He slept little that night, too riled up by Hammond's visit and the memory of his previous life. His brain searched through the files, trying to guess which ones would be examined. Which of the several groups he had been monitoring had 'woken up?' What threat did they pose? Would his family be in any danger if they managed to achieve their plans? He hated not knowing.

The morning dragged by. Tony was unable to concentrate on either book, or plan his escape. He paced his cell, feeling trapped. He would have an hour with his parents, half an hour with each one, as he was not permitted more than one visitor at a time. There were some things he needed to tell them without the guards' knowledge. He searched his brain to remember conversations he'd held with them or films they'd watched so he could tell them his plans without anyone listening in learning about them. Time slowed. His cell remained locked.

Unintentionally he placed his hands behind his back as he paced back and forth, three steps from the door to the back wall, and three steps back. Deep in thought he bumped into the bars, stopping to rub his knee. Damn the place. How could he move? He rested his head between two bars gazing round the floor, lifting his head to see the catwalks above him surrounded by the net.

If I could just pull these bars out I'd get out of here immediately!

His fingers gripped a bar and he pulled hard, sighing in frustration. The cold solid steel refused to budge. When were they coming to take him to see his parents? He really needed to know so he could focus on his day.

Focus, Almeida. Are you going to tell each parent the same thing, or are you going to have something special for them? Mom will be upset; I'll have to cheer her up somehow. What can I possibly say?

'Convict Almeida, move to the back of your cell and place your hands on your head,' ordered a guard, annoyed at seeing him so close to the door. Tony moved to obey instantly, trying and failing to calm himself. He heard his door open and several footsteps entered. His hands were pulled back one at a time and cuffed. Once again he wandered why they didn't allow him to put them behind his back himself, why did they always have to touch him.

God I hate the feeling of their hands on my arms!

'Turn round slowly, convict.' He turned to face the four guards in his cell, his eyes searching and finding the two directly outside the door. All six were here, that was good. He was really being taken somewhere. One of them unlocked his door while two guards gripped his arms, holding him in place. Davis entered a smirk on his face. Tony closed his eyes for a second.

What the hell is he doing here now? I haven't seen him since he took me to the Administrative Segregation block and had me beaten. Easy, Almeida. Don't let him bait you – you'll lose your visit. Ignore him. Papa and mom will be here already, waiting. You've got to stay calm!

He forced the disgust off his face and gazed straight ahead. He would remain silent if it killed him!

'Convict Almeida, you're being granted a visit. You'll have exactly one hour with your family. You are forbidden to mention the names of any employees of the prison, warden or guards. You are forbidden to mention the name of any inmate of this prison. You are forbidden to mention the timetable in this prison. You are forbidden to discuss any topics related to your punishments in this prison. You are forbidden to converse in any language other than English. You are forbidden to inquire about any event outside your immediate family's life. Failure to adhere to these rules will result in the termination of your visit. Do you understand all these rules?'

'Yes sir,' Tony replied through gritted teeth.

Davis searched his face, finding only his impenetrable mask. 'Alright. You've been warned.' He grabbed Tony roughly. 'Just to make sure you don't get any ideas so close to the entrance, Almeida,' he said, showing Tony the restraints he carried.

Bile rose in his throat. When had he last seen such a restraint? On Nina, when she was brought into CTU, and on Marie Warner. It was totally unnecessary on him inside a federal prison. Its only purpose was to humiliate him further and distress his parents. He chewed his lip, forcing himself to remain calm.

Keep it together, Almeida. You can deal with him later!

He narrowed his eyes and forced himself to look through the bars as his feet were shackled and a belt was placed round his waist. A chain was connected to the space between his cuffs linking to his belt. His hands were uncuffed when they were finished and cuffed in front of him, being attached to a chain that led to the belt.

Easy Almeida. YOU WILL KEEP SILENT!

Davis nodded once all the locks were closed. 'Alright, take him to admin.'

Tony walked to the administration block surrounded by the customary six guards, forced to take small steps. His heart beat rapidly with excitement. He would see his parents again. He would be able to talk to them. He hadn't really spoken to them since the picnic three days before his arrest.

He was led through the administration block's lower floor and halted outside a door. 'Convict, you've got exactly an hour to speak to your visitor. Your conversation will be monitored. Any infractions will result in the immediate termination of your visit.'

'Yes sir,' he replied, bursting with impatience for the door to open. He guessed his parents would be waiting for him behind the glass barrier, about to be subjected to the full view of their son led in so heavily restrained. He took a deep breath.

The door was opened and he was led to a table. His eyes peered through the glass, resting on his mother. He chewed his lip, furious she had been the one chosen to witness his entry. She looked horrified, hiding her feelings rapidly. She would cry later, he knew, and not just once.

He smiled at her as a guard pushed his shoulder down forcing him to sit at a chair. His feet were shacked to the table's legs, the chain linking his handcuffs to the belt was removed and the guard waved at the phone. 'You may pick up the phone now, convict.'

Tony's hands shook as he reached for the phone, nodding his head towards his mother's phone to tell her to pick it up on her end. He watched her take the phone and place it to her ear.

'Mommy.' He stopped, embarrassed. He hadn't called her that since he was a toddler, it had just slipped out. Her eyes filled with tears which she blinked away.

'Hey mom,' he began again. 'It's ok, I'm fine. Look at me.' She raised her eyes to meet his, and he grinned at her. 'I missed you. How are you?'

She was struggling, he could tell. 'We're okay, sweetheart. We just really miss you.' She stopped, unable to continue.

Tony nodded. 'How's everyone else?' This was proving harder than he had thought. She assured him everyone was fine and asked him about himself. What happened to his leg, why had he limped in? He sighed, wandering how she had noticed his limp through the shackles. 'It's ok, really,' he said.

'No, Tony, will you quit saying that! It's NOT ok. You're hurt. You're very thin. Your eyes don't sparkle anymore. You've been sick, I can tell. I want to know exactly what happened to you!'

He sighed heavily, indicating the guard in the booth with his eyes. 'I had pneumonia two months ago, but I'm better now. This cut,' he indicated his arm, 'will be ok, it's healing everyday. There was a fight.' He paused, listening to hear any third person on the line and failing. The guard must be monitoring someone else. 'I won, you should see the others.'

That won't cheer her up, Tony!

'There were two fights,' he continued softly, knowing his mother would only worry more without details. 'I started both of them, that's why you guys aren't allowed to visit. It's okay now, the problem is solved.' He looked at her reassuringly, hoping to convince her. She looked uncertain. 'Mom, you know I can take care of myself,' he continued. 'Please don't worry about me. Tell me about what you've been doing instead. Have you guys been down to the beach lately?' He heard a third breath on the line, indicating the booth. His mother nodded, she understood.

'Yes, we have.'

'I really miss going there. Tell me what it was like.'

Her eyes filled with tears again which she angrily wiped away. 'It was real windy. The sand blew everywhere. The water was grey and filled with whitecaps. We didn't stay long.'

'Did Sandy dig a hole?' he asked, quietly. 'She loves to dig for treasure.'

His mother looked confused. 'She didn't come with us.'

He nodded. 'Remember I used to go to my own beach sometimes. I even kept a little food there.' He leaned forward, touching the glass, noticing her eyes more alert. 'Lots of cans of lemonade, in case I got thirsty, even some beer. They stayed quite cool in the cave. It was real nice to drink it there. On a real windy day you could sit there and watch the waves break over some rocks about a mile out to sea. I nearly got thrown on them once. You can see the rocks from the road. You should check it out; the view is incredible, sometime next week.'

Mom, you can find my hidden beach easily in this weather. Watch for the white water a mile out to sea, park there and work your way down. I've got a box of "treasure" buried there under the cans of coke. If I haven't taken it by next week, please give it to Michelle.

There's 10 000 dollars there.

His mother looked at him questioningly. Tony rubbed the side of his face with his hands, wishing they would have removed the cuffs. It was distracting his mother, and he needed her to focus now. 'How's the house? Is it real tidy now it's only you and Papa there?'

His mother looked confused again. 'Sure sweetheart. It's too quiet though.'

'You never know when you'll get visitors, so it's real important to keep it tidy. You can't know when visitors will show up. You'll probably get someone this week.'

His mother glanced straight at him.

'Do you remember when we kids played in the shed?' he continued. His mother's face turned grey.

I can see you remember, mom. Marco locked me inside in the summer and I nearly got sick. I had to get out, and you couldn't hear me calling, so I had to break the window and climb out.

'Tony,' she said. He smiled at her gently.

'I love you very much.' He pulled his sleeve a little higher, showing the entire scar on his arm. 'Did you keep that ugly postcard?' he asked, willing her to understand which one he meant.

'The one from…'

'Yeah, that one' he interrupted rapidly.

A guard appeared beside her. 'Goodbye mom, I really love you,' he said. 'Don't worry about me, I'm fine.'

'God protect you, Tony.' She managed to return his smile.

He waited impatiently for his father to be led inside. Tony watched him entering the room and sitting down, smiling at him. His father smiled back, face composed, eyes dull with anguish. Tony was forced to swallow, horrified by the depth of the pain concealed there. His father was taking his imprisonment even harder than his mother.

'Hi Papa.'

His father's hands shook as he held the phone. 'Tony, how are you? God I missed you.' His voice broke; he fell silent, blinking rapidly.

'Papa, its ok now. Look at me,' Tony told him.

His father swallowed. 'Tony, you got yourself into such a mess I just can't help you. We're trying real hard, we've written to the president to beg for clemency but no one from his office has answered us. We're praying for you.'

I know, I can tell. You two will never, ever stop loving me.

Tony straightened on the chair, glad suddenly it wasn't his father who had watched him being led in. 'Papa, I really miss you too,' he said. 'Thanks for writing all the time, I read your letters and try and imagine everything…' His voice shook, he steadied it firmly. 'Have you seen Michelle?'

'No, we haven't. Tony, look at me.' He had glanced down, not wanting his father to see the hope in his eyes when he'd asked the question. Slowly he made himself look up. 'She's been through hell too. She needs a little time to sort things out and seeing us would probably remind her of you. She'll come round when she's ready. We call her sometimes to check she's ok. She needs to work through this on her own, you should understand that.'

'Yeah,' he agreed, bitterly. 'I don't have much choice, do I? I can't go home and wait for her.' He bit his lip, ashamed. His father needed to be comforted, and here he was, whining.

His father shook his head slowly. 'Tony, she has a lot to think through. Sometimes people need a little space to do that.'

'Yeah, I know. I just miss her so much; I was hoping you could tell me about her. What about you guys? Do you still have any friends?'

'We've got plenty, don't worry about that. They really helped us to get through the last couple of months.'

'I'm real sorry I let you guys down,' Tony said quietly. 'I just couldn't watch them carve Michelle apart. I really love her.'

His father stirred. 'Tony, we never thought you let us down! We raised you to protect your sisters; we knew you would treat your wife the same way. Do you think I could have abandoned your mother?' He shook his head. 'No, I couldn't have.'

I know that. You guys have always been a real team. Dammit, that's what I wanted too, for Michelle and me to be as happy as you are…

'Tony, I wanted to tell you something. I'm real proud of you. I always was, as I watched you growing. I'm sorry if I was a little strict at times. I lie awake and wander why I sent you to your room so often, why did I tell you off. I really wish I hadn't.'

Tony shook his head, fighting back his tears. 'No, Papa, you mustn't think that way. You were great.'

His father fell silent, watching him carefully. 'What did they do to you, Tony?' he asked finally. 'Did they beat you?'

Tony glanced at the guard in the booth; sure he could hear something on the line. 'Do you remember what happened when I took your gun? It was like that, multiplied a few thousand times. Papa, listen. In case I can't…' his voice trailed off. He started again firmly. 'I wanted you to know, so it would be okay with you.' He drew a finger carefully across his wrist.

His father shook his head. 'Please don't, Tony. Promise to wait a little longer. Jack came by; he said he keeps calling the president on your behalf. Jack won't let him forget about you. Wait a bit more. I can't imagine what you're going through, but try to hang in there a little longer.' He looked directly at Tony. 'I can't lose you.'

Don't ask me to promise something I might not be able to keep, Papa.

They gazed at each other through the glass. 'Antonio, you're my first child. When you were born you were so tiny, we just kept looking at you, admiring you. When you cried we both ran, hell, I was jealous of your mother for feeding you. You didn't want to sleep in your cot, so we put you in our bed and you slept there all night, but we stayed awake, afraid of squashing you.' His father stopped, unable to continue.

Tony rubbed his own eyes. 'Ok Papa,' he said quietly. 'I won't' he pointed to his wrist. Aware of his father's eyes on him he moved two fingers carefully across his palm.

I'm running away!

'Take care, Tony.' He knew his father had received the message. He talked about his hidden beach to his father for a while, telling him next week would be an excellent time to watch waves from there. He hoped his parents' would figure out what he couldn't tell them.

'Five minutes,' said a voice interrupting their conversation. Tony swallowed, struggling to retain his calm expression. Only five more minutes with his father, before he would be returned to the loneliness of his cell. There were dozens of things he still wanted to say. His father struggled with his emotions across the glass barrier.

'Tony, your lawyer is filing an appeal for me to have inherited the Mexican block,' he began. Tony nodded, attempting to speak. His father held up a hand. 'Listen, I want you to know, that land is yours. Papa left it to you because you were his favorite grandchild. If ever they let you out, I'll return it right away.'

Tony nodded, placing a hand on the glass. 'Papa, I want you to have it.' Their eyes met. His father placed his hand opposite Tony's. 'Bye, Tony. I'll come see you as soon as I can if….' They nodded at each other. 'Otherwise….'

Otherwise you'll keep checking the mail for something from a weird relative you never knew you had, knowing I will contact you.

'God go with you, Tony!' His father rose as a guard appeared beside him. A guard approached Tony, unshackling his leg. He waited while they secured his cuffs to the chain they again fastened round his waist, watching his father, who remained rooted to the spot beside his chair.

'Move, convict.' Tony lifted his head and gave his father a final smile before his guard turned him round by his arm. He walked to the door as well as he could in the chains. He turned for a second just before the door, seeing his father still standing watching him. 'Goodbye, Papa,' he said, before the door opened and he was pushed through it.

Tony spent the rest of the day by himself in his corner, head buried in his hands, picturing his parents returning home, entering their house, holding each other close, trying to comfort each other. They would cry together. He wandered where his own tears had disappeared.