Trina sat on the couch and looked at the clock. Two o'clock. Ezra wouldn' t be home for at least four hours, and she had no idea when-or even if-Drew would be back tonight. Drew had been spending more and more time with Buck, and Trina missed her friend terribly, though she knew Drew and Buck were destined for each other, and Drew was happy. Trina hated lying to Ezra, even if it was a lie of omission.

She wanted to make something special for dinner tonight, and that meant she needed to go to the market. It was still so hot outside, and she knew that walking to town would only make her ill. Her red car sat in the driveway. Trina knew she should wait for someone to get home, but she was tired of feeling trapped at Ezra's townhouse.

Trapped while Drew went to work. Trapped because when Ezra came home he usually didn't want to go out. She had enjoyed their trip to the observatory and the picnic under the stars. And she could understand him not wanting to run errands with her when he got home from work. She didn't want to run errands then either.

Trina grabbed her purse and got out her keys. Buck and Ezra had both shown her how to drive, she was going to go on her own.

Trina got behind the wheel of the car. She needed to go to the market and get some vegetables and fruits, the grocery and pick up a couple things, and she also wanted to go to Second Hand Sue's and see what the consignment shop had. She'd seen it a couple of times, but had never had the chance to go inside a store like that. Trina decided to go there first.

Trina started the car and drove off. She couldn't believe how nervous she was. What if she messed up, what if she hit something, what had she been thinking? She went carefully, more slowly than most drivers. She jumped every time someone passed her, many after honking at her. But she wanted to get out, and she knew that going too fast was dangerous, and would only attract attention.

Trina pulled in to town and went into the store. She walked through and looked at all of the clothes. Some looked new and off the rack; others looked well loved, but were still in good condition. She spent a few minutes just looking around, but didn't make any purchases.

When she was done looking around, she went back out to the car and drove towards the little grocery/market.

JD Dunne sat in the patrol car and shook his head. What the hell was she doing driving? Trina MacKinnon did not have a driver's license. He followed her and turned on the siren and lights. The red mustang slowed down and pulled over.

At least she had enough sense not to try to out run him.

JD pulled up behind her and got out of his car. He walked up to Trina and tapped on the windshield.

She rolled her window down. "I-"

"Trina, can I see your driver's license, please?" JD said. He knew she didn't have one, and he watched her pale.

"I dinna have one."

"Then I can't let you drive. Please step out of the car."

"But I needed to-"

"Trina, you do not have a driver's license. For your safety, and that of everyone else, you have to have one that proves you know how to operate that vehicle."

Trina just nodded and got out of the car.

"I'm afraid you'll have to come with me."

"I'm sorry. Please don't arrest me."

"Ain't arresting you. But I can't leave you out here by yourself, and I can't let you drive. So we're gonna lock up this car, and I'm gonna take you back to the station. Then I'm gonna come out here and get your car and bring it back to town. I get off in an hour, and I'll teach you some, and see if I think you could pass the test." JD smiled to her.

"Really? Oh thank you JD!" Trina said with a bright smile. "I've just felt so trapped. I can't walk to town and Drew can't drive me. And Ezra works."

"I know. Come on, let's get you to the station where it is cool. K?"

Trina nodded and locked her car. She got in the patrol car and buckled her seat belt. JD did the same and soon they were driving back toward town.

"Base to Unit 1. Come in."

"Base, this is Unit 1," JD responded.

"Unit 1, we have a 10-10 at Organ Pipe."

"10-4," JD said and put the car in gear. He looked to her. "Sorry, Trina, gonna have to take a detour."

"What happened?"

"There's a fight out at the park. Gotta go break it up."

Trina nodded and held on to the door handle as JD hit the accelerator and drove towards Organ Pipe Park. She didn't like traveling this fast, and she knew she couldn't complain. It was her own fault she was in this position.

JD pulled up to the disturbance and parked the car. "Stay here!" he said. Trina nodded. She wasn't about to get out in the middle of that.

She could see two kids fighting, and a crowd surrounding them. One of the boys had a knife and was slashing it in the air. Trina was really scared that JD couldn't handle the situation, that he'd get hurt.

She watched amazed as JD broke up the fight, subdued the participants, dispersed the crowd, and placed the two teens under arrest. He cuffed them and led them to the car. Trina sat quietly as the two new passengers got settled. Before JD got in the car, the two boys started in at her.

"Hey there luscious."

"Yo Red. Give me a kiss."

Trina ignored them and was grateful for the screen separating the back from the front. She felt someone blowing on her and turned around. One of the boys smiled at her. "Imagine my fingers where my eyes are, Darlin'."

Trina frowned and looked to JD as he got in the car.

"Quiet back there," he snarled. "Sorry about that, Trina."

"Trina. Oh, I like that name."

The other boy then moaned her name.

"I said Shut UP." JD turned around and glared at them.

"What you gonna do? Arrest us?"

"You're already under arrest, Jack. But you keep this up, and I'll tell her boyfriend about you. You don't want to meet him."

Trina looked at JD. Did Ezra consider her to be his girlfriend, or was JD just saying that to quiet the teens in the back?

They did quiet down, but she felt incredibly uncomfortable in the car. She could feel them staring at the back of her head. She had her back to them, and jumped when she felt her hair being pulled. It wasn't being yanked, just being touched.

By that time, JD had pulled in to town. He stopped at the Grille and parked the car. JD walked around and let Trina out. "I'll let Ezra know you're over here. It's gonna be a while before I have the paperwork on these two finished."

"Thanks JD."

"I'm real sorry I couldn't teach you some today."

Trina shook her head. "That's all right." She looked back to the car. "Thanks for not making me stay in there any more."

"Yeah, well, I'm going to be real slow with their papers. Make it a while before they can call their lawyers and get out."

Trina nodded. She wasn't really hungry so she crossed the street, deciding to visit with Karol while she was in town. Trina knocked and opened the door.

"Karol?" Trina inquired as she came in.

"I'm in the back."

Trina took that as an invitation and walked in the back. "Hello."

"Hey there Trina. How are you today?"

Trina just shrugged, then she heard a soft 'mew'. "Ye have kittens!" Trina exclaimed as she rushed over to the basket. "Ach. They're precious."

Karol laughed. "Drew came by earlier and said the same thing." Karol pointed to a fuzzy ball of orange fur. "That's the one she picked out."

"He's adorable," Trina said softly, smiling at the kittens. A gray kitten climbed over the rest trying to get to her. He batted at her red hair and Trina picked him up. "Hello there, little one."

The kitten meowed loudly, and Trina's heart melted. He started purring and she held him close to her.

"That one seems to like you," Karol said.

"Aye. He's just a little angel." Trina held the kitten and looked at him. He looked just like the kitten she'd had once. Fili had been a good cat, and she had missed him so much. Trina looked at Karol.

"Could I take this one home now?" she asked. She couldn't put down the little purring creature.

Karol nodded. Trina continued to hold onto the kitten as the two visited. Trina told her about her adventure that afternoon, and Karol told her about the poor kitten's mother.

"So, what's his name?" Karol asked Trina with a smile.

"Fili."

"That's unusual."

"It's Scottish. It means 'friend'." Trina stroked the kitten and he purred in his sleep. Not once had he tried to get down, though he had tried to climb up to her shoulder. He seemed pretty happy to be held. "I've kept you long enough. Would you like to come over for dinner some time?"

"That sounds great Trina."

"Bring a friend too," Trina said with a smile.

Karol nodded, and Trina could tell she'd been thinking about someone. "Would ye mind if I used your phone? I'll need to call someone to come get me."

Karol handed her the phone and Trina dialed up the house.

"Hallo. Ezra?"

"Trina, where have you been? I've been worried," Ezra said softly.

"I thought Mr. Dunne was goin ta tell ya that I was in town," she said. "I'm at Karol's, but I need a ride back."

He paused a moment and she could hear him talking in the background. "Drew just told me Buck should be leaving to come here shortly. Can you meet him at the Standish Grille?"

"Aye."

"She'll call him and ask him to stop by and pick you up."

Trina smiled. "All right." She hung up.

"Buck is going to pick me up at the Standish Grille."

Karol handed Trina a cardboard box. "For Fili." Trina had already bought kitten food and a collar. She smiled and put the stuff in the box. She put the kitten in there and lifted up the box. Fili curled up on the bag of food and went to sleep.

Trina crossed the street and sat on the bench outside the Grille and waited for Buck. About five minutes passed and his truck rolled to a stop. Trina walked over to it.

"What ya got there?"

"A kitten," Trina said with a smile.

Ezra smiled when Trina came inside. Drew was upset with him, but he just knew that he didn't want a kitten in his home. Kittens had claws and they scratched things up. They shed and left fur everywhere. And he did not want to even consider the litter box. He was sorry he'd had to disappoint her.

Trina smiled brightly at him as she carried a box inside. Buck went over to Drew and hugged her. Trina set the box down and pulled out a kitten.

"Ezra, I wanted you to meet Fili. I'd have asked if it was all right, but I knew Drew was already getting a kitten an he reminded me so verra much of me own kitten back home that I just had to have him. Isn't he adorable?" She quickly shoved the purring ball of gray fur into his arms. It looked up at him.

"Mew"

Trina smiled to him. She was so happy and proud of this little kitten that he couldn't tell her to take him back. Then the little critter put his paw up and tapped Ezra's chest. He rubbed his face against Ezra's arm.

"Hello Fili. Welcome home."

"Ezra, that isn't fair! You told me I couldn't have one!" Drew was furious.

"Ach! I'm sorry! I thought-"

"Trina, darlin', this is not your fault. And he is absolutely wonderful. But Drew, we really shouldn't have two kittens. One is quite enough."

Drew's eyes widened.

"If you live with me, I'll let you have a kitty," Buck put in helpfully.

"Stay out of this, Mr. Wilmington. My sister has no need of a kitten."

"But Trina does?"

Ezra looked at Trina and saw how much she already loved this ball of fur. To ask her to take it back was out of the question. Besides, Drew could play with Fili, too. "Yes."

Drew looked at him in shock. "Fine. I'm moving in with Buck!" She opened the door. "I'll be back tomorrow for my things!" Then Drew was out of the house.

Trina looked crushed. She set Fili back in his box and started up the stairs.

"Trina?"

"I have to pack, Ezra," she said softly, and he could hear the tears in her voice. She wouldn't turn around. She just kept walking.

Ezra followed her. "Just because Drew is leaving doesn't mean you have to."

"Yes it does. Wouldn't be proper for me to live with you. I'm here because of her. She's leaving, so I have to also." She sobbed. "And I don't want to live with Buck. He's nice. But he's-"

Ezra wrapped his arms around her. "I don't want you to go."

"I have to."

He held her close and nodded. Ezra lifted her up and carried her up the stairs to his own room. She looked at him.

"Trina, I love you. I want you to stay with me. Please don't leave me." He kissed her as he laid her on the bed.

She gave in to the kiss for just a moment, then she broke it and moved, standing up quickly and backing up against the wall. He could tell he'd scared her a little. Too fast, too desperate.

"I'm sorry, Trina. I don't want to lose you."

"You willna. But I have to pack up. I'll have to find a place to live tomorrow." She looked down.

He walked over to her, pulling her to him. "You have to go. I understand." He kissed her gently and ran his fingers through her hair. "I want to court you correctly," he smiled. "And with you living here...well, I've not been doing that. You do deserve better, my dear."

Trina blushed and smiled. Ezra took her hand and led her down stairs. "We'll pack tomorrow. Tonight, let's just enjoy, all right?"

Trina nodded. She picked up Fili and sat next to Ezra. They played a DVD and Trina played with the kitten. All three of them fell asleep on the couch.

.