His legs grew tired as he stumbled with the added weight. Tanner was slung over his shoulder and still hadn’t made a sound. Darkness was creeping over the road and Chris knew he’d need to take a break soon. He dreaded having to spend the night on the road, but to try and go on would be too much. He moved off the road and gently lowered his friend to the ground.

The bandage covering the head wound was tinged in red and Larabee once more tore a section from his shirt and changed the bandage. A slight stirring from the injured man caused his heart to beat faster and he prayed for him to open his eyes. “Vin, Pard, can you hear me?”

“C...Chris?” Tanner’s voice was laced with pain as he struggled to sit up. His stomach churned and he turned his head as the remnants of his last meal erupted from his mouth. He felt strong hands holding him and he relaxed into them, his breath coming in hiccupping gasps as he felt stabbing pain assault his mind. “W...what...hell...happened?”

“We were ambushed by two men. One of em shot you, Pard.”

“He...dead?” Tanner asked weakly.

“Deader than a beaver hat,” Larabee answered.

“Shit,” the tracker hissed as he felt his stomach churning once more. “Any...w...water?”

“Afraid not. The horses took off with it.”

“Damn. We got a l...long walk a...ahead of us.”

Tanner’s eyes closed once more and Chris was relieved to feel the slight rise and fall of the younger man’s chest.

Larabee looked around the clearing and felt in his pocket for the matches he kept there. “Least I can start a fire to keep you warm, Pard,” he soothed as he stood up and moved away from his friend. He soon had a small fire going and turned his attention back to the younger man. He took off his duster and placed it over him before sitting next to him to keep vigilance in case there were others out there who’d think nothing of gunning down his friend.

By morning Vin was awake, but Chris knew the younger man was suffering the affects of a major concussion. He couldn’t focus his eyes and his stomach churned with every move he made. He’d slipped in and out of unconsciousness during the night and Larabee continued to care for him as best he could. He’d been having trouble waking the younger man and knew he’d have to continue to carry his burden if they were to make it home by the end of the day. Standing and stretching he groaned as his back cracked. Sighing he reached down and picked the younger man up once more. “I’ll get you home, Pard,” he promised once more.

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with gladness
And love for one another

Chris thought of the times bounty hunters or old enemies had tried to take one of their lives and how many times they’d come close to succeeding. Vin Tanner was more than a brother to him since the day they’d met. There was something about the ex-Buffalo hunter that made him the perfect counterpoint to his own darkened soul. Something in the younger man had done more for him than all the bottles he’d consumed in his quest to forget his own troubled past and he was grateful.

“C...Chris...sick...Chris,” Tanner hissed as his body swayed back and forth on the older man’s shoulders.

“Hang on, Vin,” Larabee said as he lowered the man to the ground.

“T...thanks, C...Cowboy,” Tanner smiled weakly as he waited for his stomach to calm down. He raised his hand to his head and winced as it came in contact with the crude bandage there. “This...the r...reason I can s...see three a ya?”

“Probably,” Larabee answered. “Damn near blew your head off.

“Feels like he did,” Tanner hissed. “Where are we?”

“We’re about two hours from home,” the gunslinger informed him.

“Ya carried me all this way?”

“Figured it’s the only way to get you to Nathan.”

“I can walk,” the injured man stumbled to his feet, closing his eyes in an effort to stop the world from spinning around him. He groaned as he sank back to the ground.

“I can carry you, Vin,” Larabee assured him.

“Ain’t gotta carry me, Larabee, jest give me a minute ta let my eyes right again.”

Larabee smiled at the stubborn tracker, no amount of arguing would get him to change his mind. He knew he’d pass out before long but for now he’d let him have his way.

“T...think I’m r...ready, Cowboy,” Tanner winced as he reached for Larabee’s hand.

“Let me know when you need to rest, Vin.”

“Could say the same for ya, Chris, ya look ‘bout done in.”

“I am kinda tired, Pard, but I can wait till we get you to Nathan. Lean on me,” Larabee ordered as he placed his arm around Tanner’s waist and the two men started towards town once more.

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

They’d been walking for half an hour when Vin turned to his friend. “Ya know, Chris, yer more than a friend. Yer kin. I m...may not h...have had a b...brother, but I found one the day we met.”

Larabee’s eyes filled with moisture as he listened to the words spoken in the Texan’s drawl. “Vin, you know about my life and what it was like after Sarah and Adam died. What you don’t know is how hard it was to let you into my life. I didn’t want to care about anyone ever again, but you made me open my eyes to the world around me. You and the others are my family now and I won’t ever forget what you’ve done for me. I think I’d be dead right now if it wasn’t for you. Id’ve gone back to the bottle and either drowned in it or been killed by someone looking to make a name for themselves by killing a no good drunk.”

“C...Chris, I’d’ve been dead at the hands of Eli Joe or some bounty hunter if it hadn’t been for you,” Tanner moaned as the world around him tilted on its access and he doubled over.

“Vin!” Larabee exclaimed as he caught the younger man. He placed him on the ground and felt his chest, relieved when he felt his friend’s easy breathing.

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, He's my brother

The gunslinger lifted the man he considered his brother into his arms once more and began the walk towards home. He fought to stay on his feet with each step, knowing to stop now would mean another night in the open without water. He could do it, but Vin’s injury and blood loss meant he needed water as soon as possible.

“Nathan, ya’d best get out here,” Dunne called.

“What is it, JD?” Jackson called from his clinic.

“It looks like Chris and Vin comin’ in. Chris seems to be carrying Vin.

Jackson hurried down the stairs and followed JD towards the incoming figures. “Josiah, Ezra, get over here and give us a hand,” The healer ordered as they ran towards the two men.

Chris looked up at the sound of running feet, his exhausted body not wanting to believe they were home. He smiled weakly as the four men joined him.

“Here, Brother, let me take him. He’s got to be getting kinda heavy for you,” Sanchez suggested.

Larabee glanced at the ex-preacher and smiled, “He ain’t heavy, Josiah, he’s my brother,” he said as he felt strong arms reach out to encompass him and Vin. “We’re home, Vin,” he muttered as he gave in to the call of sleep.

Larabee opened his eyes to find he was on the cot in Jackson’s clinic. He sat up on the edge of the cot and let his eyes rake over the man he would always think of as a brother. Wilmington had returned from patrol to tell them he’d found Pony and Peso and both horses were at the livery none the worse from the ordeal.

“Easy, Chris,” Jackson ordered as he watched the gunslinger stand up and walk to the bed.

“How is he, Nate?”

“Aside from a severe concussion and being a might irritable he’s gonna be fine. I’m gonna go get the both of ya something to eat,” he explained as he left the two men alone.

“I...I’m fine, C...Cowboy,” Tanner opened his blue eyes and smiled weakly. “Thanks, Chris, ya saved my life out there.”

“You’d have done the same for me, Vin.”

“Anytime, Chris.”

“Brothers,” Larabee reached out and grasped his friend’s forearm.

“Brothers,” Tanner agreed easily.

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, He's my brother

 

THE END