"You mean he's alive," Sarah asked watching as Doc and Newly pulled the hillman to his feet.

"Well, I sure as hell wouldn't be doing this with a corpse now would I young lady?" Doc said sarcastically as Newly grinned.

"Sarah," he said bringing the girl's attention back to himself. "You could help us out by finding out what was in that syringe since you know more than we do what kind of sedatives Harrington keeps in stock."

"Oh yeah," she said heading for the door. "Right away!"

"Doc," Kitty said watching Newly struggle to keep Festus on his feet. "Can I do anything?"

"Not at the moment Kitty," Doc said grabbing Festus face. "We got to bring him around soon or..."

"Here," Sarah said racing back into Festus room. "This is the only thing I found missing since last night."

Newly took the bottle and read the label. "That's a sedative alright," he said as Doc patted Festus on the face.

"C'mon you mangy mule," Doc said curtly. "Wake up and give me some of that Haggen wisdom."

"Tired," Festus muttered as Doc nodded.

"I'm sure you are but now isn't the time to sleep," Doc said slapping Festus face again.

The hillman muttered angrily as Doc smiled. "That's right," he said. "You just keep on talking."

"What'd he say," Kitty asked as Doc grinned.

"Something about comparing me to his mule," Doc replied.

* a few weeks later *

"There ya go again," Festus said grinning. "Ya make it to easy fer me Doc!"

Doc tugged at his earlobe as he looked over the checker board for a way around Festus latest move.

"I give up," he said throwing his hands into the air. "I swear, I don't know how you do it."

"It's all up here Doc," Festus said tapping his head as Matt smiled from his desk in the jail.

"What are you laughing at," Doc said scoffing.

"Nothing," Matt replied as Doc grabbed his hat and headed for the door.

"Sore loser," Festus muttered. "Just can't handle the fact that I'm smarter than he is!"

Matt just rolled his eyes as Festus opened the door. "Hey Doc! Wait a minute, ya can buy me a beer!"

Matt followed slowly and took a seat at the table in the back next to Kitty.

"It's all in how ya use yer brain Doc," Festus said as the physician pretended to be interested. "I do different things every day, don't ya see." You do the same ol thing every day!"

"That's called a career," Doc replied. "Something you'd know nothing about!"

"I gots me a career," Festus said evenly. "Deputy Marshal!"

"Oh, you do huh," Doc said mischievously. "Well, in that case you can buy this round of beer since you make such good money at your career and your so gosh darn smart!"

"Wal, now I didn't say that," Festus replied as Kitty laughed.

"Don't worry, I got this round Festus," Kitty said with a smile.

"I got a letter from George today," Doc said sipping his beer. "He won't be prosecuted for what those two orderlies of his did."

"Well, that's good news," Matt replied as Festus snorted.

"Don't even get me started bout that there place," he said looking at Doc. "All you quacks is ta same."

"I told you about that," Doc said angrily. "And another thing, I haven't forgotten about that crack you made about me and your mule."

"I never said anything bout you and Ruth," Festus said straight faced. "In fact if in I did, I would have just said he was a mite smarter than some people I know!"

Doc's face turned red as he got up and without a word, he headed for the door.

"And thats the truth," Festus said finishing his beer before following the old man outside.