Rating: PG
 

Scene One: One month after Rory was shot, she and Ashley have become fast friends. They are at The Thunder Investigation Office with Kim, the guys aren’t there yet. Rory is writing a note for Carlos.

Rory:(To Ashley.) I can’t believe that Jarvis fired you.

Ashley:No big deal. It gives me more time to work here.

Kim:I’ll tell you what, ever since you rewired up here, I haven’t had to replace any fuses.

Ashley:And you won’t have to. I put in a breaker box. Also, all of you computer components are now plugged into extentions with surge protectors. You shouldn’t have any more problems. Oh, and the fire proof file cabinets I ordered should be here on Thursday.

Kim:I still can’t believe you’re doing this for nothing.

Ashley:Nothing? Is that what they told you? Actually, Kim, I’m taking it out in sexual favors. (Kim’s eyes get wide and then she realizes that Ash is kidding.)

Kim:Ha ha!!!

Rory:Kim, are you sure you don’t want to come with us? Flea markets are a blast.

Kim:Possitive. I’m just not the outdoor type. You know?

Rory:Okay. Here’s the note for Carlos.

Ashley:Are you sure he won’t mind us taking the Durango?

Rory:Na. He wont care. However, I will have to endure another lecture about my crappy truck and all the reasons why I should replace it.

Kim:Why don’t you replace it? It’s disgusting.

Rory:It has sentimental value. (Carlos and Trent walk in.)

Carlos:What does?

Kim:Her truck.

Carlos:(Hugging Rory.)Good God! Don’t get me started. Where is the rolling scrap heap?

Rory:I had it towed to Jack’s. It wouldn’t start again.

Trent:(Had given Ash a kiss and was standing next to her with his arm across her shoulders.) Well, that explains why you haven’t left for the flea market yet.

Ashley: Yeay, the Stealth isn’t very practical for bargain hunting so we were gonna borrow the durango.

Carlos:Oh really? I don’t think so. (The girls both look at him surprised.)

Rory:What?

Carlos:Did I stutter? No!!

Rory:Why?

Carlos:The last time you borrowed my truck you got a scratch on the door.

Rory:Oh! That was not my fault, and you know it. Besides, I got it fixed.

Carlos:Forget it. (He walks into the inner office with Rory hot on his heals. She shuts the door bedhind them.)

Trent:(to Ashley.) How’s the job hunting? Any new offers?

Ashley:Nothing new since yesterday.

Kim:You did’t tell me that you had some job offers. That’s great.

Ashley:Just a couple of offers. I turned them down.

Kim:Didn’t they offer you enough money?

Ashley:Money isn’t the issue. It’s the location. None of the offers are from here in Dallas, and I kind of like it here. (She looks into Trents eyes.)

Kim:Well, on that note, I think I’ll make a haistey retreat. I’ve got to run to the bank.(She leaves.)

Trent:You know, you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss those job offers.  Random Security in Chicago offered you $125,000.00 a year to start.

Ashley:Are you trying to get rid of me?

Trent:(Pulling her into his arms.) No, I just don’t want for you to regret passing up an opportunity becouse of me.

Ashley:Don’t worry, loverboy. I still have a trick or two up my sleeve. (They kiss.)

Rory:(Inside the inner office.)Forget it? What does that mean?  You’re not gonna let us borrow it?

Carlos:(Smiling slyly.) Perhaps, I could be persuaded. (He sits back on the desk.)

Rory:(Smiling, she grabs the lapels of his jacket and plants a big kiss on his lips. The kiss becomes passionate and he pulls her close. He leans back on the desk pulling her on top of him. She climbs up on the desk with him and...) Aaaaahhh!!!

Carlos:(Sits up quickly and straightens her up.) Are you okay? (She nods yes but doesn’t say anything. Her eyes are closed and she has her arms protectivly around her mid section.) Rory?

Rory:I’m Okay. (He helps her get off of the desk and she turns her back to him. He puts his arms around her from behind and rests his chin on her shoulder.) Oh, Carlos. I am so tired of this. I just want to get back to normal again.

Carlos:One day at a time, sweetheart. (She faces Him.) We’ll just have to settle for slow, (He kisses her) sensual, (kiss) lovemaking (kiss) instead of ....

Rory:Acrobats on the desk?

Carlos:Exactly. (He kisses her softly but passionately.)

Rory:I’m so board, Carlos.

Carlos:Well, if you’d stop talking and start getting into this you might not be.(he looks at her.)

Rory:You know what I mean. I want to go back to work. I can’t seem to find enough to keep me out of trouble.

Carlos:(Putting his hand into her hair which is now just past her shoulder and curly and a lighter shade of red.) I noticed.

Rory:What? Now you don’t like my hair?

Carlos:I didn’t say that. Just dont cut it any shorter. When do you go back to the doctor?

Rory:Next week.

Carlos:You’re not ready to go back to work.

Rory;I know that!

Carlos:(Holding up the keys to the Durango. Rory smiles at him  devilishly and pulls his extra set out of her pocket.) Be careful. And don’t do anything stupid.

Rory:Maybe I’ll get a tattoo!

Carlos:(Puts his forehead to her forehead and says) Please dont.
 

Scene Two: The girls have left and Trent and Carlos are talking about Ashley’s case.

Carlos: Well, we’ve got the name and address of the people who adopted Ashley’s daughter. What do we do now?

Trent: I’ve been thinking about that and I’m really not sure.

Carlos: I think that we should make contact with Mr. Prichard.  Explain to him who we are and ask him if she’s okay.

Trent: Okay. What if she’s being abused? What if he’s the one doing it?

Carlos: Yeah, and what if there really is a Santa Clause? Come on Trent. There’s no evidence of any kind of abuse. We’ve checked her previous medical records and her school files.  She’s a beautiful, normal, well adjusted teenager, which, in itself is quite a feat these days.

Trent: There was nothing recent in the medical records, and of course she’s a good student, her biological mother is a genious.

Carlos: Down, Boy! Look, I don’t want to argue with you over this.  We need to make a decision here. What are we gonna do?

Trent: Let’s go talk to Mr. Prichard.
 

Scene Three: The girls have arrived at the Flea Marke. They are walking among the merchants.

Rory: Ash, I know that you’re dragging the uppercuts job out. Why?

Ashley: I like hanging around with the guys.

Rory: What are you up to?

Ashley: You’ll think it’s stupid.

Rory: Try me.

Ashley: Originally, I had this plan to work for ten years and then go into business for myself. Here I am, half way through my ten years and I find myself looking for a job. I don’t want to look for a job. I don’t want to work for someone else.

Rory: So, dont. Start your own company.

Ashley: I don’t have enough money to get started.

Rory: My family has a construction business. They’re always looking for new ventures. I could talk to my dad. He’d go for it.

Ashley: Then I’ll be working for your father. Nothing personal, but no thanks. Actually, I have a better idea. Carlos and Trent have been hinting about Security to Thunder Investigation.  I am going to make them an offer.

Rory: What kind of offer?

Ashley: I want to buy into the business. Become a partner. What do you think?

Rory: You want to join the boys club. Business wise I think it’s a terrific idea, but I just don’t know if they’ll go for it.  And another thing you should consider. You and Trent are seeing each other, can the two of you work together, professionaly, without getting on each others nerves?

Ashley: I honestly don’t know.

Rory: Maybe, what you should do, is to work for them on a trial  basis, say six months, then if things are working out, buy into the business then.

Ashley: I like it. I’ll work up a business proposition and spring it on them at the end of the week.
 

Scene Four: Carlos and Trent arrive at Mr. Prichard’s office. He  is a Lawyer in Fort Worth.

Carlos: (Shaking Mr. Prichard’s hand.) Thank you for seeing us without an appointment.

Mr. Prichard:Mr. Sandoval, (He shakes Trent’s hand too.) Mr. Malloy, what can I do for you?

Trent: Mr. Prichard, we’ve come to ask you some questions about your daughter, Breanna.

Mr. Prichard:What? Why?

Carlos: We know that Breanna was adopted, and we...

Mr. Prichard:Did my wife hire you?

Trent: No sir. Why would your wife hire Private Detectives?

Mr. Prichard:If she didn’t hire you, then who did?

Trent: Breanna’s biological mother.

Mr. Prichard:What? (He sits down hard in his chair.) Is this some kind of joke? Does she think that she can just waltz in here, into our lives. What does she want? She can’t have our little girl back. Is she here with you?

Carlos: Mr. Prichard, calm down. Let us explain. Breanna’s real  mother hired us for one reasong. She wanted to make sure that her daughter was okay.

Trent: That’s right. She has instructed us not to tell her your name or even Breanna’s. All she wants to know is if Breanna is okay.

Mr. Prichard:Why would she do that?

Trent: She has been having nightmares, about Breanna. She was afraid that her daughter was in trouble. She dousn’t want to disrupt your lives.

Mr. Prichard:(Puts his face in his hands.) I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. (Trent and Carlos just look at him.) You see, Breanna has been diagnosed with lukemia. My wife and I discussed trying to find her real mother, but we couln’t afford it, what with the medical bills mounting like they are. We’ve been praying for a miracle. Do you think that she would help us?

Trent: You realize that even though she is Breanna’s biological mother, she may not be an exact match?

Mr. Prichard:I know it’s a long shot. But at the moment, it’s the only chance we have. If she’s not a match, maybe she’ll know how to contact the father.

Carlos: The Father is dead. He was killed in a car accident twelve years ago.

Trent: We’ll talk to her and get back to you.

Mr. Prichard:(Stands and shakes their hands again.) Please, don’t wait. Breanna’s time is running out.
 

Scene five: Ashley and Rory had piled a bunch of the ‘treasures’ that they’d purchased at the Flea Market into the Durango and headed back into the fray for more bargains. They come to a table where a woman is piercing a man’s eyebrow. The girls stop to watch.

Ashley: That hurts just watching it.

Rory; Maybe I should get my bellybutton pierced.

Ashley: (Looks at her friend in horror.)NO! (She grabs Rory by the arm and pulls her away.) What is up with you lately? In the last week, you’ve had your hair cut, permed and colored.  You’re lucky Carlos even recognises you.

Rory: I can’t help it. When I get board I have to find things to do. I’ve had way to much time on my hands. I couldn’t get my hair to do anything, so I got it trimmed. Then is was too straight, so I got it curled, and the color is only a shade lighter.

Ashley: I’ll give you something to do, just promise me you wont start mutilating your body. I know, this weekend, I was planning on painting the guys office. You can help me with that.

Rory: Alright. I get the point. (They are walking through the crowds when they both notice some menacing looking clouds in the distance, and the wind picks up.) Looks like a storm blowing in.

Asley: Do you think we should head back?

Rory: Not yet. There’s a fortune teller over there. Lets have our palms read.

Ashley: Oh brother! Woman, you need a hobby!

Rory: Once I get back to work, I wont have time for a hobby, so why should i start one now? (They get to the booth where Madamm Sasha is seated.) We want to have our fourtunes read. How much?

Madamm Sasha:Five dollars each.

Ashley: This is stupid.

Rory: Oh, come on. It’s just for fun. (She hands the lady a ten dollar bill.) Me first. (Madamm Sasha takes her hand and studies it.)

Madamm Sasha:Your life is filled with danger and excitement. You are in love. You will marry this man and have many children, I see six in all. You will live to be 91. (Ashley rolls her eyes.)

Ashley: (Madamm Sasha takes her hands.) Okay, lets get it over with.

Madamm Sasha:You are very career oriented. You will be very successful in business endeavors. You will marry within the next two months and you will give birth to a total of three childred. Your childs life is in perril and she needs you to save her life. (Ashley quickly pulls her hand back.)

Ashley: (Stands and turns to Rory.) I think we should go. (The girls start heading back to the Durango when the people in the crowd start pointing at the sky. They both turn and look up. The menacing clowd from earlier was swirling and creating a funnel. Oh my God! Is that?

Rory: A tornado! We need to find cover. (They look around quickly and notice a small creek at the far side of the field with a small foot bridge over it.) There! (The two take off running towards the creek. People are running every direction. They get to the bridge and jump in undernieth. They hunker down and entangle their arms and legs in the overgrowth. They both close their eyes and start to pray.)
 

Scene Six: Carlos and Trent are at Uppercuts, sitting with Butch at the bar. It’s the middle of the afternoon and there aren’t many people around yet.

Carlos: Looks like Ash’s dreams weren’t just dreams.

Trent: Yeah.

Butch: Do you think that she’ll do it?

Trent: Yes, I know that she will.

Butch: Say, where are the girls today? I haven’t had either one under foot all day.

Carlos: They went to a Flea Market up in Ketchum. Thank God Rory found something to do today. She’s already threatened to get a tatoo.

Butch: Hey, I like what she did to her hair. It looks sharp.

Carlos: I liked it longer. She used to...

Trent: Please don’t expound on that. (He notices a news flash on the tv screen.) Butch, can you turn that up?

Butch: Sure thing. (They listen to the announcer talk about a tornado that ripped through Ketchum. It touched down in a field where a Flea Market was being held.)

Carlos: (He and Trent jump up out of there seats.) Oh My God!!! (The newsman is saying that there were many casualties and even more injured. The injured were being taken to a nearby hospital.

Trent: We’ll start there, at the hospital.

Butch: What can I do?

Trent: Pray. (He and Carlos run for the door.)
 

Scene Seven:Mercy Hospital Emergency Room looked more like a zoo.

Carlos and Trent ran in and made their way through a sea of people to get to the main desk.

Carlos: I’m looking for my girlfriend. (The woman sitting there looks up at him.) She’s about 5’9", red hair.

Receptionist:I’m sorry. If you’re not wounded or in need of medical attention, you’re going to have to leave.

Trent: Look, we’re just trying to...

Receptionist:I know! You look, I’ve got about 20 people back here waiting for the doctors to get to them and another 30 or 40 waiting out here in the waiting area. Trying to find anyone in this chaos is impossible right now, so please, look around if you must but don’t bother me unless you’re injured.

Trent: (Giving a frustrated sigh.) Okay. You go that way, I’ll go this way. (They move off in different directions checking the faces of the people around them. Trent sees a red head across the room by the payphone. He heads that direction.)

Rory: (At the payphone, calling Carlos’ cell phone. It rings twice and then he answers.) Carlos!

Carlos: Rory! Where the hell are you?

Rory: I’m at Mercy East. (She hears the commotion through the phone) Where are you?

Carlos: I’m here too. Where are you?

Rory: I’m at the payphone by the front door.(Just then Trent reaches her side.) Trent’s here by me.

Carlos: Don’t move. (He hangs up and moves as quickly as he can to the front doors.)

Rory: Hey, Trent! (He puts his arms around her in a bear hug.)

Trent: We’ve been so worried. (Carlos arrives and takes her into his arms.) Where’s Ashley?

Rory: She’s in one of the examining rooms. (Carlos holds her closer.) She’s okay, Trent. Maybe a broken arm at the worst.

Trent: Really, she’s okay?

Rory: She’s okay. (The trio wait for about an hour when Ashley finally emerges from the ER. Her arm is in a sling and she has a bandage on her forehead.)

Trent; Ashley. (He puts his arms around her, and the four leave the building.)

Carlos: There is a motel across the street, why don’t we see about  getting a couple rooms. Trent and I can get the Durango in the morning.

Rory: Oh Lord! Carlos, I....

Carlos: Don’t even say it, woman. I’ll assess the damage tomorrow.  Ashley, are you okay?

Ashley: (Totally looped from pain killers.) Huh? Oh sure. I’m good.

Trent: (Looking into her eyes.)Painkillers?

Ashley: Oh yeah! (She gives him a dopey smile.)

Trent: Come on. Carlos, you guys walk across, I’ll take Ash in the car. (Trent helps Ashley get in.)

Ashley: Thanks. (Trent get in and starts the vette.) Trent, you are soooo cute.

Trent: Oh yeah? (Smiling, he eggs her on.) Tell me more.

Ashley: You are. I think you’re the most handsome, sexy and sweetest man I have ever known. (He smiles at her.) Really, Trent, I’m not kidding. I really love you.

Trent: (Pulls the car into a spot at the motel.)Ash, I really hope that you remember this when the the drugs wear off, becouse I love you too. (She gives him the dopey smile and looks into his eyes.)

Carlos: (opens her door and helps her to stand.) Carefull, Ash. I’ve got you. (To Rory.) I wonder what they gave her.

Rory: I wonder if she has any extra to share. (She takes Ashley’s arm and the two wait while the boys procure a couple of rooms.)
 

Scene Eight: Carlos and Rory are alone in their room.

Carlos: Are you sure you’re okay? (He inspects the scratches on her arms and neck.)

Rory: (Nodding, she steps into his arms and holds on tight.) Just hold me.

Carlos: (Smiles.) Remember the last time you said that to me?

Rory: (Smiles too.) Yeah. Oh, Carlos, It was awful. I’ve never been so scared in my life.

Carlos: It’s over now. (He takes her face into his hands. Their lips meet tenerly.)

Rory: I really need a shower. (She pulls away and walks to the bath-room.)

Carlos: You said it! (Rory picks up a towel and throws it at him. He laughs out loud.)

Rory: Are you gonna wash my back?

Carlos: (Picks up the towel off of the floor.) Oh yeah! (He runs for the bathroom.)
 

Scene nine: Trent and Ashley are alone in their room. Ashley is sitting on the bed, still looped from the drugs.

Trent: Ashley, honey, are you sure you’re okay?

Ashley: Oh yeah! It’s not broken, just dislocated. When the doctor popped it back into place, I kicked him in the knee. (She leans forward so their foreheads are touching.) I was aiming higher but I missed.

Trent: Okay. Come on. (He helps her up and guides her into the bathroom.)

Ashley: Where are we going?

Trent: To get washed up.

Ashley: Why? Are we dirty? (She gigles.)

Trent: (Carefully he removes the sling and then her shirt. He stands her up and undoes her jeans. She i looking into his eyes.) What?

Ashley: You have the most beautiful eyes. (She reaches up with her good hand and touches his face with her fingertips. She leans forward to kiss him but he forces her to sit down.) Why did you do that?

Trent: Ash, you’re high on painkillers. You dont know what you’re saying or doing. (He fills the sink with water and starts to gently wash the dirt away.)

Ashley: (A tear slips down her cheek.) I knew it. You don’t love me.  What am I gonna do about the baby?

Trent: The what? Ashley, what did you just say? (She starts to cry.)  Ashley, (He puts his arms around her.) I do love you, very very much.

Ashley: Really?

Trent: Really. (He puts her to bed and sits in a chair next to her.) Now, go to sleep. You need to rest.

Ashley: (Yawning.) Aren’t you coming too.

Trent; In a minute. (She falls asleep as he tucks her in. He sits down and watches her.) Baby?