“ So Father, why did you have me meet you here?”, Fox said, as he sat down across from Julian in a booth in the diner Julian and Eve went to after the accident.

“ Let’s order something so we’ll be left alone.”

When the waitress came, they ordered food, and Julian gave her money to stay away.

Fox took a sip of his lemonade. “ So, what’s up, Father?”

“ I wanted a place where we wouldn’t be recognized as Cranes.”

”Yeah, well this place could do it.”

” I need your help, Fox.”

” You need MY help?”

” Yes.”

” With what?”

” I’m going to get Sheridan out of the Sanitarium.”

” How? Her husband and father agree to her being in there. You don’t exactly have more pull than Grandfather, Father.”

” I’m not going through legal channels.”

Fox thought about that and replied, “ Oh.”

” Yes.  But, I need help, from a group of people loyal to me.”

Fox nearly choked on his lemonade. “ Me? LOYAL to you?”

” Maybe I stretched it. But, I know that you don’t hold any real affection for Alistair.”

” But, he’s still the man who controls the pursestrings.”

” But, he can’t live forever, Fox. Which leaves me.”

” Ok, let’s just say that I actually BELIEVE you’d go up against Grandfather, why are you doing this? Sheridan and you aren’t close.”

” True. My relationship with Sheridan isn’t what it should be, but I want to do better. And, helping her escape this wrong is a beginning.”

” Father, what you’re going to do is illegal. And, Grandfather is mean enough to throw you in jail because of it.”

” I’m willing to take that risk.”

Fox shook his head. “ Who the hell ARE YOU? Cause, you’re not my father. “

” I told you. I’m trying..”

” To change..yeah, you keep on saying it.”

” And, I mean it. I’ve wronged Sheridan, and I’m trying to right it.”

” To the tune of openly defying Grandfather and risking jail.”

” Yes.”

” Well, I’m not close to Sheridan. Shouldn’t you been talking to Golden Boy Ethan? He’s the one who was as thick as thieves with Sheridan.”

” Even if Ethan was in town, I couldn’t ask him.”

” What do you mean, ‘ if Ethan was in town’?”

” Ethan left for Tokyo this morning. He asked for a transfer to the Tokyo Office.”

“ Ethan’s gone from Harmony? What about Gwen? His marriage? Theresa?”

” Gwen’s made it clear that she’ll never forgive him, and Ethan told me that he told Theresa it was over.”

” I thought he was kidding. He always forgives Theresa.”

” Not this time. He needed a change of scenery. He’s left town for good.”

” Does Mother know?”

” She and Sam were taking Ethan to the airport.”

” Wow. I’m in shock.”

” Yes, well Ethan would have wanted to help me with Sheridan, but he didn’t have your skills.”

” My skills?”

” Your, ahem, abilities with a computer.”

” Ah…my hacking abilities.”

” Yes.”

” I remember the last time the lawyers got me out of that misunderstanding with the Defense Department, you were quite irate. You came to that hearing personally. I remember what you told me…don’t you remember?”

” Of course I do. But, I need your skills. It’s for a good cause.”

” A good cause. You know I’m on probation. Even Crane money couldn’t get me off scott-free.”

“ Then you’ll have to be extra careful.”

Fox looked at his father. “ What’s in this for me?”

“ A gradual re-instatement of your allowance.”

Fox nodded. “ Not enough.”

” What? You want it doubled?”

” I want a promise from you that you’ll not do ANYTHING to get in my way with Whitney. Nothing. Not a bad word to anyone. Nothing active on your part. In fact, you’ll be a supporter.”

” Fox, you know how I feel about you and Whitney.”

” Yes, you believe because you made all those mistakes with Dr. Eve, that I’m going to do the same with her daughter. I’m not you, Father. I’m smarter.”

” You’re a Crane.”

“ Be that as it may, I also am my own man, and I know what I want. I want Whitney.”

” Do you understand the obstacles you’ll face? Do you REALLY get it?”

” You have always sold me short.”

” Maybe. But, if I agree, you’ll help me with Sheridan?”

“ Yes. Re-instate my allowance, and no interference with me and Whitney, and you’ve got yourself a hacker. “

Julian lifted his lemonade. “ Then, let’s toast our agreement. We have to trust one another, Fox. For the first time, we need to trust one another. If we break this bond, we’ll all go down, Fox.”

“ Ok Father, we have to trust one another.” Fox shook his head. “ Miracles do happen.”