Chapter One-Hundred-Ninety-Eight
By the time breakfast was nearly ready everybody was finally awake and in the kitchen including Jackie. The sketch artist had finished drawing Sean and had left the drawing with Detective Stabler to do as he pleases with it. Ashley went outside and told Nick and the kids to come inside so they did and made sure every single puppy came with them and they were introduced to Riley’s family.
“Where are we all going to eat at? There is no way that we’re all going to fit at this table,” Jackie questioned.
“Good question. We’re going to have more people when the Doroughs arrive…where are they D? I thought they were supposed to be here by now,” Kevin questioned as he stood there holding Elenore so she is rested against his hip and she has her arms wrapped around his neck and has set a death grip upon him.
“They’re running a little late. Polly said they should be here a little before lunch.”
“Why don’t we all just eat where ever we can find a spot for now and we’ll figure some thing out for later?” Riley suggested.
“Good idea,” Harold agreed. “We’ll probably just have to set up a big long table out in the backyard for Thanksgiving dinner later.”
“Jackie do you have anything you want done that a four and six year old could do?” Nick spoke up. Dakota frowned some as she had for a short while forgotten that she was in trouble.
“There is plenty to be done.”
“Good how about you make a list for my two delinquents over here and I will supervise them and make sure it gets done.”
“What is a delinquent?” Dakota asked suddenly confused.
“You and Sarah, that’s what.” Nick replied while leaning forward and rubbing his nose over hers affectionately and he made a goofy face making her giggle some.
“Ryan will be joining them,” Howie spoke up. Ryan didn’t protest as he is quite used to being punished by now.
“And Ellie and Josh,” Kevin added. Brian nodded in agreement to his cousin. Elenore gaped up at him in surprise.
“But we didn’ts do anything wrong! We weren’t fighting!” Josh argued indignantly.
“We know that and we’re very proud of the both of you but you can help your Grandmother out today,” Brian insisted in a final tone telling him that the topic is not up for debate. Josh scowled and crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. He loves his Grandma and wants more then ever to help her out but he feels like he is being punished when he for once didn’t do anything wrong.
“Come here Josh, come help me get chocolate milk for you and the kids,” Brian insisted knowing exactly what is going through the little boy’s mind.
“No.”
“Please?” Josh raised his eyebrow at the pleading tone in his father’s voice. He would not say please if he were being punished. He went over to him and Brian squatted down, gently pulled Josh in front of him and he opened the refrigerator so that they were no longer seen by anyone else.
“You’re not being punished I promise. We’re very proud of you for not fighting but your grandmother is under a lot of stress. She needs all the help she can get.” He told him so quietly that only he could hear what he was saying. Josh crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly and looked away.
“I can already tell you right now that one of the things on your Grandmother’s list of things to do today is to run down to the store. That is in town. There is going to be a Thanksgiving Parade and I am willing to bet one of yours and Ellie’s favorite characters is going to be in it. If you help out, Kevin and I will take you with us.” Josh widened his eyes.
“Donald Duck?!” He asked a little too loudly and Brian placed his finger to his lips to tell him to be quiet.
“Donald Duck?” He whispered. Brian grinned.
“He is in the Parade every Thanksgiving. He gives autographs too sometimes.” Josh gaped at him in surprise and he chuckled.
“So do we have a deal?”
“Sarah and Kota aren’t gonna come? Or Ryan, or Spencer?”
“Nope. They’re going to have to stay here and watch it on TV with everybody else.” Josh frowned some thinking about how much Kota would love to go to the parade and he couldn’t help but feel a little bad. But he really does want to see Donald Duck.
“Kay, it’s a deal.” He will just have to bring something special back for Dakota and Sarah. Brian grinned and he pulled Josh into a hug and even planted a kiss on his cheek. Josh made a look of disgust and Brian smirked and pulled out the chocolate milk and he began handing it to Josh. When he had enough for every kid he closed the refrigerator door.
“Go pass it out to everybody,” he told him and Josh did as told. While Josh was passing out chocolate milk Brian went to Kevin and Elenore and he personally gave Elenore hers and looked at Kevin.
“May I borrow your kid Kevin? Is it all right if I talk to her for a few moments?” Kevin rolled his eyes at him and handed Elenore over.
“You’re such a friggen smart ass.” Brian shook his head.
“Well that’s a nice word to add to your five year old’s vocabulary,” he told him tartly and he turned and walked out of the kitchen with Elenore. Riley raised her eyebrow at her boyfriend and friend.
“Do I even want to ask what’s going on between the two of you on Thanksgiving Day of all days?”
“Nothing, nothing…we’re just having a little disagreement at the moment. No worries.”
“At the moment? More like since last night,” Detective Stabler replied. Kevin cast him a sharp look as he is still annoyed with him as well and he went over and began to help Denise finish up breakfast. Detective Stabler rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at him making Dakota giggle. Kevin turned to see what was going on and Detective Stabler quickly went back to normal and pretended to be scratching the side of his head while looking at Riley. Kevin narrowed his eyes at him for a moment and then went back to what he was doing. By the time Brian had come back with Elenore, breakfast was done. Everybody fixed their plates, the ones who have kids made plates for their children and then everybody found their own place to eat. Nick and Brian ended up lying a blanket on the ground under a tree outside for the kids to sit on while everybody else settled themselves on the porch. They let the puppies go outside and play under their watch, but Abbie mostly lay next to Ashley and begged.
“Chloe seems to be fitting in with the kids quite well,” Brian mused, as he sat on the ground leaning against the wall with his arm around Riley as she sat next to him, the both of them with a plate of breakfast in their lap.
“Yeah she seems to have taken a liking to Josh,” AJ added.
“Uh-Oh. That might be a problem waiting to happen with Kota and her jealousy situation.”
“Nah, I think she has that under control now when it comes to Josh,” Howie insisted in a secretive tone. Nick raised his eyebrow.
“Why?”
“I may…have let slip to her that he has a crush on her…” Brian gaped at him and AJ laughed.
“You better hope Josh never finds out,” Brian warned. “He’ll be very mad at you if he finds out.”
“Kota and I agreed that it was our little secret. She won’t tell. I had to do something otherwise she would have given Sarah hell. You all didn’t see the look of loathing in her eyes as she watched Josh give her a teddy bear.”
“So both Dakota and Josh have crushes on each other?” Sue, Riley’s sister asked trying to keep up and Riley nodded while smiling some.
“They do – and neither of them knew the other liked them up until last night when Howie revealed Josh’s secret to Kota.”
“Hell Kota didn’t even know she liked him herself up until yesterday when she came to me for advice,” Ashley added.
“She came to you for advice?” Nick asked, looking at his girlfriend curiously, as he did not know this and she nodded.
“It was very cute.”
“It was. It’s amazing how innocent she still is after what happened to her,” Kori agreed.
“What happened to her?” Audrey, Riley’s mother questioned this time and everybody grew very silent at the reminder of the tragedy. Everybody could feel the tension around them.
“She was raped,” Riley answered softly and Sue and Audrey looked as if their hearts were breaking at such horrible news. She looked to Nick and saw the hurt etched on his face. “Her and Sarah…by one of our ex caregivers at the Orphanage.”
“That’s really horrible…I’m sorry,” Sue replied sympathetically. “I couldn’t imagine what I would do if that happened to Chloe.” Nick gave her a weak smile and Ashley rubbed her hand over her back.
“We’re getting past it…one step at a time. As long as no one mentions it, Kota is fine. But that’s why Sarah doesn’t talk. It traumatized her and she hasn’t spoken ever since.”
“Except once when pressured to do so,” Ashley added. Nick looked over at his daughter then and he smiled some at the sight of her laughing. It comforts him each time he sees her smile because he knows she isn’t thinking about the horrible incident that happened to her only a month ago. Everytime he sees her frowning, or looking even the slightest bit serious though…that’s when he gets worried. He felt Ashley continue to rub her hand over his back and he turned and looked at her to see her eyes full of question. Not doubts, but concern for him. He gave her a small smile and leaned forward and kissed her forehead softly before looking in her eyes back and exchanging a look he knew she would understand – that he’s okay. Brian who had been sitting there watching them couldn’t help but shake his head smiling.
“Sometimes I wonder which ones are the twins around here while watching the two of you communicate with one another with just your eyes.”
“Oh let them be Brian,” Laney laughed. “It might come in handy some day, the way they communicate with each other.”
“Like how?” Brian asked amusedly. Laney shrugged.
“If they can communicate with each other without saying a single word it could be useful in a trying situation.”
“Telepathy does come in handy,” Aaron agreed.
“Yeah, like saving yourself from being hit with flying pillows?” Nick teased.
“Exactly.”
“So why do you four get telepathic powers and we don’t? That’s not fair,” AJ insisted. Jackie laughed.
“I don’t think Nick and Ashley really have telepathic powers, Aje, I think they just connect well.”
“Yeah…and it’s not our fault you weren’t born with a twin,” Aaron added.
“I was so” AJ insisted stubbornly and Denise raised her eyebrow amusedly.
“His name is…is…Bill! And we were separated at birth.”
“Oh you were, were you?” Denise questioned interestedly.
“Oh yes.”
“I see,” she laughed. “I don’t remember giving birth to two children.” Angel rolled her eyes.
“Don’t worry Aje, you aren’t missing out. Having a twin isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.”
“Hey!” Aaron whined and he lightly pushed his sister. Angel pushed him back.
“You should just feel lucky you have siblings to grow up with,” AJ insisted. “Whereas I have none.”
“And what are Kori and I, chopped liver?” Ashley asked indignantly, though she gets where he is coming from. She looked over at her brother who was sitting too far away for her to reach out and shove him the way Angel had to Aaron so she lifted her barefoot as she was leaning into Nick and she used it instead. AJ chuckled. Before she could put her foot down he grabbed it and tickled the bottom of it making her giggle and squirm.
“Stooop it,” she pleaded and he chuckled and did as told.
“You’re such a baby,” he teased. She stuck her tongue out at him and he brought her foot into his lap as he was finished eating anyway and had his plate sitting on the ground in front of him and he began to massage her foot. Liking this very much, she shifted so her other foot was in his lap as well.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, inside the motel that used to belong to both Cole and Max but now just belonged to Max, Sean, Trevor, and Max were sitting inside it just relaxing after a long morning of murder.
“This is a really small town you know, you two shouldn’t stay here.” Max insisted as he sat on his bed leaning against the headboard with a laptop. Trevor was lounging on Cole’s old bed and Sean was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall and staring at Trevor, so deep into thought that he doesn’t even realize he is doing so.
“Why shouldn’t we? They don’t know what Sean looks like.” Sean jumped back to planet earth as he heard Trevor say his name.
“Huh? Oh…right…yeah they don’t know what I look like. I was heavily disguised the last time they saw me.” Trevor threw a look of curiosity toward his best friend as he heard how dazed he sounded and opened his mouth to ask him what’s on his mind when suddenly Max interrupted.
“Are you sure about that?” Both men looked at Max. One with narrowed eyes and the other with a raised eyebrow.
“Of course I am sure.”
“Then how did they get a drawing of you?”
“WHAT?” Sean nearly shouted.
“What drawing?” Trevor asked calmly, but no one could mistake the panic in his voice. Sean jumped up from his spot on the floor and was next to Max in not even a second before taking the laptop from him to look. There on the screen was a very descriptive drawing of Sean’s face and written in big font above the picture it read WANTED and underneath it were facts about him and who to contact if anyone sees him.
“FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! Trevor turn the fucking TV on!” Trevor grabbed the remote from the bed he was sitting on, pointed it at the TV, and he turned it on to find it was already on the news. There on the screen was also the drawing of Sean’s face and all of the same stuff he had seen on the laptop. The woman was reporting that he is believed to be the one who murdered Cole Anderson and she was also talking about what he did to Ashley and Kori. Trevor, Sean, and Max sat quietly watching the fear that all three of them felt at that moment filled the whole room. After the woman on the news had reported about Sean, the screen then turned to another wanted person – Trevor Adams and she went on about his story. All the while Sean sat there feeling like he wanted to dive through the TV and strangle her to make her stop talking. Feeling his anger build up inside him he wanted to get up and release it. He had to get up and cause destruction to something. He was just about to do so when he suddenly felt Trevor’s hand on his shoulder and it caused him to calm down some. Only a little bit.
“It would do you no good to lose your temper,” he insisted softly. “Not here…not in the motel. People will hear you and call the cops.”
“I wasn’t—“
“-Yes you were, I was watching you. I would recognize a tantrum by now when I see it.”
“I am just so angry Trevor!”
“I know.”
“I want to do something dangerous.”
“I know. But you can’t. Just take a deep breath…relax.” Sean took a deep breath and tried to relax, and it helped some but he still felt the need to complain.
“Our faces are all over the place.” Trevor nodded.
“That is why it is important that we lay low.”
“You need to get out of Kentucky,” Max insisted. “This is a small town. You’ll be seen anywhere you go.”
“We can’t go until Conner gets here. Max I need you to do us a favor,” Trevor replied, immediately taking control of the situation as he always does when Sean is on the verge of losing his temper.
“Anything.”
“Since your face isn’t all over the news, I need you to run to the store and get us some food and drinks for our trip home. Since we can’t stop at any drive thru’s or go into any fast food places this time, we’ll need to bring our own food.”
“Okay, I’m on it.” Max insisted and he stood up and grabbed his keys.
“I also need you to buy some hair dye for us. Some wigs, maybe fake mustaches - anything that we can disguise ourselves with while we’re driving just incase people look at us in traffic.”
“Okay…and none of us have eaten anything. How about I bring something on my way back?”
“Panda Express,” Sean insisted.
“Yeah, bring us back some panda express,” Trevor added. Max nodded and he walked out of the room shutting the door behind him. Trevor went to the door and he locked it before turning around and looking at Sean who still looked like he could punch a few walls.
“Lie down,” he ordered.
“I don’t want to,” Sean insisted angrily.
“Well you have to,” Trevor demanded lightly and he went over and pushed Sean back so he was lying back against the pillows. “Relax. Take a nap if you have to…anything to control your anger.
“I want my drugs.”
“I threw your drugs out.”
“And I still hate you for that, you know.”
“Mhm. You remind me all the time.”
“I want drugs.”
“I’ll let you have some for one night when we get home but you’re under house arrest when I do. The last thing we need right now is for you to go out and murder anyone else. But you have to promise me to calm down if I allow it to happen.”
“I’m going to go take a cold shower,” Sean insisted, and he got up, yanked his shirt off and walked into the bathroom closing the door behind him. Trevor stared at the closed door for a few moments and then he went and lay on the bed and stared up at the ceiling contemplatively as he heard the shower water running.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
