Chapter 6

The next few days were very challenging for Ichabod. He stayed with Mr. Corbin, but Crane could tell Joe was perturbed by his peculiar habits such as ironing his petticoat and polishing his boots daily, along with the charcoal which he used to brush his teeth. He realized he had to get back into Abbie's good graces, especially now that there was a new threat underfoot.

Pandora had returned and was leaving these man eating plants behind all over Sleepy Hollow. One had already taken the arm off a hiker. Ichabod knew they had a to find a way to destroy these human size Venus fly traps before more people were hurt or killed, but more importantly they had to find each plant and Pandora or he feared that she would bring the underworld, or hell as it was more commonly known, to here on earth. With the assistance of Jenny and Joe they discovered a concoction that was poison to the plants and they were able to kill nearly two dozen in one day.

Ichabod felt they worked best as a team, but when more plants began to pop up, Abbie of course suggested they split up and everyone take a quarter of the town map. Ichabod admired her ability to take charge, execute a plan, and lead the group but he was also wondered if the plants weren't evidence of a diversion on Pandora's part to keep them pre-occupied while she wreaked havoc somewhere else. He also wondered if Abbie was avoiding him on purpose. She had barely spoken a word to him since their date. But he knew one thing for sure, even if she thought she could do it all by herself she was wrong. There was a reason there were two witnesses and not just one.

He couldn't hide the fact that her unrequited feelings for him didn't burn a little but Ichabod knew they needed to remain a team. Because every time they split up, events tended to bring about mortal peril for those they loved. Crane just needed to figure out a way to convince his counterpart of this. Unfortunately that evening after Ichabod and Joe had regrouped to head home everything turned on its head because Crane had learned from the younger Miss Mills that an unwelcome guest was waiting at Abbie's house for she and her sister once they returned from their day in the field.

By a stroke of luck, Jenny had witnessed the attack while still outside Abbie's house and she quickly called Joe before bursting through the door to defend her sister.

What Ichabod discovered when he got there was hard to grasp even for a two hundred fifty year old revolutionary war captain who operated as a secret agent for the first president of the United States. Abbie's home was covered in thorny vines on the exterior and bugs everywhere. Windows had been broken out and he heard screaming coming from the interior. Ichabod and Joe rushed in and found Pandora standing in front of Abbie and Jenny who had been tied up by some of the vines. Beetles and cockroaches covered almost every inch of the floor and were devouring the vines, but also moving rapidly towards Abbie and Jenny. Ichabod feared these might also be flesh eating much like the plants.

Panicking Ichabod stumbled towards Abbie but before he could get to her Pandora appeared in front of him and her hand thrust out to grip his throat. Ichabod struggled, but the power of a demi God was no match for him. Before he knew it strangulation began to take effect and the world became blurry.

Unable to bear watching her partner become Pandora's plaything, Abbie found the strength to pull out of the vines and take Pandora on from behind. Abbie put her hands on Pandora's free wrist in order to strategically render her powerless by twisting up Pandora's arm from behind, but before Abbie could twist, she felt Pandora stiffen and then glow orange. Pandora's body began to shake and she let go of Ichabod. Abbie was relieved Ichabod was now out of her grip but wanted to ensure Pandora was stopped this time, only when she moved to strike Pandora's body began to smoke. Before she could understand what was going on Pandora vanished along with all of the other supernatural creatures and plants that had previously inhabited her home.

Puzzled Abbie looked to Crane and then Jenny to make sure both were alright. Jenny was free of her vine rope ties and Joe was rubbing her shoulders.

"You know why she vanished don't you?" Said Jenny and Abbie met her gaze still confused.

"She freaked out after she saw how messy my house was?" said Abbie with sarcasm. Jenny rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"No."

Jenny looked over at Joe and then back to her sister. "She started to glow when you touched her. When both of you touched her actually. Ichabod had put his hand on her arm a few seconds before you came in from behind."

"So what are you saying?" Asked Abbie.

"I'm saying maybe there's something to this Witness thing. Maybe when Crane went down to the Underworld to rescue you from death and you removed the shard from me, it activated something inside you. Something inside both of you," said Jenny.

Abbie was skeptical but then Crane stood up and spoke.

"I believe Miss Mills may be correct," Crane admitted and then explained, "Whilst Pandora was attempting to strangulate me she whispered the words 'it will only take one witness life to win the world.' I was scarcely able to hear due to my uncompromising condition, but I remember clear as day because she had spoken out loud my greatest fear."

Ichabod looked to Abbie with an anguished expression and Abbie appeared to contemplate the thought.

"I know things are complicated to put it mildly, however I think given what has happened here today, it would be wise for us to remain together. In every facet of our lives," added Crane.

Abbie raised her brows surprised by Ichabod's words, unsure if he knew exactly what he was implying. But Abbie did not know if remaining together in every facet of their lives was a good idea. Not only due to Ichabod's confession a few days earlier, but because she herself was struggling to come to terms with it. Abbie had kept her distance from Crane on purpose, pleased when he took up residence with Joe. But unfortunately even when he was out of her house, he wasn't out of her head.

That kiss had replayed over and over like an animated screen capture. In truth Abbie didn't like the way she could no longer stay focused or was unable to move past this.

"I've never seen anything like that," admitted Joe, and continued, "But I saw it too. She completely went berserk when you both touched her."

Abbie sighed inwardly realizing maybe there really was something to this Witness partnership. She asked Crane if he would join her in the other room.

When Ichabod entered the formal dining room and stood before her Abbie had to look up to meet his striking blue gaze. She had to fight off the tremors that elicited from her stomach when she was in such close proximity to the 18th century time traveler and she regained her composure.

"Listen Crane. You can stay here but I need to lay some ground rules. First and foremost you have to keep your hands to yourself, and secondly you need to respect boundaries. If you can abide by my rules then maybe this will work."

Abbie looked to Crane expecting an acceptance of her terms but instead he replied.

"I too have some ground rules."

Her eyebrows rose in surprise and Ichabod continued, "If I am to take residence in your home you must allow me to provide adequate payment for my lodging." Abbie was about to interrupt him and Ichabod conclude, "Furthermore, you must allow me to dispel the deficit of my lodging expenses prior to my departure." He took out a folded piece of paper from inside his jacket and handed it to a very dismayed Abbie.

Abbie unfolded the paper and discovered a check written out to Ichabod in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars.

"What is this?" Abbie questioned in disbelief.

"I sold some antiquities to the Sleepy Hollow Historical Society Museum," confessed Ichabod.

"Antiquities, like what? You're still wearing your coat. Did you sell something from the archives?"

Ichabod met Abbie's gaze with a solemn stare and he replied truthfully, "I had a few personal things of value, but the artifact that earned the highest price was Katrina's necklace."

"You sold Katrina's necklace?" Abbie asked in shock and Ichabod nodded his head.

"Yes. I have also procured a consulting position with the museum which will allow me to collect a salary so I can be an advocate of my own financial independence as well as ensure that I am no longer a burden for anyone else." Ichabod met Abbie's gaze pointedly and she was rendered speechless.

Abbie knew that parting with Katrina's necklace was a big deal for Ichabod. In a way it was representative of him parting with his past, which up until now was practically his identity.

"Ichabod I can't accept this," Abbie finally said handing him back the check and Ichabod shook his head.

"You must. For one thing I don't have a checking account and for another, it is the right thing to do."

"I'll take it on one condition," bartered Abbie.

"Name it," answered Ichabod.

"Tomorrow we go down to the bank and open you a new account with this money. Then you can write me personal monthly rent checks like a normal upstanding wannabe American citizen would."

Ichabod put out his hand and then they shook on it.

When Abbie and Ichabod came out of the dining room they saw that Jenny and Joe had been cleaning up the demolition that had been done to Abbie's living room. Abbie was slightly relieved that she would have a little more income coming in to pay for the damage that had been done.

She went over to lift one of the couches that had been turned over when Ichabod stopped her.

"Please allow me," he said taking the end and lifting it effortlessly. Abbie smirked and went to move one of her end tables back. She was unsure how this would go over now that she had Ichabod as a house mate again, but Abbie had a distinct premonition that whatever was about to happen, things were rapidly slipping from her own control.

AN: Thanks again to all have read and reviewed. Your kind words are great encouragement to keep this story going.