Title: Nothing's as it Seems... Chapter 8 - The Final Act
"Yes, his local is '217'. Shall I connect you?" She asked.
Shane's world came to a dead stand still.
"Sir? Sir?" echoed the voice.
And for what seemed like an eternity no one moved. No one spoke. And no one breathed. They had all entered a state of shock so deep that it seemed like it would take a miracle to break the spell. But no miracle came. Shane looked from Mark to Amanda in search of a reply but found none. It was all up him; he was in charge now.
"I, uh," Shane stuttered, "I, yeah." He finally managed.
All three listened as the phone just rang in their ears; the only sound in the whole room. It seemed to encompass them in a dreamlike state. Yet at the same time it gripped them like the vise of death, for to Shane that's what it was.
"What have we done?" Shane breathed in quiet disbelief. He and Jade had at one time talked about what would ever happen if Carmen happened to catch one of them, she wouldn't hesitate for a second to kill them. Now Shane faced that possibility about Jade. About never seeing her alive again. Carmen had her and probably wasn't going to waste a second in ridding herself of the only thorn in her flesh. He couldn't let that happen. He hung up the phone and started to pace the small room.
And if they thought things couldn't get any worse the phone rang again. He pushed the answer button and just listened to the report from the LAPD officer:
"Agent Philips. We are at 867 Beaumont Drive right now. There is a grey unmarked police car. There is no one inside the car. From what we can see the house is empty. There are however fresh tire marks on the front lawn, that look like whoever was here just left. Shall we canvass the neighbourhood? Sir?" Said the young officer into the phone waiting for Shane's direction. "Sir?" Came the anxious voice again.
Shane stood up and stared out the window into the midday sun. He had no answers. "But I can't give in now." He said softly. It was now up to him. If they were ever going to see Jade and Steve alive again, his next actions meant everything. "Can't give in." He echoed with much determination. He grabbed the phone and began to speak as Mark let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Yes send an officer to the neighbouring houses, see if they saw anything at all. Also check inside the house and see if there are signs that someone just left. Be careful, the suspect we are chasing is armed and is to be considered extremely dangerous." He hung up his phone, grabbed his jacket and turned to leave.
"What are you going to do?" Asked Amanda in a quiet voice walking past his forgotten duffel bag.
"Try to save them any way I can." With that he turned to head out the door to leave, but Mark stopped him, "wait. How do you know where to look?" He asked in desperation.
"Carmen is a creature of habit. She'll return to the first place that she first tried to kill Steve and finish the job. She'll think it's poetic justice for Jade to die there as well. That is her M.O. She hates to think she failed in any way. That's where I'll find her, that's where this'll end." He said determinedly.
"But if she knows that you know that then she'll be waiting for you." Mark said. "Shane it's a death-trap."
"Yeah I know. Consider this then my final act." He paused and then turned to look back at them resting one hand on the doorframe, "I guess this was a one way trip afterall." With that he turned around and walked out the door. Amanda ran after him, "Shane wait." She called. She caught up to him and stopped in front of him; "this is on loan," she said and gave him a kiss on the lips, he responded eagerly but it was short lived, he had a job to do. He smiled sadly at her, "better than a last meal." That was his only reply as he turned to leave. On the way to the elevators he dialled a taxi for pickup at the hospital, "to the FBI office in Los Angeles please." The door opened and as he stepped in he turned around and took one last look at Amanda and then Mark and then the elevator doors closed and took him from their view. With that he was gone, leaving Amanda standing in the hallway silently weeping and Mark leaning on the door frame with a worried expression on his face.
********
"Hey I just saw Shane leaving, what's all the..." was all Jesse got out as he walked into the room and spied Mark's worried face and a few stray tears on Amanda's. "What the hell is going on here? What did I miss?" He asked in a worried tone.
"What do we do Mark? There must be something we can do!" Amanda half cried.
"Who does the government call when it needs help?" Mark said almost smiling. He grabbed the piece of paper from his pocket that had Melvin's number on it and quickly dialled it. Please answer he prayed. He was rewarded with a quick answer.
"Melvin, this is Dr. Mark Sloan. I have never asked a favor of you before, but I sure need one now..." Mark's voice trailed off.
********
Shane sat in silence on the way to the FBI office. He needed a new Kevlar vest, some more ammo and a vehicle. He thought about the situation he now faced. How could this have happened so quickly? And yet he was the one who was always telling Jade the end was close and would come quickly. He sadly laughed at the ironic situation he now faced. The end was here, and it did come quickly. And his worse fear was finally being played out - he was totally unprepared. Carmen now had the element of surprise, the upper hand. She would be waiting for him to arrive, and when he did, Jade would either be dead, watch him die or a combination of both. And what about Steve? He had no answer to that one. But he couldn't stop any of it; it now looked like Carmen would win. They had no one to call for help. No one now to trust on the inside. The NSA could not interfere with a domestic problem. And to involve the locals would create a situation of pure pandemonium. They were alone.
Shane never feared death, but to be unprepared for it this way angered him a great deal. Oh Jade I am sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I never got to witness the happy life you always deserved to have.
But then something happened. A thought struck him. A most terrible thought came into his mind, a thought that a rash, sane person should never think of. A slow smile started to play across his face as the cab pulled into the parking lot of the FBI office. Shane paid the driver and slowly got out. He breathed in the fresh air and started to walk towards the building. His mind was made up now, now there was only one way out of this. The job was up to him. To fail meant his lone death. He vowed he would not fail. 'We win Jade', were the only words that now echoed in his thoughts, the lone words that formed his new destiny.
********
"You can't win you know Carmen. Your fate has already been sealed." Jade said methodically from the backseat of the car that now carried her to her destiny. It was slowly driving through the streets of LA, towards the one place that Carmen had to find resolution - Steve's cabin. She failed there once, the only time so far in her murderous journey, and she had to do right by it. She just had to.
"You know Jade I did make you an offer one time to join us, and that offer still stands." Carmen said turning around to face her half-sister.
"Join you?" Jade asked in disbelief. "As what a traitor to my country? For what? Money? Money that when you are dead you won't be able to spend anyways? That is the most pathetic thing I have ever had the sad privilege of being asked. The answer into all eternity is - NO! I will not be bought as a traitor." Jade said staring at her half-sister.
"A traitor to what? Your country? Or our father?" Carmen spat.
"What does that mean?" Jade countered.
"It means that dear old dad doesn't give a rat's ass about the welfare of either one of us. Can't you see that? He'd rather spend more time with third world powers and their arms problem, than help either one of us with anything. If you weren't so busy with work all the time you'd have noticed how he treated us long ago. The only thing Nickel Drake Washington loves more than his job, is his title." Carmen half yelled at her.
Jade just stared at her half-sister as if she was insane. Jade knew her dad was always busy but so was she. That was they life they had chosen, without many regrets. But he never worked on the weekends, always made time for every special occasion in her life, and never refused her time when she needed it. Plus he loved her mother Chloe, more than anything, and that brought Jade comfort, even despite his one indiscretion that resulted in the terror that now sat in front of her. But he also did the same for Carmen, granted not to the extent of Jade, his own flesh, but whatever Carmen asked for, Carmen got. Carmen's problem was that she never appreciated what he did give her. It was never enough then and it would never be enough in the future, at any time and under any circumstances.
"What no answer?" Carmen mocked.
"To what Carmen? Your pathetic excuses as to why you turned out the way you did? How you thought were so hard done by everyone that you had to turn to crime to satisfy your need of being wanted? It's sad is what it is. A perfectly good waste of a human life. So no I'll not answer!" Jade spat. Carmen's anger that had been rising with every word Jade uttered caused her to hit Jade on her already bruised cheek with her fist. Jade's head snapped back and she fell back onto the seat. Jade just smiled at her sister. She would not give Carmen the satisfaction of seeing her cower before her, even if she were to die. It would be with honour. Carmen finally gave up, turned around and stared out the window before her.
Jade rested her throbbing head on the rest in the backseat. She thought of Shane, he would do everything in his power to find them and stop Carmen. Jade had a pretty good idea of where they were heading, however how soon would Shane figure it out? Probably a little to late to stop whatever Carmen has in mind for her and Steve. Steve! Oh Steve, I'm so sorry that I will never get to know you the way I hoped I would. I'm so in love with you, and now I'll never have the chance to tell you. She closed her eyes and tried to picture their last evening together. She smiled as she remembered them kissing in front of the fireplace, rolling around on the floor and how he said that she was worth waiting for. Those treasured words played in her head. A few stray tears escaped her eyes as she kept remembering him. Oh Steve I am so sorry I let us down, she sighed.
********
"You know the way?" Asked the passenger.
"Shut up stupid, of course I know the way." Answered the driver.
Steve had been listening to the two of them arguing the whole time. Would they ever stop? He laid his head back down on the seat and breathed heavily into the gag. He worked at loosening his bonds. Lucky for him they tied his hands in front of him. He closed his eyes and thought of Jade. Would she find him in time? Would she even know where to look? And if he was captured by Carmen, what was the reason? Bait? Or did she simply want to kill him and get it over with? Neither was the road he wanted to travel down. He needed to get free and warn Jade. He continued to work at his bonds. Oh Jade I hope nothing happens to me before I tell you I love you. He let those last few thoughts echo in his head as he was filled with new strength to get free. Then he heard their phone ring. The thug in the passenger seat pressed the speaker button and Steve closed his eyes and listened in horror to the female voice filling the truck.
********
"Got it Mark, you can count on me!" Melvin said in a firm tone. He hung up the phone and pressed number one on his speed dial.
"NSA Director Washington's office, how may I help you?" Answered a female voice.
"Is he in Mable?" Melvin asked.
"Yes Mr. Baker I'll put you through." She said.
"Mel how the hell are you?" Nickel asked a somewhat cheery way.
"I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you Nick. Are you sitting down?" Melvin asked.
********
"Well we can't just do nothing!" Amanda moaned to Mark and Jesse.
"It's out of our hands now Amanda." Mark said with a sigh.
"But aren't you worried about Steve?" She almost yelled. And as soon as she said those words she regretted them. She knew that no one was more worried about the welfare of Steve than his dad. Mark loved his son almost more than life itself.
"Mark I'm so sorry." Amanda said slowly. She gave him a hug, and he hugged her back.
"I know Amanda. I am so worried right now I can't do anything else, but stand here and worry." He said with a sad smile.
"Do you think that what Shane said is true? He won't be coming back?" She asked in tears again.
"I believe that Shane and Jade if she isn't," he paused not being able to bring himself to say the actual words, "well I believe that they'll do everything they can to make sure Steve is okay and Carmen does not walk away from this one. I have this awful feeling that they now believe jail to be too good for her." He was about to continue when Jesse interrupted him, "can we honestly let them kill themselves to bring her down? There must be something we can do." He said.
"That's just it Jesse, there isn't. This isn't just a regular police case. Two lives are at stake here, and one is a FBI agent. They take care of their own remember, we were told not to interfere. We have to let Melvin do the rest now. The outcome of this now rests in the privue of diplomats." He sighed and sat down to wait. It was the longest hardest wait he ever had to do in his life. It was eating away at him, and he couldn't do a damn thing to stop it. Oh god, please let them live, he silently prayed over and over again. Please let Steve be okay.
********
"How the hell did this happen?" Nickel's angry voice boomed over Melvin's speakerphone. "I told Matthews not to trust Schuler. What the hell happened?" He angrily demanded. He sat back in his leather chair and ran a hand through his dark hair to calm himself down; it wasn't working. He sighed and stared back at his reflection in the picture of Chloe on his desk. He willed for his reflection to give him answers, but none came. How could the board restrict his dealings with Schuler's office? Unless? Unless someone on the board is also involved. But who? Nickel's thoughts drifted off, only to be brought back to reality by Melvin's nervous voice.
Melvin had no answers. But he had to deliver another blow to Nickel and the feared doing that with his life. "Nick I hate to tell you this, but..." he started.
********
"Thanks." Mumbled Shane in a trance like state. "I also need one of your trucks, some duct tape and a few grenades." He said casually. The guy at the desk just arched a brow but said nothing. If a Special Agent for the FBI were to ask for a set of waterwings he had no authority to question.
"Agent Philips?" Called the desk Sargent. Shane kept walking; he knew the report the Sargent wanted to give him. Steve was gone, taken by Carmen's hired thugs. Taken to the cabin to meet his fate. He didn't need to read the words, he was living them.
Shane scooped up the gear and the keys and headed for the parking lot at a quick pace. He remembered the way to the cabin, but got some quick directions just before he got to the truck by the parking attendant. Timing would be crucial. It would mean life or death - theirs.
********
"WHAT?" Nickel's voice boomed so loud that Melvin had to turn down the volume on his speakerphone and he could hear the door to Nickel's office being opened by his secretary. Nickel told her to leave and got back to Melvin.
Nickel heaved a sigh that was probably felt all the way to the West Coast. How could this have happened? Carmen had Jade? Would she kill her? He had to stop her in some way. But how? He was in Washington and his daughter was in LA. What could he do? Then an idea struck him. He knew just what to do.
"Melvin here is what I want you to do..." Nickel's voice trailed off as he explained his plan to his friend.
After a few minutes of listening, Melvin spoke up. "Got it. You can count on me sir." Melvin paused then added, "and Nick be careful, it's a good bet he knows your coming. He'll be prepared." Melvin warned as he hung up knowing that Nickel was going after Schuler. But he also had a job to do, and would waste no time in seeing it done.
Nickel sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. Oh Jade. Why didn't I push for higher authority for you? Why didn't you join the NSA and work with me when I offered? He knew why. She was just like him, and in the same circumstances he would have done the exact same as her. Be on his own, his own boss, out in the field where the action was. But she had earned her way to the top, even turning down a director's position, to be in the field. And that's how this all happened.
But Schuler was to blame for all of this. Nickel had suspected him all along, and now he couldn't wait any longer for the board's approval, he had to act, afterall his title had to account for something. He put his Kevlar vest on over his dark blue dress shirt, grabbed his custom-made high-powered scope gun and headed out of his office.
"I'm off to New York Mable. Hold all calls, except Jade, if she calls put her through no matter what or Shane for that matter!" He called as he rushed out before she could say another word to him.
He remembered Melvin's warning 'it's a good bet he knows your coming'. If that was the case what could he expect? He hurried into the elevator not paying much notice to the man who got into it with him.
"What floor sir?" Asked the stranger.
"P1 thank you." Nickel replied. The stranger moved in front of him to get off the elevator and before Nickel could react the man turned around and plunged the end of a switchblade into Nickel's chest. Nickel staggered back but his vest absorbed the knife so he was able to counter the next move. He brought his arm down and landed a blow to the strangers arm and sent the knife flying. The man cried out but regained his stance and lunged at Nickel. Nickel sidestepped him, landed a swing kick to his back and the thug went flying into the back of the elevator, knocking the wind out of him. While he was down, Nickel pressed the floor button that was next and once the door opened he pushed the perp outside and continued down. He was in too much of a hurry to worry about some small time hood. Besides Schuler was bound to have others. This was a trick fight, Schuler knew that Nickel was a trained fighter and some small time crook was not about to take down the director of the NSA in a knife fight. Nickel fixed his yellow printed tie in true James Bond style as he got off the elevator when it finally stopped at P1. He cautiously walked towards his car, only to be stopped by a male voice calling his name from behind.
"Mr. Washington?" Came the young man's voice. Nickel turned around with a start, but then eased at who it was.
"Why hello Eric, what can I do for you?" He asked quickly. Nickel was well aware of the attention that Eric paid him and was somewhat flattered. Eric had limited skills and always wanted to help him and Jade no matter what they were doing. He always pretended he was Nickel's assistant on some secret mission; that made Nickel smile. The world needed more people like Eric. People like Eric always reminded him that it was okay to be a little bit different, a little bit normal, and a little bit human. Jade liked him also, she said he made her laugh.
"Can I get your car for you Mr. Washington sir?" He asked eagerly putting out his hand for the keys.
Nickel just smiled. Although he was in a hurry, Eric always got Nickel's car for him, plus he could never say no to Eric. "Sure son, why not." Nickel answered warmly handing him the keys. Eric walked towards Nickel's Black Lincoln LS. Eric loved Nickel's car and always took the best of care in putting the key into the ignition, or when touching anything on it for that matter. Eric just reached the door handle when Nickel said, "hey Eric, good job on your game Saturday." Nickel smiled as he slowly walked to the valet area towards his car. Eric smiled broadly at the compliment and turned around to open the door. He pushed the unlock button on the keys and grabbed the door handle. He never got to open the door when a flash of bright light encompassed him in flames and he was gone in an instant, blown to bits along with the director's car.
Nickel watched as Eric went to open the door handle and then his world exploded in slow motion. He saw the bright light at the same time suck Eric in and blow him and the car up and then felt the boom that sent him flying backwards into a parked car, shattering the glass with his back as he landed on the front windshield of the car behind him. Nickel fell to the cement floor on all fours with a thud, bruising his hands and knees in the process. He felt blood rush from his nose and the side of his lower lip as his face hit the cement, after his arms and legs gave way.
"NO!" He yelled in a ragged voice as he tried to pick himself up. "Eric! Someone help! Someone call the police!" Nickel yelled to nearby attendants that ducked when the blast hit. Nickel staggered towards the smoking car and almost gagged at the site of Eric's nearly disintegrated and burned body. Tears blinded his eyes and rolled down his smokey and bloodied face as he bent to see the body of his friend dead on the ground. "Damn you Schuler!" He yelled. "Damn you to hell!" He cursed wiping the blood away from his bleeding nose. He'll pay Nickel silently vowed.
The two valets who were in the background picked themselves up and ran towards Nickel to help him.
********
"Are you sure it was Nickel's car that exploded? You have been known to fail me once or twice." Richard Schuler's annoyed voice boomed into the cellphone of the perp he sent after Nickel to fake an attack fight. Richard knew Nickel well enough to know that he was once the top black ops leader as well as marine trained. He also knew Nickel would win that fight, no questions asked. Nickel almost fought as well as Jade, Jade having youth as her strongest ally. But the car bomb was the real McCoy. Did it work? He needed absolute proof.
"I heard the explosion myself sir." Said the thug.
"Go down and check to make sure it's his body or what's left of it you moron!" Richard yelled into the phone. "I need to know if Nickel Washington was killed in that explosion or not!"
"Yes sir." Said the thug in a mean way, slammed his phone shut and headed for P1. He headed for the stairs since he would less noticed. Once he reached the bottom he carefully hid himself from view. He spied a crowd gathered around the smoking car and charred body. But if the director was indeed alive, then he couldn't just walk up to him and check. He grabbed a nearby attendant and asked what happened, "hey what happened."
"Well one of our valet's, Eric, went to get director Washington's car when it blew up and killed him." Said the young man.
"Thanks." Mumbled the thug. He spied Nickel finally stand up from examining the body. His dark hair was mussed up, his face had blood streaks and black coal marks on it with tear streaks down it, his dark blue suit was dirty and torn and he could tell his body was sore from the way he stood, but for all intense purposes he was alive. Nickel Washington survived! Schuler was going to be pissed. The thug got his cellphone out and started to dial.
"Sir I have a report." He started.
********
Shane formulated his plan on the drive up. He was not about to head back to Washington only to stand before Jade's dad and tell her how he let her die and he didn't try everything he could to save her, even giving up his life. He could not live with it. He looked at the grenades on the seat beside him. It was supposed to be a last resort. But he was out of options. This was his last resort, his only option. He would have to stop the truck before he got there and suit up. He sighed and steered the car through the busy LA streets towards Steve's cabin.
********
Steve laid his head back down on the seat to rest. He noticed the streetlights were getting fewer and far between. They must be almost out of the city now. He was getting tired from working on his bonds, as he grunted into the gag, which only caused the attention of one of the thugs in the front seat to turn around.
"Say somethin' pig?" He laughed. The large thug in the passenger seat turned around grabbed the side of Steve's gag and pulled his head forward towards him.
Steve said nothing, as it would result in another hit to his head. And he didn't need that right now, so he just shook his head no and did nothing.
"Yeah that's what I thought." Laughed the big man and pushed Steve's head back into the seat and turned around to continue the useless conversation with his partner. Steve just closed his eyes and rested for a few minutes before he started to free himself again.
Steve finally managed to work his feet free. The gag would be last since his face was the one part they could see the best. But he had to stop the truck before it reached the cabin. If he failed, he wouldn't be able to help Jade in any way. He had heard the phone conversation from Carmen to the thugs saying that she had Jade and would be waiting for them at the cabin. His mind raced with terror. What would Carmen do? Would she kill her before he got there? Or worse, make him watch as Carmen killed her. He had to get free. He set about loosening his hands. The ropes were starting to loosen, and Steve was once again filled with a renewed sense of hope.
********
"What do you mean he's not dead!" Carmen screamed into the phone. Those words caused Jade to wake from her nightmarish stupor. Who was not dead? Steve? Had he managed to escape? Or was it Shane? Or someone else? But who? Then another thought crept into her mind. It made her sick to even think of it.
Carmen turned around to face Jade with an angry look on her face.
"Why won't you Washington's just die already! Damn you all!" she screamed and slammed the back headrest with her fist. Jade's heart stopped for a second. Was it her dad or mom?
********
Nickel stood up and looked around for any signs of the thug who attacked him. Of course he was gone. He failed his first test and now his second. Would he try again? He looked down at the young man who gave his life for the director's. Nickel would make sure that Eric was remembered, he deserved that. He didn't deserve this kind of death, no one did. Then Nickel got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Chloe! He had to warn her. If he were a target and Jade as well, then his beloved wife would be next. "I need a cellphone." He frantically called to anyone standing nearby, as his was damaged in the blast. One was handed to him and he dialled home. The phone just rang. "I need a car!" He ordered.
"Here sir, take mine she's fast." Said one of the valet's holding up keys to his Porsche 911. Nickel didn't think twice as he grabbed the keys and ignored the medic's pleas for him to at least be checked over to make sure he had no major injuries. Nickel couldn't think about that now, as he ran to the car. He needed to get home; he needed to make sure his wife was safe. He put the car into first gear and sped away from the parking lot. He kept dialling his home number. No answer, just long steady rings. As he sped through the streets of Washington, his thoughts drifted to when he first met Chloe. She was the top executive for the NSA director at time. Nickel remembered their first conversation:
"Hey Gorgeous what are you doing for the rest of your life?" He remembered her green eyes sparkling at his open flirting. She just laughed and then said, "are you the Director?" She teased, knowing he was the head of Black Ops for the CIA at the time. "Not yet. When I am then will you marry me?" He smiled. "I can't wait that long." She teased. But it wasn't long before Nickel was named Director for the NSA and he proposed the day he got his promotion. She said yes and life was the best for him every day after that, Jade was an added blessing. He wouldn't trade his life for all the money in the world. Chloe always teased him saying that he should have been in movies instead of the secret service, because if he had had an Irish accent he and Pierce Brosnan would be twins. He sighed aloud; "yeah I wish I could trade places with Mr. Brosnan right now."
"Damn!" He cursed as he pounded his fist on the steering wheel. If anything has happened to her, I swear...
********
"What?" Jade half yelled at Carmen. "What have you done Carmen?" Jade screamed at her. "Who didn't die?"
"What do you think I did? I tried to take care of all of the loose ends, but obviously I can't find competent people to fulfill that. It seems like dear old dad survived his date with death." Her voice boomed in anger. "I wonder if mom will be so lucky." She spat at Jade.
Jade lost it as she grabbed at Carmen's hair, which caused Arthur to lose concentration, and the car went veering towards the ditch. Jade pulled and Carmen just screamed and tried to fight her off. Despite her cuffs Jade was the stronger one. Arthur who regained control of the car pulled over and slowed down. He pulled out his gun and smacked Jade on the right side of the head. Jade fell back causing her grip on Carmen to loosen. Carmen slumped back in her seat and just glared at Jade.
"You'll never win Carmen. You may have won the battle, but you'll lose the war!" Jade yelled, which made Carmen even more madder. Carmen was about to say something, when Arthur stopped her.
"Just let it go already." Demanded Arthur. "And you shut up," he said looking in the rear view mirror at Jade, "lest you want me to gag the pretty mouth of yours." He threatened.
Jade just sat back in silence as they continued up the road that would take them to the cabin. Dad! Oh man, what is happening here? What have we done? She mentally beat herself. This needs to end, and fast. She worked at her cuffs, she needed to be free, and it was her only chance. She worked at them, until she heard one click open. She faked a cough so that the small click would not be heard, it worked. Now with one hand free, she needed to plan her escape and Carmen's demise. She sat back and began to ponder.
********
"How are you holding up Mark?" Asked Amanda as she joined Mark and Jesse on the couch in the lounge in the hospital. Hours had passed and not one word, from anyone. It was anyone's guess as to what was happening.
"As well as can be expected." He sighed.
Then it was back to sitting in silence and thinking about their friends and family members who were caught up in this deadly web of terror and death. What would happen? Who would live and who would die? Only time would tell them. That's what they were afraid of.
********
"Chloe!" Nickel called as he rushed into their rather large house in the wealthy district of Washington. "Chloe!" he called again. No answer! He ran to the garage, her car was still there. He ran upstairs, nothing. He ran to the family room, nothing. A feeling of sick dread was starting to take over his usually calm demeanor. "Chloe!" He yelled again. He heard the turn of the door handle to the back door and he whirled around and drew his gun. He stood facing the door with his super-weapon raised. Whoever took her would not live to tell about it he vowed. He cocked the trigger and aimed.
"What the?" Came the soft voice of his safe and beautiful wife. Nickel dropped his gun to his side, let out a sigh and rushed to her. He embraced her in his arms and kissed her hard.
"Nickel?" She asked when they came up for air in stunned amazement at his appearance. "Are you okay honey?" She asked at his battered appearance.
"I am now, thank god." He sighed. "I love you Chloe." He hugged her again.
"I love you to sweetheart, but what is the matter? What's happened?" She asked suspiciously.
"Bad things, many bad things, but I can't explain now. Right now I need you to come with me, no questions asked, okay?" He said.
"Uh, okay, sure." She said. She grabbed her coat and purse from the nearby chair and followed him out.
"Were you planning on going somewhere?" He asked.
"Just some shopping why?" She asked.
Nicked picked up the borrowed cellphone and dialled the NSA. "Mable I need you to get the bomb squad down here stat. I want every room in my house checked, double-checked and re-checked. Is that clear?" He asked.
"Honey?" Chloe stopped walking and looked from him to the Porsche not his Lincoln in the driveway, "want to tell me what really happened?" She walked up to him and brushed her hand along his handsome battered face. After all these years she was still so much in love with him. She was always aware of her husband's dangerous job and she never questioned much about his dealings, but this needed explanation as he usually never brought the job home or let it interfere with his personal life in any way.
"I'll tell you on the way." He sighed looking into her green eyes, and stroking her blond hair. Especially now she was the most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes on, she always took his breath away. His life would end if something ever happened to her. Then he gently grabbed her waist and guided her to the waiting super sports car.
"The way to where?" She asked getting inside.
"To New York to stop a killer!" He said with firm resolution in his blue eyes. Chloe just stared at her husband and waited for the explanation. He started up the engine, put the car into gear and sped into the setting sun towards New York.
********
"Ah here it is. Our final resting place." Carmen said triumphantly as they pulled up to the cabin. Jade just waited in the backseat for them to make their move. Carmen jumped out first and Arthur followed. He opened the backdoor and pulled Jade outside. She just stood by the door and got her bearings.
"Come on lets get inside." Carmen demanded. Jade could tell with each passing minute that Carmen was losing it. Arthur grabbed Jade by her forearm again and led her towards the cabin. Once inside Jade was hit with a powerful feeling of déjà vu. This was the first place that her and Steve first kissed. She smiled at the memory. Carmen was quick to notice.
"Thinking of days gone by?" She mocked. "Yeah well enjoy them while you can, because when Steve gets here you'll wish I killed you sooner." Carmen warned. She pushed Jade forwards and Jade fell to the floor. She was careful not to let on that the cuffs were not locked. She staggered a bit to get up, but then sat herself down on a nearby couch to wait. Oh Steve, I wish this could end differently.
********
Yes, Steve thought. He finally worked his hands free. Now it was time to act. Now or never. They were already starting their drive up to the cabin. If they reached there it would be too late for either him or Jade. He flung the rope from his hands, which caused the large thug in the passenger seat to turn around. As he did Steve punched him hard in the face. The driver became distracted and tried to use his non-driving arm to hit Steve. Steve just jerked the other thug's arm back, causing him to cry out. Steve then sent an elbow into the face of the thug in the passenger's seat. The man screamed as he felt his nose break and blood start to flow freely down his face. Steve tried to jump into the front seat, but only ended up half way, his body teetering on the seat barrier. The driver tried to throw Steve off, but was unable. The large Chevy SUV veered to one side of the old road and then to the other. Steve still gagged, could only grunt as both men wrestled with him in the large moving vehicle. Steve again elbowed the passenger thug and his head hit the window and knocked him out. Steve then grabbed the steering wheel and turned it sharply towards a large tree. The driver screamed, slammed on the breaks as Steve was thrown into the back seat and the SUV turned sharply crashing into the tree on the passenger side, the engine still running. Steve yanked the gag down and quickly put his arm around the neck of the driver. He squeezed until he felt the man pass out in his arms. When the man was down, Steve lay back on the seat and rested for a few minutes. He then wasted no time in dumping both thugs out of the truck, grabbing their guns, and backing the truck back onto the road and continuing towards the cabin, towards Jade.
********
"What is keeping them?" Carmen screeched as she paced back and forth in the small kitchen. "I'm going for some fresh air." Arthur announced as he stood up and walked outside. Although it was late in the afternoon, there was still plenty of sunlight left, plenty of time for them to finish their task and head for South America. "I hate LA." He muttered.
"Did he call you sister earlier?" Jade inquired. She needed to stall for time, and that one statement had been bugging her since she heard it.
"Yes that is right. Welcome to our one big twisted happy family." She spat.
"Well you got the twisted part right." Jade said sarcastically. Carmen walked up to her and threatened to hit her already very bruised face.
"Oh gee Carmen, what you're going to hit me? Never saw that one coming." She goaded. Carmen just walked away in a rage.
"You know you and Arthur have a lot in common. He hates New York just as much as you." Carmen said matter of factly. Jade just rolled her eyes. Yeah big deal, she sighed inwardly.
"Where are they?" She yelled.
********
Shane turned the truck onto the road that would lead up to the cabin. He pushed the truck as fast as it would go. ********
"Almost there," Steve said aloud. He spied the black Crown Victoria parked in front of the cabin. He pulled to a slow pace. Hold on Jade, almost there.
********
"Finally." Carmen spat. Jade wasted no time in attacking Carmen. She waited until her back was turned to her and then lunged at her, breaking free from the cuffs as she did. They would still be on one wrist, but she was free, that's all that mattered. She tackled Carmen and Carmen went flying. Carmen cried out, but managed to grab a gun in the process of falling. She turned over and fired a shot at Jade. Jade pivoted and ran to the back of the cabin. Carmen got up and chased after her. Jade saw no exist, except an old plate glass window. She didn't think twice about covering her face and smashing through it. She hit the ground rolling. She grabbed her gun and fired a shot back at Carmen. Carmen ducked and Jade took off into the forest. She spied a path and decided to run up it. Carmen saw her leave, jumped out the broken window and started to chase.
********
"NO!" Steve yelled from inside the truck as he heard the shot.
Arthur also heard the shot and ran back inside the cabin his gun drawn. Steve failed to notice him. Steve slammed the breaks on the truck and stopped it. He managed to grab one of the guns he took from the thugs and drew it. He headed cautiously for the cabin. He reached the door and pulled it open, as Arthur was jumping out the back window. Steve headed inside the cabin very gently. He spied the bullet hole in the wall. But who was shot? He ran to the back of the cabin and spied the broken window. He saw the path before him and noticed the fresh footprints. He jumped out the window and started to pursue.
********
"What the hell?" Shane said as he slowed the truck to a stop and spied the wrecked trees off to the side of the road with the two thugs lying unconscious in the trees. "Who the hell did this?" He managed to yell. He wasted no time in getting back into the truck and pushed the pedal to the metal for all it was worth, forgetting all about his original plan for the grenades on the front seat. He reached the cabin and noticed the two vehicles already there. He did however fail to notice Arthur hiding behind some trees waiting for him.
********
"Is the director in?" Nickel demanded as he and Chloe headed for Schuler's office.
"I don't think so sir. Do you have an..." was all she managed before Nickel pushed past her and into Schuler's office.
"I'm sorry sir but you can' just..." said the frantic secretary chasing after Nickel. Chloe just stood by and waited for his reply. No one stood between her husband and justice. No one!
"Can't what?" He turned to her in anger, "arrest your boss for being a traitor to the United States and an accomplice to murder! Try to stop me!" He spat with anger flashing in his blue eyes. He turned around leaving the secretary standing there with her mouth open. She finally took the hint and left the room.
Nickel walked up to Schuler's desk. He noticed the plaque on his desk with the words from Shakespeare:
'Tickle us do we not laugh, prick us do we not bleed - wrong us shall we not avenge'
Obviously his motto, Nickel sighed! There was also white envelope on the desk with his name on it. Nickel picked up the envelope and opened it. He just stared at the contents in horror.
"What did he leave you Nickel?" Chloe asked walking up to him.
He showed her the contents of the envelope. It was a simple piece of blank white paper. His anger started to rise.
"What does it mean?" She wondered.
"It means dear," he paused, "that I have nothing. Nothing on him! Damn!" Nickel said slamming his fist on the desk.
"Nothing!" His words echoed in the empty office.
"Should you tell Jade?" Chloe asked.
Oh god, I forgot to tell her, Nickel cursed inwardly. "Dear there is something I have to tell you about Jade..." he started.
********
Jade ran faster and deeper into the forest. Carmen was right behind her. They reached a clearing beside a cliff, with Carmen jumping Jade from behind, both guns went flying to the ground beside them. Now the battle was on. Jade rolled around and kicked Carmen in the face with her shoe, causing Carmen's mouth to bleed freely and Carmen to scream in pain. Carmen lunged at Jade and pounded her chest with her fists. Jade rolled off her in pain. Carmen jumped onto Jade's back and grabbed her hair causing her head to jerk back. Jade grabbed both of Carmen's arms and flung her off. Carmen although landing on her stomach was back up quickly, but so was Jade. Jade sent a flying karate chop to Carmen's stomach. Carmen caught the blow and countered. But Jade was too skilled, she grabbed Carmen's arm and sent her flying onto her back with a swing kick from the other leg. Jade stood up again.
"I've been waiting a long time for this Carmen." Jade yelled and lunged at her. She used both arms to push Carmen even further back towards the edge. Carmen grabbed Jade's hands and held on as Jade pushed her to the ground, making them both fall down. They rolled around on the ground beside the edge. Carmen pushed Jade's head up by her chin. Jade grabbed her arm and punched her in the face with the other hand. Carmen fell back a bit. Jade tried to get up, but the silver cuff succeeded in attaching itself to a nearby stump. She pulled at the cuff; not caring at the blood that was coming from the cuff cutting into her attached wrist. She yanked harder and it pulled itself free. Carmen lunged at Jade again, Jade countered with her leg coming up and kicking Carmen in the stomach. She grabbed her stomach and fell to one knee looking up at Jade. Both stood locked in each other's stance. Blood flowed from their faces, their hair was messed with leaves and dirt, and their clothes were torn and bloody. But the only thing that mattered to them now, was the death of the other. But who would win?
Then they heard a noise.
********
Shane grabbed his gun and got out of the truck, forgetting all about the grenades on the front seat. He started to walk very slowly towards the cabin. He heard a movement and turned only to be met in the side of the face with the butt end of Arthur's gun. Shane staggered back a bit, but quickly brought his arm up and hit the gun out of Arthur's hand. He swung his other arm and punched Arthur hard in the face, causing a tooth to actually pop out. Arthur screamed in pain and tried to leave. Shane tackled him from behind, causing Arthur's gun to go flying. Arthur tried to roll over but Shane kept pounding his back. Arthur did manage to get his leg around Shane's and force Shane off him by getting Shane's legs out from under him. Then he countered with his other foot and kicked Shane hard in the side. Shane cried out as Arthur's foot met with his recent injury. He felt the stitching rip and was probably right in assuming that it was bleeding. But he couldn't run the risk of taking the vest off to confirm his thoughts, so he just pushed on. He jumped up and lunged at Arthur. Arthur was caught off guard and fell face first to the ground. He managed this time to twist around and kick Shane in the face. But the kick did little more than blow dust into Shane's eyes. Shane grabbed his face in pain. It really stung. Arthur took the opportunity while he was down to run towards the truck Shane had come up in, as it was the closest vehicle to him for him to escape in. Shane staggered to get up. Arthur started up the engine and fixed his sights on a still half-blinded Shane. He gunned the engine as Shane finally managed looked up in horror at the vehicle bearing down on him.
********
"Jade!" Steve called as he neared the clearing. Jade momentarily distracted turned her gaze away from Carmen and saw Steve approaching. She smiled at the thought that he was alive. But her happiness was short lived, as Carmen did the unthinkable.
Carmen's actions were punctuated by a loud boom in the back ground, making Steve stop in his tracks and stare back at the cabin.
********
"You're dead cop!" Yelled Arthur as he gunned the truck in Shane's direction. Shane side-stepped only to have the truck turn around for a second attempt.
Shane wiped the blood from his left eye, stood his ground and held up his gun, aiming it directly at the engine of the truck bearing down on him. Arthur smiled wickedly at the man standing in his path. At least I'll take one of them with me he laughed.
The truck neared, Shane aimed, Arthur laughed, and Shane fired. BOOM! The bullet struck the engine dead on; it caught fire which ignited the grenades that Shane had put on the front seat. And the truck exploded into flames, causing Shane to be thrown backwards onto the ground. He staggered to get up, but since there was no one else around, he decided to rest for a bit. He lay on the ground and just breathed heavily holding his bleeding side in pain. Then he thought of Jade. He had to get up and find her.
********
Carmen lunged at Jade and together they rolled towards the edge of the cliff. Steve turned back to see them and then stopped in horror as he watched in slow motion as both Jade and Carmen were pitched towards the cliff.
"NO!" He yelled as he ran towards them.
However fate was about to deliver a blow of a different kind. Carmen's foot got caught on a nearby branch causing her to fall just short of the edge while Jade was not so lucky. She felt herself tumbling over and let out a cry of defeat. Then, just as she thought she was dead the free silver cuff attached itself onto a branch sticking out which sent Jade crashing into the side of the mountain breaking some ribs in the process. Jade also felt the wrist that was still in the cuff snap from her weight and she soon found herself hanging on the underside of the cliff, dangling high above the rocky surface below. She cried out in pain at the break and quickly grabbed onto another branch with her free hand to steady herself. She had to get up; she was given a second chance and was not about to blow it. The end of Carmen was almost here.
Carmen managed to free herself and grab a nearby gun just as Steve reached her. She didn't have time to look over to confirm Jade's death.
"Jade?" He called to Carmen as she had her back turned to him, since they both were wearing the same outfit.
She turned around with her gun fixed on him. Steve's look of horror made it all worth while to Carmen. She revelled in other people's pain, and this was her last victory.
"I wish I had a camera for the look on your face Steve. It is a look I could cherish forever." She said wiping some blood from her lip with her free hand. "Now you and I have some unfinished business. Drop your gun." She commanded.
Steve put down his gun, she had won. Jade was gone, and life would never be the same without her. The pain in his heart was so great, that for a second he didn't care about his own life. Thoughts of his dad were the only thing that brought him back to reality. He would help him through his grief.
"Now I should take you back to the cabin and finish off what I started, but I don't have the time for that now. I have a plane to catch." She laughed wickedly. "But as they say, 'parting is such sweet sorrow'."
"Carmen please don't." Steve said softly.
"Don't what? Kill you? Sorry baby, but that was the plan all along." She said raising her gun at him. "Now if you don't want to see me shoot you then turn around. You see I have no problem killing you while you face me." She said angrily.
Steve said nothing. What could he say? There were not enough words in the world that he could tell her to make her stop or even change her mind. She no longer cared about human life. The Carmen Parks that once existed existed no more. In her place was an evil killing machine, with no regard for human life. What a way for it all to end! He closed his eyes and said a quick prayer. Then as if on cue his prayer was answered.
It all happened so fast and yet to all three of them it was in slow motion. Jade managed to find one last surge of strength and she used it to pull herself to a standing position on the small ledge of branches that she managed to find below the cliff edge. She grabbed onto Carmen's leg and pulled her back with all the strength she could muster. It was enough to cause Carmen to stagger backwards and in slow motion Carmen tried to grab onto anything that would save her life. But she was grabbing thin air; there was no one there to help her, not this time. She turned to see Jade just as she fell to her death, her body breaking apart as it hit the rocks below. Jade just clung to the edge where she was and watched in horror and relief as the one person who had made her life a living hell finally met her end. There was no way she could survive. Carmen was finally dead! She just stared at the ugly sight below her, as if committing it to memory, just in case there would ever be a doubt that Carmen would come back and haunt her.
Steve opened his eyes to see Carmen start to fall backwards. It all happened in slow motion to him. He saw Jade's arm come up from the cliff ledge that obviously saved her life. She grabbed Carmen's leg and pulled. Carmen's arms flailed in the air as she tried to grab onto anything to save her. There was nothing. He rushed to the edge to see her body break into pieces on the rocks below. Then he saw Jade.
"Jade!" He called with tears in his eyes as he ran towards the edge. "Oh my god, you're alive." He frantically called as he helped her up.
"My wrist is broken." Is all she said as he scooped her up in his arms. She didn't care about that, she was alive, Steve was alive and they were together. And the best part of all Carmen was gone. For good, for once and for all, forever! Steve looked at her battered and bleeding face and smiled. "You're beautiful." He said. She smiled weakly. "Jade," he said looking into her now watery eyes, "I love you." He finally breathed.
Jade looked up at him in amazement. Did she hear right? Did he love her? Did her wish really come true? "Oh Steve, I'm so in love with you." She cried happily.
Jade studied his strong handsome face as if committing it to memory, the face of the kindest man she ever met. The man that taught her what it was like to love again, the one man that had enough courage to give her a second chance. She loved him; nothing else mattered. She held her wrist while she snuggled into his strong arms and just cried. It was finally over. The years of chasing her nightmare. The years of not knowing who or what was next. The years of not being able to let Dean have the closure he deserved. And the years of not knowing whether or not she'd ever be given a second chance at love. But it had come, all of it. It was now a new beginning, a new start, and a new life for them both.
Steve looked down at her. Her wrist was broken, and he was pretty sure some of her ribs where as well. Her face was badly bruised and bleeding and her left eye was almost swollen shut. And yet she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He loved her. She was his, and he had never been happier. This was the ending he hoped for but feared would never get. And yet here it was. They were together. Her strength, her courage and her determination had made sure they would be given the chance they both needed. She had proved to him that the love they had for each other was worth more than dying for, it was worth living for. He just held her in his arms and let her cry. She deserved this time to cry, and he would let her for as long as she wanted. She earned it; she needed it.
And there they sat for what seemed like eternity, lost in each other's embrace. Jade crying into Steve's chest and Steve stroking her back and hair in reassurance that he was not leaving her side, now or ever. They were so lost in each other they never heard who walked up into the clearing behind them.
********
Shane heard Steve cry out. He started to run up the path. By the time he got there it was all over. Steve was holding Jade and she was crying. She was actually crying. In the last few years, she never had the chance to cry. Shane felt his eyes' tear at seeing his partner finally freed of her demons. If anyone deserved closure it was Jade. She had earned every second she deemed necessary to cry. He wasn't about to stop it now. He carefully walked behind them and peered over the edge. Carmen's dead and broken body lay plastered on the rocky floor below. Blood pooled beside her and had turned the water red. It was an eerie sight, but he actually let out a sigh of relief at seeing her dead. Was it wrong? Was it harsh or cold of him? He didn't care. It was over; it was finally over for them all. He picked up his cellphone and dialled community general. There were two other people who needed to feel the relief, at least to some extent that he did. He dialled the first.
"Dr. Mark Sloan please." Shane said into the phone.
********
"They're what?" Mark half yelled into the phone making Amanda and Jesse snap to attention at his words. They looked to one another and then waited for Mark to break what they thought would be very bad news.
"They're alive!" He said in tears, "all three of them." He smiled. Both Amanda who was now crying herself and Jesse went and hugged Mark. Steve was okay and so were Jade and Shane. Apparently they were all pretty badly hurt, but that didn't matter now. They were alive, that's all that mattered.
"Thank you god!" Mark said in a small prayer. "They should be here in an hour." He sighed. He went to prepare a special room for his son and the two people that he could now call family. Amanda and Jesse hurried after him.
********
Nickel and Chloe sat in their living room in silence. Chloe's face was dry except for a few tear marks that had made small paths earlier when Nickel broke the news about Jade and Carmen to her. She had known of her husband's one small mistake of the past. But she loved him enough to believe that it was the one time, and he made sure he lived up to his words when he said it would never happen again. And it was true. Chloe rested her head on her husband's chest and willed the phone to ring. And as if on cue, it did.
"Hello?" Nickel said into the speakerphone so that Chloe could hear also.
"Nickel?" Came Shane's weary voice.
"Shane? What.." his voice trailed off. He couldn't bring himself to ask for he too feared the worse.
"Carmen is dead sir." He paused. Both Nickel and Chloe looked at each other and Nickel breathed a sigh of relief. He felt no attachment to Carmen when he found out what she had become. She was no longer his daughter from that moment on but a stranger. It had hurt him at first, but as he began to realize what she truly was, he no longer felt anything towards her. And now it was over. Jade's demons were finally laid to rest.
"And Jade?" Chloe asked.
"Well at the present moment she is in the arms of the man she loves. And she's crying." Shane said his voice breaking up.
"You mean she's...?" Nickel asked his eyes starting to water.
"Alive and well sir." Shane finished.
"Oh thank god." Nickel breathed and hugged his now crying wife. It was over; it was finally over.
"Thanks Shane. I'll see you guys when you get back here." Nickel said just before Shane clicked off.
"The man she loves?" Chloe questioned with a happy smiled. Her little girl was in love again? Could it be true?
"What do you know, maybe miracles really do happen." Nickel said leaning back into the soft black leather sofa, brushing away a few stray tears. Chloe snuggled into him and silently cried happy tears. Nickel was happy. His wife was alive. His daughter was alive. Both her and Shane had survived. It was a long hard ordeal. And while they had lost several of the little battles, they won the war in the end. That's all that mattered.
They sat together like that for hours; just revelling in the new knowledge they had just been given. Nickel stared out the living room window into the dark Washington night. He was happy. His family was safe. And at that moment he forgot about everything else.
********
Shane snapped his phone off and turned back to his partner and friend. They were still locked in each other's embrace. He didn't have the heart to disturb them. He was about to radio for some help when all of a sudden the bushes came alive with the marines.
"What the hell?" Shane asked in amazement.
"Are you Special Agent Marshall sir?" Asked the young marine captain walking up to him.
"Nope." Shane said, "she is." He pointed to Jade. "But I wouldn't disturb them right now if I were you." Shane smiled.
"Understood sir. Is everything taken care of?" He asked.
"Yes sir it is." Shane smiled.
"Excellent job sir. Then our work is done here." Said the young marine.
"Well not exactly," started Shane; "there is quite a mess to clean up back at the cabin. And the three of us really need to get to the hospital."
"Understood sir." Said the marine that was about to walk away, but Shane's question stopped him.
"By the way did you happen to see two out of place thugs on the way up?"
"Already taken care of sir." Said the captain again.
"Excellent." Shane said, then added, "by the way captain. Who told you to come here?" Asked Shane.
"Director Melvin Baker sir." Said the captain.
"Director Baker?" Asked Shane in disbelief.
********
Jade and Steve heard the marines come but just ignored them. They needed this time. They didn't even hear the men clear out under Shane's direction. They were just so happy to be alive and together.
"So," Steve started.
"So," Jade started at the same time. They both smiled and laughed.
"I meant what I said before. I do love you Jade. I want to be with you always; for an eternity of tomorrows." Steve said as he bent to kiss her.
"And then some." She smiled and kissed him back. And despite all the pain they were feeling, the kiss seemed to last forever. A peaceful calm began to wash over them both. Embracing them in its endless arms. Wrapping them in serenity, and watching over them with a careful eye making sure they got the love they both needed and deserved. And tomorrow would come. The future would be theirs to share together.
********
Shane turned back for one last glance. He saw the kiss and turned away. He smiled. He started to head back to the cabin at a slow pace.
Boy Jade's father was right when he told them: that in life 'nothing's as it seems'.
**Dear readers, please let me know if you liked this chapter, the conclusion is coming soon--Thanks!!**
