The hours dragged.

Vin became very still.

His breathing was thin and wheezed.

Nathan started pacing... searching his mind for a way to help his friend.

Since the others had left, Chris shifted his chair to the window. He sat staring outside. At first, Nathan didn’t understand why, but realized that Larabee was on guard... watching in case of attack.

“They’re dead, Chris.”

Larabee looked back at the healer. “How many others are out there?”

“After you?”

Chris shrugged. If more came looking, they'd likely go into town first. Buck had that covered. If they came here, he was ready. He'd shoot first and ask questions later.

“You have got to stop blaming yourself for this.”

“I don’t. I blame him.” He nodded in Vin’s direction. “As soon as he wakes up, I’m going to belt the crap out of him.”

Nathan smirked, but it twisted into a frown as he leaned over Vin. “He’s getting weaker.”

Chris watched Nathan pat Vin’s face with considerable force, trying to bring him around.

Larabee moved to the bedside.

Jackson straightened and shook his head. “His fever’s building again. If I don’t get some water into him...” He’d tried using a damp towel earlier to squeeze moisture into Vin's mouth, but it was a long way short of enough.

Chris crouched beside the bed. “Vin. You need to drink something.”

Nathan sighed. If only it were that easy.

Chris picked up Vin’s hand and then slid his arm along Vin’s, gripping his forearm.

Nathan’s throat constricted. “Chris...” He’d seen Vin and Chris exchange this grip before. He knew it was a symbol of the bond they shared.

Jackson walked around the bed and placed his hand on Larabee’s shoulder. “Chris. He...” His voice faded. Vin’s limp hand twitched, as if he was trying to grip Chris’ arm. “Vin!” Nathan grabbed the mug from the tiny table beside the bed. “He‘s waking.”

Tanner’s eyes began to dart under the lids.

“Vin.”

Vin’s good eye opened a slither.

“Vin?”

Tanner blinked and his eye closed. Nathan acted. He slid his arm under his patient’s shoulders, lifted him and handed the mug to Chris. “Quick. While he’s half-awake.”

Larabee took the water and tipped it to Vin’s lips. The water spilled out of his mouth.

“Come on, Vin. Drink,” Nathan ordered.

Chris continued to pour the water between Vin’s slack lips.

Finally, Nathan nodded. Chris stepped back and watched the healer lower Vin’s shoulders. “I don’t know how much he got, but it was better than nothing. At least he was trying to swallow.”

Chris handed Nathan the mug and crouched beside Vin, picking up his hand. He waited for the squeeze of assurance he needed. There was none. Come on, Vin. Still nothing. Chris exhaled and lowered his head.

“Chris?”

“I thought that...”

“You reached him. I don’t know how, but you reached him. It’s just that he’s ... He’s still fighting but...”

“But he’s dying,” Chris murmured.

Nathan shook his head with more determination than he felt. “No. Not yet, but he’s weak. We’ll try again in a few minutes and see if we can get more water into him. As soon as Ezra brings back the herbs from the clinic, I‘ll be able to make a special broth. The recipe was given to me by an old Indian healer. I‘ve seen it do some amazing things for people who didn‘t look like they had a chance.”

***********

Chris dipped the cloth in the basin and used it to sponge Vin's face. There was a fine layer of perspiration beaded on it - a result of the fever that refused to die.

Nathan had left to greet Josiah and J.D. who'd returned with the requested supplies. J.D.'s voice floated into the bedroom.

Chris rubbed his eyes. It had been over twenty-four hours since he'd brought Nathan back to help Vin. During that time, Chris hadn’t really moved from this spot. His back was aching, but it was just a dullness in the far corners of his mind. The real pain was coming from an intangible part of himself.

The next section of the conversation was hushed, but the thin walls did little to obscure it.

Josiah and Nathan entered the room, J.D. hovering in the doorway. "Hey, Chris."

"Kid."

J.D. licked his lips as he looked at Vin.

"Josiah, if you and Chris pick him up, I'll change the sheets. Be careful how you hold him. I don‘t want his busted ribs movin‘ too much."

Josiah nodded a greeting to Chris. "It may be easier if I take him and you steady him, Chris."

Larabee nodded.

Vin didn't stir during the procedure, which was completed in only seconds. As he was laid back, Nathan leaned over him. "He's okay," the healer assured. "I'm going to make some broth. We need to get it into him in the next few hours. You want some lunch, Chris?"

"Huh? No."

Nathan frowned. "I'll make you something." With that, he, Josiah and J.D. moved into the other room.

Chris snorted. He knew Buck had understood. If the men who attacked Vin had been looking for Chris, there could be others. Buck was making sure all newcomers were carefully screened.

Larabee sighed. He had always been able to depend on Buck. He’d pushed Buck out of his life and yet, Buck had never truly left.

Chris tensed.

Chris strained to hear a response, but Nathan must have provided a gesture.

Chris' eyes flooded, but he refused to let the tears fall. He wiped Vin's shoulders, and then started on his arms, careful to avoid Vin's chaffed wrists.

Chris blinked, his friends' comments ringing in his ears. Larabee looked at Vin and his chest tightened.

Vin had taken a beating for him... just as Nathan had for his brother.

Chris ran his hand through his hair. His breathing laboured. His hand trembled and the tears he fought to control spilled. For the last week he’d been trying to fathom the depth of friendship he felt for Vin. He hadn’t understood... until now.

**********

The day passed slowly. With each minute, Nathan's concern grew. Getting food and water into his patient was now essential if Vin was to survive. Nathan insisted that he had seen the Indian broth bring people back from the brink. They just needed Vin to wake long enough to drink the brew. It was simmering in a pot for it needed to be drunk warm.

Chris and Nathan tired to rouse Vin, without success. Refusing to give up, the pair continued to shake, prod and drench their unconscious companion. They knew his chances were slipping away.

Then, without warning, their persistency paid off. Vin's awakening was abrupt. He gasped, his good eye opening wide.

"Vin!" Nathan cried.

"Whooh,“ Chris encouraged, squeezing his friend's hand.

Vin blinked and his eye closed.

"No. No, keep him awake, Chris. Talk to him. Sit him up. I'll get the broth!"

Nathan darted out of the room.

"Vin?" Chris prompted, tapping his friend's face. "Vin, wake up!"

Tanner's eye cracked. His breathing started to race.

"Just relax." Seeing the panic flash across Vin's face, Chris slipped his arm under and attempted to ease him up. "Easy. Easy."

Vin's body stiffened. He cried out in pain and slumped. Chris knelt on the ground and drew Vin against him, guiding his friend's head onto his shoulder.

"Stay with me. Nathan! Hurry up!" Chris wasn't going to lose him now. "Nathan!"

Jackson rushed back into the room. "Good. Open his mouth."

Vin mumbled something. Chris strained to hear it. "Don't talk. We need you to drink some broth. Vin? Vin, stay with us."

Tanner mumbled something else. Larabee's face flushed and he snarled, "You aren't dead yet and I'm not going to take your carcass all the way to Tascosa for five hundred dollars anyway."

"Chris," Nathan whispered, urgently.

Chris lifted Vin's chin so they could make eye contact. Vin was barely conscious, but Chris needed him to understand. "You listen to me and you listen good, Tanner. If I was going to drag you scrawny ass half way across the country, you'd have to be providing a damn site more than a lousy five hundred dollars. That's not worth the bother."

Vin's swollen lips rose into a brief smile before becoming slack. Chris leaned in close to him and whispered something before easing Vin's head back for Nathan.

Jackson tipped the broth to Tanner's lips. "Drink. Drink." Vin swallowed with difficulty. "Good. A little more."

Vin rolled his face away and the broth spilled.

"He has to have more," Nathan insisted. "Come on, Vin." He cupped Vin's chin, at the same time pouring the broth into his mouth.

Again, Vin took a swallow, then coughed. The contraction of his chest caused his body to go rigid and he cried out in anguish.

Chris grimaced, feeling Vin’s pain. He squeezed his friend gently. "Easy, Cowboy."

"We have to get all of this into him."

It took fifteen agonizing minutes for Vin to drink the broth. Exhausted, he passed out. Carefully, Nathan assisted Chris to lay Vin back. "I know it was hard, but if anything will give him a chance, that broth will."

Chris sank down into the chair. "A chance is all he needs."

**********

He became aware gradually -- increasingly more conscious of the burning... the aching... the pain. Inside, he cried out, but the darkness refused to lift.

He registered pressure to his hand. He sent a message to return the squeeze, but nothing happened. He heard a moan... knew it was his own.

Pain clawed through his chest and mercifully, his awareness faded for a moment.

When it returned, there as a thumping in his ear... a heart beat. He focused on it. He felt circles on his back and the pain began to ease.

He tried to squeeze Chris' hand to let him know he could hear him, but his fingers remained still. His body rocked...and Larabee's heart continued to thump in his ear.

He could smell Larabee... the other man's odour familiar. He could feel the rough material of Chris’ shirt next to his cheek.

The constant circles on his back and Chris’ distant words in his ear began to fade as comforting darkness rose around him.

He was certain of one thing -- Chris was there.

***********

Chris lowered Vin back onto the bed. He watched Vin's bandaged chest rise and fall. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but Vin's breathing seemed stronger. Nathan said the herbs and other ingredients in the broth would make a difference, and in the hours since Vin had drunk it, Chris honestly thought he could see an improvement.

Unconsciously, Larabee tucked the blanket around Tanner. Night had fallen some hours earlier and the temperature dropped. Nathan had fallen asleep, which was a relief. Jackson looked drawn and tired. He was shouldering the responsibility for Vin‘s recovery. Chris appreciated that.

Larabee rubbed his stubbled chin. Josiah's words continued to echo in his mind. Kin. It hadn’t entered his mind... maybe because it was ridiculous. They weren’t kin. Yet, what he felt for Vin was something more than friendship and Vin's actions spoke for themselves.

Kin. Strangely enough, it felt right. Of course, it didn't explain how he'd known Vin was in trouble. How had he known?

Chris shifted, trying to make himself more comfortable. As he did, he bumped Vin's arm.

Tanner stirred. He'd stirred several times in the last hour, but each time he'd slipped back into unconsciousness. His friend was in considerable pain.

Chris waited. He felt Vin's fingers move in his own and then there was a definite squeeze. "Vin?"

Tanner groaned.

Nathan awoke and placed his hand on the crown on his patient's head. "Vin? Can you hear me?"

Vin drew in a deep breath and gasped. His chest began to rise and fall rapidly.

"He's having trouble breathing. Help me lift him."

Chris complied.

"Can you take him?" Nathan asked. "I want to get some water."

Chris knelt, drew Vin from Nathan and eased him against his chest. Vin's head lolled, but Nathan guided it to rest on Chris' shoulder, brushing the injured man’s hair from his face. "You got him?"

"Yeah. Vin?" Chris rubbed his friend's back. He‘d been lifting and doing this every time Vin became agitated.

A long moan echoed out of the semi-conscious man as he fought to wake fully. His breathing slowed.

"Easy."

Tanner's eyes opened, the swollen one lifting slightly.

Chris couldn‘t hide his relief. "Hey, Cowboy."

Vin blinked and flicked his gaze around the room, orienting himself.

"My cabin. Do you remember what happened?"

Tanner didn't respond. He tried to rise, but cried out as pain seized him.

"Lay still. I've got you."

Vin looked up at Chris, his face showing recognition. He mumbled.

Chris lowered his ear and concentrated as Vin repeated what he'd said. "Ain't no one here but me and Nathan," Chris laughed. "Hell, if anyone else was here, Ezra'd be selling tickets.

"Chris?" Nathan asked, reappearing.

"He's worried people might get the wrong idea." Chris bounced Vin gently. "I've told him that I prefer blonds."

Chris silently gave thanks. "And you have a hankering for Mexican fillies."

The smile that creased Vin's pale lips betrayed his feelings.

"I thought as much," Larabee chuckled.

Chris flashed Nathan a relieved grin. Nathan beamed back as he laid his hand on Vin’s brow. "His colour's better and the fever's gone. I told you that Indian broth was good stuff. Let's get some water into him."

"What? Whisky? Over my dead body," Nathan scolded.

"The laudanum will begin working soon. I know you're hurting," Nathan whispered.

Chris smiled. "Go to sleep."

Vin smirked, closed his eyes and gave Chris’ hand a reassuring squeeze.

Chris exhaled slowly as Vin's breathing became deeper and more even.

Nathan sat down. The two men sat in stunned silence for several moments, then looked at each other and grinned stupidly. They'd spent the last two days fighting to keep Vin alive.

"He's going to make it.

Chris nodded. "Never doubted that for a moment, Nathan."

**********