The Name of the Game

Chapter 14. Keep'em alive

Soon enough the major realized his mistake and when the sheriff had ended his tale he rose and ordered the men to let Cody go.

"I'm sorry," he said addressing Teaspoon, Sam and Cody. "I guess I should have trusted you."

"No need to be sorry," Sam said. "You were just doing your job. I guess it's time we wrap this up."

The major nodded.

"I get some of my men to get the body of Dodgson while we search his office for more information and see if there are more accomplishes. I would appreciate your help on this marshal."

"I'll give you a helping hand if you'll lend us your army doctor," Sam replied.

"He'll be at your service," the major admitted. "You're free to go, Cody. All charges have been dropped, but I would advise you to choose your company with more care in the future."

"Believe me, I will," Cody replied and turned to Teaspoon. "Can we get out of here. I want to know how the others are."

"I'll join you. Sam?"

"I'm staying. I want to see the whole story wrapped up. With the help of the army we might get our hands on Deacon. I don't the like the idea that he's on the loose."

"All right. You know where to find us when you're done."

"Will you tell Emma for me? Tell her I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'll do that. Come on, Cody, let's join the others."

"Kid, can you go and check on Jimmy for me?" Emma looked pleadingly at Kid. In her efforts to try and sooth Buck, she had almost forgot about Jimmy. Kid nodded and went out of the other room, only to run into Lou in the hallway.

"I've got the key to the other room," she said panting, revealing that she had been running. "And the coffee and some sandwiches are on the way. Where are you going?"

"Emma asked me to see to Jimmy."

"Where's Emma?"

"She's with Buck and Ike." Kid didn't feel inclined to tell her that Buck was worse. Lou looked at the closed door behind him, but then she decided.

"I'll join you. Where's Jimmy?"

"In the next room."

Lou and Kid silently walked into the room where Jimmy was resting. At first they were scared that he was dead. He looked so pale, but then they save he chest slowly move, even if his breathing was almost inaudible.

"He doesn't look good, Kid." Lou whispered unable to gasp the harsh reality. That one of them might be badly injured, that had happened before, but two of them. The horror of it all seemed overwhelming and almost made her feel sick. Kid could feel it too and put his arm around her.

"They'll make it," he said, as much to himself as to Lou. Slowly they walked over to the bed. Lou sat down on the chair vacated by Emma and took Jimmy's hand in her.

"Jimmy? Can you hear me? It's Lou, and Kid is right here with me."

Not a single movement, not even a twitch in Jimmy's face revealed anything.

"Do you think he can hear me?" Lou whispered to Kid.

"I don't know. Maybe. Do you remember when Ike was out when he had hit his head? Doc said that we would talk to him. Maybe this is the same thing."

"So he can hear me?"

"I think so."

Lou turned to Jimmy and started to talk again. Kid fetch another chair and sat next to her, first in silence, simply listening to her voice, then he started to break in when she lost the trail or forgot what to say. They were so occupied in this that they didn't notice the door open and Teaspoon and Cody walk in. Teaspoon saw them and motioned to Cody to step out. He closed the door silently behind him, and Cody looked at him.

"We'll leave them for now, I think," Teaspoon explained. Cody looked worried at him.

"How is he? He looked awfully pale, Teaspoon," Cody asked in a trembling voice.

"He lost a lot of blood, and he's got a slight fever, but then you'll never knew. Jimmy's strong. I doubt a bullet wound gonna stop him." Teaspoon tried to smile, but he realized he wasn't fooling anybody, least at all himself. Before he could continue, Emma stepped out in the hall. At the sight of them she smiled.

"Thank God you're all right Cody," she said greetingly. "I'm glad to see you Teaspoon."

"How's Buck?"

Emma shook her head.

"I think we'll be up most of the night," she said, "and it worries me. Ike is exhausted and so is Lou. Kid looks a bit better, but Cody is worned out to. They should get some rest and I'll can need some help convincing them." She turned to Cody. "We have the room across. Why don't you get yourself a sandwich and some coffee and get some rest. You look as if you haven't eaten in days," she suggested.

"I want to stay here," Cody objected.

"Buck and Jimmy needs rest too," Emma stated. "You can't help them right now Cody, so I want you to take care of yourself. Is that clear?"

Despite his eagerness to help, what Emma said was the truth, and it was with a heavy heart he obliged. When he had closed the door behind him Emma turned to Teaspoon.

"I need to get Ike to get some rest," she said.

"It's that bad?"

"Buck's temperature is falling." Emma didn't have to say more.

"Ike?"

"He's all broken down. Will you talk to him, Teaspoon?"

"I will. Lou and Kid are with Jimmy, maybe we should let them stay there for a few minutes more."

Emma was on her way to say that she was worried about Lou when she remembered that Teaspoon didn't know that Lou was a girl.

"All right," was all she said. "If you talk to Ike, I'll get myself a cup of coffee. But then I want Kid and Lou out of that room. You and I'll have to sit with the boys. Where's Sam?"

"He promised the major to help get an end to all this. He hopes that they can get hold of the man that shot Jimmy. He told me to tell you and that he'll be back as soon as possible."

"Will he be in any trouble?"

"Don't worry, Emma, he can take care of himself. Besides he's got several soldiers with him."

"I know, Teaspoon, but I used to think the boys could take care of themselves too. And look what happened to them."

"We always knew we couldn't be around to protect them all the time, Emma."

"It's so hard to believe that after all they've been through and with all that they've learned that it would end like this."

"It ain't over yet, Emma."

"It's the end that's worries me, Mr. Spoon."

Teaspoon opened the door and walked in. Ike was sitting by Buck's side wiping his face and neck, trying to make his friend as comfortable as he could.

"Ike?"

Ike looked up at Teaspoon.

"You could use a rest, son."

"He needs you when you're rested. You're no help to him in your condition, Ike."

<I'm here.>

"Emma and I will be here. We'll get you as soon as anything happens. You can rest in the room just across the hall."

"Emma and I'll take turns. Come on, Ike, this ain't good for you."

Ike shook his head stubbornly. Nothing could make him leave Buck right now and Teaspoon saw it in his face. But Emma was right, and he tried again.

"And if you fall asleep?"

"You're sure? Ike, I know you're worried by you have to face the reality - you're too tired and exhausted and if you don't take a rest now, you might not be able to help Buck when he really needs you." Teaspoon know he was exaggerating, but Ike should get out of here, if only for an hour. Ike hesitated.

<You'll get me if anything happens?>

"You've got my word."

Ike shook his head again.

"You'll feel better after a rest, Ike. Go on, go get yourself some coffee and a sandwich, and then you'll get a few minutes sleep. Then you can come straight back here."

Ike sighed but then he nodded reluctantly. He rose slowly and walked out of the room. At the door he stayed and turned.

<You're staying?>

"I'll be right here."

Cody sat on the windowsill looking out of the window deep in thoughts. He felt low and couldn't help feeling that it was unfair. He was the one that gotten them into all this trouble, and yet he was sitting here without a scratch while two of his friends was fighting for their lives. He was so deep in these miserable thoughts that he didn't notice Ike entering, until he heard somebody putting down the kettle with a loud bang. Then he turned and saw Ike who sat down on one of the beds with a mug in his hands, Cody was about to say something when he saw the expression on Ike's face, and he wisely decided to leave Ike alone. Half an hour lately a exhausted Lou and Kid joined them.

"You got chased out too?" Kid asked as he helped Lou to a cup of coffee.

Ike nodded solemnly, not moving from his place.

"Maybe they're right," Kid said lightly, "we probably need the rest." Especially Lou, he thought.

"They just want to get us out of the way," Lou mumbled, convinced that Emma wanted them out of there because Jimmy and Buck were worse than Emma and Teaspoon would let 'em know. Ike looked at her.

<What do you mean?>Lou looked bewildered.

"Nothing Ike", she mumbled, regretting her words, "I'm just tired and irritated."

Ike wasn't completely convinced, but rather than getting himself more worried, he sank back towards the wall, slowly eating his sandwich. He ate it automatically, didn't even felt what it tasted like. He wondered how he was going to be able to get some rest, when he couldn't keep his mind of Buck and how he was doing.

The silence settled in the room as Lou and Kid slowly sipped their coffee. Suddenly Cody couldn't stand it any more and rose from his place. Grabbing his hat and his jacket he went over to the door.

"Where are you going?" Kid asked.

"I'll see to the horses. I can't sit here." Cody replied shortly and walked out. Sitting there with the others made him feel trapped and even guiltier when he saw their distress. He placed his hands in the pockets of his jacket and walked with his head down over to the stables.

Emma saw the lonely figure walk over to the barn from where she was watching from the window. I should talk to him, she thought, but then she didn't have the time right now. He'll be all right, she comforted herself. Cody always landed on his feet. She turned to the boy in the bed and sat down again. She wished she could do something to ease his pain, but there was nothing she could do.

As the evening slowly become night nothing changed for the weary group. Cody stayed in the stable, pondering his guilt, feeling worse for every hour. Ike' Lou and Kid were dozing uneasily in their room, while Emma and Teaspoon sat with Jimmy and Buck, now and then changing rooms. Sam hadn't returned yet.

It was dark when Ike woke up. He was wide-awake at once, and he quickly pulled on his boots and walked quietly out of the room over to Buck's room. Emma sat by Buck, gently stroking his forehead, doing her best to ease Buck. She looked up when Ike came in and smiled faintly at him.

"You're feeling any better?" she asked without stopping what she was doing.

"Some," she admitted, "but I'll be all right." She stopped talking as another cramp got hold of Buck and she turned to see to him.

<He's not any better.> It was more a statement than a question as Ike placed himself on the other side of the bed. <You could use a rest too.> he added searching Emma's face.

"I'll be all right, now that you're here to help me," Emma smiled.

The pain in his chest came back with unexpected force causing him to moan in pain. Suddenly he felt as if he was flying and the pain left him. He felt warm and although everything around him was dark, he wasn't afraid. The pain had scared him more and he was pleased it was gone. There was silent and suddenly he missed his friends' voices. They had been there before, he knew it. Lou's soft voice that had told him about what they had been doing, and now and then Kid's calm voice breaking in. He wondered vaguely where they were, when a light seemed to beckoning him to go on.

Teaspoon watched with a frown the change in Jimmy. It was subtle and hadn't he kept a close eye on Jimmy from the beginning he wouldn't have noticed it. Jimmy was steadily slipping away, and this worried Teaspoon even more than Buck's more open struggle. When the boy suddenly moaned it was unexpected.

"Jimmy?" he asked, feeling the boy's pulse. He had to check twice before he even could feel it.

"Damn," he mumbled.

"Come on, Jimmy, you can't leave me here, son."

Jimmy thought he heard Teaspoon calling his name but when he wanted to go back, the pain came back to him and he ignored the voice. But it kept calling him, refraining him from going on. He wanted to tell Teaspoon to stop calling him, but he couldn't. He was supposed to go on, why couldn't Teaspoon see that? Going any other way would mean that the pain returned.

Lou woke up, at first wondering where she were when she saw Kid dozing next to her. It took her a few seconds before she realized where she was, and without any further hesitations she woke up Kid. He looked at her with sleepy eyes.

"Lou?"

"Get up, I want to know how Buck and Jimmy are doing."

"But it's still dark."

"So?" she asked and stood up. "I'll check on Jimmy, if you see how Buck is." Without waiting for his reply she turned and walked out the door. Kid was up in a second and followed her into the hall. He was just in time to see her disappear behind the door to Jimmy's room and with a sigh, he turned to the other room.

Emma woke up with a start. She must have dozed off, she thought. Why hadn't Ike woke her up? In the pale moonlight she saw him dozing on the other side. She sighed when she realized that they must have dozed off at the same time, so she turned to Buck, only to feel a cold chill running down her spine. He looked dead, not moving and very pale. She quickly placed her hand on his forehead only to be more alarmed. He had no fever, but he was awfully cold. She felt some relief when she realized that he was still breathing. I better get Doc over here she thought, and reached over to wake Ike up.

"Ike? I want you to get Doc, now." Ike looked startled at her before his sleepy eyes turned to Buck, and his face turned almost as pale as Buck's.

"Get Doc, Ike!" Emma repeated. Ike rose unsteadily and still with his eyes on Buck he backed towards the door. He opened the door and rushed out, colliding with Kid.

"What's wrong?" Kid asked.

<Get the doctor!> Ike signed fervently.

"Buck?"

Ike nodded.

<Go.>

"All right," Kid said and turned to rush down the stairs. Relieved Ike went back into the room.

"What about Doc?"

At that precise moment Buck inhaled and then his breathing stopped.

Cody sat down on one of the bales of hale. He had paced to and through outside the stable, when the owner had chased him telling him he disturbed the horses. Now and then he went back into the stable and sat down on the same hay-bale. He was feeling despicable and guilty. It was all his fault. Suddenly he sank down and looked out at the pale moon. He closed his eyes and tried to think of something to do. The only thing that came up in his mind, was Emma's word: "All we can do is pray." Cody considered it for a moment. He hadn't prayed since he was a child and he wasn't sure a stable was the proper place, when he remembered something his mother had told him along time ago. "God is always listening." He bend his head down and for the first time in years he prayed, silently and with all his heart.

"Please let them live," he mumbled, "and I'll promise I'll change."

Buck felt as if he had been fighting the pain for an eternity of time. He as so tired of the headache and the pain breathing. Tired of fighting the pain he let himself drift of to another place. When he opened his eyes he was walking down an invisible path on the plain. He was dressed in Indian clothes, but that was just how it should be. He didn't know where he was heading, but he knew that all he had to do was to follow the eagle soaring above him, showing him the way. He walked until he came to a river. He hesitated and looked over the river with its cascading waves. The eagle placed himself in a tree on the other side and Buck knew that beyond the river there was a village. He had never seen it before, but he just knew it was there. All he had to do was to cross the river. He looked for a place and soon he saw the wading place, several rocks protruding from the water. He started to walk up to it when somebody called his name. He turned around only to see his brother sitting on a rock close to the stream.

"What are you doing here?" he asked surprised.

"Don't you remember, my brother. You called for me."

Buck shook his head. He couldn't remembered calling for his brother.

"Where are you going?" Red Bear asked.

"Across."

"Why?"

Buck looked at his brother. He hadn't thought about the why.

"My spirit told me to go there."

"And you're sure this is what your spirit wants you to do?"

Buck frowned. Why was his brother asking so many questions?

"If he didn't want me to go, why is he showing me the way?"

"Because you asked him."

"I haven't asked him anything."

"What are you running from my brother? Haven't I taught you that sometimes you need to stand and fight?"

"I'm tired."

"That's not the issue. The question is are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"If you cross that river there's no turning back, little brother."

"What shall I do then?"

Red Bear shook his head.

"It's not for me to tell you. Maybe you should listen to your spirit instead of demanding things of it."

"Why should I go back?"

"Why should you go on?"

"Mother is on the other side." Buck didn't knew how he knew she was there, but as everything else it was just something he knew. He started to walk up to the wading place, ignoring his brother's call.

"Think about it, Running Buck!"

Buck stopped before the first stone and turned around. His brother was nowhere to be seen and he was alone. Carefully he placed his foot on the first stone, balancing on its slippery surface. Suddenly the water seemed more fierce than before and he begun to hesitate. He took another step to the second stone, when he decided to go back. Maybe this wasn't right. As he tried to step back, the river rose and the water started to flow around his feet, making the surface he was standing on even more slippery. A wave struck against his leg and he fought to keep his balance, but he was too late and with a splash he hit the water. The current started to pull him against the shore and suddenly he realized that he had to get to the other side. If he followed the current he would end on the other side and then he would never be able to get back. And the more he thought about it the more he wanted to get back. He started to swim, but the water forced him back. For a moment the whirls forced him below the surface and he could feel how he was forced backwards. He fought himself up and gasped for air, managing to get a little bit closer to where he had come from.

Emma looked in horror at Buck, as Ike run over to his friend's side. None of them spoke, they just watched and hoped they were wrong, when Buck inhaled and started to breathe again.

<What was that?> Ike looked wide-eyed at her. Emma shook her head, when Kid returned with Doc. Doc's shirt was unbuttoned and he looked as if he'd been sleeping.

"What's wrong?" he asked panting.

"He stopped breathing a few seconds ago," Emma replied, "then he started again." She realized suddenly how stupid it sounded, but Doc didn't seemed to notice.

"Has it happen before?" he asked as he listened to Buck's heart.

"No. We called you because his fever is down, and he's so cold."

"The crisis is over, that's why the fever's gone," Doc replied.

"Then why is he so cold?"

Doc sighed and looked around the room.

"I don't think he's passed the crisis," he said silently.

"What do you mean?" Kid asked.

"I mean this is the last stage of the fever crisis."

Kid looked at the others. Emma looked back at him with tears in her eyes, and Ike sat resolutely in silence, refusing to take his eyes of Buck. Kid backed towards the door.

"I --- I need to see how Jimmy's doing," he said silently and fled the room.

Lou silently walked into the room as she saw that Teaspoon was bend over Jimmy, talking to him in a soft voice. Lou silently walked up to Teaspoon, who was so occupied that he didn't even notice her until she sat down on the other side of the bed. When she saw the pale face of Jimmy she tried not to start to cry. Instead she grabbed Jimmy's hand and squeezed it hard.

Teaspoon looked at her.

"I'm loosing him, Lou. Talk to him, try to keep him with us," he asked her.

"You're sure it will help?"

"Darned if I know, but, yes, I think he can hear us."

Lou begun to talk telling Jimmy to remember all that they had gone through. She hesitated for a moment considering Teaspoon's presence, but then started to tell Jimmy about the time when the boys had helped her get her brother and sister back, carefully not to say anything that would reveal her identity as a girl. Suddenly Kid appeared in the door, pale and shaken.

"Buck's dying," he said trembling.

There was Lou's voice again, telling him stories about families and bonds. Jimmy listened, trying to ignore the beckoning light. Lou, I'm gonna be all right, he wanted to tell her, but he seemed unable to reach her. Then there was Teaspoon's voice again. He tried to tell them to let go, when they suddenly silenced and another voice was heard. He didn't recognized it at first, it being tensed, but it reminded him of the Kid. But it was the words that startled Jimmy and brought him out of the beckoning light and back fighting the darkness and the pain: "Buck's dying."

Lou stared at Kid, as she suddenly felt Jimmy squeeze her hand.

"Teaspoon," she whispered and looked at Jimmy, "I think he's coming through."

Teaspoon turned from the alarming news that Kid had brought him and concentrated on Jimmy. If Buck was dying, there was nothing he could do, but Jimmy was still here, needing their help.

"Jimmy?" Come on, son, you can fight this."

I'm trying! Jimmy wanted to tell them through the pain. I'm really trying! The pain came and went and how much he wanted to reach Teaspoon and the others the pain was always there in his way.

Jimmy's eyelids twitched and Lou, Teaspoon and Kid held their breath. Jimmy's breathing was stronger and they were getting their hopes up. Lou squeezed Jimmy's hand again and felt him squeeze it back. For a few minutes that felt as an eternity, they watched Jimmy's breathing gain strength and becoming steadier. Finally he opened his eyes, finding three smiling faces looking down at him. Feeling extremely weak, he tried to tell them something, but he couldn't find his voice. The pain in his chest was back and he heard himself moan again.

"Take it easy, Jimmy," Teaspoon told him, "you're gonna be all right."

Finally Jimmy found his voice.

"What about Buck?" he asked in a cracked voice.

Sam looked tired at the major.

"We want find him, marshal," the major stated.

"I guess not," Sam said dejected, realizing that the major was right. "We better get back."

"I still can't believe that the general was involved in the whole fraud, " the major mumbled as they turned their horses, referring to the documents they had found hidden in Dodgson's bag. The documents had held proof that a highly ranked general had aided and given information to Dodgson, keeping him away from the law. The major would have his work cut out for him when he got back to his superiors.

"I do hope your young friends will pull through," the major added.

"So do I, major." Either way, he knew Deacon would be out for revenge, and the man wasn't too picky on from whom he got his vengeance.

Doc looked at the pale face of Emma and wished he could give them some hope, but he didn't know what to say. Feeling out of place he slowly left the room, leaving them to themselves. Emma took Buck's hand and stroke him gently over his hair. Ike looked at them and struggled with the tears that threatened to run down his cheek, when Buck stopped breathing for a second time. Emma squeezed his hand, watching him and hoping that he would start to breathe again, like he had done the last time. She saw Ike's hand's moving and she nodded. Stroking Buck's forehead and head, she started to translate to Buck the signs Ike was showing her.

Buck struggled against the river, but he felt that his strength was ebbing quickly. He tried to call for help, but no sound came from his mouth, when suddenly he saw Emma on the other side reaching out a hand to him. Behind her he saw Ike staring at him, tears streaming down his cheeks. She was talking to him, but the words weren't hers, they belonged to Ike. He tried to reach her hand when another wave brought him away.

Lou looked at Jimmy, taken back by his question. She looked at the others and then she rose.

"I'll tell Emma Jimmy's better," she said uneasily and left the room. Not knowing what to do, she slowly walked over to the other room. She hesitated outside and then she slowly opened the door and walked in. She walked silently over to where Emma was talking to Buck, only to be in time to see him stop breathing for the third time. She stopped in her tracks and watched how Emma continued to talk to Buck as if she hadn't noticed that he had stopped breathing. When Buck started to breath again Lou felt as if she had to sit down and she brought a chair up to the bed. Emma smiled at her.

"Why don't you talk to him too, Lou."

"Kid said---, is he---?" Lou tried to find the words.

"He's still breathing, and that's all we care about for the moment," Emma replied.

Buck saw Lou by the riverside and then she spoke to him too. He doubled his efforts to reach the other side and finally he reached Emma's hand and he dragged himself up on the edge. He tried to hang on the edge but the water was clinging to his legs and tried to drag him back into the water.

"Buck?" Emma asked with surprise as she felt the faint squeeze of her hand. Ike and Lou looked at her.

"He just squeezed my hand," she whispered to them and they doubled their efforts to reach out to him. To Ike's and Lou's intense joy Buck slowly opened his eyes and looked hazily at them. Emma feared that it was temporarily, as a last effort, and she didn't dare to get her hopes up. Not yet any way.

"Hello there, Buck," she said softly as he turned to her. "We're real glad to see you again."

Buck started to cough and she nodded to Lou to give her some water. Lou immediately returned with a glass, and Emma managed to get Buck to drink some. Buck closed his eyes, and again he felt himself back by the river. With some effort he managed to open his eyes again. Emma looked worried at him.

"How are you feeling, Buck?"

"I'm so tired, Emma," he mumbled. His words scared her and she looked at Lou and Ike to see if they understood. They were both looking questioningly at her but she hadn't the time to explain things to them.

"Is he gonna be all right?" Lou asked seeing the worry in Emma's eyes. Emma hushed at her.

"I know you are," she said calmly to Buck, "but why don't you try and stay awake a little longer?" Then she turned to Lou. "Get me another blanket, will you? We need to keep him warm." When she saw that Buck was about to close his eyes again, she stroke his cheek.

"Don't fall asleep, Buck, stay with us just a little bit longer will you?"

"I'm tired," he mumbled again, when Lou came back with the blanket.

"I told Teaspoon," she said, as Teaspoon followed her into the room. Emma looked at him with a question in her eyes.

"Jimmy's gonna be fine. Kid's sitting with him right now."

"Thank you, Teaspoon," Emma replied as she spread the blanket over Buck.

"That's better?" she asked Buck, who was fighting to keep his eyes open as he started to gasp for air. The pain when he breathed came back.

"Hang in there, Buck," Teaspoon added.

For an hour they kept him awake by talking to him and keeping him warm. Now and then Buck found himself back by the river, but for each time it felt as if he had reached higher ground and the water wasn't so fierce any more. Emma was persisting when he wanted to rest and it was not until she was convinced that he was breathing steadily and he had regained some color that she considered him out of danger, and allowed him to rest. Doc had checked in and found to his surprise that Buck was getting stronger. When Emma asked him what he thought, he smiled faintly and replied.

"If I haven't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it, but both of them are going to be all right. Jimmy might feel some pain in the chest for a while, and Buck will have a cough for a couple of month. Nothing dangerous though. That's two strong boys you've got their, Emma."

"I know Doc."

Lou ran out of the hotel looking for Cody. Emma had said that she had seen him head over to the stable and that where Lou was heading. She ran into the stable and called his name.

"Cody! Where are you!" Then she saw him, sitting on a bale of hay and she ran up to him with a smile on her face.

"They're gonna be all right! Both of them!"

Cody looked up at her.

"You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." Cody got up and to her surprise he gave her a big hug.

"Thank God," he mumbled.