Kitty opened the door to Doc's office, and seeing that both Doc and his patient were asleep, she quietly walked in, closing the door behind her. She silently observed the two men, and suddenly it hit her why Charles had seemed so familiar. She swallowed down the surprise in her throat and stood behind Doc's chair for a moment, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of his back.

She put her hands on Doc's shoulders and leaned into his ear, whispering softly, "Doc? Hey Doc..."

"Mmmmm..."

She gently pulled him toward her, allowing him to fall softly back into his chair, his head rolling heavily against her. She kissed the top of his brow. "Rise and shine, handsome..."

He looked up at her, the sleep in his pale blue eyes making them appear even softer than usual. "Kitty...what time is it?"

"Almost eight in the morning. Sam told me what happened last night, and I wanted to come over and make sure everything was all right."

He straightened up, shaking free of her grip. "Everything's fine." He stood then, heading toward the stove, his voice softening, "Want some coffee if I make a pot?"

"Sure, Doc." She observed him as he put the fixings for coffee in a pot and then lit the stove. He turned to her, leaning against the cold part of the stove, putting both his hands in his pockets. He seemed uneasy. "You okay, curly?"

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

She glanced over at the middle-aged man on the table and then stared meaningfully into Doc's eyes. "Anything you wanna tell me?"

"No," he grumbled, "not really."

Kitty walked over to him, stopping close enough to make him uncomfortable. She cupped her hands on both of his cheeks, catching his eyes with hers. "Who is he?"

His soft eyes moistened with vulnerability, before he finally said, "My younger brother."

"I never knew you had one," she replied with irritation.

He shrugged. "Never came up, I guess." Trying to lighten the awkward air between them, Doc nodded over at the sleeping man and smiled slightly. "He got all the height in the family," an impish grin pulled at his lips then, "but I got all the good looks."

Kitty couldn't help but laugh. "For the ugly duckling, he sure had more than his share of the girls hangin' all over him last night."

"I never said he didn't inherit the Adams family charm..."

She smiled at him, but her eyes turned dark with concern. "You've never so much as mentioned this charming brother of yours and suddenly he shows up in Dodge..."

He broke away from her and walked over to the exam table, adjusting the blanket covering Charlie. "He's just visiting..."

Kitty could sense the lie. "For as long as I've known you, I've never seen him, you've never mentioned him, and now he's here for a visit..." Adams brushed his fingers through Charlie's tangled curls, and it struck her that Doc approached Charlie more like a father would a son rather than an older brother. "How much younger is he, Doc?"

"Twelve years," Adams answered as he tenderly tucked his younger brother's hand under the blanket. "Pop died when Charlie was just a year old..."

"And you've been taking care of him ever since..."

He looked up at her sharply. "He was just a baby, and mom had her hands full with three kids and no husband."

Kitty went to him, running her fingers through his hair as he'd done his brother's. "You don't have to defend it, Doc. I wasn't accusing you of anything."

His eyes darted to hers. "I'm sorry, honey. I know you weren't." He smiled slightly. "I've always been overprotective, and I guess some part of me isn't so sure it was the best thing for him." Charlie moaned in pain then, and Adams put a warm hand on his brother's chest, brushing his other softly over his brow. "Shhhh...easy Charlie. I'm here."

"Lenny?"

"Mmm-hmm," Adams soothed, "I'm right here."

Charlie gripped Doc's hand tightly. "My back's hurtin' awful bad..."

Adams reached over to a small table, retrieving the open bottle of laudanum. He lifted Charlie's head and poured a little into his mouth. "It'll feel better in a minute."

Charlie's eyes fluttered closed, and once again Doc tucked his hand under the blanket. The coffee began to boil then and he walked over to the stove, pulling the pot off the heat with a towel in his hand. Kitty followed him and stood close.

Her lips curved into a wicked smile. "Lenny?"

He glared at her. "Oh hush up..." She stared into his eyes and he heaved a sigh. "It's a family nickname." His eyes narrowed in warning. "And if I ever hear it used by anyone in Dodge, they'll be hell to pay, little miss!"

Kitty laughed softly. "I don't know how to tell you this Doc, but you just don't scare me."

"That's the hazard of having this handsome face..." He winked at her, smiling.

"Hurry up and pour the coffee, I need somethin' to wash all this down with if I'm expected to swallow it..."

His brow furrowed slightly, but instead of trying to outwit her, Doc simply did as she asked.


Matt and Doc carefully lowered Charlie's body down on Doc's bed, and the small physician covered his brother with a blanket.

"Thanks for the help, Matt. Thanks an awful lot. I couldn't have managed him by myself."

The tall marshall looked down at Adams. "Is he going to be all right?"

Doc nodded. "Yes, with some rest. His right kidney took a beating, and that ain't nothin' to fool with."

Matt swallowed, contemplating how to approach the subject foremost on his mind. "Your brother told you it was two of the men he was playing poker with who robbed him?"

Doc nodded. "That's what he said."

"But he didn't mention any names..."

"No," Doc snapped, "but I imagine someone at the Longbranch might know if you bothered to ask around." The two men stared awkwardly at each other, and Adams' eyes darted away, as he muttered, "I'm sorry, Matt, that was unfair."

Dillon let the guilt lie for a moment then asked, "Is he a gambler by profession?" Doc nodded so Matt continued, "Why haven't you ever mentioned him, Doc?"

The small physician growled, "My brother and I have been estranged for a long time, I didn't see any reason to mention him."

His suspicion aroused, Dillon said, "So what brings him to Dodge now?"

"Just passin' through," Adams answered curtly.

Matt's eyes narrowed at the lie. "Just passing through? Doc--"

"--Look Matt, if you wanna continue interrogatin' me, make an appointment! I've got work to do!"

Doc stormed from the room, and Dillon stared at the younger Adams for a moment, noting the strong family resemblance between him and Doc. He frowned; something didn't sit right. Matt could sense that Doc was holding back, or possibly covering for his brother somehow - but for what reason? Dillon followed Doc's angry wake into the office, closing the bedroom door behind him. He observed in silence as Adams angrily shoved supplies into his medical bag, ignoring the lawman's continued presence.

"I'm sorry if it felt like an interrogation, Doc," Matt quietly said, "it's just that your brother's existence came as something of a surprise, and I was a little curious; that, and I'd like to get his poker winnings back for him if I can."

Doc's voice was cool, "You were just doin' your job, is that it?"

Dillon shrugged slightly. "Yeah, that was it."

"Don't bother. Charlie will probably leave Dodge as soon as he's well enough to sit a horse."

Dillon's eyes flashed suspicion. "I'd think that the two of you would have some catching up to do after so many years apart..."

Adams whirled around to face Matt, his eyes flushed with anger. "My relationship with my brother is my business." After a moment, Doc turned back around, continuing to stock his bag. "If that's all, I have work to do..."

Dillon heaved a sigh, picked up his hat from Doc's desk and put it on as he headed for the door. "All right, Doc. If you need anything though, or if your brother remembers something about the men, you know where to find me."

When Adams didn't answer, Matt walked out the door, closing it harder than necessary behind him.


"He's hidin' something, I know it," Matt said as he agitatedly paced the inside of Kitty's room.

"Now Matt, I don't think we should jump to conclusions."

Dillon stopped walking and faced her, his hands on his hips. "Are you going to stand there and tell me you're buying the 'my brother is just passing through although we've been estranged for many years' story?"

Kitty licked her lips. "Well, not exactly, but I figure whatever problem there is between them, they've got to settle it, and Matt, I'm not so sure it's any of our business."

He glared at her. "If it's potentially hurtful to Doc, then it sure as hell is our business."

Kitty stared at him, hard. "What makes you think Charlie's gonna hurt Doc?"

Matt began pacing again, his agitation coloring his face. "Call it a gut feeling. Call it many years of wearin' a badge and listening to my instincts. Call it whatever you want, Kitty, but it's gnawing at me."

"Yes, I can see that," she said simply.

He stopped moving and once again stood in front of her. "Look, I can't explain it, but the whole thing just doesn't sit right with me. It's obvious when you see him with his brother that Doc cares for him deeply, and yet he's never mentioned him. Not once, even in passing."

"So?"

"So that just isn't normal."

"Oh Matt, you know how secretive Doc can be about his personal life." She smiled slightly. "Sometimes I think it's because he likes to create an air of mystery about him, but mostly I think he keeps his emotions close because he views them as a weakness."

Matt shrugged. "Well, whatever the reason, I don't have a good feeling about his brother. I think he's trouble."

"Shame on you!" Kitty scolded. "You have absolutely nothing to base that on. The man was robbed of some poker winnings, that's all."

But Dillon couldn't shake the grawing sense that something about Charlie Adams was all wrong.