Dear readers,

firstly I'd like to welcome new readers to this section, namely, George & Co... very fine to have you join us and have your input...and if you're not part of George's community but are newly acquainted - welcome and thanks for reviewing all the same - it means a great deal to us all here! Please stay with us because we love all your reviews and it helps us immensely! (especially me coz i'm still a relative newby!) So thank you EVERYONE who have given a very positive review!

For my part, I really enjoy writing. Yet I know my updates are far and few between - this is coz I am also currently writing other stuff, looking for work, working hard, doing loads of other stuff at the same time! But please don't lose heart - I am never far away - I love CAfic and I love this forum and I love all you guys for reviewing and in some cases, doing your own stuff!

So please stay here and check us out - I will always be here updating - I hope you'll always pop by and read and review!

Just one word to the wise...DFTT[##]

But thank you everyone for your very encouraging reviews! Love yaz!

LAEyeball

Sometimes, words were just not necessary. Superfluous. He understood Sabrina Duncan a great deal, and knew that there really wasn't much point in asking how she felt. She wouldn't tell him much and he was in no doubt as to how much effort a response would take. Bosley looked down at Sabrina from his chair by the bed as she allowed her eyes to open a little. He let her gradually become aware, before smiling warmly. Sabrina then moved her head slightly in Bosley's direction, so that she didn't have to look sideways. Which hurt to do so. Pain then also shot down her neck, but it was bearable. She tried a small smile, but that was unbearable. Bosley put his hand on her arm, sensing how much pain Sabrina was in just by trying to focus her attention on him. His warm brown eyes and comforting gesture told Sabrina that Bosley was there for her - always there for them all. Rock solid, dependable John Bosley. She really wanted to give a smile of appreciation, but managed an almost imperceptible nod of her head instead. Bosley gently patted her arm and smiled with such concern in his eyes, Sabrina almost had to look away. She hated being a victim. She hated someone having to worry over her. Her mind had cleared somewhat, and her doctor had filled her in on her medical situation, but she wanted to ask Bosley so much. Wanted to ask about Kelly, about Kris, about what the hell was going on? Her raised eyebrows must have given the game away, or Bosley had read her mind, because he leaned closer to speak. She was comfortable with either reason.

"We found Kelly." Bosley said quietly. Sabrina closed her eyes in relief for a moment, then forced them open again. She saw only a small smile from Bosley, which meant that Kelly's reappearance wasn't the end of the matter.

"I don't want to weigh you down with a lot of detail, but basically, Kelly was kidnapped by a mobsters wife to track her daughters killer." Bosley informed Sabrina. "Charlie and Kris have uncovered a lot of information and Kris is now in the same place as Kelly so they can both work together to sort this mess out." He saw Sabrina's immediate frown and continued.

"Sabrina, there's no need for you to worry at all, because Kelly and Kris know what they are doing and Charlie has the utmost confidence in them." This time he smiled more brightly. "They send all their love and can't wait to be here with you. Kris has been by your bedside, Bri. She's been right here for you."

Sabrina nodded again then closed her eyes. Bosley waited a few moments, wondering if she was drifting off to sleep.

"Thanks, Bosley." Sabrina managed to slur, painfully muffled, past her swollen lips. Her eyes remained closed however, so Bosley took this as a sign to retire for a little while. He squeezed her arm very gently then stood up.

"I'm going to grab a sandwich and call Charlie, then I'll be back." He knew Sabrina was already asleep, but felt the need to say this much anyway. He took in Sabrina's battered fragile form for a moment then headed towards the door, feeling a small sense of relief that Sabrina was at last, starting to come around.

Agent Reardon walked quietly back to Marcus's office, wondering if he'd made the correct decision in allowing two female investigators to remain involved in his case. He was so very close to having all the evidence he needed to put, not just Marcus away, but a whole string of connections reaching from Mexico right back to L.A. Possibly even New York, if he was that good. So this development was not something he could have planned for. But inside here, there wasn't anything much he could do right now anyway. If Garrett and her girlfriend suddenly flew off, Marcus might get suspicious. He already had Garrett marked for special attention. Damn. Lady P. I. 's! What the hell got them involved in this anyway? He needed to talk more with Kelly Garrett, but right now he also needed to keep an eye on Marcus. He reached his office and knocked then announced himself.

He heard the affirmative response from Marcus and walked in, immediately alerted to the cold draught in the room and the broken window. He looked at Marcus, who was watching him.

"Brother Marcus, what happened, are you alright?" Reardon feigned concern.

Marcus had seen to his injuries but had needed to return to his office for some items to take back to a less draughty office, until the window was boarded up and sealed for repair.

Marcus looked up, as he closed the drawer he was in, then locked it.

"I am fine. No need for any concern. Come, Brother James, we have some things to attend to." Marcus stepped from around his desk and eyed his right hand man shrewdly. James had been a very reliable and discreet "soldier in the Lord" for a few years. But Marcus did wonder if James, like everyone else in the world, it seemed, had an ulterior motive for sticking with his boss for so long. James smiled and then opened the door for Marcus.

"What would you like me to attend to, Lord?"

Marcus walked through into the corridor, closely followed by James. Marcus continued to walk.

"I am very concerned that Mr Vincent is about to grace us with his odious little presence. I need a delay tactic. I need Vincent scared off." Marcus walked on, now thinking to himself, and James followed along in silence. They reached a door which opened into another office, and Marcus ushered James in, then shut the door.

"Perhaps, Brother, it's time we allowed some small public interest be made into our little sanctuary here." Marcus them let out a small 'hmm' and walked up to the window on the side wall. He felt the cuts on his hands smarting from their earlier encounter with glass, and clasped his hands together while he thought.

"Yes." he said at some length and turned back to James, who stood patiently watching Marcus. "Yes, I know Vincent has left a few inquisitive eyes guarding our little home, so why don't we invite some guests for tea?"

"Lord?" James queried, using again, his formal title for his boss, now to express his concern.

"Let's show the locals how hospitable we really can be!" Marcus smiled. "If you would be so good as to call our dear Sheriff and inform him that I am extremely concerned for our safety up here, as there have been a number of break-ins."

"Oh, yes, of course." James nodded and smiled. Suddenly, he saw a way of getting those two broads out of his hair.

"Perhaps he can send someone to inspect our premises?" Again, James nodded and then made for the door.

"Oh and Brother…?" Marcus called as James went out. "Don't forget to mind the cookie jar."

Marcus smiled to himself, rather pleased with his ploy. It would scare Vincents' inept bozos off, and hopefully make Vincent think twice about paying a visit just now. He had stepped up his operation since Vincents' men had come calling, and now he had things in place to be out of here in a week. If the police presence could buy him that much time, he would be happy. Just as long as things didn't tip in their favour. Let them sniff a little, but he wasn't about to throw them any bones. He knew it was a dangerous chance to take, but … what was that old adage? The Lord helps those who help themselves? He chuckled a little at his own childish humour. It felt good to laugh. He wished suddenly, in his whole life, he had been able to laugh more often. So much more.

Watching Kris wake up, Kelly smiled as she clasped a small cup of coffee she had just made for herself.

"Hi there! Feeling any better?" Kelly asked, as Kris pushed herself up on her pillow.

"Uh, Hi! Yeah, a little." Kris mumbled, trying to clear her head but wincing as she felt her cracked rib pull.

"Here, would you like a drink?" Kelly asked, offering her the cup. Kris nodded and took a few sips, then handed the cup back.

"Thanks!" She looked at Kelly, so glad she was here with her, but not so happy about the way she got in.

"How long have I been out of it?" Kris asked, needing to be up to speed with everything.

"Oh, about two and a half hours." Kelly replied. "You hungry?"

"Uh, no - not right now. So what's going on, Kel?" Kris shook her head a little to try and clear the fuzziness but instantly regretted it. The dull throb in her nose notched up to screaming pitch and she gently lowered her head back to the pillow and put her hand to her nose. It had begun to bleed a little with the action.

"Ow…"

"Ooh Kris - here," Kelly mopped at her friends delicate nose with a piece of wadding off the medical unit next to where she sat.

"Ow!" Kris repeated, this time at Kelly's diligent dabbing.

"Sure, anytime!" Kelly smiled a little and withdrew the swab.

"There…better!" Kelly grinned at Kris. "Next time, leave your brains up there!"

"Ha ha, funny!" Kris frowned. "Look Kel, what the hell is going on in here?"

Kelly immediately saw a look of hurt haunt Kris's eyes, that Kris herself was unable to hide. It sent a wave of regret through her that she wasn't even responsible for having created in the first place.

"Kris, wait, let me…"

But Kris cut her off. Maybe it was the relief of being reunited with Kelly, that she felt able to speak freely - maybe it was the fact that she knew she had been damned scared over Kelly's disappearance. Maybe both.

"Kelly - you walked out on us!" Kris looked Kelly straight in the eye, her set expression demanding an explanation. She knew as soon as said it, that this was going far too deep, but she couldn't help it. She had felt as though Kelly, caught up in her own feelings of self reliance, had indeed, left the rest of the agency scrabbling around in the dirt like a roost of lost hens.

Kelly blinked and looked away, knowing and understanding how her actions must have affected the team. But this wasn't fair - it was never her fault.

"Kris, please believe me - that was never my intention!" Her own raw emotions briefly flickered across her face before she gained composure, but Kris, who had never taken her eyes off Kelly, saw it. And instantly regretted her outburst. Her hard set features softened and she sighed. This wasn't going at all well. She was not supposed to be driving Kelly further away.

"Kelly, I know you were taken by Alexandra Limardo, and put here to do her bidding…" She said, more reasonably. "But Kelly…were you going to just go this alone?" Kris's tone grew anxious once more. "Even when Bosley contacted you - why wouldn't you let Bri - and me - in?" The hurt was back in Kris's eyes and Kelly was forced to look away again, feeling somehow ashamed. But her own logic had demanded that things had to be played out the way they were. There wasn't any room for optional extras. Suddenly shocked with her own thoughts, she stood up to leave.

"Sorry Kris…maybe I ought to let you have some rest…" Kelly was about to turn away when Kris deftly caught her arm and tugged on it.

"No Kelly! I want to know why - why you felt you didn't need us!" Kris's insistent tone tugged overwhelmingly at her heart. Kelly looked around the quiet infirmary and towards the exit doors, but there was no reasonable explanation presenting itself, as to why she had to suddenly leave her friend alone in here. She sat down again and looked at Kris. Nothing. Nothing came to mind. Kris's expression of anticipation did little to kick-start any offers of explanations buried deep in Kelly's psyche, and Kelly reached over and took Kris's hand instead.

"Kris - just listen to me okay?" Kris saw a deeply solemn look from Kelly that she rarely saw. She decided to listen and not talk.

Kelly sighed before continuing, still holding vital physical contact with one of her dearest friends.

"Okay." Kelly began. "Firstly - I would never walk away from you - or Sabrina - voluntarily. Secondly, you, Bri and Jill…and Bosley…yes, and Charlie…mean more to me than you could ever imagine." Crap. Kelly's memory served her exceptionally. Optional extras. Who the hell did she think she was? Wonder Woman?

Kris saw Kelly pause in her troubled thoughts and decided it was enough.

"Okay Kelly. Stop." Kris breathed in and let out a big sigh. "I know all this, okay?" She realised that Kelly was fighting herself into a corner and that was the last thing she wanted to do to her best friend. Corner her. You didn't do that to your best friend.

"I'm sorry. Let's call a truce, okay?" She said, more light heartedly than she felt.

Kelly blinked in surprise again at this sudden change in Kris's demeanour.

"What?" She said uncertainly.

Kris wriggled to sit up more comfortably on the cot, and rest back on the one thin pillow on offer.

"I said I'm sorry Kelly." She cast her friend a look that simply said "I mean it."

Kris felt slightly selfishly victorious that she had made Kelly think twice - yet even more regretful that she had caused Kelly this whole discomfort. Boy, it was worse than being married!

Kelly, for her part, now understood where Kris was coming from.

"Okay Kris, what's the deal?" She said, with a hint of playfulness in her voice. Anything to lighten the mood.

Kris grinned at her. "Next time you get kidnapped, leave us a few clues… and next time I get upset at you… just remind me of this place! Deal?"

Kelly grinned back. "Deal!" Kelly felt deep gratitude toward Kris then. She was bang on the nail. They were a solid team and she had no right to interfere with this, whatever her logic told her. Instinct, she reminded herself, instinct and loyal friendship was what built a team - more importantly than logic. She silently thanked Kris for her reminder now, but would make it up to her later. She would make it up to both Bri and Kris. But right now, they had a lot of work to do, before they could get out of here.

Bosley was back temporarily at his desk in the office, so immensely anxious over all his charges, yet diligently looking into the names Kelly had spoken to him of. He had come up zilch on Catherine Clayton. But Colleen John had turned up a few creepy crawlies. Her father was a stout Irish Catholic, her mother - an also ran, it seemed. When Bosley had dug deep into their family background, it seemed that Colleen's fathers family was the one to be wary of. But unquestioning Catholic faith was one thing, and trans-continental terrorist seed-sowing was quite another. Bosley wasn't quite prepared to make that leap yet. Not in the case of Colleen John. Far to circumstantial. Still, Bosley needed to keep an open mind. Nothing was as yet…unperceivable. Open mind, Bosley. Not open ticket, he reminded himself, as he reached for the phone to talk to Charlie. He had to keep in mind, the current situation, and not go venturing into territory he was not completely familiar with. That was Charlie's job. Even so, he thought soberly… this seemed still to be quite an open, yet at the same time, home grown affair. He was perplexed at the far-reaching possibilities and consequences. Charlie picked up.

"Hello Bosley, what have you got for me?"