A/N: Hip hip hooray that I've managed to get this chapter done!

Two things stood in my way. One, it's a very emotional chapter with a lot of beats to hit, so that is always harder and more draining to write then comedy or even action scenes, at least for me. Two, I've had to deal with a Category 5 Cyclone bearing down on us this weekend, so there is always a lot of running around to be done to prepare for that and I still had to go to work because I work in pathology and people don't stop getting sick just because Mother Nature is firing up a bit. LOL Anyways, no real damage from Cyclone Ita, so that's good and it meant I was finally able to get this chapter done. Again, YAY!

There is a lot to this one, so buckle up and I'll (hopefully) see you in the next chapter… cheers… :)

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Abbie stirred a little and Jenny sat up straighter in her chair. "Abs?"

Her sister's eyes flickered and Abbie gave a little groan. "Jenny?"

Jenny stood up and took a seat on the edge of Abbie's bed. "I'm here." She grabbed Abbie's hand and squeezed. "It's okay, you're going to be okay."

Abbie blinked up at her blearily. "Wh-what happened? Where am I?"

"You're in hospital."

"Again?" she squeaked in annoyance.

Jenny half-smiled. "Yeah, again."

Abbie gave a little groan and closed her eyes. "Damn it." Her eyes flew open as memories started to trickle in. "Crane!"

"Is fine and in a room a couple of doors down."

"He's hurt too?" Abbie scowled, trying to remember. It was all so vague and patchy. She remembered Ichabod and Katrina finding her and trying to send them away but after that, everything became very hazy.

"A bit of blood loss, nothing like you though."

Abbie struggled to sit up in bed but found she couldn't. Even that simple attempt had her head spinning. She put a shaking hand to her head and tried to regain her senses.

"I think you need to lie still for a bit longer," noted Jenny. "You were pretty bad when we brought you in."

Abbie blinked up at her. "You brought us in?"

"Yeah, me and the Captain."

"You-you saved us?"

Jenny smiled. "Yup, apparently Irving and I are kick ass that way."

"But how?"

Jenny shook her head at her. "It's a long story. We can talk about it in the morning. Right now you should just go back to sleep."

"I need to see Crane."

"You already have. Well, he saw you. Came in a while ago to check on you but you were still sleeping. He went back to his room and is most likely asleep now too."

Abbie chewed on her inner lip, trying to remember more. "Did he say what happened in that place? With Moloch, with Katrina?" Jenny looked away and Abbie frowned. "What is it?"

"Katrina's dead, Abs."

"I know."

"No, I mean, dead dead, at least, according to Crane."

"What do you mean dead dead?"

"Apparently Katrina has been dead all along and there was some shape shifting demon pretending to be her to screw with you guys."

Abbie was reeling from this information. "Oh no," she whispered, "Crane must be devastated." Abbie knew how much Ichabod had been hanging onto the hope of being reunited with Katrina properly one day. His whole world must feel like it was falling down around him. "I have to see him." Abbie tried to sit up again but had as little success as she did before.

Jenny pressed her back onto the bed. "You can't move around, you're just not up to it. Crane's sleeping now, just let him be. You two can talk in the morning."

"How was he?" worried Abbie.

"Attempting that British stiff upper lip thing but you can tell it's all an act."

Abbie closed her eyes. "This is going to devastate him."

"It sucks major ass, that's for sure."

Abbie couldn't imagine how Ichabod must be feeling right now and all she wanted to do was go to him and give him a big hug and tell him it was all going to be okay, even though she didn't know how. "He doesn't deserve this."

"None of us exactly deserve the lot we've been given but hey, what are you gonna do, right?"

Abbie turned her head to look at her sister, suddenly struck by just how indomitable her sister's spirit truly was. She'd been through so much herself and yet she was still here, fighting hard and not giving up. "You're amazing," said Abbie with quiet wonder.

Jenny looked taken aback by the praise. "Excuse me?"

"You're amazing," repeated Abbie. "You've never given up with this fight, even when you were all alone, you just kept on going and you're still going."

Jenny shifted a little uneasily in her chair, obviously not comfortable with praise. "I did what I had to do, it was no big deal."

Abbie grabbed her hand and held on tightly. "No, it was a big deal. I abandoned you when you needed me most but you still came through for me today. You're amazing, Jennifer Mills." She managed a little smile. "And you're my hero."

Jenny blinked rapidly, looking like she was trying to hold back unexpected tears. "You're delirious," she tried to dismiss the praise. "You don't know what you're saying. I'm no one's hero."

"You're mine," said Abbie determinedly. "I'm so glad I have you back in my life and if I haven't said that before now, I'm sorry, because I should be telling you that every day."

Jenny swallowed hard and now her eyes were suspiciously bright. "You get very mushy after near death experiences, anyone ever told you that?"

"I'd prefer to think I was just more honest," said Abbie huskily. "Thank you for all that you did for Crane and me today. I know that whatever you did, it wouldn't have been easy."

Jenny squirmed a little again. "It was nothing," she tried to dismiss Abbie's thanks. "Besides, I think your Captain took the brunt of it. I kinda maybe kicked him in the nuts… and then tasered him."

"Why did you do that?"

"He didn't give me any option, he was kind of demon possessed there for a while."

"There is a bit of that going around lately," said Abbie wryly, realizing that if Katrina had been dead all along, she'd been possessed by a demon herself. Not a particularly comforting thought.

"But we're cool, he's over it now."

Abbie tried to focus properly on Jenny's face. "You like him, don't you?"

Jenny gave an inelegant snort. "Who, Irving? No."

"Yes, you do, you like him."

"If you mean I don't want him dead then sure, yeah, I guess he's okay."

Abbie continued to study Jenny's face. "No, you like him better than that."

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Oh come on. The guy is so not my type. He's all uptight and likes rules and following them. Okay, so his body isn't that terrible but seriously, me and a cop? Then you really would know it was the apocalypse."

"Stranger things have happened." Abbie's smile widened a little at her sister's protestations. "I'm a cop and we're getting along fine now. Maybe you should open yourself up to new possibilities? You never know where they could lead."

"I'm getting romantic advice from you? Seriously? When was your last date?"

"When was yours?"

"Mental institute, remember?"

"Witness, remember?"

"Crazy town outranks divine ordination."

"In what world?"

"In any world. You open a conversation with 'so hey, when I was doing time in the whack job big house' is a way bigger passion killer than 'I'm an instrument of God'."

"It so is not," argued Abbie.

"Why do we have to compete with everything?" asked Jenny in exasperation.

"Because we're more alike than either of us wants to admit to?" suggested Abbie wryly.

Jenny pulled a face. "I'm not admitting to that."

The sisters smiled at one another but then the smile slipped from Abbie's face. "Are you sure Crane is okay? This is going to be so hard for him. Katrina was his last link with his old life. He'd put so much hope in their reunion. I think it's what got him out of bed most days."

Jenny sighed. "I think we all have to find our reasons to keep on going with this craziness. Crane will find a new purpose." She eyed Abbie thoughtfully. "Or hold on tighter to the purpose he already has."

"He'll want revenge," said Abbie unevenly, thinking about the pain Ichabod must be in right now.

"What makes you so sure?"

Abbie's jaw hardened. "Because that was what I'd want if I had everything taken away from me like that."

"So, you two are turning this crusade into a vendetta now?"

"It was always a vendetta to Moloch," said Abbie harshly.

"And that's who you want to be like, Moloch?"

Abbie scowled at her. "Moloch took our childhood from us, he took Crane's wife. He wants all of humanity destroyed. What exactly about that creature should we be cutting him some slack on."

"It isn't about Moloch," said Jenny simply. "It's about you and what kind of fight you want to wage." She gave a little shrug. "Someone told me that heart was going to win this war and I don't know, maybe they're right. Moloch is all about hatred and I don't know if we can beat him at his own game. Maybe the only way to beat him is with the opposite of hate."

Abbie was openly staring at her. "Who are you and what have you done with my sister?"

"Okay," said Jenny wryly, "I get that I'm usually play the bad ass in our relationship but how far exactly did that get me?"

"You survived." Abbie felt another pang of guilt at the years of lost communication between them. She should never have let that happen.

"Yeah, I survived but I didn't live." Jenny rubbed her arm absently. "Moloch wants to take it all from us – our peace, our happiness, our relationships – all the things which make up a life. I've given up all of those things so far in this fight, thinking they were a necessary sacrifice but I don't know, maybe I was wrong. Maybe they're the things we have to hold onto the hardest to remind us why we're fighting at all."

"Jenny," said Abbie softly, amazed by her sister's thoughtful insight into everything. She'd never have imagined Jenny would be thinking such things. "I never knew you felt this way."

Jenny gave a dry laugh. "I didn't either until just recently." She cocked her head and looked at Abbie. "But maybe I'm just starting to get it. You can't fight darkness with more darkness. The only thing the darkness truly fears is the light and I can't help but feel that in particular, the Witnesses have to stay in the light. You can't let Crane go down the road of revenge, Abbie. Moloch wins then and that is no way to honor Katrina's sacrifice."

"When did you get so smart?" asked Abbie in admiration, recognizing the truth in her words.

Jenny's lips quirked. "I don't know, it just kinda crept up on me."

"Who told you heart was going to win this war?" asked Abbie curiously.

"Nobody important," said Jenny quickly.

"They seemed to have got you thinking so they must be a little bit important."

"It's late, you need to be resting. That's enough talking for now." Jenny started to fuss with her bed sheets, tucking them in more tightly.

"Smooth change of subject, sis," said Abbie mockingly, not fooled for a moment but she had to admit, all this talking had taken a lot out of her.

"Shut up and go to sleep," Jenny ordered her. "We'll talk in the morning."

Abbie gave a small smile, realizing how reassuring that thought was. It felt like she finally had a home again and that home was currently trying to change the subject. "I'd like that," she said warmly.

"All this medication is making you overly sentimental," said Jenny with feigned dismissiveness. "I'm not a fan."

Abbie just smiled. "I'm sure you'll find a way to deal. You always do."

Jenny half-smiled. "Yeah, I'm kinda awesome like that."

"Stay with me," requested Abbie, liking the feeling of knowing Jenny was nearby.

"Until the end," vowed Jenny, taking her hand and squeezing it tightly.

It was a reassuring promise that sent Abbie contentedly back to sleep.

#

Ichabod sat on the hard wooden pew and stared up at the illumination cross with unseeing eyes. He couldn't sleep, even though he was exhausted. His thoughts chased themselves around in his head until he couldn't stand it anymore. The Captain had fallen asleep in the chair beside his bed and Ichabod had quietly let himself out of the room and started to wander the corridors of the hospital. He'd happened upon the welcoming glow of the small hospital chapel and had hoped to find some kind of comfort within its walls but so far peace had eluded him.

"There you are."

Ichabod looked up as Althea Jones entered the small chapel. He force a smile to his numb lips at seeing the kindly nurse again. "Good evening, Miss Althea."

"I wondered where you'd got to," she said, walking over to where he was sitting, his coat draped over his shoulders. "We get a bit antsy when our patients get up and walk around. Especially you two. I've got to keep my eye on you and that girl of yours. I thought we'd gotten rid of you two this morning. Imagine my surprise to find you back again, this time with you takin' up residence as well and then you're off and wandering."

"I do not wish to add to your duties," said Ichabod quietly. "I just needed some time with my thoughts."

Althea eyed him intently. "And what sad thoughts they are, by the look of that face of yours."

Ichabod grimaced. "They are, which is why I fear my company is not to be coveted tonight."

Althea gave a little shrug and took a seat in front of him, twisting in her seat so she could still face him. "Honey, most of my patients are in comas. You don't got to do much to beat that." She tilted her head at him. "What's got you lookin' lower than a toad in a dry well anyways? You know you and your Lieutenant are gonna be just fine, don't you?"

Ichabod opened his mouth to make some benign remark to stop any further questions but there was something about this caring, older woman which made him opt for something far more surprising – the truth. "Miss Althea, can I tell you a tale of such strangeness that you will believe me quite mad, even though every word is true?"

"Try me, sugar."

So Ichabod did. He told Althea about where and when he was from, about Katrina, about the Headless Horseman and Moloch and waking in a new world all alone and finding Abbie. He spoke of the quest fate had bestowed on them and what it had cost them both so far and the fear of what it would cost them going forward. The words tumbled out on top of one another until there was nothing left to say. Ichabod was a little breathless as he looked at the older woman with some trepidation. "I know how all of this must sound to you."

"It sounds like the truth," said Althea simply.

Ichabod's eyes widened slightly, not used to that response when he told his story. "It does?"

"Well, ain't it?"

"Yes," he said quickly, "every last word." Ichabod eyed her warily. "Do you believe me?"

"You don't seem like the lyin' type, so yeah, I believe you, honey," said Althea calmly.

Ichabod arched an eyebrow. "And what do you make of these matters?"

Althea lifted one shoulder. "There are more things in Heaven and earth, then are dreamt on in your philosophy."

The corners of Ichabod's mouth lifted in wry smile. "Hamlet." He looked away briefly. "Strangely apt as I oft times feel like a ghost wandering this earth." Ichabod's expression became pained. "Even more so now I know I will never have Katrina by my side again."

"Losin' people you love is hard," said Althea quietly. "I buried two husbands and a piece of me is lyin' in that ground beside both of them."

Ichabod inclined his head slightly. "I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Althea."

"I'm not."

Ichabod looked at her in surprise. "You're not?"

She held his gaze steadily. "I choose to be happy for what they gave me when I had them rather than mourn what was taken from me." Althea regarded him intently. "I know you're hurtin' now, honey, but there is going to come a time when you realize what a gift what happened to you in that mirrored world really was."

Ichabod stiffened. "A gift?" he repeated harshly. "I lost everything in that realm. I lost hope of ever knowing real happiness again."

"You lost one kind of happiness, for now," she corrected him, "but without even knowing it, that Moloch creature, he gave you a gift."

Ichabod stared at her in disbelief. "A gift?" he repeated in agitation.

"Seems to me that everyone else had been doin' the choosin' for you up to this point. General Washington chose you as his man, God done chose you as a Witness, Katrina chose to save your life by havin' you sleep all this time, to give you over to a greater destiny." Althea was looking at him intently. "Today, you made your own choice. You could have been that man who turned his back on everythin' but his own happiness. You could have rescued Katrina and had that life you dreamed of and not given a fig 'bout what was to come for anyone else. But you didn't. You chose the fight. You chose the hard way because you are the man Washington, Katrina and God already knew you to be." She gave him a small smile. "And now you know it too."

Ichabod stared at her, surprised by her take on everything, never having considered what he'd endured as any kind of blessing but Althea's words were making him think.

"Yours is not destined to be a simple life, Ichabod Crane and neither is that little girl's lyin' in that bed just a little ways away. You're warriors in a fight as big as this world and the next and even though I reckon most people won't ever know what you're doin' for them, what you've sacrificed and what you'll continue to sacrifice so they can know peace and happiness, you'll do it anyways, cause it's the right thing to do."

Ichabod slumped back in his seat. "I did not want this. I should have been happy living out my days with Katrina. The two of us raising a family together, growing old together," he said forlornly, a lump forming in his throat as he thought of Jeremy and the life the three of them should have had together.

"Some people's lives don't belong to them… they belong to the whole world." Althea lay a motherly hand on Ichabod's arm. "You were destined for greatness, Ichabod but that don't mean squat unless you choose that destiny for yourself and that is what you just did." She patted his arm. "Like I said, that Moloch gave you a gift. A painful one to be sure but it's one that is ultimately going to end him, you mark my words."

"You have a great faith in me I am not entirely sure is well founded," said Ichabod darkly. He felt overwhelmed by the task in front of him and heartbroken over the loss of Katrina.

"Everyone has their moments of doubt, it doesn't have to define us. You and Abbie have come so far—"

"And still have so far to go," said Ichabod unsteadily, thinking of the mammoth task of defeating such an enemy as Moloch and his dark forces.

"You don't strike me as a man who is afraid of a little hard work."

Ichabod looked down at his hands which were loosely clasped in front of him. "I'm not sure what kind of man I am at this moment." The need for revenge still burned brightly inside of him, despite the Captain's counsel on the matter. Ichabod wasn't sure that had been God's intent in making him a Witness but it was all Ichabod could think about right then.

"You're the man you choose to be, sugar. No demon can take that choice from you, only you can."

Ichabod knew there was real wisdom in Althea's words but could not find the heart to embrace it right then. "I thank you for your counsel, Miss Althea," he said quietly.

"I know you don't want to hear it right now," said Althea with a surprising amount in intuition, "but you will and you'll make the right decision."

Ichabod wasn't so sure but he managed a faint smile and nod of his head. "I think I might return to my bed now."

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

Ichabod stood up and walked over to the chapel doors, holding them open for Althea.

She inclined her head at the gesture as she walked through the doorway first and then they were both walking down the quiet hospital corridor. "Now then, you gonna be stayin' in that bed of yours for the rest of the night, or am I gonna be chasin' you down again?"

"I do not intend to be of any further nuisance to you, Miss Althea," he reassured her. Ichabod's footsteps slowed as he went by Abbie's room. He looked in to see she was by herself in the room. Ichabod wasn't sure where Jenny was but suspected she wasn't far away.

"You want to sit with her a bit?"

Ichabod hesitated. "Do you think that would be alright?"

"I think you're gonna do it regardless of what I think," said Althea wryly.

Ichabod was still staring through the window in the door. "I believe you to be correct in this matter." He smiled down at her. "Thank you for your understanding in regards to the many matters I have brought to you this night, Miss Althea."

Althea patted his arm again. "You're very welcome, honey. My grandbabies give me a pretty big investment in the future and I like knowin' something 'bout one of the people shapin' that future. I'll keep you and your Lieutenant in my prayers."

"Something I would be most grateful for." He watched Althea head back down the corridor before opening the door into Abbie's room and quietly making his way inside. Ichabod took the seat next to her bed and just watched Abbie sleep. The simple act brought him some comfort. They'd nearly perished in that nightmare realm and Ichabod couldn't imagine losing both Katrina and Abbie to Moloch. It was too much conceive of. Abbie stirred a little and Ichabod instinctively reached out and took her hand to comfort her. Her eyes flickered open and their eyes met. Ichabod's apology for disturbing her died on his lips as Abbie held his gaze.

"Ichabod," she whispered, voice full of compassion as she looked up at him in the gloom of the night.

The sound of his name on her lips broke the carefully constructed dam Ichabod had been working on to keep his emotions in check. There was a millions things to say about the loss of Katrina, about what had happened in that realm but there was also nothing left to say. Katrina was gone and his heart was broken. The painful tears stung his eyes as a flood of emotion swept through his body in a wave. "Abbie." His voice cracked over her name, letting her hear the agonizing turmoil of his soul in that moment. Tears streaked down his face and he dropped his head, resting his head on her stomach as his shoulders shook from his internalized grief. Ichabod felt Abbie's hands on his head, fingers burying themselves in his hair and holding him close and offering a silent comfort. Her simple touch broke down the last of his resistance and Ichabod wrapped an arm around her waist and clung to her as he broke down, holding onto the only solid thing left in his life as his grief overcame him in a painful rush.

#

Jenny took a sip of her hot chocolate as she walked down the corridor. She'd only been dozing in the uncomfortable chair beside Abbie's bed when her stomach woke her to remind her that she hadn't eaten in quite a while. Seeing that her sister was soundly asleep, Jenny had slipped away to find some kind of sustenance and managed to find a vending machine which offered hot chocolate. She was about to walk back into Abbie's room when a glance through the window allowed her to see Ichabod now sitting beside her sister's bed, his head buried in her stomach. He looked to be crying as Abbie comforted him. Jenny looked away at the sad scene. Even from outside of the room the man's grief was a palpable thing. She sighed heavily, knowing there was going to be many dark days ahead for Ichabod but also knowing that he was not going to be facing them alone. For the first time Jenny didn't begrudge the solace Ichabod and her sister found in one another. It was strange, but Jenny no longer felt excluded, but more like a part of a bigger whole. It was a foreign feeling but not an unpleasant one. She belonged and she had a purpose. What else was there to hope for in life?

Jenny left Ichabod and Abbie to have some privacy for a little longer. She walked further down the corridor and stopped at Ichabod's room. Jenny leant against the open door frame and watched as Irving squirmed in his seat, causing him to wake up. He sat up straighter in his chair on discovering that his charge was no longer in bed.

"He's with Abbie."

Irving turned in his seat at the sound of Jenny's voice and looked relieved. "I am one more disappearing act away from putting a bell around that guy's neck," said Irving with feigned irritation.

"Not one of your worst ideas."

Irving looked her over. "You okay?"

Jenny thought seriously about that question as she looked back at him. So much in her world had changed since she'd gotten that phone call at the mental institute to say her sister wanted to see her. She'd been so angry then - angry, bitter and frightened to let anyone in. For so long she'd fought this war on her own and now she wasn't. That sense of belonging washed over her again and for the first time since she'd woken in the woods all those years ago, Jenny could see a clear way forward and it was empowering. "I'm good," she said sincerely. "No, I'm better than good, I'm great."

Irving arched an eyebrow at her enthusiasm. "Okay, Mills, what's in that cup and where do I get some?"

Jenny smiled at Irving, wondering if she should tell him the part he'd played in her sudden clarity tonight about her life but then she had a better idea. She pushed away from the door frame and walked into the room, advancing on the expectant looking Irving.

#

A cramp in Abbie's leg had her coming abruptly awake. She gave a little groan and wiggled her foot, trying to stretch out her calf. The morning light was flooding her room as she came properly awake. She turned her head to see Jenny curled up in the chair beside her, head tilted to one side. Abbie smiled, pleased to see her sister still there. Jenny had returned to Abbie's room after Ichabod had left. Abbie felt her stomach tighten as she remembered Ichabod's overwhelming display of grief from the night before. There had been nothing she could do other than hold him and just let him know he wasn't alone. It didn't feel like nearly enough but eventually Ichabod had calmed down enough to return to his room. It wasn't going to be easy but she knew he was going to get through this. Katrina's death wasn't going to be in vain and neither were all the other sacrifices many had made over the centuries to ultimately defeat Moloch and his forces.

As horrible as this weekend had been, it had shown something to Abbie. The four of them, they were a team and more than that, a force to be reckoned with. Moloch had tried hard to kill the two Witnesses this weekend but he'd failed. That knowledge gave Abbie hope for the future because if Moloch could fail once, he could fail again. All they had to do was stick together and there was no stopping them. Abbie smiled at the thought and wanted to share her good mood with someone who mattered the most to her. "Hey, Jen," she croaked, still feeling very weak but already feeling better than she did yesterday. Jenny didn't immediately wake up so Abbie tried again. "Time to wake up, sleeping beauty. You've done your duty. I think you should go home and get some proper sleep." Abbie reached out and laid a hand on Jenny's arm to rouse her. As soon as she touched Jenny's skin, Abbie knew something was wrong. Jenny's arm was cold as Abbie clutched at it and gave it a little shake. "Jenny?" Her voice tightened with anxiety. Jenny's head rolled back and it was then that Abbie could see her sister's face properly for the first time. Jenny's eyes were open, staring blankly ahead and her face was a frightening ashen color. "No," rasped Abbie, refusing to believe what she was seeing. She shook Jenny's arm more fiercely, shaking harder. "Jenny, wake up. Wake up, Jenny. Wake up now!" There was no response and Abbie could feel the panic overwhelming her. "Jenny, please, wake up, Jenny!" Jenny slumped forward and fell from the chair onto the floor. Abbie scrambled after her, not caring she was pulling all the IV and blood drips from her arm as she threw herself on the floor after her sister's body. Abbie could hear a woman screaming and it took her a moment to realize it was her as she grabbed a hold of Jenny, clinging to her unmoving body tightly and refusing to let go…

A/N: Umm… so, does everyone remember that warning about everyone not making it through this story? And here we are. I'm guessing this feels like a huge curve ball and I suppose it is, but I do have my reasons, which will come out later but in the meantime, let's all have a moment's silence for the awesomeness that is/was Jenny Mills. Explanations to follow…