TITLE: Double Vision: A Carlos Story

AUTHOR: AngelofMystery (* I'm now Timeless Enigma*)

E-MAIL: designation_enigma@earthlink.net

RATING: PG for a tiny bit of swearing

SPOILERS: None really- helps if you've seen "The Self Importance of Being Carlos", "Old Dogs, New Tricks" and the 4th Season Premiere "Lights Up"

SUMMARY: After getting on each other's nerves way too long Doc and Carlos are paired up with different partners. Carlos finds himself with new recruit Sarah McCartey. So what's the problem? Sarah is as bad as Carlos, the two of them a match made in Heaven-or is it hell?

DISCLAIMER: Third Watch belongs to John Wells and Warner Brothers, Oh! Sarah McCartey belongs to me

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sorry I haven't added more in a LONG time, I know people wanted me to go on...So Here it is! I changed my name of FF.net to "Timeless Enigma" (so this Fic will be the last under "Angel of Mystery") ! Hope everyone enjoys Ch. 3 :) Oh and I don't really know where I'm going with is story, I'm just writing...

**=Thoughts, mostly Carlos's unless specified --------------------------------------------------------------- "What's wrong with you?!" Carlos asked Sarah once they were out of earshot of everyone in the hospital.

"What ever do you mean?" Sarah asked innocently, her eyes twinkling in the light, a smile playing over her pretty face.

Carlos glared at her, shaking his head. *unbelievable.* "What do you have amenesia?! What you pulled back there-- Nevermind. This isn't over." He said emphasizing each word.

"Central to Echo 55-3. Possible MI (heart attack) on Cedar and 11th, respond code 2. Over" Carlos's radio crackled. *Thank God, some distraction*

"Echo 55-3 to Central. We're on out way."

----Some time later---

*Ah, lunch break. Finally some time to myself. Maybe this is what Doc felt like- nah, I can't be that bad. Speaking of- there he is, all smug, talking with Kim. Show off*

Carlos stood staring at the contents of the refrigerator for what seemed like 10 minutes. *Nothing. There is nothing in this crap hole.* Shaking his head in disgust he headed over to where Sarah was. "I'm going out. Getting lunch. I'll be back before our break gets over." He said with latent attutude. *Keep it short, sweet and to the point*

"Fine." She bit back, then went back to reading her Cosmo.

He rolled his eyes and walked out. Kim and Doc who had been watching his interaction exchanged looks as if to say 'Carlos not liking a pretty woman, is it possible?' -----

"Hey, man. Heard you got a new partner." Davis said to Carlos while writing a ticket in front of Joe's Pizza Parlor. Carlos who'd been stuffing his face with some of that very pizza, nodded yet said no more.

"Well? That's all- a nod?" Davis asked, slipping the ticket under the Ford's windshield.

"She's psycho, what else can I say. She was going to leave a GSW to die. Said 'There's no point. Let's just leave him. He's just a gangbanger, no one will miss him sure know I won't'- and that's an exact quote. Then she walked off and refused to help me!"

"Ohh, I'm sorry man." Davis said. Not sure wheather to smile or feel bad for him.

"Me too. Look I gotta get back to the Station. I'll see yah later. Oh and leave the hall light on, I'm sick of tripping over your crap." Carlos called back to Davis.

Davis shook his head. Why he agreed to become roomates with Carlos was beyond him. ------

After a full stomach Carlos felt a little better, even whistled a little tune. Turing the corner to 55 he found Sarah in the driver's seat, Echo 55- 3's engine rolling. "We got a call." Sarah called to him.

He jogged the short distance and got in the passenger seat. "What is it?" He asked.

"Domestic dispute. Suspected child abuse." She said, her voice oddly quiet.

*Damn it! Nothing like a good old domestic dispute to bring back the old nightmares* Carlos suddenly felt queasy.

They got to the scene in no time, climbed up the 10 flights of floors and knocked on the ratty wooden door.

"Hello? FDNY Paramedics- you called?" Carlos yelled.

No answer.

"Lets go. There's no answer." Sarah said.

*Not again! WHAT is with her?*

"NO. We're. Staying." Carlos said through grated teeth.

Right when he was about to knock agian the quick click of the lock opening sounded. Carlos and Sarah stepped back, bettwe be safe then sorry. Bosco and Faith were still 4 minutes out.

"Ma'am did you call the Paramedics?" He asked. She'd been crying that much was clear, a stream of black mascarra staining her face.

She nodded.

"Is anyone injured? If so we need to come in." He coaxed.

She looked at Sarah then Carlos with worrying eyes then opened the door. "In the last room on the right."

While brushing past the woman and walking to the room, Carlos felt something grab his hand- no someone grab his hand. *What the?* He turned at first thinking it was the woman who called but then realized it was Sarah!! *Ok, Now I've seen it all! I can't get an angle on her!*

She looked worried, terrified even. Those sassy blue eyes glossy, bitting her lower lip. Their eyes met, she was pleading with him, hoping he would understand. He didn't, not fully.

"Hurry." The woman called from the living room.

Carlos snapped out of it, he had to deal with the task on hand. Together they walked into the room. Carlos's pulse sped up as it always did when dealing with Domestics. On the bed lay a young girl, no older than 10. Her eye was swollen and her lip bleeding along with many other brusises on her arms and wherevever else. *Oh, God. How sick can people be?!*

He walked over to the girl. "Hey, I'm a paramedic, sweetie. I'm here to help you." He pasued. "Can you tell me your name?"

The little girl turned her head and looked up at him with innocent eyes. *Oh, God. I wish I could get my hands on the bastard who did this* "Carrie. My name is Carrie. What is yours?" She asked.

"Carlos. And this-" Motioning next to him. "is Sarah, she's my partner."

"We need to help you. Can you tell me where it hurts?" Carlos asked.

"Maybe you should fix her first." Carrie said, pointing to Sarah.

Only then did he realize she was still holding his hand and she was crying. Just standing there, frozen.

"Excuse me." He said to Carrie then immediatly turned to Sarah. "What's wrong with you?" She looked at him with watery eyes, an uncharted ocean. "Look, I'm sorry. I don't know what exactly is going on but we have a patient to attend to, a little girl that needs our help. If you can't snap out if it, then---then go out to the Bus. I can't deal with both of you."

She nodded and wipped her eyes, finally releasing their hands. Then she walked off. *Another talley on the 'Why chicks are weird list'*

Carlos began his work of assessing Carrie. Did she lose consciousness? Is there any broken bones? More importantly who did this?

"My other daddy. He got angry." She said answering the last question.

*A step-father. Damn scum, that's almost as bad as foster father.*

Carlos nodded, not wanting any of his ill feelings on that subject to be unleahed.

A minute later he told Carrie and her mother that she needed to go to the hospital for further results and that Child Serivices were going to be notified. Bosco and Faith arrived a minute before and took down the incident and description of the step father a Mr. Livingston. Faith shook her head when seeing Carrie being transported down to the Bus. Carlos and Bosco shared a knowing glance- they both knew the nightmares of a bad childhood, all the pain a fist could cause.

"Do you want to hold Mr. Snuggles?" Carlos asked Carrie when she was secured in the back. Her mother sitting on the other side, staring out the window. Carrie grabbed the Teddy Bear and began playing with it.

"Mercy this is Echo 55-3. ETA 5 minutes. A Domestic, young girl- 10 years old, no LOC, vitals are stable, have Child Services notified. Over"

"Echo 55-3 this is Mercy. Understood. Over."

Carlos ventured a glance at Sarah. *This woman is impossible. I wonder if she's ever tried therapy, I heard that helps for issues. Maybe I should talk to her- one on one. How do I do that?*

TO BE CONTINUED...

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