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Last Resort	By : jinx1764 Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 7045 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth, don't make any money, this is a work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
A/N: FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS MUHAHAHAHA!

Sarah's husband awoke curled on her bed covered in the scraps of her paintings and bed sheets. After destroying every piece of art in her bedroom, Eric's new voice urged him to find new things of Sarah's to damage. The remaining pieces from all of her wood easels were so small they could be used as kindling and the painting supplies were unusable. Spending the night alone her in apartment at the insistence of his voice; Eric was able to spread his destruction to every room until her apartment looked as if a team of thieves and vandals joined forces. Everything thing that could be broken had been.

His party of demolition lasted until the early morning hours until exhaustion forced him to collapse. The voice humming in his head finally silencing long enough for Eric to sleep uninterrupted for several hours; when he woke he was surprised that it was nearly noon. Detective Scarvy had left a message on his cell phone about meeting him in a couple hours at the diner near his apartment. Eric remembered speaking to the detective but had forgotten about agreeing to meet with him today.

Initially, Eric considered ignoring the phone call and skipping the meeting but the voice, for a change, urged him to keep the meeting. Something greater tugged at Eric when the voice suggested this and the temptation to follow its suggestion overwhelmed him. He pressed the appropriate button to connect and returned Scarvy's call. His call went to voicemail and he left a return message confirming the meeting and leaving directions to the diner. He departed Sarah's apartment afterward knowing he'd have just enough time to return to his home to clean up before meeting the detective. The voice was happy.

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Lizzie awakened tucked next to her mother; Sarah's arms securely around making her feel safe for the first time all week. She lifted her head noticing that Jareth slept behind her mother, his arm wrapped around her and his head resting near hers. Both still in the clothes they wore the day before. Grinning, Lizzie lie studying them for a time until her mother's eyes cracked open.

"Morning, Lizzie." Sarah's voice sounded rusty with morning disuse but to Lizzie it was the sweetest sound in the world.

"Morning, Mom." Sarah slid forward to kiss her daughter loosening Jareth's hold which woke him instantly; his head popped upwards, his hair mussed and his eyes blurry. He detested sleeping in his clothes, always made him feel like a nesting rat. He removed his arm from Sarah's waist and used it to scour his face and comb his hair as he sat upright and groaned.

"Morning, Your Majesty." Sarah snarked taking stock of his disheveled appearance which made him glare at her.
"Your morning countenance does you no favors either." He said acidly drawing a light laugh from Sarah and Lizzie. Sarah checked the time noting it was just after 8am. She barely felt rested and very hungry.

"I'm hungry." Lizzie announced echoing Sarah's thoughts. Perhaps they could grab a quick breakfast here then try forming the Bond again. The Morton's home offered temporary safety and if they could beg for a few more hours of privacy they might be able to finish successfully and leave directly for the Labyrinth from here. Sarah told Lizzie to seek breakfast from her grandmother prompting her daughter to scramble from the bed and out the bedroom door while Sarah explained her hopes for the day to Jareth.

"It's possible. If you can complete the Bond we can leave directly for the Labyrinth portal with hopefully hours remaining. We should eat first then begin immediately." He cheered up once Sarah brought up returning to his home; his ultimate goal was within his grasp. They resettled their clothes, shared a quick morning kiss, and followed Lizzie to breakfast.

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They enjoyed a pleasant breakfast with the parents who were impatient to know how the rest of their night processed. Sarah fielded their questions with support from Jareth but they tried to keep Lizzie from giving away too much unusual information. Sarah then asked for more privacy for a few hours to devote to packing Lizzie's things in preparation for their departure and for a serious discussion regarding Sarah's disappearance. The four older adults reluctantly agreed. They all preferred to spend more time with them but there was little they could do and none wished to pressure Sarah at the moment. Once back in the privacy of their room Lizzie was confused as to their plans after listening to the breakfast conversation.

"I thought we did the Bond last night?"

"We tried, Lizzie, but it didn't work. We have to try again."

"Again?" The girl sounded frustrated. "But that was so boring." She pouted.

Jareth spoke before Sarah, kneeling in front of Lizzie. "Lizzie, this is important. I know how difficult is it to remain still and awake for long periods but if you want to travel with us you must do as we say; otherwise this will not work and you cannot come to the Labyrinth. Do you understand?"

"Yeah...I guess." She shrugged. Jareth patted her shoulder.
"Then let us begin again." He stated serenely assured of their success.

Two hours and several well intentioned parental interruptions later had Sarah achieving less distance to completing the Bond than the night before. Still able to control her magic and begin the thread she was, however, unable to push it past her first elbow this time even with Lizzie remaining awake. Sarah opened her eyes with an aggravated huff.

"I can't do it here!" She spun around and stood off the bed. "There's too much noise around; in my head, in this room, like a buzzing under my skin, argh!" She washed her hands together and scratched her forearms as if something tickled and teased her skin. "I just can't focus here. Jareth, I've got to get out of here. Knowing my parents are here...it's driving me crazy!" Lizzie sat back stunned at her mother's outburst but unafraid while Jareth looked resigned.

"Carol's?" He suggested.

"It's the only safe place and she'll understand and leave us alone."

"Agreed, we haven't time to waste. Lizzie gather your things, we'll be leaving shortly."

"Right...finally!" She said with a grin as she jumped off the bed running about in a frenzy to pack. Meanwhile, Jareth faced Sarah rubbing her arms and hands attempting to dispel her unrest.

"Sarah, calm yourself; this anxiety will not help us."

"I know, I know..."

Barely a forty-five minutes later Lizzie was packed and changed into regular clothes, her favorite stuffed animal in her hands. Grandparents doled out unwilling but enthusiastic goodbyes to the three of them and wrung promises that they would visit soon now that things were returning to normal; at least in their eyes. All three were grateful to be sheltered in Carol's car around noon and driving away en route towards their future; whatever that may be.

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Detectives Scarvy and Lyde entered the moderately busy diner before Eric and chose a booth in which to wait for him; ordering two coffees and donuts because that what cops do. Scarvy checked his watch�12:30pm; he hoped this wasn't a waste of time. Eric Morton hadn't sounded like he played with a full deck when he spoke to him over the phone the first time and the second time he only reached his voicemail; although Morton had left a return message.

Scarvy and Lyde checked on Morton's personal details prior to this meeting and other than some minor childhood indiscretions and a few random traffic violations, he had a clean criminal history. He was ex-military, good work history, paid his bills, and was currently legally separated from his wife. Scarvy wondered if the pending divorce was relevant to this case. Perhaps Morton would clear up that up.

Lyde lazily stirred sugar into his coffee and fiddled with his plain donut as he watched his partner become lost in his thoughts; likely related to the odd case they'd randomly been assigned. They'd almost given up and were ready to leave when Eric Morton sauntered to their booth around 1pm.

"Detective Scarvy?" He asked in a somewhat sarcastic voice catching the detective off guard. Scarvy glanced upwards to see a slender man with long, blond hair with bangs hanging in his blue eyes. An ironic smirk stretched his lips as Eric Morton gazed down upon him, both unnerving and pissing Scarvy off.

Scarvy slid from the booth standing next to Eric and offered his hand. "Yes, and you must be Eric Morton. This is my partner, Detective Lyde." He indicated the younger man sitting in booth and Eric shook his hand as well before sitting down next to Detective Lyde.

"Would you like something? Coffee? Department's treat." Lyde asked. Eric stared at the detective with a blank expression and a remote look in his eyes for several seconds before answering.

"Sure...coffee's fine."

"Great...waitress!" Scarvy called turning his head to disguise his own expression of puzzlement. He would swear that Eric's pause before he answered looked as though he were concentrating on something else, or someone else. But that would be crazy, right?

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"Sal, you've been listening to that thing for hours. Maybe you should take a break and let me listen for a bit." Susan offered. She worried for him sitting hunched over his police scanner since Saturday evening intently listening for anything relating to Sarah. He looked uncomfortable and drained. Never leaving its side for more than a few seconds or taking it with him if necessary.

"I only need to listen for the rest of the day; I can make it. Besides I need to do this for them. Sorry, Hon, but you might not catch the lingo and miss something important." He took the hand offered to him returning her grip.

"I worry about you." She shifted her stance and started rubbed his neck and shoulders; Sal moaned in pleasure as his cramped muscles protested. "Have you at least heard anything useful?"

"Sort of, there's traffic about the APB on Sarah but nothing active regarding Sarah or her escape. Hopefully it'll stay that way until the deadline passes."

Susan kissed the top of Sal's head and kept rubbing his neck. "I hope so, too."

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Sarah pulled into Carol's parking garage just before 1:30pm that Sunday afternoon; the bland head scarf back in place since leaving the Morton's home. Eager to try forming the Bond again all three quickly exited the car. Lizzie knew Carol very well and had visited often over the years so she recognized the parking garage and lobby entrance and raced Sarah and Jareth to the door.

"Come on, slowpokes!" She teased, running making her hair and backpack flop in the air.

"Lizzie, wait!" Sarah and Jareth both shouted and ran to catch up. They caught her at the lobby door and signing in relief they entered together.

"Lizzie! You can't do that. It's dangerous, understand!" Sarah scolded panting from both fear and exertion as they entered the lobby and approached the elevators.

"Oh, Mom."

"Don't 'oh, Mom' me! I'm serious. Stay close to either Jareth or me from now on...no matter what, promise?"

"Promise." She said grudgingly seeing Jareth's disapproving frown in her direction. Sarah kept her face turned from the doorman as they entered the elevator and chose the button for Carol's floor. A short ride up and walk down the hall brought them to their friend's door. As Jareth knocked on Carol's door someone bumped into Sarah from behind, pushing her into the wall and nearly into Lizzie who stood in front of her.

"Ow!" She exclaimed as her head struck the sheetrock and the rough surface gripped her scarf, yanking it loose from her head.

"Sarah!" Jareth blurted instinctively and reached to catch her.

"Mom!" Lizzie yelped and jumped out of the way just as the neighbor who accidentally bumped into Sarah stumbled past the three; her vision obstructed due to the packages in her arms.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" The older women cried out, mortified at her clumsiness. Her packages fell to the floor and she crouched to collect them. "Are you alright? I'm really so very sorry!"

"It's okay, I'll live." Sarah answered rubbing her head where it struck the wall; all three of them bending to assist the woman with her packages. The woman met Sarah's eyes just inches away as they both crouched on the floor and something clicked in the woman's eyes.

"Oh...thank you...I've got them...really...as long as you're alright." The woman quickly collected her remaining packages and hurried down the hall just as Carol opened her door witnessing her friends kneeling on the floor.

"What's going on?" Carol asked not noticing her neighbor scurrying down the hall.

"Nothing, just a little accident; we're okay." Sarah answered standing back up.

"Aunt Carol!" Lizzie shouted and rushed into the woman's arms, Carol wrapping her up in response.

"Lizzie, my girl, it's good to see you again! Come in you three! I guess it went better than you expected?" She directed the last to Sarah indicating Lizzie's presence.

"Amazingly so, I'll tell you what I can, but we'll got lots to do." Sarah said as she and Jareth entered Carol's home.

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"911, what's your emergency?"

"Hello, I'd like to report a person I saw on the news."

"Yes, ma'am, which person are you referring to?"

"It's that crazy woman that escaped from the hospital, that Sarah Williams; she's in my neighbor's apartment."

"Did you witness Sarah Williams personally?"

"On my gosh, yes! I was nose to nose with her just a few minutes ago! I thought she was about to hurt me but I was able to get away and I watched her get inside my neighbor's apartment instead."

"What's your address, ma'am, and the apartment number where Williams is located? We'll have someone en route immediately."

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"So, let me get this straight," Scarvy stated with a heavy note of sarcastic aggravation in his voice. "You signed the paperwork for the involuntary mental health commitment for your wife over a week ago."

"Yep." Eric stated with a note of pride in his voice. Scarvy glanced up for a split second from his notepad at that.

"...and�you didn't check on her until Friday evening, almost a week after, correct?"

"Well, I was busy and I had to watch our daughter. I just didn't make it over there." Eric shrugged indifferently. During the interview Lyde had scooted to the far side of the booth, feeling very uncomfortable sitting next to Eric.

"Until that evening when she attacked you? But wasn't she fully restrained in her bed?" Scarvy continued.

Eric stared at the detective, their eyes meeting for several long moments before Eric responded in an empty voice. "That's right."

"So how did she attack you if she was restrained?" Scarvy pressured him waiting and watching Eric's eye's and face for a reaction. Eric grinned suddenly, his eyes bright and disarming.

"Well, that would be impossible...wouldn't it, Detective?" Scarvy's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Oh, yes, this case was becoming stranger every day. Further thoughts were interrupted by Scarvy's radio alerting. He reached into his coat to unclip it from his belt.

"Detective Scarvy, go ahead."

"Detective, this dispatch, we have a positive ID on the APB on Williams, Sarah�address to follow."

Scarvy nearly jumped from the booth in shock. Finding Williams this early was unprecedented. He had expected it to be days, perhaps weeks before they located her; likely on the street somewhere, possibly dead, the usual outcome for severe mental health patients. He scribbled the address in his notepad, his shock increasing when he realized several things; the address was in a posh apartment complex, it was close, and it was the same building Williams' gallery owner lived�a person he had planned to speak to next. Never one to take unnecessary chances as Williams was documented as violent; Scarvy requested several patrol units as backup to meet him and his partner there but to not proceed to the apartment location without them.

"You've found my wife, haven't you?" Eric asked in an excited and surprisingly concerned voice.

"Yes, Mr. Morton, it appears so." Scarvy replied exiting the booth with his partner who had shooed Eric out upon hearing the radio traffic. The detectives moved to the diner's door leaving Eric behind.

"May I join you?" Eric asked fervently and something keen in Eric's eyes spiked a warning in Scarvy's gut.

"No, Mr. Morton, this is police business. Go home and what for me to call." Scarvy commanded firmly before turning away and leading his partner to their car.

Eric didn't argue with Scarvy or answer in any manner; he stood as a statue inside the diner until the detectives drive away with their single emergency light activated on the unmarked car. Then he bolted from the diner to his own car parked a block away; the voice laughing inside his head the entire time. He would go to Carol's building and use whatever opportunity Fate chose to present him at reaching Sarah.

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Sarah and Lizzie had just settled down on the living room couch and begun relaxing once again when an unfamiliar buzzing interfered. Jareth looked around until he located the sound in Sarah's jacket which lay on the coffee table. It was the disposable cell phone Sarah had explained to him. The implications struck him as he flipped open the phone; only Sal and Carol knew this number.

"Hello?"

"Jareth? It's Sal, where are you?" Sal sounded anxious, never a good sign.

"At Carol's with Lizzie."

"You've got to get out of there now!" Sal's voice was raised and Jareth could tell he was barely holding himself back from yelling. "The police band...someone reported you...the police are en route right now to Carol's. Get the hell out of there!" Sal did yell the last.

"Understood, thank you, Sal." Jareth snapped the phone shut one handed as if he had been using flip phones for years. He met Sarah's and Carol's wary looks; they knew the meaning of that phone as well.

"Sarah, we have to go immediately. Police are en route."

"Shit!" Sarah grabbed Lizzie off the couch while grabbing her daughter's backpack, shoving both together. "Lizzie put your backpack on we're leaving."

"Why? What's going on?" Her daughter's voice sounded high pitched with sudden fear. Sarah and Jareth jostled through Carol's apartment grabbing their few possessions with Carol's assistance while Sarah tried to calm Lizzie.

"I'm sorry, Honey, I can't explain it all right now but please trust me. We have to go or else the police won't ever let us go to the Labyrinth, okay?"

"Okay, I trust you, Mom." Lizzie said with a sudden maturity in her voice. Carol rushed them to her door shoving her car keys back into Sarah's hands.

"No, Carol..."

"Yes, I'll tell them you stole it if they ask so don't worry about me. Just go, hurry!" Sarah quickly hugged her friend a last time.

"Thank you...for everything."

"Sarah." Jareth urged his hand on the door knob, anxious to be away.

"Goodbye, Carol, love you."

"Love you, too and you Lizzie and even you Mr. Distraction...now GO!" Carol pushed them out the door after Jareth opened it; quickly checking both sides of the hall. It was clear. He started for the elevator when Sarah heard the ding of an arriving car, grabbed his arm, and pulled him the opposite direction to the stairs.

"This way, hurry!" She cried, her gut knowing without doubt that the elevator delivered a foe. The three ran down the hall and ducked into the stairwell just as the elevator opened. Scarvy, Lyde, and four uniformed officers stepped from the elevator; they also checked both sides of the hall before walking warily to Carol's door.

Lyde knocked on the door announcing their identity and waited a few minutes without an answer. The officers exchanges looks and unsnapped their holsters before knocking and announcing themselves again. A few moments later Carol answered through the door using her best mistrustful voice. She hoped to buy her friends as much time as possible by delaying the officers as long as she could.

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They reached the first floor stopping at the door leading to the lobby. Jareth cracked the door open peeking towards the front entrance of the apartment building while Sarah and Lizzie hid behind him.

"Do you see anything?" Sarah whispered her voice thick with apprehension.

"Wait...I'm not sure...there's the doorman at the desk and..." He scanned as far as his limited view would allow," and...Bloody Hell... Eric's pacing the lobby...Devil take it!" Jareth cursed under his breath so that only Sarah would hear. He shut the door and they looked at each other in silence contemplating their options or lack of them.

"What do you think we should do?" She asked with a wary glance at her daughter who stood to her left quietly, her stuff animal in a strangle hold. Jareth searched Sarah's face trying to decide how much he could ask of her; how much she would sacrifice for him. Then he looked at Lizzie and wondered how either of them could say they loved her and make this choice. For at that moment he knew that he loved Lizzie as his own child and he loved Sarah more than his own life. He would willingly sacrifice whatever asked of him for their welfare. Including giving them up if necessary. He turned his body to face Sarah and grasped her shoulders in his hands.

"Sarah, we don't have much time. This has become too dangerous for you and especially for Lizzie." He nodded to her daughter staring up at him with wide green eyes.

"What are you saying?" Sarah sounded panicky.

"I'll understand if you've changed your mind. You can leave me now and Lizzie will be safe. You don't have to do this." He made himself sound confident even though his heart broke. Would she take his offer? Would she leave him and his kingdom to die? Aghast Sarah shoved him away from her.

"Is that what you want?" She hissed. "I've just gone through hell again for you and now you tell me to leave you?"

"No! Gods, no, Sarah!" He stepped close again pulling both her and Lizzie into a tight embrace. "I want you both with me forever. But I want you safe, too. You understand, Lizzie?" The young girl nodded mutely, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I want to be safe with you, too, Jareth." The little girl answered in a voice beyond her years.

"I trust you, Jareth." Sarah caressed Lizzie's hair, "We both do." Lizzie nodded her agreement. Jareth released the breath he'd been holding, squared his shoulders, and gave them both a reassuring smile.

"Alright then, we must be quick. Once I open this door I'll go out first and I want both of you to run as fast as you can to the garage exit and don't stop until you're inside Carol's car. No matter what happens. I'll take care of Eric and be right behind you."

"You're not going to hurt him?" Lizzie asked.

"No, Lizzie, I promise I'm only going to delay him so that your mother and you can escape." She smiled at his promise.

"Ready?" He posed to open the door and the two ladies nodded. "Now!"

Jareth flung the door wide and raced through with Sarah and Lizzie on his heels. Sarah held tightly to her daughter's hand practically dragging her through the wide, open lobby. Jareth saw both Eric and the anonymous doorman look over in surprise as the three of them sped from the stairwell attempting to maneuver to the opposite side of the lobby.

"Sarah! Lizzie!" Eric shouted moving in their direction and Jareth increased his speed to intercept him. Sarah ignored Eric's cry; Lizzie responded at the site of her father but continued running with her mother.

"Daddy!" She cried her voice a mixture of distress and joy.

"Sarah, you crazy bitch! What are you doing?" Eric screamed and the voice in his mind howled just before Jareth collided into him; knocking Eric into a nearby waiting table and chairs which crashed to the floor. Eric recovered quickly grabbing Jareth's shirt and kneeing him in the flank. Jareth partially blocked the kick and returned with a right punch to his face which Eric was able to avoid causing Jareth to over balance. Jareth spun 360 degrees to his right in defense while Eric attempted to uppercut punch his open left face.

While the two rivals scuffled inside the lobby, Sarah and Lizzie successfully reached the garage exit and opened it to their freedom. The doorman watched anxiously as the two ladies belatedly discovered the two uniformed police officers patrolling the indoor parking garage and he rushed outside to get the attention of the two other officers stationed at the front entrance. The pair of officers, a man and a woman, in the garage noticed the very person they were tasked to detain and sprang inside the lobby before Sarah and Lizzie could exit forcing them to retreat back from the garage exit.

"Jareth!" Sarah screamed fear and frustration lacing her voice. Her focus remained on the officers, not on the two men fighting in the lobby. Jareth's head immediately swiveled in the direction of her voice without thought for the consequences. Sarah's voice distracted him too long. It was all the time Eric needed to take advantage of the situation. He pulled the switchblade from his back pocket with his left hand, released the blade and before Jareth could turn his attention back to the fight, Eric buried the knife in his upper right abdomen to the hilt in an upwards angle. The voice cackled gleefully knowing that Sarah would suffer greatly.

"Uh..."Jareth gasped, his mouth open in shock, he turned his head back to face Eric.

"That's for sleeping with my wife!" Eric withdrew the knife then stabbed again twisting it deeper. "And this is for trying to steal my family!" Eric sounded rapturous as he yelled into Jareth's face inches from his own.

Jareth felt the second knife wound as a sharp burning pain ripping through his liver, diaphragm, then piercing his right lung. Suddenly breathing became extremely difficult; every breath blooming exquisite wet pain and he felt the gush of warm blood flow down his stomach onto his legs, soaking his clothes.

Eric gripped the back of Jareth's neck to prevent his escape as he finished hissing his revenge into his ear. "Sarah will never have you. I'm going to make her scream for the rest of her life!"

"Sar�," Jareth jerked bodily attempting to pull away at Eric's threat but the sudden pain and weakness, combined with Eric's unnaturally strong grip, prevented his escape.

"Don't you say her name!" Eric screeched. "Don't you ever say her name! She's mine!" Pulling the knife from Jareth's gut, Eric shoved him backwards. Jareth gasped as the knife slide out; he looked down to see a gush of blood pour from his all too mortal flesh. Jareth clenched his arms to his middle and with an agonized half cry, half gurgle slowly crumpled to his knees then to his back, his face thrown in Sarah's direction.

"Oh my God! Jareth!" She shrieked running to him with Lizzie still clasped close to her. Sarah flung herself upon Jareth's collapsed body. There was so much blood; it soaked his t-shirt, it was soaking his jeans and a puddle was forming beneath his torso where he lay on the tile floor.

Lizzie started sobbing, great tears running down her cheeks as she saw her father holding the dripping knife while standing over Jareth and her mother. The officers who initially intended to detain Sarah and Lizzie now quickly moved to restrain Eric after witnessing the violent assault against Jareth.

"...s..Sarah..." Jareth coughed and bright, fresh blood misted from his mouth to splash Sarah's face and chest but she ignored it as she clutched at his shirt. Turning her angry eyes upon Eric she shouted at him.

"You bastard! Why him? Why?" Her voice cracked on the last word.

"You're mine, Sarah." Eric yelled down at her; his voice full of venom, malice in his eyes. "You'll always be mine! You belong to us!" He yelled as the officers wrestled with hi, taking possession of the knife.

"Daddy?" Lizzie sobbed and kneeled on the floor next to her mother clinging to her coat; she was confused and extremely upset. Her friend lie injured, covered in blood, and she had watched her own father attack him with a crazed intensity she'd never witnessed. Her mother screamed at her father and her father responded with horrible things; Sarah wrapped one arm around her daughter pulling her face into her shoulder trying to protect Lizzie as best she could while the two officers continued to grapple Eric to the ground.

"You're insane, Eric! I left you and Jareth doesn't have anything to do with us!"

"You're the one who's insane, Sarah! We won't let you leave us! We want you to scream forever!" Eric shouted, his words echoing in the lobby following by his laughter. Sarah watched as Eric finally surrendered to the police with his face smashed to the tile floor. They handcuffed him and secured the weapon before the female officer used her radio to call for an ambulance.

"Patrol 34 to dispatch, we need a bus forthwith to 200 E 80th Street. Have a stabbing victim in the lobby, male, approx 40 years, multiple wounds. Dispatch tell the bus to step it up, it looks bad."

The elevator dinged and the doors revealed the four uniforms officers from Carol's apartment lead by Scarvy and Lyde. They immediately assessed the situation in the lobby and assigned another officer to assist the first two officers with Eric.

"Mr. Morton!" Scarvy snapped taking in the obvious crime. "I instructed you to return home. And son-of-a-bitch, you followed us." Scarvy said with frustration, knowing he'd inadvertently allowed things to escalate. He looked to the uniforms. "Secure him in your unit. I'll get statements later. What's the ETA on the bus?"

"Less than 10 minutes...maybe 5 depending on traffic." Lyde answered, he'd doubled checked with dispatched as soon as they entered the lobby. Eric was taken away still yelling obscenities at Sarah.

Scarvy observed Eric's behavior compared to Sarah's. She certainly seemed to be acting normally compared to her husband in the last two minutes. So this was Sarah William's? The pictures depicting her long, thick hair were obvious very wrong. No woman he knew would willingly leave her house with a haircut that bad; he suspected she had been subjected to it during her hospital stay. Scarvy knelt beside the man Sarah crouched over so that he could look at Sarah across his body; careful not to jostle the man. Scarvy had seen bad gut wounds before and this man's look quite severe. This man evidently meant a great deal to her.

"Sarah Williams?" He asked softly. Her head snapped up from the man's chest to his face; her eyes were wild with anguish but they appeared lucid to Scarvy. "Ms. Williams?"

"Who are you? You're police?" She asked warily.

"I'm Detective Scarvy; I've been investigating your case. The ambulance will be here in a few minutes for your friend. He is with you I assume?" He asked gently not wanting to spook her.

She looked back down to Jareth; one hand wrapped in his shirt while the other was combed in his hair. "Yes, he's with me." She whispered.

"Ms. Williams, we're going to get your friend help and I want to help you, too. There's more to this case then I've ever seen before and I'm curious to hear what you have to say. Once he's safely with the paramedics I'm going to have to you taken into protective custody. Do you understand?" Sarah nodded but refused to look at Scarvy again.

"I understand, Detective. Just make sure my daughter gets back to her grandparents safely and Jareth receives the best care and I'll do whatever you want." Sarah answered in a defeated tone.

"I'll take care both; I promise. I'll leave you alone for now but we're going to be just over there while we wait for the ambulance." He said kindly but firmly letting Sarah know what the future would bring but also trying to reassure her that he wasn't her enemy. Sarah didn't answer him but focused on caring for Jareth as Scarvy moved away.

"Jareth...Jareth..." Sarah pulled off her jacket and pressed it to his wounds attempting to stem the steady flow of blood that his hands couldn't stop causing him to groan in pain. He breathed in short painful, wet pants and Sarah panicked as she saw more blood fleck his lips. "Jareth, I'm so sorry..."

"...No...Sarah..." He reached out his left hand touching her face leaving more of his blood on her cheek. "Listen...still...chance..." He was short of breath; talking was difficult. He could feel his right lung filling with fluid; likely his own blood since he was coughing blood.

"What? What chance?" She leaned close to his mouth.

"F-freeze...time..."

"I can't! I'm not strong enough�I barely know the spell." She said until Jareth gripped her shoulder with as much strength as he could manage and forced her to look him eye to eye.

"Yes...you can! I believe...in you!" Sarah gazed into his eyes and saw his ultimate faith in her shining in them. The only other person to ever give her such a look sat clinging to her and Sarah couldn't let her down either. She nodded and he smiled before coughing more blood, grimacing in pain.

"Lizzie, stay very quiet and still, Honey." Lizzie nodded but didn't look away from her mother's chest.

"Hurry." He urged. Sarah focused every bit of her magic she could sense; blocking out the world around her. She forced herself to ignore the police, the yelling, the blood, Jareth's harsh, wet breathing, and even Lizzie's soft sobs knowing that her power was their last resort. Her fingers itched and tingled as she held her hand in an upwards cupped position with her hand and wrist slowly twisting, and imagined a power crystal forming. She felt the smooth edges of the crystal begin to form. Her vision tunneled and sweat trickled down her brow.

Jareth watched Sarah pour herself into the task and did his best to remain still and quiet to avoid distracting her. If she could conjure a functional power crystal they might have a chance of escape. He prayed to any Gods listening to grant her enough strength. If they could reach the portal in time, if he could travel back to his kingdom in time the Labyrinth could restore him to full strength and normalcy. If only.

Scarvy watched Ms. Williams as she sat up suddenly and starting doing something strange with her hand. Her back was angled to him so he couldn't quite see what she was doing but he'd never seen anyone hold and move their hand like that before. His gut suddenly clenched and he started moving towards her from the other side of the lobby.

And suddenly the crystal appeared; as clear and beautiful as any she remembered Jareth forming years ago. The cool weight gave her a burst of hope. She grinned and looked to Jareth for instruction. He tried to smile. Around Sarah's back Jareth saw the detective who spoke to Sarah earlier moving towards them with a suspicious look on his face.

"Must be touching all...burst it...against...the floor...then help...me up."

"But�"

"NOW..." He commanded and glared at her; she remembered that he was a King and the urge to obey overwhelmed her.

"Okay, ready...now!" She held Lizzie snug to her, leaned down to touch her forehead to his and smashed the crystal against the tile floor bursting a cloud of golden glitter over the three of them. Silence echoed where before talking, radios, and sirens reigned. She sat up and saw that everyone and everything but the three off them were frozen mid-action. She noticed that Detective Scarvy was just a few inches from her back; frozen as if he were reaching out to stop her.

'Smart cop, that Scarvy.' She thought.

"It worked! I did it!" She smiled in triumphant. Jareth returned a thin, weak smile.

"Of course." He rolled to his left side, gritting his teeth, and curled into a foetal position. Sarah loosen Lizzie's grip so she could help him kneel. Jareth howled in pain and a fresh river of blood poured out soaking her coat and his hand pressing it to his stomach.

"Jareth!"

"It's fine! Help...me up." Squatting down she draped his left arm over her shoulders and gently grasp his waist with her right arm. On the count of three they stood with Jareth putting much of his weight on Sarah; his head hung forward and a harsh sob escaped him. Sarah waited for him to catch his breath not moving until he nodded that he was ready.

"Lizzie...Lizzie, Honey hold my hand and don't let go!" Sarah reached out her left hand to her daughter who quickly grasped her hand tightly, both blood stained. Lizzie still held her stuffed animal in her other arm and her backpack was still on her. They walked as rapidly as Jareth could manage from the lobby and through the exit to the parking garage to Carol's car, blood trailing behind them.

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Jareth stumbled as they approached Carol's car nearly dragging them both down but Sarah was able to keep the both upright and they reach her car. She unlocked the car with the remote, opened the back door, and helped maneuver Jareth into the backseat. He groaned as he shifted into the seat, the movement twisting his abdomen and causing another fresh surge of blood to flood from his wounds. A wave of dizziness and nausea hit him and he laid his head back against the seat, clutching his stomach tighter.

"Lizzie, get in the front seat with me." Sarah commanded as she jumped in the car after securing Jareth's seat belt; she planned on driving fast. Lizzie barely had her belt snapped when Sarah backed out of the parking space and sped out of the garage.

Freezing time was an excellent spell. Every person, every vehicle remained frozen in their last position allowing Sarah to speed through and around each stationary target with little difficultly. On one occasion she did have to drive on the sidewalk when several large vehicles had frozen into a boxed formation but fortunately no bystanders stood nearby and she was able to curve back onto the road quickly. Although she cringed when she heard Jareth cry out in pain when she jumped both curbs.

Jareth could feel his body weaken rapidly. When Eric had twisted the blade the second time Jareth knew he was in danger. Twisting a blade in an opponent was an ancient technique in both realms to prevent a wound from closing thereby speeding the hemorrhaging process. He knew his time grew short. He was tempted to urge Sarah to drive faster but it would only frighten her. She already drove as swiftly as possible without risking them further harm.

Sarah could see the edge of Central Park a few blocks away. She could sense that Jareth tired rapidly and heard him groaning every few seconds. Time remained frozen but Sarah could feel the spell weakening. When she created the power crystal she wasn't sure how to specify a time frame so she just poured as much magic as possible into it without causing her to lose consciousness.

Lizzie asked a few questions as Sarah drove as to why the world had stopped like God hit the pause button. Sarah tried to explain the spell to her while struggled through the random maze. Lizzie seemed satisfied with her answer but then kept looking around the seat at Jareth, concern filling her eyes. Lizzie had never seen so much blood, even on television or the movies and it was disconcerting to see so much in real life.

"Jareth, the spell is weakening. I don't think we have much time left, maybe a few more minutes." He nodded. "What are we going to do about Lizzie?" She added and he heard her dread.

"Don't stop. We can...make it. I have...an idea." The vertigo and nausea worsened. His legs were numb and he could barely move his feet. The entire lower half of his body was wet and sticky with his blood. Gods, he hated being mortal. Exsanguination wouldn't be fatal to a Fae; cause him serious illness but not threaten his life. Sarah felt a pop in her ears similar to a change in air pressure and the normal sounds and atmosphere of the city hit them as time resumed. Sarah swerved to avoid oncoming traffic as she regained her proper place on the road.

"Shit, time's up." They reached the end of the block with the Park directly across the street waiting for the traffic to allow them to cross safely. "Jareth, where do we go in the Park?"

"Head to the...center...you can...feel the Bond...in your chest...strengthen." He coughed again and blood poured out of his mouth in a surge causing him to double over. Blood spattered the back of the passenger's seat and dripped to the floor board between his feet.

"Oh God, oh God, don't die on me! We're almost there just hang on!" Sarah exclaimed looking over her shoulder when she heard his distress. He nodded and wheezed as he sat back again. Sarah sped towards the center of the Park as possible from the road. She felt the Bond grow stronger the closer she got and she realized they were a few blocks from her apartment. She spotted an open place to park and pulled to the curb, slamming on the brakes. Jareth jerked at the sudden reduction in speed and groaned again but didn't say anything.

"Out, Lizzie, we're walking." Sarah said and leaped from the driver's seat opening the back door to help Jareth out. She watched to make sure Lizzie got out safety to wait on the sidewalk behind her.

"Come on, Jareth, you have to help me, you have to get out and walk now." She slapped his face to rouse him; his eyes sprung open but they appeared hazy.

"Sarah�?"

"Yes, come on, out of the car, we don't have much time." She wrapped his right arm around her neck and shoulders and pulled him from the car in one yank generating a gurgling, gasp from him. Jareth barely got his feet under him to help support his weight before Sarah pulled him in the direction of the portal. He could feel it calling him home. The sensation was so strong it overrode the dizziness.

As they entered the Park, her hand gripping her mother's tightly, Lizzie twisted around to stare at the puddle of Jareth's blood that had spattered from the car onto the concrete, an expression of pure terror on her face. Since it was the middle of Sunday afternoon, people milled all around at Central Park. Sarah knew they were spotted as soon as they stepped out of the car. A distraught woman and child helping a man covered in blood through Central Park in the middle of the day would definitely attract attention, even in New York. They had minutes, before police would be searching the area for them.

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Scarvy rushed forward to grab Sarah Williams; intent on stopping whatever strange action she performed when he suddenly found himself stumbling, overbalanced and slipping through a large puddle of partially congealed blood, grasping for phantoms.

"What the hell?" He shouted spinning around the lobby looking for Sarah Williams, her daughter, and the man she called Jareth. They were gone. Disappeared...zapped away...like...like...magic? Scarvy looked at his partner who looked back at him with the same astonished, disbelieving expression. One second the three were huddled on the lobby floor and the next they were gone!

Scarvy stood dumbfounded next to the puddle of blood; the only remaining evidence that they had been in the lobby at all. Slowly he tilted his head down to stare at the red liquid as if it held the secret of their disappearing act. The case was getting stranger every minute and Scarvy really didn't like that.

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Sarah felt like they had been walking for hours in the Park but she knew every step brought them closer to salvation and she refused to give up. How Jareth remained conscious and upright she didn't know but she swore she'd get them all to the portal no matter what happen now. She looked at her daughter and felt such pride mixed with fear for Lizzie. How she was handling this so well was beyond Sarah and she also swore she do whatever she had to in order to protect Lizzie from ever experiencing such horrors again. Whatever Jareth's last ditch idea was for Lizzie's Bond he'd better do something soon because time was running out.

Sarah heard sirens approaching and instinct told her it was for them. The time freeze bought them at least a twenty minute head start from the lobby but they left an obvious blood trail in the Park leading right to them. Jareth's bleeding continued at a steady rate which dug a hole in Sarah's heart. She felt him weakening through their Bond. If they didn't beat them to the portal...well, she didn't want to think about the alternative. She felt the pull in her chest that Jareth described earlier increase and trusting she followed it whether it led on or off trail.

"Almost...there." Jareth said turning his head towards Sarah and tried to smile. He tried to keep his spirits up for her sake. He knew he didn't have much time left but they were close; the pull was very strong and he only had to last a few more minutes then all would be well.

"There it is! I see it!" A strong glimmering warped the air in a copse of trees approximately twenty feet ahead and down a small hill, similar to heat radiating up from asphalt on a hot day. The portal was disguised to normal vision but Sarah and Jareth could see it as if it were neon because of their Bond.

"Are we there, Mommy?" Lizzie sounded tired and stressed.

"Yes, Honey, were here." The sirens were close and she was certain she heard squealing tires in the distance. The police were so close, it wouldn't take them long to search the park especially if they used dogs to find them. Suddenly Sarah lost her balance as Jareth collapsed and pulled her down with him; she gave a muffled shout of surprise and pain.

"Jareth, Jareth!" Sarah slapped his face but he didn't response; he was unconscious. The portal shimmered just a few feet away! Then she remembered Lizzie; she still had no Bond with the Labyrinth. She reached over pulling Lizzie to her frantically. She had to try again. There was time.

"Lizzie, you need to sit very quiet and still. I'm going to try that Bond again, okay?"

"The one so I can go with you?"

"Yes, Honey." Lizzie nodded and sat quietly in her mother's lap. Sarah focused on her magic like earlier, using every shred of willpower and strength remaining. She couldn't grasp her magic, it slipped through her mind like heavy oil on water, and then she couldn't find it at all. Bitter tears ran down her face.

"Damn it! Come on Labyrinth! I know it's there!" She tried again without success.

Jareth regained consciousness in time to watch Sarah sob and rage her frustrations out. He saw how close they were to the portal and knew that Sarah waited because Lizzie still needed a Bond to pass safely. Death loomed close for him. He felt the brush of its fingers and smelled the wind of its cryptic breath. He never truly contemplated death before since a Fae's immortal body rarely faced such dire circumstances. He contemplated it now. If he died before he returned to the Labyrinth then the Labyrinth would die as well. However...

"Sarah..." He said, his voice barely a whisper.

"Jareth, you're awake! I can't make it work! Lizzie won't be safe!" She cried and threw herself next to him. Lizzie sat next to him as well; his arm firmly grasped in her hand. A well of hope flowed through him and he spoke clearly for the first time since his injury; being so close to home gave him sudden strength.

"Sarah...pull me to the portal...just to the edge...so I can touch it."

"But Lizzie?"

"Trust me, Sarah." He wheezed and stretched his arm towards the portal just a few feet away.

"Okay, okay�" She grasped him under his arms and pulled with all her strength quickly shifting his entire body the remaining distance until Jareth was able to brush his fingers through the portal's shimmer. He sighed with relief then beckoned Lizzie to him with his other hand while the first remained inside the portal.

"Lizzie, do you trust me?"

"Yes." She said bravely and sat next to him.

"Then relax and open your mind and your heart to me." Jareth's voice was solid yet peaceful and he stared directly into Lizzie's eyes and she returned it. He placed his hand on Lizzie's heart and Sarah watched in awe as Jareth's hand glowed briefly and she felt the magic passing between them. Belatedly she realized what he was doing because the Bond she had always sense between Jareth and her, she now felt growing between her and Lizzie. Somehow he gave Lizzie his Bond with the Labyrinth. His generosity drowned her in emotions; Lizzie would be safe through the portal! But what about him? Jareth's hand relaxed, the glow faded, and his arm fell limply to the ground. He continued to gaze at Lizzie.

"You'll be safe now, my Princess." He turned his gaze to Sarah giving her the sweetest smile she'd ever seen from him. "Save my Labyrinth, Precious. I love you both. I've always loved you, Sarah."

He closed his eyes feeling a wonderful sense of peace and numbness over take him. He heard Sarah scream his name. He heard her tell him how much she loved him and that he couldn't die, not now, not so close to home. He felt her listen for his last breath and feel for the pulse at his neck but he knew it was undetectable because he'd lost too much blood and his mortal body was beyond saving.

Jareth heard loud voices and shouts approaching and dogs barking and wanted to yell at Sarah to run for the portal. He felt her lift him under his arms and drag him across the ground; her sobs and tears echoing in his dying ears. He wanted to tell her to leave him, there wasn't time, save herself and Lizzie; he was too far gone and without his Bond or his magic travel would be unsafe. But his wonderfully stubborn Sarah pushed on. He felt his soul float away from his broken body as if it was no more than mist and he could see his Sarah struggling with his physical remains. He observed with a strange sense of ambivalence; he wanted to scream at her to abandon him and yet he was thrilled that she fought for him.

"Lizzie, you go through the same time so I know you're safe." Sarah ordered as she struggled to drag the unconscious Jareth through the portal. She refused to believe he was anything other than unconscious. She hadn't felt a pulse and he wasn't breathing but it didn't matter.

'If I could get him through the portal then he'll be fine, he'll be fine, he'll be fine,' she chanted over and over to herself.

"There they are!" She heard voices shouting nearby and the jingling of police gear and dogs barking got louder.

"Mom, I'm scared!" Lizzie hesitated at the edge of the shimmering.

"It's okay, Honey. I'm right next to you; just walk through like it's a doorway."

She watched her daughter fortify herself and slowly walk into the portal. Her body dissolved bit by bit as it touched the shimmering and Lizzie looked over at Sarah and smiled. Sarah walked backwards pulling Jareth's dead weight and she felt the edge of the portal tingling against her skin as she passed through. She kept dragging him through until she could see the last of Jareth's boots pass the portal edge. She could see through the portal for a moment and watched as dozens of police officers converged on the site appearing confused; walking in all directions looking for them. For a moment she recognized Detective Scarvy racing down the hill into the copse of trees and then the shimmering was gone and everything was dark.

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A/N: There's 2 more chapters....not over yet....
- 22
- 23
- 24
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