Twenty minutes later, Tom came out of Heath's room rebuckling his belt. "And don't leave this room!"

Tom went to his study and slammed the door. No one saw him until dinner, which was unusually quiet.

"Should we save somethin' for Heath?"

Tom put down his fork. "Audra, sweetheart, when a person lies and disobeys their parents, they don't get what they want. It's not gonna hurt your brother to miss a meal!!"

"Papa, I... didn't mean..." Audra started to cry. Gene not understanding the tension also started to cry.

"Don't cry, honey. Your brother just needs to learn..." Tom stopped, he slid back his chair and threw down his napkin. Then left the house.

The rest of the dinner was silent.

Later Tom went to check on Heath and found the boy asleep on his stomach. It broke Tom's heart looking at him. He just could not get into that kid's head. Guilt started to settle in. He wondered what Heath's early life was like. He wondered what his son had been doing the last year. 'Who did he trust? Nick. Jarrod. Me. Or a ghost, Johnny. What was he like as a baby? How many other times did he go to bed without dinner, lunch, or breakfast?' If only Leah had told him. If only he and Leah had never...

Tom stopped that thought. He loved Heath. To do it all over again, he would, just to have Heath.

Tom walked towards his son, hoping to take off Heath's boots and blow out the light. But the second he moved in the room, Heath stirred.

"Heath, let's get your boots off son." Tom pulled on the little brown boots and Heath suddenly jerked up, breathing heavily.

"It's okay, it's okay. It's just me, Papa." He patted Heath's leg to calm him down. Tom noticed Heath's small fist holding tightly onto something.

Heath sat up, but wouldn't look at his father. Tom bent down and finished taking off the boots. He sighed and began to talk to the silent boy.

"What's in your hand?" Tom took hold of his son's hand and felt just how strong Heath was. The little fist was so tight, Heath's knuckles were turning white.

"It's nothing. Just, just my coin." Tom remembered the small coin Heath had with him from the day Johnny disappeared from the ranch that first night. Heath always had it with him. Always. Especially when he first came and when he first returned after that lost year. Anytime Heath got nervous, he would pull out his coin and rub it or just hold it. When Heath use to wake up with nightmares, Tom and Victoria or Nick or Jarrod, would always find him holding onto that coin. But he never saw him holding onto it so tightly. Tom suspected it was something of Johnny's and that was why it was so special. He wanted to put it on a chain for Heath, but his son would never let it out of his possession.

Tom rubbed his hand over Heath's little fist and spoke softly. "Heath, are you upset because I had to whip you?" Tom noticed his son stiffen up, but he kept quiet.

"Well, you can't do everything you want. Your job is to go to school and I expect you to do just that!" He spoke firmly hoping to make his point.

After a period of silence, Heath whispered, "You can't tell me what to do."

"Oh, yes I can young man, I'm your father!" Tom stood up.

Heath looked down at his coin and mumbled under his breath. "Only because I found you."

"What was that?"

"Only because I found you, you never..." Heath looked up and shouted.

"Now, wait just a minute..."

"You never would have come to look for me, if I never showed up that day, you would have never come to find me!" Heath was getting frustrated and angry.

Tom bent down and lifted Heath's chin, forcing the boy to look at him. "We've talked about this before. I didn't know about you or I would have been with you since you were a baby. I would have taken care of you and Johnny."

Heath jerked away at the mention of his brother. He tried to pull away but Tom held firm. "It's true son, I love you and I loved Johnny. I wish I knew about you before, but I didn't."

"YOU SHOULDA KNOWN!! YOU SHOULDA COME TO FIND US!! MAYBE NOTHIN' WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!!" He jerked away from his father and tried to get up, but Tom grabbed his arms forcing him back down on the bed.

"Tell me!! Tell me what happened to you. Where have you been? What happened in Strawberry? Who put those scars on you?" Tom couldn't stand it anymore, he needed those answers. No one in Strawberry talked. He never learned a thing about the man who was killed. Just that his name was Matt Simmons and he owned the hotel. He had to know everything.

Heath closed his eyes and shook his head. "Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing..." He kept pulling away from Tom's grasp, but his father held him fast.

Tom knew Heath didn't want to talk, but he also knew his son had to for his own sake. "HEATH BARKLEY!! You started this, now you need to finish it! I want to know what happened!"

Heath looked at his father and pleaded with his eyes. "You promised me! You promised you'd not ask me about what happened to me. You said I only had to talk if I wanted to!"

Heath pushed against his father and fought to get away, but Tom grabbed him and hugged him tightly, squeezing him tighter each time the boy struggled. "Heath! Heath, calm down, son."

He began to rock his son and calmly say his name over and over again, and soon Heath's struggling became less intense. Tom whispered in his son's ear, "I know, I know I promised. But sometimes you have to break promises for a person's own good. Trust me, son. I just want to help you."

Tom kept rocking the stubborn boy, until Heath's breathing became less labored and his body became more relaxed. Heath slowly laid his head on his father's shoulder and Tom loosened his grip around his son. He began to rub the blond boy's back.

They were silent for a long time, Heath sitting on the bed leaning into his father's arms and Tom praying for The Lord to give him the strength to help his son. And praying Heath would trust Tom enough to let him into his past.

Tom kept praying until he had thought Heath had fallen asleep. As he was leaning the boy back on the bed, Heath whispered. "Why should I trust you?"

Tom looked into the blue eyes so much like his own. "Because I'm your father, and I love you very, very much."

Tom sat on the bed and rubbed his hands through Heath's hair, the boy was sweating. Heath was quiet a long time. And again, Tom had thought his son had fallen asleep, but the boy spoke again. "Not all fathers love their kids, you know."

Tom was taken aback at the turn in conversation, but knew Heath was opening a door for him. "Yes, your right. Not all fathers do love their kids. But you gotta know I love you. Just like I do Jarrod, Nick, Audra, and Gene." Tom leaned in a kissed Heath's forehead. He was surprised Heath let him, usually the blond pulled away.

"I want you to know I will love you forever. No matter what you do or... what you did."

Heath's fist began to curl back over the coin he was still holding. Tom noticed but kept going. "I have the feeling you are running from something that happened in Strawberry or something that happened while you were missing. I don't know..." Heath's breathing got heavier and he began to fidget.

"Listen to me, no matter what it is I can help you, I promise. That's what father's are for. That's why I'm here." Tom put his hands over Heath's and squeezed, trying to soothe the nervousness out of the boy.

"But... you, you can't. You don't, you don't understand. It was my fault, everything was my fault..." A new set of tears came flooded out of his son. Tom's heart was breaking for his lost little boy.

"Heath, please tell me... what's your fault?" Tom was desperately trying to keep his voice low and comforting because his insides were fuming. He couldn't stand seeing his son hurt so badly. He was holding onto Heath's fist with one hand and stroking his hair with the other. It was the only form of comfort his young son would allow.

"Everyone in that town, they... they hated my mamma. No one cared when she died. Everyone knew, they knew..."

"What Heath? Knew what?" Tom needed to know.

"It, it was because of me..." Heath turned his head from his father, he didn't want him to see him cry. Johnny always said not to let anyone see you cry. 'Then they have control of you.'

Tom stroked his son's hair and held the small hand, "Heath... how was it your fault? You said she was sick."

Heath tightened his grip on Johnny's coin. He wasn't talking to his father anymore. "He, he said she was happy all the time. I, I don't remember her. I never knew her. He said she smiled and laughed." He was quiet for a few minutes.

Tom could hear the pain in his son's voice, he was struggling so much. "Heath..." Tom whispered his son's name.

"I, I'm just a bastard and that made her a whore..."

"HEATH!!" Tom was shocked. He grabbed Heath's face, forcing the boy to look at him. "Your mother was not a whore! And you're not a bastard. Don't ever let me hear your says those words again. I loved your mother and she loved me. She didn't know I was married and had a family."

Tom remembered Leah, she was a happy woman. She smiled all the time. But Heath didn't even remember her. He never knew she smiled or laughed. 'What have I done? All this pain from three months of weakness." Tom shook his head and brushed away his own tears.

"One day when your older, maybe you'll understand what happened between me and your mamma. But for right now, believe me, your mamma was the finest woman I ever knew. She did smile and laugh. And when she had you, I'm sure you made her smile and laugh even more."

Heath's breathing began to slow down. 'Maybe that was all true.' He wasn't so sure, he remember the fight. It started because of him. She was dead because of him. Johnny was dead because of him.

'Who's the little bastard's father, Leah? Maybe he'll give us some money for him. Probably not, he's just trouble.' His uncle knocked him in the back of the head.

'Don't hit him Matt. He's just a baby.' His mamma was fighting for him.

'A baby bastard.' Matt reached out and slapped Heath again. His mamma started crying and ran to his side. Johnny came inside and ran to him. They wanted to protect him. He was the center of it all. He was the cause.

His uncle took off his belt and began swinging it at all three of them. He was crying and Johnny was screaming. 'Stop it!! Leave my brother alone. I'LL KILL YOU!!' His mamma pushed his uncle and stood in front of him and Johnny.

'STOP IT MATT!! Leave them alone!!' His mamma lashed out at his uncle, when all of a sudden he pushed her. She hit her head on the table. Blood was everywhere. It was so red. Johnny ran to her side, crying. He just there, looking at his mamma. His uncle Matt watched and walked out. She never said another word. Then one day he and Johnny watched her go into the ground.

Heath closed his eyes tightly. He didn't want to remember. He couldn't.

Tom watched his son. It was like he wasn't there. "Heath... what's wrong?" He stroked the sweaty blond hair. Tom wanted answers. The little boy was opening up, maybe...

"Heath, who was that man in Strawberry, Matt Simmons? Sheriff Conners wouldn't..."

Heath's began to panic, his breathing came in short pants and his body stiffened. He tried to sit up, but his father held tight. "WHAT'S WRONG? Please Heath, tell me... trust me." He softened his voice.

Heath was quiet a long minute, trying to get his breathing under control. Trying to forget his fear. He whispered so softly, Tom almost didn't hear him. "He, he's my uncle."

"Your uncle? His name was Simmons, how could he be your uncle?" He didn't understand. Heath and Johnny obviously hated this man.

"I, I don't know. He's my mamma's brother." The blond head shook and his voice changed, there was truth behind it. "He hated me." Said like a fact.

Neither spoke for a few minutes. Heath began to relax again. "Is that where you and Johnny went to live when your mamma died?" He had to know.

Heath stared at his father then nodded.

"Is that where you got your scars?" He had an awful feeling Nick was right that night.

Heath's blue eyes shot fire. "I fell!!! Why do you keep asking me that?! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME?!" Heath sat up in bed, jerking away from his father. Tom tried to reach out and touch his son, but Heath pushed his hand away.

"Wait, wait, wait... I want to know everything about you. But your right, I don't have to know all that. If you tell you fell, then I believe you." Tom was lying and Heath knew it, but the boy was grateful he didn't have to relive those moments with his father.

Heath eased back onto the bed and Tom began to stroke his hair again. His young son was getting very tired and Tom knew it, but he had to ask one more question. "Why were you and Johnny so angry at your uncle?"

Heath stared at his father, dumbfounded. His eyes grew and tears swelled. "He killed Johnny, don't you remember?" The small voice cracked.

Tom pulled the boy into an embrace. "Oh honey, of course I remember... I remember... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He held his sobbing son in his arms and rocked him slowly.

He held him for a long time, with sobs escaping from both father and son. Heath wrapped his arms around his father and whispered. "He killed my mamma too."

Tom stopped rocking. 'What did he say? Killed my mamma too.'

Heath kept whispering. "It was because of me. He killed them both because of me." He sobbed breaths and words... "Every... one... I love... will be killed..." He squeezed his father tighter. Will said he'd kill them all. He didn't want to love his new family, but he did. And now they'll get killed. He sobbed harder.

"Heath... shhhhh, it's okay... please, it's not your fault... I promise, it's not your fault." Tom was on fire. He wished he killed the bastard himself. What the hell happened? That damn sheriff knew, Johnny was right. Heath was right. Everyone in that damn town must have known. He remembered his son's words from that night, 'YOU LET IT HAPPEN!' The coward. Then Conners left, ran from Strawberry so Tom could never get the answers. He wanted someone to pay for Leah... and Johnny... and Heath. Simmons was dead, but Sheriff Will Conners was not. He should have protected them. She was a woman with two young sons.

Tom vowed he would never let anyone hurt his son again. He prayed until he thought he could pray no more. He felt Heath's body finally give out, he became dead weight. He laid him on the bed and unbuttoned the boy's shirt. He was surprised when Heath didn't rouse. 'Probably exhausted.' Usually the blond was the lightest sleeper. He traced his hands over his son's chest. One long scar across his son. It was most likely a knife. He traced the shoulders of his boy, a twin scar on each one. A sob escaped his lips.

He kneeled down next to the bed, held his son's hand, and laid his head over his little boy's chest, sobbing.

Later that night, after his father left his room, Heath buttoned his shirt, put on his boots and climbed out the window. The same window Johnny went through. He wouldn't let Will Conners do the same thing Matt did. He took the gun.

He never noticed someone following him...

Nick watched his brother, the kid was trying to carry a lantern and hold onto a small box. He heard his father in Heath's room earlier that night. He knew something was going on with his little brother. When Nick heard the yelling start, he decided to listen from the hallway. His father was in there a long time. After the yelling stopped, Nick laid in bed listening for his little brother to dream, as he did the night before. Yet... just as he thought the nightmares would start, he heard Heath moving around the room, and the window open. That window, the same one Johnny left from and never came back.

Nick followed Heath for about twenty minutes when the blond boy stopped his horse. From a distance, Nick watched his little brother pace around the old oak tree that sits on the edge of the property, almost as if he was counting. The next thing he knew, Heath was on his knees digging in the ground.

'What the devil is he doing?' Nick eased his horse in for a closer look, when all of a sudden Heath turned with speed.

The blond boy turned on his knees and pointed a gun straight in Nick's direction, cocking ready to fire.

"HEATH!!!" Nick came into the light and jumped off his horse. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!!" Heath recognized his brother, laid his gun down and continued digging.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH A GUN?!" As Nick reached his brother's space, he snatched up the gun smacking Heath in the back of the head when he did.

"IF FATHER CAUGHT YOU WITH THIS, YOU'D BE IN A HELL OF A LOT MORE TROUBLE THAN YOU WERE TONIGHT!! YOU'RE TOO LITTLE TO BE MESSIN' WITH GUNS!! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENIN' TO ME?!!!?" Nick grabbed Heath's arm forcing his brother to look at him.

"Stop it NICK!!" Heath pulled away and pushed Nick at the same time, forcing his brother to fall.

Nick got up and lunged for his brother. "Why I oughta... WE'RE GOIN' HOME RIGHT NOW!!" Nick jerked Heath up.

Heath struggled against his angry brother. "I'm not going back!!"

The dark haired boy was stunned. 'Not going back.'

The small boy walked away from his brother and picked up the box. This was everything left. Earlier that day, after his father whipped him, Heath got out the box of money. He had already hidden the bag of coins from Mexico. Now he needed to hide the money from Strawberry. Johnny said it was good to move things around, that way it would be harder for someone to find.

The blond opened the box, on top was a picture of his mamma and Johnny. The both were happy. Smiling. It was before he was born. He closed the lid and placed it in the hole he just dug. He didn't want to do this, but he had to. Will would find him, probably soon. Then everyone was in trouble. He had to protect them, especially Audra and Gene. He was the big brother now. He would protect them with his life. Like Johnny did for him.

Nick came out of his shock, "You've got a lot to learn LITTLE BROTHER!! You found us and YOU'RE STAYIN'! Sometimes I don't even know why I try... you're about more TROUBLE THAN YOU'RE WORTH!" Nick kept yelling.

Heath was trying to bury the box and ignore Nick, when he heard a sound from the trees. 'The gun. Where was the gun?' Heath reached for the gun, next to Nick's foot, when he heard a laugh he knew well. Then the click of a gun.

"I told you I'd never let you go..." A voice called out.

"WHO THE HELL..." Nick looked towards the trees.

Heath desperately grabbed for the gun. "NICK!! LOOK OUT!!"

A shot rang out.... then another.

Heath fell face first on the ground and Nick stumbled into Frank. Everyone hit the ground with a thud. Nobody moved.

Heath opened his eyes slowly. His head hurt. It kept pounding and pounding. 'What's going on?' He turned over on his knees and regretted when he did. The world began to spin, so he laid back down and closed his eyes. He had to figure out what was going on. He remembered someone yelling. His Uncle Matt? No... someone else. His father, yes... he had a father now. His father was the one yelling. He had gotten whipped... why?

The blond boy was tired. All he wanted was his brother. Johnny, where was he? His thoughts flooded with memories of his brother. He was the one who taught him everything. How to survive, to fish, to play poker, to steal... the money. They stole Uncle Matt's money. The Sheriff, he caught us. He made us give him the money... he wanted the money. No... that was Mexico. Where he learned to shoot, where Will taught him how to kill with a gun.

His head began to pound again. He couldn't stand the pain. Something was wrong. He couldn't breathe. He tried to open his eyes again. 'Who did he shoot? Who did he kill?' He got up on his hands and knees, focusing on his surroundings. There was smoke. That's why he couldn't breathe. THE LANTERN!! It must have turned over.

Visions of what happened came flooding to Heath's mind. He was in Stockton. He and his father fought. He cried. He was worried about Will. He wanted to run away but Nick...NICK!! Heath had to find him. He remembered Will's laugh and the guns going off.

"NICK!!! NICK, WHERE ARE YOU?!!" Heath crawled in the direction he thought his brother would be. It was so hot. He was confused, he couldn't see anything. He began to cry, he couldn't do it. He needed help.

"Johnny, where are you? Help me! Help me find him. Please, help me be a brother like you." Heath was whispering. Johnny wasn't here anymore. He would never be here again. He had to find Nick on his own. He had to go on living without Johnny.

Heath began to crawl harder, he croaked out his new brother's name. Pleaded for Nick to answer him. He reached out and touched something. A boot.

"Nick!!" Heath pulled himself closer to the body and got close to the face. It was Nick. Heath let out a sigh. He started to shake his brother to rouse him. "NICK!!"

He felt someone grab his leg, so he started kicking. He kicked with all the strength his eight-year-old legs had.

Will Conners fought off Heath's constant kicking, jerking the boy's leg so hard that Heath came off the ground. Heath turned over and started to crawl to get away, but Will was quick. He pounced on the small boy, wrestling him to the ground. Conners turned Heath over, grabbing the blond boy's throat. He wanted to squeeze the life out of the little bastard. Just like Heath did to him in Mexico, leaving him in that saloon, taking all the money.

Heath couldn't breathe. He looked into Will's eyes and saw the monster Will had become. He saw his mamma dying. The way she fell into the table, how her head bounced when it hit the hard wood. He saw Johnny dying, telling him to remember. To leave him with their mamma. He saw the last smile and the green eyes shut. He saw Nick. Lying in the middle of a fire in Stockton. On HIS father's land. Nick, his brother, who wanted him to stay.

Heath began to loose consciousness. He couldn't fight as hard. The fire was so hot, and the smoke so thick. He let go. He stopped fighting. He wanted to be with his mamma, with Johnny. Uncle Matt and Will were going to win after all. Everything would end, the pain, the tears...

"HEATH!!!! NICK!!!!" Tom Barkley screamed his sons' names. About twenty minutes ago, he noticed his two sons were missing. He was making his last check on his children, when he found two beds empty. He went to the barn and saw the horses gone. He roused one of the hands to help him follow the tracks. Nearing the edge of the property, they spotted the fire. They shot their guns in the air, alerting for help. Then began to search the smoke for the missing boys.

Heath kept hearing his mamma call. She missed him and he missed her. And Johnny, he was calling him too. Maybe everything would be okay. She would take care of him and Johnny, like before. How Johnny said she use to be. The blue eyes were beginning to close, when Will suddenly fell forward landing on him.

Tom put his gun back in his holster, rushing to reach his young son. "Heath!! Heath, son, are you alright?!"

He kicked the man off his son. He couldn't believe what he had just seen. The crazy man was trying to kill his son. If he hadn't gotten there on time...

Tom picked up his son. The little boy wasn't moving. But all Tom thought about now, was getting Heath out of the smoke and fire. His men just arrived and were beginning to fight the fire. Jake had already gotten Nick out of danger and was rushing to get Dr. Merar.

Finally putting Heath on the ground next to Nick, Tom could check on both his sons. Nick was coming around. His face was bloody, but Tom could only discover a busted lip. "Nick, son, it's Father. I'm here. You and your brother are safe."

Nick opened his eyes and slightly smiled at his father. It was okay now. "Where's Heath..." His voice hurt. He began to cough. His father sat him up.

"Don't speak. Heath's right here."

He looked over at his younger son. The blue eyes never opened. Tom felt for a pulse and put his head to Heath's chest. He was alive.

"Heath." He spoke softly, hoping to rouse his son. "Heath, it's Papa. You're okay. You and Nick are safe."

'It could have been much worse.' He placed his hand on each boy. He thanked God for protecting his children.

Victoria Barkley ran outside the door when she saw her husband and two sons ride up. Tom had left in a hurry almost an hour earlier, not even telling her he was leaving. She was down stairs reading by the fireplace, when he flew out the door. Soon after, on her way to bed, she discovered Nick and Heath were missing. She then knew where Tom was going. To find his sons.

At first, she wasn't really worried. She knew this night would come soon. The fight Tom and Heath had earlier in the day still stuck in her mind. How he whipped the poor boy for lying and missing school. She knew it hurt Tom to do it, but she also knew it must be done. Then later that night, when Tom had a heart to heart with Heath, she remembered how her husband came out of the little boy's room. He had been in there for almost two hours, and when he finally came out, her husband went straight to his office and closed the door. Victoria wanted to ask Tom what Heath said, but upon seeing his face, she knew Tom wanted to be alone. So she went downstairs and sat by the fire, dwelling in her own thoughts. It was only later, after Tom flew out of the house, and after she discovered her sons were missing, when the fire bell started to ring.... it was only then she began to worry.

"TOM!! What happened?" She ran to the horse's side.

Duke McCall was helping Nick off his horse and Tom was jumping off his own horse, still holding onto Heath.

"NICK!! HEATH!! What's happened Tom?"

"There was a fire. We got there... found the boys..." Duke was walking a coughing Nick towards the house.

"I don't know, Vic... some man... he, it was awful..." Tom was rushing inside.

The men were talking at once, trying to get the boys upstairs. Victoria rushed to the kitchen to heat some water, only to discover Silas had already started boiling some towels.

"Mizzus Barkley, you go on now, git upstairs to our boys, I's gettin' everything ready for the doctor."

"Thank you, Silas. Just send the doctor up when he gets here." She was grateful for such a trusted friend. Silas had been with them since she and Tom got married. Before that, he was with Tom's family. He showed up on their door step when he was eight, looking for work. Tom's parents knew he must have been a runaway slave, so they took him in. And when they decided to sell their land in the east, they took Silas west with them. To live in the new land, to start out fresh. When they made it to California and Silas turned eighteen, Tom's parents told him he was free. They had taught him how to read and how to care for himself and they felt he had the right to chose his own life. Tom had just gotten married, so Silas decided in order to repay this kind family, he would help Tom and Victoria. He'd been with them ever since.

Victoria started upstairs as Doc Merar entered the house.

"What's happened, Victoria? The hands said something about a fire."

"I'm not sure, Howard. Tom just brought them in a little bit ago."

They made it to the top of the stairs when Tom rushed out of Nick's room. "I put them both in here. I thought it'd be easier. Nick's conscious, but... Heath, he hasn't opened his eyes since..."

Howard made his way into the room and began to check out each boy. All the while, Tom is rambling on about what happened.

"I don't know how long they were in the smoke..." Tom was pacing the room, looking at everyone but no one in particular.

"Nick, sit up son. Let me listen to your chest."

"It couldn't have been long. And when we got there, I could hear Heath calling... struggling."

"Victoria, run some water in the tub. As hot as you can get it..."

"It was so hot. How could that man have done that..." Tom was getting louder and louder.

"TOM!" The doctor yelled. He needed it quiet. He needed time to think. He had seen the man at the fire, before he came to the house. It was Strawberry's sheriff, Will Conners. Jake, the Barkley hand, had told Doc Merar all that had happened while on the way back to the ranch.

'This man, he was on top of little Heath. Like he was chokin' him or something. I think that man was gonna kill him. Mr. Barkley thought so too, so he shot him. The man killed over right on top of Heath. Don't know if he's alive. Just shoved him over and Mr. Barkley just carried out his son. I had found Nick and got him out. Then rushed to get you.'

'Let's stop by the fire first, and check on the man.'

They reached the place of the fire and Howard looked at the man. Will Conners. He felt for a pulse and there wasn't one. Why would he be here? And wanting to hurt Heath. Then it all came together. The missing year. Conners disappeared the same time Heath did. He was the one who had Heath that whole time.

Howard looked at Tom and Victoria's shock, and it brought him back to the present. "Tom, I need you to help Victoria to get Nick to the bathroom. Let him breathe over the steam of the hot water. It'll help clear his chest. I'll check out Heath."

The family did what the doctor said.

"Heath, open your eyes boy." The doctor check the blond boy's vital signs. His pulse and breathing was similar to Nick's. He had a little bump on his head, but no blood or dry blood. His neck was red, probably where Conners' was choking him. The little boy was roughed up that was for sure, but nothing that would keep him unconscious.

Howard Merar looked at his young patient in the face, and could tell the little boy was keeping his eyes closed all on his own. He didn't want to open them. The more the doctor spoke to Heath, the more the boy would tighten his eyes.

The doctor smiled a sad smile, and patted the blond's shoulder. Then went to check on his other patient.

"Tom, can I talk to you a minute? Victoria, just a little bit longer, then Nick can go back to bed. I'll check his chest again in a minute."

Tom walked out with the doctor. "Is it Heath? Is he okay? I don't know why he hasn't opened..."

"Tom, physically, Heath is like Nick. He just has some bruises and he needs to breath in some steam."

"Is he awake?"

"Well... yes, he's conscious. But he won't open his eyes. He's trying to keep them shut."

"Trying to keep them shut?!" He started towards the room, when Howard stopped him.

"Tom, he's okay, probably with all that happened he's just scared... listen, that man..."

"THAT MAN WAS TRYING..." His anger was building up again.

"Shhhh, Tom, you don't understand, that man was Will Conners." Howard grabbed his friend and made Tom look at him. He wanted Tom to listen to him. To hear what he was trying to say.

"Conners?! Wasn't he..."

"Yes, Strawberry's sheriff."

"WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING HERE?! WHY THE HELL WAS HE..."

"TOM?! What is wrong?" Both men turned to see Nick and Victoria in the hallway heading back to the room.

Tom turned from his wife. Will Conners. He was trying to kill Heath.

Howard walked past Tom and motioned Nick back to bed. "Lay down, Nick, I'll be there in a minute. Victoria, could you get me some coffee? And a scotch for Tom." He knew Tom would need one.

She looked at the doctor, and saw the pleaded in his eyes. Whatever was being said, was not over. She nodded and walked down the steps.

"He was the one who had Heath." Tom almost whispered the statement.

Howard turned and had tears in his eyes. "Yes, I think so too. They disappeared at the same time. If only we connected it before. Tom, I am so sorry."

Tom put his arm around his good friend. "I should have known that bastard was going to do something. I threatened him and his job. I probably pushed him. But why? He knew I would had money. That I would pay any amount."

"I don't know Tom, only Heath knows that."

"Sometimes I'm not sure he'll ever tell what happened."

Nick looked over at his brother. He hadn't opened his eyes once. He got up and moved over to Heath's bed.

"Heath. Heath. Please, Heath, open your eyes." He climbed into bed next to his little brother, and put his arm over the blond's chest. "I'm sorry little brother. I shoulda never left ya. Nothin' woulda happened to ya, if I didn't leave ya in that hotel. I guess I'll never be as good a brother as Johnny. But dammit Heath, I'm not Johnny. I can only be Nick. And I know I can be the best big brother as anybody, even Johnny. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again. Ever."

Nick laid his head next to Heath's and spoke closely in his ear. "Please, Heath. Forgive me. Forgive me for leavin' ya. Let me be your big brother."

He watched his little brother's face, the tightening of the eyes, trying to squeeze tighter and tighter. Nick Barkley let his tears fall. "I love you Heath." He laid his head back down and closed his own eyes, maybe trying to see what his brother was seeing.

Heath could hear them all talking. His father, the doctor, Nick. But he couldn't hear Johnny or his mamma anymore. He heard them earlier, calling for him. But he couldn't hear them now. No matter how much he tried or how much he concentrated, he couldn't hear them. 'Please Johnny come back. Don't leave me again. I need you. It hurts so bad Johnny.' He listened and listened and listened and just when he was about to give up, that's when he heard him.

"Please, Heath. Forgive me. Forgive me for leavin' ya." It was Johnny! He came back.

"Let me be your big brother." You are. You are my big brother Johnny! He wanted to grab him and hug him. He could feel him breathing next to him. Everything was going to be alright.

"I love you Heath." I love you too Nick. Nick. It was Nick the whole time. Johnny was gone. Over a year. He would never be back. Johnny wanted him to be safe. Johnny wanted to protect him. Nick wanted him to be safe. Nick wanted to protect him. They were in a fire. Will was there. He couldn't find Nick. Nick, his brother. Nick, who laughed with him. Nick, who played with him. Nick, who wanted him to stay. Nick, who always listened for his nightmares. Nick, who wanted to be a big brother to him.

"Nick..." The small voice struggled.

Nick sat up and looked into Heath's face.

"Why are you in... bed with me?" Heath opened his eyes and smiled.

Nick got up quickly. "Why you?! See if I ever try to help you again... you were over here not talking or anything, but you were just tricking. FATHER!"

Heath grabbed Nick's arm and pulled him closer, before his Father and the doctor walked in. Blue eyes met hazel. "I love you too." Nick smiled and pulled away just when Tom and Howard rushed in the room.

"What is it? Are you okay?" Tom touched both his boys.

"Well, Heath here was just playin' opossum."

"Heath, are you okay?"

The blond nodded.

"Heath, what happened out there?"

Heath looked at his father and his brother. His family. His strength. "Papa..."

"Yes, son." Tom stroked his young son's hand. He could tell this was gonna be hard.

"I'll tell you everything. Just... just, not now. I'm tired. I'm just so tired of running."