Help me out here... where do YOU think Dr Donna is?

I stood away from Walt's cubicle while the team shocks his heart into starting again. After two minutes that to me seemed like two years, a nurse came out , his face dripping with sweat and looked at me.

" The sheriff will be all right. I'm calling the doctor on call to take a look at him. "

Thank God!

"Um, ok. "

" You can stay another minute or two, but I recommend that you leave . He needs his rest and he's unconscious from the shock. I think we might have broke a rib or two when we difibulated him"

I nodded and quickly returned to a totally unconscious Walt. One tear escaped my eye and landed on the blanket.

"Gotta go. Damn, Walt, you gave me a scare. I love you. Please get better, cos I can't do your damn job!"

Squeezing his hand, I turned and left the ICU before I started to bawl. Never in my life had I felt alone as I do right now. Even though there has been tension between Walt and me these past few weeks, he has always been there. Now he is fighting for his life in a hospital bed and I am exhausting myself and the department's resources and not getting any closer to solving this crime.

As I got in the truck I realized that I was tired, hungry and stunk. Due to the hurried manor in which I'd left Cady's house this morning, I'd forgotten to shower.

I drove to the Red Pony, thinking that I'd grab a salad to go for supper and head back to Cady's house. My phone had no new texts from Ferg, and I really did not want to see either him nor Eamon unless necessary. The Cumberland cop hasn't forgiven me for his perception of what happened between us after Branch's murder.

I pulled into the Red Pony and quickly texted Ferg.

U FIND THE PISTOL?

NEGATIVE.

SHIT. WHERE ARE U?

OFFICE. BRIEFING EAMMON. U?

AT PONY. NEED FOOD

I walked up to the bar where Henry stood wiping shot glasses.

" Hello , Vic. What is the latest on Walt's case?"

"Was just there visiting him. He crashed and they revived him with a defibulator. Damn, it was scary. "

"Walt is tough. Wait and see , he will pull through. Can I get you anything?"

"Thanks, just a chicken salad to go. I'm going back to Cady's. Can't do anything until tomorrow anyway."

"I will be right back with the salad. And Vic?"

"Yeah?"

"Take care of yourself. Get some sleep

Henry disappeared in the double doors that led to the kitchen. I texted Cady.

WILL B HOME SOON. AT PONY GETTING SUPPER. U OK?

ON THE REZ IS KEEPING ME BUSY HOW IS DAD?

W.L. HAD MINOR SETBACK BUT WILL B BETTER 2MORO.

I put my phone away and rested my chin on my hands. The Red Pony hasn't been the same since Malachi bought Henry out and took over management.

A few minutes later Henry returned, carrying my food order. Deftly he handed me a small cloth bag.

" Here you go. I have included something from my own stash to help you sleep tonight. Take it with a full glass of water and do not drink any alcohol before or after . "

"Is it safe?" I asked.

" I have used it my entire life, and I am a healthy man. It is a Cheyenne herbal remedy for insomnia."

"Thanks , Henry." I paid my tab and took my food back out to the truck.

Climbing into the truck I put the bag of food on the passenger seat and started the engine. Both Walt's pistol and Dr Donna were still missing, and Walt;'s condition has gotten worse. Eammon will be helping us in this county for now and I still needed to look for my own place to live.

Ugh.