"Thanks for the ride home," Trudy spoke out a Sonny parked behind her car in front of the townhouse, posing as her true home. Sonny leaned over and looked up at the place through her passenger side window.

"Those are some pretty nice digs you've got there, sweetheart," He complimented with a smile as he leaned back in the driver's seat once more.

"Well, it's no mini yacht like some people have," She countered teasingly.

"That was a gift from my employer and I usually only use it for business trips down to the Caribbean," He replied. "I actually live in a penthouse downtown. Maybe you'll let me bring you by sometime to see it," Sonny said as he looked at her with playfulness in his eyes and she smiled and then nodded.

"Yeah, maybe. Well, goodnight, Sonny," She turned and grasped the door handle but he grabbed the forearm of her left arm and stopped her. When she turned back to face him, he tugged her arm and pulled her into a kiss. Trudy found herself instantly lost in the kiss. He smelled so good and tasted even better. She couldn't help the low moan that escaped her lips as he reached out his free hand and gripped the back of her neck to hold her closer. The need to breathe was the only reason Sonny pulled from the kiss but he kept them nose to nose, both panting out their hot breath in the other's face.

"Jesus, what are you doing to me, woman?" He whispered out with a small smile as his green eyes bore into her brown ones. She was at a loss for words in the moment. She was sure it was a rhetorical question and so she remained silent. "Is there any chance I will get an invite up for a nightcap?" He chuckled out hopefully, and she licked her lips as a smile spread across her face.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," She replied in a hushed voice to match his. "I don't usually even kiss on the first date, and already you've got me breaking my rules."

"Hey, then why stop now?" He teased as his smile got bigger and she giggled a little and shook her head.

"If I invite you up for a nightcap it's likely to end with you sleeping over," Trudy knew by the way that kiss had made her entire body hum and also by the way Sonny made his desire for her clear in his eyes, touch, and kiss, that this was a very true statement. "And I just don't know you well enough for 'that' yet, Sonny," She sent him a pleading look in the hopes he would not push the issue further. She was pleased when he swiftly kissed her lips again and then released her.

"All right, darlin, you should get on up to bed. I'll wait here until you're safely inside," He said as he settled more comfortably in his seat and placed his left hand on the steering wheel. Trudy eyed him for a second and wondered if she had upset him with her rejection, but his next words lifted that fear. "Get some sleep, I'll be by tomorrow to take you to lunch at noon."

"And what if I already have plans tomorrow for lunch?" She countered with her tongue in her cheek. She was supposed to meet up with Castillo at the nearby mall to update him on things. He insisted that she and Tubbs stayed away from the precinct until after the case was over. But it looked like she'd have to call in her report tomorrow from a payphone instead.

"Cancel them," He answered and cast her a big grin. "Night," He tacked on to signify that it was the end of the discussion as far as he was concerned. Trudy had to bite down the initial retort on the tip of her tongue at his controlling and dismissive behavior towards her. She did not like the feeling she was starting to feel with Sonny Burnett, that somehow in his eyes she was something for him to possess. But still, she smiled and turned, opened the car door, got out, and closed the door behind her. She made her way up the steps to the townhouse door, purposely not looking back at him as, true to his word, he sat watching her unlock the door and enter.

Once she was inside, she hadn't bothered turning on any downstairs lights. She just locked up and then headed up to the bedroom she took as her own, which faced the street. She moved to the window and through the sheer curtains, she could see Sonny's car was still parked out front. She could just make out his movements inside the car and he appeared to be on his car phone. Thinking no more of it she moved to the en suite to grab a hot shower before bed. After her shower, she moved back into the bedroom to dress in an oversized t-shirt her ex had left at her place a long time back. She sometimes liked to sleep in it whenever she was lonely or needy, as she currently was this night. She was still drying her damp hair with the large white cotton towel when she moved back to the window. She saw that Sonny had driven off, but she hadn't noticed the new car now parked on the opposite side of the street, nor the man seated inside watching the townhouse. She moved to the bed, crawled under the covers, and soon drifted off to sleep.

As soon as she had awoken Trudy had gotten dressed in her favorite denim overalls which she cuffed at the bottom of each leg. She completed the look with a red form-fitted cotton tank top, red socks, and her red converse sneakers. She decided to keep her hair in its naturally curly state, but all of it pinned back in a tight French roll. Since she opted to not wear a baseball cap as she'd usually do, she put on extra sunscreen and no makeup except mascara to shape her brows and make her lashes pop and red lipstick. She didn't have bags under her eyes, never had dark circles there, or discoloration on her skin. So, her skin always seemed to glow whether she wore heavy make-up or no make-up at all. Once dressed she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. She planned to just walk a block up to where there was a payphone that she used to check in at work. As she stepped on the sidewalk right between the townhouse and where her car was parked in front, she took notice of the car across the street, but mostly she noticed the familiar man seated in the car looking as if he were waiting for someone to come out from one of the other townhouses which lined the street. Though it had been night and low light the night she met the man, she knew he had been one of Carrera's guards. The same one who had escorted her from the back grounds back up to the party under Sonny's command. Trudy knew without a doubt that sometime last night probably while she was in the shower Sonny had called this man to come to watch her. She was so tempted to walk over to the man and question him, but she did not want to blow her cover. Instead, she pretended to not have noticed him at all and proceeded on her way. She was glad that he was not following her, and she assumed the job was to stay posted outside of her place. As for why she fully intended to ask Sonny when she saw him.

It had only taken her 15 minutes to make her call and get back to her place and she arrived just in time to find Sonny parked behind her car, where he leaned against the outside of his car smoking a cigarette. His appearance stunned her for a moment because he was dressed very much in the same style as he usually did at work. Today he looked very much like the light-colored, loose suit Sonny Crockett instead of the tailor-fitted, designer suit Sonny Burnett. He wore a white linen suit with a turquoise cotton tee underneath, with white loafers on. His hair was not slicked back in the gel but dry and flying loosely. As she looked at him, Trudy silently prayed she didn't mess up and mistakenly do or say something she might say to Crockett. When Sonny spotted her, he took a final puff from the cigarette, dropped it to the ground, and stepped on it, and then moved to stand on the sidewalk. Had he not been wearing shades Trudy would have seen the scowl of irritation on his face.

"Where were you?" Sonny barked out just as she had smiled and opened her mouth to greet him. The tone in his voice instantly wiped the smile from her face.

"Well, hello to you too," Trudy responded as she now stood before him.

"I told you I'd be stopping by at noon to take you on a lunch date."

"Yeah, I know and you're early," She lifted her wristwatch to glance at the time. "By 30 minutes. I knew I had time to run a quick errand, so I did. What, did you think I would be sitting by the door waiting with bated breath for you to show up, Sonny?" She couldn't hide her irritation with him now as she rolled her neck a little and folded her arms across her chest.

"No, but when I came and knocked on the door you didn't answer … I guess I got worried," Sonny stated in a more deflated tone, and she knew that was as close to an 'I'm sorry he was willing to give her.

"Why didn't you just ask your friend from the party?" She asked this as she pointed to the car and the occupant still parked where she last saw it. "He could have told you I just walked down the street," This garnered a smile from him as he turned to look at the guard. He scratched at his stubble and then walked over to the posted guard, leaned into the window, and spoke for a second. Then the guard started up the car and drove off as Sonny made his way back to where Trudy stood. "Why the hell do you have your goons watching my house, Sonny?"

"Like I said before, I was just worried about you. You live alone and I just had him scoping the neighborhood for the night. Just to make sure it's quiet and safe around here," Sonny stated, and she didn't believe one word of it. She was sure it was more likely to see if she had any late-night male visitors stopping by.

"Wow, you are so full of shit and a terrible liar, Mr. Burnett," He cocked his brows to her biting words, and the smile grew on his face. He was not used to anyone speaking to him like that and he found that he was not enraged as he usually was when someone did have the audacity to speak to him in what he deemed to be a disrespectful manner. With this woman standing before him he found that instead of threatening her for her behavior he wanted to soothe and appease her to get back in her good graces. "You know what, I think we should just call it a day. I've lost my appetite anyway. Goodbye, Sonny," She dropped her arms and turned to head back into the townhouse. She meant her words. The risk of her cover or worse Tubbs' cover being blown under Sonny's surveillance was too great. She couldn't risk that. So, she would tell Castillo later what was going on, and that she felt it would be better to try to get to Sonny through the Carrera end Tubbs was working. She had just reached the steps to the townhouse when she felt his grasp.

"Trudy," He called to her softly and she turned to face him. He had removed the shades and from her position on the top steps, she was literally eye-to-eye with him. "Look I didn't mean to upset you. The truth is my line of work makes it difficult for me to trust anyone. So, I had your place watched last night to see if I could trust you," He admitted, and she relented a little as she stared at him.

"I've already told you, Sonny, I don't have any 'dates'. You're the only guy I've let get this close to me in nearly 2 years," She confessed easily and then inwardly kicked herself for being so open and honest with 'this' Sonny. "That relationship ended badly for me, and I don't think I would survive another one so 'intense'. And you are setting off all kinds of red flags that are telling me I should run far away from you."

"But you won't," He replied as he reached up his right hand, and caressed her left shoulder, and then moved the hand down her arm. "Because I've got a great lunch date planned for us today, with a very nice surprise. You wouldn't leave me hanging, now, would you?" He teased with a smirk and when she didn't crack a smile at his remark, he grew more serious when he spoke his next words. "I think you know deep down inside that I am not a bad guy, and that I wouldn't purposely harm you, Trudy," He said this and her resolve completely broke because she did know this to be fact. Even if he didn't remember the reasons why she felt this way towards him, she truly trusted Sonny. He was a good friend, the chivalrous type that would put himself in harm's way to protect his friends and family. She believed that 'that' Sonny was still inside, locked away and forgotten, and she had the opportunity to help him find his way out of the darkness. That was the reason she agreed to work on this case in the first place. Yeah, Castillo said it was to bring Sonny Burnett in for his crimes, but for Trudy, it was totally about bringing Sonny Crockett home to his family and his friends. So, she decided she wouldn't give up on that plan.

"What's the surprise?" Trudy asked as she crossed her arms and stepped back down onto the sidewalk. Sonny flashed his pearly whites when he realized she would join him.

"You'll have to wait and see for yourself," He replied as he ushered her to his car.

An hour Later

"Where's your crew?" Trudy questioned as she stood on the deck of the smaller-sized yacht they had had lunch on the day before. Then there had been a 5-man crew who drove the boat while they relaxed.

"It's just us today, sweetheart," Sonny spoke out as he moved to the cockpit to check that everything, he had instructed to be set for them was all in place. "But don't worry, I know how to run this boat all by myself," He said as he tossed her a wink and then moved past her and back out to the deck to pull up the ladder so they could push off. Trudy worried a little inside at the thought of being stuck out in open water on a boat with just her and Sonny. It was clear to her that Sonny was courting her. And although it had technically only been a 3-day courtship thus far, she knew where he wanted things to go. She didn't know how long she could push off 'those' kinds of advances, especially if she were trapped on a boat out in the middle of the ocean. As she watched Sonny move around the deck preparing it for push-off her mind tried to think of some excuse to get off the boat. Before she would conjure up a lie two men stepped up onto the boat. Sonny hadn't noticed them from where he was.

"Sonny," Trudy called out to him, and he paused in his task of tying up ropes and looked over to where she stood.

"Yeah?"

"You have guests," She stated as she pointed, and he snapped his head to the other side and looked over to where the two men stood near the entrance of the boat. Trudy looked back to Sonny as he stood from the crouched position he had been in and faced the men. She saw his face harden and turn cold and angry.

"Mr. Burnett," The older-looking of the two men spoke out. Trudy knew immediately that he was the 'boss' and the other man was his bodyguard.

"Mr. Rivera," Sonny replied as he moved closer to where the men stood. They spoke in a lowered voice and Trudy couldn't make anything out, but she could tell that both Sonny and this Mr. Rivera were both not so happy with the other. After a moment of this privately talking Sonny moved back to where Trudy stood.

"Hey, let me show you down to the lounge, while my friends and I talk a little business," He said this as he gripped her arm and moved her to the door that led to the lower deck. Trudy resisted somewhat but Sonny tightened his hold on her arm almost to the point of pain, "Don't," He nearly growled out and at seeing the danger in his eyes she relented and moved along with him. The lounge had been a grand space with all the state-of-the-art accommodation one would see in an expensively decorated high-rise apartment loft. Sonny moved her to the middle of the room and then he moved behind the huge bar that was in the corner of the room. He squatted behind it a few seconds, came back up, and then hurried back to the entrance to leave back out. "Stay put until I come back to get you. That's the bathroom over there," He pointed to a closed door on the far side of the room and then he exited out, closing the door behind him. When Trudy heard the clicking of a lock she rushed to the door and tried to open it, but it was definitely locked. Within a few seconds, Trudy could make out the low hum of the engines and felt the subtle sway that told her the boat was moving. Panic suddenly filled her at the knowledge she was now truly trapped on a boat with a friend who didn't remember being her friend, and two unsavory men whom she was sure were criminals of some sort. Trudy moved around the room looking for any other ways out, when she found none, she then focused on finding a weapon. She hoped she didn't need to defend herself but the fact that Sonny had felt the need to lock her below deck when their unexpected guests arrive told her there was danger.

A half hour had passed when Trudy realized that the boat had come to a stop. Her heart leaped in her throat when she heard a muffled pop that was quickly followed by two more. She moved to the door and pressed her ear against it to try and hear if there were footsteps coming. Trudy was actually terrified that she was now in a situation that she could potentially not walk out of. She stood listening there for a couple of minutes waiting for death to come through the door and claim her. Then she heard the humming of the engine again and felt the movement of the boat once more. She hung at the door for what had seemed like hours to her but in reality, had only been another 30 minutes or so. The boat stopped, the engine quieted, and she heard footsteps. She hurriedly backed away from the door as her eyes darted about the room which she had scoured but found nothing that would make a good weapon, just to be sure there wasn't something she had missed. The lock on the door clicked, the door opened, and Sonny walked just inside the doorway.

"I'm sorry that took so long," He spoke out in a tone that made him actually sound as if he were bored. "It was important business I had to take care of … Still have to take care of. So, I'm sorry but we'll have to cut our plans short. C'mon, and I'll take you home," He said this as he waved his hand towards the door. Trudy said nothing as she strode to the exit. She was happy that their rendezvous would be ending. She wanted to run but forced herself to try to remain calm, though she couldn't muster a smile. Sonny must have read the look on her face as disappointment because he stopped her just as she was about to cross the threshold. "I'm sorry I couldn't show you the surprise I had planned, Trudy. But I promised I'll make it up to you, all right?" This time she did plaster on a faux smile and gave him a nod. She was sure she'd do or say anything at this moment to get off the boat. He then leaned in, pressed his mouth to hers, and kissed her soundly. He started to deepen the kiss but then abruptly stopped as if he had remembered he had something he needed to do. "I'll stop by the club tonight and see you, give you a ride home."

"Okay," Trudy spoke out around a smile, and then she turned and moved through the corridor that led them back above deck.

Hours Later

"I can't do it," She spoke out to the two men and woman who occupied the conference room with her. Both men stood while she and the other female sat next to each other at the table where Trudy had recounted the little boat trip she had taken earlier.

"I thought you said you could handle things, Trudy," Tubbs chimed in, slightly mad that she seemed willing to desert their lost co-worker and friend.

"Did you not just hear what I said, Rico?" She asked as she glared up at the man who stood on the opposite side of the table with both hands on top as he leaned towards her. "I think he murdered two men when I was locked below deck. Then he dumped their bodies out at sea like trash."

"You don't know that for sure," He argued as he pushed from the table, shoved his hands in his pant pockets, turned from the table, and stepped closer to the window that looked out into the bullpen, though the blinds were closed.

"I know what gunshots sound like, and I clearly understood that those two guys were not welcomed, visitors. And I couldn't make out anything they said before I got ushered down below, but I could tell that Sonny was mad, in fact, he looked murderous. When I'm locked below out of sight, we take a 30-minute boat ride from the docks, three shots are fired, then we take another 30-minute boat ride back to the docks. You tell me, what do you think happened?"

"Did you recognize the two men?" Castillo who had been silent the entire time finally spoke out as he locked his eyes down onto Trudy, who shook her head to his question.

"No, but Sonny called the smaller man, who looked to be the one in charge, Mr. Rivera," She added on. "The other guy just looked like he was the muscle."

"Rivera?" Tubbs repeated and all eyes moved to him as he suddenly hurried from the room. He was back within a minute with a binder in hand. He settled the folder down on the table in front of Trudy as Castillo moved closer to the table to look on. "This is a folder I'd put together before we officially started working this case. It's some known associates of Carrera," Tubbs explained as he flipped through the pages in the binder. He finally stopped on a page and tapped a picture. "Is that the man you saw on the boat?" Trudy looked closer and then nodded.

"Yeah, that's him. That's Mr. Rivera, as Sonny called him," She stated as she glanced at the other pictures on the page, where she spotted another familiar face and tapped the picture. "And this was his muscle."

"Damn," Tubbs huffed out and then continued as Trudy and Castillo looked at him for more answers. "That's Hector Rivera and that's his right-hand man, his nephew Antonio Rivera. Hector Rivera is Carrera's biggest competition when it comes to trafficking from Miami into the Bahamas. He's been making moves against Carrera for months. He's even stolen some of Carrera's employees from him. Probably why he came to see Sonny. Taking out Carrera's biggest competition would be a nice play for Sonny to get in more solid with Oscar Carrera."

"Look, I want to help Sonny, you know I do," Trudy spoke again as she directed her words to Tubbs. "He's my friend too, but Sonny Burnett is not Sonny Crockett. Sonny Burnett is a very charming guy, but he's also very cold, controlling, manipulative, possessive, and deadly. And I've been able to see all of those faces on him just in the past three days I've spent with him. He scares the hell out of me and I just don't want to go any deeper into this thing. I can't."

"And you shouldn't," The other female in the room finally entered the conversation, she had been quietly observing since she was asked to join them. Dr. Rachel Donovan was one of the four psychologists that worked for the department. Castillo had been ordered to consult with her after they learned of Sonny's situation. "She's right, you know? This is not the Sonny you all knew, and it would be a big mistake to think that way when you're around him. Based on the reports you've provided me thus far on him, he has some form of amnesia, but it's probably not complete amnesia."

"So, he could snap out of it?" Tubbs asked hopefully.

"Sure, that's one prognosis for amnesia victims. They could eventually remember everything they temporarily forgot, or they might never remember. I can't diagnosis Detective Crockett's case without speaking with him directly, running tests. I speculate that his amnesia is not complete because of his relationship with you," She said this as she pointed to Trudy, who frowned up in confusion but remain silent to allow the doctor to further explain. "He sees you across a crowded room, walks up to you, and basically tells you he 'feels' like he knows you from somewhere. Yeah, it definitely sounds like something that might happen in some chessy romance novel. But in this case it's very real and probably because somewhere in Detective Crockett's brain he does remember you, his friend and co-worker. It also explains why he's pursued you as he has, and the 'possessive' mannerism. You said he threatened to kill some man at the club who touched you, and he's constantly grabbing you, leading you, manhandling you. The wires in his brains are fired, misfiring, I don't know but it seems like it's telling him that he is connected to you somehow, it just can't tell him exactly how. And it's triggering a possessive behavior as well as agressive behavior in him when it comes to you, Trudy."

"But why me?" Trudy questioned. "He met Gina last night and he had no reaction to her at all, and they had a romantic relationship once upon a time. Why wouldn't he feel a stronger connection to her. I mean, outside of work Sonny and I barely saw one another or hung out."

"Probably because he saw you first and he was able to place a piece in the jigsaw puzzle that's his mind right now. It's like his brain had a knee-jerk reaction when he saw you. Think about it, what if you woke up with no memories about who you are, where you come from. You recall absolutely no one. Then you meet someone you don't recall ever seeing before but you 'feel' in every fiber of your being that yu're somehow connected to that person. You have a 'connection' with someone. That probably would fill you with…"

"Hope and like there's a tether to a world you don't recognize," Trudy interjected as she began to understood what the doctor was saying. It made her heart ache for the mental anguish Sonny must be feeling.

"Exactly, and you'd want to hold on to that feeling, to that person. So, it could become very dangerous for you Detective Joplin to continue having any further contact with him."

"Oh, you don't have to convince me, Doc, I'm out," Trudy said this with a curt nod as she folded her arms across her chest.

"I don't believe that Sonny would harm you, memories or no memories, Trudy. He's just not built that way," Tubbs said and he believed his words. "You just said he's attracted to her because, in his subconscious mind, he remembers her, right?"

"Yes, though that's a very simplistic way of putting it," Dr. Donovan replied. "But also in his state of mind and given the identity he's taken on and believes himself to be, Detective Crockett is clearly not thinking rationally right now. And he's killing people according to you, so he's also quite volatile. If this were anyone else would you still be so eagar for her to continue on this case? Do you really want to put her life in any kind of danger?" Tubbs bowed his head a little in shame at her words. "Look, I get that he's your partner and your friend, but you brought me in here to give you my professional opinion, and you should get out now. Cut complete ties with Sonny Burnett. And for your own safety, Detective Joplin I'd even go a step further and take a vacation out of town until he's apprehended," Her words made Trudy look over at her in concern.

"C'mon, really?" Tubbs huffed out feeling this doctor was now totally over exaggerating the situation.

"Detective Tubbs, if you tossed a straving dog a piece of meat, once he's takena bite of it would you stick your hand down to try to take that piece of meat back from him?" Dr. Donovan asked and his silence spoke volumes. The doctor then gave Trudy her full attention. "Detective Crockett has probably been starving to remember or feel something, anything from a time before he lost his memories, and he's found that sustenance in you. You're the piece of meat and he is not going to give you up easily. So, not returning his calls or telling him to go away, isn't likely to deter him. In fact, rejecting him it might trigger a violent reaction from him."

"You're off the case," Castillo said to Trudy and then directed his next words to Tubbs. "You'll continue working the Carrera case and hopefully we'll be able to bring Sonny in that way," Tubbs nodded. He wasn't entirely happy about giving up an angle that got them so close to Sonny, but he knew it would piss Trudy off if he further insisted, she put herself in harm's way for Sonny.

Across town

Sonny had reported what had happened on the boat to Carrera, then he had given instructions to his most trusted foot soldiers to hit Rivera's main warehouse at the docks, knowing it would wipe out any of Rivera's minions who might consider stepping into his role, now that he was gone. Carrera had been surprised when Sonny told him he would not be heading up that operation because he had a prior engagement. Sonny wasn't swayed even when Miguel questioned his loyalty to their family, which would have usually triggered a violent retort. Oscar Carrera had been so pleased by Sonny taking out such a major competitor that he ordered Sonny to take the night off and enjoy himself because he deserved it.

He arrived at the Member's Only club earlier than he normally would have, but he was anxious to see Trudy. He was sure that he had scared her on their boat trip. She put on a brave, smiling face at the time, but her eyes clearly showed her fright. And how quiet she had been on the ride back to her place, unnerved him. He felt like he had to explain to her about what she had seen or possibly heard on the boat, maybe delicately explain some of the nature of his work. She would understand, he'd make her understand because something in his brain screamed that he couldn't lose her. When he walked in, he was greeted by Ruby the other part-time hostess same as the night before. She escorted him to a booth in the VIP section. He hadn't bothered asking her about Trudy for he was sure she was probably somewhere in the crowded club working some other section. After he sat for 20 minutes, searching for Trudy and not finding her, he finally spotted someone he was sure would be able to help him.

"Hey," Sonny called out to the brunette who was serving drinks to a table. "It's Jenny, right?" She finally turned to face him.

"No, it's Gina, but I guess that was close enough," Gina replied as she placed her free hand on her hip while the other held the empty tray.

"Gina, that's right, sorry about that," Sonny said as he sent her a charming smile, one that reminded her so much of Crockett as he would do the same when he knew he had done something to piss her off. "Uhm, have you seen Trudy? I was supposed to meet her here tonight."

"No, sorry, I haven't seen her so far tonight, but she might just have a later shift," Gina replied as she then started to walk away. The truth was Tubbs had already informed her of the plan to take Trudy off the Sonny case and put her into hiding until it was all over. Gina hadn't moved far before she felt a firm grip on her arm and she was suddenly pulled back around to face Sonny once more.

"What time later?" He asked as she pulled her arm from his hold.

"I don't know. She and I ain't best buds or anything, so I don't know her schedule," Gina again turned to head to the back with the intention of calling this into Tubbs, but she was grabbed again but this time it was a very painful grip and the way she was yanked around made her head snap. "Oww, you're hurting me, please let go," She demanded as she now looked up into very wild and mad eyes.

"Sure, sweetheart, just as soon as you tell me when Trudy will be in," Sonny spoke in a low, menacing tone as he gripped her arm even harder, and caused her to wince out in pain.

"I… I really don't know her schedule, or anyone else's for that matter. The only one who gives out the schedules is our boss, Rico," She insisted as she stopped struggling because it only made the pain intensify. "And he ain't here either, so I can't ask him for you," Sonny's jaws clenched as he released Gina with a shove. He stood there as if in contemplation as he fisted both hands at his side. Gina remained in her spot as she nursed her sore and already bruised arm. Something inside of her screamed for her to not turn her back on him again. Then without a sorry or even a glance her way, Sonny, turned and stalked from the club, leaving Gina to stare after him in horror at the knowledge he really wasn't Sonny Crockett anymore. And she became filled with fear for what might happen to Trudy once Sonny found her. Gina hurried to the back offices to call Tubbs to warn him. She knew he was taking Trudy to the townhouse to get her things and that was just a 5-minute drive away from the club, and she was sure that would be where Sonny headed next.

10 minutes later

"Dang, woman, did you pack up your entire house? You know this is all supposed to be a ruse," Tubbs said with a chuckle as Trudy brought down another bag for him to load in his car.

"I was supposed to make this place appear to be my home, so I had to have some creature comforts to accomplish that," Trudy replied as she smiled at him. "Anyway, I think this is all of it," She said as she walked into the living room to double-check spots where she had placed personal pictures of her family.

"Hey," Tubbs called from behind her, and he joined her in the room. "I wanted to apologize about before," She turned to face him with a confused look on her face as he continued. "I don't want you to think I mean to put you in harm's way just to bring Sonny home," Her face then showed that he understood him, and she sent him a slight smile. "As much as I want to help bring him back and get him help, I'd never put you or anyone else in danger to do it."

"I know that Rico, and it's okay," Trudy assured. "I was the one hell-bent on taking this assignment in the first place because I wanted to do whatever I could to bring Sonny home, too, but…" She paused as she hugged herself in a comforting manner before she continued. "I never imagined that he would be so …" She shook the thought on how dark she felt Sonny had become, for she knew Tubbs wasn't ready to accept it. "Tubbs, he's really in deep, so deep I don't know if we'll be able to bring him back. In fact, I think he likes the life he's living and the money and the power that comes with it. He really, truly scares me," She confessed as she shrugged her shoulders a little.

"Well, you don't have to be scared now. You're officially off the case and you get an all expense paid vacation to NYC until we close it. I really envy you. Man, I really miss my old stomping ground sometimes," He said with a dream-like look in his eyes and a smile on his face.

"Yeah, and I am looking forward to visiting my family up north, not to mention all the shopping I plan on doing," She giggled.

"Well, if we leave now, I can get you to your place to pack up whatever else you need and have you on your flight in an hour and a half, tops," Tubbs declared as he looked at his watch.

"Let's go," Trudy agreed as she led the way out of the living room and then out the front door. They had just stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the townhouse when the high-beam headlights of the car that was fast approaching them shone on them and the said car drove right up onto the sidewalk. Both Trudy and Tubbs rushed back some in fear the car would crash into them. Due to the bright headlights, they could not make out much. Then the car door opened, and they could make out the person now standing before them, Trudy let out a gasp. She wasn't sure what scared her more Sonny's enraged face or the gun he was pointing directly at Tubbs' face. "Sonny, what are you doing here?" She spoke out to him in the calmest voice she could muster and hoped to distract him from potentially pulling the trigger.

"I was about to ask you the same thing, darlin," Sonny countered as he kept his death glare and gun aimed onto Tubbs, who stood with both hands raised in surrender. "I told you I was coming by your job to see you. I went and you weren't there. You going somewhere?"

"Y…y…yes, I just got word that my grandmother is very sick, so I'm going to visit with her for a bit," She answered and the look he shot her told her that he hadn't believed a word of it.

"Is she your grandmother too?" He directed this at Tubbs. "And you two were planning to go together?"

"Naw, man, I'm just giving Trudy a ride to the airport," Tubbs replied. He tried to act calm and cool, but he was quite unnerved by the look in his friend's eyes. He could clearly see they held murderous intent.

"Rico's telling you the truth Sonny, he was just giving me a ride. What are you doing? You're acting real crazy right now. Put the gun away," Trudy said.

"Get in the car," Sonny spoke in a lowered more calmed voice. At first, she thought he was speaking to Tubbs, and she was only slightly relieved at the thought that Tubbs would be allowed to leave, but also terrified that he might leave her alone with Sonny. "Get in the fucking car, Trudy, we're leaving," Sonny spoke again as he now scowled over at her.

"I'm not going anywhere with you when you are acting like a raving lunatic, waving a gun around," She countered as she tried to act braver than she really was. She was literally willing her knees to not wobble and give out on her. They stared at each other for a moment and then Sonny cocked his gun.

"If you don't get in my car right now, i'll stop waving my gun aorund and start shooting it, and I'm gonna splatter his brains all over your nicely trimmed bushes. Tubbs swallowed down the lump in his throat as he kept his eyes trained onto the gun.

"Don't do it, Trudy," Tubbs bravely protested. "If you get in that car there's no telling what he might do to you," And he had truly meant those words for he could now see Trudy and Dr. Donovan had been right, this Sonny was a very dangerous man.

"You shut your mouth, motherfucker," Sonny spat out as he stalked right up to Tubbs and pressed the gun right against his forehead. "I would never hurt her, but I definitely will hurt you, if she doesn't get in the Goddamn car!" Approaching sirens could be heard in the distance and they all knew a neighbor watching them likely had called the cops.

"Listen, man, the police are coming. One of these neighbors probably called them. So, you should just leave now," Tubbs tried to use fear but could tell it wouldn't work. The crazed look in Sonny's eyes told him that this man would be willing to have a shoot-out with cops and not even break a sweat over it.

"Okay, okay," Trudy called out as she began to move towards Sonny's car. "Let's just go, Sonny. C'mon, before the cops get here," She called this out as she opened the passenger side door of Sonny's car, got inside, and then closed the door shut.

"You can consider this Trudy's letter of resignation because she won't be working for you anymore," Sonny practically growled out the words. "And if you try to contact her again, I will kill you and I don't give a fuck about the business deal you have with my boss," With that said Sonny hurriedly backed away to his car, but still held the gun aimed at Tubbs until he reached his open car door. He quickly hopped inside, put the car in gear, backed off the curb, and then sped away. Tubbs breathed out a sigh of relief as he watched the car round a corner. He ran to his car to use the phone to call in about what had just happened.