A/N - Thanks to all of you who have read and reviewed so far. Probably won't have this finished before Longmire Season 5 lands but maybe when you've all watched it, you might come back and finish this story. I'm so jealous you get to see it way before I will (Longmire not available on Netflix UK&Ire). Have to investigate alternatives. Enjoy the new season.

Chapter 3

Meanwhile, out on the Rez, on his way to the Tribal Police headquarters, Mathias bluntly broke the news about Walt to his prisoner, Henry Standing Bear.

"What?"

"They say he's been shot," Mathias repeated.

"Oh no. Is he alive?"

"As far as I know," Mathias replied.

"So they know who did it?"

"Nope," Mathias replied. "But whoever he is, he took the sheriff's truck and has taken a hostage. They want me to help with the manhunt so I'll be letting you go. However, don't think we're done here," Mathias warned. "Not by a long shot."

Henry heeded his words as Mathias unlocked the handcuffs that he wore. Mathias left Henry sitting in his blood stained truck and entered the police HQ. Henry sat for a few moments, unsure what to make of it all, before sorely sliding to the driver's seat and starting the engine. He needed to get to the hospital to check on his friend.

When he got there he spotted Cady. She looked a lost soul, sitting alone on the corridor, staring into space, waiting for news.

"Cady?" he said, as he approached her.

"Henry? Where have you been? I've been trying to call you," she asked, standing and hugging him tightly. After she released him she stood back at arm's length. "You look terrible," she said unaware that Henry was hiding a bullet wound of his own.

"It's been a long day," he said, as he sorely sat on a chair beside her.

Cady noticed his pain and felt concerned.

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

"I'll be fine," he replied. "What happened to your father?"

"No one knows the full story. Ferg found him at the cabin. Someone shot him. He was with a lady doctor and they think the guy who shot him has taken her hostage. Oh Henry, how could this happen?" she asked desperately.

Henry considered the day he and Walt had. The last time he had seen his friend Henry was up on the mountain, watching over Walt through the sight of a rifle. Walt was trying to protect Gab, a Cheyenne girl who had killed a white man who had raped her. He was being held at gunpoint by Walker Browning, this white man's boss. He was looking to exact revenge on the young woman, and was willing to take Walt out in the process. Henry ended up shooting some of the men threatening Walt, and Walt shot Browning, quickly securing the scene and arresting Browning afterwards.

Once he knew his friend was safe, Henry had left the mountain, only to be arrested by Mathias as he walked back to town. What a day. What a few days!

He put his arm around his god daughter to try offer some comfort.

"He is strong," he said to her, also trying to convince himself.

There was nothing else to do now but wait and pray.

Vic was on her way to the main route south. She had contacted other local law enforcement on her cell and prearranged an alternate radio channel, knowing that perpetrator had access to the radio in Walt's truck. She was now in contact with Mathias over the prearranged channel on the radio. He informed her that the truck had been spotted on an old log road which was running parallel to the main route heading south. A car from Cumberland County was going to cut them off from the south and he and Vic would follow from the north.

She drove with sirens blaring and at speed until eventually she reached the log road. By the time she caught up on the truck, it was a scene of carnage. Mathias' truck was parked in the middle of the road with lights flashing. Just beyond it, she could see tire marks and broken glass. To the right, down an embankment, she could see Walt's truck. It was lying on its side. She recognized two deputies from Cumberland County peering inside. What worried her was the silence.

"What the hell happened?"

"He tried to ram us," one of the deputy's told her. "Eric shot the driver and he lost control of the truck."

"And the passenger? Is she okay?"

"We're trying to get to her. She's not moving," he told her.

"Damn it," she said, rushing to the front of the upturned vehicle.

Through the windscreen she could see both occupants. Neither was moving. She could see the bullet holes in the windshield and blood on the chest of the driver. He appeared to be deceased. It was more difficult to ascertain with Dr. Monaghan.

"We need to get in there," she yelled at the other deputies. "Help me get through the windshield."

Mathias returned with an axe from his truck and he started smashing through the windshield. Eventually, there was enough room for Vic to squeeze in and check on Dr. Monaghan. She felt for a pulse. She was alive but barely.

Vic knew the deputies had called for an air ambulance, but she had no idea how long it would take. Vic could see that Dr. Monaghan had experienced a head injury and there was blood in her hair and flowing down her face. They knew it was best not to move her in case she had suffered neck or back injuries.

The air medics arrived almost twenty minutes later. They had to land a kilometre away because of the accident location, and one of the Cumberland deputies picked them up from the landing zone. Vic looked on with concern, knowing the longer it took, the less chance Dr. Monaghan had of survival. It took a while, but they were eventually able to extricate the doctor from the wreck and fly her to the nearest Trauma Center which was in Casper.

Meanwhile, Vic had checked the wallet of the driver and identified him as Tommy Clark, a Wyoming local. She took his details so she could follow up, but the accident occurred in Cumberland County so the paperwork and notification was theirs. She was relieved. All she wanted was to get back to the hospital to Walt.

It was dark by the time she made it back to Durant. She hobbled into the hospital and got worried when she couldn't locate Cady. She returned to the reception and asked for an update. She was informed that the sheriff was out of surgery and in the ICU. She was directed to his room.

There she found an exhausted-looking Cady and an ill-looking Henry by Walt's side. Walt was hooked up to a ventilator and heart monitor. His face was ashen. It was very distressing seeing him like that.

"How is he?" she asked anxiously.

"He's stable now," Cady told her. "But he arrested in surgery. We nearly lost him, Vic. The doctor said that they can't be sure what damage has been done to his heart as a result of the cardiac arrest."

Vic's heart sank. She thought back to their discussion in the alley, her prying question, his reaction. She realised how immature she had been. She didn't even know how she had wanted him to react. She had let her jealousy cloud her judgement. While Eamon was young and energetic and somewhat attractive, he was no Walt. He didn't make her heart leap like Walt did.

Finding out that Walt had feelings for Dr. Monaghan made her feel like she had missed her opportunity. And in her jealous mood, she had pushed them together by suggesting that she stay with Walt for protection. Now in her mind, Walt was lying in this ICU bed because of her.

She was dealing with her feelings when she noticed Henry falter where he stood by the end of Walt's bed. His forehead was damp with sweat and he looked a little flushed.

"Henry, are you feeling okay?" she asked. "You don't look so good."

"I could so with some air," he said before turning to leave the tiny room.

As he walked out, the room began to spin. He made it to the corridor before he fainted. Cady heard the thud as he hit the floor. She rushed out and yelled for help. Two nurses came rushing to their aid.

"He's burning up," she told them.

Soon they had Henry on a gurney and down in the ER. Vic remained with Walt while Cady checked on Henry.

"What's going on with him? Is he ok?" Cady asked the nurse.

"I can't really discuss it with you. You're not family," the nurse told him.

"I'm as close to family as he has," Cady told her.

"Maybe he'll tell you himself? You can see him," she said, parting the curtain and letting her through. "I need to notify the deputy."

"Deputy? Why? Henry? What's going on?" Cady asked as she approached the gurney.

Henry looked defeated. He knew he couldn't hide anymore.

"My gunshot wound is infected," he told her directly.

"Gunshot wound? My God, Henry, who shot you?" she asked.

Henry sighed, realizing how ridiculous this was going to sound.

"Henry?" Cady asked impatiently. "Who?"

He looked her in the eyes.

"Your father."

Cady laughed nervously until she saw that Henry was not smiling.

"I'm serious. Your father shot me, but in his defense, he didn't know it was me."

"You're serious," Cady said, realizing that Henry was telling the truth.

Henry told her the whole story about trying to help Gab and getting shot and treating it himself. Cady listened on in horror.

"Oh my God, Henry. Does my dad know?"

"No. Of course not," he replied. "No one was supposed to know. Gab needed to get away."

"I can't believe it. I suspected you had helped her after I saw you two together yesterday. Dad was asking if I'd seen you and I lied to him, Henry," Cady told him. "I lied for you."

"I never asked you to," Henry responded.

Cady sighed in exasperation.

"You know what, Henry, tell it to Vic or Ferg. I have to get back to my dad," Cady said, leaving Henry resting.

When she got back to the ICU room, she found Vic holding her dad's hand and talking to him. She looked more upset than she had been earlier.

"Vic?" she said, as she entered the room.

Vic wiped a tear from her cheek.

"What is it?"

"I got a call while you were gone," Vic told her. "Dr. Monaghan didn't make it. She died of her injuries about ten minutes ago."

"Oh no," Cady said, looking towards her father. "That's awful. How am I going to tell him?"

Vic shook her head. Her heart genuinely breaking for Walt. He obviously had feelings for Dr. Monaghan. She knew what a big step it was for him to let anyone in and now this happened. She knew it would shake him to his core.

To be continued.