****Part 13
Larabee stepped into the lantern lit tent. His heart broke at the sight of his oldest and dearest friend bent over a man who'd only just stepped out of adolescence. Chris recognized an all too familiar look in Buck's face. One that he used to see reflected in the mirror after the death of his wife and son. Chris couldn't bear the thought of Buck going through that pain, an ache that never really went away.
JD was very pale and Chris couldn't tell if he was breathing.
"He won't wake up," Buck sadly said. "I don't even know if he can hear me." Buck looked up at Chris with eyes that were blank, the life-loving glint snuffed out. Chris stepped up alongside JD's bed and rested a hand on the boy's chest thankful that he still breathed. It was times like these when he wished he had sent the youth back to Boston.
"Come morning, Vin and I are going to look for Ez and the medicine," Chris exclaimed.
Buck inhaled, held it then slowly released it. "You think he's out there somewhere?"
"If he is, we'll find him," Chris replied. "You hold on to JD, Buck. Don't let him go."
Buck pursed his lips and clenched his jaw. "Never, pard. You just find Ezra and bring him home, ole JD and me we'll be waitin' right here fer ya."
Chris nodded, turned and walked out of the tent. He saw Vin stretched out by the fire trying to catch some sleep. He knew he should do the same, but he also knew that sleep wouldn't find him. Chris went over to tend the horses and maybe siphon off some of his restless energy. It was going to be a long night.
tbc