Chapter 9
Neither Nick nor Abi noticed that Gordon was approaching Nick's gun on the floor until he suddenly stood in front of Abi's face. She looked up at him and got up from over Joshua's body.
Nick tried to move closer but Gordon pointed the gun at him and said "Don't even think about it."
That gave Abi an opportunity and she pushed him away as hard as she could. He fell flat on his back hit his head on the living room table and passed out. Nick moved closer to check his pulse. He was alive.
"What are we gonna do about him?" asked Nick.
"Tie him up. We'll take him with us. See if we can get out of him what is, was Joshua's purpose."
Joseph got of the sofa. "Nick come with me I have some rope in the garage for you to tie him up."
"Grandpa, while you're there get the van out to the front," said Abi.
He nodded. He and Nick went out to the garage. Abi looked up at Hanna. "Granny," she said. "Lets go pack up some things for you and grandpa and for the kids. I want you to stay at the house with me for a while."
About twenty minutes later they were all inside the van. Gordon Erickson was safely tied up in the back of it. Abi moved towards the driver's seat.
"Are you sure you're up to it Abi? Maybe I should drive?" suggested Nick.
"I'm fine," she said.
She was driving for a few minutes then suddenly stopped. They all looked at her. She was shaking and crying. She put her head down. Nick who was sitting next to her asked "Abi, what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry," she whipped. "I never had to kill a human before. I didn't think it would affect me like that. I didn't want it to be this way. " She got out of the car and moved away a little when she fell down to her knees and started crying even harder. Little Sarah and Noah who heard they're moms cry started whipping as well. Joseph and Hanna tried to calm them down.
Nick got out of the car and stood besides Abi. He felt sorry for her. Killing someone was never easy. Even if it is in self-defense. He went down beside her and pulled her into his arms trying to comfort her. "It was not your fault Abi. He would have killed you. You had no choice." He kept holding on to her. After a few minutes her trembling stopped and her whipping got quiet until they completely stopped. "Would you like me to drive us home? Asked Nick.
"If you don't mind" she answered.
"Not at all. Come on climb in and we'll go." He helped her in the car and lowered the back of the seat so she can lie down and they were off. Nick looked at her while he was driving. She was asleep. Comforting her seems to becoming a habit for me he thought. He looked again at her beautiful gentle face. He felt an urge to touch her but with her grandparent in the back he didn't dare. She reminds me of Derek so much he said to himself. Always insisting they're fine when they're obviously not.
With the help of Joseph's directions they finally made it to the house. Abi woke up as soon as the car stopped. She helped her grandparents take the children out of the car and Nick helped with they're bags.
As they went in the house they saw Derek and Ethaniel standing going over some papers. Derek looked up. "Abi, what are you doing here? Nick why didn't you let me know? You shouldn't be running around young lady," said Derek a little angry. Suddenly he noticed the elderly couple standing behind her.
"Joseph, Hanna? It's nice to see you two again." He then realized what they were holding. "Abi?" he said a question in his voice.
"Dad. These are your grandchildren," said Abi quietly.
"My what?" Derek was amazed.
"My kids," said Abi. "Your grandchildren."
Derek moved closer and looked at the two children. "I have grandchildren? God, how old are they?" he asked.
"17 months."
"And in all that time you never considered to tell me about them. Were you ever gonna tell me?"
"I don't know," she said. "I suppose so."
"Why didn't you tell me from the start?"
"Same reason I asked you not to tell anyone I'm your daughter. To protect them and you."
He was really angry now. "You think they need protection from me?"
"That's not what I was saying,"
"So what?"
"Can we do this later please. I want to get them settled in first."
Derek looked at his daughter's tired face and suddenly had a vision of Joshua's death. "You killed him?" he asked.
"I had no choice father. It was him or me."
Derek then realized just what she had gone through. He didn't say another word. He helped Nick carry the bags upstairs while Joseph and Hanna followed them with the children. Abi opened the door to one of the empty guestrooms and let them all come in. Nick and Derek put the bags on the floor.
"Do you need any help? asked Nick.
"No thanks. We'll be fine," said Hanna. "You my child, go to bed and get some rest, you look a mess," she said to Abi. "Go on dear, we will be fine. I promise."
Abi looked at them for a minute. I can sure use a shower and a nap she thought.
She left the room with Nick and Derek.
"Father, I'm sorry," she said.
To her surprise all he said was "I understand."
"You do?"
"Yes. I probably would have done the same. We in the legacy have to be careful."
"Thank you. I was gonna tell you soon. When I come visit you in a month. I was gonna bring them along."
'It's ok Abi. I really do understand." And after the vision of Joshua's death he really did. He realized all she wanted was her children to be protected. Not from him. From legacy enemies.
They didn't even notice Nick left them alone. He walked back down to find Ethaniel and tell him and the others of the latest occurring.
"Father. There is something I do not understand. All Joshua talked about when he was holding me was money. Then when I killed him I realized, don't ask me how, that actually all he wanted was to be relieved of his mortal body. He is returning, this much I know, but I don't understand why."
"We will have figure that out Abi" said Derek.
"Oh. I completely forgot. We have Gordon Erickson tied in the back of the van. Maybe he can shed some light on Joshua's desires," she said.
"You forgot you had a man tied up in the back of your car?" he asked amused.
"Well we did have our hands full."
He turned to walk down but then he turned to her and asked "What are they're names?"
"Sarah and Noah" said Abi.
"Nice names," he said as he went down.
Abi was so tired. She went to her room and into the bathroom. She filled out the bath in hot water and some soothing oils. She went into the water and laid back her head. She didn't hear the knock on the door. It was Nick. When he couldn't find her in the room he went into the bathroom and found her like that lying asleep.
He sat on his knees next to the bath and whispered her name softly. "Abi."
She didn't answer. He tried again a little louder. "Abi." He noticed all the ugly bruises she had on her body and it shook him a little. He reached out his hand and caressed her chick.
She opened her eyes and saw him next to her. Although she was naked, Strangely she did not feel embarrassed.
"Hey nick. What's up?" she asked.
"Sorry to wake you. I called Ben and told him what happened. He said he'd send someone to check out your grandparent's house and pick up the body."
"Thanks Nick. Will you hand me that towel over there?" she asked pointing to the wall behind her.
He got up took the towel and held it out for her. She smiled at him and got out of the bath into the towel, which he then rapped around her gently. She leaned on him for a minute. He didn't want that feeling to end. He was enjoying the feel of her warm body against his. He rapped his arms around her and pulled her a little closer. They were still standing like that when Derek came in. They immediately let go of each other. Abi felt a little annoyed but didn't say a word.
Derek looked at the two of them and smiled. Both Abi and Nick were surprised. Nick thought Derek would get angry with him for "taking advantage of his little girl's vulnerable situation." At least that's how it felt now that he regained his senses. God he thought. I could easily fall in love with her if I'm not careful.
"Rachel want's to talk to you Abi" said Derek. "She waiting for you out."
Abi looked at the two men in her little bathroom and said, "Well if you gentlemen will leave me to get dressed I'll be out in a minute."
They left her in there. Oh Abi, be careful she thought as she was getting dressed. If you're not careful that man is gonna sweep you of your feet. She sighed quietly and went back into her room where now only Racal was waiting.
+++
Nick and Derek left the room leaving Rachel to talk to Abi. Derek put a hand on Nick's shoulder. "Be careful Nick," he said. "Don't fall in love with her."
"Why?" asked Nick.
"Well, she's a young woman with two children. Do you want to be a father now? And besides, she lives here in Israel you live in San Francisco. Can you handle a long distance relationship? I don't want to see either of you suffer Nick. If there was a chance this would work out, I wouldn't say a word. And I'm not saying this just because she's my daughter."
"Thanks Derek. But I can handle it" said Nick and went into his room.
+++
Abi sat on her bed while Rachel sat on a chair next to her.
"Did Derek send you here Rachel? Because of what happened?"
"Nick told us how you reacted in the car to Joshua's death. I thought maybe you'll need to talk about it," said Rachel softly looking at the young woman's face to see how she'd react.
"I don't know Rachel. Actually all I can think of right now is sleep. Can we do this later or tomorrow?"
"I suppose so. But if you need to talk sooner, even in the middle of the night, if you feel distressed come to me. Don't keep it inside. It's not good for you."
"Thanks Rachel. I will I promise, If I need to. Right now I just gotta sleep for a while."
Rachel turned of the light as she left the room. As she passed Nick's room he came outside. "So, how is she? He asked.
"Well she said she's too tired to talk now, so I left her to sleep for a while. I made her promise to come to me if she needs to. That's all I could do right now. We'll let her sleep and keep an eye on her to see any sign of change in her behavior. Ok Nick?"
"Sure" he replied, not really convinced. He walked over to Abi's room and knocked on the door.
"Come in" he heard her say. So he went in. she was sitting on her bad knees banded and her had laid on them. He came closer to the bed.
"Abi, are you sure not talking to Rachel is a good idea?"
"I'm just too tired for that Nick." She laid back and pulled the blanket over herself. She felt Nick's weight on the bed as he sat beside her. "Wanna sleep by my side Nick?" she asked. "I'd feel much safer if you were here."
He thought for a minute then, against his better judgement, got under the covers with her. He rapped one arm around her body and she slowly fell asleep. He heard her even breaths and only then allowed himself to drift into sleep as well.