Greetings and Salutations all. Sorry this is so late. Naruko21 I hope you like this. And remember to aim all your reviews, critiques and/or rotten fruits and vegetables to the author below this title. Enjoy.

Terrorist attack?" Ichabod asked." It wasn't terrorist. It was..."
Ichabod glanced over to Abbie. Abbie met his eyes.
"It was my fault," Abbie answered.
"No. It's mine," Jenny answered.
Ichabod lifted his chin and looked down his nose at Jenny and Abbie. He opened his mouth.
A loud knock came from the door.
"Yes. Come in," Ichabod called out. He cleared his throat. He flashed Abbie a small smile. Abbie smiled back. She gently cupped her hand to her cheek and shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, at least this day can't get any worse," Abbie said.
William Desoto shouldered his way through the half opened door and raced into the office.
"It just became worse," Ichabod muttered. He closed his eyes and pinched his thumb and forefinger at the bridge of his nose. This is all he needed. William Desoto to the rescue. He clenched his jaw tight.
"Abbie, thank God. Are you ok?" William demanded."You ran away before all the smoke cleared. I didn't see you and thought you were still inside the lab. Someone had to stop me from running back into the lab." He grabbed at her thin shoulders and shook her. He looked her up and down.
"I'm fine, William, I had to report to Dean Crane's office," Abbie answered. "I'm sorry I had to leave in such a rush."Her small hands gently stroked William's large biceps to soothe him and his shoulders relaxed. 
"Old man Crane?" William answered."Oh, well, are you ok?"
"Yes. I'm fine," Abbie answered."I promise. His big blue-gray eyes scanned Abbie again before looking deep into her eyes.  He smiled and looked up at Ichabod.
"Ok," he sighed. "Oh, sorry, Mr. Crane. You better get downstairs quick. The reporters and the MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION are demanding you tell everyone this wasn't a terrorist attack."  
"Right, then let's go," Ichabod answered. Ichabod glared at William. He didn't like to be called Mr. Crane. It makes him sound old like his father. God forbid.
"Why are you limping?" William said. 
He stared down at Abbie after she took a few steps. Abbie looked up at William her brown eyes wide and confused, then she looked down at herself and laughed.
"I broke my stupid heel," Abbie sighed. She rolled her eyes and smiled. Her beautiful face shined through with all the soot on her face.
The next thing Abbie knew William bowed low before her.
"What are you doing?"Abbie answered. Then In one full swoop, William quickly slipped off her broken shoe and snatched the heel out of her hand.
"Could ya hold this old man Cr..."William asked. "I mean Mr. Crane."
William shoved the heel and the shoe into Ichabod's chest and quickly swept Abbie into his arms. Her small hand fluttered and then laid flat on his broad hard chest.
"William, what are you doing?"Abbie shouted."Put me down now!" 
"You can't walk on one heel, Abbie," William said.
"I..II please put me down!" Abbie demanded. 
"Thanks Mr. Crane," William shouted. He walked out of the office and through the door carrying Abbie in his arms. 
Ichabod stared at the couple. He then looked down at Abbie's heel and dainty shoe in his giant hands dumbfounded. His large hands clenched around the heel and the shoe. 
He heard laughter behind him.
"Thanks Mr. Crane," Jenny gigled. Her eyebrows lifted and a smirk played on her lips.
Jenny followed Abbie and William just out to the hall and then stopped. She spun on her heel to face Ichabod.
"Moving too slow, Icky," Jenny  laughed. "Will you won't you,  join the dance, Alice?"       
Jenny smiled and plucked Abbie's heel and shoe up from his hands. She winked. Then she turned and ran down the hallway to catch up with Abbie and William. 

His hands fell on either side of him. His shoulders sank. Ichabod could hear Abbie and William's loud voices echo in the hallway as they walked down the hall. 
"William, this is ridiculous. Put me down now," Abbie insisted."It is my shoe that's broken not my feet. I am perfectly capable of walking on them." 
"Nope, no way,"William answered."You're barefoot, Abbie. You're feet can get cut by broken glass or worse."

Ichabod closed his eyes and shook his head.

William Desoto's sudden appearance to Abbie's rescue like some Alpha-Male dumb jock was just the cherry on top. A short snort came out of his nose like a bull. Frustrated at himself and the situation. Moving too slow. Will he Join the dance? Did Jennifer mean join the dance of all of Abbie's suitors? All the men in this University seemed to be enchanted by Grace Abigail Mills. They all wanted her. Like he wanted her. Ichabod's thoughts returned to earlier when he told Abbie he loved her in German. He could see it in her eyes and feel it in her small body and in her gasp as she trembled in his arms. All of this told him Abbie understood him perfectly. She just choose not to acknowledge it. It was Luke. Abbie still wasn't free from him.

What in God's name made him say it in the first place? It was badly timed. Too soon. He  said it thinking she might have been badly hurt or worse in the accident. He was a coward. He told her he loved her, in German. He should have known Abbie would understand him. She knows the truth now. That he is in love with Abbie. He has ever since she was eighteen.

His thoughts turned back to 2009 when Grace Abigail Mills turned eighteen years old. He and Daniel were on Winter break from University and he wanted to be in Sleepy Hollow for his little sister's birthday. Daniel was very excited to be with his family again. He just wanted to tag along just to find new scenery other than the University. Katrina and he were not yet dating and she went to see her parents in England. 

Grace Abigail Mills took his breath away even back then. Her beauty. Her intelligence. Her humor. Abbie is an old soul. He enjoyed her company and was able to talk to her and debate with her about any subject. Whether it be political or social injustice etc, she was passionate about it.  It was refreshing to find this in someone so young. 
Daniel had teased him relentlessly about how much time he spend with Abbie. He joked about when he was going to ask for Abbie's hand in marriage. After that, He began to stay away and ignore Abbie the rest of the visit. He didnt want to pay too much attention to Daniel's "Little Sister."

He ignored and denied his growing feelings for Abigail. He kept his longing and love for her under control.  That was then. This is now. His feelings resurfaced again, after she walked into his office this morning. Ichabod couldn't deny his feelings of longing and love for Abbie, any longer.
"Jesus,' he whispered. "Was it really only this morning?"

It felt like Abbie's been in Columbus for years. He never felt like this before. He certainly never felt  like this with Katrina. Katrina told him she loved him first. He fell in love with Katrina when they dated. He asked Katrina to marry him a year later.  It was encouraged by both Ichabod's and Katrina's parents. He did love Katrina but he'd always felt thier relationship was just comfortable and easy. They never argued. There was no real passion between he and Katrina except in the bedroom. The conversation were always frothy and frivolous. Consisting primarily on gossip about thier friends and what happened at work and what movie to see that night. It was never an exchange of ideas or a debate. Katrina always agreed with him, anyway.
Ichabod sucked in a deep breath.
God, he needed two stiff drinks. Maybe after the press conference? He was about to address the faulty and the local reporters to console them  Columbus University was not under terrorist threat.
"Shite," he moaned. He walked out quickly out of the office and down the hallway. A loud scream of laughter was heard and he looked up to watch William, Abbie and Jenny turn the corner toward the stairs.

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Katrina Van Tassle waited for Ichabod at the top of the buildings outside stairs. She walked from Ichabod's  apartment to see what was going on after the Local News called the explosion a Terrorist attack. She sighed and crossed her thin arms across her chest. She wished this was more of a friendly visit and not to save her father out of his finical dilemma. She also wished she didn't sign the divorce papers  so quickly to persuade him to help her.  

      A warm summer breeze blew across her face. Katrina closed her eyes. It rustled her long bright red hair and blew into her eyes. She raised her hand and combed her thin fingers through her hair. She watched the huge crowd of reporters and faculty as they  gathered together in the middle of the student courtyard. They were surrounded by students  waiting for Dean Ichabod Crane. They all wanted the truth. Was it or was it not a terrorist attack? Is Columbus University under attack? Katrina's eyes fell upon a sweet young couple standing in the middle of the student courtyard, talking.

Katrina guessed the couple to be students out to relax and enjoy a beautiful warm, Summer afternoon. The young man was blonde and blue-eyed with a sweet baby face and a clef chin. The girl was black, petite and very pretty. Her face angelic with plump cupid bow lips and large deep brown doe eyes. She just reached the young man's chest and had to look up to talk to him. They smiled and laughed at each other. Not conscious of anyone but each other. Katrina smiled. The couple reminded Katrina of her and her Ichabod when they were young and in love. She and Ichabod also used to laugh and kid around. They use to love each other's company. Compatible in every way; especially in bed. Oh, those hot nights together in bed. The hot steamy sex they had lasted all through the night. People wouldn't think it by looking at the athletically, lean tall man but Ichabod Crane was insatiable. He couldn't get enough of it or of her. And he was so very well endowed. A smile played a the corner of Katrina's lips.

They even broke a bed once. She remembered that night, vividly. It was on their first anniversary and only had two drinks at a dinner party. They left the party early too eager to get home be alone finally. They rushed home and to the bedroom and stripped off all their clothes. The large bed collapsed underneath them when the sex became hot, heavy and intense. Exhausted from the constant use. Katrina remembered Ichabod was still inside her. His shaggy head buried in her shoulders frozen for a minute and then let out a laugh. She remebered she began to laugh as well. They then continued the rest of the night in the broken down bed.

Katrina breathed out a small sigh. She hoped to rekindle the fire and passion she and Ichabod had while she was here. Her only hope was that  it wasn't too late for them.

Katrina heard footsteps behind her and she turned around. She smiled as Ichabod stopped just at the top stair, just past her. He stood and stared out into the crowd In front of him.
"Ichabod?" She asked. Katrina stepped forward to stand next to him. He didn't answer her. He just kept staring out.
"Ichabod?" She asked. Katrina waved her small white hand In front of him. Nothing. She then followed his eyes to see what he was staring at so intently. Katrina frowned and pursed her lips. Ichabod was staring at the same young couple she stared at before. The pretty petite brunette woman and the blonde jock. The young man was now bend over whispering in the young woman's ear. She threw back her head and laughed at what he said. 
Katrina looked back at Ichabod. His eyes were narrowed. His full lips pressed together tightly. A small muscle twitched in his jaw as it clenched tight.
"Ichabod!" Katrina yelled. She shook his shoulder. Ichabod blinked at her. His eyes grew huge when he focused on her.
"Wha? Katrina you're here!" Ichabod answered. "When did you get here?"
"I just arrived," Katrina answered."I heard on the news that the explosion could have been a terrorist's and I wanted to see if you were alright."
"Oh," Ichabod answered indignant."It wasn't a bloody terrorist attack. I'm fine. Everyone is fine."
"Everyone?" Katrina asked."You knew who was in the explosion?"
Ichabod nodded. He raised his hand and waved at the couple he was staring at.
"Yes. Abbie Mills, William and... I don't see Jennifer Mills were in the blast,"Ichabod said.
Ichabod looked around in the huge crowd looking for Jennifer Mills. He shrugged.
"I don't see her. She's probably back at her dorm," Ichabod answered. .
"Abbie Mills?" Katerina gasped."You mean Abigail Mills? Daniel's little sister? The new professor?"
"Hmmm," Ichabod hummed. He nodded his head. He turned to look back at Katrina.
"You mean, that's Abigail Mills who used to wear bottle capped glasses?" Katerina asked. 
"Yes. That's her," Ichabod answered. His voice sounded distant and thoughtful.
Katrina whipped her head back to the couple and now examined Abigail Mills. She had only seen Abigail Mills once as a teenager, back in 2009 and that was in the hallway in college. Abbie was walking away with Daniel just when she was just walking up to Ichabod. She didn't get a look at her back then; but she had the chance now.

Abigail Mills was petite. Her large deep brown expressive eyes were wide as they looked up to pay attention to what her young man was telling her. Her Cupid bow plump lips full and red, turned up in a sweet, seductive smile as she listened. Soft brown curls piled up high into a makeshift bun on top of her head. The Tiny fly away curls framing her smooth bronze glowing skin. A dark blue silk blouse hugged and enhanced her small Shapely figure. Two buttons opened to expose her neck. The blouse and black trousers she wore seemed to be tailored tight against Abigail's perfectly round, small thin figure and her smooth curves which many men admire and desired. Katrina was wrong. Abigail Mills was more than pretty. She was beautiful. Stunning in fact.
"Mmmm." A low moan came from deep inside Ichabod's throat.
The sound made Katrina shift her eyes back to look at him. She then took a breath and let it out slowly. She smiled.
"Well, I'm glad Abigail and her boyfriend survived the blast,"Katrina sighed. "And her sister, too of course."
"William Desoto is not Abigail's boyfriend. Katerina," Ichabod said coldly. "Luke is."
His full lips pinched into a thin line as he raced down the steps and began to walk toward the crowd.
Katerina frowned and stared after Ichabod for a second before she ran to walk beside him.
"Who's Luke?" Katrina asked. She looked up at him as he stared straight ahead..
"Luke is," Ichabod sighed."Luke Morales. He is promised to Abigail and awaits to be with his beloved again when he is finished his education in Sleepy Hollow." 
"Promised? Promised what, marriage?"Katrina gasped."That's so romantic." Her voice rose. She giggled as she smiled up at Ichabod. Katerina placed her small pale hand on Ichabod's arm. Ichabod looked down and narrowed his eyes at Katrina.
"No. Promised to be engaged," Ichabod mumbled. Katrina quickly shifted his eyes to Abigail again and then turn back to look straight ahead. Both eyebrows lifted.
"Even more fantastically romantic,"Katrina squeaked.
"Indeed," Ichabod answered coldly. Katrina noticed the annoyance in his voice. She opened her mouth to answer him. She watched him take a deep breath and let it out slowly. He shrugged.
"Well. Never-mind all that," Ichabod said."Let's us go and get this wretched press conference over with so we can live our lives again."
He then smirked down at her.
Katrina threw her head back and laughed as they walked on toward the large group of people. Her left  arm threaded through Ichabod's arm and she placed her right hand on top of his hand. Katrina then pulled him close against her side as they walked.
Katrina, silently  let out a breath of relief. To be honest, she was a little worried the way Ichabod stared at Abigail Mills. He stared at her with such an intensity and heat blocking out the whole world.  She thought maybe that Ichabod had developed an interest in the little pretty professor. Oh, but that's ridiculous. She was much too young. What was she twenty-one? Twenty-two? She was only a child. What could Ichabod possibly have in common with Abigail Mills, anyway, besides Daniel Mills? Ichabod could only see Abigail as the little sister he never had. The way he thought of Daniel as the brother he never had. She could understand ichahbod's attachment to the Mills family. Being an only child. It was only natural. Ichabod could never be interested in Abigail Mills in anything more than Daniels little sister a friend and now an associate. Anyway, Abbie Mills was promised to someone else; to this Luke Morales. Her suspicion and possessive feelings toward Ichabod were irrational. Grace Abigail Mills posed no threat to her. Katerina began to relax with the thought. She felt in a great mood once again like after when hearing that Ichabod was going to help her father's finical problem. She was all positive. Like a great weight had been lifted.