MPI-MPI-MPI

Magnum parked the Ferrari in a quiet corner of the hospital parking lot, and stood for a moment in the relative calm of the early evening light before turning towards the hospital entrance. TC had sent him the details of Rick's room while he was still at the precinct, so he bypassed the reception desk and headed upstairs to find his friends. The corridors were busier than he'd expected to find them at this time of the evening, and he was glad he didn't have to ask for directions. Although what that said about his life over the last few months, was something he didn't want to consider too carefully.

He fully expected to find Rick trying to talk his way out of the bed, the room and the hospital. It was what they all did, ever since their escape and the time they'd had to spend in various hospitals then. Rick was usually the most successful of them all at getting out of hospitals, with his talent for spinning stories. But this time, his friend was going to spend the night, if he had to handcuff him to the bed to make sure of it.

As he rounded the corner of the nurse's station on the floor, Magnum stopped dead. He recognised the doctor, but wasn't sure if that was a good thing, under the circumstances. Then he smiled, a little uncertainly, and held out a hand as he greeted the doctor coming out of Rick's room.

"Dr Milford." The doctor turned with a smile, shaking the outstretched hand.

"Mr Magnum."

"Is something wrong?" The question was out before Magnum could stop it.

"Not at all. Why …" Milford's voice faded away as he took in the worry Magnum knew had to be written on his face.

"Really, no. Everything is fine."

"But you're a specialist. A surgeon." Magnum wanted confirmation that everything was fine.

"Yes." The doctor smiled. "But I'm also just a doctor, and I happened to be here when they brought you and your friend in earlier today."

"So?"

"I remember what you were like, when you were my patient not so long ago." Milford gave him a considering look. "And I had a feeling that your friend would be much the same. He is, by the way. So I offered to take his case. I've heard just about every excuse and story there is for not spending a night in a hospital, over the years I've worked here. There's no way he can talk his way out of staying the night."

"That's actually a relief." Magnum relaxed then, and smiled broadly. "He's not that keen on looking after himself."

"And you say that with a straight face." Milford laughed. "Takes one to know one, I'd say. I've already made a note that you and your other friend can spend the night, if you need to."

"Thanks for that." Magnum was grateful.

"And I'm fairly sure that your friend will be just fine to leave in the morning. There's no sign that there's any damage, other than what you can see. I'll check on him again in the morning, but I don't expect any problems."

"And the drugs?"

"You do know I'm not actually supposed to tell you anything?" Milford sounded stern, but the flicker of humour in his eyes told a different story.

"Yeah. But I'll just go and read his file if you don't." Magnum ducked his head to hide his smile.

"He said you'd do that. And he also said to tell you anything you asked, so – the drug was just a standard sedative. No long-term problems, and no side effects."

"That's … really good to know." The last of the worry eased from Magnum's muscles at the good news.

Milford nodded and Magnum suddenly found it hard to meet the doctor's gaze. Those gentle, caring eyes seemed to see far too much and far too clearly. The man was very perceptive, and Magnum got the impression that Milford knew far more about them all than he was letting on.

"And may I suggest that you all try to get some sleep?" Although he couched it as a question, Magnum knew Milford was actually giving an order. He treated it as such.

"We will, doc. Even if it is in shifts." He took a step towards Rick's room, then turned back and offered the doctor a genuine, honest smile.

"Thank you. For everything."

Milford walked back to the nurses' desk, engrossed in another patient chart.

Magnum was about to push the door to Rick's room open when his phone rang. He was going to let the call roll to voicemail, but changed his mind when he saw the caller ID.

"Higgins."

"Magnum." Higgins paused a moment, then asked, "Where are you?"

"At the hospital." Magnum turned to place his back against the wall, watching everything happening outside Rick's room.

"Are you okay? Is there a problem with your back?" Concern filled the questions.

"I'm fine." Magnum chuckled. "TC and I are going to spend the night here. Keep Rick company."

"Which leads me to my next question. How is he doing?" Higgins was serious now.

"Doc Milford said he's doing fine." Magnum heard the quiet sigh of relief at the other end of the line. "Yeah, that's just how I felt."

Higgins said nothing for a moment, then laughed quietly at Magnum's perception.

"I'm glad to hear it. Very glad." Then her tone turned less serious. "Tell him that I expect to see him tomorrow, so that I can judge his improvement for myself."

"I'll pass the message on." Magnum laughed, then sighed as he leaned against the wall. He was willing to admit, now, that he was exhausted and looking forward to sitting down for a while.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." Magnum hedged for a moment, then the relief of knowing Rick would be fine caused the flood of words to simply pour out.

"It's just … I could have lost him today. Like Nuzo. And I don't know if I could handle that. He just … amazes me, you know. Everything he did today: getting away, coming after me, taking that shot. Saving my life."

"Yes." Higgins drew the word out.

"He's the strongest person I know, Higgy. But he doesn't see it." That fact bothered Magnum. It always had, but nothing he said ever seemed to change Rick's opinion of himself.

"It's often hard to see the truth about oneself." Higgins agreed.

"Maybe." Magnum conceded. "But that shot. I wish you could have seen it, Juliet. It was something else. I could feel it go right past me, perfect aim. Even concussed. If he wasn't already a sniper legend, he would be now."

Magnum didn't even try to reign in his admiration for Rick and what he'd done. Or the pride he felt in being able to call Rick his friend. Part of his 'ohana.

"Then I will leave you to your evening with your 'ohana, Thomas." Higgins spoke quietly.

"Only part of it, Higgy." Magnum's answer was equally quiet. "I'll see the rest tomorrow, back home."

"Good night, Thomas." Juliet sounded almost choked-up for a moment, then took a breath. "Try to get some sleep."

"You too." Magnum paused for a second. "Thanks for all your help today. Good night, Juliet."

He ended the call and levered himself away from the support of the wall, turning to enter Rick's room.

MPI-MPI-MPI

Magnum eased the door open quietly, but met two wide-awake stares. He stepped inside with a smile, pleased that he didn't have to sneak in.

"Hey, guys." He shared a nod with TC, then focused a searching look on Rick.

His friend did look better without the blood down the side of his face. The massive bruise was lovely shades of black and purple, and looked painful. But aside from that, the slight confusion was gone from his eyes, along with the exhaustion that had been clear when Eric had checked him over earlier.

"You're looking better, Rick." Relief coloured the words, but the other two let it slide.

"I keep telling them I'm fine, but they just won't believe me." Rick was offended.

TC laughed and Rick sent him an aggrieved look. Magnum couldn't help but laugh as well, even when Rick shot him a glare that promised future retribution.

"Well, I just ran into your doctor." Magnum couldn't hide his happiness. "And he told me that he assumed that you were going to be just like me."

"I'm nothing like you." Rick objected.

"You both wanted out of here five minutes after arriving." TC was the amused voice of reason. "I wonder why he'd think you're a lot alike."

"Yeah, well." Rick muttered, ducking his head to hide his grin. "Aside from that."

"Face it, Rick, he's got your number. Just like he had mine." Magnum conceded. "So, let's just make the best of it and get out of here tomorrow."

Magnum walked around the bed and eased himself into the vacant chair next to TC. It took a few moments to find a spot that didn't aggravate his back, but then he relaxed as much as he could. He wouldn't sleep well in the hard chair, but given how exhausted he was, he knew he'd get some sleep anyway.

Looking up, he found Rick watching him intently.

"Thomas, I've … no, we've been thinking." Rick flicked a glance at TC, who tipped his head in the barest of nods. Magnum got the impression that there had already been a long discussion about whatever was coming next.

"We think you should go home. Sleep in a proper bed." Rick hurried the words out, as if trying to beat a deadline.

"No chance." Magnum snapped the words out, razor-sharp and angry. "I'm not going home and leaving you here."

"Look, I'm fine. This is just a precaution." Rick slid into the tone he used to convince people to believe his most outrageous stories. "You need to look after your back."

"And aren't I just in the perfect place for that?" Sarcasm wasn't something Magnum resorted to very often, but this was just too much. Did they really think that he'd leave them here and go home?

"You're damned stubborn, you know that?" TC's exasperation was clear.

"Look who's talking." Magnum shot back. "I'm staying, so just let it go."

"We had to try." Rick sighed. He and TC shared a glance, a shrug and a quick smile. A whole conversation in three moments.

"I know. And you had to know it wasn't going to work." Magnum's smile was back, momentary anger erased. The guys only ever had his best interests at heart, like he did theirs, so anger was a waste of time and energy.

Rick shrugged, then all three of them were laughing.

When they'd all settled down again, Magnum mentioned running into Doctor Milford in the corridor.

"He pretty much ordered us all to get some sleep."

"I would if I could." Rick was unimpressed. "But they're going to come in here and wake me up all the time anyway."

"I figured that." Magnum nodded. "I told him we'd sleep in shifts. He seemed okay with that."

"In that case," TC took charge of the situation. "No-one's whacked me in the head today, so I'll stay awake for now. You guys get some sleep, and we can swap shifts later." He nodded at Magnum, who nodded back.

Rick just shook his head, then laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. Moments later, his breathing slowed and he dropped off to sleep.

Magnum let his eyes close as well, allowing his mind to run back over the day and sort through the events. He'd done much the same thing when he'd spent the night watching over Higgins in the hospital. The guilt was there again, and he knew it would take a while to deal with it properly. Probably a long while.

This time, he was the direct cause of what had happened to Rick. His investigation had been the trigger that had made Albert Kunze do what he did. It had just been chance and opportunity that Albert had kidnapped Rick. If things had worked out differently, it could have been TC in this hospital bed. Or either - or both – of his friends could have been killed today.

Regardless, he was to blame. Again.

He sighed and shifted slightly in the chair.

"Stop it." TC's quiet rumble filled the room. "I can read your face like a book."

Magnum's eyes popped open and met TC's stern look.

"It's not your fault. Don't even try to argue with me, brother." TC's gaze was unblinking.

"My case caused this, TC. He wouldn't be here, if it weren't for me." Magnum kept his voice low. "It's like Hannah all over again."

"There's another side to that, you know." TC matched Magnum's volume, but his tone was thoughtful.

"Hannah is not your fault. Nothing that happened there, was ever your fault." TC shook his head. "We can't help who we love. But you are right about one thing. If it weren't for you, Rick wouldn't be here now."

That calm statement stunned Magnum. He couldn't find the breath to speak. They did blame him. It was his fault.

"Without you, we would all have died there." TC twitched a hand in an aborted movement, indicating a place far from where they sat now. "Me, Rick, Nuzo. We would never have made it back. You were the thing that held us together, and kept us going. So yeah," TC chuckled, "you're completely to blame for all of us being here."

"He's right." The quiet comment came from the bed, and Magnum looked over to find Rick watching them. Clearly, he'd been listening for a while. Yet more proof that Rick's hearing was too sharp to slip anything past him.

"You've got to start letting this go, Thomas. It's not always your fault." Rick managed a grin now. "This time is totally on that idiot who thought he could tie me up and leave me in a basement. Do I look like someone who's going to sit quietly and wait to be rescued?"

"No." TC and Magnum answered together, holding back sudden and unexpected laughter.

"Without the drugs, I don't think he'd ever have got you to the basement at all." Magnum mused. "You pack a hell of a punch for a little guy. He'd have come off second-best."

"Definitely." TC agreed. "Guys like him only ever win by fighting dirty. Especially against a guy like you, who doesn't know what the word 'quit' means."

Silence met that comment, and Magnum and TC both looked at Rick. Their friend was sitting speechless, a faint flush rising on his cheeks. They shared a look with each other, realising that hearing their honest opinion of him had somehow embarrassed Rick. A mutual decision to let the moment pass was made and Magnum decided to move the conversation on.

"Okay. I'll work on letting the guilt go, guys."

"Don't just work on it." Rick was clear.

"I agree. Don't work on it, just get it done this time." TC was even more blunt.

Magnum stared at them both, then dropped his eyes. It was just too hard to look at them for a moment, to see how much they cared and wanted him to move on. He wasn't sure that he could ever truly accept that the guilt wasn't his burden to bear, but for them, he was willing to try to get past it. Starting now.

"So, about tomorrow." Magnum changed the topic to something lighter. "Doc Milford says we can take you home in the morning."

"Not soon enough." Rick's comment drew a snicker from everyone.

"Like I said to TC earlier, you're both coming to my place." When Rick opened his mouth to argue the point, Magnum raised a finger to silence him. "This isn't guilt, Rick, just concern for a friend."

"We all need it." TC chimed in, nodding his agreement. Rick stared long and hard at both of them for a moment, then finally nodded.

"I'm going to have a chat with Higgins, see about having a barbecue. Maybe invite Katsumoto as well? Sound good?" Magnum tossed the idea out for discussion.

"Very." Rick smiled then, relaxing into the pillow again. "I'll leave you two to sort out the details. I'm just going to take a nap before they come and wake me up again."

MPI-MPI-MPI

Midday at the estate was bright and sunny. Magnum worried for a moment that it was maybe too bright, until he spotted Rick settled in the shade of a tree, dark sunglasses covering his eyes. The massive bruise on the side of Rick's face had darkened more overnight, but the two cuts were healing well.

Magnum strolled across to his friend, who was watching TC man the grill and flip burgers like he'd been born doing it. Zeus and Apollo had just left Rick's side, and were now sitting at attention at the side of the grill, hoping that TC would drop a burger in their direction. The dogs barely glanced at Magnum, for a change. He'd like to think it was because they were growing to like him, just a little. But if he were honest, it was most likely because a burger from the grill would be tastier than a chunk of his leg.

"Hey, Rick. How're you doing?"

"Thomas. Good, buddy." Rick stayed where he was, relaxed in his chair. He raised the glasses enough to trade a telling look with Magnum before dropping them down again.

"Still too bright?"

"Just a little. Much better than this morning. At least there's only one of everyone today." Rick sounded unconcerned. "Not my first concussion. And definitely not my worst."

"Too true." Magnum's agreement was quick and easy.

"How's your back?" Rick turned the questioning around, tone suddenly much sharper and finely focused.

"Fine. I know you're glaring at me behind those glasses." Magnum laughed. "Honestly, it barely even hurts. Like you just said, not the worst I've ever had."

"I used to have such a normal life. Now I'm surrounded by people who rate their concussions and stab wounds. Where did I go wrong?" Katsumoto's voice was both amused and horrified, as he walked up behind Magnum. The detective looked more relaxed than usual, though Magnum admitted that it was probably because Katsumoto had left his jacket in the car. And dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, just as everyone else had today.

"Good to see you looking better, Rick."

"Thanks, Katsumoto." Rick nodded. "And thanks for yesterday, by the way. I never got a chance to thank you for helping out."

Katsumoto nodded once. He was about to say something more, when Higgins called everyone to the table.

"Later." He walked away, leaving Rick and Magnum to follow.

By the time everyone had eaten their fill, the mood around the table was mellow and relaxed. Magnum was soaking up the presence of his family, feeling immensely lucky to have them all around him, not much the worse for wear.

He missed Kumu's soothing presence at the table, but she'd gone to visit a friend for a few days. They'd all decided that it was better not to call and worry her, now that everything was over. She could hear the story of everything that had happened, when she got back to the estate.

Magnum was glad that she hadn't been faced with the tension and fear of the last two days, but he knew she'd have plenty to say when she heard the full story. Even getting Rick to tell the tale probably wouldn't make her any happier about being unaware of what had happened to her 'ohana.

He tuned back in to the story Rick was telling, trying to figure out how a simple tale about a group of students on spring break had turned into this complicated story about neon blue cocktails, cans of whipped cream, coconut shells and human pyramids. He'd have to get Rick to tell him this story again sometime. Maybe more than once. The look on TC's face suggested that he wasn't the only one confused.

When Rick finally wrapped it up, Katsumoto leaned back, bemused and amused.

"Seriously?"

"My hand on a Bible."

"Well, then." Katsumoto nodded once. Magnum had to give the detective his due – he was clearly way smarter than he let on, if he had followed and understood Rick's story. Maybe Katsumoto could explain it all to him sometime.

"While I have your hand on a Bible," Katsumoto wondered, "metaphorically speaking."

"Yeah?" Rick's question was careful now.

"I haven't got your statement yet." Katsumoto went on. "And this isn't an official question, either. I'm just curious how you and TC ended up in that building, and how you managed that shot."

"Okay." Rick nodded. "Sure, I can tell you that."

"Well, the first time I woke up in the basement, the idiot wanted me to tell my friend to back off. I refused, and he did this." Rick waved a hand at his face. "Then he came back again and kept wanting the same thing. I was less than helpful, shall we say?"

"I'll bet." Katsumoto couldn't help the mutter, surprising a laugh from everyone else.

"Then he sent Thomas that picture. Sorry about that, buddy." Rick glanced at Magnum, who shrugged and smiled.

"It's okay, Rick. As long as you're here now." Magnum's nonchalant tone belied the relief he knew was in his eyes, clear enough for Rick to see it easily.

"Then he left again. I know, now, that was when he went to meet Thomas. But he left the light on, so I could see. And I found a rough spot on the chair arm and managed to use it to wear through the rope, enough to snap it. Then I found a chisel and used it to break the lock on the door."

Rick glanced around and found everyone hanging on his words, which made him stumble to a halt.

"Go on, brother." TC encouraged him.

"The door opened into a corridor and I headed right, then found a door that led to the street, and that's when TC found me."

"I wanted him to go to the hospital, but he refused." TC added now, shaking his head. "Stubborn."

"TC told me where you'd gone," Rick nodded at Magnum, "and we decided to follow you. We got to the tenth floor about the same time you were getting yourself slashed in the back by the idiot. We found your gun there, and I took it with me."

"Then you came up a floor to find us." Magnum chipped in now.

"Yeah, and that idiot was threatening to stab you in the neck with that knife of his." Rick sighed heavily. "There was no way I was letting him do that. Not even to save myself and TC."

"Save yourselves?" Katsumoto questioned. "How so?"

"Yeah. He threatened us all, and Thomas said he go with him – if he let the two of us go." Rick sounded less than impressed.

Katsumoto and Higgins shared a look, then focused their attention on TC's next words.

"We'll be having a discussion about that later."

"Come on, TC, let it go." Magnum's tone carried a hint of pleading, but in vain.

"No way, brother." TC shook his head and Rick followed his lead. "We've had this talk before, and we're going to keep having it until you get the message."

"What he said." Rick pointed at TC and nodded.

Magnum sighed and shot a pleading look at Juliet, who seemed faintly amused at the whole exchange. She simply shook her head.

"You're on your own, Magnum." Juliet laughed, then her voice turned quiet and serious as she turned her attention back to Rick.

"How did you manage that shot?" She was genuinely curious.

"I was a sniper, Higgy. I can make any shot." Rick laughed.

"I'm sure you can. But you and TC both said you were seeing double at the time."

"Yeah, I was." Rick admitted. "I had to wait for Thomas to say something. His voice seemed to be closer to the Thomas on the right of the two, so I figured the idiot on the right-hand side had to be the real one, as well. So I shot him."

"You make it sound so simple." Higgins mused.

"It was. Anything for Thomas. Or TC. Maybe a few other people, too." Rick glanced around at the people around the table, then ducked his head at the admission. "You know, simple."

"On the subject of the idiot," Magnum pulled the attention from Rick, seeing how uncomfortable he was with being the centre of attention at the moment. "What happened with the software theft?"

"Thanks to the evidence Higgins gave me, we traced the payments to one person at each of Calvert's rival companies. We arrested both of them yesterday afternoon, and they're both happily laying all the blame on Kunze. But the evidence is clear, so they'll both be spending some time in jail." Katsumoto sounded pleased to have it all neatly wrapped up.

"But Kunze won't be in jail, which is a good thing." TC offered.

"You know, I am a police officer." Katsumoto said. "I can't be a witness to some sort of vigilante intention."

TC laughed at that, so hard that it took him almost a minute to catch his breath.

"You're wrong. I had no intention of doing anything." TC took another deep breath.

"But I did go see a friend of yours at Halawa," he tipped his head to Rick, "and he promised that anyone who hurt you would answer to him."

"Does this friend have a name?" Katsumoto asked.

"Yeah, but it's not important right now." TC stated.

"You thought it was his fault." Rick smiled at TC, amazed "And you went and took him on. In person."

"'Course I did." TC nodded. "You have to admit, he's been the cause of trouble before."

"True. But not this time."

"Yeah. Which reminds me, you should probably let him know that you're okay." TC shrugged then. "I would say to send him my apologies, but …"

"He wouldn't want them. He knows where you were coming from." Rick agreed. "I'll get a message to him later today."

Magnum watched Katsumoto look around the circle, and come to the conclusion that he would never know who the person at Halawa was. Not that the detective couldn't find out, but that would end any pretence of plausible deniability. Katsumoto looked right at him, then, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. Magnum simply shook his head.

Magnum knew Katsumoto understood that they were actually doing their best to protect him from the unintended consequences of being on speaking terms with an incarcerated felon. Being on a first-name basis with Icepick wouldn't be good for Katsumoto's long-term career prospects.

Katsumoto hesitated for a second, then nodded back, acknowledging Magnum's decision. Katsumoto rose to his feet.

"I have a desk full of paperwork calling my name. Most of it thanks to you three." Katsumoto sounded resigned, yet somehow not annoyed.

Magnum and TC rose as well. Higgins looked ready to join them, but Magnum waved her off.

"We'll walk Katsumoto out, Higgy. Just relax."

The three men set off towards the driveway, the sound of their voices fading into the afternoon sunlight.

MPI-MPI-MPI

Higgins waited until the three men were out of sight, then turned her attention back to Rick. It was hard to be sure with the sunglasses, but she had a feeling that he was looking right at her as well. She let him see her looking him over, then nodded.

"Katsumoto was right, Rick. You are looking much better." She paused for a moment, then went on. "I'm glad to see it."

"Thanks, Higgy." Rick reached up to lift the glasses for a moment, before dropping them back down. The brief view of his eyes told Higgins everything she really wanted to know. First, Rick really was feeling better. But second, his involuntary squint into the bright sunlight showed he had a long way to go yet.

"The headache is lingering." Higgins observed quietly.

"Yeah." Rick winced, then sighed. "It'll fade, in a day or two. Maybe sooner, if I can get some proper sleep tonight."

"You're having trouble?" Concern filled the question. Given what she'd learned about Magnum in the last few months, she felt her concern was more than justified.

"Not the way you mean." Rick answered. "I'm not like Thomas. But they kept waking me up last night, so I'd be surprised if I even managed three hours sleep in the whole night."

"Well, that shouldn't be a problem here." Higgins saw the sudden twitch and laughed. "I don't have to be psychic to know that you and TC will be here tonight. Maybe even tomorrow night as well."

"We don't mean to take advantage." Rick was quick to point out.

"It's not an imposition at all." Higgins refuted the words. "I'm insulted that you would think so little of me."

"Sorry, Higgy." Rick smiled then, knowing that she was only teasing.

"As you should be." Higgins sounded haughty, then let slip a giggle that surprised a laugh from Rick as well. "I intended to offer you a room at the main house if Magnum didn't get you to stay, for tonight at the very least."

"You did?" Stunned didn't even begin to cover Rick's tone.

"Of course. One doesn't leave friends to deal with adversity on their own. Very bad form." Higgins smiled. "Besides, I wanted you all where I can keep an eye on you until you're all healthy again. You don't – any of you – appear to have a very good track record of looking after yourselves."

Rick laughed then, a free and uninhibited sound that broadened the smile on Juliet's face.

"I would refer you to our escape from the Korengal. We did okay then."

"You did. Aside from everything you suffered there, and everything you've dealt with as a result of that." Higgins sobered abruptly.

"You may have a point." Rick smiled gently. "But still. We did okay."

"Indeed. And I now intend to make sure that you all do somewhat better than okay." The words were firm, but far from harsh. She didn't have many friends in Hawaii, and no family. Except for this one, built with the most unusual group of people she'd ever met. She would do what she could, and what she had to, to keep her little family whole.

Rick tipped his head in acknowledgement.

They sat for a few moments, staring out at the sea. Higgins wondered if there would ever be a good time to say what she felt needed to be said. But to leave it unsaid any longer would be just as bad.

"Thank you, by the way."

"For what?" Rick sounded puzzled.

"For including me in the group you mentioned earlier."

The red flush on the tops of Rick's ears made it clear he knew what she meant, but he played it dumb.

"I don't follow."

"The group you would do anything for."

"Oh, that." Now he sounded as though he wished the ground would swallow him whole. As if admitting out loud that he cared, was something to be ashamed of, something to keep hidden.

"It's an honour to be included."

When Rick didn't answer, Higgins decided to let him off the hook.

"Moving on, though. Your friends are very proud of you, and very impressed, you know."

"Come again?" Rick queried, puzzlement clear in his voice.

"I called Magnum last night, at the hospital. When he told me that he and TC would be spending the night with you. Then, and every time I've spoken to either of them since all this happened, they've been singing your praises. For getting away so quickly, for going after Thomas, for taking that shot. Especially that shot."

Higgins kept her voice matter-of-fact. She knew that Rick always saw himself as the weakest link in the little group of friends. She had no idea why, but his actions in the last two days had disproved that theory comprehensively. No matter what he might think.

"They'll stop soon. Sorry if they're talking your ear off." Rick murmured, clearly uncomfortable.

"Good heavens, no. I sincerely hope they don't stop talking about it." Higgins was appalled. "If they do, I just might start instead. What you did was amazing, Rick. It should be remembered and celebrated."

"You think?" He sounded unsure. "Really?"

"Definitely." Higgins smiled at him, then reached out to remove the sunglasses for a moment. She needed to make sure he heard her clearly, and understood just what she meant. And she could only be sure if she could see his eyes. Rick could spin a great tale, but now that she knew him, Higgins knew that the truth would be in his eyes. You just had to know to look for it.

"You may recall a conversation we shared on that beach, after Toni left."

"I do."

"I consider us friends." Rick nodded agreement and Higgins carried on. "And if you ever need to be reminded again of how strong you were, how strong you are, we will be spending another night on that beach."

Rick looked startled for a moment, then realised that she was serious. He nodded once, then took the sunglasses back and slid them back on. She let him do it, aware that he was hiding his emotions, trying to hang on to his control and composure. He took one deep breath, eased it out, then took another. He tilted his head to one side, almost seeming to be listening to something she couldn't hear. Then he grinned and spoke.

"You know, I'm going to tell everyone I spent a night on the beach with you."

Twin shocked gasps had Juliet's head whipping around, her searching gaze landing on two equally and identically stunned faces. That was when she realised that Thomas and TC had caught Rick's statement, just as they'd come back from seeing Katsumoto off. Rick, with his hearing, had known they were there. The look on their faces made Higgins wish she had a camera. But she directed her words to Rick, in spite of sharing his laughter.

"Context, Rick. Context."

FIN