Staring out the window, he took a deep breath and watched the sun begin to rise. The night had come and gone but at least one person finally was getting rest. Glancing over to the bed, he watched her sleep and could see the weakening she had been going through. No luck getting her to eat but he managed to coax her into resting until the blood results came back, or so he had told her. Checking a nearby clock, he picked up the room key and approached the bed.

He ran his hand through her brown hair and kissed her brow. Her skin was still cool to the touch and it sent chills through him. He moved to the extra room and cracked the door. Jeff was sitting up while Grace slept and stood when he met Reese's gaze. The man looked into the room and found his sister sleeping.

"How'd you manage that?"

"Just don't wake her."

Jeff looked back at him and asked "Where are you going?"

He crossed the room and opened the door. Without a word, he left and shut the door quietly. The hotel was quiet all around him as he descended the stairs and crossed the street. The receptionist looked up at him and he passed her on his way to Will's room. Cliff was sitting outside the door and caught his gaze as he approached.

"Where's Joe?"

"Resting."

The man stared back at him and asked "She break?"

"Don't say a word about it."

He opened the door and slipped into the dimly lit room. The doctor hadn't arrived but he could see the table with the kit prepped. Checking the monitor, he took a seat at the table and heard the door open. The doctor shut the door behind him and sat down across from Reese.

"The sample came back clean. If we do this, we do it carefully. I can't afford for anything to go wrong."

"It won't."

The man looked back at him and asked "Do they even know who you are?"

He focused his eyes on the man and the doctor stopped all questioning. They moved over to the chair next to the bed. Reese watched the man prep his arm and closed his eyes as the needle was inserted. The doctor taped the line down and slowly hooked the IV to the empty blood bag connected to the fluid bag.

"We'll start with a small round and then take a rest."

He sat back in the chair and the doctor moved to the other side of the bed. Reese watched him take Will's vitals and record them. He kept his arm relaxed despite the nagging pain the needle created. He turned his attention to Will and watched the boy sleep.

"I'm surprised Joe isn't here."

"She's resting."

The doctor smirked and said "Good. The poor thing has been up ever since they showed up. I'm worried her system is going to give out when this is over."

He remained silent but looked up at the man. The doctor didn't say a word but nodded slowly. Looking back at Will, Reese was able to see a slight difference in the boy's skin tone. The doctor wrote something down and came around the bed. He drained the line and removed the needle from Reese's arm.

"You should go eat something while we wait to see what happens."

He let the man tape his arm up and stood up. A slight difference in his system made him pause for a few seconds before it corrected itself. Leaving the room, he caught Cliff's gaze and the man looked at his arm.

"What were you doing in there?"

"Giving Will the first round of treatment."

Cliff stood up and asked "And that was what? A blood transfer?"

"Yeah."

The man shook his head and said "You know she'll be pissed you did this without her here."

"She needs the rest right now."

He snorted but didn't say anything. Reese started to walk down the hall and the man joined him. They left the hospital and went down the street to a nearby diner. The door bell rung as they walked in and the waitress smiled.

"Welcome back, Reese."

Cliff shot him a look but he ignored it as they took a seat at a table with a streetside view. The woman shortly joined them and handed Cliff a menu.

She pulled out her order tablet and asked "The same for you?"

He nodded and Cliff said "I'll have the same."

The woman took the menu and Cliff looked back at him.

"You come here a lot?"

Reese held his gaze but remained quiet. The waitress returned and sat down two mugs of fresh hot coffee. He took a sip and watched her place the paper on the table. Cliff took it as she walked away and he looked out the window. The sun was finally rising into the sky and he saw Jeff crossing the street to the stable.

"Your brother is leaving."

"Jeff's turn to check in with Dad."

"How often does he go back home?"

"We rotate. Last week Billy went. I go next week."

He took another drink of his coffee and watched the man reappear from the stable. He swung up into his saddle and took off down the road. Glancing back at Cliff, he found the man focusing on the paper and he checked the time. He imagined Grace would be getting up soon and making her way to the hospital. He hoped she'd let her mother rest longer if she wasn't up yet.

The woman had looked worn out and ready to break into pieces when he had arrived. She had been keeping herself together with strength she couldn't possibly keep up. When she had finally drifted to sleep he had checked her pulse and felt the coolness of her skin. The disease was progressing and he knew if Will or Bear didn't make it through she would just give in to it.

"Earth to Reese."

He pulled his attention away from the window and found Cliff staring at him. Their food was sitting on the table and his mug had been refilled without him noticing. Cliff kept quiet while they ate the hot meal and the waitress came up to the table as they finished. She put the receipt on the table and Cliff reached for it but Reese took it first. He handed her the appropriate amount and she took the bill back to the counter.

"I could have paid for at least my half."

"You've had enough to worry about."

He stood up and walked up to the counter. Cliff watched the waitress hand him the change and she smiled up at him.

"Bring in anyone this time around?"

"No job."

She smirked and said "Well at least for once you're taking some personal time. Lord knows you deserve it after everything."

The door opened and as the bell jingled he looked at the visitors. The three men removed their hats and Cliff stood up. The one in the lead smirked when they spotted Reese and approached him.

"We heard you were in town."

"Do you need something, Mike?"

The man chuckled and said "Always business with you, Reese."

He turned his full gaze on the man and said "That's the only time I have to see you."

The other two men chuckled and Mike said "Yeah we need something. We're here to pick up the prisoner. Jail keeper won't let us take him without you being there."

"Mind telling me what the hell's going on, Reese?"

He bit back the groan and turned his attention back to Cliff. The man was standing right beside him and had the same look his twin posessed when she was annoyed.

"Watch your tongue in front of U.S. Marshalls, Sir."

Cliff shot Mike a warning look and said "I wasn't talking to you."

Mike's eyes widened a little and he reached for his sidearm. Reese watched him unstrap it and pull it free from the holster. Cliff continued to stare the man down and he waited for the man to try and arrest him.

"Right now you're in the presence of four U.S. Marshalls. I'd hold your tongue if you don't want to take a trip to the local jail."

Cliff's brown eyes snapped back to Reese and he asked "Four?"

Reese let out a sigh and said "Put the gun away Mike. You're embarassing us."

The man slowly did as told and Reese said "I'll meet you at the jail in a few. Have something else to tend to first."

Mike kept his gaze on Cliff as the other two men left and slowly he followed them out the door. Shaking his head, Reese looked back at Cliff and found the man a little taken back. The waitress disappeared into the kitchen and he left the diner. Silently he made his way back to the hospital with Cliff behind him. They walked through the building until they reached Will's room and he stopped at the door.

"Tell me that idiot was joking."

Reese looked back at the man and said "Unfortunately for you he wasn't."

He opened the door and found the doctor monitoring Will. The boy was awake and smirked when he saw Reese.

"Still here?"

"Promised your mother you were going to be fine."

Will smiled this time and Reese glanced at the doctor. The man checked Will's vitals and looked back at him.

"I think it's going to work. His system is already showing signs of recovery."

"Wait, there's are cure?"

The doctor nodded and Will looked back across the room. He watched his uncle enter the room and Cliff shot him a smirk when he found him awake.

"Look who's not looking like a ghost anymore."

The boy grinned and asked "Where's Mom?"

"She's sleeping."

"Seriously?"

Cliff chuckled as he sat down by the bed and said "Yeah. Reese pulled some trick or something."

Will looked back at the door but found it standing empty. He looked back up at Cliff and the man frowned.

The doctor chuckled and said "He does that all the time. Probably has something to attend to. He'll be back this afternoon."

"I hope so."

Cliff watched Will look out the window and they heard a knock at the door. Grace entered with Joe and he smirked. Grace crossed the room and gave him a hug.

"You're awake."

He nodded and the doctor said "He's improving too."

Grace smiled and Cliff looked up at his sister. She looked less tired, close to looking healthy again. He caught the slight annoyed look lingering in her eyes and wanted to chuckle. The man had no idea how much hot water he was in and if she found out the latest she would probably lay into him.

"Mom, I heard Dad made you get some sleep."

She nodded and sat on the side of the bed. Cliff left the chair and let Grace sit down. He walked over to the door and slipped out of the room. Billy was sitting in a chair in the hall and stood up when he caught Cliff's glance.

"What is it?"

Cliff checked the room to make sure the door was shut and said "Doc says Will's improving?"

Billy stared back at him and asked "What did Reese do?"

"More like, what hasn't he done."

"Meaning?"

Cliff smirked and said "Follow me."

He led the man down the hall and they quietly left the hospital. Checking the streets, he had Billy follow him to the jail house and they stopped by the door when he saw Mike talking to someone. The jail keeper waved his hand in dismiss about something but then he stood up. The door opened and they watched Mike and his two teammates step outside.

"Adam, go make sure the coach is ready to leave."

The blonde haired man crossed the street and Cliff watched Mike look back inside. Billy studied the two men but remained quiet. The two stepped to the side as a man was walked outside by the jail keeper. Cliff shot a look at Billy in recognition and his jaw tightened when he saw Reese step outside.

"He's yours Mike. Now get out of here."

Mike chuckled and said "Someday I'd like to take you back East where all of the regular society knows how to unwind and relax. Living out here in this sand crap really doesn't help with your personality."

Reese leveled him with a cold look that shut him up and the jail keeper turned the paperwork over to Mike's assistant.

"I don't like the idea of sending this idiot anywhere without your supervision, Reese."

"Right now I can't spare the time."

He nodded and said "You better go check in with Joe then."

"Thanks for your help, Larry."

The jail keeper nodded and waved at Cliff and Billy before disappearing inside. The three marshalls looked back at them and Mike stepped closer. The prisoner was nudged toward them and he shook his head.

"I ain't going near them. They'll kill me."

"Yeah? Who are they?"

"Andrews."

Mike looked back at Reese and then at the two blonde men. Cliff saw Billy's shoulders straighten and he caught the warning look in Reese's gaze. Mike handed the prisoner over to his assistant and approached them.

"You mean to tell me you two are the Andrews Brothers? Heard there were more than two."

"There is. Our eldest brother had to leave town."

Mike started chuckling and said "How ironic. I get to look at your face again. Now tell me, where is that lovely sister of yours?."

Billy growled and said "You leave her out of this."

"Oh see that's impossible. We have an old score to settle."

"Like hell you are."

Mike looked back at Cliff and said "I'm surprised I didn't recognize you. If I remember correctly, you were there that night."

"Correct."

Reese silently approached and Mike said "I take it your lovely sister is in town her bodyguard is here."

Cliff's jaw tightened but Billy held the fist back from swinging. Mike smirked and turned back to Reese and his assistant.

"Greg, remember Joey and her bodyguard from school?"

Greg slowly nodded and said "We don't have time to reconnect with school mates."

He sighed and said "Always acting like Reese, here. Lighten up. While Adam is getting the coach, we can go pop in and say hello to Joey."

"It's Joe."

Mike looked back at Cliff and said "She was no Joe back then and I doubt she is now. Excuse me gentlemen."

He walked down the street and Billy turned to Reese. The man was staring lethally after Mike and he turned his attention to Greg. The man had put the prisoner down on the ground and was scratching the back of his head.

"Think I should go after him, Sir?"

"Before I put a bullet in his head."

Greg smirked and said "Just don't lose this guy."

Cliff smirked and said "I don't think he'll be going anywhere."

They watched the man jog down the street after Mike and looked back at Reese. He walked over to the prisoner and jerked him to his feet. The man went pale when he met the man's gaze and drug foot as he was dragged across the street to the stable. Billy followed them as Cliff went back to the hospital and found Reese tying the man to a pole by a stall containing Champ. The man was absolutely silent and kept his big eyes on the blonde man before him.

"Hey Reese, where'd Mike go?"

Billy watched Adam approach and heard "Greg went after him."

The man smirked and said "Coach is ready out back. Wish you were riding with us this time. How many did you say were still alive?"

"Ask him."

He jerked the prisoner to his feet and the man said "I won't sell my brothers out."

Reese shot him a burning look and said growled under his breath "That trap you laid got all but one of them killed."

The man's fear drained out of him and he lunged at the blonde man. Being retrained, the man fell onto the floor and Adam started chuckling.

"You always did have a way with the prisoners."

"This one's personal."

Adam snorted and said "All of them have been."

Reese knelt in front of the prisoner and muffled the man.

"They are when they target your family."

Adam watched him stand up and spotted Billy. The man had a stern look on Reese and he cleared his throat. The man looked over his shoulder and found Billy.

"This is getting old."

"How many are there?"

Reese frowned and said "Unfortunately, there are three of them."

Adam chuckled and asked "Have a problem down there?"

Billy silently approached and looked down at the prisoner. His anger was clouded quickly by fear and he tried dodging the blow to his stomach. Adam shoved him off and Reese caught his shoulder.

"Kill him and we don't get the whereabouts of the last one."

"What the hell is going on?"

"Have the same language too."

Billy glared at Adam and heard "I've got it Adam."

The man shrugged and leaned back against the pole next to the prisoner. Reese released Billy and the man turned on him.

"A law man now Reese? What don't you do?"

Amber eyes stared back at him and he heard "Put up with hot heads."

Billy frowned and said "One of your kind is going after my sister. I think I have a right to be pissed off."

Those amber eyes darkened into molten gold and he growled "I know."