Out of the dark

by blueshark10101

Not my story but nonetheless exellent. Belongs to sky daybreak on AOC

12. Chapter 12

Arthur is vaguely aware of waking briefly, of the a warm hand tightly gripping his and a stag standing by his side. The stag is the only thing he sees clearly, as it stands in what seem to be a room. The spirit looks at him with a gaze his barely functioning mind can't decipher.

He thinks he hears voices, but then the world around him blurs further and the heavy pain that just started to seep back into his consciousness drifts away like smoke on the wind. The stag though stays, fuzzy at the corners like a bad photograph. It's all Arthur can focus on, he couldn't even say what the room looks like or where he is. There is just the stag and the soft light that seems to spill through a window behind it.

Arthur's eyes fall closed and the only thing he becomes aware of then is just how heavy his chest is. Breathing feels hard and half of him wants to just let it go entirely and not struggle so much anymore. The other half of him clings to it and keeps on pushing for inhale after exhale no matter how hard it is.

He opens his eyes as he hears the soft sound of hooves and the stag moves now as the world around them shifts and comes a bit more into focus. He's no longer lying but standing in a meadow, gently surrounded by a forest not too far away and it feels familiar in the vaguest sense possible. Arthur thinks he might have been here before and at the same time he doesn't remember this place at all. He feels caught, his mind hovering between two places, one that's all too easy to slip towards and one he doesn't want to let go of. Mist wafts up from the tall grass that he thinks he can feel tickling his knees. Arthur is caught between stepping forward and stepping back and so he doesn't move at all. His chest still feels heavy, but he doesn't give up breathing.

The stag moves closer through the mist. The sun is shining somewhere above them, but Arthur couldn't tell if it's ahead of him or behind him.

"So this is it?" He asks the stag and isn't sure why that is the first question out of his mouth. His mind feels strangely quiet and still. The stag tilts its head and while the spirit is still blurred around the edges, Arthur can now tell there is something thoughtful in its gaze.

Something both old and young, clear like freshly fallen snow and also solemn like the settled ash of a burnt place. It's a gaze that knows and at the same time it feels as though the stag is well aware that there is still so much to learn.

Is it? The stag asks in a voice that is soft and light, its tune carrying the sensation of sprawling forests and gentle spring meadows. You haven't let go yet, Arthur Morgan.

He does and doesn't want to let go. Holding on is hard, but at the same time, there is something so very important waiting for him if he doesn't give up. Something worth it. Something he might deserve one day if he works hard enough. A part of him really doesn't want to let go.

Why are you holding on? The stag asks and it doesn't sound reprimanding or confused. The voice is steady like the summer breezes that rustle grass and whisper through trees. Haven't you done what you wanted to?

Arthur feels as though he knows what the spirit is talking about while not remembering a thing. His mind is quiet, despite the struggle of getting his lungs to keep breathing. Maybe he should just let go. Maybe he should just do what is easy and stop forcing air into himself. Slowly in the stillness of his mind, he begins to recall a few things. He's done what he could, that he knows. He's not free of regrets or heartbreak or failure, he can knows that too. At the same time though, there is the sensation of loved people at his back, saved due to a miraculous second chance.

He's done what he came back for. He knows that while barely recalling more than washed out glimpses and the distant whisper of warm touches and faint voices. The stag is right. He could let go now, he could leave and grasp for that peace waiting ahead of him, just out of reach. He had done everything he could after all.

The stag lightly takes a step forward and for a moment, it sounds like the rustle of a warm blanket being moved and the soft snuffle of a horse in the early morning. Something tugs at the back of Arthur's mind and with a strenuous inhale, he remembers to keep breathing. He stopped doing it for a second there, just for a tiny moment.

What do you want? The spirit asks and Arthur stares at it, unsure if it's for a long or a short amount of time. Nothing feels quite real while at the same time, everything around him is nothing but the truth.

What does he want? A part of him yearns for the peace that's just within reach, that tickles the tips of his fingers and whispers at the edges of his senses. All he has to do is take a step forward. The rest of him though, yearns for something he currently can't quite remember and can't quite put to name. Just feelings. A soft nose nudging his arm, a warm hand in his and something that sounds like laughter from different people.

Arthur knows he's tired and he's tiring more the longer he stands here, forcing stone-heavy lungs to keep going, caught between moving forward or stepping back.

The stag takes one last step forward and stands directly in front of him now, close enough that he should have felt its breath on his chin. Arthur is surprised to realize that the spirit is rather huge, they're eye to eye without either of them having to duck or raise their heads. The brown eyes of the spirit aren't callous or cruel, but the spirit wants something from him. Arthur has no clue what, his mind is still quiet.

What do you want, Arthur Morgan? The spirit repeats. Remember, you have one chance and it isn't over yet.

Something about that does ring a bell and brings some clarity to his memories. Arthur knows he got a second chance. A chance to save people.

A flicker tugs at the back of his mind. He remembers someone smiling at him, though he can't recall who exactly. He remembers betrayal and support, remembers worry and fear and relief and the beginning of happiness. Of a beautiful sunrise over a blurred, barely there ranch that feels too new to be as familiar as worn clothes but at the same time, already carries a sense of belonging.

Arthur feels like he might remember things a bit better now. A second chance that he didn't entirely mess up, a new love that carries the sensation of warm, gentle strength and quietly seems to grow deeper with each day.

He remembers the beginning of something important. And of a home.

What do you want? The spirit tilts its head and for a moment, he thinks the crown of horns give off the tinkling noise of silver wind chimes. Somehow, Arthur knows this is the last time the stag is going to ask. Choose before you no longer get the chance to.

He takes a deeper breath, fights against lungs that feel even heavier than before. The edges around him seem to blur even further and his limbs refuse to work when he tries to lift a hand. The peace ahead beckons more strongly now, a soft song that wishes to cradle his heart close.

There are words on the tip of his tongue. It's something he doesn't think he deserves but finds he wants nonetheless. So he speaks them.

"I want to live." The words are a rasp in his throat, rough and raw. They're something he hasn't dared to voice before and he remembers now, as his mind breaks the quiet stillness and noise fills it once more. He remembers the blood on his hands and the illness eating through him. A deserved and justified illness, he still thinks so in a way.

He got a second chance that allowed him to save so many people who died before their time and at the same time, a part of him never quite believed that he'd make it through as well. He wants to live, no matter how many other people might wish him dead. He doesn't want to die.

He wants to go back home and reach out to Charles. He wants to pull him into his arms and look for Storm and burry his face in her neck. He wants to see Hosea relax and grow old surrounded by their found family. He wants to see Sean again and make good on his promise to teach him shooting and wants to return John to Abigail like he said he would. He knew better than to give her the promise of all of them staying alive, she asked back then, but he had wanted say it nonetheless. He wants to stay alive and see Javier recover and convince him to come with them. He wants to see Molly laugh again and for Tilly to be safe and happy.

He has to hold on. He has to live and more than that, Arthur wants to live. He wants to go back to this ragtag family that they all managed to build together and that had already been torn apart once before. He wants to return to the ranch they put together with sweat and laughter and that he only just started to see as home.

For a split second, he gets the whispering sensation that the stag might have smiled.

You have chosen then. The spirit says softly. This time, the stag takes a step back and briefly, lightly dips its head. It feels like an acknowledgement from a regal being, from something both centuries old and dawn-young. Now, keep holding on.

Arthur feels a strange, dizzying sensation as he seems to fall backwards while remaining upright. The world tilts and blurs into nothing but streaks of quickly fading color. Darkness rises to embrace him and he sucks one more, struggling breath into his stone-heavy lungs.

~*~

Arthur regains his consciousness in blurred, senseless flashes. Sometimes his mind latches onto colors or sensations before he's under again. The whole time, he keeps fighting to breathe. Holding on to his every heartbeat and fighting the pull that still seems to wish to drag him back towards the quiet and peace.

Not yet, he thinks when he comes to for real and he doesn't quite know why that thought is in his mind, before he realizes how his head swims with medication. He's in deep, he can tell right away and his body feels almost far away from him. Breathing still feels harder, a bit like a labored wheeze and it reminds him of being deathly ill.

Opening his eyes, he blinks at the room around him. It's a treatment room, he would recognize the walls and shelves with medicine everywhere. His memories are a sluggish thing, but he recalls the escape from both Dutch and the Pinkertons and his fight with Micah. He survived it. Then he remembers John and Storm getting injured and tries to shift, only to stop again right away. Pain surfaces through the haze and he breathes through it, quiet and tense.

Right, the bullet wounds. It's almost a miracle that he's alive. A familiar, half hazy, half unreal memory of the stag swims in the back of his mind. Arthur doesn't quite recall it, but he thinks he might have seen the stag again. Maybe he had been granted an extension of his miracle, just enough to survive this. He doesn't know, but it's also not like he can ask.

Tilting his head just enough he realizes he's not alone in the room. Charles sits beside his bed, asleep and slumped a bit awkwardly into his chair. He looks exhausted. Behind him, Arthur can see the sun rise, pale morning light falling through the window. An exhale escapes him.

Would you look at that. He made it through the night.

"Charles." His voice sounds as horrible as it feels, scraping through his throat and burning slightly in his lungs. Charles takes a sharp, short inhale as he straightens, startled out of his doze and opens his eyes. Their gazes meet and with a sudden jerk he sits up and in the next moment, Arthur's hand is tightly clasped in his.

"You're awake." Charles murmurs and Arthur makes a low, agreeing sound and watches as Charles's shoulders slump with relief. He lifts their hands to press them against his chest. For a moment, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, before he leans forward and gently rests their foreheads together. Arthur, with a sudden, half hazy rush of warmth, fully realizes just how much he loves him. Just how much Charles means to him and there is something clogging up his chest for a second as he turns his head a bit into the touch, enjoying the close, tender warmth.

Charles lifts his head to look at him again and the smile he gives him is gentle and warm and steeped in relief. Arthur grips his hand back and swallows against his dry throat. He's about to say something just as the door opens. Arthur hears a gasp and then Tilly is at his side as well, a bright, relieved smile on her face, while Charles leans a bit to the side to give her space. He thinks he might see a brief glimmer of tears in her eyes too.

"Arthur, you're awake." She reaches out, hand hovering over his middle, before she pulls it back and quickly straightens to turn towards the door, calling out: "Arthur is awake!"

Steps can be heard and the next moment, Hosea is there, followed by Sadie and Molly. For a moment, Arthur can't quite follow what they say and when Charles gives his hand a gentle squeeze, he tries to return it, as much as his sluggish body allows, before they let go of each other.

"You gave us quite the scare." Hosea says and he sounds a mixture of worried and faux stern, but it doesn't hide the brief tremble in his voice. They all look so relieved, Arthur feels surprised for a moment. His chest grows a bit tighter at the realization that they all were worried, maybe even scared, that he might die.

"'m sorry." He answers and it sounds just a little bit slurred. He frowns up at Hosea. "How's John? Javier?"

His tongue isn't quite as cooperative as he'd like, but he'll make do. Arthur almost doesn't dare ask for Storm. He knows she caught a bullet, one meant for him and a part of him is scared to hear what happened to her. What if it was a bad wound? What if she bled out or had to be put down? What if she had to die while he wasn't even there for her?

"They're alright." Hosea gives him a small, slightly tight smile, but his shoulders ease a bit. "Both are healing just fine."

Arthur squints at them, his sight still a bit blurred around the edges. "Karen?"

Hosea presses his lips together for a moment, but it's not an expression of grief, to Arthur's immense relief. It's more a look of regret. "She got shot during the escape, but she's recovering as well."

"She's tough." Sadie speaks up and leans against the foot of his bed. She gives him a once over and there is quiet relief in her gaze as well, before she reaches out to briefly squeeze his blanket covered ankle. Her voice turns softer then. "Glad to see you awake, Arthur."

"Where are we?" He asks after giving her a small nod. The Pinkertons would still look for them, he doesn't doubt that and just alone seeking out a doctor is very risky. How long was he out? How long can they afford to stay?

"We're close to Annesburg." Hosea answers. "We got quite lucky to run into people you helped before and they were willing to help us in return now. We're safe."

Arthur frowns in surprise. Someone he helped? Who exactly? He can't really recall anyone from the top of his head and he isn't sure there were many people he helped either, even with trying his best to be better this time around.

"The german family, remember?" Charles chimes in and gives him a small smile when Arthur looks over. Charles still looks tired, not obviously, but there is a subtle exhaustion clinging to his shoulders and the corners of his eyes. "We helped them get the father back, back before we settled in Clemens Point a while back."

Arthur frowns again as he recalls who Charles talks about. "They already repaid that."

With quite a generous bar of gold too. He thought that was it, they were more than even.

Charles's smile grows a bit. "They didn't really think so. They were very helpful in getting us here and they know the doctor too, another german fellow. We're safe here, for now. No one is going to rat us out."

Someone clears their throat behind them and everyone turns around, letting Arthur catch a glimpse of the doctor in question, who stands in the doorway. He's a slim man with spectacles and a neat beard and he gives them all a calm smile.

"Please, give him some room and allow me to check up on him." His accent makes the words sound a bit stilted, as though he's paying attention to speak as clearly as possible. He steps forward as the others shuffle aside and after some hesitation, they filter out of the room, only Charles and Hosea staying behind. "How are you doing, Mister Morgan?"

"Alive." Arthur answers and the man gives him a brief, understanding smile. He's already checking him over, expression creasing in concentration. It's quiet, aside from the man asking a few questions and after he's done, he washes his hands and turns back to them.

"Your wounds are healing well, Mister Morgan. We almost lost you there a few times, so I'm glad to see you back with us." He says as he sets the towel aside.

Arthur doesn't know what to say to that so he just nods. "How much? For the treatment."

The doctor blinks in surprise, before he waves a hand. "Oh no, don't worry about it. This is a favor for my friends who you helped and besides, your friends here kindly covered the cost for the medicine and bandages, so all is fine."

"Huh." Arthur lets his head rest back against the lumpy pillow. The doctor is kind, kinder than Arthur expects most people to be. It is both strange and nice to meet someone like that. The man gives him another one of his calm smiles, before excusing himself.

Arthur takes a deep breath when he's left alone with Hosea and Charles. "Storm?" He asks and keeps his voice as steady as possible. At the reassuring look he gets from both of them, his breath escapes him in a long exhale and for a moment, he feels dizzy.

"She's healing up as well." Hosea answers and gives his arm a gentle pat. "She's just as tough as you, it seems. Ran all the way here with us with a bullet in her shoulder and ever since we got it out, she's been getting better." He hesitates for a second. "I don't know if she'll recover without getting a stiff leg, but she'll heal."

Arthur honestly doesn't care if he might never ride Storm again, as long as she's alright and alive. He closes his eyes for a moment, taking a breath as deep as he dares without upsetting his wounds - which honestly isn't deep at all. The relief swirling in his chest is almost overwhelming.

"How long was I out?" He asks next and as he opens his eyes again, he finds it a bit harder than before.

"A couple of days." Charles answers quietly. "A bit over a week, actually."

"Rest." Hosea says gently and with a slight firmness, most likely noticing Arthur's struggle to stay awake. He rests a hand lightly on his uninjured shoulder. "You need to get back your strength."

Arthur slips off into sleep before he can even think of an answer.

~*~

Arthur wakes to shuffling steps and someone sinking into the chair beside his bed with a muffled, wheezing groan. Opening his eyes, feeling bleary and not quite there due to the morphine, he blinks when he spots John.

John doesn't look all that great with scrapes healing on his tense face, but he's alive and apparently well enough to visit him. Even wearing a shirt doesn't hide the thick bandages on John's shoulder and John looks a little exhausted too, grimacing as he breathes.

"Alright?" Arthur asks and pauses when he notices just how raspy and cracking his voice still is. John looks at him and relief lets his face relax for a bit, before he gives Arthur a tense version of his usual smile.

"Of course, perfectly fine." He says and sways a bit in his seat, as though trying to figure out if he can lean forward or if he should rest against the arm of the chair. In the end, he does a bit of an awkward lean against the armrest, but it seems to be alright with his shoulder. Then he sighs. "God, Arthur, never do that again."

"Not plannin' to." He answers and he really means it. This hurts, even with the drugs and it's definitely no experience he's keen to repeat. Especially since he might not survive it the next time. "How are you really doin'?"

"I'll be alright." John waves him off slightly with the hand of his good arm and eyes him. "You look like shit."

"Thanks." Arthur finds himself drawling back and feels the small uptick of a brief smile on his face. John looks a little more at ease now. They sit in thoughtful silence for a long moment.

"What happened to Dutch?" Arthur asks. "I forgot to ask the others when they was here."

"I have no idea." John's expression turns serious and he furrows his brows in thought. "The last time we saw him was back when I got shot. The Pinkertons didn't get him though, so Ross is still lookin' for him. At least that's what we heard. And for us, but we're safe here for now."

"Hopefully we'll stay safe until we're a bit better." Arthur mumbles and closes his eyes. He's still too tired and sluggish to stay awake for long. "Go back to bed, John."

He hears a small huff from John that causes another smile to tug at his face. Arthur listens as John gets up and with the gait of the injured and tired shuffles heavily out of the room. Arthur feels too heavy and aching all over to even open his eyes once more.

The door swings open again a moment later and Arthur hears familiar steps entering. A warm hand covers his, calluses and small scars familiar to him and he makes a low noise. The fingers around his tighten gently in quiet reassurance.

"Sleep." Charles murmurs and Arthur feels himself drop off. "You deserve to rest."

~*~

Arthur finally doesn't drop back off within minutes after waking and he's no longer sleeping most of the day away when there is a brief knock and the door swings open. To his surprise, he sees Javier stepping in. His hand is professionally taken care of now and he limps, but otherwise he looks better than the last time Arthur saw him. The cut on his face is stitched closed and heals well and his bruises are looking lighter too.

He still looks a fright to anyone who isn't used to seeing injuries, and Arthur winces a bit in sympathy as Javier stiffly and slowly limps towards him. His face is tense and closed off, but Arthur can see the questions he tries to hide.

"Can I sit?" Javier asks and gestures at the chair that held a visitor for most of the time Arthur has been awake the past few days - majorly Charles and Hosea. He gestures for Javier to go ahead.

They're sitting in tense silence for a long moment. Arthur almost asks how Javier's doing, but they both know they're in pain and under drugs to keep it at bay. He can feel the unspoken thing hanging between them and Dutch not believing in them and betraying them in the end. Arthur wishes he could have spared Javier that, wishes there would have been a kinder way to show him everything. Then again, kindness isn't abundant in their lives, nor is gentleness, so it makes sense in a cold, hard way, that the revelation about Dutch is sharp and bitter and roughly painful.

"How is your hand?" He asks after another moment and Javier looks down at it.

"Better than I thought", he answers and Arthur feels relief at that. "The doctor is positive that it should heal well and if I'm careful, I should be able to use it almost as well as before."

That really is better than Arthur expected as well. And a boon should Javier continue to wish to play music. Arthur remembers in his other life how Javier stopped playing after Guarma and especially once they were in Beaver Hollow. He hopes Javier has a bit of an easier time this time around. At least he has their support and he has Hosea too. Hosea who's been a father figure to both of them, teaching them just as much as Dutch did. Javier might have lost Dutch, but this time, he still has Hosea.

And considering how things went down, Arthur would even say that Hosea has been there for everyone more than Dutch, especially once they reached the Heartlands. He certainly can't remember there being a lot of moments where Dutch took the time to talk with people individually and listen to their fears and help them find steady ground again after Blackwater. That has mostly been Hosea.

"That's real good." Arthur answers and with that, another bout of silence settles between them. Arthur opens his mouth, then closes it again. He doesn't quite know what to say and at the same time, he suspects that Javier came here for a reason.

"I don't..." Javier starts and then trails off. He presses his lips together and his brows furrow. There is something hurt and bitter and tired in that expression, as though he's weathered enough pain and he's exhausted by everything. Arthur thinks he gets it - at least most of it. Futilely, he once again wishes it could have been different. Or at least that Javier could have been spared some unnecessary pain along the way.

"You came back." Is what Javier says next and it's half a question and half a statement. "Tilly said she sent you a message."

Arthur, for a handful of seconds, doesn't even know how to put it all into words. That of course they'd come back for him and Tilly and Miss Grimshaw, however much they failed the latter. Of course Javier could still count on them. Arthur still isn't good with words though, with talking, and he wonders if he'll ever really master it. He takes a slightly deeper breath.

"'Course we'd come back." He says and the air between them feels tense and like something hangs there, charged with all the things unsaid and all the emotions living in their chests.

For Arthur, a lot of things are more emotions than clear words or thoughts, and his mind is filled with memories that don't belong in this life. There are Javier's own feelings of betrayal too - from all of them this time, from Arthur and Hosea first and now from Dutch as well.

"Wanna come to the west with us?" He asks without thinking and at the same time, he doesn't want to take it back. Arthur wants Javier to come with them, he wants all of them to go back home and leave everything else behind.

Arthur feels tired of it all. Tired of pain old and new, of the betrayal that has so thoroughly seeped into their lives. He wants the past and his memories to stay in the east, along with all the questions he doesn't really have any answers for and suspects he'll never get either. Questions resolving around Dutch and if he could have changed the course of things in some way if he had tried just a little bit harder.

He wants the friendship back he once had with Javier, wants to build back the trust they had - and he still has in Javier, if he's honest. Javier, who is loyal and kind and always ready and willing to help, no matter if it gets rough or not. Arthur wants Javier to know they never intended to betray him and everything that happened was because of all the shit that happened with Dutch. He wants to go back to the west, back home to find rest and the time to heal all the wounds the east left.

Javier looks at him, brows furrowed and face tense and serious and just unreadable enough that Arthur resists the urge to shift. He holds his gaze for a long moment and then Javier inhales.

"Was that why you left Dutch? Because he...changed?" He asks and the question holds everything that is still too raw to say directly. Arthur closes his eyes and feels the familiar, brief grief and hurt betrayal welling up, before it subsides again. A part of him wonders if that's always going to be there when he thinks of Dutch. If there will always be a part mourning and a part hurting.

"I realized what was happenin', back in the Heartlands." He says quietly. Arthur doesn't really say the truth, but he doubts he could anyway, so he tries to stay as close to it as he can. "At one point I couldn't stay no more and I looked for a way out. It would've killed a lot o' folks if we stayed." He's seen it happen and has lived through it.

Javier is silent, before a deep and heavy exhale escapes him and he lifts his good hand to gently rub over his face, mindful of his bruises and the healing cut. His shoulders slump a bit and he looks weary and tired, hurt layered so deep it seems to have seeped into his very bones. Arthur knows what Dutch meant to him - probably still means to him, such things don't just simply disappear, he knows that too - and how the man was a sort of father for him as well. Dutch meant everything to him. To a lot of them and to Arthur as well. Even if he doesn't understand everything Javier goes through, this he knows. Dutch saved them all at one point, taught them everything he knew and instilled them with his values. Dutch was always their leader, their north star and shaper of their world and lives.

They could have been good, Arthur thinks. If Dutch hadn't lost his way, they could have been good people, maybe not completely and Arthur thinks there will always be a part of him that will never be fully good, but they could have done good at the very least. They could have done better. Instead, in the end they turned into the very thing Dutch always told them not to be and they did the opposite of what Dutch preached for years. They turned into degenerates, real ones, ones that had stopped helping the helpless and unfortunate a long time ago and instead took from them.

"I'm sorry it came to this. I'm sorry this happened." He says and his voice holds a small rasping edge, because he means it. He hates that this happened and that Javier got caught up in Dutch's plans and got hurt and injured because of it once again. Javier looks at him and Arthur catches the moment Javier realizes he means it. Something along Javier's face relaxes just a bit and something like tentative understanding forms between them.

It suddenly aches, in a quiet way. Arthur knows they haven't talked as much as they should have and he knows the kind of hard bastard he's been before dying and his second chance. He knows he wasn't approachable, not really, not in the ways that mattered, but he hopes he's doing at least a little better now. Hopes he does right by everyone, Javier included, this time around.

"I know." Javier answers and the guarded way he holds himself eases somewhat. They'll be alright at some point, Arthur thinks, with a flare of relief. With distance to the east and time, they'll find ways to be alright again. Maybe, one day, they can even call each other brother again without all these messes clouding their minds. "Me, too."

The quiet that settles between them now is woven with the unspoken understanding that they both regret what happened and of the hurt that spread everywhere, not leaving anyone untouched. They probably will have to talk more, Arthur is sure that Javier is going to have more questions. There will most likely also be questions Arthur himself hasn't found answers to either.

"How are you?" Javier asks. "This was a really close call."

"Yeah." Arthur tries not to shift at the memory. He mostly does his best to hold still as he heals and the doctor told him the other day that he's definitely out of the woods now. Arthur should heal just fine if given enough time. "I'll be alright."

There is a ghost of a smile on Javier's face, though it lacks humor, but he seems to try anyway. "You always say that." The smile slowly slips away again and once again Arthur wonders why it had to come to this, to them both sitting here, injured and memories clouding their minds. But, he tells himself, at least this time things turned out so much better than before. Most of them are still alive and now they just have to get out of here.

"We'll be fine." He says. "Once we're back in the west."

Javier takes a slow, deep breath before he nods. "I'll come with you."

"Good." Arthur finds himself smiling and this time, when Javier returns it, it looks a bit more real, a little less wreathed in bitter loss.

"'m pretty sure we still have enough money to build you a cabin, if you don't want to room with anyone else. For Tilly and Molly too," Arthur says and Javier looks surprised, before he huffs softly. There is a small, real smile on his tired, bruised face and it stays a moment longer than before. Then there is a strange, brief wobble to his lower lip and he takes a deep breath, visibly shoving down whatever emotion was about to surface.

The look Javier gives him after a moment is solemn, but a little less exhausted and worn. In that second, Arthur finds himself suddenly glad for all the others being here too. Hosea especially is going to be a big help in making Dutch's betrayal and everything else at least a bit easier on Javier, on all of them, really.

"Tell me of the ranch." Javier asks and Arthur finds another, brief, smile on his face as he thinks about it.

He starts talking and at some point towards the end, as he tells Javier a bit of the nearby town and neighbors, he falls back asleep, still recovering and exhausted. When he wakes up, Javier is gone but Hosea drops by and his face looks a little less tense and when he smiles, Arthur knows they'll all be alright one way or another.

As long as they manage to get out of the east. He'll have to get back on his feet as soon as possible if he wants to help, because it will take at least half a miracle to get them all back home. Ross is definitely going to do his damnest to not let them slip by and Dutch is still out there, maybe even with Bill and whoever else survived being hunted down by the Pinkertons.

"Now, I know that face." Hosea says and gives him a stern look. "You focus on getting rest, dear boy." He pats his arm and his face gentles a bit. "Rest, Arthur, we'll take care of things."

~*~

"Are you certain you wish to depart already?" The doctor asks them with a small frown. He watches them all gather their things with a slightly disapproving look and Arthur knows he would let them stay a little longer if they wanted to.

He also knows that Hosea isn't happy about moving them all when most of them are still injured, but Tilly heard of Ross and his Pinkertons searching and asking around the area and they have to find a place to lay low. No one here is under the illusions that during the four weeks they have holed up with the good doctor that no one noticed their presence. Someone among the various neighbors knows about them and sooner or later the Pinkertons are going to come knocking if they don't leave in time. There is only so long the doctor can come up with reassurances or believable tales about his guests.

"Yes, thank you very much, you have done us all a great kindness." Hosea says with a smile, while Sadie picks up the last of the bags. Charles is at Arthur's side, a quiet offer to lean on him in case his injuries are too much trouble. Karen, her shoulder wrapped thickly and face a bit pale, has her chin lifted stubbornly and Arthur has never been gladder to see that streak in her. She's alive.

"Take care." The doctor tells them as they move towards the door. "And don't hesitate to come back for anything."

"We will, thank you." Hosea tips his head politely and then ushers them all outside. It's so early in the day the sunlight is a pale, ghostly thing.

Arthur feels the dull burn of his wounds, unhappy with all the movement, but he's healed up enough to risk leaving and searching for a place to hide. A glance to the side shows that Javier barely limps anymore and his bruises have faded to the pale green and yellow that tells them it won't be long before they're gone entirely again.

It's a short trip to the nearby farm where they managed to stable the horses and Arthur feels himself relax and exhale with relief at finally seeing Storm again. The second she spots him, she neighs softly in greeting.

It brings a smile to his face and the moment the door to her stall is open, she's right there, sniffing all over him and definitely finding his wounds and then snorting in his face. Arthur lifts his good arm and cradles her cheek, her soft nose gently pressing against the side of his face. His hat has been lost when Charles carried him back and Arthur misses it, but at the moment, it all doesn't matter a bit. She's alive, his impossible, amazing horse is alive.

"Hello, girl." He says softly and closes his eyes as he leans back against her nose. Glancing down, he can see her shoulder and the almost entirely healed wound. Storm evidently heals faster than him and he holds her a bit tighter. She just snorts at him again and he finds himself pulling back as a bit of snot hits his ear.

Storm follows him out of her stall and Arthur feels a sudden rush of relief at seeing her barely limping. She's going to be fine. She'll heal up just fine and for a second, he wants to just say thank you. To whom, he isn't sure, maybe to her and her fierce, stubborn streak, but he's never been gladder to see her walking with the smallest of limps instead of the heavy limp he expected.

"Arthur." Charles calls out and Arthur turns towards him. "Will you ride with me?"

Arthur nods and gives Storm's neck one last pat. Taima is already tacked up and Charles finishes securing the bits of luggage they have onto her back. Mostly it's just their clothes and some extra ammunition - they didn't arrive with much, considering they don't intend to stay. Storm isn't ready for riding yet and Arthur won't do anything to make her healing shoulder worse. She still manages to look somewhat disgruntled when Charles helps him onto Taima's back, while all she carries is her own saddle.

His wounds flare up at getting on Taima and for a moment, Arthur has to breathe through the pain. Charles gives his leg an understanding, reassuring squeeze, before swings up in the saddle before him. Storm doesn't even have to be told to follow them, she seems intend to stick as close as possible, walking forward steadily despite her small limp.

Arthur is pleasantly surprised to see that Boaz is with them too and Javier is on his back, patting his horse's neck. Javier's hand is healing really well and the doctor took off the splint yesterday, pleased that Javier can move his fingers well, a lot better than even he expected, though he told him to be careful a while longer and to keep bandages on for another week or two. John sits behind Sadie, while Karen rides with Molly, both of them still injured and not quite ready to ride on their own again.

They leave the stable quietly and Arthur doesn't see anyone out and about until they're a good distance away. The single rider that meets them along the path looks haggard and tired and just grunts something that sounds vaguely like words before he's gone again.

Hosea leads them to an empty cabin in the woods and for a moment, Arthur wonders if he should propose Beaver Hollow as a possible hideout before he discards the idea again. There are just too many bad memories connected to that place and if possible, they're not going to stay for too long anyways. Not long enough to need a hideout at least. They have to leave soon, if they don't want to be caught by the Pinkertons.

The cabin is a bit cramped and smells of wet wood, but it's enough for now. Sadie and Charles leave together to go scouting the area and looking for information in the small towns about the things currently going on. Javier talks quietly with Hosea in one corner and Arthur tries to find a comfortable way to lean back against the wall. It's quiet out here, aside from the groaning wood whenever someone shifts and the rustle of trees outside.

Arthur finds himself dozing off for a bit, one of his hands always resting close to his revolver. He might be in no fighting condition, but the thought of being unarmed doesn't sit right with him at all. Not now, not when they're down in the east and danger is still stalking their backs like a pack of viciously hungry wolves.

He wakes hours later, when he hears horses heading their way, his butt numb and his chest filled with dulled pain that, once he shifts a bit too much, turns into a bright bite. Breathing through it, Arthur settles back down and tilts his head towards the door, listening carefully.

"They're back." Tilly says once she steps up to the window and Arthur finds himself easing a bit again.

Sadie and Charles trudge back into their temporary hideout and they don't look much tenser than before, though they don't look like they bring good news either.

"Things have quieted down a bit, but there are wanted posters for most of us around the sheriff offices", Charles says. "There are patrols at the docks in Annesburg and when we asked a conductor, he said the military has been searching trains more often."

"However we leave, it's gonna be hard." Sadie tacks on, one hand coming to lightly rest close to the revolver on her hip. "I think that leavin' by boat might be the easier choice of the two, if we can find a captain that'll take us."

Hosea rubs a hand over his chin and they all wait quietly as he thinks. Arthur sneaks a quick glance to Charles, who glances back and gifts him a small, brief smile. Things with the Pinkertons are as bad as Arthur expected, though it's good to hear that things still have calmed down a bit. They have to leave as soon as possible, if they don't want to be found and the longer they stay, the likelier that possibility becomes.

"I think you're right." Hosea murmurs, his brows furrowed. "Sadie, Charles, was there a wanted poster for you too?"

"For me." Charles says with a small tilt of his head, while Sadie shakes hers.

"I don't even know if they know who I am", Sadie says as she leans against the wall. Arthur suspects she doesn't much care if the law knows about her or not, but it certainly comes in handy that she's not someone they're looking for. Not officially at least.

"Would you mind asking around?" Hosea turns to her and the small furrow stays between his brows. He looks more tired, ever since they arrived in the east. A little more pale and maybe a bit gaunt as well. Arthur doesn't like it and the sight causes his quiet worry to gnaw deeper into him, mingled with his memories of Hosea's death. It can happen so fast, he knows it.

"Course not." Sadie says and straightens a bit, her gaze sharp and serious. "I'll look for a captain we can bribe to get us out of here."

"Let's see how much money we have first." Hosea says and within moments, there is scraping and the groaning of wood as they all pile their money together.

It's a bit more than Arthur hoped but he can't help the quiet doubt that creeps up his spine. Is it going to be enough? He tries to wrack his brain for any additional treasure they can find somewhere, but realizes that he looted any place he could find before leaving the east. Arthur picked up everything, every little scrap of money and ever piece of gold and jewelry. The likelihood to still find stashes somewhere is low and he doesn't know if they have the time to ride around and search for treasure in abandoned places.

"We'll make it work. It's not that much, but it could be enough," Hosea says and while he doesn't sound as confident as Arthur would have liked, he's secretly glad that Hosea tells them how he sees it. Knowing where things are lacking has always helped Arthur the most in figuring out what to do.

Not that he's in much of a position to do much of anything at the moment and he knows that he'll be dragged off the horse by his ear if he attempted to help out in any way. Sadie nods in understanding and Hosea gives her half of the money.

"In case paying part of it upfront helps." He says and Arthur sees Sadie's expression grow firm and something about it eases him a bit. He trusts Sadie to get it done and he suspects that if necessary, she'll browbeat a captain into getting them onto a ship.

"Can any of us help in any way?" Molly speaks up, which surprises Arthur a bit. She's been mostly quiet and helped Tilly with caring for Karen. Hosea gives her a kind smile.

"I fear not, but thank you, Molly. The Pinkertons know the rest of us, we'd only make it harder for Sadie if we went with her."

"I'll be fine." Sadie drawls with a crooked smile. "I know how to look after myself, don't you worry."

Arthur knows she's right. He's rarely met a person as fierce as her and especially when it comes to looking after all of them, the people who took her in and helped her, she's going to fight tooth and nail. Sadie is as good and stubborn as the best of them - though Arthur can admit that he doesn't particularly like her going alone. He doesn't like it with any of them, always too worried that one of them might end up dead.

They settle down again and Tilly, with Molly and Hosea's help, gets a quick lunch together for all of them. Most of them have to eat one handed due to their injuries and Arthur, much like Javier, John and Karen, mostly just holds the can up to his mouth and tips his head back. It's easier than trying to eat with a fork or spoon and they don't have plates anyway.

By the time evening arrives and Sadie leaves again, Arthur has napped a bit, but is now too restless to settle down again. He already knows that he'll stay awake until she returns, just to be sure that she's going to be alright. Charles sits down at his side and Hosea settles down to get some sleep himself, while Tilly takes first watch.

"She'll be back." Charles murmurs, his shoulder gently pressed against Arthur's good one. Hidden between their legs, their hands find together and Arthur holds onto Charles's, their calluses and rough fingers pressed together, sharing warmth.

Arthur exhales in a quiet sigh and sinks a bit more against Charles, his warmth seeping through their shirts. It's nice and calming and Arthur finds himself, once more, deeply grateful for Charles. For everything he is and the steady, warm calm that he brings. Arthur gives Charles's hand a light squeeze and Charles gifts him a smile, before he closes his eyes.

Arthur stays awake and he listens as Charles's breathing evens out and warmth flares in his chest when Charles's head comes to slowly rest on his shoulder. Tilly, who glances over, looks briefly surprised and Arthur sees understanding brighten in her gaze. After a moment, she gives him a small smile and he finds a bit of his tension easing out of his shoulders.

"I'm happy for you, Arthur." Tilly whispers from her spot by the door, her eyes warm. Arthur can't help but smile back a bit and lightly duck his head, once more briefly ruing the absence of his hat.

Tilly turns back to watching their surroundings from her spot, the sky and woods growing ever darker as the last of the sunlight fades. They agreed not to light any lanterns or fires, it's warm enough that they don't need it and they don't want to draw any attention to themselves. When Arthur listens closely enough, he can faintly hear the soft snuffling and occasional gentle snort as the horses settle down as well. They're free to graze, but Arthur knows they won't wander far. Their horses know to stay close.

Time passes and he resists the urge to check on his watch and instead focuses on keeping his butt from becoming too numb without jostling Charles with his shifting to the point where he accidentally wakes him up. By the time Arthur feels his eyes grow heavy and itchy, the pain of his healing injuries having flared up uncomfortably, he hears a horse heading their way.

"It's Sadie." Tilly says after squinting into the dark suspiciously and warily for a long moment. Arthur exhales with relief.

He hears the muffled clop of hooves and the leathery groan and gentle creak of a saddle, before Sadie's steps can be heard on the slowly rotting small front porch. She steps inside, looking a bit tousled but also vaguely satisfied. The satisfied part especially lets Arthur relax a little for the first time since they decided to leave the doctor and she gives him a knowing look from under the brim of her hat.

"I think I found someone who might be willing to take us along." Sadie says and keeps her voice down to avoid waking any of the others. She takes off her hat to brush back her hair, before putting it back on. "It was a bit of a lively night, but I could chat up some folks."

"Everything went well?" Arthur asks and she gives him a nod and a small, lopsided smile.

"Yeah, I was careful not to give nothin' away and if we show up tomorrow, we can see if we can get out of here." She briefly tugs at the collar of her shirt and then walks over to the others. "I'm catching some shut eye, wake me if you need me for anything."

Sadie settles down on her bedroll, setting her hat aside but not bothering with her boots. Tilly glances at Charles and Arthur gives her an understanding nod, gently nudging the other. Charles wakes with the smallest of noises and Arthur can't help but feel a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth upon hearing it. It's unexpectedly endearing.

Charles lifts his head and is fully awake within a few moments, letting go of Arthur's hand with a last, gentle squeeze. He takes over the next shift, while Tilly goes to sleep with a yawn. Arthur himself closes his eyes as soon as Charles takes up post by the door and his side now feels cooler than before, with Charles standing a few steps away from him.

Arthur tries not to hope too much, while he falls asleep. Maybe, maybe they'll really get out of here tomorrow, maybe Sadie really found a captain willing to take them along. Still, despite his best efforts, hope stubbornly takes root in his chest and blooms gently along his lungs.

~*~

Sadie rides ahead of them after breakfast to talk to the captain, while everyone else packs up before getting their horses ready. Storm shadows Arthur's step the moment he walks up to the horses and he can't keep from petting her neck or brushing a careful hand along her shoulder, not touching the wound but checking on it. It's healing well and he's never been more relieved or happier to see her stubbornly limping at his side, even if the pain makes her a bit testier with the other horses.

The others look a bit rougher this morning, but not worse for wear. Karen grumbles a little about her wound, annoyed with the early morning and most likely hurting from the uncomfortable sleep. John keeps reaching up to his hurt shoulder, before thinking better of it and Javier does his best to care for Boaz one handed. Molly, Tilly and Charles help them once they have their own things quickly taken care of and Arthur once again rides behind Charles. Karen is with Molly and John rides with Tilly today, to avoid jostling their injuries as much as possible. Javier has healed enough to ride on his own. Their horses follow them easily, as they pick their way through the woods and towards Annesburg.

As the mining town comes into view, they take a moment to pause and give it a careful once over from their spot up on the hills. There are no immediately visible Pinkertons and after awkwardly pulling out his binoculars, Arthur spots Hosea and Sadie's horses hitched up and a moment later both of them talking with a man by the docks.

"They're talking to the captain, I think," Arthur says. "I don't see no Pinkertons."

"Let's go, but keep it down." Charles advises and gently nudges Taima forward.

There isn't exactly a covert way to enter Annesburg, though they try to stay as inconspicuous as a bunch of people can be, half of them injured and with their riderless horses trailing them. Still, it's early enough that most people don't do more than cast brief, curious looks their way, while they head to work. The last dredges of fine mist cling to the ground and the corners of the buildings, as they reach Silver Dollar and Bob, hitching up their horses beside the two.

They stay back for now though, close enough that Hosea notices and acknowledges them with a tiny nod, but not close enough to appear threatening or overly suspicious.

"How are your wounds?" Charles asks quietly as they stick to the corner of a building and keep a subtle eye on the pedestrians.

"It's alright." Arthur murmurs back. "Could be worse."

His injuries certainly aren't aching or hurting as much as they could right now and Arthur even has the impression that the bits of moving around has helped with some of the tension that had built up in his shoulders in the past few weeks of healing.

"Oh, are you, please excuse me. Mister!" Someone suddenly calls out and Arthur recognizes the voice - doesn't think he could ever truly forget the man who had, inadvertently, a rather big hand in his fate. Still, it doesn't do anything to quiet or lessen his surprise at seeing Mr. Downes come his way.

"Mr. Downes." Arthur says as the man inches past a slightly glaring, suspicious Karen with a quiet apology before hurrying towards Arthur. "You're..."

Alive, he wants to say, but doesn't know if he should. Arthur wonders if he should even know that Downes was sick - sick to the point of near death - but it's certainly quite surprising to see the man alive. A bit thinner though, he looks almost frail and his face is a bit gaunt and certainly pale, but he's alive. It bring a sudden, uncomfortably bitter sting to his chest, to realize that in his other life, he had indeed cost the man his life with his actions. It's a small comfort, to know this time around it's different at least.

"It's good to see you again." Mr. Downes says, slightly out of breath and with a kind smile, before his eyes fall to the sling Arthur's arm is in and most likely, his somewhat obvious state of being injured. "Are you alright, mister?"

Arthur ducks his head a bit. "'s alright, just an unfortunate run-in with a degenerate." He answers and Mr. Downes nods, a small frown appearing on his face.

"Is there any way I could possibly help?" The man asks, kind to a fault and briefly, Arthur can't help but marvel a bit at it. "You've done me such a kindness, allow me to repay it."

"Thomas!" Another familiar voice calls out and Mrs. Downes, along with their son, catches up to her husband. Arthur is surprised to see the packed bags they have with them.

"You're leaving?" He asks while giving Mrs. Downes a brief, polite tilt of his head. He still can't quite look her in the eye, the shame of his actions from another life still not fully gone and he doubts it will ever truly leave him.

"Oh, yes, well..." Mr. Downes rubs a somewhat ashamed hand along the back of his neck. "My wife is quite right that I'm no longer fit for farming work. I had tuberculosis, you see." He explains and Arthur feels a phantom pain and rasp in his lungs at the memory of the illness.

"And we're more than glad that you survived it." His wife says, kind but with an underlying sternness. "God knows it was nothing short of a miracle and I won't let that go to waste." She turns to face Arthur, her face not exactly gentling but her sternness lacks the hardness, the disdain he remembers from his old life. Somehow though, for some reason he still ends up feeling slightly chastened. "Good day, Mister..."

"Morgan, Arthur Morgan." Arthur introduces himself and catches the way she eyes his injured state.

"Are you leaving as well?" Mr. Downes asks and as he inches closer to take a bag from his wife, he quickly lets his hand sink back at the look she gives him. Arthur can't quite explain why, but seeing them alive like this, happy together, it lightens something in his chest despite the background noise of his memories.

"We're hoping to." Tilly speaks up, smiling briefly at the two when they face her. "Though catching a boat has been difficult recently."

Mrs. Downes eyes them again and Arthur feels himself still at the realization in her eyes. She recognizes them, most likely saw the wanted posters. Then her gaze turns considering and she slightly tilts her head.

"Thomas, didn't you help captain Davis's wife a while ago, when they had trouble with money?" She asks and Mr. Downes glances at her, confused for a second, before understanding brightens his gaze as well. They're smart folks, Arthur realizes. He hadn't really noticed before, with all that tragedy that happened left and right and befell them, too.

"He certainly wouldn't say anything if I asked him to take a few friends along." Mr. Downes looks back at Arthur. "He'd only ask you pay a bit for the ride."

Arthur glances at Charles, then the others. Tilly takes a step to the side after he gives her a slow, considering nod. "I'll go get Hosea and Sadie, unless they already have a deal."

Mr. Downes face brightens slightly at her words and Arthur gets a glimpse at his drive to help. At the happiness it brings him to do something for others. Can see how it, once at another time, cost him his life because he indebted himself to give money to others. Such a strange man. Kind to the point where it makes Arthur somewhat uncomfortable. If it is because it makes him feel lacking or because he wonders if someone really can be that selflessly good, he doesn't quite know.

The Downes family waits with them, with Archie yawning behind his hand and Mrs. Downes looking calm and steady, while her husband casts curious looks around and exchanges a few words with Javier, before Tilly returns. Hosea and Sadie are with her and Arthur catches a glance at Hosea's face and the brief, hidden budding of frustration, before it smoothes entirely away to leave his usual charm. The conversation with the other captain didn't go well, it seems.

"Mr. Downes, Mrs. Downes, it's nice to meet you." Hosea says, smile warm and kind and Arthur can see that he's not entirely faking it. He holds out his hand and the Downes family gives it a quick shake. "I was told you might be able to help us?"

"We certainly hope so." Mr. Downes says. "I have a friend, a captain, I helped out a while back. He'd most likely be willing to take you along. Not terribly far, mind you, but certainly..." He glances towards the sheriff's office. "Out of the area."

Arthur sees the exact second Hosea realizes that Mr. and Mrs. Downes know who they are. It's a subtle shift, a quiet, hidden sharpness in his gaze that most people would entirely overlook. Arthur himself wouldn't notice it if he didn't know Hosea as well as he does. There is a small, protective angle to his shoulders too and Arthur realizes that Hosea is just as desperate to see them to safety as Arthur is. Would most likely willingly sacrifice himself for it if he had to and Arthur can't help but inch a tad closer at the thought. Not on his watch.

"We're leaving ourselves." Mrs. Downes tacks on, gesturing to the obvious bags resting at their feet. "We probably won't see each other again after this. Unless you plan to head down to California."

"I can't say we do." Hosea says. "Who would this captain be?"

"Davis Townsend." Mr. Downes says. "He's from England and came here to America a good ten years ago or so. I met him when his wife got really sick and he had trouble getting the money to pay for her treatment." Mr. Downes smiles happily. "She's fine now."

Hosea glances at Arthur and he sees the unspoken question directed at him. For a moment, Arthur hesitates, before he gives a brief nod. He trusts that Downes speaks the truth. Both he and his wife strike him as honest people - his wife certainly never held back with her opinion about Arthur - and...this is a chance. A chance he doesn't know if they can afford to decline.

"Would you mind introducing us to your friend?" Hosea asks and briefly gestures towards the horses. "If possible, can we take them along too?"

Mr. Downes blinks in surprise and then smiles. "I'm sure we can figure something out. Please, follow me, I saw his ship just a bit further down."

At Hosea's quick nod, they grab their horses and follow the Downes family towards the docks. There are few pedestrians around, but the ones that are give them curious glances.

"Davis!" Mr. Downes calls out once they reach the docks, the wood groaning softly under their feet.

Davis is a rather tall, willowy man, with a thick, wiry beard and spectacles on his nose. He looks over at them and lifts a hand in a wave.

"Thomas, what can I do for you?" His voice is a bit rough, but the words are warm and they're close enough now that Arthur can see the corners of his eyes crinkling with a genuine smile. Davis casts them a curious look the next moment, right up until Arthur sees him recognizing them, then his gaze turns startled. "Thomas..."

"Davis, meet my friends." Mr. Downes says and his voice manages to be both friendly and a bit firmer than Arthur expected. "They could use a ride out of here. Just past those mountains, yes?" Mr. Downes looks at them just long enough to receive nods, before turning back to the captain. "They helped me when things weren't looking good, Davis. Please, help me pay that back."

Davis rubs a hand through his curly hair and glances at them briefly, visibly unsure before he exhales heavily and nods.

"Yeah, alright." He gives Mr. Downes a stern look. "But only because you helped Nelly. I wouldn't have known what to do had she...well, thank you, again." He reaches out his hand and Mr. Downes clasps it in his. "Alright, my friend, I'll help them."

"We will pay you of course, as much as we can." Hosea chips in, his voice gentled and kind, the very picture of an elderly gentleman who couldn't hurt a fly. Arthur can't help but be once again surprised and a bit awed at how easily Hosea can make himself appear a certain way without physically changing a thing about his looks.

"Of course." Davis still looks a bit apprehensive when facing them, but he squares up a moment later. Arthur realizes that he's a head taller than him. "There will be patrols before I leave the harbor, so it would be best to get you below deck." He glances at the horses and hesitates for a second. "...and them, I suppose?"

From his tone of voice, he hopes the answer is no, but Arthur wouldn't leave Storm behind. Not after everything. His face must say as much, because Davis sighs and drags his fingers through his beard, thinking.

"Yeah, alright, I can squeeze them in. It won't be comfortable, just so you know, but it should do until you can get off board again."

"Thank you." Hosea says and his voice is genuinely grateful. "That is very kind of you."

"Well, we all help each other out." Davis says with a glance at Mr. Downes. "That's the best we can do in the world we got." He takes a step aside and gestures at the ship behind him. It's a small one, just small enough for the harbor of Annesburg and more designed for the transport for goods, but Arthur thinks all of them and the horses should fit in alright. Not necessarily comfortably, like Davis said, but if it gets them out of here...

"Follow me then." Davis says and gives Mr. Downes a parting nod. "Thomas, don't forget to write me when you arrive and have a save journey."

"I wouldn't think of it." Mr. Downes smiles back and then turns that smile right on Arthur. "You take care, Mister Morgan. I will pray for a safe journey for you all."

It is...strangely touching and Arthur finds himself nodding at the man. "You take care too, Mr. Downes." He tilts his head. "Mrs. Downes."

He tugs Storm along then, who limps proudly at his side and from the corner of his eye, he can see Mrs. Downes quickly sidestepping her husband as he tries to take one of her bags again. He doesn't hear what she says, but he can imagine it well enough. She's probably scolding him and telling him to take it easy.

Their horses follow them aboard with only a small amount of wariness - Arthur doesn't think Storm has ever been on a ship, but she follows him while looking around attentively, her ears perked. Davis leads them below deck and to a place beside a few stacked crates, where they can leave the horses.

"As I said, not necessarily comfortable." Davis says as he eyes the bare ground. "But that's all I got."

"It will do, thank you." Hosea reassures the man. A ship isn't too different from a train when it comes to space for the horses and they should be alright. "How far will you take us?"

"Two days north." Davis says and vaguely gestures to where Arthur suspects north is. "Then we should be past the mountains and the patrols." He hesitates and his curiosity wins out. "What did you folks do to piss off the law?"

"We lived." Hosea says with a smile that's mostly proud but there is also something solemn underlying it. "And we lived free."

Davis holds Hosea's gaze for a long moment and then gives a nod, his shoulders easing a bit. "I can understand that. Come on, I can show you where to hide out while we leave."

He leads them to another part of the ship, pulling two big crates out of the way with Charles's help and gesturing them through. Behind the stacked crates is a bit of free space, enough for them to sit down without being uncomfortably squished together. Arthur casts a curious look at Davis who gives them a small shrug.

"After my wife's sickness, I started taking a few things along here and there, for extra money." He lifts a hand. "I smuggle, essentially. Always something like paintings or sculptures. The most valuable I had aboard was a small crate full of gold bars once, but never people." He gestures at the two crates they pulled out of the way. "The patrol won't find you here, if you keep quiet and your horses I can explain away. Just, go and remove their tack and take that with you and they won't ask too many questions. Let me know when you're ready and we can go."

Davis turns around after receiving understanding nods and gets back on deck. The horses aren't particularly thrilled about the a bit tight space, but they deal with it well enough that Arthur feels confident that they'll be alright. Storm holds still while he removes the saddle and bit and he gives her shoulder another checking glance.

They carry their things into the hidden space and Hosea lets Davis know they're ready to go. Afterwards, Davis helps Sadie and Charles push the crates back into their spots and tells them he'll come for them when it's safe to get out. It's dark, here behind the crates and Arthur can't quite help the way his heartbeat picks up and his hand falls to rest close to his holster.

They are, as much as he dislikes it, relying on a stranger to keep his word and while Arthur trusts Mr. Downes, he can't help but worry now. And what if the patrol is too thorough this time? He doesn't think their horses will give them away - horses don't tend to live overly long in their line of work and they're not used to recognize or find people - but it might still tip the Pinkertons off.

His thoughts cut short minutes later as muffled voices draw closer. He holds his breath for a second and feels Charles shift slightly beside him. There is so little light, he can barely make the others out, but he manages to catch the way Sadie's hand falls from adjusting her hat to her hip or the way Tilly straightens and Hosea leans forward. They hear a door opening and all of them grow still. Arthur isn't even sure if any of them are really breathing right now.

Steps can be heard, somewhat muffled past the crates. Three people, Arthur thinks, maybe four. He can't really see anything and doesn't dare shift closer to the crates to try and peer through the thin gaps between them. Any kind of noise could give them away.

"And the horses?" Someone asks, voice unfamiliar and Arthur has to strain his ears to hear him well enough.

"Some for a friend who moved to the coast a bit up north and some for his brother, he's a butcher." Davis sounds steady and calm. "He pays a good enough price to be worth the hassle."

The next words are a bit muffled and Arthur hears some quiet exhales and inhales around him and he finds himself doing the same. His injuries ache, a pain that starts to spread and flare and he realizes it's because he's as tense as a wire. Steps wander their way, slow and measured and if everyone was still before, they're positively frozen now. This time, Arthur is certain none of them are breathing.

"Hm, alright. If you see these people, inform a sheriff." The unfamiliar man speaks up again, closer now and loud enough for Arthur to overhear with less trouble. He thinks he hears the rustle of paper. "They're wanted for murder, theft and freeing a convicted man."

Arthur feels his fingertips brush the cold metal of his revolver. Davis answers something that is too soft to catch and Arthur notices Charles is just as tense at his side and they're all listening, waiting. Finally, the steps move away again and they wait until they hear them descend up the stairs, before collectively exhaling.

Arthur sags back and allows himself to sink against Charles, who slightly does the same. For a moment, they just sit in dizzying relief, breathing and letting the realization sink in that yes, it seems to have worked. Still, they're not celebrating yet.

The silence remains right up until they hear the boat coming to life and feel it moving. There is a relieved groan from someone, Karen curses softly and someone's head thunks against a crate. Arthur feels himself deflate and a moment later, his temple comes to rest against Charles's, who has leaned towards him. Their hands find each other in the dark and for a long second, Arthur just grounds himself in the touch and the realization that they made it.

The patrol never found them and now, finally, they're on their way back home. A quiet, breathless nose that could have been a weak laugh crawls out of his throat and he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"Well done, everyone." Hosea speaks up, voice quiet in the silence and while Arthur can detect the smallest tremor of relief, his words are steady. Sadie huffs out a quiet, rasping laugh and Arthur can hear the soft, deep exhale from Javier. As Hosea continues, Arthur can hear a smile in his voice: "Looks like we made it."

~*~

"This is as far as I can take you." Davis tells they stop at the small harbor of the tiny town. There is barely enough space for Davis to dock his ship, but now they're far away enough from the mess beyond the mountains that they should be able to take the train for the rest of the way. With what money they have left after giving half of it to Davis, they should barely make it that far.

"Thank you, Mister Townsend." Hosea tells the man. "You've done us a great kindness."

Davis waves him off. "Just, don't come back for a while, if ever? The Pinkertons won't stop looking for you anytime soon and I honestly don't know if I could help you again."

"We don't plan to return." Hosea says firmly and briefly, Arthur thinks about those still in the west. About Dutch and Bill, Pearson and Uncle and Reverent Swanson. A part of him hopes they don't need help and another hopes they're alright. He finds he kind of even hopes that Dutch and Bill got away. The betrayal is still there, but Arthur finds that he doesn't like the thought of the Pinkertons winning either. And, in a way, Dutch might even distract them from Arthur and the others, since Arthur genuinely doubts that Dutch is going to stop what he's doing anytime soon.

"Good, good. Well, let's get your horses up, I bet they're more than happy to leave." Davis says and then mumbles under his breath: "Gotta clean all that shit."

Storm, just like the other horses, is indeed very happy to finally get off the ship. The moment she's on the planks, the wood sturdy beneath her, she gives her body a big shake and Arthur once again checks her wound. Still healing well.

"Have a safe journey!" Davis calls from the deck of his ship. "Wherever you go!"

"Home!" Hosea calls back and Arthur can see the smile that appears on his face as he says it. Just hearing it makes Arthur feel lighter too. Home, they're going home.

"Well, I hope you arrive swiftly and unbothered!" Davis calls back and then disappears, most likely to shovel horseshit off his ship.

Arthur takes a deep breath and while the air smells of water and the town, there is something fresh and freeing to it. They start walking as soon as everyone has their things and their horse. They horses are rather restless with being cooped up and they ease up the more they walk. The people in town give them curious looks and a few throw greetings their way as they find their way to the train stop of the town without difficulties. Hosea, who still has the rest of their collective money, heads to the clerk to buy tickets. While Arthur takes a moment to pet Storm's neck and scratch behind her ears with his good hand, he hears Hosea play up the charm to get the clerk to sell them at a bit of a cheaper price.

"Well, it didn't help much, but a bit." Hosea says as soon as he returns, handing each of them their tickets. "We'll have to ride the last bit to get home, but that's fine and you all should have healed up enough by then."

"We'll be fine." Arthur reassures Hosea and gives Storms neck a small pat. "We'll be able to travel without them Pinkertons showing up again along the way?"

"I think so, yes." Hosea gives a small nod towards the clerk, who is busy writing something into a book. "He didn't mention any patrols when I asked how things were recently around here." Hosea gently ushers them towards the benches. "Now, sit down and rest, your wounds will thank you for it."

Arthur leaves Storm standing at the side and sinks onto the bench with only a small grumble and is slightly surprised when Javier sits down beside him. Karen sighs, the sigh of one absolutely sick with healing, while John just plops down and closes his eyes. Arthur exchanges a glance with Javier, who looks a bit better, the bruises barely visible now and...things aren't as somewhat tense as Arthur expected. Javier might be coming a bit to terms with what happened, with the pain of Dutch's betrayal and that, despite essentially abandoning him at first, Arthur and the others still came back for him.

Glancing over to the horses, Arthur smiles slightly in thanks as Charles feeds Storm an apple along with Taima. Charles gives him a small smile back, the corners of his eyes crinkling warmly. His gaze briefly flickers to Javier, before he looks back at Arthur with a question in his eyes. Arthur isn't quite sure how well he conveys that things are looking a bit better, but he seems to do a decent enough job with the way Charles's face softens slightly.

The train doesn't take long to arrive and Arthur can feel the disgruntlement from Storm and the other horses as they're back in a confined space and won't get to really stretch their legs. While Arthur feels sorry for her, he's also glad about the fact that Storm's shoulder is going to get more rest.

The horses seem mollified at receiving hay though. There was no hay on the ship, so Arthur and the others kept the horses fed with the food they had on them, so their bags are pretty empty right now.

"We'll have to get some food on the next stop." Arthur murmurs as they board the train and Hosea gives him an understanding nod. "Do you still have a bit of money?"

"It's going to be the last." Hosea says. "After that, not a penny."

Hopefully, there won't be any trouble for the rest of the journey back home. Arthur sits down beside Charles and Hosea takes a seat beside John, while Sadie plops down with Javier, both of them talking quietly. Karen grumbles as Tilly shoos her to sit down and Molly follows them with a small, relieved smile on her lips. Arthur thinks it's the first time he's seen her really smile again since picking her up in Rhodes.

They're all battered and bruised, he realizes, in different ways maybe, but each of them are hurting in one place or another. And they're all here together and heading to a place where they can just be, without the fear of the Pinkertons and the law nipping their heels, without traveling towards a vague goal that, in the end, was just a really big question mark. They're going home and they can heal what wounds they carry.

The thought gives him a light, soft sort of hope, mingled with a strangely deep kind of peace. Briefly, he thinks back on Miss Grimshaw and hopes that, wherever she is, she's happy and maybe, happy for them too. In the end, she too only wanted for them all to stay alive. A part of him hopes she's proud of them for making it this far.

Arthur exhales as the whistle sounds and the train starts to move. Within moments they gain momentum and Arthur watches quietly as the east draws further and further away. Somehow, he feels a quiet but steady certainty welling up in him: He won't be coming back. None of them will.

This time, they're leaving for good and he couldn't be happier about it.

The train rumbles ahead and before he notices, Arthur's eyes fall closed.

~*~

Arthur wakes as they reach a stop again and realizes he has dozed off, leaning against Charles, who has his eyes closed as well. Arthur rubs his good hand over his face and sits up slightly as he casts a glance around. Aside from their group, there are two more people, who sit in the front of the wagon, a lady who reads a book and a man who is obviously asleep, considering the way he's slumped against the side of the wagon, temple resting against the window.

"I'll get some food." Hosea says as he gets up and Molly rises as well, offering her help, which Hosea accepts with a nod and a smile. "We'll be back in a minute."

Sadie waves them off and then leans back in her seat again, though she no longer has her hat tucked as low as before. Instead, she adjusts it just enough that she can glance out the windows in case of trouble. Karen is asleep, while Javier and John are looking out the window at the train station. They're all calm and relaxed, until John suddenly sits up.

"I don't believe it." He says, voice raspy and Arthur straightens as well, Sadie quickly lifting her chin. John's voice wasn't alarmed though and it takes Arthur a moment to see what he spotted.

Josiah Trelawny in the flesh and he's smiling widely while talking to Hosea, who is smiling back, both of them looking rather delighted.

"Would you look at that." Arthur murmurs and John glances over to him.

"Why do you think he's here?" John asks and while Arthur has a vague idea that it might be because of them, he isn't entirely sure. Trelawny has always been a bit impossible to read in that regard, coming and going as he pleases and Arthur could never tell when he might be back or why or even where he went.

He watches as Trelawny steps away from Hosea and enters their wagon with a jaunty little wave. "Let's ask him. Trelawny!" Arthur greets the man and sees the hidden relief briefly flash in Trelawny's eyes as he spots them. "What bring you here?"

"You all, of course." Trelawny says with his usual bit of flourish, setting a handbag down on an empty bench. He's keeping his voice down though, conscious of the two strangers sitting up front. The man is still asleep, but the woman peeks over her shoulder before looking back down at her book. "I heard what happened and was on my way back so see if I could help." Trelawny gives them a short, soft laugh. "If I hadn't seen Hosea and Miss Molly just now, I would have headed towards the mountains, none the wiser that you're already on your way back home."

Trelawny looks them all over and his face gentles a bit, as he takes a seat, sitting sideways so he can still look at all of them. "How are you?"

"Been better." John answers. "But we're alive."

"That certainly counts for something." Josiah agrees easily and gives them another smile. "Well, I hope you don't mind my company."

"You're comin' with us?" Arthur asks and Trelawny nods.

"I won't bother you for long, of course, but I'd love to see what you built. How is the ranch, is it everything Tommy promised you?"

"It is." Arthur answers and Trelawny looks pleased. "You're welcome to stay, if you want."

"I know." There is something warm to Trelawny's smile. Then he straightens and lightly claps his hands. "So, tell me, what happened? I only heard bits and pieces so far."

The mood takes a bit of a turn and Arthur sees a quiet realization in Trelawny's eyes and his face grows solemn.

"Or maybe, at a later time." He says, his voice a bit softer.

"Yeah." John answers quietly, a furrow between his brows. Javier has his lips pressed together and there is a frown on his face. He looks tired again.

Trelawny folds his hands in his lap. "Well, for what it's worth, I'm glad to see you all alive."

~*~

Arthur realizes that he only, truly, starts to feel at ease when they're days and miles upon miles away from the east. The landscape changes slowly around them and with every day, it looks more and more like the west that he remembers. Even if it's steadily going through change, there is just something about it that feels like it welcomes him.

It really settles in him then, the realization they made it to the cursed east and back. They lost Miss Grimshaw, but all the others? They're fine, they're alive and Arthur finally, really manages to sleep again without the haze of medicine helping him along.

His injuries keep on healing nicely and he's getting more mobility back. The lingering pain stays on the down low, so he can check up on his horse a few times on the journey. Storm's shoulder looks better every time he sees it and at this rate she'll be fine before him. Arthur couldn't be happier about it.

Trelawny stays with them all the while and Hosea catches him up on anything that happened. Once or twice, Arthur wakes up late at night and catches them both still awake and talking quietly, faces either grim or solemn. Arthur doesn't know what to say about any of the things that happened. Even with all the time he's had to come to terms with everything and Dutch, words still escape him. Then again, it's always easier for him to write things down than to say them.

His thoughts wander back to Dutch, in the quiet morning hours when he's awake before the others and only Charles is up as well, or during the too quiet meals when he eats something that brings back memories. Arthur wonders where Dutch hunkered down and if he keeps things on the down low, or if he still thinks that making a big noise is the best course before...before what? Arthur is pretty certain Dutch has absolutely no intentions to go to Tahiti or to leave in general.

It's also a bit of a moot point to think about it. Dutch is most likely still back in the east and Arthur has no intentions of returning. If life is for once truly good to them, they won't see each other again.

"Two more stops." Hosea speaks up one day during lunch. "Then we'll have to get off and ride the rest of the way."

Arthur feels his chest squeeze tighter for a moment. Two more stops and then they're just a few more miles away from home. They'll be back soon. It's as relieving as it is quietly exciting. Arthur is almost surprised, at how happy he is at the thought of the ranch. Before, home has, in an abstract way, always been something that moved, has always been more people than a place, but now it's both. Now home is the cabin he shares with Charles and everyone living around them. Home has been a hard earned thing, gritty and filled with blood and slowly blurring memories, but they have it now.

Arthur gets progressively, quietly, more restless the closer they come to their stop. Charles, who gives him an understanding look, seems subtly impatient as well. It would be hard to notice for anyone who didn't know him well, but Arthur catches the way his fingers keep seeking something to touch, be it his sleeve, his necklace or, on occasion, the back of Arthur's hand.

From the corner of his eye, he catches Sadie's knee jiggling as she stares out the window and John can't seem to resist tugging at his collar, shifting a little in his seat then and again. Karen has fallen quiet, which with her means she's attentively waiting for something as well and Tilly keeps rearranging her skirts, while Molly touches her braid again and again.

Then they finally arrive, they're all on their feet before the train even fully stops, bags already in hand. The few passengers that have been with them the last few stops give them parting nods, some of them wishing them a good day, as they step out onto the platform. It's a relief, to finally, properly walk and move again and Arthur feels the way he settles a bit more into his own skin.

Their horses neigh and snort as they're let out of the wagon, giving their bodies big shakes and then quickly walking away from the train, as though to make sure they're not getting stuffed back in. Storm walks without a limp now, though Arthur is certain he shouldn't overdo it with riding anytime soon. Still, the moment he gets on her back, he can feel her excitement, head thrown high and she barely holds still long enough for the others to get in the saddle as well, before she's already moving.

Arthur exhales and some tight knot in his chest unfurls at finally riding again, at being on this impossible, brave horse and relishing in the fact that they both survived. The east didn't take anyone else from him.

The roads are unfamiliar to all of them and they only have a few hours of daylight left, but they know in which direction to go. The air is filled with the scent of grass and flowers and the heat of the summer sun settles across his shoulders like a warm blanket. Storm calms down an hour or so into the ride and her somewhat choppy gait smooths out. She snorts and Arthur can feel her relax, her pent up energy spent to the point where she's at ease again.

"Sorry, my girl." Arthur murmurs and pats and scratches her neck. "We're done with that now. No more trains, alright?"

Storm snorts again and Arthur can't help but smile at her.

They're stopping before the sun begins to set and Hosea and Charles disappear for a bit to go hunt them a meal. It's nice and achingly familiar, to sit around the fire together and listen to the hum and buzz of insects while the stars start to appear over their heads. The mood is good too, since they're all relieved to be off the train. Trelawny regards them with one of his stories and Javier has recovered enough that he's smiling and even laughing a bit again. There is still pain in his eyes in lasting moments of silence, but Arthur knows he'll get back on his feet. And he isn't alone either this time.

Hosea and Karen start singing a song, most of their group joining in and Arthur finds himself singing along quietly as well, relief once more blooming bright in his chest at seeing them being happy in this moment.

This night, he sleeps without nightmares or strange dreams, warm and content and the scent of campfire smoke soaking into their clothes. The horses are close by, grazing or sleeping themselves, happy after half a day of steady riding and being on the road again.

They're back in the saddle the next morning after the break of dawn, even if most of them are still rather sleepy. Karen grumbles about it and the lack of coffee, but she too wouldn't want to wait any longer. They're all eager to get back, to the rest of their ragtag little family and the place they made for themselves in this corner of the world.

It still takes them most of the day, right up until another sunset greets them as they crest a hill and finally see their ranch come into view. Arthur inhales as he sees it, the sinking sun casting golden light over the fields and pastures and houses. A sudden surge of longing flares up in him and he can't help but nudge Storm to walk a bit faster, to get there sooner. John too, is riding ahead briskly, obviously eager to get back to Abigail and Jack. Karen seems impatient as well. All of them do.

"I must say, my dear boy." Trelawny speaks up quietly while leaning towards Arthur from his spot behind Hosea on Silver Dollar. "You really found a little haven, didn't you?"

"Everyone made it into that." Arthur answers quietly. "They put a lot of work into it."

Trelawny gives him a kind smile and a pat on his good shoulder, the other almost completely healed. A few more days and he should be right as rain again. "I can see that. It's a beautiful place."

It really is. Arthur sees the others notice their arrival the moment they ride through the gate - it's been prettied up, someone took the time to make a real sign with a name on top of the gate and nailing a horseshoe beside it.

"John!" Abigail's voice rings out first and then they're hurrying towards each other, John quickly jumping off Old Boy the moment he's close enough. Arthur can see Jack by the main house, quickly setting down a kitten before he runs over as well and they're all hugging each other as much as possible.

Karen swings out of the saddle too and she and Sean meet in the middle in a tight hug that must jar her shoulder, but she's only gripping him back.

"You're back." Mary-Beth hurries towards them as well, her face brightening at seeing them. "Tilly, Javier, it's so good to see you!" Mary-Beth pulls them both into hugs the moment they're off the horses and by then, everyone else has reached them too.

"Welcome back." Lenny says as he pulls Arthur into a hug. He hugs the kid back, who smiles brightly and after a pat to his shoulder, moves to hug Charles as well. Kieran greets them with relieved smiles and Arthur isn't the slightest bit surprised to see a kitten clinging to his shoulder and refusing to be set down, even as he gently tries to encourage the cat to move.

The kittens are big enough to walk around the ranch now it seems, though they're still sweet and cute. Arthur is absolutely certain no one is going to chase the cats off either, so they're most likely going to have a couple of them around the ranch. He wouldn't shoo them off either, not when looking at the little one nuzzling into Kieran's hand.

"You came back." Abigail reaches for Arthur then, dragging him into a tight hug and her laugh is slightly shivery and most certainly relieved. "You kept your promise."

Arthur hugs her back and when she lets go, she's still smiling widely. They're all so happy to see them, it warms Arthur's chest thoroughly. Abigail hurries to hug Sadie next and Arthur catches a few muffled words, caught between their shoulders and he looks up at a light touch to his hand.

"Let's get the horses settled." Charles says quietly, casting a kind glance to the others. "And let them finish their reunion. We can join them again in a bit."

They collect the horses and bring them towards the pasture. Hosea, who starts to slowly herd the others towards the main house, promising to tell them what happened, pauses for only a second to give them a thankful nod. John has Jack on his hip who smacks a kiss to his cheek and Abigail gives his shoulder a glance, as though she knows exactly that he got hurt and is trying to figure out how the wound might look beneath.

Charles and Arthur take off the saddles and bits and one after another, the horses trot out onto the pasture, greeting the others with snorts and neighs. Merely Storm and Taima stay close to Charles and he, as they start grazing. Looking back at the main house and watching their patchwork family slowly head inside, still chatting excitedly enough that he can hear their voices, Arthur's hand finds Charles's.

"We're finally home." He says quietly and he sees the warm, gentle smile Charles gifts him. Arthur feels himself smiling back, slightly swaying towards him. A moment later, their foreheads press together, warmth and breath shared and with the soft snuffling of horses to one side, the muffled voices of everyone to their other. The gesture is relief and gratefulness and finally relaxing fully, knowing that they're safe and where they're supposed to be.

The kiss is a light, soft thing, half shared breath and half just the desire to be close. To hold each other as they settle back into their home, their hearts easing and filling with quiet, warm happiness. It's one moment where no longer having his hat is useful, as Arthur tilts his head and feels the brush of Charles's nose against his, their breaths gently fanning over their cheeks.

They made it and they're finally home again. The rest of their lives is ready to begin.