Matt walked Kitty back to the Long Branch, "I didn't like the look in Doc's eyes. He has something on his mind," the marshal said.

"I think he's just worry about Festus and this whole situation," Kitty looked back toward the alley and the stairs. "I'm sure once you've had a chance to talk to him, he'll come around," Kitty said as she looked back at Matt.

Matt pursed his lips, "I'm not so sure about that," he said. "But I'll give him some time to finish up with Festus before I bother him," Matt sighed. "I just can't understand why this happened. I'm certain Doc didn't shoot Festus," Matt said looking over to the stairs and back at Kitty, "It's as if someone was waiting for them. Or Festus. I don't know," he sighed.

"But who could it have been. Someone must have known Doc had that gun," Kitty said.

Matt shrugged, "Maybe. Maybe not," he said.

"Come on," Kitty took Matt by the arm, "I'll buy you a drink," she said. "And then I'll take one up to Doc al little later," she smiled, "I'm sure he could use it."

Matt nodded, "He's good at hiding his nerves, that's for sure," Matt frowned. "And his thoughts," he added as he followed Kitty into the saloon.

Doc had finished with cleaning incision and dressed it temporality. He knew Festus wasn't going to stir until sometime in the morning, and the temporary bandage would hold until then.

Doc moved his instruments to a basin filled with rubbing alcohol and hot water. He moved the little metal table back to where it was stored and on his way back to his deck he paused. He remembered he had a bottle of brandy in the wooden highboy that he kept blankets in. Doc opened the door and pulled a blanket out and the bottle. Doc nodded and walked over to his desk where he set the bottle down before he covered Festus with the clean blanket.

Doc fussed with the blanket a little more, before he turned his attention to the bottle on his desk. It was a very rare occasion that Doc took a drink along and on this one, he might stop at just one, he thought.

The doctor picked up a glass and poured the amber liquid, filling the glass half way. He pursed his lips before he took a sip. He sighed as he could feel the burn in his throat. He sat in his chair at his desk and tried to reason why all of this was happening and the only logical thing was that someone had it out for Festus. He drank some more. Or maybe someone had it out for him and they mistook Festus as him in the darkness of the livery stable.

Doc took another sip. Maybe someone was just trying to steal a horse and Festus and he were in their way.

Before long, Doc had finished the glass of brandy and poured more. This time a little more than before. Doc looked over to Festus, "I didn't mean to yell at you," he spoke softly. "I just don't like to see my friends fail," he said as he took another mouthful of drink. His feeling of remorse grew heavier upon him. Doc's eyebrow's furrowed, "Whoever did this will pay," she slurred and began to grow angry that he was set up the way he was. "Someone knows who did it," he said and swallowed another gulp of brandy.

Doc slowly stood and walked over to the examination table and looked down at Festus, "I'm sorry ole boy," he said in a hushed voice as he fussed a little with the blanket. Doc wavered slightly on his feet as he moved back to his desk and filled the glass for the third time.

As he looked around his office and drank from the glass he decided that he needed to take a proactive approach to this situation. Doc finished the glass and set it down next to the now nearly empty bottle. He decided that there wasn't much more he could do for Festus at the moment, so he was going to go down to the livery stable and poke around to see if he could find any more clues. Doc's reasoning was just a bit off.

Doc walked to the door of the office and took a last look over his shoulder to the deputy on his examination table. He nodded to himself and then pulled the door open - the stiff night breeze didn't affect him at all. Doc drew his hand across his moustache and he made his way down to the boardwalk like a man with a mission.

The doctor ambled down the boardwalk, sometime stopping to prop himself up as the brandy finally was taking hold of him. Again he drew his hand across his moustache and steadied himself as he made his way to the livery stable.

The night was quiet and there was no one on the street. Doc edged himself along and stopped at the entrance of the stable. He wavered on his feet as he placed one before the other and stumbled inside. Doc caught a post and pulled himself up as he looked around. He figured whoever shot Festus must have made his way through the opening left at the back of the stable.

Doc stumbled along and looked around for clues. What he was looking for he had no idea. Maybe, he thought, that the third glass of brandy was a bad idea.

Doc reached the area where Festus had been working and looked around. Nothing was looking like a clue. In fact nothing was looking like anything as Doc took a step backward and landed on his behind. He sighed and tried to right himself but a wave of nausea swept over him. Doc remained seated until he flopped backwards and passed out.

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Matt tipped his hat, "Thanks for the drink, Kitty. I'll let you know what Doc has to say," he tried to smile.

"You'll see, Doc will be just fine and I'm certain that there is some explanation to all of this," Kitty offered.

"I'm sure you're right. I'll see you in the morning," Matt smiled. "Later, cowboy," Kitty smiled back.

Matt moved through the crowd and stepped out onto the boardwalk. Out of habit he glanced around to see if all was well in Dodge for the night. Satisfied, Matt walked along the boardwalk and stepped down into the alley before he glanced up at the doctor's office door. It swung open in the breeze.

Matt made a face and pondered. He stepped up to the boardwalk and moved up the stairs with an air of caution. One attempt on a life for the night was one too many. Matt pulled his gun from his holster as he reached the window. Carefully he peered thought the curtains and only saw Festus on the examination table. Matt moved further up the stairs and stepped into the room, "Doc?"

There was no response. Matt moved over to Festus and looked down at the deputy before he looked further around the room. Matt's eyes stopped at the half empty brandy bottle. His eyes narrowed, "Doc?" he called out again.

Matt drew a deep breath and glared at the open door, "Where in hell are you now?" he growled about Doc's absence.