Chris lay on his bed while Clair sat on the floor beside him, worrying. He had been like this for three days, and everyone was full of anticipation and worries. Clair sighed and placed her hand on her dad's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Please be OK. I miss you, dad. And I'm sorry about that night… When I was rolling my eyes… Aviva said you wanted to have a normal life with me… That you wanted me to feel equal with everybody… Well, without you… I'm just… Just…"

"Just what, honey?" Chris said, his eyes fully open and a grin starting to spread across his face.

Clair's eyes opened in surprise, relief, and joy. "DAD!" She said as she threw her arms around him. She buried her face in his shoulder as he sat up and put his arms around her. "Oh dad, I'm so sorry… About everything… I love you, dad." Clair said, pulling her head away.

Chris smiled and then said, "I'm sorry too." He embraced her in a tight hug and then let go. "What were you saying, though? About what you are if I'm not here?" Chris said as his face became filled with confusion.

Clair hesitated.

"Well?" Chris asked, raising his right eyebrow.

"Because of my anxiety issues, I feel… Below everybody else. And you, well, you made me feel like I was important. Like I mattered. And I felt as if that made me equal with everybody else. I love you, dad, but don't try going normal on me," Clair said, her voice cracking on that last part.

"Clair," Chris said sternly, "you will NEVER be equal to anybody else. Not everyone is the same. We all have different strengths, different weaknesses, different fears. If you think about it, everyone is equal but unequal at the same time. You are strong in your own way. Remember this. You are something. You are YOU." Chris softened and smiled again. "You are my daughter, and I will alwaysbe there, even when it seems like I'm not."

Clair hugged her dad. "Thank you, dad," she whispered in her ear before pulling back. They sat there for a little while, just smiling and enjoying each other's company.

"Well, we better go find the others and tell them that I'm awake," Chris said, with a touch of regret.

"Alright," Clair said, still feeling the joy of having her dad back.

Chris got up and leaned against the post at the end of the bed. He shook for a minute and then walked unsteadily across the room. At one point he slipped and started to fall, but Clair caught him and helped him up. Chris smiled gratefully and continued to put a little bit of his weight on her.

When they reached the door, Chris reached out his hand and turned the knob. As he opened the door, Chris and Clair watched as the entire Tortuga team fell through.

Chris looked at them in shock. "Were you listening that WHOLE time?"

Jimmy looked sheepish and said, "Uh, maybe?"

Much to the Tortuga team's surprise, Chris bust out laughing, almost falling over in the process.

"I don't see what's so funny here," Aviva said grumpily.

"Oh, nothing, I suppose," Chris said as his laughter faded away. The Chris noticed the large figure in the hallway. "Who is this man?" Chris demanded.

"Dad, this is Larry. He helped us escape, remember?" Clair said timidly.

"I remember a little bit. All I remember is him being in the room," Chris said, looking very tired and rubbing his forehead.

Clair sighed. "We have a lot to tell you, dad," she said as she gave him a shy grin.

"You sure do!" Chris said indignantly, although, he smiled and gave Clair a squeeze around the shoulders.

Then Martin walked over and hugged his brother. "Its good to have you back, bro!" he said with a good natured grin.

"Its good to be back, Martin," Chris said with a large grin.