Most of Quantro's men had gathered near a ravine and we're looking over the edge when Matt spurred his horse onto the bank with Festus and Newly right beside him.

With their guns drawn, Matt, Newly and Festus went after the bandito's who quickly took to their horses and scattered across the prairie.

"Come back!" Stephen yelled as Ernest watched the Marshal and deputy's quickly heading their way.

Drawing their guns, they both leveled them at the approaching lawmen.

Matt stopped his horse at a respectable distance away as Festus and Newly did the same.

"Marshal!" Stephen said angrily. "You might get both of us but then again, we might get all three of you!"

Ernest laughed and nodded as Stephen continued. "We're leaving here Marshal! I don't want you following us, understand!"

"Yeah," Matt said looking at Festus and Newly as Stephen nodded.

"Get the horse's," Stephen said quietly while looking at Ernest. "We'll finish them off before we leave!"

"Si," Ernest said turning around to go after the horse's. His eyes widened in surprise as a single gunshot rang out and Ernest crumpled to the ground at Stephen's feet.

Whirling around, Stephen squeezed off a single bullet which went wildly to the right of Robert as the physician fired again.

As Stephen fell to the found, the adrenalin rush Robert had been running off of finally gave out and he dropped the gun before going to his knees in exhaustion.

"Robert," Festus said reaching his son first. "We're here, son."

Robert held his breath as he collapsed into the hill man's arms. "Pa, I knew you'd come," he whispered. "Didn't think...I'd get the chance to say goodbye."

Festus cradled his son's head and smiled warmly at Robert. "What you talking about," Festus said quietly all the while his heart was beating like a sledgehammer in his chest. Had they gotten there to late? "Doc sent Newly with your medicine."

Newly kneeled down beside him with the bag Doc had sent him with.

Checking Robert's pulse first, Newly's heart sank when he felt the too slow and extremely erratic beats.

Meeting Festus gaze before taking out the syringe's with the special mix of medicines they had been using to treat his myocarditis, Festus looked at him expectantly.

"Newly," Festus asked softly as the younger man shook his head.

"I don't know," Newly said evenly as Robert took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The next thing he heard was someone speaking in hushed voices and a feeling of warmth and comfort.

As weak as he was, just trying to open his eyes in itself was a monumental under taking.

Looking up, judging from the look of the canvas tent, they were with the army but he couldn't remember how they'd gotten there.

"Pa," Robert rasped as Newly suddenly appeared at his side.

"Thank god, you're awake," he said with a broad smile before turning to someone Robert couldn't see. "Get the Marshal and his father!"

"Newly," Robert said quietly as Newly nodded.

"We didn't think you were going to make it."

"What...happened," Robert asked as Festus appeared by his side.

"Son," Festus said with as broad a smile as Newly's. "Don't you be worryin bout that right now, you just rest easy now."

Newly nodded in agreement. "We'll explain everything later," he said stepping away to give Festus time alone with Robert.

The last few days had been hard on all of them, after Newly injected Robert with the syringe's he had been saddened to see Robert fall into a coma and Newly had little hope he'd recover.

Left out on the prairie, he did his best to make Robert as comfortable as possible while they waited to see if he'd live or die but on the third day the army showed up after a rancher had spotted the rest of Quantro's men raiding his livestock for food.

The platoon's doctor had only been to happy to assist Newly after the story the lawmen told.

Quantro had been killed in the ravine and Robert apparently had jumped just before the wagon went over the edge which put him right behind Ernest and Stephen.

"I was a mite worried bout you," Festus said quietly as he pulled the blanket up to Robert's chin.

Robert slowly smiled before closing his eyes and Festus patted his shoulder. "Sleep now," he said gently.

Matt grinned as he and Newly stepped out of the tent and met the platoon leader.

"I think we got most of them Marshal," he said pointing to the men coming though the camp on horse back. "The ones we couldn't bring in are dead!"

Matt nodded grimly as the Sargent continued. "At least Quantro's rein of terror is over."

"Yes," Matt said evenly. "We can at least put that behind us."

"We'll be moving out the day after tomorrow," the Sargent said looking toward the tent behind Matt. "We'll see to it that you all get back to Dodge safely."

"Thank you," Matt said with a nod. "I'm sure his family will appreciate that."

(Dodge)

Abelia smiled as Abby fell asleep in her arms. Rocking the baby gently, Kitty walked into Doc's spare room followed by the physician.

"We got good news," Kitty whispered as Abelia handed Doc the baby to put in her cradle.

"What is it?" Abelia said as Kitty read the message from Matt.

"Robert's awake and they'll be coming home in a few days," Kitty said smiling.

"He's awake?" Abelia asked in disbelief. "Is he really awake?"

"That's what it says," Doc replied with a nod. "I could hardly believe it myself when I read the message."

"That means, he'll be alright then?" Abelia asked hopeful.

"Hard to say," Doc said evenly. "But it's a good sign. A very good sign."

"Here," Festus said putting a pillow behind Robert's head. "That enough?"

"Was enough two pillows ago," Robert said with a smirk as Festus grinned.

"Wal, can't no one accuse me of not gettin ya back ta Dodge in comfort, can they?"

"That's for sure," Robert said looking at Newly. "Please tell him, I'm not planning on dying on this trip back?"

"He's not dying on this trip back," Newly said with a grin as Festus scoffed.

"Are we ready?" Matt asked poking his head into the canvas cover.

"We're ready, Matthew," Festus said as Matt nodded.

"Newly will follow the wagon, he'll let me know if we need to stop," Matt said looking at Festus and Robert.

"Will do, Matthew," Festus said with a nod.

Abelia smiled at Doc and Kitty as she walked into the Long Branch with Abby in her arms a few days later.

"Here now," Doc said taking the baby as Kitty pulled out a chair for her friend. "You should be at home resting!"

"I've rested," Abelia said with a sigh. "I'm just really ready for Festus to get back."

"Doc! Miss Kitty!" Burke yelled rushing though the doors of the Long Branch. "The army's coming down the street!"

"The army," Doc said looking at Kitty and Abelia. "It must be them!"

Doc helped Abelia up and handed her the baby as they headed for the doors of the saloon.

Matt stopped his horse in front of the jail as Kitty came out of the saloon and after seeing him coming toward her, she smiled in delight and the Marshal noted how her eyes lit up as he pulled her toward him.

"Mrs. Dillon," he said with a smile as Kitty giggled.

"Welcome back, cowboy!"

Abelia and Doc made their way to the wagon as Festus climbed out.

"Bee," he said with a crooked smile as she cradled the baby. "Wal, ya sure are a sight fer tired eyes!"

"I missed you to," she said as Festus took Abby from her so he could wrap an arm around Abelia.

Doc took a step back and watched as Newly helped Robert down from the bed of the wagon before the older physician took over.

"Why's he up walking around!"

"Because, I felt like it," Robert replied with a smirk. "And don't give me no lectures, I've been flat on my back for a week."

"Which is where you should be now," Doc said curtly. "Yer just as stubborn as your old man!"

"And that there is a good thing," Festus said looking at Doc.

"That's a matter of opinion!" Doc said with a smile.

*ending this here, will continue it later! Thank you all for the reviews! :)*