Author's Note: I depended on Google Translate for my Italian translation, as many moves over the years have resulted in my college Italian textbook going missing. If someone speaks Italian and sees a mistake, please let me know so I can fix it.

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Choctaw – English Glossary

Chi hullo li – I love you
Aki yvt abeka. – My daddy is sick

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Italian – English Glossary

Grazie – Thank you
Una politica stupida – A stupid policy

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Kel Brackett stood facing Officer Bowen. The doctor's arms were folded over his chest, his lips were pressed together in a straight line, and his gaze went directly to the officer's eyes. "My patient is stable now. I want to take him back to Los Angeles. He can't fly, but I can outfit an ambulance to transport him safely." They were in a private place, so he could have used Johnny's name, but he had chosen not to.

Bowen's brows knit together and he visibly stiffened. But then he relaxed. "I believe the danger is over. Allegro's men haven't tried anything further. Benedict's lawyer has been arrested and can't arrange hits for him anymore." He nodded his head. "Yes, you can arrange to transport him. Just in case, though, I would appreciate it if you continued to use the pseudonym until you have him home — what was it, Chester B. Kelly?"

Kel chuckled as he unfolded his arms. "Yeah, he stole that name from his arch-nemesis and good friend. We can take Sarah Kate with us, right?"

"Mrs. Richards has approved her traveling back with the Carters. They will take her to the DeSoto house." The police officer lowered his eyes briefly. "I'd like to talk with Roy DeSoto. Is he still here?"

"Yes." Kel raised an eyebrow. "He's in, um, Chester B.'s room." He waved a hand. "Come with me."

Kel led Bowen to Johnny's new room. Johnny was sound asleep. Dixie was just attaching a new bag of formula to his feeding port. Roy was sitting up in bed, reading a book. Dixie had brought his backpack and prosthetic from the hotel. She had also returned his keys and checked him out. The manager had apologized profusely for the desk clerk giving out his room number and had refunded all his money.

Bowen pulled a chair over to Roy's bed and sat down. "Hi, Mr. DeSoto."

Roy looked up. Kel watched from the other side of the room. "Hi, Officer Bowen."

"I want to apologize to you. I should have realized you might be a target too. I never should have made a mistake like that."

Roy shrugged. "It all turned out OK. I'm sorry I was a bit loopy last night. Shock and flashbacks will do that to you."
Bowen nodded. "No need to apologize. My brother fought in Korea. He still gets flashbacks, so I'm familiar with that." He sighed. "I'm just glad you had that gun. It saved your life. I'll give it back to you when you're ready to head home."

"When will that be?"

Bowen smiled. "Later today, I hope. Captain Graves has to sign off on it, but we believe the danger has passed."
"Thank God," Roy said. Kel smiled and turned his attention to Johnny. Kel was ready to get home, too.

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Dennis Anderson couldn't believe that he was in jail. Artie had been shot and killed trying to kill DeSoto. He still had the cash and the canceled check on him. The canceled check with Anderson's name scrawled at the bottom. The idiot. True to his word, the first person Bowen had come after was Dennis.

Of course, in questioning, Dennis had given up everything. He was going to lose his law license anyway. He hoped they would give him a deal. Captain Graves questioned him. "Peter Benedict ordered the hit," Dennis told him. "He paid me thirty thousand dollars to make the arrangements. I simply transferred the money from his account to mine."

"Who were the targets of this hit?" the captain asked.

Dennis held up one finger for each target. "Sarah Kate DiAngelo, Roy DeSoto, John Gage, and Edna Rogers."

Captain Graves' eyes narrowed and his voice hardened. "You arranged a hit on a nine year old?"

"I didn't like it, but yeah."

Now the Captain's voice got all gravelly. "Most people, when asked to do something they find morally objectionable, refuse."

Dennis didn't answer. He'd been feeling guilty all day. He lowered his head. "Can I get a deal if I plead guilty?"

Graves frowned. "You put a hit on a nine-year-old kid, and you confessed it in a recorded interrogation. I highly doubt the judge will approve a plea deal. We're done here." The Captain stopped the recording and picked up the tape player. He left the room and sent an officer to transfer Dennis back to his cell.

Johnny was thankful to hear that they were finally able to leave Bakersfield. He really just wanted to be home.

Hopefully he wouldn't have to be at Rampart too long. He felt he could recover better at the ranch, where he could see his dog and his horses. It would be a long time before he could ride again, but just being able to visit the barn would be a boon to him.

He fixed pleading eyes on Brackett. "Doc, do I hafta go to Rampart? Anna's a nurse and our bedroom's on the ground floor and I just think I would get better faster at the ranch."

Brackett was quiet for a long moment. "John, I wish I could send you home. Anna's a pediatric nurse. Even though you generally act like an overgrown kid, you aren't one. And right now, she's taking time off to take care of Billy."

John's forehead wrinkled up. He remembered most things now, but his brain was still muddled about some things. "What happened to Billy?"

"He was in an explosion. Broken leg, broken arm, and a perforated eardrum. That's a lot for Anna to deal with." He patted Johnny's shoulder. "Also, with Nita's broken arm, she can't help you much."

Johnny sighed as he conceded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. OK, I'll go to Rampart."

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Sarah Kate was excited. Finally, they could go back to Los Angeles. She would get to thank Chris for trying to help her. She just wished she could go back with Uncle Johnny. Still, riding down with Nonno Gio and Matt and Melissa would be fun. Nonno meant Grandpa, and it's what Gio Molini told her she could call him. He had even promised to teach her to speak Italian.

As soon as the police allowed it, they all climbed in the car Nono Gio had bought. It was a Volvo station wagon with three rows of seats, so there was room for everyone, even Aunt Nita. She had a broken arm, just like Sarah Kate. Matt had to help them both buckle their seatbelts. At last, they were on their way.

Sarah Kate enjoyed watching things out the window of the car. They drove past a lake that had a pyramid shaped rock. Matt explained that it was actually a reservoir, made by people. The water was used by a power plant to generate electricity. Matt had been fishing there before.

As they came into the city, Matt gave Nonno Gio directions to the DeSotos' house. When they pulled up in front of it, Sarah Kate smiled brightly. She wanted to thank Chris for trying to save her. JoAnne came running outside to greet them. "Oh, Nita! Sarah Kate! I'm so glad you're here!" She hugged them both. Mr. Wentworth and Liza came out too. Sarah Kate hugged her little sister. Mr. Wentworth put a hand on her shoulder.

JoAnne was hugging Nita. "How is Johnny doing?"

Nita smiled. "He's getting better. Dr. Brackett says he's stable now. They're moving him by ambulance to Rampart. Would you drive me over there? I want to be there when he arrives, with the babies. He misses them."

"Of course! The babies are sleeping right now, but they should wake up soon." JoAnne greeted Matt and Melissa. "Melissa, you look so much better!"

"Is Chris here?" Sarah Kate asked.

Aunt JoAnne bent down to look her in the eyes. "Yes. He's in his room. Honey, he still has a bad headache and we have to keep the house quiet for him." She straightened up. "That has been a chore with the babies. They've spent a lot of time with Grandma Winnie."

Sarah Kate nodded. "OK. I just want to tell him thank you. He punched the guy who grabbed me and told him to let me go." She was quiet for a minute, then asked, "Can I go see Michelle? I want to tell her sorry that our sleepover couldn't happen."

JoAnne hugged her again. "Oh, honey. That wasn't your fault. I explained it to her parents. Michelle asked their Rabbi to pray for you and Uncle Johnny at their synagogue. As soon as I knew you were coming back today, I called to let Mrs. Cohen know. They've invited you to come share Shabbat dinner with them this Friday and you can spend the night."

Normally, Sarah Kate would have jumped up and down for joy, but her arm was hurting. Still, she couldn't hold back a smile. She loved having a friend.

"Come on, everyone. Let's go inside." JoAnne gestured for them all to follow her.

D.J. met Sarah Kate at the door. He hugged her. "I was scared for you, Sarah Kate! I'm glad you're back." He ran his fingers down her splint. "You hurted your arm. I'm sorry."

Sarah Kate shrugged. "It'll get better. I'm going upstairs to see Chris. I'll be back soon and we can play."
D.J. grinned. "OK!"

Sarah Kate climbed the stairs. Last time she was here, she was scared of Chris. But now she knew he was like Uncle Johnny and Uncle Roy. She knocked gently on his door. When he opened it, she gave him a one-armed hug. "Thank you for trying to help me!"

"It's what my dad would have done," Chris said. "I want to be like him. I'm glad you're back, Sarah Kate."

"Me too." She smiled up at him. It hadn't struck her before, but she thought Chris was really handsome. Maybe when she was a grown up, she could marry him. Feeling suddenly awkward, she shuffled her feet and looked away. "Um, I promised D.J. I would play with him. I'll talk with you later."

"OK." He closed the door. Sarah Kate was a little disappointed. She wondered if he thought she was pretty.

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Dixie picked up her purse. They were about to leave the hospital and head back to Rampart. She checked inside to make sure she had everything and found a card in a sealed envelope. A printed note had been paper clipped to it. Dear Nurse Brackett, please give this card to John Gage. Thank you. There was no signature.

She walked over to Johnny's bed and handed him the card. "I found this in my purse. I have no idea who it's from."

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Johnny opened the envelope. A message was printed inside. Dear Mr. Gage. You are a kind and generous man. Please accept the enclosed gift to help your family through a difficult time.

A slip of paper was inside the card. When Johnny looked at it, he almost had a heart attack right there. It was a money order for two hundred thousand dollars. In the place where it would normally give the name of the person the money order came from, it only said "anonymous."

Johnny swallowed a lump in his throat. He couldn't accept a gift like this. The help with his hospital bills could be termed a gift of compassion, allowing him to take it. But this — as much as it would mean for his family, it was too much. He was also fighting a battle with his sense of pride. Even if he could accept the money, he wanted to provide for his family himself.

He dropped the money order and card in his lap. Roy, who was sitting next to him, picked them up. His eyes got big as he read the card and looked at the money order. "Wow. You're going to have to talk with Chief Stanley about this."

"Yeah, I know." He sighed. "Probably have to donate it to charity or somethin'. Rampart could use it."

Dr. Brackett looked over Roy's shoulder. "Wow. That's quite a gift."

"You're missin' the point," Johnny said. "I don't want charity. I'll take care of my family."

"How's that working for you, Junior?" Roy shook his head. "I mean, Nita's hospital bills wiped you out, even with your health insurance. There's nothing wrong with accepting help when you need it."

Johnny glared at him. "What if it was you, Roy?"

Roy bristled. "It was me, John. When D.J. was born. When he needed heart surgery. Without my mom's help, we would have been in real trouble."

"At least it was your mom's help. Family is supposed to help family. I don't even know who this person is." Johnny sighed. He put the card and money order back in the envelope. "I don't want handouts."

"Listen," Brackett said, "this can be resolved later. The ambulance is waiting." He pushed Johnny's wheelchair and Dixie pushed Roy's. Even with Roy irritated at him, Johnny was glad they were traveling together. Nita was riding home with the Carters. There wasn't room in the ambulance for everyone.

The driver followed Brackett to the car rental agency so he could return the car he'd rented. Then Brackett climbed into the front passenger seat. Dixie sat with Roy and Johnny.

Johnny fell asleep not long after they left Bakersfield. When he woke up, he was in a room at Rampart. Nita was sitting next to him. Someone had brought her a comfortable chair. She was holding Jamie on one knee. Her splint had been changed out for a plaster cast.

JoAnne and Tex were there too. Tex had JoJo in his arms. "Aki!" JoJo squealed. She squirmed in Tex's arms.

Tex placed her on the bed next to Johnny. "Gentle now, little one. Your daddy is hurting."

JoJo ran a hand down Johnny's cheek. "Chi hullo li, Aki." She laid her head on his arm and clung to him.

Tex took a seat. His hand came down over Johnny's. "I'm so happy you are alive, mijo." A father-son relationship had sprung up between Tex and Johnny. Johnny had lived for so many years without his real father. It felt good to be loved that way again.

"Yeah, me too."

Dixie stepped into the room. She checked Johnny's feeding tube and the bag attached to it. "All right, Johnny. Time to get you up for a walk." She helped him stand up.

He clung to her for a moment. "Not so dizzy this time."

"Good." Dixie still kept an arm around his waist.

This time, Johnny was able to lift his feet a little bit, instead of just sliding them. He made it halfway down the hall before he was ready to turn back.

Dixie got him back in bed. JoJo wanted up next to him again. She planted a slobbery kiss on his cheek. "Aki yvt abeka."

"I'm getting better, baby girl," Johnny said. He tried to swallow, but he still wasn't able to. He sighed. He would have to be on the feeding tube a while longer.

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When they drove away from the DeSoto house, Matt noticed a house for sale just down the street. "Look at that," he said. "I bet it has room for three kids, maybe even four."

Melissa wrote down the name and phone number of the Realtor. "We can call as soon as we get home."

Matt gave Gio directions to their apartment building. "We've got room for you if you want to stay with us," he said.

"Grazie," Gio said. "I would like that. But I will find my own place soon. I am thinking of moving here, maybe even seeking citizenship. I have missed too many years with Melissa to think of going back to Italia."

"You'll have to apply for a green card," Matt said.

"Yes, I know. I am here on a B1 visa. Perhaps I must speak with an American lawyer."

"Peter Wentworth is a lawyer. I doubt he's licensed to work in California, but I'll bet he could give you advice," Melissa said. "You should talk with him."

"Yes, I will." Gio pulled into a guest parking spot in the apartment's lot.

When they got up to their apartment, Matt made the phone call and arranged for a showing of the house the following day.

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It took three more days for Roy's blister and contact dermatitis to clear up. He was grateful when he could use his prosthetic again. He was tired of the wheelchair. JoAnne drove him to Rampart every morning. While he was still in the chair, Dixie took him up to his office and to the classroom. It was good to be teaching again.

That third day, after class, he went to visit Johnny for the first time since they had returned. He regretted staying away. They had snapped at each other back in Bakersfield, and Roy had stayed angry. He knew he shouldn't. He understood what Johnny was feeling.

Roy saw Johnny shut his eyes as soon as he appeared at the door. He took a seat by the bed. "Hey, I know you're awake. I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you, and I shouldn't have stayed away. I get why you're upset about that money. But I still think if the department will let you take it, you should."

"Chief Stanley's looking into it." His voice was quiet, subdued. "How's class going?"

"Good. Our students miss you. You're the fun teacher, after all."

Johnny frowned. "I just want to be alone, Roy."

Roy looked Johnny over. His eyes were shadowed, his shoulders slumped. He was clearly depressed. Roy hated leaving him alone, but he figured it was better to respect that request for now. "OK. I'll be up in the office until JoAnne comes to get me at five. Give me a call if you change your mind."

He squeezed Johnny's shoulder, then left the room. Dixie was on her way down the hall. Roy waved her down. "Hey, Johnny seems really depressed."

Dixie arched her eyebrows. "You only just noticed that?"

Roy shrugged. "He was mad at me, so I stayed away till just now." That wasn't really fair. He sighed. "OK, so I was mad at him. It was stupid of me. I just went in to apologize."

"He's been trying to convince Kel to discharge him," Dixie said. "Kel says not yet."

"What if he were to stay with me?" Roy asked. "Sarah Kate is moving in with Matt and Melissa. They were approved to foster her, with an eye toward adoption. They just bought a house down the street from us. I don't know how they managed to close so quickly, but they did. They're moving in this weekend."

"I'll suggest it to Kel," Dixie said. "But Johnny would have to be willing. You know he wants to be up at the ranch with his family and the horses."

Roy sucked in a deep breath. "I think he's still ticked at me. But you know Johnny — he never stays mad for long."
"That's the old Johnny," Dixie said. "At the moment, we've got a new Johnny on our hands. He's trying to figure things out." She was quiet for a long moment, then added, "He's been having nightmares, too." Dixie gave Roy a long, hard look. "Did he tell you he wanted to be alone?"

Roy nodded.

"That's what he tells me when I try to get him up to take a walk. He barely lets me stay long enough to flush out his feeding tube or check his vitals." She frowned in the direction of Johnny's room. "I'll tell you what, Roy. I think you need to march back in there and let him know he doesn't have to go through this alone."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Roy gave Dixie a slight smile. "I hope he'll listen." Then he turned around and walked back to Johnny's room. He didn't knock. He just stepped inside and took a seat by the bed.

Johnny rolled his eyes. "I told you I want to be alone, Roy."

"Tough luck. I'm here for the duration, Junior." He grinned. "It's what we do for each other. Now what's this about you not getting up to walk around with Dixie?"

"She told you." Johnny spoke in a monotone.

"Yeah, she told me. You need to get on your feet and walk around." Roy reached to take Johnny's hand. "Listen. Dixie's going to talk with Brackett about discharging you to stay at my house. Your family can visit you there any time. Brackett can come by and check on you. And I'll be around to keep an eye on you when I'm not teaching. It's better than being stuck here, right?"

"Maybe. But Sarah Kate's using your guest room." Still a monotone. Dang, he really was down.

"She's moving in with Matt and Melissa this weekend. They bought a house just down the street from us."

Johnny's eyes filled with tears. "I'm just tired of this, Roy. Tired of eating through a tube, tired of hurting, tired of being hooked up to a heart monitor and an IV. I want to be home. I want to be able to get up on Minko and ride to the meadow. And I'm having nightmares. Ever since I remembered getting shot — every time I close my eyes, it's like it's happening again."

"I get it, Junior." Roy was still holding his best friend's hand. "You didn't leave me alone when I was struggling with nightmares. Well, I'm not going to leave you alone." He raised an eyebrow. "How about a session of scream therapy up on the roof?"

Johnny shook his head. "No way. Brackett will kick you out if we do that again."

"Get mad here, then. Nita's not here to hear it. I won't tell her what you say."

"You might wanna close the door."

Roy did as Johnny suggested. Once the door was closed, Johnny let loose with a string of cuss words, the sort that would have Nita looking for a bar of soap.

"It isn't fair!" Johnny's hands curled into fists. He was breathing heavily. He held a pillow over his chest, but he didn't stop ranting. Roy worried a little that his heart rate was going to increase too much, but it didn't. "I hurt all the time. I just want to go home." His voice cracked. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

At last, he fell silent. His heart rate was still good. He grabbed Roy's hand. "I'm sorry."

Roy shook his head. "Don't apologize. You have every reason to be mad as hell." He reached for a box of tissues and handed it to Johnny.

Johnny pulled out a couple tissues and used them to dry his face and wipe his nose. "This is nothing compared to what you went through, with your leg and Nam."

Again, Roy shook his head. "We're not making comparisons here. You have your struggles, I have mine. And the fact that you keep reliving the shooting — that makes me think you could have PTSD. You need to talk with someone. I recommend Dr. Richardson. He helped me a lot."

"I'll think about it."

Roy checked his watch. "Jo will be waiting for me. I can stick around if you want. Maybe we could watch TV or something. But I oughta go let her know."

Johnny nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that." He managed a slight smile. "Thanks for not listening to me."

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They were in the middle of an episode of Murder She Wrote when it happened. Johnny grabbed Roy's arm. "Hey, Roy. I just swallowed." He grinned. "Is Brackett still here? I wanna get this thing outta my nose!"

Roy turned off the TV. "I'll go see if he's here. But you know, he might not be ready to take the tube out right away."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm just ready to eat real food." Johnny was thrilled. At last, something was going his way.

"I'll be right back." Roy left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with Dr. Brackett.

Johnny smiled at Brackett. "I can swallow, Doc. Is it too late to get some real food tonight?" He touched his feeding tube. "Can you take this thing out?"

"Hang on, there," Brackett said. "We're going to take this slow. I'm going to start you on a dysphagia diet. Thickened liquids, mashable fruits and vegetables, that sort of thing. And we're going to leave the tube in for now, at least till I know you're able to manage swallowing food without aspirating. As for right now, it's too late for dinner, but I think I could get you some chocolate pudding."

"Sounds good, Doc."

Brackett left for a few minutes, then returned with a small bowl of chocolate pudding. "Let's see how this goes down." He set the bowl in front of Johnny, along with a spoon.

After several days of not being able to take anything by mouth, Johnny savored the flavor of chocolate in his mouth before swallowing it. It went down just fine, too. "See, Doc, it's good."

Brackett grinned. "OK. Tomorrow we'll see how breakfast and lunch go, and then I'll make a decision about the tube. Got it?"

Johnny sighed. "Yeah, I guess." He leaned back against his pillows. "I'm tired, Roy. I'm gonna sleep now."

"Sounds good. JoAnne will be back soon anyway. Sleep well, Junior. And tomorrow, you hafta get up and walk."

"Yeah, yeah. I guess." Johnny's eyelids were drooping. They closed altogether before Brackett or Roy could leave the room.

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Melissa looked through the mail. One item in particular confused her. Why would Gio be getting mail from the Bakersfield hospital? She took it to him. "Papà, what's this about?" At his request, she had started calling him Papà. They were already making plans to amend her birth certificate.

He took the envelope and opened it, but didn't answer her question. She caught a glimpse of the enclosed document, though, and saw that it was a bill. "Papà, are you the one who offered to pay Johnny's bill?"

He shrugged. "Maybe?"

She hugged him. "Grazie, Papà. I was worried about them." She was quiet for a moment, then had to ask, "Did you also give them the money order for two hundred thousand dollars?" Roy had told her and Matt about that gift.

"No one was supposed to find out," he said.

"Papà, the fire department probably won't let him accept that. They have a policy against it." She took his hand. "I know you're trying to be kind, and they could use that money. But it's against the rules."

Gio frowned. "This is una politica stupida!"

Melissa called Matt to come in. "Matt, Papà's the one who gave Johnny that money order. I'm trying to explain the policy to him, but you could do it better."

Matt sighed. "Gio, the problem is, they're going to think you want something from Johnny. That someday you'll claim a favor of some sort. That's why they have that policy."

Gio's eyes narrowed. "Anyone else, I could give this money to and they would not stop me. It is simply a gift because I know they are struggling. I have the money to give. I want nothing from him. This is why I make it anonymous." He glared at Matt. "Take me to your Fire Department and let me talk to them. I will solve this problem for them."

Matt glanced at Melissa. She shrugged. "It's worth a try."

Matt rolled his eyes. "OK, Gio. Let's go. But I don't think they're going to listen to you."

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Gio strode into the fire department. His son-in-law was walking behind him. He walked up to the receptionist's desk and asked to speak with Chief Stanley. He had met the man in Bakersfield and considered him a reasonable human being. He was clearly fond of John Gage, too.

The receptionist put in a call to Chief Stanley, then told Matt to take Gio to Stanley's office. "You know which one?"
"Yeah, I know," Matt said.

Matt knocked on the door. Stanley called for them to come in.

Gio sat down facing the fire chief. "Listen to me, Chief Stanley. I am the one who gave John Gage the money order. I did it because his family is in need. I do not want anything from him and I am willing to sign a legal document to that effect."

Stanley held up his hands. "I want to allow him to keep the money," he said. "The difficulty is, if we allow him to keep this gift, we have to allow everyone to accept gifts."

"So, you will let one of your men continue in financial difficulty?" Gio shook his head. "This is wrong, sir." He leaned forward. "I think of this man as a younger brother. I wish to do something good for my brother. Can you not allow it?"
Stanley crossed his arms. "What makes you think of him as a brother?"

"His kindness to my son-in-law and my daughter, and the bond he has formed with my granddaughter. She calls him Uncle Johnny. Is this not evidence that he is family?"

Stanley sighed. "My kids also call him Uncle Johnny. Look, I can present your arguments to the committee concerning this matter. Or you could present them yourself. We are meeting in about fifteen minutes."

Gio rolled his eyes. "Americans do everything with committees." He glanced at Matt. "We can stay, yes?"

Matt shrugged and raised his eyebrows. "Sure, Gio." He stayed in his seat. "Gio, could I talk with Chief Stanley alone please?"

"Of course. I will wait outside." Gio stood up and stepped into the hall, closing the door behind him.

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"Sorry about Gio, Chief. He was pretty upset when I explained the policy on gifts." Matt sucked in a deep breath. "Um, I wanted to let you know I'm going to work through New Year's. After that, I'm resigning from the Fire Department."

Chief Stanley frowned. "We'll miss you, Matt. If I may ask, what are you going to do instead?"

"I'm enrolling in seminary." Matt straightened his shoulders. "I started the process while I was in Seattle. I'm going to become a pastor."

"Well, it's a real loss for the Fire Department. But I'll confess, I'm not that surprised. The guys always did call you Preacher." Stanley reached into the file cabinet behind him and grabbed some paperwork. "Here. You'll need to fill this out."

"Thanks, Chief."

"Maybe you'll consider serving as a Fire Department chaplain. Father Conner is retiring next year."

Matt nodded. "Yeah, I think I'd like that. Those men are family to me."

The Chief chuckled. "Especially John Gage, as far as Gio Molini is concerned."

Matt laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. He and Sarah Kate are pretty close. We're hoping to adopt her. She's moving in with us this weekend."

"Well, that's wonderful, Matt. I'm proud of you."

Matt stood up. "Thanks, Chief. We'll wait in the lobby till you're ready for us."

"Oh, just come on back to the meeting room with me now." Hank led him out the door. Matt and Gio followed him to the meeting room.

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Four other chiefs filtered into the meeting room after Hank arrived with Matt and Gio. McConnikee was among them. McConnikee was getting ready to retire, much to Hank's relief. He was a real stickler for the rules. Gio would have to work hard to convince him. Chief Redding and Chief Goss would almost certainly vote with McConnikee.

After McConnikee began the meeting, Hank raised his hand. "I would like to introduce Gio Molini. He's the man who gave John Gage the money order. My guess is, he's also the man who is paying John's medical bills. He has asked if he could speak to the committee. I move we allow him to speak."

"I second that motion," Drayton said.

"We'll vote by raising hands," McConnikee said. "All opposed?" No one lifted a hand. "All in favor?" Every right hand went up. "You have the floor, Mr. Molini."

Gio nodded. He stood up and faced the five chiefs. "Buongiorno. That is, good day. I am Matt Carter's father-in-law. We stopped in Bakersfield on our way back from Seattle in order to visit John Gage at the hospital there. We also visited Sarah Kate DiAngelo, the young girl that Matt and my daughter Melissa hope to adopt. While there, I learned that John Gage's family is suffering extreme financial difficulty. John Gage has been very kind to Sarah Kate. His actions at the hospital saved her life. The man who shot him intended to kill her."

He paused briefly and looked around at each man in the room. "Because of his love for my granddaughter — yes, I already think of her that way — I consider John Gage a younger brother. My granddaughter already calls him uncle. I have the means to help his family. I chose to do so anonymously. I do not want anything from him in exchange for this gift, and I am willing to sign legal documents guaranteeing this. I understand that you have a policy that your firefighters may not accept monetary gifts." Like many Italians Hank had known, Gio tended to move his hands as he spoke. Hank imagined that each gesture contained meaning. "I ask you, do you intend to let a man who has served long and well to continue suffering financial hardship brought on first by his wife's medical treatment and now by his own? He is badly injured and will not be able to work for some time. Will his disability payments be enough to lift them out of debt? Would you let him lose his home or allow his wife and children to go hungry? Would you force his wife to seek work when he most needs her help and support?"

As he stared at them each in turn, Gio pointed a finger to the bottom of his right eyelid. "Beware. To prevent one man from aiding another is a grave cruelty. It is my understanding that John Gage no longer works as a paramedic or a firefighter. There is no service he could offer to repay me. I believe it would be an act of great compassion to allow him to accept the gift I have offered. I hope you will also allow that gift to remain anonymous, as I do not want him to feel any debito, that is, obligation towards me."

Hank noticed that Redding and Goss were both nodding. McConnikee had a perfect poker face. Hank couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Carter, Molini, if you would please excuse us," McConnikee said, "we will discuss the matter and take a vote."

"Sure," Matt said. "We'll wait in the lobby." He walked toward the door. Gio followed.

When the five men were alone, McConnikee grumbled, "There's a lot of truth to what Mr. Molini said."

Hank was astounded. He hadn't expected McConnikee to have anything positive to say about this.

"John Gage is one of our best men," Redding added. "We owe it to him to do whatever we can to support him. Molini is right that his disability pay won't be enough to get his family through."

"I agree with Redding," Hank said. "As I've argued before, I think we should let him keep this gift."

"I move we cast our vote," Drayton said.

Hank seconded the motion.

"We will cast written votes," McConnikee instructed them.

Each man grabbed a pen and a slip of paper and wrote down his vote, then passed it around to McConnikee. He looked through the slips, then spoke. "We have five votes in favor of letting John Gage keep the money. Stanley, will you let Gage know of our decision?"

Hank grinned. He was floored by McConnikee's reversal. "I'll be glad to." He got up and headed out the door and toward the lobby. "They voted in favor of letting him keep the gift." Hank held out a hand to Gio. "Well done. Thank you for coming here."