Matty stared at him.

"And the man he arranged to take us out of the country came with some donkeys. We rode to the Caspian Sea coast, he paid for our passage on a boat, and once we docked, soldiers and a couple infirmary guys were waiting us," MacGyver finished.

Quietly, Matty asked, "And you let him leave her like that? Thinking he hates her?"

He looked up at Matty. "I had to. If she gets the idea in her head to go back to see him, she may never leave Iran again. He had to make her hate him to protect her."

"You don't know that's what he was doing. Maybe he really had turned."

"Then why didn't he ever send the Taliban to get me? Why not just take her out of the cave to learn how to live like the other women in Iran? Why go to all the trouble to get her to America?"

She considered the question. Slowly she nodded. "Perhaps you're right, but still…" She looked at Parbeen. "To leave her like that, saying those things…"

"I'm sure that broke his heart. He was doing what he thought was best. And now I have to do what's best too. Did you find her a foster home?"

Matty focused on him again. "Yes. You knew I would. It's a family that works at Phoenix, so I was able to provide them with her background. We will work on getting her nationalized as a refugee, and then they can adopt her."

He smiled. "It's George Rodriguez, isn't it?"

"How did you know?"

"I've talked to George. He and his wife have been trying to have kids for a couple years. The last time I spoke to him, they were trying to decide what country to adopt from. They'll be a good family for her. And she's a bright child, Matty. She will excel in a good school."

"A good family for who?" Parbeen asked.

"Matty found a couple who wants to adopt you when we get to America. They'll be your new mom and dad."

"What about Milad?" she asked.

It always baffled MacGyver how forgiving children were. Parbeen had probably forgiven Milad the very night he'd slapped her. That's also why she kept asking when he'd be with them. She loved his brother; nothing he said or did would change that.

MacGyver shook his head slightly. "Parbeen, we've talked about him. He has chosen to stay in Iran. He's never coming to America, and I doubt you'll ever see him again."

She stopped playing and set the toys down. The adults waited and watched. She got up and walked over to MacGyver. She laid her hands on his knees, looking him in the eye.

"Why can't I live with you?"

He smiled, laying his hand on her cheek. "I'd be a terrible dad. But the couple Matty found are friends of mine. And they will love you with everything they have. And I'll still be around. Like an uncle."

"What's an uncle?"

"How do you say that in Farsi?" MacGyver asked Matty.

She translated the phrase. Parbeen's eyes lit up, and she started talking to Matty excitedly in Farsi. Matty laughed some but continued. MacGyver watched Matty and the child talk. After a few minutes, Parbeen had led Mathilda over to the toys and somehow talked her into a pretend tea party.

With the two distracted, he slipped out of the room and returned to his room. He lay for a while, wondering about Milad, where he was, and praying he was safe.