| The Journey |
| |
Chapter One: It was in all the newspapers. Her disappearance. The revelation that she had been kidnapped. The failure to bring her home alive. The father's pain glorified. The husband slighted as if he was at fault. He couldn't escape it if he tried. He didn't want to escape it. He desperately searched his soul for answers. "Why?" was first and foremost on his mind. She was no longer Harmony's wealthy princess, although their small family did well enough on his detective's salary and the money she brought in from her freelance photography jobs. No. She'd given it all up for him. She made him the happiest man on earth when she married him five years ago. And she made him an even prouder Papa when their daughter was born three short years ago. He broke down in tears at the thought of their daughter who still cried every night for her mommy, though she'd been missing three months, presumed dead for two. He was consumed with guilt. She'd brought up the subject of having another child after dinner one night shortly before her disappearance. The idea appealed greatly to him, but things were a little tight lately. She sensed his hesitation and was hurt, he knew. They'd spent much of their remaining time together alternately fighting and not speaking. With regret, he realized they'd never made up. ******************************************************* Theresa and Miguel felt really connected to their little niece. They knew exactly what it felt like to lose a parent at a very young age. They vowed to help Sheridan live on in her young daughter's heart. Luis's wounds were simply too raw now to give her what she needed. Luis worked longer hours now than ever. He loved his daughter dearly, but Lily's blond curls and once-sparkling blue eyes were too reminescent of her mother. Luis was having a hard enough time accepting that she was gone. He was gradually getting there, but he still didn't know how he'd ever make it without her. He dreamt of her every night. The day they met. Their first tango. New Mexico. Their first date. Their second date at the pool hall. That imposter fiasco. His chasing her to Paris and saving her from those French thugs. The joy on her face when he finally admitted he loved her. The indescribable happiness he felt when she said it back. Discovering the amazing feeling of waking up with her in his arms. He remembered well the day he proposed. Their wedding. Honeymoon in Spain. The day he learned she was pregnant. Lily's birth, first steps, first word. Such precious memories. Then he'd remember their increasing fights in the last weeks before her disappearance, and all his happy dreams became nightmares. He'd wake up to find her side of the bed empty and cold. He'd climb out of bed and make his way to Lily's room and watch his baby sleep ready to soothe any and all her nightmares. Offer what little comfort he could in his own broken state. Chapter Two: Alistair Crane glared at his son when he suggested they leave the child with her father. Though he held no special affection for the child, he refused to let anyone of Crane blood be raised in such conditions. Admittedly, she had Lopez-Fitzgerald blood coursing through her veins also, but he was certain if he got the child under his roof, he could erase any vestiges of her lowly Lopez-Fitzgerald existence away. He'd mold her in the Crane family image. Hopefully, he'd succeed better than he had with Julian, Sheridan, or Ethan. He'd make her into his own image. Prepare her to rule the Crane family dynasty. Make her heart immune to any fits of conscience and make her the ruthless heir he desired. ******************************************************* The tears came far less freely and with much less frequency than they had in the beginning. Losing all hope of being rescued, she set her mind to taking care of herself. She dared not incite him to further extremes. She had another life to consider. It wasn't only about her. She lay her hand protectively over her belly and thought of Lily. And Luis. Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered trying to carefully broach the subject of more children with Luis. Things were tight, and she was worried about his reaction so she decided to gently ease him into it. She tried to convince herself he hadn't meant to react so negatively, but his reaction hurt her deeply nonetheless. To think Luis didn't want this new baby shattered her. They fought ceaselessly, and the tension in their little house was unbearable the days before her real nightmare began. She never got the chance to tell him about the baby. He, along with everyone else, thought she was dead thanks to a carefully orchestrated plan. Her hopes of escaping, of seeing her sweet little daughter, and most of all, Luis, diminshed daily. Only her determination to bring her child safely into the world kept her going. ******************************************************* She wasn't the same beautiful, vibrant woman he'd dreamt of making his own for years. Sure, she was still physically beautiful. But the light in her eyes was slowly fading. He couldn't admit defeat. He would not give up. She'd be his. And with time, she'd forget her old life. Chapter Three: Luis came home to a horrifying scene. They were taking his baby away. The only part of Sheridan he had left. And there was nothing he could do. He regretted not taking their warnings seriously. They were taking her away, and he had to go to court to fight them. This couldn't be happening. Tears of anger and desperation flooded his cheeks as Sam and his mother restrained him from ripping his screaming daughter from the social worker's arms as she carried Lily to the car and strapped her in securely. His heart broke into a million pieces as the car pulled out of the drive and out of sight. ******************************************************* Ethan was furious with his so-called family. How could they do such a thing? Take a child from the only parent she had left. He had to help Luis get her back. Even if it meant single-handedly taking on the almighty Crane family. A family he was ashamed to call his own. ******************************************************* Ivy watched in disgust as the caring, concerned faces sported by both Alistair and Julian disappeared the moment the maid showed the social worker the door. Julian held the distraught child at length as if she were infected with the plague and called Marie back into the room. Ivy ignored the harsh looks both Julian and his father gave her and took the little girl in her arms as she dismissed Marie and climbed the stairs to the room prepared for the child. Sheridan's old room. She took Lily over to the window seat and sank down into the pillows rubbing soothing circles on the baby's back and whispering comforting words of nonsense. After nearly an hour, Lily's desperate hold relaxed, her heartbreaking sobs quieted. Ivy knew she'd finally slipped into an exhausted slumber. Careful not to wake her, she carried the little girl to the bed and gently dressed her in an adorable pink and white pajama set brought from her home. Lily's tinyness and innocence touched Ivy and reminded her of Sheridan so many years ago. She'd failed Sheridan then. She wouldn't make that mistake again. Somehow, someway, she'd make things right and get Lily back to her father where she belonged and away from the evil Crane family. Chapter Four: Lily, like Ethan before her, became Ivy's reason for living. She trusted Ivy and only Ivy. Once, Ivy had clandestinely met Pilar and Luis in the park with the beloved little girl. Their reunion was heartbreaking. Their separation was devastating. Luis had to pry little Lily's arms from around his neck. Tears covered all their faces as the meeting came to an end. They agreed it would be best not to send Lily mixed signals or for her to experience being ripped from Luis's arms again. Ivy promised to take care of her and remind her everyday how much her father and grandmother and aunt and uncle loved her. And her mommy up in heaven. ******************************************************* But her mommy wasn't in heaven. Far from it, actually. Of course, he knew about the baby now. She was over six months pregnant and showing. It was a relief, really, that he knew. His first reaction was, as she expected, anger. But acceptance soon replaced the anger. And Sheridan found his madness went beyond all she had ever imagined. In his eyes, this baby was their baby. He dementedly detailed all his plans for "their bundle of joy" and her in the prison that had become her home. Fear for her ultimate safety and that of her unborn child were what kept Sheridan in line. She couldn't risk anything happening to her baby. ******************************************************* Ethan poured all of his energy into getting Lily back to Luis. He was doing it for Pilar, Luis and the family, and Lily, but most of all he was doing it for his beloved aunt Sheridan. The pain she'd suffered at his father and grandfather's hands had been more than enough. He wouldn't stand by and let them do the same thing to another innocent. With his mother's help, he was working at taking the Crane empire down, if need be. ******************************************************* Eve had never liked Ivy Crane, but for once, she was glad for her existence. She obviously adored Lily, and Eve knew Pilar and Luis took some consolation in the fact that she was there for their little angel. If only things hadn't turned out so badly. Luis and Sheridan were the happy couple six months ago. Now, Sheridan was dead, and her evil family had, in a move she surely would have fought until her last dying breath, taken her daughter away from Luis and his family. Eve had thought Julian possessed a heart somewhere in his being, that deep down he cared for his sister, but she guessed she was wrong. He was too much of a coward to go up against his domineering father. He'd never taken responsibility for any of his family's wrongdoings. She told Ivy to continue her efforts to bring Lily out of the shell she had retreated into the last few months. They didn't want to lose the child to her sadness. ******************************************************* Sam was just as worried about Luis. Losing Sheridan was devastating. Losing Lily took away one more reason to live. Everyday, Luis stared at the picture of Sheridan and Lily cuddled together smiling into the camera as if it would bring them back to him. Meanwhile, Ethan worked feverishly on getting Lily back from the Cranes. Sam could only pray that he succeeded. Chapter Five: For the first time in months, she felt a little thrill of hope. He'd taken her to a clinic for a check-up on the baby. He'd been forced to leave her alone when the doctor ordered him out of the exam room. She tried with as few words as possible to give an impression to the doctor of being held against her will. The nurse noticed her agitation and thinking she was frightened about the exam, tried to calm her. Sheridan tried to tell her with her eyes what was wrong, but with no effect. The exam over, the doctor allowed him to come back in, and he immediately went to her side and grabbed her hand despite her pulling away. The doctor was completely oblivious, but this didn't go unnoticed by the nurse. Sheridan's sad eyes haunted her for the rest of the day. She didn't notice the paper in her pocket until she got home much later that night, and it fell to the floor. The words printed there made absolutely no sense, but for some strange reason, she couldn't bring herself to throw it away. She put it in her old jewelry box thinking someday she'd figure the message out. ******************************************************* She knew she'd find him there. He visited her memorial almost daily and just talked to her. About anything and everything. But most of all, how much he missed her and his anger at himself for letting her family take their daughter away. She wanted desperately to console her son, but she knew right now he wouldn't accept her comfort because of his pride. She'd never hated anyone in her entire life, but she despised Julian and Alistair for taking Lily away just because they could. She prayed to God Ethan found something, and soon. Lily deserved to be with the family that truly loved her. Somehow, she had to find a way to reunite her son and her granddaughter. She couldn't bear to think of Lily being raised in that cold, loveless house. ******************************************************* Ivy was so worried. She'd went into Lily's room to check up on her in the middle of the night and found her with a soaring temperature. Not waiting to call the hospital herself, she gathered Lily's feverish little body in her arms and bolted downstairs in her robe. She nearly ran out the door that way, but Marie reminded her of her state of undress. Handing Lily to Marie, she rushed upstairs, threw some clothes on, and raced down the hall only to be met by Julian. Ignoring him, she descended the stairs and took Lily from Marie again. Ivy was surprised to note concern on Julian's face. In answer to his unspoken question, she tersely said, "I'm taking her to the hospital. She's burning up." She was greatly relieved when the chauffeur opened the door, led her to the limo, and helped her in with Lily. On the seemingly endless ride to the hospital, Ivy asked Charles to call Pilar, Luis, and Eve. Then, she rushed inside the emergency room with Lily and ran to the nearest doctor. He immediately took Lily from her and told her to wait in the waiting area. Ivy sat down and tried to steel herself for whatever may come. Fate had been particularly cruel to Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald in the last several months. This, of all things, he didn't need. ******************************************************* An hour later, Ivy sat in the waiting room joined by Luis, Pilar, Theresa and Miguel, Ethan, Eve, T.C., and Grace and Sam. Even Julian was there. No appearance was made by Alistair, Sam and the others noted. A lot of people loved this little girl. Eve got up to check up on Lily's condition again. Luis and the others anxiously looked on. Finally, she came back and gave them wonderful news. Lily's fever had broken. It was just a viral infection. They were admitting her for overnight observation. Mainly because she was dehydrated. She could have visitors but not everyone at once. Julian surprised everyone with his suggestion that Luis go first. Off Ivy's astonished look, he replied, "I'm not completely heartless," and walked away without another comment. ******************************************************* Luis never left Lily's bedside. Deciding they needed the time alone, Ivy went home. She had to talk to Julian. Put an end to this. She loved Lily dearly, but she belonged with her father. And she knew, deep down, Julian felt the same way. It'd take much convincing on her part, but maybe, she could convince him to act against his father. Just this once. There was hope for her husband after all. He had a heart buried in there somewhere. ******************************************************* Julian did still possess a heart, but his cowardice kept it in check. He was fearful of Alistair Crane. His very own father. And with very good reason. He knew the lengths his father would go to to get what he desired for whatever selfish reasons. His father truly was heartless. Chapter Six: Linda Whitman couldn't rid herself of the haunted, pleading look in the blond's sad eyes. The message made even less sense. It didn't matter, anyway, because she would probably never cross paths with her again. But she wondered about the baby. It couldn't be more that two months away from delivery. She pushed all thoughts of the young woman out of her mind. She had a lot of packing to do. She was visiting family in Harmony. ******************************************************* Sheridan desperately missed her family. She longed for Luis's comforting arms and Lily's sticky kisses. The hope that the nurse at the clinic would somehow come to her rescue had all but died out. She despaired at the thought of that madman raising the baby she was carrying. Would her nightmare never end? What had she done to deserve all this? No one person should be made to suffer so much in one lifetime. ******************************************************* Linda couldn't believe she let herself get talked into this, but she dearly loved Paulie, and she had to admit, she was a little curious about the man who'd so influenced her nephew. Influenced him so much, Paulie wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a law enforcer. This Luis guy must be pretty special. As soon as she saw him, Linda decided he was a winner. In the looks department. He also happened to be a very nice, if a bit sad, young man who clearly held Paulie in just as high esteem. They chatted for a while and were about to take their leave when Linda spotted the photo on the young man's desk, and instantly all the pieces fell together in her mind's eye. But before she could tell a soul, she fainted dead away. ******************************************************* She woke to see her nephew's concerned face and that of the Detective Lopez-Fitzgerald. When Luis mentioned getting a doctor, Linda stopped him by asking to see the picture on his desk. Confused but curious, Luis did as she asked. No more than a minute later, Linda's suspicions were confirmed, and she proceeded to tell a stunned Luis about her run-in with Sheridan. His doubt at first was evident, but it was obvious he very much wanted to believe. Telling him about the hastily scribbled message did the trick. She watched his handsome face pale as he digested all she'd said. She swore to him she was not lying, and he sent Paulie to get Chief Bennett, who she repeated the whole story to. Linda went home feeling proud of herself for possibly bringing such a lovely young couple back together. ******************************************************* When Luis told his family this, Miguel and Theresa practically jumped for joy. Pilar was a little more skeptical. If everything Luis had been told was true, Sheridan was still being held by a madman. Luis told his brother and sister to keep the information under wraps until he had more concrete evidence. They agreed and went off to visit friends. Once they were gone, Luis turned to his mother, and she could tell he had left out a majorly important detail. Biting back a sudden sob, he said, "There's one more thing, Mama. The nurse. Ms. Whitman. She said something else. Sheridan was pregnant, Mama. She was pregnant before she disappeared. She never knew I was sorry for those terrible fights we had. She probably thinks I didn't want this baby. Not after what I said to her in those final days. How could I, Mama? How could I hurt her that way?" Pilar said nothing, only pulled Luis into her arms and let him cry. Chapter Seven: Lily was better physically. But emotionally? Being kept away from her father was slowly killing the little girl's spirit. And Julian was becoming more and more fed up with his father's cruelty and selfishness. He could care less about the child. Even less than he had for Sheridan. Julian racked his brain for possible solutions to this awful situation. He wouldn't stand for yet another member of his family to be emotionally abused by the almighty Alistair Crane.
******************************************************* Sam hoped for Luis's sake it was true. That Sheridan was really alive. They had to find her soon. By Ms. Whitman's estimations, she was due fairly soon. It was bad enough Sheridan was being held by a madman. He couldn't live with the possibility of what the creep might do to an innocent, defenseless baby. ******************************************************* Ivy was starting to believe Julian wasn't so bad after all. He'd slacked off the liquor as of late and taken to spending more time trying to bring his darling little niece out of her shell. But Ivy feared what Alistair had in store for them. Especially since Julian was becoming more and more open in his defiance of Alistair's wishes. Things didn't look good at all. Ivy's blood ran cold when she saw the devil himself in the study. Talking in a deceptively caring manner to his young granddaughter. But Lily was amazingly perceptive for such a young child. She sensed the evil in her grandfather, and even from the doorway, Ivy could see her little body visibly shrinking away from Alistair with every step he made in her direction. Where was Julian? Ivy wondered. He'd promised to look after Lily while she was out. Something was terribly wrong here, and she had to find out just what. But not before she called Sam. She had a feeling the Harmony P.D. needed in on this. Barely concealing her terror, Ivy dialed Sam at the station. Before she could say a word to Sam on the other end, though, she heard an ear-splitting scream. Lily's scream. And she dropped the phone in her haste to get to the child. It was much worse than she could have imagined. ******************************************************* Sam started to hang the phone up in exasperation when he recognized Ivy's voice screaming and pleading on the other end. And Lily. Screaming as well. Sam frantically motioned Luis to his side and told him to get his weapon and tell the other officers. Something big was going down at the Crane Mansion, and Ivy definitely needed help. Chapter Eight: Ivy was torn. Torn between going to Julian who lay in a bloody heap on the floor or going to rescue Lily from a gun-wielding Alistair. She decided to try to keep a calm head and try to convince Alistair to get medical attention for his son since he was in the most dire need of help. She started begging and pleading with Alistair as Julian slowly bled to death on the floor. She knelt beside Julian her hands on the wound to his chest trying to staunch the blood flow. Julian's eyes fluttered open, and he weakly touched his hand to Ivy's tear-stained cheek and gasped, "Save her Ivy. Save her from that monster..." and lost consciousness. ******************************************************* Meanwhile, Sam and Luis and nearly half of the police force of Harmony had arrived at the Crane Mansion just moments before. With no time to waste, they burst through the front door and raced inside to the study. Sam's face blanched as he took in the scene. Julian lay lifelessly on the floor with Ivy kneeling by his side covered in blood. Alistair Crane stood a few feet away clutching a terrified Lily with a gun trained on Ivy. Sam briefly glanced at Luis and noticed the horror etched on his face. The scene before them was a horrible nightmare come true. ******************************************************* Alistair knew the end was near. He wasn't getting himself out of this one. But, he could rest easy knowing he'd ridden himself of his two imbecile children. He figured he had nothing to gain by keeping the child. She'd be dealt with someday down the line. As for Ivy, watching Julian die before her very eyes seemed to be quite enough. As if in slow motion, Alistair practically launched the child at her father and raised the gun to his head boasting that the secrets surrounding Sheridan would die with him. Before anyone could think to stop him, Alistair pulled the trigger. Chapter Nine: Hours later the mansion was still crawling with cops. Alistair's body had been taken to the morgue. Julian, miraculously, was not dead at all. But very close to it. Ivy was at the hospital with Ethan anxiously awaiting word on his condition. Luis was also at the hospital having Eve look at Lily to make sure she was okay. Sam lowered his head in his hands and sighed. Today had been a heck of a day. It made him realize, once again, how precious life really was. Seeing Alistair hold that gun on Ivy made Sam realize that he would never get that woman out of his heart, no matter how hard he tried. But, and a big but, he had a family to think of, a family that he couldn't abandon--nor did he want to. He decided right then and there he was going to go home and let them know how much he loved them. Especially the kids. ******************************************************* Pilar watched as her son gently tucked his daughter into bed. Lily had finally closed her eyes, but only after gaining her father's word that he would be close at all times. Her son had his daughter back. Now, all he needed was his wife and unborn child, and things could get back to normal. Well, close to normal anyway. ******************************************************* Theresa held Ethan as he cried ceaseless tears about his grandfather's cruelty. Their friendship had only grown stronger these past several months, and Theresa felt Ethan needed a shoulder to cry on. She knew Ivy would offer him comfort if she was able, but she was taking Julian's condition much harder than anyone else had ever imagined she would. Though Julian was unresponsive and in a coma, Ivy refused to leave his side for a moment. Theresa prayed Julian'd survive. He'd proven himself worthy of her prayers. ******************************************************* With Alistair out of the way, Ivy gave the Harmony P.D. free rein with their investigation into Alistair's part in Sheridan's disappearance. She knew Julian wouldn't mind. She just wished he would wake up. Every moment that passed with him still in a coma left her with less hope and more regrets. Chapter Ten: She could tell something was wrong from the look on his face. Something was going on. Something very important. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for her and her baby yet. ******************************************************* He tried not to let the panic show on his face, but it was useless. Without Alistair's help, it was only a matter of time before they were found. But it wasn't as if he could do anything about it. The baby was due anyday now. The walls were closing in on him, and his desperation was building. He had to get to someplace more private so he could organize his thoughts without Sheridan's penetrating stare. He told her he needed some air, and in his carelessness, left his coat hanging across the back of the chair. With his cell phone inside. ******************************************************* Meanwhile in Harmony, Sam was closing in on Sheridan's whereabouts. Luis was working feverishly by his side, as were several other officers. They heard Silvano swear then exclaim in an astonished voice, "Chief, Luis, you guys are never going to believe this." ******************************************************* It didn't escape Sheridan's attention that he left his cell phone in his haste to leave. When she figured adequate time had passed for her to do what she had to, she reached in the pocket with a feeling of trepidation. What if it was a trap? Still, it might be her only chance. From memory, she dialed a well-known number. With growing disappointment, she listened to the phone's ring. No one was answering. She was about to give up when the childish voice that visited her dreams answered breathlessly. Barely holding back her sobs, Sheridan said, "Lily, baby. It's your mommy. I've missed you so much." ******************************************************* Pilar was coming in the door with an armful of groceries when she heard Lily squeal, "Mommy!" and then burst into tears. Shocked, Pilar dropped the bags and crossed the room in an instant to take the phone from her sobbing granddaughter set on dispelling this cruel trick. She almost fainted when she heard the hurried words of "Don't hang up. It's really me. Sheridan. And I need your help." Pilar turned to Lily and told her to get Grace from next door and tell her to call Sam immediately. ******************************************************* Sam and Luis reached Luis's home in record time, but Sheridan was already gone. Pilar turned her tear-streaked face to Luis and said, "Mijo, we have no time. He's got her." Chapter Eleven: Luis felt so helpless. Unable to do anything to save or find Sheridan. He was frustrated beyond belief. And more worried than ever. Mama had told him and Sam about Sheridan's obvious terror and his unmistakeable anger. They had to find her. Unable to stand it any longer, he grabbed his keys and flew through the front door. His heart would lead him to her. It had to. ******************************************************* Sam had a couple of guys tail Luis to keep him out of trouble. The guy was so torn up right now, Sam hated to think what he might do. Right now they were trying to get a trace on the phone Sheridan had used. It was imperative they get to her before he did something dangerous. ******************************************************* Grace hugged Pilar as they waited with bated breath for more news about Sheridan. Lily was in the kitchen with Theresa, Miguel, Kay, Charity, and Jessica. They were trying desperately to distract the observant little girl. But obviously it wasn't working, thought the ladies, when Lily streaked across the living room and into Pilar's arms. ******************************************************* Sheridan couldn't hold back the tears. She'd finally talked to her baby, Lily, for the first time in months. And to Pilar. But Luis hadn't been there. He was out searching for her. She prayed he found her soon because she desperately needed his help. ******************************************************* He couldn't believe he'd been stupid enough to forget his cell phone. When he came back and found her on it, he yanked it from her hands and slapped her hard across the face. As soon as he saw the shocked, terrified look on her face, he couldn't believe what he had just done, but he squashed his regret down. They were closing in on them, and there was no time. ******************************************************* Luis was driving aimlessly toward the location Linda Whitman had treated Sheridan at when his cell phone rang. What Sam told him next had his heart beating wildly. They had traced the call to a place just miles from where he was now. Ignoring Sam's pleas to wait for backup, Luis shut his phone off and raced to save his wife. Chapter Twelve: He was so mad. And desperate. In all the months he'd kept her captive, she'd never seen him so furious. She was backing away from him when she felt the first pain. The pain must have been broadcast clearly over her face because his eyes lost some of their anger. The look in his eyes was now full-fledged panic. ******************************************************* He didn't know what to do. Sheridan was in labor, and her water had already broken, so there was no time. He couldn't call for help for obvious reasons. He did the only thing he could think of--he left her to escape outside. And ran smack into the last person he ever expected or wanted to see about two miles away from the cabin. Luis. Anger made him powerful, and he got in one quick punch before Luis had him on the ground. ******************************************************* Luis was furious and scared at the same time. He punched him back and knocked him to the ground. A fight ensued that lasted several minutes before Luis had had enough and yelled, "Where is she? Tell me where she is. If you so much as touched one hair on her head, Hank, I'll kill you. I swear I'll kill you. Tell me, Hank." ******************************************************* Hank grinned a maniacal grin and said, "You'll never find her. Even if you do, it'll be too late. You hear me? Too late I tell you!" Brandishing a gun similar to the one in Luis's holster, Hank said, "Kill me and you'll never find her. Follow me, and I'll just lead you farther and farther away from her. Your choice, buddy." Smirking in victory at Luis's look of defeat and lowering of hands, Hank said, "I knew you were smart," and disappeared into the night air. ******************************************************* Back in the cabin, Sheridan was more scared than she'd ever been in her entire life. Hank had left her, and she knew he wasn't coming back. No one was coming to her rescue. She was going to give birth to her baby in the middle of nowhere with no medical attention. And the pain was excrutiating. Tears streamed down her cheeks as another pain, much closer and more intense than the last, hit her, and she let loose a blood-curdling, guttural scream. ******************************************************* He froze in his tracks when he heard the scream. It was her. He just knew it was her. And she was, quite obviously, in severe pain. Redoubling his efforts, he raced in the direction the horrible scream had come from. ******************************************************* Sheridan prayed to God for strength with each passing contraction. Sweat beaded her forehead and trickled down to join the tears on her cheeks. She was beyond exhausted and getting weaker as the minutes passed. The pain made her delirium so thick she didn't hear the footsteps behind her or notice another presence in the room until she felt familiar arms embrace her and the voice she loved more than anything in the world. Chapter Thirteen: Sheridan's eyes fluttered open as she heard two very dear and familiar voices speaking close by. Smiling, she opened her arms, and her little golden-haired angel launched herself at her and hugged her so tight she had difficulty breathing. Then she reigned kisses all over her face, and Sheridan couldn't help tearing up. She'd missed her baby so much. Over Lily's shoulder, she mouthed, "Thank you" to Luis and squeezed his hand. The love clearly shining in her eyes made him love her all the much more. ******************************************************* Pilar smiled as the nurse held her new grandson up to the viewing window. He was a beautiful child and reminded her so much of Luis as a baby. Except for his blue eyes. But somehow, Pilar knew, her grandson would have his father's eyes. It's just a feeling she had. ******************************************************* Luis smiled at the scene before him. His gorgeous wife was nursing their beautiful son while their adorable little daughter petted her brother. Sheridan had such a look of contentment on her face, it warmed his heart. Reluctant to break up this beautiful scene, Luis quietly made his way over to his family and sat in the chair beside Sheridan's hospital bed. He looked to Sheridan with tears in his eyes and kissed the comforting hand she offered. ******************************************************* It took much pleading, but Luis finally convinced Lily to go home with Pilar. It was even harder to convince Sheridan to let the nurse return the baby to the nursery. She finally relented when Luis promised to accompany the nurse down the hall. Luis followed her wishes and picked his son up to carry him back personally, and with a tearful goodnight from Sheridan, he was off. Outside the door, he met someone he felt really indebted to--Ivy. He started to inquire of Julian's condition but was stopped by a shake of Ivy's head. Instead he said, "Meet your nephew." ******************************************************* When Luis finally returned to Sheridan's room, after making sure his son was safely ensconced in his crib, Sheridan was already fast asleep. With regret, he noticed the tear tracks still visible on her face. Taking her hand in his, he gave her a gentle kiss and settled down for another nightly vigil at her bedside. ******************************************************* Sheridan watched him, still sleeping awkwardly in the too small, stiff hospital chair. She loved him so much. She didn't doubt his feelings for her or for Lily, but she wondered how he really felt about their son. He wasn't planned. They really couldn't handle it financially, not yet. Was he a burden? With disgust, she chastised herself for thinking such thoughts about her precious baby. Sure, she believed Luis loved him. Who wouldn't? But she still remembered their arguments many months before. And though she knew for a fact Luis loved his son, she couldn't erase his hurtful words, unintentional though they may be. |