Reconnections - Chapter Two - Welcome to Harmony...
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Sheridan chewed her bottom lip as she paced the hospital room floor. Her eyes kept darting to the clock that hung on the wall even though she knew that an hour still remained before Antonio's flight reached the Portland Airport. And even after that, it would take another forty-five minutes before the charter plane arrived at Harmony's smaller air field. So an hour and forty-five minutes remained until she knew whether her husband would be spared or not. She quickly swung her eyes around to gaze at Luis as he rested peacefully in the bed which stood in the center of the room.
The second set of blood tests had shown that the elevation of iron in Luis' body could be easily treated with a simple procedure and later drugs. But it had been the ultrasound that had given Dr. MacGraw cause for major concern. Luis' liver had shown classic signs of the beginning stages of liver failure. Not knowing much about the organ, the doctor had given them the name of a specialist who frequently treated diseases of the liver. When he had read of the results of the ultrasound, Dr. Jackson Dayton had quickly scheduled her husband for a cholangiography. The results of that one test alone had changed their lives forever.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, or PSC as the doctor had called it, was what Luis had. Hearing the name of it alone had caused the bottom of her stomach to fall out from beneath her. The doctor had went on to tell them more about the disease, explaining to them that the bile ducts inside and outside of Luis' liver had become narrowed due to inflammation and scarring. This had caused bile to accumulate in his liver and resulted in the damage to liver cells in his body. Because it had gone unsymptomatic for long, Luis' liver had entered the beginning states of liver disease, its end result being failure of the organ. There were medicines and procedures available to treat liver disease, but the doctor had presented them with the option of transplantation, something he had further explained would likely occur down the road regardless.
As she stopped in one of her walks across the room, Sheridan looked out of the single window in the room. It seemed that it was never enough for them to just be happy together. Life had thrown them so many obstacles in the years that she and Luis had known in each other. If it wasn't her meddlesome family trying to keep them apart, then it was someone in his own, though Sheridan conceded that only one person from Luis' family had stood in the way of their love. It didn't give her cause for much ease to know that one person was also the one who know held Luis' life in the palm of his hands. Closing her eyes, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to that sad time that seemed ages ago but had been less than ten years.
When Antonio had found out the truth concerning her relationship with Luis, he had been crushed. It was easy for her to feel the emotions that he had at the time because she remembered how love had wronged her so many times in her past. But it had come to a point when she was nearly five months pregnant, knowing the man that was her husband wasn't the father of her child, and had needed to set the truth free. So one afternoon after mass, she and Antonio had left for a weekend together at Blue Mountain Resort. She had worried the whole time about how to tell him the news without angering him only to come to the conclusion that it couldn't be done. Finally, after two days of avoiding his advances and romantic gestures, Sheridan had sat Antonio down and begun to tell him the truth.
She could still remember the blank look in his eyes as she told him about her history with Luis, about how they had met and how they had gotten to know each other. He had immediately questioned her on why she hadn't told him before, why she had kept it from him for so long. And instead of trying to explain the past months of lies and deceit, she had instead told him that she and his brother had once been lovers. The pain she had felt at that moment was nothing in comparison with his own. He had denied her words; told her that she was lying to him. Sheridan had been quick to tell him everything else, everything about her and Luis being together. Everything about the baby she held inside her womb. She hadn't known what to expect of him as far as reactions, but the one she received was good enough.
Antonio had become a man she had never before seen. He had screamed and raved, calling her names that were best forgotten, saying much of the same of his brother. She had endured because she knew how much it hurt him to know the truth. And only when neighbors of their room had complained of the noise did the manager come up, sparing her from any more of his pain; allowing her own to grow. He had left, telling her that he never wanted to speak to her again. And she had stayed behind, curling herself into a small ball on the bed, large sobs escaping her. How could she be so sad and so happy at the same time?
Sheridan returned from the past, opening her eyes to the present. Yes, that time had been hurtful and though she had thought it would be impossible to move on from the events of that day, she had. Turning, she resumed in her pace across the room. She and Antonio had promptly gotten a divorce after which he had disappeared from town. She knew he had started keeping in touch with his family a year or so after that, but he had held off from speaking with either herself or Luis. To this day, Antonio had not had words with either of them and yet, he was about to become deeply embedded within their lives. Sheridan only hoped that her sins of the past would not come back to mar the present nor her future. Because if ever she needed Antonio's help, it was now.
"You know, you're giving me a headache with all that pacing."
Sheridan stopped pacing to turn and meet the smiling face of her husband. "Luis." She walked to his bedside, moving to sit on the chair that sat close by when he motioned her towards him. Gently, she eased her way into bed with him. Instantly, his arms were around her; holding her; protecting her. Tears sprang to her eyes. She was the one that needed to be strong for him, not the other way around. And yet, through everything, he had been protecting her, holding her hand, offering her assurances that everything would be okay. She was lucky to have this man in her life; no one needed to tell her that. And the simple thought of losing him... Sheridan gathered her emotions before turning her face towards his. "How long have you been awake?" she asked him softly.
"Long enough to know that you're worried." Luis looked solemnly into her eyes. "Don't be Sheridan. You know the doctor has me on all these medications. They're doing the procedure to try and lighten the load on my body this afternoon. And even if he doesn't show--"
"He will," she insisted.
Luis gave her a look. "Even if Antonio doesn't show, Miguel is still a viable donor."
"But not as viable as Antonio." She raised herself on her elbow, looking down at him. "You heard the doctor Luis. Because Antonio is older, his size and weight more similar to yours, he stands as a better donor than Miguel does. And honestly, I don't want us to risk anything on this procedure. Antonio has to be here. And he will be," she quickly added. "So please, stop trying to make me sick with worry."
Luis laughed. "You're doing a good enough job of that on your own, Sheridan." He pulled her down, her head resting against his shoulder. "I'm glad you're here with me," he spoke quietly. "I don't know if I could do this on my own."
Confused, Sheridan tried to lever herself up again only to be stopped as Luis' arm banded tightly against her body, keeping her locked to his side. "What do you mean Luis? Where else would I be except by your side? I'm your wife."
"I know." And he loved her for it. Through everything he and Sheridan had been through in their time together, from the very beginning, it had been a struggle. He could still remember the times he had thought he would never see her again; never experience the warmth her smile brought to his heart; never feel her in his arms one more time. Those had been some of the most trying times in his life. He had never before met a woman that made him feel so complete and the thought of not having her in his life left a large empty space inside of him, one he had tried many times to fill but had never succeeded in doing so.
When Sheridan had come back with Antonio in tow, Luis had felt his desperation grow. Here, the woman he loved, was alive and well...and with is older brother. Just the thought of the two of them together was enough to make him nauseous yet he'd had no choice but to endure the sight of them with each other for the sake of sparing Antonio an early death. Those months had been so hard for him. The few times he and Sheridan had managed to escape Antonio and the eyes of their family to be together had been the only thing keeping him sane. And after Antonio had awoken from the coma and the prospect of him and Sheridan being together forever had become more of a reality, Luis had been ready to throw all caution to the wind and claim her for his own.
But that hadn't been necessary, he thought with a wry smile. Only weeks later, Sheridan had found out she was pregnant. From the moment she had spoken the words, Luis had know the baby she carried was his even as his brother made the same claim. But Luis had known. And with that spark of life, another thing had become clear to him. No matter who tried to keep them apart, no matter what obstacles life threw at them, he and Sheridan could survive it all. They had then and they would now. He closed his eyes, saying a silent prayer of thanks to God. There was no way he could ever repay the Almighty for bringing Sheridan into his life. But each day, he said a prayer of thanks and gratitude and today was no different.
"What are you thinking Luis?" Sheridan asked after the elongated silence.
"I'm just thinking what a lucky man I am." Luis turned his head to look at his wife. "And that no matter what we go through, we will always be together Sheridan. God has blessed our love and he wouldn't take that away from us. He couldn't."
"I know Luis," she whispered with a belief that grew deep within her soul. "And you will make it through this. I know that you will."
He nodded. "I'm going to fight this thing, Sher. With everything in me, I'm going to fight. Because I just...I just can't loose you. You are my life Sheridan. I love you."
And no more words were needed as the two lay in each others arms, content to be together as they waited for the man that would save both of their lives.
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Beth wanted to pull her hair out but settled with chewing on the nail of her right thumb. It had been almost four hours since she and the boys had seen Antonio off at the airport. Both Caleb and Haden had been gloomy from the moment they had awoken, knowing that their father would be leaving them for an unknown length of time. Haden had spent most of the morning between fits of tears and bouts of pouting. Caleb, ever the more suttle brother, had simply stopped talking. He didn't speak to his brother, he didn't speak to Beth, and he hadn't even looked in his father's direction. But all that had changed when the four of them had arrived at the airport and the time had come to say goodbye.
What had been a sad morning became an even sadder send off. Beth shuddered as she remembered Haden's days as a two-year old and it had seemed that those times had somehow returned as the little boy cried, and cried, and cried some more over the departure of his daddy. Caleb, even though he hated to show weakness, couldn't help but let a few tears of his own slip. They had both begged Antonio to stay, but as calm as ever he had told them that his brother needed him and that he had to go help him. But I'll be back, Antonio had told the boys, both encased within his arms in a tight hug. I promise. Beth scoffed, pulling her thumb from her mouth. As far as she was concerned, promises were meant to be broken and his wasn't any less likely to be kept given his last passionate words to his family.
Now, as time neared for him to arrive in Harmony, Beth became more worried by all she had to lose. Could she trust that Antonio would keep silent about their secret? Or would everything come out when he returned home to his family? Just thinking about it was driving Beth crazy, a place she definitely didn't want to be. Trying to take all her thoughts off Antonio and Harmony, Beth picked up her notebook, making her way from the small office she inhabited in Open Arms to the meeting room where they were to discuss new ideas on programs for the children that frequented one of Seattle's area crisis centers.
Going back to school and finishing her college degree had been more of a necessity than a choice. After she had left her seaside home and everyone there behind, she'd had no choice but to find a way to support herself. What little she did have in savings was barely enough to cover her basic necessities for the first few months outside of the only place she had ever lived. And Chicago wasn't a cheap place to call home either. Beth smile wistfully as she remembered the few years she spent in Illinois. She couldn't remember why she had chosen Chicago, only that it had seemed like a place she could start over anew without anyone linking her to her past.
And that had been the case, at least for a little while she thought wryly. Leave it to her to pick the one city where a Lopez-Fitzgerald roamed. She had been shocked to lookup one day and find Antonio staring at her from across a crowded downtown cafe. She had been studying for an exam and he there to see a friend. If their schedules had been off by minutes alone, she could have avoided him completely. But he had spotted her, begged away from his companion, and come over to play havoc in her life. Beth had wanted nothing more than to disappear into the ground below her as he had walked across the room towards her table. And then, she had remembered her physical condition.
She had tried desperately to grab the coat slung over the back of any empty chair in order to hide her current state but it had been all in waste. Antonio had stood over her, his eyes wide in shock as he uttered his greeting of "You're pregnant". Beth could feel her cheeks suffuse with heat at the memory, much as they had at the time of the event. She had sputtered, coughed, tried to do anything and everything to get his attention off her protruding, seven-month round belly and onto something else, anything else, but that hadn't worked either. And wasn't that just the end all? There she had been sitting, minding her own business, when trouble decided to walk back into her life in the form of one of the last people she needed to see. Antonio's next words as he had slumped into the third empty chair present had been, "It's Luis', isn't it?" and by that point, Beth had simply wanted to die.
She remembered how she had haughtily stuck her nose in the air, telling him to mind his own business before returning to the psychology book in hand. And as much as she had tried to ignore him, tried to pretend he wasn't sitting not three feet away from her, it had been impossible to do. Finally she had broken down and told him that the father of her baby could be him for all she knew, throwing that one drunken night of sex in his face. But instead of getting angry and leaving as she thought he would, Antonio had simply laughed at the words, telling her that he was pretty sure nothing much had happened during their one and only sexual escapade. Beth had known different but for the sake of civility, had kept her mouth tightly shut. But it was too late. Antonio had already put two and two together to make baby, which he concluded, belonged to his brother. And what proof did she have to deny him? As far as she was concerned, Luis was her baby's father. So she hadn't said anything, just taken her eyes off him and tried to concentrate on the information in her book. She had hoped he would then take the hint and just forget about her only he hadn't.
Which now brought her back to the bind she was in. Returning from that time, Beth gave a greeting to Diane Barkley, one of the many counselors that worked with Open Arms, as she made her way into the meeting room. Robert Sysco and Karen Reed, two other counselors, were already present and discussing something quietly. Beth took an empty seat at the table, waiting for the rest of the counselors present as well as the center's director, Jim Quinn, to arrive. Open Arms had been one of the first places she had applied to become a part-time counselor upon moving to the area. And though she had taken a job with another organization at first, something had always drawn her back here. She supposed it was the fact that Open Arms primarily served children in the area by providing them with after-school and weekend activities to keep them out of trouble. After Beth had come on board, she had thrown herself head first into helping as many kids as she could. And even after four years, she could say that her job was still rewarding and challenging to her. She loved it here and could never imagine herself doing anything else.
"Morning everyone, or afternoon I guess," Jim Quinn spoke as he barreled into the room straight to his chair. He waited for a few stranglers to come in before beginning the meeting.
Devoting her full attention to what was going on, Beth tried not to let the past play havoc in her mind. Hopefully, everything would turn out fine. Antonio would do what he had to do and return home without anyone being the wiser of her or the boys. But as her attention drifted more fully to the meeting, a lingering voice told her that things wouldn't be that easy. They never were.
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Antonio walked down the busy hall of Harmony Hospital. Thoughts of the last time he had been here invaded his mind, but he quickly pushed them aside. Finally seeing the nurses station of the fourth floor, he walked up to a woman, a nurse named Lily, and told her his situation. She smiled and offered to show him to his brother's room. 'Everyone's been awaiting your arrival,' she spoke in an all too cheery tone. He begged off. "Aren't I supposed to get some tests done or something?" In all truth, he had only spoken with Theresa one other time about his trip to Harmony and that conversation had given him little insight as to how everything would play out once he arrived. He was sure he would have to go through some kind of medical testing, if for nothing else but to see if he was a viable candidate to donate his liver. Half of his liver, Antonio corrected himself. Beyond that, he didn't know what would go on.
The nurse told him to take a seat and she would call the doctor in charge of his brother's case. Doing just that, Antonio waited. And waited. And waited some more. Finally getting restless, he stood up to go find Lily or anyone else for that matter when he turned and was met with a pair of familiar blue eyes. His heart gave a quick stutter before returning to normal working order. He almost turned and walked away when he thought better of it. At least eight years separated that time and now and though he had yet to deal with much of the anger that surrounded it, he also understood that by coming, he would be faced with seeing these people again. Taking a step forward, he quietly greeted the woman before him. "Hello Sheridan." Expecting a return of his acknowledgment at the least, Antonio was surprised when instead she launched herself at his chest, his arms instantly going up to surround her. The soft sounds coming from her were unmistakable. She was crying.
Not knowing what to do, he held her. His arms tightened around the woman he had loved all those years ago; the woman that had once been his wife. Without thought, he began to comfort her. This woman who had been his anchor. This woman whom he had placed all his trust into. This woman who had betrayed him. With that last thought settling in and taking root in his mind, Antonio slowly disentangled his body from hers. Holding her away, he looked down into her tear-streaked face. Her beauty gave him pause and he couldn't help but smile, something unidentifiable turning in his chest. He didn't allow his mind to linger too long on that. "I'll take it that you're glad to see me," he spoke with a wry humor, his mouth twisting just so. He watched as she blinked, as if words escaped her, before breaking out into a wide smile.
"I... I didn't... I mean I thought..." Sheridan stopped to take a breath. Antonio hadn't changed much from the last time she had seen him. His hair was a little longer, just brushing the ends of his shirt collar. And his eyes. Those orbs that she had first fallen in love with... A soft gasp escaped her lips at that. Finally, she comprehended how her greeting must have looked to him, just how inappropriate it had been. Even now, they were still holding onto one another. Quickly, she broke free of his grasp, wrapping her arms around her to ward of the instant chill that had come. Looking away to a poster on the wall, she spoke, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Her eyes glanced over to see him shove his hands in his trouser pockets, his face covered by a blank stare. "I just didn't think you would come."
Antonio really looked at her and only then saw the haggard, worn look she wore. Her usually vibrant skin looked dull and pale. There were dark shadows beneath her eyes, indicative of a lack of sleep. Or a lot of worry in this case. And her hair, in the same short cut it had been years ago, was pulled back from her face into a neat bun instead of one of her perfectly designed styles. "Why don't we have a seat?" he said, pointing to the group of chairs just behind him. When they were both seated, a chair separating them, Antonio now found himself at a loss of words. Then going back to the last thing she had said he asked her, "Why didn't you think I would come?" Though in truth, he already knew the answer. She gave him a confused look then, as if to question that he would forget her lies, his brother's betrayal, his family's compliance. He waved a hand in the hair, dismissing his own words. "Never mind that," he spoke quietly. "I'm here now. So, what do I do?"
Sheridan blinked, at some measure thankful she had been spared of dragging up those memories. "Well, Luis was just taken to do a procedure to relieve some of the stress his liver has endured. The doctors wanted to be sure that he could sustain himself if a donor wasn't immediately available. But now that you're here..." She let her words trail off, a smile coming to her face. Luis would be all right. Now, more than ever, Sheridan was certain of that. "I'll call doctors MacGraw and Dayton and we can start...this," she finished with her hands raised.
"That sounds like a plan," Antonio spoke. He stood then, waiting for her to do the same. "I have to make a call but I'll shouldn't be that far off. I'll just wait for the doctor to get here."
"Sure, that's fine." Sheridan turned in her hurry to begin in saving Luis' life when she stopped. Turning back, she called out to Antonio. He looked back towards her and she spoke the simple words of, "Thank you." He only smiled before continuing in his steps down the hall and out of sight. Sheridan turned towards the nurses station. Everything would be all right.
- - - - - - - - -
Preview:
Beth returns to Harmony,
Sheridan confronts an old foe,
and the surgery begins in
"Reconnections - Chapter Three - ...Home Sweet Home"
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Sheridan chewed her bottom lip as she paced the hospital room floor. Her eyes kept darting to the clock that hung on the wall even though she knew that an hour still remained before Antonio's flight reached the Portland Airport. And even after that, it would take another forty-five minutes before the charter plane arrived at Harmony's smaller air field. So an hour and forty-five minutes remained until she knew whether her husband would be spared or not. She quickly swung her eyes around to gaze at Luis as he rested peacefully in the bed which stood in the center of the room.
The second set of blood tests had shown that the elevation of iron in Luis' body could be easily treated with a simple procedure and later drugs. But it had been the ultrasound that had given Dr. MacGraw cause for major concern. Luis' liver had shown classic signs of the beginning stages of liver failure. Not knowing much about the organ, the doctor had given them the name of a specialist who frequently treated diseases of the liver. When he had read of the results of the ultrasound, Dr. Jackson Dayton had quickly scheduled her husband for a cholangiography. The results of that one test alone had changed their lives forever.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, or PSC as the doctor had called it, was what Luis had. Hearing the name of it alone had caused the bottom of her stomach to fall out from beneath her. The doctor had went on to tell them more about the disease, explaining to them that the bile ducts inside and outside of Luis' liver had become narrowed due to inflammation and scarring. This had caused bile to accumulate in his liver and resulted in the damage to liver cells in his body. Because it had gone unsymptomatic for long, Luis' liver had entered the beginning states of liver disease, its end result being failure of the organ. There were medicines and procedures available to treat liver disease, but the doctor had presented them with the option of transplantation, something he had further explained would likely occur down the road regardless.
As she stopped in one of her walks across the room, Sheridan looked out of the single window in the room. It seemed that it was never enough for them to just be happy together. Life had thrown them so many obstacles in the years that she and Luis had known in each other. If it wasn't her meddlesome family trying to keep them apart, then it was someone in his own, though Sheridan conceded that only one person from Luis' family had stood in the way of their love. It didn't give her cause for much ease to know that one person was also the one who know held Luis' life in the palm of his hands. Closing her eyes, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to that sad time that seemed ages ago but had been less than ten years.
When Antonio had found out the truth concerning her relationship with Luis, he had been crushed. It was easy for her to feel the emotions that he had at the time because she remembered how love had wronged her so many times in her past. But it had come to a point when she was nearly five months pregnant, knowing the man that was her husband wasn't the father of her child, and had needed to set the truth free. So one afternoon after mass, she and Antonio had left for a weekend together at Blue Mountain Resort. She had worried the whole time about how to tell him the news without angering him only to come to the conclusion that it couldn't be done. Finally, after two days of avoiding his advances and romantic gestures, Sheridan had sat Antonio down and begun to tell him the truth.
She could still remember the blank look in his eyes as she told him about her history with Luis, about how they had met and how they had gotten to know each other. He had immediately questioned her on why she hadn't told him before, why she had kept it from him for so long. And instead of trying to explain the past months of lies and deceit, she had instead told him that she and his brother had once been lovers. The pain she had felt at that moment was nothing in comparison with his own. He had denied her words; told her that she was lying to him. Sheridan had been quick to tell him everything else, everything about her and Luis being together. Everything about the baby she held inside her womb. She hadn't known what to expect of him as far as reactions, but the one she received was good enough.
Antonio had become a man she had never before seen. He had screamed and raved, calling her names that were best forgotten, saying much of the same of his brother. She had endured because she knew how much it hurt him to know the truth. And only when neighbors of their room had complained of the noise did the manager come up, sparing her from any more of his pain; allowing her own to grow. He had left, telling her that he never wanted to speak to her again. And she had stayed behind, curling herself into a small ball on the bed, large sobs escaping her. How could she be so sad and so happy at the same time?
Sheridan returned from the past, opening her eyes to the present. Yes, that time had been hurtful and though she had thought it would be impossible to move on from the events of that day, she had. Turning, she resumed in her pace across the room. She and Antonio had promptly gotten a divorce after which he had disappeared from town. She knew he had started keeping in touch with his family a year or so after that, but he had held off from speaking with either herself or Luis. To this day, Antonio had not had words with either of them and yet, he was about to become deeply embedded within their lives. Sheridan only hoped that her sins of the past would not come back to mar the present nor her future. Because if ever she needed Antonio's help, it was now.
"You know, you're giving me a headache with all that pacing."
Sheridan stopped pacing to turn and meet the smiling face of her husband. "Luis." She walked to his bedside, moving to sit on the chair that sat close by when he motioned her towards him. Gently, she eased her way into bed with him. Instantly, his arms were around her; holding her; protecting her. Tears sprang to her eyes. She was the one that needed to be strong for him, not the other way around. And yet, through everything, he had been protecting her, holding her hand, offering her assurances that everything would be okay. She was lucky to have this man in her life; no one needed to tell her that. And the simple thought of losing him... Sheridan gathered her emotions before turning her face towards his. "How long have you been awake?" she asked him softly.
"Long enough to know that you're worried." Luis looked solemnly into her eyes. "Don't be Sheridan. You know the doctor has me on all these medications. They're doing the procedure to try and lighten the load on my body this afternoon. And even if he doesn't show--"
"He will," she insisted.
Luis gave her a look. "Even if Antonio doesn't show, Miguel is still a viable donor."
"But not as viable as Antonio." She raised herself on her elbow, looking down at him. "You heard the doctor Luis. Because Antonio is older, his size and weight more similar to yours, he stands as a better donor than Miguel does. And honestly, I don't want us to risk anything on this procedure. Antonio has to be here. And he will be," she quickly added. "So please, stop trying to make me sick with worry."
Luis laughed. "You're doing a good enough job of that on your own, Sheridan." He pulled her down, her head resting against his shoulder. "I'm glad you're here with me," he spoke quietly. "I don't know if I could do this on my own."
Confused, Sheridan tried to lever herself up again only to be stopped as Luis' arm banded tightly against her body, keeping her locked to his side. "What do you mean Luis? Where else would I be except by your side? I'm your wife."
"I know." And he loved her for it. Through everything he and Sheridan had been through in their time together, from the very beginning, it had been a struggle. He could still remember the times he had thought he would never see her again; never experience the warmth her smile brought to his heart; never feel her in his arms one more time. Those had been some of the most trying times in his life. He had never before met a woman that made him feel so complete and the thought of not having her in his life left a large empty space inside of him, one he had tried many times to fill but had never succeeded in doing so.
When Sheridan had come back with Antonio in tow, Luis had felt his desperation grow. Here, the woman he loved, was alive and well...and with is older brother. Just the thought of the two of them together was enough to make him nauseous yet he'd had no choice but to endure the sight of them with each other for the sake of sparing Antonio an early death. Those months had been so hard for him. The few times he and Sheridan had managed to escape Antonio and the eyes of their family to be together had been the only thing keeping him sane. And after Antonio had awoken from the coma and the prospect of him and Sheridan being together forever had become more of a reality, Luis had been ready to throw all caution to the wind and claim her for his own.
But that hadn't been necessary, he thought with a wry smile. Only weeks later, Sheridan had found out she was pregnant. From the moment she had spoken the words, Luis had know the baby she carried was his even as his brother made the same claim. But Luis had known. And with that spark of life, another thing had become clear to him. No matter who tried to keep them apart, no matter what obstacles life threw at them, he and Sheridan could survive it all. They had then and they would now. He closed his eyes, saying a silent prayer of thanks to God. There was no way he could ever repay the Almighty for bringing Sheridan into his life. But each day, he said a prayer of thanks and gratitude and today was no different.
"What are you thinking Luis?" Sheridan asked after the elongated silence.
"I'm just thinking what a lucky man I am." Luis turned his head to look at his wife. "And that no matter what we go through, we will always be together Sheridan. God has blessed our love and he wouldn't take that away from us. He couldn't."
"I know Luis," she whispered with a belief that grew deep within her soul. "And you will make it through this. I know that you will."
He nodded. "I'm going to fight this thing, Sher. With everything in me, I'm going to fight. Because I just...I just can't loose you. You are my life Sheridan. I love you."
And no more words were needed as the two lay in each others arms, content to be together as they waited for the man that would save both of their lives.
- - - - - - - - - -
Beth wanted to pull her hair out but settled with chewing on the nail of her right thumb. It had been almost four hours since she and the boys had seen Antonio off at the airport. Both Caleb and Haden had been gloomy from the moment they had awoken, knowing that their father would be leaving them for an unknown length of time. Haden had spent most of the morning between fits of tears and bouts of pouting. Caleb, ever the more suttle brother, had simply stopped talking. He didn't speak to his brother, he didn't speak to Beth, and he hadn't even looked in his father's direction. But all that had changed when the four of them had arrived at the airport and the time had come to say goodbye.
What had been a sad morning became an even sadder send off. Beth shuddered as she remembered Haden's days as a two-year old and it had seemed that those times had somehow returned as the little boy cried, and cried, and cried some more over the departure of his daddy. Caleb, even though he hated to show weakness, couldn't help but let a few tears of his own slip. They had both begged Antonio to stay, but as calm as ever he had told them that his brother needed him and that he had to go help him. But I'll be back, Antonio had told the boys, both encased within his arms in a tight hug. I promise. Beth scoffed, pulling her thumb from her mouth. As far as she was concerned, promises were meant to be broken and his wasn't any less likely to be kept given his last passionate words to his family.
Now, as time neared for him to arrive in Harmony, Beth became more worried by all she had to lose. Could she trust that Antonio would keep silent about their secret? Or would everything come out when he returned home to his family? Just thinking about it was driving Beth crazy, a place she definitely didn't want to be. Trying to take all her thoughts off Antonio and Harmony, Beth picked up her notebook, making her way from the small office she inhabited in Open Arms to the meeting room where they were to discuss new ideas on programs for the children that frequented one of Seattle's area crisis centers.
Going back to school and finishing her college degree had been more of a necessity than a choice. After she had left her seaside home and everyone there behind, she'd had no choice but to find a way to support herself. What little she did have in savings was barely enough to cover her basic necessities for the first few months outside of the only place she had ever lived. And Chicago wasn't a cheap place to call home either. Beth smile wistfully as she remembered the few years she spent in Illinois. She couldn't remember why she had chosen Chicago, only that it had seemed like a place she could start over anew without anyone linking her to her past.
And that had been the case, at least for a little while she thought wryly. Leave it to her to pick the one city where a Lopez-Fitzgerald roamed. She had been shocked to lookup one day and find Antonio staring at her from across a crowded downtown cafe. She had been studying for an exam and he there to see a friend. If their schedules had been off by minutes alone, she could have avoided him completely. But he had spotted her, begged away from his companion, and come over to play havoc in her life. Beth had wanted nothing more than to disappear into the ground below her as he had walked across the room towards her table. And then, she had remembered her physical condition.
She had tried desperately to grab the coat slung over the back of any empty chair in order to hide her current state but it had been all in waste. Antonio had stood over her, his eyes wide in shock as he uttered his greeting of "You're pregnant". Beth could feel her cheeks suffuse with heat at the memory, much as they had at the time of the event. She had sputtered, coughed, tried to do anything and everything to get his attention off her protruding, seven-month round belly and onto something else, anything else, but that hadn't worked either. And wasn't that just the end all? There she had been sitting, minding her own business, when trouble decided to walk back into her life in the form of one of the last people she needed to see. Antonio's next words as he had slumped into the third empty chair present had been, "It's Luis', isn't it?" and by that point, Beth had simply wanted to die.
She remembered how she had haughtily stuck her nose in the air, telling him to mind his own business before returning to the psychology book in hand. And as much as she had tried to ignore him, tried to pretend he wasn't sitting not three feet away from her, it had been impossible to do. Finally she had broken down and told him that the father of her baby could be him for all she knew, throwing that one drunken night of sex in his face. But instead of getting angry and leaving as she thought he would, Antonio had simply laughed at the words, telling her that he was pretty sure nothing much had happened during their one and only sexual escapade. Beth had known different but for the sake of civility, had kept her mouth tightly shut. But it was too late. Antonio had already put two and two together to make baby, which he concluded, belonged to his brother. And what proof did she have to deny him? As far as she was concerned, Luis was her baby's father. So she hadn't said anything, just taken her eyes off him and tried to concentrate on the information in her book. She had hoped he would then take the hint and just forget about her only he hadn't.
Which now brought her back to the bind she was in. Returning from that time, Beth gave a greeting to Diane Barkley, one of the many counselors that worked with Open Arms, as she made her way into the meeting room. Robert Sysco and Karen Reed, two other counselors, were already present and discussing something quietly. Beth took an empty seat at the table, waiting for the rest of the counselors present as well as the center's director, Jim Quinn, to arrive. Open Arms had been one of the first places she had applied to become a part-time counselor upon moving to the area. And though she had taken a job with another organization at first, something had always drawn her back here. She supposed it was the fact that Open Arms primarily served children in the area by providing them with after-school and weekend activities to keep them out of trouble. After Beth had come on board, she had thrown herself head first into helping as many kids as she could. And even after four years, she could say that her job was still rewarding and challenging to her. She loved it here and could never imagine herself doing anything else.
"Morning everyone, or afternoon I guess," Jim Quinn spoke as he barreled into the room straight to his chair. He waited for a few stranglers to come in before beginning the meeting.
Devoting her full attention to what was going on, Beth tried not to let the past play havoc in her mind. Hopefully, everything would turn out fine. Antonio would do what he had to do and return home without anyone being the wiser of her or the boys. But as her attention drifted more fully to the meeting, a lingering voice told her that things wouldn't be that easy. They never were.
- - - - - - - - - -
Antonio walked down the busy hall of Harmony Hospital. Thoughts of the last time he had been here invaded his mind, but he quickly pushed them aside. Finally seeing the nurses station of the fourth floor, he walked up to a woman, a nurse named Lily, and told her his situation. She smiled and offered to show him to his brother's room. 'Everyone's been awaiting your arrival,' she spoke in an all too cheery tone. He begged off. "Aren't I supposed to get some tests done or something?" In all truth, he had only spoken with Theresa one other time about his trip to Harmony and that conversation had given him little insight as to how everything would play out once he arrived. He was sure he would have to go through some kind of medical testing, if for nothing else but to see if he was a viable candidate to donate his liver. Half of his liver, Antonio corrected himself. Beyond that, he didn't know what would go on.
The nurse told him to take a seat and she would call the doctor in charge of his brother's case. Doing just that, Antonio waited. And waited. And waited some more. Finally getting restless, he stood up to go find Lily or anyone else for that matter when he turned and was met with a pair of familiar blue eyes. His heart gave a quick stutter before returning to normal working order. He almost turned and walked away when he thought better of it. At least eight years separated that time and now and though he had yet to deal with much of the anger that surrounded it, he also understood that by coming, he would be faced with seeing these people again. Taking a step forward, he quietly greeted the woman before him. "Hello Sheridan." Expecting a return of his acknowledgment at the least, Antonio was surprised when instead she launched herself at his chest, his arms instantly going up to surround her. The soft sounds coming from her were unmistakable. She was crying.
Not knowing what to do, he held her. His arms tightened around the woman he had loved all those years ago; the woman that had once been his wife. Without thought, he began to comfort her. This woman who had been his anchor. This woman whom he had placed all his trust into. This woman who had betrayed him. With that last thought settling in and taking root in his mind, Antonio slowly disentangled his body from hers. Holding her away, he looked down into her tear-streaked face. Her beauty gave him pause and he couldn't help but smile, something unidentifiable turning in his chest. He didn't allow his mind to linger too long on that. "I'll take it that you're glad to see me," he spoke with a wry humor, his mouth twisting just so. He watched as she blinked, as if words escaped her, before breaking out into a wide smile.
"I... I didn't... I mean I thought..." Sheridan stopped to take a breath. Antonio hadn't changed much from the last time she had seen him. His hair was a little longer, just brushing the ends of his shirt collar. And his eyes. Those orbs that she had first fallen in love with... A soft gasp escaped her lips at that. Finally, she comprehended how her greeting must have looked to him, just how inappropriate it had been. Even now, they were still holding onto one another. Quickly, she broke free of his grasp, wrapping her arms around her to ward of the instant chill that had come. Looking away to a poster on the wall, she spoke, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Her eyes glanced over to see him shove his hands in his trouser pockets, his face covered by a blank stare. "I just didn't think you would come."
Antonio really looked at her and only then saw the haggard, worn look she wore. Her usually vibrant skin looked dull and pale. There were dark shadows beneath her eyes, indicative of a lack of sleep. Or a lot of worry in this case. And her hair, in the same short cut it had been years ago, was pulled back from her face into a neat bun instead of one of her perfectly designed styles. "Why don't we have a seat?" he said, pointing to the group of chairs just behind him. When they were both seated, a chair separating them, Antonio now found himself at a loss of words. Then going back to the last thing she had said he asked her, "Why didn't you think I would come?" Though in truth, he already knew the answer. She gave him a confused look then, as if to question that he would forget her lies, his brother's betrayal, his family's compliance. He waved a hand in the hair, dismissing his own words. "Never mind that," he spoke quietly. "I'm here now. So, what do I do?"
Sheridan blinked, at some measure thankful she had been spared of dragging up those memories. "Well, Luis was just taken to do a procedure to relieve some of the stress his liver has endured. The doctors wanted to be sure that he could sustain himself if a donor wasn't immediately available. But now that you're here..." She let her words trail off, a smile coming to her face. Luis would be all right. Now, more than ever, Sheridan was certain of that. "I'll call doctors MacGraw and Dayton and we can start...this," she finished with her hands raised.
"That sounds like a plan," Antonio spoke. He stood then, waiting for her to do the same. "I have to make a call but I'll shouldn't be that far off. I'll just wait for the doctor to get here."
"Sure, that's fine." Sheridan turned in her hurry to begin in saving Luis' life when she stopped. Turning back, she called out to Antonio. He looked back towards her and she spoke the simple words of, "Thank you." He only smiled before continuing in his steps down the hall and out of sight. Sheridan turned towards the nurses station. Everything would be all right.
- - - - - - - - -
Preview:
Beth returns to Harmony,
Sheridan confronts an old foe,
and the surgery begins in
"Reconnections - Chapter Three - ...Home Sweet Home"