Chain Lightning II: Sheet Lightning

On the wind soaring free
Spread your wings
I'm beginning to see
Out of mind far from view
Beyond the reach of a nightmare come true

Well I've had dreams enough for one
And I got love enough for three
I have my hopes to comfort me
I got my new horizons out to sea

But I'm never going to lose your precious gift
It will always be that way
Cos I know I'm going to find my own peace of mind
Someday...
Someway...




Chapter two

Beyond the Reach of a Nightmare Come True


Dom didn’t frighten her, but he made her feel uneasy. Perhaps it was his sexual energy, and that she was not yet ready for. Sir Ian was an absolute gentleman. Viggo was…intense, and this was definitely not what she was ready for. Orli was a wild child, and though very warm to her, she just didn’t click. Sean Astin was lovely and his marriage and children put her at ease. John R. Davis was large and full of life and she felt comfortable with him, but his looks were unfortunately against him. He reminded her too much of her husband.

Mr. Boyd was another matter altogether, he seemed to have a sense of her fears and gave her space. He never stared at her scars. He sometimes made her coffee and sat silently or made gentle jokes, and gradually she began to warm to him, even trust him.

And then there was Sean Bean. He was a perfect gentleman. He opened doors for her, carried her equipment for her, spoke softly to her and above all, he seemed to somehow know she was a wounded woman.

Of all her clients, she felt most at ease with them.

Which is how she came to Sean’s house one day to find Billy passed out on the sofa and Sean asleep in bed. Not wanting to wake them, she made coffee and waited a bit. Billy rose first. She got him some coffee and waited for him to speak, which took some time because he seemed to be waiting for her to speak.

Sean joined them and with subtlety he got the conversation going. Before she knew it she was telling them her story, never noticing the meaningful glances the two men gave each other. Then they rose and actually helped her do her chores over her protests. After that, they asked her to visit some favorite shops where they browsed for a few things, one of which was an oversized bed Sean had had his eye on for some time. His own he donated to Jean. Then it was grocery shopping, and the two men asked if she would take on work as their cook, which she happily accepted. She could use the extra income.

After a few weeks they began to ask her to take walks with them. They would drive her home and each give her a chaste kiss on the cheek, neither avoiding her scars.

Her clientele paid well, and with the extra work as Billy and Sean’s cook she would soon have enough to see a plastic surgeon. What she did not know was that all the caste and crews were donating on the side, at Liv and Miranda’s behest. Women know best what domestic abuse can do to a woman, and they liked Jean enough to want her to have a second chance to find the self she once had been.

So it was a total surprise to her when Miranda and Liv made the appointment and talked her into going, telling her it had all been taken care of. What she had not earned, she would happily be helped with. If this made her uncomfortable, why they would just find ways to help her pay them back. She had hidden her scars, inside and out, long enough.

Had it been men, she would not have accepted. What she did not know was that Sean and Billy had donated more money than the rest. And Liv and Miranda were sure that, tough though Billy was on the exterior, on the inside he was a dear, in fact, some called him an angel. As for Sean, he was such a sweet gentleman and very giving. He was one who saw past Billy’s tough exterior to the angel within.

And so the conspiracy to return Jean to the woman she could be was set in motion.