Rose in Bloom

Rose in Bloom

Author: Nik

Rating: NC-17

Pairings: Trent Malloy/Carlos Sandoval/Kristen Carter. If the idea of bisexuality freaks you out, don't read this....

Archive: Yes as long as headers and so forth stay put.

Series/Sequel: Not at this time, but its more than possible.

Author Email: [email protected]

Notes: The story is presented from Carlos' point of view, since he seems to get shafted in the show sometimes when it comes to airtime! (Not that I favor him or anything.)

Disclaimer: No copyright infringements are intended by this and no money shall be made off of it. Trent, Carlos, and the rest of the cast of Walker belongs to Columbia TriStar. Kristen belongs solely to the author, as do the villians.

It'll get better later on, I promise!

"Love sometimes blossoms like a rose; at first you have to deal with thorns until you reach the fragrant flower."
Anonymous

"Yes...."

She was moaning so softly I barely heard her, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "Please...."

I couldn't stand it any longer. I lowered my head between her legs and she cried out, "BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP...."

[What?]

Suddenly I realized what was going on. It was six am, I had to get up for work, and my alarm clock was going off. I slammed the noisy clock hard, hoping to turn it off, but it kept beeping. It finally ended up shattered on the other side of the room. And I sat up. "Damn clock." I grumbled to no one in particular. I tossed the covers back and cursed like a sailor. The sheets were covered with sweat and my shorts were soaked. It was the first time I had awakened like that since college, during a bet I made with a friend to see who could go 'without' the longest. He won.

And as I thought about that, I realized something monumental: It had been way too long since I'd had sex.

I was furious with myself. [I should've outgrown this ages ago...] But I think the worst part wasn't the dream itself, but who I was dreaming of....

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She was about five foot seven, straight brown hair, doe brown eyes and pouty red lips. Her legs were long and slender and I could imagine what that little tigress would be like with her legs around my waist. [Growl, yum.]

Okay, I admit it, I'm a pig.

Every man's head turned, and I tried not to stare at her as she came straight toward me like a woman with a mission. "Who's in charge?"

"That would be McGinty, Lieutenant McGinty." I replied. "But he's not here right now. May I help you?"

She looked right through me. Okay, now, I'm not really egotistical, but women barely ever look through me. I was immediately annoyed. "Are you serious? What kind of officer leaves his precinct without putting someone else temporarily in charge?"

"Umm, hi." I said, trying to remain polite. "Ma'am, I am somewhat in charge right now until the good Lieutenant gets back. May I help you?"

"And you would be...?"

"Detective Carlos Sandoval, Ma'am. How may I help you?"

She gave me such a look I wanted to shrivel into the floor. "I am not dealing with some kid detective. When will the Lieutenant be back?"

"About four." I almost growled, biting through my tongue to keep in the obsceneties that were just dying to roll out. "I suggest you leave him a message...."

"Nevermind." she snapped, then turned. "I'll just come back at four."

"I can't hardly wait." I muttered, under my breath.

She stopped and swung around. "EXCUSE ME?"

I flinched, silently cursing myself for saying that last phrase. "I said, 'hope he's not late'."

She gave me a look that could've killed a man. "It didn't sound like that to me. Very well, then, Detective, tell your Lieutenant that Kristen Carter from Internal Affairs is in town and needs to speak with him. Can you remember that?"

"I'm sure I can try." I snapped back. It had been a long time since one person had been able to yank my chain so badly. Especially a woman. Especially such a pretty woman....

"Detective Sandoval!"

"What?" I squeaked.

"My card." she said, handing over the thin slip of paper. [When was the last time I'd seen a woman with a French manicure?] "Tell the Lieutenant to call me. Oh, and Detective?"

"Yes?" I said, trying to sound masculine and grumbling rather than intimidated and horny.

"You can pick your jaw up off the floor now."

I guess horny won out in the end. I snapped my mouth closed and watched with a mixture of loathing and need as she strutted out the front door.

And then she was gone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A cold shower was doing nothing to ease the lustful ache in my groin. After meeting her only yesterday, I fantasized about ramming her into the floor last night. God, I needed a woman. Soon.

The doorbell rang and I answered it, wrapped in a towel. It was Trent.

"Hey there."

"Hey yourself. What do you need?"

"Came over because you never showed up last night for the pool tournament at CD's and I wondered why."

"Mierda!" I exclaimed, slapping my forehead. "That was last night?"

"Uhh, yeah. Carlos, is there something you need to tell me?"

"What? Oh, no, its just.....nevermind. I am so sorry, Trent. How did you do?"

"I won." he said, smugly. "What did you think?"

I slapped him on the back. "I knew it! Good for you! Come on in. I was going to make some breakfast really quickly, if you want to stay..."

"Sure." he said. "Never could say no to food. But you've got to do me a favor."

"What?"

"Put on some pants, huh?"

I looked down sheepishly at the towel that was sliding off my hips. "Oh, yeah."

He followed me into my room. I went to the bathroom and he sat in a chair. "Want me to make your bed, messy?"

"NO!" I exclaimed, horriified. "Don't touch!"

He leaped away from the bed like it was on fire. "Jesus, Carlos, what's with you?"

"I..."

"Carlos....." he growled. "Tell me."

My face was red as anything. "I had strange dreams last night."

He gave me a puzzled look for a moment, then his face broke into a huge grin. "You had a wet dream? Oh, that's priceless! Mr. 'I can get any woman' had a wet dream! HAHAHA HAHAHA!"

I wanted to run him over with a truck. [And then throw it into reverse.] I thought, nastily. "Shut up, 'mano."

Trent kept laughing. "Who?"

I sighed. "Remember the woman I told you about at lunch yesterday?"

"The one who almost had you for a snack?"

I nodded. "Her."

"Yeah, well, let me make you feel better. She's not as bad as she seems."

"Really? Why?"

"I asked Walker about her at the pool tournament last night and he knows Kristen Carter. At the I.A. office, they call her 'Rose'. She's supposedly very good at her job."

"Why do they call her Rose?"

"Because she supposedly has a lot of thorns, but it's just a protection method. Carter was investigating a crooked officer in Houston last year when the guy decided to have her permanently removed. He set a car bomb for her, but it killed her fiance instead. She survived to put the guy away. Walker says she's a tough cookie because she's terrified to get hurt again."

"That's when she transferred to Dallas, to get away from it all." he concluded.

So, Kristen Carter wasn't so bad after all. Maybe there was hope that she could at least be civil with me.... "Who's she investigating?"

"You remember Sammy Price killed that pimp last week? She was just sent to make sure everything was honest and by the book."

"So she'll be around for a few days?"

"Carlos...." he said, in that father-knows-best voice. "Don't go there. Don't even think about it. You'd probably have better chances getting me in bed." he joked.

Deciding to freak him out, I gazed up at him shyly, sexily. "Trent, with the state of mind I'm in now, if I were you I wouldn't make an offer I didn't want to make good on."

His face blanched, and I started roaring with laughter. He glared at me. "Go put on your pants. I'll start breakfast."

As soon as I calmed down, I went to the kitchen to help. He might not want me to try anything with Kristen Carter, but anyone who knows Latinos knows that when we put our minds to something, we don't give up.......and then I briefly struggled with the notion of accepting Trent's 'offer'.

Part Two

It took me about ten minutes to get breakfast done with Trent's help. [Actually, it took him ten minutes with my help, but who's really keeping track?] He glared at me as we ate. Finally, I couldn't take it any more. "What?"

"I can't believe you. You have to be the most evil person I have ever met."

My jaw dropped. "What? I'm lost here, 'mano. Care to fill me in?"

"Oh, don't sit there trying to look all innocent. You're still thinking about her, aren't you?"

I shook my head. "No, sorry, I'm not."

"Yes you are! You have that glazed look in your eye. Normally that means you're thinking about some woman who you intend to go after." He snapped. "I've known you too long, Carlos, for you to be able to pull that act with me. I told you to leave her alone. Now listen to me, damn it."

I grumbled a reply which he didn't like. "What was that?"

"I said it sucks that you know me so well."

He grinned. "Look, there have got to be at least like, well, four girls in Dallas that are single and haven't dated you yet. Try one of them, huh?"

I didn't catch the insult right away. Finally, it hit me. "Hey!" I exclaimed, annoyed. "I haven't dated every woman in Dallas!"

"Just most of them."

Breakfast was suddenly forgotten as I lunged across the table for him. He pulled back just in time so that I missed him, then darted out of the kitchen. I tackled him just as he made it to the living room area in my apartment. "TAKE IT BACK!"

"Never!" he declared. "You're easy! You're worse than a prostitute! At least they get paid for it!"

Sometimes we were still very immature, I admit. I was sitting on him as he said it. With a quick toss, he had me off him and pinned. "Admit it, buddy. You're easy."

He was cutting off my oxygen supply, so I gasped, "Okay, okay, I admit it! I'm easy!"

He patted my head. "See? Was that so hard?"

I rubbed my probably broken ribs gently as I stood. "I only said it 'cause you were sitting on me."

He helped me brush off the lint that I picked up while rolling on the floor. It wasn't helping any. I mean, the lint was going away, but every time he touched me I kept getting more and more turned on.....

"You gotta stop touching me." I said, purposely banging my head into a wall. "You're not helping my...condition any."

Trent shook his head. "I'm so glad you trust me so much that you're willing to tell me every detail of your sordid life. I think I'll let you dust yourself now, okay?"

That wasn't really what I was hoping for.

"What?" he said, eyes wide.

[Oh God did I say that out loud?]

I looked at him. "Trent...."

He glanced at his watch. "Hey, I'd better go, let you get finished, get to work on time, so, well, bye."

With that, he flew out of my apartment. [Fuck it.] I knew then and there it was going to be a shitty day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Detective!"

I looked up from the report I was writing only to see Kristen Carter roaming my way. [Great. Just what I need.]

"May I help you, Agent Carter?"

"I need to speak to Lieutenant McGinty, please."

My luck had it out for me that day. "I'm sorry, he's in court right now. May I help you?"

"Why is it that the man is never here when he's needed? Doesn't he ever stay in the precinct?"

"Maybe he knows when you're coming in, Agent Carter."

As the words left my mouth I knew that my young life was over. I could see the complaint report now. It was horrible. "I mean..." I stammered, trying to find a way out of the mess I had stepped in.

And then she surprised me. "I haven't had anyone ever actually tell me that before." she said, softly.

"And I had no right to. I'm sorry." I said, the words spilling out in a rush. "Please accept my apology?"

She nodded. "I just came to tell the Lieutenant that the case against Officer Price was cleared up. I'm leaving tommorow for the I.A. headquarters to deliver my report."

I nodded. "I'll be sure to tell him, Agent Carter."

She smiled wryly then for a moment. "I'm sure he'll arrive as soon as I leave, right?"

I blushed beet red. "No ma'am. I'll tell him later."

"You do that, Detective."

And with that, she walked out the door, probably with me never to see her again. I sighed. [There went probably the best opportunity in the world.]

Suddenly, the phone rang. I answered. "Sandoval."

"So, how's the bitch doing?"

My stomach turned. "Who is this?"

"You might want to go after her, Detective. She might need you more than you know. Tell her that Eddie's back."

With that, the line went dead. I dropped the phone and raced out the front door after her. "Kristen! Kristen!" I hollered, hoping she'd hear me.

The traffic was too loud. Then, I saw it. The black Ford with the darkly tinted windows. As she headed to the crosswalk, it slowly started after her, picking up more and more speed until it was racing for her. I took off running. It was up to me, and I only had precious seconds to reach her.

I hit her in a flying tackle just as the Ford peeled rubber to mow her down. We were knocked to the side, she landing on top of me, both knocked breathless. "Are you okay?" I gasped, choking to pull air back into my lungs.

She didn't respond for a moment and I rolled her off me. She remained stationary on her back, staring at the sky, until I heard the word, "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Are you okay?"

"Yeah." she said, sitting up. "What was that?"

"Not but a minute after you left, my phone rang and I was given an onimous warning that you were in danger. The person said, 'Tell her that Eddie's back' and then hung up. I didn't know how to get to you except to chase you, and......" I trailed off as I noticed the faraway look in her eyes. "Kristen?"

"That's not possible....he's in jail....he couldn't have......someone would have told me." she finished, her voice nothing more than a whisper.

"What?"

"Eddie was the cop in Houston I was investigating when he killed Richard." she said, her voice cracking. "He can't be here...he can't be here!"

I grabbed ahold of her and pulled her into my arms as the tears started sliding down her cheeks. "Hey, hey, you don't know that. It could be somebody just trying to pull your chain. Someone who wants to make you hurt. Let's go into the station and call a couple friends of mine, and we'll figure this all out, okay?"

She bonelessly stood up, almost collapsing back onto the street. Sighing, I picked her up in my arms like a child and carried her inside. As soon as we arrived, I told a sergeant what happened, and he put an A.P.B. out on the vehicle. Then, I did the only thing I knew: I called Walker and Trent.

Part Three

"So then what happened?"

Walker was grilling me about the phone conversation. "Look, Walker, I told you....."

"Got it!" Trent said. "Eddie Burkell broke out yesterday afternoon. They have a warrant out for his arrest, but hadn't contacted Agent Carter yet."

"Well, surprise, they didn't need to. Eddie did it himself."

I gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I'm not gonna let him hurt you again."

"And how the Hell do you propose to do that?"

"By catching the miserable son of a bitch."

Trent blinked at my growled reply. "We're here to help, Kristen. And when Carlos gives his word, it's always good."

"Carlos, is it?"

"Yeah." I said. It was almost odd, being on a first name basis with this woman. "We'll put you in a safe house until we can catch up with him. It'll just be a little time."

"Yeah, and then what? Don't even suggest I get in a car for a few days." she said, choking back tears. "Oh God, how could this happen?"

I wanted to hold her and hug her until all the pain was gone. I didn't want her to be hurting this way. "Kristen, I swear to you, we'll get this guy."

"Do it soon."

Walker knelt on the floor beside Kristen. "For a while, I suggest you stay with me and Alex, until we can find someplace safe to have you stay."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"In the meantime," he said, looking at me. "I want you to be careful, too. You saved her and ruined Burkell's plan to kill her. He might come after you, too."

"No!" she cried, shaking her head. "I'll just leave. I'm not going to be responsible for the death of yet another human being!"

"You can't leave." I said. "It's too late. He already knows I helped you. He may come after me whether you stay or go. So stay, we can help you here, okay?"

She looked at me with the saddest eyes. "I'm sorry you had to get involved. I never meant for this to happen...."

"Hey, better it involve me, a Detective, then an average citizen who hasn't been trained to deal with such things. Right?"

"I guess."

At least it made her feel better.

I stood. "I'll help you gather some information on this guy, Trent, while Walker takes her home."

Trent just nodded and I followed him out the door.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We were reading through newspaper articles trying to find information on the Burkell case, but thusfar we hadn't seen a thing. Trent was being awfully quiet. "You're mad at me, aren't you?"

He looked up over the computer screen at me. "I'm not mad, I'm just a little ill at ease. I mean, the whole thing was a little odd for me."

"Odd as in bad?"

"No. I think that was what made it so odd."

I perked. "So odd as in what?"

"Odd as in kiss me please?"

Unfortunately, I had been propped back in my seat, balancing on the back two chair legs. So when he said that, I tried to sit up so fast the whole chair fell over and I banged my head on the floor.

He was by my side in a second. "Wasn't quite the answer I was looking for."

"Sorry, 'mano. Caught me a little off guard there."

His blue eyes were still laughing at me as he helped me up. "Are you gonna be okay?"

I winced as my fingers brushed over the forming knot on my head. "Oh, I'll be perfect."

Suddenly, he tangled his fingers in mine and pulled them away from my bump. Then, standing on tiptoe, he planted a soft kiss on the spot where I hit my head. "Better?"

My breath caught. "Much."

He smiled faintly. "You've always been my best friend, you know. Even when I got mad at you for stealing my girlfriend in the third grade and didn't talk to you for a week."

"And then you made me grovel. I remember that."

"Do you really have a lot of interest in Kristen?"

I nodded. "But I don't want you to think.....look, Trent, I don't know what it is with me right now, I don't want you to think I'm......" I couldn't even get the word out of my mouth.

"Bisexual?" he offered. "Is that the right word?"

"I'd never thought about it before." I admitted. "It's just when you said that....I didn't know how to react. But it's something that's been on my mind lately, 'mano. And I think you have the right to know about it."

"I appreciate your honesty." he chuckled. "But I really meant what I said."

I looked at him as though he had fallen from the sky.

"What?"

He didn't answer. He simply tightened his fingers in my hair, leaned over, and kissed me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I didn't know what to do for a moment. I think my brain forgot to register kissing. It was a little wierd there, having another man's mouth on mine. Suddenly, he stopped. "You're hating this, aren't you?"

"No, no. I just....you caught me a little off guard." I admitted. Then, grinning, "Try again?"

He smiled back when the door suddenly creaked at the other end of the hall. Terrified, we pulled apart and flung ourselves in front of our respective computers. "Trent? Carlos?"

"Over here!" Trent called, licking his lips.

Walker strode over to where we were sitting. "Kristen is with Alex out at the ranch. Did you two find anything here?"

"No, nothing yet. But we're still looking." I volunteered.

The older Texas Ranger nodded, then started to fan himself with his hat.

"Is it unusually warm in here or is it me?"

I stared down into the screen, praying he wouldn't see me flush red. Trent just shrugged. "Must be hot. We've probably been in here too long to notice."

[Yeah, right.] I thought. [We probably were the reason it was so hot.]

"Carlos, are you okay?"

I almost jumped out of my skin. "Sure!"

Walker gave me a funny look. "Tell me you're not trying to get involved with someone you shouldn't be. Tell me you're not that sick."

"No!" I yelped. "Not us! Not me!"

Trent kicked me hard under the table. "That's right, Carlos. I told you to leave KRISTEN alone!"

Suddenly it hit me. It wasn't me and Trent Walker was talking about, it was me and Kristen. I almost sighed in relief. "Don't worry, Walker, I'm not completely driven by sex."

"Well......."

I glared up into his smile. "Why is it that neither one of you trusts me?"

"We know you too well." they chimed.

I growled and turned back to the screen. Trent also began working again. Walker turned and left us to our own devices once more. [Doesn't that even sound pornographic?]

"You're an idiot." I heard, barked over the computer.

"Am not."

"Are to!" he said. "What were you thinking? You amost gave the whole thing away!"

"I didn't exactly have a lot of time to plan an intelligent response, you know."

He shook his head. "What am I gonna do with you?"

"Try again?"

He smiled at me. "That's a thought."

He stood up from his chair. I started to rise too, but he shook his head no. "Stay."

I did. He came behind me, touching my shoulders with his hands, slipping them down my back until he reached the waistband of my pants. "Lean forward."

He didn't need to tell me twice. As soon as I did, he started kneading the muscles of my lower back. Raising his hands higher, he massaged his way up to my neck. "Feel good?"

I couldn't manage anything more than a moan. "Trent...."

"Enjoy it."

I closed my mouth quickly, then squeezed my eyes shut as I felt his mouth descend on my ear. I growled low, and he laughed softly. "Like that? That's just the beginning."

I couldn't wait for part two.

His mouth left my ear and started on my neck, nibbling my skin roughly. Suddenly, he was at my throat, my jaw, my cheekbone, and finally on my mouth.

This time, there wasn't any doubt in my mind that I really, really wanted to kiss him back.

I opened my mouth slightly as his lips pressed against mine, letting my tongue touch his bottom lip. He gasped slightly, then parted his mouth for me, tugging my tongue inside with lips and teeth. I went willingly. [I guess he was right....I am easy.]

The kiss roughened as he slid into my lap, the rolling chair sliding back a few feet with us in it. I groaned, hard as a rock, trying not to push upwards against him. Yet every time he wiggled, I knew he could feel my erection stiffening beneath him. Finally, I came up for air.

"Tease."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not the under-sexed one here who's hard as a rock."

I grinned and conceded. Again, he leaned into me and our mouths met. I wanted him right then and there until vaguely I heard the door open again. I pushed him out of my lap and he jumped over the table to the computer. Dilligently, we sat there studying the screens. Walker came back in with bags. "I brought you two lunch. Figured you could use it."

"Thanks." we said.

The Ranger smiled. "Boys, do me a favor."

"What?" Trent asked.

"Lock the door from now on, okay?"

Trent's eyes went wide; I turned scarlett. "W..What?" I stammered.

"Carlos has got his shirt untucked, his hair is in a disarray, and he's staring at the same screen as when I left. Trent keeps biting his lower lip. I've known both of you too long and know when something's going on."

"Besides, you two have been best friends for so many years, I wondered if this wouldn't happen to you someday. Remember to lock the door, okay?"

We sat there, mute, nodding. When he left, I looked at Trent; he looked at me, and we burst into laughter. "Maybe we should postpone the other and get back to the search?" I suggested, ignoring the ache in my groin.

He nodded. We got back to work.

Part Four

It was like watching a ballet as I entered the gym. Trent had invited Kristen to go with him to Thunder Karate for awhile, as Walker had filled him in on her love for yoga and kickboxing. Definitely an unlikely combo if you asked me, but hey, why not?

I was staring into the dojo watching them. It was a beautiful thing. Trent was busy pummeling a punching bag and Kristen was in a perfect split, her arms stretched above her head, breathing calmly. My breathing, on the other hand, was becoming more and more erratic every second. [Ahh, Dios.]

"Carlos!"

Caught like a deer in head lights, I froze. Trent sent me one of his, 'look how cute I am' grins and walked up to me, slapping me on the back and half dragging me into the gym. "Rid yourself of those shoes and let's go."

"Go?"

"Yeah. We were gonna work on your balance today, remember? Or lack of it." he added, cheerfully.

I hate getting picked on. Who do I look like, the Karate Kid? Sighing, I kicked off my sneakers and stepped into the matted area, waiting to get my butt kicked. "Okay, 'mano, after you."

His smile widened. "Thank you sooo much."

Kristen stopped what she was doing and curled into an Indian style position, watching us with amusement. "Mind an audience?"

"Only if you promise not to laugh at him 'cause his Latin pride gets wounded easily." Trent said, chuckling.

"IT DOES NOT!" I barked, lunging at Trent.

Unfortunately, my temper always gets the best of me and I ended up getting easily tossed onto the floor. I groaned and sat up, holding my head. "Anyone get the number of that truck?"

Laughter pealed through the room as Kristen doubled over. "Oh, that's too funny!"

"I'm so glad my pain amuses you." I said, sullenly.

"I'm sorry, it's not that.....it's you." she gasped for breath.

"Oh, good!" I exclaimed. "So now I'm just a clown in general!"

"No, no." she soothed. "It's just...well, it's funny to see a guy defend his ego. Men have always had this macho image to uphold, but I've never seen the point of it. I mean, come on, you just charged at him like a bull to a red cape, if you'll excuse the bad analogy."

I didn't think it was funny. Trent cracked up. I glared at him until finally I couldn't control my laughter any longer. "Okay, okay, I have a fragile ego. Happy?"

"And he's Latino! Like it wasn't bad enough already." Trent said, roaring. He sank down on the mat next to Kristen, and she leaned over with her head on his shoulder to keep from falling backwards.

"Oooohh, my stomach....." she gasped, clutching her midsection. "My muscles are in rebellion."

I couldn't stop laughing either. "Truce! You two are ganging up on me! Not fair!"

Finally, we settled. Kristen smiled shyly. "I can't remember the last time I laughed like that over something so ridiculous. In fact, I can't remember the last time I laughed too much at all."

Trent and I both sobered. Her face changed to one of concern. "No, I didn't mean for you two to stop. I was just thanking you...for helping me bypass some issues for awhile. I forgot how nice it was to be able to smile. Thanks. Really."

I smiled. "Shall we try again?"

"Think you're up for it?"

I stuck my tongue out at him, then helped Kristen to her feet. "Ready when you are, Trent."

Then, I turned around. He had assumed a fight stance and was circling me warily. "Come on, Carlos, defend yourself......if you can."

I raised my hands to my face for protection, unsure of what exactly was on Trent's mind. The wicked grin was severely starting to unnerve me. "Okay, you asked for it."

I threw a punch at him, which he easily deflected. "No, really, Carlos, it's okay for you to try and hit me."

I gritted my teeth and lashed out at him again. This time, he swept a foot under me. I jumped over it, almost. As I tried to catch my balance, I staggered, stumbling in the direction of the wall. Kristen squealed and tried to get out of the way, but it was too late. I grabbed ahold of her and pulled her down with me. In the end, the two of us ended up in a heap on the floor.

I ended up on the bottom of the pile, Kristen resting on top of me.

"Why do I end up using you as a pillow all the time?" Kristen sighed, laying her head on my chest. "It's a little wierd, you know?"

"Wierd as in bad?" I asked, my mind playing flashbacks to an earlier conversation with Trent.

"No, wierd as in get off me."

Okay, totally different outcome then with Trent.

"Actually, I can't get off you. You're on top." I pointed out.

"Yes, but you're hugging me, and I can't move." she replied. "Any reason?"

I let go of her as though she were on fire. "No!" Trent, by that time, was stretching and chuckling at our sorry antics. I wanted to kill him. "Seems you have a problem there, Kristen."

She shrugged. "He's tolerable."

[Tolerable.....why do I have a feeling that doesn't mean fuckable?]

Then, she got up and offered me a hand. "Coming?"

I resisted the urge to make some sort of sickly perverse joke and stood. "Okay. So, one more round? As long as Kristen promises not to get in the way?"

"Oh, as if I really wanted to." she snorted. "It wasn't my idea of fun to be the Oreo cookie cream and let you two play crumbly cookie crust."

Trent and I exchanged odd glances, and she blushed. "What, you've never been addicted to a food before?"

I raised my eyebrow. "Can't say I have. Trent?"

"Me neither. And about that last round, sorry, but it's getting late and I promised Walker I'd bring Kristen out to the ranch befor ten. Want to come along?"

I shrugged indifferently even though my stomach was doing the mambo. "Whatever."

We got to Trent's 'vette, piled inside, and started off into the night torward Walker's ranch.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kristen started to shiver so we pulled over and put the top up. This random act of kindness now had me folded like the human pretzel in the tiny joke of a back seat. Finally, we reached the ranch and Kristen got out of the car. "See you?"

"See you." I said. "Sleep well."

She nodded and then shut the door. I crawled over the seat into the passengr position, stretching out my aching legs. "I bet it would have been more comfortable if you had tied me and put me in the truck."

"Aha, so he IS into bondage."

"What?" I yelped. "That's not what I meant!"

He laughed. "Relax, Carlos, I'm kidding."

"S 'not funny." I grumbled.

"I thought it was."

I glared at him, then changed the subject. [Well, he didn't need to know ALL of my odd habits, did he?] "So when do you think Burkell is going to strike again?"

"I don't know. But what's really bothering me is how Kristen's reacting to all of this. I mean, before you got there, she was stretching, doing yoga. She was so completely calm, it was uncanny."

"I hate to tell you this, Trent, but that's what yoga is supposed to do to you."

He lightly punched me in the arm. "I know that. But she's been like that since she got here."

"People handle stress in different ways, you know."

"Yeah. Some people attack others like charging bulls." he said, lightening the moment. "I just worry about her, a little. I've never seen such a dead calm. It's not natural. The worst part is, I wonder if she's planning on doing something stupid like going after him on her own. That would be such a foolish move."

"I know." I said. "But right now she's in Walker's care, and I don't know a safer place that she could be."

He conceeded. "So where to?"

"Home, bed, sleep." I said, mildly. "I don't have to go in tomorrow until late, so I think I'll hit the sack early tonight and catch up on all the sleep I've been missing lately."

He reached across the gearshift and slid a hand up my thigh. I swallowed hard. "Or not."

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