~9~
Softly, Sheridan pressed, "Would knowing why change things between us?"
Luis looked at her for a long moment, unable to muster a response to her question. It was a simple question with a difficult answer, and the truth was, he didn't know the answer. He searched his mind and his heart, but he didn't want to listen to what his heart was telling him. His heart had only served to hurt him so far.
The hope in Sheridan's eyes slowly died as Luis's silence stretched on, and she hung her head, unwilling to let him see how much his non-answer had upset her.
The need to comfort her welled up within Luis again, even stronger than before. His fingertips skated across Sheridan's chin before his palm curled around her jaw, and her name left his lips on a soft sigh. "Sheridan."
For a brief moment, Sheridan allowed herself to pretend that Luis still loved her, and his gesture was more than just a gesture of kindness from a good man. She nuzzled his palm, pressing her lips to his warm skin, as her eyes burned with tears once again.
Unable to stop himself, Luis brought his other hand up to cup Sheridan's face and his thumbs gently brushed the evidence of her tears from her eyes, his concern growing when the action only seemed to generate more. "Don't," he tried to hush her. "Dammit," he cursed as he folded her into his embrace, hugging his arms loosely about her.
"Luis," Sheridan cried softly into his shoulder.
Luis stroked her hair awkwardly at first, then with growing confidence. 'Shh," he soothed, lapsing into a role he knew by heart—that of her protector. "It's okay. It's okay."
Sheridan clung to him and pretended to believe the lie.
Who's he kidding? He totally still loves her.
Or does he?
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