Title: Shadows In The Dark

Author: Ebony-Jayne

Notes: Ella is free of her husband but where is he…?

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the show or the storylines on the show. I do, however, own the characters that I make up so please don't steal them. Any resemblance to anyone or anyplace is a coincidence.

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Chapter Eight: The Hunt Is On

"Ok Ella I'm going to check your pupils now," the nurse bustled over and lifted Ella's eyelids, shining a tiny penlightin her eyesto check the reactions. "Good reactions. You better hurry and get better love. Those beautiful babies of yours are missing you," she told her. At mention of her 'babies' Ella jerked. "Oh! You gave me a fright love," the nurse gasped. Ella jerked again and her eyes fluttered. "That's it," the nurse coaxed. Ella's eyes fluttered again and then snapped open.

"Casey…" she gasped out. "Where's my sister?" she croaked.

"Here love, have a drink," the nurse helped Ella take a few mouthfuls of water.

"He said he'd get her. Where's Casey?" Ella asked.

"She's just gone to get your kids from your other sister. How're you feeling?" the nurse asked.

"Hurts, have to see Casey," Ella tried to get up but the pain wracking her body stopped her. "Ughh," she groaned.

"I'll get in touch with your sister then. You just rest love," the nurse tucked Ella in tighter and left to ring Casey.

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"Ellie!" Casey ran into the room and to her sister's side.

"Casey, George, he's after you next and my kids. Gonna kidnap you all-," Ella broke off coughing.

"Ssshhh Ellie it's ok," Casey cupped her sister's face. "Olivia and Elliot have been trailing us everywhere. We've had police protection since he took you ok?" she reassured her.

"Ok. Gracie? She was screaming, she was so scared," Ella started to cry. "What happened to them?" Casey crawled carefully into bed with her sister and Ella cuddled up.

"Gracie rang Olivia. You had her number on the fridge. I now see why you insisted upon teaching that child to use a phone. Frustrating as that was," Casey was pleased to see Ella smile. She reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"He shot at someone. I think it was Olivia. He kept saying something about 'that damn bitch cop'. He didn't get anyone did he?" Ella asked.

"No. He didn't. According to Olivia that first shot landed about five inches left of her head," Casey told her. Ella grimaced.

"Well he always was a useless shot," she smiled weakly. Casey laughed a little.

"Yeah. We shouldn't talk about this anymore until Olivia and the guys get here," Casey frowned. She smoothed her twin's hair again.

"Yeah. Did you call them?" Ella asked.

"Yeah, they're in the waiting room with the kids. They said they'd give us some time first," Casey told her.

"Can they come in now? Much as I love you Case I'm hanging out to see my babies," Ella smiled.

"Oh fine," Casey said, mock hurt lacing her voice. She disentangled herself from her sister and headed out to retrieve the Detectives.

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"Hey Girl, How ya doin'?" Fin asked as he came into the room.

"Hey Fin. I've…been better. You?" Ella smiled, slowly shifting into a sitting position.

"Y'know. Usual," Fin answered.

"Cool. Hey guys," Ella smiled at the other three Detectives filed into the room. She received various greetings in reply.

"Bought you a present," Olivia had her hands behind her back.

"What is it?" Ella asked.

"It's a surprise. Close your eyes and hold out your hands," Olivia grinned.

"Olivia!" Ella whined.

"Do it," Olivia commanded. Ella huffed as she did as she was told. Olivia placed something soft and furry in Ella's hands. "Now open." Ella did and smiled at the cute teddy bear in her hands.

"Aww. He's cute. I'm going to call him Doug," Ella announced cuddling the bear.

"Doug?" Elliot raised one eyebrow.

"Yes Doug. Got a problem with that?" Ella challenged.

"No, not at all," Elliot couldn't help but smile.

"Ok. Would you and Doug like to answer some questions for us?" Munch asked.

"You leave Doug out of this," Ella warned a grin breaking through at the last second.

"Ok then you have some questions to answer," Munch corrected.

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"I woke up because I could hear Bronté crying. I went into her room and there he was, standing over her crib. I froze, I…I couldn't breathe. He turned around and he had that look in his eye," Ella paused to take a shaky breath.

"What look?" Olivia asked gently.

"The look that says: 'I'm going to beat the living crap out of you for this.' I used to get that look a lot," Ella looked at the teddy in her arms. "Anyway, he just lunged. He dragged me out to the lounge by my hair. Then he just went wild. I don't know how many times he hit me. Just as I'd registered one blow the next would come out of nowhere. I heard Gracie screaming 'No Daddy! No! Stop hurting my Mamma!'" Ella paused remembering her little girl's words. "She called him a bastard. I'll have to warn her about that word," she mused. "I guess I just blacked out after a while. I woke up in that warehouse in a lot of pain. He was there. He kept calling me Baby. Then he said he was going to wait a few days, kill me, present with a solid alibi and take my kids back to San Francisco. He said he'd take Casey too. And do to her…what he used to do to me. Then he kicked me in the ribs and left. I passed out again from the pain," a sob managed to escape from Ella's lips at that she hugged Doug tighter to her chest. Olivia shifted to sit on the edge of the bed and gently picked up Ella's hand, mindful of the IV running into the back it. Ella took a couple of deep shaky breaths and managed to get control over her emotions again. She told the rest of the story of how she'd had the weird thought that she'd better put her cell phone in the pocket of her pajama pants when she got up to go to the baby, found it in the warehouse and called Casey. How she fallen asleep and then awoken again in the back of the moving van, then how George had taken her to the waters edge. "He said…he said… 'You're going to Hell tonight Briella,' and then he just let me go. All I could think about was that I was never going to see my family or any of you guys again," tears poured down her cheeks. "Y'know if it wasn't for that really weird urge to put my phone in my pocket, I could still be in that warehouse," she whispered the last part.

"Let's not think about that now ok? Now there are some kids in that waiting room who can't wait to see their Mother," Elliot smiled and was relieved when Ella smiled back. As he went to tell Casey to bring the kids in he paused at the door. "The hunt is on now Ellie. We won't stop until we get him."

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