Chapter One-Hundred-Four
After awhile of holding Dakota while he played basketball, when she calmed down she slid down from his arms. Though she is still slightly shaken up at being punished for the first time ever in four years, she went straight to another pair of arms — the next best thing next to her daddy — Ashley. Ashley saw her coming and opened her arms for her allowing her to walk into them and she closed them around her and hugged her tight, and she kissed her cheek.
"Hey sweetie…are we feeling better now?" she asked gently, and she rubbed her hand over Dakota's back as her head was rested against her shoulder. Dakota didn't answer, she only sunk into the safety of Ashley's arms and Ashley looked over at Elenore who is sitting next to Josh and Spencer and the three of them are drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. Ashley got up with Dakota and she went over to her three friends and sat down with them, and Laney followed. Dakota lifted her head from Ashley's shoulder and looked at Ellie, Josh, and Spencer with slight interest now.
"Hi Kota!" Elenore chirped, as she is happy that her best friend has finally joined her. "We're makin' turtles withs chalk! Join us please? It's fun!"
"You can draw Donnie because that's your character," Josh told her and he held out an extra green chalk and a purple one.
"Joshy saved him specially for you," Elenore added, sensing her best friend is still a little upset and she wants to cheer her up — not even thinking that it could embarrass Josh in the process. Josh gave Elenore a 'shut up before I hurt you' kind of look, and then he looked at Dakota and blushed a little. It took everything in Ashley not to laugh.
"Cause you know…since you're him an' all when we play…" Josh added for cover up, but it wasn't a very good one and Dakota eyed him curiously as she took the chalk he was holding out to her.
"Thanks Joshy," She spoke up for the first time, and she even smiled at him a little too, before beginning to draw her turtle. Josh nervously went back to drawing his, though unknowing to either one of them, the two of them would steal a glance at each other when the other wasn't looking. He seems to be acting very weird around me lately… Dakota thought quietly to herself. Ellie too…they both know something that they aren't telling me…I wonder what it is. Ashley remained right there next to Dakota knowing Dakota isn't yet ready to be left completely alone. She grabbed up a pink chalk and she moved a little to the side so she'd have her own drawing space, and she sat there contemplating on what to do. She looked over at Nick who is still playing basketball, but by now she can see that he is becoming mighty sweaty — which could mean only one thing. He is going to need a shower later on. Ashley couldn't help but smile a little bit, as she stared at his now bare skin. He had taken his shirt off when Dakota left him. There is nothing sexier than her boyfriend playing basketball and working up enough sweat from it that he has to take his shirt off. It's so hot it's enough to make her sweat. Nick who is very much aware that he now has an audience, as well as the other's, he flashed them a smirk and now went into show off mode.
"Quit showing off Nick, you already have her!" Kevin rolled his eyes. AJ on the other hand just smirked, deciding he could use this as an advantage. He jogged over and began to block him.
"You know, she's had her eyes on you ever since you took your shirt off — and you were worried about me taking her away from you. It's pretty obvious who she is after and it's definitely not me," He told him quietly. Nick grinned in satisfaction as he knows that is the truth, and he continued to play the game as Brian passed him the ball knowing full well that he would catch it. Nick managed to get around AJ and just as Brian knew would happen he got it. He loves how that Frick and Frack ESP works out. Wherever Brian throws the ball, Nick is always right there no matter what he has to get through to get it. Not even AJ's mind games can get past that.
"If that was an attempt at distraction McLean you need some practice," Nick told him, as he ran up to the hoop and slam-dunked the ball. "My baby is an energy booster, not a distraction." AJ scowled and Nick turned to Ashley who could hear the entire thing from where she is sitting and he winked at her, making Ashley's heart flutter inside her chest and she suddenly felt as if she could melt. He blew her a kiss, before immediately going back to the game. Laney rolled his eyes and shook his head smiling. Ashley continued to stare at Nick in a daze for a few moments, than she looked down at the chalk in her hand and she began to do something with it. An hour later a shadow stepped into her light and Ashley looked up and behind her to see Nick there and he's looking at what she had done. She drew a big circle and wrote Ashley & Nick Forever inside it with bubbly letters. Nick smirked and sat down behind her with her between his legs and he pulled her back against him, before enveloping her in his arms and he leaned over and captured her lips with his in such a powerful kiss that when he pulled back she was trembling. She sat up slightly and sunk back into his chest and he placed soft kisses on her neck and shoulders as he hugged her tighter to him, but not too tight. After a few moments she sat up slightly, turned to her side, and she cupped his chin in her hand, before claiming his lips for her own and he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as he kissed her back.
"Who wants freshly baked cookies that just came out of the oven?" Jackie's voice was suddenly heard from the front door, and a chorus of 'me's' could be heard by all of the kids.
"Well come inside and get some while they're still warm. There is milk for all of you as well," she added. The kids didn't need to be told twice, they jumped up and ran into the house after Jackie, as did Brian, AJ, Howie, Kevin, Wiley, Kori, and Riley. Nick and Ashley were left outside their kiss still not broken yet and Laney stood in the doorway just incase he was needed but he didn't watch. Nick smiled against her lips, before pulling her so she sat sideways in his lap as he shifted so he sat Indian style and he rested his forehead against hers as he rubbed his finger lightly over her lips.
"You smell Nicky," she informed him and he chuckled.
"Thanks a lot sweetheart." Ashley giggled.
"Infact, you smell so bad you should hit the showers right now mister." Nick smirked and rubbed his nose lightly over hers, as he hugged her even tighter.
"Only if there is a beautiful girl in there to keep me company."
"If you think that I wouldn't join you after watching you play basketball then you are insane," she informed him, as she rubbed her hand over his chest. Nick sat there watching her for a couple of moments, than he took her hand into his, before bringing it up to his mouth to kiss it.
~*~*~*~*~
"Are Nick and Ashley still outside?" Brian asked Laney curiously, and Laney nodded. Brian chuckled.
"Wow that's interesting. Nick never passes up mom's chocolate chip cookies."
"I think he's found something that he enjoys just a little bit more then my baking," Jackie replied with a small smile. Kevin shook his head worriedly.
"They really need to be careful. They've been making out all day I'm surprised that Rochelle didn't even notice it when she spotted Nick in the car. You would think they would be more careful after their narrow escape from Detective Stabler finding out."
"Oh lighten up Kevin," Brian replied while rolling his eyes. "They're in love, there is no stopping them. You should just be happy for nick like you are supposed to be. He's finally happy Kevin, he's finally over Willa."
"I know, I am happy for him I love Ashley and I'm very thankful for her. But all I'm saying is that they need to be careful. They're out in the front yard making out for crying out loud!"
"At night when all of the neighbors are asleep and there are trees blocking their view. Honey relax," Ann reassured her son. "Give Nick a break. He tells me you are pretty tough on him these days." Kevin groaned, but obeyed his mother's orders nonetheless, as he grabbed another cookie and bit into it. Suddenly Nick and Ashley walked in the house and he gave her one more kiss — but definitely not their last, before allowing her to hurry up the stairs and he playfully smacked her bottom causing Ashley to shriek, before continuing to run up the stairs but she was now giggling. Nick smirked and looked at Laney who looked at him with a questioning look that Nick understands. They share that look a lot these days.
"She's fine, I'm gonna go up there in just a minute."
"Kay," Laney replied and Nick went into the living room where everybody is sitting around enjoying cookies. Nick went over and crouched down in front of Dakota as she sat on the couch with Josh and Elenore. Josh is sitting between the two of them, and they are cuddling with him. Nick placed his hands to her cheek and playfully made her pucker her lips like before and she giggled as he kissed her. When he pulled back she slid her arms around his neck and leaned forward to hug him.
"I loves you daddy."
"I love you too baby. Daddy is going to take some milk and cookies upstairs for me and Ashley. We want to spend sometime alone together so can you hang out down here until bedtime? I will come get you when it's time."
"Kay daddy," Dakota replied while smiling a little bit. She loves it that her daddy and Ashley are together. Nick kissed her cheek, and than he got up and grabbed four cookies into a napkin after pouring two glasses of milk and he hurried up the stairs the best he could without spilling. When he got up there he walked into the bedroom to see that Ashley was moving the chair back to the desk. He went over and sat on the bed and patted it. Ashley took the hint and sat next to him and he handed her, her two cookies and her glass of milk.
"When are your sisters and brother supposed to arrive, Nick?" She asked suddenly, as she rested her head against his shoulder.
"Way later on tonight after the kids are asleep. Though something tells me that Kota is going to try with all her might to stay up long enough to see Aaron. She's just way too excited."
"May I make a suggestion Nicky?"
"Always baby," Nick answered, while wrapping his ar around her waist and kissing her forhead.
"Don't fight with her on it or it will only make it so much easier for her. Dress her in her pajamas, lay her in bed, and turn on her favorite movie with the light off but make sure she knows that it is perfectly okay if she stays up and waits on them. She'll end up falling asleep on her own if there is no pressure."
"And what if she doesn't? Kota loves her uncle Aaron, she'll wait up all night if she has to."
"Trust me honey, she will. She's been up since five in the morning there is no way she will be able to last an hour. However, if you fight with her about it she'll get stubborn and it will make staying awake so much easier on her because you don't want her to. It's called reverse psycology. If I know Kota well enough - and i'm pretty sure that I do by now, I'm sure she'll fall for it." Nick grinned a little and patted his lap as the two of them are finished with their cookies and had set their milk down.
"Come here beautiful," He told her softly, and she smiled up at him, before crawling into his lap straddling him. "I love how smart you are. We really need to get you going on that internship that Brooke offered you. We've been so busy I forgot about it - I think she's even forgotten about it."
"How about when we get back to the Orphanage?"
"That sounds good. You remind me and I will help you get started - and as much as it's going to kill Dakota, I need to start paying more attention to other kids."
"Yes you do...and the more you do that the easier for her it will be. She needs to learn to share you Nick...she needs to understand that it's your job."
"I'll start out slow...I'll stick with Sarah for now and then eventually start paying attention to other ones. I just don't want her to feel anymore neglected then she already does." Ashley nodded and she cupped his cheek in her hand as she gazed into his eyes.
"Just make sure to set aside some special time for you and Dakota to spend together...you could call it Daddy and Kota time and nobody will be allowed to interrupt you."
"Kay." Ashley pulled his face down to hers then, and she suddenly claimed his lips for her own and he kissed her back, as he rubbed his hand over her back. He lifted her shirt up and over her head, before dropping it to the floor and he brought his kisses down to the front and side of her neck as he unbuttoned her shorts and slid his hands down to her legs and he gently rubbed them. Ashley placed her hands to his shoulders and tilted her head to the side. After a few moments he got up with her and brought her into the bathroom as he nibbled lightly on her earlobe. When he got in there he set her down on the counter and she slid her arms around his neck as she deepend the kiss.
~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, in a Motel about fifteen minutes away from The Littrells, Cole, one of the new spies that Trevor had sent to replace the two that were arrested was lounging around watching TV and drinking beer while the other one - Max, sat at the table writing something down. As the two sat around doing their own things Cole's cell phone rang. He groaned and reached over and grabbed the phone off of the nightstand and he read the caller ID to see that it read 'boss' on it. That could mean only one person. Cole rolled his eyes as he knows he's about to get yelled at - they aren't supposed to be lounging around in a motel, they are supposed to be doing their job.
"Yes?" He asked into the phone, the moment he had turned it on and placed it to his ear.
"Is that anyway to greet the person who pays you good money?" Came Sean's voice. "With that ungrateful tone?" Cole rolled his eyes.
"Oh I am so sorry. Good evening King Sean, how may I be a service to you?" Max who had looked up at Cole the moment his phone rang snorted.
"Are you outside of the Littrell's house?" Sean asked, ignoring the smart ass remark, though definitely not forgetting it anytime soon.
"No. We are at a Motel about fifteen minutes away."
"WHAT?!?! That is not what I am paying you for! You are supposed to be watching them 24/7 not vegging out in a motel room!"
"Yeah, well, we kind of can't right now. We've got a little problem - literally."
"Oh please tell me you weren't seen! This was supposed to be the perfect moment to spy on them with those Detectives hundreds of miles away."
"Not by anyone who can talk...really. Just that Backstreet Boy's Chihuahaha. You know, the one who attacked your wife?"
"A Chihuahaha? A Chihauhaha?" Sean laughed, but it is clearly obvious that he is not at all amused. "It's a fucking chihauaha, Cole! The worst he could do is bite your ankle!"
"And security gates too! We were hiding outside the gate in the bushes. We didn't say a fucking word and the stupid dog came out barking and growling and he ended up alerting everybody."
"If you didn't say anything then how did he know you were there? You must've said something!"
"I don't know, he's a dog! They have like super hearing, they can hear things from miles away - he could've heard something so little as Max stepping on a twig and it set him off - or he sensed danger, I don't know." Sean groaned and Cole could hear him quietly talking to another man in the background - most likely Trevor, as it always is.
"So what do you want me to do? It's impossible to sit outside that gate without the dog noticing - they have like hundreds of other dogs there too - anyone of them could sense us there. We're ruined Sean, this is suicide."
"What kind of dogs besides the Chihahaha do they have?" Trevor's voice was suddenly heard on the phone.
"A West Highland White Terrior, A Golden Retriever, another Chihahauaha, and a pug."
"How old do you think they are?"
"I think the rest are just puppies - and the one with the super hearing is probably the oldest because he was the only one who's sensed us so far."
"If the rest are just babies, than maybe you could turn it around so that they think you are good people - maybe if you play your cards right, you could even win the more experienced one over too"
"How do you suggest we do that?" Cole asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Give them doggy treats - act like two loving humans who just want to play."
"And what if it doesn't work? That scary one looks like he's used to being the guard dog." Trevor snorted.
"You are pathetic, dude. It's a LITTLE dog, he's not going to hurt you - at least nothing too serious anyway."
"You've never seen him before Trev, he's a DEMON doggy. He looks like he could rip my hand off or something."
"I have too seen him before, I used to work with Brian remember? He brought that stupid dog by the Orphanage all the time. He attacked me all the time and until Ashley came a long Brian thought nothing of it because he thought I was the good doctor who could never do anything wrong."
"If you couldn't win him over, then do you really think I will be able to?"
"You are going to have to. It is important that we know what they're doing at all times, Cole!"
"I can't."
"If you can't handle something as little as a chihauaha then I don't think you can handle your job either." Trevor replied, becoming as irritated as Sean is now - though it's not all Cole that has Sean pissed off, it's also the drugs in his system too.
"I can so, handle my job!"
"Then you had better figure away to get past the damn dog! Or I will do you the favor of sending up a replacement."
"I'll figure it out."
"Good you better. Because if I have to send someone up there then you've really pissed me off and you can just forget about working for us all together - and since you won't be working for us we can't let you live either. We've risked it enough by letting Scott live when he quit years ago a long with Kori."
"What do you want us to do while we are up here? What is the whole purpose of this trip? Are we supposed to kidnap anyone for you, or just spy?"
"Just spy. Dont do anything but watch them and report to us where they go and what they do. Our next move is Ashley, but we have to plan that one very carefully."
"Fine."
"Are we good now? Are you two going to stop being the babies that you are and go do your job?"
"First thing in the morning."
"No, now."
"We can't. We've both been drinking."
"You can't see me but I am giving you a very angry look right now." Trevor informed him irritably.
"We've been driving all day - why can't we relax for awhile and get some sleep?"
"Because while you are sleeping, They could be doing interesting things and you are missing out on it!"
"All they'll be doing is sleeping if they're in their right minds! They've been driving all day."
"I don't care. You can just walk to the house then."
"Fine." Cole replied.
"Alright then. Anything else?"
"No we're good."
"Good. Then I'm gonna go pull Sean out of his pissed off state before he breaks something. Bye." Trevor said, and he hung up the phone. Cole gratefuly hung his up too, sat it on the nightstand again and he lay back against his pillows comfortably and turned the tv up a little.
"Do we have to go back?" Max asked, an annoyed tone in his voice.
"No he said we can rest for the night but we have to be back first thing in the morning," Cole lied. What the boss doesn't know can't hurt him.
~*~*~*~
When Trevor hung up the phone he walked out of the office and into the living room to find Sean digging through his drug stash. Trevor rolled his eyes and went over and grabbed him up by the shirt and he shoved him away from it.
"Hey! What did you do that for?!" Sean demanded, and he watched incrediously as Trevor grabbed up the stash and walked over to his own personal safe and he locked it away.
"As your best friend it is my job to inform you that you've had enough for one night."
"A real best friend would be doing it right a long with me." Sean pointed out.
Trevor shook his head.
"That shit is making you reckless, Sean."
"It is not! I am fine! And I want it!" Sean demanded. "Give it back to me!"
"It is too! You went out and murdered an innocent girl and now her little friends know what we look like!" It was Sean's turn to roll his eyes.
"You helped me do it. And you enjoyed every minute of raping that girl."
"Yes, well, it doesn't change the fact that it was reckless."
"Will it make you feel better if we track down the other little girls too? We could keep them alive if you want to. We could bring them back here and have fun with them."
"We are not leaving this house again, Sean."
"What are you gonna do, keep me under house arrest?"
"If that's what it takes, yes!"
"Then at least let me have my stash back! I can't sit in this house all day long without it, i'll go insane!"
"After this whole thing with Ashley and Kori is finally over. We can get new identities, flee the country and you can be as reckless with your drugs as you want."
"But -"
"-I'm serious Sean. You are supposed to be the mastermind in this whole thing and so far I've done all the controlling because you get too pissed off at EVERYTHING. And you do stupid reckless things! You are going to end up getting us caught one of these days. You need to be in your right mind for this. And it wouldn't kill you to pay more attention to your wife, too! Why don't you stop fucking other little girls and be with her for once? You are lucky she even allows you to be with other women!" Sean rolled his eyes.
"She doesn't care...it's what keeps our marriage alive. She sleeps with all of the guys I work with - i'm surprised she hasn't slept with you yet." Trevor looked away from Sean suddenly, and he raked his fingers through his hair nervously, as he only looked at him in the corner of his eye now. Sean raised his eyebrow at the sudden change of behavior in his best friend and a smirk suddenly played across his face as he caught on.
"How many times? and why haven't you told me?" he asked indifferently, as he began to search the house for his box of ciggerettes.
"A few times now. She's come crying to me for comfort because either you've been ignoring her lately or just plain snapping at her. I figured you'd kill me....you know the whole best friend thing." Sean shrugged.
"I'm used to it."
"Well it wouldn't kill you to pay more attention to her."
"It's for her own good. I haven't been myself lately, i'm afraid if I get too angry around her I'll do something that i'll regret."
"Well, now you dont have to worry about that." Trevor replied with a smug look on his face. "I've stepped in and taken away the problem."
"You can't just take drugs away from an addictive man like that, Trev. People get murdered by doing that!"
"You won't murder me. You need me. You wouldn't have gotten me out of jail if you didn't and we've been friends since forever. I know you." Sean scowled and he eyed Trevor's safe with a need in his eyes.
"You might as well look away and not even think about it. The combination is inside my head and you will never figure it out. Why don't you go to bed? In a couple of weeks what's inside that box won't even matter to you."
"And what are you gonna do while I'm in bed? Sit around and enjoy your stash?"
"Nooo. If you weren't so fucked up all the time you would notice that I haven't touched mine in a month because i've had to baby-sit you. I went through my own deprivation but I did it for the sake of our freedom." Sean rolled his eyes.
"Whatever."
"So go to bed and first thing tomorrow we will discuss our plans." Trevor said, and he lightly shoved Sean toward the stairs. Sean went upstairs muttering swear words about Trevor under his breath the whole way. Trevor shook his head and followed him up there. He's gonna have to clean the whole house and make sure there aren't anymore drugs lying around. And he is going to have to take Shelly's too because if Sean is smart enough, he'll just start stealing from her. While he's at it, he better get rid of the beer too.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
