Rating: PG
 

Scene One:Inside Rory's Condo, 7:30 am. She pours herself a cup of coffee and then stares out her kitchen window at the darkness.She hears the front door and immediately picks up her gun and from the table and runs into the Livingroom. Carlos turns and takes a step back when he sees her weapon drawn. She lowers her gun when she realises it is him.

Carlos:Wowe, Girlfriend!

Rory:Sorry, Carlos. (They walk into the kitchen together.) Do you want some coffee?

Carlos:Thanks. What's the matter?

Rory:Nothing.

Carlos:Right. So what's with the attitude?

Rory:Attitude? (She hands him a cup of coffee and looks into his  eyes.) I'm sorry, I had a rough night. Johnny and I were
tailing this nasty drug dealer for hours.

Carlos:Bust him?

Rory:No.

Carlos:I missed you last night. I missed you this morning when I woke up too.

Rory:I was really tired. I just wanted to get some sleep.

Carlos:You don't look like you got any.

Rory:I didn't, and I have to be in Alex's office at 8:30.

Carlos:That's right. You're testifying in court this morning. The Devereaux Case isn't it?

Rory:Yeah, I don't even know why we're gonna bother. He'll be back out on the street in two years. (She puts her empty cup in the sink. Carlos watches her realizing that she is not her-self this morning.) I have to get going, so you should
probubly go.

Carlos:(Comes up behind her and puts his arms around her waiste and places a kiss on her neck just behind her ear.) I don't know who pissed in your cherios but don't take it out on me.  (He nips at her earlobe and then leaves.)
 

Scene Two:Alex Cahill's office. Alex and Rory have just finished reviewing Rory's testimony.

Alex:Okay, I think that we're ready.

Rory:As ready as we're ever gonna be, for all the good it will do.

Alex:I know the system isn't perfect, but once in a while it does pay off. That's why we keep trying.

Rory:Whatever. Can I use your pone?

Alex:Sure. I'll be right back. (Rory picks up her phone and calls Carlos.)

Carlos:Thunder Investigations, Carlos Sandoval.

Rory:Hey. It's me.

Carlos:Hey, babe. Day getting any better?

Rory:Not really. But I know how it could.

Carlos:Talk to me, darlin.

Rory:How 'bout this? Dinner at Marino's, then back home for some chilled sangria and a corny black and white, romantic movie,popcorn, maybe some candlelight. Insert imagination here.

Carlos:Casablanca?

Rory:Is there any other movie?

Carlos:I'm there.

Rory:Good. Can you make reservations for about 6:30?

Carlos:You bet.

Rory:Carlos, I'm sorry I've been such a crab ass the last couple days.

Carlos:You know you can tell me anything?

Rory:Yeah. I'll see you tonight.

Carlos:Luv you. (They both hang up.)
 

Scene Three:Thunder Investigation office. Carlos hangs up the phone just as Trent walks in.

Trent:Goodmorning.

Carlos:Hey.

Trent:Who was on the phone?

Carlos:Rory.

Trent:Are you two fighting again? (He pours himself a cup of coffee.)

Carlos:I'm not sure. I don't think so. There's something bothering her, I'm just not sure what it is.(Trent shakes his head and
smiles at the confused look on Carlos' face. The phone rings again.) Thunder Investigations, Carlos Sandoval.

Dan Bennett:Carlos. It's Dan.

Carlos:Dan. What's up?

Dan:I have a problem. Someone got into my safe last night.

Carlos:Dan, I'm putting you on the speaker phone. Go ahead.

Dan:Some money was taken, which is the least of my concerns.

Trent:What are you talking about?

Dan:Bennett Industries is developing some new computer games. They're still in the developement stages but are close to competion.  We can't aply for patents until they're complete.

Carlos:Were the games taken?

Dan:No. I mean, the discs were all there, but I don't know if they were viewed or copied.

Trent:Dan, you have a top of the line security system down there. Did you check the surveylance tapes?

Dan:Yes. There is nothing there. Whoever it was, knows the system and was able to avoid the cameras. They knew the combination to the safe. Look, I need you guys to come down here. I need your help.

Carlos:We're on our way. (They hang up just as Kim walks into the office.)

Kim:Goodmorning. (Cheery)

Trent:Morning Kim.

Kim:Who was on the phone?

Carlos:Goodmorning, that was Dan Bennett, Bennett Industries. He needs us for another job.

Kim:Oh! Good! Good!

Trent:We are headed over there now.(He heads for the door with Carlos right behind him.)

Carlos:Kim, can you do me a favor.

Kim:What now?

Carlos:Call Marino's and make reservations for Rory and me for 6:30 tonight. You're the best. I owe you.

Kim:Yeah, I'll put it on your account.
 

Scene Four:Alex and Rory are walking to the courtroom.

Alex:Is something bothering you?

Rory:Yes. Alex can I talk to you?

Alex:Of course, that's what friends are for. Are you and Carlos fighting again?

Rory:No. Not exactly. Oh Alex, I'm so confused. About Carlos.  I can be in a totally crappy mood and treating him like dirt and what does he do? He tells me he loves me. He gets angry at the dumbest things and the more serious stuff he blows off like its nothing. Sometimes I just want to hold on to him for dear life and the next minute I want to run as far
away as fast as I can.

Alex:(Smiling)Sounds like love to me.

Rory:Yeah, well, It scares me to death. There's something else.  Besides Carlos, I mean.

Alex:What?

Rory:I got a phonecall from my old Captain, from Cleveland. He told me that a man I arrested five years ago broke out of prison four days ago and is still at large.

Alex:Do you think that he knows you transferred down here to Dallas?

Rory:I don't know. I'm not afraid for me, Alex, I've got a lot of  family living in Ohio. What if Grayson goes after them?

Alex:Are they protecting your family?

Rory:Captain Jamison says that the FBI is handling things and yes they are watching my family. I wont be able to rest easy 'till Grayson is back behind bars, and poor Carlos will probubly continue to get his head bit off.

Alex:Why didn't you tell him about Grayson?

Rory:Becouse, Grayson is the man who murdered my husband. It took me two years to gather enough information on him to even have him arrested. Carlos doesn't know to much about Marcus or about my marriage to him.

Alex:Well, it's obvious to everyone who knows you and Carlos that he loves you very much. Maybe it's time.

Rory:I know. It's just, ever since Marcus' death, I've built this wall around me. So no one could hurt me like that again.
I still can't figure out how he got over that wall. And, Carlos and Marcus, they're so different from each other, it's
like night and day.

Alex:Love is never easy to figure out. Also, when you were married to Marcus you were very young. You've changed alot since then.

Rory:I guess. (They arrive in the court room.)
 

Scene Five:Dan Bennett's office at Bennett Industries. Dan's secretary leads Carlos and Trent inside.

Dan:Thank you guys so much for coming over on such short notice.

Trent:No problem. What can we do?

Dan:Well, I kind of have a plan. I'll need you and my security expert to work together to help me.

Carlos:Security expert?

Dan:Yeah, after you guys stopped those computer thiefs two years ago, I hired one of the top security companies in the country, TekniK LinC. They sent me their best engineer, Ashley Brighton. She designed the system that I'm using now. She
should be here any minute.

Trent:Okay, so what do you have in mind?

Dan:Well, for starters, one of you will have to hang around here and keep your eyes open to try to figure out who it is. (There is a knock at the door and then in walks Ashley. She is 5'7"  has green eyes and short dark hair all one length, just to her shoulders. She is dressed professionally in a navy blue suit.)

Ashley:Okay, Dan, what the hell is this all about? And it better be good.

Dan:Ash, this is Carlos Sandoval and Trent Malloy, (They shake her hand.) from Thunder Investigation. Thanks for coming down.

Ashley:I had a very important presentation this morning, but after you told Jarvis that this was an emergency, he made me hand all of my work over to Riggs, who is a fucking weasel and will take full credit for the months of work I put in on this project.  So, this better be one hell of an emergency (She is in his face poking her finger at his chest.) or I'm gonna kick your lilly white ass from here to Houston.

Dan:(Trent and Carlos show amusement and surprise by her outburst.)  Someone broke into my safe and your state of the art security system didn't work! How's that for an emergency?

Ashley:That's impossible. (Thinking quickly.) Unless it's someone who is farmiliar with the system. Someone who know the access codes. What do you want me to do?

Dan:Do you remember, we once discussed putting in a secondary system?  One that could be accessed only by me in my office?

Ashley:Yes. I remember. Do you have the blue prints here? I've got some new surveylance equipment that would be perfect for a system like that. I can get started right away.

Dan:The plans are over there on the desk.

Ashley:Good. Give me an hour, I'll have some roughs for you.

Dan:Kind of like old times, huh?

Ashley:No, not a chance, Bennett. Not a chance in hell!
 

Scene Six:The Judge has just called a recess for lunch. Alex and Rory walk back to her office on the third floor.

Alex:I'm going to call Walker and have him contact his friend, Tom Wyatt over at Quantico. Maybe they will have something new on Grayson.

Rory:That would be great. Maybe they cought him. (Alex picks up the phone.)
 

Scene Seven:The Judge has adjourned the hearing for the day at about 4:30pm. Rory and Alex are leaving the building together. They walked down the steps of the courthouse and see Walker and Trivette pull up to the curb in Walker's truck. Suddenly, a man steps in front of the two women. It is Grayson and for a quick instant his and Rory's eyes lock. As Rory reacts, she reaches for the safety on her gun with her right hand and pushes Alex away with her left. It is too late. Grayson
pulls his gun, fires and hits Rory in the stomache. Walker and Trivette react immediately and fire at Grayson, killing him.
Alex rushes to Rory's side.

Alex:Rory!

Walker:Trivette, call for an ambulance. (Jimmy is already on the phone. Rory's eyes are open but she is losing conciousness quickly.)

Rory:Alex!

Alex:I'm here. Hang on, the ambulance is on its way. (Walker removes his jacket and uses it to try to stop the bleeding.)

Rory:Alex, tell Carlos what I told you. (She grabs the fromt of Alex' jacket.) Tell him...(She loses conciousness.)
 

Scene Eight:Thunder Investigation office. Carlos, Trent and Kim are discussing their plans for the new case at Bennett Ind.  Ranger Trivette enters the office.

Trent:Jimmy, How are you?

Jimmy:Carlos, Rory was shot at the courthouse. You need to come with me, right now, to the hospital.

Carlos:Oh my God! How? Who?

Jimmy:You need to come with me right now, Carlos. (Sensing the urgency in his voide, he immediately heads for the door.)
 

Scene Nine:In Jimmy's porsche, heading for the hospital. Jimmy has the siren and lights going and they are going as fast as possible.

Carlos:Tell me!

Jimmy:A guy named Grayson. He broke out of prison four days ago.  She put him away five years ago. He came looking for revenge.

Carlos:Grayson is the guy who kiled her husband. She knew he was at large. That's why she's been acting weird. She knew.  (They arrive at the hospital and Carlos runs inside. He sees Walker and Alex and they have Rory's blood on them. He drops to his knees and starts to hyperventilate. Alex and Walker help him to stand.) Rory's Brothers.

Walker:I already contacted them. They are on their way.

Carlos:Is she...

Alex:She was shot in the stomache. She's still in surgery.
 

Scene Ten:Bennett Industries. It is afterhours. Dan, Trent and Ashley are there, working together to install the secondary
security system.

Dan:Where's Carlos?

Trent:Rory was shot. He's at the hospital.

Dan:Oh my God! Is she okay?

Trent:I talked to Carlos a half hour ago and he said that she was still in surgery.

Ashley:Shot? How Horrible.

Dan:Ash, Rory is a Detective with the Dallas Police Dept. This is something that could happed to her on any given day. You just never really expect it to actually happen.

Ashley:I hope she's okay.

Trent:How are those plans coming?

Ashley:Done. Come here, I'll show you. (She spreads the plans out on the desk.) These red lines are the system that I installed two years ago. The green lines I added today. These will be the secondary system. We will install hidden cameras here and here. They will feed directly to a feed on your pc here in this office and be recorded on a disc. Of course, every-
thing is triggered by a motion sensor, so the system will only activate when someone or something triggers it. Oh, and I've
developed a small camera we can install just inside of the safe. So, whoever opens that baby will find himself on candid
camera.

Trent:This is really impressive. How long will it take to install?

Ashley:A couple of days.

Dan:You have till morning.

Ashley:Are you nuts!?!

Dan:We are almost done with one of the new games. We'll finish it tomorrow, I'm certain. I need this system up and running before then. Don't look at me like that, Trent and I will help you. We can do it.

Ashley:(Shakes her head.)Okay, we can try. But I'm charging you double.

Dan:Fine. Do you have everything here?

Ashley:Yes. It's in my trunk.

Trent:I'll help you bring it in.

Ashley:Thanks.
 

Sene Elevin:Back at the hopital, Carlos, Walker, Alex Jimmy and Rory's brothers Sean and Brian are waiting for Rory to come out of surgery. It is close to midnight when the Doctor enters the waiting area.

Dr. Denton:I'm Dr. Denton, are you Det. Caine's family?

Sean:Yes, we are.

Brian:Doc, is Rory okay?

Dr. Denton:She's out of surgery. We were able to remove the bullet and repair the damage, but she lost alot of blood.

Carlos:What does that mean?

Dr. Denton:Anytime your body looses a lot of blood, very quickly, it can cause all kinds of trauma. In Det. Caine's case it has left her in a coma.

Sean:How long till she comes out of it?

Dr. Denton:We don't know. The human brain works in mysterious ways.  It could be hours, days, even years. It could be never. All we can do is wait and pray. I'm sorry.

Carlos:Can we see her?

Dr. Denton:She will be in recovery for at least another hour. Once we move her to a private room you can see her then. If you have any questions, please, don't hesitate to ask.

Brian:(He checks his watch.) I have to get to the airport. Mom and Da's plane will be landing in about an hour. I'll bring
them directly here.

Sean;I'll start calling the rest of the clan.

Alex:She's strong, Carlos, she'll make it.
 

Scene Twelve:Trent and Ashley are working on installing the second of the two hidden cameras. Ashley is sitting on the top of a ladder and Trent is handing her tools as she asks for them.

Trent:So, how long have you been doing this type of work?

Ashley:Five years. I got my masters degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in architecture. TekniK LinC offered me a possition before I graduated. I accepted.

Trent;You don't like Dan very much, do you?

Ashley:I guess he's not so bad. Once upon a time, I thought I was in love with him. Then I hated him. Now, I guess I'm over that too. But don't let him know, it would ruin my fun.

Trent:Your secret is safe with me. (She finishes the hookup, replaces the vent screen and starts to climb down the ladder. Her shoe lace gets stuck on a nail and when she pulls her foot she looses her balance and falls into Trent's arms.) Wowe! I've got you.

Dan:Good catch, Malloy. (He hands Trent the phone.) It's Carlos.

Trent:Carlos. How is she?

Carlos:She's out of surgery. She's in a coma, Trent.

Trent:I'll pray. I'll try and stop by after we finish here. Do you need anything?

Carlos:No, thanks. I'll catch you later.

Ashley:(Trent hangs up the phone.) How is she?

Trent;She's in a coma.

Dan:How's Carlos holding up?

Trent:I'm not sure. He sounds exhausted. He loves her so much, I know that this is killing him.

Dan:It's hard to believe, the 'one hit wonderboy' finally finds the right gal and now this happens. It sucks!

Ashley:Guy's, we really need to keep working if we're gonna finish this tonight.
 

Scene Thirteen:Rory is being moved from recovery to a room. She can feel the bed moving benieth her. The bed stops and she suddenly feel their presense around her. Sean, Brian, her Mom and he Da. Carlos is close. She can smell his cologne, feel his hand in hers. But she can't seem to move, to reach out to him. Then it all fades.
 
 

Scene Fourteen:It's 4:00 am, Ashley and Trent are finishing up the installation of the small camera inside the safe.

Ashley:Can you hand me that screwdriver?

Trent:Sure. Here you go. (She takes the tooland goes back to work.  He can't help but notice that her blouse has twisted and from the angle she is leaning into the safe, a portion of her chest is exposed. He is trying not to look but his eyes keep
drifting back to that spot.

Ashley:Done. (She pulls out of the tafe and truns towards him. She notices where his gaze is focused and immediately adjusts her shirt. Trent blushes.) Now we just have to download the program, and say a quick prayer that we have everything connected properly.

Trent:(They pack up the tools.) Sorry about that.

Ashley:No problem. (They head for Dan's office.)
 

Scene Fifteen:It's 5:30 am. Her eyes open. She slowly looks around the room. Her brothers are not there but her father is sitting in the corner with her mom sitting on his lap. Both are asleep. Carlos is sitting next to the bed with his head
resting on his arms next to her on the bed. Slowly she lifts her hand and touches his hair. He immediately wakes and takes
her hand in his.

Carlos:Hey, beautiful. (He moves his face close to hers. She smiles up at him.) Connor, Eliza, She's awake.

Connor:(Connor and Eliza come to her bedside. Connor takes her other hand and leans down to her ear and whispers something. A tear slips down Rory's cheek and she smiles at him. She squeezes both her father's and Carlos' hand and then falls back to sleep.
 

Scene Sixteen:Trent's apartment. It's about 7:00am on Tuesday. Ashley had successfully installed the secondary security
system. They had agreed to get together later to discuss the next sept in catching Dan's thief. He is about to crawl
into bed to catch a couple hours of sleep when the phone rings.

Trent:Hello.

Carlos:Hey, buddy.

Trent:(Noticing how tired his best friend sounded.) How's Rory?

Carlos:She came out of the coma a little while ago.

Trent:That's great. How are you?

Carlos:I'm okay. A little tired, but I'm not leaving her side. Not till she's stronger. (He pauses.) How are things going with
Dan?

Trent:Good. Ashley got the entire system completely installed and operational overnight. She's a really smart cookie.

Carlos:She's a looker too.

Trent:Carlos!

Carlos:(Chuckling.)Yeah, I know, I'm a sexist. I admit it. I'm a letch. So sue me.

Trent:(Laughing now too.) She is beautiful. Okay, so I'm a closet sexist.

Carlos:That sounds like a personal problem to me. Hey, get some sleep for me, okay?

Trent:You bet, buddy. Give Rory my love.

Carlos:I will. Bye.