"Now, Lieutenant!" Crane shouted above the deafening sound of screams. It was as if every soul the Hidden One had ever betrayed was crying out in piercing anguish. Using every ounce of strength in her tiny frame Abby raised her arm against an unknown force and locked hands with her fellow witness. A brilliant blue light burst from their union, electricity crackling as it hit the God square in the chest.
"No!" Pandora shouted but it was too late - her love shattered apart and dissipated with an angry roar. She was soon to follow in a myst, her source of energy now extinguished. And then there was pure silence, offset by a bell like hum that seemed to engulf Abby and Crane, still holding their hands together towards the pile of ash on the ground.
The both drew ragged breaths and slowly turned to each other. Crane's heart lurched at the sight of her - covered in blood and cuts, but still smiling.
"We did it." She breathed, closing her eyes and tilting her head back. "Oh my God, we did it!"
Pride swelled through his veins as he grasped her hand tighter. He wanted to scoop her up and kiss her in this moment like the grand gesture of his affections. Their final battle with the Hidden One had nearly cost them both their lives - certainly it was the closest yet either of them had come to it, which is really saying something. And here they were, battle weary but standing, together. He could hardly believe his luck, not only in finding a formidable witness in this battle but an incredible partner in Abbie Mills.
She turned to him then with shining eyes and a grateful grin. He returned it, then pulled her into a bone crunching hug. They clung to each other, still trying to catch their breaths, the smell of sweat and electricity hanging in the air.
"Abbie…" He began and she pulled away slightly, looking up at him. Her brown eyes were misty and her eyebrows furrowed with meaning. "I need to tell you-"
"Abbie! Crane!" Jenny yelled as the door that had kept her and Joe apart from the action finally slammed open with a bang. She darted towards them and wrapped her arms around them both, nearly knocking all three of them off their feet. Joe ran in behind her but stopped short of joining in, pausing for a breath, hands at his knees.
"We're fine Jenny." Abbie murmured, pressed hard against Crane's chest. "It's done. It's over. We won."
"Oh my God, I was so worried." Jenny released them and wiped away tears. "I could hear the screams - are you ok?"
Abby started taking stock of her body - she stretched her neck and felt it pop - but other parts of her ached worse. Maybe a broken rib? A cut or two that needed stitches. She looked over Crane and decidedly his wounds were worse - blood dripped from the laceration to his arm and he had taken a blow to the back of the head - might be a concussion.
"I think we're going to live Miss Mills." Crane answered, evidently taking stock as well. "But perhaps if Master Corbin could lend a hand with some of his medical expertise to the Lieutenant's cuts..."
"And Crane's." Abbie followed, gingerly reaching out to take his arm. It was worse than it looked - what a damn martyr. "I think this needs some stitches…"
"I think we've all pretty beat up." Joe quipped. "Let's get the hell out of here."
Declarations of love would have to wait, Crane decided. As they began to make their way out of the abandoned barn that had been the site of their final battle, Abbie reached over and grasped his hand, squeezing gently. He looked over at her with a sigh - maybe he wouldn't have to wait too long.
"Every four hours. Got it. You know, you do have to do some basic medical training when you become a cop. I'm not totally dumb."
Joe sighed as Abbie fussed like a hen next to Crane. She was being overprotective and she knew it - but Crane's concussion worried her. Her wounds had been much more superficial and easy to clean up; a few stitches and a shower and she didn't look half bad. Could definitely pass at the grocery store as a person who hadn't just stopped a possible apocalypse. Crane didn't look too rough either if he kept his shirt on which she didn't entirely wish he would.
"Just make sure to get some sleep too Abs." Joe stood and leaned over, kissing her cheek. She smiled and grabbed his shoulders meaningfully. Jenny stood too with some assistance - they were all pretty beat up, and pulled her sister close into a hug.
"Tell him, you big goof." She whispered as she pulled away, and smirked. Abbie didn't even have the strength to look like she didn't know what her sister was talking about.
"Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart, for your assistance in this war." Crane began from his horizontal stance on the couch, straining a bit before sitting up to face them as they stood by the door. "The Lieutenant and I were predestined and indeed born for these tribulations, but I daresay you two have a choice. That you choose to fight alongside us is a testament to your character. Without the two of you, we very well may have perished."
"It's our pleasure." Joe cocked his fingers in a mock salute, and Jenny rolled her eyes. "Like I would let my sister go at the monsters alone and get to have all the fun."
"He's right - thanks you guys." Abbie smiled and watched as they let themselves out. Upon the door closing she sat back on the recliner and gave a huge sigh.
"I wholeheartedly agree." Crane smirked and leaned back on the couch, closing his eyes. The comfortable silence was only broken by the sound of his stomach gurgling, and Abbie shot up.
"Oh I'm the worst caretaker, I didn't even think about food." She walked over and squeezed next to him on the couch, looking down at him. She smoothed a bit of his tousled hair from his face as he stared up at her. "What are you hungry for?"
You, he thought brazenly. But hesitated - not the right moment.
"For the love God and country, don't cook." He joked. "If I think you're wasting any energy on feeding me I might go mad. I'm mad enough that I need to lie here with this blasted concussion."
"Pizza it is!" She smiled and reached for her cell phone. While they waited she bustled around - Joe had helped him get cleaned up (or rather, stood outside the shower to make sure he didn't fall over) but she brought him a pair of warm socks and a quilt from her bed, as the fading spring afternoon was turning chilly.
"What did I say about fussing over me? I'm not an invalid." He warned but truly, it felt so good to have her tending to him. Not because he liked a woman be at his beck and call like other men of his time - quite the contrary, he enjoyed taking care of his lady. It was because she did it out of pure love for him and he could feel it - the battle had only served to break further barriers between their bond and indeed it felt like a living entity between them, locking them in synchronicity. It was at once thrilling and terrifying to have someone so completely encompassed into your soul. But he couldn't think of a person he'd rather feel such a way with.
"I have to get you back for all the spoiling you did to me when I got back from the Catacombs." She called as she walked to the kitchen.
"This is not a tit for tat, Lieutenant." He called after her, and she returned, two glasses of ice water in hand. She handed him one and their hands brushed. "I wanted to assist you in your hour of need. It was my pleasure."
"As it is mine." She smiled, and perked up as she heard a knock at the door. "Oh! Pizza's here."
"Don't forget those little packets of cheese!" He reminded as she walked to the door, and she scoffed.
"We have plenty of Parmesan in the fridge."
"Yes, but it would seem foolhardy to turn down free cheese, now don't you think?"
She had to laugh out loud at that - even concussed he was still practical. She grabbed her purse and opened the door - but standing on the other side was not a delivery man but one in a suit and tie - with another similarly clothed behind him. The late afternoon sun shone behind them and Abbie blinked, trying to register what was happening.
"Abigail Mills?" The closer one asked. He stood about as tall as Crane but not nearly as handsome - balding, middle aged, pale and puffy.
"Who wants to know?" She asked with suspicion, and was suddenly very glad she was holding her purse - it contained her gun.
"My name is Jeffrey Tagger and this is my associate, Matt Sampson. We're with INS, and we're here to speak to Ichabod Crane. Is he at this residence?"
Shit. Shit shit shit. Of all days…. Abbie composed herself, taking a deep breath. "He is, but he's asleep right now -"
"I'm Ichabod Crane." He came up behind her, and the two men reeled back from the sight of him with his arm exposed, blood lightly staining the outside of the dressing. "How can I assist you gentlemen?"
"Were you in a fight?" Matt asked from behind Jeffrey. He was very tense and young. An Asian man, no more than twenty-five - clearly still in training.
"An altercation? Heavens no!" Crane laid on the charm thick. He was searching to think of a way to get these two gentlemen to depart - surely they didn't need to deal with such a mess as his citizenship on the day they had effectively saved the world. "I merely playing a round of…of…."
"Football!" Abbie chimed in. She leaned forward and gave them the side eye with a wink. "The British kind, not our American kind. You should see the other guy!"
The two men chortled but were hardly vilified. Jeffery's expression turned stern. "We're here about your citizenship, Mr. Crane. We're afraid we need to take you in - since you missed your meeting we're going to have to make arrangements for your deportation."
Abbie's gut seized and she threw her hand back to grasp Cranes' instinctively. Didn't these idiots know how hard he had worked, even up to a few hours ago, to keep them safe from the multitude of things that are usually trying to kill the people of Sleepy Hollow?! Her brain scrambled for only a moment before making a judgement call she knew would send Crane through the roof - but would hopefully buy them some time.
"No!" She cried in melodramatic anguish - Crane wasn't the only one that could lay it on thick. "But we're getting married on Saturday! You can't deport him!"
Crane stiffened and drew in a sharp breath. What the hell was she doing!?
"He missed the meeting because of me, I'm afraid." She continued, heart thundering in her chest so loudly she was sure they could hear it."I was broken down on the side of the road and well, he came to save me." Turning her body, she wrapped her arms around Crane and looked up at him. His impossibly blue eyes bore into hers. "He's always saving me - I couldn't possibly live without him."
His heart skipped a beat - how he longed to hear those words from her lips. Only in much different circumstances...
Turning back to face the men she furrowed her brows. "I didn't know it was such a big deal and I thought - well we're already getting married, so it won't be an issue!"
"Well it is an issue m'am." Jeffrey responded gruffly but sighed. "But since there is intent to marry within such a short period of time, you do have legal means to citizenship."
"Oh thank God!" Abbie cried putting a hand to her chest, still playing her part but truly glad that it seemed to be working. "Isn't that great honey?"
"Splendid." Crane's voice was unenthusiastic, and she panicked - this was only going to work if he played along.
Jeffrey glanced at Crane with suspicion. "Exactly how long have you two been together?"
Crane straightened and realized he had to play along at this point - the being furious with Abbie part could come later. He plastered on a grin and wrapped his arm around her tiny waist. "About three years - I suppose it doesn't hardly feel that long."
"That's quite a while." Jeffery said slowly, eyeing them up and down. Sufficiently vilified for the time being, he nodded, taking a business card out of his pocket. "Here is my card. Sounds like the wedding is coming up pretty quick - it's already Thursday. You guys ready?"
"Oh, you bet!" Abbie responded quickly and quite out of character. Crane dutifully nodded his head.
"I expect a valid marriage license to be on my desk by end of day Monday. That's in less than a week's time. Do you think you can handle that?"
"Of course sir." She nodded and reached out her hand to shake theirs. "My fiance and I certainly appreciate your kindness."
Crane stiffened again at the endearing term, but reached out his hand the same to shake the departing mens'. They turned and nearly ran into the pizza man, finally making his way up the porch.
"See you soon!" Jeffery called behind them as Abbie, still faking a syrpy sweet domestic demeanor paid for the pizza and closed the door. She let her head rest against it, pizza box warm in her hands and closed her eyes, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Lieutenant..." Crane started, an angry grumble to his chest. He stared her down and his hands flexed at his side uselessly.
"Wait until they pull away Crane, then you can scream." She picked her head up and brushed past him to the kitchen. He was hot on her heels and soon enough they heard both cars pull out of their driveway and into the night. Abbie turned with a sigh, her expression stern.
"Ok - go."
"What were you thinking?!" He cried and raised his hands. "A false marriage to secure my citizenship?! Do you realize what you've done!?"
"I was thinking on my feet Crane - what we were supposed to do?" She yelled back, while still shuffling around, grabbing plates and napkins. No sense in adding hunger to this battle, and moving about the kitchen was helping her displace her anger. "They were going to take you away, I had to do something! What was I going to do, shoot them?"
"I might have preferred that, yes!" He roared. His body was trembling and he wasn't entirely sure it was due to his anger. He grasped the side of the counter top, cool to his touch - it was as if his blood was boiling beneath his skin. How could she waste something so important as marriage on such a trivial thing as his citizenship? Did she have such little regard for their relationship?
His words shot straight to her heart, and she bared her teeth. "I didn't realize being married to me would be so terrible!"
"That's not what I said!" He couldn't seem to bring down his level of anger and she turned her back to him, fury pouring off of her in waves.
"If you are so put off by me then we can find someone else for you to marry." Her voice was even and tempered. "It's only a marriage of convenience. It's not a big deal."
"Put off by you?" His voice lowered but was shrill, his heart beating nearly out of his chest. "Damnit Abbie…" There was a tingling sensation in his face as his vision began to darken from the outside in. His legs went to jelly underneath him and he slammed to the floor with a sickening thud.
"Crane?" Abbie turned sharply to her horror as she witnessed his crumpled form on the kitchen floor. "Crane!"
A/N - I hope you excuse the liberty I took to how I want the season to end. There will be several more chapters with much higher ratings. As always, I really appreciate reviews! Next chapter will be up soon!