Author: Winnie

Disclaimers---I wish I could say they were mine but I can't, so I'll play with them for a while....

Warnings----Not much of anything

Comments---this fic is for Carol, who wanted a Christastrophe. It takes place in the old west. Happy Birthday, My Dear, hope this fits the bill. Graphics by the Muse!!!!

Vin Tanner glanced nervously around the narrow canyon walls. Something didn't feel right but he couldn't put his hands on what it was. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder at his companion.

"Something wrong, Vin?" Larabee asked as he followed the trackers gaze up the steep incline. The sun was nearly down and lengthening shadows made it difficult to see.

"Not sure," Tanner said softly, his eyes once more raking over the upper edges of the canyon wall. A small movement on a ledge approximately fifteen feet above and to the right of him caught and held his attention. He felt his horse tremble as it tried to move faster. "Easy, boy," he whispered calmly, his eyes never leaving the ridge.

"What is it, Vin?" Larabee asked as his own horse's skittishness made him glance around.

Tanner caught site of the large cat just as it readied itself to pounce. The low growl a warning that it was about to do just that. "We gotta get outta here!" he shouted as he spurred his horse forward.

Chris trusted the tracker's instincts. Hearing the nervous tension in the man's voice he drove his heels into the horse and followed the younger man. He looked up at the ledge as he passed it, his eyes meeting those of a snarling Cougar.

Tanner reached the outer rim of the canyon wall, stopping as he heard the ferocious growl echoing around him. He turned back to see where his friend was, just in time to see the cat leap at him. "Chris!" Tanner cried, pulling his mare's leg from the saddle and turning it on the scene before him. 'Please, God, don't let me miss,' he prayed as he slowly depressed the trigger.

Larabee knew he wasn't going to make it. He tried to pull his gun from it's holster but one hundred pounds of cat impacted with his body, knocking him from the saddle. The world around him disappeared as he struggled to keep the gnashing teeth from sinking into his neck. He held his right arm up and screamed as the jaws locked around his forearm. He fought with everything he had to keep the cat from sinking its teeth into his neck, but was unable to move his left arm. He felt the animal's claws as they raked along his legs and chest. The cougar's face was close enough to his own that the gunslinger could smell the fetid breath. It reminded him of rotting meat left in the sun to long.

It felt like an eternity but was actually less than a minute, when Chris heard the sharp crack of Vin's mare's leg, and the animal went slack above him. The head dropped to his chest and Chris stared into the lifeless feline eyes.

Larabee tried to breath but the heavy weight on his chest made it almost impossible. Dark spots flashed before his eyes as he struggled to move the dead animal.

Tanner grabbed the cougar and pulled it off his friend. He gasped at the ragged tears in the gunslingers dark clothing, glimpsing blood covered wounds underneath. "Ah, Hell, Larabee," he said as he noticed the lines of pain on the handsome face.

"Hell's r...right," the injured man groaned as he tried to sit up.

"Take it easy, Cowboy. Ya ain't goin' nowhere right now," the tracker soothed as he began removing the gunslinger's duster.

"Oh, shit, Vin," Larabee gasped as the younger man lifted him to a sitting position in order to remove the long black duster.

A cry from the injured man made the tracker stop as he realized the elbow was bent at an awkward angle. "Sorry, Pard, looks like ya broke yer elbow when ya fell and I know this hurts but I need ta see how much damage it did to the rest a ya," Tanner explained as he pulled the duster from the injured man's left arm, gently placing the broken limb back on the ground. Blood soaked through the right sleeve of the dark shirt.

"L...lotta d...damage by the f...feel of things,' the gunslinger said through gritted teeth. His eyes clenched tight as sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Yeah, I bet it feels pretty bad, Pard," Tanner agreed as he gently placed Larabee back on the ground. "I'm just gonna get one a the blankets to put ya on. Ya jest lie still till I get things ready," Tanner felt the trembling in the older man's body.

"Damn, h...hurts," Larabee gasped as pain flared from the wounds on his chest, arms and legs.

"I know. You jest hang on and I'll get ya fixed up in no time."

"K," Larabee whispered. The mind numbing pain in his chest terrified the gunslinger. He could feel the burning deep inside as if someone had made him swallow a white-hot poker. He turned onto his side and tried to curl into a ball, crying out as pain radiated from his left ankle up to his thigh. He wrapped his right arm protectively around his chest as he tried to stave off the agony. Every move he made caused his breath to catch in his throat as waves of pain washed over his body. "Get a g...grip, Larabee, it ain't that b...bad," he gasped, not realizing he'd muttered the words aloud.

"Who ya tryin' ta convince, Cowboy?" Tanner asked as he spread the blanket next to the injured man.

"N...not s...sure," Larabee's body trembled as he felt Tanner's hands on his shoulders. "D...don't,' he cried softly.

"Come on, Chris, I know it hurts but I gotta clean ya up. Lord only knows what that cat's been into. Ya get an infection in there and it's gonna get a whole lot worse real fast. Now let me take a look," Tanner ordered as he continued to pull the gunslinger onto his back. Vin could see the spreading bloodstain on his friend's chest and knew he had to get the bleeding stopped and the wounds cleaned and covered. "Gonna have ta get yer shirt and pants off, Cowboy," he explained.

"Ya ain't my type, T...Tanner," Larabee gasped, trying to ease the tension he felt emanating from the younger man.

"Ain't that the truth," Tanner laughed. 'Damn,' he thought as he got his first glimpse of the damage done to his friend's chest. Two deep furrows, one on each side, ran down the gunslingers chest, from his shoulder to just above the navel. Smaller marks were present but most of the blood seemed to be oozing from these two wounds. The area around the wounds already showed signs of swelling and a raw redness was evident at the edges. Tanner knew he had to stop the bleeding but he also needed to see how bad the wounds in the gunslinger's arms and leg were. He finished removing the shirt and could see the damage done by the animal's teeth tearing at Larabee's forearm. He took a clean bandage from his saddlebag and pressed it to the wounds on his chest.

"Ah! V...Vin!" Larabee tried desperately to get away from the pressure being exerted on his ravaged chest. "S...stop," he said as he tried in vain to flick the younger man's hands away.

"Can't stop, Chris. Gotta fix ya up," the tracker said worriedly. He left the bandage in place and turned his attention to the puncture marks on the right arm. Once more he took a bandage and wrapped it tightly around the wounds, putting as much pressure as he could on them.

"V...Vin, stop. G...God, that h...hurts," the pale form struggled weakly but Tanner kept the pressure on the wounds.

"Got a lot more ta do yet, Larabee. Yer jest gonna have ta take it till it gets done," the tracker said as he placed the gunslingers arm back down on the blanket. Slowly moving down to the man's waist Vin began pulling off the dust and blood covered jeans. The cries of protest and pain from the injured man fell on deaf ears as Tanner assessed the damage done to the blonds' legs. The heavy denim jeans protected the man's legs to some extent and Vin was grateful. Both legs were covered in small shallow claw marks. His only real worries being a deep four-inch gash just above the gunslinger's right knee and the awkward angle of his left ankle.

Vin covered the gash with another bandage, once more putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding. "How ya doin', Cowboy?"

"F...fine," the blond ground out.

"Ain't much of a liar, Larabee," Tanner told him as he tore a strip from his blanket and wrapped it around the leg wounds.

"B...been told t...that more'n once," Larabee's weak voice rasped. He licked his lips in an effort to moisten them.

"Here," the younger man said. He lifted the gunslingers head and helped him drink from the canteen.

Chris gratefully swallowed the warm water, relishing the returning moisture to his arid throat. "T...thanks, whiskey'd be b...better," he said, his voice laced with pain.

"I bet it would, Pard, but I'm gonna need the whiskey to clean the wounds. Ain't got enough fer ya ta drink," Tanner informed him.

"Shit, T...Tanner, ain't ya got any g...good news?"

Worried blue eyes gazed deeply into dazed green ones. A small smile adorned the face of the younger man as he spoke. "The cat won't be botherin' ya no more."

Larabee couldn't stop the laugh that spilled from his throat at the trackers serious expression as he pointed to the dead animal. "Don't spose it will," he said, groaning as his chest came to life and the pain seemed to double. He tried once more to turn onto his side and curl into a ball but was prevented from doing so by Tanner's strong hands.

"Chris, I know it hurts, Pard and I wish the hell Nathan was here but he's not and I gotta clean out those wounds and set yer arm and ankle. Looks like ya broke em both when ya fell. Think ya can stay still a little longer?"

"Don't s...seem to h...have much choice."

Tanner removed the bandage that lay across the blonds' chest. He poured water from his canteen directly unto the wounds, closing his ears to the almost inaudible cries of pain emanating from the blond. Once the blood was washed away he looked directly at the gunslinger's face. "This is gonna hurt like a son of a bitch, Cowboy."

"Just get it over with," Larabee grated out.

"Try and hold still, Pard," Tanner said as he poured whiskey onto a clean bandage and placed it over the wound.

Chris couldn't take his eyes off the cloth as Tanner lowered it towards the wounds on his chest. He knew the agony this was gonna cause but his body reacted instinctively and he tried to push the burning cloth away. "Godammit, Vin," he screamed as Tanner held the whiskey soaked material in place. "H...hurts," Larabee mumbled as he finally lost consciousness.

"Gotta be done, Pard," Tanner said as he lifted the now un-protesting body. He wrapped a strip of blanket around the blond's chest to keep the whiskey soaked bandage in place. Grateful that the other man had finally succumbed to unconsciousness he quickly and methodically cleaned the remainder of the wounds.

The tracker searched the area until he found four good sizes sticks to use for splints. "Sorry, Cowboy. Looks like I'm gonna cause ya a little more pain," he apologized as he began setting and splinting the broken limbs. Finally finished, he sat back on his heels and looked at the pale figure before him. "Damn, Pard, wish ta hell I could do somethin' bout the pain yer gonna feel," he whispered.

Reaching down he took the remainder of his blanket and draped it over the almost nude body of his friend, tucking the ends underneath in an effort to keep him warm.

Tanner stood up and looked around the area. Darkness had nearly taken over and he realized he had to get a fire started. He knew how quickly the temperature could drop out here and he had to make sure Chris was kept warm.

He looked at the dead carcass of the cougar and knew he'd have to get rid of it before other predators caught scent of it. He tied a rope around its hindquarters and climbed on his own horse. He dragged the animal a short distance from where he and Larabee would be spending the night and left it by a pile of small rocks. He swung his horse around and hurried back to his friend.

He knelt beside the injured man and placed his hand to his forehead. He felt a little heat and knew a fever was building. "Ya gotta hang on, Cowboy," he ordered.

"Vin?" green eyes opened to narrowed slots.

"Yeah, it's me, Chris. How're ya feelin'?"

"Not feelin' to good right now, Pard," Larabee's voice gave credence to his words as he closed his eyes once more.

"I'm gonna get a fire goin', Cowboy. Ya jest lie there and let me take care a things, Ok?"

"D...don't seem ta have much c...choice," the gunslinger groaned. "T...tired."

"I'll let ya sleep as soon as ya drink a little more a this water, Chris," Tanner said as he once more lifted the blond's head.

Chris swallowed a small amount of the liquid before turning away as his nauseas stomach rebelled. "Enough," he mumbled as he drifted off.

"Ya go ahead an sleep, Cowboy. Gonna be a long road back ta Four Corners but I'll get ya there," Tanner swore as he searched the area for firewood.

By the time Chris Larabee opened his eyes again a fire was burning before him. The sickly odor that permeated the dessert air told him that Vin was steeping one of Nathan's teas. He tried to lift his head, groaning as the world around him tilted wildly.

"How ya doin', Pard?" Tanner asked from beside him.

"N...not to damn good, Vin," he answered honestly.

"Got somethin' here that should help ya with the pain," Tanner told him.

"Nathan's s...skunk juice?"

Tanner laughed at the rebellious tone in the older man's voice. "Fraid so, Cowboy, and ya ain't gonna give me no grief bout drinkin' it. Now open up," the tracker ordered as he lifted the sweat soaked blond head.

Chris swallowed as much of the tea as he could before turning away. He clutched weakly at his chest as a deep burning pain seemed to come to life. He gasped and laid his head back against the trackers arm. His nauseas stomach suddenly rebelled against the warm tea and he bent across Tanner's body, losing the contents in a thin stream.

The tracker held the injured man close as his fevered body shivered against the chilly night air. "Easy, Cowboy, I got ya," he said calmly as the other man shuddered and lay still.

"Gonna have ta tote yer sorry ass back ta town, Larabee. Ya sure as hell ain't gonna be ridin' yer horse tomorrow," Tanner said as he held the injured man, desperately searching for any sign of life in the too still body. He held his hand against the gunslinger's chest, relieved to feel the shallow rise and fall as he took air into his lungs. "Don't ya worry none, Chris, I'll get ya back to Nathan."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, Buck, any idea when Chris and Vin'll be back?"

"Should be back sometime late tomorrow," Wilmington answered as he smiled at the two women walking past the jail.

"Think they had any trouble in Kettleston?"

"Yer kiddn'! Right, Kid? All they had to do was drop off some papers for the judge. Ain't nothin' in that tiny town that could give them trouble."

"Ah, Mr. Wilmington. I beg to differ. This is Mr. Larabee and Mr. Tanner we're talking about. They seem to attract the wrong element," Ezra Standish declared as he shuffled a new deck of cards, his eyes searching for a new mark.

"You're one to talk, Ez. I hate to cut this short but I see Miss Blossom and she's all alone," Wilmington grinned.

"Oh, Lord, and you said I'm one to talk about trouble," Standish declared.

"Miss Blossom's no trouble. No trouble at all," the ladies man laughed as he walked away, thoughts of Larabee and Tanner quickly left him as he smiled at the pretty woman across the street.

~~~~~~~~~~

Vin Tanner secured the travois to the back of Larabee's gelding. He'd spent the night building the conveyance and holding Larabee as he became increasingly restless and cried out in his sleep. He'd managed to get some water and a small amount of Nathan's tea into the injured man but he knew it wasn't enough. The fever continued to rise during the night and the tracker knew it would soon reach dangerous levels.

"V...Vin?"

The raspy voice sounded lost and alone, something Vin Tanner never expected to hear from the older man. He hurriedly knelt beside Larabee brushing back the hair from his forehead, "Mornin', Cowboy, Ya ready ta go home?"

"T...think so. G...gonna need help g...gettin' on my horse though."

"Ya ain't ridin' no horse, Larabee, yer gonna be lyin' on a travois. Don't even think about arguin', specially after I stayed up all night to make the damn thing."

"K...kinda grouchy a...aren't ya?" Larabee asked.

"Comes from buttin' heads with a stubborn gunslinger," Tanner grinned. "Now I gotta check yer wounds. Think ya can stay still again?"

"N...not much c...choice," Larabee groaned as the tracker removed the bandages from his right arm. "How's it look?" he asked.

"Not as bad as I thought," Tanner answered honestly. Pleased with the small amount of blood that showed on the bandage. He cleaned the puncture marks with water, placing another whiskey-covered bandage over the top. He continued down to the wounds on Larabee's legs and repeated the process there. He knew the long gash needed stitches but didn't want to do it unless he had to. The wounds from an animal such as a cougar could fester quickly because of the dead meat the animals consumed. He left the broken limbs alone as there was nothing more he could do about them.

Chris held his breath in an effort to ride out the agony caused by the cleaning and the whiskey covered bandages. His right hand was clenched in a tight fist as the tracker turned his attention to the wounds on his chest. "Arg, V...Vin, h...hurts," he groaned as the bandages were removed.

'Oh, damn, Larabee, wish the hell Nathan was here,' he thought as he saw the blood begin to well up around the furrows again. "Chris, I'm gonna need ta clean this real good, Pard."

"T...thought as much. Damn t...things burnin', Vin. F...feels like my c...chests on f...fire," Larabee gasped as he felt the water run over his wounds.

"Hold on, Pard. I gotta pour the whiskey directly on here."

"K," the blond rasped as Tanner poured the whiskey over the long wounds. He cried out as the liquor worked it's magic, cleaning the dirt and grime from the open claw marks. "Shit, t...that hurt," he cried as Tanner finished his ministrations and replace the old bandages with new.

"Ya still with me, Cowboy?" Tanner asked.

"I t...think so," the blond answered, his voice once more edged with pain.

"I need ya ta drink this for me," Tanner ordered as he lifted the blond head and forced the noxious liquid past his lips.

Larabee swallowed automatically, coughing as the tea hit the back of his parched throat. "Enough, Vin," he groaned as his injured body protested the coughing.

"Alright, Cowboy, ya jest rest fer a minute while I bring the horses over," Tanner ordered. He didn't wait for an answer as he hurried to bring the travois closer. "Chris?"

"Hmm."

"I'm gonna lift ya now and I need ya to let me do all the work. Ya hear me?"

"I h...hear you, V...Vin."

"Jest hold on a little longer," Tanner told him as he pulled the blanket off his friends battered and torn body. He gently reached under the lean gunslinger and lifted with a strength he didn't realize he possessed. Tears of frustration welled up in his eyes as he tried unsuccessfully to ignore the gasping moans coming from the blond. He carefully placed the man on the conveyance and gently patted his right shoulder. "All done, Chris."

"V...Vin, I...I'm gonna b...be sick," Larabee gasped as the younger man helped him lean over the side.

Tanner shook his head, knowing how dangerous dehydration was for someone in Chris's condition. He reached around and picked up the cup with the remainder of the willow bark tea. "Here, Chris, drink this and we'll get moving."

"No," Larabee groaned.

"Ya don't have a choice, Cowboy. Now open up and take it," the tracker ordered as he placed the cup in front of the gunslinger's mouth.

Larabee stared at his friend through hooded eyes. He sipped at the tea, knowing the younger man was right and he didn't have much choice. He knew from experience the tea would help ease the pain and even help him sleep. He was surprised when Tanner removed the cup and tucked a blanket around him.

"Chris," I'm gonna have ta tie you on here so's ya don't go falling off."

"K," the blond moaned, closing his eyes and waiting for the tea to take affect, wishing instead he had some of Nathan's laudanum. He felt a gentle hand on his right shoulder and opened his eyes.

"Chris, ya need anything jest call out."

"I w...will," Larabee said and let his eyes slide shut before the younger man could read the pain in them.

Tanner stood up and climbed on his own horse. Taking the reins from Larabee's horse he slowly started forward knowing every bump in the road was going to be pure agony on his friend.

~~~~~~~~

"V...Vin."

Tanner instantly pulled the horses to a stop. They'd been making steady progress for more than six hours, stopping only long enough to give Larabee a drink. He wasn't taking in much but even the small amount he was taking would help for a while. He hurried to the travois and knelt beside his friend, canteen in hand. "Here, Chris," he said as he lifted his friend's head and helped him drink a small amount of liquid. "Are ya alright?"

"N...no."

Tanner looked at his friend, fighting to keep the fear that one word invoked in him. It was hard to get Chris Larabee to admit something was wrong and this admission came as a shock to the younger man. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"C...chest," Larabee answered, moaning deep in his throat.

"Let me take a look," Tanner pulled back the blanket and removed the bandages from the wounds. The raw edges were a little red but otherwise looked the same as when he'd changed them earlier. "I'm gonna clean them again, Chris."

Larabee's answer was a painful groan as he remembered the burning the whiskey would cause. "Wish I could d...drink the damn s...stuff stead a wastin' it," he sighed.

Tanner grinned as he took the whiskey flask and poured a small amount on the new bandages. He knew he'd have to start tearing up his extra shirt soon to keep the wounds clean. "I wouldn't call this wastin' it, Cowboy." Carefully he placed the bandage over the wounds. "All done, Cowboy. It's time we got back on the road."

"K," the blond answered weakly.

"Think ya can drink a little more water for me?"

Larabee nodded his head and drank from the canteen. He managed a couple of small sips before his stomach protested and he turned away.

Tanner took a sip from the canteen and then stood up. "Try'n sleep, Cowboy, we'll be home before ya know it."

"V...Vin."

The tracker turned back worriedly, "Yeah?"

"I...if I d...don't m...make..."

"I ain't listenin' ta that shit, Larabee. Yer gonna make it and be glarin' at the rest of us in no time. Nathan'll shoot me if'n I don't take care a ya. So ya jest don't talk like that and we'll both live! Ok?"

"Alright, Vin," the injured gunslinger managed only a slight nod as his eyes slid closed and he once more slipped into unconsciousness.

"Yer gonna be alright, Cowboy," Vin promised, wiping the sweat from the fevered man's forehead. He climbed back on his horse and once more started them forward.

Darkness had completely taken over the night sky when he pulled the horses to a stop by a small creek. Larabee remained unconscious the whole time and his fever continued to rise. He knew the water in the creek would be cool and he'd pushed on even when he could barely see anything in front of him.

He ground tied the horses in a patch of grass along the edge of the creek, making sure they were close enough to drink from the stream. Slowly he lowered the travois to the ground and pulled it away from the horses. Larabee still hadn't moved or showed any sign of coming to. Vin wasn't sure if he should be relieved or worried.

The tracker quickly started a fire, and then moved the saddles from the two horses. He turned his attention to the injured man, surprised to see two green eyes watching him. "Hey, Cowboy, how're ya feelin'?"

"Fine," Larabee answered.

"Ya know I'd believe that if it wasn't accompanied by that moan," Tanner told him.

"You don't l...look to good y...yourself, Tanner," Larabee painfully quipped.

"What do ya expect havin' ta carry yer sorry butt all over the place," the tracker laughed in spite of the situation.

"Get some s...sleep, Vin, "I'll take f...first watch," Larabee ground out, a weak grin on his face as he tried to relieve the tension on the younger man's face.

"Sure, Cowboy, I'll tie ya to a tree so's ya can stay awake."

"V...Vin, t...thanks."

"Thanks for what?"

"You s...saved my life back t...there. If you hadn't s...shot the damn cat I'd be d...dead right now," Larabee coughed.

"I shoulda seen the cat and warned ya before it was too late," Tanner denied. "I shoulda sensed it."

"Not y...your fault."

"Yes it was, Chris. I shoulda known it was there," Tanner said as he shook his head angrily.

"V...Vin."

"It's ok, Chris. I'm jest cranky like ya said. Here, got ya some cool water," Tanner said as he held a cup to Larabee's mouth. He was surprised as the gunslinger eagerly drank half the water before turning away.

"Thanks," Larabee gasped as pain radiated out from the wounds on his body.

"I'm gonna make ya some more a Nathan's tea, Cowboy."

"K."

The tracker put the water on to boil and returned to the injured man. He felt his forehead, biting his lip as he felt the heat radiating there. He ripped his clean shirt into strips and began bathing the fevered brow.

Larabee felt the cool cloth as it slid across his face. He welcomed the touch and moaned softly when the cloth was removed.

"Easy, Cowboy, I'm jest makin' it cool again," Tanner reassured his friend as he placed the cloth on his head once more. "Chris, I gotta look at the wounds again."

Larabee heard the regret in his friends voice and nodded his head slowly. "Go ahead," he muttered.

Once again ignoring the weak cries from the other man, Tanner cleaned and dressed the ragged wounds. By the time he was done Larabee was gasping for breath and fighting to stay conscious.

The tracker poured the steeped willow bark tea into a cup and placed it aside to cool a little. Knowing there was nothing more he could do for his friend he walked to the horses and brushed them down. By the time he was finished the tea was lukewarm and he sat beside his friend. "Chris?"

"Hmm."

"I need ya ta drink this," Tanner urged, lifting the man's head so he could sip the tea.

Larabee slowly sipped the offering, grateful for the moisture in his dry mouth. "T...thanks, Vin," sighing as he closed his eyes once more.

"Anytime, Cowboy," Tanner swore. He leaned back against his bedroll and slowly let exhaustion take over.

The tracker came to with a start, unsure what was wrong. He searched the area, trying to figure out what sound woke him. The silence of the predawn was once more interrupted by a pitiful moan from the man beside him. He reached out and touched the man's arm. "Hey, Cowboy, you awake?"

"Y...yeah. S...sorry didn't m...mean to w...wake you."

"It's ok, Chris. Slept to long anyway. Bout time we got started. How're ya feelin'?"

"F...feel like s...shit, Pard," Larabee answered honestly.

"Reckon ya do, Cowboy," Tanner said as he got up, filled the cup from the creek and returned to the injured man. "Drink some of this and I'll get things ready to leave."

Larabee took a couple of tiny sips and then shook his head. "N...no m...more," he gasped as he felt his stomach rebelling.

"Alright, Chris, just relax while I get things ready."

The gunslinger closed his eyes, trying to ride out the pain in his body. He had no idea how much time passed but he was unable to sleep. He coughed and groaned as he felt the agony flare in his chest. "Ah, damn, Vin," he cried, coughing again.

"Easy, Cowboy," Tanner knelt beside his friend, placing a soothing cool cloth on his forehead.

"T...think it's b...bleeding again, V...Vin," Larabee muttered.

"Let me take a look," the tracker carefully pulled back the bandages and swore loudly. Fresh blood welled up from the centre of the furrows. Tanner hurriedly grabbed the last strips of his shirt and the last of the whiskey. He worked steadily and efficiently until he had the blood stopped and bandages wrapped tightly around the wounds. By the time he was finished a glistening sheen of perspiration covered Larabee's body.

The gunslinger tried to be still through the trackers ministrations but finally lost consciousness as Tanner lifted him forward. "I'll get ya back ta Nathan," the younger man swore as he hurried to saddle the horses.

An hour later, with dawn just showing her pale streaks, Tanner had them on the road. He'd managed to get Chris to drink more of the willow bark tea, but the gunslinger quickly lost it again.

Through the long day and well into the night Vin kept a steady pace, knowing his friend's life depended on getting him home. He stopped and checked the blond constantly, relieved to see the chest wounds didn't bleed any more, worried because the fever that racked his body didn't get any better. He forced the gunslinger to take small sips from the canteen, even though he never fully regained consciousness.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he spotted the small fires burning in the streets of the tiny town of Four Corners. "We're almost there, Cowboy," he called over his shoulder, not really expecting an answer and surprised when he heard a mumbled 'K' from the injured man. He stopped the horses and hurried back to his friend's side. "Think you can drink a little more water?"

Larabee nodded and opened dry, cracked lips to take a tiny amount of water. Vin was grateful he was still managing to get the older man to take some. He also knew it wasn't enough as evidenced by the diminished perspiration and the dry lips. "I'll get ya to Nathan's and he'll fix ya right up, Cowboy," Tanner assured his friend.

"T...thanks, Vin," Larabee brightened a little as he realized just how close to home they were.

"Anytime, Cowboy," Tanner said as he remounted and led the horses towards town.

~~~~~~~~~

"Might I be of assistance, Mr. Tanner?" Standish asked as he noticed the familiar form riding towards him.

"Ez, get Nathan. Chris is hurt bad," the tracker called, his voice shaky with fear and exhaustion as he realized he'd managed to get them both home alive.

"Right away, Mr. Tanner," Standish rushed towards the saloon where the others gathered for a drink before calling it a night.

Vin continued towards the livery and Nathan's clinic. He pulled to a halt at the hitching post and hurried to the back of Larabee's gelding. "We're home, Chris," he said.

"H...home," Larabee whispered gratefully, a sigh escaping his lips as he heard racing footsteps.

"What happened?" Jackson asked as he knelt beside the Gunslinger.

"Cougar attack two days ago," Tanner answered. "He's got claw marks on his chest and legs, teeth marks on his right arm, broke his left ankle and arm as well."

"Damn, stud, you don't do anything the easy way do you?" Wilmington asked.

"There's time enough for talk later. Josiah, unhook the travois and you and Buck carry him up to my clinic," Jackson ordered. His healer's mind kicked in as he gave orders to the others. "JD, see if Inez has any ice. Ezra, bring me some water. Vin, you look like you're about to fall over."

"I'm fine, Nathan...."

"Vin, you got him here and now you need to let me take care of him. You go get something to eat and then I'll let you spend the night in the clinic but right now I haven't got time to worry about you. Now go."

"Nathan...."

"G...go, V...Vin. I'll be h...here w...when you get b...back," Larabee assured the younger man.

"Chris..."

"Vin, I owe you my l...life," Larabee mumbled as Buck and Josiah lifted the travois. He lifted his right arm, holding back the cry of pain and grasped the younger man's forearm. "Thanks, Cowboy."

"Anytime," Tanner swore as he watched his friend being carried up the stairs. He ran his hands over his tired face as his shoulders slumped with a bone weary tiredness. He sat on the stairs and closed his eyes as the events of the last few days caught up with him.

"Vin?"

Tanner looked at the ladies man as he came down the stairs. "Is he ok, Buck?"

"He's still awake. Nathan just gave him some Laudanum to ease the pain. How bout you, Pard? Are you ok?"

"Jest a little tired, Buck."

"More than a little I'd say. I told Nathan you wouldn't leave. Why don't you go on up and sit on the landing while I get Inez to fix you something to eat?"

"Thanks, Buck," Tanner mumbled tiredly. He made his way up the stairs just as JD and Ezra returned.

~~~~~~~~

Morning found four men anxiously waiting for word on the injured man. Sanchez kept them informed from time to time, talking quietly when he noticed the sleeping form of the tracker.

Nathan Jackson finished putting the final stitches in the leg wounds. The Laudanum and the constant pain he'd been in kept Larabee under. The wounds in the chest were clean but he'd lost count of how many stitches it took to close the deep furrows. Finally sitting back in his chair he breathed a sigh of relief before stepping out on the landing.

"Nathan?" Wilmington said as Tanner came to his feet.

"How is our illustrious leader, Mr. Jackson?" Standish asked.

"He's still sleeping. Gonna be doin' a lot of that I expect. Got a lot of healing to do."

"Nathan, I...I..."

"Vin, ya saved his life. Ya kept the wounds clean and stopped them from becoming infected. Ya did a fine job a settin' his arm and leg too."

"Should never have happened. I shoulda known the cat was there," Tanner hissed softly.

"Vin, ya can't know everything. Just be glad he's alive and will be alright. Ya'd all best get some rest cause I'm gonna need ya ta sit with him. We all know what he's like when he's in my clinic. He's gonna fight me every step of the way once he starts to heal."

"Nathan, I'll stay with him," Tanner said.

"Vin, ya look like death warmed over. No, ya need ta get some rest yourself. One of the other's will stay with him."

"Nathan, I'm fine. Slept the night away right here," the tracker indicated the chair.

"Vin, I'll make a deal with ya. Ya can stay in the clinic but ya'd best catch some more sleep on the cot. Otherwise I won't let ya stay."

"Alright, Nathan," Tanner agreed, walking towards the open door, his body aching more than he'd let on.

"I'll stay with them," Wilmington offered.

"Okay, Buck, just make sure ya come get me if either of them needs anything. Chris has a bit of a fever so keep wiping him down."

"I will, Nate, get some rest," the ladies man said with a grin. He stepped into the clinic, his eyes falling on the two men. One lying so still, pale and quiet. The other just as still, pale, and quiet but sitting in the chair beside the bed. "Vin, the cots over there."

"I know, Buck, I jest needed to make sure he's ok."

"I'll stay with him, Vin. Now get over there and lie down."

"Wake me if..."

"Don't worry I'll wake you when he wakes."

"Thanks, Pard."

"You're welcome. Now get some sleep," Wilmington ordered, smiling as the younger man dropped tiredly onto the narrow cot. It wasn't long before his even breathing joined that of Larabee's and the two men slept.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next three days passed in a haze for the six lawmen. They divided the time between their patrols and staying with the injured peacekeeper. The bite marks on his arm had shown signs of infection and his body burned with fever. Jackson hadn't left his side except to get some much-needed rest.

Jackson and Tanner took turns sleeping on the tiny cot. The other four stopping by regularly to check on their three friends. They bathed Larabee's sweat soaked, fevered body using cool water, forcing him to drink whenever he opened his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris opened his eyes, glancing around in confusion, wondering why he hurt so much. His eyes fell on the man sitting in the chair beside the bed. "V...Vin."

His voice was barely a whisper but it was all the tracker needed to open his eyes and smile at his friend. "Morning, Cowboy, bout time ya decided to join us," Tanner said as he lifted the blond head and helped him sip water from a glass.

"How l...long?" Larabee asked as he struggled to sit up.

"Easy there, Cowboy. I don't think ya oughta be doin' that right now. Bust any a them stitches and Nathan'll have both our heads."

"Ya got that right, Vin," Jackson said as he entered the room carrying a bucket of fresh water. "How're ya feelin', Chris?"

"F...fine," was the weak reply.

"Sure ya are. Now how are ya feelin'?

"Bout as w...weak as a newborn c...calf," Larabee answered honestly.

"Figured as much. Vin, go see if Miss Inez can make some broth while I check Chris's wounds."

Tanner met Larabee's eyes neither one saying a word as the tracker left the room.

"You're a lucky man, Chris," Jackson said as he sat in the chair by the bed.

"I know, Nate," Larabee groaned as the healer lifted the bandages from his chest.

Jackson finished examining his patient just as Tanner returned with the broth and five other men in tow.

"How ya feelin', Stud?" Wilmington asked.

"F...fine, Buck," Larabee answered automatically.

"Sure you are, Mr. Larabee. You're the picture of health. No one would guess that you went a couple of rounds with a ravenous cougar," Standish grinned, showing his gold tooth in the process.

"Josiah, lift him forward so's I can put some pillows behind him," Jackson ordered.

Larabee groaned as Josiah gently lifted him forward, breathing deeply in an effort to keep the darkness at bay.

"Breathe slow, Chris," Jackson warned as he wiped the beads of sweat from the gunslinger's forehead. When the blonds' breathing was under control the healer helped him drink the warm broth.

"Thanks," Larabee said as he emptied the contents of the bowl.

"One more thing to drink, Chris," Jackson said as he hovered over Larabee's pale form.

"What?" the blond grumbled tiredly, his face lined with pain.

"Open up," Jackson placed a cup in front of the injured man's mouth. Larabee opened automatically and swallowed the medicine. "Get some rest now, Chris."

"Thanks, Nathan," Larabee whispered as his eyes grew heavy. He felt the others removing the pillows and settling him under the blankets.

"Get some rest, Brother."

"I'll be back later, Stud."

"Me too, Chris," Dunne said.

"Sleep well, Mr. Larabee."

"Alright you fellas get outta here. He's sleeping and Lord knows he needs it."

"I'll stay with him, Nate."

"Figured as much, Vin," Jackson chuckled as he ushered the others out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

Larabee slept most of the time for the next four days, remaining awake long enough to drink whatever offering the healer gave him. The one constant through it all was Vin Tanner, whether sitting by his side or sleeping on the cot across the room.

The gunslinger tried to sit up in the bed, groaning as he felt the pains of his injured body.

"Let me help you, Cowboy."

Chris nodded gratefully as the tracker leaned him forward and placed extra pillows behind him. "T...thanks," he gasped breathlessly.

"Anytime," Tanner assured him. "Can I get you anything?"

"Water."

The sharpshooter placed a glass in front of the blonds' mouth and waited for him to drink his fill. Silence reined supreme over the clinic for the space of ten minutes. Neither man needing words to express their feelings.

"Vin, I owe you my life," Larabee said, breaking the silence.

"I almost cost..."

"Don't say that, Vin. There's no way you could have known that cougar was there."

"I'm a tracker. I shoulda known."

"I'm a gunslinger, Vin, but I don't win every fight. I've lost a few even got the scars to prove it. What I'm trying to say is we all make mistakes. Tracking is hard but you've proven how skilled you are at it time and again. If it wasn't for your skill with that sawed off of yours I'd be dead and that cougar would have a gut full of Larabee hide rather than a head full of Tanner lead."

"I knew I had to make that shot."

"Vin, there's no one else I'd trust to make that shot."

"Thanks, Cowboy," Tanner smiled at Larabee's open admission of his unconditional trust.

Larabee lifted his right arm, ignoring the pain from the bite marks, grasping his friend's forearm tightly. No words were spoken but the friendship the two shared filled the room with its presence. 'I'll watch your back, Pard,' Larabee sent, as his eyes once more grew heavy with sleep.

'I'll watch your back, Cowboy,' Tanner sent back, knowing even in sleep Chris Larabee understood the unspoken vow. He breathed a sigh of relief, content in the knowledge that the gunslinger wouldn't be down for long. He stood and walked to the cot sinking down in exhausted relief he joined his friend in healing sleep.