A/N: No, your eyes aren't deceiving you; I actually am updating this story. I need to update No Way Out too, but since I'm in such a Cargan mood as of late…

Disclaimer: Even after all this time since my last update, I own nothing.

In the Beginning

"And this is my room, and my mommy and daddy's room is right across the hall," Carlos said excitedly as he was giving Logan the grand tour of his casa.

"Whoa, Carlos! Slow down!" Logan said with an amused smile on his face as Carlos had a hold of his wrist and was all but dragging him behind him.

Carlos stopped in his tracks abruptly and started almost studying Logan's face. Logan had no idea why Carlos was looking at him so funny.

"There's no time!" Carlos whined. "Now come on!"

Carlos showed him where the bathroom was. He showed him where the living room was. He led him through the kitchen. Then, they went downstairs to the basement. Logan wasn't sure why Carlos was showing him what was down in the basement. Logan figured he probably wouldn't be spending much time if any down there anyways.

"This is where mommy comes to do the laundry," Carlos stated before looking upwards almost as if he was staring at something on the ceiling. "I don't really like it down here. It's scary, but it's okay because you're here with me, so it's not as bad."

Logan had hardly been able to get a word in edge-wise on Carlos. He had been talking a mile a minute, and he seemed to be moving equally as fast. Logan was both amused and frightened by Carlos' enthusiasm.

"Boys, dinner's almost ready. Go wash your hands," Sylvia Garcia's voice carried throughout the house.

"Yay! Food!" Carlos exclaimed, racing up the stairs with Logan in tow.

XXXXX

Officer Garcia, Carlos, and Logan were in the backyard after dinner. They were currently in the middle of a game of red light, green light. Officer Garcia was "it." The rules of the game were simple. When "it" faces the players and says, "Red light," the other players must stop moving. When "it" says, "Green light," their back is to the other players, and the other players try to reach "it." If you don't halt when "Red light" is called out, you have to return to the starting line. First one to reach "it" wins and gets to be "it" next.

Carlos was back at the starting line while Logan was halfway there. It was clear that the two boys had entirely different approaches to the game. While Logan was cautious about advancing toward Officer Garcia, Carlos had reckless abandon and broke out in a full-on sprint. This made it really difficult to stop on a dime, and that was why Carlos was currently back at the starting line.

"Green light," Officer Garcia said, turning his back on the two children.

Logan crept his way ever closer to Officer Garcia virtually tiptoeing his way over. Meanwhile, Carlos lowered his head, and charged full steam ahead. In a few short seconds, Carlos had managed to close some of the distance between him and Logan.

"Red light," Officer Garcia called out, facing the two boys.

Logan became as still as a statue. Meanwhile, Carlos' feet stopped moving, but his arms flailed about wildly as he tried to maintain his balance. It didn't really matter anyways because Carlos didn't cease all movement, and so it was back to the starting line with him.

"I don't like this game!" Carlos complained even though he had a smile on his face.

Logan rolled his eyes at his friend. He hadn't really had much of a chance to watch Carlos' game play, but he could hear the sound of Carlos' little feet when he broke out into a run. Therefore, it was fairly easy for Logan to deduce how Carlos was playing the game.

Even though Logan was currently winning, Carlos was convinced that he could beat him. Logan was moving far too slowly. There was no doubt in Carlos' mind that he would be able to not only catch up to him, but pass him. As far as Carlos was concerned, he didn't understand Logan's game play. This wasn't a game of patience, was it? Or maybe it was, and that's why he was currently losing to Logan. His lips turned upside down. He didn't think that he had it in him to be patient.

"Green light," Officer Garcia announced as he turned his back on the two boys.

While Logan continued to inch his way to Carlos' dad, Carlos decided to try a different strategy. Rather than break out in a full-on sprint, Carlos was jogging his way towards his father. By doing so, he had managed to make it halfway to Logan.

"Red light," Officer Garcia said as he spun around.

To Officer Garcia's surprise, and to Carlos' surprise, he was able to freeze in place this time around. Logan was roughly 25 feet away from "it."

"Green light," Carlos' father called out as he turned his back on Carlos and Logan.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Carlos continued to jog, edging his way closer to his father. Meanwhile, Logan stuck to his guns as well, tiptoeing. Logan started to get nervous when he heard Carlos right behind him.

"Red light," Officer Garcia stated, turning back around.

Logan was about 20 feet away from "it," but Carlos was only a few paces behind Logan.

"Green light," Carlos' dad said as he once again had his back to the kids. "Red light."

Carlos froze in mid-stride. One of his feet was even suspended in mid-air. Somehow, he managed to keep as still as can be. Logan had frozen in place as well.

"Green light," Officer Garcia said.

Logan decided to adapt Carlos' strategy, and now both boys were jogging towards Officer Garcia. The sound of laughter rang through the air. Both boys were small. Both boys were quick, but Logan was just a little bit quicker. What ended up being the deciding factor was this was Logan's first time using a jogging strategy. Carlos had been using it for a bit.

"Red light!" Carlos' dad exclaimed as he turned to face them.

Carlos was able to stop in time, but Logan wasn't. He actually fell flat on his face in the grass. Carlos wanted to do nothing more but point and laugh at Logan's misfortune, but he couldn't move unless he wanted to return to the starting line as well, so instead, he settled for laughing at Logan.

"It's not funny!" Logan snapped back. "You're so mean!"

Carlos' lips started to tremble as tears started to fill his eyes. Soon Logan could hear the sound of Carlos sniffling.

"You don't really think I'm mean, do you?" Carlos asked hopefully.

"No," Logan said instantaneously before tacking on, "I do think you cheat though."

"Hey! You're just mad cuz I'm winning!"

And Carlos did win on the next turn. Carlos gave his dad a celebratory high-five when he reached him. Meanwhile Logan had a case of sour grapes. He continued to grumble about the game not being fair and Carlos cheating. He didn't stop there though. He went on to say that Officer Garcia cheated as well. He folded his arms over his chest and pouted his lips, refusing to look at either of them.

"Aw, c'mon! Don't be like that, Logie!" Carlos pleaded.

Logan cupped a hand around his ear, and craned his neck in the direction of Carlos' voice.

"What was that? Did someone say something to me?" Logan asked, an edge to his voice.

Father and son exchanged a look with one another. Officer Garcia nodded his head. Carlos got a running start before tackling Logan to the ground. He then proceeded to tickle him. Logan started laughing and squirming.

"Oh no! Not that! Stop!" Logan said in between giggles.

Officer Garcia soon joined his son in tickling Logan. They both knew that Logan was very ticklish.

"Seriously, I'm gonna pee my pants!" Logan cried out.

"You better not!" Carlos replied, continuing his onslaught.

"Then stop tickling me!"

Carlos and his dad did stop tickling Logan; just not right away. When they did stop though, Logan had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. As much as he loved his "mommy," Logan really liked living with Carlos. He and his daddy could do things with Logan that Logan's "mommy" couldn't.

Carlos wished that Logan could live with him forever. Even though Logan wasn't technically Carlos' brother, with Logan living here, it almost like he was, and Carlos never had a brother before. He didn't even have any siblings though his parents talked about having more kids in the future.

XXXXX

Sylvia Garcia looked out the kitchen window fondly at her husband, her son, and Logan playing in the backyard. There was no doubt in her mind that her husband was really good with children. He had really seem to taken a liking to Logan as well.

This was Logan's first time at their house. Mrs. Garcia was used to Kendall coming over to play. A part of her was worried that with Carlos spending so much time with Logan now, he would forget about Kendall. It wasn't that she didn't like Logan. That wasn't it at all. She just didn't want her son to lose Kendall's friendship.

It was a little late for Kendall to come over and play right now, but she decided that in the future, she would invite Kendall over to play. She wasn't sure how Kendall and Logan got along with each other, but she convinced herself that she'd be doing Carlos a favor. He no doubt would be happy to see Kendall.

In the backyard, they were playing Simon says now. Officer Garcia was Simon. The rules were pretty straightforward. The players had to do whatever Simon says so long as the command is proceeded by the words, "Simon says." If they do the command but the words "Simon says" weren't said, then the player is eliminated.

"Simon says touch your nose," Officer Garcia said.

Carlos and Logan both obeyed the command, placing a tiny finger on their nose. Logan snickered as Carlos looked cross-eyed when he touched his nose. Even Officer Garcia chuckled a bit at his son's antics.

"Jump up and down," Officer Garcia commanded.

Carlos hopped up and down while Logan remained stationary. As soon as he realized that Logan wasn't bouncing up and down, Carlos realized the error of his ways.

"Nope. I didn't say, 'Simon says,' son," Carlos' dad stated.

"No fair!" Carlos whined.

Logan walked over to Carlos and placed a hand on his shoulder. He had a huge smirk on his face.

"You're just mad cuz you lost," Logan said, practically saying to Carlos what he said to him earlier.

"Haha. Very funny," Carlos said, clearly unamused.

"Aren't I?"

Carlos shoved Logan playfully. Though surprised, Logan remained on his feet.

"Don't shove me!" Logan exclaimed as he shoved Carlos back in a not-so-playful manner.

"Oh, but it's okay for you to shove me?" Carlos snapped back before shoving Logan.

Officer Garcia quickly got between the two feuding boys. He wasn't even sure what happened. How did things spiral out of control so quickly? They were getting along with each other just a few seconds ago!

"Boys, boys! No shoving!" Officer Garcia scolded.

"He started it!" Carlos exclaimed, pointing his finger at Logan.

"Nu-uh! You did!" Logan retaliated.

"Enough!" Officer Garcia said, raising his voice. "It doesn't matter who started it. Just stop!"

Carlos stared at the grass beneath his feet. He drew circles in the ground with his foot. He had a guilty look on his face. He knew that he was in trouble with his father. Logan stood beside Carlos as he flung an arm over his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Carlitos. I didn't mean to get you in trouble," Logan said apologetically.

"I know," Carlos responded.

"Hey, wanna play tag?"

"Sure."

"Kay. You're it!"

Logan tapped Carlos on the shoulder before running away.

"Hey! No fair! I wasn't ready!" Carlos called out as he gave chase.

Just like that, both boys were back to laughing. Officer Garcia had an amused look on his face as he watched the two of them. It had only been seconds ago that they were fighting, and now they were laughing and playing with each other again.

Mr. Garcia and Mrs. Garcia weren't the only two watching the boys play in the backyard though. Parked in the street directly across from the backyard was Dustin's father. He took a swig of beer from his bottle.

Dustin's father had been on the run. He couldn't risk going home because the cops would probably find him and arrest him there. So he never stayed in the same place two nights in a row. He was almost constantly driving, on the run from the authorities.

He had been looking for his son. A little bird had told him that Logan was staying with Carlos for the time being, and Dustin's dad thought Dustin might be as well. However, watching the two boys play in the backyard, it was clear Dustin was somewhere else.

The same little bird had told him that Logan's grandma was in the hospital. He might have to pay her a visit. If not at the hospital, then when she got back home. See, Dustin's dad had an axe to grind with Logan. He wouldn't be on the run if it wasn't for Logan. Sure, he could go after Logan, which he still might, but another way to get to Logan is by hurting those he cares about, and that means his grandma.

Besides, if Dustin's dad wanted to hurt Logan, it would be too easy because now he knew where to find him. Sure Carlos' dad was protecting them, but he couldn't protect them forever. Dustin's dad might just have to bide his time and wait until he wasn't around to protect Carlos and Logan. That would be when he struck like a viper.

To Be Continued…