Joe and Candy swung down in front of the general store. For once, Joe was actually feeling fairly happy - he and Candy had enjoyed a pleasant ride into town, and he had even let loose his famous giggle, which Candy hadn't heard in over three months. In fact, he felt safe enough to let his guard down for a while. Watching him, Candy found himself relaxing and could see from Joe's posture that he had unwound and relaxed as well. They swung down and entered the store, laughing at a joke Joe had just told. Unbeknownst to them, all that was about to change.

The store owner, Tim Gallagher, was a man with a loose tongue, who rarely, if ever, thought about the consequences of his words. As Joe and Candy were checking out, he remarked casually, "Funny seein' you without Adam, Joe. You two used to be so close, but now you an' Candy are the inseparable ones. How's Adam doin' anyway? I haven't seen him for a couple weeks."

The man rambled on, but halfway through Gallagher's second sentence, Joe had tossed aside the package he was holding and bolted out the door. Candy remained rooted in place for a couple seconds longer, too astonished to move, before following him on a run.

Joe barely made it to the edge of the porch before he retched violently, then collapsed to his knees, his heart racing out of control and his breath coming in short, painful gasps. Tears were streaming down his face by the time Candy reached his side. "Easy, Joe, easy," Candy soothed, laying a hand on Joe's back and gripping his arm hard with the other while all the while stifling his own fear at Joe's reaction as well as his anger at the store manager.

Joe was gasping for air, and his face was becoming pale. One hand embedded itself in Candy's shirt. "Can't...breathe, Candy," he choked out.

Instantly Candy eased him back until he was lying flat on the porch. Joe immediately curled in on himself as great rivers of sweat streaked down his face. Without hesitation, Candy ripped open Joe's collar and sleeves, trying to help his best friend get more oxygen. Candy was becoming unnerved and grabbed Joe's hand as he realized that hadn't helped at all. "Joe! Deep breaths, boy! You've got to calm down!" he ordered firmly.

To his credit, Joe tried, but he was so completely and totally drained both emotionally and physically that he no longer had that kind of control. Candy recognized this and pulled him into his arms, ignoring the astonished stares of the small crowd of bystanders that had gathered. He hurried down the street to Paul Martin's office, noting with horror that Joe had lost so much weight that this wasn't even hard any more. He shoved the door open, startling Paul, who quickly regained his composure. "Candy! What happened to him?" Paul demanded, ushering Candy and Joe into the exam room.

"Panic attack," Candy replied, fear sharpening his words. "Tried to get him to control his breathing, but he can't."

"Okay, lay him down," Paul barked, whirling away. When he returned a few seconds later, he had a syringe in his hand. "Joe, I'm just going to give you an injection to help you sleep. When you wake up you're going to feel exhausted, but your breathing will be normal again."

Without waiting for a response, Paul plunged the syringe into Joe's arm and within seconds Joe felt his body relaxing as the powerful drug took over. Knowing it would help, but still frightened by the sensation, he grabbed Candy's hand and hung on desperately as his exhausted body gave in and succumbed to the blackness of a dreamless sleep.

Once it was apparent that Joe was asleep and his heart rate and breathing were returning to normal, Candy gently removed his hand from Joe's grip and ran a shaky hand through his hair. "What happened, Candy?" Paul demanded again.

"Panic attack, Paul. Somebody mentioned how close he and Adam used to be and he couldn't handle it."

Paul shook his head sadly. "What did happen, Candy? They used to be so close! And Joe's in bad shape." The young man lying unconscious on the bed in front of him had lost weight to the point of being gaunt, there were circles under his eyes, and he radiated exhaustion.

Candy waited a few beats before responding slowly. "That man...he's not Joe's brother, Paul."

"What? How is that possible?" Paul demanded, astonished.

"The man's an impostor! That's not Adam Cartwright, Paul!"

Paul gaped at Candy. "Then why on earth hasn't Ben had him arrested?"

"Ben doesn't know, Paul, and neither does Hoss. Joe won't turn him in because he brought back the happiness that his family lost. He runs that ranch himself, Paul. That's why he's so sick."

Paul felt sick as he listened to Candy's revelation. Ben Cartwright was his best friend and he was well known for his deep love for all of his sons. A part of him wanted to reject Candy's story as a lie, and he opened his mouth to say as much, but then he looked at the unconscious figure on the bed in front of him and knew that much as he hated to admit it, Candy had to be right. He sighed deeply. "Oh, Ben, what have you done?"

Candy frowned as they both looked at Joe's emaciated figure. "How can he be so blind, Paul?" he asked softly, his voice pleading for an answer.

Paul shook his head sadly. "That is something I just can't answer, Candy, especially considering I've been so blind myself. I knew Joe had lost weight, but I just attributed it to working hard. I never guessed there might be a deeper reason behind it. I feel almost as much at fault as Ben."

The foreman looked at the kindly doctor with a gaze full of compassion. "Don't blame yourself, Doc. Joe tried his best to hide it an' he actually does a great job except around me. Roy knows, but I highly doubt anybody else in town does."

"I admire your restraint, Candy. If I were around this all the time, I'm not at all sure what I'd do."

Candy smiled grimly. "Oh trust me, if it weren't for Joe forbidding me from it, you'd have been treating the so-called Adam Cartwright for severe injuries compliments of my fists. He beat the tar outa Joe not too long ago when I wasn't around - almost broke his shin - but what really got me was that he had the gall to run his hand down Joe's cheek. I was patchin' him up when he told me that an' I just about broke my foot when I kicked the bed. That's Adam's an' now kinda my prerogative, not some interloper's who's deliberately trying to hurt him. I have no clue how Joe has the strength to first of all not give him away and second of all restrain himself. An' I'd surely love to give Ben a piece of my mind," he added bitterly. He contemplated telling him about Joe's near suicide, but decided that fact was something so deeply private only Joe should reveal it if he so chose.

"And Joe can't even write to him," Paul observed sadly.

"Nope. Sure hope he comes home soon, `cause I'm not sure how much more Joe can take. Although I did get him to promise to let me take him an' go looking for Adam if that man ever lays a hand on him again."

"Good. Candy, listen, if he gets any worse, I want you to bring him in right away. He can't stand to lose any more weight without being in danger. Now, I want you to take him home an' put him to bed. Normally I'd tell you to let him stay here, but Ben will get suspicious. He might kinda wake up, but he'll be groggy. Think you can manage?"

Candy grinned slightly. "`Course I can."

Paul smiled back sadly. "Let him sleep it off tonight - you can tell Ben that he had a hard time breathing in town and so I sedated him." He hesitated as Candy carefully pulled Joe's limp form into his arms. "Oh, and Candy? If you ever need to talk, I'm here." He'd noticed Candy's slight hesitation earlier and perceived what had almost happened. Knowing Candy, Paul knew it had to have badly shaken him, hence his offer.

This time the younger man gave a genuine smile. "Thanks, Paul. It means a lot. Now, could you hold my horse for a moment?"

Paul waited until Candy had ridden out of sight, Cochise obediently trotting alongside despite not being led, before he allowed himself to shed a tear. Disconcerted at the foreman's revelation, he wandered down the street to Roy Coffee's office.