Hello again! The second half of this chapter is pretty much fluff and feelings (I feel like I never give you folks enough of that, so here we are haha our boys deserve it). As always, thank you so much for your comments. I'm happy to hear this story can be a welcome distraction when life gets a little rougher than we prefer. Hang in there.

Here's something I know will shock you all... Brace yourselves... But this story might end up longer than originally planned. I know, I know. Me, Starly22, end up writing a novel instead of a short story? Unheard of! *Wink wink*

Enjoy, and stay tuned!

Chasing Strays Ch 4

Jess rode toward home sore, covered in mud, and just plain wiped out. It had been one hell of a night.

One hell of a day, Jess amended, glancing up at the sun. It had to be well past noon by now. He sincerely hoped Slim had everything under control back at the house. What he needed most was a hot meal, a good wash, and his bed. He wasn't particular about the order he got them in. One more surprise task and Jess felt like he might simply keel over on the spot.

Thinking of his bed brought his thoughts back around to the night before.

Slim had been nearly dead on his feet, shaking with cold and exhaustion, when Jess helped him down from his horse. In all the excitement Jess had forgotten that Slim hadn't been dressed for the weather. It had taken the better part of an hour to build up the fire, get Slim and the boy out of their wet clothes, and finally settle them into bed. The sky was starting to lighten by the time Jess got their horses brushed out and settled into their stalls with an extra scoop of oats each. Their night was ending, but the day was just beginning. Jess settled his saddle onto one of the relay horses and led the way out into the yard. With a final check on Slim and their guest, Jess mounted up and rode off to fetch some help.

Jess knew Slim had been projecting soft feelings for the boy, in order to keep him calm. Jess could feel it. What he hadn't realized was how much he himself had been benefiting from it. As the sun rose, the tension in his body mounted and his spirits dropped.

John Bates and his family were good neighbors. His three boys were old enough and capable enough to help with most tasks. Fetching the doctor was an easy one, all things considered. One look at the dark circles under Jess's eyes and disheveled clothes had Mrs. Bates ushering Jess inside for some breakfast. He didn't even have the chance to plead his case. His protests of "Too much to do, ma'am", went completely unheeded. Mrs. Amelia Bates had grown up a true southern belle and wouldn't hear of sending a man off without any hospitality. Jess didn't fight her too hard. He knew from experience it would be no use. Besides, he wasn't in the habit of turning down a cup of coffee anyway, especially not when the coffee was as good and strong as Mrs. Bates's.

"Trouble?" John asked, as he came in from morning chores to find Jess at their kitchen table. Jess's apologetic shrug said it all. John just shook his head. "Always something with you boys," he admonished, but there was no heat in it. He sat down next to Jess as his wife poured another cup of coffee.

Jess told the story of what they'd found the night before, skirting around the details of exactly how they'd found the site. He just said they'd been chasing some strays, gone farther than planned, and got caught out in the weather. It could have happened that way. Besides, it was essentially the truth. Jess figured Slim would appreciate his explanation. He finished by sharing his plan to go back out to the site and take care of the burials. John just nodded along and took Jess at his word.

"You'll be needin' the doctor then," John surmised, taking a sip of his coffee.

"And the sheriff," Jess added, mumbling around a mouthful of biscuit, "to start investigating where the boy really belongs. That part could wait a while, though, if he's busy." John just nodded again.

"Stages still comin'?" he asked next.

The obvious question hit Jess square in the forehead. He closed his eyes in realization and bit back a curse.

Of course. Of course the stages were still coming. He hadn't planned for that. There was no way Slim would be up to changing teams and entertaining passengers this morning. One man could only do so much.

Mrs. Bates was back, filling Jess's cup again, never one to miss a beat. "Now don't you fret, honey," she drawled, in that motherly way she had. She gently squeezed Jess's shoulder and pulled him into a half hug. "Samual can take care of all that. You just worry about those poor folks and their little boy." Jess tossed her a grateful smile.

John agreed with his wife's plan and assigned tasks accordingly. The middle boy, Jake, was sent off to town directly, while the oldest, Sam, gathered his gear and headed off to the relay station. Paul, their youngest, scampered off to the barn to finish the rest of the chores. Mrs. Bates, true to form, had some sandwiches wrapped up for Jess to take along in seemingly no time at all. She was truly a wonder. After a little food, some coffee, and several tasks taken off his plate, Jess felt like he just might make it through the day. He walked a little taller as they moved out to the porch.

Jess thanked John with a handshake and kissed Mrs. Bates on the hand, bowing like a gentleman before swinging into his saddle. She grinned while John just rolled his eyes, familiar with their antics. He'd given up his muttered remarks about "Southerners and their charms" after their first few encounters. This morning, he just wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders as they waved goodbye. Jess waved back as he trotted out of their yard.

Jess's renewed good mood lasted just until he made it to the old Laramie road and turned north.

Now, nearly home, the exhaustion refused to be put off any longer. He crested the final rise and looked down at the ranch house. It was a relief to note nothing out of place. The coral gate and barn doors were both closed, with the right number of horses for the evening run milling around inside the fence. All was quiet. Thank the Lord. Jess nudged his spurs against his horses' flanks as they made their final approach.

As he hung his saddle back on its rack, Jess contemplated sleeping right there in the barn. It was tempting. He was no stranger to bedding down in the straw, and there were much worse places a man could sleep. With a deep sigh, he straightened his back and rolled the kinks out of his shoulders before grabbing his saddle bags.

There was only one thing more important than sleep right now, and that was checking on Slim.

He turned and walked toward the house.

-Laramie-

Slim woke with a start to the sound of the side door closing. Must have dozed off, he realized, not sure how long he'd been asleep. The bond in his mind hummed pleasantly, erasing any question of who had entered the house.

Jess.

"In here," Slim said, his voice pitched low and rough with sleep. Jess's steps immediately moved toward the bedroom door. As he eased it open, Slim took a good look at his partner.

He was a mess.

The scruff on his jaw was longer than he typically liked. His face and clothes were flecked with mud and dust. He'd taken off his hat already, and his dark curls were plastered to his forehead with sweat. Slim wondered if it had even had a chance to dry since yesterday. As haggard as he was, Jess looked several years older than his own twenty-six.

Despite that, Jess had his typical ornery smile firmly in place.

"Well, would ya looky what we have here," Jess drawled out, folding his arms across his chest and he leaned a shoulder against the door jam. "I hear the owner a this here ranch don't take too kindly to his hands sleepin' the day away," he continued, in mock seriousness, "Don't expect for me to cover for ya when he finds out."

Slim smiled and rolled his eyes good naturedly. "A real hardcase, I know," he answered, drawing a chuckle out of Jess.

"Reckon you would at that," he replied, walking fully into the room and shucking his gloves. He glanced down at the boy, still snuggled into the crook of Slim's arm. Only his blond hair was visible over the top of the quilt. "How is he?"

"Doc came and went around ten this morning," Slim recounted, "said he couldn't find any injuries on him. Really doesn't like being separated from me, though. The only time he woke up was when Doc tried to move him. Nearly scared the daylights outta me, hearin' him screech like that," Slim added, tightening his hold on the boy for a moment. "Doc said he's probably just still in shock."

Jess, in the process of stripping off the rest of his dirty clothes, shook his head. "You ever been around a sentinel when they first find their senses?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at Slim.

"Once, in the war. A nurse had zoned on the smell of the blood or something."

Jess was nodding now as he stood over their basin. He splashed water on his face and neck. "She was zoned, and came out of it with your help? What happened when you broke contact?"

Slim furrowed his brow, not sure where Jess was going with this. "I don't really know," he admitted. "Her fiancé, her true guide, turned up and I bowed out pretty quickly after that."

Drying off with a towel and now significantly cleaner, Jess nodded again, as if that solved some mystery for him, but it didn't solve much for Slim. He started toward his bed but paused mid step, looking over at Slim.

"Did you eat today?"

"Yes, mother," he said, huffing in false exasperation, before continuing. "Sam fixed some bacon and beans at lunchtime before I sent him home."

"Good," Jess groaned, finally dropping into bed and pulling the blanket over himself. His whole body seemed to deflate as he closed his eyes.

"Oh, no you don't," Slim warned. "You can sleep just as soon as you finish explaining whatever it is you aren't really explaining."

Jess lazily rolled his head across his pillow to face Slim, his eyes half lidded. "A new sentinel usually needs a guide to help them manage at first." Slim knew that much, of course, and Jess went on. "You said you holed up on the ranch for a bit, while you learned to wrangle yourself, right? Away from strangers and their feelings?" Slim nodded. "Did you also manage to hide away from the smell of manure, or the taste of salt? The feeling of fabric on your skin?"

Ah. Slim was starting to get the picture. Jess turned his head back to face the ceiling, closing his eyes.

"The beginning is downright painful, even with a guide," Jess muttered sleepily. "Reckon that goes double for a kid, scared and alone in the world. Right now, Slim, you're the only thing that doesn't hurt."

Slim looked away from his sentinel and back to the warm bundle against his chest. A warm wave of protectiveness welled up inside him, squeezing his heart and making his throat tight. Without another outlet, Slim let the feeling slide out and project onto the boy. Slim wasn't going to let anything happen to him. He was safe here, and he should be allowed to feel that way.

To his left, he heard Jess let out a contented hum.

"'S nice," Jess slurred, sounding more asleep than awake. "But if you keep all that emotion up much longer, you'll have me bawlin' like a newborn calf."

Slim smiled in spite of himself. Whoops. He was a bit out of practice with projecting to anyone but Jess, and he must not have been very selective in his target. He hadn't had much need to be since Andy and Jonesy had left. Without hesitation, he let the good humor travel along their bond before rolling it back a bit.

"If it's alright by you, I'm fixin'a bank the coals for a while," Jess said, more clearly this time. It was his own way of letting Slim know he was turning all his senses down to take a real break. He wouldn't be woken by every stray sound or smell, because for at least a while, he'd be oblivious to them all. "Wake me when the stage comes."

"Sure pard," Slim answered gently. "Get some sleep. I'll watch for 'em."

Slim hadn't even finished his sentence before Jess was sound asleep.

-Laramie-

Notes:

Fun little fact: In one episode, Slim says that Jess can smell Daisy's apple pie from two miles off, upwind. I'm taking this as irrefutable evidence that Jess has been a secret sentinel all along!

An extra gold star if anyone knows what episode that quote is from! I hope you enjoyed the chapter :)