FOR THE LOVE OF GUILT

by Gabrielle © 2003

PART 4

"Where's Cody?" Jimmy asked as soon as they entered the bunkhouse.

"Shh, not so loud," Lou said sharply. She was sitting perched on her bunk, and seemed to be sewing something but her hands stopped working when she saw them. With a toss of her head, she gestured toward the bunk at the far end of the room, in which a blond figure was lying still, with his back facing them. "He's asleep."

"Already?" Buck asked.

Lou shrugged nonchalantly, but all three of them could see that she was hiding something. Kid frowned.

"What is it, Lou?"

Sighing, Lou put down her needlework and looked at them. No, she was looking at Jimmy-and she didn't look happy. "I don't know. I just-I thought he looked really banged up, that's all." Cody was already asleep when she came in to stitch her torn pants but she could tell from the way his shoulders tensed and the way he'd been tossing and turning restlessly every now and then that there was something bothering him. Sleep had always come easy for Cody. "Just what did you do to him anyway?"

Jimmy was taken aback. His hard-ass nature was begging to say something to defend himself, but Lou's tone didn't sound accusatory at all, but rather inquisitive. He frowned. "Hell, Lou, I didn't think I hit him that hard."

At Lou's glare, Jimmy shook his head vehemently. "No, it's not what you think! I didn't hit him on purpose!"

"Well, don't you think if he was hurting he would have, you know, said something? Or, complain like he always does? If he said he was fine, then there's no reason not to believe him right?" Buck said uneasily. "We're probably worrying ourselves silly over nothing."

"I guess you're right, Buck." Kid sat on his floor and started to take his boots off. "He's probably just tired, like he said. Just see what happens tomorrow when he drives us all crazy with his endless chatter and usual bad jokes and God knows what else comes out from his big gob."

Jimmy started to feel a little better. "Yeah, he's probably tryin' to make ME feel guilty for hittin' him. I bet tomorrow he'll try and sweet-talk me into doing his chores for him. Well, he's going to be mighty disappointed."

Lou glanced at Cody's sleeping form out the corner of her eye. He didn't even stir during the whole conversation, which was a good sign. Which meant he was resting and sleeping normally. Well, Lou, don't go worrying your pretty head over this. He's fine.

Part 5