Joe stepped into the room and pulled a chair close up to the bed where Doc lay sleeping. He didn't want to wake the doctor, but he also wanted to know that he was there; "Doc?" his voce was soft and caring. Kitty smiled from the door and then closed it, leaving Joe to talk to Doc alone.

Doc slowly opened his eyes and rolled his head to look at the person who called his name. Doc did a double take, "Joe?" he then smiled.

Joe smiled back, "How are you, Doc?" the newly ordained reverend asked.

"Oh, I'll be fine. I hurt, of course," Doc said as he tried to reposition himself. He stopped and winced.

"Careful, now," Joe said.

"What brings you to Dodge?" Doc asked.

Joe pulled the letter from his vest pocket and handed it to Doc, "This."

Doc took the piece of paper then picked up his eyeglasses from the little table next to the bed. Once Doc put his glasses on, he began to read the letter.

"Dear Joe,

Doc was moved by your act of kindness to have his watch repaired. Unfortunately with events of late, the doctor has suffered a very bad injury. His office and my store have also suffered damage.

I was hoping that if you could spare the time to pay Doc a visit, it might help his moral.

Sincerely,

Wilbur Jonas."

Doc stared at the letter and his eyes misted. "Jonas did this?" he looked up at the reverend. Joe smiled, "Yes. I think that he's a very private man who is often misunderstood," the reverend said.

Doc looked back at the letter and started to hand it back to Joe. "No. You keep it," Joe said with a smile. "Perhaps sometime you and Wilbur can talk about it," the reverend stood.

"How long will you be in Dodge?" Doc asked.

"I can be here for a few days. To be honest I haven't really set my mind on the next stages of my life," he half chuckled as he looked down at this preacher's suit. Doc smiled.

"Get some rest Doc. I'll be around. I might even roll up my sleeves and give Mr. Jonas a hand with the store and your office. He looked a little flustered earlier," Joe smiled.

"Thanks for this," Doc lifted the letter and smiled.

Joe nodded and stepped to the door. By the time he had opened the door and stepped into the hallway, Doc was asleep again. Joe quietly closed the door and made his way down to the main floor of the saloon.

"How's Doc?" Matt asked the reverend.

"Just fine," Joe smiled. "I'll be over at the store with Mr. Jonas," the reverend said in passing.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A week had passed and Doc sat on the edge of the bed, fully clothed. He was more then anxious to leave the confines of the room at the Long Branch. Slowly he stood; he held his side as he did. The wound still hurt as he moved, but he knew it was to be expected.

Doc was also quite curious to see what had been done to his office and the general store. He'd been listening to the sounds of hammers now for a week.

Doc stepped toward the door and realized his glasses and the letter were still on the bedside table. Doc picked up his glasses and folded the arms before he placed them in the metal case he kept in his vest pocket. He then picked up the letter. With a smile under his grey moustache, the doctor ticked his head. He still couldn't believe that Jonas asked for Joe to visit him. "Hum," Doc said as he tucked the note into his lower vest pocket.

Doc opened the door to the room and stepped out onto the landing. It felt good to be up and around again.

Kitty, Matt and Festus looked up and watched Doc walk to the stairs then slowly make his way to the main floor of the saloon. Kitty was smiling, "Good to see you on your feet again," she said.

"It feels good," Doc said with a wink.

"How are ya feeling, Doc?" Festus asked.

"Just fine, Festus. How's your shoulder?" Doc asked as he ran his right hand across his moustache.

"Ah, it's okay," Festus shrugged.

"You should see what Jonas has been doing with your office and store," Matt smiled.

"That was one of the first things I want to do," Doc said as he began to walk to the doors of the saloon. Matt, Kitty and Festus watched the doctor leave.

Doc stepped out onto the boardwalk and drew in a breath of fresh air; someone cursing disrupted his enjoyment of the day. Doc blinked and walked toward the disturbance and stopped at the alley as he saw Jonas holding his hand and cursing up a blue streak.

Doc walked over to the mercantile owner, "Jonas, what happened?"

Jonas looked up at the doctor, "I got a sliver in my hand," he said as he tried to pull the long needle like piece of wood from his palm.

"Let me have a look," Doc said as he took Jonas' hand, "Hum, "That's a good one," Doc said as he carefully pulled the sliver out of the store owner's hand. It was obviously causing Jonas some discomfort as he tried to pull his and free of the doctor's clutch. "There," Doc said as he held the sliver up to show Jonas.

"Thanks, Doc," Jonas shook his hand.

"It's me that should be thanking you," Doc said as he stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets.

"Huh?" Jonas wasn't following what Doc was saying.

Doc pulled the letter from his vest pocket. "Thank you for sending this," he smiled.

"Oh," Jonas said with some embarrassed. He smiled, "I," he tried to find the right words, but they weren't coming.

"I know, and thank you," Doc smiled. "You should put something on that hand so it won't get infected," Doc pointed out.

Matt joined the two men, "Has Jonas given you the grand tour yet?" Matt smiled at the doctor.

"Not yet. I just pulled this out of his hand," Doc held up the sliver and Matt made a face. "I bet that hurt," he stated.

"And then some," Jonas looked at his hand.

"By the way Jonas," Matt said, "I'd like for you testify at next week's trial."

Jonas looked up at the marshal, "Oh," he said.

"You too, Doc," Matt added.

Doc screwed his left index finger into his ear, "I figured as much. I did a lot of thinking while I was laid up," the doctor stated.

Jonas knew he had to testify, but he hated it, "Certainly marshal," he said in a hushed voice.

"Say, Jonas. How about this grand tour that Matt was talking about?" Doc said to change the subject.

Jonas smiled, "Oh, certainly. I hope you like what we've been doing," the store owner said as he quickly moved to the steps, followed by the doctor. Jonas talked about the renovations as they climbed the stairs. Matt chuckled to himself – he was enjoying the transformation of Wilbur Jonas.