Festus struggled with the man for control of the pistol, and was surprised at the fight the sixty-year old was able to muster. His voice sounded strained through gritted teeth.

"Now you jes' settle down, Doc, and give me this here gun..."

"Let go of me, Festus, or by thunder, I'll shoot ya!"

Haggen fought to maneuver the old physician in front of him so he could gain the upper hand. "Damnit, Doc, you stop this nonsense right now!"

Adams pulled against Haggen with all his might, but the deputy managed to get behind him, and had a tight grip on his wrist. Finally Doc howled in pain, and dropped the pistol to the floor. Festus held onto him for a moment, in an effort to quiet him.

"Now you jes' relax, Doc. You jes' calm down..."

"Don't you tell me what to do, damn you!" Adams broke away from Haggen. "Just leave me be."

Festus felt the emotion in his eyes, and tried to blink back his concern. "Doc, please tell me whut's the matter. I'll help ya if I can..."

Adams sat heavily in his desk chair, staring at the floor. "Just leave me be, damn you..."

Haggen picked up the weapon, slipping it into his own belt, then he knelt next to the chair. "Doc, maybe I can help you if you tell me whut's botherin' ya so--"

"--GET OUT!"

The angry roar almost sent Festus onto his backside, and stunned, the man straightened up, staring at his old friend.

Doc's voice was softer, and worn out as he reiterated, "Just get out..."

Slowly, like a child who had been discarded, Festus turned and walked toward the door. He opened it, and looked back at the man he considered family, sadly looking to him, waiting for any sign that Doc Adams had so much as a tiny thought regarding him. But Doc continued to stare at the floor as if Haggen had never existed. Hurt to the core, Festus left, softly closing the door behind him. He walked down the staircase outside, his arms hanging limply at his sides. As his feet hit the street below, he could see Dillon and Kitty heading toward him. He brusquely brushed away any remaining moisture from his eyes, although the motion wasn't lost on his friends.

Dillon pat Haggen's shoulder. "Festus? Everything all right?"

Haggen couldn't meet the man's eyes. "Doc's up in his office...but he ain't Doc."

Kitty looked down to catch the soft amber eyes. "Festus, what do you mean?"

Haggen met her gaze. "He ain't hisself a-tall." He handed Dillon the pistol. "Had to wrastle this away from him. He meant to come down here and kill that old doctor with it."

Dillon took the weapon, concern flooding his timbre, "Did he say why?"

Haggen shook his head. "Nope. Said nary a word ta me, 'ceptin' to tell me to leave him be, and ta get out."

Kitty rubbed a hand across his shoulders. "Aw now Festus, you know Doc didn't mean that."

"Yes'n he did, Miss Kitty. It's like we ain't friends no more..."

Matt pitched his voice soft, "Festus, you know as well as I do that Doc can be kinda gruff sometimes. He was just blowin' off steam."

Haggen's tortured amber eyes met Matt's blue ones. "Ya reckon he and me's still friends, Matthew?"

Matt smiled. "I'd put money on it. Now why don't you and Kitty go get a drink at the Longbranch?"

"What about you Matt?"

"I want to keep my eye on him for awhile, Kitty. I'll stop by later."

"I'm really worried, Matt."

His voice was quiet with concern, "So'm I."

Kitty wrapped her arm around Haggen's. "Come on Festus, I think we could both use a drink."