Peter lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He hadn't even bothered to turn off the light or change into his pajamas. There were just too many thoughts running around his head. He felt like the guys were telling the truth. But he was scared to believe them. If he let his guard down and this turned out to be another game, he didn't think he could handle it.

A knock at his door shook him out of his thoughts. "Yeah?"

"You'll hafta help me, Shotgun. I can't open the door."

Peter got up and opened the door. "What are you doing up, Mike?"

Mike shrugged. "Couldn't sleep. I figured you couldn't, either. Can I stay with you for awhile?"

"Sure. Come in on."

The two of them sat on Peter's bed. Mike looked around. "You know, I haven't been in here in almost a year."

Peter's eyes narrowed. "Couldn't stand it, huh?"

"No, I couldn't. Seeing your things, seeing that you weren't here, it made me feel like I failed you."

Peter looked up in surprise. "Why? I was the one who signed the stupid contract."

Mike gave a half shrug. "I kept thinking that I could have done somethin' to stop Zero. I couldn't stand that he took you somewhere where we couldn't be with you."

Peter gave a pitiful laugh. "You guys were there. Images of you, anyway. I got to where I dreaded seeing you three. You would either tell me that you didn't need a stupid dummy like me, or something bad would happen to all of you." As Peter turned to face Mike, his eyes hardened. "I saw you murdered, you know. I watched you be, well, forget it. I don't want to give you nightmares."

Peter breathed deep to block the gruesome memory. Trying to find a way to change the subject, he noticed the instruments. "Why did you guys sell your instruments, and not mine?"

Mike looked over at them sadly. "They're yours. We wanted you to come home and play them. Let's face it, none of us could play a gig. I can't even hold a maraca. It just made sense to sell our instruments instead of being tortured by seeing them gather dust here. Maybe somebody else can make it with them."

Mike cleared his throat to try to hide the cracking in his voice. "Hey, Pete?"

"Yeah?"

"You liked playing the harp, didn't you?"

"Yes, I liked it very much."

"Could you play it for me?"

"Michael, I can't. Zero took away my ability to play the harp when he took me."

"Aw, man, you can play it. The music is inside you. No one can give it to you, no one can take it away. Now go play the harp."

"I don't know."

"Please?" A third voice got their attention. Davy and Micky stood in the doorway.

"We've missed hearing you play. Please, Pete?" Micky nodded in agreement with Davy.

Peter looked uncertainly at Mike. Mike nodded at him. Slowly Peter walked over and sat down beside the harp. He flexed his fingers, wondering how he was going to do this. He had been gone for over a year and hadn't played any instrument. Hesitantly, he began plucking the strings, playing I Wanna Be Free. The guys were all smiling at him with pride. Peter let himself get lost in the music, just like old times, pouring his heart into it.

At the end of the song, he quieted the strings as Micky and Davy began clapping wildly. Mike grinned at him.

"After all you've been through, you still go back to that harp?"

The four Monkees turned around to see who was speaking. "Detective Lucas? The guy who kept saying we were doing drugs? What are you doing here? How did you get in here?" Davy asked.

Peter's face lost all color. "Zero."

"Zero?!" Mike and Davy exclaimed, Micky's face matching their confusion.

'Detective Lucas' began changing, turning into Mr. Zero. "Hello, Peter. So glad you can still recognize me."

Mike, Micky, and Davy were surprised by the intense anger and hatred that suddenly appeared in Peter's eyes. "Get out. We've all paid in full. Now leave us alone!"

Zero held up a hand. "Alas, I cannot. You see, you just used the ability I gave you to play the harp. Now your friends' contracts are null and void. Come along, Peter. I've created a new game for you."

Peter stood up and looked Zero in the eye. "I'll go peacefully-"

"What?!"

"On one condition."

"You're in no position to ask for conditions, my dear boy." Zero laughed.

"Yes, I am. I'll play the game willingly. No more fighting against the rules. But you have have to give my friends their abilities back, good as new."

Zero's laughter grew more maniacal. "That is your condition? You still care for these, these, people?"

"They're my family, of course I care for them."

"Even after what they just did?" Zero turned to stand in front of Mike. "Playing the harp is what is causing you to have to go back down there with me. This 'friend' of yours is who suggested you play."

Mike's face paled. Zero smiled at the fear in Mike's eyes. He turned back to Peter. "Some friend. He knew that using the ability I gave you would cause you to leave again."

"Liar!" Peter shouted.

Zero's smiled faded. "Enough of this. Come along, Peter." He grabbed Peter's arm and began pulling him towards the door.

Peter pulled away from Zero's grip. "No!" I'm not going anywhere with you! I'm staying here!" Zero's face darkened. He held up his hand, about to snap his fingers.

"Wait!"

Zero sighed with annoyance.

Mike stepped forward. "You said that the, the reason he, uh, he has to go, is because he played the harp with, the ability you gave him."

"That is correct. We'll be going now."

"No, wait! Peter, didn't you say Zero took away your ability to play the harp?"

"Yeah. Yeah, he did!"

"So, so ya see, you can't take Peter because he didn't use your ability. He can play the harp on his own."

Zero gave a small laugh. "That's ridiculous!"

Davy stepped forward. "You heard him playing when you came in. You know it's true." Micky stepped forward as well, putting his arm around Peter's shoulders to show he wasn't letting Peter go, either.

Zero's eyes suddenly had a slight tinge of red to them. "You're coming with me, Peter. And if your friends don't let go, they're coming, too!"

Micky tightened his grip on Peter's shoulders, while Davy grabbed Peter's hand. Mike wrapped an arm through Peter's arm. "We won't let him go alone." Mike declared.

"Then all of you will go."

"None of them will go." The five of them turned to the new voice in the room.

"Dr. Gabriel?"

The doctor smiled. "Hello, boys. I was just out shopping, and I found some things that reminded me of you. I did knock, but I see that you were too preoccupied to hear."

Zero was beyond annoyed. "Fine. You may go now."

"No, I don't believe I will."

Zero's eyes were fully red by this time. "And, pray tell, why not? And why are you here in the middle of the night?"

Dr. Gabriel's smile grew bigger. "You see, you can't take any of them. Your contact with Peter was fulfilled when you took him. Your contracts with Davy, Micky, and Mike were fulfilled when you brought Peter back. And you took back Peter's ability to play the harp, therefore you have no grounds to take him now."

Five mouths dropped open. How did he know any of this?

Understanding dawned in Zero's eyes. "You, you're no doctor!"

"I am at the moment."

"You're Gabriel, the archangel!"

Gabriel continued smiling. "I am. And these boys are under my protection. You will not take them."

Zero nodded meekly. "Not now, perhaps. But someday I will!" He snapped fingers and vanished in a puff of smoke.