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OKDeanna's Passions Fan Fiction Forum > Luis & Sheridan Stories > A Hero For Hire: Chapter Eight - Fifteen *FFY Sequel* |
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A Hero For Hire: Chapter Eight - Fifteen *FFY Sequel* Posted By: OKDeanna - ezOP Posts: 278 Posted At: (10/19/02 7:43 am) Reply |
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CHAPTER EIGHT Julian studied his sister, watching as her eyes widened in surprise when she took in the empty room and the open window. He knew someone had been in here tonight and he had the strangest feeling that his father had been right... It was Luis. It would have been so much easier had he really died in that car accident, but no.. no the thorn in their side had to have nine lives, much like his sister did with the drug dealers that kept trying to kill her. If they weren't so mismatched socially, they really would be the perfect pair. He shuddered at the thought of a member of Lopez-Fitzgerald clan mergering with the Crane genes. It would definitely not make for good breeding. Why couldn't his sister and even his own son, realize that fact? What in god's name did they see in the Lopez-Fitzgerald's? He could see Ethan having some hot torrid affair with Theresa and Sheridan with Luis, but thinking themselves to be in love? Preposterous! The Lopez-Fitzgerald's were not in the same league as a Crane and they certainly didn't deserve all the trouble they were having to go through to get rid of them. God, he thought rubbing a hand over his face, if father had done what he threatened Martin with years ago, none of this would be happening now. Of course, it was partly his fault that they hadn't. He just didn't see the need for killing people back then, but he was fast seeing a need for it now. Maybe if they found Luis before he returned from the dead, they could really place him there. No one would ever know. After all, you certainly couldn't kill a dead man. * * * * * Sheridan turned away from the window and glanced at her brother then shivered at the cold as ice look that crossed his face. It was not a look she had seen before and the fact that she was seeing it now was unsettling her in ways, she couldn't even begin to name. There was something almost... almost dangerous about that look on his face. As if he could... as if he could easily kill someone. She swallowed hard then eyed her brother more carefully and tried to figure out why he suddenly seemed like another person to her. She always knew he was ruthless to the core, but the coldness on his face now went beyond ruthlessness and she had to admit it scared her. He looked more like their father right now than she had ever seen him look and that was enough to terrify anyone, but it especially terrified her. "Julian," She started only to freeze when his cold eyes swung in her direction. She took a deep inward breath then steeled herself not to be afraid. He was her brother. There was absolutely no reason she should be afraid of him. But even as she finished the thought, she unconsciously took a step back away from him. "Wh... What are you doing here? It's late and you normally don't visit me." "Well," Julian hedged glancing back at the window then finally walking toward it and peering out into the darkness. "I was in the den back at the mansion and I don't know, I just got the sudden feeling that I should come check on you to see if you were alright. You never know who could be lurking outside on a dark night like this." He straightened then turned to face her again. "And with you here alone and whoever broke in here a few nights ago out on the loose, can you blame a brother for being concerned?" "A normal brother no. You? Yes." She shook her head when he sent her a hurt look. "Save it, Julian. You can here for a reason so you may as well tell me. I know damn good and well you didn't come here because you were 'concerned' about me." "You're right." He said nodding his head. "I came here to talk about Luis." "Lu... Luis?" She asked in a strangled voice. "Why?" "Because sister dear, I think he is the reason you wouldn't allow the police to post a guard outside the cottage to protect you." Sheridan swallowed hard, her eyes unconsciously straying around the room, wondering if Julian saw something that Luis left behind. Finding nothing, she glanced back at her brother to see a small smirk playing on his lips. "Wh... what do you mean?" "I mean he's here." Julian stated his eyes never leaving her face. "That is why you won't allow someone else to guard you isn't? Because Luis is here, protecting you?" She opened her mouth to say something, but found she couldn't. She caught a shadow out of the corner of her eye and allowed her eyes to swing in its direction. The moment she met his dark eyes through the glass of the window, she found the strength Julian's question almost caused her to lose. She immediately forced herself to pull her eyes from his, not wanting to alert Julian to his presence, then forced all emotions from her face and called up the Crane genes she wished to god she didn't have, the ones that taught her how to lie. "How could Luis be here, Julian? He died over four months ago." "I know that." Julian replied turning his head to glance toward the window where Luis had stood just moments before. "I simply meant that you felt he was your protector when he was alive so it's only natural that you'd think he was your protector in death too. But the truth of the matter is, is that he is dead, Sheridan. He can't protect you. Crane security, however, can. In fact, I took the liberty of asking them to send a guard over. He should be arriving momentarily." "NO!" Sheridan yelled, the nervousness in her voice causing her to cringe. Julian would be able to tell and she couldn't allow that to happen. Intent on throwing him off track, she used the stubbornness that Luis always said would only get her into trouble. "I will not have some guard here watching my every move, Julian! I will not be kept a prisoner in my own home! You call him back right now and tell him he is not needed!" "I'm afraid I can't do that." "And why the hell not?" "Because father insisted that you have a guard until this whole drug cartel mess is over with and I for one am not going to go against his wishes." "Well I am!" She said walking over the phone and picking it up then quickly punching in the numbers for Crane security. "Yes, this is Sheridan Crane. I believe my brother called you about getting me a guard? I just want to let you know that it is no longer needed. Yes that's right. I said no longer needed. Thank you." "See," She replied replacing the phone back in its cradle and turning her eyes back to her brother. "That wasn't so hard. The guard hadn't left yet and now he won't. There really is no need to worry, Julian. I am perfectly safe. Nothing is going to happen to me." "Famous last words." He muttered under his breath as he walked past her into the hall. "I just hope you didn't make them yours." She watched him walk out of the house then shivered when he quietly closed the front door behind him. Something about the statement gave her the chills. She shook her head then turned to tell Luis he could come back in, only to find him already inside in the midst of closing the curtains to block the outside from the view. When he turned toward her and his dark eyes met hers, the only thing she could think of to say was something so obvious that she normally would have laughed had her insides not been doing flip flops at the speed of light. "You didn't leave." * * * * * Luis dragged in a deep ragged breath as Sheridan's blue eyes met his. There was so much emotion in them that they stole the very air he breathed. He may not remember how he felt about her before the car crash, but he damn sure knew how he felt right now. With each moment he continued to look into her eyes, his heart sped up in his chest. He was surprised it hadn't shot out across the room yet. He cleared his throat of the thick cotton that sudden formed in his mouth then forced himself to answer her. "We didn't get to finish talking." The excited gleam in her eyes fell somewhat upon her words, but then all at once her face cleared and the gleam regained its strength. "I'm glad you stayed. I... I would have worried about you." "You don't need to worry about me." He replied taking a step toward her only to freeze when his cell phone rang. Damn, there was only two people in the world that had his cell phone number and neither one was someone he wanted to talk to. But he knew he had to answer or else they would get suspicious. He pulled the cell phone out of the pocket of his coat then hit the talk button and placed it up to his ear. "Yeah?" "Is she dead?" a voice laced with a heavy French accent asked. He closed his eyes for a heartbeat then opened them again and stared directly into Sheridan's fearful blue eyes. "No. Sheridan isn't dead yet." "Must I remind you of the job we hired you to do?" Roger asked irritation quickly rising in his voice. "You said you would kill her tonight. What seems to be the problem?" "Her brother showed up." Luis asked knowing he should stick to the truth as much as possible. "I couldn't very well kill her when there was a witness lurking about now, could I?" "Is he still there?" Luis swallowed hard then prayed Roger bought the story he was about to tell. "No, but someone else is. Her brother forced her to get a bodyguard. He's been searching the grounds all night, lucky for me I know how to stay out of sight." "Well kill the guard too if you have to." Roger said his accent growing thicker as his voice deepened in anger. "I want her dead tonight! Or else I will be forced to send Pierre to take care of it for me and I know you will not like the outcome if that were to happen." "Is that a threat?" Luis asked his body growing tense as his own anger began to build. "If it is, you should know I don't take kindly to threats. I'll do the job I was hired to do. You have my word on that!" "Good." Roger said all traces of anger gone from his voice. "Then I will be awaiting your call." Static sounded in his ear and Luis swallowed hard as he hit the off button on his phone and met Sheridan's tearful blue eyes. "Did you mean that? Are you really going to do what you were hired to do?" "I have no choice." He said taking a step toward her, causing her to back up against the wall. "I gave him my word and I never go back on my word." CHAPTER NINE "Is that a threat?" Sheridan heard Luis ask as his entire body went tense with what she knew to be anger. "If it is, you should know I don't take kindly to threats. I'll do the job I was hired to do. You have my word on that!" Sheridan sucked in a deep breath as Luis hit the end button on his cellphone and his dark eyes locked onto hers. He just gave Roger his word, but surely… "Did you mean that? Are you really going to do what you were hired to do?" "I have no choice." He said taking a step toward her, causing her to back up against the wall. "I gave him my word and I never go back on my word." Sheridan's lower lip trembled as the fear she had never felt in his presence came rushing forward with intensity. She never had a need to fear Luis. He would never harm her. Yet he had just told them men that had hired him to kill her that he would do his job. Oh god, she thought as the tears began to well in her eyes, the man she loved was gone. In his place, was a man… was a man she no longer knew. She had to face that fact now. The man standing in front of her, calling himself Luis wasn't the Luis that she knew. He wasn't the Luis that she fell in love with. He was… he was one of them, she thought as the tears in her eyes finally began to slip down her cheeks. Her body began to tremble the closer he stepped toward her and before she knew what was happening her legs gave way and she was sliding down to the floor, her back resting against the wall behind her. She raised her hands to cover her face then let the sobs take over. "Oh god. Please. Please help me." "Sheridan?" Luis asked in a soft voice as his long tapered fingers circled both of her wrists and pulled them away from her face. He sucked in a deep breath when their eyes connected. "Don't cry." Sheridan closed her eyes to block out the look she could see in his. He didn't know what he was showing her. He wasn't the man she loved. He was the man hired to kill her. More tears slipped from her closed lids and her lower lip continued to tremble. That is, until Luis reached out and covered her cheeks with his large palm, the pad of his thumb immediately brushing away her tears. "Sheridan, open your eyes. You don't have to be afraid." "I don't?" She asked as her eyes flew open and locked onto his. "I think I have every reason to be afraid. You just said you were going to kill me." "No." He said shaking his head, a small frown playing over his lips. "I said I would do the job I was hired to do. I never said I was going to kill you." "I don't understand." She whispered, her eyes searching his as her brain tried to understand what he was saying. It was useless. She couldn't read him anymore. He was a complete mystery to her now. "I don't understand." "I know." He whispered softly as he held out a hand and helped her back up to her feet. "But if you'll listen I'll explain it to you." She nodded her head and allowed him to guide her over to the bed. She eased down on the edge of it then stared up at him, trying to make sense of what was going on. He just said he never went back on his word and he had just given Roger and Pierre his word that he would kill her so… "Luis -" "Shh." He interrupted by placing the index finger of his right hand over her lips. "Let me talk. You listen. Okay?" She nodded her head again then bit her lip as he removed his fingers and stared down at her, his dark eyes filled with emotions she could no longer read. The fear she had felt earlier had vanished though and she was glad of that. She didn't like being afraid of Luis. It was wrong. It was unnatural. "I told Roger and Pierre I would do the job I was hired to do." He searched her eyes as if looking for some kind of response, but she had no idea what to say. She still didn't understand what he was telling her. "I didn't receive any money from them, Sheridan. Not a dime. They told me they paid me before my accident." She frowned as she realized just how much they had manipulated Luis. The bastards. If they were here she was fairly certain she would kill them. If they didn't kill her first, that is. "They lied to you. Again." "I know." He said his eyes locked onto hers as his lips tilted upward into a smile. "I know they lied to me. I know they did. And they will pay for it. But I will keep my word to them. I will do the job I was hired to do." "So you are going to kill me." She whispered her eyes growing wide as her heart stopped beating. "God, Luis you… you can't! You can't kill me!" "I know." He replied as he knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his. "I can't kill you. I wasn't hired to kill you." "What?" She asked furrowing her brow in confusion. "Luis that… that doesn't make any sense." "Of course it does." He answered as his lips widened into a full-fledged smile. "I can't very well do something I wasn't hired to do and since they paid me no money, I wasn't hired to kill you. But I was hired for something and I will keep my word to them. I will do the job I was hired to do." "Which is?" She asked softly as her heart wildly beat against her rib cage. "To protect and serve the citizens of Harmony." He said as her raised a hand from hers to wipe away the remaining tears on her face as his other hand held her own. "Since I'm not really dead, that means I'm still technically an officer of the law, which means my job is to protect people… to protect you." "What?" He smiled again then gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he rose to his feet, his right hand falling away from her face as he did so. "Ms. Crane, allow me to introduce you to your new bodyguard." * * * * * Roger drummed his fingers on his desk then glanced at Pierre sitting across from him. "I don't want to wait any longer, Pierre. I want you to depart for Harmony immediately. By the time you land, if Sheridan Crane is not dead then I want you to do the job yourself." "And Luis?" Pierre asked as he rose to his feet and walked toward the door. "What do you want to do about him?" "Whether or not he kills Ms. Crane is no longer of any consequence. He's a loose end, a loose end that needs to be tied up…permanently." Pierre nodded then broke out into a wide smile. "Consider it done." "I already do." Roger replied as his own lips grew into a smile. Pierre was one of his most trusted associates. He knew he would get the job done. Within the next 48 hours, all of their problems would be solved. After all, there would be no one to connect himself to the drug cartel. How could there be? The only two possible witnesses would be dead. His smile grew wider. He had waited a long time for the resolution to his problem and he was glad he was finally going to get it. The only regret he had was that he couldn't be there to gain it in person. CHAPTER TEN Downing his glass of bourbon, Julian walked over to his desk and picked up the phone, quickly punching in a set of numbers before he lost his nerve. He'd thought, after the last time, that he would never have to dial them again, but unfortunately, once again, he had no choice. He shook his head to clear it of memories better off forgotten and waited for the person on the other end of the line to answer. It rang only twice before a voice he hadn't heard in more than fifteen years picked up the phone. "Drake." Julian's eyes strayed to the half-empty bottle of bourbon sitting in the back right corner of the minibar. He wanted to hang up and wet his suddenly parched throat, but he knew he couldn't. His Crane duty wouldn't let him. He closed his fist around the receiver in his hand then, before he had time to think about the consequences of what he was about to do, he spoke. Perhaps if he said the words fast enough the bitter aftertaste he feared the words would bring wouldn't come. Yeah right, Julian, and Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald is the King of England. "Your services are required in Harmony." "I'll be on the next plane." Julian sighed at the ominous tone in Drake's voice then frowned when an audible click sounded in his ear, followed by a loud dial tone. He shook his head for the second time in less than two minutes then replaced the receiver back in its cradle. He'd done the right thing. They hadn't given him a choice. If he didn't stop the train now, before it reached full speed, then it would level the House of Crane and life, as he knew it, would be over. * * * * * Sheridan opened her mouth to speak then closed it again. Surely he hadn't said what she thought he had. She must've been hearing things. There was no way he could…"Did…did you just say body…guard?" Luis nodded, his brown eyes never straying from her blue. "Roger and Pierre won't stop until you're either dead or they've been arrested. My vote is for option two. What's yours?" Sheridan swallowed hard. She knew how serious the situation with the cartel was and she knew how determined they were to end it, but… but she didn't understand how Luis could be her bodyguard. Not when…" Luis, how on earth can you be my bodyguard? Everyone thinks you're dead!" "I know they do." Luis sat down on the bed beside her then took her left hand and placed it in his right. His touch felt so familiar yet at the same time she knew that it was different. That he was different. "We're just going to have to inform everyone that I'm not." "Oh god!" Sheridan replied raising a hand to her throat. "Pilar! When she finds out you're alive-" "Pilar?" Luis asked interrupting, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Was she someone important to me?" Sheridan gave a sad smile at his lack of memory then squeezed his hand. "Pilar is your mother, Luis. She, along with Miguel and Theresa, your brother and sister, not to mention the rest of the town, think you're dead. Finding out you that you are alive is going to be quite a shock. To everyone." He nodded then stood, causing her hand to drop to her lap as he released it. "Maybe… maybe it would be better if we didn't tell anyone else I'm alive just yet. Maybe… maybe we should keep my still being alive a secret for the time being." "What?" Sheridan asked not even bothering to hide her surprise. "Why wouldn't you want your family to know that you're alive?" "Because," He raised a hand to run it over his face then turned to face her, his brown eyes showing his regret. "If we tell everyone that I'm not dead then aren't they going to want to know what happened to me? Where I've been all these months? Why I didn't contact them?" Sheridan nodded. "Of course they will." "Then I don't think we should tell them. I can't remember them and that fact will only cause them pain." "Luis -" "No." He shook his head. "Look at what my not being able to remember you has done. I don't want to see anyone else look at me with that pain in their eyes. It's better for them if we just let them continue to believe I'm dead." Sheridan got to her feet and slowly took the few steps that separated them. "They love you, Luis. It may hurt to know that you don't remember, but that hurt pales in comparison to thinking you're dead. Believe me. They would rather have you alive and not know them than dead." "Would you?" He asked his brown eyes searching. "Would you rather have me alive and not know you? Not remember what we had together or how I felt about you? Would you rather have me alive, knowing that I don't remember loving you?" "Yes." She answered without the slightest bit of hesitation. "I would rather have you alive." "Why? Wouldn't it be less painful to believe I died loving you than to know that I'm alive and can't remember you or the love I felt for you?" Sheridan shook her head then raised her right hand and laid it against his cheek. She could feel the tears begin to gather in her eyes, but she didn't care. He needed to know this and she needed to tell him. "If I had to choose between knowing you died loving me and knowing you're alive but that you don't even remember me, there is no choice. I would want you alive. Yes, it hurts to know that you don't remember me or remember how much you loved me or I loved you, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as believing you were dead. Nothing could ever hurt as much as that. Not ever." Tears began to slip down her cheeks, but she didn't pay them any attention. She had to tell him what she felt. "When I thought you were dead, a part of me died too. It was all I could do to get out of bed every morning. If Pilar hadn't forced me to, I don't think I would have even done that." Luis took a deep breath and started to say something, but she quickly moved her fingers over his lips to stop him. "Let me finish." She traced his lips with her fingers, but her eyes stayed on his. "I didn't realize how much of myself I had lost when I lost you. That is until I saw you again. It was like something inside of me woke up or was reborn. You may not know who I am and I may not know the man you are now, but I know the man you were and just knowing that you're alive is enough for me, regardless of whether or not you'll ever remember the love we shared." * * * * * Luis stared into Sheridan's blue eyes feeling a tidal wave of emotions sweep through him with every word she spoke. There was something so familiar about that look in her eyes. It was as if a part of him recognized it yet at the same time it seemed as if he were just seeing it for the first time. There was so much going on inside her eyes. Not only could he see the truth in her words, but he could also see the love behind them - the love for him. And while his head might not remember that love somehow his heart did. He raised his hand and curved his fingers around her slender wrist then pulled her hand away so that he could speak. "I… I don't… I'm not sure what to say." She smiled and something in his heart took flight. "You don't have to say anything, Luis. In fact…" She paused and he watched, fascinated, as something in her eyes shifted. "I don't want you to say anything." "What do you want?" He asked his eyes falling to her lips as she voiced the words he somehow instinctively knew she was going to say. "I want… I want you to kiss me." CHAPTER ELEVEN Luis raised his eyes and locked them onto Sheridan's. Several emotions played inside her deep blue irises and he was almost positive he'd seen them all before. It wasn't recognition of seeing them that gave him that impression though. It was recognition of the feelings they caused within him. That sudden intense need that made it hard to breathe - or even think - he'd felt it before. He knew he had and somehow he knew she was the one that gave it to him. He slowly uncurled his fingers from around her wrist then smiled when her hand fell against his chest, right over his heart, the heat from her palm scorching him through the thin cotton material of his black T-shirt. He wondered briefly if she could feel the pounding of his heart, but one look into her blue eyes was all it took to make him realize that even if she couldn't feel it, she knew. She knew because her heart was racing just as fast. Of that he was certain. He raised his hand to the back of her head, his eyes still locked onto hers, and threaded his fingers through her soft blond curls. Each strand felt like silk and he loved the way it caressed his skin, light as a whisper and more effective than the loudest of voices. She gave a soft sigh as he curled the fingers of his other hand around her waist and pulled her body toward him, causing the red silk gown she wore to wrinkle under his fingertips. Her soft, full breasts crashed into his chest and as they did, he lost his ability to think. "Sheridan..." "Kiss me." She whispered as she wrapped her slender arms around his waist and pulled him even closer. He smiled at her soft-spoken demand. "I planned on it. In fact, I plan on kissing you senseless." "Promise?" She asked a mischievous twinkle flashing in her blue eyes. "Promise." He whispered. A second later, he captured her lips with his. * * * * Sheridan had dreamed of being in Luis' arms again, of feeling his lips against hers, but none of her dreams came close to igniting the feelings coursing through her veins right now. Luis' kiss was pure magic. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. She had once thought she knew his kisses inside out, but the kiss he was giving her now was different from the kisses he had given her before. She wasn't sure how or why, but she knew that it was. She sighed as his tongue began to outline her bottom lip then moaned as it cascaded across her lips. But less than half a second later, it was gone and so was the warmth of his embrace. She opened her eyes and was more than a little surprised to see him standing a few feet away from her, his brown eyes filled with regret. "Luis?" "I'm sorry." He replied, averting his eyes. "I… I shouldn't have done that." She took a step toward him, but froze when he took a step back. "Lu…what's wrong? I don't…I don't understand. I…I thought you wanted to kiss me." "I…I do. I mean I…I did. I…" He broke off suddenly then raised a hand to run it through his jet-black hair. "Dammit." Sheridan jumped at the anger she heard in his voice then drew in a deep breath. "Did I…did I do something wrong? I mean did I…did you…did you not like kissing me?" His eyes immediately shot to hers. "You think I pulled away because I didn't like kissing you?" She nodded then closed her eyes as a sudden onslaught of tears threatened to fall. It hurt to even think of the possibility that he might not like kissing her. "I…I know you don't…I know you don't remember what we shared and I…maybe you don't…maybe you aren't…" She paused and took a deep breath. "Maybe you aren't attracted to me anymore." A burst of laughter filled the interior of her bedroom and her eyes shot open when she realized it was coming from him. His head was thrown back, obviously enjoying the laugh he was having and she had the insane urge to throw something at him. "What may I ask do you find so funny?" "You." He replied without hesitation as he lowered his head and met her eyes. "Do you honestly think I pulled away because I'm not attracted to you?" "Well what am I supposed to think?" She asked narrowing her eyes and raising her hands to her hips. "You were kissing me as if there was no tomorrow and then suddenly you…you…you pulled away!" He shook his head then took a step toward her, automatically reaching out to cup her chin in one of his large hands. "I pulled away because I was so turned on by you that I knew one kiss would never be enough." One of his fingers began to stroke the skin underneath her chin, but it was the look in his eyes that almost caused her knees to give out. "I pulled away because I knew I was about to lose control." She swallowed hard. "Oh" "Yeah oh." He replied, his lips tilting upward at the corners. "I pulled away because I wasn't sure I'd be able to later." She smiled at that then raised her hands to his waist and slowly ran them up underneath his T-shirt. "Who said you would have to pull away later?" "Sheridan…" Her smile grew wider at the plea she heard in his voice. "Don't -" "Don't what?" She asked smiling as her fingers encountered his heated skin and she heard his quick intake of breath. "Don't what, Luis?" He groaned. "Sheridan -" "What, Luis?" She asked, raking a nail across his well-toned abs. "What do you want?" "I want you." He replied, his voice thick with passion. She smiled and stepped closer, but froze when his hands circled her wrists and he pushed her away from him. "But…but this can't happen. Not now. Not tonight." "And why the hell not?" Sheridan asked pulling her hands out of his grasp and placing them at her hips. "You just said you wanted me!" "I do want you. I want you so much I can barely think straight, but it can't happen." He shook his head then took a step back, his sudden distance leaving her cold. "I can't use you like that." "Use me? How would us making love-?" "That's just it." He replied softly. "It wouldn't be us making love. At least not for me it wouldn't. I don't remember what we shared or how we felt about each other, Sheridan, so…while you see us going to bed as making love…I see it as…as two people giving in to the sexual attraction between them." Sexual attraction? He thought all they had between them was just sexual attraction? Of course he does, a voice inside her head answered, why wouldn't he? He doesn't remember you or the love you shared. He doesn't remember all the times you two made love. He doesn't remember anything about you at all. She closed her eyes as tears began to blur her vision then shook her head as she realized how foolish she'd been. Of course he wouldn't see them going to bed as making love. How could he? He didn't love her. Not anymore. They had taken that from him. They had taken that from her. Damn them, she thought as the tears began to slip down her cheeks. Damn them to hell. Chapter Twelve Luis sucked in a deep ragged breath as the tears continued to climb down Sheridan's cheeks and cursed himself a thousand times over for being responsible for them. He'd just had to go and remind her of what she'd apparently almost forgotten - his inability to remember her or how he felt about her. He ran a hand over his face then let out a small sigh. He'd told her them going to bed would only be about giving in to the sexual attraction between them and he'd meant it. It would be. But there were a lot of other things it would be too. He couldn't tell her that though. He wasn't sure he could put what he was feeling into words she would understand. Hell, he couldn't even understand it. He knew it wasn't love that he was feeling, but he also knew it wasn't merely lust. And until he figured out exactly what it was, he would not take her to bed. He wouldn't do that to her - or to him. He was confused enough already. They both were. He took a step toward her, but stopped when she raised her tear filled blue eyes to look at him. There was heartache in them, heartache as deep as anything he had ever seen, and it made his own chest hurt just to look at it. It was wrong. Seeing tears in her eyes was wrong. They were too beautiful, too open to have so much pain inside them. "I'm sorry." He whispered forcing himself to keep his eyes on hers. It was hard. He wanted to look away, look at anything but the pain he knew he was causing her. "I wish I could remember what you want me to, but…but I can't. I'm not sure if I ever will. The doctors don't seem to think so." "The doctors in Paris?" She asked as she reached up to clear her cheeks of the tears still cascading down in a silent waterfall. He nodded then took a step forward and lowered himself onto the bed. "They told me after I woke up that I had swelling in my brain. They said it was the reason I couldn't remember anything and that once it went down my memory should return. It didn't, which led them to believe it might never return." She turned her head to look out the window as more tears quietly slipped from her eyes and Luis felt helpless, more helpless than he had since he woke up in that hospital room and realized he'd lost almost thirty years of memories. "How did you…how did you get to Paris?" Luis frowned. "I don't know. I just woke up and I was there. I remember when I first woke up that I was restrained to a bed. Never did find out the reason for that. Since I was in a coma and had been for a week, my being placed in restraints doesn't make much sense." Luis shook his head. "There are a lot of things about that time that doesn't make much sense to me really." "Like what?" Sheridan asked turning back to look at him, her tears having been replaced by curiosity and something else he couldn't quite name. Luis took a deep breath then told her what else he remembered that bothered him. "The doctor said I was flown to Paris right after the car crash I was in. He also said that I'd come to directly after the crash and whispered your name. But how he knew that I don't know. Maybe I was at another hospital before that or maybe the man that found me at the crash site heard me say your name." Luis shrugged then turned to look at Sheridan. Confusion marred her features, as did a touch of anger. "What? What is it?" "After the crash, I woke up and you'd been thrown from the car. I was trapped inside so I couldn't get to you and I couldn't see if you were alright. I didn't know where you were until they finally pulled me out of the car and by that time, you'd already been placed in the body bag and pronounced dead." She shuttered and her eyelids slipped closed. "I…I refused to believe it was you. They told me it was. Sam said he saw you, but I refused to believe it so I…" "So you what?" He questioned softly when her voice trailed off. "What did you do?" She took a deep breath then pushed the words past her lips. "I ran to the ambulance to see you. I had the bag unzipped before anyone could stop me and…and I saw you. You had scratches and bruises all over your face. You weren't…you weren't breathing. Sam and your mother pulled me away then and…and I lost it." "I managed to pull away from them as they ambulance began to pull off and I chased it half a block." Tears ran rampant down her face and he couldn't stop himself from reaching out and clamping a hand onto her wrist, pulling her to him. "Luis, there's…there's something else." "What?" He asked looking up at her as she pulled her hand away from him. He got to his feet then raised his hands to wipe the tears from her cheeks with the pad of his thumbs. "What else do you remember, Sheridan?" "I remember hearing you scream my name." She replied searching his eyes. "I remember thinking that I was hallucinating, but…but now I'm not so sure. Maybe I really did hear you. After the crash, I referred to you as being gone. I never referred to you as being dead. Not once. I refused to believe you were dead. In fact, I never referred to you as being dead until the first time you showed up here at the cottage, pointing the gun at me. That was the first time I ever said those words in connection with you." Luis stared into her eyes for a moment, taking in her words, and then unable to stop himself he lowered his hands and wrapped them around her waist, pulling her close to his chest. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I'm sorry I caused you so much pain." "It's not your fault." She whispered. "It's the fault of the people that did this to us." But who would those people be, Luis thought feeling the anger begin to rise within him, who would they be and why would they want everyone to think he was dead, everyone including the woman in his arms now? He didn't have the answers, but he was damn sure going to find them. He didn't care how long it took. Or what he had to do get them. He was going to find out what he needed to know - one way or another. * * * * * Sheridan laid her head against Luis' right shoulder then closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his hand as it moved in a lazy circle across her back. It felt so right being in his arms again. After the car accident, the only thing she'd wanted was to look into his dark eyes and feel his arms around her. It was the only place on earth she'd ever felt wanted or loved. The only thing that could make this moment better was for him to regain his memory. She missed seeing the love in his eyes when he looked at her. It had taken them so long to finally realize and admit to what they were feeling and to have it for only such a short time was so unfair. They should have had years to bask in their love for one another. But they hadn't. They'd only had a matter of days and most of those days had been them trying to stay alive. She sucked in a breath as memories began to replay themselves and before she knew it, tears were once again spilling down her cheeks. Luis tightened his hold around her and she only cried harder. They had both lost so much because of that car accident, but him especially. At least she had her memories to draw upon. He didn't even have that. Not only could he not remember her or their love for one another, but he also couldn't remember the family and friends that had mourned him. That had shed thousands of tears the day they lost him. "Oh god," Sheridan whispered wrapping her arms around him as she continued to think about all that he had lost. "I'm sorry." "For what?" Luis asked as his hand lifted to thread through her hair. "What on earth do you have to be sorry for?" "I'm sorry for being so selfish." She whispered as her tears continued to fall. "I was so upset about everything that we as a couple lost that I didn't stop to think about everything that you as a person had lost." Luis drew in a deep breath and she immediately pulled back to look into his eyes. They were filled with so many emotions, emotions she couldn't even begin to name. "You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart." He raised a hand and laid it against her cheek then with eyes shrouded in regret, he replied, "You can't miss something you don't remember and I don't remember. But you do and that makes what you're going through ten times worse. You miss what we used to have and because I can't remember it, you're in pain, and for that I'm sorrier that I can tell you." Sheridan closed her eyes as a sharp pain hit her heart then popped them back open when Luis pulled her back into his embrace and softly whispered into her ear. "Just let it out, sweetheart, just let it all out." She did. She cried for everything they lost and throughout it all, Luis held her. He held her and she prayed to god that he never let her go. * * * * * Alistair Crane narrowed his eyes at the image on the monitor in front of him then balled his hand into a tight fist. "You may have been able to come back from the dead once, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, but I'll be damned if you'll do it a second time. In fact, I'll make sure you don't." He swiveled his chair around to face the brunette standing by the window then nodded once. "It looks like we're going to have to pay a visit to Harmony after all. I can no longer depend on my alcoholic son to take care of things for me. It's time I took matters into my own hands." "I'll ready the jet." She replied with a smile before turning and walking out the door. Alistair watched her leave then turned back around to look at the image on the monitor. "You should have stayed on your own side of the tracks, Luis, because now you must learn the consequences of trying to rise above yourself. You were always so curious to learn what happened to your father and now you'll finally get the chance. You'll learn of his fate the same way your brother did." He turned his head slightly to the right and smiled when his eyes landed on his most prized possession - an urn containing the ashes of Martin Lopez-Fitzgerald and his oldest son, Antonio. Chapter Thirteen Luis raised his hand and ran it across his face then turned from his position at the window to stare at the woman sleeping peacefully in the bed. One leg poked out from beneath her pale yellow sheets and he had to suck in a deep breath when she shifted, causing the sheet to rise higher, revealing her suntanned thigh. He swallowed…hard and turned back around to stare out into the darkness of the night. When he had come to the cottage tonight he had every intention of doing what Roger and Pierre had hired him to do, but first he'd wanted to find out how she knew his name. He certainly hadn't gotten what he expected. Then again how could he have known they'd once been involved? Why did you think you were so drawn to her picture, Luis? A voice asked causing his eyes to fall shut as he inwardly contemplated the question. From the first moment Roger and Pierre had handed him her picture back in Paris he'd been drawn to it. He hadn't known why. He had just assumed it was because she was so beautiful and she looked so happy in the photo. He never would have guessed in a million years that the reason he was so drawn to her was because he knew her. Had loved her. And now he couldn't even remember her. He couldn't even remember how they met or how they came to fall in love. He couldn't remember what it was like the first time they kissed or the first they made love. He couldn't remember anything about her at all. But he remembered the feelings coursing through his veins. He definitely remembered those. He could feel the recognition of them. The elevated breathing. The racing heart. The sweaty palms. He'd felt it all before - with her. Luis heard her mumbled something in her sleep and as he turned around to look at her again, he realized it was his name. She was saying his name. The sheet shifted higher as she shifted in the bed again and the moment his eyes caught sight of the red silk material peeking out from underneath the covers, he knew he had to get out of there. He shook his head then walked toward the door and just as he reached for the knob, he heard a scream break from her lips. "NOOO! LUIS!" He turned and was at her side and had her enveloped into his arms within seconds. "Shh, it's alright. It's alright, Sheridan. I'm here" "Oh god." She whispered, her slender arms sliding around his neck as she pulled him closer to her. "I dreamed that you left me. I dreamed that you really left me." "It was just a dream." He said tightening his arms around her and rubbing his hand across her lower back. "I'm here. I'm right here." Her hands met with his bare back and as she buried her face into his neck, he sucked in another deep breath. "Promise me you won't leave me. I couldn't bare it if I lost you again." He closed his eyes at her emotion filled plea and when he opened them again, he pulled back to look at her face. "I'm not going anywhere, Sheridan. I'm your bodyguard, remember? Right now, you're stuck with me." "And what about afterwards?" She asked her sapphire blue eyes searching his amber ones. "Are you going to leave me after you're no longer my bodyguard?" He opened his mouth to answer her, but closed it again when he realized he had no clue as to how. Right now he was playing things by ear. He had no idea what would happen once she was no longer in danger. He certainly couldn't promise to stay. Not when…not when he couldn't even remember her. Or how they felt about one another. "Sheridan -" "It's okay, Luis. You don't have to say anything." She removed her arms from around his neck and scooted back against the headboard, lowering her eyes to look at the gold floral comforter as she put some distance between their bodies. "I shouldn't have asked that. It wasn't fair." Luis shook his head then got up from the bed and returned to his place by the window, his eyes scanning the darkness as his mind grew clouded. "There is nothing fair about this entire situation, Sheridan. You of all people should know that. I mean how fair is it for someone to make you believe I was dead. Or for me to just show up out of the blue, gun in hand, ready to kill you because someone said I'd been paid to do it? There is nothing fair about any of this, least of all how much pain my being here is causing you." "No!" She denied the sudden anger in her tone causing him to turn back around to face her. "You can't blame yourself for this. You aren't to blame. You can't help it that you lost your memory. You aren't responsible for anything that has happened." "No?" He asked a rueful smile playing across his lips. "What about allowing myself to be manipulated into becoming a hired killer? Aren't I to blame for that?" * * * * * Sheridan stared at him for a second then gave her head a quick shake. "Did they give you the slightest indication that they weren't being entirely truthful with you? Did they give you any reason to think you weren't exactly who they claimed you were?" Luis shook his head. "No. But I should have known." "Why?" She asked arching a brow as she raised her arms and crossed them over her chest. "Why should you have known? HOW could you have known?" He drew in a deep breath then let it back out slowly. "I should have known something wasn't right the moment they handed me your picture and told me I was the man they hired to kill you. I took one look at that picture and…and something inside of me reacted to it. I stared at that picture for days. Memorizing every facial feature you had and fantasizing about the reason you looked so happy in the photo. You're eyes were shining as if you were looking at someone you cared very deeply for. I should have known then and there that there was no way I would ever agree to kill you." "I think you did know." She replied tilting her head to the side as she lowered her arms. "I think that's the reason you couldn't pull that trigger. I think deep down you knew something wasn't right." Luis averted his eyes and she could tell he was having trouble believing her. But she knew it was true just the same. If he had really believed what Roger and Pierre told him then he would have fired that gun without her ever seeing his face. If he had truly believed he was a hired hitman then he would have done the job he was hired to do. He wouldn't have wasted time talking to her and questioning her first. He would have just killed her. She shivered as she realized any other man in his position would have done just that. Thank god they had chosen Luis. If they hadn't - "Sheridan?" Luis questioned catching her eyes with his as he took a step toward her. "What's wrong? You look pale all of the sudden." Her swallowed then closed her eyes and forced the words he had cut her off from thinking past her lips. "Once Pierre and Roger realize you haven't done what they thought you would do, they'll hire someone else. Or maybe…maybe they'll just do it their self this time. Maybe they'll come here and see that it gets done right. Maybe -" "And maybe then we'll catch them and place them behind bars right where they need to be." He reached up and placed his palm against her cheek and his next words caused more tears to spring into her eyes. "I promise you, I won't let anything happen to you. If they do come here or they do hire someone else to kill you, there going to find it's not going to be as easy as they thought it would be. Because to kill you their going to have to kill me first and I guarantee you that I have no intention of dying any time soon." Sheridan nodded then scooted closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, closing her eyes as he once again sat on the edge of her bed and returned her embrace. "I have no intention of letting you die either, Luis. I know the hell that awaits me if that were to happen and I don’t plan on going through it again. I can't go through it again. I just can't." She'd already discovered how empty her life was without Luis in it and there was no way she could live through it again. No way on earth. Chapter Fourteen Luis watched the woman in his arms take a deep sleep filled breath then finally allowed his own eyes to close, giving into the sleep his body suddenly craved. As he fell into sleep, an image of him and Sheridan standing near the couch in the living room flashed in his mind and he smiled as he saw himself staring deeply into her eyes. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I thank god you came into my life." "Actually," He winked, breaking out into a wide smile. "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 placed a soft kiss against her lips then pulled back and stared into her eyes. "Of course, I just love you period." "Good, because I love you too. In fact," She whispered, her blue eyes taking on a mischievous gleam as she placed her hands at the waistband of his black pants and pulled the tail of his shirt out. "I plan to show you just how much I love you right now." "Now that," Luis said quickly bending down to scoop her up into his arms. "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 walked toward Sheridan's bedroom, her cradled in his arms, and as soon as he reached the barely open door, he kicked it open with one foot and carried her toward the bed. He set her on her feet the moment they reached it, allowing her body to slowly slide down the length of his, and he groaned as her thigh brushed against him. 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 free until finally he was pulling the shirt down her arms and throwing it somewhere behind them. The moonlight streaming in through her bedroom window provided him the perfect view of the two soft mounds straining against her white lace bra and he sucked in a deep breath at the sight of them. They were perfect and he knew they would fit his hand perfectly too. He would swear they were made for his touch. He gave her a seductive smile, wanting to reach out and see if he was right but knowing he'd much rather prolong the moment and heighten the pleasure, 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 the side of her slender neck. He slowly moved one finger underneath the delicate thin strap resting against the skin of her right shoulder and even more slowly slid it off her, before finally replacing his finger with his lips and kissing his way across her shoulder as his other hand slid the left strap down. As he continued to kiss his way across her collarbone and the column of her neck, he expertly reached behind her, letting his fingers graze her back in a lazy circle, and unhooked her bra. He pulled back briefly, to slide the bra down her arms and give her smile of intent, then leaned his head down and took one hardened peak into his mouth. Sheridan arched her back immediately and he wrapped his arms around her waist in response, holding her to his mouth. He felt her slowly begin to run her hands up his chest and pulled his lips away from hers in effort to allow her to remove his shirt. He desperately wanted to feel her hands against his heated flesh. The moment his shirt was free she ran her hands up his bare chest and lightly raked one fingernail across his right nipple. He moaned at the sudden burst of heat her touch caused within him then, unable to help himself any longer, covered her mouth with his own. The minute she parted her lips on a moan, he took advantage and slipped his tongue inside to deepen the kiss, giving her a taste of the intimate dance their bodies would soon begin. Her explored her mouth with vigor and she did the same, teasing him as he teased her. Again and again their tongues met and teased, until he thought for sure he would die with the pure need to have her. To be inside her. Luis slowly lowered his hands to the button of her jeans and sighed into the warm recesses of her mouth as the button gave way easily. Once it was free, his hand moved to the zipper and slowly began to slide it down. He heard her moan his name as his hands slid over her rib cage, to the skin at the base of her spine, and his fingers dipped into the waistband of her jeans, sliding them off along with the delicate white silk panties she wore. He smiled as she lost her balance and crashed against him then pulled back from their kiss and lifted her up into his arms. As he began to lay her on the bed, amidst the yellow and gold comforter covering it, he removed the rest of her clothing, leaving her naked before him. 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 then. The scene of him and Sheridan in her bedroom, about to make love, changed to yet another unfamiliar scene and his head moved against the pillow with each new sensation that enveloped him. They looked like they were in some sort of cave. The image was too dark for him to see it clearly, but somehow he knew what was happening even though he couldn't really see it. His mind put him there, in the moment, with her, and the feelings that raced through his body seemed so familiar to him. It was almost as if… The second their lips met, Luis knew he was lost. The kiss was hot and passionate and made his body temperature rise yet another notch. He moaned with pleasure and Sheridan took the opportunity to slip her tongue across his lips, delving deep inside the recesses of his mouth. The moment she did, tiny explosions went off inside his body, setting him on fire, and informing him that there was only one way to put out the flames. Then he remembered there was no way they could do that tonight. The alcove wasn't big enough for what he had in mind. Luis somehow found the strength to pull his lips away and Sheridan immediately murmured a protest. God, he thought his eyes scanning her face and causing him to suck in a deep breath at the sheer beauty of it, why did she have to be so damn tempting? He tried to resist the temptation to kiss her again, but it was no use, because the moment she opened her eyes and he saw the passion inside them, he was kissing her all over again. His mouth covered hers hungrily. His tongue searched for entry to her lips and he moaned again as she gave it. He used a hand to caress her taut stomach, as their lips remained fused in a passionate kiss, then slowly moved it upward to cup her breast. She responded instantly. Moaning against his lips. He pulled his mouth away from hers to kiss the slender curve of her neck and she arched into him just as he used his other hand to pull her bottom to him. She gasped, as she felt the evidence of how much he wanted her, then let her body fall back against his. His name echoed from her lips and he felt his heart turn over in his chest. God, he loved her. Whoa, he thought sobering instantly, he couldn't be in love with Sheridan. It wasn't possible. But he'd thought it. He'd felt it. Oh god, he was. He was in love with Sheridan Crane. Luis turned over onto his back as the scene changed on him yet again. They were still in the alcove he knew, but there was a different emotion in the air. It didn't hold the passion the previous two scenes had. No, this time there was panic in the air and fear. He could feel the fear running through his veins and roaring in his ears. Wait. That wasn't fear roaring in his ears. It was… "Luis," Sheridan asked, her voice suddenly bordering on panic. "Do you hear that?" "Yeah." He whispered pulling away from her to look out at the angry water below them. "Damn, we’re going to need to get out of this alcove - and soon. The way the water is rising, this place is going to flood." "But the current is so strong." Sheridan said rubbing her arms up and down as a shiver attacked her body. Was she remembering New Mexico and the fact that she almost drowned? Her next words told him she probably was. "Won't it be dangerous to swim it?" "Yeah, it will, but we can't stay here." He met her eyes briefly then slowly backed out of the alcove. "We need to move before it gets worse and from the looks of the sky, we have to move now." Luis backed up a little more, stopping just short of entering the water, then flashed Sheridan a reassuring smile and held out his hand. "Come on, Sher, we can do this." He watched her draw in a deep breath then felt a surge of pride swell in his chest as she nodded and placed her hand in his. He placed a small kiss on her lips right before they entered the water. The current took them backwards a little bit, but they managed to fight their way forward, side-by-side. Luis had to practically yell at her so she could hear him over the storm and the raging water they were fighting against. "We are going to be fighting the current the whole way. I need you to stay with me, okay?" "All right." She yelled as they continued to make their way through the water toward a spot where they could climb up. The current was stronger than he first thought, but for the most part, Sheridan managed to keep up with him. They were a quarter of a mile from the place where they could climb to get up top, when the current grew stronger. A second after, he realized that fact, Sheridan screamed his name. "LUISSSSS!" He turned just in time to see the current began to carry her backward. He fought to make a grab for her, but it was already too late. He knew she was too far away for him to reach her, but it didn't stop him from trying. He fought the current some more, trying to get to her, but the only thing he could do is watch in horror as the current carried her further and further away from him. "Sheridan!" Luis bolted upright, beads of sweat covering his face and hands, then began to move his eyes around, quickly taking in his surroundings. He was surprised to find it was morning and that he was still in the room he'd fallen sleep in last night and not in the raging current of the water he still couldn't seem to shake the memory of. He turned to look at Sheridan, but wasn't surprised to find her eyes still closed. It had only been a dream, he thought raising a hand to run it over his face before his eyes returned to Sheridan's face. But why had it seemed so real? He'd dreamed of her several times since he first saw her picture, but the dreams had never been as vivid as the two he just had. He swallowed hard, his gaze still focused on her face, and as her blue eyes finally popped open to look at him he knew the reason why his dreams had seemed so real. So vivid. It was because they hadn't been dreams at all. They had been memories. Memories of something they had gone through. Together. Chapter Fifteen It took Sheridan a moment to realize she wasn't alone in the bed and when she realized that she also realized just who the warm body beside her belonged to. She remembered him holding her last night while she cried and then remembered him helping her onto the bed and leaning them both back against it as she gave into the sleep she desperately needed. She smiled inwardly as she realized he must have fallen asleep too. She hadn't opened her eyes yet, but she could feel his on her. Her face felt hot and she knew it wasn't because of the dream she'd had last night. No, it was due to the fact that he was looking at her and that she could feel the tiny hairs on his left leg rubbing against her right. She drew in a slow breath then slowly opened her eyes and found herself, just as she knew she would, staring into his. As Luis stared down at her, an undefined emotion flashed through his amber tinted eyes and she couldn't help thinking it was an emotion she'd seen before. But at the same time she felt as if she were seeing it for the first time. The only problem was she didn't exactly know what it was. She took in another breath then slowly raised herself up, holding the sheet securely to her chest, and cleared her throat, her eyes searching his for the answers to questions she didn't fully comprehend. "What is it?" She watched in curiosity - and a slight touch of anticipation - as he slowly raised his hand up off the bed and ran the tip of his index finger across her bottom lip. Her eyes fell shut again, as the pad of his finger moved the moisture her tongue had supplied a few seconds earlier along her lips like an artist moving a paintbrush across a canvas and when she finally found the strength to open them again, her breath stalled in her lungs and her heartbeat stalled in her chest. "Luis?" "I thought I lost you." His finger moved from her lip to her jaw and a second later, his large hand was resting against her cheek, the warmth of his palm, seeping into her skin and warming her blood. His eyes darkened with that same emotion she had yet to define and she drew in another breath as she told herself to focus on the words he spoke. "Wh…why would you think you lost me?" "Because the current took you away from me." Her heart jumped once then a second time until finally it was racing in her chest, racing so fast she was sure it was going to come flying out at any moment. "I tried to get to you, but…but I couldn't. The water separated us and no matter how hard I swam, I couldn't get to you." She swallowed hard then searched his eyes, her breathing coming faster than it had moments before. "What do you mean the water separated us? Luis? Oh god. Where were we? What water were we in? Do you know?" He nodded and the emotion in his eyes grew more intense until the name of the emotion all but exploded into her mind just as his words exploded into the air. "I remember. I remember, Sheridan. I remember where we were. Why we were there. What happened the night before." He nodded again then raised his other hand to her empty cheek and leaned forward, his eyes inches away from hers, but she felt as if they were inside of her, staring straight into her soul. "I remember." Who knew two simple words could cause so much feeling and so much emotion to swell within her chest. She hadn't, but as she stared into his eyes, the truth of his words written inside each amber colored iris, she knew it was something she would never forget. He remembered. Dear god, Luis finally remembered. * * * * * As his dark eyes landed on the couple staring into each other's eyes, sitting in the middle of a huge four-poster bed, Pierre felt his lips pull into a smile. They looked happy but he knew it was because neither of them had a clue what would happen come nightfall. His smile widened at the mere thought of finally being able to end the year and a half long irritation of trying to kill Sheridan Crane then he slowly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cellphone, quickly punching in a set of numbers. The person on the other end of the line picked up after only half a ring. "Roger, I see them both now. They are together and you can be sure the last thing on the American cop's mind is killing, Ms. Crane." "What is on his mind no longer matters." Roger replied, his voice holding the slightest trace of frustration. "He will be dead tonight and so will Ms. Crane." Pierre nodded, his eyes still on the couple. "Yes, you are right. Tonight we will end the threat Ms. Crane and the cop hero poses. I cannot wait to see the look on their faces." "Neither can I." Roger stated, his smile coming across the phone line. "It's the only reason I decided to join you in Harmony. I will definitely take great pleasure in watching Sheridan Crane and Luis take their last breath, great pleasure indeed." Pierre ended the call to Roger and quickly moved away from the window before the couple could see him then slowly made his way back to the small hedge he'd had to climb over in order to enter the grounds and toward the rented car hidden in the trees a few yards away. Once he got in, he smiled at the man behind the wheel. "I think the cop hero finally got his memory back. He certainly wasn't looking at Sheridan like a stranger anymore. Not as he did with her picture." "That's too bad." Roger replied, turning the key in the ignition and starting the engine. "Because now he will know what it feels like to lose the person he loves just like Sheridan Crane lost him all those months ago." Roger laughed. "Such a pity. Luis finally learns the reason Ms. Crane seemed so familiar to him and it has to be on the same day they both will die. Truly tragic." "A real Romeo and Juliet story." Pierre stated with a laugh. "Including the same tragic ending." Roger smiled. "Ah yes, but the ending is not tragic for everyone, Pierre. It will only be tragic for Sheridan and Luis." * * * * * Julian opened the door to his study and promptly froze when his eyes landed on the man sitting in the black leather chair behind his desk. "Father." Alistair narrowed his eyes on him then motioned for him to come inside. "Close the door. The last thing we need is Pilar overhearing us." Julian stepped into the room, quietly closing the door behind him then crossed to the chair across from his father, wondering about his sudden appearance and the reason he'd chosen to surprise him instead of warning him about his visit. He swallowed hard then finally forced himself to meet his father's icy blue eyes. "Father -" "I want to know why you haven't killed Luis yet!" Alistair said his eyes narrowing in the cold glare that never failed to make his insides quake with fear and his stomach to grow nauseous. "You said you would take care of it, but I've yet to see the evidence of you doing it!" Julian cleared his throat then leaned forward, his hands splayed out as if he were about to plea with his father for mercy. Judging by the anger in his father's eyes he figured that option wasn't totally out of the question. "These things take time father." "I want Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald dead, Julian, and I want him dead today!" Each word was accentuated with a warning and he heard the threat in his father's voice long before he actually voiced it. "So help me Julian, if you don't take care of this I will and you will not the consequences of that I assure you." "Father," Julian began knowing what he was going to say would only further enrage his father's temper, but also knowing he had to say it. "Are you sure we have to kill him? I mean he doesn't remember anything of the past. And it's been four months already. It seems like if he were going to remember he would've done it by now." Alistair's eyes narrowed and he shuttered at the rage he saw in them. "The doctors told us his memory could come back at any time. All it would take was one familiar word or one familiar action or feeling and everything could come flooding back to him. I want him dead before that happens, Julian. Do you hear me? I want him dead!" To Be Continued... Author of over 40 fan fiction stories, some of which include: Edited by: OKDeanna at: 10/19/02 7:45:05 am |
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| A Hero For Hire: Prologue - Chapter Seven *FFY Sequel* | OKDeanna | 10/19/02 7:40 am |
| A Hero For Hire: Chapter Eight - Fifteen *FFY Sequel* | OKDeanna | 10/19/02 7:43 am |
| A Hero For Hire: Chapter Sixteen - Nineteen *FFY Sequel* | OKDeanna | 10/19/02 7:53 am |
| A Hero For Hire: Chapter Twenty-Twenty-Five *FFY Sequel* | OKDeanna | 10/19/02 8:03 am |
| A Hero For Hire: Chapter Twenty-Six *FFY Sequel* | OKDeanna | 8/19/03 7:34 pm |
| A Hero For Hire: Chapter Twenty-Seven *FFY Sequel* | OKDeanna | 8/24/03 1:40 pm |
| A Hero For Hire: Chapter Twenty-Eight *FFY Sequel* | OKDeanna | 9/6/03 8:36 am |
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