______________________________________________________
{I'm talking, I'm talking
I believe in the power of love
I'm singing, I'm singing
I believe that you can rescue me
With you I'm not a little girl, with you I'm not a man
When all the hurt inside of me comes out, you understand
You see that I'm ferocious, you see that I am weak
You see that I am silly and pretentious and a freak
But I don't feel strange for you
Don't know exactly what you do
I think when love is pure you try
To understand the reasons why
And I prefer this mystery
It cancels out my misery
And gives me hope that there could be
A person that loves me
Rescue me [rescue me, it's hard to believe]
Your love has given me hope
Rescue me [rescue me, it's hard to believe]
I'm drowning, baby throw out your rope...}
He winced as he lay back against the single pillow on the hospital bed, damning himself for being so reckless - reckless and *stupid*.
His head hurt like a son of a bitch after the accident, and he'd needed a few stitches. Fortunately, his body was packed with muscle, so being thrown off his motorcycle hadn't done much damage to *it*. A couple of broken ribs, scrapes and bruises, and he had a dislocated left shoulder, but beyond that, he wasn't too bad.
Sean O'Haire sighed, his blue eyes closing as he finally managed to get himself comfortable. He would definitely be missing some time at work, in a WWE ring, but he had to count his lucky stars that it hadn't been worse than what it was. Someone must have been looking out for him for sure.
He thought of another current WWE and former WCW superstar he knew who'd endured a similar fate - Eddy Guerrero. Of course, the Latino man's injuries had been far more severe, and he hadn't been the driver of that porsche that had gotten totaled in the wreck. Also, because Eddy had been in critical condition following *his* accident, the doctors hadn't known immediately whether he was going to live or die.
Sean shuddered at such thoughts. Very easily, he could have ended up much worse off than the other man had been. Thank goodness he'd been wearing his helmet when it had happened. O'Haire was guilty of neglecting the protective gear at times - but he would never do that again, not after *this*.
He looked up at the sound of footsteps nearby, and the tiniest trace of a smile touched his lips as his visitor stepped into the room tentatively, almost shyly.
"Hi..." O'Haire almost believed he was hallucinating or dreaming, that the painkillers the nurse had administered to him awhile earlier had kicked in - that she was not really here but a mere figment of his imagination.
"Hi, Sean..." she replied, taking a few steps closer to the bed, her eyes never leaving him. She looked sad, but also self-conscious, and she was holding, of all things, a bouquet of white roses in her left hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Better than expected," he replied, his gaze drinking in the beautiful sight of her eyes, her hair and her sensuous body. And how, it amazed him that he *wasn't* so badly hurt that he couldn't admire her feminine gracefulness. Quickly, he forced himself to shake it off, and he eyed the flowers she held.
"These are for you..." She placed the bouquet on the small tray beside his hospital bed. "I'll ask the nurse to put them in something and some water."
Sean arched an eyebrow in amusement.
"Isn't that sort of thing usually the other way around?"
She cocked her head to one side, the fingers of her right hand absent- mindedly running through her long brown hair.
"What is?"
"You - bringing me flowers," the tattooed, muscular man clarified. "Shouldn't it be *me* bringing *you* flowers?"
The brunette let out a soft but throaty laugh.
"I'm not exactly an old-fashioned girl," she reminded him. "Besides, it's the 21st century!"
Sean smirked, a soft chuckle following it. He'd always liked this woman - a *lot*. If only he could get up the nerve to ask her out... But the way he saw it, why would she want him? What would a beautiful, sophisticated woman like her ever see in a tattooed, black- belt-in-karate, motorcyle-riding daredevil like himself?
There was a moment of silence that, somehow, didn't feel the least bit awkward, then the diva tucked some of her long, dark hair behind her ears.
"I have a confession to make... I-I was terrified when I heard about your accident..."
{With you, I'm not a fascist, can't play you like a toy
And when I need to dominate, you're not my little boy
You see that I am hungry for a life of understanding
And you forgive my angry little heart when she's demanding
You bring me to my knees while I'm scratching out the eyes
Of a world I want to conquer, and deliver and despise
And right while I am kneeling there
I suddenly begin to care
And understand that there could be
A person that loves me...
Love is understanding
It's hard to believe life can be so demanding
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
Stop me from drowning baby I'll do the rest...}
O'Haire perked up just a bit, as he was suddenly feeling the effects of the painkillers he'd been given. His blue eyes focusing on her brown ones, he spoke.
"You...were...?"
She nodded, a sad expression suddenly dominating her lovely face.
"Yes," she admitted with a short nod. "Damn it, Sean - you gave me such a scare." Her voice was reduced to a near whisper as she was somewhat choked up with tears. Then she spoke again, and the man in the bed could swear he'd heard her wrong - he *must* have.
"What?"
The young woman bit her lip in a desperate attempt to hold back the tears in her eyes.
"I said I *love* you, Sean..."
The shaggy-haired man cocked his head as he stared at her in shock. Somehow, his mouth had run ash-dry, and he had to fight to find his voice. At the same time, his heart was hammering so hard and fast, it felt as though it might escape his chest.
"You... *love* me?"
The brunette nodded, then looked away as she felt the sadness beginning to overwhelm her. He obviously didn't feel the same way toward her, and why *would* he? Turning around quickly, she muttered an apology, saying she would leave him alone now.
"Dawn Marie?"
She stopped as she was only inches from the door, then turned around to face him, her breath held in anticipation.
A smile spread across Sean's handsome face.
"I love you, too."
His words slowly sinking in, Dawn blinked, the smile that was suddenly blossoming on her pretty face warming his heart. She was so beautiful, so precious.
In seconds, she was at his bedside again, and gingerly, avoiding contact with his injuries, she leaned over, pressing her lips to his.
As Sean kissed her back, he couldn't help but once again thank his
lucky stars.
/// End \\\