When Blaisdell entered the room, his skin began to prickle. The tension radiating from his charge was a tangible force. The young man sat rigid on the side of the bed. Always button-up, Kermit appeared even more formal than usual. Holding something between his knees. He didn't turn. Didn't have to.

Paul held his position for a moment. Unsure if an attack would be forthcoming. "Hi, kid." No response. He took a few steps forward, then saw the focus of Kermit's attention. A letter he held pinched in both hands. *Damn....* Paul mentally gasped. He had left strict instructions to forward all of Kermit's mail to him first. Blaisdell had informed Kermit's family the moment he was freed from the Hilton. Told them that he'd been injured and wouldn't be able to communicate with them for some time. He had to get him stronger before the blow was delivered. From the look on his face, someone had beat him to the punch.

"Just when did you plan to tell me? On the plane home? On my front porch? When, dammit?!" The glasses that had become his refuge served him well at this particular moment. The letter was from Marilyn. His younger sister. "A nurse gave me this." He casually waved the letter in Paul's face. "Guess it explains why you didn't want me to call until I was ready to go home, huh?"

"Kid, I'm sorry you found out this way. I just thought-"

Rising slowly and deliberately from the side of the bed, Kermit hissed into the older man's face, "You just thought I didn't need to know that my mother was DEAD?!! That it?! That Marilyn and David had been shuffled off to relatives, where, according to Marilyn, they are miserable and want me to come get them!" He whirled. Not to strike, but to grab his jacket and search for his wallet.

"You can't go yet. It's not safe." He moved to clamp a hand onto the young man's shoulder, then stopped. The last thing he wanted to do was provoke him further. Not in the middle of his grief.

"I'm FINE, you son of a bitch! I'm going home."

"Not for you, you arrogant, little...it's not safe for THEM." The statement garnered him stilled and undivided attention.

"What do you mean?" The realization dawned on him. Disgust followed. "You think I might hurt them? My own family? You're the crazy one here, Paul. Get out of my way." He tried once more for the door only to find an immovable force in his path.

"Maggie's gone. I'm sorry but I can't change it. Marilyn and David are with your Aunt Helen. What can you offer them, kid? You're STILL not in complete control. They need a FAMILY. Adults to take care of them. They're just kids. Marilyn is in high school and David is barely out of elementary school, for Christ's sake." Kermit's resistance began to drip away. Shoulders no longer straight. Jaw not quite as tight as before.

"But I'm all they have now, Paul. What am I supposed to do?" He was chewing the inside of his cheek to stop the tears that wanted to explode.

Now, daring to place a hand on his shoulder, Paul answered, "You get stronger. Get in charge of your body and mind. Then, you can do what needs to be done. What's best for all of you."

Dropping his jacket back onto the chair, he jerked himself away. Threw up a quick wall around his grief. "I want to be alone. Please."

It was the first time Kermit had asked for something for himself. "Sure, kid," Paul said. "I'll come back later."

******

"I immediately went outside and fired the whole nursing staff," Paul stated with a shake of his head.

"You're kidding!" Savannah exclaimed.

"Yes, I am," Paul admitted. "They were all in the Armed Forces. I couldn't fire them. But I could transfer them to another department and that's what I did. Got a whole new nursing staff and told them the story so that they would be sure to follow orders. Unfortunately, that was a waste of time since Kermit conned his way into a dismissal from the hospital."

"'Conned' his way?!"

Paul wryly shook his head. "I'd always known how smart Kermit was but I hadn't known, then, how devious he could be when he wanted to be. He now had a goal: to leave the hospital. I'd thought I'd made it clear that I was the only barrier to that goal but he found another one and charmed his way right past it. It was the hospital staff that he took such delight in antagonizing. Overnight, he realized that they could be a tool instead of an enemy. So, every time he was examined by a doctor or nurse without me being present, he used his considerable charm-" he smiled and gestured at Savannah, "-to convince them that he was sane and healed, wishing nothing more than to go home and be with his family. I didn't find out what he was doing until it was too late. It didn't even take him two weeks. I figured about ten days of this was when I attended a board meeting, where they told me that they were releasing him."

*****

"ARE YOU ALL CRAZY!!!" Paul Blaisdell yelled at them. "Release him??!!! He's nowhere NEAR ready!!!"

"BLAISDELL!" the hospital administrator, Bill Conley, snapped back. "If you can't compose yourself at these proceedings, we will remove you and the proceedings will continue regardless of your input."

Paul, in near-shock, sat down in his chair, eyes still flashing. He just could not understand how this was happening. The medical staff had always hated Kermit. Why would they want to release him?

The head nurse continued her narration at the administrators' bidding. "Mr. Griffin's behavior has been above reproach lately. He's apologized to every single nurse for his flashes of temper, saying that he was working to control them. He expresses his desire to see his family, saying he misses them terribly. He's cooperated with every phase of every medical treatment we've brought him. He's taken an active interest to his environment, asking the nurses their names and thanking them for their care. As far as *I* see it, Mr. Griffin poses no danger to anyone else or himself."

Paul couldn't decide which emotion he wanted to embrace more, anger at Kermit's gall for conning the medical staff, incredulousness at the medical staff actually believing his performance, or sheer admiration to Kermit's acting skills. Search and destroy. Kermit had found the enemy and they were his.

"I concur," said the doctor in charge. "He has never been so courteous-"

"Don't you find that a bit odd?" Paul could not contain himself.

"Blaisdell-"

"I can't believe you're swallowing this!" Paul restrained his temper and words with an effort. Like Kermit found out, there was little to be gained by calling the medical staff idiots, even if they were idiots. "Kermit got that letter from his sister. He wants to go home even though he's not ready. So, he's purposefully putting on the face that he knows you all want to see to make you think he's ready. But he's not! He still has nightmares-"

"He'll probably have nightmares for a long time," interjected the head psychiatrist.

"He still feels the urge to kill when someone touches him," Paul countered. "What are you going to say when he accidentally bumps into an innocent person?"

"The doctors and nurses have touched him many times," the head nurse countered. "He has behaved and cooperated."

"That's only because he can see you coming. That he knows what you're there for," Paul explained. "If someone catches him by surprise, he could - and would - kill them in a heartbeat."

"I don't understand this, Blaisdell," Conley said. "You were the one advocating against lifetime admittance to a full-care facility. Now, when the boy seems like he's made a miraculous recovery, you want to keep him from it!"

"I know him," Paul said. "I can see what's going on. And worse, I can see what will happen if you release him!"

"Well, that's for the board to decide. You may go."

Paul suppressed the urge to hit the table hard with his fist and left. Preparing for the enormous task of helping Kermit's family cope with their brother who could kill them at any time.

*****

"I can just see him. Smiling and saying 'please' and 'thank you' to those nurses." Savannah shook her head at Kermit's devious side. "He can be quite charming when he wants to be."

"I'll bet. Probably had to use a good dose of it on you, lady." The image of the ex-mercenary courting a gentile Southern belle was fraught with humor.

"Oh, yes. The charm and the deviousness." Savannah make a discreet peek down the hallway herself and revealed a cherished memory. "We'd only known each other a week when my car broke down in the parking lot. Mr. Griffin shows up to offer me a ride home, telling me, without knowing where I lived, that the trip wouldn't be out of his way. Funny how he never asked for directions.

"After that little rescue and the way he mysteriously knew to ask me out on my birthday when no one knew when it was, I realized he had snooped into my personnel file in the citywide network." Savannah raised her eyes at Paul's sudden burst of laughter. "After that, it was all, to quote the man himself, 'moonlight and magnolias.'"

"First breech of the Kermit Griffin Rule on Women."

"And, pray tell, what would that rule be?"

"Take 'em or leave 'em." Paul had never seen Kermit pursue any woman. Either they were in or out. He didn't give a damn. The unfortunate three who were able to catch him for a while were sorely disappointed in their lack of ability to hold him.

"Trick was letting him think he was doing the chasin'!" she said, taking another drink. Returning to the subject at hand, she asked, "How did you keep him at the hospital when they wanted to release him?"

"I didn't. There was no way to 'un-release' him as long as he wasn't acting out his violence. Through his own actions, Kermit had endangered the very people he loved and wanted to be with."

*****

Paul Blaisdell stormed into Kermit's room, fury evident in his eyes. "All right, you little shit! You got what you wanted. I hope you're happy, you asshole! Just don't come whining to me when something happens that you can't control and nobody is there to pick up the pieces! I just hope that your brother and sister will survive it!"

Kermit stared at him as he continued his diatribe.

"I hope you at least know that you're being a selfish bastard, thinking only about yourself and what YOU want! You obviously haven't given any thought to how this will affect others or the danger you just placed your loved ones in! How are they going to react when their beloved brother wakes, screaming in the night? How are they going to react when you hit someone hard enough to break a person's jaw? How are they going to react when they see the pain you're carrying around? I hope you have answers to these questions, kid, 'cause you're going to have to answer them really soon."

Surprisingly, for once, Kermit didn't strike back at Paul's attack. He looked composed, at peace, even though Paul knew Kermit would never be at peace. In fact, it seemed that mentor and student had suddenly changed temperaments. "Well, isn't it lucky that you don't have to worry about it any more," Kermit said matter-of-factly. "I'm leaving; it's not your problem now-"

"The hell it isn't, kid! The hell it isn't! I'm going back with you." Paul was perversely pleased that THAT got a reaction from Kermit. "I'm not letting you out of my sight until *I* feel I can turn you loose on a discerning public so you'd BETTER get used to the sight of me! Because I don't see that happening any time soon!" Paul now had Kermit's full attention.

"What are you saying?!" Kermit demanded. "You telling me that you're going to be a rope around my neck for...for how long? God! Don't you have a life?!!"

"You're damn right I have a life!" Paul shouted back. "I have a wife, you know. A newborn daughter! But I have to ignore them now. I have to turn my back on them because I have to make sure you're okay!"

Kermit was shocked into silence. After a long minute, he finally asked, "You really think I'm not better?" Kermit sounded vulnerable. Almost like he was ten years younger.

Paul smiled. "You've improved about 2,000 percent, kid," he said, ruffling Kermit's hair. "But there's still a lot of demons in you. A lot of pain. None of it is your fault but you're still too young to know how to deal with it. You need someone around you who does."

"That's not fair. To you OR me."

"Well, don't worry about my part in it," Paul assured him. "I've made my choice and you're not going to bully or con me out of it. Well, c'mon. Let's take you home."

*****

After a harrowing plane ride, they were on their way to Helen and Henry Norman's home. The plane ride wasn't harrowing for Kermit, it was harrowing for Paul. The nervous mercenary watched for every jostle to Kermit, every potential problem that might occur in a crowded airport. He worried himself sick that something might happen in a public place that would get Kermit locked up forever. But Kermit did him proud. Held onto his control. There was only one incident where a huge, burly man shoved his way to the front, trampling Kermit and two little old ladies to the floor. Kermit just gave the man the stare of death and helped Blaisdell with the old ladies. Paul felt a surge of hope. Perhaps Kermit had come farther than Paul had thought...? Only time would tell.

As interested as Kermit was to keep his emotions private and under control, the young man couldn't help the slight smile of anticipation as they drove through the familiar city. The streets no doubt bringing back fond memories for him. Paul glanced over and smiled. *Cherish them while you can,* Paul thought. He knew that the meeting with the aunt and uncle would be a bloodbath and he wasn't looking forward to it.

It was amazing to him that Maggie and Helen could be sisters. He met the woman once. Stiff and humorless and about as friendly as an arctic blast of wind. Maggie had explained that the lack of structure in their childhood had turned her into that, but Paul had a hard time buying that. Maggie hadn't turned out that way. Stubborn yet pleasant, Maggie became a woman determined to make the world better for her children.

But Kermit wasn't thinking of his Aunt Helen. He was thinking about his childhood, no doubt happy with Maggie in charge, and about seeing Marilyn and David. The kid wasn't even preparing himself to see his siblings' pain at their mother's death. It was going to be a hard fall for him.

They drove up to the well-ordered two-story house. Just seeing the house made Paul sigh. The bushes were trimmed to perfection and the lawn was mowed. Not a speck of dust or muss anywhere. Paul wondered if the niece and nephew had been recruited, or rather drafted, into the cleaning crew. He looked over at Kermit, unable to conceive of what the results might be if he discovered that his siblings were just slave labor.

Kermit was oblivious to these telltale signs. He sat, looking at the house, more nervous than Paul had ever seen him. That ended when Marilyn, watching from the window, burst out of the door as if shot from a cannon and hurtled herself to the car. Kermit, upon seeing her, climbed out, wearing the biggest grin Paul had ever seen as he held out his arms for her.

A gangly, just-turned-16-year-old, Marilyn's adoration was obvious. She had semi-plain features but the love she wore around her made her beautiful. Just like her mother. "KERMIT!!!" she shrieked as she propelled herself into his arms.

Too late, Paul forgot the imminent disaster. He knew Kermit couldn't be touched, except with caution. He stepped forward in alarm, hoping that Kermit's emotions would override the programming.

Thankfully, it did. But just barely. Paul saw Kermit's body tense and his arms shudder slightly as they made contact. He relaxed with an effort and slowly encircled his arms around her gently. Somehow, he took control and the assassin gave way to Kermit Griffin. Paul sighed, vowing not to forget again as Marilyn babbled welcomes in his face.

Finally registering that Kermit was less than responsive, Marilyn drew back. "Kermit-?" she asked, putting a hand toward his face. He drew back, intercepting her hand with his. She noted the glasses, something he swore that he would never wear in his life, but wisely said nothing. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I forgot you were wounded - did I hurt you?"

"No," he said, just as softly. "No, you didn't. I'm...okay." Marilyn and Paul could hear the lie but she said nothing. "How are you?"

Marilyn studied him, obviously wondering how much to tell him. "Let's go inside," she suggested.

Then, the explosion. Happened out of the blue. No warning whatsoever. Everything was in slow motion and yet, happened within seconds.

It was David. Seeing his beloved big brother. He leapt at him, fists flailing in front of him swiftly in friendly, boyish fashion. Trying to greet Kermit. Paul lunged for Kermit at the same time. Grabbing his upraised fist, Paul spun Kermit around. Propelled him away from David. Put his own body in between them. Holding Kermit firmly. Marilyn stepping back in shock. David standing there, confused and bewildered. Kermit two seconds away from being a limp dishrag.

Time snapped back to normal. David ran away, back behind the house. Kermit, one arm extended, called out "David..." in a strangled voice, coming back into his control. Marilyn just stood there, looking at Paul, desperate for answers.

Paul let go of Kermit, who began to follow his distraught brother. Paul laid a restraining hand on his shoulder and he glanced back. His worry for David overshadowing everything. "It's all right," he said. "Let me go to him." Paul let go. Kermit, on his way to find David, glanced back to Marilyn. "I'm sorry," he told her, "Paul will explain."

*I will???* Paul thought as Kermit raced to the back of the house.

Marilyn turned to Paul. She was a little intimidated by him, he could tell, but wanted to know what was going on. "He's not okay, is he?" Her arms encircled her body, holding herself, bracing herself for what was to come.

Paul took a deep breath. "He's getting there."

"What happened to him? Why is he wearing glasses? Why did he try to hit David?"

*Thanks a lot, Kermit,* Paul thought. There really was no way to censor the truth. All of it was ugly. "There's a lot that I have to tell you about Kermit," he began. "And the first thing is that you can't touch him and you can't surprise him. Marilyn...his nerves are raw. Completely. He's been in the war for so long, he's forgotten how to live in the peace. He's going to respond like that for a while until he gets used to the peace. Just follow a few instructions and he'll be fine."

"Okay, don't surprise him and don't touch him. What else?"

Paul smiled. He knew Marilyn would be able to handle it. Wise beyond her years. "You can touch him if he sees you first. Anything he says, no matter how it sounds, accept it. He won't take off the glasses, so don't ask about that. If you hear something in the night, ignore it. He knows what to do. Don't EVER wake him up. If he starts to play music, let him play it and for as long as he wants. Watch his body. If he starts to tense, just grab David and stay out of his way. Can you remember all that?"

Marilyn bit her lip and nodded. "Will he be okay?"

Paul looked down. "I'm going to stick around to make sure for a little bit. I'll be right here if you need anything. Okay? Now, I'd better check on Kermit and David. Are you all right?"

"Tell me what I can do to help." Marilyn stood in front of him like a little soldier, waiting for orders.

"You can go inside, close your eyes and listen to the sounds of the house," Paul told her. "If you hear any ticking, like a loud clock, go and stop it. Pull the plug on it or take the weights out. Anything to get rid of it. We'll be in in a minute."

Marilyn nodded and walked into the house as Paul walked around to the backyard just in time to hear Kermit talking softly to David. Saying pretty much the same things that Paul had told Marilyn about living in the war versus living in the peace. Only Kermit was adding how much he loved him and Marilyn and how the only thing that kept him going was thinking of them. Kermit then delved into some favorite childhood rhymes, obviously those that meant something special to the two of them. Paul watched; David and Kermit, although ten years apart, was mirror images of each other. They had a connection, a bond between them.

Kermit finally succeeded in communicating his love and, soon, was teasing David, tussling his hair that turned into a mock-wrestling match that made Paul laugh. It was like the both of them were 12 years old, even though only one of them was that age.

"Okay, okay, you two," Paul said, stepping out into the open as the 'fight' was about to spill over onto the freshly-cut lawn. He knew Helen's reaction if they came in, covered in grass and dirt. The reception wasn't going to be good, anyway, and there was no use in making things worse. "You guys can do this later. We're expected. Come on."

*****

*David....* Savannah's thoughts filled with pictures of Kermit loving his brother. David had been killed before she met Kermit. When he spoke of him, it was with the pride of a parent. His sparkling baby brother the cop. The younger brother he dragged away from drugs and the street life. The younger brother he nearly trashed his life to avenge.

She understood the feelings and responsibility of being the oldest. Longing to stand between that younger sibling and trouble. More than once, Savannah had sacrificed time, money, and heart to help her younger brother, Billy.

"Thank God he didn't hurt David!" Savannah gasped at the thought. "Kermit would have never recovered if he had hurt his own flesh and blood. That was his all-consuming fear when Truong Qui had tried to reclaim him, Paul. The fear that he would hurt me. Hurt Kat. I truly believe that he would have killed himself first."

"You're probably right about that," Paul agreed. And she was. Kermit had precious little family left on the planet. What remained would never suffer by his own hand. Paul understood his need to be the protector. "You see, one of the driving forces within Kermit's personality is his desire to put himself in front of the people he loves."

Smiling softly, she displayed her view into the heart of the man watching Barney with his daughter in the next room. "I know. He's seen so much hurt. Felt so much pain that he feels better qualified to 'take it' than anyone else. He can carry it all as long as none of it spills over the rest of us."

"White knight syndrome. Damned annoying, sometimes, isn't it?" Paul reached for a way to lighten the mood.

"Green knight syndrome and, yes, it IS quite annoying at times."

"Helen Norman never saw him as a white knight." Paul pushed back his chair as the two of them moved to the living room. "If she had even suspected what happened before we went inside, she would have kept Kermit away from his family altogether."

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