Nathan Jackson was mild-mannered, a compassionate, intelligent doctor whose patients praised his care extravagantly. He had received nothing but accolades from the hospital. Good-natured, cheerful and encouraging, Nurse Raine Willis, whom Nathan was recently dating, was the envy of several other women wanting Nathan and Raine to break up so they could move in on Nathan.

If brother Buck had been in Nathan's position, he would have been dating each and every one. More than one nurse had asked Buck why Nathan was more committed to one woman and didn't play the field. Buck just shrugged and told them that was how Nathan always was.

Nathan had been happy to welcome four new brothers to the family. Always willing to give everyone a chance, Nathan became very close to Josiah and was amused by young and naïve JD. Vin wasn't the easiest one to get close to; and Ezra was the hardest. Ezra's reserve and cynicism kept Nathan on guard.

Families squabble and the new brothers were no exception. But there was one thing that developed in all of them that Nathan couldn't abide. It came to a boiling point one day when Nathan, hearing frustration in his fellow doctors, felt the same frustration in his own family.

First, Josiah was having chest pains which he dismissed as acid reflex, ignoring Nathan's advice to have tests to make sure.

Vin came in from riding Peso with a noticeable limp. Refusing to let Nathan look at it, Vin dismissed it as just a mild sprain and limped off.

The youngest had been watching the big brothers he had come to idolize dismiss most of their injuries as nothing and laughing while calling one ranch hand who wasalways moaning and groaning about colds and slight injuries as a way to get out of work a wimp.

Tonight, Chris burned his hand getting a casserole out of the oven, and just like Vin and Josiah the others, refused to let Nathan treat "such a minor burn".

That's when Nathan Jackson lost it, banging his glass on the table and standing up, glaring at his brothers.

While the others looked at him, surprised, he yelled, "That's it! I am the medical doctor in this family, not you, Josiah, Vin, or Chris! I am tired of being ignored! I had lunch with several doctors today. One had a woman patient who ignored a lump on her breast for one year - a year! Now she has stage four breast cancer and less than six months to live. Dr. Corley, a cardiologist had a male patient deny he could be having a heart attack – even though he had many symptoms – because his daughter's wedding was coming up, and he had to be there. Well, he died – and his daughter will be getting married in one month without her father to walk her down the aisle. A young man in his thirties ignored the warning signs of diabetes infection, and now is about to have one leg amputated! It's bad enough to see this at the hospital with patients in denial, but to know my own family isas stubborn and unreasonable and won't listen to my advice is too much!" Nathan glared at each one and shoved his chair back, storming out the door.

None of the other six had been able to say a word. Most found they had lost their appetite, except for Buck, who kept eating. "Oh, come on," he said when the others looked at him. "Nathan was just blowing off steam. He'll come around."

Josiah said thoughtfully, "Don't know about that, Brother Buck."

"I hope he is going to see Raine," Chris said finally. "She has a good effect on him."

JD, clearly disturbed by the turmoil, turned to Josiah, the one he was the most worried about. "Does this mean you will go get heart tests, Josiah?" JD asked hopefully, turning his puppy dog eyes on his eldest brother.

Josiah smiled at the teenager's concern, knowing the question came from a position of love. "I'll make an appointment."

"Vin? Chris?"

"Hold on, Kid, we're not made of glass. If I need medical help, I'll let Nathan help. But I'm not going to go running to him every time I get a splinter." Vin argued.

JD, disappointed, saw the nods of the others. Without excusing himself, he dashed away from the table, running outside to the stables, saddling up Milagro and riding off quickly.

"What just happened there?" Ezra spoke up.

TBC