“Do I have to worry about anyone getting shot?” Sam asked with a straight face.

Director Jamieson stopped in his tracks and looked from Zack to Sam. He raised his eyebrows as if to say, Who is this kid? but smartly held his tongue.

“Not today, Sam. I’m pretty sure he’s harmless. By the way, why aren’t you at school?”

“Oh. Yeah. Touch of the flu. I’m on the back end of it. Mom just wanted me to take it easy today.”

“You think you’ll be good to go by this weekend? Steph wants to know if you can sit. She wants to go out and celebrate.”

“Celebrate what? Is it your anniversary?”

Zack laughed. “No. I think she wants to celebrate our survival.”

Sam nodded. “That’s definitely cause for celebration. And I should be one hundred percent by then. Can Ben come over while I’m there?”

“Absolutely. Just no hanky-panky,” Zack said. “I’ll text you the time when I know.”

“Sounds good. And I’m pretty sure no one says ‘hanky-panky’ anymore, Jack.”

“Well, I’m bringing it back,” Zack said, and then added, “and I’m just kidding.”

“I know,” Sam replied, and grinned. “It’s just still fun to watch you figure out whether or not I’m being serious. Okay. I’m heading back inside from the fresh air. I’ll leave you to your new friends. Talk to you soon,” Sam said, and disappeared inside.

Her sudden absence left a void, and Zack smiled inwardly. That girl could rule this country with her mettle.

Director Jamieson walked up the steps and stuck out his hand. “It’s an honor, Mr. Chambers. Believe me. Or should I say Jack Bauer?” He was obviously amused at the moniker Sam had bestowed upon him.

“Please, sir. Call me Zack, and, well, that’s just Sam being Sam. I learned a long time ago that people who get into gunfights together can pretty much call each other what they want,” Zack said, and shook his hand. Nice, confident grip.

“I hear that, and you had better call me ‘Matt,’ especially in your home,” Director Jamieson said.

“Fair enough. Come on inside and get out of the chill.”

Once inside the foyer, Matt said, “That girl, she’s fearless. I can see it.”

Perceptive on top of everything else. Maybe there’s a reason he’s in charge after all. “She is, more than any of us, including me, can probably fathom. She’s going to be truly formidable one day.”

“She should come work for us,” Matt said.

Zack laughed. “No offense, but she was distrustful of the government before the siege. Now, I’m surprised she was that polite to you.”

“Well, judging by the FBI report that I read, you do have some rather resourceful neighbors.”