Here we are with a brand new chapter. It didn't turn out exactly as I had planned, but I think it's quite nice and sweet. We have a wonderful Adleen moment at the end, and we get to see how everyone has been doing since the incident. I saw in the reviews how a lot of you are worried this is the end, but let me inform you that S&B will not be ending for quite a bit. Last chapter was merely the halfway point so to say.

Islaboe- Thank you as always for reviewing. We for sure had quite a lot of tension filled chapters. My plan is to let things calm down a bit and let the next few chapters kinda pass some time and get back to just everyday life and add some more humor to even out all the seriousness we have been dealing with. :)

AureaD- Thank you for reviewing and YES DUKE IS DEAD! Isabelle will have quite a hard time dealing with what she done and Hopefully she won't have to pay for what she has done, but someone may come along who wants her to pay for killing Duke.

Guest- Thank you for reviewing. I do in fact have a Beta, but unfortunately do to our schedules being off and both being really busy. I usually end up writing chapters a lot quicker than she has time to edit. And I started this story long before asking for her help. If I waited for her to edit all my chapters I'm afraid it might be a month or two between updates and I'm not sure the readers would like that very much. Also I know that is way out of century, but I could not think of a better way to put it that would make sense for the scene. I will try and do better thank you.

pernellsgirl- THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING :D This is NOT the end. There is much much more to come and these girls will be around for a long time. And when S&B is ending we can all dive into the amazing sequel I have planned. If you have checked out my profile I have all the sequels written out there. Also I know I need to finish 3 dates( I need to finish ALOT of things but shh that's beside the point). I can report I have started working on it again and hopefully I can have it finished and can post it by the end of the month (fingers crossed)

Sherry O- Hello thank you for reading and reviewing. AS written many times before This is not the end, but I hope you follow along with this story and continue enjoying it.

Guest- Thank you for reading and reviewing. And as I stated earlier just the end of Saving Grace. Hope you continue enjoying the story.

Iluvlittlejosbro- I know honestly I was on edge writing it. I get a little to into my stories sometimes and actually have to remind myself that it's just a story :D Hop Sing will have to work his magic, but I have good faith Kathleen will be alright. Thank you for reading and reviewing :)

romirola- thank you so much for reading and review it has helped out a lot. Hope to see you again on my forum.

Two weeks, fourteen days. That's how long it had been since they had rescued Kathleen from Duke, and Isabelle had put a bullet in his head. It's also the last time Adam had seen his precious Kathleen awake. Doctor Martin had been out every day for the past two weeks checking on her. No change was what he had been saying since day four. Yet, as well as she was recovering she still had not stirred. Adam was now by her bedside like he had been every day since the incident holding her hand. He sat unmoving with the same heartbroken stare on his face. The whole family was getting very worried about him. He hardly slept or ate anymore. All he did was sit there by her side.

"Mistah Adam no wants to eat. He need to eat or he get sick. You Fatha, you get him to eat." Hop Sing had once told Ben this after dinner on the eighth night. Ben had nodded with a sorrow filled glance up the stairs where he knew his eldest son was sitting in his same spot by her bedside.

Isabelle had been trapped in her own mind for a few days after she had killed Duke. She had been in hysterics when they arrived home and Doc Martin had had to give her something to make her sleep and calm down. Hoss had taken to being with her every moment for the first few days to help ward off night terrors and even day terrors. She had hallucinations of Duke standing in her room with a knife, and swore he was following her around outside. A specialist from San Francisco had been in town and had come out to the Ponderosa to see Isabelle. His diagnosis hadn't been very welcome.

"I'll be frank with you Mr. Cartwright. Your girl is crazy. She needs to be locked away where she can't do any harm to you or the rest of your family." Doctor Langley had come down from her room with his nose at least 4 inches in the air. He had his glasses in his pocket and was taking them out to shine them on his handkerchief.

Before Ben had even had the chance to reply Lila had jumped up from her seat and was making her way over to Langley with fire in her eyes," My sister is not crazy. She has been through a traumatic event just like the rest of us, but she doesn't need to be locked away in some crazy house filled with strangers who don't give a damn about her! She needs to be with her family and-" Lila was interrupted by Ben who had made his way over to her and had grabbed her by the forearm.

"Lila you will not speak like that to our guest. Now you can either go sit down with the boys or you can go upstairs to your room." Ben spoke calmly, but with power in his voice. Lila glared at him for a moment before she opened her mouth like she was going to speak, but changed her mind and returned to her spot on the settee next to Joe. Lila plopped herself down with arms folded and a frown firmly set on her face. Joe tried to stifle his chuckle, but was unsuccessful which only resulted in Lila elbowing him in the side.

"Ow... I'm wounded remember." Joe snapped back at her as he rubbed his side frowning as well.

Lila huffed and rolled her eyes at his response. Gosh did he annoy her sometimes.

"You were shot in the chest, not your side pinhead."

"Although I agree with her Doctor Langley; we are not going to send Isabelle away. She is not crazy. I think it would be best if you leave, but thank you for coming and seeing her." Ben smiled politely at the man, but before he could escort him out Langley stopped him and turned around facing Ben.

"Mr. Cartwright may I speak to you outside," Langley paused looking around at Joe, Hoss, and Lila who were in the room glaring at Langley," privately."

Ben was suspicious of the older man wanting to speak with him outside. Langley had been rude and quite full of himself since he got here and Ben really wished he would leave. He did not appreciate the way he was speaking about Isabelle or any of his children for that matter. Ben nodded and headed for the door leading Doctor Langley outside into the cooling November afternoon.

"Mr. Cartwright I can see you have your hands full with six children out here all by yourself and figured you may not want to discuss such matters as your daughter's mental health in front of your other children. Also may I suggest a few boarding schools in Europe where you may be able to send the little red one for her behavior problems? You must agree she will never be a desirable lady if she keeps acting like that."

"Doctor Langley," Ben's face grew stern as his voice rose in power," that young girl in there that you came to see is named Isabelle, and she is the sweetest young girl you will ever meet. She has a huge heart and maybe she is a little more sensitive than the others and wears her emotions on her sleeve, but as you have been told she has been through a very traumatic experience. That does not classify her as crazy and I would not send her away for any reason. The other young girl in there that spoke with you is her sister Lila. As you have seen she has a temper to match her fiery red hair. She is one of the bravest young girls I have ever met. She does not need to be sent away to some school when she is perfectly fine the way she is. Her temper is a problem, but considering her history it's not surprising. We are taking care of her perfectly well and she is very desirable as you put it just by being herself, and I know quite a few young men who would love the opportunity to court her. But do know that she is 15 and a child nonetheless. I can't control what she may or may not say or do, but I have to say I agree with her for standing up for her sister in there. Although I wouldn't use the language she does I have a few choice words I would love to say to you, but I won't. My boys in there would agree with me in saying that we do not appreciate intruders coming in speaking rudely about one of our own. Now I will ask you to leave and I do not want to see you back on the Ponderosa again. Do you understand Doctor Langley?"

Langley looked as if he was going to make a remark when Little Joe and Hoss appeared in the doorway arms crossed. Instead he tipped his hat and muttered under his breath," I will be on my way then Mr. Cartwright."

Ben heard from Sherriff Coffee that he left on the stage to San Francisco the next morning.

But that had been on day ten.

Today was day fourteen and still no change.

Adam sat in his chair that he had worn a spot in as he had almost every day and night since she had been brought home. He looked terrible. He had bags under his eyes and had grown the beginnings of a full beard. His hazel eyes were dark with heartbreak, but at the moment his head was down in which one could only assume he was praying for a miracle. After what might have seemed like an eternity Adam's head rose as he let his sorrow filled gaze fall on Kathleen's still form. They had laid her on the bed and positioned her as if she were merely sleeping. Her head was propped up in a natural angle on two pillows and she had the covers pulled up just above her breasts with her arms lying by her side. The bruises on her face had healed and were a dark, murky shade of yellow. Over all she had healed physically. Yes, she still had stiches in, and if she were awake she would still be bedridden. The risk for infection was still possible and Isabelle and Hop Sing had to change her bandages once a day, but she had healed and was doing great. Doctor Martin was not sure why she was still unconscious.

"Perhaps she suffered from a hit to the head before you got there? None of us can know what exactly Duke did to her. Only she knows that and she can't tell us. I've given her a thorough check and cannot find anything the matter Adam. All we can do is wait and hope for a miracle."

Adam lowered his head with a heavy sigh as Ben thanked him and walked him outside. When he returned Adam had taken his spot by her side once again.

Fourteen days was a long time for anyone to be unconscious for; Adam knew that. He and his brothers had been shot and injured more times than he could count and they had never been out this long, or even been stuck in bed for so long. Adam shook his and brought her hand up to his lips to give a gentle kiss.

"Please wake up. I can only imagine the horrors he put you through, and I know it's going to be absolute hell trying to cope with what he did to you. I just want you to know that you aren't alone though."

Although she may or may not be able to hear him Adam decided to try talking to her. Besides it might be nice to get some of these feelings off his chest without an audience around to hear. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately; mostly back to when we first met. I opened that door and saw you standing there and," Adam's voiced trailed off with a slight crack to it,

"I knew my life would never be the same. You were so independent and sure of yourself. You weren't about to let me have my way without a fight. You challenged me and even now you still challenge me and make me question myself and my decisions. You are stubborn and even though you would never admit it I think you just might have a worse temper than Lila, but underneath that rough surface you are sweet and have a huge heart and brilliant mind. You are a beautiful woman, but it's not the kind of beauty most people look at. You don't try and be pretty. It's not the kind you wear it's the kind that lives in your heart and soul. You don't wear expensive dresses; to think of it normally you still wear that same dress I found you in. I think that is one of the things that has drawn me to you is how simplistic you are. You don't care for the extravagant life. You are happy as long as you are with your family, because those girls in there mean more to you than anything." Adam paused again. He stood up and made his way over to the window. It was a gloomy morning. Thick clouds were covering the sky and had made their way down to cloak the land in a misty fog. Without turning back to look at her Adam began speaking in a broken voice that clearly portrayed the turmoil inside of him.

"I never expected to fall for you Kathleen. You took me by surprise and I never saw it coming. It took me a while to realize it, but I love you, Kathleen. I love you more than I have ever loved anything and I can't bear the thought of you not waking up and me never having the chance to show you or tell you just what you mean to me." Adam had to stop for a minute as his voice broke and tears welled up in his hazel eyes. As he lowered his head to try and get control of his emotions again a single tear fell.

More time passed as it was now past noon. The sky was still dark and if you were simply going by the sky you would think no time had passed. Adam was currently pacing back and forth across the room. His hands were behind his back and his face left unreadable. Tear stains were visible on his cheeks not that he cared. He had more on his mind. Images of that day were flashing across his mind over and over again. That same heart wrenching feeling that made it feel as though someone had his heart in their hand and was squeezing as tight as they could was present in his chest.

"I still can't figure out how you managed to get in front of me to get shot and why. You had been beaten and stabbed and yet somehow you managed. Still he wanted to kill me not you. You wouldn't be in near as bad shape if you would have just stayed put. I've been shot before I would have been fine, but no you and your stubborn self-had to interfere.- Of course if I would have never let you leave the ball you wouldn't have been captured in the first place, or if I would have stayed with you and just let Isabelle and Hoss take Little Joe. "Adam paused to let his gaze fall back on Kathleen. A faint smile tugged on the corners of his lips as he took his place by her side once more. He picked up her delicate hand which looks almost like a child's in his. Though she may be a lady her hands showed just how hard she had to work over the years.

"You have to get better Kathleen. You have to wake up, because I honestly cannot live with myself if you don't. I am the one that allowed you to be captured and everything that you went through is on me." Adam's head fell and his grip on her hand tightened. Adam felt a war going on inside his head as a whirlwind of emotions circulated. Pain was the one emotion that's stood out among the others. He blamed himself for it all. If- If he had done everything differently maybe- just maybe he could have prevented all this from happening. Most of all he could not stand the fact that Kathleen had taken a bullet meant for him. How could she put herself at risk for him? He understood her sacrificing herself for Lila and Isabelle, but for him? He was the man it was his duty to put himself at risk for her and everyone else. She was not supposed to play hero and get herself killed. That was what was eating Adam alive; the simple fact that if she died it would be because of him. For what he didn't do and that she died to save His life that He put in danger.

Evening came quickly. Adam had been sitting in his same spot as always. He hadn't been sleeping much and actually found himself falling asleep. He didn't expect anything major to happen, so at the moment he had allowed himself to fall asleep with his head propped up against his hand. The room was dead silent, but a small, distant sound began calling out to Adam. At first he tried to ignore it, but it was joined by a tugging sensation on his arm.

"Adam? Adam wake up!"

It didn't take him very long to figure out what the sound was and he shot up in an upright sitting position. For the first time in fourteen days he was greeted by warm green eyes.

She was going to be alright.

SHE"S GOING TO BE OKAY GUYS! Everyone can let out that breath I know you've been holding. Thank you for reading and please review. Next chapter should be up within the next week or so I hope. And before you go I have a poll question for you guys. Since the next few chapters will have all our couples together what do YOU think their shipping names should be?

Adam and Kathleen- Adleen or Kadam?

Hoss and Isabelle- Hossabelle?

Joe and Lila- Jila or Loe

What about Lila and Ross?

These are just what me and my sister have come up with along with my cousin Ally who I've based sweet little Isabelle after. Please leave a review on what you think their set Shipping names should be. If you don't like these then please let me know what you like. Thank you and have a nice day and see you next time :)