There is a Time

by LuckyLadybug

An old enemy of Radley's is coming to Satisfaction Town. He tells Kalin of how they met, when he was traveling and ended up in a small town called Mayberry.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds/The Andy Griffith Show

There is a Time

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters from the shows are not mine. The antagonist and the story are mine. Thanks to Crystal Rose of Pollux for checking some of the scenes! This is one of the strangest crossovers I've ever written, and yet somehow it seems to make sense. I somehow doubt I'll get a lot of readers actually familiar with both shows, but in any case, since there are a couple of references to current technology, I should tell fans of The Andy Griffith Show that I set the show in the present-day, but keep its nostalgic feel. I do this for multiple reasons. To me it's not a period piece and the stories and themes are timeless and could just as easily take place now. It's easier for me to relate. The crossover works easier. And mostly, when have we ever needed Mayberry more than we do now? I hope the story won't come across like I'm bashing the show. It seems to be canon that some of the people do have trouble accepting those who are different from what they feel should be, at least until they can see the newcomer is nice, and that if they think someone is guilty of a crime, they can gang up on them. But they're completely loyal and sorry when they realize they've made a mistake. For fans of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, the framing story takes place post-Crash Town arc and Kalin and Radley are starting to become close friends. The flashback takes place about six years earlier, when Radley was 19. He was sheltered most of his life and was just starting to experience the real world. Hence, he was more naive then than later. I'm using the theme #71 - Innocent, from the abandoned 5Ds_100 writing community on Livejournal. The bit where Kalin tells Radley about what Jack did is similar to a scene from an RP with MoonlightTyger.

Kalin wasn't sure what was wrong when he came into the diner and found Radley slumped forlornly over a table, a half-finished bottle of cactus cider next to him.

"What's wrong?" he frowned. Satisfaction Town was being put back together after Lawton tore it apart. Radley was almost all healed from being tortured in the mines. He and Kalin enjoyed living together so much that they didn't want to stop now that Radley had recovered enough that help wasn't needed. Radley had been cheerful before Kalin had left on his daily rounds to check on the town. Now he looked completely worn-out.

Radley sighed and shook his head. "I got a text message that Harry Brewer is arriving in town today and he wants to see me. I don't know how he got my number." He straightened and reached for the cactus cider. "I know you don't know who that is, but he hurt me pretty badly in the past. He hurt a lot of other people too. I can't imagine what he wants with me now, unless it's revenge because I helped get him arrested."

Kalin slipped into the seat directly across from Radley. ". . . Do you want to talk about it?"

Radley smiled a bit. "Yeah, maybe so." It was still hard to get used to sometimes, that now Kalin actually wanted to talk with him and be friends with him. It almost felt like a dream at times, after how Kalin had rejected him so much in his earlier depressive states.

"Well, after my family rejected me and I had to call it off with Brittanie when I realized she didn't really love me, I didn't stay in California," he began. "For a while I just took my motorcycle and cruised around the country, trying to find a place to belong that felt like home. At one point I ended up in North Carolina in a little town called Mayberry."

Kalin grunted. "Isn't that a show?"

Radley had to laugh. "Maybe somebody from the past time-traveled to the present, met them, and went home to make a TV show about them. I dunno. But they're real. I'll admit, though, going there was like stepping back in time. And . . . that wasn't always a good thing."

It only took Kalin a moment to fully process what that meant. "They didn't like your long hair and jewelry?"

"No, they sure didn't," Radley said. "They were living in the past like my family and thought I was a hooligan. Most of them did, anyway. There were some forward-thinking people there too."

Past

Radley wasn't sure what to make of the town when he rode in and found himself on a little Main Street. It looked like the buildings' designs hadn't been updated in decades. It was fascinating and quaint. But from the way people looked nervously out their store windows or stared at him from the sidewalk, they weren't terribly pleased about their new visitor. Radley tried to smile at them and show he meant no harm, but it looked like they weren't biting.

Finally he parked in front of The Bluebird Cafe and sighed sadly to himself as he climbed off and removed his helmet. He would just get something to eat and move on. It was clear he wasn't wanted here. Maybe they wouldn't even serve him.

A Mexican-American waitress looked up from wiping off the counter as he entered. "Hola," she smiled at him. "Well, we don't see many around here like you."

"Yeah?" Radley smiled a bit and started to relax. "Bikers?"

"Si, and Hispanic bikers at that," she said. Her nametag read Juanita. "We've gotta stick together."

Radley settled on one of the stools. "You're a biker?"

"No, but I like bikes." She handed him a menu. "I'm Juanita Beasley. My father isn't Hispanic. That's why the last name," she smirked.

"I'm Radley," he said. "My father named me. He's Spanish-American; he just wanted to be different."

"Different is good," Juanita told him. "Are you staying?"

"I'm probably just passing through," Radley said.

"You should stay," she told him. "Liven the town up a bit! It could use it."

Radley smirked. "Maybe I will."

The meal was pleasant, as was the conversation. Business was slow and Juanita chatted with him most of the time. When Radley left, he felt in higher spirits . . . until he walked right into a high-strung guy in a uniform outside the diner.

"Oh hey, I'm sorry," Radley said.

He received a glower in reply. "Just who are you and what do you think you're doing talking up my girl?" the deputy retorted.

A bit of frustrated anger rose in his heart. "The name's Radley, and 'your girl' was just being kind to a lonely Hispanic traveler," Radley coolly said. "I just dropped in for a bite to eat."

The deputy fumed. "Don't you be disrespectful to the law, you . . . you . . . !"

Radley inwardly groaned. He certainly knew enough to know that he didn't want to run afoul of the police, but this situation was ridiculous! It was difficult to keep from retorting with all that he really wanted to say. But somehow he had the feeling that if he did, he'd be hauled off to jail in the next instant. Or given a ticket a mile long.

"Look, I honestly didn't mean to do anything wrong," he said. "She was just being kind to me. Maybe kinda glad to see a fellow Hispanic, but that's it! You must not have much confidence in her or yourself if you think she'd cheat on you so easily."

The deputy's eyes bugged out. "You're young enough to be her son!" he wailed. "Or at least her younger brother!"

"Barney!"

Both of them jumped. A man with a sheriff's badge was coming over to the scene, not looking terribly pleased. From his frown, he really wanted to censure the deputy, but not in front of a stranger.

"Now just what is going on here?!" the sheriff demanded.

"Andy, this biker punk was trying to move in on Juanita!" Barney exclaimed.

"I was having lunch," Radley retorted.

Andy heaved a deep, resigned sigh. Clearly he was used to this kind of madness, albeit he didn't like it in the least.

"We'll get all this straightened out," he said. Looking to Radley, he said, "Hello there. I'm Sheriff Andy Taylor. This is my deputy, Barney Fife."

"Hi," Radley said. "I'm Radley R- . . . just Radley. I'm just passing through your town and stopped to eat. I didn't make any improper advances on the waitress, nor did she make any on me. We were just having a friendly conversation."

"That's about what I thought," Andy said with a firm nod. "Barney, you're due on patrol about now, aren't you?"

"But Andy, I . . ." Barney trailed off. "Alright, alright. I'm going." But he managed to shoot another suspicious look at Radley before he stormed off.

Radley couldn't refrain from a sigh of relief. "Hey, thanks for that," he said. "I wasn't looking to get into any trouble."

"You look like you've already seen your fair share of that," Andy said. "Are you sure you don't want to stick around a spell? We've got a right nice town here."

Radley managed a sad smile. "I don't think most of the townspeople like me much. I'm not what they're used to."

"They just need a chance to get to know you," Andy said. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you come home and have dinner with me and my son Opie and our Aunt Bee? They'd love to meet you."

". . . If you're sure I wouldn't be imposing," Radley said.

"Not a bit!" Andy insisted. "We often have friends over for dinner."

"I'm still a stranger," Radley pointed out.

"And I'd like to change that," Andy said.

". . . Okay," Radley said at last. "If you're sure they wouldn't mind."

"They'll be happy to make a new friend," Andy said. "I'll drive home and you can follow on your motorcycle."

Radley smiled a bit. "Sure."

As he turned to walk back to his vehicle, an unfamiliar boy around his age was studying it with a furrowed brow. "Nice bike," he spoke.

"Thanks," Radley said. "I'm pretty happy with it." He took his helmet. "I'm Radley."

"Harry Brewer," was the reply. He stepped back to let Radley get on. "Someday I'm going to get enough money to get one of those and get out of here," he vowed.

"You don't like it here?" Radley asked.

Harry shrugged. "It's alright, but it's too old-fashioned and backwards. I want the big city."

"Then I hope you get it," Radley said. "But honestly, big cities aren't always all they're cracked up to be." He finished adjusting his helmet and moved to turn the key.

"Neither are small towns," Harry said. "You wait and see. They can turn on you just like that." He snapped his fingers.

Radley frowned. "I don't think everybody would be like that."

"You poor naive fool," Harry sneered. "I'll see you later."

He started down the street as Radley drove off after the squad car. But his disturbing words stayed with Radley long after he left the main street.

xxxx

The Taylor home was a pleasant place on one of the many residential streets. When Andy and Radley pulled up in front, a young boy of around eight was playing on the front lawn with a baseball. He immediately perked up, hurrying over to the sheriff. "Pa!"

Andy smiled, hugging the boy close. "Opie, I'd like you to meet a visitor here in town," he said. "This is Radley."

Opie looked up at Radley without fear and with a big smile. "Hi!" he greeted. "Do you like baseball?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Radley said. He hadn't played it much, but it seemed like a fun game to participate in.

"Great!" Opie beamed. "We can play until dinner. Okay, Pa?"

"Okay, if Radley here is up for it," Andy chuckled.

"I'm game," Radley said.

Aunt Bee came out on the front porch while Radley was taking off his leather jacket to play. "Andy?" She sounded uncertain. "What's going on?"

"Oh, why, this is Radley, Aunt Bee," Andy told her. "He's joining us for dinner."

"Hi," Radley smiled at her. "Your nephew's been really kind to me. It's a nice change from what usually happens to me." He draped his jacket over his left arm and held out his right hand to her.

"Oh . . ." Aunt Bee looked like she wasn't sure how to react. But finally, hesitantly, she took Radley's gloved hand and slowly shook it. She started to relax. "You're certainly not like most bikers. . . ."

"Actually, most bikers are nice," Radley said. "It's just that 1% who get the rest of us in trouble."

"Well . . ." The plump woman stepped back. "We'll be happy to have you stay for dinner, Radley. I'll just go back inside and finish getting it ready."

"And we can play ball until then!" Opie exclaimed.

Radley chuckled and placed his jacket on the porch railing. "Okay. That's a way to work up an appetite."

Andy smiled and went up the stairs to the porch. He watched them silently until it was time to go inside.

xxxx

Radley was a dream dinner guest. He remained very polite and agreeable, washing up for dinner as he was requested to do and participating in the family's saying of grace before the meal began.

As they all started to eat, his eyes lit up. "Oh, this is amazing!" he exclaimed. "It's been so long since I've had home cooking."

Aunt Bee beamed with pride. "Why, thank you, Radley. But . . . please forgive me for asking, but you look so young. Why aren't you home with your family?"

Andy looked dismayed at the well-meaning but uncomfortable question. "Aunt Bee, we don't ask our guests things like that!" he exclaimed.

Radley sighed. "No, it's alright. See, my family is pretty old-fashioned, and when they saw me with my hair long and the jewelry and the motorcycle, they . . ." He looked at Opie, then away. "They got rid of me. . . ."

Opie stared at him in horror. "They don't want you anymore? Just because of those things?"

"Yeah," Radley said softly. "I'm still looking for a place to belong. But most of the people here looked like they weren't any more thrilled than my family was, so I won't bother you by staying on. They're probably already talking about you guys for welcoming me in."

"Nonsense!" Aunt Bee declared. "You need a good home. We can give you one here! Our accepting you should make everyone else realize they should be kind to you as well!"

"Really?" Radley stared at her in stunned shock, then looked to the others.

Andy smiled at him. "We'd be happy for you to stay on as long as you'd like."

"And we can play!" Opie said. "And maybe you can take me for a ride on your motorcycle!"

"Whoa, only if your pa says it's okay," Radley replied.

". . . I'll think about it," Andy said.

"You really mean for me to live here with you guys, though?" Radley said in disbelief. "You barely know me."

"I can tell things about a person's character," Aunt Bee insisted. "You're a good person, and you need a family."

Radley swallowed hard. That was all he had longed for his family to tell him, but instead they had branded him a demon and said he wasn't one of them any more. "Thank you," he said softly.

xxxx

Without a room right ready, the best the Taylors could offer for sleeping was either the couch or the roll-away bed. Having heard nightmarish tales about roll-away beds snapping closed and trapping people inside, Radley opted for the couch. After a refreshing shower, he settled into the soft cushions with a spare quilt and pillow and snuggled down to doze.

The day had started out so poorly but had ended up amazing. Radley wanted with all his heart to believe this was something that would work out. These people actually wanted him. If that would only last . . .

Still, he couldn't deny that deep down, it felt like he was not where he was supposed to be. He was sure that this place could come to feel like home, with kind people to love him, but . . . what was this pull that he needed to go back the way he had come, back to California? Why did he feel like the family he was looking for was back there?

He frowned to himself. He would worry about that later. Maybe he was just second-guessing himself becausehe was so tired. This was home now, right?

Harry's bitter words from that afternoon returned to him and he opened his eyes again, staring into the darkened room. Naturally that sort of thing happened, but would it really happen here, with these people? Would they really all turn against him for some reason? Most of the other townspeople didn't like him, but the ones here in this house did. That was enough.

Finally he started to doze. It was the kindest sleep he'd had in weeks.

xxxx

The next several days were a mixture of sweetness and sorrows. The Taylors and Juanita were all very friendly. So was Otis Campbell, the town drunk. Many of the people, however, seemed to not know what to make of Radley. They had stereotypical ideas of bikers, especially ones with long hair and jewelry, and tended to keep their distance. The barber, Floyd Lawson, was kinder than some, but tried to interest Radley in a haircut every time they encountered each other. Radley ended up trying to avoid him whenever he was coming.

Barney Fife was another resident Radley didn't care to meet up with. But whereas Floyd was nice and Radley didn't want to end up hurting his feelings, with Barney Radley was afraid his patience would snap and he would let loose with a lot of the sarcastic retorts he desperately wanted to say when Barney made wild accusations or other rude comments. He did say as much as he dared, but overall he tried to simply not run into Andy's deputy. Barney was always casting suspicious looks Radley's way, and it was obvious that he felt Radley was somehow tricking Andy and laying in wait to spring some kind of trap.

In retrospect, perhaps Radley should have known something would go wrong sooner or later and prove Harry's words true. But what happened that afternoon several days after his arrival had still been a shock.

It all happened so quickly too. Radley was minding his own business and walking down the main street when he heard screams and cries of pain from the drug store. Almost as soon as he ran over, a masked figure ran out, crashed into him, and knocked him down hard on the pavement. By the time he got his bearings enough to get up, the man was gone and the townspeople were running over to him.

"What happened?!" Clara Johnson yelled.

"Some guy just bowled me over and ran through here," Radley said, rubbing the back of his head. "I think he might have hurt somebody inside!" But when he tried to run for the doorway, two men grabbed him and held him back.

"There's no one around," one of them frowned. "How do we know you didn't do this yourself and trip on your way out?"

"Look!" the other man cried. "He's got the money on him!"

Radley stiffened. "What?!"

The second man reached down, pulling a wad of bills out of Radley's open pocket. "I'll just bet this came from the cash register in there." He waved it in Radley's face.

"I never saw that before!" Radley exclaimed. "The guy who knocked me down must have dropped it!"

"Right into your pocket?" the first man mocked.

Radley slumped back. "I know it doesn't make sense, but that's really what happened!" he cried. "I never hurt anybody! I was coming to try to help!"

The townspeople just yelled in outrage all at once, until Radley could no longer distinguish words but heard a wretched cacophony. "I'm innocent," he protested. "I'm innocent! . . ."

"Just what's going on here?"

Andy's booming voice silenced everyone for all of two seconds. Then they rushed to explain.

"Walker's Drug Store was robbed!"

"Fred's been hurt! Pistol-whipped!"

"The money was found on him!"

Radley was shoved forward. He stumbled, desperately trying not to crash into Andy or Barney. "I didn't do anything!" he said. "The real bad guy crashed into me! I don't know how the money got in my pocket, but I didn't put it there!"

Andy frowned, staring at him hard. The evidence was bad, but Andy didn't want to give in to it just yet. "How bad is Fred hurt?" he demanded.

"Real bad," one man said. "I've called the doctor. But Fred was conscious enough to tell that the kid who robbed him was wearing black leather!"

"It wasn't me!" Radley cried in anguish.

Andy hurried inside the drug store to see for himself. In a moment he returned, his brows grimly knit. "Fred can't positively identify who attacked him," he said. "He doesn't know if it was Radley. But it was someone about Radley's age and build."

Radley shrank back. The way the townspeople were looking at him was horrible. It had been hurtful enough when they had simply all thought he was a hooligan like his family did. But now, the loud and furious accusations were piercing his heart.

"I told you he was bad, Andy! Didn't I tell you he was bad?! And now he's gone and done something to prove it!" Barney was exclaiming wildly, talking a mile a minute.

"There's still no proof against him," Andy drawled, but he didn't sound easygoing and kind as he had before.

"No, but we both know he's guilty," Barney protested. "You've gotta see that now!" It was sad how absolutely desperate he sounded. He really believed with all his heart that Radley was the robber.

Andy let out a long, frustrated breath. "Alright, everybody, there's nothing to see here," he told the crowd. "Just help Fred and let me and Barney handle this."

A low murmur arose from all the townsfolk, but they did turn and start to shuffle away in various directions. It was only when Radley had been left with the law enforcement that the sheriff finally turned back to him, and his eyes were cold and harsh.

"The circumstantial evidence against you is strong," he said.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Radley said sorrowfully.

"I don't want to believe you did," Andy said. "But it doesn't look good. If we can't find any trace of this other boy, you're the only suspect we have."

"So what are you going to do?" Radley asked. "Lock me up?"

"That's what we should do, Andy!" Barney exclaimed. "We don't know if old Fred is even gonna pull through! If he doesn't, we've got this punk for murder one!"

Terror stabbed into Radley's heart. He had thought he could find a family here. Instead he was only finding heartache and horror. This was far worse than his situation back home.

Andy still looked conflicted. "Let's wait and see what the doctor says."

And so they all waited. It wasn't long and the doctor arrived, checking Fred over and preparing to take him to the hospital. But he emerged from the drug store with a relieved smile. "Fred is going to be alright," he announced. "I'll take him in to be sure, but I have no reason to believe he won't recover. With a few days' rest, he should be as good as new."

"That's wonderful news," Andy said with a sigh of relief.

Radley was glad as well, for both his sake and Fred's. But he still wasn't sure what was going to happen to him.

Andy looked like he wasn't sure either. "Could you see anything of this person who crashed into you?" he asked.

"No," Radley said. "Except that yeah, he was wearing black leather too. But it's not uncommon."

"It sure is in Mayberry," Barney snorted.

Radley's shoulders slumped. "So . . . what are you going to do with me?"

"Let's try to find this other person," Andy said. "You can come with us and try to point him out."

Barney gawked at him. "But Andy . . . !"

"He's coming with us," Andy said firmly.

Radley gave Andy a grateful yet puzzled look. Was that even lawful?

Andy wouldn't meet his gaze to respond.

It was a long day of looking everywhere for another young man clad in black leather. There was no trace of him, and of course, no fingerprints turned up at the drug store. By evening, the law enforcement and Radley were all spent as they gathered back on Main Street.

"There really was another guy," Radley said forlornly.

"Be quiet, you," Barney snapped.

Andy hung up his phone. "Well, Fred is going to recover," he announced.

"Thank God," Radley breathed.

"And since he can't positively identify who hit him, he's not pressing charges on you," Andy continued.

Barney stiffened. "What?! But Andy, we've got him cold! The people will never believe he's not guilty!"

Andy heaved a sigh. "I'm afraid you're right, Barney."

Radley's hopes sank again. "Then . . . ?"

Andy looked him square in the eyes. "While it's true that there's no absolute proof against you, it would really be better if you left town," he said.

Radley stared at him. ". . . You think I did it too," he said in crushed dismay. Throughout all of the town's superficial prejudice against him, the sheriff and his family had been kind. Now that was being taken away from him as well. There really wasn't any place for him; every time he tried, or started to get comfortable, something like this happened.

"I didn't say that," Andy was quick to reply.

"No," Radley responded. "You didn't have to." He jammed the helmet on his head and climbed on his motorcycle. He revved the engine and sped off without a word or a glance back.

Andy stared after him, the conflict in his heart only starting to come into his eyes now that Radley couldn't see them.

"You did the right thing, Ange," Barney insisted. "Well, I think arresting him would've been better, but since we can't legally do that, running him out of town was the only way to go."

"Was it?" Andy barked. He turned away. "No, there was something else I could have done."

"Yeah?" Barney frowned. "What was that?"

Andy stared off into the night sky. "I could have believed him."

xxxx

Radley really would have preferred just leaving town altogether, but he didn't particularly want to leave his belongings behind. He had no choice but to drive back to the Taylor house to retrieve them.

He was stunned when he went through the unlocked door and heard Aunt Bee on the phone in a panic. "No, Andy, I don't know where he is!" she exclaimed. "He hasn't come home from Johnny Paul's house, and Johnny Paul said he left almost an hour ago! You don't think . . ."

Radley froze. Opie was missing? The whole town would think he did it, but he didn't care about that right now. If Opie was missing, maybe he'd stumbled on the real criminal. It was a possibility Radley couldn't ignore, anyway. And when the creep had had no qualms about pistol-whipping the store owner and knocking Radley down when they had encountered each other outside, Radley was afraid he would be capable of harming a child.

Not waiting to hear the rest of Aunt Bee's sentence, Radley slipped into the living room and grabbed his backpack from the side of the couch. He would get out of town as everyone wanted, but first he had to find that kid.

He nearly walked right into Aunt Bee as he tried to go back to the door. She froze, staring at him. But then, to his surprise, she backed down and shook her head. "I'm so sorry about what happened, Radley," she said.

He just stared at her, confused. "Don't you think I'm guilty?"

"I . . ." She sighed. "Well, I didn't know what to think. But we all thought you were so nice before, and the look in your eyes now . . . I see so much pain and sadness. No, I don't think you're guilty. I don't see how anyone could look at you—really look at you!—and think you're a criminal. You're just a poor boy who wants a family."

"Thank you," Radley said softly. "That means a whole lot." He hurried past her. "I'm going to try to find Opie before I leave."

"Oh . . ." A hand went to her bottom lip in her worry. "Please be careful!"

"I will be," Radley promised.

xxxx

Andy was panicking as he hung up with Aunt Bee. Where could Opie be? Aunt Bee had worried that maybe he had run afoul of the robber, and Andy didn't know what to think. Was the robber really Radley? He had seemed so nice and had bonded with Opie so well, but people could put on so many facades.

Still . . . Andy honestly didn't think Radley seemed like someone who would harm kids. And before Aunt Bee's call, he had been second-guessing telling Radley to leave. Now Barney was yakking at him a mile a minute, exclaiming about Radley likely being the one responsible for Opie's disappearance.

Andy might have addressed that more had a flash of movement up ahead not caught his attention. He hurried ahead through the trees, not daring to call out for fear of startling the person. It looked like dark clothing. Was it Radley's leather?

His heart leaped into his throat when he came into the clearing and it wasn't Radley, but Harry Brewer, who was struggling to vanish into the forest. He was holding on to a desperately struggling Opie.

Now Andy had to speak. "Let go of my boy!" he bellowed. Right now he didn't care what Harry's reasoning was. All he cared about was that Opie didn't want to be there. Something was very wrong.

Harry's eyes were wild. "I almost had it all made if it hadn't been for your soft heart, Sheriff!" he cried. "All of you blamed that poor biker! But you let him go, and that spoils the whole thing!"

"What are you talking about?!" Andy snapped. "What does any of that have to do with taking Opie?!"

"I was deliberately framing him all along!" Harry spat. "I thought he'd go to prison and I'd be able to legally take his bike and get out of here!"

"WHAT?!" The outrage was rolling off of Andy in waves.

Barney was horrified. "All of this was over his motorcycle?!" he burst out.

"Now he's leaving and I'm stuck here again," Harry said. "I've got no future except taking over the family business, which I hate! I'm not spending the rest of my life chopping down trees! I'm still going to make my own future! I'm taking Opie with me as a shield! You won't dare hurt me when I have him!"

Barney came up beside Andy in horror. "Andy!" he choked out.

Andy was sheet-white. If he had only been more willing to believe Radley instead of caving in to the circumstantial evidence, maybe Opie wouldn't be in danger now. Nothing like this had ever happened in his career before. For a moment his mind was utterly blank and he couldn't think what to do. The only thing that really mattered was saving Opie.

". . . Tell me what you want," he finally rasped. He remembered that much from his training, letting the criminal think they were getting what they asked for. The hostage had to be protected no matter what.

"I'm going to my dad's car," Harry replied. "You're going to let me get away with the kid and not try to follow me or have me stopped. I'll leave him at the Mexican border."

Opie struggled again, finally getting his mouth free of Harry's hand enough to exclaim, "Pa!"

Andy's heart thumped in his chest. "Alright," he said. "Don't worry, Op. Everything's going to be alright. I promise you that."

Without warning, a figure crept out of the shadows and suddenly looped his arms through Harry's from behind, pulling on them and forcing him to loosen his grip on Opie. "Ooh, what a big, brave boy you are," Radley sneered to Harry. "Using a little kid to hide behind! Your mama must be so proud."

Harry snarled. "Shut up!"

Opie scrambled away, running to Andy in terror. "Pa!"

Andy pulled Opie into his arms, shaking. Somewhere in his mind he heard Barney yelling at Harry and marching over to arrest him and read him his rights, but the most important thing was the sobbing child in his arms. He put all of his attention on Opie. "It's alright," he soothed. "Everything's alright now."

Radley released the sullen Harry, allowing Barney to fully take over. He sighed in relief as he stepped back. "He's okay, isn't he?" he said to Andy. "He's not hurt?"

"He'll be just fine," Andy told him. His voice filled with emotion. "Thank you . . . so much. If anything had happened, I . . ." He trailed off, shaking his head. He couldn't finish that horrible thought.

"I'm glad I got here in time," Radley said. "I was just getting my things when I heard Opie was missing."

"You could have just left," Barney said in disbelief as he came back over with a handcuffed Harry. "Nobody wanted you. . . ." He looked guilty as he said this.

"I know," Radley said. "And I'm still going to leave. Don't worry. But I was afraid maybe the real criminal had got to Opie, so I had to make sure he was safe first."

Opie looked up, his freckled face tear-streaked. "You don't have to leave!" he protested. "The town was wrong about you! They'll want to make it up to you! You'll see!"

"Opie's right," Andy said. "Everyone will want you to stay. We've all got a lot of making up to do. Especially me." He looked down. "I stood by you until it looked like you were the only possible suspect in the robbery, and I gave in. And I almost lost the most important treasure in my life because I didn't keep believing in you."

Radley sighed, tiredly, and gave a genuine smile. "I really like this town, you know," he said. "I never thought I'd like small towns, but I do. Still . . ." He stared off into the distance. "I've got a feeling . . . I don't know how to explain it, but . . . I feel like I need to go back out West, that the family I'm looking for is out there and waiting for me . . . that they need me. I really have to follow that feeling. If it wasn't for that, maybe I would stay."

Andy slowly nodded. "I get you. And I respect that. Inner feelings aren't something to be thrown away like a worthless old shoe. But if you end up not finding what you're looking for out there, you're always welcome to come back here." He held out a hand.

Radley took it. "Thanks," he said sincerely.

Present Day

Kalin leaned back in the chair with a frown as Radley finished his story. "That's terrible," he frowned. "Both the town's prejudice and what Harry did."

"Yeah, and now he's here and I've gotta face him," Radley sighed. "I don't know what he wants or why he couldn't just leave me alone. I've tried to move on, but when the past gets right up in my face again, it brings all that pain back with it."

"I'll be right with you," Kalin vowed.

"Thanks," Radley smiled. "That means everything." He started to get up from the table. "I guess I'd better take care of it now. He's probably almost here."

Kalin got up with him. ". . . How do you feel about that town and its people?" he hesitantly asked.

Radley hesitated too. "Andy admitted to me that they're good people, but that they always have some trouble accepting things that don't seem quite right to them. Like prejudice against long-haired bikers or guys wearing jewelry, that kinda thing. They're old-fashioned and tucked away and they like it like that. But . . . if they can come to understand that the people are nice, they'll be accepting even if there's things about them they don't agree with. Andy was also right that they all wanted to make it up to me when they treated me so bad. I stayed on for several days because of that and second-guessed leaving, but in the end I just couldn't deny that pull to go West. So I came back out and found the Bunch . . . and you."

Kalin smiled.

"I guess ultimately, I'm happy they finally did accept me and I care about them a lot, but I'm still kinda hurt that they judged me on superficial things," Radley continued. "I can't help wondering how many other people might have got the cold shoulder reception I did and how many left discouraged and sad because they just couldn't fit in or be accepted."

"Maybe they've learned their lesson by now," Kalin said.

"Only I would have thought they'd have learned it before, since I wasn't the first," Radley remarked. "At least I'll say that they are mostly sweet people and I know they don't mean to treat anybody bad. Which is . . . pretty much the opposite of my family."

"It's still not right," Kalin growled.

"I know," Radley said. "But nobody's perfect. And unfortunately, a lot of people's flaws are things that hurt other people."

Kalin frowned. That was true, he supposed.

"I tried to keep in touch with the Taylors and some of the others until we came here and Malcolm locked down all communications," Radley said. "I sent off letters to them again as soon as I could."

"Did you tell them everything?" Kalin wondered. He wasn't sure how well it would all be understood.

"The news has gone national by now, and I thought maybe it had even reached back there, so I figured I'd have to," Radley admitted. "I wanted them to hear my side of it in case the papers slanted it as me being as bad as Malcolm."

Kalin frowned. "Carly made sure to write up the whole story, and that should have been the version that went everywhere."

"I know, but just in case some tabloids or something wanted to smear everybody, I didn't want to take the chance," Radley said.

"Have you heard back yet?" Kalin asked. He wasn't sure to think on whether the prejudice against Radley would surge again in Mayberry or not. If the townspeople heard about the nightly Duel Monsters games to win labor for the dyne mines, they could easily think Radley was just as bad as Malcolm. But Radley had never mistreated his workers, as Malcolm had, and he had only agreed to the bizarre set-up in the first place because of Malcolm's terrorizing of the townspeople. He had wanted to make that stop. By pushing back against Malcolm the only way he could, he had protected the town from a totalitarian takeover.

Radley finally smiled. "Strangely enough, I did, right before I got the text from Harry. Andy said that the story did reach them, and the people kept the faith in me. They've been so worried not hearing anything from me since we left California to come here."

Kalin smiled too, so relieved. "That's wonderful."

Radley nodded. "They're inviting all of us to come visit, once the town is fully on its feet again and I'm all better. They want to meet you, and the Bunch, and Yusei, Jack, and Crow too."

"That will be interesting," Kalin said. "Do they know how big the Bunch is?"

"Yeah," Radley chuckled. "They said they'll all make room. There's a bed and breakfast in town, and a little hotel, and if that's not enough, the people will open their homes to us. Andy specifically invited you and me to stay at his house."

"Really," Kalin said in surprise.

"I was going to go find you and the Bunch and talk to you guys about it when the text from Harry came in," Radley said. "Then I kinda got occupied with that."

"That's understandable," Kalin frowned.

"I wish I hadn't been so naive back then," Radley said. "I don't think Harry could pull that cruel stunt on me now. He admitted after he was arrested that he deliberately wore black leather and crashed into me to plant the money on me. He wanted me to get blamed so he could take my motorcycle and get out of town, like he told the sheriff. The judge threw the book at him. I guess he's been in prison all this time and is only just getting out now."

Kalin's eyes narrowed, but he didn't exclaim in shock like Radley might have expected he would.

"You're not surprised?" Radley asked.

"After growing up in the Satellite, no, I'm not," Kalin said. "Jack endangered the life of a kid to steal Yusei's card and Duel Runner and escape. That kind of desperation was sadly not uncommon there. You get in a bad situation, or what you think is a bad situation, and eventually you get pushed to feel like you'll do anything to get out of it. We also saw that here, with Billy."

"Yeah." Radley looked away. Billy still agonized over what he had done to both Radley and Marty out of desperation and fear.

"That said, I'm still outraged at what was done to you, and why," Kalin growled. "If he's planning to hurt you again, he won't find it so easy."

Radley smiled. "Thanks, Kalin." He stiffened as Kalin's earlier words fully processed. "Wait, Jack endangered a kid?! Is the kid okay?!"

"Yes, thankfully," Kalin said. "Yusei saved him, and both of them forgave Jack. I don't think Jack has forgiven himself."

"Well, I'm glad Jack has a conscience," Radley exclaimed with a shudder.

As they headed out of the diner, a car pulled up in front and a sobered man around Radley's age got out. He stood awkward and silent a moment before drawing a shaking breath. "Hello, Radley. . . ."

Radley had gone stiff at Kalin's side. It was hard, seeing him again . . . harder than he had thought. But . . . he looked different than he had then—sobered and sorrowed rather than angry and cruel. Maybe this wasn't about hurting Radley some more.

"Hello, Harry," he said at last.

"You're looking well," Harry said.

Radley thought he did too, but he wasn't much in the mood for small talk. "Thanks," he said, folding his arms. "But I'm sure you didn't come here to say that."

Harry sighed in acknowledgment. "I guess it's just the Mayberry in me."

"I thought you hated the place," Radley said.

"I thought I did," Harry said. "But I don't.

"Radley . . . I'm so sorry for everything I did to hurt you. I was a stupid kid who was blowing my situation out of proportion. There was no excuse for what I did to you and to everyone back home. And I know I've got no right to ask your forgiveness, but . . ."

"No, you don't," Kalin growled.

Radley laid a hand on Kalin's shoulder. He hadn't expected any of this. But . . . if Harry really meant it. . . .

"I don't imagine anyone really has a right to ask forgiveness if they've done something really hurtful," he mused. "It's a lot to expect from a victim. But on the other hand . . . hate is a terrible thing that eats people up inside. If a victim is being swallowed up by hate and hurt, forgiveness would be a release for them as well as the abuser. So thinking of it that way, maybe asking for it is a good thing.

"I don't know if I can trust you, just seeing you now and not knowing if you've really changed. This is Kalin's and my town, like Mayberry is Sheriff Taylor's. I won't let the people here be hurt. But . . . I don't wanna be drowning in hate. So . . . I forgive you for what you did to me." He held out a hand.

Harry gripped it. "I wouldn't presume on you to let me stay," he said. "Anyway, I have a job lined up in the City. I had to pass through here to get there, and when I heard you were here, I wanted to stop." His voice choked up. "Thank you . . . so much. I was angry and unrepentant for a long time, but finally I started to realize how rotten I'd been. It was . . . hard to take."

Radley gave a sad smile. "Well, I'm glad you stopped by here. By the way, what kind of job did you find?"

Harry smiled. "Helping troubled kids and youth. Trying to stop them from being stupid like me if they're not, and convincing them they can change if they've already been stupid like me."

"That's great," Radley said sincerely.

"I've heard that's kind of what you ended up doing too," Harry said.

"Let's say I rounded up a lot of troubled youth and tried to give them a better life," Radley said. "I didn't always succeed, but they're grateful and love me anyway."

"I'm sure they are," Harry said. He looked to Kalin. "Are you one of them?"

"I wasn't part of the initial group," Kalin said. "But I am now."

"This is Kalin," Radley said. "A dear friend."

"I'm glad you've found people now," Harry told him. "That was all you ever wanted."

"Yeah," Radley said. "It was."

"A much purer dream than mine," Harry said.

He got back in his car and waved before driving off. Kalin and Radley stood and watched until he disappeared out the other end of the town's main street and into the wilderness that separated it from New Domino City.

"Do you really believe him?" Kalin asked.

"Maybe it's weird, but I do," Radley said. "That look in his eyes . . . I've seen it in yours, and Billy's. It's the look of someone who's been to Hell and back, and come out the better for it."

"I see," Kalin mused. "I've seen that in your eyes too."

Radley smiled, drawing an arm around Kalin's shoulders as they went back inside.