Jed woke with a grunt as he was kicked less than gently in his left leg. He rolled onto to his back, opening his eyes reluctantly, but didn't move out from under his blankets, only stared up at the sky, which was still ablaze with dawn colours. He considered staying where he was and ignoring the blatant wake up call, but hearing a definite warning in the suggestive clearing of a throat above him, he knew that would likely not be his wisest course of action.

So instead he pushed himself to a seated position, rubbing his eyes before looking up to glare at Archie who was grinning down at him with a pan in his hand. Jed knew exactly what it contained, it wouldn't have been the first time he'd been torn out of sleep by icy liquid poured on his neck when several attempts to rouse him had failed. "We got miles to cover today, so it's time you were mobile."

"It ain't hardly dawn!" Jed gestured grumpily up at the bright orange sky, but was soon on his feet, folding his blanket, not wanting to risk either a head smack or being doused in cold water. Archie's face softened into the smallest smile as he watched him and winked as he said. "Good decision, son." before he turned away to roll up his own blanket.

XXX

Jed was sleepily making breakfast, while Archie finished packing up their camp, when he heard something that brought him instantly alert. The cracking of twigs and the sound of displaced stones, accompanied by noisy footsteps coming up the steep, uneven path that led to their camp. Archie came up behind him and tapped him firmly on his shoulders before he took up a guard position where the path narrowed to be sheltered by two large rocks. Jed's hand slipped to his gun, even as he stayed crouched in front of the fire.

"I come in peace, I even brought food and left my horse down a little ways." A cheerful voice broke the suddenly tense atmosphere and Jed's mouth fell slightly open as he recognised it immediately. "Heyes!"

The man himself came into view, his face split into a broad grin with his hands in the air. In his left he held a brown paper bag, the smell coming from it was making Jed's stomach grumble in anticipation of how good it'd taste.

Archie came up behind them and addressed their unexpected visitor, disapproval obvious in his tone. "This ain't the smartest way to say hello. You coulda been shot and then where would we all be?"

Heyes' smile didn't falter as he turned to look at the gunslinger. "Well, I knew you'd hear me coming and I figured you'd ask questions before shooting me." He paused his smile dropping minutely as he added. "Leastwise, I hoped you would." He slowly lowered his arms and stuck out his right hand. "I'm Hannibal Heyes. Pleased to meet you."

Jed smothered a laugh at the glance Beckman shot him, before he took Heyes' hand firmly and said with an air of someone stating the obvious. "Archie Beckman."

Heyes' smile faltered as his eyes widened and he shot Jed a look, before turning back to Beckman. "As in The Bullet?"

Beckman eyed him in some surprise and pulled his hand free as Heyes stepped back. "You're telling me you didn't know?"

Heyes shook his head firmly, placing his hands on his hips as he said with some irritation. "No one in town thought to mention that little fact when I was asking round. All they told me was that a kid named Jed and an old man had bought supplies for a trip into the hills."

Jed laughed and walked over to the two men who were still looking warily at each other. "I guess they mustn't have liked your face, Heyes." He hid the surge of emotion that the unexpected reunion has wrought under a sarcastic tone, not willing to admit to just how affected he was by seeing his friend in the flesh.

Heyes humphed and turned to glare at him, his own tone sharp. "Good to see you too!"

"Now boys, lets play nice, there ain't no point falling out before breakfast." Archie's amused tone pulled their attention to him as he held out his hand. Heyes realising what he wanted, passed over the bag he was still holding with a smile. "Figure that'll taste better than the beans you were planning on having."

"You ain't making the coffee, Heyes!" Their time apart hadn't erased the memory of that terrible taste and Jed wasn't quite ready to experience it again.

XXX

As they ate, Jed kept glancing over at his cousin, and whenever he was looking away, he could feel Heyes' gaze on him too. He was desperate to know what Heyes had been up to in their time apart, but was unwilling to be the first to ask. Archie sitting opposite them, finished eating, sighed and shook his head. "Ain't surprised you boys fell out, you're as stubborn as each other! Just ask the damn questions." He stood, gathering the dirty dishes as he did so. "I'll be doing something useful while you decide which one of you is going to use the brains you were born with."

He stomped off and Heyes laughed as he turned to look at Jed. "He's right you know. Seems mighty dumb that we were looking for each other and now that we're found, we ain't even trying!"

"How'd you know I was looking for you? Maybe it's a coincidence we was up here." Jed was slightly irritated by the knowing tone in his friend's voice and was suddenly unwilling to admit the truth out loud, despite knowing he was being an idiot. He'd wanted this and even as he fought against it, seeing Heyes again felt almost like coming home.

Heyes shook his head, his tone holding a note of irritation as he said. "This isn't some kinda contest you know! If we're gonna make this work again, you gotta give a bit, or we'll just end up splitting again and I'm sure neither of us want that."

Jed shrugged a little embarrassed and nodded, wondering why exactly he was fighting so hard against what was probably inevitable. "All right Heyes! What do you wanna know?"

Heyes steepled his fingers and said. "How'd you end up with The Bullet?"

Jed wished he hadn't asked that particular question, but nonetheless in a sign of goodwill, he answered sheepishly. "I challenged him to a gunfight that first evening we split."

Heyes stared at him in shocked silence, before breaking into loud laughter that went on for several minutes, only adding to Jed's embarrassment and he felt his back stiffen in irritation. He couldn't avoid feeling both defensive and annoyed at his friend's amusement and he snapped. "I didn't know it was him at the time! Ain't that much different than you wandering into our camp, pretty much unannounced. So there's no call for you to be so smug and all."

He gritted his teeth to control his rising annoyance at Heyes' continued mirth, but luckily, as if sensing the impending explosion, Heyes stopped chuckling, caught his breath and wiped his eyes, before giving him an affectionate smile and squeezing his knee briefly. He quickly released his grip, but didn't move his hand and Jed found himself smiling back, enjoying the contact. Archie wasn't keen on offering physical affection, aside from rarely and even then, the occasions were generally only fleeting. Jed realised suddenly that he'd missed the random affectionate touches that Heyes indulged in.

Heyes continued to smile as he said carefully. "I'm sorry for laughing, but it's just.." He paused and then added with a genuine note of happiness in his tone that warmed Jed. "It seems to have turned out good for you."

Jed nodded and smiled. "Turned out to be a real lucky break in fact. I've learnt a lot." After taking a breath, he asked."So how about you?"

"I joined a gang on my eighteenth birthday, suffice to say it didn't go too well." Jed felt his stomach drop at the slightly bleak tone, even though it was pretty obvious that there was more to the story, because Heyes looked healthy and appeared both confident and content. He was pleased when after a beat his friend continued, his face clearing. "But I figured second time lucky, so I tried again." It was Jed's turn to laugh at Heyes' boundless optimism and continued to shake his head in amusement as Heyes continued. "I was right too. You heard of The Devil's Hole gang?"

"Who ain't, Heyes? They're blazing quite a trail through Wyoming and Colorado." He paused and added, "You telling me you're involved with them?"

Heyes grinned proudly. "You're looking at Big Jim Santana's official second in command." His face fell as he realised something and after a moment's pause asked softly, his face showing some worry. "You ain't got a problem with being an outlaw have ya?"

Jed realised his answer would decide his future and thought about it for a few minutes, noting the increasingly anxious expression on Heyes' face and answered honestly. "I ain't sure, Heyes. Lemme think about it for a day or two. Kind of a big decision. You got time to wait on an answer?"

Jed was suddenly afraid that he'd say no and was relieved when he nodded. "I got plenty time, Jed." He suddenly looked a little sad as if he'd not really considered this as a problem when he'd come looking for his cousin.

The silence that fell between them, wasn't exactly awkward, simply more contemplative. Jed was however a little relieved when it was broken by Beckman returning loudly.

He was obviously aware of the strange atmosphere and he looked a bit concerned, but as his sharp eyes noted how close together they were sitting and as he also realised that while their postures weren't precisely relaxed, they weren't aggressive either, he nodded in some satisfaction. "Glad you managed not to get into a punch up. I'm almost impressed. Guess that means there's hope for you boys yet!"

Heyes dragged out of his thoughts, turned to Jed with a rueful expression on his face as he said. "He always like this?"

Jed laughed, but catching Archie's expression only said mildly. "Only when he thinks I'm being an ass."

Heyes coughed. "So, that'd be a yes then!" But there was no mockery in his tone and Jed smiled, both relieved and a little surprised at how easily they'd re-found their old rhythm. Was his desire to re-establish his friendship with Heyes enough for him to turn outlaw? He wasn't exactly surprised to find that he was already leaning towards the answer being yes.

XXX

With Heyes' arrival, they'd decided to stay put, there now being no real urgency to be anywhere else while the weather held clear. They had instead set their camp up again and spent a quiet day enjoying the surrounding area. Heyes had brought his horse into camp, where he was now happily munching on the oats with his new companions.

As Heyes and Archie had got to know each other, Jed intermittently joined in the conversation, while flip flopping over whether he was really ready to step over the line into outright criminality. He caught Heyes watching him often, the expressions on his face surprisingly easy for Jed to read despite their time apart.

Throughout their evening meal, Heyes regaled them with tales of daring robberies and exciting escapes, that Jed only half-believed, but was still highly entertained by, knowing that they were Heyes' way of trying to persuade him to go with him, without really saying it outright.

With the moon high in the sky, Jed stared into the fire, listening to Heyes showing Archie some card trick he'd learnt, and realised he'd already come to a decision. Outlawing wouldn't have been his first choice, but it was certainly less hard on his back then most other jobs he could do, aside from hiring out his gun, which was something he'd promised himself he'd avoid at all costs. It'd be good to have money on a regular basis too and be able to enjoy the lifestyle that having such cash would bring. Clear in his mind and more or less content with his decision, he cleared his throat and Heyes' gaze shot up as if expecting it.

"When does this Jim of yours expect us back at Devil's Hole?"

Heyes smiled as he noted the 'us' just as Jed had hoped he would. "Not for another few weeks, I wasn't sure how long it'd take me to find you."

Jed nodded in satisfaction, grateful that they'd have plenty of time to get used to each other again and smooth out any problems they might find between them.

XXX

Jed had felt Archie's eyes on him throughout the exchange and wasn't surprised when after Heyes had turned in, the old gunslinger came to sit beside him as he kept watch. "You sure about this Jed?"

Jed shrugged, but said firmly. "I think so Archie and I got a little while to get settled with it too." He met his mentor's gaze, before glancing over at Heyes asleep under a blanket round the other side of the fire and said more softly. "One thing I am certain of, is that now that me and Heyes are back together, I ain't ready to say goodbye again." Jed wasn't a great believer in destiny or fate, but he'd always followed his instincts, for good or bad. So he couldn't just ignore that as soon as Heyes had rolled into camp, something had very quickly clicked back into place between them, in a way he couldn't really explain. He then added with a slight grin. "And you know I ain't exactly keen on hard work, but I do like a challenge. I figure outlawing will work out pretty good for me."

Beckman watched him carefully for a minute then his own face relaxed as he said. "Well then, I guess them railroads and banks had better watch out, as I wouldn't want to bet against the two of you." He stopped and grinned. "I got a piece of advice for you though, if Heyes ever suggests betting against him forming five pat hands, tell him no as it's a sucker's bet." He stopped and then added more seriously. "When you planning on leaving?"

Jed shrugged, the reality of saying goodbye to Archie washing over him, leaving a painful lump in his throat and stomach and he swallowed hard as he said. "Soon I guess. I know you're keen to start off for home too and being on our own, will give me and Heyes a chance to settle back in with each other." He somehow knew that they'd be better off showing an united front when he finally met the rest of the gang.

Archie turned away to stare into the fire as if struggling to meet his gaze, which strangely made the whole situation a little less painful for Jed and he spoke softly to the back of Archie's head. "I won't ever forget you or what you've taught me."

At his words, Archie turned his head and met his gaze, gently squeezing his forearms, his expression almost fierce in its affection, and Jed felt his eyes itch in reaction to the look. "That goes both ways, son." As if embarrassed by what he'd admitted, Beckman leant back and cleared his throat, his voice slightly raspy as he said. "Now you turn in and I'll take over, because I don't think I'll be ready to sleep anytime soon. It seems kinda pointless us both being awake."

"If you don't mind, I'd rather stay up with you for a little while." Now that Jed knew this would be one of his last nights he'd spend in Archie's company, he wasn't really ready for it to end just yet.

Beckman snorted and said amused."Well, I guess some company wouldn't go amiss. But you'd better remember that you wanted to stay up,when morning comes earlier than you'd like tomorrow."

Jed smiled, relieved by lighter tone and responded in kind. "Well, if I do forget, I'm darned sure that first you, then Heyes will remind me of that fact, frequently most likely."

Beckman chuckled not disagreeing with him, then they lapsed into comfortable silence, both too lost in their thoughts for conversation, but nonetheless content not to be alone.

Jed smiled to himself as he stared up into the starlit sky, his mind full of so many memories, the good, the bad and the downright painful, before his mind drifted towards the future. He was suddenly absolutely certain that all that had gone before had simply been preparing him to grasp this unexpected future with both hands and make it work.

The Legend Begins.