Chapter Twenty-One
As soon as the ambulance arrived at Ramsey, they parked in front of the emergency entrance to the hospital. They opened up the back doors and got out carrying the stretcher with Kori on it into the hospital. A few Doctors and Nurses rushed over to help them as a paramedic told them Kori’s conditions and they took her back to a room so that they could work on her. Detective Stabler and Fin who had followed the ambulance there drove into the Orphanage parking lot and they went inside that building where they found Doctor Johnson at.
“Hey Elliot, Hey Fin what’s going on?” Doctor Johnson questioned, as he wasn’t expecting them to come in.
“We’ve found Kori,” Detective Stabler announced, and Doctor Johnson looked at him in shock. “We found her on a beach tied to a pier nearly drowned. She was unconscious but had a pulse - a very weak pulse. The paramedics just rushed her into your hospital a few moments ago.”
“How bad did she look?” Doctor Johnson asked worriedly.
“Horrible… they beat her pretty bad. Her clothes were all ripped and stuff…”
“Do you think she has a chance?”
“Well I don’t know, I’m no doctor. You’d probably know that answer better then I do. But God gave Ashley a miracle I‘m sure he has one more to spare for Kori too…”
“I’m going to go help them out! The more doctors they have the better,” Doctor Johnson replied, and with that he rushed away toward the hospital building. Detective Stabler was about to turn to talk to Fin when suddenly he heard the elevator door open. He looked over at it to find Riley, Brian, Nick, and Ashley coming out of it - Nick holding Dakota in his arms.
“Hey Elliot…what’s going on?” Riley was the first to ask as she noticed him standing there. He gave Riley a serious look, a look that she immediately understood.
“Oh…” She said, and then walked over to him and she pulled him so that he was out of ear shot of Ashley. Nick gave Ashley’s hand to Brian and handed Dakota over to him as well, than he went to join them. “Okay…so what’s going on?” Riley repeated her question.
“Kori is in the ER,” he answered, and then he began to explain the story to them.
“Should we tell Ashley what’s going on?” Riley asked, looking at Detective Stabler.
“Well I don’t know, you two know her better then I do…will she be able to handle it?”
“I think that if Nick tells her a sugarcoated version of it she might. But it has to come from Nick because he has better experience with talking to her. Even better then me.” Riley explained, and Nick nodded.
“I’ll talk to her…” he said softly, and he went back to Brian, Ashley, and Dakota. “Ashley honey…we need to talk. Why don’t you come back up to our room with me okay?” Ashley looked at Nick skeptically for a moment, but then nodded. He took her hand and looked at Dakota.
“Kota I need you to stay down here with uncle Brian alright? Ashley and I will be back down in a little while.”
“Kay,” Dakota replied, and Nick led Ashley into the elevator and back up to their room. When they got up there Ashley went and sat on the bed. Nick followed her and sat next to her.
“What’s going on? Who is that Elliot guy?”
“That is the detective that was looking for Kori for us….” Nick answered, and Ashley looked up at Nick, suddenly worried.
“Is this about Kori?”
“Mm hmm…” Nick answered.
“Did he find her?” Ashley asked softly.
“Yeah….he found her…” Nick answered, raking his fingers through his hair. He doesn’t know how he can possibly sugarcoat this enough that she won’t panic.
“Is she okay?” Ashley asked again, sensing something isn’t right by the way he is acting.
“Well…when Detective Stabler and Detective Fin - the other guy that is with him found Kori, she was a little hurt. They have her in the ER right now though and they’re doing everything they can to make her better. Doctor Johnson has gone to help.”
“How hurt?” Nick thought for a moment, choosing his words very carefully. He was hoping she wouldn’t ask that but some how he knew she would.
“She’s got a few scratches and bruises and she’s not yet conscious at the moment…”
“But she’s alive?”
“Yes,” Nick answered, knowing that answer for sure. Detective Stabler did say when he found her that she was alive - he will just leave out the barely part.
“How come she is unconscious?”
“Well when they found her…she was tied to a pier and nearly drowned.” Nick answered, deciding there was no easier way to say it.
“Just like I was found…” Ashley answered softly. “Lying at the bottom of the pool nearly drowned…”
“You’re taking this easier then I thought you would…”
“I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for the fact that she is in Doctor Johnson’s hands…and all of the other doctors in this hospital. They saved me….right? So I have faith they can do the same for Kori….I’m very scared for her though….”
“I really don’t blame you honey… but yes, she is in very good hands. I’ve seen these doctors work many miracles before. Kori is going to turn out just fine.” He reassured her and he reached over and wiped away a falling tear. “One of them miracles being you… I wouldn’t have you if it weren’t for those doctors, you know.” He told her sweetly and she couldn’t help but smile up at him though at his kind words even more tears fell from her eyes. His loving words never fail to make her emotions go crazy. She scooted closer to him and she lay down with her head in his lap.
“Can we go and wait over in the hospital? So I can see her when she recovers?” Ashley asked softly.
“I think that first you should get some breakfast. When it’s time for the cafeteria to open we will go down and have some breakfast, than I will go with you to wait in the hospital. How’s that?”
“Kay,” Ashley replied, and he placed his hand to her cheek and leaned down and brushed his lips softly against hers.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Kevin, Brian, and Riley were talking amongst themselves, as they kept an eye on the children that were outdoors. Dakota and Elenore were sitting on the bridge of the play structure, as they liked how it rocked when others ran or walked by. Lucky for them they were small, and it was a bit bigger than necessary, so there was room for them to sit and everyone to go by.
"What you want to do?" Dakota asked her friend. Elenore thought a moment, tapping her chin with a little finger, then her eyes went wide.
"I know! Let's plays Ninja Turtles!"
"How do you plays that?" Dakota asked, never having thought to play Ninja Turtles without the action figures.
"You can be Donnie, or somebody and I can be Raphael!" Elenore exclaimed. "We can fight off the evil Shredder!" Dakota smiled, liking the idea.
"Okay!"
"You Donnie?" Elenore checked, wanting to be sure which turtle name to call her best friend by. Dakota nodded.
"Uh-huh! I'ma be Donnie!" Elenore stood up then, helping Dakota up, and not letting her hand go once she was up.
"We hafta finds Shredder an' beats him up, kay?" Dakota nodded eagerly, feeling very excited to play this game of make believe. Elenore spotted something then, and giggling, she dragged Dakota along with her until they found the bandanas someone had left hanging on the edge of a pole on the play structure.
"Lookie! Masks!" She exclaimed. She grabbed them up and handed Dakota the purple one, while taking the red one for herself. She managed to squeeze it on over her head without having to untie it, and helped Dakota to do the same. Dakota giggled, as now she really felt like a ninja turtle - they were just missing weapons and their shells.
"C'mon!" Elenore told her, quickly running towards one of the slides. "Shredder wents this ways!" Dakota widened her eyes in mock surprise, and quickly ran after her friend. They were playing quite nicely for a bit, until Dakota was cornered by bully, Josh.
"What're you doin'?" Josh demanded. "Why you got that mask on?" Dakota stuck her nose in the air. "I don't hafta tells you nothin'. Ellie and I's are playin', so just leaves me alone."
"Tell me or I'ma rip it off yer head!" Josh growled. "Now, what're you playin'?" Dakota refused to back down.
"No. I'm nots tellin' you! Leaves me alone Josh!" Josh advanced towards her, towering over her as he was six and her only a mere four.
"Tell me now, or else!" He threatened, glaring at her. Dakota finally shrunk a bit.
"Ninja Turtles," she replied softly.
"And just which turtle are you supposed to be?" Josh questioned.
"Can't you tell?" Dakota asked. Josh eyed her a moment and scowled.
"You're no Donatello - you're a sissy girl." Dakota frowned.
"I am so Donatello! Ellie saids so!"
"Oh, so because yer friend says so, it's gotta be true?" Josh scoffed. "Pfft. She knows nothin' about the heroes in a half shell. It's a boys show and girls can't play it."
"We can so!" Dakota argued. "Uncle Kevy got Ellie lots of Ninja Turtles when we wents shoppin'!" Josh scowled, not liking the fact now there was another little girl getting spoiled over him. "
“Well, I'ma just hafta gonna steal them from her, aren't I?"
"You cant’s do that’s! They're Ellie's!" Dakota cried. Josh leaned closer.
"I can do whatever I want, 'cause I'm bigger and older and smarter than you." With that, he grabbed the bandana tails and jerked them - hard.
"OW!!!" Dakota yelped, trying to bat his hands away, but to no avail. Elenore appeared then, frowning, her red mask still on her face.
"Leaves her alone Josh!" Josh turned to glare at Elenore then.
"And who're you s'pose to be? Raph?"
"Raphael to you," Elenore snapped. "Now, gets away from Donnie!"
"Make me," Josh smirked. "You're no ninja turtle. You're just a girl who can't do nothin' right. No wonder your mom dropped you off here and didn't love you. And I bet that Kevin guy don't like you either - he's just doin' it so the newspaper people will think he's nice." Elenore's eyes narrowed even more, her little fists clenching at hers sides.
"You take that back!" She ordered angrily.
"No. It's true!" Josh stated, grabbing Dakota's arm as she tried to sneak away. Dakota squeaked, as he'd grabbed her arm pretty hard.
"Let go! Please!" She pleaded. Josh just squeezed her arm tighter, as he continued to provoke Elenore.
"I bet when they leave again, he's gonna leave you here and not come back. And if he comes back, it's only 'cause them newspaper people are comin' to see, and he wants to look like a good guy. But I'ma get him and you won't have nobody. And Dakota will hafta leave when Nick does, so you'll be all alone again!"
"Ow! You're hurting me!" Dakota cried. Elenore grew very angry then, as she saw tears in Dakota's eyes. Nobody hurt her friend! Nobody! And Kevin wasn't just going to up and leave her like her mother had, was he? He seemed so nice, and he'd never hurt her at all in the three days she'd been in the Orphanage - but Josh knew him better than she did. Her own eyes began to fill with tears, until she heard Dakota whimper and start to cry, then she focused on Josh and not his words, once more.
"You leaves her alone!" Elenore growled, charging Josh just as he twisted Dakota's arm. Josh was forced to let go of Dakota, upon being tackled by Elenore - though, nobody but Dakota saw this happen for some odd reason - maybe because most the other kids had decided they wanted to be first in line for breakfast and had gone ahead inside - or because they were playing elsewhere in the yard. Josh stumbled for a bit, and hit the structure wall pretty hard - which only made him angry. He in turn struck back at Elenore, who got hit in her still somewhat bruised stomach, causing her to grunt and cry out in pain slightly. Dakota watched wide-eyed, unsure of what to do. Should she run and get help? Should she call for Kevin? Or should she stand there and wait until the right moment to help her friend? Elenore retaliated with a punch of her own to Josh's mid-section, causing him to double over for a moment. She shoved him again, but he managed to get back up and smacked her in the face with his fist. Elenore cried out in pain this time - more so than from the punch to her stomach. She kicked at him to make him back up - which worked, then she ran towards him and shoved him hard as she could, sending him backwards down onto the slide with a huge THUD. Josh went flying and hit the slide halfway down, after flying through the air for a moment. He slid down the slide and wound up at the bottom of it, lying on his back. Elenore and Dakota both stood crying at the top of the slide, their ninja turtles masks getting drenched in the process. Finally Kevin, Brian, and Riley all looked over at the girls upon hearing their cries for the first time. They spotted the girls standing on the play structure and Josh lying on his back at the bottom of the slide.
“Oh jeez…what happened now?” Kevin wondered out loud and he ran over there, Riley and Brian following close behind. Riley tending to Josh and Brian and Kevin each pulled a little girl down from the play structure. They knelt down on the ground, placing the two in front of them.
“What happened Ellie?” Kevin asked worried, when he saw that she had a bloody nose.
“We were playin’ Ninja Turtles and Josh agreed to plays Shredder,” Elenore explained through sobs. “But then he hurteds Kota and so we had to push him away”
“Is this true, Josh?” Riley asked, turning her attention to the boy that she was holding close to her - he too was crying because he had hurt his back when landing on it.
“No! I never agreed to play shredder!” Josh insisted.
“Uh-huhs!” Dakota argued through tears, playing a long with Elenore’s lie.
“I did not! And I didn’t hurt her either!”
“Did TOO!” Dakota cried. “And he told Elenore lies bout Uncle Kevy too and hurteds her feelings!”
“If you didn’t hurt her Josh then why are there nail marks all a long Kota’s arms here?” Brian asked, holding Dakota’s arms gently in his hands and holding them out for Josh, Riley, and Kevin to see. Josh had guilty written all over his face for that one.
“And why does Elenore have a bloody nose?” Riley asked him. All eyes were now on Josh as they waited for an explanation. When they didn’t get one Riley spoke up.
“I think you need to help me clean up the cafeteria today after lunch and then go up to your room for an hour afterwards to think about what you did.”
“But THAT’S NOT FAIR!”
“Maybe you should learn not to harass them and then maybe you wouldn’t get in trouble so much.”
"But - I - DAH! WHY do they ALWAYS get away with EVERYTHING?” Josh shouted, than he turned and stormed off into the Orphanage. Riley sighed in frustration, than she got up and went after him. Brian and Kevin got up, Kevin holding Elenore and Brian holding Dakota and the two of them took them inside to clean them up. When they finished doing that they took them into the cafeteria to get them their breakfast since it was now open and kids were pilling in there.
“Uncle Brian…” Dakota whimpered after he had gotten her plate made and sat her down at the table so she could eat.
“Yeah honey?”
“My arm hurteds…an’ I want my daddy” she whined, fresh tears falling from her eyes.
“He should be down shortly sweetie…” he told her gently. “Why don’t you try eating your breakfast? Maybe the yummy food will get your mind off stuff.”
“I don’ts wanna…” She protested, and she pushed her plate away. She then crawled out of her chair and reached up for Brian. He took the hint and scooped her up into his arms and he cuddled her close to him. She rested her head against his shoulder as he hugged her. Elenore on the other hand sat at the table nibbling at her breakfast quietly as she sat next to Kevin who sat there rubbing her back. She sat there pondering Josh’s harsh words from earlier. Were they really true? Was Kevin just pretending to be nice in order to make himself look good? It’s possible…Josh has known Kevin longer then she has…and she always knew in the back of her mind that it was too good to be true that someone actually loves her. Isn’t it? Suddenly Nick and Ashley walked into the cafeteria hand in hand. They had spent the entire time up in their room lying in bed together and just talking. When they arrived at the table Nick saw his little girl cuddling with Brian and the tears in her eyes and he frowned. He never likes it when his little girl is upset.
“What happened?”
“Josh the bully strikes again…” Brian answered, and he showed Nick Dakota’s arms. “They were playing Ninja Turtles and Josh agreed to play Shredder. But then he hurt Dakota and they had to push him away and he went flying down the slide - but that was an accident.”
“Daddy I wants you…” Dakota whimpered, as she reached for him. Nick scooped her up from Brian’s arms and cuddled her close to him instead. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder as she began to cry all over again. He rubbed his hand over her back as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Ashley sat in a chair next to him. Nick just sat there holding Dakota close to him as he is very frustrated. Dakota has suffered through Josh’s bullying her whole life. She does not deserve this. He knows he does it because he’s jealous. But is that the only reason? He wants to get to the bottom of it. He wants to try and understand Josh but the more he tries, the more he pushes him away. What does he have to do to stop this bullying? Nick looked down at Dakota who was finally beginning to calm down some. He kissed her forehead and then began to sing softly in here ear.
“If I could right the wrongs that made you cry….”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, after breakfast, and after Riley had got done cleaning up the cafeteria with Josh she sent him up to his room, than she went out into the lobby and to the front desk to look for something. As she was in the middle of doing that her cell phone rang. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out and she placed it to her ear not even bothering to look at the caller ID.
“Hello?” She asked.
“Hey baby…it’s me.” Came Chase’s voice from the other end.
“What do you want?”
“Is that anyway to greet your husband?”
“It is when my husband’s top priority is everything but his wife.”
“Come on Riley…can’t we please just have one phone conversation without us fighting?”
“Why did you call, Chase? If you haven’t noticed I am at work. I can’t just sit around on the phone with you all day long I have children to tend to.”
“I just called to apologize for bailing out on you last night. I waited up all night long for you when I got home so that I could say this but you never came home so I thought I would call you now.”
“Hmm…and how does it feel waiting up all night for someone that doesn’t come home, huh?”
“Look, I just called to apologize for bailing out on our dinner last night. Okay? So can you just accept my apology?”
“All I ever hear from you are apologizes, Chase! When are you going to actually mean them?”
“I do mean them!”
“If you meant it you wouldn’t have to keep saying it. We wouldn’t constantly be arguing, and I would be your top priority. How long are you going to keep putting me through this?”
“Through what??”
“Goddamnit Chase, are you even listening to me? Do you ever even HEAR me? Or do my words go through one ear and out the other?” Suddenly the elevator door opened and Brian stepped out and over heard what she last said. Riley who heard the elevator door open looked back at him, and then around the lobby and she realized a few people were listening to her. She turned and went down one of the hallways in attempt to find some privacy but Brian followed her. When she found the office she often goes into when she needs to work in peace, she opened the door and went in there and Brian followed close behind making sure to close the door behind him. She sat at her desk and Brian went up behind her and began to gently massage her shoulders. It felt good to her so she let him.
"I listen, Riley! Do you ever listen to me?" Chase remarked.
"Excuse me?!?!" Riley exclaimed. "All I ever hear from you is how sorry you are for putting work before me, because you always have to run off right in the middle of our romantic evenings - which happen next to never to begin with!"
"Well, excuse me for making a living and supporting us for all these years! Someone has to make the megabucks!" Chase argued.
“I work too, I support us too but at least I make it home to be with my non-existent husband!”
“I am sorry that you feel the need to be ungrateful about the fact that I only work to take care of you!”
“I am NOT ungrateful! I’m glad that you feel the need to take care of me Chase, but I need you to spend some time with me too! And love me, and make me one of your top priorities! ….aren’t I important to you at all?”
“Of course you’re baby….”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Well I am sorry that you don’t believe me. But I’m telling you the truth.” Riley laughed, but it was not at all a happy laugh.
“That would be a first.”
“I’m sorry baby but I’ve gotta go…my break is almost up. We’ll talk later?”
“Yeah I guess. Wouldn’t want to be in your way or anything. You know, Chase. You love your work so much….why don’t you marry it instead? You two would make a great couple.” Riley replied, as she managed to hold back her tears and with that she turned her phone off. She looked up at Brian as he stood there rubbing her shoulders still and he was looking down at her with concern.
“Everything okay?”
“I don’t know how much more of this I can take Brian… I am on the verge of having a breakdown.”
“Why don’t you, the guys, Ashley and I all go out tonight? Huh? And we will have you cheered up in no time. You will be having so much fun Chase won’t even cross your mind even once.”
“Where would we go though? It would have to be 17 year old appropriate if Ash comes you know…”
“You just leave that up to me okay? And don’t worry it will be so appropriate that Nick could bring Dakota if he wants - which he probably will. And Kevin Elenore…can‘t leave Elenore behind.”
“Kay…” Riley replied, looking up at Brian with a weak smile. He smiled back and wiped away a falling tear with his finger, than he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“We will have you cheered up in no time. Tonight is Riley’s night.” Riley turned slightly and wrapped her arms around Brian’s waist and she rested her head against his chest as she hugged him close to her.
“I love it that you’re always so good to me…”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile over at the hospital, as promised Nick took Ashley to go sit in a waiting room to wait on Kori and he brought Dakota with him. She would not let him put her down for anything as she is still slightly upset but no longer crying. Her arm still hurts though, which worries Nick. How much did Josh twist it? He’s almost considering having a doctor take a look at it. What if it’s sprained? When they got there they ran into Doctor Johnson.
“Hey Nick, Ashley, and Dakota…what are you three doing over here?”
“Ash wanted to be near her sister so that she could see her when she recovers. Is that okay?”
“Yeah sure. Why don’t I take you to a waiting room where you will be more comfortable though?”
“Okay,” Nick replied, and he kept a hold of Ashley’s hand as he followed Doctor Johnson. When they reached the room that is just right across the one that the doctors have Kori in Doctor Johnson opened the door and led them in.
“I will be in to get you the minute she comes to, okay? I promise.” He reassured, looking Ashley in the eyes.
“Kay,” Ashley replied, and she looked back at Doctor Johnson with trust. She has grown to really like Doctor Johnson. She never really had much against him, it was just that he was a member of the opposite sex so it took some time to feel comfortable around him and realize he’s not out to get her. Doctor Johnson gave her a small smile, as he recognizes that look of trust and he walked out of the room. Nick who still had her hand brought her over to one of the couches and he sat down, pulling her down next to him and he held Dakota in his lap still. Dakota sat there with Nick for a few minutes as he placed soft kisses on her forehead every few seconds, than she crawled into Ashley’s lap wanting her instead. She sat sideways in her lap and rested her head against her shoulder. Ashley wrapped her arms around her protectively and leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
“Hey sweetie…feeling any better?” She asked her. Dakota shook her head.
“No…my arm still hurteds,” she whimpered and Ashley gently took her hand in hers.
“Ouch!“ Dakota cried, making Ashley let go quickly, startled at the fact that she had hurt her.
“I’m sorry sweetie…I didn’t know that would hurt.”
“It shouldn’t,” Nick said, frowning a little as he looked at Dakota worriedly.
“Nick I think you should have someone take a look at it…”
“Yeah, I’m beginning to think so too.”
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
It was co-written with Lenni
Enjoy =)
It was co-written with Lenni
Enjoy =)
