"I swear, Ezra, sometimes...," Nathan said threateningly.
"Can I help it if I'm accident prone? NO! In fact, the rest
of you are injured much more often than I. I'd appreciate it if you
just saw to fixing JD and myself so I can go lie down in my own bed!"
Ezra ranted.
Buck chuckled. "Ezra, you know Nathan better than that.
Let him do his job and pray."
Ezra's brow furrowed. "Pray? For what?!"
Nathan jumped in before Buck could finish. "Pray that I don't decide
to break your back just so you can stay here under my fine physician's
care a little while longer."
Buck hooted. "Yup, that's exactly what I was gonna say!"
Ezra glowered at him, lying on his stomach on Nathan's cot as he tended
to JD. "How is he?" he asked, seriously.
"Yeah, Nathan, how is he?" Buck chimed in, concerned.
Nathan sighed. "He'll be fine. Bullet went right through.
No major damage. He'll have to keep it in a sling for a while though."
Buck shook his head in disgust and snorted.
Ezra glared at him. "You know, sir, for a man who a moment ago seemed
extremely concerned about his partner and friend, you've now had a remarkable
change of attitude. What, praytell, is the cause of this?"
Buck laughed. "Ezra, all the trouble JD got into today, getting shot,
getting his horse stolen, and he still can't manage to lose that damn
hat!"
Ezra snorted. "Be glad he still has a head to wear it on, Buck."
"Oh, I am, but I tell ya--,"
"Buck?" asked Nathan.
"Yes?"
"Shut up while I work on the other patient."
"Right."
Nathan bent over Ezra's back and carefully examined him. "Well, you've
bruised some ribs. But nothing's broken."
Ezra groaned. "I doesn't feel like it."
Nathan laughed as he wrapped Ezra's torso. "Trust me, you'll know
what broken ribs feel like if you've got 'em."
"I hope I never do," Ezra groused. Sighing, he lay down again. "I'm
tired. Go away now and let me sleep." He waved his hand with mock imperialism.
Buck and Nathan raised eyebrows at each other. "Yes, your royal highness,"
Buck said. He and Nathan backed out and shut the door, leaving Ezra
and JD in the clinic.
"Goodnight, JD," Ezra whispered in the stillness.
"'Nite, Ezra," JD responded, laughter in his voice.
They slept.
The End
