Hoss was taking his turn by Joe's bed. He had come in during the middle of Paul, Adam and Molly, bathing Joe in the frigid water and at first had been enraged, thinking that they were going to kill the boy. It had taken several minuets for Adam to reassure him that this was going to help Joe not hurt him, but still Hoss had his doubts.

But with each treatment Joe's temperature seemed to decrease, for a time at least. Eventually his temperature would rise and Paul would have to immerse him yet again. This had been happening now for two hours or so when Hoss had had enough and left with the excuse to check on his father.

When he had returned, he found his brother cradling Joe in his lap and for a moment Hoss feared the worst. But a slight movement of Joe's hand quickly eradicated those fears.

"Adam go rest," Hoss said.

"I'm fine," Adam said shortly.

"No you aint, ya running yer self ragged jist like Pa. Won't do nobody or nothing any good if ya run yer self sick," Hoss declared.

"I can't leave him Hoss…I…" Adam's eyes sought out his younger brother's and for once he mad no attempt to hide the emotions eating away at him. "The last thing I said to him was grow up…"

"I know Adam, I know," Hoss said soothingly, "I know that ya feel guilty, we all do. But Joe here, he's smart. He don't ever stop knowing we love him and he don't ever believe we don't want him. Sure he has his rows with us, but give the ltil' cuss a time to breathe and he won't even remember what he was mad about.

Adam looked at Hoss grateful for the comfort and understanding. It took him a moment to digest Hoss' words of wisdom and clear his throat. And finally with a slight sob Adam said, "I just wish I could tell him one more time."

Hoss nodded, what was there to say? He couldn't ease his brother's pain any better then his own. He lowered his head a bit to give Adam time to gain control of himself before he pushed on.

"Adam, ya aint the only one what has words they want to say," he said simply looking at Joe's still form. There was a silence that fell between the two brothers as they both just watched Joe. Eventually though, the silence grinded on Hoss' nerves and he had to speak. "Is it working?" Hoss asked, nodding his head to the tub that was still full of water in the corner of the examine room.

Adam shook his head, "We've tried now for nearly three hours. His temperature's lower, but it hasn't broken. Paul thinks all we've done is bought him some more time."

"Go rest Adam, I'll git you if anything changes," Hoss said as he gently lifted Joe from Adam's lap.

"I suppose I could use some sleep," Adam grumbled reluctantly, knowing Hoss would carry him to the hotel if he had to. He stood and allowed Hoss to take his seat while he studied the pair of them. He wanted nothing more then to take all their pain, and worries away. He wanted to be able to make it all better like he use to. But he knew that there were no words, no books, and no amount of knowledge that could help. So he just stood there and watched them for a moment and tried to ingrain the look of how angelic Joe tucked safely in his brother's lap. Joe looked like Hoss had rocked him asleep and tomorrow he was going to wake up ready to go. It was a cruel illusion and Adam knew it, but he held onto it all the same.

It had now been two hours since Adam had left. Two hours of Hoss rambling on to his brother about nothing important. Two hours of the big man crying. Two hours of lonely despair. Two hours of imagining life without Joe.

"Dang gone it Short Shanks, yer gonnan make an ol' man outta the three of us. Pa's already getting' white hair from ya and Adam's getting wrinkles. Now that any way to treat yer family?" Hoss said, exhausted. He had laid Joe back on the bed sometime ago and moved to look out the window. Now he made his way back to his brother's side as he continued his monologue. "Ya know Joe, yer jist being plum selfish. I mean Hop Sing's was gonnan cook us biscuits and ribs with potato cakes and make his special sauce. And for dessert he was gonnan make us apple pie! And he was gonnan make fresh cider too! And I can just taste that food now…but we aint gonnan have it if we're stuck here baby sitting ya," Hoss said stroking his brother's hair.

It was several moments latter that Hoss heard the soft sigh. He paused in his motion and stared at his brother.

"Short Shanks?" he said timidly, so afraid he imagined the sound. "Joe can ya here me, it's ol' Hoss?"

Joe gave another sigh and turned his head into the warmth of his brother's hand. After days of Joe lying motionless and struggling to breath, this was amazing and the importance didn't escape Hoss. A silly grin broke out over his face and he rushed to find Paul.

"Doc! Doc! Come quick!"

Both Paul and Molly came rushing in, fearing that Joe had stopped breathing or worse. But one look at Hoss' face told them that their fears were misplaced.

"What's happened?" Paul asked as he came over to Joe and Hoss. He was trying his best not to give into hope.

"He moved Doc! He moved his head!" Hoss exclaimed as he moved out of Paul and Molly's way.

The two began to examine Joe carefully. Paul was pleased to find that Joe's color had improved and his temperature had seemingly dropped. His breathing had eased some and he was taking less frantic breaths. And Hoss was right, Joe was moving, in fact Molly was having difficulty holding him still. Though his chest was still congested, Paul was just glad his breathing was regulating it's self.

Paul looked up at Hoss with a smile, "Go get your pa and brother. I don't know how, but his fever's down and his breathing's improving. They're going to want to be here."

Hoss didn't need to be told twice, he raced out of the office and made his way to the hotel. He was so excited that he failed to notice Ben and ran right into him on the stairs.

"Hoss!" Ben bellowed, but Hoss ignored him.

"Pa, Joe's fever's down! His fever's down and he's moving! And his breathing's better!"

Ben stood there for a moment staring Hoss as if he was in a dream. He couldn't believe what Hoss was saying, just hours ago he was told there was no hope. "His fever's down?" he asked, terrified he was going to wake up any moment now.

"Yes sir, that's what the doc said! He wants you and Adam to git down there fast! I'm gonnan go git him now!" Hoss declared as he raced up to his brother.