Days had likely passed since Milad had come and left. The food and water she brought was dwindling. He'd turned to rationing it, but now both he and Parbeen were starving and suffering dehydration. MacGyver's facial stubble was now a full beard, much to his dismay. It itched and made him feel even dirtier. Even though the swelling had decreased considerably, he still couldn't put any weight on it. He'd described a crutch to Parbeen, but nothing she brought him worked. He hadn't felt so helpless in a long time.

He was dozing on his mat, listening to Parbeen talk with her toys. She was speaking in Farsi, so he only understood a few words. In her world today, there was a princess, a prince, and a wish-granting horse that ate candy. What they were doing was a mystery.

MacGyver's eyes drifted open when he heard footsteps coming. He sat up against the cave wall. Parbeen dropped her toys and ran to him, huddling at his side where she could look over him at the entrance. He didn't have the heart to tell her there was no way he could protect her in his condition.

Milad came in, carrying a heavy bag. His clothes were tattered, and he looked exhausted. Parbeen jumped up and ran to him, reaching out to hug him. In Farsi, he snarled at her, and she stopped, staring at him. Tears began to form in her eyes. This must have made him angrier because he snapped again at her. She ran back to MacGyver, hiding behind him from her brother. Milad dropped the satchel on the ground near the chair and then dropped his body onto the chair. He sat his rifle next to him, then leaned on his legs with his elbows and scrubbed his face a couple times. He reached into the bag, pulling out a large bottle of water.

"Get me a rag, Parbeen."

She didn't move.

"Parbeen, a rag!" he barked.

"Maybe if you asked her nicely, she would. You've been gone a long time, and you come in here barking orders at her? Why would she listen to you?"

"She's my sister and my woman. It is the law that she does what I tell her. You have no say in how I talk to her, do you understand, American swine?"

The two stared at him. He held their stare with one filled with dark hate.

"Go get your brother a rag," MacGyver quietly told her, "Please." He made sure to draw the word out for Milad.

She did but returned to MacGyver as soon as he had it. He wetted it and wiped his dirty face and neck. He held the bottle out to her. She approached him cautiously, quickly snatched it from him, and returned to MacGyver. No one spoke while she drank her fill of water. She handed MacGyver the bottle, and he did the same, but with one eye on Milad. He grimaced when his stomach had some objections to a fluid it wasn't used to getting so much of, but the feeling quickly passed.

"There is food and clothes for you both in here. There's a passport for Parbeen and a forged student visa." Milad stood, picking up his gun. "The man coming tonight for you will not be patient, but he knows about your ankle." Milad motioned at MacGyver's ankle to reinforce what he said. "He knows you'll need some kind of transportation. Probably a donkey or mule, so I hope you know how to ride one. She does. I gave him the same password as the woman doctor. I won't be back, so if you miss him, you're on your own getting out of Iran."

MacGyver abruptly realized why Milad was being so mean to Parbeen. He didn't want her to break down when she realized she was leaving him. He wanted her to be angry with him, making their separation easier.

"You won't be back?" Parbeen asked.

"No. I won't. You'll go with MacGyver and do whatever he tells you to do, Parbeen. I sold you to him. Do you understand?"

"You sold me?"

"Yes. That's why the doctor came. I promised you to him so he could get a doctor. You aren't worth much else."

She started to cry. "But I love you."

"You are nothing but a burden to me. A whiny woman child. All you do is keep me from rising in the ranks because I must take care of you. I am not your parent, and you are a stupid, worthless child I'm tired of hiding. I never want to see you again." And with that, Milad turned and walked out.

Parbeen started crying. She looked up at MacGyver's face.

"I never agreed to that, Parbeen. I didn't know I was buying you in exchange for a doctor." He knew it was a lie, but he went along with the lie. This was much easier than the truth.

Parbeen ran after her brother. MacGyver heard them fight in Farsi. Then he heard a slap. Parbeen's crying became louder and closer as she ran back to the cave. She ran straight to MacGyver, burying her face against his chest.

The pressure hurt, but he said nothing. MacGyver closed his eyes. He almost cried with her, but what was the point? Milad loved his sister, but he had to do this to make her leave and find a better life. As cruel as it was, MacGyver understood Milad better now. Maybe he was a killer, but the only person in the world he still loved was this child crying into MacGyver's chest. He was probably going to cry or get drunk tonight because he would never see his little sister again.