It's a Long Fall From Heaven – Part VIII

A/N: Each time there is an '--' , that means there is a point of view change... and so...not much to say now...except...hold on to your hats! Oh, and PS – anhonestmoose...that IS how you spell intrigued ;)

-----

Chandler could hardly control himself.  He stumbled blindly around the room, searching for his clothes, and shoes, so he could go out and find her.  There was no way he was going to wait for her to come back.  If she was going to go and save her son, then he needed to go, too.  He never loved anyone as much as he loved those two people.  And the thought of losing them, either of them, let alone both of them, was more than he could bear to live with.

He got in the car minutes later, driving around the city.  He stopped at nearly every street corner, asking if they had seen her.  He asked store clerks if they knew what kind of place he may have gone to.  He was running out of ideas.  But he did not intend to give up.  It was nearly dark; The sun was setting.  He stopped at a convenience store, similar to the one Monica owned, and went in to talk to the manager.

"Excuse me, sir," Chandler waved at the man at the back of the store, who came quickly up to the front.

"You look troubled.  Anything I can do?"

"Yes, um… I'm looking for this woman, her name is Monica.  She's about my height, with very dark hair, and these gorgeous blue eyes…" He remembered her face perfectly.  He could practically see her in front of him.  He knew her inside and out.  He choked back tears, and spoke again. "Anyway, have you seen anyone?"

"Not that fits that description.  Do you know where she was headed?"

"She never said.  I just have to find her.  Her so - " he paused.  "My son is in danger."

"Oh.  I'm deeply apologetic, but I haven't seen her.  I'll keep a look out, though."

"Thank you." Chandler turned to leave the store.

"Oh!" He turned around as the man spoke. "There are plenty of inns and alleyways a couple of streets over.  You could try there."

"Great.  Thanks a million." He grinned, and fled the store.  Hopping back into the car, he drove to the approximate location that the man had told him.  He drove down the street, passing hotels and restaurants, gas stations, a palace looking inn, an ice cream parlor, a large apartment complex…

His tires screeched as he pulled the car to a halt.  He made a U - Turn and drove back down the road he came.  He pulled out the note she wrote him, as he stopped in front of a large building.

I've gone to get little Aladdin.

--

Monica peered down the dark alleyway behind the Sultan's Palace Hotel.  She couldn't see a thing, but she could hear something.

"Hang on, I think I hear them." Monica whispered.

"You do?" A young woman's voice was heard.

"Yeah. Here, be quiet for a sec."

"Sorry." Monica strained her ears.  She couldn't hear anything but her own breathing.

"Amanda?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for everything."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I need to go, now."

"Well, I'm coming with you."

"No.  This is something I have to do on my own."

"Are you sure? You don't know what he could do."

"I know."

"Plus, I would love the chance to pop him one." Monica almost smiled at that.

"You can do that as much as you want when I have my angel back."

"Okay."

"Trust me.  I'll be back soon."

"You'd better. You still owe me lunch."  She hugged her friend, and Monica heard her footsteps diminish.  She closed her eyes, and prayed that her son was safe, wherever he was.

--

Chandler entered the front doors of the Sultan's Palace Hotel.  It was obvious, and yet, completely unpredictable.  He prayed that this was the right place.  The clerk smiled falsely, most likely guessing that he wouldn't actually be staying at the hotel.  She was right, though.

"May I help you, sir?" She sounded almost irritated.

"Did you see a young woman, about my height, with black hair, and blue eyes come through here?" He felt a little foolish for repeating himself so much, but then again, the only person who heard him say it more than once was himself, and he didn't mind, as long as it meant finding Monica, or Jonas.

"Why, yes, I believe so."

"Do you know where she went?"

"I believe she went out the back door."

"Okay, thank you."

"But that leads to an alleyway.  It's a dead end."

"Even better," Chandler muttered, sarcastically.

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh, it's nothing.  Thank you for your time." It was Chandler's turn to put on a false smile.  He ran out the back door, into the darkness, hoping that it concealed the two people who meant anything to him, and that they might have been within reach.

--

Monica was not about to lose hope.  She was sure she was nearing the dead end, and her strides became quicker, as she thought she heard someone behind her.  She heard the footsteps getting closer, and she started to run.

--

Chandler's only hope was the faint sound he heard in front of him.  It was fading, but it encouraged him to try run and catch up to it.  He idly wondered if it was just his imagination, and if he was going to eventually run into a wall, and find out that there was nothing there.  His conscious told him that he shouldn't give up until he was sure that there was nothing he could do.  His conscious was right.  There was a dim light in front of him.  He felt like he had been running forever, but something was up ahead.

--

There was a light.  Somewhere, up ahead.  It was there.  She kept running.  The footsteps behind her grew louder, and she kept her legs moving.  The light was growing.  Someone was there.  She saw the outline of a figure.  It had to be him. 

--

There was a tall man, and something next to him.  Of course.  It was him.  It had to be.  He heard a familiar sound.  He recognized it immediately.  It was the soothing sound of Monica's breathing.  She was panting, hard, and he knew it was her.  He was so close to her.

--

She felt the air moving next to her, and she heard a soft tapping.  The sound of footsteps that weren't her own.  She looked over, and saw two eyes shining in the moonlight.

Chandler's eyes.

She gained confidence, and reached out and took his hand.  They kept the same speed.  The light was almost enormous, and they knew they were close.  They heard a laugh.  A high pitched, maniacal laugh.  The sort of laugh you only heard when one thing was certain... death.  Monica almost tripped, but kept her balance.  Nothing in the world mattered but her son's safety.

--

Nothing in the world mattered but their safety. He'd save them both.  It didn't matter.

--

They reached him quickly.  He was still laughing.  Jonas was awake, tied in a chair.  He couldn't have fallen out of that chair if he was killed, he was tied so tight.  He was gagged and blindfolded, but he could still hear.

"Jonas!" Monica screamed when she saw her son.  He squirmed, obviously trying to say something, but she couldn't understand him.  Rick laughed again.  Chandler decided to stay out of the conversation.

"Leave him."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Leave who? Who 'he'?"

"I think you know."

"Do I?"

"You have to make a choice.  It's your son, or your knight in shining armor."  She saw him pull out a revolver.

"No…no, please…" She sobbed. He rotated the barrel in his hand.

"There is one alternative." He grinned maliciously.

"Anything."

"You can sacrifice yourself, for their safety."

"What?"

"Give up your life, and they can go."

"If that's what it takes from you."

"Ha.  You'd give up your life for them?"

"I'd live a thousand deaths."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"If you ever truly loved me, you'd know."

"Monica!" Chandler yelled, trying to get her attention.

"Don't worry.  They'll treat me nice up there."

"No.  I won't let you.  I love you." His voice grew serious.

"I love you, too.  Take care of my boy." She turned to Rick. "Go on, do it. I dare you."  Rick cocked the gun back. 

There was a scream.

There was a gunshot.

And a body fell down to the ground.

A cold-hearted cackle echoed in the alley.

But the body wasn't Monica's.

-----

*dum dum dum!*  There are enough clues to tell you who died...but I'll leave that up to you...moving right along...oh...and please don't hate me, because...well...you'll see... the final chapter is next!!