Nathan grabbed the lantern and stumbled across the uneven ground to Ezra's side. The gambler's lips were blue and his eyes were open wide. He could not get enough air. Chris was awake and trying to sit up, Buck had heard Vin's cries from outside, and Josiah and JD too had bolted from their bedrolls.

"Josiah, lift his head up," Nathan instructed while he listened to Standish's lungs and heart. "I don't hear any fluid, but his lungs are still in rough shape from the smoke...and he's breathin' way too fast." Nathan put his hands on Ezra's shoulders and got his face as close as he could to the southerner's. "Ezra, you gotta calm down and slow your breathin'. You're hyperventilating."

Standish recognized the voice, and he knew he should try to do what the man said…but it was so hard to breathe, so cold, so much pain, and the darkness claimed him once again.

"He passed out."

"Should we try to wake him up?" Buck asked.

"Let's give him a bit to get his breathin' slowed back down, then we'll try again," Nathan sighed and attempted to get his own heartbeat back under control.

JD had helped (and was still helping) Chris to lean up a bit. The pain in his side and stomach were horrendous, but he had to know what was going on. The dizziness and vertigo were getting to be too much, so before he got sick he asked, "can you lay me back down, JD?"

"Oh, sure, Chris," JD laid the blond head back on the make-shift pillow.

Nathan saw Larabee's face turn a tell-tale shade of green. "You all right, Chris?"

"Just give…me a minute," Chris grunted, "I'll…be…..ok."

Vin and Buck shared a smiling glance at each other. All of their friends were alive…..not out of the woods by a long shot, but alive.

Nathan turned his trained eye to Vin, "how about you? How're you feelin' this mornin'?" He put his hand on the tracker's face to check for fever, and then peeked at the shoulder bandages.

"Better," Vin replied, and he actually meant it. His shoulder wound still pulled sharply when he moved and throbbed when he didn't, but the pain from his burned legs was fading, and he could sit up on his own.

"Fever's still there, but I think it's a little lower than yesterday." Nathan rubbed his sleepy eyes and got some water ready for heating on the fire outside. The sun wasn't up yet, but he knew no one was going back to sleep.

The team of healthy men got some water and tea into Chris and Vin, then Nathan decided it was time to attempt to rouse Ezra again. He always was the last one to wake up, Nathan thought and laughed to himself. The cave was eerily quiet as all 10 eyes remained glued on Standish and Jackson.

"Ezra," Nathan gently shook the pale man's shoulder. "Come on Ezra, time to wake up," he lightly tapped the uncharacteristically-stubbled face.

The eyelashes fluttered but didn't open.

"Come on buddy, you can do it." Buck encouraged.

"Wake up for us, son," Josiah leaned closer and said, but still no change.

"Damnit Ezra, open yer eyes." Chris did his best to make his voice sound as loud and strong as possible.

Pale green eyes blinked open.

"Hell, even half-dead, Ezra's afraid of Chris," Buck kidded.

"Take it easy, Ezra," Nathan coached, "breathe nice and slow for me." He could tell the man was starting to get anxious.

Standish coughed and made an effort to take slower, deeper breaths. It hurt….a lot. Why was it so damn hard just to breathe?

"You were shot in the side, Ezra," Nathan tried to answer the questions that Standish was unable to ask. "You've got stitches and a broken rib, which probably make breathin' painful," Nathan stopped and smiled, "but ya gotta keep breathin' if you wanna keep livin'."

"Not sure," the weak voice croaked out.

"You're not sure if you wanna keep livin'?" Buck laughed. How wonderful it was to hear that voice.

Chris had to lay back and close his eyes. Tears were threatening to fall. I'll be damned, he thought. They were still seven.

Vin understood what Larabee was thinking and feeling, and he saw JD turn away for a moment as well.

"First things first, let's get some water in him," Nathan gathered himself and took charge once again. Ezra still had a high fever and was most-certainly dehydrated.

They did manage to get a bit of water and tea into Ezra before his worn-out body finally won its argument for more sleep.

Vin was up and even taking a few unsteady steps.

"Think I'm gonna need some assistance," Chris smirked. It had been a day and half since he had seen to the call of nature. The fever had burned away most of the excess fluid in his body, but he had been able to drink quite a bit more water this morning.

Vin started to hobble over his way.

"Not from you," Chris was back to his old, cantankerous self, "hell, we'd both end up on our asses."

Josiah and Buck took charge of this particular problem. They made it outside, each supporting one of Chris' arms, but being in an upright position was causing the man's blood pressure to plummet. "You best hurry it up," Larabee suggested as the world started to go dark. He just managed to finish his business before he collapsed into the two bigger men's arms.

"I got him," Buck swung the long legs up into his arms and carried Chris back to his bedroll. He was clearly lighter than the last time Wilmington had the pleasure of carrying his friend's drunken passed-out carcass to bed. They needed to get him, Vin, and Ezra well enough to start eating again. How many days had it all been now? What was today….Wednesday? They had headed down south with Wiley on a Tuesday, so 8 days: eight long days of cold nights, little food, and countless physical and mental battles. Hell, they all could use a nice, hot meal and a good night's sleep.

"What happened?" Nathan asked as Buck entered the cave carrying Larabee.

"He passed out," Buck continued on with his burden, "nothin' to worry about, Doc."

Chris and Ezra napped, as the others worked to find food and make preparations for hopefully leaving the following morning. Nathan was checking his medical supplies, Buck was washing up their dirty clothing and bandages in the stream, and Vin was sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and watching Josiah catch dinner. The Texan watched Josiah try twice to shoot a rabbit as it darted past. Finally Vin picked up Buck's rifle that was propped against a rock a few feet away. Josiah turned in shock, as the escaping critter dropped to the dirt. Vin had shot that rabbit in the head from across the creek. Well, his injuries certainly didn't hurt his marksmanship any, Josiah smiled and carried the carcass across the stream. "Here, you killed it…..you clean it."

The recoil had jarred Vin's body enough that it took him a minute to compose himself, but then he just grinned and grabbed the rabbit's legs.

As they started cooking up the new batch of rabbit stew, the men heard the unmistakable sound of a wagon.

JD and Buck stepped outside. "Probably Yosemite with the wagon," JD guessed and sat down on a rock next to Vin.

Buck and Josiah's eye grew huge as they looked at each other and the approaching wagon. Coming around the bend in the creek was Nettie Wells' wagon being driven by none other than Ms. Nettie herself. Mary Travis sat in the passenger seat.

The wagon pulled to a stop, and Mary smiled, "hello gentlemen."

Buck helped Nettie and Mary down, and Nettie simply said, "Buck, Josiah, JD," and headed straight for Vin.

"Mr. Tanner," Nettie knelt down and locked her own blue eyes with Vin's. "I don't know whether to hug you or slap you. How could you let me," she quickly corrected herself but Vin heard what she said, "let us think you were dead?"

"I'm sorry Ms. Nettie," Vin gave her his best, sad-eyed look, "it wasn't exactly our best plan ever."

She chose the hug over the slap and asked, "are you all right, son?" She could see the white bandages peeking out from under his red shirt, and he looked pale and thin.

"I am now," Tanner smiled as JD helped haul him to a standing position.

"Are there more of you boys hurt?" Nettie asked, although Mary already had her suspicions about one of them. Mr. Larabee would have most-certainly come out to greet them if he were able.

"Yeah, Chris and Ezra are still pretty bad off," Vin said as Nathan stepped out of the cave into the mid-day sunlight.

"Ms. Nettie, Mary," Nathan greeted, "we really appreciate you bringin' the wagon. Ezra, Chris, and Vin weren't gonna be able to ride home anytime soon."

"I can ride," Vin disputed.

"We'll see about that come tomorrow."

"So, what happened?" Mary asked.

"I'm gonna sit with Ezra and Chris," Nathan answered, "but why don't you ladies get some stew and Buck can fill you in."

"Nonsense, Nathan," Mary approached the tall healer, "you have some stew while I sit with Chris and Ezra. You all look like you could use a break and a good meal. I brought some homemade bread and Nettie made one of her famous apple pies, so you better move fast if you want some."

Nathan smiled and shook his head. "Thank you, Mary."

Mary smiled in return, but it quickly faded when she saw the two men lying inside the cave. Their shirts were unbuttoned, revealing the large bandages around their mid-sections. My Lord, she thought, they were shot in the stomach. Most people who were "gut-shot" died. The risk of hitting a vital organ was huge, and even if you didn't – infection was just as big of a risk. Honestly, both men looked like they should be lying in a coffin. They were as pale as the white blouse she was wearing, and neither man had stirred.

Chris and Ezra, she smirked, now there was a pair. If they didn't make it, they would probably be arguing with each other when they approached the pearly gates. Two completely opposite personalities fighting for the same cause. Mary knew they both were fighters. If anybody could survive something like this, these two stubborn men could. She grabbed onto Chris' left hand and Ezra's right and said, "don't give up. We need you both."

She gasped out loud when Chris' eyes opened.

"Mary?"

"Chris, you're awake."

Chris could only imagine how awful he looked…and smelled, but she was already here. So, there wasn't anything he could do about it now.

"You brought the wagon?" He had heard the others talking about it this morning.

"I did," Mary smiled, "with Ms. Nettie."

Chris laughed, and then realized how much that hurt. When his face contorted in pain, Mary touched his shoulder, "should I get Nathan?"

"No," he grunted, "I'm all right." He knew Nettie Wells was likely outside mother-henning Vin, just like Mary was doing in here.

She reached up and pushed a stray lock of blond hair out of his eyes.

"Has Ezra been awake?" Chris asked, not knowing how long Mary had been sitting here. He lost track of the time of day lying flat in this cave.

"Not since I've been," Mary started to say, and Standish coughed and opened his eyes, "here."

"Ezra," Mary turned to face him. "How are you?"

"Dreadful," he choked out and then tried to say, "but thank…you for…asking."

Always the gentleman, she thought.

"Ya might wanna get Nathan," Chris said quietly…..cursing himself for not being strong enough to get up and help Standish. Mary was already on her way outside.

"Ezra!" Nathan greeted and was followed by Buck and JD. Josiah and Nettie escorted Vin back inside a few minutes later.

"My stars!" Nettie exclaimed as she took in the other two injured men for the first time. "I might have to take out my old Carbine and become a temporary member of your team. It looks like you boys are gonna be laid up for quite a while."

Leave it to Nettie not to mince words, thought Vin.

"How are you, Mr. Standish?" Nettie continued to scrutinize the prone man and the fair-haired one beside of him, "Mr. Larabee?"

"Still alive," Chris answered for Ezra and himself, "can't say much more than that, Nettie."

Dern, how she loved these boys and hated to see harm come to any of them.

Nathan worked to get some additional water and tea into Ezra. He seemed to be a little more awake this time.

"You keep…..that up," Ezra took a deep breath to be able to continue, "I'm going to….need a chamber pot."

"We'll figure that out, Ezra," Nathan kept giving him sips of the tea, "you ok for right now?"

"Yes."

That was a sure sign of how terribly-dehydrated the man had been.

"Chris, you wanna try some broth from Josiah's stew?" Nathan looked up from what he was doing, "or are you still feelin' sick?"

"I'm fine if I'm layin' down…..get sick, dizzy when I sit up."

Ezra's stomach growled loudly, and Nathan laughed. "What, you wanna try some broth too?"

Standish just raised his eyebrows.

"Alright, let's give it a try," Nathan agreed, "sometimes the salt helps get a body's chemical balance back in order and such."

Mary sat between the injured men with two bowls of broth, alternatingly giving spoonfuls to each one.

"Oh, the humiliation," Ezra said, and Mary and Chris couldn't tell if he was joking or not. He was, mostly. Like Chris, Standish hated to think about what his appearance and aroma must be at the moment, but he was thankful for the help. Nathan's tea was definitely helping the fever, and the broth calmed his empty stomach a bit.

When they were finished, Mary sat the bowls aside and asked, "would you gentlemen like me to help you shave?"

"Ya don't have to do that, Mary," Chris' face and ears had already turned red just thinking about it.

"It's no trouble," Mary got up to get a shaving kit from one of the men, "I do this for a lot of Nathan's patients back in town."

"You know, Mary, I could use a shave too," Buck grinned mischievously.

She rolled her eyes and threw the empty pouch from the shaving kit at him.

Ezra was also embarrassed at the thought, but he really did WANT a shave. The stubble made him itchy, and he kept poking himself in the neck with the prickly hairs.

Mary grabbed some water and began prepping Standish's face and neck for shaving. She was quite good at it, thought Ezra. It only took her a few minutes, and she gently washed his chin, neck, cheeks, and forehead afterwards. It felt amazingly good to have a clean face.

"Chris?" Mary didn't wait for an answer; she immediately began soaping his face. Interestingly, Chris and Ezra's beards seemed to be about the same color. Standish's stubble was lighter than his auburn-colored locks, while Chris' was darker than his wheat-colored hair. Again, she finished the shaving and washing very quickly, and Chris too had to admit that he felt more human afterwards.

After admiring Mary's work, and as a covert way of checking the two men's fevers, Nettie Wells took the shaving supplies and approached Vin. Ah hell, he said to himself, but Tanner knew there would be no arguing with the old woman.

"Alright, we're gonna plan to leave first thing tomorrow mornin'," Nathan spoke to the crowd later in the evening, "it's gonna be a long trip with the wagon, and I imagine we'll need to stop a few times. Let's get everything we can packed and loaded up tonight." Mary and Nettie had already made a make-shift bed out of the wagon….filling it with straw and covering and securing it with burlap donated by Mrs. Potter. All they would have to do in the morning is get the injured men situated, and then they could head for home.

Buck took the lead on the travel preparations. He knew he was unofficially in charge with both Larabee and Tanner injured. Wilmington was still fighting his own guilt and demons, but being busy helped to keep his mind off of Wiles and the mess he had caused. He and Nathan had discussed things and decided that Vin would drive the wagon with Ms. Nettie. Mary could ride Vin's horse, Peso, home. He was gentler and more agreeable than either of Larabee's or Standish's cantankerous mounts…just like their owners, Buck thought.

Nathan dosed all three of the wounded men heavily that evening, with both tea and laudanum. He wanted everyone, including himself, as well-rested as possible tomorrow.