See Part One for disclaimer.

Vacation
Part Two
by Robin from Florida

"What the hell are you doing here?" The surprised detective stated when he saw his captain working in his office. It was obvious that he hadn't gone home from the previous night.

"Ah, I work here, detective, and good morning to you too." He nodded to Blair who was standing just behind the detective. "Sandburg."

"Sorry sir. It's just that you said you would stay with her." Jim stated calming down a bit.

"I was Jim, but I wanted to check on the progress of the case."

"I should get to the hospital. Be there when she wakes up."

"Jim, wait, have a seat." The captain motioned to the chairs in front of his desk.

As the men took their seats Simon went around his desk and poured cups of coffee, before continuing. "Have you figured out what these guys want? Why they want Sandburg?"

"Me. They want me?"

The captain was surprised that the partners hadn't discussed this before now. "Jim, you didn't tell him? Didn't you talk about the case?"

Jim looked down at the floor and mumbled. "I fell asleep on the way home."

Sandburg's shocked expression was replaced with a small grin as he remembered having to practically carry his unconscious friend upstairs.

Simon quickly wiped the grin off his face as he looked at his best team. "Sandburg, can you think of any reason someone would want Jim out of the way so they could get to you?"

As expected Sandburg jumped up and started pacing. "Me?"

His earlier embarrassment forgotten, Jim asked. "Chief, have you ticked off anyone lately? Any boyfriends, or co-eds?"

Ignoring the last comment. "No. Not anyone that would try to hurt you first. I've just been cataloging a shipment for the university. Nothing unusual there." He stopped in mid pace and looked at his Captain. "Uh, Simon is your car downstairs?"

"Yeah. Why?" He looked at the anthropologist's expression. The young man looked like a deer caught in headlights. Realization dawned and he slowly asked. "What's in the box?"

"A skull." The student said meekly.

"What kind of skull?" He asked carefully, knowing he was not going to like the answer.

"A human skull," the student replied.

"You put a human skull in the trunk of my car!?" The captain bellowed.

"Yes, well actually you put it in the trunk of your car." Blair stopped talking when he saw both his partner's and the captain's expressions. If looks could kill he would be pushing up daises where he stood.

"Sandburg," the captain growled.

"Chief, what's so special about the skull?" The sentinel interrupted the large man, rising to come between the two men, trying to defuse the situation.

"Nothing. I don't think it's of any value. It doesn't appear to be that old."

"How can you tell how old it is?" Banks questioned angrily, still not over the fact that he had a skull rolling around in the trunk of his car.

"It has extensive dental work and the tribe the artifacts are from don't have dentists," the grad student replied, a little annoyed that the captain would question the results of his study of the artifact. "I was going to take it to forensics to see what they could find out when all this started."

"Sandburg, go get the skull," the captain commanded between clenched teeth, tossing his keys to the grad student.

Just then Bank's phone rang.

"Banks." He listened for a moment. "She WHAT!"

The sound of the captain's voice made Blair stop in his tracks. The sentinel eavesdropped in time to hear the end of the conversation. "She's gone, Sir. One minute the doctor's in with her, the next she's checked herself out and vanishes."

Jim sank into one of the captain's chairs and closed his eyes and ears to any more bad news.

"Fine. Just get an APB out on her. And consider yourself on report, Davis." He hung up the phone and turned to his miserable looking detective. "Jim I'm sorry."

"What? What's going on." Blair questioned.

"Andy's gone, Chief."

"She's WHAT?"

"Gone. Sandburg," the annoyed captain growled. "As in checked out of the hospital without leaving a trace.

"Gone?" The young man sank into the other chair.

"She insisted on leaving. Said the sooner she left the state the better," Banks quietly added.

"She woke up alone." The sentinel mumbled, remembering the way she had fallen asleep in the chair next to him holding his hand.

"Jim, I'm sorry. I made sure she was settled and I left an officer to guard her.

"I shouldn't have left her."

***

Andy didn't get too far when she started to get tired. She pulled into a shopping area and parked. She figured they wouldn't think to look in a shopping center, if they were looking for her. The young woman carefully got into bed and fell asleep.

***

"Jim why don't you go home and rest." Concern colored the captain's voice. They had been waiting several hours for the preliminary report on the skull. With no news about Andy the detective was looking a little strained.

"No. Thanks, Captain, I'll be fine." The detective looked tiredly at his captain.

"Jim, why don't you lie down on the couch in my office for a little while. You look like you're ready to drop."

Before the detective could answer the observer came bouncing into Major Crimes, looking like he just swallowed Tweety bird.

"All right, Chief, what have you got?" The detective was ready for any kind of good news.

"We've got Samuel Crance," Sandburg grinned, tossing the paper on Ellison's desk with flourish. "I knew it. I knew that skull wasn't part of that shipment."

"Samuel who?" The captain questioned, valiantly trying to ignore the dancing man next to him.

"Crance. Crance." Jim turned to his computer and punched a few keys. A picture, with a short bio, came up on his screen. "FBI most wanted" appeared at the top.

They read that he was wanted for murder and had ties to organized crime.

"Figures," Ellison mumbled as he read the man's bio.

"How the hell did his head get into a crate for the university?" Simon questioned, becoming agitated.

"I don't know, Simon. I'd like to check it out." Ellison grabbed his jacket and headed for the door with Sandburg hot on his heels.

"Be careful," Simon shouted at the retreating figures.

He turned to go back into his office when Rhonda met him at his door. She handed him a folder. He thanked her and went into his office. He looked over at the coffee pot and seeing it empty thought better of more coffee and headed for the couch. He stretched out with a groan as his body reminded him that he had gone almost two days without sleep. Once he was settled he opened the folder. It was a report on Miss Andrea Cartwright, Computer Analysis. Height 5' 4" weight 130 pounds, according to her driver's license. She lived in a small town, he didn't recognize nor could pronounce, in the state of Florida.

"Computer Analysis," he mumbled as his eyes slowly shut, the folder sliding to the floor.

***

Several hours later, Ellison and Sandburg came back into Major Crimes. Ellison's knuckles were wrapped with gauze. His hair was sticking up every which way. Sandburg had a band aid over his right eye and a bruise on his left jaw. They crossed the room and Jim lightly tapped on his captain's door. Not getting the well known bellow to come in, the sentinel sent his hearing into the room behind the door. He smiled when he heard his captain's steady heartbeat and snoring.

"He's sleeping," the sentinel informed his guide.

"Shouldn't we let him sleep?" The guide questioned.

"No. He'll want to know about Murray and Timothy," Ellison whispered quietly, opening the captain's door.

"He looks so calm. Not like the snarling captain we know and love," Blair whispered as he reached down to pick up the folder on the floor.

Ellison smiled knowing the captain had woken up when they walked in the room.

"You say one word, Ellison, and you'll be riding a desk for the next two months." Banks growled opening his eyes.

His growl startled the smaller man, making him lost his balance and land on his butt. The detective started laughing in spite of himself.

He reached down and gave his partner a hand as the captain rose from the couch.

Seeing his men for the first time, he gaped at them. "You guys are a mess! What happened?"

The captain was quickly informed that when they entered the basement room, that held the crate the skull was in, they ran into the Bowman brothers tearing the room apart. After a short scuffle, with Blair taking out both men, the brothers were arrested and were waiting in the holding cell downstairs.

"Sandburg took them both out?" Banks questioned the big detective in front of him.

"Well"

"The femur is one heck of a weapon when you use it like a club," the anthropologist explained quickly. Trying to spare his big friend the embarrassment of trying to explain that Murray got the upper hand because of his injuries.

"Have you had a chance to interrogate them?" Banks questioned as he started a pot of coffee.

"Yes, Sir. They won't, or probably can't, say who they work for. It looks like they're hired help. Not very good hired help the way they bungled the job." The detective slid into one of the chairs facing the desk.

Sandburg picked up where Ellison left off. "It looks like they were supposed to get the bones before they got to the university. When they missed that opportunity they found out that I had signed for the shipment and discovered that they would have to go through a police officer to get to me." He stopped to look down at his exhausted partner.

"I believe that the bones where sent here to frighten George Trent into cooperating with the mob." The sentinel added.

"George Trent is the local mob boss who was trying to break away from the family," the younger partner continued. "When the discovery of the body hits the newspaper it will have the same effect as if the Bowman brothers were able to deliver the body to Trent personally." Blair finished his report and accepted the offered coffee.

"You guys did good. Jim, why don't you take the rest of the day off and get some rest?" Banks was worried about his best man. He looked like he could barely keep his eyes opened.

"No, Captain, I want to wait for news about Andy." Jim rose from the chair and had to hold in a groan that was forcing its way through his body.

"Jim I'll leave orders that when they find her they are to call you. All right?"

The exhausted officer grudgingly agreed. Knowing he was in no condition to wait for anything.

"All right, Captain. Thanks," he said, exiting the office.

"Sandburg? Take care of him," Simon stated softly.

"Yes, Sir," the young man said with a smile.

***

She sat quietly drinking her coffee, looking at the passing traffic. She had been sitting for a couple of hours waiting for the grocery store to open. Stepping out of the motor home and locking the door, she whirled around when she heard a voice behind her.

"Miss? Cascade Police."

***

Simon watched two uniformed officers bringing a prisoner into Major Crimes. He exited his office to find out why. As he approached, the huddled figure slowly raised her head. Although her hair and clothes were in disarray, probably from a struggle, he recognized her.

"What the hell is going on? Take those cuffs off her right now," he barked. She flinched from the booming voice and whimpered.

"But, Captain, she fought us. We had to use them to restrain her."

In a strained voice, trying not to frighten the already terrified woman. "You were supposed to bring her in for questioning, not arrest her." Then he turned his attention to the frightened woman in front of him. "Miss Cartwright are you all right?" He could tell she was far from all right. "Miss?"

She slowly shook her head. He reached out and carefully raised her head with a finger under her chin. Her face came into view and he could plainly see the terror in her tear streaked face. Simon went to comfort her by touching her arm while the officer worked on the handcuffs, when her knees buckled. Simon was able to catch her as one of the cuffs came loose. The instant her hands were freed she grabbed the back of Simon's shirt in a death grip. Simon swept her into his arms and headed for his office.

He laid her legs on the couch and went to lay her upper body down but she wouldn't let go. He absently started rubbing her back. "Shh, it's okay. You're in a police station. It's all right."

From the area of his chest he heard her trying to speak through her sobs. "The guys that beat me up...They said...they were police. I thought...I thought it was happening again. They were going to kill..." Her sobbing cut off any further comments. All the captain could do was hold her tightly and rock her back and forth.

Eventually the crying stopped and she fell asleep in his arms.

***

Simon sipped his coffee as he watched the sleeping woman.

She slowly woke as an excited Sandburg bounced into Simon's office. Ellison went right to Andy's side and knelt next to the couch, ignoring his protesting knee.

Her first sight was that of Jim's concerned face. "You're a policeman?"

"Detective actually," he said with a forced smile.

"You're the professor?" She asked when Blair came into view.

"Yes, I'm sorry." She stopped him with a wave of her hand as she slowly sat up groaning.

"I'm Captain Banks." Seeing the woman conscious and lucid for the first time, the captain was awe struck. She was a beauty. Her eyes were bright although pain wrinkled the corners as she spoke.

"You're the one who had me brought here?" Andy asked, staring at the tall captain.

The captain nodded, unable to answer the stunning woman on his couch.

"Why?" She demanded, still glaring at the captain.

Her glare and harsh tone brought the captain's voice back. "You're a witness in the attempted murder of a police officer and aggravated assault. We needed a statement."

"A statement?" She squeaked in disbelief. Getting her voice under control, she continued. "Your men scare me half to death for a statement? Does this get any better?"

"I'm sorry," the captain started. She stopped him with the same motion she used to stop Blair.

"Let's just get this over with. The faster I leave this state, the quicker this nightmare will end."

The captain was getting annoyed at being thought of as a nightmare. Simon went to his desk and hit a few keys. Blair and Jim tried to help but only ended up aggravating Simon. "Sandburg why don't you get the lady a cup of tea or something? Ellison don't you have a report to file?" He pushed a few more buttons with less success.

"Please, Captain let me." She rose from the couch and slowly crossed the office to carefully sit at his desk. Within seconds, she was quickly typing away on the report. As the sheets were completed the captain took them off the printer. He was amazed at the woman's writing ability, not to mention her computer skills.

"Have you done this before?" He asked, waving the completed papers in the direction of the computer.

"Yes, I worked for a short time with a police department. They had similar machines and I'm into computers. It's what I do for a living."

Blair entered carrying a cup of tea with Jim right on his heels; curious as to why Andy was sitting at the Captain's desk. Blair placed the cup of tea beside her. She glanced up for only a minute to acknowledge the tea.

Jim read the first two pages Simon handed him, detailing how Andy managed to get him into the RV. He was amazed at her ingenuity. Jim absently handed the pages to Blair, as he took the next few pages from Simon.

Blair grimaced when he read the section that described how she had tried to get the blind man to tell her who to contact and how she had been greeted by the screaming, hairy man.

Simon cringed when he read about how the bad guys posed as cops. It was definitely very traumatic for the young lady, but still she typed. Still trying to help. He smiled at the brave woman sitting at his desk.

Jim read how she woke up in the hospital alone. With no one there she thought it was okay and that she was free to go.

The last page of the report stated how she was arrested and brought to the police department. After the page printed out she signed her name to the bottom. "Is that all you wanted, Captain?" Feeling drained from the last few days, she looked up and handed him the last page. "Can I go now?"

He started to say something then saw the last page of the report. "Yes. I'm really sorry, Miss."

"Captain, there's no need, as I have always said." She groaned while rising. "No good deed shall go unpunished. It was inevitable." She gave a small, sad smile, grabbed her purse and headed for the door. He let her go first, holding the door for her.

Taggert stepped forward. "Are you the lady that saved Ellison?"

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to thank you." He extended his hand. She smiled at the pudgy man, shook the extended hand gently and started to giggle.

"What's so funny?" The stout man asked everyone.

"You're the first one to say that. No one's thanked me." She quickly sobered.

Ellison dropped his eyes to the ground, while Banks and Sandburg took note of big detective's reaction.

Joel changed the subject, seeing Ellison. "I heard you were on vacation? Where are you staying?"

"I had reservations at the High Cliff camp grounds."

"It's beautiful up there."

"Well I don't know. I never made it that far. My date cancelled and I have to be back to work on Monday."

"Where do you live?" Joel questioned.

"Florida," she replied.

"Why here?" Joel continued his conversation with her. "Although for Ellison's sake, I'm glad."

She smiled briefly. "I was to meet my fiancée here for a vacation. Well, ex-fiancée. It's a long story."

"Will you come back next year?"

"No, it took me a year and a half to save for this trip and now there's no reason...."

"Geez, what a shitty vacation," Blair added absently.

Andy turned to look at Sandburg. "You're not kidding. But there's still the drive home. I think I'll take the time to see some sights, try to salvage something." She turned back to Joel. "I've got to get going. Good bye?" She waited for a name.

"Joel, Joel Taggart." She shook his hand again.

"Thanks." She leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. She turned to Simon and the others. "Captain," she nodded. "Jim. Professor." She nodded to them knowing if she got too close she might cry and she definitely did not want to do anymore of that.

Ellison stepped forward. "Andy?"

She froze in her tracks, not knowing what the large man was going to do.

He saw her reaction and stood still. "Andy? I would like to give you a hug. Would that be all right?"

She saw the regret in his eyes and melted. "Yes, that would be nice. I could use a hug right about now." She gave him an understanding smile.

He closed the distance and opened his arms, allowing her to initiate the hug. She slowly stepped into his embrace and slipped her arms around his waist. Andy closed her eyes as her head came to rest against his chest. His arms gently closed around her shoulders. He lowered his head to her shoulder and whispered, "I'm so sorry you got hurt. So sorry." She could feel the big man tremble in her embrace and went straight into mother hen mode.

She squeezed him a little harder. Rubbing his back, she whispered, "It's okay. Honestly. I'll be fine. I'm just glad you're okay." She smiled into his chest, keeping her eyes shut against the tears. "Detective."

He chuckled and returned the squeeze. "Can I kiss you?"

"I'd like that," she whispered back, knowing that she would agree to whatever the man needed to do to apologize.

They separated enough so that Ellison could bend down to reach her lips. She lifted her head and stretched up. They gently kissed.

The captain watched in awe as the two kissed. He wondered what it would be like to hold her and kiss her like Ellison was doing. He wasn't jealous, well, not really.

The mood was broken when the bullpen erupted in wolf whistles and awes. Andy instantly blushed and hid her face in the tall man's chest. Ellison laughed and gave her another squeeze.

Getting her breath back again, she stretched up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then turned towards the elevator. Andy got half way there then turned back. "I can just leave. I don't have a visitor's pass or anything?"

"I'll go with her, Captain," Joel offered. The captain nodded. Taggart took her arm and they headed to the elevator.

"Am I understanding right? Blair started. "That woman just drove across the continental United States, saved a police officer; had said police officer's partner scream at her, got the crap beat out of her; then got frightened into hysterics by said police force. Am I getting this right?" Blair raved.

"Don't forget the fiancée dumping her and her having to turn around and go back without getting a vacation she saved for a year and a half for. Don't forget that." Ellison added, his mood turning black again.

"Well, we'll see about that." Simon turned and grabbed the phone off Taggart's desk. "Dispatch this is Banks, page Taggart for me, he's in the building."

Within moments the PA system came on paging Taggart. Simon's phone rang a few moments later. "Joel is Miss Cartwright still with you?" He paused. "Good. See if you can take her to lunch or something, just keep her from leaving town. Okay? I need a couple of hours." He listened. "Never mind Joel. I'll tell you later, just do it. Please. Thanks, I owe you one." He hung up.

"What do you have planned?" Questioned Sandburg.

He reached into his desk and retrieved a cigar, shoving it in his mouth. "Never mind Sandburg. Jim, you and Sandburg go home and get your gear. Then come back here, but leave the stuff in my car." He handed Jim his keys. "Now go I have a lot of phone calls to make." With that he sat down and started dialing.

"Rhonda get me the Chief and see if the Mayor's available." He barked into the phone as Ellison and Sandburg headed out.

***

Joel carried several shopping bags as he led Andy into the bullpen.

"Hey, Captain," Joel greeted as Simon entered the bullpen reading a single piece of paper. The captain quickly folded it.

"Joel," he nodded. "Miss Cartwright."

"Captain, Joel told me it was your idea to show me around Cascade. I just wanted to thank you. I had a wonderful time. You have a beautiful city."

"Yes we do, luckily the weather held. Miss Cartwright, I was wondering if you would allow me to take you to dinner?"

"No I don't think so Captain, but thanks anyway. I have to be going."

"I really feel bad about what we put you through, I know a dinner at Carlo's wouldn't even start to make up for it, but I would feel better at least for the gesture."

"You should go. It's not often that the Captain treats anyone to dinner, especially Carlo's," Joel smiled.

Simon shot him a dirty look. "Please?" It was his last try before he told her the whole truth.

"All right. But you have to let me change. Is it a fancy place?"

"Yes. Very," Joel added helpfully.

"Okay, but you'll have to give me an hour. Fancy takes longer," she smiled.

"An hour then," Simon agreed.

She turned, took her packages from Joel's desk and headed for the elevator.

***

Simon was pacing his office when Ellison and Sandburg entered. "Jim it's a go. Have you got everything?"

"Yes, Simon. Are you going to let us in on this?" Ellison inquired.

"I want you and Sandburg to go to the cabin. I'll meet you there." Simon crossed to his desk and retrieved an envelope and gave it to Ellison.

Blair looked around his shoulder to read the contents - a single sheet of paper.

"Jesus, Simon, you really pulled some strings."

"She's going to love this," Sandburg chimed in.

"I hope so, Sandburg. I hope so. I'm taking her to dinner and showing her there."

"You really like her, don't you?" The anthropologist observed.

"Sandburg, just because I'm taking her to dinner doesn't mean I like her."

"He's taking her to Carlo's," Joel stated sticking his head in the door.

Sandburg and Ellison's eyebrows went up in unison.

The sentinel's attention was drawn to the elevator when a familiar heartbeat exited the car.

"Please," before Simon could finish he followed his detective's sight, which came to rest on the young slender woman, stepped off the elevator.

She was wearing a short black dress with pearls, black nylons and high-heeled shoes with a matching purse. Over her arm she was carrying her bulky casual coat. Her hair was gently swept away from her face on one side. The hair on the other side helped hide some of the bruising still visible under her make up.

Everyone was looking now as she entered the bullpen.

"There's my date," Simon said smugly as he reached for his coat.

"Damn," was all Jim could say as he exited the captain's office. He watched as Andrea approached the gawking men.

"Is something showing?" She looked down nervously.

"No," Joel smiled. "You look terrific."

"Thanks. It's not too much is it? You said fancy." She gave them a slow turn.

"No." Joel and Jim said in unison enjoying the view.

"Do you always carry around drop dead clothes when you go camping?" Sandburg questioned.

Her smile faded. "No. I thought Dave...my fiancée would take me..." She stopped the thought, smiled sadly and simply said "No. Not usually. She saw Sandburg's reaction to the hurt in her voice and tried to lighten things up. "As you can tell from my very attractive outer wear." She indicated her casual coat. "I didn't even think to bring a nice coat. Not that I have one. You don't need one very often in Florida."

Simon exited his office stuffing the envelope in his coat pocket.

***

They sat in a secluded corner near the dance floor. They were just finishing up a wonderful dinner. He poured the last of the champagne into her glass.

"Captain, please I'm driving. Remember?"

"Well, maybe not." He reached into his coat and pulled out the envelope and handed it to her.

"What's this?"

"Open it." He nodded to the envelope.

She opened it and instantly recognized the letterhead from where she worked. Her mouth dropped open when she read that her vacation had been extended another week, with pay. It was signed by the president of the company. She looked up with tears welling in her eyes.

"How?"

"Our Mayor talked to your Mayor and your Mayor talked to the president of your company and then he talked to your boss and well," Simon explained, shrugging it off.

"Thank you." She said, trying to stop the tears. "This was very nice."

Trying anything, so she wouldn't start crying he asked, "would you like to dance?"

She started to say no, then thought of all the work he had done trying to make it up to her. "Yes, that would be nice."

They danced awkwardly at first. She moved a little closer and rested her head on his chest. The world stopped for the captain. He tightened his hold on her and found she fit perfectly in his arms. Simon let himself get lost in the music.

After several songs, the music stopped. She raised her head and whispered, "thank you." Simon smiled and led her back to the table.

"More champagne?"

"No thank you, I'm driving." She stated politely.

"What do you mean driving?"

"It was very nice, but all my reservations were for this week not next week. I'll take my time on the way back and if I find a place with a vacancy, I'll stay there."

He smiled knowingly. His plan would work completely. He signaled for the check.

***

Simon got in the driver's seat of her RV.

"You're driving Bessie? I don't think so."

"Andy you look awfully tired. Why don't you relax and I'll drive back to the station. It's the least I can do." He turned on puppy dog eyes. Sandburg would have been proud. "Besides how much champagne did you have?"

"Hey that was your fault!" She smiled at the teasing officer. "Oh, all right," slipping out of her shoes and reclining in the passenger chair. "I am kind of tired," she yawned.

About an hour later she awoke from her nap and gazed out the window.

"This isn't the way back to the station. Is it?" Andy questioned.

"Well."

"Well what?"

"Well, we're here."

"Where's here?" She questioned getting a little nervous. She tried to calm herself by remembering that this was a police captain.

"My place."

"Your place!" He was still a guy. A big guy. A police captain?

"Yes, my place. It's my cabin. I use it for my vacations and the odd weekend. You can stay out here in your RV if you're nervous. But come in for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Please?"

"It's the least you can do." She stated sarcastically, calming a bit.

"Yes." He smiled at her joke.

"A hot cup of coffee sounds nice." As she peaked out at the cabin before her. "Does it have a fireplace?" She slipped on her shoes. "Your state is awfully cold."

"You're starting to sound like Sandburg."

"I'm assuming that's bad." She laughed.

***

Simon knocked on the door.

"Who else is here?" Andy looked around and noticed a car off to the side of the building.

"Ellison and Sandburg."

He opened the door.

"They're here too?"

"I didn't want to frighten you by bringing you here by yourself so I invited them. We were coming up here for some fishing when Jim got ambushed and all this started. So I figured it would be a nice way to finish."

"That was sweet."

"He is sweet." Blair chimed in.

"Yup. That's our Captain. Sweet." Ellison added sarcastically.

"Cut it out you guys. You said you wanted some coffee?" He took her coat and hung it by the door.

"Yes. Thank you, Captain."

"This is a nice place." On her left was a huge fireplace with a long couch and two chairs. A fire was blazing. Off to her right was the kitchen and beyond that was a row of windows that were black now with the night. Along the back was a hallway that presumably led to the bedrooms. The room was pretty sparse, but for a hunting lodge it was right out of a magazine. She became drowsy with the coziness of the room and the roaring fire. She headed over to the couch and plopped down. The guys were quizzing Simon on how dinner went while they pretended to get the coffee.

When Simon turned around to ask her how she liked her coffee. He found her fast asleep curled up on the couch with her head on the armrest.

"Well, I guess she's not too afraid of us," the captain smiled.

Blair went to the closet and got a blanket out and covered the sleeping form.

Banks kept refusing to talk about his date and they soon gave up and went to bed with the captain following close behind.

***

Several hours later, a woman's screaming woke Simon out of a sound sleep. He dashed out of his room grabbing his robe as he went. His room was the closest to the living room so he made it to her side first.

Simon held her that night.

She woke up resting on the captain's chest. Andy slipped out of the captain's embrace and off the couch. Through the windows was a magnificent view. She quietly opened the side door and slipped outside. The Florida girl was overcome with the view of the mountains spread out before her. She sat on the step and just watched.

Simon came out bringing a blanket and wrapped them both in it.

"It's beautiful, Captain. Simply breath taking."

They sat there for a long time. Andy letting Simon put his arm around her to keep the blanket around her shoulders. His legs started getting cold with only his robe on and he had to decide which he needed most, pants or the woman in his arms. The cold finally won.

"I need to get some cloths on. I'll be right back." He rose and pulled the blanket around her.

"Thank you, Captain."

"I slept with you last night, the least you can do is call me Simon."

She blushed at the inference. "All right Simon, then it's Andy not Miss Cartwright."

Banks nodded and passed Blair on his way out with two cups of coffee.

"Andy?"

She looked up and took the coffee. "Thanks." She turned back to the view.

"Andy. I'm sorry about the other day."

"It's okay. You were upset."

"No. Please. Let me finish."

She heard the pain in his voice and turned to look up at him. She patted the empty step beside her and he sat down.

"It was more that being upset, that made me scream at you..."

Andy touched his knee to prompt him to continue.

"I'm Jim's partner. I should have been there. I'm his back up. I should have been the one to take care of him. To be there for him."

She saw the guilt in the young man's eyes, in his voice, and understood where the rage had come from. She smiled with understanding and gathered him in the blanket.

Knowing a hug was not going to make everything right she finally spoke. "Don't worry about it. Your job as his partner is secure. I had a taste of the job and you can have it." She smiled at him.

"Thanks, Andy. I'm really sorry."

She gave him a peck on the cheek. "Apology accepted. How 'bout we make breakfast?"

"Sounds great."

***

After breakfast Andy joined the guys down at the stream, that flowed a couple of yards beside the cabin. Simon had quickly taught her fly fishing, and let her borrow one of his spare reels. Because she didn't have hip waders she fished quietly from the bank.

Simon kept watching her. She was so quiet and fishing so gracefully. In the past whenever he brought a woman up to the cabin for fishing she quickly tired of it and started to complain. Andy looked totally at peace. She would cast her line out, take a few moments to look at the surrounding area. Then cast the line out again, her rhythm was broken only by the catching of a fish. She would silently reel it in and drop it into the borrowed bucket. Simon smiled. He remembered the way Joan had squealed when she had to touch a wriggling fish.

Around noon they called it a day and started to compare catches, and of coarse the newbie to fly fishing had the most with one of the biggest Simon had every seen come out of the water.

Simon was surprised again when she dug right in and helped clean the fish. She absently tossed the waste to the ground. When the guys stopped what they were doing, she looked up. "What?"

Ellison asked. "Are you trying to get every bear in the area to stop by?"

Frightened by the word bear she quickly went over and pick up the discarded fish. "No. No. No bears please."

"What were you thinking?" Sandburg asked a little confused by her actions.

"Sorry the sea gulls and pelicans usually take care of the waste. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry. Do you think I should hose it down so the bears don't come." Looking at the men a little unnerved about the thought of bears.

"No it will be all right. As long as we seal up the waste they won't smell it." The captain assured the small woman with a gentle smile.

She nodded, not quite convinced.

"Hurry up. I'm hungry." Blair stated rinsing off his hands and heading for the cabin.

After lunch and much teasing about sizes of catches and other assorted fish stories, Simon asked Andy to go for a walk with him. He had to do some quick convincing, telling her that there were very few bears in the area and that he had his gun for protection. She finally agreed to go, while Sandburg grabbed his laptop and Ellison grabbed his fishing gear.

During their walk in the woods, Simon slipped his hand into hers and was delighted when she didn't pull away. They walked for hours, hand in hand, talking about everything and anything with the comforting ease.

When they got back to the cabin, Simon started a fire, while Andy made a pot of coffee. Andy watched Simon go into a near by closet and pull out a funny looking blue rug. As he spread it out in front of the fireplace she realized it was an imitation bear skin rug.

"That's the only kind of bears I like." She stated as she brought two steaming mugs to the living room. "But blue?"

"What can I say? I've had it for years and when I bought the cabin it seamed perfect." Simon smiled at her.

He met her as she entered the living room, took the two mugs out of her hands and put them on the coffee table. She was a little confused until he gently pulled her into his arms. He closed his eyes and started to rock back and forth as if dancing to music only he could hear. She smiled up at him when she realized he was dancing with her. She rested her head on his shoulder, slipped her arms around his waist and closed her eyes so she too could hear the music.

He slowly moved his hand to her face and slid a finger under her chin to lift her head. When their eyes met he bent down and kissed her gently, and the world stopped for the young woman.

When their first kiss sadly ended, he drew her down to the blue rug and back into his arms. Simon's warm lips again pressed firmly, but gently to her smaller ones. He let his tongue brush her lips, silently asking permission.

She parted her lips for the gentle giant, anticipating his tongue's next move. She didn't have long to wait as it first teased her lips then searched out and found its captive. When they finally broke for air, her arms went around his neck and he brought their bodies together for another sweet kiss. He reluctantly broke the kiss but quickly started nibbling on her neck.

"It would be so much easier if you lived on this coast," he mumbled into her neck as his tongue searched for the next sweet bit of flesh.

The simple statement brought her back to reality. She was on vacation. She lived hundreds of miles from this place. From this man. From this man that she was falling hard for. Realizing that this could turn into another 'Dave' situation. "Simon. Simon. She pushed him away. "Please, Simon." She moved away from his warm embrace and the blue bear skin rug. "I can't Simon. I can't."

"It's because I'm black isn't it."

She couldn't fight over this, she couldn't fight anymore. She was suddenly tired, so very tired. She slowly rose from the floor and crossed to the door. She looked back at the angry captain, with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she turned and left the cabin.

Andy saw Jim and Blair coming back up the hill with a large string of fish. She wiped her eyes and opened Bessie's side door, throwing her coat inside.

When they reached her she announced, "I'm leaving."

"Why?" Jim and Blair asked in unison.

"This won't work." Her tears were back. She went to Blair and held out her arms for a good bye hug. He put his laptop down and embraced her.

"Andy?" Before he could say more she moved to the sentinel.

As Jim rubbed her back, he begged her. "Please come inside and let's talk about it."

Shaking her head, she could only say, "tell Simon it's not the difference in our color, it's the difference between our coasts. I couldn't overcome it with Dave." Andy kissed him on the cheek, turned and left.

The End