Doc cautiously stepped into his office. He glared at the two troopers who glared back. "Get to fixing him," Elcombe ordered just as Dwight Hodgson stepped into the room behind the doctor. Hodgson prodded Doc with his pistol, "You heard him," he growled.

Doc tried to think of a way out of the situation that he now found himself in, but he was too tired and his mind drifted to his three friends at the stagecoach, and now his friend that Hodgson clobbered in the alley. He had no idea how badly Festus was hurt.

James Doris was now lying flat out on the examination table and groaning. Doc walked over to the young man and pulled his shirt out of the way. The wound was deep and the man had lost considerable blood.

Doc sighed and pulled a little table closer to the larger one. Without a word he moved around his office collecting items he needed. The thought of putting the young solider under to remove the bullet had crossed his mind, but then he thought he'd let the man suffer and hopefully pass out from the pain. This, Doc thought, could be enough of a distraction for him to try something else - but what that would be he hadn't planned just yet.

As Sam Noonan walked back toward the Long Branch Saloon, he stopped and noticed that there was still quite a lot of light in the doctor's office. He then noticed that the wagon was still in the alleyway. He thought it was a bit odd, but never gave it another thought. With a shrug he started walking again, until he heard a groan from deep in the dark alley.

Sam strained his hearing and eyes to try and figure out where then noise came from. Carefully he stepped into the darkness and he heard the moan again, this time he was able to pinpoint the source.

The barkeep could make out the shadowy figure under the doctor's stairs and at first he assumed it was Louie Pheeters. Then he remembered that he left Louie working the bar. Sam stepped closer to the prone figure and when he heard the familiar jingle of the large spurs, he knew in a heartbeat that it was Festus. "Festus?!" Noonan said with surprise and horror in his voice as he moved quickly to the deputy.

Festus groaned as he tried to push himself up into a sitting position. Sam assisted, "What happened?" Sam asked as he knelt down next to the hill man.

Festus held his head and could feel the warm rich blood oozing through his fingers, "They got Doc," he said through his clenched teeth.

"They who? Festus, you aren't making sense," Sam said while holding the deputy by the shoulders to steady him.

"Some troopers. Doc was trying to tell me something and one of then clobbered me over the head," Festus stated as he tried to stand with Sam's assistance.

"Troopers?" Sam questioned as he tried to figure out why troopers would hit the law man and do something with Doc. "This doesn't make any sense," Sam said in a hushed voice as he looked up to the door of the doctor's office.

Festus wobbled slightly on his feet, "Doc was saying something about the stagecoach." he muttered and Sam looked at him. Sam shook his head in confusion - he didn't know what to say other than asking if Doc was all right.

"As far as I know," Festus said while still holding his head.

"Let's go up there to make sure," Sam said as he started to the stairs only to be stopped by Festus. "We have to think this through. Them troopers have weapons and that one that hit me seemed a little skittish," he said releasing Sam's forearm.

"The way my head feels, we'd better get Newly to help," Festus whispered and pulled Sam along with him in search of Newly O'Brien.

Doc finalized what he needed and he could tell that the two troopers were becoming more agitated by his stalling tactics. Finally Hodgson spoke, "If you don't get moving, sawbones, you are going to replace that trooper on your table," he pushed Doc into the table.

Doc glared at Hodgson. He wanted to strike the trooper but decided to try and keep his temper under control. Doc flexed his jaw muscles and narrowed his eyes at Hodgson. With a slight huff, the doctor dipped several instruments into the water and alcohol solution. "I need him on his stomach," Doc stated as he placed his glasses on his face.

Reluctantly the other two troopers rolled James Doris onto his stomach. The man moaned in great pain. Once they accomplished the task, the two troopers stepped back and watched the doctor.

Doc cut through the trooper's undershirt and folded back the bloodied flaps. There was a mixture of dried blood and fresh blood. Doc used a swab and warm water to wipe the area clean. Periodically he would look up over the rim of his gold glasses. His face said it all - he had no use for these three, and yet he was bound by his hypocritical oath to save the man. Doc drew his breath and looked down at the wound - he was physically and mentally fatigued.

Hodgson and Elcombe both winced as they watched the doctor insert the bullet probe. Doc twisted his mouth as he moved the probe deeper into Doris' side. After what seemed like an eternity, Doc's shoulders relaxed as he could feel lead projectile.

The doctor placed the probe into the pan of water and then selected the forceps he needed to remove the bullet. His eyes lifted to the other two troopers who were watching his every move. James Doris flinched at every move the doctor made.

Doc wet his lips and slowly pushed the forceps into the wound and grabbed a hold of the bullet. Carefully he pulled the object out of the wound and dropped it into the pan, which sat on the table next to him.

"Hurry it up, you old quack," Hodgson snarled. "We don't have all night."

Doc bit back the words that choked his mouth. He needed to get the three men out of his office as quickly as he could in order for him to get back to the stagecoach and his other three friends, not to mention check on Festus. Doc set out to clean the wound and suture it closed before he placed a wad of gauze over the wound and tied some gauze around the trooper's waist. Doc stood back, "He's all your's," he stated wearily.

"He's in no condition to move just yet," Hodgson stated.

"Frankly I don't care. You wanted me to get the bullet out, and I did. I have other patients to care for now," Doc stated and picked up his leather bag, coat and hat and started to the door.

Elcombe stepped sideways and stood in front of the door, "Where do you think you are going?"

Doc's eyes narrowed at the taller man, "Get out of my way," he sneered and took a determined step forward, only to have Elcombe lash out with his balled up fist - hitting Doc hard across the jaw, dropping the doctor where he stood. Doc remained sprawled on the floor and unconscious.

"Now did you have to do that?" Hodgson barked.

"Well, did you want him leaving here while we wait for Jimmy Boy to come to?" Elcombe asked.

Hodgson had to think fast, "Come on. Lets get Jimmy Boy out of here," he said as he rolled his friend over. James Doris groaned. Elcombe pulled up on Doris' other arm and the two troopers supported their friend as they moved out the door.

Festus and Sam were up the street with Newly when they saw the trio leaving Doc's office, "Festus! Look!" Newly pointed toward the building. Festus cursed under his breath, "Come on fellas, but be careful," Festus motioned for this two friends to follow.

Elcombe spotted the three men and pulled out his pistol and fired it. Sam, Newly and Festus dove for over as another volley of fire came from the troopers who were now well into the dark alley.

"They're getting away!" Newly stated.

"Wall they don't have ol' Doc with them, that's good," Festus spoke over his shoulder.

"I don't see Doc in his office door either," Sam stated. The three men looked at each other. Festus bolted to the stairs and ran up and into the office. The deputy gasped. Newly and Sam now stood behind the lawman. "Doc?"

Doc didn't respond.