Still Loving You

Chapter 18:

Sheridan pulled out of the kiss and pulled Luis into a fierce hug. Luis put his arms around her and heard Sheridan sniffling. He pulled away from her and cupped her face in his hands. He could see tears glistening in eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked softly. "I..I'm just so afraid that this is a dream, and I'll wake up, and you'll be gone" she replied, a few tears slipping down her cheeks.

Luis wiped away her tears with his fingers. "Hey, it's okay. This is not a dream, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm never going to leave you again. I promise, okay?" Sheridan smiled weakly and nodded, "I'm sorry," she said. "For what?" "For ruining our date with my ridiculous worries." "No, no. You didn't ruin anything. Let's just go have dinner, alright?" "Okay" Sheridan replied, and went up to the blanket.

*Sheridan's apartment*

"Alright Danielle. That was the last story, and now it's time for bed" said Pilar. "But I'm not" she paused, trying to stifle a yawn, "sleepy." "Come on. Lay down. Night-night sweetie." Danielle was asleep a few seconds after she closed her eyes. Pilar smiled and walked out of the room. She turned the corner to go into the kitchen and came face to face with a man in a black ski mask. She opened her mouth to scream, but the intruder clamped his hand over her mouth and hit her over the head with a vase. Pilar slumped to the floor unconscious. The masked intruder stepped over Pilar's body and headed towards Danielle's room.

*The beach*

"Luis, no more! I couldn't eat another bite. I'm stuffed!" "Aw, come on Sher." Luis held a forkful of pie up to Sheridan's mouth and grinned playfully. "No!" "Alright, that's it. You're going to get it now!" Luis tackled Sheridan so that he had her arms pinned down and he was on top of her, their faces inches apart. Their eyes locked in a look of love and desire. Luis leaned down so that their lips met. It started out innocent, but slowly escalated, with Luis's hands roaming down Sheridan's body and her hands ruffling his hair.

He moved down to her neck, causing electricity to shoot through her body. She had never felt this way before. No one had ever done to her what Luis was doing, what Luis could do to her with a simple kiss. She started to undo the buttons of his shirt, while he slid the straps of her dress down. They engaged in another passionate kiss, exploring each other's mouths. The fire inside both of them had been ignited, and neither were willing to douse the flames. Sheridan had begun tugging on the belt of Luis's belt, when her phone rang.

"Let it go" Luis whispered in a husky voice. "What if something happened?" She reluctantly got up and grabbed the phone after having regained her composure. "Hello?" "If I were you, I would get home as fast as you can," said a low voice. "What? Who are you?" The caller hung up. Sheridan stared at the phone in bewilderment..

To Be Continued...

Chapter 19:

"Who was it?" asked Luis coming up behind her. "I..I don't know. Just we need to get back to my apartment." "Why?" Luis asked in confusion. "Please just take me home." "Okay" Luis went and put away the food and he and Sheridan started up to the car. As soon as Luis had stopped the car, Sheridan jumped from the car and ran into the building, leaving Luis behind with a look of confusion on his face. Luis ran after Sheridan, stopping the elevator doors before they closed. All the way up Sheridan stood with her arms folded staring ahead with worry. What had the mysterious caller meant? God, how she hoped her little Danielle was alright.

When the elevator stopped Sheridan practically broke down the doors. She ran down to her apartment, her lips twisted into a worried frown as she fumbled through her purse for her keys. Finally, she found them and hastily opened the door. She stood in the doorway, eyeing everything carefully. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted something near the kitchen. With Luis behind her, Sheridan walked cautiously over to the kitchen. She gasped at the sight of Pilar lying motionless on the floor in front of her.

"What the hell" Luis said, then crouched down to his mother. "Is she okay?" asked Sheridan. "She should be. She's just unconscious." Sheridan remembered Danielle. "Danielle. Where's Danielle?!" she cried and raced to her daughter's room. She turned on the lights and scanned through the room. She ran to the bed and went through the covers then ran to the closet looking inside, clinging to a small shred of hope. After checking every space in Danielle's room, Sheridan ran peering into other rooms.

"Mama?" Luis said softly. "Luis oh my head hurts" Pilar groaned. She suddenly remembered the night's previous events and her eyes grew wide. "Luis! The the man! He...he came and knocked me out and oh, no. Danielle. Danielle...where is she?" She spotted Sheridan walking back into the room looking defeated. "Pilar are you alright?" Sheridan asked. "Just a headache. Wh-where's Danielle?" "She...she's gone" Sheridan whispered.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 20:

sorry if you guys get this twice,i wasn't sure if it got sent. "Where's Danielle?" asked Pilar. "She...she's gone" Sheridan whispered. A sob broke her voice and tears coursed down her cheeks. Pilar stood and held her arms open. Sheridan hugged Pilar, and cried in her arms, like when she was a child. Sheridan felt a tear fall onto her and realized Pilar was crying too. Luis left the two women and went to the phone to call the police. As he was reaching for the phone, it rang. He picked it up.

"Hello?" "Let me speak to Ms. Crane" said the caller. He had a deep voice, and his tone was menacing, almost frightening. "Ms. Crane is busy at the moment." "I suggest you let me speak to her. I am calling on the whereabouts of her daughter." "What? Who is this?" Luis asked gruffly. "Just get Ms. Crane on the phone."

"Sheridan" said Luis running into the room. "There's a man on the phone calling about Danielle." Sheridan grabbed the extension nearest to her. "Hello?" she said in a shaky voice. "Hello, Ms. Crane. Now, I will answer your question before you ask it. Yes, I have your daughter. I will give you a proposition for her life. You must meet me at the abandoned warehouse on the wharf tomorrow. Alone. No police." Sheridan gave her consent in a wavering voice, trying to keep her composure.

"Now I want to speak with Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald." Sheridan handed the phone to Luis, her eyes questioning. Luis shrugged and took the phone. "Yes" he said, with fury and hatred obvious in his tone.

"Ah, yes, Luis. Let's just say that this is just one of the consequences. And I was nice this time, to put it bluntly, so you know where you stand." Luis's fist clenched and his face hardened at the caller's words. He was being mocked, and he hated the feeling that someone else held this sort of power over him. He hated even more that someone would do this to Sheridan. That was something he would not put up with.

"Ta ta for now Lopez-Fitzgerald." As soon as he heard the phone click Luis hung up, and started out the door, his face a mask of steel, showing nothing but determination. "Luis? Luis, where are you going?" Sheridan asked, trying to pull him back. Luis took her hands off of him and said nothing. "Luis, please. Just stay." Her blue eyes pleaded with him, and he almost gave in until he saw the sadness and pain in Sheridan's eyes.

He shook his head and looked into Sheridan's eyes. "Sheridan, stay here with Mama. Don't go anywhere. Please. Promise me." Sheridan frowned, but gave Luis her word. She watched him walk down the hall, her heart heavy with fear the she would lose Danielle and Luis.

Luis felt nothing but anger. He was going to fix this, no matter what it took. He was not going to be bullied anymore, not when it made Sheridan go through this. He stepped into the elevator, determined to make things right again.

He could see Luis rounding the corner, angry--no, positively furious. He smiled, knowing he was the cause of Luis's fury, and would be the cause of more. A small pang of guilt coursed through his body, but was quickly swept away by the thoughts of all the money he would be receiving. He turned from the small, dust-laden window he was at, and looked at the small girl curled up in the corner. Her big eyes showed fear and she softly whimpered every now and then. 'The key to my fortune and my revenge' he thought. 'And Luis is unknowingly orchestrating it all!' He turned back to the window, and noticed that Luis was nearly to the warehouse, so he left to put his plan into action.

"Pilar, why isn't he back yet? Oh I shouldn't have let him go!" "Sheridan, I...I'm sure everything is fine" Pilar lied, trying to convince Sheridan as much as herself. "I just feel like something is wrong" Sheridan said, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to comfort herself. She stared ahead and prayed that Luis and Danielle were all right.

Luis slowly turned the doorknob at the warehouse, trying not to make noise. The man watched the doorknob slowly turn and the door begin to open. Luis opened the door all the way and took a cautious step inside. That was all the man needed. He jumped from behind the door and plunged a needle into Luis's arm. Luis grabbed at his arm in pain and looked around for the man he thought he knew so well, yet now hated so much.

"Come out you bastard!" he yelled. "Come out and take what you deserve!" Luis spun around and saw who he was looking for. "You" he spat out. The figure just smiled, knowing Luis was harmless now. Luis started over to where the man was, but was stopped, as his vision grew blurry and the room began to spin. He slumped to the ground, his last thought being of Sheridan before he succumbed to darkness. The man looked at Luis's figure and smiled. "Mission accomplished."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 21:

The next morning had finally come. Sheridan had sat up all night, worrying. Now she sat in her hypnotized state, just staring ahead. "Sheridan?" Pilar said worriedly. "He never came back. Now he's gone, just like before, and now my little Danielle is gone too" Sheridan said, still staring blankly into space. "Sheridan, maybe you should wait until you talk with that man at the warehouse today." That seemed to bring Sheridan out of her trance.

"Oh! I have to go!" She ran into her room and quickly changed. She came out dressed in black pants and a baby blue blouse. She paused, preparing herself mentally for what she was going to face. The man who had taken her little girl from her, and maybe even knew where Luis was. She hugged Pilar.

"Please, bring my son back Sheridan." "He'll come back. He promised me. He promised he would never leave again. Luis would never break a promise." And with that, Sheridan walked out the door.

Luis groggily opened his eyes and tried to stretch, but couldn't. He realized his arms were tied. After muttering a small string of curses, he took in his surroundings. He was in a small room with a hard cement floor, and walls equally as hard. The room was dimly lit by a small rectangular window near the ceiling. Luis was in a corner of the room, and he spotted Danielle curled up in another corner, also tied up by her hands. Luis sighed and closed his eyes and put his head back against the wall, knowing all of this was his fault.

Sheridan nervously scanned the pier until her eyes came to rest on a lone warehouse, boarded up and falling apart. This was it. She clutched her purse and went over to the warehouse and opened the door. She stepped inside and was suddenly confronted by the man. She gasped in recognition. "Hello, Ms. Crane. Please have a seat" he said, pulling up a chair. Sheridan made no move to sit down.

"Where's Danielle and Luis?" she asked coldly. She was sure now that this man knew where both Luis and Danielle were. But how could she have not recognized his voice? How could he have fooled her? It frustrated and angered her to the point where she couldn't think clearly. The man interrupted her thoughts. "That's what we're here to discuss, isn't it? Have a seat, and we'll discuss an agreement." Sheridan glared at him, and sat down.

Luis's head snapped up at hearing Sheridan's voice. If her could only get over to the door, and get it open. He had trouble standing, he couldn't use his hands, but luckily, his feet had been left untied. Luis almost laughed out loud at the stupidity of his captor, leaving his feet untied. He was now free to walk about and could maybe, just maybe get out, if another stupid mistake had been made.

"Before we discuss anything, I want proof that you have Danielle and Luis" said Sheridan. "Sheridan!" shouted Luis. Sheridan could tell it was coming from behind a door. She could see only one other door besides the exit. She jumped up and dashed over to the door. "Luis!" she called. She could hear Danielle faintly shouting "Mommy!"

"I'm going to get you guys out of there" she called, trying not to cry. She turned to the man. "Alright, I believe you. Now name your price. How much do you want?" "Oh I don't want money..it's more like a person." "What?" Sheridan asked, confused. "You leave Luis with me, and you get your daughter back, or vice versa. Make your choice Ms. Crane."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 22:

"You leave Luis with me, and you get your daughter back, or vice versa. Make your choice Ms. Crane." Sheridan sat with a look of shock on her face, dumbfounded. Of all the things she could have imagined having to pay, this was certainly not one of them. "I don't think you realize what you're asking of me," she said. "Oh, believe me, I do."

"I'll give you anything, money, power, anything! Just please, don't ask me to do this!" she pleaded. But he stood firm, and wouldn't back down. Tears sprung to Sheridan's eyes, and she tried to hold them back, but a few escaped and trickled down her cheeks. The man saw her tears and again felt guilt run through his body. But like before, he brushed it away with his thoughts of wealth. Sheridan put her head in her hands and cried quietly. What was she going to do? She loved Luis, so much, but her daughter, God she loved her too. "What am I going to do?" she whispered.

Luis leaned against the wall. He had heard every word of Sheridan's conversation with…him. Just thinking about his captor disgusted him. To think he actually trusted him! But the question was, what did he have to gain from this proposition? And what would Sheridan do? How dare she have to be put through this! Luis sighed and slid down against the wall to the floor.

"I'm going to give you until tomorrow to make your choice." Sheridan raised a tear stained face to look up at him and only nodded in acceptance. "Can…can I see them?" she choked out. The man considered for a moment before voicing his consent. He took out a key and handed it to Sheridan. She unlocked the door and entered the room. The man stood outside the door, so she closed it behind her. When Luis saw her, he jumped up and engulfed her in a hug. She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him, not ever wanting to let go.

Luis lifted her chin and leaned down to meet her lips. Their kiss was hard, and almost frantic, a kiss of sorrow. They were brought out of the kiss by Danielle pulling on Sheridan's skirt. "Mommy" she whimpered, confused by what was going on. Sheridan picked her up and hugged her, stroking her hair in an attempt to comfort her. Luis put his arms around both Sheridan and Danielle, and the three just held each other.

He watched from outside the door with a look of disgust on his face. That was supposed to be him in there, having a family hug. 'Well' he thought, 'soon I'll be tearing this family apart.'

Luis, Sheridan and Danielle were still in an embrace when the man called, "Okay, that's enough! Get out of there!" Sheridan gave Danielle one last squeeze before putting her down. "I love you sweetie" she said, and kissed her forehead. "I love you too Mommy."

Sheridan straightened and looked into Luis' eyes. They shared a quick kiss and Sheridan whispered "I love you." "I love you forever, and never forget that" Luis whispered back. Sheridan nodded and quickly left. She handed the key back as she walked out of the warehouse. "Remember, tomorrow, here. You'll have to make your choice by then" he called after her.

Thoughts were racing through Sheridan's mind as she drove back to her apartment, contemplating exactly what she was going to do. When she opened the door to her apartment she found Pilar, Miguel, and Theresa sitting together on the couch. They all looked up at her with questioning eyes. She sat down in a chair across from them and cleared her throat. She began to tell all the events that had happened down at the warehouse. "So who is the guy who had Luis and Danielle?" asked Theresa. Sheridan took a deep breath before answering. "Hank."

Luis looked down at Danielle who was asleep on his lap. For what seemed like the thousandth time that day, he sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. He heard voices and put his ear up against the door trying to hear better. "Have you completed the first half of the plan?" came a booming voice Luis recognized as Alistair Crane.

"Yes" answered another voice. 'Hank' Luis thought bitterly. "But," it continued, "I don't know what the second half is." "Whomever Sheridan selects will leave with her, and you will take the one she leaves behind, and kill them." "Sir, I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this." "Don't ask questions, just do it! You will get your money after you have completed this task. Don't foul this up!" Luis heard a door slam, and realized Alistair had left. He started searching the room again for an escape. He had to get out, before he or Danielle wound up dead.

"Hank?!" Pilar, Theresa, and Miguel all exclaimed at the same time. "Yes. Hank" Sheridan answered. "Well what are you going to do?" asked Miguel. "Who are you going to choose?" "If things go how I plan, I won't have to choose at all" replied Sheridan. Everyone responded with blank stares and Sheridan produced a key. "A key?" Pilar questioned. "What's it a key to?" "The room where Luis and Danielle are locked up." She held up the key. "Hank has quite a surprise coming for him if he thinks he's going to get away with this one."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 23:

"If things go how I plan, I won't have to choose at all" replied Sheridan. Everyone responded with blank stares and Sheridan produced a key. "A key?" Pilar questioned. "What's it a key to?" "The room where Luis and Danielle are locked up." She held up the key. "Hank has quite a surprise coming for him if he thinks he's going to get away with this one." "What's your plan?" asked Theresa, her eyes wide with excitement. "Well, what I plan to do is"

Later that night, Sheridan walked down the pier clutching her purse, the item that held, literally, the key to Luis and Danielle's freedom. She took a deep breath and ran over her plan once again in her head. 'Okay' she thought. 'Ever ything will be just fine. I'll get them out and that will be that.' She stopped walking. "I'm talking to myself," she said aloud. "Dammit! It will be okay Sheridan. Just stop talking to yourself. Dammit!" she cried in frustration, and slapped her palm to her forehead in effort to clear her head. She stopped, just missing running into the door of the warehouse. Another deep breath and she was ready to go. She opened the door and peered inside. The room was dark, because there were no streetlights outside to light the room, so Sheridan had to feel her way to the middle of the room. Suddenly, there was a bright light shone in her face and she raised her hand to shield her eyes.

"I assume you've chosen," said the person behind the flashlight. Sheridan knew who it was now, and she felt hatred run through her. 'Time to put the plan into action' she thought, swallowing thickly. She put on a fake smile. "Yes, I've chosen" she said approaching Hank, "but before I go, there is something else I want to do." She shot forward and pushed her lips onto Hank's. He pulled back from her and glared at her.

"You think you can get out of this by seducing me? Don't even try it, you bitch. I know exactly how you play," he said, coming towards her. He stopped right in front her. "And I don't like it one bit" he whispered in a low menacing voice. She felt uncomfortable and began to back away from Hank. He followed her, his face hard with anger.

"Hank please. Just stop, okay?" She was beginning to get frightened. Hank was like a carnival toy, a fist and spring, ready to go off at any moment. It wasn't the fist that frightened her, it was the spring, because the spring determined the force of the blow, and judging by the look in Hank's eyes, his spring was coiled to the maximum. She continued to back up and she ran into the door that led to Luis and Danielle's room. 'Perfect' she thought.

Luis continued to search the room for some means of escape. He heard a thud against the door, and his need to escape grew. His hands ran along the wall in desperation and stopped as he felt a spot where the wall seemed to drop. He pushed against the wall, and to his wonderment, it seemed to move. He threw his body against the wall and it fell open and he tumbled to the ground. He sat up and gazed around. He was in a corridor leading downward that had small lanterns lining the walls delivering a bright glow. He brushed himself off and went back for Danielle. As he closed the wall again her glanced around once more. No one would miss them for a while, and they would be gone by then.

Sheridan reached behind her for her purse and fumbled through it as indiscreetly as possible. Hank still stood over her, his hands on either side of her head. She finally found what she was looking for, and slipped the key into the lock and turned it. She turned the knob and the door swung open. Sheridan stepped back, sending Hank stumbling into the room after her. "What the hell are you trying to pull?" he shouted at her. He stopped at her open-mouthed expression. His eyes swept through the room. "Where are they?" she whispered. "Where the hell are they, dammit?!" Hank just stood and gazed over the room. They'd found the tunnel. Oh boy. Alistair wasn't going to be happy about this. Damn.

Luis continued down the tunnel with a sleepy Danielle in his arms. "Daddy where are we going?" she mumbled. "I don't know sweetie. I don't know." He walked faster, nervous, and anxious to find out where this tunnel ended. After a few more minutes, he saw doors similar to cellar doors. He set Danielle down and pushed the doors open. He got himself and Danielle out and gazed around. He saw the Crane Mansion glowing up ahead and the cottage nearby. The tunnel led to the Crane Mansion. Alistair wouldn't be happy if he knew he had found it. Now that he was here, what would he do? Damn.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 24:

Sheridan took a shaky breath and tried to be calm. "Where are they?" she asked. "What did you do with them?!" She was beginning to lose control. Hank shook his head. "I--I don't know where they are. I didn't do anything with them." Sheridan could barely control her rage and anger. "Liar" she spat out. Hank shook his head again. "I'm serious! I don't know where they are!" "Well then you take me to somebody who does!" Hank sighed. He knew where they would be. He knew who they would be with. And he knew that Alistair Crane would be in a rage.

Luis looked around once more. He knew who had done this to he and Danielle. One word came to mind when Luis thought of Alistair Crane. Revenge. Revenge for what his family had been through because of Alistair. Revenge for what Sheridan was being put through. He knew now that the Cranes had something to do with Danielle's kidnapping and his capture as well. He could and would bring Alistair and Julian Crane down. He stopped. Sheridan. How would she react? He loved her so much, and he didn't want her hurt. But Sheridan already knew how much Luis hated the Cranes. She knew he wanted to bring them down. The question was, would she forgive him? Luis furrowed his brow in deep thought. He would make it up to her. He loved her, and wanted to have so many more good memories with Sheridan. He looked down at the little girl staring up at him with wide, questioning eyes. "Come on sweetie. Let's go find your mommy." He took her hand and walked through the gates exiting the Crane Mansion.

"Well?" Sheridan said. "You are not going anywhere" Hank retorted. Sheridan walked over to him and stood before him, her eyes boring into his with a look of daggers. She didn't move for a few moments, then quick as a flash, she shot out and grabbed Hank's gun from its holster. She aimed it at him. "Now you are going to tell me where to find Luis and Danielle, because I know that you know where they are!"

Hank leveled his eyes hers. He took a step towards the wall and Sheridan's hand tightened on the trigger. Hank said in a slow, calm voice. "I'm going to show you where Luis and Danielle went. If you shoot me you will regret it, because you will never know your family's secrets." Sheridan frowned and loosened her grip on the gun. "Secrets?" Her interest had been sparked. What kind of secrets did her family harbor? "Yes, secrets" Hank answered. "And I know them." "So you've been involved in my family's dealings?" "Yes. But not always willingly." Sheridan's frown deepened. "I'll deal with this later. After you show me where Luis and Danielle are."

Luis sat in the taxi with Danielle in his lap, the wheels in his head turning. He had a plan shaping in his head, but everything had to be perfect for it to work. The taxi jerked to a stop. "7.40" said the driver. Luis jumped, startled. He counted out the money and stepped out of the car and proceeded to walk into the building where he would put his plan into action.

Sheridan watched in awe as Hank pushed open a section of the wall, revealing a tunnel. At Sheridan's open mouth, Hank said "Are you coming or not?" Sheridan pointed the gun at him again. "Don't you start with me! You see this?" she said, motioning with the gun. "You make one move, and I'll shoot you!" Hank smiled, a smug look on his face. This angered Sheridan, and she frowned deeper. "What?!" Hank's smile widened. "You know you won't shoot me. You want to know your family's secrets, and you know that I can give them to you." Sheridan said nothing. She knew he was right. "Just go."

They walked down the tunnel, Sheridan's eyes darting back and forth. They finally reached the doors and Hank pushed them open. Sheridan's breath caught in her throat as she saw the Crane Mansion looming ahead of her.

Luis knocked on the door of Sheridan's apartment. Pilar opened the door with a look lining her features. It changed to a mixture of shock and happiness. "Luis" she said with a sigh of relief. "Dios mio." She wrapped him into a hug. "Luis...are--are you alright?" "Yes Mama, I'm fine." Pilar kneeled to Danielle. "Oh my child." She hugged her, whispering a small string of Spanish prayer. Danielle interrupted the rejoicing with her tiny voice. "Daddy, when can we go get Mommy?" "Luis where is Sheridan? Why did you not bring her back?"

Luis hesitated, reluctant to tell his mother that he had left Sheridan back at the warehouse. "Mama, you see, that's part of my plan to get her out of there." "Luis! You left Sheridan there with Hank?" "Yes, Mama, I did, but it was sort of an accident. I didn't really mean for what happened to happen but it just sort of did." "Luis, hijo, you are making no sense. Explain this to me." Luis entered the apartment, hugged Miguel and Theresa, and began to tell of how he came to the Crane Mansion through a tunnel.

Sheridan stared, stopped in her tracks by shock. "The mansion? But...but how?" Hank only replied "This is only one of your family's many secrets." "What? Stop talking in these--these riddles! Tell me something I need to know. Something that could affect my whole life. One of the skeletons in the Crane's closets that you claim to know about." Hank looked her in the eye, the smile now replaced by a thin line across his face. "Do you want to know the answer to the question that has haunted you for years?"

Sheridan nodded, beginning to tremble. She felt as if she knew what Hank would tell her. She wanted so badly to know, but was terrified of the answer. Hank, his eyes still level with hers, gave her the words she had waited so long to hear. "Martin Fitzgerald" he began, pausing dramatically, "Martin Fitzgerald is dead. By the hand of your father."

Luis hung up the phone with a satisfied look on his face. Everything was falling into place. He knew how to get Sheridan and Danielle out of the warehouse. He wondered if it had been discovered that he was missing. He shrugged it off and went into the next room. "Danielle, I'm going to go get Mommy, okay sweetie?" "I want to go too Daddy" she pleaded. "Please Danielle, stay here with Pilar. You'll be safer here." Danielle nodded, but still a sorrowful look stayed on her features. Luis kissed her forehead gently. "Bye." "Bye-bye Daddy." He stood up and hugged Pilar. "Be careful Luis. Do not get yourself or Sheridan hurt." "I will Mama." After giving good-byes to Miguel and Theresa, he was out the door, on his way to save Sheridan again.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 25:

"Dead?" Sheridan replayed the words again in her head. 'Martin Fitzgerald is dead. By the hand of your father.' Dead. Martin Fitzgerald was dead. Her father had killed him. Her father had killed Luis' father. Her head was spinning as this information coursed through her brain. None of this was making sense. A million questions went through her head, but two stuck out. Why? Why had her father killed Martin? And what would Luis do? 'Luis' she thought. He'd be devastated to learn his father was dead so would Miguel and Theresa and Pilar. Poor Pilar.

She loved Martin so much. This news would tear her heart in two. Another thought came to her head, and selfish as it was, she was relieved. She hadn't killed Martin Fitzgerald. Her relief was clouded over by the sinking reality that Luis had been right. Alistair was responsible for the disappearance of Martin Fitzgerald. Anger towards her father returned to Sheridan with full force. She started out of the Crane estate. "Where are you going?" Hank asked. "To find Luis. And don't try to stop me. I've got the gun, remember?"

Luis opened the door to the warehouse cautiously and peered inside. When he saw no one inside he motioned his backup inside. His backup consisted of two officers and Sam, who had insisted on coming along to see what kind of trouble his little brother had gotten himself into. He came up beside Luis, who was still looking around in confusion.

"Where are they Luis?" Luis shook his head. "I have no idea." His eye caught the door of where he and Danielle had been kept. It was open. "Sam, let's check in there." Luis, Sam and the two other officers went into the room. It was empty, just as the room before. "Where the hell did they go?!" Luis cried in frustration. What had Hank done with Sheridan? Where could they have gone? Then it clicked. The secret passage. The door to that was slightly ajar. "C'mon" he said, and led the way through the tunnel.

About ten minutes later, Luis, Sam and the rest of the backup stood in front of the Crane Mansion. "What the hell?" said Sam. "My thoughts exactly" said Luis. "I thought for sure they would be here." He was bewildered. Where would Hank take her? He would probably be looking for Danielle and Luis, but did he know where they were? Sheridan's apartment. He had to get back there.

Sheridan entered her apartment building, Hank in front of her. They got into the elevator. "Going up" the computerized voice cheerily announced. "Oh shut up" muttered Sheridan under her breath. They reached the third floor and stepped off. As they walked down the hall, Hank noticed that Sheridan had made the mistake of standing in front of him.

He planned to use that to his advantage. Ever so slowly, he crept to one side of Sheridan and grabbed the hand clutching the gun. She reacted immediately, but he had a lead on her and was able to wrench the gun from her grasp. "Looks like the tables have turned" he said, shoving the gun into her back. "Now get in there." She fumbled with her keys and finally found the correct one. She opened the door and stepped inside.

Luis and Sam stepped out of the elevator at the apartment complex just in time to see Hank push Sheridan into her apartment with a gun on her. "Dammit!" Luis and Sam ran down the hall to Sheridan's apartment. Hank had his back to Luis, so Luis drew his gun and pointed it at Hank. "Don't move, or I'll shoot." Hank turned around, testing Luis, taunting him to see if he'd shoot. "You won't shoot me" he said, smiling slightly. "You wouldn't shoot your best buddy."

"I swear, if you take one more step, I'll shoot you." In one swift move, Hank moved his gun to point at Danielle. "No, you won't." "Leave her alone" Luis growled through gritted teeth. Sheridan's hands flew to her mouth. No. Not Danielle. He couldn't hurt her. "If anyone makes one move, the girl gets it." For a few moments, all was silent. No one moved or spoke. A pin could have been heard dropping. The silence was broken when Sam's radio began to crackle and loud shouts were heard coming from it. Hank was startled, and thinking someone had made a move, he fired the gun twice, both hitting Danielle.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 26:

Hank was startled, and thinking someone had made a move, he fired the gun twice, both hitting Danielle. Danielle let out and ear-shattering scream, then collapsed onto the floor. Sheridan ran to Danielle's side, while Sam handcuffed his brother. Hank didn't fight, just stared dumbfounded at Danielle and the blood coming from her tiny body. Luis was already on the phone, getting an ambulance sent over. After he hung up he ran to Sheridan, who was by Danielle's side sobbing.

Luis hugged Sheridan tightly to him, then grabbed a nearby blanket on the couch and wrapped Danielle tightly in it, trying to stop the bloodflow. He held both Danielle and Sheridan to him, trying to stop his own flow of tears from coming. The paramedics arrived a few minutes later, and loaded Danielle onto the stretcher. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion for Sheridan.

It was slowly sinking in that Danielle had been shot twice, and she was being away from them on a stretcher. Sheridan burst into hysterics. "No! Bring her back to me!" Luis hugged her tightly and stroked her hair soothingly. "Come on" he said. "We can follow them to the hospital. Luis and Sheridan went out, leaving Pilar, Miguel and Theresa behind, tears coming from both Pilar and Theresa, and Miguel trying to contain his own. Hank was being taken down into custody down at the station.

The ambulance drove ahead, with Luis and Sheridan following in Sheridan's car. Luis was behind the wheel, trying to keep up with the ambulance and console Sheridan as well as himself all at the same time. "She'll be okay, right Luis?" "Sheridan..I..I just don't know. I'm not a doctor." He tried to blink back a few tears, but without success. They spilled out, and more followed. He put his arm around Sheridan, and together they cried all the way to the hospital.

Luis, Sheridan, Pilar, Theresa and Miguel all sat in a row of chairs at the hospital, waiting for any news about Danielle. A doctor came up to them and was met with five tear stained faces. They all jumped up, anxious for information. The doctor put a hand up to silence them before they could get any words out. "First of all, I'm Doctor Barnes. Second, Danielle is stable for now, but she is still in very bad condition.

She was hit once just inches from her heart, and one actually penetrated her stomach. It's a miracle she's even alive, although I think you can conclude that your shooter had bad aim." He smiled, trying to lighten the mood, but no one's solemn expressions changed. "Anyway," Dr. Barnes continued, "she has lost a very large amount of blood for a girl of her size. We will need a donor for her. You may all give samples right in that room right now. You all may see Danielle, but just a few at a time." "Thank you" said Sheridan, and led the way into the blood testing.

About thirty minutes later, Dr. Barnes came and joined the group again. "Well?" asked Sheridan. "Is anyone a match?" He looked at the group grimly and announced that the test results were all negative. "I'm afraid no one matched, but Ms. Crane, we will need you to test again." "Why?"

"Somehow your sample got mixed up and was just shipped off to a DNA testing center before we could test it. We haven't been able to get ahold of anyone there, so they're just going to go ahead and test it. If you'll please come back in with me to test again." Later, the doctor joined the group again. "Well Ms. Crane, it seems that your blood marches with Danielle's, so we'll go ahead and perform the operation and remove the bullets."

Sheridan nodded and took a shaky breath. Dr. Barnes voice grew softer. "I want you to know Ms. Crane, that there's a chance that Danielle won't survive the operation." Sheridan closed her eyes and nodded again, fresh tears coming to her eyes again. The doctor left and Sheridan buried her face Luis' shoulder, trying to muffle the sobs that came unceasingly. "Why?" she whispered. "Why is this happening Luis?" "I don't know" he said as he stroked her hair. "I just don't know."

The next few days were pretty much sleepless for Luis and Sheridan. Danielle had survived the operation, and she was awake, but just barely. She would drift in and out of conciousness, and was asleep almost twenty hours every day. Sheridan was by Danielle's bedside, holding her hand. Danielle was propped up in her bed, very contentedly watching Scooby-Doo. The show ended and Danielle turned to Sheridan.

"Mommy?" "Yes sweetie?" "When can I go home? And when will my tummy and chest stop hurting?" "I really don't know honey. I'm sorry it hurts. The doctors are doing everything they can to make you feel better." "Okay Mommy." She yawned and her eyes started to close. "Goodnight sweetie" said Sheridan and kissed her forehead. The next day Sheridan and Luis sat next to Danielle's bed together. "Why hasn't she woken up yet? This is a lot longer than she usually sleeps." "That is a little strange" responded Luis.

Dr. Barnes came into the room with a troubled expression. "Ms. Crane, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald, while checking upon Danielle's condition this morning we noticed that she has worsened, and there is almost no brain activity." "You mean" Sheridan said.

"She's fallen into a coma" the doctor finished for her. "And as if things couldn't get any stranger, we got the DNA test results back today, and while going through them, I saw yours and noticed something." He stopped taking in a breath. He was incredibly surprised at this turn of events. "According to the results of the test you are Danielle's biological mother."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 27:

"Excuse me?" said Sheridan in disbelief. It couldn't be. She could not be Danielle's real mother. Or could she Sheridan began thinking. Danielle was three, it was almost four years ago the events lined up correctly. "There must be some mistake" Luis said. "Sheridan couldn't be Danielle's biological mother." "The DNA tests don't lie" responded Dr. Barnes. "Well, then, you should retest then because--"

"Stop!" interrupted Sheridan. "What Dr. Barnes is saying is entirely possible." "What? How could this be possible?" Sheridan sighed. "About four years ago, a little less than that, I" She stopped. It was hard to think about, or even talk about. "You what?" Luis asked suspiciously. "I...I got pregnant" she spit out quickly. "What?!"

"At the time" she continued, "I really didn't want to draw any attention to myself, and then here I was, finding out I was pregnant. I had my baby, and I gave her up for adoption. No one ever knew. It was the most painful thing I've ever had to do in my life." A few tears came down Sheridan's cheeks. "How did it happen?" asked Luis.

Sheridan hesitated, reluctant to talk about it. "It was at a party" she began. "Father had found yet another man who would make for a good business alliance. And yet again, I was being paraded in front of him. To me, he was just another boring, self-absorbed guy from the country club. Come to think of it. I can't even remember his name. Anyway, from just the thought of another boring man around me for the whole evening, I was depressed. It just so happens that there was a bar at this particular party, and I used it to the maximum. By the end of night, I was drunk, which led to, well you know. The next morning I woke up with a pounding headache next to a naked man. I left and well you know the rest."

Luis sat open-mouthed. He shook his head. "What else is there I don't know Sheridan?" Sheridan's mind went back to she and Hank outside the Crane Mansion. 'Martin Fitzgerald is dead. By the hand of your father.' "Plenty" Sheridan replied. "But we'll talk later. Right now I would like to discuss my daughter's condition." Dr. Barnes had listened to Sheridan's explanation without a word, and now he found it hard to speak. "Uh..Danielle..yes. Well, as you know she's in a coma. I won't lie to you. The chances of her waking up are not good."

"Thank you doctor" said Sheridan. He nodded, then left. Sheridan heaved a huge sigh then turned to face Luis. She shook her head. "Oh, God, my baby girl is dying." "Don't think that way Sheridan. Think positive, happy thoughts." "Yes, Peter Pan." He gave her a look. "I'm serious. All we can do is be here with her and pray for her." She nodded. "Okay."

The next day, Luis and Sheridan sat next to Danielle's bedside. "Sheridan" said Luis. "I think now is a good time as ever to finish out talk." Sheridan nodded, feeling fear creep into her system. She had to tell Luis about his father. She was afraid of what Luis' reaction would be when he learned Alistair had killed his father. Repeated calls of "Sheridan" shook her out of her thoughts. "What?" she said dazedly. "Where did you go just now Sheridan? I called you, but you were just staring ahead with a blank look."

"Oh I was just thinking." "About?" "About what we need to talk about." "What would that be?" "Your..your father." Luis furrowed his brow in confusion. His father? What could Sheridan possibly know about his father? "What about my father?" "Why he disappeared." She took a deep breath. 'Just spit it out Sheridan.' Luis' eyes were wide with intrigue and he leaned forward in his chair in anticipation. "Luis your father he's..he's" "He's what Sheridan?" "He's dead, Luis" she said quietly.

Luis just sat in shock, not moving, his face expressionless. "He's dead" he repeated. "How did he die?" Sheridan hesitated. This was what she feared telling Luis. "My--my father killed him." Luis sat in silence for a few agonizing minutes. "Luis?" Sheridan asked timidly. It was another minute before Luis responded. "You know I...I always expected this, just when it finally happened I really don't know what to do." Sheridan said nothing, letting him speak, but she let him know she was there and listening by holding his hands in hers.

Luis took a breath before continuing. "I guess...I guess I always know he wasn't alive, I just wouldn't admit it to myself." "Luis...Luis my father did it. Does that matter at all to you?" "Yeah. Yeah it does, but I always knew that he was responsible for it. Now I just kinda want to leave it alone for awhile. Now that I know the truth, it doesn't need to be messed with anymore. I'll just leave it as it is." Sheridan saw tears gathering in his eyes and pulled him into her arms. "I'm sorry" she whispered. "I'm so sorry." He clung to her as he gave in and let tears slip down his cheeks.

A few days later, Danielle still slept. Luis had talked to his family about Martin with Sheridan by his side for support. Pilar, Theresa and Miguel had reacted at the news with tears and hugs all around. Sheridan couldn't help but smile a little at the closeness of the Lopez-Fitzgerald family. Even though it had been her father that had killed Martin, Sheridan was welcomed to cry and hug with the family. Now she sat on Luis' lap, both just holding to each other, watching Danielle.

"How are you doing?" Sheridan asked quietly. "Okay, I guess. Just still kind of in shock still. Or maybe, maybe its just disbelief" he responded. She nodded softly against his chest. "I'm here for you if you ever need to talk. You know that." Luis smiled slightly and kissed the top of her head.

That night, Luis still held Sheridan but he slept now. Sheridan, however, was still wide awake. She got up from Luis'. She got up from Luis' lap. He groaned softly in his sleep, then resumed his peaceful rest. Sheridan stood next to Danielle's hospital bed, looking down at her daughter sadly. She brushed a strand of her hair behind Danielle's ear and took her hand. 'My little girl' she thought. 'My real daughter. Now she's lying in a hospital, dying. God, I never wanted this for my baby. She's just a little girl. She doesn't deserve this!' She shook her head in frustration. Why Danielle? Why her? Sheridan sighed loudly and sat down in the chair next to Luis, soon after drifting off to sleep.

Sheridan awoke the next morning to see the doctor looking into Danielle's eyes. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Oh! You startled me Ms. Crane. I thought you were asleep." "I was. Now what are you doing?" "Just a simple routine examination." "Oh. Of course" Sheridan said with a sigh.

"Hey." Luis returned carrying two cups of coffee. "I thought you would be awake by the time I got back" he said, flashing her a smile. He was trying so hard to cheer her up, but the most he could get from her was a weak smile. He sat down next to her, handing the coffee to her. "How is she?" asked Sheridan, a bit nervously.

chances of waking up decrease every day that she remains unconcious. She shows little activity, but what we've seen from that little is that she is getting worse." Sheridan rubbed a hand across her forehead and felt tears pooling in her eyes. The doctor quietly left, leaving Luis holding Sheridan in his arms, trying to convince her that Danielle would be all right, something he, himself didn't even really believe.

Later, that afternoon, Dr. Barnes re-entered the room, a grim expression on his face. "Ms. Crane, we need to discuss Danielle." He paused before going on. "Ms. Crane, Danielle's vitals are weakening. Her chances for survival are close to none. There is nothing left that we can do for Danielle. In time, she will die, but there is no benefit in keeping her alive longer. We think it would be best for you to 'pull the plug'."

"You mean kill her" Sheridan said, tears streaming down her face. "It would be best for Danielle" Dr. Barnes said quietly. "What we would do is take her off the respirator, and soon after, she would die." Sheridan closed her eyes and nodded. "Okay. Okay." "I-I'll give you time to say your good-byes" the doctor said. This was always hard for him. He walked out the door, tears of his own starting to form. Back in the room, Sheridan spoke to Danielle.

Luis had also left the room. "Sweetie, I'm sorry" Sheridan began. "I'm so sorry you never got to grow up, to do so many things. Sweetie, always remember that I love you. I will always love you, no matter where I go, no matter what happens. You are my little girl, my baby, and I will always love you. I'll miss you so much." Sheridan nodded to Luis that he could come back in. She left so he could say his own good-byes.

"Oh, Danielle. I don't know what to say. You are an angel, just like your mother. I'll miss you, and I'll always love you. Just remember that there are so many people that care for you." He paused and chuckled softly. "I'm sorry. I'm not good with words. Good-bye sweetie."

Sheridan came back in, and she and Luis held each other, both crying now. Dr. Barnes came back, with a priest. As the priest said the prayers, Dr. Barnes cut the respirator, and Sheridan and Luis looked on, Sheridan with tears coming in a non-stop flow, Luis crying silently. After a few moments, the heart monitor went flat and Danielle was gone.

Sheridan buried her face in Luis' shoulder and sobbed. "She's gone, Luis. My little girl is gone forever." "No she's not. She'll always be with you. And no matter what, remember I will still love you."

THE END