Unshown Moments for Thursday's Child S10

AN: This is more of an ATC but it still fits as in it wasn't shown.

Julie sat next to Doc on the way back to Dodge, silently hugging her grandson close to her breast as she went over and over in her mind what had happened. She hadn't wanted to shoot her son. She hadn't wanted her son to turn into the kind of man that she'd have to shoot.

She'd been a little older when Lonnie was born and she'd had a tough time bringing him into the world. As a result, she supposed, she'd spoiled him a little. Of course her husband had too. But deep in her heart, she knew Lonnie's behavior wasn't a total result of his parent's indulgence towards him. No, Lonnie had always had a certain wildness about him and there'd always been a part of him that she'd never been able to reach.

Her husband had been though. They'd had a bond she'd never been able to completely understand. If Lon Sr. had of lived, maybe…"

"You doing alright?" Doc looked over at her with a concerned expression. "Warm enough?"

Julie nodded. "I'm alright, Doc. Just thinking."

Doc nodded sadly. "I know, Julie. It's not easy."

"No, it's not, Doc." She agreed. "I just wish there'd been something else I could've done."

"You saved that baby's life." Doc reminded her. "And you did everything you could for your son, no matter what the end result was."

Julie mutely nodded and looked down at the beautiful little boy in her arms. Finally, she looked back up at Doc. "What do you think the Marshal is going to do with me, Doc? I mean, if I have to go to jail…"

"Oh, no." Doc shook his head. "No, Julie, he's not going to lock you up or anything else. You didn't do anything wrong. You did what any mother would do for her son and his child. Matt understands that."

"I hope so, Doc." Julie dropped her head.

When they got back to Dodge, Doc pulled up in front of the Long Branch. Kitty was waiting at the door. "Julie? You okay?"

Julie nodded and handed the baby to Kitty as she got out of the buggy. "I'm alright, Kitty."

Kitty looked down at the baby in her arms and then back to her friend. "Come on. Let's go in and get you and this little one situated. I've already had Sam draw a bath for you. The water should still be warm."

"Oh, Kitty, that's very good of you but…"

"No, buts." Kitty shook her head and handed the baby back to her. "Come on."

Julie looked over at Doc. "See you later?"

"You betcha." Doc nodded with a smile.

As Kitty, Julie and the baby went into the saloon, Doc turned to Matt. "You're not going to do anything to that woman. Do you hear me?"

Matt glanced at the saloon that the women had disappeared into and then back at Doc, seeing the very serious expression on his face. "I hear, Doc. And I agree. It wouldn't serve anything or anyone to arrest her."

Doc studied Matt for a moment. It wasn't that he didn't believe him but he was just appreciating the man's kindness and friendship. Taking a swipe of his mustache, he nodded. "Good."

The next evening, Doc and Julie shared a meal at DelMonico's while Kitty babysat. Julie had decided to name the baby Lonnie Blane III. She hadn't yet decided to whether she should keep him or not. She had decided it was time for her to go home. That's why she wanted to have supper with Doc, alone.

"You don't seem to have much of an appetite tonight." Doc observed, glancing at her plate. "You okay?"

Julie nodded and then quickly shook her head. "I'm leaving tomorrow, Doc." Her voice was soft and weak. "I… well, it's time for me to go home."

Doc sighed and looked down, knowing this was coming and yet not wanting it to. "You…" he swallowed hard. "You could stay here, you know. I mean, you have friends here and…"

Julie reached over and placed a hand on his arm. "Doc, I wish I could but I can't. I have a home in San Francisco and I need to go there. I need to heal from this and figure out what to do with Little Lonnie. I can't…"

Doc patted the arm on his arm with a sad nod of his head. "I do understand, Julie. I can't say I'm happy but I understand it." Doc looked down, her hand still clasped in his. Finally, he looked back up at her. "Make me promise, though?"

"I will if I can." She answered.

"Promise me that you'll keep in touch. Will you do that? I know you'll probably keep in contact with Kitty but…"

"Doc, it would be my great pleasure to keep in contact with you. As a matter of fact, I'm rather grateful you want me to, after what Lonnie did."

"You had nothing to do with that, Julie." Doc shook his head. "And you have nothing to be grateful to me for. I didn't do anything but spend time with a pretty lady."

Julie looked up with a smile and impulsively leaned over, kissing Doc on the cheek. "Doc, would you consider me too forward if I asked you to come to my room for a drink? Maybe spend a little more time with a pretty lady?"

Doc grinned and took a tug of his ear. "No, Julie. I would not. Come on, let's go."

The next morning, Doc, Kitty, Matt and Festus stood somberly outside of the stage office. They were there to see Julie off. Kitty was holding the baby while Julie paid for the stage fare and saw to her luggage. When she finished she turned back to see them all standing there waiting on her.

"Ma'am." Festus shook her hand warmly. "It's been a shore ol' de pleasure to meet ya."

Julie smiled and clasped his hand in both of hers. "I feel the same, Festus. Thank you for all you did to help me."

Festus nodded as she released his hand and looked up at Matt, who was standing behind him. "Marshal." She took his hand. "I want to thank you as well for speaking up for me and not arresting me."

Matt shook her hand warmly. "Nothing to thank me for, Ma'am. You weren't guilty of anything."

Julie released his hand and then met Kitty's gaze. Wordlessly, Kitty handed Little Lonnie to Matt and the two women embraced, tears slowly trickling down both their faces. "Julie, I'm going to miss you."

"And I'm going to miss you, Kitty." They broke the hug but kept their arms around each other for a moment.

"Promise me you'll write and maybe consider coming back some time for a visit." Kitty pleaded.

Julie nodded and briefly hugged Kitty again. "I will, Kitty. I will."

When Kitty let go of her, Julie turned slightly towards Doc. "Doc, I… Well… Thank you seems so inadequate. I owe you so much."

Doc pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly to him. "You don't owe me a thing, Julie, except maybe a smile and a letter, like you said you would."

Heedless of the others standing there, Julie raised her lips towards Doc's and kissed him. Whole heartedly, Doc returned the kiss and hugged her even more tightly before finally letting her go. "I surely will miss you." He whispered into her ear.

Julie nodded, stepped away and took the baby into her arms. "Good bye, my friends." Julie smiled through her tears as she boarded the stage and the driver closed the door behind her. "Good bye."

The four waved heartily as the driver climbed up into the box, snapped the reins and drove away. When the stage was finally out of sight, Matt and Festus bid Doc and Kitty adieu and headed off to their own various tasks. Doc stood still and silent as he continued to look in the direction the stage had taken.

Kitty looked over at him. "Did you love her, Doc?" It was a simple question but she knew the answer might not be.

Doc considered that question for a moment before finally shaking his head. "No. No, Kitty, I didn't but I don't think it would've taken much to push me in that direction."

Kitty glanced around and then leaned in close to Doc. "I got the impression last night that… uh, well, I'm not sure what I heard was pushing but…"

Doc straightened, tilting his head to look at Kitty with an indignant air. "Why, Kitty Russell. Are you accusing me of…"

"Nope." She answered, linking her arm with his. "Not accusing you of anything. I just hope you two had fun last night." She winked at him and Doc chuckled as he patted her hand.

"That we did, Miss Russell. That we did."

END