Charlie Prince always follows orders.

Well, now. That's not precisely true. Charlie Prince always follows Ben Wade's orders. Not a man or woman can be found on this earth that could tame Charlie Prince, save for one Mr. Ben Wade.

Charlie Prince would do anything for Ben Wade. And there're only two people can say they know why.

Charlie Prince always follows Ben Wade's orders, and always without a second's hesitation.

This time is different.

When Charlie has his gun trained on that goddamn white hat rancher's back, his finger is itching to pull the trigger. That itch don't stop when he hears the boss shout 'no.' Charlie doesn't want to follow this order, and that's a new experience for him. For once, he's willing to disobey Ben Wade. In fact he wants to, because he sees Ben on the train, caged like an animal; he knows that train's going to take him to the rope, and that eats at him, because Ben Wade cannot die.

And he knows that rancher put him there, whether the boss went willingly or not. (He's not as blind as everyone thinks. He knows that no shit for brains, one leg rancher gets Ben Wade somewhere without help. No way.)

He wants to pull the trigger. He wants to put as many bullets as he can in that man, and he plans to. But his second of hesitation is all it takes for Ben to catch his eye, and that gives him pause. The world is still for a few seconds; the rest of the gang won't do anything without him making the first move.

"Don't you dare pull that trigger, Charlie Prince."

For all that his words have the edge of a command, Ben's eyes speak differently.

Charlie Prince has known Ben Wade for a very long time. Long enough to know him as no one else does, same way Ben knows him as no one else does. They've come to be capable of understanding without words, and it is because of this that Charlie knows that Ben is not commanding him to stand down. He's asking.

Charlie lowers his arm, gun still in hand, finger still itching.

Ben smiles a little.

"Time to start over again, Charlie."

Charlie smiles a little, and his finger twitches on the trigger.

The rancher's got his gun set on Charlie now, and he reaches back to grasp the handle of the train door. Charlie catches Ben's final words before the door slides shut."

"Three months. Bisbee. Keep 'em safe."

The train pulls away. When it is gone, Charlie lowers his arm completely, but does not put the gun away. He tips his hat to the rancher, who simply looks very confused, then turns.

Charlie Prince pulls his other gun and fires a bullet for every member of Ben Wade's gang. Not a one of them moves again once they hit the ground.

The itch gone, Charlie replaces the guns in their holsters and turns back to the rancher, who now wears an expression of utter shock.

"What're you staring at, blue belly? Get your boy and let's go."