"Are they going to come back?" Someone shouted anxiously. "Will we be safe?" Another voice sounded from the crowd. "Who can we call? This is the government?! Our government!"

Rollie shook his head. "No. I don't think they will be back. It's too risky now. Too many know about their secret. As the old saying goes, there is safety in numbers. And the more who know about them, the less power they possess."

"Besides," Angie added, "they may work for the United States government, but I don't think what they're doing is sanctioned by the authorities. They're rogues--Outlaws."

Rollie looked at Angie, questions dancing in his head. Well, there wasn't any reason that he could see to keep quiet. "Ange, what did you find?"

"You're not going to like it, Rol." Angie pulled some folded paper from her back pocket. "You were right, they are using Loubar and he's become... unstable." She thought about what she'd just said. "Even more than normal for him, I mean. They found where Loubar was making plans for a hit that they hadn't approved. But... Anyway, what They really want... They're going to blow up the Millennium Celebration in Washington, D. C., make it look like a terrorist attack. In the confusion that follows, with the loss of so many leaders, Ronald Garrick is hoping to seize more power for himself."

Rollie heard several gasps as he quickly read the print outs Angie passed to him. "Bloody..." He stopped himself and cleared his throat self-consciously. He caught a spark of humor in Daniel's eyes and shook his head. "We don't have much time. That's just a little over a week away. Angie, we need to find somebody we can trust, somebody in Washington. And I'll need transportation there. Something that they won't expect... Make-up, a disguise... It won't be easy for me to get tickets this close to the Millennium..."

"Us to get tickets," Angie said firmly. "I'm going with you."

"No," Rollie shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

"Uh huh. No way, bud. I just got you back and I'm not ready to lose you again. Besides, you'll need me." She grinned up at the Aussie, a wicked gleam sparkled in her eyes.

"And what about Ailene?" Rollie stared soberly into her eyes. They both knew the loss of parents. He didn't want to think of Ailene losing yet another family.

Angie hesitated as she thought. She loved Ailene, truly and deeply. Could she leave her daughter? Should she? Ailene had already lost one set of parents. But... She closed her eyes. Rollie would need her special expertise, she knew that, but Ailene needed her too. What could she do? As she thought about Their plans and what they'd done so far, she found her answer. "Mangela, will you take care of Ailene if we fail to return?" She looked to Rollie's adopted father.

"She will be one with the People," Mangela solemnly pledged.

"Angie..." Rollie started, only to be silenced as the blonde touched her fingers to his lips.

"Hush. I don't want my daughter to grow up in a world with Them in charge. I'm coming. And..." She stood up straight and squared her shoulders, stubborn jaw raised. "If we fail, Mangela and the People will keep her safe. She'll be loved and cared for."

Mangela spoke, his voice seemed to fill the room. "She will know her mother, be proud of her mother and the man who would have been her father." A smile turned up the corners of his mouth. "But she will not need to be told, because you will be there to show her."

"What? You having a Dreaming?" Rollie asked sourly, unhappy that he was unable to dissuade Angie from coming, that he couldn't keep her safe on Hope. He just could not argue. Angie's skills might just make the difference in the battle to come.

A sly smile spred over the aborigine's face. "I don't need a Dreaming. I know my sonny boy."

A few chuckles slipped from their audience and Rollie threw his hands up in defeat. "All right. Before we do anything, we need to find out if we have any friends we can trust in Washington. Angie?"

"Isn't that an oxymoron?" Some wit called and garnered a few more laughs from the crowd.

"Elena? Or Marty?"

"They'd be just about perfect, sweetie, but I'm not going to count on them being there. They work out of New York, but still, they're a good place to start." He brightened. "Hey! Maybe we can ask them for someone we can trust."

"Maybe. I'll go hack the FBI's personnel files and find out where they are. I hope they're not on vacation!" Angie headed toward the door, a look of determination on her face.

Kevin's eyes widened in shock. "I...I don't think I want to know about that. Dan--, er, Rollie? What about Daniel? What about us? What can we do?"

Rollie looked around at the familiar faces of the islanders. These were the people he had lived with, played with, grieved and laughed with. These were his friends, his family. "You're going to have to take care of Daniel." His twin shifted, ready to protest. "No, Daniel, you need to stay here. We're going to have our hands full on this one and I, we don't need to be worrying about you." His face softened and he smiled gently. "Pray for us. We need all the help we can get." He looked around the room. "All of you, keep us in your thoughts and prayers. If you know someone that you can trust not to publish the story, tell them. The more people who know the truth, the less power they have."

"Then why not publish, Rollie? Why not tell the whole world?" Callie waved her hand, eager as a bloodhound with a fresh scent.

"Because if that happens, we'll lose them for sure. And I don't intend for that to happen. We have to stop them and spreading the story over the morning news may not be enough."

"It might just push them underground," Daniel spoke up. "They could go into hiding and resurface later to strike when no one is ready," he looked at his Australian twin, "or able to stop them. Rollie and Angie are our best shot at doing that."

"You sound awful sure, Reverend." A grizzled fisherman stared at Daniel Cooper, a gleam of something, the minister didn't recognize what, lighting his eyes.

"I'm sure. I'm sure that with God's help and Tyler FX after them," he grinned suddenly, "They don't stand a snowball's chance in... a bonfire."

The old man nodded, apparently satisfied with the young man's response. "Then you do what you have to do, Rollie. We'll tend things here."

"Yes," Father Mac nodded as he stepped forward. "We will take care of Daniel and Ailene while you're gone. Er..." He looked uncertainly at Dingo Tyler and Mangela.

"And keep Dad out of Trouble, Father Mac" Rollie added, "and, struth! You will need God's help with that!"

"But Rollie!" Dingo stared at his son in dismay. He wanted to help. Rollie would need him and Mangela too!

"No, Dad. It's my turn and Angie's. You and Mangela will stay here, look after Ailene and Daniel. And. Stay. Out. Of. Trouble. I do not want to come back and find out that Kevin had to arrest you. Do you hear me? No Trouble!"

Dingo frowned at his only son, a thunderous expression on his face. "But..."

"No buts. It's time for Ange and me to do our particular brand of magic. Not conning or..." Rollie shrugged. He knew that Mangela had gotten the point. ... No pun intended.

"We will stay here, Rollie." Mangela agreed. "If something goes wrong, we will make sure that your family and friends are safe."

More like Mangela would, but by saying we, he got Dingo involved or thinking he was, Rollie thought to himself.

Nub sighed, a look of disappointment sliding across his face.

"What is it, Nub?" The Aussie looked at the younger man, a slight smile touching his lips.

"I---It's going to sound silly and it's not important anyway."

"Nonsense," Father Mac said. "Of course it is, Nub. Speak up."

Nub blushed and looked down at his toes. "It's just I was kind of looking forward to singing with Dan--, um, Reverend Tyler."

Rollie laughed softly. "We're not going right now, Nub. I think we'll have time for that duet." He eyed his twin thoughtfully. "Better yet, how about a trio?"

Daniel's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"Sure, you, me and Nub," Rollie wrapped an arm around Daniel's shoulders, his other arm snaking out to tug Nub to stand beside him. "We're doing Silent Night. Tomorrow. It will be Christmas Eve." He ruffled his stunned twin's hair and slipped away, leaving Nub and Daniel to get acquainted. Father Mac caught his eye and nodded, moving to join the pair. Satisfied that Daniel was in good hands, he headed toward Kevin, wondering if he dare involve Brian as well as his fathers, only to be stopped by an obstacle that stepped into his path.

Brown eyes met smokey blue as Alex searched the depths of the Australian's eyes, seeking some trace of the man she had known, or, rather she had thought she had known.