A few days later Carlos was released from the hospital with clear instructions that he had to take it easy. Another concussion in a short period of time could cause brain damage.

"Will I be able to fly home next week?" He asked his doctor before being discharged. He wanted to go home to LA as soon as possible.

"We'll schedule a checkup before you leave to determine things," the doctor informed now.

Now Carlos lay on his bed while Alexa started packing up his room.

"We have a week, Lex," he whined.

"OK, let's wait until the last minute so we're in a rush and you forget something."

"I'll probably forget something anyway."

Alexa kissed his cheek and lay next to him.

"This hasn't been a good trip for you, has it?"

"I dunno. I had fun."

"But you got hurt twice." Alexa typed something on her phone.

"What's that?"

"Nothing," she said quickly pocketing her phone.

"Something spy related?"

"Uh, yeah, that's it." She ran her fingers through Carlos's short hair, his helmet lying on the floor.

"I do want to go home," he sighed.

"We'll get you there." She patted his t-shirt covered chest. "But, you gotta let me pack and," she added when he made to sit up, "you can't help."

"Not like I wanted to," he mumbled.

"Hey, you'll be back to normal in no time."

Alexa had left to go do some grocery shopping with Kendall. They only needed a few things since they would not be at the cabin much longer, but it left Carlos with some time to think. His head hurt and sitting up was beginning to make him dizzy. He had taken some medicine but all it did was make him sleepy. Sleepy, but he couldn't sleep.

He thought about this trip. It hadn't exactly gone as planned, not that they really had anything planned. Carlos had fun, but then, he'd also gotten in trouble. He'd always been known as sort of a daredevil, but he'd never experienced two concussions in the span of two-three months before. A part of him was afraid of the ramifications.

"Hello?" He answered his phone without looking at the ID.

"Hi, Carlos," his mom said on the other end. "How are you feeling?"

"My head hurts. Dizzy."

"Bebe, I wish I could be there to take care of you."

"Thanks, Mama, but Alexa's here." He closed his eyes as a spell washed over him. "I miss you."

"I miss my little niño, too."

"How are Tina, Nina, and Cris?"

"Well, you know…no one's hurt or sick. Nina got detention yesterday for talking while the teacher was trying to teach. Reminds me of someone else I know."

Carlos blushed even though he knew his mom couldn't see it over the phone.

"I love you, Mama."

"I love you, too, Bebe."

He really did wish his mom was with him. He loved Alexa more than anything, but he remembered the way his mom took care of him when he was sick as a child. She would sing to him, read him stories, and let him watch cartoons on TV. If his stomach could handle it she'd make him corndogs and popsicles with ginger ale. They'd play games together while everyone else was at school or work.

"Carlos? Carlos!"

"Huh? Oh." He blinked his eyes open. "I must've drifted off."

"You're tired so I'll let you go back to sleep. Just wanted to check up on you. You don't know how hard it is for a mother when her bebe is a thousand miles away."

"I'm sorry," he yawned.

"No, don't be sorry. I'll let you go now. You need the rest."

"Tell Papi and everyone I love them."

"They love you, too. I love you!"

"I love you, too, Mama." He hit the end call button and then let the phone fall from his fingertips on to the carpet next to his helmet as he slid back into dreamland.

"…arlos…" He heard faintly in the distance. "…back…"

Carlos grunted fading in and out of consciousness.

"…let you…just leave."

He opened his eyes to see Alexa place a pack of Fruit Smackers on the nightstand.

The next time he opened his eyes the nightstand light was on. The Fruit Smackers lay untouched and next to them was an empty package. Carlos turned over to find Alexa folding t-shirts into a box.

"What if I want to wear one?' He croaked.

"Hey, Babe. How you feelin'?"

"Eh. What if I want to wear a shirt?"

"You've still got shirts in your closet, 'Los. Are you hungry? You missed dinner. I can make you a corndog."

"'M 'kay." He closed his eyes. "'M not gonna have brain damage?"

"No. The doctor said your scan looked normal."

"'Kay." He then jumped out of bed, ran into the bathroom, slammed the door, and puked his guts out.

"Carlos?" Alexa walked in and began rubbing his back. When he finished he laid his head on the rim of the toilet.

"Let's clean you up, get you into fresh pajamas, and into bed. I'll make you something to eat. How 'bout a bowl of oatmeal or chicken soup? I'm not sure a corndog would be good right now." Alexa helped him to his feet and after wiping his face led him back to bed.

"Soup," Carlos mumbled as he put grabbed a t-shirt from the box and put it on earning a slight scowl from Alexa.

She returned five minutes later with a steaming mug full of chicken noodle soup. With the covers wrapped over most of him, Carlos sat up and reached for the cup, but in the process he ended up knocking it out of Alexa's hands and all over the bedspread.

"Shitake!" Alexa and Carlos exclaimed at the same time.

Carlos looked like he wanted to cry. He just sat there with the blanket and chicken noodle soup around him. Without saying a word, Alexa set up the cot residing in the closet.

"Did any get on you?" She asked as she helped Carlos from the big bed to the cot. He shook his head slightly wincing in pain. "Lay here and I'll wash the sheets." She stripped the bed and then turned to Carlos before leaving for the laundry room located in the basement. "Why don't I get you an apple?"

Carlos snuggled into the cot's uncomfortable bedspread as he waited for his girlfriend to return. He slept in this bed when his family came to Thanksgiving while his parents got his bed and he didn't like it then. The bedspread was itchy and he could feel the springs in the mattress.

"Thanks." Carlos bit into the apple Alexa handed him when she returned about fifteen minutes later. "I hate this bed."

"Say it don't spray it," Alexa smiled while mockingly wiping her face. "I highly doubt you've washed your sheets the entire time you've been here."

Carlos gave her a sheepish look. She patted him softly on the head as he continued to bite into his apple. After he finished he handed the core to Alexa and laid his head on the pillow, the only thing about the bed he didn't dislike. He hoped she'd get done with the washing soon for he wanted to fall asleep but with the springs poking him in the back he knew that would be impossible.

"All the money in the world," he thought, "and he goes for a crappy cheap cot."

.O.

"All right," the doctor walked into the exam room with a chart in his hand. "You are still suffering the effects of the concussion?"

"Well," Carlos looked away. He didn't want to admit that doing things like bending over made him light headed and that sometimes his head would hurt for a few minutes. The guys were scheduled to get on a plane and fly home tomorrow and he wanted more than anything to join them.

"Carlos, whatever answer you give me won't change anything, except making you feel better."

Alexa took hold of his hand as he sat on the table.

"I do feel a bit lightheaded sometimes."

"I thought so. I'll need to set you up with a doctor in LA, but I don't think there's anything keeping you from flying home tomorrow."

Carlos smiled.

"I do have to warn you in your condition it will not be the most comfortable flight. You are still suffering from the effects of a concussion. If it were up to me I'd recommend waiting a few days. The only repercussions from flying will be dizziness, nausea, and headaches. The longer you wait the less this should be. But, it won't cause lasting damage. You'll just feel sick."

"So, I can fly home tomorrow."

"Uncomfortably but yes."

Carlos wanted to dance out of the office but he was afraid if he did he would get dizzy again, lose his balance, and knock into a wall, a wall that would give him another concussion and keep him from going home. He reached up to feel his helmetless head. Why did he dare go anywhere without it?

"Lex, I think I made a mistake," he whispered as the doctor handed him some paperwork to give to the front desk.

"Are you okay?" She asked concerned.

"Yeah, yeah, but I think I should've worn my helmet," he whispered back.

"Oh Carlos, you'll be fine without it." She sighed when he gave her his big brown puppy dog eyes. "Nothing's going to happen between now and getting you home."

"You can't know that."

"No, I can't, but I can have faith nothing will happen. If I remain positive there is less likely a chance something will happen. You don't need to worry about it." She kissed his cheek.

.o.

"If you want my advice," Logan said. "I think you should wait and fly home with me."

"Well, no one asked you!" Carlos retorted.

Carlos and Alexa had returned home with lunch for the guys and they were now scattered around the kitchen enjoying the sandwiches.

"Actually, you did," Kendall pointed out.

"Actually, you did," Carlos mocked. He made to jump on Kendall but was stopped by James.

"I am going to be in this big house all alone for a few days. I could use your company," Logan said.

"What about Camille?" Carlos grumbled.

"She can't. Already asked her." Logan bit into his sandwich.

Carlos looked at everyone in the room looking back at him—the hazel eyes, the green eyes, and the two pairs of brown eyes.

"OK," he relented, taking a sip of his soda.

"We can transfer your ticket to Logan's flight" Alexa said. "I'll pay the difference."

"You don't have—wait you're not staying with me?"

"I wish I could, but I got something important to do at home."

"OK…" Carlos felt like his girlfriend was abandoning him.

"We don't need girls." Logan walked over to Carlos and threw an arm around his shoulder. "We'll be two bachelors 'baching' it."

"Um yeah," Carlos laughed.

I've been waiting since forever to put in the word "shitake." When Alexa was just a kid in Spy Kids I read in a magazine that she made all the people working on the movie say "Shitake Mushrooms" instead of the other four letter word. Since remembering this I knew I had to include it in my story.

The difference between Garcia and Pena is I'm sure Pena would wash his sheets on a regular basis.

If you're in the States be sure to check out Sequestered on Cracked to see our wonderful James Maslow (he's introduced in episode six). I hear it's not available quite yet in other countries, but it should be soon. Warning it's not quite family friendly, but not too bad.

If you are looking for Lomille there will be some soon, I promise!