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How Can Love Conquer All?	By : brirose1978 Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Linkin Park Views: 4944 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Linkin Park. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Sabrina
finished her visit to California and left with a lot of memories and a few regrets. She had really enjoyed spending time with the group; they treated her almost like a younger sister. She had never felt so part of something, and she and Samantha had become fast friends in the course of a few days. Sabrina glanced over at the passenger seat, her lips curving slightly as she caught sight of the pile of pictures she’d had developed while still in California, pictures full of the whole group in one form or another. “God I’m going to miss them,” she said aloud into her empty car, a sigh escaping her.
Over the next few months, she fell back into her normal routine, with one exception; almost every evening was spent online talking to Joe. True to their word, the band had started sending her snatches of music almost immediately. Sabrina listened to every second and gave Joe her honest opinion of it all, but inevitably their conversations on AIM drifted to other topics; Sabrina’s job, their respective interests, their goals, hopes, and dreams. Sabrina was rather shocked at how much they had in common, and before long began to refer to him teasingly as “her best girlfriend”, making him laugh. He would tease her right back, calling her “beautiful” and making joking references to when he would make her his. Sabrina just brushed those comments off with a chuckle; why on earth would a guy like him even consider her that way? There were times though… times when she wondered if maybe he wasn’t joking… if he actually thought of her that way. Invariably she would end up even more confused than when she started, so she put the matter from her mind. Besides, she was sure if he did feel that way, he would have said something by now, so she assumed it wouldn’t happen. It made her a bit sad, wistfully thinking of the way it possibly could have been, but eventually she buried the wishes deep, determined not to dwell on what couldn’t be.
As the months passed by, Joe’s fascination with Sabrina only grew. Their hours long conversations online and even on the phone gave him a good idea of the type of woman she was… and it was a type he liked. The only thing he couldn’t fathom was if she ever thought of him as other than a friend. It was the only thing that stopped him; that uncertainty. Every time he attempted to glean the information, she would think he was kidding. It was incredibly frustrating… but at the same time it whetted his appetite. He was determined to find out if she could possibly want more than just friendship from him. It wasn’t until early November that the opportunity presented itself in a most… unusual fashion.

Sabrina sat at her computer, surfing the web aimlessly, bored beyond belief. It was the first week of November and nearly everyone she knew was either out of town or busy, so she had nothing to do. She was on the verge of giving up and heading to bed when her computer dinged and an instant message popped up on her screen.
LPDJ26: Hey beautiful, what’s up?
“Joe!” Sabrina exclaimed happily, all thoughts of boredom gone as she typed, “Hey, you almost missed me; there’s nothing to do around here. I was about to head to bed out of sheer boredom.”
“Good Lord, is it that bad?” Joe typed.
“Everyone I normally spend time with is either busy or out of town; I’m out of my skull,” Sabrina typed back.
“I may have a solution… ‘Cause I kind of need a favor,” Joe typed.
“Anything, if I can do it,” Sabrina typed back.
“Well, you remember I said we were booking dates and advertising for the tour, right?” Joe typed.
“Yeah, I remember. Can I beg for a date in El Paso?” Sabrina typed back, a grin curving her lips.
“That’s actually why I’m talking to you about this. Our booking agents got about six months behind on the booking… some of the dates we were advertising haven’t even been booked yet! So a couple of the guys and I volunteered to take a sort of working vacation and go book the dates for the group. So I’ll be in Texas next week, setting up a date in El Paso, then going up to Albuquerque and over into Oklahoma. I figured, as long as I’m in the area, I could stop by and say hello,” Joe typed.
“That would be great! What time and day would you be here?” Sabrina typed.
“Next Friday, around three-thirty or so. I don’t suppose you know any good hotels in the area?” Joe typed.
“Well yeah, but why don’t you just stay here? I’ve got the extra bedroom, and I just got the furniture for it not too long ago; you could stay there.” Sabrina typed.
“You don’t mind?” Joe typed.
“No, it’s no problem. I could pick you up from the airport too if you need me to,” Sabrina typed.
“Nah, I need to rent a car anyway to get around; can you just email me directions?” Joe typed.
“Sure, no problem. Can’t wait to see you!” Sabrina typed.
“Definitely looking forward to it, beautiful,” Joe typed, a slight grin curving his lips as he looked at his computer screen. “Hope you’re ready for a bit of a surprise,” he murmured to himself.

The next Friday, a dark-blue convertible pulled into the parking lot at Sabrina’s apartment complex, quickly claiming an empty space. Shutting off the engine, Joe got out of the car and quickly scanned the parking lot, checking for Sabrina’s car. “Not off work yet,” he murmured when he didn’t see it, a small sigh escaping him. Sabrina had warned him that she might not be able to meet him at her apartment due to the fact that her unit was caught up in preparations for going to the field, but some part of him had still hoped. Grabbing his bag from the back of the car, Joe headed for the building, pulling out a sheet of directions from his pocket. “Number one-oh-four,” he muttered, glancing at the numbers on the doors he passed. Sabrina had told him if she wasn’t there when he got there she would leave the key to her apartment under her doormat, and he sincerely hoped it was there. Locating her door, he flipped up the doormat and found the key resting on a piece of paper. Picking up both, he flipped the slip open, quickly scanning the note written on it. “Joe… if you get here before I do, just make yourself at home; I’ll hopefully be home around four-thirty or five.” It was signed, “Bri.” Chuckling, Joe refolded the note, slipping the key in the lock and entering. Looking around, he whistled softly, checking out his surroundings. “Nice,” he muttered, looking at the tastefully decorated living room he found himself in. A burgundy leather sofa with a light colored throw draped over the back was against the opposite wall, a low glass coffee table in front of it. A matching recliner sat to the right of the sofa, and two matching glass end tables sat at the end of the sofa and against the wall nearby. A wood entertainment center sported a large television and DVD/VCR combo, with four shelves filled with DVDs. Bending over slightly, Joe ran his finger over the titles, noting with some amusement that the three DVDs that the band had released were among the selections. Next to the entertainment center was a large wooden bookcase, filled with books and a few VHS tapes. A matching bookcase was next to the first glass end table, and a dining alcove sported a round wooden table and four comfortable looking chairs. Glancing at the wall, Joe whistled again as he saw the array of daggers hung there. Sabrina had told him she collected daggers, but he’d halfway supposed she was joking. “Guess she wasn’t,” he said aloud, shaking his head slightly. He spared a second to look at the photos hung on the wall, grinning as he spotted the pictures from her California trip hung among a few that he supposed were of family. He headed down the hall, peeking in doors as he went. One was a bedroom that had been converted into a study, with a small cherry wood desk against the far wall and an oatmeal colored sofa with vibrantly embroidered pillows against the wall closest to him. An array of dreamcatchers hung on another wall along with a few pictures of wolves, an animal he vaguely recalled her telling him was one of her favorites. He found the guest bedroom and deposited his bag there, before cautiously pushing open the door to the master bedroom. A large, queen-size bed dominated the room, matched to the dresser and night table. Joe moved into the room, lightly trailing his fingers over the silk bedspread, wondering what she slept in. A noise caught his attention, and he quickly exited her bedroom, emerging into the living room just as Sabrina pushed open the door and walked in.
“Joe! You made it!” Sabrina exclaimed, dropping a bag and a towel to the floor and coming over to give him a hug. Joe returned the hug, suppressing a groan as her soft body rubbed against his. This is likely to be a long weekend, he thought ruefully as she disengaged, beaming up at him.
“Nice outfit,” he said in a bemused tone, surveying the camouflage uniform she wore with shiny black boots and a black beret set on her head at a jaunty angle.
“Standard Army wear; I hate wearing it,” Sabrina confided, taking off the beret and hanging it on a hook by the door. “Find the place okay?” she asked, turning back to him.
“Yeah, your directions were good,” Joe said, clearing his throat slightly.
“Okay, well, I have got to get out of this uniform, so give me a minute, okay?” Sabrina said, smiling cheerfully at him. Joe nodded as she walked past him, suppressing a slight groan at the thought of her stripping down. Okay, I have either not had sex in way too long or there is something seriously going on if the mere thought of her getting undressed is enough to arouse me, Joe thought wryly to himself.
“Ahhh, that’s much better,” Sabrina said from behind him five minutes later. Joe turned to find her pulling bobby pins out of her hair, her breasts straining slightly at the fabric of her shirt, leaving him speechless. “Now where did I put my brush…” her voice trailed off into muttering as she went back down the hall, combing her fingers through her hair, now slightly longer than what he last remembered.
Joe gaped after her, closing his mouth with a click! Is she trying to drive me crazy? he wondered vaguely. Because if she was… it was working.
“So how long will you be in El Paso?” Sabrina asked as she came back down the hall, a brush in her hand. Sitting down on the couch, she began to brush her hair. Joe shoved his hands in his pockets to prevent himself from grabbing the brush and doing it for her.
“A few days; I thought I’d take some time to visit before I had to really get going, if it’s all right,” he said, seating himself in the recliner.
“That’d be great; I usually have absolutely nothing to do on the weekends, so I’d be grateful for someone to spend some time with,” Sabrina replied, grinning happily. “Can I get you anything to drink?” she asked, getting up and setting the brush down on the coffee table as she headed for the kitchen.
“Yeah, what’ve you got?” Joe asked, getting up and leaning his elbows on the bar, watching as she opened the refrigerator.
“Well let’s see… soda, juice, milk, water, and I made a special trip to pick up some Michelob, because I remembered that’s your preferred brand, I think,” Sabrina said, tossing him a grin over her shoulder.
“You remembered correctly,” Joe said, chuckling. “I’ll take one of them, thanks.” He caught the bottle she playfully lobbed at him, twisting off the top and taking a swig as she shut the door, cracking open her can of soda.
“Good, then please drink it all before you leave; I’ll probably just throw it out if you don’t,” Sabrina said, chuckling. Her cell phone chose that moment to go off, and Joe grinned as he recognized the music as “One Step Closer”.
“Nice ring tone,” he said, arching an eyebrow at her as she picked it up.
Sabrina made a face at him as she flipped open the cell phone, chuckling. “Hello? Oh hey! What’s up?” she said. Joe watched as her expression changed. “Oh I can’t… I have company tonight,” she said, her voice regretful. “Oh he’s a friend I met in California; he’s here on business and stopped by.” Suddenly her eyes lit up with a mischievous sparkle. “Hang on, why not bring it over here? I’ll make you both dinner and you can meet him; I think you’d like him.” She winked at Joe, a wide grin on her face. “Okay great; see you in a few minutes. Bye!” She flipped the phone closed, giggling. “Oh he’s going to flip!” she said.
“Who?” Joe asked warily, giving her a leery look.
“Friend of mind; his name’s Manuel. He and I go pretty far back. He’s a fellow lieutenant in 4-5 Battalion here. He’s also a fan of Linkin Park, and I never told him I met you guys,” Sabrina explained, grinning. “Hopefully he’ll flip out when he realizes who you are, and then proceed to jump on me for never telling him.” She giggled.
“Ahhh… and what’s he bringing over?” Joe asked.
“He just bought The Italian Job on DVD; he was wondering if I wanted to watch it tonight,” Sabrina explained. “I figure it’ll give us something to do. Now what do I have that I can fix?” She headed back into the kitchen, leaving Joe behind, a slight frown on his face.
I hope he’s not more than a friend… sounds like she really likes this guy, he thought, swallowing hard. He had never contemplated the idea that she might like someone else in that way; arrogantly he had simply assumed that everything would work out in his favor. The idea that might not be the case did not sit well with him.

Five minutes later a knock sounded at the door, interrupting Joe’s conversation with Sabrina. “I’ll get it,” Sabrina said, getting up and heading to the door. She opened it to reveal a Latino guy barely as tall as she was, a smile on his face. “Hey!” Sabrina exclaimed, hugging him and kissing him on the lips in a way that made Joe’s heart plummet into his stomach. “Come on in… I’d like you to meet Joe Hahn. Joe, this is Manuel Garcia,” Sabrina said, waving her hand between the two of them.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Manuel said in a heavily accented voice, holding out a hand to Joe, who forced a smile and shook it.
“Likewise,” he said. “Bri tells me you’re a lieutenant too.”
“That’s right, and please, call me Manny,” Manny said, sitting down and cocking his head slightly as he looked at Joe. “You know, you look awfully familiar,” he said.
Sabrina stifled a giggle, winking at Joe behind Manny’s back. “Well, perhaps you’ve heard of the group I work with,” Joe said, a slight grin curving his lips. The guy seemed likeable enough, Joe decided, sighing inwardly. If he’s who she wants… I’m not about to come between them, he thought regretfully.
“What group would that be?” Manny asked, bringing Joe’s thoughts back to earth with a thud.
Trying to hide a grin, Joe quickly took a swig of his beer. “Linkin Park,” he said after he’d swallowed.
The look that came over Manny’s face was priceless, Joe decided later, his eyes growing wide as saucers while his mouth dropped open. “Wait a minute… Linkin Park? As in the band Linkin Park?” he asked.
“The one and only,” Joe said. Unable to stifle her mirth any longer, Sabrina broke out into peals of laughter, holding her stomach.
Manny turned to look at her, the shock on his face changing to mock indignation. “You never told me!” he said, his lips twitching.
“I forgot!” Sabrina said between gasps of laughter. “I met them while I was in California!” She wiped away tears of mirth from her eyes, still giggling.
“You forgot? You forgot, my ass!” Manny said, finally unable to control the grin that broke out over his face. “How the hell could you forget something like that!”
Joe chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t look at me; I would’ve thought she’d shout it to the rooftops,” he said as Manny turned back to face him, holding up his hands with a smile.
“Yeah right,” Manny said, shaking his head and chuckling as well. “I love your music man; you guys are inspired,” he said admiringly.
“Thanks,” Joe said, smiling. The guy’s definitely likeable… but God I wish he were out of the picture, Joe thought, sighing inwardly. Resolving to at least try, he smiled gamely and prepared himself for a long night.

Two hours later, Joe decided he was wrong for thinking that. Manny had made every effort to be as accommodating as he could be, up to and including critiquing Linkin Park’s music honestly, a quality that was extremely hard to find in their fans. He was genuinely likeable, friendly, honest, and to balance it off, a bit of an asshole at times. Shaking his head to himself, Joe sat down on the couch, sipping at his second beer of the night, listening to Sabrina clean up the dishes as Manny sat down in the armchair next to the couch. She had banished them both from cleaning up, despite their offers, claiming her kitchen was too small to have more than one person in it at a time. “She cooks, she cleans… could you want more in a girl?” he asked facetiously, shaking his head.
“She’s a great girl,” Manny agreed, putting his feet gently on the coffee table. “Doesn’t make much variety in her food, mind you, but what she cooks, she cooks well. The cleaning though; she needs some work on that.” He grinned, looking around at her apartment. “I think this is the cleanest I’ve ever seen it,” he said.
Joe chuckled, lightly dangling his beer bottle between his fingers as he leaned forward. “So, uh… you two been together long?” he asked in what he hoped was a casual tone.
Manny gaped at him a moment, blinking in surprise. “Huh? Wait… you think she and I… oh no, no! She’s just a good friend,” he said.
“She’s… not your girlfriend? But… when you came in…” Joe started, by now utterly confused.
“The kiss? Well, I won’t bother to deny that there is something physical between us,” Manny said delicately. “But it’s nothing more than that. She’s a dear friend, yes… but I don’t ever see myself being with her that way.” He chuckled wryly. “She and I are a bit too different.”
“By physical… you mean you’ve… well, had sex with her,” Joe said slowly, trying to wrap his mind around the situation.
“Well yeah. But if she were to find a guy, believe me, I’d give that up so fast his head would spin. Especially if he loved her as much as I do, but in the romantic, not platonic sense,” Manny said. He eyed Joe discerningly. “You’re attracted to her, I take it?” he asked.
Joe paused for a moment, considering his answer. “Honestly… I’ve never met a girl quite like her,” he said finally. “She fascinates me; she’s constantly changing, and yet staying exactly the same. I can’t explain it. But… she never seems like… I don’t know… like she wants something like that from me.”
Manny nodded, leaning forward to look Joe in the eyes. “The thing you ought to know about her regarding that is that she isn’t really aware of things like that. She once said to me she had no idea I found her attractive until I kissed her. She seems like she’s flirting, I know, but that’s just the way she is. If you want her, you’ll have to make the first move, because she won’t. She’s just not built to think like that, I think,” he said seriously.
Joe considered that for a few moments, sipping his beer slowly. “So… if I ask you to back off while I try to work this out with her… you will?” he asked.
“Absolutely. But I should let you know… if you hurt her, I will hurt you,” Manny said, his gaze going momentarily hard. “She’s a very, very dear friend to me, and I don’t want to see her hurt.”
Joe glanced at him, momentarily taken aback. “If it is within my power, I would never hurt her. All I want is for her to be happy,” he said.
Manny nodded slowly. “That’s all I need to hear,” he said.
“What are you two talking about so seriously?” Sabrina said, making them both jump as she came out of the kitchen, wiping her damp hands dry on her jeans.
“Nothing,” Manny said, smiling at her.
“Yep, nothing at all,” Joe said, echoing the smile, feeling relief course through him. There was still hope. Now he just had to come up with the right way to get to her. He settled back against the couch as the movie came on, inhaling Sabrina’s scent as she sat down next to him. Hope I can do that before I have to leave, he thought wryly to himself.

A/N: Next chapter comes the smut, I swear!!! Hang in there people!!! I’m still holding onto my muse for dear life, so hopefully she won’t desert me any time soon.
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How Can Love Conquer All?