Finding the doctor and quickly arranging for Sherry's release, Michael returned to find her near tears.

"I'm right here. Don't cry. Can you tell me why you're so scared?"

Sherry shook her head. "Not really. I keep having these flashes. When I was unconscious, I think they played through my mind like a movie. First, I'm locked in a tunnel, which is filling with water. I can't find my way out. Then the scene changes and I'm locked in a room with a bomb strapped to me and only a few seconds on the timer. Another scene has you and me together in a restaurant or somewhere and we are being shot at. Someone shoots me and they take you prisoner." She stops talking and shakes her head. "Am I losing my mind?"

Michael stroked her face. "No. I'm sure it's just the drug. Once we have the antidote, you will be yourself again. The doctor said I could take you home. But we need to stop by and see Northstar first."

Sherry nodded. "Yeah, we should. And Kathy too."

Michael paused. "Maybe we should leave Kathy for later. I don't want to tire you out too much." Michael was hoping she would go along with his suggestion. He didn't want a confrontation between the two of them if he could avoid it. Right now they had enough to deal with.

Sherry shook her head. "I'll be fine. We'll just stop in quickly to make sure she's okay. I need to see for myself." Michael nodded, resigning himself to the upcoming confrontation.

Sherry dressed quickly and then they went to see Northstar. "Hey North. How are you?" she smiled as she walked over and hugged her.

"Sherry. It's good to see you up and around. I'm fine. So, how did you manage to get out so fast? Or did my brother here, pull some strings?"

Sherry looked confused. "Your brother?" North sighed. "Yes, my brother. Are you sure you're okay, Sherry? You know Michael is my brother. As soon as you two get married, we're gonna be sisters." Sherry smiled wanly. She didn't have a clue what North was talking about. "I can't wait," she said.

Michael walked over and kissed North's cheek. "So how are you really feeling," he asked, playing his part of brother to the hilt.

North shook her head. "I'm fine, Michael. Stop worrying about me. I just wanted to know how Sherry was doing. But it seems you've got things well in hand in that department."

Michael took Sherry's hand and pulled her close. "Yes, I do. Is there anything I can do for you?"

North looked back and forth from Michael to Sherry and back again before she answered. "This is just between the three of us, okay?"

Michael and Sherry both nodded. "Michael, I want you to do whatever you have to do to keep Paul away from me."

Sherry gasped. "Keep him away from you? Why? I thought you were crazy about him." North was looking very skeptically at Sherry.

"Michael, are you sure she should be out of bed?" Michael sighed. This was getting complicated. All these different ideas of what was real would soon become overwhelming.

"North, he's Operations," Michael began.

She sighed. "I know who he is, Michael. But I don't want him near me. I haven't told you, but he's been stalking me. He even locked me in a tower for a while, but he eventually let me go. He tracks me down wherever I go. He threatens everyone around CLHQ until they tell him where I am. Will you please take care of it?"

Sherry couldn't believe what she was hearing. "My father would never do any such thing! How can you say that about him?"

North was stunned. "What are you talking about, girl? What does your father have to do with anything?" She looked at Michael with a look that said, 'You better get her back into her bed and fast.'

"You just accused my father of stalking you and locking you up in some tower! Why would you say such a thing about him? I can't believe it. You just got done saying you can't wait for us to be family and now you're making up lies about my father."

Michael knew he had to get Sherry out of here soon. "Sherry, I'm sure she didn't mean it. It's probably just the drug talking." Sherry nodded, placated for the time being, but North was furious.

"Michael! It's not the drug talking. I meant every word I said. What kind of brother are you, anyway?"

Michael turned to North and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I only told her that to keep her calm. She needs to remain calm. If she gets hysterical, she could have serious medical problems. I will take care of it. I promise."

Looking into his eyes to gauge his honesty, North nodded. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Sherry. I don't know what came over me. I guess he's right. It must be the drug."

Sherry smiled at her friend. "I'm glad. I couldn't stand it if you and my father didn't get along. He really likes you, you know. By the way, I've invited him for dinner at our place tomorrow night. I want you to come too."

North wanted to scream. She didn't want to be anywhere near that man, but she knew Michael wanted her to keep Sherry calm. "Well, if I'm out of here, I'd love to come," she answered, hoping against hope that she was still in this bed tomorrow evening.

"Good," Sherry smiled. "We'll see you then." She grabbed Michael's hand and they headed off to see Kathy. As they were approaching Kathy's cubicle, they heard her yelling.

"I wonder what's wrong with Kathy," Sherry remarked. As they got closer they could hear her voice clearly. "You thought you could take off with Sherry, buy her an engagement ring and I'd still want to see you? What kind of a jerk are you anyway? She took a bullet for you! Don't stand there and try to tell me you two aren't in love with each other. Michael may be a fool, but I'm not!"

Sherry was stunned and hurried into the room. "Kathy! Stop it! What's wrong with you?"

Kathy couldn't believe the audacity of Sherry to show up in her room. "How dare you come by here? Oh, I get it! You just couldn't stay away from him for another second, could you! Well, he's all yours. I hope you two will make each other miserable for a long time to come!"

"Kathy, enough!" Michael commanded. Kathy sneered at him. "Go ahead, Michael. Tell me how it was only a 'mission.' That they really aren't in love with each other. That she's still going to marry you ... Go on ... Tell me again. Maybe the more you say it the more you convince yourself, but you're not going to convince me. You don't have to hit me upside the head with a two by four. I know the truth when I see it."

Sherry couldn't believe her friend was acting this way. She looked at Davenport who was trying to maintain a calm exterior, but she knew he was upset and angry. She had come to know him pretty well working with him over the years. This wasn't sitting well with him. But she also knew he wouldn't defend himself against Kathy when she was delusional, most likely from the poison.

"Kathy, I think you need some rest. You know..."

"Shut up, Sherry!" Kathy yelled. "Don't you dare come in here pretending to be my friend and being concerned about me. I know what you are. I'm just sorry that Michael won't see it before you ruin his life."

Michael quickly ushered Sherry and Davenport out of the room. Sherry turned to Davenport and put a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Chase," she said. "I'm sure it's the drug talking. She was fine with our explanation when we came back from that mission. You've been out with her since then, haven't you?"

Davenport nodded. "Yeah, she was fine. I'm just sorry she took it out on you too."

Sherry smiled. "Well, she couldn't very well take it out on you and not me. She thinks we're a couple."

Michael decided it was time to get Sherry back to her room. He needed to keep these three apart as much as possible until they had the antidote. Things were way too volatile and complicated. "Sherry, I need to get you home. Davenport, I want you ready to go the minute we have a location."

"Sure Michael," he answered and headed off to Comm.