Chapter Eighty-Six
When Riley was able to get Brooke to calm down enough to the point where she wasn't crying, she got up and took a hold of her hand and she brought her into the bedroom and over to the bed. Brooke propped her pillows up before crawling into it and she lay back against her pillows. Riley crawled into the bed next to her and wrapped her arms around her, before pulling her close and allowing her to rest her head against her shoulder. The two of them sat there quietly together for a long while and when Riley spoke up finally, it took everything in her to keep her voice from cracking.
"Why didn't you just tell me? I could've helped you..."
"I felt embarrassed...and ashamed...I couldn't tell anybody. What would you have thought? You probably would've thought of me as a slut...you probably would've turned on me like everybody else."
"Honey you didn't do anything wrong..."
"Yes I did! I did -"
"-No you didn't! Brooke listen to me!" Riley interrupted and she placed her hand to her cheek making her look up into her eyes so she could see how serious she is. "You were raped, honey. By Thadius right? You asked him to stop didn't you?"
"Over...and over...and over again..." Brooke sobbed.
"Then it wasn't your fault. Honey you asked him to stop and he didn't. He's the one who should feel ashamed not you. You should've said something. You should've told the police and then he could've gone to jail for the horrible man that he is! You should've told me! I can't believe that all these years of being friends you would think that I would turn on you like that. You should know that I love you no matter what and you can come to me...for anything and I will always find away to help you." '
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." Brooke cried, and Riley hugged her even closer and kissed her forehead softly.
"There is nothing that you need to be sorry for sweetie...nothing what so ever," Riley told her softly. "If anyone should be sorry it's me. I should've seen this a long time ago..."
"Riley..." Brooke started.
"Brooke no, I'm serious. I should've seen it a long time ago. Me - the one who has been your best friend since first grade! What kind of best friend doesn't notice these things? I mean I knew something was wrong but -"
"Riley, shut up!" Brooke snapped somewhat. "Stop it right now..." She added more calmly when she saw the shocked look on Riley's face. "Please don't blame this on yourself, you're the last person that should be doing that. You didn't know because I didn't want you to. I hid it from you because I was ashamed and scared. I -"
"-But if I were any kind of best friend I would've seen it anyway!"
"Honey you can't read my mind, you aren't a mind reader."
"No but I still should've known...even Kota and Ellie can tell when something isn't right between one of them without having to be told...because they're best friends and so are we, yet I didn't even know mine was raped all these years ago! Even the signs were obvious! Not trusting the opposite sex, the way you distance yourself from everybody, the way you act around AJ...I should've seen it..."
"But you didn't honey and there's nothing you can do about it now, it's already done. So please stop beating yourself up over this, it's not going to change anything."
"There is too something I can do about it. I'm going to help you get through this...we all are because like Nick and I always tell Ashley, no one should have to go through this alone..."
"Don't worry about it...I'm already over it, it was a long time ago. I'm fine."
"That's bullshit Brooke and you know it. If you were over it you wouldn't have had that breakdown last night in front of AJ. You wouldn't be so terrified of AJ and you would've gone home and slept last night instead of coming here and burying yourself in mountains of paperwork."
"I'm telling you, I'm fine..."
"No you aren't. I didn't get to help you years ago, so please...let me make up for it now."
"Make up for what?" Brian asked curiously, as he and AJ walked into the room. Brooke and Riley looked at them as they walked in. They went over and sat on the bed too. Riley looked at Brooke again.
"Is it okay to tell him?" Brooke shrugged.
"Go ahead...he's bound to find out sooner or later that I'm a dirty slut..." She answered softly, a single tear rolling down her cheek and Brian raised his eyebrow, becoming even more concerned.
"You're not a dirty slut Brooke, we've been through this. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever set eyes on and you're important to me. You're important to all of us." AJ spoke up, and Brian looked from AJ, to Riley, and then to Brooke suddenly feeling very much out of the loop.
"What's going on?" He finally asked, as he watched AJ take Brooke's hand into his and gently rub his finger over the back of it. He watched her as she had stiffened up at first at his touch, but then quickly relaxed when she realized how gentle it is.
"A very terrible thing happened to Brooke during our senior year...at a party...a sick bastard who I would like nothing more then to track down and beat the shit out of...hurt her very badly. Lets just say, her and Ashley have a lot in common...."
"Oh man..." Brian replied softly, and he looked at Brooke, who is sitting very close to Riley, and tears are rolling down her cheeks and he can tell that she hadn't slept all night. He scooted closer to her and he wrapped his arms around her for a gentle hug. Brooke hugged him back and buried her face in his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head.
"What were you saying that you were going to make up for, Ri?" He asked, as he sat there rubbing his hand over Brooke's back.
"I'm going to help her get through this...like I should have done years ago, but since i'm such a horrible friend and all I was blind and didn't see what was wrong until now."
"Goddamnit Riley, I told you to stop beating yourself up over this!" Brooke snapped, and she pulled away from him and looked at Riley seriously.
"I can't not beat myself up over this Brooke...I'm sorry, but I can't. I should've seen it, I should've seen the signs!"
"Honey sometimes you don't see that there is something wrong with your best friend because you don't want to see it. You want to believe that everything is okay because you love her. It's not your fault. Brooke didn't want anyone to know so she hid it and she hid it well." AJ reasoned.
"But I-"
"-The important thing is, you know now and can help her." Brian cut in, and he moved over to Riley and pulled her into a hug next and he kissed her forehead softly. "If you feel so horribly about not knowing...make up for it. But sitting around and beating yourself up over it is not going to make anything better."
"It's only going to make me pissed off," Brooke replied honestly.
"And no one likes a pissed off boss. Especially Brooke. She may be the best boss ever, but when she's pissed....look out!" Brian teased, and Brooke couldn't help but smile a little bit.
"I'm not that bad..."
"Pfft…everybody knows that I'm not afraid of Brooke. I can be just as scary when people get on my bad side." Riley replied.
"Yeah that's true. You both have pretty bad tempers sometimes. I wonder what would happen if you were both angry at the same time."
"I wouldn't even try it, honey." Brooke warned, and she couldn't help but laugh at a little. Riley smiled a little bit and pulled her into a hug. Brooke wrapped her arms around her waist and returned her hug while resting her head against her shoulder.
"I love you Ri...and you're the best friend in the entire world and I'm always going to love you. So stop it okay? Stop being so horrible to yourself."
"Your tired Brookie...you should lay down and get some rest."
"But I've got an orphanage to run..." Brooke protested.
"That's what I'm here for. To take over when needed and trust me, I'm needed. You need your rest."
"But..."
"She's right Brooke, you should sleep." AJ interrupted Brooke's protests, and Brooke scowled. Riley helped her lay down against her pillows, and she covered her up and got out of the bed.
"But I'm hungry and it's almost time for breakfast."
"Breakfast is in three hours. You sleep until then, and I will bring you breakfast in bed." AJ replied. "I'll even eat in here with you so that you aren't alone."
"Kay..." Brooke gave in reluctantly, and she settled into her pillows and blankets, and it wasn't even a minute before she was out. Riley, AJ, and Brian quietly walked out of the bedroom/office and went off to do their own things. Riley preparing to become head boss for the day, and Brian and AJ went into the playroom to play with kids.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, upstairs, when Elenore woke up she looked around to find that she is lying in her own bed instead of a sleeping bag at Brian's house. Confused on how she got there, she looked beside her and was relieved to find Kevin lying there at least. She reached on her other side for her Grumpy Bear, only to have touched something else that did not feel like a stuffed Care Bear at all. Turning her head to see what it is, she realized that it's Josh. Being even more confused then she already is, though grateful that they hadn't separated her from him, she took his hand into hers and laced their fingers together before touching her head with his as they share the same pillow. Josh stirred slightly, but didn't wake up, though he did squeeze Elenore's hand in return. Ellie smiled softly, and snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes once more to go back to sleep. She knew so long as she had Kevin and Joshy by her side, nobody could hurt her. She felt movement behind her then, and realized Kevin was getting up. She rolled over, though she didn't let go of Josh's hand, and eyed her most favorite person in the whole entire world.
"Kevy?" She croaked out softly. "Where you goin'?" Kevin turned and smiled down at her.
"Just to the bathroom, Ellie. I'll be right back, promise."
"Kay," Ellie whispered, as Kevin smiled and kissed her forehead after smoothing her hair back.
"You can go back to sleep, Honey." Elenore nodded, and rolled back over to snuggle Josh once more, closing her eyes again and drifting back to sleep almost immediately.
~*~An hour later~*~
Next door in Nick, Ashley, and Dakota's room, Dakota awoke to find herself lying in her own bed between Ashley and Sarah, though she didn't see her daddy. Panicking slightly, she rolled over and was relieved when she found him lying right behind Ashley. She got up then and carefully stepped over Ashley as to not wake her up and she lay on top of Nick, settling herself on top of his chest. He felt her lay down on him and smiled in his sleep, before enveloping her in his arms and he opened his eyes half way and looked down at her to find her blue eyes staring up at him curiously. She smiled at him, causing him to smile back.
"Morning Daddy!" She chirped.
"Morning baby," He replied, and he rested his forehead against hers as she snuggled into him some more. "I don't think daddy will ever get over how good it feels when you cuddle with me early in the morning," he announced softly in her ear. Dakota wrapped her arms more around him and rested her head against his shoulder and she closed her eyes as he rubbed his hand over her back.
"Are we goin' to see Uncle Aaron this Thanksgiving daddy? An' Aunt Angel, Leslie, an' BJ??"
"We sure are. They're going to meet us in Kentucky," Nick answered and he suddenly felt nervous, as he realizes that that's tomorrow. He still hadn't told his brother and sisters that he had adopted Dakota and that they're now aunts and an uncle. They love Dakota to death, he knows that because they tell him all the time and they're always happy to see her. But what will they think about him adopting her so young? Brian, AJ, Howie, and Kevin were okay with it - his second family. But will his real family accept it?
"When are we goin' to Kentucky daddy? Today?" Dakota asked hopefully.
"No honey, not today. Bright n' early tomorrow morning we will be leaving. We're going to spend all day today getting ready."
"Oh." Dakota lay there in silence for a couple of minutes, and then she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I'ma go sees if Ellie is awake daddy, kay?"
"Alright but I don't want you stepping outside of this room unless you see Laney out there and he sees you. Got it?"
"Okay," Dakota replied, and she crawled off of him and out of the bed before heading toward the door. When she got there she peeked out into the hall to see Laney sitting out there with Q and they're holding starbucks cups. Laney smiled at her as he saw her peeking out and she smiled back.
"Hey Munchkin. Going somewhere?"
"Daddy says I can go an' sees if Ellie is awake."
"Oh okay," Laney replied, and Dakota walked out of the room and next door to Kevin and Elenore's. Nick rolled over onto his side facing Ashley as she lay there with his back turned and he scooted closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, before resting his cheek against hers. Ashley opened her eyes, as she had been awake listening to him and Dakota talk for quite sometime, and she sunk back into his arms comfortably, allowing him to place soft kisses on her neck and she smiled a little.
"Good morning baby," he murmured in her ear.
"Morning Nicky."
"Did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah sort of…I woke up once in the middle of the night from a nightmare. But other then that I slept fine…" Nick frowned a little and hugged her closer.
"Why are you having nightmares? What was it about?"
"Last night…when those guys attacked. I'm fine though, don't worry about it…"
"It's in my job description to worry — as boyfriend and caregiver, you know that. Besides…your nightmares aren't just any nightmares. One of them actually saved your sister's life. They're very important."
"Well I promise you that you don't have to worry about this one. No one's life needs saving, those guys…they just scare me…"
"Enough to have nightmares about them? Why?"
"I don't know…I guess them trying to kidnap has me shaken up a little bit…" Ashley answered softly. Nick raised his eyebrow. Even with her back turned he knows when she's lying.
"Honey what are you not telling me?"
"Nothing Nick…I said I'm fine okay? So just drop it. Please…" Ashley pleaded.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, in Kevin and Elenore's room, when Dakota got in there and found Elenore and Josh still sleeping, she smiled a little bit and went and hopped on the bed and she shook her best friend gently.
"Ellie wake up! It's morning time!" She announced cheerfully. Elenore opened her eyes slightly, as did Josh and Kevin. Josh groaned.
"Must you wake up so early, Kota? It's only seven in the morning."
"Yes I must! Its daylight time!"
"And it's too early!" Josh insisted. Dakota looked at Josh like he is insane and Kevin just laughed.
"Kota is an early bird, Josh. Always has been, always will be. You'll just have to get used to it."
"Doesn't mean she has to wake everybody else in the orphanage up." Josh insisted.
"Yes huh because then I would hafta plays by myself an' then Id be lonely." Dakota insisted.
"An' we can't's have that!" Elenore replied, and she hopped up from the bed and tackled Dakota, causing her to fly backward and land flat on her back on the bed with Elenore on top. Dakota giggled as Elenore hugged her, and she returned it. Josh rolled his eyes, though on the inside he was smiling. He'll never get over how good it sounds to hear Dakota giggle. Kevin grinned a little as he watched the two girls laugh together, then when he was all the way awake he sat up.
"Well why don't we go see if Nick, Ashley, and Sarah are ready to go downstairs to the playroom? We have about an hour before it's time to get the cafeteria all set up for lunch."
"Sounds good! I'm starved!" Dakota announced, after successfully pushing Elenore off of her. Kevin chuckled, then he got up from the bed
"Well come on then," He said, and he headed toward Nick and Ashley's room. Dakota, Elenore, and Josh all climbed out of bed and followed. Josh holding his Donald duck so that he is safely tucked under his arm, and Elenore holding her care bear by its hand. Dakota, who has both of her hands free, and is as hyper as she usually is in the mornings, just skipped a long after her uncle.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
