DOUBLE DEUCES (Part 4)

I Go, You Go

It wasn't her Pape's eye's she locked on, it wasn't her brothers.... It was mine.

It all happend so fast. One second she was in the chair, the next she was being drug under into the depths of the inky water. Miri had kept shaking her head vigorously but like the other's I too thought she didn't want Jax harmed. It never occurred to us that she was trying to let us know something was amiss. It wasn't until Jax's body was swallowed by the water that we seen the rope snap tight and then the chair Miri was strapped to toppled back and down she went.

For the first time ever I saw fear in baby girl's eye's as they bore into mine.  My heart started pumping as I saw London followed by Demarco running toward the end of the dock. Suddenly something overcame me and I took off like the wind, the snow not slowing me down. In no time I bypassed Demarco followed by London. I reached the end of the dock way before them and dove right in.

The fridgid water took my breath away but I didn't slow down for nothing. I fought against the torrid currents and couldn't see a thing in the dark depths. Giving my faith over to instincts I trusted it to guide me to Miri. Deeper I went until my body rammed into a hard force. Realizing it was the chair, I gripped it tightly and turned to face Miri.

She was still alert but I don't know how much longer she could last in these temps and no oxygen. Her eye's caught mine and I could see the panic in them. I started swimming upward with the chair but that was a hard feat. Between battling the current, the weight of the chair that was weighted down not only with weights but Jax's body, I was getting no where. Time was of essence so I paused and reached into my pockets for my knife to cut Miri free.

Just as I grabbed it and started cutting her hands loose another force hit me hard. Turning, I saw Jax who was still alive and had cuffed me to him. My hands were numb from the icy water so when he rammed into me the knife fell away. At least I had gotton Miri's hands free. In order to survive and save Miri I would now need to lug all three of us up including the weighted chair, but Jax had other plans. He swung out at me and I had to fight back for survival, which was hard as one hand was cuffed to Jax. Miri swung her hands at Jax trying to aid me. I looked at her and screamed "go". Underneath the water. Bubbles floated out at my muffled attempt.

Miri shook her head no and pointed to my chest then pointed to hers. I knew exactly what she was indicating. If you go, I go. Shaking my head no I screamed the word again and tried to push her up towards the surface, but she wouldn't go. Just then London slammed into her followed by Demarco. I screamed at them to go and pointed to Miri who was fighting to  get to me. They could tell she was on the verge of blacking out from lack of air. London swiftly cut her feet free and looked at me. Go I indicated with my free hand and he caught site of my cuffed hand. Go I screamed out bubbles. Taking a long look at me he nodded his respects and swam upwards with Miri as she screamed my name not taking her eye's from me.

Demarco swam toward me and almost had my shirt gripped when a hard current hit me washing me away.

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London told me to stay home that he would save my daughter. Well, I don't follow orders too well and I came and just in time to see my baby being  snatched off that dock. Screaming as all the men took off like lightening, I ran too. I watched as it seemed Cole's feet had grown wing's and he dove into the water before any. By the time I reached the end of the dock London and Dem had jumped in as well. I sank to my knees crying and praying that they all surfaced soon.

It seemed as if hours passed before I caught a glimpse of dark hair break the water. "London". I screamed and saw he had Miri in tow but she was unconscious. I cried even harder as he fought the currents while he swam toward the dock. Once he made it, I helped pull Miri up onto the snow covered platform. London hefted himself up and immediately started to resuscitate Miri. "Breath, baby breath". I pleaded as London pumped her chest and gave her mouth to mouth.

After several attempts her blue lips trembled and up spewed water. London turned her on her side as she coughed the water from her lungs. Once she had coughed it all up she jumped to her knees and looked out at the water. She let loose a ear shattering scream followed by Cole's name. I eyed London and he shook his head sadly no. "Dem?" I asked  in a panic but got no answer as London jumped back in disappearing.

I took my coat off and wrapped it around Miri trying to warm her up. "Cole" she kept muttering over and over.

What seemed like eons passed before I saw Dem and London break the surface to grab some fresh air before diving back under. This went on for several more minutes until there bodies could take no more of the freezing temps. They made their way to the dock and climbed out. At seeing this Miri tried to jump back in but London stopped her. "No Pape, let me go" she sobbed.

"I've got to get Olive, he's waiting for me." She wailed as she tried to fight London.

"Olive I'm coming. He's cold Pape, I've got to get him". She struggled as she pushed against London.

My heart broke as I watched Miri fall apart not accepting that Cole was gone. "Nooo". She screamed over and over.

"If you go, I go. You lied Cole, you lied. Please Pape let me go. If you love me let me go. I can't do this without him. I need him, I've got to be with him. Please Pape let me go."

London knew  they all needed to get out of the cold and get warm. He slung Miri over his shoulder as she hit and scratched at him wanting to be buried with her love at the bottom of this place. I watched them walk away as Dem slowly scanned the water one more time then turned and walked slowly away. The double hurt evident in every step he took. I sank to my knees and
buried my face into my hands and sobbed like I've never sobbed before.

I cried for Cole. I cried for Ela and Conner, my son who not only lost his wife but now his best friend. But mostly I cried for my daughter who's world was just shattered. Whom begged her father to let her die along with her husband. I cried for this entire family who has seen nothing but tragedy lately. I don't know how much more any of us can take.

Finally I pulled myself from the wet snow and made my way inside the warehouse that didn't offer much more warmth. More tears fell as I saw London sitting on top of Miri holding her down while Dem administered a shot into her neck. The entire time she screamed Cole's name until her voice was no more than a scratch. I was thankfully when the medicine kicked in and she would be taken away by sleep just for a bit, forgetting all this temporarily.

London phoned some men in for clean up and we all piled into a warm suv. I laid Miri's head on my lap and stroked her hair. Not being able to contain myself I burst out crying again. London gripped my shoulders as Dem gripped my free hand. London laid one hand on Miri's cheek as a tear slid from his eye and Dem took her hand as well. The three who were always tied to each other now were lost and broken without the third.