Title: The Devil Wears Vengeance
Chapter 12 – Reaching the 11th Hour
Promise me you'll keep them safe. Promise me…promise…Ed's mind swirls over and over as he stares into the dimly lit space before him with an angry expression. Of course Mickey wanted was to have him hand over his soul to the devil willingly; taping him confessing that he was to blame for the death of Callum Logan and was getting what he deserved. Mickey never had any intention of letting him go but he figured that if the clip was sent to Donna that she'd give it to Spike and some clue could be found and he'd be rescued in time. He had ended the brief confession telling her to stay away and that he loves her; hoping in his heart she'd listen but knowing in his mind there was no way in hell she'd just stay put while he was in so much misery. I love you Donna…and our baby…I'm sorry I'll never see that future now…he inwardly laments as he hears some shuffling and casts a weary glance to the right to see Ida watching him with an arched brow.
Nothing left to say he merely purses his lips and turns his head away from looking at her.
"Defiant to the end," Ida comments as she takes a few steps closer. "Do you know what prison is like?" She inquires, Ed turning his head and refusing to engage her.
"Your silence is pointless."
"What do you want to hear?" Ed snaps in return as he turns and glares angrily at her; his brain forcing his face to bite back the wince from his sudden movement.
"Did it pain you…to watch your first child die?" She asks with a slight mocking tone.
"How the hel…"
"DID IT?" Ida demands.
"HOW THE HELL DID YOU KNOW THAT?" Ed shouts back, his heart racing and chest pounding but his mind seething with hateful contempt.
"Did you each blame yourself? Each other? God perhaps?"
"How did…"
"You think news doesn't travel across the water?" Ida smirks.
"Whatever…your sick game? …. I'm not playing."
"To see her that…that fragile. I too lost a child."
Ed keeps his lips closed…not wanting to engage his vile captor in the emotionally punishing debate.
"The pain…the hopelessness….it's amazing how low a person can feel at that moment. Watching your legacy ripped from you by…"
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Ed shouts as he looks up at her with a seething glance.
"I want you…both of you to feel the pain I suffered."
"Donna…was not responsible for…"
"After that I had nothing…I wasn't able to have another; wasn't able to provide for my own legacy! She took my future. She took my Callum."
Ed shakes his head, knowing that to argue back was moot. She wasn't about to listen to him try to reason with her and certainly knows she's not about to spare his life or even Donna's in her present frame of mind. She wants blood. Please baby…please find me before she wins…please.
"Very well then Constable Lane. I'll leave you now. The next time you see me, I'll be ending your wife's life…hers and your unborn child…and then yours."
"NO!" Ed shouts as Ida disappears. Donna…hurry…please god let her hurry.
XXXXXXXX
Donna's fingers press play on the message, her heart instantly seizing as she gazes upon her beloved husband in his captive and tormented condition.
"Oh god…no…" she whispers as tears instantly form, her ears forced to listen to his haunting message. "I…no…no this can't be happening…no it can't…" she mumbles as she looks up to see Wordy in the doorway. "It's Ed…"
"What?"
"It's Ed…he's…" she tries; words dying in her mouth as he makes his way over to her side; pushing past the limp and cupping her hand with his, steadying the phone and watching the rest of the message play out. Seeing his best friend in such a helpless and tormented condition, forced his stomach to tighten and his free fist to curl tightly.
"What hap…Wordy? Hey what's going on?" Tom inquires as he hurries up to them.
"It's Ed…" Donna whispers in torment as she hands her phone to Tom. "Take this to Spike right now."
"Wha…I thought his phone was busted?"
"NOW!" She growls, drawing Greg and Sam's attention from outside. "Please…just go now."
"On it."
"Donna?"
"It was um…a message from Ed…" Donna utters as she tries to find a chair to sit down, her brain instantly urging the child in her stomach to just try to remain calm and everything would be fine.
"Breathe," Jules whispers as her hand starts to gently stroke her back.
"What did the message say Donna?"
"It was Ed…he um…he confessed the killing of someone (Mickey of course leaving out who)…said it was his fault and he was paying…with his life. Greg…that can't happen."
"We won't let it. Did Ed say who?"
"No…no names only that he…maybe he did…"
"I didn't hear a name boss. It was beeped out," Wordy reaffirms. "He mentioned a few things that maybe Spike can make heads or tails of but…"
"Confessing to killing someone?" Sam ponders. "So his captor is delusional."
"He's fixated his anger on Ed for a reason," Greg muses as well; none of them yet aware of just what kind of monster they were dealing with. "Let Spike check that…"
"He's done so much already…" Donna's voice trails off.
"It's what he's paid to do," Greg quips, hoping to ease some of the tension. Donna looks up with a pained expression and Greg's instantly morphs to mirror hers. "I know this seems hard. But Ed's alive. He…"
"He's in bad shape…"
"He's seen better days," Greg comments lightly. "But he's alive. We have to work with that. There were some noises in the background and with Riley and Annabelle working the rest of the security footage, Spike can make this his top priority…"
"That and his hunch," Tom reminds them all.
"He's alive," Jules repeats as her soothing touch continues to try to ease Donna's tension.
"I'll check on Spike," Sam volunteers, wanting to give Donna a bit more space, Tom following him; leaving Greg, Wordy and Jules; the rest of team three milling around Winnie's desk.
"Just breathe okay?" Jules gently instructs, as Donna nods.
"He was…oh god he was chained to the wall…what kind of…what kind of monster…"
"That might work to our advantage. Not too many places around here that can boast something like that."
"HE'S IN A DAMN DUNGEON!" Donna shouts at Greg and then recoils in frustration; Greg giving her a strained smile.
"It's hard for all of us to see Ed like that."
"I'm sorry…I just want him back."
"Me too. But he's alive and Spike…he'll find him," Greg assures her as he looks at Jules and nods. "Come on," he gestures to Wordy. "Let's give her a bit of space."
The two of them leave the room; Donna looking at Jules and offering her a kind smile for her tender attention. "I am losing it aren't I?"
"Trust me if I saw Sam like that and I had the same emotional mood swings as you, I'd have shot something by now," Jules quips. "It is hard for all of us to see him like that."
"I need to know who did this…I want my time with them and…"
"And you want us all to turn our backs?"
"I do," Donna nods. "I know…vengeance is wrong but…he just looks so….so hurt and…damn it Jules I want to know right now."
"Come on…Spike's paged us," Tom informs them as he reappears in the entrance to the meeting room.
"What do you think he's found?" Tom wonders as they all near Spike's computer studio; Spike having paged them that he might have found a major clue.
"I don't know but I remember Eddie telling me that Spike saw something in Carl's apartment and hesitated…wasn't sure but Spike only hesitates if…" Greg's voice dies out.
"It's something important," Tom finishes in a grave tone. "Well let's hope whatever he's found will not only give us a name but also a location as to where Ed is."
"I'll settle for a name first," Sam sighs just as Spike appears in the doorway with a look of pure panic on his normally peaceful expression; Riley a few feet behind with a haunted expression as well. Both Greg and Wordy turn to him, their expression's morphing from ones of expectation to that of complete wonder and surprise; the rest of the team waiting on his next words.
"Spike you look…scared," Tom notes as Greg looks at the team three team leader and then back at his technical expert.
"What'd you find Spike?"
"Did the um…the clip help?" Wordy manages to ask.
"The pay as you go phone was a dead end but the clip helped," Spike replies as he holds up the picture he had seen on the desk nearly hidden under Carl Hernandez's computer.
"That's Carl Hernandez," Tom mentions.
"The man beside him…with the tattoo…"
"Spike, we've seen that tattoo before," Greg mentions in haste as Spike nods. "Who kidnapped Ed?"
"Mickey O'Brien," Spike comments as he holds up the picture of Mickey from the previous arrest, the large tattoo prominently displayed on the top of his right hand. "It's the same. No doubt."
"What the hell?" Tom asks angrily.
"Spike, Mickey O'Brien is in jail and…" Greg starts just as Riley shakes his head and holds up a small printout.
"He's out…and so is…" Riley starts.
"His brother Miles," Annabelle pipes up. "I put a call into corrections and…"
"They are now both missing," Spike concludes.
"What?" Greg asks in shock. "How come no one was notified?"
"The prison official who covered it up only confessed a few hours ago. They have been missing for a few days."
"And no one else noticed?" Sam growls.
"They had inside help," Spike replies.
"So the computer stuff…the only man you said could go head to head with you and hold his own…" Greg starts.
"Has to be Miles O'Brien…Mickey's twin," Spike replies in truth. "But boss…that's not the worst part," Spike starts in a tone that instantly causes a hush to envelope the small crowd.
"Those two don't work alone," Greg dares to offer. "Who's pulling the strings Spike?"
"It looks like it might be…Ida Logan."
"What?"
"Spike that's not possible," Greg retorts as Spike holds up a death certificate. "Fake? How do you know?"
"There were photo's…"
"And also a money transfer to several people in Belfast from an unmarked account…which when we traced it back…"
"Belongs to Callum Logan's brother," Riley adds.
"Ida Logan faked her own death. Paid off the prison medical examiner; escaped under the guise of her own death and called in whatever favors she could. The only alerts we had was the unusual amounts into these people's bank accounts which we traced. She came back to Canada…"
"A few weeks back," Wordy dares to add as Spike nods.
"She set this all up. She has Ed," Spike confirms; earning himself a few gasps and curses.
"Where?" Greg presses.
"That's the ironic part…" Spike groans as he holds up the address.
"The building across from Ed and Donna's apartment?"
"Apparently beneath it there used to be an old prison…buried over but if you know where to look…"
"You can still get down there," Sam finishes. "How do we get down here?"
"Entrance on the…" Spike starts to explain.
"Am sure we can count on a few extras helping her," Sam mentions as he looks at Greg.
"Okay team we need…" Greg starts, turning around to see Donna's reaction. "Donna?"
"I'll find her," Jules offers as she hurries toward the women's locker room; Greg quickly formulating the best plan of attack; Spike of course needing to keep Ida and her two henchmen in the dark about their actions.
"Donna's gone."
"I'll go after her," Wordy volunteers, getting a nod from Greg and hurrying toward the weapons locker. He grabs a vest and then his gun; racing for the elevator with Tom at his side. "I'm coming with you."
"Okay team, let's get them back!" Greg states firmly as both teams quickly deploy with their designated tasks; heading for the weapons locker; Greg on the phone to teams two and four, telling them to coordinate with the unis and keep several blocks taped off.
"Copy that," a firm course is heard before the stairwell echoes with determined steps.
XXXXXXXX
"I don't believe this…I just don't believe this…" Donna's lips chant over and over again, her fist hitting the dash of the SRU SUV as it speeds through the streets with the lights on and sirens blaring; her plan to turn them off closer to home. "Ed…damn you Ida you…you bitch!" She curses; her sorrow now giving way to full-fledged anger. You need to keep your emotions in check, her brain reminds her in haste. You need to wait for the team and have a calm head.
"I need to get my husband back!" She hisses to herself; knowing full well that Greg would not waste a second in getting the teams out the door, feeding them their duties on the way. Her mind replays Spike's instructions over and over as she nears her final destination.
"Okay little one…you need to work with me here," Donna instructs her unborn child with a firm tone. "I need to save daddy and I need you…to cooperate with me okay? You need…oh god I can't believe she did all this," Donna's voice ends with an angry hiss and a whispered curse. "She did all this…SHE DID ALL THIS!" She yells; mostly to relieve frustration, the anger quickly clearing away the last few vestiges of emotional misery. "She will pay….she will pay with her life…"
You are a police officer…you can't just kill someone in col…
"Today…I'm a wife…" Donna growls to herself as she stops the SUV in the alleyway and tosses her badge onto the front passenger seat. She checks the clip in her gun and the spare one in her vest; giving herself a firm nod before she gets out. She has no intention of trying to hide herself from Ida; hoping the Irish Mob Mistresses will invite her into see Ed and then team one can arrive to save the day.
"At least…that's the plan," she huffs as she gets out and hurries for the hidden door. As suspected the door is locked, but her brain presses forward; shooting the lock and then pushing through the door, entering the very lair of the devil. Not caring if she triggers a trip wire; but also not knowing that Spike was also en route, helping out by keeping some of the security camera's blind to hers and their actions, she presses forward. However, in the darkness she fails to see a twisted smile watching her every footstep…watching and waiting…waiting to pounce.
Donna nears a staircase to go down; her heart racing so fast, her brain yelling at her heart to slow and her breathing to steady. Sniper breathing…as Ed taught you…relax…for you and the baby…relax.
Donna reaches the bottom of the staircase and stops to listen; her frantic ears picking up whispered taunts and taunting shuffling from a few different directions. She hadn't waited for Spike to show them the layout; knowing they'd have one now but for her that's moot as she had left her headset in the truck along with her badge. She hurries down the main corridor, her eyes darting in and out of every haunting shadow that awaits; wondering where and when her enemy would strike.
Miles she surmises correctly would be somewhere with his computer, waiting to throw off the rest of team one when they arrive. Spike will kick his ass, she confidently and silently praises. Riley too. I don't have to worry about them. Mickey can kill you. Him I have to worry about.
She nears an area with several rooms and then slows her pace, pausing to look into each one before moving on. She finally reaches the last one, peers through a small barred window and then gasps at what she sees in the distance.
"Ed!" She utters in horror as she pulls the heavy door open and blindly rushes for her husband; nearing his captive frame and then pausing as she hears mocking laughter. She reaches his side; her fingers trying to get the gag off but instantly being hindered by the first attack.
"Welcome Mrs. Lane," Ida's taunting voice is heard; Donna's back receiving a hard blow from behind, sending her forward to her knees a few feet to Ed's right and causing the gun to clatter from her grasp out of reach.
NO! Ed tries to shout in vain through the gag keeping him quiet; his body still painfully chained to the wall. He watches helplessly as Mickey appears from behind, pouncing on her. His thick hand grabs a handful of dirty blond hair and jerks her head back; Donna's lips uttering an angry yelp as her arms flail; trying desperately to get the gun.
Wordy…Greg…where the hell are you guys! Surely she didn't come alone! But Ed's inward fears are next strengthened by Ida's mocking greeting.
"Foolish of you to come alone Mrs. Lane," Ida is heard as she enters the room; Mickey trying to get Donna's struggling body under control. Ed watches as she sustains a hit to the side but then frowns in wonder as Mickey's fist pulls back from actually punching her in the stomach. Damn bastard has a conscience?
Donna's mind tried to bypass the pain in her side as she tries to kick back; her hand at the same time reaching for Mickey's crotch and giving his sensitive groin area a firm squeeze. Mickey curses from the pain but maintains his grasp on her; her body falling backward onto his; his arms wrapping around hers and keeping her trapped.
"Pointless fight," Ida smiles as she enters the dungeon cell-like area. "Let her go. She has nowhere to run and in a few moments will force her husband to watch her die a slow painful death."
"The team…is on its way," Donna lightly gasps as she jerks herself free of Mickey's grasp, her eyes darting to the gun on the floor before Ida's fingers pick it up and wave it before her.
"We'll be long gone before your team gets here. Tell me…how did you find us?"
"Why the hell are you doing this?" Donna demands as she slowly picks herself up; her heavy wince not lost on her husband. Ed feels his fists tighten and knows that he can bear her enduring a black eye and maybe some bruised ribs…but a direct blow to the stomach…would kill him.
"I understand you are pregnant…again."
"What the h…what? What do you mean again?"
"Your husband told me," Ida smiles. "Oh not very willingly and am surprised he's lasted as long as he has against Mickey. Mickey can be quite persuasive. But he did promise me that he would wait until you could enjoy the show as well. Tell me Mrs. Lane would you…"
"What is your damn game?" Donna demands in anger; stalling for as much time as possible. "Why do all this? You could have just done your…"
"My time? You sent me back to hell!"
"You were found guilty. Not by me and not for a crime that I or Ed was involved in!" Donna argues back.
"Did it hurt as much as I think it did?"
"Did what hurt?"
No…Ed shakes his head, his eyes begging his evil captor for some kind of emotional leniency.
"Your noble husband wants to spare you the painful knowledge. And I would if I cared; but I don't. When you lost your first child. Did it hurt? I know mine did…ripped me to pieces."
"Why would…what? How did you…" Donna's voice trails off in confusion. "So you got the gossip over there? Yes it hurt. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Did it make you feel like you were to blame?"
"Ida…you lis…"
"DID IT?"
"YES!" Donna shouts back; her brain frantically trying to keep her breathing in check. "YES IT HURT LIKE HELL AND YES I BLAMED MYSELF! Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Yes. I'm glad."
"You'r…you're glad?" Donna's voice cracks as her mind instantly takes her back to that horrid night; a vision of herself in the bathroom on the floor, bleeding out; their child being painfully aborted.
"Nature can be so cruel can't it?" Ida smiles as she moves in a bit closer; Mickey to her right; Ida's frame blocking the entrance.
"What do you want?"
"However, I can be even crueler," Ida continues.
"Meaning? What do you want say?" Donna growls in anger.
"Maybe it wasn't you…"
"What?"
No…oh god please spare her…Ed's mind begs in misery; his heart already having to have heard the horrific confession earlier and now being forced to hear it again; his eyes water instantly.
"What are you saying?"
"Money can buy just about anything can't it? A friendly judge…a personal guard…a friendly medical examiner…even in a stark prison setting."
"So you bribed your way out and faked your death," Donna looks at Ida squarely.
"It can even buy…a friendly pharmacist," Ida pauses as the expression on Donna's face changes.
"It…what?"
"It can buy pills…prenatal pills."
"What?" Donna's voice dies to a whisper; her back to Ed and unable to see the silent tear escape the corner of his eye and slowly slide down his flushed cheek.
"Pills that are supposed to help…not kill."
"Are you saying…are you to…the pills…" Donna's voice catches, her mind unable to wrap around the unspeakable horrible truth she's now being faced with.
"I believe I am."
"You…this can't be…"
"Oh but it can. I was sad to hear when you had moved. Unable to get a good pharmacist there. I guess that's why this one has lasted…well until now."
"Are you saying…you switched…my pills and…caused the miscarriage?"
"Oh I am a monster aren't I?" Ida declares with a slow evil smile; tight and unforgiving, matching the tone in her voice.
"You killed our child?" Donna finally manages.
"I celebrated that night."
"You…"
"Your husband knows," Ida goads, prompting Donna to turn and look at the defeated expression on her beloved husband's tear-stained face. "Bet he blamed himself also," Ida continues; Donna's back to her nemesis as she looks at Ed with a teary eyed expression. "At least now…the truth is finally out."
"Monster," Donna whispers.
"That I am. But now you can all die together. At least you'll have that. Hope you told Constable Lane you loved him this morning. Because you won't get another chance," Ida's tone slides from rather upbeat to downright deadly.
She killed my child…she switched my pills and that forced…oh god she forced my baby to be aborted prematurely. I thought it was me. It was her. She did this. She murdered my child…murderer…murderer…make her pay…make her pay…pay with her life. Do it! Do it…NOW!
Not wanting or waiting to hear another word from the evil entity behind her; Donna feels her fists tighten and her entire frame stiffen, a baby's anguished cries screaming in her head – crying out for vengeance. In slow motion she bats away a few tears, mouths I love you to Ed and then pivots on her right foot; her body throwing itself into Ida's frame, catching her off guard and forcing both of them to stumble toward the stone wall.
At the same time as Ida calls out to Mickey to pull her back and he takes a step toward them; the ground around them rocks – team one had finally found them.
"Not…possible!" They all hear Miles frantic voice coming through the makeshift overhead speaker system. Mickey's frame falls to the left; his arms sticking out behind him to keep himself from falling completely to the ground. Ed's body rocks in place, his lips cursing angrily into the tape gag as his body yells out in pain, but his mind not caring. If it was team one as he surmises, help is close at hand.
But just as he hears the sound of gunfire in the distance, he looks up to see Ida dart out of the room; Donna in tow. Donna! No come back…wait for the team!
Mickey quickly pulls his knife and snarls at Ed's captive frame a few feet before him. "At least I get what was promised me. Killing you," he grins just as he advances. Another burst of gunfire is heard before footsteps and determined voices heading their way.
Wordy! Sam! Ed's mind swirls in a panic as he watches Mickey pull back and wait at the door; waiting to pounce on whoever enters first. Wordy rounds the corner and spies Ed fastened to the wall. But just as he advances he watches Ed's eyes widen and turns just in time to pull back but receive a small cut on the forearm from Mickey's knife.
"I'll take on whoever I have to," Mickey grins as he tries to slash at Wordy. Wordy pulls back, crying out as his leg sustains a hit from Mickey but not completely faltering. Ed looks at the thick bandage on his best friend's leg as they fight and can only assume it was a souvenir from the blast. Wordy's fist counters with a punch to Mickey's throat, forcing the Irish hit-man's lungs to gasp for air; Wordy adding another firm blow to his unprotected chest.
Just as Mickey raises the knife once more, Sam enters the room and pounces, Wordy's frame in the way and not allowing him a clean killing shot. Sam literally hurls himself at Mickey, forcing his frame off Wordy's and allowing Wordy to get to Ed and allow Sam the pleasure of taking Mickey O'Brien down for good.
"Alright blondie…you and me then," Mickey sneers at Sam who outwardly groans at the lame term, as he tries to raise his weapon. Sam tries to fire off a shot, grazing Mickey in the arm and sending him backward but down for good; Sam and him colliding once more. At the same time, Wordy had managed to get the tape off Ed and had shot close to one of the metal hinges, praying with the commotion behind him, his aim would miss Ed's hand and finally free him.
"Wordy…" Ed gasps as his left hand finally springs free. "Donna…she went after Ida…" Ed painfully wheezes as his right hand finally springs free.
"Spike, will find them and…" is all Wordy is able before Ed grasps the gun from his hand and aims past Wordy's right side. Mickey had shoved Sam back toward the floor and just as raises his knife both SRU snipers fire; Mickey's body jerking in response to both kill shots, Sam's in the heart and Ed's to the back of the head.
"That…was for Donna…you bastard," Ed pants as his weary arm drops.
"Boss, Mickey O'Brien is dead," Sam confirms.
"Sam…help me get him up," Wordy directs as Sam calls in their position and then hurries to help get Ed upright; Ed's lips crying out in pain as he's moved and his broken ribs instantly start to rebel.
"Where is she?" Ed manages painfully. "Where's my wife?"
XXXXXXXX
"Annabelle can you confirm?" Spike asks over the headset to the team two computer technician.
"Read-out indicates that there is one heat signature in there," she replies from the command truck.
"Boss…"
"Spike, go in. We have to find Donna and Ida," Greg's voice is heard. "Tom and I have the south entrance covered just incase."
"All quiet here on the north," Jules informs them.
"Upstairs elevator is still locked down," Richard replies.
"They are still down there," Gary adds.
"Riley…take this…" Spike hands him a small blinking box. "Be ready to enter as soon as that blows. Take the right…and I'll take the left."
"Copy," Riley nods as he pushes the small explosive cube into the crook of the heavy door handle and steps back; both of them watching it count down from five seconds; guns ready. The door blows open; both Spike and Riley busting inside and as expected having to fall back for cover due to a hail of gunfire.
But knowing time is of the essence for his team supervisor, Riley stands up; ignoring Spike's cries, drawing Miles fire and ensuring Spike could take the kill shot. He feels a shot penetrate his skin and cries out; Spike calling his name just before he fires at Miles.
"Boss…Miles O'Brien is dead," Spike utters as he rushes for Riley.
"I'm okay," he huffs. "Find Donna."
"On it," Spike utters in haste as he puts his MP5 down on the table and slides into Miles spot, looking frantically at the crude security system. "I see them…Ed, Wordy…Sam…she's down the same hallway as you," Spike directs.
"Spike is there an exit?" Greg wonders.
"North exit."
"Jules…"
"She's not getting through us."
"They'll stop her," Spike tries to assure Riley, who remains on the floor with pressure applied to his leg. "We need medics down here. Riley's hit. He's okay though but hurry."
"Gary will bring them to you," Greg directs.
"Copy."
"Ed needs…"
"I need to get to Donna!" Ed's growl is heard over Wordy's headset.
"Eddie…"
"Boss…I have to get to her," Ed begs, seconds before a gunshot rings out. "Donna!" Ed shouts.
"She's still alive," Spike assures them. "Hurry Sam…" Spike tells them as he watches Sam pull way from Ed and Wordy and hurries down the hallway toward Donna and Ida; an ensuing duel of the fates where only one would emerge victorious.
XXXXXXXX
Donna's lips utter a painful cry as she enters the room only to have Ida's arm fly out at her from behind a small doorway, striking her below the vest and forcing her lips to gasp for air; her brain instantly seizing at the thought their child would be harmed by her own doing.
She murdered your child…kidnapped your husband….
Donna's elbow flies backward toward Ida, catching her in the side of her face and snapping her head to the right. But driven on by rage and vengeance, Ida strikes back; putting both her fists onto Donna's back and pushing her forward into the stone wall. Donna counters by taking a few steps and then turning back, determined to get the gun and end this at any cost.
Donna's bottom lip sustains a small hit from Ida's left fist; her hands clawing frantically at her right in order to get the gun free. Ida pulls back on the trigger, firing off a shot that misses Donna's arm and embeds itself into the stone wall a few meters behind. Donna's head lands in the middle of Ida's forehead, making Ida stumble backward with a painful curse, her hands reaching for the gun once more.
Ida's hands keep firm hold, trying to point it directly at Donna's belly and then pull back; wanting to at least inflict as much pain as possible before finishing the deed.
"It's over…" Donna pants as she drops the struggle with her right hand and punches Ida in the face; kicking at her at the same time in hopes of prying the gun away for good.
"For you…maybe."
"Your men…are dead," Donna argues back, her lips uttering a painful yelp as Ida's hand grabs her hair and gives her head a firm jerk.
"Which way Spike?" Sam asks in haste over his headset.
"A few more feet and then turn right. Sam hurry."
"And you're next!" Donna growls as she kicks Ida hard in the leg and finally manages to pry the weapon loose, pulling back and quickly cocking the trigger. "You murdered…my child…my unborn child…" Donna growls in anger as she holds the gun steady.
"I am glad you both suffered!" Ida shouts back. "I hope you and this bastard child die a slow painful death as well!"
"You…murdered my child…." Donna repeats as the gravity finally sinks into Spike's brain; his mind realizing what both women were saying. Ida was to blame for Donna's miscarriage?
"Go ahead and pull that trigger Mrs. Lane," Ida taunts as the two women stand fixed in time. "You can't can you?"
"You murdered…."
"You might not be able to kill me…but I will kill you…" Ida vows.
"Oh no…" Spike whispers; his eyes glued to the monitor. He looks over and sees it still live and while Riley is distracted, throws the lever, forcing the screens to fade to black and the feed to stop recording. He spies movement to his left and instantly fires; purposely hitting the control panel and forcing Riley to jump in place.
"Spike?"
"We're okay boss; misfire. Sam is almost at Donna," he whispers before a shot is heard and silence ensues.
"What just happened Spike?"
"Camera's went black boss."
"What?"
"Sam?"
"Is she really okay Spike?" Riley looks up with uncertainty.
"She is."
"You can't kill me…not in cold blood…you don't have it in you," Ida goads as she takes a step forward.
"We'll never be free as long as you are alive," Donna utters in truth.
"You can't do it can you? There is no way you can live with yourself…justify yourself…"
"Ida…" Donna pauses as the world around her starts to blur. She hears Sam's voice nearing…Ed in the distance and her heart skips a small beat; Wordy had saved him and he would be okay. Her lips offer a small smile as she turns back to see Ida taking another step forward. With her arms now stretching out before her in a vengeful lunge, Ida starts to pounce, evil flashing in her dark eyes as she makes one last effort to take down her nemesis for good; wanting to get the gun. Donna knows if Ida gets the gun she wouldn't hesitate to use it.
Murderer…
"Not this time…" Donna whispers as she pulls back on the trigger; Ida's fingers unable to reach her in time, the bullet landing in her heart and sending the Irish Mob Mistress crashing onto the floor in an unmoving heap. Sam enters just as Ida's body falls to the ground; Donna looking up with a teary-eyed expression before he kneels at Ida's side checking for a pulse.
"Ida Logan's dead," Sam announces to the team as Donna looks past him, spying Ed and Wordy and rushing toward her husband. Ed bites back a very painful gasp as Donna enters his embrace on the left side; both of them finally safe.
"It's over. For good."
A/N: okay so the final showdown is over *phew* and deep breath. Yeah sorry couldn't let Ida live this time…no one's sad about that right? Lol I know this chappy was a bit longer than others but there were key rescue/fight scenes/confessions I needed to get in here. (and of course all the good guys live!) Did you like the rescue? The takedown? What about Ida's being responsible for the miscarriage? Did you see that one coming? Hopefully you liked this chappy and please do review before you go, trust me I will need your encouraging thoughts to get through the last few chaps and give you guys the happy ending you have waited for and the birth of baby Lane. :)