Disclaimer:
I don't own Andrew, Tess, or Monica – they belong to CBS, Martha Wiliamson, etc. I also don't own the name Saturn SL1. I'm not using this for money. Anything else I forgot applies.
Claimer:
I do, however, own the character of Jezebelle, Jocelyn, Joel, Ashley, Tabitha, Wesley, Logan, Daniel, Noah, and Michaela. I also own the character of Sabetha.
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Ashley's Goodbyes
Part Two
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Ashley had watched Jezebelle dance flawlessly for the past hour, happily. Jeze was brimming with love, happiness, and hope. Hope - the one thing that Ashley was rapidly losing. She'd fought so hard, only to be rewarded with more illnesses.
Jeze looked at the blonde-haired seventeen-year old. She had seemed so happy, but now fear was filling her eyes – and the angel could see why. Xander, a demon of the darkness – or rather a demon that hated Jeze wholly – was standing with his hands on Ashley's shoulders. Xander would stop at nothing to ruin Jezebelle. Jeze flashed a look at Andrew, whose own eyes were a mirror of Jeze's.
The clock chirped to signify that Ashley was now late getting home.
Ashley jumped, and looked at Jeze, "We have to get going – I'm late getting home and my mom will like murder me if Michaela isn't home by ten."
Jeze nodded, said goodbye to Sabetha, and walked into the dressing room. She returned a few minutes later, and stuffed her clothes into her bag, as she pulled out her keys. She followed Andrew and Ashley out to the car and unlocked the doors. Each got into their respective spot, and Jeze pulled out of the parking lot.
"Thanks for bringing me. That was a lot of fun." Jeze said, smiling.
"Your welcome." Ashley answered, yawning.
Jeze smiled, "It's good thing you're not driving."
Ashley smiled. Jeze was nice to be around. She laughed a lot and played good-hearted jokes – on Andrew at least – and she had this never-ending stream of love. 'I wish I knew more people like Jeze.' Ashley thought.
---
Ashley unlocked the door and walked into the house. She was carrying Michaela in her arms, her dance bag was in Michaela's carrier, and Michaela's diaper bag was in the carrier, too. Ashley set down the carrier on the floor and looked around. The lights were off, except in the kitchen. She heard her mother's voice and walked into the room. Her mother was sipping coffee gently, as she talked to Monica.
"Sorry, I'm late, Mom. I kinda got tied up at the studio." Ashley said.
Her mother looked at her daughter lovingly, "It's okay, honey. I knew you'd get home." June reached up to take Michaela, who was now sleeping, and then continued, "Where's Jeze and Andrew?"
"Andrew wanted to come in and talk for a while, but Jeze had the car and that red Cadillac is gone, so he went with her."
Monica nodded, "The red Cadillac is my friend Tess'. She's going to be your teacher."
Ashley nodded, "That's cool. She seemed pretty nice." She said, looking at something on the counter beside her. She moved to pick it up and looked at it.
"I found it this morning. It was on the rocks, and it smelled like salt water. I figured who's ever it is, may like it smelling like a blanket and not the bay." June said, as Ashley opened the folded blanket.
"That's where that went!" Monica exclaimed, "Jeze was looking for that thing."
"This is Jeze's?" Ashley asked.
"Yep. Her father got it for her years ago."
Ashley looked at Monica with a look on her face, "She gets a lot of thing from her father, doesn't she? I mean that car and the dancing clothes she had couldn't have been cheap. Not to mention the regular clothes she was wearing."
Monica smiled, "He loves her very much. There's something special about her that he enjoys so very much that he gives her things like the blanket and the clothes. The car was her idea, though."
Ashley yawned, "I'm gonna go to bed now. You want me to take Meka up with me?"
June nodded, "Sure." She handed the infant to the teen, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Mom. Night, Monica."
Monica smiled, "Goodnight. Sweet dreams."
---
Ashley looked around her. She was in a field – that much she knew. However, she'd never been to this place – or had she? Ashley was confused. A light was blazing at one end of the field, which had no obvious origin point. From nowhere someone appeared, but Ashley wasn't sure who it was. The person began to walk toward her, and it seemed she was glowing. As she neared, Ashley thought it was Sabetha, but once Ashley caught a glimpse of the gorgeous red-brown hair, She knew who it was – Jeze.
"Jeze?" Ashley asked, and received a nod from the teen.
"Hello, Ashley." Was all Jeze said, her expression a bit sad.
Ashley suddenly felt a wave of emotion run over her, but she couldn't identify it, and the field began to disappear.
Ashley sat up, as her alarm clock went off, signifying that she was now late for school. 'Geez, first I'm late getting home, now I'm late getting to school. What next?' She thought.
"Ashley!" A beautiful Irish accent floated into her room.
"I'm up, Monica!" Ashley yelled back, before getting out of bed and making a mad dash to the bathroom. She emerged ten minutes later, wrapped in towels, and made a dash for her room. She shut the door behind her as she ran into the room, and flung open her closet door. "Come on. It's gotta be in here." She whined, before picking up something, "Ah ha! Found you!" Ashley said, picking the short sleeve pink tye-dyed shirt up off the floor. She yanked it on, while reaching for a pair of jeans, which she yanked on, too. Grabbing her sandals and her backpack, she ran out of her room, down the stairs, and into the living room.
"I called Jeze. She said she'd drive ya' to school." Monica said, appearing in front of the teen.
"Thanks, Monica. Do me a favor though, next time my clock goes off the first time, wake me up. It only goes off a second time if I haven't gotten up." Ashley said, Velcroing her left sandal. She ran out the door to Jeze's idling car and hopped into the passenger seat.
"Morning, sleepyhead." Jeze teased pulling out of the driveway.
Ashley semi-smiled, "That wasn't my fault. Monica didn't know to wake me up the first time my alarm clock went off."
"Well, that's true." Jeze smiled, and then frowned seeing Ashley's pale face, "Hey, you okay? You're not looking so hot." She reached over to feel the teen's forehead, "You're burning up!"
"I'm okay. I'm just a little hot." Ashley opened the window, allowing the cool summer air to enter the car.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine. This happens every so often."
"Okay. Which turn do I take?" Jeze asked, coming to a three-way intersection.
"The left." Ashley said, sitting back and closing her eyes.
As they made the turn, Jeze knew something wasn't right. She knew what it was, but her Papita told her to not say anything yet, so she kept quiet.
-*-*-
A month had passed since that morning, and as it had progressed, Ashley had become extremely sick. She had been placed on chemo, but after three weeks of it, she said no more. Her hair had been reduced to a dull patch of brown hair on the back of her head. Her skin had paled, and was now nearly translucent after a week of it being tawny.
Jeze had almost become physically sick herself from the speed of Ashley's sickness. She had never seen cancer progress this fast – not even the first time she'd been a caseworker.
For an entire week, Ashley had been in the hospital – unconscious for two of those days – and Jeze had stayed with her all the time. It was about noon, and since early morning, Jeze's lips had moved in silent prayers, but now her prayers were answered and Ashley's eyes fluttered open.
"Mom?" Ashley called, seeing straight through Jeze.
The angel cringed – Ash couldn't see her. She couldn't see anything. "No, Ashley, It's Jeze."
"I can't see!" Ashley panicked.
"I know. It's because of the cancer or the treatment, one of those. I'm not sure. I'm going to go get a doctor, okay? I'll be right back." She said, and was given a nod in reply. Jeze walked out of the room and spotted Andrew, dressed as a doctor. 'What is with him and playing doctors?' She thought to herself. She shook her head and looked at him again, "Andrew!"
Andrew walked over, and then into the room after Jeze. She leaned over to pick up Ashley's hand, so she'd know where Jeze was, and then spoke. "Ash. I got the doctor. You remember Andrew right?"
"Kinda. He watched Meka when we went dancing, right?"
"Right. He's your doctor. I'll right here, okay? I'm not leavin' yet." Jeze stepped put of Andrew's way and he simply checked her eyes and listened to her heart and breathing.
"Ashley, the blindness is probably caused by the tumor. It's grown to your optic nerves. Now I know this is going to be hard to hear, but you have to start saying your goodbyes. At the rate it's progressed, there isn't much time left."
Ashley had begun to cry, and Jeze held her – as she spied Xander. Jeze shot him a look that made him scurry off, and the angel looked at Andrew – these goodbyes weren't going to be easy, not as long as the demon had to be around.
-*-*-
The rest of the day had passed quietly, and Ashley was home by dinnertime. Jeze had joined them, as had Andrew and Tess. Monica was already there because of her job as the nanny. All four angels noted the silence. Normally the family was chatty and talkative with the children have little squabbles over homework and guys and such, but tonight was silent and deafening.
"So. Who saw the game?" Ashley asked. She didn't know what game, but she wanted someone to talk.
"I did. John Wealth scored the winning goal. I don't think the other team knew how good our team is." Eleven-year old Tabitha said. She looked at her sister the gravest of looks on her face, "Are you really going to die, Ashie?" She asked, putting her hands in her lap.
Ashley looked at her sister. Tabitha only called Ashley by that nickname when it came to something important, something she feared. Ashley gathered her courage, and put down her spoon. Her parents had stopped their forks mid-way to their mouths, and they watched in fear of what could happen in the next few minutes.
"You remember last summer when the doctor said I had cancer?"
Tabitha nodded her head.
"Well, it's gotten really bad and if it doesn't stop or slow down, then yes, I'm going to die."
Tabitha nodded her head again and look at her mother, "May I be excused, Mommy?"
June looked up, "You may."
The rest of the dinner was eaten in silence.
-*-*-
The next day was Sunday, and it was soon upon them. Some of Ashley's strength had diminished that night, and it was struggle to pull her self out of the bed. Jeze had slept over for that express reason, and helped her get ready for everything. For now though, the two were seated on Ashley's bed talking, with the bedroom door closed. Outside, Jocelyn and Joel, her older brother and sister, were listening through the door. Unseen were Tess and Andrew.
Jocelyn looked at Joel, and they walked back into the room they had shared since their birth. Being twins had made them best friends, but Ashley's imminent death was tearing at them – and everyone else in the house.
"I can't believe Ashley's dying." Jocelyn said, tears forming in her eyes, but she blinked them back.
"Joce, Maybe this is a good thing for her. She was here to see Meka be born, she's left her imprint on us, and now it's time for her to go." Joel said, trying to comfort his sister.
Jocelyn nodded, "Maybe. Maybe this is some sort of punishment from God. When Tess took us to the store the other day, I was talking about something and I kept associating things with Ashley and Tess said something that I have no clue why."
"What'd she say?" He asked. He was sure he'd probably heard it, but then again there was about five minutes when he had walked over to look at magazines and left Jocelyn and Tess alone.
"How could letting Ashley get to say her goodbyes, when most never do, be a punishment?"
"She's right you know. Ash is getting her chance to say goodbye to everyone she loves. I know how she's going to do it too."
Jocelyn's curiosity piqued, "How?"
"She has this journal I read once. Inside is everything she wanted to say to us, everything she hasn't done and wanted to do, everything she never got a chance to say for no reason in particular. There are like ten or eleven pages for each of us."
Jocelyn suddenly remembered, "There's more than one book." She smiled, "Maybe this isn't a punishment."
"That's right." Tess' sweet voice echoed through the room, as she and Andrew appeared. They were glowing and dressed in white as usual.
Jocelyn and Joel's eyes grew as wide as saucers, and each was speechless.
Andrew smiled, and looked at Tess, "At least they're listening."
Tess just looked at the two teens, "Now God wants you two to know that He loves you. And whether you believe in Angels or not, we are here now for you two you understand that no one in his house is being punished. Not your parents, not Tabitha, not Michaela, and certainly not Ashley."
Jocelyn's voice sudden returned, "Then why's she dying?"
"Because He's a jerk." Xander said, appearing to the group.
"Xander, I told you to leave last night." Jeze said, walking into the room, herself aglow. The twins watched amazed at the demon and the angel, as Tess and Andrew pulled them away.
"I don't listen to you, angel." He snarled, "I listen to one and…"
"And Lucifer is wrong! Xander, I don't know what is in that demonic mind of yours, but enter this into the repotire – Stay away from me, my friends, and our assignments, got it?"
"What and miss all the happy crap and the whole 'God loves you' thing?"
Jeze grabbed at her necklace, and spoke again, "God protects this house, and you don't belong here." She said, as Xander snarled again, and disappeared. Jeze turned to the twins, and then looked into the room down the hall. The door was open and Jeze could clearly see Ashley's smiling face. The angel looked at Andrew, who nodded and he walked out of the room. She looked at Jocelyn and Joel, "Tess has said her part and now Ashley wants to say hers. Goodbyes are now."
The twins ran into their sister's room, looked at Ashley, and began to cry. Joel gathered what was left of his own courage and yelled down the stairs for June. She and the triplets came running, as well as their father and Sabetha, who'd come by to see her friend just a few minutes before. Together, the family and the angels did their goodbyes and then Andrew took Ashley Home.
-*-*-
An hour had passed since Andrew had gone, and he had just returned as Jeze, Monica, and Tess finished talking to the family. June hadn't cried – just as Ashley had wanted. Ashley wanted her sisters and her brothers and her parents to remember her with happiness, not sadness. However, the shock that she was gone hit the children with full force and each had shed their tears.
Andrew looked at his co-workers, "The books." He smiled, "That's all she talked about. She wanted Jezebelle to make sure everyone got theirs."
Jeze nodded her head, ignoring the fact that he'd called her Jezebelle, and ran up to Ashley's bedroom. She opened the door cautiously and peeked in. Ashley's body had been covered in a blanket and her father had kindly shut her eyes. Jeze couldn't help but think how angelic she appeared. 'Only an angel would think of that.' Jeze thought to herself. She moved after a second and grabbed the box from under Ashley's desk. It was heavy, but she picked it up effortlessly and walked down the stairs. She put it down and looked at the people before her, "I know that Jocelyn and Joel thought that there were just pages out of notebooks to each of you, but Ashley left these books for you. There are one or two for everyone, and three for Sabetha and Michaela." Jeze pushed the box to them. She looked at the lid, which in purple sharpie read, Ashley's Goodbyes.
-*-*-
Cassie Jamie
I know that that was a bad ending, but it's what's in my head right now.
please review!