A/N: All previous disclaimers apply; please see Chapter 1.

Not beta'd. All mistakes are my own.

Chapter 7

They got as close as they were willing to get. Vin looked through his spyglass what he saw left a bad taste in his mouth. Damn, Chris was right they're assassins. Wonder if they were hired to kill Jesse. That fancy piece known as a rifle that woman was cleaning rivaled the one Lucius Stutz had previously owned. There was not a doubt in his mind what that woman and man had been hired to do.

"We need to warn Kojay and Chris." Another tap upon Vin's shoulders had him looking back across the expanse of the valley. "Looks like reinforcements are on the way. Chanu see if you can get a message to our friends. We're going to need their help as well."

A little while later Vin stood near his friend discussing all he had seen. "You were right, Chris. They're hired assassins."

Jesse's back went rigid. Chris placed a hand on his shoulder, "I ain't going to let anything happen to you son."

He nodded in understanding. "What about you, pa? It might not be me they're after."

"Kid has a point. Maybe they drew on him to draw you out."

Chris nodded once in Vin's direction. "That's a possibility. Where are the others?"

"Sent Chanu and Jonaieh to let them know our position.

"Suspect we'll have trouble tonight?"

"Nah, probably trying to figure out how to get past our friends here, why don't you two get some rest? I'm sure we'll have an early day tomorrow. I'm going to wait until I hear from Chanu."

"Watch your back."

Chris had made up his mind sometime during the night. "We need to move our fight elsewhere. I don't want innocents killed."

Kojay understood. He, too, did not want his people in the middle.

"Thank you for looking after my son and the sound advice."

"I think the healing has begun. Remember, you must not only listen, but to listen to one another."

Vin grasped forearms with the Chief and then in turn with Chanu. "I reckon it will be up to me to make sure they do. Thanks my friend. It's time we finished this."

"May the Great Spirit watch over you."

The three mounted their horses and rode off to rendezvous with the others.

"Think you two can stay out of trouble while the rest of us go hunting?"

"We'll try, though I ain't going to guarantee nothing."

"Fair enough, we'll see you in a few days." This time five rode away leaving two.

"You're not eating, why?"

"Somethin' don't feel right." Jesse's eyes kept darting over the landscape. He lowered his voice some. "I can't see anything but I think we're being watched."

"Calm down." Chris barely moved his head as the report of a rifle echoed across the lay of the land. It found its mark as it tore through flesh and muscle. He couldn't stop the cry from leaving his lips. Grimacing he said, "Douse the fire."

Jesse quickly put it out, but not before another bullet hit crippling Chris even further. He watched in horror as Chris crumpled to the ground. That second bullet embedded itself in Chris' thigh. "Pa!"

"Jesse go! Find the others!"

Disbelief and anger settled in as Jesse fired back at whichever way the bullets had come from. "Listen to me! Go find the others!"

"No! I'm not leaving you!" Jesse was next to Chris trying to pull him to his feet.

Chris struggled. His fist clutched a handful of his son's shirt and yanked him closer. He had been about to say more, but Jesse beat him to it.

"You listen to me! I ain't losin' you and you're not giving up! We can do this together!" He helped his pa to a standing position. "Don't you see they want to separate us? It ain't goin' to happen."

Chris leaned heavily upon his son. He thought if they got out of this mess alive he and Jesse were going to have a very long discussion on following orders. The first step and every step thereafter became excruciatingly painful.

The darkness of the night helped them against their foes, yet their blundering footsteps no doubt kept them on their trail. "Jesse," Chris hissed. "Not sure if I can keep this pace up."

"You can do it pa. I'm sure the others have heard the gunfire and are headed this way. We're going to find a safe place and then I'm going to have a look at your wounds."

Jesse knew his pa was tiring from the loss of blood, but first they needed to lose the vermin before he found them a safe place to lay low. They came upon a small stream. "Pa, we need to get in the stream. I'm going to help you it won't be that deep you just need to keep a hold on me. Got to slow 'em down a bit, get 'em off of our trail."

As soon as they stepped into that cold water, Chris swore. "Damn it Jesse!" He stopped, but Jesse got right back in his face.

"I ain't giving up and neither are you! You can either thank me or whip me later, but I ain't leaving you! I'm sorry pa, but it's the only way we can lose them." At least for a little while, he told himself.

By the time Jesse hauled his father out of the stream they were both chilled to the bone. Great Jess, you won't have to worry about them finishing you or your pa; you'll both die from extreme exposure.

Chris tried talking, but found it extremely difficult. "Je…Jes…"

"I'm…m..m..m…work…ing…on.n.n..it." They both fell to the ground. "Come on…p…p…pa…just a lit..tle…b..bi..bit…fur…ther." He prodded his father some. They both struggled to their feet.

The pain was getting to be too much, but he had to keep going for the kid. Although he was chilled he gritted his chattering teeth and tried to indicate to Jesse where they could find shelter. At first Jesse didn't understand why his pa was trying to disengage himself from his son, although after a slight pause he thought he saw something that might resemble some sort of shelter from the cool breeze that had sprung up from nowhere.

"You m…m…made…your p…p…point. I s…see it. Let's g…get you over th…there."

It looked like an abandoned cabin, but anything was better than the wind. Yet as they stumbled through the doorway, Jesse had a mind to disagree. The place was a hovel pretending to be a cabin. "I don't know about you, but I think it's warmer outside than it is in here."

The only answer Chris could form was a groan. "Pa!" Jesse tore open the sleeve of his pa's shirt to get a better look at the wound. Then he took his bandana off and tied it around his pa's thigh. "Nathan ain't going to like this one. That bullet didn't find its way out like the one in your arm."

"Think you…can…dig it out?"

"I ain't even going to try. My hands are not quite as steady as I would like them to be. Besides, I need to get back to that stream and get ya some water. I'll try not to be long."

"Better reload before you go."

Chris must have been more coherent than Jesse had previously thought. When he came back he found he was on the receiving end of his pa's colt. "Whoa there it's me." He waited until Chris lowered his gun before coming in with the water. Whew. "Weren't taking any chances were you?"

"Nope, seeing how they've already put a few holes in me."

"I've been wonderin' if you've been the target. Those bullets were precise or they knew exactly what you'd do in that particular situation."

It was his pa's turn to apologize. "Reckon you're right."

Jesse knew that was as close to an apology as he would receive. "And you think I'm stubborn."

He began his attempt to stop the bleeding on Chris' upper arm. Jesse took a knife to his own shirt and tore strips off of it. Chris winced and hissed in pain as Jesse wrapped the strips around and tied it in place in order to stop the bleeding.

Through gritted teeth Chris asked. "See anyone?"

The kid answered as he held the canteen to his pa's mouth allowing him a small drink. "I think we're safe for a little while. They have a fifty/fifty chance on whether they picked the right direction. I'm almost wishing we went downstream."

"Where did you get the canteen?" Chris said pushing the canteen away.

"It came upstream on its own." His attempt to lighten the mood fell flat when Jesse caught sight of Chris' alarm and he hurriedly explained. "Rogue found me. He's out back. I didn't see Pony. I'm hoping he went in search for the others."

"He's probably our only hope."

The noise coming through the brush scattered every living creature this way and that.

"Damn it! Didn't I tell ya we should have waited 'til morning's light?" The woman scowled fiercely at the man beside her.

"Bet they travelled upstream."

Hands on her hips she asked. "What makes you so damn sure they went upstream and not down?"

"Sweetheart, if you don't learn to control that temper of yours it will be your undoing."

She knew whenever she got extremely irate her natural accent betrayed her. She was infuriated that a wounded man and his blasted son gave them the slip. She also knew that the other peacekeepers were undoubtedly hot on their trail. In an attempt to calm herself, she squatted down watching as Randall searched the ground.

They were both dismayed when the blood trail had stopped at the stream. She thought she had the boy pegged, but the brat somehow did the unexpected. Wounding Larabee had been Randall's idea. He figured as well as she did that he would send the boy to get the others. Not once did they anticipate the boy to be such a worthy opponent.

Something nudged him while he slept. "Jesse, wake up." His eyelids fluttered sleepily as the annoying nudge tapped him again. Finally an impromptu poke brought Jesse out of his sleep.

An irritable growl accompanied his response. "Fine, I'm awake." The boy rolled over and met Chris' flushed features. "Aw hell."

"We're leaving now."

No matter how weak or injured Chris might have been his tone of authority never ceased to waver, which Jesse found truly amazing. He helped Chris to stand then to walk the short distance to where Rogue waited for them.

They were both winded from the short excursion. Yet they both knew that if they didn't keep at it they would not get out of this alive. Jesse helped Chris up and into the saddle. The kid was gasping for breath from the effort. He didn't have the strength to pull himself up behind his pa, since the strength he had earlier had completely vanished. He was thinking maybe it would be better if they left him behind.

A familiar set of words greeted his ears. "Not leaving without ya."

If the situation wasn't so dire he would have laughed. Instead he rolled his eyes, leaned heavily against Rogue's flank until he felt an arm tugging at his shirt.

"We're burning daylight. Come on, I'll help you on up."

Jesse scoffed, "You and what army? You could barely throw a leg over that saddle."

"Quit complaining and get moving." Chris warned his son. His temperament had begun to flare, since he was feeling so poorly. For emphasis he added, "Now!"

His son answered with a disgruntled, "Yes sir." He grudgingly obeyed Chris' order. After a few more grunts and groans Jesse managed to haul himself up behind his pa. His renewed efforts cost him dearly. A heavy coating of perspiration covered his face, while his body shook unmercifully from the added exertion. Although he was glad that he made it up he also fervently prayed he wouldn't fall off. His voice sounded strange even to himself as he rasped, "Find the others Rogue."

"Hope we find them and soon. Makes me wonder if Rogue is with them or not, he's as damn temperamental like Peso, if not worse. Glad Pony has some sense." Nathan commented.

Josiah added, "Vin won't stop until he finds them. He feels pretty torn up inside since he lost the trail on those other two. Plus finding them shell casings along with the blood hasn't helped matters."

"As far as he could tell, the horses scattered and we're following their trail on foot. If anyone can find them, it's Vin. He'll do right by them." Their mustached companion answered.

"There's not a doubt in my mind that one of them is injured and I don't relish the idea of either one."

"Or possibly both," Ezra surmised.

They all turned their heads as J.D. shouted, "Hey! Vin's found some more tracks!"

The men headed in that direction all praying they would find their lost friends before their enemy.

Sometime later Nathan got on Vin about the need to rest.

Vin tried not to show his displeasure, but the words got his point across. "Somethin' tells me they're not resting. If they can't than neither will I."

Buck, partially afraid of a bigger argument, intervened on Vin's behalf. "Nathan, you know how he is. He and Chris share that strange bond and if he feels it, let him be."

"If he falls over he won't be good to them or us!" Nathan's voice betrayed him by raising another octave showing everyone just how stressful the situation had become.

"Easy brothers, we all want to find Chris and Jesse."

Vin touched his hat brim. He continued to examine the ground then gave them the bad news. "Looks to me like Ms. Whitfield and her partner are hot on their heels. Those tracks are older," Indicating to the others the ones made by their friends. "While these are fresher, they're going to have company real soon."

A nervous Buck asked, "How far behind are they?"

"I reckon at least half a day."

Ezra shook his head. "Gentlemen, instead of talking I think we need to start riding. This game of hide and seek is about to have deadly consequences I believe."

The rest nodded in agreement and continued to follow the assassins' trail until they came to the stream. "This complicates matters, looks like the kid is now in charge."

"How did you figure that?" J.D. wondered.

"More than likely Chris is wounded and Jesse's bearing his weight. His boot prints are deeper here." Vin pointed to the ground in front of them.

Buck scratched his head. "Huh, imagine that. What else have you concluded?"

"I'm betting Chris told him to run and save himself." The rest nodded in agreement, because that was so typical of Chris. "And since the kid ain't standing here with us he probably took matters into his own hands."

"I see your point. I bet Chris was livid."

"Wouldn't expect anything less," He continued to study the tracks. "We need to cross the stream, and then see which way they headed: up or down. My guess is Chris was leaving a blood trail. Jesse was more than likely hoping the water, being as cold as it is, would possibly slow down or put a stop to the bleeding. If the bleeding stopped or slowed down they might have the chance to lose their trackers and find a safe place to lay low."

"Smart kid," Buck added. "Well, let's quit lollygagging and cross this here stream."

Several yards upstream Vin picked up the trail once more. Soon it became apparent that they were within earshot of someone's camp. The breeze carried the distinct smell of a campfire. Vin motioned to Josiah and Ezra to slowly approach from the left while J.D. and Nathan came from the right. He and Buck would continue straight up the middle. As soon as they were close enough, they stealthily approached on foot. Guns were readily drawn anticipating a fight.

The bickering of voices could be heard over the snap, crackle, and hiss of the fire. As soon as the men were in place they waited for the signal. Buck aimed his rifle and nicked the log on which the man sat. Splinters scattered in its wake.

Randall, surprised by the shot, fell over backwards. Daphne grabbed her gun and began firing. Vin fired his mares leg forcing the woman to take cover as well.

Ezra and Josiah began to shoot along with Nathan and J.D. They advanced upon the ones who created this mess.

The gambler shouted, "Hold it right there!"

Daphne had been about to take aim as Josiah announced. "I wouldn't try that if I were you. Not unless you want to meet your maker. I suggest you throw down your guns while you still can."

Seeing her hesitation, Buck emphasized. "You heard the man, throw them down!"

Daphne batted her long eyelashes at her former beau. "Buck, darling, don't you trust me?"

"Hell no! That sweet talk ain't going to work on me no more. You and your partner there are in a heap of trouble."

"Daphne, they're right. I think it's time we concede to their wishes." Randall slowly lowered his rifle to the ground.

The ruse worked. As all eyes focused on Randall, Daphne made a daring move only to scream in pain as Vin peeled off a shot to disarm her.

"You bastard! How dare you?" All lady-like mannerisms were flung to the wayside.

"You gave me cause. Be glad I only winged ya. Next time you won't be so lucky." He watched as she gripped her bleeding hand while she openly glared at him.

"J.D.! Josiah! Tie them up. Make sure it's good and tight."

"Vin, where you going?"

He had seen movement just beyond the stand of trees. "Need to check on something."

Nathan nodded then said, "Buck, why don't you go with him?"

The ladies' man was more than happy to accompany the tracker and leave this scene.

As they approached the stand of trees Buck asked Vin, "Do you think it was Chris?"

"Not sure." At that precise moment a horse whinnied.

In unison they said, "Rogue." They breathed a sigh of relief. However the sight that met them brought both to a standstill. "Chris! Jesse!"

A feeble sounding voice answered. "Buck, grab the kid before he falls off."

"Hell Chris, you both look as if you'll fall off."

"Just do it."

Buck hauled Jesse over to his horse. "Damn Chris, he's burning up."

Jesse squirmed while murmuring, "I'm fine."

"I swear you two are cut from the same cloth." No sooner had the words left Buck's mouth Jesse started to fight back. "Hey! Ease up, it's Buck!"

The kid softly muttered an apology.

Chris nearly jumped out of his skin when Vin placed a hand upon his forehead. "Let's get back to the others. He too is burning up."

By the time they got back their pursuers had been subdued. "Nathan, we need your assistance."

Nathan barked out orders as J.D. and Ezra kept watch over their prisoners.