ATLANTA, GEORGIA—

"Mr. West, I don't think you're being totally honest with me," the doctor stated.

"Sir, you don't understand…" Jim started to argue.

"Now just calm down, son, and let me finish. I don't think you're being totally honest with me about your back and against my better judgment I'm going to clear you for this assignment. I've been told it's a simple guard some high and mighty muckity mucks for a few days type mission," Jim's smile broadened.

"Good, then I an get going?"

"Not quite," the doctor said in a tone that made Jim freeze.

"That friend of yours out there, Mr. West, he shouldn't be joining you. The only place that man belongs is in bed. He's clearly exhausted and on the verge of collapse. Just what the hell is Washington thinking?"

"You've got me, doctor. I tried to tell them Artie's too exhausted to remember his own name but the muckity mucks demanded his presence and you know Artie…"

"Yes, unfortunately I do. You two ought to have your heads examined. You put duty to your country and the President over everything including your own health and very lives," the doctor growled.

"Not quite above everything, doctor. And I promise I will take all the harder jobs and give Artie every chance to get some sleep. I'm worried about him too."

"I know you are, son, I know you are. I am going to put in a word about him when I send this report to the President…thank goodness your reports are for his eyes only. The language I plan on using he's used to."

"Excuse me? What does that mean?" Jim queried.

"Oops, I guess I wasn't supposed to let that slip. Oh well, that cat might as well come all the way out of the bag. For the past year or so whenever one of you two is seen for anything more important than a hangnail the President has demanded a detailed report be sent to him marked for his eyes only. He seems to have taken quite an interest in you two," the doctor commented.

"Mostly in Artie, doctor, but I happen to think he's worth grabbing the attention of someone like President Grant," Jim said his voice swelling with pride in his partner.

"Me too, son, me too. Now go out there and put that man to bed and if you let him out of bed before noon tomorrow President Grant will have to look for two new sons," the doctor shoved Jim toward the door, "Take good care of him, James."

"I will, doctor, you have my word on that," Jim replied as he exited the office.

Jim looked in the waiting room but Artemus wasn't there. The cute brunette nurse informed him his partner had gotten tired of waiting for him and left word he would wait for him in the saloon next door. Jim thanked her and left, hoping to make it back in time to ask her to dinner tomorrow evening. He entered the bar and glanced around. As it was just past midday and the place wasn't very full just a few regulars seated here and there. Jim's eye scanned the saloon until he found the figure he was seeking. He approached the table and quietly sat down.

Artie had bought two beers and had apparently not even taken a sip out of his. Jim pulled the hat up from the bowed head. He really didn't want to wake him but a saloon was hardly the place to take a nap. He gently shook his friend and was dismayed to see Artie's bloodshot eyes staring back at him.

"How'd it go, Jim?" Artie drawled, the exhaustion evident in his voice.

"Fine, Artie, just fine. He cleared me to work this mission on one condition."

"Do I want to ask what that condition is?" Artie asked flatly.

"Sure you do, pal. It involves you."

"Me? What do I have to do play nursemaid to you while we play babysitter to some damn stupid muckity mucks?" Artie groaned.

"Nope, Artie," Jim grinned broadly, "I get to tag along on this assignment as long as I take care of you. I have to make sure you get lots of food, sleep and don't over work yourself."

"Huh? What kind of condition is that? That sounds like a prescription for me not you."

"In a way it is, pal. Doc took one look at you out in the waiting room and he went ballistic. He wanted you admitted to the nearest hospital, not going on a mission."

"So that's what the shouting was all about. I thought maybe you had been a naughty boy while I was away," Artie laughed.

"Nope I made you a promise, pal and I kept it," Jim's expression turned serious.

"Artie, were you aware that President Grant has been keeping tabs on us for the last year or so?" Jim asked not sure what kind of reaction he would get.

"He what?" Artie lowered his voice so he wouldn't draw attention to them.

"Yeah, it floored me too. The doctor told me he was going to include a harsh statement for him regarding you in his report. It seems that if either of us gets anything more serious than an hangnail he wants to hear about it."

"We don't need the President of the United States babysitting us. When we get back to the train I'm going to send him a telegram," Artie complained.

"Wrong, pal. When we get back to the train I'm going to keep my promise to the doctor. You are going to eat a fine lunch I ordered packed up to go from your favorite restaurant and then you are going to get some sleep. The doctor said he would hunt me down and shoot me himself if I let you out of bed before noon tomorrow," Jim grinned.

"Noon tomorrow? What is he, nuts? We have to meet Colonel Richmond at 7am and deal with the idiots at the State Department by 9am."

"Nope, I got it pushed back. The Colonel will deal with the muckity mucks until we get there."

"How on earth did you manage that, Jim?" Artie wanted to know.

"Simple, I told him it was part of the doctors orders," Jim said with a smile.

"James, you lied to the Colonel, tsk tsk tsk," Artie laughed.

"Not really, Artie I just stretched the truth a little. Let's get back to the train so you can eat and get some sleep."

They rode to the far side of town and Jim left Artie watching the horses while he went in after the food. He came back a few minutes later, a basket in one hand a bottle of Artie's favorite port in the other. He hooked the basket over his saddle horn and stuffed the port in his saddlebag. He noticed Artie gripping his saddle horn like it was a lifesaver thrown to a drowning man.

"Here, pal. Give me your reins. You're so tired you're liable to steer your horse to Florida instead of the train. I still don't know why you didn't just stay at the train and sleep," without listening to Artie's mumbled protests, Jim grabbed the reigns and pulled Artie's horse along.

"You'd never have gone to your appointment. You would have come back and said he cleared you even if he had insisted on a hospital stay," Artie replied.

"Yep, same as you, pal."

By the time they reached the train, Jim was sure Artie had slept the last few minutes. He lowered the ramp and led the horses into the stable car. He gently shook his friend to wake him and guided him to a bale of hay in the corner and sat him down while he tended to the horses. His back was on fire but Jim refused to let the groans escape for fear Artie would hear them and demand to help him. He quickly curried the animals and fed them. Then he grabbed the food and gently shook his partner. Artie didn't stir so Jim shook him again this time harder.

"Hey, pal, rise and shine," Jim was not prepared for the response.

"Get away from me, Damnit!" Artie shouted and came up swinging.

Jim ducked and felt his back protest as he tried to move too quickly. Artie snapped his eyes into focus and made a grab for Jim to keep him from falling backward in to the stall.

"Sorry, Jim, I must have been dreaming."

"No problem, pal. You need the sleep. I think we'll just have a picnic in your room that way you won't have far to go to find your bed."

They walked to Artie's room, Jim taking up the rear so he could keep an eye on his friend. He helped Artie remove his boots and settle on the bed before he pulled out the basket of food and spread it out on the bed. Artie took in the smells and smiled, maybe some food would help take the edge off his exhaustion. They ate in quiet, Jim keeping a watchful eye on Artie, making sure he was actually eating and not just pushing the food around his plate. Artie had eaten about half of his meal when he excused himself to use the facilities. Jim inspected his plate while he was gone, shaking his head at how little he was eating.

When Artemus returned and announced he wasn't hungry any more, Jim demanded that he take the doctors advice and get some sleep. He assured his friend he would be in the main car getting things ready for their newest assignment. He had packed up the food and turned around to ask if Artie wanted him to leave anything for him to snack on but he found his partner sound asleep, snoring softly.

"You just sleep, pal. I'll take care of things now," Jim said softly.