Larabee looked across the room at the familiar form of Jake Taylor. The man arrived just after  the nursing change and relieved the man who stood watch over him

during the night. He liked Jake Taylor and thought he would probably befriend the older man if he didn’t feel so angry at having him here all the time. The second

figure in the room was Ezra Standish and Chris met the man’s eyes. He looked tired and Larabee wondered what his illness was doing to his friends. The recent

emotional ups and downs were taking a toll on not only him but his men as well. He needed to feel as if he could make his own decisions and have them acted on.

 

“Good morning, Mr. Larabee,” Standish’s soft voice broke the silence.

 

“Morning, Ez, You look like shit.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Larabee. I must say I’ve never been likened to human waste before. There must be something dreadfully wrong with my countenance.”

 

“Or else you haven’t been getting much sleep.”

 

“In all probability that is the problem. I shall endeavor to rectify the lack of dream time as soon as Mr. Sanchez arrives.”

 

“So Josiah got the short straw did he?”

 

“Mr. Larabee, you are not a contest and we would never draw straws to see who spends the day in your company.”

 

“Ez, I’m sure all of you have more important things to do than spend your days and nights sitting within the confines of these four walls.”

 

“Mr. Larabee, Chris, you’re a friend and as such I consider it an honor to help out in any way I can.”

 

“Thanks, Ez,” Larabee said as James, Parker, and Midland came into his room.

 

“Well, I must say you look much better than you did last night, Chris,” James commented.

 

“Thanks, Doc, I do feel better.”

 

“That is good news, Chris,” Parker told him. “How are your hands feeling?”

 

“Still hurt when I move the fingers but not as bad as they did. Same with my leg. It just feels a little stiff but Peggy says we’ll have it mobile in no time. The ribs and

abdomen don’t bother me unless I laugh. The arm feels better and isn’t nearly as painful as it was.”

 

Parker nodded as a smile formed on his face. “Sounds like you’re making great strides towards being released from here.”

 

Larabee’s face lit up and he smiled. “When will that be?”

 

“Well, physically you still have at least a week of physiotherapy. So let’s just give you next Friday as a tentative date for release. Of course it all depends on what Dr.

James has to say as well.”

 

“Doc?” Larabee’s look was hopeful as he trained his green eyes on her.

 

“I think next Friday should be time enough for us to get a few things out in the open.”

 

“I can get out of here next Friday?”

 

“I said it was a tentative date for your release, Chris. We still have a lot of work to do before then,” Parker told him.

 

“I’ll work as hard as you need me too, Doc.”

 

“I’m sure you will,” Parker laughed.

 

“Chris?”

 

“Yeah, Doc?” Larabee turned his attention back to James.

 

“I’ve been talking with the hospital board and they’ve agreed that your men can take over the Sitter duties,” she told him.

 

Larabee glanced from her to Ezra to Jake Taylor and back to James. “You mean I won’t be under suicide watch anymore?” he asked hopefully.

 

“I didn’t say that. The board wouldn’t agree to leaving you alone. They’ve agreed to leave it to your men to be here for you. But it’s your choice. Would you rather

the hospital assign the man to stay with you or would you rather have one of your friends.”

 

“Do you even have to ask? Sorry, Jake, no offence but I’d rather have my friends here,” the blond told them.

 

“None taken, Chris, I’m glad things are finally working out for you,” Taylor grinned at the younger man.

 

“Jake, you can report to your supervisor for reassignment,” James told the older man.

 

“Yes, Ma’am,” he said before turning to the blond. “Good luck, Chris.”

 

“Thanks, Jake,” Larabee breathed a sigh of relief as the man left the room.

 

“Ezra, it’ll be up to you guys to make sure someone is here at all times,” Midland said.

 

“We will, Doctor Midland.”

 

“Just make sure Vin Tanner is not listed as being one of you. He is not to take on any physical duties and that includes spending too much time in this room.”

 

“We’ll make sure he’s not on the schedule.”

 

“Not on what schedule?”

 

“Your ears must’ve been burning, Mr. Tanner. We were just talking about you,” Standish declared.

 

“What were you saying? Good morning, Chris.”

 

“Morning, Vin.”

 

“Hey, where’s Jake?”

 

“He’s gone,” Larabee grinned.

 

“Gone where?” Tanner asked.

 

“The hospital has agreed to let Chris’s men stay with him,” James explained.

 

“That’s great,” Tanner was as excited as his friend by the news.

 

“I think so too,” Larabee agreed.

 

“Vin, I don’t want to catch you in here after visiting hours. You’re being released today but that doesn’t mean you’re ready to go back to active duty. If I catch you

here I’ll have you banned from the floor. Do I make myself clear?” Midland asked.

 

“Sure, Doc,” Tanner smiled handsomely.

 

“Vin, I’m not kidding here.”

 

“You’d better listen to her, Vin,” Larabee suggested.

 

“I said I would, didn’t I, Cowboy?”

 

“Vin!”

 

Tanner smiled at his friend. “Don’t worry, Chris, I’ll be a good boy,” the sharpshooter smiled in imitation of Larabee’s own cocky grin.

 

“Oh, hell,” Larabee grinned back at him.

 

“Ok, you two, enough,” Midland laughed, glad to see the two friend’s joking again.

 

“Vin, Dr. Marshall will be in to see you in a couple of minutes so if you want the discharge papers signed you’d better not keep him waiting,” Midland warned him.

 

Larabee watched the expression on the younger man’s face and knew he didn’t want to leave right now. “It’s ok, Vin. Go on. I’ll be here when you’re done.”

 

“Alright, Chris. I’ll be back as soon as he’s gone.” Larabee nodded as his friend left the room.

 

James watched as Midland and Parker examined the injured man. By the time they were finished he was bathed in sweat but still refused to push the button and

receive the dose of morphine that would ease the reawakened wounds. She’d already noted on his chart that he hated drugs of any kind but she knew he needed

help if he was to continue with the rest of the treatments through the day. She made a note to speak to Midland and Parker about Chris Larabee’s stubborn refusal to

use the pain killer.

 

“Chris, are you alright?”

 

“F...fine,” Larabee gasped as the throbbing in his hands, legs, and abdomen continued unabated.

 

“Chris, no one will think any less of you if you press that button,” Midland told him. “It’s there to help you and it doesn’t look like you took much of it since we

changed it over to let you control it. Don’t try to be superman because you’re not. For now press the button and let it ease the pain. You’ve still got physio to get

through just before lunch.”

 

Larabee nodded slowly as he realized she was right. Fighting the pain was beginning to take its toll on his body and he knew he’d have to give in to it soon. He

depressed the button and waited for the drug to ease the pain as he knew it would.

 

“That’s better, Chris, now remember you can’t take to much of it so use it when you need it,” Midland ordered.

 

“Thanks, Doc,” Larabee told her as the pain began to ease to a more tolerable level.

 

“Well it looks like your breakfast has arrived so we’ll leave you to it,” Parker said as he followed his two colleagues from the room.

 

“Chris, I’m Sharon, and I’ll be with you today. I have your breakfast and your meds,” an older nurse informed him. Her smile was infectious and Larabee returned it

after she tipped the pill into his mouth and held the straw to his lips. He drank the cold water and waited for her to take it away.

 

“Thanks,” he said.

 

“You’re welcome. Do you need me to help you with breakfast?”

 

“No, thanks I think Ezra can help me out. Right, Ez?”

 

“Indubitably, Mr. Larabee.”

 

“Oh, God, you’ve been watching Sherlock Holmes again.”

 

“There’s very little choice during the twilight hours,” Standish grinned.

 

“Chris,” Sharon smiled at both men. “You eat everything on your tray and I’ll be back to help you get changed and into a chair.”

 

“Alright,” he told her as she left.

 

“Well, Mr. Larabee, what shall we start with?”

 

“Anything but the mush,” Larabee groaned as Standish lifted the lid revealing the plain porridge underneath.

 

“Good choice,” Standish said as he plopped the lid back on the dish and picked up the whole wheat toast.

Chapter 77

 

The next two days passed quickly for Chris and his men. Vin visited daily and stayed until one of the nurses kicked him out. Chris seemed to rally now that the Sitter

was no longer in attendance, although he hadn’t been surprised when Jake Taylor stopped by. His former sitter stopped by to see how the blond was making out.

They’d spent an hour talking and Chris developed a great admiration for the retired police officer.

 

Josiah Sanchez watched the two men, amazed at the quickly developing friendship he perceived. Somehow Jake was not the enemy anymore and Chris could see

the true man for what he was. Sanchez smiled as he listened to Jake relaying some of his funniest experiences as a rookie cop on the beat. ‘It’s good to hear your

laughter again, Chris,’ the ex-preacher thought.

 

“Well, Chris, visiting hours are just about over so I’d best be getting along. If it’s alright with you I’d like to pop by again tomorrow.”

 

“That’s fine, Jake. Thanks for coming by,” Larabee said gratefully.

 

“Take it easy, Son, and you’ll be out of here in no time,” Taylor grinned as he patted the younger man’s shoulder.

 

Larabee grinned as the older man left. He looked down at his hands, smiling as he realized he could now do so many things for himself. The gauze was still wrapped

around the injuries caused by the nail gun but his fingernails were on the mend. Parker was pleased to the extent that he’d removed the bandages and left his fingers

free. He could now feed himself and even though it hurt he’d awkwardly finished everything on his dinner tray. He reached out and lifted the cup, sipping the ice

water contentedly.

 

His fingers were stiff and he made a point of moving them, doing the exercises Peggy showed him. He winced as the effort pulled on the tortured skin between thumb

and finger.

 

At the sound Sanchez looked up from his book but didn’t say a word. He knew the blond was trying to do to much but he also knew it was typical Larabee. ‘It’s

good to see you fighting back, Brother,’ he thought as he watched the man concentrate on the movement of his fingers.

 

The night nurse entered the room and changed the IV and antibiotics over the patient’s head. She noted how much morphine he’d used, shaking her head as she

realized how stubborn this particular patient was. “How are you doing, Chris?” she asked.

 

“I’m doing just fine,” he answered honestly. Although he still felt some pain it wasn’t nearly as bad as before.

 

“Alright, you call me if you need anything.”

 

“I will,” he assured her as JD Dunne entered the room.

 

“Hi, Chris, Josiah.”

 

The two men nodded to JD and Sanchez stood up to leave. “Well, Brother, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

Larabee smiled at the older man. “I’ll be here, Josiah.”

 

Sanchez left the room, leaving Chris and JD alone. “How’re you doing, Chris?”

 

Larabee saw the concern in the younger man’s eyes and smiled. “I’m doing better, JD,” he answered honestly.

 

“I’m glad, Chris. Can I give you a hand?” he asked as Larabee leaned across the table and awkwardly picked up the glass. “I...I...” Dunne stammered.

 

“It’s ok, JD, I’m not gonna fall apart simply because you offered me a hand,” Larabee grinned at the worried expression on the younger man’s face. “A few days

ago I probably would have but not anymore. I owe you guys a lot for what you’ve done for me.”

 

“You don’t owe us anything, Chris,” Dunne assured him. “We’re your friends and friends are there for each other.”

 

Larabee yawned as he moved on the bed. It’d been a long day and he’d stayed awake through most of it. Now he needed something to take the edge of the

throbbing in his hands so he pressed the tiny button and let the morphine hit his system. “JD, I’m gonna call it a night,” he grinned. “Call me if you need anything.”

 

“Sure, Chris,” Dunne laughed.

 

Tony Sharpe watched the pretty young nurse standing at the coffee machine. He knew her name was Callie Willis. They’d dated a few times and he knew she was

infatuated with him. Whistling softly he walked up to her. “Hi, gorgeous,” he whispered in her ear.

 

Callie jumped but held onto the coffee, “Tony, what are you doing here?”

 

“I came to see you. I’ve missed our little meetings.”

 

“Tony, you can’t be here,” she told him as he kissed her neck.

 

“Ah, come on, Callie, you can’t tell me you haven’t missed me.”

 

“I’ve missed you, Tony, but I have to get back to my floor. I just came down to grab a coffee for me and JD,” she told him.

 

“But...”

 

“No buts, Tony,” she said as she turned in his arms so that she faced him.

 

He pressed his lips to hers, halting what she was about to say. Reaching behind her he emptied the tiny vial of Chloral Hydrate into the black coffee, knowing this had

to be the one for JD as she took hers with cream.

 

Callie placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away. “I have to go, Tony. If you still want to get together I’m off tomorrow night.”

 

“Ok, Callie, I guess I can wait that long,” Sharpe pouted as the nurse picked up the coffees and hurried away. ‘Tonight, Larabee,’ he thought, grinning malevolently.

 

“JD, I brought you a coffee.”

 

“Thanks, Callie,” Dunne said as he took the black coffee and sipped the bitter brew.

 

Callie saw the look on his face and fought to stop the laughter that bubbled up inside her. “I know it’s not the best but what can you do when you have to buy it from

the vending machines.”

 

“It is a little bitter but at least it’s strong,” Dunne told her.

 

“How’s he doing?”

 

“He’s been asleep for a while now. Guess he wore himself out during the day.”

 

“Yeah, I heard he does tend to over do things. Anyway, JD, just buzz if he needs anything at all. I’ll be at the desk.”

 

“I will, Callie, Thanks again for the coffee,” he said as he sipped the strong, hot liquid.

 

“You’re welcome,” the young nurse whispered as she left the darkened room.

 

An hour later the door to  three sixteen opened slowly and a figure slipped silently into the room. The light from the hallway spilled a couple of feet into the room,

illuminating the man lying on the bed and the second man, sitting in a chair with his head tilted back, soft snores escaping from his sleeping form.

 

Sharpe grinned as he let the door slip closed behind him. He slowly stepped up to the bed, a dark object in his hands. He grinned down at the sleeping figure, placing

the object on the bed before securing a piece of tape over the slightly open mouth. He switched on a tiny flashlight and placed it beside the blond head.

 

Chris came to with a start. Unable to see anything in the dark he struggled with his unseen enemy. He tried to breath through his mouth but was prevented from doing

so by the tape. Panic set in and he used his injured hands to clasp onto an arm. Choking as both hands were caught and squeezed tightly, causing gut-wrenching pain

as the wounds were pressed savagely.

 

“Lie still you pathetic bastard or I’ll kill the kid.”

 

Larabee recognized the hated voice from his nightmares and fought harder, pulling one hand from Sharpe’s grip. The struggle ended all too soon as Sharpe reached

down and pressed something against his right side.

 

Sharpe grinned as his victim’s body reacted to the jolt of electricity that flowed through it. “Bet that’s gotta hurt,” he laughed as he touched the cattle prod to Larabee

chest and legs over and over again.

 

The blond knew he was going to die. There was nothing he could do about it. The painful jolts and the subsequent violent arch of his body re-opened the wound in

his side and he felt something sticky against the once clean bandages. He turned his head towards the sleeping figure in the chair wondering why the kid didn’t wake

up.

 

Chris breathed deeply as the cattle prod left his body and it dropped like dead weight onto the bed where he gasped for breath. Tears shone in his eyes but he

wouldn’t give Sharpe the satisfaction of seeing them fall. He felt Sharpe’s mouth close to his ear, whispering softly, the words unmistakable as he squeezed the tiny

puncture wounds on the blonde’s left hand.

 

“I won’t kill you, Larabee, you’ll do that yourself when the time is right you pathetic bastard. Tell anyone I was here and I’ll just have to kill Tanner first. Keep

watching for me cause I’ll be back for you.”

 

With those words Chris felt the tape pulled from his mouth and he was once more left alone in the darkened confines of his room. Fear travelled down his spine as he

looked at the young man seated in the chair. “JD,” he called, hoping the younger man was alright but knowing something had been done to keep the kid from coming

to his aid. “JD, please,” Larabee called but received no answer.

 

Ignoring the white hot agony in his hands he depressed the button on the side of his bed till he was sitting straight up. Once upright he waited for the room to stop

spinning. The IV in his left forearm restricted his movements and he pulled it from his arm in his haste to check on the younger man. He slid to the end of the bed, his

breath coming in painful gasps as his feet touched the floor. “JD!” he gasped as he tried to cover the distance between his bed and the chair. Although it was only a

few feet it felt more like a mile as his body wavered and started to fall. His hand touched the younger man’s leg as he slid to the floor, crying out as his hands and side

erupted in new agonies. “P...please, K...kid, w...wake up,” Larabee begged as the darkness in the room gave wake to an even darker unconscious state.

 

Callie Willis shook her head as she came back from break. She yawned as she made her rounds, checking her patients and looking at her watch. Three more hours

before her shift ended and she could go home and rest. She paused outside three sixteen, checking the chart on the med cart to see if this patient required anything

new.

 

She picked up a new bag of IV solution and opened the darkened room. Her mind registered the empty bed before her eyes caught sight of the pale figure lying on

the floor. “Shit,” she cried as she turned back to the desk. “Wendy, get Dr. Miller up here now,” she ordered as she stepped into the room, turning on the light and

illuminating the entire scene. Dunne still sat in the chair, his head leaning back, his mouth opened slightly, soft snores emanating from his sleeping form.

 

The young nurse knelt beside the blond, reaching out and touching her fingers to the vein in the neck, breathing deeply as she felt the pulse beat underneath her

fingertips.

 

“What happened, Callie?”

 

“I don’t know, Wendy. I was just doing rounds and found him like this. Is Doctor Miller on his way?”

 

Wendy nodded as she moved to check the younger man who’d started moaning softly. “JD, wake up.”

 

“Hmm,” Dunne groaned as he lifted his hands to his head. Slowly he forced his eyes open, fighting the lights that danced before his eyes. “W...what?” he gasped as

he struggled to full consciousness. His eyes came to rest on the to still figure on the floor. “Oh, God, Chris,” he gasped, trying to stand but falling to the floor as he

was overcome by dizziness.

 

The door burst open as a tall gangly man in his mid to late forties hurried into the room. “What’s happened?” he asked as he knelt beside the injured man.

 

“I don’t know. I found him like this,” Callie explained. “I think he’s coming round.”

 

He could hear urgent voices and knew they were talking about him. Something in the tone told him if he opened his eyes he’d be in for new pain, new agony. ‘Stay

down, Larabee,’ he ordered but visions of an unconscious young man prevented him from slipping back into the welcome void. “JD,” he gasped as his eyelids

fluttered open.

 

“I’m here, Chris,” Dunne gasped.

 

“Y...you ok?” Larabee asked as he lifted his head and tried to turn over.

 

“Be still, Mr. Larabee,” Miller ordered. “Let me take a look at you.”

 

“I...I’m ok,” Larabee grated out as he turned on his side.

 

“No, you’re not. Now lie still,” Miller helped Larabee turn onto his back, ignoring the gasp of concern from the young man behind him. “What happened here, Mr.

Larabee?” he asked as he noticed fresh blood seeping through the bandages on the patient’s side.

 

Chris heard Sharpe’s warning and wouldn’t meet the doctors eyes as he answered, “I fell.”

 

“That could possibly explain the fresh bleeding but it doesn’t explain the burn marks,” Miller told him.

 

“Burns!” Dunne exclaimed, groaning as his head pounded unmercifully.

 

“What’s w...wrong, JD?” Larabee asked.

 

“Just have a headache,” Dunne explained.

 

Suddenly suspicious of the way Dunne acted since she’d come into the room, Callie asked Wendy to check the younger man. “JD, look at me.”

 

Dunne tried to focus on the young nurse but his eyes refused to cooperate. “Doctor, I think he may have been drugged,” she said.

 

“Take him down to emergency and have them do blood work,” Miller ordered as Callie helped him get Larabee back in the bed.

 

“No, I can’t leave Chris alone,” Dunne gasped as Wendy helped him to stand.

 

“G...go, JD,” Larabee ordered.

 

“C...Chris, I...”

 

“I’m fine, JD,” the blond lied as the nurse led the younger man out of the room.

 

“Callie, I want you to restart his IV,” Miller ordered, lifting the bandages from the injured man’s abdomen.

 

“Yes, Doctor,” she said as she hurried from the room.

 

Miller opened a sterile dressing tray and cleaned the wound. Satisfied that it wouldn’t cause any more problems he placed a saline soaked gauze pad over it and

covered it with a clean dry bandage, securing it in place with tape. By the time he was finished Callie returned with a new IV set up. She lifted the left arm, her face

showing concern as she noticed the redness and renewed swelling in the area between the thumb and index finger. Her eyes met Larabee’s and she could see the

pain he was trying to hide. “Doctor, I think you’d better look at this,” she suggested.

 

Miller looked up from examining the fresh burns on Larabee’s chest. He’d counted seven in all and knew they’d need to be treated. “What?”

 

Larabee cried out as the doctor removed the gauze from his hands. “Mr. Larabee, who did this to you?”

 

“I fell,” the blond repeated as visions of Sharpe torturing Vin Tanner came to mind.

 

“I don’t think so. Oh, I believe you did fall but there’s a lot more going on here. Callie, get that IV started and make sure you hook the morphine infusion pump back

up as well.”

 

“N...no, said I could c...control how much I t...took,” Larabee told them.

 

“You’ll still be able to control it but I need to fix up your hands and these burns and I want you comfortable while I do it.”

 

“Chris, you’re going to feel a small prick now,” Callie warned as she expertly restarted the IV, running the morphine into the tubing as well. Without a word to the

patient she pressed the button on the tiny box, delivering the pain medication into his abused body.

 

Larabee closed his eyes as the morphine entered his body. As he drifted towards sleep he felt the doctor and nurse manipulating his hands and cleaning the puncture

wounds. His thoughts drifted towards this latest encounter with Sharpe and he knew there was no way he would ever escape him. His tortured mind struggled to fight

the waves of agonizing defeat that threatened to overwhelm him. The more the morphine controlled his pain the more visions of Sharpe, Whelan, and Wilcox invaded

his subconscious. They’d beaten him. No matter how hard he fought they always showed up, tearing down the layers of safety he’d built around himself with the help

of his friends. Finally he slipped into a deep sleep where nothing invaded his dreams. A sigh escaped his lips as he surrendered once more to the cloying darkness.

 

“Callie,” Miller said as he finished re-bandaging the damaged hands and treating the new burns on his chest and thighs. “Make sure he’s not left alone. It says on his

chart that his men are watching him but after what’s just happened I don’t think that’s such a wise idea. Have someone sent over from the psych department to stay

with him until Dr. James gets in. I also want security and the police department called. There’s no way those wounds were caused by a fall. ”

 

“Yes, Doctor,” Callie said pushing the button beside Larabee’s head. The call was answered and she explained to the nurse what Miller wanted.

 

“Don’t leave him alone, Callie,” he ordered as he left the room.

 

“I won’t,” she told him, as she pulled the chair up to the bed. Her mind wondering to the meeting with Tony Sharpe. ‘Did you do this, Tony? Did you use me to get

to him?’ she wondered.