Matt sat down on the bed next to his old friend and lifted the doctor's shirt. The wound in the old man's side was seeping blood again. Matt shook his head and wondered what on earth Doc was thinking by pushing himself so hard. But then again, Matt answered his own question - because Doc cared about the people in the city in which he lived. Matt made a face when he lifted the gauze that he and Sam applied back at the MacKay homestead, "You better go get Kitty and stay with Festus." he looked up to the barkeep who hovered over the other side of the bed watching. "Sure thing Marshal."

"Oh, and Sam. Have her bring his medical bag. We're going to need it by the looks of this." Matt's eyes followed Sam to the door as he left. Then his eyes drifted back to Doc who looked completely worn out. "Festus is right. You are too ornery to die..." a slight smile creased the marshal's lips and he rested his big hand on Doc's shoulder.

Kitty stepped through the doorway and watched Matt fussing over Doc. "I always knew you had a soft side, cowboy." She smiled warmly at Matt.

"Yeah, it shows more with age." Matt smiled at Kitty. "Take him for example." he pointed to Doc.

Kitty chuckled. "You make a fine pair." she said as she walked into the room and set the medical bag on the foot of the bed. "Is it that bad, Matt?" she asked as she watched Matt take another look under the dressing.

"Well it isn't good. We need to clean that and he said he thought a rib was busted, and by the feel of it he's right..." Matt looked up to Kitty who was now preparing to clean Doc's injury. She sat next to Matt and looked at the puncture wound. She made a face before she spoke, "He is a driven man..." was all Kitty could say as she blotted the wound with clean cloths and hot water. Doc moaned slightly. "You just rest easy, Doc." she continued.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Downstairs, Festus groaned and started to stir. "Sam?" she said as the looked up into the barkeep's face who tried to keep him still. "What happened?"

Sam didn't know where to start so he jumped right in, "You were shot as Mad Dog and his men tried to kill Miss Kitty."

Festus' eyes pooped open. "She all right? Miss Kitty?" he tried to sit up.

Sam nodded. "You just lay down and I'll get her for you. She's just fine, Festus." Sam pushed Festus back down to the table but the hill man's eyes were still full of questions. "Ol' Doc? Where's he at?"

Sam sighed. "He's upstairs. He was hurt some out at the MacKay homestead..."

Festus peeled himself off the table despite Sam's warning. Festus looked up the stairs and pushed himself off the table. "Take me to him, Sam."

Festus' hazel eyes held a power unto their own. Sam nodded against his better judgement, but he knew there was nothing going to keep Festus from seeing his old friend. "Sure Festus. Let me help you." Sam took his arm and steadied the hill man on his feet as the two walked to the staircase and slowly started to climb.

From the room on the next floor they heard Doc start to complain about something. Festus smiled as they reached the door and looked in. "What's the matter Doc? Don't like bein' poked and prodded?"

Doc looked up from the bed and scowled at the hill man. "Not you too?" he said while running his right hand across his wiry moustache.

Festus smiled at his old friend. "I heard tale that thar's a pretty good doctor here somewhere's in Dodge..."

Doc looked from Matt to Kitty and back to Festus and Sam who stood in the door. They all broke into a laugh and all was right in Dodge once again.

The End