The train was pulling into the depot at Fredericksburg and per Grant's instructions the only people there who knew he was coming in on the Wanderer were the hospital and his own staff. He declined to ride in a private carriage and instead rode to the hospital in the back of the ambulance wagon with Artemus and Dr. Evans. The ride to the hospital was very slow and uneventful. Grant stayed by Artemus' side while they took him in and put him in a private room. Grant had felt that was the least he could do for Artemus and the least he could do for the other patients. He knew Artemus would be fit to be tied when he woke up. Grant failed to notice two shadows flank the door as he entered.

Grant sat in the chair beside the bed and watched the slow but steady rise and fall of Artemus' chest. Son, you're endured far more than any man or country has a right to ask of you. But I know you won't let this stop you. I only hope I can stop you from trying to leave here too soon and join that damned fool partner of yours.

The President kept his vigil over Artemus, praying that all would be well. Far into the night it appeared he was coming out of the sedative. He began to move and he was trying to talk. Grant moved closer to the bed so he could be near if Artemus needed him. Artemus' breathing became shallow and very rapid and he was fighting for air. Grant ran to the door and nearly knocked over one of the guards. He sent him in search of a doctor, he would have to find out just why they were guarding the door later. He returned to the bed just as Artemus sat bolt upright; a look of sheer horror on his face, sweat pouring off of him.

"Jim!" he shouted, "Jim run!" he shouted again as Grant tried to ease him back onto the pillows. Dr. Evans entered the room at a run, followed by a nurse.

"What happened, sir?" Evans asked as he began a cursor examination.

"He was sleeping peacefully then he started to move around like he was going to wake up. Then all hell broke loose. He sat bolt upright and started screaming for James."

Evans checked Artemus' bandages and there was a slowly growing patch of crimson on his chest. He motioned to the nurse and she produced a needle and Evans gave him a shot. He told Grant it was only a painkiller not a sedative so they could change his bandage. Grant moved to the side to give them better access to Artemus when he bolted up again.

"Jim! Jeremy RUN!" he shouted. Evans shoved him back to keep him from doing any further damage. Artemus continued to struggle, trying to get past some unseen enemy.

"Mr. President, there isn't time to get an orderly and you're bigger than our orderlies are anyway, I would appreciate it if you could hold him down while I get this bandage changed and see if you can't get him calmed down somehow."

Grant immediately moved to the head of the bed and with a gentleness that belied his size, he lifted Artemus' head and left shoulder into his lap as he perched on the edge of the bed. Evans worked around him the best he could, having Grant lift his charge carefully as they wrapped the clean bandage around him.

"Calm down, son, you're safe. No one is going to hurt you."

Grant gently stroked his hair and continued to talk in low tones as Evans frantically worked to get him stabilized. Finally, with the President's help they were able to calm him down and get him resting again. Evans asked for a complete accounting of what had happened. Grant told him everything he knew up until the time Evans himself entered the room. Evans listened intently.

"Nothing you have told me would give any indication of what could have brought on this kind of reaction," Evans was perplexed.

"I have no clue, Harold. I wish I could shed some light on this."

"Jim's in trouble," came the strained reply from the bed.

"What do you mean, Artemus?" Grant asked, "James is fine," Artie vehemently shook his head.

"No, Jim and Jeremy…they're in trouble…I…have to get to them…I have to…help," Artemus tried to rise and two pairs of hands restrained him.

"Artemus Gordon, you are NOT going ANYWHERE! You are to lie still before you damage yourself. And that is a DIRECT order, son!" Grant thundered, making the nurse jump.

"Sir?" Artemus struggled to make his eyes focus, "Where's Jim? You have to help him. He and Jeremy, they need help. They need help now," Artemus pleaded.

"All right, son, just take it easy. I'll send some men to their location right now. Just lie still and calm down," Grant's voice seemed to have the desired effect and Artemus visibly relaxed but the look in his eye told Grant Artemus was still intensely worried.

"Guard!" Grant yelled and the door opened instantly, "send a message to my aide, tell him I want a squadron dispatched to Mr. West and Mr. Pike's location immediately," the guard disappeared quickly.

"There, son, I have done all I can. I sent some men to give whatever help that James and Mr. Pike might need. Now, as for you…you need to calm down and explain yourself to me," Artemus took several deep breaths and winced.

"Yes, sir…I can't explain it but I just know they are in trouble. They did leave didn't they sir?"

"Yes, Artemus, they went out after Nate and Zeke. I approved the plan and I will take any responsibility if it fails. You will not hold yourself responsible just because you couldn't be there to pull James' butt out of the fire yet again."

"Mr. Gordon, how is it that you have what is quite probably a medicine induced nightmare and you assume your friend is in distress?" Evans asked interestedly.

"Harold, I have told you about these two," Grant interjected, "They share a special bond. Where these two are concerned I would take one of Artemus' medicine induced nightmare visions over what I see with my own eyes any day of the week," he turned and looked at Artemus.

"Tell me more, son, exactly what did you see?"

"I saw Jim running through some brush and I saw a rock outcropping and there was a man on top of it. I'm not sure but I think it was one of the guys who jumped me," Artie paused, a look of concentration and concern on his face.

"Go on, son, what else did you see?" Grant urged.

"I saw Jeremy…he was…he was lying face down in a clearing. Jim was running toward him…the guy on the rock…he…he took a shot at Jim. Then I woke up with this terrible feeling that they are in trouble. And a terrible weight on my chest," Artie looked at Grant trying to alleviate the situation.

"Uh…er…sorry about that, son. Take it easy now. I have men on the way and if Jim and Jeremy are in trouble, we'll get to them I promise you," Artemus seemed to calm down a little and he relaxed into the pillows.

CLEARING—

Jim signaled to Jeremy that he was ready to move in. Jeremy nodded and moved to take the man by the fire. If they timed this right they could take him before he partner got back and use him as leverage. Jim just wanted this over, hopefully before Artemus would even know they were gone. He watched as Jeremy rose up and crept through the brush. He secretly wished Artie were here with him. He liked Jeremy and got along well with him when they had worked together on previous mission but he just wasn't Artie.

Jim snapped back to reality when a shot rang out. He ducked for cover and checked Jeremy's position as he dove. He saw Jeremy grab his leg as he fell to the ground in the middle of the clearing and Jim thought he saw his head bounce off the ground. Without hesitation, Jim jumped up and ran full speed for the clearing. He had almost reached Jeremy when a shot rang out behind him. Jim felt a sudden, searing pain in his side and as he went down one word crossed his mind…Artie!

The Army squadron rode up at full speed and quickly dismounted after hearing the shots. One soldier pulled his rifle up to his shoulder, took aim and fired. The man fell off the rock and landed with a thud on the cold hard ground. Sever others rushed the man beside the fire, but he would be no problem as he had passed out cold. The soldiers brought the buckboards in and carefully loaded the men into them. They had been told that if Mr. West or Mr. Pike needed medical treatment they were to be taken straight to the hospital, best possible speed. President Grant would be waiting for them and a report on the mission there.

"What?!?" Grant bellowed, momentarily forgetting that he was in Artemus Gordon's hospital room. He went out into the hall with the solider.

"Tell me again, soldier," he demanded.

"Sir, we brought Mr. West and Mr. Pike here as ordered. They are having their wounds tended to. The prisoners are being treated by the doctor back at the stockade, sir," the soldier repeated as calmly as he could when talking to the President of the United States.

"That's what I thought you said. Are you sure West's and Pike's wounds are just minor? Where are they, I want to speak to the attending physician," Grant left with the soldier, leaving a confused and worried Artemus Gordon alone, save the guard that remained posted outside the door.

Artemus lay there contemplating his options. On the one hand he really needed to know what all the shouting was about in the hall, he was sure he had heard James and Jeremy's names mentioned. On the other hand, he didn't feel quite up to his old self yet and wasn't sure he was up to breaking the rules just yet and going to find out for himself. Artemus closed his eyes for a minute while he contemplated his options.

When Artemus opened his eyes he was astonished to discover it was daytime. He looked around the room and it was empty. He lifted his head and tried to sit up. His ribs felt like they were on fire and in fact his entire body hurt. I must have slept through a dose or two of pain medication, Artie thought, oh well, that's okay I've made my decision and where I'm going there won't be time to worry about my pain. Maybe I can go find a cute nurse to give me a glass of water.

Since he didn't know when anyone would be coming to check on him, Artie looked around and spotted his bag, Jim must have pack it. He decided to try to sit up. Artie used his left arm to pull himself up, suppressing a loud groan. It took several minutes and many attempts, but he finally made it to an almost sitting position. He had to stay hunched over, the pain in his chest too great to allow him to fully straighten. He tried again to straighten up and he made a grab for the bag. He missed and tried to catch himself when he remembered his right arm was in a sling and totally useless.

Not being able to stop his downward slide, Artemus could only use his left arm to shield himself as he slid unceremoniously to the floor. He sat there for a time breathing heavily and trying to quell the nausea that was threatening to overtake him.

"Damn, maybe this just isn't worth it" Artie told himself, "Jim'll kill me if I hurt myself again not to mention what the President will do. I'm getting too old for this crap," Artie snapped. He was trying to maneuver himself around and was facing the bed when he heard the door open and someone enter the room.

"Whoever you are I'll sit sill and listen to all the yelling you care to do if you just help me get back into bed before Jim finds me."

"Too late for that, pal," Jim intoned trying to sound angry.

"Jim?" Artie said as he froze in mid effort to climb back into bed.

"Yeah, Artie, it's me. Here, let me help you," Jim grunted and a soft moan escaped as he lifted Artie off the floor and sat him on the bed.

"Jim, you okay?"

"Fine, pal, it's nothing to worry about. Now suppose you tell me just what you thought you were planning on doing?"

"I thought you were in trouble and I wanted to help. I can't take all this just laying here, Jim, I'm going nuts."

"Yeah, I know, pal, but you did help. I don't know how you keep doing it; but you really pulled our fat out of the fire this time, pal. I really owe you one. As for you going nuts…" Jim smiled.

"Oh real funny, Jim. Look I know you're mad and you have every right to be but you know how much I hate being cooped up in a hospital room."

"I know, pal, but if you take the time now to rest without pulling any more damn fool stunts like this one, you'll heal a lot faster and get back to doing what you do best, being a pain in the backside to all the bad guys, not to mention me," Jim smiled at him.

"But, Jim, I was so sure you and Jeremy were in trouble…"

"They were, Artemus," President Grant said as he and Dr. Evans entered the room.

"James, you are supposed to be in the room with Jeremy. I suppose he decided his injuries didn't warrant a stay in the hospital either," Grant glared at Jim.

"Uh, oh, Jim do you think we're both in trouble?" Artie asked, "uh hello, sir." Artie began only to be cut off.

"Stand down, Mr. Gordon and to answer your question…YES you are in trouble. You disobeyed a direct Presidential order, son. I spotted James here sneaking down the hall and I followed him. I saw most of your little disobedience and I must say I am not pleased."

"But, sir, I have a good explanation…"

"Stow it, Gordon, I told you I had the situation in hand and ordered you to lie there and rest and you disobeyed me. Dr. Evans, we need a suitable punishment for these two and for Jeremy once we find where he snuck off to. I really need to have a long conversation with Colonel Richmond about the insubordination of his agents." Artie looked at Jim for help and Jim could only smile and shrug his shoulders.

"I guess we finally got caught, partner. I knew our luck was too good to last. But hey, pal, at least this time we'll have company," Jim remarked.

"That's assuming those Neanderthals can even find Jeremy," Artie quipped.

"Mr. Gordon!" Grant thundered, "What am I going to do with you?"

"Let me off the hook and chalk it up to medicine induced delirium?" Artie tried.

"Oh no, Artemus. You will not be getting off that easy. Evans, I want an orderly posted INSIDE this room at all times until such a time you deem it unnecessary. You can move an extra bed in here for James," Grant ordered.

"But, sir," Jim stated, "I feel fine it's just a side wound I don't…"

"You don't need to do anything but what your doctor tells you to and I am telling him you need to be here. Do I make myself clear, MR. West?"

"Perfectly, sir," Jim sighed.

"Good, now as for you, MR. Gordon…you have some insane desire to kill yourself to help your friends. Mr. West will be confined to this room with you until such time as the doctor determines you are physically able to fend for yourself."

"Sir, I don't need a baby sitter…I'll behave, I promise," Artie said.

"Too little, too late, son. And you have proven too many times these past few days that your promises aren't worth the air used to make them. By putting James in here with you until you are well enough, I will know for certain that you are obeying your doctor's orders. And I will know that James is getting the proper punishment that will make him think twice about corralling you in the future."

"Sir, that's a bit harsh of a punishment don't you think? I mean cooping me up in here with Artie for what, a month? My injury won't keep me out of commission for more than a week tops, what about missions? You need me out there now that Artie and Jeremy are out of commission," Jim pleaded.

"Give it up, James. Something tells me we can't win this one even if we had God himself on our side," Artie told him, "besides, having a roommate will make the time go much faster…we can play cards," Artie winked.

"Oh no, Artie, you're dangerous with a deck of cards. Doctor, doesn't Artie need to rest now or something?" Jim groaned.

"Actually you both need to rest. Mr. Gordon, I can give you a sedative if need be…"

"No, thank you, doc, I don't like how they make me feel and with James as a roommate I need to be as alert as possible or he'll steal all the cute nurses," the group laughed and Artie held his chest and broke down in a fit of coughing.

"That will be enough of that, Mr. Gordon. You get fully back into bed and we'll leave so you can get some rest. Mr. West, I see the orderly is here with the bed for you. As soon as they have it set up you will get undressed and get in it and get some rest yourself. I have given the orderly his instructions so don't even try to get around him. I assure you he has plenty of experience dealing with unruly patients…even the likes of you two," Evans glared at his patients.

"Mr. President, you should have taught me this little trick some time ago," Evans laughed.

"I only showed you now because I thought it might help you handle the terrible twosome. Just don't get any bright ideas and try this routine on me," Grant replied.

"James, I think we have met our match," Artie said as he slowly laid back.

"Artemus, I believe you're right. And I also believe we had better do what they tell us to or we'll be in too deep to ever get out," Jim shook his head and sat on his bed.

The President, hands on hips, was delighted that he had finally gotten the upper hand with these two. He smiled and ushered everyone out of the room. He sat in a chair and waited until Jim was settled in bed and he took in the sight. The boys looked like they had both been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. He let them squirm for a bit then finally decided to let them off the hook as Artemus really did need to get some rest.

"Gentlemen," he said breaking the silence.

"Sir?" they asked.

"We have a conundrum here. While I am glad you will both mend I am very, very irritated that you both chose to disobey my direct orders. I know you are not taking advantage of our relationship…"

"Never, sir," Artie said, slowly losing his battle to stay awake and listen to him.

"But…" Grant continued, "You still need to learn that you can not keep up with this behavior. You two seem to think no rules apply to you when the other one is in trouble. So James, I am putting you in charge of keeping Artemus in bed and resting no matter what it takes, and that includes losing your shirt to him in poker," Artie grinned at that.

"And wipe that silly grin off your face, Artemus, I am putting YOU in charge of keeping James here and under control and away from the nurses," Artie's jaw dropped.

"Just how in blue blazes am I supposed to do that? I can't even do that when I'm totally well," Artie yawned and his eyelids drooped.

"That I will leave up to you. Now, gentlemen, I have a summit meeting to attend and I have asked for regular reports on your progress so don't think you can slip anything by me," Grant smirked.

He turned to Jim and winked and when he turned to Artemus he was asleep. Grant went over to him and stroked his hair. He had a solemn look on his face that Jim found interesting. Grant watched Artemus sleep for a minute then turned to leave, when he reached the door he turned back to face Jim.

"Mr. West, Artemus is very special. I don't trust just anyone to take care of him, but I do trust you, James. Please, James, take good care of Artemus for me. And do try to keep out of trouble. I can only send the Army to bail you out so many times."

Grant exited the room, leaving Jim to stare out the window. Oh man this is going to a LONG month, Jim thought as he turned and watched the sleeping form of his friend, partner and brother. Yes, a long month indeed.

THE END