"Damn Haught-potato, who knew you'd be so heavy?"

"Wynonna!"

"What? I'm just saying…"

"Were you a man, you might invite a swift slap to the cheek with such a statement, Miss Wynonna."

Tommy looked over at where Nicole was gritting her teeth as she was hoisted through the door of the homestead over to the newly installed recliner.

"Are they always like this?" he asked his niece in an amused tone.

She rolled her eyes. "As far as I've seen, yes." She winced as she wiggled her shoulders then sighed happily as she settled more comfortably into the new overstuffed leather chair Wynonna and Waverly had insisted on buying.

"Hey, there, don't be hatin'," Wynonna grumbled. "Especially since you're sitting in my chair." Waverly smacked her across the back of her head. "Ow!"

"That is Nicole's chair, Wynonna Earp. Don't mind my sister, Sheriff," she muttered as an aside to Tommy as he tucked a fleece blanket around Nicole's legs, careful of the damaged one. "She was raised by wolves."

Tommy laughed softly. "So I see. That's alright. Puts us in good company, right Cole?"

Nicole grunted, her eyes closed and her face drawn. The trip from the hospital had clearly tired her out, and the pain killers the nurses had pumped her full of before she left hadn't helped with her energy levels. Within a few minutes her breathing was slow and steady and her face slowly relaxed.

Waverly shooed everyone into the kitchen. "Xavier, could you please grab the bowls? Doc, you do spoons."

"I will procure drinks," Wynonna announced, leaning into the refrigerator. "What's your poison, Haught-man? We've got beer, wine, whiskey, and I guess milk or water if you're boring…"

Tommy scowled. "Beer, thanks."

Waverly plunked her big cast iron pot onto the middle of the table and pulled off the lid. Everyone paused as the heady aromas of her special chili recipe wafted through the room. She grinned at the clear reverence on the others' faces and started ladling out. "Sorry I don't have cornbread, I didn't have time to go to the store before we had to go get Nicky..."

Doc waved his hand. "I assure you, Miss Waverly, no additions are necessary for such a fine culinary offering."

Dolls grunted in agreement as he steadily powered through his bowl.

A surreptitious movement across the table caught Waverly's attention.

"Wynonna!" She hissed. "Don't you dare give Rowdy any of my chili!"

Wynonna pouted. "He's hungry…"

"I already gave him his dinner. You give him any of that, and I'm locking him in your room with you until he finishes farting it all out!"

The boys laughed as Wynonna recoiled in horror and jerked her hands into view. The big dog huffed when it became clear his begging was not going to be successful and wandered over to Nicole. He nosed around her chair for a moment, then carefully eased himself onto her lap and closed his eyes with a sigh.

Nicole mumbled something inaudible then subsided, and Waverly melted a little watching them before she caught Nicole's uncle eyeing her in amusement. She blushed and quickly focused on her food.

"So, Sheriff," she began after an awkward pause.

"Tommy," he corrected her gently.

She gulped. "T-Tommy. I've made up my bed for you, it's the first door to the right at the top of the stairs. The bathroom is right across—"

"I don't want you to have give up your bed," he protested. "I was going to stay on the couch!"

"Please," she said earnestly. "I'm going to be down here anyway. I have all the instructions from the hospital memorized—" she broke off and glared at her sister mid-eye roll. "I've got all of her meds sorted, and I'm ready to make sure she stays comfortable tonight."

"Sounds like you've planned everything out," Tommy nodded.

She smiled winsomely. "I'm a planner!"

This time she threw her napkin at another of Wynonna's eye rolls. "Shut up, Nona."

"I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't have to."

Doc smiled broadly and leaned over to Tommy. "The Earp sisters never fail to entertain."

This time it was Dolls who rolled his eyes. He glanced at the pager on his belt, then rose and placed his bowl into the sink. "I'm going to head back into the office. Another idiot needs a bond."

Doc rose also. "If I may catch a ride into town, Mr. Dolls."

"Sure."

Wynonna started to get up, then glanced at Nicole and sank back down again, looking torn.

"Nona, go," Waverly said firmly. "There's nothing to do here but watch her sleep, and I'm going to finish my last paper while I do that." Wynonna continue to hesitate. "Honestly, go. Tommy and I will keep an eye on her." She smirked. "Otherwise you're going to get bored and demand I entertain you and you won't let me finish my paper."

"I will—" Wynonna started to object, then grinned at Waverly's pointed look."—so totally do that. Alright, alright, I'm outta here." She hurried out the door. "Dolls, wait up!"

It was suddenly quiet and peaceful in the kitchen.

"Your sister is quite something," Tommy commented.

"If you ask our local Sheriff, he'll tell you my sister is a demon of hell sent to torment him."

Tommy's eyebrows climbed up his forehead.

Waverly shrugged. "She took the brunt of the abuse our Daddy liked to dish out, and you can imagine she had a lot of anger, especially as there was nothing to be done about him." At Tommy's inquiring look, she sighed. "He was a sheriff's deputy, and back then—"

"I've heard stories about Purgatory's law enforcement back in the day," Tommy said sourly. "Nedley seems alright though."

"He's a good man who's done well for the town, and he's really a big softie but never tell him I said that. He and Wynonna like to annoy each other, but secretly they're buddies." She paused. "Don't ever tell either of them I said that either."

"Wild horses couldn't drag it out of me." He stood and shooed her away from the sink. "Let me do these, and you go work on you paper."

She started to protest.

"Waverly, please," he said earnestly. "You have been doing so much for Nicole and me, and working, and doing your school work." He put on his sternest expression as he shook her shoulders."Let me help." She blushed a little, then nodded, and he smiled in response. "Now, it's been a crazy day, and I could use a little mindless manual labor so I don't hover over either of you."

She pulled him into a hug, startling him. After a moment he relaxed at her obvious affection.

She glanced up at him with a knowing smile. "You're a big softie, too, Sheriff Haught."

He winked at her. "Don't you tell anyone."

"Mum's the word."

—

Nicole awoke to the sounds of quiet humming, the rustling of paper, and the sharp scent of herbal tea. She felt warm and comfortable; her various broken body parts were definitely still broken, but the overstuffed leather chair was far more comfortable than the hospital bed she'd spent nearly a week in.

She stretched but then couldn't bite back the groan when her body reminded her that moving was a bad idea.

"Hey, hey, careful now."

She opened her eyes to see Waverly hovering over her. Behind her the coffee table was covered with books and papers and a gently steaming ceramic mug. Night had fallen and the room was only lit with the soft light of a nearby lamp and the warm glow of the wood stove. Rowdy lay on his back on a blanket near the fire, snoring happily.

"What time is it?" she rasped.

"Around eleven." Waverly checked the various bandages and felt Nicole's forehead with her cheek. "You missed dinner but I saved you some."

Nicole stopped breathing as she was presented with the awe-inspiring view of Waverly's cleavage. She fought to recover her composure.

"No fever, awesome," Waverly reported, unaware of the turmoil below her. "I need to drug you up again but would you like some food first?"

"Actually," Nicole replied with a grimace, a more pressing need making itself known. "I kinda need to pee."

Waverly chuckled. "Alright then. Let's get you over there." She pulled a small wheelchair over and helped Nicole ease herself into it before wheeling her over to the bathroom. "Um, not to make this awkward or anything, but are you going to need any help?"

Nicole eyed the placement of the toilet and sink and bit her lip. "I think I got it."

"I could always go get your uncle…"

Nicole recoile in horror. "I'd rather die. Speaking of." She looked around. "Where is he?"

Waverly pointed at the ceiling. "Asleep. I gave him my room while he stays."

Nicole blinked. "Then where are you sleeping?"

"With you!" Waverly said brightly, then flushed crimson. "I mean, I'll be on the couch. Down here. In the same room. As you." She ducked her head and hunched her shoulders, hardly daring to look at Nicole. "If you're okay with that?"

Nicole sighed. "I hate to put you out—"

"It's not a bother!" Waverly insisted, still fidgeting uncomfortably. "Just, go pee alright?" She locked the wheels of the wheelchair, then backed out of the room, pulling the door mostly, but not completely, shut. "I'll go get your food reheated. Shout if you need me!" She fled.

"'Kay." Nicole muttered, considering her options. "This could get ugly."

Five minutes later, Waverly stirred the leftover chili, anxiously waiting for Nicole. Her head tilted as she head a thump followed by a yelp of pain, then an angry curse.

"Fuck!"

She dropped the spoon and sprinted back to the bathroom. "Oh, sweetie." Nicole was slumped against the sink, only half upright. She was pale and shaking at the effort. Waverly ducked her head under Nicole's trembling arm and eased her upright. "Just hold onto me okay?" Reaching behind her, she grabbed her robe hanging on a hook behind the door. She managed to drape it across Nicole's front, tucking it underneath the strap of her shoulder brace to hold it in place. "I shouldn't have left you," she murmured softly. "Let me help you with this, okay?"

After a moment Nicole nodded jerkily.

Watching her face carefully, Waverly reached past the robe and by touch gently eased down Nicole's sweats and panties halfway down her bruised and tender thighs. She willed her fingers to stay off warm skin as much as possible. "Still okay?" she whispered.

Nicole nodded again, her eyes never leaving Waverly's.

"Keep your weight on me," Waverly instructed, and together they sank lower until Nicole was safely ensconced. "I'll be right outside." She waited tensely until she heard a flush. "Ready for me?"

"Yeah," Nicole replied, her voice strained.

"Arm around my neck," Wavelry instructed.

Nicole made no comment, stoically allowing herself to be lifted and her clothes fixed by the smaller woman. After a quick wash, Nicole was wheeled back to the chair, despite her protests that she could eat at the table.

"Not happening, Haught," she was informed sternly. "If you're lucky I'll let you feed yourself."

Nicole grabbed the spoon. "Fine, Mom." She took her first bite, then sighed happily. After weeks of hospital food, the glory of Waverly's chili consumed all of her attention until she pushed the empty bowl back. "Holy shit that was good."

"Glad you liked it! It will put some hair on your chest," Waverly joked as she cleared the tray away.

Nicole choked, then felt a little of her old self rear up a bit. She smirked and called out to the retreating brunette. "So, is that what does it for you?"

Waverly dropped the tray, and at the loud crash Rowdy yelped then leaped three feet up into the air before slamming headfirst into the coffee table. The two woman stared at him as he shook his head as if to clear it, then staggered over to Waverly and started whining pitifully.

They burst out laughing. Waverly cooed as she rubbed the big dogs head and neck. "Poor baby."

Nicole wheezed painfully as she guffawed, truly mirthful for the first time in weeks. After a moment, however, the pain reasserted itself and Waverly hurried to her with a worried expression.

"Here, sit back and breathe." She brushed Nicole's copper bangs from her forehead and studied her for a moment before shaking her head. "You're going to be the death of me, Deputy Haught," she murmured. Then she winked. "But oh, what a way to go."