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: None this chapter

Chapter 42

Jeff entered Rose Medical Center in Denver, along with Nina, Kayla and Jennifer. Within minutes, the family had ridden the elevator up to the third floor where the Intensive Care Unit was located. They approached the ICU waiting room and instantly spotted Joe sitting in a chair between Finn and another man they didn't recognize.

"How are they," Jeff demanded, surging into the room, his family close behind.

Joe's head shot up and Jeff could see the remains of tears on his face.

Oh, God, he thought. Are they dead?

"Ella seems to be okay, physically," Joe answered, swallowing hard. "But I know she's going to need counseling when this is all over. She's pregnant with my son."

"How do you know the baby's yours, Uncle Joe," Jennifer asked.

"Because Fournier's sterile," Joe explained. "He can't have a baby."

"What about Miracle," Nina asked. "Where is she?"

"She's in ICU right now," Joe replied, his fists shaking with rage. "Fournier decided to get Ella and I where it really hurts. He poisoned Miracle with some mixture he came up with—some venoms along with a large dose of insulin. She had a heart attack."

"But she's only thirteen!"

"It was the poison. It had nothing to do with her age or health," Joe explained. "The doctors say she'll most likely have a permanent heart problem due to all the trauma it went through."

"Joe..." Jeff started, at a loss for words. "I'm so... so sorry."

Joe nodded, "She'll be okay." He looked up at his family then, "Fournier is dead. Ella killed him."

"Thank God," Nina sighed with relief. "At least we can focus on helping Miracle and Ella heal, and not have to worry about that monster watching our every move."

Joe stood to his feet. "Oh, I can't believe I almost forgot. This…" he motioned to the stranger sitting beside him. "This is the PI I hired…Matthew Wilson." Then he indicated Finn. "And to those of you who haven't met him, this is Officer Finn Bálor. I wouldn't have gotten Ella and Miracle back without their help."

Matthew and Finn stood then to shake each family member's hand.

"Thank you so much for your help," Jeff said as he took the PI's hand. "You have no idea what you've done for us."

"I wish I could've done more—and sooner at that," Matthew replied humbly.

Ella walked into the waiting room then, wearing a clean pair of scrubs in place of the lone t-shirt she came in with. Her eyes fell on Jeff, Nina and their daughters and she launched at them, sobbing until her entire body shook. "I'm so sorry," she cried, hugging her uncle close.

"Shh, darlin'. You did what you thought you had to do," Jeff held her close and patted her back.

Ella nodded as she pulled back and looked him over. "I was so scared of being the cause of you all dying. I couldn't handle it." She reached over then and hugged Nina. "I love you all so much!" Her gaze shifted to the two Jarrett girls and her tears came even harder. "And you two... I've missed seeing you grow up." She hugged the crying girls close. "You've both grown into such beautiful young ladies!"

"We love you, Ella," Kayla whispered. "We missed you so much!"

"How are you," Joe asked her. "Did they find any injuries?"

"Just a concussion," she replied, "I'm fine. Any word on Mir-"

"Mr. Seanoa? Mrs. Seanoa?"

They all turned then to see a doctor standing in the doorway.

"Yes," Joe answered immediately. "How is our daughter?"

"I'm Dr. Samuels. Miracle's very drained and sleepy from all the medicine we had to give her, but I think she'll make a full recovery. The bullet wound was only a scrape, so luckily, she just needed some stitches. However, as I told you earlier, she will most likely always have issues with her heart due to the poison and trauma. But it shouldn't be life threatening as long as she takes care of herself."

"So, she's going to…be okay," Ella managed, relief flooding through her. "I want to see her. Which room is she in?"

Dr. Samuels nodded, "Yes, she is. And of course. You two can see her together, since you're her parents—but anyone else only one at a time. And only for a few minutes. Follow me. I'll take you to her."

They followed the doctor down the long hallway and into a private ICU room where they found Miracle lying in her bed. She was still hooked to an IV, blood-pressure monitor, as well as an electrocardiograph machine. A nasal cannula was placed in her nose, providing her with oxygen, and they noticed the bandage wrapped around her bicep. Ella and Joe each sat down in a chair on either side of the bed and took her hands, amazed when her eyes opened and she groggily looked up at them. A weak smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Mama... Daddy..."

"Miracle," Ella whispered softly. "How are you feeling, lo'u alofa?"

"Really t-tired," the girl stammered. "I was hurting so bad... But the doctor gave me... morphine, I think. Now, I'm just really sleepy." She swallowed hard. "H-How are you, Mama? Is Fournier dead?"

"Yes, baby. He's dead. It's over. We can all be together now. We just need you to get better," she smiled softly, running her hand over Miracle's forehead.

"I'm just glad to be alive right now," Miracle said softly. "I didn't really think I was going to make it."

"But you did," Joe smiled. "You're part Seanoa and part Jarrett and Roberts. They don't come any tougher than us."

The girl smiled and then yawned sleepily, her eyes growing heavy.

"Would you like to rest now, baby? Or would you like to see another visitor," Ella asked, leaning down to kiss her daughter's cheek.

"Is... Is Finn here," Miracle asked softly. "He saved me... from Fournier. I want to thank him."

"Yes, he's been here the whole time," Ella replied. "We'll go get him for you."

"Thank you," Miracle yawned again.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," Joe whispered, leaning down and kissing her temple. "Get some rest."

Joe and Ella left the room then, and headed back down the hall toward the waiting room. Their loved ones all looked at them as they re-entered the room. "Finn," Ella offered him a warm smile. "Miracle was asking for you."

"Really," Finn asked, astonishment on his face.

"She wants to thank you," Joe said. "She says you saved her from Fournier. So, Ella and I want to thank you as well. Thank you for protecting her these past few months, but especially for helping her through what Fournier did to her."

"But I didn't really do anything- Because I failed to protect her at her school, she was kidnapped. I didn't save her."

"Yes, you did," Ella cut in. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "She was scared to death, but you were there for her. You kept Fournier from hurting her further. You did save her life, Finn."

"I don't feel like I did enough," the officer confessed. "I didn't get to her in time. If I had... She wouldn't be facing a permanent heart issue."

"But you didn't cause it, Finn," Joe reassured him. "Fournier is the one who hurt her. It's not your fault that you couldn't find Ella and Miracle in time. You got to them before I did, and I'm their husband and father. Don't beat yourself up over this."

Finn nodded dejectedly, "I'll work on it."

"Come on. I'll show you to her room," Ella said, motioning for Finn to follow her.

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

Only minutes later, Finn sat down in one of the chairs next to Miracle's bed. The girl appeared to be asleep, so he gently took her hand, lightly rubbing his thumb over the back of it. In her sleep, Miracle must have felt the tender caress because the corners of her mouth curved up into a smile. Her eyes opened and she turned her face to see Finn sitting beside her.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Hi," Finn whispered back, reaching up to push some hair back off her forehead. "How're ya feelin', lass?"

"Sleepy and sore, but it sure beats being dead," she tried to joke. She wanted nothing more than to see Finn smile instead of looking as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"That's not funny," he said, staring into her eyes. "Don't joke about that."

"I'm sorry," Miracle said. "I just wanted you to smile. I don't like seeing you look so sad."

"Well, joking about your death isn't going to inspire a smile, Miracle."

"What will make you smile?"

Finn started to speak, but faltered. He swallowed hard and tried again. "Seeing you healthy. And out of that hospital bed."

"Well, then I'll work on that right away," she teased, squeezing his hand in hers. "Seriously, Finn. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay. Thanks to you."

"How can ya say that, little lass? It's 'cause of me that you're here!"

She shook her head. "You're wrong."

"And how is that?"

"At the school, you told me to run. I didn't," she replied.

"'Cause 'o me," Finn reminded her. "Ya felt like you couldn't leave me there. If I'd not built a friendship wit' you, then this wouldn't have-"

Miracle covered his lips with her fingers and shook her head at him. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Please, don't say that," she begged, her voice shaking with emotion. "Despite all that's happened, I found a silver lining: My father finding us to begin with, and your friendship. Please, don't make it sound like it's nothing. It's important to me."

"I'm sorry, lass. Our friendship is important to me too. I just hate feeling so useless. Logically, I know this wasn't my fault—it was Fournier's, one-hundred percent. But, there is this little nagging voice that keeps telling me I didn't do enough."

"Then tell it to shut-up," she told him matter of factly. "If you hadn't shown up when you did, do you really think Fournier would've been patient enough to wait on my death from that poison? No. He would've lost his temper and finished me off. You did save my life, Finn. And I'm finished discussing it."

The corners of his mouth tugged upward a bit, as though he were fighting off a grin. He enjoyed her sass and fire. "Okay, lass. For you, I will drop it." He stood to his feet then. "I'm going to leave so ya can get some sleep now. You need it."

Miracle squeezed his hand again. "Please, don't go. Not yet. Will you stay with me till I fall asleep?"

Caving in, he sat back down in the chair and nodded. "'O' course I will."

She sighed in relief, and settled against her pillow as Finn held her hand between both of his. He rubbed soothing circles over her knuckles with his thumb, and soon, Miracle's eyes grew heavy.

Scant minutes later, she was asleep, her breaths deep and even.

Finn lifted her limp hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "I'll come back to see you soon, lass," he whispered. Then he stood and left the room.