Summary:  I have been mulling this story over for some time and now seems like the right time to post it.  What if two brothers left the Ponderosa to fight in the burgeoning war between the States?

Rated: K+  WC 2200

                                                                                No Such Thing As A Civil War

Joe again looked to his father. “I have to do this pa!”

Ben expression didn’t change. He couldn’t risk letting it. “Why?”

Maybe it was the calm way his father was approaching this that annoyed Joe all the more. It reminded him of Adam. “Why didn’t you give him as hard a time?! Is it because he’s fighting for your side?!”

That made Ben lose all control and composure. How could Joe think he wouldn’t have given Adam as hard a time. “NO! and I gave him just as hard a time. Do you honestly believe I want either of you in this war!?”

“Pa he’s fighting for what he believes in and I’m only asking that you allow me to do the same.”

“But Joseph you don’t believe in slavery. If you did you wouldn’t have voted to join the union.”

“I don’t believe in slavery pa but I do believe in the south’s right to choose.”

“Joe this isn’t about Morvath is it?” Ben wished it were because he believed that Joe would lose his conviction about fighting in this war more quickly if it were about a girl once he saw another pretty face look his way, but if this were about a true principle then Ben knew his son would see it through to the end. Ben hated to think his son would take on so severe an undertaking for so shallow a reason as a girl but he needed to if it meant talking him out of it might succeed.

“No pa. Despite what big brother may think I can see beyond a pretty face.”

So Ben stood and watched his youngest son ride off to the south where only yesterday he’d stood and watched his eldest ride to the north. Ben fell to his knees and prayed for both his sons to return to him safely as he was sure so many other mothers and fathers had done from the beginning of this war. His prayer said and hopefully heard he got to his feet and went and joined his middle son inside.

********

Through the years Ben got letters from each of his sons. Letters that so closely mirrored each other. They were letters that spoke of a longing for peace and of love. They always ended with a request to know how the other was but also a request to not let the other know they were asking. Ben did his best to hold everything together and if it weren’t for Hoss he would have never succeeded.

Despite his belief that the war would never end it did.

********

Adam couldn’t believe his eyes. After all these years it had finally happened. He didn’t know if he were happy for it or not. There was Joe, his little brother Joe, on the opposite side of the field. He was alive and well and Adam would make sure he stayed that way even if it meant surrender.

********

Joe found himself having to hold himself back. That was Adam, there was no doubt of it. How often had he searched the faces of those men opposite him hoping to see his brother’s face and yet always thankful he hadn’t. Now he could see him and he was certain Adam had seen him but did he recognize him? Joe knew he’d done a lot of growing up these past years and surely some of what he’d seen and been through had taken up residence in his face. Had it changed him too much? Would his brother know him or would he shoot him down as a stranger, just another rebel that deserved killing? Joe knew in his heart there was a time his brother would have never believed another man deserved to be killed for fighting for what he believed in but this war had changed many men. Had it changed his brother? Joe knew only one thing for certain, it hadn’t changed him and he would never let any harm come to his brother even if it meant surrender.

********

Both sides waited for the order to fight but none came and if not for the misfire of one of the soldiers the fighting would have never started. Adam saw the battle begin and he ran through the men to find his brother as Joe did the same. They met in the middle of the battlefield. To the men fighting around them who took notice it appeared as if the two men, as they rolled around on the ground, were in a battle of fists. In actuality they were each trying to cover the other with their body in order to use it to shield their brother from harm.

As the battle raged on two messengers made their way onto the field of battle. One rode in from the south the other from the north and the men seemed to sense that the messages they were delivering were important because each man they rode past put aside his weapon in anticipation. The messengers seeked out the commanding officer and when they found them they were not surprised to find them to remain, what they believed, fighting. Each was well known for their tenaciousness and it appeared there would only be one way to get their attention.

“CAPT CARTWRIGHT!”

The two brothers stopped and looked at the men who had called in unison. One said it’s over sir and the other voiced the same announcement. Adam and Joe then seemed to become aware of the silence for the first time. They had been so intent on keeping the other safe they hadn’t noticed it before.

Joe seemed to really see his brother for the first time and he saw that he too looked somehow different. “Is it really over Adam?” If he heard his oldest brother say it then it would really be true. Strange how that never seemed to change.

Adam could see the worn look in his brother’s eyes and was sure it was reflected in his own but he managed a smile for his baby brother. “I sure hope so Joe.”

Each took the official papers the messengers were holding out to them and read.

Joe couldn’t resist saying what he was thinking. “So you only made it to captain.”

True to form and without missing a beat Adam replied as Joe was hoping he would. “I’m surprised you made it that high.”

To the confusion of the men still standing around them brother took brother into a warm and welcome embrace each hoping the country would do the same.

********

They had set a meeting place and once all the discharge papers were in order they met and rode home together. Along the way there were may chances to talk.

“Adam I hope we never have to go through anything like that again.”

“That’s one thing we agree on Joe and I’m sure pa and Hoss are hoping the same thing.”

“Are you disappointed in me Adam?” Why was his brother’s approval still so important?

“What for? You fought for what you believed in. I’m proud of you Joe. It had to be harder for you going against pa like that.”

“Truth is Adam it was harder going against you.”

“What?”

“I knew pa would always be there. I knew it didn’t matter he would always love me.”

“And you thought I wouldn’t? Joe you’re my brother and no matter what I’ll never stop loving you or being there for you.”

“I was so afraid Adam. So afraid I’d see you among the dead.”

“No more then I was of seeing you Joe. I use to look for you before every battle not too sure of what I’d do if I saw you. I knew I could never fight you, I could never take the chance that you’d be hurt.”

“I guess we would have done exactly what we did.”

“Think about surrendering?”

“You too?”

“Yeah and if that idiot hadn’t shot I probably would have.”

Joe smiled. “Now that’s a story I would have loved to have been able to tell. You surrendering to me.”

“As I see it Joe I’ve spent my whole life surrendering to you.”

Adam took comfort in hearing his brother’s laugh and Joe took just as much comfort in hearing Adam’s.

********

They arrived in Virginia City and the town watched as North and South walked down the street side by side. Hoss saw it too from inside the general store and couldn’t believe it, but for a different reason then most. Most saw two men who had fought against each other and couldn’t understand how they could be so near to each other without some small war breaking out. Hoss didn’t see uniforms he saw his two brothers finally coming home. He turned away from the window.

“PA! PA!”

Ben couldn’t fathom why his son was shouting. He stood only four or five feet away. “What is it Hoss?”

“They’re home pa.”

Ben thought his legs might give out but they didn’t. He joined his son at the window and felt as if he must be dreaming. He made his way outside and Hoss followed his father out. Everyone in town stood and watched as a father met his sons and as Ben took his boys into his arms a cheer went up that shook the windows in every building in town.

********

That night, even though it was very late, Ben went to look in on his boys. It was something he hadn’t been able to do for some years and he had to make sure they were really all there once again, that he hadn’t just dreamed this whole day. He started with Hoss who it seemed to Ben was resting easier then he had in some time. Then he went to Adam’s room. He drew close to the bed. My God, he thought, his little boy was going gray.

Adam had heard his father come into the room, truth be told he had lain in his bed waiting for him to. “Pa I wouldn’t have let any harm come to him.”

“I know that Adam. I do believe that’s why you refused the commission. You believed you’d see him and could protect him.”

“I guess but don’t tell him that. He thinks I only made Captain.”

“I won’t son. Besides if he hears the only reason you did refuse is because you wanted to protect him it could start another war.” Funny how that now his son’s were home safely Ben could make light of something he had found far from funny before.

“It’s good to be home pa.”

“Now that you two are back it is home again.”

“Good night pa; see you in the morning.”

“Good night son.”

Ben quietly closed Adam’s door and moved on to Joe’s room. He again tip toed to the bed. He smiled as he watched his boy sleep and was surprised to see a subtle change in his baby’s face. It was somehow more grown up. Ben knew after what Joe had been through that shouldn’t come as a surprise but it did all the same.

“Pa I would have never hurt him.”

“I know that Joe. I guess that’s why you turned down that commission. You figured you’d find him on the battlefield.”

“Don’t tell him. He’s surprised I made Captain.”

“I’ll keep your secret Joe. Besides if I tell him you thought he needed your protection it could start a fight I’m not ready to deal with just yet.”

“It’s good to be home pa.”

“With you and your brother finally back it is home again.”

********

Ben finally settled in his own bed knowing he wouldn’t be the one to betray the secrets he had promised to keep. He wasn’t foolish enough to believe there would always be peace between his youngest and oldest, but then he supposed he wouldn’t want there to be. The disagreements and arguments that occurred between Adam and Joe were what made them who they were. Ben only prayed it would never go this far again. Maybe there was a way to insure that. He could absentmindedly leave Adam’s letters lying around when only Joe would find them and be just as forgetful with Joe’s letters when only Adam would find them. He knew that they would never mention them and them reading wasn’t him telling. At least then they would know the truth if they didn’t already suspect it. They were brothers and nothing would ever change or kill the love they felt for each other not even the stubbornness they both shared, or perhaps inherited was more accurate.