AN- Hey guys, thanks for reading my story! I'm not sure how long this story will continue, depends on me I guess :) Sorry that it's been so long since I updated. School has been HECTIC! Hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I haven't done this because I didn't think it was necessary. I mean, if I owned Bonanza, this fanfiction would be a reality.

Chapter 3

"Your WHAT?" Jamie looked stunned.

Alissa flinched, "Look…"

"I thought you didn't have any family. That's why you were living with Mrs. Griggs."

"Jamie, he's in prison, I couldn't live with him. Besides, the only other family I have is my stepfather, and I sure hope I never see him again." Al looked down at her plate, waiting for Jamie to say something.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"That I had a relative in prison." She looked skeptically at her friend.

"Well, I guess that sound kinda bad. When were you gonna tell somebody?"

"I told Mrs. Griggs, about my brother, not my stepfather. She understands, kinda, it's not my fault he's in prison. Besides, telling people you have someone you love in prison, isn't exactly a great conversation starter, it's more like a conversation ender."

"Yeah, I can see that." The two sat in silence for a while before Jamie spoke again. "Look you don't have to answer this, but what did your brother do to land himself in jail?"

The girl sat in silence for a few minutes, making her friend squirm. "It was four years ago. I was really sick when I was young, we never really knew what it was. My step-dad didn't call for a doctor, he didn't care. The illness came and went, I never attended school, my brother did though, and he taught me everything he learned."

She was silent again, and Jamie took it as his cue, "So, what happened?"

"Sorry, it was after he came home from school, I was ten. My step-dad didn't want me talking to my brother. It was just another way to torture him."

"Who?"

Al, looked exasperatedly at her friend, "my dog, genius. My brother, have you been paying attention?"

Jamie winced, "sorry."

"Anyway, one night, he stayed late at school. Our step-dad was at a saloon, so I thought it would be safe to wait outside for my brother, just to clarify." She looked at Jamie, he rolled his eyes. "Anyway, when he came home, he had just enough time to get me inside before our step-father came home. He was a drunk, as usual, he warned my brother not to get near me, and well…" she fell silent, lost in memories. "My brother exploded, ranting on and on about how much he hated living with him, and how he was going to take me and run away to find a doctor."

"He turned away for just a second; our step-dad grabbed a pick-axe and hit him with it. The handle, I mean. My brother was so angry, he wrested the axe from his hand, and started beating the awful man with the handle. The screams brought people running. My brother was taken away, and I was forgotten about. My step-dad came home two days later, covered in bandages. I had taken a turn for the worse, half conscious, too sick to get up. I was sick like that for months, my brother wasn't there to take care of me, so I never got better. "

"That's awful," Jamie whispered in horror, "how'd you get away?"

"One day, when he was at some saloon, I forced myself to get up. I had been gaining strength slowly, day by day. I was still weak, but I had to get out of there. It had been almost a year since the incident. I grabbed what food I could carry, and left. I wandered for days, the food ran out too quickly. My fever had returned, and I spent most days, lying in any shade I could find. Finally, I stumbled into Virginia City, I'm still not sure how long I was wandering for. The doctor found me, and well, you know the rest." Al sat nervously, eyes fixated on the untouched plate of cookies in front of her.

"Oh, Al." Jamie was lost for words.

The girl couldn't stand the silence any longer, "I should go." She ran out of the house, leaving her friend still sitting at the table.

Sorry there wasn't any Griff in it. Also that it's kinda short I just really wanted to finish this. Anyway, please tell me what you think!

Reviews:

AureaD- Don't worry, they'll be reunited soon enough! ;)

Quwell- Thank you so much! The letter will be explained, hopefully in a few chapters.

Mart- Thank you! Glad you liked it!