"She should really get some rest," the doctor started to say, then saw Madison start to get agitated.

"ALL right, just please try to relax."

Heda and Billy tripped over their own tongues informing Madison what they had learned about the killer and of how they had found Detrius's, or Daryl Mosley's, hideout before crashing in, literally in the nick of time. Daryl had apparently rigged his entire lair with traps and defensive spells, so stuff had started blowing up almost immediately. Heda, in Billy's words, had gone “ape shit crazy" and went barreling through walls of sparks and fire to try to get her hands on Daryl Mosley's throat.

Billy had realized that Madison would not be holding on to that chain without a reason, so he had punched into the already cracking glass cell and grabbed the chain just as his friend was letting go of it. He had burns on his hands, but he had not held the line as long as Madison did. Mr. Hannity had gotten Alvin down, then he and Billy had taken the hostages outside.

Daryl had too many defenses and he knew the terrain of his lab, which was a set of rooms designed in typical cold-war chaos. He had escaped down a back tunnel after setting everything off, and it had taken most of her friends to keep Heda from chasing the psychopathic sorcerer into a collapsing corridor.

Madison open her mouth and gasped a little. Then, “Ih... ih idiot."

Heda grinned, and she cried just a little bit.

"I need you to keep me in line. You being the rational, even-tempered half of the couple."

"Billy?" Madison said.

"Yes?"

"Fuh . . . Flip huh . . . flip her off."

Billy looked at Heda.

"Can't deny an injured woman a request Like that," he said, giving Heda the bird.

Madison gasped, and this time it was from pain rather than an attempt to speak. The doctor fed something into one of the tubes connected to Madison's body, and she started to quiet down.

“I think she needs to sleep. Let me know when your healer arrives," he told Mr. Hannity.

“I'll make sure you have privacy, though I will need to be in attendance. If you could step outside for a moment, we can discuss her treatment and transfer to Dallas and your daughter can rest."

"Of course," Mr. Hannity said, then looked at the girl in the bed.

"Madison, Heda will stay with you for now, but you heard the doctor about resting. One of us will always be here, so don't you worry."

He started to turn away.

"Dad," Madison whispered.

William Hannity stopped in his tracks, slowly turning back to Madison.

"Madison --" He had no more words. The first time she called him "Dad" had come many, many years too late, but he cherished the sound anyway.

"Juh . . . just wanted to say that," Madison finished drowsily. And as she let the pain-killers do their work, she felt him kiss her forehead, just like a father was supposed to do.

Heda had just flopped down on her bed when the call came in, having just gotten out of a well-deserved and wholly necessary shower. One look at the caller ID brought a smile to her face.