Steppin' Out
By ABs and Donna

Things were quiet in the clinic now. Prudence was resting comfortably, with 
Mosby and Doc Adams at her bedside. Ru, now that he had been given IV fluids was stabilizing, but he was going to need some building up, both physically and mentally. Sean Burns had been notified, and he was hanging around, waiting for a chance to talk to the severely depressed man. The only one who wasn't resting quietly was Sal. He was restless. Although still not quite 100%, he thought he felt well enough to be released, and was trying to talk the doctors into letting him go.

Crystal, on her daily visits, urged him to do so. "There's a big world out there," she told Sal. "An' it's time to go look at it. Where you plannin' on goin'?" she asked curiously. She hadn't really figured out what she was 
going to do herself yet.

"I want to look at the farms," he said. "Methos told me that there is always a need for someone who can train horses here on this world."

"I like horses, too," said Crystal. "I can ride, but I'm no big expert on 'em or anything." She sighed, missing her brothers and other friends, then smiled at Sal. "Course, you can always show me a thing or two. Either way, I can ride out with you to look around."

"I would like that, Bella," he said with a smile of his own. The two of them were close, almost like family. They found it easy to talk to each other. "Now, just to get the doctors to agree to it!"

Crystal mused. "The doctors are men, aren't they? I haven't had a man turn me down since I was ten." She grinned. "Next time one comes in, watch my stuff, Tesoro."

He grinned at her and resumed his nervous pacing of the room. A few minutes later, Dr Helm entered. With two other patients in the clinic, he was thinking about letting Sal go, on the condition he come back in at least once a week until they were sure he was fully recovered.

Crystal was sitting on the bed, swinging her legs. "So," she grinned, "what's a gal gotta do to get outta here?"

Helm laughed. "You're not a patient here, Miss Verdi. You can leave any time." He was about to say, "And so can he," but he had a feeling the couple had been scheming behind his back, and he wanted to see what they were going to do.

"Hmn, but I have to come BACK every day," she grinned. 

"I want to find my own place," the Sicilian said, his intense eyes meeting 
Helm's. "I am well now, thanks to the skill of you doctors. It is time now 
for me to leave here, no?"

"Yes. And no. You'd still have to come back for check ups, until you are 
completely healed. I cannot let you leave until you agree to that stipulation." Smiling, he turned to Crystal and added, "You don't have to come with him on those visits, unless you want to."

She giggled, "And miss seeing YOUR face, Doc? I wouldn't dream of it."

She was flirting outrageously, even though she knew he was married. Helm smiled at her and told her that his face was available anytime she wanted to look at it. And pretty much everywhere she turned! Salvatore agreed to the terms, and hurriedly packed the few belongings he had been collecting. "I will return in a few days then," he said as he pulled out his riding pants and boots.

"You had better! Miss Verdi, you will keep after him, won't you?"

"I'll be on him like a blooded stallion," she joked, winking at them both.

Sal chuckled, a faint blush darkening his tanned skin. Taking the riding britches in hand, he went into the little bathroom to change, and a few minutes later he was ready to leave. "Let's go, Bella," he said. "We have a brand new world to explore!" Taking her by the hand, he walked out with a big smile on his usually serious face.

***

Some time later, the two were mounted and heading out toward the farms. Sal was somewhat upset because the horse he'd arrived on was missing. "He was a lot better quality than most of the ones the others are riding," he fumed. "I will have to ask Methos what happened to him." He conveniently left out the fact that he had stolen him in the first place back in Sicily. As they rode, they passed Carol's farm and the MacLeod place. On the other side of the road from those, they saw the huge manor home that was the homestead for Grey's farm. A magnificent bay stallion bugled a greeting at them from his paddock. "Now that is a horse!" Salvatore said admiringly.

"I like black horses," said Crystal dreamily. "Always wanted one of my own. You know, like the ones in the movies." 

"Like that one?" he asked, pointing at a young horse playing in a nearby field with a bunch of others. He was solid black, except for a star in the middle of his forehead. "I can see if Grey would let me train him up for you."

"He's beautiful," said Crystal. "But it would take some training. As you can see, I didn't get far with my lessons. It was about the time my mother 
left and . . . well, I had to stop."

"I can train you both then," the Sicilian said. "Starting with a horse like you are riding now, and working up to a high spirited colt like that black." They continued to talk as they rode, until they saw a trail leading to another farm off to the side. A stone villa that looked like it came straight from Italy sat on top of a small hill.

"Boy," said Crystal, "that looks like something out of 'The Godfather'. Does Sicily really look like that?"

"Yes," he said, a sigh of homesickness escaping him. He stood in the stirrups, looking around. The fields were empty and untended. There was no sign of anyone living there. The place had an empty, yet welcoming feel to it. "Let's go look at it."

"Okay," said Crystal, eager to have him settled, but somewhat unsettled herself. She couldn't see herself out here, as much as it called to her through her genetic bonds. It was home, but not her home. Something to be loved and revered, but from a distance.

They tied the horses at a hitching post and then climbed the steps to the house. There was a large paved patio outside of it, with a smaller covered area where a table sat, covered with a layer of dust. The door of the house swung open, revealing it furnished, but unlived in.

"It's beautiful," Crystal said, looking around. "They told me the places were ready to move into, but I didn't believe them."

"This is mine," he said firmly. Walking around the house, they found a small 
tower and after climbing up to the roof, they looked out over the hills surrounding them and to the distant farms below. "La Torretta," he said softly.

Crystal nodded. "Good name for it," she said. "Welcome home, Torrie." 

Salvatore wrapped his arm around Crystal's shoulder and held her to his side. "Si," he said. "La Torretta. My home."