The Twisted Truth

Luis' right hand held the towel knotted around his waist while his eyes held Sheridan's across the room. He saw the confusion and the pain in them, both of which he knew she blamed him for. He could see it in her eyes. She still believed he had said those things on the wharf that night and there was nothing he could do to proof otherwise. Damn, if there was one thing he hated most in the world it was feeling helpless and right now that's exactly what he felt. He felt helpless to fight the accusations he saw in her blue eyes. A few days ago those eyes had held compassion for him, but now she had once again done a complete one-eighty on him. And once again he really had no idea why. Yeah, she said she heard him say he was using her, but how could she have when he never said it? He didn't have to remember the night clearly to know he never would have said something like that, not even jokingly. He didn't have it in him. He expected people to be honest with him and that's why he prided himself on being honest, but obviously Sheridan didn't know that about him, which hurt more than he would ever admit. They had spent so much time together and had gotten to know each other pretty well, at least he thought they had, but he had obviously been wrong about that. There was no way Sheridan could know him if she thought he would do what she was accusing him of doing. No way at all.

He shook his head then walked toward the couch and pulled his black bag out from under the coffee table. Just as he started to straighten up a wave of dizziness hit him, causing him to loose his balance and fall backward onto the couch. He must have made a startled noise or something because Sheridan suddenly turned around. When she saw him, she dropped the glass in her hand and ran toward him. "Luis?" Her worried voice asked from beside him. "Are you okay? What happened?" He shook his head unsure himself. The only thing he could figure was that he tried to straighten up too quickly. He should have known better. "I'm fine. Just got dizzy is all." "You don't look fine." She said in a disbelieving tone. He let out a bitter chuckle as he realized that was the whole reason he was in the shape he was in right now. She hadn't believed him when he'd been telling her the truth so why would she believe him now? He shook his head then groaned aloud as a sharp pain shot straight to his temples.

"That's it." Sheridan said putting his arm around her shoulders and helping him up off the couch. "You are going to the hospital." "No." He said pulling back away from her. "I am not going to the hospital. I am going to get dressed then I'm going to lay down on the couch." He tried to look intimidating, but he knew he didn't pull it off. The pain shooting through his head wouldn't let him. He'd be fine if he could just lie down for a few hours. He was almost certain it was the hangover causing the pain, but he couldn't be entirely positive. "Luis." Sheridan admonished. "Don't be stubborn. You're in pain and you need to go see a doctor." "I'm not being stubborn. I'm fine. I just need to lie down for a little bit. That's all." Sheridan looked as if she was going to argue with him, but instead she walked toward him and wrapped an arm around his waist. Her forearm grazed his bare skin and he had to stifle the moan that threatened to tear from his throat. It would be so much easier if she didn't affect him so damn badly. She turned him around and his hand had to grip her shoulder to keep from falling. "What the hell are you doing, Sheridan?"

"I'm taking you to bed." She said as if that was something he should have figured out for himself. "Don't you dare give me any trouble either. You're obviously in pain and I'm not going to let you lie on that couch when I have a perfectly good bed for you to sleep in." He swallowed hard as she opened the door to her room and led him inside. He knew he should have argued with her, but the queen size bed looked so damn inviting he couldn't. They reached the edge of the bed and she removed her arm from around his waist to grab the dark gold pillows off the bed and toss them into the white wicker chair that sat in front of the window just on the other side of the bed. Next, she pulled back the yellow and gold flower covered comforter and pale yellow sheet. The soft look of the sheets beckoned to him and as Sheridan placed her palm against his bare back and gently pushed him forward he didn't even hesitate to drop the navy cotton towel at his waist and climb inside.

As he lowered himself onto the bed and pulled the covers over his naked body, he heard Sheridan's quick intake of breath and as he glanced up at her, he thought he saw desire lurking in the blue depths of her eyes but then she blinked and the emotion was gone, if it had been there at all. Damn, he thought closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the soft pillows, were his eyes starting to play tricks on him now? He didn't remember hitting his head against the table last night, but judging by the stitches in his head, he knew he had to have hit it pretty hard. Maybe he should have gone to the hospital as Sheridan suggested. Maybe they had missed something last night. It was possible. If he was starting to hallucinate then. He lost the thought as he felt the bed shift to accommodate Sheridan's weight. He took a deep breath and when inhaled the soft scent of her perfume he opened his eyes and locked them onto hers.

He saw the worry etched along her forehead and couldn't stop himself from reaching up and tracing the lines with his finger. "I'm okay, Sheridan. You don't have to worry about me. I have a hard head, didn't you tell me that once?" She smiled and he congratulated himself on that small feat. It had been too long since he last saw her smile. "I did say that, didn't I?" "Yes you did." He said smiling as his large palm cupped her cheek. "On more than one occasion." She leaned into his touch and just as she opened her mouth to speak, a figure appeared in the doorway - Hank. Damn, the guy might be his best friend, but he had the worst possible timing. "Hey buddy." He said dropping his hand from Sheridan's face. "Is that coffee for me?" "One of them is. The other is for Sheridan." Sheridan gave Hank a wide smile and Luis couldn't help the twinge of jealousy that stole through his heart. Why didn't she ever smile at him that way? Why did she save all those smiles for Hank? He started to raise himself up into a sitting position and wasn't surprised when Sheridan jumped up off the bed and helped him. She had a good heart, he just wished she'd trust him with it.

"Thanks." He said as she removed her hands from his arms. He turned and saw Hank holding out a cup of steaming black coffee. "How did you know I needed that?" "I'm psychic, didn't you know?" He laughed then grabbed the mug out of his buddy's hand and brought it to his lips. The liquid went down the way it was supposed to, but it unfortunately did not sit well with his stomach. He spit it out with a grimace. "You call that coffee? It's worse than Sheridan's!" He watched as Sheridan took a small sip then laughed as she too spit it right back out again. At least he wasn't the only one that couldn't stomach the stuff Hank called coffee. "Thanks anyway, buddy, but I think I'll have to pass on the Java." He sat the cup on the nightstand beside him then smiled when Sheridan did the same. "Me too. No offense Hank, but Luis is right. This stuff tastes worse than mine and I didn't think that was possible."

"Okay so I can't make coffee. I have other talents." Luis groaned inwardly as Hank winked at Sheridan then scowled when her laughter filled the air. Why didn't she laugh that easily with him? Because, he thought in disgust, she doesn't trust you. It was obvious to see she trusted Hank though. Damn, what he wouldn't give for her to give him with just an ounce of the trust she placed in Hank, just an ounce. "Hey," Hank said breaking into his dark thoughts. "Why don't I run over to the book cafe and get three cups of steaming Java? Would that make you guys feel better?" "That would be great, Hank. You sure you don't mind?" "No, it's the least I could do after getting your hopes up and all." Hank leaned in to place a light kiss on Sheridan's cheek and Luis turned his head away unable to watch his best buddy kiss Sheridan even if it was only on the cheek. "I'll be back in no time." Luis turned back around just as Hank walked out the bedroom door. A few seconds later, the sound of Hank shutting the front door echoed throughout the cottage and as it did, the tension inside raised a couple of notches. In fact, the tension inside the bedroom alone was thick enough even the sharpest knife wouldn't penetrate it. He glanced at Sheridan and as their eyes met, something indescribable passed between them. He wasn't sure if it was due to the fact that he was in her bed or that he was naked in her bed, but he knew one thing for certain... Sheridan Crane wanted him and it was written all over her face.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 5:

Sheridan stared at the man lying in her bed and couldn't get his pleas from last night out of his head. He'd asked her to love him. He'd asked her to make love with him and here he was lying naked in her bed, looking at her as if waiting for her to come to him. She swallowed hard, unable to keep herself from walking toward him. She stopped at the edge of the bed. Luis' hand shot out to pull her down onto the mattress and as her hands came into contact with the hardened muscles of his chest, she knew she had been waiting for this moment ever since she first laid eyes on him. Unable to fight the pull between them any longer, she leaned toward him then closed her eyes as she prepared herself to meet his kiss. But his kiss never came. She opened her eyes in realization and as she did she found herself drowning in a deep brown pool of raw emotion. "Tell me you believe me." Luis said his warm breath caressing her lips as he spoke. "Tell me you trust me. Tell me you know I would never use you." Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to blink them back, but looking at the pain and hurt in Luis' gaze caused her heart to hurt. He looked as if… as if she was breaking his heart. But how could that be? He was the one that used her. That lied to her. Wasn't he? Yes, her head answered, he was. She saw him. She heard him. She hadn't made a mistake. It was him.

Luis closed his eyes and nodded then allowed his arms to fall away from her. "You still don't believe me. You still think I was using you. Why?" He asked opening his eyes again. She was surprised to see the water in them. "Why can't you believe in me?" "I want to Luis. More than you know. But I… I can't. I can't because I was there. I heard every painful word you said about me and I can't just ignore that. I can't just forget that. You tell me you didn't say those things, but I know you did. I saw your face and I heard your voice. It was you, Luis. It was you." Tears clouded her vision and pain filled her heart. She looked down at Luis and when she saw the lone tear traveling down his cheek, she could no longer bear the burden of the truth. "You broke my heart and I can't let you do it again. I just can't." Sheridan jumped up from the bed intent on leaving the room, but Luis caught her arm and held her where she stood. She struggled to get free, but Luis held her firmly in his grasp and when she realized he had no intention of letting go she stopped trying. She took deep ragged breaths trying to calm her tattered nerves, but it did no good. Her nerves were shot. "Why do you always run away when things get too intense?" Luis asked his voice low and full of hurt. "We need to talk about this Sheridan."

"There's nothing left to talk about." She said in a quiet voice. "Unless you can admit you said those things about me there is nothing left to say." "I'm sorry, Sheridan." She froze then whirled around and looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. Was he finally going to admit the truth? "Luis -" "No," He said his voice full of resignation. "Let me just say this, okay?" She nodded and he continued. "I'm sorry that you're hurting. I'm even sorrier that you think it's because of me. I didn't say those things about you, but it's obvious to me that you will never believe me. You need proof, but I have none. The only thing I have is my word and obviously it no longer means anything to you. I won't ask you to believe me again. I know you can't. I know you won't. I can see it in your eyes and I can hear it in your voice. You honestly believe I was using you and there's not a damn thing I can say to change your mind."

He stopped and shook his head then gave a tiny grimace of pain. "A relationship between us would have never worked anyway. We're too different. I see that now. We believe in different things. I trust what my heart tells me and you don't. You trust what your head tells you. You trust what you see and hear. It doesn't matter that I've done everything I can to show you the type of man that I am. You're past experiences have clouded your ability to really see me and I realize that's something we will never be able to overcome no matter how hard we try. I can't compete with your past, Sheridan. I don't even want to try. I think it's better for both of us if we agree to keep our distance from each other. And it's only fair to tell you that I plan to ask Hal to assign someone else as your bodyguard. I think it would be the best decision under the circumstances." As his last words registered in her brain, the pain in her heart increased in intensity. It was so strong it stole her breath. She took in gulps of air, one right after another, but she couldn't manage to fully catch her breath. Luis grabbed her by the arms and tried to calm her but it only made it worse. He wanted to leave her. He wanted to stop being her bodyguard. She never dreamed he would come to a decision like that. She pulled away from him and he let her go. He let her go.

She stood on shaky legs and stumbled toward the window on the other side of the room. As she looked out the paned glass window toward the rose bushes that lined the back gate, tears blurred her usual twenty-twenty vision. He was going to leave her. She knew that day would come but she never dreamed it would come before the bad guys were caught. "I don't want you to go." The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them and once they were out, she didn't want to take them back. She heard his quick intake of breath and gave a small sad smile that she'd actually managed to catch him off guard. The words were true. She didn't want him to go. She didn't trust anyone else to guard her the way Luis' did. "I can't stay." He whispered into the sudden unbearable silence. "You don't trust me and I can't guard someone that doesn't have total trust in me."

Sheridan turned then and looked at him. His face was a mask. It showed no emotion, but his voice had held his pain. "I trust you with my life, Luis. I just can't trust you with my heart." "That sounds like a contradiction. Either you trust me completely or you don't. You already said that you don't and we need to find someone you can trust. My guarding you was never a good idea in the first place. We have too many issues between us and those issues make it harder to stay objective. You need someone that has no emotional attachment. Someone that can focus entirely on your safety. But that someone isn't me. Not anymore. I lost my objectivity where you are concerned and that could put your life at risk. It's better if I go. I'll stay until the FBI can find a replacement but once they do."

His voice trailed off and Sheridan watched as the pain in his voice suddenly filled his usually warm eyes. She had hurt him. The evidence was all over his face. Her inability to trust him to believe in him had hurt him. Why did she suddenly feel as if she had been wrong? How could she have hurt him if he had only been using her? The fact of the matter is she couldn't have. If he didn't truly care for her then she would not have had the power to put the pain she saw in his eyes and heard in his voice. If he had only been using her then she would not have had the power to hurt him. Dear god, she thought her eyes widening in surprise, he had been telling her the truth. He truly hadn't said those awful things about her. But how was that possible? She saw him. She heard him. But her heart said he didn't say them. And if he truly hadn't said those things then there was only one other possibility for what she saw and heard she was losing her mind.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 6:

Luis watched as Sheridan's face contorted in what looked like confusion. She stood in front of the big bay window on the opposite side of the room, the same place she had been for the last five minutes, and she was staring at him. He wasn't bothered by her stare. No, what bothered him was the fact that he wasn't at all sure that she was really seeing him. Her blue eyes were wide with what looked like fear. Was she afraid the guy that replaced him wouldn't protect her as well as he did? Didn't she know that she had nothing to worry about on that score? Didn't she know that he would never leave her in the hands of someone he didn't think was completely capable of protecting her? Did she trust him so little?

He shook his head then forced himself to speak. Getting the words past the knot in his throat was a lot harder than he thought it would be, but he finally managed to do it. "Sheridan, I won't let just anyone protect you. I'll make sure the FBI sends someone that is completely trustworthy and I plan to check the guy out myself as well. I promise no harm is going to come to you. I give you my word on that. I hope you at least trust me on that?" "I trust you." Sheridan said with quiet reassurance. "You know I trust you with my life, Luis." I just can't trust you with my heart. Her words from earlier replayed in his head and he fought the pain they brought with them. How could she trust him with one and not the other? He was having a devil of a time trying to wrap his brain around that one. He'd more than proven himself trustworthy to her, yet she still didn't trust him completely. He tried to remember the night on the wharf, the one in which she accused him of saying those awful things about her, but he still couldn't remember the night clearly. The only thing he could recall with vivid clarity was the kiss he'd given her. He vaguely recalled calling her later on that night, but he couldn't remember anything else. He just kept drawing a blank.

"I'm sorry." Her soft whisper brought him out of his self-inquisition. He looked over at her and when he saw the tears, he couldn't stop the tug it caused on his heartstrings. He hated to see her cry. She was meant to smile and to laugh. She wasn't meant to be sad or hurt. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I'm sorry I didn't trust you. I know you were telling me the truth. I don't need proof anymore. I believe you." Luis furrowed his brow in confusion. "I don't understand. What makes you believe me now that didn't make you believe me then? My saying that I am going to call Hal and ask that someone else be assigned as your bodyguard? If that's the case then I think you're making a mistake. Don't say you believe me because you don't want me to leave. It's not fair to you or to me. And it won't change anything. Your belief in me about that night or any other night is not the reason I'm leaving. I'm leaving because I got emotionally involved with you and I can't protect you that way. It's unprofessional and it puts your life at risk."

"That's not the reason I'm saying I believe you. I'm saying it because it's true. I do believe you, Luis. I know you didn't say those things about me. I know you didn't because if you had I wouldn't see the pain I saw in your eyes a few moments ago." She walked toward him and slowly eased herself onto the bed beside him. "I think deep down I always believed you. I just couldn't get what I heard and saw out of my head long enough to let myself admit that. But I admit it now. I have no idea what really happened that night on the wharf. For all I know I could be going crazy. But there is one thing I know for sure… you would never use me. I should have known that then but I let my fears cloud my knowledge of you, and for that I'm sorry. I -" "Stop." Luis said shaking his head sadly. "Don't apologize to me. You say that you trust me that you believe me about that night but you don't. Not really. I can see the doubt in your eyes, sweetheart. No matter how much you want to mean what you are saying to me you don't. We could try and get past that night and we might even be able to for awhile, but at some point you'll look at me and what you think you heard me say is going to come back to you. Because you don't fully believe I didn't say it. "

"That's not true!" "Yes it is." He said his voice full of the sadness he felt clutching at his heart. "Yes it is. And god how I wish it wasn't." He reached up to wipe away a tear that stole its way down her cheek then had to suck in a deep breath when she covered his hand with her own. She looked at him with sad eyes and his heart took another dive off a very high cliff. "Luis, I have no idea what happened that night. I really don't. Julian had been telling me you were just using me, my father too. Maybe what they said caused me to hallucinate and -" "Sheridan," Luis said interrupting her outlandish thoughts. "Would you stop and listen to yourself? Are you honestly going to sit there and tell me that now you think that your mind conjured what you say you saw and heard that night? That all of the sudden, right after I say I'm going to get you another bodyguard, you don't believe what you saw was true? I'm sorry Sheridan but you seemed pretty sure of what you saw and heard last night when you confronted me about it."

"I was but -" "But nothing. The only reason you are saying you believe me is because you want me to stay on as your bodyguard. You said so yourself you trust me with your life but not your heart. That's the whole reason for this one-eighty turn you're taking right now. You trust me to protect you and you're scared that the next guy won't. Well, I can assure you that he will. I plan to make damn sure of that fact before I leave." "No, Luis." Sheridan said her tear filled eyes begging him to listen to her. "You don't understand I -" The front door to the cottage opened and Hank's cheerful voice called out cutting off what Sheridan had been about to say. "Hey guys, I'm back with the Java. I guarantee it's better than mine. Beth made it." Luis heard Hank's footsteps as he approached the bedroom and he pulled back intent on putting some distance between him and Sheridan. But apparently Sheridan disagreed with his decision because instead of letting him go she tightened her grip on his hand and when he pulled his arm back away from her - she ended up going with him.

Her soft breasts pressed into his chest and one of her legs was pressed intimately between his own, but that wasn't what affected him the most. No what affected him the most was the look in her eyes and the fact that her lips were a mere inch away from his. He raised his free hand to move a lock of hair back out of her eyes then without fully thinking about what he was doing, he closed the gap between them and did what he wanted to do since she led him into her bed. He kissed her and she… she kissed him back. As his lips descended on hers, Luis thought he heard Hank give a gasp of surprise as he opened the bedroom door, but he couldn't be sure and he couldn't bring himself to pull away from the woman in his arms long enough to look at his friend. Hell, the only thing he was sure of in that moment was the fact that Sheridan was in his arms and it was exactly where he wanted her to be where she was supposed to be. Everything else came second.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 7:

Sheridan was so caught up in the emotions that Luis' kiss was causing that she almost didn't hear Hank's gasp of surprise. But she did hear it and that was the reason she pulled away. She opened her eyes then slowly turned her head to the left. He standing in the doorway, holding a small cardboard tray that housed three steaming cups of coffee. He looked a little confused but more importantly he looked hurt. Did Hank care for her more than she realized? She had thought his pursuit of her was just fun on his part, but looking at him now, she had to wonder. "Sorry." Hank muttered as he quickly walked into the room and placed the cardboard tray on the small wooden nightstand by her bed. "I didn't mean to - " He broke off then shook his head and before she or Luis had time to say anything he turned and walked out of the room. A second later the sound of the front door opening and closing sounded throughout the house followed by nothing but silence. She swallowed hard then took a deep breath and turned her attention back to Luis. His eyes were still trained to the spot where Hank had stood and she could see the sadness in them - and the regret. Regret that their kiss hurt Hank? Or regret that they kissed?

Her heart hurt just thinking about the latter. She didn't want him to regret their kiss because she didn't. Tears started to well in her eyes and she quickly closed them in an effort to avoid shedding them, but it didn't work. A tear still managed to escape. She raised a hand to brush it away then not wanting Luis to see her tears, she made a move to get up. Before she could his hand shot out to grip her waist, stopping her from moving. "Sheridan?" He asked his voice softer than she had ever heard him use. "Sheridan, please open your eyes. Open your eyes and look at me." She took a deep cleansing breath then slowly did as he asked. The moment she saw the look in his brown eyes, the tears she had hoped to hide came rushing forward. "We hurt him, didn't we?" "Yeah," He whispered raising a hand to wipe away the tears stealing their way down her cheeks. "We hurt him." "I never saw him as anything more than a friend. You know that, don't you?" She asked searching his deep brown gaze. He nodded then gave her a faint smile. "I know, but after seeing the look on his face just now I don't think he knew that. He really cares for you, Sheridan. I didn't really realize how much until just now."

"I know me either." She whispered sadly. "I care for him too, just not in the way he wants me to." "I know." Luis nodded then a split second later gave a grimace of pain. "Damn, I wish this headache would go away." "Why didn't you say something!" Sheridan asked sliding off him and getting to her feet. "I'll go get you some aspirin." 'No," he said reaching out to grab her wrist. "We need to talk… about what happened." "I know and we will, but if you're in pain -" "I'm fine." Luis muttered even as he grimaced. "It's just a headache. It'll go away." She raised a brow at him then slowly pried his fingers from his wrist and turned. "I'll be right back. I'm just going to get you some aspirin. We can talk more when your headache goes away."

"If it goes away." She heard him say as she walked out the bedroom door and turned to go into the bathroom. She opened the medicine cabinet that sat on the wall above her sink then scanned the shelves for the aspirin. Finding the bottle, she picked it up then pressed down and twisted the cap until it came off. After getting out two aspirin and placing the lid back on the bottle then reshelving it, she made her way into the kitchen to get a glass of water so that he could take them. When she finally returned to the bedroom, Luis had his eyes closed and she smiled at the sight he provided. Her pale yellow sheets were placed strategically at his waist and one muscular leg stuck out from beneath the covers. He made a tempting picture, she thought as she walked closer to the bed. She had often wondered what it would be like if she invited him into her bed but this was definitely not the way she pictured it happening. "Luis, here's your aspirin."

He didn't open his eyes and upon closer inspection, she realized he'd fallen asleep. She could hear his rhythmic breathing and her eyes watched as his muscular chest raised up and down with each breath he took. The man was too hot for words yet he never acted like he knew it. He was too down to earth to be conceited. One of the many things she loved about him. And she did love him, she thought with a smile. She had kept her feelings to herself out of fear of that if he knew he would use them against her, but she had always known deep down that it was more a fear of rejection that kept her from telling him how she felt than a fear he was only using her. She gently traced the outline of his jaw then when she realized she might wake him she pulled it back. He needed to sleep. He'd been dizzy earlier and she knew it stemmed from the concussion he's received last night when he hit the edge of the table at the pool hall. Pangs of guilt swept through her heart and she let them come. She should feel guilty. She had hurt him so much by not believing him about not saying those awful things about her.

She did believe him now but the ironic thing was that he didn't believe her when she said it. He thought she didn't want him to leave, which was true she didn't want anyone else to be her bodyguard, but it wasn't what had changed her mind about him using her. The pain in his eyes at her inability to believe in him and to trust him had changed her mind. He hadn't been putting on an act with her. He really did care about her. She had seen it in his eyes. She had always seen it but had refused to believe they were real. They were real though and now she knew it. She didn't have any answers about what happened that night but she did plan on getting some. She planned to find out exactly what happened that night on the wharf. If it had been all in her mind then she would find out. She didn't want to believe that but what choice did she really have? Hadn't she done the same thing before? She had conjured up images of a dead body, because as Eve said she felt guilty over her mother's death. Had she conjured up Luis' saying those awful things b/c Julian had put the notion in her head and her past experiences led her to actually believe them?

It would make sense she supposed, but something inside her kept saying she hadn't conjured up anything. But if it wasn't Luis' and it wasn't in her mind then who was the man she saw and heard that night? And why did he have Luis' face and voice? A sharp pain shot through her head, brought on by her confusion over that night she knew, and she quickly popped the two aspirin into her mouth then took a sip of the water she'd brought to Luis. She had so many questions and no idea on how to get the answers. Maybe Luis' could help her with that. Maybe together they could find out what happened on the wharf that night. But first she had to get him to believe her when she said she knew it wasn't him. Sheridan shook her head then sat the glass of water in her hand on the table beside the tray of coffee that neither of them had touched. Once her hands were free, she leaned over to raise the sheet up over Luis's chest then gave him a light kiss on the forehead. She knew she would have her work cut out for her in convincing him that she did trust him and did believe in him, but she was determined to do it. She was determined to fix all the misunderstandings they had between them because she couldn't let him walk out of her life. She just wasn't strong enough to let him go and she knew without a doubt she never would be.

Luis woke to find Sheridan wrapped in his embrace. Her cheek and one small hand rested against his chest. He swallowed hard. She had been in the other room when he'd fallen asleep so she must have joined him in the bed sometime after that. She looked peaceful when she slept, he thought unable to stop himself from raising a hand to move a lock of her hair out of her eyes. The sun cast a light across her face and Luis thought she looked like an angel, a beautiful sleeping angel. He smiled at the thought then leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead. She murmured something in her sleep and he couldn't quite make out the words. "Sheridan?" "Mmm, Luis I love you." He froze wondering if she said what he thought she did. Surely, his mind was playing tricks on him. Surely she hadn't just said she loved him?

"Sher -" He broke off as her slender hand started to roam his chest then slipped down to where the sheet rested over his lean hips. He let out a strangled moan as her hand rubbed over him. He knew he had to stop her, but as her hand continued to stroke him through the sheet, he found he couldn't breathe let alone think coherently. He closed his eyes as she began to kiss his chest, but then all at once her machinations stopped. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself looking into her wide blue eyes. The color rose high on her cheeks and he couldn't stop himself from smiling at her. "If I had known you were so amorous in your sleep, I would have slept with you months ago." She let out a laugh then playfully hit his shoulder. "I bet you would have." "So do you always wake up so -" "Don't even finish that." She said laughing as she rolled away from him and quickly got to her feet. "I was dreaming." "Of me?" He asked pulling himself up into a sitting position and placing the pillow against the headboard of her bed then leaning back against it. He threw her an amused look. "You said my name, you know."

He watched as she took a deep breath. "What else did I say?" "Um," He stopped unsure of whether or not to tell her that she'd said she loved him. What if she tried to deny it? What if she admitted it? "Sheridan, um, well, you -" "Well what? What did I say?" "You…" he stopped and cleared his throat then forced himself to say the words. "You said I love you." She looked at him for a moment then sank down onto the other side of the bed. "I said that?" "Yes, you did. Did you...Did you mean it?" He asked trying to keep the hope out of his voice. He hoped she did love him because he loved her. In fact, he always had. That was the reason her inability to believe in him to trust in him had hurt so much. He loved her and the fact that the woman he loved didn't trust him was almost too painful to bear. He knew her admitting she loved him wouldn't change the fact that she didn't fully trust him, but it was a start. Because if she gave him her heart then she had to trust him more than she said she did. More than she knew she did. As he waited for her answer, one thought played over and over again in his head, maybe just maybe there was hope for them after all.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 8:

Sheridan sucked in a deep breath. She had been dreaming when she uttered those words, but she knew they were true. She had admitted it to herself earlier. But she wasn't at all sure she was ready to admit it him. Then again what more did she have to lose? Maybe admitting her love for him was the only way she would be able to convince him that she believed him about the night on the wharf. She took a deep breath then met his dark brown eyes and whispered the words that she was sure would change both of their lives forever. "Yes, I meant it. I meant every word of it. I love you, Luis. I love you with all of my heart." He took a deep intake of breath and she wasn't sure who her confession surprised more - him or her. She had wanted to say those words for so long and now that she had, she felt relieved and happy. Of course, she would be happier if Luis would say something. He just kept looking at her with those dark eyes, eyes that told her nothing about how he felt for her. She knew he cared for her, she knew that, but did he love her? His words last night led her to believe he did, but maybe she read more into them than he meant to be there.

Sheridan got up from her place on the bed then used her shaky legs to walk toward the window. She waited for him to say something and the more time that went by the more sure she was that he didn't feel the same way. Maybe he had once, but her inability to trust and believe in him had probably shattered those feelings. Tears welled in her eyes and she reached up to wipe them away before they fell down her cheeks. She didn't want to - "I thought of a hundred different ways to tell you how I felt." Luis said interrupting her thoughts as he came up behind her and turned her around to face him. "But none of those ways fit the moment we're in right now. None of them except the three words that are the hardest to say. I'm not good with words. I never have been. But I need to say these words to you just as much as you need to hear them. I... I love you, Sheridan. I think I loved you before I met you. I remember the first time I saw you, in your car just after you hit my cruiser the first time, you looked so beautiful and I was so sure I was going to get lost in your eyes. It took everything I had to keep things professional and do my job. I didn't want to arrest you, I wanted to kiss you, which was crazy."

"We had just met. You had just totaled my police cruiser. Tried to intimidate me because you were a Crane yet the only thing I wanted to do was kiss you. I didn't understand it at the time and because of that I was angry with you. I was angry because I didn't understand how I could have those feelings for a complete stranger, a Crane no less. But I understand now. You are unlike any woman I've ever met before and the way you make me feel is unlike anything I've ever felt before." He grabbed her hand and brought it to his bare chest, laying it just over his heart. "Do you feel that? Do you feel how fast it's beating? Only you make it beat that fast. Only you affect me this way. Only you Sheridan, because you are the woman I'm in love with." Tears fell down her cheeks and he reached up to wipe them away, which only made her cry even more. She had no idea what she had done to deserve a man like Luis, but she thanked god that he brought him into her life. She raised a hand to Luis' cheek then moved closer until her lips were a breath away from his. "I'm in love with you too, Luis."

Time seemed to stand still as Luis wrapped his arms around her and covered her mouth with his. It was as if she had been waiting for this moment all her life, which she was sure she had been. She remembered her dreams of a man rescuing her and she knew without a doubt the man she had been dreaming of was Luis. It didn't matter that she hadn't ever seen his face. She just knew it was him. She could feel it. The connection they had between them had always been strong and now she knew that connection was built on love. The phone rang and jarred both of them out of their passion filled daze. "Let machine can get it." "It could be important." She muttered against her lips. "Nothing is more important than what's happening right now, between you and me." She smiled as he covered her lips with his own, but then just as she was about to lose herself in his kiss, she heard Agent Freeman's voice on the phone. "Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald, Ms. Crane. If you are there pick up the phone. This is important."

Luis released her then grabbed the towel at his waist and hurried into the next room. "We're here." He said as he placed the receiver up to his ear. "What's going on?" The answering machine didn't kick off like it normally did and because of that Sheridan was able to hear Agent Freeman. "We just got word that Interpol caught Roger and Pierre. Your assignment as Ms. Crane's bodyguard is over Officer. You're free to go." "Just because Roger and Pierre was caught that doesn't mean Sheridan's life is in any less danger! How can you be sure they won't send someone else after her." "Because Sheridan is the least of their problems right now. We have them on charges that we won't need Sheridan for, which means the threat she posed to them has lessened to the point that it's almost nonexistent. She isn't the only person that can send them to prison. Not anymore." "And you're positive of this?" "Yes, I wouldn't have called if I wasn't. You are both free to get on with your lives. Oh and before I forget, I put in a recommendation with the police board that you be promoted to detective. Act surprise when Chief Bennett calls you about it. Congratulations."

Sheridan gripped the edge of the doorframe as a dial tone suddenly sounded on the answering machine. Luis turned to her, surprise lighting his eyes, and finally the implication of Agent Freeman's phone call sank in. It was over. Luis' stint as her bodyguard was over. That fact once would have made her very happy, but now it left her feeling empty. Luis reeled from the impact of Agent Freeman's phone call. He had wished for this moment countless times before, but now that it was here he would give anything in the world to make it go away. He didn't want to leave Sheridan. They had finally admitted their love to one another and now just as things were starting to look up, the bottom drops out from underneath them. Once he left the cottage, he had no doubt that Julian and Alistair would do everything in their power to keep him and Sheridan apart. They had succeeded once and he didn't have enough confidence in his and Sheridan's newfound relationship to think they wouldn't again. Julian wouldn't hesitate to remind him of the deal they struck upon him getting the kidnapping charges against him dropped. Now that his hopes of making detective were coming true having those charges reinstated would.. would destroy all hope of that happening. Damn Julian Crane and his damn deal. And damn himself for agreeing to it.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 9:

Sheridan watched as Luis packed the last of his clothes into his black bag and couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. They had admitted they loved each other so why did it suddenly feel as if everything that had just built was over? Luis seemed to be trying to keep an emotional distance from her right now and she didn't understand the reason why. He had told her he loved her and yet he hadn't said two words to her since Agent Freeman called to relieve him as her bodyguard. "Luis?" She asked her hand hovering over his back for a fraction of a second before falling to her side. "Why are you suddenly shutting me out?" "I have to." He said turning to her with regretful eyes. "I have no choice. I -" He stopped and shook his head. "I can't tell you the reason. Let's just say I agreed to something I wish I hadn't and now I have no choice but to keep my side of the deal." "What deal?" She asked searching his eyes, begging him to open up to her. "Who did you make a deal with and what does it have to do with your shutting me out?"

"I can't tell you, Sheridan. I'm sorry." He lowered his head to look at the coffee table and in the next instant he picked up the glass that sat on it and threw it against the wall. "Dammit!" Sheridan jumped at the anger in his voice. "Luis talk to me. Tell me what is going on. Maybe can help." "You can't!" He snapped. "You're the reason I made the damn deal in the first place!" She reared back as if he'd struck her. Where was this sudden anger toward her coming from? Why did he suddenly seem as if he were blaming her for something? "Is this about what happened at the wharf? I thought you understood that I -" "This has nothing to do with the wharf, Sheridan. It has to do with you and me and the fact that we can never be together no matter how much we want to be!" "I don't understand." She said taking a tentative step toward him. "Before Hal called I thought -" "So did I, but then I remembered that a relationship between us would never work. There are too many things going against us... namely your family."

"What does my family have to do with this?" She asked reaching out to him only to have him back away from her touch. She frowned then lowered her head and wrapped her arms around herself. "You're afraid of what my family will do? Is that it?" "I'm not afraid of anything." He said his eyes almost as cold as his voice. "I'm merely stating the truth. Your family will never allow us to be together. They hate me as much as I hate them. If we stay together one of two things will happen either they will turn you against me or you will turn against them, which ultimately means you'd have to choose between your family and me. I know what your choice would be. Family means as much to you as it does to me."

"Luis I don't want to leave things like this." "I don't either." He said picking up his bag and meeting her eyes. "But it's the way it has to be. I have to go. I'm sure by now Julian knows I'm off the case and I'd just as soon avoid seeing him right now." "But Luis!" She yelled as he walked toward the door and opened it. "I don't want you to go. I love you. I don't want you to leave me." He lowered his head then tightened his grip on the doorknob. "I love you too, Sheridan. But sometimes love just isn't enough." Sheridan watched as he quietly closed the door and the sound rippled through her cottage, leaving her with an emptiness she'd never felt before. Luis was gone. He'd left her. It was over, she thought hugging her knees to her chest and burying her face in them, it was truly over.

Luis closed the door then walked down the steps. He paused and glanced in the window just in time to see Sheridan fall to her knees, crying. His heart ached for her - and for him. He'd give anything to be able to walk back inside and tell her he'd made a mistake, but he knew he couldn't. Not until he cleared this damn deal with Julian up. He'd given his word and he'd never in his life gone back on his word. It didn't matter that Julian was a Crane and that he hated his guts, he'd given his word and he would not break it no matter how much he wanted to.

Dammit, he thought turning his back on the woman he loved and walking toward his police cruiser, he had to get out of here before she came out and tried to change his mind again. He knew deep down she wouldn't come out, but he couldn't stop himself from hoping she would even as he hoped she wouldn't. Why did things between them have to be so damn complicated?

He knew the reason of course. Julian and his damn deal. If only he hadn't agreed to it, but then he'd really had no choice under the circumstances. If he hadn't agreed to the deal then his career in law enforcement and any hope he'd ever had of making detective would go up in smoke. At the time he and Sheridan wanted nothing to do with each other so the deal had seemed like the best solution. But then the FBI had assigned him as Sheridan's bodyguard and spending all that time with her brought them closer than either one of them could have ever imagined.

And now that his assignment as her bodyguard was over, he had no choice but to stick to the deal he agreed to. Hal had already put in a recommendation for him to be promoted to detective and his family needed the money. His career was everything to him, but so was the heartbroken woman he'd left inside the cottage.

He reached for the door of his police cruiser and a sudden unexpected jolt of emotion slammed through his body almost knocking him off his feet. He forced himself to stay in control and not give into the emotion, but it was hard. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do in his life, but the moment he loaded himself up in the cruiser and started the engine, he knew he was doing the right thing.

He had been raised that a man wasn't a man unless he could keep his word to those he gave it to and he believed that. He believed that deep down in the depths of his soul. And no matter how much he didn't want to keep his word Julian, he would keep it, because that's who he was. He was a man of his word and the day his word meant nothing would be the day he died. Luis put his cruiser in gear then drove out of the Crane mansion fighting the urge to look back to see if he could see Sheridan. He had made his bed the day he agreed to Julian Crane's deal and now unfortunately he would have to lie in it - alone.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 10:

Sheridan took a deep breath then stared out at the body of water before her. For the first time in months, she was actually able to leave her cottage alone, and yet alone was the last thing she wanted to be. She missed Luis, she thought gripping the railing that separated her from the water below. He'd only left her a few hours ago and when he had the cottage had the memories had assaulted her. They'd come so fast upon her that she'd felt herself suffocating from the inability to face them. It hadn't mattered where she looked, everything had reminded her of Luis. Everything held memories of him, from the couch he slept on to the phone he'd held in his hands so many times during his stay. It all made her miss him and caused her more pain that she was prepared to deal with. He'd become such a big part of her life that she had no idea what to do now that he said he could no longer be apart of it.

She didn't understand his reasons. Not when a few short minutes before he had told her he loved her. He'd placed her hand on his heart and said it beat for her, she had felt each heartbeat and she'd seen the love in his eyes. But now... now all of the sudden that love wasn't enough and she didn't understand the reason why. He'd said their being together would result in her having to chose between her family and him, but she knew there was more to it than just that. He'd spoken of some deal he'd made, but she didn't understand what he was talking about or why it would keep them apart. And why couldn't he tell her what it was?

She closed her eyes as tears once again burned them and wondered how long it would take her to get over him. She'd gone to Paris to get over his breaking her heart, but he'd followed her there even before he showed up in the flesh. She feared he would always follow her. "Oh Luis." She said reaching up to wipe her eyes. "How am I going to live without you? How am I going to deal with another broken heart?" "Sheridan?" A voice called out from behind her. "Are you okay? You look like you're crying?" She turned to see Hank standing there looking at her in concern. She didn't speak as he pulled her into his embrace. She couldn't have even if she wanted to. She simply broke down in his arms. "I lost him, Hank. It's over. My god, it's really over."

"What?" Hank asked as he stroked the back of her head. "I don't understand. I saw you two this morning. How can it be over now?" "I don't know." She said her voice quivering, her body shaking. "But it is. He told me it was. He said love wasn't enough, Hank. He told me love wasn't enough. Oh god, it hurts. It hurts so much." "Shh." Hank said tightening his arms around her. "It'll be okay, Sheridan, it'll be okay." "No it won't." She whispered as the tears continued to slide down her cheeks. "It'll never be all right again. Not without him. I love him, Hank, I love him so much." "I know you do." He said pulling her head to his chest. "I know you do."

As Luis watched the scene before him, the ache in his chest grew more intense. He'd really hurt her tonight and he'd give anything in the world to make that hurt go away. But he knew he couldn't. Not without going back on his word to Julian and no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't do that. It wasn't the type of man he was and he'd never be able to respect himself if he didn't keep his word, even if it was to a bastard like Julian Crane. He should have known when he agreed to it, that it would one day cost him, but at the time it was the only option he had if he wanted to keep his career. His career in law enforcement wasn't just a job to him, it was a part of him, a very big part, and without it he wouldn't be the man she loved.

He knew she didn't understand his reasons for ending things between them, but he couldn't explain them to her. He had to get things squared away with Julian first. He knew Julian wasn't going to just let him out of the deal, but he had to try. He shook his head then turned and made his way back around the corner before Hank or Sheridan saw him. He didn't want to cause Sheridan anymore pain than he already had and he knew them running into each other right now would do just that. God, what he wouldn't give to be able to just forget about everything standing in their way, but he couldn't. He couldn't forget because the moment he did, Julian Crane would be there to remind him and a pair of handcuffs wouldn't be that far behind him either.

He felt the anger start to rise again, but this time it was directed at himself. How could he have made a deal with Julian? A man he believed to be responsible for his father's disappearance? He knew if his career hadn't been on the line and if Sheridan hadn't already made it perfectly clear that she never wanted to see him again then he wouldn't have made that damn deal. But he had made it and now he had to live with the consequences. He rubbed a hand over his face then stomped up the steps and made his way around to the stores that lined the wharf. He'd just rounded the corner to walk back to his cruiser when he bumped into someone. "Sorry buddy, I wasn't watching where I was... Jake! Hey man, what brings you down to the wharf tonight?"

"Luis." Jake said raising his brows in surprise. "I... I was just out walking and I somehow ended up here." Something tore at the back of his memory, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what it was. He knew it had something to do with what Jake said but... "Hey, I remember now. I remember why you looked so familiar to me the other night at the pool hall. I saw you down here at the wharf a few months back. Why didn't you tell me that we'd run into each other before?" "Uh, are you sure it was me?" Jake asked with a somewhat nervous laugh. "I don't remember ever running into you before that night at the pool hall."

Luis could tell he was lying but he wasn't quite sure why. His mind went over the night he saw Jake down here and he remembered the conversation they'd had about the black bag he'd been carrying. Jake had said it was workout clothes for the gym, but Luis had been suspicious and was just about to ask him to open the bag when Sam called him to ask him to come in and fill out the paper work on the drug bust he'd made that night.

Luis froze as he realized that was the same night he kissed Sheridan in an effort to protect his cover. It was also the same night she said she saw and heard him saying those things about her. But it hadn't been him because he'd left after Sheridan did and that was when he'd run into Jake. Jake was his proof, he thought suddenly feeling as if he'd won the lottery, his proof that he didn't say those things that he hadn't been on the wharf when she said he was. But then again what did that matter anymore? It wasn't what was keeping them apart right now - the deal he made with Julian was. And until he got that taken care of, this new knowledge wouldn't do him a damn bit of good.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 11:

Sheridan walked inside the book cafe and sucked in a deep breath as more memories floated through her brain. How many times had she and Luis run into each other here? Countless times, she thought walking toward an empty table in the back and lowering herself into one of the chairs that surrounded it, she had run into Luis here countless times. Is that why she'd come here today? Was she hoping to run into Luis? It had been nearly a week since he'd broken her heart and walked out of her life and the pain was still as sharp as it had been the moment he'd closed the front door to her cottage, separating them for the first time in months. Something told her the pain she was feeling now would be nothing compared to the pain seeing him again would bring. She swallowed hard then got to her feet suddenly realizing that running into Luis so soon after he'd broken her heart was not something she had the strength to deal with today.

Walking quickly with her head down, she made her way out of the cafe. Once she was back outside in the fresh air she began to breath more easily. Was there anywhere in Harmony that she didn't have memories of Luis? No, she thought shaking her head, there was no place she could go to in Harmony that she hadn't already been to with Luis at some point or another. Maybe now was the time for her to leave Harmony. She didn't have to return to Paris. She could go some place else. Perhaps, she could go to New York or LA. She knew a few people there. But she wasn't sure she could get on a plane without remembering the last time she'd been on one... with Luis. She shook her head. Maybe she'd take a cruise to somewhere exotic? No, she couldn't do that she thought frowning, getting on a boat would only remind her of prom night when Luis had risked his life in that storm to go after the people on the boat.

She certainly couldn't drive herself somewhere. The moment she got behind the wheel, she'd see Luis' face staring back at her. Memories of all the times she and Luis had spent together flashed in her mind and before she realized it, she was running toward Lighthouse park as if the hounds of hell were on her heels. She heard someone call her name, but she didn't stop to see who it was. She just kept running. Maybe if she ran fast enough the memories couldn't catch her. Maybe if she - "AH!" She screamed as a pair of masculine arms wrapped around her midriff and picked her up off her feet. "Let me go!" "Dammit Sheridan calm down. It's me!" "Luis?" She asked as she began to place a halt on her struggles. The moment he sat her back on her feet and released her she turned to face him. "What the hell do you think you're doing grabbing me like that? You scared the hell out of me!"

"Me?" He asked arching two brows in surprise. "You're the one running through the park like some madwoman! Hell, I thought someone was chasing you or something!" "Something was." She muttered under her breath. "What?" Luis asked suddenly grabbing her by the arms and going into cop mode. "What was chasing you?" "Memories." She replied as the tears began to sting her eyes. "Memories were chasing me. I thought I could outrun them, but I should have realized I couldn't. Why did you stop me? Why didn't you just let me go?" "I wanted to make sure you were okay." He replied a bit too quickly. She glanced up at him and realized he was as tortured about their parting as she was. "Don't look at me like that, Sheridan." "Why?" She asked raising her hand to his face and closing her eyes as he leaned into her touch. "What are you so afraid of, Luis?" "I'm not afraid of anything." He said removing her hand from his face and setting her away from him. "But this isn't going to happen. It can't happen."

"Why?" She asked wrapping her arms around herself to fight off the sudden chill. "Help me understand why a relationship between us can't happen. Tell me the reason you don't want me." "It's not that I don't want you." He said closing his eyes and raising his head toward the sky. "God knows I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone or anything in my life, but I can't have you, Sheridan. I can't have you." "Yes you can." She said walking toward him and taking his face in her hands forcing him to look into her eyes. "In fact, you already do. Don't you understand that? You have my heart, Luis. You have my soul. What else do you want? What is keeping you from accepting my love?" "Please." He whispered closing his eyes. "Don't do this, Sheridan. I'm not strong enough to -"

"To what?" She asked searching his eyes when he finally opened them again. "What aren't you strong enough to do?" "To resist you." He replied wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her body flush up against his. "I'm not strong enough to resist you." "Then stop trying." She whispered brushing her lips across his. "Just stop trying." A moan tore from deep within his throat as he finally gave in to the passion swirling around them. Her hands grabbed a fistful of his jacket material, trying to pull him in closer. She'd expected the intense passion that always came with his kiss, but what she didn't expect was the fierce desperation or the sudden electric current that began to course through her veins. Their kiss was a live wire of passion and emotion, passion and emotion she knew he would not be able to deny or ignore.

Luis brought his hand to the back of Sheridan's head then angled his lips more fully against hers. He was drowning in passion and even though he knew it wasn't fair to her, he couldn't seem to pull away. He'd been dreaming of her kiss every night since he'd left the cottage and now that she was back in his arms, he couldn't bring himself to push her away. He just wasn't strong enough to do that. She parted her lips on a sigh and he took the initiative and deepened the kiss. His tongue delved into her mouth and he began lost in its sweetness. Nothing could have prepared him for the emotions that swirled around his heart. There was nothing he could do to stop himself from taking what she offered him. He was a man after all, a man who loved the woman in his arms with everything he had inside him.

But it wasn't fair to allow her to think that they could be together now. It wasn't fair to him or to her. "Sheridan." He choked out as he finally managed to push her away from him. "We have to stop. Nothing has changed." "What do you mean nothing has changed?" She asked arching her brows in surprise. "Don't tell me you still don't want to be with me, because we both know that would be a lie. You want me as much I as want you and you love me as much as I love you. So don't you dare think I'm going to suddenly believe that you don't." "I never said I didn't want or love you, Sheridan. I only said it was impossible for us to be together." "Yeah you did say that, but you never gave me a reason why." She said placing her hands on her hips, her temper clearly rising. "If we can't be together then I damn sure deserve to know why!"

But he couldn't tell her, he thought his own temper rising because of his own lack of willpower where she was concerned. "I'm sorry, Sheridan." "I don't want to hear you say you're sorry!" She said balling her hand into a fist and smacking it against his chest. "I want to hear you tell me why! Why can't we be together? Why Luis? WHY?" "Because I made a deal with the devil!" He yelled suddenly unable to stop himself. The moment the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. No way would Sheridan allow him to dodge that explanation, he thought watching, as her face took on a look of complete and utter confusion, no way at all.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 12:

Luis ran a hand over his face unable to believe what he'd just said. He always knew one day his Latin temper would get him into trouble and now it appeared it had. He knew that any moment now she would ask him about his 'deal with the devil' and he had no earthly idea how he was going to explain his way out of it. He couldn't lie to her, but he couldn't tell her the truth either. He should have already talked to Julian about the damn deal, but his emotions had been running all over the place since he walked out on Sheridan and he knew seeing Julian while he was in his current state would only fuel his hatred of him. The last thing he needed was for Julian to bring an assault charge against him. It was bad enough he was holding the kidnapping charge over his head.

"What deal did you make with Julian?" Sheridan asked as she lowered her balled fists from his chest and looked up at him, her eyes showing her confusion. "How do you know the deal I made was with Julian?" Luis asked his voice holding no trace of the surprise he felt inside. "Because there are only two people you would think of as being the devil," Sheridan said as she took a step back and folded her arms in front of her. "Julian and my father. Julian was my first guess and judging by your reaction I'd say I was right so what deal did you make with him?"

Luis drew in a deep breath then turned around unable to look her in the eyes and think at the same time. He couldn't tell her about the deal. He would be breaking his word if he did that. But she was bound to go to Julian if he didn't and that was all he needed. He had no doubt Julian would lie to her and only cause them even more problems than they already had. "Sheridan, please don't ask me anymore about the deal." He closed his eyes and prayed she would understand. "I can't tell you. I gave my word and I can't go back on it." "Then I'll make Julian tell me." She said anger apparent in her voice.

"No!" Luis said turning around and catching her by the arm when she started to walk off. "I can't let you do that." "Why not?" She asked as she pulled her arm free from his grip. "Why don't you want me to talk to Julian? What has he done? What deal could you two have possibly made? And why on earth would you agree to a deal with Julian in the first place?" Luis released a frustrated breath then closed his eyes and fought the demons within him, the demons of pain, pain of being unable to tell Sheridan the answers she wanted to know. He opened his eyes again then stared into hers wishing things could be different. "I can't tell you, Sheridan. I want to but I can't."

"When did you two make this deal?" She asked arching one brow. "Can you at least tell me that much?" "A few months back." He said figuring there was no harm in giving her that answer. "A few months back." Sheridan repeated staring into his eyes. He knew the moment she realize it. The look on her face said it all. "The kidnapping charges!"

Sheridan watched the shock register on Luis' face and knew without a doubt that she was right. Julian had made him a deal in exchange for getting the charges that she had brought against him dropped. But what did Luis have to do? "What did you agree to do in exchange for Julian getting the charges dropped?" "I gave him my word, Sheridan. I can't tell you." His voice was low and she could hear the regret in it. She could also hear the pain. She thought back to that time, but nothing really stuck out at her. She and Luis had been furious with each other at that point. In fact, she had wanted nothing more than to stay away from him and she knew he felt the same way...

Her brow furrowed and she looked at him, his dark eyes peering intently into hers, begging her to drop it. But she wasn't going to drop it. She was going to find out the truth and then she was going to make her brother pay. "He made you agree to stay away from me, didn't he?" Luis closed his eyes then shook his head. "Leave it alone, Sheridan." "I can't! Not until I know what my brother has done! What did he threaten you with if you didn't stay away from me?" He didn't answer her but then he didn't really need to. She already knew. Julian had told him he would reinstate the charges. "I am not going to let him get away with this."

"Sheridan -" "NO!" She said her anger on the rise. "Don't you Sheridan me! Julian and Alistair have messed with my life long enough. I will not let them stop me from being with the man I love! I won't!" "You plan to confront Julian about this, don't you?" Luis asked in what sounded like defeat. "Yes I do." Sheridan said giving him a look she hoped showed her determination. "I have to, Luis. He can't continue to do this. He can't continue to try and run my life for me." Luis sighed then gave a quick nod. "Then I'm going with you." Sheridan smiled then held out her hand to Luis. A rush of emotion swept through her body as he took it into his own and gave it a gentle squeeze. Julian might not know it yet but his plan to keep them apart had failed.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 13:

Luis pulled up in front of the cottage and shut off the engine then turned to look at the woman next to him. Shadows danced across her face, but when she turned toward him the only thing he was able to focus on was the look in her blue eyes. "Sheridan, are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'm positive." She whispered reaching out one slender hand and laying it against his cheek, the heat of her skin seeping into him and causing him to suck in a deep breath. "He can't keep interfering in my life and trying to make decisions for me, decisions he has no right whatsoever to make. Threatening to reinstate the kidnapping charges if you didn't stay away from me, is going too far."

Luis nodded then raised his hand and covered hers, before linking their fingers together and bringing her palm to his lips. He placed a small kiss in the center then smiled against her skin when she drew in a quick breath. "It isn't going to be pretty, Sheridan. Julian is going to be steamed." "I don't care." She replied letting her hand fall back to her lap as he released it. "Julian needs to learn that there are places his nose has no business being and my relationship with you is one of those places."

Luis sent her a wide smile then took a deep breath and reached for the door handle behind him, pulling the keys out of the ignition with his right hand and sliding them into his right jean pocket before opening the door and stepping out into the cool night air.

He'd been putting off dealing with Julian and this damn deal because something in his gut told him the moment he told Julian what he could do with his deal, would be the moment he sealed his own fate and that of his relationship with Sheridan. But now that Sheridan knew about the deal, there was no way he could put off confronting Julian about it any longer.

He drew in another deep breath then shut the door and walked around the front of his police cruiser to hold the door open for Sheridan as she exited. She sent him a thankful smile then stepped out of the way so he could close the car door. He turned around and froze when he noticed the determined gleam shining in the depths of her blue eyes. "Sheridan?"

She placed a hand on his chest then slowly backed him up until his back hit the vehicle behind him. He arched a brow at her, but the index finger of her right hand across his lips stopped him from questioning her. "Before we go see my brother there is something I need to know." He swallowed hard as she slowly drew her finger across his lips before finally lowering her hand back to his chest. "Wh..What?" He finally managed to choke out. "What do you want to know?"

"Did you mean what you said when you left the cottage that night? Do you really believe that the love we feel for each other isn't enough to overcome the obstacles thrown at us?" "Sheridan, " He sighed. "I don't think this is the time or the place to discuss that." "Well, I think it's the perfect time and place." She said as she stepped closer and searched his eye with hers. "Do you really believe what you said?" "I don't know." He whispered into the air as his head fell back against the top of his police cruiser. "I'm not sure what I believe. What we felt for each other wasn't enough to make you talk to me about that night on the wharf.

It wasn't enough to make you trust me, to believe in me enough to know that I would never say those things about you. Even when I told you it wasn't me, you still didn't believe me. I'm not sure you really believe me even now." He stopped and raised his head, his eyes immediately locking back onto hers. "Maybe what we feel for each other really isn't love. Maybe we both just want to be in love so bad that we've convinced ourselves that what we're feeling is love, when it really isn't love at all."

Her brow knitted together in confusion and her hand that had been resting comfortable against her chest fell away. "You don't believe that. You know as well as I do that what we feel for each other is love. If you didn't you wouldn't be here now." "You're right." He whispered as his lips pulled into a smile. "I wouldn't be." She raised her hand toward him, but he shook his head and quickly removed himself from between her and his cruiser, coming to a stop when he was a few feet away from her.

"Sheridan, I've had a lot of time to think over the last week and… and there is one thing that keeps popping in my mind over and over again like a worn out record. For over a year, you believed I said things about you that I didn't say and when you finally confronted me about it and I denied it, you called me a liar. You didn't trust me, Sheridan. You didn't believe in me. How on earth can we have a relationship when you can't even trust me?" "Luis, that was before I -"

"Before you what?" Luis asked arching a brow at her. "Before you realized I was telling you the truth? I'm not sure that even matters right now. If Freeman hadn't called that day things would have gotten out of hand, way beyond what they should have. We needed to talk about your distrust of me, but we didn't. All we did was let our passion for each other carry us away. Passion will only go so far, Sheridan. There has to be some type of a foundation to base it on and without trust… everything else falls."

"I do trust you!" She answered her voice slightly shaking. "I do!" "With your life maybe, but with your heart… You didn't trust me when it counted, Sheridan. For months, you treated me like I wasn't fit to breathe the same air as you. Hell, you filed kidnapping charges because of your inability to trust me!" "I know." She whispered as she lowered her head to look at the ground, tears filling her voice and eyes. "I'm sorry, Luis. I'm so sorry."

"I know you are." He said his need to comfort her almost winning out over his need to tell her what her distrust of him did to him. "But that doesn't change the fact that it happened. I mean we wouldn't be here right now, if you had just trusted me and believed in me." A sob tore from her throat and his head lost the battle with his heart. He closed the distance between them and gently pulled her into his arms. As she buried her face in his chest, he raised a hand to the back of her head and cursed himself a thousand times over for making her cry.

When the last of her tears subsided, Sheridan raised her head off of Luis' chest and took a step back out of his embrace before reaching up to wipe away her tears. Everything he said was true. She hadn't believed him when all along he'd been telling her the truth. She hadn't trusted him when he'd told her he cared about her and that he would never use her. The only thing she had done was screw up the best thing that had ever happened to her. And she hadn't really a clue as to why.

Yes, she had seen someone at the wharf that night and yes he did look like the identical twin of the man standing in front of her. But she knew now in her heart that it hadn't been Luis. She should have known it then. Perhaps, deep down in her heart she had, but it was her mind that doubted him. Her mistrust of him had stemmed more from the fact that she cared about him and thinking he didn't care about her hurt her than it ever had about what she had heard whoever was on the wharf that night say. But Luis didn't know that. How could he when she had never told him?

She took a deep breath then looked up and met his eyes. "That night I went to the wharf to prove Julian wrong. He'd been telling me what a lousy judge of character in men I was and that every single man I had been involved with had used me. He was right. They all had. Every one of them. I wanted to prove to him that you were different so I went down to the wharf to see you."

She closed her eyes as an image of Luis talking on his cellphone flashed in her mind and she had to suck in a deep painful breath as his words once again played themselves in her head. "When I got there, all I could think about was proving to Julian that he was wrong. That my caring about you wasn't going to get me hurt because you cared about me too.

But then then I saw you... or whom I thought was you talking on a cellphone. I moved closer, intending to let you know I was there, but then I heard you call me a spoiled princess and how you were just using me for your own ends. Maybe I should have known it wasn't you, but the person I saw had your face and your voice. How could I know it wasn't you?"

She reached up to wipe away a tear that began to trickle down her cheek then shook her head as the pain she'd felt that day reinvented itself full force. "I cared about you so much and hearing that you didn't care about me, hurt. It hurt more than I could ever tell you. I didn't know what to do because the pain in my heart was..was killing me."

She shivered from the memory of the night then looked up at him and sucked in a deep breath when she saw his eyes were filled with pain, pain that mirrored her own. "I reacted the way I did because everyone I had ever cared about had done the same thing I thought you did. They had pretended to care about me when really they were only using me. I should have known you were different than they were, but can you really blame me for thinking what I thought? The man had your face and your voice. How could I know it wasn't you?"

"The same way I would have known it wasn't you. You could have trusted your heart." She shook her head. "But my heart was what was in pain. Don't you understand? I was already in love with you and when I heard those things it broke my heart? I couldn't trust my own judgment. I thought I had once again let myself fall in love with a man that had no intention of returning that love back to me.

What reason did I have to think you really cared about me? You had spent the better part of six months telling me how much you hated my family and that you were going to do anything you could to prove they were involved in your father's disappearance." "But that proving your family was responsible for what happened to my family had nothing to do with you and I." "How did I know that?" She whispered as more tears fell. "How did I know that you weren't just pretending to like me so that you could find out what you wanted to know?

? I'd never had a man like me for me so how was I to know that you were any different? Especially considering the fact that my eyes and my ears just heard you say you were only using me." "You could have trusted me." Luis stated as he took a step forward and cupped her face in his hands, the pad of his thumbs automatically brushing away her tears. "You could have trusted me enough to know that I would never and could never use you or anyone else."

"It wasn't so much about trusting you as it was trusting me." She replied letting out a soft sigh. "I didn't trust my judgment enough to trust you. Don't you see? My past relationships and Julian's reminder of them, made me doubt my ability to know who I could trust and who I couldn't, who was just using me and who wasn't. It had just as much to do with me as it did with you." "Is that why you ran away to Paris?" Luis asked his eyes not betraying any of what he felt.

She nodded. "Yeah, I think it is. I left because my emotions where you were concerned were fighting with each other. One part of me said I should hate you for what you had said and the other part… the part said I should love you. But I was too hurt to admit to myself that I was in love with you so I did the only thing I could do. I tried to escape the heartache you had caused me, but it followed me to Paris, as did you."

She shook her head. "When I pressed those charges against you, I was angry because I wanted to believe that you had come to Paris because you did care about me. But the only words that flew out of your mouth were… 'It's my job'. I hated you for making me think you really had cared about me and my pressing those charges against you was my reacting to that not to your chloroforming me, although I was pretty mad about that too."

"You had a right to be." He whispered as he moved one hand into her hair and lightly ran it through her blond curls. "You had a right to be mad at me. I kept telling you I was only doing my job, because I wasn't ready to admit that protecting you had never been about my job. I didn't want to give you the chance to hurt me, because your slapping me that day and refusing to tell me why…" He broke off and shook his head. "That hurt like hell, Sheridan. I tried to shrug it off, but… but I couldn't. I needed to know what happened, but you refused to tell me and then all of the sudden you were gone."

He swallowed hard. "My gut told me you were in trouble, but my going to Paris wasn't just about my job. Nothing having to do with you was ever about my job. It was always personal, between you and me. I should have had the guts to admit that to you, but... but like you I was scared of how I felt." He smiled ruefully. "We hurt each other quite a bit." "Yes we did." She replied with a nod. "But look at where we are right now. We're together. We might not have everything figured out yet, but I know what we have is worth trying. Don't you think?"

"I -" He broke off as the loud roar of a motorcycle sounded throughout the air. He turned toward the noise and furrowed his brow when his eyes landed on the man taking off his helmet and setting it down to rest on the motorcycle seat he'd just vacated. "What is Jake doing here?" "Jake?" Sheridan asked as her eyes focused on the backside of the man walking up the steps to the Crane mansion. He reached out to ring the bell then turned back around, the moonlight illuminating his face. She let out a gasp of surprise. "No, it.. it can't be! That's impossible!"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 14:

"You were.. you were married?" Luis finally managed to choke out as his heart took a dive toward his feet. He didn't like thinking of her being married to another guy, especially someone he knew. Granted, he had only met Jake Bryant a little over a week ago, if you didn't count their run in at the wharf last year, but they had played pool and had.

His thoughts trailed off as realization hit him. The bastard had known who he was the whole time they had been playing that pool game and talking. He'd told him all about how his relationship with Sheridan and how things had taken a turn that he really hadn't expected. The guy had pretended to be sympathetic, but... but he'd been playing him for a damn fool! "That bastard!"

"Luis?" Sheridan asked as her eyes shifted from the man standing in the distance to him. "Dammit!" He muttered hotly as he jammed a hand through his hair. "He played me for a fool!" "Luis?" Sheridan asked again as she reached a hand out to touch him. "How do you how do you know Jake?" "He was in the pool hall the other night. We played a few games of pool, drank a few beers, talked about you. Or rather I talked about you. He just listened. And now I know why." Luis shook his head and turned around to glare at the man in the distance.

. "At first, I was hesitant to talk about us since I didn't know him, but then he told me that he didn't know you... and that he would be an objective third party. So I told him about us, about how we met and stuff. Either I was too drunk to notice or he's just a damn good liar, but I never would have guessed that he knew you let alone had been married to you." "Jake is one of the best at hiding things he doesn't want others to see or know." The bitterness that dripped from her voice had his head swinging back around in her direction. "Damn him!" She replied as she shot around him and began walking up toward the main house. "I knew it! Julian just opened the door and let him in! He must've called him and asked him to come to Harmony. Just wait until I get my hands on him! He knows how I feel about Jake!" "I'm glad someone does." Luis whispered into the air as Sheridan's angry stride took her further and further away from him. He ran a hand over his face then let out a rush of air as he made the decision to catch up to her.

By the time Sheridan reached the front door of the mansion, her anger had increased ten times from what it had been when she first saw Jake stepping onto the porch. There was only one reason Julian would ask him to come to Harmony. He wanted to them to try again. How many times since their divorce over two years ago had Julian asked her to give Jake another chance? Fifty? A hundred?

He just didn't get that she didn't want to give Jake another chance. That she couldn't trust him not to lie to her again. Damn him! What was he doing here? He knew she would never forgive him for what he'd done. He knew that! So why would he come here and put himself through hearing it again? She shook her head then closed her hand over the doorknob only to freeze when Luis' hand shot out to stop her before she could open the door. She turned her head toward him and sucked in a deep breath when she found herself staring into his questioning brown eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you'd been married?"

She opened her mouth to answer him, but closed it again when she realized she had no clue as to what she was supposed to say. She really hadn't even thought about Jake in over a year, well except when Julian occasionally brought him up. Telling Luis about him really had never entered her mind. When she'd come back to Harmony it had been about forgetting what a creep Jean Luc was, but then she'd met Luis and her life had never been the same since.

"To be honest, other than Julian mentioning him to me a few times, I hadn't really given him or our marriage much thought. We didn't part on good terms. In fact, I'm really surprised he would come here. If Julian hadn't called him and asked him to, I'm sure he wouldn't be here. He knows I wouldn't want him here." "How do you know Julian called him?" Luis asked with a raised brow. "Couldn't he have just decided that he wanted you back?" She shook her head. "Jake knows that there is no chance of that happening. Not after what he did.

Julian and my father, on the other hand.. ever since my divorce from Jake they have been telling me what a mistake I made. How much he loved me and that I should have stuck with him and tried to work things out. My brother is crazy about Jake. They do a lot of business together, overseas. That's how Jake and I first met. Julian asked me to deliver some papers to his office." "And you think Julian called him into town to play matchmaker?" Luis frowned. "Something tells me that Julian would go to the trouble of calling him here unless he thought Jake really had a chance of winning you back."

There was a question in his eyes, but the sudden opening of the door stopped her from answering it. She turned only to find herself staring into another pair of intense brown eyes, only these eyes held no question. They only held shock. "Sher." She swallowed hard as long forgotten memories replayed themselves in her head and before she even registered the thought, her arm shot out and her palm connected with his cheek, making his eyes go wide with surprise. "You have a lot of nerve coming here!"

"It's good to see you too." Jake replied as he straightened himself up and gave her a rueful smile. "I'm only here because Julian called me and asked me to come. We had some business that we needed to discuss." "I just bet you did." Sheridan stated bitterly. "Did your business happen to include trying to win me back? If it did I can tell you right now that it's a lost cause. You already burned that bridge way beyond repair." "Your name did come up." He answered after only a moment's hesitation. "But only because I asked how you were doing and if you knew he had asked me to come into town."

"Why don't I believe you?" She asked arching a brow at the man in front of her. "Could it be because you never know when to tell the truth?" "I never lied to you, Sher. I may not have told you everything, but I never lied to you." "You may not have lied to her." Luis accused from beside her. "But you damn well lied to me." "Luis." Jake breathed out slowly as if just realizing he was standing there. "I'm sorry I told you I didn't know Sheridan. I thought it would be awkward for you if you knew I was her ex-husband."

He stopped and shrugged a shoulder. "I should have told you, but we'd both had a few too many and when you mentioned her name, I was just too caught off guard to think about telling you who I was. Hell, neither one of us was really thinking that straight that night anyway." "That's really funny." Luis replied with a bitter laugh. "Because something tells me that you knew exactly who I was before I ever mentioned Sheridan's name." "Well you're wrong." He answered in a tone laced with edginess. "I had no idea you knew Sheridan. Not until you told me."

"Why do I get the feeling that you're lying? That you're trying to hide something?" Luis took a step forward and Sheridan sucked in a deep breath as Jake took one too, bringing both men within a foot of each other. "Maybe because you're paranoid?" Jake asked as he arched a brow in defiance. "You know I really resent those accusations of yours." "I don't think they are accusations." Luis stated in a voice as cold as ice. "I think they're the truth." "Well your version of the truth is a bit twisted then." Jake retorted as his temper began to take hold. "You're way off base." "Am I?" Luis questioned as his head tilted slightly to the left. "If I'm so off base then why do I feel like I just hit a nerve?"

"Maybe because you're looking to hit one?" Jake asked as he took a step closer. Luis smiled and Sheridan took a deep breath as he took another step closer, bringing the two men nose to nose with each other. "I didn't have to look very hard, did I?" Dear god, Sheridan thought closing her eyes, please don't let them get into a fight. It will only make things ten time worse. If Jake got it in his head that Luis wasn't good enough for her her eyes popped open and she immediately got between the two men, sending Jake a warning look. "Back off, Jake." "Sher -"

"No!" She interrupted by holding up a hand and placing it against his chest, forcing him to take a step back. "You are not going to start a fight." "Me start a fight?" Jake asked incredulously. "He's the one that -" "That what? Called you on the truth?" She shook her head and glared at him. "What is the real reason you didn't tell Luis who you were? I know you have one. You don't do anything without thinking it through first." "Sher -" "Tell me!" She yelled angrily. "Why didn't you tell Luis who you were?" "Because I couldn't!" He yelled back in a frustrated voice. "Look, I was telling you the truth. I am here on business." "But?" Luis asked from beside her. "But that's not the whole reason I'm here." Jake stated with a quick glare at Luis. "I knew it!" Sheridan said curling her fingers into a fist. "What does Julian want you to do?" "Julian has offered me a position at Crane industries." Jake answered his brown eyes locked onto hers. "He wants me to move to Harmony... permanently."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 15:

So he was finally getting the position he'd wanted from the start, Sheridan thought shaking her head as her anger built. Getting a position in Harmony working for the Cranes was the whole basis for their relationship. He'd only pursued her romantically because her father had promised to eventually give him a higher position in the company. Of course, when she found out about their little deal, it had not only destroyed their marriage, but it had also destroyed his chances at the position. Or so she thought.

"After all this time," Sheridan stated not taking her eyes off the man in front of her even for a second. She knew he was far too good at hiding things and she wanted to know if he made the slightest twitch. It was usually a good indication that he wasn't being entirely truthful. "Julian just offered you the position you've always wanted? Why? What do you have to do for him in return?" Jake's hesitant pause before answering told her there was a lot more to it than what he stated. Knowing him it was a whole lot more. "The job offer hinged on work I've already done."

She started to ask him what he'd had to do, but before she could her brother appeared in the doorway. His surprise at seeing her there was written all over his face. "Sh…Sheridan? Luis? What…what are you two doing here? Isn't it a bit late?" "Not late enough." Sheridan replied her eyes narrowing in a glare. "I guess we sort of ruined your little surprise." "What?" He asked as if he had no earthly idea what she was talking about. "If you're talking about Jake, he's hardly what I would call a surprise. I mean you know he's been working for the family for years. When a job opened up here in Harmony, he was the first person I thought of."

Now she knew something was up. Crane industries had a mountain of people vying for jobs, why on earth would Julian want to hire her ex-husband? Jake had said it wasn't because Julian wanted him to win her back. But maybe Julian hadn't told Jake that particular detail yet. Maybe he was just waiting to spring it on him. "So after two years, you just up and called Jake?" Julian shook his head, his tone exasperated. "Sheridan just because you divorced him, a rather stupid move on your part if I do say so myself, it doesn’t mean we don't still talk.

Jake and I have business dealings all the time. There was nothing unusual about my calling him up for this position." Sheridan arched her brow at that. "Nothing unusual about you calling up my ex-husband and offering him a position in Harmony without even talking to me first?" "Why on earth would I consult you about a business matter? You have nothing to do with Crane Industries. You never wanted anything to do with the company. And besides the last time I mentioned Jake to you, you bit my head off. Is it so shocking that I wouldn't want to bring his name up again?" Julian asked arching a brow to match her own.

It was when you were Julian Crane, she thought not breaking the stare she had going with her brother even for a second. She knew there was more to this than they were going to tell her; there always was. She'd learned that fact a long time ago. Nothing her family did was ever as cut and dried as it appeared to be. "What exactly is the job Jake will be doing for you?"

"I'm kind of curious about that myself." Luis asked from beside her causing her to turn her head to look at him. It was the first time he'd spoken since Julian appeared and she knew he had to be as confused about Jake's appearance as she was. Who wouldn't be? She'd been married to the man for almost two years and she'd never been able to figure him out. He was as secretive as her father and brother were. Perhaps that was why they had always loved him so much.

"I'm afraid the job Jake was hired for is one not to be discussed with those not involved with Crane industries." Julian smoothly replied causing Sheridan to turn her attention back to him and narrow his eyes. "Julian I have a right to know -" Julian interrupted her by waving his hand in the air dismissively. "If you want to know what Jake's job description is then you'll have to go to work for the company, otherwise it is not up for discussion." "Are jobs within Crane industries always so secret?" Luis questioned suspicions lacing ever word. He was in cop mode. She could practically hear the wheels turning in his head. Or maybe that was the wheels in her own, she could hear turning.

"Not always." Julian answered exasperation back in his tone. "But sometimes our business does involve keeping certain dealings under wraps and this is one of those times." "Very convenient." Luis replied. "Nothing convenient about it, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald." Julian sneered. "It's the way the business works. If you had the slightest head for business you would -." "That's enough!" Sheridan said giving Julian yet another glare. She knew where that kind of insult would leave and there was enough to deal with already without having to listen to her brother and Luis have a war with words again.

She pressed a hand to her temple, to try and alleviate the pounding in her head, and the voice that questioned her about it was one she would have just as soon not heard. "You okay, Sheridan?" "I'm fine!" She snapped giving Jake the same glare she'd given her brother a few moments before. "Really Sheridan," Her brother replied in annoyance. "Must you be so unwelcoming? I mean you haven't seen Jake in a long time. Do you really have to bite his head off? He was just asking if you were okay. I think his interest in the state of your welfare should be commended considering how you up and divorced him without giving him -"

"My marriage to Jake - or our divorce for that matter - is none of your business, Julian. It never was. So I would really appreciate it if you would keep your opinions to yourself! And while you're at it, you can keep your nose out of my personal life too!" Julian furrowed his brow in confusion and it only angered her further. Did he really think he could just mettle in her life and she wouldn't question him on it? If he did then he was in for a big surprise. "What are you talking about? You're my sister. I worry about you."

"I may be your sister, but that doesn't give you the right to try and run my life for me!" She stated her anger over his actions making her voice raise a notch. "I know about the deal, Julian. I know what you did. I know all about you dropping the kidnapping charges against Luis in exchange for his staying away from me and I'll be damned if I let you get away with it!" "Are you wanting to reinstate the charges? Is that what this is all about?"

"No, I'm here to tell you that your deal with Luis is officially over." She glared at him, daring him to object to what she was saying. When he didn't she continued. "The kidnapping charges will not be reinstated and there is no way in hell Luis and I are going to stay away from each other." "Okay." Julian stated with a nod. "If that's what you want then the deal is off. The only reason I made it in the first place was because you told me you wanted him to stay away from you. You said you wanted nothing more to do with him. I thought making the deal with Luis was a way to get you what you wanted, but if you've changed your mind then there is really no reason I would reinstate the charges, even if I could."

She had no doubt about that he could get the charges reinstated. Crane money could buy a lot of things and Julian wouldn't hesitate to use it if it meant getting him what he wanted. "I mean it Julian. If you even think about trying to get those charges reinstated -" "I said I wouldn't, Sheridan." Julian replied with a shake of his head. "Do you want me to give you my word? Fine. Then I give you my word. I will not reinstate the kidnapping charges against Luis. Happy now?" She was far from it, but it was a start. "While you're handing out your word, why don't you give me your word that you didn't hire Jake on at Crane industries in the hope that we would get back together?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Julian replied his eyes straying toward Jake. "Not without lying." "I knew it!" Sheridan accused turning her attention toward Jake. "I knew you weren't being honest!" "I told you the truth, Sheridan." Jake answered with a shake of his head. "I had no idea Julian hired me in the hope we would get back together. He didn't bother to mention it to me." Sheridan studied him for a minute then turned her attention back to her brother. "Is that true?"

He nodded. "Yes it is. I hired Jake because of his business expertise. That is true. I had my own hopes that his moving to Harmony might lead to a reconciliation between the two of you, but obviously that isn't going to happen. Not now that you and Luis are involved. You are involved, I assume? That is the reason you two aren't going to stay away from each other, right?" "That's right." Luis replied moving his hand to rest against her lower back. "Sheridan and I…" His voice trailed off as he turned his head to look at her and she sucked in a deep breath at the emotions she saw in his eyes.

There were still questions lurking in his amber depths, but there was also love - love for her. "…are in love." She smiled as he finished his statement then wrapped her arm around his waist as she turned back to face the two men standing in front of them. "That's right we are. We are very much in love and I won't tolerate any interference from you or father, Julian. The same goes for you, Jake. If any of you have any ideas about trying to come between Luis and I, you may as well give them up now. It isn't going to work. I love Luis and he loves me. Nothing you can do will change that."

"Well," Julian nodded shifting his gaze between her and Luis. "I can't say I'm happy about your choice in man, but I am glad you are happy. That's all father and I want and I'm pretty sure Jake will agree with me too. We only want you to be happy and since you say you are then there is no reason to interfere."

For his sake, Sheridan really hoped he meant that, because if he tried to interfere with her relationship with Luis, he was going to find out just how much of her father's daughter she could be. She may not act like the rest of her family, but you didn’t grow up a Crane without learning how to fight and she would do whatever she had to do to fight for her relationship with Luis. It was too important to her. Luis was too important to her and she wouldn't let anyone try and destroy what they had. And she knew instinctively that Luis felt the same way.

To Be Continued…

Chapter 16:

The walk back to the cottage was filled with a tense silence and the sudden disappearance of the moon behind a dark thundercloud almost seemed like a warning, a warning that there was more to what happened tonight than met the eye. Sheridan knew her brother - and Jake - well enough to know that their sudden change in attitude was not something she should just shrug off. They were up to something. She was sure of it.

She knew they wanted her to believe they were happy for her, but she'd been around her brother long enough to know that he was only happy for her when it benefited him. She'd tried to give him the benefit of the doubt on more than one occasion since she'd come back to Harmony, but his bringing Jake here, when he knew how she felt about him, told her he didn't give a damn about her or how she felt. Which shouldn't have surprised her in the least but somehow did.

She shook her head then glanced out of the corner of her eye at the man standing beside her. He hadn't said two words since they'd told Julian and Jake goodnight yet his silence told her more than his words could have. And she had no idea what to say to make it any better. She'd dropped a bomb on him tonight. One that could have been avoided. She stopped just in front of the entrance to the gazebo then took a deep breath and slowly turned to face him. "I’m sorry I didn't tell you about Jake."

"Why didn't you?" He asked, his voice low and filled with hurt. He still hadn't turned to face her and she wondered if it was because he couldn't bring himself to look at her. She knew he'd told her brother that they were in love, but even though she knew he meant it, she also knew it wasn't going to be easy to work through the problems they had. Too much hurt laid between them and her former marriage had just added even more.

She sighed then turned and walked up the steps to the gazebo. "My marriage to Jake is not a subject I like to think about much less talk about." She shook her head, the memories barreling through her mind before she could even sort through them all. "When I first met him, he seemed so wonderful - the man of my dreams. I thought he felt the same way I did, but we hadn't been married two weeks when I caught him in a lie. He'd told me he had to go out of town on business, but one of my friends saw him across town on the same night he was supposed to be in Los Angeles - with another woman I might add."

"I confronted him about it when he got home from his trip, but he's so smooth with words and I had no clue what I was up against back then. Because of that I let him convince me that my friend was seeing things. I mean why would he lie to me about going on a trip? It didn't make sense, but then looking back I realize nothing about our courtship or our marriage ever made since. Not until I learned the truth." She laughed, but the sound was so bitter she shivered. "We'd been married eighteen months when I accidentally walked in on him arguing with my father.

The only thing I heard - and believe me it was enough - was him accusing my father of backing out of their deal and that if he didn't deliver on the job he'd promised him then he saw no reason why he should stay married to me." She closed her eyes as the scene replayed in her mind then quickly shook her head and forced it back out again. "My father tried to explain it away, saying I misunderstood what Jake had said, but I knew I hadn't. I knew more about Jake by then. I knew enough about him to know that he never did anything without a reason and since I'd already come to the conclusion that he didn't really love me, his marrying me because my father promised him a job made complete sense to me."

She opened her eyes again then drew in another deep breath and forced herself to meet the unreadable brown eyes of the man standing a few feet in front of her. "I filed for a divorce the next day and met Jean Luc, yet another mistake in a long line of mistakes, 8 months later." "Is that how you see me too?" Luis asked his voice holding more emotion than his eyes would allow her to see. "Just another mistake?"

"No!" She replied taking a step toward him, gripping the dark material covering his upper arms in her hands in an effort to keep him from turning away from her. "I don't see you as a mistake. I'll admit I did once because I thought…well you know what I thought. But I was wrong. You're so far from a mistake. You're everything. You mean more to me than I even knew was possible. I love you, Luis, and I know without a doubt that you love me too. You don't care about my money or what my family can do for you. You love me, me, and I know that now. I know that with everything I have inside me."

He searched her eyes and he must have realized she spoke the truth because he suddenly broke out into a wide smile and raised a hand to her cheek. "You know your brother isn't going to just sit back and accept us, don't you? I don't care what he said. There is no way he's just going to give into the idea of you and me. You know he hates it. He can't stand it. I know the reason he and your father want us kept apart, they fear I'll find out what really happened to my father, but I swear to god that isn't the reason I want to be with you. I love you, Sheridan. I love you with all of my heart. And being with you has nothing to do with whatever happened to my father or my belief that your family was involved. I hope you know that."

"I do." She whispered leaning her face into his touch. "I know you love me and I know what we have between us has nothing to do with your wanting to find out what happened to your father. I know it's about you and me. I know that. But I want you to know that I will do anything I can to help you find out what really did happen." Luis shook his head. "You'd better not let Julian or your father hear you say that. They'll probably disown you." "I don't care." She said framing his face in her hands.

"I've waited my whole life to find a man like you and I hate that you have so many unanswered questions about your father, questions that my family can answer but won't. If they disown me because I want to help you find those answers then so be it. I'll still be the richest woman in the world, because I'll have you." She paused a second then slowly drew in a breath. "I will have you, right?" Luis smiled. "Do you really want me?" "Do you really have to ask me that?" She arched a brow. "I thought that question was a no-brainer." "A no-brainer, huh?" He asked wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer, their faces just inches a part. "Would it also be a no-brainer if I told you I'm going to kiss you now?" She nodded. "Yes it would." "Okay then I won't tell you."

Luis smiled as he touched his lips to Sheridan's. He knew they had a lot of things to work out still, but just hearing her say how much she loved him and knowing that she meant it told him that everything between them would work out. As long as they loved and trusted each other then everything would be just fine. Doubts about her ability to trust in him penetrated his brain and he quickly pulled out of the kiss to look at her. Her eyes were closed, but once they opened a thousand and one questions flashed through them, including the one she asked. "Why did you pull away?"

He closed his eyes then shook his head and dropped his arms from around her waist. When he opened his eyes again, he found her arms had replaced his own around her waist. "I was just thinking about what happened the night you said you saw and heard me down at the wharf and how you really believed it was me for so long. I have no answers about what happened that night, Sheridan. It wasn't me though, but I have no proof of that. I wouldn't even know where to begin to search for it either. I mean how could you have seen and heard me when I wasn't there? Unless I have a twin walking around Harmony you couldn't have yet you said I was there and I wasn't."

"I believe you, Luis. If you say you weren't there then you weren't there." He shook his head again. "But WHY do you believe me? Is it because you trust me? Trust me enough to know I never said those things you heard? Or is it because you just want to forget it happened?" "Why are you asking me this?" She questioned arching a brow. "I thought we discussed this and you understood that my reaction about that night stemmed from my inability to trust my own judgment."

Luis stared at her a second then raised his head and let his eyes focus on the dark clouds forming in the sky above them. "We did discuss it and I do understand part of where you are coming from, but at the same time I have to wonder what would happen the next time you think you see me somewhere I couldn't have been. How would you react then? Would you believe me and trust me when I tell you I wasn't there?" He turned back to face her and he wasn't at all surprised to see the doubts in her eyes again. "I guess you see my point now. Even though you say you know it wasn't me, a part of you still doesn't believe me, right? Without positive proof that I wasn't there, you're still deep down going to think I was there, aren't you?"

"Luis -" "A relationship can't survive without trust, Sheridan. It's the very foundation a relationship is made on." He shook his head. "How can you expect us to have any kind of relationship when you still don't trust what I'm telling you? I know you love me, but like I told you when I moved out of the cottage, sometimes love just isn't enough." She sucked in a sharp breath then raised a hand to her throat. "So what are you saying?"

"I don't know what I'm saying." Luis replied raising a hand to run it over his face. "I just…I feel like I'm trapped in some alternate reality or something. I mean ever since you told me the reason you left for Paris all those months ago and the reason you shut me out for so long, I keep going back over everything that's happened between us. Outside of that one night, I never gave you a reason to doubt me. To doubt the kind of person I am yet you did. And tonight I found out that while I thought I knew you, there were things about you that I didn't know. You were married, Sheridan, and you never thought to even mention that to me."

"Trust is a two way street and I placed my trust in you without having one shred of doubt inside of me, but you couldn't do the same for me. And then tonight I find out you kept something from me and it has me wondering about what else you haven't told me. I mean if you could leave out the fact that you were once married…" His voice trailed off and he let out a frustrated sigh. "I have no idea what I'm saying right now or what any of it even means. I just know that it hurts to know that all these months you accused me of not being honest with you and here I find out you kept something as important as having been married before a secret from me."

He looked at her then and took a deep breath when he saw her eyes were filled with tears. "I think I should go. I don't think us talking about this any more tonight is such a good idea. I need time to process what happened tonight and see how I feel about it all. I'm sure you do too." She nodded and he prayed she understood where he was coming from, even if he didn't understand himself. "Luis, do you…do you believe I love you?" "I know you love me, Sheridan. I have no doubts about that." He smiled ruefully. "But love can't survive without trust and unfortunately the trust we have between us right now isn't strong enough to stand on its own let alone to hold the foundation needed for building a relationship."

He stepped closer to her then lightly touched her face with the back of her hand. "I love you and that's why I don't want us to just brush these things aside. Somehow we have to figure out a way to deal with them, because that's the only way a relationship between us will work." She nodded again then reached up and covered his hand with her own. "I understand and you're right.

We need to figure out how to deal with them, me more so than you I know. I promise you I'll figure it out, Luis. I promise you that I won't ignore what my heart tells me again." Luis leaned in to brush a kiss across her lips then slowly removed his hand from her cheek and placed it in the pocket of his jeans so as not to reach out and pull her into his arms the way he wanted to. "I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Sheridan." "Goodnight Luis." She whispered, her voice so low he barely made out the words. "I love you." He smiled then glanced at her over his shoulder. "I love you too, Sheridan." * * * * *

Sheridan smiled as she watched Luis walk away then rubbed her arms up and down as another shiver passed up her spine. Glancing up toward the sky, she frowned when she noticed the clouds were getting darker. It was really fixing to storm, she thought making her way out of the gazebo toward her cottage. She thought she heard a rustling noise in the rose bushes as she passed by them, but when she looked she didn't see anything.

She stood there for a second though, staring into the darkness feeling as if someone was there, then almost jumped out of her skin when one of the guard dogs came out from the bushes. At least, now she knew she wasn't imagining the feeling that she wasn't alone. She shook her head as she watched the dog trot off as if she wasn't even there then quickly closed the distance between where she stood and the front door to her cottage. As she opened the door, she prayed tomorrow would be a lot better than today had been and maybe if she was lucky she would find the answers to the questions she knew would haunt her dreams tonight.

To Be Continued…

Chapter 17:

The sunlight streaming in through a crack in her curtains hit Sheridan in the face almost as if it were trying to annoy her. If the was the case, it was definitely succeeding, she thought pulling back the covers and slowly climbing out of bed. She wasn't sure how much sleep she'd gotten the night before, but she knew it hadn't been more than four hours. She hadn't even fallen asleep until sometime after three and it was just now, she tossed a quick glance at the clock on her bedside table then frowned. Seven-thirty. She hadn't even gotten four hours sleep, she thought irritably.

A yawn escaped her throat and she wondered if even the shower she planned on taking would wake her up. She was so tired, but she didn't want to sleep any later. She wanted to hurry up and get over to the main house before Ivy left. She wanted to check with her and see if she knew anything about what Julian was up to hiring Jake. She also wanted to find out if Ivy thought Julian was serious in saying he wouldn't try to interfere with her and Luis.

Then again at this point, she wasn't sure there was anything really to interfere with. She'd really screwed up in not trusting him, but even though she knew that she also knew she had a damn good reason for it. He kept saying he wasn't at the wharf that night she said she saw him there and as much as she told herself she believed him, there was still a small part of her that questioned his honesty.

But at the same time she knew he wasn't lying. Her frown deepened. How could she know he wasn't lying yet a part of her still be so sure she saw him there? It didn't make any sense. He couldn't be some place he wasn't and he said he wasn't yet she saw him there. Luis had said something about having a twin and if she didn't know there was only one Luis, she would have said that explanation made perfect sense.

She shook her head then walked into the bathroom to get her water ready. She really hoped Ivy could shed some light on what Julian was up to because she knew him well enough to know that his bringing Jake to Harmony was more than just business. He'd asked her several times since she'd been home if she'd talked to Jake and she'd repeatedly told him no. That she had no desire to see, talk, or even think about Jake again. He was out of her life and their divorce was one of the smartest things she'd ever done.

Julian hadn't agreed of course, but she hadn't thought he would stoop so low as to actually bring Jake here and force her to see him again. Although she didn't know why it should come as any big surprise. He'd never cared about her feelings. He was just like father. The only time either of them paid any attention to her was when they thought something she was doing would harm the family - like getting involved with Luis.

She had always thought Luis was crazy for thinking that her father or brother could have been involved with whatever happened to his father, but she wasn't so sure anymore. Julian and Alistair were known for their ruthlessness in business and they were like pit bulls with protecting the Crane name. If they did have something to do with Martin's disappearance then there was no telling what they would do to stop it. She knew Luis had been semi-joking when he told her not to let Julian or Alistair hear her say she would help him find out the truth because they might disown her, but she knew there was a very good possibility that they would do exactly that.

Not that she cared very much. She loved her family, dearly, but she could live without the secrets, manipulations, and yes even the money. If she had Luis love then she would be just fine. Only trouble was she wasn't at all sure if she had Luis. She knew she had his love, but she also knew there was a wall between them, a wall that she'd put there. Shaking her head at herself, Sheridan reached into the shower and turned on the sprayer then when the water was the right temperature, she undressed and quickly stepped under the steady stream cascading down from the silver toned showerhead. She tilted her face toward the water and wished that the water could wash away all her problems. She knew it couldn't of course, but it didn't stop her from wishing it could.

Twenty minutes later, dressed in a pair of comfortable faded blue jeans and a multi-colored top, Sheridan emerged from the cottage and began the walk up toward the main house. She frowned when she saw Jake's motorcycle parked in the drive way and almost turned to walk back to the cottage, but then she realized now would be the perfect time for her to find out if her brother was on the up and up about his reasons for hiring Jake. They weren't expecting her after all.

She smiled then quickened her steps and once she reached the main house, she slowly opened the door and stepped inside. She didn't hear anyone talking, but then again if they were in Julian's study toward the back of the house she wouldn't. Drawing in a deep breath, she made her way toward her brother's "office." She knew he would be furious with her if he caught her eavesdropping, but she also knew that if he was up to something with Jake, eavesdropping was the only way she would find out what it was. She could hear voices coming from Julian's study and the minute she heard the voice of her ex-husband she frowned.

"Julian, I don't know about this. I mean what if Sheridan finds out what you're up to?" He shook his head. "It's obvious she loves this Luis guy and you can't expect her to just fall back into my arms again, especially not considering how she feels about me." "And you don't think you can change her mind?" Julian asked making a slight tsking sound. "You know I thought you were better than that Jake. I mean if you can't convince my love starved sister that she was wrong about you then I don't really see any point to keeping you on our payroll any longer. It's not like you've been that helpful with the jobs you've taken on recently. The last job we paid you for certainly didn't go very well, did it?"

She heard Jake mutter something under his breath, but she couldn’t make out what it was. "You paid me to get her away from him and I did. It's not my fault you two couldn't manage to keep them apart. I did what I was hired to do. I played the role you hired me to play." "And now we're paying you to play it again." Sheridan heard a drawer open and close, but she didn't dare move from her place against the wall to see what he got out. The last thing she needed was to get caught now. What role had Julian hired Jake to play?

She frowned then pressed her head back against the wall and continued to listen. "I still don't think this is such a good idea I mean it was fine when Sheridan had no idea I was in town, but now that she's seen me and now that Luis knows who I am, I'm not sure my wearing this is very smart. If either of them figures it out -" "They won't." Julian stated authoritatively. "If you do your job then they will never know. How could they? It's not like they'll ever see your face." Julian laughed suddenly and Sheridan shivered at the sound. He sounded so much like their father. How could he be so cruel? How could he intentionally set out to break her heart? And how had they done it? The only thing that split her and Luis apart was…

Sheridan raised a hand to her cover her gasp and prayed Julian nor Jake had heard the sound then just to make sure she quickly backed away from the door and rounded the corner. She heard the creak of what sounded like the door to Julian's study and quickly raced into the living room and up the stairs to the second floor. Just as she reached the top landing, she saw Julian and Jake walk out of the living room and into the foyer. "Must have been one of the maids." Julian muttered as he turned and walked back into the living room.

"Are you sure?" Jake asked still not moving from his spot in the foyer. "I could have sworn I…" He shook his head then sighed and turned back around. "No way could I have just smelled your sister's perfume. I mean she's probably at the cottage still waiting on Luis to show up. They did make plans to meet today. It's a good thing you had me follow them last night, Julian. If you hadn't you might not have been able to find out Sheridan plans to help Luis find out what happened to his father."

Jake laughed and Sheridan held her breath as he asked the question she herself now wanted to know. "Just what did happen to his father anyway? I mean what did -" "Jake," Julian warned, his voice suddenly cold as ice. "If I were you I would worry less about what happened to Luis' father and more about putting that mask you're holding on and playing the part of Sheridan's Latin lover."

Sheridan swallowed hard then slowly descended the stairs just enough so she could peek into the living room. When she did and she saw what Jake held in his hands, she had to bit her tongue to keep her temper in check. Of all the things Jake had done to her, this had to be the worst and to think that he was acting on her brother and father's orders… Damn them, she thought narrowing her eyes as her fingers curled around the wooden railing on the stairs, damn them to hell. * * * * *

Luis lifted a hand to run it over his face then lowered it a second later to pick up his cup of coffee and bring it to his lips, taking a healthy sip of the hot liquid before setting the mug back onto the kitchen table and closing his eyes as he rested the back of his head against the chair he was sitting on. He hadn't slept a wink last night. Thoughts of everything Sheridan had told him kept invading his dreams and waking him up, making him ask a million questions he had no clue on earth how to get answers to.

The thing that bugged him the most was how Sheridan could have sounded so sure she saw and heard him on the wharf that night when he'd left right after their kiss because he had to get back to the station. He hadn't remembered that when she first accused him of it, but after he'd bumped into Jake at the wharf a few days ago, his mind had been recalling the day with startling clarity.

He remembered watching Sheridan leave after their kiss and then turning to go himself. He'd been so lost in thought about Sheridan and the kiss they'd shared that he'd bumped right into Jake. He seemed really nervous about running into him and Luis had to wonder if he somehow hadn't seen that kiss he and Sheridan had shared. Could he have been there spying on Sheridan?

That was the only thing that made any sense. Why else would he have been on the wharf that night? And why else would he have been so nervous about running into him? And what had been in that bag he was carrying anyway? If he hadn't gotten called into the station, Luis would have questioned him about it further, but he had gotten called into the station and shortly thereafter is when Sheridan must have returned to the wharf and…and what? Seen and heard him when there was no way he could have been there?

That slap she had given him the next day at the youth center had held far too much anger and hurt to be the result of her imagination. But what else could it have been? There was no way she could have seen him at the wharf when she said she did because he'd been at the station filling out his report about the drug bust that- "Mijo?" His mother asked as she pushed open the kitchen doorway and her dark eyes roamed over his haggard appearance. "Is everything alright? You look…" "Like hell?" He finished for her arching a brow then smiling sheepishly when she gave him a reproachful look. "Sorry Mama. I didn't sleep well last night."

She nodded then looked at him, worry filling her eyes and brow. "I can tell you did not sleep well last night. Is something wrong? Did something happen with Sheridan?" He shook his head. "Am I that obvious?" His mother merely smiled. "I have seen the way you two are together. I am not blind. I know there is something between you. The only time I have ever seen you this way is when it has something to do with Sheridan or with your father and brother."

He nodded then reached for his coffee and took another sip of it. "I found out something about Sheridan last night, Mama. Something she'd kept from me and I'm not sure exactly how to react to it. I mean she told me she couldn't trust me because of something she thought she heard me say that I really didn't say and now I find out that there are things she's been keeping from me. Important things. Things she should have told me, but didn't."

His mother remained quiet and as he lowered his mug back to the table, he sighed. "I found out she was married. Turns out I know her husband. Well sort of. He was in the pool hall the other night and we played a few games, talked about Sheridan. He never let on to me that he knew her and last night when I found out he was her ex-husband, I felt like the biggest fool alive. How could I have not been suspicious of him? How could I have not realized he was a little too interested in my relationship with Sheridan?"

He shook his head again and got up from the table to put his mug of coffee in the sink behind him then turned back around and leaned against the counter. "That night in the pool hall wasn't the first time I'd seen him either. I saw him a few months back down at the wharf and then the other night when I ran into him there again and I remembered running into him before that night at the pool hall, he said I was mistaken. But I know I wasn't. I know I wasn't. Which leads me to believe that he knew who I was in the pool hall that night before I ever mentioned Sheridan's name and that makes me very suspicious."

"Do you think he is up to something where Sheridan is concerned?" His mother asked her brows once again creasing in worry. Luis nodded. "Yeah I do, Mama. I just don't know what. I was up all night trying to figure this thing out, what reason he could possibly have for lying to me about us having run into each other before and the only thing I can come up with is that he has something to hide. I think he may have been at the wharf that night spying on Sheridan and I. I haven't had the chance to tell Sheridan that he was in Harmony a few months ago, but I plan to. In fact, I plan to go over there and talk to her about things." "Mijo? It sounds like there is more that you plan to talk to her about."

He drew in a deep breath then looked at her. "There is, Mama. I made a decision regarding my relationship with her and…and I'm not sure how she'll react to it. I know she'll be upset, but…but I think when she thinks about it she'll see that I'm right." He shook his head then pushed himself off the counter and placed a kiss against his mother's cheek. "I think I'm going to head over there and talk to her now. I was going to wait until after my shift, but I don't think I'll be able to concentrate at work until we get things settled between us. I'll see you later." Luis gave her another kiss on the cheek then turned and walked out the back door. He really had no idea how Sheridan was going to react to the decision he made, but under the circumstance he made the only one he could. He just hoped she understood.

To Be Continued…

Chapter 18:

Sheridan opened the door to her cottage and the moment she stepped inside the place she'd always felt so at home in, she let the tears that had been threatening fall. How could her brother and father be so cruel? So heartless? She knew they didn't approve of Luis and her being involved, but to intentionally set out to break her heart? Using her past mistakes and her fear of never finding a man to love her for her against her?

And Jake! She knew he never loved her, but she hadn't believed him capable of something so unscrupulous. His wearing a mask was nothing new, considering he'd worn one throughout their entire marriage, but wearing a mask of Luis' face and setting out to destroy the love she'd finally found…that was worse than anything else he'd ever done. Ever could do. She closed her front door then walked down the steps and all but fell onto the couch. She had accused Luis of using her, of lying to her, and every time he denied it she hadn't believed him when the entire time he'd been telling her the truth. She really hadn't seen him on the wharf that night. She really hadn't heard him call her a spoiled princess. He really hadn't said he was only using her.

But she had seen someone that night and she had heard someone say those things. And now she knew exactly who that someone was and who was behind their breaking her heart that night and ultimately tearing the relationship she and Luis were just beginning to build apart. Now all she had to do was figure out what she was going to do about it. She knew she had to tell Luis what she'd found out, he above all people had a right to know, and she planned to, just as soon as she figured out how to do it. How could she look him in the eye and admit that her own family had driven a wedge between them? That her own family had been responsible for the heartbreak she had accused him of?

Sheridan reached up and wiped away her tears then shook her head as she thought about all the pain that one night had caused her and Luis. All the miscommunication and mistrust. All the pain and heartache. It had all been a setup, a setup that made her feel like the biggest fool alive, because it had worked. Down to the last detail. While she had grown closer to Luis since that night, there had still been that question in the back of her mind about what she heard on the wharf.

Her father and brother had certainly thought things through and they'd obviously hired the best man for the job. After all, Jake was a pro at pretending to be someone he wasn't. She'd always thought he was a businessman like her father and brother, but she'd been wrong. He was just as crooked as Jean Luc had been and just as smooth. Both of them had cheated on her. Lied to her. Used her. Both of them had broken her heart.

Yet neither of them had given her an ounce of the love that Luis had. And she'd almost thrown it all away. How could she have been so blind? Maybe his words at times contradicted his actions, but his actions had always shown that he cared about her. That he loved her. Always. He chased her to Paris on a gut instinct. Protected her when she didn't even know she was in danger. Risked his life more times than she could count to save her own and yet she had still accused him of using her. When the only thing he'd ever done was be the man she'd always dreamed of meeting.

She glanced at the phone sitting on the table a few feet away from her, wondering if she should call Luis and ask him to come over. She knew he probably had to work today, but he said he would stop by and she couldn't help but hope he did it before his shift instead of after. She had to tell him - The sudden ringing of the doorbell cut of her thoughts and after pulling in a deep breath, she got to her feet and walked toward the door. She gasped as she pulled it open and saw the man standing there. "Luis." "Hey. Can I…can I come in?" He asked motioning with his hand. "There's…there's something I need to talk to you about."

She started to tell him there was something she wanted to tell him too, but stopped when she saw how serious he seemed to be. She stepped back to allow him room to enter then closed her eyes and finally found her voice again. "It sounds as if it's pretty serious." "It is." He replied the odd tone in his voice causing her to quickly close the door and turn around to face him. "I made a decision last night. About us." "A decision?" She asked arching a brow, her heart racing in her chest. "What…what kind of decision?" "The kind that changes everything." He said his eyes staring into hers intently, almost making her shiver under the sheer intensity of his gaze.

She drew in another deep breath then nodded and crossed to the couch. "Okay, Luis, I'm listening. What's your decision? What did you decide about us?" He closed his eyes as if looking inside of himself for strength then let out a deep breath and sat in the chair next to the couch. "I decided that -" A loud shrill cut off his words and Sheridan sent him an apologetic look. "I need to get that. I’m expecting a phone call." "Sheridan I think you should let the machine get it. This is important and it can't really wait." She glanced at the phone as it rang again then back at the man currently begging her with his eyes not to answer it. "Okay, Luis. I won't answer the phone. You can finish what you were going to say." He nodded. "Last night I made a decision about us, about our relationship, and the decision I made is -"

"Sheridan?" A hesitant voice called out over the answering machine. "Are you there? It's Pilar. I need to speak with you. Luis is on his way over there and he forgot his cellphone. The station just called him on it and they need him to come in earlier, something about some missing paperwork on a case or something. It sounded important. If he does arrive soon please tell him. Thanks and I will speak with you later." Sheridan glanced at Luis. "I guess you have to leave." "Yeah," He shook his head then slowly getting back to his feet. "I'm sorry. I thought I'd have more time -"

"It's okay. It's your job and I know how important that is to you." She smiled then got to her feet and followed him to the door. "But before you go, can't you tell me what you decided? I mean I am not very good at being patient, you know?" He laughed, but the sound was strangled. "I think it would be better if we just talked later when we can have more time." He shook his head again then sent her a quick smile. "I really have to go now." He turned then and pulled open the door and as he did, she wasn't sure who was more surprised - the man holding open the door or the one standing on the other side of it. * * * * *

Luis stared at the man in front of him, not believing his eyes, but knowing what he was seeing was definitely not his imagination and he definitely was not looking into a mirror. But how was it possible? How was it possible that he was standing outside the door to Sheridan's cottage yet he was also standing inside of it, gripping the doorknob with his hand? "What the hell is going on here?" He asked staring into eyes that looked far too much like his own. "Who the hell are you?"

"I was just about to ask you the same question." The man replied straightening his height as he stared at him with the same expression on his face that he knew was on his own. The man not only had his face, but also his voice? Luis shook his head then took a step forward, blocking the man from walking out the front door and forcing him to take a step back into the cottage. "I want to know who you are and I want to know right now." The man took another step back into the cottage and Luis quickly walked inside, not taking his eyes off the man even for an instant. "Who the hell are you?"

"I think the better question would be who the hell are YOU?" He narrowed his eyes and Luis' temper rose a notch. "Impersonating an officer of the law is a federal offense, punishable by up to -" That was as far as he got before Luis stepped forward and grabbed him by the color of the police uniform he wore. "I'm glad you know the law so well. It will make my job much easier when I place the cuffs on you and read you your rights. Now why don't you tell me who you are and what you are doing with my face?" The man swallowed hard then glanced at Sheridan for help. "Sheridan, do something." "What do you want me to do?" She asked arching her brow as she looked back and forth between them. "Call the police?"

Luis frowned at the calmness he heard in Sheridan's voice and as he met her eyes, he only grew more confused than he already was. "What the hell is going on here, Sheridan? Who is this guy?" "What do you mean who am I?" The man he was holding asked. "She knows who I am!" Sheridan smiled at that. "You are so right. I know exactly who you are. I know exactly who both of you are actually." "You do?" Luis asked arching a brow at her. She nodded then took a step forward. "Oh yes. I have the answers to a lot of questions now and I should really introduce you to the man that broke my heart all those months ago.

The man that called me a spoiled princess and said he was only using me for his own ends." She took another step forward then stopped. "But I don't think you really need an introduction. After all, you've already met." Her eyes narrowed on the man in his grip and then before he could so much as blink, she reached up her hand and dug her nails into the man's skin. Only it wasn't skin she pulled off. No, what she pulled off was a mask. A mask of his face. A mask that no longer hid the face of the man pretending to be him. "You."

To Be Continued…

Chapter 19:

Game over, Sheridan thought as she watched Jake squirm beneath Luis' hold. She smiled at the sight. It felt good to be able to expose Jake for the liar she knew him to be. She hadn't been able to do that during their marriage because he'd always been so slick and so smooth, but he'd made a big mistake this time. One that was definitely going to cost him. Her smile widened when she saw how pale Jake looked - and how scared. "What's the matter, Jake? Did I ruin your little plan? The plan you hatched with my father and brother? Oh I know, I bet you're worried you're not going to get paid now. Is that it? Well news flash for you, you're still going to get paid. Just not in the way you thought."

"Sher -" "I don't want to hear it." She said cutting him off and narrowing her eyes on him. "I know everything, Jake. I know exactly what you, my brother, and my father planned to do to me and Luis today." "I didn't have a choice." He replied his eyes begging her to understand while he still struggled against the hold Luis had on him. "They threatened me, Sheridan. They -" She laughed. She couldn't help it. "Threatened you with what? Oh wait, I did hear Julian threaten you." She nodded. "I remember now. He threatened not to pay your fee if you didn't do what he hired you to do. Yeah, I totally understand why you had no choice to come here and pretend to be Luis."

He looked completely taken aback. "Not used to getting caught, are you Jake? Don't worry I'm sure you're not alone. I mean I'm sure Julian will be just as surprised as you are. I only wish I could see my father's face when he finds out his plan didn't work." She took a deep breath then finally turned her eyes back toward Luis. "I know you're really confused right now and I will explain everything." "That would be a good idea." Luis replied with a nod. "I'm definitely going to need to know all the facts for my arrest report." "Arrest! You can't arrest me!"

"And why not?" Luis asked arching a brow, his eyes dark with anger. "Did you or did you not just impersonate an officer of the Harmony Police Department? I mean you said so yourself that impersonating an officer of the law is a federal offense, punish -" "Look this isn't -" "This isn't what?" Sheridan asked cutting Jake off before he could finish his sentence. "This isn't how the plan was supposed to go?" She shrugged. "Plans change, Jake. You should have learned that lesson by now."

Jake struggled in Luis' grip again, but Luis didn’t loosen his hold. He merely turned Jake around and pulled his arm up high on his back and reached for the handcuffs dangling from the belt on his waist. Jake let out a string of curses that normally would have made her blush but this time only made her smile. Luis had the same smile on his face. "What's the matter, buddy? Feeling a little pain? I would say I'm sorry, but I never saw much need for lies." Sheridan watched as Luis cuffed Jake then gasped as she caught sight of the man standing in the doorway to her cottage. "Julian." * * * * *

Luis turned the moment the name crossed Sheridan's lips and couldn't stop the smile that crossed his face when he saw what looked a lot like fear lurking in Julian's dark eyes. "It looks like you arrived just in time, Julian. You definitely saved me a trip up to the main house." "Why?" He asked staring at the man he had be the arm. "What's going on? Jake, what are you doing wearing a police uniform?" "He's doing what you hired him to do." Sheridan replied with a glare. "Or I should say he tried to do what you hired him to do."

Julian swallowed hard, but otherwise appeared as clueless as he was trying to make them believe he was. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Sheridan. The only thing I hired Jake to do was work at Crane Industries. If he's done something else -" "She knows, Julian." Jake replied earning him an angry glare from the man still standing in the doorway. "She must have overheard us at the mansion this morning. I knew I smelled her perfume." Luis sat Jake down on the sofa then turned and made his way up the steps not stopping until he had Julian by the front of his overpriced suit. "You made a big mistake, Crane. One that'll put you behind bars."

He reached behind him and got out his second pair of cuffs then forcefully pulled Julian down the steps, automatically turning him around as they reached the living room floor. "I knew I'd have another chance to cuff you. I knew you'd slip up one day, Julian, and you did. You slipped up big time. Hiring a man to impersonate an officer of the law?" Luis shook his head then smiled as he clicked one cuff in place. "I thought you were smarter than that." "There's been some kind of mistake. I have nothing to do with what's going on here. I don't know where you got the idea that I do." Julian struggled against the cuffs and Luis quickly yanked his other arm behind his back and slid the other cuff on over his wrist.

He turned Julian around to face him then smiled when he saw a fresh patch of fear enter his eyes. "Game's over, Crane, and this time you lost." "I'll have your badge for this, Luis!" Julian warned his voice lacking the intensity the threat of his words implied. "Sheridan get on the phone and -" "I don't think so, Julian." Julian turned surprise and Luis just smiled. "What do you mean? Sheridan you -" "Luis is right, brother dear. The game is over. I know what you and father planned. I know all about how you hired Jake to tear us apart." Sheridan stepped closer then and before Luis could even register her intent, her right hand connected with Julian's cheek. "You bastard. I hope you rot in hell, you and father both."

Julian's eyes grew wider with each word Sheridan spoke and Luis would have laughed had he not been so damn angry he could barely see straight. "You can't mean that. You can't -" "I can and I do." Sheridan replied pure hatred dripping from her voice. "You and father, not to mention Jake, have played me for a fool for the last time. As far as I am concerned, you made your beds and now you can lie in them." Luis pushed Julian onto the couch beside Jake then turned and walked toward the phone. "Oh they'll be lying in beds alright. The kind that are furnished in a nine by twelve jail cell." "Luis," Julian called from behind him. "Perhaps we can make some kind of deal."

His hand paused in midreach for the receiver as his eyes swung toward Julian's. "What kind of deal could you possibly make me?" "The kind of deal you've dreamed of for years." He responded looking very much like the conniver he'd always known him to be. "You forget about what happened here today and I will tell you what I know about the night your father disappeared." Luis removed his hand from its hovered position over the phone then turned around and crossed his arms over his chest. "I thought you said you didn't know what happened the night my father disappeared?"

Julian just smiled and turned slightly so his cuffed hands were visible to Luis. "There's only one way to find out for sure, Luis. The choice is yours. Forget about what happened today and find out what really happened that night…or send me to prison and lose all hope of ever finding out the truth." Luis drew in a deep breath, his arms falling to his sides as he crossed to the couch and pulled Julian up off it. He could see the sudden fear that lit the other man's eyes and Luis could have told him he was right to be afraid. "Let me get this straight. You now are saying you do know what happen to my father and that you'll only tell me if I uncuff you and forget that you participated in committing a crime. Is that right?"

"I think you heard me just fine." Julian stated his face breaking out into a smile as his eyes cleared themselves of the fear that graced them moments before and had now been replaced with what looked to Luis like satisfaction. Cat-that-ate-the-canary satisfaction. Luis shook his head then narrowed his eyes. "You are really are pathetic. Do you really expect me to believe that after all this time you're just going to tell me the truth about that night? That after all this time you're just going to give up the secret you know I one day will find out? Sorry Julian, but I don't buy it."

"And even if I did," Luis said tightening his grip on Julian's suit coat. "I would never break the oath I took. I'm a cop. I don't make deals to set criminals free. You are going to jail, Julian, and you may think I'll never find out what really happened to my father, but I will. I will find out exactly what happened that night and when I find the proof I need to prove you and your father had something to do with his disappearance-" "You will never find out what happened, Luis." Julian shook his head. "And you really are an idiot if you think I will ever spend one night in a jail cell. My lawyers will have me out before you can so much as blink. There is no way to prove I was responsible for what Jake did. No evidence."

He opened his mouth to respond to that, but Sheridan's voice cut him off before he could so much as utter one word. "There may not be any evidence, but there is a witness. A witness that is more than willing to testify against you." Luis looked over at Sheridan and he knew without a doubt in his mind that she meant what she was saying. His heart hurt just thinking about the pain she must have gone through this morning when she learned what her father and brother had done. He couldn't say he was glad that she knew just how despicable they were now, but he really hated that it had taken her getting hurt to do it.

"Sheridan no court is going to believe you. You're in love with a man that has said on more than one occasion how much he'd like to see me behind bars. No judge is going to convict me on your testimony." He shook his head then laughed. "Like I said I will never spend a night in a jail cell." "You may get out on bail, Julian, but you are going to jail." Luis threw him down onto the couch then turned and crossed toward the phone. "I think it's time I called Sam and let him know what is going on then we are all going to take a little trip.

And you know what, Julian? This is one trip, I'm seriously going to enjoy taking. After all, when we reach our destination I'll get to place you behind bars." Right where you belong, Luis thought smiling as an image of him placing Julian Crane in a jail cell and watching with satisfaction as the cell door swung shut flashed in his mind, right where you belong.

To Be Continued…

Chapter 20:

Sheridan shook her head as she unlocked the door to the cottage then cast a quick glance at the man behind her. He looked as shocked as she felt. "I can't believe they aren't going to do anything about Julian and Alistair! I mean he and my father hired Jake!" "But Sam is right." Luis said his anger at the situation clear in his amber colored eyes. "We can't prove they hired Jake and without Jake's corroboration, your testimony just isn't enough to convict." He ran a hand through his hair then closed the door behind them as they finally entered the cottage. "I should have realized Julian and Alistair would have paid Jake in cash and we can't prove the cash in Jake's accounts came from them either."

She frowned then drew in a deep breath of air. "What about the bribery charge? Why can't they do anything about that? I mean we both heard him offer to tell you the truth about your father if you let him go and…" She paused when she saw the answer in his eyes. "And they once again can't do anything because Jake won't corroborate it and they can't take our word for it, right?"

Luis nodded then ran both hands over his face and all but fell back onto her couch. "You know what the worst part about this is? Julian was right. He won't spend one night in jail. I'm sure Jake will get a hefty sum of money for keeping quiet about Julian and your father's role in what happened here tonight and on the wharf that night too. Bastards. Just toss around a few dollars and you can make the truth just disappear." Luis lowered his hand then turned his head toward her, his eyes shooting up at hers in surprise as the landed on the suitcases beside her. "Sheridan?"

"I called Ivy while you were in Sam's office talking to him. I asked her to send a maid over to pack my things." She closed her eyes then blinked back the tears that suddenly threatened to fall. "I can't stay here, Luis. I can't stay here knowing my own family deliberately set out to break my heart." Luis stared at her for a second then slowly pushed himself to his feet and gently took her by the arms. "Tell me you're not leaving Harmony, Sheridan. Tell me you're not leaving me again." "No!" She answered, her hands rising up of their own volition to frame his face. "I'm not leaving Harmony. I'm not leaving you. I'm leaving this cottage. I'm leaving this property and when I go, I'm leaving the Crane money and name behind me."

"Where do you plan to go?" He asked his voice and eyes still holding uncertainty. She smiled. "I am going to see if the Bennett's have a vacant room at their Bed and Breakfast and if they don't then I'm going to check into a hotel. I won't stay here. After today, I won't even step foot on this property again. I'm going to start over, Luis, and live my life the way I want to, without any interference from my so-called family. As of today, they are out of my life forever."

"I'm sorry." He whispered pulling her close against his chest and wrapping his strong arms around her, making her feel more loved than she'd ever felt with her father or brother. "I know how much family means to you and I'm sorry you're having to go through this. If I could take the pain away I would." "I know you would." She said pulling back to stare up into his eyes. "I know you would because I know you love me. I hope you know I love you too and I hope that my starting over includes starting over with you. Do you think we can, Luis? Do you think we can put what happened behind us and move on?"

Luis looked at her for a second, searching her eyes, then all of the sudden he broke out into one of the sexiest smiles she had ever seen him use. "I think that can be arranged. In fact, I have an idea on how we can start over." "You do?" "Yeah I do." H nodded. "I also think we should put your bags in the back of my police cruiser and then I think we should go down to the wharf." "The wharf? Why do you -" "Do you trust me?" He asked cutting off her question and staring at her intently. She smiled and without a second's hesitation answered, "With all of my heart." "Good." He replied the smile he'd given her a few seconds before firmly back in place. "Then let's get your bags and get you out of here. There's some place more important we need to be." * * * * *

Luis helped Sheridan out of the cruiser then shut the door and quickly led them down to the wharf, stopping once they neared the spot he wanted. He turned toward her and he knew by the look in her eyes that she knew exactly where they now stood. He smiled. "This is the spot where I kissed you that night." "I know." She whispered softly. "But what are we doing here?" His smile widened at the question. "You said you wanted to start over. I figured this would be the best place to do it at."

He watched her draw in a breath then took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I kissed you that night because I was afraid you were going to blow my cover." He smiled then shook his head. "At least that's what I told myself at the time. But the moment your lips touched mine, I knew it had nothing to do with my job and everything to do with my feelings for you. I think I knew even then that I was in love with you. I was just too damn stubborn to admit it."

He watched as a tear slipped free from her eyes and automatically reached up to wipe it away. "That one night changed things between us and so will tonight. Your family chose this spot to tear us apart, but it didn't work and I can't think of a better place for us to start over than right here." He wiped another tear from her cheek then took a deep breath. "I know we can't erase what your family did, but we can start over." "How do…how do you suggest we do that?"

"By recreating everything that happened that night here on the wharf and afterwards, only this time we're the ones writing the script." He smiled then leaned his head toward hers. "And I know exactly where we should start." "And where would that be, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald?" She questioned wrapping her arms around his neck as he tightened his hold around her waist. "Where else would we start?" He asked closing the rest of the distance between their lips. "We start with the kiss."

THE END