Sean noted that Noah looked shaken when he came out Tiffany's room. "Is she all right?"

Robert approached as Noah took a pause, glancing at them both before looking down at the ground. "She's fine. She's stabilized and I think she'll stay that way if we don't press the issue."

It was Sean's turn to avert his eyes. "I'm assuming that means not telling her about how severe her memory loss is," Robert says. Noah nodded. "I have an idea," Robert continued. "An idea that'll allow Sean to stay close."

"OK, what?" Sean inquired.

"What if I introduce him as a WSB friend of mine under the guise of keeping her protected?" Robert says. "She already thinks we're acting strangely, if we work off that, admit she was involved in a dangerous situation and that we need to keep her under her protection, I think she'll buy it."

"What do you think, doctor?" Sean queried, finally mustering up some hope.

Noah mulled it over for a second. "It's a bit of a risk, but it'll also explain some things she's already questioning, so it seems like a sound idea. But we can't go farther than that."

"I understand," Sean said.

"I'll come in with you, just to make sure she stays stable," Noah said.

The trio of men entered Tiffany's room. "Hi Tiff," Robert said brightly.

"Robert, welcome back."

"Tiff, there's something that we haven't told you."

"Just one thing?' Tiff asked. Sean smiled under his breath, hearing his wife's fighting spirit emerge made him feel a little better.

"The reason you're here … there was a hostage situation and you were caught in it," Robert said. "You don't remember any of it?"

"Uhhh, no," Tiffany said. "What happened?"

"You kind of got caught in the crossfire and we haven't caught up to all the perpetrators, so it's the WSB's idea … and mine too … that we keep round-the-clock protection around you."

"If you think it's necessary," she said.

"I do," Robert said. "Anyway, I don't know if you remember me telling you about someone I used work with at the WSB … Sean Donely … but I trust him with my life, so I hope you'll trust him with yours."

"Sean Donely?" Tiff said, trying to search her faulty memory banks for a mention of him. "I don't know."

"Don't try too hard to remember, Tiff," Noah said. "It's all right if you don't. Like I told you, it's going to take some time."

"The name sounds vaguely familiar," she continued. Sean sighed with relief. "Were you the one who is in here before?" she said, addressing Sean.

"Yes," Sean said. "I was looking for Robert, I thought he might have already let you in on the plan. I'm sorry about that, Ms. Hill."

"It's perfectly alright, Mr. Donely," Tiffany responded.

"Please, it's Sean."

"OK, Sean." Tiffany flinched as some sort of memory she couldn't grasp flickered by her.

"So Sean's going to be here when I can't be," Robert said.

"If you trust him, I certainly do," Tiffany said.

"Thank you, Miss Hill," Sean replied formally.

"If you're Sean, then please call me Tiffany."

"Tiffany then, fine, thank you."

Tiffany flinched again as another stream of consciousness eluded her. Noah stepped forward. "I think that's enough for now. Tiffany really needs her rest."

"I have to go to debriefing, Tiff," Robert said. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I've heard that routine before, Robert," Tiff replied brightly. "I'll see you when I see you. Or I won't see you when I see you actually."

Robert chuckled. "That's my girl." He kissed the top of her head. "Back soon." He put his hand comfortingly on Sean before exiting.

"Sean, you can stay in this room to guard her if you must, but you have to allow her to get her rest," Noah said.

"I will," Sean said truthfully.

"Tiff, I've got some things to do, so I'll be back later," Noah said.

"That's alright, hon." Noah looked at a stung Sean. Noah patted Tiffany comfortingly on the side, glancing at Sean sympathetically and left the room.

"If you need anything, Tiffany, let me know."

"I will, Sean," she said, letting her eyes drift closed.

Sean looked down at his hands, which were shaking. He walked over to a chair by the door, picking it up quietly and moving it closer to Tiffany's bed. He sat down and just watched his wife fall asleep.

Sean too had drifted off to sleep when his phone started to play the Eva Cassidy song "You Take My Breath Away," Maren's ringtone. He quickly got up out of the chair, looking at the stirring Tiffany as he stepped out of her room.

"Hi baby," he said softly.

"Dad, how are you? How's Mom?" Maren asked.

"She's resting comfortably, sweetheart."

"How about you?"

"Resting uncomfortably," he chuckled.

"Oh, Dad. You can be so silly," Maren chided.

"Why aren't you asleep?"

"Asleep? After the day I had today?"

"I would have expected you to sack out for at least a week," Sean said.

"I'm kind of wired," she said.

"I know the feeling, but you really need some rest," Sean said.

"Well so do you."

"Hey, I was napping when you called," Sean said.

"Oh sorry."

"Don't be sorry, you know I love to hear from my favorite daughter."

"Dad, I'm your only daughter."

"Makes it easy to play favorites."

"Are you going to stop avoiding the issue and tell me something about Mom?"

"Mom's going to be in the hospital for a few days."

"Any change at all?"

"Well, she's stabilized, which is excellent. But the doctors say she has some swelling in her brain and that's causing the vision and memory loss."

"I'm glad she's stable, but…"

"Uh uh uh, no buts," Sean interrupted. "We're going to be happy she's stable and if she keeps improving…"

"…When she keeps improving…" Maren's turn to interrupt.

"Right, when she keeps improving, the doctors will make the decision of whether surgery is necessary or not. There's no reason to worry right now, sweetheart."

"Then why do you sound so worried?"

"Smart girl. You sure take after your mom. I never could put anything over on her."

"Why are you worried?"

"Baby, I'm not. I'm sitting in her room watching over her, making sure everything stays the way it should and she gets the rest she needs."

"When can I come see her?"

"We'll have to wait for the doctor's OK for that. Maybe a couple of days."

"But why? Wouldn't she feel better to have me around?"

"I know I would, but let's just do what the doctor says for now."

"It's not fair."

"It certainly isn't, I definitely agree."

"But you're not going to go against doctors' orders, are you?" Maren asked.

"Not at this point, no."

"OK. Make sure she knows I love her."

"She definitely knows that, baby. And don't forget I love you too."

"I won't, Daddy. Night."

"Night, sweetheart."

They both held on to the line, waiting for the other to hang up. The connection disconnected itself for inactivity after about a minute.

Sean walked back in the room and quietly retook his place on the chair.

"Something wrong?" Tiffany said.

"Sorry, did the phone wake you?"

"It's OK."

"No, everything's fine." Sean took a breath. "It was just my daughter."

"Oh, that's nice. A child who actually calls their parent. I hope mine does someday."

"I'm sure he or she will," Sean said.

"What's her name?" Sean froze, unable to speak. "You do know her name, right, Sean? I'm the one with the memory problem."

Sean chuckled. "Of course, her name is Maren."

Tiffany considered the name for a moment. "Maren. That's pretty."

"Thank you, my wife and I always thought so," Sean said measuredly.

A sense of familiarity washed over Tiffany.

"You OK?" Sean said after seeing the look cross her face.

"Yeah, fine. Didn't hurt a bit."

"Good," Sean said and watched his wife close her eyes and drift back off.