I do NOT own Bonanza nor any of the original Cartwright characters… nor do I own Albert Michaelson or his father, Sam.

Don't Forget the Stars

Chapter Seven

Ben had come to long enough to repeat the sentence a couple of times before slipping back into unconsciousness. Dr. Martin had checked him over and told them to relax, that it was a good sign and, unless the boys desired differently, he'd keep Ben there in the room until he was waking up, and staying awake, for longer periods of time. Mr. Michaelson had left and walked back up to the store leaving Mike to watch Ben while the Cartwright boys talked things over. After discussing it with the doctor, it had been decided their father had a better chance of actual survival and recovery if they did just that. Afterwards, Hoss and Little Joe had went back to the ranch to do everything Adam had told them needed to be done.

Adam sat on one side of the side of the bed Ben lay on while Mike sat on the other one "Don't forget the stars." One simple sentence, but Adam, Mike and the others held onto it, onto the hope Ben would wake up and speak yet again.

Ben looked around the room. He was confused. He knew he wasn't dead for he could see himself lying in the bed, chest rising and falling. He had to be dreaming, but he didn't care for the dream either. He looked at Adam leaning backwards with his head tilted to one side. His oldest looked tired and worn out. He, Ben, had stood and watched as Adam told Hoss and Little Joe what needed to be done. He'd watched him try to get Mike to see what he, Ben, had tried to tell the lad with one simple sentence. Amazing thing was, Adam had it right to the very last thing he told Mike. "Can't you see pa was trying to tell you that, no matter what, not to give up?"

"Smart one, isn't he?" A voice Ben hadn't heard in years spoke up from behind him.

Ben was shocked and he whirled around. "Elizabeth!" His face lit up as the dark haired woman smiled upon him as she gave him a hug. His smile slowly turned into a frown though. "I am going to die? Is that why you are here?" His eyebrows turned down slightly.

Elizabeth shook her head and laughed. "No, Ben. You are going to stay very much alive. You're just caught between here and there is all. I was sent to make sure you went back. It's not your time yet. The boys, all of them," she said as she looked at Mike too, "need you to live for now." Ben went to talk to her, but she was gone and his eyes were heavy.

00000

"Oh," Ben groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. Actually, he opened them only to shut them and slowly open them. It took a few moments but, eventually things came into focus. Mike was gone and Adam, who had been asleep, had a book in his hands. Though, at the sound of his father's groan the book had quickly been set down as Adam moved, once again, to the side of the bed just as Dr. Martin hurried into the room. Ben's groan had been loud enough to bring the good man running.

"Well, well, the dead awakens." Dr. Martin smiled down at Ben as he began examing him.

"How long have I been out?" Ben asked through the pain he was feeling in his head and his back. He tried to remember what had happened. He couldn't.

"Close to twenty four hours." Adam answered as he watched Paul begin to examine his father's legs. "Though, you've been drifting in and out for fifteen of those hours. We had everything ready to transport you to Reno; Doc here thought you'd have to have major surgery in Reno." It was one thing everyone was relieved had not come to pass.

"What happened?" Ben tried to move only to find it too painful to do such a thing. He looked at his son and the doctor as he asked the question. After all, if he couldn't remember, surely they could tell him.

Adam looked at Paul as if to ask 'Is this normal'? He received a nodding of the head to assure him it was. "You were thrown from the wagon when the horses were spooked." He figured he'd wait to fill in the details. For now, he was just so relieved to have his father awake and really talking. He was sure Hoss and Little Joe would be just as relieved when they were told, along with the Michaelsons.

Dr. Martian, who had pulled down the covers to examine Ben, put the covers back up and stepped back. "Can you tell me your full name?"

Ben gave him a look of disbelief. "Benjamin Cartwright."

"Where do you live?" Paul looked at him with the most serious expression on his face.

Ben didn't feel like answering a bunch of stupid questions, but he did anyway. "Outside Virginia City, on my ranch 'The Ponderosa', as do my three sons, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe. If you ask me my age and the year I was born, I'll slap you!" That brought laughter from both Paul and Adam.

"I'm thirsty." Ben would have tried to sit up, but he found Paul with his hands on his, Ben's, shoulders. "I won't ask," Paul said as he grew serious, "but I do need to talk to Adam and you need to rest, after he helps you get that drink." He said as he turned and walked out of the room.

Adam got his father a drink and then, sliding his arm under his father's neck, lifted the man's head just enough to let him drink some of the water. "Thanks." Ben said as he lay his head back and went back to sleep. Adam set the glass down and went to see what the doctor had to say.