Due to popular demand (and some vague threats) here is chapter two of Beyond Time, Beyond Forever. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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White.

That was all her mind registered as she slowly floated back to awareness.

White.

Had she died already? Was she in heaven?

Then the aggressive smell of antiseptic hit her nose, and she frowned. There was a scratchy blanket draped over her, and the distinct pressure of someone holding her hand. Tentatively she opened her eyes, and a soft groan passed her lips as the pain hit her full force. Pain… She was alive.

The pressure on her hand increased. "Fiona…"

Her heart skipped a beat when his face came into her line of vision. Michael… Her vision was blurry, but she could see the relief shining in his cobalt eyes.

Sighing in relief, Michael placed his hand against Fiona's warm cheek. "There you are…"

Running her tongue over her dry lips, she tried to speak. "Wh-Where…?"

"Shh…" He grabbed a glass of water and put a straw in it. Then he slid his hand behind her head, gently lifting as he pressed the straw to her lips. "We're in Miami. Mt. Sinai hospital," he murmured as she sipped at the water.

She almost laughed at the irony. Hadn't she said that to him once before?

His free hand gently smoothed her hair back. "The surgeon removed three bullets from your chest."

Her eyebrows raised at that. Three bullets to her chest… how the hell was she still alive?

"You lost a lot of blood." He set the glass aside and took her hand again. "You've been unconscious for almost a week."

"A week?" she repeated incredulously, her voice scratchy.

"Yeah." A lump formed in his throat. "I almost lost you, Fi. Where did you go?"

Fiona was stunned to see tears welling up in Michael's eyes. He never cried, and she would never expect him to cry over her. "Michael…"

Still struggling with the vortex of emotions he was tangled in, he brought her hand up to his unshaven cheek. Then he kissed her fingertips. "Don't leave me again, Fiona. Please."

"Never," she whispered, running her thumb slowly over his lower lip.

Shaking slightly, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Then he rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes as a tear slid down his cheek.

Still considerably weak, Fiona managed to wrap her arm around his shoulders. Then she closed her eyes and murmured his name.

"I won't leave you. I promise."

And if she had died that day, she would have been happy because she was with him.

Fin.

A/N: Well, I'm glad I didn't actually kill Fiona. Now next time... *evil laughter* Thanks for reading, and please review!