Another installment! So here is where all "heck" breaks loose. Ha ha

It's been a long while I know and I hate making excuses but I've been mega busy and I hate myself for not updating sooner because this story is like my baby but now I'm back to take care of it!

On with the story!

Gar had remained silent for most of the car ride. He had turned on a jazz station to help calm him down. Rachel just thought it was a way to prevent them from talking about their situation.

Rachel had had enough of the silence, which was awkward considering she was normally the one demanding it. She reached forward and turned off the radio.

"Gar you know that's not the real Richard."

"Huh?" He replied knowing clearly what she said.

"I said you know that's not the real Richard Grayson."

"Yeah I guess."

"You know he's only acting like this because his girlfriend is in trouble."

His only response was a grunt.

"Gar, why are you acting like this?" Rachel said becoming frustrated.

"I really don't like that guy Rae, I really don't."

"I don't see why you guys can't sit down and calmly talk things out with each other."

"Because Rae, he didn't believe him. Me, his best friend! Rich Vic and I used to be the best of friends. We used to do everything together. Then after that whole thing went down, we just grew apart. Well Vic said he believes me, but for some reason Rich didn't. How can you just abandon your friend like that?"

"Gar I may not know him as well as I'm supposed to, but from what I've heard about his upbringing it didn't have a strong emotional foundation. He was raised more around facts, so it might be harder for him to look at the situation from your point of view then it was to look at it from your ex-girlfriend's."

"That makes sense; Rich's adopted father was not a very heartwarming guy." Gar chuckled to himself which relieved Rachel.

"Exactly, so will you promise me to talk with him and work this out?"

"Yeah sure right after we get through this whole thing.

"If we make it through this."

"What do you mean Rae?" The car pulled up to a red light as Garfield looked toward her.

"Garfield you have no idea who you're dealing with here. Michael is not just some jerk who likes to beat on women; he's a much feared man in the underworld as well. This is why I can't help but assume the worst."

Gar continued looking at her with worry, and before he could say something she interrupted him.

"Green light." She said indicating the light change on the traffic light. He then stepped on the gas and made a right turn with Richard following behind him.

"Rae you have nothing to worry about. I promise you everything will be okay."

"You keep telling me that but I can tell you're just as afraid as I am."

"Well of course I am, but one of us have to be the optimistic one and apparently it's gonna have to be me." They pulled up I n front of the bank and Gar put the car in park.

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek then exited the car with her looking after him.

Gar walked into the bank and moved to stand in line with a teller. A few people were in front of him but they moved along quickly.

He finally made his way to the front of the line to the teller. She was a woman in her early twenties with short brown hair and bright brown eyes to match.

She would have been extremely pretty if not for the unenthusiastic expression on her face and the bright pink bubble gum she kept popping.

POP!

"May I help you?" She said.

"Uh yeah, I want to make a transaction."

"What kind of transaction."

POP!

"From my savings to checking account."

"How much?"

"About $330,000." Garfield whispered his response back.

"Excuse me?" The teller asked not hearing what he said.

"I said about $330,000." He replied louder this time.

The teller just looked up with a shocked expression on her face. The gum had stopped moving around in her mouth and now stuck to just one side.

"Excuse me." She said, this time indicating her request to leave.

She walked into the back room leaving Gar with a line of annoyed people behind him. Gar refused to look anywhere but straight through the glass window.

He focused on the tree that was there for decoration. It was a real tree, but it did not brighten up the mood of the dreary bank. It was dying obviously not being fed in a while.

He almost wanted to request taking the tree home but shook himself out of these pointless thoughts. He just needed something to get his mind on something else that wasn't as crazy as his current predicament.

The teller and her boss soon returned. Gar knew this man very well. His name was George Goldstein. He was a Jewish man, who had incredible banking skills,

"Gar, how's it going? Haven't seen you in a long time!" The man never could keep his voice down.

"Hey George, I'm okay, getting by I guess."

"What's this I hear about you wanting to take $330,000 dollars out and put it into your checking account?" This is the only time Georg lowered his voice to keep the privacy of his friend.

"I'm buying a house, out of the country." Gar telling half the truth.

"Out of the country! So you're moving?!" He said returning to his loud booming voice.

"No, no it's just a summer house; you know when I want to get away from it all."

"You're not in trouble again are you?" He replied lowering his tone again. Gar had long gotten used to his ever exchanging vocals.

"No George, this is just me wanting to buy a simple house, and I really need to get going."

"Okay, okay any other guy I would have been suspicious. But you being a good friend and all, and you've been with me for so long; I'll make the transaction personally! I'll even convert the money for you if you want!"

"No thank you, I'm not sure where I'm going yet so all I need is the transaction." Garfield replied with a small smile.

"Well okay here let me do this for you right now." The man turned to his computer, clicked a few buttons and he was done.

"There you go boy! Have fun in your new house!"

"Thanks George." Garfield said turning to leave. "Oh and George, I might be buying that house real soon so don't get suspicious okay?"

"Whatever you say Gar."

With that Garfield looked at the dying topiary tree once more and sighed to himself. He was suffering right along with that plant.

He left the bank.

Rachel felt a rush of cool air hit her on her left cheek as the driver's side door opened and Gar got in.

"That was pretty quick." She said.

"You think that was quick? I was in there for almost a half hour."

"Yes, but judging by the huge amount of money you were moving around, I was expecting you to be in there for at least forty five minutes being bombarded with questions."

"I guess." He chuckled weakly out loud. Gar put the key in the ignition and put the car in drive. He looked in to the rear view mirror to his Richard in his car right behind them.

"Mind telling me how much money you took out?" She said hoping the question wouldn't make it more awkward then it already was.

"$330,000." He said shortly.

"Gar." Rachel said in a sorry voice.

"Rae, I know what you're going to say, but I don't want you thinking anymore about it. It's just money. Saving your friend is more important."

"I just wish there was something we can do to catch him. I mean technically there is a way, but Gar it's just too risky. He just too feared buy crooks and cops. If we have him arrested, he'll pull a couple of strings and be out in no time. Then he'll come looking for us. Come looking for you. And I don't want that to happen."

"Rachel just trust me when I say everything will be fine. He may think he's going to get away with it, but trust me, he won't"

"Gar, what are you planning?" Rachel asked growing concerned.

Gar did not answer; just simply drove and Rachel grew anxious.

"Show time." Gar finally spoke as they pulled up to prospect Avenue.

He opened his side of the door and got out. He walked around to her side and opened the door.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." He said.

"I'm coming with you." She replied.

"No Rae, you're not going to like how this goes down."

"Gar, you don't expect me to just let you walk into danger like this do you?"

"Yes Rachel, for Kori's and your safety." Rachel knew he was right, but she wouldn't admit it. She simply crossed her arms over her chest and looked forward.

He leaned in and kissed her, she accepted bitterly hoping this would not be their last kiss.

"Be back soon." He said actually smiling a full blown smile.

"You better." She replied.

She watched as Gar walked away and instead of walking up the street, he walked behind the car and next to Richard's car. He got in and Rachel could see no more.

After a few minutes Gar came back out and made his way to his destination.

It only took a few moments of walking before Gar saw a man around his height with his hands in his pocket. No doubt there was a gun in there, and no doubt he was not afraid to use it.

It only took him another second to register the girl was not with him.

"Where's Kori?!" He shouted. They were about ten feet away from each other. Garfield didn't want to push his luck by getting closer.

"Where's the money?!" Michael shouted back.

"First give me the girl." Gar didn't trust this guy one bit for obvious reasons.

Michael took the initiative and walked forward which allowed Gar to finally see him more clearly.

"You." Gar whispered to himself. "You're the guy! You're the guy Terra left me for!" He was now screaming.

"About time you realized." Michael said smiling to himself.

Garfield started having flashbacks. When he mat Terra, when he found her cheating on him, when she told Richard he had beaten her and when Garfield was fired. When he went to go see her earlier on in the week and saw a man driving away.

"So it was you, it was you framing me for all those things!" Gar field had to fight back tears, knowing this man basically ruined his life.

"Yes I believe we've established that." Michael said enjoying every minute of this.

"Why? Why me, what have I ever done to you?!"

"It's not what you did; it's what your parents did."

"My…my parents." Just when Gar thought he had figured everything out, he was even more confused than ever before.

"Yeah your parents, God bless them, but you know accidents happen." Michael said with a sick smile growing on his lips.

"What did you do to them?!" Gar screamed at the top of his lungs. He was churning on the inside. This man who had only seen once in his life was out to get him. For apparently no reason.

"Me, I didn't do anything; it was Mother Nature who pushed that boat over the waterfall. And on their honeymoon too. What a shame." He replied with a mock expression of sympathy.

"You sick twisted good for nothing…"

"Listen, we can do this all day, or we can make this deal already. Tell you what I'll even go first. The girl is in that building on the fourth floor." He said indicating to the vacant building to Michael's left. "No do we have a deal?"

"No." Gar said in an unfamiliar dead tone.

"Excuse me?" Gar was seriously getting tired of those two words. How many times must he repeat himself?!

"You heard me, you're not getting anything."

"See this is why you have plan B." Michael produced not a gun from his pocket but a small detonator.

'Where do these guys get this stuff from?' Gar thought to himself but refused to let any fear or surprise show on his face.

"Yes this is exactly what you think it is Garfield. That building is scheduled for demolition tomorrow, which means if I blow it up; no one would take a second glance. No matter what or who was in it."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Oh and why not?" Michael said the grin never leaving his face.

"Because I've never had to use this before" Gar said producing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from his pocket. "And I'm not sure I want to start now."

He aimed the pistol at Michael while he continued to stand there. Grinning.

"Well well Garfield, I never would have guessed you would pull something like this. But think this through, if you…"

"AGHHH!!" Michael screamed in pain.

Michael of course was abruptly stopped by a bullet to his left arm as he dropped the detonator.

Gar ran toward Michael dropping the gun. He kicked the detonator away and grabbed Michael by the collar.

Michael responded by head butting Garfield. Gar winced back in pain dropping Michael.

Michael crawled over to the detonator, his arm still paralyzed in pain. Gar recovered fast and grabbed Michael by his legs pulling him away from the detonator.

Gar then jumped up and ran to the device. Michael recovered and now grabbed Gar's ankles causing him to fall on his chin. His jaw screamed in agony.

Two bright lights shone behind the fighting pair. Michael looked up from the ground to see a black Mercedes pull up.

"You actually called the cops, jerk. Bad mistake."

"I didn't call the cops, I called Rich." Garfield freed one of his legs from Michael's grip and delivered a fast kick to his face. "And you're the jerk."

"Gar, where's Kori?" Garfield heard Richard yell.

Garfield stood up still holding his jaw.

"She's in that building over there, on the fourth floor." Richard looked over at Garfield with a look of concern he hadn't seen since his parents died. "Go ahead I'll be fine."

Richard nodded and ran into the building.

"Looks like you lose Michael". Gar said.

Michael lunged forward and threw himself on top of Garfield. Punching him in the face repeatedly with his good arm.

Gar felt his nose break as he let out a yell.

"First I'm gonna get rid of you, then I'm gonna take care of Rachel. Don't worry, we'll have loads of fun. Just me, her and" Michael pulled out a small switch blade from his boot. "And Sheila." He finished indicating Sheila was the knife.

Gar threw him off knocking the knife out of his hand, and jumped on him. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up then slammed his head back down. He did this about four or five times.

"You won't EVER touch Rachel again!" Gar screamed in his face. The veins on his neck sticking out clearly.

Sirens were heard in the background coming closer.

"Those would be the cops." Garfield said smiling his blood stained smile.

Michael used his last bit of strength to kick Garfield off with both his feet.

Garfield fell back but scrambled up to go retrieve the knife, not knowing Michael was running the opposite direction.

Gar got the knife but turned around to see Michael now five feet in front of him holding his gun. Gar was sure this was over and immediately dropped 'Sheila' thinking it was over.

He turned his head to the left and saw Richard holding a very distraught Kori in his arms. Both looking directly at him.

"Gar!" Richard yelled.

Gar refused to look at Michael not wanting his to be the last face he sees but instead wishing he could see Rachel one more time. Gar closed his eyes waiting for the inevitable to happen.

"NOOOO!" Gar heard and he snapped his eyes open.

He saw Rachel running up to Michael and saw Michael was too slow to respond. Rachel jumped onto Michael making both of them hit the ground.

Gar jumped up but fell back to his knees. He was too dizzy and could only see out of one eye, making him useless. He did however see the cops pull up which made him feel better.

"Malchior Michael Joka, you are wanted in four states and are being put under arrest. Put your hands over your head or we'll be forced to open fire!" Garfield heard the main officer yell.

He did know this was a bluff knowing they would not fire on Michael while there was an innocent bystander near him.

Rachel had managed to keep Michael on the ground but not for long. Michael punched her in the face and used her hair to throw her on the ground. She did not stay there as she once again jumped on his back,

Michael had had enough, if he was going down; he was taking someone with him. He turned him and Rachel around having Rachel on the ground and him on top of her. She knew what he was planning to do and clung to him trying to stall him long enough for her to escape.

BLAAAMMMMM!!

A loud noise echoed through the street.

Michael stood up with a large spot of blood on his torso. What Garfield did not know was that it was not Michael's blood, but it was Rachel's.

Michael stood up with the smoking gun in his he knew this would be his last shot and he wanted to make it count.

He aimed it at Rachel's shaking figure and pointed it to front lobe. Gar wanted to scream out but couldn't due to the pain in his throat.

"Good bye sweet Rachel." Michael cocked the gun.

BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM

Four more shots were fired. These were aimed at Michael. The bullets penetrated through his chest. His face was of pure shock.

He fell to his knees then land landed full on the ground. His eyes remained open and they stared at Rachel.

She looked at his cold eyes as her vision started blurring from loss of blood.

"Guess we're in this together huh Rae?" Michael said in a whisper then felt the breath leave his body.

He died.

"RACHEL!" Rachel heard her name being yelled out repeatedly. The voices seemed so close, yet so far away.

She heard the sirens this time that of an ambulance on its way. The officers were ordered to watch over her while they wait for the ambulance.

Garfield now completely ignoring any pain he had, walked over to Rachel, falling down a few time. He refused any help from the officers or from Rich. He needed to walk to her on her own.

Garfield finally finished the small walk and fell to his knees in front of Rachel. Gar refused the orders to back away from her.

He leaned down and kissed her numerous times on her mouth and all over her face.

They were both crying.

The ambulance finally came and they prepared the stretcher.

"Rae, I'll make you a deal."

"Listening." She replied weakly.

"Rae, if you make it through this." He sniveled. "I promise you I'll marry you one day."

Rachel smiled at him sweetly.

"Okay." They kissed once more as she was lifted up into the stretcher and into the back of the truck. With Gar following behind her.

They held hands the whole way.

You know that feeling when a story you've been waiting for so long finally updates, I'm guessing you're all feeling that right now!

1. I have a lot of request that I will write up, but I just wanted to get this down right away.

2. For all those who hated Michael, this one was for you. But there is still one more ex to worry about!

3. New poll is up.

4. Until next time! Peace, Love and Animals! ;)