Brian Coltrane

*does quick math in head, with the distance and the time promised to cover it* Better have an air-sick bag in the car for Daney, s' all I can say. See ya soon. *chuckles and hangs up the mike. Returns to the gathering on the sidewalk, that is collected around Chet's body, as if admiring a bagged bear on a hunting expedition. Pauses alongside Chet to rub toe of boot against his side, polishing off a scuff mark. Looks over Chet's inert form to see Daniel and Alex standing there* Look who's heah. What's up your sleeve now, Alex?

Well....*looking back at MaryAnne who's watching every move while wearing two guns, and no badge* Ah'm awright for now, and I think thangs are settled down enough that I can lay out all the cards. Go ahead and bring back Daney. I'll take the heat for everythang, if she makes noise. Meet me heah at the courthouse.

S' good to know, Garrett. Thank ya. *pockets the cigarettes again, smiling a little* Hopefully, if there's a next time, we won't start out on opposite sides of the field. *after speaking this, nods to cousin, acknowledging her as well. Then, casually steps over Chet's body in order to walk back to Diablo, needing the CB. Notices Alex and Daniel coming on to the scene, but decides to make the CB call first* Blackbird to Black Sheep, you listenin' out there? Come back...

*reaches into inner jacket pocket, slowly, and draws out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, offering them to Garrett. Lord knows the poor guy needs a smoke after all this. Speaks to both him and MaryAnne with the next statement* I know ah've still done a lot of thangs against the law. No doubt about it. And ah've got a lot to square away. Garrett, you may not evah believe me, or forgive me, and that's awright. I only hope that you can prove your brother wrong about ya...'cause you are worth standin' up for. If Chet nevah wants to see you again, it's his loss. *gives Garrett a pat on the shoulder* Meantime....I can't dee-prive MaryAnne of the special joy that shootin' me would bring her. I just gotta tidy up some details first. If you'll excuse me to make a radio call, Deputy?

*notices MaryAnne's subtle message as the tranquilizer gun is re-loaded, but doesn't respond to it directly, just yet* No, Garrett.... I nevah had any intention of killin' you, despite you tryin' to win me over to the idea. Nor did I have any intention of hurtin' Daney. And despite what its done to me, I have no wish to hurt the damn horse. *glances from Garrett, to MaryAnne* I told Chet some dire thangs to make him think about the fact that his actions got consequences to others, not just himself. But when I said he'd nevah see somebody again...well, I was talkin' bus tickets to Seattle or somethin'. Make mah hostages scarce, and safe, until the whole thang with Chet was settled. *looks back to Garrett* If I really wanted you dead...and Daney gone, and the horse gone, it coulda already been done several times over. Hell, if I wanted Chet dead, ah had mah chance in there. *returns gaze to MaryAnne* But that ain't who I am. If actions speak louder than words, cousin....judge me fairly, for what ah've done, and ain't done... before you send me down for a snooze with that next dart.

( I'm gonna pause it here too, as I'm sure MaryAnne's got a reaction to all this as well. )

*Stands up from checking Chet's vitals...hearing the question, and knowing that own cousin, who stands there silently, will be listening to every word as well* I talked to Chet, but ah didn't let 'em out. Somehow he accomplished that on his own. What I did, is give him a choice....between you, Garrett...or his horse, or Daney. I told him that he could pick one. The others, he'd nevah see again. *pauses* Chet picked you, Garrett...but ah'm sorry to say it was out of only the most basic human logic, and not family loyalty. He's got no sense of kinship with you, to heah him say it, and he told me he nevah wanted to see you again. *looks at Garrett, dark eyes holding truth* And I'm damned sorry to have to tell you that. It doesn't even make sense, after the way he ran me down before to protect you. Maybe he just wanted to be sure I'd let you go, if I thought you had no real value to him. Or maybe he's just a @#$%&*.

*follows Garrett, not having heard a shot fired, but definately seeing Chet splayed out on the ground. Once at the side of the fallen enemy, sees the telltale dart, long and narrow, sticking from Chet's back* Ah'll be danged. A tranquilizer. *kneels down, wincing a little with the motion, and checks for a pulse* Don't worry, Garrett. He's alive. (with MaryAnne unable to post again till tomorrow, but Garrett's schedule being a bit later than hers, we'll work this a bit but pause where appropriate)

*heads upstairs, not responding to Chet's yelling. Left arm is pressed snugly to ribs, keeping the jarring sensation with each step to a minimum. Quietly exits the booking room, and walks down the hall to the outer doors of the courthouse. Pushes them open and heads outside, heading down the sidewalk towards Diablo.* *upon reaching the passenger side of the parked Chevy, opens the door, motioning for Garrett to get out* S' over. You're free to go, Garrett.

*listens with no outward show of emotion, no surprise shown. Says only...* Ah'm sure Garrett will be gratified, by yer overwhelmin' sacrifice. *with this, turns away, and heads for the stairs, not adding any further taunts or threats....not sticking around to gloat, or to hear pleas* Goodbye, Chet Duke.

No. That would end your sufferin' too easy. It's better that you live, to wonder whatevah became of them all. Knowin' that you, and your fool antics, jepordized everythang and everybody you evah cared about. *heat of anger simmering in dark eyes* This is the price of your reign, oh "Lord of the Outlaws." From heah out, every livin', breathin' moment of yours will be cursed with the memory of this day.

I have your horse. I got your brother. I even got Daney, though ah doubt you care much on that one. *steps closer, hatred burning in dark eyes* And I have your life. The only reason yer still breathin', is so that you can suffer the consequences of opposin' me, for the rest of your life. Now then. *pauses, making sure Chet understands this next part clearly* You get to choose one to keep. Your horse. Your brother. Or Daney. Pick one....and know that the other two will nevah be seen by you again.

Ah haven't started givin' you trouble. *voice softening to a hiss* Ah'm heah to give you a choice, Chet Duke.

*rounds the last step, dark eyes taking in the evidence of damage around the cell area...scorched bedding, the mess of fire extinguisher foam...and also detecting the unpleasant, acrid odors of melted wiring, stale smoke, and sweat.* *paces over to inspect the damage, saying nothing....until finally turning to stare cold and hard at Chet through the bars. Waits another minute before speaking, jaw clenched...and once voice is found, the Atlantan drawl is low, rough, and pained.* Had to give her a hard time, didn't you?

*watches MaryAnne go, still staring at the doors after her exit. Looks down at the discarded badge and the cell keys, feeling anger, disbelief...and regret.* *picks up the silver badge and holds it between fingers. The badge is light, but the heart that carred it was obviously made heavy by the conflict. Deposits the badge inside of the inner jacket pocket, not feeling right about leaving it laying around, abandoned. Though in truth, feels abandoned along with it....* Is it so hard, cousin, for us to understand each other, even after all this while? *asks the silence of the booking room* *with no answer coming, and none expected, reaches down and picks up the jail cell key, that was also left behind. A few minutes ago, tricks and coercion might have been considered, to obtain this object...and now, it seems hollow, meaningless. An enemy's fate is now squarely in own hands...* *...but if any sense of triumph was to be had at this, it's now reduced by an overwhelming sense of loss.* *with nothing left but a resolve to truly end this...one way or another...takes the key and walks down the stairs towards the lower cells...the sound of own bootsteps announcing presence before own form is visible....*

*looks striken for a moment, but then answers with a wordless snarl, truly offended. Takes another second to find words that aren't complete expletives* If ah didn't, I wouldn't be lookin' for a bloodless finish to this thang....would I.

*still not sure what MaryAnne is up to, continues to balk* Depends. Are you doin' somethin' in accordance with your sworn duty, or in accordance with the fact you've blown a gasket?

*backs up a step as cousin storms ahead. Watches, unsure of what her ploy is, thinking that perhaps she'd gleefully toss me in with Chet at this point * I didn't say it was all yer fault. Don't gitcher badge in a bend.

*soft, low, reactive growl....cousin's disregard, when added on top of Benedict Alex's antics, and Garrett's distain, and Chet's usual attitude, causing a mounting anger* You started this thang, ya know. You wanna think less of me for havin' a bloodless finish to it? Fine. Then you can sit heah 24-7 and wonder what the hell will happen when Chet gits loose. 'Cause sooner or later, he will. And if he's out on his terms, insteada mine... ...you truly will have a new outlaw lord around heah, and I wish you all the luck then.

Aw, come on now. *moving a couple steps closer to cousin* I said it at the beginnin' of this whole thang. Finesse is what separates me from the riff-raff. Killin' Chet outright, or gettin' mahself killed, would lack finesse. It wouldn't be victory. I want to beat Chet and have him alive to remember that ah did it. I also want to be alive to gloat. *steps closer once more, until standing directly next to seated cousin*

Thank ya.... *giving a shallow sigh, rubbing the left wrist* Ya know, I hate it when yer mad at me. Right now, part of you wants to throw me back in jail. The other part of you, wants me to go ahead and git mahself killed if ah'm so determined to do it....

Hmm. Ah'm amazed. You musta put the hurt on 'em. *lifts up the left wrist* Listen, I know there's thangs un-ree-solved heah....but would you show me the kindness of removin' this heah metal bracelet?

Good. Last thang ah need, is that goon on the street. Ah'm in no shape to deal with 'em. *takes the short steps up to the booking desk, left arm snug against ribs, right hand on the short railing, leaning weight against it. Once up near the booking desk, doesn' get too close to cousin, choosing instead to lean against the bars of the holding cell. Right hand starts to fuss with the handcuff loop that's still secured around the left wrist, a souveiner from the escape from the clinic* Chet been givin' you any trouble?

No need to insult me. *mild snort* No, ah came heah for a couple reasons. One, to make sure you were awright, after baggin' Chet. Two, to make sure some fool wasn't heah tryin' to bail him out.

Only natural that you'd be curious. Well... I ain't gonna keep you in suspense for too long. Sit tight for a few minutes, eh? If all goes well, ah'll be back out soon. *with this, gets out of Diablo, taking the car keys along...not too worried about Garrett stealing the car, but not wanting to tempt him too strongly. Holds arm close against the left side of ribcage, walking to the courthouse as quickly as the injuries allow. The tight bandaging around the ribcage keeps things in place, but the pain is relentless, and deep breaths are difficult.* *and yet, there's no option but to go forward. Walks up the courthouse stairs and down the hall, and then strolls into the booking room, innocent as pie, as if the most natural place to be right now in the whole world, is right here.*