Tony's eyes lit up as his parents entered the room, rushing to his bedside. He held out his free arm and hugged them both, unwilling to let them go. 'I'm ok,' he assured them, blinking hard to contain hot tears.

'No you're not, sweetheart,' his mother said, ruffling his hair. 'They shot you!'

'I'm fine,' Tony repeated, looking her in the eye. 'I'll be allowed home soon, though I'll be on baby food for the next few weeks!'

His mother gathered him into her arms, unable to let go of him, while his father settled on the other side of the bed. 'We're good at preparing that! As soon as they clear you, we're taking you home and I'm locking all the computers away while you're there, Antonio!'

Tony squeezed his hand. 'I can live with that.' He blinked again, thrilled beyond words to see them again. 'I didn't dare hope I'd see you again.' His parents' faces paled and he chewed his lip. Get a grip, Almeida! They're shocked at the sight of you; they're not convinced you're fine. You got to relax them. 'They caught the guy I was tracking.'

His father shook his head. 'At what price?'

'Papa, I couldn't have lived with myself if I suspected we had a leak and didn't try to find the source. Anyway, he's in prison, he's getting what he deserves.'

His parents fell silent, noting the shadow that crept across his face when he mentioned the word. 'You're ok, Tony,' his father assured him. 'No one's guarding you. You're free to go.'

'I sure hope so,' Tony said, rubbing his face. 'Director Hodgeson wants to see me once I'm well enough to leave hospital. There's a chance he'll be pissed off about my hacking.' There's a chance he'll charge you, Almeida, and you'll get a certain jail sentence. He pushed the thought away forcibly, aware his heartbeat would climb dangerously and the monitors would beep, bringing the medical staff rushing in yet again.

'He probably wants to give you a medal,' his father told him optimistically. 'Hell, you deserve it! You feel well enough to tell us what happened since we saw you last.'

Tony nodded. 'Yeah, but part of it's classified. I can tell you some parts. I saw Pedro.' He glanced at his father, who shook his head. 'He gave me a job as a brick carter before he understood I was worth more in jail.'

'Why don't you start at the beginning, sweetheart?' his mother suggested and he spent the afternoon relating his escapades. Halfway through, Michelle slipped into the room and Mr. Almeida settled in a chair, allowing her to sit on the bed. They appeared highly amused by his tales of working as a laborer, Michelle's hand squeezed into her mouth. He watched her shaking shoulders and a few tears of mirth spill from her eyes and began laughing with her. A nurse sent them home after 7:00, insisting he needed rest. Tony was given a sponge bath and clean sheets and examined by a doctor who complimented him on his speedy recovery. He was ordered to get some sleep and complied, the afternoon of talking having exhausted him.

Once again his door opened and he turned his head expecting a nurse to check some vitals or change the bag of fluids they kept pumping into him. 'Jack,' he exclaimed, surprised to see his friend.

Jack gave him a warm smile, settling in the chair recently vacated by his father. 'I came as soon as I could. How are you doing, Tony?'

Tony laughed aloud, seeing his anxious expression. 'I'm fine, honest. This is a total reversal. I mean, it's usually me sitting there asking that question. You know, I'd swap places with you right now.'

'No you wouldn't,' Jack told him, relieved to see a little humor in his friend. 'You get to enjoy complete rest and lack of excitement for a while too. It's only fair. Listen, Tony,' his tone grew more serious. 'I'm real sorry I let you down.'

'You didn't let me down,' Tony exclaimed, shaking his head. 'You saved my life twice.'

'I got held up by bloody Hammond,' Jack admitted. 'By the time I got back to Mexico the show was over. I got your message and sent it on to Hodgeson, but I couldn't find you.'

Tony nodded. 'I was out of it, by then. But I understand you ordered a chopper to bring someone who could find me. Wanna tell me about that? They're a little pissed off, right?'

Jack nodded. 'You don't miss much, Tony. Let's say Buchanan wasn't aware he signed that chopper out.'

Tony pushed himself a little higher on his pillows, chuckling. 'You didn't get Michelle to forge his signature, did you? Jack, what did he say?'

Jack shrugged. 'I haven't seen him yet, we were taken straight to Hodgeson and he had quite a lot to say on the matter. Anyway, he'll have calmed down a little by the time you're to go before him.'

'Hopefully,' Tony sighed. 'The two of us together, he'd bust an artery. Seriously, Jack, what did he say about me? He reconsidered his promise to avoid prosecuting me?'

Jack shook his head. 'Don't worry about that. He's not gonna congratulate you, but he'll let it go. Just concentrate on getting better. I got to go now; it's an hour past visiting period.'

Tony shrugged. 'Stay awhile. I got the whole night to stare at the ceiling.'

Jack frowned, pointing a finger at his face. 'You're gonna sleep, Tony! Lie back and close your eyes or I'll call a nurse to sedate you.'

'Look who's talking,' Tony replied, remaining where he was. 'Did Lachlan say why he done it?' he asked casually. He had been pondering that question alone in the mountains for the entire four days, unable to come up with an answer.

Jack gave him a searching look. 'No, not yet. He got paid ok, but I doubt it was for the money. Let it go, Tony. You exposed him and he's under arrest now, it's over.'

Tony nodded, focusing on the ceiling. 'Yeah,' he muttered, his face set into a stone mask. 'It's over.'

His friend gave him a concerned look, reaching forward to lower him back into bed. 'Talk to me, Tony. We got the guy, District's mopping up. You haven't thought of anything we've missed, have you?'

'No,' Tony muttered, scowling at him. 'I'll get some sleep now. Goodbye, Jack.'

Jack nodded, unconvinced and left the room, while Tony squeezed his eyes shut, hot tears moistening his cheeks. It's over, alright. I got the entire group responsible for that explosion, every last one of them. Turns out one of them was responsible for a lot more than that one incident, but it hasn't brought you back! You're still gone! He slammed his fist into the mattress, throwing off his blanket, his body burning. Dammit, Bob, why didn't you hang on a bit longer, till they could fly you to hospital? You knew you had a kid on the way, you knew how mom and Papa would feel and you still gave up. It's never gonna be the same again, even if I strangle Lachlan, if I rip him apart piece by piece, if I pull out some of his intestines just like yours were… Completely riled up, he forced himself to sit, disconnecting the tube that dripped liquid into him, pulling the needle. He winced slightly, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. I'm gonna tell you all about it, Bob.

Tony found his clothes in the cupboard, folded in a plastic bag on a shelf in the same condition that he had arrived in, torn and covered with blood. He pulled his trousers on, pushed bare feet into his sandals, ignoring his protesting stomach muscles as he pulled his knees up to do the straps. His t-shirt and sweater were almost impossible to put on. Fiery pain rushed along the bandages where his clothes rubbed them, and he came close to weeping as he pulled his sweater on. Just walk outa here naturally, Almeida! Try to keep the ruined part of your sweater away from view. He took a few steps, dismayed to feel the room swaying around him. Dammit, you're in a bad shape. You'll feel better in the fresh air! Just keep moving. Tony reached for the handle, leaning against the door to push the darkness further away. Slowly he turned it, pulling the door open and stepped into the corridor. It appeared deserted at that hour, and he shuffled determinedly forwards, his eyes fixed on the doors. The nurses' station was manned by one bored nurse who had her back turned towards him, chatting on the phone. Tony crept past and pushed the swinging doors with all his strength, dismayed they remained shut. Drawing a deep breath he tried again, rewarded by its opening. He held onto it as he walked out, finding himself in a corridor with several elevators on one side. Taking a deep breath he released the door and crossed the corridor, fighting the agony every movement caused and stumbled to the nearest button, summoning it.

It arrived a minute later, signaling its presence with a ring which pulled Tony back to the present. He watched the doors open and fell inside, flinging his arms out to grasp the rail as his body succumbed to dizziness. Instead of touching it he found himself propped up by an astonished Jack.

'Tony, what the hell do you think you're doing?' he cried, pulling his friend out of the elevator. 'How far do you think you'll get in this condition?'

'Lemme go,' Tony told him, eyes flashing. 'There's something I gotta take care of.'

'Not tonight,' Jack said, subduing the weakened Tony's struggles. 'You can go tell your brother all about it in a coupla days.'

Tony glared at him, propping himself stubbornly against the wall. 'Just go, Jack, ok.'

Jack snorted, grabbing his elbow. 'Tony, you'll reopen your injuries if you don't rest.' He held onto his elbow despite his friend's attempts to shake him off. 'I know what you're going through, I've been there. Trust me, nothing you can do will bring him back. You got to say goodbye and let him go.'

'Like you did, right?' Tony retorted. 'You shot her, Jack!'

Intense pain crept into Jack's eyes. 'Yeah, but it didn't bring Teri back.'

Tony lowered his eyes, ashamed of having reminded his friend of the worst time in his life. You just can't help yourself, can you, Almeida. You WILL NOT mention that again! 'Don't do anything stupid, ok. Forget Lachlan, rest up and then go say farewell to your brother. Come on, Tony,' he urged, more gently. 'Lemme help you back to bed. You know you'll die if you try to go anywhere like this.' Tony studied the vinyl in silence. 'You don't want to put your parents through that,' Jack told him, taking his elbow again. 'Come on, I'll help you.'

Tony gave up and nodded, allowing Jack to support him back along the corridor. The nurse looked at them startled and called Tony's doctor, who arrived minutes after they reached his room.

'Mr. Almeida, I must protest,' he began, frowning at his patient. 'What do you imagine you're doing? No, don't bother with that sweater; I'll have it cut off him.'

'No,' Tony said, biting his lip to keep his moan inside as Jack helped it off him. His friend gave him a few seconds before he gently removed the t-shirt, exposing the freshly soaked bandages.

The doctor swore aloud, ordering a theatre prepared. 'You've reopened your stitches, Mr. Almeida. If you can't stay in bed like every other normal patient I'll have you restrained,' he snapped.

Tony leaned against Jack, too spent to speak. He barely noticed being laid on a bed and rushed down the corridor and back to theatre.

His mother sat beside him when he awoke, holding his hand. She noticed his eyelids fluttered and bent over him, holding him down gently. 'Shush, sweetheart, it's real important you lie still,' she told him, stroking his hair. 'Go back to sleep, Tony.'

The following days passed in a haze full of vague memories. Michelle spent hours holding his hand and begging him to open his eyes, Jack visited him a few times, staying to talk, though he could not remember any of what he said. Koskinen came, bringing a present in a box he could not see, to which his father objected vehemently. 'He can't drink that!' Koskinen assured him it was for later, bidding Tony farewell as he was scheduled to return to the Gulf. Tony struggled to form the word 'goodbye,' letting him know he understood. His sisters came, talking to him quietly, and his youngest brother Joey came, explaining the latest astronomical discoveries. He drifted in and out of consciousness, unaware how these visitors arrived or departed. His parents were the one constant that remained unchanged, relieving each other as they kept a silent vigil by his side.

The sun shone on the day of his discharge from the hospital, and he pulled his eyes together to block out the brightness. Michelle drove him home and led him into the office, where she had set up a spare bed. 'You'll never manage the stairs yet, Tony,' she told him when he protested.

'But I wanna sleep near you,' he argued, reveling in her touch as she removed his clothes and helped him dress in a comfortable t-shirt. 'You're not gonna make me sleep down here by myself? Honey, are you mad at me?'

Michelle stared at him shocked. 'Tony, how could you think that? What did they put in that anesthetic?' She grinned at him and he felt a smile creep over his face. 'I'm gonna sleep right here with you, on a mattress' she told him, hugging him carefully. 'How does that sound, sweetheart?'

Tony leaned against the pillows, the trip from the hospital having been enough to use up what little energy he had regained. 'Sounds fine. It would sound even better if you'd forget the spare mattress part! This bed is big enough for two!'

Michelle ran her hand through his hair, unable to let go of him. 'Sweetheart, will you ever forgive me for being away while you were interrogated?' she asked. 'I could've looked into the information you found – at least I could've prevented Hammond torturing you.'

He shook his head gently, noting the concern in her eyes. 'Come here, honey. I'm real glad you weren't anywhere near here at the time. The last thing, I mean the very last thing I'd have needed was you to get dragged down with me.' He pulled her closer to him, kissing her firmly. 'Would you sit with me a bit?' he asked, laying his head on the pillow.

Michelle nodded, stroking his hair till he fell asleep.

She made breakfast in the morning, helped him dress and drove him to his parents' house while she went to work. Undoing his seatbelt, she leaned over him, kissing him. 'Tony, behave yourself! I'll call you. Just rest on the couch and watch some TV!'

'Yes ma'am,' he agreed, grinning at her. 'Why do I feel like a kid dropped off to be babysat?'

Michelle laughed with him, helping him out of the car and over to the house. His parents watched them from an open doorway, delighted to see them together. 'Hi Tony, hi Michelle,' his mother greeted them. 'Have you got time to come in, Michelle?'

She shook her head. 'No, I'm late to work as it is. Make sure he gets plenty of rest, won't you?' she asked anxiously.

'Oh, we will,' his father assured her. 'He won't leave the couch! Come in, Tony,' he instructed, helping him settle. 'Are you warm enough?'

Tony nodded, enjoying their fussing over him. His mother brought a blanket to tuck him up, despite his assurance that he wasn't cold and lit the heater, while his father hurried to the kitchen to bring him a fresh cup of coffee. Tony lay back, watching them, swallowing a lump in his throat. Didn't think I'd ever get to see them again, let alone come home. Deep down he was aware of the possibility of losing it all again, if Hodgeson chose to prosecute him.

The phone rang and his mother answered, carrying it over to him. 'Tony, it's for you. Miguel Alvarez,' she told him, leaving the room quietly.

Tony took the phone. 'Miguel, how are you? Tell me you're ok,' he begged. 'I was gonna call to thank you.'

'You owe me big time, Tony,' the voice on the other end of the line said, a hint of humor in the tone. He relaxed, sensing his counterpart was obviously safe.

'I know. Did you get any flak?' he inquired.

'Oh, just a "little". I spent the last two weeks under arrest, answering questions about why I left my post, why I delayed your departure with the agents, why I called Jack, and especially about why I handed over a secure tape recording of Miller's last conversation he received in Mexico. It was scrambled; I had to work on it before it got to Jack. Unfortunately it doesn't implicate Lachlan, but it leads to a middle man. They were especially pissed off about that tape,' he admitted. 'Guess I won't be seeing a pay rise for the next coupla years.'

'I'm real sorry,' Tony told him, guiltily.

'Don't be. You didn't ask me to help you; I did so of my own free will! How about you? They let you out of hospital, are you ok now?'

'Yeah,' he agreed. 'Still got to be helped around, but I'm ok.' He paused, praying that he was indeed so.

'What about Mr. Hodgeson? Have you seen him yet?' Miguel inquired anxiously.

Tony sighed. 'Not yet. I have an interview with him Tuesday morning.' He drew a deep breath, noting his clenched fists. 'Sure hope it goes ok.'

'It will,' Miguel assured him. 'I was only released because he phoned my bosses to pass on his thanks to me for helping you out. He wouldn't have bothered if he'd be pissed off with you. Are you coming back to Mexico sometime? We could catch up in more cheerful surroundings than last time.'

They laughed together, Tony rubbing his sore stomach muscles. 'I will.'

'You should. There must be a few people you need to thank,' Miguel teased, laughing at the ensuing silence. 'Don't worry, Tony, I won't spy on you. Call me when you want to meet up.'

'I will,' Tony promised. 'Gracias,' he said softly, hanging up. Thank God he's ok. That's one less thing you have to worry about, Almeida. Now once you get past Hodgeson's lecture, you can relax.