Logan sat up in the dim light of the motel room, leaning back in his chair and staring toward the ceiling, at nothing. How could he have been so...late? Sure Maggie and Tommy were safe, and that was what had mattered most to Goren. It mattered to him as well. But...but...his life was so full of 'buts' he didn't know what to do any more.

Two days...Goren had come through surgery, just barely. He'd crashed on the table, three times. But finally they had succeeded in repairing the damage, leaving him too weak to even breathe on his own. So he was in intensive care, on a respirator. His heart, finally, was beating on its own, strong and steady, they said. Too much blood had been lost, and he'd been deep in shock. Now...they were waiting for him to regain his strength. He was a tough one. Logan could have told them that. And he had a little girl to live for...a little girl whose world would utterly collapse without her beloved daddy.

He started when a hand came to rest on his arm. He looked beside his chair at soft brown eyes beneath a mop of brown curls. Gently, he lifted her into his lap and let her cuddle against his sore chest, ignoring the burning pain, welcoming it, almost. Still, it didn't dull the deeper pain he felt. He lightly stroked her hair. She hadn't spoken much the last two days, which was very unlike her. She asked for her daddy, and it broke his heart to see the look in her eyes when they told her she couldn't see him yet. She was terrified, and she wouldn't tell them why. Something was bothering her. He kissed her softly. Not even hearing that she'd be able to see her mommy in the morning had cheered her up.

It broke his heart to see Maggie cry. It broke his heart that they wouldn't let her see her father, to know that he was alive. To see him... He looked toward the beds, where Barek was sleeping with Tommy curled against her. He pressed his lips against the side of the little girl's head and tried one more time. "Maggie," he whispered. "Talk to me, baby. What's wrong?"

"Why can't I see Daddy?"

How to explain this to a baby..."He got hurt, sweetheart. Badly hurt."

"Is he dead, Uncle Mike?"

"No, bunny. He's not dead."

She looked at him in the dim light, but he could see the tears brimming her eyes. He could hear the grief in her voice. "That lady...Uncle Mike, that lady tolded me she would kill Daddy if I got outta the car. And...and I did! I got outta the car! But...but I had to!" She started to sob. "I had to save my baby...and...and..." She buried her face in his chest.

Shit. Damn that Wallace! Damn her for messing with this baby's emotions! But it was so like her to use Maggie's greatest strengths to manipulate her little heart. Shit.

That was it. What were they going to do to him? Well, Barek would probably kick his ass to who wouldn't have it...but... "Come on, baby girl. Let's get you dressed."

"Wh-why?"

"We're going to go to see Daddy."

He carried her through the corridors of Berkshire Medical Center, and no one questioned his right to be there. He learned a long time ago that if you acted like you belonged someplace, people generally wouldn't question why you were there. He took her into Eames' room, where he was not surprised to see her sleeping. "See there, Maggie? Mommy is sleeping, but she's okay. She has an owie on her tummy but she's going to be okay."

Roused by the sound of his voice, Eames opened her eyes. "Maggie?"

"Mommy!"

Logan set her gently on the bed so she could hug her mother. Eames looked at the clock and frowned at Logan. "What's wrong?"

"I'm taking Maggie on a little road trip and I needed to let you know about it so I won't get myself too deep in trouble."

"What are you doing, Mike?"

Maggie answered, "Uncle Mike is taking me to see Daddy."

Eames looked at him, alarmed. "Mike..."

"Just listen to me, Alex. Nicole told Maggie she was going to kill him if she didn't stay put. And Maggie got out of the car to hide the baby."

Tears filled Eames' eyes and she looked at the little girl. She wasn't able to speak for a minute as she took in her daughter's bruised face and the immobilizer on her right arm. "Oh, Maggie...baby, this had nothing to do with you."

Logan shook his head. "Been there, tried that. She thinks her daddy's dead and we all just don't want to tell her. She thinks it's all her fault. So, do I have your blessing?"

Eames wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed Maggie. "Sweetheart, do me a favor?"

"Ok, Mommy."

"Kiss Daddy for me and tell him I love him?"

"I will, Mommy."

She looked at Logan. "Where's Tommy?"

"Still sleeping with Carolyn. I left her a note, so expect her first thing in the morning. By the time Deakins has a chance to send the state troopers after me, I want to be in Boston."

"Go. Tell him I'll be there as soon as I can."

He leaned over and kissed her. "Will do, sweetheart. Come on, bunny. Daddy's waiting for you."

She hugged her mother tight with her free arm. "I love you, Mommy."

"I love you, too, baby."

She watched Logan head out of the room, stopping in the doorway to look back at her one more time. Then he and Maggie were gone.

His confidence, an air of self-assurance and his badge got him to the ICU at Massachusetts General with no problem. He found Goren's room easily. Softly, he said to Maggie, "Listen to me, baby. Daddy is not awake. He has a tube in his mouth, like a straw, to help him breathe. But he is breathing. And he can hear you when you talk to him. He just can't answer you. Ok?"

She nodded. He hoped like hell he was doing the right thing as he slid the door open and stepped inside. Sliding the door closed again, he listened to the rasp of the respirator and the beep of the heart monitor. "Ready, bunny?"

Again she nodded. He moved the curtain and carried her into the room. He wasn't ready for what he saw, but Maggie didn't flinch. He carried the little girl over to the bed, on the side opposite the respirator. God...he was so still. Gently, he set Maggie on the bed, pointing to the bandages on her father's bare chest. "Those are his owies, baby. Be careful."

She crawled up to his shoulder and rested her head on it, sliding her left hand into his hair and kissing his cheek. "I'm here, Daddy," she whispered. "I love you." She gave him another kiss. "And Mommy does, too."

Logan looked away, blinking back the tears from his eyes. When he looked back to the bed, she had snuggled into him and closed her eyes. For the first time in two nights, her face was relaxed and she was able to sleep quietly. He sat down in the chair beside the bed, pulled the magazine he'd brought from his pocket and waited.

When the nurse came in to check on him, she stopped and stared at the child asleep in the bed beside her patient. She looked at Logan with a frown. He shrugged and gave her his most charming grin. "His wife couldn't be here because she's in a different hospital. So she sent their little girl to keep him company. He shouldn't be here alone, and Maggie shouldn't be there alone. They're both better off here, together."

"And who are you?"

"Her godfather and his best friend."

"Did you clear this with anyone?"

"Sure did. Her mother."

An amused smile found its way to the nurse's face. "If it weren't for the fact that his vital signs are more stable than we have ever seen them, I would chase you out of here."

His grin broadened. "See? He needs his little girl. Look, it's a long story and I bet you have other things to do. The last thing he knew his wife was dying and his daughter and son might have been dead. I'll bet this child is better medicine than anything you could give him with a syringe."

"You may be right about that. Call me if you need anything."

He held up the magazine in his hand. "Nah, I'm good."

Another smile and she left the room. Yeah, I'm good, he thought to himself with a smug grin. I'm in all sorts of trouble, but I'm good.