Once her crying stopped, Sara roughly brushed the tears from her face. She looked up from her position on the floor at the face of Jesus on the cross. His wooden eyes stared down at her hollowly.

"What do you want from me? Everything I have has already been taken from me. I have nothing left to give to you or to anyone else."

"Ya don't really believe that do you?"

Sara didn't have to look to know who was standing behind her. In fact she really wasn't that surprised. Even if he hadn't thought to have looked in the church he would have found her eventually. It was inevitable; they were both inexplicably drawn to each other. She stared straight ahead as he knelt beside her.

"Ya say that if we let this happen it will destroy us both. But it's already destroying ya."

"My life was destroyed before I ever met you."

"But ye've rebuilt it." Connor reached for her hand, but she pulled away. He sighed. "Sara I…"

Sara could feel a fresh onslaught of tears forming. She blinked in an effort to hold them back. "Don't say it." Sara turned her head. "Don't you dare say it."

"And why the hell not?"

"Words like those aren't meant to be thrown around lightly Connor."

"Yer afraid I don't mean them. Damn it Sara. Ya of all people should know I would never lie about something like that." He took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him like so many times before and brushed a tear off of her cheek. "Ya once told me that we keep going because the ones we lost wouldn't want us to give up. Ya really think yer ma would want ya to let something like this go?"

"What if it doesn't work?"

"What if? If ya don't take this chance ye'll never know and spend the rest of yer life wondering what if. Don't let yer father and that asshole who raped ya keep ruining yer life. This isn't about ya turning me down anymore. This is about ya putting the past behind ya for good and moving on. Maybe when ya realize that ye'll finally be able to start living again. Because right now ya might as well only be half alive." He made to stand but Sara grabbed his arm forcing him to stay. He gave her a questioning look.

"Swear to me that you meant it." Her brown eyes were dark and demanding. "Here, now in this church, with God as your witness, swear it."

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"Sara, before God and all that is holy I swear it. I love ya." And Connor could tell that she believed him. The fear was still present in her eyes but she believed him. Cautiously he leaned forward, tilting his head. He stopped just centimeters from her mouth. When she made no motion to pull back he kissed her ever so softly on the lips.

When he pulled away Sara's eyes were closed. He kissed her on both eyelids and then on her forehead, and then pulled her into his embrace. Her fingers clutched the damp fabric of his black shirt. They stayed like that, on their knees just holding one another and absorbing each others warmth through their wet clothes.

Connor pulled back slightly and ran his hand down her face to the base of her neck. He kissed her again, deeper this time and felt her hands release his shirt and go around his neck. He gently bit her lower lip and then sucked on it, running his tongue across the soft flesh. When his tongue entered her mouth she moaned low in the back of her throat. Connor slid his hand down across of her back to where her shirt met her jeans. He needed to feel her. Slipping his fingers beneath her shirt he began to trace the line of her spine, pushing her shirt up as he did. His other hand left her neck to rest on the firm planes of her stomach.

Sara began to kiss the line of his jaw while constantly running her fingers through his hair. When she nibbled hid earlobe Connor just about lost it right there. He pressed her hips closer to his own and he captured her mouth once more.

The sound of a door opening and closing, followed by footsteps made them stop, and remember where they were. Connor groaned at the loss of contact and watched as Sara adjusted her shirt.

Down by the door of the Church a member of the clergy appeared. When he saw them he stopped and then proceeded down the aisle towards them. Connor quickly stood and pulled Sara to her feet.

"Can I help you two young people at this late hour?"

"Forgive us Father. We were seeking temporary shelter from the rain."

"I see." The Fathers eyes raked over both of their soaked figures. "The church is a sanctuary, but I shall inform you that the rain has ceased for the moment. I would think it best that the two of you be on your way."

"Yes sir. Thank you." Connor pushed Sara in front of him. She walked the past the Father with her eyes downcast. As Connor made to follow the Father stepped in front of him.

"Need I remind you that this is a house of God?"

"Forgive me Father. But I have yet to sin this night. Nor do I have anything to confess."

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Sara stepped out onto the street and rubbed her arms trying to get rid of the goosebumps that covered them. The rain had indeed stopped.

"This will be the third time that I'm going to have to get ya out of wet clothes." A pair of warm arms wrapped around her. "I say we go back to the apartment," Connor pushed her hair out of the way and began to plant kisses on her neck, "and finish up," he turned her around, "what we started." He went for her mouth only to find himself pushed back. "What, ya aren't changing yer mind on me are ya?"

"No." Sara looked at her hands which were resting on Connor's chest as he curled his fingers around her wrists and rubbed them with his thumbs. "I just think we should take this slow."

"How slow are we talkin' 'bout here? Cause I rather like the speed we were going inside…"

"Connor! We were in a church!"

Connor couldn't help but grin. "That didn't seem to be an issue at them time. Though I must say that priest would have been in for a surprise had he showed up seconds later."

Sara blushed. "And who's to say it would have gotten that far?" She removed her hands and began to walk down the street.

"Sara we both know where that was going."

"Yes, but I for one am glad the priest showed up when he did."

"Now why would ya say a thing like that?" Connor pulled her into another hug. "Ya once asked me to show ya how love was supposed to feel. I couldn't show ya then, but I can show ya know. But yer right. The church not the best location for that to take place"

"Believe me Connor; I want you to show me. I'm just not ready for that yet."

"Ya certainly felt ready."

"Connor…"

"Alright." He kissed her on the nose. "We'll take it slow. But ya sure as hell better let me know when ya are ready. Ya put me through much more of this and I'll fucking explode."

"Yes, well," Sara began to walk backwards down the street pulling Connor along with her, "we certainly wouldn't want you to explode prematurely now would we."

Connor gave her funny look. "And just what the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

Sara laughed. "Whatever you want it to mean."

"Woman!"

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Connor walked into the bedroom and turned off the light. After a few seconds of contemplation he declined his bottom bunk and instead slipped under the sheets next to Sara in the single. She stirred but didn't wake. Connor rested his head on his left arm and with his right pulled Sara into the curve of his body. She may not have been ready for him to show her the full extent of his feelings and desire for her, but this, this he knew was okay.

Even in her sleep Sara knew he was there. A small smile formed on her face and she snuggled even closer to his warmth, letting out a sigh as she did so.

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Author's Note: Connor lied to a priest! What am I saying? They were just about ready to go at in the church! That would have been sacrilegious. Thank God for bad timing. But I must say the wait is starting to drive even me crazy. Well, you guys know the drill. Read and review!