Worth Fighting For!

A What Happened Instead for the episode The Crucible

By No1butjoe

Notes: Special thanks to Cree and Cwright Girl from Bonanza World for the idea for this story!

Disclaimer - I don't own Bonanza or the Cartwrights.

Summary - What if Joe went with Adam?

"Keep working."

Adam ignored Kane and managed to steal a glance over at Joe. For the past few minutes, the younger man had been having a hard time catching his breath. It made sense since he and Kane had gotten into a brawl a few days ago and Joe had ended up with the butt end of a shotgun in his rib cage. Adam's own injury was hurting him, too. When they first came across Kane's camp, Adam had ended up with a shotgun pointed at him. Fortunately, Kane didn't fire. Instead, he only injured Adam's leg, but bad enough so that Joe was the one working the mine. A mine Adam knew was dry.

"Kane, you can't let him go back in there," Adam stated when Joe was getting ready to reenter the deathtrap. "He needs water and food."

"Shut up, Cartwright!" Kane ordered, swinging the gun around to aim it at him. "Or your little brother is dead, you hear me?"

Adam closed his mouth as he worriedly watched Joe head back into the mine, coughing from the dust. This had been going on for days now. Every morning, Kane would wake Joe up by kicking him in the side, right where Joe's injured ribs were. And every morning, Kane would force Joe down into that mine. It was all part of Kane's plan, Adam figured. Kane wanted to find a weakness, something that would make him, or Joe, crack under all the pressure. It was just a game to him, a game Adam was very sure he and Joe were most likely going to lose.

"Any word yet, Pa?"

Ben Cartwright was snapped out of his stupor by his middle son's voice. He looked up to find the large man staring over at him worriedly. Ben sighed and looked back at the paper he had in his hand. He had sent several letters to many cities in hopes of finding his two missing sons. All had turned up negative, but, all the sheriffs promised, if they heard anything, they'd send word.

"No, Hoss," Ben finally answered, crumpling up the paper. "Nothing. This is impossible. No one can just disappear off the face of the earth!"

"I know, Pa, but we've looked everywhere," Hoss reminded him. "The only place we haven't looked is that desert, but only a fool-hardy man would go in there."

Ben looked up from his desk.

"Desert?" he repeated. "What desert?"

Hoss frowned.

"Well, I don't rightly recollect the name of it, but there was rumors in town 'bout a fella who got lost there," came the reply. "Never did find him, poor man. That's why I said no one fool-hardy enough would go through there."

"Of course, Hoss, you're right," Ben admitted. "They wouldn't do something so foolish."

Silence reigned for a few minutes when all of a sudden both men leaped to their feet, already heading to the door. Ben was strapping on his gun belt as Hoss made towards the door.

"I'll go saddle up the horses, Pa," he announced as he shut the door behind him, causing it to close loudly.

Ben continued getting ready as Hop Sing rushed into the room.

"Where Mista Cartlight going?" he asked, impatiently. "Dinna almost ready. You eat."

Ben placed both of his hands on the cook's shoulders.

"We're going after Adam and Little Joe, Hop Sing," he explained. "We'll be back soon."

That said, he too went out the door, closing it behind him, leaving Hop Sing standing by himself. The Chinese cook nodded.

"Family need be home together," he said, firmly. "They bring Mista Joe and Mista Adam home, have big meal!"

Happily, he hurried back into the kitchen to prepare more food.

(Flashback)

"Adam, if we keep going at this pace, the horses will be dead before we will," Joe stated, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.

Adam turned in his saddle after bringing Sport to a stop.

"Joe, you know how many bandits are out here," he responded. "We have to keep moving if we want to make it across by nightfall."

"I'm afraid you won't be meeting your deadline, gentlemen," a voice came.

Joe tensed immediately when he heard the cock of a hammer. Two men appeared from behind an outcrop of rocks, each training a pistol on Adam and Joe.

"Now how 'bout you get down off them horses?" the first bandit asked, though it really wasn't a question.

One false move and Adam and Joe wouldn't be making it home ever again. Without a word, the two brothers dismounted their horses and raised their hands in the air. Grinning like they just struck it rich, the two men mounted and took off, leaving the two Cartwrights to fend for themselves. Once they were out of sight, Adam let his arms drop and he stole an accusing look in Joe's direction.

"What'd I tell you?" he asked, not wanting an answer. "Now we're stranded out here with no food, no water, and no shelter!"

Joe turned to him, eyes blazing.

"Oh, like that's MY fault!" he demanded.

"Joe, if you hadn't been complaining about the heat, we'd be halfway there, instead of stuck in the middle of the desert!" Adam shouted, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation.

"Well, you were the one who stopped, Adam!" Joe retorted back. "I was still going!"

Adam sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

"Look, Joe, we can stand here arguing, or we can start walking," he proposed. "Which will it be?"

Joe grunted and walked right past Adam, heading in the direction of their previous destination.

(End Flashback)

Adam had woken up quite some time ago, the pain from his leg throbbing. Kane had refused to allow Joe to tend to the wound, insisting Adam keep the bullet in there as a reminder of what he had done.

"I want you to break first, Cartwright," Kane had sneered. "And I'll use your brother to do it."

Adam sighed and turned his head. Joe was sleeping, somewhat peaceful, on the other side of the camp. He was shivering, his body shaking and coughs coming every once in a while after every breath.

"You know how to end all his suffering, don't you?"

Adam stiffened at Kane's voice. The man had come up behind him unnoticed, his gun ever-ready in his hand. Kane sat on the bench, one arm on his knee.

"You want to kill me, don't you, Cartwright?" he asked, keeping a steady eye on him. "You want to hurt me for hurting your brother."

Adam didn't reply, he just kept his eyes trained on Joe's shaking form. Kane leaned in closer.

"How long will you wait, Cartwright?" he whispered. "Will you wait before, or after your brother's dead?"

Adam turned and looked Kane directly in the eye. He didn't speak, but Kane saw it. The anger flickering behind his eyes, the sense of fear for Joe and the hatred Adam held for him. It wouldn't be long now.

"Hoss?" Ben asked, cautiously walking up to him, only to spot what he was holding so tightly in his hands.

Ben's face paled completely.

"That's-."

"Adam's hat," Hoss finished for him. "That proves they went this way. We just halfta get to them before something else does."

Ben shivered at the thought. His eyes roamed over the vast desert, not seeing anything for miles as the moon shone brightly in the sky. Not a noise was made as Hoss and Ben continued on, hoping they weren't too late.

"You worthless, good for nothing, piece of trash!" Kane shouted, angrily, kicking Joe in the side. "Get up right now or I won't hesitate to put a bullet in you!"

Adam woke to the shouts of Kane's voice. Anger immediately welled up inside of him at the scene he opened his eyes to.

"Kane, stop!" he shouted.

The man turned to him, a slow grin spreading across his face as his attention solely focused on Adam.

"Well, well, well," he said. "Looks like you have a back-bone after all. Are you planning on stopping me, Cartwright?"

Adam lowered his gaze and didn't answer. Kane stood to his full height.

"I didn't think so," he admitted. "Just goes to show how much you must despise your brother."

Adam's eyes flashed dangerously as he turned back to look at his nemesis. Kane laughed.

"Did I guess right, Adam?" he asked, curiously. "Do you truly hate your brother so much, you're willing to let him die so you can get away scott free?"

"No!" Adam protested. "I'd never do that to Joe!"

Kane snorted.

"Then why do you keep letting me hurt him?" he questioned, smirking. "I bet he's wondering why his older brother isn't helping him. Why he continues to let me torture him over and over again. Tell me, Adam, would you hate me enough to kill me if I turned your own flesh and blood against you?"

Something slimy hit Kane's boot. Adam grinned in satisfaction as his saliva hit it's mark. Without a word, Kane slapped Adam across the face, sending him back into the dirt. Kane took his gun and pointed it at Adam's uninjured leg.

"How'd you like to never walk again, Cartwright?" he sneered, cocking the hammer back.

Before Kane had a chance to pull the trigger, something tackled him from behind, sending him flying into the dirt. Adam watched in amazement as Joe, despite his injuries, wrestled with Kane, weakly trying gain control over the gun. Joe didn't last long. Attacking Kane drained most of his strength and, in a matter of minutes, Kane stood over him, breathing heavily and aiming the weapon straight at him!

"Maybe I oughta teach you a lesson, brat," he stated, stealing a glance over in Adam's direction. "Now, we'll see if my theory's right. Lets see if your brother will try and save you."

Adam watched in horror as Kane leveled the gun at Joe, steady as a rock, took aim, and, calmly, fired.