Sher, Chare, and the Bird in the Bear
Written By: Dabney Hopkirk
Chapter 1:
Sheridan needed to find Julian quickly. She had to have his help if she were to leave for Paris tomorrow. The sooner she got there, the sooner she could forget about Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, if that was possible. She walked into the hospital, remembering that Julian was in a Board Meeting.
“Oh...sorry” Sheridan apologized as she bumped into the sad boy who was walking with his head down.
“Miguel? What’s wrong?” Sheridan asked, panicked that someone in his family may be in the hospital.
“Sheridan, sorry…didn’t see you. It’s Charity.” Miguel explained the situation to Sheridan. Sheridan offered to help. She couldn’t let Charity be committed. Sheridan knew the pain of that all too well.
She asked, “Has anything changed in her environment since she starting having these visions again? Anything at all?”
Miguel shook his head, indicating no. Sheridan said, “Let’s go take a look in her room. Maybe we’re missing something.” No one was around. Kay and Simone had gone to the cafeteria and the rest of the family had gone home for a break.
Sheridan looked around the room. “So all of this was here when you arrived? No one brought anything from home?” Miguel surveyed the room and caught a glimpse of the large teddy bear.
“Just the bear. Someone must have brought that in to cheer her up.” Miguel remembered winning it for her last summer at the carnival. Sheridan picked up the bear and looked at it.
“This is heavy.” She stated. She saw the zippered back and began to unzip it.
“Miguel, what the heck is this?” Sheridan pulled out the bird statue. Miguel was so relieved. He explained the significance of statue and then ran to get the doctor. The doctor sent the bird to the lab for analysis. Miguel hugged Sheridan.
“Thank you. Thank you. No wonder my brother loves you so much.” Sheridan felt warm inside when she heard Miguel confess this. Miguel was so wrapped up in Charity’s recovery that he didn’t even realize what he had said. Sheridan grabbed his arm, “Miguel, promise me you won’t tell Luis about this. I wasn’t here, ok?”
Miguel agreed. Sheridan knew that if Luis found out what she had done for his brother, he would take it as a sign that she still cared for him. She couldn’t risk that. She had to keep Luis away at all costs.
Sheridan was all packed. She had plenty of time before her flight left. She needed to say her good-byes to all the friends she had made in town. It seemed so final. She had really grown to love Harmony. The telephone rang.
“Hello.” Sheridan heard a young girl’s voice on the other end.
“Sheridan, it’s Charity Standish. I just wanted to thank you for all you did for me. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind coming by this afternoon. I have a little something for you.”
Sheridan hesitated, “Charity, you don’t need to thank me. Really, it was nothing. Are you feeling better?”
Charity replied, “So much better since that bird statue is gone.”
“Did they find anything in the paint?” Sheridan asked. Charity explained that the lab was still working on it and Luis and Sam planned to investigate how it ended up in the bear. Sheridan winced at the mention of Luis.
Charity pleaded, “Please say you will come by this afternoon, Sheridan.” Sheridan explained that she was leaving town for a while and would stop by briefly on her way to the airport. This would give her a chance to say goodbye to the Bennetts, and maybe even stop by Pilar’s house, if Luis wasn’t there.
Sheridan visited with Charity who was still taking it easy upstairs in her room. Charity made a beaded necklace for Sheridan, and Sheridan was touched. She gave Charity a hug and said goodbye. As they embraced, Charity had a vision but kept it to herself. Meanwhile, Luis was downstairs at the Bennett house with Sam. He was relieved that Charity was better, especially for Miguel’s sake. Luis had no idea of how Sheridan had played a part in the whole rescue. Luis wanted to talk with Miguel and make sure that both he and Charity were ok.
“Where’s my brother, Sam?” Sam replied that Miguel was probably upstairs with Charity. Luis asked if it would be ok to go up and talk with Miguel. Luis was going up the front stairs as Sheridan made her way down the back stairs into the kitchen.
Sheridan stopped to talk with Grace, “Charity is really a special girl, Grace.” Grace agreed. She and Sheridan talked about the amazing love between Miguel and Charity.
Grace asked, “Sheridan, I understand you are leaving Harmony for a little while. May I ask…is everything ok?” Sheridan hugged her goodbye and said, “No, but I am hoping it will be.”
Luis knocked on Charity’s door. “Come in” Charity answered. Luis walked into her room, looking for Miguel.
He asked, “Charity, how are you feeling?” She replied, “Much better, thanks to Sheridan.” Luis looked confused and said, “What do you mean?” Charity blushed, “Was I not supposed to say anything?”
Just then Miguel walked into the room, having heard their conversation and confessed, “Luis, Sheridan made me promise not to tell you.” Luis processed this information, as Miguel explained all the events to him.
Charity stated, “You just missed her, Luis. She came by to see me on her way to the airport.” Upon hearing the word ‘airport’, Luis turned to run out the door. He had to stop her.
Charity interrupted, “Miguel, see if you can catch her. She may be downstairs. I need to talk with Luis for just a minute.”
Miguel left and Charity explained to Luis that when she hugged Sheridan she had a vision. She saw Sheridan watching a man who looked like Luis. This man was saying horrible things about Sheridan and her heart was breaking. Then Charity explained she saw a rubber mask and a briefcase full of money. Luis was beginning to get the picture. Charity grabbed his hand, “Luis…there’s more. I see great danger for Sheridan. There are two men after her. She is trying to escape but…” Charity teared up, “You have to save her Luis.” She looked down at her hand holding onto his hand. She knew she was feeling what was in his heart, “You love her Luis, and she loves you…more than you could ever imagine.”
Chapter 2:
Roger walked off the plane and into the Harmony airport. He had to act fast. Pierre said that if he botched this one, he shouldn’t bother returning to Paris. Roger knew that Pierre could make him disappear, for good. He had to find the blonde woman and finish her off. When Pierre learned of Sheridan’s return to Paris, he feared she might be able to identify him and reveal his drug empire. It had to happen here and now, and it had to look like an accident. Too many questions might surface if she were killed in Paris. She was supposed to fly out that day. Roger would kidnap her, drug her, and drive her car off a cliff with Sheridan inside. It would look like she never made it to the airport.
Sheridan was at peace. She was sad to leave Harmony, but she was glad to escape the pain of seeing Luis. She planned to leave her car at the airport. Ethan would pick it up later. She told him that she would prefer to say her good-byes at home and then make her way to the airport alone. She hated teary farewells in public places. Sheridan wondered what Luis was doing at that very moment. She thought back to their first meeting when she crashed into his car. She had been so upset about Jean-Luc’s betrayal, and now she was fleeing from another broken heart. She hoped that she wouldn’t run into Jean-Luc back in Paris.
She located a man to help her with her bags when she suddenly felt a sharp pain at her side. She turned to the man and looked at him before she lost consciousness. Roger was able to move Sheridan into the passenger seat and settle into the driver’s seat without calling any attention.
Luis was speeding to the airport. No answer on Sheridan’s cell phone. He thought of Charity’s words. She was right. He did love Sheridan with all his heart and she loved him too. He couldn’t prove that Julian was responsible for the misunderstanding between them, but he had to make her believe that he was not the man who said those terrible things about her. Could Sheridan really be in danger from two men, as Charity warned? Maybe it was Alistair and Julian. Luis pulled up to the terminal and left his jeep outside. He ran to the gate. The plane hadn’t boarded yet, but there was no sight of Sheridan. The woman at the ticket counter wouldn’t give him any information. Luis flashed his badge and she checked the passenger list. There was a Sheridan Crane in first class, but she hadn’t checked in yet. Luis was starting to get worried. He hoped that Sheridan had changed her mind and decided to stay in Harmony. Luis waited until all the passengers boarded and the plane took off. He thought about his next move. Should he call the cottage? Maybe Ethan knew where Sheridan was, but he couldn’t call him. Ethan hated Luis for breaking Sheridan’s heart. Luis decided to drive to the cottage. He walked out to his jeep and noticed the necklace on the ground. He’d never seen it before, but it caught his eye. He picked it up and put it in his pocket.
As he made his way down the road, he heard sirens in the distance. He pulled over to the side of the road by the rocky cliffs.
“What’s going on? Can I help?” Luis said to the paramedics. One of them replied, “Yeah. We just got a call that a car went off the cliff, but we haven’t located it yet.”
Luis looked over the cliff and into the sea. “Oh my god, NO!” Luis screamed as he saw Sheridan’s car below. “Quick, follow me.” He shouted.
She had to be okay. It couldn’t end like this, but things didn’t look good. Hours later as the sun was setting, Sam sat with Luis at the scene.
Sam said, “Luis, the guys are calling it a day. It’s getting dark. There’s little hope that we will find a…” Sam almost said the word ‘body’, but he knew Luis wasn’t ready to give up on finding the woman he loved.
Luis broke down. He was crying uncontrollably, which made it difficult for Ethan to hate him. Ethan had joined the search team after receiving a call from Sam. Ethan was torn. He hated Luis for hurting Sheridan, but he felt connected to Luis too. They both loved Sheridan so much. Ethan kept his distance until Luis walked over.
Luis wiped the tears from his eyes and asked, “When was the last time you heard from her, Ethan? She left the Bennett house and was on her way to the airport. I went after her…to stop her from leaving…to tell her that she was mistaken about me.” Luis began to cry again. He continued, “Maybe I passed her on the way there.” Luis was crushed by this possibility. Ethan questioned Luis about the mistaken identity remark. Luis explained as best he could and swore that he would never say anything bad about Sheridan. He couldn’t even think those things about her. Ethan believed Luis. He patted him on the back and told him they would find her together.
Roger phoned Pierre, "It’s done”, he confirmed.
“Good. You are certain this time?” Pierre asked.
"Yes. I saw the car crash and she was in it. There is no way she survived.” Roger answered.
“Stay there until you can assure me that there is a body.” Pierre ordered. Roger agreed.
Sheridan awoke in the rustic room. She was confused and light-headed. She heard a woman’s voice, “It’s going to be ok. We’re going to get you some help. Can you tell me your name?” Sheridan drew a blank.
She hesitated, “I don’t know…where am I? How did I get here?” The woman explained, “We found you in the ravine. My dog and I were out walking and he found you. You were unconscious. I went to get Joel, my husband. He carried you back here. Is there anyone we can call?”
Florence asked. Sheridan looked around the room. It was nice. She felt safe. She couldn’t remember anything. “I can’t think of anyone. Did you find anything with me? A purse? A wallet?” Florence shook her head. She replied, “Well, you get some rest. We’ll figure this out.”
Luis looked terrible. He hadn’t slept or eaten. He hadn’t shaved or showered. Miguel knocked on his door. “Hey, bro. How ya doing?” Luis couldn’t even answer. He was completely guilt-ridden. Not only did he feel responsible for Sheridan’s disappearance, but now he wondered if he had passed her car after it had fallen off the cliff.
Miguel noticed the necklace that Luis was playing with in his hands. He said, “Charity’s necklace. She made that for Sheridan. Where did you find it?” Luis straightened up, “What did you say, Miguel?” Miguel repeated, “That’s the necklace Charity gave Sheridan before she left.”
Luis had some small hope. Sheridan must have made it to the airport…but the car…how did the car end up down the cliff? “Where’s Charity now?” Luis asked.
Charity came into the room. Luis asked her about the necklace. She took it from his hand and held it tightly. “Luis, she’s alive…but she’s very lost. She is safe, though, but I sense that she doesn’t know where she is. And there is still a man after her.” Luis cried. He smiled and hugged Charity. He showered, shaved, and changed his clothes. He had to get back out there to find the woman he loved.
Chapter 3:
Sheridan was no longer groggy. Florence helped her sit up and brushed her hair. “Still no idea of how you ended up in that ravine or what your name is, honey?” Florence asked.
Sheridan shook her head. Florence continued, “Joel has gone back down there to have a look around. Maybe he can find your purse or something that can help you remember. Pretty girl like you probably has a husband or at least some family, who is looking for you.”
Sheridan wondered if she did have a family.
Back in Harmony, Sheridan’s family was concerned, especially Ethan. Luis the most concerned and he was driven to find Sheridan. After Charity’s words of encouragement, Luis set back out to the scene, searching for clues. He had to find her. She was the love of his life. He had to tell her that and explain the terrible misunderstanding that had torn them apart.
Luis bravely walked down the side of the cliff to the spot where Sheridan’s car had settled. He looked around but found nothing. He walked around the side of the cliff to the ravine. There he saw a man, walking his dog and looking around.
“Excuse me sir have you seen anything in this area? Or anyone?” Luis asked.
Joel replied, “Yes Officer. As a matter of fact, there’s a young lady at our house who ended up in this Ravine the other day. She’s pretty shaken up and doesn’t know who she is or how she ended up here. I’m looking for something that might identify her.” Luis breathed a sigh of relief. It was Sheridan. It had to be.
Luis cried, “Take me to her. Please.” Joel and Luis made their way up to the farmhouse. Joel knocked on the bedroom door, “Florence, there’s a police officer out here who thinks he knows this lady.”
Florence grabbed Sheridan’s hand, “It’s going to be alright, honey. Everything’s going to be alright.”
Luis came into the room. Tears were filling up his eyes at the sight of his beautiful Sheridan, resting in the bed in a flannel nightgown. “Sheridan! I found you. I knew you were alive.”
Sheridan looked at him with an expression that indicated she had not a clue as to who this man was. Joel suggested they leave them alone. Florence looked at Sheridan for consent. Sheridan smiled as if to say she would be fine. Luis sat down on the bed as Joel and Florence left the room.
Sheridan asked, “Is that my name, officer? Sheridan?”
Luis was devastated that Sheridan had lost her memory. “Yes. Sheridan Crane. And I’m Luis. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. Don’t you remember?”
Sheridan shook her head, indicating no, and replied, “Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald…that’s quite a mouthful.”
Luis laughed and wiped the tears from his face. He realized that the woman he loved was still alive in there somewhere. He needed to get her medical attention, but he worried about her safety. Luis was still convinced that someone had caused this accident.
Luis asked Sheridan if she remembered anything about being in a car accident. She said no. He asked, “Are you in any pain?”
Sheridan replied, “No. Just a little dizzy and I have some pain on my left side.” Luis asked to look at it. “Would you mind if I took a look?”
Sheridan wasn’t sure about pulling up her nightgown and showing this man, but she felt safe with him. “Ok, but look away for a minute while I lift this up.”
Luis thought it was cute that she was so modest, especially after they had slept in the same bed, completely naked, in Santa Fe. He turned around when Sheridan gave the all clear. Luis ran his hand over the large bruise on her side. He could make out a small circle in the middle that looked like she had been injected with a needle. Luis was very concerned and asked, “Sheridan, are you certain that you can’t remember anything? No one sticking you with a needle?”
Sheridan was frightened and replied, “No. Why would anyone want to hurt me?”
Luis wanted to know the same thing. He reassured her, “It’s ok. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. I just need to think of what I am going to do next.” Luis thought about this while Florence and Joel brought in some tea. He said to all three of them, “I need to make a phone call. Can I have a doctor examine Sheridan here?”
Florence and Joel nodded yes. Luis continued, “I hate to ask this of you, but can you keep it quiet about her being here? It’s for her safety.” Florence and Joel again replied yes. Luis thought about who he could trust. He really needed to let Ethan know, but could he trust Ethan not to tell Julian? He called Sam. He knew he could trust him. Sam would be able to arrange everything and get some things to Luis. Maybe he could arrange a safe location for Sheridan and Luis until her memory returned.
Luis asked Florence and Joel if there were somewhere close by they could recommend for Sheridan and Luis to hole up for awhile.
Joel responded, “Nonsense, young man. Florence and I are supposed to visit our daughter and her family in Vermont day after tomorrow. You two can stay here while we are away. You’d be doing us a favor. You can look after the dog.”
Luis smiled and said, “Consider it done. And thanks so much for taking such good care of my…of Sheridan.”
Joel smiled, knowing that this woman meant so much to Luis. Sam sent a doctor by the farmhouse. He couldn’t contact Eve Russell because Luis had warned that no one must know about Sheridan’s location, for now.
Dr. Crenshaw examined Sheridan. He walked out of the bedroom to give Luis the news. “She’s going to be fine, Luis. Just a few bumps and bruises.”
Luis breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “What about her memory?”
Dr. Crenshaw answered, “It should be back any day. It’s just a combination of the accident and the drug that she was given. I suspect that Sheridan made her way out of that car long before it tumbled down the cliff. Somehow, she made it to the ravine, but the power of the drug kept her from going. Really, Luis, she is an amazing woman to have made it that far.”
Luis agreed. Sheridan was a fighter. He had known this all along. Dr. Crenshaw gave Luis the bags of clothes that Sam sent. Inside were some of Sam’s clothes for Luis to wear. Sam couldn’t risk going by the Lopez-Fitzgeral house. He told Pilar that Luis was on assignment in New York. There were also some of Grace’s things in the bag for Sheridan to wear. Sam snuck them out without Grace’s knowledge.
The next day, Joel and Florence left for Vermont. Florence left plenty of casseroles and pies for them to enjoy. Sheridan was up and walking around now. She had showered and changed into some of Grace’s clothes. “This Grace woman must be a little bit smaller than me.” Sheridan said, embarrassed that the top was so tight.
“Looks good to me.” Luis said, admiring her curves, “but if you want one of Sam’s shirts, they’re over there in that bag.”
She nodded yes and went to grab a v-neck sweater and tee shirt. Luis was making lunch when she came back into the room, “Better?” he asked.
“Much” she said. “Now, why don’t you tell me a little bit about you and me and my family.
” Luis smirked, thinking of all the time they had spent together. “Dr. Crenshaw says you need to remember everything in your own time. It will come.” He assured her. She walked over to him. She whispered, “Just a little something…please.”
Luis began, “Well, you and I got married about eight years ago. We met through my job. I arrested you for public indecency. You used to be a stripper, but now you stay home with our six children...all boys.”
Sheridan looked horrified. She processed this information and smiled, “You made that up, didn’t you?” She poked him in the side. He responded, “Well just the part about the kids. The rest is true.”
She kept tickling him and he tickled back. “Ouch.” Sheridan cried as she grabbed her side.
Luis sat her down on a chair by the table, “I’m so sorry, Sheridan. Are you okay?” She laughed, “Fine. I’m fine. It’s just a little sore still. You really had me going there for a minute.” Luis was still concerned about her.
Sheridan awoke to a noise from the other room. Luis had fallen asleep on a chair by the fire. “NO! Sheridan, where are you? Don’t leave me!” Luis was screaming.
Sheridan wrapped the blanket around her and went over to Luis. “Wake up, Luis. You’re having a nightmare.”
Luis sat up and gave he a desperate look, “Sheridan! You’re alright.” He hugged her as he wept. She said, “It’s okay, Luis. I’m alright.”
Luis was so glad to have her in his arms. He couldn’t let go. The situation reminded Sheridan of the night in Santa Fe when Luis had comforted her after a nightmare. Sheridan pulled away and looked at Luis, “I remember something. You held me one night after I had a bad dream.”
Luis was stunned, “Yeah. In Santa Fe. You remember that?” Sheridan nodded. She made him some hot chocolate just the way Pilar always made it and they talked through the night. Sheridan began remembering bits and pieces. Luis was relieved. Maybe now she would remember who had done this to her. He was also concerned that she might remember what had torn them apart. He had to explain himself to her, but she had fallen asleep on the sofa. He covered her with a blanket and went to sleep in the chair next to her.
Luis was asleep in the chair. Sheridan had been looking at him as he slept for the past thirty minutes. She remembered the phone conversation she overheard and the decision to move back to Paris. The rest was still fuzzy. She recalled seeing Charity and the drive to the airport. Had someone kidnapped her? Luis awoke with a fright at the sight of Sheridan watching him.
“How long have you been awake?” he asked. “Awhile.” She replied. Luis could tell that she was remembering.
She asked, “What happened, Luis. How could you say those things about me? And why did you risk everything to find me again if you hate me so much?”
Luis moved over to the sofa next to her and explained what Charity told him. “I don’t hate you, Sheridan. I don’t know how this happened or who is responsible, but you have to believe that I would never say anything bad about you. I would never use you, Sheridan. Don’t you know by now how I feel about you?”
Sheridan looked over at him with a sad face that requested more. Luis said, “Sheridan, I died when I thought something had happened to you. I can’t live without you. I’ve fallen in love with you over the past few months. No one else makes me as crazy as you do. I won’t let anyone or anything keep us apart again. But you have to trust me for this to work. We can’t go any further unless you trust me.”
Sheridan thought about this for a minute and replied, “I trust you, Luis. I trust you.” She kissed his cheek. She hadn’t told him she loved him yet because she wasn’t ready. She was still feeling vulnerable.
After breakfast, Luis and Sheridan walked the dog around the woods. They came to a spot that brought back memories for Sheridan. She shivered. Luis put his coat around her shoulders and asked, “What is it, Sheridan?”
Sheridan answered, “I was at the airport. A man grabbed me and stabbed me with something. He shoved me into the car and we drove away. He said that he was sorry but I couldn’t go back to Paris. I might destroy everything. He told me it would all be over soon and to sit back and relax. I felt so weak, like my arms and legs were filled with lead. He stopped the car and moved me into the driver’s seat. He kissed my forehead and said, “Good-bye, Cherie.” I tried to scream as he put the car into drive and wedged a stick against the accelerator. The car tumbled slowly at first down the cliff. I must have gotten loose and fallen out of the car because I found myself hanging on to the side of the cliff as I saw the car below me. I pulled myself up and made my way to the ravine where I passed out.” Sheridan finished.
Chapter 4:
Luis passed along the information to Sam who checked the passenger lists at Harmony Airport. He knew that anyone arriving in Harmony from France would have pass through New York or Boston and go through customs. Sam located a name on the list that fit the bill, Roger Corbin, a notorious hit man with connections to the French mob. Sam and Luis devised a plan to trap Roger. Luis and Sheridan arrived back at the cottage.
Luis asked, “Glad to be home?” Sheridan smiled, “Yeah. But I’m sure gonna miss that dog…and of course Florence’s home cooking.” Luis laughed, “Well, I’m not the best cook in the world, but I think we can find a dog for you.” Sheridan laughed and asked, “What’s the plan now?” Luis explained, “Now that we know the connection between you and these guys, we plan to get the word out that you are alive and back in Harmony. These guys are dangerous, Sheridan. We know that they tried to kill you before in France.”
Luis checked Sheridan’s expression. He had already told her about the explosion and about Jean-Luc’s death. She seemed ok, maybe just a little frightened. He continued, “Hey, it’s gonna be alright. I will be here with you around the clock and we’ll have two officers posted outside also. I am not going to let anything happen to you Sheridan.” She smiled.
Sheridan looked around her cottage and saw the Bird Statue on the table. She called through to the kitchen where Luis was making her some tea, “Luis, what are you doing with this bird? I thought it was causing problems for Charity. Didn’t you send it to the lab?”
Luis walked into the room and answered, “Yeah. The guys in the lab tested the paint and found nothing. I told them I would take it for awhile and look it over, maybe research where it came from.”
Sheridan picked it up, “It’s heavy. Did you figure out how hit ended up in that teddy bear?”
Luis explained, “No. Kay brought the bear into the hospital, but she swears that she had no idea the bird was in there. Charity believes her, but Miguel is still pretty angry. He isn’t speaking to Kay and won’t let her anywhere near Charity. It’s pretty tense over at the Bennett house.”
Sheridan looked concerned about this, “Well, I hope that Charity is going to be alright. She’s a special girl, and the way that your brother and Charity love each other is really wonderful.”
Luis smiled, “Yeah. If it weren’t for Charity, I may never have found you. I may be a cop, but I put a lot of stock in those visions of hers.”
Luis thought about Charity’s premonition about Luis and Sheridan loving each other. Sheridan continued, “Young love. I wish that I had known you in high school. Maybe you would have asked me out then.” Luis grinned, “Oh…I definitely would have asked you out.”
He stated, forgetting that she was a Crane. Sheridan thought about Charity’s vision that someone had impersonated Luis. They couldn’t prove that Julian was behind it, but Sheridan wasn’t giving up on this.
Nighttime was approaching and Luis and Sheridan were getting ready for bed. Luis was wearing pajama bottoms and he was making a bed on the couch. Sheridan walked into the room. She was wearing one of his shirts. She asked, “What are you doing?”
Luis looked at her and was mesmerized by the sight of her in his shirt, “Oh…just making my bed. Chances are Roger won’t get the word by tonight so we will probably be able to get some sleep. I’ll stay here just in case. Miller and Pankowski are outside and they will call us if they see anyone trying to break in.”
Sheridan smiled, “No. I meant what are you doing out here? I would feel safer if you stayed in my room.” Luis was stunned by her suggestion, but he took her up on her offer, “Well if you’d feel safer. Are you sure, though?”
Sheridan walked over and grabbed his hand, “Yeah. I’m sure”, she whispered.
In bed, Luis held her as she fell asleep. She had her hand on his bare chest and the feel of her touch on his body was driving him crazy. He kissed her forehead as she slept. Sheridan returned his kiss, which surprised Luis. They began kissing and touching each other. They didn’t say one word. They just looked into each other’s eyes and kept kissing. Luis was on top of Sheridan, kissing her neck and unbuttoning her shirt. She grabbed the drawstring to his pants. This was happening. He couldn’t believe it.
Suddenly, Luis heard his police scanner. He got up and listened as Miller told him that an intruder was at the front door. “Be careful, Luis.”
Sheridan whispered as Luis drew his gun and made his way to the living room. Sheridan got up. She heard a commotion in the other room. Sheridan crept into the living room and grabbed the bird statue for protection. She saw Roger on top of Luis, pinning him down and reaching for the gun.
Sheridan hit Roger on the head with the statue, knocking him out and breaking the statue open. Miller and Pankowski entered the room and took Roger away in handcuffs. Sheridan held Luis and stroked his forehead. “You saved my life, Sheridan.” Luis stated.
Sheridan smiled, “It’s about time I returned the favor.”
Sheridan stood there with the red envelope, shocked by its contents. Luis was in the kitchen getting some pizza. He walked into the room, “Just talked with Sam. Roger gave up Pierre. The French authorities just arrested him.”
Sheridan was relieved but still immersed in the photographs. She was turning them around and upside down.
Luis asked, “Whatcha got there?” Sheridan handed them to him and replied, “I don’t think Julian will be giving us anymore trouble.”
Luis looked at the pictures and almost choked on the pizza. “Oh My God! There are some things I was never meant to see. Is that…?”
Sheridan nodded, “I think so. Maybe we should keep these under wraps. It would destroy the Russells, but it’s a good insurance policy against Julian.”
Luis agreed, “I guess that’s what was getting to Charity. No wonder she was so upset.”
Sheridan sighed, “Maybe she really does have the gift.”
Luis grinned, “Well, she was right about us.”
Sheridan looked at him, “What do you mean?”
Luis gave her a big kiss and said, “I’ll tell you about it someday.”
~The End~
