Maria was sitting with her mother, drinking iced tea in the warm July afternoon. She had been coming by every day to see her mother. It had been a week since everything had fallen apart in her family. Carmen had stayed away from both Ricardo and Antonio in order to give them time alone.

Antonio had visited his mother two days prior and the two of them tried to understand what the other had done, but ultimately, feelings had changed between them. Antonio needed time away from his mother and Carmen would give it to him. Where she had caused so much pain to her older son, her youngest son had also caused her pain. They needed space and each was willing to grant it.

Ricardo couldn't even look at his mother. His feelings for her had not changed. Maria knew it would take a very very long time for him to resolve his feelings of being betrayed by his mother as well. Carmen knew this and accepted it. She had no choice. She had been praying and would continue to pray that Ricardo might one day forgive her. The chances were slim, but she held on to hope and to God.

Maria seemed to be the only member of the family that everyone was talking to. She had spoken to Ricardo every day since the incidents and he didn't blame her for anything. In fact he understood her. She was grateful to have him in her life. She was the only connection Ricardo had at this point. He was cutting himself off completely. Maria had encouraged him to do so. Everyone needed their space and they would need it for a long time to come.

So Maria sat there at her mother's, drinking her iced tea, just having told Carmen what Ricardo had told her that morning. Carmen was once again staring off into space. This had been a common emotion for her to have in the week that had past. Maria set her glass down and went over to her mother. She got down on her knees and placed her hands on her mothers hands. She looked up and Carmen ,lovingly and gently, then caressed her face. "Don't worry Mama. Ricardo will be back. He needs time to heal and he can't do it here. We'll see him again, not for awhile, but we will see him again. You just keep your faith. He loves you in his own way." Maria kept her eyes on her mother as Carmen turned to face her. Carmen's tears broke Maria's heart and she immediately hugged her mother. As much as Carmen deserved to suffer, Maria could not stand to see her cry. She loved her family and the pain would have to continue for now……

Antonio was at the mission, clearing his desk and all of his belongings from the office he had occupied for a long time. He had been thinking long and hard in the last week and knew still that he was making the right decision to leave the priesthood. It was not the place for him any longer. He stopped packing for a moment as his thoughts took over. He reflected on the past week. He had seen Gabi everyday since the confrontation he and Gabi had had with Ricardo. She was an emotional wreck. She had gotten her job back at the station and that was the only thing that kept her mind off of everything that had happened. Even the job couldn't erase the bad events but at least they lessened the pain if only for a brief while. Thankfully, Ricardo had taken time off. He had disappeared somewhere, not telling anyone where he had gone off to. The only person he had told was Maria and Antonio didn't even ask. His brother needed time away from everyone and he was going to give him that. Antonio had spent the last week clearing his things from the mission and saying his goodbyes. People were still shocked at him wanting to leave the priesthood but they wished him the best.

He would meet Gabi for dinner after they were both done with work and head to a location outside of Sunset Beach. Instead of eating, they would mostly spend their time talking the night away. It would always end with both of them crying into each others arms over what they had lost in Ricardo.

"Penny for your thoughts."

Antonio had been a such a daze he hadn't heard him come in. He quickly turned around and standing before him was his brother. They both stood in the office, staring at each other. Neither knew really what to say. Neither really knew if there was anything left to say. Ricardo broke the uncomfortable silence and walked over to him.

"Looks like your packing. Going somewhere?" Ricardo seemed genuinely interested in what Antonio was doing.

Antonio attempted a smile. "Yeah……….I quit." His eyes were everywhere. He couldn't seem to focus on Ricardo at all.

"I know. Maria told me you were leaving the priesthood." Ricardo kept trying to make eye contact as well but he found he found it just as difficult as Antonio did. "That's big news……..what are you gonna do now?"

"I have some ideas. Maybe I should finally use my degree. Afterall, I went to UCLA. That should serve for something now.

I don't know." He laughed nervously as he attempted to a half hearted joke. He cleared his throat before starting again. " I rented a room above Shockwave. Hank and Joan had a vacancy so I figured I'd hang out there until I figure out my next move."

Ricardo's eyes raised up slightly at hearing this piece of news and he cracked a small smile. "Paula lived there." He became serious again before continuing. "You'll like it, it's a cute apartment."

The tension was thick between them. They kept shifting from one foot to another every so often glancing nervously at each other. Ricardo had come to see his brother to tell him something. He didn't even know why he was there, but he felt he had to see him. Antonio caught on and decided to probe his brother.

Otherwise they would beat around the bush, and he couldn't take the uncomfortable glances and silence anymore. "Rick……….why did you come to see me?" He was scared at what Ricardo might tell him, but he did well in guarding how he was feeling.

Ricardo looked down at the floor again, continuing to shift from one foot to another before finally looking at Antonio straight in the eyes. "I'm leaving Sunset Beach for awhile." Antonio looked at him with complete surprise. "The chief asked if I would be interested in participating in a sixth month program in Miami. There's about 20 officers with specialties from across the country who will be joining too.

She asked me so, I thought why not……it'll look good on my resume." He chuckled lightly and then looked over at his brother uneasily.

Antonio didn't know what to say to him. He just kept looking at him trying to get the right words out. He felt a rush of love for his brother. He didn't want him to go. He wanted to try and make things right still but deep down he knew that was impossible. "Ricardo...I...why are you...don't ...let's talk about this." Antonio felt a pang of anguish and it showed.

"There's nothing to talk about." Ricardo said softly. As much as Ricardo wanted to forgive his brother, he couldn't and merely looking at him brought back feelings of hurt again. He didn't even really know why he was there, but he had somehow ended up at the mission……to talk to Antonio. "Don't you get it?" Ricardo started to choke up a little. "I can't be here. I can't be around you. And I can't be around Gabi." He stopped for a second after saying her name. He missed her terribly but he quickly regained his composure.

"There's a lot I need to work out. Hell, I don't know if I'll ever be able to work all these things through but…….. I have to try……alone." He was overcome with emotion but hid it excellently from Antonio.

"What about Gabi? Ricardo……..you love her, she---"

"Yeah well you love her too!!" Ricardo spouted this out without even thinking. He stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. He looked at his Antonio again."It doesn't matter what kinds of feelings I have. It doesn't change the fact ………it just doesn't matter right now."

He was upset and Antonio didn't want to instigate his brother anymore. He had already put him through enough already. "Ok I understand." It was all Antonio was able to say to say out loud.

There was so much Antonio still wanted to say to him. He wanted to apologize for the fight they had had. He wanted to apologize for lying to him. Most of all he wanted to apologize for Gabi. He had ruined his friendship with his brother and there was nothing he could do to remedy it. What he had to do was allow Ricardo the time to heal. All of the Torreses needed to heal. The wounds were still fresh and open and they would not be closed any time soon. He hoped Ricardo could read his thoughts because all he managed to say through misty eyes was, "Take care of yourself."

Ricardo gave his brother a forced smile before walking to the door to leave.

"Ricardo?" Antonio spoke softly, his voice cracking at this point. "Do you think…….do you think time heals?" This was a question he had wanted to ask from the moment Ricardo had discovered his betrayal. He hadn't had the guts to ask until now. Ricardo opened the door and looked back gently at his brother. He didn't know the answer to that question, but had a good response nonetheless.

"God……..I hope so." He took one last look at Antonio before leaving the mission…….