"Doc?" Ella repeated in clear disbelief.

"Is Maria hurt bad?" Doc asked, not taking his eyes or gun from Joey.

"I don't know, I don't think so… she was stabbed in the shoulder" Ella babbled, stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Doc gave a firm nod. "Go over an' check" Doc asked calmly, his voice betraying that he knew Maria was not in any danger.

Ella glanced back at her friend who was now being comforted by Teresa and Rafael. She had given Maria her word that she would make Joey leave, that she would not allow him to be shot… she suddenly felt sick because of that rash promise. Part of her wished that Joey could be killed right here and now, end all the suffering and erase the dark part of herself she so despised with his death. But she knew better than many that death never made those regrets and memories ease. She would still be plagued by thoughts that would keep her tossing and turning on sleepless nights, thoughts of her past, her mistakes… and she could not allow herself to play any part in taking his life. Whether what she had truly felt for Joey had been love would forever be debated within herself. Perhaps it had been the need to show herself that a bitter, painful past did not mean she was tainted forever, that she could never change. If underneath all the coldness that was Joey Garza was a heart, warmth and love, then surely she could say the same thing of herself. Or perhaps she knew Joey had nothing to offer but pain and misery and it was all she felt she deserved. Still, she could speculate all day, she knew she would never fully know the true answer, the closest thing she could akin it to was love. Despite all this Ella knew she could not sway from the promise she had made to Maria and, reinforced by her own thoughts, she moved her position and stood her ground in front of Joey. She knew Doc's mind in this matter too well, get her away to safety and shoot Joey… she couldn't allow it for Maria and herself.

"Move aside Ella, this boy's a wanted train bandit an' murder an' I gotta do my duty" Doc said, his stern voice not wavering.

Ella glanced from one man to the other before finally she shook her head. "Doc, you can't just shoot him."

"Ella, move" Doc repeated. "He's shot up Captain Call, killed Brookshire, nearly killed me, you… an' his own Mother" Doc continued darkly.

"It'll kill his Ma if you shoot him." Ella's voice was quiet and honest. "Just… just let him go south, deep into Mexico."

"I can't do that, he'll come slinkin' back like a bad dream… move aside." Doc's eyes were constantly searching for a gap he could shoot through without hurting Ella. His jaw was set, turning slowly into anger. "I can't let him go after all he's done, he's done too much harm… he has to face justice and punishment." Ella furrowed her brow, Doc wasn't acting like his usual calm self; he was angry, hurt and wounded.

She shook her head once more. "I can't let you." Ella turned back to Joey. "Go south, do you hear me?" Her voice was becoming high and strained as the two men she cared deeply about stood in a strange, cold, one sided stand-off.

Joey gave a slow nod at her words but his eyes still held no firm understanding, the old Joey flickered somewhere in that gaze, lost from his grasp for a moment but Ella could see him searching, seeking that part of himself he needed.

She turned her attention to Doc. "He's goin' to go" she said as steadily as she could. "Let's just tend t' Maria an' the children."

"Ella girl, do as I say!" Doc roared, losing his temper at the stubborn woman before him and the current situation. "He's a killer! Don't you understand! He deserves t' die fer all he's done!"

Ella took a few paces towards the bank where Doc stood, still blocking his aim with her own body. "That may be true, but it ain't right to be his judge and executioner out here like this." She paused, seeing Doc's stony expression waver. "Please Doc, do this for me" she pleaded. "I don't want you t' kill him, don't you see?"

Doc frowned, stating with this expression he did not.

"If you kill him he's always gonna be part of us, I just want t' leave, I don't want any more bad memories or guilt attached to his name." She glanced back at Joey who seemed to have only just become aware that he was bleeding; he studied the blood upon his hand with child-like wonder. "Look at him," she said in a hoarse whisper, "there ain't nothing left t' kill, he's already livin' his own hell."

Doc studied the young boy. He was handsome, his features striking. Doc felt sure that he could have made it through his life on looks alone… but it meant nothing to Joey Garza. Doc had seen many bandits and outlaws come and go in his time but never before had he looked at another human being and seen… nothing, just anger and emptiness. Doc could finally see what Ella was trying desperately to show him. The boy was already punishing himself, he hated everyone around him as much as he hated himself, his anger was as much inwardly directed as it was at others. If Doc shot him now it would be a kindness and perhaps it would be best to put the young boy out of his misery… but he suddenly found he couldn't, Joey Garza had a right to live out the personal hell he had ordained himself and Doc had no right in this moment to take away his destiny, his punishment was worse than any bullet or hang man's rope… If Joey truly left and terrorized southern Mexico he would slowly play out his own plan and die at the hands of someone just as twisted as he was himself and true justice would be served, he wanted no part in bringing this strange emotionless man to his grave… Doc slowly lowered his weapon.

"He best go now, a mob will form soon… I doubt they'll let him go if they find him." Doc relented, now understanding that not only Ella but Maria too would never forgive him for pulling the trigger in this moment.

Ella turned back to Joey. "Leave" she breathed, knowing these could be the last words she spoke to him. "Go far and don't come back." She was caught a moment by his eyes, eyes that now bore that rare, strange flicker of emotion that had so often fooled her in the past. Perhaps under it all Joey did have feelings, wants… love… but it didn't matter even if he did as Joey would push them back down, ignoring them and dismissing them as only annoyances.

Doc's attention had been caught by Maria and he quickly made his way over to the other side of the bank as Ella turned her back on Joey and began to wade towards her friend, her mind now fully upon how serious the stab wound was. Maria seemed to be in good spirits, Teresa had stemmed the blood flow and Doc was already asking her questions to obtain any information as how to best treat it.

"Ella."

The sound of her name reached her ears as slowly as if it had been a light breeze, more a sigh than a true spoken word. Slowly she turned, releasing her skirts so they once again floated about her. She stared at Joey for a long moment, had he really spoken her name? She was suddenly shocked by the thought that she couldn't remember him ever using her name. She swallowed hard, was this the first time?

She took an involuntary step forward and then pulled her senses together, her mind told her to turn and walk to the bank, to the people whose warmth she wanted to be surrounded with.

"Ella."

She saw his lips form the word, her name… and stared at him in fascination before regaining herself.

"Yes?" she asked, as calmly as she could manage, wishing that he would just go, her heart tugged painfully at the sight of him, of knowing they could never have had each other, that it had all been for naught.

"How did you get out of my cave?" he asked, as casually as if they were sat eating dinner at the table, but his voice was weak.

"It doesn't matter" Ella said simply. "You have to go, get a horse and go."

Joey shook his head slowly, his body swaying as his face seemed to take on an ashen pallor. "I cannot" he managed. He gave a hissed breath as the pain of his wounds racked through his body, he felt suddenly dizzy and his legs warned him that they would soon be unable to support his weight. Again he swayed and expected this time to feel the icy cool clutch of the river around him, he expected no one would stop his body drifting down river; he had no one left to care what became of him. But instead of the icy water he felt soft hands upon his shoulders, roughly pulling him to his feet. He gave a small, low cry of pain as the warm palms brushed his wounds. He managed to stay upon his feet and slowly he opened his eyes and looked down into the face of the person who had helped him.

Ella's worried expression swam into his blurred sight as her gaze flicked to each of his eyes, he could still feel her hands pressing against him and the touch was comforting and tender. He felt suddenly tired and wanted to sleep with her by his side, snug and warm in the bed at her old house. When he woke up he could think and if he could think he could make her stay.

Ella's large brown eyes looked back into his gaze, her brow slightly furrowed in concern. She moved him forward gently, her eyes taking in the many bullet wounds upon his back and her dark eyes widened.

"Joey." She managed nothing but his name as the shock rippled through her.

The sound of her soft voice drew his mind away from sleep and forced him to focus upon the current situation. Carefully she reached up and brushed the wet strands of hair from his face, her palm resting against his cheek affectionately, unable to stop herself in this moment.

"Your wounds are bad" she said, her voice wavering with emotion. "You need to find help quickly." Ella couldn't help her eyes filling with tears.

Joey gave a weak try at a smile. "No hay ayuda, no para mí."

Ella didn't have to understand his words, his meaning was clear, there would be no help, his back was a festering mass of shotgun pellets, infection had already set in and his blood was most likely already poisoned… she had known this from the moment she'd seen his wounds. She sniffed loudly and let her hands run over his cheeks. "Maybe you should come back to your Ma's" she said quietly, knowing nothing could be done, she could at the very least offer him somewhere comfortable, be with him at the end... she could give him that much.

She gave a startled gasp as his hand moved quickly, his palm connecting gently with her cheek, pressing softly as he studied her intently, his blue eyes shining.

"Quiero que te quedes con migo." His speech was slurred. "Eso no importa ahora." He glanced away towards where his mother still lay, his eyes unseeing the small group of men that were picking her carefully up and ferrying her away, back to her home.

"Joey?" Ella whispered, worried that perhaps his mind was too far gone with the pain. "I don't understand." Despite this fact she felt something strange and warm within his words.

"Nada" Joey said simply, his calm mask slipping back over his expression a little.

"You need t' rest" Ella said, suddenly feeling a great wave of pity.

Joey shook his head and raised his cool eyes to hers once more. He studied her face for a long time, his palm hovering a few inches from her cheek as if he couldn't quite decide if he wanted to touch her.

"You said you loved me once" he said lowly, his voice no more than a hoarse whisper.

Ella gave a slow nod, not quite understanding what his statement meant. "I think I did… I don't know why" she replied calmly. "But… I did love you, I wanted us to be together, t' work… but it couldn't have worked, we're too much alike in some respects and too different in others ,and besides…" She gave a small sigh. "I can't forgive you this time, not after this" she said finally, allowing her eyes to fully connect with his, a small reassuring smile on her lips, a smile that spoke of the good memories that lay between them. "We need to go inside, see to your Ma." Ella abruptly changed the subject, quietly hoping that the conversation would soon be over, she had no desire to stand in the cold river any longer and even less to look at him, to see him in ruins. She gave him an uncertain look, waiting for him to say more but he remained still and silent.

Slowly Ella turned and looked back towards the bank. Doc's form and face greeted her sight; he'd been standing guard throughout her conversation with Joey. Ella smiled broadly at him, he was wearing the expression that he so often wore when he was concerned and in deep thought - his brow wrinkled in many lines and his mouth turned down slightly at the edges. She gave a silent inward laugh of relief, it was done…

Doc suddenly rose to his feet his hand taking up his rifle once more, he cocked the gun and aimed…

"Ella!" Doc's voice bore warning.

Ella's thoughts flew wildly, it was over, it was all meant to be over! Her mouth opened in shock as her body moved quicker than her mind could comprehend. She took a few rushed splashes forward, her instinct to get out of the out of whatever danger Doc was warning her of, but the water made movement hard. The moments felt painfully slow, like the speed of normal life had somehow begun to lag behind in pace, although only tiny seconds passed, but her mind still worked, knowing it was all far too sluggish. Her frightened breaths were harsh and ragged and the sounds around her rushed loud and unforgiving in her ears as a strong arm jerked her backwards pulling her close. At some point during this a loud crack of gunfire echoed. She heard her name being shouted, screamed but she could not look away as her eyes connected with cruel pools of icy blue that burned into her. She gave out a startled breath at his closeness before he pressed their bodies together; she sensed his arm move back, his muscles tensing. Before she could gain her senses a strange sensation flew through her, painful and quick, making her body sway and her lips part in a silent cry of agony. She felt Joey's body jolt unpleasantly too, just a moment before she felt the sensation. His arm still bore momentum and continued to move, an icy cold sensation burst through her skin, bringing out gooseflesh bumps across her flesh and causing all the fine hairs of her body to stand on end. She thought a scream erupted from her throat but she couldn't be sure, it all seemed so unreal with those blue eyes staring into her very soul. It had taken only seconds…

"ELLA!" The sound of her name being screamed reached her ears but it seemed so distant. More despairing shouts followed but her mind had tuned them out.

She stared up at Joey, frowning in confusion as her mind grappled with what had just happened.

She suddenly took in a lungful or air, had she been holding her breath? Her body screamed with agony. She gritted her teeth against it as the wave seemed to pass. She glanced down, her mind finally able to pinpoint the source of the pain as her eyes beheld the silver shining dagger in Joey's hand. Half of the blade was buried within her stomach. Slowly she glanced up, her eyes filling with tears of pain, her mouth opened but words were not forthcoming, she gave a spluttered breath and the iron taste of blood filled her mouth.

"Yo nunca puedo estar sin usted" Joey whispered, as blood trickled from his mouth.

Ella gave a strangled scream as Joey lost his fight with the pain and fell backwards; taking the dagger that had been buried in her flesh with him. His body splashed unceremoniously into the cold water. Letting out a desperate collection of breaths Ella instinctively covered the bleeding wound with her hand and slowly she turned to Doc. He was already rushing towards her, his face pained, and as he drew nearer she heard him crying out wordless sounds in anguish. Finally he reached her. Ella had expected him to begin to study the knife wound but his hands and eyes were upon her chest. She furrowed her brow at him and slowly looked down. Her bodice had a small hole in it. No, it wasn't small; it was tiny compared to the knife wound. She suddenly felt annoyed and gripped at his arm with one of her bloody hands. But he paid her no heed, his look and actions distraught as his hands now covered the small tear in her bodice. Finally she chanced a look down again and studied as best she could the knife wound. It hurt but she became aware that it was to the side, slicing through flesh, it was not mortal…

She stared up at Doc, her body swaying and her eyes questioning as Doc still tended that small tear, now ripping at her clothing. Finally she saw what he so feared. A small neat hole bled profusely on her right side, just above her breast. She gave a gasp of fear at the tiny mark.

Before she had any chance to regain herself Doc was picking her up in his arms and wading towards the bank. She glanced back over the water. Joey was floating in the river, his face upturned to the sky and his chest stained red with a large bullet wound…