Author's Note: Thanks for the continuing support! I'm glad you all like this story! Reviews are welcome!

Warnings: None for this chapter. On with the story.

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"Who is what, Joe?" Adam barely kept the annoyance out of his voice, knowing it was his fault Joe was drunk. He stooped and pulled Little Joe to his feet. Little Joe leaned heavily against him, almost as if he was using Adam as a shield.

"That man…he was one of the ones that was there….he was one of the five…" How Joe managed to get the words out in a rush without tangling them up, Adam didn't know, but his meaning was unmistakable.

"Where, Joe?" Adam clutched at the arm he had draped over his shoulder. "Who?" He scanned the crowd but saw no one that looked out of the ordinary.

"The man that was….right by the bar…went out the door, I think." Joe's words were definitely slurred by now, and he started shaking his head slowly. "I…don't want him to find me, Ad…aaamm…wan' go to bed-" Joe slumped against Adam's shoulder, unable to continue with his statement. Adam frowned, unsure if Joe's claims were drunken ramblings or if one of Joe's attackers was actually in the saloon with them. He decided that either way, it would be best to get Joe out of the saloon. He considered carrying Joe over his shoulder, but with those stitched gashes he didn't want to take the chance. He bundled Joe as gently as he could and carried him to the Hotel.

The clerk on duty looked up and looked worried. "Is he alright?"

Adam nodded, kicking the door shut behind him. Before he could reassure the man his brother was fine, Little Joe broke out in a shaky version of Buffalo Girl. The clerk gave an understanding smile and went back to his newspaper.

"Hush, Joe." Adam said, trying to negotiate the tight stairs with his burden.

"Hush, Joe." Little Joe repeated in a lilting singsong. "Buffalo girl won't you come out tonight, come out tonight…come out tonight…hush, Joe!"

Adam sighed, hearing the Hotel door open behind him. Joe was obviously putting on a good show for some unsuspecting traveler.

"Guess he really couldn't hold his liquor, huh?" It was the drifter from the bar. He grinned at Adam from the base of the stairs. "Want some help?"

Adam politely declined, not wanting anyone to unknowingly rip out one of Joe's stitches. He made it to the top of the stairs and tried to get Little Joe to stand up. The drifter had reached the top of the stairs as well.

"Name's Fredricks. Dennis Fredricks." The drifter held out his hand, then realized Adam couldn't return the shake. Adam smiled tightly.

"Adam Cartwright." Normally he would introduce Joe, but he didn't want to share anything more with this man then he had to. Plus, Adam was having a hard time keeping Joe on his feet. Fredricks smiled and said if Adam ever needed help, just give a call.

Adam smiled again, thinking to himself that it would be a hot Boston wintertime before he called on the man for help. He helped Joe to their door and closed it hurriedly behind them.

"Hey….Ad..aaamm….I…don't feel …so good." Joe murmured, resting his head against Adam's shoulder.

"Easy, easy…I would imagine four glasses of whiskey would not make you feel your best…" Adam said lightly as he helped Joe stretch out on his bed.

"No….it's….my back…stings…." Joe's speech was so slurred Adam was having trouble understanding him.

"'Hold still." Adam said, hunting down and easily locating the salve. He shrugged Joe's shirt off and applied another layer of the medicine. He felt Joe relax under his hand, and sighed in relief. He hated this strange feeling of helplessness when it came to Joe. He always knew what to do when it came to his brothers. From as long as he could remember, he always knew what to do, how to handle it.

He absently tucked the blankets around Joe and sat, stroking Joe's hair like he had ever since Joe was a baby. That reminded Adam of when Joe was born. It had been a hard birth. Adam, only eleven, hadn't understood everything; all he knew was there was a good chance Marie and the baby might not make it.

Pa had given him the instructions to take care of little Eric while he helped the doctor, and Adam had devoted himself to caring for his toddling little brother. But his mind was working like a hundred horses about his new little brother or sister. Would he love it like he loved Eric…or Hoss, as he called him? He cared for Marie, and he loved his Pa…so he should love the new addition to the family, right? But what if he didn't? What if he couldn't? He didn't know if he could love anyone else…he had loved Inger, and she had died. Of course, in a few years he would know that that was not his fault, but at the time he was still unsure. He was almost afraid he loved Hoss and Pa too much…what if they got hurt too?

Eric had just dropped off to sleep in his bed when Ben found Adam.

"Adam?" Pa's voice had made Adam look up sharply.

"Pa?" Adam was quiet, eyes searching his tired father's face. Ben had smiled widely, relieving Adam's worry. "The baby and Marie are fine. Come meet your new brother."

So it was a boy. Adam followed his father nervously, still unsure of himself. Would he get along with the baby? Would he be able to help Pa with this baby like he had Eric? Most importantly…would he be able to love it?

Pa guided him to a little cradle, with a little bundle wrapped in white clothes. Pa lifted the baby and handed him to Adam gently. "Careful." Pa's voice was a whisper.

Adam looked down at the little bundle. The baby's eyes were open already, big green eyes, and he was looking right at Adam. Adam held the baby for a long moment, just staring into those eyes. They were so wide, so innocent.

"What do you think?" Pa's voice was warm. Adam looked up just long enough to flash a wide smile at his Pa.

"I love him." Those words startled Adam as much as they did Ben. "He's…perfect." Adam whispered, then kissed the baby's forehead gently.

Adam knew then and there he would do anything to protect that baby. And Hoss too. When Marie died, Adam had hid his own grief to make sure his Pa and his brothers worked through theirs. And even when Joe got older and they started butting heads over things, Adam still loved his brothers more than anything in his life. Had he shown that as much as he could have? Did Joe know how much he loved him?

He was brought back to the present by Joe shifting under his hand. He whimpered and started thrashing.

"Easy, Joe. Easy. I'm right here." Adam soothed, feeling Joe still as he touched Joe's forehead. How long he sat there, he did know, but the moon had almost set when he stretched out on his own bed, still watching Joe for any signs of distress. Adam finally dropped off fitfully, his dreams filled with snapping whips and big, innocent, frightened eyes.

BNZ BNZ BNZ

Dennis Fredricks knocked on the door across from him. The door was opened by a tall man with a pronounced scar across his forehead. He nodded and let Fredricks in. Two other men were seated around a small table, deep in conversation. They looked up at Fredricks expectantly.

"You remember that kid we ran into outside of Reno?" He said, anxiety showing in his voice. The other men flinched, and their leader nodded.

"What about him?" He said in his quiet, menacing rumble.

"He's here. In Carson City, with his brother." Fredricks twirled his hat nervously in his hands.

"Did he see you?" Bill asked in his quiet way.

"Naw, he was too drunk to see anything." Fredricks said hurriedly.

Bill nodded, absently picking up his gun and turning it over in his hands. "I thought he'd be dead. I'm almost glad he didn't die…we didn't get to finish our game." He looked over at Fredricks. "Did you get a name?"

"His brother's name is Cartwright. Adam Cartwright."

Bill swore violently, slamming a fist on the table. The other three men jumped. "Cartwright? Damn."

"What's a matter, boss?" The youngest man, Jakes-Todd Jakes- asked timidly. Bill looked up.

"The Cartwrights are very powerful out Virginia City way. They have a lot of pull with a lot of people. If that boy spots one of us, there is no way we can bluff our way out of the charges. Cartwright word is as good as the law in some parts of Nevada." Bill rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"We can't let that kid live to bring us in. We have to kill him, but we got to make it look like an accident." He cocked a head at the other man in the room thoughtfully. "What do you think, Pines?"

The large, scarred man frowned. " With the brother with him that might be difficult. But it can be done."

Bill Harvess nodded. "Good. Cause I ain't hanging for that scrawny little kid. And his precious brother can kiss my boots…we'll just have to get creative."

Three of the four men laughed cruelly, but Todd Jakes merely frowned. He finally raised his hand and quiet descended.

" Maybe we don't need to kill him. Would he have any proof? It's his word against ours, and maybe he won't recognize us anyway."

Bill scowled at him. "You gone soft, boy?"

Todd backed down a little. "No…I was just thinking on what Pines said. If it's going to be that tricky, we could get caught. I'm just thinking that if we give him a chance…maybe we can just leave and have no problems."

Bill started to yell, then paused. "Maybe you're right…" He grinned suddenly, a cruel sight. "We will give him one day…tomorrow. If he doesn't recognize us, we let him live. If he does, we kill him….but we'll have a bit of fun with him first."