"For me?" Cole asked, confused. "But she'd already gotten Mastiff to sign the discharge papers. Why push herself so hard to get the nurse to agree?"

"I'm thankful she did," Dr. Andrews looked as if he had been praying with both of his hands pressed against his lips. Cole looked over at his father, expecting him to elaborate.

"I was unaware of this hospital's protocol. It's a good idea, to have a board of people who decide together whether a patient is ready to be discharged. As an ER doctor, I didn't have to worry about that part of the red-tape, but it probably took place in my hospital, too.

"These days, the hospitals are trying to prevent litigation. The more people involved in big decisions, the less likely they or the hospital will be sued for malpractice."

Evan was nodding in complete agreement, his eyes never leaving his sister's small frame. He was absolutely in awe of her gift and was thinking about the effects it must have on her body to exude so much mental energy. He was even wondering if the nurse rubbing her temples was a side effect of having been "influenced," as Meg called it.

Cole was frowning.

Theo reached out and held his son's good hand. "She risked her own health to be sure the nurse wouldn't call to question the signed papers. She knew the nurse was planning to take her concerns about discharging you to another doctor which would have made things very complicated for us."

Cole just shook his head. "She was really just trying to protect the secret of metahumans."

"No, Cole," Creed nearly growled. "She was trying to protect you, but you're too oblivious to notice."

Meg began stirring in Creed's arms.

"Stop guys. No more arguing," she murmured, her voice weak. Her eyes still didn't open, but she did attempt to sit up a little more. Sitting so close to Creed was helping her regain her strength faster as she siphoned off her connection to him. He felt nothing when she drew on her empath connection with him, but she felt like a sunflower as the sun began to dawn.

"I'm going to start packing your things, son. The sooner we get out of here, the less likely we'll need Meg to convince anyone else that you're ready to be released."

Cole watched Creed lean down and whisper something into Meg's ear, burying his face in her beautiful, strawberry-scented dark hair. A soft smile slipped across her lips. Whatever he was doing or saying, it was helping her feel better-and Cole hated him for it.

Shaking his head, he forced himself to look away. "Dad, can you get me a wheelchair so I can get out of this bed?"

Chapter 25 The Protege and The Skateboarder.

True to her word, Stacy had Cole ready to be discharged within a half hour. During that time, Meg had recuperated enough so that at least she wasn't as weak as a kitten in Creed's arms.

"Listen, I'm going to take Cole home. Sloan has offered to stay with him while I come back and wait with you for your mom to come out of surgery."

Meg looked over at Sloan, who caught her gaze and nodded reassuringly.

"It makes sense for me to help get your friend settled," she shrugged. "That is, if you don't mind, Mr. Andrews?" She asked formally.

Cole didn't look up from the folder containing all the copies of his discharge papers and prescriptions and aftercare instructions.

"Cole, Sloan is talking to you." Dr. Andrews nudged his son.

"Hmm? Oh, sure, that's fine with me. Sorry, no one has ever called me 'Mr. Andrews' before." Cole blushed.

Cole was concentrating on not looking at Meg and Creed. Instead, he locked eyes with the girl who was a doctor of some sort.

Theo, Cole and Sloan said their goodbyes, Theo promising to return after dropping Cole and Sloan off at the house. Margo's surgeons had not sent word and everyone was starting to get measurably concerned, but realistically, it had only been two hours.

After carefully helping his son into the front seat of the minivan, he turned around to check that Sloan was buckled. "Sorry," he shrugged sheepishly. "I look at you and see a little girl. Sometimes I forget you're a brilliant doctor and biologist."

"Don't worry, Dr. Andrews. I'm accustomed to being treated like a child. I'm also accustomed to people feeling awkward around me once I open my mouth to speak," she offered carefully.

"How old are you?" Cole asked bluntly.

"I am thirteen. My birthday is in December."

"So is mine-on the thirteenth."

"Hmm," Sloan smiled.

"What?"

"Coincidently, my birthday is also December thirteenth."

"Wow, what are the odds?"

"Well, we could look at calculating the probability, but..."

"I didn't mean for you to whip out your calculator brain, Sloan."

"Oh."

"Sorry, my head is pounding. I don't mean to be rude. Here you are helping my family and me. I should be saying thank you."

"Yes, that would be socially appropriate," Sloan answered stiffly.

Theo caught Cole's eye as they pulled up to a stoplight. His dad was giving him a look that read, "Well?"

"Oh, right," Cole stammered. "Thanks for helping me."

"You're welcome," Sloan responded smugly.

The silence in the car was getting a little awkward, so Dr. Andrews decided he'd try to break the ice. "So how long have you been a doctor, Sloan?"

"I studied from age eight to ten. When I was nearly eleven, I started clinical work at the Facility's Research Hospital."

"Wow, when I was ten I had mastered the kick-flip on my skateboard," Cole offered with a grin.

"I don't know what a 'kick-flip' is," Sloan frowned.

"Oh, it's this simple trick where you use your toes to kick the board over into a spin."

"I really have no idea what you're talking about," Sloan said, shaking her head.

"Well, I'm in no shape to show you now, but when I get better, I'll have to take you out skateboarding to show you what I mean."

Theo sat listening to the exchange between his son and the child protege and shook his head, amazed.

Only Cole would think to teach a medical genius how to do tricks on a skateboard, he chuckled to himself, and for the first time since he got the phone call the night of the accident, he felt optimistic about his son's emotional well-being.

By the time Dr. Andrews got Cole in his bed at the house, the two kids were entertaining themselves marvelously. Who would have thought those two would be friends?

Theo shook his head in amazement as he refilled Maze's food dish and absently scratched the coyote between the ears before he grabbed his keys and headed back to the minivan. He sighed deeply, relieved and thankful for Dr. Sloan Mor. Now he could go concentrate on Margo. They hadn't had a chance to talk about matters since she'd arrived home. They had just been functioning in survival mode. But they had both said some terrible things to one another and were due for a deep discussion. Maybe not today, he thought, but soon. And if he were honest with himself, he didn't know how he should feel about everything.

First things first, he reminded himself. First we get Margo well; then we worry about how we're going to get past all this. He pursed his lips together at that last thought, because in the end, he knew that's exactly what he wanted. He wanted to move past the argument they'd had before she left to Germany and start over. He just wasn't sure how Margo felt about things.

Soon, he told himself. We will all have to have this talk soon. Now, I need some answers from her surgeon.

Chapter 26 Brothers.

"The surgery went as well as we could have hoped. Now we have to wait and see if Dr. Winter regains movement or sensation below the injured site."

"When can we see her?" Meg asked.

"She's still waking up from the anesthesia. As soon as she's coherent, I'll have a nurse come get you, but please, no more than two people back there at a time."

Dr. Andrews nodded, understanding. Meg and her brothers didn't like being told they couldn't all go see her at once.

"We have to follow hospital rules, guys," Theo leveled his gaze at Meg knowing the others would follow her lead.

"Stupid hospital rules," she mumbled.

"Hey," Alik looked pointedly at Danny then back to his sister. "Language!" he scolded with a smirk dancing at the corners of his mouth.

Meg rolled her eyes, but had to smile at how adorably protective Alik was over the little boy flopped over his massive shoulder, sleeping deeply enough to leave drool marks on Alik's blue shirt. It was pretty sweet.

An hour later, the family was allowed to take their turns to briefly visit Margo in recovery. During the drive home, everyone was somber. Margo had looked as pale as the sheets on which she lay. The children knew things were serious, but they hadn't realized how much they were holding out hope that this surgery would "fix" her until they saw how frail she looked afterward.

Alik had insisted on staying at the hospital to keep vigil over their mother.

"Just like old times, eh brother?" Evan asked, patting Alik on the shoulder. Danny had just awakened and refused to leave Alik's side. Even when Meg offered to hold him and sit next to him in the car, his little blond ringlets moved with the shaking of his head.

"I don't mind if he stays with me," Alik offered. "He's a pretty cool guy." He looked down at the little boy clinging to his shoulder like a baby monkey and lightly slugged the baby's shoulder. Danny grinned ear to ear at Alik's compliment. His bright-blue eyes danced with happiness.

"Okay you two. No partying in Mom's room. She needs her rest," Meg teased. "Can I have a kiss, Danny?" she asked leaning in to offer her cheek to the little boy. This was a new trick Danny was learning. He first puckered his lips into the cutest duckbill then leaned over to Meg and made a loud wet, smacking sound leaving a big wet spot on her face.

Meg giggled, delighted in Danny's affection. Her efforts to help him heal from the traumas of his life at the Facility were really paying off. He was forming attachments with not just herself, Alik and Maze, but the other members of the family, too.

That little boy is such a sweet blessing, Meg thought as they made their way out of the hospital doors and out to the minivan. She turned around to look back at her brothers one last time and saw Alik teaching Danny how to wave his little hand goodbye. Meg's heart swelled with love.

It's probably a good thing for Danny to be there to cheer up mom.

Meg knew her mother felt love at first sight for the little boy.

Everyone was quiet during the trek back to the minivan in the Dallas hospital's parking lot. Spring was quickly warming into an early hot and humid Texas summer. It was the kind of sunny day that required sunglasses. Usually Farrow would love to watch the thick puffy clouds as they drifted across the blue sky, but today her thoughts were elsewhere.

Theo moved to the driver's side door while Meg climbed into the front passenger seat. Evan clamored into the back, leaving the door ajar for Farrow.

"You coming?" Evan called to the girl who held her hand by her lips, her eyes staring back at the hospital.

"You know, I don't think I am."

"Are you okay?" Meg turned in her seat to look at the beautiful metahuman.

"Oh, sure," she said dismissively. "It's just that I think I want to stay with Alik and Danny, if that's okay with you," Farrow looked around the van but her eyes stopped on Meg's waiting for her approval.

"I think the boys would like to have your company." Meg nodded reassuringly.

"Sounds fine with me," Dr. Andrews replied. "If you're ready to come back before Alik's shift is up, just call, and I'll come back to get you."

"Thank you Dr. Andrews," Farrow smiled shyly as she reached out to shut the door of the minivan.

Meg couldn't help but read Farrow's emotions as she watched her former would-be assassin jog excitedly back up the hill so she could spend some time with Alik.

"I think Farrow may have a little crush on Alik." Theo turned to Meg with raised brows as though revealing some huge secret. Meg couldn't help but chuckle at the clueless doctor.

"Maybe Alik has a crush on Farrow," Meg offered with a smile and an innocent shrug of her shoulders.

"You think?"

"Well, I am the empath."

Theo's surprised expression was too much for Meg. Even as the van's air conditioner tried desperately to blow cool air against the stifling Texas heat, Meg burst into laughter at Theo's naivete.

Chapter 27 Donovan vs. Kenneth.

"Let me get this straight," Senator Donovan Arkdone seethed, "everyone escaped, again? Even after they came into your precious Facility? Right under your nose, Kenneth?"