Rain On Me
Chapter Nine
"Luis! Oh God, Luis! LUIS!"
She was suddenly jerked sideways as a strong hand clamped around her upper arm, its short nails digging into her skin. Fighting as best she could, she clawed at the intruder, although it did no good. The man yanked her toward him again, this time causing Luis' motionless body to go crashing to the floor. She cried out, now in hysterics, as the hollow sound seemed to echo around the small room.
Needing to get to him, to make sure he was okay, Sheridan raised a pair of defiant blue eyes to those of the man she'd once called her husband. The satisfied smirk that spread across his lips when he saw her standing there, covered in her lovers blood, infuriated her to no end.
"You bastard!" Sheridan swore, shoving him away. With determined strides, she hurried over to the other side of the bed, where Luis lay, unmoving. Blood poured from the wound on his back and as she gently moved his body, a sob escaped her when she found the second bullet hole. Grabbing the closest bundle of fabric she could find, she gently applied pressure to both wounds.
"Don't you dare die on me, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. Do you hear me? Not now, not when we're so close," She leaned over to press a kiss to his pale lips. "I love you. Please just hold on."
"I hope you're saying your goodbyes," Tyler chuckled as he came around to the other side of the bed. "Doesn't look like he's going to make it."
Sheridan didn't respond, not willing to give him that satisfaction. Instead she leaned over to where Luis' pants had landed earlier and thankfully retrieved his cell phone from the pocket.
"Ah, I wouldn't do that if I were you," He laughed again, pointing the gun toward her. "Unless you want to end up like him."
Ignoring him, she began dialing emergency when her hand was immobilized by his larger and stronger one. He took the phone, smashed it and clicked his tongue in disapproval.
"Not a smart move, Blondie."
"Let go of me," Sheridan haughtily demanded a moment later when he firmly held both her wrists.
"No can do. I'm afraid it's time for us to get going."
"I'm not going anywhere with you! Let go of me, dammit, I have to save him!"
Fighting against his hold, no matter how much she tried, was futile and there was nothing she could do but scream and cry for someone to save them as he began dragging her towards the door.
Down the hall he forced her and then into the kitchen. When she momentarily broke one hand free and reached for a knife that sat in the drainer on the counter, he slapped her so hard it seemed to make her head spin.
Her energy fading fast, Sheridan was about to give up as they reached the back door when she heard the most glorious sound.
"Let her go."
The look of shock on Tyler's face as he turned was nearly comical, as his eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped to the floor. Relief swept over Sheridan as she lifted her gaze to Luis', as pale and shaky as he was, and she said a silent prayer of thanks.
Taking his aim, Luis made his demand again. "Let her go."
"I don't think so," Tyler finally spoke, moving so he held Sheridan by the throat, his gun to her neck and her eyes widened in fear. "You take another step, she and your half-breed brat are as good as dead."
"You'll be dead before you even get the chance," Luis warned, his finger dancing lightly on the trigger. "I don't play games where my family is concerned."
"You wouldn't kill your dear big brother then, now would you?"
"No, I wouldn't," He paused, raising the gun. "But since you're not my brother, that really doesn't apply here."
With that, the loud noise of a shot being fired bounced off the walls of the kitchen and Sheridan darted to safety as Tyler's hold slipped. He groaned in pain, clutching the left side of his head where Luis' shot had grazed him just enough to give him the upper hand.
On unsteady feet, he made his way over to Tyler and pulled out the set of handcuffs he'd found with his gun. Once he was properly taken care of, Sheridan flew into Luis' arms, her tears running down his bare chest.
"Oh God, I thought I'd lost you! I don't know what I would've done if I'd -"
"Shh," Luis shushed her. "I'll be all right. It's going to take a lot more than a few lousy shots to take me away from you."
Touching his cheek, she kissed his lips briefly. "We need to get you to the hospital."
"I'm all right -"
"Don't argue with me," Sheridan put her foot down. "You sit, I'll call an ambulance."
"Think again, daughter dear," The sinister voice of Alistair Crane cut in from the doorway, causing them both to whirl around. A gasp escaped Sheridan as Luis swayed and then tightened his grasp on her.
"Father."
"I've tried reasoning with you," Alistair continued, a murderous glint in his cold eyes. "But you refuse to listen, Sheridan. Now I'm afraid your refusal to cooperate is going to cost your low-life lover his life."
"No!" Sheridan cried out as her father removed a shiny pistol from his pocket and raised it level to Luis' chest. She frantically pushed against him, but his hold kept her at bay, out of harms way and his gaze remained on the Crane patriarch.
"Take your best shot, Crane," Luis spoke low, dangerously, and his words elicited a loud scream from the woman behind him.
"No! I won't let you, dammit!" She sobbed, desperately fighting against Luis' hold on her, though to no avail. Even in his weakened state, his determination to keep her and their child safe was too strong.
"I've been waiting a long time for this," Alistair chuckled, releasing the guns safety. "Much too long. Do say hello to you father for me, won't you?"
The harsh sound of his laughter burned Sheridan's ears and she stumbled back into the island counter, which she grabbed to keep from falling. As she did, her hand curled around a piece of cool metal and she picked it up without hesitation. In a split second, two shots were fired, one lodging in the ceiling above them, the other just inches from her father's stone-cold heart.
Turning abruptly to find Sheridan standing with his gun in her hands as she shook uncontrollably, Luis carefully removed the weapon from her grasp and pulled her into his arms. The tears began spilling out as she clung to him, a mixture of disbelief and relief coursing through them both.
An hour and a half later, Sheridan paced the waiting room of Harmony Hospital as they awaited word on Luis' condition. He had collapsed shortly after the confrontation with her father and had lost consciousness on the way to the hospital, increasing her worry tenfold. He was still in surgery to remove the bullets and repair the damage done and though the doctors sounded optimistic, she wouldn't be convinced until she saw him for herself.
As for the other two men, the imposter was alive and well, currently under heavy police supervision around the corner. Alistair on the other hand, wasn't quite as lucky.
The single shot was dangerously close to his heart and the doctors hadn't sounded very confident in his chance of recovery. Sheridan felt oddly at peace with that news, knowing that he would never be able to hurt her, Luis, or their family ever again. The fact that she'd been the one to bring him to his end seemed to be some sort of strange poetic justice for her. She felt free. Any remorse that tried to creep its way in was quickly squashed by the memory of how close he came to taking Luis away form her for good. She had lived without her father's love her entire life, but she couldn't survive without Luis'.
"Mija, maybe you should sit down," Pilar's concerned voice cut in and she turned to find the woman watching her with worry lines creasing her forehead.
"I can't... I.. he has to be okay, Pilar! I need him. We need him," She amended, placing a hand protectively over her stomach.
Pilar reached out for her other hand. "My son is much too stubborn to leave you and that baby now, Mija. You'll see, he'll pull through."
"He has too. I don't know what I'd do without him," She sniffled, willingly accepting the warm embrace the older woman offered.
"He will. We'll just all have to keep praying. Perhaps you'd like to join everyone in the chapel?"
Sheridan shook her head. Half the town had arrived at the hospital to lend their support after hearing the news and most had congregated in the chapel to call upon the power of prayer. "No, I have to be here. I need to be here when the doctor comes in."
"Then we'll pray here," Pilar conceded, leading her over to the chairs. Taking her hands, she laced her rosary through both their grasps and quietly began reciting the words in honor of her beloved son. Sheridan raised her eyes to the heavens before exhaling and finally joining her.
Rachel's lips curved into a slight smile when she caught sight of Sheridan and Pilar huddled together, fervently praying for her injured friend. She had no doubt Luis would make it through, especially with so many people pulling for him. He was one of the lucky ones, with a whole network of friends and family who loved him to see him through this. She'd be sure to check in on him a bit later, but for now, she had bigger fish to fry.
Quickly darting around the corner before she could be spotted, she hurried down the maze of halls to the intensive care unit. The door to the room she was searching for was closed and she was relieved to find it unguarded. The last thing she needed was to explain who she was.
Slipping inside, hatred brewed inside her green eyes as she took in the still form of Alistair Crane. Numerous tubes came and went from his body and the heart monitor beeped annoyingly as she approached the bed. Her gaze raked over his features, searching for anything even remotely familiar, but finding nothing. Perhaps that was her resentment, though, preventing her from finding something.
"Bastard," She murmured, the anger obvious in her even tone. "You deserve everything you have coming to you. I hope you rot in hell."
Forcing the tears away, she moved around to the other side, lifting his left hand into her own. The glittering ring on his finger fueled her anger and she ripped it off, clutching it as her tears again threatened to spill forth. Pocketing the ring, she turned to leave, pausing just before she reached the door. Returning her gaze to the man who caused so many people so much pain, she said her final farewell.
"Rest in eternal flames. Father."
Sheridan had resumed her pacing once the nurse had come to inform them that there had been a slight complication in Luis' surgery. Her nerves were beyond shot at this point and the constant moving was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.
Many had tried to comfort her. All of Luis' family, Ethan, Gwen, Fox, even Julian, but none of it did any good. The only thing that would soothe her frazzled mind was seeing Luis and hearing his murmured words of love. Then and only then would she be able to settle down.
"Ooh," She suddenly moaned, her motions coming to an abrupt halt as her hand came to rest on her stomach.
"Sheridan?" Gwen asked as she approached, her hazel eyes full of concern. "Are you okay?"
Managing a weak smile, she nodded. "I'll be fine. As soon as Luis is."
Gwen nodded in understanding, reaching out for her hand. "He will be. You know he would never leave you and the baby."
"Baby," She repeated, wincing slightly as another pain shot through her abdomen.
"Sher?"
"Ow," Sheridan bit out, falling against the wall. Gwen's eyes widened as realization set in.
"Oh my God, Sheridan was that a contr-"
"No!" Sheridan shot back vehemently. "It's just been a long day."
Just as soon as the words left her mouth, she cried out again, this time clutching her stomach.
"Sheridan, I hate to tell you this, but I think you've gone into labor," Gwen spoke up, earning herself an angry glare.
"I have not. I'm not due for another few weeks and besides, there is no way I'm having this baby without Luis."
"I think the baby might have other ideas," Her friend said, glancing down at the small puddle of liquid that had collected under Sheridan.
Sheridan, herself, followed her gaze, her eyes opening in horror as a soft cry escaped her lips.