It had been two days since they had brought the Kid into town and settled him at the docs'. Heyes was nearing exhaustion, but there was nothing anyone could say or do to get him to leave the Kids' side. He couldn't rid himself of the overwhelming sense of loss he'd felt when he'd seen his friend not breathing. He stayed at his side, tending him when he had developed a slight fever, constantly talking to him as he lay there, the only movement being a slight tightening of a fist. The Kid had opened his eyes with a soft moan a couple of times but had been in so much pain that the doctor had finally given him a very small dose of laudanum. Heyes wouldn't even leave to eat…a quick dash to the privy was the longest he'd be away from his side and the doc was getting concerned.

"You know he's going to need your help while he's recovering, and you won't be able to provide that if you're sick."

"Hank, I'll rest when I'm sure he's gonna be okay."

"What about your ranch?"

"Kid somehow managed to talk me into offerin' a job to Wheat and Kyle, that's why they were headed to our place. They're watchin' things for a few days."

Heyes had been hesitant to leave Wheat in charge of the ranch but there wasn't a chance in hell he was gonna leave Kids' side until he could bring him home. Wheat had puffed his chest out slightly confidently assuring him that they would look after things.

Heyes sat in the chair watching his friend breathe and shook his head, his eyes burning from lack of sleep. He sighed and rubbed his face, smiling as he thought of what his partner would have to say about the fact that he hadn't shaved for a few days, especially considering how he complained about that hateful mustache his friend had worn on occasion. He couldn't take his eyes away from the comfort of the shallow but steady breathing of his wounded cousin. His eyelids began to droop wearily and it wasn't long before his head lolled to the side as exhaustion finally won and he slept.

xxxxx

As he inched toward consciousness he became aware of his own breathing…each breath sent pain through his shoulder and ribs. His head was pounding and he felt like he'd swallowed a bucketful of sand. He opened his eyes the room slowly coming into focus when he became aware of a soft breathing beside him and turning his head slightly saw his partner sleeping in a chair next to the bed. He started to lift his hand to his aching head and hissed, his hand dropping weakly back to his side, gritting his teeth as a wave of pain washed over him, startling Heyes awake.

"Kid?" he asked groggily as he sat forward. "Watcha need?"

Kid tried to clear his throat but couldn't. His lips moved but couldn't form any words.

"Want somethin' to drink?" he asked already reaching for the pitcher beside the bed to pour some water into a glass without waiting for a response.

"Don't try to move Kid, just relax and let me lift your head a bit."

Kid hissed again as Heyes lifted his head as gently as possible, but he gratefully took a couple sips. Heyes let Kids' head rest back against the pillow before placing the glass back on the table.

"Better?"

Kid gave a slight nod instantly regretting it, wincing as things began to spin, fighting to stay conscious.

"Damn it's good to see you awake. You had us all worried."

Kid grunted in pain.

"I'll get the doc…don't know what I'm thinkin', he told me to get him as soon as you woke up. Stay there I'll be right back," neither of them in the right frame of mind to appreciate the absurdity of that statement.

The Kid lay still, just concentrating on taking slow shallow breaths; deep breaths hurt too damn much. He tried to remember what had happened, how he had gotten here, but his memories were fragmented and his throbbing head wasn't helping. His eyes were closed when Heyes returned with Hank, the doctor smiling when he saw them open as he neared the bed.

"Well Jed, it's good to see you awake," Hank said as he bent to check on his patient. He stood up a few moments later and looked from one ex outlaw to another.

"Jed, I know it's painful but you need to try to take some deeper breaths. If you don't you could develop pneumonia and you know as well as I do that wouldn't be good."

"I'll …try Hank," he whispered.

Kid did take a deeper breath his face instantly creasing as he grunted in pain.

"That's it son and I reckon you can have a full dose of laudanum now…didn't want to give you much until I knew you were a bit stronger."

As the laudanum began to take effect he heard the doctor talking as if from a great distance, his eyes drooping as his vision began to fade.

"And Heyes, you need to get some sleep."

"I'm fine…"

"Heyes?"

A slurred barely audible voice stopped them and they both turned to the bed.

"Yeah Kid?"

"Go…home…s..sleep."

Hank looked at Heyes with a raised eyebrow and a grin. "Guess you bin told."

Xxxxx

Over the next few days the Kid gradually got stronger, to the point where Heyes felt he could leave him for short periods of time so he could check on the ranch. He had to admit that Wheat and Kyle were managing to keep things going, but then again Kyle had always been good with horses…horses and dynamite.

.

Heyes was concerned about his partner though, he had been quieter than usual since he'd been hurt and no amount of prodding could get him to open up about what was bothering him. The day before Hank released the Kid to go home Heyes had returned from the ranch and was filling him in on the goings on there when the Kid stopped him.

"Heyes? I need to talk to you about somethin'," he said seriously, not looking at his partner.

"Sure Kid," Heyes leaned forward in the chair, almost holding his breath hoping he'd finally find out what was eating his friend.

The Kid took a deep breath…"I seen Katie…"

He stopped talking, unsure of how Heyes was going to take what he was about to tell him.

Heyes cocked his head to one side and eyed his partner.

"Ya mean ya dreamt about her?"

"No Heyes, I seen her. She talked to me, gave me a message."

Heyes stayed silent just watching him as he struggled to explain.

"There was this heavy mist and she came out of it…told me our folks were proud of how far we come. Said she loved me. Told me to tell you…"

He looked up meeting Heyes' eyes.

"Told me to tell ya that your folks were proud too."

"Kid I'm sure you think…"

"I knew you wouldn't believe me…." he looked away shaking his head when he saw the doubt on Heyes' face.

"It ain't that I don't believe…"

"Heyes, she told me I had to come back, told me that you needed me and told me to listen."

"Listen? Listen to what?"

The Kid met his eyes again.

"To you…I heard you Heyes, the things you was sayin', tellin' me…beggin' me not to go. Felt the warmth of your hand on my chest, thought I felt rain on my hand and face, but…it wasn't rain was it Heyes."

Heyes was speechless, sitting back upon hearing that. There was no way the Kid could've known any of that unless…

Kid smiled at him knowing he had shocked him…"Kinda nice knowin' they'll be there waitin' for us ain't it."

EPILOGUE

Almost two weeks later the two friends were found sitting relaxing in chairs on the porch of their ranch house as they watched Wheat and Kyle carrying water to fill the trough. Kyle was carefully carrying a bucket of water and was about to empty it into the trough but stumbled dumping the water on Wheats' boots instead.

"Dang it Kyle…" he snapped as he reached out grabbing the back of Kyles' jacket to stop him from falling head first in the half full trough.

Kid snorted a laugh and Heyes rolled his eyes.

"Still ain't sure this is a good idea Kid."

"They'll be fine Heyes, they done a good job while we was in town."

Their eyes were still on the two at the water trough and Heyes chuckled when he saw Wheat smack Kyle lightly on the back of the head after steadying him.

"Kyle I swear, you are the clumsiest…can't believe ya worked with dynamite and ain't never blowed yerself up."

Kyle lowered his head rather sadly, looking down at the ground as he shifted the tobacco from one side of his mouth to the other and hitched his pants up.

"But I s'pose yer a pretty good partner…" Wheat added with a smile.

Kyle looked up a happy grin plastered on his face.

Heyes looked over at the Kid and saw the contented smile.

"Well guess it's the least we can do since Wheat did save your life and for that I'm grateful." He shuddered slightly, the memory of seeing his cousin not breathing still far too vivid. Taking a steadying breath he forced a mischievous grin… "as I s'pose yer a pretty good partner…"

Kid laughed outright holding his wounded side and shaking his head, Heyes joining in, the two men at the fence glancing curiously over at them before continuing to fill the water trough.

xxxxx

NOTE: This was supposed to be the final chapter but Kid has been nattering away at me saying "me and Heyes got somethin' to clear up, so I need ya to write one more chapter." Well, who am I to argue with the Kid…one more chapter coming soon.