Newly finished with Hodgson who hadn't moved a muscle since being placed in the jail cell in his wounded condition. O'Brien stood with a sigh and picked up Doc's medical bag and waited for Matt to unlock the iron-bar door.

"How is he?" Matt asked.

"Not good. The wound in his abdomen is worse than I thought. He will die without further treatment by Doc," Newly's brown eyes looked deeply into Matt's eyes before he looked over to sergeant Cox who was listening.

"How soon does he need this treatment?" Cox unfolded his crossed arms and stood up from the edge of the little table at the centre of the office.

"Well," Newly hedged, "he's lost a lot of blood from that ride back to Dodge, and I can imagine that the bullet has moved some within his soft tissue. In other words, right now," he continued.

"How much time does he have, deputy?" Cox asked.

Newly paused and looked at Matt before answering. Slowly his eyes went back to the sergeant, "If he doesn't get looked at by this afternoon, I think he will die," Newly said with firmness about his statement.

Cox nodded, "I see," the sergeant said. He paused and looked over to Newly, "Is your doctor free now?"

Matt then looked over to the sergeant, "Doc's responsibility are for the people of this town," he said as he squared himself to the sergeant.

"I'm aware of that, marshal," Cox stated. "I was just wondering if he was finished with the other deputy so that he might have some time to look at Hodgson," Cox said with a hint of irritation in his tone.

Matt wasn't sure if the sergeant's tone came from being tired, angry at the two troopers, or perhaps both. "Doc will get here when he can," Matt said as he motioned for Newly to continue on with treating the other wounded trooper. Cox drew a breath - he was anxious for all of this to be put behind him.

Matt waited for Newly to enter the other prisoner cell before he closed the door and locked it. He then walked back to his desk, "I guess we need to have some understanding about the charges against your men," Matt said as he perched on the edge of his desk and looked at the sergeant.

"Yes. As I understand it, Hodgson and Elcombe have a charge of two murders against them, theft - or robbery, which ever you prefer, abandonment, disobeying orders and assault. Is there anything else?" Cox asked.

Matt though a moment, "I can't think of anything. However, I think it would be more correct to say multiple assaults, considering the danger they put Kitty and Jonas through on the stagecoach and then bushwhacking Festus and hitting Doc," Matt added.

Cox nodded, "I agree," he looked toward the prisoner cells. Part of him wanted justice and another part wanted nothing to do with the men behind the bars. Deep down he was actually hoping Hodgson would die from his wounds rather than facing a court marshal and a likely execution it would be what Hodgson wanted. "As marshal, what do you want to do?"

Matt looked down at his sling that supported the weight of his arm to help protect his chest wound. With a sigh, his light blue eyes looked back up to Cox, "I think this is a an army matter. As civilians, we'll be happy to testify, but those troopers were on your payroll at the time of the robbery and other assaults," Matt stated.

"I see," Cox answered. "That makes sense and it would clarify the issues and I'm sure lessen anymore stress on your friends," Cox nodded as he strolled toward the prisoner cell where Newly had just finished setting and splinting trooper Elcombe's arm.

"Marshal, I'm all through with this man," Newly said as he stood at the iron door waiting for Matt to unlock it.

Cox stepped forward, "What's his condition?" he asked Newly.

"His arm was broken by a bullet, but he'll recover just fine in a few months," Newly answered. The young deputy almost felt like he'd wasted his time with the two men, knowing they would likely find themselves on the end of a rope - but like Doc often said, it was an oath and although Newly never finished his studies to become a doctor, he still held the same feelings as the old Dodge City doctor did. People were people and regardless of their situation, they still required the best care that could be offered.

Newly looked down at the medical bag in his hand and remembered when Festus once said that "Doc would doctor the Devil himself, if he needed it." Newly smiled slightly as he sighed.

Newly stepped passed the sergeant, "I'll see if Doc can look at the other one," he said meaning Hodgson. Cox nodded.

Matt watched Newly who left Doc's medical bag on the little table, "I'll be back as soon as I can," Newly said. Matt nodded as he watched the young man leave the office. There was an uneasy feeling in the room - one of much uncertainly.

Newly stepped out on to the boardwalk and stretched his back. He'd almost lost track of the time- it was a good three hours in the jail cells with the two troopers; Hodgson took the longest. Newly held little hope for the man.

With a sigh, the young deputy walked up the boardwalk and then crossed the street to the stairs that led up to Doc's office. He noticed that Wilbur Jonas was back in his store, so Doc must have dismissed him of anymore assistance with Festus.

Newly over heard Jonas as he tried to tell Louise Pheeters about what the doctor had to do for Festus. Equally amusing was Louise deadpan reply, "Oh, my..." as Jonas continued on with his story in graphic detail. Louie hung on every word.

Newly smiled and shook his head as he walked up the stairs and quietly opened the door into the office. His expression went sombre at the sight of the hill man still laying face down on the examination table.

Doc was at his desk and Festus remained unconscious on the examination table, "How is he, Doc?" Newly asked as he stepped into the warm room, closing the door behind him.

Doc slowly stood and joined Newly next to the examination table, "Well, I think he's got a good chance," he looked down at his friend and blinked as he pursed his lips to hold back further emotions. "How are those two troopers?" Doc's crystal blue eyes rose up to look at Newly.

"That's why I came to see you. The one is in very bad shape. Sergeant Cox asked me to get you," Newly stated as he watched Doc move back to his desk. Adams ran his hand across his moustache, "I see," he said with a slight huff. He then nodded, "Fine. You stay with Festus and I'll see what I can do," Doc slowly made his way to the door, "You think this trooper has a chance?" he looked back at Newly. Newly shook his head no. Doc understood and grasped the doorknob and pulled the door opened.

The doctor was filled with raw emotions that seemed to collide inside him. However, he knew that he was bound by an oath - he just hoped that the trooper would take a turn for the worse before he got to the jail house. It was a terrible though, but he couldn't help it; he was human after all.