Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with NBC, Passions, or JER.
Note: Luis is still Sheridan's body guard.
Luis stood under the hot summer sun. From the front steps he looked at
his
police car that hadn't been washed in weeks. It was late afternoon and
since
the weather was still warm, he decided to wash the car and cool off at
the
same time. He pulled of his white T-shirt and hung it on the railing of
the
cottage steps. Turning on the faucet, he began spraying the car down
with
the hose. Not even five minutes had passed when Sheridan appeared in
the
doorway.
"Luis what are you doing?" she said standing at the top of the stairs.
"What does it look like I'm doing. I'm washing my car." It was then
that she
noticed he was shirtless, his tanned skin soaked from the spray of the
water. Realizing she was starring, she shook her head and descended
down
the steps.
"I KNEW THAT. Do you have to do it now, I was just about to go take a
shower."
"Then go take one"
"I can't when your out here using the water."
"Well, take it later then, why do you have to take a shower right now?"
"Because it's hot and I want to take one right now, that's why," she
replied
crossing her hands under her chest. Luis turned around to face her with
a
mischievous smile on his face. Sheridan knew what he was thinking, and
before she could get a word out, Luis raised the hose and sprayed her
with
water. She screamed as the cold water hit her skin.
"LUIS!" She was gaping, her clothes soaked to the skin, "What the hell
did
you do that for!?"
Luis laughed at the look on her face, "Well you said you were hot...now
your
not."
He turned around with a sly grin and went back to spraying the car.
"That's it! I'm going to get you for that," she made a stride towards
him
but Luis quickly turned around and wet her some more. They both were
now
laughing hysterically as Sheridan struggled to get the hose away from
Luis.
Luis's foot suddenly slid on the slippery wet grass and he found
himself
falling. He reached out and quickly grabbed onto Sheridan to stop his
fall
but she lost her balance and together they went crashing to the ground.
She
lay on top of him, his arms still tightly wrapped around her waist.
Their
laughter ceased suddenly as they realized their very close position.
Her
breast were pressed so firmly against his chest that he could almost
feel
her pounding heart. She
didn't try to get up as she got lost in his deep captivating eyes. Her
warm
breath caressed his mouth and he felt himself losing control. His gaze
then
moved to her sensual lips and he leaned forward to kiss them, but just
as
his lips brushed hers a car pulled into the driveway. Sheridan came to
her
senses and slowly lifted herself off of him. Luis sat up, he remained
on the
ground a moment longer as he gazed up at her. He drew in a deep breath
as he
finally stood up.
Sheridan said a quick hello to Sam as he stepped out of his car, then
she
rushed into the house, flushing with embarrassment. Sam waited until
the
door to the cottage closed before speaking, "Luis what is going on?"
The
expression on his face looked serious and concerned.
"Nothing Sam," he replied shutting off the water.
"It didn't look like 'Nothing' a minute ago. What is really going on
between
you and Sheridan? I thought we discussed this already, it's not a good
idea
to get involved with a Crane, they will-"
Luis didn't let him finish, "Sam relax. There is nothing going on
alright.
We just fell. That's all."
"Are you sure, because from what I can tell your feelings for Sheridan
go
deeper than your willing to admit...Tell me the truth Luis, Are you in
love
with Sheridan?"
"What are you saying Sam! I told you I don't have any feelings for
Sheridan.
I don't want anything to do with the Cranes, they are nothing but a
bunch
of rich snobs who don't care about anyone but themselves. I could never
be
in love with a Crane, they don't deserve love."
Sam's gaze suddenly wandered away from Luis as he saw Sheridan standing
at
the top of the stairs. Luis still had his back turned to her, and when
he
finally turned around his eyes immediately connected with Sheridan's.
Luis regretted the words as quickly as they had come out of his mouth.
He
didn't mean them he knew, but he also hadn't intend for Sheridan to
hear his
callous words. He was waiting for her reaction, for her spiteful
remarks but
there were none, the only thing he saw was the hurt in her eyes. She
just
stood starring at him, tears building in her crystal blue eyes. His
heart
clenched, and he wished so much that he could take back what he said.
He
knew he didn't mean them, he was only trying to convince Sam that he
didn't
have any feelings for her, more himself than Sam.
"Sheridan" Luis moved closer and reached up to touch her arm but she
pulled
it away.
"Don't" she said in a broken voice. He didn't get a chance to get
another
word out before she ran into the house and shut the door.
Sam walked up to him, "A few words of advice Luis, stop denying what
you
feel." Sam gave him a pat on the shoulder and then turned to leave, "
I'll
see you later."
Overwhelmed with regret, Luis went back inside. He stood before
Sheridan's
bedroom door a moment, unsure of what to say. He finally knocked
lightly,
"Sheridan?"
She didn't answer. "Sheridan?...Sheridan open the door. Please." She
still
didn't reply. He could kick himself, why did he have to be such an
idiot! He
walked away from the door and slumped onto the couch, burying his head
in
his hands. He figured she needed to be alone right now. He leaned back
and
tilted his head back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
Things
were bad between them and he had just made them worst. He had to do
something to fix it. The hurt he caused her was killing him inside.
More
than anything, he wished he could take back what he said, but what was
done
was done, and there was no going back. He knew the only thing that
could
make things right was if he told the truth. He needed to stop lying to
her
and to himself.
In her room, Sheridan lay in bed sobbing into a pillow. She didn't want
to
cry, she wasn't even sure why she was so upset. Luis's feelings toward
her
and her family wasn't news to her. He made it clear from the start how
he
felt toward the Cranes and nothing had changed since, but why did his
words
hurt so much this time. It was probably because she had started to
think
that they were starting to connect again, that Luis might actually feel
something for her. How could she even think that after what she heard
him
say on the wharf. She hated herself for letting Luis she her pain, for
showing him that side of her she worked so hard not to reveal to him.
She
could only chastise herself for being such a fool, ' When will you
learn
Sheridan.'
Hours passed, but Sheridan still hadn't come out of her bedroom. He was
starting to get worried about her until he heard the shower go on in
the
bathroom. He had already changed out of his wet clothes, and continued
to
wait patiently, never moving from his spot on the couch. A while later
he
heard the shower stop then moments after he heard music coming from her
bedroom. She was listening to the radio, the same station he often
heard her
listening to. It was also Theresa's favorite station, and she use to
call in
all the time to request love songs. His gaze wandered to the phone as
an
idea suddenly popped into his head.
Sheridan slipped a rob over her nighty then stood in front of the
mirror
combing out her wet hair. She couldn't summon the nerve to go out and
face
Luis, at least not yet. She decided to go to bed early but she knew
sleep
wouldn't come.
She spent many sleepless nights thinking about Luis, her
body
aching for his touch, his kisses. She drew in a deep breath then
exhaled
slowly. She wondered if she would ever get over him. She drew back the
covers on her bed then turned to her night table to turn off the radio.
"Thanks for calling in, who am I speaking to?" The host of the radio
show
asked.
The person hesitated a moment before saying,"Luis...my name is Luis."
Sheridan's finger suddenly came to a stop on the off button, as the
familiar
voice and name caught her ear. Thinking she was imagining things she
shook
her head. Luis's voice continued over the radio, and she wasn't
imagining
it, she realized. She rested her palm against the stereo as if she
could
almost feel his touch. She drew her hand back and sat on the edge of
the
bed, listening intently to the voices coming from the stereo.
"Well Luis what's on your mind tonight, or should I ask who's on your
mind?"
the woman asked.
"The same person that's on my mind every night."
"Looks like this woman's stolen your heart, must be someone special."
"She is," he said in almost a whisper.
"So tell me more about this woman you just can't get out of your head.
How
did you two meet?"
Luis laughed softly, " It's a funny story actually. She just crashed
into my
life one day, literally...at first I thought she was the most stubborn
woman
I've ever met and I still think that, but, once I got to know her I
also
realized what a beautiful person she really is, inside and out."
Sheridan felt her heart melting at his words. Tears slipped down her
cheeks,
she wanted so much to feel his arms around her.
"What do you want to tell her tonight Luis?"
"I want to tell her I'm sorry for acting like a jerk, I never meant to
hurt
her."
"Well, hopefully she's listening."
"I know she is"
"Is there a song you would like to dedicate to this special person in
your
life?"
"Yeah, 'When Ever You Call'"
"And why did you pick this particular song?"
"Because it describes perfectly how I feel about her" he said slowly
and
without hesitation.
"Thanks for calling in Luis, I hope everything works out for the two of
you."
"I hope so too," he said.
Luis surprised himself by his confessions, he hadn't even fully
admitted his
feelings for Sheridan to himself, and now he was spilling them out over
the
radio, to a complete stranger. But he didn't regret it, the words were
spoken from his heart, and he meant every last word.
The song Luis requested came on as Sheridan lied down on the bed. She
closed
her eyes, tears slipping down the sides of her face.
Verse 1:
Love wandered inside
Stronger than you
Stronger than I
And now that it has begun
We cannot turn back
We can only turn into one
Chorus 1
I won't ever be too far to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call
Verse 2
And I'm truly inspired
Finding my soul
There in your eyes
And you
Have opened my heart
And lifted me inside
By showing me yourself undisguised
Chorus 2:
And I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
That part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch you fall
Whenever you call
Bridge
And I will breathe for you each day
Comfort you through all the pain
Gently kiss your fears away
You can turn to me and cry
Always understand that I
Give you all I am inside
Chorus 3
And I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
~Mariah Carey~
Sheridan's door opened slowly and the music flowed out into the living
room.
Luis stood next to the couch, his eyes locked with Sheridan's, he
dropped
the phone on the couch as she walked slowly to him. She stood in front
of
him, her eyes searching his. He opened his mouth to speak but she
stopped
him with a tender kiss on the lips. Luis smiled softly at her
unexpected
gesture.
"Does this mean you forgive me?" he asked in quiet voice.
She gave him a soft smile but then it suddenly faded as he saw the hurt
return to her eyes.
"Sheridan, I'm sorry I hurt you."
She looked down briefly before catching his gaze again, she began in a
soft
but pained voice that made Luis's heart ache. "Luis, all I ever wanted
was
to find someone who I could love, who would return that love with all
of his
heart...but I know that I'll never find that person...you said it
yourself,
Cranes don't deserve to be loved."
"You deserve to be loved Sheridan."
Luis still saw the hesitation in her eyes, he moved closer and gently
cupped
her face in his hand, "You want the truth Sheridan?...The truth is I
can't
stop thinking about you, the truth is that I've fallen so madly in love
with
you that I can't even think straight when your near me."
A tear trickled down her cheek, Luis brushed it away with his thumb. He
leaned down slightly to bring his mouth to hers. She felt his warm
breath
across her parted lips, then the soft caress of his mouth. He kissed
her,
slowly and affectionately, while his hands caressed her body with
gentle
strokes. The kiss turned feverish as his tongue glided into her mouth.
Sheridan's hand found it's way to the back of Luis's head, and she
kissed
him deeper and harder. It was a very long moment before the kiss
finally
ended. Luis rested his forehead against hers as they stood for a moment
trying to catch their breath.
"It never occurred to me" she said in a whisper.
"What?"
"That the first time I saw you, I would fall so deep in love."
"It never occurred to me either."
THE END