Despite their exhaustion and fatigue the brothers pushed through the darkness to morning sunrise. However, the spectacular sunrise went by unnoticed by the slow travelling wagon. Joe remained still, staring through half closed eyes. Adam watched his young brother placing his hand on his face every so often just to reassure himself that he hadn't slipped away and to tell his brother that he was not alone. One cut had persistently bled throughout the night; Adam's hands were covered in his brother's blood from applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

Joe shivered in the early morning chill despite feeling hot. The constant pain drew all his strength leaving him unable to respond to his brother's touch. Adam's hand gave him great comfort; if he was to die he would want it to be with his brothers. It didn't matter that they squabbled and that Adam treated him like a kid, all that mattered now was that he was with his brothers and that they would never leave him alone knowing that Joe's one fear in life is dying alone. Memories of his brothers when they were younger played in his mind like a picture story. He wasn't afraid, not while he had his brothers and so the journey continued and Joe concentrated on breathing and kept still because any movement caused him unbearable pain.

"We're almost there little brother...smell those pines...the doc will be waiting for you and we'll have you fixed up in no time." Hoss told his brother cheerfully. He didn't see Joe mouth the word Cochise. Joe worried about Cochise getting home but knew Hoss would do everything humanly possible for his horse.

Adam placed his hand on Joe's face lovingly. He could feel the anguish of his brother, knowing how much he loved his horse. The bond between his brother and his horse was like no other. Cochise didn't run away from the mountain lion, she stayed and tried to protect her master. He knew Joe would be devastated if Cochise didn't survive and he wondered if he would keep fighting for his life if his horse did die.

The wagon made the last turn and finally rolled up in front of the barn. Their father was out the front door before they stopped, and he took in the sight of his youngest son. His large hand brushed hair from his son's forehead. Joe wanted to call to his Pa but was only able to move his lips.

Adam lent down and put his face in Joe's line of vision "Joe we need to move you into the house...we'll be as gentle as possible." Like before Joe blinked, but tears were forming in his eyes from hearing his father's voice. Single tears escaped when he blinked and Adam gave him a knowing smile. "You've been very brave little brother...You just need to hold on a little while longer...Can you do that?" Joe blinked and more tears escaped.

Hoss, Adam, Ben and Doc Martin each grabbed a corner of the bedroll Joe was lying on and carried him into the house. They put Joe in the downstairs bedroom as climbing the stairs was not an option. The tears flowed freely down Joe's cheek, his strength gone and his bravery against the pain was also gone. Hot water, bandages and towels were placed on one side of the bed.

Doc Martin cut away the bandages to reveal the damage. Ben sucked in a breath, and looked on in dismay. He looked at Adam, fear lining his face. "He never cried out and he never complained Pa. You would have been so proud of him." Adam said with love and admiration in his voice.

"I need to get back and help with Cochise...I promised Joe I'd do everything possible for his horse" Hoss told his Pa. He lent down and looked into the eyes of his little brother "Joe I'm gonna do everything I can for your horse so don't you fret." He squeezed Joe's right hand. His brother grabbed one of his fingers to get his attention.

"Danny, get Danny to help..." Joe whispered so faintly that Hoss had to put his ear up to his brother's mouth "Danny Kid!" Joe pleaded with Hoss to understand.

Hoss straightened up "He wants me to get Danny Kid to help," he told his Pa and Adam.

"That's not such a bad idea...if anyone will pull that horse through, it would be Danny." Adam stated. "I'll send one of the hands to his ranch," he told his brother.

"Let's hope he can get here in time," Ben added. Danny Kid was one of Joe's closest friends who owned a horse ranch on the edge of the Ponderosa. Joe and his family had helped Danny leave prison and adjust to the outside world. Joe had in fact given Danny back his life that had been taken away from him at a very young age. Through it all they became the best of friends and when Danny was ready to go it alone Ben gave him some land to settle on. Danny had married and was breeding some of the best horses in the territory.

Doc Martin cleaned every claw mark and stitched the deeper ones. He applied salve provided by Hop Sing and then bandaged Joe's back, shoulder and arm. The doctor was worried about Joe's arm. One of the claw marks was so deep that you could see his bone. He was worried that there may be nerve damage.

When Joe regained consciousness, he vomited causing him to almost pass out from the pain. Doc Martin gave him morphine to drink and watched his patient slowly drift off to sleep. Once he was asleep Adam told his Pa and Doc Martin the whole story. Ben shook his head when Adam told them how they found Joe laying under Cochise, the horse standing guard over her master. "It'll kill him if that horse doesn't make it Pa." Adam told his father. Ben grimaced and grabbed his brandy pouring three glasses.

"You should get some sleep Adam, then you can take over tonight." Ben told his eldest son. Adam nodded and climbed the staircase.

"Call me if Joe takes a turn for the worst. I want to be with him." Adam told his father, who nodded in agreement.

Ben took a seat next to his youngest son. He ran a cool cloth over Joe's face and noted the lines of pain. Joe opened his eyes and looked at his father. Ben lent forward and smiled at his son. "You should try to sleep son...it's the best thing for you," he told Joe.

Joe's mouth moved and a soft whisper said "Cochise!" Ben could see tears forming in his son's eyes and knew he needed reassurance.

"Hoss is bringing her home and we've sent for Danny. Adam said if anyone could save her, Danny could...so don't you worry...just concentrate on getting better." Pa told his son with conviction. He needed Joe to stop worrying about his horse and start concentrating on himself. "Sleep Joe...you need to sleep," he told him.

Joe tried to smile but it took just too much effort. His eyes closed slowly and he felt himself floating. He was looking down on a green meadow, Cochise was happily galloping along. He felt at peace knowing his horse was happy and tried to reach down to her but something was stopping him. Joe woke with a start, and looked around. The room was dimly lit; his brother was sitting in the chair that his father had occupied before he closed his eyes. He felt very hot, his head ached and he was thirsty. He looked at his brother, Adam was reading but he must have sensed he was awake because he looked over his book and smiled. Joe licked his lips hinting his thirst.

Adam was reading Macbeth and suddenly felt the urge to check on his brother. He looked over the book and saw two green eyes watching him. His brother was licking his lips so he offered Joe some water. He gently raised his head, careful not to move his left shoulder too much. Joe drank the water and then the medicine that had been waiting for him to wake up. When Joe rested his head back on the pillows Adam asked "Would you like me to read to you? The story has two half brothers in it."

His little brother whispered "Yes!" and watched Adam as he read. Joe found himself drifting off and the sensation of floating returned. This time he was looking down on his brothers fishing by the lake. They were laughing and dangling their bare feet in the water with their pants rolled up. Hoss was eating an apple while Adam was singing a song. Joe wanted to join them and reached down to them. He suddenly jerked awake. He felt stabbing pain in his shoulder.

"It's infected...I'll have to open it and clean it out...the good news is, his arm looks ok." Doc Martin explained. Joe felt tugging at his shoulder and then a sharp pain took his breath away. He was sweating but felt extremely cold.

His father's face swam into view "He's awake Paul!" he said as he smiled. Joe blinked but was unable to stop the tears from escaping. He didn't want to cry in front of his father but was unable to stop. The pain was so bad he thought he would throw up again. He started to gag, and couldn't stop the stomach spasms. His father placed a towel under his mouth, unable to move Joe while the doctor was cleaning the cut.

Ben ran a cool cloth over his son's ghostly white face. His son's eyes were glazed and he was panting. Ben could only imagine the pain his son was in and tried to sooth him by cooling his face and reassuring him that it was almost finished. When all the infected cuts were cleaned, Doc Martin gave Joe another dose of morphine but only after his breathing returned to normal. Ben continued to run a cool cloth over his son's face.

Hoss was beyond exhaustion when he finally returned to the ranch house with Cochise. The horse was running a temperature because some of the cuts were already infected. He cleaned them and applied the same salve that Joe had applied to his cuts. Hop Sing assured Hoss that it was not harmful. The hands took turns cooling the horse and keeping it on its feet while Hoss grabbed some needed sleep.

Hoss looked in on Joe first. He was asleep but he told him anyway that his beloved horse was home and that they were watching over her and cooling her down. He also told his little brother that Danny was on his way so soon Cochise would have the best horse doctor looking after her.

Over the next few hours Joe and Cochises' temperature soared to dangerous levels. A battle in the house and the barn to keep two friends alive, was taking place and everyone was worried that they were fighting a losing battle.