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Getting close to the end... In case I don't thank her enough, big hand for my awesome Beta, Sam1!
Chapter 21 – Time and Tide
Sarah Woodbury was terrified. She was having trouble believing that the madwoman who was currently holding her hostage was her sister Holly. Holly had supposedly died in the same fire that had destroyed Sarah's childhood home, killed their parents and severely injured Sarah. She was trying to recall what her aunt had told her as she lay recovering from her injuries. Holly and their parents bodies had been badly burnt, so Harry had chosen to have the bodies cremated. Harry wouldn't have lied to her about something so important, would she?
"OK, I am not saying I believe you, but if you really are Holly, where have you been for all these years? Yes, you were 18, but Harry would have taken care of you as well. And what about your, um, face?" Sarah was having problems looking at the other woman's facial scars. They were too much of a reminder of the burns she herself had suffered from after the fire.
"Yes, I was 18. And I had not been accepted at multiple colleges as you had been. So since the fire technically occurred once we were done with high school, and I was 18, I was no longer covered under our father's medical insurance. And I didn't have Jeff Tracy underwriting my care, now did I? So what you see is all the State of Kansas was willing to do for me."
Alright, now Sarah was seriously confused. "What? I know Mr. Tracy tried to take care of me after the fire, but he was told that the state would give custody of me to Harriet as my only living relative. And I was brought to the Shriner's Hospital in Boston and the rehab center was attached to Mass General and covered by Harry's insurance."
Holly glared even harder at her sister. "Please, do you honestly think world famous burn specialists just happened to volunteer their services at charitable hospitals like Shriners? Or a plastic surgeon that usually has a six month wait for a consult would be covered by traditional insurance? And most insurance plans cover two to four months rehab; you were there for nearly a year. You remained at the rehab center even after you started you college classes in a satellite program so that you wouldn't suffer any complications. Jefferson Tracy himself wanted to make sure their dear little Sarah Jane was well cared for. Once you were fully recovered Harriet refused any further assistance, but yes, once more the Tracys took care of their little Sarah Jane."
Sarah was stunned. If this was Holly and if she was telling the truth, she owed the Tracys more than she could ever repay. Between Jeff and Harry, Sarah had been given a chance at a whole new life. "Wait, are you trying to say no one took care of you at all?"
They had now reached the parking garage and Holly pushed the pistol once more into Sarah's back. "In all honesty, I don't know if Mr. Tracy was even told about me. As I understand it, all of his questions were very specific. What is Sarah Jane's condition? Will Sarah Jane live? Who is going to be caring for Sarah Jane? Tell me whatever Sarah Jane will need, and send whatever bills are not covered by insurance to me. Any specialists not covered, I will underwrite. Make sure Sarah Jane gets the best care possible, do you hear? Not a question about me or our parents. All of his concern was for dear little Sarah." Holly wrenched at Sarah's arm. "I hated you then and I hate you now. Why couldn't you just die? That fire was supposed to kill you; I set that fire to kill you."
Sarah froze, horrified, praying harder than ever that this wasn't her long-dead sister. If she was, what kind of a monster was she kin to?
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Virgil was running out of the hospital, but there was no sign of Sarah. Logically, he knew he should run back into the hospital, have her paged, and alert security, something. But in his heart, Virgil knew if he didn't go after Sarah now, he would never see her again. At least, he thought morosely, not alive.
"Mom," Virgil prayed. "Please help me. Help me find Sarah Jane. I know you loved her like the daughter you never had. I want her to become your daughter, as she becomes my wife. I want watch her grow big with our babies; I want to raise our children with her, grow old with her. Please, don't let us only have a moment. You and Dad had your chance, please I need this."
Suddenly, in the distance, Virgil could see lights flicker in the third level of the parking garage. Logic told him that someone was just using a car alarm to find their vehicle. But logic was not holding sway on Virgil at this moment.
"OK, Mom, I see it. Stay with Sarah Jane until I can get there. You stayed with Alan and he came back to us. Stay with Sarah until I can bring her home to us."
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Kate had pulled out her cell phone as she ran through the hospital, hitting the speed dial and beginning her call before she had exited the building much to the displeasure of the hospital personnel she passed along the way. A few tried to either point at the "no cell phone zone" signs or say something but she ignored them all. As if someone were whispering in her ear, Kate knew that her family was at risk.
Bursting out of the south entrance, Kate found herself in the lot next to the four story parking garage attached to Mass General. In the distance, she could see Virgil running into the garage as if the Hounds of Hell were on his heels. Knowing where every family member was besides Sarah – having seen Gordon and John still in the waiting room when Jeff and Emily had nearly run Scott and Kate over – she knew that it had to be Sarah that Virgil was trying to save. Kate wasn't sure what or more likely who was threatening Sarah, but she was damned if she was going to let Virgil's happiness be destroyed the way Gordon's had been.
Trying a third number as she made her way towards the parking garage, Kate sighed with relief when this number was finally picked up. "Dad, it's Kate."
"Katie Bear, I told you, Jason is fine. Your brother Andy took him for the day. He and his wife are taking him to the zoo. The kid will love it. I think Danny even agreed to join him, and Ben is meeting him at Chuck E. Cheese's for dinner with Norrie. I know Jason is too little for pizza, but the atmosphere and other small children will be good for him; though it may convince Andy and his wife not to have kids after all." Kate heard her Uncle Charlie chuckling in the background.
"No, Dad, that's not why I called. Did the FBI get the reports and evidence I had sent on the cases involving Sarah Woodbury?"
"Yes, I know they did. But baby, it's not considered urgent at this time, so no one has probably followed up yet…"
"Dad, I think the stalker just kidnapped Sarah from Mass General Hospital, Virgil is chasing them and I am chasing Virgil. Trust me; the case just became a priority!"
From the other end of the phone, Kate could hear some rapid clicking – Uncle Charlie must have immediately jumped on the computer and was entering data at a dizzying rate. Suddenly her father's voice could be heard. "Katie, I am calling in the Boston PD and the local branch of the FBI. You will need backup. And please try to remember, you are a civilian now."
"Forget that!" Kate could hear her uncle exclaim. "Katie, do you have your gun on you?"
"Gee Uncle Charlie, for a genius you sure can ask dumb questions."
"You're right, of course Donnie's daughter would be packing. Baby girl, the DNA and fingerprints are hitting a sealed record."
"So unseal it, I know you can." Kate mused for a second as she began her search in the garage. "Uncle Charlie, I know I am probably not going to like this, but who sealed the records?"
Her father answered instead. "The Kansas State Board of Health, Department of Corrections. Honey, those two are only brought up on the same line for one type of suspect – criminally insane individuals. This would be someone who wasn't convicted due to mental illness only to be eventually released back into the system."
With the promise to call back with more information, the call was terminated. Running up to the second floor, Kate was even more frightened. The suspicion of mental instability aside, the culprit was obviously someone unafraid to hurt innocent people. And the note of the stalker possibly being from Kansas, just as Sarah and the Tracys were, had not gone unnoticed by the former FBI agent. Some criminally insane person who probably was nursing a long standing grudge more than likely had Sarah even now. Kate was sure if something wasn't done and soon, Virgil Tracy would once more be mourning the loss of Sarah Jane Woodbury. But this time, the tides of time would not return her to him, but would snatch her away forever.
a/n - bringing more Eppes back in. I like them, they are cool. I have this story pretty much written, but want to ease off for a day or so, because my baby is back! Boy, I missed her. Next time, I will aim better. JK!!! Enjoy the chapter, and never be to busy to review.