Chapter One-Hundred-Forty-Nine
Meanwhile at the Littrell House, it took awhile but Q eventually managed to talk Aaron into letting him come with him. He promised him that if he managed to find Stacy he wouldn't hover over him he would keep his distance and give him some privacy. At hearing that offer Aaron finally caved and agreed to let him come. While Aaron took a shower and got ready to go, Q went downstairs and into the kitchen where he found Howie and everybody else sitting around the table talking and watching Ryan eat cookies and milk. Howie looked at Q when he saw him come in and he raised his eyebrow curiously.
"He's in the shower getting ready to go. I promised him that I would give him his space if he manages to find Stacy."
"That's good…but be careful. Mini-Nick might try to sneak out the front door while you're in here."
"Oh I know, that's why I've left the door open and little does he know, I have excellent hearing. He's not getting away from me." Jackie laughed a little.
"Well would you like some cookies while you wait for him Q?"
"Oh yes…and milk too, please?" He asked, sounding exactly like an eager little boy and he sat down at the table. Howie laughed in amusement as Jackie got up and rushed over to get Q some cookies and milk also. Q smiled over at Ryan who was sitting there quietly.
"What are you and Ryan planning on doing, D?"
"Well since you are the only bodyguard left but will be leaving soon, I think we will just find something to do here," Howie explained as he reached over and ruffled Ryan's hair.
"Can I have my playstation back?" Ryan asked, knowing he's pushing it with that question but he can't help it. He misses his playstation very much.
"No you may not," Howie replied with a serious tone in his voice. "You already know you aren't getting that back until we get back to the Orphanage."
"But I'm bored…there is nothing to do. I learned my lesson Howie, I promise."
"You should have thought about that before you stepped on Ellie's hand, huh?"
"She had it coming to her," Ryan muttered and Howie raised his eyebrow.
"I guess that means you really didn't learn your lesson then huh? Keep asking me for it and I just might extend your punishment." Ryan scowled and looked back down at his cookies and milk bitterly.
"There are plenty of things to do besides playstation. We'll go outside in the backyard and find something. You are much better off without it anyway," Howie insisted.
"Josh and I left the paints outside. I was going to go out there and clean it up but if he wants to paint he is more then welcome to," Harry spoke up.
"That sounds like fun," Howie replied and he looked back down at Ryan.
"How about it Ryan? Should we paint?"
"I guess…" Ryan sighed. He was silent for a few moments and then looked up at Howie.
"Can I call my mom on the phone today?" he asked in a depressed tone. Howie looked at him for a few moments just thinking it over.
"If you go upstairs, get dressed, and straighten up your room I will call Detective Stabler and ask him okay?"
"Kay," Ryan replied, and he quickly finished up his cookies and milk and then got up and hurried out of the kitchen to go do as Howie requested. Howie pulled his phone out of his pocket and he got up and went out in the backyard to keep his end of the deal. As Jackie and Harold sat there going over Thanksgiving Plans and Q and Harry sat there quietly listening, Q suddenly heard quiet footsteps coming down the stairs. He grinned at Harry and Denise who both had heard them also and rolled his eyes and he got up and went over to the doorway to the kitchen and looked at the stairs. Sure enough, there was Aaron trying to sneak out without him.
"Ready to go?" Q asked, causing Aaron to flinch slightly and look at him.
"Y-Ye-ah." Q grinned.
"Cool, me too then." He replied and he heard Harry laughing behind him.
"Oh all right," Aaron replied moodily and he headed toward the door with Q following. When they got outside Q reached out his hand to Aaron indicating that he should hand over the remote to the gate that he had stolen out of the security room. Aaron scowled and handed it over and Q smiled at him ever so kindly.
"Thank-you," he told him in a cheerful tone and then he opened up the gate and escorted him out. When they stepped out, Q closed it again and stuffed the remote safely in his pocket.
"So where to?" He asked, looking down at Aaron.
"I thought I would check the park first," Aaron shrugged and Q nodded and stepped to the side before motioning Aaron to take the lead. Aaron did just that and Q followed closely at his side, both of them very much unaware that a pair of eyes were watching them from the bushes. The owner of the eyes wondering just exactly who the little boy is. They've seen him with the group before and never really cared…until now since he is being escorted by security. Why is he so important that he needs security? After thinking for a moment he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and he dialed a number. After a couple of rings Cole answered.
"What?" He asked in a low voice.
"I just saw a security guard leaving the house with a teenager – who is he?"
"Yeah, I just learned that he is Nick's little brother. Apparently they had an argument over the phone about whether or not he should be able to leave the house without security or not. I want you to follow him."
"Alright I'm on it," Max replied, and he hung up his phone and put it in his pocket before heading in the direction that the security guard and kid had gone. They are a little bit ahead of him already but he knows where they are going. He heard the kid say he wanted to check the park first. What are they looking for? Max wondered to himself.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile at the mall, Brian, Riley, and Josh were walking through KB's Toy store together – Brian holding Riley's hand in his one hand, and a small notepad and pen in the other as they followed Josh around. Josh pointed out the stuff that he likes and Brian took notes. After spending ten minutes in that store and Josh had showed him everything Brian spoke up.
"Why don't you pick out one toy while we're in here buddy?" Josh looked up at him curiously.
"Really?"
"Of course. You can't just walk out of a perfectly good toy store empty handed that would be crazy. You may pick out one thing…only one because Christmas is just right around the corner and I assure you your Grandmother will have you spoiled rotten by the end of it," Riley laughed at this.
"And so will your father too," she replied and Brian just smirked. Josh kept his gaze on Brian as if he hadn't even heard Riley.
"Go on…the sooner you go pick something out the quicker we can go find another fun store to look in," Brian encouraged and Josh beamed before hurrying off in the direction of the toy that he wants and Laney followed closely behind him. Brian turned to Riley then and wrapped her in his arms and he pulled her to him before resting his forehead against hers.
"Why does he hate me so much?" Riley pouted somewhat.
"He doesn't hate you…"
"Yes he does, he's always hated me. Ever since he moved into the Orphanage."
"Honey he doesn't hate you…I promise. He's just feeling a little resentful toward you right now…and threatened. All you ever did in the past was either yell at him or lecture him for his behavior and was never once really nice to him. He's hurt right now but in time he'll get over it."
"I didn't mean to be that way, I didn't understand him – and he wasn't making it very easy either by pushing me away all the time…I really tried to understand him, I just didn't know how."
"I know that and I explained that to him. He's promised me that he would give you a chance… just be patient with him okay?" Riley nodded sadly and he kissed her nose.
"I love you…and I promise he will love you too…eventually."
"I don't want you to force him to like me Brian…" Riley insisted. "He needs to warm up to me in his own time and way just like he did to you…and I'm willing to work hard for that trust…you just have to show me how."
"You could always get him another puppy…that got me into his heart straight away," Brian teased and Riley rolled her eyes smiling.
"I don't want to buy his love, Littrell…and we have enough puppies as it is around here."
"I know, I know I'm just teasing," Brian chuckled. "He's a very big Donald Duck fan…one of the biggest next to me and Ellie. He's a sucker for anyone who appreciates the duck as much as he does. Maybe you could watch cartoons with him sometime. Be interested in him, be nice to him…let him see you aren't the mean lady he's made you out to be."
"I will try," Riley replied and he bent down and brushed his lips lightly over hers. Just as he was pulling away, Josh was running up to them with Laney right behind him. Brian looked down to see what his son had picked out to discover he was holding a set of five star wars light sabers, and a Darth Vader mask and cape. Josh beamed up at Brian and Brian chuckled.
"Oh you kids are going to have a lot of fun with those…" He commented. "If I buy those for you, do you promise me that they will be used for playing purposes…and not to deliberately hurt your friends?"
"I promise."
"Are you sure? Because I know how yours and Ellie's tempers can be…"
"I promise Brian, I'll be nice…"
"You'll just have to explain the rules to Ellie, Bri…and they could be outside toys where they have a lot more room to run around." Riley encouraged, as she knows how badly Josh wants the toys. Brian sighed and then looking like he is acting against his better judgement he nodded his head in approval.
"But there will be rules and I will explain them to all of you before you are allowed to play with them. The first person to break them will be banned from playing with them until further notice. Deal?"
"Deal," Josh replied excitedly and Brian took the star wars pack from him before going over to the front desk to pay for it. While Josh stood next to Laney and waited, he snuck a few glances at Riley who was standing nearby waiting also and he can't help but feel a little shocked. He would have thought she would be against such things and insist that the light sabers would be too dangerous. But she had helped him talk Brian into getting them for him. Why? Was it just because she knows he isn't too fond of her and was trying to impress Brian? Or does she really care about him like Brian insists? Josh shrugged and grabbed hold of Laney's pantleg. Laney smiled down at him a little and ruffled his hair.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, when Kori and Ashley had found store called Claire's the two of them led everybody inside.
"What are we doing in here?" Wiley asked, looking around the store and feeling very much out of place, as it is clearly a girl's store.
"The store has what I want, that's what." Kori answered, and with that she dragged her sister on over to a certain jewelry rack in the back. Wiley shook his head and smiled a little at the nice turn around between the two and he looked down at Spencer and took hold of his hand.
"Why don't you and I go next door to the store with your name on it?" Spencer looked up at Wiley weirdly and Nick laughed.
"The store with my name on it?"
"Yeah, didn't you know? There's a store here called Spencer's." Spencer raised his eyebrow and looked up at Wiley like he is just teasing.
"True story – really," Wiley replied. "Come on I'll show you," he added and he led the curious little boy out of the girly store and next door into the store called "Spencer's". Nick looked over at Dakota then who was looking like she was in Disneyland all over again, as Clare's to her is a jewelry lover's paradise. Nick chuckled and went on over to her.
"Daddy, I want my ears pierced," she announced the moment he had walked up to her.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
