Heyes had been certain that he would be able to stay awake through the night but Saturday morning found him fast asleep sitting beside Kid with his feet up on the edge of the bed his head tipped awkwardly as it rested on the back of the chair. It was still dark when he stirred wondering what had roused him. Opening his eyes he glanced toward his friend without lifting his head the glow from the oil lamp casting enough light that he could see a pair of blue eyes blearily looking back at him. Dropping his feet to the floor with a thump he quickly sat up, his muscles immediately complaining loudly from being crammed unmoving in the uncomfortable chair for so long.

"Ow, shit," he hissed as he got to his feet.

Bending over his partner he felt his forehead relieved to find it cool.

"Hey partner," Heyes said quietly with a smile. "'Bout time you woke up."

Kid blinked lazily at him, not saying anything. Heyes reached for the pitcher sitting on the table beside the bed pouring some water into a cup.

"C'mon you need to drink Kid, doctors' orders," he coaxed holding the cup carefully.

Heyes managed to get him to take several sips before his eyes closed in sleep. He stood watching him for a couple minutes before straightening up, walking around the room stretching, as he tried to work the kinks out of his back and neck. Rubbing his hands over his face and through his hair he glanced at the pocket watch he had set on the table, realizing he had slept through the time he should have given Kid another breathing treatment. He wondered whether he should do the peppermint thing again or just let him sleep, finally deciding the sleep would be better for him. He should be able to stay awake now and listen to his breathing, giving him a treatment if it sounded like he needed it.

Yawning he turned the wick down on the oil lamp, snuffing it out, not needing it now as the sun was coming up. He gazed out the window and watched a couple people already heading to work before he returned to the chair, looking down on it with a frown. Stretching his arms over his head he concluded that he had no desire to sit in that chair at the moment instead crossing the room and sitting on the edge of the other bed. He eyed the book he had tried to read a couple nights ago finally picking it up as he leaned back on his bed. He did enjoy Mark Twain and this was entitled Roughing It supposedly an account of his travels through the west. If it was anything like Life on the Mississippi it should be interesting.

XXXXX

He was a couple chapters into the book when he heard the now familiar tapping at his door. Putting it aside, he swung his legs over the bed walking over to admit the doc.

"Well good morning Joshua, how's the patient today?"

"He opened his eyes a while ago," he responded with a dimpled smile. "Didn't say anything, but he was lookin' at me and before you ask yes I did manage to get some water into him."

The doc smiled clapping Heyes on the shoulder before approaching the bed. As he reached out putting his hand on Kids' forehead to check for fever, his patient opened his eyes.

"Well hello young man. You've had us all mighty worried about you."

"Thaddeus?"

Kid looked at Heyes who had immediately squatted beside the doctor when he saw Kids' eyes open.

"Hey…" he whispered.

"Hey yourself," Heyes quickly cut him off. "You just take it easy, don't try to talk."

Heyes turned his head when the door opened and the sheriff entered with coffee and breakfast.

"I knew I heard voices, shoulda figured the doc would beat me this mornin'…well what have we here? He's awake!"

Kid blinked trying to focus on the man wearing the badge who had approached, looking at Heyes again with a slight frown.

"It's okay Thaddeus, you're safe now. The doc and the sheriff have bin helpin' me to look after ya," he said as he laid a warning hand on his shoulder.

"You've certainly given us a run for our money the past couple days young man, but it looks like you're on the mend. You're lucky to have such a good friend son, hard as we tried he wouldn't leave your side. Now you need to rest and I'll have Clara make some broth for you."

He finished checking Kid over as he was talking, patting Kid gently on the arm he stood turning to Heyes.

"I'll have Clara send over some broth, get that into him and get him to drink as much as he'll take. Fever is gone and his breathing is better so I think you can ease off on the tea and peppermint steam unless you feel he needs it."

"Thanks doc."

"Eat your breakfast and get some rest," the doc ordered with a smile.

"Yes sir, I'll try."

"C'mon Lucas I'll let you buy me a coffee."

The two men left and Heyes sat on the edge of the bed looking at his partner.

"You scared the hell outta me Kid."

"Eat…" Kid said his voice so hoarse Heyes had a hard time understanding him.

"You hungry?" he asked with a frown not knowing if he heard right.

"No…you…"

Heyes shook his head smiling.

"I will after you have somethin' to drink."

He chuckled when Kid rolled his eyes but drank the water when Heyes held the cup to his mouth.

"Get some rest Kid," he ordered gently as he set the cup down, turning back to face his friend when he felt a hand on his arm. "What is it, you wantin' somethin'?"

"Thanks."

"Just hurry up and get better will ya."

Kid nodded once before closing his eyes. Heyes watched him sighing softly in relief confident that his cousin was going to get better.

"Eat," Kid said hoarsely but firmly without opening his eyes.

"Go to sleep," Heyes chortled as he turned picking up the plate the sheriff had brought and sat on the edge of his bed to eat his breakfast, his behind wanting nothing to do with that wooden chair for a while.

XXXXX

By mid afternoon Kid had consumed two bowls of broth and several cups of water… in between naps. His voice was slowly becoming stonger which Heyes was thankful for not having to work so hard at trying to understand what his partner was saying.

Heyes had just finished helping Kid to drink his second bowl of broth when Kid turned serious eyes on him.

"Heyes…"

"What Kid?"

"I was scared…"

"You were real sick when you got here."

"I don't remember…"

"You were out cold on your horse when you came into town."

"All I remember was thinkin' I wasn't gonna make it and I was gonna die alone," he confessed, his eyes getting bright with unshed tears.

Heyes swallowed.

"Well you did make it and you ain't gonna die."

"It weren't the dyin' part Heyes."

"I know Kid, I know…but you ain't alone now," he said placing a hand on Kids' chest. "Get some sleep."

They stared at each other for another moment before Kid closed his eyes, one tear leaking out to roll down his cheek. Heyes lifted a hand, but Kid wiped it away quickly without opening his eyes.

XXXXX

Kid woke when he heard a knock at the door, the sheriff walking in before he had a chance to do more than sit upright. He glanced over to the other bed where he saw his partner sound asleep propped against the headboard with a book open on his lap. The sheriff made his way over to Kids' bedside before speaking barely above a whisper.

"Finally gettin' some sleep I see. Brought you boys some supper, but I kinda hate to wake him up. How be I help you eat yours and I'll bring back a couple sandwiches for him after."

"Yeah I dunno how long he's bin asleep, but he sure looked beat earlier."

"It's bin a long few days for ya both… sure is nice to hear ya gettin' your voice back and you're lookin' a lot better too. Doc said to tell you he'd stop by in the mornin' to see ya."

The sheriff kept up a steady stream of quiet conversation while he spooned the soup into the Kid.

"'Preciate your help sheriff."

"Lucas…name's Lucas. You rest and I'll drop off those sandwiches in a bit."

XXXXX

Neither man heard Lucas enter some time later, placing the sandwiches on the table just inside the door smiling as he glanced at both sleeping men before silently closing the door and leaving.