A moment after Shane had shouted, Bo had rushed over.

"Steve says you're not getting rid of him this easily," Bo said. He crouched next to Shane, tilted his head, and felt for Shane's pulse. "Steve's just got a shoulder wound. He should be okay. How 'bout you, Gov'nor?"

The word on Steve made Shane relieved. In response to Bo's question, he answered, "I've . . . I've had better . . . days." It was harder to talk than before. Whatever adrenaline had helped him struggle against the toxin seemed to be dissipating. Now, his entire body felt like it was stone. It wasn't painful like before; it was more like there was no feeling. Everything was very heavy and he no longer had any strength to move. Shane felt his eyes closing.

Bo said something that sounded like "Hang on," and then, Shane watched through his nearly-closed eyelids as Bo disappeared. The way Bo had moved his head, Shane could no longer see Steve and Kayla, but that must have been where Bo went. A moment later, he heard footsteps circling him. It didn't sound like Bo. Shane tried to see who it was, but the person was behind him now, by the gas chamber.

Why? he wondered.

A moment later, Kayla entered his line of sight. She crouched beside him and put an arm under his head.

"Here," she said. "Take this."

She lifted his head and put something to his lips. Then he became aware of the liquid in his mouth and running down his throat.

He nearly choked on it, but Kayla held his head firm. "Stay still," she said. "It's just the antidote. Don't fight it."

The antidote.

". . . doesn't work," he mumbled, his words still slurred.

"It does," Kayla insisted. "You just didn't know it can come back and cause a relapse. If you've been exposed too long or to too much."

That actually made sense. Shane had gotten a long blast of the toxin, definitely more than Steve and Lawrence. Changing the subject, he mumbled a question. "Steve . . . going . . . be okay?"

"I think so," she replied. "He had me scared, but it didn't hit any vitals. And you're going to be okay, too. Kimmie needs you."

"And Steve. . . he needs you," Shane said. His voice was growing stronger.

Kayla was still watching him with a concerned look on her face, and he remembered wondering why Kayla was even there. "Kay. . . . How did you find us?"

"Carly and I figured out the toxin at the Spectator wasn't right. Kim and I convinced Roman to come here. . . . I think he's finally come around."

"Well that's a bloody miracle," Shane said. "It took him long enough."

Kayla chuckled. "He's a Brady. What do you expect?" She glanced at Steve. "We pulled up just after Steve got outside. Kim wanted to come down here."

"Wait. . . ." Shane didn't realize Kim had been with her. "Kim?" Shane asked. "Where's Kim?"

"She was here, but she and Roman went to the school," Kayla said.

The school. . . . Shane took a moment to understand that. The school. Andrew's school. He tried to sit up, but his muscles refused to cooperate. One of his arms seemed to unfreeze and he flailed around momentarily until Kayla pushed him back to the ground.

"Calm down," she ordered. "Kim went with Roman so she could identify Ivan Marais." She tried to sound confident. "They'll find him."

"Andrew's there," Shane whispered. His son was in that school. Andrew and all those children were completely unaware that a madman was about to release a poison gas. "We need to stop him."

"They'll stop him," Kayla said, but he could detect her hesitation. She didn't know. None of them knew.

And what about Kim? She was rushing in there too. What if something happens to her?

Kayla seemed to know what he was thinking. "They'll be okay," she said. She glanced over her shoulder and Shane realized that she was looking back at Steve. "Everyone is going to be okay."

"Go," he said. "Make sure Steve's okay."

Kayla stayed where she was and checked lifted his arm so she could time his pulse.

"I mean it," Shane said. He was beginning to feel life flowing back into his limbs. He even managed to flex his hand a little. "See. . . . it's working this time. . . . So go take care of Steve."

"That's what he told me to do for you. I can't follow both your orders."

Shane suddenly remembered their talk after he had been shot. "There's nothing wrong with Steve being your priority. He should be. So go be with your husband."

Kayla gave him a guilty look, but he shook his head.

"No guilt, Kay. Go be with Steve."

Kayla lowered his arm and squeezed his hand. As she did, Shane heard distant shouts. An instant later, some unformed police and paramedics burst into the room. "The calvary," Kayla joked. Then she gave him a somber look and added, "Kim's going to be okay, Shane, and so is Andrew. She and Roman are going to stop them."

Shane nodded. As Kayla walked away to give instructions to the paramedics, he closed his eyes. He told himself that Kim had come through a lot worse. She would do anything to protect Andrew. And dimly, though it was minor compared to his concern about Andrew, the thought crossed his mind that it was ironic how his whole plan - the plan that Kim had protested so vehemently - now hinged on her finding Ivan Marais before he could release the toxin.

"I know you can do it, Kim," he whispered softly. "I have faith in you, my love. You can stop them and save us all."