He sloshed through the wet leaves and mud, his head down, looking for some sign of JD. He'd found the kid's horse more than an hour ago and left the animal with his own in the shed near a small cabin. Now all he needed to do was find the kid.

His squinting eyes almost missed it in the grayness. A pale hand lay nestled in the wet foliage in a limply clenched fist. Following the attached arm, Buck's eyes widened when he saw JD's still form face down on the ground.

"JD!" Buck was on his knees beside the unmoving young man in an instant. He grasped the kid's shoulders and carefully turned him over. JD rolled to his back, unresponsive to Buck's touch. Buck leaned over JD in a useless attempt to shield him from the steady downpour and touched him on the cheek. His translucently pale skin felt icy. Buck clamped down on the fear that gysered through his heart.

After making sure the kid was breathing and pressing against the heartbeat fluttering at JD's throat, Buck slid his arms under his young friend. With a deep groan of protest he struggled to his feet, tucking JD's body close to his chest.

Moving sluggishly through the thick undergrowth, Buck stumbled back the way he had come. The small cabin and shed he'd found earlier appeared as dark gray shapes through the lighter gloom of the rainstorm. Setting his jaw with determination, he lowered his head and moved steadily forward.

The inside of the small shack offered a quiet respite from the storm. His legs wobbled as his strength waned. With the last of his energy he fell to his knees near the cold pot-bellied stove and grimaced in sympathy when the back of JD's head hit the wooden floor with a muffled thump.

"Sorry, kid." Sliding his fingers beneath JD's head, Buck cupped the kid's skull tenderly in apology. Moving his hand to JD's face, Buck frowned at the feel of clammy skin against his palm.

He pulled his other arm out from under the kid. Shifting to the woodpile in one corner, he gathered several small logs and shoved them into the stove's open door. His hands shook as he cupped the flint in one palm and used it to start the fire. When the flames caught and began licking hungrily at the wood, he turned back to JD.

The kid lay still as death in the same position Buck had left him. Ignoring the heavy feeling of dread in his heart, Buck quickly went to work pulling off JD's wet clothes.

The kid's muddy boots came off first, then his pants and finally the jacket, vest, and shirt. Buck's cold fingers worked at the wet material impatiently. A few stubborn buttons were ripped off in his haste.

Grabbing his bedroll and tarp, Buck wrapped the kid in the dry material and tugged him closer to the stove. JD's wet hair lay dark as streaks of midnight against his pale cold cheeks. Buck took a moment to brush the strands away. His fingers registered rising heat warming the clammy skin.

Pulling dry clothes from his saddlebags, Buck quickly changed. He grabbed the full canteens and finally settled on the floor near JD.

"Let's check you out, kid. See what you've done to yourself here." With gentle fingers he explored JD's head, looking for signs of an injury, something that would tell him why JD hadn't woken up. He found a bump just as JD's head turned in his hold. The kid groaned.

"B-buck?"

Buck grinned to himself. Relief spread through his tense frame, relaxing the clench of muscles in his gut. "Yeah, JD, it's me." His whispered reply was swallowed up in the small room but JD must have heard it. The young man opened his eyes. "Thought maybe Casey was running her fingers through your hair?"

The weak smile that pulled at JD's lips made Buck grin wider.

"How you feelin', kid?"

"Terrible."

"You look terrible."

" -- Aww, Buck. You know --"

" -- That's impossible?"

His teasing abruptly ended when JD curled up from the floor with a cough. He pulled one hand from the blankets to rub at his chest.

"Take it easy, kid."

With a slight groan, JD relaxed against the floor. Buck spread his open hand against the young man's forehead. Worry ambushed him again with the growing heat he found there.

"Thirsty?" Without waiting for an answer, Buck reached for the canteen beside him. He uncorked the top then slid his hand under JD's neck and helped the kid sit up. Holding the canteen as steady as he could, he tilted it up and let JD drink. The kid reached up with a shaky hand and lightly gripped Buck's wrist.

JD pulled away and nodded. He lay back against the floor and closed his eyes. "Thanks, Buck."

"Any time." Replacing the canteen, Buck leaned over JD to check the fire. There was still plenty of wood so he half closed the door before sitting back down. "Vin and Chris should be here soon. They knew I was searching this area and when they don't hear from me they'll come lookin'."

JD didn't answer. Instead, he turned his head away and curled his fingers into the blanket. A soft moan lifted his chest and Buck frowned with worry.

"What's wrong? Where ya hurtin', JD?"

"'M head, mostly."

The quiet admission moved Buck. The kid had to be hurting pretty bad to admit it. Buck stood up and turned to retrieve an extra bandana from his stack of supplies. Moving back to JD, he sat down then used one of the canteens to wet the rag. Folding it awkwardly with his big hands, he gently placed the cool cloth on JD's forehead.

JD didn't open his eyes, but he acknowledged the tender gesture by turning his head back toward Buck. Furrows on either side of his mouth gave testimony to his pain, but almost immediately his breathing steadied and Buck realized the kid was falling asleep.

The head injury worried him, and he wrestled with letting the kid sleep. Maybe he should keep him awake? He ran his fingers through his wet hair in frustration. Dammit, Nathan, what do I do? Cursing at the absent healer only made him feel worse.

He stood and moved to the woodpile. The supply of dry wood was more than enough to get them through one night so he gathered another short log and shoved it into the stove. Looking down at JD from where he stood, he noticed the blanket had slipped down to the kid's chest. Unaware of the tender look of care on his face, he bent to adjust the covering. A shadowing of bruises caught his eye and instead, he pulled the blanket down. Purple mottling stood out on JD's torso, darkening the left side of his rib cage.

"What the hell?" Why didn't you say something? The question went unspoken as Buck slowly sank to one knee. He carefully felt the slender row of bones. His gentle touch elicited a low groan from JD.

The heat of bruised flesh warmed his palm. When he probed deeper into JD's side, the kid flinched from him, turning away and curling into a defensive position to guard his ribs.

The older man sighed. He tugged the blanket up to JD's shoulders and patted the kid on the back. "Sorry, JD. I didn't mean to hurt you kid."

What the hell had happened? He'd have to wait until JD woke up again to find out but until then his overactive imagination would contrive all sorts of horrors.

As if in answer to Buck's thoughts, JD rolled to his back. His eyes fluttered open.

Buck leaned closer, resting a hand lightly on the kid's chest. "JD?"

JD licked his lips. "Water?"

Biting down on his questions, Buck reached over the kid for the canteen. He opened it and helped JD sit up. He watched a wince of pain wrinkle JD's features as he moved. The kid drank deeply from the canteen before indicating he was ready to lay down again.

Reaching for the rag that had fallen off when JD rolled over, Buck rewet it and rung it out, then placed it on JD's forehead.

"What happened, son?"

JD's eyes opened again with the question but he didn't answer.

"I saw the bruises on your ribs."

JD pressed his lips together. His attention left Buck's face and moved to a far corner of the room. "Horse threw me."

Buck couldn't contain the grin that spread across his face. Relief made itself known through teasing. "You? You got throwd?"

JD's frame tensed. He rolled his shoulders away from Buck, closing the man off as surely as slamming a door in his face. He didn't answer and Buck began to realize now was not the time to joke about this.

"I'm sorry, JD." The kid didn't acknowledge the apology. Buck rubbed his hand across his face and sighed deep enough to lift his shoulders. Pushing against his knee, he stood up. "You hurt anywhere else?"

"No."

Short answer. Well, if that's the way he wants it. Deciding to leave the kid to lick his wounds in silence, Buck made himself busy organizing his supplies. Vin and Chris would likely show up before morning and he wanted to be ready to leave soon as JD was able.

Thunder rumbled outside of the cabin as if reminding Buck that the storm hadn't let up. He moved to the cabin's lone window and leaned against the wall. Gray sheets of rain obscured his vision. After a few moments of straining to see through the downpour Buck shrugged in defeat and turned away.

He froze.

JD lay tightly curled in the blanket. His chin was tucked against his chest and the arm beneath him was stretched out against the floor, his hand clenched into a hard fist that shook with tension. He had his other arm raised over his head, a shield against something Buck couldn't see. But it was JD's face that froze Buck's blood and squeezed cold fear around his heart.

JD's mouth was stretched wide open, his throat corded with a silent scream. His eyes were squinted closed, his eyebrows drawn together and down in an expression of intense terror or pain.

Heavy boot steps thumped against the small porch outside, shattering the fear that had frozen around Buck. He glanced toward the door and by the time he looked back at JD, the kid's arm was down and the sleeping face was relaxed. Confused, wondering if he'd seen JD's terror at all, Buck turned back to the door when it opened.

Chris and Vin entered, water dripping in running rivulets down their clothes and from their hats.

"Saw your horses," Vin explained. "You found the kid?" He moved farther into the room. Chris followed him in and shut the door.

Buck swallowed, trying to gather his thoughts and regain his equilibrium.

Chris lifted his head when Buck didn't answer, his eyes narrowing with worry. "You okay, Buck? Is JD all right?"

Buck nodded, still looking for his voice. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, he's okay."

After pulling off their wet coats and hanging them on nails to dry, Chris and Vin moved closer to the stove. Vin reached out to warm his hands. "He say what happened? Why he's been missin' for half a day?"

Buck kept his head low, afraid his confusion would show. He sensed what he'd seen shouldn't be brought out into the open yet. Not until JD was ready. "Yeah. Said his horse threw him."

Chris chuckled. "JD?"

Buck's head snapped up. "Don't tease him about it, Chris. He hit his head and he's got some bruised ribs." He saw Chris' look of slight irritation at his tone. His nostrils flared as he reined in his emotions. "Kid just don't need that right now. His pride's been hurt enough."

"All right." Chris agreed then glanced down at the kid. "Think he'll be okay to sit a horse in the morning?"

"Yeah." Buck knew his answer was short but he didn't care. His thoughts burned inside his head and the image of JD's terrorized face haunted him. He'd have to get answers soon. Patience didn't sit well with him.

"You sure you're okay?"

Vin's question brought Buck's attention back to the room. He nodded then forced a grin to his face. "I'm fine, Vin. Just waterlogged after slogging through these woods after this kid."

Vin answered his grin with a smile. "Know what you mean, partner."

After the chill of the storm wore off, Chris and Vin moved to retrieve their blankets and settled to the floor near JD. Buck joined them, uncharacteristically quiet. If Chris noticed, he didn't mention it.

Night passed through, hidden in rain. Dawn nearly escaped notice until Buck drew his watch out of his pocket and announced the hour. While Chris and Vin gathered their supplies together, Buck moved to JD's side. He gently shook the young man's shoulder, calling softly to him.

JD's eyes opened and he looked up at Buck in confusion.

"'Morning, JD."

"Rain's stopped." Vin's comment drew JD's attention to the other men. He struggled up to one elbow, a frown wrinkled across his forehead. Vin saw the movement and walked over to join Buck and JD. "How you feelin', kid?"

JD grinned up at him. "I'm good."

Buck bit the inside of his lip, again questioning whether or not he'd seen stark terror on JD's sleeping face last night. Had his imagination gotten the better of him? Maybe JD had been stretching and Buck had conjured up the expression of fear and the arm raised in defense.

"Soon as you get dressed we'll head on back home, then." Chris called from the door. He left with his saddlebags in his arms. Vin pulled his own supplies from the floor and moved to follow Chris.

"Make sure that fire's out before you leave, Buck," he called as he left.

Buck brought JD his dry clothes. "Need any help?"

"No, thanks." JD gathered the blanket around his waist and maneuvered himself to his knees. He stopped when he noticed Buck's brooding stare. "This ain't a side show, Buck." When the older man looked at him blankly he gestured with his hand. "Turn around."

"Oh." Buck turned and waited. He heard rustling cloth and then JD's bare feet slapped against the wooden floor. Grabbing hold of his courage, he took a deep breath and asked, "Anything else about last night you want to tell me?"

"What do you mean?" Wariness colored JD's voice.

"I mean how you got hurt."

"I told you, horse threw me. Where're my boots?"

Buck reached for the still muddy boots and turned to hand them to a fully clothed JD.

"He got spooked and bucked me off. I landed against a tree."

"That explains the ribs, huh?"

"Yeah." JD sat on the floor and began pulling his boots on.

"So how'd you hit your head?"

"Huh?" JD's movements slowed. Buck watched the kid's face closely.

"You gotta pretty good sized bump on the back of your head. How'd you do that?"

JD pulled his boots on and stood abruptly. Irritation evident with his jerky movements, he reached for his hat and jammed it atop his head. "I told you, Buck. My horse threw me. I must have hit my head when I slammed into the tree."

He moved for the door but Buck caught his arm. JD tried to pull away but Buck gripped him firm. The kid didn't look at him but held still, his rapid breathing sounding harsh through his chest.

"What happened, JD? Who hurt you?"

JD's eyes slowly closed. His lips thinned as he pressed them together. "Nothing happened, nobody hurt me. I got thrown." With a vicious pull he jerked from Buck's hold and turned his head to look at the older man. "Don't ask me again."

The door shut loudly and he was gone. Buck stood in the silence, aware of the building worry in his churning gut. JD's lies were as clear as raw brands across his skin. Someone had hurt him badly, and he was afraid. Buck could smell the fear, it almost tingled in his palm where he'd held JD's arm.

Somehow, he had to get JD to tell him. And then he'd seek revenge.

THE END