Love and Obsession

Chapter 13

Sirens blared as the Oakland Police and SWAT team pulled into the motel parking lot, guns at the ready as they got out of their cars and surrounded the room where Matthew, Sadie, and their captors were hiding.

"This is the police! We have you surrounded. Come out with your hands up!" One of the officers, Sergeant Peter Klein shouted over a megaphone. Nobody complied with the order, and despite repeating it, there was still no response and SWAT swiftly kicked down the door. They found Ted sitting on the couch, smoking a crack pipe as he held on firmly to his son, who had a look of terror in his eyes. Matthew was almost completely still, as if he were a statue or one of those red coated guards in London.

"Release the boy and get down on your knees with your hands behind your head." Sergeant Klein barked as he and his partner, Detective Gregory Larkin entered the room with some other officers, who stormed through the rest of the motel room in search of Sadie and Karla. Ted let go of Matthew and stood up, dropping the drugs and his pipe to the floor. It appeared that he was about to surrender, but instead of cooperating, he drew his gun and aimed it at the officers. He'd gotten this far and was not going to go down without a fight.

"Put down the gun, Ted." Detective Larkin told him. Ted refused to listen. He cocked the barrel and started to pull the trigger, but Larkin and Klein tackled him, the bullet going through the TV stand nearby as he lost control of his weapon. He fought aggressively, biting, scratching, and swearing a blue streak in an attempt to escape. Even the sting of mace in his eyes and face did little to subdue him, and the police had to resort to using a taser. This jolt of electricity stunned him long enough for Klein to slap a pair of handcuffs on him.

"Harry Theodore Jacobson, you're under arrest for two counts of aggravated kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer." With that, he was escorted out by Larkin and put in the back of a patrol car.

As Klein rushed over to Matthew to assess his condition, the other officers returned, carrying a screaming Sadie and dragging a struggling Karla.

"Paul, can you come over here, please?" Klein called to the youngest officer, motioning with his right hand and the officer nodded and walked over. "Matthew, I want you to go with Officer Williams. He'll take good care of you." Matthew shakily stretched out a hand toward Williams and the young cop walked him out to a waiting ambulance to join Sadie, who was now being examined by paramedics.

While both children were taken to the hospital, the officers turned their attention to the crime scene. In the bathroom, they discovered the unconscious form of Brian Laramie slumped over the side of the tub with blood staining his shirt and when they turned him over, they noticed that he had sustained a bullet hole to his chest. Klein knelt down and felt for any signs of life. As he felt the side of Brian's neck, he found a weak, thready pulse.

"Someone, get a medic in here! He's still alive."

At Oakland General Hospital, the Tanners had arrived and Stephanie, Josh, and Elise were in the Emergency room with Sadie and Matthew as the nurses checked them out thoroughly, while Jesse, Rebecca, and Joey remained in the waiting room with Detective Norris and the Oakland officers, who were currently discussing some of the evidence the Oakland team had collected.

Thankfully, neither child had been injured, aside from a few bumps and bruises, though they were badly shaken up from their horrifying ordeals. Sadie had cried herself to sleep in Stephanie's arms as she sang her daughter a song to soothe her, and Matthew was clinging to his mother, bawling his eyes out on her sweater as he clutched his favorite stuffed animal, a white rabbit with some of the stuffing falling out from years of wear and tear.

Brian wasn't so lucky. The trauma team had managed to stabilize him before he was taken into surgery. The bullet just barely missed his heart, but he was still in very critical condition and it was too soon to know whether he would live or die.

Back at the Tanner home, Danny, Vicky, DJ, Steve, and Michelle were waiting anxiously for news of Matthew and Sadie's rescue. Michelle had helped DJ settle Nicky, Alex, and Leah into their beds, as it was past their bedtime, and sat by the coffee table, legs folded toward her as she sipped a mug of hot tea. Teardrops rolled down her cheeks and landed on the wooden table top. Her guilt was continuing to eat away at her. She hadn't spoken more than a few words at a time since she returned from the mall. DJ glanced down worriedly at her sister from the chair she was sitting on and got up and walked over to her, putting a hand on the teen's shoulder.

"It's gonna be alright, Michelle."

"No it isn't!" Michelle argued, her voice breaking as she avoided making eye contact. "I was irresponsible and stupid! I should never be allowed to look after anyone ever again. What if they never come home because of me?"

"Hey, don't talk like that! The police will save them. I know how you feel, but beating yourself up isn't doing you any good."

"Deej, but what if they don't?"

DJ gave her sister a reassuring hug. "They will. I know it!"

Michelle looked at her skeptically. "Are you sure about that?"

"I just know it. So keep your chin up and think good thoughts, okay?"

"Okay. I'll try." Michelle finally said, grabbing a tissue to wipe away her tears. Then she got up and went into the kitchen to put her mug into the dishwasher.

"You said a great thing there, Deej." Vicky complemented.

"Yeah, we're very proud of you." Danny added. Steve simply whispered 'I love you' in her ear as he scooped her up and hugged her.

"Thanks, you guys." DJ replied and wrapped her arms gently around her fiancé's neck.

After hours of observation at Oakland General, Matthew and Sadie were allowed to go home. Their parents looked over the discharge papers and signed them, which was not easy when they had their children clinging to them. It was six o'clock in the morning by now, only seven hours since they'd been rescued, but the doctor in charge of their care determined that there was nothing more that could be done there that their parents couldn't do for them at home. The two families joined the rest of their group in the waiting room and a nurse escorted everyone out through the Emergency Room exit door.

Stephanie carried her sleeping daughter as she and Josh walked toward Josh's car. She strapped Sadie into her car seat and got into the front, and the couple began to drive home.

This was normally a thirty minute drive, however, with the amount of traffic this morning, it ended up doubling the travel time. Usually, Stephanie didn't mind longer trips, but her nerves were shot and Josh's weren't any better and their patience was wearing thin. They finally reached Stephanie's place and Josh parked out front, then they walked up the steps and into the house. Jesse, Rebecca, Elise, Joey, and Matthew arrived not too long after.

"Daniel, we're back!" Jesse said, being careful not to wake anyone and he and his wife stepped toward the closet to hang up their jackets.

"We're home, Dad." Stephanie greeted tiredly, handing Sadie off to Josh. The toddler woke up and fussed in protest, but she quickly calmed down and settled into her father's arms.

"Welcome back!" Danny replied and went to hug his granddaughter. He went to hug Matthew, too, but he whined a little and tightened his grip on Joey's shirt, not wanting anyone else to touch him.

Danny was relieved that the children were brought home safely. He hadn't shown it, but the thought of nearly losing her and Matthew scared him to death and he didn't think he would have been able to survive if something like that ever happened to them. Joey and Elise carried Matthew up to Joey's room and Jesse and Rebecca went to their attic apartment to be with their children.

"Would you like my help with something, maybe fix her a sippy cup of milk or some breakfast?"

"Thanks, Mr. Tanner. Milk would be great. We'll be waiting upstairs in her room." Josh told him.

"Okay, and you're welcome." Danny went into the kitchen to pour Sadie's drink. He joined his daughter and her boyfriend a few minutes later and noticed that Michelle was there as well, her mood a little brighter as she stroked her niece's face.

"Dad, I'm so happy Sadie is back again. DJ was right."

"See, we told you it would all work out!"

"You sure did! Here, let me give Sadie her cup." Michelle offered, stretching out a hand. Her father handed it over and she smiled at the little girl as she lovingly placed the cup in her tiny hands.

Michelle began to sing a soothing lullaby and Sadie drank her milk and drifted back off to sleep.

"Goodnight, you guys." Danny said, and turning to Michelle, he added, "You get to sleep too, young lady."

"I will. Is it alright if I sleep in here?"

Danny smiled. "I guess so." He exited the room, and Michelle grabbed the spare pillows and blankets from Stephanie's closet and gave some to Josh, who graciously accepted them and he and Stephanie shared her bed while Michelle spread her blanket out on the floor next to the crib and closed her eyes.

So, the kids are safe, but what about the fate of their captors? Stay tuned!

This chapter was very hard to write, but I hope you like it anyway. Thank you for reading!