DREAM COME TRUE

NOTE: I own Rosa and any other Gilmore Girls characters I make up. The rest belong to the wonderful WB.

A/N: This story will be ending soon, sadly. Don't worry, though. I'll be working on another one shortly. Also on a side note you guys should know that in this chapter the words in bold are memories.

                                               CHAPTER 13

          "She's in Denver," Rory said. "I mean, she has to be in Denver, right?"

          "She's in Denver," Luke assured her, a determined look n his face as he, Jess, Rory, and Lorelai all stormed down the street.

          "I do not believe this," said Lorelai. "It's completely unreal."

          Jess said lowly, "I swear to God. If he touches her—"

          "If he touches her that's the end for him," Luke cut in.

          "The police are on it but we can't just sit around," Rory explained as they reached her car.

          "Let's go," Jess said, slipping into the car.

          "We'll take my truck," Luke said to Lorelai, who only nodded.

          "Good luck," Lorelai whispered into Rory's ear, giving her a little hug.

          Rory slipped into the driver's seat of her car and immediately drove off.

          Rosa moaned lightly as she slept, a displeasured look on her face. She slowly began to stir, even though it felt hard to move. Rosa sat up and glanced around her surroundings. She was lying on a couch in the living room of an apartment.

          "I see you're awake." Rosa gasped and looked up at Adams, who had just come into the room. "Don't be afraid. Everything will be all right now." Rosa released another moan, which seemed to be of pain. "Oh, and I suggest you don't try to move right away. Don't worry. It'll wear off soon."

          "I-I… I'm scared," Rosa whispered, complete helplessness in her voice.

          "Oh," Adams uttered. "Don't worry, honey. I'm here. You're all mine now."

          "I want to go home," Rosa moaned again, having to lie back down, as she was still very weak.

          "You are home," Adams said simply.

          Rosa managed to shake her head. "No. I want Daddy and—"

          "Daddy?" Adams repeated then frowned deeply. "Daddy! Let me tell you something about your father, Rosa." He approached her, menacing over her. "You wouldn't have been his for long. You really think he loved you?" Adams scoffed. "A joke is what that is. He never cared about you; never wanted you."

          "No…" Rosa couldn't believe him. His words couldn't be true… could they? "I have to… go… home." She managed to roll off the couch then released a groan of pain.

          "Now, Rosa," said Adams. "We can't have that." He picked up the rope he'd left beside the couch. "I didn't want to have to use this, but…" Adams lifted Rosa onto an armchair and immediately tied the rope a round the chair, closing her in.

          "Stop it, please," Rosa pleaded. "I just want to go home. Please!"

          "Come on now, Rosa. Everything will be fine when you realize I'm the best thing for you right now."

          Rosa hung back into the chair, her heart pounding a million times a second.

          Rory sped down one of the busy highways of Denver, not bothering to care about traffic speed or any other garbage. The only thing that truly mattered was Rosa and her alone. They had to find her. They just had to. Rory glanced over at Jess, whose expression was just as determined as Luke's. Rory couldn't even imagine what must have been going on in his head.

          "I promise I won't let anything happen to you," Jess said to Rosa.

          Rosa hung from the monkey bars in the park of Stars Hollow. "No way. This is too scary and I'm too short," she said.

          "Join the club," Jess hid a laugh. "Come on, kid. Go for it."

          Rosa shut her eyes tightly and swung forward, almost immediately missing a bar of the monkey bars.

          Instinctively Jess grabbed her in his arms. "Told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you." They both had to release a laugh at that.

          "Jess?" Rory's voice called, taking the young man away from his thoughts. "Jess, are you all right?"

          "What?" Jess whispered, mostly to himself.

          Rory had to think of something to say, something that would comfort him. "Jess, it'll be all right." He didn't respond, nor did Jess feel convinced. "Jess, Rosa is stronger than she looks. Especially if she's anything like her father." Jess glanced at Rory, giving her a soft look, then turned to the window.

          "Rosa…" he whispered.

          Why was this happening? Rosa's mind kept screaming that over and over again. Things had just been so happy at first. Rosa wanted more than anything at that moment to be back home with Rory, Lorelai, Luke, and, of course, Jess.

          "Mommy, I didn't mean it," four-year-old Rosa pleaded. "It was an accident." The child was in tears.

          Shane looked over the broken glass of her beer bottle, which Rosa had knocked over. "You ruin everything," Shane said, meaning every word of it. "I'm sick of it. All you do is make me unhappy."

          "I promise I'll be good," Rosa continued to plead. "Mommy, please don't."

          "Shut up," Shane ordered. "Maybe you didn't learn from the last time, but I'll make sure you don't forget this one." The blonde stood and approached Rosa menacingly.

          "No, Mommy," Rosa screamed out. "I promise I'll never be bad again. Mommy, please. Don't do it. Mommy, don't!"

          Chills filled Rosa's insides and appeared as cold sweat on her forehead.

          Rosa screamed loud enough to shatter the thick glass of her bedroom window. At that moment, Jess rushed in as he normally did and joined her on her bed. Without saying anything, he pulled the girl into his lap and began rocking her gently.

          "I'm sorry," Rosa apologized for waking him.

          "Shush," Jess hushed her. "Like sleep is my main target at night." Rosa stayed silent, relaxing in his arms. "Another dream?"

          Rosa nodded. "Why won't they go away?"

          "Don't worry. I'll make something to eat. That'll scare them."

          Rosa laughed softly, snuggling up against her father.

          "Daddy," Rosa whimpered, staring off into a frantic daze. "I'm sorry. Why didn't I listen?" Tears began to shine in her brown eyes and they wasted no time spilling over in a gush. "I want to come home, Daddy."

          The six-year-old girl finally began to think a little more calmly. She glanced down at the ropes that bound her, the old Mariano determination beginning to flow through her. Rosa struggled as best she could, but the ropes proved to be stronger than her, and she was still a little woozy. An idea hit her suddenly. Rosa sucked in her tummy and squeezed as best she could under the ropes until she found herself safely on the floor of the living room.

          After releasing a quick sigh of relief Rosa sped for the front door, trying to work the locks on it. When she finally got the door unlocked, from out of nowhere she felt a hand reach out and snatch her, turning her around.

          "I see we're trying to leave again," said Adams. "Well, we'll just have to fix that won't we?"

          "You're fighting me again," Shane's voice echoed. "Well, we'll just have to fix that won't we?"

          Rosa glared at the memory of her mother. She glanced up at the man who was supposed to be her teacher, keeping the glare on her face. Before Adams could ask what she was staring at so intently Rosa suddenly pulled her leg back and gave him as hard a kick in the leg as she could. It seemed to work, as Adams grabbed his ankle and fell to his back, rubbing it.

          "Oh, God, damn it!" he hissed. Rosa tried to work the doorknob of the door, but Adams kicked it closed with his good foot. "And where do you think you're going?"

          Rosa turned to him, her brown eyes burning with anger and fire. "I want… my… dad!" she screamed so loudly that Adams had to actually grab onto his ears to muffle the sound.

          Rosa, still glaring, ran from the door and over to the closet's door and picked up a small wrench that sat in a basket outside of it. Adams managed to stand, despite his throbbing ankle and grimaced at her.

          "What are you doing?" he demanded.

          "Guess what?" Rosa suddenly formed a smirk. "I play baseball." She tossed the wrench off then, actually managing to hit him in the forehead. Adams fell to his knees, rubbing his aching head furiously. "And I'm a great pitcher." With that, she raced for it and actually got out the door.

          "No!" Adams called, getting up and speeding off after her.

          "Come on," Rosa pleaded with the slow moving elevator. When she saw Adams headed her way she quickly chirped, "Uh oh." Rosa ran the opposite direction, heading for the stairs.

          The child raced down the stairs as fast she could, yet, Adams didn't stop. He was right behind her. Rosa slipped up and fell to her knees when she got to the first floor, but quickly stood and headed for the front door, which would lead her out of the apartment building. Going to quickly, though, she slipped up again and fell into the door, falling again.

          Adams approached her then, towering over her small body. "It looks like you're all out of ideas," he said menacingly. "Now you really might want to run."

          "Might want to get the hell away from my kid." Adams froze and totally whipped his head around to see both Jess and Rory standing behind him. From out of nowhere Jess reached out and decked Adams across the face, making him fall for the third time.

A trio of police officers ran up to the scene.

          "Hold it right there," a female office ordered, holding her gun out warningly.

          The other two officers picked Adams up by his arms and began dragging him forward.

          "Ronald Adams, you're under arrest for child abducting. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law."

          "No, stop it," Adams fought hysterically. "She's mine! She belongs with me."

          Rory knelt down to Rosa's side, picking her up, while Jess approached Adams, clearly ready to do some serious damage. "Come near my daughter ever, ever again and I swear to God that I'll kill you myself." Jess' words were clear and filled with raging sincerity.

          Adams continued glaring at him as he was escorted off.

          "It's OK, sweetie," Rory whispered into Rosa's ear, rubbing the girl's back, which was hard, as her long hair covered it.

          "Rosa…" Jess turned to his daughter. He suddenly came up quickly and wrapped his arms tightly around both of them. "My God!" Jess was actually near tears.

          The three of them stayed that way for the longest time, just holding each other, never wanting to let go.

A/N: My guess would be that there is one chapter left to this story. No tears, though. Please review!