Once again, I don't own it, I just borrowed the characters.

Thank you so much to those who are reading it:) This is the last chapter, but there is an epilogue too coming.

The four of them, on three horses (Cloud Dancing had ridden his palomino) made their way back to the homestead.

Daniel and Jackson, after searching all around town, likewise made their way back to the homestead, with the initial intention of searching more around there. They saw Sully, Dr. Mike, Cloud Dancing and Ellie at the edge of the woods before the four saw the two men.

"Look, they found her." Daniel said, making his horse move quicker towards them.

Jackson was close on his heels.

They wound up stopping right in front of the homestead, for their friends were close as well. Jackson dismounted so quickly he almost fell when he hit the ground, and ran as fast as he could to Cloud Dancing's horse, where Ellie had ridden behind him. Cloud Dancing quickly dismounted, and Jackson helped Ellie down and threw his arms around her in a tight embrace.

"Why'd you run, huh?" he said, the fear creeping into his voice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt anyone." Ellie said quietly.

"Are you alright?" Daniel asked, his voice laced with worry.

Ellie nodded, but looked down again.

They walked into the homestead, and Ellie began to tell them why she had run away, what Loren and Jake had said…everything was out in the open.

…………………

Daniel did not go home that night; rather, he found somewhere to stay around the homestead, as did Cloud Dancing. The next morning came quickly, and he found Sully down by the barn.

"Sully." He said in greeting.

"Daniel." Sully replied.

Both men stood by the fence, one on either side. Sully leaned on the post and Daniel on the cross beams.

Sully looked over at his friend, and he could tell something was on his mind, but he wisely waited until Daniel was ready to tell him.

It didn't take long.

"Do you remember the first time I left Colorado Springs?" Daniel said.

"Yeah," he replied, letting a breath out slowly. "You said something about 'treasure.'" He finished with a reflective smile.

There was a slight pause before Daniel continued. "You know, you're one of the luckiest men I've ever met."

"I can't argue with you there."

Daniel paused again, turned around so that he and Sully were looking the same way, his back leaning on the fence.

"They remind me of us." Daniel said finally.

"I know." Sully stated.

"Except…except she still has some innocence left…I don't want her to lose it."

Daniel then laughed quietly to himself. "Not all treasure is gold, huh…"

"I knew you'd find out eventually." Sully said with a smirk before turning away to continue his work.

Inside the homestead, Jackson, Brian, and Ellie cleaned up after breakfast, although Ellie really couldn't do that much with only one usable hand. She was still very quiet, the feeling of guilt over her running away the night before hadn't quite left yet. When Daniel re-entered, he stood there and watched them for a moment, before clearing his throat to let them know he was there.

"Ellie, Jackson, could I talk to you for a moment?" he said.

Jackson and Ellie looked at each other, and then walked over closer to Where Daniel was standing at the front door. Brian, taking the hint, went upstairs to give them some privacy.

Daniel led the two over to the chairs, and they each sat down, Daniel facing them.

"You know, you both remind me of a couple of people I know…"he started.

"Really, who?" Ellie asked.

Daniel smiled. "Sully and me."

They looked at him confused.

"When we were about ten, we both came out west together. We both didn't have any family…we've been friends ever since…most of the time…" Daniel smiled for a second, and then his face took on a sober appearance. "You don't realize how much you miss something, until you don't have it."

"That's true." Jackson added quietly.

"Last night, when we were looking for you, Ellie…there haven't been many times in my life when I've been that worried…the thought that something could have happened to you…"

"I'm sorry," she said, looking down at her hands again.

"You don't have to be." Daniel said. "You know, one of the hardest things in this world is to go through life alone."

There was a silent pause, and Daniel drew up his courage to say the next words.

"You could stay here, for good, if you'd like. You both deserve a chance…a family. I know I'm not much, but…"

Jackson and Ellie shared a glance, and then Ellie stood up, and walked over to Daniel. "Do you really mean it?" she asked.

Daniel stood up. "Of course I do."

"You deserve a family to, Daniel." Jackson said, smiling.

Ellie impulsively wrapped her arms around Daniel. "Thank you." She said in almost a whisper.

Daniel hugged her back, patting her on the back of the head. Jackson stood up and held out his hand, which Daniel shook.

…………………

The rest of the day wound up being busy for the new family. When they reached town, the first stop for the three was to Horace. Daniel knew there were a few plots of land out near town, but far enough away to be surrounded by the beauty of nature, that were available, and he needed to talk about deeding one of them. Once that was taken care of, Daniel walked with Jackson and Ellie over to the livery.

"You could ask Robert E for some of the day, and meet us over at the store." Ellie stated, not really wanting her brother that far away, still. Although she tried not to, she was still worried about being in that store with what she had heard from its owner the day before, and even though she felt safe with Daniel, she would feel even better with her brother there as well.

"I have work to do, Little One." Jackson stated before he leaned in and said to his sister quietly, "don't worry, everything will turn out alright."

"I hope so." She whispered back.

After leaving Jackson there, Daniel and Ellie made their way to the mercantile. As they got closer, though, Ellie started to walk slower. Daniel noticed, and a few feet away from the door, he stopped and turned her towards him, putting his hands on her shoulders and looking her square in the eye.

"You don't need to be afraid to go in there, Ellie. Don't even listen to them, ok? I'll be right there with you."

Ellie smiled, but there was still a hint of foreboding in it. "Thanks, Daniel." She managed to say.

"Come on." He said, motioning to the building with his head. He kept his hand on her shoulder that was closest to him.

The shopping was rather uneventful, and Ellie was able to come out with some newer clothes and such to replace her well worn items. One thing she hadn't expected was when she saw a book of deep red leather and golden letters on the shelf. She seemed drawn to it. Daniel noticed and walked over to where she stood staring at the binding.

"Do you want it?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know…I don't even know if I would be able to read it yet…" she started.

Daniel took the book off the shelf and looked at it. It was a copy of Shakespeare's Sonnets. He had no idea why Loren Bray would have that in his store, but decided to ignore that point and turned back towards Ellie. "Oh, I don't know…even if you can't now, you'll be able to in no time. Shakespeare…good choice."

Daniel handed to book back to Ellie, and she held it carefully, touching the cover lovingly with the fingers of her injured hand.

That afternoon, they met Sully, Dr. Mike, Jackson, Robert E, Cloud Dancing, and Dorothy at Grace's. They all sat at one of the long tables, conversing with themselves. Ellie became quiet and one point, and Daniel noticed right off. He followed her eye line to a table a little ways away, where Loren, Jake and Hank were sitting, and they were glancing over at the table where they all sat every once in a while, while they talked. Ellie could feel them talking about her, and she started withdrawing inside of herself again.

Clearing his throat, Daniel stood up and said to the others, "Excuse me."

He then walked over to the table where the three men sat. At this point, all that sat at the table watched him, as did the rest of the people in the café. Daniel stood there, his arms crossed and his jaw set.

"Something interesting you three?" he asked.

"That girl is a freak of nature." Hank stated.

"I don't appreciate people talking about my family that way." Daniel replied, making sure his voice echoed the unsaid threat that would be carried out if one of them would make him angry enough.

"You're family?" Loren said in shock.

"That's right. Her and her brother, they're staying with me now. And I'd appreciate it if you would remember that."

Ellie heard every word Daniel said, and instead of feeling guilt at having to be defended once again, she felt a wave of warmth flow over her towards her new father, and her friends that sat around her. She could feel the love and friendship that surrounded her. When Daniel returned to the table, he smiled over towards her, and she smiled back, and the look of gratefulness in her eyes was the best reward Daniel could receive.