Disclaimer:  These characters do no belong to me, and I humbly thank Fireworks and Rysher for unconsciously lending them to me .  

Author’s Short Note: Just for added interest: during the writing of the final scenes, there actually was a storm brewing in Lac DuBonnet, Manitoba (where I was).  Weird, eh?

As The Storm Recedes

By Kimber

Angie sat down on the bed, and lay her head into her hands.  She couldn’t believe what she’d just done.

Rollie had reached out to her, he’d shown her how much he cared and believed in her.  And what had she done?  She’d pulled away again.  And it was all thanks to Victor Loubar.  The memories, the nightmares he had left her with were ruining her life.  Hers and Rollie’s.  And she didn’t know how to control them.

She’d tried so hard to get them to stop, but it just wasn’t any use.  Until she was sure that Loubar was dead, she’d never be able to live freely.  She would continue to be disclosed, and jumpy, and to hurt Rollie.  

She got up from the bed, using her shirtsleeve to wipe the tears from her face.  She needed to go home, to be in her own place, with her own furniture, and her own belongings.  She needed to think … in peace.  Away from Rollie.

She slowly made her way down the staircase towards the workstation.  The memory of Loubar entered her mind.  She let it play through, clutching the rail tightly.

“Hey,” she spotted Rollie standing near the front window, staring outdoors.

“A storm’s brewing.”  He said, without turning around.

“Oh,” she replied, coming to stand beside him.

He turned to her, his eyes met hers and he saw the hurt in her clear blues.  “What’s up?”

She shook her head.  “I want to go home Rollie.  Please.  I want to spend the night in my own place.”

Rollie was about to disagree when he decided against it.  He knew Angie really needed to be home, and he didn’t see how any harm could come by granting her wish.  “Sure,” he said.

He grabbed a jacket for himself.  “Here,” He threw her a large hoody of his.  “Put this on, it’ll keep you warm.”

She pulled the sweater over her head, and cast a glance toward him.  “Thank you.”

He smiled at her.  “You’re welcome.”

She followed him outside, and instinctively pulled the hoody up over her head.

The ride to her apartment was made in silence.  Every once in a while, Angie would feel Rollie’s eyes on her, but she attempted not to look.

She knew he was worried about her, but there wasn’t anything he could do to help.  And frankly, she’d rather leave him out in the cold than get him involved and hurt in the process.

She knew that if he ended up involved he would be hurt.  She couldn’t control the memories, couldn’t stop them from ruining her life.  Why ruin his, too?

Once they reached her place, Rollie insisted on walking her up.  She hadn’t wanted him to, but since she had not been in the apartment since Loubar’s rein of terror, she decided it was best.

After Rollie had walked through the apartment twice, and was preparing for a third, Angie’d had enough.

“Rollie, I think it’s safe,” she said, her voice showing the frustration she felt.

He nodded, pausing only slightly before heading to the door.

“You sure you don’t want me to stay?”

Angie shook her head.  “Nah, I’ll be okay.” She met his stare, and saw the uncertainty in his clear eyes.  “I will.”

“Okay.”  He opened the door.  “You know to call me if you need anything right?”

She nodded.

“Okay.”  He left, closing the door silently after him.

Angie breathed a sigh of relief, and made her way to the bedroom.  She lay on the bed.  Her cat, most likely feeling neglected by her lack of attention, trotted toward her, curling his body around her neck.

“Hey there,” she cooed, holding him against her.  He rubbed his nose against hers.  “Bet you’re feeling lonely, huh?”

She continued to stroke him for a while, his purring was like a hypnotic noise, lulling her to sleep.

When she finally did find sleep, she’d sworn she had heard her cap growl.  But the darkness overtook her.

* * *

“You let her go?”

Rollie drew back.  Mira was much smaller than him, by at least a foot, but her voice was much mightier.  “Well, hey I thought she would be okay.”

“You ‘thought’?  Rollie, there’s no room for thought here.  We’re talking about a wanted felon, whose plan you once again fowled.”

Rollie was silent before answering.  “You didn’t find him, did you.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“No,” she replied.  “We dragged the lake twice, and he’s disappeared into thin air.”

“That’s not good.”  Rollie said.  “Does that mean that he’d out there somewhere?  Is it likely he’ll come after us?”

Mira pondered the idea.  “Can’t tell you for sure, Rollie.  The chances, considering the past, are pretty positive towards that.”

“Damn,” Rollie muttered through clenched teeth.  He knew he shouldn’t have let her go on her own, but she’d seemed so worn out.  And … he really hadn’t seen anything wrong with letting her go.  “Are you sure she won’t be safe at her place? For all we know…”

“Rollie you don’t understand.  We don’t know anything right now!  Listen,” she shook her head, placing her hand on Rollie’s arm.  “What’s done is done, right?  Why don’t you just go home and get some rest.  Don’t forget that you’ve been through just as much as Angie, plus being shot.”

“I guess so,” he replied.  “But will Angie be alright?”

Mira nodded.  “She should be.  But I’d give her a call when you get home.”

Rollie turned to leave the station.  “See you.” He waved to her.

“Yup.  And I hate to be such a cop, but drive carefully okay?  It’s getting pretty bad out and I’m afraid some hard rain’s in the forecast.”

As Rollie headed home, he considered taking a detour to Angie’s place.  He decided against it, knowing all too well that she’d be angry if he showed up.

I will call though, he told himself silently.  Just to be sure everything’s okay.

* * *

Angie awoke from a deep slumber to find her cat seated on her chest, his frantic tail brushing her face.

“What’s a matter?” She asked him, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

As she stepped from the bed, a noise startled her and she dove back into bed.

“Lighten up, Angela,” she told herself. “It’s just the doorbell.”

Padding to the door, Angie considered who it would be at her doorstep at this time.  She shook her head, licking her lips.

“Come on, Rollie. I expected more…” She swung the door open.

“Hello Angela.”  It wasn’t Rollie’s face that stared back at her.  It was Loubar’s.

She swung the door shut, but her impulse hadn’t been quick enough.  Loubar stuck his foot in the doorway, throwing it open with his hands.

The force of the door knocked Angie backward, and she fell into the couch.  “No, please…”

Loubar made his way in, closing the door behind him.  He slowly made his way towards her.

Angie desperately attempted to get up, pulling herself toward the couch.  Her shoulder throbbed, her head pounded.

“This is all your fault,” Loubar growled, slowly.  “If you had only learned the first time.”

“I … no…” She sobbed.

He came to stand before her, and reached toward her.

Angie flinched, remembering when he’d removed the mask after he had hit her.  Those same tears stung her eyes again.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and roughly pulled her up.  “I’ve got a plan and this time you aren’t going to ruin it, you hear?”  Grabbing her by the shirtfront, he pushed her backwards.

“No,” she cried, the tears blurring her vision.

He threw her into an armchair and began pacing the floor before her.  “Because of you … my plans were ruined, my eve of destruction was delayed.”  He grinned, evilly.  “But not for much longer, because my new plans include having you out of the way.  And Tyler…”

Rollie.  The tears she’d tried so hard to fight back had returned.  “No, she couldn’t let herself be vulnerable.  Not here and not now.

As Victor Loubar rambled on, she wondered if she’d ever see Rollie again.  Or if he planned to kill her now and him later.

After all Rollie had done for her, she’d only been cold toward him.  Because of what Victor Loubar had done.  She wished she could see him again; just once so she could clear things up.  So that she could tell him that she hadn’t meant what she’d said earlier.  Things had changed, she was sure of it.

Loubar swung at her.  As she held her balled hands up as a shield, a noise broke her thoughts, startling Loubar.

The phone.  Her telephone was ringing.

* * *

Rollie clutched the phone to his ear.  ‘Pick up, Angela!’ he thought.  

Just as he was about to disconnect, the ringing stopped and the phone clicked.

“Who’s this?”  A gruff voice asked.

Rollie’s eyes narrowed.  He recognized the voice from somewhere but he couldn’t quite place it.  It surely wasn’t Angie.  Maybe he had the wrong number.

“Oh, uh I think I have the wrong number, I’m looking for an Angie…”

“Oh, she’s here alright.” The voice returned, louder than before.

“What the…” Rollie suddenly realized who he was talking to.  “Loubar … what have you done with Angie?!?”

“Nothing,” he let a laugh slip out.  “Yet.  But she’s going to be in trouble real soon.”

“Let me talk to her, dammit!”  Rollie shouted.  “Let me hear her voice.”

“Hmm…” Loubar considered it.  “Hey, Angela, your boyfriend here wants to hear your voice.”

“Rollie! Please don’t…” Rollie heard her shriek.

“Happy?”  Loubar intervened.  “I got a proposal for you, Tyler.  Her life … for yours.  Sound good?”

“No, Rollie it’s a trap! He’ll kill us both!!” Angie cried in the background.  

“Tyler,” Loubar spoke again. ‘Her place, ten minutes.  No cops or I’ll kill her for sure.”

The phone clicked in Rollie’s ear.  He slammed the receiver down, and raced for the door, grabbing his coat as he passed the workstation.  He considered calling Mira and letting her know what was going on.  But Loubar…

He knew he hadn’t been joking about killing Angie.  And if he knew … no.  It’d be too risky.  He’d just have to go alone.

* * *

Angie sighed as she watched Loubar make his way from the living room to the kitchen.  After he’d hung up the phone he had smiled at her; an evil smile that made shivers run up her spine.

“Hey, Angela.”  Loubar called to her.  “Don’t look so down, you’re still going to die.  I just decided to have an audience.  That okay with you?”

Angie scowled at him. “You’re twisted,” she spat, jumping from the chair.

“Whoa, little lady,” Loubar extracted a gun from his pocket.  He swung it around before him.  “Sit down.”

Angie obeyed, shooting dirty looks toward him.  Part of her wished he hadn’t talked to Rollie. She’d known he was going to kill her anyhow, and had almost come to accept it.  But for Rollie to watch … and then be killed himself.

She shook her head, hot tears slipping down her nose.  It just wasn’t right.

“So, I’m curious,” Loubar made his way back to the living room.  “What exactly is there between you and Tyler?  I mean you two dating or something?”

“Shut up!” Angie cried.  She clenched her teeth together.  “You make me sick.”

“Good,” he smiled.  “That’s the relationship I’m aiming for.”

Angie suddenly propelled up, throwing herself toward him.

He hadn’t been expecting her sudden movement, and found himself thrown backward, Angie on top of him, her knees digging into his chest.

“You sick, twisted, bastard!!”  She shrieked, pounding on his chest.

He struggled against her, his strength finally prevailing.  He shot up, throwing her off of him.

Angie hit the floor hard, but allowed herself to be stunned only for a second.  She rolled onto her hands and knees, searching for the gun that he’d dropped during the struggle.  She finally located it under the far armchair, and grabbed for it.

“Get back!” She shrieked, jumping to her feet, the gun in her hand pointed at Loubar.  “Get back!”

Loubar seemed momentarily stunned, but soon regained himself.  “Ooh, I’m supposed to be scare?”  He mocked. “I know you can’t shoot me.” He slowly backed away from her, heading toward the far side of her living room.

Keep walking, Angie thought to herself.  Keep the gun pointed at him and he can’t do anything.  “You’re going to pay, Loubar.  You’re gonna pay for what you did to me and Rollie.”

“Come on, you don’t actually expect me to believe you’d shoot me, do you?”

“I will!! I swear you make one more move and I’ll…”

He took a step backward until he stood before the large picture window.

“So you swear you aren’t dating, huh?  Hmm, well by the way you jumped me when we…”

“Shut up!!!” She fired the gun, the rage running from her body through her trigger finger. “Shut up!!”

Loubar was hit, and as Angie watched in horror, he tumbled backwards, falling through her picture window. 

“No!!” Angie shrieked, dropping the gun.  It was just like before … like when Loubar … “No!!” she brought her hand up to her mouth as the sobs began.  “No.”

“Angie,” a voice startled her.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she spun around, fists flailing.

“Rollie.”  She fell into him, his strong arms embracing her.

“Angie are you alright?  Where’s Loubar?” 

“Oh God, Rollie.  He … he tried to hurt me, and was going to kill us both, and …”  she sobbed.  “I had to.”

Rollie spotted the broken window.  “Is he dead, Angie? Did you get him this time?”

“I … I think so,” she cried. “Oh God, I think so.”

He just held her while she cried, never wanting to let go again.

* * *

Rollie spotted Angie, still standing before the broken window, and he made his way toward her.

“Mira says it’s Loubar,” he began, placing his hand on her shoulder, avoiding the tensor bandage the medics had placed on one.  

“Is he dead?”

“Yeah.”

Angie breathed a sigh of relief.  “Good.”  She wrapped her arms around herself, securely.  “Sure am glad it’s finally over.”

“You said it,” Rollie answered.  “Angie, listen.  About before … I …”

“No, I was wrong.” Angie began.  She turned to face him.  “When I said nothing had changed I was trying to deny myself … to deny that something HAD changed.”

“Between us?”

“Between us,” she replied, her eyes returning to the window.  “And now that we’ve been through this all and it’s over … I don’t know whether the change is for better or worse.”

Rollie reached over and took Angie’s hand.  “It’s what we make it,” he said, shortly.

She turned again, her arm coming up.  He released his grip, and they embraced.

As Angie looked out the window, her heart began to tingle.  “Rollie…”  

He turned his head, not letting her go, but so to see out the window.  “What…” He saw what she had been looking at.  “Everything’s going to be alright.” He said.

She nodded, nestling her head into him again.

Through the broken glass, the New York skyline was clear, its azure colors bright.  In the distance, just over the tall buildings, millions of colors gleamed in the sky.  A beautiful, colorful rainbow graced the sky.

THE END