Time – Chapter 7 – Grave

Jimmy's gone. Jimmy's gone. Jimmy's gone. It didn't matter how many times she said it over and over Abby just couldn't grasp the concept. She didn't want to believe that it was true. She was expecting him to come running up the stairs to get her any time now. Any time now!

She hadn't slept since Henry had left her alone. Or at least she didn't think she had. Everything had been a haze since he'd told her that Jimmy was dead. Jimmy had been the last link to her old life. Other than Henry. No! She didn't want to think about Henry. The betrayal was still too raw. He'd killed Jimmy. How could he? How could he do this to her?

Squeezing her eyes tight against the pain Abby sat up on the bed. Stop it! This isn't helping. Swinging her legs over the side she walked to the windows. She didn't recognise the view – not from this angle anyway. She didn't even recognise the house. She hadn't thought about it before – things had moved so quickly. Where were they? If she knew where she was she could at least plan something – anything!

The one thing she did know was that Henry wasn't stupid. He wasn't going to stay somewhere where someone might pass by. He'd planned it all out. Even killing Jimmy. Killing everyone. Did he really kill Jimmy? The Henry she knew, or thought she knew, wasn't a killer. It just didn't fit. So did he really kill him? She needed to find out. That's why she told Henry that she wanted to see Jimmy's body. She had to see it for herself. I don't want to! It wouldn't be real until then.

If Henry was lying about that then he could be lying about everything else. Maybe the rest of them were still out there. Those she hadn't actually seen herself. Abby shuddered at the memories of so many dead – but how many were alive? Sully? Even Danny maybe – he may have been able to run from Wakefield. There's Malcolm, Booth and even Lucy. People who know them. People who she hadn't seen dead. If Henry knew that they were still out there and he wanted to keep her in here then the best way would be to say they were all gone. That way she wouldn't have anyone to run to. Especially Jimmy. It made sense. Didn't it?

Abby stood back from the window. It's time to do something. She needed to get herself off this island. With Jimmy. She'd get Henry the help he needed. He'd never let her go through anything by herself and she'll stick with him through this. Wakefield obviously twisted Henry's mind with all of his lies. Another victim in his continuing rampage. But they'd win in the end. Wakefield was dead. Some of the damage could be undone. She'd show him Wakefield lied – about everything. She'd make him listen. Time. In time.

In the back of Abby's mind she knew it wasn't going to be that easy. It all boiled down to one thing – Henry's lying about Jimmy.

XXX

Henry stood at the open hole and looked out over the sea. It was a peaceful area. Quiet. The area was surrounded by trees but through the gaps it had a magnificent view of the ocean. Abby would appreciate that.

It had taken him hours to dig the hole. He had come out at dawn to start digging. It hadn't been easy and his muscles groaned in complaint as he rotated his shoulders. The pain in his ribs was manageable – bruised and not broken thankfully or else he may not have been able to do what has to be done today. The tree roots had not wanted to move. Choosing the spot hadn't been a problem – he'd been here before. He'd been over every inch of this place when he chose it for their new home. It was close enough to the house so that if Abby ran again there'd be no danger of her getting away but it was also far enough that she'd never have to come here – or find it – again. He so wanted to make this easy on Abby. She didn't deserve any of this but it had to end. He had to finish this whole chapter of their lives. They could start anew as soon as it was over.

Double checking he looked around and listened for anything that wasn't supposed to be there. He'd been so careful but after what this week had thrown at him he knew better than to assume nothing was going to go wrong. It was best that he be prepared. He'd promised Abby that Jimmy was 'the last one' but could he truly keep that promise if someone happened upon them? He shrugged off the thought. That was a worry for another time.

Henry looked towards the direction of the house. This was going to be one hell of a day. He looked back out to sea and sighed. It was so beautiful here – the sun bouncing off the waves between the trees making them sparkle. I wish I could bring Abby here for any other reason but this. She'd love it here. He sighed and rolled his shoulders once more.

Enough stalling, he reprimanded himself, as he turned back towards the house. It was time to go and get Abby.

XXX

Abby had found her new clothes in the chest of drawers. Henry was happy to see that. She wasn't the type to wallow but after everything that had happened he'd feared she may have just shut down. Instead she'd obviously looked through her room and found what he'd left for her. It made him smile.

As she stood before him he couldn't help the happiness within him. She was here with him. It was all he had ever wanted. Despite the cold way she looked at him he was content. It would all be over soon.

"What do you want Henry?" she said.

"I've come to tell you that I'll bring you to see Jimmy."

"Okay." He was so proud of her. She stood there resolute accepting what was coming. But there was still hope in her – he really didn't want to shatter that – not all of it anyway.

"But I have a condition." At that she faltered. Apprehension swept across her face before she could pull herself together.

"What condition?"

"I need for you to eat something." He could see her sigh of relief. What was she expecting him to demand? She couldn't think he'd ask for anything ... distasteful? Time. He told himself. That's all it will take for her to realise. I need to focus on that. "You didn't have much last night and well ... I've made some breakfast for you so I'll bring it up."

"I'll eat after I've seen him."

"No Abby. You'll eat it now. It's non-negotiable." His tone left no room for argument. "I'll bring it up and then I'll be back."

"Where are you going?"

"I've ... I've got to ..." Henry nervously cleared his throat. His arms lay by his sides as if he didn't know what to do with them. His head cocked to the side trying to figure out how he could say this? "I've got to move Jimmy – and that's not something I want you to see. Ever." He turned from her. "I'll be back in a sec."

She could have run out the door – he'd left it open. She could have rushed him as he walked down the stairs. Toppled him over and ran. But she couldn't move. It was almost as if her legs were cemented to the floor. She was going to see Jimmy. It was what she wanted. But that would mean ... How could Henry carry on this lie? When would he end this charade? She wasn't too sure now that she wanted to see Jimmy. That voice inside of her that kept telling her Jimmy was alive was getting dimmer. It wasn't gone but it was faint.

Henry came back with a tray of food. And some wildflowers. Flowers. As he placed the tray beside her bed all she could think of was, was he trying to be romantic? What was he thinking??

"What the hell is this?" she said as she picked up the flowers. She looked at him incredulously. "What do you think you're doing?" she asked him angrily.

"No – it's not what you think." Henry swallowed. "I got them for you to ... well ... for you to em ... leave." He sounded so un-Henry like Abby was struck dumb. She kept looking from the flowers in her hand to Henry's mortified face.

"Leave? What do you ..." she stopped, the elements connecting. "Oh."

"I'll be back soon. I promise. Please Abby – eat something." He was so eager to get out the door. She'd never seem him so anxious to leave her side – to leave her. Suddenly she didn't want him to go. It was on the tip of her tongue to call out to him and ask him to stay when the door closed, and the lock clicked home.

Oh God! Now alone her knees buckled and she crumbled to the floor. She stared at the flowers in her lap.

These were for Jimmy. For Jimmy's ... grave. This was real?

Tears threatened to spill but she didn't have the energy. Abby's head spun as she realised what she'd have to do.

She'd have to see Jimmy in the ground and all her hopes and dreams would be lost. She'd have to finally realise that he was gone. She'd have to live without him. She'd have to say the one thing to him that she'd never said ...

She'd have to say goodbye.