TORTURED SOULS
Part X – The Long Kiss Goodbye
By Dee Allen
Three-thirty a.m. For a moment he stood there, hand on her door. Taking a deep
breath, he somehow found the nerve to open the door.
He had hoped to find her in bed, where he would crawl in next to her, surprising her;
certainly sending them both into a feverish oblivion. But what he found was less than
the romantic ideal he had anticipated.
He laughed when he saw her appearance. Lying on the couch, her hair was partially in
a pony tail, but very messed up like she had walked through a wind tunnel. She wore
her red Sanford sweatshirt, and to his delight, a pair of black lacy panties. Reaching
down, he softly stroked her face causing her to stir. He looked around the scene and
saw exactly what he was looking for; two empty pints of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice
cream and a box of kleenex with several wadded on the floor. “Emotional breakdown.”
He laughed to himself.
He just wanted to put his arms around her and hold her. He would satisfy his other
urges later, but he knew she needed him and his was the last time he could do this for
her. He would be at her side until it was time to come and pry him away.
“Michael?” Came her whisper behind him.
“Hey.” He said quietly, kneeling down next to her, stroking her face and hair. Sitting up,
she flung her arms around him and began to weep uncontrollably.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” He moved so he could see her, gently holding her face in his
hands.
“I had this horrible feeling when you left that you were never coming home.” She
touched his face. “Are you real?”
“Of course I’m real.” He told her. Sadly he knew her premonition was true. After
tomorrow he would have to leave her forever. But for now he was with her. Closing his
eyes, he put his impending destiny out of his mind and came back to the moment.
She looked at him confused. “You just left here last night. How did you get back here
so quickly?”
“Well.” He began his latest deception. “When I got off the plane to make my connection
in Minneapolis, I had a message from my client. His wife was in labor and asked if we
could reschedule, so I hopped on the next plane home.”
“Why didn’t you call me.” She stroked his face.
“What, and miss all this?” He smiled in jest.
“Oh my GOD, I must look horrible!” Putting her hands over her face.
“You could never look horrible.” He removed her hands kissing her softly. “What in
the hell did you do last night?” He laughed.
“Well...it is a very long story.” She thought about the quickening, but decided not to
tell him about it for now. “I’ll tell you about it later on, but you look exhausted and right
now here is nothing more I want to do than climb into bed with your arms around me,
and just sleep in each others arms.”
“You read my mind.” Pulling her in he kissed her, holding her close to him. Then he
picked her up and carried her in the bedroom. He gently placed her in bed, taking his
clothes off, he lay down beside her. She snuggled close with her head against his
chest. They didn’t speak. They lay together, caressing each other and looking into each
others eyes. Finally she drifted asleep. Softly, he cried to himself.
Several hours later he woke up. She was already awake in the kitchen. The clock said 2:
00pm.
He dressed and walked out to join her. He snuck up behind her, putting his arms
around her waist. He got an elbow in the rib cage causing him to double over in pain.
The pain from being thrown against the wall by Peter last night was still fresh and this
didn’t help. “Well, that wasn’t quite the reaction I was looking for.” He nuzzled her
neck. “But it’s kind of a turn on when you get rough.”
She turned and faced him. “Well, you should know better than to sneak up on a girl
with a black belt.” She kissed him softly. “I’m sorry. Are you ok?” She lifted up his shirt.
He tried to stop her, but it was too late. She saw the huge bruise that went from his
right rib cage around his back he received by Peter throwing him against the wall.
“Well, I didn’t do this.” Looking to him for answers. “Where in the hell did that bad boy
come from?” She demanded.
Thinking quickly. “I was a little late for the plane and I had to run to the gate. Just as I
was boarding, they started taking away the walkway. Well, I was not going to miss my
flight and getting home to my girl, so I hurdled it onto the plane...slamming right into
the rail on the walkway on the way down!”
“Well, I’m flattered, but seriously...Ouch!” She studied it. “You put ice on it, right?”
“Well, I had a beautiful flight attendant catering to my every whim...” He teased. “She
was all over me. I think she wanted me.”
“Do I need to track her down and kick her ass?” She replied in mock jealousy.
“Nah, I fought her off.” He pulled her in close. “I told her my girlfriend had a blackbelt
and she backed off.”
“Smart girl.” She laughed kissing him gently. “You probably saved her life.”
Thankfully, she bought it.
“So, what’s for...uh...what meal is this anyway?” Scratching his head.
“Probably all three wrapped into one.” She replied demurely. “I plan to keep you busy
all night.”
“I should go away more often.” He said, looking sadly to himself. “So what are we
having?”
“Frozen pizza and buffalo wings.” She said checking their progress. “I thought we
would have a carpet picnic.”
“Yeah, I think our carpet is the only picnic ground we haven’t been banned from.” He
said rubbing her arms.
“Well, if somebody could learn to keep his hands to himself.” She whacked him with a
spoon. “I think we have worn out our welcome forever at Lake Chabot.”
“Well, it’s just as well; those rocks weren’t very comfortable anyway.” He remembered
reaching under her shirt.
“What are you talking about...I was the one that was...” She was interrupted by him
pulling her into a powerful kiss.
“This conversation is making me very hot...” He began undressing her, then picking
her up, he carried her to the couch pulling her on top of him.
“Ouch!!!” He shouted in pain. “Control yourself woman! Watch the bruise.”
“Don’t be such a wimp.” She teased beginning to rip his clothes off.
He lay there holding her, silently stroking her shoulder. He could hear her heart
beating, a sound that usually soothed his soul, but tonight was breaking his heart. It
was taking every effort he had not to break down. Tonight needed to be special.
“I hope you weren’t hungry.” She laughed. “I think we just ruined dinner.”
“Oh, I was hungry alright.” He gently kissed her. “But I got what I was after.”
“Well, neither one of us has eaten all day.” She returned his kiss. “We need some
energy before round two!”
“Why don’t we get out of here for a little while?” He asked out of the blue. “Let’s go get
something to eat and take a walk around the waterfront. We haven’t done that in a long
time. In fact...I don’t think we have done that since the night we met.”
She looked at him stunned. “YOU...want to go out.”
“Yeah, it’s a beautiful night and I think we could use some air.” He smiled mysteriously.
“Oh my GOD! I look like hell.” She hid her face under the pillows.
“Well, you don’t look like hell!” He removed the pillows kissing her forehead. “But you
are kinda ripe. Why don’t you go take a shower?”
“Only if you come with me?” She stood up pulling him with her.
“You are over-sexed, young lady!” He playfully protested.
“I’m working on it!” She replied.
A little while later they were snuggling on a rock by the waterfront over looking the
lights of San Francisco in the distance.
“Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?” She asked him.
“Yes, I have.” He smiled, pulling her in kissing her. “You are always are very relaxed
when you get around the water. You love it, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” She smiled distantly. “When I was a kid, my mom and dad had a vacation house
on Balboa Island; that’s down by San Diego. I used to walk for miles on the beach and
not even realize it. Sometimes it would get dark and they would have to come looking
for me. The ocean is so wonderful and powerful.”
“Just like you.” He replied kissing her forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Returning his kiss, she snuggled against his chest. “I have always
loved coming down here at night. The city looks like jewels to me.
He got a coy look on his face and reached into his pocket and dropped something by
her feet. “Well, look at that...I think one of those jewels just landed at your feet.” He
bent down and picked it up.
“Lets see...” He reached down and picked up a diamond ring. “Look at this...your right.
They are jewels.”
“Michael?” Laura looked at him, her green eyes tearing up.
“It looks like it may be your size too.” He took her hand and put it on her finger. She
looked at him with tears in her eyes. “It fits.” He whispered, smiling softly.
He gently pulled her around so she was facing him. She was crying now.
“Laura Grace Ryan...will you marry me?” He whispered.
She didn’t even have to think about her answer. “Yes.” Through her tears, she smiled
brilliantly at him. “Yes, Michael, I will marry you.” He pulled her in close then taking her
face in his hands, kissed her softly. They melted into each others arms kissing
passionately.
“We better get home before we get banned from this place too.” She laughed.
“Yeah...because I really can’t keep my hands, or anything else, to myself much longer.”
He stood up quickly pulling her in kissing her again. He took her hand and quickly led
her home.
Inside he was dying painfully. Perhaps it was all a cruel lie. He knew he would never be
able to fulfill his promise to marry her; no matter how much he wanted to. Tomorrow he
would be taken away from her and put to death and her memories of him would be
erased forever. There was no other way.
Through the door they walked quietly. They turned and faced each other. There she
stood before him. He looked deeply into her green eyes overflowing with love for him.
Gently he touched her face and pulled in, just holding her for a moment. Pulling back
again, he kissed her gently at first, each kiss becoming more and more intense.
He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Inside his heart was breaking. He knew
this would be the last night they would spend together. Somewhere in the night would
be the last time he would make love to her. It took every ounce of strength he had not
to break down. Instead, he put his emotions into the moment.
He slowly undressed her, kissing every part of her body. She stood naked before him
breathing softly with each kiss.
He could do nothing but stare at her. “My God you’re beautiful.”
“You’re acting like you’ve never seen me naked before.” She said softly.
“Every time I look at you, I die just a little bit inside.” He whispered softly, beginning to
tear up. “I never thought I could ever love you more than I did the day I first saw you,
but right now I feel like my heart is going to explode.”
He could see tears in her eyes. “Every time I look at you, you make me weak.” She
cried softly. She reached under his shirt and slowly took it off. “If you die tomorrow, I
will never love anybody else. The moment I saw you I knew my heart would belong to
you forever. God, I love you Michael.”
Falling together, they melted into a fiery kiss. Their souls again became one together.
Their love immortalized forever.
Daylight. He opened his eyes. She still lay sleeping in his arms beside him. His tears
again spilled on the pillow. He watched her sleep; so happy and peaceful. Lost in the
illusion that last night was the most wonderful night of her life; an illusion he created
for her. A lie. And oh, how he could lie. How good at it he had become and he could do
it so effortlessly. “How did you become this, Gabriel?” He thought to himself. “Where
did you go?” But he knew the answer. Gabriel Gray had died the day he killed his
mother. Maybe it wasn’t his fault. Perhaps even she knew that. But he would never
forget the look in her face, the fear in her eyes as she struggled with him. “All because
you wanted me to be special, mom!” He thought to himself.
Was it only a year ago that Chandra Suresh first entered his shop? The day he was
finally validated as a human being. Not the watchmakers son. Not the nerdy boy with
the glasses who was always getting beaten up by the neighborhood boys. But as him.
Gabriel Grey.
But that name wasn’t special enough. No. He sealed his fate forever the moment Brian
Davis came into his shop. “Gabriel…Gabriel Sylar.” He recalled telling Brian Davis his
name. A day that such a short time ago he had considered to be his defining moment
was now became his burden; his curse. And here he was; almost a year to the day. To
her he was special. And now her life would be changed forever. “Fuck you, Dr. Suresh!
Fuck you! Fuck your damn list and may you burn in hell for what you have done to me!”
He looked at her. “Why did you fall in love with me Laura?” He sobbed inside. “Why
couldn’t you look at me and turn up your nose like the other girls did?”
“Because you would of killed her too, you asshole.” Replied the voice in his head. He
put his hands over his ears to block it out.
He turned and looked at her again. How would he ever be able to leave her? Every
moment he tried to think of another way. Like Peter said, run away somewhere. Start a
new life. And then what? He would always be running away. That evil part of him could
want to kill her again. No. It was no life for her. She was too good to have to live like
that. He knew one day she would grow to hate him and the wonderful woman he had
loved would grow cold and the light in her eyes would go out forever. He had
exhausted every single possible scenario. There was just no way around it. He would
not kill again. He would not kill her.
Slowly she began to stir. He dried his eyes and waited for her to wake up. Closing his
eyes, he eased into his game face. She opened her eyes, kissing him softly.
“How long have you been awake?” She asked snuggling under the covers.
“Just a little while. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.” He answered gently caressing
her. “I dreamed about you.”
“Really?” She answered intrigued. “And what did I do to you in your dreams?”
“What didn’t you do?” He gently teased her. “I was really trying to get to sleep in my
dream and you kept jumping my bones.”
“Are you sure that wasn’t that flight attendant?” She giggled hitting him with a pillow.
“No.” He answered thoughtfully. “She was a blonde. She tried to get in there, but you
were standing there in those sexy black undergarments you wear so well and started
showing off some of those karate moves. I think you scared the shit out of her. I don’t’
think she’ll be back.”
“You dreamed of me wearing black lingerie doing karate moves?” She laughed
He closed his eyes dreamily. “Oh yeah…and it was HOT!” Once again climbing on top of
her. “Just like I am right now.”
And the morning ignited into a feverish ball of blissful ecstasy.
Laura jumped out of bed and began to get dressed.
“Your going into work today?” He asked her sadly.
“I wish I didn’t have to, but I’ve got to.” She replied dejectedly. “Greg and I have to
meet with this little weasel from The Linderman group. Seriously, I want to wipe the
floor with this guy’s ass.” She said pulling her clothes on. She sat down next to him,
touching his face. “Besides, today I have some things I want to take care of. I think
when we talk tonight you will be really proud of me.”
“Are you kidding me?” He asked pulling her in close. “I’m always proud of you.”
“I know.” She said snuggling against him. “But the last few days I have had so many
things happen to me. I know now it is time for me to stop living somebody else’s
dreams and start living for me.” She smiled thoughtfully.
“That’s my girl.” He kissed her gently. She stood up and started getting dressed. He
watched her, his heart breaking. This was it. She would soon walk out that door and out
of his life forever.
“Oh shit! I forgot!” He jumped out of bed and threw his clothes on.
“What?” She smiled, continuing to dress.
“I completely forgot. I have another surprise for you at my place.” He ran out the door.
She stood there starring after him, laughing. The way he was running around he was
acting like a little boy. Almost as soon as he ran out the door, he slowly came back
through.
“There is somebody I want you to meet.” He said slyly.
“If it’s that flight attendant, her ass is mine!” She teased.
He stood in front of her and pulled something from behind his back. It was the most
adorable Rottweiler puppy she had ever seen.
“Oh my GOD!!! Michael! He’s precious!” She beamed. She looked at the dog tag around
his neck. “You named him Zeus! Just what I said I wanted to call my dog.”
She turned and looked at him. “When did you do this?”
“Well, remember when I went to make a few phone calls at dinner last night? I actually
ran to the jewelry store and picked up your ring. You didn’t know it, but I picked out a
few weeks ago and when I got in yesterday, I called them and told them it HAD to be
ready tonight. When I told the couple that owned the shop what I was planning, they
got right to work on it.” He grabbed Zeus from her and scratched his ears. “Then on
the way back, I saw this little guy’s face looking out at me from a box and there was a
dad and two little boys selling them. He was the last one. I felt it was fate stepping in
again. So, I called Mrs. Gardner, gave her my key and she took him to my place.”
“Oh no…this little guy’s been alone all this time?” She asked.
“Um…yeah.” He answered guiltily. “I got so wrapped up in our night together, I kind of
forgot about him. I…ah…need to do some cleaning today.”
She took Zeus back. “You aren’t getting your deposit back, you realize.” She teased.
“That’s ok.” He smiled sadly. “I just wanted him here to look after you when I can’t be
here.”
She smiled, closing her eyes she softly began to cry again. “Michael Walsh, do you
have any idea how much I love you?” She whispered.
He put the puppy on the floor, pulled her in and held her tight. “If it is anywhere’s close
to how much I love you, then I am the luckiest man alive.” He closed his eyes almost
breaking down again. “You better go.” He began shaking, his voice breaking.
“You be here when I get back.” She told him, as always.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” He smiled sadly. He held her face in his hands,
remembering every detail. She would burn in his heart for eternity. “Will you do one
thing for me?” He asked her.
“What’s that?” She asked kissing him gently.
With tears in his eyes he asked her. “If anything ever happens to me and I am not here
to hold you at night; when somebody asks you if you were ever loved enough in your
life, will you tell them that somebody once loved you enough to give his own life for
you?” He asked sadly.
She looked at him puzzled, but answered him. “Yes.” She embraced him. “Of course I
will. But you had better be here until the day I die. I plan to grow very old with you and
die together in bed when we are 100.”
He could barely keep it together. “Go.” He smiled. Once again he pulled her in kissing
her. He held her one last time. He walked her toward the door.
“Why are you acting like you’re never going to see me again?” She asked him.
“I just didn’t want you to leave here today without knowing how much I love you.” He
replied.
“I love you, Michael.” She said as she headed out the door.
He watched her start to go. He would not see her again. “Hey Mrs. Walsh!” He
whispered to her. She smiled and turned around. “I love you.”
She started to walk through the door.
Just as she started to walk away, she had that same feeling that things would not be
the same. She closed the door and turned around and ran into his arms crying. He held
her tight, not wanting to ever let her go. Looking in each others eyes, they kissed one
last time. “Just promise me you will always be here.”
“I will.” He lied.
She turned and walked out the door.
When the door closed, he stood there for a moment. His heart breaking. He sat down
on the couch, empty inside. Zeus climbed on his lap licking his tears away. He cuddled
the pup and began sobbing.
When he was able to get his composure, he picked up the phone. “Peter?” He said. “It’
s me.” Taking a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
End of Part X
Part X – The Long Kiss Goodbye
By Dee Allen
Three-thirty a.m. For a moment he stood there, hand on her door. Taking a deep
breath, he somehow found the nerve to open the door.
He had hoped to find her in bed, where he would crawl in next to her, surprising her;
certainly sending them both into a feverish oblivion. But what he found was less than
the romantic ideal he had anticipated.
He laughed when he saw her appearance. Lying on the couch, her hair was partially in
a pony tail, but very messed up like she had walked through a wind tunnel. She wore
her red Sanford sweatshirt, and to his delight, a pair of black lacy panties. Reaching
down, he softly stroked her face causing her to stir. He looked around the scene and
saw exactly what he was looking for; two empty pints of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice
cream and a box of kleenex with several wadded on the floor. “Emotional breakdown.”
He laughed to himself.
He just wanted to put his arms around her and hold her. He would satisfy his other
urges later, but he knew she needed him and his was the last time he could do this for
her. He would be at her side until it was time to come and pry him away.
“Michael?” Came her whisper behind him.
“Hey.” He said quietly, kneeling down next to her, stroking her face and hair. Sitting up,
she flung her arms around him and began to weep uncontrollably.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” He moved so he could see her, gently holding her face in his
hands.
“I had this horrible feeling when you left that you were never coming home.” She
touched his face. “Are you real?”
“Of course I’m real.” He told her. Sadly he knew her premonition was true. After
tomorrow he would have to leave her forever. But for now he was with her. Closing his
eyes, he put his impending destiny out of his mind and came back to the moment.
She looked at him confused. “You just left here last night. How did you get back here
so quickly?”
“Well.” He began his latest deception. “When I got off the plane to make my connection
in Minneapolis, I had a message from my client. His wife was in labor and asked if we
could reschedule, so I hopped on the next plane home.”
“Why didn’t you call me.” She stroked his face.
“What, and miss all this?” He smiled in jest.
“Oh my GOD, I must look horrible!” Putting her hands over her face.
“You could never look horrible.” He removed her hands kissing her softly. “What in
the hell did you do last night?” He laughed.
“Well...it is a very long story.” She thought about the quickening, but decided not to
tell him about it for now. “I’ll tell you about it later on, but you look exhausted and right
now here is nothing more I want to do than climb into bed with your arms around me,
and just sleep in each others arms.”
“You read my mind.” Pulling her in he kissed her, holding her close to him. Then he
picked her up and carried her in the bedroom. He gently placed her in bed, taking his
clothes off, he lay down beside her. She snuggled close with her head against his
chest. They didn’t speak. They lay together, caressing each other and looking into each
others eyes. Finally she drifted asleep. Softly, he cried to himself.
Several hours later he woke up. She was already awake in the kitchen. The clock said 2:
00pm.
He dressed and walked out to join her. He snuck up behind her, putting his arms
around her waist. He got an elbow in the rib cage causing him to double over in pain.
The pain from being thrown against the wall by Peter last night was still fresh and this
didn’t help. “Well, that wasn’t quite the reaction I was looking for.” He nuzzled her
neck. “But it’s kind of a turn on when you get rough.”
She turned and faced him. “Well, you should know better than to sneak up on a girl
with a black belt.” She kissed him softly. “I’m sorry. Are you ok?” She lifted up his shirt.
He tried to stop her, but it was too late. She saw the huge bruise that went from his
right rib cage around his back he received by Peter throwing him against the wall.
“Well, I didn’t do this.” Looking to him for answers. “Where in the hell did that bad boy
come from?” She demanded.
Thinking quickly. “I was a little late for the plane and I had to run to the gate. Just as I
was boarding, they started taking away the walkway. Well, I was not going to miss my
flight and getting home to my girl, so I hurdled it onto the plane...slamming right into
the rail on the walkway on the way down!”
“Well, I’m flattered, but seriously...Ouch!” She studied it. “You put ice on it, right?”
“Well, I had a beautiful flight attendant catering to my every whim...” He teased. “She
was all over me. I think she wanted me.”
“Do I need to track her down and kick her ass?” She replied in mock jealousy.
“Nah, I fought her off.” He pulled her in close. “I told her my girlfriend had a blackbelt
and she backed off.”
“Smart girl.” She laughed kissing him gently. “You probably saved her life.”
Thankfully, she bought it.
“So, what’s for...uh...what meal is this anyway?” Scratching his head.
“Probably all three wrapped into one.” She replied demurely. “I plan to keep you busy
all night.”
“I should go away more often.” He said, looking sadly to himself. “So what are we
having?”
“Frozen pizza and buffalo wings.” She said checking their progress. “I thought we
would have a carpet picnic.”
“Yeah, I think our carpet is the only picnic ground we haven’t been banned from.” He
said rubbing her arms.
“Well, if somebody could learn to keep his hands to himself.” She whacked him with a
spoon. “I think we have worn out our welcome forever at Lake Chabot.”
“Well, it’s just as well; those rocks weren’t very comfortable anyway.” He remembered
reaching under her shirt.
“What are you talking about...I was the one that was...” She was interrupted by him
pulling her into a powerful kiss.
“This conversation is making me very hot...” He began undressing her, then picking
her up, he carried her to the couch pulling her on top of him.
“Ouch!!!” He shouted in pain. “Control yourself woman! Watch the bruise.”
“Don’t be such a wimp.” She teased beginning to rip his clothes off.
He lay there holding her, silently stroking her shoulder. He could hear her heart
beating, a sound that usually soothed his soul, but tonight was breaking his heart. It
was taking every effort he had not to break down. Tonight needed to be special.
“I hope you weren’t hungry.” She laughed. “I think we just ruined dinner.”
“Oh, I was hungry alright.” He gently kissed her. “But I got what I was after.”
“Well, neither one of us has eaten all day.” She returned his kiss. “We need some
energy before round two!”
“Why don’t we get out of here for a little while?” He asked out of the blue. “Let’s go get
something to eat and take a walk around the waterfront. We haven’t done that in a long
time. In fact...I don’t think we have done that since the night we met.”
She looked at him stunned. “YOU...want to go out.”
“Yeah, it’s a beautiful night and I think we could use some air.” He smiled mysteriously.
“Oh my GOD! I look like hell.” She hid her face under the pillows.
“Well, you don’t look like hell!” He removed the pillows kissing her forehead. “But you
are kinda ripe. Why don’t you go take a shower?”
“Only if you come with me?” She stood up pulling him with her.
“You are over-sexed, young lady!” He playfully protested.
“I’m working on it!” She replied.
A little while later they were snuggling on a rock by the waterfront over looking the
lights of San Francisco in the distance.
“Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?” She asked him.
“Yes, I have.” He smiled, pulling her in kissing her. “You are always are very relaxed
when you get around the water. You love it, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” She smiled distantly. “When I was a kid, my mom and dad had a vacation house
on Balboa Island; that’s down by San Diego. I used to walk for miles on the beach and
not even realize it. Sometimes it would get dark and they would have to come looking
for me. The ocean is so wonderful and powerful.”
“Just like you.” He replied kissing her forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Returning his kiss, she snuggled against his chest. “I have always
loved coming down here at night. The city looks like jewels to me.
He got a coy look on his face and reached into his pocket and dropped something by
her feet. “Well, look at that...I think one of those jewels just landed at your feet.” He
bent down and picked it up.
“Lets see...” He reached down and picked up a diamond ring. “Look at this...your right.
They are jewels.”
“Michael?” Laura looked at him, her green eyes tearing up.
“It looks like it may be your size too.” He took her hand and put it on her finger. She
looked at him with tears in her eyes. “It fits.” He whispered, smiling softly.
He gently pulled her around so she was facing him. She was crying now.
“Laura Grace Ryan...will you marry me?” He whispered.
She didn’t even have to think about her answer. “Yes.” Through her tears, she smiled
brilliantly at him. “Yes, Michael, I will marry you.” He pulled her in close then taking her
face in his hands, kissed her softly. They melted into each others arms kissing
passionately.
“We better get home before we get banned from this place too.” She laughed.
“Yeah...because I really can’t keep my hands, or anything else, to myself much longer.”
He stood up quickly pulling her in kissing her again. He took her hand and quickly led
her home.
Inside he was dying painfully. Perhaps it was all a cruel lie. He knew he would never be
able to fulfill his promise to marry her; no matter how much he wanted to. Tomorrow he
would be taken away from her and put to death and her memories of him would be
erased forever. There was no other way.
Through the door they walked quietly. They turned and faced each other. There she
stood before him. He looked deeply into her green eyes overflowing with love for him.
Gently he touched her face and pulled in, just holding her for a moment. Pulling back
again, he kissed her gently at first, each kiss becoming more and more intense.
He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Inside his heart was breaking. He knew
this would be the last night they would spend together. Somewhere in the night would
be the last time he would make love to her. It took every ounce of strength he had not
to break down. Instead, he put his emotions into the moment.
He slowly undressed her, kissing every part of her body. She stood naked before him
breathing softly with each kiss.
He could do nothing but stare at her. “My God you’re beautiful.”
“You’re acting like you’ve never seen me naked before.” She said softly.
“Every time I look at you, I die just a little bit inside.” He whispered softly, beginning to
tear up. “I never thought I could ever love you more than I did the day I first saw you,
but right now I feel like my heart is going to explode.”
He could see tears in her eyes. “Every time I look at you, you make me weak.” She
cried softly. She reached under his shirt and slowly took it off. “If you die tomorrow, I
will never love anybody else. The moment I saw you I knew my heart would belong to
you forever. God, I love you Michael.”
Falling together, they melted into a fiery kiss. Their souls again became one together.
Their love immortalized forever.
Daylight. He opened his eyes. She still lay sleeping in his arms beside him. His tears
again spilled on the pillow. He watched her sleep; so happy and peaceful. Lost in the
illusion that last night was the most wonderful night of her life; an illusion he created
for her. A lie. And oh, how he could lie. How good at it he had become and he could do
it so effortlessly. “How did you become this, Gabriel?” He thought to himself. “Where
did you go?” But he knew the answer. Gabriel Gray had died the day he killed his
mother. Maybe it wasn’t his fault. Perhaps even she knew that. But he would never
forget the look in her face, the fear in her eyes as she struggled with him. “All because
you wanted me to be special, mom!” He thought to himself.
Was it only a year ago that Chandra Suresh first entered his shop? The day he was
finally validated as a human being. Not the watchmakers son. Not the nerdy boy with
the glasses who was always getting beaten up by the neighborhood boys. But as him.
Gabriel Grey.
But that name wasn’t special enough. No. He sealed his fate forever the moment Brian
Davis came into his shop. “Gabriel…Gabriel Sylar.” He recalled telling Brian Davis his
name. A day that such a short time ago he had considered to be his defining moment
was now became his burden; his curse. And here he was; almost a year to the day. To
her he was special. And now her life would be changed forever. “Fuck you, Dr. Suresh!
Fuck you! Fuck your damn list and may you burn in hell for what you have done to me!”
He looked at her. “Why did you fall in love with me Laura?” He sobbed inside. “Why
couldn’t you look at me and turn up your nose like the other girls did?”
“Because you would of killed her too, you asshole.” Replied the voice in his head. He
put his hands over his ears to block it out.
He turned and looked at her again. How would he ever be able to leave her? Every
moment he tried to think of another way. Like Peter said, run away somewhere. Start a
new life. And then what? He would always be running away. That evil part of him could
want to kill her again. No. It was no life for her. She was too good to have to live like
that. He knew one day she would grow to hate him and the wonderful woman he had
loved would grow cold and the light in her eyes would go out forever. He had
exhausted every single possible scenario. There was just no way around it. He would
not kill again. He would not kill her.
Slowly she began to stir. He dried his eyes and waited for her to wake up. Closing his
eyes, he eased into his game face. She opened her eyes, kissing him softly.
“How long have you been awake?” She asked snuggling under the covers.
“Just a little while. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.” He answered gently caressing
her. “I dreamed about you.”
“Really?” She answered intrigued. “And what did I do to you in your dreams?”
“What didn’t you do?” He gently teased her. “I was really trying to get to sleep in my
dream and you kept jumping my bones.”
“Are you sure that wasn’t that flight attendant?” She giggled hitting him with a pillow.
“No.” He answered thoughtfully. “She was a blonde. She tried to get in there, but you
were standing there in those sexy black undergarments you wear so well and started
showing off some of those karate moves. I think you scared the shit out of her. I don’t’
think she’ll be back.”
“You dreamed of me wearing black lingerie doing karate moves?” She laughed
He closed his eyes dreamily. “Oh yeah…and it was HOT!” Once again climbing on top of
her. “Just like I am right now.”
And the morning ignited into a feverish ball of blissful ecstasy.
Laura jumped out of bed and began to get dressed.
“Your going into work today?” He asked her sadly.
“I wish I didn’t have to, but I’ve got to.” She replied dejectedly. “Greg and I have to
meet with this little weasel from The Linderman group. Seriously, I want to wipe the
floor with this guy’s ass.” She said pulling her clothes on. She sat down next to him,
touching his face. “Besides, today I have some things I want to take care of. I think
when we talk tonight you will be really proud of me.”
“Are you kidding me?” He asked pulling her in close. “I’m always proud of you.”
“I know.” She said snuggling against him. “But the last few days I have had so many
things happen to me. I know now it is time for me to stop living somebody else’s
dreams and start living for me.” She smiled thoughtfully.
“That’s my girl.” He kissed her gently. She stood up and started getting dressed. He
watched her, his heart breaking. This was it. She would soon walk out that door and out
of his life forever.
“Oh shit! I forgot!” He jumped out of bed and threw his clothes on.
“What?” She smiled, continuing to dress.
“I completely forgot. I have another surprise for you at my place.” He ran out the door.
She stood there starring after him, laughing. The way he was running around he was
acting like a little boy. Almost as soon as he ran out the door, he slowly came back
through.
“There is somebody I want you to meet.” He said slyly.
“If it’s that flight attendant, her ass is mine!” She teased.
He stood in front of her and pulled something from behind his back. It was the most
adorable Rottweiler puppy she had ever seen.
“Oh my GOD!!! Michael! He’s precious!” She beamed. She looked at the dog tag around
his neck. “You named him Zeus! Just what I said I wanted to call my dog.”
She turned and looked at him. “When did you do this?”
“Well, remember when I went to make a few phone calls at dinner last night? I actually
ran to the jewelry store and picked up your ring. You didn’t know it, but I picked out a
few weeks ago and when I got in yesterday, I called them and told them it HAD to be
ready tonight. When I told the couple that owned the shop what I was planning, they
got right to work on it.” He grabbed Zeus from her and scratched his ears. “Then on
the way back, I saw this little guy’s face looking out at me from a box and there was a
dad and two little boys selling them. He was the last one. I felt it was fate stepping in
again. So, I called Mrs. Gardner, gave her my key and she took him to my place.”
“Oh no…this little guy’s been alone all this time?” She asked.
“Um…yeah.” He answered guiltily. “I got so wrapped up in our night together, I kind of
forgot about him. I…ah…need to do some cleaning today.”
She took Zeus back. “You aren’t getting your deposit back, you realize.” She teased.
“That’s ok.” He smiled sadly. “I just wanted him here to look after you when I can’t be
here.”
She smiled, closing her eyes she softly began to cry again. “Michael Walsh, do you
have any idea how much I love you?” She whispered.
He put the puppy on the floor, pulled her in and held her tight. “If it is anywhere’s close
to how much I love you, then I am the luckiest man alive.” He closed his eyes almost
breaking down again. “You better go.” He began shaking, his voice breaking.
“You be here when I get back.” She told him, as always.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” He smiled sadly. He held her face in his hands,
remembering every detail. She would burn in his heart for eternity. “Will you do one
thing for me?” He asked her.
“What’s that?” She asked kissing him gently.
With tears in his eyes he asked her. “If anything ever happens to me and I am not here
to hold you at night; when somebody asks you if you were ever loved enough in your
life, will you tell them that somebody once loved you enough to give his own life for
you?” He asked sadly.
She looked at him puzzled, but answered him. “Yes.” She embraced him. “Of course I
will. But you had better be here until the day I die. I plan to grow very old with you and
die together in bed when we are 100.”
He could barely keep it together. “Go.” He smiled. Once again he pulled her in kissing
her. He held her one last time. He walked her toward the door.
“Why are you acting like you’re never going to see me again?” She asked him.
“I just didn’t want you to leave here today without knowing how much I love you.” He
replied.
“I love you, Michael.” She said as she headed out the door.
He watched her start to go. He would not see her again. “Hey Mrs. Walsh!” He
whispered to her. She smiled and turned around. “I love you.”
She started to walk through the door.
Just as she started to walk away, she had that same feeling that things would not be
the same. She closed the door and turned around and ran into his arms crying. He held
her tight, not wanting to ever let her go. Looking in each others eyes, they kissed one
last time. “Just promise me you will always be here.”
“I will.” He lied.
She turned and walked out the door.
When the door closed, he stood there for a moment. His heart breaking. He sat down
on the couch, empty inside. Zeus climbed on his lap licking his tears away. He cuddled
the pup and began sobbing.
When he was able to get his composure, he picked up the phone. “Peter?” He said. “It’
s me.” Taking a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
End of Part X
