I have about 11 tags, so I'm combining everything into one compilation. The original one shots will be left for posterity but also reposted here to correct for tense problems and wording.
This story is based on the episode "The One That Got Away" from Touched by an Angel season 2. To recap, Doug, Lisa's fiancée, committed suicide after he was discovered to be cheating on his exams in college. Mutual friends of Doug: Susan and Mark are reunited at a friend's wedding six years later with Lisa as the Maid of Honor. Mark is determined not to let Susan get away, but Susan, it turns out, was the one who altered the test so she could get Doug's US Attorney's position. It's hinted that Mark should accept Lisa's love instead.
The One That Got Away
"All I said was 'Hi.'"
"That's enough."
Mark Monfort couldn't believe all that had happened within the past 24 hours. He had come to Wendy's wedding, this impromptu college reunion, to make amends with Susan Duplain. His co-workers over in his international practice groaned every time he brought up his ex-girlfriend, the one that got away.
They had parted on such terrible terms! During the three years of struggling through law school together, they had been inseparable. And yet she knew, knew for certain, that the mention of her following Mark to Europe was repugnant to him. Sure, he would have been willing to marry her after a few years apart, while he explored the wilds of international law and she participated in the steps needed for her to become a judge. It would have been perfect.
Doug's acceptance of the US Attorney's position changed everything though. Right after his best friend's announcement it had been her idea to end their relationship. Mark was just another unwitting pawn in her schemes, thrown away and discarded after living out his usefulness.
Poor Doug had suffered the price. Doug Richards, his best friend.
And Lisa, sweet Lisa.
Lisa Magdaleno had been Doug's vocal supporter throughout their law school days, and the man's unwavering girlfriend. While Mark and Susan had their ups and downs, Lisa was the steady rock in their quartet (quintet if Gale was around). Hers was always the proverbial shoulder to cry on. Doug may have been his best friend, and Susan his girlfriend, but Lisa always had a special place in his heart.
Even now after the terrible ordeal, and thanks to the revelation from Monica the angel, Mark could feel a smile on his face through the pain of the bump on the back of his head.
Lisa looked adorable in that awful bridesmaid's vest that Wendy had made her wear. The man and woman were grinning at each other like fools in the swaying car, but the thought at what waited at the front of the train soon sobered Mark up.
Mark held Lisa's eyes with his own, hoping to convey all of the concern he had for her.
"Lisa, you have to come with me, and it's going to be painful, but I promise you everything will be alright."
The dark blonde eyes' widened in surprise but replied faithfully, "I trust you, Mark."
The prodigal son took a steady breath, feeling his heart flutter inside his chest that had never occurred with Susan before.
Making their way to the front of the car, Mark told the train's conductor to call the police while keeping an eye on the proud, cruel woman that greeted the pair. Lisa, ever kind hearted, rushed forward to help the disheveled looking Susan, but Mark held her back with a firm grip around her waist. He could feel Lisa lean subconsciously into his body as the trio waited. How long had it been since she was so lovingly held? Probably just as long as it had been for him.
As the flashing lights of the squad car greeted him at the train station, Mark couldn't help but notice how different his departure had been from his entrance. So sure of righting the wrong of his breakup with Susan, in truth he had only been deluding himself.
He explained the situation to the cops – Susan's extortion of the comatose judge and her attempt on Mark's life, and lastly the woman's betrayal of their mutual friend. Lisa let out a strangled scream at his words, collapsing against his chest in horror.
Mark had a sickening thought. Was this how she reacted in seeing Doug's lifeless body in his dorm room?
He hadn't been there for her then, but he certainly would be for her now. He clutched her to his body, stroking the back of her head with his hand as he whispered soothing words into her ear. He glanced up at Susan only to see not a single trace of remorse in her emotionless eyes. All of their lives had been ruined by her selfish action! But he knew that he and Lisa could pick up the pieces, together.
The police made a note to see if Gale Harper would be willing to talk to them about his case of the suicidal judge.
Lisa gave a watery laugh. It would take getting the talkative man to shut up that would be the least of their worries.
Mark couldn't help but kiss her forehead affectionately. Even in the midst of pain could the crying woman still find time to laugh. What a godsend she was!
The weeping woman sniffled quietly. Susan of all people! Her friend, who had fixed her bridesmaid vest and comforted her after she had had too much to drink at the wedding. Another betrayal by someone she loved.
But there was one who would never deceive her.
The police took away Susan in their squad car after taking down Mark's statement and information. He knew that the federal bench nominee wouldn't be imprisoned tonight. She had the wealth and connections to make bail. Mark Monfort would have a long uphill battle even accusing a prominent figure such as herself of scandal.
Mark felt Lisa shiver in his hold. He let out a soft curse quickly covering her with his jacket. Again, he rolled his eyes at Wendy's insistence of a winter wedding.
He murmured to her, "C'mon. Let me take you home."
Somehow he had grabbed their bags and hailed a taxi, while navigating his old college friend into the warm cab.
"'Computers don't lie, but this one did.'"
Lisa's soft words broke the silence in the car ride and the stupor she had been in ever since Susan's treachery was revealed.
"I thought about it over and over again over the six years since it happened. The test has a time stamp, and Doug was halfway across campus talking with his professors about the US attorney's position. I'm sure that the electronic test system being disbanded soon after our year should be taken into account." Her face was filled with a new conviction. Already the legal jargon was coming back to Lisa like an old friend.
Mark agreed. It was ridiculous. Whoever heard of taking tests without photo identification, a test proctor, and on public networks like the school library?
He spoke to her gently, "You told me earlier, you and Doug could have handled anything together. You always were the strong one in the relationship, Lisa, and I'm sorry Doug never came to you before he took his life. I knew you would have done everything in your power to help him."
Maybe he could be just as useful in Lisa's life.
"Listen," he raised her chin to meet his eyes, "I need to look for a permanent place to stay and get reacquainted with the city again. How about you be my tour guide and I help you with taking the bar exam?"
Her doe eyes widened with surprise. "The bar?"
"Yeah, for Doug's sake. He would have wanted you to be more than a secretary in your father's law firm."
Lisa's eyes brightened for the first time since she had laid eyes on Mark in the wedding car. They had seemed only to do so around him.
It wasn't until he had walked her to her door did he realize he had been holding onto her hand the entire time.
He bid her a tender goodnight, promising to call her first thing in the morning.
Susan Duplain may have been the one that got away, Mark Monfort thought in the ride back to his hotel, but Lisa Magdaleno would be the one he would stay for.
This is one of my favorite episodes. The next chapter is a brief continuation of their lives together.
Grignard
