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

The conversation inside was hot any heavy. McClary and Costas blamed Rico for blowing the operation. Castillo and Crockett argued that there had been nothing to blow. Finally in the end Rico pounded his fist on the table, and, in a raised voice, ended the discussion with a final statement.

"Ricardo is my son. He decided to go back to Fuente, and I backed him on it. He had a right to make his own decision. It's a done deal. Now, are we gonna keep on arguing here, or are we gonna come up with a way to get my son back and nail Fuente?"

The point was well made, and the room went silent. It was a done deal, and now it was time to plan what to do next. Through the rest of the afternoon they discussed several possibilities, but nothing held up under close examination. It was nearing dinnertime, time to take a break. After something to eat, maybe they'd be able to come up with something. They were about to call it quits when Billy walked into the room. "I think I've got a way to get Fuente," he said.

McClary turned and faced the him. "You just shut up kid. It's your fault we're in this mess in the first place."

After all that had gone on that day Crockett wasn't about to take that kind of talk from McClary. He had had just about enough from the belligerent FBI yokel for one day. "Shut up McClary and let him talk. Maybe he has something. We sure as shit don't."

"Let's have it son," Castillo added.

"When I was on the island I pretty much had free run of things and I found a few things out. Fuente has a computer there, and does all his banking electronically. If all of his funds were suddenly transferred to Miami and his electronic signature destroyed, you could make it so he'd have to come here to get his money."

"Nice try kid, McClary snickered, "but how do you propose to get Fuente's money here.

"I'll just hack into his accounts and transfer it." He replied matter-of-factly.

"Sure, and next thing you're gonna tell us is you're Bill Gates." McClary came back.

"No, I'm not Bill Gates, but Microsoft did offer me a job in their program development group for a lot more than you'll ever make. You want proof I can do it? Just come and take a look at this." He headed back to the computer which had been installed in the small room next door, and the others followed. "Take a look at this McClary," he boasted.

There on the screen was McClary's FBI personnel file. Rico commented jokingly. "Hey McClary you haven't taken a vacation in two years. No wonder you're so uptight."

McClary was dumbfounded and furious at the same time. "How did you get in there? Those are secure FBI files."

Sonny was laughing under his breath. He put his hand up to his mouth to hide the smile. Castillo just maintained his usual poker face and watched the screen.

"Nothin' to it. At university my pals and I used to hack into all sorts of sites in our spare time just for fun. I've been into the FBI before. They're pretty good, but there're tougher ones. This computer is toast though. I've been in too long. They've probably already id'd the location and sent a worm."

As if on cue the computer went blue screen. The file disappeared and there was nothing there except a jumble of numbers on a blue background.

McClary was abashed. "Okay, what's your plan and what do you need?"

"Most of Fuente's money is spread throughout different banks in the Caribbean and South America, but he has a small account in the First Florida Savings and Loan here in Miami. I can transfer his Caribbean and South American funds to First Florida and destroy his electronic signature. All you have to do is prevent First Florida from transferring the money back and, he'll have to come to Miami to set up his signature again and get his hands on his money. If what I saw on the island is right, that should be about 500 million.

"Sounds too simple," said McClary, but he was impressed with the plan. "What would you need to make it work?"

"I'll need fast computer with a high speed Internet hookup. I can make you up a list of the hardware and software that I'll need if you want."

McClary had changed his tune. It was a chance, one that they didn't have a few minutes before. "I'll get someone here right away to take your order. We'll get whatever you need and set it up here. I don't want you out of our sights. In the meantime I think I'll get our people to check out First Florida and tomorrow we'll pay the manager a visit."

Costas and Castillo insisted that they be in on the set-up at the bank, and McClary agreed. They made arrangements to meet later at the FBI offices and then the three of them left.

Sonny finally let the laughter out. "Way to go kid! I thought he was gonna have a heart attack. Maybe all that money I contributed to that fancy university education of yours may not have been wasted after all."

Rico smiled, but didn't feel like laughing. How would this plan affect Ricardo and how would it help them get him back. Billy looked at Rico and his father. He seemed to know what was on Rico's mind.

"I didn't want to say anything while McClary was here. He seems like a bit of an AH. Fuente and his goons seem pretty slow when it comes to the power of computers and modern technology, so they let me on Fuente's -- thought I was playing games. My bet is that they'll probably do the same for Ricardo. I managed to talk to Ricardo for a few minutes before leaving the island, and told him to look for a letter I left for him hidden under the mattress in my room. It told him that I would contact him on a message board on the web and gave him the Internet address for it. If he can get on the computer, we can talk to him on the board. I also left him my cell phone under the mattress. It won't work from the island, but I told him I would keep the account current so that he can use it if Fuente ever brings him near here."

"Can I send him something now?" Rico asked, his sprits raised just a bit.

"This computer's fried, but when they bring the new one, I'll set it up for you first thing."

"You're incredible - thanks."

"Hey Rico, after what you and he did for me, it's the least I can do."

Just then Rosita came into the room and called them all to supper. It was the first time in a long time that Sonny had sat down to eat with Caroline and Billy, but the table felt empty. There was still one person missing.

After supper, the men told the ladies to take a break and they offered to clean up, but Rosita would not hear of it. Men did not do dishes -- that was woman's work. Rosita had been a servant girl all her life. She was not going to let any man or important people like her mistress and the Senora do her work. She ushered them all outside onto the patio and brought them freshly ground and brewed coffee with sweet biscuits. Then she returned to the kitchen and did her work, happily in control of her kitchen.

Shortly after dinner, McClary's computer expert, Zeke Howard, showed to up to talk to Billy about what he would need and Billy disappeared with him into the small computer room. Outside, Maria and Rico sat side by side talking quietly together. Caroline decided to take a walk along the seawall before the sun set for the evening. As she got up to leave, Sonny decided to join her. Last night they had talked to relieve the fear and ease the tensions that they both felt. Tonight it would be nice just to be together for a while.

It was a beautiful late spring Florida evening. They walked together across the lawn that was dotted here and there with ancient oak trees to the old stone wall that protected the isolated point from the warm ocean waters. Palm trees stood like sentinels along the wall, their fronds swaying gently in soft warm breeze off the deep blue waters. The luxurious scent of roses mingled with the sweet odour of orange blossoms wafted across from the gardens

"I'm sorry for all this Caroline. You took Billy to Atlanta to keep this sort of thing from happening, and here you are again, hiding away in a safe house."

"This isn't your fault Sonny. If anyone's to blame it's me."

"Whoa lady -- where do you come up with that one?"

"I'm serious Sonny. I should never have taken Billy away from you. He's your son, always has been. I thought it would be different if we were in Atlanta - it wasn't. He has always been on the edge, taking chances, protecting the underdog, doing what he thought was right -- all the things I fell in love with you for, and left you for. I thought that maybe he would change when I married Bob - that he'd take fewer risks, learn to compromise his principles a bit, learn to step down when he was in over his head, but nothing changed. I think that's why he and Bob never saw eye to eye. And without you there for him, he never learned how to handle it, and he didn't have anyone around who understood."

"I couldn't handle it myself -- what makes you think I could teach him to?"

"Oh you could handle it -- it was me that couldn't. I just didn't understand, and I wasn't there for you when you needed me. Maybe we could have worked things out if I had been strong enough to stay."

"You were strong enough to leave Caroline. You did what you thought was right -- what was right. And that's what I've always loved about you. You're alive and Billy's alive." The rest of the words he kept to himself, but Caroline spoke them aloud.

"And Caitlin is dead?"

The words hurt, but they were true. Caitlin was dead.

"That wasn't your fault either Sonny. Things happen, but we can't let our fears rule our lives. I only wish I had realised that 18 years ago. It's what I saw in you, but what I had to learn from our son." They walked on a bit further. "Does it still hurt to talk about Caitlin? I was jealous of her, Sonny. I never thought that another woman could get you to settle down."

"Oh, she never tried to settle me down. We flew on the wind together. I loved her Caroline. She was beautiful; she was exciting; she made me mad; she made me happy. When she died a part of me died with her." Caroline picked up her pace and walked ahead. He was being Sonny again. God how she wished he would lie just for once. She really didn't want to hear how much he loved Caitlin -- the love that could have been hers, would have been hers if she had only had the courage to stay.

He picked up his pace to match hers. "I loved Caitlin, but only because I didn't have you any more. Caitlin filled a void in my life, made me whole again. But I never stopped caring for you , Caroline. But when you married Bob, I knew that part of my life was over and -- well, I had to move on with my own life. She didn't replace you. You're two different people."

"I liked Bob, Sonny, but I never loved him. We were compatible. There were many times before I married him that I thought about coming back here, but whenever you came to see Billy, you always seemed to have another girlfriend, and you never stayed for very long. And then the visits got farther and farther apart. I figured you didn't care anymore. When I met Bob, he gave me what I needed -- stability, safety, comfort, and a father for Billy."

"Yeah, well I'm sorry about that too Caroline. I know I let Billy down - too many times. I made myself busy -- it was hard to see you and him and then leave. It was easier just to stay away."

They had reached the end of the point. The sun was just starting to set below the horizon. The ball of light would be gone soon and the blazing red sky would soon turn into night. Sonny turned and faced her. He put his arms around her and hugged her closely, his head resting on her shoulder. "I never stopped loving you Caroline." Still holding her tightly, he pulled his head back and gazed longingly into her soft blue eyes.

"Oh Sonny, I love you. I always have." Moisture glistened from the corners of her eyes. Involuntarily, Sonny's face moved forwards until his lips gently touched hers. She gripped him just as tightly, pulled him to herself and pressed her mouth to his. Their bodies rubbed against each other, as they swayed together in the grips or their passionate embrace as the palm tree sentinels kept guard in the warm Miami night, until the light dimmed and the sky turned to darkness.

He pulled away first. With the disappearance of the sun, the air had cooled down and he felt Caroline shivering. They looked into each other's eyes one more time. And then they settled their arms around each other and walked silently, side by side, across the neatly manicured grounds back towards the house. Both were deep in thoughts that words could not express.

As they approached the house, they saw Rico sitting on the sea wall. Sonny turned to Caroline. "Go to him, Sonny," she said gently. "He needs you." He kissed her softly on the forehead made his way over to where his friend was sitting, staring blankly out over the water. Caroline turned and continued into the house.

"Mind if I join you?" Sonny asked as he sat down beside his friend.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of the gentle waves lapping peacefully onto the rocky shoreline below the wall. Rico continued staring out over the water for a while. Then, without turning his head, he asked in an uncertain voice, "You think Billy knows what he's doing, Sonny?"

"Rico, you can ask me anything you want to about boats and cars, and I'd probably be able to tell you something, but computers are waaay outta my league. I can use 'em, but play with them like that -- that'd be like asking a blind man to drive a car down the Florida Turnpike. I can't tell you whether Billy can deliver, but he seems to think he can. And he sure pulled one over on McClary."

Rico laughed. "That was a good one," Rico said, the hint of a smile finally breaking through. Billy's got a bit of the devil in him -- he's too much like you, Crockett. You two deserve each other."

"And Ricardo's a great kid Rico. I'd have never made it without him. He saved my life, and he saved Billy's. I'll never be able to pay him back for what he did, but I promise you this, man -- if it's the last thing I do, I'll get him back."

"Yeah -- we'll get him back," he returned, and then he changed the subject. "How's things with Caroline."

It was Sonny's turn to pause and gaze out over the ocean. "Ah Rico, like I've always said -- she was the one that got away."

"Seems like you might be thinking about throwing the lure back in."

Sonny didn't answer. "Come on Tubbs, let's go in. It's getting a might cool out here."

When they went in, Rico headed up to his room and Sonny sauntered into the kitchen. Rosita was just leaving to take a glass of warm milk to Senora Ballard's room. Sonny volunteered to take it for her.

He took the glass up the stairs and knocked on the door. The voice from inside said come, and he quietly walked in. Caroline was sitting at a table lost in a book. He took the glass over and placed it on the table. "Thank you Rosita," she said.

"You're welcome," Sonny replied, a smile breaking out. As she looked up in pleasant surprise, Sonny couldn't help but think how beautiful she still was and how much he wanted to make love with her again. He took her hands and pulled her gently to her feet and into his arms. His arms encircled her, and his hands entwining themselves in her long flowing hair, pulled her head to his. He pressed his lips to hers. She responded in kind, grasping him desperately closer to her - opening her lips to his, encircling his tongue with hers. His mouth moved across her cheek and down her neck and gently nibbled her fleshy earlobes swollen with the blood that coursed through them. His heavy breathing exploded into her senses, sending shivers throughout her body.

He guided her slowly to the bed, their bodies never losing touch with each other. They undressed each other slowly and slid gently onto the bed, and they made passionate love together. The excitement of their passion was like making love for the first time all over again, only better. Instead of the gropings of inexperienced youth, their lovemaking reflected the maturity of seasoned lovers. They explored each other's body deliberately, treasuring every moment. He brought her to climax after climax, until finally he could hold back no longer. In the end, they both cried out in the agony of ultimate pleasure. Spent at last, he collapsed beside her. They clasped each other tightly and fell asleep together in each other's arms, totally consumed by the passion of their lovemaking.

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