Chapter 20
Jimmy sighed, deeply exasperated as the Kid put up a fight against being carried to the teepee. He could barely walk but of course the stubborn, bullheaded, single-minded..., Jimmy couldn't find the exact words to describe him as he lashed out at him.
Kid didn't even blink. "Get your hands off me!" he growled as Jimmy tried to take hold of him as he took a shaking step forward. Cody stepped up right behind Kid, fearing he'd fall otherwise.
Cody threw a warning glance in Jimmy's direction, "Take it easy, both of ya!"
"Look at you, you bone headed, miserable fool, you can't even stand straight!"
"Look who's talkin'!" Kid rebutted. Jimmy threw an irritated look in his direction, the others standing back.
"Hey!"
"Look at you, Jimmy! If you carry me, who's gonna carry you?" Kid wouldn't let up. Shivering and with clenched teeth he still stood his ground. Jimmy sighed, he should have known that nothing went past the Kid.
"He's right, Jimmy" Rachel spoke out "You ain't lookin' too good yourself!"
Noah coming up behind them threw a quick glance at them, trying to assess the situation.
"Couple of broken ribs, I'd guess" Kid pointed out "and possibly a bad head injury, due to prolonged hotheadness!" His voice came out in a jerkily manner. Jimmy had a hard time making out what exactly, he had said, but he had heard enough.
"At least I didn't take a bath..."
"Shut up!" all cried in unison. Teaspoon and Cody taking a hold of the Kid, preventing him from further protests. Noah took a firm grip on Jimmy's shoulders, forcing him towards the teepee. Rachel came up on his other side, taking his arm, silencing his protests with a glance.
"This just ain't right" Kid began from his awkward position.
"Shut up!" Even Jimmy joined in.
Lou had crawled to the opening of the teepee. She didn't dare crawl all the way out as she had intended, Piwi was keeping an eye on her. She had noticed that as the woman was bandaging her ankle. She threw Lou a warning glance from her position at the fire, where she was brewing the soothing tea. Everybody in the teepee was busy, tending to injured or loved ones. Only Lou felt a rising fear as none of hers showed up. She had seen them all, except the Kid. Was there something they tried to hide from her?
Then she heard some familiar voices near the teepee. Rachel was obviously telling Teaspoon something that had happened during their nightly escapades. The teepee was opened and she saw Kid being carried inside and Jimmy being lead in right behind. Her heart missed a beat.
"Are they alright? she asked Cody who had a tight grip on Kid's ankles.
"Yep, they just had their first fight for the day!" Lou's eyes widened in surprise.
"Don't worry, we made them shut up. I think they've cooled down a bit. At least this one has!" Cody was grinning at the Kid. Then she heard Kid's growl something as they sat him down. Definitively a growl in protest.Jimmy looked all but pleased as he freed himself from Noah's and Rachel's grip. Lou smiled as she limped towards Kid. They couldn't be too bad off if they had the strength to get into an argument. And since both of them still were alive, the argument couldn't have been too heated. As she reached where they had put down the Kid, Jimmy sat down on the hide covered ground besides them, casting warning eyes in Teaspoon and Rachel's direction. Mumbling something to himself. They took the hint and decided to leave him alone for a while.
"Kid, you Ok? What happened out there? Where'd you go to?" God! He's so pale, she thought as she saw him. This is not a good sign, she thought as she realized he was all wet and shaking.
Kid stopped her hand "Lou? You alright? How's the ankle?"
"Shut up, Kid. I'll be fine! What happened to you? Lie down goddammit!" she freed her hand again and took another blanket to wrap around him, "Why are you soaked and bleeding again?"
"Lou," Kid grunted in mild protest.
Her hand went up to his forehead "I knew it, Kid, your fever is up. I told you to wait in the woods. Why don't you ever listen?" Lou voice grew more and more concerned.
"Lou, has anybody looked at your ankle?"
Lou sighed in despair "Are you listening to me, Kid?"
"I'm fine" he protested trough clenched teeth.
Lou just sighed and took yet another blanket to cover him with, "Sure you are, but please lie down!"
Jimmy smiled under the blanket Rachel had wrapped around him, regardless of his glares. He never thought he'd enjoy their bickering, but now it seemed like being home. He shifted uneasily to to ease the pain in his side. As he changed position he felt the gun and the memories of what happened this morning hit him hard. All that had happened had prevented him from remembering. Hearing Lou and the Kid's bickering threw the memories right in his face. He had almost shot his best friend. If Kid hadn't fallen, he would be dead! The revelation made Jimmy's legs shake. He hated to live by the gun, but the world wouldn't let him forget who he was made out to be. But had he forgotten who he really was himself? The moment he pointed the gun at an unknown man, who turned out to be his friend? Was this going to be his destiny? Shooting somebody close to him, in a moment's mistake. The shock of what he'd almost done crept up on him.
He started shaking, trying hard to control his breathing.
Kid watched him carefully through squinted eyes. Jimmy tried to avoid his scrutiny by moving away from his stare. This only made him moan as the broken ribs reminded him of his situation.
"Lou" Kid was touching her arm. She was cleaning his wound that had opened up again, casting a dark shade of red on the blanket. "Kid, I'll try not to hurt you, I promise. But it's gotta be done, you're still bleeding!"
"Lou, Jimmy needs help!"
Lou looked at Kid, it was hard to make out what he had said, his voice intermittent and faint. "He needs you more than I do right now Lou!" She followed his gaze and saw a shaking Jimmy trying to hide under the blanket.
Hers and Kid's eyes met and Kid's eyes told her to go to Jimmy. She took the bandage and tied it hard around Kid's shoulder, hoping it would stop the bleeding. Still hesitant to leave him she cupped his face in her hands "Will you be alright for a while?"
Kid just nodded as his eyes wandered back to Jimmy. With a last look at the Kid, she went to Jimmy's side.
"Jimmy!"
He heard her soft voice and felt her hand on his shoulders; "Jimmy lie down and let me have a look at you!" She took the blanket of him, "Jimmy, what's wrong?"
He shook his head, painfully aware of his ribs, as he tried to move away. She noticed the pain on his face and called out for help, "Natalie, I need help!"
Natalie came over and Lou told her about her suspicions. Jimmy closed his eyes in embarrassment. Natalie opened his shirt without blinking and placed a hand on his side touching the broken ribs. Jimmy yelped in pain.
"You're right Lou! He needs a bandage around the broken ribs and some tea!" Lou started to move away, Natalie stopped her "I'll get what we need!"
Lou returned to Jimmy's side, talking softly to him. "It will be alright Jimmy. Natalie knows what she's doing"
Jimmy fell silent. But Lou sensed his pain, sitting besides him, her hand on his arm. Natalie returned and put a bandage around his ribcage. Carefully studying his face she smiled at him as she was done, leaving him with Lou. Lou held on to him, trying to comfort him.
"Lou, I almost killed him!" Jimmy was looking at the Kid and Lou realized there was something else, other than the ribs, bothering him.
"Jimmy, you didn't mean to... "
"But I almost did!"
"Jimmy, he would probably have done the same in your situation"
"Lou, what if..." Lou knew that if Jimmy had succeeded in his attempt it would probably have destroyed him. She knew he was thinking about the life he had to lead, not by his own choice, but other people's choices made for him.
"Jimmy, it didn't happen, did it? He would understand, you know that!"
"Would you?"
"Jimmy," she took his head into her lap, rocking him gently. He threw a nervous glance in Kid's direction. Sick as he was this might just make him get up and fight him! He watched Piwi offer Kid something steaming but he shook his head and pointed in Jimmy's direction. Piwi made a questioning face but Kid insisted.
"Lou" he started again but Lou interrupted him "Hush Jimmy, it was Kid who told me to take care of you!" She threw a thankful glance at Natalie who made her way to take care of the Kid. Lou knew he needed her expertise and she would have all the time in the world to take care of him later. Jimmy needed her now.
Jimmy closed his eyes and let Lou rock him. It was the first time he had shown his fear and his weakness to anybody so openly. They hadn't turned it against him, and he knew he could feel safe with them. As Lou was helping him drink the steaming liquid, a tear rolled down his cheek as he realized how lucky he was.
Rachel walked out to Teaspoon as evening fell over the plain. He was sitting besides the fire. Rachel knew he had seen some of the worst things a man can witness. All in one day. "Teaspoon" she called out softly as she approached
"Uh Rachel," he turned around to greet her, "everybody alright in there?"
"As good as can be expected."
They sat together, warming their hands near the flames of the brightly burning fire.
"Teaspoon, why did this happen? Why all this senseless killing?"
"Rachel, I wish I could tell you, but a thing like this? I don't see no reason for it, but I'm sure the men doing it had reasons of their own, or at least thought they had."
"It's so...inhumane!"
"Only human beings can do a thing like this, Rachel, no other species on earth would turn on his own in this manner, war is a uniquely human endeavor!"
Rachel nodded, she knew he was right. And the war creeping up on them would cause even worse suffering, if suffering could be measured. She shrugged as she looked around, she intensely wished to get out of this place."Teaspoon, when can we get away from here?"
"We have to bury the dead. The ground is frozen and we've only got one shovel. It's gonna take time. And the boys need time to heel!"
Rachel nodded. She knew that, but she couldn't help wanting to get out of these killing fields as fast as possible.
"How long before they can be moved? How about Jimmy?" Teaspoon asked.
"Two or three days."
"And the Kid?"
"Hard to say, the Kid you know..." then she remembered why they were here in the first place. Kid wasn't one of her riders anymore. He was on his way to Ash Point.
"Teaspoon" she urged "What about the Kid? He's goin' to Ash Point. He won't be healed for weeks. We just can't let him go!"
"I know Rachel" Teaspoon smiled "It's been taken care of, he aint goin' nowhere, he's comin' home. I aint told him yet, I thought he might learn a lesson from all this. So I was thinking of lettin' him worry for a while."
"When did'ya..."
"Rachel he's like a son to me, hell they all are, ya know that. But I failed as a father when I let him go. Jimmy was right, he wasn't thinking straight. I still don't know what it was all about, but I should have stopped him. I realized that, soon after he had gone away. Lou's actions made me see it. I sent a letter denying the request on my part from Seneca. Ash Point'll have to do without him."
"Thank you, Teaspoon" Rachel put her head on his shoulder, Teaspoon laid an arm around her shoulders. Sitting there they gathered strength from each other. Teaspoon turned to her "When you think supper's served around here?"
Rachel laughed "As soon as you and I've prepared it!"
Teaspoon sighed.
"Let go!"
Lou heard Natalie's voice get more and more irritated. She left the sleeping Jimmy's side. She had heard Natalie try to persuade Kid let her examine him without much success.
"What's goin' on?" she said as she reached them both. Kid was still shaking and trembling and he was holding the blanket tightly wrapped around himself glaring at Natalie.
"I don't wanna hurt him Lou, but I might just have to soon, if he doesn't let go!" Kid answered Natalie's outburst with a grunt.
"If you'd know what I've already seen, you wouldn't worry so much about it" Natalie grinned at him. Kid threw a questioning glance at Lou. Lou was glad it was fairly dark in the teepee. Natalie continued her scolding "I would never have guessed you would be so ...prude" she threw a quick glance at Lou.
"Be careful with him" Lou begged as she saw Natalie fighting him over the blanket. Kid moaned and shifted to get closer to Lou. Lou gently forced him to lie down,"Please Kid, let her help you!" Natalies word sinking in she hissed at the girl "What ya mean, prude?"
"Just what I said, how come he's like this after what I saw you two doing in the teepee, one would never think he'd be so sensitive"
Lou's face instantly turned a bright red.
Natalie watched the Kid, "Look, he's coloring up!" she grinned at them both.
Kid definitely looked like he was wanting to slide under the ground. He clung to Lou's hand, silently begging her to take him away from there, dragging himself towards her lap.
Seeing them suffer Natalie continued with a smile "You two've surely cured all prudness in me, I can guarantee you that!"
Lou finally regained her ability to speak. "You saw us?"
Natalie giggled, "we saw you!"
Kid just moaned and closed his eyes, letting out an intermittent breath.
"Goddammit Kid, the man kicked you in the ribs, you might have broken ribs too!" Natalie continued angrily, watching him closely.
"I'm fine, just leave me be!" Kid's stubborn manners were evident as he opened his eyes and glared angrily back at Natalie.
"What?" Lou's embarrassment instantly changed into concern, "Natalie what are you talkin' about?"
"Nobody told you?" Natalie looked at her with surprise.
"'Bout what?"
"The fight at the creek!"
Lou's stunned faced told Natalie that Kid and the other's had left some things out. Kid's angry glare in her direction told her he wanted it left that way. She decided not to oblige him.
"Lou' we got to get some tea into him, I don't think I gave him enough earlier. We'll have to try to get his fever down!" She gave Lou a meaning glance letting her know she'd tell her later. Lou promptly started to help Kid drink, his shivering making it hard for him to swallow. Talking softly to him, trying to ease his pain and his embarrassment, she finally felt him relax and understood she had gotten enough tea into him.
Slowly the trembling eased. She smiled at him "It's over Kid, you can relax now, everything's gonna be alright sweatheart, just be still and get some rest." His troubled eyes were fixed on hers and she took his head into her lap, comforting and reassuring him. He still fought to keep his eyes open but soon he fell into a feverish sleep. His hand still clasped around her's. She brushed away some unruly looks from his forehead, finding herself unable to stop touching him. The feeling of him close to her calming her.
Lou watched the sleeping Kid for a while, letting Natalie remove the blanket, exposing the damaged chest and ribcage. Lou swallowed in fear at the sight.
"Don't worry Lou, he'll be fine. He so goddamn stubborn I swear this one could walk on water if he set his mind to it."
Lou just nodded, fighting hard not to cry, of exhaution and relief, and all the other emotions that rushed in over her, making her throat tight. "What happened at the creek, Natalie?" she finally asked with a thick voice.
"Wahani attached Aganti, the one that lead the men here" she explained at Lou's wondering look, and continued "Kid threw himself at him. I didn't have a clear view so I can't tell you exactly what happened, but Jimmy was on his way after the Kid. I was right behind. I realized Jimmy had drawn his gun and I was scared he was going to shoot Aganti so I stopped him." Natalie frowned, "I guess I was wrong. Anyways, I was holding on to Jimmy, preventing him from killing the bastard as he went for Kid, kicking him right into the stream. I don't know what Kid did then but I saw Wahani come stumbling backwards and then the fool fell on his own knife." Natalie stopped and looked at Lou. "I swear I don't know how Kid did it but he probably saved Aganti's life, and I'll be forever grateful to him for that. And he made me realize where I belong"
"Huh?"
"I'm not going back with you Lou, I'm going with Aganti" she was watching Lou intensely "I thought you'd understand."
Lou stared back at her, not believing her ears.
Natalie continued solemnly "I knew it in that moment as the man fell over Aganti and I thought he was going to kill him. When I realized Aganti was still alive I decided there and then I was not going to leave him ever again. We're going with Buck and Dawn to the Kiowa's to do some healing. After that I don't know where we'll go, the only thing important is that I'm going with him. We'll stay together from here on, come what may!"
She stopped and her eyes went over to Aganti, sleeping by the fire. Her eyes softened into a smile. "If we lived trough this hell of fire and ice we can live trough anything" she said.
"I know what you mean Natalie, I know exactly what you mean. Kid's coming home too, whatever anybody has to say about it. And I'll stay with him whatever happens!"
The girls' eyes met and they smiled at each other.
Jimmy smiled in the dark too, having heard the conversation. He knew things were going to be all right now. Everybody was going home, where ever that was. And in his heart he knew that where ever Lou and the Kid found their home, they would always have a place in it for him too. A place he could call home. As long as I avoid buttin' in on them dancing.
The End.
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