Vin paced the clinic like a caged tiger. As soon as they arrived Chris was taken into a small room where the doctor began examining him. The sharpshooter walked from one end of the hall to the other, gazing out into the darkened parking area as he waited for the chopper to arrive. He’d placed a call to Buck Wilmington from the desk and explained what happened to Chris.
“Mr. Tanner?”
“Yeah,” Tanner looked away from the window as his name was called.
“I’m Dr. Warner.”
“How is he, Doc?”
“You’re friends in bad shape. He’s got a compound fracture of the humerus, that’s this bone,” he said indicating the one running from the elbow to the shoulder. “He’s also broken his collarbone on the same side. He’s broken the left femur,” he said as he pointed to the bone between the knee and hip, “and the tibula and fibula in his right leg.”
“What about the internal injuries?” Tanner asked.
“From all indications it’s his spleen and we’re not prepared for that here. I just contacted Medivac headquarters and they should be here any minute. They’re gonna take him to the trauma centre in Billings.”
“Can I sit with him till the chopper gets here?”
The doctor nodded and led him to the small room where his friend had been taken. “Just call me if he needs anything,” the doctor said as Vin stepped into the room.
“I will,” Tanner answered as he walked up to the stretcher holding his friend. At first he thought Larabee was sleeping but the clenching and unclenching of his right fist told him he was not only awake but in incredible pain. “Hey, Cowboy?”
Larabee opened his glazed eyes and tried to focus on the blurry image standing over him. “V...Vin?” his voice came out muffled from the pain and the oxygen mask covering his face.
“Yeah, Cowboy, it’s me. How are you doing?”
“W...wish they’d do s...something for the pain, Vin. C...can’t even s...sleep cause it’s so b...bad,” Larabee gasped out.
Vin knew the pain Larabee was feeling must’ve been tremendous if he was asking for something to help him sleep. “Won’t be long more, Pard, the chopper should be here any minute and we’ll be headed home.”
“H...home?”
“Home for me. Hospital for you,” Tanner told him.
“Arg, Vin, it’s s...starting to get b...bad a...again,” Larabee said.
“Just hold on, Cowboy,” Tanner said as he reached down and clasped the blonds’ right hand.
Larabee latched onto the offering unaware of the pain his vice like grip was causing the other man. Nothing seemed to help the agony that controlled his mind and body. “G...God, Vin, I’m sorry,” he gasped.
“Sorry about what?” Tanner asked, confused at the apology from his friend.
“R...ruined your b...birthday p...present,” Larabee answered painfully.
“No you didn’t, Pard. This birthdays gonna be the best ever as long as you stick around,” the younger man said.
The door opened and the doctor came back into the room. “Mr. Larabee, the chopper is here and I’m going to get you ready for transport.”
Larabee couldn’t find the strength to answer as he closed his eyes and tried to ride out the pain. “Y...you c...coming too, V...Vin?” the weak man finally asked.
“Of course I am,” Tanner assured him as two men entered the room.
“Is he ready, Doc?”
“Yes. Here’s the chart with his vitals and a list of injuries,” he said as he placed the chart at the end of the stretcher. He patted Larabee’s bare right shoulder as one of the men unhooked the oxygen mask from the wall and attached it to a portable cylinder.
The second man checked the IV lines and made sure they were running properly, “You ready to get out of here,” he asked the injured man.
“Hmm,” Larabee answered.
“I’m coming along,” Tanner said.
“We don’t usually take passengers but from the looks of you I’d say you need to get checked over your self,” the first man answered as they wheeled the stretcher out of the clinic and into the waiting chopper.
Larabee groaned as tremors racked his body. He felt so cold and tired yet he was afraid to close his eyes, afraid he wouldn’t open them again. As raw agony once more took control of his mind he felt the soft but firm touch of a hand grip his arm. He looked into the bright blue eyes. Knowing his friend was watching his back the blond relaxed and let sleep take over.
“Dr. Midland will patch you right up, Cowboy,” Tanner assured the injured man, as he looked out the window at the night sky.
The flight to Billings Saint Vincent’s hospital was uneventful as the injured man stayed unconscious. The chopper touched down on the roof as dawn broke over the sleeping city. Stacey Midland and Tom Parker met them; both doctors had been called as soon as the identity of the injured man had been revealed.
“How’re his vitals?” Midland asked as she helped pull the stretcher from the chopper.
“BP’s eighty over fifty. Heart rate is one twenty. Temperature one hundred and one point six. Breathing rapid and shallow,” the paramedic called as he helped push the stretcher towards the open door.
“Alright, people, we got work to do. Vin, the others are in the waiting room. I’ll come see you as soon as I know anything,” Midland said as they wheeled Larabee into Trauma one.
Tanner stood his ground outside the door, leaning exhaustedly against the wall.
Inside the fully equipped Trauma room nurses and doctors worked to stabilize Chris Larabee.
“Hang two units of O negative blood and cross and type,” Parker ordered as he listened to the patients’ chest. “Stacey set up for a mini Laparotomy. I want to see what’s happening internally,” he continued to bark orders as he continued his examination. “Ninheve, insert a foley,” he added as he set up to insert an NG tube down Larabee’s nostril.
Stacey Midland watched as Peggy attached an oxygen saturation probe to the unconscious patients right index finger. Years of being part of this team had it running like a well-oiled machine. Things were being done before they even finished the giving the orders. “All set, Tom,” she said as they scrubbed their hands and performed the mini Lap.
“Damn, let’s get him to surgery immediately. Call Dr. Frost in orthopaedics and have him meet us there,” Parker ordered, worried about the unresponsive patient.
“I’m going to let his men know what’s happening and I’ll join you in the OR,” Midland said as she hurried from the room, nearly barrelling into the young man standing there. “I thought I told you to go to the waiting room,” she barked.
“How is he, Doc?” Tanner asked softly.
“Let’s go see the others and I’ll fill you all in at once,” Midland said as she led the way.
Wilmington was the first to see the two people approaching the glass doors, “They’re here,” he said as he opened the door. “Vin, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Buck.”
“Doc, how’s Chris?” Jackson asked.
“I only have a couple of minutes. So if you guys will settle down I’ll tell you what we know,” she watched as they all sat down, including Vin Tanner. “We’re taking Chris up to surgery right away. We performed a mini Laparotomy and it showed evidence of blood in the abdomen. We have to find out where it’s coming from and fix it. We’ve called Dr, Frost and he’ll be there as well. Chris is shocky and unresponsive right now. The head wound’s not to bad but he’s definitely showing signs of a concussion.”
“Dr. Midland, Dr. Parker said for you to come right away,” Ninheve said as she poked her head in the door.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I find out anything else. Vin, have your hands checked by a nurse and then get some sleep before you collapse,” she ordered as she followed the young nurse out of the room.
Tanner leaned back against the couch, his head throbbing from worry and lack of sleep. He rubbed his eyes before looking at the five men he called friends. “Chris fell and I couldn’t stop him,” his voice cracked with emotion as he relived the terrifying scene on the mountain.
Sanchez heard the pain in the sharpshooters voice and sat beside him. He could see the lines of strain and worry on the handsome face and knew this man was in hell. A hell built by his own feelings of guilt. “Vin, Brother Chris will be fine.”
“You didn’t see him, Josiah. He’s in so much pain and they couldn’t even give him anything for it. I tried to catch him but I was too late. He f...fell down the c...cliff and I swear I heard his bones b...break. It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion and I almost laughed. Kept thinking it was like the old Bionic man movies. You know where he runs in slow motion only Chris was falling in slow motion and every sound was amplified,” Tanner told them, shocking them all by his open emotions.
“Vin, how longs it been since you slept?” Jackson asked carefully examining the blisters on the young man’s hands.
“I don’t know. What time is it?”
“It’s seven am,” Dunne answered.
“Chris and me left at five am yesterday morning. Slept a few hours before we left. Supposed to have been a fun day,” Tanner’s voice had suddenly gone flat and his friends began to worry about his state of mind.
“Vin, why don’t you lie down and get some rest?” Jackson suggested, worried that the younger man seemed to be in shock now that the adrenalin rush of getting help for Larabee was over.
“I’ll get you a pillow, Vin,” Dunne said as he went in search of a nurse.
”He’s sleeping, Nathan,” Sanchez said as he felt the younger man’s body relax against him.
“He needs it,” Jackson told them. “I’ll get one of the nurses to come take a look at his hands,” he said as he left the room.
“How’s he doing?” Midland asked as she stepped into the OR.
“He's had 3 units of packed cells. The blood pressure is holding at about ninety. We have 3 more units of packed cells and 4 units of fresh frozen plasma available. The blood bank is on standby and they can get us more blood if we need it”
Stacey noted the blood had been placed in a warmer, she knew this was being done because the patient was already cold and they didn't want to chance a rapid drop in temperature. “Let's get the blood bank to start working on another 4 units. I have a feeling we're going to need it,” she ordered.
“All set, Dr. Parker,” the anaesthesiologist said as he finished checking the monitors and made sure the ventilator was doing its job.
“Alright, people, let’s do this,” Parker said as he began the laparotomy on his patients abdomen. As soon as he made the tiny incision blood welled up and flowed freely down the taut stomach. “Damn, we definitely have a bleeder here.”
“His blood pressure’s dropping Tom,” Midland said as she looked at the overhead monitors.
“Run more fluids into him. Come on, Chris, just hang on a little longer. Stacey, I found the bleeder. There’s a small laceration on his liver,” Parker said as he worked to repair the injury.
“Tom, blood pressures still dangerously low,” Midland said.
“I know, Stacey. It looks like there’s damage to the spleen as well. I’m going to remove it,” he told her and saw her head nod in agreement as blood continued to escape Larabee’s body at an alarming rate. “Open up those IV’s. Let’s get some of that blood and plasma into him.”
“How’re the rest of his vitals?”
“Temperature’s continuing to hold. Blood pressure seems to have levelled off. Oxygen saturation is at ninety nine,” the anaesthesiologist answered as the nurse changed the rapidly emptying IV bag on the pole. A second nurse removed the empty blood bag and hung the fourth unit."
“Got it,” Parker said as he removed the spleen. “Now to close him up.”
Midland assisted Parker in closing up the incision and then turned to the anaesthetist. “Is he ok for Orthopaedics?” she asked worriedly.
“He’s stabilized somewhat since we’ve pumped the blood and fluids into him. So yeah, I’d say he’ll be ok for Dr. Frost to perform his surgery.”
“Paul,” Midland said.
“Thanks, Stacey,” Frost said as his fresh team stood in to take over. He expertly performed an open reduction and fixation on the humerus, and then carefully immobilized the broken collarbone. He performed the same procedure on the left femur, glad to see the patients’ blood pressure pick up a little.
Midland and Parker stood back and watched the procedures, constantly checking the monitors for any sign the patient was running into trouble. Stacey glanced at the large clock and saw that two and a half hours had passed since they’d started working on the injured man.
Another two and a half hours passed before each of Larabee’s broken bones had been treated. Dr. Frost finished his work and turned to Midland and Parker. “Barring any unforeseen problems that’s all I can do for him for now.”
“Thanks, Paul,” Midland said as she watched the ventilator tube being removed from the patient.
Once the ventilator was completely removed the anaesthesiologist spoke softly to Larabee. “Chris, can you hear me?” he asked.
Midland watched as her most frequent patient made small sounds in his throat, “I’m going to see his friends and let them no how he’s doing,” she told her colleagues.
“Alright, Stacey, tell them they can see him later if everything’s ok.”
“I will, Tom, See you both later,” she said.
“Drink this.”
Vin Tanner reached for the cup Jackson held out to him. He sipped at the rich chocolate drink, shivering as a chill ran down his spine.
“Are you feeling alright, Mr. Tanner?” Standish asked.
“Just a little cold, Ez,” Tanner answered.
The door opened and all eyes turned to see Stacey Midland enter.
“How’s Chris?” Tanner asked
“Is Chris alright?” Wilmington asked.
“Is he out of surgery?” Dunne asked.
“Doc?” Jackson said as he noticed the tired lines on the woman’s face.
Midland sat next to Vin on the couch, her eyes turning from one man to the next before speaking. “Chris came through surgery alright, although his blood pressure bottomed out and we thought we might lose him. We stabilized him with fluids and warmed blood and plasma transfusions,” she explained. “He had a small laceration on his liver and Tom repaired that.”
“Was that the only internal injury?”
“No, Vin, we had to remove his spleen. There was damage to it and it was leaking blood into his abdomen.”
“What about the broken bones?” Dunne asked.
“Dr. Frost from orthopaedics performed an open reduction and fixation on his femur and humerus and immobilized his shoulder. The right leg will be put in a cast tomorrow and he’ll also be placed in traction. The wound on his forehead has been stitched as well. He’s got numerous scratches all over but Vin did a great job of keeping everything clean. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of infection in them. That’s about all I can tell you right now,” she said.
“I want to see him.”
“Now how did I know you were going to say that, Vin?” Midland said with a grin.
“Doc,” Tanner said exasperatedly.
“Alright, Vin, but only for a few minutes. Then I want you to go home and get some rest. They’ll be moving him to ICU pretty soon. You guys give them an hour and then you can go up. Just remember he’s going to be sleeping the rest of the day. The anaesthetic alone will keep him groggy but we’ve also started him on pain meds,” she said.
“Sure, Doc,” Wilmington said.
“I’m going to go check on his progress. Vin, have you eaten yet?”
“No, he hasn’t” Jackson answered and received a stern look from the younger man.
“Don’t you come near the ICU till you’ve got something inside you and I don’t mean chips or chocolate bars. Next thing you know you’ll end up on an IV next to Chris and I don’t want to put the nursing staff through that again. Nathan, Josiah, make sure you get him to eat,” Midland ordered as she left the room.
“Sure Doc,” Sanchez said. “Well, Brothers, looks like it’s another trip to the cafeteria.”
“Shit, Josiah, I hate hospital food when I’m stuck in here and you want me to go there now?”
“It’s either that or we go out,” Jackson told him.
“I’m not leaving till I see Chris,” Tanner said.
“Then it’s the cafeteria,” Wilmington said as he pulled the younger to his feet.
Tanner stepped into the ICU and walked over to the bed that held the battered form of his friend. He looked at the metal contraption over the bed. Both legs were in traction and Vin winced, knowing how uncomfortable Chris was going to be when he woke up. The pins sticking out of his knee, holding the left leg in place, were painful just to look at. “How’s he doing?” he asked the nurse.
“He’s holding his own right now,” she told him as she drained and measured the urine output from the foley. “Why don’t you talk to him?”
Tanner nodded and reached for the pale hand under the thin blanket. “Hey, Cowboy, I told you we’d make it. Now you just gotta fight a little more, a little longer, and a little harder,” he said. He noticed the usual array of tubes, from IV’s to Nasal canulas to a NG, to the foley catheter, but was glad to see one missing. “At least you don’t have that damned ventilator tube stuck down your throat.” He returned the nurse’s smile as he caught her looking at him.
Stacey Midland stepped up beside Tanner and smiled. “He’s doing well, Vin,” she said as she took a filled syringe from her pocket.
“What’s that?” Tanner asked.
“It’s called Pneumovax and it’s given whenever a patients spleen is removed,” she told him as she swabbed an area on Larabee’s right shoulder before injecting the medication. “Now, I think it’s time you got some rest. Let one of the others sit with him for today and you’ll be here when he wakes up in the morning.”
“I’d rather stay with him.”
“Vin, we had a deal. You get to see him and then you go home and get some rest.”
“But...”
“No buts. Get out of here or I’ll have you banned for twenty-four hours. Go home and get some rest and you can come back in eight,” she told him.
“I want to be here when he wakes up.”
“He won’t be waking up until tomorrow morning, Vin. Now go home,” she ordered.
“Alright,” Tanner said as replaced his friends hand on the bed. “I’ll be back, Cowboy,” he said softly.
By the time everyone visited with Chris Larabee an hour had passed and Vin was feeling the lack of sleep and the emotional turmoil of the past two days. He rubbed his eyes as Josiah took his arm. “Come on, Brother, you can stay at my place,” he offered.
“Thanks, Josiah, I am kinda tired.”
“That’s an understatement if I ever heard one,” Sanchez said, noting the dark circles under the younger man’s eyes. The worry and stress could be seen in the lines on his face. “Buck’s gonna stay with him, Vin, he won’t be alone.”
“I know. I just...”
“You just need to get some rest,” Sanchez said as he led the sharpshooter out of hospital.
It was well after midnight when Vin Tanner returned to the hospital. The familiar form of Buck Wilmington seated at Larabee’s bedside brought a hint of a smile to his face. ‘You’re always there for him, Buck. I wonder if he realizes just what kind of friend he has in you,’ he thought as he stepped into the room.
“Morning, Pard,” Wilmington said as he stood up and stretched his stiff body. “Did you get any sleep?”
“Slept at Josiah’s house.”
“How long?”
“Couple of hours.”
“Did you sleep or just lie down?”
“I slept, Buck.”
“Alright, Pard. I’m gonna go stretch out in the waiting room. Come get me if he wakes up.”
“Sure thing, Buck,” Tanner said as he took over the vacated seat. He watched his friend’s face closely for a few minutes and was relieved to see no sign of pain on the handsome features. The hours crawled by as he watched the nurse care for his friend. Vin leaned his head back in the chair and without realizing it, dozed off. His eyes snapped open as he heard a rustling sound on the bed beside him.
“Chris,” he said softly, smiling as he heard a low guttural sound in response. “Come on, Cowboy, open your eyes.”
“V...Vin,” the dry raspy voice said.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“M...made it?”
“We did, Cowboy,” Tanner assured his friend.
“Y...you alright,” Larabee asked and started to cough.
The nurse was instantly at his side, a sponge in her hand. She wiped his dry lips with the sponge and looked into his half open eyes. “How do you feel, Chris?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” his usual response brought a smile to Vin’s face.
“How’s the pain right now?”
“I...it’s ok,” he answered.
“Now why don’t I believe you?” the nurse laughed. “Do you want something for the pain now?”
“N...no,” he answered automatically, grimacing as he tried to move around on the bed.
“Well, it’s six-fifteen and Dr. Parker and Dr. Midland have just started rounds. We’ll see what they want to do,” the nurse said with a smile.
“You know, Cowboy, the nurses in here are getting to know you to well,” Tanner said with a grin.
“Hmm,” Larabee said as his eyes began drifting shut again.
Tanner sat back in the chair, “You go back to sleep, Chris.”
“The same could be said for you, Vin, I’m sure I told you to let one of the others sit with him,” Midland said as she entered the room.
Tanner had the good grace to look away, “I slept,” he said.
“Not nearly long enough. Now if you’ll excuse me I want to check my patient,” she said.
“I’ll be back, Cowboy,” Tanner said as he saw the green eyes watching him.
Larabee gave a slight nod and watched the other man leave the room, passing Tom Parker along the way.
“How are you feeling, Chris?” Parker asked as he watched Midland check his chart.
“Tired,” Larabee answered.
“Well that’s to be expected. You’ve been through a lot over the past two days. How’s the pain?” Parker asked.
“Ok,” Larabee lied again.
“Is it?” Midland’s eyebrows narrowed.
“N...not really,” Larabee answered, knowing this woman could see right through him.
“Set up a morphine infusion pump,” she ordered, writing the rate and new orders on his chart.
“Yes, Doctor,” the nurse said.
“While she’s getting that ready let’s have a look at you, shall we?” Parker said as he began checking the vital signs and the surgical incisions from the day before.
Chris gritted his teeth against the pain as Midland and Parker did a thorough examination of his injuries. He was relieved when they stood back and said they were finished. He watched as they ran the morphine infusion system into the existing IV line in his right hand. As soon as the medication hit his system he felt an immediate lowering of the agony caused by his injuries. “Thanks,” he said softly.
“You’re welcome, Chris. Next time be honest about the pain. You don’t have to be strong all the time,” Midland said.
“How long?” Larabee asked as he indicated the metal contraption above his bed.
“Well, you’re right leg will be placed in a cast today so it won’t need traction.”
“What about the left one?”
“That one was a little more serious and will need to be in traction for at least two weeks. Your left arm and shoulder will also be kept immobilized.”
“Is that all?”
“You had some internal injuries as well,” Parker explained.
“What kind?” Larabee asked, his eyes growing heavy with sleep.
“We repaired a small laceration to your liver and removed your spleen,” Midland explained.
Larabee swallowed and tried to keep his eyes open. The pain had all but disappeared to be replaced by a feeling of exhaustion. He yawned and closed his eyes.
“Get some rest, Chris, we’ll be moving you to a private room later today,” Midland told him.
“K,” the blond answered finally letting his mind and body relax in sleep.
The next time Chris Larabee opened his eyes he was in a different room and felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of equipment around his bed. He knew it was probably the same equipment he’d had in ICU but he hadn’t really been awake to see it. The traction holding his left leg in place was still over his bed as was a triangular object he didn’t recognize. He moved his head and groaned as flashes of light danced before his eyes and lancing pain exploded in his head.
“Easy, Chris,” Jackson said as he stood next to the bed.
“Nathan?”
“That’s right. How do you feel?”
“Don’t know. What happened?”
“What do you remember?” Jackson asked worriedly. He knew Larabee was still suffering the effects of a concussion and hoped his confusion was temporary.
The blond closed his eyes, using his right hand to gently rub his throbbing temples, carefully avoiding the bandaged area on his forehead. “I remember f...falling. Vin was t...there!” his eyes shot open and panic replaced the pained look on his face. “Oh, God, N...Nathan. Is he...?”
“Easy, Chris. Vin’s just fine. I made him go with Buck and the others to get something to eat.”
The panic on his face was replaced by relief, “Vin’s ok?”
“He’s fine.”
“Thank God,” Larabee said, closing his eyes in an effort to rid himself of the painful lights. He soon drifted off to sleep, content in the fact that his friends were around him.
“Hello, Chris.”
Larabee opened his eyes and gazed at the pretty nurse standing beside him. “H...hello,” he said as he tried to sit up, gasping at the pain the movement caused.
“Now you just lie still and let me look after you. My name’s Ninheve, and I’ll be here all day,” she said. “Would you like me to raise your head a little?”
“Please,” he said.
Ninheve raised his head so it was easier for him to look around. He wasn’t surprised to see six men standing and sitting around his room, his heart filled with joy as he realized he would heal and his friends would be there to help him. “Never thought I’d be glad to wake up in a hospital,” he said softly. He sipped gratefully from the glass of water Ninheve held to his lips.
Tanner stepped closer, making sure he stayed out of the nurse’s way. “I’m glad you think so, Cowboy, cause it looks like you’ll be here for awhile.”
“Don’t bet on it,” Larabee told him.
“Chris,” Larabee looked into Ninheve’s concerned eyes. “This is one time you don’t have a choice. You’re looking at at least two weeks in traction which means you won’t even be out of bed for at least that long.”
“Looks like you’re stuck, Stud. Good thing you’ve got such a pretty nurse to look after you,” the ladies man smiled as the nurse blushed.
“You gentlemen can stay for another few minute but then I want you gone. He needs his rest and I know from past experience he won’t get any with you around,” she told them as she checked the dosage on the morphine infusion pump and IV line. “I’ll be back shortly and you guys had better be gone,” she warned and looked back at her patient. “Chris, just push the button if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” he said as she left him to his friends.
“Well, Brother, it’s good to see you awake,” Sanchez remarked.
“Yes, Mr. Larabee, it is good to see you back among the living,” Standish agreed.
“Thanks, guys,” Larabee said tiredly. “Damn, can’t seem to stay a...awake,” he said through a yawn.
“You’ve been through a lot, Chris, that, and the medications will make you tired. Go ahead and get some sleep,” Jackson told him, patting his right shoulder in a gesture of friendship and comfort.
“Hmm,” Larabee mumbled as he drifted off to sleep.
Vin watched the others leave and then sat down in the chair next to his best friends bed. He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder back to the fall. He relived the nightmare of seeing Chris’s body bounce off the side of the cliff and hit every piece of debris on the way to the bottom.
Chris Larabee was having the same experience. His fist clenched as he relived the nightmare fall. Crying out as his body slammed up against the rocks along the way. His last thought was of his friend as he spotted the shape of the man above him. “Vin!” he shouted.
“Chris!” Tanner cried out.
Two pairs of pain filled eyes met, each man knowing what the other had been dreaming. Each thankful to have the other one close by.
“You alright, Cowboy?” Tanner asked worriedly.
“T...think so,” Larabee coughed.
“Here.” Tanner said as he placed the straw at his friends’ lips.
Chris sipped a small amount of the liquid before closing his eyes, snapping them open instantly as he once more remembered the nightmare. “Thanks, Cowboy,” he said.
“For what?”
“For saving my life out there.”
“It was my fault you fell in the first place.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You were there because of me.”
“What?” Larabee asked incredulously, using the triangle over his head to pull himself further up in the bed, crying out as pain radiated from the incisions on his body.
“Lie still, Chris. I’ll raise your head a little more,” Tanner told him.
“Thanks,” the blond gasped as he relaxed back against the pillows. “Now let’s get something straight, Vin. None of this is anybodies fault. The trip was my idea. The bear, the rain, the rock crumbling was nature. God, Vin, you can’t take the blame for any of this. If you hadn’t been there I’d be dead,” he said honestly.
“You did it for me,” Tanner told him.
“Yes, Vin, I did and I’d do it all over again. All except the slide down the cliff that is,” Larabee laughed. He reached out and took the younger man’s arm. “You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about, Cowboy,” he said firmly.
Tanner swallowed the lump in his throat, “I thought I’d lost you,” he said. “You’re the closest thing to a brother I’ve ever had, Chris. When I saw you lying at the bottom of the cliff I was sure you were dead. Felt like a part of me died too.”
“Vin, in our line of work we face death on a daily basis. I thought the trip would be a great way to show you how much your friendship means to me. I’ve told you before that you and I may not have been born brothers but we’re brothers in every other sense of the word. I’m here,” he said pointing to Tanner’s heart, “and I always will be. Now get rid of that long face and go find out if they’re bringing me anything to eat today. I can’t seem to remember the last time I ate,” Larabee grinned, glad to see the forlorn look leave the younger man’s face.
“Alright, Cowboy,” Tanner said, a smile masking the pain he still felt. “Are you sure you want something to eat? We are talking hospital food.”
“Oh, damn, forgot about that. Think you could rustle something in?”
“No, he will not!”
Larabee looked past Tanner at the nurse just entering the room, a tray in her hand.
“This is all you get today,” she said as she placed the tray on his table, sliding it across the bed.
“Oh, yum,” he said as she revealed the simple, all fluid lunch.
Tanner laughed at the sick look that came over the injured man’s face. “I don’t envy you, Pard,” he said.
Larabee spooned the bland broth into his mouth, a grimace immediately coming to his face. “Ninheve, thought this was supposed to be good for me?”
The nurse laughed as she left the room. “Eat it all, Chris,” she ordered.
By the time Larabee finished eating he was yawning again. “Seems like all I ever do anymore,” he said as he closed his eyes.
“You sleep, Cowboy, I’ll watch your back,” Tanner said automatically.
Three weeks later Chris Larabee sat on the couch in Vin Tanner’s home. Both legs propped up on a footstool, a blanket tucked around his sleeping form.
Six men gathered round the form, watching him closely. He’d been released from the hospital that morning under the promise that he wouldn’t be alone. Vin’s offer of his home as a place to rest and get well was eagerly accepted over staying at the hospital.
The TV was turned down so as not to wake the injured man, the men stopping themselves from cheering as another run scored.
“I don’t remember ever seeing you guys so quiet.”
“Chris,” Dunne’s excited voice cried.
“Thought you were sleeping, Stud,” Wilmington observed.
“Done enough sleeping.
What’s the score of the game?”
“Tied at three right now,” Sanchez answered.
“Here, Chris,” Jackson said, as he handed Larabee two pills.
“What’s that?” Larabee asked.
“The pain meds Dr. Midland sent home with you,” Jackson answered.
“I don’t need them Nate,” Larabee protested as he moved on the couch.
“Humor me,” Jackson said as he continued to hold out the pills and a glass of water.
“Oh, hell, Nathan, you’re not gonna let this go are you?”
“No,” Jackson said, grinning as the blond took the pills, swallowing them with the water.
“Good boy, Stud,” Wilmington laughed.
“Shut up, Buck,” Larabee snapped but couldn’t help smiling at his friend.
Larabee lay in bed thinking. The others helped Vin get him settled for the night with a promise they’d be back to help get him out of bed the next morning. The casts on his legs and the immobilized left arm made it hard for him to do anything on his own and he’d finally stopped fighting his friends help. He looked up as Vin Tanner entered the room.
“Here’s your pills,” the sharpshooter grinned.
“Ah, hell, Tanner, not you too?”
“Sorry, Cowboy, Dr. Midland made me promise and so did Nathan.”
“Can’t you just tell them I took them?”
“You keep telling me I don’t lie very well, Chris,” Tanner smiled, realizing he’d finally found a way to use Larabee’s own words against him.
“Damn, Vin, that’s mean,” Larabee said as he swallowed the pills with water.
“Go to sleep, Cowboy,” Tanner ordered as he took the empty glass and turned out the lights.
“Thanks, Vin, thanks for everything,” Larabee said as he settled into the blankets and slept peacefully for the first time since the accident.
Tanner crawled into his own bed after checking to make sure his friend was sleeping comfortably. His own sleep was also nightmare free as he was content in the knowledge that Chris Larabee would make a full recovery.
Chris opened his eyes to sunshine pouring into the window. The pain in his arm, legs and abdomen was easier to manage and he was now going to refuse any more pain medication.
“Morning, Chris.”
“Vin,” Larabee said as he watched his friend bring a tray into the room. “I can eat at the table you know?”
“Well the guys aren’t here yet and I figured you’d be hungry by now,” Tanner explained as he placed the tray on the floor, lifted his friend and placed extra pillows behind him. He placed the tray of cereal, toast, and juice on Larabee’s lap.
“What’s this,” Larabee asked, picking up a small wrapped package off the tray.
“Something the guys and I thought you might enjoy,” Tanner grinned.
“What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
Larabee awkwardly opened the gift, closing his eyes and laughing as he saw the title of the book, “Tanner!” he exclaimed, trying to keep a straight face but losing it as he read the name aloud. “How to Survive any Disaster,” he laughed.
“Open it,” Tanner suggested.
Chris opened the book and once more burst into laughter. All his friends as well as Midland and Parker had signed the book. The one that stood out among them all was from the nurse who’d helped care for him.
The two men laughed as the blond placed the book beside him on the bed. For the first time since Chris Larabee had fallen the laughter was warm and heartfelt.
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