Michael pulled into the hospital parking lot. The operation has gone fairly smoothly: the DEA team had captured Josephson and his entire gang, along with enough evidence to put them away for a long time. And they also found information about the gang's other distribution channels, not that those channels would have lasted long without a production source.

But fairly wasn't the same as completely. Kevin had radioed Dispatch and told Michael to meet him at the hospital – with Emily Grace.

Michael had carried the sleeping girl out to Kitt. Now that they were at the hospital, it was time to wake her up. Opening the passenger door, he knelt down and shook her gently awake.

"Hey, Pumpkin. We're at the hospital, to see your mom."

Emily Grace came fully awake, signing at Kitt franticly. He translated, "Emily Grace would like to know whether her mother is badly injured."

"I honestly don't know. But I don't think Agent Rinaldi would have asked me to bring you here if she were really hurt." Emily Grace looked at him, clearly scared. "Tell you what: I'm gonna give you a piggyback ride. You keep your head down, and I'll let you know when it's safe to look. Okay?"

Emily Grace nodded, though she was still scared. Michael turned around so she could climb onto his back for the second time that night. He stood up and walked into the hospital, letting Kitt close the passenger door behind him.

One of Kevin's men met him at the door. "Hello, Knight. Kevin asked me to keep an eye out for you and the girl." Michael turned slightly, so he could see Emily Grace. The man smiled at her, then continued, "Kevin's with your mom. The leader of the bad guys shot her before trying to get away. But your mom's a real trooper. She's giving Kevin her statement, to help us put the bad guys in jail. Then she's going to have surgery, to get the bullet out. She wants to see you first, though. To know you're all right."

Michael could feel Emily Grace relax as the man spoke. Then the man led the way to a room, where Maria lay on a gurney. Kevin was there, along with a couple of nurses. Maria looked up at Michael with worry.

He grinned at her, then said over his shoulder, "Okay, Pumpkin. Looks like this is your stop."

Emily Grace dropped to the floor and ran over to the gurney. Maria's face lit up, and her daughter's face was just as radiant. Emily Grace reached out a hand, which Maria took with a squeeze. Then Emily Grace pulled back her hand and started signing. Michael and Kevin took their cue and stepped out of the room.

After a few minutes, Emily Grace came out of the room, looking around until she spotted Michael. She walked over, took his hand, and pointed to the room where her mother was.

"You mom wants to see me?" She pointed at Kevin. "Both of us?" She nodded.

The two men went back in. Maria was clearly staring to fade. Having been shot – more than once – Michael knew adrenaline could only get you so far.

"Apparently, Michael Knight of FLAG, you aren't who I thought you were when I saw you in the cafeteria at lunchtime. And Emily Grace seems quite smitten with you."

"She's a good kid, and you've done a great job of raising her," Michael said sincerely.

Maria looked at Kevin. "Any more questions for me, Agent Rinaldi? It may be a while . . ."

"No, ma'am. You've pretty much covered it all. Wish all my witnesses were as thorough as you."

"Good. I want those men in jail for a long time. Anyone who deals drugs . . . My daughter deserves a world that's safe. Everyone's child does." Maria's eyes closed.

"Ms. Daniels?" asked Michael. "About the man who sends Emily Grace books . . ."

"He's a decent man, from what I can tell. And I am generally a good judge of character."

"Other than Loathsome Toad?"

That earned Michael a ghost of a smile. "Yes, other than that one lapse of judgment." She opened her eyes again, clearly in plain. "Would you watch Emily Grace for me? Having her Uncle Michael will –"

"Of course," said Michael. He saw the doctor coming, picked up Emily Grace, and brought her to the gurney. "Okay, Pumpkin. Quick hug, and then it's time for your mom go to surgery."

Emily Grace gave her mom a hug. Then Michael, still carrying her, stepped out of the room, to give the doctor and nurses the space they needed. Emily Grace laid her head on Michael's shoulder.

"Dr. Genkov said between surgery and recovery, it'll be six or eight hours," said Kevin.

"I'll take Emily Grace to her home, so she can sleep in her own bed."

"Give me your hotel keys."

"What?"

"I need a place to stay tonight. I'll check out of the room tomorrow. I'll even pack your stuff."

Michael dug into his pocket, and then handed over the key. "Thanks, Kevin. I appreciate it. Leave my duffel bag at the station with Reyes. I'll get it from him."

"You gonna try to find the book man?"

"Not sure how, with so little to go on."

"Don't sell yourself short, man. All you had to go on for this case was a matchbook. Didn't even take you two days."

Michael laughed and headed for the parking lot. Emily Grace was asleep before they were even to the door. Michael laid her on Kitt's passenger seat and then got behind the wheel.

"Michael, I really think we should call Devon."

"Yeah, definitely past due."