More hours passed. Kotter thought that he saw improvement in Epstein. The vomiting had stopped, and the horrific cramping and spasms were definitely decreasing in number and intensity. Epstein had even been able to drink a cup of broth without any ill effects. He asked to be let loose, but Kotter had deemed it wiser to keep him restrained for a bit longer. The young man had acquiesced quietly, and soon after fell into a peaceful sleep. After watching him for a time, Kotter curled up on the couch while Julie slipped out to wash some blankets.

He heard her unlock the door and come in, but he kept his eyes closed until her sharp gasp made him raise his head.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Julie had turned away from him. "Cover your student!" she exclaimed.

Gabe looked over at Epstein. "Oops." He jumped off the couch with a groan and tugged the sheet higher.

"I am truly sorry, my dear," Gabe said with exaggerated finesse.

Julie smiled. "How about some coffee?"

"I'd love it."

While Julie made two cups of coffee, Gabe sat and observed the peaceful face of his student.

"I think that maybe the worst may be over."

"Oh, I hope you're right." Julie handed Gabe a cup of coffee and sat down opposite him. For a time they drank their coffee in silence.

"I think that maybe the weirdest thing about all this is seeing Juan Epstein crying," Julie observed.

"Yeah. I always imagined the doctor who delivered him going to slap him and being threatened by a newborn tough guy."

Julie chuckled. "He probably never cried for a bottle or for a diaper change. He would scowl and frighten everyone into taking care of him."

"I can just picture him making a tiny fist at his mother."

"Should we untie him?" Julie finally asked through a yawn.

"We should probably wait until he wakes up so he can get some clothes on first." Gabe waggled his eyebrows. "Unless you want some streaking in here."

Julie tried to frown, but her exhaustion made her giddy, and she giggled instead. "That is not a picture I want in my mind."

"What, you don't like your men short, dark, and hairy?"

They both broke into laughter. "We are being totally inappropriate," Julie observed. "I almost feel drunk."

"So let's drink to my student lying naked in our apartment," Gabe toasted, holding up his coffee cup.

"That sounds very wrong," Julie replied.

Kotter nodded enthusiastically. "It was meant to!"

"Hey, I've got an idea. Let's cut his hair while we've got him tied up!"

"Evil, my lady," Gabe said. "Tempting, but evil."

"What about a bath? He's smelly."

"Impractical. But we could get some deodorant. He's in the proper position for some spray in the armpits."

"He needs to be sprayed everywhere!" Julie said, wrinkling her nose.

Gabe climbed to his feet. "I'll be back," he grinned. He went into the bathroom and emerged a moment later with his can of deodorant. Shaking it as he returned to his seat, he made a show of positioning it over Juan's right armpit while Julie gasped with laughter.

"Gabe, you wouldn't!"

His answer was a burst of cold spray onto Epstein's skin. They both laughed when the sleeping figure jerked and moaned.

"Much better. Now your side." Kotter handed the can to Julie, who sprayed the left armpit. Epstein once again jumped.

"We are seriously overtired," Julie said, yawning again. "Why don't we kick this kid out?"

"Mm, one more thing first. We can't pass up a wonderful tickle opportunity."

"I don't think so," Julie demurred. "But feel free to indulge."

"Coochie coochie coo!" Gabe lightly dug into Epstein's ribs, causing a violent shift as Juan tried to pull loose.

"Somebody's very ticklish!" Kotter said, squeezing Juan's side.

"Somebody's gonna get their ass whipped," Epstein croaked, abruptly awake and twisting away from Gabe.

"Julie, where's that bar of soap that I set aside for young men with foul mouths?"

"Mr. Kotter?" Juan looked up at his teacher, genuinely confused.

"Hey, welcome back to the world of the living!" Kotter smiled. "I gather you don't like being tickled?"

"What? That was you? I thought…I was at home." Epstein scanned the room. "Oh, yeah. I forgot where I was." He closed his eyes. "Why were you tickling me?"

"An overtired mind is a dangerous mind."

"Well, don't. I really, really hate it."

"Interesting. I'll have to remember that."

"How are you feeling, Juan?" Julie asked.

"I think I feel better." Epstein tugged at the restraints. "Mr. Kotter, could you please let me loose? I'm not gonna run."

"I think we can do that. Then you need to get some clothes on."

Epstein stared in horror. "Where—where are my clothes? Who took them off?" He shot a glance at Julie, his face reddening.

"Don't worry, Juan, I wasn't here." Julie stood up. "I'll just disappear for a few minutes while you get dressed." She headed for the bathroom.

Gabe released Epstein's wrists and ankles from the bandannas, and Juan carefully sat up.

"I'm a little dizzy," he said.

"Just take it slow," Kotter told him. He fetched some clean clothes from the bag that had been brought over for Epstein. "You'll probably want to take a bath."

"Yeah." Epstein pulled on his shorts, then stopped, deep in thought.

"What's going on, Juan?"

He shook his head. "Too much. I can't figure it all out. I don't think I even remember everything that happened here."

"It'll take time," Kotter said. "But you've made it."

Juan shrugged. "I guess." He finished getting dressed, and after a call home, waited for two of his siblings to escort him.