Before Heyes could respond, the Kid closed his eyes and his breathing quickly evened out as he drifted back to sleep. Heyes didn't return to his game and instead simply watched his partner sleep for a couple of minutes. He sighed softly when a slight shiver shook the too thin frame. The Kid stirred a little and brought his knees up to his chest with a soft murmur before slipping back into deep sleep with another slight shiver.

Heyes stood quietly, before walking silently over to the closet to retrieve the spare blanket perched on top. He neatly folded it over his right arm and crept over to the bed. He looked down at his friend with a slight smile for a minute or so, before he gently covered him, careful not to disturb his rest. As he did so he whispered, "Welcome home, Kid, welcome home."

XXX

Heyes eventually tiring of cards, but still unwilling to wake the Kid, hunted through the small number of books supplied by the hotel for their guests to read. With most of the places he and Kid had stayed in after giving up outlawing, they'd been lucky to have clean sheets and a working lock. His amused smile soon dropped as he thought of exactly where Kid had spent his time recently and glanced over at the bed with a slight frown.

After a few minutes he dragged his gaze back to the small shelf and continued to study the books. He finally found one that caught his fancy and sat down in the comfortable armchair by the window to read. He was soon caught up in the adventures of a young Mark Twain and his travels through America. Despite his interest in the unfolding tale, he was still listening out for any further sounds of distress from his sleeping friend.

It was close to sundown when the Kid stirred and as Heyes glanced over at him, sat up rubbing his eyes. "Thought you were gonna wake me."

Heyes smiled at his sleep ruffled partner and dug a card out of the pack by his hand to mark his page before placing it on the sideboard. Unwilling to admit that he hadn't wanted to disturb Kid, he instead indicated the book. "Got caught up reading."

XXX

It was dusk and the gas lamps were lit, when the Kid and Heyes walked out onto the street towards the cafe Heyes had suggested. It was quiet and as they walked in a woman was busy wiping down the tables. Heyes suddenly aware of the time asked her. "We too late to eat Ma'am?"

"Not at all! Just taking advantage of the lull to clean up some. We usually get another rush in the next half hour." She smiled at them as they took a table and brought them a couple of menus over. Before they could order, Heyes saw that the Kid's attention had been caught by something outside. He had gone pale and Heyes following his gaze, sighed when he saw it was the prison wagon, obviously taking the inmates back for the night. The Kid dragged his attention away from the disappearing wagon and managed a weak smile.

He didn't even glance at the menu and simply asked for pie and coffee. Heyes after a quick perusal of both the menu and the specials, ordered steak and potatoes with pie to follow. When after the food arrived, he watched the Kid eat slowly and carefully while he ate his own with some enthusiasm, he was stuck by the unfamiliarity of it all.

As they both finished eating, the door opened and Heyes looked up by habit. He saw two young men in the uniform of prison guards walk in. They glanced round the cafe in some interest and Heyes felt the Kid tense when their eyes drifted in their direction and settled on their table and looked towards him.

Heyes' attention was soon drawn back to the men as one of them spoke with a slight sneer in his voice as he walked over to them, with his friend close on his heels. With a malicious laugh he said quite loudly. "Well, look here, Billy! Less than a day out of his cage and he's already trying to pass himself off as human. Don't he look different with his clothes on?"

"He sure does Al. I almost didn't recognise him, cept for that smell."

Their tones were loud enough that they were drawing some interested eyes towards the table from the other patrons. Heyes sighed and resigned himself to an explosion from his friend. But when it didn't come he glanced over at the Kid in some surprise.

His stomach clenched at what he saw. The Kid's head was down, but Heyes could clearly see that his face was bright red from both embarrassment and anger. His fists were clenched in tight balls and a muscle in his jaw was taut and twitching. But it was clear he wasn't intending to respond to the taunting, despite the effort it was taking him not to.

Heyes wondered what new reality he was facing in some concern and cleared his throat softly in query. The Kid looked up at him, but shook his head. Heyes took a deep breath and decided there was no way he was letting this go. It was his turn to cause a ruckus and he realised with some surprise, that he had absolutely no problem with doing just that. They were after all free men and had the absolute right to eat in peace. With a wink and smile, he patted Kid's balled left hand gently and directed his attention to the two idiots as inspiration struck. "Well, Mr Curry, it sure looks like we got ourselves a couple of walk-offs."

The guard's attention was drawn off the Kid, just as Heyes as hoped it would be and the one called Al, sneered at him. "You better explain that, mister."

"I'm always more than happy to educate the foolish." Heyes looked back at the Kid briefly, noting that he was watching with some curiosity and winked at him again, before turning his attention fully to the guards, who were watching him with growing anger. For some reason that only amused him more and he just smiled broadly as he continued. "When the good Lord was makin' men, he got a whole gang of 'em all whomped up together and then decided to knock off for the rest of the day, thinking to put the brains in later. But guess what? He took too long and a whole bunch of them just upped and walked off, before he got the chance. And I'm thinking you must have been a couple of them unfortunate souls. Hope that helps your understanding some." Heyes stood up as he moved his hand to his gun, his wide hopefully infuriating smile still in place. The guards shifted their stance, ready to respond, but Heyes knew he could beat them. Before it could escalate, almost to Heyes' disappointment, the woman who'd seen them in, came rushing over.

"Now, these are my paying customers and you ain't got no call to be harassing them. Remember I know your folks mighty well. I've changed your diapers more than once and spanked your asses too. So, shoo, before I take my broom to you."

The two men shared a slightly shamefaced look and exited quickly. As the door shut behind them, the woman turned back to Heyes and smiled. "I sure am sorry, them boys ain't never had a lick of sense between them. Food's on the house."

The Kid glanced between them, shaking his head. Heyes was relieved that his colour had faded to almost normal and that a small smile even graced his lips as he looked over. Heyes grinned at him and watched as he turned to the woman with a grateful nod. "Thank-you Ma'am. I guess we oughta be leaving so we don't bring you more trouble." He made to stand but the woman pushed him gently down with a smile, shaking her head.

"Not till you've had another piece of pie and some more coffee. Wait right there!"

The Kid glanced at Heyes who shrugged his agreement with her idea and then turned away to smile at her back as she hurried away. After a few moments, he looked back down, to be met by the top of the Kid's head. He realised in some chagrin that his partner had gone back to studying the table. The Kid sighed heavily and spoke without looking up. "When is that train you was talking about, leaving?

Heyes had his answer about San Francisco, without even needing to ask and as the woman came back with a tray he said softly. "Day after tomorrow. Noon."

"Here you are, this is on the house too." She put the pie and coffee on the table and with a sympathetic smile in the Kid direction said. "My daughter's youngest spent a year in that place. Not a bad boy, just easily led and got in with the wrong crowd. He ain't the same as he was going in."

The Kid finally looked up and smiled at the woman as he replied softly. "We appreciate this, Ma'am."

"It isn't any bother son, I'm the owner here and I don't like seeing my customers being annoyed by uncalled for foolishness."

Heyes could see she was resisting the urge to ruffle the Kid's hair and smiled, taking a sip of his coffee to hide the amusement. With a final soft glance at them both she hurried away. The Kid awkwardly met Heyes' gaze, his face flushing again, in embarrassment rather than anger. It looked for a moment like he was going to try and explain what had just happened, but instead he looked down again and began to eat his pie. After a moment or two, Heyes did the same.

XXX

Once back in their hotel room, the Kid was adamant as he sat carefully on the bed.

"I'm stayin' right here, Heyes. Not going nowhere 'cept the outhouse till we gotta go catch that train."

Heyes sighed and shook his head. "What about eating, Kid? You can't just skulk in here all day."

"Just watch me!"

Heyes looked round the room seeking an idea that would change his partner's mind, but saw nothing. He knew it'd likely be wiser if the Kid did as he wanted, but it seemed patently unfair that his partner should be stuck inside.

As the Kid had been angrily undressing all the time they talked, when Heyes' eyes fell back on his partner he froze with a small gasp as the damage he'd suspected was on full display. "Kid..."

The Kid glanced up at the sound and simply shook his head. "Don't Heyes, just don't." With that he turned away and quickly buried himself under the bed quilt as if hiding the evidence would make it go away.

Heyes undressed more slowly and slid into the bed next to him. He blew out the lamp, hoping darkness would make it easier. "I'm sorry, Kid...if.." He wasn't exactly sure what he was apologising for: The path they'd chosen way back when, the decision to go for amnesty, or even getting shot and leaving the Kid to face prison alone, in the belief he was dead. He realised that it was probably all three.

Heyes felt the Kid shift and knew he was looking at him, as he laughed slightly before adding firmly. "Heyes, there's a lot of things we shoulda done different maybe, but I don't regret most of it. None of this is your fault, I'm real clear on that and so should you be."

Heyes wasn't sure about that, but when the Kid said nothing more and settled down to sleep, he attempted to do the same. He'd try again tomorrow.

XXX

Heyes woke with a start as an idea came into in his head. He jumped out of bed, waking the Kid who stared at him. He dug round in the smaller of his carpet bag, before carefully retrieving a well wrapped package which he handed to his partner who was watching him with some curiosity

"Something that might change your mind about staying inside."

The Kid shrugged as if to say, that ain't real likely, but he still carefully took the paper off the item he was holding. "Heyes..."

"I bought it from a gunsmith, he says it's a real nifty shooter."

"I..Heyes." The Kid took the weapon out of the brand new holster and studied it before weighing it in his hand and holding it up to admire the quality. Heyes saw him swallow hard, before he carefully re-holstered it and laid it almost reverently on the bed next to him, eyeing it with an expression that Heyes couldn't quite figure out.

He broke the slightly awkward silence. "I know you've a busted wing, Kid, but I bet even after over a year of not handling a gun, you could still outdraw and outshoot most people. You're always saying you learnt how to shoot before you could shave."

The Kid shook his head with a bitter laugh that sent a chill down Heyes' spine. "I doubt I could even hit a barn, let alone anything smaller at the moment." He paused and still looking down at the weapon said softly. "And if it comes to more than a fast draw, I ain't sure I'd be able to, or even want to aim to wound. Which ain't exactly the act of someone reformed." He looked up at Heyes briefly before looking down again to study his hands, which Heyes could see were red and sore, with broken skin and several cuts marking the palms. "I think it'd just be easier and safer for both of us, if I just stay right here, outta view."

Heyes felt his breath catch at the lost look on his partner's face and cursed Lom, every single governor of the last five years and the whole damn stupid legal system, but only said. "You sure?"

The Kid nodded and Heyes in some resignation started to get ready to go for breakfast, as the Kid lay back down, making no effort to get out of bed.

XXX

Heyes went to the same cafe they'd eaten in the previous evening and was greeted with a smile by the owner. "Where's your friend?"

Heyes shrugged and said. "He ain't feeling real social right now."

Her smile turned both sad and sympathetic. "Caleb, my grandson, he's the same. Real quiet most of the time and we ain't sure what to do."

"We're heading to San Francisco tomorrow. I'm hoping it might help him some, getting away from, well just getting away."

The woman nodded and said softly. "We think it might be better for Caleb too, if he goes to stay with his Uncle, my eldest, in Cheyenne. He's taking some persuading, but I think we're getting there." She smiled again before saying. "Well, what'll you have?"

"The ham and eggs sound pretty tempting, Ma'am."

"Good choice."

Heyes finished eating and over a third cup of coffee, tried to think what he should take his friend back for breakfast. The woman came back to clear his plate and saw him studying the menu vaguely.

"Oatmeal!"

"I beg you're pardon,Ma'am?" Heyes looked up with a distracted smile that grew more genuine as she added.

"I'm guessing you're wondering what'll suit your friend. Well, my Caleb has had a real hankering for oatmeal since he was released. I make it real creamy and add lots of sugar and cinnamon. I bet your friend would appreciate it too. It'll go down real easy and it's a good place to start to put some meat back on his bones."

Heyes smiled as a stray memory came to him. Waiting impatiently for his friend to finish a second bowl of his Ma's oatmeal, so they'd be able to run and play. Then a less pleasant memory replaced it. The staff at Valpo, hadn't had either the time nor mostly the inclination to expend much energy trying to coax a withdrawn and almost silent Jed to eat. Until the cook, taking pity on who he called his lost boys, had persisted and finally found that well-made oatmeal was the one thing the younger boy could eat whatever his mood. That effort had thankfully been the start of Jed accepting that they had some future, even with their lives so dismally altered. Even now oatmeal was still something the Kid chose when he needed cheering up. Heyes wondered why on earth he hadn't thought of it himself and said gratefully. "That sounds perfect Ma'am. Thank you."

XXX