DISCLAIMERS:

COPYRIGHT: Cass and Rox are figments of my imagination... Yep - I created them all by my 'lil ole self. They do resemble a certain warrior and bard in appearance, and maybe even in mannerisms, but other than that, they are original creations, and are Copyright, 1999 by kd bard. Character or name resemblance to 'real' people currently living or dead is completely coincidental. Download it, print it out and share it if you'd like, but be sure to include the disclaimers.

SUBTEXT: This story is alternative in nature. If you don't know what that means, then you really need to find out before you start reading. The ladies in this story meet and really like each other ... I mean ... they REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like each other. This story does contain some mildly graphic sex scenes. If you're offended by this statement, then you'll be offended by the story. If you're not old enough to be here, then please go find some Disney stories to read. If love is illegal where you live, I strongly suggest you move.

VIOLENCE: Domestic violence plays a focal part of this story. If you are currently in an abusive situation... please get out now! Abuse is a crime that can not be tolerated... stop the cycle with yourself or someone you love.

TIME LINE/CONTINUITY: This is a brand new alternative fan fiction, set in modern day time, starring a couple of new leading ladies. This story can be found on my home page at http://homepages.together.net/~warriorx/WebPage.htm along with a host of other good stories. Enjoy!

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I strongly believe that love is love, regardless of how it is packaged, so please don't flame me for believing in something so wonderful. All flames will be immediately extinguished by a tour through the city's sewer pipes, however, I do beg for constructive criticism. Send all feedback to warriorx@together.net.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: A very big thanks to those of you who took the time to find my booboo's ... Mom, Marn, Mel, Ili, Beck, Rosa. I really appreciate it - you've saved me once more from looking like a literary idiot! Thanks to Little Warrior for listening to my disjointed rambling while I worked through the hard parts, and for helping me practice... ah... ah... I mean, proof the really 'good' parts (^^). Special thanks to Ili for providing the Spanish translations (the English versions are provided in brackets []). Finally, a warm thank you to MQ and BG for their technical wisdom and spiritual guidance.

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO READERS: I want to thank all of you for your patience while I have laboriously worked out this story. I know it has been customary for me to post stories on a more frequent basis, but my life has gone through drastic changes over the past few months... changes that are largely good, but traumatic, nonetheless. A new love has entered my life ... a love that has given me the courage to express my true heart ... a love that will endure for the rest of our lives. I love you my Little Warrior. An old love has left ... the end to a lesson well learned. Family illness, and unprecedented family love ... all of this has worked to change my life in ways I can not describe. Thank you all. kd :-)

CHAPTER XXX

7:00 a.m. Saturday morning found Cass already up, dressed and finishing her morning run. Having gone to bed so early the night before, she had awakened at 5:30 a.m., unable to fall back to sleep. After her workout and a leisurely breakfast with Angie, she ran home and showered, and by 9 a.m., was curled up comfortably on the couch, doing the crossword from the newspaper.

"Let's see ...," she said out loud, "five letter word for postal telecommunications,"

E-mail. Enforcer answered for her.

"E-mail ... that fits! Thanks E!" she replied. "E-mail .....," she said again, looking wistfully toward the office.

Do you think she's called, E? she asked herself.

Hell! You're a sucker for punishment - go check! Enforcer urged.

Rising to her feet, Cass crossed the room in three strides and pushed the door open. Seconds later, she was sitting in front of the computer, waiting once more for it to go through it's long boot-up process. Her leg nervously shook up and down as she made threatening gestures toward the CPU. Just as her patience was stretched to the limit, the boot-up completed, allowing her to select Nestcape Messenger. Knowing she would surely throw the computer out the window if she was forced to sit through the long dial-up process, she retreated to the kitchen and make a cup of coffee. By the time she returned to the office, the server had delivered one piece of new mail to her inbox. It was from Rox.

She replied E! Cass exclaimed to her alter ego as she opened the note.

Whoop-tee-do, Cass. Do you want me to cheer or do cartwheels? Enforcer asked sarcastically.

Ignoring her own caustic thoughts, Cass read the note three times, her heart rising higher in her throat with each pass. Clicking the 'reply' button, she began composing a reply.

"Dearest Rox,

Please don't apologize for your harsh tones. I sorely deserved them. I am generally not a coward, but I couldn't bear the thought that you had rejected me. I have never been so heartbroken in my life.

Rox, I know you're scared. I was terrified when I realized I was gay. It was all so new to me. It wasn't very well accepted by my family, nor by the community I was living in at the time. I know it's hard to separate the emotions from the gender... but Nikki is right, this is about love, and I love you with all my heart.

Rox, you are the only one who can decide if this type of love is right for you. I know how confused you are. The only way you will know for sure is to explore the possibility ... at your own pace. Please let me be the one you explore it with. I promise to be patient ... I promise not to push you into something you are not ready for. I know you may decide in the end that lesbian love is NOT for you. That is a chance I am willing to take.

Nikki and Jerri seem like wonderful friends, Rox. Learn by their experience. Jerri is right ... it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. To be connected to another human being on such an emotionally intimate level ... Rox, the physical side of lesbian love is such a small part of what it's all about. It is a blending of two souls, two hearts, two minds, on a level that isn't possible in male/female relationships. The physical expression only adds to the beauty. I so long to share my soul, heart and mind with you, my love.

Rox, I want to be with you. I love you. I want to help you understand these feelings. I want to be there to hold you when you open your eyes each morning. I want to make love to you each night. I want to hold you when you cry and take care of you when you're ill. I want to envelop you in a cocoon of love and protect you from the less pleasurable side of life. Rox, I want to dedicate the rest of my life to making you happy and whole. Talk to me, Rox.

I love you with everything that I am,

Cass"

Feeling very sure that Rox would see the love she had written into her words, she eagerly clicked on 'send', holding her breath as the note disappeared from the screen.

**********

God, I really need to get to work on this book. My agent is going to kill me if I delay the deadline any more, Rox thought as she selected the word processor resident on her hard drive. She woke up at 9 a.m., and an hour later, started collecting research information through the Internet, for her next chapter on distant galaxies. In the middle of her research, Nikki called and invited herself over for lunch, promising to be there within an hour. Hanging up the phone, Rox absently selected her word processor, sending the Netscape icon to her toolbar in standby mode.

Rox was deeply absorbed in her research when Nikki poked her head into the office. "I'm taking orders ... got any requests?" she asked.

Rox looked up and graced her best friend with a brilliant smile. "Good Morning, Nik," she said. "I didn't hear you come in."

"You know, Rox. One of these days, leaving your door unlocked while you're squirreled away in this attic office is going to get you ripped off," Nikki warned. "You're lucky I wasn't a burglar or something."

Rox just shrugged and turned her attention back to the papers in front of her.

"Well?" Nikki asked.

"Well, what?" Rox replied.

"Lunch?" came the answer.

"Oh!" Rox said, embarrassed that she was so distracted. "Ah, hold on. I'll give you a hand. I need a break anyway." Pushing herself away from the desk, she rose to her feet and followed her friend down the stairs. Seconds later, an exclamation mark appeared next to the envelope icon on the bottom right corner of her screen. She had new mail.

**********

"So, have you heard from Cass?" Nikki asked as she spooned some soup into her mouth.

"No, I haven't," Rox replied. "I sent a note last night apologizing for being so harsh in my last note, but no reply has come through as of this morning," Rox said, disappointment tingeing her voice.

"Maybe she's angry with you, Rox. You know, it was pretty rude of you to run away from her like that," Nikki pointed out.

Rox placed her fork down on the table and wiped her mouth. Looking at her friend with saddened eyes, she replied. "I know, Nik. I can't believe I did that. It's just that I didn't expect her to be a woman. I didn't know how to react! It scared the shit out of me," she confessed.

"How DO you feel about her, Roxie," Nikki asked anxiously.

Rox furrowed her brow, then shook her head side to side. "I don't know, Nik. I just don't know. I definitely feel something stronger than friendship, but I don't know if I'd call it love. It's all so confusing. Nikki ... up until now, the thought never crossed my mind that I could be gay. Aarrgghh! This really sucks! I just want to crawl into bed and wake up to have this all resolved. I really don't want to deal with it!" she exclaimed.

Nikki just nodded her head. "So what's the next move?" she asked her red headed friend.

"I guess I just wait to see if she responds to the note. What else CAN I do, Nik?" Rox asked.

"What do you WANT to do, Rox?" Nikki answered with a question of her own.

Rox threw her head back and closed her eyes, then opened them and stared at the ceiling for a moment or two before looking back at her friend. "I want this to be over. I want it to be resolved. I want life to be good again," she replied.

"Hmmph!" Nikki snorted. "I didn't hear you say you wanted her out of your life."

"No, I didn't, Nik ... I just don't know," she finished as she took her last sip of coffee. "Look, I gotta get back upstairs. I've got a book to write," she added rising to her feet.

"Mind if I keep you company for a while? Jerri's working until midnight, and it gets real lonely around the house all by myself," Nikki commented.

"Sure ... come on," Rox replied smiling.

"Let me clean up here first. You go on ... I'll be there in a few minutes," the blonde said as she wistfully watched her friend head toward the stairs.

**********

Before returning to work, Rox fixed herself a cup of tea in the kitchenette area of the office and went onto the widow's walk to enjoy the ocean while she drank it. While she stood against the railing, she quietly contemplated her feelings.

Cass, why have you invaded my every thought? How can you walk into my life and completely turn it upside down? I have been forced to rethink my entire philosophy ... rethink all the beliefs that I have built my life around. Why am I allowing you to do this to me? Gods, I'm so confused, she thought.

Sighing deeply, she returned to her computer and sat down. The computer had thrown itself into sleep mode while she was having brunch with Nikki. Reaching down, she pressed the button on the front of the CPU and waited for the system to wake up. Within moments, she was presented once more with her word processor.

Just as she was about to start writing, she noticed the mail icon at the bottom of the screen indicating the presence of new mail. Reaching over with the mouse, she double clicked on the icon and opened her In box. It contained a note from Cass.

Rox sat there staring at the screen, her heart in her throat, as she read Cass' loving words. Tears rapidly formed in her eyes as she marveled at the fact that Cass was still so loving, despite the harsh treatment she received at the hands of the red head.

Cass, why do you love me? After the way I've treated you, I'm surprised you want anything to do with me, Rox thought as she reread the note once more. Taking a deep breath, she looked at her watch and agonized about taking time away from her writing. To hell with it, she thought. The book can wait. My heart needs attention right now.

Posing her hands over the keys, she began to write.

"Dear Cass,

Sweetheart, if anyone is a coward, it is me. When I first laid eyes on you and realized you were a woman, I was terrified. I didn't know how to deal with it, so I ran. I am so sorry. When I put myself in your shoes, I realize how devastated you must have felt. I am not in the habit of intentionally hurting people. I am very ashamed of my behavior and my cowardice.

Cass, how did you know you were gay? How did you deal with it? I have a queasy stomach just thinking about it. I have looked the relationship between Nikki and Jerri and often wished that mine with Chris was as loving and close, but it just wasn't possible. Is that because Chris is a man, or because he just wasn't right for me? It is all so confusing.

I don't know how my family would react. My father is dying. Would I be sending him to his grave with a broken heart if he knew? I can't do that to him ... not even for my own happiness. Christ, this is so frustrating!

Cass, you suggest that I explore the possibility before I make up my mind. Part of me wants to vehemently deny that I am gay. Another part of me is curious. That part of me wants to explore. That part of me wants to be with you, to learn from you. I know you would be patient, Cass. If I close my eyes, and imagine, I can see you holding me close, kissing me, making love to me. I am not ignorant to lesbian love. If you knew Nikki and Jerri like I do, you'd know why (it seems like every time I call them, I'm interrupting something, lol!). But to be honest, I really don't know if I'm ready for this, and I am so afraid of hurting you more if I agree to try, and then fail.

I so desperately want the emotional connection you speak of ... the blending of souls, but I am so afraid of hurting you and myself in the process. You can see who the real coward is, Cass.

Cass, what you offer is so tempting. I DO long to wake up each morning in loving arms. Heaven knows, I didn't have that with Chris. To be surrounded with love and tenderness is more than I can imagine. I have never known that type of relationship before. Damn it! Why is this so hard? Why can't I just say, 'Yes, Cass. Come to me, love me, and let me love you?' Why? I have so much to think about ... so much to deal with! I am so sorry to put you through this Cass. It must hurt you terribly.

Well, I really have to get to work on my book. My agent is becoming very impatient with me. So, I guess I'll sign off for now. You have given me a lot to think about, Cass. I know I owe you an answer. I will search my heart, and hope soon that I will be able to tell you how I feel. Thank you so much for being patient with me.

I'll talk to you later,

Love,

Rox"

Rox sat for long moments, staring at the screen after she sent the note, unaware that her best friend was standing in the doorway, watching her with concern and trepidation. Cass, please don't play with her heart, Nikki thought. She has been through so much ... she doesn't need more heartache. Sighing deeply, she made her presence known as she entered the room and settled on the couch to read while her friend worked furiously at her keyboard.

**********

Cass paced the floor for several long moments after sending her note to Rox, hoping against hope that she would reply immediately. After a half hour, it became apparent that a timely reply was not forthcoming.

Woman, you are pathetic, E scolded. Look at you! Ever hear the saying, 'a watched pot never boils?'. If you keep staring at the monitor like that, you'll have the words 'Netscape Messenger' permanently burned into your retina!

E, it's been a half hour. Maybe she's read my note and blown me off. I know she's angry - heaven knows she has a right to be, Cass replied.

Maybe she's busy. She's in the middle of writing a book, isn't she? E asked.

Yeah, but ..., Cass started.

But what? Cass, you really need to get a life. You're playing with fire here, you know. Rox digs men. You're setting yourself up for a heartache, my friend, Enforcer warned.

I don't know that yet, E. She said that she has feelings for me. What if those feelings are love ... or what if they could develop into love? If I walk away, I'll never know, she explained to her alter ego. E, I don't want to be on my deathbed regretting my cowardice. I have to find out if she can love me ... I have to.

After a slight pause, Enforcer responded. Well, I guess we have some work to do then. I'll help you to compose the next note when she finally replies to your last one.

I don't know, E. You tend to get a little raw sometimes. You might just scare her away, Cass worried.

Look Cass, if this DOES work out with Rox, all three of us are going to be living together - so she'd better get used to me now! Enforcer reasoned.

Cass responded with a groan.

What was that for? I'm not such a bad person! I've kept you on the straight and narrow for years! E exclaimed.

Straight and narrow? You're kidding me, right? What about when you had us skinny dipping in the neighbor's pool in the middle of the night? Cass asked.

Yeah, but, it was hot ... and ... and you were only 10 years old at the time ... so who cares? Enforcer defended herself.

And what about when you talked us into sneaking into the drive-in theater in Cathy's trunk, huh? I was stuck in that trunk for six hours after Cathy broke the key off in the lock! Some advice that was! Cass complained.

Well, you gotta admit - that WAS a good idea at the time. How was I supposed to know you were claustrophobic? Enforcer complained.

And what about the time ..., Cass continued.

All right! All right! You've made your point. So maybe my advice hasn't always been good - but you gotta admit, we had some fun! Enforcer countered.

Yeah, I guess, Cass finally admitted, but we really need to be careful here, E. I don't want to lose her before I even have her, Cass reasoned.

Don't worry, my friend. I'll behave. In the meantime, you need to take your mind off the computer. Why don't you clean this pig sty. You know Cass ... you would think you were raised in a barn! If your Mom could only see this place ..., Enforcer scolded.

"Aarrgghh!!! All right, already! I'll clean it!" Cass screamed out loud, throwing her hands in the air and jumping to her feet.

Standing in the middle of the office, she look a long hard look at the room for the first time in several weeks. "God, it really IS a pig sty," she commented as she noted the dirty coffee cups on the desk, overflowing wastebasket, newspapers and magazines stacked in the bookcase , and dust bunnies hanging from the ceiling in the corner of the room. Christ Cass. No wonder E gets on your case! she thought as she started to clean.

Two hours later, hungry and covered with dust, Cass stood in the center of the room, very proud of what she had accomplished. She didn't realize how much she had neglected this room until she started cleaning it. Glancing over at the clock on the desk, she was shocked to realize it had taken her two hours. Sorely tempted to sign on to e-mail, Cass instead decided to give Rox a little more time to respond as she cleaned herself up and ordered pizza for lunch. Forty five minutes later, she was sitting in front of the monitor, freshly showered, with a small pepperoni, mushroom and sausage pizza sitting beside her, waiting for the computer to boot up.

Finally, Netscape Messenger delivered a note from Rox@starship.com to Cass' inbox. Reaching for the mouse, Cass opened the note and read it's entire contents ... twice.

Wow, Cass. She's really confused. That woman doesn't know if she's coming or going! Enforcer pointed out.

You're right, E. I have to be careful not to push her too hard. I don't want to scare her away. Damn, I hate this dating thing, Cass replied.

Yeah - especially with chicks who dig men! Enforcer responded.

E, she could be bisexual, you know. Give me a break, will ya? Cass exclaimed as she clicked on 'reply'. Now, what to write back ..., she mused. After a few moments, she began to compose.

"My Dearest Love,

I owe you an apology. I should have made it clear that I was a woman right from the start. I am so sorry. I can understand why you would be confused ... Cass is such a generic name. I think a little background on myself might be helpful. My full name is Cassidy Marie Conway. I am 29 years old (soon to be 30), and as you know, I live in San Jose, California. I am the oldest of two children. My brother Jeff died a few years ago in a car accident. Unfortunately, I have been estranged from my parents for the past several years. You see, they don't appreciate having a gay daughter.

You asked me how I knew I was gay. Well, I guess I can say that I kind of knew since I was a teenager. You see, I knew there was something different about me - I just didn't have a name for it at the time. While my girlfriends were playing with dolls and fussing with their hair, I was busy playing baseball with the neighborhood boys. In high school, I wasn't interested in women's gymnastics or in making out behind the bleachers with the football team ... I was interested in being ON the football team (it's too bad I wasn't allowed)! I didn't put a name to my feelings until I met Patti. She captured me heart and soul. I only wish I had seen through to her dark side before I allowed her to capture my heart.

Rox, I can't tell you why things didn't work out as lovingly as you would have liked between you and Chris, however, if Chris was as much of a macho ass hole as he was on the beach, then that may shed some light on the question. Honey, I have met women who act like Chris. There are lesbian relationships that end up just like yours. Occasionally, one partner dominates the other to the extreme that it becomes a 'husband/wife' type of scenario. My relationship with Patti was headed in that direction when she overdosed. As much as I hate to admit it, I allowed her to dominate me. I allowed her to treat me like Chris treated you ... right down to the physical abuse. The good news, Rox, is that there are just as many loving, equal relationships out there as there are unequal ones. What I am offering to you, Rox, is just such a relationship, should you choose to explore it. I don't want someone to dominate ... and I don't want to be dominated. I want someone to share my life and my love with - on a totally equal basis.

As far as how your family would react to the possibility that you are gay, it is always best if you have their support, however, this is your life, and your happiness we are talking about. If the gods are willing, you will be around long after your parents are gone. You can't live your life for them, or you'll wake up one morning after they're gone and regret that you didn't follow your heart. Rox, if they truly love you, they will at the very least, accept you as you are, even if they don't agree with your lifestyle. Obviously, I don't know your parents, so I am not in a position to make a judgment. As far as your father dying ... don't you think he'd rather die knowing you are happy? Think about that, Rox.

Honey, if there is even a small part of you that is curious, or that has felt something more than just sisterly affection for another woman, you owe it to yourself to explore. The type of loving relationship that is possible between two women just can't be described in words. It has to be experienced to be understood. It is so intense, and personal, loving and caring ... Rox, I love you. I want desperately to show you what my words so inadequately convey. Please don't worry about hurting me. I am going into this relationship with my eyes wide open. I know there is a risk that you may find that this type of love is not right for you. I understand that, and I'm willing to take the chance. You are worth any risk I may have to take.

Let me come to you, Rox ... let me love you, and allow yourself to love me. I'm not denying that it is a hard decision, but you can't make it without first experiencing it. Let me help you ... I promise to leave you alone forever if this is not for you, Rox. Please think about this.

I will wait forever for you, Rox. I know how scary this is. Just know that I love you, and I will never hurt you.

Good luck with your book.

With all my love,

Cass"

Cass reached for the last slice of pizza as she clicked on the 'send' button and watched her note start it's journey to Maine. Lifting it to her lips, she grimaced as she realized it was ice cold.

"Damn!" she said out loud, looking at the clock. "Shit! It's after 3:00 p.m. Why on earth does it take me so long to respond to Rox's notes!!?" she said, exasperated with herself.

Because you're not as smooth and direct as I am ... it's all that beating around the bush, Enforcer answered.

What do you mean by that? Cass asked, insulted.

Well ... Think about it! Damn, woman! You wrote her a book! the alter ego exclaimed.

All right smart ass, what would YOU have written? Cass asked.

Me? I would have said ... Bedroom - be there! Enforcer replied.

Oh yeah ... real smooth, E. She would have been gone in a heartbeat! Cass explained.

Hey - if she can't take the heat, she should stay out of the kitchen! Enforcer quipped.

E... eat shit and die, okay? Cass said sarcastically as she headed for the microwave.

**********

"Rox ... dinner's ready!" Nikki called up the stairs. After a few moments with no response, she yelled again. "Rox!" Finally, after a few more moments, she went in search of her friend. As she entered the office, she noted Rox working furiously away at the keyboard.

"Rox, honey ... dinner's ready," she said in a softer voice.

No response.

"Earth to Rox!" the blonde said loudly.

Rox jumped. "Jeeeeessssuuuusss Christ Nikki! You scared the shit out of me!" she exclaimed, grasping her chest with her good hand.

"Well ... you weren't answering me! Do you always get this tuned out when you're writing?" Nikki asked.

"When I'm on a roll ... yes, I do," she replied, "sorry!"

"It's okay. Dinner's ready. Are you hungry?" Nikki said again.

"Yeah, I guess I could eat. Let me check my e-mail first, then I'll be right down," Rox offered.

"No ... I don't think so. Dinner's getting cold - and besides, you've been sitting at that thing all afternoon - you need a break. Come on ... e-mail will wait for an hour while you eat," Nikki demanded, giving Rox her best 'I'm in command' attitude.

Rox looked at her friend as she stood with her hands on her hips, an 'I dare you to challenge me' look on her face, and couldn't stop herself from bursting out laughing. "Oh Nik ... you are such a big wuss!" she laughed.

Nikki gave up her tough broad pretense and batted her eyelashes at Rox. "Well, I do declare my dear friend ... I am not a wuss!" she intoned in her best southern accent.

"Nikki Wuss Davenport ... Yep! It fits! Has a nice ring to it too, don't cha think?" Rox teased.

Nikki reached for a cushion from the couch and threw it at Rox, clocking her on the side of the head with it.

"Owwwww!" she complained before picking up the pillow. As she advanced menacingly on her blonde friend, who was matching each of Rox's forward steps with backward steps of her own.

"Oh no .... come on, Rox ... I was just kidding ... really!" Nikki pleaded, her hands out in front of her to ward off the imminent attack.

Rox continued her forward advance until she had backed Nikki up against the couch. Placing the index finger of her good hand on Nikki's shoulder, Rox slightly pushed, and watched her friend teeter on the back of the couch. After several seconds of watching Nikki fight for balance, Rox took the pillow she was still holding and whacked Nikki right in the face, sending her sprawling over the back of the couch onto the cushions below, landing on her back with her feet splayed in the air. She laid there for several moments, legs all akimbo like a turtle stranded on its back.

Rox couldn't help but laugh at her friend's position. "God, Nik ... it's a good thing Jerri isn't here, or I'd have to leave the room. If she saw you in that position, there'd be no stopping her!" Rox joked.

"Roxanne Ward, hmmph...!!! Damn you!" Nikki sputtered as she rolled off the couch onto the floor. Coming to her knees, she gave Rox a severe warning look, causing the red head to turn tail and run for the stairs before her friend could rise to her feet and follow her. Luckily for Rox, Nikki had tangled herself in the afghan that was thrown over the back of the couch, giving her several moments head start on the agitated blonde.

By the time Nikki reached the kitchen, Rox was standing there with two glasses of wine, holding one of them out in front of her toward her friend as a peace offering.

Rox smiled disarmingly at Nikki. "Truce?" she offered as she placed the glass in her friend's hand.

Nikki tried very hard to stay angry, but failed miserably as she grinned lopsidedly and accepted the wine from Rox.

"To friendship!" Rox said.

"To friendship!" repeated Nikki.

"To the sisterhood!" Rox added.

"Absofuckin'lutely!" Nikki responded, causing them both to burst out laughing.

**********

It was late in the evening before Rox returned to her computer. Nikki had finally gone home after cleaning up the dinner dishes and kissing Rox goodbye soundly on the cheek. Reaching up, Rox took Nikki's face in her hands and placed a gentle kiss on her friend's lips. "Good night, Nik. Kiss Jer for me, okay?" she said, before shooing her friend out the door. "Drive carefully!" she called out after her retreating friend. Closing the door, she walked back into the kitchen and make a cup of tea before heading back to work.

Okay, I'll just sip my tea while I wait for you to boot up, she thought. Looking up at the stuffed giraffe beside her computer, she added out loud, "Well, Gerald, what do you think of all this? I mean, I have no problem being affectionate with Nikki ... in fact, it feels pretty good. Does that mean I'm gay? And what about Cass? She certainly is beautiful, isn't she?" Rox marveled at the ease with which she was able to talk about this issue. Of course, she was talking to a stuffed animal, but it was a start!

Taking a moment to contemplate the situation, Rox suddenly realized that she did indeed feel good about the idea. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back slightly and imagined Cass' hands running up and down her arms and across her back. A sudden bolt of desire ran through her, causing her to shoot up out of her chair, eyes opened wide, head darting side to side as she struggled to breathe through the anxiety attack that gripped her chest.

"Oh my god! Oh my god!" she exclaimed and she clutched at her chest. Taking a deep breath, she extended her arms out to her sides and calmed herself down. "All right, Rox, you can do this ... calm down ... calm down," she scolded herself.

Moments later, her breathing returned to normal as she once again sat down in front of the computer. Placing both hands on the desk, on either side of the keyboard, she took a deep breath, then reached for the mouse. Clicking on 'Netscape Messenger', she sat back once more and patiently waited for the server to deliver new mail to her inbox. Among them, was a note from Cass.

Rox's heart skipped a beat as she opened the note. After carefully reading it several times, she composed a reply by answering each paragraph between the lines.

"My Loving Friend,

I owe you an apology. I should have made it clear that I was a woman right from the start. I am so sorry. I can understand why you would be confused ... Cass is such a generic name. I think a little background on myself might be helpful. My full name is Cassidy Marie Conway. I am 29 years old (soon to be 30), and as you know, I live in San Jose, California. I am the oldest of two children. My brother Jeff died a few years ago in a car accident. Unfortunately, I have been estranged from my parents for the past several years. You see, they don't appreciate having a gay daughter.

Cass, please don't apologize. I don't know why I assumed you were a man except to say that I was guilty of gender bias. You see, when I looked at your e-mail addy and saw 'flyboy.com', I assumed correctly that you were a pilot, but automatically thought 'man'. I am the one who should be sorry. I was an advocate of women's rights in college - I should have known better than to make generalizations.

I love your name. Cassidy ... it's wonderful! You are very close to my age ... I am 27, and an only child. I am sorry to hear that your parents are not accepting of your lifestyle. I can truly say that I don't know how my parents would react. I have told you that my father is dying. It would kill me to break his heart when he has so little time left. Cass, I don't know what I would do if I ever found myself in the position of having to tell him that I'm gay. Damn ... I wish this wasn't so hard. I wish I knew for sure the desires of my heart.

You asked me how I knew I was gay. Well, I guess I can say that I kind of knew since I was a teenager. You see, I knew there was something different about me - I just didn't have a name for it at the time. While my girlfriends were playing with dolls and fussing with their hair, I was busy playing baseball with the neighborhood boys. In high school, I wasn't interested in women's gymnastics or in making out behind the bleachers with the football team ... I was interested in being ON the football team (it's too bad I wasn't allowed)! I didn't put a name to my feelings until I met Patti. She captured me heart and soul. I only wish I had seen through to her dark side before I allowed her to capture my heart.

Nikki said something very similar ... she too felt different from the other girls. Jerri helped her to realize where her heart lies.

Rox, I can't tell you why things didn't work out as lovingly as you would have liked between you and Chris, however, if Chris was as much of a macho ass hole as he was on the beach, then that may shed some light on the question. Honey, I have met women who act like Chris. There are lesbian relationships that end up just like yours. Occasionally, one partner dominates the other to the extreme that it becomes a 'husband/wife' type of scenario. My relationship with Patti was headed in that direction when she overdosed. As much as I hate to admit it, I allowed her to dominate me. I allowed her to treat me like Chris treated you ... right down to the physical abuse. The good news, Rox, is that there are just as many loving, equal relationships out there as there are unequal ones. What I am offering to you, Rox, is just such a relationship, should you choose to explore it. I don't want someone to dominate ... and I don't want to be dominated. I want someone to share my life and my love with - on a totally equal basis.

After my experience with Chris, I would accept nothing less than an equal relationship. I've had more than my share of abuse. I'm sorry to hear that you had such a rough time with Patti. It sounds like we could both use a break from abusive relationships.

As far as how your family would react to the possibility that you are gay, it is always best if you have their support, however, this is your life, and your happiness we are talking about. If the gods are willing, you will be around long after your parents are gone. You can't live your life for them, or you'll wake up one morning after they're gone and regret that you didn't follow your heart. Rox, if they truly love you, they will at the very least, accept you as you are, even if they don't agree with your lifestyle. Obviously, I don't know your parents, so I am not in a position to make a judgment. As far as your father dying ... don't you think he's rather die knowing you are happy? Think about that, Rox.

I really don't know how my parents would react. We've never talked about gay relationships. I would hope they would accept me regardless, but like I said, I don't know if I'd want to take the chance of breaking my father's heart. I know I can't live my life for them, but even the thought of telling them something like that ... I just can't imagine it! Cass, I'm so confused! I don't know what I'm feeling ... I don't know what to think. I just wish I knew my heart better.

Honey, if there is even a small part of you that is curious, or that has felt something more than just sisterly affection for another woman, you owe it to yourself to explore. The type of loving relationship that is possible between two women just can't be described in words. It has to be experienced to be understood. It is so intense, and personal, loving and caring ... Rox, I love you. I want desperately to show you what my words so inadequately convey. Please don't worry about hurting me. I am going into this relationship with my eyes wide open. I know there is a risk that you may find this type of love is not right for you. I understand that, and I'm willing to take the chance. You are worth any risk I may have to take.

Oh, I am definitely curious! Cass, I feel things for you that I have never felt before - for a man or for a woman. I am very curious but I'm also afraid. I know what you're talking about when you speak of the loving relationship that is possible between two women. I see it every day between Nikki and Jerri. Sometimes I find myself envious of their love. I have so much to think about, Cass. I'm afraid of hurting you ... I'm afraid of hurting myself. I'm afraid of making a decision I might regret.

Let me come to you, Rox ... let me love you, and allow yourself love me. I'm not denying that it is a hard decision, but you can't make it without first experiencing it. Let me help you ... I promise to leave you alone for ever if this is not for you, Rox. Please think about this.

Cass, I feel so close to you. I don't know if it's love. Hell, I'm not sure I even know what love is any more. I thought I loved Chris, but I realize now that what I felt was dependence and fear. Do I love you? I really don't know. I DO trust you, Cass. I trust that you won't hurt me, and I know you would turn and walk away if I asked you to ... but I don't know if I want that. Christ, Cass ... why is this decision so hard? Cass, please give me some time to think about this.... I don't want to hurt you.

I will wait forever for you, Rox. I know how scary this is. Just know that I love you, and I will never hurt you.

Thank you so much for your love and patience, Cass. You don't know what it means to me. I know that you will never hurt me, and I will do my best never to hurt you. Please be patient with me ... I will give you an answer soon - I promise.

You are in my thoughts,

Rox"

After sending the note, Rox sat back in her chair, dropped her chin to her chest and sighed deeply. Cass, why do you enchant me so? She thought. Why am I so clear in how I feel about other things, but when it comes to you, I'm indecisive and weak?

Yawning, she reached for the mouse to shut down the computer, then slowly made her way down the stairs to her bedroom. Moments later, dressed in her oversized Epcot T-shirt, she climbed between the sheets and lay on her back staring at the ceiling. Visions of azure eyes and flowing black hair filled her mind. Closing her eyes, she thought back to when she allowed Cass to hold her in her arms. Suddenly, her body came alive as a wave of heated desire rushed through her. Arching her chest upward, her breath caught in her throat as her core throbbed with need.

"Oh my god, Cass!" she said out loud.

Breathing deeply, she tried very hard to bring herself under control. Involuntarily, her hands started to roam over her own body, each touch heightening her body's awareness of the carnal pleasure she was sure to experience at the hands of her tall, dark warrior.

Reaching under the hem of her shirt, she slipped her good hand inside the waistband of her panties and moved it downward to the center of her being, while her injured hand caressed the swollen nipples of her breasts. Eyes closed, lips moist from her tongue snaking across them, she tilted her head back as a moan of desire escaped her throat at the exact moment her fingers slipped between slick folds.

"Oh god!" she said again in a shaky voice as she plunged her fingers deep inside herself. "Cass, I need you," she shuddered desperately, arching her hips skyward with each trust. Within moments, she was writhing beyond control, her mind having taken over, nearly convincing her that Cass was right there with her, pleasuring her with every stroke of her own hand.

Finally her eyes closed, as the muscles of her neck strained ... her head thrown back as far as it would go ... knees bent and wide apart as her fingers worked furiously across her swollen bud. The fingers of her injured hand brutally pinched her nipples as her hips worked their way up and down in time with her self-pleasuring hand. Then, in a heartbeat, her hips stilled, suspended high above the bed as the first wave of orgasmic relief ripped through Rox's body. "Cass! Oh my god! Cass! I need you!" Rox screamed as her body plunged down onto the bed, then up again, only to suspend once more for the briefest of moments before plunging downward for the second time.

For several minutes, ripples of desire spread through her as she lay on her side, hand still embedded firmly between her legs, eyes closed, and sweat drenching her body beneath her shirt. Somewhere along the way, Rox drifted off to sleep while thoughts of a dark haired angel flitted across her subconscious mind.

**********

Cass glanced at the clock. 9:00 p.m. flashed in bright red digits across the face. "Wow, I didn't realize it was getting so late ... time sure does fly when you're having fun!" she said sarcastically as she lowered herself into the chair in front of her computer thinking about her evening as she waited for the machine to boot up..

After sending the note to Rox earlier in the day, Cass decided to work off her nervous energy at the gym, then spend a few hours at the diner with Angie as she ate her dinner. While at the gym, she ran into Jason as she was packing her bag to leave.

"Hey Cass!" he had said cheerfully. "Looks like I'm about to put my life in your hands."

Cass looked at him with furrowed brow.

Kick him in the balls! Enforcer encouraged, causing Cass to smile slightly.

Before she could compose a reply, he continued.

"Yeah, I'm booked on your flight to Durango on Monday. I've got some business in Mexico ... a little schmoozing with my investors, if you know what I mean. Gotta keep the customers happy, you know," he said, full of self importance.

Cass gave him a wry smile and nodded her head. "That's nice, Jason. Look ... I've got a dinner date," she lied, "gotta run!" Giving him a disinterested wave, she left him standing there as she quickly jumped into her car and drove away.

After a leisurely dinner and warm conversation with Angie, she drove home and went straight to her computer where she was presently waiting, a bit impatiently, for the boot-up cycle to complete.

"Come on, Rox, be there!" she commanded hopefully as the server searched for new mail. Finally, the mail was delivered. "Yes!" she said, quickly grabbing the mouse as she saw Rox's note appear.

Cass read the note carefully, intense feelings of familiarity and longing clenching her stomach. Rox, why do I feel like I know you ... like I have known you forever? she thought.

Selecting 'reply' at the top of her screen, she composed a response.

"My Heart,

As I read your note, I experienced familiar pangs of desire, of longing, of need. Rox, I don't know how to say this, except that I think we are destined to be together. I feel this driving need to know you ... to be with you ... to love you. I feel like we have been together over many lifetimes. I know this sounds all 'new age' and stuff, but I really mean it. I have had dreams of you Rox. In my dreams, we are together in a field of flowers, each one representing a lifetime we've spent together, past and future. The dreams end abruptly as I lean in to kiss you. There have been other dreams too. Rox, I have never felt this type of connection with another human being in my entire life.

Rox, you once said that you believed in Kismet, and that our souls were bonded in some way. How else could the circumstances of our meeting have been arranged? We were 3,000 miles apart Rox, and yet somehow, we found each other. That is too incredible to be coincidental. Would we be defying the Fates by denying our attraction?

I don't know what to tell you about your family, Rox, considering I did not have a very good experience with my own. All I can say is that if they love you, they'll want you to be happy. I believe I can bring you the happiness you so desperately deserve, my love. Please let me try. I will be patient with you ... I will not hurt you. I long to show you the wonders and beauty that a relationship such as ours can experience. Please don't let fear close your mind to the possibility. I will treat you fairly, lovingly ... as an equal. There would be no room for abuse in our lives, that I promise you.

I know you are afraid, Rox. Afraid of the unknown ... afraid of hurting me if this is not where your heart truly lies. Rox, please take the chance ... allow yourself to explore ... allow yourself to really feel - probably for the first time in your adult life. I will show you what love is. I will show you how good our love can feel. Please don't be afraid of hurting me, Rox ... I know the risk I am taking. You are worth all the risks and hardships I could face in a lifetime. I am willing to gamble on us, Rox. This feels so right. How can something that feels this right be wrong?

Rox, I know you need time to think about this. I will wait patiently. I will be here when you are ready to seek your true heart. Let me guide you on this journey, Rox. I know the tunnel is long and dark, but I know the way ... let me hold my light high ... let it be a beacon to guide you straight into my heart, where I will envelope your love with my own. Take all the time you need, lovely lady. I will be here when you are ready to make the journey home.

I love you with everything that I am, Rox. Come home to me.

Cass"

Cass read her note over carefully before clicking on send. Sitting there in front of the monitor, her eyes glazed over as she stared unseeingly at the screen. I love you, Baby. Please accept my heart ... it is my most valuable possession, and it wants to belong to you. Good night, my love, she finished as she shut down the computer for the night and headed to bed.

*********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER XXXI

Early the next morning, Rox rose and decided to take a brisk walk along the beach before starting to work on her novel. She dressed in spandex shorts, a sports bra, ankle socks and running shoes. Grabbing a hand towel, she tucked it into the waistband of her shorts, then filled her water bottle before heading out. An hour later, drenched in sweat but feeling remarkably good, she ran up the steps of the back deck and stopped on her way to the bathroom to set up the coffee pot. That chore completed, she jumped into the shower and stood for long moments under the massaging spray, allowing the needle-like darts of water to pummel her tender skin until it was a healthy pink.

Grabbing the soap and washcloth, she began to bathe, spreading a thick blanket of fragrant lather across her arms, chest, back, thighs and shins until finally slipping the cloth between her legs.

"Ohhh!" she said, noting the tenderness. "I wonder...," her mind began until she suddenly recalled her bout of self pleasuring from the night before. A deep flush rose into her face from her neck as she once again remembered the thoughts of one dark haired pilot that had sent her into the depths of desire, and ultimately to self fulfillment.

"God, Cass. If you can do this to me from 3,000 miles away.... ," she mumbled under her breath as her knees weakened. She held onto the shower wall for support until the strength returned to her legs.

Finally, managing to get through the rest of her shower uneventfully, she stepped out of the tub and towel dried her body and hair. Dragging a comb quickly through her moppish red-blonde hair, she slipped an oversized T-shirt over her head, then headed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee before heading up stairs to write.

Rox settled down into the oversized office chair and sipped her coffee as she waited for the computer to boot up. Staring at the screen, her eyes glazed over as her mind was occupied by thoughts of the dark haired pilot. Cass ... Cassidy ... Cassidy Marie Conway. I really like that name. Sexy name - sexy woman. Wow! I can't believe I'm actually sitting here having these kinds of thoughts about a woman! She IS gorgeous ... no denying that! And those eyes ... Aarrgghh! Gods this is so frustrating! I don't know how to process these feelings... I've never felt this way before, she finished as the system finally completed the power up. Moments later, she was on-line selecting her e-mail.

Rox double clicked on Cass' note and began to read. After the first paragraph, her heart was in her throat. "My god, Cass... the dream! I've had it too!" she exclaimed out loud.

Continuing to scan the contents of the note, Rox became more and more emotional. My god, Cass. This is the most beautiful declaration of love I have ever heard. I'm supposed to be the writer here, yet you have voiced your feelings so eloquently, so beautifully. Thank you for this glimpse into your heart, she thought as she finished the note, barely able to see through the thick veil of tears that filled them.

Reaching for the mouse, she clicked on 'reply' then sat back and thought about what to write. Suddenly, words escaped her. Here she was, a writer, well skilled in prose, able to churn out a love story in record time, yet when it came to her own love life, she was speechless. She became more and more agitated with every passing minute that she sat there, literally unable to think of what to write. She had already written it all in her previous notes ... what more was there to put in print? She personally felt that the age of e-mail was severely damaging interpersonal communication skills. Finally, after staring at the screen long enough for the screen saver to appear, she gave up and turned off the computer.

Rising from her chair, she paced back and forth across the office until she came to a decision ... she was going to call Cass.

**********

Cass suddenly jumped out of bed and stood in the middle of the floor, very disoriented. Looking directly at the illuminated 7:00 a.m. displayed on the clock, she started to panic.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! I'll never make my 8:00 a.m. flight! Damn alarm clock didn't go off!" she reasoned as she raced around, trying to find a clean uniform to wear. Suddenly the phone rang.

Agitated at the interruption, she picked it up and spoke gruffly into the receiver, "Yeah?"

"Well, a happy Sunday morning to you too, grump!" came the voice from the other end.

Cass pulled the receiver away from her ear and looked at it for a moment, a question mark on her face. Sunday? ... It's Sunday? she thought. Returning the receiver to her ear she spoke. "Who is this, and why are you calling so early?"

Early? Rox asked herself, looking at the clock, then suddenly realizing her error. "Oh god! Cass, I'm so sorry. This three hour time difference is so easy to forget. Please forgive me for waking you up ... go back to bed," she said, "I'll call back later."

"Whoa.... whoa... wait a minute! Rox?" Cass asked incredulously. "Rox, Is that you?"

"Yes, it is ... but I've awakened you. Cass, I'll call back later," she said apologetically.

"No! No ... I mean, I'm usually up by this time anyway. Please don't hang up," she pleaded frantically.

"Cass, are you sure?" the red head asked.

"Positive! So, to what do I owe this pleasure?" she asked as cheerfully as the morning hour would allow.

"Your e-mail," Rox replied. "Cass ... I have never read anything so beautifully touching in my life. I'm a writer, and I have never produced anything that could bring me to tears like your note did," she explained.

Cass sat down on the edge of her bed and frowned. "It wasn't supposed to make you cry," she remarked.

"You touched my heart, Cass ... in a good way. It was beautiful, and I had to tell you directly ... e-mail sometimes feels so out of touch," Rox explained.

"I know what you mean. Sometimes the written word just can't replace the sound of someone's voice," Cass agreed.

Rox was becoming a little impatient with the small talk. "Ah ... look, Cass, I really meant it when I said it brought me to tears. Do you really think we were destined to be together? I mean, could there really be something or someone out there controlling all of this?" she asked.

Cass thought about that for a moment before answering. "Rox, I don't really know what brought us together, but I don't think it was coincidental. I mean, we live 3,000 miles apart! How on earth could we have possibly met by accident? No, something is behind this ... something familiar ... I can feel it," she explained.

"You mentioned a dream, Cass," Rox began. "I have had the dream too. It sounds like the same one. I am in a field of flowers... millions of them, picking a large bouquet, when I see a figure approach in the distance. It turns out to be you. You explain to me that all the flowers in the field are our lifetimes together and that the ones in my arms are ..."

"The lives we have already lived," finished Cass. "Rox, don't you see? We've had the same dream. We are connected on some type of spiritual plane. We belong together," Cass concluded.

"Cass, this is scaring me. If that's true, then it means we don't have the control over our lives that we think we do. I don't like the sound of that," Rox confessed. "If it's true then someone or something out there planned for me to be with Chris ... planned for me to be abused for six years ... planned for you to be abused by Patti. For what purpose?"

"Rox, I'm not saying that this is the answer ... all I'm saying is that I don't think it is purely coincidental that we met. I think there is some other force behind it. Call it Fate, call it Kismet ... I don't know - but I don't think it's coincidental. I think it was meant to be," Cass explained.

Several moments of silence passed.

"Rox ... are you still there?" Cass asked.

"Yeah, I'm here," Rox replied.

"You got quiet on me. Rox, honey, talk to me. What are you thinking?" Cass prompted.

"I don't know, Cass. It's just that ... well, it's so hard to comprehend. I mean, the dream suggests that we knew each other in a past lifetime ... several of them in fact!" Rox exclaimed.

"Well, Rox, I don't know how you feel about me, but there is something very familiar about you -- as if I have known you for a very, very long time. I felt that in the dream, and I felt it when we met in Maine. I can't explain it, but it's true," Cass explained.

"I know it's true, Cass. I have felt it too," Rox said. "Damn! I wish I had the answers. This is very confusing and not a little intimidating!" Rox complained.

"I intimidate you?" Cass asked, surprise coloring her voice.

"No .... I didn't mean you intimidate me Cass ... I meant the situation does," Rox replied.

"Well then, how do you feel about me?" came the question from the dark haired woman.

After a long pause, Rox replied. "Cass, part of me is terrified ... part of me is intrigued ... and part of me wants to explore this further. My mind is a jumble of thoughts, my heart a menagerie of emotions. I am having a very hard time sorting everything out. You have awakened feelings in me that I wasn't even aware existed, Cass. You have sparked an interest and a desire that scares the shit out of me," Rox explained.

Cass sat patiently listening to Rox's explanation. When she was through, she very gently asked the question again. "Rox ... you have just explained in detail how you feel inside ... but how to you feel about me?"

More silence.

Moments later, Cass heard a sniffling from the other end of the line. "Rox ... are you all right?" she asked softly.

"I'm sorry, Cass," Rox said, sniffling once more. "I'm such a baby sometimes."

"Rox, sweetheart ... why are you crying?" Cass asked tenderly, wanting desperately to be in Maine, holding the red head in her arms.

"I don't know, Cass. Maybe because I don't want to hurt you ... maybe because I'm so confused. Cass - I don't have an answer to your question. I don't know how I feel about you. I know I care deeply for you, but my heart is in such a confused state right now that I just don't know!" she finished, the tears evident in her voice.

"God, Rox. I wish I could be there right now, holding you in my arms, and chasing away your tears. I'm so sorry for pushing you. You need time to realize your true heart. I'm sorry, Rox," Cass apologized. "Please forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive, Cass ... really," Rox replied before continuing. "Ah ... look, Cass, I need to get back to my book. I just wanted to hear your voice. Again, I'm sorry I woke you up."

"All right. I'm so glad you called Rox. Do you think you can give me your phone number so I can call you later? I'd really like to speak to you again," Cass asked.

"Sure ... it's 207-555-7231. There's an answering machine on the line, so if I'm not home, or too tied up to answer, leave a message - okay?" Rox replied.

"Great ... thanks for trusting me with the number, Rox. I can't tell you how much it means to me," Cass said.

"You're welcome. Well ... I guess I'll talk to you later, then," Rox answered.

"Okay. Oh, and Rox ... I love you," Cass stated softly.

"Bye, bye, Cass," Rox replied, hanging up the phone. Taking a deep breath, she leaned back, resting her head on the back of the chair. Closing her eyes, she slowly exhaled as she wrapped her arms around her own middle. Cass ... why am I allowing you to occupy my mind like you do? How do I really feel about you? Damn! Why does life have to be so complicated all the time? Running her hands through her hair, she did her best to shake off the feelings and turned her attention back to her writing.

Meanwhile, 3,000 miles away, Cass hung up the phone and threw herself backward across the bed. Covering her face with both hands, she rubbed vigorously, then dropped her hands onto the bed on either side of her head. She laid there for several long moments, staring unseeingly at the ceiling, her mind occupied with the red haired angel of her dreams. Rox, I love you with all my heart, she thought. I hope that someday soon, you'll be able to return that love. We are fated to be together, my love ... I just know we are. Closing her eyes, she allowed visions of Rox to invade her mind, and drifted off to sleep as fantasies of two women in love ... one fair, and one dark, acted out their performance in her dreams.

**********

You're a chicken shit, Cass! Enforcer said boldly.

What did you say? Cass replied internally, more than a little angry with her alter ego.

I said, you're a chicken shit! Look ... you asked her for her phone number so you could call her back, and now you're afraid to use it ... you're a chicken shit! Enforcer said again.

You don't know what you're talking about. I just don't want to interrupt her writing. And besides, I talked to her already today, Cass explained in her own defense.

You talked to her what ... twelve hours ago? You said you'd call her later ... this is later, Enforcer reasoned.

I don't know, E. What if she's busy? She has a deadline to meet you know, Cass said.

Look, Cass ... you ain't never gonna get her in the sack if you don't talk to her! came the pointed response from her inner voice.

Christ, E! Is that all you think about? Cass asked impatiently.

Yes, replied Enforcer. Somebody's got to look out for our needs!

E, this relationship isn't entirely about sex. Its about fate, destiny, love ... the physical expression of that love is an afterthought ... or it should be anyway, explained Cass.

Okay, time out! So you're telling me that you don't want to do the nasty with this chick? Enforcer asked incredulously.

Well ... I didn't say that, exactly ... I just meant that it wasn't the most important part of the relationship, the dark haired woman replied.

What relationship? It won't exist at all if you don't make contact! Now call her! Enforcer demanded.

Okay! Okay! Geesh, you're such a bitch sometimes! Cass shot back.

You'll pay for THAT comment later, woman! But for now... get your ass in gear and call the hot little red head, the alter ego instructed.

Cass did as she was told, dutifully picking up the phone and dialing Rox's number. After three rings, she was just about to hang up when Rox picked up the other end.

"Hello?" Rox said cheerfully.

"Hi, Rox. This is Cass," she replied.

"Cass! Wow! I was just thinking about you!" Rox exclaimed and then thought to herself, we'll that's not a lie, since you've been in my mind continuously since we talked this morning!

"Really?" Cass asked hopefully. "Look, I know it's getting late on the east coast, but I just wanted to call to say how much I enjoyed our phone call this morning, and to wish you pleasant dreams before you turned in."

Rox looked at the clock on her desk. 10:08 p.m. illuminated the face. "Gee, it's early yet, Cass. I won't turn in for at least another three hours ... but I'm so glad you called now. It gives us time to talk before either of us needs to hit the sheets. You have to work tomorrow, don't you?" Rox asked.

"Yeah ... I've got a two-day flight into Durango, Mexico. I'm starting to dread these over night flights. I think I'll talk to my supervisor about a schedule change this week," Cass whined.

"Two days, huh? I'm going to miss you," Rox said in a soft voice as she leaned back and twirled her chair around in circles like a young girl, a sense of daring anticipation brewing in her chest at the obvious flirtation.

Cass had been pacing, the portable phone pressed firmly against her ear. She stopped in her tracks at Rox's last declaration. "You're going to miss me?" Cass asked hopefully. "Do you mean it, Rox?"

"Of course I do," Rox replied. Then, changing the subject abruptly, she added, "so, what did you do with yourself today?"

Cass was caught off-guard by the change in subject matter. Thinking back over her day, she came up with a quick answer, "Beside thinking of you all day? ... let's see ... well, I took my morning run, did some laundry, cleaned my house, ironed my uniform for tomorrow ... you know - boring stuff," Cass replied as she thought of all the domestic things she had finally caught up on to keep her mind off the east coast beauty with red-gold hair. "How was your day?" she asked.

"I made a lot of progress on the book," replied Rox. "I'm beginning to make up for some of the delay my broken arm caused. My editor is not very thrilled with my lack of progress, but heck, real life sometimes gets in the way of the fun stuff, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do," Cass replied, unsure of what to say next. After a few moments of awkward silence, she continued. "Rox ... I don't want to push you ... and I don't expect a response right now, but I want you to know that you mean everything to me. You are my heart ... the keeper of my soul. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. When I described my day to you earlier, I left something out. I'm not much of a poet, but I wrote a poem for you. I'll send it along in an e-mail after we hang up," Cass said.

Rox raised a hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. Cass ... why do you touch me so? she thought as she closed her eyes and allowed a lone tear to roll down her cheek. Into the receiver, she asked, "Could you read it to me now?"

Cass was a little embarrassed by the request. "Wouldn't you rather read it in private?" she asked hopefully.

"I will ... later when you send it to me. Right now, I want to hear you read it to me ... please?" she said in a little girl voice.

The voice was Cass' undoing. "All right ... but I warn you - I'm not much of a poet," Cass replied.

Rox waited patiently as Cass retrieved the poem. "Ahem...," Cass said clearing her voice before starting.

"RESCUE MY SOUL

In the wellspring of my soul,

I see the flame of desire

burning brightly

In the oft darkened place.

It is a new eventuality,

This warm felt passion.

Foreign to my mind,

Alien to my being.

This fervor has a face,

With mane of gold,

And orbs of green,

And beauty like no other.

I drown consentingly

In the pools of green,

And cast away the lifeline,

For I revel in my fate.

I find myself drawn

To the Temptress' charms,

Needing her goodness ...

Needing her love.

I want to fill her body

With my soul

And become one

With her heart.

I wander incomplete

Through the deserts of life,

Desperately wanting her

By my side.

She quenches my thirst,

My longing and ache.

As she fills me with her love

And rescues my soul."

Cass finished reading the poem, then fell silent, terribly embarrassed.

Rox fell silent too, but for a very different reason. She had totally lost control of her emotions, as she sat there with tears streaming down her cheeks, too choked up to speak.

Taking Rox's silence as dislike for the poem, Cass began to apologize. "Ah ... I told you it wasn't very good," she began.

"Stop it!" Rox demanded, almost angrily through her tears. "Please ... Cass, I loved it. By the gods ... your words have a way of touching me like none others ever have," she said, sniffing loudly. "Cass, your poem is filled with such depth of emotion ... I ... I don't know what to say. It's beautiful. Thank you so much. I have never received such a wonderful gift. I will cherish it forever," she finished.

"You really liked it?" Cass asked unbelievingly.

"I loved it, Cass. Thank you again," Rox replied.

"You're welcome! I meant every word, Rox," Cass responded, a smile plastered to her face from ear to ear.

"I know you did," Rox answered, yawning loudly.

"Look, honey ... you're tired. I'm going to let you go to bed. I'll be out of town tomorrow, but back Tuesday afternoon. Can I call you then?" Cass asked.

"I'd like that, Cass ... I really would," Rox answered.

"Okay then ... until Tuesday. Good night. I love you Rox. Sleep well." Cass said.

"I will ... you too. Have a nice flight, Cass. I'll talk to you on Tuesday," replied Rox.

Moments later, both women had hung up and had retreated into their own private thoughts of the other.

**********

Get a grip, Rox, the red head thought to herself. Your heart is beating a mile a minute! You really need to decide what it is you're feeling for this woman ... your entire future depends on it.

Rox yawned loudly once more as she powered down her computer and rose from her chair. Stretching like a cat brought back distinct reminders that she was not yet totally healed from the abuse wielded on her by Chris just a few days earlier. Deciding to take a hot shower to chase away some of the soreness, she descended one flight of stairs to the bathroom and stood there in front of the mirror, looking at herself. As she stood there, she imagined Cass walking up behind her and wrapping her arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against her chest. Her eyes closed involuntarily at the image as pangs of desire spread through her abdomen. Grabbing onto the edge of the sink for support, she dropped her chin to her chest, and took a deep breath to compose herself. Finally, after several minutes, she stripped off her clothes and quickly showered, then climbed naked between fresh sheets, where within minutes, she drifted off to dreams of dark hair and blue eyes.

**********

Cass was so elated Rox liked the poem, that her adrenaline level skyrocketed. It was only 8:00 p.m. and she was nowhere near ready to sleep, so she powered up the computer with the intention of surfing the net for an hour or so, showering, then calling it a night.

If anyone had asked which sites she had visited, she would not have been able to tell them. She was so distracted by thoughts of red-gold hair and green eyes, that she was merely going through the motions of surfing. Finally, after losing patience she decided to send Rox a short e-mail to thank her for the phone call and to send along the poem she had been forced to read over the phone.

What started out as a quick two or three lines, turned into a full blown note.

"Hi my love,

How can one person change the life of another as deeply and thoroughly as you have mine?

I literally can not live without you, Rox. You have become part of me... as vital as my heart, as vital as the air I breathe. You have become necessary... a requirement to help me make it through my day. Your voice makes my heart flutter. My hands remember the feel of your skin. Your memory has been burned into my soul, sweet love. It is this memory that sustains me in our separateness. It is this memory that keeps me sane. It is this memory that I hold close to my heart, as I lay alone in bed each night, wishing with all that I am, that you were here with me.

It is my hope that the day is drawing near when we will be together, not as two halves of a whole, but as two complete entities merged into one. I have visions of the future, visions of joy, love and family. I have visions of a golden haired angel, voicing the words I do, as I slip a symbol of our love on her finger. I see nights wrapped in each other's arms, and days spent at work, day dreaming of green eyes and a smile so endearing, it takes my breath away to see it.

You truly complete me. There is a spot in my heart that has never been touched by anyone but you, and never will be touched again. You have gained reign over my heart ... it is yours to command. I am powerless to resist, nor do I want to.

I love you with all my heart, Little Bard. I hope the day will come soon, when we can fulfill our dream of being together. Until then, keep me close to your heart, and I will keep you close to mine.

I love you baby....

Your Warrior

Attachment: RESCUE MY HEART "

Cass read the letter several times before sending it on it's way to the woman she loved. Sitting back in her chair, she looked at the clock and noticed the late hour, realizing that she had to head to bed if she were to make her flight in the morning.

Logging off the Internet, she waited patiently as the wallpaper containing Rox's picture was displayed. Raising her index finger to her lips, she placed a kiss on the end of it, then reached forward to trace Rox's lips.

"Goodnight my love," she said softly as she powered down the computer and went to bed.

*********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER XXXII

At 7:40 a.m. Monday morning, Cass absent mindedly made her way through the terminal and boarded the plane for her flight to Durango. Seating herself comfortably in the cockpit, she stared at the lights, gauges and dials on the control panel and let her mind wander to where she really wanted to be on that sunny Monday morning ... on the Atlantic Coast line of Maine, walking hand in hand along the shore with a beautiful reddish blonde beauty. Sounds of the flight attendants moving around in the cabin broke her reverie as she mentally shook herself and started her routine maintenance and safety check of the flight instruments prior to take off. Ten minutes into the check, the passengers started loading for the 8:00 a.m. flight.

"Hey, Cass!" a familiar voice sounded from the entrance to the cockpit.

Cass raised her face and saw Jason standing there, brushing off the flight attendant's insistent hand which was urging him toward the aisle of the plane.

"It's all right, Ginny," Cass said when she saw who was causing the commotion. "I'll take care of this."

Ginny nervously released Jason's arm and turned her attention back to the other passengers as Cass climbed out of the bucket seat and stood to her full height in front of Jason.

"How are you, Jason? It's good to have you aboard. Now, I'll have to ask you to be seated. We'll be ready for take off in a few minutes. You'll be able to move about the cabin after we reach cruising altitude," she explained, motioning for him to leave the cockpit area and to find his seat.

"How 'bout a personal tour of the cockpit later?" he asked suggestively.

Cass wanted to rip his throat out. Enforcer wanted to do worse. Cass, why don't we wait until we reach cruising altitude, then push him out of the plane without a parachute? Whaddaya say? the alter ego suggested.

Cass crossed her arms in front of herself and raised her eyebrows at Jason. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Jason. Regulations prohibit passengers from visiting the cockpit area while the plane is in flight," she explained.

"Even first class passengers? After all, it's customers like me that pay your salary," he said smugly.

Forget that last suggestion, Cass ... Let's throw him into one of the turbine engines instead! Enforcer urged, fueling Cass' already short temper.

Cass decided to fight fire with fire. Smiling smugly herself, she turned her back on him and started walking away, throwing the words, "Sorry ... no exceptions," over her shoulder. She could almost feel his hateful looks boring into her back at her curt dismissal of him. Moments later, she was strapped into her seat and finishing up the safety check with her co-pilot Brian.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking," Cass said into the microphone to the group of passengers on board. "We have been cleared for takeoff. Please be sure that your seat belts are fastened securely and that the trays in the seat in front of your are locked in their upright position. Be advised that this airline recommends that your seat belt remain fastened throughout the flight or at the very least, while the seat belt sign above your heads is illuminated. A flight attendant will review safety and evacuation procedures with you in the unlikely event of an emergency. As always, thank you for flying Southern Lights Airline and have a nice flight."

Clicking off the microphone, she turned to Brian and made a face. "I'm getting sick of making that speech ... next time, it's your turn," she said.

"Oh no ... not me! With rank, there comes privileges.... sorry!" he said, grinning ear to ear.

"Traitor!" Cass mumbled under her breath as she prepared the plane for take off.

After waiting for 10 minutes in a taxi position on the runway, they were finally in the air and gaining altitude.

When they reached cruising altitude, Brian put the plane in auto-pilot while Cass reached up and turned the seat belt sign off, indicating to the passengers that they were now free to move about the cabin.

"What's the weather look like between here and Durango, Cass? I really don't need a repeat of that joyride we took during the last thunder and lightning storm!" Brian exclaimed.

Cass chuckled as she checked the weather service reports. "Don't worry, Brian. Looks like clear sailing the entire way. Should be a pretty uneventful flight if I'm reading the signs correctly," she told him.

Brian released a visible sigh and relaxed in his seat just as the door of the cockpit opened. Cass looked up to see Ginny in the door way, a worried expression on her face.

"Yes?" Cass asked expectantly.

Ginny fidgeted. "Ah, Captain Conway, we seem to have a problem," she said.

Brian turned around quickly in his seat. "Don't tell me we've been hit by lightning ... it isn't even raining!" he said unbelievingly.

"What is it, Ginny?" Cass said as patiently as possible.

"Ah .... ah ...." stammered the flight attendant.

"Oh get out of my way!" demanded a gruff voice from behind the nervous woman.

"Jason!" Cass said sharply. "I thought I told you...." she began.

"I don't give a fuck what you told me, bitch! I'm in control here now," he spat out as he pulled a gun out of his jacket.

"Oh shit! Oh shit!" Brian repeated nervously, throwing his hands up in the air in surrender as Ginny fainted.

"Jason ... just what do you think you're doing?" asked Cass, annoyed with the inept idiot.

"What does it look like I'm doing? This is a gun ... you're a pilot ... we're in a plane. This is a hijacking, what else?" he said sarcastically.

"A hijacking? For what reason, Jason?" Cass demanded sharply.

"Cass, you'd better be careful how you talk to him," Brian warned under his breath.

Cass threw Brian an impatient look while she waited for Jason's answer. "Well?" she asked again.

"We're going to Bogota, Cass. Bogota, Colombia," Jason said smugly. "You see, I have a little business deal you're gonna help me with down there," he explained.

"Bull shit! I'm not helping you with anything!" Cass insisted.

Jason aimed the gun at Brian's left thigh and fired a shot into it. Brian immediately clutched his bleeding leg. "Fuck! He shot me!" Brian screamed as he fought to stop the flow of blood.

Cass' eyes widened as big a saucers, her stomach threatening an overall rebellion all over the cockpit floor.

Jason looked directly at Cass, an look of pure evil power in his eyes. "Now ... I suggest you cooperate - don't you?" he said, his voice as evil as his eyes.

Cass just nodded her head, her eyes not leaving Brian's bloodied leg. "He needs a doctor," she said.

"He'll get one ... just as soon as you land the plane in San Diego," Jason said.

Cass looked at him in confusion. "But I thought you said ....," she began.

"... that we're going to Bogota. Yes, we are - after we get rid of the deadwood. Now, we can either unload the plane on the ground in San Diego, or we can throw the passengers out one by one while we're still in the air. You choose. Either way, they're off the plane. I don't need unwanted complications on board during this flight. Do you understand?" he asked.

"Damn it, Cass. Do as he asks!" Brian said desperately as he removed his necktie and wrapped it around his leg to stop the flow of blood.

Cass' eyes narrowed as she turned her look back to Jason. "All right. I'll do as you say, but if you harm another person aboard this flight, all bets are off. You got that?" she warned.

Jason reached back and backhanded Cass across the face. Her head snapped quickly to the right, blood from her split lip spraying all over the cockpit door. Grabbing a handful of hair, he jerked her head back up toward his and hissed into her face, "Let's get this straight, bitch. You don't give the orders here ... I do! Understand?" Releasing her head abruptly, he took a step back and looked at her. "Now, I suggest you get on that radio of yours and let them know you're landing unexpectedly in San Diego. Call it engine failure... Call it anything you want, but if you tip the authorities off about the hijacking until we're back in the air, you are a dead woman. Capishe?" he demanded.

Cass reached up and wiped the blood from her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket, then proceeded to radio San Diego.

"San Diego, this is flight 7231 from San Jose, on route to Durango, Mexico, requesting an unscheduled landing," she said into the microphone.

"Flight 7231, this is San Diego. Is this an emergency? State the purpose of your request," came the crackly voice at the other end of the line.

"No emergency, San Diego. A slight malfunction of the panel instruments. Request a transfer of the passengers to another plane and a maintenance crew to look at the problem. Estimated time of arrival, one hour," she said as calmly as possible.

"Unscheduled landing approved, flight 7231. Estimated time of arrival, one hour," came the reply.

Cass clicked off the microphone and placed it back in its cradle as she shot a look of pure venom at Jason. He just grinned in response.

"Good girl!" he said in a condescending tone of voice. "You keep cooperating like that and everything will be fine."

Sitting in the navigator's seat behind Brian, Jason kept the gun trained on Cass as she turned her attention back to the control panel. Without taking her eyes from the controls, she started to ask questions. "Tell me Jason, how did you get the gun on board?"

Jason puffed his chest out like he had accomplished some great feat. "That was the easy part. I smuggled it on board in the food supplies for the plane. You see, I have connections with the company that caters to your airline," he said smugly.

"Why are you doing this, Jason? I can only assume it's for money. Something told me the used car business wasn't lucrative enough to keep you in the lavish style you were living," she chided.

"Bingo!" he said loudly. "Give that girl a prize! Oh yeah... it's definitely for the money -- lots of it. And you're gonna help me make it!" he said. "If you're a good girl and continue to cooperate, you might even get a cut of it. If not ... well, let's say one less freaky lesbian bitch in the world won't make a difference."

Brian's jaw dropped open at the mention of Cass being a lesbian. Realization was written all over his face as he recalled the countless failures he had experienced trying to seduce Cass. Cass just shot him a look that told him to keep his mouth shut, or else. Visibly snapping his jaw shut at the look, he turned his attention back to the throbbing in his leg.

"Okay," continued Cass, her back still to Jason, "so what do I have to do to earn this cut?"

Jason became excited at her apparent cooperation. "Now you're talking!" he said. "First, we get rid of wimp-boy here," he said, indicating Brian, "and all the passengers, then we fly to Bogota, pocket the cash load the shipment and airdrop it over Tijuana, Mexico, where the contacts will be waiting to smuggle it across the border. Then we land back in San Diego ... you tell the authorities that you and I escaped from our captors and flew the plane back. You get a cut of the take, and we go our separate ways," he finished.

Cass glanced back at the obviously delirious man. "So it's just that simple, huh?" she asked. "How much do I get?"

Jason looked at her suspiciously and thought long and hard before answering. Shit! I was afraid of this. I really need her to fly the plane. Damn! I'll have to give her a decent cut or she won't cooperate, he thought to himself. "Ah, how about 25% of the take?" he offered.

Cass raised her eyebrows. "25%? You expect me to take all the risk and you're only offering 25%?" she said in disbelief.

Cass, what the hell are you doing? Enforcer asked. You can't be seriously thinking about going along with this dufus!

Shit! Shit! The greedy bitch! Damn! Jason thought. "Okay ... okay! 30% and that's final," he offered.

Cass turned around completely in her seat and looked him straight in the eye. "No deal!" she said. "40% or nothing... it should be 50%, but you DID mastermind this whole thing, so that deserves a little reward."

Jason's chest rose with obvious pride that she acknowledged his crafty planning of this master plan. Nodding his head up and down, he pretended to contemplate the offer for a few more seconds, until he reached forward and shook her hand. "Deal!" he said.

Cass! You traitorous bitch! God damn it woman! What are you doing! Enforcer yelled loudly into Cass' conscious mind.

E! Calm down. Don't you see what an idiot this guy is? He thinks we're in on this now ... trust me. I know what I'm doing! Cass explained silently.

Grrrrrr! I knew we should have pushed him into the turbines... I knew it! Enforcer grumbled as Cass turned her attention back to the controls.

Checking the controls, she spared Brian a momentary look and saw that he was leaning his head back against the headrest, a pale hue to his face. Reaching over, she squeezed his knee and drew his attention to her face. Winking conspiratorially at him, she gave his a slight smile, then turned to Jason. "We'll be landing in San Diego in about 25 minutes. You'll need to wake Ginny up so she can ready the passengers for the landing," she instructed him.

Somewhere along the way, control of the situation had passed from Jason to Cass, with Cass consciously aware of who held the gun, and that the balance of power was teetering precariously between them. However, Jason did as he was told and gently shook Ginny awake, trying his best not to startle her into unconsciousness again. Once she was awake, Cass gave her instructions to remain calm, and to act as though nothing was amiss in the cockpit. She assured the flight attendant that as long as she cooperated and played her part, that neither she, nor the passengers would be harmed. Once Ginny learned that she and the passengers would be released in San Diego, she calmed visibly and set about carrying out her part of the charade.

Once Ginny had left the cockpit, Cass turned to Jason and smiled slightly, gaining even more of his confidence. "Almost there!" she informed him. "You'd better buckle in for the landing," she said, indicating the navigator's seat behind Brian. Again, Jason did as he was told, and within moments they were on their final approach to San Diego airport.

As soon as the flight touched down, shuttle busses were on the scene to escort the passengers to another flight. Along with them, went the flight attendants. Jason and Brian waited in the cockpit as the passengers disembarked. As the last passenger left the plane, Cass emerged and told the ground crew to back the luggage conveyor cart up the stairway. Giving her questioning looks, they nevertheless did as they were told as she went back inside and helped Brian to the stairs. When the ground crew saw that he was injured, they rushed forward to help Cass carry him down the stairs and settle him in the front seat of the cart. Then, she calmly turned to one member of the crew and pointed back up the stairs, where Jason was pointing a gun down at them.

"We're being hijacked," she said. Unless you want me, or one of you to end up dead, you'll take Brian and head back to the terminal now! If you resist or cause a scene before the plane is back in the air, he will kill me. He's already shot Brian ... he's not afraid to use the gun. Do you understand?" she asked.

She could see the fear in the eyes of the workmen as they struggled with the dilemma of leaving her on the plane with the hijacker.

"Please don't be a hero ... one or more of us will wind up dead!" she whispered. "Please just go."

Finally, the men retreated with their injured cargo while Cass reboarded the plane and prepared for take off. Jason settled himself in the co-pilot's seat while Cass communicated with the control tower, very smug and proud of his planning abilities, and his ability to talk Cass into willingly joining his cause.

"This is flight 7231 requesting permission for take off," she said into the microphone.

"Flight 7231, you have been grounded for faulty controls. Please abort take off procedures," the response returned.

"I repeat, this is flight 7231 demanding permission for take off ... we are being hijacked. I need immediately clearance. Is that understood?" she said firmly.

A slight silence followed her proclamation. Finally, the radio crackled once more. "Flight 7231, abort your take off procedure. The authorities have been notified and are on their way. I repeat ... abort your take off procedure."

"No can do, control tower. I am taxiing into position. Clearance for take off required immediately," Cass said once more.

"Abort take off procedures, flight 7231. Clearance denied!" came the reply.

Cass had had enough. "Look asshole. I have a gunman here about to blow my brains out if I don't get this bird into the air. Can I make myself any more clear than that? Clearance required, NOW!" she demanded.

More momentary silence. Finally, "Clearance granted, flight 7231. Do not break communication. The crisis team has just arrived. What is your destination?" asked the control tower.

Now it was time for Jason to lose patience. Grabbing the microphone, he shouted loud and clear. "Our destination is none of your business, Fuck Head! You'll have us on radar anyway once we're airborne, so what's the problem?"

"This is John Everet of the crisis control team. No reason to become upset, sir. What are your demands?" he asked.

"My demands are that you leave us the fuck alone and let my partner here fly the plane. Capishe?" Jason replied sarcastically.

Cass cringed at the term 'partner'. Christ, Cass! Now the entire world will think you're in on this! Damn it woman! What a mess. What do you think Rox will think of all this? You are blowing it big time, sister! Enforcer scolded.

Cass' eyes flew open wide as she simultaneously voiced the word "Rox" while she opened the jet engines to full throttle and propelled the airplane down the runway. Within moments, they were airborne.

*********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER XXXIII

Early Monday morning, Rox had an appointment with her editor to review the status of her new book. Her broken hand had set the schedule back several weeks, and the publisher was not happy about the delay. For two hours, she cooed and coddled the uphappy backers, assuring them that she would work overtime to make up the slip.

She had awakened that morning with just enough time to shower and make her 8:00 a.m. appointment. By the time she returned home, it was nearly 10:30 a.m. and she was starved. Heading straight to the kitchen, she quickly whipped up a fluffy vegetable and cheese omelet, an English muffin and a nice cup of rich butter rum flavored coffee. Carrying her gourmet fare up to her office, she set it down on the desk and proceeded to power up the computer, intent on working diligently on her book for the rest of the day. Her hope was to get far enough along in her writing, to be able to take a break to talk to Cass for a while the next afternoon when she returned from her flight to Mexico.

Unable to resist her e-mail before getting to work, she clicked on 'get messages' and patiently waited for the server to download new mail. As expected, there was a note from Cass:

"Hi my love,

How can one person change the life of another as deeply and thoroughly as you have mine?

I literally can not live without you, Rox. You have become part of me... as vital as my heart, as vital as the air I breathe. You have become necessary... a requirement to help me make it through my day. Your voice makes my heart flutter. My hands remember the feel of your skin. Your memory has been burned into my soul, sweet love. It is this memory that sustains me in our separateness. It is this memory that keeps me sane. It is this memory that I hold close to my heart, as I lay alone in bed each night, wishing with all that I am, that you were here with me.

It is my hope that the day is drawing near when we will be together, not as two halves of a whole, but as two complete entities merged into one. I have visions of the future, visions of joy, love and family. I have visions of a golden haired angel, voicing the words I do, as I slip a symbol of our love on her finger. I see nights wrapped in each other's arms, and days spent at work, day dreaming of green eyes and a smile so endearing, it takes my breath away to see it.

You truly complete me. There is a spot in my heart that has never been touched by anyone but you, and never will be touched again. You have gained reign over my heart ... it is yours to command. I am powerless to resist, nor do I want to.

I love you with all my heart, sweet bard. I hope the day will come soon, when we can be together forever. Until then, keep me close to your heart, and I will keep you close to mine.

I love you baby....

Your Warrior

Attachment: RESCUE MY HEART "

After reading the note, tears were streaming down Rox's face as she opened the attachment and read the love poem that Cass had so eloquently read to her over the phone the day before. Sitting back in her chair, she looked inward, and for the first time, really analyzed how she felt about the dark haired beauty. Closing her eyes, she tried very hard to imagine what a future would be like with, and without her. She quickly came to the realization that she simply saw no future without Cass. Every imaginable scenario included the tall pilot. Thoughts of a future without her caused intense pain and heartache.

Opening her eyes, she raised her hands to her mouth and stared at the computer screen. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "I'm in love with her! I love her!" Feeling very light headed and giddy, she dialed Nikki's number and promptly got the answering machine.

"Hi! No - this isn't Nikki this is a machine ... don't you hate that? Jerri and I are probably gone or asleep. Leave a message after the beep, and we'll get back to you! If it's an emergency, page me at 555-351-7100! Ta Ta For Now!" came the mechanical message.

"Nikki! I love her! I love her! I can't believe it, but I'm in love with her! Call me!" Rox said into the receiver before hanging up.

Moments later, the phone rang. It was Jerri, returning Rox's call. Rox was still sitting there, staring unseeingly at the computer screen.

"Hello?" Rox answered.

"Hey Rox ... I just listened to your message. Congratulations, girlfriend! It's about time you realize where your heart has been for the past several weeks. I'm really happy for you, my friend," Jerri said happiliy.

"Jer?" Rox asked. "I'm sorry, did the phone wake you up?"

"No. I was just getting out of the shower. I'm scheduled to work the noon to midnight shift, so I was up already. So Rox, what's the next step?" Jerri prompted.

"The next step?" Rox asked, still a little dazed at her self realization.

"Yeah - you know ... Cass, I love you ... I want to spend the rest of my life with you ... you know - that kind of thing," Jerri said.

Rox's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "God, Jer - I haven't thought that far ahead yet. Geesh ... help me out here - what DO I do next?" she asked seriously.

Jerri stood there, holding the receiver to one ear and towel drying her dark hair with the other hand. "Well ... you can start by calling her and letting her know. I'm sure she'd be thrilled with the news," Jerri suggested.

"Oh my god! How do I do that? Do I just blurt it out? Shit!" Rox exclaimed.

"Shit? No, shitting would NOT be a good way," Jerri teased. "Look Rox, just call her. Call her right now. No sense in waiting."

"I can't -- she's on a flight to Mexico until tomorrow," Rox replied.

"Okay, then you've got an entire day and a half to think of an approach. Call Nikki tonight and run it by her ... she'll be home by 5:00 p.m.," Jerri suggested.

"All right -- I'll do that. Thanks, Jer," Rox said before hanging up.

After several more moments of staring at the computer in a comatose state, she realized that her story was no further along than it was when she turned the computer on nearly an hour earlier. Snapping herself out of her trance, she logged off the Internet, opened her word processor and began to write.

Three hours later, Rox was startled by the sound of the telephone on the desk beside her computer. She was so absorbed in her new book that she had managed to tune out low volume external sounds, however, the sharp ring of the telephone refused to be ignored. Reaching for the receiver, she greeted the caller.

"Hello?" she said.

"Rox!" came the excited voice at the other end of the line. "Oh my god, Rox! I just heard the news!"

"Nikki?" Rox asked. "I see Jerri has been talking to you. Got any advice for me?"

"Yeah -- dump her -- NOW!" Nikki said vehemently.

"What??!!" Rox exclaimed. "Nikki ... how can you suggest that? I've just realized I'm in love with her!"

"Roxanne Ward, you don't need this kind of complication in your life! You can't be in love with her -- she's no good for you!" Nikki insisted.

"Nikki ...." Rox began.

"No Rox! Do you want to be running from the police all of your life? You can't do this!" Nikki begged.

Silence.

"Rox?" Nikki asked.

Regaining her senses, Rox lifted the receiver to her ear once more. "Nikki, what the hell are you talking about?" she asked.

More silence.

"Nikki! Talk to me!" Rox demanded.

"You don't know, do you?" Nikki asked.

"Know what? Nikki, I'm really getting pissed at you. Damn it! Talk to me!" Rox insisted.

"I was watching the TV in the nurses lounge and there was a news flash about a plane being hijacked. Rox -- it was Cass' plane, and according to the report, there's a chance that she's in on the hijacking," Nikki said.

Rox dropped the phone into her lap and sat back in the chair, her eyes bulging in disbelief.

"Roxanne, pick up the god dammed phone!" came Nikki's voice from the receiver in Rox's lap.

Rox reached down a lifted the receiver to her ear. "Nikki ... it can't be true. Cass wouldn't...."

"Wouldn't she, Rox? What do you really know about her? You were the one who was worried that she was an Internet whacko ... maybe you were right," Nikki suggested.

"No Nikki .... no -- I don't believe it. Nikki, I'm calling the airline. What channel did you say that report was on?" Rox asked.

"Channel 3 ... it was a news flash. They've been giving updates every half hour or so. Rox, I'm leaving work early today and coming straight to your house, okay? I don't want you to be alone. Jerri won't be home until about 1:00 a.m., so I'd be going home to an empty house anyway. I should be there in a couple of hours. Don't leave, okay?" she asked.

"All right, Nik ... I'll be here. And Nik ... thanks," Rox said.

"Honey, you know I only want your happiness. Maybe together we can understand this mess. Okay? I'll be there soon. Bye," came the reply as Nikki hung up the phone.

"Bye Nik," Rox said, placing the receiving back in the cradle. Looking at the work she had completed that morning on her book, she suddenly realized that all she had accomplished was for naught if she lost Cass. Oh my god, she said to herself. I may never get the chance to tell her I love her. With that, she dropped her face into her hands and began to cry.

**********

Rox was sitting on the living room couch glued to the television when Nikki arrived two hours later. She sat there on the edge of the couch, her body stiff with tension, a handkerchief wrinkled with worry and damp with tears. Nikki immediately went to her friend and enveloped her in a hug, allowing Rox to release some of the tension and to lean on her for support as they watched the latest update together.

"And now, a late breaking update on this morning's hijacking of flight 7231 from San Jose, California to Durango, Mexico," the newscaster started as the ladies' attention remained riveted to the set. "When the news first broke of the hijacking, it was believed that pilot Cassidy Conway was a key participant in the event. The identity of the other hijacker is unconfirmed at this time, however, it is believed to be that of Jason Hayer, and acquaintance of the pilot. The plane landed in San Diego, California, shortly after 9:30 a.m. this morning under the pretense of faulty controls, and immediately proceeded to unload all passenger and crew members except the pilot, co-pilot and Mr. Hayer. Before take off, the co-pilot, Brian Anderson was unloaded from the plane by Captain Conway herself, and handed over to the grounds crew. Mr. Anderson had been shot in the leg with a mid-range caliber pistol. The plane then proceeded to take off again with Captain Conway at the controls. Suspicion was cast on Captain Conway when the second hijacker referred to her as "his partner".

"Nikki ... this can't be happening! Cass wouldn't DO that!" Rox whined as the news report continued.

"Since our report this morning, new news has come to light in an interview with co-pilot Brian Anderson. During the interview, Mr. Anderson indicated that Captain Conway was NOT a willing participant, and that she was blackmailed into cooperating with the gunman in order to save the lives of the passengers and crew," the reported stated.

Rox repeated tapped Nikki on the arm excitedly while pointing to the TV with her other hand. "See! See! I told you she wouldn't do that!" she said in a highly pitched voice.

"Shhhhh!" Nikki replied as she tried to listen to the rest of the report.

"The FAA is still treating Captain Conway's participation in this event as suspicious, however probable doubt has been cast on the nature of her involvement. The destination of the aircraft is unknown at this time, however, it is believed to have been heading toward Colombia. A brief investigation into Mr. Hayer's recent activities have uncovered potential involvement with Colombian drug lord, Carlos Santonio. More on this story as it becomes available," finished the newscaster before signing off.

Nikki pointed the remote control at the TV and shut if off, then threw it on the coffee table in front of the couch. Looking at Rox, she voiced her concerns.

"Well? What do you think?" she asked.

"I don't think she did it, Nik. Brian is probably right. He was there. He should know," Rox replied. Rising to her feet, she started pacing back and forth in front of the couch. "Christ, Nik... she's stuck on a plane with an armed mad man," she said, her arms flailing all around her.

Nikki also rose to her feet and stopped her friend in mid-stride. Wrapping her arms around the red head, she pulled her in close and tried to comfort her. "I sure hope you're right, Rox. I guess we need to give her the benefit of the doubt for now."

"Nikki, what are we going to do?" Rox asked desperately.

"Well, right now, we're going to wait and see what develops. What else CAN we do? We don't even know for sure where they're heading," Nikki reasoned.

Rox just nodded and let herself fall heavily back onto the couch. Grabbing the remote, she turned the television back on and began channel surfing to stay on top of any late breaking news. Nikki just stood there, watching her friend ... her heart breaking for the red head, and her mind screaming desperately for Cass' innocence and safety.

*********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER XXXIV

Once the plane was at cruising altitude, Cass looked over at Jason and grinned. "We did it!" she exclaimed, raising her hand for a 'high-five', which Jason happily supplied.

"You were great, Cass!" he shouted. "Wow! Talk about a narrow escape! Our names will go down in the history books ... right next to Bonnie and Clyde's," he bragged.

Cass groaned as she thought of being immortalized in print next to Jason for future generations to see.

"You know, Cass," he continued, "we might want to consider skipping the country after we complete the shipment. I mean, we're gonna be branded as fugitives, and it might not be safe to reenter the US," he explained.

Cass pretended to contemplate the suggestion. Over my dead body! Enforcer piped in. "You might be right there, Jay ... We should give it some serious thought. By the way ... what exactly is in that shipment?" she asked.

Jason looked around as though there was someone else on board that might hear him. Then, in hushed tones, he said, "Drugs."

Holy Shit! Cassidy Conway ... you turn this plane around right now! I WILL NOT be involved in any drug deals! Enforcer demanded.

"Uhhmmm ... that's what I thought," Cass said calmly.

Look Cass ... you're already in big trouble for stealing this plane ... don't make it worse by becoming involved in drug dealing. Shit woman! Where is your head? Do you really think that sexy red head in Maine is going to want you with a criminal record? Do you really think she'll wait for you while you do time in the big house? Enforcer tried to make her see reason.

Cass felt a pang of sadness run through her as Enforcer reminded her of what she had to lose. If things didn't work out the way she planned, she would definitely lose Rox ... of that, she was very sure, but she couldn't let Jason, nor the Colombian drug lords succeed.

The rest of the flight went smoothly. Jason spent most of the time outlining his plans for Cass, including who his contacts were and what time he was to meet with them. Cass pointedly ignored the radio calls that constantly came across, the wires in an attempt to pinpoint their exact location. As they approached the Bogota public airport, Jason gave her new course coordinates to follow.

"What are these?" she asked, confused.

"The coordinates for the landing strip we're going to use for the pick up," he said.

"Landing strip? Jason ... where exactly IS this landing strip?" she asked suspiciously.

"Ah ... In the middle of the jungle ... but don't worry -- it's been cleared off real good," he said encouragingly.

"Cleared off? Damn it Jason! Just how big is this landing strip? This is a fairly good size plane ... we need lots of run way to land and take off!" she exclaimed.

"Well ... I don't know! 1500 feet? 2000 feet? How am I supposed to know?" he whined.

"Look, asshole," she said, grabbing the front of his shirt. "I'm in no mood to crash land another plane, you got that?" she said firmly. "If the 'landing strip' isn't long enough, I'm heading back to the public airport," she insisted.

Jason pushed her back and pulled out his gun. Holding it to her head, he threatened her once more. "You'll land this plane where I tell you to land it ... understand? If we damage the plane too much to fly it out, we'll buy another one -- heaven knows we'll have enough money to," he reasoned.

"And if I refuse?" she asked stubbornly.

"Then I put a bullet in that pretty little head of yours as soon as we're on the ground," he replied.

Cass sneered at him then looked at the new coordinates, resetting the plane's course in that direction. She was suddenly regretting her decision to become involved in this mess. Don't even say it E! she warned her alter ego.,

What? 'I told you so?' Nope ... not me ... I'd NEVER say that ... even though you sorely deserve it! Enforcer replied as the plane started it's descent into the jungle terrain.

Within moments, the landing strip came into view. "Oh my god!" Cass exclaimed. "You expect me to land the plane on THAT!?" she said, pointing to the roughly cleared out strip of jungle below. It looked just barely long enough, but the surface roughness was sure to cause some damage to the landing gear if she wasn't careful.

Jason looked through the windshield and silently admitted to himself that Cass was right ... it wasn't the most ideal place to land a plane -- but, it was too late to argue about it now. Gulping loudly and tightening his seat belt, he smiled reassuringly at Cass. "Sure ... you can do it, Cass. You're a good pilot. After all, you crash landed that plane in San Diego without losing even one passenger!" he pointed out.

"THAT was on a paved runway!" she reminded him as she lowered the landing gear and prepared for a rough landing.

Moments later, the wheels touched down on the rough surface and the plane shuddered down the strip as Cass completely reversed the engine thrust in an effort to slow the craft down before running out of space to stop. Jason hung on for dear life as his head bobbed up and down with every bump and divot the plane traveled across. Finally, within 100 feet of the trees at the end of the strip, the plane came to a stop. Jason made a sign of the cross in thanks for the rough, but safe landing before turning to Cass.

"Wow! I KNEW you could do it!" he exclaimed happily, reaching out to shake Cass' hand. "I knew you'd be the perfect choice for this job!" he added.

Cass looked at him through narrow eyes. "Just how long have you known you were going to do this, Jason?" she asked curiously.

"To be honest? Before you crash landed that plane. I chose you because you seemed like an easy in ... and because you seemed so calm and composed all the time. I thought you'd do well under pressure. Then, when you crash landed that plane... well, that sealed it for me!" he explained.

Cass shook her head from side to side, irked that she had been such an easy target. "Well, what now?" she asked as she freed herself from her seat belt.

"Our ride should be waiting for us in the trees. We meet with them, they take us to the compound, and we carry out the deal. As soon as the shipment arrives, we load it onto the plane, refuel, and head out," he answered.

"... As soon at it arrives? Do you mean we could be here for a few days?" she asked. "What if they spot the plane from the air?"

"Got it covered. You see, my business associates have hired some locals to cover the plane with foliage as soon as we disembark," he told her as he ushered her ahead of him out of the cockpit.

Opening the door, they were immediately greeted by natives, who provided a crude ramp for them to walk down from the plane. Several others were dragging large branches and vines toward the plane to carry out the camouflage plan.

As they reached the bottom of the ramp, Cass glanced over her shoulder to ask Jason where they would be staying while they were there. As she turned, she felt a sharp object come down on the back of her head, knocking her out cold.

"You, my dear, will be staying in a cell!" Jason said as he stood over her unconscious form.

**********

"Rox, come eat something," Nikki called from the kitchen.

Roxanne had remained perched on the sofa for the entire afternoon, surfing the channels for any news of the hijacking, her entire body tense with anticipation.

"Rox!" Nikki called again, this time planting herself down on the couch right next to the red head. "Rox ... you've got to eat. You've been sitting here all afternoon. Starving yourself will not help the authorities find her any faster," Nikki pointed out.

Rox looked at Nikki, the signs of heartbreak and worry so etched into her features, it made Nikki teary eyed. Reaching over, she took Rox's hand in her own and held it close to her heart. "I know, honey ... the waiting is hard," she said softly. "Look, why don't I bring a tray in here and we can eat something together while we watch for updates, okay?" she suggested, receiving an appreciative nod from Rox.

Moments later, Nikki returned carrying a tray laden with soup and salad, and set it down on the coffee table in front of them. "There ... eat up," she instructed.

Rox absent mindedly reached for her soup spoon at the same time a news update flashed across the screen. She immediately grabbed the remote control and turned the volume up. Two pair of eyes remained intently focused on the TV screen as the newscaster introduced the story.

"Early this morning, a Southern Lights Airliner was hijacked from the San Diego airport, en route to Durango, Mexico, with the Captain, Cassidy Conway, and lone passenger Jason Hayer on board. It is believed that Hayer is the hijacker, but rumors of Captain Conway's involvement are being considered at this time. The plane was last detected on radar heading toward Bogota, Colombia. The craft has since disappeared from radar and is believed to have either landed or crashed in the dense jungles of the Bogota region," he reported.

"Oh my God, no!" Rox cried at the reference to a possible crash.

"Authorities are conducting an air search at this time and have yet to find evidence of crash site debris," the reporter continued.

"Rox ... calm down. They haven't found a crash site. I'm sure she's all right," Nikki encouraged her friend as she fought her own internal struggles of doubt.

"Authorities are speculating about the motive behind the hijacking, claiming that Jason Hayer has connections with drug lord Carlos Santonio, and may be involved with the influx of drugs into Southern California over the past several months. As far as Captain Conway's role in the hijacking is concerned, the airline is standing by her reputation, convinced of her innocence. More on this story on Channel 3, News at Six," concluded the reporter.

**********

Rox remained glued to the television for the remainder of the evening. By midnight, she had learned nothing new. The authorities still had found no trace of the plane, nor of a landing strip in the thick jungles of South America. This news brought mixed feelings to the emotionally fragile red head. On one hand, no news was good news relative to a possible crash landing, but on the other, she found herself wondering several times if she would ever see the tall, dark-haired pilot again. It was these thoughts that raced through her mind as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, wishing with everything that she was, that she had told Cass how much she loved her. For all she knew, Cass was lying dead or dying in the middle of crash debris deep in the jungle. Her pillow was damp with tears as she finally drifted off to sleep.

Some time later, Rox was startled by a loud clanging sound. Someone had grabbed her, and dragged her kicking and screaming through the darkness, and threw her into a damp, dingy cell. The cell reeked of damp, mustiness, the dirt floor cold and gritty on her bare feet. Darkness pervaded, limiting her ability to see anything but mere shapes.

Having been thrown forcibly into the cell, she landed on the dirt floor, sending a cloud of dust into her nostrils which caused her to sneeze uncontrollably for several moments. Finally, after regaining control, she wiped her hands on the rag she found herself wearing. How....? Where did this come from? she questioned herself as she looked at the torn and dirty cloth which just barely covered her from chest to mid-thigh. Where am I? she thought. Reaching up to wipe the dirt from her face, she winced as her fingers ran over the bruise that covered her cheek. How did this happen? she mused.

Suddenly, from the center of the cell, she heard a faint moaning. Kneeling perfectly still, she listened intently until she heard it again. It was obviously someone in great pain.

"Hello?" she called softly. "Is anyone there?"

Again a soft, painful moan.

Realizing she wasn't going to get a coherent answer, Rox started crawling toward the source of the sound until she encountered a body. Recoiling quickly at the touch, she sat back on her heels and brought her frightened heartbeat under control. They surely can't harm me, she thought. They need my help, she convinced herself as she leaned forward once more to feel her way around.

A small sliver of light from the partially obscured moon shone through the barred window as Rox strained to make out the form before her. Finding the person purely by touch, she soon realized it was a woman. The woman moaned loudly as Rox touched her face.

"Shhh ... it's okay. I won't hurt you," she cooed softly to the injured woman.

Managing to maneuver herself under the woman, she sat against the pole in the middle of the room and laid the woman's head in her lap. Brushing the bangs out of the woman's eyes, she sat there for several hours, voicing words of encouragement, promising not to leave her, all the while, fearing for her own safety, and that of her injured comrade. Several times, Rox asked the woman for her name, or for information about where they were, but the woman was unable to respond with anything more than grunts and moans. Finally, near dawn, the daylight slowly filtered into the room, casting an eerie pallor over everything.

As the room became lighter, Rox was able to make out the form lying in her lap. The features were barely discernible behind the bruises, cuts and abrasions, but when the woman opened her eyes, Rox's breath caught in her throat at the twin blue orbs that were presented to her. "Cass?" she asked in a choked voice.

The blue eyes filled with tears as the injured woman reached up and touched the bruise on the side of Rox's face. "I'm sorry," Cass whispered.

Tears ran down Rox's face as she shook her head from side to side and wiped the moisture from Cass' eyes. "No ... I had a choice. I chose the way of friendship ... the way of love," she explained.

Cass had all she could do to manage a weak smile. "But..." she began.

Rox silenced Cass with a finger placed lovingly on her lips. "Shh... let me explain," she said. "You brought out the best in me, Cass. Before I met you, I felt invisible. I felt like I didn't know who I was. But you saw all the things that I was ... and all that I could be. You saved me, Cass," Rox explained. "Cass, I lov..." Rox began before the cell door was thrown open.

"All right, it's time -- on your feet," a gruff voice said from the doorway.

Rox leaned down and placed one gentle kiss on Cass' forehead before she felt the injured woman being ripped out of her arms.

"Please ... be careful with her," Rox pleaded before she was yanked to her own feet and dragged out behind Cass.

The next thing Rox knew, they were being led through a snowy courtyard with Cass' feet literally dragging behind her as the two burly guards that held her up led their procession to the center of the yard. Rox's eyes never left Cass' face as they were each laid on a wooden post, their feet and wrists tied to the cross beam with rope. Cass returned her loving look with one of her own.

"You are the best thing in my life," she heard Cass say as the guard placed a thin piece of wood in the Cass' palm and lifted a hammer high into the air, intent on striking the nail poised in the center of the wood.

"I love you," Rox said as she looked up and and suddenly realized her love was about to be crucified. "NOOOOOO!" she screamed, sitting up straight and throwing the covers off. Climbing quickly out of bed, she paced back and forth across her bedroom, her eyes wide with terror as her heart pounded out of her chest with fear.

"Oh my god! Oh my god!" she chanted as she stopped and looked at her palms, convinced they would be covered in blood. Finding only the cast covering her right hand, she ran her left hand over her face, and through her hair, trying desperately to make sense of the dream. "Cass, where are you?" she whispered into the night. "I've got to find you."

Picking up the phone, she dialed Nikki's number.

"Hello?" came the groggy voice at the other end of the line.

"Nikki? Nik ... she's in trouble!" Rox exclaimed into the phone.

"Rox? What the hell? Do you know what time it is?" Nikki asked impatiently.

"Look, Nik, I'm sorry, but she's in trouble. I just had a dream! Nik -- Cass is hurt ... I've got to find her!" Rox exclaimed.

"You saw her in a dream? Okay, Rox ... go back to bed. There's nothing you can do from here," Nikki encouraged.

"I know Nik ... that's why I have to go find her," Rox said.

"What? Roxanne, are you sleepwalking? Damn it woman! You can't be serious!" Nikki exclaimed.

"I have to Nik. I just wanted to let you know in case you tried to call here and no one answered," Rox explained.

"Rox, if you're serious about this, then I'm coming with you," Nikki demanded.

"No, Nik. I have to do this myself. If there's any chance the dream will come true, I don't want you anywhere near where I'm going," Rox said. "I'll talk to you when I get back, Nik."

"Rox -- don't do this. Call the authorities if you think you know where she is," Nikki urged.

"That's just it, Nik ... I don't know for sure where she is ... I have to go find her, don't you see?" Rox asked.

"There's no talking you out of this, is there?" Nikki said regretfully.

"No there isn't. I have to do this, Nik. Please try to understand," Rox pleaded.

"All right, Rox. Please be careful. Honey, if there's anything I can do, please ... please contact me -- promise me, Rox," Nikki demanded.

"Okay, Nik -- I promise. Thank you, Nikki. I love you, you know," Rox said.

"I love you too, Rox. Be careful ... and call me when you find out anything, okay?" Nikki asked.

"I will, Nik. I'll talk to you later. Bye," Rox finished before hanging up the phone.

Several moments later, Rox had made up her mind as she sat in front of the computer and logged onto the Internet.

"Okay ... Where did that reporter say the plane was headed?" she thought, desperately trying to remember the last newscast that had mentioned the plane's direction. "Nicaragua? No, that's not it! Columbia? Yeah! Bogota! I'm sure of it!" she exclaimed, trying to convince herself as she selected the travel icon on the search engine. Ten minutes later, she was booked on a flight to Bogota, scheduled to leave Maine at 10 am the next morning.

**********

"Oh my God," Cass moaned as she tried desperately to move. Her head hurt like hell and she was covered in sweat and grime. She was laying in a dark room ... blinding darkness surrounding her except for a small sliver of moon light that shone through a barred window. Where the hell am I? she thought.

Suddenly, a door opened, the light from beyond it momentarily blinding her. Seconds later, it was dark again as she laid still listening to the noises that were coming from the direction of the door. It sounded like someone feeling their way around in the darkness. Trying again in vain to sit up, she succeeded only in sending waves of pain spreading through her head, causing her to moan once more.

"Hello?" a woman's voice called softly. "Is anyone there?"

There's someone in here with me. Cass thought as she failed for the third time to bring herself into a sitting position. Again a soft, painful moan erupted from her throat.

Before she knew what was happening, Cass felt something touch her face, causing her to jump and cry out.

"Shhh ... it's okay. I won't hurt you," the voice cooed softly.

After a few moments of painful maneuvering, Cass' cell mate managed to lift her head and place it on her lap. Brushing the bangs out of Cass' eyes, the woman sat there for several hours, voicing words of encouragement, promising not to leave her. Several times, the woman asked Cass for her name, or for information about where they were, but Cass was unable to voice anything more than painful grunts and moans. Finally, near dawn, the daylight slowly filtered into the room, casting an eerie pallor over everything.

As the room became lighter, Cass was able to make out the form of the woman above her. The features were barely discernible behind the bruises and dirt, but when she opened her eyes, exposing a sea of green, Cass' breath caught in her throat as her mind screamed Rox!. Reaching up, she touched the bruise on the side of Rox's face. "I'm sorry," Cass whispered.

Tears ran down Rox's face as she shook her head side to side and wiped the moisture from Cass' eyes. "No ... I had a choice. I chose the way of friendship ... the way of love," she explained.

Cass had all she could do to manage a weak smile. "But..." she began.

Rox silenced Cass with a finger placed lovingly on her lips. "Shh... let me explain," she said. "You brought out the best in me, Cass. Before I met you, I felt invisible. I felt like I didn't know who I was. But you saw all the things that I was ... and all that I could be. You saved me, Cass," Rox explained. "Cass, I lov..." Rox began before the cell door was thrown open.

"All right, it's time -- on your feet," a gruff voice said from the doorway.

Rox leaned down and placed one gentle kiss on her forehead before Cass felt herself being ripped out of the bard's arms.

"Please ... be careful with her," Cass heard Rox plead as she was dragged out of the cell.

The next thing Cass knew, they were being led through a snowy courtyard, her feet literally dragging behind her as the two burly guards that held her up, led their procession to the center of the yard. Cass found Rox's eyes and held them as they were each laid on a wooden post, their feet and wrists tied to the cross beam with rope.

"You are the best thing in my life," Cass said as the guard placed a thin piece of wood in Rox's palm and lifted a hammer high into the air, intent on striking the nail poised in the center of the wood.

"I love you," came Rox's reply as Cass looked up and suddenly realized her love was about to be crucified. "NOOOOOO!" she screamed, sitting up straight and grabbing her head in an attempt to stem the nausea caused by the sudden movement.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! I'm going to be sick," Cass said as she crawled into a corner and emptied the contents of her stomach onto the dirt floor. Feeling dizzy and weak, she crawled back to where she had been laying and leaned against the post in the center of the room. Dropping her head into her hands, she thought about the dream she had. Rox, why do I keep seeing you in my dreams? she asked herself.

Looking around, and realizing she was in some sort of Colombian jail, she began to think about just how much trouble she was in. "I am in deep shit," she said out loud.

No kidding Dick Tracy, Enforcer replied sarcastically.

No comments from the peanut gallery , if you don't mind, Cass returned.

Bullshit! exclaimed the alter ego. You get some notion in your head that you're gonna save the world from drug lords... we're knocked out and confined to these wonderful guest accommodations... you throw up in the corner and leave a lovely pile of puke there to stink up the place even more than it already smells... we're probably gonna die in this hell hole, and you want ME to shut up??!! I don't think so!

I'll figure out how to get us out of this, Cass said looking around hopelessly. Don't ask me how, but I will.

Before Enforcer could reply, the door to the cell flew open with such force that it slammed into the wall behind it. Jason strutted into the room like a bandy rooster claiming ownership over the chicken coop.

"Well, well, well," he said, walking circles around Cass, his thumbs hooked into the suspenders holding up his pants. "You've finally decided to rejoin the land of the living. Sorry for the bump on the head, but I had to assure your cooperation, and to somehow keep the location of our hospitable hosts a secret. What better way to do that, but for you to make the trip unconscious," he explained. "No hard feelings?" he added, squatting down in front of Cass and extending his hand to her.

Don't do it, Cass, Enforcer warned.

Cass just looked at his hand, then looked away, refusing to extend her own to meet it.

Jason rose back to his full height and sighed. "Have it your way, then," he said. "I can see our little liaison is over. That is a major mistake on your part, Cass. It would have been much easier on you if you had continued to cooperate." Jason explained as he once again walked circles around Cass. "Now, I'm afraid we'll have to make sure you understand who is in charge here," he added, nodding to the armed man who had come into the room behind him.

The man laid the machine gun he had been cradling down on the floor, then reached over and grabbed Cass by the front of her shirt. Lifting her to her feet, he slammed her against the post in the center of the room and punched her hard in the stomach. For the next several minutes, he proceeded to pummel Cass senseless until she was once more, a boneless heap on the floor, blood dribbling from her mouth and nose.

As the brute retrieved his machine gun and stood guard by the door, Jason once more squatted down in front of Cass.

"There's more where that came from if you fail to cooperate, Cass. We need you to fly the drugs out. Be a good girl and do what you're told, and you just might make it out of this little venture alive. Pleasant dreams," he said before once more rising to his feet and leaving the room.

Cass, I hope you invested in a cemetery plot, 'cause I think we're gonna need it! exclaimed Enforcer.

Eat shit and die, E! Cass replied before losing consciousness once more.

*********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER XXXV

"Now where did I file that picture?" Rox asked herself as she searched through the picture folder on her hard drive. "Ah! There it is!" she exclaimed as the photograph of Cass and her co-pilot Brian was displayed on the screen. Thank god I didn't delete it when she sent it to me, Rox thought.

Rox set her alarm for 7:00 a.m., but had awakened about an hour before it went off, unable to sleep after the terrible dream she'd had. Climbing out of bed, she showered, dressed and spent the next hour packing for her trip to South America. She had no idea what to bring, so she threw a few light tops and shorts in a bag, along with several changes of underclothes, and her passport from her trip abroad to promote her last book. She had dressed that morning in khaki shorts, T-shirt, ankle socks and sturdy hiking boots. With about an hour to spare before leaving for the airport, she searched her hard drive looking for Cass' picture, which she planned to show to the local natives, in hope that someone would recognize her. After a successful search, she printed the picture out and carefully stored it in her knapsack. Finally, she was ready to go.

An hour later, Rox nervously chewed her nails, watching the ground crew through the small port hole window as they directed the pilot into take-off position on the run way. Noting the time on her watch as 10:02 am, she tugged securely on her seat belt and then pressed her head into the cushion behind her. She felt as through someone had suddenly punched her in the stomach. Folding her arms across her mid-section, she took a deep breath and sighed. It was going to be a long flight.

**********

Cass slowly maneuvered herself to her knees, trying very hard not to jar her head and start another round of dry heaves. She had tried to do this just an hour earlier and ended up back on her face, her stomach retching wildly in rebellion. Her head was pounding so, her vision was blurred, and every muscle in her body ached from the abuse it had received just a few hours earlier.

Finally, she managed to prop herself up against the wooden pole in the center of the room, and began to survey the damage. She knew she must rival the beauty of a snake-haired Gorgon monster with her swollen nose and eyes, and split lip. Her hair was peppered with pieces of straw, and in a state of wild disarray, with stray locks sticking out in all directions. She didn't think any bones were broken, with the possible exception of her nose, but she was already able to see telltale signs of a deep purple bruise starting around her mid-section where Godzilla had done a number on her.

She sat there pondering her fate, wondering how the hell she was going to get out of this one, when a petite young girl slipped quietly into the cell carrying a tray laden with soup and a roll. She approached Cass cautiously, and placed the tray on the floor beside the beaten woman. As she started to leave, Cass quickly detained her.

"Wait!" she said insistently.

The young girl stopped in her tracks, but kept her back to Cass, obviously afraid of retribution if Cass' captors found her talking to the prisoner.

"Please, come back," Cass asked, extending one hand toward the girl. "I won't hurt you... I promise," she added.

The girl looked at Cass, her brow drawn together in confusion. Cass restated her plea in Spanish. "Por favor vuelve. You not te voy a hacer daño...lo prometo."

Immediately recognizing her native tongue, the girl half turned toward Cass, and slowly made her way back to the center of the room, keeping one eye on Cass, and the other on the entrance to the cell. Finally, when she had reached Cass, she bent down next to the tray and started fussing with the food there in an attempt to make the captors believe her movements were necessary.

Cass caught on immediately to what the girl was doing. Trying not to make it obvious, she began talking. "Por favor. Dónde estoy? Necesito irme de aquí. Necesito encontrar my avión. Me ayudas?" she pleaded. ["Please. Where am I? I need to get out of here. I need to find my plane. Will you help me?"]

The young girl raised her eyes to meet Cass' face. The girl was stunningly beautiful. Appearing to be no older than 15 or 16, she had skin the color of coffee with cream and large dark brown eyes that seemed to fill her entire face. Her face was framed by a mane of long black curly locks. When their eyes met, something passed between them ... an understanding, a sense of camaraderie.

Cass held her eyes, waiting for an answer, but none was forthcoming. A frightened look flashed across the girl's face as a voice came from outside the cell door. Quickly, she rose to her feet, and darted out of the room, pausing long enough to give Cass one more sympathetic look.

As soon as the girl left, the cell door was slammed shut with a loud clang. The unkempt guard on the other side spit tobacco on the floor and grinned, exposing stained, decaying teeth.

Come, Gringa. Eso es todo lo que te tienes hasta la cena," he said, chuckling as he walked away. ["Eat up, Gringa. That's all you get until dinner,"]

Cass looked at the soup and roll that had been left for her and pushed them away, not wanting to add further to her stomach upset.

**********

Cass paced back and forth across her cell, trying desperately to come up with a way to escape, but to no avail. She had inspected every square inch of the room, looking for a weak spot... a loose bar on the window... a loose brick in the outside wall... anything that would give her hope. After several hours of investigating, she came to the conclusion that the only way out was through the door, which had been heavily guarded since she arrived.

She had no contact with anyone since the peasant girl had left that morning. Not even the guards were paying her any attention, even though she repeatedly asked them where she was. Jason hadn't made another appearance since that morning either.

She was beginning to wonder just how long she would be stuck in this hellhole when Jason finally showed up. After entering the cell, he had the guard lock the door behind him so that Cass couldn't escape. He was obviously afraid of the tall pilot, since he carried a gun into the cell with him, keeping it trained on Cass at all times.

"Well, Cass, have you had enough time to think over your predicament? I would rather not have to force you to fly the plane out, but I will if necessary. Your cooperation will help assure your own long-term safety, you know. If you were smart, you'd change your mind and do what you could to see that we transport the goods safely and expediently," he informed her.

Cass looked at the man with disgust clearly written across her features. "And just where are these drugs destined to end up, Jason ... in some school yard?" she asked pointedly as she leaned her back against the wall, crossing her arms in front of her.

"What happens to the drugs after I deliver them is no concern of mine," he stated plainly. "All I need to do is make the drop, then I wash my hands of the whole mess" he replied.

"You disgust me, Jason," Cass said with a sneer. Pushing herself off the wall, she walked to the far corner and looked out the small barred window, her back to the armed man.

Jason just shook his head from side to side. "What am I going to do with you, Cass?? he asked. "You WILL fly the plane out, you know. One way or another, you WILL fly it out. It's up to you just how uncomfortable you want to be while you're doing it," he added.

Still looking out the window, she replied, "I won't help you destroy innocent lives, Jason ... especially the lives of children."

"Well then, your life will be destroyed instead," he said as he came up behind her and pistol-whipped her across the back of the head, causing her to fall lifelessly to the floor of the cell.

**********

By the time the plane landed in Bogota, eight hours after she had left Maine, Rox was exhausted. The one hour layover in Miami hadn't helped much to ease her foul mood, nor did the loud, sassy little brat that sat in the seat in front of her on her connecting flight to Bogota. She was ready to spit nails when she finally collected her bag and headed toward the exit at Bogota's public airport. A short time later, she had secured a hotel room and was sitting on the bed, gathering her thoughts and compiling a plan for finding Cass.

She decided that her first line of attack should be with the local police, so without further ado, she headed out the door, hailed down a taxicab, and was on her way to the police station. When she arrived, she asked for a closed-door session with the chief of police. Drawing curious glances from the officers at the front desk, she realized that they didn't know much English. Frustrated, she paced back and forth in front of the desk, racking her brain for several moments, trying desperately to figure out how she was going to make them understand. The looks on their faces made it clear that they thought this yellow haired gringa was insane.

Finally, Rox had a thought. Approaching the desk once more, she said two words, "Carlos Santonio." Within seconds, the policemen had drawn their guns and backed her up against the wall, frisking her for weapons. Then without ceremony, the escorted her to the holding cell and threw her inside, locking the door behind her.

"Hey! Let me out of here!" she yelled through the bars as the police officers walked away. "Damn it! I said let me out of here! Aarrgghh!" she screamed as they ignored her request.

Rox paced back and forth for several minutes, furious for being treated like a common criminal, until finally, an official looking man in a business suit approached her cell. "Good afternoon, Señorita. I am police chief Juan Peña," he said in introduction.

"Thank God!" Roxanne exclaimed. "There's been some kind of mistake. You see, I haven't done anything wrong. Your men threw me in here without cause," she added.

"Not entirely without cause, Señorita," the police chief replied. "It appears that you have connections to the drug lord, Carlos Santonio, no?" he asked.

"Yes.... I mean no.... I mean, yes, I mentioned him to your officers, but that doesn't mean I'm involved with him. Señor Peña, I'm innocent. I am here looking for information..." she began.

"Just what kind of information, may I ask?" he said, interrupting her speech.

"Information about a plane that was hijacked in San Diego yesterday... I need..." Rox started to explain.

"So! You are connected to the hijacking, huh? Are you the contact?... the middle man so to speak? Being involved in drugs is a serious crime Miss...." the police chief said.

"Ward... my name is Roxanne Ward, and no, I'm not connected to the hijacking ... and I've never done drugs!" Roxanne began to pace again, frustrated that she couldn't get her point across to this man. "Damn it! I had nothing to do with the hijacking. I'm looking for Cassidy Conway. She was piloting the plane," Rox explained.

Police Chief Peña's eyes narrowed. "Señorita Conway, huh? That is very interesting," he said, started to pace himself. Suddenly he stopped and looked at Rox. "You know your government believes she is in on the hijacking, don't you?" he asked.

"I know they do," Rox replied, "but it's not true," Rox exclaimed.

"I see," said Peña still pacing. Finally, he stopped directly in front of her. Placing one hand on his hip and tracing his bushy mustache with the other hand, he said, "Well, Miss Ward, we will have to check out your story before we can release you. It is very important that we cooperate with the US government on drug dealers."

"I'm NOT a drug dealer!" she exclaimed again in frustration, hands on her hips.

"We shall see, Miss Ward ... we shall see. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable. It will take a while to check out your story," he informed her as he started to walk away.

Roxanne was beside herself with disbelief. "I.... I....," she stammered, unable to voice her frustration. "Can I at least make a phone call while I wait?" she asked.

Peña stopped and looked at his prisoner. "One call," he said, as he approached her cell and unlocked the door. "Follow me."

Roxanne followed Chief Peña down the hall to a small room containing a table, two chairs, and a telephone The door was left ajar, and a guard posted while she made her call.

"Nikki, please be there!" she said under her breath as she charged the call to her home number.

After several rings, the phone was answered by a groggy voice. "Hello?" it said.

"Jerri? Jerri, is Nikki home?" Rox asked.

"Rox? What time is it?" asked Jerri sleepily. She was working the midnight to noon shift and had set her alarm for 11 p.m. It didn't feel that late.

Rox glanced at her watch, "It's almost 9:30 p.m. Jerri.... Jerri, I'm in trouble... is Nikki home?" she asked again.

Jerri immediately sat up in bed as Rox's words registered. "No, Nikki's gone to the movies with her mother and sister ... what do you mean, you're in trouble? Rox, talk to me," she demanded.

"I'm in Bogota, Jer ..." Rox began.

"Whoa... whoa.... whoa... wait a minute. Bogota -- as in Colombia?" asked the dazed paramedic.

"Yes. Look, Jer. I'm in jail and I really need ...." Rox continued.

"Jail!!! Roxanne, what the fuck are you doing in jail??!!" Jerri exclaimed.

"Damn it Jer... listen to me! I came here looking for Cass. I mentioned a drug lord's name, and was immediately arrested. Now they think I'm involved in the hijacking and drug dealing. It's such a mess!" she cried.

"Okay ... okay, calm down," Jerri said as she ran her hand through her short brown hair. "What do you need me to do, Rox?" she asked.

"Call my lawyer for me Jer. I don't have her number or I would have made the call myself. Her name is Jeanette Campbell ... she's in the book. She needs to call the Chief of Police here in Bogota. His name is Chief Juan Peña. He's got to understand that I'm not a drug dealer!" Rox said desperately.

"All right, Rox. I'll take care of it. Honey, please be careful. I want you to come straight home as soon as they release you, okay?" Jerri demanded.

"No, Jer. I came here to find Cass. I know she's here somewhere. I'm not leaving until I find her. Didn't Nikki tell you where I was?" Rox asked.

"To tell you the truth, Nik and I haven't spent a waking moment together since I went to work yesterday morning," Jerri said. "This damned work schedule keeps us apart too much!" she complained. "In any case, Rox, please be careful."

"I will Jerri. Thanks so much for making this call. I'll call again soon to let you know how things are going," she said. "Kiss Nikki for me, okay?"

"Okay, Rox. Please be careful. I'll talk to you soon," Jerri said as she hung up the phone.

Moments later, Rox was escorted back to her cell.

**********

Cass woke to find her head resting in someone's lap. She immediately thought she was dreaming about Rox again. "Rox?" she whispered as she opened her eyes and saw the slight, brown-eyed peasant girl that had brought her food earlier that day.

Cass smiled to put the girl at ease. "Hola!" she said. ["Hi!.]

The girl smiled back and ran a cool damp cloth over Cass' forehead.

"Gracias," Cass said. "Cómo te llamas?" she added. ["Thank you. What is your name?"]

"Ana," the girl replied.

"Gracias, Ana," Cass said again. "Ana, dónde estoy?" ["Thank you, Ana. Ana, where am I?"]

The girl leaned in close. "No tengo permiso para decir. Me van a dar si supieran que he hablado," she said fearfully. ["I am not allowed to say. They will beat me if they knew I told you."]

Cass just nodded in understanding, confident that sooner or later, she could win the girl's trust.

Suddenly, a gruff voice came from the doorway. "Ana! Bastante! Ella es una prisionera, no es una huésped mimada. Sal de ahi ahora mismo!" ["Ana! Enough. She is a prisoner, not a pampered guest. Come out of there at once!"]

Ana immediately scurried to her feet. Looking back at Cass, she said, "Yo te he traido algo de cena. Esta bueno. You misma lo hice." Then she was gone. ["I have brought you some dinner. It is good. I made it myself."]

Cass watched the child leave then hungrily dove into the food she had brought. She was famished, having not eaten her soup and roll earlier. It truly was good fare, and she ate every bit of it, satisfying the ache in the pit of her stomach before settling herself against the post in the center of the room once again. Her head was pounding from being pistol whipped, as she closed her eyes and willed the pain to go away.

"Well, Cass. Have you changed your mind about cooperating?" came Jason's voice from the door.

Cass looked over and saw Jason's silhouette outlined against the light in the hallway. "I need something for this headache," she said, "... and I need to use the bathroom," she added, before once again, closing her eyes against the pain.

She heard the door open and an object drop to the floor before closing again. "Here is your bathroom," Jason chuckled, indicating the bucket he had just thrown into the room. "As for the headache ... live with it! It's your fault you have it anyway. All you had to do was cooperate, Cass. Expect to live in perpetual pain until you do." With that, he was gone.

**********

Midnight found Rox still pacing back and forth in her cell. What's taking my lawyer so long? she asked herself as she wore yet another groove across the floor. Cass, please be all right. I need you. I love you. If anyone is listening up there, please keep her safe, Rox begged to the powers that be. Finally around 2:00 a.m., Rox gave up and laid down on the thin mattress thrown on the floor in the corner of the room. Within moments, she was fast asleep.

**********

Cass' eyes drifted closed as her chin suddenly dropped to her chest, snapping her awake once more. Shaking her head from side to side, she repositioned herself against the pole, trying with all her will to stay awake. Her thoughts began to wander. Rox, she thought. Rox, I love you. I will make it through this hell ... I have to. I need to see you again. I need to touch you, even if you don't return that love.

Rising to her feet, she began to pace, stumbling blindly in the darkness from tiredness and pain. She had no idea what time it was, but judging by the position of the moon, she guessed it to be after midnight. Finally, realizing she might find refuge in sleep, she curled up on the straw mattress in the corner of the room and allowed herself to fall asleep.

*********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER XXXVI

Early the next morning, Rox was awakened by the sound of a key turning in the lock on her cell door.

"Good Morning, Señorita!" Chief Peña said cheerfully. "You are being released."

"I am?" Rox asked, still groggy from sleep.

"Yes. You should have told me last night that you were here doing research on your next book. I am a big fan of yours, Señorita. I have read all about your aliens. Miss Campbell called me early this morning and let me in on your secret research. Tell me, Señorita Ward, will there be a police chief in your next book?" he inquired hopefully.

It took a moment, but Rox finally caught on to what the police chief was implying. Thank you, Jeanette! she said to herself as she stroked his ego. "Errr... As a matter of fact, yes. You see, my next book will be about aliens landing in South America, and ...."

Rox spent the next half hour explaining how in her new book, a heroic South American police chief saved the world from invading aliens. By the time she left the police station, she had fully exonerated herself and had received a personal dinner invitation from the chief himself.

**********

Cass' headache was back in full force when she awoke the next morning. Sitting up on the straw bed, she dropped her head into her hands and moaned.

You know, Cass... the last time you woke up with a headache like this, you had drank too much the night before. Enforcer pointed out.

Who drank too much the night before? Cass asked incredulously.

Errr.... Okay, it was me. I drank too much the night before -- are you happy now? the alter ego replied sarcastically.

What I wouldn't give if this truly WERE a hangover, Cass replied.

Amen to that! Enforcer replied. What are we going to do, Cass?

I don't know, E. This place is just too well guarded. We need some help. If I could only get that little peasant girl... Cass began.

Don't you think she's a little young for you, Cass? Enforcer asked.

Oh for Christ's sake, E. I wasn't talking about getting her into bed! All I want is some help! Geesh! Cass exclaimed.

All right, all right. I'm sorry. I'm under a lot of stress here! Give me a break! the alter ego exclaimed.

Okay, where do you want it.... your neck, your leg??? Cass replied.

Before Enforcer could respond, the door to the cell opened wide to admit Ana, carrying a breakfast tray.

"Buenos días, Señorita," she said as she placed the tray on the straw bed next to Cass. ["Good Morning, Señorita."]

Cass smiled. "Por favor, quédate conmigo un rato," she asked, patting the mattress beside her. ["Please, sit with me a while,"]

Ana looked nervously toward the door, then gingerly sat on the edge of Cass' bed while she ate.

"Tienes bellos ojos," Ana said to Cass. "So tan azúles!" ["You have beautiful eyes.... They are so blue!]

Cass smiled once more, trying very hard to make the child comfortable. "Gracias," she said. ["Thank you."] After a moment, Cass looked Ana directly in the eyes. "Ana, Necesito ayuda. Me estan forzando a volar drogas fureras del país. Necesíto escaparme," she explained. ["Ana, I need help. I am being forced to fly drugs out of this country. I need to escape,"]

Ana knotted her hands in her lap. Meeting Cass' gaze, tears filled her eyes as she replied, "Me matarán a mi y a mi familia si te ayudo. No se que hacer!!" ["They will kill me and my family if I help you. I don't know what to do!"]

Cass reached over and placed her larger hand on top of the girl's. "Entiendo, Ana. Tienes que proteger a tu familia. Gracias de todas maneras," she said. ["I understand, Ana. You must protect your family. Thank you anyway,"]

"Ana, apurate, muchacha. El jefe quiere que vallas al mercado," the guard's voice boomed from the doorway, startling both women. ["Ana! Be quick in there girl. The boss wants you to go to the market,"]

Ana rose to her feet and looked at Cass, sadness and regret filling her eyes. "Lo siento," she whispered before leaving the cell. ["I am sorry.]

**********

Rox wasted no time. She went directly back to her hotel, showered, changed her clothes, then hit the streets, armed with Cass' picture. Obviously, she couldn't expect any help from the police department, so she firmed her resolve to find Cass by herself. For the next four hours, Rox walked the streets of Bogota, showing the picture to hundreds of people. She guessed that about half of them had no idea what she was talking about.

Entering the public marketplace thoroughly frustrated by her lack of success over the last four hours, Rox began showing Cass' picture around again. Time after time, she received confused looks or negative responses. On the verge of giving up, she showed the picture to a beautiful young girl with large brown eyes and curly black hair, who was picking out fresh produce at a vegetable vendor.

"Excuse me, Miss, but have you seen this woman?" Rox asked, handing the picture of Cass to the girl.

The girl looked questioningly at Rox, obviously not understanding what the red head was saying. Finally, she glanced at the picture, and promptly dropped her vegetable basket, scattering its content on the ground.

Immediately, Rox realized she had hit pay dirt. "Here, let me help you," she said to the girl as she helped to collect the spilled merchandise.

The girl was shaking uncontrollably as she accepted the basket back from Rox. "Gracias... gracias," she said nervously as she turned to flee. ["Thank you ... thank you,"]

Rox grabbed the girl's arm before she could escape. "Please! Wait! You know her, don't you? You know where she is!" Rox demanded.

A play of emotions paraded across the girl's face as her eyes locked with Rox's.

"Please, I love her," Rox pleaded. "I need to find her." Rox's eyes were filled with such love and hope that it shone unquestionably from her face.

Even though the girl did not understand Rox's words, she certainly understood the emotions. Looking down for a moment, the girl raised her eyes to meet Rox's tear filled ones. Closing her own eyes, she nodded her head, then took Rox's hand and led her through several nearby alleys, finally slipping through a doorway, and into a residence that was little more than a slum. Placing her basket on the table, the girl turned to Rox and took Cass' picture out of her hand once more. Looking at it closely, she once again confirmed that this was the same woman she had been serving meals to at the compound. Meeting Rox's eyes once more, she saw the same look there that she saw in the eyes of the gringa prisoner.... she saw desperation, determination and an emotion she could only describe as love. It was very obvious that these two women loved each other.

The girl motioned for Rox to wait while she went into an adjacent room, returning moments later with a frail old man, whom she sat in the chair opposite Rox.

"Papa, esta mujer necesita nuestra ayuda. Tienen a su amiga detenida en ese complejo. La estan forzándo a transportar drogas fuera del país," the girl said to the old man as he listened intently. ["Papa, This woman needs our help. Her friend is being held in the compound. She is being forced to transport drugs out of the country,"]

The old man nodded, a tear forming in the corner of his eye.

"Papá, al fin podremos vengar la muerte de Pedro si ayudamos a su amiga. Por favor, hazlo por mi," the girl exclaimed. ["Papa, we can finally avenge Pedro's death if we help her friend. Please talk for me,"]

The old man looked intently at the girl and nodded. Looking back at Rox, he said, "I will help. I will avenge Pedro's death."

Rox was thrilled that the man spoke English. Finally, she was getting somewhere! "Señor, please, My name is Roxanne Ward. I need to find my friend. I fear she is being held against her will. I must find her," Rox pleaded.

The old man turned to the girl and translated Rox's words. The girl responded, "Papá, la mujer de quien ella habla es prisionera de Carlos Santino. Yo la llevare allí, pero será peligroso." ["Papa, the woman she speaks of is a prisoner of Carlos Santonio. I will take her there, but it will be dangerous."]

"Señorita Ward, my granddaughter, Ana says she knows where your friend is, and she will take you there. It will be dangerous. These are evil men. They murdered my 10 year old grandson Pedro when he accidentally wandered onto their property on his way home from school. He was an innocent child. We will have our revenge, and you will have your friend," he said passionately as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Rox reached forward and took the man's hands in her own. "Thank you," she said, her own tears mirroring those of the old man. "When do we leave?"

The old man turned to Ana and translated Rox's question into Spanish.

"Al anochecer," said the girl. "Será menos peligroso entonces."

"My granddaughter says, 'after dark. It will be safer then,'" the old man repeated. "It is dark very early this time of year, so we don't have much time. Please join us for a meager meal while we await and plan."

**********

Cass was crawling out of her skin with anticipation. She hated being confined, especially to a small area such as her cell. After Ana left that morning, she spent most of the day exercising and going through Taekwondo drills. She wasn't sure when the opportunity for escape would present itself, but she wanted to be ready if and when it happened. She was slightly hampered by her injuries, but with the proper discipline and concentration techniques learned as part of Taekwondo, she was able to overcome the pain and work through her routines. It was nearly dinner time by the time she finished. She stood there, covered in a sheen of sweat, and desperately in need of a shower.

"Very impressive," Jason said from the cell door. Cass was so absorbed in her drill, she was unaware that she had an audience for the last few minutes of it.

Cass turned sharply toward the door, her body glistening with sweat, her heart beating violently, her hands clenched into fists at her side. A look of pure hatred came over her face as she turned her gaze on Jason. Jason gasped and visibly took a step backward in reaction. Finally realizing he had the cell door between himself and this dangerous woman, his confidence returned as he stepped once more up to the bars.

When Jason locked her in the cell, he was sure he could break her spirit and gain her cooperation. Now, he wasn't so sure. So far, she had resisted all his efforts, threats and beatings. He wished he had a pawn to hold over her. They were loading the plane tonight and would be leaving in the morning. He had to think fast if he was going to pull this one off. At this point, he was convinced she'd rather die than fly that plane out tomorrow. He decided he had nothing to lose by staging a bluff.

"Cass," he called from the door. "You might like to know that the plane is being loaded tonight and we fly out in the morning."

"You mean, YOU fly out in the morning. I'm not going, Jason," she replied.

"You see, you have to fly it out. There are no pilots around here ... well, none that can be bought anyway ... that are experienced enough to fly a large jet," he explained.

I will not help you break the law," Cass replied.

"Don't be so sure of that," he said. "I didn't want it to come to this, but I've got something of yours that you'll never see again if you don't cooperate tomorrow."

Cass' head snapped around toward the door. "Rox?" she said, almost beneath her breath.

Yes! What a stroke of luck! Jason, you're a genius! he said to himself, mentally pumping his fist in victory. With a calm he wasn't feeling, he grinned and said, "Yes ... Rox. And if you don't fly that plane out of here tomorrow morning, she is a dead woman. Do you understand?" he asked.

The look Cass gave him was of pure venom. "If you hurt her, I will kill you!" she threatened.

Jason just laughed and walked away, calling over his shoulder, "See ya in the morning, Cass. Get some sleep, it's gonna be a long flight!"

Sitting heavily on the straw mattress, her shoulders slumped forward as she dropped her head into her hands. She was defeated, and she knew it.

**********

After dinner, Ana, Rox, and the grandfather sat around discussing strategy for a rescue attempt. Rox insisted that under no circumstances were the girl and old man to put themselves in danger. Finally, it was time to leave. Under the cover of darkness, Ana led Rox through the countryside, until they came to a fenced-in compound, heavily guarded by guerrilla soldiers. Ana and Rox slipped by the guards and made their way to the array of buildings at the end of the long driveway. Through her grandfather, Ana had explained the layout of the compound to Rox, and had identified the main residence as well as the outbuilding where Cass was being held. As they approached the main building, Ana went ahead and boldly walked up the main steps and into the house, like she had done countless times before in her role as servant. Once Ana was inside, Rox crossed the main expanse of lawn and approached the outbuilding. Realizing the building was too heavily guarded to slip by unnoticed, Rox did the next best thing, she walked directly up to a guard and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Ah, excuse me, but I seem to be lost," she said.

The guard turned around and quickly drew his machine gun, pointing it directly at Rox's chest. While holding her at bay, he called loudly to his comrades who rushed in to capture the intruder. Moments later, Rox found herself face to face with Carlos Santonio.

"So, my dear. Would you mind telling me who you are, and what you are doing on my property?" he asked, pouring himself a snifter of brandy as she was held at gun point in front of him.

"I'm here to do some research on a book... you see, I'm Roxanne Ward, and I write ..." Rox began.

"Science fiction... yes, I know. I've read your books. Very charming," Santonio remarked, "but what has that got to do with me?" he asked.

"Well," Rox said, going into bard mode, while ringing her hands and looking around nervously, "you see the basis for the book is a group of futuristic teenagers who find a stash of drugs that were hidden by a famous drug lord in the year 2000, and the story line centers around the chaos that results from that discovery," she explained.

"Let me guess," Santonio added, "... I get the honor of being the famous drug lord, right?" he asked sarcastically.

"Why, yes!" exclaimed Rox. "You are a very smart man!" she added sweetly.

"And you are a very stupid woman!" returned the drug lord. "Do you really think I can let you live now that you know the location of my home?"

Rox was aghast at Santonio's remark. This is one turn she wasn't prepared for.

"Throw her in with the other American!" the drug lord shouted to the guard. "We'll get rid of them at the same time," he added.

**********

Cass had been sitting in the dark in a state of despair since Jason had threatened her with Rox's safety. She had no choice now but to cooperate. She HAD to fly the plane out tomorrow. She HAD to -- for Rox's sake.

You know they're gonna kill her anyway ... along with us, I might add, Enforcer said.

Always the optimist, aren't you, E? Damn it! There's got to be a way to stop this chaos! Cass mused.

"Esta bien puta. Mete tu culo allí adentro!" came the voice from the doorway. ["All right, bitch. Get your ass in there,"]

Cass looked up as the door opened wide and a body was pushed inside, sent sprawling to the floor. The door slammed, leaving them in silence.

"Cass?" came a small voice.

"Rox? Rox!" exclaimed Cass as she jumped up from the bed and bolted to the figure on the floor. "Rox ... Baby, is that you?" she asked, falling to her knees and taking the smaller woman into her arms.

"Cass! Yes. Oh my God, Cass. Are you all right?" Rox asked, rising to her knees and embracing the woman kneeling before her.

The women held each other tight, each one pulling the other in as close as possible. Tears flows freely down both their faces as they felt around in the dark, making sure each one was whole and relatively unharmed.

Sitting back on her heels, Cass took Rox's face in her hands. "Rox ... Honey, what are you doing here?" she asked, trying desperately to see this woman clearly before her in the semi-darkness.

"I came to find you, Cass. I had a dream ... you were injured. We were in a cell, just like this one. By the gods, Cass, it was horrible. They led us through a courtyard and strapped us to a cross. Cass -- we were being ...." Rox rambled.

"... crucified!" Cass finished for her. "I had the same dream, Rox. Sweetheart, what does this all mean?" she asked desperately.

"It means that we belong together, Cass. It means that we are destined to spend many lifetimes together. Remember the dreamscape in the field of flowers? Each flower represents one of our lives together. Cass we will be together for all eternity, past, present and future. Cass ... it means I love you!" Rox exclaimed, the tears rolling freely down her face. "I love you with all my heart and soul ... I love you with everything that I am. I'm sorry it took me so long to see it," she said.

Cass' entire world changed in that moment in time. Nothing else mattered in this life except the beautiful petite blonde she held in her arms. Dropping her forehead to rest against Rox's, she whispered softly to the smaller woman, "Rox, you are my life. I will devote the rest of my days to loving you, and making you as happy as you have made me today. I love you." Cass reached up with her right hand and lifted Rox's chin, while at the same time, lowering her mouth and capturing Rox's lips in a tender kiss. At that very moment, their eyes closed, and a vision of angels in white rose from their bodies and soared hand in hand into the heavens. Their spirits were melded into one ... two halves of a whole as their hearts and minds blended through the connection of their lips.

Rox was breathless ... literally unable to fill her lungs as an intense wave of emotion and desire overcame her. Never before had she felt such intensity of feeling from a mere kiss. Never before had she been more convinced that what she was feeling for Cass was wonderful and good. She knew then, that wanted to spend the rest of her life loving this woman.

Rising to her feet, Cass extended her hand to Rox and led her to the straw bed in the corner of the room. They laid there, bodies entwined, holding each other close, whispering endearments to each other, and talking about the wonderful future they would share as one. Both women secretly acknowledged that they may not have a future if the predicament they were in failed to resolve itself, but neither spoke of that possibility. For now, they had each other, and life was good.

**********

A short time later, voices were heard coming from the hallway. Cass propped herself on one elbow and motioned for Rox to listen.

"A que debo este regalito?" the guard asked. ["To what do we owe this treat?"]

"El Señor Santonio quiere darle las gracias por sus esfuerzos con los prisioneros," a female voice replied. ["Señor Santonio wishes to extend his thanks for your efforts with the prisoners,"]

"That's Anna's voice!" Cass whispered to Rox.

"I know," Rox replied.

"What do you mean, you know? How do you know Ana?" Cass asked.

"It's a long story, my love. I'll explain it to you on the way home. Right now, Ana is carrying out Phase II of our plan," Rox explained.

Cass was puzzled. Seeing her confused expression in the dim light of the cell, Rox placed a gentle kiss on her lips and promised to tell all later. "She's giving them wine laced with sleeping herbs," Rox whispered to her love.

Cass' eyebrows took up permanent residence in her hairline. "Sleeping herbs? Phase II? Rox, what have you been up to?" Cass asked.

"Later, my love ... later. Right now, we have to get ready to get out of here. Are you all packed?" she asked jokingly.

Cass felt around her body, taking an inventory of body parts. "Yep, everything I need is right here and ready to go!" she replied.

"Good. It will only be a matter of time now," she said, pulling Cass back down onto the mattress and snuggling up close to her again.

Cass was all too happy to accommodate her lover's request and she pulled Rox into her arms and held her tight.

A half hour later, distinctive thumps were heard as the guards fell to the floor.

"Señorita, vengan. Tenemos muy poco tiempo. Tenemos que apurarnos!" Ana said through the door. ["Señoritas, come. We have very little time. We must hurry!"]

The sound of jingling keys was followed by the creak of the door as it swung open, granting freedom to the women inside. Taking Rox's hand, Cass followed Ana through the hallways, and into the open courtyard. Following the outskirts of the yard, Ana led the two women into the woods beyond the compound and down a well traveled path through the trees. As soon as they were out of sight of the compound, Cass stopped them.

"Ana, el avión esta al fín de esta senda?" she asked. ["Ana, Is the plane at the end of this path?"]

Nodding her head yes, Cass insisted that she return to the safety of the compound to remove any suspicion of her role in the escape. After a round of hugs and good wishes, Cass and Rox continued on down the path alone.

They had come to within 100 yards of the plane when they heard the commotion behind them. Apparently, the escape had been discovered and a guerrilla unit dispatched to hunt the two women down. Approaching the clearing where the plane had been hidden, Cass and Rox discovered that the camouflage had already been removed, probably when the plane had been loaded earlier that evening. Unfortunately, considering the cargo the plane was carrying, it was being guarded by two soldiers armed with machine guns.

"Shit! How are we supposed to get past them?" Rox asked.

"You leave that to me," Cass replied as she moved closer to the edge of the clearing.

"Are you crazy? They have guns!" Rox exclaimed, grabbing her arm.

"Don't worry about it, Rox. I can do this," the dark haired woman said before placing a kiss on Rox's mouth and moving away from her into the clearing.

Sneaking up behind the first guard, Cass cleared her throat to get his attention, then promptly punched him in the nose as he turned around. As he grabbed for his face, she swung her right leg up and caught him on the side of the head with her foot. He went down hard, laying motionless at her feet.

Hearing the commotion, the other guard came running, only to be tripped by a tree branch that Rox had swung at his shins. As he fell to his knees, she swung the branch around and brought it down on his back, and then up under his chin. He too lay motionless on the ground when she was through.

Looking at Cass, Rox grinned and said, "This feels like deja vu all over again!"

Suddenly the sounds of more guards entering the clearing became a reality as hordes of guards approached them. Grabbing Rox's hand, Cass pulled her toward the makeshift steps and dragged her into the plane. Kicking the steps away, she closed the door just as the guerrillas started to open fire on the plane.

Rushing into the cockpit, Cass threw herself into the pilot's seat and started the jet engines.

"Rox!" she yelled to the other woman. "Strap yourself into the co-pilot's seat and hang on. Were in for a rough take off. I hope we have enough runway." she exclaimed as another burst of gunfire peppered the plane.

Rox screamed as the small window next to Cass was shattered by the spray of gunfire.

"Hold on, Rox!" Cass shouted as she engaged full throttle, generating forward momentum to move the plane down the runway. The plane shuddered terribly as it rolled over the rough terrain toward the trees at the end of the clearing.

"Cass! We're going into the trees!" Rox shouted as she covered her eyes.

"Pull, Rox, pull!" Cass yelled as she instructed Rox to pull back on the elevator in front of her.

At the last moment, the plane rose from the ground, veering sharply into the sky, and barely skimming the top of the trees. Once they were airborne, and the plane had leveled out, Rox pried her finger off the controls and looked over at Cass. Something was wrong. Cass was partially slumped over in her seat. With the window shattered, Cass' hair was flying wildly about her face, obscuring Rox's view.

Unhooking her seat belt, Rox climbed out of the co-pilot's seat and reached up to gather the hair away from the pilot's face. That's when she noticed the red stain on Cass' shirt. Her heart immediately jumped into her throat as she realized she had been injured. Taking Cass' chin in her hand, she turned the pilot's face toward her and noted the pallor of her skin.

"Cass, talk to me. You're hurt. Tell me what to do," she pleaded with her lover.

"Rox, I've been hit.... in the shoulder. You've got to stop the bleeding," she exclaimed.

Trying hard not to panic, Rox went in search of something to use for bandages. Shuffling through the flight attendant's station, she found several white towels, which she quickly grabbed and returned to Cass. Upon her return, she found Cass struggling to reach the auto-pilot computer.

"Cass ... what is it?" Rox asked as she put the towels in Cass' lap and knelt on the floor next to the injured woman.

"I can't reach the auto-pilot. We need to go to Miami ... that's the shortest flight path to the U.S.," Cass explained.

"Okay, talk me through this, Cass," Rox said as she programmed the auto-pilot up for Miami, Florida. That done, she concentrated her efforts on stopping the blood flow from Cass' shoulder. Packing the wound with clean white towels, she wrapped her braided belt around the bandage and cinched it tightly, cringing with each moan that escaped Cass' lips during the process. "I'm sorry, my love," she said repeatedly as she administered to the wound. Finally, with the wound dressed, Rox retrieved several cold washcloths from the bathroom and washed the excess blood off Cass' face, neck and arm.

Rox had never been so scared in her life. Here she was, thousands of feet in the air, in a plane full of illegal drugs, alone with an injured pilot who she just happened to be madly in love with. If it wasn't for the fact that Cass could pass out at any minute and leave her to fly the plane, she just might laugh.

About an hour into the flight, they radioed ahead to Miami to let them know the unscheduled flight had to have emergency clearance to land, and that an ambulance was required immediately upon arrival. Air Traffic Control in Miami stayed in constant touch with them throughout the flight, offering flight and weather information, and medical advice.

Rox did her best to keep Cass as lucid as possible on the three hour flight to Miami. Several times, Cass started wavering in and out of consciousness from loss of blood. Twice, Rox changed the bandages, the pile of bloodied towels growing at an alarming rate. There was a serious possibility that Cass would die from loss of blood before they even reached Miami. The closer they came, the less capable Cass was of staying conscious for more than a a few minutes at a time.

Rox was scared to death about the landing. There was no way in hell she could land the plane by herself, and even scarier, in her present condition, there was no way Cass could do it alone either.

As they neared the airport, Rox began to panic. Climbing out of the co-pilot's seat she grabbed Cass by the front of the shirt and shook her. "Cass! Cass, honey, if you don't wake up, we're both going to die. Do you understand what I'm saying? I can't land this plane alone, Cass, please wake up," she pleaded.

Cass looked up at her, her head rolling loosely about her shoulders, as she struggled to remain conscious.

"Cass!" Rox said again, shaking her hard. "When I said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, I didn't mean the afterlife! Now please wake up ... I need you Cass!" Rox shouted directly into her face.

Cass' eyes flew open at Rox's last statement. Pulling in all her reserves, she struggled into a sitting a position and grabbed the flight controls. "Buckle up, Rox ... it might be a rough landing," she said, managing a half grin for her lover.

Rox grinned back as she buckled herself into the co-pilot's seat. "You're good at this crashing landing thing... right?" Rox asked with a smile in her voice.

"Right!" Cass replied as she fought to keep her eyes open. "I need you with me on this one, Rox. I don't have the strength to do it alone," she said, her eyes never leaving the runway before her.

"Okay, Cass... just tell me what to do," Rox replied.

The atmosphere in the cockpit was extremely tense as the plane drew nearer and nearer the runway. Cass briefly went over landing procedures with Rox, including when to decelerate, and when to throw the engines into a reverse thrust mode to stop the plane once the wheels were on the ground. Needless to say, Rox was scared shitless, and hoped that she wouldn't have to carry out these procedures alone.

On the final approach to the runway, Cass looked over at Rox and said, "You are the best thing in my life, Rox,"

"I love you Cass," Rox replied as they hovered briefly above the blacktop before the wheels touched down on the hard surface.

The plane jarred sharply as the wheels came in contact with the paved runway, causing the back end to fishtail slightly. Cass was struggling not only with the controls but with her ability to stay conscious through the landing. She was rapidly losing both battles.

"Reverse thrust ..." Cass said weakly as Rox reached over and threw the engines into reverse. Both women were thrown forward in their seats as the engines protested the sudden change in direction. Again, the plane fishtailed nearly out of control.

"Oh shit! Oh shit!" Rox exclaimed as she looked through the windshield and realized they were running out of pavement. "We're not gonna make it!" she shouted.

"More reverse thrust," Cass said.

Again, they were thrown forward in their seats as additional reverse thrust had an adverse affect on their forward momentum. They were slowing down quickly, and so far, safely on the ground. Rox looked over at Cass for reassurance, and found her completely slumped over her controls, blood oozing from her forehead caused by her impact with the control panel on the last reverse thrust.

Unable to tend to the injured woman until the plane was at a complete halt, Rox was forced to look on helplessly. Finally, the plane came to a rest, very near the end of the runway. Within seconds, Rox was out of her seat belt harness and at Cass' side. Sitting her up in her seat, Cass' head slumped over onto her right shoulder. No amount of talking or coaxing would bring her around this time. Rox searched for a pulse and found none.

*********************************************************************************************

EPILOGUE - 3 MONTHS LATER

Rox strolled out onto the widow's walk, carrying a cup of hot chocolate. Leaning against the railing, she looked out over the ocean and remarked to herself that the storm brewing on the horizon was going to be a violent one. Rox loved storms. They filled her with a sense of excitement that truly rivaled an orgasmic climax. Taking a sip of her cocoa, she inhaled the salty scent of the air deep into her lungs. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she thought about the first night she had talked to Cass in chat. It had been storming that night as well.

Cass. Rox never dreamed she could love another human being as much as she had the tall dark haired pilot. Cass truly had saved her, both physically and mentally. She would never have guessed that the unhappiness she felt while with Chris was in reality, a longing to be with a woman. Cass brought out feelings from deep within her heart that she didn't know existed. Cass had changed her life forever.

Standing there, Rox reviewed the events that had changed her life so drastically over the past several months.

She had lived for the better part of the last year in an abusive relationship with Chris. Then one day, a note appeared in her inbox ... a note from cconway@flyboy.com, praising her for her work. For the longest time, she assumed Cass was a man. She began feeling things for this person that she had never felt before. When she saw Cass for the first time and realized she had made a gender error, it terrified her ... she ran. Another small grin graced her lips a she recalled that first meeting.

Taking another deep breath and a sip from her cocoa, she allowed her thoughts to continue.

Realizing that she was gay was scary, and at the same time, titillating. Exposure to lesbian relationships was nothing new to her. Her best friends, Nikki and Jerri were gay. They had a wonderfully fulfilling and loving relationship -- one that Rox had always envied -- one that Rox never expected to have for herself. Then came Cass.

She resisted the feelings she had for this woman for a long time, until one day, it was almost too late to tell her. Cass' plane had been hijacked by drug traffickers and she had been forced to fly to South America. The driving force behind her love for Cass was all she needed to justify a trip to Bogota to find her soulmate. Once there, she eventually found her, and they made their escape, recapturing Cass' plane and flying it out of its jungle runway to freedom. Once airborne, however, they discovered Cass had been shot in the escape. The next three hours were spent in the air on their way to Miami, while Cass' life fluids slowly ebbed from her body.

Once on the ground in Miami, the plane was surrounded by police and FBI agents. They approached the plane with weapons drawn, unsure of how friendly the craft's occupants would be. Cass' lifeless body was removed from the plane under heavy guard while authorities cornered Rox and interrogated her endlessly about the drug activities they had uncovered while in Bogota. Rox gave the FDA and FBI all of the information she could about Carlos Santonio, and the location of his compound ... information that ultimately led to his capture and trial on drug trafficking charges. Jason Hayer had also been captured in the raid that followed, and was now imprisoned for a very long time in the California State Penitentiary system. Rox allowed a lone tear to roll down her cheek as she recalled Cass' heroic efforts that ultimately led to the arrests of these dangerous men. Sighing deeply, she sipped once more on her cocoa and rested the cup on the railing as she watched the approaching storm.

For several weeks after that fateful day in the Colombian prison cell, Rox struggled with the realization that she was gay. Being in love with a woman required a whole new mind set. She had longed for the type of loving relationship that was so evident between Nikki and Jerri, but she truly thought she could find it with a man. It totally overwhelmed and terrified her when she realized her 'man' was a six-foot, dark haired woman with drop-dead gorgeous blue eyes. Rox wiped another stray tear from her cheek as she recalled the breathless feeling that ran rampant through her the first time she saw Cass' eyes.

She had imagined all sorts of horrors about rejection. She worried herself sick over what her parents would say. She laid awake at night agonizing about her father dying -- disappointment in his heart over his daughter's new found sexuality. As it turned out, she had worried for naught. When she returned to the States, she confronted her parents ... confessed her feelings for Cass, and about her abusive relationship with Chris. They were both concerned and supportive. Neither would have chosen the gay lifestyle for their daughter, but they wanted her to be happy. They also scolded her severely for keeping her nightmarish life with Chris from them. Concerned about the tragedies that had struck their daughter surrounding both Chris and Cass, they watched her carefully over the next few months and nursed her back to emotional health with their love and support.

Rox sighed once more, deep in thought as she felt a strong pair of arms circle her from behind.

"I love you," came the words, whispered in her ear as Rox folded herself into the embrace of the tall, dark haired woman who stood behind her.

Grinning ear to ear, she turned around to face the woman, leaning her backside against the railing, and wrapping her own arms around her lover's waist. "I love you too, Cass ... with all my heart," she said before raising her chin to accept the searing kiss she knew was coming.

Several breathtaking moments later, the kiss ended. Pulling her in closer, Cass held the smaller woman tightly as Rox rested her head on the spot just above Cass' breasts. They stood there together as the storm approached, the gusting winds blowing their hair around in disarray.

While standing there, safely in the embrace of the woman she loved, Rox recalled how desperately lost she felt when she thought Cass had died on that plane.

Upon landing, Cass hit her head on the control panel, and combined with the loss of blood, she fell into a deep state of unconsciousness. Rox had been unable to find a pulse on the injured woman's wrist. Not wanting to acknowledge to herself that Cass had died, she clung desperately to the older woman, sobs racking her slight frame as she violently shook Cass in a futile attempt to awaken her. When the paramedics first arrived in the cockpit, she refused to let them touch her. Instead, she cradled Cass' head in her lap and stroked her blood streaked face as she rocked back and forth and softly cooed, "Come on, Baby. Please wake up. I love you Cass. I need you. Please ... wake up." Finally, the paramedics had to wrestle Cass out of her grip to remove the injured pilot from the plane.

For hours the FDA grilled Rox for information while Cass was fighting for her life in the emergency room of Miami's Jackson Memorial hospital. For hours, Rox answered their questions in a dull monotone voice. She was convinced that she had no reason to go on ... no reason to live. After the interrogation, during which, Cass' innocence was established, one of the FDA agents offered her a ride to the hospital where they planned to question Cass. She looked at them with unmasked confusion on her face, convinced they were out of their minds for wanting to interrogate a dead woman.

When Rox finally understood that Cass was still alive, she couldn't get to the hospital fast enough. Once there, she refused to leave Cass' side until she finally awoke. As she regained consciousness, Cass looked at her through hooded cerulean eyes filled with such love that it turned Rox's insides to mush.

"Hi, my bard," Cass whispered hoarsely.

Rox's tears fell onto Cass' cheeks as she leaned forward to place a delicate kiss on the dark haired woman's lips.

"Welcome back, my love," Rox choked out. "Don't you ever do this to me again ... do you understand!!" she said in a tone of mock severity.

"Or else what?" Cass teased.

"Or else I might have to hurt you!" Rox replied, smiling broadly before leaning in for another kiss.

Rox stood there in the circle of Cass' arms, a slight shiver running through her in response to the traumatic memories. So much has happened since that fateful day, my love, Roxanne thought as she pondered their life together over the past three months. She was so nervous the first time they made love. She had so much to learn and was terribly afraid of disappointing Cass. Cass has been patient -- exceptionally so, and by the time they laid there, both trembling with fulfilled desire, she was thoroughly convinced that she had made the right choice in accepting this woman and her newly discovered sexuality into her life. Thank you so much for joining me here ... for moving 3,000 miles across the country to be with me. You will never regret it ... I promise, she added as a shiver of desire tore through her.

"Come inside Rox," the seductive voice purred in her ear. "You're shivering ... and it's going to rain soon." Cass added as the first raindrop fell to the deck of the widow's walk.

Rox looked up at Cass, intense emotion and passion emitting from her gaze. "No, Cass. Stay out here with me ... make love to me, right here ... right now!" she demanded.

Cass smiled broadly, knowing the effects a violent storm had on her lover's libido. Taking Rox's chin in her hand once more, she lowered her head for an intensely invasive kiss, her tongue snaking in and out of Rox's mouth, doing a pirouette of love with the smaller woman's own tongue. Deep passionate moans escaped Rox's lips at the invasion.

Cass felt a deep sense of love and fulfillment with this woman that she had never felt before. She would happily give up flying and commit herself to being Rox's love slave if that is truly what she wanted. After thoroughly tasting her wife's mouth, she worked her way down along the edge of her jaw and neck, where she left several love marks, sucking greedily, while Rox pulled her in closer with a hand behind her head.

"Oh God, Cass!" Rox exclaimed as a flood of moisture lubricated the space between her legs at the attack.

Cass was nearly out of control. She simply couldn't get enough of the luscious beauty before her as her large hands roamed up and down the smaller woman's body. Rox entwined her fingers in Cass' hair and set the direction for her lover's probing mouth. Throwing her head back as Cass pushed her against the railing, Rox gave the taller woman complete access to her throat, which she quickly devoured.

"Rox ... Rox, I need you," Cass said desperately as she pulled Rox's shirt out of the waist band of her khaki shorts and ran her hands up and around her bare back. Rox shivered with uncontrolled passion at the contact.

The rain around them increased in intensity.

"Cass ... take me, please!" Rox begged in response. The passion and need Cass had sparked deep within her had built up so strongly, she thought she would burst if she didn't get relief soon.

Cass surprised the smaller woman by wrapping her arms around her waist and lifting her off the deck. Swinging around, she gently placed her down again, standing her against the wall of the house. Pressing the entire length of her body against Rox, Cass took Rox's hands in her own and raised them over her head, pinning them to the building. Looking deep into Rox eyes she said, "Tell me what you want, lover. Tell me what you need."

Rox nearly climaxed on the spot as she looked at the total passion in her partner's eyes. "I want you to make love to me, Cass. I need you inside of me." she replied breathlessly.

Thunder rumbled nearby as the vibratious sound waves rolled over them, causing them both to shudder in anticipation of what was to come.

Rox reached forward with her mouth, trying desperately to touch a passion point on Cass' neck. Frustrated that her efforts were futile, she growled out Cass' name and pulled her hands from the taller woman's grasp. Rox was on fire. She simply couldn't wait any longer as she grabbed the front of Cass' shirt and tore it open, sending buttons flying in all directions. Next, she reached behind the taller woman and unfastened her bra, allowing generous, perfectly round orbs to escape their prison. Within moments, Rox's mouth had thoroughly explored every inch of Cass' breasts, taking extra time to suckle on the taller woman's erect nipples ... nipping, biting, tugging. Rox's passionate assault only fueled Cass further as she screamed out Rox's name, then clamped down on the tender skin between the smaller woman's neck and shoulder.

"Oh my God! Rox, please, I need you. Baby, I need you now ... please!" Cass begged, writhing uncontrollably, and pressing Rox harder against the wall of the house.

Once again, the rain increased in intensity as a flash of lightning lit up the sky.

With a strength she didn't know she possessed, Rox flipped Cass around and pushed HER up against the wall of the house. Falling to her knees, Rox reached up and unfastened Cass' belt and waistband, pulling the jeans she was wearing down to the floor. Cass' hands had braced themselves against the wall, her head thrown back, eyes closed as Rox started her exploration of the taller woman's body. Cass had to summon all the strength she had to remain standing while Rox's tongue trailed along her inner thigh.

Rox' tongue slipped in between the folds of Cass' womanhood, causing her to slam her head back against the wall. Rox reached between Cass' legs and spread then apart to give her better access to the treasure she so desperately sought. Placing three fingers in her mouth, Rox thoroughly lubricated them before posing them at the entrance to her wife's core. Cass was nearly out of her mind with desire. Capturing Rox's eyes, she held them as she bent her knees, and pushed herself down onto Rox's hand at the same time the smaller woman thrust upward. The sensation was incredible. Soon, Rox was pumping furiously into Cass as the taller woman thrust downward, her head thrashing side to side while her arms braced herself against the wall of the house. Before long, Cass couldn't control it as a flood of orgasmic passion passed through her. "Rox!.... ROX! Oh my god! I coming! I love you, Baby," she screamed as she was assaulted internally by wave after wave of spasms, and externally by the wind and rain raging around them.

By the time the spasms had subsided, Cass' legs refused to support her any longer, as she slid down the wall to the deck. Rox gently guided her fall to floor as she laid down with her, and held the trembling woman until she had regained control of her senses. When Cass' breathing returned to normal, she rolled herself over to lay on top of the smaller woman. Tucking her arms under Rox's shoulders, she kissed her passionately, and thanked her for making her feel complete. "I love you, Rox," she said. "Now it's my turn to lead you to Elysia," she added.

Rising to her knees and sitting back on her heels, Cass knelt before the smaller woman and thanked every god in existence for allowing her to be part of Rox's life. Leaning forward once more she allowed her hands to roam up and down the bare skin on Rox's legs. Rox's hips gyrated in a circular motion under the assault, while her eyes begged her tall lover for more.

Seeing the sense of urgency in Rox's face, Cass leaned down to place a gentle kiss on the red-head's mouth. "Be patient, my love," she whispered softly. "I will give you want you need, my bard."

Rox closed her eyes and drew in a sharp breath as Cass' words sent bolts of passion shooting to her groin. "Please hurry, my love. I need you so much!" Rox replied.

With Rox laying on her back, a naked Cass straddled her thighs and slid her hands under Rox's T-shirt. The intensity of the rain had increased to the point that Rox's shirt was drenched and plastered to her skin. With little effort, Cass lifted the shirt over Rox's rain soaked head and threw it against the wall of the house, where it stuck for a moment before falling to the deck.

Looking down at the petite woman from her perch, Cass' heart filled with a sense of incredible awe that this woman loved her.... that this woman wanted to spend the rest of her life making her happy. Tears mixed with rain as moisture ran from Cass' face onto Rox's breasts. Leaning down, Cass allowed her tongue to trail around the perfectly formed mounds, making circles on her lover's skin, avoiding the painfully erect nipples, and tasting the salty liquid that had run from her own eyes.

Rox was in agony from the torturous assault. "Cass, please!" she begged, arching her chest high in the air, demanding Cass give her breasts the satisfaction they craved. Cass accepted the invitation eagerly as she sucked each of Rox's nipples into her mouth, biting and nipping unmercifully as Rox writhed beneath her in ecstasy. Lightning lit up the stormy sky, sending passionate shadows dancing across Rox's face.

Rox's hips began to buck as Cass realized she was pushing her wife to the point of no return. Climbing off the smaller woman, Cass knelt before Rox and unfastened the waistband of her shorts, pulling them down along with the lace panties beneath them. Soon, Rox was totally naked, lying there with rain pummeling her body, exposing her sensuous wares for her lover to sample.

Cass just couldn't resist any longer. Diving into the center of Rox's being, she ran her tongue in and out of the folds, tasting and licking before finally sucking the tender passion point deep into her mouth. Rox moaned loudly as she reached out and pulled Cass' head in closer.

"Cass ... God... Cass... please, I can't wait any longer. I need you," Rox begged as her body teetered on the edge of the orgasmic fulfillment.

Knowing Rox was about to fall over the edge, Cass placed two fingers near her lover's entrance and pushed them deep inside. Rox's lower body came off the deck in response to the sensuous onslaught.

"More, Cass... please, I need more," the smaller woman screamed.

Cass was glad to oblige as she added a third finger to the invasion and set up a steady rhythm of thrusts. Several moments later, Rox was clearly loosing control as her body stiffened. Sensing the beginnings of an orgasm, Cass leaned in once more and captured Rox's passion point between her teeth. Just then, a tremendous bolt of lightning and deafening crack of thunder shook their world as Rox fell over the edge, screaming to the top of her lungs as her body shuddered out of control in the throes of orgasmic relief.

Sometime later, the two women laid entwined in each other's arms, the rain cleansing their bodies as a light downpour coated their skin. They talked of love and commitment, and of spending the rest of their lives in splendid bliss together as one.

Rox reached over and traced Cass' right eyebrow with her left thumb, her hand coming to rest on the side of Cass' face. "Thank you for flying into my heart, Cass," she said with a smile.

Cass smiled back, then leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her wife's mouth. "You're welcome," she replied. "It wasn't easy though... but we survived on a wing and a prayer," she added.

Rox nodded. "Yes, my love ... on a wing and a prayer."

THE END