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 and Tubbs arrived at the DEA office bright and early the next morning. While Sonny filled out the paperwork, Rico met with Costas and went over what they had on file to date. There was one picture of Ricardo. It was a still off the second tape that Fuente had sent, a picture of Ricardo injecting the heroin into a debilitated Sonny, a painful reminder of what his partner had been put through. Rico examined the face closely -- Sonny was right. He did look like Angelina, all except for the eyes. Since New York, Rico had tried to avoid thinking about what Sonny had told him. On one hand he hoped that he was right -- that Ricardo was his son, the lovechild of his union with Angelina. On the other, it would almost be easier if it wasn't true. But looking at the picture, he had a hard time believing that that was the case.

"Hello ladies," Crockett chimed when he showed up a short while later. As he looked down at the files on the desk, he saw the picture on the top of the pile. He closed his eyes and looked the other way -- the memories were still too painful. Rico took the picture and slipped it into his pocket.

Sonny took a deep breath and turned around again. "So what have we got?" he asked.

Rico volunteered the information. "Costas' info says that Maria probably lives just outside Cartagena in Colombia. That seems like the place to start. If it turns out that Ricardo is in fact Calderone's nephew, the old lady might know where he is. If he's not, we'll know the Calderone connection is a dead end and that we have to start over. So what say we take a trip to Colombia my friend, and see what we can find out?

"Sounds like a plan to me Rico. What do they have on Fuente?"

Costas answered that one. "The island you were on is a cay off Long Island in the Bahamian out islands." Costas had been part of the task force, and he knew what had happened on the island. He looked at Crockett to see his reaction. The poker face did not change. "We're pretty sure he has at least one other and possibly two residences elsewhere in he Bahamas, closer to major centres to make it easier to run his business. Whether the kid is Calderone's or not, if he's still with Fuente, he could be at any one of them or on his boat someplace."

"Have you got a map showing the locations?" Crockett asked. Costas passed one over. Crocket noticed where the island was. "Well that's not too far from home," he said. Salt Cay was about 100 miles south of the island. The exterior calm hid the emotional turmoil that was lying just beneath the surface. Since he had been rescued, he had never asked where the island was located -- he had no desire to ever go back. But now he knew there was a strong likelihood that he'd be visiting there in the not too distant future. And he wasn't really looking forward to it.

"We better let Castillo know what's happening, and then get ready to head out. Thanks Costas. We'll keep in touch. Can we take some of this stuff?" Rico asked.

"Take the whole thing. They're duplicate files - I had them made for you. Oh, and by the way Crockett, you're gonna need some wheels while you're in Miami." He tossed a set of keys on the desk. "It's the only IGG vehicle we have in right now, but it's yours for the duration." It sounded like an apology almost. "It's the one parked in loading zone out back. Just try to return it in one piece please."

Sonny winked. "You got it mang."

As Rico gathered the files together, Sonny edged his way over to Costas and spoke to him in a quiet voice. "There's just one more thing Phil. I left Salt Cay on kinda short notice and didn't really get a chance to pack. All my tools of the trade are back on the Vitus II. I'm gonna need some protection -- you got anything I could use until I can get to my own?"

"Crockett, Crockett, Crockett. What do you think this is, a five and dime?" Costas said smiling and shaking his head. He picked up the phone, dialled a number and spoke to a voice on the other end. After he hung up he looked up at Sonny. "Do you know how much paperwork you just made for me Crockett? The government just loves paperwork. Property room is on the second floor. Go see Daniels -- he'll get you what you need."

Rico and Sonny stopped in on the second floor. Daniels showed him a wide variety of weapons, but he finally settled on a S & W semi-auto double action magnum with shoulder holster as his principle weapon, and for backup, a Colt 45 Defender with leg holster. He also selected an arsenal of ammo for both - he wasn't about to go after Fuente unprepared.

Sonny felt a lot more comfortable now that he carried some weapons support again, but he wasn't really looking forward to seeing what type of transportation the DEA was providing him. From the sound of Costas' voice, Crockett was expecting to see a an old beater well past its prime. But when they got to the loading dock, his jaw dropped. The car was not at all what he expected. His face lit up at the sight of the Ferrari Barchetta 550, 12 cyclinders and 334 cubic inches of pure power, 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds -- thank you Phillip Costas! The last time he had been in a Ferrari was driving Tubbs to the airport 13 years ago in the Testarossa he "borrowed" from the city. Maybe Miami wouldn't be so bad after all.

They flew to Cartagena the next day and rented a car to take them to the Calderone residence. As they approached the house, it was Tubbs' turn to be anxious. This was it. This was when he would find out if his son was alive. He didn't know what he wanted that answer to be. Sonny looked over at him. "You okay with this partner?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess." Maybe that was so, but his insides were churning.

The house was large and comfortable, but no so big that it was ostentatious. It had the air of an old plantation house. They went to the door and knocked. A young woman in a maid's uniform answered the door

"Senora Maria porfavor," Rico asked politely.

The girl invited them in and then disappeared. A short while later she reappeared and directed them to the stone patio behind the house where there was an elderly lady sitting on a lounge overlooking the grounds and the sea. She dismissed the maid with a few words in Spanish and then spoke to her visitors in English.

"Please, come here and sit down." She pointed to a pair of comfortable looking patio chairs near her. "You must excuse me for not getting up, but I am getting old and have difficulty getting out of this chair. Come, join me."

"Thank you." They said and sat down

Before they could say anything more she continued. "You have not changed much in all these years Ricardo Tubbs," she said looking directly at Rico. "You are still very much like your picture. Come closer. Let me see the father of my Ricardo."

When the answer came, Rico found that he wasn't really prepared for it. The emotions that flooded through him tore at his very being and cross-circuited his thought processes. The joy that should have filled his heart was fighting with the anger that whirled inside him, anger that for sixteen years he had been denied his son -- Angelina's son.

"Why?" he asked in a choking voice. What should he say to this woman who meant so much to Ricardo that he would stay with Fuente to protect her? The hurt and anger started to surface. "Why didn't you let me know? You knew who I was. He is my son, my flesh and blood. I had a right to know."

She faced him eye to eye. Ricardo's father deserved to know the answer. "Angelina came to see me before she died. She knew that Orlando was going to kill her and her son, and she begged me to get him to spare her child. She gave me your picture and asked me to get the boy to you if anything happened to her. When Orlando came, I pleaded with him not to do this thing." She paused for a moment before continuing, remembering that day so many years before.

"I could not save Angelina, but he agreed to spare the boy so long as he never found out who his father was. He hated you and Angelina. I knew he would kill Ricardo if he even thought that I had contacted you. So I kept him with me and never told him or you about each other. It was the only way I could protect him." A faraway look descended over her countenance and her voice softened as she gazed out over the vast expanse of ocean. "Maybe I was wrong, but I believed then that I was doing the right thing."

She turned to face Rico again. The pain of regret was etched in the lines on her face. Rico pulled his chair over to the chaise and looked into her eyes, and he felt her pain. She reached out and touched his face. "You have a kind face Mr. Tubbs. You have both gentleness and fire in your eyes - Ricardo has that same look." She folded her hands into her lap. Her emotions released, she returned to the self-controlled, composed matron she had been when they first arrived.

"You are here to find out about Ricardo are you not?" It was a statement more than a question. "After Anglelina died, Orlando brought the boy to me to raise. He had no son of his own and wanted a Calderone to continue the family name, even if he was Angelina's son. But, tell me how did you find out about Ricardo?"

He introduced Sonny to her and told her about how he had met Ricardo on Mario Fuente's island. The old lady turned to Crockett. "Ah, so you are Sonny Crockett. I should have guessed. When Ricardo visited me a few weeks ago, he told me about you and what happened on that island. He was very worried about you. He will be happy to know that you are well. Ricardo liked you very much. He said that you are a good man, Mr. Crockett, and I believe him. Ricardo is a very good judge of character, even as young as he is."

"It is strange, is it not, how our lives seem to go in circles sometimes. I know that it was you who killed Orlando's father, Mr. Crockett. Orlando told the story many times, and every time he told it, he vowed he would get his revenge on the two American policemen who were responsible for his father's death. When Ricardo told me about you, I remembered your name and wondered if you would realise who he was. I prayed that God would help you see the truth and come to help him. I see that God has answered my prayers."

The maid returned with cold drinks. Sonny sensed that Rico wanted to talk to the woman alone. He picked up one of the drinks and asked if he could take a look around the grounds. "Certainly Mr. Crockett," Maria replied. "Rosita can show you around if you like. She speaks very good English when she wants to." After Sonny and Rosita left, Maria and Rico talked for a long time. As if in apology for what she had done, she told him the story of her life with the Calderone family.

"If I could have left the Calderones, I would have left a long time ago," she began. She told Rico about how she had been a poor girl who was sold into the household of Orlando Calderone Sr. by her parents. She had been the nanny to his son and tried to raise him to be a good person. But despite her efforts, she could not protect the boy from his father. He had turned Orlando into an evil monster just like himself. Mario Fuetes had been a good friend of Calderone Sr. and godfather to his son, Orlando, Ricardo's uncle. After Orlando's death, Fuente took Ricardo under his wing. He had left the boy in her care most of the time, but always kept an eye on him, and recently he had come to take the boy with him - to teach him the family business he said. Maria had known what that meant and she hated it. She had prayed that Ricardo would be rescued from his heritage.

Rico's anger had evaporated. He felt compassion and even love for this wizened matriarch who had saved his son's life and raised him with loving guidance. He told her that he and Sonny were going to get Ricardo away from Fuente, but that the boy wouldn't come with them as long as he felt she was in danger. He asked her to come to Miami where they could protect her from Fuente. Then they could get Ricardo away and protect him too.

She would do anything in her power to prevent Mario Fuente from turning Ricardo into a monster like his uncle and grandfather. It was what she had prayed for. Yes, she told him, she would go to Miami. And then she told him where to find Ricardo. He was with Fuente on his island in the Bahamas where Sonny had first met him.

After Sonny returned from his stroll, Rico called Castillo to make the arrangements to get Maria and Rosita to Miami and into safe keeping. Sonny booked himself and Rico onto a flight to Salt Cay. Salt Cay was not too far from Fuente's island, and Sonny could get everything they needed there to get Ricardo off the island and to safety - to finally unite Rico with his son.

The noon sun was blazing down when Sonny and Rico stepped out of plane at Salt Cay. They picked up their bags and, as they walked across the tarmac, Sonny eyed Artie standing in the shade of the airport building. Salt Cay was a small island -- everyone knew everyone else, especially Artie who had the only taxi service on the island.

"If I'd have know it was you comin' in Sonny, I'd have brought the Maserati instead of the limo," he laughed. "Long time, no see." They picked up their bags and headed towards Artie's "limo", a 20 year-old Crown Victoria that had not aged very well in the island's salty air. They loaded their bags into the spacious trunk and Artie tied it down with a bungee -- the catch had broken years ago. The ride to the marina was bumpy. The road had heaved in places under the intense heat of the sun and Artie needed new shocks.

"Maserati?" Rico asked as they bumped down the road.

"Artie's golf cart. It was made in Italy probably at the time of the Romans," Sonny replied laughingly. "It ain't New York, Rico, but it's home."

It was strange being back here again. For some reason, it didn't feel like the same safe harbour he had called home for the past several years. They finally arrived at the marina and strolled into the comfortable, well-used, rustic clubhouse. Looking up from drying some glasses, a short, plump lady called out in a friendly voice from behind the bar, "Sonny Crockett, where have you been? You were here one minute and then just disappeared into thin air. It's like you were kidnapped or something."

"Yeah, something like that Maggie." He waved Tubbs over to the bar with him and sat down on a stool. "Two of your best margaritas Maggie, for me and my friend Rico. Rico this is Maggie. She makes the best margaritas this side of Nassau."

She fixed the drinks and laid them out on the bar. "So where have you been this time? Any place exciting?" she asked.

"Not really - I had to go to the Bahamas and Miami for a while, that's all." He took a sip from the glass. "Say Maggie, there haven't been any strangers hanging round the Vitus II while I was gone have there?"

"Just those two guys who were looking for you just before you disappeared outta here. They looked like bad dudes Sonny. You weren't hanging around with them were you? -- bad company those two"

He changed the subject. "Is Felipé around anywhere? I need to borrow his boat for a few days." Felipé's boat was the fastest one on the island, a cigarette with twin 550 mercs. Felipé never seemed to work, but he always had a fast boat -- no one ever asked him where he got the money. It was just part of life on Salt Cay."

"What do you want with a cigarette boat Crockett? - and Felipé's at that. That boat's far too fast for just cruising around the islands. You should slow down a bit and take your friend here for a nice sail on the Vitus II. You both look like you could use some R & R."

"I just spent a month in R & R, Maggie. I don't need any more. And besides, you know if I wanted to take someone for a cruise on my sailboat, it'd be you darlin'."

"Ah, get off it Sonny -- you're just a tease."

He took another sip of the margarita. "So where can I find Felipé?"

"Felipé's down at the dock," she said as she continued wiping the glasses.

Sonny and Rico finished their drinks and headed down to the dock and the Vitus II.

"Um um - nice boat Sonny," said Rico. "No wonder Fuente thought you had his money." He was just about to step aboard, when he stopped and turned around. "Say, you haven't got any crocodiles on board this thing have you?"

"Alligators Tubbs, alligators. And no, there are no alligators on board."

They went on board and stored their gear below. Sonny did a brief check to make sure everything was still in the right place and then pulled two beers out of the fridge. They sat on deck and firmed up their plans for getting Ricardo away from Fuente. Once they contacted her with the final details, Maria would call Ricardo -- the miracle of satellites and cell phones. Fuente wouldn't be suspicious if a call came from her. She would tell him to go to the cove on the north side of the island at 11 o'clock the next night. Crockett and Tubbs would take Felipé's boat to the island and anchor it far enough away not to raise suspicion. Then they would row the dinghy to shore, pick up Ricardo and head back to the cigarette and Salt Cay. From there they would charter a plane to fly them back to Miami. Everything seemed simple enough, but Sonny wasn't about to take any chances. The main reason he had come back to Salt Cay was to make sure he had all the armament they might need just in case they ran into problems.

Just about anything could be had for the right amount of money on Salt Cay. They downed the beers and headed over to see Felipé. For the right amount of money he was happy to lend Sonny his boat -- no questions asked. Sonny called a pilot friend at the airport. For the right amount of money he would have his plane on standby for the flight back to Miami when they arrived back at Salt Cay. Finally they called the safe house in Miami. Maria would make sure Ricardo would be at the north cove at 11 o'clock the next night. There was nothing left to do now but wait until the next evening.

Ricardo had free run of the island. Fuente had taken Ramon with him to handle some business, but had left Ricardo on the island with Carlos. The kid had been upset about the Crockett thing -- he was too soft. Fuente figured he would have to break him into the business a little more slowly. Once the kid understood the good life that could be his in the business, he'd come around. In the meantime he'd give the kid some time to cool down. With no boat on the island, Fuente wasn't too worried the kid would leave, but he told Carlos to keep an eye on him just to be sure. So when Ricardo announced he was going for a walk around the island late at night, Carlos decided it might be a good idea to tail him from a distance.

He wasn't really expecting anything, so he was surprised when he saw a Zodiac being rowed silently away from the shore with the kid and two other people inside. He pulled his gun and ran down to the shore firing at the rubber boat. With the first gunshots, the outboard on the Zodiac fired up and sped off into the night. Carlos couldn't see much in the dark, but he was pretty certain that one of the people on the boat had been Sonny Crockett. He ran back to the house and called Fuente.

Crockett and Tubbs were taking no chances that they might be followed. When they got back to the cigarette boat, they threw the Zodiac on board and Sonny hit the twin mercs full out. He didn't pull back on the controls until they were 30 miles away and he was sure no one was behind them. Then he throttled back and spoke to Ricardo.

"You okay kid?" He shook his head yes. "I promised myself when I left that I'd come back here and get you away from Fuente. Did Maria tell you we're taking you to a safe house in Miami? Don't worry, she's safe. Fuente can't touch her."

The boy just looked at him. "I thought you would forget about me. Thanks for coming back Sonny."

"I also promised myself that I would try to find your father." He pointed to Rico. "This man here is my best friend, Ricardo. He also happens to be your father."

Ricardo stared at Rico in disbelief. Rico stared back at the boy -- tears welling in the corners of his eyes. It still didn't feel real. Neither could find the words to express how they felt. They just embraced each other and hung on as if their lives depended on it. In a way they did. Sonny pushed the throttle forward again and headed the boat back to Salt Cay.

The plane was waiting for them when they arrived, and a few hours later they were landing at Miami airport. Castillo met the plane and took Rico and Ricardo to the safe house. Before they left, Ricardo came over to Sonny and shook his hand. "Thank you Sonny," he said with tears in his eyes. "Thank you. I told Maria you were a good man."

Sonny got in the Ferrari and took off for a long drive along the coast. He wished that Billy thought he was a "good man", but he figured he had blown that relationship for a long time. Maybe one day the kid would understand...at least he hoped he would

The next day Sonny and Rico met with Castillo, Costas and McClary at Vice headquarters. "Okay," said McClary, "we've got the kid and the old lady. So now how and when do we get Fuente here?"

"That we've got to work on," replied Sonny, "but we'll come up with something."

"Well it better be soon or the kid's on his way back to the Bahamas. No Fuente -- no protection."

"The boy is under our protection," Castillo said in a low but forceful voice. "We'll say when that ends."

McClary headed to the door. "I'm outta here. You bimbos can let me know when you've got something to tell me."

Costas left with McClary, but before he left, he turned to Sonny, "Crockett, you're on our payroll to get Fuente. Let me know what you come up with. See you later"

After the feds left, Castillo called a meet with his detectives. They discussed options and scenarios for the rest of the day, but they couldn't come up with a foolproof plan to get Fuente. The guy was too crafty. They had never managed to catch him with the goods before. He never set foot on American soil. He left that to the people who worked for him. How could they get him here now? Exhausted and frustrated, they finally gave up for the day. Maybe they could turn up something tomorrow after they slept on it for the night.

Crockett and Tubbs showed up at OCB early the next morning. Shortly after they arrived, Tubbs' phone rang. He picked it up and handed it to Sonny. "It’s for you," he said with a shrug.

As he listened on the receiver, Crockett's face went ashen and he fell down into the chair. He put his hand over the mouthpiece and looked at Tubbs. "Record and trace this call right now!" After a short while he hung up the phone. He gripped his hand into a tight fist to stop the shaking and pounded it into the desk. The look on his face was one of shock and disbelief. He could barely get the words out. "Fuente has my son. He has Billy."

He covered his face with his hands. "He wants you and me to meet with him today."

Castillo had just come in and overheard Crockett's words. "Crockett, Tubbs, my office now."

They followed Castillo into the office and Tubbs closed the door behind them. Sonny was still in shock. "What's going on?" Castillo demanded.

Sonny composed himself and related what he had heard on the phone. Fuente had taken his son to the island and wanted Tubbs and himself to fly there alone and unarmed. He didn't say why and he didn't say what would happen if they did or didn't go. He just said he wanted to talk to them -- to make a deal.

It was a heated discussion, but in the end, Castillo agreed that they had to go. Fuente had the upper hand this time. Castillo didn't like it. They would be on Fuente's turf and a long way from home. There could be no backup. On top of that, Crockett was an unknown quantity. He knew that Sonny could deal with danger to himself, but this time it was his son's life that was on the line, and he would have to relive the horrors Fuente had put him through on that island just a short time ago. The man was pretty strung out. He didn't know if Crockett could hold it together. Even though he didn't like it, Castillo drove them to the amphib strip and waited until they took off in a chartered seaplane. After they left, he called Costas and McClary and told them what had happened. They were both furious, but he didn't care. He had to give Crockett the chance to get his son back.

The plane pulled up to the dock and Sonny and Rico disembarked. Two of Fuente's men searched them thoroughly and let them pass after they determined that neither of them carried any weapons. Sonny looked around as they and walked towards the house. The memories of this place were bad, but not half as bad as the fear he felt now. Fuente was sitting at a table in a shady area in front of the house with Billy sitting beside him. Ramon was standing behind him with a .45 pointed at the back of Billy's head. Carlos was standing on the other side with a machine pistol aimed at Crockett and Tubbs.

As he approached Fuente, Crockett looked first to his son and then glared at Fuente. "Let the boy go Mario. He's no good to you. You wanted me. Well here I am. I'll do whatever you want. Just let the boy go."

"No dad." Billy tried to jump up from the table but a strong hand pushed him back down again.

"Shut up kid. Your father and I are talking." Then Fuente turned to look at Crockett. He had a sarcastic grin on his face. "I don't want you any more Crockett. You're old news. You haven't got anything that I want any more. My people did a little more checking, and it looks like you didn't take my money after all - sorry about the inconvenience." He looked over at Rico. "On the other hand, Mr. Tubbs, you do have something that belongs to me. I want Ricardo back."

"He's not yours, Fuente. If you want someone to play around with, you take me."

"This self-sacrifice is so heart warming but boring. Now I will tell you what you will do. You will bring Ricardo back here and then you can have Crockett's kid. You come back within two days and I guarantee he'll be returned in one piece -- you have my word. After that all guarantees are off." He turned Ramon. "Maybe the kid likes smack more than the old man, eh Ramon. But then he's a college kid -- I think he might like some nice nasal dust better. Maybe he could try both. He wants to play in the big leagues like his old man. Maybe he'd like hanging from a tree too."

Sonny moved to lunge at Fuente, but Rico held him back. Fuente glared at him. "Your friend Tubbs just saved your son's life, Crockett. My offer is final -- two days. You can leave now." He turned to the man behind him. "Carlos, why don't you escort my guests back to their plane?"

There was nothing they could do. They had to leave. But before he turned around to head back to the dock Crockett stared into the man's face. "I'll see you in hell before you touch my kid Fuente."

Fuente just laughed. "Two days Crockett," was all he said, and then he got up and went into the house. Crockett looked at his son with a look of helpless frustration. The young man tried very hard to hide the fear he was feeling.

Sonny said nothing the whole way back to Miami. He just sat there with a stone cold look on his face. Inside he was in turmoil. How could he ask Rico to give up the son he had just found? How else could he get Billy back?

It was dark by the time the plane landed in Miami. Sonny stormed out of the plane and kicked the first thing he saw. He hammered his fists into the air while shouting out the anger and frustration he had held in on the flight back. Then he steamed across the strip to the waiting car, ignoring Castillo and the two federal agents who had been awaiting their arrival. Costas ran over to Crockett. "You had no right to take off without talking to me first. What the hell did you think you were doing?" He shouted at him.

Crockett was in no mood to take a lecture from anyone. He turned around and stared into the man's eyes. "The DEA doesn't own me Costas. It was my money and my time. And he's my son. I'll do whatever it takes to get him back, and if you don't like it, you can just shove it!" He got into the back seat of the car and slammed the door shut.

Castillo suggested to the feds that they leave things be for now and come to the safe house in the morning. Then he slid in behind the wheel while Rico took the passenger seat. Castillo started the engine and drove off. "Rico told me what happened. I'm taking you both to the safe house. You can sleep on things tonight and we'll discuss options in the morning."

After a while he spoke to Crockett. "Caroline is on her way here. She called just after you left. She got worried when Billy disappeared. I told her that he was with Fuente and you were on your way to see him."

"Oh Great!" Sonny uttered in a pained voice as he covered his face with his hand. "Why did you tell her any thing Marty?"

"She's the boy's mother. She has a right to know. If Fuente knows about Billy, he knows about her too and we don't know what he'll do. I asked Ocala Police Department to put her in safe keeping. They're escorting her here to Miami. Ginas's picking her up at the airport and will take her to the safe house."

"Why bring her here? She's safer up there."

"She insisted on coming. It was her choice."

When they got to the safe house Sonny got out of the car, stormed across the lawn, and round to the back of the house into the yard. He sat down at the table that was there, folded his arms on the surface smothered his head in them. Tubbs waved off Castillo and followed his friend into the yard. He sat down opposite Crockett and pleaded with his friend. "Talk to me Sonny. Talk to me. Let it out man."

Sonny lifted his head and stared across at Tubbs with defeat and desperation in his eyes. "What am I supposed to say Rico? Ask you to trade your son for mine? I can't do that, and I don't know what else to do." He dropped his head onto his arms again and broke into uncontrollable sobs. "God help me Rico. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do."

Gina had driven in just behind Castillo. She and Caroline had seen Sonny heading across the lawn followed by Rico. Caroline got out and followed at a discreet distance anxiously waiting to see what was happening. Her heart fell when she heard the words and the desperation in Sonny's voice. When he broke down, she walked over and sat beside him. "Sonny?" She didn't know what else to say.

He looked up at her. "Oh Caroline. I don't know what to do. He grasped her tightly and lay his head on her shoulder. "Fuente has Billy and I don't know how I'm going to get him back."

She leaned her head against his. "It'll be okay Sonny. You'll think of something. Don't worry, we'll get him back." She didn't quite believe it, but she didn't know what else to say.

Tubbs got up quietly and made his way back to the house. Ricardo and Maria were standing just outside the patio doors and had heard what Crockett had said. Ricardo looked at Rico. "What does Fuente want? Is it me?" Rico put his arm around the boy and walked inside with him.

Caroline and Sonny sat and talked for a long while, until the night air grew too chilly and they went inside to get out of the dampness. It was good just to talk. Gina met them as they came in and offered to show Caroline to her room. Sonny went into the living room and sat on the couch. A short while later Gina came down the stairs and walked over to where Sonny was sitting. "Caroline's resting -- I gave her something to help her sleep. I'm sorry Crockett. I wish there was more I could do." She paused a bit before she went on in a more matter of fact voice. "Castillo's gone home. He'll be back in the morning with Costas and McClary. There're six officers watching the house tonight, so why don't you try to get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah, thanks Gina. I think I'm just gonna sit here for a while."

After Gina left, Tubbs came over with a cup in his hand and stood in front of his friend. "Here, I brought you some hot tea with lemon and honey. It'll help settle the nerves a bit." He thanked Tubbs, took the tea and sipped it slowly. "We'll get Billy back Crockett - I promise." Rico assured him. "He'll be okay man." And then he turned and left Crockett to himself.

As he downed the tea, Crockett started to feel light-headed. He figured the events of the day must be finally catching up with him. He lay down on the couch and felt his eyes closing. They were too heavy -- Rico must have put something into the tea. He tried to get up to go find him, but he was too groggy. His head fell back on the arm of the sofa and he fell sound asleep.

When Rico was sure Crockett was asleep, he and Ricardo went outside and got into one of the surveillance cars. He had pocketed the keys earlier when no one was looking. Ricardo got in the back and lay down on the floor. As Rico drove down the drive, he stopped and spoke to the officer on duty. "I'm going back to my apartment to pick up a few things for Crockett and me. I'll be back in the morning." The officer waved him through.

Crockett was still asleep when Caroline came down the next morning. She got a blanket and covered him, and then bent down and kissed him gently on the forehead before going into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. He was still sleeping when Castillo, Costas and McClary showed up a while later, but the noise woke him. As he sat up he still dizzy. Through the haze he remembered thinking that Rico must have drugged his tea the night before. As his head cleared he realised there could only have been one reason for it and he didn't like it. He stood up and waved to Castillo that he wanted to speak with him. They went into the kitchen where Caroline was having coffee with Maria.

"I think Rico drugged me and took Ricardo back to Fuente last night."

Maria heard the conversation and spoke up. "Yes Ricardo has gone back. It was his choice and I agreed with him. Fuente is an evil man, but he will not harm Ricardo. It is control that he wants. He feels that Ricardo is his property and will not allow anyone to take him away."

"But there's no guarantee that Fuente will let Billy go. We could have found another way," Castillo declared.

"You would not have, at least not until Fuente had done great harm to the boy. Fuente may be an evil man, but he is a man of his word. If he said he would release the young man unharmed, he will. That is his way." She looked at Caroline and put a hand on her shoulder. "He will return your son. I am certain of that. You will have him back soon."

Costas and McClary were furious when they found out what had happened, even more so when they realised that there was nothing they could do about it. Their key witness was gone, and Fuente was still at large. The whole operation had been one big bust.

It was mid-afternoon when Rico pulled into the drive in the borrowed car. He knew there would be hell to pay, but he didn't care. He had done, what in his heart, he knew to be the right thing, even though it had torn him apart. Last night, after they had gone into the house, Ricardo had begged him to take him back to Fuente. He had witnessed first hand the man's utter cruelty, and he couldn't bear thinking about what the man would do to Billy if he didn't go back. He'd play Fuente's game and look for a chance to get away -- it would come in time.

Maria had sided with Ricardo. She knew Fuente, she said, and she promised that Ricardo would be not be in any danger. Rico hadn't liked the idea, fought it all the way, but in the end, he knew it was the only thing to do. He had taken Ricardo to Fuente and brought Billy back. It had been a sombre flight to the island, and even more sombre on the way back.

He pulled up in front of the house, and they got out of the car together. Caroline was standing on the lawn, afraid to look in case Billy wasn't with Rico. When she saw her son get out of the car, she glanced over at Sonny and then ran to him and embraced him with tears in her eyes. Sonny looked at Rico and walked slowly up to him. As he drew near, he felt a lump rising in his throat - words failed him. What could he say to his friend, his partner, the man who had just traded his own son to the devil to deliver his son from hell. But words weren't necessary -- the thank you was in his eyes. He put his arm on Rico's shoulder and the two of them walked back to the house together.

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