Fan Fiction

Part I: Rebirth
Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5 :: Chapter 6 :: Chapter 7 :: Chapter 8

Part II: Reunion
Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5 :: Chapter 6 :: Chapter 7 :: Chapter 8

Crockett changed into a T-shirt, shorts and jogging shoes. He hadn't been for a run since the last time he was on Salt Cay - a lifetime ago. He needed to clear his mind and think, and what worked best for him these days was a long run. It used to be a session at the shooting range, but he now realised that blasting his gun at immobile targets only blocked the thought processes and increased the tension. He went downstairs and logged out at the front desk, assuring the receptionist that he would be back in time for the afternoon group session. She handed him a temporary leave pass, and he went outside into the sunshine and fresh air.

He had been out of the centre on passes a few times in the past week, but only when Gina and Trudy or Stan had come by to take him out for a break and a change of scenery. This would be the first time he left the grounds by himself since he had checked himself in, and it felt good to be going out on his own. He finished his stretches, headed across the lawn to the front gate and showed the attendant his pass. Once outside, he started to run. He was out of shape after everything that had happened. It would take a while to lose all the aches and pains and get back into form, but there was no time like the present to start. He'd just take it easy and go at whatever pace was comfortable. The point was to keep moving and keep the blood flowing.

Once he got into rhythm he started to ponder the decisions he needed to make. He had to figure out how and when to tell Rico what he suspected. Rico had lived through the nightmare of Angelina's and his son's deaths, and had learned to accept them. How would he tell his friend that he believed his son had somehow survived and was alive after all these years. How would he tell him that he believed the kid Rico had tied up and left on Fuente's island was the baby son he thought he had had seen killed in a car explosion sixteen years before. They both saw the car blow up -- how could the baby have survived. How would he tell Rico about Ricardo?

In the five years they had worked together, they had always been straight with each other, even when it hurt. This was no time to hold back. But it didn't seem right to tell him over the phone. He had to talk to him in person, face to face, to be there for him in case he needed help getting through it - to help him out with whatever he decided to do about it. First problem solved -- he'd go to New York to see Rico.

Second problem was when. He had promised Billy he'd come to see him in Ocala as soon as he was out of here, and he hated to break that promise. He had broken too many promises in the past. Billy was his son -- Rico was his friend, a friend who had just risked everything to pull him out of a bad situation. It had been sixteen years since the explosion -- would a few days more make any difference? On the other hand, if it were the other way around, how would he feel if Rico decided to wait a few days before talking to him about something this important? It was decided - he would go to New York tomorrow. Billy would understand - wouldn't he? He thought about all the times he had put off promised visits because just one more job had come up. The disappointment in the kid's voice could be felt through the phone lines. But Billy wasn't a kid anymore. He'd see him after he cleared this up, and then they'd go on a nice long sail together, just the two of them.

This getting back into the world was difficult. He had planned to leave here with an empty slate and get back into life in the real world slowly. Now it looked like life would pick up at the same place it was before the whole thing with Fuente had begun - with decisions to make and problems to solve. But at least now he felt better able to cope with things.

He jogged slowly back to the centre, returned the pass, headed up to his room and took a long hot shower. Then he got dressed and went down to the phone room to make the calls to Ocala and New York. After that he had some lunch and headed off to the group session. It was his last one. He hoped he'd never have a need to come back for any more.

Sonny didn't have much to pack the next morning, only the few things he had purchased to get him through his stay here. Everything he owned was back on the Vitus II on Salt Cay. It looked like he might not be getting back to her for a while, so he'd probably have to do some more shopping. He'd have had to do that anyway. In the last month or so he had lost the extra weight he had accumulated over the past few years.

There was a knock at the door. "Come in," he called out.

It was Doctor Price, the lady who, over the past few weeks, had helped him sort through the puzzle that was Sonny Crockett and finally come to grips with and actually like the man he turned out to be. "Well, Sonny," she said as she walked over to the bed where he just zipping up his bag, "you look like you're about ready to head out of here."

"Yeah, it's time to get on with life," he replied.

"Are you leaving for Ocala right away?"

"I was going to," he replied, turning his head to look out the window, "but I have to go to New York first. There's something I have to do there. I talked to Billy -- he understands."

"But do you?"

He paused for a few seconds before he answered. "Yeah, I do. Don't worry doc, I'm not running away -- it's something I have to do. I'd be running away if I didn't go."

"You don't have to convince me Sonny. You've come a long way in the past two weeks. You got past a lot of the barriers you couldn't face in the past. I just came by to say good-bye and wish you the best." She took out a card and handed it to him. "Here's my card. If you ever need to talk, give me a call, any time any place -- okay?"

"Thanks doc -- I may just take you up on that."

There was another knock at the door.

"Well it's time for me to blow this pop stand. Thanks toots," he said to the doc, and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Thanks for everything."

He went to the door and opened it.

"Your ride's here Mr. Crockett," the attendant said.

"My ride, I don't have a ride. I was just gonna call a cab."

"Well there's someone downstairs waiting for you."

He shrugged his shoulders as if to say "what's this about", picked up his bag and headed out. "Bye doc," he said. He turned around and gave her one last smile. "Thanks again." He back turned around and headed off down the hall and into the real world again.

He was curious as to who was waiting for him. It must be Marty or one of the old gang from vice. He hadn't asked any one to pick him up, but they knew he was leaving today. But when he walked into the reception area, it was a total surprise. He dropped his bag, and rushed over with his arms wide open. "What are you doing here?" he said as he wrapped his arms around his son. God it was good to see Billy again.

"Just thought you might like some company on your way to New York. I've never been there, so I thought I might tag along with the old man."

They discussed it at great length, on the way to the airport in Billy's car. It wasn't the quietest of discussions, and in the end Sonny gave in. He had been right yesterday. Billy wasn't a kid any more.

Rico glanced at the arrivals screen. The plane had just landed and the passengers would be coming through the gate shortly. He had been surprised when he got the phone call from Sonny the day before. They had kept in touch since Rico had returned to New York, and Sonny had told him he would be heading to Ocala when he checked out of the centre. Why was he coming to New York instead? Well, Crockett was always full of surprises. It would seem that not too much had changed after all these years.

He was even more surprised when he saw Sonny come through the gate chatting with the young man beside him. The guy had to be Billy -- even though he hadn't seen Sonny's boy since his wedding to Caitlin, there was no doubt about it. He looked just like his father. Sonny was always so proud of Billy. It had been hard on him when Caroline took him away to Atlanta. But at least he could visit. His son was dead. He hardly had a chance to even hold him before Calderone had him killed. The pain was still there after all these years.

For some reason Angelina and the boy had been on his mind a lot since he had returned from Miami, but he didn't know why. Maybe it was because Miami had brought back the memories he had tried to put behind him.

When Sonny saw Rico, he hurried over to see him and slapped him on the back. "Rico," he said, "it's good to see you man. This is my son Billy." He turned to the young man. "You remember Uncle Rico, don't you Billy?"

"Please, Sonny, Rico's just fine. We don't need the "uncle". It makes me feel old. Welcome to New York Billy." He shook Billy's hand, and then turned to Sonny and grabbed his shoulders. "It's good to see you Crockett. You're lookin' great." They hugged each other. It felt good to be together again.

"Come on. We'll get your bags and drop them off at my place. Then you can tell me what this is all about. You didn't come to New York just to sleep on my couch. Something must be up."

"Ohhh Rico, you never trust anyone's good intentions. Well maybe something is up. But first let's drop off the bags and find a place to get a drink. Hey, they do have bourbon in New York, don't they?"

They picked up the bags and headed out to Rico's car -- he still liked old caddies. "Say Rico, we don't mean to cramp your style. You can just drop Billy and me at a hotel," Sonny offered as they headed out of the airport parking lot.

"Don't worry man. I've got lots of room. There's a spare room and a sofa bed in the living room. And besides, I spent too much time cleaning last night to have you stay someplace else."

"Okay, you're on, pal," Sonny replied.

They drove to Rico's apartment. It was on the twelfth floor of a twenty-story high-rise in a section of the Bronx, not too far from the station.

"Nice pad Rico," Sonny said looking around. The apartment was furnished in art deco, a throwback to the days in Miami perhaps. Sonny noticed that there was a picture of Angelina and Rico on the bookcase. He remembered taking the picture in the Bahamas. He had given it to Rico after the funeral.

They dropped their bags in the spare room and returned to the front room. "Want to freshen up before we go out?" Rico asked.

"Naw, I'm fine," replied Sonny.

"I'm pretty tired," Billy said. "If you don't mind, I think I'll just stay here and rest up a bit. Why don't you two go out on your own. I'll see you when you get back." He knew his father had something heavy to talk to Rico about and he figured they needed some time alone. He didn't want to interfere, at least not yet.

"Sure thing Billy. Make yourself at home. If you want anything, just help yourself to whatever you can find."

"We'll be back in awhile," Sonny continued. He winked thanks at Billy, knowing full well why he had decided to stay behind. "Then maybe we can go someplace for dinner -- my treat."

"Hooh, that's a switch -- Crockett paying. Hey, did you ever pay Izzy that fifty you owed him?" Rico said with a laugh.

"Ah go on," Sonny groaned. "Let's get outta here before you give away all my secrets. Billy'll think I'm cheap or somethin'."

After they left, Billy sat on the couch and flipped on the TV. He had come to New York to keep an eye on his father -- to make sure he didn't get into something he couldn't get out of and give him a hand if he needed it. Since his father had quit his job with the police in Miami, he didn't talk much about his work. He always seemed to find some way to change the subject. But Billy knew he was into some pretty dangerous stuff. He didn't know the full story of why his father had been in the hospital and at the centre -- his mom wouldn't tell him everything when she got back from Miami - but he knew it was bad. He could tell from the look on her face that his father had came pretty close to buying it on this last trip out. His parents had been apart since he was six years old, but he knew she still cared for the man. He could sense it every time his dad came for a visit, even after she had married Bob - though she did an awfully good job of hiding it.

Billy figured his dad was getting too old for the business he was in. At some point he would probably call it quits, but until then he needed someone to look out for him and keep him out of trouble. When his father had called to cancel his visit because he was going to New York to talk to Rico Tubbs about something, he knew it had to be serious. Otherwise he wouldn't have broken his promise to come to Ocala. So Billy decided to tag along and keep an eye on things. He had just finished university and wasn't ready to start a full-time job yet. He had already resolved to travel around for a bit before settling down and New York was as good place as any to start. He'd keep his eyes open but he couldn't let his father know what he was up to or he'd be sent packing back to Ocala straight away.

Sonny and Rico walked down the street to a small quiet bar and found a booth in the far corner. Sonny ordered a Jack Daniels with a beer chaser, Tubbs a manhattan. "Okay, let's have it Sonny. Like I said before, you didn't come all the way to New York just to sleep on my couch. And why bring Billy along?"

"He showed up at the centre this morning when I was leaving and I couldn't shake him. He insisted on coming. I don't know why," he explained. "And you're right, I didn't come here just to sleep on your couch. I don't know how to tell you this Rico, so I'll just say it straight out." He leaned across the table and looked Rico straight in the eyes. "I think your son is alive, and I think I know where he is." There, it was said.

Rico looked at him with an intense stare. The friendly smile was gone from his face and he clenched his fists on the table. "My son is dead," he said. "Why bring up those memories? I buried him with Angelina. You saw it, just like I did. Ricardo is dead."

Sonny stared right back at him. "I think he's alive Rico. I think the kid who looked after me on the island is your son. It took me a while to figure it out. My mind was too scrambled at the time or I'd have seen it before. It only came to me yesterday, man. I'm sure Ricardo is your son."

The waitress returned with the drinks. Rico sat back on the seat and wrapped his hand around the glass. He responded with only one word. "Why?"

Sonny downed the bourbon, and took a slug of the beer. He leaned back and told Rico everything that Ricardo had told him about his life. After that, he leaned forward again and stared into Rico's eyes again. I lived with him for days, Rico. Every time I looked at him I knew there was something familiar about him, but my brain was too scrambled to put it together. You saw him Rico. His face has Angelina written all over it."

"You're outta line, Crockett. They're dead." He threw some bills on the table, and stood up. "It's time to leave."

Sonny followed him out of the door. They walked in silence, side by side, back to the apartment building. Rico's arms were swinging, Sonny's in his pockets.

"Maybe I am outta line," thought Crockett. "I have no proof, only a gut feeling. I shouldn't have put Rico through this until I was certain."

"Maybe he's right," thought Tubbs. "Sonny lived with the kid, and everything fits. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to get Angelina out of mind since I got back. Maybe that's why I felt so strange when I looked into the kid's eyes back there."

They turned and looked at each other at exactly the same time. "Hey, man." The words came from both of them in unison. They stopped momentarily and then continued on, walking past the building, just walking. Sonny waited to let Rico say his piece.

"Maybe you're right Sonny. You always seemed to have a sixth sense. What you say makes sense. But you have to give me some time to think about it."

"Maybe I'm wrong Rico. I haven't got any proof, just a gut feeling. I shouldn't have said anything until I was certain one way or the other. I've got some contacts. I'll do some more digging and let you know what I find out. I'm sorry for jumping into this without checking it out first."

"Why should you be sorry for being Sonny Crockett? You always jump into things when you're guts tell you to. That's why you were a good cop. I've got some contacts here too you know. What say we work on this together?"

"Sounds good to me. But can we start tomorrow -- I'm starved, and I'll bet Billy is too. Rico, my man, it's time to show the kid the Big Apple."

"Cool runnin' man'" Rico said in a phony Jamaican accent. "It's time to partay. "

Part I: Rebirth
Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5 :: Chapter 6 :: Chapter 7 :: Chapter 8

Part II: Reunion
Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5 :: Chapter 6 :: Chapter 7 :: Chapter 8