The Cartwrights were strong men who had survived more then their shares of tragedies. They had survived cattle drives, hard, long winters, dry, hot summers, and flooding rains. Life had been hard and had shaped them to be tough, but none of the three men in that room were prepared for what they saw.
Joe was pale with a sickly flush to his face. His skin was covered in a fine shine of sweet and the boy's body was visibly thinner. But what was more shocking was the fact that he was so still. The most energetic and hyper member of their family was now barely moving.
Ben ran a hand soothingly through his baby's hair, winching at the heat he felt. "It's alright now sweat heart, we're all here and you're safe now. Everything's going to be just fine."
After several moments of a heavy silence that was only disturbed by Hoss' sniffling Adam moved up to his father's side, Pa…."
"I should have known. He was upset, cranky. He was getting tired easier and coughing. I should have known he was sick. I didn't even think about it."
"None of us did," Adam jumped in when Ben stopped to take a breath, "It's not your fault, you can't know everything…"
"You think you know everything Adam? Well you don't know me!" The words echoed in Adam's mind now as he stood staring at the little boy who alone had the power to enrage and energies him at any given moment. Now that spark of life, the breath of fresh air, and the greatest head ach in his life was slowing losing the battle to live. And to think that the last words he had spoken to his brother were in anger was starting to overwhelm him with grief. The emotions were so strong that he felt the erg to run as fast as he could for as long as he could to get as far away as he could. But for his family's sake, he held his ground.
Hoss stood off to the side where he had a clear view of his father and brothers. The big man couldn't summon enough courage to look at his father and see the pain there, nor could he look to Adam for strength for he knew the older man was suffering as much as the rest. So the big forced himself to take in the shallow, haggard breaths of his baby brother and watch the little chest fight to rise and fall. Even though he could tell the boy was alive, he couldn't bring himself to touch the boy. He was to afraid that he'd brake him.
Ben was oblivious standing there next to his son. He had eyes only for Joe; his voice remained strong but soothing as he tried to coax the sleeping child awake. Inside his heart was dieing and the youthfulness that he had held onto for so many years was ebbing away from him now. He was standing on the edge of a vast void and finding himself leaning farther and farther over.
With a muffled sigh, Adam turned to Hoss, "Come on Hoss. We'll go reserve a room alright?"
Hoss just nodded and allowed Adam to lead him out of the room. On their way out hey ran into Molly who was just coming back in with their sandwiches.
"You boys have to eat," she told them firmly, but motherly all the same.
Adam nodded politely, "We will ma'am, but right now we need to get ourselves a room. Could you make sure that our father eats though?"
"Sure, and while I'm at it, I'll move the stars too," Molly grumbled with a wink, causing a small smile to play at the brother's lips. The two waited until Molly had disappeared into the examine room and they could hear her motherly voice addressing Ben.
"Come on Hoss," Adam said, relived that as long as Molly was here at least his father would eat.