A/N: 2 to go. Thank you again for reading…

Knocking on Heaven's Door

*Mama put my guns in the ground, I can't shoot them anymore, that long, black cloud is coming down, I feel like I'm knocking on Heaven's Door…*

The door of the silver car opened and the young, blond-haired man stepped out of it onto the dirty street. The part of the city was not of his style. His clothes were too exclusive; his car to expensive and he couldn't be counted to the human scum living in such circumstances.

He would have to be careful.

Watchful eyes had seen the beautiful car and thought about stealing it already. About robbing and maybe even killing him so they could get what they wanted.

~~~~~ 

She thought that he wouldn't be able to find her. Here in such a place. She never thought him clever enough to find the signs she'd tried to hide. She didn't expect love and that his love was strong enough to find a way through the cloudy mist the last six weeks had been. Full of running and hiding, pain and sadness and the only wish to go back in time and change everything.

Maybe, she wanted him to find her without even knowing it.

~~~~~  

A deep intake of breath, a small sigh vanishing in the cloudy sky. Sharp but tired eyes looked around and over the shabby hotel, to the men sitting on the steps playing with their beer cans or baseball bats.

He took the first step over the deserted road. Some lost rays of sunlight fell down between the high buildings and shattered into a thousand golden reflexes on the young man's hair.

For a moment the light blinded his eyes. His view was clouded by bright shades of sunlight and for the split of a second he closed his eyes.

Oh how he wished that he could go home. Fall into bed and sleep for days to get the weak feeling out of his bones. Sleep, until he wouldn't have the lonely feeling inside his heart anymore.

He did not see the door opening of the shabby hotel. Nor did he see the beautiful blond woman, stepping out of it.

Like he, the woman was completely out of place in this part of town.

He heard the voices of the men whom were sitting on the steps. Heard their nasty words and could almost see their reaction behind his closed eyelids. He imagined them touching the woman, the look on her face full of fear and disgust.

Her speech wasn't fearful at all.

"Just keep on touching me if you don't need your hands anymore. It will be my pleasure to cut them off for you!"

Jesse's eyes popped open. He was afraid that he might have dreamt of the voice he was longing to hear for the last six weeks now.

"Shalimar."

It sounded more a whisper to his own ear but apparently Shal had heard him. He saw her head come around nearly in slow motion. Her brown eyes were full of surprise and… happiness that he found her. Or did he just image it?

Hands reached towards her legs but she just kicked out, causing one of the guys to howl with pain. Another one was trying to help his buddy but the yellow eyes glowing with anger told him better not to get involved.

Using the time Shalimar was busy, Jesse stepped closer to the Feral. He had almost reached the steps when Shal faced him.

"Don't Jesse. Leave me alone."

But her voice sounded weak and less than convincing.

"I won't, Shal!"

His hand reached out for her, stopping in midair ready for her to take it.

She lifted her arm, slowly coming closer but in the last moment she hesitated. Her head shook violently, teardrops flying in all directions.

"I can't."

Like the wind she had turned, running away from Jesse. Stunned, he watched her run for a second before he followed her quickly.

His thoughts were racing in his mind.

'What do you think you are doing? Running away from me like this? You really don't think I will let you go now that I found you?'

He would have screamed them out loud but he needed his breath for running.

They ran three blocks. Shal was not really getting away but Jesse couldn't close in like he wished he could, either.

"Dammit, would you stop?"

Jesse called after her heavily out of breath.

"No, leave me Jesse!"

Shal called back breathless herself but she ran still a little faster.

Jesse sped up his pace, coming a little closer again.

"Why are you so fucking scared?"

Shal stopped dead in her tracks at the other side of an intersection. Pale in the face she turned around, facing Jesse.

The blond Mutant had stopped, standing still on the sidewalk around twenty yards away from her.

Children watched them with questions in their eyes and whispers on their lips, simply to keep on playing around Jesse after he wasn't running anymore.

Women shouted through open windows, telling them to leave their children, calling them names or simply to fuck of.

A gang of Teenagers kept on whistling after Shalimar, inviting her loudly to join them and do nasty things.

An old, battered car passed them, honking loudly towards the blond Feral.

The two Mutants didn't care. All they had eyes for was each other. Time stood still and a large hand seemed to shield them from all the noises around them.

Jesse was panting hard; sweat dripped down his forehead but his eyes were focussed on Shalimar's face. Silently he mouthed her name, hoping to keep her from running away.

Shal's brown, water filled eyes found Jesse's. She was seeking for the hope she'd felt when she saw him in front of the hotel. For the love she felt for him and which she wished he would feel, too.

She saw him mouth her name and more tears flowed down her cheeks. She took a step towards the street and Jesse.

From afar a loud engine was heard, slowly moving closer. The two young Mutants wouldn't listen.

Jesse reached out with his hand again, bidding Shal to come to him.

She saw his lips move again, mouth a phrase, three words.

'I love you.'

The large truck came closer, the engine howling under the speed.

Shalimar nodded and took a step. She was on the street now, walking slowly closer.

The children screamed and pointed to Jesse's left. Even the Teenagers attention was drawn to the situation on the street.

Jesse saw the truck out of the corner of his eye. His eyes grew wide in shock.

"Back, go back!"

Barely a whisper.

But Shal had wiped the tears from her eyes this moment so she couldn't see, Jesse realised. He started running again. Adrenaline pumped through his tired body, helping him run faster.

The truck grew bigger and bigger while it drove towards them.

'Just a few more steps… Go back… Look up… Shalimar!'

The engine of the truck howled one last time before the shrill sound from the brakes joined in.

Finally, Shalimar looked up, visibly startled.

Jesse had reached the street. He took all that was left from his strength and jumped, turning solid while he did. He was close, so close. He already felt her hair between his fingers, his arms reached out to grab her and than, all he felt was the impact. And all he heard was a scream so loud like it would come from a thousand voices…

~~~~~  

Shalimar shivered. She was freezing. The shock and the pain rushed like fire through her body. Her arms moved around Jesse to hold him as tight as he held her.

She couldn't help the tears running from her eyes. Neither could Jesse.

He kissed her deeply on her forehead, her lips, licking the salty drops away.

"I got you, you'll be alright…"

She smiled up to him through her tears and the weakness she felt.

"You saved me."

He nodded, his tears falling on her face.

"Stupid girl, why did you run away?"

Her hand moved slowly up to caress his cheek, wiping the tears away with her fingers.

"I was afraid."

"Why?"

She took a deep breath.

"Because I love you, Jesse."

He closed his eyes to clear his view.

"But don't you know that I love you, too?"

She nodded slowly, tired. He eyes slid closed and she leaned into Jesse's shoulder, kissing his neck lightly.

"I do now. And you know what? I will love you as long as I live…no, Forever!"

She took his hand, her body relaxing in Jesse's strong embrace.

He held her still and very tight in his arms, not wanting to let go nor disturb her in her peaceful sleep. His tears covered her golden hair.

"And I will love you as long as I live, Shalimar…"

Tbc