Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: I have stopped accepting reviews from guests. I need to be able to respond to a review when I get one to say thank you or to answer questions or explain something mentioned in the review. Spoiler alert for the rest of the note. Also if the guest who reviewed on chapters 2 and 3 is still reading I can tell you that Sarah will make multiple appearances throughout the story. Keep in mind that this happens in a universe where anything seems possible and nothing is what it seems. Dead doesn't mean gone.

Ch 4. Rush to the Underground

Toby sat in the guest room and picked up his cell phone. He was about to call Michelle when Jareth burst into the room looking panicked. The door slammed against the wall and woke Ella. Before she could fully process the situation she was in her Father's arms being carried to her own room.

"Daddy," she struggled weakly in her tired state of illness, "What are you doing? Put me down."

"I can't do that Ella. We have to get your things. You're in danger here," He waved a hand and her possessions began packing themselves.

"Jareth, what's going on," Toby followed, a bit frightened of this unexpected behavior.

Jareth turned to the teen, "You have a choice to make Toby. Come with Ella and I to live in my castle or stay here with your parents. Either way she is coming with me."

"I don't understand. What's happening? You can't just take her. Not yet. You'll just make her more sick," he protested.

"I'd rather have her sick than dead," his eyes flared with fear, "Your mother threatened to kill her if I don't take her now."

Toby understood now. His Mother had said such things before. He always feared she'd do it one of these days. She always sounded so serious.

He nodded, "I'll come with you."

The man waved his hand again to pack Toby's things, "Go get your bags Toby. We're leaving in five minutes."

Toby Rushed to get his stuff. Ella squirmed and whined in pain.

"Daddy, I think I'm gonna throw up," she whimpered and he immediately took her to the only bathroom he knew of in this house, in the guest room.

He held her hair and rubbed her back as she proceeded to vomit into the toilet. She started crying as some of it came out of her nose and burned. It was getting really hard on her. She was scared, stressed, and sick. On top of it all she had only met her Father last night and now she was leaving the only home she had ever known to live in his castle. Her whole life was turning upside down and inside out. At least Uncle Toby would still be there.

"Daddy," she cried when she was done.

He wiped her mouth and nose clean with a piece of toilet paper and held her in his arms as she cried, "What is it princess?"

She looked up at him as he brushed some stray hair from her eyes, "Are you always this spontaneous?"

He smiled weakly, "Had I any choice I would wait until you get better. I just can't risk losing you. How can I explain this? Do you know anything about dogs or wolves," she nodded, "Well when a Mother canine is pregnant she makes a nest somewhere safe for the puppies or cubs. If at any time before or after her young are born she feels the nest is no longer safe she immediately moves the nest elsewhere to protect her children."

"I understand Daddy. You're scared for my life. Thank you," she hugged her parent and let him take her back to her room.

"Alright," Toby said putting the trunks from his room on the floor in Ella's room, "How are we going to do this? We have six trunks and two backpacks and someone has to carry Ella."

"I know. Daddy could make one of those hotel carts with his magic and we could use that," Ella suggested.

"I see," Jareth considered, "Not a bad idea Ella. It just might work," he threw a crystal into the corner of the room and it became a huge hotel luggage cart, "Hold her," he handed Ella to Toby.

Toby watched as Jareth situated the six trunks side by side leaving a big square hole in the middle. The rail on the side would keep the trunks from falling off. Next the sorcerer levitated Ella's mattress; sheets, pillows, and all; into the hole.

"Well come on. I'll have some of the goblins push us to the castle. Ella will need as much warmth as she can get. The labyrinth is a bit cold this time of year," he climbed into the bed and held the covers open as Toby settled in with Ella.

"Why can't you just teleport the whole thing to the castle," the teen asked.

"Direct use of magic on Ella will interfere with her immune system. That could be dangerous while she is ill," the man replied opening a portal leading to the outside of the labyrinth through the closet door.

Toby noticed it was snowing over there and cuddled his niece close to lend his own body heat. Some goblins were summoned. A quick order was given from their king and they began moving. The girl shivered and curled up to stay warm.

"Try to sleep princess. We'll be there when you wake," Jareth had to wrap an arm around Toby from the other side of Ella to give her some heat from himself.

Ella nodded and closed her eyes. As her two companions sang to her she managed to fall asleep in spite of the cold.

"How long," Toby looked desperately at Jareth.

"Not long. The trick of the labyrinth is to make it so easy that the challenger over thinks it and goes the wrong way," the goblin king pulled the sheets up over their heads to hold in more heat.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

It was around noon when she heard the voice of her Father trying to wake her. Sensing that her body was still cold she resisted and tried to go back to sleep. The voice continued, gentle but insistent. Realizing that he intended to out stubborn her she groaned and rolled away.

"Ella, it's lunch time. Wake up," he shook her gently.

"Daddy, mm tired. Lemme sleep," she whined.

"I know little one. Just sit up. Eat your lunch. I'll give you your medicine to help you feel better. Then you can go back to sleep," he rolled her gently back to face him.

She let him help her sit up and leaned into his side. She allowed him to spoon feed her the strange soup she'd never had before. She didn't recognize any of the herbs or vegetables in it. The flavor was strong enough to make her want to eat but not strong enough to make her sick. She felt the herbs taking effect as her magic seemed to bind inside of her so she couldn't activate it. She looked up at him in fear.

"Daddy, why," she asked.

"Your magic takes up energy. The martrine herbs in the soup temporarily binds it so your energy can be used for healing. Once you're better I'll stop feeding you the soup and your powers will return," he promised.

She nodded and kept eating. Without her magic she wasn't as tired. She still felt the need to sleep though. Jareth contemplated how he was going to handle this. His wife was now dead. His long lost daughter was sick and may get worse. To top it all off tensions between him and his brother were on the brink of starting a deadly war over something as ridiculous as trade routes.

"Here we go Ella," he held a teaspoon of medicine to her lips.

She accepted it, swallowed, and grimaced at the bitter flavor, "Yucky," she stated.

"I know. It can't be helped. Now lay down and sleep. I'll wake you in half an hour to take your temperature. Toby and I managed to scrounge up and oral thermometer for you," he helped her lay down and covered her up.

"Thank you for taking care of me Daddy," she said and yawned.

"You're welcome little one. Now get some sleep," he stroked her hair and went to close the curtains.

She watched him from under the blankets. He smiled at her when he picked up the lunch tray. She smiled back at her Father and closed her eyes to fall asleep. Little did she know that this would be the last time she would ever see his face.

TBC…

Author's Note: Cliffy, you'll have to wait and see what happens in the next chapter. Again I update faster with reviews. Feel free to ask questions but I warn you some of the questions for this chapter may be things I want to keep you guessing on.