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Date Posted: 16:58:16 01/26/03 Sun
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Studs Texas - Book 2, Saturday Night Ends (At Last!)...
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Studs Texas - Book 2, New Thread, Same Saturday..." on 15:20:41 01/25/03 Sat

"Randy's awake!" Rob's smile lit up the hallway as he rushed toward Sunny like a triumphant soldier home from battle.

Vaguely, Rob noticed that Shane and Val were still engrossed in the particulars of Andy's report, but he wasn't about to allow anything to distract him from his euphoric good news.

"She's awake and she's doin' great!" he grinned, certain his medical diagnosis was accurate.

Excitedly, Rob snatched Sunny up into his arms and twirled her around, his sheer happiness stopping all serious conversation as the others felt compelled to approach.

Rob's lips met Sunny's before she even knew it, his joy so complete and spontaneous, that neither of them stopped to think. The kiss, though brief, was filled with the passion of the moment. Most important of all…it felt absolutely right. The smiles on their faces as they broke apart gave proof to that. Without a doubt, those precious seconds together were just one more gift God had given them that evening.

The loving scene should have made Shane smile but his mood was somber and hesitant, a perfect match to Val and Andy's lowered heads, as the trio surrounded the happy couple.

"Didn't you hear me, Shane?" Rob still had his arm around Sunny's shoulder, unwilling to break their new bond entirely, just yet.

"Randy's awake. There's hope now…Real hope…" he beamed, emphasizing every word.

"Shane?" Suddenly, Rob realized that whatever his friend had to tell them, it wasn't going to be good.

"Andy has the preliminary report on the Camaro," Shane began, his tone far too ominous for Rob's liking.

"I told you that car was in perfect condition," Rob took the offensive once again.

"I'm sure it was…" Shane agreed. "Before…"

"Before…?" Rob repeated, quizzically.

Shane looked to Val and Andy for support and then continued with a deep breath, not noticing that Nick had entered the hallway and was now standing directly behind Rob, listening intently, waiting patiently, for the facts to be revealed.

"Before the brake lines were cut…" Shane announced succinctly.

"You mean someone did this on purpose?" Sunny was horrified. "But who would want to hurt Randy?"

All at once, Rob understood; and, the magnitude of the revelation struck him with a force as blunt and as deadly as the one Miranda had suffered in his place.

"Nobody…" he answered softly. "It was supposed to be me…"

Rob's words were hollow, but they cut like a knife into Sunny's very soul, demanding that she absorb the full impact of his statement and feel the rage that threatened to consume him right there on the spot.

Subconsciously, Rob's body language spoke for him - for all the swirling emotions he couldn't begin to express in any other way. His arm, warm and comforting, fell from Sunny's shoulder, and he stepped away from her with a stare so cold and so empty that Sunny would have welcomed the fires of hell rather than ever face it.

Although there was obviously no doubt in Rob's mind, Sunny refused to accept it at first.

"No, Rob, it couldn't be…" she protested meekly, sickened by the thought.

Dammit, she'd tried too hard to escape that man…to create a new life for herself…to make friends…to find love.

Frank Aurora had already been responsible for so much pain and suffering. He was not going to snatch happiness from her again, just destroy it with a wave of his hand like he had a thousand times before, and hurt innocent people in the bargain! The cost had already been too high. Randy couldn't be the latest casualty. She just couldn't…

"You'd better go…." Anguished, Rob rebuked Sunny's hopeless attempt to reach out to him. Guiltily, he lowered his eyes from the woman who only a few seconds ago had made his heart leap.

Now, the very sight of her only served to remind Rob that it was their relationship - their love - which had placed Randy and her baby in harm's way tonight. He would never forgive himself…or Sunny.

"Couldn't be…what?" Shane pounced, seeing the looks that passed between them.

"God, no…" Sunny felt her knees buckle as, gradually, her body began to betray what she knew in her heart to be true: Rob was right.

"I'll tell Shane," Rob told her coldly. "Just go…" he insisted, looking toward to Val for assistance.

"Take her to the boarding house - please," he begged of Val.

Then, because, somewhere deep in Rob's heart, a small ember of love still burned, he added quietly, "Keep her safe."

Confounded, Shane nodded his agreement. Apparently, there was a great deal more to this story he still hadn't heard yet. But, just on the basis of Rob's cautious instructions, Shane felt compelled to issue a warning of his own.

"Be careful…" he whispered to Val, his eyes filled with love. "Lock the doors. Don't take any chances. I'll be there soon."

Val wasn't very good at comforting heartbroken women. Firstly, because she'd never had very many girlfriends growing up; and, secondly, because she was, frankly, so often absorbed in her own private heartaches, she just never seemed to have any energy to spare.

But, now, strangely, Shane's love seemed to give her more strength than she ever thought possible. If their relationship were going to work, tonight would be the first step. Shane needed to know he could count on her - both professionally and personally.

So, his friends would be her friends now. Their pain would be her pain. She would find a way to reach out.

Tentatively, Val placed a comforting hand on Sunny's back. "C'mon…" she soothed. "Let's get you home. You can tell me all about it - over coffee…"

The men watched silently as Val led Sunny into the elevator, not daring to speak until they were safely out of earshot. Patiently, Nick kept his emotions in check, waiting for the elevator doors to close, before he made his presence known, and then…

"This IS all your fault!" Nick seethed, grabbing Rob by the arm and spinning him around until they were face to face. "I knew it!"

"Nick…" With a gulp, Rob realized that Nick had overheard everything.

"It's because of HER!" Nick shouted, unable to control his anger. "Randy and my baby are fighting for their lives because of YOU AND HER!"

Rob didn't even try to deny it. He was as certain as Nick that Frank Aurora was behind this. None of this would be happening if he'd never met Sunny. That little stunt Frank had pulled with the incriminating photos had been just a warning, Rob realized in hindsight. And he ignored it! How stupid could he have been to let down his guard…to think that Frank wouldn't pursue a more permanent means of separation between them?

Rob's stomach lurched. He'd put Randy in his Camaro. He'd handed her the keys and damned near killed her! He'd have to live with that for the rest of his life. He could only pray that Randy's improvement would continue and Nick could find a way to forgive him…someday.

Desperately, Rob grasped at any positive straw to bolster Nick's hope and ease his own conscience.

"But, Randy's awake now…" Rob reminded Nick, a bit overzealously. "That must mean something, right? Oh, she's gonna be okay, Nicky. I just know it..."

"You wanna know what it means, Rob?" Nick shot back, any good will he'd felt earlier toward his old friend gone once again. "It means she's in there waiting for your Mom to walk through that door any minute!"

"What?" Rob's head was spinning as he tried to keep up.

"Randy's lost her memory of the last eight years! She thinks she's pregnant with Nicole…" Nick still couldn't believe it himself.

His words silenced everyone as the news began to sink in. Even if Randy and the baby did survive, her suffering might not be over. It might never be over.

Any shred of hope Rob had held - for forgiveness from Nick…for reconciliation with Sunny…for a life unburdened by a guilt he felt so heavily that he could barely stand, vanished with Nick's words.

"Nicky…" Rob begged in a hush.

"Get out…" Nick turned away from him in disgust.

Devastated, Rob saw nothing else to do but grant Nick's request.

"Not so fast…" Shane stepped in Rob's path. "I want some answers…now!"

"You tell him," Nick hissed at Rob, as he prepared to embark on the vendetta of a lifetime. "I've got an appointment to keep."

"Nicky, you'll never find him!" Rob argued, fearing for his friend's life. "He's got guys all around him…Randy needs you!"

Then, it struck Rob. Something he could do to make amends. Something concrete he could do to help Nick, and Randy, and, even, Sunny.

"Let me…" he pleaded, grabbing Nick's arm to stop him.

"What?" Nick sputtered, not in the mood for suggestions.

"Use me!" Rob insisted, hoping Nick would see the sense in Rob's plan. "Let me be the bait. He's wanted me all along. So…let's give him what he wants."

Nick was taken aback. As angry as he was with Rob, Nick was still impressed with the selflessness of Rob's offer. "You'd do that?" he asked, his voice a mix of suspicion and gratitude.

"I'd do anything…" Rob answered simply, his eyes beseeching Nick for just one tiny chance.

Nick offered no handshake or even a smile, just a subtle nod of appreciation, and maybe, even, acceptance, Rob dared to hope - acceptance of Rob's sorrow, his friendship, and most of all, his love.

"I'm waiting…" Shane seethed, having witnessed Nick and Rob's coordinated plan of attack on a still-unnamed enemy and not about to let either of them leave the building without his permission or his inclusion in whatever was about to happen.

"Sit down, Shane…" Nick instructed, exchanging glances with Rob. Both realized they would probably need Shane's help.

"We're gonna tell you a little story…" Rob added, beckoning Shane to a quiet room nearby.

"About Mr. Frank Aurora."

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