Ben was holding Joe's hand and talking quietly to him when he felt a slight flutter of the fingers. "Joe?" He asked squeezing his son's hand. A weak squeeze answered him. "Good, Joe. Can you squeeze my hand again?" Another weak squeeze came in response.
"Joe, I need to get the doctor. I'll be right back." Ben said removing his hand from Joe's before quickly leaving the bedroom and calling down the stairs. "Doc Martin, come quick!"
Hoss, Adam, and the doctor all rushed into Joe's bedroom to find Ben once again holding Joe's hand and talking quietly to him.
"Doctor, he's awake." Ben said as soon as he saw the men.
The doctor took Ben's spot at Joe's side, "Joe? Can you open your eyes for me?" Everyone in the room held their breath as they waited to see what would happen. Slowly he cracked open his eyes. He shut them almost immediately and let out a low moan. "Sorry, Joe. I know you're not feeling so good, but I need to check a few things and then I can give you some medicine to help with the pain and you can go back to sleep." He grabbed the blankets tightly in his fist in response.
He finished his examination as quickly as he could. Once finished he gave Joe some Morphine and waited for it to take effect. As soon as he saw the young man relax he walked to the bedroom door, motioning for Ben to follow him.
"What is it?" Ben asked when they were in the hallway.
"He looks good, Ben. Real good." Doctor Martin said, "He's in a lot of pain, as you can imagine, but he's healing. I've given him Morphine and that will keep him sleeping."
"Thank you, Paul. Is there anything else?" Ben asked, anxious to get back to Joe.
"He needs to stay quiet, which won't be difficult for now. Give him more Morphine as he needs it, and try to get him to drink water. Maybe add a little sugar and salt until you can get some broth into him."
"I understand," Ben nodded.
"Okay, I'll be back tomorrow to check in. I need to get back to my other patients now." The doctor headed downstairs, feeling at last that he could leave the Ponderosa and not hurry back.
As the doctor headed toward town he tipped his hat to the sheriff on his way to the Ponderosa.
"How's Joe doing?" the sheriff asked.
"He's starting to heal. Woke up briefly not too long ago."
"Good, good. When can I talk to him?"
"Not for a few days at least. He's hurtin something fierce and won't be up to talking for awhile."
"Okay, I'll just go talk to Ben." Roy stated as he continued on to the ranch house.