This story in the series takes place just a few days after the ending of the episode "Team Cherokee" and takes a turn for the unknown as Carlos' life is changed...and not for the good.
Into The Black PART ONE
"Good afternoon, Dallas! It's sunny and beautiful as we clock in our three o'clock hour of oldies and goldies. Don't turn that dial and be careful out there on the roads. Here's the king himself for a little 'Heartbreak Hotel' to take the edge off of this hot, Texas afternoon."
"Really?" Katheryn cocked her head towards Trent with a smile barely on her lips as she scoffed towards the car radio. "That's not exactly a pick-me-up kind of tune to listen to on your way home from a hard day's work."
"True." Trent smiled as he kept his eyes on the warehouse up ahead, his elbow propped on the open window of his parked Corvette as he let the mellow, groovy tune ease the tension from this rather long stakeout. "When is that Perez going to show? We've been here for two hours now."
"Good question," Kath sighed, scanning the horizon up ahead and looking to see the peak of the Wells Fargo building in the distance bouncing off a few rays of sunshine across the city.
The king was almost to the bellhop when Katheryn heard a slight squeak of breaks behind them. She turned down the volume on the radio and glanced up to the rearview mirror to see Carlos just as he was getting out of his car and slipping off his sunglasses. He ambled up to Trent's side on the sidewalk and stooped low, squinting as he shot a smile over to Kath.
"No sign of him yet?"
"Nope." Trent shook his head and sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair and leaning his head back against the leather seat. "And we are about convinced he isn't going to show today."
"Aw, have a little faith." Carlos slapped the car door's edge and stood to his full height. "You want me to hang around for a little longer?"
"No." Trent's voice was edged with a bit of apprehension. "We'll meet you at C.D.'s in a little bit if he doesn't show."
"You sure?" Carlos bent low to get Katheryn's opinion. They had planned to discuss a rather important matter over dinner. And this little delay didn't help matters much.
"What?" Trent shifted his gaze from Kath to Carlos and then back again, noticing Katheryn's hesitation in her silence. He chuckled. "Did I miss something?"
"No," Katheryn smiled. "Go ahead, Carlos. We'll do it some other time if it doesn't work out."
"Do what?" Trent urged, clearly agitated that no one would fill him in on the situation.
Carlos delayed a bit before he turned his head away and then back with a sigh. "Kath and I were going to plan a camping trip away together tonight. We haven't had much," he cleared his throat, "alone time…lately."
"I see." Trent stifled his grins. "Well, when Perez finally shows, I'll be sure to give him your grievances."
Carlos smiled, looking over to Kath. "You sure you're okay with waiting?"
"I'm sure," she insisted. "Now go!" Kath smiled and shooed him off. "Go before I change my mind."
Carlos finally surrendered and ambled back to his car with a bit of hope in his mind that maybe Perez would wait another day before showing. But then again, they had wanted to get ahold of the crime boss for weeks now. And he was finally within reach thanks to their undercover officer who had gotten word to them that Perez would be showing for a rather high-risk transaction today.
Trent looked into the side car mirror, waiting until Carlos was out of earshot before he spoke again. He then turned to Katheryn. "You know, I could probably take care of Perez on my own if you'd like to go with Carlos to C.D.'s before everyone gets there for the celebration tonight. And I know you'll want to be rested for your visit with Rachel."
Katheryn glanced in the rearview mirror, thinking that Trent had read her thoughts too well. She did want to be at C.D.'s for the celebration of Walker's race win. It had been the thrill of her life to see him take the checkered flag several days ago. And celebrating with her friends would put the finishing touches on what had been an invigorating day at the race track she would not soon forget. Yet with a sigh on her lips, she smiled. "It's okay, Trent. Really."
Trent could tell by the look in her eyes that it wasn't okay as he glared her way.
Katheryn stared him back, her eyes widening. "It's okay. I'm serious. Besides, you know I can never resist the urge for a little action."
Trent tried quelling his own smile as he turned back to watch the warehouse. His smile quickly faded as a man in a dark suit sneaked out the back door and looked both ways before slipping on his shades and hurrying across the narrow street to a vacant car. He shoved a suitcase in the open passenger side window rather quickly in Kath's opinion before breaking into a sprint down the street.
"What in the world?" Katheryn squinted to get a better look, wishing she had brought her binoculars along. Of all the times!
Carlos had just passed them by, his hubcaps bouncing a few rays of sunlight into Katheryn's eyes as she watched his car pass by the other car. He must have recognized the man at the same time as Trent and Katheryn had since he stopped his car, throwing his door open with his gun outstretched and telling the man to freeze. The man immediately lifted his hands before changing his mind and sprinting across the street.
"I've got him!" Trent leapt from the Corvette and yelled over his shoulder as he chased the man around the next block and away from view.
Katheryn was tempted to follow but held her ground outside Trent's Corvette, her hand hovering over her own weapon. If Perez showed with any other goons, Carlos might need backup.
Carlos then holstered his gun and shut his car door, turning back to give Kath a go-ahead nod before she ambled forward to catch up with him. Yet she was still a couple yards away when a splintering sound sent her collapsing onto the ground. She cradled her face in her hands as she felt her body hit the pavement. A sudden warmth consumed her body like that of a lit stove one had neared too close. The entire heat wave lasted for a couple of seconds before she absentmindedly began coughing as a cloud of smoke engulfed her. She placed her hands on the ground and pushed herself up but collapsed again as a sharp pain drove through her arm. It's just a bruise, she told herself as she rubbed at it and cringed, looking up to see a tall smoke stack rise into the sky above the rolling inferno.
"Carlos!" Katheryn called out as the smoke began to dissipate. She forced herself to her feet and nearly fell again as she felt her ankle give way. But she caught herself. Pressing forward, she could see the outline of a body on the ground just ahead and prayed that Carlos was alright. "Carlos!" She fell by his side as he began to stir, coughing loudly much to Katheryn's relief.
"Are you okay?" Katheryn was nearly startled by Trent's voice as she glanced up and then back down, trying to help Carlos sit up.
"Carlos? Are you alright?" She repeated; but he never answered.
He seemed okay on the outside besides the obvious soot and smoke that was layered quite heavily on them both. But he hesitated. Katheryn watched and waited for him to speak, but he never stirred. Katheryn didn't know what else to say as she stood back to her feet and looked to Trent, worry filling her eyes where joy had been not moments ago.
##
Katheryn paced the hospital corridor for at least half an hour as she waited for the doctor to finish the examination. Trent would have been there with her had it not been for him waiting behind to see that Perez's goon was in the back of a patrol car where he belonged. He promised that he would follow the ambulance that took Carlos and Katheryn to the nearest hospital as soon as he was free. Carlos had not yet said a word and was still unconscious up until they had to part ways at the emergency room. Every noise around her seemed to put her on edge. She turned at the softest whim, thinking it was the doctor or Trent. But time continued to pass. And with it came more unanswered questions and fears. Then suddenly hearing footsteps behind her, Katheryn wheeled around as she felt a hand gently rest on her shoulder.
"I came as soon as I heard." Theresa Estrella embraced Katheryn before pulling away and glancing over her shoulder. "Where's the doctor? Have you spoken to him yet?"
"No," Katheryn replied rigidly and sighed, not agitated at Theresa but simply tense from having to play the waiting game. "I've been waiting for forever it seems."
Theresa sighed, offering a tight-lipped smile. "I'm sure he'll come and give us good news in no time." But she only saw worry coming from Katheryn's eyes in return. "Hey, it will be okay," Theresa encouraged, searching for the young woman's eyes. Theresa knew by now that more than friendship lay between her little brother and this young woman she had not yet had the opportunity to fully get to know. Yet silently, she wished they could have drawn closer under much different circumstances.
"Oh, I know," Katheryn nodded, turning away briefly to look out of the window in the hallway they currently occupied. She watched a couple of cars leave out of the hospital before she turned back, willing away the tears. "I guess it's just hard to believe that for sure."
"I know." Theresa gripped Katheryn's shoulder, drawing her gaze. "But if I know that brother of mine like I think I do, nothing like this will keep him down. He'll probably be resting in bed before the end of the day and defying our orders."
Katheryn finally smiled just then, promising herself no more tears just as the doctor approached them from behind Theresa.
"Are either of you Detective Carlos Sandoval's family?" The doctor's voice drew the ladies out of their reverie quite suddenly.
Theresa nodded. "I'm his sister."
Katheryn stepped up beside Theresa with her own firm nod. "I'm family also."
"Well, as you both already know, Mr. Sandoval experienced a quite heavy concussion when he hit the pavement after the impact of the blast. And—unfortunately, he was completely blinded in both eyes during the incident. I—I wish I had better news."
Katheryn inhaled sharply, bracing herself against the rather bad news. "Is it—permanent?"
"That's hard to say," the doctor shrugged. "It could just be a temporary bruising. Only time will tell."
"Will he be able to go home soon?" Theresa inserted, trying her best not to show how shaken her emotions truly were.
"I'd like to keep him here for observation for a couple of days due to a few other minor injuries. But if you can keep with the treatment regimen I am prescribing for him, he may go home then."
"Thank you, doctor," Theresa offered before shaking the doctor's hand.
"You're welcome. And he's asking for someone named Katheryn." The doctor took a step back in intent to leave. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me." He then gave Theresa his card before hurrying away, his name echoing through the overhead speakers to garner his attention towards some other devastation in the emergency room.
The ladies nodded their thanks before proceeding down the wide hall and into the hospital room where Carlos was. It was rather dark with the shades drawn closed and the blinds covering the floor-to-ceiling glass windows inside.
"It's much too dark in here." Theresa whispered and proceeded to the other side of the room and opened the curtains, letting the sunset stream into the little room. "There," she smiled and joined Katheryn by Carlos' left bedside. Theresa caught a glimpse of a small tear at the corner of Kath's eye as she looked over Carlos. He was awake. She could tell. But he said nothing. He only stared at the ceiling above as if waiting for something to happen.
"Carlos?" Katheryn's soft voice was broken as she cleared her throat and banished the tears with the back of her hand, adding a dose of confidence to her voice. "Carlos, it's me."
Carlos blinked a few times, recognizing the voice that spoke. He swallowed hard and turned his head as if it would do any good to look at the woman he loved. "I guess the doc told you?"
"Yes. He told us."
"Us?"
"Theresa's here with me, Carlos."
Theresa reached to softly squeeze her little brother's hand. "How are you doing, Carlos?"
"How do you think?" Carlos' voice was sharp and cut into them both deeper than they had expected.
Katheryn and Theresa exchanged glances of dismay. They were not sure how he was going to react; but they could not have prepared themselves for this.
Katheryn swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Walker called a few minutes ago. They caught Perez trying to catch a plane to the Caribbean."
Carlos seemed indifferent to it all. "So it was all a setup?"
Katheryn hesitated to answer. He was right. It had been a setup. No transaction had been planned. It had been a ploy to lure them right in. And now it had changed one man's life forever…and not for one good reason in the world.
"Yeah. It was a setup," Katheryn finally breathed the words, letting her gaze drift while most likely sharing Carlos' sentiment towards the entire ordeal. It wasn't fair whatsoever.
"You don't have to stay."
Katheryn jerked her head back around at the sound of his voice. "What?!"
"It's not like I'm going anywhere. Why even bother?"
"Carlos!" Katheryn's voice snapped with authority. "I'm not leaving you. You hear me? I'm going to be right here to see that you get better."
"What are you going to do when I don't get better? When you realize I'll be blind for the rest of my life?!"
"What kind of talk is that?"
"It's logic, Kath! I may never see again."
Katheryn kept silent as she processed Carlos' words. She could have sworn she saw a tear slip out of the corner of his eye, but she wasn't about to feel sorry for the man she loved. "I'm not that kind of woman, Carlos Sandoval. You can't get rid of me that easy!"
Kath could feel the emotions stirring within her like a whirlwind as she quickly hurried from the hospital room, the tears almost spilling over before she could find a safe place to shed them. Katheryn did find solace in the hospital waiting room a few doors down. No one was there, thank God, as she let her weight sink into one of the armchairs and her face fall into her hands. She sobbed silently for a few minutes before she raised her face to see Ranger Walker standing in the doorway. She quickly wiped at her tears and stood. She held too much reverence for Cordell Walker than for him to see her this way.
"Walker. I—I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in."
Ranger Walker removed his Stetson and held it between his hands. "Don't apologize. How's Carlos doing?"
"He'll live. Doctor says that he—he's blind."
"How's he taking it?" Walker noticed the tear-stained cheeks of the young woman before him and knew the answer to his question before she even answered.
Somehow Katheryn knew that and simply turned away with her arms crossed against her chest. "Walker, I love Carlos too much to just leave him when he needs me the most. Why is he pushing me away like this?"
"Fear." Walker nodded. "Fear of obligating you too much. Fear of not being able to be the man he wants to be for himself...and especially you."
Katheryn stayed turned away, processing Walker's explanation. He was right. Still she couldn't understand how fear could cause someone to push another person away when they needed each other the most. She wanted more than anything to be with Carlos. Especially now that he needed her. Katheryn then turned to face the Ranger. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Don't do anything except what you've been doing. Don't stop showing that you care."
Kath's nod proceeded the smile that the Ranger finally pulled from her before he wrapped an arm around her and offered, "What do you say we go back in there? I'm sure I've got a few things to say to put him back in place."
"You're the boss." Kath grinned and followed alongside the Ranger back to Carlos' hospital room.
##
Katheryn had a hard time getting herself to relax as she arrived at her apartment that night. The clock had just struck eleven when she pushed her way through the door, not quite remembering if she had locked it behind her as she lethargically ambled through to her bedroom. Who knew eight hours could turn out to feel like a lifetime? The quiet was no help either. Molly would be staying late at the H.O.P.E. center since Josie wasn't feeling her best, leaving plenty of room for her thoughts to roam into places they didn't belong. Worry. Concern. Fears. Yet she couldn't quite detect which one was the worst as they all blurred in her mind, driving her into an even deeper tired state.
Letting her weight fall onto the bed, she sat with her feet still touching the floor and her gaze fixed upon the window where a small view of the darkened skies was provided. In the stillness, all she could hear was her steady heartbeat and her raging thoughts of memories past...
The young woman bowed her head and sniffled. A small tear slipped down her face.
Somehow Carlos saw the tear and stood softly, crossing to her side. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Katheryn laughed it off, sniffed again, and wiped at the tear with her free hand. "It's silly."
"C'mon. Try me," Carlos dared.
A short moment of silence passed. "I—I just love you all so much. I've only known the Malloy family, the Rangers, and you for two months, yet-yet you all feel like family to me." She sniffed again. "Trent…he-he seems like a brother to me. And so does Tommy. I just don't know what life would be like without you all in my life." She chuckled softly under her breath. "Told you it would sound silly."
Carlos listened closely and understood everything she said perfectly well. "No…It's not silly at all. I've felt much the same way over the years about the Malloy family. I think they would say the same about you. And," he paused, glanced downward and back up again, "I think of you as family too." He smiled softly as she now looked towards him with a soft glimmer in her eyes.
The memory almost caused more tears to come to her eyes, but Katheryn held them back, turning her head instead to view the clock. 11:14. She should get some sleep if she was going to be any good to anyone within the next few days. Katheryn wished she could get through to him somehow. To let him know she wasn't going to leave him. She had to make a clear statement to him. Perhaps in time Carlos would finally accept the fact that she wasn't planning to give up on him any day now.
Katheryn's tea cup wasn't as much of a comfort as it typically was the next morning as Molly prepared a breakfast she wasn't sure she could even eat. But she forced it in anyways, knowing that Molly would insist. And it was for her own good after all.
"Well, I'll see you later."
Molly sipped at her coffee before putting the mug in the sink. She creased her forehead. "Where are you going?"
"The dojo."
Molly glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's only seven thirty. Trent probably isn't even at the dojo right now."
"Good." Katheryn reached for her handbag, returning her gaze to Molly. "It'll give me some time alone."
Molly wanted to protest but knew better. "How long will you be?"
"Not too long. I just need to collect my thoughts. And pray." Katheryn ambled forward, setting her hand on the doorknob and opening the apartment door. "Tell Alex I should be at the H.O.P.E. center by noon."
"Okay. Stay safe."
Molly said her goodbyes before hearing the thud of the door behind Katheryn. She soon heard the roar of Kath's Stingray leaving the premises amid the silence and tried not to worry too much. The more Katheryn was silent, the more Molly became concerned that she was keeping too much emotion locked inside. But as their friendship had proven so far, Kath would always open up when she was ready and not before.