Vin Tanner pulled into his driveway and turned off the Jeep. The snow had stopped just after they dropped Nathan at his apartment with the promise that he’d be out to check on Chris in the morning. Vin knew his friend was sick, sicker than he let on and he was not surprised to hear a groan from the blond as he reached across and undid the seatbelt. “Sorry, Chris.”
“Are we at your place?” Larabee asked, opening fever bright, bloodshot eyes.
“Just got here. Hang on a second and I’ll help you,” Tanner told him as the blond reached for the door handle.
“I’m ok, Vin,” Larabee rasped weakly.
“Sure you are,” Tanner exclaimed, hurrying from the Jeep and rushing around to the opposite door. “Come, on, Cowboy, let’s get you inside.”
Larabee smiled thinly, “Thanks, Pard,” he mumbled gratefully.
Tanner helped his friend from the Jeep and slammed the door behind him. He steered the blond towards the house and soon had him inside and sitting on the couch. “Stay there a minute, Chris,” he ordered.
Larabee let his head fall back against the couch, his eyes sliding closed as he waited for the younger man to return. He reached for the box of tissues and groaned softly as he fought to stop the oncoming coughs threatening to tear his chest apart.
Tanner returned to find his friend doubled over in an effort to stave off the pain in his chest. “Come on, Chris, lets get you in bed,” he suggested.
Larabee could only nod as the younger man reached for him. “Kinda tired,” he hissed.
“I can tell,” Tanner said as they made their way into the spare bedroom Larabee always used. It wasn’t long before the blond was snuggled under the blankets. “Chris, I got your medication here for you,” Tanner told his friend.
“Hmm,” Larabee mumbled, reaching out to take the pill his friend held out to him. He chased the pill down with juice before lying back in the bed. “Get some sleep, Vin,” he ordered.
“I’m fine, Cowboy.”
“You look like I feel and that’s not a good thing right now. I’m not going anywhere, Vin,” the blond’s scratchy voice told him.
“Alright, Chris, but just make sure you call me if you need anything. Ok?”
“I will,” Larabee replied sleepily. “Night, Vin.”
“Good night, Chris,” Tanner smiled as he turned out the light.
Vin Tanner hurried to the door as the gentle knock was repeated. He opened the door and smiled at the medic. “Morning, Nate.”
“Morning, Vin,” Jackson said, stepping into the warmth and rubbing his hands together. “How’s Chris doing?”
“He’s still sleeping,” Tanner answered. “Want some coffee?”
“Please,” Jackson removed his coat and hung it on the rack. “I’ll just go look in on Chris,” he said.
Tanner nodded and headed for the kitchen.
Jackson stepped into the guest room and walked over to the bed. He listened to the labored breathing and a frown touched his handsome features. ‘We should’ve made you stay in the hospital,’ he thought. He smiled as a pair of green eyes opened and stared at him. “Morning, Chris,” he greeted.
Larabee glanced around, unsure at first where he was. He recognized the room he used at Tanner’s ranch and returned the greeting. “Morning, Nathan.”
“How are...” he reached down and helped the blond sit forward as he erupted in another violent coughing spurt. “I guess that answers that question,” he said.
“Are you ok, Cowboy?” Tanner asked carrying a tray into the room.
“I’m fine,” Larabee answered in the usual manner.
“Got your medication here,” Tanner grinned as Jackson helped the sick man sit forward and take the pill with water.
“Do you feel up to eating something, Chris?” Jackson asked.
“Not really, Nathan.”
“Alright but you need to keep drinking as much as you can.”
“Vin’s making sure of that,” Larabee smiled at the younger man’s troubled look.
“Good,” the medic said. “Now why don’t you go on back to sleep and I’ll be out to check on you later.”
“Sounds good,” Larabee snuggled back under the blankets and was instantly asleep, the raspy breathing the only sound in the room as Tanner and Jackson looked at each other.
“Sleep’s the best thing for him right now, Vin.” Tanner nodded and the two men left the blond alone.
Chris was caught up in a dream but for once the dream was a warm one. A reminder of things he had to be thankful for. The first Christmas he spent with his wife and their new baby. Adam Jonathon Larabee was eleven months old, with curly brown hair and sparkling green eyes to match his father’s. The boy was snuggled down next to his mother beside the Christmas tree. Chris gazed upon the perfect picture, the family he’d always dreamed of and felt the moisture in his eyes.
He’d spent many nights lying in his wife’s arms and wondering if they’d ever have the joy of a baby. It took nearly two years before Sarah conceived and when Adam was born they’d both laughed and cried. They’d counted his fingers and toes and laughed as the tiny newborn wailed when removed from his mother’s hands. “He’s got his father’s temper,” Sarah laughed as Chris followed the nurse to the scales.
Now his family was whole and he knew no matter what life threw their way this was the moment he’d always remember. His wife and son wrapped in each others arms, secure in the knowledge they were safe. He smiled as he lay down beside them, pulled them into his arms and joined them in peaceful slumber.
“Chris,” Tanner called, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
Larabee fought to stay in the warmth of the dream but to no avail. He heard the worried Texas drawl and knew he couldn’t deny that voice. He forced his eyes open and looked at his friend, groaning as pain lanced through his skull.
“Easy, Cowboy,” Tanner soothed. “I got your pill and some broth here for you.”
“Vin,” Larabee’s eyes shot open. “Sick,” he warned and Tanner barely had time to place a basin in front of him. “Thanks,” the blond lay back against the bed and rubbed at his temples.
“Headache?”
“Feel like I’ve been on a week long binge,” Larabee told him, coughing harshly, unsure whether to hold his chest or his head. “Shit,” he gasped.
“Shit’s right. Maybe I oughta get Nathan back out here,” the sharpshooter said worriedly.
“Don’t,” Larabee pleaded.
“Alright, as long as you drink this broth I won’t call him.”
“Jesus, Tanner,” Larabee coughed into the tissues. “You’re getting too damn good at blackmail.”
“I learned from the best, Cowboy,” Tanner laughed as he helped his friend sit up.
Chris took the pill and drank most of the broth before exhaustion overtook him again. He let his eyes slide shut and was soon wrapped in his wife’s loving arms once more.
Vin opened the door before Buck Wilmington had the chance to knock. “Come on in, Buck,” he said tiredly.
“Jesus, Vin, have you gotten any sleep?”
“Here and there,” Tanner answered.
“Not much by the looks of you. The rest of the boys will be here in an hour or so with dinner. Why don’t you go grab some shut eye and I’ll watch over Chris.”
Tanner stretched his bone weary body and yawned tiredly. “Thanks, Buck, he’s just gone back to sleep. He’s had his pills and I’ve been getting him to drink juice and water whenever he’s awake. He’s just having trouble keeping it down.”
“Nathan know about that?”
“Not yet but he will as soon as he gets here.”
“Anything else I should know about?”
“Yeah, he’s got a major headache.”
“I have a feeling ol’ Chris is gonna end up back at the hospital whether he wants to or not,” Wilmington said.
“Probably. Call me if you need anything, Buck.”
“I will, Vin,” the ladies man watched the tired figure make his way to his bedroom before he turned to the room Larabee was using. He stepped into the room and gazed at the pale figure on the bed. ‘Damn, Stud, you look worse than you did yesterday,’ he thought as he took up residence in the chair next to the bed.
Chris rubbed the back of his neck as he opened his eyes . He shrugged his shoulders in an effort to work the stiffness out of the area, moaning softly as he felt another round of coughing come over him.
Buck watched the slack features as they filled with pain. He reached down and gently pulled the sick man upright as harsh, hacking coughs erupted from him. “S...sorry, B...Buck,” Larabee apologized as the attack subsided and his friend placed an extra pillow under his head.
“You’ve got nothing to apologize for, Chris.”
“Hate feeling like this,” Larabee mumbled weakly, rotating his shoulder and rubbing his neck with his hand.
“What’s wrong with your head and neck, Chris?”
“Head hurts,” Larabee grimaced.
“I can see that. What about your neck?”
“Feels stiff. Must’ve lied on it the wrong way,” he answered.
“Want something to drink?” Wilmington asked worriedly.
“Water,” the blond accepted the glass and drank the soothing liquid. “Thanks,” he said.
“You’re welcome, Pard,” the ladies man answered as he took the glass and watched his oldest friend close his eyes once more.
Wilmington hurried to the door and placed his finger over his mouth in an effort to keep the newcomers quiet.
“How’s Chris?” Jackson asked.
“He’s sleeping and so is Vin.”
“Good,” Jackson said. “You boys go ahead and start. I want to check on Chris.”
“Alright, brother. Hello, Vin.”
“Josiah,” Tanner rubbed tired eyes and smiled at the men as they carried the bags of Chinese food into the dining room. “I’m just gonna check on Chris.”
“I’ll check on Chris, Vin, you go eat while the food is hot.”
“I...I just want...”
“Come partake of this excellent cuisine in a carton, Mr. Tanner,” Standish smiled at the younger man and led him to the dining room.
Jackson stood in the doorway of the bedroom and moved towards the bed. He touched his hand to the forehead, frowning as he felt the fever there and heard the raspy breathing coming from the sick man. ‘Dammit, Chris, why couldn’t you have stayed in the hospital for a night or two,’ he thought.
Buck passed the paper plates around the table as Standish and Dunne opened the cartons of various Chinese dishes.
“So how’s brother Chris doing?” Sanchez asked.
“He’s got one hell of a headache and he was complaining about his neck earlier,” Wilmington explained, frowning as the medic entered the room and stared at him. “Nate, what’s wrong?”
“Buck, what exactly was he complaining about?” Jackson asked.
“He said his head was hurting and his neck was stiff.”
“Jesus!” Jackson swore as he hurried from the dining room, oblivious to the sound of the others following him. He ran into the room just as Larabee’s body began a violent upwards arch on the bed. “Don’t touch him!” he snapped as Tanner and Wilmington made a move to the bed.
“What’s going on?” Dunne asked.
“Josiah, call for an ambulance,” Jackson ordered as he watched the blond’s body convulse on the bed.
“Jesus, Nathan, What the hell is happening?”
“Look, Buck, I don’t want to scare you guys but headaches, stiff neck...Has he been stomach sick, Vin?”
“He was earlier,” Tanner answered his eyes never leaving the convulsing body.
Jackson moved to the bed and placed his hand on Larabee’s chest as the body dropped heavily to the bed. Jackson swallowed painfully as he continued to examine the blond. He checked to make sure his breathing was ok and slowly turned him on his side.
“The ambulance is on the way, Nathan,” Sanchez told him.
“Are you going to tell us your suspicions, Mr. Jackson?” Standish asked.
“I’m not a doctor, Ezra,” Jackson answered softly.
“Nathan?” Tanner asked.
“Headache, stiff neck, stomach sick, and the seizures could be indicative of many things. I just don’t know. We’ll have to wait until he’s seen by a doctor at Saint Vincents,” he told them, not wanting to voice his own suspicions.
Vin Tanner sat beside his friend and placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, amazed at the heat emanating from the body. His blue eyes, usually so filled with life were now dulled by worry and frustration as he looked at the medic. ‘What aren’t you telling us, Nathan,’ he thought.
Thoughts of food and laughter quickly disappeared in the wake of seeing the pale form lying almost lifeless on the bed. Six men formed a protective circle around their leader but this time there was nothing they could do to protect him. There were no guns blazing, no knives in sight and no enemies come back to haunt them. This was a different type of enemy, yet no less deadly. It was one they didn’t know how to battle because it was unseen except for the havoc it was wreaking on the blond.
Nathan continued to observe the sick man, hoping and praying that the symptoms did not indicate what he suspected. He knew deep down he was right and he wished to God he wasn’t.
The silence seemed to go on forever as each man watched the slow rise and fall of Larabee’s chest, the only indication that he was still alive. The look on Jackson’s face was enough to drive home the seriousness of the situation and no one moved from the room. Time seemed to hang suspended as the only sound was the labored breathing from Chris Larabee.
‘I’m here, Cowboy,’ Tanner tried, hoping the intangible link he had with the older man was still in effect and Larabee would hear and understand that he wasn’t alone and would have help to fight this new battle.
Ezra Standish stood by the window watching for the ambulance. He’d taken this duty on himself, unable to face the fear of losing a man he’d come to respect and admire. A man who’d given him a second chance when many others wouldn’t even afford him a first chance. ‘Mr. Larabee, don’t even think about running out on me,’ he thought. ‘You and I both know that’s my job.’
Buck knew things were bad, knew it in his heart and soul. He’d nearly lost his best friend many times over the years only to have the man fight his way back to him. This time he knew it was more than a fight against a normal enemy. This time it was a fight against time and something he couldn’t see, something he couldn’t help his friend fight.
JD kept staring at his watch, the silence deafening to his ears as he looked at the man who’d taken a chance and given a kid the opportunity to prove his worth. ‘Come on, Chris, I need you,’ he thought desperately.
Josiah Sanchez stood back, his eyes on his friend, his thoughts turned heavenwards as he prayed. ‘Give him the strength he needs to battle his enemies, Lord. Give us the chance to see him continue the good work he’s been doing.’
“The ambulance is coming, Mr. Jackson,” Standish said as he hurried from the room to let them in. He pushed the outer door open, flinching as the bitter cold wind struck him, sending icy tendrils down his back, yet he didn’t feel it. Cold fear drove the bitter winds of nature’s fury out of his body, leaving only a feeling of dread for what could happen to the man in the room. “This way,” he shouted as two men opened the back of the ambulance and pulled out a fully laden stretcher. He held the door as they rushed towards him.
“This way!” Wilmington snapped as the two paramedics hurried into the ranch house.
“What happened?” the larger man asked as Jackson moved out of the way to give the newcomers access to the man on the bed.
“He’s been sick for a few days and was at Saint Vincents yesterday. He was diagnosed with Pneumonia at that time. He’s been taking Biaxin,” Jackson explained as the two men began to work on Larabee. “He’s been stomach sick and is complaining of a stiff neck and headache. I came in approximately an hour ago to find him having a seizure.”
The older paramedic looked at Jackson and wrapped a blood pressure cup around Larabee’s arm while the younger paramedic began setting up an IV. “BP is one ten over sixty five,” the older man said. He continued taking readings and calling them to his partner. “Pulse and respirations are elevated. Temperature is one hundred and three,” he said as he reached for the oxygen cylinder and placed it over the unconscious man’s face.
“Let’s get him out of here,” the younger man said and they pulled the stretcher closer to the bed. Vin helped them lift Larabee from the bed and place him on the stretcher. He watched as the efficient team wrapped the blond in blankets and strapped him to the gurney. “We’ll be taking him to Saint Vincents,” the older man informed them as they hurried from the house.
Six men stood outside as Larabee was placed in the back of the ambulance. They seemed oblivious to the cold as they watched the ambulance disappear from the driveway.
“Grab your coats, Brothers,” Sanchez ordered, breaking the spell they seemed to be under. Five minutes later they were chasing after the ambulance.
Six men waited anxiously for word on their missing member. They’d arrived at the hospital within minutes of the ambulance and knew they were in for a long wait. They’d called Orrin Travis and told him what was happening and the older man told them he’d meet them at the hospital.
Turner shook his head as he examined the unconscious man. He’d been brought in with an elevated temperature among other things. It was the other things that worried the doctor right now.
Larabee seemed to be coming round as Turner flexed his neck but slipped back into an unconscious state.
Turner frowned at the obvious stiffness in the neck and moved to check the legs. Shaking his head he turned to the nurse. “Set up for a lumbar puncture.”
“Yes, Doctor,” one of the nurses answered as she hurried from the room.
“I’m going to let his friends know what’s happening,” he explained to the second nurse who nodded that she heard him.
Tanner looked up as the door opened and moved to intercept the doctor. “How is he, Doc?” he asked.
“Let’s go back inside and I’ll tell you what I know,” Turner held the door and the younger man stepped into the waiting room. He held it open a few seconds longer as Orrin Travis hurried towards them. He stepped inside and faced the seven men. He sighed deeply before speaking. “I’m sure you all realize that Mr. Larabee is a very sick man,” at the slight nodding of seven heads he continued. “He tested positive for Brudzinski’s and Kernig’s sign. That means that there was stiffness in the neck and leg.”
“What does that mean?” Dunne asked.
“I’ll explain later, JD,” Jackson interrupted. “Go on, Doc.”
“I’ve ordered a lumbar puncture.”
“Damn, those hurt,” Travis muttered, frowning as he realized he’d spoken aloud. “Sorry.”
“Is he awake, Doc?” Tanner asked.
Turner shook his head and glanced from one man to the other. “Mr. Jackson, you mentioned a seizure.”
“Yes,” Jackson answered.
“Did you note where it started and how long it lasted?”
Jackson shook his head and answered softly. “He was already seizing when we went into the room. It couldn’t have been longer than a couple of minutes because I’d only just left the room. I heard Buck mention Chris complaining of a stiff neck and wanted to check on him.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jackson. Gentlemen, I need to get back to my patient. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
“He’s gonna be alright isn’t he, Doc?” Wilmington asked.
“We’re gonna do everything we can to ensure that he is,” Turner told them before leaving.
“Nathan, what’s a Lumbar puncture? JD asked.
“JD, they’ll put a needle into Chris’s spine and draw off some fluid.”
“Why?” Dunne asked.
‘It’s a test they sometimes do when...”
“When they suspect meningitis,” Tanner answered.
Jackson nodded and looked away. Silence once more took over as the seven men settled in towait for the results.
Chris opened his eyes and smiled at the woman curled in his arms. It felt so good, so natural to be lying with her. The lights from the tree cast a warm glow over the beautiful face and he leaned forward and kissed her supple lips softly. “I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” she whispered back.
“Thought you were sleeping,” he smiled appreciatively at the woman lying next to him.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she answered. “I was but it seems my husband has other ideas.”
“I certainly do but what about, Adam?”
“Let me put him back in his crib,” she answered.
Chris leaned forward and kissed his son before Sarah lifted him into her arms and carried him to his room. He hurried to the kitchen and took out the bottle of chilled Chardonnay and grabbed the two crystal glasses they used to toast each other on their wedding night. Returning to the living room he placed the bottle and glasses on the floor within easy reach.
He removed the last of his clothing and lay back against the soft pillows. ‘I must be the luckiest man in the world,’ he thought, as he watched his wife return to the room.
Dr Turner finished drawing the fluid from the blond’s spine and gave it to the nurse to be sent to the lab. He knew they wouldn’t have long to wait for the results and he was pretty certain the of the outcome. He knew the man lying quietly on the bed was extremely ill and that a battle to save his life was about to begin.
“Call me if there’s any change,” he told the nurse checking the IV flow.
“Yes, Doctor Turner.”
Vin Tanner stood up and walked to the door, his fingers grasping the handle just as a strong hand landed on his shoulder.
“Vin.”
“I’m just going to see if I can sit with him, Josiah,” Tanner’s voice was filled with worry as he looked at the ex-preacher.
“Alright, Brother,” Sanchez said and followed the younger man out the door. He knew how close Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner were. They shared a bond that far surpassed anything he’d ever seen before. Chris Larabee was the family this young man clung to whenever he needed that extra bit of help. They were brothers and only death could tear them apart. Josiah Sanchez was afraid for the first time since the group of seven men had become one. If Chris Larabee succumbed to the illness ravaging his body then Vin Tanner would’ve lost his family once more. He knew about the loss of Vin’s mother after his abusive father was thrown in jail. Knew the trauma the young man lived through and he wondered if he would have the strength to beat this one. ‘You’d better make it, Chris, for all our sakes,’ he thought as he watched the sharpshooter talk with the nurse.
Tanner turned back to the ex-preacher before heading to the room the nurse pointed out. He slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside. A monitor beeped loudly and he moved to a chair beside the bed. He sat heavily and reached for the warm hand of his friend. ‘Dammit, Cowboy, some cold,’ he thought angrily. “We’re supposed to go Christmas shopping remember? You’re supposed to help me find the right gifts for the guys. You know I’m no good at doing that alone, Chris. Remember the disaster I made of it last year?” he lapsed into silence, his eyes constantly moving from the blond’s face to the monitoring equipment.
Vin reached out to his friend, hiding the fear as he desperately tried to find the connection that was normally easy to reach. He knew in his heart that Chris wasn’t in the room with him at that moment and he wondered where he was and prayed he would come back to them.
Sarah watched her sleeping husband, a worried frown on her face as she felt him shiver. It wasn’t cold in the room, the fireplace still glowed and she wondered what was causing her husband’s chill. She watched as his eyes opened and a confused look came over his face. “Chris, what’s wrong?” she asked.
“I...I...must’ve been a dream,” he said as the blue eyes faded from his thoughts.
“Are you sure?” she asked as she snuggled into him again.
“Yeah,” he thought as he pulled her tighter to his body. ‘Who are you,’ he thought as a worried face floated in front of his eyes. He rested his head against his wife and tried to sleep.
‘Where are you, Cowboy,’ Tanner thought as the doctor came into the room. “Doc?” he asked.
“Come with me, Mr. Tanner,” Turner ordered as he held the door for the young man.
Vin watched a nurse enter the room and place a small bag above Larabee’s head. He shivered and followed the doctor out of the examination room and into the waiting room where the other men waited anxiously.
“How is he, Doc?” Wilmington asked worriedly.
“I just got the results of the Lumbar puncture. The fluid I withdrew was cloudy and the tests show the presence of white blood cells and bacteria.”
“Dammit,” Jackson swore softly.
“What exactly does that mean, Dr. Turner?” Standish asked, knowing in his heart the reasons for the presence of white blood cells and bacteria.
“Mr. Larabee has Bacterial Meningitis,” the doctor informed them. “I’ve started him on antibiotics and he’s been admitted. Mr. Tanner, you have medical power of attorney and we need you to fill out the appropriate papers.”
“Can we see him?”
“Not right now. We’re going to get him settled in the ICU and as soon as that’s done the nurses will let you know. He’ll be placed in isolation so make sure you check with the nursing station before you go in. They’ll give you a mask, gown and gloves to wear. Mr. Tanner, please stop at the nurses’ station and fill out those papers.”
“I will, Doc,” Tanner assured the retreating form.
“Do you want me to come with you, Vin?”
Tanner turned to the medic and nodded slowly. The fear was evident on each face as he looked from one man to the other. He pulled the door open and stepped out of the room. He felt the steady presence of the medic next to him as he made his way to the admissions desk. ‘Jesus, Chris, isolation, meningitis, one hell of a way for you to spend Christmas, Pard,’ he thought.
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