Yet another chapter...probably more angst, maybe not, who knows what lies ahead...

Disclaimer: I don't own the L&O:SVU characters or the Gunsmoke characters but I do own the rest.

A Savior

Ethan could tell again when they had crossed into Texas. If he would have had the strength he would have laughed. He had always wanted to go to Texas just not this way. He had hoped that he would have come on a cattle drive up the Chisum trail or some other such novel idea that young boys often have. He hadn't planned on his trip to Texas would be to possibly die. He felt he knew that it was coming soon too, as Keevler had been almost nice to him, almost. He had begun to feed him every second or third day and he also made sure that his shirt sleeves were pulled down to keep the rawhide binds on his wrist from cutting in to him. He could tell that his wrists were healing and he was feeling a little bit better due to the fact that he was getting food. That was until the day that Keevler gave him bad water, weather knowingly or not. Ethan had been sick for three days now, throwing up and he was sure running a temperature with the fever and chills that he was experiencing. He didn't say anything to Keevler though; it wouldn't be worth the breath that he didn't feel he could waste.

That night Keevler surprised him by riding closer to a town. He picketed Ethan out, as he had begun to think of it, along with his horse and left him there. Ethan lay as he had every other night for the past month and a half and looked at the stars. Tonight he was still shaking with the fever and chills of that bad water but he felt like he was getting better. Then he heard it, someone or something coming closer. He didn't move, for fear that it would be someone who would just kill him or think that he was a drunk and leave him be because they thought he was some drunk wandered to far from town that had passed out. Ethan lay as still as he could until he heard the person dismount and come towards him. He was sure that it was a woman or a girl, as he could hear a sound that didn't sound like any man's pant legs.

"Are ya drunk mister?" he heard a female voice say in a loud whisper.

"No." Ethan croaked out.

"Well I guess you ain't dead neither. Name is Hester Mae Gibbins. Do ya need help mister?"

"Well I suppose you could untie my hands."

"Who tied your hands up mister?" Hester Mae asked.

Ethan wanted to laugh at the girl but it hurt too much and she was helping him. Obliviously she was a hill girl but he would take any help that he could get at this point.

"Where you from mister?"

"Kansas."

"Really? Do you know my cousin?"

"Who's your cousin?" Ethan asked setting up as Hester Mae untied his feet and hands. It felt wonderful.

"Festus Haggen. We heared he was a big time law man up in your Dodge City."

"No I don't know him." Ethan said. "Do you have any water?"

"Sure. Now don't drink to fast, it looks to me like you've maybe went a few days with out none."

"Naw, I got some bad water and it made me sick."

"Well we need to get ya flushed out then." Hester Mae said.

She watched as the man drank from the canteen she had given to him and took it when he handed it back.

"Thank you." Ethan said. "That tasted a lot better than what I last had." He stood then and picked up his saddle and blanket and threw it on Blue.

Hester Mae watched him for a minute and then said, "Whatcha doin' mister?"

"I'm preparin' to get out of here. It's a long ways back to Kansas."

"Oh. Well can I go with ya mister? I mean my Ma and Pa they died and I heard that cousin Festus is an honest fella. I thought I would go to him and see if he could help me out."

Ethan knew that he owed the girl for her help so he said, "Sure. Do you know where the next town is so we can get a train that will cut down our time to Dodge City?"

The girl didn't know where they could catch a train but she figured they could ride to Kansas. So after the man who had introduced himself as Ethan Stabler while he was saddling his horse mounted she climbed up on her mule, Maisy.

They set out riding and Ethan hoped that by sunrise they could be far enough away from Keevler that he would give up the chase and go to Mexico or somewhere. Ethan hit a lope and he heard the girl following him.

In town Keevler was playing poker and drinking whiskey, a girl setting on his lap. He wasn't even thinking about the kid that he had left staked out to the prairie. When his game was finished and Keevler had a good stake in his poke again he said to the girl named Susie, "Say Susie what's say we go upstairs now."

"Ok Max." the girl giggled.

By the end of the night, Max had proposed and a number of other things to the young saloon girl named Susie.

Oklahoma border

Ethan and Hester Mae had made good time riding in the cool of the night but now they and their horses were tired. Ethan was still not feeling well and for the first time since Keevler had taken him, he was able to rub his now bearded face. He could feel how lean his cheeks were under that stubble. He fell over against his saddle and watched as Hester went and got water and then speared two fish with a stick. He was amazed at how easily the girl could do that. He had tried and tried as a boy and found that it was a skill that he was never able to master. When Hester Mae cooked the fish, Ethan was overwhelmed by hunger and took it as soon as he handed it to him. He ate quickly and again went behind a bush and threw it up. When he came back Hester Mae looked at him and then rolled over onto her own blankets.

They slept until the sun was getting ready to go down again and then saddled their horses up and rode out. Soon they rode into a little town and Ethan stopped. They needed supplies, he didn't know how he was going to get them but he would find a way, he hoped.

Ethan and Hester Mae both ended up working in that little Oklahoma town for about three weeks. Hester Mae in a laundry and Ethan at the stables. For partial payment they were each allowed to stay at their place of work and by the end of three weeks time they were able to buy a few needed supplies and set out again. Ethan was sure that his family was looking for him by now. He had been gone since the middle of April and here it was already the first of June. He also wondered if Emily was married yet, happily living in a house in town. He wondered what was going on with his place. Was it setting rotting away or had his father and brothers went up and finished work on it? His brothers. They were turning eight this month and he would eighteen this fall. How time flies when one is having fun, he thought.

"Whatcha thinkin about Ethan? A gal?" Hester Mae asked.

Ethan didn't know how to respond. He knew that saying yes would only make Hester Mae ask more questions and probe deeper into his life. So far he was sure that he had heard her life store about growing up in the Texas hills and about this cousin Festus that she had never met. He had remained closed mouth about his life though. He had things that he would just rather keep to himself, like everything. He had told Hester Mae that he was from Rock Springs which was a ways down the line from Dodge City but that was where she could find his family should anything happen to him.

"No Hester Mae. I was just thinking." Ethan said.

While they were in that town they learned that they were in central Oklahoma. That made Ethan feel better because it meant that they were closer to home. He figured he would take Hester Mae to Dodge and then head on home to Rock Springs. It was a good plan, a solid plan, and he could send a telegram to his folks and let them know that he was on his way home.

Three weeks later, on the day of the twin's birthday to be in fact, Hester Mae and Ethan rode into Dodge City. They went to the Marshall's office only to find that the Marshall was in the Longbranch Saloon. Ethan and Hester Mae went there and Ethan met again with the Marshall from Dodge City.

"Ethan! You've had a lot of people looking for you son." Marshall Dillon said.

"I'm sure I have sir." Ethan replied. "I came this way though because this gal here, Hester Mae Gibbins claims that her cousin is your deputy, Mr. Haggen.

"Oh no. Another of Festus's cousins?" the Marshall asked.

"I guess sir. I don't know for sure. I just know that she helped me so I told her I would help her get to Dodge City and to her cousin. Just then the man in question walked through the swinging doors of the saloon.

"Festus!" Marshall Dillon called out.

"Matthew." Festus said. "Whatcha need, Matthew. Oh Ethan, how are ya boy?"

"I'm fine Mr. Haggen."

"Pshaw. Ya ain't gotta call me mister." Festus said.

"Festus." Marshall Dillon said. "Ethan brought a girl up from the Texas hill country that claims to be your cousin."

"What's her name Matthew?" Festus asked.

"Hester Mae Gibbins. She's with Kitty in the back right now."

"I sure do have some cousin's with the name of Gibbins, seems one of them thar Haggen girls married a Gibbins. How old this girl be Ethan?"

"I don't know 13 or 14 I suppose."

Hester Mae came out then, " I am not. I be a whole sixteen years old. Howdy cousin Festus."

"Howdy Hester Mae. Who's your Ma and Pa?"

"Roy and Frieda Gibbins." the girl answered.

"Yessiree Matthew then she be a kinfolk to me. Come on Hester Mae I'll go get ya set up at the boarding house with Ma Smalley."

Festus and his cousin went out the door and Marshall Dillon turned back to Ethan. "Do you plan to stay here tonight or are you going to head towards Rock Springs?"

"Nothing against you or your town Marshall but I would like to get on home. I've been gone for almost more than two months." Ethan said.

"No offense taken son. I'll send a telegram on to your folks that you'll be home in a couple of days."

"Thank you Marshall. I appreciate it."

Ethan set out and had made good time, and even had nice whether to ride in, considering it was the end of June and heading into July. He couldn't believe all the time that had passed by. He had started to gain a little weight back on eating Hester Mae's cooking on the trail which was nice, but he hadn't been able to bathe or shave. He was sure that he smelled like trail dust, blood and horse shit just to mention a few things. The marks on his wrist were only partially healed as they had gotten infected and Ethan was hoping that his Ma would be able to take care of them once he reached home. He also had the marks on his back where Keevler had beaten him one night when he got drunk. Home, what a sweet word to the ears of a weary soul. He couldn't wait to swing Katie up and spin her around in a circle until she screamed, he wanted to take the boys fishing, help his Pa put in crops, kiss his Ma on the cheeks and he wanted to see Emily. He wanted to finally let his tongue loosen up enough to tell her all the things he should have said a long time ago. Then he would kiss her, after he shaved of course.

The Stabler Household

A telegram came two days ago from Dodge City, from the Marshall there. He had seen Ethan when he brought the cousin of Deputy Haggen there. The Marshall didn't go into a lot of detail but he had said that Ethan would be coming home. When Olivia read those words she threw herself into Elliot's arms and cried until she wet his shirt. When Emily stopped out later that day, they had cried again together and then went up and cleaned Ethan's room to prepare it for him. The children were much happier, more carefree as the weight of their missing brother was taken away. Ethan was coming home and that was all that mattered to any of them.

Back out on the prairie

Ethan could tell that he was getting close to home now. The landscape was familiar after almost two months of never knowing where he was at or where he was headed. He could tell that he was close to home and he felt the weight of his ordeal lifting from his shoulders. He felt lighter and his tired old horse must have felt it too. He gave a good hard buck and sent Ethan flying off the back. He landed on the hard Earth, slamming his back and shoulders into some rock and knocking himself out. Before the world turned black, he heard the hoof beats of his horse heading home, without him.

Elliot was the first to see the familiar Blue horse come loping down the hill without a rider. He almost couldn't believe his eyes. It was Blue, his son's horse Blue, wearing his son's saddle. Elliot ran over and caught the horse by the bridal reins. He didn't see any blood and was relieved by that. He waited after that scanning the horizon looking for his son to come walking up the house laughing about being thrown.

Half an hour later, he became worried and took Will and Caleb and went out searching in the wagon. They drove almost five miles before they seen him. He was just laying there in the grass along the edge of the road. Elliot hit the horses across the rump with the reins urging them to go faster and then pulled up to a stop. He was worried that his son was dead, this close to home and he dies. He set the brake and jumped down followed by the twins. "Is he dead Pa?" Will asked.

"No." Elliot said his voice, hands and body shaking. "I think he's just knocked out. You boys open the tail gate and help me get your brother into the wagon ok?"

The boys did as they were told and watched as their father lifted their unconscious brother into the back of the wagon. They sat with his head on their knees and waited for him to wake up the whole way home. He didn't. When they got there, Will again asked his father, "Pa is Ethan dead?"

"No son." Elliot said, hearing the shake in his voice. "Ethan is just really tired and he's sleeping. Now run in and tell Ma to get Ethan's bed ready for him ok."

Again they did as they were told. Olivia began to cry when Elliot carried her oldest into the house. Then she dried her tears and helped her husband carry their son up the stairs and to his bed. There they stripped him down to his long john bottoms and laid him in his bed. Olivia began going over his body, seeing the half healed wrist, the bruises on his back and waist, his severe weight loss. After checking him over she said to her husband, "Elliot, I think you need to go get the doctor."

Elliot did as he wife asked and Olivia set about washing up her son as best she could with a rag and a pan of warm water. Her three younger children stood in the doorway watching. "Mama." she heard Katie.

"What honey?" Olivia asked never looking from her task.

"The back of Etan's head is bweeding." Katie said.

Olivia lifted his head and looked. Her daughter was right. She saw a nasty cut there, trickling blood. Olivia wiped it away and then began applying pressure to it. "Caleb, honey, run down and get me another rag will you? And Will and Katie will you find me something to make bandages out of?"

Olivia had stopped the bleeding and cleaned up Ethan as much as she could by the time the doctor arrived with Elliot and Emily in tow. They all stayed down stairs while the doctor looked at Ethan and made a diagnosis. When Doc Wilson came down, Olivia smiled and Emily and motioned for her to go up stairs. She stayed though, she wanted to hear what the doctor had to say.

'Well Elliot, Olivia. Ethan is severely malnourished, you can tell by his excessive weight loss. The bruising looks like it come from a beating with a blunt object, a stick or possibly a rope or belt. The cuts on his wrist are from being bound. They're old but their deep and have been infected. I put some salve on them and covered them with the bandages you left up stairs. I'll leave the salve here and you can continue it. The back of his head, that's a new wound probably from when the horse threw him. It may take him two or three days to wake up. Just watch him and I'll be back day after tomorrow.

Emily felt the tears running down her cheeks then so she escaped to the upstairs. She quietly opened the door to Ethan's room and went in and sat down on the hard, straight back chair that was there. He looked so peaceful there, like he was sleeping, when Emily knew that he was really unconscious. What if he never woke up? Then what would she do? She didn't know. He was covered to his chest, which was bare, his wrist were wrapped. She sat and pulled the chair closer to the bed and then picked up his hand, wrapping her two around his larger one. She was afraid that she would hurt him if she picked up his hand so she leaned down and pressed her lips lightly to the back of it and laid her head down. It was then that she really let the tears fall, until she fell asleep.

Ok so a little fluff since you put up with all the angst. Thanks to Kinsey and her super smutty little chapter in her current eppy fixing fic (if you haven't read it you should go and do so now after you review of course). It inspired the end of this chapter. Also I hope you enjoy the cameo appearances of America's first crime fighting duo from Gunsmoke, I thought I needed to throw them in there too cause I love Gunsmoke. It has a lot of similarities with SVU if you've ever watched. Now please R&R.