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(EXT: Cruz & Eden's Beach House)

----Cruz walks down the spiral staircase with his duffel bag in hand. Eden sits on the couch pretending to read the newspaper, obviously annoyed with him. He looks at her and smiles at her stubborness.

"OK, I'm headin out."

"OK. Bye."

"That all you're gonna say, darlin? Bye?"

"I don't see why I can't go with you."

"Heh-ho, we're gonna go through that again are we? I told you Eden this isn't some business trip- it could be dangerous..."

"All the more reason why I should be there. Or Vic. Or anybody besides you and Angel."

"We're gonna be fine, baby, you gotta trust me is all. These guys were pretty specific about how they want things to go down- and we got backup from the Embassy while we're down there. It's gonna be ok."

Eden complains that, once again, it's her husband that's plucked into the middle of danger. Cruz laughs a little at her frustration, which only further annoys her. He tries to make nice and kiss her, but she won't have it. He says that he owes this to Angel, that if it weren't for the investigation, his daughter wouldn't be in this mess to begin with. He reminds her of how they felt when Adriana was kidnapped as a baby and tells her to imagine how that would feel again now. Eden makes him promise not to be gone long and he assures her he'll be back before she knows it. He kisses her, which she allows this time.

"I'd better get going" he says, as he picks up his duffel bag and opens the door.

"Cruz?"

"Yeah darlin?"

She walks up to him and wraps her arms around him. "Be careful. Please. Be careful."

"I will. Try not to worry too much darlin. Take care of A while I'm gone."

"You call me the second you get there." she says, as he's getting in his car.

(EXT: LAS VEGAS, Nevada- Caesar's Palace)

----The hustle & bustle of the casino in Caesar's Place is shown, with bells ringing, coins falling, roulette wheels spinning and the usual excitement by the craps table. Keith is shown dressed in his suit and tie, sucking on a cigar and drinking his whiskey and coke. He's at the Black Jack Table, with Elizabeth seated behind him. The dealer is shown with a 6 showing, Keith having 11.

The dealer points at his cards and Keith doubles his bet, asking for a double down. The dealer hits him with a 10, the rest of the table stays and the dealer busts. He then begins shuffling the next shoe.

"Where did you learn to play like that?" Elizabeth asks him.

"My sister, Katie, actually. One of her boyfriends taught her and she turned me onto it. The trick is to keep in mind you're not playing for yourself, but rather, against the dealer."

"How old is she now?"

"Who?"

"Your sister."

Keith tells Elizabeth that his sister would have been 43 this year. Elizabeth realizes she passed and apologizes for bringing it up. Keith says for her not to worry, that he likes remembering her. The cocktail waitress brings them another round of drinks. They toast to being the hell away from Santa Barbara and its population.

"I'll drink to that" Elizabeth smiles.

They gulp their drinks down and Keith suggests they take in a show, as he orders them more drinks. Elizabeth remarks that she feels as though she hasn't stopped and relaxed since they got in town.

"This is Vegas, baby. There's no time for sleepin or relaxin- just drinkin and gamblin! Bartender! A couple of tequilas for the lady and I"

"Tequila? I haven't done a shot of tequila in years!"

"Scared?" He squints at her and smiles his devilish smile.

"Fat chance. I have to warn you, though, Mr. Timmons. I've out-drank man twice your size in my day."

Keith arches his eyebrows up and down at her and takes the shots from the bartender, giving Elizabeth a good laugh.

(EXT: Mason & Julia's House)

----Rafe works on the exercises with Samantha, who gets frustrated when she loses her balance. That frustration is quickly lifted when Rafe helps her up and they share a close moment. Unfortunately, they are interrupted as Mason walks through the front door. He is thrilled with the progress he sees Samantha has made and thanks Rafe for his efforts, apologizing to him for how he treated him after the accident. Rafe tells him not to worry about it, that he'd have reacted the same way if it were his own daughter. Samantha asks Mason if he's moving back home, but he tells her that won't be happening quite yet. He actually is stopping by to tell them he's going on a short trip. Samantha gets upset, and Rafe excuses himself, telling Samantha they're done for the day and Mason to have a safe trip.

"Where are you going? Does this have to do with her?" she asks him.

"If you're referring to Mary, then yes, it does. We've hired Pearl Bradford to dig up information on the Clinic where our baby supposedly died. He followed up on some leads and they all point to this nurse, Sherri Rhodes, in West Palm Beach. The three of us are flying out there tomorrow, hoping to talk with her and get the information we need."

Samantha admits she's upset, especially after his not being around for the holidays because of Mary. She asks Mason point blank if he's leaving her mother to go back to his ex-love. Mason insists he's doing nothing of the sort, but that he needs to find out the truth about his daughter, that he owes it to her.

"And what about me? What about mom? What about what you owe to us? Do we even count anymore?"

"Of course you do, Samantha, I love you with all my heart. You'll always be my little girl, no matter what happens with this child. I will always love you and your mother, you know that. This is just something I...I....have to do....."

Samantha is still annoyed but is unable to resist when Mason asks her for a hug and kiss good-bye. As they embrace, Julia arrives home. They see her and Samantha offers to go to her room, to give them some privacy. She heads upstairs as Mason & Julia share an awkward silence."

"How is your mother?"

"She's fine, much better thanks. I stayed with her for a while after you left, comforted her. She finally calmed down, after a little while, apologizing for having embarassed me. I told her that she hadn't, but......you know mother...."

"Yes, all too well. So what brings you by?......Not that I mind you stopping by to see Samantha, of course you're welcome to..."

"I'm actually here to see you."

"Oh? What about?"

Mason explains everything that happened with Pearl and the investigation. He tells Julia about Nurse Rhodes and explains that they thought it would be good for him to be present, with his law expertise, and Mary as well, since it would obviously be much tougher to lie to her in person. She asks him where they're going and he says West Palm Beach, FL.

"And how long will the two of you be away together for?"

"It's not like that Julia. We're not together."

"You're going to Palm Beach. She's going to Palm Beach. You're taking the same flight, staying in the same room I'm sure, I'd call that going away together...."

"We'll have separate beds....and Pearl's going to be with us......"

"He get his own bed too?"

"No, he's in his own room.........Julia, nothing's happened believe me and nothing's going to happen. I'm still committed to you, married to you."

"On paper, yes."

"No, Julia, in my heart too.....this is just something I have to do- my daughter could be out there somewhere, as much alive as Mary. I have to at least try to find her. Can't you understand?"

"I understand perfectly, Mason- I understand that you're setting yourself up for quite a fall.....for one thing, you don't even know for sure she's alive, for another........Mason, I hate to remind you of this, but we really have no way of knowing WHO her father is even if she is alive...."

"I know that, Julia, I do, which is why I have to find answers....."

"By all means, find them. Just be realistic, Mason- don't get caught up in a fantasy and have reality step in and tear it apart. Know what you're doing, but please, please don't set yourself up to get hurt..."

She opens the door and asks him to leave, telling him not to come back until he's resolved his issues- not only those he has with his daughter but his feelings for Mary as well. He looks at her and says good-bye. Noticing the hurt hiding behind her steely exterior, Mason runs his hand down Julia's face and bends down to kiss her passionately. He walks out the front door, with Julia peeking out the little windows on top, watching him go. She turns around and leans against the door, placing her hand over her mouth to silence the sound of her cry.

(EXT: LAS VEGAS, Nevada)

----Keith and Elizabeth are shown laughing as they walk out of the show, holding each other up. They continue to laugh as Keith lights up his cigar and orders a round of drinks from the bartender. Elizabeth mentions she'd like to freshen up but Keith tells her to hurry- that the night is still young.

(EXT: Cruz & Eden's House)

---Eden sounds off to Rafe about Cruz's trip to Mexico. Rafe comforts his sister-in-law, telling her Cruz can take good care of himself. Eden says that sometimes, that attitude is what gets him into trouble, especially when he's caught by surprise. Rafe assures her everything will go smoothly as Adriana arrives home. Adriana asks them what's going on and Eden fills her daughter in.

"What? We gotta go down there mom, we have to- someone has to make sure he's okay."

"We can't, baby, something like that could jeopardize Marta's situation and I won't do that. Besides, even though we now know these guys were after Marta, your dad still wants you sticking close to home. He has guys on the force watching you round the clock."

"Yeah, I noticed. I told one of em off when he actually had the nerve to double park next to me while I was using the ATM.....Seriously, mom, I don't know about this. Something's not right about the story you guys told me- something doesn't fit......Damnit, why can't I remember?"

"Don't beat yourself up, honey, like your uncle said, your dad can take good care of himself- he'll be back home with us before you know it."

She takes her daughter in her arms and comforts her, while sharing a concerned look with Rafe.

FLASH TO

Cruz & Angel, driving down the California highways toward Mexico.

FLASH TO

Mason, driving in his car back to Mary's suite, remembering the kiss he shared with Julia.

FLASH TO

Julia, sitting at home with Samantha, eating dinner alone together. Samantha takes Julia's hand in hers and offers a comforting smile.

FLASH TO

Bobby & Cisco, driving up the highway of Mexico, with Marta sleeping in the back seat. Cisco chews on a toothpick and smiles.

The screen splits with Bobby, Cisco, and Marta on one side and Cruz & Angel on the other. Cisco & Cruz speak simultaneously.

Cruz: They won't know what hit em. Cisco: He won't know what hit him.

THE END......................for the week!