The ambulance roared along Highway One with sirens blaring. Gabby and Seth were in the back with the professor and the EMT. They were holding on to the support bars and themselves as they tried to stay in their seats while the vehicle maneuvered down the winding highway.

The medical technician was taking the professor's vitals, which were currently steady. Earlier, when the ambulance first arrived at Mike's place, Jordan's nurse had been performing CPR to keep the man alive. They ended up having to use the defibrillator to restart his heart. He was unconscious and so it was quite traumatic for everyone to watch.

The overall affect of seeing her father shocked with the pads from the machine nearly brought Gabby to her knees. She cried out once and that was when Mike ordered her out of the living room. But she didn't hear him; she was too upset. So, with Gaele as support, Seth had to literally carry Gabby out of the guest house and away from the scene.

She was an emotional mess and all she could do was cling to Seth while he held her. Gaele talked with her to get her cousin's mind off of what was happening, but she was too upset to listen. A while later Mike joined them. Gabby saw him coming and she was certain he was going to reprimand her for not obeying. But instead he assured Gabby that the machine was the only way to save her father. Then he hugged her. Mike ended up admitting to her that watching the effects of the defibrillator on the professor bothered him as well. Gabby thought that with all Mike was capable of doing as ninja, it was rather interesting the machine would affect him likewise.

Now as the ambulance raced to get her father to Community Hospital in Monterey, Perry was still unconscious. But his heart was finally beating on its own which was a good sign. With an oxygen mask over his face and the technician right there, his condition had begun to stabilize.

Gabby was doing her best to keep her composure as she watched her father. She had recovered from her earlier shock and was now just sitting quietly. She gripped Seth's hand firmly, nearly making him wince in pain from the intensity.

"Ah, Gabby, dear, could you ease up on the – ah-.." he begged.

She looked at him and realized she was hurting him, "Oh, Seth, I'm so sorry." She released her grip a little.

"That's okay, but I might need my hand later to fill out any forms at the hospital." He hugged her and tried to smile.

Gabby then heard the tech tell her that Perry's blood pressure was 130/110. It wasn't bad all things considered. But his heart attack was of more concern.

They arrived at Community Hospital in Monterey from where Mike and Devon had just returned home. Seth had to pull Gabby back while the EMT's did their job as they wheeled the professor into the emergency room. He was quickly taken to a private section specifically designed for high profile patients. It was well guarded and only those who were on the list of visitors were allowed to enter. Seth and Gabby followed closely behind the gurney and the team of medical technicians as they rushed him into one of the rooms.

However, when it came to entering the examination room, the two were told to stay in the waiting room just down the hall.

"But he's my father!" Gabby cried out, looking past the intern as the professor was rolled up next to an examination table.

The intern looked at her briefly before telling her that she would just be in the way and it would be best for her to wait until the doctor had some news.

Gabby did not want to leave. But, reluctantly she allowed Seth to guide her down the hallway to the waiting room. As they came up to it she noticed further down the corridor a beautifully carved wooden double-door that had various religious inscriptions decorating the framework.

"They have a chapel here?" she asked Seth softly.

"Yes, Gabby. Do you want to go in there?" He asked her solemnly.

She nodded, so the two of them walked on towards the oak doors.

Once inside the chapel Gabby took the front pew where it was open to the pulpit area. Seth followed just behind her. She noticed immediately a sweet pleasing scent in the room. It almost created a serene feeling as if its purpose was to calm whoever entered the chapel. Then she noticed that the central area on the wall overlooking the front platform had a large circular wood carving that represented a variety of dominate faiths of the world. It was decorated with renditions of the Christian Cross, a Catholic Crucifix, a Star of David, the likeness of Buddha, plus several other religious symbols. The Community Church of Monterey was aware that many people would come through their doors, each expressing a need and desire to place their burdens on the alter of mercy. At a time when grief and despair was greatest it was important for that person to find comfort in some form.

Seth held Gabby and both of them closed their eyes as they prayed silently for the professor. They stayed that way for quite a while. A few times he could feel her shudder as she cried quietly. He sensed the deepness of her grief and it pained him terribly. Seth had never thought about losing a parent, but as he experienced Gabby's reaction to possibly losing hers, it scared him as well. He still had been unable to convince his father about the need for Christ and salvation. Though he had tried for years to tell him, Seth knew that Leo was too deep into Bushido to take anything else seriously.

Seth thought that in only a few days he and Gabby would marry. He knew how important it was for her to have Perry walk her down the aisle. But looking at the professor during the drive to the hospital Seth didn't think the man would make it. He was already weakened by his cancer and now his heart was starting to give out. Seth decided that if Perry could stabilize enough that maybe they could move the wedding date up a couple of days. If he was unable to leave his room, they might be able to convince the doctor to let them perform the ceremony in there. It wasn't important any more to have it in the church or even being dressed up in nice clothes. What was becoming important to him were Gabby and her father.

They were in the chapel for a good long time when a movement of air was felt. Seth looked cautiously back over his shoulder to then see Don coming down the aisle.

"There you are." He announced, "Been looking for you two. I should have known you'd be in here."

Gabby looked up and tried to smile. But her tear stained face told Don it was only for his benefit.

"How'd you find out about father?" Gabby asked weakly.

"Mike called me on my cell phone! I had it on vibrator. Wasn't expecting any calls. Just about made me jump out of my shell." he smiled.

Gabby didn't respond, so Don nixed trying to humor her and went into why he came for them.

Speaking to his niece, he said, "The doctor has your father stabilized and would like to see you, Gabby."

Don reached his hand out to her and she glumly took it. Seth followed close behind as Don led her back up the aisle and out the double-doors.

"Is he going to be all right? Will he be able to come home? What about the wedding?" Gabby was full of anxious questions as Don escorted her up the hallway.

"I don't have any answers for you, Gabby. We'll have to ask the doctor when he meets with us." was all Don could say to her.

She sighed and shuddered as she thought about the worse case scenario that could happen. She gripped Don's hand tightly - and noticed that he grimaced. Gabby smiled a little, saying, "Sorry, I kind of forgot about my grip." and released the tension around her uncle's hand. He could only nod appreciatively.

They didn't go to the first room that Jordan had been taken to but to another one that was down a separate hallway. Over the top of the entrance to the hall were the words Intensive Care. The area was nicely decorated with potted plants and murals or paintings on the wall. But it went unnoticed by Gabby as she fixed her eyes ahead of her and prepared to see her father.

Finally, coming to a room with the number 203 on the door, Don opened it and the three of them walked in.

Jordan was now fully conscious and sitting up just a little. He was hooked by wires to heart and breathing monitors that beeped rhythmically as they displayed his vital stats. He was also festooned with I.V's coming out of one of his arms. A slow drip was being administered through one of the I.V's and Gabby figured it was to keep him hydrated. She hadn't a clue what the other one was, but she was more focused on the fact that her father was fully aware that she was in the room.

"My dear daughter, come here. You must be very frightened." Jordan reached out to her weakly.

Gabby almost ran to him but tempered her response lest she hurt him. She gently hugged him, trying not to interfere with the wires and tubes that seem to snake around him like an octopus. She let her tears flow unabated.

"Now you just get yourself under control. I'm fine. Just a little heart problem and the doctor seems to feel…." Perry began to comfort Gabby, explaining his health situation. However, the doctor came in about that time.

The doctor smiled as he saw the family. He noticed Gabby right away as she stood next to the bed where her father was resting.

"My name is Dr. Benjamin. You must be Gabby!" he reached out and took her hand compassionately. "Your father had a heart attack but it seems to have been a mild one. He lost consciousness because it restricted the flow of oxygen to his brain. Basically he passed out and stopped breathing. If it weren't for the nurse giving him CPR I think the outcome would have been quite different. He's a lucky man!"

Then Don asked, "How soon will he be able to return home?" He was mindful of Gabby's questions from earlier.

"Hmm…not for a few days yet." The doctor began, "I'd like to run more tests to see if there was any damage to the heart."

Gabby turned to Seth and said, "Guess we'll have to postpone the wedding?"

But Seth offered, "Unless we step it up a few days and get married here?"

Gabby looked at him and then at the doctor, "Is that possible?"

He was quite surprised. Dr. Benjamin smiled and then asked, "When was the wedding supposed to take place?"

Don interjected, "Christmas day."

"I'll have to check with administration first, of course, but I don't see a problem with it. We have a very nice chapel and I think it would work well. We'll have to also check with your father's test schedule to coordinate it with that." Then he looked at Gabby, "Your father will probably be staying here through Christmas."

Gabby didn't care in that moment where she and Seth said their vows. Right now all she cared about was her father.

******

Later, they were once again in the chapel. Gabby had refused to leave the hospital while her father was undergoing tests. No matter how much Don tried to entice her to take a break, his niece refused. He offered to take her back to Carmel to visit with her friend, but in truth, Cassandra wanted to see her. However, Gabby sent a message with Don to tell Cassie that she would have to take a rain check on that talk she was owed. She was just too busy worrying about her father.

Because she had slept very little during the night, even though the hospital staff provided her with a bed, Gabby had fallen asleep as she leaned against Seth. Seth had trained in staying awake for long periods so he wasn't nearly as exhausted as his fiancé. But it was difficult trying to be alert when all they were doing was just sitting still. If he had someone to listen to - like his pastor - it wouldn't have been so bad. As it was, the room was as silent as a tomb.

A movement of air caught Seth's attention. He turned around to see Cassandra coming up the aisle towards them. She smiled as she caught his look. She saw that Gabby was asleep so Cassie whispered something to Seth. He nodded and carefully eased Gabby off his shoulder. She was completely out; tired and exhausted from her vigil.

Soon Gabby felt that something wasn't quite right with Seth's shoulder. It felt different. She stirred and straightened up a bit to look at him, only it was Cassandra she was staring at.

"Oh, Cassandra, when…when did you get here?" Gabby asked as she pulled away from her a little to stretch. "Where's Seth?" She yawned and then looked around the chapel.

"He's probably sleeping right now. I decided to give him a break." Cassie replied and then asked, "How are you doing, dear?" Her smile was warm and comforting.

Gabby tried to smile back but she was still overly concerned about the professor.

She answered, "Okay, I guess. The professor's been going through some MRI and Ultrasound tests to see if his heart has been damaged."

"You must have been very worried, Gabby." Cassandra commented as she looked at her friend.

Gabby's eyes started to well up at the thought and then she cried, "I've never thought about losing him. I don't know what I'll do without him if he dies, Cassie!"

She fell into her friend as the woman beckoned to her. Cassie hugged her with her good arm as the girl cried into her shoulder.

"Nothing's for certain, yet, Gabby. Your father may have many more months yet to live." she told the girl.

"I just want him to see me get married and then see the baby." Gabby sniffed as she managed to grab back her resolve.

Cassandra told her, "That's not up to us, but up to the Lord. Being here in this chapel is a good place to be right now, though. Let the doctors do what they have to do to help your father." She then took a deep breath and, gently pushing Gabby away so she could turn in the pew, faced her friend.

"Now, for that talk I promised you." She began.

Gabby wiped her eyes and nodded. "Now? Well, okay."

She was thinking that Cassandra was going to explain why she was in the forest on Friday and why she challenged Seth to a fight. Gabby remembered how well her friend fought when the other attack came and it had intrigued her since then. There were many questions that ran through her mind and she wanted very much to ask Cassandra about them. But there hadn't been time to talk about it since her friend had to be taken to the hospital soon after retuning to the house.

Gabby cleared her mind of her more immediate concerns to focus on the words that she would be hearing next.

Cassie took the girl's hands with her one and held them. She looked at her and smiled.

Then she explained, "What I am about to share with you may be very difficult for you to understand. It is very hard for me to tell you. I'm hoping that our friendship over the past several months will be taken into account and that your intelligence will help you to accept some things about what I'm going to say.

"Thirty-five years ago I belonged to an organization that, simply put, engaged in illegal activities. I had been abducted when I was six years old....." and then Cassandra began to share her life story with her daughter.

When Cassandra mentioned Oruku Saki's name, Gabby's eyes widened in recognition and surprise. Then, when her friend shared about her part in Raphael's beating on that rooftop in New York and that she herself was responsible for it, Gabriella had to keep from pulling away from her. It all seemed too surreal to her to believe that this friend of hers would do or be able to do such a thing. And, yet, she thought about last Friday and how well Cassie had fought.

Cassandra saw the momentary shock in Gabby's eyes and gently took the girl's hands, "Please know that I am in no way proud of what I did to Raph! At the time, I was under orders and under Saki's influence. However...." and so Cassie explained how she decided that fateful day to flea from his brothers, ending the attack. She told how, instead, she ran back to the compound where she renounced her loyalty to Saki. It wouldn't have been so bad except she did this in front of his Elite soldiers.

Cassandra then shared how he then had her beaten and raped in front of everyone.

"I paid dearly for betraying him, Gabby! But, I would do it all over again, in a heartbeat, rather than continue on living the life he wanted for me!"

Gabriella's eyes welled up with tears as she thought about this woman being so treated. She realized then that Cassandra and she had much in common. No wonder her friend was able to counsel Gabby so well regarding what Jason had done to her.

But then Cassie went on explaining how she had been experimented on, mentioning the professor, and then being artificially impregnated.

Gabriella nearly fell off the pew in surprise.

"Wh...what are you telling me? " she stammered as her breathing began coming in short gasps.

"What I am trying to tell you, my dear," and Cassandra took a deep breath herself, holding it for a moment to still her heart from pounding out of her chest, "is I am…your mother!"

She was still holding onto Gabby's hands and when the girl tried to pull away, Cassandra would not let go. "Please stay with me! There is so much more to tell you!"

"Why - why didn't you make yourself known to me before now? Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" tears rolled down Gabby's face. She looked horrified at this woman sitting next to her, this friend who was now telling her that she was her mother.

"I thought my mother was dead!" she cried out.

Cassandra sighed deeply, trying to grab as much composure as she could. Finally, she replied, "In a sense, she did, Gabriella ....the person who was in that holding cell did die. She died to herself the day she gave up her own flesh and blood, her child, to be raised by somebody else."

Gabby shook her head, not understanding, " What do you mean, she - you died?"

"The hardest, most difficult act any mother can do is to give up her child, Gabriella." Cassandra explained, "But, I had to. I could not escape my cell at the time. The professor was not as much under lock and key as he was when Saki was alive. He actually had the freedom to come and go. Restricted freedom with escort, but still he was the only one in a position to get you out of there. Plus I was in no shape to raise you and I knew it; the professor knew it. Letting him take you nearly convinced me I had nothing more to live for. Once he had left, I didn't see you again for six months. I told the professor to take you to Montana. I gave him directions and a map I made to direct him to that hidden canyon. Before he did, though, he started a chemical fire I told him to make. In the end I was able to escape the fire, but just barely. I really should have died that day, but by the grace of God I didn't!"

Gabby stared at the person in the pew next to her. Cassandra was her mother. She held back the tears and shook from the effort. There were so many questions, so much to ask about, and yet, there was also anger!

"You were that lady on the hill in Montana weren't you? And… and Mrs. Cannes?" she started blubbering.

Gabby remembered while living in Montana a woman who seemed to be mentally unbalanced. The woman's flaming red hair and her wild actions nearly terrorized Gabby back then. She was just a little girl at the time, but she would never forget that crazy lady. Her fear prevented her from even thinking about exploring that end of the box canyon where Gabby lived.

Cassandra smiled thinly. "I needed to protect you, Gabby! There was still a faction of the Foot around that had a vested interest in regaining you. I doubted very much they would have searched Montana, especially as remote and primitive as where you and Perry were holed up. But, I couldn't take any chances. The Crazy Lady routine was a way to keep others from interfering and - as it turned out – it kept you on the farm!" Cassandra couldn't help but grin, saying "But you certainly gave your father a run for his money back then!"

For a moment, Gabby faintly smiled back, but then lost it as she exclaimed angrily, "Why didn't you make yourself known to me in Connecticut, though? Why the voice-teacher act? Why?" and she started to cry, now, and pulled her hands away. With everything going on with the Professor's health, this new bit of information was just a little too much for her to take.

Her mother sighed and finally let go of Gabby's hands. She was afraid this would happen, afraid that this young woman, her own daughter, would be angry rather than happy.

"After ten years of having just the professor around I thought it best to keep my distance. It hurt, Gabby - a lot! But Jordan had made such a nice life for you, even with keeping you hidden and all. When he discovered that you could sing that's when we decided my coming once a week to train you would give me a way to be with you. It was a little exposure for me as well as for you. But there were times I wanted to rip my sunglasses off and just hold you and tell you who I was. Still I felt too much time had passed for such things. I was afraid that ... in all honesty... you would reject me."

Now Cassandra felt the heat of her own tears as they gathered for the flood. She fought them back, but not before Gabby noticed them.

"You're telling me the truth, aren't you?" she asked, sniffing a little and somewhat surprised by Cassandra's own reaction.

"Yes, Gabby, I have never been more truthful than now!" her mother replied softly. "I truly love you and these past few months in getting to know you better have been the best of my life! I don't feel like I have to protect you any more; not with Seth so capable!"

Gabby looked at her and ever so slowly it dawned on her. With her eyes wide in surprise and then with wonder, she declared, "That's why you fought Seth Friday? You wanted to test him?"

Cassandra only nodded and then smiled.

To her relief she saw her daughter smile back.

Then Gabby had to ask, "Did he pass?"

Cassie laughed and then hugged her daughter, "Yes, he did - with flying colors!"

********************************************************************************************

This is a little late and should have been posted on chapter 54: My thanks to Ramica for educating me on Oruko Saki's brother through her fic, Therefore I am. I knew from somewhere that there was a brother who loved Tang Shen and that Saki was the rebuttal to Yoshi's killing of that brother to defend Shen's honor. I knew it was from the original comic series. But, Ramica confirmed it for me! Anyway, thanks Ramica. :0)

In this fic, I am not that privy to what they do for heart attack victims. So I erred on the side of caution and did very little. I am sure some of you are better versed in what these patients go through and what hospitals do for them. However, I do know a thing or two about visiting a loved one in the hospital. Be blessed.