Young Guns: Fire and Steel

Chapter 20: Patching Up At Daybreak

The trio arrived back at camp about an hour before dawn. Exhausted, Doc went straight to his bedroll and collapsed. After all the crazy shit he had just seen and dealt with, all he wanted to do was sleep and dream of Yen Sun.

The other blond had set up near the fire so he could clean his wound and think. He was tired too, but he had more to do before he could possibly fall asleep. Grabbing some wrappings from their meager supplies and Charlie's bottle of Whiskey, Billy carefully pulled off his shirt. He had two nicks in his left shoulder and some bruises on his side and abdomen from his struggle with one of the asshole's that had come after him and Doc.

After he had told Doc to go back to Kristal the remaining outlaw had chased him and tackled him to the ground. They had fought some before Billy had shot the man in the chest. That was when the first bullet had grazed his arm from Tahakyk's gun, and the rope circled his neck. That damn bastard treated him like a dog.

Swearing under his breath, he gazed down at the bloody gashes. Both bullets had thankfully grazed him. One was deeper than the other though and only inches apart. He wouldn't bleed to death, but he needed to make sure they were cleaned well. He didn't need it to fester.

The man's thoughts shifted to the fiery woman, who had disappeared into the darkness when they got back. It worried Billy. He didn't like the idea of her running around in the dark wilderness alone. His worry was all for nothing because she wasn't gone long. Strolling towards him, Billy noticed she had a small bowl of liquid, which he assumed was water, in her hand.

To his surprise, she stopped next to him. Blue eyes lifted up to her, noticing her gaze shift from his face to the gashes on his arm. What was she thinking, he pondered. He desperately wanted to know and yet was afraid of the answer.

"How ya holding up?" Shadowed green eyes searched the injury on his arm, "need help?"

The concern in her voice surprised him and Billy gave a half shrug. "Nah, I'll be jus' fine. Jus' a surface wound. Nothin' ta worry about." The corner of his lips curled into a coy half smile, "unless ya wanna give it a kiss and make it all right as rain." The joking man wagged his eyebrows at her already knowing she wouldn't do it.

Kristal just smirked and shook her head, "ya can keep dreamin' Bonney."

"Oh I definitely shall. Those are always my favorite dreams." He couldn't resist teasing her. It made him feel giddy at their banter, whether it was her being sarcastic, teasing or even playful. Though the latter part was rare, he loved every moment of it. Life seemed far more entertaining, challenging and even promising with her around.

"Yeah?" She shook her head amused, leaning suggestively towards him, before she smirked and straightened. "Well, it's the only way ya'll get anythin' from me. So ya can jus' keep on dreamin' away." Kristal joked back much to his surprise. "An' ya know it."

Heaving a disgruntled sigh, he lifted his eyes skyward, "alas, I do know it. But how I wish it weren't so."

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her blow a strand of hair out of her face before she shook her head again, "ya can't sweet talk me, Bonney. I'm immune."

A loud guffaw broke forth from his lips and Charlie who was sleeping nearby snorted. Kristal gave him a dirty look as if to tell him to be quiet. He smiled back apologetically, eyeing her for a moment. She really believed that, didn't she, that she was immune to his or anyone's charm? Well now, he was going to try and change that. "We'll see about that," he muttered under his breath, ignoring her narrowing sharp eyes.

Still smiling, he lowered his baby blues to his wound and dabbed at the part he could reach. "I told ya all that time ago, back when we first met, I'd wear ya down." He glanced at her, happy to know she was still watching him. "An' look, yer at least talkin' ta me now, without glares or threats." He then rose an eyebrow challenging her to disagree with him before adding, "an' I think ya don't hate me no more so I'll take what I can get."