Author's Notes:

This story follows on from my previous fics "Race Against Time" and "Unspoken Fears." To follow the characters and events in this new fic it would be best to have read the others, but as they were published some time ago I'll give a quick summary of what happened.

Race Against Time:

Jon and Ponch go missing and the race is on to find them. They have been assaulted and locked in an old shipping container by a gang of bank robbers. Both have been injured, Jon quite badly. The story follows the drama in finding them, their release and recovery. Jon's wife Cassy finds out she is pregnant at the same time she learns of their disappearance. The story also follows the gang as they escape, hide out and eventually are captured. The gang consists of Steven "Butch" Williams, Mark Smith, Ricky Punter and Mark's nephew Jason Smith. Jason makes a phone call to CHP which is answered by Cadet Kellie Waugh, this phone call is important to this new story.

Unspoken Fears:

This continues the story two days after Race. Ponch is having trouble dealing with what happened, he's not sleeping well and feeling guilt over his actions in the shipping container. He meets Kellie who is also dealing with her guilt. Butch and Mark are in jail where Mark is visited by Jason who tells his uncle what his father has planned.

The Camping Trip

Chapter One: Making Plans

Officer Frank Poncherello put his pinch book away and turned towards his partner. "I know it's your turn to pick Jon, but do we have to eat there?" he whined.

Jon Baker sat astride his motor, observing his partner. "I don't see what the problem is Ponch, you love that place."

"Yeah, I do," Ponch agreed. "But I know what you're up to."

"What am I up to?" Jon asked innocently, his blue eyes twinkling.

"You know." Ponch pointed his pen at him.

"Tell me." Jon smiled, knowing exactly what his partner was on about.

Ponch slipped his pen in his boot and flung his leg over his motor. He tried to stay mad but looking at his friend's cheerful exterior made it impossible and he broke into a wide grin. "All right, we'll eat there but I'm not going next door with you. People are gonna start talking if we're seen in there too often."

Jon laughed. "I do have a legitimate reason to be there."

"Yeah you do but I don't. I've got a reputation to uphold you know."

Shaking his head Jon chuckled. "That reputation of yours is fading Ponch. I can't remember the last time I saw your eyes pop out over some woman."

Adjusting his black gloves Ponch grinned at his partner. "I haven't felt the need to ogle women lately." He strapped up his helmet and started the motor. "The past three months with Kellie have been..." he paused searching for the right word.

"Wonderful?"

"No that's not it... oh yeah it has been wonderful," he added quickly seeing the look of surprise on Jon's face. "I've been enlightened."

"Enlightened?"

"Yeah enlightened. I'm finally seeing what a good relationship is all about. You know, where there's give and take on both sides, and I'm not the only one going out of my way to please someone."

"Finally," smiled Jon. "You know, I've never seen you happier. Hang on to this one Ponch."

"You like her?"

"Yeah I do." Jon slipped his motor into gear as he checked the freeway for traffic. "Much better than Michelle," he said as they pulled out into the road.

"Anyone would be better than Michelle," Ponch agreed with a smile, pleased that his partner liked Kellie, for he had no intention of letting her get away.

They travelled along the Santa Monica Freeway, enjoying the pleasant spring morning. After the drama of their capture and imprisonment back in January, the partners were relaxed and living life to the fullest. Ponch was delighted in the way his relationship with Kellie was progressing, and he was finally free of the guilt he felt over Jon's injuries. While Jon had recovered fully with no after affects and was looking forward to impending fatherhood.

It was a Tuesday in the middle of April, trees and flowers were in full bloom making this the prettiest time of the year. It was warm enough to be wearing short sleeve shirts, but not yet hot enough to wish you were elsewhere. They pulled over another speeding motorist and decided it was time for lunch.

Jon called in that they were out of service as they exited the freeway and headed down South Central Avenue. Five minutes later they pulled up in front of Dukes Coffee Shop.

"Your usual Ponch?" Jon asked as he removed his helmet.

"Nah, I'm gonna try the hot ham and cheese on sourdough bread today."

Jon's eyes shot up in surprise. "You really are enlightened, aren't ya? I was sure you'd be having the beef burger special."

Ponch laughed. "Change is good, Jon."

"Very true," he agreed, as he went inside to get their orders.

They sat outside at one of the tables, and talked about the best plays of last night's baseball game as they ate their lunch. The Boston Red Sox had defeated The New York Yankees, nine runs to seven. It had been a close game with The Red Sox getting ahead in the last innings after a home run by their star hitter.

Finishing his hot turkey sandwich ten minutes later, Jon wiped the gravy from his mouth. "How was it?" he asked, watching as his partner licked his lips.

"Delicious," Ponch smiled. He put his napkin down and glanced at his watch. "So are we going next door?" he inquired. "We've got time."

"Thought you weren't going in there, what with your reputation and all," Jon grinned.

"I can't let you have all the fun, can I?"

Jon chuckled as he threw his rubbish in the trash bin. "You're just a big kid, Ponch."

They walked along the sidewalk to the brightly painted building next to the cafe. Green walls, red lettering and yellow smiley faces made The Baby Store not easily forgotten. Inside mobiles hung from the ceiling, diapers filled an entire shelf and every type of crib available was there to purchase. Ponch immediately headed for the toy section while Jon went in search of strollers.

Jon found what he was looking for and was busy checking out the features of a stroller when Ponch returned. He had several items in his hands and a big grin on his face.

"You've got to get one of these, Jon," he said, holding out a blue and yellow lawn mower adorned with a duck and pink teddy bear.

Jon looked up from where he was squatting down having a closer look at the wheels on the stroller. He shook his head. "No Ponch."

"But Jon, when you push it along the balls inside bounce around and make noise. Look I'll show ya." He put the mower down and pushed it along. "See, isn't that great? The baby would love it."

Standing up to his full height Jon shook his head again. "No." He saw what else Ponch was holding. "No to the piano and no to the jack-in-a-box. We're here to look at strollers."

Ponch pouted. "So the yellow duck is okay then?" He held up a duck that Jon hadn't noticed.

Jon rolled his eyes and grinned. "All right you can get the duck if you want, but I need your help here."

"My help?" he looked puzzled. "I don't know anything about strollers Jon. Anyway shouldn't Cassy be here with you?"

"She's leaving it up to me. We looked at this one and that one over there on Sunday." Jon pointed to another stroller. "She was feeling queasy so we left before we decided."

"They look the same to me." Grabbing the handles of the closest one Ponch wheeled it along. "It moves and there's a place for the baby. Take this one."

"Yeah, we liked that one." Jon nodded. "But it's harder to fold up than this one."

"Take that one then."

"But the one you're holding has got better wheels."

Ponch shook his head. "I'm going back to the toys, it's more fun over there."

"No, come on partner I really need your help." Jon glanced at his watch. "We'll both be in trouble if we don't get back out there."

Seeing that Jon actually did seem frustrated, and that they needed to get back on patrol, Ponch thought for a moment. "Okay. Can Cassy fold the one you've got up by herself?"

"Yeah"

"And where is she going to be using it the most?"

"Walking to the park and the shops, I guess."

"Mostly on the sidewalks?" Ponch asked.

"Yeah," Jon smiled. "So what you're saying is that we should forego the better wheels for the ease of handling."

"You got it partner."

"You know Ponch; for once I'm happy to say you're right. Now for the most important decision: blue or green?" he tried not to laugh seeing the look of horror on his friend's face as he reached for the easier folding blue stroller. "Just kidding, we both like the blue one."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ponch patted his partner on the shoulder. "Thank goodness for that, I'd hate to see you in the dog house over the colour of a stroller."

"Me too," Jon agreed as he wheeled the stroller to the counter. He filled out the Lay-away docket while Ponch bought the yellow duck. Both left the store smiling and headed out on patrol again.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Jon put his pinch book away and looked at his partner. "What is it with them today? No sooner do we deal with one speeder and there's another one."

"I know what you mean," Ponch replied. "How's about we head back in, do the reports and call it a day?"

"Good idea."

They headed for Central, travelling along the Santa Monica Freeway before exiting at Hoover Avenue.

"You got any plans for this weekend Ponch?" Jon asked while they waited for the traffic lights to change.

"Not at the moment," Ponch answered. "What'd ya have in mind?"

"Cassy and I were thinking about going camping. Would you and Kellie like to come too?"

The lights changed and they got moving again.

"Ah I don't know Jon." Ponch glanced across at his partner. "I'm not sure that camping and I go together."

Jon chuckled. "You'd enjoy it Ponch. We know a pretty little spot near Tujunga, Cooper Canyon Falls. There's a lovely creek there and a waterfall as well as hiking trails."

Ponch looked doubtful. "Sounds nice...I think."

"Give it some thought and let me know." Jon shifted down a gear as they came to more lights. "I was thinking that it might be a good way for the girls to get to know one another better."

"So you've noticed it too." Ponch glanced over at his partner and could sense his frustration and concern.

"If you mean that Cassy isn't exactly comfortable around Kellie, then yeah I've noticed."

"Kellie is trying so hard Jon, but Cassy..." Ponch hesitated, not sure if he should go on. After all this was his partner's wife they were talking about.

"You can say it Ponch."

"You know I love Cassy, but she seems to have a blind spot where Kellie's concerned, and that's not like her. She's usually so willing to give anyone a chance."

"I know," Jon sighed.

They turned left at the next corner and went through the gates of the station; parking their motors they removed their helmets.

Staying on his motor Jon rested his hand on the windshield and looked across at his partner. For the first time that day his blue eyes weren't twinkling. "I'm beginning to worry about her. I can understand why she wasn't keen on Kellie to start with as she went through hell while we were missing, and she blames the time delay for some of that. I had hoped that over time she'd forget about it and get to know Kellie for who she is."

"And what's that?" Ponch asked, curious.

Jon smiled. "A lovely woman who is bringing out the best in my partner."

"You really do like her, don't you?" Ponch said, realizing that it was important to him that Jon did indeed like her.

"Yeah Ponch, I do. More than any other woman you've dated in a long time, and while Cassy is her own person and entitled to her own feelings, I really wish she'd see Kellie differently."

"Thanks Jon, that means a lot to me. Do you think going camping would change things?"

Jon shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? But a change of scenery and some time alone could work wonders."

"Time alone?" Ponch looked puzzled.

"Yeah," Jon grinned. "You and I go off hiking for a couple of hours and leave them to it. The one thing we can't do is push the issue as they have to work through it themselves."

Ponch chuckled. "You're one sneaky partner at times, you know that?"

"I try." Jon patted Ponch on the shoulder as they headed inside to do their reports.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Two days later Jon picked Ponch up in his blue truck for a shopping expedition. Kellie had agreed to the camping trip, but they needed supplies before they left tomorrow afternoon after work.

"What do you need?" Jon asked as they drove along.

"I don't know," Ponch answered perplexed. "I told you Jon, I know nothing about camping."

"Have you got a tent, sleeping bag and a backpack? That'll do for starters."

Ponch grinned. "I've got a backpack."

"Well that's a start. I can borrow a tent for you but you'll need a sleeping bag. Has Kellie got one?"

"Her brother is lending her one and a blow up mattress he's got."

"That's good, we'll start with a sleeping bag then."

Jon pulled into the parking lot at Ted's Camping Store and they went inside. Ponch looked around at all the different equipment, his mouth agape.

Chortling, Jon patted him on the shoulder. "We don't need all this stuff, Ponch. Head over to the sleeping bags in the back corner and I'll be with you in a minute."

Ponch wandered off glancing at the shelves as he went. There were water bottles of all shapes and sizes, tents large and small, lamps, chairs and tables, and it went on. He stopped at the portable toilets and showers, picking up one of the shower bags he wondered how it worked. He turned it over, puzzled and didn't realize Jon was now standing next to him.

"It works like this, Ponch," Jon said suppressing a chuckle. Turning it around he held it up. "You hook this end in a tree, fill it with water and the water comes out here."

"Oh, that makes sense. You got one of those?"

"Nah" Jon shook his head. "We're only going for two days; we can make do with the creek."

"So, I'm guessing that there's no toilet as well."

"You got it partner," Jon chuckled. "Come on let's get you a sleeping bag."

As they headed over to the sleeping bags, Ponch wondered how he was going to survive two days out in the wilderness. He could deal with anything the city threw at him but the thought of no toilet or shower just wasn't appealing, and sent shudders through him. Glancing over at Jon who was busy looking at the bags he silently applauded his best friend's enthusiasm. Feeling bad that he was out of place here, he had a vision of Jon at a disco or karaoke bar, and all of a sudden the world seemed a lot brighter. He grinned.

Jon stared at him. "You okay, Ponch?"

"Never better Jon, horses for courses you know. You found me a bag?"

"Yeah, this one unzips all the way round. If Kellie's got the same sort you can zip them together."

"And make one big bag?" Ponch asked, his eyes lighting up.

"Yeah, it does get cold at night," Jon grinned wickedly. "You need all the warmth you can get."

"True." Ponch nodded. Suddenly this camping trip wasn't looking so bad.