A/N: Before I start, HAPPY EASTER! Yes, today is Zombie Jesus Day and to celebrate, we must all eat a crap load of chocolate, eggs, and ham (because that all makes sense, right?). Hope you all had a good day; I worked but still had a nice holiday.
Okay, now that that's over…. New chapter! Could this be it? Is this the end of the story? What will John find at Sally's house? Will Ted and Cody Marie survive? What is Wade up to? Will he find John or will John find him? And what about Randy? Could this be the end of the Orton family? Or is this the end of Wade Barrett?
Only one way to find out…
R&R. Enjoy!
Survive
It is better to be violent if there is violence in our hearts than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.
Mahatma Ghandi
By the time John had arrived at Sally's house, the sky had turned black and the wind was howling with vengeance. It was as though the weather was trying to give him a warning; it certainly reflected his mood enough. He had been debating on the drive to her house whether or not he should be doing this. Although she had given him a key and practically invited him in, John was still uncomfortable to go inside. Something about him being there, about him being the only one there, unsettled him.
But he knew that if he didn't go inside that he'd regret it for the rest of his life. There was still so much he wanted to know, there were still so many questions that had yet to be answered. Perhaps everything he wanted to know was all inside. John knew that he was getting his hopes up, but he had this feeling and it told him that he needed to man up and go inside.
Maybe he was afraid. Afraid to go inside because maybe, just maybe, he'll find something that will cause more harm than anything else. Or perhaps it was just his own cowardice that kept him from getting out of his car and going inside.
"This is ridiculous. I'm being ridiculous. Pull yourself together John. It's what Sally would want."
Nodding to himself, he pulled the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car, locking it before he stalked up the concrete walkway that led to the front porch. The great Victorian structure loomed over head and John had half a mind to turn around and go back to his car. However, he'd made it this far, so it'd be senseless to turn back now.
Inhaling deeply, John reached into his pocket and withdrew the house key, holding in unsteadily in a shaking handing. With a steady, serious gaze, he inserts the key into the lock and turns it, unlocking the barrier that separated him and whatever lay before him. Although his hand was still shaking as he reached for the door knob, John felt a bit more sure of himself now that he was definitely going to do this.
Before he even knew what he was doing, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
/
Randy was started to get worried. And when he got worried, he got pissed off. It was easier for him to be angry than afraid or worried or sad. Anger was familiar, easier to control, easier to deal with; sadness, fear, dread… Randy was never good at handling those emotions. Of course, he felt them, but outwardly, he would appear angry or frustrated and he liked it that way.
But not today.
Not after receiving that phone call from John about Sally. She was missing… He knew how John saw his boss and his husband's feelings were completely understandable. But somehow, he knew something like this would happen. When John told him what had happened, it wasn't surprise or shock that first erupted inside of him; it was panic and fear. Her missing could only mean that Barrett had gotten to her, and if that was the case, then John was in even more danger now than previously thought.
He knew that Barrett had escaped to hunt John down, to torture him and make him suffer. But Sally's disappearance finally made the probable become the reality: Barrett was here and he knew where and how to find John. Randy was thankful that he had the day off, because that meant that he wouldn't be distracted. Now, he could focus on getting John to a safe place because now that Barrett was here, it'd only be a matter of time before he was spotted. And then he'd be captured and brought in. And then, it'd all be over.
Finally…
But he couldn't keep his hopes up. He had to be realistic. The odds that John or himself or both of them dying were extremely high, considering it was Barrett they were up against. Him and who knows else that he may have dragged into this. Randy had been contemplating ever since John had called, and that was a few hours ago. Surely, the police department would question John seeing as how he was close to Sally. Very close. Hopefully, they wouldn't be too hard on his husband; while John could handle a lot of pressure, he knew from experience that the police would push and probe until they got their information. And Sally was like a mother to John, so this was a hit incredibly close to home, and John didn't need badgering by some low ranking officers.
He tried calling John a few minutes ago, but he didn't answer. It was nearly time for John to leave work, so it was odd that he'd be away from his office or anything. Although it was possible that the police could be questioning him still, it was unlikely. John would have told them everything he knew and that wouldn't have taken too long.
With a growl of frustration, he grabbed his cell phone and dialed Ted's number. Maybe he knew if something was up. John often texted his old friend about the goings on at the Center so he might know something. If he did, it would help greatly, especially if John's phone was dead. The phone rang for a few minutes before going to voicemail. Randy closed his phone and threw it on the couch. He was already frustrated, and Ted not answering didn't help the situation.
Sending his phone the most vicious glare he could muster, Randy marched over to the couch and picked it up, calling Ted once more. This time, instead of it ringing, it went straight to voicemail, which was odd because it meant that the phone was turned off. It didn't make any sense; a minute ago, the phone rang and went to voicemail, now it just went straight to voicemail.
What the hell was going on? Why would Ted turn off his phone?
He wouldn't. Randy answered his own question and he knew that it was the truth. He had known Ted for a long time and he knew that he'd never willingly ignore anyone's call, especially if it came from John or Randy. Something must have happened. But what? It was only Ted and Cody staying at Kevin's house, and he knew that they both had their phones and their phone chargers with them.
Someone else was there. The certainty that came with that conclusion made Randy worry even more. Was it Barrett? Did that son of a btich somehow find out that he and John had a daughter? Was Cody Marie okay? Was Ted?
The only way to find out for sure was to go over there and check up on them. Grabbing his car keys, Randy practically ran out of the house, not bothering to take his cell phone, not bothering to lock the door, not noticing that he was being watched.
/
John didn't know what exactly to say, or even how to feel.
After entering the house, he found himself in the living room, complete with a couch, an arm chair, an entertainment center, and photographs. Many photographs. Of Sally and her husband. Of her children, two boys and a girl. Of fundraisers, and newspaper clippings. Many of them were in commemoration of the Center and the work that Sally had accomplished. Some were of family vacations; John particularly liked the ones from Disney Land. The boys and girl looked so happy, so excited…
Moving from the living room, he entered the dining room, then the kitchen, and finally went into the study. Book cases and shelves covered the majority of the wall in the study. Sally had books on nearly every subject, from music to poetry to psychology to murder. She even had children's books; did she have grandchildren? Her desk had a computer and a pencil holder that held numerous writing utensils, files and folders were on the desk as well as a few newspapers and magazines. This had brought a smile to John's face; Sally always kept up with the news; she often bought nearly every newspaper available on a daily basis.
However, his eyes rested on a framed photograph that sat on the desk, next to the computer. It was a family photo, with Sally and her late-husband standing up, and the two boys and the girl sitting down in front of them. The girl looked familiar somehow… Had she been to the Center before? Sally did get a lot of visitors, which was expected considering the position she held…still holds.
She wasn't dead. John was certain of it…
He went back into the living room and proceeded up the stairs. So far, everything seemed normal, nothing out of place. Something wasn't right. Yes, Sally had always been meticulous and orderly, but this… This wasn't natural. Everything was where it should be which was odd because there should have been something left askew. A coffee cup. A magazine. Something.
John found that something once he entered the master bedroom. Like every other room in the house, everything in the bedroom was placed accordingly, expect for one thing.
Lying open on the bed was a photo album. Eyes narrowed, curiosity and confusing displayed on his face, John made his way over to the bed and sat down. He picked the album up and examined it. It was slightly old and worn, with slowly fading color and a tattered spine. The corners were so worn down that the cardboard that made up the cover was exposed. The album must have been looked at about a thousand times; there was no other explanation for its wear.
John reopened it and glanced at the page that had been exposed when he first laid eyes on it. Each page held four photos. The page that the album was opened to had two photos of Sally with her daughter, of her three children, and of her with her husband. Peering closer, John definitely recognized the girl. She just seemed so familiar…
Turning the page, John saw more photos of Sally's three children. Elementary musicals, middle school sports, high school plays, sports and academic teams, high school graduations… It was all there, in the album, documenting her children's lives as they grew up. The next page held college graduation ceremonies and parties, the wedding of one of the boys and the birth of his daughter. About six pages after that, John paused and stared wide eyed at the photos on the page.
One of the pictures features Sally's daughter and her boyfriend. The next one was of their wedding, and John was slowly beginning to realize why he had recognized her…
The third picture was of the girl holding her new born baby boy, her husband at her side, both smiling widely at the cameraman. Finally, the fourth one was of their son's seventh birthday party. John remembered that one because someone had tripped over the garden hose causing the cake to fall onto the ground.
These pictures were of his mother. It was her high school and college graduation photos he had looked at, her wedding, her holding John as a baby in her arms while her husband leaned in close next to her. He had nearly forgotten what she looked like; after all, she had died when he was nine and he didn't really remember his mother or father all that clearly. Sure, he had photos of them, but he rarely looked at them. Whenever he looked at those photos, he would always remember Wade…
Shaking his head, John nodded and placed the album back down onto the bed.
Sally was his grandmother…
That revelation began to dawn on him and he didn't know what to feel or think. He remembered the job interview he had with her and he didn't see any signs of her knowing who he was. Never once had she mentioned that her daughter was John's mother or anything in relation to John's past. In fact, every time someone at the Center brought up Wade Barrett or the trial, Sally was quick to quiet them.
Why hadn't she said anything? Did something happen between her and her daughter? John picked the album back up and relocated his mother's wedding photograph. He skimmed the faces of the wedding party. His uncles were in the wedding party and…and so was Wade. From the looks of it, he was the best man. A shiver ran down John's spine, and he shook his head before turning the page. After a few pages, he realized that the photos thinned out until there were no more left, and there was at least twenty more pages to the album. He also realized that most of the photos near the end were of his uncles and their families.
Maybe something really did happen? But who aside from Sally and his mother would know the answer? His mother was dead and Sally was missing. Would he ever know the answers to his many questions?
He hoped so…
/
Randy was on his way to Kevin's house. He had tried, and failed, to get a hold of John and Ted's cell phone still went to voicemail. All he wanted to know was if they were all okay, so he put his vest on and his jacket, grabbed his gun and his stun gun and grabbed his car keys. Yes, he was speeding, and yes, he was surprised that he hadn't gotten pulled over, but this was an emergency. For all he knew, Wade had found Ted and Cody. For all he knew, his daughter was dead. He had to know if she was okay. He just had to. And, hopefully, if it was nothing, then Ted would know if John was okay as well.
The rain was coming down hard, the sky was dark and ominous, the wind was blow loud and hard, forcing the people to bow down to its awesome might. Randy didn't give a shit. His family was more important than his safety. He'd take a bullet for them any day, and today was no different.
Finally, he reached Kevin's house. All the lights were out, which didn't surprise him as most of the houses had lost power due to the storm. Making sure he had his gun fully loaded and his vest secured underneath his shirt, Randy got out of the car and ran up to the house. He stopped when he saw a trail of footsteps leading to the backyard along with what appeared to be indentations of a trash bag.
Instead of knocking on the front door, he followed the footprints to the backdoor of the house. Peering inside, he didn't see anything unusual at first, but when a flash of lightning struck down, he saw that the kitchen table was pressed against the basement door. And then, Randy saw him. The man had dark brown hair and a beard. He looked nervous, agitated, and worried.
He wasn't Ted. Frowning deeply, Randy moved out of the line of sight, but kept checking every few seconds until the man disappeared. Once he had, he opened the door as carefully and as quietly as he could and stepped inside. Muddy footprints were all over the kitchen and so were another set, which caused Randy to frown even deeper. Was there another person in here? A hostage? Could it be Wade?
With quiet steps and gun in hand, Randy made his away from the kitchen to the living room, where the man was standing, staring steadily out of the window. One of his shoes must have made a noise, because the man suddenly jerked his head from the window and stared at Randy, a soft gasp escaping his lips.
"Who are you?" Randy's eyes narrowed. He knew that voice… Although it had been years since the trial, he knew that voice. Standing before him, alive and unharmed, was Justin Gabriel. So, he hadn't just gone missing. Wade must have found him.
"It's me, Justin. Do you remember me?" There was a slight pause before Gabriel answered.
"Officer Orton…"
"Yeah, that's me. What are you doing here, Justin? You back with Wade again, are you? I didn't think you were that stupid."
"Shut up! Just shut the fuck up! You have no idea what that man's made me do, what he's capable of, so just shut up!"
"What he's made you do? He didn't make you do anything, Justin. He gave you a choice and because you're a pussy, you did what he wanted you to do. So tell me Justin, where are Ted and Cody? What have you done with them?"
"I'm not telling you anything, Orton!" It was too dark for Randy to tell, but from somewhere on his person, Justin grabbed a gun. He held it straight ahead of him, pointing it at Randy.
"Don't be stupid, Justin. You don't have the balls to shoot me."
"That's what you think, Orton! But I've got more balls than you think. I'm the one who handed Mike Mizanin over to Wade. I'm the one who kidnapped that lady. Not Wade, me. It was all me!" Randy shook his head and took a step closer to Justin who, in turn, stepped back.
"You didn't want to do those things, Justin. I know you didn't. You did them because you were afraid of Wade. You don't have to be afraid of him, Justin. When he first found you, you should've called the police. Then you wouldn't be in this mess, kid."
"He would've killed me…"
"Then you would have died! And maybe you could have spared a few innocent lives as well!"
"Fuck you!" Justin started towards him, ready to kill if he had to, but Randy had been in worse situations. Without hesitating, Randy pulled the trigger on his gun.
The shot rang out.
Gabriel grunted.
A body fell onto the floor with a dull thud, and Randy knew that Justin Gabriel was either injured or dead.
Placing his gun back in its holster, Randy walked over to the man currently lying on the floor, unmoving. Bending down, he checked Gabriel's pulse. There was none. Sighing heavily, Randy looked down at the kid and shook his head. Standing up, he made his way back to the kitchen and pulled the table away from the basement.
If his hunch was right, then Ted, Cody, and Sally were down in the basement.
How he hoped his hunch was right.
/
With the photo album in tow, John drove home. Rain pelted his car, thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning light up the sky, making everything visible in a white-blue light for a brief second before it faded back into the dark. His mind was a jumbled mess of confusion; all of his collected thoughts and questions seemed to be scattered to the winds. He could barely think a comprehensible sentence in the state he was in now. John was amazed that he even made it home safely, all things considered.
Pulling into the driveway, he saw that the living room light was on although Randy's car wasn't parked in the driveway. Frowning, John parked his car, grabbed the album, and got out, carefully locking it before he started for the door. Grabbing the door knob, he was surprised to find that it wasn't locked. Confused and not in his right state of mind, John proceeded inside, closing the door behind him.
The kitchen was dark, but the living room lights were on and they created a warm, fuzzy glow that made John feel safe and secure. Sound from the television could be heard, followed by laughter. Maybe Randy was home, or maybe it was Ted? Placing the album on the kitchen table, John cried out.
"Hey. I'm finally home. Sorry it took me so long. I got…caught up in something."
The television was turned off and he could hear footsteps approaching. Taking off his jacket, John turned away from the entryway to the living room to hang his jacket on a chair when a voice finally spoke up.
"I don't mind it at all, love. It's been so long…a few more minutes isn't any bother."
That voice… John knew that voice. Cold, hard, calculating. Wade's voice. His heart was pounding in his ear, so hard and fast that he thought it'd explode any second. He didn't want to turn around and face his god father. Closing his eyes tightly, John silently cursed himself. How stupid could he be? The lights were on, Randy's car was gone, the door wasn't locked; why didn't he put the pieces together?
Opening his eyes, John turned around and finally faced his godfather.
The years Wade had spent in prison certainly took their toll on the Englishman, but he was still handsome. Still standing strong and proud, looking every bit as evil and menacing as he had when John was a young child. And all at once, the memories resurfaced, full force and seeking vengeance for having been buried, hidden, for so long. Smirking, Wade looked John up and down, nodding his approval, his smirk widening.
"You look good, love. Really good. And you're doing well. A forensic interviewer. Married to Orton with a child. Though I must say, it was quite obvious that you had affections for Officer Orton. Wish you could've had them for me. I'm a far better choice than he is, love."
"Don't call me that." Smiling coldly, Wade tilted his head to the side and stepped forward, approaching John as though he were a predator. John backed away until his back hit the wall, and he had nowhere else to run.
"Don't call you what? Love? Now, that just won't do, love" Wade whispered the last part into John's ear, having reached his godson. John jerked away from the man, but regretted it once his head hit the wall hard.
"Don't be afraid, love. You and me, we've a lot to catch up on, don't we? But first, there's something I want to do…"
Grabbing John's neck roughly, Wade slammed his lips against his godson's in a brutal, bruising kiss. Struggling against his godfather's grasp, John placed his hands on Wade's chest and shoved him as hard as he could. Wade staggered back and hit one of the kitchen table's chairs. It gave John enough of an opening to run, but he didn't get too far for Wade had grabbed hold of his ankle, causing John to fall onto the hard kitchen floor.
His facing slammed against the tile and the wind was knocked out of him. Warm hands clasped his shirt and groped him, pulling their owner up and on top of him. Through the fabric of his jeans, John could feel Wade's erection pressing up against him. He heard the older man moan and lean in closer to him, his lips caressing John's ear as he spoke.
"I'm going to enjoy tearing you to pieces, ripping you from the inside out. You've forgotten something very important John: You are mine. You always have been, and you always will be."
Suddenly, Wade sat up and John could vaguely feel the man grabbing something. Before John could wrestle his way out from underneath his godfather, his wrists were bound behind his back, tied tightly by rope. No matter how hard he struggled, no matter how much effort he put into it, John couldn't break free.
It was all over. Wade was sitting on him, pinning him to the floor. His hands were bound behind his back. He had no means of escape.
"I'm going to fuck you, love. Hard, slow, and with my most prized possession." John heard Wade pulled something out of his pocket and then he heard the switchblade open up. Panic swept through his entire being. How could John have forgotten his godfather's obsession with knives?
"Now, this'll only hurt a little bit, love. Then it'll hurt a whole lot."
Closing his eyes, John began to struggle, trying once again to break free. His efforts were spotted when Wade's fist slammed into his head, knocking it hard onto the tile floor. Dizzy, and unable to move, John felt Wade's hands travel down his body, touching, groping him until they came to rest on his ass.
It was over. Wade was going to torture him, mutilate him, and then, he was going to kill him. Perhaps it was better this way. After all, if he died, then maybe Wade would leave Randy and Cody alone. It was a false hope, for he knew that Wade wouldn't settle with killing just John, but it gave him some comfort.
He felt the blade tear into his pants, slicing them open before Wade's hands tore the clothing completely, exposing his backside to the world.
This was it. It was all over…
Then, from out of nowhere, a gun shot rang out. The sound of a knife hitting the floor, closely followed by its owner, resounded throughout the kitchen, the whole house even. And then, everything was still and silent for a few seconds.
"John?" Randy's voice rang out loud and clear and John snapped his eyes wide open before he answered.
"R-Randy?"
Struggling against the rope, John tried to push himself up, but failed miserably. He heard Randy rush over to him and then he felt the rope being cut away from his wrists. Sitting up, John rubbed his wrists and looked over at Wade's dead body. Blood poured from the wound in his chest and began to crawl lazily over the kitchen tile. Gently, Randy pulled John up and led him into the living room, setting him down on the couch.
Finally, after so many years, it was over. It was really, truly over.
/
I object to violence because when it appears to do go, the good is only temporary. The evil it does is permanent.
Mahatma Ghandi
/
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner John."
John was currently sitting beside Sally's hospital bed, staring at her, smiling softly. After Randy shot Wade, he called the police. Thankfully, he had found Ted, Cody and Sally and they were all taken care of. Ted and Cody had been, for the most part, unharmed, but Sally had endured hours of torture from Wade and it had affected her greatly. She was in shock when the paramedics arrived to take her to the hospital. Luckily, all of the injuries she sustained weren't too life threatening, and she was well on the way to a speedy recovery.
"I don't know why you never told me, but I'm not angry at you. I could never be angry at you, you know that. However, I do want to know everything, and I do mean everything. But after you're fully recovered."
Sally smiled softly and gazed at her grandson with love and pride shining brightly in her eyes.
"I never doubted you for a moment, John. You've exceeded all expectations; you've survived so much and you continue to do wonderful work. I'm positive that you'll make a wonderful replacement for me. Of all people, you deserve to be the Center's new superintendent."
John laughed and shook his head.
"Yeah yeah. Whatever you say…grandma."
They both smiled at the endearment and then turned their heads toward the door when Randy knocked on it gently.
"John? We've got to go home baby." Nodding, John stood up and leaned down, kissing Sally softly on her cheek.
"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"I'm looking forward to it. Have a nice day. You too Randy."
Smiling, Randy waved and left with John at his side.
/ 6 Months Later/
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Children's Advocacy Center Broad, I thank you for your time. I understand that you don't have all of the time in the world to hear me talk, so I'll keep this brief.
"When I first applied to the Children's Advocacy Center, I knew that you were hesitant about hiring me because of my past. Had I been in your shoes, I would have been hesitant as well. After all, as Carl Jung once said, 'Generally, it is the tortured who turn into torturers.' But I haven't tortured anyone. In fact, I've done just the opposite: I've helped the tortured. I've done my best to help every child whose case file has been handed to me. My past did not turn me into an evil doer; it made me want to lock the evil doers away. I believe that, over the many years I've been here, I have proven myself more than trustworthy, more than capable, of handling any pressure thrust upon me.
"Don't get me wrong though. The things I've been through, the trials that have been placed upon me, have made me suffer and struggle, but in the end, I've come out on top. I've turned the odds that were once against me around and have used them to my benefit. So please, when you look at me or think of me while you decide whether I'm appropriate for this position, think about all that has happened to me while I've been here, and please think of all of the help I've been able to provide, of all of the good I've done here and can still do here. Thank you all very much for listening to me, and please use your fair judgment when voting."
John stepped away from the podium as the Board clapped. He left the large conference hall, which was full of about thirty Board members, and walked to the elevator. Once Sally had announced her retirement, John had applied to be the new superintendent of the Center. Although he knew that the Board had originally been against him getting hired, John had hoped that they'd finally be able to see past all that he's been through and instead focus on his achievements he's made while working at the Center.
Hopefully, his appearance at their voting session hadn't been in vain.
/
"So, I've heard the good news. A congratulations is in order." Sally smiled as John entered her hospital room. Tomorrow, she would be released and be able to enjoy her retirement in peace. Smiling sheepishly, John sat down in his usual chair. Scratching his head, John let out a small laugh and shrugged.
"I guess so. I mean-"
"There's no guessing, John. Congratulations, Mr. Superintendent. Stop being so modest; you've earned this."
"That's what I keep telling him. The vote was eight-nine to eleven and he's still acting like Bashful from Snow White." Randy came in and threw a small, fluffy teddy bear at Sally, who caught it with a surprised expression on her face. "That's for you. Because you're leaving tomorrow, right? I bet your sick of this place."
"The people are quite lovely, but I miss home. So yes, I'm sick of it. I've been more than ready to leave for over a week."
Randy nodded and leaned against the wall and smiled. John looked up at his husband and frowned.
"I'm not bashful. I'm just… I dunno."
"John, just shut up. You're sounding like a high schooler. Actually no, you're his sounding like a middle schooler. As Cody has shown us, high school kids aren't as weird as you are."
"Stop bickering at once! Honestly, you're both still acting like teenagers. I'm surprised Randy. You're normally not this happy. Something going on that I need to know about?"
Randy looked down at John, who grinned mischievously up at the tanned man. With a slight smirk, Randy looked back at Sally and crossed his arms.
"Nope. Nothing at all."
John laughed at the suspicion that was clearly present on grandmother's face. Actually, John and Randy had planned a surprise party for her tomorrow when she would finally be released. Although she had recovered magnificently, John still hadn't probed her; he still had all of the same questions swimming about his mind. Questions about his mother and father, his uncles, about everything…
But today wasn't the day for all of that.
And tomorrow… Tomorrow would be the day of celebration. Celebration for Wade's demise, for the safe return of Cody Marie, who had finally finished her scrape book, for Ted, for Sally, and for John and Randy. It was a celebration for the end. The end of a horrible nightmare that John couldn't wake up from, at least not until now.
The sky had never looked bluer, the grass had never looked greener, and life had never looked sweeter.
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
A/N: Wow that was one long chapter. I'm not used to writing long chapters. However, I enjoyed writing this very much so. I hope you all enjoyed it as well. Please check out my other Wrestling story titled Mobile, featuring The Miz and Alex Riley. Thank you for all of your support and for your reviews. They give me enough feedback to know how I'm doing and what I can do to improve myself. Again, thank you all for reading this. I greatly appreciate it. Happy Easter!
