Bart's accidental nap lasted a good hour, and when he woke up, he heard snoring. Knowing that it hadn't come from himself, he opened his eyes to find his head leaning on Doc's shoulder. He quickly sat upright, before moaning when it sent stars through his vision.

A snort made its way into his ear, and he opened his eyes to see Doc Holliday staring at him.

"Huh?" Doc said, sounding confused.

Bart closed his eyes again, a hand on his aching head. "You tell me."

Doc blinked and looked around, realizing that he had dozed off himself. "Aha. Right." He straightened the hat on his head, wondering with horror how many people had seen them in so ridiculous a position.

Bart reopened his eyes. "We fell asleep," he stated.

"No, my boy, you did," said Doc. "I, on the other hand, was simply resting my eyes while I waited for Sleeping Beauty to awaken."

"Do you always snore when you rest your eyes?" Bart asked.

Doc reached up and adjusted his hat again. "Of course, don't you?"

Bart chuckled, before wincing and putting a hand on his head again. His accidental drink of whiskey sure hadn't done him any favors.

"Looks like you've had enough for the day…already," said Doc, standing and taking Bart's arm to help him up.

"No, sit down, I want to stay right here," Bart said.

"Are you sure?"

Bart carefully nodded. The air was pleasantly warm and there was a gentle breeze. It lifted his spirits.

Doc shrugged and sat back down.

They were quiet again for a few minutes, before Bart asked, "How long did you plan to stay in Denver?"

Doc shrugged. "I didn't have a particular time frame in mind."

"How long do you usually stay?" Bart asked.

Doc shrugged. "It depends on what's going on."

"When did you arrive here?" Bart asked.

"The morning that you were cracked on the noggin."

"Have you ever stayed this long?"

Doc nodded. "Plenty of times."

They were quiet for a few seconds.

"How long did you plan to stay, Doc?"

"A week."

"Thought so." Bart sighed. "You don't have to stay any longer if you don't want to, I can handle things now."

Doc turned and looked at Bart as if he'd grown two heads. "What? Are you out of your mind?"

Bart looked at him, surprised to get such a vehement answer.

"I mean, we know that you're out of your mind right now," said Doc. "But that much? You can't be alone, Bart, not like this."

Bart was touched, and smiled slightly.

"Have you forgotten that there are men after you and we still don't even know why?" Doc continued.

Bart sighed. "No, I haven't forgotten, but it's been eight days and we haven't gotten anywhere with either my memory or that," he said. "And I don't feel right keeping you from your usual life anymore. You probably regret coming to Denver now."

Doc sighed. "Well, it's only been one extra day then what I'd planned for, that's not much. Who knows, tomorrow you could get your memory back and life can go back to normal for us both!"

Bart nodded. He could only hope.

Doc took a cigar out of his pocket and lit it. "Besides," he said more quietly, as if not wanting anyone to hear. "I'm glad I came. The thought of this happening to you without someone around who knows you like I do…" he shook his head. "Whoever those men are would've killed you by now." Doc wasn't one to voluntarily show emotion, and when he did, he felt awkward, so he stood after saying that and walked the few steps over to the rail.

Bart watched him, recognizing his awkwardness and being grateful to have him for a friend. He stayed where he was so as not to increase Doc's awkward feeling, and simply said, "Thanks, Doc."

Doc turned enough to give him a jaunty gesture with the hand holding the cigar.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That night, Bart and Doc played poker again…or Bart tried to, anyway. He remembered most of the rules, but Doc beat him easily. Rather, it was easy for Doc to beat him, but he kept putting down good cards to keep the game going.

If Bart knew what Doc was doing, he never said so; he just concentrated as much as he could. It wasn't easy with his headache, but he knew it was possible that he might not get his memory back for a long time—if ever—so he had to get himself back to his usual skill if that's how he planned to continue making a living.

Eventually, Bart got a very good hand, and beat Doc. The happiness on his face was something that Doc hadn't seen in a long time…of course, Doc had purposely dealt Bart the three aces.

"See?" Doc said. "You're getting your skill back!"

Bart took the cards and shuffled them, still smiling. "It's about time I got something back!"

Doc smiled back.

That night, a singer was in town…a woman that Bart knew. He didn't recognize her name when Doc told him and asked if he wanted to go to the saloon for her performance, but he agreed without hesitation; finally, a chance to do something outside the hotel!

As they walked to the saloon, there was a poster of her on the side of the door. She was blonde and beautiful, and it simply said 'Dolly'. Bart didn't recognize her one bit and Doc had never seen her before…and he didn't know that Bart had. They walked in and sat down, with Doc ordering, as usual, a bottle of whiskey. Bart simply asked for coffee.

Eventually, Dolly came out, all smiles and very excited. She started to sing, and flitted here and there all over the saloon, touching a man on the shoulder, ruffling another man's hair, and making them all whistle and laugh. When her eyes caught the table where Bart and Doc Holliday sat, she stopped dead for an instant—luckily in between verses—and she flitted in their direction, putting a hand on Bart's arm and trailing it over his shoulder and behind his neck before trailing her hand down his other arm.

Bart didn't expect it, and smiled at her.

Dolly's heart melted. She clasped her arms around Bart's neck from behind, putting her face against his as she got to the end of her song.

Doc smiled, cigar between his teeth, glad to see Bart get the attention, but jealous at the same time.

Dolly finished her song with the words, "And virtue is its own reward, da da!" She threw her arms out at the 'da da', and everyone clapped. She took a bow, and then dropped onto Bart's lap and kissed him like there was no tomorrow.

Doc's cigar fell out of his mouth.

Bart's eyes opened wide with shock, but as the kiss went on, his eyes closed and he wrapped his arms around her.

Dolly continued to kiss him as if he tasted like her favorite dessert.

Doc forgot to close his mouth.

Finally, Bart needed some air, and broke the kiss. He stared at her, not saying a word.

Dolly beamed at him, with a happy smile and the biggest eyes that he'd ever seen. "Aren't you happy to see me!" she exclaimed happily.

Bart gave her a brilliant smile. "Of course!" He studied her face before asking, "Do I know you?"

Doc finally closed his mouth.

Dolly's expression turned from joy to shock, and her eyes got even bigger, if possible. "What?!" she squeaked. She jumped off his lap and ran behind him to leave, but Doc grabbed her arm and used her momentum to swing her right into the seat beside his, holding her arms so she couldn't get up again.

"Wait, wait!" Doc told her, trying to keep her in the chair. "Are you telling me that you know him?"

Dolly was close to tears. "Yes! We met in Mexico!"* She looked at Bart. "How could you forget me!"

Bart looked mortified.

"Shhhhh!" Doc said to her. "Look, he didn't forget you…well, he did, but it's not what you think! He's lost his memory!"

Her eyes grew unnaturally huge again. "What?"

Doc told her what had happened, and her attitude instantly changed. She got up from the seat and sat beside Bart again, taking his face in her hands. "Oh, Bart," she said, tearfully. "You poor thing!"

Bart smiled sadly. "I'm sorry."

She started shaking her head. "No, don't you apologize, honey! It isn't your fault!" She brushed her hand through his hair, before halting when she remembered that Doc had mentioned the cut on his head. She sighed. "I wish I knew how to help!"

"How about telling me how we met?" Bart asked.

Dolly smiled. "That I can do!"

TBC

* 'Plunder in Paradise', season 1, episode 24. Dolly was played by huge-eyed Ruta Lee.