Unshown Moments for the Avengers (3)

This is for Phoenix

"Kitty, get my bag for me." Doc ordered as he untied her hands and helped her down from the horse then turned to Festus to help him.

"Alright," she nodded as she took off, running as fast as she could. Doc had left his bag sitting just outside of the cellar doors and it didn't take Kitty but a moment to grab it and then start racing up to the tree, where Matt was.

"Matt?" She called; her voice full of worry and gratitude. "Oh, Matt!"

"I'm alright, Kitty." Matt grimaced, gripping his left leg tightly. "How about you? Are you okay?"

"Um hum." She nodded, unwilling to trust her voice for more.

"Matt?" Doc came running just then. "How bad is it?"

"It's alright, Doc." Matt shook his head. He wasn't willing to admit to just how bad his leg hurt in front of Kitty. Looking back down the hill, he nodded his head in that direction. "What about them?"

"I don't know." Doc answered. "And right now I don't care. I'm treating the most important injury first. I'll get to them later."

"But Doc…" Matt started to protest but Kitty reached out, squeezing his hand.

"Matt. No. Please."

Matt nodded and lay back while Doc ripped his pants and began working on his leg. One look and he knew he'd need more than what he had in his bag. "Kitty, rip up a good part of your petticoat." He ordered rather than asked, knowing she wouldn't take offense. "I'm going to have to bandage this good and tight until I can get him back to Dodge."

"Doc?"

He heard the fear in her voice and saw it in her eyes, as did Matt.

"I'll be okay, Kitty." Matt quickly reassured her. "Just do what Doc says. I'll be okay."

Kitty, studied his face for a second to reassure herself of his words and then nodded and stood, turning to the side, lifting her skirt to get to her white petticoat underneath.

Doc glanced over at Matt and saw the doubt. "You're leg's going to be alright, Matt. You'll be down for a good long while, but it'll be alright." His voice was calm and assured. "But you try to get back up on it, and I'll shoot your other one myself."

"I promise." Matt answered tightly as Kitty handed Doc the material and the physician began to tightly wrap up his wound.

"Doc?" Festus came up. "I got that there Judge and one of his youngins' tied up, but they both gonna need ya."

"The other one?" Matt questioned.

"That oldest boy is daid." Festus confirmed.

"Alright, in a minute." Doc answered as he continued to bind up Matt's leg.

"Shore am glad ta see yew, Matthew." Festus ticked his head as he watched Doc bandage his wound. "I ain't so sure you orta be out here but I shore am glad ya are."

"Thanks," Matt stiffened with a grimace as Doc finished wrapping his leg and tied off the bandage. Kitty instantly grabbed his hand but said nothing when he offered her a smile and a silent, "I'm okay."

"Now," Doc straightened up and looked at the hill man. "Festus, we're going to need a wagon or a travois or something to get Matt and those two into town and we're going to need…"

"DOC!"

They looked up to see Sam and a group of men come racing up to them. "Sam." Doc nodded to him, when he reined in. "Glad to see you. We need some help getting Matt and the Strom's back to town."

"My farm's not far from here." Joe Anderson spoke up. "I'll ride home and get a wagon."

"Good!" Doc nodded as he looked down at Kitty and Matt. "You do that, Joe. And bring something to cushion it too. Sam, you and the rest of the men come with me. I'm going to need some help." He started off followed by everyone but Festus. "That means you too, Festus. Come on."

"But Matthew…"

"He's got a nurse. Come on." Doc's voice was grouchy but a wink to Kitty let her to know what he was doing.

After the men followed Doc off, Matt tugged on Kitty's hand, hiding the pain he was in. "I'm going to be alright, Kitty."

Kitty silently nodded as she moved next to him, lying down beside him and wrapping her arms around him. "I… I was so afraid." She whispered.

Matt hugged her tightly to him. "I know, honey." He whispered into her hair. He was conscious of the men just down the hill, some of them watching him and Kitty. But right then, holding her and comforting her was more important than the worry of prying eyes.

When Kitty finally felt calmer, she raised her eyes to his, a small look of irritation on her face. "Don't you ever do that to me again, Matt Dillon." She said seriously.

Matt frowned. "Do what? Save your life?"

"Put yourself in danger." She answered. "I… I didn't want to hang, Matt. But if… if you'd been hurt worse trying to… trying to save me, I…" She buried her head in his chest again, finally releasing the tears she'd been holding back. "Promise me, Matt. Promise you won't…"

"No." Matt shook his head and pushed her back from him. "I will never promise not to try and rescue you if I can. I will never promise to rest easy when I know you're in danger, no matter what shape I'm in." His voice was gruff, almost angry but his meaning was clear. "I love you, Kitty. I will never stop protecting you if I can. Never. And don't you ever again ask me not to. Understand?"

Heedless of the men down below them, Kitty leaned up and kissed him. "I understand. As long as you understand, I never want to see you hurt. I love you too, ya know."

"I know." Matt nodded, gratefully. "I know."

End