I awoke in a lot of pain. The side of me was stiff and I couldn't move without hurting myself. The room was dark except for the lamp beside my bed. Peppy was sitting in a chair beside me, using the lamp to give him enough light to read his book without disturbing anyone else. I looked around to find most of my friends were there. Hara slept on the couch, leaning over the armrest while Conna had her head propped in Hara's lap. Falco had dressed down and was asleep in a chair in the corner.

Peppy noticed I was awake and put his book down. "Glad to see you're alive, Skye," he said quietly. "How do you feel?"

"Broken," I croaked. "I hurt so much…"

"I can get the nurse to get you more painkillers," he offered.

"Later. Tell me what happened."

"What's the last thing you remember?"

I thought for a moment. "Wolf… Wolf caught me with his ship. No doubt that's why I'm in so much pain…"

"Luckily, nothing is broken. How you managed that, I will never understand. You'll be black and blue for a while though, that's for sure."

I looked at my wrist where Falco held onto me. There was a faint purple ring all around. He was really holding on…

"As for what happened," Peppy continued, "we rushed out to meet Wolf and Leon, after you were miraculously saved, to find you unconscious. Wolf explained to us the situation with your boss and then some. And they took the man who shot at you back to Sargasso for questioning."

I looked around the room and noticed that someone was missing. "Where's Fox?"

"Getting coffee. At least, that's what he told the nurse. No doubt he went to try and get a hold of Wolf. He figured you would want to speak to him."

I smiled weakly. "Is he a mind-reader now?"

"Well, considering all of this has a lot to do with your boss, he knew you would want to hear most of it from Wolf." He cast a glance to Falco then returned to me. "Falco hasn't left your side. It wasn't until a little bit ago that we convinced him to get some rest. He's been extremely worried."

I believed him… The fearful look in Falco's eyes when he lost his grip on me… It made me sick to my stomach just remembering it.

"He's got a lot to say to you as well," Peppy said. "Craig has been calling every hour on the hour to check on you."

I felt the panic rise in me at the mention of Craig. "Please tell me that he hasn't left Gilford Station."

"He sends his apologies for not being here. So, no, he hasn't left Gilford Station. You have nothing to worry about. He's not dumb enough to play into his enemy's hands, whoever they may be."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I'm glad." I felt myself getting sleepy again.

Peppy noticed. "Get some rest, Skye. You'll need it for everyone tomorrow."

I managed a nod then slipped into sleep.

I woke with a start from a nightmare about my falling from the balcony. I startled Fox who was sitting beside me in a chair.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

I wiped the sweat from my brow. "Yeah… Just a nightmare…" I eyed him strangely. "You look like you have something to say to me…"

"Actually…" He got up from the chair and went to the door. "I have a visitor for you."

He opened the door and let in Wolf O'Donnell.

"You have ten minutes," Fox informed Wolf. Fox left at that.

Wolf stood at the door for a minute then finally looked to me.

"You look like hell, Kell."

I smirked. "I'm sure."

He strode over and sat in the chair that Fox left. Wolf cleared his throat.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I had a brush with death and I can't get decent sleep. But I know you didn't come here to talk about my health." I looked at the clock. "Nine minutes left."

I saw the smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. "I'll cut to the chase then. Leon and I took Leonard back to Sargasso for questioning. His real name is Cameron Tally. We haven't been able to get much more than that. We'll starve him for a few days then see if he's a little more talkative then."

"Nothing on his contact? Or his boss?"

Wolf shook his head. "Whoever it is, Tally is getting paid big bucks for his silence. We've been keeping an eye out though. No doubt his boss will show up soon since he hasn't called in for a few days. You should keep tabs on Craig and his wife."

"He's been calling every hour to check on me, according to Peppy. When he stops calling, then I'll be worried."

Wolf shifted nervously. "Look, Kell… There's something you need to know about your boss…"

"Believe me, nothing you say will surprise me. In fact, if you're about to tell me that he's Cyrus Astaire, it took you long enough to figure it out."

This information caught Wolf off guard. "You knew?"
"Of course, I did. I'm not an idiot, Wolf. What kind of poor sap do you take me for?"

I couldn't help but take some pleasure from watching the confusion and surprise play on his features. No doubt he would tell Fox and the others about my boss. Unless he already had. I was almost positive that he had told them already. Not that their opinion mattered. Craig was my friend and I wasn't going to betray him. I glanced at the clock.

"Seven minutes."

"Who else knows?"

"His wife, for one. I'm the only one in his employ that knows about him. Now you and you most likely told my friends and family."

He looked a little sheepish at my last remark.

I let out an aggravated sound. "You son of a-"

"Now, now, Kell. No need to get feisty. If it's all the same to you, I was trying to look out for you."

"Oh, how kind of you…" Sarcasm dripped from my words. "I can take care of myself, Wolf."

Wolf snorted. "Clearly. Not like you're in the hospital or anything. If it weren't for the bird's quick thinking, you wouldn't even be alive right now."

"And what about your quick thinking?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know what you mean."

"You know exactly what I mean. Me being alive isn't just Falco's doing, it's yours too. Granted, your risky maneuver is the reason why I'm black and blue but, I'm breathing and get to see my friends one more day because of you. A thank you doesn't seem like enough."

"Don't get sappy on me now, Kell. I'm just glad I made it in time. Any later…"

"I'd rather not think about it…" I tried to change the subject. "I have another favor to ask of you."

"Name it."

"I want a chance to question Tally. I need answers and I need them now. And no one, no one, threatens my friends and gets away with it. I want to know who he's answering to."

Wolf smirked at my request. He pulled a hospital notepad from the nightstand beside me and scribbled on it. He tore off the paper, folded it then handed it to me.

"My number for when you get out of the hospital. I can sneak you into Sargasso so you won't get into any trouble with the other criminals and pirates."

I looked up at him from the paper in my hand. "Thank you… You have no idea what this means to me…"

"You can tell me later. I'm sure my time is just about up."

True to his prediction, Fox opened the door to check on us.

"Your ten minutes are up, Wolf. You've got about three until the military shows."

"Yeah, yeah…" Wolf got up to leave the room. "See you around, Kell." He made a quick exit.

Fox let Conna and Hara in to see me. Conna came running in and jumped onto the bed to hug me. I winced in pain.

"Gently, Conna," I told her. "I'm still really sore."

She backed off immediately. "Sorry," she giggled. Then she turned serious. "Don't you ever scare us like that again. Hara and I were so worried."

I smiled. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I'll make sure I'm more careful next time."

Hara took the chair next to me. "We're just glad that you're alive. Everything with Wolf went okay?"

I nodded. I noticed that Fox was still standing at the door so I dropped my voice so only her and Conna could hear. "He's going to let me question the guy who's been targeting me." I turned to Conna. "Conna, would you mind if I went away for a few days? I have to get to the bottom of this."

She gave me a sweet smile and put her hands on mine. "Do what you have to do, Skye. Go save your friend."

I looked to Hara as I realized that Conna knew what was going on. "She knows?"

"She's a sneaky little devil," Hara winked. "She heard everything Wolf had to tell us." She gave me a strange look. "I know you knew about Craig's secret, otherwise you wouldn't have continued to work for him. I know you better than that."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Hara."

She shrugged. "It's not your secret to tell. Besides, the less people that know, the better off he'll be. Except that now, everyone in our little group knows. As well as Star Wolf. Even if this whole situation has a happy ending, he'll have to shut down Gilford and start all over again somewhere else."

"Better that than the alternative…" I murmured.

"Agreed."

"All the more reason to find out who's behind all of this, right?" Conna asked.

"That's right," I nodded.

I happened to look over at the door to see Falco talking quietly to Fox just outside. Hara followed my line of sight.

"He feels like crap over what happened," she said.

"I'm not angry with him."

"I know that. But he doesn't. Let him speak his heart. I know he's got a lot he wants to say."

I gave her a nod then she and Conna took their leave. Hara let Falco know that I was ready for him. His eyes met mine then he slowly strode in. He closed the door behind him then came over and turned the chair around so he could straddle it. He rested his arms on the back of the chair.

The silence was thick between us.

"Hey," I managed to say, not really sure what to say to him.

"Hey."

"So… how are you feeling?"

He snorted. "I should be asking you that question."

"Then why haven't you asked it yet?"

"Because I'm sure you're sick of people asking you the same question."

I shrugged. "One more time won't kill me. Besides… I'm worried about you too."

That got his attention. "After all that's happened, you're worried about me? I'm not the one that almost died here."

"No, but… I know you're blaming yourself for what transpired. Just so we're clear, this is not your fault."

There was a pause and he looked away from me. "But I let you go… If it weren't for Wolf… I'm so sorry…"

I reached over and touched his elbow. He turned his attention back to me and seemed surprised that I was so calm. I gave him a small smile.

"If it weren't for you and Wolf, I wouldn't be here right now to forgive you. It's done and over with, I'm alive and well. Bruised and battered, but alive. That's better than anything else. I'm just glad that you were there with me." I went back to lying against the headboard of the bed. "Now, there's no need to dwell on that. Put it out of your mind and let's move on. Deal?"

It took a moment but he finally conceded. "Deal."

"Good. Down to business… I'm assuming Wolf filled all of you in on Craig's past?"

"Yeah. How did you-"

"I already knew he was Cyrus Astaire. So please don't even mention it."

A flicker of shock came and went in his eyes. He then turned serious. "Then what's the plan?"

I gave him the paper that Wolf gave me. "Wolf has promised me a chance at questioning Tally."

He glanced at the paper then looked to me. "Are you sure about this?"

"I don't think I've ever been more sure about anything."

He handed me the paper but kept a grip on it when I tried to take it from him, forcing me to look at him.

"Do what you have to, Skye. I… I'm…" he trailed off for a moment. He was about to finish what he was saying then thought better of it. "Please be careful. Don't do anything that you'll regret."

He slowly got up from the chair, releasing the paper, and went to the door. He paused and turned to me.

"Give 'em hell, Skye. I know you'll save Craig." He left me at that.

I looked down at the paper in my hand and let out a sigh. "No turning back now…"