Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Dukes of Hazzard Characters or any of the Magnificent Seven characters.

Warning: Again, this hasn't been beta-ed. I apologise in advance for all the grammatical and spelling errors.

Clinic.

Dixie sat on the edge of Joe's bed and gently brushed aside his curls. Joe still hadn't woken up from his drug induced sleep. "…and that's how Joe ended up here." Hank finished.

"Is he really going to be okay?" Dixie asked him.

"Nathan put something in his tea to put him to sleep. Should be wakin' up soon." Hank told her. "Now, Dieter. What did you hear Hogg say, exactly?"

Dieter, who was sitting on the cot, where Hank had slept yesterday, got up and walked over to the foot of the bed. "Well, Rufus told Thaddeus that he got a telegram that said he wanted the rest of his fee by today plus seventy percent of the profits." Dieter repeated what he heard, "They've already killed one person," He looked at Hank sadly, "Said that cost Thaddeus extra. Thaddeus ain't heartless, Hank. The killing was all the hired men's doin'." Hank nodded for Dieter to continue, "They told them that they will be sending another telegram once they arrived in Four Corners and check their bank for the money transfer."

Hank started making the connections, "I'm willing to bet the men we ran into yesterday were the same men Hogg hired. The question is why Hogg wants these men to run these people off their property." Hank packed back and forth along the window side of the room, "I need to speak to the peacekeep…"

"Dixie?" All eyes turned to the man in the bed. "Dixie, when'd you…get…here?" Joe had trouble getting the words past his dry throat.

"Here, have some water." Hank lifted Joe's head and placed the glass to his lips. He waited until Joe drained the glass before lowering his head back down.

"How are you feeling, Joe?" Dixie asked as she placed a hand against his cheeks.

"Good, Dixie. Don't worry about me. How long have I been out?"

"It's late afternoon now." Hank answered him.

"I slept the day away? What did Nathan give me?" Joe complained. He pushed himself up so that he was sitting against the head of the bed. "Why are you and Dieter here so early?"

Dieter sighed, "How many time do I have to tell what I heard?"

"Wait, Dieter. I think we need to tell the peacekeepers everythin'. This is their town, after'all." He turned to Hank. "You think you're feelin' up ta walkin' to the Saloon?"

"I'm afraid if I stay here any longer, Nathan will come in and drug me some more." Joe pushed the covers off. "Where's my stuff?"

"Here," Hank waited for Joe to stand before handing him his stuff. Joe pushed himself off the bed, but the change in position seemed to disagree with him. He didn't even know he was fallin' over until Hank and Dieter grabbed him and sat him back down. Putting a hand to his head, he closed his eyes, trying to stop his head from spinning.

"Joe, maybe we should…"

"What is going on in here?" Nathan walked in to find two strangers, and Hank standing over Joe. "And why are you up?" He ignored the lady and the man with the grey beard and headed straight to Joe. Hank got out of his way. Kneeling down, he brought the side light over to Joe and lifted his head. "Look at me." Joe opened his eyes. "Follow my finger." Joe did to his satisfaction. He put the light back on the table and turned back to his patient. "You're fine, but you shouldn't be up so soon."

"Aw come on, Nathan. You let Ms Wells out of here the same day." Joe complained.

"That's only because you needed to be here more and she's still in bed at the boarding house. I've been checking on her as well."

"Is my cousin going to be okay?" Nathan almost forgot there were other people in the room. He looked up at the lady who had posed the question.

"He'll be fine as long as he rests." Nathan answered, then held out his hand to her, "Nathan Jackson."

"I'm Dixie Duke, Hank and Joe's cousin. This is our friend, Dieter."

"Please to meet you, Dr Jackson."

Nathan shook his hand, "Just Nathan is fine. I'm a healer."

"Joe, maybe it's better if you stay here for the rest of the night." Dixie suggested to her cousin.

"Dixie, I just got a little dizzy." He held out a hand behind him. She took it. He led her around the bed and pulled her down for a hug. "You heard the doctor. I'm okay." He whispered in her ear. She nodded and pulled back.

"Don't push yourself." She ordered.

"Nathan, Dieter's got some really important information y'all need to know. It's about the men who attacked Ms Wells." Hank told him.

Nathan nodded, "Any reason why you can't tell me now and I'll tell the others."

Hank shook his head, "Like it or not, we're a part of this now. Those men might have seen me and Joe and if they have, they'll be gunnin' for us. We ain't sittin' back."

Nathan hesitated, he didn't want to let Joe out yet, but he figured he couldn't keep him down for long. "Okay, I'll make you the same deal I made Nettie. You go, but come straight back when I say so."

"Deal. Whoooh! Let's go." Joe didn't even hesitate, making the others chuckle at his antics. Hank helped him with his jacket and belt and left the clinic for the saloon.

"Y'all head over there, I'll round up the others." Nathan told them and headed towards the church.


In the shadow of the alley between the undertaker and the Gem Hotel was a young man, name Jeremy Clark. Jeremy idolised his leader Frank Audron and would anything to prove himself. Frank told him to go to the bank and see if the money had been wired to the fake account they used for this job, and then return to camp straight away. The money had not arrived. Frank would not be happy. He didn't like the thought of bringing back bad news, so decided on staying in town for another half an hour and see if he can find out anything interesting. He was pleased when three men and one beautiful woman, walked passed him. He would admit that it was the woman who had caught his eye first, but it was the taller man he recognised. He was there when Jake was shot and judging by the look of him, and the others hovered around him, he wasn't at full health. Frank would find this interesting. Quickly, he left the town via the back of the buildings.


Saloon.

The Saloon was cleared out for the rest of the day for the little impromptu meeting they were about to have. Josiah stood at the door, so that he could keep an eye on the town as well as listen in. Inez walked over with a few jugs of beer and glasses for everyone before leaving for the day. She gave Buck a dirty look before she left out the front door.

"What did you do now, Buck?" J.D asked him, exasperated.

"Nothin'!" Buck truly didn't know what he did wrong to deserve that look of contempt from the feisty Mexican.

"I hope I didn't cause any trouble for you and that pretty lady, Buck." Dixie said in her sultry voice.

Buck looked at her, shaking his head, "No…no…there's nothin' goin' on 'tween me and In…hey, she's jealous! Ha!" Buck slapped J.D on the back, causing him to spill his beer, "I told ya she liked…"

"Buck!" Chris growled, "Now's not the time."

Buck cleared his throat and straightened up, "Right, of course."

All the tables and chairs were pushed to the side of the saloon besides the one table and chairs needed for the meeting. They sat in a circle. Nathan sat opposite Joe, so that he could gage his condition as the meeting went on.

"Nathan says you have some important information for us." Chris began.

"We do." Hank said, in an almost challenging tone. Joe and Vin sighed at the same time. This was going to be fun. Vin kept a hand on Chris's shoulder to stop him from losing his temper. "Dieter, here, overheard Thaddeus Hogg over in Sleepy City talking about the men he hired to run people off their property. They said they've already killed one man and were headed to Four Corners." That got everyone's attention.

J.D looked at Chris, "Do you think it's the same gang the Sheriff at Sweetwater warned us about?"

"Too much of a coincidence if it ain't." Vin drawled.

Joe looked at the seven peacekeepers, hoping for some more information. Vin provided it. "We got a telegram a coupl'a days ago. A gang of five men are riding over, running people off there property."

"The men at Ms Wells place." Joe looked at his cousin, "There were five of them." Hank nodded.

"Dieter overheard Thaddeus the day y'all left. They got to be the same gang." Dixie added.

"What I don't get is why Hogg want families run off their land?" Hank said.

"It ain't the first time someone's tried to run Nettie off her property." Chris revealed, "It's rumoured that the government wants to build a railroad through the area, anyone with property along that line will…

"Be paid a some of money to relocate." Hank finished, catching on what was happening. "Anyone owning all the properties would be makin' quite a bit of money. Sounds like somethin' Hogg would get himself into."

"What else did you hear?" Chris asked Dieter, now extremely interested in the details.

"They said they'll be in contact today and they'll be checking the bank for their fee." Dieter provided.

"I saw a boy in the telegraph office. The clerk there said the boy," Hank stopped to think, "Tommy, that's his name, was helping a man out. He wouldn't tell me what the telegram said."

"Mr Larabee, might I suggest we dispatch a colleague to procure the said telegram from Mr Abbey, at haste?" Ezra asked his leader.

Joe leaned over to Hank. "I think I might've hit my head harder than I thought. That man didn't sound like he was speakin' English." He whispered to his cousin, loud enough for the whole room to hear.

Everyone but Chris and Ezra snickered, "Excuse me, Mr…"

"Duke." Joe provided, realising they hadn't made any formal introductions yet.

"Mr Duke, I am the only fine gentleman in this establishment to be conversing in felicitous English."

Joe narrowed his eyes, "what English?"

"Don't bother, Joe. We've known him for a year now and we still only understand half of what he says." Vin chuckled.

"Good, was startin' to think I was losin' my mind." Joe said, relieved there wasn't anything wrong with him.

"I think he speaks beautifully." Dixie smiled at Ezra.

"Thank you, Ms Duke. I have finally found a personage whom which appreciates the fine English language and not the butchery spoken by my colleagues." Ezra tipped his hat to her.

"Mrs." Hank said.

"I'm sorry, Mr Duke, I fail to understand." Ezra looked at him confused.

"It's Mrs Duke. Dixie is married to my cousin, Michael Duke." Ezra looked away, embarrassed that someone might think he was trying to court a married woman. Buck tried to hide under his hat, while everyone knows he had no conscience when it came to married women, he did not want to be on the receiving end of Hank's anger. "I ain't going to shoot y'all because y'all didn't know, but I would appreciate it if you don't try and convey your love to her."

Dixie covered her mouth to stop from laughing. She deliberately never revealed she was married because she knew her cousin will be more than happy to make the revelation and she enjoyed seeing the men uncomfortable. The boys didn't mind and neither did Michael. The trusted her to stay faithful to her husband.

"Alright, everyone, back to the situation at hand. J.D go over to the office and get that telegram."

"You should go to the bank to see if anyone unfamiliar has been in. If not, we should stake it out. Dieter said they'll be checking it when they get here and we know they're here." Hank suggested. Larabee nodded to J.D and the kid went to complete the job given to him.

Chris looked over at Dieter. "Is there anything else?" Dieter shook his head. "Thank you for your information, Mr…"

"Davenport." Dieter provided.

"Might I make another suggestion, Mr Larabee?" Chris sighed, gesturing with his hand that he had the floor. "I don't believe we have formally introduced ourselves. If we are to be cooperating with these fine gentlemen…" Ezra looked over at Dixie, who had cleared her throat and gave him a sweet smile, "and this beautiful lady," he added, Dixie blew him a kiss which just made him uncomfortable. Joe and Hank rolled their eyes. "I believe formal introductions are in order."

"Just get on with it, Ezra." Chris shook his head. "And make it short."

"Of course, Mr Larabee." Ezra gestured to himself, about to start the introductions when Joe interrupted him.

"Um…sorry, Sir, but I have a headache." Nathan sat up but Joe waved him back down. "Could someone who speaks butchery make the introductions?" Everyone in the saloon, but Ezra, burst out laughing, even Chris cracked a smile.

"I'll do it." Buck pushed, a very insulted Ezra, back into his seat. Walking around the each man, he introduced them. "This is our leader, Chris Larabee. He doesn't smile much but…"

"Cut the crap, Buck." Chris interrupted.

"Fine, if you want me to be boring." Buck pouted, he walked up to Vin. "Vin, our sharpshooter, can shot the wings off a fly from a mile away," It had become natural to not announce Vin's last name. Hank looked at Vin, curiously, not sure why this man suddenly seemed familiar to him. "Also, resident tracker. His tracking skills are only rivalled by his shooting skills."

"Buck…"

"I know, I know…cut the crap." He walked over to Nathan, "No introductions needed here, but you should know he's deadly with a knife." Joe and Hank found it hard to believe that the healer could be considered deadly with anything. "Over by the door is the preacher, Josiah Sanchez." Josiah nodded to them before turning back to watching the town. Buck came back around to Ezra. "Ezra P. Standish. Don't play poker with him, he cheats."

Ezra got off his seat so fast, he knocked it over. "Mr Wilmington, I must object. I am a gentleman of the first water and my monetary gains over the gambling table are due to skill and not the slight of hand."

Buck waived at him to sit back down. "Calm down, Ezra, geez, I was just joking." He thought about that then said, "Well, half joking. He may not cheat but don't play poker with him." Ezra frowned at him but set his seat back upright and sat down. "I'm Buck Wilmington. A ladies' man, even if I do say so myself." Buck made as if the were straightening his tie and wagged his eyebrows at Dixie, making her giggle. He cleared his throat when a growl was heard, coming from Hank. Joe just shook his head at the ladies' man. Buck was going to get what was coming to him if he didn't watch out. "And that comes to…" J.D burst through the door then, huffing, "J.D Dunne! Calm down J.D, your tail on fire or somethin'?"

J.D shook his head and held up a piece of paper, "I got the telegram."

Chris and Hank both sat up, "What's it say?" They asked together, then looking at each other, annoyed.

Joe put a hand on Hank's shoulder, "They're the law and this is their town." Joe reminded him softly. Hank visibly relaxed.

J.D was looking at both of them. Not sure who he should be answering to. "Don't just stand there, J.D, read the telegram!" Buck nudged him.

J.D looked at the paper in his hand and read the telegram, "Arrived in Four Corners stop wire the money stop will check at four oclock stop it better be there stop." J.D looked up at his leader when he finished, "There's another one." Larabee nodded for J.D to continue, "Jake dead stop Four Corners stop meet at camp stop."

"They're calling in reinforcements." Hank spoke the realisation out loud. "We need to prepare."

"Not we, us. Like your cousin said, we're the law here." Chris's voice broke no argument, but Hank didn't care.

"Without us, you wouldn't even know they're coming. Like it or not, we will be a part of this." Hank wasn't going to budge.

Joe closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck. He was beginning to get tired of the tension between his cousin and Larabee, but he also agreed with Hank. "Mr Larabee, me and my cousins weren't brought up to run away from trouble or to sit on the sidelines." Joe looked at Vin when he said this. It didn't take him long to notice that Vin was the best way of convincing Larabee of anything.

Vin nodded, "They're already a part of this, Cowboy." He said softly. "And you and Hank, here, better work things out. I'm gettin' mighty sick of all the alpha male crap going on."

"There's no alpha male crap going on. This is my town and my men. I ain't working with men I barely know. Ain't risking my men's lives because two cowboys want to prove themselves."

Hank sprung up, his chair causing a loud bang in the silent room, as it fell back. "Prove ourselves! To who? You? Your men?" Hank challenged. "We have nothin' to prove to any of ya. Especially not to a man who can't even admit that he arrested the wrong people. You want us to leave? Fine, Joe, Dixie, we're leaving at first light tomorrow. These men clearly got all they need out of us." Dixie looked over at Joe, worried about him riding. Joe smiled back at her.

"If that's what you want, Hank." Joe said, standing up and backing his cousin. "We thank ya, Nathan fer ya help, but Hank's right. We should be leavin'."

Nathan got up, "Hank, Joe shouldn't be riding so soon."

Hank looked at Joe, clearly starting to regret he let his temper and pride get the better of him. Joe shook his head slightly, telling Hank he'd be okay. "I'm feelin' much better, but if you don't mind, some of that tea to bring on the road would be appreciated."

Nathan nodded, conceding defeat. "Alright, but I still want you to stay at the clinic for tonight." Joe smiled at the compassionate healer and nodded.

"Let's go, Hank. Dixie, where are you and Dieter staying?" Joe asked them.

Dixie's eyes widened and put a hand to her mouth. "I plum forgot about finding a place to stay." She turned to Ezra, "Mr Standish, where did you take my bags?"

Ezra looked at her apologetically, "My apologies, Mrs Duke. It seems I have overlooked the act of relinquishing the details of your stay to you." Joe's head was really starting to pound and this man's vocabulary was not helping him. He gave up trying to decipher what Ezra said. "I have procured two rooms at Virginia's Hotel, only a store's distance from Mr Jackson's vicinity. I believe it is to your satisfaction seeing as how you will not be far from Mr Duke."

"It will do, Mr Standish. Thank you so much for your assistance." Daisy gave a slight curtsy before heading out the door with Dieter, Joe and Hank following.

The saloon was silent after the Dukes left. No one was saying anything, but they all had a lot to say. Chris looked at each of his men. They were all looking at him but when his gaze met their, they turned away. Vin and Nathan were the only one's to not turn away.

Nathan looked at Larabee, angry for driving these men out of town. "Joe's hurt, Chris and it's our fault. He shouldn't be riding tomorrow."

"I didn't tell them to leave town, Nathan. I just don't want them involved with catching this gang." Chris defended himself.

"The gang's out there, Chris, and more men are joining them. It's dangerous for the four of them to be out there, especially if they're recognised." Vin put in. "Even if Joe is fine. Four against," Vin shrugged, "seven, eight, maybe even ten, that ain't good odds." Vin's voice was soft, but it was the words that had an impact.

"They leave tomorrow, they're as good as dead." Buck agreed.

"Is it not our occupation to protect all in this town's border?" Ezra asked simply.

"I don't really like that Hank, guy, but the rest of them are real nice, and I kinda feel like I owe them. I weren't real nice to them at the jailhouse." J.D said guiltily.

"All men are brothers." Josiah said.

Chris glared at each of them. "Y'all done?"

"Depends on you, cowboy." Vin smiled at him, knowing they had gotten through the stubborn man.

"I'll go talk to him."


Clinic

Joe and Hank had walked Dixie and Dieter to Virginia's hotel before bidding them good night and heading for the clinic. Hank sat on the cot as Joe took off his jacket, gun belt and shirt, getting ready for a night's sleep. Joe's complexion was still quite pale, especially after sitting in the saloon for that extended period of time. Nathan was right, Joe wasn't ready to ride out. "Joe, maybe we can wait another day before riding out."

Joe laughed, "After everythin' you said to Larabee." Joe shook his head, "No way. You stay and they'll think you're nothin' but hot air. I ain't letting them think that. Anyway, a night's sleep and I'll be right to go." Joe got under the covers.

"Joe…"

"Hank. Go to sleep. We have a long ride tomorrow." Joe closed his eyes. Hank smiled. Joe always did make complicated situations seem simple. He only hoped his pride didn't cost his cousin his life. A soft knock came from the door. "Dang it, can't a man get a decent night's sleep." Joe grumbled, opening his eyes and lifting his head. The door opened, revealing Nathan, Vin and Chris. Joe dropped his head back, wishing this night would end.

"Sorry, Joe, Hank." Nathan said, "Chris and Vin were hoping to speak with Hank."

"I got nothing to say to him." Hank answered through a clenched jaw.

"Dang it!" They all looked at the annoyed man in the bed. "Hank, will you just go with them so I can sleep?"

"I ain't leavin' ya here alone." Hank returned. Joe closed his eyes, defeated. He knew he wouldn't be able to convince Hank that he would be safe here.

"I'll keep an eye on him." Nathan promised. Joe kept his eyes closed and prayed Hank would go with Chris and Vin, so that they could solve their differences. He didn't want to leave only because he didn't think it was right to leave these men to face the gang on their own. An extra four guns could make all the difference.

"I'll be back soon, Joe." Hank said. Only Joe's smile told him that he had heard.


In the small alley way of Bucklin's General store and the Gem Hotel, three men had been hiding there since the sun had set. They saw the man they wanted go up the room above the clinic with another man. Guessing he was the other guy that had shot at them at the Wells property, they were about to head up there to capture them when three more men headed that way. Cursing their luck, the three men waited. It wasn't long before three men came out of the clinic and down the stairs. They waited until the men turned a corner near the saloon before they headed towards the clinic. Frank Audron will get his revenge.