Dan heard the blinds being closed as someone unwound the bandages round his face. As the dressings were removed he looked forward and at the end of his bed he could see Zoe's face. She looked scared. He suddenly realised that he could see her. The widest grin imaginable spread across his face. "Zoe ! I can see you !" he squeaked in excitement. With a squeal, Zoe ran round the bed and hugged him hard.

"That is excellent, but we do need to run a few tests," said the doctor gently.

"Oh, sorry," said Zoe, pulling away reluctantly.

A week after he was released from hospital, Dan got a call from Frank saying that the team were all being given a treat by Stella. He would be picked up in an MI9 car from home early that evening. He should dress smartly and be prepared for bright lights.

Puzzled about what was going on, Dan got dressed in his best shirt, jacket and trousers and put on the dark glasses which he still had to wear outdoors and when there were any bright lights. As promised a black MI9 van collected him at the agreed time. Sitting inside were Zoe, Aneisha, Tom, Oscar, Ilya and a man he didn't know.

When Dan looked at the other man in puzzlement, Oscar introduced him. "Dan, meet Edward Dixon-Halliday, our team leader, and erm, my Dad," he explained.

"Your Dad's a spy !" said Dan in astonishment. He saw the amused look on Edward's face and felt embarrassed. "Oh, sorry," he said quietly.

"Not a problem," said Edward, holding out his hand. "Call me Edward," he instructed Dan. "He calls me Dad," he said nodding towards Oscar. He then looked doubtfully at Ilya. "I'm not sure what he calls me," he said.

"I call you Sir, of course," said Ilya, with a particularly angelic look on his face.

"Aye, that'll be right !" said Edward wryly. This was soon followed by a big smile though. "We're just going to pick up Rose and Carrie, then we're all set," he said.

It was starting to get dark when they picked up Rose and Carrie. "Hey, Dan, you're looking cool !" said Carrie. Dan smiled at her slightly. Rose gave him a close look and then spoke while staring out of the window.

"It's getting dark. Getting difficult to see," she said to nobody in particular. Dan looked startled and then pushed his dark glasses up onto the top of his head. The others could all see that he was hugely relieved. Rose had noticed his anxiety and correctly guessed that he was worried his eyesight was fading again. Instead he was just wearing sunglasses in the dark. Ilya looked at Rose fondly. This girl was so clever, and also very kind.

At last Edward drove the van into an underground car park. Automatic doors closed behind them and he parked the van next to a line of other vehicles in a brightly lit car park. "Everybody out !" ordered Edward. They climbed out of the van, blinking. Dan squinted in the light and put his glasses back on his face. "This way !" instructed Edward. They followed him through some double doors and along a corridor. They could start to feel the beat of some music coming up through the floor.

Finally they reached a door which was guarded by a man with a hand-held computer device. "Dixon-Halliday," said Edward. The man consulted his device, glanced up and counted the others and then nodded to Edward. The door opened automatically, noise spilled out around them and they filed through. A short corridor lead them into a room with dark corners and a brightly lit dance floor. A DJ stood on a corner stage, playing music. Bright lights flashed and strobed. Dan could see why he'd been told to wear sunglasses.

"Team, and er, team !" said a happy voice. It was Frank, grinning happily. "Hello Edward !" he said. Edward shook his hand and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Where's Stella then ?" asked Edward.

"Right here," said Stella as she appeared at Frank's elbow. She had her hair down round her shoulders and was wearing a slinky black dress. "Nice to see you all. The bar is free, although, obviously age-appropriate," she said, smiling. "Have fun everyone. You're off duty tonight." She linked her arm through Frank's and they walked away, chatting comfortably with one another.

Dan looked at Tom. He turned to Zoe and Aneisha. "Why don't you find us a table and we'll get us some drinks ?" The two girls nodded. "What do you want ?" he asked. After getting the drinks orders Dan and Tom went over to the bar. "You still getting the nightmares ?" Dan asked Tom.

"Yeah," said Tom. "Not as many though. I think it's starting to wear off a bit now. You ?" he said.

"Same," said Dan. "Freaked me out a bit for a while, but I think it's getting a bit better now. Every time I woke up in the dark I thought I'd gone blind again. I woke up last night and realised it was dark. That's the first time," he explained.

"We'll get over it in the end," said Tom. "You've done loads more than me. I was worried I wouldn't handle it, but it's getting better." He paused thoughtfully, waiting for the bar staff to come over to them. "Aneisha's great isn't she ?" he said out of the blue. Dan looked at him in surprise.

"She's a really nice person," Dan said, thoughtfully. "You really like her don't you ?" he asked. Tom nodded. "Better ask her for a dance then hadn't you ?" he said.

"Yeah. You going to ask Zoe ?" asked Tom, looking at him sideways. It was harder to read Dan's face with the dark glasses on. Dan looked at him, pursing his lips.

"Dunno. Do you think these make me look mysterious ?" he asked.

"No, just a bit daft. I mean, it's dark isn't it ?" said Tom laughing. Dan was momentarily annoyed then he too couldn't help laughing.

"Yeah, it's a bit bloated pop star isn't it ?" he said wryly.

Tom patted him on the shoulder. "It's OK. We understand," he said, teasing Dan. Finally they got to order their drinks and carried them over to the table where the girls were sitting chatting with Carrie and Rose. They were joined in a minute by Oscar and Ilya who had also gone to get drinks. Taking advantage of everyone moving around to take their drinks, Ilya shot into a gap between Rose and Carrie so that he could talk to Rose. It was so blatant that Oscar and Carrie were left standing together with their mouths open.

"I guess we'll just stand here then," said Oscar, drily.

"Oh stuff that ! Let's have a dance !" said Carrie, putting her drink down on the table and grabbing Oscar's hand. Laughing, he put his drink down just before Carrie dragged him away from the table. Dan put his drink down next to Zoe's.

"Do you want to dance ?" Dan asked hesitantly. She smiled the biggest smile and got up. Holding hands, the two of them walked over to the busy dance floor and started dancing near to where Oscar and Carrie were bopping around. Tom looked nervously at Aneisha. Now or never.

"How are you doing now ?" asked Aneisha before he could say anything.

"Em, fine," said Tom.

"Really ?" asked Aneisha, looking at him searchingly.

"Really," said Tom, and before he thought about it too much he leant across and kissed Aneisha lightly on the lips. She looked at him in astonishment and he worried for a moment that he'd upset her.

Instead, Aneisha smiled and took his hand. "Come on, let's dance," she said. "We don't know when we'll get another chance." They both stood up and joined the others on the dance floor.

"Now, that is an excellent idea !" said Ilya to Rose.

"What, a dance ?" asked Rose hopefully. Instead, Ilya wrapped his arms around her and swept her up into a big kiss. At first Rose was stunned into immobility, but finding that she was enjoying the moment she started to return the kiss. The music which was playing ended as they stopped kissing and looked into one another's eyes.

"And now, the dance," said Ilya. Rose smiled happily at him and followed him onto the dance floor, joining the others on what had become their own piece of dance floor. After all, they'd earned it.

The End