Author's note: This is the second story in the bear story cycle. :))

xxx

It was the low crying that abruptly entered Ben's mind and the hurried rustle of long skirts next to him that brought him back to reality. Wearily he rubbed a hand over his face, then stretched his tired body before he finally opened his eyes to the despairing sight he had known awaited him.

Carefully he reached out and touched his son's forehead, but there was no difference in the temperature as he had feared: the fever continued to burn in the already haggard body and there was nothing he could do.

It was already better, that was what he was telling himself again and again, better than two weeks ago when Hoss had brought Adam back from their hunting trip, his leg and hip lacerated, his side ripped open. The bear had been provoked into attacking, that was what Hoss had said, had stammered, white with shock and shivering all over, his teeth gritted against the perpetual sickness in his throat.

Joe had been there, losing colour the moment he looked at his brother, and together they had managed to get Adam into the house without hurting him any further, three men pushing through the door, stumbling along in dread and horror.

It had been two days ago, Hoss had said, since the fever had set in and the wounds began to fester. Two weeks it had been now, and Ben was numb with pain and sick with fear. Adam was better, the thick bandages on his leg and side hadn't bled through as they had only three days ago. But still Adam hadn't woken, his mind held tight by the fever dreams that exhausted his body.

Before he could sink deeper into his depressing thoughts, the door opened and Becky was back, the baby hoisted up on one shoulder, freshly fed and diapered judging from the look on his face. She gave him a small smile that he gave back whole-heartedly at the sight of little boy who was wide awake despite the lateness of the hour, then sat back down in her customary seat opposite him which she only left to eat, sleep or feed Jamie.

Ben was thankful that she was there. Over the last two weeks she had been constantly at Adam's side, and Ben knew that without her and the baby they would have lost him already. It had been her soft voice that had talked to him all throughout the night when the fever had been surging, her soft voice that had reminded him of time spent together, reminded him of his courtship, of the flowers in her hair, the baby he had held in his arms. It had been her voice that had been husky the next morning, and she had almost fainted with tiredness, but Adam had begun to fight, and the fever had gone down since then, if ever so slightly.

He still marvelled at how much Rebecca had changed since he had first been introduced to her. She had seemed shy then, delicate, and fragile, but there was a strength in her that had slowly began to surface in the months after the wedding, and never so much as over the last weeks. A strength that he had learned to appreciate and respect.

Ben cast a glance at Rebecca, who just as he looked laid little Jamie down on the bed on Adam's uninjured side. He could tell the strain of looking after a wounded husband and caring for a three-month-old baby was beginning to take its toll on her, but when she looked up, she gave him a small encouraging smile.

"I'll get you a cup of coffee," she offered and was out of the room before he could nod his thanks.

Raising his brows and shaking his head in wonderment, he silently regarded his son and the tiny baby next to him who stared back at him with his huge blue eyes, gurgling contently in his nest of blankets. When Becky had first placed him there, Ben had been astonished, but Jamie didn't seem to mind that he wasn't in his accustomed bed and had quickly fallen asleep, his head with the soft dark fuzz turned upwards as if to nestle closer to his father. But then, Ben had seldom seen a child more content than little Jamie. It seemed as if he had inherited his mother's cheerful disposition and his father's quiet happiness and Ben could feel the answering smile break out on his face every time he looked at the chubby cheeks and tiny eyebrows.

With some difficulty he heaved himself out of his chair and stretched his weary limbs, then rounded the bed to sit in Rebecca's chair where he was nearer to his grandson, checking Adam's temperature again before he settled himself.

"Any change?"

Rebecca moved into the room, carefully balancing a tray with coffee and some refreshments. When Ben shook his head, she poured two cups for them and sat down in Ben's vacated place, taking up the book she had been reading.

"Perhaps you should go to bed, Pa," she said softly after a moment's hesitation. Her dark eyes flickered to Adam, then back at his face, almost pleadingly. "Joe will be up in an hour, and I can manage till then."

Ben regarded her wordlessly. For a moment he studied her, took in the strands of hair that had escaped from her ribbon, the shadows under her eyes, the wrinkled skirt. Softly he shook his head.

"You need sleep as much as I do. I'll stay the hour."

He wanted to say so much more, wanted to say how thankful he was that she was here, but a soft gurgle from Jamie interrupted him. And when he cast a quick look at the baby, saw Adam's hand that had closed around the tiny body next to him, he didn't believe what he was seeing. Only a glance into Rebecca's beaming face told him that he wasn't dreaming, and the weight that suddenly lifted from his shoulders left him trembling with relief. Gently he reached out and stroked Jamie's cheek.

"Lad, you sure are a wonder," he whispered huskily, then watched in delight as the dark lashes fluttered over hollow cheeks, revealing the precious amber he had feared he would never see again.