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Safe Haven: Chapter Seventeen
Chava's POV
Languages piled upon languages fill the room. Laugh and merriment created a lively atmosphere. Massive chandeliers hang down from the ceiling. White table cloths adorn the round banquet tables with black paisley, cloth napkins and black appetizer plates for decoration. Ornate silverware sparkle against the stark white cloths add a bit of brilliance to the setting. Many of the politicals are exchanging pleasantries and small talk.
Grandpa, Uncle Timmy, and Aunt Abby slowly trickle away, leaving Ima, Poppi, and I alone. A forced smile graces my face as spasms of pain shoot up my leg. I spot the German politician, Jacqueline, and her security making their way towards us. My back straightens and my posture becomes professional.
"Hallo. Ich bin Alisabith. Ich werde Ihre Übersetzer zu sein für diesen Abend. Hinter mir sind meine Eltern, Tony und Ziva. Wollen wir uns setzen?"*
"You do know that I can speak most english, right?" she questions in her German accent. I give her a confused look.
"I am not trying to be rude, but if you can speak english then why did you..." She cuts me off with a bright smile and a wave of her hand.
"I hired you because there might be some things I do not understand and this is a very important conference. I want to make sure that I understand everything." She starts to walk towards our table as she is speaking, the smile never leaving her face. When we arrive at the table, she removes a chair and hands it to one of her guards. "Would you please take this to one of the hosts for me?" He nods. "Thank you, Abel."
A small smile comes to my face at the gesture. Poppi wheels me into the empty slot while Ima takes a seat next to me. Jacqueline starts to talk again.
"I would like to commend you on that performance you just put on. It was quite a show. I can't figure out how you did it, with being in a wheelchair and all. Still, I applaud you."
My jaw drops. I had a mask on. No one was supposed to know that it was me. What are my parents going to say? What is going...
Jacqueline's voice snaps me out of my revenue.
"Your name is in the program, dear."
Oh. She smiles at me and pats my shoulder. Then, she turns to my parents.
"Your daughter is just amazing!" Ima smiles at me and grabs my hand underneath the table.
"She sure is," Poppi says while smiling at me.
"I am sorry, but what did you say your names were again?"
"My name is Tony and my wife's name is Ziva."
I raise an eyebrow at him and he winks back in return.
"Tony and Ziva? I thought your names were Zachary and Jillette." She gives them a confused look. My breath and heartbeat quicken when she says the names of my adoptive parents. I feel a small hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. After leaning forward a bit, pain shoots through my body. I bite my bottom lip to hold back a cry. I hear Jacqueline's worried voice in the background along with my mum's and Poppi's.
"Oh my. I am terribly sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."
"Shh. It's okay. They are gone. They can't get to you anymore. They are gone. Shh."
"It is okay, Miss. They were her adoptive parents. Just recently, there was a car crash..."
My breath speeds up even more as flashbacks run through my mind.
The cold metal pipe hitting my ribs. The bony fist connecting with my jaw. The sickening sound of cracking bones. The nightmares. The kicks. The chains. A soft, calming voice breaks through.
"Ava. Ava, baby. Look at me." I slowly bring my eyes up to meet teary brown ones. "You need to calm down, honey. They are gone. They. Are. Gone." I draw in a shaky breath.
"They are gone?"
"Yes, baby girl. They are gone. They can't hurt you anymore. They can't hurt you anymore." She cups my face in her hands, pleading for me to understand.
They are gone. They are gone, as in dead gone. I don't know if I am relieved or sad. Again, Jacqueline's voice comes in again.
"Hurt you?" I peer up at her through teary eyes and nod slightly. Her eyes widen and I quickly jump in with a wavering voice.
"Do not tell anyone, please. Please, don't tell anyone!" I plead. Her hand comes to rest on top of mine. A very small smile appears on her face as she nods her head. After a moment, she gets up out of her chair, kneels on the floor, and hugs me.
"You are a brave girl. Do you know that? I am sorry that that terrible thing happened to you. I can't imagine how any parent could do that to their child." She shakes her head, looks me in the eye and smiles. "You are a very special girl. Keep your head up."
"Thank you."
She hugs me once more and moves to sit back in her seat. My breathing is still uneven and the pain in my legs is becoming worse. Ima's hand resumes rubbing soothing circles on my back. Her free hand comes up and cradles my cheek, making me look into her concerned eyes.
"What do you need, tateleh? What hurts?" I look around (to make sure that no one notices my tears) and see Poppi and Jacqueline listening intently to the bloke at the podium, Grandpa Gibbs is by a tree talking quietly with some white haired fed, and Uncle Timmy and Aunt Abby in the corner having a serious but awkward conversation. Hmmm...
Ava get back on track!
Sorry... Any who.
"My legs and back hurt," I says with tears still streaming down my face. Ima wipes away my tears with her thumb and gives me a peck on the head. Then, she reaches down and grabs a small clutch I did not know she had and rummages around in it for something. When she is done, there is a small tin in her hand. She opens it up, grabs two Advil out of it, and hands them to me with a glass of water.
"Take these. They should help, okay?" She says firmly. I simply nod and take the medicine. My breathing has calmed down. After a few more deep breaths, I wipe my eyes and look up at the speaker. He drones on and on about security and how important it is for the United Nations and their Allies to stick together. Then, he ends with a quote about teamwork. Yeah. I look over at Jacqueline with a curious look, trying to ask her if she understood without actually speaking. She just smiles at me and nods. And then a different speaker with almost the exact same message comes on. Then another and another and another; all saying the same thing in different ways.
I am so out of it that I almost do not notice Grandpa coming over and whisper something in Poppi's ear. Almost.
Poppi's eyes grow slightly wider as he nods and slowly gets up out of his chair, as if not to disturb anything.
I watch out of the corner of my eye as he, Uncle Timmy, and Grandpa Gibbs walk out of the banquet hall and into a long hallway. Aunt Abby comes over and takes Poppi's seat. She leans over to Ima, who eyes are growing worried, and tells her something I cannot make out. Butterflies swish around in my stomach as worry begins to eat at me. I try to focus on the next two speakers but I keep on looking back at the doors.
'What is taking them so long? They should be back by now!'
Chava calm down. You do not not know if anything bad has happened.
'I know! But, I cannot help but worry!'
The conference (whatever it is) ends and they still aren't back. Jacqueline comes over and hugs me once more, telling me that it was a pleasure to work with me. I smile weakly and tell her the same. After watching her leave, I look up at Ima. She is close to tears and her hands are shaking. Grabbing her hand, I startle her out of her trance. Again tears are flowing down my face. She kneels down and holds me close.
"Please. Please, tell me that Poppi is okay, Ima. Please!" I sob into her shoulder as she rocks us back and forth, back and forth.
"I. I don't know, baby. I don't know if he is okay or not." Her voice cracks as she says this. More tears are coming out of my eyes. I lift my head up to bury it into her neck more when I see him.
"Poppi!" I hop up out of my wheelchair and stumble towards him. "Poppi!" I trip over my brace and land with a thud on the floor. I hear footsteps racing towards me. Strong arms lift me up and hold me tight.
"I'm here, Avi. It's okay. I'm here."
Next thing I know, a small body is attacking us, almost knocking us over.
"Tony!" Ima kisses Poppi full on the lips. I give them a watery smile. Ima pulls away and looks at him with a scolding look. "Don't ever do that again! You scared the crap out of us!" Her eyes soften as she rests her forehead on his and wraps her arms around us both. "I don't know what I would have done without you." Tears are streaming down her face as Poppi wraps his arms around Ima and I.
"It's gonna be okay. I am here now. I will never leave you."
*Hello. I am Alisabith. I will be your translator for this evening. Behind me are my parents, Tony and Ziva. Shall we sit down?
A/N Hey guys! I am so sorry that it has been so long! I was in The Little Mermaid Musical twice and it took up a ton of my time. Then, I went on vacation. Then, I was a Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. So.. It has been a busy summer to say the least! :D haha But, I hope you guys can forgive me! Enjoy! :D R and R PLEASE!