Jeremy appeared with a buckboard. Neither man had noticed him slip away. Keeping his eyes tightly shut, he allowed Jim to help him to the back of the buckboard. It felt good knowing Jim was really there. When he felt the buckboard under his hand, he opened his eyes for a second to orient himself and swayed. Jim was there immediately to steady him.

"You're going to have to help me, Jim. My right arm is about as useful as an umbrella in a hurricane. I think leaving that sling back there was a mistake."

Jim gently eased him into the buckboard and told Jeremy to slowly head for the nearest hospital. This sent Artie into a fit, shaking his head.

"No! No hospital…I don't know how far this thing goes…just take me to the train…please," something in his voice sent chills up and down Jim's spine.

He told Jeremy to head for the train, he could send for a doctor once they got him settled. Jim knelt behind Artie and pulled him up into a sitting position. He could feel the heat radiating off his partner and told Jeremy to go as fast as he dared. Jim could also feel the many bandages through his clothes. He was worried about his partner. Artie was babbling in seemingly incoherent sentences nothing he said was making any sense. He looked down at his friend and smiled as Artie leaned back, finally feeling safe for the first time since he woke up in the hospital.

When they arrived at the siding Colonel Richmond was waiting for them in the parlor car. Jim threw open the door as he led Artie through, making the Colonel jump. He rushed over to them and helped them sit Artie on the settee as Jim removed his coat then helped Artie out of his.

"Is he all right?" Richmond asked concerned.

"He needs a doctor right away!" Jim said.

"Don't worry, James, I'm on it!" Jeremy said as he returned to the door, "Someone has to take the buckboard back anyway."

"Should we put him in his room?" Richmond asked.

"Yeah, that'd probably be best," Jim replied.

"Gentlemen, I am awake and capable of making my own decisions," Artie said.

"Really, Artie? What day is it? What month is it? When was Grant's funeral?" Jim fired the questions at him rapidly.

"Okay…okay…you win. Just get me to my bed so I can die in peace," Artie put his hand to his head and closed his eyes to stop the room from swirling.

"Mr. West, what are you talking about?" Richmond wanted to know.

"Long story, sir. Let's get Artie to his bed then we can tell you. In fact there is a lot we don't know yet, he hasn't told us."

Jim grabbed Artie carefully, mindful of his injuries, and pulled him to his feet. Artie opened his eyes and tried not to faint. Jim regarded him with concern but Artie merely smiled at him, waved it off and leaned heavily on him as they made their way to his room.

Richmond pulled the covers back on his bed and Jim helped Artie in. The Colonel turned his back while Jim removed Arties clothing. Jim was unable to repress the gasp when he saw the extent of the damage his partner had suffered.

"It's looks worse than it is, Jim," Artie tried to reassure him as Jim helped him into a nightshirt leaving his swollen right arm free of the material.

"Sure it does, Artie," Jim said as Richmond turned to face them once more.

"Oh my Lord, Artemus," Richmond couldn't help saying, "all that was from the explosion?"

"Apparently so. That and one hellacious headache. If you gentlemen don't mind I think I'll close my eyes…the room stops spinning when I keep my eyes closed," Artie said as he closed his eyes.

"Maybe we should continue this conversation in the parlor, Mr. West," Richmond whispered.

"You'll do no such thing, Colonel," Artie stated, "I'm fine. And I didn't get a chance to tell Jim and Jeremy anything yet anyway."

"The list can wait, Mr. Gordon…" Richmond started.

"It's not just the list…at least I don't think it's the list...There's a name I have that isn't on any list…not on any of my lists…a name…I have to…one missing…"

"What are you talking about, Artie? That list you have in your head must have over 200 names on it and right now you can't be sure how accurate your memory really is. How do you know there's one missing?" Jim asked his partner.

"Simple, I found the name, or the person rather, while I was in that…" Artie paused, "wherever I was last month," Artie replied with his eyes closed. Jim glanced at Richmond a worried expression on his face Artie just wasn't making sense at all.

"Artie?" Jim asked when his partner grew quiet.

"Yeah, Jim…I'm still awake. Hey what time is the water anyway?" This time both Jim and the Colonel had worried looks on their faces.

"Jeremy better hurry with that doctor," Jim said grimly, "I hope he finds one we can trust."

"He will if he gets the one I suggested. I know Dr. Oliver and we can trust him," Richmond said.

About half an hour later Jeremy returned with the doctor and his nurse in tow. It was the one Richmond had told him to find. The Doctor Oliver listened to Jim as he described the bizarre behavior his partner was exhibiting. The doctor's face grew grim and he ushered them out of the room while he and his nurse tended to Artie.

The nurse couldn't take her eyes off of her patient. She took in his handsome face (in spite of the bruising and swelling) and the soft sound of his voice sent her to the moon. She helped the doctor as he examined Artie. Doctor Oliver checked his eyes and the nurse found herself not being able to take her eyes off his. They were the most beautiful chocolate brown she had ever seen.

"Follow my finger, Mr. Gordon…no…don't let your head move…there that's better," The doctor said as he moved his finger slowly back and forth.

"How is your vision? How many fingers am I holding up?" Oliver held up two fingers.

"Six?" Artie guessed, "everything's still blurry and the room spins all the time. I can almost get it to stop if I keep my eyes closed for a while."

"I see. You will be getting a chance to keep them closed for a while now. I hate to tell you but you have a rather severe concussion. I am going to leave my nurse here to tend to you for a few days. You took quite a blow to your head and your symptoms will get a bit worse just before they improve and I'd feel better knowing there was a trained nurse with you at all times."

"How can it get much worse?" Artie asked not sure if he wanted to know.

"I know you've been hiding your nausea that will get worse here shortly. But that's a good sign. Your body needs to regain its equilibrium and until it does you'll feel sick to your stomach. Don't fight the urge to retch that will only make things worse."

"Oh this sounds fun," Artie groaned.

"The spinning and blurred vision as well as the nausea should clear up in the next few days. The headache will probably linger for a while."

"How long is a while?"

"That is hard to say. In cases this severe the headache has been known to last for months."

"Months?!? I don't want to feel like this for months. Oh just shoot me now," Artie moaned.

"Well, that may not be the way things go in your case. You seem to have your sense of humor back at least…that is humor I hope."

"That would be quite a waste, Mr. Gordon," the nurse said with a shy smile, drawing Artie's attention.

"Yes it is, doctor. With this pretty nurse tending to me I should bounce back in no time!" Artie smiled at her.

"I knew I should have brought Bruno instead," the doctor chuckled Artie just stared at him a look of mock surprise on his face.

Doctor Oliver removed the bandages on Artie's right shoulder and examined the shoulder. After a few gentle prods to which Artie groaned and even growled, or so thought the nurse, he announced that the shoulder had been separated at the joint and had been rather crudely repaired.

"I'll have to reset this…Danielle could you ask one of the gentlemen out there to assist me?" She quickly left to bring back the needed help.

"Danielle? Her name is Danielle? That's nice."

Jim entered the room and cautiously approached the bed. He listened quietly as Doctor Oliver described what he would do while Jim held Artie down and Danielle readied the bandages and sling. Artie looked like he wasn't sure the added pain would be worth it but Danielle assured him her boss was the best doctor in town. Her soft green eyes and long brown hair made him smile. Artie nodded to the doctor and Jim.

"All right do your worst, the lady here says you know what you're doing and who am I to disagree with a pretty little lady?" Artie smiled at her.

Jim moved behind his partner and gently lifted him up so the doctor could get his arm under him. Artie winced but tried to hide his discomfort by smiling at Danielle. Jim merely rolled his eyes and grinned. He tightened his grip on Artie and nodded to the doctor. Oliver grabbed his arm and Artie slammed his eyes shut. The doctor pulled hard on Artie's arm and despite his best effort Artie screamed and fell back onto Jim unconscious. Oliver quickly pulled Artie's arm across his chest and bound it tightly.

"Mr. West, is it? If you could just help me arrange him in the bed…I can finish the examination. This would be much better done in a hospital," the doctor shook his head.

"Artie was pretty adamant about that, sir. And I have to respect his wishes."

"Yes, I understand. From what Doug…er…Colonel Richmond told me it's probably better that he is here anyway. I'd guess you will want to keep an eye on him."

"Yes, sir, I would," Jim replied while helping to turn Artie over so the doctor could get a look at the cuts on his back.

"Oh my God! Just look at this! Where did you say he was being kept?" The doctor asked as he removed the bandages from Artie's back.

"From what he told us we think he was at the County Asylum."

"Damn those butchers! They could care less if their patients live or die."

Jim nearly gagged at the sight and smells. There were two long deep gashes in his partner's back and they were oozing infection. The doctor took his time cleaning the wounds, as Artie would have to lie on his back until his shoulder healed. After he cleaned the wounds and bandaged them Jim helped him roll Artie over. The doctor pulled the blankets up and tucked them around him.

"Danielle, see if you can't find some water…lots of cold water. He's running a fever and you'll need to keep cold compresses on his forehead," She scurried away to find the water.

"I could have gotten the water, doctor," Jim looked at him strangely.

"I know that, Mr. West. I wanted her out of the room for what I'm about to tell you," the hairs on the back of Jim's neck were standing at attention.

"What is it?"

"Doug didn't give me any of the details of course, but he did tell me that you three were working on a very sensitive case and that Mr. Gordon here has most of the evidence locked up in that brain of his."

"Yes, sir, he does," Jim said and waited for him to continue.

"Well, that young lady is not just my nurse but she is also my niece and she is Doug's Godchild. I don't want anything to happen to her over what she might hear in this room," the doctor glared at Jim.

"Richmond's Godchild? I didn't know…of course we'll protect her. You have my word on that," Jim vowed.

"When your partner's memory begins to come back…and that could be at any moment…when he is doing anything. A sight, a smell, even a touch could trigger his memory. When that happens he could very well just start talking what you might think is gibberish."

"You mean like the strange sentences he was saying earlier?" Jim asked.

"No…not quite. He might be sitting here in his bed or standing looking out the window and all of a sudden he will start telling anyone in the room everything he knows."

"That could be dangerous."

"Yes, I am aware of that. I have told Danielle should he do that while she is taking care of him she is to write down everything he says and turn it over to you. See to it that is all she does."

"I don't follow you, sir."

"Danielle is a headstrong young woman. She has high ideals and principals. I wouldn't put it past her to try to deal with the information herself."

"Oh, I won't let that happen, sir. And I'll inform Artie and Jeremy."

"Good, Mr. West," any further conversation on this topic was interrupted by the nurse's return.

"Ahhh you found the water and some ice too, I see."

"Yes, doctor," she replied as she dipped a cloth in the cool water and gently placed it on Artie's forehead.