"Hamilton is about an hour from here," Carlos told Walker as they waited in line at the car rental booth at Toronto International Airport.

"You’ve been here before?"

"Yeah. Trent and I came up one Christmas with Sam and Sarah." Carlos’ thoughts drifted. Boy, that seemed like a lifetime ago, he thought. Truth was, he hadn’t seen Sarah since…well, since Sam. Sarah left about a week after the funeral and Carlos hadn’t seen her since. She had written him a letter but there had been no return address. He wasn’t sure if she would be happy to see him or throw him out.

**

Trent awoke with a start. As he slowly tried to move he was greeted by a lightening bolt of pain cursing down his leg.

"Shhh, T. Lay still."

Only one person called him T. "Sam?"

"Hi T. Just lay still." She was there, standing beside his bed, looking as beautiful as she always had been. She smiled at him.

He calmed instantly, his mind trying to register what was happening. "Well, I hurt too much to be dead. What are you doing here, Sam?" he whispered.

"Watching over you." The smile faded. "I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him from shooting you."

"You know who did this?"

"Yes." He felt her reach out and brush the hair from his forehead like she had always done.

"God, I’ve missed you," he murmured.

"I know. I’ve been around."

"Why haven’t I seen you before?"

"You didn’t need me before. Or is it was too soon."

"So what happened now?"

"You were shot in the back, T. The bullet is close to your spine but they want to stabilize you before they remove it. But don’t worry. Everything will be fine." He knew she was telling the truth as he felt the back of her hand tracing the line of his cheek. He closed his eyes and reveled in her touch. He could smell her perfume.

"What if I want to go with you?"

She smiled, almost sadly. "You can’t, T. You have too much to do with your life yet."

"And you didn’t?" he said angrily.

"I have another purpose now. Besides, you have someone who loves you almost as much as I do." She motioned her head to the other side of Trent’s bed where Jess was curled, sleeping in a chair.

Trent smiled. "Jess."

"Don’t worry, T., she’ll take good care of you." Sam smiled broadly and Trent smiled back. He felt the light touch of her lips on his. "They are coming to take you to surgery, love. I have to go. You’ll be fine."

"Stay." Trent reached out and felt her hand catch his.

"No, but I will be back." She kissed him again and headed for the door.

"Sam," Trent called, "who did this?"

As she hesitated at the door, she told him, then added, "Walker and Carlos are in Canada now. They’ll get him." She grasped the door handle and turning one more time she whispered, "I love you, T. Take care."

**

Jess was dreaming. Samantha Malloy was there, telling her that Trent would be okay. Suddenly, she was gone and Jess was wide awake. She looked over at Trent to see him watching her.

"Hi," she said, smiling. She took a deep breath and got up from her chair. Stretching, she tried to stop her muscles from screaming from being in such an awkward pose. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Like I’ve been hit with a sledge hammer. I need to talk to Jimmy." His voice showed no trace of the heavy sedation he had had.

"Trivette? Why?"

"With Walker and Carlos in Canada, he’s the only one here."

"How did you know Walker and Carlos are in Canada?" Jess was confused. Trent had been under sedation and this was her first conversation with him.

Ignoring Jess’ question, Trent said, "I know who shot me."

**

Carlos had settled into his hotel room and was now flipping through the yellow pages. Finally he found what he was looking for. The ad read, "Dr. S. Baker, Veterinarian, Upper Sherman Veterinarian Clinic." He remembered that many of the streets on the ‘mountain’ (it was actually an escarpment but Hamiltonians called it a mountain) were called ‘Upper’ something. Pulling out a street map, he located the street and mapped out a route. Looking at his watch, he whispered, "perfect!" He would be just in time. Grabbing his coat and keys, he headed out the door.

It took him ten minutes and two wrong turns before he was at the door of the clinic. Swallowing his fear, he pushed it open.

He was greeted by a pleasant-looking blond teenager behind the counter, who perkily asked if she could help him. He smiled.

"Is Dr. Baker here?"

"She’s just finishing up a neutering." Carlos smiled at the thought of that as the girl continued. "Can I tell her who is asking?"

"Just tell her an old friend is here." The blond smiled uncertainly and nodded before heading into the back office.

Ten minutes later, Sarah came walking out from the back. She stopped short and gapped at the figure standing there. Even though his back was turned, she knew who it was. As he turned to face her, her heart leapt into her throat.

"Carlos," she managed.

"Hi Sarah," he said smiling. He tried to read the expression in her eyes but couldn’t. At least she hadn’t thrown him out. "You look great," he said, meaning it. He had almost forgotten how she made his blood boil just by looking at her.

Sarah was too stunned to respond. Finally after a long pregnant pause she asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I’m here on a case. I just thought I would stop by to see how you are doing." He hoped that it sounded plausible.

"Wh…wh…" Sarah’s mind was trying to process it all. Here, standing in her clinic was the man who had changed her life in more ways than one. She had almost forgotten how good-looking he was. And that smile. Oh boy!

Carlos interrupted her thoughts. "Can I at least take you out for dinner? I don’t know how long I will be here."

Sarah stammered then realized that Julie, her receptionist was still standing at the counter. "Sure," she heard herself say. "I just need to make a call. Wait here." Sarah headed into the back "What the hell am I doing? I have a boyfriend and a life, she thought. She took numerous deep breaths, trying to steady herself. I can’t send him home without at least going for dinner she rationalized. Finally, she picked up the phone and canceled her previous plans.

**

"So where’s Trent?" Sarah asked as she opened the front door to her house. "Is he here?"

"No," came the response, almost too quickly. Sarah turned to look at Carlos. "He’s working on something back in Dallas." She knew Carlos wasn’t telling her the whole story. She remembered Kim saying that they weren’t working together for awhile but she thought that was over. She wondered. Bringing herself back to reality, she motioned Carlos into her living room.

"This is home," she said, smiling as an orange tabby wound itself through her legs. "Hi Tex.," she purred as she picked him up. "Meet Carlos."

Carlos reached out to pet him, eliciting a loud purr.

"You have a way with animals, too don’t you?" Sarah told him.

As she put the cat down, Carlos moved to her. Looking deep into her eyes, he whispered, "I think about you all the time, Sarah." He placed his hands on her hips, pulling her close. Every nerve was firing as he held her again, all the memories flooding back. He was still crazy about her.

"Carlos," she started, but her words were cut off when his lips met hers. She started to resist but quickly gave in to his tender touch. She reached up to put her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, feeling his strength. Her whole body longed for him. Suddenly, she pulled back.

"Carlos…" she searched for anything to stop this madness. She couldn’t get involved with him again. "What about dinner?’

"We’ll order in." He smiled and leaned over to kiss her again. It was a tender, passionate kiss that struck her to her soul. It took her breath away. As he pulled her closer, holding her tighter, her resolve broke. Sarah found herself pulling at the buttons of his shirt, running her hands across his taut, muscular chest. As he ran his fingers through her hair, drinking in her perfume, her hungry mouth began to kiss his chest, lingering only to bite his nipples. A moan escaped his lips as he enjoyed the exquisite torture. Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. He reached down and swept her off her feet. "Where’s the bedroom?’ he breathed.

"Down the hall on the left."

Once there, they struggled to free each other from their clothing. They kissed deeply, passionately, reviving the passion that was their relationship. His hand cupped her breast as he lowered his mouth to it. Slowly, he licked, nibbled and teased her, making her whole body tremble. Her hands in turn wandered until she found his hardness, stroking it, teasing him.

He pulled her onto the bed, continuing to kiss her lips, her face, her neck. She whispered his name as she lowered herself to him, gasping as he entered her. She immediately realized just how much she had missed him and what he had meant to her. His hips rose to meet her as she rode him, his hands caressing every part of her. As he felt her body quiver, he pulled her to him, thrusting deeper, harder. She screamed his name as the passion over took her.

She laid on him for what seemed like and eternity before moving beside him. As he playfully ran his hand along her hip, she traced the midline of his chest. She stopped at an angry looking scar.

"What’s this?" she asked him, idly.

"It’s a bullet wound."

His words slapped her. It was the bullet wound she now knew. The one he had gotten just before she left, the one that had left him in the hospital for a month. She turned to look at him, tears in her eyes. "I’m so sorry, Carlos. I should have been there."

At the time, he had sworn he would never forgive her for leaving but time had given him the understanding of why she had. Gently, he stroked her hair. "It’s okay, Sarah."

"No, it’s not. I should have stayed."

"You had your own grief to deal with. Everything is fine." As she snuggled into him, enjoying his nearness, Carlos mind was reeling. He hadn’t really wanted this to happen. He had lied to Sarah about Trent and now he was going to have to find away to tell her about Steve. He stared at the ceiling, sighing audibly.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing. Why don’t you go shower and I’ll order something in? How about Chinese?" Carlos pushed her to sit up as he rose from the bed.

"Sure," she said, a bit surprised. "Call China Palace on Upper Wentworth. The number is beside the phone." Sarah padded off to the shower.

Carlos reached for his pants and headed out to the living room to find the phone. When he reached it he punched in Jess’ number.

"Hi Jess. How is everything?…Yeah…How long ago did he go in?…He knows who did it!? WHO?…Figures…No, just have Jimmy call me when Trent’s out of surgery and had a chance to talk to him...I’m at Sarah’s now…No, everything is fine…I do not sound upset…No, I just have to find a way to tell her I need to know where her brother is because I think he shot Trent…"

The voice from behind him startled him. "You just did." He turned to see Sarah standing in the doorway.

"Jess, I’ll call you back." Carlos never took his eyes off Sarah as he hung up the phone slowly. "Sarah," he started.

"Get out." Her voice was low and even as she tried to maintain control. In her eyes, Carlos could see the mixture of pain and hatred. She turned and headed to the bedroom.

"Sarah…," he tried again, as he followed her.

"I said GET OUT," she yelled as she picked up his shirt and threw it at him. "How dare you come in here, pretending to still care, get me into bed, just because you want to know where my brother is? And then you call your girlfriend from my phone!"

"She’s not my girlfriend, Sarah. She’s Trent’s."

"Trent’s? Glad to see he misses my sister."

Carlos’ eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to be cruel?"

"Me being cruel?! Get out of my house, get out of my life!"

"Sarah, listen to me," Carlos took her and held her by the arms. "Steve shot Trent." He wanted her to hear the words, to have them sink in. "He shot him at Sam’s grave, Sarah."

She pushed him away. "I don’t believe you. I never could." Her words rang in Carlos’ ears. He had heard them before.

"You know, Sarah, that was the problem with our relationship…the sex was great but you never trusted me. Think back and ask yourself, did I ever lie to you?" He turned and walked back to the living room. As she sat down on the bed she heard him put on his shoes, grab his jacket. An angry slam pierced the quiet as Sarah lay on the bed and wept.