Disclaimer: The characters of Trent, Carlos, Alex, Walker, Trivette, and C.D. belong to CBS, Norris Productions, and SOT. Any other characters belong to me.
 
 

"What's wrong, darlin'?" asked C.D.

Kelly had been sitting at C. D.'s for twenty minutes waiting on Trent and Carlos. She didn't hear C. D. walk up behind her. "Oh, hello, C.D. I've got some bad news for Carlos and I don't look forward to telling him."

"Well, I've learned that the best way to tell someone bad news is just to do it. No beating around the bush."

"You're probably right. Thanks, C.D."

"Anytime darlin'. Here come Trent and Carlos now. If you need me, I'll be over at the bar." She smiled gratefully and took a deep breath.

"Hi. Kim said you needed to see us." greeted Trent.

"Yeah, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, Carlos. Elmo Hughes was released from prison two days ago."

"What! How?"

"I'm not sure. Some kind of technicality."

"How did you find out about this, Kel?" Trent asked.

"Alex told me." she answered. Turning to Carlos, she stated "I'm sorry, Carlos."  Edward Hughes had killed Carlos' partner when Carlos was still a street cop. Carlos had put Hughes in prison.

"I just can't believe they let him out." Carlos stated.

"Any idea where he is?" Trent asked.

"No, he just seems to have disappeared." answered Kelly. Looking at her watch, she said, "Look, I've got to get back to the station. I just wanted to tell you in person."

"Thanks." Carlos replied, taking hold of her hand.

"Watch your back, okay?" she requested. "You did put him away."

"I will, I promise."

"And I'll make sure he does," added Trent.

"Good. I'll see you two later." Kelly stopped to kiss Carlos on the cheek before she left.

"She really cares for you, buddy." Trent pointed out.

"Sometimes I can't figure out why."

Neither can I." Trent added smiling.

"Thanks," Carlos responded giving him a dirty look.

"I think that you should lie low for awhile."

"Let me guess. You have the perfect place for me to do that, don't you?"

Trent grinned.

"I don't know about this, Trent. You know that nature and I don't get along very well."

Trent and Carlos were outside Carlos' apartment loading their baggage into Carlos' Durango.

"Come on, Carlos. It will be relaxing. No phones. No radio. No TV. Just peace and quiet."

"I don't think I can relax with all that quiet."

Trent laughed. "Look, Butch's friend said that we could use his cabins as long as we wanted and you would be better off out town right now."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Besides," added Trent, "Someone is going with us."

"Who?"

Trent smiled, "Here she comes now."

Carlos turned to look and smiled. Kelly was driving up. All of sudden Carlos couldn't wait to go. Especially if it meant spending time with Kelly. They had been dating off and on since she came back to Dallas, but their jobs hadn't given them much time together recently.

"Hi guys! Ready to go." she greeted.

"I am, but I'm not sure Carlos is." Trent answered.

"Are you kidding? I can't wait. I'm glad you could make it Kelly."

"So am I. I need a break. I haven't had any time off since I transferred back to Dallas."

"I think it will be good for all of us." Trent stated. "Kel, where are your bags?"

"In the trunk."

"I'll get them and put in the Durango." Trent offered. "Then we can leave."

As they drove up to the cabins, the scenery astounded them. "It's beautiful!" Kelly exclaimed.

"Yes, it sure is" Trent agreed.

"If you like that kind of stuff." Carlos said.

"Carlos, don't be a party pooper." Kelly scolded. "Look at that lake. It's so peaceful."

Trent parked and the three got out. "Come on let's unpack. I'm dying to do some fishing." he urged.

"Great idea." Kelly stated.

After putting their gear in the their cabins, they decided to do some fishing. To make it a bit more interesting they decided that the one who caught the least or smallest would clean them and cook them. Unfortunately for the boys, Kelly caught three, all of them five pounds or above. Neither Trent nor Carlos caught any. Therefore the cleaning and cooking duties were shared by the two of them.

"Man, this is the life" Kelly said, lounging on the ground.

"For you." Carlos replied.

"Just wait, Carlos and I will make up for it tomorrow." Trent challenged.

"We'll see." Kelly said smiling.

Trent knew that Carlos and Kelly needed some time together, so after dinner, he offered to clean the dishes while they went for walk.

"Thanks, buddy." Carlos whispered.

"Now tell me the truth, Carlos. This isn't as bad as you thought it would be, is it.?" Kelly asked as they strolled along the lake.

"No, it's not." he answered. "Especially since you're here."

Kelly blushed. "That's sweet. We really haven't got to spend a lot of time together lately, have we?"

"No, we haven't. Carlos stated, stopping. "I've missed you."

Kelly stopped and faced him "I've missed you, too."

Carlos pulled her to him and kissed her. Carlos had dated a lot of girls, but none of them were like Kelly. She was beautiful inside and out; although a bit stubborn at times. She was courageous, compassionate, intelligent -- almost perfect - at least as far as he was concerned. Releasing her, he took a step back. "It was definitely worth the wait." he said smiling.

Kelly blushed. She had left him five years ago, but she realized that it was the biggest mistake she ever made: She would not make the same mistake again. "I think we had better return to camp." she said, turning back the way they had came.

"Just when I thought I was sweeping you off your feet. Guess I'll have to be a bit more agressive." Carlos replied.

Kelly had walked a few feet ahead of Carlos when he came up behind her and scooped her up in his arms. "What are you doing?" she asked, laughing.

"Sweeping you off your feet."

"You're crazy!" Kelly joked.

"Only about you." he replied.

Carlos woke up early the next morning, got dressed and went out Trent and Kelly. He had to admit the clean, fresh morning air smelled good. "Maybe Trent and Kelly are right about the outdoors." he thought. Laughing, he added, "But I'll never admit that to either one of them." He decided he would pick out a good picnic area down by the lake. He remembered that Kelly loved picnics. He had walked about half a mile when he heard voices. He decided to see if there were more vactioners nearby. He had gotten only a few yards when everything went black.

By the time Kelly had gotten up, Trent had already fixed the coffee. "Where's Carlos?" she asked.

"He left this note," he answered, handing it to her. "Says he went for a walk and would be back soon."

"Just between you and me, Trent, I think the fresh air is finally getting to Carlos."

"I think you're right." Trent agreed, laughing.

"Any idea how long he's been gone?"

"Well, I've been up for about half an hour and he was gone then. Don't worry, he'll probably be back before you know it."

"Yeah, you're right. Pour me some of that coffee, will you?"

An hour had passed and Carlos still had not returned. Kelly was starting to get worried. "Trent, do you think we should go looking for him?"

"We'll wait another fifteen minutes."

"And then?"

Trent could hear the concern in her voice. "Then we'll go find him."

Fifteen minutes went by and no Carlos. "Let's go, Trent. I think something has happened to him."

"I think you're right. All right, let's go."

Carlos woke up with his head pounding. Everything was fuzzy, but was clearing. When his sight was finally clear enough to see his surroundings, he found a man sitting on the opposite side of the room staring at him. Carlos finally recognized him - Elmo Hughes.

"Well, well. If it isn't my old friend Officer Carlos Sandoval?" Hughes jeered. "Imagine running into you way out here."

"Yeah, lucky me." Carlos replied, sitting up. "Where am I? What am I doing here?"

"Since I'm pretty sure you didn't follow me out here, I'd say that you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, Officer Sandoval. Unfortunately for you, that will be your last mistake." Hughes laughed.

"I wish Carlos had left some indication in the note as to which way he went." Kelly stated frustrated.

"I know. He could have gone anywhere. But I don't think we should split up."

"I agree. Okay. Do we continue in this direction or try another one?"

"Let's keep following this trail. At least for a little while." Trent suggested.

They continued to walk for another quarter of a mile when Kelly spotted something on the ground. After picking it up, she exclaimed, "It's Carlos' watch! He definitely went this way!"

Walker, Trivette, and Alex arrived at the camp. Trent had invited them to join Carlos, Kelly and himself. "Where do you think they are?" Alex asked.

"Maybe they went for a walk or are fishing down the lake somewhere." Trivette suggested.

"No. They're not fishing. Their poles are still here." Walker answered pointing toward the cabins. "Here's a note." After reading it, he looked up.

"What does it say?" Trivette asked.

"Carlos apparently left it for Trent and Kelly. It says he went for walk."

"Do you think Trent and Kelly went to find him?" Alex asked.

"Maybe." Walker answered.

"You think there's something wrong, don't you?" Trivette asked him.

"Yeah, I do."

"Okay, which way do we go?"

"Down the lake. Alex, stay here in case they come back, okay?"

"Sure. Take care." she replied.

Trent and Kelly inspected the area around where they found Carlos' watch. Someone had apparently been dragged off to the east. "Do you think Carlos was the one who was carried off?" Kelly asked Trent, worry in her voice.

"Probably. But why?"

Suddenly they heard twigs snap behind them. They quickly hid in some nearby bushes. As the footsteps got closer, they peered through the branches to see who it was. Gradually the strangers came into view. "Walker!" Trent exclaimed. "Boy are we glad to see you." he added as he and Kelly came out of hiding.

"Are you two all right?" Trivette asked.

"We're fine." Kelly answered. "It's Carlos we're worried about."

"Where is he?" Walker wanted to know.

"We don't know. We found his watch here and it looks like someone was dragged off." Trent answered.

"Then let's see where it leads." Walker suggested.

Carlos watched as Hughes and several others loaded what looked like weapons onto a truck. He was being held in a small shack. Armed guards stood outside the door and there was no back door. No escape. He knew that Trent and Kelly would be looking for him by now, but he had not told them exactly where he went. Would they find him in time? By now, Hughes and the others were loading the last of their cargo. Hughes started toward the shack. "Come out Sandoval!" Hughes shouted.

Carlos stepped out slowly. Hughes raised his gun. "Now, Sandoval. Your time has come. We're ready to leave and we can't leave any witnesses behind."

Trent, Kelly, Walker and Trivette followed the trail for a mile. Suddenly they could hear voices up ahead. As they approached the clearing cautiously, they could see a huge truck and men loading cargo into it. "Looks like weapons." Trivette observed.

"Yeah, it does." Walker agreed.

"Where is Carlos?" Kelly asked.

"There he is!" Trent pointed. "He's coming out of that shack."

"Oh, no." Kelly whispered.

"What's wrong?" Trent wanted to know.

"That man. That's Elmo Hughes!"

"Are you sure?" Walker asked.

"Yes." she replied. "I saw his file. That's him!"

"We've got to get Carlos out of there before Hughes kills him." Trent stated.

"Move, Sandoval!" Hughes ordered. "Into the woods. It'll be a long time before anyone finds your body." Carlos and Hughes had reached the edge of the woods when suddenly there was an explosion. Taking advantage of the distraction, Carlos swung around and kicked the gun out of Hughes' hand. Using the techniques Trent had taught him, he quickly subdued Hughes. He picked up Hughes' gun and marched him back to the camp.

To create a distraction, Walker shot a barrel containing gasoline. The following explosion caused confusion in the camp. The men started to flee. Not expecting the ambush the men were quickly captured by Walker, Trivette, Trent and Kelly. They were tied up with rope, Trent had found.

"Where's Carlos and Hughes?" Kelly asked.

"Right here." a voice answered behind them.

Turning, they saw Hughes coming toward them with Carlos following. Trivette took possession of Hughes and tied him up with the others.

"Are you all right?" Kelly asked hugging him.

"Fine. Thanks to all of you." Carlos replied.

"We're just glad you're okay, buddy." Trent stated, shaking Carlos' hand. "We were worried."

"What happened?" Walker asked.

"I went for a walk and must have gotten to close to them. I heard voices and started to find out where they were coming from when someone hit me from behind. I woke up here. Apparently they were smuggling guns."

"Yeah, but now they are out of business." Walker replied. "Trivette called for backup. They should be here soon to pick Hughes and the others up."

"Good." stated Carlos. Turning to Trent, he asked, "Then can we go home? I told you that nature and I don't get along."

"Absolutely, buddy." Trent answered laughing. "Absolutely."