Spiritual Love: Sequel to Let’s give them Something to Talk About

Sheridan realized how appropriate this song was for the two of them. Luis had taught her to love again. After Jean Luc, she had given up any hope of loving anyone again. All the men in her life had been uses, even her brother and father, but Luis changed her entire world. He saved her in so many ways and she would be forever grateful for that. Sighing, she snuggled closer. “I had a dream last night,” she said softly, leaning her head against his chest. His arms circled her waist and his hand rubbed her side slightly.

“Are the nightmares back?” Luis asked concerned. Despite the fact that she had moved past the nightmares of a murder in the Crane mansion, Sheridan occasionally dreamed of it again. For a long time they had stopped, especially after her hypnosis session with Eve. However, after Alistair’s death, they had returned, more specifically after the reading of the will. Once they moved from the Crane estate, they began to wane, but not enough for Sheridan to sleep peacefully all the time.

“No, in fact, it was about us,” she started drawing lazy circles on his muscular chest.

“Oh yea? What about?”

“I dreamed that we had a baby, a little boy,” her voice was soft and tender. The baby boy had been so adorable. He was the spitting image of Luis, right down to his wonderful brown eyes that she often found herself getting lost in.

One of Luis’ hands moved to caress her abdomen, imagining Sheridan’s belly protruding with child. “A baby, huh?”

“Yes. You do want a family, don’t you?” she asked, shifting so she could look at him. Now was the moment of truth, she would learn if Luis wanted to give her children. They hadn’t discussed it since Thanksgiving when she mentioned their failed use of birth control while making love. Even then, he had said that a baby would be a complication, but one he could live with. She wondered if the months since them could have soured him to having a family with her. He hesitated, trying to read her eyes, her thoughts. She looked away, feeling as if she knew the answer. His pause was killing her inside.

“Sheridan…look at me,” he begged, tilting her face upward.

She looked into his eyes, tears pooling into her bright blue ones. He was going to tell her he didn’t want children. She wanted to get up and shut off that ridiculous music they were listening to.

“Of course I want children with you, Sheridan, I wasn’t sure if you wanted them with me,” he looked into her big blue eyes. Now they were bright and excited; all he could think was ‘I’d love a baby with her eyes.

“I do…I want a family with you,” she returned her head to his chest.

Luis smiled. Sheridan was going to make a wonderful wife and mother.

“Luis, what if I get pregnant before the wedding?” She asked, trying to keep voice even. With her symptoms pointing in that direction, Sheridan feared that she was pregnant. She had hoped to be married to Luis first, but she knew sometimes life didn’t work the way it was planned. What was it that Ethan said; if you want to make God laugh, make a plan?

“I never really thought about it,” he replied, kissing her forehead. “If it happens, we’ll just have to marry sooner and start our family,” he held her close. “I wouldn’t mind any of that, would you?”

“No, I wouldn’t,” Sheridan replied. They leaned in for another kiss when someone knocked on the door. “Damn,” she swore under her breath.

Luis chuckled. “I’ll get it,” he smiled. Sheridan got up from his lap and plopped down sadly on the other end of the couch. Luis went to the door and looked through the peephole. He wasn’t surprise to see Ethan and Theresa outside, their hands locked. Opening the door, he stepped aside and gave them both access into the house.

“Hey,” Theresa smiled and entered. “I forgot my keys or else we wouldn’t have interrupted,” she teased.

’They still would have interrupted something,’ Sheridan thought. Hopping from the couch, she walked over to the group. Cheering up, she admitted that if it had to be anyone, she was glad it was Theresa and Ethan. “Ethan! Theresa! Thank God for some company. Luis can be so boring sometimes,” she teased her fiance. Grinning at him, she caught his ‘you’ll get yours later’ look. The newly arrived pair chuckled.

“I thought we could look over the final sketches for the wedding,” Theresa explained, taking Sheridan’s arm and dragging her into the kitchen. While Theresa still lived with Luis’ family, she was usually gone until suppertime and sometimes late into the night. Between school and the wedding plans, she was running herself ragged. Her wedding was getting closer and she wanted everything to be perfect. In the mean time, she rarely had time to show Sheridan the sketches of the gowns for the wedding.

Ethan laughed at his fiancee and turned to Luis. Clearing his throat, he smiled as his soon to be uncle. “I have a question for you, Luis.”

Luis looked at Ethan and waited to see what this could be about. “Yea?”

“Well, you’ve made my Aunt Sheridan incredibly happy and I could never thank you enough for that. I know that she loves you more than anything, despite some hard times. I know we’ve had our share of arguments as well, but you’re going to be a very important part of our lives soon. I could think of no better way to welcome you into my family by asking you to stand up with me at my wedding to your sister.”

“You’re asking me to be your best man?” Luis asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” Ethan replied, blushing slightly. “It would mean a lot to me, Luis. I know you wanted to give her away, but I think Miguel can handle that.”

“I’d be honored, Ethan,” Luis shook his hand. “Excited about the wedding?”

Ethan nodded. “I can’t believe Theresa is just finishing the patterns.”

Luis laughed. “Just like her to hold off until last minute.”

The men laughed and moved into the living room to chat.

“I sent in my patterns last week,” Theresa said, flipping open her sketchpad. “Here’s what you asked for.”

“Theresa, this is gorgeous!” Sheridan exclaimed. The wedding gown Theresa had designed for her was a Cinderella gown with white silk roses, lace and ribbon decorating it. It was off the shoulders and the train was six feet long.

“I followed your plans as best I could,” Theresa replied, looking over her sketch.

“Gorgeous, perfect,” Sheridan smiled. “Does it have the one other requirement?” Sheridan asked motioning to the skirt.

Theresa nodded. “The skirt is detachable and below it the bodice continues into a form fitting skirt with a slit up to the thigh, so you and Luis can tango,” she smiled. When she looked up from the sketch she could see that Sheridan was elsewhere.

“Luis and I tango so well together,” Sheridan said, her mind off to their first dance. She loved how he twirled and dipped her and made her feel so alive. Never had she danced with someone before that day and felt the emotions she had in his arms…and when he bowed and smiled at her, she melted.

“Almost seems like a waste of time, doesn’t it?” Theresa asked her friend. “When you think of all the time you two spent fighting…”

Sheridan cut her off, “I think we wouldn’t have ever made it this far had we not fought with each other to begin with,” she smiled. “He was arrogant and stubborn and so damn frustrating about that damn car…”

“Well that was his baby,” Theresa teased, “and you did kill it…twice.”

“Well I didn’t plan on hitting a police car,” she laughed. “But I wouldn’t change one moment of the past year and a half. I loved every minute of it…well except this entire mess with the drug cartel, but even that has worked to our advantage,” Sheridan blushed.

“Please, we’re talking about my big brother. As much as I love being your friend and all, I draw the line at your sex life and innuendo of said sex life…especially when it involves Luis.”

The pair giggled and decided to return to the wedding plans. Sheridan gazed at the sketch of her gown and envisioned herself in it. She sighed. This was just a piece of paper and the gown was yet to be made. Heck, the wedding was yet to be planned.

“What’s wrong, Sheridan?”

“Just dreaming about the wedding.”

“Did you two finally set a date?” the brunette asked. By the look on Sheridan’s face she realized they hadn’t. “He does love you,” she guessed her worry.

“Oh, I know that,” Sheridan replied. “But it seems like we’ll never be married.” Studying the picture one last time, she whispered, “I wish the entire drug cartel crisis would disappear so we could set a date. He’s so stubborn!”

“Sheridan, he’s only trying to protect you. He loves you. As soon as those guys are caught, I’m sure he’ll marry you.”

“But what happens if I’m pregnant?” she asked, before she realized what she said. When she did, she covered her mouth in shock.

“Pregnant?” Theresa gasped. “I’ll have to let out the skirt, redesign the waist…”

Sheridan laughed and looked at her friend. “Don’t say anything. Luis doesn’t know.”

Theresa nodded and decided to move on with her plans. Just as Theresa opened the book to the gown Sheridan would be wearing as a bride’s maid, the back door slammed open and the glass from it shattered everywhere, causing the women to jump up. Before Sheridan or Theresa could react, two men began dragging them out, their mouths covered by black gloved hands. Sheridan bit down on the one hand and when he let go, she screamed, “LUIS!”

Luis and Ethan were chatting amicably for the first time in a while when Luis swore he heard shattering glass in the kitchen. “Did you hear that?” his police instincts began to kick in. Ethan shook his head. “Maybe they dropped a glass.”

Luis listed but did not seem to hear anything else. He was about to shrug it off when he heard Sheridan scream out for him.

“That I heard!” Ethan exclaimed.

“Look, get on the phone and call Sam Bennett at the station, tell him I need back up ASAP,” Luis directed, grabbing his gun and running into the kitchen in time to see Sheridan being dragged away. Luis rushed out after them, his mind working overtime. He knew that this was not exactly the procedure he should be following, but the love of his life was being dragged away by yet another hit man. He was surprised when he found them in the backyard, waiting for him. Even he should have seen this as a trap.

“Bonjour, Officer,” one of the men spoke. He had Sheridan in his arms, one hand holding a knife to her throat and another keeping her pressed against him. “It is a pleasure meeting you again.”

Luis glared at him, his gun tucked away in the back of his pants. This was the last person he would have ever expected to show up…ever. Luis admitted that the man had to be desperate to come after Sheridan himself. “Let her go.”

“Non, non, non, this is not the way it works,” the French man laughed. “It is not so easy to get her back, non?”

Luis took a step closer, but the man pressed the knife closer to Sheridan’s throat.

“Don’t be so foolish, Officer,” the man looked down at Sheridan for a moment and then back at Luis.

Luis looked at Sheridan and their eyes met. A tear rolled down her cheek and Luis’ heart broke; he hated to see her cry. It was his weakness and anyone that knew Luis knew that one of Sheridan’s tears could tear his world to shreds. Before he could react again, another man stepped out from behind the first. Just as familiar as the first man, to Luis, this man was holding a woman in the same position…Theresa.

“Now that mon ami has chosen to join us, we can begin,” the first man laughed madly. “We will let you have one of the women back, Officer, since one was taken by mistake. But only one…you’ll have to chose between the woman you love or your sister.” The man could see Luis’ anger begin to build.

Luis looked over at Theresa, who was terrified. He didn’t know what he would do without Sheridan, but he couldn’t let his sister die either. This situation seemed so surreal and he wasn’t sure he had ever woken up this morning. He chanced a glance at Sheridan, who was gazing at the ground. She seemed ready to sacrifice herself in order to save his sister. Was he willing to make this decision?

Theresa stared at her brother and knew he was feeling torn. After all, she was his baby sister and he had practically raised her. However, Sheridan was his fiancee and she kept his world turning. Glad that her mouth was uncovered, she called to him, fear and desperation in her voice. “Don’t let me die…please…don’t let me die,” she begged. She began to panic.

Luis didn’t know what to do and continued to look back and forth between Sheridan and Theresa. This was the hardest decision of his life. “What happens if I don’t choose?”

“Then both die,” the first man replied gruffly. He wasn’t against killing an innocent bystander; it had happened before and would happen again.

Sheridan’s eyes teared and another drop rolled down her cheek. Here she was, having a beautiful morning with the man she loved and this had to happen. She didn’t even get to tell him her suspicions that she was pregnant. If she had the entire morning to do over again, she would have told him when he asked. It was too late to think about this now. She had to get him to chose and was willing to sacrifice herself so that his sister might live. Taking a ragged breath, Sheridan knew what she had to do. Catching his eyes, she mouthed, “I love you,” and then hesitated. After a moment she mouthed, “Save Theresa.”

Luis took another step towards the man holding Sheridan, but the French man replied by moving the knife closer to her neck, this time drawing blood. Sheridan whimpered in his arms.

“No, leave her alone!” Luis cried out. “Just let her go!”

Ethan pulled out his cell phone the minute Luis ran out of the living room. Glancing at the phone, he hesitated briefly. For the first time since he was handed the envelope in the lawyer’s office, he had to talk to Chief Bennett. His mind flashed to that day.

“Instead of revealing everything to all of you, I have decided that information pertinent to your situation would be provided to you in a sealed envelope. No one is to discuss the contents of their envelopes with anyone beside the person beside you…ever! This means, Sheridan can only reveal the information to Luis…Julian to Ivy and Ethan to Theresa.”

Ethan tore into his envelope, wondering what he grandfather could possibly have jotted down for him to know. He read the words three times before he tore it to shreds and threw it into a nearby fire…”You’re real father hates you and you are not a Crane.”

Many people hated him, but Theresa had paled considerably at the words. She whispered something about Sam, which Ethan hadn’t heard completely, and then told him that his Grandfather must have been confused. After all, Alistair had named Ethan heir.

Shaking his head, Ethan realized that she was right and ignored the information he had gathered since then, namely Sam’s photo in Ivy’s locket. He dialed the number for the police station and then walked into the kitchen to get a sight of Luis. As he waited for someone to answer, he noticed he could watch the entire scene from the window by the sink. Finally, he heard someone pick up.

“Harmony PD, what is your emergency?”

“I need to talk to my…umm…Sam Bennett…it’s an emergency.”

“Can I ask who’s calling?” the cop on the other end asked nonchalantly.

“Ethan Crane…it’s about my aunt…” he was amazingly calm, just as he had been the night of Sheridan’s shooting.

Without question, the phone immediately was switched over.

“Sam Bennett,” Sam said as he picked up the phone.

“Chief Bennett, Luis has requested backup at the Lopez-Fitzgerald home. Another series of hit men are holding Sheridan and Theresa hostage in the backyard,” Ethan realized just how dangerous, and absurd, the situation was and began to falter.

“All right, Ethan, we’ll have backup there immediately,” Sam replied, hanging up and rushing off with a pack of men. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far to the Lopez-Fitzgerald home and they might be able to catch the men before it was too late.

“So are you choosing her over your sister?” the man holding Sheridan asked. That was not exactly how it was planned. He expected the American hero’s sense of family and duty to override his unnerving love for the spoiled Miss Crane. Never did he expect Luis to choose Sheridan over his own sister.

“It isn’t fair to make me chose like this!” Luis growled, frustrated. He had to stall long enough for Sam to get here. By now, Ethan should have called the station and reinforcements should have been on their way. Suddenly, he noticed a bit of movement in the corner of his eye. He watched as Sam and a few other men surrounded the area unnoticed by the hit men. Sam nodded to Luis to let him know they were ready and to try any means possible to get the women out of danger.

“Just let the two women go and I won’t be too hard on you!” Luis growled viciously, taking another step. Again the knife moved closer to Sheridan’s neck, drawing more blood. Luis watched as it began to run down her neck and onto his T-shirt.

Sheridan was now crying uncontrollably, breaking Luis’ heart even more. She was always getting into these dangerous situations; she wondered if she was a jinx. Would her life always be so complicate? Would she never be safe? Looking at Luis, she realized that he wasn’t as nervous as he was before. He seemed calmer, almost as if he knew something the hit men didn’t. His eyes no longer showed fear or pain, but hate and vengeance. Wondering about the sudden change, she heard a twig break somewhere behind her and a gun cock.

“Drop you’re weapons,” Sam’s voice called from behind them. “We have you surrounded.” Relief flooded Sheridan’s eyes and she knew it would all be over soon.

The man holding Theresa immediately dropped the knife. He was too cowardly to let himself be killed for no reason. After all, Theresa had been grabbed in a moment of panic. He hadn’t meant to take the cop’s sister. In fact, they weren’t supposed to have stayed in the back yard to goad Luis on. This had all been a mistake and he knew it.

Theresa immediately took off out of his arms and into the house. Now that she was free, she wanted as far away from the scene as possible.

“I’m not letting her go,” the man holding Sheridan swore. “Pierre, how could you let her go?” he yelled.

Luis drew his gun from behind him. “We aren’t going to ask you again to drop the knife,” he growled again. “Don’t think they won’t shoot you in the back!”

But Roger wasn’t afraid. He had Sheridan Crane wrapped tightly in his arms and he knew that no one would risk her life. She was the fiancee of the man in front of him and the entire police force considered Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald a friend. Shooting at him meant a risk of hitting Sheridan. He loosened his grip on the knife at the same time Sheridan moved slightly. Her body shifting caused the knife to slip from his gloved hand and fall to the ground. When Roger noticed that he no longer held Sheridan hostage, he moved to reach for his hidden gun. As he drew it slowly from his pocket, Sheridan realized she was free.

“Sheridan, get down!” Luis cried. The second she ducked, he shot Roger in the arm causing him to drop the gun. Sam and the other men rushed in to capture them. In no time, both were in handcuffs and being dragged to the waiting cars.

Sheridan had collapsed onto the grass and started crying hysterically. She had never been so afraid for herself in her entire life. Even the shooting months ago paled in comparison to the knife that had been pressed into her neck. Perhaps it was the fact that she believed she was having Luis’ baby or maybe because he would have been forced to watch her die, but Sheridan felt different about this attack. Suddenly, she felt two arms wrap around her and she tensed. It wasn’t until she smelled his cologne that she relaxed into the embrace and clung to him.

“Shh…I’ve got you now, baby, I’ve got you now,” he rocked as he held her. “We’ve got them, Sherry angel, and they won’t ever hurt you again.” Luis looked down and her and remembered she had been cut. “Let me see your neck, sweetheart.”

Sheridan was shaking and her eyes were still closed as she looked up and turned her head a little. It wasn’t too deep, but it was still bleeding slightly. “Sam’s got a first aid kit, let’s get that cleaned up for you.”

Sheridan nodded and tried to stand, but she was shaking so hard she couldn’t. Her knees buckled and she started to fall again. Luis swept her into his arms and held her close. “There now, I’ve got you, Sherry.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life as they walked inside.

“Don’t let go,” she whispered into his ear.

“I won’t, Sheridan, I won’t,” he promised. Sitting her on the couch, he took the first aid kit from one of the other officers. She shook as he moved away from her slightly, but he placed a hand on her knee to calm her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She nodded.

Sam approached silently, not really wanting to interrupt but knowing that protocol mandated that he see the victim. “Luis we’re going to need statements and Ids from you, Theresa and Sheridan,” Sam said, watching as the other officers buzzed around the home collecting evidence and talking to Theresa and Ethan.

“Can it wait, Sam?” Luis asked, digging through the kit for something to clean Sheridan’s wound. He knew it couldn’t, but he had to try. Sheridan was still shaking uncontrollably and it was going to take all he had just to calm her down enough to clean her neck. “Just a little while, Sam, so I can get her calmed down.”

Sam nodded. “Should I get Eve? Maybe she can help.” He, of course, meant that Eve could give Sheridan a sedative if necessary, but he didn’t say that.

Luis shook his head, knowing what his friend was offering. “I’ll take care of her, Sam…and don’t bother Mama at the restaurant either, I don’t need her worrying for nothing.” Pilar would worry all right, and Luis knew that. She would also hate him for not sending word to her sooner.

However, she was busy enough at the new restaurant that he didn’t need her running home. She was the owner and had work to do. As long as Sheridan was all right, the information could wait.

Sam nodded again. “I’m going to go check on your sister and Ethan. If you change your mind about Eve let me know.”

“Thanks, Sam,” Luis said, finally finding some anti-septic in the kit.

“No problem, buddy,” Sam said walking away.

Luis cleaned Sheridan’s cut as thoroughly as he could and then blew on it to ease the stinging. He kissed the area gently and moved back to look into her eyes. He could see pain and anguish in them; something he had sworn would never enter those lovely pools of blue again. Guiltily, he lowered his head, “I’m sorry.”

She cupped his cheek, her body still shaking periodically. She forced his eyes to meet hers.

“Luis, it’s not your fault,” she sniffled. “You saved my life again…you’re my hero,” she smiled slightly. She opened her arms, “Come here.”

He climbed onto the couch beside her and they held each other, Sheridan’s shaking subsiding slowly as the warmth in his arms pushed away the pain. Luis kissed her forehead and rubbed her arm, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. He reminded her that he loved her, that he would never let anyone hurt her again. Luis kissed her temple and reminded her of the songs they had listened to, of the things they had shared. From now on he promised that it would be nothing but good. When she finally calmed down, he said, “We caught them, baby, and now we can start the plans for our wedding.”

The last bit caught Sheridan’s attention immediately and her tears came to a complete stand still. She was positively glowing with the thought of finally marrying Luis. She moved so she could look into his eyes and smiled. “I finally get to marry my prince,” she kissed his lips lightly. “Now, I wonder where he is…” her sense of humor returning suddenly. “Oh, that’s right, he was avoiding Beth while he dated some woman he remembers from his past in Boston,” she said, referring to Hank. “I guess I’ll just have to settle for you,” she teased, feeling much better.

Luis chuckled. “Well I can always make arrangements for you to marry Hank if that’s what you want,” he shrugged it off like it was no big deal.

“Don’t you dare!” her eyes became wide. “I don’t love anyone but you, Luis,” she climbed into his lap. “No one could ever make me as happy as you do.”

Luis smiled and hugged her. “Come on, let’s go lock those scum bags behind bars and then spend the afternoon outside. We can finally go shopping like you wanted and see what it’s like to bask in the sun again.”

Her eyes brightened and she nodded. After one very long year, it was over. She and Luis had brought the French drug cartel to its knees by catching the men in charge. “All right, lets go!” Hopping off his lap, she nearly dragged him out the door.

“Miss Crane, if you’ll follow me,” Officer John Briggs stated, a sympathetic smile on his face. He had heard the details of the hostage situation when he arrived on shift. Sam Bennett had warned him that Sheridan and Luis would be in to identify the hit men. Unfortunately, no one warned Sheridan that she and Luis would not be together for this part. First he would need to question her about the events of the afternoon and then bring her into another room so she could point out the two men that had attacked her this morning.

Clinging to Luis’ hand, Sheridan shook her head no. “I’m not leaving Luis’ side,” she whispered.

“Miss Crane, I’m afraid you and Luis will need to be questioned separately and then make separate Ids of the men in question,” Briggs explained.

Luis knew this drill. He had asked the same thing of countless victims over the years. Asking a woman that had been raped to recount the details and then stand alone in a pitch black room looking through the tinted window to identify the man that had attacked her. He had been witness to emotional breakdowns during these trying times and he didn’t want to see Sheridan go through this.

“Briggs, can’t we bend protocol this once?”

“’fraid not, Luis,” the cop answered. “Feds are in on this one and everything has to be by the book.”

Luis looked deep into Sheridan’s eyes. “You’ll be all right. Sam is going to take you into a little room like the night I booked you and ask you a few questions about this morning. Then he’ll take you into a room with a window. You can see out but no one can see it…he’ll ask you to tell him the number of the man that grabbed you and his accomplice. It will all be over soon. Ok?”

She wanted to say no, but she saw such love and dedication in his eyes that she knew he would never let anything hurt her. She nodded yes, sniffled and followed Briggs off into the hallway.

Two hours later, Luis was standing in an ID room. He knew Sheridan was in the one beside him. He looked at David Martinez and sighed. “How was she during questioning?”

“Scared as all hell,” Martinez replied. “That woman had to relive the entire ordeal and every time Sam lightened up that damn federal agent put in his two sense. I’m surprised she didn’t pass out. You’d have been damn proud of her.”

“I already am,” he took a moment to peek into the room with Sheridan in it. He knew this next part would be the hardest yet.

“All right, Sheridan, we’re going to bring in the first set of men,” Sam spoke to her much like he would a child.

Sheridan tearfully looked up and him and he felt a pang of regret. He knew she had been through a great ordeal and this was only making it worse. Only the light coming from the holding area, which cast an eerie glow about, lighted the room. Sheridan shivered and sighed. She wasn’t ready for this.

Despite her reluctance, Sam nodded and had one of the guards call for the men to be brought in. Seven men were in the line up, ranging in height from five-foot-eleven to six-foot-four. She was asked to pick the one that was holding Theresa. Easily, Sheridan spotted Pierre and called out his number. Sam nodded, impressed at how well she was doing. He knew the hardest was yet to come though. Nodding again, the guard had this group brought out and the next group brought in.

These men were similar in height as the last group. She noticed one that she swore looked like one of the kids at the Youth Center. In fact, he resembled the boy so much; Sheridan wondered if it could be the teen’s father. Shaking her head, she waited for instructions.

“All right, Sheridan,” Sam sighed. “Again we want you to take your time, but this time identify the man that was holding *you* at knife point.”

Gulping, Sheridan realized that this was inviting memories to return. She had fought so hard to stay calm like Luis begged, but she wasn’t sure she could once she saw Roger’s face. She knew it could only get worse. Scanning the row and looking at all that faces, she met the cold brown eyes of the French man that held her this morning. Only he had the smug smile that caused her knees to weaken and panic to shoot through her veins. He was the man that had pressed the cold steel blade into the soft flesh of her neck. He had been chasing her for over a year now. He was the one that replayed in her mind’s eye when she pictured the events of the morning.

Collapsing into a heap on the floor, she began to shriek. “NO!” she screamed. “NO!” she hid her face as the memories of the morning rushed back at her. The broken glass…the cold knife…the look in Luis’ eyes when she said goodbye and begged him to save his sister. It all flooded her senses in one fowl swoop and Sheridan was sure she would faint. “NO!” she screeched, crying and shaking violently on the tiled floor of the room.

Sam begged her to give him a number, but she continued to scream.

In the next room, Luis quickly identified the last of the two perpetrators. He didn’t waste any time; after all, he had stared this man in the eye for half an hour if not more. He was beginning to lose himself in the memories of the morning until the shrill scream of his beloved Sheridan brought him back to the present. Luis bolted for the door, wanting to hold her and stop her screams. Martinez grabbed him and forcefully held him back. “No, Luis, she has to do this. She has to let it out and tell Sam which jerk did this to her. It’s the only way she’ll have closure!”

“She doesn’t need closure, damn it, she needs me!” Luis fought his friend’s grip. “Dave I need to go to her.”

“Let her do this, Luis! Let her fight the demons herself!”

Luis slammed his fist against the wall, listening to her wails. For nearly twenty minutes he heard her scream, knowing the memories were killing her inside. Finally, he heard silence. He peeked through the window between their rooms and saw her. She was pale and shaking, but something inside her had given way to hate. The fear was gone. Sheridan pointed a frail shaking finger at the window. Calmly, looking into the eyes of the man that had held her hostage, she whispered.

“It was number four,” and fainted dead away.

Luis returned home sometime after five that afternoon carrying a sleeping Sheridan in his arms. Miguel, who was sitting on the couch, looked up with a questioning look on his face. He had seen the yellow police tape around the backyard, but no one explained the situation.

“She fell asleep in the car,” Luis whispered, carrying Sheridan to his room. He and Sheridan had never made it to the stores. After she fainted, Luis had rushed into the room to be with her. She woke in his arms, crying herself until she became sick. Sam had told Luis to bring her home; they had gotten everything they needed from her. Luis carried her out of the station, her legs far too weak to support her body. The moment he buckled her safely into the car, she whimpered and closed her eyes, falling into a restless, emotion induced sleep.

After laying Sheridan on the bed, he kissed her cheek gently and headed into the kitchen to start supper. Luis didn’t want to leave Sheridan’s side, but he did need to make something for the family to eat. He was surprised to see his mother cooking and glanced at his watch. Blinking, he checked again and was shocked to see how late it really was.

“I’m sorry, Mama, I wanted to be home in time to cook,” he said, noting that the glass on the door had been fixed already. He made a mental note to thank Sam for that. He didn’t want to have Sheridan remembering more than she already had to.

“Why didn’t you tell me they had found Sheridan?” Pilar asked, as she checked one of the pots on the stove. “I came home and the back yard was taped off and there was someone fixing the door,” she motioned to the glass that was still on the floor. Luis grabbed a broom and swept it up.

“I didn’t want you to be bothered at the restaurant, Mama. Besides, I wanted to tell you what happened but Sheridan was in bad shape and then we had to go down to the station and…”

“Luis, I am never too busy to know that my son and his fiancee were in danger in my home. I never again want to find out something happened hours after it is over. I would have liked to have been here for Sheridan.”

“Well, she’s still going to need you now, Mama. In fact, she fell asleep from crying. Every time I get her mind off of it, something happens and we’re back at square one. I’m worried about her. I don’t think she’s ever looked so afraid before. She was so pale, screaming so terribly. Mama, I’m really afraid that today was Sheridan’s breaking point.”

"Luis, she did have a man hold her hostage and threaten to kill her in front of her fiance, I’m sure she’s going to need time, Mijo. She will come around because of your love."

"I know," Luis sighed. "But I hate seeing her hurt like that. It tears me up inside. I just want to make it all go away."

Pilar walked to her son and hugged him. "This is what she loves about you, Luis, the fact that you care so much. You mean the world to her. All she needs is you."

He hugged his mother back. "Thanks, Mama. She’s all I need too."

In the bedroom, Sheridan slept, though not so peacefully. The day’s events became distorted and she started tossing a little. She saw the scene play out but this time Roger aimed a gun at Luis. From her position in the madman’s arms, she could hear the gun cock. Everything happened in slow motion as he pulled the trigger and hit his target.

"LUIS!" she screamed, terrified. He had fallen to the ground, the blood pooling around his body. Sheridan began to thrash around wildly in the bed, not realizing she had called out in her sleep.

Hearing his fiancee cry of distress, Luis ran from the kitchen and to his bedroom. He found her screaming and crying, her body shaking as she clung to his pillow.

"NO! LUIS! Don’t die!" she was sobbing. He wasn’t sure what caused this to happen. Perhaps she was digging up memories of his shooting on September or maybe her own two months ago. All he knew is that she needed comforting.

Luis wrapped his arms around her. "Sheridan…Sheridan, come back to me…I’m here...I’m all right," he stated calmly. Another nightmare, he sighed. He was hoping these wouldn’t return any time soon. They had dealt with so many nightmares, even ones of "that night." This mess was just another stumbling block in their relationship and he knew only patients would help her through this.

Sheridan slowly came back to reality, surprised to find two strong arms wrapped around her lovingly. She blinked away the last images of the nightmare and clung to Luis’ body. "I thought they shot you…I watched you die. Oh God, Luis, I’m so afraid," Sheridan sobbed into his chest.

"I got you, Sherry, and no one will hurt you," he rubbed her back. "Everything will be all right. They’re gone for good this time, Sheridan. They can never hurt us again."

"I couldn’t live without you," she sobbed, her body shaking.

"I’m fine, sweetheart," he pulled back and wiped the tears from her face. "It was only a dream, one that never will come true."

"It seemed so real," she shivered.

"Want to talk about it?" he asked lovingly, his hand rubbing her back soothingly. "Maybe if you talk about the whole dream it won’t seem so real."

"Not really," she looked into his eyes. She read the love and understanding in them. Sheridan couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have him in her life. "My super cop," she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He chuckled. "Mama’s making supper, she beat us home tonight."

"But, Luis, the poor woman cooks all day!"

"I know. She’s angry with me."

"For not cooking?" Sheridan was confused.

"No," he smiled. God, she was beautiful.

"Then why?" she asked, hoping he would have offered the information instead of making her ask. Sometimes he was so irritating that way. She shifted to see his face.

"Because I didn’t tell her what happened this afternoon. I tried to spare her the unneeded stress until she got home tonight."

"Well, I think that was sweet of you, baby, but she probably wanted to help." Sheridan knew how Pilar’s mind worked; hers often worked the same way, especially when it came to Luis.

"That’s what she said," he sighed, feeling out numbered. "Want to come help set the table or do you want to rest some more?"

"You mean you’re letting little old me decide?" she asked sarcastically, but smiled. "I’ll come help."

He offered her his hand and she took it.

"Luis."

"Yea?"

"Thank you."

"For what?" he asked turning to look at her.

"For saving my life again, for loving me, for taking care of me and giving me a home. We started off badly…"

"Badly?" he teased.

"Ok, we started off like sworn enemies…"

He gave her a look.

"Ok, I hit your car and ticked you off and had you arrested…"

"Better," he smiled.

"My point is I love you. It was almost impossible to get here, but we did it."

Sweeping her up into his arms, he replied. "I wouldn’t want it any other way, Sherry angel." He cradled her close and carried her to the kitchen, much to her delight. He put her down and took her hand, but she froze. She looked at the swinging door to the kitchen and tried to force back the events of today. They were coming back, creeping into her reality uninvited.

"I can’t go in there, Luis," she stated softly. Her body began to shake again. She remembered sitting at the table when the men came in and she was terrified to go back into that room.

"Sherry, we caught those men…and I’ll be with you." He needed to relieve this fear fast.

She sighed. "You’ll hold my hand?"

Luis nodded and turned to her, taking her other hand in his. "I’ll hold both."

She smiled. "I love you, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald."

"I love you more, Sheridan Crane."

"I’m not a Crane…remember?" she replied.

"But you’re my Sherry…and soon you’ll be Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald."

She smiled again. "Lead the way, darling."

He led her into the kitchen and they helped Pilar finish the meal and set the table. Her fear subsiding every time she looked at Luis.

"So you caught them, now what?" Miguel asked as they ate. Beside him, to his right, Charity was sipping her water. Across from them, Ethan and Theresa sat, still in shock over the day’s events. At one end, Pilar sat, still slightly angry with Luis. At the other, Luis sat pushing food around on his plate. To his left, Sheridan was eating and occasionally holding his hand.

"Yea, big brother, now what?" Theresa added.

Luis took Sheridan’s hand. Smiling up at him, she waited expectantly for an answer to the question.

"I want to marry Sheridan on whatever day she chooses."

"Really?" Sheridan asked.

"Really!"

"December 22," Sheridan chose a date.

"What about a home? Sheridan wants a job! What about the arrangements and the dresses and expenses?" Pilar thought Luis wasn’t thinking this through. Sure, a wedding could be planned in eight months, that wasn’t the problem. However, she knew they had many things to work through before a wedding.

"I think we can settle it all in time. Sheridan and I still have to talk about a home and all, but I’m almost positive it can be done."

"Really, Luis, do you really mean we can have a Christmas wedding?"

"If that’s what you want baby," he replied.

She jumped up and nearly knocked him from his chair with the force of her hug. He chuckled.

"It’s been two months since we became engaged and by the time we marry it will be almost a year, but I did promise we would start planning as soon as you were safe. So it’s time."

She was giddy! All she wanted was to marry Luis and now it was finally going to happen. Leaning in, she kissed him passionately. Pilar couldn’t deny it; they belonged together and nothing would stop this wedding from happening. Sheridan slid back into her own chair, beaming.

"Well," Ethan started, "if it’s any help, Theresa and I will have no problem assisting where we can…even financially." He knew Sheridan had turned down all of the Crane money but a tiny sum Julian has insisted she keep.

"That’s very nice of you, Ethan," Sheridan took Luis hand. "But I will be using some of the Barrett money for the wedding," she grinned. Her tone booked no argument.

Luis didn’t even bother saying anything. He knew better. Sheridan also knew not to force the money issue on anything else and smiled at Luis. Finally, they were learning compromise.

That night in bed, Sheridan snuggled closely to Luis, her head on his chest and her hand over his heart. They had just finished making love as quietly as possible. He had tried to control himself, so had she, but the thought that they would soon be married caused them to lose control. As they basked in the afterglow, she decided to tell him. It wasn’t romantic, but it would do.

"I have some news," she whispered to him.

"Me too," he replied. "You first."

"I think I’m pregnant."

He pulled back to look into her eyes. "Really?" he asked in an excited whisper, his eyes glowing at the information she shared.

She nodded. "I’m late for the second time in two months and I’ve been getting morning sickness…"

He hugged her closer. "Sheridan, this is great news!" he rolled her onto her back. Sitting up, he rubbed her naked belly, wishing he could see through the flesh to look at their child.

"You’re not angry?" she asked watching him.

"Never, baby, never," he kissed her belly. "A baby is the best news I could get today…my news isn’t so good."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Sam wants me back to work on Monday. We only have three more days together."

She sighed. "We knew you’d have to go back sometime."

He nodded and leaned in to kiss her belly again. "We’re pregnant."

She grinned and pulled him down to her. "We’re pregnant."

"How did it happen?" he asked, shocked at the realization.

"Let me show you," she winked…and she did. She showed her repeatedly just how their baby was made.

Chapter Two