The doctor arrived and he started working silently on his patient, doing his best to ignore Heyes who was hovering worriedly. He finally glanced pleadingly over at Wheat before looking at Heyes and sighing.

"Heyes, I know you're worried and rightly so, but son I need room to work. If I need any help I'll be sure to let you know."

Heyes hesitated and opened his mouth to argue when he felt someone grab his arm firmly. He looked up at Wheat.

"C'mon Heyes, let the doc work," he said somewhat gruffly.

Heyes' shoulders slumped knowing that both men were right. He stood up walking to the fire and pouring himself a cup of coffee which he held while he stood his eyes never leaving the doctor as he worked on his friend. At last Hank sat back on his heels and sighed before locking eyes with Heyes and motioning him closer.

"Well Heyes, I took the bullet out of his shoulder, the other was a through and through. I've wrapped his ribs and stitched him up but I'm not going to lie to you…it's not good, he's lost a lot of blood…too much. Your friend Kyle is coming with a wagon, but I don't want Jed moved tonight. We don't want him to start bleeding again."

The doctor looked at Wheat. "It's a good thing you found him when you did else he would have surely bled to death. You did a good job."

Then he looked to Heyes again as he took a deep breath knowing the man wasn't going to like what he had to say. "I'm sorry Heyes…I have my doubts that he'll make it through the night…but, if by some miracle he does, bring him into town in the morning…slowly and as gently as possible."

Heyes looked sharply at the doc, his mouth opened but no words came out. He cleared his throat before trying again.

"Thanks Hank. I appreciate you coming out here and we will be bringin' him in to your office tomorrow."

Hank got to his feet and looked down at the Kid once more, shaking his head almost imperceptibly before looking at Heyes and Wheat. Pausing briefly he reached out giving Heyes' shoulder a sympathetic squeeze.

"I'll see you boys tomorrow."

Kyle arrived with the wagon as Hank was leaving. He walked toward his friends who were again squatted beside the Kid and stood looking down as he moved his chaw slowly from one side of his mouth to the other and nervously scuffed his foot on the ground.

"He ain't lookin' so good…"

"Shut up Kyle…" Heyes and Wheat snapped at the same time.

Wheat got quickly to his feet, grabbing his partners' elbow and leading him away.

"Need ya ta check on the Kids' horse Kyle."

Heyes stayed beside his friend and whispered to him.

"Kid, ya gotta fight. I need ya to fight like ya ain't never done before. You hearin' me?"

Heyes stayed at the Kids' side oblivious to everything and everyone, his whole being focused solely on his partner. He shook his head refusing the plate of food that Wheat tried to give him, mindlessly sipping the coffee when it was thrust forcefully into his hand.

Wheat and Kyle watched Heyes closely with some concern as he sat quietly talking to his friend remembering their many years together. They listened silently as Heyes spoke of the good times they had shared, the trouble they had gotten into; their childhood years in Kansas and the argument that had caused them to split; how they had reunited and joined the gang and the friendships they had formed both there and in their travels throughout the west; he spoke of the struggles as they worked for the amnesty and finished with how they had worked hard in their quest for a home and had found it at Freedom Ranch. Throughout the night Heyes talked, hoping his friend would somehow know he was there, and Wheat and Kyle listened intently to every word, their respect for the two friends growing as they heard their life story. Wheat had always known these two were close, but after hearing Heyes' monologue he understood just how close they were and why they were so protective of each other. They would never know about Valparaiso as that was the one thing Heyes didn't touch on.

Close to dawn Heyes couldn't put off going to relieve himself any longer and left Wheat to watch his partner for a few minutes. As he was walking back from the trees he saw Kyle look at him curiously.

"Heyes, who's Katie?"

Heyes stopped in his tracks the blood draining from his face and stared at Kyle in shock.

"Kids' sister…why?"

"Didn't know he had a sister."

"She died when he was ten, Kyle why are ya askin'?"

"Cos he said her name and told her to wait for him."

Heyes eyes widened in fear, starting to push past Kyle as Wheat spoke up.

"Heyes, he ain't breathin'."

Heyes fell to his knees besides his friend, putting his hands on Kids' chest unable to believe this was happening.

"No, no no…Kid!" he his voice thick with pain.

He grasped one of Kids' limp hands, cringing at how cold it was, while his other hand rested on his chest, over his heart.

Wheat got to his feet and dragged Kyle a few feet away. "Don't say nothin' Kyle you hear me?" he warned.

Kyle nodded and they moved to stand a couple feet behind Heyes as his self control began to crumble.

"Kid…Jed…don't do this. Don't make me do this alone…Please come back," he sobbed brokenly as tears slowly began to fall.

And then he felt him take a shuddering breath and all three heard the whispered word…."Heyes..."

"Well I'll be damned…" Wheat mumbled while Kyle's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

"Oh thank god…Kid, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?"

But he said nothing more and his eyes remained closed. Heyes sat back on his heels running his hands over his face, saying a silent thank you and when Kyle got over the initial shock and opened his mouth to say something he merely grunted as Wheats' elbow connected solidly with his ribs.

By this time the sun was fully up and they all turned with guns drawn when they heard an approaching horse. Sheriff Lee Mitchell reined his horse to a stop and raised his eyebrows seeing three guns trained on him.

"Reckon I don't blame ya for that, but ain't no need."

"Sorry Lee, you remember Wheat and Kyle," he said as they all holstered their weapons.

"Sure do, Jed told me they might be workin' on the ranch with ya. How's he doin'?"

"Hank didn't think he'd make it through the night, but he did. Now we just have to get him into town."

"I can help with that. Also want to talk to your friends a little later, see if they can tell me anything about the fellas that did this."

The injured man was carefully loaded into the wagon and while Kyle mounted his horse to lead Kids' lame gelding back to the ranch, Heyes sat in the wagon beside his cousin with Wheat driving as slowly and carefully as possible the sheriff riding along beside them.

xxx

Hank heard the wagon when it pulled up in front of his office and he came out to meet it surprised to find Jed still alive but managing to hide it well. He was thankful, he had liked these two men when he had met them all those years ago and had always hoped that things would work out for them.

Between the four of them they carefully carried the Kid into the docs'. As they gently placed him on the cot his eyes opened unfocused and filled with pain.

"Hank, can't ya give him somethin'?" Heyes pleaded.

"No son, he's so weak that it could kill him."

The Kids' eyes closed again almost immediately, his face still creased in pain, his right hand clenched into a fist as a small sound escaped him before he lost consciousness again.