DISCLAIMERS:
"Miami Vice" & characters copyright Anthony Yerkovich, Michael Mann.

Starting at the end of "Hostile Takeover", season five.

**************

Altered Images
by elfin

(A lighthouse, Fort Lauderdale)

"Sonny, don't you recognize me?"
"Sure. You're Cooper."
"Sonny, it's me, Rico."
"Rico...?"
(..."You owe me, your presence in that seat. I love you, man."....)
"Rico?"

****

Cliff leant against the outside wall, watching his 'partner' walking the new arrival across the patio. Next to him, Celeste seemed less fascinated by this rather unexpected turn of events, more pissed about it. Cliff shook his head, still trying to believe what had Burnett had told him, and trying to make sense of it all. Something nagged in the back of his thoughts, but he could not grasp it. "What it is about brilliant criminal minds that attracts them to the same sex?"
Celeste snorted, but said nothing.

Personally, Cliff was relieved Sonny had found this other guy, this 'soul mate' of his; it seemed to have tempered the volatile nature that could easily have gotten them all killed. The patio doors were pushed open, and the two watched Miguel slump out into the sun. He too had been moping around since the strange events of the previous night. Yeah, the young son of the late, great Carrera had it bad for the guy who had made him shoot his own father. Maybe Burnett had played to that, strung him along a little, made silent promises that he might have kept, depending on how bad things had got. Not now.

Now the blond shooter, who had single-handedly worked his way to the top of the Carrera empire in a matter of weeks, had a new friend.

Rico had not known which way to run at the lighthouse. Just one moment, from the last five years of their shared lives, had showed itself in Sonny's mind, and his partner had believed them to be something they were not. Rico knew he should have walked away, but to leave again, to watch Sonny's retreating back... he just could not. Maybe if he was next to his old partner he could persuade him to return, to remember who and what he was. He had to. He had to get Crockett back.

Beside him, Sonny stopped and turned, taking Rico's hands in his own. "I've been dreaming about you," he admitted quietly. "I didn't know who you were... but... I'm on a beach, and you're in a glass coffin, banging on the lid yelling to me." He leaned in, obviously suspicious of those around him. "Somethin's wrong with me, Rico. I remember things, things I couldn't have done. People... I've never met."
Rico's heart went out to his partner. Sonny sounded scared, and the jade eyes were filled with a fear Rico could not begin to fathom. He had to get him out.

Tubbs turned his hands in Sonny's, entwining their fingers. He had wondered, last night, whether or not he would be able to pull off this particular cover story and be convincing. Now he was here, it was easy. He loved Sonny. He always had, since they first started working together. Before the partnership, before the friendship, he had loved him. He just had to allow those feelings, long buried, to come to the surface now. "I can explain it all to you." And he would, selectively. "I've missed you, Sonny." He spoke with utter conviction, because it was nothing but the heartfelt truth.

Cliff watched another man come out of the house, this time one of the security guards. "The pool cleaner's here, Mr King. Thought you might want to check him out."
Flustered enough, Cliff shook his head. "The pool doesn't need cleaning. Tell him to come back in a month."
The guard nodded and went back into the house. The pool cleaner, a large, bearish man with scruffy brown hair, a clean shaven face and going by the name of Stan Metcafe, glanced out into the back yard before leaving. He saw Sonny, and he saw Rico. He left with more on his mind than an unmade fifty dollars.

Sonny wrapped his arm around Rico's waist as they walked deeper into the grounds of the estate. Rico went with it easily, slipping his arm around his partner, squeezing lightly. Last night, at the lighthouse, when it had become obvious that Sonny imagined them to be lovers, Rico had gone into his arms with a sigh of relief. While holding Sonny tight, he had reached up and taken the tie that held the wayward blond hair in a pony-tail. Freeing the mane, he had combed his fingers through it, gazing lovingly at Sonny through tear-filled copper eyes.

"That was you, that night in the alley...wasn't it?"
Sonny's question brought Rico back to the here and now. "Yeah."
"I thought... I thought I'd killed you." There was questioning in the tone.
"You're a lousy shot, Sunshine."
Sonny smiled across at him. "'Sunshine'... that's what you to call me?"
Rico went with it. "It's always how I've thought of you," *and what I've wanted to call you if I hadn't thought you'd freak on me*. "It's been my name for you for a while."
They walked for a while, Rico just enjoying having Sonny by his side again, even if it was Burnett and not Crockett. James was in there somewhere, he just had to reach him.

Finally, Sonny broke the silence. "There's a party tonight, at a club in town. Will you come with me?"
Rico was amazed at how nervous Burnett sounded. He had watched this man kill Jimmy Hagavich in cold blood, albeit in self-defence. He had always believed that with Burnett, anything could go down and his partner's alter-ego would cope. But what Sonny believed was between them was obviously playing hell with Burnett's mental balance. That was either good or very bad. If Burnett lost his hold, maybe Crockett would come shining through. Or maybe Burnett would simply kill him.

"I'd love to." He looked down at his attire. "I'll have to go home to change." He waited for the shaking of the head, still feeling that maybe he was a prisoner here.
But Sonny just looked at him, the most trusting of expressions on his face. "Why should I mind? Just... promise me you'll come back?"
Rico melted. How could he not? Sonny sounded so vulnerable, looked so afraid of losing again what he had only just rediscovered. Tubbs stopped them, bringing Sonny around to face him, trying not to seem nervous as he placed his hands on his partner's hips and drew them together. Sonny merely followed his direction, his own tanned arms circling Rico's waist. Rico had to struggle to keep it together in the intoxicating nearness of this man. "I'll always come back. I promise."
And then he kissed him. Rico would never know how or why, or what prompted him to do it. But Sonny's reaction was immediate and passionate. God, Sonny could kiss. Tubbs had watched him with women in the past, watched that gorgeous mouth cover theirs, those powerful arms hold and keep them close. Never had he imagined that it would be him being assaulted by the sensuous contact.

They broke the kiss, each breathless, and dropped their foreheads together. "I love you, Sonny," Rico murmured, not knowing why he needed to say it. "Whatever happens, whatever has happened, always remember that."
Suddenly, Sonny was blinking back tears. "I will." They stood like that for a moment, and Rico could almost believe that this was the real world. And then Sonny stepped back. "Come back soon."
Tubbs nodded, and with one last squeeze of his partner's hand, he turned and walked toward the house.

*

Rico waited for Castillo to answer the phone. He paced the hotel room, his thoughts alternating between the kiss he had shared with his partner, and the story he was going to tell of their history, if Sonny asked.

"Castillo."
"Lieutenant, it's Rico."
"Rico...." Martin sounded relieved. "What's happening?"
"Sonny recognized me... sort of. I think he remembered... a conversation. At the time it was just friendly...." Rico could feel his boss's interest. "He thinks... we're lovers."
There was silence for a moment, and then, "Can you handle it."
"Sure, no problem." He swore to himself; too fast, Ricardo."
"We're bringing him in, tonight. There'll be a raid on the house at four a.m."
"Right. Just... no shoot-to-kill policy. He's scared and confused. He doesn't know what's happening to him."
"Don't worry."

Rico showered and changed. Still he could not get the heat of Sonny's kiss out of his mind. He wanted more, God knows he wanted everything. But what then? What when they were back in Miami? Would Crockett ever return to him? Rico shook the negative thoughts from his mind. Tonight the men and women of Dade County Vice would forcibly take he and Sonny from the Carrera estate, back to Miami. He prayed they would make it out alive.

*

Rico stepped up to the door and it opened before he could knock. One of the thugs that hung around the place allowed him inside and told him to wait. He could hear Sonny's voice coming from one of the nearby rooms. "...if you can't trust him, you can't deal with him."
"Sure thing, boss, but what if he tries to con us?"
"Take him out. Do you think you can handle that?"
Rico winced. Ordinarily, the thought of getting close to someone with that attitude would send cold shivers up his spine, would dampen any excitement he may have been harbouring. But when he looked into Burnett's eyes he could see Crockett, gazing back at him in confusion and terror.

There were footsteps, clear against the marble floor, and then Sonny appeared in the doorway. His face lit up when he saw Rico. "I need to get changed," he told him, "then we'll be off." He indicated the room. "Make yourself at home."

Rico fixed himself a drink and wandered around the bare lounge, looking out over the pool and garden. Sonny really had set himself up for an almighty fall. If they left him in this nest of vipers much longer, Burnett would get him killed.

Yet Rico was amazed at how comfortable he felt here. Half undercover, half not, he still trusted Sonny over anyone else. He hoped his emotions would not be the death of him.

He waited for half an hour, until Sonny returned. Last night, and today, Sonny had been dressed in expensive Italian suits, not his usual style. But tonight, Rico saw that his partner had donned a white silk shirt with loose dark pants. Simple and gorgeous. He set down his drink, and Sonny came to him, sliding his arms around the dark man's waist and meeting his open mouth. Tubbs moaned into the kiss, reaching between Sonny's lips with his tongue, exploring curiously. Before this afternoon he had never kissed a man before. He was not aware that Sonny had either. How could one line from a distant conversation convince his usually straight partner to imagine they were lovers? What the hell was going to happen if Crockett came back to them and remembered this?

Rico savagely pushed the worries from his mind. He was doing this to save their lives and Sonny's sanity. At least close to him he could look out for his wayward partner. He could maybe stop him from killing anyone else. Too many had already died at his innocent hand.

Sonny pulled back, and Rico ran his fingers into the blond, clean-smelling hair. "You look incredible." The smile he was thanked with was one of acute shyness. Where was all this coming from?
"We should... get going." Rico realised that Sonny was breathless. From one, single kiss. The thought that he had that kind of sexual power over Burnett hit him hard. Brashly, he grasped Sonny's hips and for a moment their groins rubbed against one another. Both men moaned, Rico's smile was positively feral.

"Sonny." Cliff King stood in the doorway, arms folded, rolling his eyes. "Are we going?"
Sonny nodded and pulled back, almost blushing. Feeling more than pleased with himself, Rico put a possessive arm around his partner's waist and they followed Cliff out to the waiting car.

*

The club, "Play", was in the centre of Lauderdale. The party was for Miguel Carrera, to cheer him up; to put him where Cliff and Sonny needed him in order to take control of the Carrera empire and still leave the appearance that the son was running the show. Sonny bored of the party after only an hour or two. He found Rico on the dance floor and suggested they get out of there. Rico whole-heartedly agreed.

They walked up the main street, passing kids moving from club to club. The scene up here was not as manic as it was in Miami. Rico could picture Sonny retiring to somewhere like this. If he made it that far. At the end of the road, Sonny turned them into an alley and for a moment, Rico's heart stopped. A thousand fears flushed through his brain. Had he been found out? Was Sonny going to shoot him and leave him to die, for good this time?

But a little way into the alley, his partner pushed open the door of a blues club, and motioned Rico inside. The atmosphere was dark, but not smoky as Rico had expected. There was a black woman on stage with a white man playing the sax. There were booths around the walls and small round tables dotted across the floor. The place was almost empty; too early for its usual clientelle. Sonny approached the bar and ordered a Black Jack, making Rico smile. At least his partner remembered his favourite drink. He watched as Sonny went to order for Rico, and then paused, embarrassed when he found he could not remember what his lover's poison was.
"Bourbon. No ice."
Sonny ordered and turned back to the other man. "Sorry. I just.... I can't remember."
"It's okay, Sonny. I can barely remember myself some nights." That lightened the mood.

They took their drinks and Sonny led them to a booth against the side wall, from which they could still see the small stage. "I wish I could remember more," the blond started, staring miserably into the amber in his glass. "I just know what I feel when I look at you, or think about you. The memories are blurred and they don't make sense. But what I feel... it makes all the sense in the world."
Rico watched his partner, pondering his words. Why did Sonny feel that there was all this between them? Was this... coming from Crockett? Rico shook that thought immediately. "I can maybe help to fill in some blanks." He had been rehearsing this since this morning.
Sonny looked up, his jade eyes so full of hope, Rico just wanted to tell him the truth, to make him understand who he was. But that was too dangerous. Tomorrow this would all be over, and a whole new nightmare would begin. He tried not to think about that, to concentrate on now. "We met five years ago. In Miami. I'd gone to this club in South Beach, 'Liquid'. I guess you could say that our eyes met across the room. We left there without saying a word to one another, and went to Salvation." Rico knew Salvation was the biggest gay club in South Beach. "We danced, all night. We went crazy, practically doin' it out there on the dance floor." Across from him, Sonny was smiling. "Luckily, we were restrained enough to go back to your place, a yacht moored at a private marina. Since that night, we've been together."
Sonny reached for Rico's hand, and Rico gave it without a thought, entwining their fingers. He would miss this, miss touching his partner.
"I was... in an explosion," Sonny started. "I... woke in this... place. Like a hospital but not. I can't remember anything of my life before the explosion. I just... see images when I look at you, flashes that I can't grasp long enough to keep them. And I dream of you and another man. Hispanic I think. Dark hair and a moustache."
Rico nodded. "That's Marty. He's a close friend to both of us. Keeps a low profile. Recently he had to... duck out of Florida life for a while." His knowing smile met Sonny's. "I'm sure he'll come and see you as soon as he can."

Sonny sipped his drink, playing absently with his lover's fingers. "Do I have any family?" Rico thought about Catie and sighed inside. Outwardly, he just shook his head. "How did you find me?"
"I didn't. I thought you were dead. I had to get on with my life. I started dealing with Manolo. And then I thought I saw you, in the alley, coming toward me. I was so sure....."
"Until I shot you."
Rico nodded. "Until you fired. Lucky for me my reflexes are trained to perfection."
Sonny's hold on his hand tightened. "Lucky for both of us."

Rico could not believe the state his partner was in. To the rest of them - to Cliff and Celeste and Miguel, to the thugs he controlled - he was as hardened and steadfast as Carrera and Manolo had ever been. Yet what Rico was seeing was a confused, frightened man, unable to recall any of his life before he had gone to work for Manolo.
"What did I do before?"
The question snapped Rico out of his own thoughts. "We worked freelance. You own this nifty Scarab which we used to ship loads to and from the islands."
"From Miami?"
"Yeah. From Miami." The sound of the word made him suddenly very homesick. Strange how he considered the South his home now. He could not contemplate ever going back to live in New York. He belonged in Miami. He belonged with Sonny.
"I wish I could remember."
"It'll come. Don't push it."

*

It was just gone two a.m. when they got back to the estate. The others were still out at the club and the house was eerily quiet. They clambered out of the car, each a little intoxicated both by the alcohol in their systems and with one another's close company. In the car, they had kissed and cuddled for most of the journey back, oblivious to what the driver thought. It was more than his job's worth to question the sexual preferences of the man running the organisation.

Once standing, Sonny took Rico's hands and started to pull him forward as he walked backwards. Sonny's accomodation was accessible through a door in the back wall of the house. The small dwarf lights illuminated the pool and gardens, seeming almost magical, giving the whole scene a certain surreal quality.

Sonny reached back and opened the door, smiling at Rico even as he lead him inside. The centre of the room was taken up by a king-size bed, covered with fresh white sheets. Sonny left Rico long enough to light a few candles dotted around the room on high candelabras. When he returned to face the dark man, Sonny looked almost bashful. "I... I can't remember what you like... even what I like."
Rico froze. He knew at that moment what was going to happen between them. Suddenly he wished it was later, wished they had stayed out longer so that Castillo's timing would save him from this. Not that he did not want it. His whole being was aching with the need for his partner. But this was not Crockett making the decisions here, it was Burnett. And the two had never quite seen eye-to-eye on Sonny's sex life.

Even now, those skilled hands were working on Rico's shirt, exposing his chest to the beautiful green eyes that were roaming his body. "Sonny...."
"Please, Rico, I need you to show me, guide me." The pain in the rough voice was impossible to ignore. It was too diffifult to refuse. His hands reached for Sonny as if of their own volition. He unfastened the pearl buttons and ran his hands across the sculptured chest, brushing back the fine white silk. As his hands moved, Sonny stepped closer, lowering his mouth to the dark, damp neck and licking a long path from shoulder to ear.

Rico moaned, unable to hold it in any longer. He put his lips against Sonny's ear, tracing the shell with his tongue-tip, sucking the lobe. The strangled cries from his lover urged him on. Slowly, deliberately, he pushed his tongue into the ear, the action making promises he was not sure he could keep. Sonny yelled his name, tightening his fingers in Rico's shirt. He moved one hand up to play his fingers in the black man's tightly curled hair. Rico licked his lover's ear, in and out, driving Sonny wild with this simple action. And his partner's responses were having the same effect on him.

Knowing it was wrong, knowing he should stop but unable to do so, Rico worked Sonny's fly and belt with his fingers, his teeth nibbling on the taut throat he was being presented with. He pushed the soft material over Sonny's hips, surprised and aroused when his lover sprang free. So Sonny did not wear underwear. That was certainly one to remember. He grasped the straining cock that lurched toward him.

Not sure where his actions were coming from, Rico backed away, still holding Sonny's erection. He used it to pull his partner to the bed, ignoring Sonny's slightly pained protests. He could not stop now. He wanted this man more than anything. When they reached the bed, he released Burnett's cock and grabbed his arms, turning him and throwing him forcefully onto the sheets. There was a little fear in the green eyes when they looked up at him, fear that waylaid any violence that might have been in Rico's soul. He rid himself of the rest of his clothing as he stared down at Sonny's wonderfully tanned body, still framed in damp silk. Rico had already decided that the shirt stayed.

Slowly, Rico climbed onto the bed. He met Sonny's desperate kiss, battling with his tongue, trying to show Sonny that they belonged to each other, if only for this one night. Sonny's hands grasped at his body, stroking awkwardly over his massive cock. Rico closed his eyes for a moment, still joined in the kiss he wanted to drown in the sensations of his lover's body.

When the kiss ended, Rico moved over Sonny, turning until his crotch was over his lover's face. He bent his head, and in a moment he had engulfed his partner's cock with his mouth. Under him, Sonny watched himself being swallowed down, felt his thighs being teased apart. Learning quickly, he reached up for the long wide organ that dangled above him. He tongued the weeping head, and then pulled on the hips to get Rico to lower himself. The next moment, Sonny was gagging on the shaft filling his mouth and throat. He panicked for a brief second. Then he heard Rico's deep moans of pleasure, and he wanted more.

They sucked on one another, Sonny swallowing around the cock in his mouth, Rico teasing Sonny's own erection with his tongue and teeth. Still, it was not enough. Pulling up slightly, Rico started to moved down, over the lathered cock to the testicles. He took each ball in turn, rolling it in his mouth with absolute tenderness before leaving them too behind. He held his partner's genitals out of the way while he licked his way down. He spread Sonny's legs further, becoming frustrated when he could not reach. In another moment he had, his head now between Sonny's thighs, his hands under the man's buttocks, lifting and parting the ass cheeks. Rico's tongue explored deeper, finally finding his goal and wiggling its way inside. Sonny screamed, his fingers clawing at Rico's head in a vain attempt to dislodge the invader from his body. Sensing his lover's building panic, Rico reached up and took hold of the softening cock. He started to massage it, pulling up and down with a tight fist until Sonny was his, completely and utterly.

That was as far as Rico was going to go, But when he lifted his head he saw his lover propped up on his elbows, watching him with the most intense stare he had ever seen.
"Make love to me." Sonny pleaded. "I'm scared to death of it, but I know we've done this before and I want you."
Rico felt the cold chill in his spine once again. Sonny had never done his before, not to the best of his knowledge and neither had he. Mind you, he gave himself credit for the show he was putting on. "Sonny...."
"Please, Rico." The expression in the beautiful eyes, the desperation on Sonny's face touched him. Rico nodded, not believing what he was about to do. He dropped his head again, using his saliva to open his partner. Finally sitting up, he parted Sonny's legs further, bending the knees, and pushed one, two, then three fingers into his lover's rectum. Sonny tensed, biting his lip to keep from screaming, but Rico used his free hand to reach up and touch Sonny's mouth.
"Don't hold it in," he murmured. "Scream, shout, let me hear you. Please. I love to hear you." Somewhere in his mind he wondered how far a cover should go. But it was too late now. Sonny yelled hard, breathing fast to control the pain slicing up his spine in answer to being breached. Rico wiggled his fingers around, pulling slowly in and out, trying to prepare Sonny for a cock two inches round.

Finally, Tubbs lifted Sonny, moving his lover's ankles to his sweat-covered shoulders, amazed at the vulnerable position his partner was allowing himself to be put in. The trust swam in Sonny's eyes, and for a terrible moment Rico imagined he was raping his partner. And then Sonny looked straight at him. "I love you, Rico." It was all he needed. He positioned himself and using his fingers to help open Sonny, he pushed in slow and steady.

Sonny's scream surrounded them, yet Rico did not stop until he was fully inside. The sensation of his partner's slick channel squeezing around him, trying to push him out while holding him tighter was overwhelming. He blinked the stars from behind his eyes. Sonny had quieted, slowly, imposibly, becoming used to the sensation of being torn in two. Rico moved slowly out again and altered his angle slightly, bumping against Sonny's prostate as he thrust up. Sonny cried out, Rico's name preceeding a stream of heated profanities. Rico actually smiled. He took Sonny's cock in his palm and started to pump him as he fucked. Sonny was so tight, so hot, and now he was beginning to rock onto the shaft impaling him, driving Rico ever closer to the highest precipice.

For a moment, the world stopped around them. Sonny screamed as the cock buried so deep inside him grew larger, splitting him open before Rico yelled his name and bathed his insides with warm semen. The sensation of being flooded pushed Sonny over and he grasped the hand on his cock as his own seed fountained up over their hands and bellies. His body shuddered, muscles clenching at Rico, as he rode out the waves of orgasm. After a long time they both stilled.

Rico pulled gently out of his lover's body, collapsing into Sonny's waiting arms. He clung to his partner like it was the only way to survive. "Rico, Rico, Rico.... My God.... It was so good."
Rico found Sonny's mouth and kissed it gently. "Did I hurt you?"
Sonny shook his head, actually finding he meant it. He ached, wonderfully. "You loved me. You do love me." He tightened his embrace for a moment before his arms relaxed, as sated as the rest of him.
In the back of his mind, Rico knew there was something bothering him. But sleep pulled at him, and he finally succumbed, cradled in the safety of his partner's arms.

*

Castillo had watched the three cars drive in at around three fifteen. About half an hour later, the house had fallen quiet. His team spread themselves out silently around the estate. These were experts, people who could get inside anywhere without being seen or heard. A short, sharp whistle informed the Vice unit that everyone was in place. Just ahead of time, Castillo gave the order and they moved in.

The security guards were being held up against the walls before they knew what was happening. Cliff King awoke to the sight of a semi-automatic 9mm weapon pointing straight at his forehead. He could hear movement downstairs, but no shots and no screaming. Wisely, he remained still and silent, whatever was going on, they were not here for him. His thought immediately about Burnett.

Rico opened his eyes, realizing what was happening outside. He sat up, roughly shaking the sleeping man next to him. "Sonny, come on, we gotta get up."
Sonny moaned and turned, his eyes opening and focusing on Rico. "What's happenin'?"
"It's a raid." Rico was already pulling on his pants and shirt. Finding Sonny's clothes from last night, he handed them to his partner. "They're going to come for you. For us." Sonny dressed hurriedly, fear building in his belly. Rico saw the look of desperation in his eyes. He was panicked and once again Tubbs felt the aching deep in his heart. "I'll protect you, no one is going to hurt you."
"Rico....?"
He did not get chance to answer as the lock was blown off the door with a silenced gun, and Stan appeared in the darkness. "Tubbs...." His relief astonished him. He looked at Sonny, up and down. They had been warned that Sonny would not remember them, may even try to kill them to aid his own escape. They were not to kill him. It was still Sonny. But what Stan saw as he looked at the man who had once been his friend, were two wide green eyes filled with confusion. He tossed Rico a firearm, loaded and primed. "Let's get out of here."

Sonny found himself being pulled along; Rico's arm wrapped firmly through his own. He had no idea what was happening. He had been having the dream again, the one where he was walking along the beach. But this time, Rico had been standing next to a white car, smiling at him serenely. There were other people on the beach this time, as well as the Hispanic. Two ladies and a larger guy. When Stan had burst into the room, Sonny had seen the man from his dream. Whatever was happening, he was with Rico and Rico loved him. He would not hurt him.

In the quiet calm of the operation, the explosion that rocked the house took out most of the east wing. Sonny turned suddenly in Rico's grasp, looking back in horror at the rubble that had been his sanctuary in this strange life. As his eyes widened, a second explosion lifted him off his feet. He, Rico and Stan were launched upwards and thrown hard onto the grass some fifty yards distance. Rico blinked, bringing his surroundings back into focus. Stan was already sitting up, staring blankly at the fireball that was engulfing the house. Rico looked around him. Sonny was lying some way back. He had not been thrown quite as far. He was lying in a crumpled heap, his head against the edge of the paved surround of the pool. In the amber glow of the flames, Rico could see blood pooling around his partner's head, soaking into his hair.

"Sonny!" He scrabbled toward the inert form as the rest of the vice unit came running across the grass, shouting their names. "Sonny?" Kneeling up, Rico rolled his partner into his arms, assessing the injury. Although there was a fair amount of blood, Sonny's skull was at least visibly in tact. He was still breathing and his pulse was strong. Rico looked up as his Leiutenant crouched beside him. "He's alive."
Martin nodded. "We need to get out of here. Emergency services are on their way. We think everyone's out of the house."
"Those bombs... were meant for Sonny."
"Maybe. Maybe you stirred things up." He rose, and together they carried Sonny to one of the cars awaiting the squad.

*

Sonny rose up through a haze of pain, struggling to open his eyes. He was in a car, that much was obvious. The sun was rising from what he could see out of the window above him. He was laid across the back seat, his head cushioned. He focused on the smiling face watching him with barely hidden concern. "Hey, Sunshine. Welcome back."
He tried to smile, but his head was pounding and it came over as a grimace. "Rico.... Where...?"
Tubbs stroked his hand gently over his partner's hair, avoiding the roughly dressed wound. "Take it easy. We're taking you home."
Sonny closed his eyes, unable to think through the fog clouding his mind. An explosion. There had been an explosion. He could not understand why he was not dead. He turned his head, ignoring the pain. "Rico...."
"Lie still."
Agitated, Sonny struggled to sit up, but his friend held him firmly. "You hit your head, Sonny. We'll get you to a hospital as soon as we reach Miami."
What? Reach Miami? Where the hell were they? "Rico...." He struggled to get his thoughts ordered.
Tubbs watched, his concern mounting as his partner's eyes lost their clarity. The pupils were becoming dilated, and as he looked closer he realized that one was more open than the other. "Sonny, stay with me." He tried to keep his voice steady, to make his words into a command. "Sonny." The green eyes refocused.
"I'm okay. A little dizzy is all."

Watching the confusion play across his partner's face, Rico gently touched Sonny's cheek. The action surprised Sonny, and ignoring the warnings of his head, fighting Rico's firm grasp, he sat up. "Tubbs? You're scaring me, Pal."

Rico's eyes widened, watching speechless as Sonny glanced out of the back window and waved at Stan in the car behind.
"Rico, what the hell...?" His partner's expression stopped him mid-sentence. "Partner, what's wrong?"
Tears came unbidden into the copper eyes. "Crockett?"
"Hey, Rico...." Suddenly they were hugging tight. Sonny didn't know what was happening, but his partner needed him; at least that much was obvious. They pulled back after a long time. Sonny stared at Tubbs. Suddenly a image flashed into his mind's eye, a moment in time when they sat in the Caddie and Rico expressed his feelings for him in no uncertain terms. Along with the memory came a feeling, somethting strong and intense and focused on the man next to him.
His smile fading, he looked up at Rico with questioning eyes. "Rico... what's happened between us?"

In the car behind, Sweitek picked up the phone and dialed. Two cars in front, Castillo lifted the headset.
"Lieutenant, I think we have our detective back."

*

Rico watched, giving his partner the time and space that he needed. The doctors at the hospital had cleared him. The wound was very shallow. But scans had revealed the remnants of a blood clot. One that might have caused amnesia and mood changes. Now, they were back on Sonny's boat, and Castillo had finally told Crockett all he knew about the events of the last two months. He left out the details of the last two nights, leaving Rico to fill in those blanks. Something had happened, but he was not sure what. He was just happy to have Sonny back.

Martin left after Tubbs reassured him that he was safe, with Crockett and Burnett, for the time being at least. The doctors did not seem to think that there was any threat from Burnett now. Sonny sat at the other end of the boat. He was crying, silently letting his tears fall, grieving for the people he had killed and maybe even for himself.

After a long time, Rico went to sit beside his partner. Sonny glanced at him through red and swollen eyes. "You don't have to stay. You can't possibly want to be here."
There was such misery in his eyes it was heartbreaking. "You're my partner, Sonny, my best friend. I'm not going anywhere."
Sonny merely shook his head. "What have I done? What kind of person am I? How could I... do all that?"

Rico sighed. What could he say? He reached his hand up, silently rubbing his partner's back. Tears still ran unheeded over Sonny's cheeks, as he gazed out over the water. Memories had already begun to return. The doctor had warned them that Sonny may not ever remember everything about two months he was missing. But he had been having flashes all morning. Rico was just waiting for him to remember the previous night, dreading the reaction of disgust that was sure to greet the recollection.

The afternoon sunlight played on the water. Sonny tried to clear his mind, he did not want to think about anything. He was putting names to faces quickly, worried that it would all come back. Killing the cop on the marina was not something he wanted to recall. He could hardly believe that he had done it, even in self-defence. And what of the others? Manolo, Carrera, Gusto, countless other men caught in the politics of Burnett's rise through the ranks. Castillo had promised to protect him, sworn that a psyche exam would clear him for duty, once IAD had been dealt with.

IAD could not put him through the mental torture that he could force himself to endure. Every few minutes, a flash of memory, a sound or an image would be sent to the forefront of his mind as his brain tried to work out who he was and where he belonged. He jerked as he saw a dealer fall to the ground, blood pumping from a wound Burnett's gun had inflicted. So cold. He shivered, swallowing another sob.

Next to him, Rico sat quietly. Sonny knew his partner was trying to give him time to sort himself out. But he did not want time. Maybe he should take his gun and end it right now. It was less than he deserved. He glanced at the deep copper gaze of his best friend. How could he do that to Rico? What the hell was Rico doing here anyway? "Why are you staying with me? I'm a monster."
Rico shook his head defiantly. "I was with you in there for a while. You weren't a monster. You were confused, frightened. You were trapped in a place you did not know or understand and you were just trying to stay alive."
Sonny laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. "Right. That's why I killed all those people."
"If you hadn't, they would have killed you. Or you would have blown your cover and someone would have executed you."
"Cover?!" Sonny almost choked on the emotions cascading through his soul. "I wasn't under cover! I was living it!" He swiped at his face with his hand, convinced now that his tears were only for himself, and that he did not deserve the luxury of pity. "I want to be alone," he finally spluttered.
Rico did not move. "No, you don't. You need me here and I want to be here. I've lost you once, Crockett, I'm sure as hell not going to lose you again."

Sonny did not have the strength to argue. The pain in his friend's voice added to the guilt within him and he dropped his head, unable to stop his shoulders from shaking with the power of his cries.

Rico put his arm around his partner's shoulders and pulled him gently toward him, relieved beyond words when Sonny's trembling body finally came into his embrace. Sonny clutched desperately at Rico's shirt, burying his face in the expensive material. Rico held him, rocking slightly, soothing and calming him.
"Make it go away," Sonny begged him. "Let me die."
"No." Tubbs tightened his arms, hugging with all his strength. "I can't, Sonny. I can't let you leave me again." The easy tone of his voice did nothing to hide the intensity in his words.

It took time, but Sonny slowly came back into himself. He pulled away from Rico gently, finally understanding how much this had all hurt his partner. "I'm sorry. For everything. For going aboard that damned boat. For making you believe I was dead, and then for making you believe that I'd abandoned you. For shooting you in the alley. For leaving you on the pier. For being Burnett."
Touching his forehead to Sonny's, Rico nodded slightly. "Apology accepted. You're my partner. I have to get you to realize how much that means."
Sonny nodded, sniffling. "I do, Rico. Sometimes it's just difficult to believe you're still here, after everything I put you through."
"It's because I love you, man."

Those words. Those four words, 'I love you, man', bounced around in Sonny's brain, trapped in memory and freed by... by what? He could recall the time in the Caddie, Rico telling him to be careful because he owed him his life. Another image flashed unbidden into his mind. A damp, musky place, cool air, Rico standing in front of him with a briefcase saying something....
("Don't you recognise me?".... "It's me, Rico.")

Sonny pulled back further, and met his partner's eerie gaze. And he remembered more. A club, a woman's lone voice, deep and seductive, and a sax. And he remembered sitting across from Rico, looking into his eyes, holding his hand.... He swallowed hard as familiar feelings and emotions suddenly swept over him. "Oh, God...." His eyes widened, staring at his partner now. "You went in, didn't you? I remember us being in Lauderdale."

Rico fought to remain calm. Although Sonny's tone had been incredulous, this could end their partnership and their friendship in a moment. Inwardly, he cursed himself for not finding the restraint last night. Outwardly, he kept his eyes locked with Sonny's. "I was trying to bring Carrera down. You were his point man. We had a meet, in a lighthouse on the coast. When I got close to you, I could see that you were struggling, trying to hold it together. The walls they'd helped you erect were starting to crumble. I decided... to push you. I asked you if you recognized me, and you started to talk, then zoned out for a moment. Next thing I knew...." He tripped on his own tongue. What was he going to say? 'Next thing I knew we were lovers, you remembered me telling you that I loved you and you jumped to the wrong conclusion'.

He blinked, and Sonny was watching him with an unfathomable gaze. He did not have to say anything, Crockett already knew. "I had a flashback, saw you in a memory, and thought we were closer than we are. Didn't I?" Rico nodded. He could not find a voice to speak with. But Sonny was smiling, shaking his head, amused, it seemed, with himself. "So you held my hand, took me out for the night. God, Rico, that's what I call dedication." He wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

Rico continued to stare at him. Sonny would remember sooner or later. Better to end it now. Wasn't it? "That's not all." Sonny's eyes lifted again, the mirth still there, still so wonderful to behold amongst the pain and confusion. "I... don't know how to say this."
Rico shook his head, but Sonny was interested now. "Come on, Partner, we've done things before that were above and beyond. What did we do? Dance together? Made fools of ourselves on the dance floor of that club?" Rico's expression of horror mixed with acute embarrassment. "Come on, Rico. It's okay. It's me." His voice quieted to something softer, more intense. "Did we... kiss? A quick battle of tongues in a back alley?"
Tubbs closed his eyes, not wanting to see Sonny's face when he told him. "We slept together."

There was a long silence. Rico finally opened his eyes and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Sonny." Crockett had not moved or spoken. The initial shock of hearing the words had sunk in. Now the smile had spread over his face, tempered only by one worry.
"Did I... force you? Hurt you?"
Rico heard the tone, and looked up. He could not believe the expression he saw on his partner's face. "No..." he stammered, "no. Far from it, Sonny. We just... we left the blues club that you'd taken us to. In the car, we... we kissed. Once we got back to the house, there was just the two of us and it... it happened. I shouldn't have, but I did."
Sonny's eyes softened. He reached out tentatively and found Rico's hands, holding them lightly. "You were under cover. You have to do what it takes, I understand that. And I know that you wouldn't have hurt me."
Rico gazed down at their hands, part of his mind trying to sort out reality from what had gone before. "Oh, man." There was no easy way to put this. "Look, Sonny.... I'm not talking a quick jerk here."
Sonny's eyes widened, and so did his smile. He almost laughed. "Tubbs! What are you saying? A furtive blow job?" He chuckled, but his partner's expression suddenly told him what he needed to know. He swallowed hard. "Jeez.... Did I ask you to?"
"You... you asked me to make love to you." He shook his head. "Why are you taking this so well?"
Sonny was smiling again, his amusement prompted by his partner's obvious exasperation. "Rico.... We're partners, man. You were undercover, trying to save my sanity. I was the one that assumed we were lovers. How else would you have explained my memories?"
"I could have made something up!"
"Maybe. Maybe I wouldn't have believed you. Maybe I'd have killed you there and then."
"But I didn't have to take it so far.... I could have stopped it." He sighed, ashamed of himself now.
Sonny frowned. "Was it so bad?"
That got Rico's attention. "God, Sonny.... It was... it was incredible."
Grinning, Sonny ducked his head. This at least could be something good to come out of the nightmare they'd both been through. "Tell me about it."

Rico tilted his head, incredulous. "No. Sonny...."
"Please. You have the memories. I don't know if I ever will." Rico shook his head, but Sonny was determined now. "We shared something special, Rico. I want to know." Crockett lifted his partner's palm to his mouth, kissing it hesitantly. Rico's eyes watched his every move.
"We... were all over each other. I kept trying to stop myself, but... Sonny, man, you really can kiss." Crockett grinned, and Tubbs saw it. He understood that his partner's emotions would be askew, confusing him for the next few days until his brain sorted out what he would remember, and what would never return. Seeing him smile was a miracle. And that this was the subject amazed him.
"What was it like?"
"It was loving... hot... sensual."
Holding his partner's hand, Sonny shook his head slightly. "I wish I could remember it." He paused, but after everything that had been said, he wasn't sure that it was the time for hesitation. "Maybe... you could show me again?"

Rico believed his heart stopped for a moment. "Sonny.... That was Burnett, not you."
Crockett looked hurt, and the expression stung the other man. "You'd love him but not me?"
"No! God, no. I... I do love you, Sonny. But you're my best friend, my partner."
"So... what?" Sonny was confused. "You slept with a sadistic bastard, a man who tried to kill you.... Look, Rico, if you didn't enjoy it, I'll understand that."
Suddenly Rico was kneeling up before him, taking both his hands. "I loved it. I never imagined myself making love to you, but it happened. You seemed to want me, to love me, to need me."
Sonny's jade eyes locked to the copper ones. "Because I do." Rico stared. "You think they told me my name was Burnett and that alone turned me into a cold-blooded killer? They've already said that the head injury from the explosion caused the personality change." Rico nodded. "Why do you believe that me remembering one moment between us would make me love and need you... if I didn't already?"

The Miami sun started to duck behind the city. On the port side of a sloop moored at the Dade County Marina, two men sat together, kissing deeply.
Breaking for a breath, Crockett asked quietly, "Did you tell Burnett that you loved him?"
Rico smiled, and shook his head. "No, I told Sonny."

fin
elfin

*****

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