Taking a deep breath, he changed the bandage on the wound and secured it by wrapping the torso again. He sat back and looked down into the brown eyes watching him. Bear let out a quiet whimper and he rubbed one ear.

"Hang in there. She'll be back for you and Will needs you."

Bear closed his eyes and Mack climbed to his feet. He left the stall and walked down the aisle to the office. The medicial supplies were put away and he walked over to the window. The sun was climbing into the sky and he raked a hand through his hair. Another day was starting but it felt like the last one never ended.

Trotting outside drew his attention away from the window and he left the office. He watched the blonde man dismount and rub Champ's nose. Amber eyes slow turned to him and he bit back a painful sigh.

"Where is everyone?"

"No one's here but me."

The man approached and Mack walked back into the office. Reese examined the room and found books unkept and stacked all over the desk. Glancing back at Mack, he noticed the unkept look of his clothes and the whiskers growing on his face. The man looked thoroughly exhausted and his once straight shoulders were hunched over.

"Where'd they go?"

The man looked back at him and didn't fight back the painful sigh this time. Reese left the office and searched the stalls. Pagan was in his stall but Daemon was missing. The door was open and he moved down the aisle. Seeing the wounded animal in the straw, he knelt down next to Bear and heard the weak whimper.

Running his hand over the dog's head, he studied the amount of wrap around Bear's torso and stood up. Mack was still in the office and he walked back to the door.

"Where's Joe?"

"At the center in Sunville."

"What happened?"

The man raked a hand through his blonde hair and sighed.

"Was she hurt?"

"Not when she left. I haven't been informed how she's doing though."

Reese felt his hand curl into a fist and asked "What aren't you telling me?"

Mack let out another painful sigh and said "Will was shot."

He spun on his heels and walked outside. Grabbing the saddle horn, he swung up onto Champ and Mack appeared at the barn doors. He held the older man's gaze and whipped Champ around. They flew down the driveway and he forced Champ to fly all out across the countryside. The sun beat down on them through the afternoon and set long before they reached Sunville.

Letting Champ walk slowly to the steps of the center, he swung to the ground and the stable manager came outside.

"What brings you here, Sir?"

"Personal business."

He nodded and said "I'll settle Champ in his usual stall."

"Thanks."

Turning his back on the man, he climbed the steps and pushed the doors open. The receptionist rose as he walked inside and reached her desk.

"Where is Will's room?"

"Sir, I cannot allow anyone but family into his room."

His amber eyes fixed on her, sending chills through her, and she mumbled "Down the hall, last room on the right."

"Thanks."

He walked down the indicated hall and tried listening for voices. Turning the corner, he found the hall empty and moved down the hall to the last room on his right. Opening the door, he found a doctor checking Will's vitals and the nurse next to him turned her attention on Reese.

"Sir, you can't come in here. Only family can be in here."

"Like hell I can't."

The doctor came around the bed and said "The boy is in serious condition. Only the family is allowed in here."

When they tried to reach for him, he sidestepped them and walked over to the bed. Taking a set in a chair next to the bed, he looked at Will's pale face and slowly took the boy's hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze and saw the nurse approach.

"You can't wake him. Sleep is the only thing keeping him with us."

He shot her a warning look and saw Will slowly open his eyes. The boy tried to smile and looked utterly exhausted.

"You made it."

"I thought I told you to stay out of trouble."

He tried laughing and fell into a fit of coughing. Reese grabbed the nearest cloth and held it up for the boy. Will covered his mouth and when the fit finally left, blood was covering the white fabric.

"Sir, you need to leave. Will needs his rest."

Growling, he looked back at the doctor and Will said "Don't go."

"I'm not."

The boy smiled and asked "Does Mom know you're here?"

"I haven't seen her. I just arrived."

Will slowly lost his smile and said "I couldn't let the man shoot Grace."

"What man?"

He shook his head and said "I don't know. He was looking for you."

Fighting back tightening his fist, he took a deep breath and said "I'll talk to Joe. See if she knows anything. You did the right thing."

"But Bear? He killed the man and was shot protecting me."

"He's holding on. I saw him when I reached your place this morning."

"No one told you when it happened?"

He shook his head and Will closed his eyes. The doctor came up to Reese and leveled him with a stern medical stare.

"You need to leave. Will can't wear himself out."

"He can stay. He's my dad."

The man looked from Will to Reese and said "I'll only believe it once his mother agrees."

Reese left the bedside and guided the doctor out into the hall. He watched the nurse settle Will back into a light sleep and turned his attention back on the doctor.

"You haven't cured the disease."

"There is no cure."

"Yes there is."

The doctor shook his head and said "I'd know if there was. That boy and his mother have been suffering from this illness for the last six years. If there was a cure, we would've given it to them before now."

"It's a blood transfusion."

The doctor looked a little surprised and asked "What?"

Reese took a deep breath and said "Will was born with the illness but he shouldn't have been. I was cured of that disease when I was young."

"You had it? That explains where he got it.

"A blood transfusion is his only option."

"Who could possibly have the right blood to save him?"

"I do."

"You can't. Your DNA and blood gave it to him and his mother."

"Like I said, it shouldn't have. After I was cured, my doctor ran the blood tests and there were no traces of the illness ever being in my system."

The man frowned and rubbed his neck. Reese bit back an annoyed sigh and heard muffled voices slowly approaching.

"I'll go check on him for you. Dad's probably completely cured him by now."

He watched Cliff come into view and saw Grace with him. The two stared back at him and Grace came up to him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Saving your brother."

Cliff joined them and said "That's impossible."

The doctor cleared his throat and said "I'll get the sample and run the tests before trying the procedure."

Cliff looked at the man and then turned back to Reese.

"A warning would have been appreciated."

"Look, getting Will here and trying to get him stable is all that mattered."

"How long has he been here?"

"A couple weeks."

Grace let out a quiet sigh and asked "How did you find out?"

"I stopped by to pick you and Will up liked planned."

"How's Bear?"

He met her questioning gaze and said "In critical condition but I think he'll pull through."

She frowned and said "He has to. I don't think Mom can lose them both. None of us can."

She fell quiet and Cliff had her sit down in a chair. He looked back up at Reese and the man turned his gaze to the doctor. The man scratched his head and nodded slowly.

"Holy crap."

He turned his gaze down the hall and found Billy and Jeff standing beside their sister. Her brown eyes leveled with his and he silently approached. She let him take her into a strong hold and closed her eyes.

"He's going to be fine."

She looked up at him and asked "Did you just get here?"

He nodded and said "We need to talk."

"You can talk in front of us."

Joe looked back at them and said "We can talk just around the corner."

He ignored the looks he got as they walked away and disappeared around the corner. She let out a sigh once alone and looked back at him.

"You look exhausted."

"Nothing compared to you."

She forced a smirk and said "I'm coping."

"Really? You look like you're barely holding it together."

"My son is dying. Do you expect me to be made of steel or something?"

He caught her chin and said "Will is going to be just fine. There's a cure."

"What?"

He took a deep breath and said "Just trust me."

"I can't let you do something that could put you in jepardy as well."

He ran his hand through her hair and said "He's my son too. I do anything for family."

She closed her eyes and he pulled her into another hug. Taking a deep breath, he kissed her brow and looked down at her. Her brown eyes slowly looked up at him and he slowly captured her mouth.

Pulling back, he held her gaze and said "I need to go meet with the doctor."

She took a deep breath and said "Be careful."

Smirking, he stepped around the corner and they returned to the family. Jeff studied him as the doctor came into sight and waved Reese over. They entered an examining room and he took a seat at the table. The doctor pulled out the vile and needle. Reese watchined him prep and looked away as he inserted the needle.

"I take it you believe me now."

"The fact that Joe welcomed you is all I needed."

He looked away from the man and found Joe watching from the door. The doctor filled the vile and removed the needle. He waited as the man wrapped the section on his arm and stood up.

"I will have the results back in an hour."

Reese left the room and felt her following him. He stopped walking and looked back at her. Her brown eyes met his gaze and she looked at his arm.

"Blood transfusion."

"It'll work."

"You run the risk of getting it back."

He ignored the stern look in her eye and said "I've already had it and survived."

"Reese."

"When was the last time you tried to eat or sleep?"

She looked away and said "I can't."

He caught her arm and pulled her down the hall. Cliff stood up when they approached and looked back at his sister.

"What's going on?"

"She's going to the hotel. Give me the room key."

Cliff handed it over and he guided Joe down the hall. They left the hospital and he walked her into the hotel. He looked at her and let her hand go. She walked down the hall and climbed the steps to the second floor. He followed her down the hall to the last room and she let them in with the key.

She laid the key down and sat down on the bed. He found no sign of packed items and looked back at her.

"Where is everyone staying?"

She pointed to another door and he tried the handle. It opened and he found the room with four bags. Looking back at her, he closed the door and sat down next to her.

"You need to rest."

She shook her head and said "If I try, I'll lose him."

"Joe, he's going to be fine. This will work."

Brown eyes looked up at her and she asked "Bear?"

"Hanging on."

She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. He watched her take a deep breath and ran his hand through her hair.

"If I hadn't let them go riding alone this wouldn't have happened."

"Don't blame yourself."

She turned her gaze on him and said "I don't have a choice."

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her brow. She wrapped her fingers around his shirt and finally let herself break down. Closing his eyes, he ran his hand along her spine and let her finally let go.