The chess match was over and Daniel was alone when Callie and Christie came to visit. They watched uneasily as Daniel read the story about the funeral of Rollie Tyler and Angie Ramirez. He sighed and looked up. The tears running down his face were ignored. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Christie asked. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't do anything wrong." She touched his cheeks gently, tenderly wiping away his tears.

"But," Daniel looked down at his hands. They were crushing the paper in their grip. He forced them open and smoothed the paper out. "I hurt them. I hurt our friends." He looked up again with troubled eyes.

Callie cleared her throat, uncertain about treading on such private ground. However, there was something she felt needed to be said. "You didn't have much choice, Daniel, and I," she took a deep breath, "wonder if you ever did." Daniel and Christie looked at her, their confusion plain. "What would they have done if you didn't agree to their plans? I don't think you had a choice," she repeated.

Daniel nodded slowly. "You could be right, Callie. Still, I'm sorry I hurt our friends."

"Well, I hurt them too," Christie pointed out. "I didn't have to go into Witness Protection. I could have stayed."

"No!" Daniel objected. "He might have come back to finish the job. You had to do what you did. They would understand. I think they would prefer you be safe instead of living in danger, in fear of your life."

"Then so did you," Christie responded, gleefully certain of herself now. "Our friends would understand. It's important that you-that we  are safe. They'd understand and approve if they knew."

Daniel sighed. "Maybe you're right, Christie, but I'm glad you know." The look he gave Christie Culhain was decidedly not one Callie ever expected from a minister. It made her toes curl and she wasn't on the receiving end. She wondered what it was doing to Christie.

"I'm glad too," Christie responded softly, her voice husky.

"Oh yeah. Maybe I should leave you two alone." Callie stood up, ready to do just that.

"Callie?" Daniel looked startled at the unexpected declaration.

"Daniel, I am not a voyeur, despite what you hear about the press. I'll go for a walk. As a matter of fact, I'll take Ailene with me, Christie." As soon as Christie nodded, Callie gathered up Ailene and pulling her stroller left the room.

"They lied to me," Daniel whispered.

Christie sighed at the soft words. "About what? What else did they tell you?" She didn't really want to know, but it was better for him to get it out into the open. These wounds, invisible and deep, had festered long enough.

Daniel looked away, his eyes full of remembered pain. "They said that--that Tom and Faye Lewis, their daughter, Susan, died." His voice cracked. "That--that Tommy was hurt, paralyzed." Fresh tears flowed down his face.

"Oh Rollie," Angie whispered. She suddenly felt a fierce hatred for the men who had caused him so much pain. Unthinking, she gathered him in her arms, rocking him gently, crooning softly in his ear. So much pain! Why had they done it? Why had they hurt Rollie so deeply? Why had they erased Rollie's memories? She didn't know, but for the moment, she was Angie Ramirez again and he was Rollie Tyler. They were together and they would figure it out... somehow.

"I hope Daniel is all right," Rollie spoke several minutes later, the tears under control for the moment. His voice was full of worry and concern.

"I'm sure he is," Angie answered softly, praying she was right. If he wasn't, it would finish breaking Rollie's heart. She knew it and thought Rollie did too.

"Is he? I'm not too sure about that. These men are... Ruthless is the best description, I think. They won't care about Daniel. If he's... inconvenient, they might," he trailed off, shivering at the images that came into his mind. "I wonder why. There has to be a reason. Why would they concern themselves with me?"

"Maybe they wanted to be able to use your, um, talents."

Rollie frowned. "I don't think so. I don't know why, but somehow I don't think so." He looked at his hands, thinking. Angie remained silent watching the thoughts flit through Rollie's eyes. "No, not me. Loubar," he whispered. "This is about Loubar. But why? What do they want?" He was clearly troubled by his conclusion.

"Loubar? Why? Do they think this is the way to catch him?" Angie looked at her best friend, puzzled.

"No, not catch. Use! They want to use Loubar. Why would the U.S. government want to use Victor Loubar?"

Angie sucked in her breath at the thought. "Use Loubar? Rollie, you don't use him! He's..."

"Unstable? A megalomaniac? Dangerous? Deadly?" Rollie looked at her seriously. "They're playing with one of the deadliest snakes in the world and don't have a clue about what they're doing. But why?" He chewed on his lower lip. "I make Loubar unpredictable, dangerously unstable. He... He obsesses about me." He looked at Angie uncertainly, wanting to know if she agreed.

"Yeah," she nodded slowly, "yeah, he does. So with you around, Loubar would continually try for revenge, for the glory of defeating Rollie Tyler, his arch-nemesis."

"So, why didn't they just make sure I died? It would be simpler and cheaper too."

"Because they need you if Loubar runs amok again. You counter Loubar. You can best him!"

"So, I'm the... the antivenin in case they get 'bit'?"

Angie laughed at the simile. "Yeah, that's it. But why do they need Loubar? Rollie, I can't imagine anyone wanting to use his talents, at least, not anyone straight - legal."

"Neither can I," Rollie answered softly. It hung heavy in the air between them. If they weren't legit, then...

Angie shivered, suddenly cold and afraid. They had to be rogue. The United States government would never stand for using someone like Victor Loubar. Surely, they wouldn't condone what had been done to Rollie.  They wouldn't, would they? Abruptly, she felt the fear Rollie must be feeling for his twin. He wasn't safe with those men. Was Rollie safe here on Hope? Maybe... As long as they thought he was still under the influence of his conditioning. Would they come for him one night? Steal him away? For what? Strong arms gathered her into a warm embrace. She turned to burrow her head against his shoulder. She hadn't prayed in years. Suddenly she felt the need to pray very desperately. Please, she whispered silently in her mind, please keep him safe! Please protect his twin and keep him safe! Please! Please! Please God!!!