So I've decided that since I get such lovely comments, and I value your guys opinions on my writing SO MUCH, that I'm going to start replying to them at the start of each chapter starting from now, so here goes;

Hotchner and Aliciamaceenzie – Thank you both for your wonderful reviews so far, I really appreciate the kind words

C. – I'm so glad you like the character of Amy, especially since you don't usually like random characters introduced. In regards to Chris/Mary/Amy I don't want to give anything away but I can tell you that I've planned out a couple more stories involving the three, so I hope you continue to read those after this one is completed to see how it all pans out.

Buck Wilmington nodded his hat to a pretty lady as he passed by, making his way towards the exit. Pushing the swinging doors back, he drew himself up to his full height as he looked around. The street was relatively busy, but Buck was taller than most men, and had no trouble sweeping his eyes over the heads of the bustling crowd. He almost didn't notice the figure hidden away in the shade under a protruding shop roof, and probably wouldn't have if not for the burning glow of a cigar catching his eye. The right corner of his mouth turned up in a knowing smile, Chris was a master as blending in when he wanted to be. Striding over to the gunslinger, he noticed that his friend was seated on a wooden crate, and leaning against the wall next to him he cleared his throat,

"No seats available then pard?"

Even though Chris had never looked at him as he walked over, Buck had sensed that the man had been watching him from his peripheral vision, another trick that Chris had mastered well over the years. He ignored the comment from Buck, continuing to stare intently at the crowd wandering around in front of them, and took a deep toke on his cigar before stubbing it out on the ground,

"Any luck in there?"

Chris gestured to the saloon which Buck had just departed, still looking at the crowd. Buck placed his left leg forwards, slightly bent, and rested his hands on his hips as he tried to find what Chris's gaze was focused on,

"Fraid not Chris. Checked in tha' market an' all tha' shops again too. No-one here's even heard of the name Ella Gaines it seems."

"Everyone here has heard of Ella Gaines," Chris' scowl increased as he spoke the name, stepping to his feet, he finally averted his steely gaze away from the crowd to face Buck, "and they're all too afraid ta' talk about her."

Buck let out a low whistle as he considered the idea. It was perfectly logical, after everything that had happened at Ella's ranch months ago, even with it being on the outskirts of Red Fork, it would have been impossible for news not to have travelled back to the town. And that was if they hadn't heard the bullet shots first hand.

"You think she's intimidated them inta' silence?" he asked looking concerned at his friend. Chris shook his head slowly, again looking at the townsfolk passing them by,

"Not directly, doubt anyone here really knows where she's gone…but they had an idea they'd never tell us. These people ain't heroes Buck."

A slight frown formed on Buck's face,

"So what now?"

"Reckon it's time we paid a visit to that ol' ranch of hers," Chris gritted his teeth, and started to walk over towards where their horses were tied, "Been putting it off for long enough now…" he muttered the last part so low, it was almost inaudible, but Buck, who had not needed to be signalled to follow and was only a few steps behind his friend, picked up on the mumbling.

"We'll find her Chris."

"Son of a Bitch!"

Buck only just had time to register the cry from his companion before Chris flung himself from his horse, sprinting down the rest of the dirt track. Pulling Beavis to a halt, he jumped down from his own horse and chased the black-clad gunman, running at full pelt as Chris was already becoming a dot amongst the dust cloud he was kicking up.

He stopped and stared at the scene that laid before him. His mouth dropped agape in horror and his eyes widened, and his body froze. Buck's shouts increasing from the distance were drowned out by the sound of his heart beat thudding in his ears. He didn't notice that Buck had caught up with him until the other man pulled on his arm.

"What the hell has gotten inta' you Chris!" Buck hissed in his face, as he wheeled Chris round to face him. Chris stood motionless, and Buck placed his hands on his bent knees, panting for breath. He gazed up at his companion, and confusion swept across Buck's face as he took in Chris' expression, normally he couldn't always tell what his friend was thinking but he'd never seen a look like this before on anyone's face. Bemused by his companion's behaviour, Buck finally looked around him and gasped in shock. Suddenly Chris snapped out of his trance and ripped his arm away from Buck's grip. He turned slowly back to face the site, his legs moving slowly, feeling like they were made from lead. All that lay before him was ash and rubble, where the ranch had stood. He stepped forwards kicking burnt wood and blackened debris as he walked. The only surviving remnants were some of the structure from the horse paddock, the rest was gone. How could this have happened….How could he have let this happen? He gripped the fence rail, leaving forwards to stare at the tarnished ground. Buck watched Chris in a wary manner, as his shoulders heaved and dropped in an animated fashion, he'd only seen his friend act this way a few times in their past, and each time had not ended well.

"That damned BITCH!"

The roar that erupted was almost inhuman. He grabbed the fence and tore it from the ground, smashing and snapping the panels like twigs in his grasp. Growls of a ferocious nature mixed with a stream of expletives erupted from Chris as he destroyed anything that lay around him. Buck watched, glued to the spot in complete terror, as his friend bulldozed his way through the last standing fragments of the building. Chris continued his flurry of anger, not seeing, not feeling. A banshee cry exploded from Chris, his whole body shaking, the wail reverberated through Buck, waking him from his daze. He darted forwards attempting to grab Chris and restrain him. The blonde man shook him off, pushing him away with more force than intended, which resulted in Buck tumbling back into the newly created debris from Chris' outburst. Another animalistic growl bellowed from Chris, as he glared down at Buck. The sight of his friend seemed to cool down a part of the rage thundering inside him, but only a small part. He turned slowly, soaking in the view of the damage he had created. Wreckage was scattered everywhere, the once partially complete structure of the fence was now obliterated and strewn across the land with the other debris from the ranch. Still shaking he glimpsed at his friend still lying on the ground out of the corner of his eye, and saw patches of red on the white panels next to Buck. Chris' blood ran cold as he whirled round to face his partner, leaning down he grabbed Buck's jacket,

"Buck…you hurt?"

The moustached man shook his head, eyes still wide.

"Ain't my blood…" he motioned with his head towards Chris' bloody knuckles that were clutching his jacket. Chris followed Buck's gaze, and instantly let go, standing straight up again. He turned away from Buck once again, arching his back, raising his crimson stained hands to his head and running them through his hair in a distressed manner. He felt sick to his stomach, Ella had gotten away, destroyed every trace, every clue. Buck watched in dread as Chris stood trembling violently for what seemed an eternity until his legs gave way beneath him. It was as if he was watching the man drop to his knees in slow motion, succeeded by one last ear-shattering bellow. Shaking ever so slightly himself, Buck rose to his feet, and stepped carefully among the chaos, and approached the figure of his friend rocking lightly back and forth on his knees, head in his hands. Gently he placed a hand on Chris's shoulder, a reassuring gesture, but nothing to much, after what he had just witnessed he didn't think Chris would be wanting anything grander than that simple signal of friendship.

"I'm sorry Buck…." his voice carried an undeniable shake to it, whether it was from fighting back sobs or anger Buck was unsure, "I….I dunno what came over me…" he dropped his hands away from his face down into his lap and stared up at the man towering over him. There were trails of red smudges under Chris' eyes that eerily looked like tears of blood to Buck.

"No need ta' apologise Chris." Attempting to lighten the mood slightly but still in a sincere tone he added, "been knocked down much worse than tha' by husbands twice your size." Chris didn't respond, and lowered his eyes to survey the mess surrounding the pair,

"Everytime we get close ta' someone…" Chris trailed off as he felt himself losing the fight with the tremor in his voice. Buck knelt beside his friend, still resting his left hand on Chris' shoulder,

"I know Chris…you don' need ta' say it…" he paused for a moment, pondering, before he spoke softly again, "Listen, it might not be what you wanna hear, but maybe chasing after her ain't the best idea…" he held his hands up in a protesting manner as Chris' spun to glare at him, "Hear me out. We're gonna get her, there ain't no doubt 'bout tha', but we've lost every single lead now. An' from ma' experience, a woman tha' crazy…ain't gonna be tha' long before she comes an' seeks you out herself…" He hesitated, waiting with drawn breath for the seething response that never came. Instead Chris sat silent for a while, before nodding silently. Buck let out a soundless sigh of relief and scrambled to his feet, extending his right hand down to Chris.

"C'mon cowboy, let's get ya' cleaned up."