Hey all, I'll keep this short and sweet. I don't own SM. There, I said it.

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Wounded Souls

Chapter 1-Serena

By: crystal rose

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*Ding dong*

"I'm coming!" Molly cried, the apron of her housekeeping uniform fluttering as she dashed through the Shields mansion in a mad attempt to answer the door. 'Isn't answering the door Melvin's job? Oh yeah, it's his day off today. Damn.'

*Ding dong*

"Alright already! Hold your horses!" Reaching the heavy wooden double doors, Molly swung them open and peered outside. "Yes, may I help you?"

A girl with blonde hair arranged in a messy bun stared right back at her with huge blue eyes. Molly noted the numerous pieces of luggage that littered the front walk and the taxicab that was backing out of the long driveway. The girl smiled sheepishly as she saw Molly gazing in wonder at all her baggage.

"Uh hi. My name's Serena Mathis. Sorry about all the bags but I didn't know how long I would be out here. If you could just point me to my room, I'll be happy to carry my bags up," the 5'2" waif told a stunned Molly.

'Is she another one of Mr. Shields' girlfriends? Funny, she doesn't look his type. Maybe he's finally settling down.'

"Excuse me, miss? I do have the right address, right? This _is_ the Shields' mansion, right?" Serena asked worriedly. "Because if it isn't, I'll just call another cab and be on my way-"

Molly suddenly found her voice. "No-no, don't do that! I mean, you're right, this is the Shields' mansion. I'm sorry but I didn't know that Mr. Shields' girlfriend was moving in today or I would have made preparations..."

It was Serena's turn to be stunned. "Girlfriend? Oh God, no! I'm Mr. Shields' physical trainer from Canada! I spoke to Dr. Anderson about his condition last week and she told me that Mr. Darien Shields specifically asked that I work on his father's rehabilitation program. She said that they would provide me with a room in their house, but if that's not the case, I'll just find a hotel until I can move into an apartment or something..."

"Don't be silly Ms. Mathis! I just wasn't aware of the situation, is all. Why don't we take your luggage inside and you can wait for Mrs. Shields to come and explain to her your situation yourself?" Molly asked as she started bringing in Serena' s bags.

"Well, I don't want to bother Mrs. Shields if she's busy..." Serena faltered. Already, Molly had brought in the last of her bags and they stood in the grand foyer of the huge mansion. "I don't want to be a to be a bother, especially at this time."

"Molly, who was at the door?" a silver-haired lady asked as she emerged from the sitting room door. She frowned at the unfamiliar blonde looking nervously back at her. 'Must be another one of my son's women. When will he learn that the right woman is just around the corner and not in every bar or nightclub that he frequents?'

"Good morning, ma'am. This is Ms. Serena Mathis, Mr. Shields' new physical trainer. I'm really sorry but I wasn't aware that she would be staying here, otherwise I would have fixed a room for her," apologized Molly.

Candace Shields smiled. 'So she's not one of Darien's floozies after all.' She made her way to the two women awaiting her verdict. "Don't worry, Molly dear, I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding. Hello Ms. Mathis, I'm Candace Shields. Welcome to my home. Please forgive us for the lack of welcome we gave you. Molly, please prepare the "Yellow Room" for our guest."

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Shields, but please, call me Serena. I'm really sorry for the mix-up and for not calling before I arrived but I had so many things to take care of before I left that I just couldn't find the time," said Serena, eyeing Molly as she ascended the stairs like a seasoned mountain climber with one of her suitcases. "I should really help her with those. Some of them are really heavy."

"Nonsense. She can just ask another housekeeper to help her with the more heavy bags. Have you eaten, dear? I can imagine how uncomfortable you must feel after your, what, five hour flight?" Candace said, putting an arm around Serena and leading her to the breakfast room. "By the way, if we're to be friends, please call me Candace."

"Thank you Mrs...Candace. But please, don't go to any trouble on my account. I had some food on the plane and the ride here wasn't all that uncomfortable," Serena said as Candace was seating her in a chair and piling a plate with some eggs and bacon.

"Eat up, dear. No need to be shy around me; I know how traveling cross-country can knock the wind out of a person's sails," she said.

Serena smiled genuinely. Already she was beginning to like Candace Shields and could easily see that she did not like to take no for an answer. "Thank you Mrs. Shields. Now that you mention it, I _am_ kind of hungry."

"Candace, my dear, call me Candace."

"I'm sorry Candace. It's just that my mother always taught me never to address grown-ups by their first names and it's just a hard habit to break," Serena blushed. "What I mean is, she told me never to call my elders by their first names-not that you're my elder; well you are older than me, but you're certainly not an _elder_ in the biblical sense. I mean..." Serena stammered nervously.

Candace laughed at the young woman's antics. "Relax Serena. I may look old, but that doesn't mean my sense of humour has gone downhill right along with me. Besides, aren't you a 'grown-up' yourself?"

Serena grinned lopsidedly and shook her head vehemently. "My friend Raye back in Toronto says that I'll never grow up and I have no intention of doing so. Being a grown-up just seems so wrong when I feel like I'm only sixteen."

"Well good for you, Serena. That kind of attitude will get you through life's hurdles and keep you looking as young as I am. Personally, I'm not a day over fifteen myself." The two women laughed but stopped when they heard a throat clearing in the room.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Shields, Ms. Mathis? The room is ready," said Molly.

"Lead the way, Molly dear," Candace said.

"Molly, why don't you just call me Serena? Ms. Mathis makes me sound so old," said Serena. Molly turned to her employer, silently asking permission to do so. Mrs. Shields nodded her head almost imperceptibly.

"Alright...Serena. Please come this way." Molly led the women up to Serena's room. Upon seeing it, Serena gasped with delight.

"Candace! This room is bigger than my loft in Toronto. You really shouldn't have! Surely you made a mistake or something?"

The room was decorated in the French Provencale style, with the walls painted a creamy buttery yellow and French doors leading to a small balcony overlooking the English rose garden below. There was a huge four-poster bed with big, fluffy pillows and a lacy coverlet on top of the yellow duvet. A comfortable looking sitting area was arranged in front of the fireplace, which looked like it had come from 18th century France all the way to twenty-first century Los Angeles. Rugs decorated the hardwood floor and rustic vases holding beautiful white tulips and roses were spread throughout the room. Serena's bags were piled neatly beside white louvered doors, no doubt the closet.

"We'll let you get unpacked, dear, and then you can meet my husband Walter. If you need anything, just dial 2 on the phone to speak to any of the staff. Your room extension is 6. Don't worry, there's a directory beside the phone if you need to call another room. Dial 9 for an outside number," said Candace on her way out the room, thoroughly enjoying Serena's stunned look.

Serena looked around the room, her gaze falling on an antique armoire. Curiosity getting the better of her, she opened the doors to find a 21" TV and stereo system housed within. She closed the doors and turned around, looking this time at another door on the other side of her room. Crossing the expanse, she opened the mysterious door to a full ensuite bath, complete with a claw-footed white bathtub and marble shower, big enough for two people. Shaking her head at her new living arrangements, she walked back to her suitcases and started unpacking.

~**********************~

An hour later, Serena headed back downstairs in search of Mrs. Shields. Turning round the corner, she felt herself bump into something soft. "Oh hello again, Molly. Could you please tell me where I could find Candace?"

"Sure Serena. Mrs. Shields is in the library with Mr. Shields. Here, I'll take you," offered Molly, her prior engagement in the laundry room forgotten for the time being. 'This girl's really nice. Nicer than the other houseguests Mr. Shields has brought home.'

"Thanks Molly."

Pretty soon, Molly and Serena found themselves at the impressive library filled to the brim with leather bound books and numerous works of art, including an oil portrait of the Shields family above the fireplace mantel. Serena identified a younger version of Candace, who had blonde hair at the time the portrait was painted, and a man she guessed was Walter Shields. The little boy with black hair and deep blue eyes would have to be none other than Darien Shields, many years younger. She saw Mr. and Mrs. Shields sitting on the couch, and signaled to Molly that she was now fine on her own.

"Excuse me, Candace? Is this a good time to meet Mr. Shields?" Serena asked when Molly had left the room.

Candace rose from her seat on the couch and motioned for Serena to come closer. "Of course, dear. Come and meet my husband Walter. Honey, this is Serena Mathis, your new physical trainer."

Serena smiled warmly and bent down in front of Walter so that they were eye to eye. Extending her hand, which he shakily took, she said, "it's a pleasure to meet you Walter. As Candace said, my name is Serena. We're going to be working together to make sure that you get back to your old form, okay?"

"I dddon't ne-need-uh any h-he-help, Msss. Mat-Ma-Mathis," Walter slurred. It was clear to Serena that Walter was very much the independent type before the stroke and would now try to assert that independence on her.

Serena smiled understandingly. "Everybody needs help once in a while, Mr. Shields. It's not a weakness to ask for it, or even need it."

Walter Shields was not taken by Serena's charming smile or her gentle attitude. To him, Serena's behaviour was just an act to placate him into accepting the fact that he was no longer the man he used to be. Before this damned stroke, he ruled the most powerful investment firm in the country, dammit! He shouldn't have to be treated like some infant child by a slip of a girl who looked barely out of childhood herself. "L-lee-vuh mee alonuh. I d-don'tuh needuh your h-helpuh," Walter annunciated each word slowly, in order to prevent himself from slurring his speech, to prove his point.

Once again, Serena smiled. "Of course, Mr. Shields but you can't get rid of me that easily. Tomorrow we start our exercises, okay?"

Walter grunted derisively in response and turned his head, indicating that he was finished with the conversation. Serena nodded her head to herself and stood up. She walked back to Candace who had been observing the interaction between Serena and her stubborn husband.

"Well Serena, what do you think you can do for him?"

"Your husband is luckier than other stroke victims I've seen. At least he can still communicate and he still has control of his motor skills, even if they are a bit shaky. Don't worry, Candace. I've worked with people like him before; proud, self-sufficient types who would rather die than ask for help. My style of treatment is to help them without them knowing it. Sure, I use the tried-and-true methods like working in the gym once in a while, but most of the time, I take my patients on short walks, paint pictures with them, and get them to help me with simple tasks. Eventually, their muscles get used to the activity plus their brains start to mend their destroyed pathways as they start to relearn what it is they've forgotten. I can't promise that you'll have the same man you had before the stroke, but I can promise you that your husband will be able to regain some of his independence back," she summarized in her most authoritative manner.

Candace was impressed with how Serena was able to shift gears so quickly and adapt to any situation when the need called for it. "That's all I can ask for, dear."

Glancing at her watch, Serena said, "if you don't need me for anything else Candace, I have an appointment downtown and with traffic..."

"Say no more. I'll have the chauffeur come up to the front-"

"That's quite alright Candace. You've already outdone yourself enough for me. I'll just call a cab before I wash up. Besides, if I'm going to live here, I may as well learn how to get around the city by myself, right?" Serena reasoned.

"Well, if you're sure..."

"I'm sure. I'll just call the cab now and head back upstairs to freshen up," Serena said firmly as she dialed the phone number for a taxi.

"Okay dear. Dinner will be at six o'clock when my son comes home from work. His room is right beside yours, by the way, if you ever need anything," Candace replied.

"I'm sure whatever I'll need will already be in my room, but thanks. I'll be back before six though; my appointment's only an hour long," she said before turning back to the phone in her hand and speaking to the taxi dispatcher. When she was done, she walked upstairs and locked the washroom door behind her. Turning on the faucet, she began to wash her hands.

As she began to rinse her hands under the hot water, her mind began to wander back to her days in high school. 'Why can't I forget that time? It's been years since you were that girl, Serena. You're in a new place-nothing can hurt you if you don't let it.'

Her thought were interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Serena? It's Molly. Your cab is downstairs."

Serena stared at her raw, red hands. It was only upon hearing Molly's voice did she realize that she had been washing her hands for almost fifteen minutes. Shutting off the water, she dried her hands on the towel beside her. "Thanks, Molly. I'm coming."

~***********************~

Serena sat nervously on the waiting room couch. There were two other people waiting with her, silently reading their magazines. 'Hah, too bad. I'm next.'

As she was silently gloating over her status as next in line for the doctor's attention, she noticed that the receptionist picked up the phone on her desk and speak a few soft words into it.

"Ms. Mathis? The doctor is ready to see you now."

Serena nodded and entered the room nervously. She was always a little nervous about meeting new people. She saw a young man-probably not much older than herself- sitting behind a heavy mahogany desk. He rose from his seat, his green eyes twinkling and shook her hand.

"What can I do for you today, Ms. Mathis?"

"Well, for starters, my therapist back in Toronto, Dr. Mina Maxwell, referred you to me when I told her that I had to move..."

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About two hours later, Serena found herself back at the Shields mansion. 'There's no way I could ever call this a house. Their garage is the size of my mother's house. There's no other word for this place other than _manor_.' She yawned hugely. 'Maybe I should go and sleep off this jet lag until dinner.' Catching Molly dusting in the foyer, Serena let her know that she was back and asked her to give her a call when it was time for dinner.

An hour and a half later, Serena woke up to the phone on the nightstand ringing shrilly in her ear. "Um, hello?" she asked groggily, blinking sleepily.

"Serena, I'm sorry to wake you, but you asked me to call you when dinner was ready. If you like, I could have it sent up to you," Molly's voice stated over the line.

Serena woke up in an instant. "That's okay Moll, I'll be right there." She hung up the phone before Molly could say another word.

Serena changed out of her rumpled sweat pants and T-shirt ensemble and into a pair of black pants and a white button-down top that hugged her figure without being too revealing. 'That should do. I don't know whether they wear evening gowns and tuxedos before they eat for dinner so I guess that's just tough luck on all of us-especially me- if they do.'

Shaking her head wryly, Serena started down the hallway and down the winding staircase. She had been walking along the numerous corridors, admiring the beautiful décor, when she suddenly realized she had no idea where she was going. Making random turns, hoping to run into someone, Serena walked through a heavy oak door and was astonished to find not the dining room as she had hoped, but an indoor swimming pool, complete with change rooms for men and women and a patio set and a fully stocked bar.

"May I help you?" a voice behind her asked. Serena turned around slowly and was surprised to find a man with jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes staring in amusement at her.

"You're the little boy in the painting!" she cried, immediately slapping her forehead at her stupidity. The man looked at her in amusement, laughter in his eyes.

"Painting? Oh you must mean the painting in the library. Yes, that was me back when I was just eight years old. My name's Darien Shields, what's yours?"

"Serena Mathis, your father's new physical trainer. Nice to meet you," she replied, taking his offered hand. She blushed as he held her hand for a second longer than was necessary before gently releasing it. "Molly called me down for dinner, but stupid me, I hung up the phone before she could tell me where the dining room was."

Darien chuckled, his eyes taking in her blushing form. 'She's beautiful.' He immediately felt a tightening in his black swim trucks. "Why don't you wait for me here while I change and we could head down to the dining room together?"

For the first time, Serena was aware of the fact that Darien was donned in swim trunks and nothing else. She giggled, her voice echoing off the tiles in the cavernous room. The sound was amplified it until it sounded like a thousand fairies laughing. Darien was enchanted instantly.

"What's so funny, Serena?"

"I never even noticed that you were just in your swim trunks until you mentioned it, that's all," she said, giggling nervously, taking in his muscular torso and wet hair, slicked back with a few strands falling stubbornly in his eyes. She swallowed, furiously trying to think pure thoughts. "Alright, I'll wait here until you get changed, but hurry up; I've been walking around your house for the past ten minutes getting hungrier by the second. Don't ask me what happened to the last guy that kept me waiting for my dinner," she teased.

Darien laughed, sending chills down Serena's spine. 'Relax Serena. Don't get taken in by him. Sure he's a pretty face, but he's probably just like the rest of them.'

"Okay Serena, I'll only take a few minutes. Be right back," he said, disappearing through the men's change room door. 'I wonder what it'll feel like to have her in my bed?' At this thought, he felt himself getting harder and fought to regain control. When he could no longer fight it, he jumped into the shower, blasted the cold water and stroked himself to release.

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End Chapter One. Come back soon for the next chapter and don't forget to review this one!

May 27, 2002