- Text Size +
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
It was co-written with Lenni.
Enjoy =)
Chapter One-Hundred-Six



When Brian and Ashley got inside they went upstairs to her room to find Nick in there dressing Dakota into her pajamas and Sarah is already in hers. He looked up at them as they entered the room and Nick gave Brian a very dark look.



"Hey Kota sweetie, of course I will read to you. As soon as your ready go ahead and pick out the book okay?" Bran told her, ignoring Nick's looks.



"Kay," Dakota replied softly. When Nick finished getting Dakota's arms into her footie pajamas, he zipped it up for her and kissed her cheek, than she went to her bag of toys, books, etc that Nick had packed for her to have on the road. She dug through it until she found her Three Little Pigs story book and she went over to Brian. Brian smiled at her lovingly, scooped her up into his arms, and he brought her out of the room with him while placing soft kisses on her forehead. She rested her head against his shoulder and held onto him tight. She wont let her daddy take her Uncle Brian away from her. Ashley looked over at Nick then.



"What is the matter with you?"



"What are you talking about?" Nick asked indifferently.



"You can't bring Dakota into this - she loves Brian! don't you see how much you've upset her?"



"I don't want that man anywhere near my daughter."



"Well you don't really have a choice in the matter. If you try to keep him away from her you will have more problems with her than jealousy." Nick rolled his eyes and then scooped Sarah up into his arms and went and sat on the bed. Ashley went over and sat next to him and she took his hand into hers. He gently squeezed hers and kissed her forhead softly. Ten minutes later when Brian finished reading to her, he came into the room with Dakota cradled in his arms and her head rested against his shoulder. She has her thumb in her mouth and still holding onto him tightly.



"What movie do you want to watch pumpkin?" he asked her gently, and he brought her over to the movies that Nick had gotten out. Dakota pointed to her The Little Mermaid DVD and he chuckled. "Should've known." He grabbed it up and brought her over to the bed and he lay her down in it and covered her up.



"Daddy?"



"Yeah baby?"



"I wants you an' Brian to sings Anywhere For You to me. Please?" Nick groaned inwardly.



"Of course sweetie," he replied, and he moved over and lay Sarah in the bed next to her, before brushing Dakota's hair to the side and he took her one hand into his, as Brian held onto the other and Brian began the song.



"I'd walk halfway around the world for just one kiss from you..." he sang, and he leaned down and kissed her cheek, as did Nick on her other one at the same time, making Dakota squeal in delight. "Far beyond the call of love the sun, the stars, the moon..." he continued.


"As long as your loves there to lead me I won't lose my way, believe me even through the darkest night, you know..." Nick took over just before the two of them began to sing the chorus together. When they both finished the song, she sat up and wrapped her arms around the both of them and hugged them tight. Nick and Brian each returned her hug and Brian kissed her on the cheek and whispered softly in her ear.


"I love you Dakota Ann."


"I loves you too Uncle Brian," She told him back and he smiled at her and ruffled her hair. Nick leaned over and kissed Sarah then, before getting up with the DVD and he went and put it in the DVD player. When he had the movie going, he turned out the light and he looked at Brian and Ashley. Brian motioned for him to follow him out of the room. Nick rolled his eyes and reluctionately did as told, and Ashley followed. When they were out in the hall Nick shut the door just a crack.


"Just because I played nice for Dakota it does not mean things are good between us," Nick insisted.


"Nick please...just hear me out."


"Why should I listen to you, when all you've done is insinuate nasty, hurtful things about me today?" Nick demanded, feeling his temper start to rise again, though he was trying to keep it at bay.


"I - I made a mistake," Brian said softly.


"Well, no shit Sherlock!" Nick snapped, his eyes narrowing at who he had believed to be his best friend.


"I didn't mean what I said, Nick," Brian insisted. "I was just worried about you, because I don't want to see you screw up and end up in more trouble than you can handle. You're my little brother, I love you. It's my job to look after you!"


"Well, don't treat me like a baby in the process!" Nick exclaimed, though trying to kepe his voice down so the girls won't hear. "I know the limits, Brian! I'm not an idiot!"


"I never said you were an idiot, and if i did, i apologize," Brian replied. "Everything came out wrong. We both can have quick tempers at times - you should know that by now."


"That's no excuse! You basically called me a rapist, and I am not like those Bastards!" Nick growled angrily. Brian could feel his eyes tearing up. How was he going to make Nick see he hadn't meant a word of what he'd said?


"I can not be friends with anyone who insinuates such things!" Nick stated firmly, too angry to think things clear through, or to even really listen closely to what Brian was saying.


"Frack....." Brian choked out softly. "You don't mean that...."


"Oh, but I do mean it, Brian!" Nick snapped. "So back off and stay the Hell out of my life, and away from my daughter! She does not need you to influence her in any way!"


"You can't take this out on Dakota!" Brian cried. "She's just a little girl, who loves her favourite uncle."


"Well, she can get a new favourite Uncle, because you are no longer one!" Nick said hotly, turning and striding down the hall to the bathroom, and closing the door pretty hard behind him. Ashley looked at Brian then, who now had tears streaming down his face.


"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I'll see what I can do, but it's going to take time. You really hurt him."


"I know," Brian whispered. Ashley gave him a sympathetic smile, squeezed his hands gently, then took off down the hall and ordered Nick to let her in - which he did after a moment or so. Brian choked back a sob, as he turned and headed on back downstairs, deciding he didn't need to be up here, and that he needed a walk. He only made it as far as the kitchen though, as his mother spotted him on his way out.


"Baby Duck, what's wrong?" She asked, concern in her voice and eyes.


"I--I think I've lost him, Mom," Brian managed to choke out.


"Lost who, Honey?" Jackie asked softly, going to her baby boy and pulling him into her arms. Brian clung to her tightly, burying his face into her shoulder, not caring how much he looked or felt like a little boy again then. He needed the hug - desperately.


"Nicky...." He managed to whisper. "I--I said some things....mean, hurtful things, that I didn't mean to him, and he refuses to let me take them back." Jackie sighed and clicked her tongue, as she smoothed his golden locks back from his face, when they pulled apart slightly so she could look at him.


"Brian, you need to give him some time. He's young, but he's not stupid. He'll come around eventually. You just need to give him some space and show him that you care for him and love him in subtle ways, but in ways he'll catch on to without feeling like you're being overbearing." Brian swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'll keep trying, Mom. I can't lose him - I just can't! There is no Frick if there's no Frack."


~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile, back at the Orphanage, Doctor Johnson was just about to go make a checkup on one of his patients as he left another, when suddenly the lady from the front desk rushed up to him.


"Hey Doctor Johnson, I think something is up over at the Orphanage Wing...Jennifer just called me and told me to find you and tell you to get over there right away!"


"Oh jeez...I knew it was too easy." He muttered, and then handed her his clipboard. "Get Antonio to check on Delighlah for me please?" He told her, and then he hurried off toward the Orphanage Wing without waiting for her to respond. When he got over there, he walked into the lobby only to have something get thrown at his head.


"What the..." he trailed off, and he reached up and pulled it off to find that it's a diaper. He looked up suddenly to see two and three year old naked babies running around the orphanage like mad - a couple of four year olds bickering over a doll, and caregivers trying to break it up. Other kids are running around throwing things and climbing on top of counters and such, and fighting caregivers off of them - the orphanage has turned into a complete mad house! What happened in the thirty minutes that he was gone? Everybody was believed to be up in their rooms - what could happen to make such a riot break out? This has never happened to Brooke before. Doctor Johnson stood there stiff as he just stared at the chaotic scene before him as if he weren't even there - like it were some movie he was watching or something. He has no idea what he should do. How would Brooke handle this situation? Looking over at the main desk he noticed two little boys fighting with wooden swords - one of them is wearing a peter pan outfit, and the other one a captain hook one and they are acting out a scene from the movie Peter Pan. After watching the two for a couple of moments, he realized that the little boy in the Peter Pan outfit - Danny was getting ready to jump off of the counter pretending that he could fly - the small 4 year old boy on that very big counter. Doctor's Johnson's eyes widenend in horror. He could just see it now - him carrying that boy up to the hospital wing and fixing his broken leg. How did he even manage to get on there? That older boy had to have helped him up.


"ALRIGHT EVERYBODY, FREEZE!" he shouted then, making himself loud enough that everybody in the entire lobby could hear him - anymore outbreaks like this, and he will need to buy a whistle or something. Everybody froze then and turned around to see him now fully coming into the room - everybody stood there and staring at him with shocked looks on their faces - nobody has heard him get that loud before. Not nice old Doctor Johnson. He walked over to the counter and he scooped the four year old about to "fly" off of the counter so that he is holding him under his one arm.


"WHAT do you all think you are doing?!" he asked them in a raised firm voice, and he heard Danny gulp. "You are ALL supposed to be in your beds asleep am I not correct? None of you would EVER act this way if Brooke were here right now! Do you all think since she's gone and Doctor Johnson is incharge, that you all can run around like crazy people?! I don't think so! I want all of you to stop what you are dong THIS instant, and march those behinds of yours back up to your rooms NOW! Am I making myself clear?" Doctor Johnson looked around at them all. Some of the kids mumbled in response, some nodded their heads, and others didn't do anything but stand there. "What is that? I can't hear you."


"Yes Doctor Johnson...." they all responded obediantly.


"Good. Then do as you are told - we will talk about your punishments tomorrow!" He told them. He handed Danny over to his caregiver - Jessica, and then he dropped the diaper that got thrown at him into the nearby garbage can and he watched as Caregivers got control of their children and escorted them up to their rooms.


"I want all caregivers to inform me of any problems. Any kids who give you trouble will be given extra punishment." He stated firmly. When most of the kids were gone and it was just Jennifer standing there, he looked at her and shook his head.


"What in the world was that all about?" He asked her. Jennifer shrugged.


"I don't know...I can't even explain how it got started. It just...sort of happened."


"Well....that was just crazy."


"Your tellin' me....you weren't here when it first broke out. But anyway...should we pick up the toys and stuff around here?"


"No leave it. The kids will be doing that tomorrow after breakfast. The entire orphanage will be cleaned spotless from top to bottom by the time I get through with those kids tomorrow."


"Even the smaller kids?"


"Yes, even them. They will be given smaller tasks, but they will do their part. Is the hallway upstairs trashed too?"


"Yes it looks like a tornado came through every single bedroom - there are toys everywhere - spilled baby forumla, pudding on walls....it's a disaster."


"Perfect. Brooke's orphanage will be so clean by the time she gets back, she'll be so pleased with me." Jennifer laughed a little. The two of them talked things over for a few moments, then they decided to go up and make sure each kid went to bed without a fight.


~*~*~*~

Meanwhile, in New York, it's eleven thirty at night, and Brooke is lying awake in her bed at her parent's house. She is the only one awake in the house and she's having a hard time sleeping. When she got there they had a wonderful reunion - her two sisters were there, they had a great dinner, and they had spent half the night talking about anything and everything - everything except one thing. She still has yet to tell them about being raped years ago and quite frankly...she doesn't want to. They were so happy to see her...why ruin it? What if she tells them and they are angry with her for never telling them? They are also her parents and siblings...she knows they are going to make a much bigger fuss about it than Riley did and she doesn't want them to. It was years ago, she lived, why fuss over it? All she wants to do is forget it. Everytime she thinks about Thadius it only makes her sick. Brooke lay there propped up against her pillows, her arms crossed over her chest and a tear streak rolling down her face as she thought things over. After awhile though, her cell phone broke her thoughts. She reached over and grabbed it off of her nightstand and she looked at her caller ID to see that it's Riley. Brooke groaned calling to check up on me I suppose... she thought inwardly to herself, before turning it on and putting it to her ear.


"Hey Ri what's up?"


"Hey...not much i'm just calling to make sure you got to New York okay and everything."


"Yup, i'm here, i'm fine. We had dinner and sat around and caught up and stuff..." Riley could hear the troubled tone in her voice.


"...Is everything okay sweetie?"


"Yeah, fine, I just had a lot on my mind when you called."


"Well...penny for your thoughts?" Brooke sighed, as she knew she was going to say something a long those lines. "Honey? What's bothering you..."


"I still haven't told my family about...you know...years ago."


"Well thats okay...you have an entire week to tell them. Take your time..."


"But i'm not sure if I want to tell them..."


"Whaaat? Brooke you can't not tell them."


"Why not? They are just going to make a huge fuss over it and that is not how I want to spend my thanksgiving vacation. I just want to forget about the whole embarrassing situation."


"But they are your family Brooke, they deserve to know."


"I know...but what if they hate me after I tell them? What if they hate me for never telling them when it happened? And what if they think...bad things about me?"


"Why would they think bad things about you? They are your family, they love you. I know they love you because I've met them."


"But..."


"Brooke if you don't tell them it's only going to be on your concious forever and bug you. You should just get it over with..."


"But Riley I just want to forget about it...I want to move on...I want to deal with the pain and if they are constantly fussing over it, I won't be able to-"


"-Won't be able to forget about it? That's not getting over the pain, Brooke...that's just pushing it to the back of your mind...but all that is going to happen is it's going to come out when you are alone and haunt you. If you want to get over the pain you need to deal with it...and maybe telling your family is part of dealing with it. You need them there for you..."


"But then that brings me back to my question from earlier...what if I tell them and they hate me?"


"Well there is only one way to find out honey...but you have to tell them. Yes, they might be a little upset and mad...I was too, but once they have heard it and as soon as they have time for it to sink in...if they are the family I met last Christmas then they are going to want to be there for you." Brooke sighed heavily.


"You think they will be?"


"I know they will be."


"Kay..."


"I love you sweetie but I need to go cheer up Brian...him and Nick are in the middle of fighting right now and he's really upset. Aje wants to talk to you though...is that okay?"


"Of course...put him on the phone. I miss hearing his voice..." Brooke admitted, and she could just see Riley smiling on the other line. "Shut up..."


"Hey I wasn't saying anything! You were."


"No but I know you, I know you've got that smirk on your face. I didn't mean it like that. I just miss my friend is all...."


"Yeah okay Brooklyn, here he is," she replied while laughing a little. Brooke rolled her eyes as she listened to Riley and AJ whisper quietly to each other in the background, and then suddenly he heard his voice.


"Hey sweetheart, How are you doing?" he spoke over the phone...and Brooke found herself suddenly smiling at the comforting sound.