Chapter thirteen
"Abi," Whispered Ben to no avail. She ignored him and was standing in the middle of the circular walls. "What the hell is she doing?" he asked looking at Derek.
"Trust her Ben, I'm sure she has something on her mind. She'll let us know when the time is right." Answered Derek.
"So you managed to find us after all?" said Mr. Levin.
"Did you honestly think you can keep me away from my babies?" asked Abi.
"No I guess not," said the woman. "Maternal instincts are the strongest."
Abi approached the four staring at Doron. She then looked over at her children "May I check on them?" she asked.
"Help yourself," said the woman knowing the children are locked and there was no way Abi could get them out.
Abi walked over to the cage her children where being kept in. Sarah opened her eyes sensing her mother and started crying out to her. Abi was heartbroken. The children looked sick. She reached her hands into the cage trying to hold on to her daughter whispering, "It's ok honey. Mommy is gonna get you out of here real soon." She touched her little boy who seemed to be in even worse shape then Sarah. He opened his eyes and started coughing and crying. Abi was enraged over the condition her children were in, but in spite of that she kept calm, moving back to the center of the circle. She had her hands behind her back and she signed the guys to get ready to go on three.
"She want's us to come out when she gives the sign," said Derek.
"How can you tell?" Asked Phillip.
"She told me, in my head. As soon as you see her fingers close, then move" came Derek's response.
Abi looked at Doron again. "Why?" she asked. "Why are you doing this? Haven't I been a friend to you all these years? How could you?"
"It's because of us," said the Levin's, showing their real faces now. Abi recognized them immediately. Dana and Daniel Lerner, Doron's brother and sister in law.
"So this is all what, vengeance?" she asked.
"Yes," said Dana. "You got us jailed and separated for a few years. I will never forgive you for that."
"Ben and I caught you stealing from the museum. Did you expect us to ignore that?" asked Abi.
"I begged you to let them go Abi," said Doron. "I promised you this will never happen again, but you and that righteous husband of yours, you simply couldn't let go. Some friend you turned out to be."
"I told you then Doron. There was no way for us to ignore that. The museum had the entire incident on tape. And there was no way I would have jeopardized Ben's career or mine, and in fact yours as well, by letting the thieves go," said Abi quietly, signing the guys to get ready.
"Ok guys, be prepared," said Derek.
"And you?" Abi asked the 3rd man, "Who are you and what is your business in all this?"
"You do not recognize me?" he asked. He suddenly started changing before her eyes.
"Oh my god," she said, "I thought I killed you."
"I'm not that easy to kill," he replied.
Abi brought her right hand to the side of her body, leaving the left behind, holding three fingers straight. She folded one then another. As soon as the 3rd finger was folded she threw the golden dagger she had up her sleeve at the demon, then fell to the ground. The dagger hit the demon's shoulder and he screamed in pain.
At that point the rest of the guys stood up and started shooting at the four. Abi crawled down on the floor towards her children. She shot the lock and got the children out and behind the wall. She didn't see Doron managed to jump back as well. The Levin's tried shooting back at the group but were outnumbered, and soon hit the floor dead. The demon was hit many times, but suddenly he roared and disappeared into thin air.
The guys stopped shooting. And went over to check if there was maybe life in one of the two bodies.
Abi was taking care of the children, and she missed the fact that Doron was approaching from behind her, holding a gun in his hand. He suddenly grabbed her and she felt the gun pointed at her head, touching her temple. He pulled her up and dragged her back into the circle.
Everyone raised their guns again when they saw what was happening.
"Throw down your guns," Doron screamed.
"Doron, you can't possibly think we are gonna let you out of here with her?" Asked Ethaniel.
"You bustard," said Doron. "You always think she's right, she is holy and can not make mistakes. She could have just done what I asked her, I begged her, but no, miss all mighty pure and saint will never break the rules. I am getting out of here, and if you wanna see her alive again you will not follow me," he said as he was heading towards the exit. The same way they came in.
Abi suddenly let her rage go free, and raised her elbow, moving it back as quick and as hard as she could, hitting Doron's chest. He lost his grip on her and was trying to catch his breath back. Ethaniel and Nick moved forward to catch him but he raised his gun and fired before he collapsed unconscious on the floor.
Ben rushed over behind the wall to get the children, picking them up in his arms, hugging and kissing them as they cried calling Daddy.
"Ethaniel," said Abi looking at the young man. He was hurt, blood all over his chest. He looked around in surprise and fell down to the floor.
"NO," Abi screamed. "You can't do this to me. I need you. Don't leave me, please."
Nick went down and tied Doron before he'd wake up.
Kristin and Phillip went over and took the children from Ben as he came down to his wife's side. "Erick, call an ambulance," he asked.
"I just did," said Erick.
Abi didn't know what to do, her children need her right now, but she didn't want to leave Ethaniel alone. "Ben, the children need to go the hospital as well. They are dehydrated and look sick. I want them checked," she whispered, still holding on to Ethaniel, his head on her lap.
When the ambulance came she watched as they got Ethaniel in and then said "Erick, Nick, you two wait for the police to get here. Talk to Jacob and explain what happened. Ben and I are taking the children to the hospital as well. And I also wanna check on my grandmother and Ethaniel. Dad will you come with us?" she asked.
"Sure, lead the way," said Derek.
"May we join you?" Asked Kristin referring to her and Phillip.
"Ok," said Ben and they took the children and headed for the car.
When they got to the hospital, they were already expected and were immediately entered to a checkup room. Ben and Abi stood and looked as the doctor was checking up Sarah and Noah. "They are a little dehydrated," he said, but other then that, I can't find anything else wrong. However I would like you to keep them here over night, just to be safe."
Abi and Ben looked at each other. "Go home honey," she said. "Take dad and the others home, get cleaned up, rest and then come back here, and bring me some fresh clothes. I'm gonna stay with the children."
Ben didn't really want to leave her, but he will be of no use to her if he's too tired.
"Ben, before you go home can you please go and find out how is Ethaniel?" she asked of him.
He moved over to her holding her close to him. "I love you so much," he said. "I was terrified he was gonna hurt you. I don't ever wanna lose you."
"You never will Ben. I love you too. Go find out how he is and then go home to rest."
"What about you? You need to rest as well," he said.
"I'll just sit here and look at the children. That is all the rest I need," she replied.
One of the nurses came in at that moment, rolling in a folding bed. "We figured you'd wanna stay with the children tonight so we arranged this bed for you Mrs. Adler."
"Thank you," said Abi surprised.
Ben helped her set up the bed, "Lay down," he said. "Try to get some rest while I'm gone. I won't be long." He headed out going over to the emergency room to find out about Ethaniel's condition.
"He is in surgery Mr. Adler," said one of the nurses. "It might take a few hours."
"Thank you," he told her and went back to give Abi that information. When he came back to the room he saw Abi was already asleep on the folding bed. He looked over at the children; they also were sleeping peacefully. He wrote her a note and put it whershe can see it, kissed her cheek gently and left.
"Ben," Derek got up as he saw him, "How are they?" he asked.
"They're fine. Come on, I'll take you home. I need to change and come back here later to relieve Abi."
"Do you need me to help?" asked Derek.
"Thank you Derek, but we need this time to be alone with the children. And each other," he added.
"Ok. But if you need a break, do not hesitate to ask."
"We won't," said Ben. "Come on. Let's go."
Back at Doron's house
Jacob and a few more policemen came down to the scene of events. Erick and Nick made statements as to the events that led to the death of the Levin's and the capture of Doron. Neither of them mentioned the demon that got away.
"I take it Ben was here as well?" asked Jacob.
"Yes," said Erick.
"I'll need statements from every one who was here," said Jacob.
"Fine. Come to the house and you can talk to all of them," was Erick's reply.
"That I'll do," said Jacob. He was furious with Ben and Abi. How could you do this to me Ben? he thought. Your partner and friend. And you kept me in the dark.
Jacob Drove Erick and Nick back to the legacy house. Ben and the others, who arrived back from the hospital, met them.
"I need to get statements from all of you," said Jacob.
"Sure," said Ben. "Let's go inside."
Jacob sat in Abi's office with Ben. One by one the others came in and made their statements. During all this time Jacob didn't say a word to Ben. As soon as the interviews were over he looked at his partner.
"Ben, how could you? I though we were friends and partners, we shared everything. Why did you not tell me you know who the kidnappers are? Why didn't you call me for backup?"
"I'm sorry Jacob. I had no choice. You know the cases Abi works on are not what we are trained to do. I couldn't risk getting you involved in something that you might not understand. Heck, sometimes I don't understand it either."
"Are you telling me all the stuff going around about her being a demon sort of a Ghostbuster are true?" asked Jacob.
Ben did not reply. Abi's work was not something he cared to share with others. "Of course not," he said eventually.
"Ok," said Jacob not really believing Ben. "I have to get back to the station and get these statements in."
Ben escorted him out then rushed upstairs to shower before going back to the hospital.
When he arrived back at the hospital he first went to check if there are any news on Ethaniel's condition. The Doctor came and told him Ethaniel is in critical condition. "We were able to remove the bullet, but he was hit badly. The next 48 hours are crucial. We just have to wait and see."
He thanked the doctor and headed back to the children's room. Abi and the kids were still asleep when he came in. the children were hooked to infusion but other then that they were sleeping peacefully. He sat on the bed next to Abi and caressed her hair gently. He admired her strength. She was probably the strongest woman he ever met. She kept being hit over and over again, but she soon bounced back, as good as new. I love her so much, he thought.
He lay down on the bed next to her, holding his arms around her, and was soon asleep as well.
A few hours later
Abi woke up and found Ben sleeping by her side. She smiled and kissed his cheek, getting out of bed to check on the children. They must have been exhausted because they were still sleeping. She went out the room and headed to the intensive care unit to go check on Ethaniel. The nurse pointed her to his room saying she can't stay there long.
"Thank you," said Abi and went in to check on him. He was still unconscious and as pale as the white sheets. She sat next to him holding his hand and talking to him. "Don't leave me old friend," she said.
