A/N: Hardest chapter to write, so much love…and yet so much pain.
Bringing In the New Year: Bleeding Hearts
My Heart Goes Out
"I've lost control, I can't control the Trooper," Snow cried. Luke looked over at her and wiped the tears away form her eyes. All I remember about my life is my family, Interpol, and Sly. My life, wasted. All those memories…
"Mama! Pappy! Look I've made safety patrol!" The little fox squealed with delight. Miguel Fox looked proudly at his daughter, she would become a good police officer one day. Esmeralda Fox knelt down to Carmelita's height and said, "I'm so proud of you my little daughter. Grandmamma would be so proud of you. I'm proud and your pappy is proud." Just then Carmelita's little sister ran in and pulled on Carmelita's pants leg, "Lita, your home!"
In a crisp white hospital stands a family of three, a mother and two daughters. "Check in, Fox, Miguel," Esmeralda said. "Room 206, IC unit, you can't miss it." Esmeralda took her daughters hands. Her husband had taken bullet to the chest for his youngest daughter Isabella today. "Mama," Isabella asked in a frightened voice, "Where is Pappy?" It was times like these that she wished she had the answers. For what had seemed the millionth time that day Carmelita stifled a cry. As they walked into the bleak room the doctor stopped them. "One at a time!" he barked. Esmeralda nudged Carmelita in. She moved her self over closer to her father believing any sudden movements might wake him. "Pappy," Carmelita choked. Just then the heart monitor went flat. "Pappy" she choked as doctors, swarmed around him. One of the doctors threw a switch and bowed his head, "It's been called…"
"I'm applying for Constable, Sir," A young fox said. The dog eyed her carefully and barked, "Name!" "Carmelita Montoya Fox," she said. "I knew you father, If you anything like him you have a bad temper and your view on crime is clear, jaywalking to murder is crime. That is Interpol's motto," he said. "Yes sir," Carmelita said.
"Ah, Carmelita I haven't seen you since I gave you the slip in Bombay," Sly said. "Shut up ringtail, I don't know what you're doing here in China, but this pistol packs a paralyzing punch and it might just knock you out of your crime spree," Carmelita spat. "I love to sick around and chat, but I've got pages to get," Sly said right before he took off sprinting. "COOPER!"
"...Carmelita, I love you...and that's undaunting!"
All those memories…good and bad…now I feel like I'm floating across water…this must be what death feels like…oh, my head, I can't be dead just yet, I feel to much…fading into…into…black.
Bentley sat there rubbing his chin. "Very peculiar," the crippled turtle mused. Sly put down the Thievius Raccoon and gave a 'what in the hell are you muttering' look. Bentley rolled his eyes at the lazy raccoon and started typing again. "Damn," Bentley muttered too loudly. Now every eye was on him. Very rarely did he swear. But then and again he was as bad as Sly or Murray. Then again Sly put down his book and gave him another glare, this one 'What in hell, Bentley, are you doing?' Just then the radio in the house sprang to life scaring Bentley out of his mind, making the poor turtle fall over. "White one to dispatch. Over. I have a nine-one-one on my hands, dispatch do you copy? Oh to hell with Trucker talk. I need help. I'm in the middle of freeway nine," Snow said, "Carmelita looks really bad and Luke is out cold. My cell is gone and this radio is so old it can't reach Interpol. I was lucky that Bentley always has a signal up through his wheelchair. Someone…" "Snow. Don't worry. You'll be fine. We're coming to get you. Just keep them alive and try not to move them just yet," Bentley said while glaring at Sly. Who was being restrained by Sylvia and Penelope, he was about ready to jump out the window and start sprinting for his life. Sniffling could be heard form Snow's end of the line. "Guru," Bentley cried, "Get Murray and Dimitri. Sylvia let go of Sly and wake the Panda King will you?" As expected Penelope and Sylvia dropped Sly who then fell flat on his face, as Sylvia dashed off to go get the Panda King. Sly rubbed his head getting up slowly and heading over to Bentley who was tracking Snow's signal. Sly stole the radio and began, "Snow I know you can hear me. So I ask you a favor. Put the radio next to Carmelita. Maybe she'll be able to hear me." Bentley was about to criticize Sly for his lack of thought, but Penelope stopped him. Maybe she could hear what he had to say. After all Sly loved her. "Ok," Snow quietly said, "Go on."
Sly took a deep breath, "Carmelita, I've gone on countless heists around the world and yet I can not muster enough courage to tell how I feel. Your undaunted courage amazes me and how you're so outspoken," Bentley stood in amazement of how Sly could say these things. Sylvia watched her brother screaming in her mind 'if you tell her now, you'll be able to tell her again'. "I know I've been a coward. God damn it! I hate cowards! And yet I've become one. Hiding behind the mask. But that's not what I'm going to anymore! Carmelita, I love you…and that is undaunting!" "…S…sly…" Carmelita stuttered. "Carmelita!" Snow cried. Everyone was around the radio. Waiting. Waiting for Carmelita to speak or Snow to give them the prognosis. "…Sly…" Carmelita whispered. "Ah," Snow cried. Some shuffling could be heard. Penelope was clinging on to the back Bentley's chair. Waiting. "She's out again, I'm sorry Sly," Snow said, "Luke's waking up little by little. Carmelita's the one you really should be worried about, so Sly get your thieving ass over here," Snow said. The line died out with a hiss.
Snow put the radio down and dried her eyes. She knew that everything was going to be alright. "She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati. On a snow white Christmas Eve. Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat. Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline. It would been a long hard year. She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention. She was going way to fast. Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass. She saw both their lives flash before her eyes. She didn't even have time to cry. She was so scared. She threw her hands up in the air. Jesus take the wheel. Take it from my hands. Cause I can't do this all on my own. I'm letting go. So give me one more chance. To save me from this road I'm on. Jesus take the wheel. It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder. And the car came to a stop. She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock. And for the first time in a long time. She bowed her head to pray. She said I'm sorry for the way. I've been living my life. I know I've got to change. So from now on tonight, Jesus take the wheel, Take it from my hands, cause I can't do this all my own, I'm letting go. So give me one more chance. To save me from this road I'm on. Oh, Jesus take the wheel. Oh, I'm letting go. So give me one more chance. Save me from this road I'm on. From this road I'm on. Jesus take the wheel. Oh, take it, take it from me. Oh, why, oh," She sang loving every word and how it described her state right now. A small cough came from the front, "You just love to sing," "Luke? You're awake!" Snow once again had tears in her eyes. "Yeah," Luke grabbed his stomach and coughed loudly, "I'm fine." He smiled weekly as he lost conciseness. "Oh," Snow moaned. She removed her hand from her stomach to find her snowy white fur was now a crimson red, "I guess I didn't get off scotch-free either, oh." She took a blanket rapping it around her waist to stop the bleeding. "Sly will be here soon Carmelita. He loves you. So just hold on," Snow said while brushing some stray hairs from Carmelita's face. Snow examined Carmelita's wounds. Left shoulder, lower leg, right arm, and various cuts and bruises, Snow buried her face into her hands and started to cry. Get here soon. Time is running extremely low, for all of us…
"Left, Murray on Tisdale Drive. Hurry up Murray," Bentley said. Sly looked at the ground quite the whole time, he had a lot on his mind "Now on the first right is freeway nine. Drive about half a mile and the wreck should be on your left. "Bentley," Penelope said. "Huh?" Penelope pointed to Sly. Bentley wheel over to Sly in the still moving van. "God really must hate people who go against him Bentley. All my life if've been cut down. Every time I though I was in reach of something, my parents, you, Carmelita, he's pulled me back so I fall on my face. And then when I have it in my hands around the answers he raises up and then he kicks me in the teeth. I just have to face it it's gonna be this way for the rest of my life," Sly said. "Don't say that Sly," Bentley said, "He doesn't hate you. Just wait. Sly this time we got the call. This time we're gonna come out without a scratch. Just wait." The van screeched to a stop "C'mon Bentley!" Murray yelled.
"Carmelita! Go back to them..."
"Carmelita!" The Spanish fox was starting to wake up. Sly was looking down at her. Carmelita looked around the hospital room. It was filled with the gang and four very familiar faces. Her mother, her sister, and her niece and nephew. "Mama? Isabella? Edward? Eva? How, when did you get here," she whispered. "My girl, my Carmelita, you gave us quite a scare," Her mother said while rapping her arms around her daughter. Carmelita started to cry, "Mama, I saw him, I saw Papa! He told me to come back. He said I was need here." Sly saw the hurt in her eyes. "Aunty? Ed and I brought you flowers," Eva said holding up the bouquet of flowers larger than the small reddish-yellow fox and her twin. Carmelita took the flowers from Eva, "Eva, sweetie, you and Edward are very kind for bringing me flowers. Sly?" The raccoon looked up at the Spanish vixen. "Are Snow and Luke, alive?" Carmelita asked. "Well it's about time our Spanish friend opened her eyes!" Snow heavily bandaged around her waist came walking in pushing a grumbling Luke Farway. Carmelita tried to get up and failed. "Don't try," Bentley said from behind on of his books, "You'll just hurt yourself more. You have left shoulder, lower leg, right arm, and various cuts and bruises, as your injures so don't try to move." "Bentley, she's not going to die if she sits up," Snow said while taking a seat. "You're happy for someone who just did about thirty-two thousand euros worth of damage to their car plus taking a major cut to your side," Luke grumbled. Snow rolled her eyes. "Drama queen," she mused crossing her arms and looking into space, "Murray, How are we all gonna get home? As Luke ever so clearly pointed out I don't have a car anymore and the van would be cramped with two wheelchairs, but if we're bringing Carmelita home then three." Now the white rabbit was eyeing the two fox toddlers, making sure they didn't unplug anything needed. "That is a good question, ask Bentley," Murray said. The hidden turtle put his book down and exposed his face, "I really have no idea how we're goin…Snow," Bentley said staring down the rabbit. He grinned and chucked, "Give Lily a call." "Nonsense!" A booming Spanish voice said, "Isabella and I will help. We'll go get our cars ready." "Snow," Isabella asked, "Would you watch Eva and Ed for me while I get my car?" "Anything." The fox nodded and ran off shutting the door behind her. Luke moved in his chair, he was still adjusting to have gone from walking on two legs to being in a wheelchair for a month or so. "So, Sly," Sylvia spoke softly but being cut off by chimes and firework, "Happy New Year!" The room cheered (A/N: I know it's bleated but I've been busy so don't kill me!) Bentley caught Penelope off guard, by kissing her. Sly hugged Carmelita; trying not to hurt her he kissed her as well. Snow leaned over to Luke saying softly, "And it all started with his heart going out to hers."
A/N: The final installment of My Heart Goes Out. There will be a sequel, longer most likely. The main characters will probably be Sly, Carmelita, Murray, Bentley, Penelope, Snow, Luke, and some random characters taking on the events of Sly 3's ending. With Carmelita being reinstated, by Chief Rob. I'm not too sure yet but that is the defined plot line. Special thanks, Lily & Ellie Muller and the real Luke Farway.