"Aaron..." he whispered.

"Dad." Aaron gave his father a hug.

"You're supposed to be dead. Everybody said you were dead."

"I'm not," Aaron said. "Can we come in?"

The expression of total shock on Dad's face would've been funny in any other context, but Aaron felt sorry for him instead. No man should have to endure the loss of his only child.

Aaron and Marina walked into a grand foyer with a spiral staircase. A crystal chandelier provided glittering light, and the floor was a checkerboard made of Italian marble.

Mom yelled from another room. "Who is at the door?"

"Your son," Dad replied.

Aaron heard quick footsteps, and she entered the foyer. She wore a frumpy nightgown made of fuzzy, blue fabric. She squinted at him because she wasn't wearing her gla.s.ses.

"Aaron!" She rushed forward and gave him a warm hug.

"I told you I would visit."

"I wasn't expecting you! I'm not dressed!"

"Don't worry about it," Aaron said. "You look fine. You remember Carol."

Marina stepped forward and shook Mom's hand. "Nice to meet you again."

"Are you hungry?" Mom said. "We have leftovers from dinner. Do you want to spend the night here?"

"We can't stay," Aaron said. "This has to be a very short visit. Really, we shouldn't even be here. I just came to tell you I'm still alive and well."

Dad's expression switched to rage. "Where have you been hiding? Are you in trouble with the law? Is that why you disappeared?"

"No, I'm not a criminal."

"Are you a secret agent?"

"No." Aaron shook his head. "Please don't ask me any more questions."

"Are you getting paid, at least?" Dad said. "You made s.h.i.t wages as a cop. I hope you're doing better now."

"You're still obsessed with money. Is that why you still live in this gigantic house? It's five times bigger than you need, but you want all your friends to know you can afford it."

"This house is a good investment."

"You've owned this 'investment' for thirty years."

"And it's been good the whole time." Dad furrowed his brow. "Are you lifting weights? I don't remember you being so beefy. You look like a bodybuilder."

Aaron flexed his biceps. "I'm in the best shape of my life."

"Hmm." Dad turned to Marina. "Who is this? Your girlfriend?"

"Yes."

Marina shook Dad's hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the father of the man I love. I can see he gets his good looks from you."

He examined her up and down. He slowly nodded. "Your taste in women is still excellent."

"She's more than just a pretty face," Aaron said. "She has talents you wouldn't believe. We'll spend the rest of our lives together."

Dad raised his eyebrows. "Does that mean I'll have grandchildren soon?"

Aaron sighed. "Sorry, no."

"You're my only child. You can't let the family name die."

"I don't have a choice."

"Why?" Dad crossed his arms. "Are you infertile? Is she?"

"I can't explain. Actually, I think we should go. I told you not to ask me questions."

Aaron took a step towards the door. Marina grabbed the handle.

"Don't!" Dad held his arm with surprising strength. "You just got here. Stay. I'm sorry if I was rude."

"I wish I could stay but it's too dangerous. Maybe we'll come back someday. I don't know when."

"This is insane."

"I know. I'm sorry." Aaron pulled away. "But it's all for a very good cause. Bye."

He quickly kissed his mother and shook his father's hand. Aaron went out into the cool night with its canopy of glittering stars. He and Marina walked briskly away.

"That was one of the more awkward experiences of my life," she said.

"I apologize for dragging you into it," he said.

"Don't. I'm very glad I met your parents."

He kissed her on the cheek. "I'm glad, too. Will I ever meet your parents?"

"They died when I was fifteen. Murdered, actually. The killer was never caught."

"Oh." His face grew warm.

"That's unfinished business I'll have to deal with someday, but I don't feel like talking about it now. It makes me angry. Let's just enjoy the beautiful night." She smiled. "Isn't the sky gorgeous?"

He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "Not as gorgeous as you."

The man formerly known as Captain Timothy Smythe walked into a familiar hospital room. A teenage girl with brown, curly hair was lying on the solitary bed. He hadn't forgotten his promise to her. As far as he was concerned, Sally was still his patient until she was healed.

He expected her to have a respirator tube down her throat, but she just had an oxygen mask. She's a strong girl, he thought. She looked at him, but there was no recognition in her eyes. He was wearing a very good disguise.

"Hi!" He smiled encouragingly. "I just came to give you a shot."

He placed a black medical bag on a table and opened it. The bag contained hundreds of prepared syringes filled with pale green liquid. He took out one of the syringes.

Sally tried to talk, but her voice was so weak he couldn't hear her. He took off her oxygen mask and put his ear near her mouth.

"Will it hurt?" she whispered.

"I'm afraid so," he said, "but you need it."

He pulled the cap off the syringe.

"I know your voice," she said. "Who are you?"

"Just another doctor. We probably met before but you don't remember." He put the oxygen mask back over Sally's mouth. "Now, I want you to relax and stay very still. This is a big injection."

He found a vein and inserted the needle. Slowly, he pressed the plunger. He would've preferred to give her small doses of antidote s.p.a.ced over several days, but the security around Saint Athanasius Hospital was almost impenetrable and repeated visits were infeasible. He had to cure her completely with one ma.s.sive dose.

When the injection was done, he threw away the needle and picked up his bag. "You'll experience nausea and itchiness, but in a day or two you'll feel much better." He smiled again.

The expression on her face showed a lot of anxiety.

"What's wrong?" he asked. He put his ear near her mouth again.

"You're not just another doctor," she whispered.

"How can you tell?"

"There is a strange light. Are you an angel?"

Aaron looked around but saw nothing unusual.

Marina stepped into the room. She wore a nurse's uniform and a brown wig. A fake mole disfigured her cheek.

"Doctor," she said, "you have lots of other patients."

"I know." Smythe stood up straight. "Try to sleep, Sally. Have a long, happy life."

He left the room with Marina.

"What was that about?" she said.

He shrugged. "I don't know. The kid must be delirious. She called me an angel."

"Maybe she was right." She winked at him. "You're carrying a bag full of miracles."

"Not you, too! Come on. I'm just a doctor, doing his job."

"Whatever you say. Whatever you say." She whistled a cheerful tune.

THE END.