It was a chilly night about a week before Christmas. Outside snow covered the ground, it's glitzy surface broken by foot prints, snow men and the occasional snow angle. Inside the Cartwright home, the main room was decorated with pine greens, missal toe, and a handsome tree. The stockings were hung neatly, gifts were gathering under the decorated tree. Eggnog and cider wafted through the house as well as the smell of ginger bread. The Ponderosa had all the airs of 'Merry Christmas,' but the men inside it were anything but merry.

Joe had not been making as rapid progresses as they had hope. His sight had returned basically to normal, he still had to wear the patch occasionally though, and his arm was also improving, but his leg wasn't. He had to use a crutch wherever he went and he wasn't allowed to ride alone, both constant embarrassments to the independent boy. And it just seemed that no matter what Joe couldn't walk on his own.

As a result, you had one very cranky little boy who was quickly pushing his family to their last nerve, though he and Adam had managed to make amends.

"I don't remember very much of that happened, but I remember you," Joe had told his older brother as he sat in his lap one afternoon reading Moby Dick. It was a bit chilly out and the fire had been warm and inviting, so much so that Adam found it fitting to pull out an old favorite. Joe had limbed over to him to ask for some homework help and somehow the two had just ended up reading.

"Don't remember very much about what Joe?" Adam asked.

"Remember about being sick, I don't remember the day I rode into town and I don't remember…" Joe paused here and Adam could imagine the play of emotions going through his younger brother's head. Joe had taken Walter's death quietly, sinking into a slight depression for sometime. Adam knew that the boy felt guilty about Walter as well as a great loss and he knew there was no way to convince the boy that he wasn't at fault. That he had done something most men twice his age could have done, so instead he just gave the boy a light squeeze and waited for him to continue in his own time.

"I don't remember Mr. Walter really being sick. But I remember being tired and I remember wanting to give up and just letting Pa take care of everything…."

Adam smiled at this, "Even though he wasn't there?" he teased.

Joe giggled, "Well, I had a fever…."

"Uh huh," Adam said, that same teasing tone in his voice.

But Joe grew serious again, "I didn't want to do anything Adam 'cept sleep but I knew I had to go and get help. I didn't want to but I was the only one who could ride. Still though, I had to convince myself to go and do it, and that's when, I guess, I remembered the fight we had before you left."

Adam felt a wave of guilt at Joe's statement. To him, the fight had been hanging in the air like dead weight the entire time Joe was sick. Now it seemed that it was time to confront it. "Joe, I didn't mean what I said…I 'm sorry, I know the word hurt."

Joe looked up at his brother with a considering look a moment before settling down again and saying, "Don't be sorry, those words kept me alive."

Adam was taken aback by the statement and sat speechless for moment. "What do you mean Joe?"

The boy shrugged, "Whenever I felt like giving up I heard you telling me to grow up and stop thinking of myself and I didn't want to disappoint you so I kept going. I should say thank you to you Adam. So what happens to Ishmael?"

And with that the brothers' fight had been resolved and the weight had been lifted. Latter that night Adam would wonder at not only the simple intelligence of his younger brother, but the frank nature that he had. But that had all been weeks ago, and now the boy's nature was causing the men of the house the biggest head ach. Hoss, currently, was the only one who could stand to be around the boy for more then five minuets, and even his peaceful, easy going way was being pushed to it's limits.

"He can't go on behaving like this!" Ben said frustrated one night after Joe had gone to bed. Adam, Hoss and he were gathered in the main room for an after dinner drink and to discus Joe.

"He's goin' through a hard time Pa…" Hoss started before Adam cut him off.

"It's true, but he has to learn how to deal with things better."

"Well, it's got to be hard fer a yung-in to be held down by something, specially Joe who has more gumption then most," Hoss was quick to counter.

Ben sighed and silenced the two brothers before they got into an argument with a wave of his hand and a few words, "You're both right. Joe can't keep moping around and we have to understand his own frustration. Heck, I'm frustrated for him. I'll see Paul tomorrow to see if there's anything else we can try. But for now, it's late and we have a lot to do tomorrow. Christmas is in three days and we still have a gathering to plan and gifts to buy for the men. I suggest we try to get some sleep."

Thee was no argument from anyone as they silently shuffled off, each one of them walking by a quilt that was neatly folded over the back.

Up stairs, while the older men were settling in for the night, little Joe was waking up. It was a chilly night and he had only a top cover for a blanket, his quilt being left down stairs after it had been taken down there earlier that day. Now he was cold and in his sleep riddled mind there was only one solution that he could think of, to get up and go. Never did it enter his mind that his leg was bummed; never did he think to reach over next to him and grab his crutch. He just got up and went. It was slow going and he stumbled slightly and on the stairs, knocking into things and making a lot of noise (enough noise to wake his eldest brother and father) but he made it. The quilt was heavy to his sleep weighed body and he started to drag it across the floor and headed back to bed.

He didn't get very far before he ran into his brother and father who were rushing down the stairs to see what was going on. It was hard to say who was more surprised, Joe or his family.

"Joseph, what are you ding out of bed?" Adam asked as he reached out and took hold of the boy before he fell down the stairs.

"I was cold and I needed my quilt," Joe said simply as he focused on regaining his footing.

"Joseph…Joe…look at you…" Ben said, taking hold of his son.

"What's wrong?" Joe asked, worried now that he looked sick or hurt in some way.

"Where's your crutch son?"

Joe looked around for the wooden limb and shrugged, "I guess I left it behind in my room."

"Joe do you know what this means?" Ben asked as he scooped the boy into a hug, "it means you don't need it anymore! It means you can walk without it again!"

For a moment nobody said anything, giving the realization time to sink in and then at the same time Adam and Joe let out a cheer and the three men broke out into a fit of laughter, causing enough noise to awaken Hoss. The big man came rushing to the stairs, hair messed and sleepy eyed, trying to figure out what in blazes was going on. It didn't take him long to figure out when he saw Joe standing on the stairs without his crutch and Adam shouted out, "He can walk again Hoss! He can walk again!" It was Hoss' turn to let out a hoot and then scoop the boy up into his arms, causing new waves of laughter.

And that was the way it would go for the rest of the season. Joe spending more and more time moving around and venturing farther and farther from the house. Every step making his smile grow; every stumble or slip making him laugh. For the rest of the family they couldn't ask for more then that; the sound of his laugh, his beaming smile and the sounds of his footsteps.

It was all that the family could ask for, and all that they needed.

The End.