'This is it?' Tony questioned in disbelief. His eyes raked the ancient hut, noting the broken tiles, cracked panes in the windows and overgrown path. He would have hesitated suggesting the place as a shelter for his men, let alone for a woman and child. 'You're kidding!'

Christianson glared at him, nodding at the derelict hut. 'I'm serious. Of course you can all assemble yourselves a shelter outa cardboard boxes and pieces of wooden crates, if you wish. No doubt that would feel more familiar, but…'

'We'll take the hut,' Tony snapped, clenching his fists. Focus, Almeida. You're working undercover and you're supposed to wait patiently till this guy meets his cronies. Yeah, and you also got to call CTU, somehow.

'I'll leave you to settle in,' Christianson told him. 'Tomorrow I'll expect to see the pair of you waiting outside the kitchen door at 6:30. Don't be late.'

Tony shook his head and pushed the front door open, snapping at Blanca to stay away. It creaked, opening a foot before tilting forward, threatening to flatten him. He jumped away in time, watching the door fall onto the ground with a thud. A cloud of dust enveloped the three of them and they coughed, Clarissa pulling the child backwards.

'You two wait outside,' Tony told them, deciding he would reconnoiter first, determined to make certain nothing else would collapse inside. 'Don't come in till I call you,' he repeated, making sure Clarissa nodded.

Instinctively his fingers groped for a switch on either side of the doorframe, but the walls proved bare. Tony moved inside cautiously, heading to the opposite wall where he forced two shutters open. Light flooded the hut and he surveyed it in dismay. The place had obviously not been used for human habitation for a around a century, he decided. The whole building consisted of a single room. One side served as kitchen, with a fire place above which food was meant to be cooked; at least it was used for that purpose in the movies he'd watched. A table and four chairs stood close beside it, a cupboard faced them. There was a little space in the middle of the floor and a double bed lay against the opposite wall. Cobwebs hung freely from every corner of the roof, attached to all the furniture. He walked round slowly; testing the furniture, making certain it was solid. His feet dislodged clouds of dust from the beaten earth floor and he pressed a hand over his nose. To think you were working at CTU last week, Almeida! Now you're back in the wild west, and it's full of dangerous nuts with guns. You got a couple of civilians to protect. He scratched his face, sinking onto the bed. After this is over, I'll personally lock you in here to spend a night, Jack! See how you like it.'

'Can we come in now,' Clarissa called from the doorway and he stood up. 'Sí it's safe enough. Just don't get tangled in the cobwebs. I'll start cleaning them out right away.' He opened a cupboard and pulled out a broom, a brush and dustpan, a bucket and an ancient mop. 'We should clean up first. There's a well round the back, I'll get us some water.'

Blanca played outside while he swept the ceilings, then washed the furniture and mopped the floors. Clarissa carried the sheets outside, hanging them on the line and pouring water onto them. 'Good enough, I guess,' Tony told her, emerging with yet another bucket of black water. 'It's a lot better than when we arrived.'

Clarissa shook her head, pointing to the windows. 'They're filthy, Tony. How can we even see out?'

'We'll get round to it,' he assured her. 'Hey, we haven't got any curtains, right. At least no one can see in, either.' He grinned at her, inviting her to smile back, which she did in the end. 'We should eat,' he said, tired out from the work. 'I still got a few sandwiches.' They ate, a little slower this time. Tony resolved to find them something different the next day.

After dinner Clarissa spread her blanket on the bed and wrapped the child in it. She joined Tony on the porch, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. 'Gracias, Tony. The place is actually livable.'

Tony shook his head somberly. 'Not really. It's got no electricity or gas. We got to fetch all our water from the well. And we won't be able to cook.' He felt her move restlessly beside him, before she asked what he meant. 'It's a wooden stove, right? You see any wood round here? Any trees, any bushes, any sticks?' He sighed heavily, longing to return home.

A slight sniffle distracted him from his pessimistic thoughts and he stared at her startled, dismayed to see tears coursing down her cheeks. 'Hey, it's okay,' he assured her, slipping his arm round her. 'I'll sort it out tomorrow. We'll be fine. I said I'd look after you and I did.'

She sniffed again, leaning her head against his chest. 'What did you say to him, Tony?'

He took a deep breath, rubbing his face. 'Just that we're old friends.'

'He laughed at you, seemed real derogatory.'

Tony shrugged. 'Don't let it worry you. Get some sleep now.'

She got up, staring at him in dismay. 'Tony, where will you sleep?' She stared at the sleeping child, who took up an entire side of the bed. 'There's no other bed.'

'There's no room for another bed,' he told her, rubbing his eyes. 'I'll sleep on the floor. Don't worry, I've slept there before,' he insisted, removing one of the ancient blankets. 'I'll use this.'

She nodded, climbing onto the bed beside the child. 'You know something, Tony. If I ever get a son, one day, I want him to be just like you. Buenos noches.'

Tony said goodnight, rubbing his face to cover his embarrassment. He spread the quilt on the floor and settled on it, pulling a little over himself. She wants a son like me! No one's ever said that before. None of the other girls wanted kids at all. He shut his eyes, tired out from the uncomfortable journey and the hard work. Who knows, maybe mom would even like this one. She certainly didn't like any of the others. He allowed himself a faint grin, understanding her perfectly. Anita did indeed seem shallow, compared to the woman who lay a few feet from him, watching him in the darkness.

He woke them at six, shaking her shoulder until he heard a faint groan. She turned, rolling herself deeper into the blanket, her hair spreading round the pillow. Tony stared at it, reminded of his sisters' long hair in the mornings, before they brushed it. The thought made him smile in the darkness and he shook her again. 'Clarissa, wake up. Christianson wanted us at 6:30, remember? He might get nasty if we're not there.'

She woke immediately, nodding her head. 'Sí, you're right.'

Her eyes rested on her pile of clothes on top of the blanket and Tony rose hurriedly. 'I'll get some water,' he said, leaving her in peace. They tidied themselves as best they could and set out for the farmhouse, Tony carrying the child.

'So where's the back door?' she asked nervously and he led them round the building, coming upon a nondescript wooden door. They settled outside, Blanca's head nodding against his shoulder. At precisely 6:30 the door opened and Christianson stepped out.

'Alright, listen up. You two are to work here, for me. You'll cook and clean out,' he said, pointing to Clarissa. 'You,' he said, nodding his head at Tony, 'will work in the fields unless I need you to fix something. Try anything at all, the girlfriend dies. Do you understand that?'

Tony nodded, forcing his fury aside. 'Yes. Why would I try anything? Now we would like a little breakfast, first.'

Christianson gave him a hard look. 'Fair enough. You'll get fed this morning. Whether you get any lunch will depend on how much work I see. Now get inside.' He rose to go and they entered the kitchen.

'Clarissa, find us some bread. I'll be right back, I just need to find a bathroom,' Tony told her, giving her an encouraging nod. She nodded back and he slipped out of the kitchen and into the area they had all been fed in the day before. It was silent. He pushed open a closed door, shutting it when he found himself in a pantry. He strained his ears, moving into a third room. A sudden roar made him jump and he peered out of the window, noting two of Christianson's henchmen had arrived. They spoke together on the verandah and he moved further into the room, sitting down beside the phone. Listening carefully for any hint one of them was about to enter, he dialed Jack's cell. 'Come on Jack, answer the phone,' he muttered, anxiously.

'Bauer,' came a voice struggling with sleep and despite the grim situation he found himself in, he couldn't resist a smile.

'Jack, it's me. I'm in play.'

'Tony.' The voice sounded more alert. 'Where are you?'

'I'm not quite sure. We crossed the border two nights ago and I'm at Christianson's farm, not that I know where it is. It's surrounded by an electric fence, seems he's not that keen on visitors. Listen, Jack, I'm gonna need a phone, coz I can't sneak in here again, he'll shoot me.'

'You serious?' Jack asked, moving around.

'Yeah, actually I am. I just saw him parcel the aliens out yesterday to all the local farmers. He'll get paid for their labor and give them a little something to live from. I thought we abolished slavery ages ago.'

'We did,' Jack assured him.

'Sure doesn't seem so from here. Anyway, I got a job in the fields, so I'll be able to watch the movements to and from the house and if anything happens to the truck, I get to fix it! Hopefully it'll work for a while.'

Jack chuckled. 'Hopefully. Listen, Tony, I'll find out where the farm is and send an official along today, a health inspector or something. He'll hand you a cell. I'm gonna need status reports.'

'Jack, I got no electricity.'

'You'll just have to manage somehow. Tony, you're doing great, just hang in there and keep your eyes open.'

'I will. Look, is there anything you could do to shake things up a little. I mean, I sure don't see myself living here for a coupla months!'

Jack laughed. 'We'll increase our vigilance along the border or something; get these people to get together for a talk. You better go now, Tony.'

'I will. By the way, there are some civilians round here, including a three year old kid. You couldn't move them, I guess?'

Jack sighed. 'You'll have to do your best to protect them, Tony. They're hardly our priority right now. We don't want to alert the smugglers.'

'Okay, I understand,' he said reluctantly. 'Just make sure this call is deleted. They better not get billed for it.'

'I'll take care of it,' Jack assured him. Tony hung up and peered outside, noting the three men still stood outside the window, talking. He pushed the door shut behind him and crawled past the window, standing up only when he reached the kitchen. A delicious smell of coffee hung in the air and he settled at the counter, smiling at her warmly. 'Hey, that's great.'

'We're supposed to have breakfast,' she said, looking him in the eye. 'I fried us some eggs and made some toast. You're really going to work outdoors, today?'

Tony nodded. 'Sí, but I won't be far. See that field over there?' He pointed outside the open door. 'I'll be there. If you need anything, you just run down there and call me.'

She nodded, pouring him a second cup of coffee. 'Where did you learn English?' she asked casually.

'At school,' he replied, considering that it was in fact only half a lie. His parents spoke Spanish at home and the English he had known before nursery school had come mainly from the TV and the playground.

'You're pretty good,' she said and he made a mental note to speak slower and use less elaborate vocabulary. She fell silent and they ate rapidly. 'I just wish they didn't all carry guns,' she told him, her eyes uneasy.

'They're crooks,' Tony told her. 'They're not meant for us, they're meant for outsiders, trust me. As long as we cooperate we're fine.' He felt threatened by the weapons himself, but he refused to admit it to her. 'I guess I better get started,' he said, getting up as Christianson entered the kitchen.

'That smells good,' he said, nodding his head at Clarissa. 'You make me the same. Now you, Almeida, come with me. I'll show you what to do once, and once only.'

Tony nodded and was made to walk over to the field directly in front of the smuggler. They arrived in a large plantation of lettuce, rows stretching as far as he could see, all identical. 'They need weeding. Make sure you remove only the weeds, or you won't be getting fed. Now here's a shed, you got a coupla tools. They're to be returned every evening, and Tate will check them. Don't even think of stealing anything! Have you ever worked on a farm before, mechanic?'

'Yes sir, my grandfather has one and I went to help out in the holidays,' he answered, truthfully.

'Good, you're more useful than the majority of them. Get started.'

Tony spent the morning pulling weeds, taking care not to trample the young vegetables. The sun rose higher and he grew hot, wiping beads of sweat from his face. He half envied Clarissa her job in the house before he remembered the number of armed men. She was plainly terrified of them and he decided to go and make certain she was coping. Straightening with difficulty, he walked back to the house, opening the kitchen door.

Clarissa was stirring something in a large pot whilst the child played on the floor with a few spoons. Poor little thing, she's obviously got no toys. You'll have to get her something, Almeida! 'Tony,' the object of his attention exclaimed and she raced to him. He swung her into his arms, grinning at her.

'You okay, princess?'

'Sí. Mama's making lunch for all those horrible men. Will you eat with us?'

'I hope so,' he told her, lifting the lid and smiling at her description. 'Clarissa, that smells great! Save some for me, would you?'

'Of course,' she assured him, watching him as he held the child. 'Thanks for coming to check up on us, Tony!'

'You got it,' he told her, pouring himself a glass of water. 'I better get back now, or I'll have to miss lunch!'

'Sí. It's worse than the army, isn't it?' she asked and he nodded before he could help himself. Clarissa laughed in joy. 'I'll figure it all out one day, Tony.'

'I guess you will,' he agreed, grinning at them before he returned to the field. The sun climbed higher and he removed his shirt, resolved to take a bottle of water with him after lunch. He wondered how many weeds he was supposed to pull, wishing he had something he could compare his efforts to. A few crows watched him, regarding him with unblinking eyes. Tony stared upwards, noting it was around midday. Presently he heard his name called and he rose, noting Christianson approaching him with another thug who had not been present on the journey.

'Almeida, show me what you've done so far,' he ordered, examining the ground critically. 'You've got the hang of it, but you're way too slow. You'll have to work a lot faster if you wish to get paid.'

'I wish to get paid,' Tony muttered, looking him in the eye.

'Good. Jarvis will be coming to see your work from now on, don't mess with him. He's used to your type.'

I doubt that. I sure hope not, anyway.

'Now come and eat. And Jarvis, get him a hat, he'll drop dead on us. You got twenty minutes,' he finished, leaving Tony in the field.

Tony wiped his brow with his arm, not wishing to leave streaks of dirt on his face and hurried over to the kitchen. Clarissa and Blanca sat at a small table and he washed his face and hands in the sink, joining them. Extremely hungry, he took his fork and put a piece of pie into his mouth, stopping when the child stared at him. 'What?' he asked.

'Mama didn't say the prayer yet,' she said, shaking her head at him. 'Didn't your mama teach you anything, Tony?'

'Blanca,' Clarissa said, reproachfully. Tony shook his head.

'You're right, princess. She certainly did and I shouldn't forget, should I?' Mom and Papa would really like these people. He glanced at the kitchen clock, picturing his mother eating lunch by herself at home and his father having his sandwich in his office, barely noticing what it consisted of. He swallowed, wishing desperately he could let them know he was fine. If they ever saw this place, those men would regret it.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a whirl, with weed after weed finding its way into his bucket, the monotony broken only once no more could fit in, when he rose and emptied it. The sun was low in the sky when he heard another truck approach and raised his head, curious to see who would visit the place. A smile played across his face as he read the writing on the truck. "County health inspector". Your phone is here, Almeida!

Tony walked over to the kitchen at a leisurely pace, not wishing to attract attention to himself and leaned against the wall, listening to the health inspector discuss an outbreak of deer mice in the neighboring county. He received permission to set a few traps in the fields and set off. Tony joined him once they were out of sight of the house, introducing himself.

'Thank God. I was beginning to think this was the wrong place,' the flustered agent snapped. 'I'm not real familiar with the breeding habits of deer mice! There's your phone. And Agent Bauer sent you something else.' He handed Tony a packet of candy.

'Thanks,' Tony said softly, watching his fellow agent return to the truck and drive away. He hurried over to the hut, placing the things in the attic before he returned to the field. When does work finish round here? In the darkness, I'll bet!