Author's Note: Finally, the last chapter! WOOOOO! This chapter tells us the story about what happened to Gino and the girls after that night. I won't be specific on the timeline of these events when they are doing those, but just assume that it's about a day or two after the big fight. I hope the ending satisfies all you readers who have been following this story ever since the first chapter was up. I'm starting to feel emotional right now... and uh, due to interest of many other readers who read this fic, I can't hold back and wait for one person. Sorry. :) Although this is the final chapter of this story, but I do have some new chapters to be uploaded in the future. Why? Well, just wait till the end. :)
Legal junk: I don't own Hey Arnold, but Nickelodeon does and Mr. Craig Bartlett created it. But this fic belongs to me. Clear? Good.
Chapter 28: Conclusion.
"—these two men were brought to trial. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison – suspended sentence. Suspended sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the court room like a fool. And those two bastards, they smiled at me. Then I said to my friend, 'for justice, I must go to the family of—"
He raised a hand to stop him, "Why did you go to the police? Why didn't you come to me first?" he replied with a hoarse, gruff voice.
"I was…" he gulped, "reluctant when I heard that a young boy became the head of this well respected family. But later I was convinced when another friend of mine told me that you have the qualities of your father. Please, do what I beg you to do. I'll give you anything you ask."
"What is it that you want me to do?" he then whispered to the boy, "That… I cannot do." The boy replied back. "My father and you have known each other many years, but this is the first time you came to my place for counsel, for help. I can't remember the last time you invited my father to your house for a cup of coffee. But let's be frank here: you never wanted my father's friendship, and uh… you were afraid to be in my debt."
"Things have since changed, and… I didn't want to get into trouble."
I understand. There were courts of law, and you didn't need a friend of me. But uh, now you come to me and you say 'Gino, give me justice.' But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. Instead, you come into my house and you ask me to destroy someone else's life, for money."
"I ask you for justice."
"That is not justice; your wife is still all right."
"Then they can suffer then, as she suffers… How much shall I pay you?"
Gino then stood up; turning his back against the man he was talking with, "Mr. Bailey… Mr. Bailey… What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? Had you come to me in friendship, then this scum that ruined your wife would be suffering this very day. And that by chance if an honest man such as yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you."
Mr. Bailey nodded weakly, and said, "Be my friend… Gino?"
Gino then felt that Mr. Bailey had finally respected him. His father would be proud to hear that his son was just as competent and capable as he was. And Gino replied, "Some day, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But uh… until that day, have these complimentary tootsie pops conveniently placed inside of this bowl on my table."
"Thank you, Big Gino."
Realizing that the door was opened widely and prone to peering eyes and listening ears, one of Gino's assistants slowly closed the door, and locked it. Then it was opened again to let Mr. Bailey out.
---
Stinky walked alone by the sidewalk as he thought repeatedly about Lila. She had asked him to go to the church and meet her there. But why the church? Why not some other places like a fancy restaurant or even, a bowling alley? Did she want to convert him, even though he was happy with his religion now? But the very thought amused him, though, as he swept his nicely combed hair back. He was all set for his date with Lila, but the thought of why Lila asked him to wait for her in front of the church still lingered in his mind.
He turned to a corner and saw the church. He stopped a while in front of a book store's display window and made some final grooming to tidy himself up and to impress his date. After he was satisfied with his appearance, he coolly walked over to the building. Then, he saw the door opened, and Lila popped out from it. She saw Stinky coming towards to her and she waved. Stinky shot a soft smile back at her and quickened his pace. Lila closed the door behind her and quickly she walked over to Stinky and gave him a hug.
Sorry I'm late…" Stinky said to her as he caressed her back.
"It's ever so okay…" Lila said sweetly as she released him, "I couldn't take the guilt from the colorful languages I just spat yesterday any longer and I just had to go to a confession."
"My, what a pious gal…" Stinky thought to himself, smiling. And he was somewhat freaked, "So, you're ready to go?"
"Why, yes. Ever so much."
And they then kissed.
---
It was at dusk at this particular time, "Sid, where are we going?" Nadine laughed, "The place we're supposed to be going is two stations away!" she was being pulled by the hand by Sid. They just got out from the subway station and were now crossing the Brooklyn Bridge look-alike.
"Wait and see…" Sid smiled at her, not wanting to reveal his surprise. When they reached at the middle of the bridge, they stopped. Nadine gave him a perplexed look, yet still smiling, waiting for Sid to do his next move. He then rummaged through his pocket and took out his pocketknife. Nadine was a bit stunned.
"You see this?" he held the knife in front of her. He playfully lobbed it up and down for a while and finally he threw it into the river. A little bit unceremonious but it did its job. A broad smile of disbelief was carved on Nadine face as she looked at Sid, "Why'd you do that?"
Sid gazed back at her full in admiration and replied, "That thing nearly killed you Nadine. I was so stupid for giving it to you. If only I hadn't—"
"Oh, stop it." Nadine chuckled, "It's not your fault, or anyone else's for that matter." She smiled at him, "And what you did just now," she looked at the river for awhile, "is the right thing to do." She looked at her again.
"Yeah…" he smiled back, "I'm not regretting it. Not a bit. I just realized that, all those years, I was just a mere stupid petty thief. And that knife nearly made me go to juvie. I mean seriously, a knife?" he chuckled, "there goes my street-cred." He joked good-naturedly. Nadine was amused and chuckled a bit. "Besides, you're a crime fighter Nadine, and in my past I was a criminal. It would be odd if someone saw a crime fighter and a petty thief like me going out together. It's just plain weird. You've shown me the light, Nadine, and I'm grateful for it. I'm not going to waste my life and I promise I will help you as much as humanly possible."
"Heh…" Nadine chortled, "what about Detective Pudney. Wasn't she the one who show you the light first?"
"Well… uh…" Sid smiled embarrassingly, stuttered a bit, "But you showed me the light further…"
Nadine giggled, and gazed at Sid deeply. Then, under the rising moon, amidst the urban noise and under the basking streetlight and the awesome view from the bridge, they kissed. Suddenly, a captain of a ship near the bridge blew the foghorn. Nadine and Sid stopped awhile and looked at the ship below them.
"Arrr!" Sheena's Uncle Earl growled with an awesome piratey growl, "Ye best be gettin' yeselves a room!" he seemed to own a tugboat now than that small rowboat he used to have. It looks like ferrying people to Elk Island after all these years have finally paid off.
Nadine and Sid smiled embarrassedly at each other, snickering. "Earl!" Sid shouted back at him, "How's Sheena?"
"Yarrr! She's going out with that redheaded dork what's-his-face."
"Eugene?" Nadine asked him.
"Yarrr, at least methinks the lad's name is Eugene. Nay, I be trustin' the boy. That's why I be set sailin' in this here boat to look for me niece. Arr."
Sid and Nadine looked at each other, "He's very protective." Nadine said to Sid, which he concurred.
"Eugene's gonna have one heckuva person to deal with…" he said back. "Well, good luck man!" Sid said happily to Earl as he gave him a wave, and Nadine did the same.
"Arr!" and Uncle Earl blew the foghorn again, and the ship went below the bridge, and out from Nadine's and Sid's sight. They held their hands, and walked together to the place they were supposed to be going. This was the happiest moment of their lives.
---
"Eugene, here's the sitch! I need one last code for you to crack! Come on, I'm in hurry right now!" Phoebe said through her communicator as she tapped something on her PDA. She was in a covert-ops mission right now, completely in darkness, trying to infiltrate an illegal arms trade warehouse.
"Tell me about it." Eugene sighed as he typed something on his computer, "I'm in a hurry myself. I'd be hanging out with Sheena right now if it wasn't for you…"
"Look, I'm sorry Eugene," Phoebe pleaded, "I need to bust this code right now so the girls on the next shift would know what they are expecting."
"Well…"
"Please and thank you!" she said cheerfully, trying to convince Eugene.
"Okay, okay…" Eugene said, with happy tone. He then tried to understand the code that Phoebe just gave to him. He then cracked his knuckles, placed his fingers on the keyboard, and pause to concentrate as he closed his eyes. It was like he was meditating or something. And after five seconds or so, he rapidly pressed the letters on the keyboard in quick, rapid movement without any single error whatsoever. "Code cracked." Eugene said with a smirk on his face. "For a so-called professional arms trafficker, they sure are reckless in their security."
"Thanks Eugene. And remember, call me, beep me, if you want to reach me." Phoebe replied back, smiling at him through her PDA. She then pulled her USB jack out from the trafficker's computer and placed it in her utility belt. Phoebe then stealthily moved to the window where she opened it earlier with a laser pen and fired a grappling hook out to a building opposite her, and swung out. She landed on the balcony and proceeded to climb the drainpipe down and she went into an alley next to it. After she scouted around to see nobody was in sight, she then changed her clothes to a more casual, yet distinguished one and removed her dark face paint camouflage with her agent uniform. She then put her uniform in her bag,
She walked out nonchalantly out of the alley, made some final adjustments on her hair and walked a few blocks away. Gerald was waiting for her in front of the fancy restaurant, Chez Paris. Gerald gave her a smile upon her arrival and greeted, "Hey girl. What took you so long?"
"Agent business. It's none of your concern." Phoebe replied good naturedly at him.
"Ah, I ze the Madame haav finally awrrive, Monsieur." That snotty waiter, Jacques said to Gerald. "Shall I offer you and and yor zate a table somewhere further away from ze crowd and near ze bathroom door?"
"Ah, shut up Jacques. I know you're from Hoboken man, so drop the stupid fake accent and get me the best seat in the house."
"Crap man, and I thought I nailed the accent…"
---
A pigeon landed on Rhonda's window and cooed repeatedly to get her attention. She got up from her bed and went over to the window to shoo the bird away. As she raised a pointy object in her hand, she realized that there was a note attached on one of the bird's legs. "For Pete's sake, why can't they use email like normal people?" she shouted in her mind. She then detached the note off from the leg and opened it. The pigeon flew away, and Rhonda shouted at the bird, "Good riddance, you flying crap factory!" And the bird replied back by bombing her hand with its milky smelly poo. After mumbling strings of expletives at the bird and removed the dirty thing away, she then read the note. It read:
Attention all agents! The senior members have made some serious contemplation and have decided that Agent Linda will be appointed as the new Chief and Agent Helga will be her deputy. We'd like to congratulate Agent Helga for becoming the youngest person ever to be made as deputy in the history of this organization. You beat your sister, Olga Pataki by two months early.
LES
Rhonda smiled to herself when she read the news. A bit of envy and jealous at Helga, but overall she was proud of her. Quickly, reached for her phone next to her pillow and dialed a number. The other end of line answered her call.
"Hey Helga. It's me Rhonda. Girl, I know I'm gonna regret saying this, but you are the girl sweetie! I mean, being the youngest deputy and all, you must be thrilled!"
"IIIIIdon'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout! STOP CALLING ME!" and the guy just slammed the phone down and resumed his work at some diner in a dingy kitchen. Rhonda just realized that she accidentally dialed the wrong number as she stared down at the phone. "Jeez, sor-ry." She then reset her cordless phone and carefully dialed Helga's phone number this time around.
"HA! YOU ARE SO OWNED, SISTER!" Helga shouted and pointed at her sister after she barged into her room, laughing happily. After she put the note she was holding on the dresser, she then leaped out from her sister's room and went into her room again. She locked the door, and did a little jig on her bed to celebrate her promotion. Olga stood perplexed at her sister's reaction, and walked over to the dresser to read the note that Helga just left for her. After reading it, she gave herself a smile because she was very proud of her little sister who had finally proven herself of excelling beyond her. "Congratulations, Helga…" she said softly, as she held the note with both of her hands and placed it over her heart.
As she danced, the phone next to her laptop rang and she quickly jumped out from her bed to answer it. "Hey! Talk to me!" she said joyfully as she stroked her messy hair back as a result from that silly jig she did on her bed.
"Hey Helga. Congrats, girl. You've finally made it!"
"Rhonda?" Helga replied in surprise.
"What? You were expecting someone else?" she asked back.
"Wow… yeah… kinda. I thought Phoebe called me… but hey… thanks." Helga was stunned to know that Rhonda was actually the first person to congratulate her. Rhonda, of all people. The person who was her rival ever since grade school, and her biggest adversary in high school. Not Phoebe, but Rhonda, who called her, and to congratulate her. The world must've turned upside down or something. Maybe their talk when they were held as prisoners in Ravenholm Dockyards really did spark the beginning their friendship after all. Their conversation didn't end up as an awkward silence, however. They continued talking, as normal friends would do, instead of jeering and sneering like they used to. They talked about lots of things, something that they would never share to each other before. They really began to open up. And as they talked to each other, Helga sat in front of her laptop and wrote an email to Arnold.
Greetings sunshine,
Don't be surprised or get any ideas from my somewhat friendly greeting today. I'm just so very happy right now that I don't feel like throwing insults to you, Jungle Boy. Oh wait, I already did. Sorry about that. Well, I guess you want to know why am I so happy right now, right? I won't give you the full details, but let's just say that I just got promoted. I climbed the career ladder, baby! And to the second-highest position too. I know, I know – second best doesn't count, but in this particular field, I think I've proven myself. And I even beat my own sister in her own game.
Sister… in these past few weeks, Olga and I have become closer and closer with every passing minute. I don't know why, but something inside me tells me that we, as siblings have to look out for each other and help each other, and… if we don't, we'd lose someone we can rely our trust with. Olga showed me that incredible lesson yesterday and I am grateful for it. And right now, I'm sort of regretted of treating her like crap when I was in grade school. It wasn't her fault, maybe I was jealous of her, but you know, when the maturity started to kick in and the whole episode that happened to me these past few weeks, made me feel glad to have a sister like Olga. Sure she's annoying from time to time, but that's what siblings are for, right? To annoy the hell out of each other.
Speaking of annoyance, I don't feel Rhonda is annoying as much as I used to feel. Hell, I'm talking to her over the phone right now as I'm typing this. I guess she isn't as arrogant or self-centered after all. Maybe we have to see the person up-close before labeling or generalizing that person. I guess, in a shockingly weird way, I'm friends with her right now. I don't know for how long our friendship will stay but judging from the conversation that I'm having with her right now, it's going to last longer than I expected it to be.
Suddenly, Helga heard a knocking from the door, "Helga, come on! We're gonna be late!"
Helga nodded, and said to Rhonda, "Hey Rhonda. I gotta go. Sorry." She replied as she clicked on the 'SAVE' button, but she did not send it.
"Huh, why? Girl, we're just beginning to talk."
"Yeah, but I've promised my sister that we're going to watch a movie right now. And then go to the mall, shopping for a while and have dinner there. Can you imagine that? Me, hanging out with my sister?" she said, laughing disbelievingly.
"No, I can't." Rhonda replied back, "Must be weird, huh? Say…" she said in a skeptical tone, "Are you making an excuse so you'd stop talking with me right now?"
"Oh, Rhonda. Always, the skeptical one." Helga replied, smiling. "I'm not making this stuff up. I really am going out with my sister."
It pretty much shocked Rhonda as much as Helga did when she agreed with her sister to spend some quality time together. "Wow, you two finally made up. I suppose it's a good thing then. Have you got the tickets already?"
"Olga reserved two seats for a matinee show, which is…" she looked at the clock in the laptop in the taskbar, "Oh crap! Half an hour from now! Gotta go Rhonda! We'll talk later, 'kay?"
"Yeah, have fun!" and she put the phone down.
"What took you so long?" Olga asked as Helga walked out from her room.
"Ah," she scoffed playfully, "mind your own business, Olga." She replied back as she walked pass her. Olga smiled at the reaction as she watched her sister walking to the stairs. Helga stopped before descending down and looked back at her sister, "What? Are you coming or not?"
Olga smiled softly. She was very happy that the both of them were finally bonding and doing things together after all these years. "Yeah, let's go." She nodded, and walked to her sister. Helga just rolled her eyes in annoyance, thinking whether this spending quality time together with her sister was a good idea in the first place. "Mom! Dad!" Helga shouted as she and Olga walked down the stairs. Bob was in front of the TV watching the wheel whilst Miriam sat on the couch, drinking a glass of water while watching the television with his husband with a bored look on her face.
"We're going out for a while. We'll be back at night." Olga said to them.
"You and with who Olga?" Bob asked, not moving from his seat.
"Why, with my sister of course."
Bob widened his eyes and raised an eyebrow in shock while Miriam spat her drink out. The both of them quickly turned around and saw their daughters in front of them, looking ready to go out and spend some time together.
"You two…?" Bob asked as he pointed her finger to both of them.
"Spending time together?" Miriam said as some drink drooled out from her mouth.
"Uh… yeah?" Helga replied back quizzically, "Is it that hard to believe?"
Bob and Miriam looked at each other. Pigs flew. Lighting struck the ground and the earth was torn asunder. The sky rained fire. A snowball survived in hell, and hell itself froze all over. The impossible happened. Their daughters, Helga and Olga were actually spending time together without being forced and with their own free will. Bob and Miriam looked at their daughters back and Miriam said, "No… we're actually…" she repeatedly told herself not to use the word 'shocked', "happy to see you two spending some quality time together." She said with a subtle, yet surprised smile. Bob forced himself to smile, and desperately tried to conceal his shocked face.
Olga and Helga looked at each other and smiled, "So… we're going now okay mommy, daddy?"
Their parents just nodded in stunned surprise while smiling awkwardly at them. The sisters then walked out from the house, and after Olga closed the door behind her, Helga yelled happily, "Did you see the look on mom and dad!" And they laughed together as they walked merrily to the theater.
Back inside the house, Bob and Miriam was still stunned. After they recovered from their shock, they looked at each other with a smile on their face, "You know… with the girls out of the house for a while…" Bob said to his wife. Miriam understood what he wanted, and she wanted it too.
Miriam suddenly jumped out from her seat. "I'll go lock the doors!"
"And I'll lock the windows!" Bob replied back as he too jumped out from his seat.
Mr. Martinez and his wife were at their backyard gardening when they heard strange noises coming from their neighbor's house.
"Honey?" Mrs. Martinez said, "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" he replied back as he trimmed some of the bushes off.
"Hear that? There it goes again."
"Wow, I didn't know people next door have wolverines for pets…"
Despite of their successes and efforts, crime still happens throughout the city. But it doesn't go and say that their efforts are a waste of time, however. It's just saying that like their authorities brethren, the Ladies of Espionage Sisterhood still have a role to play to curb crime and to make sure that your everyday citizen will have a better day tomorrow, without the worry of getting shot at, mugged, or assaulted. And like everything, the reign of these agents won't last forever. They will be replaced by new recruits in order to keep the organization alive. And these new agents, all five of them, have proven worthy that newer generation of agents can carry legacy of this organization forward. It's the changing of the guards: a newer generation of agents who vowed themselves to protect the city from harm.
THE END
NOW IT'S OVER! Yay! Yeah! Huzzah! Now I can finally concentrate on my other fics now that this story is over! Just... don't ask me about that last scene, I was O.o myself. I wish I could write more stuff with Lila's and Phoebe's scene. A sequel is inevitable, but as of right now I'm drawing a big huge blank.When I started this fic, I wouldn't expect it to be this big, but hey, it grew well beyond my expectations, thanks to you guys. I'd like to thank to all who reviewed and read this story since its beginning and proper acknowledgements will be updated on a new 'chapter' later. So thank you all, and please review!