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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
- 8
- 9
- 10
Joe opened his eyes the next morning as a thin shaft of sunlight fell across them from a crack in the blinds, one hand coming up to shade them as he shifted slightly, getting his face out of the bright light. A contented, wondering smile curved his lips as the events of last night suddenly blossomed to life in his memory, and he turned his head slightly to find Sabrina still sleeping soundly, her head pillowed on his upper arm. Guess I wore her out, he thought to himself, chuckling inwardly as he carefully turned onto his side, resting his head on his hand and staring down at her sleeping form. He could hardly believe what had happened between the two of them; last night, he had finally told Sabrina how he felt about her and much to his delighted surprise, she had told him that she felt the same. A stab of pleasure went through him as he remembered her whispering that she loved him, and a tender smile curved his lips as he looked down at her, his free hand coming up to lightly trace the curve of her cheekbone, brushing a thin strand of hair from her face. After their mutual declaration, they had made love with an intensity he had never felt before in his life, falling asleep wrapped tightly around another, but it wasn’t enough for either of them. Halfway through the night Joe had awoken to find himself already inside of her, making love to her with as much tenderness and gentleness as their first time had been with fire and passion. They had whispered soft words of love to each other between soft moans and cries of pleasure, rocking together for what seemed like hours before finding completion. Afterward they had simply held each other, letting their gentle touches and soft kisses speak for them, before falling asleep, Sabrina wrapped in Joe’s arms, a slight, tender smile curving her lips that was there even now. Unable to resist the temptation of her lips, Joe softly ran his thumb over the full lower one, bending down to press a loving kiss to the soft skin.
“Mmmm…” Sabrina murmured sleepily, kissing him back before he pulled back slightly, a dreamy smile curving her lips even more as her slumberous hazel eyes opened, gazing up into his. “Good morning,” she murmured, snuggling against him.
“Good morning,” Joe whispered back, lightly stroking his thumb over her cheekbone and smiling tenderly down at her. “Sleep well?”
“Mmm-hmm,” Sabrina nodded, her fingers tracing light patterns on his chest. “What time is it?” she asked softly.
“Ummm… about eleven,” Joe replied, glancing over her head at the digital clock on the dresser next to her bed.
Sabrina gaped at him for a moment, her mouth shutting with a click! after a minute or two. “Are you serious?” she asked.
“Um, yes… why?” Joe asked, chuckling at her bemused expression.
“I never sleep that late,” Sabrina replied firmly. “Even before I was in the military I never slept that late… I could never sleep much beyond… nine or so.” She paused, a soft giggle escaping her. “Guess that’s another first that’s to your credit,” she said, grinning at him. “You wore me out.”
Joe laughed, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head. “I aim to please,” he said.
“Oh you do, believe me,” Sabrina assured him fervently, making him laugh again. Suddenly the expression on her face fell, and she let out a soft moan of frustration. “Oh fuck… I forgot that was today!” she wailed softly in a tone of voice one would normally reserve for grieving over a lost loved one.
“What?” Joe asked, a worried expression coming over his face.
“We have a Hail and Farewell today!” Sabrina wailed.
Joe arched a brow, a bemused expression replacing the worried one. “I… take it that’s a bad thing?” he asked, having no clue what a Hail and Farewell was.
“It is for me… I hate the damn things,” Sabrina said, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting. The sight of her full lower lip jutting out like that did crazy things to Joe’s body, making him want to kiss her senseless, but before he could act on the impulse, she spoke again. “They’re all the same… we welcome new people, we say goodbye to old ones… They’re boring.”
“Do you have to go?” Joe asked.
“Yeah… LTC Roberts kind of expects it,” Sabrina said, sighing. A hopeful expression suddenly came over her face, and she looked up at him. “I don’t suppose you’d mind coming with me?” she asked.
“I’m allowed?” Joe asked, giving her a slight smile.
“Yeah; family’s allowed at these functions, in fact, it’s kind of expected,” Sabrina replied, chuckling. “Especially if you’re the one getting Hailed or Farewelled; it’s so people can meet your family or say goodbye to them if you’re leaving.”
“Sure, I’ll come then,” Joe said, grinning. “Besides, I’d rather be bored with you than go crazy spending even one second away from you before I absolutely have to,” he said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and smiling tenderly as she blushed. “I love how I can make you blush like that,” he said, tracing a light fingertip over her cheekbone.
“You’re definitely good at it,” Sabrina said, smiling up at him and drawing him down for a kiss.
Several hours later Joe and Sabrina pulled up outside her battalion commander’s home on Fort Bliss, having rushed to get there on time after being delayed by making love twice more, once in bed before they got up, and once in the shower as Joe devilishly joined her there despite her weak protests. God, he is insatiable, Sabrina mused to herself, glancing sidelong at him. Not that she minded. Even now he was touching her, his fingers stroking a light caress along her right forearm and wrist, making her feel… cherished, and loved. She loved the feeling his touch gave her, and often responded by twining her fingers with his at every opportunity, or by sliding her arm through his so that she could hug it to her whenever she felt like it. Shaking off her thoughts, which were getting decidedly mushy, she asked aloud, “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” Joe replied, unbuckling his seat belt and getting out of the car. Although he’d never admit it to her, he was fairly nervous about meeting her colleagues, since he knew she set great store by their opinions. He was more than a little afraid they’d think that a man who was part of a famous music group wasn’t the best choice of significant other for a member of the US Military, especially one with a Top Secret clearance like Sabrina. He was certain that if the media got a hold of that little tidbit, they’d be all over her like vultures squabbling over a choice bit of carrion, and he was determined to do whatever it took to protect her from that eventuality short of breaking up with her; that was one thing he wouldn’t even consider. Hopefully that was one thing he wouldn’t have to worry about. “Nice house,” he said aloud, breaking off his train of thought to focus on the present as he surveyed the two-story, brown stucco ranch-style house. It had been tastefully decorated for the season with various lights and ornamentation in a style Joe fully approved of; he’d always been firmly of the opinion that “less is more” when it came to the holiday season and decorating your house. Tacky or overbearing decorations always made him want to shudder and laugh uncontrollably at the same time.
“Old as hell,” Sabrina confided, slipping her arm through his as they began walking toward the house. “Most of these houses on Fort Bliss are; they’re in need of some serious renovations.” She paused for a moment. “By the way… I know this is last minute, but how much do you want them to know about what you do?” she asked, glancing over at him.
Joe blinked, not having been aware that he really had a choice. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“Well, I guessed that you’d be worried about the media finding out about me, and that I had a Top Secret clearance,” Sabrina explained seriously. “This relationship isn’t something that the military can forbid me from doing; they have no control over my personal life after all, but I was thinking that you’d be less worried if they didn’t know so much about what you do. I figure, the less people who know, the better.” She shrugged. “Up to you; just wanted to ask.”
Joe pondered her words for a moment, his eyes thoughtful. “How about we just tell them I’m a DJ? It’s true enough. And if someone recognizes me, well, we can deal with it then. No reason we have to go into everything unless someone asks,” he said, reaching over to squeeze her hand through her glove. “You sure it won’t be a problem though, if they find out?” he asked.
“The most they can do is warn me to be careful about what I say to people who are outside the military, which I am anyway, so it’s a moot point,” Sabrina said, shrugging. “They can’t forbid me from being in love, and I doubt they’d ever want to, since a soldier’s morale is important to them. They have no control over it; all they can do is warn me to be careful.”
Joe nodded as they stopped in front of the door. “We’ll go with just keeping to ourselves unless someone recognizes me, then,” he decided.
“Sounds fine to me,” Sabrina said, smiling at him and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before pressing the doorbell. A minute later it was opened by a middle-aged man with graying hair in a military style crew-cut and a pair of sparkling, warm blue eyes. “Hello sir!” Sabrina greeted, smiling.
“Sabrina, there you are! Usually you’re one of the first people here; I was wondering where you’d gotten to. Who’s your friend?” the man asked, looking expectantly at Joe.
“Sir, this is my boyfriend, Joseph Hahn. Joe, this is my battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Carl Roberts,” Sabrina said.
“Pleasure to meet you. Sabrina’s told me a lot about you,” Joe said, holding out his free hand to LTC Roberts, who shook it firmly.
“Can’t say the same about you, but pleased to meet you all the same! Come in, come in,” LTC Roberts said, ushering them inside and shutting the door behind them. Joe glanced around, noticing the curious looks from the ten or so people gathered in the living room just off the entryway and ignoring them for the time being, guessing they just weren’t used to Sabrina bringing anyone with her to these functions. “Let me take your coats,” LTC Roberts continued, taking the coats from them and moving toward a nearby coat tree to hang them up. “Mandy’s in the kitchen getting some more snacks or I’d introduce you to my wife,” he said, chuckling softly. A pounding noise overhead made all of them glance up, a grin crossing LTC Roberts’ face. “My daughter; she should be down here soon. She was doing her homework,” he explained.
“You have a lovely home,” Joe said, looking around at the tasteful decorations.
“Well thank you. So… what is it you do?” LTC Roberts asked, looking curiously at Joe. “Forgive my nosiness, but I worry about all my lieutenants,” he continued drolly, giving Sabrina’s shoulder a squeeze and making her grin.
“I’m a DJ, actually,” Joe replied, slipping his fingers through Sabrina’s and smiling at her. “Bri and I met while she was on vacation in California not too long ago, but we’re just starting this aspect of our relationship when I came to visit her last weekend. Took me a little while to realize it, but she’s all I could ever want.” “Well that’s wonderful,” LTC Roberts said. A sudden shriek reverberated through the house, making all conversations cease as everyone turned to face the stairs, where a teenage girl stood, staring open-mouthed at Joe. “Trisha! What on earth is wrong?” LTC Roberts asked, looking concernedly at his daughter.
“Oh… my… GOD…. You’re him, aren’t you? You’re Joe Hahn!” Trisha squealed, completely ignoring her father. “I can’t believe it! I love your music!”
“Trisha, what are you talking about?” LTC Roberts said, frowning at his daughter.
Trisha gave her father a withering look. “Daddy, he’s only a member of my all-time favorite band, Linkin Park!” she said. “You are, aren’t you?” she said, transferring her gaze to Joe, who was looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Joe glanced over at Sabrina, a slightly helpless look on his face. Sabrina glanced back at him, shrugging slightly, a resigned look on her face. “So much for keeping it a secret,” she said, a chagrined note in her voice.
There was complete silence in the house, then a hubbub of noise broke out as everyone in the living room began talking at once, overpowered only by Trisha’s shrieks of glee as she realized she was right and a famous music star was standing in her house, oh my God wait until I tell my friends! Joe put his face in his hand, shaking it slightly, his shoulders trembling with laughter. “I should’ve known I couldn’t keep it quiet,” he said wryly. “Seems to crop up wherever we go.”
“I know,” Sabrina said, squeezing his hand lightly and glancing up at Trisha, who was jumping up and down on the stairs in teenaged excitement. “Sir, may I calm her down a bit?” she asked.
“Uh… sure,” LTC Roberts said, looking somewhat shell-shocked as he glanced from Sabrina to Joe and back again.
“Uh, Trisha? Honey?” Sabrina said, gaining the girl’s attention. Wanting to gently let her know not to act too crazy around Joe, she murmured, “You’re drooling, sweetie.”
Trisha gaped at her for a moment before turning around and fleeing back up the stairs, clearly upset. “Oh no… that wasn’t the best thing to say I suppose.” Sabrina said, even more chagrined. “Be right back,” she said to Joe, slipping her hand from his and quickly going up the stairs. She found the girl’s door and gently tapped on it. “Trisha? Honey? I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I was just trying to let you know not to act too crazy around Joe; it came out all wrong.”
There was silence for several seconds, and then the door opened, revealing Trisha glaring halfheartedly at Sabrina. “You hurt my feelings,” she accused. “So what if I get crazy around him; he gets it all the time!”
“Yes, but honey… he doesn’t enjoy it. Crazy fans make him uncomfortable,” Sabrina said gently. Trisha’s brow furrowed at her words, clearly surprised. “Joe’s not really the type who likes that sort of adulation,” Sabrina continued. “But I know he’d love to speak to you in a normal fashion. I was trying to let you know to just be yourself. I swear I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” She offered a tentative smile to the girl.
Trisha looked at her for a few moments consideringly, arms crossed over her chest. “How did you meet him?” she asked, clearly curious as to how Sabrina had come to bring Joe to her house.
“I was on vacation in California when I stopped Chester’s little girl from stepping on some broken glass on the beach,” Sabrina said, a nostalgic smile curving her lips. “I got a chance to meet them all when I brought her back to Samantha, Chester’s wife. But Joe and I… well, we’ve really only been a couple for a week. We fell in love and didn’t realize it until just yesterday, really.” She smiled somewhat sheepishly. “But, I should tell you, when I met them, they all commented on how level-headed I seemed around them, and that it was easier to deal with than the cloying adulation. So, that being said, how about I take you back downstairs and introduce you to Joe, and you just try to be yourself, okay?” She smiled at the younger girl, holding out her hand.
“Can I still ask him for his autograph?” Trisha asked after a moment, clearly torn.
“I will personally make sure he gives you an autograph, and I know he loves discussing his work with fans, so make sure you ask him about that,” Sabrina said, chuckling. “Now come on.”
Downstairs, Joe was currently surrounded by about four different people, all of whom were asking him questions about him and Sabrina’s relationship and his current line of work. “How did the two of you come to meet?” a woman Joe hadn’t met yet asked, eyeing him with a sharp blue gaze.
“She caught my goddaughter before she could step on some broken glass and brought her back to her mother, who happens to be Chester’s wife. Chester is our lead singer,” Joe explained, starting to feel more and more like he was being scrutinized under a microscope. “She stayed to talk to Sam and that’s when I met her.”
“She’s never mentioned you before,” the same woman said, still eyeing him discerningly. “How long have you known her, exactly?”
“About four months… but we’ve only been a couple for a week,” Joe said, forcibly pushing back the microscope feeling and meeting the woman’s gaze challengingly. “As to why she hasn’t mentioned me, I have no problem with her keeping our relationship under wraps; I plan to do the same thing myself.”
“All right Jen, back off the poor boy before you scare him off,” LTC Roberts chimed in. “You’ll have to forgive Major Austin; she’s very protective of the people who work for her,” he said to Joe. “It’s pretty clear you understand the delicate situation this is, what with Sabrina’s position and all. We just had to be sure.”
Joe nodded, meeting LTC Roberts’ gaze steadily. “I know she’s got a Top Secret clearance, and I promise I will do everything I can to ensure that the media doesn’t find that out. I don’t want her to be harassed if I can help it. But I won’t give her up,” he said quietly, glancing challengingly at MAJ Austin once more.
To his surprise, she chuckled, clapping his shoulder. “I think I like this guy,” she said approvingly. “I’m Major Jennifer Austin, Sabrina’s immediate supervisor. I’m the S3 for the battalion.” She held out a hand, smiling.
“Joe Hahn, DJ for Linkin Park,” Joe said, shaking her hand with a slight smile. He turned his head toward the stairs as Sabrina rounded the landing with Trisha in tow, some inner instinct alerting him to her approach, a smile lighting up his face as he met her hazel gaze.
MAJ Austin glanced from him to Sabrina, a small smile curving her lips. “Guess he’s definitely serious,” she murmured to herself. She had never seen a happier look on a man’s face, and it was just because Sabrina was approaching. Now she knew she liked him. “Where’ve you been hiding this guy, Sabrina?” she said as Sabrina came up to them.
“Around, ma’am,” Sabrina replied, a giggle escaping her. “Joe, I’d like you to meet Trisha Roberts. Trisha, this is Joe Hahn.” She winked at Joe, trying to let him know to play along with her.
Catching on, Joe quickly held out a hand to Trisha, realizing that Sabrina must have informed Trisha of his aversion to rabid fans and loving her all the more for it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Trisha,” he said warmly.
Trisha stared at him starry-eyed for a moment, and Sabrina was abruptly afraid the girl couldn’t pull it off, but Trisha suddenly shook herself and smiled easily at Joe, grasping his hand. “Likewise. I’m glad to meet a great musician.”
“Well, I don’t know about the ‘great’ part, but thank you,” Joe said, chuckling as he shook her hand. Sabrina let out a tiny sigh of relief and moved to stand next to Joe, twining her fingers with his once more and smiling gratefully at him.
“It meant a lot to her; thank you,” she said in his ear, stretching up on her tiptoes to reach it since she was wearing flats that evening, and as a result Joe was several inches taller than her.
Joe squeezed her hand warmly, smiling at her. “My pleasure,” he said softly to her.
“Boy, you two are more mushy than I thought you would be,” a new voice said, a teasing note coloring the feminine tones.
“Oh hush, Yolanda,” Sabrina said, blushing and laughing as a tall African American woman came up to them. “You’ll probably be worse whenever you meet a guy.”
“This is Yolanda?” Joe asked Sabrina, getting a nod. “I guess I owe you my thanks,” he said, holding out a hand to her and smiling.
“For what?” Yolanda asked curiously, shaking his hand.
“For waking Sabrina up to the fact that she’s in love with me,” Joe replied, grinning at Sabrina as she blushed again.
“All I did was talk to her since she seemed to need it,” Yolanda said, shrugging. “She was pretty abstracted in the field.”
“Oh so he’s why you were so out of it in the field?” MAJ Austin asked, arching a brow at Sabrina.
“God, was I that bad or something? I thought I did my job pretty well, you know… considering,” Sabrina said after a moment of blushing redder than a cherry. Absently Joe wondered just how long he could make her sustain that blush, a grin crossing his features at the idea. “Oh quit looking so smug,” Sabrina said, pinching his side and mock glaring at him before breaking into a grin. “I imagine you were just as bad and the guys teased you mercilessly, am I right?”
Joe flushed slightly, a chagrined smile curving his lips. “Well… they might have,” he hedged.
“Yeah right; I’ll bet they were all over you like white on rice,” Yolanda put in, chuckling. The group broke into laughter, Joe joining in after a moment of attempting to look martyred and failing miserably. I think I like these people, Joe thought to himself, slipping his arm around Sabrina’s waist and smiling as they made their way toward the refreshments laid out in the dining room.
“I think tonight might actually be a fun night,” he said in Sabrina’s ear.
Sabrina looked at him in mock horror. “Bite your tongue love; the night is young,” she said teasingly, making him snort with laughter as he hugged her close.
About twenty minutes later Joe was happily engaged in conversation with Yolanda about the merits of hip hop versus rock music, with a comment or two interjected by Sabrina, when Yolanda’s expression suddenly changed. “Oh God… rabid bitch alert,” she said to Sabrina, who stiffened as if she had been electrocuted.
“Dammit… she can’t leave me alone this once?” Sabrina groaned softly, clunking her head onto Joe’s shoulder.
“Is something wrong?” Joe asked, looking from one to the other of them in concern.
“Later,” Yolanda said in a warning undertone, a bright, artificial smile appearing on her face as a new woman, one Joe hadn’t met, approached them, a slightly predatory look in her eyes as she glanced from Sabrina to Yolanda to Joe. Joe didn’t know what it was, but something about this woman instantly rubbed him the wrong way. He rather thought it was the way she kept looking him over like a choice piece of meat; or at least that was the impression he got. He shook off the feeling, determined not to judge until he’d actually spoken to the woman, although the mere fact that Sabrina seemed so resigned made him worry. Maybe she was exaggerating a bit?
“Captain… how are you?” Sabrina greeted the woman, a barely discernible resigned note in her voice. Joe’s sensitive ears, used to picking up nuances in his music, easily picked up on it, making him even more uneasy.
“All right… I wanted to meet the new face here. I hear we have an actual celebrity in our midst,” the woman said, the predatory gleam in her eyes growing.
“Joe, this is Captain Melissa Dennison, our battalion S1. Captain, this is my boyfriend Joseph Hahn,” Sabrina said in as perfunctory a tone as she could manage without being insulting.
“Nice to meet you,” Joe said, holding out a hand, glancing at Sabrina out of the corner of his eye, her actions making him more concerned. Why was she so… upset?
“The pleasure is all mine,” CPT Dennison purred, sliding her fingers into his in a way Joe could only describe as sexual. It was extremely off-putting, and Joe disengaged his hand as quickly as he could, wincing imperceptibly as his finger scraped over one of the ostentatious diamond rings the woman wore. He hated jewelry like that, preferring understated elegance to gaudy pretentiousness, especially on women. “I hear you’re a member of a famous band,” CPT Dennison continued, a smile curving her heavily glossed lips, an arch look on her made-up face. “I’d love to hear all about it… would you care to join me over there?” She indicated a nearby loveseat only big enough for two people. Joe felt Sabrina stiffen beside him, and he decided his earlier impression of this woman was right. She was clearly hitting on him, and in front of the woman who had called him her boyfriend! He also decided he didn’t like her in the slightest, his expression hardening slightly. In his book, the word boyfriend or girlfriend meant “committed”, not “available”. Clearly this woman had no such compunctions, and the fact that he just knew Sabrina was upset about the whole situation was enough to make him answer a bit more rudely than he had originally planned.
“Thanks, but there’s really not all that much to tell about it. I help make music. I don’t see a good enough reason to join you at the moment,” he said somewhat coolly, slipping his arm lightly around Sabrina’s waist and squeezing gently. He smiled somewhat grimly as a surprised look flickered through CPT Dennison’s eyes. Clearly she hadn’t thought he wouldn’t agree to join her. She has a lot to learn about real life; not all famous people are out for the surface looks, he thought ironically to himself. He glanced at Sabrina and gave her a reassuring smile as he caught the equally surprised look in her eyes. He was a little hurt that she didn’t trust him enough to know that he’d never throw her over for an ostentatious little bitch like this CPT Dennison, but he knew from talking to her that she was still fairly insecure in her own appeal, having had only one semi-serious relationship in her life. He looked forward to fixing that opinion that she had of herself.
CPT Dennison was silent for several seconds, before shrugging slightly. “Well, I can think of one good reason for you to join me,” she said, fluttering her lashes at him, clearly determined not to give up, despite being rejected.
“Really? And what would that be?” Joe asked, a slightly sarcastic note in his voice. Yolanda, catching it, quickly put a hand over her mouth to stifle the grin before CPT Dennison could see it.
“Well, you must be a bit confused about the way we do things here… I could give you a very good explanation of how we work here, and you could tell me everything about how well you work,” CPT Dennison said, giving him a suggestive once-over that made him even angrier at her nerve.
“Actually, I’m perfectly happy where I am, with my girlfriend,” Joe stressed the word slightly, “and there is nothing that I care to discuss with you, now or in the future, about my work. I doubt you have any constructive input to give me, and I don’t like to waste my time with people who can’t give me anything decent to work with. So thanks, but no thanks.” He gave her a challenging look, hugging Sabrina gently to his side, feeling her finally relax against him.
CPT Dennison opened and closed her mouth several times, finally giving the three of them an angry look and flouncing off. Joe glanced down to find Sabrina looking up at him, a look of such love in her eyes that it made his breath catch in his throat. Without saying a word she cupped his cheek, bringing him down for a soft kiss before pulling back slightly and whispering, “Thank you.”
“I second that, although without the kiss,” Yolanda said, chuckling softly. “I have been dying to see that bitch put down like that.” She gave Joe an admiring glance. “Nice going.”
“Thanks, I think,” Joe said, glancing after CPT Dennison’s retreating form. “Christ, what is her problem anyway?” He glanced from Yolanda to Sabrina.
“I wish I knew,” Sabrina said, ruefully rubbing her forehead. “She and I have never gotten along. I don’t know why.” She shrugged, looking slightly bewildered. “I’ve always tried to be nice to her, or at least polite. When I first got here, I was a brand-new second lieutenant, and she had just gotten promoted to first lieutenant. I was introduced to her, and every time I saw her after I said hello, asked how she was. I either got snubbed or got the cold shoulder most of the time. I finally gave up and just tried to avoid her, especially when she got promoted.” Sabrina sighed softly, laying her head against Joe’s shoulder. “Now when she’s around, I have to be ‘respectful’,” she said, making little air quotes with her fingers. “But I’ll be damned if I’ll call her ‘ma’am’. Captain is all she’ll get from me unless she starts deserving a ma’am.” She shot a dark look in the direction CPT Dennison had gone.
“Can’t say I blame you,” Joe said. “Someone ought to tell her how rude it is to hit on other people’s boyfriends.”
“Wouldn’t work,” Yolanda said, shaking her head. “She hits on every guy who’s in a relationship but not married. I think she gets some kind of power trip out of putting a rift between couples or something.”
“Well, she failed this time,” Joe said, glancing down at Sabrina and tenderly tracing the line of her cheekbone with his thumb, watching in fascination as she blushed yet again. “I love you… you know that, right?” he said quietly.
“I think it’s starting to sink in a bit,” Sabrina said, slipping her arms around him and giving him a tender smile. She found it a bit hard to believe sometimes, but then he would do something like this, and put all her fears to rest… at least for a while. “Give me time and I’ll probably be secure enough to believe it without you proving it.”
“But I have so much fun proving it,” Joe said, giving her a teasing grin, a spurt of laughter escaping him as she blushed. “I think I’m going to start calling you Red,” he teased, laughing as she punched his shoulder and capturing her hand, bringing it to his mouth for a tender kiss.
“Ooooh, he’s a keeper, girl,” Yolanda said in amusement, grinning at Sabrina. “You let this one go, I’m probably gonna have to hurt you for being so stupid.” She laughed as Joe flushed slightly.
“Oh believe me… he’s not going anywhere if I can help it,” Sabrina said, snuggling against him and smiling up at him.
An hour later, the function was starting to wind down a bit, as the formal part of the evening was over, with three new lieutenants hailed and one first sergeant and a captain farewelled. Joe sat with Sabrina, Yolanda, and surprisingly enough, Trisha, who had proved to be quite a good source of critiques on the band’s music, slowly sipping a beer and talking. His hand was currently entwined with Sabrina’s, and Sabrina thought she couldn’t possibly be happier than she was right then, feeling him squeeze her hand every so often to remind her of his love. She laid her head on his shoulder, a wave of contentment sweeping through her. Abruptly she heard her name from behind her, and without lifting her head, she strained to listen to the conversation.
“-don’t know what he sees in her,” CPT Dennison’s unmistakable voice said from nearby, making Sabrina’s eyes narrow slightly.
“Well he obviously sees something,” another voice, a long-suffering note in it, responded. Sabrina frowned slightly as she recognized CPT Bolton’s voice, another woman in the battalion she had never gotten along with very well, but had a grudging respect for due to her knowledge of her job. “Could we just drop it, Melissa?”
“Please,” CPT Dennison said, ignoring CPT Bolton’s last words in favor of focusing on her earlier statement. “He sees something in that insipid little cow? She isn’t in the least worthy of a guy like that.”
Tears abruptly sprang to Sabrina’s eyes as CPT Dennison’s cruel words cut straight to her own insecurities. She wanted to turn around and hit CPT Dennison and burst into tears at the same time, both of which she was determined not to do. She didn’t want to give CPT Dennison the satisfaction. Joe felt Sabrina stiffen beside him, a slight frown coming to his face as she pulled her hand away from his, standing up. “Would you excuse me for a moment?” she said softly to the group, keeping her gaze down.
“Are you all right, baby?” Joe asked softly, catching her hand as she turned away, a worried look on his face.
“I’m fine… I’ll be right back,” Sabrina said, attempting a reassuring smile and failing utterly. She pulled away before Joe could stop her and made her way to the nearby bathroom, leaving Joe looking after her in confusion.
“What was that about?” he asked, turning back to Yolanda, who had a slightly abstracted look on her face.
“Shhhh… listen,” Yolanda said, gesturing slightly behind Joe. “No, don’t turn around! Just listen,” she hissed as Joe started to turn around, catching his arm.
Joe glanced at Trisha, who was looking more confused than he was, finally shrugging and just listening. Almost immediately he heard Sabrina’s name mentioned again, his gaze hardening as he realized that CPT Dennison was discussing his relationship with someone whose voice he didn’t recognize. “She’s a plain, boring little bitch who couldn’t possibly be interesting to him. He’s probably with her as a pity case,” CPT Dennison said, laughing in a slightly drunken way.
“You don’t think it’s at least possible he might love her like he says he does?” another woman’s voice answered, a clearly frustrated note in her voice.
“Why the hell would he love her? She’s pathetic. She’s a barely capable officer who dresses horribly and probably wouldn’t know the first thing about taking care of a man like him, if you know what I mean,” CPT Dennison said, laughing again. “She acts like a slut too… she flirts with everyone. I’ve seen her do it. He could do so much better than her.”
“I suppose you mean that you’re better?” the other woman said in an annoyed tone that didn’t register with CPT Dennison, who went blithely on.
“Well naturally. Look at me; I’m beautiful, sophisticated… and I know how to get a man to take care of me,” she said, laughing. “I’ll get him away from her yet, you’ll see.”
At this point, Joe had heard enough. Setting his drink down on a nearby table hard enough to make Trisha jump, he stood up, clearly fuming. “Excuse me for a minute. I’ll be right back,” he said, turning and making his way around the small grouping of chairs their group had commandeered, heading stiffly over to where he could see CPT Dennison still talking with a woman he hadn’t been introduced to. “I need to talk to you, now,” he said without preamble, grabbing CPT Dennison by the arm and pulling her away from the other woman, barely noticing the grateful look on her face.
“Whoa, lover, there’s no need to be rough,” CPT Dennison said, giggling drunkenly as Joe pulled her into a nearby alcove.
“Shut the fuck up and listen,” Joe said, shoving her against the wall and glaring at her angrily. “I don’t know where you think you get off, but my relationship with Sabrina is none of your goddamn business, and I’ll thank you to keep your fat mouth shut about her.” CPT Dennison gaped at him for a moment. “Excuse me?” she said.
Joe gave her a hard look. “Next time you want to talk about someone behind their back, you stupid bitch, I suggest you make sure they aren’t in earshot,” he bit off. “Now I’m only going to tell you this once. I am with Sabrina because I love her. She is everything I could ever want in a woman. She is beautiful, capable, and she interests me a great deal, because she is open and honest and doesn’t hide behind a ridiculous façade. Pretentious bitches like you, on the other hand, make me sick. I am warning you now, if I hear you talking about Sabrina like that again, I may forget that my mother taught me not to hit women, and slap the shit out of you.” He glared at her. “Am I understood?”
“Who the hell do you think you are? Do you know who I am?” CPT Dennison sputtered after gaping at him for a moment.
“You’re the person who isn’t worth twenty of the woman I love, and I’m not likely to forget that any time soon. Now, am… I… understood?” Joe said, biting off his words between clenched teeth.
CPT Dennison stared at him for a minute, letting out a short laugh. “Oh my fucking God… you actually think you love her? Her? She’s not the type of person who would fit in with your world, for God’s sake! I am! Just look at me!” She flung out her arms. “I’m beautiful, sophisticated… I would so fit in on the red carpet! You should drop her while you have the chance.”
Joe gave her a disgusted look. “Contrary to the hype, not everyone who’s famous goes for the surface look,” he said, looking her up and down, an insolent sneer curling his lip. “Sabrina is ten times the woman you are. At least she doesn’t act like a slut to further her own position, or to get a power trip off of it. You, on the other hand…” he let his words trail off meaningfully, watching with satisfaction as she sputtered in anger. “I’m through talking to you,” he said. “But if I find out that you have been discussing Sabrina like that again, I will not be held responsible for my actions. Consider yourself warned.” Joe turned, heading back to where he’d left the others, a feeling of satisfaction coursing through him.
Meanwhile, Sabrina had exited the bathroom after composing herself just in time to see Joe grab CPT Dennison and drag her into the alcove, his stance clearly angry. Forgetting how much she would dearly like to see the woman taken down a peg or two, Sabrina started over to stop him, afraid of the repercussions of his actions. A hand on her arm stopped her as she passed Yolanda, Trisha, and surprisingly CPT Bolton, whom the hand on her arm belonged to. “Don’t,” CPT Bolton said as Sabrina looked at her, a compassionate look on her face. “Trust me. She deserves a talking-to. I would have done it myself if your boyfriend hadn’t overheard what she was saying about you and stepped in. Let him be.”
Sabrina glanced over at Joe and CPT Dennison, who were still exchanging heated words, biting her lower lip, clearly torn. “She’s right,” Yolanda said. “I heard some of it myself; she got worse after you left.” Yolanda put her hand on Sabrina’s shoulder. “He looked like he would have ripped her head off if he thought he could get away with it; he was that angry on your behalf. Let him get it out,” she said gently.
Sabrina glanced at her. “What did she say?” she whispered.
“Trust me… you probably don’t want to know,” CPT Bolton said, shaking her head. “But I’ll back you up on this if something happens as a result, I promise. I realize she’s slightly drunk, but that’s no excuse for being so bitchy just because she couldn’t get your boyfriend interested in her.”
Sabrina looked at CPT Bolton, slightly surprised. She had thought that this woman and CPT Dennison were fairly good friends; it was a bit of a shock to hear that she would back up Sabrina in this instance were something to happen. “I- uh-“ she said, and then paused, gathering her thoughts. “Thank you,” she finally said quietly.
“You’re welcome. Looks like he’s done,” CPT Bolton said, indicating Joe heading toward them with a slight jerk of her head. “I think he deserves a thank you as well,” she continued, smiling gently at Sabrina.
Sabrina nodded, turning to face Joe as he came up to them, his eyes searching hers as she reached up, laying a hand on his cheek. “Thank you,” she said softly after a moment, smiling slightly at him.
“You’re welcome,” Joe murmured back, reaching up and squeezing her hand lightly, a tender smile curving his lips.
Sabrina rested her head briefly against his chest before raising it again. “By the way… this is Captain Sara Bolton. She’s one of the battle captains for the S3 shop, sort of like an assistant for MAJ Austin. Ma’am, this is my boyfriend, Joe Hahn.” She gave CPT Bolton another grateful look.
The use of the word “ma’am” wasn’t lost on Joe, and he realized that this captain must be worthy of respect despite having been talking to CPT Dennison. “Pleasure,” he said warmly, holding out his hand to her.
“Likewise, and thank you for administering a talking-to to CPT Dennison. I was on the verge of doing it myself, and you saved me the trouble,” CPT Bolton said, shaking Joe’s hand. “Well, I hate to seem rude and run off, but I was due to relieve my husband of baby duties about fifteen minutes ago,” she said, checking her watch and smiling wryly. “Sabrina, remember what I said, all right? Have a good night.” Waving cheerfully, she walked off.
“What’d she mean by that?” Joe asked Sabrina.
“Nothing important,” Sabrina replied, smiling at him. “You want to get out of here too?”
“Twist my arm, why don’t you,” Joe joked. He held out a hand to Yolanda and Trisha in turn, both of whom shook it. “It was nice to meet both of you,” he said sincerely. He turned slightly as Sabrina tugged on his arm, bending down so she could whisper in his ear, a chuckle escaping him. “Ah yes… can’t believe I forgot,” he said, turning to Trisha. “I’ve been informed you’d like an autograph.”
Trisha threw Sabrina a grateful look. “Um, yeah,” she said a trifle breathlessly, pulling the CD case for Hybrid Theory and a felt pen from the voluminous pocket on the front of the sweatshirt she wore, handing them to him. Joe quickly scrawled his signature on the inside jacket, handing it back to her when he was done. “Thank you,” Trisha breathed, a huge smile on her face. “Man, wait till I tell Missy at school!”
“Just do me one favor?” Joe asked her, receiving a nod in response and a questioning look. “Keep Bri out of it; just tell this Missy you met me, okay? I’m trying to keep the media from finding out about this right now, since she’s got a Top Secret clearance,” he explained.
“No problem,” Trisha said happily, abruptly throwing her arms around him and hugging him, giving Sabrina the same treatment, much to her surprise. “Thanks again!” Waving happily, Trisha pounded up the stairs to her room, leaving Sabrina and Yolanda giving Joe amused looks.
“What?” Joe asked, flushing slightly.
“Don’t you just love it when a man gets all protective of his woman?” Yolanda said to Sabrina, who chuckled.
“I find it very sexy, personally,” she said, giving Joe a tiny hint of a sultry smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, I think I should take him home and show him how sexy I find it.” She curled her tongue behind her teeth, giving Joe a wink. “Night, Yolanda.”
“Well if that isn’t incentive to get home quickly, I don’t know what is,” Joe said, grinning. Grabbing Sabrina’s hand, he dragged her to the door, stopping only long enough so she could say goodnight to LTC Roberts before pulling her outside and to her car. Trapping her against it with his body, he kissed her thoroughly, lapping the tiny moans she made off of her lips before sliding his tongue into her mouth, loving her taste. Pulling back slightly, he stared deep into her slightly dazed hazel eyes. “You know I love you, right? I won’t ever stop. You are the only woman I could ever want,” he said quietly, cupping her face in one hand and stroking a soft caress over her cheekbone.
Sabrina smiled softly, reaching up to squeeze his hand gently. “I know… and I love you too,” she said quietly. “Now… are we going home or not?” She grinned as Joe let out a shout of laughter, hugging her close before helping her into the car and getting in himself. As she started the car, Sabrina glanced over at him, feeling at that very moment that she could never be any happier. She finally knew was love was, and even more, what being loved in return was. She never wanted it to end.
A/N: Whew, that one took a while. Been busy; sorry guys. I’ve been having a very hard time at work lately because it finally hit me just how much I hate being two thousand miles from home and family. Only took three years. *rolls her eyes* But Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates it! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and I am going to TRY to get another chapter out by New Years at the LATEST, maybe two. We’ll see how well my muse cooperates. *G* At any rate, please read and review; it feeds my inspiration, as my muse has so kindly informed me; apparently chocolate only goes so far when you’re acting as someone’s inspiration. Go figure; I would have thought chocolate could fuel an army of muses. *G* So please, please click that lovely little review button down there and help me out!
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How Can Love Conquer All?