Kid opened his eyes and lay still as the memory of what had happened gradually came back to him. Slowly getting to his feet he looked around blinking in confusion before glancing down and fingering his blood stained shirt. He knew he had been beaten and robbed and he was sure he had been shot…but felt no pain, how could that be? He lifted his head and frowned as he looked around, a dense fog seemed to have settled all around him and he wondered just how long he had been out. He cocked his head off to one side hearing faint voices, his right hand automatically dropping to his empty holster before remembering that he had been relieved of his gun. He stood still listening to the voices that were sounding strangely familiar but was unable to make out what they were saying. It was then that he realized there were no other sounds…not even any birdsong. He cautiously took a couple steps forward squinting as he tried to see through the mist.

"Hello?" he called softly.

The voices stopped for a moment but then continued again and he strained as he tried to see who was there. He started walking forward toward the edge of the mist but he it seemed to be staying just out of his reach. He thought the voices were getting a little louder but he still couldn't make out what they were saying. He stopped, once again tilting his head to one side. He could swear the voices belonged to his parents, but try as he might he couldn't see anyone.

"Hello? Ain't much point in ya hidin', I can hear you so ya might as well come out where I can see ya," he called a little louder.

A little girl suddenly emerged from the mist stopping several feet from him smiling warmly.

"Hello Jed," she said quietly.

Kid looked at her curiously before blinking in recognition thinking he must be dreaming, either that or he was hurt a lot worse than he thought. He lowered his head and rubbed a hand over his eyes before looking up again hardly able to believe what he was seeing.

"K…Katie?" he whispered.

"Yeah Jed it's me. Ma and pa sent me to talk to you. They want me to tell you that we're all proud of you …you and Han both, but that it ain't your time yet. You have to go back."

"But…I don't understand."

Katy turned looking back into the mist as the other voices were heard again. She listened for a moment before facing Jed again.

"I can't explain it to you Jed, but they want me to tell you to be sure to tell Han that his parents are right proud too."

She turned and started to disappear back into the swirling mist.

"Katie…stop…wait for me, I wanna see ma and pa too," he said as he tried to follow her.

She turned back to face him again just before the mist swallowed her, her face serious this time.

"You can't Jed, not yet."

Kid opened his mouth to speak again.

"No Jed…listen…can't you hear him calling you?"

"Who?" he frowned.

Katie giggled. "Ma says for you to do as you're told for once…just listen."

Kid smiled slightly as he remembered his mother saying that to him many times when he was a youngster. He finally did what Katie told him and as he listened he recognized another distant voice that gradually became clearer and easier to understand…"Kid…Jed…don't do this." He sensed a warmth settle gently on his chest over his heart.

Kid paused, hearing her as she disappeared into the fog…"He needs you, a lot of people do. Your work isn't done yet. Love you Jed, we all do and we'll be waiting for you when the time comes."

Kid looked down at his hand feeling what he thought was a raindrop, another drop landing on his cheek as he heard the sobbing pain filled voice of his best friend.

"Don't make me do this alone…please come back."

Kid hesitated as he stood looking toward the spot where Katie had disappeared, then taking a deep breath he turned back to search for his friend.

"Heyes… where are you?" he called.