Part Three







She smiled slightly in Luis's direction as she raised a shaking hand to the door. Taking a deep breath and knocking. Please, Marie, she thought. Please be home. She couldn't deal with Jacques alone. He set her nerves on edge. She couldn't explain it. But she had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with his treatment of Marie's four-year-old daughter. Catherine. Her god-daughter. He was so.indifferent towards her. Almost cold. Truthfully, she'd never understood what Marie saw in him. He wasn't even a good father figure. And if there was love there, she'd never witnessed it. She took a deep breath. Trying to will the disconcerting thoughts out of her head. Glancing once more Luis's way. The opening of the door startling her. "Catherine," she smiled.

"Sheri!" Catherine squealed. Launching herself into Sheridan's arms. Squeezing her neck tight. And jabbering a mile a minute. Sheridan laughed at the look on Luis's face. Sobering at the look on Catherine's face when she discovered they were not alone. "Sheri?" she whispered. Her green eyes widening at the sight of the blood on Luis's shirt. Her little body tensing with apprehension.

"Catherine! Who is at the door?" Marie yelled. Stopping in her tracks when she lay eyes on her childhood friend. "Sheri!" she exclaimed. Kissing Sheridan's cheek. "I didn't know you were Paris. What a pleasant surprise! Oh," she gasped. A hand covering her mouth. "You're not alone," she said. Studying Luis curiously. Her face paling when she saw the blood on his shirt. "What happened?"

"Marie, can we discuss this inside?" Sheridan asked. "Someplace more private," she said. Nodding at the elderly woman walking slowly down the hall. Trying to be inconspicuous. And failing miserably. It was the third time in as many minutes she had walked past them.

"Of course," she said. Ushering them inside and shutting the door behind them. "Catherine," she smiled brightly. "Why don't you go in your room and draw Sheri one of your masterpieces? I'm sure she'd like one to go with the picture of her you drew last summer," she said. Tucking a loose dark curl behind her daughter's ear. Catherine eyed Luis with suspicion for several seconds. Then smiled at him. "I hope you feel better soon, Monsieur."

The smile on Marie's face faded as soon as Catherine was out of sight. "Sheri, what is going on here? Who is this man?" she asked. Indicating Luis. "And who shot him? Why is he with you?" she finished breathlessly. Her dark eyes searching Sheridan's.

Sheridan took a deep breath before speaking. "His name is Luis Lopez- Fitzgerald. He's a...friend...from Harmony. You remember. The small town I grew up in," pausing to let Marie digest the information. "Luis came across some information linking Jean-Luc...linking Jean-Luc with a drug ring. He tried to warn me over the phone that I might be in danger, but I refused to listen to him. I wouldn't take his calls," she confessed. Her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "So he flew to Paris to warn me. Only I ignored him again. Until someone shot at me. They shot at me, Marie, but they hit Luis instead. He needs help," she said. "I'm sorry," she said. Lowering her head. "He needs help, and I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. We shouldn't have come here."

"Sheri," Marie said softly. Taking Sheridan's hands in her own and squeezing them reassuringly. "I'm your friend. Don't think that way. You did the right thing. Luis," she said kindly. "My husband Jacques is a doctor. He can help you. And in the meantime," she said. Returning her gaze to Sheridan. "You and Luis can hide out here. Luis can have the spare bedroom you usually stay in, Sheri. And you can stay in Catherine's room with her."

"No!" Luis said suddenly. Making them both jump. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "But until I know for sure there's no more threat on Sheridan's life, she's staying with me," he said. Not even flinching at Sheridan's shocked expression. "No arguments," he warned when Sheridan opened her mouth. "I'm not letting you out of my sight," he said. His mouth set in a grim line. Not breaking his gaze with Sheridan. A slight smile coming over his lips at the fire in her blue eyes. She was going to fight him every step of the way.