Well, you asked for it, so here it is! No worries, you all know Leggie will pull through all right. Thanks to a certain unexpected hero. I can't kill off Bishie's, I always wimp out. And a special gift to Jennifer who wanted to hear some Legato history. It's a little different from the normal take on it, but I like (duh, I wrote it)! Anyway, here you go. A little longer than usual, but it's all for the best. Ja.

**

~~Wolfwood~~

            I love this. Millie's warmth is the most comforting thing in the world to me, and I can fully enjoy it now. No battles or missions to worry about. No Knives. Legato was still here, but it was different. He seemed . . . almost normal. He even came up to tell me about his little – uh – incident with Vash a little while ago. He truly seems human now.

            Speaking of Vash and Legato, I can hear someone climbing the stairs and approaching the room. The door cracks open and the blonde gunman comes in. He looks ashen faced and I immediately know that something is wrong. Millie and I both sit up and look at Vash with raised eyebrows. He sees our curiosity and looks down at the floor. "He's . . . gone."

            Millie climbs out of bed and goes to his side. "What do you mean 'he's gone'?"

            "He left with Knives a while ago." Vash shuffles to the other bed in the room and sits on it. "I couldn't stop him. I had to do other things. Legato . . ."

            I carefully stand and move to the bed beside him. "What are you going to do?"

            He's silent for a time before standing. "I can't leave him."

            Just the answer I knew I'd to hear. I follow him, grabbing my jacket as I head to the door. Millie grabs onto my arm and I turn towards her. "Don't worry Big Girl, I swear I'll come back to you. I haven't died yet, I'm meant to be alive and with you." She doesn't look happy about it, but she nods and gives me a long kiss goodbye. "Hey, Tongari, where's my luggage."

            Vash smiles at me as we go down the stairs. "It's down here, took some work to get it back from the villagers. Nick, you don't have to come, you're still hurt after all."

"Forget it, needle noggin. You can't get rid of me that easily. I owe you, and probably him, too." After all, Legato was the one to take care of me – or so I'm told. He seems to have changed; I can't abandon anyone in their time of need. Isn't that a scripture? I guess I'm supposed to know, aren't I?

            We walk out of the house and down the street. I glance at Vash's pale, pained face. I can tell this is really bothering him, I wish he'd talk about it. Almost as if he heard my thoughts, the outlaw turns to look at me. "He's healed now. Pretty well, I mean. But he's still hurt."

            "I saw. You healed him?" He wants to say more, it seems, so best to give him the chance.

            He nods slightly. "Wolfwood, do you know why he's been with Knives all these years?" I shake my head. When I met the blue-haired man, he was already the lead Gun-Ho-Gun. "Knives saved him."

            Well, that's not what I expected to hear, that's for sure. "From what?"

            "When Legato was young - I dunno, eight, maybe nine - he was really small and very sick. Knives found him when a group of bullies was beating him up. He would have died if my brother hadn't come. He's always felt indebted, and Knives has been shaping his perceptions since then."

            I nod slowly. I guess it made sense, poor guy. Well, there's no way I can turn back now, I have to do anything I can to get Legato away from that psychopath and back to safety. But another thought occurs to me. "Vash? You said he was sick?"

            The gunman nods. "He had cancer, part of why he was so weak. This is the second time a plant has cured him. And I'll just bet Knives used the opportunity to his advantage." He flexed his mechanical arm, glowering at the horizon. He grows quiet and we continue across the desert, following two vague sets of footprints. I only hope we aren't too late.

**

~~Vash~~

Just as the first sun hits the horizon, we arrive at a large outcropping of rocks. They're here, I know it. Carefully, Wolfwood and I creep through the rocks, trying to find where our quarry had set up camp. Silently, I motion for him to go left while I take right. Thinking back, that was likely a very bad decision.

I spend a good five minutes going through cliffs and caves. There aren't that many places they could be, but you can't see anything with all the tall rock walls. Finally, around one corner I spot a pile of white lying on the ground and rush over. It's Legato, unconscious and apparently very hurt. Knives must have felt the need to punish him. Bastard.

"I thought we made it clear you shouldn't follow us, Vash." I spin around and see Knives standing on a cliff above me. I freeze halfway to my gun when I see what he has with him. Still weak from injuries, Wolfwood is hardly able to stand, his arms pinned tightly behind him in Knives's iron grip. "I'll let you walk out of here with one of them."

I can't help but stare at my brother's cold eyes. I can't move, frozen under his glare. I glance down at Legato, then step away from him to keep Knives calm. He sends me a sadistic smile and disappears further back on the ledge. I stand tensely until he reappears on the other side of Legato. He shoves Wolfwood forward and the priest spills onto the dirt right beside Legato.

I step towards them, but stop again when I see Knives frowning at me. God, how did I get into this mess? I help Wolfwood up carefully, not taking my eyes off Knives for a moment. He moves forward menacingly. "Now I suggest you leave before you lose the opportunity."

He stepped forward again, putting Legato behind him. It's like a vice on my heart, abandoning him to my brother. But I have no choice. Suddenly, Legato is up. He stands behind Knives, struggling to hold him one handed. I'm about to jump in to help him when a shot rings out, causing me to fall back into Nick. Legato jumps away as well and Knives falls to the ground. He's not dead, but for the fourth time in my life, I'm faced with a brother too injured to fight or even really move.

I rush to his side, worried despite all he's done. A minute later, Wolfwood comes over with a familiar looking strap. "What's that for?"

He loops it around Knives, pinning his arms before he wraps the gun wound. "I know you're going to want to bring him back. But I'm not the only one that doesn't trust him to behave." I look at Legato who nods quietly at me. I hate to admit it, but even I agree he needs to be restrained.

And so I'm back where I started. We'll head home in the morning, and maybe this time I can convince Knives to change. This time at least I have more help.

**

~~Millie~~

I hurry across the desert. How could I possibly have let him go off again? Well, it doesn't matter. This time, he will come back. I'll make sure of it. I can see an outcropping of rocks ahead, that must be where they are.

Why are you coming?

I jump, nearly falling off the thomas. "What?" I glance around eagerly, trying to find the owner of the voice. It sounds familiar. "Legato?"

Millie. You shouldn't get involved. But if you're coming, you have to hurry.

"I have no intention of taking my time." It is Legato. I would never have expected him to be helping me. But any friendly hand, I suppose. After all, Nick's life is in the balance. I reach the rocks and hurry to dismount. "Where are you?"

Keep quiet! They can't know you're here are that I'm awake. Go right; tell me when you can see us.

I move along the stone wall until I reach a gap in the rocks. Through it, I can see Vash standing with Nick. And I can see Knives too. I can barely see Legato as he turns his head ever so slightly to see me.

Do you have a weapon? I nod and pull out a small handgun, one of Nick's. Shoot when I tell you. I take careful aim and pray Knives doesn't notice me. Legato grabs the blonde and they struggle, weaving in and out of my narrow field of vision. NOW! My hand tightens with a shattering boom. I blink as the dust clears, but I can't see anyone.

Vash walks into view and bends down. I twist around, trying to see who is on the ground, but I it's no use. It's all right, Millie. Good shot. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and back away. I move back to my thomas and mount the beast. My Nick is safe, no reason to stay. Besides, they still think of me as sweet 'Big Girl' Millie. I don't really mind it, nice to be loved that way. They never have to know I was here – keep the innocence. I'll see them tomorrow and I can't wait to give my priest a kiss.

Not to mention thank a certain man whom I hope will be with us for quite some time.

**

So, I hope you enjoyed this little ficlet of mine. I'm rather glad you all asked for the extra chapter, feels good to give Millie some credit. And don't you all like the happy ending better than the gloomy end of last chapter? Oh well, whatever. On to the review!! Thanks for the help, Deadly. And thank you – all my fans, I do this for you!!^_^