With the restraints removed and the orderlies gone, Steve finally felt like he could breath again. He pulled his arms to his chest and looked up at Shane. "Thanks, dude. I owe you one. More than one."

Shane gave a small smile. "I don't think anyone has called me 'dude' in quite a long while. I'm sorry about the restraints. I'll make sure they aren't used again."

Steve's breath quickened as he felt the restraints again. "How about keeping those torturers you call doctors away from me as well?" Steve said, his voice becoming harsh and anger flashing in his eye. "I may not remember everything about last night, but I swore you said you were there to take me home, not turn me over to another set of butchers."

Guilt washed across Shane's face. "I'm sorry for that, too. I had no idea that was happening until just before I arrived here to see you."

Steve took a deep breath to calm himself. He knew it wasn't Shane's fault. The man had rescued him from that torture chamber. "I know. I'm sorry. I've just had enough needles stuck in me to last a lifetime." Or two or three. "So can I get the hell out of here now?"

Steve watched a shadow pass across Shane's face, but couldn't read his expression. "Unfortunately, not yet, Steve. We must make sure you're strong enough to travel and that it's safe for you to go back to Salem. Lawrence Alamain may be in jail, but he's got a large organization and something tells me he is not going to be happy when he receives news of your escape."

"Who's this Lawrence Alamain dude and what does he have to do with me?" Steve asked, suddenly confused. "Wait a minute. Is that the guy who did all this to me?"

"Yes, we believe so. Look, I know you have a lot of questions and I promise to fill you in on everything, but now is probably not the best time. You need to rest and recover. Everything else can wait."

"Everything else?" Steve asked. "Does that mean Kayla, too? Does she even know that I'm alive? They told me over and over that my family thought I was dead and nobody would come looking for me. Is that true?"

"Yes, that's true," Shane replied, trying to keep his voice even. "You flatlined in the hospital and attempts to revive you were not successful - or so we were told."

"So Kayla and Stephanie think I've been dead for all these . . . how long have I been gone anyway?"

"About nine months."

Steve was silent as the reality washed over him. His wife and daughter believed he had been dead for nine months. His daughter would be walking and maybe even talking by now, but would have no memory of her Papa. And Kayla, his Sweetness, what had she been through since his supposed death?

"You never answered my question, Shane? Is Kayla coming here? Does she even know I'm alive?" Steve's agitation was growing again.

Shane was silent for a moment. Then he simply said, "Kayla doesn't know yet."

"She doesn't know! What the hell are playing at, Donovan? Or is there something you aren't telling me? Is Kayla okay?" Steve couldn't voice his inner most fears. Had she forgotten him? Had she moved on?

"She's fine, Steve," Shane said in a reassuring voice. "She and Stephanie are both fine. Unfortunately, there are bigger issues at play here and, until we get some questions resolved, it's too dangerous for them to know that you're alive."

"Bigger issues? Questions resolved? Sounds like more big words from the big ISA agent," Steve said in disgust.

"I know you don't like it, Steve, but I can't just call her and tell her that you're alive. That information could put her in immediate danger. Once we have a grasp on your medical condition, I will call her and arrange for her to come here, or to any other secure location you may be transferred to. But for now, you just bloody well have to be patient."

"I spent nine months locked in one cage after another and that's when they weren't using me as a guinea pig and now you want me to be patient?," Steve spat. "Would you be so patient, in my place, Captain Donovan?"

"Probably not," Shane admitted with a sigh. He stood up, saying, "Get some rest and try to be nice to your next door neighbor. He's one of the men who helped get you out of that compound. I'll be back later, and I'll try to have more information for you." Shane turned to leave.

"Wait," Steve called. Shane stopped and looked back at Steve, who said, "Thanks again for coming and getting me, man. I don't know how I can ever repay you for that."

Shane gave a quick smile and simply replied, "You don't have to. That's what family's for."

As Shane left, questions lingered in Steve's mind. Who was that Lawrence Alamain dude? The name meant nothing to him. Were Jo, Jack, and Adrienne okay? How did Shane and the ISA find him? Hundreds of questions. But as Steve's exhaustion finally overtook him, only one question remained - does she still love me?