Hal sped through the streets as quickly as he could, his eyes flicking from side to side as he searched for Matt. It had begun to rain soon after the group of fighters had departed, and Hal fought the urge to close his tired eyes as the cool droplets splattered soothingly against his face.

Tom rode in the Humvee with Weaver, and Maggie, Hal, Dai, Ben, and Anthony all surrounding them on their stuck his head out of the window of the Humvee as they raced down the streets. He cupped his hands around his mouth.

"Matt!" Tom's voice boomed thunderously throughout the barren streets.

They had been out looking for close to an hour, and still there was no sign of Matt or the other children.

Hal glanced at Maggie. She was already looking over at him, and she turned her gaze back to the road as her eyes met Hal's.

"We're gonna find him!" She called out, her voice confident and her eyes determined.

"I know!" Hal shouted back, looking away again. But his voice lacked the confidence that Maggie's held.

"They're probably already back at camp. We're probably looking for nothing." Now Maggie was the one who sounded a little uncertain, but her features remained cool and impassive.

Hal nodded, but remained silent. He turned his gaze to his right, and something caught his eye. A little further down the road, on a sidewalk near a blasted brick building, Hal spotted a shoe. A child's shoe. And he immediately recognized the red stripe that wrapped around the black sole. It was one of Matt's shoes.

Hal's heart leaped painfully into his throat as he applied more pressure to the gas. Hal's bike surged forward, past Maggie, who looked at him with mild confusion.

Hal slowed as he reached the passenger window of the Humvee, and he shouted as loud as he could to catch his father's attention.

"Dad, pull over! Matt's near here!" Hal swerved shakily as his bike nearly collided with a shredded wooden box, but he pulled back to the window as his father spoke.

"What? How do you know?" Tom stuck his head out and watched Hal with a creased brow.

"His shoe! I saw his shoe back there!" Hal jerked a thumb behind him.

Tom immediately yelled out to Weaver.

"Turn around, now!" Weaver nodded promptly and he quickly turned off the road to head back. Hal spun around and indicated to the others to do the same.

Hal led the way back to the shattered building that Matt's shoe was beneath. Hal practically jumped from his still cranked-up bike as he reached the shoe. He raced towards it and snatched it up as he rounded the street corner.

"Matt!" Hal called out, clutching the shoe tightly. "Matt!"

The others followed behind him quickly, armed and ready to shoot at anything that moved. Tom, Maggie, and Ben caught up with Hal as he began to slow, both panting slightly.

"Dad, he's gotta be around here." Hal heaved, his knuckles white from holding the shoe so tightly.

Tom nodded briefly, checking out their surroundings. The streets appeared very empty, but looks could be deceiving. Tom swallowed and met Hal's stressed eyes once more.

"Just… Hold up for a minute, son. This could be a trap. We need to approach this carefully." Tom's voice was low and urgent. He knew Hal, and his hot head, and he needed to make sure Hal understood the risks that were likely present in the situation.

Hal looked as though he might protest for a moment, but he bit his tongue and nodded curtly. He glanced over to where Ben stood staring down blankly at his feet. Hal wanted so terribly to go over and talk to Ben, to at least make eye contact with him. But a part of him wouldn't let him. It was just too painful to be around Ben.

Hal sighed heavily and moved closer to Maggie. She silently took his hand, her eyes meeting his briefly. She wore an unreadable expression, but just the feeling of her hand in Hal's made his muscles relax ever so slightly.

Tom turned to the Captain as he approached them, and they exchanged a brief look before nodding.

"All right, we'll search these few blocks nearest us, and if we find nothing, we'll continue with the search tomorrow with more men and more guns." Weaver began to walk back toward the Humvee, but Hal reached out and stopped him, his face covered in confusion.

"You're kidding? We check out a couple blocks, then head back and leave Matt and those other kids out here for the night to fend for themselves? That's your plan?" Hal's voice rung with disbelief and anger, his eyes flickering between Tom and the Captain.

Tom sighed in unison with Weaver, and he spoke with a soft voice.

"Hal, we…" Tom began, but Hal cut him off.

"We what? We're just going to leave them out here for Skitters or Mechs to stumble across? He's nine, Dad! Head back when you want, but I know firsthand what'll happen if you do." Hal turned to continue his search for Matt, brushing past Ben and Maggie quickly.

"Hal!" Tom rushed and caught up with Hal, his face contorted into a mixture of pain and frustration. "What, you think I want to leave Matt anymore than you do? We have to be rational and cautious, though! We can't just go barrelling down every unknown street screaming out for him! We're low on men and ammo, Hal!"

Hal stayed silent and continued to walk , his eyes scouting out his surroundings for signs of any of the kids. Tom reached out and harshly grabbed onto Hal's shoulder, turning him around and forcing him to meet his eyes. Hal's eyes gleamed with a burning anger, and he reached up and snatched his father's hand away.

"If we leave tonight, we might as well not come back out tomorrow, Dad. You and I both know that. If we leave, Matt's as good as dead. You really want to lose another son, Dad? Because I'd have figured after you let Ben and me…-" Hal stopped as he felt a fist collide harshly with his face. He stumbled back a few steps before falling down carelessly.

Hal pressed a hand to his throbbing nose and stared at the palmful of blood that now stained it. Hal looked up at his father in confusion.

"Tom!" Weaver called out, his face concerned. He and the others started over quickly.

Tom stared down at Hal's bloody face, breathing heavily. His eyes shimmered painfully. He hadn't meant to hit Hal. He would never want to hit his sons. But as Hal had spoken, all the pain and stress that Tom had been holding inside for so long burst out, and Hal happened to be there when it did.

Hal blinked and opened his mouth to say something, but found no words could come out. He knew he had crossed a line with his dad, and that he deserved to get hit. But it was still a little surprising.

Hal struggled to his feet as the others ran up, concern on their faces. He turned and spit a mouthful of bloody saliva on the ground before wiping at his face roughly with the back of his hand.

Tom stepped forward, his face so pained that Hal felt his heart ache.

"Hal, I…-" Tom started weakly, but Hal shook his head, breathing out heavily.

"No, I… I'm sorry. I… I went too far. I deserved that." Hal nodded confidently, truly believing he had deserved for his father to hit him.

"No, no, Hal…-" But Hal cut him off again.

"Dad, let's… We should keep checking for Matt." Hal turned quickly and started off, wiping at his bloody face once more.

Ben and Maggie met Tom's eyes simultaneously, both expressing similar looks of concern. Maggie sighed softly and jogged after Hal, catching up with him after a moment.

Ben walked over to Tom, who still stood frozen in place, his heart throbbing as he replayed the moment when his fist collided with Hal's tired face. He had hit his boy. He had hit Hal. After everything Hal had been through, all the pain and suffering, now he also had the memory of his father hitting him etched into his mind. Tom swallowed tightly and closed his eyes.

Ben placed his hand on Tom's shoulder gently, causing his eyes to reopen. Ben sighed and looked back to where Hal and Maggie stood, their foreheads pressed firmly together.

"He understands, Dad. He's not angry with you." Ben spoke softly, hoping to reassure his father. Tom slowly shook his head, his eyes never leaving Hal.

"He's been through so much. Then I go and hit him. He needs me, and I hit him." Tom shook his head, letting it hang slightly in shame.

Weaver stepped up and placed his hand carefully on Tom's other shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Hal's going to be just fine, Tom. He's a strong young man, a fighter. He knows you're just overwhelmed. He's not upset with you, I'm sure." Weaver spoke reassuringly.

"Yeah, Tom! Hal's just stressed out right now, and he knows you are, too. He's not gonna be angry with you." Dai spoke up now, a soft smile resting on his face.

Tom sighed painfully. "I know. That's what I'm worried about. He thinks he deserved it." Tom watched as Hal and Maggie stood, pressed closely together, and he bit his lip harshly as he thought of what Hal must be feeling.

Hal closed his eyes, his forehead leaning gently against Maggie's. She pressed a warm hand to his cheek, and his eyes opened, meeting hers immediately.

"He didn't mean it, Hal. Tom's just upset. He would never intentionally hit you." Maggie's voice was soft and gently. She searched through Hal's eyes, hoping to read his emotions, but she only found emptiness.

Hal nodded against her head.

"I know. I deserved it. I was out of line, and I let myself get too angry. He needed to hit me. I needed to shut the hell up." Hal let out a shaky breath, his eyes shutting slowly.

Maggie sighed, still watching Hal carefully. He kept his eyes closed tightly, and he slowly slid his hands around Maggie's waist. She shuffled slightly at his touch, but soon relaxed into it, forgetting about all of her surroundings.

"Hal…" Maggie began, but she trailed off as words failed her.

Hal reluctantly opened his eyes, and he sighed.

"We need to head out, look for Matt before it gets too dark." Hal's voice was low and grim.

Hal began to pull away from Maggie, but he stopped suddenly, turning to face her solemn face once more. He looked at her for a moment longer before stepping as close to her as he could.

Maggie breathed out softly, looking up into his eyes. He bent down and pressed his lips softly to hers, letting his hand get tangled in her golden waves. He pulled back, his eyes set firmly on hers. He closed his eyes briefly, and then he turned and walked off towards the others silently.

Hal, Maggie, Ben, Dai, Anthony, Weaver and Tom searched those few blocks high and low until night fell upon them. Reluctantly, they left. They left Matt and the other boys alone for the night.

Once they reached town, Weaver organized a meeting with Bressler and Porter, requesting more men and weapons for a bigger search party in the morning. After a persistent argument, Porter and Weaver convinced Bressler to allow it.

Hal stalked back to the room he shared with Maggie, his feet dragging on weakly. He felt so empty inside, and despite the incredible exhaustion that sunk into Hal's bones, he knew sleep would not come for him tonight.

Hal pushed through the door and found the room was empty. He figured Maggie was wandering around, clearing her mind.

Hal slumped through the room and finally reached the bed. He collapsed on it, his head throbbing from his confrontation with his father earlier.

Hal looked down at his hands, which still tightly clasped Matt's shoe. His breath shuddered painfully, and he dropped the shoe to the ground. Hal let his head droop, resting it in his hands.

How can you take care of me if you keep leaving?!

Hal tugged at his hair, pulling on it hard. He sighed angrily. Hal felt like such a failure. He screwed everything up, and let everyone down, and now Matt could die because of it. His little brother could die, and it'd be entirely Hal's fault.

"Goddammit!" Hal shouted, the anger clear in his voice. He swiped up Matt's small shoe and threw it across the room. It collided with a table lamp, knocking it over with a loud crash.

The door to the room opened slowly, revealing a slightly pale Maggie. She had heard Hal shouting and something crashing, and she now met his weary, pained eyes.

Hal swallowed loudly and glanced away from Maggie, his breathing slightly erratic. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips together tightly.

Maggie stepped in quietly, closing the door behind her. She stepped closer to Hal, his eyes still closed.

"Hal... We're going to find him. Matt's strong. He'll be okay." She reached Hal and put a hand to the side of his arm. His eyes fluttered a little, but they didn't open. He remained silent.

"Hal, it'll be okay. I promise." Hal's eyes shot open as she said promise.

"Don't say that." He whispered, his eyes strained and empty. "Please, don't say that."

Maggie let out a breath and stepped closer to him.

"Hal, I do promise you that everything will be okay. You trust me?" Her voice was soft, but her words stung Hal.

He was sick of promises. He had made too many and kept none. He didn't want to hear any more promises. Matt was probably lying in a ditch somewhere, cold and... Hal's jaw tightened. He couldn't finish that thought, though he knew it to be true.

"Hal, do you trust me?" Maggie looked deep into Hal's eyes, so deep he felt like she could see right through him entirely.

After a moment of hesitation, Hal nodded. He always trusted Maggie, but he knew there was little if any hope this time. Matt had been missing for hours. He was out in the dark alone, completely defenseless and vulnerable to whatever predators may be lurking in the shadows. Hal had no idea how Maggie planned to keep her promise.

Maggie looked at the bed, and then back at Hal.

"Want to sit?" She mumbled, her expression guarded as Hal looked at her.

He nodded briefly and turned to sit on the bed.

Hal let out a low moan as he sat, his muscles aching. Maggie took a seat next to him, her leg pressed against his.

She looked at Hal, noting how tired he looked. He seemed only moments from passing out.

"You look exhausted, Hal. Why don't you try to sleep?" Maggie watched as Hal slowly shook his head, his eyes closing weakly.

Maggie didn't push him. Instead she nodded and looked at her feet.

Maggie looked back to Hal, her eyes full of concern. He was already watching her, his expression so intense that it sent a shiver down her spine.

Maggie sighed shakily and looked down at his hands, which rested near her thigh. Without hesitating, Maggie picked up his hand, running her fingers gently across his callused palm.

Her fingers smoothed over the thick scar that was etched into his palm. It was the scar he had given himself, after collapsing in the streets. He flinched noticeably as her fingers brushed across it slowly, but he didn't remove his hand from hers.

Instead, Hal watched as Maggie turned his hand over so she could inspect the scar. She looked at his closely, turning his hand to view it from different angles.

Without warning, Maggie leaned down a pressed a soft kiss to the scar. Her lips lingered on it. She allowed them to slowly trail down the length of the scar, stopping as she reached the end of the scar. Maggie took his hand in both of hers and pressed her nose gently to his palm, her eyes shutting as a small breath of air escaped her pale lips.

Hal watched her, his head cocked slightly. His hazel eyes more intense than they had ever been. It was then, in that moment, that Hal truly realized how much Maggie cared for him. He had always know she loved him, but as she kissed his wound, her cool breath faltering on his arm, he knew to what extent she loved him.

He could see all the pain she had felt in his absence, all the worry she felt for him, before and still now, all the love and passion she held for him. She was letting her thick, stone walls down for him. He felt his heart thud painfully and wonderfully in his chest.

Hal reached his free hand down and cupped Maggie's cheek gently. She opened her eyes and peered up at him, her lips still lingering on his palm.

"I'm here, Maggie." He whispered, his eyes boring deep into hers.

Maggie felt hot tears well up in her eyes, and she forced them back down. She nodded, her eyes closing briefly.

"I know." Maggie said, breathlessly. "I know."

Hal removed his hands from her, and she looked at him, confusion filling her beautiful eyes.

He reached over and gently tugged her into a laying position. She didn't fight him.

He moved so that he was lying next to her. He pulled her close to him, holding her to his chest firmly.

"Sleep, Maggie. I'm here tonight."

And soon, Maggie fell victim to his warm embrace, her breathing settling as her body relaxed against him.

Hal held her, his eyes never closing. He had let Matt down. Matt was out there, completely alone, scared and cold. But Hal was going to make sure that he kept Maggie safe tonight. He wouldn't lose both of them. And when morning came, Hal was determined that he would do everything in his power to make sure that he wouldn't lose either of them.