Part Two





"Sheridan," he gasped. His face pale. Sweat on his brow. "Get out of here," he said. Imploring her with his eyes to listen. For once. She could still be in danger. His gut told him she was the intended victim of the shooter. And that shooter couldn't be too far behind. "Now. Before they catch up with us."

"Who Luis? Before who catches up with us? If you think I'm leaving you here, alone, you must be out of your mind, Officer. No. I'm not leaving," she said. Brushing her knuckles tenderly across his cheek. Resisting the powerful urge to kiss him. Throw herself into his arms.

He stared into her blue eyes. His own brown eyes filled with confusion. "Why go through all the trouble for me?" he asked. "A 'user'. You said yourself you never wanted to see me again. So why the sudden change of heart?" he asked. Clutching her hand and refusing to let it go. Willing her to look at him. Give him some clue to what she was really feeling. She was a complete mystery to him.

She couldn't do it. Couldn't look him in the eye. There was only one reason for her actions. And she wasn't ready to admit it to herself. If she did, she was afraid all her hard work would be for nothing. All her carefully constructed walls would crumble. Fall to the ground. And there'd she be. Once again with a man who was only using her. She couldn't take that chance again. How many times could a heart shatter before it was impossible to put it back together again? She took a wavering breath. "Don't flatter yourself, Luis. I'm not cruel. It's not in my nature to do what you're suggesting."

He released the breath he'd been holding. She was lying. Not telling him the whole story. He could feel it. Tell it. He grabbed her chin. Forcing her to look him in the eye. "I'm on to you, Princess. You can't lie to me forever. I'm a pretty persistent man." She jerked her chin from his grasp and moved away from him. Determined to put some distance between them. She couldn't think clearly when he was touching her. She gasped in surprise when he pulled her back against him into the shadows and covered her mouth with his hand. Every muscle in his body tense. Her blue eyes searched his for answers. Filling with fright when she heard it. The sound of a gun being cocked.

She trembled in his arms. Not daring to breath. He removed his hand from her mouth and put a finger to his lips. Signaling her to keep quiet. She nodded her head. Slipping her hand into his and squeezing it tightly. Praying they wouldn't be found. They heard two men conversing. In French. She looked to Luis in surprise. They were after her. The realization that Luis was telling the truth made her feel faint, and she sagged against him. Issuing a relieved sigh when the two gunmen finally gave up. Leaving them. Safe for now. "They were after me," she whispered. A look of astonishment on her pretty features. "Why Luis?"

He shook his head and took her hand in his. "Not now, Sheridan. We don't have time for this. We don't want to take the chance they'll come back. You know Paris better than I do. Think. Do you know of any place where we'll be safe? Somewhere I can see a doctor?" he asked. His tired eyes boring into hers.

She tugged her hand free. Running a hand through her golden curls. Where could they go? Where would they be safe? Luis needed to see a doctor. Soon. But they couldn't go to a hospital. She racked her brain for possibilities. Solutions to their current dilemma. "Marie!" she said excitedly. "She and I roomed together at boarding school. She has an apartment here in the city. Her husband is a doctor, Luis. They'll help us. I know they will. Come on, Luis. The appartment's not far from here."

He stopped her with a hand on her arm. "Sheridan. Wait. Are you absolutely certain you can trust this woman? And her husband? Are you sure they won't ask questions? We need to keep a low profile. At least until I'm sure you're out of danger. I can't be much help to you like this," he said.

Her eyes drifted down to the spreading crimson stain on his shirt, and she was reminded again why time was of the essence. Marie had been the closest thing to a friend she had had her entire time spent at boarding school. She was positive she could be trusted. But Jacques...Jacques she wasn't so sure about. She shook those thoughts from her head. It would have to do. They had no other choice. "Marie won't let anything happen to us, Luis. I trust her," she said. Easing an arm around his waist. Aiding him as they emerged from the shadows. If Luis noticed her failure to qualify Jacques as someone that could be trusted, he failed to indicate it. She sighed in relief. She wasn't altogether sure what to expect. But right now...she'd take her chances.