Meghan Ross: Con Artist in Training

High Noon (Part 2)

She felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Assuming it was Mike or Rachel, she didn't turn to look. What did cause her neck to snap and look was the voice the hand belonged to.

He crouched down to her current level. A sad smile on his face. He was thrilled to see his siblings again.

"This... is not how I wanted our reunion to go, Silver Tongue."

The look of shock on her face would have been entertaining any other time.

"Danny?"

He pulled her up from a leaning to a sitting position, wrapping his arms around her so she couldn't hit him like she wanted to. It also helped him determine the strength behind the hug. If he'd left that up to her, Meghan would have squeezed the life out of him.

"I got your message."

"What about-"

"If you think the threat of arrest is going to keep me from my family, then you don't know me very well."

Meghan scoffed. "How can I when I didn't know you until five years ago?"

"I'm trying to lighten the mood here, Little Missy," Neal said, ruffling her hair.

"And I wish it was working..."

"She loved you, you know," they heard Mike's voice in the hall. "Pretty sure she never got over our breakup."

"Rachel?" Neal asked. Meghan shook her head.

"Well, that's because she knew you would never do better."

The voices rounded the corner to see Meghan already in the room. Mike didn't recognize the person holding her.

"Get your hands off my..." Neal turned around. "Danny? You're back?"

"For now... I don't have a lot of time before the FBI and TSA realize I'm not dead. Maybe a day or two."

"I can't believe I forgot to call you," Mike said, angry with himself again.

"It happens, Mike."

"But... if I didn't call you... How did you know?"

Neal looked down at the form still in his arms. A tidal wave of guilt was building in Mike's eyes. Meghan, the kid he was legally responsible for, the kid who had relied on him for everything, was acting like more of an adult than he was.

Two weeks before, he was more concerned with work and the school's disciplinary action toward Meghan than he was in her physical condition. After Harvey had sent him home and he had some time to himself, he was finally seeing things he should have noticed from day one.

Gently, he took Meghan's bandaged arm. He removed a corner of it to see the damage. He could see it healing based on the scar tissue around the scabbing.

"I should have seen this when it happened," he said to himself. "Does it itch?"

"Like a bi-any rash," she corrected mid-word.

"When was the last time it was changed?"

"This morning. Supposed to be every four hours with a thirty-minute breather." She wasn't sure what to think. Lately, Mike hadn't seemed to notice her much unless she caused trouble.

Mike covered it back up, gently pressing on the tape. "Could you take her to the desk to have that changed, then take her home, Danny? I have two weeks off now that everyone at works knows about Grammy. We can spend some time together before you head out."

"I'll take her to get that changed. Can you handle this, or should we stay and help?" Neal asked.

"I'd rather she go home and take some medicine she hasn't had in two days."