"Ezra, this is crazy. I told you three hours ago it was crazy..." Chris Larabee grumbled tiredly. They had argued for half the morning until, feeling ganged up on by Standish and Tanner, and with very little support from Wilmington, he agreed to be hypnotized.

But nothing had happened. With Chris resting on his bed, Vin sitting nearby and Buck watching from his sentinel post on the front porch, Ezra had tried over and over to relax Chris enough to allow the gambler to hypnotize him.

"Mr. Larabee, unless you give over some semblance of control to me, sir, I will be unable to effect any margin of success in this mesmerization."

"Ezra, frankly, I thing this is all a load of shit. I told you...it's not going to happen."

"Chris, listen pard," Vin came to sit next to his friend. "I can't say for sure this is gonna work. Ain't seen this hypno-tism thing before, ain't even sure what it is. But I'm thinkin' it's about time we tried anythin' we can t' get y' on your feet. If what Josiah figured out is true, them fellas is gonna be comin' back here t' collect y' and finish th' job awful soon. I don't fancy lettin' that happen. Reckon we get you fixed up anyway we can, it'll only help us protect y'. An, if y' remember what happened, y' could give us clues as t' what we're goin' up against." The young hunter had positioned himself to face the wounded gunman; only Chris saw the tears that welled up in the crystal-blue eyes.

For several moments Larabee simply sat there, fighting his warring emotions. He was angry with Tanner, putting him on the spot like this. He could tell the younger man no. He had done it before. Vin had no right asking him to do something so stupid. The usually level-headed hunter could not truly expect him to simply agree on the strength of their friendship. At the same time, it was a strong friendship...a bond that he shared with no one else.

"Yeah...alright..." the gunman said finally. But still there was not success.

"Chris, y' gotta try harder."

"Mr. Tanner, I fear that it is not really Mr. Larabee's fault, but my own shortcomings that are hindering our progress."

"Ezra, you sayin' you ain't good 'nuff t' do this hypno-tism thing?"

"No, I have had a great deal of success in this process. However there is one thing I am unable to secure from our leader..."

"What?"

"Trust. I fear that Mr. Larabee is unable to trust me enough to give me control of what happens to him."

"Then let's make it so he don't worry 'bout trustin' y'," Tanner drawled. He turned to the blond. "Chris, you ain't ready t' trust Ezra all th' way. Reckon it ain't been easy for y' t' trust anyone for quite a spell," he paused, returning once more to sit next to his friend. "I know I been askin' a lot of y' t'day, but I'm gonna ask y' t' do one more thing for me."

"What?" Chris asked warily.

"Trust me. Can y' trust me t' watch your back, pard? Trust me t' make sure you're okay while Ezra does this hypno-tism thin a his?"

The gunman sighed, rubbing at the headache between his eyes. Vin was asking so much of their friendship. But could he deny that he would trust Vin Tanner in anything? Sighing, he said "you know I trust you pard. But I don't know if even that's enough."

"It'll have t' be. You're m' friend, and I ain't gonna stop til we've done ever'thing we can t' get you better." That said, he stood and lifted Chris up. Moving the gunslinger away from the wall, Tanner slid behind him. Easing the man in black back, he settled Chris against his chest. Larabee was rigid, unable or unwilling to relax in such an awkward embrace. Wrapping his arms loosely around the still-healing chest, Vin propped a leg up on either side of the slim body he had now effectively encircled. "Alright, " he whispered against Chris' ear. "Now, y' said y' could trust me. Now's th' time t' prove it. Relax and lean on me Chris. Just relax and trust me t' not let anythin' happen t' you."

Closing his eyes and slowly willing himself to relax and accept the situation, Larabee managed to comply with the tracker's request. Finally he rested against Tanner.

"Alright, Mr. Tanner, although you're eyesight has not completely returned as yet, I still feel that you should avert your eyes for the time being. Part of the process is visual, and I would prefer not to have you under my spell, as it were, along with Mr. Larabee. Shall we try once more?" Ezra said evenly.

Slowly, very slowly, aided by the bond between the other two men, Ezra Standish managed to hypnotize the wounded and troubled gunman. "Chris...can you hear me?"

"Yes..." came the soft reply.

"Chris I want you to listen to me...concentrate on my voice. We are going to move back in time, to the point just before you were captured." Ezra watched as Larabee's breathing quickened at the mere anticipation of revisiting that time. "Now Chris, you must remain calm. You cannot be injured by the men now, these are only memories, nothing more. You are safe here, know that. You can feel Vin right behind you. Vin is with you...he will keep you safe. I will travel back to that time with you. You and I and Vin will explore what happened to you in the time you were held captive. But these are only memories, Chris...only memories. They cannot harm you. You are safe...you are in Vin's arms...he will protect you. If you become too uncomfortable...too concerned...or frightened...feel Vin's presence and know that you are safe."

Slowly, the man relaxed once more. His eyes, opened and staring at the man whose honey-dipped voice was suddenly the center of his world, slowly lost much of their fear.

"Chris, are you ready to explore what happened?"

"Yes..." He nodded softly.

"Good. We shall begin at the point of your departure from town. Vin had sent a telegraph requesting that you meet him in Eagle Bend. You rode from town...away from your friends....we would not see you again for several days."

"Yes."

"Can you tell me what happened after you left town?"

"Riding...I'm riding...toward Eagle Bend."

"Are you alone?"

"Yes..."

"Alright, now I want you to move forward in time to the point at which you are no longer alone. What's happening now?"

"I hurt...bleeding..."

"What has happened?"

"Been...shot...my shoulder..my side...hurts like hell."

"Is that how they were able to capture you Chris? By shooting you?"

"Yeah..."

"An ambush?"

"Yeah..."

"Alright. The men shot and wounded you. You are in pain...you are bleeding. What happened next?"

"They're all around me...can't get away. One of them...takes my guns...they tie me...to the saddle. I...ask them what they want..."

"What do they reply?"

"Nothing..."

"What occurs next?"

"They take me with them...I start feeling light-headed ...dizzy... sleepy...losin' too much blood."

"Wore him down so he wouldn't give 'm so much trouble," Vin whispered with a nod.

"Indeed," Standish agreed. Then turning back to the gunman, he continued his gentle questioning. "Do you know where they're taking you?"

"Not sure...they keep changing directions..making false trails ... backtracking. One of them slices his hand with a knife...changes horses with me...then rides off with part of the group. They...stop me bleeding...ride in a different direction."

Over the blond head, Vin and Ezra exchanged angry looks at the thought of how they had been tricked. They had no idea as to how long they had followed a false trail. They could have found Chris much sooner...saved him from the nightmare he was now reliving.

"What occurred next?" Ezra asked softly.

"In a grove of trees...got a camp already set up...more men there..."

"They were right there all along...in that same camp." Tanner couldn't keep the anger out of his voice.

"We had no way of knowing that we were following a false trail, Vin," Ezra replied.

"Shoulda known," Tanner was blaming himself.

Ezra knew he would have to try and talk to the tracker about this later. At the moment he had to keep his focus on their injured leader. Turning back to Larabee he said, "alright Chris...you are in the camp now. Remember, there are nothing more than memories. They cannot harm you. You are safe...Vin, Buck and I are here...we will not allow you to come to any harm. Do you understand?"

"Yes..."

"What happened in the camp?"

"No...I can't..." He was trembling Vin pulled him closer, one hand gently rubbing a quivering arm. Ezra moved closer to the pair.

"Chris, listen to me. Focus on my voice. You are safe. You are in your cabin. You are among friends who will protect you. The rest is only memory...the shadows of the past. You are safe." He paused, looking into the tear-filled hazel eyes. "Trust us, Chris. We will not let you down."

"It hurts..." Larabee said. The other men were unsure if he was describing memory or fact.

"What hurts Chris?" Ezra asked.

"The...the things...they did..."

"What did they do Chris?"

"No...GOD! Oh no...stop!" Larabee was crying out, his voice ripping through the souls of the other men.

"Chris! Listen to me...you are safe!"

"Ezra, y' gotta stop this," Buck spoke for the first time.

"Buck, we may never get another chance," the young gambler said evenly. "Chris may never get another chance."

"Ezra's right, Bucklin," Vin added.

With an anguished sound, the gunman left the doorway and returned to his seat on the porch.

Trying another tact, the conman said, "Chris, you are not there in the clearing. You are in the trees, safe from harm. You are only observing what is happening. None of it can touch you now...it is all in the past. You cannot feel any of the pain...or fear...or helplessness. You are simply an observer, and you can describe what is happening without experiencing any of it here and now. Do you understand?"

"But it hurts..."

"No. You only remember the pain. It is not happening to you now. It is in the past. You are safe and protected. You are safe Chris. Know that as you relate what happened in that clearing."

"Safe."

"Yes Chris."

"Alright..." He released a trembling sigh and began a tale so horrible that the other men found themselves hard-pressed to be able to picture any of it.

"In the clearing...I'm being held by four of them. I've lost a lot of blood...can't stand on my own no more. They've striped me to my drawers...one of them is cutting the legs off them...another is shoving moss and webs into the bullet holes. He says that they don't want me dying too fast. He laughs then...all I can do is stand there and try not to scream. I don't want them to have the satisfaction of hearing me scream. Don't want to give them the power..." he trailed off, his body quivering from the trauma of his memories. Vin held him a little closer, one hand stroking the blond head as if he were comforting a child.

As the tremors subsided, Ezra spoke to him softly. "Chris, you're safe, in you're cabin. You can tell us the story without feeling the pain."

"I...told them to let me go...that I had six friends who'd come for me. They...just laughed. Said I'd never know when...my friends showed up...I'd be dead a long time...before then. I told them they...were wrong..."

"Yeah, they were wrong, pard," Vin said softly as the gunman stopped to gather his waning strength.

"Then...they dragged me over next to the fire...there was a big... frame next to it...made of iron. They shackled me...hand and foot...to that frame. I felt the bullet wounds pulling open...start to bleed again. They shoved more moss in the holes..."

"The whole bunch of them...gathered 'round me in a circle. Each of them had an iron that they stuck in the fire. They started this chant while the irons heated...they were passing bottles around...chanting and drinking...waiting for the irons to heat..." He took a deep breath and then continued. "Each of the irons...had a symbol on it...like a brand..."

Instinctively the two other men looked at the burns, only now beginning to really heal. They had all noticed the variety of designs and wondered at the meaning.

"Right before...they'd b-burn me...each one would say something..."

"Ezra," Vin said worriedly, " he's startin' t' shiver again."

"Chris, you are alright. You're safe," the Southerner reassured him.

If he heard, he gave no indication. Chris Larabee was lost in the memories now. "I couldn't tell what they were saying...it was a different language. B-but before it was over...I knew what pattern the burn was going to take...by the words they said...p-pretty soon...I-I was saying the words with them...cruonita...cruonita...shatruex...quodpipax... tuulenux... gero...pallex... verox...bibox..cruo...hatanoceo...marana... malax...marana... marana... hatanoceo...infirmux..."

Vin turned stricken blue eyes in Ezra's direction as they listened to the injured man recite the chant without emotion.

"Sweet Jesus..." They turned to find Buck Wilmington at the door once more. He stood stiffly, only his shoulders moved...quivering and shaking as he cried for his friend. "Jesus, Ezra, he don't need t' remember any a this."

"He does remember them, Buck, he's only buried them. We have to help him deal with those memories."

"Ezra, he needs t' rest...look at him."

"Bucklin, go back outside. You're only draggin' things out standin' there arguin'," Vin said in a quietly firm voice.

"Goddamnit! He's my friend!" He took a step passed the threshold as he spoke.

"I know Buck," Tanner's voice did not change. "Why'n't you go out...close th' door, 'n get far 'nough away you don't hear."

He looked as if he were going to argue, but then took a better look at the other men. They were as affected by what was happening as he was. He could not sway them by emotions, theirs were in just as much turmoil. And, deep down, he knew that they were right. It made it no easier to stand by and watch his oldest friend go through hell, however.

"Buck..."

Finally swallowing enough of his anger, he left the cabin, pulling the door closed behind him.

Ezra's eyes had remained on the gunslinger; Chris' attention remained focused inward. "Chris, what happened next?"

"It was a long time before...before they finished...the burning. Every one of them took a turn. Then..." He moaned as the memories caught up with him once more.

"Chris, you're safe, " Standish repeated. "They can't hurt you here. What happened then?"

"They went round the circle again...with knives this time. They chanted...a different pattern cut for each chant...I-I couldn't keep up with it any more...hurt too much..." Larabee's eyes closed and he slumped back against Tanner's shoulder. His breathing harshened as his weakened body fought to sustain him through the energy draining experience. Once again, Vin wrapped himself a little tighter around his friend.

Wetting a cloth, Ezra cooled the man's face. "Chris, " he said quietly. "I know that this is difficult, but you must get through it...when you can, tell us what happened next."

"The knives...they cut...not too deeply...one of them said that...don't cut him too deep...he'll die too quick. Once each of them had cut their pattern...they formed up the circle again...then...then four of them...they came forward...each one had a bucket...it was salt water..."

"Aw, hell," Tanner groaned, anticipating what was coming next.

"They took turns...pouring a little of the water at a time...on the wounds.."

Ezra dropped his head, covering his face with trembling hands. Vin realized as he watched the gambler just how this was effecting the man. "Ezra?"

Attempting a smile, Standish said, "just a bit weary, Mr. Tanner." Then he spoke to Chris, his voice deceptively calm. "What came next Chris?"

"They poured out...all four buckets...soaked me down...I...I couldn't help it...anymore...I yelled...I...yelled..."

"Chris, you are a strong man...much stronger than most. No one could have gone through even the beginning of this without crying out. My god man..." then he realized that the words meant little to the injured man at the moment. Regaining his composure, Ezra said, "did they respond when you...yelled?"

"When I yelled..." Chris said tonelessly, "they laughed. Then one of them came up to me and poured something in my mouth...at first I though it was more salt water...but then I realized...it was blood. When I tried to spit it out...they forced more down my throat. I finally had to swallow it...couldn't keep from it...I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

"Chris, you had no control over these things. You don't have to apologize. What happened next?"

"I swallowed it...I couldn't keep it down though...puked it back up..." he sighed, then groaned. "The one feeding it to me...he said...I had wasted it...and they'd need more...he said, 'bring her out here, we'll have to milk her some'...one of them...came carrying this little bundle out from the wagon...he came over and opened the blanket and....

"OH GOD!!!!" The gunman reared back with a cry, his back arched and his arms curled tightly against his chest.

"Damn...it's 'nother one a them seizures," Vin said as he fought simply to keep his friend from hurting himself.

"Chris! Chris, listen to me!" Ezra fought to make himself heard. "When I count to three...you will awaken. One...two...three!"

Chris relaxed, his seizure dissipating as he returned to consciousness. He lay back against the tracker. Then suddenly he tensed once again and a sound like nothing so much as a wounded and dying animal escaped him. Another scream, and then he began to cry...great heartbroken sobs. "Oh...God..." he moaned the words. "It was...it was...a...a BABY!!" As he finished, he curled up in Vin's arms.

Tanner held him, gently rocking his friend, although he himself could barely breathe as the words burned themselves into his brain. The man's words ripped through him, and tears rolled down his face. Somehow he managed to find his voice and keep it calm; he spoke softly as he stroked the blond head reassuringly. "It's okay pard...it's okay...you cry now...we're gonna see y' through this...you're gonna be okay..."

Standish had slid from the bed, crumpled in a heap on the floor, his entire body shivering as he fought to keep from screaming as well. He wept as 'a baby' echoed over and over in his mind. Beyond him Buck was in the doorway once more. He too had heard the horrifying account in its entirety. He had slumped to his knees, and was lying against the door jamb. The big man seemed beyond tears; his mouth moving soundlessly. Buck Wilmington was praying.

*************************

It was over an hour before Chris calmed down. Vin never wavered; holding the man, rocking him gently and talking softly to the gunman. He wasn't certain that Chris could hear or understand him, but still he spoke. "Chris...you're safe now. All that stuff's in th' past. You got me an' th' other fellas t' watch your back. Ain't nobody nor nothin' gonna hurt y' now. What them bastards done... that were damn awful...but y'ain't t' blame. None a this's your fault. None of it. Them son's-a-bitches that hurt y'...they're t' blame. They hurt that baby "

"No..." something pulled the man in black back from the darkness, "no..."

"No? No what pard?"

"They...didn't hurt th' baby...didn't hurt her..."

Vin was becoming concerned that his friend was slipping into the dark well of madness, brought on by the horrors visited on the gunman. "Chris...talk t' me pard. What happened? What happened t' th' baby?"

"Died...bled...t'death..." His words drifted off into an incoherent mumble. Tanner's grip on him tightened as the young hunter grappled with the words, and the pain they conveyed.

*************************

"How's he doin'?" Buck asked later as Vin scuffed to the porch.

"Sleepin', finally. Got some a that potion a Nathan's in 'm. Took damn near a double dose. Figured we'd better get him settled down for a bit. Got a feelin' we ain't hit th' worst yet."

"Don't say that," Buck replied. "Damn it Vin!" A mixture of anger and anguish rang in the big man's voice. "What kinda dirty, monstrous bastards 'r we dealin' with here? My God...killin' a baby? Jesus!"

"I don't know Buck..." Vin's voice quivered, full of exhaustion, sadness and pain. "Can't rightly figure a mind that'd do any a this... t' Chris... t' that baby... hard tellin' what else they done, an' who they done it t'. Can't rightly even think of 'm as human. Just don't know..." dropping into a chair, he slumped against it's back. The weight of this new knowledge stacked itself onto the burden of the ugliness they had already gone through and it suddenly seemed to the young man that it had been a lifetime since things had made sense. A touch on his shoulder brought Vin's attention back to the moment. Looking up, he found himself staring into Buck's face.

"You look 'bout 's worn down's I've ever seen a body, pard," Wilmington said softly. "Y'ain't had a break in all a this. Look, Nathan'll be here 'bout any time. I want y' t' go back int'' town with 'm."

"Ain't leavin' Chris," Vin said resolutely.

Kneeling before the tracker, Buck put a hand firmly on the young man's neck, forcing him to look at him. Vin's sight had returned enough that he could make out the tight expression on his friend's face. His voice matched that expression. "You stubborn, hard-headed, self-centered bastard! There's six of us t' look out for him! You so gawddamn self-righteous you think you're th' only one who can do for 'm?"

Blinking rapidly at the words, Tanner said, "no...I...Buck? Why'r y' made at me this time?"

Releasing his hold on the other man, Wilmington replied, "I'm sorry son. Ain't mad at you. Just so damn mad at this...this whole thing. Can't think straight."

Nodding in agreement, Tanner said, "none of us are. But...if we stick t'gether we'll figure somethin' out...won't we?"

Hearing the concern .. almost fear that rang clearly in the other man's voice, Wilmington adopted a smile. "Course we will Vin...course we will. Now I mean it, when Nathan gets here you're gonna go back t' town when he goes. 'Magine me 'n Ezra can take care a things for a bit."

"No Buck, done tol' y' "

"You're goin int' town, Vin Tanner. You're gonna have dinner without coaxin' someone else t' eat. You're gonna have a whiskey 'r two without tendin' t' someone else. You're gonna get a night's sleep without someone else waking y' up with a nightmare. You're gonna spend a whole 24 hours away from here." He moved even closer to the younger man. "I ain't arguin' with y' Vin. Like y' said, we're in this t'gether. 'Bout time y' listened t' your own words. Y' gotta trust th' rest of us t' be able t' take care of Chris...just's well's you can."

Chuckling in embarrassment, Vin said, "bein' a stubborn, hard-headed, self-centered bastard again?"

Laughing, Buck said, "somethin' like that." Turning toward a nearing sound, he saw Nathan Jackson approaching the cabin.

"Well, can't says I'm happy 'bout what y' put m' patient through, but don't appear t' be no permanent physical damage from what y' did." Jackson qualified his diagnosis. He had been surprised to find Chris sleeping upon his arrival, and insisted on checking the man over closely after finding out about the hypnotism. "I'd appreciate it if you'd wait til I can be here if y' decide t' do this again."

"It is my fervent hope that we will not have to repeat our earlier exercise...at least not to the same extent." Ezra voiced his concerns tiredly from where he sat at the table. He had barely moved since they had taken Chris into the dark nightmares that his mind had fought to repress. The gambler looked worn out, and nursed his silver flask quietly.

"Ezra, you go int' town too. Josiah can come back out here I reckon," Buck said.

"I'm fine, Mr. Wilmington, there's no need to concern yourself with my welfare."

"Ezra, that bullet wound ain't completely healed yet, " Nathan put in. "You oughta be takin' it easy yet."

"Mr. Jackson, I...unlike our stalwart Mr. Tanner .. Have a highly refined sense of self-preservation. Rest assured that I shall not over-extend myself."

"Seems t' me y' already done that. But, truth be told, I'm tired a fightin' y'all every time y' get hurt 'r sick. Figure I'd be better off if I just wait for y' t' fall on your face. Make my job a whole lot simpler."

"We got a job to finish..." A quiet voice came to them from the bed. Turning, they found Chris Larabee awake and staring at them through haunted eyes.

"Chris, it'll wait," Buck said.

"No. No, it won't wait, Buck...I gotta know all of it...now..."

"Chris "

"NO! I mean it. I've got to see this through..." he sank into the pillow, but gave no indication of giving up. "It's eating me up inside Buck, I can't live like this... I won't live like this." His expression told them quite clearly what he meant.

While the two old friends were arguing, Tanner stole quietly over to the bed and stepped in beside Buck. Lifting Chris up gently, he once again slipped in behind the blond. Chris was less hesitant this time, relaxing against his friend. The scrape of a chair on the rough wooden floor announced that Standish was coming to join them. Throwing his hands up, Buck retreated to the porch once again, closing the door firmly behind him. Nathan sat tentatively on one of the chairs, waiting to jump to Larabee's assistance if need be.

The process took less time now, Chris more familiar with what was happening. Standish gently proceeded, taking the gunman back into the hellish memories. Bringing Larabee hesitantly to the point at which the baby girl had been brought before him, the gambler began questioning him once more.

"Alright Chris, remember, these are only memories. They cannot harm you...they have already happened, and nothing done now can change them. But they cannot harm you. Do you understand?"

"Yes..."

"Good. Alright now, I want you to tell us what happened next. Take all the time you need Chris, we are in no hurry. Just remember that nothing you are experiencing is real. It is all in the past."

"They had...the baby girl...all wrapped up in this white sheet...bloody white. She couldn't have been more than a few days old...so tiny...so pale...the one holding her...took her by her feet and held her up. Looked at me... pure evil... said 'the blood of the innocent is on your hands'..." Chris moaned, the memories battering at his weakened defenses once more.

"Chris, it is alright. Remember, these are but shadows of what has gone before. They can not harm you. Do you understand?"

Nodding, Larabee took a deep breath and then continued. "He slit...her throat...little thing just jerked and twitched...all I could think about...was Adam...what had he felt when the fire...oh God!" He cried out.

"This ain't gonna work, he's too weak," Nathan argued.

"It'll work, Nathan." Vin returned. "If you wanna go out an' sit with Buck, we'll holler if we need y'."

Simply shaking his head, the healer sat back in the chair.

"Chris, listen to me!" Standish spoke loud enough to pull the man's attention back from the memories. "You're alright. These things are long over. You can remember them without feeling the pain. You are alright. Do you understand me?"

"Yes..." Larabee replied.

"Now, what happened...after he killed the baby?"

"Her blood..." Chris stumbled through the words, "he drained her blood into this big mug. When it was full...he...he dropped her body...I can't...no..."

"He's gettin' all tightened up again," Vin reported.

"Chris!" Ezra fairly yelled. "It is alright. Remember, you are only watching this...it is not happening to you now. It is in the past. What did he do with her body?"

"Dropped it...in the fire."

"Sweet Jesus," Jackson mumbled. The other two men gave him sympathetic looks.

When he could find his voice, Ezra said, "what...what happened then Chris?" He had the feeling that they were running out of time. If they were to take Larabee through the entire event, they needed to push on. Otherwise he was not certain that the man would survive the ordeal.

"Next...they held onto me...two of them...forced my mouth open. The leader...the one with the mug...he poured it into my mouth. Made me drink it. Wanted...wanted to puke it back up so bad...couldn't...afraid..."

"Afraid of what Chris?"

"Afraid that...they might have another baby...kill another one if I puked up...the blood."

His voice surprisingly steady, Standish continued. "After you drank...what happened then?"

"They brought out...barbed wire...one of them...started unreeling it. The other's they...they moved the circle over and surrounded us. The chanting began again... then they started wrapping the wire around my arms...slow...tight...couldn't even holler anymore. Just hung there...felt the damn stuff digging into me...felt that blood tearing up my guts inside...started...started..."

"Started?"

"Started praying. Ain't prayed for a long time...but...just started praying...asking to die...begging to die. But I didn't..."

"No, you didn't pard. Weren't meant t' be," Vin said softly. He was holding his friend gently but tightly once more.

"What next, Chris?" Standish pushed on.

" Wrapped the wire...both arms...both legs...chanting the whole time. Finally realized it was quiet. Then realized I was moving. They were carrying me. Managed to get an eye open...they were carrying me across the clearing...took me to a tree...hung me by my heels from a limb."

"That's how we found him," Tanner said softly, to himself as much as to anyone else. Perhaps they were nearing the end of the traumatic tale.

"Indeed," Ezra agreed. "Chris. They hung you from the limb. What happened after that.

He sat for several minutes in silence, then finally, "don't remember for certain. Just bits and pieces...chanting...people poking at me...then...darkness."

Grimly satisfied that their leader had given them everything he could, Ezra brought him back out of the trance. There were no cries, no seizures this time. In fact Larabee seemed far too passive now. He lay limply in Vin's embrace, allowing his younger friend to support and comfort him. Tanner cradled Chris in his arms, wrapping them around the sweat-soaked and scarred chest. "You done good, pard," the sharpshooter said. "You done good. Why'n't you g'on t' sleep for awhile now. I'll stay right here."

Nodding, Larabee did just that. His eyes drooped closed, his breathing grew deep and even as he allowed the peace of sleep to claim him.

**************************

The men had spent most of the day in or near the cabin, as if reluctant to stray very far from their friend. Chris had slept a deep and they hoped healing sleep. It had taken the others some time to convince Vin to leave his friend. The tracker sat quietly, Larabee curled against him, until he could convince himself that Larabee was alright. With Nathan's help he lowered the gunman to the bed and walked outside to stretch his legs. Finding Buck near the corral, he shuffled out to the fence.

"Hey pard. "

"What're you up t' out here Buck?"

"Gettin' Peso and Ches saddled up so y' can both go back int' town with Nathan this evening."

"Buck "

"Boy, if I gotta hit y' both over th' head and throw y' over your saddle...I'll do it. I ain't arguin', you an' Ezra need some rest. We'll be alright out here t'night, and Josiah can come out in th' mornin'."

"Who's bein' hard-headed now, Wilmington?" Tanner said, with an edge to his voice.

"Me. Now, I'm bigger, meaner 'n uglier... so that makes me boss," he said with a hint of the old Wilmington humor in his voice. "You 'n Ezra ain't got much say in this. Figure Chris'll sleep most a th' time, and if them fellas come back...well, I'll deal with 'm."

"It ain't safe for y' t' be out here without back-up."

"Ain't safe no where I imagine, son," he came to stand before Vin, looking very large and very menacing. "Ain't arguin' with y' I said. You're both goin' in and gettin' some rest. I'll make do til mornin'."

After threatening both of the younger men with great bodily harm, Buck managed to convince them of their need for rest. With Nathan's help he ushered them both outside and onto their horses. "Nathan, I don't wanna see either of these ugly mugs out here for at least 24 hours."

"I'll see to it," Jackson replied.

"Good... JD doin' okay?"

"Yeah. Got drunk, passed out, and slept for about 16 hours. Figure he'll be chompin' at the bit t' come back out here by tomorrow morning. Think Mary's plannin' a visit, too."

Stealing a look inside the cabin, Buck said, "do me a favor Nathan, don't let no one but Josiah come out here for now. Think the fewer people Chris has t' deal with right now, the better it'll be."

"You're probably right. I'll let 'm know. Imagine Josiah'll be here soon as he can in the mornin'...if he even waits that long."

"Tell'm t'. Don't want him gettin' waylaid on his way out her or somethin'."

"Right."

Turning to the young hunter, Wilmington said, "don't you try and get fancy, Tanner. You stay close t' Nathan an' Ezra. And neither of y'," he included Standish now, "even think about comin' back out here for 24 hours. I mean it now."

"Yes...pa..." Vin said with a wry smile. Beside him Ezra chuckled.

"You get better, son, we're gonna discuss that little comment." His only answer was laughter as the three men rode off.

***************************

"Nathan?" The three men rode close together as they approached town. Vin, riding between the other two, turned toward the healer. "How long we got til th' full moon?"

"Reckon a couple a days."

"Ain't much time t' get ready."

"Well, Josiah's been workin' on some ideas back in town. Mary's been helpin' him t' do research on the cult that kidnapped Chris. Imagine they'll have some plans in mind by th' time we get back there."

"You think we got a chance a comin' out on top this time?"

"Well, there's always a chance I reckon."

"Mr. Tanner," Standish put in, "we have faced down considerable odds in the past."

"Yeah, but these bastards..." Tanner shook his head. "Don't reckon we've faced men this out - n - out cold-blooded."

"Cold blooded or not, they are only men. We'll face them down," the Southerner said with conviction.

**************************

"Buck?"

Wilmington looked up from where he sat at the table, playing solitaire. The gunman had pushed himself up on his elbows and was staring at him. "Hey stud, didn't 'spect y' t' be awake yet."

"How long I been...asleep?"

"Awhile," he shrugged. The blond had slept through the remainder of the afternoon. He had lain so still that Buck had found himself approaching the bed more than once, watching to see whether the gunslinger's chest rose or not.

"Where...are the others?"

"Gone int' town. Vin 'n Ezra needed a break after...well, after this afternoon. Sent 'm back in with Nathan. Josiah'll be out in th' mornin'." He poured a tin cup of water and brought it over to the bed. "Here, y' look like y' could use a drink."

"Thanks." With a trembling hand, Chris reached out and took the cup. Wilmington kept his hand near to steady him if need be. Sipping the tepid liquid slowly, Larabee finally nodded and gave the cup back to the other man. Dropping wearily back to the bed with a sigh, he whispered, "whiskey would taste better."

With a wicked grin, the ex-lawman produced a bottle, uncorked it, and helped his old friend take a drink. Resting Chris back on the bed he asked, "better?"

"Yep...thanks," there was a bright twinkle in the hazel eyes that had nothing to do with fever or pain.

Nodding, Buck slid down the wall to the floor next to Chris' bed and took a long draw from the bottle himself. The creak of the bedframe announced that the other man was moving. Wilmington looked to see his friend slowly and carefully turning to his side.

Propping himself up on one arm, Chris reached out and took the bottle back. Ignoring the liquid that dribbled toward the bed, he took another long drink, siphoning off the whiskey until the other man took the bottle away.

"Whoa there, stud. Don't reckon you recall a little thing called sharin'?"

Chuckling, Larabee said, "never was real good at it. You oughta know that."

"Mmmmm-hmmmm," Wilmington agreed as he drank long and slow from the bottle.

After several long minutes of drinking in companionable silence, Chris said softly, "I remember now, Buck...remember all of it...everything that happened."

"T' be honest, son, can't say that I'm too happy t' hear that. Figure there had t' be a reason y' didn't recall what them bastards done t' y'. Not sure bringin' it int' th' open was th' best way t' go."

"No...no, it was. I had to know...what happened..."

"But why? What good's it do?"

"Don't know how much...sense it makes, but it was like...like they stole part of my life...part of who I am. If I know it all...well...it's like I'm taking it back."

The ex-lawman was silent for some time, mulling over the other man's words. Finally he nodded and said simply, "alright."

**************************

"Welcome home brothers," Josiah's voice boomed across the saloon as the trio entered. Nathan and Vin walked over to join the ex-preacher, while Ezra made a beeline toward a poker game in progress. As the other men took seats, Sanchez said, "looks like Ezra could hardly wait to get back to the cards." His smile faded as he saw the serious expressions the

other two men wore. "Trouble?"

"Don't know for certain, but it could be," Nathan said.

"Brothers, you look as if you've been staring into the abyss of hell. Care to enlighten me?"

"Reckon it's th' best way t' start," Vin said. Between the hunter and the healer they told the story of what with Standish's help the gunslinger had remembered of his time as a captive of the cult. By the end of their recollection, Josiah Sanchez was ready to find each of the men who were responsible for Larabee's living nightmare and tear them apart with his bare hands. Managing, with great effort, to squelch those feelings, the big man walked to the bar and returned with a bottle and three glasses. Pouring each glass full, he pushed one to sit before each of the others and tipped his own back, draining it quickly.

The three men said little while they worked quickly to drain the bottle of whiskey. When it had been emptied of it's last drop, Josiah took it to the bar and returned with a second bottle. Filling each man's glass again, he nodded toward the table where Standish sat, effortlessly relieving three travelers of their money. "Ezra looks for all the world like a man without problems."

"Reckon that's why he's as good's he is, folks can't tell if he's holdin' a pair a twos 'r a flush," Nathan observed.

Vin, his sight still too poor to see across the dim saloon, could nonetheless picture the man's face. He chuckled softly, then grew serious. "Maybe Ezra's got th' right idea...findin' somethin' t' take his mind off a what he went through t'day."

Reaching out and gently squeezing the young man's shoulder, Josiah said, "reckon Ezra ain't' th' only one that could do with a distraction, brother. Y'know, Miss Sadie's been keepin' an eye out, watchin' for y' t' come back into town."

Although Tanner's face brightened at the mention of the young redhead he had taken on a picnic just before Chris' disappearance, he shook his head. "Ain't rightly got time t' spend on picnics 'n such right now."

Josiah wanted to argue with the tracker, but knew it would get him nowhere. Vin Tanner had a sense of loyalty and responsibility that had only been questioned once in the time the seven had been together. It had only grown stronger since that time, too, as if he felt he had a debt to repay. The big man knew that he would not let up until this had all been resolved...however that resolution came to pass. "Well then, let's get to work on a plan to get things settled then. Reckon Miss Sadie would appreciate another picnic soon." Both he and Nathan had to laugh at how red the sharpshooter's face turned.

***************************

The sun was barely over the horizon when Buck woke to the sound of a single horse approaching the shack. Moving quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping blond, he went to the window. With a shake of his head he went to the door and stepped out onto the porch. "Didn't reckon t' see y' quite this early Josiah, or I'd a had some coffee brewin' at least."

"Well, ain't nothin' stoppin' you now, brother. Even brought out some of Mrs. Potter's sticky buns," he held up a gingham covered dish.

"Shoot, why'n't y' say somethin' sooner? I'll have that coffee ready by th' time y'all get that horse a yours in the corral." With that the big man hurried back inside.

Although the coffee wasn't ready by the time Josiah had followed the other man into the little house, it was on it's way. Buck had set the table for the two of them, and was rousting Chris from sleep. "Hey stud, wake up. Josiah done brought us some a them sticky buns y' like so well." As he spoke, he gently shook the lithe blond.

Hazel eyes slowly rolled open, at first dark with confusion. Slowly Chris was able to focus and recall where he was and who was speaking to him. "Buck?"

"Mornin' sunshine, " the smiling man chirped. "You get them eyes focused, an' I'll bring y' some breakfast."

"Rolls?" Larabee dredged the word from the fog of his mind. He looked hopefully from Buck to Josiah.

The preacher crowed at the expression. "Looks like we better feed him quick, brother, man looks near starved for good food."

Affecting a hurt expression, Wilmington said, "I am truly hurt. Y'all act like I can't cook."

"You can't," the other two men said in unison.

Throwing up his hands, Buck retreated to the table. "Fine...just fine. Y'all just fix your own meals from now on."

Chris looked at Josiah, humor flashing across his face. "Thank God," he said in mock reverence.

By the time they had emptied the coffee pot and done everything but lick the crumbs from the plate, Chris was hungry for news of the town, the other men, and what had been discovered about the cult that had nearly caused his death.

"Chris," Josiah said softly, concern evident in his vibrant blue eyes, "I think you've had enough revelations for the time being. You rest and Buck and I -- "

"No," Larabee interrupted in a soft but certain tone. "I want to know."

Looking long and hard at the still pale and haggard younger man, Sanchez weighed his options. Options that he knew existed only for him. Chris Larabee had made up his mind; he would not negotiate. Finally Josiah nodded. "Alright."