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:
Chapter 23
AJ stepped off the elevator, carrying Jennifer and Kayla in each of his arms. The little girls each had stirred only enough to wrap an arm up around his neck, so as not to fall. He carried them up to Jeff and Nina's hotel room and lightly tapped the door with his foot.
A few seconds later, Jeff opened the door and smiled. "My girls," he whispered affectionately, taking Jennifer from AJ in order to lighten his burden. They entered the hotel room just as the room's phone rang. Nina hurried to answer it so Jennifer and Kayla wouldn't be awakened by the noise.
"Hello," she answered softly, as AJ and Jeff carried the girls over to a second bed in the room.
"Would it be okay to crash on the sofa," AJ asked, laying Kayla on the bed. "I'm exhausted and don't feel like having to go through checking in."
"Of course," Jeff replied, as he settled Jennifer in next to her sister. "I think it even has a hide-a-bed-"
"No," they heard Nina exclaim into the phone, fear in her voice. "Please, don't hurt her!"
"Oh, God," Jeff cried, fearing Fournier had managed to grab Ella. He snatched the phone from Nina. "Who is this," he demanded. He saw AJ approaching him out of his peripheral vision. He motioned for him to stay quiet.
"You know who this is, Jarrett," came a voice with an unmistakable French accent.
"What have you done with Ella," Jeff growled. "If you hurt her in any way-"
"It's not Ella you should be worried about. Yet…"
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't have Ella. I have Dixie. Dixie Carter—your business partner—if I heard her correctly."
"What do you want with Dixie," Jeff demanded. "And how do I know this isn't just a trick to get to Ella?"
"What do I want with Dixie? Why, nothing," Fournier said tauntingly. "I merely want you to come pick her up." He paused for a moment, and then added, "And you're more than welcome to hear her voice. Speak up, Ms. Carter."
"Jeff, don't do it," Dixie's voice cried. "He's using me to get to-"
There was a loud smack, and then an audible gasp of pain.
"Stop," Jeff yelled. "There's no need to hurt her. You want me to come get Dixie—that's all? I don't understand," Jeff said, growing angrier. "Why did you take her in the first place?"
"Let me elaborate. I want you to drive to your house, and make Joe Seanoa leave with you—and only Joe Seanoa—then I want you to drive to a location I will give you in a moment, and pick up your business partner."
Jeff didn't miss what the Frenchman was saying—or wasn't saying, rather. He wanted Ella alone at the house—so she wouldn't be protected.
"You're crazy if you think that's going to happen," he said in a hostile tone. "You are not taking my niece, you psychotic piece of-"
"Then Dixie dies, right now," came a calm threat.
Jeff heard his partner cry out in pain again.
"Okay! Okay," Jeff said loudly, stalling for time. I have to think of something, he thought frantically. There has to be a way to save Dixie and protect Ella at the same time. "I'll do it. Don't hurt Dixie."
"I'll give you three hours seeing as you're about an hour away from your home and your home is a long drive to the location. But you have no more than three hours, or the deal is off. I will have Ella, and Dixie will be dead." Fournier said. Then he gave Jeff the location, and disconnected the call without another word.
Jeff hung replaced the phone's receiver, and looked up to find horror etched across Nina's and AJ's faces.
"What do we do," AJ asked.
"What is he doing with Dixie," Nina questioned worriedly.
"We've got to come up with a plan—and fast," Jeff answered. "He's going to kill Dixie if I don't go get Joe, leave Ella at the house, and then pick Dixie up at some warehouse."
"I'm going too," AJ said determinedly. "I can hide in the car like Ella and Joe did earlier, and then sneak into the house and stay with Ella while you and Joe go get Dixie."
Jeff nodded. "Good idea. You will definitely have to be careful though. If Fournier finds out you're with me, Dixie's as good as dead."
"Let's go," AJ said, heading for the door. "We're wasting time, and it's already a long enough drive to your house."
Jeff pulled his car keys out of his jeans pocket, and then he kissed Nina softly. "Honey, call for hotel security—they know about our situation and they'll send a couple of guards to stay with you and the girls till I get back. Also, the gun is in the locked case in my luggage…you know how to use it."
Nina nodded. "We'll be fine. It's Ella and Dixie I'm worried about."
He kissed her again. "I'll be back as quickly as I can, darlin'."
With that, he and AJ headed out the door and ran for the elevators. The quicker they could get to the parking garage and Jeff's car, the better.
}i{}i{}i{}i{
"I love you," Ella sighed contentedly, as she laid her head on her husband's chest.
The newly married couple lay basking in each other's arms, legs tangled together and a light sheen of sweat glistening on their bodies.
"I love you too, sweetheart," Joe whispered, kissing the top of her head.
Ella sighed as his mouth shifted to hers in a kiss, and then she tilted her head back as Joe trailed his lips down her neck.
He grinned mischievously at her and shifted his body closer to hers then.
Just as the shrieking of the mansion's security system blared.
"Oh, my God," Ella cried, immediately fearing the worst. She clung to Joe in fright and fought to regulate her breathing. "Joe… What's going on?"
"Shh," he withdrew from her and rose to his feet, bringing her with him as the siren-like alarm clamored. "Stay quiet, baby." He hurried over to his suitcase and grabbed a t-shirt and jeans and quickly pulled them on as Ella wrapped the bed's sheet around herself. "Grab your phone and some clothes," he ordered. "Get in the bathroom, lock yourself in and get dressed. Do NOT come out till you hear me tell you to. If you hear a struggle or you hear me yell 'cops' call 9-1-1, okay?"
Nodding, she wept softly. "Joe, please..." She watched as he pulled a couple of handguns out of his suitcase next. Upon hearing the tears in her voice, he turned and faced her. "Please… be careful."
Joe crossed the large bedroom in only a few steps, and pulled Ella into his embrace.
"I can't lose you-"
She was cut off as he captured her mouth in a heart-stopping kiss. He ended it abruptly, and looked her in the eyes.
"It's going to be okay, honey. I promise. I'm not going to let him near you. I swear on my own life, lo'u alofa, he will not hurt you." With those emotional words, he kissed her again. "I've got to get down there. Take this gun. The safety's off. If someone tries to get to you, all you have to do is point and fire."
Ella nodded, taking the information in.
"Now, grab some clothes and get in the bathroom. I love you."
She met his eyes and swallowed hard, fighting off a sob. "I love you."
Joe managed a small smile meant to be of encouragement, then forced himself to turn and leave her. He heard the bathroom door shut and hurried down the stairs to investigate what had triggered the alarm. The closer he got to the ground floor, the clearer a couple of male voices became.
Someone was pounding on the door to the garage.
Double checking the safety on his gun, Joe hurried through the kitchen.
"JOE!"
"Open the door, Joe!"
AJ? Jeff? He hurried toward the garage door where the noise was coming from, and saw it repeatedly opening slightly, but not all the way.
"The chains," he muttered, remembering he had locked the door as well as slipped the chain locks in place. The large Samoan hurried to the alarm panel and punched in the code to silence the alarm. Then he quickly slid the chain locks free and pulled the door open, fighting the urge to not kill his friends. "My God, AJ! Jeff, why didn't you call us? You scared us to death! We thought Fournier was trying to get her again!"
"He is," AJ managed to get out. "We had to get over here quickly…There was no time to call…and we forgot our phones in the rush to get over here anyway."
"Tell me what's going on," Joe demanded of the two men. "Or I'm going to be forced to kill the both of you, here and now."
"He's got Dixie," Jeff yelled, uttering his first words. "Fournier kidnapped Dixie. If we don't go get her, he'll kill her.
"I can't take Ella along and let him get that close to her," Joe shouted back. "It's too big a risk!"
Jeff shook his head. "He doesn't want you to bring her."
Joe stared at Jeff, uncomprehending. "I don't get it," he finally spoke.
"He wants us to leave Ella here. Alone."
"No way," Joe growled. "There's no way! This can't work! What can we do?"
"That's why I came along with Jeff," AJ said. "I was hidden in the car. I'm staying here with Ella."
Joe looked skeptical.
"I'll keep her safe, Joe," AJ said softly, worry creasing his forehead. "She's a great friend—practically family. I love her too, and I won't let Fournier get near her."
Relenting, Joe dropped his head and nodded, realizing it was the only logical solution. "Okay. I'm trusting you with this, AJ."
"I know. I won't let you, or Ella, down."
"Okay, it's settled," Jeff said. "AJ, you know where the guns are kept. Joe, we need to go."
Joe nodded, and turned once again to AJ. "She's in the bathroom locked in with a gun. Call out and let her know you're in the bedroom before you go knock on the bathroom door, or you'll end up shot."
"Got it. Try not to worry."
"I'll stop worrying when we get Dixie and I come back here to Ella."
With that, Joe and Jeff hurried out to the garage and got into the car, speeding away and kicking up gravel along the way.
}i{}i{}i{}i{
Ella sat on the bathroom floor, huddled next to the bathtub in a ball with her knees drawn up against her face. Her arms were wrapped around herself as she rocked back and forth. The gun was clutched in one of her hands, ready to be used.
It seemed as though an hour had passed since Joe left her, though glancing at her cell phone, she saw it had only been minutes.
"Lord, please take care of him. Please keep my husband safe," she wept. "Please, please don't let him die because of me. I couldn't handle it!" Her slender frame shuddered from the force of her sobs. "Please, make this man leave me alone—leave my family alone. I can't lose anyone else. I just can't!"
"Ella? Darlin', it's AJ. Can you open the door for me?"
She inhaled sharply, in a full-fledged panic then. Oh, God no. AJ… That must mean… Joe…
She dropped the gun and stood shakily to her feet, instantly fumbling with the lock and flinging the door open.
"AJ?!" Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked into his troubled blue eyes. He clearly had something to tell her. "Oh, please… No… N-not Joe…" she gasped, struggling for air. She swayed and AJ caught her just as she crumpled.
"No, honey…" he started, holding her up. "Joe's fine." He saw her eyes going out of focus, and threatening to close. "Ella—stay with me, darlin'." He tapped her cheek to rouse her, and saw her eyes center on him. "Joe's fine, Ella. I'm so sorry I scared you like that. He's fine. I promise you, sweetheart."
"Thank God," Ella sighed, holding onto AJ for support.
He lifted her up and carried her to the bed and urged her to sit down. Crouching in front of her, he touched her forehead. "I bet you've not eaten anything today, have you? You're white as a sheet."
Ella had to fight off a gag at the mention of food. "No…I've not been up to it."
"You stay here and rest. I'll go fix you something," AJ told her, rising to his feet.
"No, AJ. Please…the way I feel right now, I'd not even get a bite swallowed before I would have to throw up. Please, just leave it alone. I'll eat as soon as my stomach feels strong enough."
"You promise?"
She nodded, and then looked up at him. "AJ, where's Joe?"
The Southerner exhaled sharply. This is it, he thought. What will happen when she finds out the truth? "Ella…Joe's fine. But the truth is… Something has happened."
She swallowed hard, "What's happened?"
AJ took a deep breath and let it out. "Dixie was kidnapped. Fournier has her."
"Oh, my God."
"He contacted Jeff and told him that if he and Joe didn't go pick Dixie up at some warehouse, he would kill her. He wanted you left here, alone. And that's why I hid in Jeff's car and came back here with him. There's no way he or Joe would allow you to be alone."
Ella's thoughts jumped into overdrive.
"AJ…" she started. "That must mean… he's coming here. Or sending someone here. Or even sending several people here."
"Ella, honey, calm down. There's no reason to-"
"I-I n-need to grab my phone…out of the bathroom…In case Joe or Uncle Jeff calls," Ella stammered out. She turned and headed back into her private bathroom, knowing what she had to do, but wondering how she would manage it.
She picked up the handgun that Joe had given her earlier and rounded on AJ, pointing it at him. God, am I really doing this, she thought in horror. "AJ, go to my closet, and pull out the bag I have packed in there." She tried to sound authoritative, as if she was in full control. He had to buy her bluff.
"Ella…Honey, I know you're not going to shoot me. Put the gun down, baby," AJ said softly, reaching for the firearm.
"No, AJ. Youre right. I could never shoot you," Ella agreed softly. She turned the gun on herself, shifting the barrel underneath her chin. "But I will kill myself, if I have to. I'm at the end of my rope, and I'm not going to let that monster hurt anyone else I love."
"Ella..." AJ tried to reason with her.
"I'm doing this for your own good—trying to save your life," she cried. "Can't you understand that? You haven't seen what Fournier is capable of. But I have—up close and personal. Now get over to my closet and do as I said. I really don't want Joe or Uncle Jeff to see me if I have to pull this trigger."
Ella had a deadly serious gleam in her eye, and AJ knew he had no choice. He walked over to her closet and in another second had her backpack pulled out and placed on the bed.
"Now get in the closet."
AJ looked worried. He'd never seen Ella look so strange. It was as if a robot had taken her body over. "You know I'm able to bust through this door, Ella. I can't just let you leave."
Ella nodded. "Fine. Turn around, AJ. Face the wall."
"Ella-"
"Turn. Around."
He hesitated, but then complied and immediately sensed Ella closing in on him. Her voice was soft and tearful.
"I'm really sorry, AJ. I don't want to do this, but I have to. If you wake up, stay quiet till Uncle Jeff or Joe find you. If Fournier finds you in here…you wouldn't be able to defend yourself. He'd kill you in a heartbeat. Promise me you'll stay quiet, AJ. Please."
"Ella, don't do this," AJ pleaded. "We can protect you if you'll just let us."
"No you can't," she cried. "None of you are invincible," she sobbed. "I'm not going to let you all die trying to keep me safe. I'm…" her voice faltered. "I'm not worth so many lives."
Before AJ could convince her otherwise, he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head, and was out cold before he ever hit the floor.
}i{}i{}i{}i{
Having hastily changed into black clothing, Ella now made the last preparations before she left. Her hands shook fiercely as she snatched the two letters she had written for Jeff and Joe from her bag. She propped them up against the pillows and then quickly began blowing out all the candles in the room. She'd never forgive herself if the room caught on fire and AJ was unable to escape. She checked the chair she'd lodged underneath the closet's doorknob once more, and then—knowing if her plan was to work, she would need it within reach—she grabbed her backpack and slid it onto her shoulders. Lastly, she pulled off her engagement and wedding rings, and kissed them. Then she laid them next to Joe's letter, and immediately began pinning her hair up into a tight bun. Once that small feat was finished, she pulled on her short red-haired wig.
God, please let this work, she thought. And please give me the strength to follow through with it. I just have to.
She tucked the necklace Joe gave her inside her shirt, unable to part with the pendant. She needed something to remember Joe's love for her.
She had written the letters in a way which would lead Jeff and Joe to believe she was intending to go into hiding, but died in an accident before she escaped. She knew it would destroy them, but she had no choice in the matter.
Everything counted on them believing she'd died.
Making sure she had everything she needed, Ella hurried down the stairs and through the living room to the kitchen. In another few seconds, she was at the back door leading to the garage. She rearmed the security alarm then hurried out the door and locked it behind her, for AJ's added security. Quickly hitting the garage door opener's button, she gasped at the shock of cold air that blasted in.
In the next instant, she latched on to the Yamaha motorcycle she'd decided to use, estimating that the bike must be the cheapest of the motorcycles that Jeff owned. She wheeled the motorcycle out the garage door, and then reached back inside to hit the button to close the door. Turning back to the bike, she picked up the helmet that was with it, and carefully pulled it over her wig. She had slid the visor portion down when she heard AJ's shout.
"ELLA! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"Oh, God…"
AJ sounded as if he was nearby.
I've got to GO, she thought, mounting the bike and hurriedly kick starting it. In the next second, she was peeling out of the driveway and flying down the road. She faintly heard AJ yelling her name from far behind her.
Onto the next part of her plan, she headed for the Shelby Street Bridge, which wasn't but about two miles away. She had the short distance driven in only a matter of minutes. She came to a stop on the deserted bridge, and collected her thoughts.
I've only got one shot at this, she thought, taking a deep breath. Gathering her nerve, she revved the motorcycle's engine and then peeled out again, headed straight for the bridge's railing. She counted to three, and then lifted up and jumped off to the side, letting the motorcycle continue on its way. In the next instant it crashed through the railing and exploded on impact.
Ella got to her feet, not taking the time to watch the flames and smoke billowing up past the bridge and to the sky above her. She quickly removed her helmet, careful to not dishevel her wig, and threw the helmet over the bridge near the explosion site. Her goal was to make it appear as though she'd lost control of the motorcycle and gone over the bridge's railing; falling to the icy water below. Then as fast as she could, she ran down the remainder of the bridge. She finally reached a normal paved street, and stayed off to the side, avoiding the moonlight.
Feeling more secure in the darkness, Ella continued on her way till she found a taxi cab headed in her direction. She flagged the vehicle down and once the driver stopped for her, she got inside. "The nearest bus station, please," she said softly. She settled back against the seat and closed her eyes. I did it, she thought. I actually did it. I should be thankful. But I'm just miserable. She blew out a sigh and cracked her knuckles. Please, God, ease the pain. Please, take it away. And please, please, make Fournier leave my loved ones alone now. Please, let him hear about my death before he does something to my family, she prayed silently, gripping her hands together so tightly her knuckles turned as white as the snow outside.
She fought tears the remainder of the drive to the bus station.
