Disclaimers: I own nothing or anyone associated or affiliated with TNA. I own only the original characters. This is just a fictional story that came from my imagination.
Chapter Content & Trigger Warnings: angst, graphic violence & blood (Basically, a very dark chapter)

Chapter 7

All of the males in the TNA roster crowded into Jeff's office and waited impatiently as their boss unlocked his gun cabinet. He began handing out rifles and handguns to everyone. As soon as they received their firearms, out the door they went—bound and determined to find Ella.

"We have to hurry," Jeff addressed the rest of the men urgently, pressing the phone's mouthpiece against his shoulder so Ella wouldn't hear him. His hands shook as he grabbed a gun for himself and checked the safety. "She was screaming..." He nearly shuddered at remembering the fright in his niece's voice. "There may not be much time."

Joe clenched his teeth at the memory of the terrified screams.

He'd downed yet another glass of champagne as Jeff had gone to the microphone, dialing Nathan Roberts' cell phone number. He put the call on speaker phone and everyone listened as the call rang through. They were all ready to say goodbye to Ella after hearing how upset she'd become when she left. Joe stayed by the buffet tables drinking away his sorrows and wanting nothing to do with the farewell. The more he drank the mind-altering alcohol, the moodier he became.
He heard everyone shout their goodbyes to Ella, and then he heard her voice as Jeff held the phone to the microphone.

"B-byeI love you all, too. Very much."

The hair on the back of Joe's neck stood on end.

He'd never heard Ella sound so frightened.

Ever.

There was a tremble in her voice that shouldn't have been there. He realized he'd devastated her earlier in the evening, but it wasn't sadness or hurt shaking her voice.

It was sheer terror.

Lost in his thoughts, he missed most of the strange conversation between Jeff and Ella's father. He finally heard Nathan say urgently: "Jeff, we're near the end of your roadElla's being kidnappeddon't let him take my babyJacques Fournier."

The next thing Joe knew, he heard the whisper of suppressed bullets firing off, followed by Ella's horror-struck screams.

"I hope I never see you again…"

The cold-hearted words repeated over and over in Joe's head, driving him to the brink of a meltdown. He didn't know how he would live with himself. How could I say that to her,Joe thought bitterly. How could I hurt her the way I did? AndIf none of us manage to save her, I won't see her again.

Joe shook his head sharply, trying to clear his mind so he'd be a help to Ella and not a hindrance to her rescue. He immediately regretted all the alcohol he'd consumed. Though the shock of the situation had instantly sobered him up, he still worried his reflexes and reaction time could be compromised due to his drinking. Forcing his worries aside and growing impatient, he barged his way ahead of the other men.

"Give me the Glock 22," he ordered Jeff, reaching for the handgun. "And also that KA-BAR."

Seeing the pain and anxiety in Joe's eyes, Jeff wordlessly handed him the firearm and knife, then continued speaking with Ella while Joe fastened the knife's holster to his dress pants.

"What will you be able to do for her," AJ demanded from behind Joe. "You've been drinking all night!"

The large Samoan turned and glared at him, "Back off, AJ."

"Why do you care, anyway," AJ continued deliberately, ignoring Joe's warning. "You said you never wanted to see her again," he accused. "Maybe you'll get your wish."

Joe responded by grabbing AJ's shirt collar and yanking him toward him so their faces were inches apart.

"I said… back… off," he growled.

"Guys," Jeff said loudly. "Enough! Save it for the men who are after Ella. She needs us. Fight amongst yourselves when she's back here, safe and sound." He turned his gaze to the few remaining men. "Grab a gun and get going. We're wasting time!"

Nodding in agreement, AJ grabbed a double-barreled shotgun and headed for the door at the same time Joe did. They both froze and spun around however, when they heard Ella weakly call out for help.

"Ella," Jeff called back loudly.

Joe was heading back to Jeff when Ella let out a blood-curdling scream. He grabbed the phone from Jeff and stared at it in horror as a male voice snarled: "You're not going anywhere!" Then they heard a loud thud followed by Ella's soft cry of pain.

"Oh, God…" Jeff whispered.

"ELLA!"

Joe's desperate shout thundered all the way to the foyer. He shoved the phone back at Jeff and then bolted for the door, hurried down the hallway and shot out the front door.

I have to find her, he thought frantically. The need to find her turned to pure desperation. I can't lose her. I just can't!

He had the distance to the woods run in a couple minutes, and proceeded to charge into the forest with his gun drawn, ready to fire.

"ELLA," he shouted, keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of her whereabouts. "BABY, WHERE ARE YOU?" He could hear his friends also shouting for Ella all over the woods. Listening for a response as he searched every nook in the forest, he shouted again. "Ella! Honey, talk to me if you can hear me!" He looked around the trees—even glancing upward on the chance she had somehow climbed one of them. He knew when she was a kid she could climb better than any of the boys.

He continued his trek through the woods, looking for large footprints paired with a smaller set of footprints, assuming Ella was walking with whoever had her. However, his method wasn't very helpful since he could see many overlapping footprints marring the snow. He kept coming up empty-handed, and growing more worried by the minute.

I've got to find her, he thought again. He kept running, refusing to rest till he had her safe in his arms. God, he prayed silently. I know I don't pray much at all. But please, be with Ella. Please, keep her safe, and help me find her.

At that precise moment, Joe heard a gravelly male voice. He halted in his tracks so he could make out from which direction the voice was coming.

"I doubt you'll ever see the light of day again."

His blood boiling from what he'd heard, Joe stood still, mentally gauging the distance to the man and Ella. She screamed again.

"Have you ever heard of the Black Dahlia? If you don't stop screaming and squirming, I'll make you look just like her."

Joe bolted then, following the direction the voice came from. Ella screamed once more as he ran. Her sobs sounded next and nearly drove him mad. A roar ripped from his chest and shot out of his mouth. Any control he had over his emotions was gone. He tore through the woods and finally neared two people lying on the ground. One was obviously a male, and he was kneeling next to…

Ella.

He held a knife to her face—no, inside her mouth.

The dead man actually has a blade in her mouth!

A red haze invaded his vision. There was no hope for the attacker. Still shouting in rage, he flew at them, and tackled the killer away from Ella. In the next instant, Joe fired a shot into the man's gut, a vacant expression on the Samoan's face. Moaning in pain, the masked killer rolled onto his side and tried to stop the free flow of blood by putting pressure on the wound.

Knowing he would soon die, Joe turned his attention to Ella. He saw her lying on the ground, shivering and sobbing; paralyzed with fear. He realized she had no way of knowing he was coming to save her.

For all she knows, I'm that Fournier guy coming to grab her.

Disgusted that he'd probably frightened her out of her mind even further, he hurried toward her and tucked his handgun into the back of his pants.

}i{}i{}i{}i{

Once the man was off of her, Ella desperately tried to climb to her feet, the ropes binding her ankles all but forgotten. She heard a loud pop as she fell back to the ground and nearly screamed, but forced herself to stay quiet. It was impossible to maintain her silence however, when she heard footsteps crunching in the snow.
They're coming for me, she thought, trying to sit up in the hopes of freeing her legs. A soft sob escaped her as the footsteps moved faster. She ripped at the ropes as best as her bound wrists would allow.

"No," she whimpered, as one of her fingernails bent backward and broke off to the quick. "Please, no…"

Hands took hold of her shoulders then, and she cried out in a mixture of pain and terror. "No! Please!" Struggling against the hands that held her, she suddenly realized a soft, soothing voice was whispering to her.

"Shhh, Ella… Shhh… You're safe now. It's just me, honey—it's Joe."

Ella felt Joe's arms go around her and shift her till she was cradled in his lap. A cold blade slid carefully between her ankles, and in the next instant, her legs were free. He repeated the procedure on her wrists. She winced as the cut rope was tugged from her hands. Joe caught the pain etched on her face and glanced down to inspect the skin where the bindings had held her. It was torn and bleeding from her obvious struggles to free herself.

"My God," he whispered. His fingers rested on her neck, checking her pulse as he held her, then came up to brush lightly down her temple and over her cheekbone. His gaze scanned her face, and Ella was puzzled by the tenderness in his black eyes.

"Thank God, you're alive," Joe finally whispered, a tremble in his voice. He began helping her to her feet, grasping her upper arms to support her. She cried out as the pressure sent a surge of fire up to her wounded shoulder. Flinching, she weakly fell against him trying to fend off the blinding flash of pain.

Joe's eyes fell on the gunshot wound then. "You were shot!" He quickly pulled off his coat and carefully wrapped it around her. "I have to get you back to the house. You need an ambulance." Then he pulled her shivering frame into his arms, and held her as tightly as he could without hurting her.

"I…I'm okay…" Ella finally spoke—a soft whisper at best, and her eyes glazed slightly. "I-I just need Uncle Jeff..."

She's in shock, Joe realized. She can't honestly think she's okay.

"Wh-where's AJ," she asked, sounding slightly out of breath. "He could take me back if he's nearby."

To Ella's surprise, a mixture of grief and jealousy flashed across his eyes and she tugged herself free of his hold. Managing to soften her words, she said gently, "I just meant... because you... d-don't want..." A heart-wrenching sob exploded out of her, "My Mama and Daddy are dead. I watched them kill my parents. I won't bother you afterward, but please, Joe, help me back to Uncle Jeff."

"God, Ella…I'm so sorry," Joe reached for her again, wanting to hold her, but she resisted.

"Please, don't," she whispered. Her chin trembled as she gently pushed his arms away from her. "Don't make yourself do what you don't feel, Joe."

He wanted to tell her the truth—that he was the world's biggest jerk and hadn't meant any of the mean things he'd said to her. That what they'd shared—before he'd screwed up—was the most beautiful moments of his life. That he'd never forgive himself for ruining it. But he could see she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and knew she couldn't deal with anything else right then.

There'll be plenty of time to tell her the truth, he thought. Right now, I have to focus on keeping her safe and getting her back to

WHOOSH!

Joe felt a flash of heat scrape his waist, followed by a scorching blast of agony. He barely had time to look down and find the source of the pain, before he heard Ella gasp and cry out. Realizing a bullet had just grazed him, he grabbed Ella and launched them both behind the shelter of a tree.

"Joe…"

"Shhh, it's okay," Joe murmured softly, pulling out the Glock again. "This tree will give us cover till I can take out who shot at us."

Ella slowly lifted her head to look at him and winced as the pain from her wounds and injuries throbbed all over her body. "Joe…" she whispered again. "Something's…wro-wrong…" She felt the ground spinning and fought to keep her balance. "I can't..."

A feeling of dread overpowered Joe as he shifted his gaze to Ella's. Even in the dark, he could see the blood draining from her face. She was pale—too pale. "Ella," he said, touching her cheek. Her skin felt clammy. "Baby, what is it?" He reached out to steady her when he saw her stumble.

She shook her head, confusion clouding her eyes, "I… I d-don't know… I just… feel strange…" Her slight frame began trembling then and she swayed on her feet. "I think… I'm… g-going to..."

Her words trailed off and her eyes fell closed as she collapsed against him. Joe heard her whimper softly and the next thing he knew, her legs buckled. He caught her and held her up before she hit the icy ground, and then gently laid her down so he could take in her condition.

"Come on, honey... Don't do this to me," Joe pleaded, as he searched over her bloodied wrists for a pulse. He couldn't locate one, and became frantic. "Ella! Ella… Baby—Come on…" Her head lolled to the side as he pressed his fingers against the side of her neck. Finally he was able to detect a light thump against his fingers. "Thank God," he uttered, beginning to check her over.

I've got to get her out of here, he thought, sure she'd lost too much blood from the bullet wound in her shoulder. He opened his coat to further check her for any other injuries, and his eyes instantly fell on a larger, fresh gunshot wound located in the upper right quadrant of her abdomen.

"Please, God…No…" Joe uttered. The bullet must have just grazed me and then gone into her, he thought. God, why couldn't it have gone into me? "Ella! Wake up!" He tapped the side of her face to try and rouse her. "Ella, please, please… Wake up, honey!"

"I knew…I'd get…that little brat…" came a wet, garbled chuckle. "If I'm dying… I might as well… take her… w-with me…"

Sheer, red rage took over as Joe reacted. He ran through the trees straight for the guy he shot moments before with no thoughts of safety—just an agenda. Moving like lighting, Joe aimed his gun at the killer again and fired, sending a bullet straight through the man's forehead.

He was about to head back to Ella when he heard her whimper softly.
"No..."
Spinning around, he spotted two masked men stooping down beside a disoriented Ella.

"Grab her," one ordered the other. "She needs medical attention." The man's eyes fell on Joe then, and he pointed his gun at the large Samoan.

Joe dove behind a fallen log just as a bullet whooshed over his head. Cautiously, he rose up and aimed for the man who was about to pick Ella up.

Ella heard another loud gunshot and the man who was lifting her went down like a ton of bricks. She cried out in pain when the remaining killer yanked her to her feet and shielded himself with her body. She saw Joe emerge from the trees with his gun aimed steadily toward her and the killer.

Ella's captor pointed his gun on her head then. "I need her. I don't want to kill her, but I will if you do not leave well enough alone."

"You lay another hand on her, and you're gonna have one huge problem on your hands," Joe growled back, inching closer. "Now, get that gun off her, and let her go."
Instead, the man held her tighter against him when he finally was able to make out Joe's features in the darkness.

"Ah, Joe Seanoa…You're the man I saw kissing her earlier, aren't you? Leave her to me, and I may let you live."

"I suppose you're Jacques Fournier," Joe clarified, unsure of how the man knew his name. "And you're wrong—I'm the man who's in love with her," he corrected. "You'll have to kill me, because I'll die before I let you take her."

Ella's heart rate jolted at Joe's passionate profession of love for her, and then accelerated drastically when Fournier suddenly turned his firearm on the larger man.

"No," she cried. "Please…"

Knowing she had to do something to protect Joe, she ducked her head and bit into the wrist of the arm holding her in place. She heard Fournier curse loudly and at the same moment, another explosive shot fired from Joe's gun.

Ella tumbled to the ground as the man released her, vaguely aware of retreating footsteps. Through her hazy vision, she saw Joe running toward her and sagged with relief. He crouched down beside her a second later and gently brushed his fingers down her cheek.

"Come on, honey. Let's get you home and in an ambulance."

Ella grabbed at his hand. "Joe… You… shouldn't… goad him... He will… k-kill you..."

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her cold fingers. "I wasn't trying to goad him. I was warning him to stay away from what's mine."
She shook her head in denial. "No…"

He's just trying to distract me from being scared. He made it clear how he felt earlier. He doesn't love me. He hates me.

"Yes," Joe whispered back, then leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.

He hates me, Ella repeated in her mind, trying to ignore the pounding of her heart. He hates me.

Joe could still see doubt reflecting in her blue eyes. But he could also see love.

"Come on, lo'u alofa," he said softly, deciding to move a step at a time with her. "Let's get you out of here." He started to lift her into his arms when she gasped slightly.

"Joe," Ella whispered. "I don't think… I'm going to… I'm so sleepy…"

"You're okay, Ella. You're going to be fine," he insisted. "Just let me get you back to Jeff."

"I'm…dy—dying…"

"No! You will NOT," Joe nearly shouted. He couldn't bear to think of life without Ella in it. "I won't let you, Ella."

His cell phone rang then, and he answered it upon seeing Jeff's name on the Caller ID.

"Jeff, I've got Ella," he said immediately. "Get an ambulance to the house, and-"

"Is she okay," Jeff demanded.

"She won't be if we don't get her help fast," Joe answered honestly.

"Nina already called for an ambulance. They're sending a MedEvac copter because our road is blocked by several vehicles."

"Where are you? Can you meet us on the road," Joe asked. "We could get her to the house faster in your truck."

"I parked the truck on the road about a half mile from the house. I'll meet you there."

"Okay," Joe said, eyeing Ella. Her breathing was becoming even more labored. She didn't even seem aware of her surroundings anymore. "I'll be there really soon, so you better be also, or I'll have to take the truck myself and get her back to the house."

"Of course," Jeff agreed instantly. "I can run if I have to. Do what you have to do to save Ella."

"See you soon," Joe said and disconnected the call.

"Joe…"

He looked down at Ella and swallowed hard at seeing her condition worsening. She was fading fast.

"What is it, honey?"

"I…" she took a deep breath and sighed softly. "I need to tell you some... s-something..."

Joe knelt down beside her and took her hand in his. "What do you need to tell me," he asked softly.

"Please, tell ev—everyone that I... love them so much."

"No, Ella," Joe shook his head and tried to calm his pounding heart. He didn't like where this was going. "You can tell them for yourself when you get through this." He lifted her up into his arms gently. "I have to get you to Jeff's truck so we can meet a MedEvac copter at the house."

And I love…you…Joe..." She inhaled sharply as she lifted her hand to stroke his cheek. "Al—always have. I didn't mean... to make you hate me..."

"Ella, no," Joe said softly. He turned his face and kissed the palm of her hand. "I don't hate you. I don't. I love you-"

He cut off as her eyes dimmed. She wasn't hearing him. At all.

She stared up at something he couldn't see and could literally feel her leaving him.

"Mama. Daddy..." she whispered softly, her chin trembling. "Take me with you..."

Joe watched in horror as her eyes slid closed and she fell completely limp in his arms.

"ELLA!"

There was no time to lose. In the next instant, he was hurriedly carrying her toward the road in search of Jeff.