Chapter Two-Hundred-Thirty-Two
Meanwhile, down in the Orphanage wing, when Riley had arrived back there with Elenore, she took her to the playroom where Jerald was at with the rest of the kids. When she got in there, she carried Elenore over to her future Uncle.
“Hey Jerry, I have just one more little girl for you to watch,” she told him.
“Yay! And it’s my favorite one too,” Jerald replied, as he took Elenore from Riley and hugged her close to him affectionately. Elenore snuggled into him, once again popping her thumb into her mouth and she rested her head against his shoulder, unsmiling. Jerald frowned, as he is not used to seeing his future niece so sad around him.
“I think she’s a little traumatized. You know…being there when it happened and all,” Riley explained gently. Just then, the playroom door opened and Kori burst in the room with Wiley, Scott, and Spencer close behind her.
“Riley what’s happened? I got a phone call from Howie telling me something’s happened to my sister?”
“Yeah. Sean shot her in the arm – She’s going to be OK though, Doctor Johnson has her in the hospital wing and is taking care of her. It’s not fatal.”
“Oh my god…” Kori muttered, and she leaned back into Wiley in order to study herself. “Everybody else is upstairs in the waiting room. I’ll take you up there. Jerry will you be okay with the kids?” Jerald nodded and looked at Kori.
“I’ll watch Spencer for you if you want me to.” Kori nodded.
“Thanks…” She replied, as she was becoming white in the face. Wiley hugged her close to her.
“Honey it’s fine. Everything is going to be fine,” he reassured.
“He shot her…” was all Kori could say, and it came out in almost a whisper. Wiley brought his arm down under her legs and he lifted her up in his arms cradling her and headed for the door with Riley. Scott stayed behind to help Jerald with the kids, and to stay with his son. He loves Ashley and all, but he’s spent enough time with Kori and Wiley for one day and needs a break. Jerald looked down at Elenore warily, as he can sense there is something going on with her – something way beyond Ashley getting shot. He brought her over to the beanbags in the reading area, and he sat down with her and lay back so she was lying back against his chest.
“Talk to me sweetheart…what’s on your mind?” he asked gently. Elenore looked up at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Hey…hey…” he spoke gently. “Don’t cry sweetheart…”
“I’ve done something bad,” she spoke softly. Jerald raised his eyebrow. “Something really bad an’ Kevy is gonna hates me for it.”
“Kevin could never hate you, Ellie. Not one bit.”
“He’ll hates me for this…”
“Why don’t you tell me about it and I’ll be the judge of that?”
“I’m scared…”
“Its all right precious…you can talk to me. I want you to always know that. About anything on your mind. Good or bad and I will always help you.” Elenore eyed him warily for a few moments, and then spoke softly.
“Kevy took me to sees Santa at the mall…” she began. “Because I couldn’t waits until he came here. Except…Santa wasn’t Santa…he was my daddy…” Jerald raised his eyebrow.
“Your daddy?” He asked slowly. Elenore nodded, as a single tear rolled down her cheek. “I wanted to tells Santa that I wanted daddy to leaves me alone…so I coulds stay withs Kevy forever. An’ he told me he promises that I could as long as I don’ts tell Kevy he was there. Or else he’d get up and run out of the mall withs me. I was scared…I didnts want to leave Kevy…so I didnts say anything…an’ then he shots Ashee…an’ now it’s all my faults” she told her, and she began to cry.
“Oh Ellie…” Jerald replied softly, and he enveloped her in his arms for a hug. He sat there holding her for a long while as she cried, and when she finally calmed down, he kissed her cheek.
“Why didn’t you tell Kevin as soon as you got back to him after talking to Santa?”
“I was scareds if I did…he’d takes me from Kevy…”
“Kevin wouldn’t have let that happen. And neither would Q. You know that.”
“I’m sorry…” Elenore sniffled.
“I know sweetie…it’s okay. It was just a mistake…it happens.” He reassured her gently, as he rubbed his hand over her back in slow circular motion.
“I’m nots in trouble?” She asked softly.
“No of course not…but I’m really glad that you told me.”
“What abouts Kevy? He’ll be mad…”
“You let me take care of Kevin for you…all right? Everything’s going to be okay.” Elenore snuggled into Jerald, once again popping her thumb into her mouth, and he bent down and kissed her forehead softly as he continued to rub his hand over her back. He sat with her for awhile until he was sure she was going to be okay, and then he talked her into getting up and going to play. When she did, he got up and pulled his phone from his pocket and he turned it on and text messaged Kevin telling him he needs to come down to the Orphanage. That he needs to talk to him about something important. He waited five minutes, and then suddenly Kevin walked into the room looking at his brother curiously.
“What’s up?” Jerald looked over at Bella’s playpen that Nick had set by the table and saw that Dakota was sitting inside it with Bella. Seeing that Bella was okay and knowing that Dakota knows to come get him if she suddenly isn’t, he gently grabbed Kevin by the arm and pulled him out into the hall so he could talk to him in private and keep him from getting mad at Elenore.
“What’s so important that you had to drag me out into the hall?”
“Because I want to talk to you about Ellie.” Kevin raised his eyebrow.
“What about her?”
“She’s told me something very important that I think you should tell Detective Stabler about right away,” Jerald explained and Kevin remained silent, telling him that he’s listening.
“You can’t be mad at her for this Kevin…she was really scared. Promise me you won’t get mad at her for this if I tell you.”
“Just tell me already, Jer” Kevin replied in a somewhat snappy tone. “I won’t get mad.” Jerald eyed him warily for a few moments, and then began explaining. When he finished Kevin looked horrified. He was that close to Elenore and he didn’t even know it. He knew something was bothering her. Why hadn’t he trusted his instincts?
“Elliot is up there questioning Q right now. I have to go tell him,” he insisted, and he whirled around and headed back to the hospital wing. Jerald shook his head and he went back into the playroom where he left Scott to keep an eye on the kids. There wasn’t that many in there. Mostly just their typical group of children and a couple of other ones. All the rest are out on the playground.
“Jerry,” Dakota spoke up in a wounded tone.
“What’s the matter sweetie?” Jerald asked and he went over and leaned against the playpen to peer in at her. He can’t believe a four-year-old is sitting in a playpen but she insisted upon being near Bella. “Is my mommy going to be okays?” she asked softly, and she looked up at him, her eyes watering up. He’s not surprised in the least bit that she calls Ashley “mommy”. Kevin told him she started doing that a long time ago and now does it when she’s frightened.
“Of course she is honey, she’s in great hands. Doctor Johnson is taking very good care of her.”
“I heards Cindy say she was shot in the arm,” Dakota pouted.
“Mhm…I’m not going to lie to you…she was. But it’s nothing fatal sweetheart, she’ll live. Her arm is just going to hurt a lot for awhile.”
“Will I gets to go visit her in the hospital?”
“Mhm, as soon as Doctor J says she can have visitors, you’ll get to go over there.” Just then, Elenore appeared at her Uncle’s side and she grabbed onto the side of the playpen, hoisted herself up and he helped her inside it making sure she doesn’t harm the baby at all in the process. When she was in, she sat next to Dakota and the two girls wrapped their arms around each other, the two of them with their thumbs in their moths from the anxiety, and Dakota used her other hand to continue playing with Bella. Jerald shook his head feeling bad for the two girls, and he went to go check on the other five.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile in the hospital wing, Detective Stabler talked with Q and Kevin for an hour and then told them he had to go have a talk with whoever controls the mall Santa now but promised he would be back to see how Ashley is doing later. They waited another hour after that, and then suddenly the door opened and they all looked at it to see Doctor Johnson walk in. Nick breathed, feeling glad that he was now going to get some answers.
“Is she okay?” he immediately asked and AJ also stared at their faithful doctor, being just as anxious to hear the news as Nick was.
“She is just fine. A little sore in her arm but other then that she’ll be okay. We were able to remove the bullet, fix up her wound, and she’ll have to wear a cast for about two weeks. I recommend that she gets lots of bed rest and lots of love,” Doctor Johnson explained, looking directly at Nick or the last part.
“Can we go in and see her?” Denise asked next, feeling relieved that her one and only daughter is okay. She rubbed at her eyes in attempt to make the tears go away.
“Absolutely. But she’s asked me to tell you that she wants at least ten minutes alone with Nick. I told her you all have been waiting for a long time to come in and see her, and she understands but she needs Nick first. She doesn’t want to hurt any of you though, she said to tell you she loves all of you very much and to stay put because she wants to see all of you.” Brian nodded and gently patted Nick on the back as he still sat next to him.
“Go on Nicky, go make things right,” He told him gently.
“Yeah Nick, don’t you dare leave that room without my sister’s forgiveness or you’ll be in a bed right a long side her,” AJ teased as he squeezed Nick’s shoulder gently. Nick got up and he followed an amused Doctor Johnson out of the waiting room and he led him down the hall until they came across another room where the door was wide open.
“I’ll be in the lobby. Come get me if she needs anything.”
“Kay,” Nick replied softly and he walked into the room where he found Ashley lying in a bed with her left arm in a cast as it rested across her chest. As he took one look at her his heart began to break, once again blaming himself. It’s his entire fault.
“Hi baby…” he greeted softly.
“Hi…” he then went over and sat in the chair next to her bed.
“Why are you so far away?” she asked softly.
“I didn’t think you would want me near you...after what I did…”
“Come here Nicky…please? I need you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Nick replied while shaking his head.
“Nicky, please,” Ashley pleaded and he could hear her voice faltering. Nick got up and went over and sat next to her and she wrapped her good arm up and around his neck pulling him nearer. He rested his forehead against hers and gazed into her watery eyes. She gazed back quietly for a few moments before speaking.
“Please don’t leave me,” she pleaded and not being able to take it anymore, she began to cry. Nick slid both of his arms around her waist and hugged her close to him as he buried his face in her neck.
“I never could,” he whispered softly in her ear. “I love you so much baby girl and I promise you I’m not going anywhere. I will never be able to forgive myself for hurting you…for putting you in this kind of danger. It’s all my fault you’re in this position.”
“What? Nicky that’s ridiculous…don’t—“
“—No it’s not ridiculous, it’s true. You and I both know that we’re vulnerable when we aren’t working together. We were completely off because I was a jackass and everything that could go wrong, did. If I didn’t hurt you I would have been there in that parking lot and then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
“It very well could have been you instead of Nicky and then what would I do? If Q hadn’t pushed me into the car it could have been fatal. If that was you instead he would have probably killed you and then Id kill myself too so I wouldn’t have to live without you. So don’t even begin to tell me that you would have preferred it be you.” Nick gently placed his hand to her cheek and he bent down and brushed his lips lightly over hers. She again wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him back and he shifted so he was lying next to her. When he pulled away from their kisses he brushed away her tears with a finger, delicately caressed it over her cheek and he leaned down and rubbed his nose over hers giving her an Eskimo’s kiss.
“I’m so sorry…” he whispered. “I’ll never hurt you again as long as I live.”
“Don’t apologize Nicky…just hold me. Don’t let go.” Nick hugged her close to him and rested his cheek against her forehead and she closed her eyes comfortably.
“Why didn’t you just tell me you were working on a surprise for me?” he asked quietly after a long while.
“Because I had this crazy idea in my head that my boyfriend should trust me,” Ashley answered, as she looked up at him and he shifted so his forehead was again rested against hers so he could look her in the eyes and he cupped her cheek in his hand. She reached out and grabbed the blanket and pulled it up on them both.
“He should,” Nick agreed softly. “And I do…that’s if you’ll keep me.”
“You’ll never act like a jealous jackass ever again?”
“I can’t promise you I won’t get jealous…because I love you so much and you’re the best thing in my life...and I like to keep you to myself. But I won’t act like a jackass anymore.”
“I can be friends with Brandon?” Nick nodded.
“Mhm…infact, I recommend it. He’s not such a bad guy…” Ashley raised her eyebrow at him.
“He dragged me into his studio the other day and showed me his drawing of Peyton – and reassured me that you two aren’t having an affair.”
“He showed you his drawing huh?” Ashley asked while smiling. “I knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it to himself for too long. I’ve been telling him since he first showed it to me that he should show everybody. It’s his best work yet. He won’t do it though. He’s too shy.”
“He must really be infatuated with her to create such a beautiful drawing like that.”
“Mhm,” Ashley answered softly, and she cupped his cheek with her hand before making him look her directly in the eyes. “And I’m completely infatuated with you.”
“Why?” Nick asked while smiling some, and he shifted so he was lying partly ontop of her, but he was careful not to hurt her arm.
“Because you’re beautiful, and sweet – when you want to be, and caring…and the love that you give me is amazing. You’re my best friend in the whole wide world and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Is that okay Nicky?”
“Why would you want to spend the rest of your life with me, when you have perfect Brandon that you could be with?”
“Didn’t I already tell you? I don’t like perfect. It’s too ordinary and boring. I like the perfectly unperfect man in my life.” Nick smirked a little, as he always liked when she called him that. It always made him feel special and loved because he knows she came up with the word herself just for him.
“And Nicky…why would I sleep with Brandon when I’ve been waiting all of this time to be with you?” Nick didn’t answer he only held her close knowing that she belongs to him and that she’s not going anywhere. After a few moments, she kissed his forehead softly.
“Why don’t you go get everybody and bring them in here now? I promised them ten minutes.”
“Kay. I’m going to go get Kota too…so I might be awhile okay?” Ashley nodded and she watched him walk out of the room, contemplating on when she would show him her tattoo.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
