Chapter Eighty-Seven
As soon as Kevin and the kids managed to get Nick, Ashley, and Sarah to get out of bed the seven of them headed downstairs (with the dogs following) to the playroom. When they were in there, all of the kids, minus Sarah took off to play immediately. Sarah on the other hand, remained clinging tightly to Ashley. Ashley went straight to the dollhouse with her, where she saw Holly playing at. Soon enough, she had the two girls playing house/dress up together. She played with them for a while, but then managed to sneak away when Sarah was comfortable. She then began to look around for another kid to play with.
"Hey Aje, I didn't expect to see you here this early in the morning," Kevin greeted his tattoo-covered friend when he and Nick had joined him and Brian at the play dough table.
"I woke up early this morning and decided I might as well come in early, I had nothing better to do. Besides, I wanted to check on Brooke I was worried about her all night."
"How is she doing? Neither of us know what's going on with her yet you know," Nick questioned, pointing to Kevin and Brian.
"Actually I do now..." Brian spoke up. "Riley told me..."
"Well is anyone going to clue us in anytime soon? She's our friend too you know." Nick asked impatiently. Neither of them are surprised by the younger man's grumpiness, they all know it's because he's worried, and it's to be expected.
"Lets just say, she and Ashley have a lot in common..." AJ replied, deciding to approach the explanation the same way Riley had. "Some ass - meanie head hurt her very badly a long time ago during a party. She hasn't really dealt with it at all ever since...she just basically bottled it up inside and pretended that it never happened."
"Oh jeez..." Nick replied softly, and his heart broke at this news. He expected something like that had happened, but he didn't want it to be true. "Is she okay?"
"Well other then the fact that she hadn't slept at all last night or even gone home, and the fact that she doesn't trust the opposite sex, she's fine...Riley and I have both promised her we would help her gain her trust back and to feel safe again."
"Where is she at right now?" Kevin asked curiously.
"In the small bedroom connected to her office. Riley and I made her go to bed. She's on strict bed rest for the entire day and Riley has taken over the Orphanage. That's why she's not in here right now. She's off doing Brooke's job." Everybody sat there in silence for a couple of minutes as they play with play dough, then Brian spoke up.
"How is Ashley this morning Nick? It's good to see her smiling and making her daily rounds of the playroom," he asked, as he sat there observing his best friend's girlfriend, who he's grown to care very deeply about.
"I think it's all just an act..." Nick answered after sighing and he looked over at Ashley who is coloring with a little girl named Rebecca. "She's trying to prove to me that she's okay because she knows that I know she's not."
"Why what happened?" Kevin asked, immediately becoming concerned and protective.
"She had a nightmare last night. She says it was about those two guys who attacked last night and it was just about them trying to kidnap her. But I know she's not telling me the entire truth. When I pressed her on it she insisted she was fine and got angry with me for asking."
"She'll eventually tell you, don't worry. She always does it just takes her time."
"Yeah well I just wish we could skip the dramatic moment when she finally explodes and she just come right out and tell me what's bothering her instead."
"We all do, but unfortunately, she doesn't work that way." Howie replied, as he joined the other four at the play dough table. He had only heard what Nick had said but he was still able to guess what they were talking about.
"Oh hey D what's up?" Kevin greeted.
"Not much, what's going on here?" Riley seemed very busy when I caught her in the lobby and when I asked her about it she said to find you guys and you'll fill me in?"
"She's filling in for Brookie for the day," AJ answered, and he began to explain to him what's going on.
~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, at Sean and Trevor's new hiding place that they had managed to find when they had to abandon their last one, Sean was storming through the house in a rage, slamming doors and cabinets and glaring at anybody who looks at him as he is clearly pissed off. Trevor and Shelly had been tolerating him all night and morning but Trevor about had enough. He burst into the kitchen where he heard his best friend noisily making himself a bowl of cereal and he grabbed him by the arm and whirled him around before slamming him into the counter. Sean raised his eyebrow and gave Trevor a deadly glare. How dare he push him around like this! Best friend or not.
"ENOUGH Sean! That is enough! Stomping around this house throwing and slamming everything in sight and giving Shelly and me dirty looks is NOT going to change what happened last night! So why don't you stop acting like a fucking five year old and come up with a solution to fix it?"
"Do NOT mess with me right now Trev, I am NOT in the mood to be messed with! So why don't you get your ass back in that room and leave me the hell alone? I am in the mood to kill someone, Trevor! I want to fucking MURDER someone and I don't care who it is!"
"You and I both know that you would never murder me, Sean, so don't even start that bullshit with me. There is a reason you broke me out of jail and it's because you can't do shit without me!" Trevor replied, sounding just as angry as him. "Now why don't you calm the fuck down and stop trying to push me away because if you haven't noticed, I'm on your side!"
"Calm the fuck down? How do you expect me to clam the fuck down when I just lost two of my best guys? I mean I almost had her, Trevor! I almost had Ashley and they had to go and get caught! I am just so MAD!" Sean shouted, slamming his fist down on the counter at the word 'mad'.
"We're going to get her Sean, I swear to you. It's just going to take us-"
"-I am sick of waiting! The more we sit around and wait the more information she and that bitch sister of hers give the police about us! I just want Kori to pay, Trevor that is ALL I want! I am about ready to just march on into that Orphanage and kill her myself!"
"You do that and you might as well kiss your freedom goodbye! They've got security all over her there is no way you would be able to get to her without getting caught!"
"So what do you expect me to do?"
"I don't know yet but we'll think of something. Just don't do anything stupid."
"Fine. But right now I want you to round up two more of our guys and ask them to go replace Jeff and Steven."
"Do you not realize how hard it's getting to get anyone to do your dirty work for you?" Trevor complained.
"I don't care! You tell them they'll do it or I will kill them, I'm not even kidding!" Sean snapped. Trevor rolled his eyes and left the kitchen. Sean let out a very low and dangerous growl, and then he went to the safe that only he knows the combination to and he opened it up and pulled out his drug stash. As he helped himself to some, Shelly walked into the kitchen and he glanced at her with a dark look. Recognizing that as his in-the-mood-to-kill look, she immediately turned back for the door.
"Stop right there!" He ordered firmly, and she did as she's told and looked at him intimidated.
"Do you know how much I wish our good for nothing daughter was here right now?" Shelly nodded quietly. Judging by the violent look in his eyes she knows very well how much he wishes Elenore were there. She knows Sean loves her and even in the mood he's in he would never hurt her. He'd hurt other women, and Elenore, but never her. He's never touched her through out their entire relationship unless it was gentle and wanted. But she knows he is angry with her at the moment for giving Elenore away and she doesn't like being around him when he's like that.
"Get upstairs, I don't want to see you for the rest of the day."
"But Sean…"
"NOW Shelly! Before I do something I'll regret later!" Sean ordered, his eyes darkening even more. Shelly turned and stormed out of the kitchen, tears spilling from her eyes. Trevor walked in the kitchen then, looking concerned.
"Man, what did you do to her?"
"Nothing. All I did was send her upstairs so that I didn't end up taking my anger out on her. She's not allowed down here for the rest of the day." Trevor shook his head.
"Anyway, what's the news on my new spies?"
"Max and Cole are on their way to the Orphanage now."
"Good," Sean replied, now somewhat satisfied. "You and I are going clubbing tonight. We will need some new disguises."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"I'm positive that it's a good idea," Sean answered, turning his attention back on the drugs. Even with Sean not looking at him, Trevor knows that he is up to something.
~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, back at the Orphanage, AJ and Howie had gone into the cafeteria to help Riley with breakfast duty, and Nick, Brian, and Kevin remained in the playroom. Nick had gone over to Sarah who was sitting on the floor quietly putting puzzles together and he began to help her out, which made her very happy. He had been playing with her for about an hour, when suddenly Dakota realized what was going on. She sat on the floor in the block area next to Elenore and Josh, as the three of them are building a tower and she is eyeing her daddy and Sarah.
"Kota will you gives me that block by your foot please?" Elenore asked her suddenly, but Dakota did not answer, as she is too absorbed in what is going on, on the other side of the room. When Elenore didn't get an answer, she became confused.
"Kota?" she asked, and she poked her friend lightly in the arm. Not even this got her attention. "Dakota what are you looking at?" She asked curiously, and she followed her eyes and suddenly understood.
"He is just playing withs her Dakota…there isn't anything wrong withs that." That did it. Dakota looked at Elenore finally and it was then that she had noticed that her best friend was on verge of tears.
"He never sits an' plays withs me anymore…"
"Yes he does…"
"When Ellie? When do you ever sees my daddy sits an' play withs me?"
"…He pushed you on the swings the other day."
"But that doesn't count! He was pushing Sarah too an' he didn't even wants to. I asked an' he told me no but then when Sarah asked he said yes!" Elenore didn't reply, as she didn't know what to say to that. "My daddy used to be my best friend Ellie, he used to plays with me all the time! An' now he doesn't. He plays with Sarah though — all the time." Dakota sat watching Nick and Sarah in silence and Josh and Elenore continued to play with the blocks, though Elenore watched Dakota carefully. She is very worried about her best friend. After awhile, they noticed kids were starting to leave the playroom for breakfast.
"Kota baby, it's time for breakfast," Nick announced, after he had finished helping Sarah pick up the puzzles and put them away and he had gotten up from the floor. Dakota got up from the floor too and went over to Nick leaving her friends to clean up the blocks. Nick crouched down in front of her.
"Dakota Ann that's not very nice. You should go over and help Ellie and Josh clean up the mess that you helped make."
"But daddy…"
"Go on. The faster you get it all cleaned up the faster we can go get us some breakfast." Dakota scowled, then she turned and went back over to the blocks. She felt warm tears escape from her eyes as she began to help Elenore and Josh clean up. Brian watched her as she did and even though he can't see her tears, he knows something's up. When the three children had finished cleaning they headed over to Brian, Kevin, Nick, and Ashley. When Dakota got to Nick she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder as he was still crouched down to her level.
"That's a good girl," He praised, and he stood up with her and slid his hand into Ashley's as she has Sarah and he began to lead his three girls out of the playroom. Brian hung back though and so did Kevin because Brian had crouched down to Elenore's height and taken her hands into his.
"Is there something bothering Kota, sweetie?" Elenore nodded sadly.
"What is it?" he asked gently.
"I don'ts know if I should tells you…"
"It's okay Ellie, I'm her uncle I can make it all better." Elenore looked at him skeptically for a moment, and then deciding she can trust him, she spoke up.
"She thinks Sarah is a daddy stealer. She saw him playing withs her earlier and got upset. She says her daddy never plays with her anymore." She explained. "But I told her she's not a daddy stealer…and she didn't believe me."
"Okay…thanks for telling me sweetie," Brian replied, and he kissed her cheek before standing up. He looked at Josh who is standing there holding Chance.
"Come on buddy," he told him, and he began to head toward the Orphanage with Josh at his heals. Kevin waited for Elenore to pick up Lil' Rok who was standing at her feet, then he scooped her up into his arms and followed his cousin.
"Brian you really need to talk to him," Kevin announced. "Like right now."
"I know I'm going to," Brian replied, and when they got into the cafeteria he spotted Nick over at the crowded island fixing plates. He went over there and Josh followed after setting Chance down and letting him wander.
"Hey Nick, I need to talk to you. It's important." He told him, as he was glad to see that he had Dakota and Ashley wait for him at the table with Laney.
"What's up Rok?" Nick asked curiously. Brian was about to open his mouth to reply, when suddenly Howie approached them and interrupted.
"Brian Riley needs your help taking Brooke some breakfast in bed. She's asked me to come and get you."
"I thought AJ was going to help her?"
"He is. He's keeping her company while Ri gets her food. But she needs help carrying it." Brian sighed heavily.
"Okay, will you make sure Josh gets his breakfast okay?"
"Yeah sure," Howie nodded.
"Thanks," Brian replied, and he turned to head for the kitchen but was suddenly stopped.
"Wait Bri, weren't you going to tell me something important?"
"It'll have to wait buddy. I'll be back," Brian replied, and he hurried off to help Riley.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
