.../For The Love Of Maia/...
Summary: A woman by the name of Sara Rutledge arrives, causing Diana great concern. But is she who she claims to be?
Warning: This story is loosely based on spoilers/rumours that are floating about regarding Season 3. If you don't want to know, might be best not to read!
Disclaimer: I don't own jack (or anyone else.)
Thanks to those who have been reading and reviewing. If you like the story, let me know! The next couple of chapters are already written so will be up shortly :) Enjoy
0000000000000000000000000000000000
Chapter Seven
Sara took a breath. This was it. One twitch of her finger and it would all pay off. She took another breath, slower this time, trying to block out Maia's whimpers, and the...doorbell?
Sara's head jerked up, the gun clattered to the floor. Who was that. It couldn't be the agents, surely. They didn't know where the house was- the group had an inside contact at NTAC. He'd removed all the neccessary files. She picked up the gun with one hand and grabbed Maia's wrist with the other, half dragging her towards the living room. 'Stay here.' she comanded, helping Maia onto the couch and making her way towards the door, gun concealed behind her back.
The door creaked open and Tom found himself faced with a seemingly harmless woman in her mid fifties.
'Can I help you?'
Tom smiled.
'I've lost my cat. She's a tabby- white paws, one white ear. Answers to Lulu, or even just puss.'
Sara began to close the door.
'I'm sorry, I don't think I can help you.'
Diana whirled around from where she had been hidden behind the open door.
'Oh, I think you can. Where's Maia'
Sara swore under her breath and went to slam the door, but Tom blocked her, holding it open with his fist. Diana drew her gun.
'Where is my daughter.'
From her half-conscious state on the couch, Maia could hear the commotion from the front door. And then she heard, loud and clear, her mother. She had come. Maia tried to fight to stay awake, using all her energy and concentration to call out for her mother, her croaky voice echoing off the walls in the near empty room. She tried to get up but a wave of diziness pushed her back on the couch.
Hearing Maia, Diana felt a pain like a knife twisting in her gut. Then the call came again.
'Mommy!'
Diana pushed past Sara as Tom lunged to restrain her and rushed into the house. The first room she came to was the kitchen, but there was no sign of Maia.
'Maia? Maia! It's okay, it's Mommy. Where are you baby?'
'Mommy?'
Diana came to a halt at the entrance to what appeared to be a den of some sort.
'Maia!'
At the door, Tom was struggling with Sara. If he took one hand away to get his gun, she would be be free. Suddenly he felt the barrell of a gun smack across his temple, and he went down. Sara reloaded the gun and ran towards the living room. At the door she pulled the trigger and fired.
Diana was momentarily shocked by Maia's bad state, but that was overcome quickly as she hurried towards her daughter. She barely registered the sound of a gunshot untill she felt the pain in her lower calf. Her leg gave way below her and she collapsed against the coffee table just metres away from Maia, her gun spinning out of her reach. She kept her eyes glued on Maia, desperate to reach her, to make sure she was okay, but found herself unable to move.
Sara held the gun in their direction, summoning strength from being in control again. She nodded towards Maia.
'Don't either of you move, or the little one is dead.'
000000000000000000000000000000
Chapter 8 up soon!