Vin honestly couldn’t believe it. Blurred the image may be, but it was Chris. The poncho Josiah had given him was gone, replaced with the duster he kept in his saddle bags. Image was a part of any gunfighter’s weaponry and the image Larabee cut was unmistakable.

Slowly, Larabee lifted his head so that his ice green eyes became visible.

Reagan foolishly stepped forward. “Who the hell are you?”

Chris’ soulless gaze narrowed. “You’re holding my five hundred dollars.” His voice was so soft that all had to strain to hear it, but it was potent… more potent than Vin had ever heard it. As a matter of fact, Vin had never seen Chris look quite like this. This wasn’t the man he knew. This was controlled rage personified. The voice, while still containing elements of the person Vin was coming to know, had that rare quality that could strip paint from walls. The horse rustlers were shaken.

Reagan frowned and then laughed a hollow, nervous laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding. We caught him. We lost two men because of him. The bounty’s ours.”

“Send him over.” Again the order was given without volume, though it was as deadly as anything he could have shouted.

Reagan glanced at his men who were shifting restlessly. Vin marveled at his friend. Chris was psyching out his opposition. Five to one and Chris was winning the battle with little more than his eyes.

Vin rolled onto his knees and staggered to his feet. He centered his gaze on Chris. Larabee was in control and Vin wanted to be ready to respond if required.

The leader of the horse rustler’s studied Chris. “You’re a bounty hunter?”

Chris didn’t move.

Reagan glanced nervously at his men. He was loosing face. “Mister, if you think we’re just going to hand him over you’re…”

“Send him over.” This time there was an edge to Larabee’s voice. He was becoming impatient.

Reagan licked his lips. “No one’s that fast. There are five of us and only one of you.”

Chris pulled back his duster, revealing the pearl-handled gun on his hip. There were gasps from two of the horse rustlers.

“What makes you think you can take all of us?” Reagan demanded with false bravado.

There was a loud click that echoed off the walls of the canyon.

The horse rustlers spun to look behind them.

“There!” one shouted, pointing to the barrel of a rifle appearing between some rocks.

“And there!” another shouted, identifying a second rifle.

Reagan swallowed and turned back to Larabee. Reluctantly, he nodded to two of his men who grabbed Vin and roughly shoved him in Chris’ direction. Vin stumbled and fell to his knees a few feet in front of Larabee. He attempted to rise, but slumped to his side with a grunt.

The nerve in Chris’ cheek twitched and he pinned Reagan with a glare that stripped the colour from the horse rustler’s face. Larabee took two slow, deliberate steps forward; stopping beside Vin… his jingling spurs the only sound in the eerie silence. Reagan and his men countered with two steps backward, the terror in their eyes reflecting their understanding of the situation. Not only could this gunfighter snuff out their lives with ease, he wanted to.

“Leave.” The order was a snarl. Reagan nodded. He and his men stepped back hesitantly before turning and bolting for their horses.

Chris watched them, his hand hanging near his revolver. “Boys, if any of them look back, kill them.” This order bounced off the rocks.

Reagan’s eyes widened and he shot out of the canyon ahead of his men. One member of the gang couldn’t avoid temptation and looked back over his shoulder. A rifle barked and the hat flew from the fool’s head. The rustlers spurred their horses with increased desperation and disappeared in a cloud of dust.

Chris watched for several more moments and the tension across his shoulders diffused. He turned and crouched beside Vin, his demeanor morphing from pure aggression to concern. He gripped his friend’s shoulder and eased him upright. “Okay?”

Vin nodded, studying Chris. Either Larabee was one hell of an actor or… or Larabee’s anger had been genuine. “Lost some blood.”

Chris examined the front of Vin’s shirt, his eyes clouding with alarm as he sliced through the rope binding Tanner’s badly chaffed wrists. “Let’s get you into the shade and I’ll take a look at that arm.”

“Bullet went straight…” The rest of the comment was choked off in a strangled moan as Chris threaded his hands under Vin’s arms and lifted.

Tanner’s rubbery legs buckled, refusing to hold him, but he didn’t fall -- Chris saw to that. Larabee adjusted his grip and examined the weak man more carefully. Vin’s face was white, apart from a red area below his left eye which would be purple by this time tomorrow. His blue lips were trembling just a little from weakness. “Can you walk?”

Vin swallowed, lifted his eyes to meet Chris’ and bobbed his head once. “Just need a moment.”

Chris draped Vin’s arm over his shoulder and steered Tanner to the shade cast by the canyon wall. Carefully, he lowered his injured friend to the ground and eased his back against a bolder. Tanner’s eyes squeezed shut. He felt firm pressure applied to his good shoulder. The physical reassurance was almost overwhelming. The darkness he’d been fighting encroached again as he relaxed.

“Wait here. I’ve got some bandages in my saddle bags.”

Vin swallowed, his eyelids drooping heavily over his eyes. Quite suddenly, his limbs felt heavy. The burning from his arm became more pronounced, and the idea of lying back and letting the darkness wash over him seemed inviting.

The approaching sound of jingling spurs brought him back from the brink of sleep. Vin glanced up at Chris who offered him a canteen.

“Have some water. You look like hell.”

Tanner shook his head. “No. Water will make the blood run faster. Need to be parched.”

Larabee lowered the canteen. “They work you over?”

Vin snorted. “I’ll live.”

Chris scowled. Vin smirked. “Hell, Larabee. You’re worse than an old she wolf.”

Chris mirrored Vin’s smirk. “I’m only protecting my investment.”

“That right?”

“Yeah. I plan on collecting my five hundred… in about fifty years. I won’t be impressed if anything happens to it before then.”

Vin nodded, an amused smile creasing his pale lips. “Not impressed, huh? After what I just saw, I ain’t in a hurry to piss you off.”

Chris winked and then set about tending to his friend’s injury. As Larabee tightly bound the wound, Tanner clenched his jaw to control his response to the pain. He groaned only the once.

When Chris completed the task, he rocked back on his heels, Vin meeting his gaze. “How’d you know?”

Chris checked Vin’s brow for fever and frowned. Tanner was a little clammy. “Buck overheard a conversation…. about you and the bounty.”

Vin cursed. He’d been meaning to tell all of the boys, but an opportune moment hadn’t presented itself. Vin looked passed Chris and spotted Buck striding toward them, leading all three men’s horses, two rifles slung over his shoulder.

“Yep, they’re still ridin’ like the hounds of hell are after them,” Wilmington shouted with satisfaction.

“Can you ride?” Chris checked with Vin. He had his doubts.

Tanner grunted and raised his good arm. Larabee lifted him to his feet, grabbing a handful of his friend’s shirt to ensure he wouldn’t fall.

Vin nodded in thanks and reassurance, and inclined his head in a silent request for a few moments alone with Buck. Chris understood all three parts of the non-verbal communication and tentatively released the weakened man.

Vin strode across to Buck and shook his hand. “Thanks.”

Wilmington nodded. “Bounty?”

Tanner wasn’t surprised. Chris would never betray his trust. “Five hundred dollars.”

Buck pursed his lips. “Not bad. Reckon if you’re gonna have a bounty on your head it should be a decent amount.” He winked.

“So, you’re okay with it?”

Buck handed over Peso’s reins. “Ain’t none of my business.”

“It’s for murder,” Vin elaborated.

“Yeah, well the guy must have deserved it,” Buck dismissed.

“I didn’t do it. Was framed.”

Buck frowned. “That what you and Chris wanted to go and deal with in Tascosa?”

“Yeah.”

“If you need another riding partner, you just say so.”

“I appreciate that.”

Chris joined the pair, tossed Vin’s buckskin coat over Peso and took his horse from Buck. “I need to get back.”

“Oh?” Tanner asked.

“I killed Buck and joined the gang.” Larabee stated proudly, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Vin raised his right eyebrow.

“We’re going to rob the bank in Four Corners,” Chris elaborated.

Vin snorted. “This job just gets better and better, cowboy.” He placed his foot into the stirrup and attempted to lift himself into the saddle. His leg trembled and he stopped mid-air before starting to plummet. Buck’s hand darted out. Gently he ‘pushed’ Vin onto the back of his horse. Tanner exhaled and then flicked his gaze to Buck, who turned away immediately and mounted his own horse.

**********

Wilmington caught a meaningful look from Chris as he mounted. He nodded his assurance. He’d keep an eye on Vin. Tanner looked like death warmed over and making it all the way back to Four Corners without him falling out of the saddle was an even bet.

Buck eyed his long time friend curiously. He’d seen Chris deal with mobs like this before, but today had been different. Today, there’d been edge he’d never seen. Even now, that indiscernible ‘something’ was haunting Chris’ face. Quite suddenly, Buck realized what it was. He had seen it before – a life time ago.

Chris cared. Larabee hadn’t cared for three years… not about himself and certainly not about anyone else. But the look in his eyes now was one of deep concern. Buck had honestly believed he’d never see that again.

A smile spread across Wilmington’s face. Finally, after all these years, Chris was returning to the world of the living.

Noting Larabee and Tanner staring at each other, Buck urged his horse to start on the return journey.

**********

“Thanks, Chris,” Vin murmured. “I…” He shook his head. Staring into Larabee’s face, he finally understood why he hadn’t taken the easy option and taken his own life. He’d known Chris would come. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow… maybe not even in time, but he knew this man with calm green eyes, would come. That certainty meant there had been a chance of survival – a chance he’d never had before he’d met Larabee. “Look…”

Chris offered his arm. Vin stared down at it. Words were unnecessary. Chris understood. While it amazed Vin, it didn’t surprise him. From the first moment he’d met Larabee, they’d simply understood each other. Vin gripped Chris’ forearm. Thanks.

“Take it easy. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”

“Yeah.”

“Morgan hasn’t shared all of the details yet, but the robbery’s set for tonight.”

“We’ll be ready.”

Their clasped arms hung between them. As Vin pulled back to leave, Chris held on, his stare accusatory. Tanner grinned and inclined his head in Buck’s direction. “Don’t worry, Cowboy. Your five hundred’s in good hands.”

Chris smiled, tipped his hat and waited for his friend to catch up with Buck, before turning his horse back toward Purgatory.

The rest of the episode plays out as written, except that Vin and Buck get back together and when Nathan tends to J.D., he has a quick look at Vin too… who complains bitterly about ‘another fussin’ she wolf’. (G)