"Nathan?" Vin asked, the breaking of his heart obvious on his tear-streaked face.The young healer shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry Vin there is nothing I can do."
The tracker's shoulders slumped as he looked toward the shut the door. Choking a sob down, he asked. "Can I go in, now?"
Vin didn't know if his legs would carry him as they threatened to fold under him, but he took a deep breath and opened the door. The room was in darkness, it had to be, because of the Lupus; light was not good for the eyes. Though with the brain tumor, blindness would soon set in and then all there would be would be darkness.
Reaching out his hands he blindly made his way into the room, accidentally kicking a bucket over in the dimness. "Shit!" he cursed as he then stumbled into the coffin that stood leaning against the wall. It had been Ezra's gift and he had spared no expense. Moving away from the coffin, he smiled. "Sam, ya better thank Ezra fer the coffin, it's real purty."
"Vin?" the voice called weakly from the bed. "Is that you?"
The tinnitus was causing havoc with her ears as well. Vin made his way over to the bed. "Yep, it's me. How's it goin' Sam?" he asked the exhausted patient.
There was an audible sigh as Sam grabbed at her chest; the pain from the heart attack was easing now. Nathan's herbs had done their job just he predicted. "Oh, I'm fine. You know I am going to get better Vin. We are going to have that big wedding we have been dreaming about for so long."
Vin wiped away a tear, Damn the bucket was harder than I thought...think I've broken my big toe. Reminder two, must show Nathan my foot. A man needs his toe. I hope Nate won't have to cut it off... "What? Did you say something hon'?"
"The wedding Vin, it's going to be so beautiful." Sam managed to smile as she coughed, causing blood to ooze from her blue-hued lips.
"Well hon' if ya don't mind me sayin', until ya get rid of that leprosy, ya ain't goin' ta make a really purty picture. I mean, we can't have yer limbs droppin' off in the middle of the weddin', can we?" he shrugged.
Sam coughed again, expelling a lung, which Vin dodged with his tracker reflexes. "Jeez, Sam, can ya use a hanky when ya do that?"
Sam coughed again as a tear fell, "I'm sorry Vin, I don't think I am going to make it after all. Promise me, " she begged as she pulled at his arm, "Promise me you will love again. Find someone else and love again." she pleaded as her breathing labored.
"Oh hon' I promise. Don't go yet Sam," he implored, "Please don't go....CHRISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" he screamed as he saw Sam's eyes flutter and close.
The door burst open and the man in black charged into the room, "Vin? What is it?" he asked as he ran to Vin's side, after first colliding with the discarded bucket.
"Chris, her last words," he cried as he looked down at her still form, "she wanted me to love again. Love me Cowboy," Vin huskily demanded as he pushed the deceased Sam off the bed and pulled the gunfighter down in her place.
THE END