Recovering

Adam walks over to her and sits beside her. He strokes her hand. "Yeah it's me shortcake" assured Adam full of emotion.

"Oh Adam! I thought I was never gonna see any of you again. I'm so sorry for scaring you" cried Amelia on the verge to breakdown in tears.

"It's alright baby you have nothing to be sorry for. We're all just so glad that you were found" Adam consoled. Amelia looks around the room and was surprise to see that she was home but wonder how she got there.

"How did I get here?" asked Amelia puzzled.

Adam smiles "Little Joe and his friend Mitch found you. The doc said that if Joe hadn't found you when he did you would've bled to death"

"Little Joe save my life?" asked Amelia. Adam nods his head. "Where is he? Is he alright?" asked Amelia.

"You don't have to worry he's fine; he's asleep" assured Adam. "Oh good" said Amelia relieved. "Do you want me to go get Pa?" asked Adam.

"Yeah...but I don't want to be left alone" said Amelia nervously. "Don't worry I'll be right back I promise" said Adam.

Amelia looks at him not reassured.

"Everything is gonna be alright. I promise as long as you're in this house you are safe. Pa, Joe, Hoss and I aren't gonna let anything happen to you I promise" said Adam trying to reassure his fragile little sister.

Amelia nods her head. Adam smiles as he leans over kissing her on the forehead. He looks at her and says "I love you".

"I...love...you...too" she said in a tried voice. Adam gets up and quickly walks out of the room.

Moments later both he and Ben walk in the room. "How's my baby girl?" asked Ben anxiously as he made his way over to her side.

"I'm alright Pa I'm so sorry you all were worried about me. Are you sure Little Joe is alright?" she asked agonizing over her brother's safety. She would never forgive herself if her brother had gotten hurt while saving her.

Ben takes her hand in his. He knew how close all of his children were with each other so it didn't surprise him to see how concern his daughter was for his son.

"It's alright sweetheart this isn't your fault. Joe's alright if you want I could wake him up so you can see for yourself that he's alright" offered Ben.

Amelia's tired eyes mange to light up and she gives him a smile. "Thanks Pa I sure would like that but I don't want to be selfish" said Amelia.

She hated the idea of being selfish. She always wanted to put the needs of her family before her own. Ben smiles at her after turning to Adam and nods at him to wake up his brother.

"Oh no darling you're not being selfish not the least bit. In fact I think it would do your brother some good if he saw you. He was awfully worried about you after he found ya" explained Ben reassuringly.

"I love you Papa" said Amelia. "I love you too my sweet little angel" said Ben he leans over kissing her on the forehead.

Adam walks into Joe's room and gently wakes him up. "Wake up little brother" he said softly. Joe opens his eyes and looks at Adam.

"What is it Adam?" he asked as he yawned. "It's Amelia" said Adam. Joe's eyes widen alarmed. He hoped that she was alright.

Adam saw the concern look on his brother's faced and holds out his arm in front of him. "Don't worry she's ok; she's asking for you" explained Adam soothingly.

"She's afraid that you had gotten hurt while saving her" said Adam. "Why does she think that?" asked Joe confused as he gets up and puts his brown robe over his nightshirt.

"I told her that you saved her" admitted Adam. Joe walks out of his room and down the hall to his sister's. Ben gets up and walks out of the room closing the door behind him.

Joe rushes to her side. "Joe?" said Amelia sobbing hysterically relieve to see that her brother was alright. Joe sits next her taking her hand in his.

"Shh...Honey its ok...I'm fine" he soothed. Amelia sits up and hugs him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" she sobbed over and over. Joe holds her close and rubs her back comfortingly. "Hey now this isn't your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for sweetheart" he said as he pulls away from her and strokes her left cheek with his thumb.

He looks at her. "Baby what are you sorry for?" Amelia presses her lips together sheepishly. "It's alright whatever you say will stay between us like it's always been but if you don't want to that's ok too" encouraged Joe.

Amelia nods her head. She wanted to tell him what was bothering her. She wanted him to understand how sorry she was for putting his life in danger.

"I'm sorry that you had risked your life when you saved me. If those men were there I don't want to think about what would have happen. If you had gotten hurt I would've never forgiven myself" said Amelia ashamed.

"You should know by now baby sister that you mean more to me than anything else in this world including my life. I would do anything to keep you safe because I'm your big brother and it's my responsibility to protect you" said Joe.

Amelia smiles "You sound just like Adam". "Well that's because I learned from the best" teased Joe smiling.

"Thanks for saving me. You always been my hero Joe just like Pa, Hoss and Adam are" said Amelia full of gratitude.

Joe had tears in his eyes as he hugs her. He then pulls away from her and tenderly moves the hair away from her angelic but pale face.

"How you feeling?" asked Joe. "Sore but I think I'll live" teased Amelia. "Of course you will you're a Cartwright and we Cartwright's don't give up without a fight" said Joe proudly.

Amelia yawns and lies back on her pillow. Seeing that she was getting tired, Joe gets up and pulls the covers over her. "Why don't you get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning" said Joe.

He was about to walk away when he felt a hand on his wrist. "Please don't leave me" she begged fearfully.

Joe turns to see the fear in her eyes and realized that she was scare of being left alone. "I don't want you to go away" she whined.

Joe walks back over to her and sits next to her. "I'm not going anywhere sweetheart, go to sleep".

"Promise me something?" she asked tiredly. She takes her hand in his. "Anything whatever you need?" he asked caressing her cheek.

"Promise me you won't go looking for revenge against the men who did this to me. Please Joe promise me I don't want to lose you or anyone else" she said.

Joe closes his eyes. He knew what she was asking him to do and it was taking everything in him to not grant this wish.

He really wanted to go after the men and make them pay for what they did to his baby sister but he knew what it would do to his sister if he did. She was going through enough pain and he didn't want to cause her anymore.

"I'll tell Sheriff Coffee what happen I promise just please don't do something that you'll regret" she said in a shaky voice.

She turns Joe's face towards her. She could see the tears in his eyes and his lips quivering. She squeezes his hand compassionately. She knew that this was a hard promise for him to keep but she knew that he would.

"I know the big brother in you wants them to pay so do I but I rather have the law handle it then to see someone I love getting hurt" she said as the tears roll down her cheeks.

Joe had tears dripping down his wet cheeks. "You know I'll do anything for you and if you want me to promise you this then I will".

"Thanks Joe I know it's a lot to ask" said Amelia feeling bad for putting this much pressure on her brother. "Oh no honey it's not too much to ask. Now get some sleep" alleviated Joe.

"Goodnight Joe. I love ya" said Amelia as she drifts off asleep.

Joe smiles as he watches her sleep. "Goodnight Mia I love ya too" he said softly almost in a whisper.

He loves over and kisses her on the forehead and rests the bridge of his nose on her forehead.