Alright! I know you've all been waiting patiently for the answers so...here we go. I hope I can tell this mix up in the best way possible so it's easy to understand.

Thanks for reading!

Patiently Jess sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for his supper to be brought into him. Marshal Conners had announced to him last night that he was healthy enough to make the trip to Laramie. He'd admitted he hadn't found out who poisoned Jess, but he said Sheriff Len would continue to investigate. Tired of doing nothing but lying around, Jess pushed to his feet and walked forward to grasp the iron bars that kept him trapped.

Grasping the bars was the only thing that kept him upright when a splitting pain spliced through his head. Groaning, Jess put one hand to his head while he used the other to keep him standing. White flashes of pain sparked behind his eyes chasing away the last dregs of consciousness as he slumped to the floor.

Five years earlier…

Jess drifted back to reality finding that every nerve in his body was on fire. Flicking his eyes open, Jess was aware of someone sitting beside him.

"Jess?" Austin's voice pulled him the rest of the way out of oblivion.

"Austin. What happened? Is Johnny really dead?" Austin sighed.

"Yes, he is. It was an accident. When I hit him he must have hit his head on one of the stones lining the fire ring. I didn't know my Father would take it out on you so soon." Beside him, Austin hung his head.

"Where is everybody?" Looking around he realized all of the gear and men were nowhere in sight.

"They left after I pulled my Father off you. Pa didn't stick around long after he buried Johnny. He wanted me to leave with them and leave you here, but I couldn't. When I refused, he said he couldn't hold with me standing up for the kid who killed his son. The only reason he didn't kill me right then and there was he didn't want to bury another son."

"I'm sorry Austin." Jess felt rotten. Because of him, Austin had been thrown out to fend for himself. Austin chuckled darkly.

"Don't beat yourself up over it Jess. We both know I had this coming. Pa always favored Johnny over me we both know it. As far as I was concerned, I was the unwanted son the minute Ma died at birth." Jess pushed himself into a sitting position and watched Austin. "I know enough to know I've walked outside the law far enough to never find any peace. Well, I suppose I'll have to figure out what to do sooner or later."

Eventually Jess was well enough to ride trail again alone.

"I'm sorry Austin, for all the trouble I have caused you." Jess stroked Travelers mane sitting in the middle of the road facing the fork that would take them in different directions.

"I'm sorry too Jess." Austin fiddled with the end of his reins. "I do want you to know Jess it sure was good to ride with you for as long as I did."

"So did you decide?"

"Decide what?"

"What you're going to do. Have you decided now you're on your own?" Austin stared vacantly down the road.

"Maybe I'll change my name and find a place where I can settle down. Who knows? I might even put on a badge."

"Jess?" As the memory passed he blinked away the remainders of his headache. Recognition flared through him as he looked up at Sheriff Len.

"It's been a long time Austin." Austin opened the cell door and walked in. "I think I need your help, partner."

"It beats me how you can get into so much trouble in a short time." Austin had snuck in to talk to him while the Marshal was getting their horses.

"Trouble always seems to find me." Jess sat on the bed and leaned against the iron bars. "So you finally managed to put in a badge. How'd that happen?"

"I drifted for a long time here and there. Eventually, I met Devin in Texas. It took some convincing but I managed to get hired on as his deputy. Then, once word got out I'd worked with him I made a name for myself in the right side of the law."

"Does he know?" Austin shifted uncomfortably at Jess' question.

"No. I wanted to tell him so many times, but then I knew..." Austin let out a sharp breath. "Call me a coward but I was scared. What should I do Jess? If I came clean I'd keep you from going to prison for something you didn't do, but if I did..."

"You'd hang." Jess finished for him. Laying his hand on Len's shoulder, he spoke. "'Len' don't turn yourself in. I won't let you put your neck in a noose so you can stop me from collecting my punishment."

"But Jess, you're innocent; I'm not. I've killed men Jess, just because they got in the way. I was the one who got into that fight with Johnny. I'm responsible for Johnny's death not you. You said Pa came after you and framed you for shooting Slim Sherman as revenge for Johnny's death. I have to repay you for being chased by posse's just to find and warn me that Pa's out for me too. I owe you Jess, let me pay my debt."

"No." Jess released Austin's shoulder. "There's a possibility the judge and jury might take it easy on me. All I'd get was a few years in jail and then I'd be free again."

"That's if you're lucky Jess!"

"I chose to pay that price when I went after you like I did and ran. You put your neck out for me five years ago, I owe you a larger debt than you owe me." While his words were convincing, Jess couldn't shake off the rock sinking in his stomach. "I'm willing to pay this price-" Jess panned his hand to indicate the iron bars around him. "-then watch you swing from a rope for me."

Austin opened his mouth but stopped. He didn't like the idea of Jess going to prison or worse, just to protect his secret.

"I don't like this Jess. Not one bit." Austin sighed. "I wish Pa would've left you alone and just come for me. I hate feeling so helpless!"

Jess smiled wryly. "You're a hard man to find, I can second that. You have a good life here, a chance to make something of yourself and start over. This town needs you, Austin. I'd pay a hundred life-sentences for you if I had to." Jess and Austin sat in silence. "Austin, could you do something for me?"

Jess waited until Austin nodded.

"If I...you know. Take the time to ride into Laramie and explain to Slim why I...ran off." Austin swallowed his emotions.

"Oh, come now Jess it won't come to that." Austin cleared his throat. "I really am sorry Jess."

"I know you are, so you'll-?" Jess cut off not trusting himself to continue and keep himself under control.

"I promise Jess, even if I have to die to get word to your partner I'll tell him the truth." 'Sheriff Len' placed his hand on Jess' shoulder. No one would ever be able to define the breadth of communication that passed through them at that moment. All too soon the moment was over as the front door to the jail opened.

"Len?!" Jess and Austin stood and looked at each other one last time.

"Coming!" Austin yelled out Marshal Conners. Then to Jess, "Well, I guess this is goodbye. I wish you all the luck in the world." Pulling a pair of handcuffs out of his back pocket and looked forlornly at Jess. "I'm sorry Jess I have to put these back on."

Jess stretched out his hands for Austin to put them on. "I know."

Jess fought back a flinch as the cold iron was fitted around his wrists tightly and locked. Lifting his hands up Jess looked at the iron that bound his wrists. He never could stand the feeling of being trapped in one place with no way to get out and run. He was a free spirit, and now he was giving it up to save a friend.

Feeling Austin take his arm and lead him outside to Marshal Conner; felt like he gave a piece of himself up. He only wished Slim, Daisy, Mike and Mort would understand why he had to be punished. No doubt when he arrived in Laramie they'd try to get him to talk. They wanted to find a way to help him. Hopefully they'd forgive him when he was forced to give them no answer except he was guilty. It was a cruel thing to do; making them watch him be punished...

But it was necessary.