shutting it out."

"But, he's witnessed shootings before and death," Matt replied meeting Doc's eyes. "Why is this any different?"

"Because it was someone he knew or was close to," Doc replied. "I don't know for certain but it could also be from the guilt he felt over his friends death. He could just as easily react this way if it had been you or I that had been killed."

"Well," Matt said evenly. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Do?" Doc replied quietly. "Matt, this isn't like a bullet. I just can't take it out and he'll be fine. There's nothing I can do, his mind just has to work though this."

Matt pursed his lips before he nodded. "I know what your saying, but I've got a US Marshal that's going to be coming here to question Festus about Halstead's murder. He's going to want to talk to him."

"As I said, I don't think..." Doc stated but trailed off when he head a scream from the other room.

Doc was on his feet and moving before Matt was aware of what was going on.

"Let me handle this, Matt," he said as the Marshal followed him into where Festus was sitting straight up in the bed.

"Jesse!"

"Festus," Doc said taking seat next to the hill man.

"I got to go see Jesse," Festus said throwing back the covers as Doc grabbed his shoulders.

"I know you do," Doc replied soothingly. "And you will but not right now. Right now, you need to rest."

"Can't," Festus said pulling away from the physician. "Jesse needs ma help!"

"Alright," Doc said with a slight nod before reaching for a glass on the night stand. "But before you go, just drink this first. It'll make you feel better."

Festus took the glass and downed the liquid in one gulp before handing the glass back to Doc.

"That's fine," Doc said wrapping his fingers around the hill man's wrist. "Now you can go."

Festus nodded and started to swing his legs to the side of the bed before slumping against the physician.

Doc gently maneuvered his patient back into bed before taking out his pocket watch and looking up at Matt.

"You can come in now," Doc said checking Festus pulse again. "He's out."

"What'd you give him?" Matt asked curiously.

"A sedative," Doc said putting away his pocket watch. "I figured he'd try to leave when he woke up so I had to be ready."

"Doc," Matt asked watching his friend sleep. "How long before he's back to normal?"

"I can't answer that, Matt," Doc replied quietly drawing the covers up to Festus chest. "It could be awhile, if ever."