Disclaimer-I don't own the characters I write about (except for the.nevermind.you'll see). They belong to JER and NBC.

Note-this is an idea that wouldn't leave me alone during the whole Sheridan/Luis, locked in the vault episodes. Didn't want to confuse you about the timeline. : )





Show Me Heaven





Part One







"Luis! No!" she cried desperately. Urgently. "Luis! Don't you leave me now!" she screamed. Lowering her mouth to his. Trying futilely to breathe life back into his body. Sobbing as she counted aloud between compressions. "Luis, please," she pleaded. Cupping his face with her hands. "Please," she cried once more. One of her tears falling to his cheek. Making it seem as if he were crying with her. "I love you," she whispered. Kissing his cool lips. "I love you so much," she repeated. "Breathe, dammit! Luis! Come back to me!"

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"Come back to me, Luis. Breathe, Mijo. That's it," a lilting voice soothed. Cradling his dark head against her bosom. "Mama?" he asked in confusion. Blinking his dark eyes against the blinding sunlight. "Mama? What happened?" His mother's brown eyes softened with love, and she ran her fingers tenderly, gingerly through his dark hair.

"You were trying to be a hero again," Antonio piped in. Peering over their mother's shoulder. "Big Mama's baby," he teased. Delighting in annoying his kid brother. And succeeding by tousling Luis's dark hair. "Hey!" Luis yelled. He'd worked so hard to have his hair look perfect this morning. Perfect for when Beth saw him. He lunged forward. Pulling free from his mother's embrace. "Ouch!" he moaned. Holding his head in pain.

"That's it, Mijo. I'm taking you to see Dr. Russell," his mother said. Helping him to his feet. "Mama," he protested, "stop treating me like I'm a baby. I'm fourteen years old." "Really, Mijo?" she asked. Eyebrows raised. "I didn't know young men your age still climbed treas. Or fell out of them," she said. Taking him by the hand. "It's all that dumb animal's fault," he muttered. Pointing to the offending monster struggling mightily to escape his four-year-old sister's arms. "Is not," Theresa pouted. "Is it, Fate?" The orange tabby squeaked pitifully, and Theresa turned to her mother and said, "Mama? Tell Luis he's wrong."

Pilar released Luis's hand with a stern look and kneeled down in front of her youngest daughter. "Theresita," she sighed. Brushing her abundant dark hair back from her face. Wiping at her tears. "What am I going to do with you?" she whispered as she hugged her close. "Both of you are wrong." She shook her head at their rumblings of protest. "No more arguments. That means you, too, Antonio," she said pointedly. "While I'm gone I want you to look after your brother and sisters." "But Mama.I have a date." "No buts, Antonio. Your father will be home soon. You'll still have plenty of time for your date. Come on, Mijo," she gestured to Luis. "I have to stop back by the main house and tell Mrs. Crane where I'm going." Luis followed behind her. But only after shooting Antonio a triumphant smirk. His mother's "I saw that" left him scratching his head.

He waved at Papa as they passed the construction site for the new gazebo Mr. Crane had commissioned. His heart swelled with pride for his father. He was a master at his job. He lagged behind his mother as they walked through the servants' entrance. Waving and smiling at all of her friends. Fading into the background when he lay eyes on Mrs. Crane. He wandered away aimlessly while she and his mother talked. Studying the finery that adorned the walls of the Crane Mansion. Stopping in his tracks when he heard a noise. Something that sounded like.like muffled sobs.

"Hello," he called quietly. Almost a whisper. "Is anybody there?" he asked. Peering around the next open door he came to. It looked like a library. A really big library, he thought in awe as he walked inside. He jumped at the sound of her voice. Whirling around so quickly he made himself dizzy. "Who are you?" she repeated softly. Steadying him with a gentle hand. He didn't answer her at first. Sure he was drowning in her sad blue eyes. Instead he reached a shaking hand out to wipe away the reminder of her tears. She breathed in sharply. Her eyes fluttering shut at his touch. Bringing her hand up to cover his.

"My name's Luis," he whispered. Afraid to break the spell he was under. "Why are you so sad?" he asked. Tucking a loose strand of her blond hair behind her ear. He waited. Breath held. For an answer. Mesmerized by her. She studied him solemnly. "I.it's." "Sheridan!" a stern voice shouted. He watched, puzzled as her blue eyes filled with fear. "I have to go," she said in a panic-filled voice. "Nice meeting you, too," he mumbled as her golden figure disappeared before his very eyes. Was she even real? He wondered. Rubbing his eyes. Or did he imagine her, he asked himself as his mother's concerned face came into view. "Mijo! I've been worried sick. Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere," she rushed. Pulling him forward as he looked back once more. Would he ever see her again?



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"Son, I'm so proud of you," Martin Fitzgerald said. Slapping him affectionately on the back. "Valedictorian," he said. Tears in his eyes. Luis grinned broadly as his mother clutched his diploma close to her heart. Tears in her eyes as well. "Don't cry, Mama," he laughed. Hugging her close. "I can't help it," she sniffled. Dabbing at her eyes and gazing at him proudly. "You'll be leaving me soon. For college. First Antonio. Now you, Luis. Paloma will be next," she cried. Running a hand through his twelve-year-old sister's dark curls. "You still have me for a while, Mama," Paloma said sweetly. Her hazel eyes sparkling. "And Theresa and Miguel." "Yes," Pilar laughed as she watched Theresa and Miguel playing with Sam and Grace Bennett's three youngsters. "I still have you. But only for a little while. You grow up so fast."

"Ain't that the truth," Antonio whistled as he watched his little brother kiss his girlfriend in celebration. "My, my," he teased. Grinning widely at the blush that rose on the pretty brunette's cheeks. "Looks like little Beth Wallace is all grown up now," he said. Bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it. "Hands off," cried a familiar voice laced with humor. "The minute.no wait, make that the second.Luis and Beth break it off, she's mine," Hank Bennett said. Wrapping his arms around Beth from behind and pretending to nibble on her neck. Beth giggled wildly. "All mine. You got that Lo-Fitz?" "Aww. If it isn't little Hanky Bennett," Antonio said in the most babyish voice he could muster. "You mean Mommy let you out to play with the big boys today, Runt?" "Watch what you say around Hank now, Bro," Luis laughed. "Look," he said. "He's actually got muscles now."

"Boys," Martin chuckled. "Play nice. This is the last time you'll see each other for at least two weeks." Antonio smirked at Hank one last time and winked at Beth as he turned his attention on his little brother. "Hey, Luis. When are you guys heading out to Myrtle Beach? Huh? Are you all getting your own rooms? Or are you and the lovely Miss Wallace going to sneak off and leave ole Hanky-poo in the dust?" "Antonio," Luis hissed in warning. "Mama." he said. Raising an eyebrow in her direction. "Calm down, Bro. She's talking to Hanky's sister-in-law. You have nothing to worry about. Besides. It's not like she thinks you're a saint or something. Especially after catching you kissing Mary Jo up in your bedroom. Oops! Did I just say that?" he said as Beth stalked away from Luis angrily. "Good going, Antonio," Luis ground out as he followed her. "Thanks, Man, for making sure the ride down there's going to be Hell," Hank said. Wincing when he saw his brother's wife descending upon them. Arms stretched out wide.

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Luis kicked the sand at his feet in frustration. Beth still wasn't talking to him. Two days and counting. She was trying to kill him, he decided. Flirting with every guy she saw. Including Hank. He had to laugh as he remembered the look on Hank's face when she sat in his lap at dinner last night. He ate it up. Joined right in her game. Hank was the only one Beth was talking to right now. Why was she acting this way? It wasn't like she didn't know. She'd went out with other people, too, when they cooled things off for a little while a few months back. It was HER idea, after all. Women. He couldn't figure out what went through their heads for the life of him. And boy, would he like to figure it out, he thought as a beautiful sight halted him in his tracks.

The rising sun made her blond hair gleam. His heart hammered in his chest as he watched her. Something about her seemed.felt.familiar. He watched as she leaned her head forward and rested her chin on her updrawn knees. Her eyes lifted skyward. Closed. Her golden hair seemed to float in the light breeze, and he ached to touch her. To prove to himself she was real. She was right there. In front of him. He had no voice as he opened his mouth to speak. No words would escape his lips. Sheridan, his mind screamed. Could it be the same girl? The same girl that haunted his dreams? His heart stopped when she opened her eyes and stared at him. Right through his soul. With the same sad blue eyes. "Sheridan," he whispered. Taking a step forward. Only to be stopped by a sound he had not heard in two days. "Luis!" He shut his eyes against the sound. When he opened them, she was gone.

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