Tony lay on his stomach, head pressed into the pillow, dreaming of returning home from work. Eyes tightly shut, he saw himself climbing out of his SUV, locking it and fishing the keys from his pocket, opening his front door. He carried a box of chocolates in his hand, tiptoeing upstairs to the bathroom, handing them to Michelle. She gave him a smile that warmed his heart and invited him to join her in the tub. He returned to his room to remove his clothes and….

'Convict Almeida, get up! Move to the back of your cell and place your hands behind your back!' snapped a harsh voice.

He moved slowly, furious at having his quiet time interrupted. During the week without outdoor privileges he permitted himself two hours to daydream, concentrating on being home so completely that he could swear he really WAS there. He blinked to return to reality, noticing two guards waiting in front of his cell. He faced the wall, allowing the cold cuffs to be placed on his wrists, turning to follow them outside. The block was silent. Today he was the only one held back from the exercise period.

Where are they taking me? I haven't done anything wrong! I haven't done anything at ALL, since I got back.

They led him to the steel doors at the far end of the block, and across the courtyard to the administration block. Tony's heart beat faster. Where was he going? Surely not to the warden? His unease increased inside the block, as he was marched up the stairs leading to his office. He sighed in relief as he noticed the leading guard continuing his steady pace past the door, further along the corridor. A double set of steel doors halted them while the guard opened them. So this place was meant for prisoners. What could it be?

He was led along the short corridor to the furthest door and ordered to face the wall, while the door was unlocked. A guard walked in, and he was ordered to follow. Tony found himself inside a small room with a table and two chairs bolted to the floor. He recognized it immediately as an interrogation room. A guard pushed him down by his shoulders onto a seat, and cuffed his leg to the table. The cuffs on his wrists were removed. So someone was coming to talk to him, someone who didn't feel threatened by him. The cuff on his leg was merely to prevent him wandering around the room.

Excitement filled him, bringing a rush of hope that he firmly suppressed. This was some official visitor, not a relative. Whoever was coming had something for him to sign, and that could be bad news as well as good. Really, he hadn't had any good news at all since his arrest. The guards left the room, leaving him to settle his emotions.

Half an hour later his unease mounted. Nobody had come to talk to him yet. Questions chased each other through his brain. He felt slightly sick.

The door opened to admit a guard together with his lawyer. Tony stared in the greatest astonishment, not having expected to see him after the trial. 'Paul, how are you?'

'My God, Tony, I thought I was doing you a favor when I got you off the death penalty' his lawyer exclaimed. 'You look awful.' He watched the guard leaving the room. 'Have the guards been beating you?'

Tony shook his head. 'No, they haven't touched me. I had some problems with a couple of prisoners, but they're resolved now.' He ran a hand along his hair. He hoped they were totally resolved. Summers continued to make him uneasy.

His lawyer sat down opposite him, placing a few folders on the table. 'Have you seen Michelle?' Tony began. 'How is she? Is she ok with me being in here now?' His eyes searched the lawyer's face for any hint of emotion, using all the interrogation techniques they had taught him. Something about the face disturbed him. 'What's wrong, Paul? You can tell me.'

The lawyer laid both elbows on the table, placing his chin in his hands. 'Tony, you don't deserve what I'm about to tell you. Unfortunately there's no one else who can do this.' He paused, looking regretful.

A cold fist clenched around Tony's heart. 'It's ok, Paul. I can take it. Tell me.'

A long sigh escaped the lawyer. 'They stripped you of your belongings last week, Tony. I'm sorry. I fought it as long as I could, but legally I lacked a leg to stand on. All I could do was delay the ruling.' He regarded Tony gravely.

'What did they take? How?' Tony demanded.

'Everything. They took,' he opened a folder and read from the paper, 'your boat.'

'What' Tony answered, his thoughts too confused to permit him to form a more elaborate sentence. 'It's old.' He had bought the small motorboat on leave from the army. It was really not large enough to be taken out on the ocean, though he had of course done so dozens of times, flying from one wave to the next. 'It's got to be around 30 years old by now! Hell, it's practically worthless.'

'Item number one, speedboat, official valuation 4000. Item number two, a grey SUV, official valuation 40 000.'

'That's my car,' Tony exclaimed, in shock. 'It's the first new car I ever bought. It's Michelle's, you witnessed me sign it over to her.'

The lawyer stared at the ground. 'We were too late. Since you committed your indiscretion and were charged the same day, the legal system reserves the right to consider every one of your possession forfeit from that date onwards. You signed everything over to Michelle two days after your bail hearing.'

'But they locked me in prison. I'm already serving my sentence. How can they take my things?' He rubbed his face vigorously.

'Treason is a crime against the nation, Tony. The nation reserves the right to remove all possessions from persons acting against its interests. They've invoked that right, in your case.'

Tony stood up, fully intending to pace the room, being brought up short by the cuff that secured his ankle to the table. He swore softly and settled back down. 'What do mean, "in your case?" Don't they take it from everyone?'

'Not many people are convicted of treason. The last two still have their estate intact, though of course are not around to enjoy it.'

'Then why me?' Tony demanded furiously. 'I served the nation almost my entire adult life. I got countless injuries in the line of duty. Why pick on me?'

His lawyer shook his head. 'I can't answer that.'

'OK. What else did they take,' Tony demanded.

'They closed your bank account and took all 10 000 there. I know,' he held up a hand to silence Tony's protest, 'that Michelle had access to that account, but it was technically on your name.'

'It was opened before I ever met her. She could access it from her card. Hell, she used it more than I did.'

'I know, Tony, but it was still in YOUR name. I'm sorry.'

They stole my car. They took my money. They took my boat. Wasn't taking my life enough for them. How DARE they take my things? I signed EVERYTHING over to Michelle. How DARE they ignore that?

They faced each other in silence. The lawyer fiddled with the file while Tony examined his shoes, attempting to calm himself. 'They satisfied they got everything I worked for?' he asked, bitterly. The lawyer remained silent, attempting to look away. Tony narrowed his eyes, pointing at him. 'What else did they take? Damn it, tell me!'

'I'm still fighting the next item. I don't hold out much hope, but we might have a chance.'

'What else have I got left, Paul? Seems like you covered everything already.'

'Your block in Mexico. They already took possession of the title deeds, but I am challenging that.'

Tony's face paled. After his death his grandfather's farm had been subdivided into several blocks, most of which he left to his Mexican grandchildren. He had left the block on the hill to Tony, his favorite grandchild. His head began to throb sickeningly. He had been back only once since his grandfather's death, to the funeral. He hadn't been able to build anything on the block, didn't have the heart to return there. He faced his lawyer, struggling to form words. 'That property is in MEXICO. They can't take that from me.'

'They have the right to strip you of everything, Tony. Yesterday the title deeds were sent over by the local council. Fortunately they took a while to find the paperwork, enabling me to lodge an appeal. At least until the appeal goes through they are unable to sell the block.'

Tony shook his head, wordless. His eyes begged the lawyer to continue.

'Now I know this must be painful…'

Painful? It's killing me. I WON'T give them the block!

'How can they confiscate a property from abroad? I inherited that; it's nothing to do with the US government.' He glared at the lawyer. 'I won't accept that.'

'Tony, as long as any of your possessions are in your name and have monetary value, they have every right to confiscate it. You are an American citizen, not a Mexican, so yes; they can take your land and keep the money from its sale. My challenge is based on the tenuous claim that your grandfather should in fact have left the property to his son, your father, rather than to you. He left the twelve other blocks to his daughter and grandchildren, but nothing to your father. I am in effect challenging his will.'

'What,' Tony managed to stammer.

'There's no way you can keep that land, Tony. Now I know it has sentimental, as well as financial value, so at least someone in your family should keep it. Now your grandfather has been dead five years now, and the case has of course to be heard in Mexico, so I've had to hire a lawyer from there to deal with the matter.'

Tony buried his head in his hands. 'Doesn't seem like I can afford another lawyer, Paul. Is John paying for that?' His cheeks burned, knowing he was costing his brother in law a fortune in legal fees. Without John he wouldn't have been able to afford adequate legal representation in the first place and would certainly have been handed the death penalty.

'Tony, right now you're not the only one facing problems, though admittedly yours tops the list. John's assets have been frozen pending the outcome of an investigation into his company by the Department of Internal Revenue. His father is handling all my costs.'

'What?' he heard himself exclaim. 'Why? John's always been the most honest guy I know. Wait a minute.' He got up again, exclaiming in irritation at being unable to take a step. 'Why now? It's because of me, isn't it? They wanted to execute me, and he paid you to defend me, and they're pissed off with him, so they'll hassle him any way they can. It's wrong, Paul, and you know it.'

'I know he has nothing to fear, but he is greatly inconvenienced at the moment, being unable to extend the business as he planned.'

'Tell him I'm real sorry,' Tony muttered. 'And to forget about me now.'

'He had a message for you. "Chin up, Tony, I'll get you out. We'll get to watch the US Open in the summer." It's a little optimistic, of course.'

Tony blinked tears away. He could face any blow dealt him, but kindness was harder to ignore. Now he had mixed his best friend and brother in law up in his own problems, and the guy wasn't irritated with him.

'Sit down, Tony. There's the matter of the house.'

Tony sank back onto his chair. He shook his head. 'No, Paul. It's enough for now.'

Please go now. Go, while I still can dream of Michelle at home. Don't take that from me.

'I've got to go through this entire list with you, this morning, get you to sign the document, before I can go. It won't take much longer. Now you and Michelle owned only 50 of the house, paying off the mortgage every month for the remainder. The bank recalled its loan last month, giving Michelle until next week to repay the outstanding amount. Obviously she won't be able to do so in that period, indeed she would have struggled with the mortgage itself. She'll be forced to place the house on the market.'

'How can the bank recall its loan?' Tony had to force the words out now. 'We put in a lot more than the minimum amount every month, we have a substantial equity. And Michelle was paying the mortgage as usual.'

'They also have legal grounds for doing so, I'm afraid. They claim the mortgage agreement was signed with both of you, and you're obviously unable to honor your part of the agreement, so they're recalling the loan.'

'So it's gonna go, soon?' He was already crying inside, barely managing to show a blank face to the lawyer.

My house. We hadn't even fixed it up yet.

'Yes. Now after the bank takes its outstanding 50, and charges fees for the termination of the agreement, which will take a couple of 1000 also, Michelle will be allowed to keep half the remaining amount. The other half, your share, is also forfeit. I'm sorry, Tony. Had the property been fully owned by the two of you, they would have been unable to touch it.'

'They're not leaving anything for Michelle, are they?' he asked. 'They've already made sure I'd never get to see any of my things again – why can't they let her enjoy them?'

'Seems you're an example to other agents. You need to sign the official confiscation order, Tony.' He pushed the document across the table, handing him a pen. 'Just to show you've been notified.'

'And if I don't? Would it make any difference?' He gazed at the document before him in despair.

'You are required to sign. No, it makes no difference; your property is already confiscated. Come on, sign there. If ever you get a pardon, this list is necessary, just in case you can reclaim something.'

Tony laughed bitterly, signing the bottom of the document. 'There. That should satisfy the Justice Department. Are we done now, Paul?'

The lawyer replaced the document in a folder, laying it back in his briefcase. He pulled a second folder out. 'Not quite. There's something for you to read. Take all the time you need.' He rang the bell and a guard let him out, leaving Tony to open the brown folder. A short note fell out, which he picked up with trembling hands, recognizing the writing.

Dear Tony

I miss you terribly. Right now I'm unable to send you any mail that won't be censored, so I asked Paul to take this to you. I'm truly sorry for the nature of his visit, and he is too. Sweetheart, I'll be fine. Somehow I'll try to re-negotiate our loan – I'll keep the house whatever happens. There's got to be somewhere for you to return to.

I'll be sent on two courses, one to Washington and the other to New York soon. You won't believe it, but I got a promotion! It's in Division, which is great. I feel so guilty when I show up, thinking about you. You should've left me to die, Tony, rather than ruin your whole life. I would've understood, you know.

I guess I don't feel as bad about the courses as you're not permitted visitors right now anyway. A change would be great too. I keep seeing your things in every room in the house. Do as you're told and try to avoid trouble, honey, so we can visit you soon. Michelle

'It's real hard for her at the moment,' his lawyer told him, appearing again. 'Did you have a chance to look at the document?' he asked, pointing to the papers inside the brown folder. Tony shook his head. 'Look, I need you to sign that form. Read it now, Tony.'

Tony removed an official looking form with CTU's logo on the top, his face turning red as he glanced through it. It was an official statement terminating his employment, citing treason as the reason for his dismissal. A final paragraph stripped him of his right to any money in his pension fund.

'I know it's hard right now,' the lawyer said gently, 'but try to picture their point of view. They trusted you as their leader. Apparently quite a lot of people there took your actions badly. They're having a hard time…'

'And I'm not?' Tony yelled, surprising them both with his rage. 'I get to sit in my cell day in, day out. If they are pleased with me, I get to go outside to a dusty yard for two hours in the mornings. If they're not impressed with me, I don't get to go out. Right now they're not real impressed. They enter my cell whenever they want, I get to face the wall while they search through my clothes, and I'm not allowed to open my mouth, or I won't get my full dinner. I don't get to see any visitors for the next ten months because I fought back when I was attacked by some real scum, I had my arm slashed with a knife,' he rolled up his sleeve to show his scar, 'and I got locked deep underground in the pitch dark. I am not permitted any TV, radio or computer. I am not permitted my guitar. I am not permitted any of my books. Right now I'm not even permitted any library books. I am not allowed to write more than one letter a week, which has to be less than a thousand words, and which is censored. I'm not allowed any photos for a year. All I get to do is sit in my cell and look at the bars.'

He stopped abruptly, aware his voice shook during the last sentence.

'I'm sorry Tony, truly I am. We'll lodge an appeal against the confiscation of your Mexican block. Beyond that there is nothing I can do for you anymore. Sign CTU's documents. Let go quietly. It's better that way.' He handed the pen to Tony and opened the file.

Tony gazed at Hammond's handwriting on the form, attempting to harden his heart. 'Where do I sign?' he asked dully, unable to scan every page. The lawyer opened the pages requiring a signature and he signed rapidly, pushing the pen across the table with such force it fell on the floor.

'We're done now.' He turned his face away as the lawyer placed the folder into his briefcase, retrieved the pen and exited the room.