Chapter Three-Hundred-Seventy-Nine
“You what? Why did you leave her by herself?” AJ asked Howie on the other end after he had called him on the phone and explained to him everything that happened. He desperately needed to rant to someone, and AJ was the first person he thought to call. He glanced over at Laila as he sat near by her in the rocking chair and she was now sitting on the floor on the alphabet and numbers carpet in the baby center and she is quietly playing with the toys and board books.
“Because I couldn’t handle being near her just then J.”
“Because she told you not to yell at her kid? Come on Howie what’s wrong with that? Weren’t you the one who wanted her to step up and be their mom again?”
“I guess it just didn’t hit me how much I love these kids until Ryan so kindly reminded me that I am not his father,” Howie admitted softly. “And then Lindsey telling me what to do with them, I guess I just got a little territorial…”
“Do you need me to come down there to sit with Laila while you have a conversation with Lindsey?”
“No it’s fine, just stay there with Brooke. I’ll wait to talk to Lindsey when we get home.”
“Jay not come here?” Laila’s little voice spoke up suddenly and Howie looked her way to see her staring back at him with almost the most miserable pout he has ever seen and Howie sighed. “Actually AJ I forgot that I promised Laila I would call you and tell you to come. It was the only way to get her to calm down.”
“I’m on my way,” AJ insisted. “Brooke is sleeping anyway, I just left her a note and I have to pick up Bella from my moms anyway on the way because mom has some Backstreet Business to take care of and can’t bring her along.” Howie raised his eyebrow.
“Aren’t you two at the Orphanage?”
“Yeah but Riley and I banished her to her office for some alone time because she was stressing out big time. While Riley took over running the Orphanage for her, her and I spent a little time alone together and then she fell asleep which is what I was hoping for.”
“Ah okay well we will be here waiting. Laila and I are sitting in the baby space as we speak.”
“Kay I’m just pulling into mom’s driveway so I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Yup,” Howie agreed and then flipped his phone shut and looked at the pouting toddler before him.
“Jay comes?” she asked miserably while looking very much like she was going to cry. The very sight of her sad state tugged at Howie’s heartstrings. He got up from his chair and moved so he was sitting on the floor with her and he held his outstretched arms toward her. Laila got to her feet and walked into them closing the little space they had between them and Howie gently enveloped them around her protectively.
“Yes pretty girl, AJ is coming” he reassured her before planting a kiss on her nose softly and resting his forehead against hers as he stared into her light blue eyes adoringly. He can no longer deny that he has fallen completely head over heals for the little girl before him just as much as AJ has. He has developed quite a soft spot for her and there is nothing he won’t do for her. “How about I read you a story huh? Would Laila like that?”
“Laila likes, Laila likes!” she insisted suddenly perking up slightly and Howie chuckled.
“Go pick out a book for Howie,” he instructed and she pulled away from him and went on over to the books. She grabbed the first book she laid eyes on and brought it over to him and he took it from her outstretched hands and glanced at it.
“‘Owie read twee pigs?” She asked him sweetly and he smirked.
“Yes, Howie will read you The Three Little Pigs and then I will find you an alphabet book so we can practice your H’s” he teased. Laila crawled into his lap so she was sitting sideways and nestled her head comfortably against his chest and he scooted back so he was leaning against the shelf. He brought the book down in front of her so she could see the pictures and he began to read the book to her animatedly and it wasn’t long until he had her giggling.
~*~*~*~*~
“If I do happen to find Kota, just so we’re on the same page here what do you want me to tell her when I am trying to lure her down? She’s not going to want to come down if she knows she is in big trouble,” Ashley questioned as she and Nick walked into their unfinished apartment with Abbie under her one arm. “And what kind of person would I be if I lied to her?”
“Don’t give her a chance to argue, be the adult and just grab her and bring her down.” Nick insisted when he couldn’t think of anything.
“Right, you make that sound so easy” Ashley laughed as they walked into their room and into their closet. Nick smirked and turned her body around to face him and he slid his arms around her waist and planted a kiss on her nose.
“You’ll figure it out baby, you always do. I don’t need to remind you how amazingly brilliant you are with my girls because you are and you already know that and that’s why I love you so much. Kay?”
“Okay,” Ashley smiled and he lightly brushed his forefinger and thumb across her face as he gazed down at her before claiming her lips for his own for a brief yet meaningful kiss.
“I love you baby,” he reminded her softly and she slid her arms around him tightly while nestling into him, suddenly not wanting to leave him. After a few seconds though, they heard Marcus’s voice coming out of the walkie-talkie that is attached to Nick’s pants.
“Yo Nick, are you two ready? We can’t send the twins up there until Ashley is ready.” Nick sighed and then gently lifted her up onto the dresser and when she got up there she got to her feet so she could reach the air vent and she opened it up. She looked down at him and he handed Abbie over to her and the bag of doggy treats.
“Okay baby girl are you ready to find Dakota?” She asked Abbie in that tone of voice that she uses to talk to Bella in and Abbie squirmed in her arms upon mention of Dakota – one of her favorite kids. Nick grabbed the walkie-talkie from his belt loop and pushed the button down as he spoke into it.
“Yes we are ready. She’s sending Abbie in first.” Ashley set the excited puppy down in the vent then.
“Go find Dakota for me baby, go find her” Ashley instructed, and Abbie shot off like a rocket through the vents barking as she already has her scent and everything. Ashley giggled softly as she could already hear the other puppies barking excitedly too and then crawled in after her.
“Abbie is in, and now Ashley is going in after her.”
“Both the twins and their puppies are in as well,” Marcus added, and after making sure Ashley got in the vent safely with the door shut behind her, Nick headed downstairs.
“Where did Angel and Aaron go in at?” Nick asked curiously when he met up with everybody in the lobby.
“Angel went in through a vent at the hospital wing, and Aaron through the one in the kitchen.”
“Okay, well keep me updated on what’s going on…I’m going to go check on Sarah,” Nick informed and then walked off toward Riley’s office.
~*~*~*~*~
AJ walked into the Library with Bella sleeping in his arms. She has her head rested comfortably against his shoulder and her special blanket that Denise knitted for her draped over her small form. He spotted Lindsey talking to one of the librarians with Ryan at her side holding her hand and turned in the direction of the Juvenile Section where Howie said he and Laila were at. When he walked in he saw that sure enough, straight ahead in the Baby Space by the great big window that reveals the beautiful lake outside, Howie and Laila were sitting on the carpet reading books together. He walked through the library headed in that direction and as soon as he was more then half way there, Laila caught sight of him.
“JAAAY!” she squealed excitedly, and jumped up from her spot on the floor and went running. AJ smirked.
“Lailaaa!” he replied in an excited whisper and he knelt down and held one arm out to her as she went crushing into him.
“Careful sweetie, careful” he told her gently. “You don’t want to wake the baby,” he whispered and Laila glanced at Bella for the first time and her entire face lit up.
“Baby!”
“Shhh,” AJ told her gently and Laila stuck her finger to her lips.
“Shhh,” She mocked. “Baby seeping,” She whispered showing him that she can be quiet and he chuckled softly.
“Good girl,” he praised and she placed her hand to his face causing him to lean forward and allow her to plant a big slobbery kiss on it and he scrunched his nose slightly at the wetness making her giggle.
“Aww you are such a sweetheart. Why don’t we go on over and see Howie hmm? Jay really needs to talk with him.”
“’Owie reads twee pigs an’ boom boom to Laila,” she announced conversationally.
“Oh he did, did he? That was very kind of him,” AJ told her as he stood up carefully and made a quick glance down at Bella to make sure she is okay and then he took Laila’s hand and allowed himself to be pulled over to the baby space where Howie was currently standing.
“What’s Boom Boom?” He asked Howie curiously.
“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.”
“Ah, got’cha,” AJ replied suddenly comprehending.
“So how come Bells was with your mom anyway? I thought Nick and Ashley were out and about again?”
“They are, but we have a little situation with Dakota, Josh, and Ellie at the Orphanage. Long story short – Kota picked a fight with Sarah’s friends, Sarah’s friends clobbered her, Batman came to the rescue and swept her off to hide so she wouldn’t get in trouble. We found them hours later in the air vents and Nick and Ashley needed all of their concentration focused on getting Dakota down somehow.”
“Wow, I miss a lot when I’m gone for a day don’t I?”
“Yup but anyway quit stalling. I have Laila duty and you get to go talk to Lindsey. There is no way out."
“Yeah, yeah…” Howie sighed. “I’m sending Ryan over here while we talk, so be prepared. He might be a little difficult.”
“When is he not?” AJ asked while rolling his eyes.
“Good point,” Howie replied and then turned and made his way out of the juvenile area. AJ shook his head.
“That man is so in love with your mommy Laila, its pathetic” he told her before looking at Bella in his arms. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before bending over and carefully lying her on the big pillow. When he managed not to wake her up he sat on the floor next to her and smiled lovingly at the two-year-old who was just standing there leaning against the bookshelf made for her height gawking at him. “Come here angel face, I’ll read you a story” He told her and she ran on over and sat in his lap. Meanwhile when Howie found Lindsey looking at the new books with Ryan, he went up behind her and carefully placed his hand to her back.
“Can we talk?”
“If you want to,” Lindsey replied indifferently, still holding onto that stubbornness air of hers that manages to drive Howie crazy in more ways then one.
“Alone? Alex is in the juvenile area with Laila, I told him to be expecting Ryan.” Lindsey nodded quietly and then looked down at Ryan who was already looking up at her and she ruffled her fingers through his hair.
“Go in the juvenile area honey,” she ordered gently and he turned and walked in there without arguing, making Howie feel like a complete idiot. When Ryan arrived in the juvenile area he went on over to the baby space and crawled up onto the big window sill above the baby shelves that were big enough for kids to crawl up on and walk a long, or just plain sit and read. He sat down and made himself comfortable and quietly began to read the book he had hidden under his shirt earlier. AJ let him be for, but quietly glanced over at him every once in awhile. When he was sure the kid wasn’t going to bite his head off, he spoke up.
“That’s a very grownup book…why are you reading it?” he wanted to know when he looked at the cover of it for the very first time. “Does your mother and Howie know you are reading that?”
“No I hid it from them and Id appreciate it if you didn’t tell them.”
“You know, you would get a lot more favors out of me if you didn’t act like a brat toward me.” Ryan shrugged his shoulders, never breaking his concentration on the book. “If you tell me why you are reading it and if I feel like it’s a good enough reason I will keep it secret.” Ryan looked up from his book and at AJ for the first time and he regarded him for a couple of moments before replying.
“I want to get my mom and Howie together. I want to help my mom move on from my dad – not forget about him, not stop loving him, and definitely not replace him, but I think he would want her to be happy again…she deserves it. And whether she realizes it or not, Howie makes her very happy – most of the time anyway.”
“You don’t need that book then buddy,” AJ insisted after recovering from the surprise of Ryan’s answer. His maturity always catches him off guard. “If you would’ve just come to me and told me about this I could’ve helped you. Cause, little did you know, I’m on your side. I would very much like them to be together.”
“Why? So you’ll never lose Laila?” Ryan challenged.
“Well to be honest, yes” AJ replied seriously. “What is wrong with that? With loving Laila and wanting her in my life?” Ryan shrugged his shoulders, having no real explanation. He just wanted to hear him admit it. “And I would also like for my best friend to be happy. Is that okay with you? I can tell that he loves her, he’s just holding back because she’s grieving.”
“That is why I am reading this. I need to learn about the steps of grieving and coping…and moving on so I can help her” Ryan insisted while looking down at the book and AJ reached out and grabbed it from him.
“HEY! –“
“- SHH. You’ll wake the baby!” AJ ordered in a hushed whisper and he indicated toward Bella
“I need that!” Ryan hissed quietly.
“No you don’t. I don’t want you reading this, this is for grownups Ryan. You don’t need to be reading grownup material I don’t care what your intentions are. I’m pretty sure if I have a problem with it, both Howie and your mother would too.” Ryan scowled.
“I can handle it. I am 9 years old.”
“I understand the death of your father and the trauma of losing your mom for awhile has forced you to grow up and that is why it is so important for us to hold onto what little innocence you have left.” Ryan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest and AJ went on with his lecture as if he hadn’t even noticed. “I will gladly help you romance your mother and Howie together if you want me to, but if I do that you must promise to leave the grownup stuff to me and Howie. Okay?”
“Fine,” Ryan pouted and AJ got to his feet still holding the book and he walked over to the Easy Books section and sat the book next to a card that reads ‘Changed your mind? Don’t want that book? Set it here and we’ll reshelf it for you’. After doing this he turned and walked back over to the baby space and he looked at Ryan.
“Now go find yourself a nice light hearted chapter book here in the Juvenile section. We aren’t leaving here until you have at least three to keep yourself busy for awhile.” Ryan rolled his eyes and crawled off of the windowsill and he walked off toward the chapter books.
“You are supposed to be the fun one,” he heard him mutter as he went.
“I’m plenty fun but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to be responsible when I have to be.”
~*~*~*~*~
“What is that noise?” Dakota grumbled as she opened her eyes after falling asleep on Josh again and this time taking an hour-long nap.
“We were just wondering the same thing ourselves,” Elenore answered worriedly. “Joshy I think we should get moving.”
“Where is my Ashee?” Dakota demanded, becoming alert and thinking about her recurring nightmares all of the sudden. “Everybody is safe right??? There is nothing bad going on right???” she asked, rushing over to one of the vents and peering out of it to make sure all chaos wasn’t breaking loose as they speak.
“Kota! Kota you’re fine” Josh insisted while reaching out and locking his arms around her and he pulled her near. “Nothing bad is happening to Ashley I promise. Its something else.”
“Yeah, something’s up here,” Elenore added and just before any of them could say anything else, Lil’ Rok came running around the corner yapping.
“LIL’ ROK!” Elenore squealed happily and she held her arms open just on time for the little puppy to go bounding into them and Ellie fell backward giggling as he licked her face playfully.
“What in the world…” Josh trailed off.
“RUN!” Dakota shrieked once she heard Abbie barking from a distance and realized that the puppies weren’t alone – of course they aren’t alone. She turned and dove out of Josh’s lap crawling as fast as she could in the other direction and Josh hurried after her. It took a moment for Ellie to comprehend but when she finally did, she was up and after them in the speed of light and Lil’ Rok ran yapping just behind her thinking this is all one big game.
“Lil’ Rok shush! You’re going to tell them where we are at!”
“It’s no use, they are everywhere – they sent the whole puppy gang up after us – and who knows what else!” Josh called after her.
“We need to split up!” Dakota insisted. “To confuse them.”
“Too late, you are already found” Angel suddenly spoke up as she rounded the corner causing all three children to come to an abrupt stop. Dakota, Josh, and Elenore all shrieked in horror and turned and ran the other way so that Ellie was the leader.
“Split up!” Elenore called. “I’ll go this way, Josh you go forward, and Dakota you go left!”
“I’m not leaving Kota!” Josh insisted. “Kota follow me!” he shouted before rounding the corner to the left and Dakota did just that. Just then as they rounded another corner, they came face to face with Aaron.
“SPLIT! I’LL BE FINE JOSHY, JUST GO!” Dakota demanded before running forward to the next tunnel narrowly missing her Uncle’s arm by an inch and Josh turned and ran the other way. Aaron looked frantically left and right down each tunnel that the children had disappeared down, and deciding on going after Josh, he ran that way. Just then, Chance came running around the corner barreling into Josh causing him to fly backward and he licked at his face excitedly.
“AGH! Chance no!” He exclaimed frantically. “You ridiculous dog, if you love me at all you’ll let me go!” he exclaimed. He gently shoved him away then, and lunged himself forward just as Aaron was reaching out to grab him and missed. Chance bounded after him and Aaron followed suit. Meanwhile, Dakota slowly and cautiously crawled her way through the tunnels listening carefully to where the barks were coming from and the pounding of human hands and feet on the floor of the vents as to not run into anybody. She will make it out of this. Ellie teaching her to be a Ninja and her daddy teaching her how to cover up her tracks, she’s bound to get away somehow. She just has to. And so long as she doesn’t run into Aaron or Angel, she is good. They’re the only two who could possibly fit up here after all, right? Unless Stacy and Conner are here too…best be prepared for them as well. Coming to another corner in the vents, Dakota paused just at the edge of it and peered cautiously around it only to find that its clear. Sighing with relief, she rounded the corner and began to crawl downward, realizing only too late that it was leading her right to the basement.
“Oh no,” She whimpered when she came to a stop at the dead end right in front of the basement vent. Shaking her head she turned to head the other way again only to see Ashley rounding the corner across the way and she could hear Abbie barking not too far off.
“Come on baby I know you must be scared…come here,” Ashley insisted reading the terrified look in her eyes. Dakota shook her head.
“No ways you’ll take me down to daddy an’ then I’ll gets into trouble.” She doesn’t trust her. For the first time in all the four months of knowing Ashley, she can’t trust her. What an awful feeling. She backed herself against the wall furthest from the basement vent and began to inch her way slowly a long it and Ashley stayed rooted where she was at. She senses Dakota’s distrust and knows that any movement from her will only make it worse. As soon as she reached the edge of the corner, she inched her way around it and then made a mad dash in the opposite direction of Ashley. She crawled as fast as she could in the opposite direction wondering just exactly why Ashley wasn’t chasing her until suddenly Abbie came flying around the corner. Dakota’s eyes widened in surprise, and she dodged Abbie just barely, before continuing to crawl frantically away. Abbie did a U-turn and was chasing her in a matter of seconds and she began barking angrily at Dakota – not a dangerous bark where she plans to attack, but a motherly one. Dakota of all people knows that the puppy has grown a very motherly demeanor and doesn’t like when she and the other kids go running through the house and air vents are obviously no different to her. She caught up with Dakota almost instantly and jumped in front of her barking at her giving Dakota no choice but to stop. Abbie stopped barking then suddenly satisfied and Dakota sighed and gently stroked her back. “Oh Abbie, you pest,” She muttered. Just then she heard Ashley a few inches behind her and she stiffened and turned slightly to look at her.
“Come on Kota…come down. Staying up here is not going to keep you from getting in trouble, its only delaying the inevitable. And the longer you keep your daddy waiting the more angrier he is going to get.” Dakota shook her head.
“No. You stay away from me, I won’ts let you take me to daddy.”
“He is going to start taking things that mean a lot to you away Kota, trust me I know him. I know how he operates. I’m only trying to help you out here.”
“There is nothing he can takes from me that I wont eventually gets back.”
“Are you sure about that?” Dakota opened her mouth to reply, but then shut it again suddenly realizing that she wasn’t and should think about that. “What about being Belle in the play?” Ashley asked gently. “That is a once in a life time opportunity honey, you may never get that again and he knows how important it is to you. All the more reason to take it away from you if he sees fit and I know he will.”
“THAT is NOTS fair! That is MY part an’ I worked SO hard on it!” Dakota insisted as tears welled up in her eyes. “He CAN’TS take that away from me, he just CAN’TS!”
“And I don’t want him to…which is why I am giving you the opportunity to do the right thing here. I am really looking forward to your big day sweetheart, of seeing you in your beautiful gown, seeing you act on stage with Josh, of taking lots of pictures of you. I’m so excited for you and I really don’t want you to lose it. But I know your daddy and that’s going to be the first thing he takes away if you make him any angrier then he already is.” Dakota regarded her fearfully for a couple of moments and then backed up slightly.
“Come on Kota please…I’m on your side here.”
“No your nots, you are waiting for the best moment to takes me to daddy.”
“Yeah because I don’t want you to lose the one thing that matters most to you.” Dakota crossed her arms over her chest. “You know you can trust me. We have a very special bond that no one can even begin to understand. Have I ever let you down before?”
“I haves a hard time bonding withs you right now when your abouts to take me to daddy.”
“What is the worst thing Nick could do?” Ashley wanted to know. “Besides take away your part in the play?” When Dakota didn’t answer, Ashley went on. “It wont be that bad if you just go and face the music now. The worst he is going to do is yell at you – that’s nothing and you know it. There are worse punishments out there.” Dakota finally looked at her again and inched slightly forward and Ashley stayed put and silently read the frightened look on her face. She knows it’s not about Nick yelling at her in the least. Something terrified her before that – the basement no doubt and something else she isn’t telling her.
“Come on Kota, come over here. The sooner you face the music the faster its done and over with.”
“I’m NOTS gonna take a nap after this, you can’ts make me” Dakota informed her stubbornly.
“I never said anything about you taking a nap.”
“Besides, I already took one. Joshy made me.”
“I can tell…you don’t have circles under your eyes anymore. How did that go?”
“I woke up from my second nap an’ heard the puppies an’ thought something bad was happening and that you were in trouble,” Dakota confessed softly and Ashley noticed her blue eyes glisten with tears.
“I’m sorry sweetheart it wasn’t our intention to frighten you.” Dakota rubbed at her eyes and Ashley held her arms out to her. “And I can see that basement over there is making it worse. Come over here…everything is okay.” Dakota crawled over to her then without hesitation this time as talking about her fears has made her want Ashley even more then she already did. She crawled into her open arms and Ashley enveloped her in them protectively while resting her chin lightly atop of her head.
“Does it gets any easier?” Dakota whispered softly as she nestled into her and hid her face in her chest so she could no longer see the dark basement below.
“Does what get any easier?”
“Forgetting?” Knowing exactly what she is talking about suddenly without further explanation, Ashley tightened her arms around her as she was suddenly paralyzed with surprise. Dakota has not spoken a word about what happened down in that basement before and she and Nick were beginning to wonder if she ever would.
“I wish I could answer that question but I can’t because I still haven’t forgotten what happened to me either. But I think it’s just a lot easier to talk about it instead…that way you are facing it head on instead of burying it deep down inside you…which isn’t healthy at all.”
“But its scary talking about it,” Dakota insisted as she looked up at Ashley with tear clouded eyes.
“I know…I understand believe me,” Ashley reassured gently. “But you’d feel a lot better if you did. You know your daddy and I are here anytime that you want to try okay? You can come to us any time you want.” Dakota nodded quietly and Ashley gently wiped her tears away with her finger before kissing her forehead softly and she looked at Abbie who lay in front of them comfortably and she was quietly gazing at them.
“Would Abbie like a treat? Huh?” Ashley asked forcing herself to be playful for her and Abbie was standing in a matter of seconds, perked up and ready, her tail wagging excitedly. “Yeah? Were you a good girl for finding Kota for me? Were you?” Abbie lunged forward closing the little space that they have between them and jumped up on her hind legs before placing her paws on Ashley’s shoulders and looking up at her with pleading eyes and Ashley giggled softly. She pulled the little sandwich bag of dog treats out of her pocket then and she opened it up and got out one treat before holding it out and allowing Abbie to take it directly from her hand. She looked down at Dakota then as she sat nestled in her lap with her head rested comfortably against her shoulder and she was smiling the faintest of smiles as she watched Abbie. She can’t be angry at the pooch for tracking her down; it just means she’s learning lots in her doggy training, which is a good thing. “Come on, lets get you out of here,” Ashley told her and then began to take her to the nearest air vent that wasn’t the basement so that they could get down and face the music. As she did this, she wondered briefly on how Aaron and Angel are doing with the other two…
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
