A/N: Here's the 29th chapter, its little bit different it doesn't fallow rhe right timeline its AU from "A House Divided." I hope you like what I thought out it started to bug me when I watched that episod few days ago. but now read and enjoy.
It was a dark night; there was no moon, no stars. He laid on his stomach, waiting something but he didn't know what. There was a noise, someone was coming. He raised his rifle and took an aim, he didn't see anyone, he didn't know what he was looking.
Suddenly there was noise on his left, turned aimed and shot, then there was groan. He stood up and sneaked to the place where he had heard that noise and found a man, but no it was not a man, as old as his own little brother Joe dead a bullet in his heart, he stepped closer and lighted a match and suddenly there instead of the boy laid Joe.
"Joe, no, no Joe!" Adam Kneeled beside the body and shook him. But there was no answer.
"No, Joe, you can't die." He shook the body again, tears running down his face, "No, Joe, stay with me, please tell me I didn't kill you. PLEASE JOE!"
At his last scream he woke, he felt someone's arms coming around him bulling him to a strong embrace, "Easy, Adam, I'm here, you didn't kill me." It was Joes voice and the arms was his, his little brother was alive. With that last thought he couldn't hold himself anymore and started to cry.
Joe held his brother in his arms when he cried, like Adam had done when he was a boy and woken up after a nightmare when his mother had died. Know Joe was the comforter.
When all Adams tears had ran out, Joe whispered, "Do you want to talk about it?" Adam sighted and let everything out.
Joe listened still holding Adam close, when his brother had finished Joe sighted, it was his entire fault, "Adam I'm a live. You can feel me. I didn't go to war, and I'm sorry that you went, because the words I said, because of that you had to kill so many, because of that you have those nightmares, but Adam remember it was war, it's not honor and glory, it's death and pain, because of me you had to live it thru. I know I was a brat, a boy who thought he knew everything, but I didn't. I was a stubborn fool."
"We all are stubborn, it's a Cartwright trade." Adam smiled.
"Yes it is," Joe smiled too, "now close your eyes and go to sleep." Joe felt Adams nod, few minutes later he heard Adam's even breaths and his last quiet words, "Don't leave me." And then he felt how Adams body leaned strongly into his body, "I won't, Adam, I'll never leave you." He leaned against Adam's bed headboard, holding his brother against him.
Adam had been back for two months from the war, it hadn't ended but his superiors thought that Adam had had enough, and for him it was better to be at his home. Every night Adam had woken up with nightmares, he, Hoss or pa had come and comfort him, every night three to four times he had woken with screams and Joe hoped that this night was better.
Joe remembered how he had gone searching his brother after Adam had taken off and never found him, he remember forever his fathers face, the disappointment and hurt, until the time of Adam's returne Joe felt of his guilt and fathers dissapointment. With those toughts Joe nodded off.
In the morning Adam woke, he hadn't sleep so well in months, no nightmares, then he felt someone beside him, he turned and found his little brother who had protecting hold on him. He smiled the places had changed the protected had turned to protector, he was glad about it, finally he felt safe in his own home.