Sorry again! I seem to be apologizing a lot lately. I've actually had this written since I posted the last chapter but was trying to figure out how to make my character less...wimpy? I don't know. I've been really off my game about a lot of things lately, maybe I'm not cut out to work full time in a daycare center. *sigh*

Anyways, I hope this chapter isn't too...boring(?), annoying(?). I should have more time to work on the next couple chapters this month. We're coming to the first climax of the story, which I have already written out, I just have to edit it and finish the chapter(s) before it.

So enjoy!

CHAPTER 14

Beth laughed as they came up for air. "Wasn't that refreshing?"

Carlton coughed up water and stood "No! That was stupid! There are million things in the ocean and we could have hit out heads on something or gotten caught in a rip current."

"Ugh! Why do you always have to be such a party popper?!" She splashed water at him before making her way onto shore.

"I'm the party pooper?!" He exclaimed as he followed her. "You're the one who didn't think this through! I've lost my wallet and my phone! I'll be lucky if I find them at all!"

"Relax! I took them out of your pockets and put them in my purse before we even got up and stashed my purse by Juliet."

"What about the tracking devices? They're not exactly waterproof."

"Oh, oops."

"It's going to take at least a day to get new ones."

"Sorry." She ran a hand through her hair. "Can't we just put them in a bowl of rice? It works with cell phones."

Carlton shook his head. "Maybe, it depends if salt or other minerals got inside. I'll ask housekeeping for some rice but it will probably be easier to just ask the chief to send new ones."

"I'm sorry I screwed up, again!" She threw her arms up into the air and turned towards the ocean. Carlton sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder, noticing her shivering. "You didn't screw up."

"Yes I did, I always screw up."

"No you don't."

"And how the hell would you know!" She spun around to face him. "I've only known you for what? 6 months?! You don't know my life story or all the stupid stuff I've done!"

"I know that you've done a lot of good things in your life. What about your pets? You didn't screw them up."

Beth laughed sadly, "Yes I did. The first year I had Frisco, he got sick but I didn't have enough money to take him to the vet. So instead of asking for help right away, I waited almost 3 months to take him, and I still feel like a horrible owner for that. I cried at the vet's office for my stupidity and almost asked my mother to take him."

"But you didn't, you kept him and he seems to be fine now."

"That's only one example; I can give you dozens, hundreds of others! I should just go home so I don't screw this case up even more." She shook her head and started heading for the hotel.

Carlton reached out and grabbed her arm. "Just, just wait a minute!"

"No, let go of me." She tried to shake him off.

"Not until you listen to me." He held on tighter.

Beth started struggling, "No!"

"Beth!"

"No! Let go of me Fred!"

Carlton let go as soon as the words were out of her mouth and Beth fell to the sand. "I, I'm sorry. I didn't, didn't mean to..."

She slowly stood up, shaking her head. "No, I-I. I um." She looked around the beach, anywhere but at him. "I have to go."

"Beth." Carlton called as she turned and walked away, this time away from the fire, towards the forest. "Damnit!" He whispered.

"What happened?" Juliet asked as she suddenly appeared next to him.

Carlton tried to hide his surprise but knew he failed when Juliet smiled. He sighed, "I honestly don't know."

"Well, you better go after her."

"She doesn't want to talk to me right now."

"I don't care what she wants! I do not want anything happening to her. Tell her it was my fault and that I forced you to at least bring her back to the hotel room. That way we know where she is." She handed him two beach towels.

Carlton growled, "Fine."

"Good. Here is Beth's purse as well. Good luck." Juliet smiled before leaving him alone.

Shaking his head, Carlton started after Beth. She had gotten halfway to the trees before sitting down. As he got closer, he could hear her crying. When he was about 10 feet away and she had not turned around yet, he called out, "Beth? Are you okay?"

She gasped in surprised and shook her head.

"Do you want to talk?"

She shook her head again and gasped out, "H-help m-m-me."

Carlton frowned as he hurried closer. "What's wrong?"

"C-c-can't b-b-b*gasp* bre-ath." She was holding her chest with one hand and gripping her jeans in the other.

"You're just having a panic attack and need to calm down." He knelt down next to her and rubbed her back.

"I, I-I-I c-can't *gasp*"

"Yes you can." He pulled her up against him and held her tight, ignoring her flinch. "Just try to match my breathing. In and out. In and out, you can do it."

Eventually her breathing evened out but her tears did not stop. His legs were cramping up so Carlton started to move. But Beth held his arms in place. "Don't leave."

"I won't."

She turned her head sideways to look at him and their faces were inches apart. Subconsciously, they moved closer and kissed, this time slower and cautious. Noticing that they were both shivering, Carlton pulled back slightly and ended the kiss. "This is a bad idea."

"Says who?"

"Me. We're both cold and wet and are not thinking clearly."

"I'm thinking just fine."

"No, you just had a panic attack and your emotions are a bit…out of alignment right now."

Beth laughed. "Out of alignment?! I guess that's one way of putting it."

"Plus, we're in the middle of a case, which is never a good time to start something."

She sighed, "Fine. Let's get back to the fire. I still haven't had my s'mores yet."

Carlton shook his head as he stood up. "You are definitely not like anyone else that I've ever met."

A ghost of a smile crossed her lips, "Thanks."

"What? No witty comeback?"

"Nah, I'm too cold to think of one. Maybe after I burn some marshmallows." She stood up and he wrapped a towel around her.

"Eating burnt food is not good for you."

"There are a lot of foods that I eat that aren't good for me. Besides, I only do it ever so often and it's so cool holding the marshmallow like a torch and watching the flame slowly engulf the whole thing."

"*sigh* As long as you don't catch anyone or anything on fire."

"I'll try not to." Beth smirked. Carlton just shook his head as they returned to the bonfire.