"Art" Rachel poked her head in the Chief's office. Mullen looked up at her "when did you last hear from Tim or Raylan?" Art thought for a moment and then his face morfed into a 'oh shit' expression.
"I'll get the team" stated Brooks. Not even 30 minutes later they were on their way to the Shepherdsville area.
After what felt like miles Raylan stopped and helped his younger friend down to a sitting position by a tree. Tim rested his back and head on the trunk with a sigh.
"I think we lost them for a while" stated Givens. He knew those woods a bit better than their chasers, so it wasn't so hard, but he was still pretty sure they would eventually find their tracks.
"Mhm" Tim hummed with his eyes closed. Cowboy looked down at him worriedly and sat next to him.
"How do you feel?" Tim gave him a look "Be honest" the younger man sighed and shifted slightly to get a bit more comfortable.
"Fine" Raylan eyed him with an expression that said he did not buy it. Gutterson rolled his eyes "Like shit. What do you think, I got shot!" he was getting a bit irritated.
"Dammit Tim" the older man was visibly nervous too "I just want to know if you think we can make it to the car"
"WE cannot" the former Ranger said in a resigned tone "YOU can" he added with a heavy sigh after a moment. Raylan gave him an odd look
"No fucking way" he stated and got up
"Raylan" Tim tried to protest when the older man pulled him up.
"Shut up" Givens held Gutterson a bit tighter than it was necessary but he didn't give a shit at the moment and he started to move again. Tim was throwing him curious looks every now and then, but he kept quiet – he read something in his colleague's tone that prevented him from being more adamant to be left behind. He kind of shared the sentiment – he would never live any of his people behind, but that was different. He was a soldier.
Some distance later Tim felt he was getting more tired and his leg throbbed more than before. He also noted that he was obviously relying more on Raylan to be kept upright than he liked.
He stopped any movement and that almost sent them both to the ground.
"What the hell" the Cowboy exclaimed a bit more angrily than he meant "What are you doing? We gotta move"
"You go" Tim stated between slow intakes of air "I wait, you get back here with help"
"I'm not leaving you" Givens sounded adamant and a bit tense.
"Then I need a minute" Gutterson gave his colleague a little tug in the direction of a tree. They haven't heard their chasers in a while, so some rest shouldn't be a problem. Raylan tried his phone – there was still no signal, so he rested next to Tim with a heavy sigh. He really didn't like that. Wallace and his men would figure out where they're heading eventually and when they will, it's just a matter of time for them to catch up to them. Raylan was worried they would not get to the car fast enough and he was definitely NOT going to leave Tim alone in the woods. He eyed his younger colleague – Gutterson was paler than before, he was visibly in pain and there was a shine of sweat that said he might be going into shock.
"Gotta check your wound" Raylan did what he said. It didn't look too bad but it was still bleeding and Tim's skin felt warm and clammy.
"What's the verdict Doc?" the younger man asked jokingly. Givens chuckled but sobered up before speaking.
"How do you feel?" he looked Tim in the eye to make sure the other Marshal wouldn't play it down. Gutterson sighed but kept eye contact.
"I'm a bit cold and more tired than I should." He shifted a bit "But we gotta get to the car, right?"
"Yeah" The Cowboy Marshal sighed, run his hand down his face and fixed his hat a little bit "C'mon"
Art, Rachel and SWAT unit have found the place that Raylan and Tim parked their car and they started to move into the woods. They have split in two teams, both moving in the direction of the last known location of the other two Marshals phones – before they've lost signal, Art's team from one side, Rachel's from the other. They were equipped with radios and satellite phones just in case radio lost signal. There were two Ambulances on standby, but the all hoped they wouldn't be needed.
"Art. You think they're ok?" Brooks called to her boss over the radio. She was worried.
"You know these two" Mullen tried to sound calm "They either already killed all of them, or are in the middle of a shootout"
"I think we would hear that" stated SWAT Sergeant.
After some more walking Raylan heard what he dreaded most - their chasers dog.
"Shit" he swore and pulled Tim to move faster. It didn't take long for his friend's leg to give out though. Givens managed to stop them from crashing entirely and helped Tim to rest by a tree.
"You gotta move" Gutterson stated adamantly, still standing, holding himself upright using the tree trunk for support. Raylan gave him a slightly unnerved look.
"No" he pulled his gun out and moved closer to his injured colleague. They heard voices now and they were getting close and fast. The older Marshal pushed his friend behind the tree and moved closer, so he was too partially hiding. His cowboy hat was on the ground by their feet and he raised the gun so he was ready to shoot. He was aware that he could probably make it to get held if he went now but there was nowhere to hide Tim in the near proximity and there is no fucking way he was leaving him. He felt Gutterson slide down to the ground but he didn't look his way, his eyes fixed on the trees where he was hearing the voices.
"We're gonna die" Tim sounded resigned.
"I know" Raylan said in the same tone. He fired the first shot when he saw the dog.