Joe had put aside all thoughts of the future and guilt, but chose to focus on the now and his love. He sat by his parents bedside tenderly caring for them and pleadingly calling for them to wake up. He couldn't think about how he should be feeling towards these two people who had stripped him from his family, he could only grasp that regardless he loved them now and their death bed wasn't the time to sort out these jumbled emotions.

But then he realized that even in his own thoughts he had begun to allow that Alan and Beth were dying. This disturbed him as he wouldn't admit it out loud and he certainly wasn't allowing the doctor to confess it. All he knew was he had to believe they would live and that was his only thought as he continued his mindless ministrations at his loved ones bedsides.

Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Cliff had been working tirelessly for all these hours. They worked to clear the train cars of people and ready those who had been rescued for transportation back to town. The train cars had begun to slip down the rain slicked slope some time ago and now the situation was becoming too dangerous for further rescue attempts.

Yet the group was determined and kept on, and finally Adam stepped out of the last train car.

"There's no more survivors, our work here is done."

And with that proclamation, the group worked to get the last load of injured people back to town.

It was at times like this that Ben missed Joe most. Accidents like this chilled his very soul now. All his life Ben had known exactly were Joe was and had always known that if something happened to Joe he would know and be able to help. Now, as Ben stood there in the pelting rain, he couldn't help but think he had no idea were his son was and he could be struck down by some random accident and Ben wouldn't even know...

Joe must have fallen asleep, because he was suddenly aware that someone was squeezing his hand and calling to him. He opened his eyes quickly, and straightened in his chair, and he found himself staring into a pair of bright green eyes he knew so very well.

"Pa!" Joe whispered joyfully.

"Joe" Alan said with a smile.

Then a weak melodious voice, called his name from his other side, "Joe, dear"

"Mama!" Joe quickly reached for her hand. As he grasped both his parents hands and felt their love he couldn't help the overwhelming feeling that washed over him, that told him all was right at this moment.

"How is Jackie?" Beth was asking.

"She's fine, she just has a small fever." Joe quickly allayed their fears.

He was suddenly overwhelmed by emotions, though it should have been impossible in their condition, he was talking with his parent again, despite what they'd done despite what had happened to them. But then he realized it was his last time he would ever talk to them, and suddenly everything was wrong...

"You know." Joe was drawn back to the present by Alan's quiet statement.

Joe stared into Alan's expressive green eyes and he knew there was only one possible meaning for that statement. Alan had somehow realized Joe knew his true heritage. Alan's eyes shone with realization, understanding, acceptance, worry, and above all love.

"Yes," Joe said simply. "but it doesn't change my love." he finished in a quiet voice, and Joe realized it was the absolute truth.

With that realization, Joe felt the tension drain from his body and he saw the worry leave Alan and Beth. He felt a wave of understanding wash over him, in the end the only thing that mattered was love...

"I wish I could say I was sorry," Alan said in a slow labored manner, his breaths rattling. "but I'll never regret having you as my son, even for a time."

"And I'll never regret having had you as a father." Joe's eyes clouded with tears as he accepted with that simple statement that everything was about to change.

"I love you son." Beth whispered softly

"I love you too." Joe whispered fervently.

"Stay strong son" Alan said with a labored gasp. "and always remember, I love you" He finished with a small pained smile.

"I'll always love you, Pa..." Joe said hoarsely as his throat constricted with emotion.

"Make Jackie understand." Beth said with the sweetest of smiles

Alan felt his life beginning to fade away, "Goodbye, son."

Joe almost chocked as he gazed at them both one last time, "Goodbye..."

"Remember..." Alan whispered his dying wish.

Then the three of them shared final bittersweet smiles, filled with love, and Joe watched as his parents eyes slowly closed and their smiles faded. Life ended as Joe whispered the word, "Always..."

Jackie finally awoke sometime later, her fever gone and her body mending.

"Joe?" Jackie hadn't been surprised her brother waiting by her side. Even as she thought the words, my brother, memories began to fill the foggy recesses of her brain and she knew that everthing had changed.

She turned to her friend, "How are Mom and Dad?"

"They're gone." Joe said simply.

Joe saw the understanding and acceptance in Jackie's eyes, and he knew she remembered everything.

He'd promised he'd give comfort and explanation, but his grief stricken soul could offer neither at the moment.

Joe realized none was necessary, as he vaguely became aware of Jackie crying on his shoulder. He put his arms around her and he felt his suppressed grief beginning to surface. Then Joe and Jackie began to cry together, as brother and sister for the last time...

Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Cliff wandered into the clinic sometime later, looking to see if any help was required.

They all came to an abrupt halt when they entered the examination room and saw Joe and Jackie sitting by two covered bodies.

Joe and Jackie had been on that train, they all realized in the same moment. For a moment Ben was unsure how to react, legally he couldn't contact his son, and emotionally he didn't think he could take another rejection by a son that didn't remember him. He was contemplating leaving when by chance Joe noticed him on the periphery of his vision. Joe quickly stood, astonished.

Ben noticed the bandaged body and the red rimmed eyes, but most of all he noticed the real recognition in the green depths.

Joe met his father's gaze, "Pa?"

And nothing could have stopped Ben as he ran to his son and embraced him. At some point Ben was vaguely aware of Adam and Hoss' hands on his shoulders and Cliff's embrace of Jackie but all that was distant, for he had his son back.

Finally Ben released Joe and watched as both Adam and Hoss gave him fierce embraces. Then he turned to his son, begging an explanation with just a glance.

"I remember everything, and-" Joe barely stopped him self from saying 'and Pa and Mama are dead'. Unsure of what to call Alan and Beth, he quickly nodded in the direction of the two covered bodies knowing that his family would guess who they were.

Sure enough his family gasped in surprise. "Oh my" Ben murmured, more in surprise than regret. In fact he held no regret, no sympathy for the people who had taken his son. But he was concerned about Joe's feelings, so he showed none of his resentment.

Ben needed to know how Joe felt, "What do you think about all this?'" With a gesture at himself and Alan and Beth.

Joe's eyes shone with sorrow as he carefully phrased his response. "I am so sorry for how I hurt all of you." He said with a glance at Adam and Hoss. "You're my family and I love you very much."

Ben nodded at him and smiled "We love you too Joe."

Joe hesitated before he continued. "But I loved them too, and I can't help the feelings I still have. They were my parents for a while and I'll never forget them." Ben frowned slightly at this but quickly recovered. "I want to go home Pa, but I will have to leave one day. They," Joe again refused to use a name. "wanted me to go to college and I'd like to do that."

Ben would have preferred Joe felt differently but understood his lingering emotions towards Alan and Beth, so he acquiesced. "Of course Joe you can do that, and lets go home. "

For a moment Joe smiled, "Yes, home."

Joe still felt the pain and grief. He knew he would have to deal with the being legally Joe Darron, and he would have to see that Alan and Beth were buried properly in San Francisco, probably on the ranch he surmised.

But for the moment all that could wait, his father's arm was across his shoulders and he was loved. He knew there there would be problems, but for the moment that didn't matter. They could face them together.

Joe's next words held so many connotations, "I'm ready Pa."

And the Cartwrights were a family once again...