More Than That - Chapter 17: Set Ablaze (Gwen/Luis)
by Jamie Witter
 
 

Chapter 17: Set Ablaze
Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell.
-- Joan Crawford

“Gwendolyn Olivia Hotchkiss, you stop treating me like a some sick patient in a hospital, you understand!” Jonathan Hotchkiss shouted as Gwen fluffed the pillow underneath her father’s head for the tenth time the next night.

“You are in a hospital, Daddy,” Gwen said rolling her eyes and the pouted. “I hate it when you call me by my full name.”

“Well when you don’t listen to me, I need to say something to grab your attention,” Jonathan teased and held her hand as she sat at the bed beside him. He had been in the hospital for a week now and they were just waiting for the doctor’s permission to take him home. “You look tired.”

“I’m not,” Gwen plastered a brave smile across her face to hide the fact that she hadn’t slept at all the night before. To many thoughts, too many emotions and too many memories had haunted her head and heart and in the morning, the sheets on her bed were tangled under her. “Just worried about you. Work. Life, in general.”

Jonathan’s brows drew together. “Are you okay?”

“Daddy, I am fine.” Gwen repeated.

“You know better than to lie to me,” Jonathan’s voice was disapproving but the tenderness that shone in his eyes was enough to make her want to fall into her father’s arms and cry endlessly for no reason at all. Or a reason she wasn’t aware of yet. Jonathan pushed Gwen’s face upwards and looked at her sternly. “Talk to me, darling.”

“You can try all you want,” a familiar voice said from behind her. The two whirled to see Jade standing there with a baby in her arms. “She’s not going to admit it. Has that stubborn Hotchkiss streak.”

Gwen broke out into a grin and Jonathan frowned as his eyes rested on the bundle in Jade’s arms. “Jade I know I haven’t seen you in a while but I had no idea that we’ve been estranged for that long!”

Jade laughed and walked into the room. “This is my niece, Amanda. You remember my brother Mark, don’t you sir?”

“Fine young man,” Jonathan said. “And you’re right, Gwen has a stubborn streak a mile wide. Do you know anything about why she’s acting so strange and looking dead tired?”

“She has a lot on her mind.”

“Hello!” Gwen said waving her hand. “I am still in the room and although your concern is deeply appreciated, I am tired of saying that I am fine. If I have a problem, I can deal with it myself!”

Jade and Jonathan just studied her, not buying her explanation for one minute. The baby gurgled in agreement. Gwen rolled her eyes. Jade grinned. “It’s unanimous Gwen. You’re repressing and it’s not healthy. You landed in the hospital last time you repressed.”

Gwen knew that would get her father worked up and glared at Jade. She quickly turned to Jonathan and placed a hand on his cheek. “Daddy, I will not land in the hospital. This town can’t handle to Hotchkisses in the hospital anyway. Don’t worry about me and focus all your energy on getting better.”

“Promise me you’ll take care of you and I will take care of me,” Jonathan smiled.

Gwen sighed. “Promise.”

“No run along with Jade here. My lawyer is coming over to discuss the divorce.”

“About damn time.” Jade said and the three laughed. Gwen just had to close her eyes to see the look of shock and utter horror that had flashed through Rebecca’s eyes as Jonathan told her about the divorce. She could still hear the shrieking, cursing, promises of revenge and insults that shot out of her mouth as two orderlies dragged her away.

“Don’t stress yourself Daddy,” Gwen said as she grabbed her purse and kissed his forehead.

“The same to you, daughter.”

Once Jade, Gwen and little Amanda were outside Jonathan’s room, Jade raised and eyebrow at her friend. “Trouble in paradise, Gwen?”

Gwen rolled her eyes. “Back off, Jade.”

“Crabby, are we? Wake up on the wrong side of Luis’ bed?”

Gwen ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “Why don’t you use the speaker phone in this hospital and announce it to the whole damn world, Jade! As if my life wasn’t a mess already!”

“Sheesh, Gwen,” Jade said hugging Amanda to her. “I was only trying to get you to say something. If something is bothering you, why not talk about it? Or is this one of those problems you’re just going to ignore until it gives you a peptic ulcer and lands you in this very same hospital?”

Cornered by logic, Gwen sighed and gave in. “It’s Sheridan.”

Jade’s mouth dropped open as the two women walked to the elevator. “She knows?”

“No,” Gwen replied and closed her eyes to concentrate on something other than the dull throbbing of her heart. “Yesterday, Luis and I kind of ran into her. She didn’t suspect but it’s making me feel like crap.”

“What do you mean, she found you two and didn’t suspect?” Jade asked as the stepped into the elevator. Gwen explained the situation and her friend sighed, shifting the baby from one arm to another. “So now that you’ve lied to her, you feel like it’s going to be a thousand times worse when and if she ever finds out?”

“I hate lying to my best friend,” Gwen answered. “She does not need to know that the love of her life is sleeping with her best friend. It would kill her. She may be too stubborn to see it, but without Luis, she’s a wreck.”

“And what about Luis?” Jade asked quietly. “Is he a wreck without her?”

Gwen sighed and let the question she had been asking herself all last night sink in. Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked Jade in the eye and let out a deep breath. “I don’t know. But I saw the way he looked at her, last night. He’s still hurting.”

“And you’re stuck between your best friend and a man that you have began caring for. A man that has become more than casual sex to you, right?” Jade asked. The elevator door pinged open and they stepped out into the Harmony night. Amanda started to cry and Jade’s focus changed. “Gwen, do you mind holding her for a second?”

“Sure,” Gwen said as she awkwardly took Amanda from Jade. The girl stopped crying immediately and started to murmur. Gwen smiled brightly and touched the tiny face. Amanda giggled and Gwen felt all her problems and fears melt away for the moment. “Hey there, cutie. Aren’t you precious?”

Jade laughed. “Gwen, you’re a natural. That girl hates strangers.”

“She’s adorable,” she answered and the little baby wrapped all five fingers around Gwen’s index and squeezed. She winced a little. “And she had an incredible grip!”

Jade was still looking through the baby bag on her shoulder and Gwen continued to coo at the baby, rocking her arms softly. Something inside her tugged at her heart as she watched the baby’s eyes droop close. Gwen didn’t know what it was exactly, but it was a strong urge to never let go of the baby in her arms. For a split second, she wanted to pretend Amanda was hers and run away from everything and everyone. Shocked by the sudden urge and surprised by the feelings of yearning she had awakened inside her heart, Gwen quickly handed the baby back to Jade as soon as she asked.

Jade looked at her perplexed. “Gwen, you okay?”

“I’m just…”

“Thinking of Luis?”

“Huh?” Gwen said suddenly. Luis? Baby? What? She closed her eyes to get her mind to focus and had a flash of Luis, holding their baby in his arms as they stood near a crib. Gwen put her hand on her heart to slow down the overwhelming speed it was beating at. “Jade, do you mind if I take a rain-check on dinner tonight? I need to…I just really need to clear my head.”

“Okay,” Jade said slowly, concern apparent in her voice.

“It’s nothing,” Gwen reassured her. “I just need to think a few things out and I don’t want to be boring company and brood all the time.”

“I’m good with brooding people!” Jade protested.

Gwen just smiled tightly and headed for the parking lot, located her car and sped off to the wharf. The ocean always helped her clear her thoughts and make sense of her life.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Luis had struggled with his thoughts all day. Sam had finally had enough with all his brooding and ordered him to leave the station before he was fired instead of promoted. Banging his hand on the steering wheel, Luis muttered a curse. He was headed for the wharf to clear his mind and try to come to terms with sleeping with Gwen.

It wasn’t like it was a chore for him. He enjoyed it immensely. It was just what he needed. She was just what he needed. Someone to go to when he was feeling confused. When he needed to release tension. Someone who could comfort him. And sex with Gwen was a great way to do both. She was smart, beautiful, sexy, warm, giving, comforting…he could sit and list all her qualities in his mind all night. Not that it would do him any good at all.

He cared for her. More than he had admitted to her and anyone else. Antonio thought it was just sex. Beth was wary of Gwen because she didn’t know her. Hank was supportive but he was just happy that Luis was finally getting laid. The last thought had Luis smirking.

But no one understood what was going on inside him.

He didn’t understand it fully either.

He thought of Gwen constantly.

And with thoughts of her came guilt. And pleasure. And pain.

Then there was Sheridan. God, Sheridan had been everything to him for so long. He had to believe that there was something more to his relationship with her that just love. They had a connection. It was deep. Instinctive even. In the beginning, anyway. But it all crumbled. As if the foundation had been too weak to hold all the trouble that came with dating Sheridan Crane, debutante extraordinaire.

Luis parked the car, cursed loudly to relieve some tension and then started to walk down the wharf.

The wharf where he had kissed Sheridan…

Not a good place to come clear your head, Luis, he mocked himself. God can’t you do anything right? Mumbling to his conscience to shut up, Luis leaned against the barrier and looked down at the choppy water below. He straightened up when he heard a noise in one of the alleys. He walked closer; his cop instincts on full fledge.

“Leave me alone!” the familiar voice floated through the air. He froze as he recognized it. Gwen. She was in danger.

His speed quickened immediately as he broke out into a run and found himself in the alley. He saw a poorly dressed man hovering over Gwen, a knife in his hand. Gwen met his eyes over her attacker’s shoulder and his heart lurched at the fear he saw in them. Reaching for his gun, he pulled I out and aimed it at the stranger’s back. “Freeze!”

The man whirled around, grabbing Gwen in the process. She gasped and Luis could tell she was trying to be strong. The man was haggard, he looked inebriated and behind the haze in his eyes, he looked scared. Good, Luis thought. He’s new at this. The man raised the knife to Gwen’s throat and took a step back. “Drop the gun, officer.”

“Let the lady go,” Luis answered evenly, although his heart was beating like a runaway train. “Just let her go.”

“No!” he answered shakily. “I have the upper hand! I’m in control!”

“Let her go and we’ll talk,” Luis said taking a small step closer.

The man let out a laugh. “That’s what all you cops say! Give the poor, crazy guy some hope and the arrest his sorry ass!” Luis took another step closer and the man tightened his grip on Gwen, plunging the knife a little deeper. Gwen gasped in pain. “Not another step!”

“Okay,” Luis said and stopped. “I’ll put my gun down and you let her go.”

When the man didn’t answer, Luis bent down and slowly put the gun on the floor. His eyes connected to Gwen’s and she nodded imperceptibly. Before he could do anything, Gwen stomped onto her assailant’s foot, crunching her heel into his town. He gasped in pain and she broke free of him. But he was still quick and his knife cut her arm. Luis sprang into action and tackled the man to the floor. With a quick upper cut, he had the man falling to the floor in a heap because of his drunken state. Something inside Luis snapped and he found himself beating the unconscious man mercilessly, the picture of Gwen in the man’s arm fueling his anger.

It wasn’t until Gwen appeared by his side did he stop. “Luis stop! You’re going to kill him!”

He looked up at her, his eyes hardening as he saw the deep cut on her arm and her trembling frame. Getting off the unconscious man, he reached into his pocket and called for back up. He then turned to Gwen and something dark and unheeding settled into his heart. He grabbed her uninjured arm lightly. When he spoke, his voice sounded cold and distant. “Let’s go home.”