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OKDeanna's Passions Fan Fiction Forum > Luis & Sheridan Stories > Falling For You: Chapter Thirteen-Epilogue |
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Falling For You: Chapter Thirteen-Epilogue Posted By: OKDeanna - ezOP Posts: 276 Posted At: (10/19/02 7:38 am) Reply |
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Chapter Thirteen Sheridan wasn't exactly sure what she was going to tell Hal when he got on the phone. She hadn't spoken to him in about two years. But he had told her to call if she ever needed anything and right now, she was in need. She had to fix the mess she created and the only way to do that was to head her father and Julian off before they could destroy everything Luis worked so hard to build. She felt the tears start to well in her eyes, but she forced them out again. She would not become an emotional basket case right now. She had to help Luis. It was her fault he was in this mess in the first place, the least she could do is help him to get out of it. "Agent Freemen here." A gruff voice barked into the telephone. Sheridan smiled. Hal had always tried to seem tougher than he was. The truth of the matter was he was just a big 'ole softy. "Hal, it's Sheridan." "Sheridan?" He asked in surprise. "Are you in some kind of trouble?" She laughed at that. She was in trouble, but this call wasn't about her troubles. No, this call was about Luis' and what her father and brother were trying to do to him. "Actually, it's not me in trouble so much as me getting someone else into trouble." "I'm afraid you lost me there, kiddo." She smiled. "I'm afraid I let my Crane temper get the better of me and I cost a good man a whole lot of trouble he didn't deserve. You see I -" "Hold on a sec, Sheridan. Is this going to be a long story?" "If you want all of the details then yes." "That's what I thought. Are you still in Paris?" 'No, I'm at home in Harmony." "Okay, I'm going to catch a flight into Boston tomorrow and you can explain all this to me in person. How does that sound?" "That would be great Hal! It would be so good to see you again. It's been way to long." "Yeah, it has. Listen, Sheridan, I need to go. I have a meeting in a few minutes about a case I'm working on. I'll call you back later and let you know what time I'll be arriving. Take care and it was really good to hear your voice again, kiddo." "It was good to hear your voice to Hal. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." Sheridan placed the receiver back into it's cradle then turned to find Luis leaning against the fireplace with his arms crossed over his chest, eyeing her uncertainly. She couldn't tell what he was thinking at all. Of course, that was nothing new. He hid his emotions as well as she did sometimes. "What?" She asked walking toward him and stopping when they were about a foot apart. "Who is Hal?" Luis asked searching her eyes. "And what does he mean to you?" Mean to...? Oh good lord, surely he didn't think that she and Hal... Sheridan felt the laughter rise in the throat and she was powerless to stop it. When she saw the confusion on Luis face, she just laughed harder. The past few days had been so stressful it felt good to laugh again. "Luis," she said walking toward him, placing a hand against his cheek, and resting her other one on his chest. "I've known Hal for years. He's been like a second father to me. His daughter, Ashley moved to Paris about nine years ago and she and I became good friends. Hal came to visit her and that's how we first met. Ashley was killed a little almost three years ago. Someone broke into her apartment in Paris and she was shot once in the chest." "Hal and I lost touch afterwards because he was always working on a case and I was always traveling. But the last time I talked to him, a few months after Ashley's funeral, he told me if I ever needed anything to call him. So he was the first person that popped in my head and I know he is the right person to help us." "Oh," Luis said wrapping an arm around her waist and wiping away the tears she hadn't even been aware she'd shed. "You and Ashley were close, weren't you?" She closed her eyes and nodded. She could still see Ashley's beautiful angelic face as she told her good night and walked into her apartment. "We had gone to the movies that night. I drove her home and that was the last time I ever saw her." Luis pulled her head into his chest and rubbed his hands over her back. "I'm so sorry. I can tell she meant a lot to you." Sheridan nodded against his chest and let the tears fall. She didn't have to hide what she was feeling from Luis. She didn't want to. Not anymore. After a few more moments, she pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes then gave him a small smile. "Thank you Luis. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I thank god you came into my life." "Actually, He said with a wink and that brilliant smile that made her heart jump in her chest. "You are the one that came into my life or rather crashed into it. I was just there to catch you." "You've always been there to catch me, Luis, even when I didn't want you to. Now it's my turn. I'm going to fix this. I won't let Julian and Alistair destroy everything you've worked so hard to build. I won't." "Hey," Luis said placing his hands on both sides of her face. "You don't have to do this. You know Julian and Alistair won't be happy that you are going against them on this. In fact, they are just going to try something else. For some reason, they don't want us together." "But you forget, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald, I am too damn stubborn to let them get away with it. I won't let them keep us apart. I won't let anyone keep us apart. Not ever again" "God, I love it when you get that determined gleam in your eyes." Luis said placing a soft kiss against her lips. "Of course, I just love you period." "Good, because I love you too. In fact," she said placing her hands at the waistband of his black pants and pulling the tail of his shirt out. "I plan to show you just how much I love you right now." "Now that," Luis said placing his hands under her legs and picking her up of the floor. "is the best idea you've had all night." She giggled and looped her arms around his neck. "I thought you might like that." "Oh I do, Ms. Crane. I really, really do." * * * Luis kicked open her bedroom door then carried her toward the bed. Once there he released her so that she slowly slid down the length of his body. He groaned as her thigh brushed his arousal, then because he couldn't take not to touch her, he grabbed the edge of her white shirt and slowly pulled it from the waistband of her jeans. His eyes never left her face as his fingers slid button after button out until finally he was pulling the shirt down her arms and throwing it somewhere behind them. The moonlight coming in through the window provided him the perfect view of the two soft mounds straining against a white lace bra. He sucked in a deep breath at the sight of them. They were perfect and he knew they would be perfectly in the palm of his hand as if they were made for him. He gave her a seductive smile then sensuously slid his hands up the sides of her arms to the two thin bra straps on her shoulders. He leaned in and kissed her neck as one finger pulled the strap off her right shoulder. He kissed his way across her shoulder as his other hand slid the left strap down then he reached behind her, letting his fingers graze her back in a lazy circle, and unhooked the bra. He pulled back long enough to slid the bra down her arms then leaned his head down and took one hardened peak into his mouth. Sheridan arched against him and he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her to his mouth. She slowly started to run her hands up his chest, but the shirt he still wore stopped her from being able to touch him. He pulled back and allowed her to pull the shirt off. The moment it was free she ran her hands up his bare chest and lightly raked a nail of his nipple. He moaned in pleasure then covered her mouth with his own. The minute she parted her lips he slipped his tongue inside. Her explored her mouth with vigor and she did the same with his own. Their tongues met again and again, until he thought he would die with the need for more. Luis slowly lowered his hands to the button of her jeans and sighed as the button gave way easily, then he eased the zipper down. He heard her moan his name as his hands slid over her rib cage and underneath the waistband of her jeans so that he could slid her jeans and panties down her hips. Then he slowly picked her up into his arms, shucking her clothing from her ankles in the process, and gently laid her onto the bed. The moonlight cast a glow across her naked body and he couldn't contain the satisfied smile that formed on his face. She was positively breathtaking. That alcove hadn't allowed him to see her and it certainly hadn't allowed him the freedom to explore her body the way he wanted to. But he had that chance now and he planned to show her everything he had wanted to show her in that alcove. * * * Sheridan stared up at Luis and couldn't help but smile at the delicious view he provided. The man was just too sexy for words. She let her gaze travel up his well-muscled chest over his broad shoulders to his dark eyes filled with passion. She smiled and raised herself up onto her knees then reached for the button on his pants. She let her nails lightly rake his skin as she slowly slid the button out. She looked up and smiled when she saw he had closed his eyes. She knew he was having a hard time controlling himself. She could tell that by the way his hands were knotted at his sides. The fact that she had that power of him made her a little braver than normal. She slowly eased the zipper down and then she reached her hand inside to stroke him. The response was instantaneous. His eyes flew open and his hands shot out to grip her by the arms. Then he once again eased her down onto the bed and quickly shed the rest of his clothing, making sure to get the small foil packet out of his wallet so he could protect her. She had to suck in a breath at the sight of his magnificent body. She remembered the day she had caught him in the locker room at the youth center and had to smile because now she didn't have to hold back. She could touch him now, the way she wanted to touch him then. Sheridan held out her arms to him and he came willingly. They both groaned as flesh met flesh and his hard body met her soft one. The alcove hadn't given them enough room to truly enjoy each other's bodies, but that had that room now and she planned to take full advantage of it. She ran her hands over his back loving the feel of his warm, skin underneath her fingers. She knew she would never tire of touching him or loving him. He was a part of her - body, mind, and soul. She arched her back as Luis started to kiss a path from her neck to her breasts. His hands ran over her stomach toward her spine. Then he was pressing her into him as his mouth closed over one hardened peak. She wound her hands in his hair and held him to her, loving the pleasure his mouth was giving her. When his teeth lightly nicked her, she couldn't help but cry out. He was driving her over the edge quicker than she could have ever imagined. After Luis gave her other breast the same sweet torture he'd give the first one, he started to kiss his way down her stomach. His tongue slid into her belly button and she moaned with the need for more. He gave it to her when his hands slid down her stomach and over her hips to bring her to his mouth. When his lips closed over the sensitive flesh between her thighs, a thousand tiny electric shocks coursed through her body and she almost climaxed right then. Luis must have realized how close to the brink she was because he suddenly pulled away and reached for the condom on the bedside table. Then after he had rolled it on, he lowered himself onto her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and then had to bit her lip to keep from crying out as he entered her. He filled her completely and she knew she had never felt anything so right in all her life. She raised a hand to his face and wasn't surprised at the tightness she saw there. She knew he was as close to losing control as she was. He finally began to move within in and she instinctively found the rhythm. They both lost control quicker than they planned to. The sheer force of the climax that racked her body left her drained. She had never felt anything so strong and so powerful before. She wasn't surprised Luis had the power to give her that though. She had always known he would. She had always known they had this kind of passion between them and she knew without a doubt they always would. Chapter Fourteen Luis slowly opened his eyes the next morning and found Sheridan sleeping peacefully in his arms. She looked like she belonged there, which of course in his opinion she did. He didn't think he would ever tire of looking at her. He broke out into a satisfied grin as the memories of last night came flooding back to him. Who would have thought he would fall in love with a Crane? Then again, Sheridan wasn't like the rest of the Crane's. She had a good heart and that's why he loved her so much. She cared what happened to people. She didn't use her wealth and the power of the Crane name to hurt people. She did the opposite actually. He still couldn't believe it had taken him so long to see that. He had automatically assumed she was just like the rest of her family when he should have given her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe if he had it wouldn't have taken them so long to get together. But then Alistair and Julian had certainly had a hand in keeping them apart. He still couldn't believe they had actually hired someone to impersonate him. Granted, he didn't have any proof of that, but it was the only logical explanation. The man that had impersonated him that night on the wharf had taken Sheridan's worst fears and made her believe they were coming true. The only way he could have known that would be if someone close to her had given them the information. And he knew the only people that would know that about her were people she trusted... her family. He ruled Ethan out because he had seen how much Ethan cared about Sheridan and his instincts told him he wouldn't hurt her that way. The same thing could be said about Ivy. She seemed to self-involved to really care what happened between him and Sheridan. So that left only one logical conclusion... Either Julian or Alistair or both of them had been behind it. He knew they were capable of anything. He still believed they were behind his father's disappearance and they... God, he thought removing Sheridan from his chest and rolling out of the bed, how could he have been so blind? Why hadn't he realized it sooner? The Martin imposter... He had always believed Julian was behind that. Again he couldn't prove it, but he knew it was true. They had hired someone to impersonate his father and now they had hired someone to impersonate him. The only question was why? Why would they feel the need to keep him away from Sheridan? Was it because they thought him not good enough for her or because they were afraid, afraid he would find out what really happened to his father the night he disappeared? He had no doubt that the two imposters and them wanting to keep him and Sheridan apart were somehow connected, he only prayed he could find out how. He reached down, grabbed his jeans off the floor then pulled them on, and zipped them up. He walked toward the doorway and was just about to walk through it when Sheridan called his name. He turned to see her setting up in the bed, holding the sheet around her chest, and reaching toward the lamp on the bedside table. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't meant to wake you." Light suddenly illuminated the room and his breath caught his throat as she turned toward him with a smile. Her eyes bright and clear with love. "That's okay. You looked pretty intense a few minutes ago, as if something was bothering you. Want to talk about it?" Luis sighed then walked toward the window and looked out at the cloud filled morning sky. It looked like it was going to storm. He wondered if it was symbolic. His gut was telling him that more trouble was coming. He wasn't sure if it was from the Cranes or from the drug cartel that was still after Sheridan. He just knew he had to be on guard. Now that they had finally admitted their feelings to each other there was no way he was going to take any chances. He was going to stick to her like glue. He'd have to talk to Sam about either taking some time off so that he could protect Sheridan or him being assigned to guard her. He knew Sam would understand his position so he didn't think either one would be a problem. He heard Sheridan get out of the bed and wasn't at all surprised when she walked up behind him and placed a hand on his back. "Luis, what's wrong? You're starting to worry me." Luis turned slightly and wrapped his right arm around her waist. "Sorry, sweetie, I don't mean to. I was just thinking about everything that's happened the last few days. You know that you're still in danger, don't you? Antoine may be dead, but the drug cartel isn't. They could have already hired someone else by now. And then there is this possibility of someone going around impersonating me. I'm almost positive your family is behind it. You know in the last eight months this is the second imposter we've had in Harmony." "Oh my god." She said raising a hand to her mouth. "Martin. The Martin imposter. I can't believe that didn't occur to me sooner. Luis, do you still think Julian and my father was behind that?" He nodded. "Yeah, I do. I think both imposters are connected to the same thing -" "Your father's disappearance." Sheridan said finishing his sentence. "So you what? You think Julian hired someone to impersonate you because maybe we were getting too close?" "It crossed my mind. They never made a secret of the fact that they didn't want us together. If they hired someone to impersonate me there has to be more to it than simply not believing I was good enough for you. My gut tells me it's more." "Well, if there is one thing I've learned it's to trust your gut instinct. It's saved my life more times than I can count." "So" He said raising a brow at her. "You finally admit that, do you?" "Yes," she said smiling and wrapping both her arms around his waist. "I finally admit it. I know I wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for you and your gut instinct." "Yeah, well, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you and your quick thinking yesterday. Did I tell you how proud I was of you?" He asked looking down into her bright crystal blue eyes, eyes that always seemed to be able to see straight to his soul. "Um, I don't think so. But if you did that's okay. I rather like hearing that you're proud of me. I was so scared, Luis. I've never been as scared as I was when he aimed that gun at you. I -" "Shh," he said placing his left forefinger over her lips. "It's okay now. I'm fine. We're both fine." She nodded as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. He raised his finger and wiped it away. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Everything will be okay. I promise." "Oh, Luis." She said placing her head against his chest. "I'm just so tired of being scared. I know the drug cartel is still after me. I know that. I get that I'm still in danger, but now we have so much more to lose. They went after you to get to me, Luis. They almost killed you because of me. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Luis. I -" "Hey," he said pulling back and taking her by the arms. "I won't let anything happen to you or to me. I plan to be around a good long while. I won't let you get rid of me that easy, Ms. Crane. I plan to stay by your side until we're old and gray." "Is that right?" She asked breaking out into a small smile. "That's right." He said with a grin. "But I guess I'll have to marry you so no one accuses us of living in sin." "Mar... Marry?" Sheridan asked with wide eyes. "You want to marry me?" "Of course, I want to marry you." He said taking her face in his hands. "I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So what do you say Ms. Crane? Are you ready to become Mrs. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald?" * * * Sheridan closed her eyes as the tears started to fall down her cheeks. All her life she had waited for someone like Luis. Someone that would love her for her and not her money or the Crane name. But how could she marry him? There was still so much that he didn't know about her. So much, he wouldn't understand. So much, she didn't even understand. The nightmares that had plagued her as a child flashed in her mind and she wondered if her father was right. Would Luis still love her if he knew what she had done? Would he still love her if he knew she had possibly murdered his father? He already believed someone in her family was responsible. What would he do if he knew that someone could easily be her? She pulled away from him suddenly realizing that he needed to know. She turned to stare out the window, not wanting Luis to see the pain on her face. She would never be able to get through what she was about to tell him if she had to look at him. "Luis, I... I can't marry you." She heard his quick intake of breath, but rushed on before he could say anything. "It's not because I don't want to. God, I want to marry you more than anything in this world. But I can't. Not until you know..." "Not until I know what?" Luis asked coming up behind her and turning her around to face him. "What do you think I need to know?" She opened her mouth to tell him, but the chiming of the doorbell pierced the air before she could. Hal, she thought glancing at the clock on the bedside table. His plane had landed about over an hour ago. When she woke up, she hadn't looked at the clock. She had been to concerned by the intense look on Luis face to even think about what time it was. She looked up and her eyes locked with Luis'. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Then he nodded and closed his eyes. She felt the loss immediately. "I'll get the door while you get dressed." She swallowed hard then nodded. They would have to continue their discussion later. She would tell him about her nightmares. She would tell him about her fear that she had killed his father. She would tell him all of it and if by some miracle, he still wanted to marry her then... She shook her head, knowing full well he wouldn't. When he found out she could be the one that took his father away from him, he wouldn't want anything to do with her, unless of course it was to throw her in jail for murder. Chapter Fifteen Luis grabbed his white T-shirt off the floor and quickly pulled it on before walking into the living room to answer the door. He couldn't help but wish Agent Freeman or whoever the hell was at the door would go away. He had a feeling that whatever Sheridan had been about to tell him was important. He still couldn't believe that he had actually proposed to her. He hadn't meant to. The words had just tumbled out before he had time to think about what he was even saying. But as soon as they were out, he knew he meant them. He did want to marry Sheridan. He wanted to marry her more than he ever wanted anything in his life, but she had turned him down. He didn't think he'd ever forget the pain that stretched across his heart when she told him she couldn't marry him. Sure, she'd said she wanted to, more than anything in the world she'd said, but something was holding her back. Something she felt would change things between them. He'd noticed the sadness and regret in her eyes and his gut said whatever put it there was something she thought he wasn't going to like. What could be so bad? She had admitted she loved him. She had admitted she wanted to marry him and yet she said she couldn't not until he knew. Not until he knew what? He thought he knew everything he needed to know - he loved her, she loved him. What more could he possible need to know? Luis ran a hand through his black hair then made his way toward the door and threw it open. The man standing on the porch had his back to the door, but when he finally turned and their eyes met, Luis had the distinct impression they had met before. He wasn't sure where or when, but he knew they had. There was a spark of recognition in the back of his mind, but the memory was fuzzy and distant. He shook his head figuring it would come to him eventually. "Can I help you?" "I suppose you can." The man said nodding and holding out a hand. "I'm FBI Agent Hal Freeman and I'm here to see Sheridan Crane." Luis took the pro-offered hand and eyed the man in front of him carefully. Although he knew logically there was no way they could have met before, something kept telling him they had. "I'm Officer Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald of the Harmony Police Department. Why don't you come on in. Sheridan will be out in a minute." Luis searched the other man's eyes looking for something, something that would tell him that his hunch was right. But he found nothing. In fact, there was absolutely no trace of emotion on the man's face and that's what had Luis wondering. It had him wondering if maybe he was trying to hide something. The man raised a brow and Luis realized he was still standing in the middle of the doorway preventing the other man from entering. Luis shook his head and stepped back away from the door. "Sorry, I don't know where my head is at." "Don't worry about it." Agent Freeman replied stepping inside and going to stand in the middle of the living room. Luis watched as he surveyed his surroundings almost as if he recognized the place, which was odd considering Sheridan said she hadn't seen him in over two years and Sheridan had only been in Harmony for a year. Luis started to ask him about his hunch that they had met before, but Sheridan appeared in the doorway before he could. Their eyes locked instantly, but before Luis could so much as blink her gaze skittered away to the other man in the room. If she hadn't told him she thought the man to be a second father, he would have been extremely jealous of the light that suddenly lit her eyes when she looked at him. "Hal," She said practically flying across the room into the other man's open arms. "I've missed you so much! It's so good to see you." "It's good to see you to, kiddo. It has been way too long." Agent Freeman said smiling and pulling back to look at her. "You changed your hair. It used to be longer." "Yes," She said her face lighting up with joy and laughter. "I cut it last year, right before I came back to Harmony. I should have known you would notice that. You always noticed those kinds of things. Must be that FBI training." As Sheridan led him over to the couch and they sat down, Luis suddenly felt as if his presence had been forgotten. He certainly didn't like the feeling. In fact, it bugged the hell out of him. * * * Sheridan could practically feel the tension running through Luis as he handed her and Hal a cup of coffee then sat down in the chair across from them. He'd gone to make the coffee not even a minute after she and Hal sat down. He said he wanted to give them some time to catch up, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than that. He had seemed preoccupied ever since she came into the room. She knew their conversation earlier had to be weighing on his mind. He had, after all, proposed and she had told him no. Did he believe her when she said she wanted to marry him, but felt she couldn't? She hoped so. She would give anything to become his wife. But she had to be honest with him first. He had to know about her past... about her nightmares. She sighed inwardly then forced herself to continue listening to Hal. He was currently telling them about a case he had worked on a few years ago. She wasn't really paying any attention to the details though. She kept glancing at Luis out of the corner of her eye. She felt a touch of disappointment when she found that he wasn't looking at her, he was looking at Hal. Much the same way he had been doing for the last hour and a half. Actually, he wasn't looking at Hal so much as studying him. He was studying him almost as if he didn't trust him, which was as odd as it was crazy. Hal was one of the most trustworthy men she knew. But evidently Luis didn't see that. He was in cop mode again, she could see it, but she didn't understand the reason for it. How could she? It didn't make any sense. Especially considering the fact that Hal had just agreed to make sure the charges against Luis weren't reinstated. Not to mention agreeing to make a few phone calls and see if he could find out anything about Luis having a lookalike. He was trying to help and Sheridan just didn't understand why Luis didn't look the least bit grateful. * * * Luis studied Hal over the rim of his coffee cup. He still couldn't shake the feeling that he knew the guy from somewhere. But where, he thought furrowing his brow in confusion. From what he said, this is his first trip to Harmony, and Luis found no reason not to believe him... except for the feeling that said Agent Freeman wasn't being entirely truthful. He saw Sheridan look at him out of the corner of her eye, but he didn't address it. He was too busy concentrating on the man sitting beside her. For some reason, he felt he should keep an eye on him. But that didn't make any sense. Sheridan had said the guy was like a second father to her and from what he had seen, Hal thought the world of Sheridan, but something was still gnawing at him. Something was telling him that Agent Freeman was not who he appeared to be. "Sheridan." Hal said interrupting his thoughts. "I really need to get going. I have a case in Chicago that needs my attention. I'll look into what you've told me today and I'll see what I can find out." "Thank you, Hal." Sheridan replied as she and Hal stood up. "We would appreciate that very much." Luis scowled at the use of 'we', but masked it quickly when Hal turned to him and held out his hand. He stood then shook the man's hand. "It was nice meeting you, Luis." Hal replied in a friendly tone, too friendly if you asked Luis. It was almost as if he knew Luis didn't trust him and was trying to make him look bad for it. "Take good care of Sheridan, I wouldn't want anything to happen to her." Something in the way he said that set Luis' teeth on edge. "I plan to take excellent care of Sheridan. Nothing is going to happen to her while I'm around. You can count on that." Hal nodded then turned and started walking toward the door. Sheridan followed right behind him. "Good. I'll let you both know what I found out." Luis watched as Hal gave Sheridan a big hug. A second later, he was gone and Luis was left alone with Sheridan. He planned to ask her some questions about Hal, but first he wanted some answers to his questions about them. The first one being, why she had turned down his proposal. * * * The minute Hal was a safe distance away from the cottage he pulled out his cellphone and punched in the now familiar numbers. "It's me. I just thought I would check in." He listened to the less than pleased man on the other end of the phone then shook his head and began to relay what he had learned. "No." Hal said answering the question the man on the other end of the phone asked. "She said she wants to make sure the charges aren't reinstated. Yes, sir. I'll take care of it." Hal quickly disconnected the call then took a quick look back at the cottage. Sheridan was a good person and she didn't deserve the trouble she had gotten herself into. The cop seemed like a good guy too and he obviously cared very deeply for Sheridan, which would only lead to trouble - for all of them. Chapter Sixteen Sheridan stared at Luis standing just on the other side of the room. His eyes were dark and unreadable, but she knew him well enough to know something was weighing on his mind. She could tell by the tense way in which he held himself and she had a feeling she knew exactly what it was. Now that Hal had left he would want some answers as to why she had turned down his marriage proposal. She had no idea how she could tell him her fears without making him hate her in the process, but she knew she had to. She could never marry him without being completely honest with him. The only question was after she told him the truth would he still want to marry her. She took a deep breath as she waited for him to speak. She knew he was trying to find the best way to broach the subject, but she knew there really wasn’t one. The tension in the room escalated as he finally moved from his spot by the door and slowly turned to walk down the steps back into the living room. He stopped a few inches in front of her and as he did, the breath left her lungs. She knew the moment she had been dreading had finally arrived. It was time she told him about her nightmares, about her fear that she had killed his father. “Sheridan,” Luis said hesitantly as he searched her eyes. “I… I think we need to finish the conversation we had before Hal showed up. I need… no I deserve to know why you turned me down. You said you loved me and that you wanted to marry me, but you feel you can’t. I want to know why. Why can’t you marry me, Sheridan?” He looked at her with a mixture of confusion, hurt, and love. The love is the part that caused the tears to fall, the confusion is the part that caused her to hesitate, and the hurt is the part that caused her fall back against the couch and cover her face in her hands. How could she tell him without making him hate her? You can’t, a tiny voice in the back of her mind answered, you can’t because you know you deserve his hatred. You killed his father. You’re a wicked, wicked girl, Sheridan. No one will ever love you. The image of the body under the bloody sheet flashed in her mind and she got lost in the nightmare that had once again worked its way into her life. She looked down and started trembling in terror as she saw that her hands were no longer clean. In the next instant, she saw herself as a little girl standing in the middle of the living room in the Crane mansion staring at the floor. “I didn’t mean to do it.” She screamed staring at the blood on the white sheet that covered the body lying on the floor. “I didn’t mean to do it daddy! I didn’t mean to kill him.” Sheridan was so lost her memories of that night that she had no idea she was speaking aloud or that Luis had pulled her into his arms and sheltered her in his warm embrace. As the memories continued to surface, Sheridan let the horrible truth of that night spill out and when she was done, she told him her deepest darkest fear – her fear that the body under the bloody sheet was none other than his father, Martin Fitzgerald. * * * Luis sucked in a deep breath as Sheridan’s voice took on an almost childlike form then he stopped breathing altogether when she recounted the horror she witnessed all those years ago. She told him about playing in the living room when she was supposed to have been in bed. She told of how she’d had a toy that was supposed to open but wouldn’t and how she’d gotten her father’s letter opener off his desk and tried to open it. Then she told him of how she’d heard her father’s voice from the other room and being scared she was going to get into trouble. She told of how she’d hidden behind a curtain in the living room so he wouldn’t see her when he came into the living room a few minutes later. She had watched through a crack in the curtain as he picked up the phone and began to dial a number. She remembered hearing him say a name – Fitzgerald. Then she remembered how his voice had taken on an odd tone as he spoke to the man. “If only you had listened, Fitzgerald. If you had then it wouldn’t have had to come to this. No, you listen to me. Either you come here tonight or tomorrow I make life for you and your family a living hell. You know I can Martin and you know I will. Yes, I thought you’d see things my way. Take the back entrance. I’m in the living room… waiting.” She had closed the curtain as her father’s icy laughter filled the air. He had called for Julian to come into the living room and her brother had brought another man with him, a man she’d never seen before. She told him of how she had seen four men in the living room that night - her father, brother, and two other men, one of whom she had seen many times before. She told him how her father yelled at one man, the man she had seen before, and how he had threatened to take away all the man held dear – namely his family. Then she watched as her father pulled a gun from the pocket of his coat and aimed it at the man. Sheridan told him of how she screamed when she saw the gun and of how one of the men, the one she didn’t know had started to walk toward her. She told of how he’d walked up toward her and backed her up against the wall. The look on his face had scared her and when he reached for her, she’d raised her hand to hold him off and the letter opener she’d forgotten she’d had stabbed him in the chest. She felt the letter opener go deeper into his chest and the man had stumbled backwards in shock. That was when she had looked down at her hands and saw the blood on them. She heard her father asked “What have you done, Sheridan, what have you done?” After that she had passed out, but before she fell to the ground she heard a noise that sounded like a firecracker. Luis sat frozen for several seconds as that last statement played in his brain. Did it mean that her father had pulled the trigger that was aimed at the man? The man that quite possibly could have been his father? That seemed to be the way things were pointing, but it still didn’t sit right with him. Who was the other man Sheridan had seen that night? The one she had stabbed with the letter opener? What had happened to him? Had he died? And why was her father threatening his? It had to be something big for her father to want his dead and he had no doubt about that fact. But what was the secret and how could he find out about it? He pulled back slightly to look at the trembling woman in his arms and wondered if she knew what the secret was. If somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew the reason her father had threatened his and ultimately wanted him dead and if she did, how could he get her to remember it without causing her even more pain than she was already facing? Chapter Seventeen Sheridan listened as Eve explained the process of hypnosis. It sounded like a good idea, but she had her doubts. What if she learned she had killed Luis father? What would she do then? What would Luis do then? But then again what choice did she have? She didn’t have that many options left. Her nightmares were back and according to Eve, unless she faced them and found out their origin, she would never be free of them and she desperately wanted to be free of them. She was tired of them haunting her. Still she didn’t want to rush into something without first thinking it through. “Eve, I think I need time to think this over. I want to give it some thought before jumping into it with both feet.” “I understand, Sheridan. Why don’t I leave so you and Luis can talk this over? Then maybe you can call me with what you decide. Does that sound good?” “Yes, that sounds great.” Sheridan said unable to keep the relief from her voice. She was even more relieved when Luis took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. She sent him a grateful smile then turned her attention back to Eve. “I want to thank you for taking the time to come and talk with us. I’ll call you sometime tomorrow with my decision.” “Okay,” Eve said getting up off the couch and walking toward the door. “Good luck with making your decision.” “Thank you.” Sheridan replied as Luis helped her up off the couch and they followed Eve to the door. “I can’t tell you how much it means that you’re willing to help me uncover the source of my nightmares. I will think about all that you said.” “I hope that you do.” Eve said as she opened the door and stepped outside. “I really think that hypnosis can help you, Sheridan. Goodnight.” “Goodnight.” Sheridan replied watching as Eve turned and walked down the path toward her car, which was parked in front of the main house. Sheridan backed up intent on closing the door, only to meet the solid wall of Luis’ chest. His arms immediately wrapped around her mid section and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning in to his embrace. “I’m not sure about this hypnosis thing.” Luis said his warm breath hitting her ear. “Why?” She asked crossing her arms and threading her fingers with his. “Don’t you trust, Eve?” “Of course I trust her. It’s just…” He broke off suddenly, causing her to turn her head to look at him. There was seriousness in his eyes that caused her pulse to speed up in response. “She said that hypnosis could be a painful process. She said it was possible that these memories were so painful that you blocked them out because you were unable to deal with them. I’m just –“ “Worried?” She asked removing her hands from his and turning around in his arms. “You’re just worried about me? Is that what you’re trying to say?” “Yeah.” He said letting out a heavy breath. “As much as I want to know what happened that night, I’m just not sure it’s worth you’re going through the pain remembering that night is sure to cause you.” “But I know something about your father, Luis. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know what happened. Are you going to tell me that you don’t want to know what that is? Hypnosis may be the only way we can find out. If we don’t go through with it, we may never know.” “You sound like you’ve made your decision already?” He asked searching her eyes. She had. As soon as she looked into his worried brown eyes, she knew she had to do everything in her power to find out about that night. She and Luis would never be free to love each other if she didn’t. “I have. I think it’s the only way we’ll ever know the truth and I know how much that means to you. I want to do this for you… for us. I want to be with you more than anything in this world and I know we can’t be until we solve the questions in our past. Hypnosis is the only way, Luis.” He nodded then brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. “You have more guts than anyone I’ve ever met, do you know that?” “No, but I like the fact that you do.” He laughed then wrapped her in at tight embrace. “Let’s go back inside, Ms. Crane. I’ll fix us something to eat. My stomach is starting to make its unhappiness known.” Sheridan pulled back and smiled at him then allowed him to lead her inside the house. She closed the door behind them then followed Luis down the stairs toward the kitchen. Just as they pushed the door open to enter the doorbell rang. Figuring, Eve may have forgotten something she let go of Luis’ hand and started to make her way back to the door. “Hold that thought,” She said throwing him a bright smile over her shoulder then walking up the stairs and opening the door. She froze when she saw two uniformed officers standing on the doorstep. “Can I help you?” “Yes.” One of the officers, a sandy blond replied. “We were told we could find Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald here.” “That’s me.” Luis said coming up behind her and placing his right hand on the small of her back. “What can I do for you?” “Well for starters,” the dark haired officer replied reaching behind him to get something. “You can hold out your hands.” “I don’t understand.” Luis said staring at the cuffs the officer pulled out from the back of his belt. “Well let me make it simple then. You’re under arrest.” “Arrest!” Sheridan yelled unable to believe what she was hearing. “What the hell are you arresting him for?” “The kidnapping of one Ms. Sheridan Crane.” Chapter Eighteen “WHAT!” Luis asked unsure whether or not he heard the officer right. Those charges had been dropped months ago. Agent Freeman was supposed to have called to make sure they could not be reinstated. Had someone gotten things mixed up and thought he wanted them reinstated? He supposed that was possible. “I think there’s been some kind of mistake.” Sheridan said slowly. “FBI Special Agent Hal Freeman made sure those charges would not be reinstated.” “I’m sorry miss.” The blond haired officer said. “But the charges have been reinstated and we have a warrant to arrest Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald. Now please step back. We don’t want to have to arrest you for interfering with official police business.” “Well that’s exactly what you’re going to have to do.” Sheridan coldly replied. “Because there is no way I’m going to let you arrest, Luis.” “Sheridan,” Luis said knowing he had to calm her down before she did something he knew she would regret later. “It’s okay. I’m sure there was just some kind of mix-up. I’ll go with the officers and you can try to get a hold of Agent Freeman. By the time I get to the Boston police station, I’m sure everything will be straightened out.” “How can you be so sure?” She asked her eyes searching his as she took a step toward him only to be stopped by one of the officers before she got within two feet of where he was standing. “Miss, please. Let us do our job. I really don’t want to have to arrest you too.” Luis heard the jingle of the cuffs in the officer’s hands and he turned around then held out his wrists so the officer could place the cuffs on him. He didn’t want to get the officers in trouble. They were just doing their job after all. He heard the click as the officer locked the cuffs onto his wrists and knew he somehow had to appease Sheridan’s worry. The last thing they needed was for her to get arrested right along with him. “It’s okay, Sheridan. Everything is going to be all right. I promise.” Tears glistened in her blue eyes as the officer began to read in him his rights. He’d give anything to be able to hold her in his arms, but he couldn’t do that with the cuffs on. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one then one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?” “Yes.” He said turning his attention back to the officer. The look in officer’s eyes wasn’t one he expected to see and he sucked in a breath as a sudden patch of fear ran up his the length of his spine. Something wasn’t right here, but damned if he could put his finger on what it was. “Wait!” Sheridan yelled as the officers opened the door and started to lead him outside. “I’m going to call Officer Alvarez in Boston. Maybe she knows what is going on.” He turned and saw Sheridan pick up the phone, but then one of the officers spoke and the coldness in his voice had every hair on the back of his neck standing straight up. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Miss Crane.” Luis froze as the officer beside him put a gun up against his right temple. The barrel was cold against his skin, but not as cold as the blood that started pumping through his veins. He and Sheridan were in trouble. Big trouble. The only question was who were they in trouble from and how in the hell were they going to get out of it? CHAPTER NINETEEN Sheridan stared at the scene before her, her mind filled with questions and disbelief. The brown haired cop had a gun pointed at Luis' temple, but that didn't make any sense. Why would a cop not want her to call and make sure there wasn't some kind of mistake in the reinstatement of the kidnapping charges against Luis? Because maybe they weren't cops, her mind answered as her hand automatically dropping the phone she held. Her heart beat frantically in her chest and even before her eyes met Luis' she knew they were in serious trouble. She could see the same questions in Luis' eyes that were floating through her own. Who were these men? And why were the holding a gun to Luis' head and not hers? If they were hired by the drug cartel she knew she would have already been dead by now. No, these men were working for someone else. But who? And why did they seem to want Luis and not her? That didn't make any sense. Who on earth would want to hurt Luis? "Guys," Luis said in a voice that held only the slightest trace of uncertainty. "I think there's been some kind of mistake here. Why don't you put the gun away and we can discuss whatever it is?" "I don't think so officer. We have our orders and now unfortunately for Miss Crane we will have to include her in our travel plans." "Travel plans?" She asked swallowing hard as the sudden fear clutched her heart. "That's right, Miss Crane." One of the men replied with an eerie smile. "We're going to take a little trip. But don't you worry that pretty little head of yours. You'll just be along for the ride." Just along for the ride? What did that mean? Were they going to hurt Luis? Oh god, what was going on? She glanced at Luis hoping to see something that would tell her that everything was going to be all right. But then she met his eyes and when she saw the fear that she knew he hadn't meant to show her, her own fear escalated. The blond haired man approached her and gripped her arm a little rougher than was needed. She let out a small yelp of pain and Luis took a step forward only to be pulled back by the man that held the gun. He turned his head to glare at the man but only got halfway because that was when the man raised his hand and the butt of the gun connected with the side of Luis head. He crumpled to the ground and Sheridan let out a scream. "LUIS!" She yelled struggling to get free of the blond man's hold. It was no use. His grip was far too strong for her to fight it. She watched as the other man drug Luis outside and placed him in the backseat of a White Ford Taurus. Less than a minute later, she was placed beside him but before she could check on Luis, the blond man placed a pair of cuffs on her hands then secured the cuffs to the door handle. She glanced over her shoulder at Luis and knew there was nothing she could do to help him. She just had to pray he woke up soon and that together they could come up with a way to get out of this mess they suddenly found themselves in. * * * * * The sound of screeching tires jolted him back to consciousness and he barely had time to register the image of oncoming headlights as the two vehicles met head on. He turned toward Sheridan as she let out a bloodcurdling scream, but a second later her head connected with the window beside her, knocking her unconscious. As the two cars danced across the roadway, he saw his life flashing before his eyes and he knew even before he was thrown from the car that this was the last time he would ever see Sheridan. He hit the ground with a thud and when his eyes closed for the last time, he prayed that she knew how much he loved her. CHAPTER TWENTY Lights and sirens filled her eyes and ears but the only thing she could focus on was the black body bag lying on the ground a few feet from her. Her head told her who lay in the bag but her heart... her heart refused to believe it. He couldn't be dead. She would know if he were. Yet everyone told her it was so. Sam had identified the body himself and had already contacted Pilar. But still her heart refused to believe what her eyes were seeing and her ears were hearing. Luis was not dead. He couldn't be. They were supposed to be together forever, she thought wrapping her arms around her body in an attempt to fight the chill in the air. He wasn't supposed to leave her alone. What was she going to do without him? Ever since they first met, he had been an intregal part of her life and without him... without him she had no life. As the EMT's picked up the body bag and began to place it in the back of the ambulance, an image of Luis smiling down at her flashed in her mind. The image struck her in the heart but she refused to cry. Luis was not dead and no one could make her believe that he was. She didn't care. Luis was not dead. He could not be dead. She felt someone place a hand on her shoulder and she turned only to find herself face to face with a tearful Pilar. As Pilar pulled her into a tight embrace, the tears she refused to shed burst from her eyes. "He's not dead, Pilar. I would know if he were. He's not dead." "Sam saw the body, Sheridan. He said -" "I don't care what Sam said!" Sheridan cried pulling away from her. "I will never believe that Luis is dead. Not ever!" She ran toward the ambulance and before anyone could stop her she had unzipped the bag. There staring back at her was the scratched and bruised face of the man she loved. She felt a pair of strong arms pull her from the ambulance but her eyes refused to leave Luis. One of the EMT's began to rezip the bag and she heard herself scream for him to stop, but he didn't. She watched as two uniformed police officers closed the door to the ambulance as she struggled against the person that held her. The ambulance began to pull off and as the person loosened their grip, she broke free and ran after it screaming for Luis. Pilar and Sam caught up to her and both held onto her as the ambulance disappeared from her sight, taking a part of herself with it. Her knees buckled out from under her and as she collapsed to the ground, she thought she heard him call out her name. But she knew that wasn't possible. She knew... he was gone. EPILOGUE He opened his eyes and found himself staring up at a man he did not recognize in a place he did not know. A throbbing in his head caused him to try and raise his arm but it didn't make it far, the restraints that bound him to the bed wouldn't let him. "Wh...Where am I?" He asked his throat dry and hoarse. "You are in the hospital. You were in some kind of car accident a few weeks ago. You've been in a coma ever since. You were flown here to Paris last week. Do you remember what happened to you?" "No." He said staring up at the ceiling. "I don't remember anything." "Nothing?" The doctor asked looking somewhat worried. "What about your name? We were hoping you could tell us that much." "My name?" He asked furrowing his brow then grimacing when a sharp pain shot through his head. "Yes, the person that found you and brought you in found no ID on you. Do you remember your name?" "No." He said once again trying to raise his arms to his throbbing head. "How about the name, Sheridan?" The doctor asked searching his eyes intently. "Does that name sound familiar to you? You kept saying it over and over again when they brought you in. Does the name mean anything to you?" "Sheridan." He repeated allowing the name to roll off the end of his tongue. "No that name doesn't mean anything to me. Should it?" The doctor shrugged. "We don't know. All you said was the name. We assumed this Sheridan was someone you knew but... Well, perhaps your memory will come back to you once the swelling in your brain goes down. Perhaps then you will be able to tell us your name and who this mystery woman Sheridan is." "What if my memory doesn't come back? What then?" "We will have to cross that bridge when we come to it. But until then we need to come up with a name for you. Do you know of one you would like to use?" A name? Several names ran through his head but only one stood out to him. "Yes. You can call me Luis." "Luis it is then." The doctor said snapping the clipboard in his hands shut. "Well, Luis you need to get some rest. You will need your strength for your recovery. And try not to worry about your memory. I'm sure it will come back to you in time." With that the doctor disappeared out the door and left him alone to his thoughts and questions. He wondered if the doctor was right. Would his memory come back to him in time? He hoped so because he would really like to know who this Sheridan woman is and why her name had been the only one he had said upon coming to after his accident. But she couldn't be anyone important to him, he thought settling back against the pillows and closing his all of the sudden dreary eyes, because if she had been someone important to him he would have remembered her. Then again he couldn't remember his own name so how could he expect to remember anyone else's? As he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, he said a silent prayer that when he woke he would remember who he was and where he came from. And maybe just maybe when he woke he would remember who this Sheridan was and what exactly she meant to him. Hidden in my memory Away from conscious thought I can still remember The love we often sought I'm not sure how it happened Or if I even want to know But somehow I haven't forgotten The love we used to know It's all in my memory It's all in my mind And if I dig deep enough It's only a matter of time THE END Read the Sequel: A Hero For Hire Thank you for reading! Author of over 40 fan fiction stories, some of which include:
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