The drive to Mexico proved entertaining, Tony seizing the chance to catch up with his brother who spent much of his time away in the navy. As the car sped south he recounted several amusing episodes from his basic training, comparing stories with Tony. 'You know, I'm just glad it's over,' he admitted and Tony was forced to agree.

'Yeah, it was rough. Still, Bob, they did manage to teach you to pack your stuff away neatly and be punctual!'

'Right, and look who's talking!'

Tony leaned further back against the seat. 'You forget some of those things after a while. I guess I won't see you for a year or so.' Bobby nodded sadly and Tony squeezed his shoulder. 'Take care, ok. Who knows, I might even manage to get a week off and I'll fly over.'

'Would you?' They grinned at each other.

'Yeah.'

Hours later Tony stood by the side of the road, his guitar case beside him and his backpack on his shoulders, watching his brother drive away. He chewed his lip in silence, hoping they would indeed meet again the following year. Once the car disappeared from view with his US passport inside it, he lifted his guitar and began the long walk into town. He had deemed it too risky to ask Bobby to drive him as far as the center, though he began to wish he had two hours later as he struggled over the uneven surface. The sun was setting by the time he arrived at the cheap motel Jack had ordered him to use.

Tony pushed the door open and stepped into a well lit room with one half serving as a check-in desk, the other as a dining room. He laid his guitar on the ground and asked for a room, paying a cheerful middle aged woman. Exhausted, he climbed two floors and unlocked his room, laying the guitar down thankfully. His room was cheerful enough; a single bed with a blue quilt occupied the middle, surrounded by a table with a chair, a small cabinet and TV.

Tony went downstairs and bought himself a pizza, taking it back with him. He ate it from its box on his bed, watching the news. Once he finished he fished through the backpack's contents, finding a towel and clean clothes. He locked his room and walked to the end of the corridor, glad to find the shower unoccupied. He turned the hot water on, emerging only when the banging on the door proved irritating.

An annoyed Mexican met him once he stepped out. 'Hey, you, didn't you hear me banging?' he demanded, outraged.

I sure did, you spoilt the last ten minutes! Tony thought, apologizing to him instead. His mission was to lie low and contact Christianson, not to get involved in a scuffle in a cheap motel. Remembering his mission, he returned to his room and collected his phone card, calling CTU from a phone box located conveniently close to the motel. It was answered on the second ring by Jack himself. Tony felt relieved; he had little desire to call his boss at home.

'Hi Jack, I've arrived,' he said, leaning against the booth.

'Tony, why didn't you call yesterday?' Jack demanded, his tone slightly annoyed. 'I just discovered you had your license revoked!'

Tony rubbed his face, wishing that officer to the deepest realms of hell. 'Yeah, I was kinda speeding a little. Would you be able to take care of that for me, Jack?'

'I'll be able to get your car out of the pound, if you'll send someone to collect it,' Jack told him. 'As for your license, I've granted you an extraordinary one, until such time as you get yours back. Tony, this is a one off, do you understand?'

'Yeah,' he answered. 'Sorry Jack, it won't happen again.'

'Anyway, you're in place,' Jack told him. 'Remember your cover. You're a Mexican, right? What are you planning on doing tonight?'

Tony stared at the phone in surprise. You don't have to spoon feed me Jack; I'm not an idiot, he thought, annoyed. 'I'll go to bed and watch TV. I had a long walk, you know!'

'Fine,' Jack agreed. 'And what were you planning on watching? Remember, that's the motel where Christianson collects his customers from, the walls have ears.'

Tony rubbed his face irritated. Did the guy have a right to inquire into every smallest detail of his evening? 'It's Sunday, Jack. I'm gonna watch Star Trek, ok. Look, I'll call you tomorrow…'

'Tony, wait,' Jack ordered and he paused, wondering what else was coming. 'That's not the best play. Pick some Spanish series, watch that and then play your guitar a bit. Establish your cover. And talk to the rest of the guests at breakfast.'

'Yeah, Jack,' he answered, hanging up in annoyance. He rubbed his face, resigned to missing his favorite show. Slowly he picked the receiver up again, dialing his parents. 'Hi, mom,' he greeted, missing her already. He spent the next half hour chatting to her, answering questions about the journey, his dinner, his room and his health, begging her to tape his favorite programs. 'Mom, I got to go,' he told her, noting how little credit remained on the card. He would have to buy one the following day; it would never do to get cut off in the middle of a CTU briefing.

It was dark outside as he returned to the motel and climbed the stairs, unlocking his door. He switched on the light and lay down, idly flicking through a few channels. A police car chased a suspect on a motorbike, shooting above the rider in order to get him to stop. 'Sonofabitch,' Tony muttered in English, chewing his lip a second later. Watch it Almeida, you'll blow your cover. Better pick a real boring movie, something mom might appreciate. He flicked through the channels again, choosing a romance. A woman was wheeled into a hospital, followed by an anxious looking man, begging her to marry him. Tony shook his head in disbelief. How could ANYONE believe this kinda crap? This NEVER happens! Still, he was hardly likely to get excited about anything in it, so he left it on, his mind returning to Anita, his girlfriend of just over six months, who had left him a few weeks ago. He wondered where she was, and whether she was happy with Kevin. What do you expect, Almeida? You're a real boring guy, you couldn't even discuss your day at work, and she wasn't the type to be interested in your military experiences. Let's face it; Kevin was a lot more fun! And you're alone again; coz no woman in her right mind would want you! He sighed aloud, raising his head to stare at the TV screen, where a doctor was handing two babies to the anxious looking man. He swallowed, enviously.

Hours later he awoke, his neck stiff against the headboard, a different program on the TV. A group of women were singing, a long haired youth drummed in the background. Tony glanced at his watch, startled to find he had slept for nearly three hours. He decided against obeying Jack's instructions about his guitar, curling up instead, his blanket over his face.

A commotion directly outside his window woke him in the morning. A shriek ripped though the air and a woman screamed aloud, the street echoing. 'You sit down on that pavement one more time, I'll smack you.' A child howled in indignation, and a man's voice joined the argument. 'Lucia, the bag. Tomas left his bag.' A young voice yelled about not going to school that day, both adults screamed back. Tony rubbed his eyes, wondering where in the world he could be.

He sat up with a start, remembering that he was supposed to meet a few of the motel guests and discover which of them would be on the truck to the US that evening. He threw on a t-shirt and jeans, ran a comb through his hair, splashed his face and rushed downstairs, silently thanking the unknown child for waking him. He could only imagine Jack's comments if he would have missed breakfast, as he undoubtedly would have, had the child decided to go to school without protest.

Every table was occupied, most of the guests Mexicans. Tony searched the room, recalling his CTU training and picked a table with a couple and a young child. They looked stressed and the toddler fretted, his hands in his plate. Tony picked a few toasts from the buffet, a couple of pieces of fruit and poured himself a coffee, moving to their table. 'Mind if I sit here?' he inquired, placing his tray beside the child.

They shook their heads and he settled, taking a sip of coffee. It was a lot stronger than what he normally drank at home. Beside him the child began to whine, pushing his plate away. The man told him off sternly, ordering him to finish his breakfast. Tony took a piece of orange, noting a small hand taking the next section.

'Gabriel, what are you doing? I'm sorry,' the woman apologized.

Tony shook his head, handing the rest of the orange to the toddler. 'He likes it. My little niece would do the same. He's real cute.'

The woman smiled at him and he congratulated himself on breaking the ice. Nobody had mentioned it during basic training, but he had seen his mother's smile whenever anyone praised one of his younger brothers or sisters often enough to know that every woman would relax with that. 'He's good usually,' she began, an eye on the child. 'Just - we're far from home and we left his favorite pacifier there, and he won't take another…'

Tony nodded, remembering his father rushing to the drugstore around midnight to purchase one, after they had exhausted their patience listening to his youngest brother's howls. 'I know what that's like. You'll have to get him another identical one.'

The man groaned aloud. 'We would, if there'd BE another identical one round here.'

Tony pricked his ears. 'There's lots of stuff in Mexico,' he said, chewing a piece of toast. 'Where are you from?'

'Honduras. Eat your breakfast, Gabriel. You're from here?'

Tony nodded, continuing his breakfast. 'Sí.'

'What do you do?' questioned the man.

Tony glanced at him, noting his hands. 'I'm a mechanic, fix trucks mainly. How about you.'

'An electrician,' the man told him. 'You work here?'

Tony glanced furtively round the room, lowering his voice, noting with approval how both leaned closer into the table. 'I did. Thing is, prices keep rising and my wages just don't, and with the new baby…There's more money to be made elsewhere.' The last sentence was a whisper.

It had the desired effect. 'Telling me,' the man answered. 'We're so close to it, too. You're not thinking of going across?'

Tony glanced round again, noting they followed his every movement. 'I thought I might try. I got nothing to lose…What can they do, if they catch me? Send me back! I'll just go again! We got to live, somehow!'

'What about your new baby?' whispered the woman. 'Is your wife going to join you?'

Tony rubbed his face, ashamed. 'Right now she's a little occupied with the kids and the baby is very young. She's home with her parents. Once I get a job and find a place, I'll get them over, somehow…'

He leaned back, his face burning. I can't do this, Jack! I'm no good at lying. A picture came into his head, and he squeezed his eyes shut, seeing his father's hand on his elbow. "Antonio, you lied to me! I can accept everything else, but not that! How can I trust you?" He had squirmed, attempting to think up an excuse. "Please, Papa, I had to. You'd never have let me go, and they would've laughed at me. I'll never do it again, I promise." He had steeled himself for a sound spanking but it hadn't followed, his father regarding him sadly instead. "Well Tony, I guess you'll grow up like your friends. What else can I say?" He had spent the most miserable day of his young life at school, unable to concentrate on anything, longing to get home. "Papa, please don't be cross anymore," he had begged at bedtime. "I don't wanna be like them, I wanna be like you. I'll never do it again, honest." His father looked at him for a while in silence, his feature softening. "Ok. Just remember this, Tony. Honest people don't need to lie, ever."

The couple misunderstood his distress. 'Hey, relax,' the man told him. 'It's better this way, really. You don't want to drag a wife and kids along if you got nowhere to stay. She'll be ok.'

'She's with her mother, she'll be fine,' the woman told him kindly. 'You must miss her already,' she said, a strange longing in her voice.

Tony nodded, unable to speak.

'Did you manage to pay for your trip? It's awful, if you owe money,' the man said, sighing heavily.

Tony rubbed his face, aware how vital CTU would find his information. 'No,' he said, sadly. 'I only got 5000 US.'

The man shook his head. 'You'll owe 10 000 US dollars,' he said. 'At 30 percent interest, how do you ever hope to repay that? I mean, it's not as though they'll just forget about it! Surely you don't hope to disappear.'

30 percent Tony thought, shocked. That's robbery! He stared unhappily at the couple. 'I got no other choice. There's no way I can save more. I'll just have to work real hard once I arrive.'

'You're hoping to pick up a second job, get some extra cash,' the man guessed. 'A job no one else will know about. Don't even think of trying that, my cousin got killed that way.'

'He got killed,' Tony repeated. 'By the guys he owed? You're real sure about that?'

They both nodded. 'Sí, we're sure. Everyone knows.'

'Everyone except the LAPD,' Tony thought, drinking more coffee. He made a mental note to call them and ask whether they had discovered any unidentified bodies that matched the description.

'Now I don't think anyone will try that for a while,' the man continued, finishing his breakfast. 'Of course it was better they killed him, really.' The woman agreed, wiping her eyes.

'Better than what?' Tony exclaimed, startled.

'Better than coming after Elena, his wife, or the kids. They know the whole family, you know.'

Tony frowned, deep in thought. 'You mean they get an address?' he inquired, growing concerned. The whole operation was turning out far more dangerous than he had anticipated, it was essential he maintain his cover.

'They won't take you without your family's documents as some insurance, they'll know you'd run otherwise,' the woman said. 'You never done this before, did you?'

'No,' he admitted, sticking out his hand. 'I'm Tony,' he said, listening to their names. 'I'd be real glad if you'd introduce me to your contact. I really must get to the US and earn some money soon. We already lost our apartment, when the rent was raised…'

He gave them a pleading look and the man nodded. 'If you're sure you want to go, under the circumstances. You'll end up working three jobs, for years.'

'I know,' he said, sighing aloud. That last sigh had come from his heart, he realized, shocked. Three jobs indeed, Almeida! When would you ever have time for the beach, or the TV?

'Will you be here around 6:00 this evening? We're being picked up then,' the man told him and he nodded, his heart beating faster.

'Think he'll take me along too?' he asked eagerly.

They both shook their heads. 'No. The truck will be full. He'll need to be paid and he'll tell you when to return.'

Tony allowed a frustrated frown to appear. He chewed his lip, amazed to find himself reluctant to part with his money in advance. 'How do I know he'll really take me, if I pay now?' he demanded.

'You don't,' the woman said. 'But he usually does. Almost everyone owes him, you see, he's going to keep coming for his money. He's got no reason to leave you behind.'

'Aha,' Tony said, nodding thoughtfully. 'I guess you're right. Look, I'll be here at 6:00.'

They promised to introduce him and left him to finish the rest of his breakfast alone. Tony ate slowly, mulling over their words. Apparently the guy demanded payment in advance then took people across after listing their remaining relatives and used them to blackmail the aliens into paying an exorbitant interest on whatever they owed. He had resorted to murder occasionally. Suddenly he didn't resent his assignment. Christianson and his fellow smugglers needed to be stopped and he would do everything in his power to make certain it happened.

The sun shone outside, warming the entire square. Tony walked aimlessly down the street, glancing into shop windows. There was no sign of the couple he had spoken to at breakfast. Glancing round a final time, he entered a phone booth and called CTU, being put through to Nina as Jack was out on a case. He told her what he had discovered so far and let her know he would make contact in the evening. She praised him for his success and he sighed.

'What's wrong, Tony? You didn't arouse suspicion, did you?'

'No,' he told her, his fingers tightening round the receiver. 'I just lied to some real decent people,' he admitted.

'Don't tell me you never done that before!' she exclaimed. 'Tony, you're working. It's part of the job.'

'Yeah,' he muttered, staring down the street to make certain no one from the motel walked past.

'Hey, relax. You're doing great and you're not hurting anyone at all. Is there anything you'll need?' she asked.

'I'll need a coupla birth certificates, one from this year, for some kids I invented,' he said, rubbing his face vigorously. 'I'll need proof of address, I don't even know what really, maybe some bills? Remember, I said we were staying with my wife's parents. I don't know…'

'Relax, Tony, I'll take care of it,' she assured him. 'I'll get some doctor's bills for the delivery of the baby to that address. You just make certain you'll be there at 6:00. Do you need anything else?'

'No,' he said, wishing he could see her face. 'I'll let you know what happened later on tonight.'

'We'll be waiting,' Nina said. 'Good luck, Tony.'

He hung up, pushing open the door of the phone booth, returning to his role as Tony Almeida, Mexican would-be emigrant.