Chapter Fourteen
Kermit stopped short when he saw two groups of men carrying Peter and TJ from the burning rubble of the house. The ongoing fire generated enough light in the predawn hour to see what was happening. Kermit wondered how so many people had arrived ahead of any emergency services, then he decided they must be neighbors from surrounding houses... people who had rushed over while he'd been unconscious.
Those carrying Peter and TJ stopped beside Kermit and gently laid the two men on the ground. Kermit watched nervously, wishing there was something he could do help, especially given Kincaid's pale, haunted expression and Peter's semiconscious moans of pain.
Peter was bleeding heavily from both ankles and his shoulder. It didn't take someone with medical experience to see Peter was in desperate need of a hospital in order to receive proper medical treatment.
Kermit pushed away the hands of a man trying to help him, mainly because something about this entire situation disturbed him, but he just couldn't pinpoint it right away. He growled at the man hovering over him until the man backed away and began giving assistance to Mitch and Marilyn instead. Something about these 'helpers' begged for explanations.
Kermit pulled himself together and crawled over to Peter's side. "Who are you people? Where'd you come from?" Kermit barked in his usual gruff manner at the man tending to Peter.
"We are here to help. And by the looks of things, all of you could use it."
Kermit waved off a new arrival, another one ready to tend to his ails, mostly because he didn't want to be helped right then. And the explanation he'd just heard had confused rather than clarified things for him.
"Where did you come from?" Kermit found his voice dropping down to a whisper as a wave of dizziness came over him. He pushed back the vertigo and focused his attention on the man helping Peter.
The man's eyes darted upward for the briefest of moments. Kermit's breath by what he glimpsed in the man's eyes. It was reminiscent of the parting of dark clouds to reveal a ray of golden sunshine in the midst of a storm.
Kermit rubbed his eyes, confounded by what he'd seen. Conflicting suspicions towards those helping them butted against a rush of sudden trust he felt in that instant. He finally stared up at the man, who was patiently waiting for him before he began speaking again.
"You have done a great service today in the battle of good and evil. Now, sit back and allow us to repay your good deeds."
Kermit felt himself immediately relax, instinctively knowing they were in safe hands, despite his usual suspicious tendencies. When the man spoke, it was with such great compassion and concern it made Kermit feel guilty for his earlier gruffness. As much as Kermit tried to keep his eyes open, the heavy lids drooped closed. The next thing he knew, the dawn's first light was arriving, a rivulet of gilded light heralding daylight's approach.
Kermit felt a presence at his side and glanced down to see Mitch nestled under his arm, snuggled as close as she could be and sleeping like an angel.
Marilyn touched his other arm, alerting him to her presence. She bent down and kissed him on the forehead, while her hand brushed through Mitch's long locks.
"She was worried about you. Said you looked like you were cold and when she got comfortable beside you, she just dropped off to sleep as easy as that."
"She always was a strange kid," Kermit whispered, kissing her upon the top of the head, but stopped when he thought he might awaken her.
"That's only because she's so much like you," Marilyn replied with a smile.
"Poor kid," Kermit muttered, then eyed her closely. "Is she... okay?"
Marilyn nodded cautiously. "As okay as I can see. TJ checked on her and thought she wouldn't have any lingering problems... other than having you for an uncle."
Kermit grunted sarcastically, then realized that he wasn't in pain. In fact, he had no physical pain whatsoever. Not in his arm. Not with any of his other varied injuries. Nothing.
His wide-eyed gaze met Marilyn's and she smiled at him with telltale tears in her eyes.
"What happened?" he asked, hearing the unexpected echo of awe in his voice.
Marilyn shrugged, but before she could answer, he heard the unmistakable sounds of firefighters battling a blaze. It had to be the Gables, now totally involved in flame, he thought with sudden realization. His head bolted upward only to be stopped by weakness and his sister's hand.
"The house," he whispered.
He glanced up at her and then followed her gaze over to the blaze that was consuming her home. There was sadness in her eyes, but somehow there was also a sense of gratitude.
"Marilyn, I'm so sorry," he started, surprised how hoarse and tired his voice sounded.
She shushed him by brushing her fingers across his lips. "You are alive and relatively well. I have Mitch safe and sound. That's all that matters."
She chuckled and looked at the house again. "Jason will never believe all of this happened while he was away on a two night field trip. At least, not until he sees it with his own eyes."
Kermit watched the flickering flames as they devoured the last of Marilyn's possessions. She seemed to read his mind with sisterly clairvoyance as she said firmly, "I don't give a damn about material things. Especially when I thought I was going to lose all of you. Material things can be replaced. Belligerent brothers and dear daughters cannot."
She bent over and kissed his forehead again. TJ was kneeling beside them when she pulled back. Kermit reached out a hand to shake TJ's in thanks, but noticed how TJ was holding back, guilt muting many of his movements.
With his best quirky grin, Kermit said, "Kincaid, you are invited to all of my exorcisms."
"Even when I blow up the house?" TJ asked without meeting his gaze, looking back toward the burning rubble.
"Hell, yes, if it saves lives," Kermit said, smiling at Marilyn, feeling her strength in a way he'd never felt before as he hugged Mitch to his side. "I didn't think any of us were going to come out of this one alive."
Mitch sat up as TJ's expression turned grim. He whispered regretfully, "We almost didn't."
Mitch brought her fingers to graze along the early morning stubble of TJ's chin, her voice quiet and haunting. "It wasn't really her, you know."
TJ seemed to shudder with those simple words, causing Kermit to push himself up on his elbows. "Who's that, munchkin?" Kermit asked gently, keeping his concerned gaze on Kincaid.
"Lydia, his girlfriend. She wanted him to save her, but it wasn't really her, just one of those demon things pretending to be her."
Kermit swallowed hard as he saw grief paint itself across TJ's features. Mitch leaned closer and put her hand to rest on TJ's jaw. "You know it wasn't her. She would never have said those things to you. She never would have forced you into a choice like that."
Mitch swept up and hugged TJ without warning. The quiet detective seemed to dissolve into her embrace, holding her for a long moment. He pressed his lips to her temple, speaking so quietly the others could barely hear him. "Yeah, you're right, sweetheart. You know a lot, especially for someone who wasn't even there. You can sense things that others can't, can't you?"
Mitch nodded, but whispered into his ear, "Yeah, but don't tell them. They'll just worry about me."
TJ finally pulled away, his expression painfully distant, spurring Kermit to squeeze Kincaid's shoulder. "I'm sorry about Lydia."
TJ swallowed but didn't meet his gaze. "Yeah, well, maybe I'll have another chance one day."
"I hope so, Kincaid, I really do."
TJ nodded and simply stood, walking away, but not before Kermit saw him wiping at stray tears.
Jody walked over to them, arguing with a paramedic. "Yeah, well, there might have been injuries here once, but there's not anymore, okay? So scram."
The befuddled EMT scratched his head, and headed back to his partner and the waiting ambulance.
Jody stood with her hands on her hips as she looked down at Kermit. "What? You want me to tell them what really happened?" she joked, though her tone was serious.
"Jody, what really did happen?" Kermit asked quietly, rotating his once broken arm around in slight circles, testing the limb's strength.
"You'll have to ask someone else, buddy, because this one's got me stumped."
"What did TJ say about it?" Kermit asked, his gaze turning toward TJ's still form standing at the edge of the fire line.
"Not much, and for TJ, that's saying a lot," she said with a chuckle, and then her expression turned concerned. "I'm going to go check on him," she said as she walked away from him.
"You do that," Kermit said as he started to get to his feet with Marilyn's help, surprised at his level of agility given how badly he'd been hurt. The silent surprise in Marilyn's expression echoed his own. And he looked in TJ's direction again with confused wonder.
oOoOoOoOo
TJ stood, staring off into the distance. He'd been so close to Lydia, or at least her image. It was almost more cruel than not seeing her at all. He was so deep in his misery that he didn't hear Jody approach him.
He jumped when she touched him. "TJ, my friend, this whole thing has been pretty damned mind-boggling. And you showed a level of expertise in dealing with demons that went way beyond what anyone could have done with simple research."
TJ smiled sadly. "When I lost Lydia, I almost became a priest."
"I figured as much," she paused, touching his shoulder.
TJ cleared his voice, feeling the need to explain where no additional explanation had been asked for. "I took it as far as entering the seminary for a year before I realized I'd only be able to get Lydia back by action and not self-sacrifice. After dropping out of the seminary, I devoted myself to learning everything I could on the subject. Unfortunately, I had to earn some type of income while doing that and my father encouraged me to go back to being a cop, so that's what I did."
Jody bit her lip as she listened to him. She sounded chagrined when she spoke, "I'm sorry, TJ, I don't mean to intrude. I just wanted to thank you for saving Mitch and Peter... for saving all of us."
"All except one," TJ whispered, his eyes brimming with tears suddenly.
Jody wrapped a comforting arm around him and he recovered quickly. They strolled over to where Peter, Mitch, Marilyn, and Kermit were sitting on a low brick wall.
TJ tried to smile bravely, but he was wearing his emotional pain and vulnerability like a heavy cloak. It seemed to weigh down his reactions with its burden.
"So who called in the troops for the rescue?" Kermit asked, eyeing the emergency crews again.
TJ smiled, his previous grief abating, as if he was privy to some inner joke none of the others knew about.
"Come on, Kincaid, spill," Kermit said, with a demanding edge to his voice.
Kermit eyed TJ ominously, then his gaze shifted to Peter and Jody. "Does it have something to do with the fact that none of us have any remaining injuries? Especially Peter. He was just this side of death's door the last time I saw him."
TJ stared at Peter for a moment, then asked, "Peter, what do you remember after the last blast?"
Peter rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. He stammered for a moment, and then looked to TJ in disbelief, as if he'd suddenly realized the possibilities involved. TJ merely nodded in encouragement. Peter shook his head and cursed under his breath. "Nah, there's no way in hell."
He swallowed as he thought again about what he had seen.
TJ interrupted. "Perhaps, no way in hell, but in heaven... that's a different story. It's okay, Peter. It's hard to put a miracle into words." He paused as Peter's agitation worked to calm itself. "You saw something today few live to see and remember."
"Why? What happened?" Jody demanded.
Peter ran a hand through his hair and began to explain. "TJ threw a flask of something into the portal, and everything exploded. I looked up and saw the roof above us collapsing in on us and I thought this is it. But then, out of nowhere, a host of angels appeared – honest to God, it was a host of angels."
He took a deep breath before continuing. "They strengthened the roof while another group picked us up and carried us away from the portal."
TJ nodded, a haze of amazement haloing his gaze, and Peter continued. "Then it looked like the angels surrounded us as they carried us outside, just in case the demons tried to make another run at us."
Kermit grunted, either in amazement or disbelief, it was hard to tell, but Peter picked up on it right away. "When I looked toward you and the others, Kermit, there was a bunch of angels surrounding you, too. That's the last thing I remember before passing out."
The silence cast over the group was numbing as the reality of Peter's words began to sink in.
TJ broke the silence. "You know he's telling the truth, Kermit. That's how your cell phone was able to work when it was broken. That's how none of your injuries are quite as grievous as they once were. That's how the demon's mark was finally removed from the necks of Peter and Mitch. Miracles. Divinely sanctioned miracles that happened to be played out at the Gables today for our benefit."
After finishing, TJ turned and walked away, standing at the edge of the fire engines battling the remnants of the blaze.
oOoOoOoOo
No one said anything for a long while until Mitch's voice broke the silence. "He misses her so much. Too bad he couldn't find her this time."
Kermit's quiet voice broke the spell laying over the others. "Missing someone can do powerful things to a person's heart, Mitch. Perhaps, Emily Dickinson was right. Parting is all we know of heaven, And all we need of hell.'"
Jody touched Peter's arm, her fingers lingering there as if she was in need of his strength. "Peter, do you think TJ is right? That there were angels here tonight, helping you and TJ survive that blast... and keeping you safe until help arrived?"
Peter rubbed at his forehead, then shrugged. "I believe we fought demons tonight, so if you believe in one, you almost have to accept the presence of the other. It's that balance of all things, the yin and yang of life and beyond. Angels and demons. Heaven and hell. Sure, I can believe it. What else could explain what we've seen?"
He stared at TJ watching the fire crews work, knowing TJ wasn't really watching the men working the fire at all. His eyes held the gaze of a lost love and a bitter remorse that would take a very long time to heal.
Jody pulled him closer to her, bringing him back to their conversation. "Are you okay, partner?"
Peter smiled sadly. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just grateful to be alive." His voice trailed off as his attention returned to TJ's lonely figure, a still statue standing in the breaking dawn, and he ducked his head slightly with guilt. "And sorry that some of those people responsible for my survival had to take some hard hits on my behalf."
Jody carefully wrapped her arm around his waist. "You're worth it, Peter."
Peter sighed, still unable to meet her gaze. "TJ saved me from hell, but I feel like I've cast him back into that same pit by helping me."
Jody smiled sadly as she recited, "I remember reading something once, 'The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven.' It's up to TJ to work it out as either a heaven or a hell."
Peter looked up into her blue eyes and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "When did you get to be so wise?"
"I've always been wise. It's just harder for you to hear me at times," she teased before helping him to stand.
Peter stood and stretched out stiff muscles. "I think I need to have a talk with Detective Kincaid."
Jody hesitated, then nodded in agreement. "I was going to say maybe he just needs some time alone, but maybe he needs a friend more right now."
Peter paused, starting at TJ, and then glanced back down to her. "Funny how he became one of us so quickly, isn't it? Even being the commissioner's kid didn't keep him out."
"He's good, Peter. We've always appreciated a person who can do their job well."
He nodded and rubbed his face as he stepped forward.
"TJ?" he stopped to call to the redheaded detective, not wanting to startle him by appearing at his side without warning.
TJ turned. When he saw it was Peter, he sighed, as if knowing this upcoming conversation had to be done in order to have closure of the night's events.
"Look, Peter, whatever you feel you have to say – "
Peter pointed a finger at TJ. "Listen, you better let me say it or else we'll be here all day." Peter finished the comment for TJ and smirked.
TJ grunted and nodded in agreement.
"I-I just wanted to thank you for saving my life. You could have chosen Lydia."
"It wasn't Lydia," TJ fired back in him a rapid retort.
Peter nodded and stuck his hands into his pants pockets. "But you didn't know that for sure at the time. You chose to save me and I'll be forever in your debt."
TJ stubbed at the ground with one foot for a moment, before looking up at the plume of smoke trailing high in the sky. "I think I knew. In my gut, I knew it wasn't her. Then when she started demanding that I sacrifice you to save her, I knew for sure. Especially when she called me Thomas. She never called me Thomas before."
TJ went quiet and Peter allowed him the silence. Both men watched the fire crews as they began the mop-up process. TJ's barely whispered words surprised Peter when he said them, mostly because they sounded so honest.
"Maybe, Peter, maybe I need to thank you for something."
Peter's face scrunched up in reaction to TJ's unexpected comment. "You want to thank me? Why?"
"When we were inside the house, I heard you tell one of the demons you blasted that it was what they got for hitchhiking without permission."
Peter smiled with an evil smile of recall. "Yeah, I remember that."
Again, TJ's foot worked the ground, digging at the grass, looking for the dark black soil underneath. "Maybe, I need to thank you for reminding me I need to move on with my life.
"I mean, one day I might still find Lydia and have her back with me, but I can't keep my life on hold until that day. I can't keep living with a monkey on my back. In a way, Lydia has become a hitchhiker to me, always present in my heart and thoughts, but unable to contribute in any way. At least, not right now."
Peter rubbed at the back of his neck, once blistered, and now smooth with new skin. "TJ, I don't know why we have to live our lives the way we do, with all the pain and the trials we are forced to go through, but sometimes, when we get to the other side of it, we can see why we had to go through what we did."
He placed a hand on TJ's shoulder as he stared at the smoky remnants of the night's occurrences. "I hope that one day, TJ, you'll see the other side of this thing with her at your side and know that it happened for a purpose, and that you both became stronger because of it."
TJ took in a deep breath of air and held it for a long while, then he turned toward Peter and nodded. He brought his hand up to Peter's shoulder and squeezed. "I hope you are right, Peter. Something in my gut agrees with you. But, still, fate sure can take its own sweet time before it decides to help us lowly humans heal and grow."
TJ started to walk away, turning around so that he was walking backwards. "Yep, it can take a mighty long time to heal and reveal."
TJ flashed him a poignant smile. He turned back around, facing the direction he was walking, but Peter could still make out his last words, "Until that time, Peter, don't call me, TJ."
Peter grunted and shook his head. Somehow, everything was going to be okay.
oOoOoOoOo
The End
Chapter 14