Brian Coltrane

KHEE. *dark, edgy sound to the trademark Coltrane laugh* Yer half right, Garreett. You're bound....but you're not gonna git outta heah. *voice lowers* Ya see, you ain't been declared medically stable enuff to leave just yet. Ah'm willin' to bet you been neglectin' your health. You're probably way behind on all kindsa medical tests. *nasty grin* Plus, you gotta be mentally competent to be released to your own care....which means, a thorough mental e-valuation. In other words, Doc will halfta start with a rectal exam.

What do I have in mind? *answering the curiosity of those who listen* Why, s' just that Garrett's gonna run off and hurt himself, any minute. He's got a bullet hole hardly patched up, but that won't stop 'em. And seein' as how I don't want him to keel over, lest ah git set up for a homicide rap.... ...ah'm thinkin' it's best he stays heah, stays put, safe n' sound. *looks to Lukas and Alex, pointedly* Whether he wants to be heah or not.

*glances from Doc, to Garrett...really scheming now* Ah'm thinkin' on that, Doc....but I wouldn't wantcha to violate your medical oath or anythang.

Easy now, Doc...*smiles* I ain't goin' nowhere, while MaryAnne still has mah wrist handcuffed to the table heah. *pulls it up with a rattle* Maybe we can make the most of that situation later, if you're careful with me. *flirting shamelessly, but then clears throat, remembering presence of others* And Lukas, don't worry. S' true I shot a horse out from under Chet once, but he damn well had it comin' at the time. It ain't mah normal way, though, and it's not really what I got in my mind right now. *looks to Daniel* S' been said that there's no horse theif like an Injun horse thief. I'd like to count coup on Chet, and I can't think of a better way to start, than by horse-nappin'. Think you could do me a little favor there, Daniel, and round up that erstwhile e-quine?

His horse, yeah. *nods sharply, grinning* And since Garrett don't wanna play hostage, I think we have ourselves another chess piece to play. *looks over to Bo, who is listening unobtrusively* You were there when she brought Chet in. That horse of his, anywhere around?

*looks at Daniel with a grim smile* Your words are music to mah ears. But I can't have you gettin' into that kinda trouble, Daniel. But you bein' heah does give me a helluva idea. *looks from Daniel, to Alex, the Coltrane gears in head starting to grind* What's the one thang Chet might value even more than Garrett, heah?

But Chet's yer brother. We may think of 'em as an inbred horse's posterior, but he's still your kin. Ain't like a Duke to let another Duke hang by himself.

I suppose that makes me the permanent jackass? You got a way with words, buddy. But anyhow, I don't think s' gonna be that easy. *glances at Garrett* And we'd better know who stands where...before we plan anythang.

*reacts again* Holy @#$%.

*reacts to this before Garrett does, surprised by the news* Wha--?!

You always were good with legal fine points, Alex....

Oh, now, waaait a minute heah. *giving Garrett a dark-eyed glare* You came up to mah car, and said you surrendered. Only you didn't wanna honor that once I was takin' you captive. Well, what the hell does "surrender" mean in your book? Did you mean, surrender, but still not go along with anythang I say or do? *half-turns in order to face Garrett better, the morphine allowing unpained mobility* When I think about it, you got your share o' blame in this thang too. And some bad guy you are, gettin' all technical about kidnappin'. Ah was a fool to think you could handle it.

Considerin' the fact Chet had a gun pointed at me earlier - not that you heah me whinin' about it - ah'd say all's fair. B'sides, I just wanted you as a chess piece. I figured if Chet was watchin' , he'd come outta hidin'. If he wasn't around, I'd pass word along to him later that I had you hostage...and then make arrangements for Chet to take your place. *sighs in irritation, at this part of the plan going so wrong* But no, you hadda speechify yerself all indignant. I had a gun on ya, and you were worried about the Geneva Conventions. If I was half the jerk I was made out to be, I woulda just shot ya to hush the noise. Instead, the fifth horseman of the hillbilly apocalypse, yer brother Chet, gallops in and nearly kills us both. *glances at Alex* And that's after bonkin' Alex in the head, as a warm-up. Chet's ran up a helluva tab with me, and someday soon ah'm gonna collect on it.

*answers Garrett* Glad to heah you feel that way. Ah'm hard to git rid of, though Chet almost succeeded this time. *pauses* The fact you were in harm's way didn't even slow him down...

Mm. Yeah, the pain's gone... except for Garrett, but there's no pill for that. *Abruptly turns head to speak to Garrett directly* Ah'm glad you're gonna make it, tho'. You'd be no fun at all, dead. *shrugs* Not that yer a barrel o' laughs alive, but ....ah think you know what I mean... *tries this awkward olive branch, to see what it gets*

Which ex-plains Garrett's limited appeal, ah reckon.... *grinning*

*suppressing a drug-induced giggle* Oh, ah doubt that. Garrett's "way with women" involves rentin' 'em by the hour.

*snorts at Doc's efforts to appease Garrett's ego...watching her attend to him*

*overhearing this, and giddy enough on the morphine to chime in* Yer right. Nothin' else you got will impress the girls. KHEEheheheheh....

Mmmm. Ah'll be riiiiiiiight heah. *blissfully free of pain, and worry, for the moment*

Khee...the company, o' course, though the painkiller is fun. *watches, bemused, as the bandage wraps around body* Heh! This reminds me of the time we were horsin' around down heah, and I found the cabinet of bandage wraps, and the next thang ah know.... *uninhibited as a norm, and moreso with the medication, cheerfully launches into a memory, until somebody clears their throat to politely interrupt. Whether it was Lukas or Alex, there's no telling* ...well, anyhow, it was fun.

*smiles widely at Doc's innuendo....not even mustering an "ow" as she bandages up the ribs...actually giggling a little, the painkiller evidently agreeing with the Coltrane constitution* Kheeheheheh...heh! Mmm. 'Wanna pree-scription for this stuff....

*looks up into Doc's eyes, grimacing a little as the needle pierces flesh, but holding still* Rgh... ...Ah try to behave, Doc. Thangs just don't always go accordin' to plan.... *as the painkiller begins to seep in rather quickly, blinks once and then relaxes with a loose grin* Mmm. Thas' much better....

Gentle, would be an asprin and a cup of water. But g'wan, then. Git it over with....

*heartbeat pounds faster* Ya know....the nicer you are about it...the more yer scarin' me. Where's this thang gittn' dee-livered', anyhow?