"Julian!" Sheridan cried out. "Julian, are you all right?"
Eve struggled to turn around in the space she was wedged into between Julian and Sheridan. "Julian?" she pleaded, her eyes welling with tears. "Julian, please say something!"
Julian groaned and stretched his body to cover more of her. "It's okay. The beam didn't get me."
"No, but it's wedged right above you," Sheridan breathed. "If you move the wrong way, it could fall on you."
"Well, I guess I can't move then, right?" Julian let out an anxious laugh, fear lodging in his throat. Sheridan was right. If he moved even an inch or so, it would be the end of him.
"Julian! Don't move!" Luis rushed up to them—Martin, Hank, and Gwen hot on his heels. "Sheridan? Eve? Are you both all right? Please tell me that you're okay."
"We're okay, Luis." Sheridan's voice filled with panic. "Just, please get us all out of here before the beam moves again."
"Don't worry, Sher—I'm on it," Luis said. "I'll have you all free in a few minutes." Luis stood up and turned to face his father, Hank, and Gwen. "I need you three to help me."
"We'll do whatever you need," Martin promised.
"Yes," Gwen chimed in. "Let's get them out of there, Luis—before anything else happens."
"Thanks," Luis said, nodding his head toward the beam. "Gwen, why don't you get ready to help everyone up? Papa, Hank—I need your help with this beam. We've got to get it away from Julian."
"Of course," Martin said.
"You've got it, buddy," Hank agreed, grabbing ahold of the beam.
Martin and Luis joined Hank; they all began to pull.
Eve clutched Sheridan's hand.
"Slowly, slowly, slowly," Luis directed his father and Hank through gritted teeth.
Within a few minutes, they managed to inch the beam up enough to free up some space underneath it.
Gwen grabbed Sheridan's, Eve's, and then Julian's hands one by one and helped them all to their feet.
"Julian!" Eve scrambled over to his side the second he was free. "Julian, are you okay?"
"I . . . I'm fine," Julian stammered, attempting to gather his bearings.
Luis rushed over to Sheridan and gathered her up in his arms. "Sheridan, are you all right?"
"I am, Luis," she cried softly, as he pressed kisses all over her head.
Luis looked up at Julian, tears in his eyes. "You saved their lives, Julian."
"You really did . . ." Sheridan breathed, caressing her abdomen. "You saved our baby, too."
Julian looked over at Sheridan for a moment and then bowed his head. "I know I haven't always been the best brother to you, but I do care about you, Sheridan." Julian twisted his fingers together and looked back up at his sister. "I'm so sorry for every scheme I took part in. I was a fool to try to ruin your happiness . . . to join forces with Father."
Sheridan's lips trembled. "This last scheme—when you tried to break up Luis and me with that imposter—you really were just trying to protect me, weren't you? Trying to protect me from Father?"
"I know it's hard to believe, sister dear, but it is true. When I came up with that second imposter scheme, I only wanted to save your life." Julian picked at the cuff of his sleeve. "I knew that if I didn't figure out some way to break up you and Luis, Father was going to order me to kill you."
Sheridan looked at Luis. "Why didn't you just tell us what he was planning, Julian?"
Julian laughed and shook his head. "That would have been the obvious solution, wouldn't it? Especially given the fact that you are a cop, Luis?" Julian rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know, Sheridan. Sometimes when Father bullies me, I can't even stop to think."
Sheridan frowned softly. "I know he's always been hard on you, Julian."
"Yes, but that's no excuse." Julian hung his head. "I'm sorry, Sheridan. I'm sorry for everything."
Sheridan blinked back tears. "I believe you, Julian."
