"We need to get down there!" Wilmington spat. He knew there was no point in waiting now as several more shots were fired in quick succession. Whatever had happened it did not bode well for his three friends and Buck was not going to waste any more time trying to move quietly. It was time to show De Rivera that he'd fucked with the wrong men.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

Nathan reacted on instinct as the first shot was fired. He grabbed Don Paulo's arm and wrestled the gun from his hand as gunshots were fired around him. He heard the old man shouting in Spanish and felt a blow to the lower back, but he would not relinquish his hold on the gun. He had heard De Rivera and wanted to kill the bastard, but his attention was focused on the man who'd shot Vin Tanner.

Jackson struggled with the elderly man and pulled the gun from his hand just as several riders entered the outer area of the arena. Gunshots continued around him as he shoved Don Paulo away from him and turned to look for De Rivera, but the elderly Spaniard was nowhere to be found.

"You cowardly bastard!" Jackson spat when he saw the old man disappear through a narrow passage not far from the entrance to the Arena De Muerte. He wanted to go after him, but one look into the arena told him there were two men who needed him more than he needed revenge.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

Josiah and Ezra felt the same sense of urgency as several shots were fired from inside the Arena De Muerte. There was no point in hiding their presence any longer and Josiah motioned for the others to follow him as all hell broke loose and a volley of gunshots echoed through the rocky arena.

There were shouts from below and a bullet ricocheted off the rocks to Ezra's left and he felt it slice through his arm, but he did not take the time to acknowledge the wound as he pulled his gun and jumped from his horse. He found a small recess and ducked inside, firing toward several of De Rivera's men as Sanchez dismounted and found a place to return fire.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

De Rivera's retreat had not gone unnoticed by the two men in the arena and Vin turned steady blue eyes on the shaky blond as he spoke. "...git after that bastard...gettin' away...go...after..."

"I won't…you got my word on that!" Larabee managed and felt as if he was watching the life leave his friend before easing out from under him and forcing himself to stand. He glanced toward the spectators, ignoring the shots that were fired all around him and saw Nathan glance in his direction as De Rivera slipped through a narrow opening on the right.

Chris staggered toward the opening and stopped when Nathan stood in front of him. "Get out of my way, Nathan!"

"Chris, sit down before you fall down!" Jackson ordered.

"I'm not lettin' that yellow bastard ride away!"

"You're in no shape to go after him!" the healer said as gunshots echoed around them.

"Watch me!" Larabee said and pushed past the former slave. "See to Vin…he's…he might be…might be…"

Chris couldn't finish the words and ignored the fighting around him as he stumbled toward the opening De Rivera had used. He could hear horses as he forced his body through the narrow fissure. He made it through in time to see the elderly man ride away from the tethered animals and was glad there was no sentry watching over them. His body ached and he knew before long there'd be more than just the minor ache plaguing him, but he was a man with a mission and nothing would stop him from getting to the bastard that killed JD Dunne.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

Wilmington and Cordova entered the Arena De Muerte in time to see an elderly man take aim at Nathan Jackson who knelt beside an injured man. Buck fired his gun and heard a cry of pain as the man dropped his gun and turned in his direction. He dismounted and fired at a man aiming at Cordova and realized they were outgunned, but with Sanchez and Standish adding their weapons to the fight things looked better.

Buck knew there were several men who would be on their side, but until he knew who they were he could take no chances with Jackson's life and made sure to offer covering fire for him as he dragged the injured man closer to the south wall of the arena. "Nathan! Stay down!"

"Buck!" Jackson called in surprise.

"Yeah! Just stay put…"

"Vin's bleeding bad…I need…"

"Hold on…I'm coming," Wilmington said, worried about the injured Texan as he grabbed the saddlebags from his horse, ducked low and raced through the opening. He tossed the bags to Jackson and fired at a man who tried to aim his gun in their direction. He spotted Josiah moving down through the heavy brush at the east side of the arena.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

West of the Arena De Muerte

Mid-Afternoon

Don Garcia De Rivera could hear the echoing sounds of gunfire behind him as he raced his trusty steed toward the hacienda. His bastard son had betrayed him and his mother would pay for that betrayal with her life. No one turned their backs on him and got away with it. He'd had people put to death for less and his anger spurred him forward, unaware of the danger riding behind him.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

The green fire in his eyes provided more than enough fuel to compensate for the blood and extensive damage to his body, as he raced along the unfamiliar terrain. Chris knew where De Rivera was headed and remembered the trail that led toward the hacienda. His hatred flowed through his veins, feeding the adrenalin that kept him from falling flat on his face. The sun beat down on his bare skin, but he didn't give a damn as he let the bitter hatred fester and drive him forward.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

Arena De Muerte

Mid-Afternoon

Nathan did not take the time to greet the others as he worked to save Vin Tanner's life. His hands were covered in blood, hovering ghoulishly above the bandages and other items placed on the ground beside him. His eyes were misted with unshed tears as his heart felt like it would burst from his chest.

'Please, God, give me the strength to save him,' Jackson thought.

"Tell me what you need, Brother," Sanchez said and saw the surprise and relief in his friend's eyes.

"I need to stop the bleeding…I need to see that bastard dead," Jackson finished in a voice that left no doubt that he meant exactly what he said. The shoulders slumped in heavy defeat as he bowed his head. "I did this to him…to Chris…"

Vin did not have the strength to speak, but his eyes were like windows as he looked up at the man whose heart was laid bare. He wanted to ease the healer's mind, to wipe away the horror he'd seen, but his body refused his mind's commands. He silently cursed the weakness that left him unable to help his friend and closed his eyes, snapping them open when he heard something akin to a soft sob escape the other man's throat.

Vin tried to find the energy he needed to do the simple act of moving his hand, but even that seemed to be an insurmountable task until Nathan's hand touched against his side, close enough that Vin could almost feel the heat of his body. He tried again to speak, but what came out was a rasping moan and Nate's eyes once more filled with more pain than he could ever imagine one man bearing.

"…no…not…fau…"

"Vin, what's wrong?" Jackson asked when the raspy voice hit him as something brushed against his thigh. He looked down at Tanner's hand and flinched when he saw the damage wrought by his fight in the Arena De Muerte. A fight that should never have happened, and yet it had, because men like De Rivera and Don Paulo thought they owned the world.

"…can't…fu…fu…"

The rasping whisper was filled with pain and sorrow and Nathan knew he had to bury his own soul if he was going to help Vin. He reached for the Texan's hand and gently cradled it before speaking.

"Okay, Vin, I hear ya," Jackson managed to smile, and hoped it was enough to convince the Texan. He released the younger man's hand and took a deep breath in an effort to control his warring emotions. No matter how he felt, Vin needed him to be strong, but how could he find that hidden strength others said they saw in him.

Vin knew he needed to say something more and concentrated on moving his right arm. It came up, a fraction at a time until he was finally able to cover the healer's hand with his own. Again he tried to speak, but it sounded more like a cry of pain as he looked at Jackson.

"What?" Jackson asked softly.

Vin knew he had to rid the former slave of the pain he saw in the moisture laden brown eyes, but it was getting harder and harder to simply perform the task of breathing let alone speaking. He thought of the newborn babe and a hint of a smile formed as he finally managed to find his voice.

"b...ba...ba...by...'live...ba...by..."

Nathan could not believe the words spoken so softly, but stronger than the mightiest shout. They invaded his battered soul and took hold. He gripped Tanner's trembling hand in his own. His eyes locked onto the Texan's and a soft sob escaped his throat as he nodded. "Thank you, Vin Tanner."

Vin nodded and allowed his eyes to close as the darkness reached out for him and he surrendered to it.

Nathan swallowed hard and held tight to Vin's hand for several seconds and reached out to touch the Texan's chest. He felt the man's heart and breathed a sigh of relief before saying a silent prayer that his hands would not fail him now.

Josiah felt humbled to have been present at such an emotional scene between these two men. He knew if he lived to be a hundred he would never see such raw pain or forgiveness and silently thanked God he'd been present for this one.

"Nate, how is he?" Wilmington asked softly upon reaching his friends.

"Burnin' up…hurtin'…Josiah, hold this fer me," Jackson said and removed his hands so that Sanchez could put pressure on the bleeding wound.

"Buck, what about the prisoners?" Sanchez asked.

"Raphael and his men took charge of the prisoners, but I can't find Chris," Wilmington said.

"You won't…he went after the bastard who did all this," Jackson explained.

"So he's okay?" Sanchez asked hopefully.

"Far from it," the healer answered. "He rode off…"

"And you let him!" Wilmington spat.

"Easy, Brother, Nathan had his hands full," Sanchez offered.

"Shit! I didn't mean…damn, where'd he go?"

"De Rivera's probably gone back to his hacienda," Jackson offered.

"Where's the hacienda?" Wilmington asked, turning as Raphael, Ezra, and another man joined them.

"I will take you," Augusta Medina offered.

"Be careful, Augusta, there are still more of De Rivera's men at his home and if he reaches there, he will be ready for trouble," Raphael warned.

"That bastard's mine!" Wilmington vowed and sealed the deal by spitting into the dirt. Buck's blue eyes were clouded with a dangerous light that did not bode well for the man who was to blame for his friend's condition.

"As will I," Ezra stated.

"Ezra, sit down 'til I get a chance ta look at that arm," Jackson warned.

"Mistah Jackson, I assure you…"

"Assure me of nothin' and sit yer ass down. I ain't got time ta be arguin' right now," Jackson snapped and returned his attention to the unconscious Texan. He briefly wondered if he should tell the others about JD, but wasn't sure how to broach the subject without setting Buck off.

"Josiah, I need ta see if it went through."

"It went through, Sanchez said as he lifted the injured man slightly.

"Place this against it 'til I…Sweet Jesus, we need ta get him off the ground and I need water and more bandages and God help me we need…"

"Easy, Brother, tell me what you need and I'll make sure you get it," Sanchez vowed.

"The wagon…make a bed in the back of that wagon and we'll get him back to the hacienda. There'll be water and clean bandages and Evita…she'll help me," Jackson said, swallowing the anger and fear he felt as he looked at the unconscious man. He'd never been all that confident in what he knew, but never so much as he was now in the wake of Vin's injuries, not to mention Chris who was probably in much the same shape as Vin.

"Ezra, stay here," Sanchez said and turned to see Wilmington and Medina speaking with two of Raphael's men.

"Josiah," Jackson spoke the name in a hushed whisper and waited until the older man turned to face him.

"What is it, Nathan?"

"JD…the bastard had him killed…" Jackson's voice wavered and it was hard to control the unshed tears burning in his eyes. Everything around him seemed to be fading away and the unwelcome vision of Dunne's corpse loomed instead, giving him a shiver.

"JD's alive, Nathan…"

"Made Chris watch and bury him," his throat constricted as he forced the damning words out and let the tears slip from his soul through his pained brown eyes.

"No, Nathan…"

"Chris' in so much…so much pain…blames hisself." Jackson's eyes seemed vacant and Josiah knew he had to do something to get through to his lost friend.

"LISTEN TO ME!" Sanchez growled, grabbing the disoriented healer hard by both shoulders and using the preacher's fire in his eyes as they tried to burn into the hollow brown ones.

"JD IS ALIVE!"

"Si, it is true, me and my compadres found him!" Raphael insisted.

"JD's…"

"Alive," Standish finished as Jackson slumped against Sanchez. The man's broad shoulders shook with the force of exhausted, relieved sobs and Ezra watched as Josiah Sanchez held the emotionally traumatized healer and allowed him this release. How much had the healer seen since De Rivera captured him and Vin and did he have the strength he needed to see this through? Ezra had never been a praying man, but found himself praying that Nathan would find the strength he needed to see him through.

M7M7M7M7M7M7M7

East of the De Rivera Hacienda

Mid-Afternoon

Buck leaned forward on his horse as if he could force the animal to go faster even as the wind whipped at his clothing and tried to stop him from reaching his destination. Augusta Medina and several others rode with him and even though he didn't know their names, something told him they could be trusted. The sound of hoofs hitting hard packed earth echoed and re-echoed through the surrounding valleys and hills.

Death came to the area riding a dark horse and the moniker Buck Wilmington.

TBC