A/N This was, I think my most favorite episode of Bonanza ever (probably since I'm such an Adam-lover!) I just couldn't be satisfied with not knowing what happened next.

The Crucible: What Happened Next

Chapter 1

Ben held his boy firmly, his heart pounding. He felt Adam's body shake with sobs, a sensation he'd not experienced in more than 20 years. His heart went out to him, with empathy for whatever it was that had brought him to this state, but at the same time Ben felt as though a great weight had been lifted from around his neck. Hoss and Joe were there, too, transfixed. Ben could feel Joe's strong hand on his shoulder.

"Shhh. Pa's here now. You're all right, Adam. You're all right," Ben soothed, just as he had soothed the child so many years ago. He felt Adam's hands tighten around him.

"Pa..." he sobbed again.

"Shhh..." Ben turned his head slightly towards his middle son. He kept his voice soft and low. "See if you can't rig up a shelter here, Hoss."

Silently, Hoss nodded and stood, taking a few steps back from the scene. His own heart was in torment at seeing his brother this way, but he too was relieved they'd found him alive.

As Ben continued to soothe the broken man in his arms, he instructed Joe to help Hoss with a few meaningful glances. It took the younger man several seconds to get to his feet. He'd never seen his brother in such a state, in all their years together. Ben raised his hand and stroked Adam's hair. He sensed that he was quieting now, and as the man's grip loosened, he gently eased him back until he supported his own weight. Raising a hand to Adam's darkened face, he spoke. "It's all right now, son. We'll get you home."

The response was a look of confusion. Adam could hardly remember what "home" meant. He gulped back a new wave of sobs and accepted the canteen that his father held to his lips. Closing his eyes, he savored the sensation as the liquid washed the dust from his parched throat. His own canteen had been emptied two hours before, and Adam had savored that drink as well, thinking it would be his last.

"Joseph, bring me my saddlebags," Ben said quietly, using the tone usually reserved for spooked horses. Joe brought the bags immediately, and rummaging through them, Ben found a clean towel. He wet it down and gently wiped at Adam's face. "We'll get you cleaned up some, and then get some food and water into you. After a good night's rest, we'll head for home." He offered Adam a smile as he wiped the accumulated grime from his stubbled face.

Adam raised a trembling hand and stopped the motion of the older man's hand. "Cain," he said. Even Adam wasn't sure if it was a question or an explanation.

Ben glanced uneasily at the travois his son had been hauling when they'd spotted him. The dead man still rested on it, specks of sand blowing off his stony, dried lips. "Later, son. We'll talk about all of it, later."

"I reckon this'll do, Pa," Hoss called softly behind him. Turning, Ben could see that he'd stretched a blanket off the top of a tall rock and down to the ground, forming a narrow lean-to.

"Lay out my bedroll in there, son," Ben instructed as he rinsed the towel and pulled it across Adam's neck. When Hoss called that the bed was ready, Joe helped his father move Adam into the small space. Ben stripped Adam's torn shirt from him and laid him down on the bedroll, where he continued to bathe him.

For years, Adam had refused to let anyone do for him what he could do for himself. Even when ill, Adam shrank away from his father's ministries, preferring to suffer through on his own. As Ben helped his boy now, though, he saw that his son accepted it completely. He lay on his side, his dark eyes staring blankly at the base of the rock that held up their shelter.

Without being told, Hoss and Joe took Cain's body out of sight and buried it. When they returned, Adam was asleep.

Ben reluctantly stepped out of the shade and spoke quietly to his boys. "I managed to get some more water down him before he drifted off."

"What happened, Pa?" Joe asked urgently, worry written plainly on his face.

"I don't know, Joe, but I don't think we should expect Adam to tell us right away. Whatever it was, he's bound to need time to think it through."

"Is he gonna be all right, Pa?" Hoss asked. "His canteen was empty, and there was just a couple a stale biscuits in that bag."

"I think so. As long as we can get some food and water down him." Squinting against the bright sun, Ben adjusted his hat to better shield his eyes. "We'd better set up a proper camp. Much as I'd like to go straight home, I don't think Adam can make the trip yet."

He wasn't sure what woke him, but Ben knew that something was amiss. He sat bolt upright, and looked around frantically, impatiently willing his eyes to focus in the darkness. His hand groped next to him, where his oldest son had been sleeping. Finding nothing there, Ben got to his feet. He was finally able to make out the edges of the nearby rocks. "Adam?" he called, stumbling out of the lean-to. "Adam?"

"What's the matter, Pa?" Joe asked, as he got to his feet. Hoss joined him.

"Adam's not here. He must have woken, wandered off." Cupping his mouth with his hands, Ben called again, "Adam?!"

They heard a grunt a short distance away and the three men ran out into the night. He had tripped in the darkness and was scrambling to his feet when Joe and Hoss caught up with him. Each taking an arm, they were shocked when he fought against them.

"Adam! Wake up!" Hoss cried, tightening his grip on Adam's arm. His brother kneed him in the stomach and in surprise he let go. Joe was taken by surprise, as well, when his oldest brother shoved him away and ran farther into the desert.

The two younger brothers exchanged a quick glance and tackled Adam. He screamed and tried desperately to wriggle out of their grip. They held him pinned to the ground, one man on each side. Ben finally caught up with them and kneeled at Adam's feet.

One boot almost knocked him in the head before he realized he should hold down his feet. With one large hand on each of Adam's shins, Ben spoke as calmly as he could. "Adam. It's all right, son, you're with your family now."

"Wake up, Adam!" Joe cried.

Ben's eyes met Adam's, and a cold chill went through his spine as he realized Adam wasn't asleep. "Adam, son, it's your Pa. You don't have to fight anymore, boy, Papa's here. Shhhh..."

It seemed an eternity before the words seemed to sink in. Finally, Ben felt the tension leaving Adam's legs, and he carefully let go. When the legs remained still, he moved closer to Adam's head, silently signaling Hoss and Joe to turn him loose as well.

Sand clung to Adam's sweaty arm as he placed the back of his forearm over his forehead and began to sob again. Ben rested a loving hand on Adam's bare chest. Tears filled his own eyes as he sat beside his boy, at a complete loss for words. After some minutes, with a determined heave, Adam pushed himself to a sitting position. He wiped his eyes as best he could, and then busied himself trying to brush away the sand that seemed to cover his body. He shivered, and accepted the help of his father to stand and walk back to the lean-to.

Joe and Hoss followed in silence, too stunned and frightened by what had transpired to do any more. Adam seemed to have calmed down now, and was responding to their Pa. The two brothers paused a short distance away and watched their father as he tucked Adam in, still soothing him with soft words.

Joe let out a sigh. "What on earth...?" He pondered aloud.

"Whatever happened to him, it drove him plum crazy," Hoss whispered. "He didn't even know us, Joe."

Joe threw his brother a quick glance. Hoss answered the worry-stricken look with an apologetic shrug.

Ben stepped out to join them. He too, whispered. "I think one of us should stay awake. That way, when Adam wakes, we can reassure him before he panics like that."

"I'll sit up with him, Pa," Joe volunteered.

Ben nodded as Hoss asked, "Pa, did he say anything?"

"Just that there was no gold."