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Sequel To: Lost In The Darkness
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters I write about. They belong to JER and NBC’s Passions.
Chapter One:
Another month had passed and Sheridan was feeling much better. She now knew that killing Julian was something she did to protect Luis and was necessary. And Luis, she loved him so much. Everyday they spent together made her love him even more.
And when somebody knows you well
Well, there’s no comfort like that
And when, somebody needs you
Well, there’s no drug like that
And when I’m home, curled in your arms
And I’m safe again
I’ll close my eyes and sleep
So keep me in your bed all day
Nothing heals me like you do
(London Rain - Heather Nova)
Sheridan had bought a new house for herself and was working hard trying to restore the image of Crane Industries. It had been a mess since her brother’s death and her father’s disappearance. She knew her father was hiding out somewhere knowing that if he ever came back he would be arrested. She sat in her office trying to think of what to next when the phone rang.
"Hello, Sheridan Crane"
"Hi beautiful"
"Luis" she smiled. "What are you up to?"
"I’m wanted to know if I could take you out to lunch today?"
"I’d love to Luis. I have a few things I have to finish up around here, but I could meet you somewhere in about an hour"
"I’ll be at the book café okay?"
"All right, I’ll see you there. Bye"
"Bye"
She returned to trying to figure out how to keep their stock from plummeting. The phone range again.
"Hello, Sheridan Crane"
"I forgot to tell you something"
"What’s that Luis?"
"I love you"
"I Love you too. Bye"
She hung up the phone again, but before she could get back to work the phone rang again.
"You know Luis, if you don’t stop calling I’ll never be able to meet you for lunch"
"This isn’t Luis" the voice said coldly.
"Oh, I’m sorry. Who is this?"
"You should know Sheridan"
"Father??"
Chapter Two:
"Don’t sound so surprised Sheridan. I’m still keeping a close watch over you"
"Father what do you want?" She wished she still had a tap on her phone. It was taken off only a week ago when Alistair had made no attempts to get in touch with her.
"I’m calling to tell you I don’t like what you are doing with Crane Industries"
"What do you mean? I am doing the best I can. Ethan left with Gwen and has no intention of ever working at Crane Industries and Ivy is trying anything to save Ethan’s non-existent political career. I admit I’m not sure what exactly I am supposed to be doing but…"
"There is no but Sheridan. You will listen to me! I’m still in control and you will follow my orders"
"And what if I don’t?"
"You will do as I say otherwise that boyfriend of yours will be in danger"
"Luis?"
"I still have my connections Sheridan, and they will still do anything I ask"
"Father you can’t"
"Then you will do as I say" he gave her a list of things to carry out. "Now I expect to have these things done by the end of the day" and with that he hung up the phone.
She had to do what her father ordered. She didn’t want anything to happen to Luis, she loved him so much. But one of the orders was not to see Luis anymore. But if it meant saving his life…
A glowing ember
Burning hot and burning slow
Deep with I’m shaken by the violence of existing
For only you
I know I can’t be with you
I do what I have to do
And I have the sense
To recognize
But I don’t know how to let you go
(Sarah McLachlan)
Meanwhile Luis waited for Sheridan at the book café. She should have been there half an hour ago. But he just figured she had more work to finish than she thought. He finally ordered some food to go and thought he would bring it over to her. He was confused when he walked into her office and she wasn’t working. She was sitting staring out the window. He also noticed that she had been crying.
"Sheridan what’s wrong? What’s going on?"
"Luis, you have to leave"
"What?"
"Luis, go leave please"
"Sheridan what are you talking about?"
"Please just leave. Don’t make this harder than it already is"
"Are you saying what I think you are?"
"Luis, I can’t see you anymore"
Chapter Three:
"Just go Luis. Just go"
"No I’m not leaving until you tell me what has changed in the last hour"
"I can’t tell you"
"Why?"
"I don’t want to do this but I have to"
"You aren’t making any sense Sheridan. Please talk to me"
"I can’t they’ll hurt you"
"What? Who will hurt me?"
"My father"
"Your father? He’s been gone for months"
"I’ve already said to much. Please leave, I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you"
"Sheridan I am not leaving you. I am staying here until you tell what’s happened"
He took her and sat down with her on the couch. He wiped away her tears and tried to get her to calm down. She felt so safe with him. She had to tell him everything.
"My father called this afternoon and said that if I didn’t follow his orders that he would hurt you"
"What kind of orders?"
"Mostly stuff about the company, but he told I wasn’t to see you anymore"
"That isn’t going to happen Sheridan. I am never going to let you out of my life"
"Luis, but…"
"No buts, we are going to be together forever"
There’s a warmth in my heart
It haunts me when you’re gone
Mend me to your side and never let go
They more I live
The more I know
That simple is true
I love you
(Jewel)
"Are you hearing what I’m hearing?"
"Yes I am sir"
"I think it is time"
"What would you like me to do sir?
"Send in the cleaner"
"Right away sir"
Luis sat holding Sheridan in his arms, he wasn’t going to let her go. She had been through so much he wanted to take all her pain away. Why couldn’t they just live their lives, something was always getting in their way.
Chapter Four:
Sheridan and Luis sat there peacefully, never wanting to let go of one another. Suddenly there was a noise at the door. A man carrying a gun came in and pointed it at the two of them. They both stood up and Luis pushed Sheridan behind him.
"Hands where I can see them" Luis put his hands up in the air and so did Sheridan. "I came with a message for the lovebirds"
"Well you don’t need a gun to tell us something" Luis snapped.
"That isn’t the only reason I came here. Alistair wants you to know that you should have followed his orders. Now you will have to pay for your mistakes"
"What are you going to do?" Sheridan asked with a quiver in her voice.
"Well I need you to come over by me first Miss, then I will dispose of him, and take you to your father"
"Sheridan, stay right where you are!" Luis wasn’t going to let him do this to them.
"You aren’t the one with the gun. You don’t get to make the rules Sir" the assailant moved closer to the two.
"Luis?" Sheridan didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly she looked down at Luis’s side. He was wearing his gun. How could the guy be so stupid to leave them with a gun? She dropped her arms and grabbed the gun out of its holster. She pointed it directly at the assailant. This wasn’t going to happen to them again.
"What are you doing Sheridan?" Luis asked her.
"Put the gun down Miss or I’ll shoot him"
"No you won’t, or I’ll shoot you"
"DROP THE GUN!!" the assailant was getting frustrated.
"NO!"
"I’m not kidding I will shoot him"
"You do that and you’re dead, what good will that do you? Why are you doing this anyway?"
"Why? I don’t think it is that hard to figure out. I am getting big bucks for this job"
"Big bucks huh?"
"Alistair always pays top dollar"
"Except Alistair doesn’t have any money anymore. All his money went to me when the truth came out about him. He has no money" she knew that he probably had hidden accounts but was hoping that this idiot wouldn’t realize that.
"What are you talking about?"
"You heard me. He’s broke and won’t be able to give you a dime"
Luis moved closer to Sheridan as the assailant lowered his gun.
"Sheridan give me the gun" Luis asked.
"Luis, I can handle this"
"Please Sheridan"
Reluctantly she handed Luis his gun but as this happened the assailant suddenly pulled his gun back up.
***BANG***
Chapter Five:
In one swift move Luis pushed Sheridan to the floor and shot the assailant before he could hurt them. He went and took the other gun, then reached for Sheridan.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah" she stood up and leapt into his arms.
"Do you think this is ever going to end?"
"I am going to end it right now"
"What do you mean?"
"I am going to sell Crane Industries and give the money to charity. That way my father will have nothing to come after me for. And we can live…well sort of a normal life"
"I think that is a good idea, are you sure you want to give up all that money?"
"I don’t need anything except you" they walked out of her office and closed the door, closing that part of Sheridan’s life forever.
Besides the sea
When the waves broke
I drew a heart for you in the sand
In fields where streams
Turn to rivers
I ran to you, you were there
Whenever dark turns to night
And all the dreams sing their song
And in the daylight forever
To you I belong
(B*Witched)
THE END
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