His Every Desire

Tracy knew that it wasn't really Jenna saying these things. It was what her father wanted. Her father had wanted his little girl to end up with the man he had mentored. The real Jenna may have desired Mr. Hayes, but she was also willing to kill. The little girl standing before her was an innocent child.

“Why would you let this happen, Daddy?” the little girl cried. Bruises formed under her eyes and her skin grew pale. “You have to save me, Daddy.”

“Of course, baby,” John whispered. The wind stopped howling in Tracy's mind and the dream became deathly silent. “What do you need me to do?”

“Kill them,” the girl whispered. It made Tracy's stomach sick to hear such an evil thing come out of such an innocent looking child. “Make them pay.”

“Of course, baby,” John whispered again.

The whirling, twisting colors of blue and red began to swirl around the child's feet as she began to laugh. John started to laugh as well and the howling wind overtook them all.

“Tracy! Tracy!” Mr. Hayes shouted frantically, bringing her back to reality.

She didn't know what had happened, but she was on the ground. John Tice was out cold beside her, his eyes rolled up in the back of his head. She stared at him until she was sure she saw him take a breath.

“What happened?” she stammered, putting a hand to her head. She expected it to hurt, but for the first time in weeks, it actually felt clear.

“You were asking him why and then you both just fell to the ground,” Mr. Hayes replied. He had his arms around her, her head propped up on his shoulder. “You scared us all.”

“I'm okay,” she said, actually meaning it this time. “I really am. I know why he did it.”

“He told you?” Mr. Hayes asked, holding her tighter.

“For Jenna. He did it for her. Or rather, what he thinks of as Jenna,” Tracy amended. “He thought that destroying the two of us would bring back the little girl he loves.”

“Jenna's not a little girl anymore,” Mr. Hayes said softly.

“No, she's not,” Tracy agreed. “But, he still see's her that way.”

Mr. Hayes let out a long breath. “You sure you're okay? Seeing you both pass out like that...”

“I'm fine,” Tracy promised. “And I promise to let the doctor look me over.”

"What about him?" Mr Hayes asked. “Is he fine, too?”

Tracy looked over at the still unconscious man.

“I don't know,” she said honestly. “And I don't really care. He tried to have you killed.”

Mr. Hayes kissed her head, and tightened his arms around her. She closed her eyes, breathing in his scent and letting her tired body relax against his.

“He will never hurt either one of us again,” he promised. “I swear to you.”

“I believe you,” Tracy said softly. She turned to face him. Worry creased his face, but love warmed his eyes.

He raised his hand to cup her blood-flecked cheek. When he finally met her stare, Tracy could see the laid-bare emotions that he wanted to express, but for which words were inadequate. She waited for the blinding pain of the connection, but instead just felt a warm rush fill her mi

nd. The pain was gone. She knew her dreams would be of Mr. Hayes and no one else.

"I love you, Tracy, and I will fight from here to hell and back to make sure that you know it." He pulled her in and kissed her lips with a new-found tenderness that was a first for both of them. When he pulled away, Tracy could see the tear-stained trails leading from his eyes as he asked, "This might not be the best time, but I've never been more sure than I am right now. Will you be my wife?"

The question rocked Tracy more than any of the events leading up to it. It was obvious that neither one of them had planned to make that leap so soon. She could see it in his eyes: the pleading desperation that comes only from realizing that he'd found the one thing he couldn’t live without.

"Yes," she responded simply and fell into his arms. It was the one place that where she knew she would always be safe.

Mr. Hayes pulled her off her feet with one arm and carried her away from the car with a renewed urge to protect and provide for Tracy, no matter what the cost. As a second helicopter began to rise over a distant tree line to the east, it felt as if the dawn heralded not only the new day, but a new chapter in their lives.

Tracy closed her eyes and let him carry her to an awaiting car.