Written by: C. Rene
Please send comments to crsena@iserv.net, be kind, it will be nice since this is my first time letting anyone read my fan fiction.
As he stood there looking over the grave, he could not believe that it had been a month since he had lost her. He had come here everyday since that faithful day, the woman he loved was shot to death.
"Some of the kids were asking about you yesterday at the center, he said aloud. "I just walked out not knowing what to say. I went into the office and I lost it. I seem to do that a lot since you left. I had so many plans for us, you know. If only I didnıt answer that door that night and continued where we left off. I am going back to the department today. Sam is finally letting me come back on the force as long as I stay away from investigating your case. Of course, he doesnıt know that is the only thing I have been doing since.....that night. I love you."
He placed the orchids on her grave and walked away. She stood next to the grave watching him wanting to be able to reach out to him, but she couldnıt. Why was she here? She wasnıt alive, but she wasnıt dead? She wanted to tell him she loved him. She wanted to kiss those lips of his, to stare into the charcoal eyes of his, to have his arms wrapped around her. She had always felt safe in those arms even when they werenıt getting along, of course that was most of the time that they had known each other. She remembered that night she was shot, she remembered what almost happened between her and Luis.
She decided to follow him like she had so many other days since her passing. Sometimes he would turn to look back aware that someone was following him, she thought he could feel her presence, but then he would swear under his breath that she was gone. She would stand over him watching him sleep almost every night, watching him toss and turn, so many restless nights. He would sometimes wake up screaming her name, but then he realized where he was and lay his head back to slumber.
"If I could only reach out to you, Luis," she said to herself. "I love you so much."
Once he reached the department he went into Samıs office, who was waiting for him. She sat on Luisı desk not worrying about someone bumping into her, she wasnıt sure if she would ever get use to being in a room with so many and no one realizing she was there. She didnıt want to eavesdrop on Sam and Luisı conversation even though she could still hear what they were saying (a nice trick she learned in the after life). She looked up and noticed who was walking in the room and it made her cringe. It was the man who had shot her, a man she trusted, and no one would ever believe was guilty of such a heinous crime. Sometimes she figured he had not just shot her because of being blackmailed by Pierre and Roger, but also that she picked Luis over him. From what she heard from them before was they were very competitive growing up, and Hank did not like to lose, even though he usually did when it came to Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.
In Samıs office Luis was sitting in the chair looking forward to being reinstated to his duties. He had finally convinced Sam that he was moving on with his life, even though he wasnıt. He still thought of her every minute of the day.
"Luis, I know that Sheridanıs death was hard on you. I am glad that you are focusing on your career now. I was told by no certain terms are you to investigate Sheridanıs death," Sam explained.
"Can I ask if Pierre and Roger have been caught for her murder," Luis asked with a shy of hope in his eyes.
"Not that I am aware of, but you need not to worry about that. The FBI will not rest until they catch them. Of course the FBI does not want us involved by the Crane backing of course. Why did you have to go and fall in love with one of them," he asked.
"It wasnıt something I planned, Sam. I donıt know when it happened or why, but I know for a fact that I do. . . I mean I did," Luis caught himself slip.
"I am not saying to give up on your love for Sheridan, just donıt let it overwhelm you. I think I will assign you to the Parker Street robberies for right now, Hank isnıt having any luck there."
Sam knew when he said that name that it was a mistake. Since the night Sheridan had been shot, Luis has not forgiven Hank for taking his eyes off of her. It was his duty to protect Sheridan and Hank admitted that he made a mistake by taking a walk around the grounds leaving her alone.
"Thanks, Sam," Luis said walking back to his desk.
Hank looked up when he heard that familiar sound of his best friend. He noticed her again though. Hank didnıt know what to think when every few days he would see her. Why? She seemed to show up when Luis was near by, but he could not stop the feeling that she was haunting him.
"This is crazy," Hank said to himself.
"Whatıs crazy," Sam asked walking up to his little brother.
"Oh, nothing. When did Luis decide to come back," Hank questioned.
"This is his first day back. I donıt want a scene so just let him work, he is taking over the Parker Street robberies," Sam explained.
"That was my case, Sam," Hank cringed.
"I just think Luis could take it over to see what he could come up with."
Hank looked over to Luisı desk and there she was again this time staring him straight in the eye. He shook his head and when he looked back she was gone. Why was this happening to him.
A few hours had passed and Luis was sitting in the park, the cold winter air surrounding him. It was only a few days before Christmas, yet, it didnıt matter to him. He sat there daydreaming again about her, their Christmas the previous year, the way they never got along, but when they did it was magic.
"Mamma says it is normal to talk to you. She did it constantly for years after papa left. Sometimes I still catch her doing it, and she just says it helps to sooth the soul. I just wish it was that easy," he whispered looking at her photo he kept with him now.
"I can hear you, Luis. We will be together again someday. I just wish I could figure out how," she questioned sitting next to him knowing full well he would not hear her.
From around the corner someone was walking towards the area Luis sat. He bolted up nervously hoping it wasnıt the burglar who had been terrorizing this neighborhood. He was ready to get back to work, he thought, but she was still on his mind constantly. He walked around the corner to see Hank.
"What are you doing here," Luis demanded.
"I came to stack out the neighborhood," Hank stated.
"Oh no you donıt, Sam put me on this case. And he knows better that to put us anywhere near each other.."
She noticed how Luis was tensing up, with the look on his face she knew he was about to do battle (since he had given her that look many many times before).
"You did this to me. You are the one that shot me," she yelled to no one in particular.
Hank jumped as soon as she came into focus. His mouth gapped open at the sight next to him. He turned away, not being able to handle the situation at hand.
"Hank, what is it," Luis ordered.
"Did you hear her? Just now, did you hear Sheridan?"
"DONıT. You are not the person I want to discuss Sheridan with. You are not a person I want to know," Luis scolded.
"You donıt understand. I hear her and many times I see her. This is crazy, maybe I am crazy," he yelled running off.
"I donıt believe him," Luis said to himself. "I donıt believe he believes he can hear you."
"Neither do I," she said knowing full well he would not hear her. "Why does he hear me and why is he the only one that can see me? Maybe we can use that in our favor."
She had a plan. Maybe it is time to reveal who had shot her that night all of her dreams were shattered. She had to leave Luis for the night to jump start these procedures, but she knew he would still talk to her if she was there like he did every night since her spirit and body had separated. She could always meet him back at the place he visited every night- her grave.
Luis stay on the park bench consumed with anger over Hank. How could Hank sit there and discuss hearing Sheridanıs spirit. Since her murder, Luis has had a strong sense that Hank had something to do with her murder, even though they were best friends. Hank never was one to get over a grudge and he lost to Luis for the hundredth time.
Sheridan was to the station within minutes. She had never tried anything like she was about to, but hopefully her murder would be solved once and for all. The station was empty other than a couple of officers that were down at the lock-up. She rummaged through the case that sat on Samıs desk. She had heard that Pierre say that he was blackmailing Hank, but with what. Where was Hank all of those years he wasnıt in Harmony. She once recalled Hank mentioning Europe, he had spent time traveling through Europe. She concentrated using her mental strength to be able to move things. When she knew she had found everything she could, she decided to head to Hankıs place hoping to find some details of his torrid past.
She entered his place and within minutes frantically searching through his desk she found the information she needed. The most difficult project was trying to have Luis find this information out.
Luis was laying there in bed after endless hours of staking out the park. He begin to drift off, and his mind wandered to the her. His eyes seemed to be deceiving him she was standing over the bed watching him. She looked as beautiful as she ever did, her image was coming clearer. He reached out to her and when they finally touched it was electrifying. He pulled her into his arms and never wanted to let go. When he looked into those sparkling blue eyes of hers something happened, she began to fade. Her image was vanishing, she was gone once again.
Suddenly he shot up out of bed, looking around she was nowhere in sight.
"Why do I keep having this dream that you are standing over me," he said aloud.
"Because I am," she whispered wishing hoping he could hear her.
He got out of bed knowing full well he would not be able to sleep, he decided to go to the station to search for more information about her death without Sam finding out. She knew where he was headed when he put on some clothes and grabbed his jacket heading out of the door.
When he reached the station he felt a sudden jolt reach inside of him. He knew tonight he would find the information he needed to blow this case out of the water. He sat at his desk coming upon a manila envelope addressed to Sam sitting on his desk. The return address on it was from France, so Luis knew it had to do with Sheridan. His instincts told him to open it, but his morals told him to put it on Samıs desk. His instincts had been right on so many occasions that he followed them like a good cop usually did. When he opened up the envelope his mouth dropped, he could not believe what he was staring at. He looked up to see letters appearing on the window to Samıs office.
"Who is doing this," he asked bolting up from his chair. The letters that were appeared were HE SHOT ME.
"He shot me," she yelled hoping he would finally reach inside of his heart to hear her. He needed to hear her, the writing on the walls were not enough.
"Who said that," he looked around trying to find that voice. It sounded like her, but she was dead, it couldnıt be. There was so much going on. First, there was the information addressed to Sam, then there was the message on the wall, now he was hearing her voice.
"Luis," Sam said walking into the station. "What happened here?"
"Sam, I know who killed Sheridan."
"What did I tell you about investigating her murder," Sam ordered.
"This fell into my lap I guess you can say."
"Who shot who," Sam asked pointing to the writing on the window.
"This was laying on my desk, I really think you need to read it," Luis explained handing over the data from the envelope.
Sam was flabbergasted on what he was reading then looking up to the writing on the wall, he could not believe what he was thinking. How could this be true? Who had sent this information to Luis, and who wrote the message.
"Luis, how can this be? Why would he do something like this? I thought I knew him. We need to get him here and find out what is going on," Sam belted out grabbing the phone and dialing the number.
"Hello," the voice said.
"Hey, itıs Sam. Can you come down to the station."
"Itıs late, but whatever you need. Iıll be there in as soon as I can," he said hanging up the phone.
Sam turned around to see Luis with his hands in his face. Sam knew Luis was hurting, but to find out who killed the woman he loved.
"Luis, Iım sorry about this," Sam commented patting his buddyıs shoulder.
"I should have known, Sam. She mentioned that she was starting to get edgy around Hank. There was an incident the night at the mine shaft that frightened her she could have sworn that Hank was trying to hurt her. We just brushed it off. I should have known," Luis explained.
Suddenly he walked into the station not knowing why he was there, but to find Luis sitting at his desk with his head down, Sam standing behind him looking up, shifting his eyes up to what Sam was looking at, he noticed it. HE SHOT ME. Was she contacting Luis after all of this time? Had he finally been caught?
"Sam, you wanted to see me," he spoke up.
"Yea, we found out who shot Sheridan and we thought you would like to know," Sam answered.
"Oh...really...who...," he replied.
"I donıt want to do this, but it looks like I am going to have to arrest you, Hank, for the murder of Sheridan Crane," Sam ordered.
"I canıt believe it," Luis whispered. "Why?"
"Looking at what you are holding in your hand, I couldnıt let Sam find out about my shady past. I didnıt want to do it, but they would not leave me alone. She begged me not to shoot then Pierre came in, and when you were calling she could hear your voice. She wanted to talk to you, to say goodbye. Pierre would not get off my back, so I had to shoot her again," Hank cried. "Iım sorry, Luis."
"You are sorry. You are sorry. You murdered the woman I love, and all you can say is that you are sorry. I trusted you, Hank. You were my best friend, now I know I made a mistake. You never cared about anyone but yourself. You deserve to be shot," as he said this he picked up his gun and aimed it at Hank.
Sam stood there in shock about what was involving in front of him. Suddenly the voice came again.
"Luis, donıt do it. Donıt stoop to his level," she said while her image began to appear next to the window where she had wrote the message.
"Sheridan, is that you," Luis blinked several times shaking his head trying to make the image go away but it didnıt.
"Yes, it is me. Donıt shoot him, donıt be like him. Donıt let your anger cloud your judgment. I love you, Luis," suddenly she began to disappear.
Luis and Sam could not believe what they were witnessing, but Hank knew she would finally turn him in. He knew the entire time the Sheridan would be the one to make sure he would be caught for shooting her. Luis put the gun down, and Sam cuffed his brother tossing him into the chair. Sam dialed the FBI informing them that they had caught Sheridanıs murderer.
One month later, Luis was standing over her grave like he had so many times before. He couldnıt believe everything that had happened, finally he was moving on with his life. He still went to her grave everyday, but he made detective concentrating once again on his career and his family. He had finally stopped having the dreams of her appearing before him, now that she had in reality. Sam and he never talked about what they saw that night, but Hank through the trial kept saying that she driving him crazy.
"I ended up driving up to your cottage the other day. An accident occurred at Crane industries which I had to investigate. You should have seen the look on Julianıs face when he opened the door. A Crane to the core, but you were different. It took me awhile to let myself open up to anyone especially a Crane, but I let you. When we finally found each other you were ripped away from me, now to this day I still don't know how to move on," he said putting the orchids down on her grave turning away.
He was just ten feet away when he heard the voice. This time it was clearer, when he turned his head she looked like more real then she ever had.
"You donıt need to," she smiled. "I donıt know why, but they sent me back. You donıt need to move on without me, because I am not going anywhere."
She ran to him and he prayed this wasnıt a dream, when he wrapped her into his arms he knew it was real that she wasnıt going anywhere.
"I am never leaving you again," she cried in his arms.
"Good, because we have a certain date we have to finish," he said staring into those big passion filled blue eyes. Then he kissed those lips that were sweeter than any candy. They walked out of the cemetery hand in hand.
"How are we going to explain this to everyone," she asked him.
"If they could accept a Lopez-Fitzgerald falling in love with a Crane, they can accept this," he said kissing her one more time.