"Special Delivery" (Chapter 2)
Most people didn't know it, but Jenny Mills loved snow. Watching it gently fall filled her with child like wonder. Yes, she did battle with the forces of evil on a regular basis. It was certainly true she had slain a laundry list of Demons without qualm. But, give her a snowstorm and she was a wide eyed kid again. She adored the way the snow transformed the landscape . She yearned for snowball fights and snow angels. Yeah, she really loved snow... until that day.
" Damn", she said, as the first flakes fell shortly after she had taken Wendy home. "I don't believe this." It's June, what in the hell is it doing snowing. When her attempts to reach her sister continuously failed, she knew this was not a simple a case of random freaky weather. No, this had Demonic interference written all over it. Jenny knew the relative calm of the last few months couldn't last forever. The Demons were showing their asses again.
Jenny's wheels spun as she tried to back out of a snow drift. She had driven half way to the cabin when she realized she couldn't get any further. The snow storm seemed to intensify the closer she got to the cabin. "They 're gonna be ok, they're gonna be ok" she repeated several times out loud until it almost sounded like a mantra. Abbie, Crane and Katrina knew how to handle themselves. They'd been 'Demon busting' for 6 years. "They can do this," she tried to reassure herself . She decided to turn back, head into town and speak to Cam. Jenny hoped she, Cam and Frank could find a way to stop this latest threat.
Cameron Rivers had been trying to reach his wife for the past two hours. He didn't need to be a Shaman to know something was terribly wrong. The whole snow in June thing was a big tip off. When the storm began, Cam immediately knew The two Witnesses and their babies were in danger. The fact that Katrina was with them only served to heighten his anxiety. He had to find a way to save them. Luckily Billy was still sleeping in the nursery they had added to the Spellbound Cafe. Katrina and Cam spent so much time at their popular business, it was only natural to have a comfy quiet space for their two kids. He had just finished feeding little Jen, when his cell rang.
He knew who it was before he answered it. "Hey Jen," he said. "I'm at the Cafe with the kids. Can you make it over here safely? Ok, see you soon".
Although Cameron was definitely worried about Katrina and his dear friends, he knew that with Jenny's help, they had a fighting chance at defeating this latest threat. This was most assuredly the work of Demon forces bent on claiming the Crane babies. Jenny Mills was on the short list of people Cam would trust his life with. They had known each other since High School. Jenny was down to earth and painfully honest. She had a warriors soul and Cameron knew there wasn't anyone better to have your back than 'Annie Oakley Mills, his nickname for his old friend..
Jenny arrived just as Cam was busy fixing Billy some chicken nuggets and tater tots (his favorite).
"Auntie Jen," Billy giggled when Jenny walked in. He ran to her and hugged her tightly.
"Hey, Red, what's up kid?" Jenny smiled.
Billy giggled again and went to his plate to offer his Aunt Jen a tater tot.
"Why thank you, sir," Jenny smiled, took the tot and kissed Billy's chubby hand.
"Billy," Cam said guiding his son back to his little table, "finish your food, while Daddy talks to Aunt Jen."
"Ok Daddy", Billy smiled happily.
"I called Frank," Jenny said, "Sleepy Hollow is in chaos. No one was prepared for a blizzard in the middle of amazing thing is how quickly it stuck to the roads. It's like a skating rink out there. Frank says the highway is filled with cars frozen in place. This town is at a standstill. What kind of Demon are we dealing with here?"
"Good question Jen", Cam replied,"I have had some quick, almost indiscernible visions. Nothing distinct. But when we hit the books in the Annex. I think I can spot what I've been seeing."
Cam and Katrina had become such a vital part of the fight against Moloch, they had set up their own Demonic reference library next to Cam's office at the Cafe. It contained several laptops and copies of many of the huge tomes in the original Archives below the Sleepy Hollow Police Station. They dubbed their Reference center, the Annex.
"Finished Daddy," Billy said, holding up his clean plate and empty glass.
Cam gently rolled the now sleeping Little Jen into the Annex, followed by Billy and Jenny.
"OK, Billy, here's your iPad", Cam said handing his son the tablet. "Do you wanna watch Yo Gabba Gabba, or play with an App."
"Yo Gabba, Gabba, Daddy" Billy said smiling.
"Good Choice", Cam replied, as he put the preschool show on for the happy 3 year old.
Jenny, researched the Demon on the computer while Cam flipped through some of the huge books.
"Cam, look at this", Jenny said, as Cam approached the Laptop screen.
"Hey, I think that's it. What's it called, Jen?
"It says here, Meistr Eira, ah the translation is 'Snow Master.'"
"Well, that makes sense. I saw something similar in one of the books." Cam went over to retrieve the book and brought it over to Jen.
"Yeah it is the same thing. It looks like some kind of Demonic Jack Frost." The illustration Cam pointed to revealed a ghastly creature with iridescent skin, cold ice blue eyes, and a menacing stare.
It says here, Cam read, "Meistr Eira is a Demon who has the power to create sudden Blizzards and Ice storms. Some historians believe the legend of Jack Frost began with him.
" Ok", Jenny asked, "How do we get rid of it?"
"According to this, it can't be killed, This thing becomes one with the storm it creates. It scatters itself into snowflakes and ice pellets then, reassembles, so to speak, when it finds what it came for."
"Wouldn't it melt if it actually went inside the cabin?"
"Apparently not, it seems it can withstand a great amount of heat."
"So in other words", Jenny said, "we're screwed, right? Nothing can kill it, and my sister, Crane and Katrina are sitting ducks!"
Just then, Billy walked over to his father and tugged at his sleeve.
"Daddy", the 3 year old said urgently "Mummy and Aunt Abbie and Uncle Ichy will be ok. The babies too. Pyewacket, will save. Don't worry Daddy. Look".
Billy showed the image on his iPad to Jenny and Cam. It showed an enormous black cat, bigger than a panther. The cat had intense green eyes and ... wings.
" Wait a minute", Jenny said. "Does Billy have visions too?"
"I didn't have my first until I was 10, and they were few and far between. But Billy's gifts seem to be accelerated, maybe because Trina's a witch."
"Ok, so we're dealing with a huge flying cat", hold on... Jenny went back to the laptop. I remember seeing something about a month ago.. Here it is. Look. ... "These Legendary Felines", Jenny read, "were said to be charged with the protection of the children of the Lord's most Blessed. These Divine creatures are often sent to guard the expectant mother and shield her from Demonic attempts to kidnap the gifted infants just as they are born."
"And look at this Jen", Cam added pointing to the screen, "No Demon will have power over the children of the Blessed if the infants have suckled and bonded with their mother. This bond, once established, cannot be broken. Thus, the capability of the Blessed ones is strengthened and their power is increased exponentially."
"So if Pyewacket can protect Abbie long enough for the babies nurse and bond with Abbie, the Forces of Evil will not be able to claim the children."
"So old Pyewackett wasn't some stray Crane just happened to find", Jenny said.
"Think about it Jen", Cam replied, "It seems nothing concerning the Witnesses is really coincidental. Maybe all this is supposed to happen just this way. Katrina told me how your ancestor, Grace, delivered Jeremy. Now It seems Katrina will help deliver Abbie's babies. It's like thing are coming full circle, you know."
"Cam", Jenny was clearly worried. "Abbie is having twins in a cabin during the worst snowstorm I've ever seen! There's a Demon who is hell bent on snatching the babies as soon as they're born and there's is no way to get my sister proper medical care. You're sitting here talking about things coming full circle? Come on Cam! Listen, Flying Cats and a witch midwife are great, but what they really need is a Doctor!"
Meanwhile back at the cabin:
Katrina frantically tried to complete the incantation for the protection spell she had to place on the Crane residence. Something wicked was definitely trying to get inside .The cabin had grown markedly colder. The howling of the wind, was deafening. As Ichabod nervously held Abbie's hand to soothe her, Pyewacket was undergoing an amazing transformation.
The once normal sized, passive cat, was growing rapidly before their eyes. If the increase in size wasn't amazing enough, Pyewacket was apparently sprouting wings. There was no sense of malice emanating from the now 7 foot creature. Everyone in the room could sense this change was designed to offer protection against the evil forces trying so urgently to thwart Katrina's spell and enter the cabin. The three watched in awe as Pyewacket slowly sauntered to the couch. He sat, guarding Abbie with an intense, glare of challenge and resolution.
Just when the cabin's inhabitants were poised for an inevitable showdown between Good and Evil, they heard a distinctive, unmistakable "whoosh"! The TARDIS appeared in the middle of the living room.
Pyewacket was startled. Abbie, Katrina and Ichabod, all breathed a sigh of relief.
The Doctor, hair tousled, grinning in his tight brown suit, bounded out of his ship.
"Did you know it was snowing in June?", The Doctor seemed cheerful, unaware for the moment of the intense situation he had walked into. I haven't seen anything like his since 1816. Terrible year, that. "Oh well , am I too late for the festivities? I did bring a gift, you know." He waved a brightly colored ,wrapped package.
Finally, the Doctor noticed Pyewacket sitting, as a Sentry in front of Abbie.
"Wait a moment, is that your cat?"
"What on earth have you been feeding him. I mean cats on Purillion 5 have been known to grow to 8 feet, but this is...".
Realization finally seemed to dawn on the Doctor when his questions were met with anxious, perplexed stares.
"Oh, what's all this then? Demons afoot again?" He noticed Abbie was lying on the couch in obvious discomfort, he rushed to her."Are the babies coming? A bit soon isn't it?"
"Doctor", Ichabod explained, as calmly as possible, we are most relieved to see you "We as you may have surmised, are in serious trouble at the moment. Abbie and our babies are in great danger from a Demon hell bent on kidnapping the children as soon as they are born."
"Well, we can't have that", the Doctor said adamantly. "It's settled then, everyone into the TARDIS. We'll sort out the details later. Right now let's get Abbie to the Med Bay. Come on then, all of you." Katrina entered first, Ichabod and The Doctor helped Abbie inside.
Pyewacket, still on high alert, cautiously brought up the rear. The TARDIS hummed with concern and love when Abbie entered. The sentient ship made sure the Med Bay was located just off the Console room, to ensure Abbie did not have to travel too far.
The Doctor got Abbie settled with the assistance of Katrina and Ichabod.
"There", the Doctor said, softly, placing a band aid sized patch on Abbie's left arm."Give it a minute and this should ease the pain quite a bit. And don't worry, he added when he noticed Abbie's concerned expression, this won't hurt the babies. Advanced Gallifreyan technology remember?"
Ichabod decided to give Abbie the opportunity to speak to her dear friend a bit more privately. He stood and walked over to Katrina.
"Doctor", Abbie asked before he went back to the console room to chart their course. She no longer had any doubts about her safety. She knew The Doctor would move heaven and earth to protect her .She took his hand. "I don't know how you do it, but you always come when I need you the most. Thank you."
"Anything for you Abbie Mills. You know that." He squeezed her hand gently.
"Although, I must say this time I never expected all this drama. I just came for your baby shower."
"One more thing", Abbie added, "I really didn't expect to see this you".
"Oh, that, yes ,well . The other me was a bit busy, with an interplanetary insurrection on Kurillion in the Juvius Galaxy. I got a call to "pinch hit", as you like to say."
" Well, just know, I'm glad to see you, this you again." Abbie smiled .
"Doctor", Ichabod, asked, rejoining his wife, "Have you had much experience delivering human babies?"
"Me? Nah."
Ichabod, Katrina, Abbie and even Pyewacket all looked at the Doctor with the same panicked expression.
"I'm not going to deliver the babies." the Doctor calmly replied.
"Then who is?" Ichabod queried.
The Doctor flashed his manic grin."I am going to bring you the only person I would ever trust with a delivery as special as this. Oh, you'll love her, I promise. She's a star."
"Doctor", Ichabod asked again, his impatience was quite evident. "What is this Doctor's name?"
"Jones. Doctor Martha Jones." The Doctor smiled broadly, as he headed toward the Console room.
Notes: So I couldn't resist going back to the 10th Doctor for this story . The Doctor mentions the year 1816. This is historically referred to as" the year without a summer." Europe and North America suffered from very cold weather and snow even during The summer. There's a very interesting article about it .edu/shortcontent/mount-tambora-and-year-without-summer.
As, always, thank you so much for reading and commenting. I love hearing from you.