Theo managed to get to the brownstone before it got too late and was able to help Mrs. Primm prepare dinner for the family. Josh had already made it home with Mr. Primm not far off and running into him as they got into the family room.

"Hey Theo, where did you go off too?", Mr. Primm asked.

"I spent the day in the library before I made it back before your wife fired me.", Theo stated, "How did you and Josh make it through the day?"

Josh didn't answer, but Mr. Primm tried looking understanding.

"Josh is…still thinking about…yesterday.", he stated, "What's for dinner?"

Mrs. Primm looked cheerier slightly.

"I thought of going with something familiar.", she said.

Theo felt his heart sink a bit. It seemed that the joy Mrs. Primm had when she cooked with Lyle had vanished when the singing crocodile was no longer with her. As the family and their houseguest sat down for dinner, there was hardly any kind of conversation or sounds besides the occasional scrapping of the silverware across the plate. Theo looked a bit annoyed.

"Okay, this is getting too quiet. What happened to all the excitement, the talk, the-"

"Theo!", snapped Mrs. Primm sharply, "We're just trying to live and get by."

"Not to mention what Mr. Grumps did yesterday.", Mr. Primm added, "Who knows what he would-"

"Forget Mr. Grumps.", Theo stated firmly, "You can't let that obnoxious, ungrateful, and self-serving bully push you around all your lives."

Mr. Primm frowned.

"Theo, there's only so much we can do."

Theo tried to calm down as he saw that he wasn't getting to making a point so he turned to Josh and saw his expression was still hurting, but slightly cheerful.

"Josh, how was school?"

Josh looked his way slightly and sighed.

"It was okay."

Theo already detected that Josh wasn't fully assured.

"Hey, don't give up so fast.", Theo said in a calmer tone, "Miracles do happen."

Josh looked a bit more hopeful.

"My friend Trudy said something like that today."

Theo now looked interested.

"Really? I'd really like to meet her some time."

Theo looked over at the other end where a half full can of caviar was placed as Josh got up and started heading out.

"Where are you going?", Mr. Primm asked.

"Just taking out the trash.", Josh said plainly.

Theo got up.

"Josh, I'll go with you."

Mr. Primm and Mrs. Primm both looked on board. After what happened at the zoo, they were not taking chances.

"Just be careful.", Mrs. Primm put in as Josh and Theo went out with the bag of trash from the kitchen.

/

Theo came along with Josh as they headed out. It was dark outside but it wasn't raining though it did little to lighten Josh's mood. Theo thought about what to say about what he discovered at the library, but how could he if Josh was still feeling down? As they dumped the trash, Theo noticed a shift in the shadows and Hector came out looking humbled and gave a slight smile, but Theo and Josh didn't look forgiving.

"How could you do what you did?", Theo asked.

Hector sighed.

"I've asked myself the same question over and over. And I've even thought about what you said Theo, but you see I've got nothing. No family, no friends."

"Then why do you keep leaving him?", Josh asked.

Theo raised an eyebrow.

"Ready to tell Josh here about that one night?"

Josh looked Theo's way confused.

"What night?"

Hector looked more dismayed as Theo continued.

"Before I came along, Hector tried to show Lyle to the world, but Lyle got stage fright and cost Hector his home and forced him to go back to making it on his own. Except that nobody is interested in him."

Theo saw his words cut into Hector's charisma, but the old stage performer looked ready to confess.

"I owe a lot of people a lot of money. Theo's aid helped, but I still needed more. So when Grumps offered me that cash I had to take it. Out of weakness, out of fear, and I've hated myself ever since."

Theo looked amused, but Josh beat him to the punch.

"Good, cause I hate you too."

He turned to leave, but Theo raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't come back just to confess right?"

Hector brightened up a little.

"No and this is no longer about me it's about Lyle.", he stated with urgency in his voice and his eyes giving the usual sparkle that told Theo that he had something in mind, "And you both know as well as I that we can't leave him in that zoo."

That made Josh pause, but Theo still wasn't budging so Hector continued.

"And if you both have the stomach for it", he said starting to sound like his old self again, "if you both have the kind of fire in your belly I think you have-"

"Are you suggesting we violate the law just to break a crocodile that is not allowed in a domestic dwelling according to New York regulations?", Theo asked.

Hector nodded.

"Theo, we have magic on our side.", he said pulling a coin out from behind Theo's ear, "The power of illusion and the willing suspension of disbelief."

He flipped his hand over and the coin vanished, but Josh didn't believe it at all as he came over and flipped over Hector's other hand revealing the coin.

"There's no magic Hector."

Theo could tell Josh was still hurting and talking out of broken heart as Josh headed back in.

"I'll be at the East Sixty-Third Street entrance at eight p.m. sharp."

Josh just continued inside, but Theo looked firm.

"Theo, please.", Hector begged.

/

By the time Hector drove near the zoo entrance at East 63rd street, he parked the motorbike near some bushes as Theo got out of the passenger car looking firm.

"You realize I'm only doing this for Lyle and not for you right?", Theo asked.

Hector looked his way understandingly and pleading.

"Are you sure Josh isn't coming?"

"Hector, he's lost the first friend he's made here in New York who he shared personal feelings, shared food with, and even considered family. How do you think he's feeling?"

Hector felt guilt swell in his heart, but tried to put it aside. He and Theo had a mission and they needed to do it fast. As Hector and him made their way to the gate, Theo took a look over his shoulder thinking of the expression on Josh's face. Josh wasn't coming so he and Hector had to improvise. Hector went up to the main gate and pulled out a pair of trick handcuffs and Theo stayed back in the shadows as Hector pretended to try a trick and mess up. A guard came out looking curious and concerned.

"My dear fellow, I wonder if I may request some assistance."

Theo rolled his eyes.

"Seriously Hector, that's your opening act?", he asked quietly as he pulled his cloth out, "Guess I have to help again."

He was about to toss it when he noticed Hector quickly cuff the guard's hands to the gate so he quickly came over.

"Magical Magic.", Hector said quickly.

Before the guard could say or do anything further, Theo pulled out his cloth and pulled it over his other hand he had in a fist, opened it to reveal a sparkly powder, and blew it into the guard's face. The guard sneezed and then fell to the ground. Hector looked a bit scared.

"Relax Hector he's just sleeping.", Theo stated as he put his cloth away again.

Hector got over what he thought and got the guard's keys. A few minutes later, he had the gate unlocked allowing him and Theo inside where they headed to the Reptile Pavilion.

"Okay, what's the next step?", Theo asked.

"We get into the habitat and then me and Lyle climb up.", Hector answered.

Theo looked unsure.

"Hector, I really think this is a little bit offhand."

Hector didn't listen as he was focused on the plan and it wasn't long before he and Theo were on the ledge overlooking the crocodile habitat.

"So, what do we have for rope?", Theo asked quietly.

Hector pulled out multiple handkerchiefs and laid them out on the ground before tying them into a rope. Theo sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Hector, I really hope you know what you're getting into. That bask (group of crocodiles) didn't look so welcoming or accepting when Lyle was placed there."

Hector sighed and tied one end of the rope to a rock and then started lowering himself into the habitat making Theo roll his eyes again.

"Yep, he's either the most desperate performer around or the most reckless."

/

Hector got to the bottom and cautiously started looking around.

"Lyle!", he stage whispered.

Nothing happened as Theo slowly crept to the edge of the top where he could get a good view.

"Hector, you're going to get the other crocodiles to notice you.", he said quietly.

Unfortunately for Theo, Hector didn't seem to hear him.

"Lyle!", he said a little louder.

Still nothing until a head came out of the opening the crocodiles would go into when visitors were not present. Hector gave a light whistle, but the crocodile that appeared growled and crept closer.

"Not Lyle.", he whispered.

Hector reached for the rope, but unfortunately a knot came undone and the whole thing collapsed into the pen before Theo could grab it.

"Uh-oh.", Theo commented quietly.

"Not good.", Hector said clearly getting scared.

Theo then looked towards the bars just as the door opened grabbing Hector's attention, but Theo already saw what came through.

"Josh?", Theo asked.

Hector looked Josh's way and Josh only looked confused.

"This was seriously your plan?", Josh asked.

Hector felt a slight relief.

"Theo, I need you to retie the rope and pull me up.", Hector instructed.

He took a step closer, but that was all it was before more crocodiles showed up with one standing out to Theo and Josh.

"Lyle.", they both said in unification.

Lyle looked Josh's way smiling, but when he looked Hector's way, it went away and he turned away.

"Josh, Theo, you guys have to talk to him.", Hector said with frantic in his voice as the advancing crocodiles came even closer, "Lyle help me!"

Theo rolled his eyes, but Josh had something to say.

"Theo and I aren't the ones who have to talk to him Hector. It's you."

"I agree.", Theo added looking Hector's way firmly, "Is there something you'd like to say to him Hector P. Valenti?"

Hector felt like he was having a final curtain as the crocodiles got even closer.

"Lyle, I realized that I made some mistakes. Perhaps haven't always acted in the best way possible, but I showed you the world, Lyle!"

A crocodile snapped causing Hector to flinch, but Lyle remained unmoved and Theo looked firmer.

"I'm thinking you can do better than that."

Finally Hector's resolve broke.

"Fine, fine, fine!", he said desperately, "I apologize. My behavior was unforgivable. I used you and abandoned you, and it's my fault you're here."

Theo looked amused. Hector wasn't' done yet, but it was getting good.

"Please Lyle, you have to come back with me to where you belong."

/

Theo raised an eyebrow. Did Hector mean back with him or with Josh? Then a look came across the performer's face and Theo knew.

"Back to Josh." Hector said admitting defeat, "And the Primms. To your family."

Lyle's expression softened and brightened as he turned to his former owner. Unfortunately, one of the other crocodiles had run out of patience and took a start towards Hector with its jaws open. Luckily Lyle was a crocodile also and grabbed the croc's tail in his own jaws before hurling it into the bars making Josh move back a bit as it slid down clearly dazed. Lyle looked to the other crocodiles and clearly they got the message and backed off.

"Well, now that that's out of the way, maybe we can focus on leaving?", Theo asked as he had regained his nerve.

Josh looked a bit confused.

"How are you going to do that?", he asked.

Theo looked Josh's way and gave a sneaky smile. He then tied the rope of handkerchiefs back allowing himself to come down and led Hector and Lyle to the door where zoo employees came in to feed the crocodiles. Soon, the group was outside and into the early morning which lit up the area.

"Please tell me the second part of your plan is better than the first."

Theo looked firm.

"If it involves running away, I'm not letting it happen."

Josh nodded.

"Yeah, that is not a life.", he said, "We have to show everyone what Lyle can do. That they don't have to be afraid anymore."

Theo then noticed a bus with an advertisement on it mentioning something called "Show You What You Got!" and tapped Josh and Hector's shoulders mentioning them to look at what he was. Luckily they were and all came up with the same idea. But the moment was short lived as a bunch of guards with a security cart showed up. Hector however looked amused.

"Take Lyle." he instructed, "I got this."

Theo then looked interested.

"This is going to be interesting."

Hector threw his arms in the air to produce a couple hoops appeared in his hands making him look a bit embarrassed.

"Sorry, not that.", he said as he tried again only to have a waterfall of cards fly out, "Gimme a minute."

Theo sighed heavily.

"Oh for goodness sake, let's just-"

"Prepare to have your flabber truly gasted!", Hector exclaimed as he flung his arms downward.

The moment he did, a huge blue smoke cloud appeared and grew until it obstructed the entire area. Theo however didn't wait and bolted while grabbing Josh's arm. As they ran, they heard Lyle right behind them. It didn't take long for Lyle to catch up mostly due to him being able to run fast, but Theo and Josh did their best to keep up.

"Thanks Hector.", Theo said quietly though he doubted Hector even heard him.

Now they had to get to where "Show Us What You Got!" was being broadcasted.