Message-Id: <m0tSJPv-000V1GC@mailhub.cts.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 95 23:58 PST
From: jekel@cts.com (Julie Jekel)
Subject: "Ships in the Night" part 10

                            SHIPS IN THE NIGHT
                                    A sequel to "Donna's Song"
                                    by Julie L. Jekel

                            Chapter 10: Allen

        Donna sighed.  "Well, now that I'm getting out of here, I might be
able to do you some good," she told the redhead in the mirror.  "I just hope
I don't ruin your career in the process."  There was a thoughtful pause.
"Unless you want me to."
        "Unless I want you to do what?"
        She turned, startled.  A tall, handsome, muscular man with
sun-bleached blond hair and pale blue eyes set in a deeply tanned face, was
standing in the doorway.  "I can think of a lot of things I'd like you to
do," he continued, "but not in a hospital."
        Donna was at a loss.  This man obviously knew her, or Ferne rather,
but she had no idea who he was and Beth was not there to help her.  Besides
that, for some reason she didn't trust him.
        The man strode quickly over to her, his sharp eyes easily detecting
her discomfiture.
        "Is something wrong, Ferne?"
        Not knowing what to say, Ferne's temporary temporal replacement
decided to say nothing.
        Her companion sighed.  "They told me you had amnesia, but I thought
surely you'd remember me...remember *us*."
        Well, that helped.  Apparently this was Ferne's boyfriend--or
fiance, rather, according to the large diamond engagement ring the nurse had
'returned' to her--and he'd been told about her 'amnesia'.
        Suddenly, he grasped the startled Leaper's arms. "Maybe this'll help
you remember."  He kissed her firmly and agressively.  Revolted, Donna
instintively pushed him away.
        "Don't ever do that again!" she warned him.  "Ferne Marshall may
have liked it, but..."  She caught herself quickly and shut up.
        "What are you talking about?  This is me: Allan."
        Donna didn't respond, but took a few steps away from him.
        Allen's eyes darkened with anger.  "I thought we had an agreement.
I get you out of that spotlight you're always complaining about and you
share some of that nice fortune of yours with me."
        "Yeah, well I changed my mind."
        With a few long strides, Allan closed the distance between them and
slapped Donna hard across the face.  "You'd better change it back fast, Doll."
        "Leave this room."
        "What are you saying?" he snarled.
        "I'm saying it's over, Allan."  She took the engagement ring of and
dropped it carelessly to the floor.  "Now get out of here before I have you
escorted out!"
        Allan started to protest, but thought better of it.
        <Probably because of those hired thugs of mine outside the door,>
Donna thought wryly to herself.
        "You're going to regret this," he muttered, snatched up the ring and
strode purposefully out of the room.
        "I'll keep that in mind," she commented to his receding back.
        With a sigh, she turned back to the mirror, straightened her collar,
brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, picked up the suitcase sitting on
the floor at her feet, and left the hospital room.  She was met by four wary
bodyguards.
                                       JJ

                  
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