The Greatest Secret

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 189 (Salvation)

Later that day, Tyrone and Nora were in their usual meeting spot, the cemetery. She always called him there as it was the safest place they could meet. She waited beside her mother's grave and looked up to the dark clouds in the sky. Her stomach churned lightly as the clouds swirled over the son, blotting it out and darkening the surrounding. She always considered this an omen. Ignoring it, she moved her eyes to the tombstone below and felt an immaculate feeling of guilt. "Whatever…"

Behind her mom's grave marker was a large, white marble stone form of the Virgin Mary with her arms stretched out and her body hunched forward. The woman had a smile on her face and eyes bright as always. Nora never understood the catholic's worship of the Virgin Mary. When God said to only worship him, yet the Catholics wanted to worship Mary. She was just a vessel, a 'tool', so to speak. She knew how that felt. "Doesn't that bible say, worship only God?" She scoffed and turned her eyes to the cemetery road. It was a big place, it would be easy for Bana to hide out here if he was following her.

A dusty truck with no license plate drove up behind her. She jumped at the sound of the engine and sighed as she turned around. It was only Tyrone, she had him driving in that beat up old truck so as to avoid any detection by Bana. Keeping the vehicle running as she always suggested he do, Tyrone stepped out of the car and looked at her with sorrowful eyes. She knew why he was depressed, ever since Angeline and the wedding, he'd been going through a lot of stress. "Hey Nora, what do you want now?" He leaned against the front end of his truck and stared at the statue of Virgin Mary. Next to her, belonging to another grave, was a stone cross. "Such irony, we Shays meet up in a place so holy…"

She scoffed slightly and lifted her eyes skyward. "That's still on your mind? Just believe we're descended from evil. You're literally made up of Yin and Yang, your mother and father." She turned her eyes to him and smirked as he visibly cringed. "You hate thinking about it, don't you? You're a Shay, you're a Davidson. You know something, Tyrone?"

"What?"

"If you had to pick a side, who would you choose? The Shays or the Davidsons? The men hurting your family, or the family trying to defend itself?"

"I…."

"Think about it for a moment, why don't you? How do you think your mother would feel if she were still alive?" He moved his eyes to the side and shrugged. "I know you feel guilty about it all, that's all you've talked about since the wedding. Angeline made you feel guilty, didn't she?" Meeting his eyes, her question was answered without any words. His eyes held a strong glimmer of pain. "You know, thirty years isn't too long. Not all hope is lost."

"You don't know that."

"It worked out for Robert and Marissa, didn't it?" She reached into her shirt pocket and slowly pulled out a cigarette. Tyrone was shocked by what he saw.

"You smoke?"

"Not very often, just on days like this…" Her other hand left her pocket, she had a lighter gripped between her fingers. As Tyrone looked up to the sky, she lit the cigarette and let it hang on her lips. "Cold, dark, ominous, it says a lot, don't you agree?"

"I guess…I'm just surprised you'd smoke over your mom's grave."

"Like you've pissed on your mother's grave the last thirty years?" She glanced at him and chuckled at his pale expression. She always enjoyed outwitting him, it was fun to jerk him around from time to time. She turned to face him and took a step forward, walking closer and stopping a few inches away. "You disbanded your gang a couple days ago. Do you know they're still acting up?"

"They are?"

"Yeah, they were crawling over that airport today." The old man gasped as Nora took her cigarette from her mouth and blew out the smoke. They had gone to the airport to watch the band take off, they wanted to make sure they would have a safe flight to LA. Nora made damn sure of that as well as making sure none of Tyrone's gang boarded that flight. "I took out a few of your gang and left them there for airport security. So no worries there, Freddie and the others got to LA safely. You just need to watch the gang a little closer, they're not fond that you left them."

"It was for the best. The things Carly and Angeline said to me…everything I've read in those journals…"

"You want to make things better. Do you really think that you can do anything?" As she turned her back to him, her eyes fell upon the stone cross to the right of Mary. She frowned and placed the cigarette back to her lips. "Do you deserve salvation? Are you with the Davidson family, or are you with Lionel and my father?" He growled and took an angry step towards her.

"I am nothing like those men!" Her eyes flicked to the side and she slowly closed her eyes, huffing effortlessly.

"What do you believe? Think about it. Lionel kills those he deems evil at heart, but strictly the Shay clan…my father hates the Davidson family with a passion, so he murders them in order to eradicate them." An ominous silence filled the air as she removed the cigarette and smoke poured from her mouth. The smoky taste stung her tongue and throat, but she was used to it now. "You and your gang of about fifty or so that started in the 1980s have tried to send the Davidson family out of this country. You've used scare tactics and force to do so. You've sinned just as badly as my father has, and let's not forget that Agim's family all died because of my father, but who was it that put them on that boat?" Her eyes narrowed as she turned to face the old man once more. She read the guilt and shook her head. "Marissa may have forgiven you of that debt, and many others, because it was found that Bana is the one responsible, but we both know the reality, don't we? You're just as responsible as he was, so undeserving and unfit for salvation as he is. Am I right?"

"No! I am not as vile as that man!" Tyrone stomped his foot on the ground and roared out his protest, but Nora remained unshaken. The stench of strong soap and fish stung her nostrils, but she ignored it.

"So tell me why you believe you need to be saved? What makes you any better?"

"Because I'm willing to change! Unlike the two serial killer psychopaths, I'm willing to change."

"So Angeline and Carly, did they convince you of that?" She put the cigarette back to her lips and crossed her arms over. She was a bit skeptical of him, but she could see his reactions were genuine. He had it in him to do what was right if he believed strongly in that. "What Morris told you, what Carly said, how Angeline acted, did any of that really have any effect on you?"

"What?" His chest's heaving slowed and his arms lowered. His frown deepened and his eyes fell. "What would you ask that for? Of course they did…My son got married and I wasn't allowed at his wedding. The love he and Marissa have is so powerful, so strong…love exists, I've seen it. Freddie and his bride, Spencer and Sasha, Carly and Griffin, they're all so happy, so…in love. Just as Angeline and I were…"

"You know that woman loves you too, right? If you were to live on for another twenty, thirty years, could you bear to be without your family? You know that's the road you're on, right? Each of your Shay relatives, even myself, even Shane, they're all without their family. Think about why that is?" She turned to face the Cross and Mary once more, narrowing her eyes dangerously. "That's God's punishment, the curse of the pure Shays. To be hunted by either the law or some evil force, to be hated, to be alone forever. Yin and Yang, Tyrone, good and evil…you have a choice because of your mother. She was pure, she was gentle…your father damaged her, but she stayed strong, if I am correct. Evil couldn't stand against her. The Davidson family is numerous, the Shays are down to a bitter few. We're not offered salvation, Tyrone. The Shays are far too evil, too far along the path of violence to be cleansed and pure."

"Nora…"

She closed her hands and took a deep breath, swallowing the smoke to her lungs and coughing once. She cleared her throat and closed her eyes. "My father's reached Nevel Papperman, he's also found that one guy…Carlos Manten…your gang, putting added stress on the Davidson family, has been harassing Besim and Vera for the past week…Then there's my grandfather, Mitchell Shay, he's been transferred to another prison. January 13th is coming and I have a sinking feeling that my granddad may not be much longer for this world. Lionel's getting older, so it makes sense that he might be coming out of hiding. If he does…that's extra pressure. That gang of yours is doing a lot more damage than what is necessary. How can Marissa deal with everything going on in her family without going nuts herself?"

Thunder sounded off like the drums of Gibby's skill. Lightning lit the sky and Nora flicked her cigarette's ash off. "I get what you're saying. I think. I'm not Bana, I'm not Lionel…"

"No, you're just an arrogant asshole who hates his own family."

"I do not hate them."

"Then what are you doing? Think about the only reason that Angeline left you, because of your anger. What started your anger? Your father. What did your anger do, it separated three people: Marissa, Robert, and Spencer. Your gang you formed fed your anger and arrogance and kept you attacking your own family, being a controlling and manipulative dickwad-"

"Okay! I get it! Geez, do you have to be so…what's the word?"

"Bitch? It's okay if you think that of me."

"I don't think that, I just…"

"Look Tyrone. If you want to change your act, do it now. You may never get a better time for a second chance than you do at this very moment. If you could possibly surprise anyone, if you could possibly regain your family's trust and love, then wouldn't that be important?"

"Yes…"

"Don't you want that second chance? That second opportunity?"

"Yeah…" She gazed past him and shrugged. What was she searching for? He sounded genuine enough. He wanted to change, he didn't want Robert to go on hating him. "I know I want to be a part of my family. I know I fucked up and I don't deserve salvation, I don't deserve another chance…" Tears drenched his cheeks as a light drizzle started to come from the clouds. "But to put me in the same boat as Lionel and Bana, I would rather die. I am and have always been a family man, if they're my family, then I don't want to hurt them. I want Angeline to know that I…I still love her."

"So you believe in love?"

"After seeing what I saw….I believe so."

"Do you want to help Freddie and his bride, do you want to tear them apart?" Her eyes flicked to his for a split second and he closed his hands. His head nodded down and she raised an eyebrow. "I've seen some change in you in this last month. I'm impressed, really…maybe there's hope for you yet." She chuckled vainly as Tyrone felt his heart beginning to sink. "Us Shays have no chance of redemption, no chance of salvation. We're all screwed, all cursed to damnation. Lionel, Bana, Mitchell, Shane, his mother, myself…every one of us. None of us have any hope left. Then there's you…if you're so sure that you would be willing to change-"

"I can try! Can't I? I mean…."

"The fact of the matter is, you know you don't deserve a second chance, but you want one. You want salvation, just like I'm sure the Davidson family would like salvation from the Shay family. You so graciously made the current generations of both the Shays and the Davidsons hate each other without trying, by putting Shane up to do what he did."

"I know…I'm guilty for that…"

"You know your sins, but you still want a second chance?" She glanced back at the Cross and at Virgin Mary. It was not the only holy thing in this area. There was also a statue of Jesus around somewhere, then the church of course, next to the cemetery. "I suppose that's what religion's all about, right? Forgiveness? That's what Valerie and Jonah are into. That's what Sam and Freddie are for. Christianity, God, Heaven. Does it exist?"

"I believe it's all true…"

She quickly turned her eyes to him and narrowed them, clenching her throat and flicking the cigarette onto the ground. The rain began to increase in heaviness as she stomped on the cigarette, continuing her glare into Tyrone's eyes. A chill ran down his spine as he took a small step backwards. "You've known nothing about me all this time. You know that, right?"

"You are mysterious, I'll give you that." He chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. She scoffed and closed her eyes.

"Yeah I like it that way. Anyway, you're sure you want to change? Do you think you want to do what's right? Salvation, forgiveness…you don't deserve it, but…do you want it?"

"If I can attain it, then yes. Why is this so important?" Her eyes flicked past him again, the rain masked the scent but she no longer needed it.

"If you want it so badly. Duck, leave, and don't look back."

"What?"

"I said duck!" Her voice echoed through the air and Tyrone did as ordered, dropping down and narrowly avoiding an axe to his head.

"Shit!" He looked up and shouted when his eyes met the powerful Bana. Bana roared and started bringing the axe to him, but Tyrone quickly rolled out of the way and leapt towards the car, once more doing as Nora said to.

Nora clenched her teeth as Bana turned to the car, brandishing the axe through the air. "Hey! Dad! Over here." Bana turned around and sneered at her as Tyrone sped off. She knew she was screwed, she'd known for some time now.

"You bitch! You let him get away!" She huffed and folded her arms over as Bana threw the axe towards her. Thinking fast, she ducked to the side, letting the axe slice only a portion of her hair. She dove for the axe and he grabbed her leg, pulling her back against the ground. She let out a shout as he grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. "What is wrong with you Nora? You've turned against me."

"Fuck you! I've been doing what's right!"

"The right thing to do would have been not stealing my journals in the first place! Now where the hell are they?" She grinned spitefully and glared into Bana's eyes.

"Somewhere you can't get to them. With the police." His eyes widened and filled with fear. With a powerful shout, he threw her against the ground. She yelped and her hand flew to her side, she landed on the axe and now had a large gash from her left side to her right breast. "Damn it…"

"You bitch, you were on my side! All this time you've been helping them?" Nora breathed heavily and turned her eyes to the axe as he began walking up behind her. "Is it because I killed your mother in front of you? Is that it?" She felt his hand on her leg and quickly grabbed the axe. As he pulled her up, she flipped around and held the axe behind her. "You let the Benson kid get away, you stopped my assault on the Davidsons at every turn! Why?"

"Because I read those journals, Dad. I was with you, yes…from the beginning I thought those Davidsons deserved to die. I thought they deserved every bit of pain as you did, but then I read those journals and I started thinking otherwise. I thought if I showed them to the Davidsons, they'd feel sick, and they did."

"Tyrone's not a Davidson…"

"He is, otherwise you wouldn't have gone after him just now. You know it."

"I also know you're a traitorous, fucking cunt, just like your mother!"

"Don't talk about my mother!" She roared and slashed the axe from her back, scraping it along his chest. He let out a violent scream and lurched backwards, dropping her to the ground. She landed on her feet and started breathing heavily. "I figured if I could change Tyrone, maybe…just maybe I could attain salvation. I know what it's like to stare Satan in the eyes. I'm doing it right now…" Bana roared and charged her once more, slamming his fist hard into her face.

"I don't care if you're my daughter, I will kill you. Why? Because as of right now, you're not my daughter!"

"What a thing to say, dad." She slowly wiped her mouth and pushed herself from the ground. Her body was becoming weaker due to blood loss, chances were likely she wouldn't make it out alive. She didn't expect to. "Don't worry, the police are probably on their way already."

"What?"

"I've had the police on speed dial for a while now. The second you arrived here, I called them." She took her phone from her pocket and watched Bana's stunned eyes land on the phone.

Connected: 911

"They know we're at the Seattle Cemetery in the area with the Virgin Mary and Cross. Where my mother's grave is. They also know you're killing your own daughter. Don't worry Bana, I have no intention of letting you kill the Davidsons nor do I have any intention of letting anyone think Tyrone was responsible for my death."

"You fucking bitch…how dare you undermine me!" He grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into the Virgin Mary statue. She let out a loud grunt and her eyes flew to the sky. She'd been impaled through the abdomen by the Virgin Mary's arm. Blood left her lips as she dropped her cell phone. She felt her father's cold, murderous fingertips against her face, squeezing it. "So you think you can attain salvation by saving the Davidsons? By saving Tyrone? By disobeying me, turning on me, and helping the enemy survive?"

"Fuck off dad…" She moved her eyes towards him, her body was flaring up with pain as she heard the sirens in the distance. "I've learned. They're not the enemy. You're the enemy. I've done my job, I've completed it." He growled and quickly moved his hand from her.

"Your 'job'? What was that? Because I'm pretty sure I told you to get close to the Davidsons for me and kill them. All you've done is give them more chance to save themselves."

"Exactly. Salvation…that was the point, Dad…Now the whole town knows about you, about William Shay, about that entire line that was kept missing. They also know of Lionel…that means they're expecting, they can act. Your days are numbered…I've done my job…"

"You bitch!" He backhanded her and looked off in the distance. The sirens drew closer. He growled and narrowed his eyes as he began to panic. "No matter. I pride myself of a few things, one is not getting caught…your 'job' means shit. So does your 'salvation'. Die in the arms of Virgin Mary." He chuckled and grabbed the axe from the ground, then proceeded to slam it into her left shoulder. She lifted her head and screamed in pain as he ran off.

Thunder sounded out and lightning spread across the sky. She moved a shaky hand to the handle of the axe and tightened her bloody fingers around it. Closing her eyes, she let out a pained grunt and pulled the axe from her body. Fortunately she wasn't too far impaled onto the statue's arm. She reached her hands onto the statue and slowly pushed herself from the arm, screaming out as her body went off the arm.

This was it, she wanted to die here and now. As she got off the arm, she fell back into the statue. Her eyes fell against the cross and a chuckle left her lips. She hadn't noticed the Jesus sculpted into the cross before. Maybe this was her salvation. "It's complete. God forgive me and keep them safe…" She kept her eyes locked onto the cross as one last breath of air left her lips and her body fell limp against the Virgin Mary's arms.

The sky lit up with blue and red lights and the air filled with police radios. There were about five police cars in the cemetery, three of which were searching the perimeter for Bana. The police from the two squad cars where Nora's lifeless body rested were standing outside their vehicles and were talking with one another, trying to figure out who was going to call the ambulance.

Even Tyrone returned, his eyes were misty and frozen on Nora. She'd saved him. She knew Bana was coming for him, she knew he'd be there. That's why she was asking him all those questions, to see one last time if he was worth saving. Like the rest of the Davidson family, she opted to save even his life. "S-She was with Bana all along?" No wonder she knew so much about the Davidson family, about him, about everyone. "She saved all our lives…Now she's with God…" The one thing he found creepy was how fixated upon the cross her dead eyes were. Maybe she wanted salvation for all the Shays. Maybe she wanted salvation for herself, maybe she wanted to be with her mother. "She may never know the good she did tonight. Thank you, Nora. I won't forget you, I won't forget this, and I won't forget what you died for…I-I'll try my best…to do the right thing." If she could do the right thing, maybe redemption truly was possible.

He moved back to the driver's seat of the car and started thinking about Marissa, Robert, all of them. His eyes started to tear up as he moved his forehead against the steering wheel and wept bitterly. If God could forgive Nora for her involvement with Bana, maybe God would forgive him. The trick was getting his own flesh and blood to forgive him.

Well, speechless. So Nora...well...everyone let me know what you thought!