Authors Note: I've still got to thank you guys for your awesome reviews. And lots of rum chocolate for my new readers!

Thanks to Scarlett for beta'ing this. No one makes a better partner in crime. ;)

Note: I do not own Desperado by The Eagles.

El didn't move until he heard a knock on the door. Without saying anything to Sands, but glancing at Cerise, he went back into the room, and over to the door. The girls looked at the door, then back at El, who gave them a reassuring smile. He unlocked the door slowly, opening it a crack.

The man that was standing in the doorway was tall and lean;, an older man, his black hair had grey at the temples and he was wearing black framed glasses. "I guess I have the wrong room," he said.

"Nope, this is where you wanted to be, Father." Sands came from the balcony, grinning. El looked between the two men.

Father Juan smiled and slipped into the room past El. "Sorry it took so long Jeffrey."

Sands shook his head a moment. "No worries, Father."

Father Juan turned to the three girls. "These are the girls, then," he stated, it wasn't a question. He moved over to them, his appearance to the girls was one of kindness, and he smiled warmly as he knelt before them.

"Yep." Sands finished off his cigarette.

The father nodded and looked at the girls. "Are you alright?" he asked them.

Maria nodded. "They helped us." She looked at El and Sands.

"They're good men," Father Juan said with a nod. Sands shifted in his position. Cerise smirked behind him and shook her head. Father Juan spoke softly to the girls and they agreed to go with him, uttering good-byes to the other three. Sands and the priest exchanged a few words by the door, then they left.

"Well, I guess that leaves us all alone again," Sands said, turning from the door.

"So?" El replied in a bored tone.

Sands grinned. "Come as you are, come as you were, as I want you to be. As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy. And I swear, that I don't have a gun, no I don't have a gun." Sands replied, moving past him. El glared at him, trying to make sense of it. Sands stopped by the door to the bathroom, barely turning his head over his shoulder. "Nirvana, El." With that, he went into the bathroom, shutting the door. Cerise shook her head and looked at El. "Nirvana is his favorite band," she explained. El just sort of nodded.

She came back from fetching Sands' stuff from the other room and locked the main door behind her, moving towards the bathroom. She knocked on it lightly. "Sheldon?"

"It's unlocked," he answered. She opened the door and peaked in. Sands was sitting cross-legged on the large counter, in front of the mirror, his face against the cold glass.

"Shelly?"

He didn't move, but answered. "What Red?"

She hesitated a long moment, biting her lip, then asked. "Are you alright?"

He sighed. "I'm tired," he answered.

She went over to the counter and leaned against it in front of him. He unfolded his arms and rested them on her hips. "It's been a long couple of days," she muttered. Sands leaned forward, nuzzling her neck.

"It's made it easier, knowing I have you again," he mumbled in her ear.

Sands had fallen asleep a while ago, but Cerise was having trouble. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking around the dark room. She spotted Sands guitar by the bathroom door and got up, moving over to it. Picking it up, she walked back over to the bed and sat down softly. It had been years for her, since she'd even attempted to play the guitar, but she did play the piano very well. Her mother had required her to learn.

Quietly, she ran her fingers over the strings, finding the right cords, and began strumming softly.

"Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no youger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home .
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone."

She sang softly, unaware that Sands was awake behind her. He smiled slightly and moved slowly in the bed, sliding behind her. She had a beautiful singing voice. Leaning forward, he put his hands over hers. "Wrong cords," he whispered in her ear, kissing it. He slid his fingers under hers and began playing the right keys. She leaned back against him, letting him play. Sands nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent deeply.

After a few moments, he moved the guitar, setting it next to the bed, wrapping his arms around her waist. They sat there for a long silent moment, until Cerise pulled away. She didn't know what made her do it. But she got off the bed, moving over to the window, crying. Sands sighed and got out of bed after her.

"Baby girl..." he spoke softly to her, coming up behind her. "Every time I think I can get ahead of this shit, something like this happens." She choked on the tears.

"What like this has happened before?" he asked, resting a hand on her hip, hesitantly.

"A year ago, HE found me... I went to pick Lily up from her baby sitter, and he was there." Sands sighed. The next person he killed, would be her father, he vowed that now.

She began sobbing and Sands pulled her into his arms, holding her. "I hate this!" she cried.

"Oh... it's not all that bad,." Sands said lightly, offering a weary half smile. She sniffled and Sands stroked her cheek. He felt the tears slipping down her cheeks and tilted his head slightly. "You know, silent tears are dangerous," he said softly.

"Why?" she whispered.

"Because I can't calm your sobs, if I can't hear them." She closed her eyes, sniffling again. "Would you rather I sob?"

"I'd rather you not, but if you have too... I want to know." She didn't hold back, she began sobbing again. Sands clung to her, the only way he knew how; one arm wrapped around her waist, the hand in her hair, holding her close.

She sobbed until she was unable to cry any more, feeling emotionally tired. He felt her sobs slow until he couldn't feel her shaking anymore. He whispered in her ear, "Come to bed with me." She only nodded, eyes still closed. He leaned down and pulled her up into his arms, carrying her, keeping her head nestled against him. She let him,; she just wanted to forget it all, at least for a night. He laid her out on the bed, and pulled her clothes slowly from her, leaving her in her bra and panties. She had the crook of her arm over her eyes, blocking out what little light there was. Her face was flushed from all the crying.

He pulled off his shirt, shimmied out of his jeans, and crawled up on the bed next to her, moving her arm gently from her face to kiss her lightly. He pulled her into his arms, waiting for her breathing to steady. He wasn't going to sleep yet. She lay against him, listening to the howl of the wind outside as another storm began brewing. A hurricane in the gulf moving closer. He let his fingers tangle in her hair, combing it out with each stroke. "Are we going to survive this?" she whimpered.

"We have before," he answered.

"This, Sheldon! Not running any more operations, sticking it out against the enemy!"

Sands sighed.

"Just one more thing for us to say we conquered in the end, sweetheart."

"And if I don't make it?"

"Don't forget I'm in this with you."

"How could I forget?" she muttered, looking out the window at the rain.

"You said I, not we. It's we, sweets." She turned her head and looked at him.

"You know this is all because I chose you and not him..." she murmured.

"And I swear I'll keep him from you. You're not his and I told you a long time ago, you'd never have to look over your shoulder, with me. Not Dupre, not your father, not Monterio, not Maxell, no one can take you from me."

She sighed, "It's not THAT easy."

"I think I figured that out. But I can try can't I?!" he said, biting back his words, trying not to say the wrong thing.

"I don't have much say in this issue now do I?!" she sniped, looking away. Sands didn't say anything, but he continued to hold her. Cerise bit her tongue to keep from saying something she'd regret, a slight whimper escaping her lips.

"We should get some sleep baby," he murmured into her hair.

"I'm not tired," she muttered.

He sighed softly to himself. "Then we should find a way to amuse ourselves."

"Guess so," she breathed.

"It's up to you." He watched his words carefully.

She shrugged, moving against him. His hold on her tightened. She almost felt like pulling away from him. He listened to her breathing, hoping she'd fall asleep. She sighed deeply, and turned herself to snuggling against him. "C'mere baby," he whispered in her ear.

She clung to him. "This can't keep up..."

"Only a matter of days and we'll be out of here luv, with our daughter. I promise, I swear it."

"I hope I'm still sane..." She exhaled into his shoulder.

"If not, you'll still be my true love, the woman I wanna marry."

"Just promise not to put me in a mental hospital."

Sands snorted, grinning grimly, he kissed her on the forehead. "I'd never do that." She shuddered, pushing the thought out of her head. "I would NEVER do that, Cherry. I can't let you away from my side." She sighed, yawning, closing her eyes again. "Go to sleep baby."

"Don't leave my side?" she asked.

"Never," he answered, holding her as close as he could possibly manage. She nodded, letting herself fall asleep. Sands didn't sleep, stroking her hair, considering everything they'd just said.

"No one's taking you from me..." he whispered in her ear as she slept.