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Chapter 25:
After adjusting Griff's pillows and fixing his blankets, Candy allowed himself a small reprieve to lean back in the chair beside the bed. "Griff, buddy…" he said in a small voice. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard." He placed his hand on Griff's forehead to gauge his fever. It was difficult for him to tell if Griff's temperature were lower, but it definitely was not higher. He figured that had to be good sign, but Candy would have felt a lot better if Griff would awaken. "Gimme a signal you're still in there, pal."
Candy's humble prayer was answered and Griff started to move restlessly. The pain in his foot fogged his thoughts and for the life of him, Griff could not remember where he was. He remembered burning and being unable to move. If he was unable to move, he must be restrained or held in a confining room. Griff rocked forward in panic, only to find himself covered by a thick blanket and lying on a bed. Squinting, he craned his neck to make out where he was. More memories tumbled into his head. Griff recalled getting shot and fighting the wolf. Joe and Jamie had been taking care of him in a shack and… His train of thought ceased, thinking he had solved the mystery. Griff figured he was still in the shack, which meant they were miles from the Ponderosa and help. He slumped back on the pillow and moaned. The burning sensation in Giff's ankle became excruciating and the fire around him returned in full force. He gingerly tried to move away from the fire, but it seemed to be everywhere and Griff let out a frustrated and fearful cry.
"Attaboy, Griff. Take it easy," Candy crooned and rubbed Griff's exposed arm in a comforting manner.
The foreman's husky voice penetrated Griff's fever, but only slightly. Griff did not understand how or why Candy had appeared in the shack, but at this moment he did not care. No matter how miserable Griff was feeling, he knew he could depend on Candy to make him feel better. "C-Cand-dy?" he softly asked, checking to make sure that he was not hallucinating.
"Yeah, Griff," Candy smiled, sitting on the bed so he could get a closer look at the wounded youngster. "I'm right here, buddy. How you feeling?"
"H-hot," Griff honestly reported. His energy was completely drained and his usual tough exterior that often drove everyone else crazy had completely disappeared. It scared Candy to see the ex-convict so transparent. "It's real hot. A-and m-my leg hurts. Shoulder, too. Hurts bad, Candy." He threw up his right arm around his head. "M-make it stop, p-please…?"
If punching Griff in the face to calm him down before surgery had not upset Candy, seeing the hardened nineteen year-old in such agony did. "I know it hurts, Griff. Doc will be back with that medicine soon, I promise," he assured. He wondered if the doctor would include a painkiller along with the antibiotics and fever-reducer. Despite Griff's low tolerance for most drugs, perhaps it would be best for everyone if his pain were kept under control using chemical means. "Shh. Try to relax."
"Hurts too much…" Griff shook his head as the pain travelled throughout his body. "Candy? Take me home, Candy," he begged. Still caught in the throes of his fever, Griff thought he was trapped in the line shack on the trail. "Wanna go home, p-please…"
"You are home, Griff," Candy disputed, at a loss of how to logically argue with someone in such an irrational state. "See? Look around. We're at the Ponderosa."
"No… N-no." Seeing Griff was getting agitated, Candy snaked his arm around the young man's neck and allowed him to rest against his broad chest. "Home," he insisted pitifully. "Take me home… I wanna go home. To see Thunder. Miss him," Griff cried disjointedly, working himself up again. "Please Candy, it r-really hurts, an' so hot I..."
Candy did not know how to respond, so he held Griff tighter as the boy continued to ask for his beloved horse and for his unbearable pain to stop. Griff pressed his face into Candy's shoulder, taking a small amount of solace, but he could not understand why his best friend was not helping him feel better.
With two cups of steaming coffee in his hands, Adam entered the room and found his two friends in that exact same position.
"Home… T-take me home," Griff desperately pleaded again. "Home w-with Thunder… My leg! Hurts ba-bad. I wanna go home!"
Candy looked up at Adam with eyes full of tears, silently begging for any advice on what to say to the delirious kid. Griff continued to struggle, but he could not make his mouth form the words he wanted, so his requests came out as pained cries instead.
The Cartwright son sighed, but he had nothing to offer Candy. "Brought you some coffee," he stoically said, placing the mug on the nightstand beside Candy.
Candy nodded, grateful for the beverage but too afraid to let go of the quivering teenager. "Thanks," he breathed. "I'm gonna need it. Got a feelin' this is gonna be a long night."
The beads of sweat on Griff's skin seemed to form right before Adam's eyes. "Yeah. I know how hard this is on you," he sympathized.
"Not as hard as it is on him," Candy shrugged off in a thick voice. Griff bucked in his arms, arching his back to escape the sweltering humidity that overwhelmed him. Candy reacted quickly and held Griff closer until the spasm passed. "God, Adam. He's fightin' so hard, but… I don't know how much longer he can keep this up."
Griff collapsed against his best friend, his energy spent for the time being. "Sh-shot… Home, pl-please..." He gulped a few ragged breaths and tried to take control of the burning pains in his leg and the ache in his shoulder.
"I don't know," Adam honestly observed. "But I do know that he'll fight as hard as he can for as long as he can."
"He's not even twenty yet," Candy lamented, brushing back a saturated stray lock of hair on Griff's forehead. "I'm scared he never will be."
As much as Adam wanted to reassure Candy that Griff's demise was unlikely, they both were familiar enough with death to know that the injured man was slipping away before their eyes. If Doc Martin did not arrive soon, it would be impossible for Griff to rally. "He knows you're here and that helps him. Stay with Griff and he'll do his best," the eldest Cartwright finally advised. "Pa, Hoss, and I are leaving to get Jamie. We're ready to pay Issac."
Griff flinched at the mention of Issac's name and Candy quickly shushed him. "You're fine, Griff. Just rest." Turning back to Adam, Candy grimaced. "Good. Get him out of there as fast as you can. Don't let Issac..." Candy trailed off, inwardly shuddering when he thought about the last time the Cartwrights had confronted Issac. "Bring Jamie home."
Sharing Candy's worry, Adam slowly nodded. "We will." He started to leave, but Candy voice stopped him and he paused in the doorway.
"When Griff gets better, he could use someone to help him get around," the foreman predicted with a half-smile. "Y'know, with chores and everything."
"Jamie'll be more than happy to oblige," Adam winked. He was glad to hear Candy use the word 'when' and not 'if.' "I got a feeling he'll be at Griff's beck and call for while." With one last look at the two men, each suffering greatly, Adam left to go meet his father and brother outside so they could depart.