Michael woke with a start. He was alone. Well, not completely alone. Hawkeye lay beside him, using Michael’s butt as a pillow. He reached back to scratch behind the dog’s ears, sliding to sit up, feeling momentary panic when Joshua’s bed was empty again.

But then he smelled food. It took him a few seconds to realize that he wasn’t in Dr. Dani’s house.

Safe house. They’d moved them to some fancy condo at the top of a building and Michael had no idea where they were. He’d been forced to give up his phone, too. Deacon had explained that it could be used to track them and promised to get him a burner the next day.

We’ll see. So far everyone in Coach and Dr. Dani’s group had been pretty straight with them. Michael hoped they continued to be. For Joshua’s sake.

I can take care of myself.

Hawkeye at his heels, he made his way to the kitchen, where a man in a black suit stood at the stove, flipping grilled cheese sandwiches in a pan. Joshua was already sitting at the table, a sandwich on his plate, cut into squares the way he liked it.

“Good morning,” Joshua signed. “It’s really afternoon. We slept a long time.”

Michael nodded, his head still foggy. He pointed to the man at the stove. “Who’s that?” he signed.

Joshua frowned in concentration as he tried to spell the man’s name. “Troy.” He nodded once, pleased with himself, and that made Michael smile. “He’s an FBI man, like Mr. Deacon and Mr. Decker. He makes a good cheese sandwich.”

Troy turned then, the pan in one hand. He pointed to Michael, then to the pan, with a raised brow.

Michael nodded. “Please,” he voiced, and sat down.

Troy brought him the sandwich on a plate. He’d cut it into squares, just like Joshua’s. It had been a long time since anyone had cut his sandwich into squares.

“Thank you,” he signed, and Joshua voiced it.

Troy smiled and signed, “You’re welcome.”

“I taught him that,” Joshua said, grinning so that cheese squished in his teeth.

“Close your mouth,” Michael signed gently, then booped Joshua’s nose. “Silly.”

Troy got a pad and pen and wrote: Sorry I can’t sign well. Coach and Dr. Dani are still asleep.

Michael nodded and took the pen. How are Stone and Decker?

Troy smiled and wrote Doing well next to Decker’s name and Awake and cranky as usual next to Stone’s.

Good. Some of the load lifted from Michael’s shoulders.

Troy wrote something else on the notepad and passed it to Michael. Not your fault.

Shaking his head in denial, Michael was still grateful that the agent would try to make him feel better. Thank you.

Joshua looked over Michael’s shoulder. “Coach!”