Three days passed and Vlad remained patient. He was surprised to be treated so well. These Americans were good people. The boy he had hurt, this Gilligan, was proving to be the best of the lot. He not only brought him food but talked about him and asked about Viktor's past. Talking about his son helped to ease the pain he felt at losing him.

On the evening of the third day Gilligan returned bringing a piece of pie. The boy grinned. "Believe it or not this was what got me in trouble and told me something was wrong."

"Oh?" The Russian asked amused.

Gilligan nodded and handed him the plate and fork. "It's Mary Ann's coconut creme pie!"

Vlad took it and ate a bite. He chuckled. "It is very good."

Gilligan nodded. Well...you enjoy it."

He turned to leave but Vlad stopped him. "Gilligan?"

Gilligan turned to him. "Yeah?"

"I am sorry for hurting you. Why show kindness to me?"

Gilligan looked at him. "People make bad choices when they're mad. They say and do things that they don't mean when they're upset." He went to the bars and met the eyes of the Russian.

Vlad was stunned at what he was seeing in those ocean blue eyes. Forgiveness, understanding, and innocence.

"No father should outlive their child," Gilligan said quietly. "You were living every parent's worst nightmare. You obviously love him."

Vlad sighed. "I did not at first. Never wanted children. Viktor brought to me from orphanage for me to train."

"How old?" Gilligan asked kindly.

"Very small. Five years old. Very angry."

Gilligan frowned. "What happened to his parents?"

Vlad stepped back and sat down on the bench with a heavy sigh. "An armed robber broke into house one night. Viktor was going back to bed when heard noises from parents room. Went to check and saw robber shoot parents. Robber saw him. Viktor ran to his room and grabbed hockey stick. When robber come in he hit him in da head. Den called police."

Gilligan frowned. "No wonder he was angry."

Vlad nodded. "Da. Dat got spy organizations attention. Took him in. Gave him to me."

Gilligan smiled slightly. "How long did it take for you two to become a family?"

"Many days. Robber made mistake. Broke out of jail and found my home. Tried to kill Viktor."

"You protected him," Gilligan said smiling gently.

Vlad nodded. "He was just a boy. After dat he started warming up to me...as did I to him."

Gilligan cocked his head. "I can imagine."

"It been three days GIlligan…"

"He's coming."

Vlad raised an eyebrow. "You seem so sure."

Gilligan smiled. "I am sure. If it were me and the Skipper I would move mountains outta my way to get to him if he needed me."

Vlad chuckled. "No 'if" about it. Skipper needs you."

Gilligan looked down a bit. "Sometimes it doesn't feel that way."

The Russian frowned before going over and putting his hands on top of Gilligan's. When the boy looked up he met his eyes. "I told him what I did to you. If looks could kill I be dead ten times over!"

The first mate grinned. "I know that look!"

"Oh?"

He nodded! "He had that look when he talked to my Dad on the phone and told him off!"

The Russian's eyes went wide! "Why do dat?"

Gilligan went quiet. "I uh...better go…"

His hand shot out and caught Gilligan's arm. When their eyes met he saw old pain in the first mate's eyes. His own eyes went wide in realization. "Gilligan...did your Papa harm you?"

Gilligan nodded. "I met the Skipper in the Navy…"

The more he spoke the more guilty Vlad felt. None of what he was hearing was in any of the personnel files on either of them.

When Gilligan finally did leave Vlad looked up at the sky. The Skipper's threat repeated in his mind. He made a decision.

He would not return to Russia. He would take Viktor away from there. Where they would go he had no idea but he knew Russia was no longer safe for them. America wouldn't be good either as they would both be imprisoned and possibly separated again.

He would not lose his son again.

Meanwhile Viktor slipped off to the lifeboat of the ship he had sneaked onto. He lowered down and was soon on his way to the island. He wasn't sure what he was going to find when he got there but he was sure his father had done some damage. Whenever he was concerned was when Vlad Romanov was at his most dangerous.

As he sailed he had to wonder if they could ever go home. The Commandant would have them both killed.

He gripped the motor and sped toward the island's direction. He didn't know what they were going to do but first he had to get to his father.

Then they'd figure everything else out.