Part Nine







"Sheridan," he whispered. As he lay in bed beside her. He knew she wasn't asleep. He didn't know how. He just knew. "How'd you meet Marie?" he asked curiously. He felt the bed shift under her weight as she turned to face him. He drew in a quick breath at the beautiful picture she presented in the moonlight. Her blue eyes staring at him. "I met her at boarding school when I was very young," she said softly. "When Father sent me away. Marie was wonderful. She drew me out of my shell and made all those long years bearable. I don't know what I would've done without her. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. I'm a cop. It's in my nature," he laughed. The sound echoing in the quiet room. For a few minutes, all that could be heard was the sound of their breathing. "If you don't mind my asking." he hesitated. "Go ahead, Luis," she encouraged. "What happened to Catherine's father? I don't see how anyone could abandon someone like Marie. Or such a beautiful little girl. I know I wouldn't." He could see Sheridan smile slightly at his last statement in the pale light. "I don't know," she admitted. "They seemed so in love. Philippe adored Marie. At least I thought so," she said. "I'm not exactly the best judge of character. I've been involved with more losers than I count."

Am I one of those losers, he wanted to ask. But he didn't. Instead he just lay there. Facing her. Waiting for her to continue. "Marie's always had tons of guys after her," she said with a smile. "No surprise, really. She's beautiful. But she never let anyone get close to her, you know. Until Philippe. Marie's parents died when she was very young. She only had her grandmother. But Rose was in her early forties when she had Marie's mother. So by the time Marie's mother had her, Rose was in her seventies. Rose died when Marie was sixteen. After that, Marie wouldn't let anyone too close. But like I said, Philippe changed all that. They were so in love, Luis," she said. Blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "I can't possibly imagine what happened. Why he left her and Catherine. And now Marie's stuck with a bastard like Jacques. He doesn't love her or that precious little girl down the hall. I don't think Jacques has it in him to love ANYBODY."

The silence between them hung heavily in the air. Until Sheridan said in a tiny voice. "I used to think that there was someone out there. Someone that would love me like I thought Philippe loved Marie. A man to share my life with. Who'd love me for me. Not my name or money. I never gave up hope. No matter how foolish Father told me I was," she laughed bitterly. "Maybe he was right," she whispered. Looking deep into his brown eyes. For what, Luis didn't know. But he wanted her to find her answer. He wanted to be that someone for her. The man that would show her that her dreams weren't foolish. That they could become a reality. If only she'd tell him. Tell him why she left Harmony. And him. Without so much as an explanation.

"Luis?" she asked. Her words soft. The sound of her voice making him shiver. "Yes, Sheridan," he said simply. Reaching out and trailing a finger across her graceful features. Tracing the path of her tears. "Why?" He stopped his motions. Looking at her strangely. Waiting for her to say more. "Why did you do it? Why did you say such awful things? I don't understand how the man who risked his own life for mine-the man who's so wonderful with Catherine-and the man I heard on the wharf that night can be one in the same." "Sheridan," he said wearily. Shutting his eyes against the pain in hers. "Tell me. Tell me what I said. Please. If you'd only tell me.then we could move on. I want to move on, Sheridan. I want you in my future," he admitted.

Her breath caught in her throat at the look in his eyes. At his touch as he gently rubbed his thumb back and forth across her lips. Then brushed the hair back from her face. "I heard you that night. On your cell phone. Talking about how you were only using me," she choked. "How you had me fooled. The spoiled Crane princess. Using me to get back at my family for what you think they did to your father," she cried. Not understanding the look on his handsome face. The shock and disbelief. Like he had no idea what she was talking about. "Sheridan," he began. "I never said such things." He grabbed her by the shoulders when she tried to turn away from him. Her face falling when he denied any knowledge of that night.

"Look at me," he demanded. Pulling her close. "I would never do something like that. I swear. I'm not like those other men in your life. Those men you used to know. Yes, I want to find out what happened to my father. And yes, I think your father and brother had something to do with his disappearance. I admit I thought you were just like the rest of your family. In the beginning," he said. Searching her eyes for any sign that she believed him. "But then I got to know you. What I thought was the REAL Sheridan Crane. And I realized I was wrong. You're nothing like your father and brother. If I didn't know better, I would never believe you had the same blood running through your veins as Alistair and Julian Crane."

For the first time, hope rose in her chest that she had been wrong. But that would mean.that would mean she was imagining things. "But Luis," she said haltingly. "If you never said any of those things, if you never had that conversation, how do you explain what I saw? I saw a man.a man I wholeheartedly believed was you.talking on his cell phone that night. Am I to believe that I imagined him? I can't do that, Luis. I saw him. I heard him. I'm not crazy." Luis studied her for a moment. His brain desperately trying to come up with a plausible answer for her. But the only answer he was positive of.the only thing he could truthfully say to her.was it wasn't him.

So he did just that. "Sheridan," he whispered. Taking her hand in his. "I don't know. I don't know who would want to hurt you like that. Hurt you so much you felt you had to run away from me. From Harmony. But I do not for a moment believe that you're crazy. And I can honestly say it wasn't me. Sheridan.before all this happened.I thought I was beginning to feel something for you. Something in here," he said. Placing their joined hands over his heart. "I still think we could have something special. If you'd only believe me. Trust me. Do you, Sheridan?" he asked.

She wanted to. Wanted so desperately to believe him. In her heart she believed him. But her head wouldn't let her take such a leap of faith. She'd been burned too many times. "I want to believe you," she said. "So much. More than anything in the world, Luis," she whispered. "I'm so confused, Luis. I...on some level, I DO believe you. My heart says to believe you. But then my head tells me not to be so foolish again. So stupid. I'm afraid, Luis. I don't think I could take it...I'm afraid of being hurt again. I need time. Can you give me that? Will you give me the time I need, Luis?" she asked.

Luis's heart fell and soared in a matter of seconds. She hadn't completely given up on him. And he could live with that. For the time being. "Time," he repeated. Tucking a strand of blond hair back behind her ear. "If it's time you need, Sheridan, I'll give you time. Time to learn to trust your heart again. This time it's telling you the truth," he said. Smiling at the relieved smile on her beautiful face. "All you have to do is listen to it." "Thank you," Sheridan whispered. Relaxing in his embrace. A feeling of peace washing over her as they settled back against the pillows. A feeling that was short-lived. Because a few minutes later...a scream pierced the night air.