STARS (Deyse)

It was almost midnight when two vans and a pick up truck crossed the desert along a long road that could guide them back to the city. The cast and crew were coming back from the desert where they had filmed one more episode of Touched by an angel, and , after driving around for nearly 3 hours, the 3 drivers suddenly had to stop, as a strong wind started to blow, throwing sand against the vehicles windshields: a storm was coming up ahead.

"The weather is getting worse, we’ll stop next to the road, do you copy?" one of them spoke, on the small radio shared by the 2 other drivers.

"Ok, I’ll right behind you!" the guy in charge of guiding the van where John, Roma, Della and Richard, the director of that episode, were, got out of the road and parked the van together with the other two.

"I’m sorry guys but we’ll have to stop here for the night and wait!" he announced, turning off the engine. Della didn’t even listen to his words, as the old actress had spent the last hours peacefully sleeping in one of the van seats.

Richard, for himself, shook his head in disapproval, "I knew something like this would happen! Writing an episode with open air scenes! What these screenwriters wanted us to do? Field research?" he grumbled.

Hearing that piece of news, John looked at Roma, who was sitting right beside him, and could see all the worry evident in her eyes, "Are you sure we’re stuck in here, Bill?" he asked the driver.

"Damn sure, John. You guys had better get some sleep cause we’re not leaving from here until the morning comes." He said, placing his legs on the other seat and covering his face with his cap.

"Next time they decide to film in another location they’ll have to pick another director!" Richard complained once more, and did the same thing; a minute later, he was also drifting off to sleep.

John turned to face Roma, who, besides his dearest friend and co-worker, had secretly become his beloved girlfriend some weeks before: she was looking outside and watching as the wind blew hard. Gently, he placed a strand of hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek, "Hey... I’m sure that Reilly is ok! She must be dreaming with the angels right now!"

She turned her face to look at him, "I know... it’s just that this filming is taking a lot more time than we expected. We’ve been away for nearly a week and... I miss my wee one so much!"

With all the love he felt evident in his sparkling green eyes, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her closer to him, in a tight embrace, "I know, I know... But it’ll take just a few hours for you to see her again, sweetie. This thunderstorm will be over soon and you’ll be holding your little princess by the beginning of the day! I promise!"

She smiled for the first time at that night: obviously John couldn’t control the weather, yet, the protective and solemn tone in his voice, as well as the way he was holding her, did make her feel better and really believe in his reassuring words.

"Thanks Johnny; thank you so much." She lowered her voice, to almost a whisper, "... I love you; we both love you..."

"... I love you two very, very much too!" he whispered back, cupping her chin and placing a quick but loving kiss in her lips. "And don’t forget that you spoke to her right before we hit the road, she and Julie know it’ll take you almost all night long to come back. I’m sure they’re expecting you only by the morning."

She sighed deeply and nodded her head, "Yes, you’re right. Again."

"So why don’t you try to sleep, huh? You can borrow my shoulder and use it as a pillow, it’s ok with me!" he suggested, and smiled even more when he heard her giggling.

"Well, the accommodations don’t seem that bad after all..."

"Well, thanks!" an expression of pure contentment on his face as she kissed his lips and snuggled close together with him, closing her eyes.

But try as she might, Roma couldn’t sleep. She was tired, it was true, but Reilly was constantly on her mind and she would only let go of her worries once the little girl was back in her arms. Fortunately, the storm lasted for only a couple of hours and, once it was over, the moonlight and the stars illuminated the night. The actress turned her head to look through the window and that movement caused John to open his eyes.

"I’m sorry! I woke you up..."

"No, it’s alright, I wasn’t fully asleep." He looked down at her, "And I can see neither were you."

"Yes... I’m really tried but..." she sighed, "Look, the storm is over, do you think they could go back to the road?"

John looked at the van driver, who was snoring as loud as Richard, and chuckled, "Roma, dear... I don’t really think so..." Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind and he reached out on the empty seat right behind them where there was a big travelling bag.

"Johnny? What are you doing?"

"Shh... you’ll see..." he replied, still in a low voice, careful not to wake anybody up. Then he took a nice thick blanket out of the bag, and turned to her with a mischievous smile, "You’re coming with me; I’ll kidnap you, Ms Downey!"

Roma also smiled, but with a totally confused expression on her face.

*

Nobody saw when the couple of actors sneaked out of the van and climbed the back of the pick up truck parked ahead of their vehicle; they lay in each other’s arms and covered themselves with the blanket. The temperatures in the desert used to be low, it was true, but the summer was coming to an end and those last days had been still hot. Fortunately, that night was no exception.

"That’s so beautiful!" Roma sighed, looking at the starry sky.

"And I bet it’s a lot more comfortable than inside the van!" he said, gently running his fingers through her hair.

"Yes, it really is! Thank you for kidnapping me, Mr Dye!" the actress spoke, gazing at him lovingly.

"I’m glad Della insisted on bringing this blanket with her! And... it was my pleasure to kidnap you!" John inched closer and placed a long, loving kiss on her lips. They remained in that embrace for some long, pleasant minutes, until he bent his head again and lay soft kisses on her forehead and cheeks, "Now try to get some sleep, honey. I’m sure that by morning we’ll be arriving at Salt Lake and you’ll be with your little angel in your arms."

"Ok..." she said, now feeling a bit of sleepy with the constant movement of his fingers through her hair. But one thing still worried her, "But... what if they wake up before us and find us here?..."

With a mischievous grin, the blond actor reached for something inside the pocket of his jacket and, a second later, showed her a cell phone, "I’ll set the alarm clock to wake us up as the sun rises, before they even dream of looking for us!"

Smiling, the actress wasted no time and wrapped her arms around his neck, covering his face and lips with lots of kisses, "I love you! I love you! I love you!" Roma said, repeatedly, as she kissed him.

"Well... in case I haven’t told you that in the last minutes, I love you too, sweetie! Forever!"

The end