Todd stared at them a minute, trying hard to control his feelings of panic. Very slowly, he pushed the door back and slipped outside. "That's right, Delgado," he said, locking eyes with Téa's brother. "I ruined your sister's life, so why don't you do your duty and get me out of here before I can do anymore damage?" Setting his jaw, he started toward the Chevy Blazer parked in front of the villa.

"Not so fast, Manning," said Del, putting a hand against Todd's chest and pushing him back. "See, when a cowardly dog like you suddenly stops running and starts begging for the leash it causes all the alarms to go off up here." He gestured to his closely cropped head. "After hiding out for a year and even staging a plane crash to cover your sorry ass, why are you so anxious to face the music?" His eyes sparkling dangerously, he lunged for his quarry, grabbing Todd roughly by the front of the shirt. "And why are you so eager to keep me away from my sister? What have you done to Téa?"

Todd pushed him away, immediately aware that two of the Federales had moved up on either side of him. "I didn't hurt her, at least not the way you mean." He shrugged, struggling for the right words. "Look, I'm just trying to do the right thing for once, for Téa and for my kid. Since it means I get locked up, I figured you'd like to help out." Del considered him warily, his arms crossed over his chest. Todd swallowed hard, biting his lip before he continued. "And…and you’re the only one I trust to…to take care of her…to make sure she gets home safely."

Shaking his head in disgust, Del turned and headed into the villa. "Yeah, right," he sneered over his shoulder. "I'm not leaving without making sure my baby sister is all right." Todd moved quickly, followed by the Federales.

"That wasn't the deal, Delgado," said Todd angrily, reaching for Del's shoulder. Two of the armed officers grabbed his elbows and roughly jerked him back. He struggled a moment, subsiding when he realized it was an exercise in futility. "You swore you'd leave her out of it," he said through gritted teeth.

Del whistled softly as he checked out the opulent furnishings of the villa. "This is some hideout, Manning," he said, looking closely at a gilt-handled mounted sword. Ignoring the other man's distress, he took his time ogling the antiques. Without turning around, he continued, "I told you I'd do everything in my power to see that my sister doesn't face any legal fall-out for getting involved with you again. And my men are already working on getting her a new passport and making travel arrangements, just as we agreed. But I damn well didn't come all this way only to leave without seeing my sister." He started toward the stairs to the second floor.

"Don't," said Todd, held fast by his captors. "Don't wake her up." He kept his voice low, but the pleading tone was obvious. Del looked at him curiously as he began climbing the stairs. Suddenly he stopped, turned around and hurried over to where Todd and the Federales awaited him.

"And why should I trust you?" he asked getting right in Todd's face. "I saw that plane wreckage, Manning. You must have had a good laugh over that one, huh? Make all of us stupid cops think you were dead and we'd give up the search. Well, my sister could have been killed in that little stunt! And I'm still convinced you took her by force. You're awfully anxious to keep me away from her, and I have to ask myself why."

Todd's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You actually think I'd risk your sister's life on purpose?" he snapped. "That was no fake crash, Delgado. That was the real thing. We almost bought it out there in the desert. Téa saved my life, and now I'm trying to return the favor by getting the hell out of hers before I take her down with me."

"Well, we'll see what she has to say about that, won't we?" He looked at one of the Federales. "Hold him," he ordered as he turned on his heel and began to take the stairs two at a time. Todd watched in exasperation as Del began opening the doors to the bedrooms, looking for his sister. He opened his mouth to shout at him, but realized he would wake up Téa for sure that way. Biting his lip so hard it hurt, he forced himself to wait quietly with the Federales as Del reached Téa's bedroom.

The FBI agent stopped suddenly when he spied Téa asleep in the big bed. He stared a moment, then quietly entered the room. He stayed by her side for several minutes, watching her breathe, checking her closely for any telltale signs of abuse. But he could find none, and the crumpled bedding and scattered clothing told him more than he wanted to know about his sister's relationship with the man downstairs. There had been no force used here, no rape. For a minute, Del didn't know whether to be relieved or disgusted. Up until this moment, while deeply afraid for his sister, he had hoped that she had been taken against her will. It was easier than trying to figure out why she would betray him for a convicted rapist.

His face softened as he remembered the awful day that the plane wreckage had been discovered and he had feared that his little sister was lost to him forever. The Federales wanted to give up the search and had thought he was crazy when he had insisted on continuing in spite of all the evidence that Téa had perished in the desert along with the wanted man they were after. But Del's cop instinct had somehow told him that his sister was still alive, and he hadn't given up. The last two weeks had been hell, as he traveled the dirt roads of Baja looking for any sign that the fugitives had survived. He would probably still be out there, losing heart, if the surprising call from Todd that afternoon hadn't ended the search.

Looking at Téa as she slept with a contented smirk on her relaxed features, Del had to admit to himself that he wasn't all that surprised to discover that she had run off with Todd willingly. He had suspected all along that she still had strong feelings for her ex-husband, even though she insisted that she wanted to see him brought low. Well, it would just be a matter of time before Manning showed his true colors and hurt her, proving again that Téa just couldn't get it right when it came to love. Shaking his head in exasperation, Del looked with sadness at the young woman in the bed. "You never learn, do you, chica?" he whispered in the dark.

Making a decision, Del turned to the door. As much as it galled him to go along with anything Manning said, he had to agree that it would be best to vacate the premises before Téa woke up and caused a scene. He would wait to confront her on her latest folly until they were back in the States and had had a few days to cool down. One of his best men was on his way to handle her travel arrangements. Meanwhile, Del had other ways to vent his frustrations.

Todd watched warily as Del exited Téa's room and quietly closed the door. The FBI agent walked quickly down the hallway and descended the stairs. As he reached the bottom, his eyes narrowed when he spotted Todd. He didn't say anything as he approached.

"Well?" said Todd impatiently. He was wondering why Téa wasn't with her brother. He had expected to see her come flying out of the room after him. Nothing in Del's expression gave him any answers. Before Todd could react, Del raised his fist and rammed it into his stomach, doubling him over. He took another step forward, pulling his fist back for a follow-up blow, but he remained posed that way, trembling. He watched Todd holding his stomach and coughing, then slowly lowered his fist. When he had recovered a bit, Todd looked up at his tormentor, anger glaring in his eyes. He leaped toward him, but the Federales reached out and held him fast. "What was that for?" spat Todd. "What did Téa say?"

"She didn't have to say anything, Manning. You wreck everything you touch." He turned away, angrily pulling open his jacket and extracting some folded documents. "Let's get this over with," he said, spreading them on a nearby table and throwing a pen on top. His captors dragged Todd to his side, releasing him at a signal from the FBI agent. Still glaring, Todd picked up the papers and began leafing through them. "The extradition order. Your signature means you go back without appearing in a Mexican court."

"As long as it's on record that I'm going back voluntarily," said Todd, taking up the pen.

Del sneered. "It's in there, Manning, but don't think that's going to get you off. Not after I file all the additional charges against you when we're back in the States."

Todd looked at him with contempt. "Whatever," he spat, signing the document. Del snatched it up, checking it before putting it back in his jacket. He looked at Todd, a superior expression on his dark features.

"So satisfy my curiosity. You're hold up in these fancy digs, you manage to turn my sister to the dark side, you're out of here scot free to go anywhere you want. Why did you suddenly decide to play by the rules, Manning? What's your game?"

"Didn't you say it was time to leave?" said Todd, turning toward the door. The Federales blocked his way.

"And having seduced my sister and convinced her to buy more of your bullshit, why don't you want her with you now? You've never hesitated to hide behind her skirts and let her save your ass before."

"Look, Delgado. You got what you wanted, so let's go."

"Oh, c'mon, Manning. Humor me. Why are you so anxious to split before Téa wakes up?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that myself," said Téa, leaning over the railing from above. She was tying the sash to her robe. Todd's shoulders slumped in defeat as he watched her running lightly down the stairs to his side.

Eyeing the Federales, Téa pulled the robe tightly across her chest. She searched Todd's face for a moment before whirling to face her brother. "I'll take those papers, if you don't mind." She held out her hand, willing it to remain steady despite her emotional turmoil.

"It's nice to see you too, Little Sister," snapped Del, "especially since you're not lying dead in the desert like you wanted me to think."

"Del, I don't expect you to understand this. You have every right to be angry with me, but I'm not going to let you take out your disappointment on the man I love." He flinched at her words. "Now I want to look over those documents." Reluctantly, Del reached into his pocket and handed her the papers. The room was deadly silent as she flipped through the packet, quickly scanning the words. Finally, she reached the last page. With a deep sigh, she folded them up and handed them back to her brother. She turned around to face Todd. "It looks like everything is in order," she told him.

"Then we'll be on our way," said Del returning the documents to his pocket. "There's a plane waiting at Hermosillo to take Manning back, and I'm going with him. One of my men will be here in a couple hours to drive you, Téa. He'll get you on a commercial plane for the States."

"That's not necessary. Just give me a few minutes, and I'll go with you."

"No!" shouted Todd and Del simultaneously. Téa stared at Todd, her eyes wide with shock. Turning around to her brother she said, "Del, I need to speak to Todd…alone."

"We don't have much time," Del began, but after studying his sister's defiant stare for a moment, he added, "so make it quick." He gestured to the Federales, who spread out to cover all the doors to the room. Del went out on the front steps to wait, leaving Todd and Téa alone in the center of the room.

"Delgado, please," said Todd in a low voice. "Just let me go without a big lecture for once."

Téa swallowed hard. "Why didn't you tell me you had decided to turn yourself in? I might have been able to make a few calls, get some concessions from them."

"I didn't want to wait. I just want to get it over."

"But why don't you want me to go with you, Todd? I can help you through this." Although she was trying her hardest to keep control, Téa felt the familiar tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.

"Look, you keep telling me I have to clean up my own messes. I'm trying to keep you out of this. I've caused you enough trouble already." Todd's eyes dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes.

"Don't shut me out again, Todd. Let me be there for you. I want to help." Her voice was high and squeaky.

"Then let me go now, Téa. This is the only way I can do this, OK?" Téa could see the strain around his eyes. A long moment passed and despite all her efforts, two tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

"All right," she said finally, wiping quickly at her face. "I'll do as you ask…for now. I don't want to make things harder than they are."

"We have to go, Manning," prompted Del from the door. Todd startled at the sound of his voice. He slowly brought his hand up to lightly touch Téa's cheek.

"Thanks," he said softly, looking deep into her eyes.

"So, I'll see you at home?" she said, forcing a smile.

"Yeah. Home," he said a little wistfully.

"Now, Manning," said Del.

Téa looked at him angrily, sniffing back more tears. Returning her attention to Todd, she asked, "May I kiss you goodbye?"

Swallowing hard, Todd pressed his forehead to hers. For a moment, they remained that way, simply holding on to each other for comfort. Then their lips met, and for a brief instant they both forgot everything but the other. They clung on to each other tightly before Todd abruptly pulled away. Without another word, he turned on his heel and moved through the door. Crying openly now, Téa confronted her brother.

"If you hurt him in any way, Del, I'll never speak to you again."

"I'm not sure I care, Téa." Seeing the shocked look on her face, he softened. "Look, we have a lot to talk about, but this isn't the time or place. If he keeps a civil tongue in his mouth and cooperates, there won't be any trouble. You take care." Del went outside, followed by the last of the Federales. Téa went as far as the door, pulling her thin robe tight across her chest to combat the cool early morning air. She leaned against the heavy doorpost for support.

One of the officers yanked open the back door of the Chevy and gestured for Todd to enter. He hesitated a moment, glancing back over his shoulder at Téa. She mustered up a little smile, lifting a hand in farewell. He managed a quick wave in response before he was shoved into the vehicle. Téa watched as the rest of the policemen got in the car and the driver began turning around. She glimpsed Todd once more as he turned around and looked at her out the back window as they descended the hill. Téa stayed in place until she could no longer hear the noisy diesel engine.

Wiping away her tears, she went back inside the villa, slamming the door behind her. For a moment, she leaned against the thick wood for strength. "Home," she muttered to herself. "I'm going home." She looked around the beautifully decorated room, sniffing loudly, feeling lost and alone.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her spine and headed purposefully for the stairs. Home for her was where Todd was from now on, whether it was a crude desert shelter or an opulent villa; in Alamos, Mexico or Llanview, Pennsylvania; a penthouse or a jail cell. A few short hours before, Todd had promised to try to make her happy. Téa hoped he knew how well he had succeeded in the fulfillment of that vow. He had also promised not to push her away. OK, he needed a little work on that one. For her part, she had sworn that she would stick by him, no matter what. Now it was her turn to carry out her part of the bargain.

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