Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters I write about. They belong to JER and NBC’s Passions.

1.

At the Crane Mansion:

Julian was sitting at his desk, sipping on some brandy, still celebrating his success with Sheridan. He was informing his father how well it went when Alistair cut him off mid sentence.

"Julian, I have just been informed that my plan did not work as well as we had hoped. I can’t believe you screwed up again. I am tiring of your mistakes Julian"

"Father what are you talking about?"

"One of my informants has told me that Luis and Sheridan are together right now, as we speak. I asked you to do one simple thing Julian. Can you not even follow orders?"

"I did everything you told me to. Maybe it was your …"

"Don’t finish that sentence!" Alistair interrupted.

"Sorry Father. What next?"

"You know what is next Julian!"

"Father are you sure it has come that far?"

"Do it Julian, TONIGHT!!!"

Back at the skating rink:

Luis had just tackled Sheridan. Neither of them wanted to get up, they could stare in each other’s eyes forever.

"Luis, what are you doing?"

"I’m sorry Sheridan, but you were heading straight for some thin ice. Didn’t you see the sign?"

They helped each other to their feet and Sheridan glanced over to where he was pointing. Sure enough there was a sign.

"I guess I didn’t. I guess my mind was on some one…thing else" she glanced deeply into his eyes. "Look Luis, I have to finish what I was saying earlier in your office. I didn’t know I was saying yes to a date with Hank today"

"I don’t understand"

"The card on the flowers just asked me out tonight, they didn’t say who they were from"

"And you didn’t…"

"And I didn’t think they were from Hank. Well I guess I hoped they were from someone else"

Luis just stared at her. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She was getting nervous, he wasn’t saying anything.

"Luis please say something"

"I am not sure what to say" he say in her eyes that she was hurt by what he said, or actually what he did say. "I can tell you this though, when you left the book café to go out with Hank I got this awful feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want you to leave, not with him"

Now Sheridan was speechless. Neither one knew where to go from here.

"Thank you for saving me again Luis. You must be my guardian angel" she gave him a sweet smile.

"No, you’re the angel Sheridan" he reached over and lightly touched her face. But before anything else could be said or done Hank and Beth found them.

Hank saw how Sheridan and Luis were looking at each other. He didn’t like what he saw.

"What happened Sheridan?"

"I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. Luis pushed me away from the thin ice"

"Lucky he was here" Hank sneered.

"Luis are you okay?" Beth was already attached to Luis’s side.

"Yeah I am fine. I am just glad I saw Sheridan in time"

"Hank, I need to talk to you" Sheridan led Hank to a bench and they sat down.

"Hank, I need to be honest with you"

Luis and Beth were walking to return their skates when she noticed that his mind was somewhere else, with someone else. He was staring at Sheridan talking to Hank. She knew she was losing him.

"Luis we have been friends for a long time and I have learned to read you pretty well. Why don’t you just tell me the truth? I see how you look at her and hear how you talk to her. You want to be with her, admit it."

Chapter 2.

Luis looked at be with amazement. He could tell she was still in love with him. How was he supposed to tell her the truth? He didn’t want to hurt her.

"Beth I don’t know what you want me to say. I admit I do have feelings for Sheridan, but I don’t know if anything will come of them though. Things are really up in the air right now"

"I think your feelings run deeper than you will admit and I am hurt more by the fact that you aren’t being truthful with me than I would be if you told me you were in Love with her. I think I am going to go home now"

"Beth wait…"

"No Luis…no" she left him standing there wondering what just happened.

Meanwhile Hank and Sheridan were deep in a conversation of their own.

"Sheridan I don’t know if I want to know what you are going to say"

"But you have to know. I don’t want to lead you on and I don’t want to hurt you. I am not sure of my feelings for Luis and I am not sure if Luis and I are meant to be together. But I do know that I have been thinking of him all night, and that’s not fair to you"

"Sheridan we just need to spend more time together, without distractions"

"No Hank" she looked over and saw Beth leave Luis there alone. Hank noticed her attention was focused somewhere else.

"You want to be with him right now, don’t you?"

"I wish I could say I didn’t, but I do"

"I am going to see if I can catch up Beth"

"Bye Hank, I’m sorry"

Back at the Crane mansion:

"It has all been set up Father. It will happen tonight just as you wanted"

"Good Julian. I hope I don’t have to tell you how important it is that that you don’t screw up tonight"

"You don’t Father. I didn’t disappoint you last time we pulled this off did I?"

"No Julian, but I was there to help you last time. You are on your own this time"

"Don’t worry nothing can go wrong"

"Don’t get cocky Julian. Call me when you have finished"

"I will"

Back at the pond:

Sheridan walked over to Luis. He was still trying figure everything out.

"So, do you feel as bad as I do right now?" she asked him.

"Yeah, I didn’t want to hurt anyone"

"Me either, and I don’t want to hurt anyone else" he knew she was talking about him and he was touched that she cared so much for him.

"Sheridan, do you want to go get some coffee or something?"

"That would be nice. I think we should talk"

"Yeah, we need to"

Chapter 3

At the book café:

"So what do we do now?" Sheridan asked Luis. She knew what she wanted him to say. She wanted him to say they would be together always. She never wanted to be apart from him. All her thoughts and dreams were of him.

"I don’t know. There are just so many things…"

"So many things that are going to get in our way, I know. I know you don’t want a relationship right now, but we can’t just date casually. I don’t want to hurt you, ever. I couldn’t live with myself if I ever did. My family is ready to try anything to get in our way and …"

"Whoa Sheridan, slow down. We can sit here and list things that can get in our way forever. You’re right I didn’t think I wanted a relationship right now. Now I am not so sure. Don’t you think we should just take one day at a time?"

His words made her heart pound and filled her body with hope.

"What are you suggesting Luis?"

"I am not suggesting anything. I just think we should let things take their course"

Just as those words left his mouth he saw his mother standing next to him. He was surprised to she her there.

"Hi Mama, what are you doing here?"

"I came to get something warm to drink. Hello Sheridan"

"Hello Pilar"

"I am glad I came though, I think I need to talk to you both"

"What about Mama?"

Back at the Crane Mansion:

"Mr. Crane, this is agent 33. I am in position and I see the target"

"Good, keep a close watch on it"

"I will sir, are there any further instructions?"

"No, just keep watch and keep me informed. The target should be heading towards the mansion soon"

"Thank you sir"

"I want to know what exactly is going on between the two of you. I want to know what the truth."

Sheridan and Luis looked at each other, both unsure of what to say to Pilar. Pilar realized that they were both unwilling to talk to her.

"I know that you have more than a friendship. I can tell by the way you look at each other. But are you in love? Please I need to know"

"Mama, I just don’t know yet"

Sheridan was staring at the ceiling. She was getting sick of holding back her feelings for him.

"I know. I know exactly how I feel" She looked straight into Luis’s eyes. "I am consumed with you. Every night I dream of you, my every thought is about you. I love you, I do. I am sure of it"

Pilar was in shock, she never heard Sheridan talk about her feelings so straight forward.

"Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?" he whispered across the table.

"I didn’t know how to tell you, but I couldn’t keep it in anymore" she explained.

Pilar realized they needed to be alone, but she left them with a few encouraging words.

"I just want you two to know that true love can conquer anything. But you have to be willing to fight for it no matter the consequences"

Chapter 4

They both watched as Pilar left, then turned back to each other.

"You do know I love you too" he blurted out.

"I do now" she smiled.

"I just wasn’t sure how you felt. I was scared at how you would react. I am glad one of us is courageous"

"You risk your life for people everyday, you have more courage than anyone I know. I was scared too, but I couldn’t leave here tonight not letting you know how I really felt"

"I’m glad you did. Come on, I’ll walk you home. It has been a long and we will always have tomorrow"

"Okay"

He helped her put on her coat and they walked hand in hand out the door.

"The target is on the move sir, I am waiting for further instructions"

"Follow the target and wait till it is isolated. The target is the only one who gets hurt, do you understand?"

"Of coarse sir, whatever you say"

They had reached the cottage and neither one want to let go of the other.

"Luis I would invite you in, but I don’t think I would ever want you to leave"

"Believe me, I understand" he gently touched her cheek and kissed her soft lips. The kiss seemed to last forever. No one wanted to stop it. No one wanted to pull away, but they finally needed to catch their breath.

"I love you Sheridan"

"I love you too"

Luis resisted kissing her lips again, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop. So he kissed her sweetly on the cheek.

"We’ll talk tomorrow okay?"

"Okay, bye" she wanted to ask him to stay, but she knew it was too soon.

Julian’s phone rang again.

"The target is isolated sir"

"Good, put the plan into motion and don’t mess up"

"I have never failed sir. I will see you with the package within a few minutes"

"I’ll be waiting" Julian said sternly. He sat drinking a glass of brandy with a smug look on his face. He wasn’t going to let his father down this time. Everything was going perfectly to plan.

Chapter 5.

Luis couldn’t help but look back at her one last time and smile. He continued down the dark walkway. He was looking forward to the walk home. He could think of her all the way. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he got the feeling he was being followed. He turned around but didn’t see anything. He was turning back around to head home when he felt something. It felt like something bit his neck. He clutched the back of his neck, but before he knew what was happening he suddenly felt weak. Luis collapsed onto the cement.

Agent 33 had come through again. He never missed a target. He was the best sharp shooter around. He ran over to Luis to make sure he was out cold. He slapped Luis’s face a couple of times and when he didn’t move he knew it was safe.

"Agent 21, it’s time to deliver the package" he announced into his walkie talkie.

"I am on my way" another man came out of the darkness. The two agents grabbed Luis and dragged him away.

Sheridan walked into her cottage finally after she couldn’t see Luis anymore. Tonight had been a weird night. It started out with a date with Hank and ended up with her confessing her love for Luis. She didn’t think her life could get any better. She couldn’t wait until she got to see Luis in the morning. He had only left her and hour ago. And she was going to go over to his house in the morning. The more she thought about it though, the less she wanted to wait until the morning.

"I don’t want to wait any longer. I need to see Luis now" she said to herself. She grabbed her coat and got into her car.

The agents had brought their package to the mansion. And not a moment too soon, Julian was growing very impatient.

"It is about time" Julian growled.

"I had to wait until there wouldn’t be any witnesses sir. Where do you want him?"

"On the couch will be fine"

"Yes sir, do you need anything else?"

"No, that will be all" Julian handed each man an envelope filled with cash. The agents walked out leaving Julian alone with Luis. Julian walked over to the speakerphone and dialed his father.

"Hello Father"

"How did things go Julian?"

"The first part of the plan is complete and with out any problems. I was about to start in on the second part"

"Good Julian, go ahead"

"Of coarse Father"

Julian walked over to Luis with a glass of water in one hand and his gun in the other. He proceeded to throw the glass of water in Luis’s face.

"Wake up sleepy head" he sneered.

Luis was still a little groggy from the drugs. He was having trouble figuring out where he was, but he knew that voice. He blinked furiously and finally he realized what was happening.

"Julian, what did you do to me?"

"Oh just wait Officer, you’re in for a big surprise" he gloated.

Chapter 6.

Sheridan didn’t want to wake anyone up so she decided if there weren’t any lights on she would have to wait until the morning. Luckily she didn’t have to though, the kitchen light was on. She glanced through the window to see Pilar sitting at the kitchen table. She lightly knocked at the door trying not to scare Pilar. Pilar was a little startled, but she was happy to see Sheridan smiling through the window.

"Hello Pilar, I am sorry to bother you so late"

"Its okay Sheridan, I was just waiting up for Luis. He is not with you?"

"No, I came to see him because I couldn’t wait until tomorrow"

"That is sweet Sheridan, you probably just beat him here"

Sheridan got this awful feeling in her stomach. She could tell something was terribly wrong.

"Pilar, Luis left the cottage over an hour ago" Sheridan had a sickly look on her face.

"It’s not like Luis just to disappear, I’m sure he’ll be here soon" Pilar had to much faith.

"Disappear?????" She almost fainted because of the thoughts that were going through her head. "OH GOD!!!!" she exclaimed. She saw Luis’s gun hanging by the door and grabbed it and ran out the door, leaving a confused Pilar in her wake. She got in her car and drove as fast as she could back to the mansion. She knew she had to calm down though for Luis’s sake. Because if what she felt was right he was in a lot of danger.

"So Luis, do you know what I am going to do to you now?"

"Julian what are you up to?"

"You are a very smart man Luis, you tell me"

"Julian stop playing games and tell me what is going on"

"I am the one holding the gun, I think I am entitled to a little game playing"

Suddenly there was a new voice in the room.

"Julian cut the crap. Hello Officer Lopez Fitzgerald. I hear you have become quite a troublemaker for my family’s affairs, just as your father did. So now you will suffer like your father did"

"What are you saying? You are going to make me disappear too?"

"You are not exactly going to disappear"

"What exactly is going to happen to me?"

"You are going to die, of coarse. You should have stayed out of our family’s business. You were warned" Julian snickered. Luis became very afraid. All he could see was the darkness in Julian’s eyes.

Sheridan made her way to the mansion. It took her only seconds. She walked right in not even thinking about what could be inside. She could see Julian holding a gun to Luis’s head. She walked right up to Julian.

"Julian, what the HELL do you thin your doing?" she had Luis’s gun pointed straight at him.

"Sheridan???? How did you know?" Julian was stunned to see his sister there.

Chapter 7.

"How did I know?!? I don’t think you have time to ask my questions Julian. Now put your gun down!"

Luis was shocked to see Sheridan there and he really wanted her to leave. She was in too much danger there. He mouthed the words "I love you" she when she looked at him and she gave a faint smile.

"Sheridan, get out of here this doesn’t concern you"

"Like hell it doesn’t Julian, what are you going to kill Luis like you did Martin? I am not going to let that happen!"

Again the speakerphone spoke.

"Sheridan this is for the good of the family. Let Julian do his job"

"Father? I can’t believe I am related to you people. I am disgusted! Julian put the gun down, NOW!"

"Julian finish the job NOW!!!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Sheridan shrieked!

******BANG******

"Julian, Sheridan what happened?" Alistair exclaimed.

Sheridan walked over to the phone and clicked it off. Then she ran over to Luis crying. She sat next to him and he held her while waiting for the police to get there.

"Oh god Luis what did I do?"

"You saved me. I told you you were an angel" He kissed her on the forehead.

"All I could think of is what your mother said earlier. That you have to be willing to fight for true love no matter the consequences. I couldn’t lose you" he held her tighter.

Here my head up in the clouds

I feel I’m spinning around

Dreams will come and go

But this is here to stay

So forever this way

Hold me now, hold me now

And say the things you say

Hold me now, hold me now

I pray

So here we are at the start of this road

Together building castles in the air

Words we don’t need without you I don’t breathe

Forever building castles in the air

So softly like a sigh

Sea where the white horses ride

It all seems so real

A feeling deep inside

So our time will go on

Hold me now, hold me now

And say the things you say

Hold me now, hold me now

I pray

So here we are at the start of this road

Together building castles in the air

Words we don’t need without you I don’t breathe

Forever building castles in the air

THE END