Posted on Saturday, 1 May 1999

Our esteemed friend, Emma Elizabeth Anne, started a wonderful story and then cruelly left us hanging for what she has threatened to be TWO MONTHS!!!!

Because we missed this story so much, we wrote our own ending in chat one night. Disclaimer: I sent this to EEA and she had no choice but to allow me to post it, seeing as she has no plans to add to the story anytime soon.

For those who don't remember, here is the end of EEA's last chapter of Heat of the Night:

Before I knew how it had happened I was pressed against the bench with Will's mouth fastened on mine, and I was kissing him back with a hunger that matched his own. His hands were everywhere, igniting fires of passion in places that I hadn't even known existed. My fingers buried themselves in his hair, and I pressed myself to him.

I was past thinking now. Jason didn't exist. The Reserve didn't exist. We were both completely oblivious to everything except each other. The only coherent thought I could grasp was: Will... I love you... I love you... I love you... So much... Will... Understand me... Forgive me... I love you...

I did not say it aloud, but with every kiss and every touch I tried to show him what I felt. I prayed that he would understand. I prayed that he could forgive me what I was doing. And I prayed that some day, I could forgive myself.

And now, from Teg, Spring, Dawn, Jimmy, and yours truly, the ending, Deathmatch style!

I was so lost in the kiss that I did not immediately hear the angry voice calling my name.

Then after the recognition of my name I was overcome with dread as I realized the owner of that voice.

Will and I turned to find Jason standing in the doorway. His face was red with anger and his fists were clinched. Without warning, Jason de Bourgh lunged for me, calling me all kinds of unspeakable names. "How could you do this to me?" he yelled murderously.

I blinked once then replied in a drawl, "Easily. Want another demonstration?"

"ELIZABETH!" He bellowed. "What are you doing?" Jason stormed across the room in three step toward me. Will's reaction was immediate. He picked up the weasely creature with one of his strong arms and tossed him through the French doors, over the dead hedges and into the rather failed and withered garden.

Jason howled in rage. (There was a reason for his return to the reserve, but it wasn't until he was in the helicopter that it dawned on him. He knew Will Darcy. He remembered him well.

Will was the American mogul who was capable of buying and selling him ten times over.

And it was obvious that he won this round too.

Jason had lost to Will before, but this time the stakes were higher. Jason needed Elizabeth, he needed her standing by his side. Without clothes on. But a dress would do. If she insisted.)

Suddenly I saw it all clearly. Jason was a pig who thought he was any woman's dream. But my dream was Will.

And Jason was relegated to being a nightmare.

Before Jason could get to his feet, Will was on him. The force of his blow knocked him back down to the ground.

In the background a low growling could be heard. I knew the sound. It was Spritz! she was ready to pounce on Jason and feast on roast beast.

"No!" I cried. I grabbed for the cub, knowing full well that Jason would crush the feisty feline at the first chance.

Jason jumped from the ground as quickly as possible after being punched by Will. He took advantage of my distraction and grabbed Will by his belt loop swinging him to the bushes. Which unfortunately for Jason was dry and brittle as crackers. Thus Will came out unharmed and turned to Jason with murder in his eyes.

"You're never going to touch her again." Will threatened dangerously.

Jason smirked and poked his finger in my arm. "I'm touching her..." He started to sing it, "Nyah, nyah, I'm touching her. Nyah Nya..." The next sound I heard was the THOCK of Will's fist connecting with his jaw.

I sighed. I could have taken the loser myself, but it sure was fun watching Will's muscles ripple as he took Jason out.

And they rippled some more as he thumped Jason across the lawn not unlike a rubber ball.

Will stood over Jason's unconscious form, breathing heavily.

I looked at my fiancee. Then I looked at Will's incredibly virile and half naked form.

No contest, I thought, and readily abandoned any thought of the man on the floor.

Throwing myself into Will's arms, I planted my mouth firmly on his and....

We were engaged in such a passion that we failed to notice a battered, but not broken Jason come up behind us, planning revenge.

He tiptoed across the sunburnt savannah so as not to make a sound. I saw him as I went up for air and gasped, "Will!" but he didn't hear me. His mind was otherwise engaged.

Jason's fist crashed down on Will's head and he crumpled to the floor.

With a voice I did not know I possessed, I yelled out to the heavens.

"Tikke."

"Tikke."

The ground began to vibrate and the metal shutters on the building rattled. Tikke was coming.

I shook the senseless Darcy awake and together we ran toward the gutted out barn...

Jason was in hot pursuit, but Tikke had spotted him. She covered the intervening distance in less than 3 seconds, allowing me the time to help Will into the relatively safe shelter of the barn. Now we were out of Jason's sight. But not out of danger.

A burned beam, the size of a Buick, was jarred from its resting place in what was left of the roof as I slammed the barn door shut. It started to fall, but we darted to safety just in time.

I watched in horror as Tikke the rhinoceros charged toward Jason, her horn aimed at him. I knew that what I was about to see would be one of the most horrific sights ever to be witnessed in the jungle, but I could not tear myself away....

Several Months Later....

Will and I were happy on the Reserve. Of course he had enough money to fund it for the next hundred years, but he wanted me to choose him for himself.

The British community had mourned the mysterious death of their rising young star Jason de Bourgh. But they were comforted by the sudden appearance of his sister Catherine, who returned to Britain after spending years in Africa and was eager to pick up where her brother had left off. Only I, Will, and some select plastic surgeons knew what had really happened.

THE END!