updated version

Lila saw Josh die in a puddle of his own blood. A single red stream pooled from his mouth as his eyes set in place, unfocused and cloudy. She whipped her head around to see a familiar face smiling back at her. A smile spread across her face as she gave a relieved sigh, "Joe."

She jumped up on her feet and ran over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. A small choked sob escaped her as she held onto him tightly, happy to see him alive and well. Joe smiled and embraced her as he whimpered softly in pain, but made sure she didn't hear him. After breaking the hug, Lila took a step back and looked up at him. "What are you doing here, Joe? You're still hurt; weren't you supposed to stay home?"

Joe flashed his playful half smile. "You really expected me to stay home while y'all get to be heroes and save the day? Not a chance! I'm with y'all every step of the way."

Lila rolled her eyes and sighed playfully as she grabbed his hand and headed around the house to find Adam, Hoss, and Isabelle.

Adam and Hoss were surveying the front of the house when Lila and Joe came around the corner. Adam heard them approach and whipped around, his gun drawn. Joe immediately put his hands up with a slight, nervous chuckle. "Whoa brother! It's just me - don't shoot." Hoss released a relieved sigh when he saw who it was. His day was just getting better.

"Is it safe to come out?" Isabelle peaked from behind a barrel at Hoss, who nodded and waved her over.

"Yeah, come on Isabelle." Isabelle jumped up and ran over to Hoss, grabbing his hand tightly. He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head.

"Joe, what are you doing here?" Adam lowered his gun and shook his head. He was already stressed enough over Kathleen's situation, and now he had to look out for his baby brother, who was still recovering from a gunshot wound.

Joe walked over causally and shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't stand just sitting at home, so I followed y'all."

"Joe…" Adam sighed, running a tired hand down his face. "I'm not arguing or fighting with you. Just stay in the back and don't do anything stupid."

Joe nodded his assent, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some ammunition to reload his gun. Hoss and Adam took some as well to reload.

"What's our plan to get in there?" asked Joe.

"We just go in. We have taken out most - if not all - of his men. We outnumber him, so if we head in we can ambush him and get him to hand Kathleen over before I put a bullet in his head." Adam replied, almost too casually as he cocked his gun and glanced over at the front door.

Hoss and Joe exchanged worried looks as they followed Adam toward the door.

Inside the house, Duke and Simon were hiding in the bedroom, guns ready. Kathleen was still lying behind the settee in the living room, the puddle of blood underneath her steadily growing.

A loud crash echoed through the house as Adam kicked the door in, Hoss and Joe on his heels. They scanned the room, making sure it was clear of danger before they motioned for Lila and Isabelle to enter. Adam scanned the room again, noticing Kathleen's hand on the floor, peeking out from behind the settee.

"No…." The pained whisper tore from him as all of the color drained from his face and a sickening feeling washed over him. Kathleen was ghostly pale, the red puddle beneath her and the blacks and blues of countless cuts and bruises standing out starkly. Gently, tenderly, he ran a finger over her black and swollen neck. She didn't even look like the same woman he had come to know and love. Adam scooped her up in his arms and held her tight.

"She's over here!" The words came out of his mouth ragged and broken. Adam didn't even realize he had spoken, nor did he notice everyone run over and surround him. Hoss reached him first and was beside him in seconds, praying for a pulse.

Isabelle's heart stopped when she looked over and saw her sister's limp form in Adam's arms. She ran over, tears streaming down her face unchecked. "Oh my God - Kathleen? You can't be dead. No, please don't die Kathleen! I need my big sister!"

Lila felt herself choke up as she buried her face in Joe's shoulder. She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. Joe bit his lip and held Lila tight, trying to take away some of her pain.

"She's still alive. The wound doesn't look too deep, but we still need to get her home soon." Hoss said. It could have been so much worse, but no; he wouldn't let himself think like that. They had made it in time and everything was going to be okay. He stood back up and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Adam to press against the wound.

Adam could feel himself shaking with the mix of emotions swirling inside. Anger, fear, rage, joy, everything. He was so relieved to have found Kathleen alive, but the anger at Duke for stabbing her was a fire roaring to life. And who knew what all he had done to her before they arrived? He took a deep breath as he lowered her gently, and pressing the kerchief against her side. She didn't move at all when he put pressure against the wound, which worried him. She was so pale and looked so vulnerable, so unlike every other time he saw her over the past few months. She always looked strong and fierce, graceful and poised. "I'm going to kill him for this."

"Listen to yourself, Adam," Joe reached down, grasping his brother's shoulder. "You can't let Duke bring you down to his level. You are not a murderer."

"Adam?" The word came out weak and rugged, but it caught everyone's attention. Kathleen had come to and was starting to open her eyes.

Through the haze in her brain, Kathleen could make out several voices. She felt as though she were floating in the clouds. She knew she had been stabbed, but couldn't feel any pain. Her body felt light and weightless, as if she was swimming, floating on her back in the water. Am I dead? No, I can't be dead. Death wouldn't be so loud. She felt something touch her face and someone was calling her name. That's Isabelle's voice. Isabelle is here? Oh no she can't be here. Duke will… Wait! I hear Adam. Adam. They've found me. Everything is going to be okay now. With that, she felt herself fall back down into herself. The burning sensation returned to her side as she opened her eyes. The first face she saw was Adam's, staring at her with worried eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.

"Adam?"

"Kathleen? Oh thank God you are alright." Isabelle sent up a silent prayer of thanks as she got down on her knees and hugged Kathleen tight. Kathleen smiled a little as she fought against the pain and hugged her back with one arm, "I'm alright Isabelle, but you are hurting me."

Isabelle jumped back. "Oh! I'm so sorry Kathleen." Kathleen groaned as she pulled herself up into more of a sitting positon, leaning on her good side and on her elbow.

"It's okay." She held her hand to her head as she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Adam kept an arm on her back, helping to support her.

"Easy now. You've been stabbed we need to get you home," Adam said, but still didn't quite trust his voice. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and kiss her right then and there. He wanted to tell her everything; how much he loved her and how he had been worried sick when she disappeared. But now wasn't the time. So he only smiled and held her hand and scanned her body and face for any signs of her being hurt worse than he already thought.

"Adam, I'm alright." Kathleen held her side as she looked around the room and tried to piece everything together. She let her gaze linger on Adam's face. She was so happy to see him. He was the only thing that had kept her going for all this time while she had been raped and forced into marriage and everything. She opened her mouth to speak when another voice interrupted the happy reunion.

"She won't be for long. I want to thank you all for joining us." Duke came out with a dark, wicked grin on his face. He snapped his fingers, and four more men came through the door, each with a gun. Simon came out from behind Duke with his gun drawn. Duke's plan was going just as he hoped it would. The group found themselves surrounded with guns and backed up against the wall. Adam's and Duke's eyes connected. This was it; it all came down to this moment. Suddenly, a shot rang out, breaking the silence.

So Kathleen has been found and for the first time since the Masked Ball the gang is all together again. Duke and Adam have met and stuff is about to go down. Prepare yourself for part 3 it's going to be a doozy. So questions for you guys: Who fired the shot and who did it hit? And what do ya'll think is going to happen? Who is going to make it out alive, wounded, or dead? Who is going to kill Duke?

Please Review and tell me what ya'll think.