DISCLAIMER: The Magnificent Seven characters are the property of MGM, Trilogy, and the Mirisch Company. I have just borrowed them, and then will give them back.
RATING: PG13 — (language — violence)
NOTE: This is my first story, and it's unbeta'd.
The gunslinger and the other two upon riding into the camp saw with some relief the tracker moving, but did not seem to be of such relief to the other's there.
Ezra was standing by the fire with his head dropped low shaking it back and forth. Josiah was standing up next to the tracker with his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. The healer, well, he was almost sitting straddle of the tracker, squatted low an one leg slung over the waist of the prone man.
It almost brought a smile to the gunslingers face to hear Vin's quiet cussin coming from underneath the healer. Until he saw Nathan come up out of his squat an with hands flung out shouted "Fine then you c'n take care of them wounds by your own self, I ain't tryin to do nothin but help." So saying the healer stalked off toward the fire.
Vin struggled to sit up an finally made it only to find the gunslinger standin over him. One thought on his mind, "You get 'em?" Knew the answer by the look on the other mans face.
"Nope." Was all Chris was gonna say bout that. "You given Nathan a hard time?" He questioned as he dropped down in a squat next to the tracker? Secretly glad to see him well enough to have some fight in him.
Vin slumped back down on the bedroll an rested his head against Peso's saddle. Knew he was hurt bad but couldn't Nathan understand he didn't want to be stripped naked out here couldn't understand why he needed to lose his britches. A man that might be dyin deserved some dignity.
The man in black looked back hard over the tracker an seein that Vin was fighting to stay either conscious or awake and not sure which, he stood and moved over to Nathan to get to the bottom of things before Vin got worse. Knew the tracker wasn't gonna tell him at this point, could see that by the feverish eyes and the stubborn tilt to his chin.
Moving up behind the healer "Nate?"
Nathan turned to Chris and at the same time threw a hard but concerned look to the tracker, glad to see him layin back an appeared to be restin. Josiah squatted down beside him and holdin a strip of cloth to the wound low on the waistline of the tracker.
He looked back to Chris an started to speak as JD and Buck walked up. They musta been settlin the horses. "He had a strip a leather tided round his throat, managed to get a stick in it ta loosin it, but I was so busy lookin everywhere's else that I didn't see it at first. Had a hard time getting it cut off, an had to get my gun back fore I could do that."
Chris looked at him with a raised brow.
"He's soaked, Chris, won't let me get them pants off 'em, tried an he got my gun fore I knew it. Gots a fever comin on an him bleedin from the hip. Can't look to that good til he gets them cloths off, an his shoulder's infected an I ain't got a good look at the back of his head." He took a deep breath an looked hopefully at the gunslinger, silently askin for him to do somethin fore things got worse then they already were.
Chris didn't say a word, just slung back around and moved over to the tracker. Dropping down he placed his hand over top the preachers and gave him a look that clearly asked him to leave.
The gunslinger made sure that everyone was back out of the way and then he leaned in close to Vin. "We can do this the easy way or my way, what's it gonna be?"
Vin was gonna be sick an here was Chris in his face about somthin', didn't know fer sure what the hell was goin on anymore. He was hurtin from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. He looked up at his friend an tried to pay attention, sure that it must be important for Chris to be disturbin him at a time like this.
"Vin, them cloths is comin off and your gonna let Nate take a look at ya, you got any questions before we get to it?" He started reachin for the trackers pants and at the same time looked back over his shoulder to the other's, jerking his head as an indication for them to come on over.
Vin suddenly found himself surrounded by the other men, made his skin crawl an "What the Hell" was Chris doin tuggin at his pants like that. Must'a said that out loud as the blonde mans eyebrows first drew up and then together.
Some one jarred his shoulder and a loud moan stopped all activity for a moment. "Vin?" he heard his name an struggled through the pain to focus on that voice.
"Don't take 'm cloths Chris, I'm cold an don't want to be laying here naked." He was breathin hard an felt like he was gonna lose whatever might be in his stomach.
Chris let out an exasperated breath and looked up to JD, "Get my serape off a my horse." He didn't wait to see if JD obeyed but turned to Buck, "Get whatever you can in the way of coverin, while we're tryin to save his ass he's all fired worried bout coverin it."
All could hear Buck chuckle as he moved off after JD.
"Ain't worried bout nobody seein my ass Larabee, just don't feel right..." A hacking cough coming from the tracker broke off whatever he was gonna say.
Nathan moved in an helped raise him a bit, so's his breathin'd be easier.
Ezra stepped up and offered up his stash of whisky to the healer, but before the other man could take it, the tracker looked up and swiped it out of the gamblers hands. "Thanks" and he had the cap off and was tippin it back for a drink before anyone could stop him. Some of the alcohol spilled as the healer took it out of the sick mans hands, "Hey" an he tried to snatch it back, only to be brought up short by a painful tug in his side. Brought him down on his back an hard enough to bring a burnin pain to his shoulder. "Fuck" hissed out between teeth clenched tight against the pain.
Nathan knew what was gonna happen next as the tracker rolled toward Chris and started to heave, nothin but water an a bit of whiskey, thank god for that. But it had to hurt like hell to be on that shoulder infected an swollen as it was.
The man in black barely got out of the way as his friend got sick, when he thought he was done he squatted back down to see the other man looking at him, color high on his check's.
Embarrassed by bein so sick in front of all the other guys, so he threw out without thinkin "Ain't my fault" an then wished he'd not said anythin when he caught a glimpse of the gunslingers guilt ridden face.
"No Vin it ain't" said with quiet apology.
"Ah, Hell, Chris..." Another bout of coughin an this one like to took the top of his head off. Started a throbin in all his hurts so he closed his eyes so tight that when he opened them he was seein stars. Knew it to be middle of the day so that couldn't be right. Before he knew what hit him, a knife ran up both sides of his pants an they were gone. Nathan had somethin to his lips an he heard through the painful throbbing in his head "Drink this, it'll make ya feel better." He obeyed willin to do bout anything right now to feel better.
The last thing the tracker heard "He's out now."
Chris looked up in panic to the healer when Vin suddenly went limp, his head rolling to one side away from the gunslinger.
"He's okay Chris, just passed out is all. He's a lot a trouble awake, so lets get this done fore he comes to." He moved to cover the unconscious man " It took an hour to get his pants off an if he'd a been bleedin any worse... Lets just say it could be lots worse than it is." The Healer moved the horse blanket that was covering the bottom half of the tracker down, leaving the serape to cover the top of him.
He somehow was not surprised to find more scars an resisted the temptation to look at the trackers legs to see if he was as scarred there too. What the hell or who the hell would do this to a man? Well couldn't ponder on it now with other things to get to.
Vin only came to once while Nathan was takin care of him, well couldn't call it comin round he guessed, thought the gunslinger as he sat watching over his friend. Seemed to do all right when Nathan cleaned the wound low on his hip, moved his head back an forth a bit but didn't make a sound even through the catgut stitches and the carbolic acid. Thank god the bullet passed right on thought at such a sharp angle the entry would was only an inch or so from the exit wound.
But it took most all of them to hold him when Nathan had to reopen that shoulder wound. Vin came up off the ground so fast they barely had time to get their hands on him before he tore the stichin already done. He made a grab for the knife that Nathan was using and the healer barely pulled back in time before Vin could slice open his hand.
Ezra and JD both holding down the lower part of the tracker and Josiah had a big arm over the slim waist with Chris on the hurt shoulder and Buck on the other. Never woulda thought it'd take all of them to hold him. Broke one leg away from JD and the gambler took a kick to the chest that set him back on his ass. Almost funny by the stunned look on his face, JD apologizing all the while chasing after the loose leg.
Finally got him pinned down and Nathan went to work. He said that he couldn't put more stitches in the shoulder the wound had been open too long and he didn't want to seal in any infection. When the tracker couldn't shake them lose he bowed up in pain and then thank god passed out, tears trakin down both sides of his face but not a sound. More than one of them wondered at that. When Nathan was done cleaning out the puss and blood on the front they went to work on the back of him.
Not thinking about keeping him covered they gently turned him over and although Chris and Nathan had seen his back before they had not seen his legs. "Good God" came out of JD's mouth and that brought all eyes down the back of the tracker. He had the light thin scars on his back along with other bullet wounds and what looked to be an arrow wound. The unnatural curve to his spine noticeable, but the back of his legs were scarred with what could not be anything other than a whip, like he was beat over old healed scars.
Chris recovered first and threw the saddle blanket over him and a warning look to the other men, he knew he didn't have to ask. Vin would not appreciate their seeing this nor the sympathy he was sure to get if it was mentioned.
Night had fallen and they sat around the fire. JD close to Buck as if seekin comfort from his being near. Nathan, Ezra and Josiah passing what was left of the whiskey flask around. Chris sat at his friends side, having moved him close to the fire after Nathan finished cleaning his head wound.
They thought they had it covered until Ezra pointed out that the tracker's feet were seeping blood in places as well. Lucky nothing needing stitches and the healer took care of that quick.
Nothing but to wait it out and see how the tracker was when he woke. Nathan said he'd been confused a bit before and to be prepared that it could be worse this time round. He also suggested with a smile that they not get near him with any weapons. They all shared a laugh at that.
First Light Chris sent Buck, JD & Ezra on ahead to town and to get the clinic ready. Nathan said if Vin could fight them like he done then he should be able to be moved, but Vin had not come back round at all and the gunslinger was worried. Wanted him back in town at the clinic under Nathan's care.
Mary Travis looked out toward the edge of town again for the 10th time that morning, hoping to see the men return and the tracker with them. She was startled and concerned to see Buck, JD and Ezra come ridging in, but they were not moving very fast so she breathed a little easier as she moved off toward them.
"Gentlemen?" She asked with a question in her expression.
Buck moved over toward the pretty widow, not one to pass an opportunity to comfort a woman in need. He came along side her laying a big arm across her shoulder "We got 'em, Miss Mary an the others are headed in with him, bout 4 hours behind I'd say." He gave her a big smile and a gentle squeeze before turning back to the clinic.
He knew he was layin down an movin, didn't make sense to him, didn't want to open his eyes to see what time of day it was, head hurt too much. Somethin was wrong, couldn't move his arms. Took him bout a minute to figure he was wrapped in a blanket of some sorts, he must of made some noise, cause when he did force opened his eyes, there was a man lookin down on him from the back of a horse.
Looked like someone he should know, he could'a figured it out he reconded but bout that time he discovered he was buck naked underneath those blankets. "What the Hell."
"Nate, hold up!" The gunslinger hollered out before stopping his own horse. This was the first Vin had stirred in over 24 hours now, and he was glad to see him awake even if he looked a bit confused.
The healer pulled the slow going wagon to a stop an looked back over his shoulder where the tracker should be laying only to find him sittin up an almost out the back of the wagon bed. He started down off the wagon in time to see Josiah comin round to help Chris from the other side.
"Vin, settle down now. You been hurt." Chris Larabee tried to sooth his disturbed friend, cause he could see by the confusion on the other man's face that he didn't know where he was nor why. He cautioned the other to men to stay back with a wave of his hand.
Vin Tanner found himself out in the desert, naked without his gun an surrounded by three men that looked familiar but his head was hurtin so bad he couldn't put names to the faces. That might be a bad thing, just cause he knew 'em didn't mean everything was all right. Didn't get a sense they were there to hurt him, so he looked round an "Thank God!" saw Peso, an right there on Peso was his mares leg.
Chris saw the direction of his gaze an stepped back and then up to Peso to get the trackers gun, hoping if he gave it to him he'd settle a bit.
"Oh no you don't, I ain't standin here whiles you go an give 'em a gun." Nathan was shocked that Chris would consider such a thing with the obvious state the tracker was in. "Likely as not to shoot us all."
Josiah didn't say anything, not wanting to upset the balance here anymore than it was an would support Larabee in whatever he decided.
Vin opened his mouth to tell them he could get on his horse, but no words would come out. He lifted a shaky hand to his throat to find the flesh there swollen, he lifted panicked eyes to the man in black. Instinctively knowin where to put his trust at the moment, the man was gettin him his gun, wasn't he. He knew he didn't have much time as a black ring was formin round his vision. A movement to stand helped him discover several other pains in his body. Might count for him bein without his cloths.
Chris understood the look he got on top of the confusion, "Nobody tired to hang you Vin, just got choked a bit, it's alright now."
The tracker opened his mouth to ask for his cloths an couldn't speak, his throat sore an swollen. So he held out his hand for his gun.
Chris threw a look to the healer as he stepped forward with the gun out, only to drop it to try to catch the man as he went down. Thankfully finding the big preacher there a step ahead. Both working to lay the tracker back into the wagon as Nathan moved to take the drivers seat again.
"Lets get him back ta town, an Chris?"
"Yep?"
"Don't even think of given that man a gun til were sure he knows where he's at, don't wanna get shot tryin to help somebody."
The gunslinger sent him a smile "It's not loaded Nate, I ain't that stupid." They both chuckled at that with the preacher chiming in.
"He ain't gonna preciate being brought to town naked as the day he was born." Josiah commented to no one unparticular. "Seems a mite touchy bout bein dressed."
Chris knew they were only about an hour out of town and although it was already getting on in the evening it was not dark. He looked up at the preacher to find him shaking his head "I'll go." Then cast the big man a grateful smile. He looked back down at Vin, he looked so young without his hat, like a different man altogether but he knew that this man would be fit to be tied bout bein hauled sick or not through town with only a blanket to cover him.
He looked up an watched the retreating back of the preacher as he headed off to town ahead of them to help preserve the dignity of one of the seven.
Well they got the tracker back to town with little disturbance from the citizens or the man himself. If they knew he wouldn't have woken up they'd just hauled his ass on in there, cloths or not.
Now he lay quiet on the single bed in Nathan's clinic. Hadn't come round again in the short time it took for them to get to town. Stirred a bit when Josiah and himself put on the man's pants. Left the serape to cover the top half of him, was not gonna wrestle him into a shirt with the wounds he had.
Chris looked up as the door to the clinic swung open an Buck Willimington entered taking his hat off as he came. "Chris, I'll sit with him a bit while you go get somthin to eat. Inez's got a tasty dish just waitin." He moved forward to take the gunslinger's place as if it was a forgone conclusion that the other man would move. He was not prepared for the look his friend sent him, filled with guilt. Took Buck a minute to figure it was due to this whole mess an the tracker getting mixed up in Chris's past. Could remember a time that this man wouldn't give a second thought to what was goin on round 'em nor carin that somebody lay hurt caus'a somthin he'd said or done.
The lady's man just dropped down in a squat beside his friend, laid a big hand briefly on the gunslingers knee an spoke from his heart, "I'm tellin ya Chris, yer as good a man as any I ever met an I'm proud to ride with ya." He looked to the man layin in the bed still as death, "I bet Tanner'd tell ya the same, if'n he could." He stood, "get somthin to eat an some rest. Me'n JD can take care'a this old cuss. Nate said he'd be fine once he got some rest an we aim to make sure he does."
The man in black stood and moved toward the door, knew the other men would watch the trackers back, he wasn't gonna be help to anybody lest he took care of himself. Some might call him stubborn but he wasn't stupid. "Thanks Buck" and he moved out the door.
JD was pacing back and forth, his thoughts on the sick man still un-stirring inside the clinic. Wish he would wake up, make all of 'em fell better.
"Would you stop that, yer mak'in me dizzy." Buck reached out an placed a restraining hand on the young man.
JD jerked back from the older man, "Stop it Buck! Ain't you worried?" He threw a hard scowl at the other man.
"Course I am Kid, but wearin a hole in the floor ain't gonna wake Vin up none sooner." He sent a gentle smile at the Sheriff.
JD opened his mouth to say something else but was distracted to see Nathan coming up the steps to the clinic. "Hey Nate."
The healer could read worry on the young man's face, but didn't have time ta stop an talk to 'em. Needed to get back in an get some fluids in Vin, he'd not taken anything since the healing tea out at the camp, an he hadn't passed any fluids either. That had the healer worried some, didn't know if'n there was some damage to his kidney's that was missed. He threw a distracted "Hey" back as he moved past an on into the clinic.
Nathan came in quiet an turned from closin the door to see the gunslinger sittin in a chair upside the bed, legs stretched out an his chin tilted forward in rest. The healer was glad to see he was gettin him some, but he was surprised when he looked to the man layin in the bed to find his eyes open an they was tracken the healers every move. Nathan couldn't see clear nough if the man knew who he was, lights were down low, so he moved slowly forward. "Vin"
He got a raised eyebrow but not a word. The gunslinger stirred an came awake sittin straight up an reachin for his gun. Moved his hand away when he saw it was Nathan, following the other man's gaze to the bed to find the tracker lookin back at him with what appeared to be clear eyes.
Vin had been awake fer a while, took a bit to get his bearin's an finally understood where he was an who was sittin watch over 'em. Laid there an let the pain wash over 'em so's he could figure where he was hurt an how bad. Forgot fer a minute that they had a healer cause he was use ta workin through this on his own. Knew by the feelin in his throat both inside an out that he wasn't gonna be sayin much anytime soon, sooted him jus fine.
Chris moved out of the chair and back to let the healer in to check on Vin. But stayed closed and watched Nathan's every move.
Nathan started to move in to the bedside once the gunslinger was clear but stopped short when the man laying there moved the covers back and slowly sat up. He started to reach in to either help or hold him down, wasn't sure which yet, but the other man held a hand up asking without words for him to stay back.
Chris just stood off to one side watching Nathan to gauge when his intervention would be needed.
Vin was dizzy for a moment but it passed quickly, so he sat still on the side of the bed, both hands flat to his sides givin him some balance an feet on the floor. He looked down in mild surprise as he felt some pain there, but nothin like what was thumpin in his left shoulder, front an back. He noted his right side hurt down low but his neck was what was the worst, he couldn't get spit enough to swallow an he had a powerful thirst. Needed to go out doors as well, an not sure how he was gonna tell them that with no voice an he sure as hell couldn't write it down. "Bad situation jus got worse." He thought as he looked up at the healer. He made a sign with his right hand that he needed a drink.
Nathan understood but was not sure why Vin wasn't talkin to 'em, when he turned he found a glass of water at the ready. Noddin his thanks to the man in black as he handed it off to the tracker.
Both of the men in the room were perplexed as to why the tracker had not said a word yet, no grunts of pain although they clearly could see him hurtin with his mouth held tight in pain. Both watched as Vin lifted a shaky hand with the water to his mouth, shook his head "no" when the healer moved back in to try to help. So they stood back to see what Tanner would do next.
He was so thirsty he took a mouthful of water before he realized he could not swallow that much, so he looked around to find a place to spit it out. Felt good just gettin his mouth wet but knew if he didn't get it out of his mouth soon he'd start coughin an just knew how much that would hurt. He moved to try to stand only to find a bed pan shoved almost in his face. One part grateful an the other annoyed. He took it with his left hand an that jarred his shoulder, held the groan he wanted to let loose in, cause he didn't want to start off a reaction in the rest of his wounds.
Both Nathan an Chris just stood there unsure of what to do to help, clearly it was not wanted but when did that usually stop either of them when it came to someone they cared about? They watched as Vin moved the water gently round his mouth and turn his head to let it out into the bedpan.
"Thank god it was clean, didn't know what he'd a done had it not been." Vin thought to himself. This time taking a very small drink an trying to swallow, but only managing to choke, somehow ending up with water comin out his nose an that burned like hell. Almost dropped the glass but Nathan was there to take it an the bed pan went crashin to the floor before he could stop it. His left arm weak from the shoulder wound. His right hand freed went to his throat and he threw an embarrassed look to the other two men.
It finally dawned on the healer why Vin was actin this way, when he saw that hand at the torn an bruised skin of his throat, "Vin? Can ya talk to me at all." And was dismayed to see the tracker shake his head in the negative an then close his eyes tight at as pain exploded in his head.
In truth Vin didn't know if he could get any words out or not but knew if he tried it would most likely start him ta coughin. Didn't want to think bout how that was likely to start everythin to hurtin again an him just gettin it to a place he could mange.
Buck and JD came crashin thorugh the door at the loud sound comin from within. Stopped short to find the tracker sittin on the side of the bed, Nathan holdin a glass of water an the gunslinger standing off to the side hands drifting back down from his move to get his gun. "Damitt to hell." Thrown to the two men standing just inside the door.
Vin took this time to try an stand up while the men were distracted, gained his feet an felt pretty good bout that, a little dizzy but nothin he couldn't handle he thought. Started forward in the direction of the door an finally noticed that his feet were wrapped in bandages, his pants were undone an he looked to have Chris's poncho on. He remember everything but how he got here an was startled when he felt a hand on his right shoulder stopping him again when he started to move. The hold was gentle but meant to hold him.
Chris noticed the direction the tracker was headed and so he moved close and reached over to place a restraining hand on the man's healthy shoulder, wasn't goin no where just yet. He'd been out for over 24 hours and then just gets up pretty as you please and decides he's leavin the clinic, "not on my watch" the gunslinger thought and gave Tanner a look that left the man in no doubt of his intent. "Nate?"
"I figure Vin's throat'd be swollen but didn't think of him not bein able to talk. He needs to get fluids in him an he ain't passed water since we been with him." The healer didn't miss the frustrated look sent him by the man he was talkin bout.
Vin was knoddin his head "Yes" when the healer started talkin bout passin water, his need was becomin more urgent, an he was not gonna stand here in front of god an everybody an take a piss. So he stepped left in close to the healer an enough to shake the gunslingers hand off his shoulder, lose grip he had anyway's. Moved toward the door that was now stanin open from Buck an JD's rush in. Got all the way out before anybody thought to try to stop him. They stood rooted in shock that he was up an about after all he'd been through, but they didn't know the kind of hurts he'd had to live through before, that kinda pain made a boy a man right quick. Conditioned to abuse as he was after he lost his ma, this was not so bad, he thought.
A comedy of errors occurred as the other four men headed out after the tracker, JD and Buck both going for the door at the same time, stuck for a moment until Chris came up behind then shoving and moving on through without a word. Caught up with Vin on the second step, passed him and turned sharply to put a stop to the tracker's progress down. Didn't know how the hell he was stanin on bruised and bloody feet, 20 minutes ago he was flat on his back and dead to the world by all accounts. The gunslinger looked up as the tracker looked down, green eyes caught and held blue.
Nathan came out of the clinic an down to where Larabee stood in front of the tracker, not touchin him but put on hold just the same. Vin looked back up over his shoulder at Nathan frustration on every line of his face.
Vin would'a pushed past the gunslinger if he thought he wouldn't go down with him. So here he stood captive jus the same as if somebody had him tied, knew his own weaknesses right nough, was gonna have to do somethin cause his lower back was startin to ache an he needed relief. Thinking bout the ache in his back brought all the other places that hurt to attention, so he started to do the one thing that he was tryin to avoid in the first place.
Chris noted the other man's hand moving down to finish unbuttoning his buck skin pants, couldn't believe that Vin Tanner would stand out here on Nathan's steps and relive himself. Looked up to him with a dare on his face an stepped out of the way.
Vin took that opportunity to move on down the steps before anybody else got it in their heads to stop him, would fuckin piss on the next person to step in his way.
Could not believe his fuckin luck, how the hell was the grungy tracker still standin? Shot twice, near choked to death, dragged up the river and knocked in the head. He must have some powerful medicine to still be stanin.
"Not fer long tracker, not fer long." Jessie made his vow as he moved back into the deepest shadows.
After barley getting away from the gunslinger, he'd headed down Texas way, changed his mind when he realized that if the tracker lived, he'd be after him fer what he'd done. An layin his hands on the trackers women, well he'd like another shot at her after he took care of this piece of shit.
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