Slowly Festus climbed the staircase. He was certain that Doc wouldn't want him to visit right now, but he was equally determined to see how Louie was doing. He paused at the top and placed his hand on the knob of the door and to his surprise it opened from the inside. "You gonna stand there all day?" Doc grumbled and motioned for Festus to enter the office.

"Doc! I didn't figure you'd want me up here..." Festus sputtered out the words.

Doc took a long cagey look at the deputy then blinked methodically and turned into the room. "And I thought you'd say that. Sit down." Doc brushed his hand over his moustache and pointed to the chair next to his desk. He watched Festus cautiously move to it. "It isn't gonna bite you!" Doc huffed as he took his own chair as Festus sat down.

Festus pulled off his hat. His eyes were fixed on Louie who remained on the examination table. He was to weak to move elsewhere. "He gonna be alright, Doc?"

The doctor scratch his chin. "I don't know. It's up to him now. I've done everything I can for him..." And then Doc's eyes cast over to Festus, "But, I'm more concerned for you at the moment..." His crystal blue eyes bore deep in to Festus' being.

Festus lowered his head. "Doc. I'm powerfully sorry that I shoved you the way I did last night. I gist wasn't thinkin' straight. I was all confused and I really don't know where I was..." He looked up at Doc who nodded his head in understanding.

"That's why I wanted to see you. Matt and I...well we should have asked those questions better. We put you on the defence right off, and that wasn't right." Doc said solemnly.

Festus sat somewhat taken back at Doc's explanation or apology before he spoke. "Well foot, Doc. Ifin' I wasn't such a hot tempered mule at times..."

Doc interrupted Festus' rant with a quick hand motion. Doc looked at Louie. "I think he said something..."

Both men quickly stood and gathered at Louie's side. Doc placed his stethoscope in his ears and listened to Louie's heart rate. He shook his head in slight approval. "I wouldn't have said this earlier today, but I think he's going to pull though."

Festus smiled broadly and held Louie's forearm. "Yer just as stubborn as ol' Doc!"

Doc shot Festus a look. "You should talk of stubbornness. You and your mule could go head to head in any competition!" He huffed and spun on his heels to get some fresh bandages.

Festus glared at the old physician and then smiled to himself before returning his attention to his friend on the examination table. "Louie? I gotta ask you a question..."

Louie's eyes peeped open and rolled to Festus. "It hurts bad, Festus."

Festus pat his friend's forearm. "I know it does Louie. Ol' Doc's got something here fer you. It'll help with the pain." Festus blinked his eyes and refocused. "Do you know who done this to ya?"

Louie's eyes closed and he nodded a gentle yes before he passed out again from the pain.