The Final Chapter...Sacrifices
Gerard laughed like a demented mad scientist as Exodus fell into Gabi's
arms...after taking the bullet that was meant for her.
Gabi: NO!!!!!
Gerard: So much for the chivalry. Doesn't he believe in ladies first?......
Ruiz: SBPD, freeze!!
Gerard: Goodbye, Gabi!!!!
Ruiz fired a single shot...and Gerard sank to the dark floor of the Surf
Central veranda.
The police surrounded the criminal, but all Gabi could think about was
tending to her wounded savior.
Gabi: Exodus?? Look at me...it's alright. You're gonna be OK...I won't let you
die!
Her hands were covered in blood. She wrapped a torn piece of his cape
around him, tinging it with a frightening shade of crimson. He looked up at her
and ran a hand gently through her hair.
Exodus: The one thing...that will never die...ever...is the way I feel about
you....I love you, Gabi...and I always will, no matter what...
The words caught in her mind and stirred tears into her eyes......as she
stared into those of the only other person on earth that knew....the words that
were the light in that dark Eden.
Gabi: (whispers) My God... no...it can't be...no!!!
Her hands were shaking as she pulled off the mask that cloaked his
face...and saw her best dream, and worst nightmare...
Gabi: (crying) Antonio??!!! No!! Not you!! Why didn't you tell me,
Antonio....why did you do this? Why?....
Antonio: At first....it was....my retribution...for the sins I had made with
you...but then...it was the only way I could get you back...even for a
moment...you could...love me...if I was...someone else...
Gabi: No, no, you weren't someone else! I fell in love with Exodus because
he was you, Antonio. Deep inside I must've known it all along...I could
feel you in my heart, I know it! I love you......
He looked up at her with the saddest eyes...as if they were the last words he
was ever going to hear.
Ruiz: Gabi, I'm gonna call the--holy mother of God, it's YOU!
Antonio managed to twist his lips into a smile.
Antonio: Hey, now...is that any way....to greet a dying man....?
Gabi: No! Don't you say that, okay? It can't end like this, Antonio! You've
always been my hero, and you always will be! You're going to stay right here
with me...but you've got to try, alright?
Antonio: Gabi...the stars...they're..beautiful tonight....I've always wanted...to
watch them with you.......the stars.....
He drifted out of conciousness. Gabi's hard-fought composure began to slip
away as his hand that had been closed around hers tightly went lifeless and still.
Gabi: Antonio?... Antonio??? Come on...wake up....please wake
up......(teary smile).... querido...I can't watch the stars without you...and
you know how much I hate to be stood up, don't you, Antonio?? Antonio??!!!!
Ruiz: Delgato!! Get the paramedics out here now! We've got a Torres in
critical over here!!
She held him, crying burning tears, lost in the faint sound of his weary
breathing that reminded her of the way the breeze would wane in the stillness of
night. She could still feel the intensity of his love for her, even as he clung to
life, dwindling, dimming. It was her reassurance that this was one battle that
wasn't yet lost for this man, the priest who believed in magic.
___________________________________________________________
An astonished Ricardo sat in the hospital waiting room, with Gabi and Annie
by his side.
Ricardo: My God...I'm...I'm still in shock...how could it be??! Exodus was
Antonio...all along, Exodus was Antonio?! How couldn't I have
seen...how couldn't I have known...
Annie: How could you have, Ricardo? No one in Sunset Beach had any
idea...
Ricardo: But somehow it all makes sense...he was never home at night...he
was always asking about the case...dammit!! And the the whole force, we were
hunting him down like a criminal. My own damn brother!! It was jealousy....my
own stupid jealousy of someone who could protect this town better than me...and
it might've just cost me Antonio.....
Gabi hadn't said a word. She just sat there with tears streaming slowly from
her eyes...waiting. Reliving the moment when her hand slipped away from
Antonio's as the doctors and nurses frantically wheeled him out of her
grasp...possibly the last time she'd ever see him again.
Ricardo: And Antonio was...the other man you were in love with, too...wasn't
he?
Gabi: Yes...I love him. I'm so sorry, Ricardo...that I wasn't honest with
you...it was the longest time before I could even admit it to myself. But all the
while, Antonio was suffering....and Exodus...that was his only escape. And it
lead him back to me. I guess we can't escape each other...or the fact that he's a
priest...but I don't think God can blame me for loving him. Not the one I believe
in.
Ricardo: I understand...why you love him. He's an incredible guy...my kid
brother. He...he always used to say that he wanted to grow up to be a
hero...(teary smile). Heh. And then I used to make him eat his Colorforms.
Annie's hand drifted to Ricardo's shoulder. Everyone always said she had a
heart of ice, but now, it seemed to be thawing in the form of tears that filled her
frigid blue eyes.
Ricardo: I just hope that God's smiling down on us right now, and helps him
pull through...
Gabi: I know...
She put her hand over Ricardo's and smiled, knowing that their love for
Antonio would always bond them as friends.
Tyus: Everyone?
Gabi: (shoots up out of her chair) Tyus, how is he?
Tyus: The bullet wound was a major trauma for Antonio.......
......but he put up one heck of a fight, and he's going to be alright. Granted
that he doesn't sneak out of the hospital and go on his nightwatch, of course....
She hugged the versatile doctor with more strength that anyone would
assume she had in her tiny frame, as Ricardo scooped up Annie, who let out a
startled squeal.
Gabi: Oh my God...thank you, Tyus, thank you so much!!!
Tyus: Don't thank me. Antonio told me he's very proud of the way he got
that bullet...by saving you, Gabi.
She smiled, with her eyes full of tears.
Tyus: I'll let you see him now, one at a time, if you don't mind...
Ricardo: Gabi....go.
Gabi: Are you sure?
Ricardo: Don't worry about it. When I get in there, I'm gonna grind my every
knuckle into that head of his for scaring us all half to death with this human
action figure fiasco...so you'd better spare him for me...
Gabi: (smiles) Alright....
Annie turned to Ricardo and grinned.
Annie: So...where does this leave us, partner?
Ricardo: Hmm...what about the almighty master Gregory? Wouldn't he be
upset to see you dating?
Annie: Long story, honey...but for him, divorce is just a phone call away. So,
where should our first official date be, anyway? Anywhere but that corny
Cummings shindig.
Ricardo: Oh, so now we're getting picky? Hmm...I think I could go for a
couple of Shock Wave burgers on Friday night, whadya say?
Annie: Ooh!! You little--
The altercation escalated to a bout of hand-wrestling, which ended
peacefully as said officer dipped the willing suspect and kissed her accordingly.
________________________________________________________
Gabi walked gingerly into Antonio's hospital room. He looked like a sleeping
angel...her beautiful Exodus. The man she loved, who had saved her life. He
seemed to wake up instinctively as soon as he felt her presence in the room.
Gabi: Hey.... Antonio. (trying not to cry)
Antonio: Hey, Gabi...
She abandoned her every inhibition and ran to him. They held each other,
oblivious to anything but this moment.
Antonio: I didn't think I'd ever get to do this again......you look so beautiful....
Gabi: (smiles) Oh, yeah. I've been crying my eyes out...I probably have so
much eyeliner under them, I look like a football player!
Antonio: (laughs) Ow... don't make me laugh, it kinda hurts...
Gabi: Well, I thought I'd seen every costume in your repertoire tonight... but
aren't you making quite a fashion statement in that flimsy hospital gown?
Antonio: (laughing) Aagh!
Gabi: Oh, no! Do you want me to get the nurse?
Antonio: Unless her name's Gabi, no thanks...
Gabi: Antonio....the way I feel right now....it's like I'm seeing you for the first
time...
Antonio: I feel the same way.
Gabi: I fell in love with you twice, Antonio. When I tried to forget you, I
dicovered you all over again. You're my guardian angel...you would've given up
everything for me...
Antonio: But there's something I have to give up... ....the priesthood.
Gabi: Do you really mean that?
Antonio: (raises an eyebrow) Well, I could go on living seperate lives...
Gabi: I don't think that's such a good idea!
Antonio: All I know is.. this love...our love....it can't be wrong. God brought
you into my life, Gabi....he gave me the strength to become Exodus...to save
you...he would never comdemn what we've found. And besides....I could always
become a minister, like that guy on Seventh Heaven...I mean...he's
married...well, that is, if you would....
Gabi: First things first. (teary-eyed) I still owe you the stars...
Antonio: I love you, Gabi.
Gabi: I love you too, Antonio...
And they kissed...the way they had always wanted to...the way two people
who had found paradise would...after their trials, their torture....
....their exodus....