It's a Long Fall From Heaven – Part IX
A/N: Here's the final part...I hope you like it!!!
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Monica let out a shriek and dropped to her knees. Chandler had jumped in front of her, taking the bullet himself, and he now lay motionless in front of her. Rick laughed again.
"The choice is made." He said, putting his gun away in his back pocket. "Leave your 'dashing hero'. Take the boy and go. I'm warning you. You mention my name to the police, and that gun will be the death of you both, as well."
Monica nodded, and ran over to her son, who was squirming in his chair, whining as if a small lost puppy. She found the knots confining his arms and legs, and untied him, freeing him from his blindfold and inability to speak. Jonas jumped down from his chair, and went around Rick, who was deep in thought, to Chandler's lifeless body. He shook him, and started to cry.
"Chandler? Wake up, Chandler!" Monica took his hand, and pulled him back.
"Come on, sweetie. We have to go."
"Mommy…" She looked down at Chandler, and blew him a kiss.
"Heaven's arms will hold you tight, my love. I will never forget." She closed her eyes for a moment, placing his face clearly in her mind.
"Could you move any slower?" Rick yelled. Jonas jumped and squeezed his mother's hand. They trudged slowly away, their heads hanging. When they were out of earshot, Jonas snapped to attention.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, angel?"
"We have to run. Now."
"We do?"
"Do you trust me?"
"What?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Yeess…?"
"Then hurry!" He grabbed her hand, and they took off into the darkness.
--
Rick laughed.
"Tell me exactly, what am I supposed to do? Now that I have allowed you, to beat me? Do you think that we could play another game? Maybe I could win this time? I kinda like the misery you put me through, darlin' you can trust me completely. If you even try to look the other way, I think that I could kill this time…" The song replayed in his head. He reached in his back pocket, and realized what had happened. He let out the strangled cry of defeat.
--
Monica and Jonas were in the car. Monica had decided not to let her emotions get the better of her, and to ensure that Jonas was safe before letting the tears fall. Monica had learned that over the years. She normally didn't let her emotions show around others, but when she was with Chandler, he brought it out of her. She was so comfortable around him, and she told him everything. He told her everything. Sometimes they would stay up the entire night, revealing secrets, sharing stories, and growing closer together each time they spoke. She fought her tears again, and concentrated on the road. Moments later, she remembered something.
"Jonas, why did we have to get out of there so quickly?"
He used his mother's favorite excuse. "Because I said so."
"And why is that?"
"Um…" he looked guilty.
"What is it?"
"You promise you won't get mad?"
"I promise."
He pulled something silver out of his pocket. "I took his gun."
Monica slammed on the brakes, and pulled over to the side of the road. "You what?" She was stunned.
"I'm sorry." Jonas looked down at his hands in shame. Her face, on the other hand, broke into a huge smile and she turned around.
"You brilliant little thief, you!" Her voice was squeaking. She ruffled his hair. His eyes showed confusion.
"You mean…I'm not in trouble?"
"Well, normally, yeah. Don't think you can get away with it again, little one. But…you just may have saved our lives."
"Really?"
"Yes." She laughed, and kissed him on the cheek.
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"I had a dream come true today."
"And what was that?"
"I got to be just like Aladdin."
"Mm-hmm. I guess you did."
"I missed you so much, Mommy."
"I missed you, too, angel. Finally you can come home."
"I only wish I could have saved Daddy."
"Sweetie… your father is still alive." Monica raised an eyebrow. What did he mean?
"No. I meant… Chandler."
"What?"
"Since I met him, I really wanted you guys to get married."
"You did?" He nodded, closing his eyes for a moment.
"But now, I can't tell him how much I love him. I just wish I had a chance to call him my Daddy."
She silently prayed that Jonas wouldn't see her tears.
--
The gates opened, and he stepped forward, still in a daze. The man in front of him smiled pleasantly.
"Are they all right?"
"Who?" The man inquired.
"The little boy. And his mother."
"Yes, yes. They are fine."
"Are you sure?"
The man waved his hand, and a small frosted glass orb materialized in front of him from the mist. "See for yourself." He said, gesturing at the sphere. The unfamiliar caller stepped up, and sure enough, there they were, sleeping peacefully. He saw her hand tighten around his intertwined fingers. He sighed happily.
"They are safe. Thank goodness." He was able to sleep that night. The sun set brilliantly, and he watched it rise again in the morning. Arisen from his down bed, he found a summons tied to one of his bedposts.
The long staircase was tiring, but he braved it. Another set of gates blocked him, but the small paper he held in his hand allowed him to pass the numerous guards at attention. He shot them nervous glances, and they did not bother to blink. An enormous throne was in front of him, but otherwise, the huge dome room was completely empty. He took two steps forward, and the tiniest noise he made echoed endlessly in the vast white chamber that he thought to be deserted.
"Hello?" He whispered, and his voice was magnified twenty times more. He winced as he broke the silence that had filled the room seconds ago.
"Hello there." He heard a deep voice, and looked around. No one was in sight. "Do you know why you are here?"
"I haven't a clue." He looked behind him.
"Allow me to explain." The voice focused, and he turned around and jumped. A man was sitting in the glorious white chair, his hand on his temple. He felt an odd sense of comfort radiating from him; an odd sense of trust. A chair materialized behind the visitor. "Please, sit." He sat quietly, and waited for this mysterious magician to speak. "I have spoken with my council about your situation. It appears you have committed an act of pure selflessness. That is a rare trait among your kind. In addition, word was received that you have unfinished business back home, and have not one, but two entities that still hold a spiritual connection with you. You must really love them. And that is something we don't tend to overlook casually in this type of place. You've done some excellent work, and we feel that you qualify to take part in our next big operation. What do you say?"
The newcomer's eyes glittered, and he broke into a smile for the first time since he arrived.
"Wouldn't miss it for anything." He whispered. The man smiled back, mirroring his enthusiasm.
--
Monica woke from her sleep with a start. She had felt someone's eyes on her, for the eighth night in a row. She glanced around the hotel room, half expecting to see someone there. Everything was dark and empty. She shivered from the temperature of the room, and rolled over, putting her face into the pillow. She lifted her head up, and leaned over the side of the bed, pulling her bag out from under it. She unzipped it quietly, and took out a small piece of cloth. She put it against her cheek, closing her eyes.
It was one of Chandler's shirts. She breathed it in, as she had done so many sleepless nights. Those nights when she had woken up with his warm arms around her. The difference was, she didn't want to go back to sleep on those nights. Lying in his arms gave her an undeniable sense of protection. Nowadays, she had no choice but to live the life of an insomniac.
She squeezed her eyes shut, and searched for the image she kept deep inside her heart. She sought out his face, and found it. Her face lit up, even with her eyes closed, as she pictured him on the other side of her, his arms around her waist, his chin nestled in her shoulder. It was the way they slept. The sweet scent of Chandler filled her nostrils, and for a fleeting second, she could feel him there with her.
She tried to sleep with that thought, but something kept her up. It was certain. There was something there, but she couldn't figure out what. She tried to convince herself that it was just her imagination and her lack of sleep, but there was a sinking feeling that something, or someone, was there. Seconds later, she felt a wave of relief suddenly come over her, and she immediately fell asleep, unaware of the outside presence that helped her in doing so.
--
Jonas awoke nearly an hour after Monica had finally gotten to sleep. He rubbed his eyes, and sighed. One of her arms was still draped over his chest, and her other clutched something at her tear stained cheek. He slid out of them, and went to the bathroom. Sneaking as quietly as he could, he came out of the room, and stopped abruptly when he opened the door. He rubbed his eyes again, and stared.
A man was next to his sleeping mother. He was sitting in a chair that didn't look as if it belonged in the room, and he was affectionately stroking her hair. Jonas could hear her breathing, she almost sounded as if she were purring. He hadn't ever heard her sound like that. He looked at the one causing it, and squinted. The man looked up, and caught the boy's eye. Jonas had to cover his mouth to keep from shouting. But…how? The identified stranger stood up, and the chair he was sitting on vanished before his eyes. Jonas blinked several times. Was he dreaming?
The man knelt in front of the frightened child, taking his hands, and stroking his cheek gently. He picked him up, and carried him over to his place on the bed next to his mother. He kissed Jonas on the forehead, and covered him up. He swept his hand softly over Jonas' face, and the little boy started to feel tired.
"Goodnight, angel. I'll see you, come morning. Just you wait."
--
She thought she was dreaming when she woke with the sun. She saw a pair of bright blue eyes in front of her. They were soft, and warm. Loving, and gentle. Tender, and sweet. She only knew one person with those eyes. His name formed on her lips.
"Chandler?"
He nodded, and she sat up abruptly. He looked as good as he ever did, and completely unscathed. She was in shock. He was dead…wasn't he? She hit herself on the head, squeezed her eyes shut, pinched herself, and opened her eyes again. Chandler was still there.
"I - Is it really you?" He merely nodded again, and she jumped up and into his arms. Jonas had sat up in bed, grinning wildly. He didn't even bother to look away when they kissed; he was happy that they were back together again. He hopped down from the bed, and went over to them. Chandler picked him up, and rested him on her hip. Jonas drew in a breath.
"I love you, Daddy."
"I love you, too, Jonas."
Monica began to cry. "My angels!" She said through tears. She kissed them both, content with only their presence. He set him back down.
"Are you guys okay?"
"We are now." Jonas said, happily.
"I'm glad."
"So…what happened?" Monica asked.
"It's kind of complicated."
"Well, we have time for a story."
"Yeah! I love stories!" Jonas said, enthusiastically.
"Can I sit down? I'm a little tired." Chandler asked. Monica nodded. Chandler sat down on the bed, laying back on it, he stretched and groaned in relief. It was good to be back.
"What? How come you're tired?" Jonas asked, pulling Chandler back up to a sitting position. Who he thought were the two most important people in the world, looked at him with the exact same expression. His life was more than he ever expected it to be.
"Well, let's just say, it's quite a long fall from heaven."
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The end! The end! The end! *cheers* And there it is! REVIEW or I'll stalk you...*wink*
