Dani wasn't sure what hurt more – her shoulder or her head. If she tried to situate herself to a more comfortable position, it jarred her shoulder. If she tried to open her eyes, the offending light in the room made her head ache. She remembered an old saying of her granddad's – she'd take a chance on one eye.

She gingerly peeked out and saw a large man sitting in the chair in her hospital room. She closed the one eye and opened both, just to make sure she wasn't imagining what she saw.

"Stray?"

The big man turned at the sound of her weak voice and came to the bed, into her line of sight.

"Hey, Red? How ya feelin'?" Zach Strayer asked in his deep, rich, Texan voice.

"Been better," Dani answered, trying to smile. "When did you get here?"

He lowered the railing on the bed and slid up next to Dani. "Just this morning."

"How long have I been here?" She nodded to the hospital bed.

"They brought you in night before last."

Night before last, she thought. Then the fog began to clear.

"Goren?" she questioned, panic rising in her voice.

Zach squeezed her hand, "He's fine."

"Eames?" She quizzed again

"She's good too."

Dani sighed, then, as an afterthought, "Wills?"

"Lucky bastard's still alive." Zach deadpanned.

Dani relaxed. Everyone was out alive and the bad guys behind bars. Not bad.

Strayer watched the byplay on her face and in her eyes. Like Goren, he had learned a long time ago, if you really want to know what Dani Cantrell was up to, watch her eyes. The storms, the pain, the humor, all flooded through with rapid fire succession. You knew exactly what was on her mind.

"Feelin' pretty good about yourself?" Zach asked her.

"Why shouldn't I? Everyone's alive and the perps are gonna get what they deserve."

Strayer had been waiting for just this moment. It was time to put the fear of God into his detective.

"Yeah, you, Goren and Eames are probably gonna wind up with a citation for all of this. And what you really deserve, Detective, is a good spanking." Zach exploded, "Dammit, Dani! If Goren and Eames hadn't bailed your ass out, you could be in jail. Or worse, you could've been on the medical examiner's slab instead of a hospital bed. You wouldn't listen – had to do it all your way. Well, let me tell you something, Detective Cantrell, when you get back to Houston you're going to have to do a whole hell of a lot of ass-kissin' – Namely mine – to keep you from being suspended for a REALLY long time!"

Dani had the common sense to look guilty at Strayer's reprimand. She knew he was right. Oh well, might as well start that ass-kissin' now.

"I know, Zach. You were right. About me, Wills, the drugs, Goren, everything."

Zach grasped his chest in mock pain, "I'm sorry. I really thought you just said I was right."

"I did. And, also, I'm sorry I tried to go around you to get this done. For what it's worth, I'll be a model officer. It'll be 'yes, sir' and 'no, sir' and 'whatever you say, sir' from here on out."

"Don't push it, Red." Zach smiled slyly. "I'll settle for the 'I was right' because I know what it cost you to admit that."

Dani grinned back. "So, when can we go home?"

"Doctor says you might be released today. All your stuff's already in my hotel room. Goren and Eames met me at the airport and got me shuttled around. If they do let you out, we can be on an airplane to Houston tomorrow."

Dani smiled and sighed, "I like the sound of that."

"Thought you would." Zach leaned over and kissed his girl. "I'll be glad to have you home."