Chapter One-Hundred-Eighty
“Abbie has been WHAT?!” Nick exclaimed.
“Shot,” AJ answered. “With a pellet gun.”
“Is she okay?” Nick asked, not even bothering to hide the panic in his voice and his eyes watered up with tears. He knew something like this was going to happen. He had an aching feeling in his stomach that something horrible was going to happen to the puppies – he didn’t want it to be true though. Especially not to his puppy of all puppies.
“Yeah, Howie got the pellet out of her – it wasn’t in her very far, it was only meant for a warning not to seriously hurt her. He cleaned her up and she is acting all normal as if nothing had even happened to her. The only difference is that she won’t let Howie put her down…she wants to be loved on.”
“Daddy what is wrong with Abbie?” Dakota asked worriedly, her lips already formed in a pout as she watched Angel wrap her arms around Nick and look at him with concern. Marcus was also listening to him with worry in his eyes.
“Does Ashley know yet?”
“No, no one’s called her. We don’t know how to break it to her…you know she is going to panic.”
“I’ll do it…let me tell her I have experience with this stuff…I’ll be right home okay?”
“Kay, I will see you in a few minutes then.” AJ replied, deciding he won’t mention Detective Stabler yet. He can tell he is upset enough as is with Abbie at the moment.
“Yeah,” Nick agreed and he hit the off button on his phone.
“Nick what’s going on with Abbie?” Marcus was the first to ask. Nick looked at Dakota who was already in tears. He scooped her up in his arms and hugged her close to him.
“Abbie is fine baby…she’s going to be fine,” he reassured as he rubbed his hand over her back. He kissed her forehead softly and rocked her in his arms and he looked at Marcus and Angel who were standing there patiently waiting for Nick’s answer.
“She’s been shot with a pellet gun,” he finally revealed and the look on Marcus’ face made it perfectly clear that his heart is breaking. “Not hard enough to seriously hurt her…they wanted to make a statement.”
“Is she okay?” Angel asked as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“She’s fine…AJ says she’s acting normal as if nothing had happened to her. The only difference is that she won’t let Howie put her down because she wants to be loved on.”
“Oh man…”
“I told AJ I would be right home. Angel can you pull the wagon for me?” He asked as he set Dakota into the wagon and Angel put Sarah in behind her.
“Yeah of course,” Angel answered and she grabbed up the handle to the wagon and they all headed back to the Littrell House – Nick and Marcus trailing behind Angel while Nick turned his phone back on and placed it to his ear after hitting the number 1 button. The phone rang a couple of times until finally Kori picked up.
“What’s up Nick?”
“Can I talk to Ashley please? It’s an emergency.”
“Yeah sure…is everything okay?”
“No…It’s not…but let me tell Ashley first.”
“Okay…” Kori replied and she handed the phone over to Ashley.
“Hello?”
“Hi baby…what’re you doing?”
“Nothing really, just sitting at the lake with Kori drinking coffee. Is everything okay?”
“I have some bad news to tell you…” Nick began and he raked his fingers through his hair nervously.
“What? Nicky what’s going on?”
“But first I want you to know that Abbie is just fine – Howie took very good care of her and he says she is acting very normal.”
“ABBIE? What is wrong with Abbie Nick?”
“Sean’s crew shot her with a pellet gun…” Nick answered softly, knowing there was no easier way to tell her.
“WHAT?” Ashley shouted and he could hear the panic in her voice and knows her eyes are watering up without even having to see her. It was his reaction too. He can hear Kori begging to know what’s going on in the background.
“She’s fine…she’s going to be okay. Howie fixed her up and like I said before he says she is being normal."
“Why would they do that? Why would they shoot her? What did she ever do to them?”
“They SHOT her?!” Kori exclaimed in the background. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know why…they’re just really cruel people baby. Howie said they did it to make a statement. I’m on my way back there right now,” Nick reassured.
“Me too Nicky, I will meet you there.”
“Okay, I love you honey everything is going to be okay…”
“Love you too,” Ashley replied and she hung up the phone. Nick did too and he put his phone in his pocket and looked at Marcus.
“How is she taking it?”
“Just as we all expected her to.” Marcus sighed and Nick noticed the upset look in his eyes.
“Hey…come on now Abbie is going to be okay. We need to be strong for Dakota, I freaked her out enough as it is…and Ashley is going to be a mess too.”
“It’s my fault she got shot Nick…” Marcus insisted.
“What? That’s nonsense…you were out all day.”
“The kids and I took the puppies outside this morning and when we all came in, I saw Lil Rok and Lily in the kitchen lying under the table so I assumed that all of the puppies were in the house…I didn’t even bother to make sure. Those puppies have been outside all day and no one knew it.”
“It was a mistake…you’re human you make them just like the rest of us…even if the five of us like to think you’re superman sometimes.”
“Yes well, this mistake got an innocent puppy shot today.”
“It wasn’t entirely your fault. It is high time we all started taking control of our puppies. I think we all needed to realize it…I just wish Abbie didn’t have to get shot in order for us to get it.” Nick insisted as he wrapped his arm around Marcus while the two of them walked side by side. After a couple of moments Nick let go and he caught up to his sister and the kids before climbing into the wagon with the kids and pulling them into his lap forcing Angel to have to stop as he did so and she raised her eyebrow at him.
“Nick I can’t pull this thing with all three of you in there!”
“Sure you can!” Nick insisted, smiling some and he bent down and kissed each girl’s forehead. Angel shook her head and continued going. Marcus chuckled.
“Here Angel…climb in and I will pull.”
“Sweet!” Angel cheered and she dropped the handle to the wagon before going around and climbing in behind Nick after he had scooted up.
“Here, take a kid any kid” Nick offered and Angel reached over and gently took Dakota into her own lap so that Nick could hold Sarah. Marcus grabbed the handle then and when they were all set he began pulling them back to the Littrell House.
“I hope you three aren’t upset with me for cutting our time short…” Nick spoke after a few moments.
“It’s fine Nick…Abbie is important too. We had an hour with you at least and it was fun.” Angel insisted.
“Yeah – Abbie is important too,” Dakota insisted. Nick looked down at Sarah.
“What about you honey? Are you okay?” Sarah nodded and snuggled against Nick. She had lots of fun parading around town in the wagon, Dakota yelling ‘hi’ at everybody and people smiling and waving at them and saying how cute and adorable they’re. They were even stopped by a few fans too. They had ice cream and they went and played at the park – and to top it all off, Dakota was being nice to her. The day couldn’t get any better. When they arrived at the Littrell House, Marcus stopped and checked the bushes and he was relieved that he didn’t see any of Sean’s crew in there.
“They would be stupid to be there after what they’ve done to my dog,” Nick insisted as Marcus pulled the wagon into the yard and shut the gate behind them. “Just wait until I get my hands on them…I kicked that Thomas guy’s ass, I can sure as hell kick theirs.” Angel felt Dakota snuggle into her some and she poked Nick in the back.
“Enough. You aren’t kicking anybody’s ass and there are some people in this wagon who don’t like that name.”
“I’m sorry…” Nick replied softly and he hugged Sarah close and reached back and squeezed Dakota’s hand gently. When they were at the bottom step of the front porch in the yard Nick climbed out of the wagon with Sarah and Angel followed his lead. The two of them put the kids down and brought them into the house and as soon as they got in there, they found Howie, AJ, Brian, and Harold in the living room and they heard everybody else in the kitchen. Nick went straight over and sat next to Howie and Abbie immediately got up and bounded over to Nick excitedly giving him kisses, her ears back and her tail wagging.
“HI Abbie…you’re such a good puppy…I’m so glad you are okay,” Nick spoke to her in that voice you get when talking to a baby. She moved so she was standing on her hind legs with her paws rested on Nick’s chest and he stroked her sides and gave her kisses. Dakota crawled up onto the couch into Howie’s lap and she too began to pet Abbie who excitedly moved onto her. Dakota giggled as she kissed her cheek. Howie smiled some.
“She is so excited to be getting all of this attention.” Abbie jumped down from the couch then and she rushed over to Angel and pounced at her legs wanting her attention now too. Angel laughed a little.
“Hi sweetie,” she greeted the overly excited puppy and she squatted down and pet her a little too but Abbie didn’t stay around long because she next darted at Marcus and then Sarah. AJ chuckled.
“She has to make sure she says hello to everybody.” Just as Sarah was sitting there petting Abbie Ashley and Kori walked in with Laney behind them. One look at Ashley and Abbie was darting straight for her.
“ABBIE!” Ashley exclaimed and she sat down on the floor and held her arms open just on time for the small puppy to go bounding into them. Ashley wrapped her arms around her protectively and held her close to her as the small puppy licked at her cheek affectionately. “My poor baby girl I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry,” Ashley told her over and over again and she felt her eyes water up with tears. She is so sick of Sean hurting everybody she loves. First he got to Kori, and then he killed her parents, then he kidnapped Josh and Ellie…and now her puppy…it just isn’t fair. None of them deserve this. Her parents didn’t deserve to die…it should have been her. Josh and Ellie shouldn’t have been kidnapped, he should have taken her and beat her up instead…or shoot her with a pellet gun. Not her puppy…why does everybody she loves have to suffer? If Ashley had it her way she would run off to some cave and stay there. That way everybody she loved would be safe because she isn’t a safe person to be around. Not while Sean is after her…because he will stop at nothing until he gets her. He doesn’t care how many innocent people or animals he hurts a long the way. Who is it going to be next…Nick? She won’t have that. Not him. Ashley stood up then with Abbie in her arms and without looking at anybody or saying a single word, she walked past all of them and went upstairs and a couple of minutes later they heard a door slam shut.
“Oh boy…” Nick spoke softly and he got up and went after her with AJ and Kori at his heals. When they all reached Nick’s bedroom he opened the door to find her sitting on the floor leaning up against the side of the bed with Abbie in her lap as she is hugging her legs close to her chest and tears are rolling down her cheeks. Nick started to go to her when she suddenly stopped him.
“DON’T come any closer to me…” Nick stopped rooted in his spot.
“But baby you need me right now…”
“NO.” Ashley snapped somewhat and she looked at him. “No Nicky. Stay away from me…you’re safe as long as you don’t come near me. Because everybody I love tends to get hurt and I CAN’T let you get hurt. Not you.” Nick sighed.
“Then let them hurt me because there is no way I am staying away from you.” He insisted and despite her orders he went over and sat next to her on the floor. “I am committed to you I don’t care how many times you push me away,” he insisted and he wrapped his arms around her as he turned to face her and he pulled her closer so she was leaning into his chest and he kissed her forehead softly.
“But I’m not safe…”
“Yes you are. You’ve got security surrounding you, you’ve got me, your friends, your family…pepper spray.”
“I mean for you…and everybody. As long as you’re with me one of you are bound to get hurt…because you are in the way of what he wants – me. I’m dangerous.”
“I don’t care.”
“But I do…it hurts me to see everybody get hurt…”
“I know…but it doesn’t mean it’s your fault. We’re the one’s who choose to love you and stand by you…no matter how big the risk of getting hurt is. You can push us away all you want but we won’t go very far. We will always be right here when you call us back.” AJ replied as he went over and sat on the other side of her.
“I won’t call you back…because I’ll know you’re safe.” Ashley replied stubbornly.
“The point is, we’re your family and are here for you to the very end. So stop trying to get rid of us…it won’t work.”
“Yeah. You’re stuck with us whether you like it or not,” Nick replied, as he tickled her sides, causing Ashley to squirm and giggle a little despite how upset she is.
“Stop it,” Ashley pouted and she pushed him away. “That tickles” Nick smirked and pulled her into his lap cradling her and he cupped her cheek in his hand before leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly over hers.
“You’re my soulmate baby girl…if I die saving you I would feel honored.”
“You wouldn’t feel anything Nick because you would be dead.”
“Even so…at least I died saving the one thing that I love almost more then anything.” Ashley raised her eyebrow.
“Almost Nicky?”
“Well yes, cause I love Kota just as much as I love you.” Ashley couldn’t help but smile up at him and he caressed her cheek with his finger.
“Both of you girls are the air in my lungs…please don’t take that away from me.”
“I’m just afraid Sean is going to take the one important thing in my life away from me…and I can’t live with that.”
“It’s not going to happen, I promise,” Nick reassured and he hugged her close to him placing soft kisses on her forehead.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t be scared about it…”
“That’s fine…as long as you can be scared about it right here…so that I can ease your fears.”
“I don’t think I could leave you even if I tried,” Ashley replied softly and she slid her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
“Good…cause it would just about kill me,” Nick insisted as he hugged her closer. He sat there holding her for a long while and when he was sure he had her calm again he looked at AJ.
“Did Brian make those phone calls he was supposed to make while I was gone?”
“Mhm. It’s all pretty much ready…but we weren’t sure if you were still going to do it after what happened with Abbie.”
“Oh we’re,” Nick insisted. “I think it’s exactly what we need to do right now.”
“Are any of you going to tell me what you people are up to yet?” Ashley pouted playfully.
“If we told you it would ruin the surprise,” Nick insisted and he smiled down at her some.
“A surprise?” Ashley asked, perking up a little bit. “For me?”
“All for you baby,” Nick answered after chuckling a little and he rested his forehead against hers.
“Then why didn’t you just tell me that in the first place instead of getting me all scared? I mean sheesh! I had all kinds of bad scenarios in my head.”
“Trust me honey…I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” Nick reassured. “You’re going to love it…I hope.”
“I’ll go downstairs and tell Brian to go get the thing for the thing if you know what I mean,” AJ announced while getting up. Ashley raised her eyebrow.
“Oh how nice, I have Dr. Seuss for a brother.”
“Hey Dr. Seuss is a cool guy,” AJ insisted and he walked out of the room. Ashley looked at Kori who was standing in the doorway leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Hey Kori…you okay?”
“Mhm, fine.” Kori answered and she smiled to prove it. “I’m going to go see Wiley now. I’ll see you later hon,” she replied and she walked away. Ashley shrugged and she got up and lay on the bed before grabbing hold of Nick and pulling him up next to her. She slid her arms around him and pulled him so he lay ontop of her and he smiled down at her and kissed her nose.
“I’ve missed you,” She announced. “We can’t do the whole spending the entire day without each other thing very often because it’s complete torture.”
“Well, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Nick replied while rolling his eyes playfully and he rolled them over so she lay on top before pulling the blankets up on them and she rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes comfortably.
“Nap time Nicky?” she asked softly.
“For awhile baby…but we’ve gotta leave soon,” he answered while drawing imaginary lines and circles on her back with his finger.
~*~*~*~*~
“Is Ashley okay?” Brian questioned when AJ and Kori came downstairs.
“Yeah, Nick made it all better, she’s fine.” AJ nodded.
“Good…how big was the breakdown this time?”
“It actually wasn’t as bad as her usual ones…we’ve all noticed her getting better, but I didn’t expect her breakdowns to go away right away…just like that.”
“Is Nick still doing her surprise?”
“Yeah I actually came down here to tell you that. He wants you to go and get the roses…and we’ll probably have to go and set up the restaurant without him now that he has Ashley to distract.”
“Okay Josh, Dakota, Sarah…and Spencer – if it’s okay with Kori, and I will go and get the roses then.”
“Yeah, its fine he can go if he wants,” Kori replied as she let Wiley pull him into her arms.
“YAY!” Spencer cheered and he a long with the other two kids followed Brian out the door with Marcus.
“Did you tell him about Detective Stabler yet?” Denise asked, looking over at her son.
“No not yet…they were being all lovey dovey and happy, I didn’t want to ruin it. I’ll let him know a little later.”
“Before he arrives, if at all possible,” Howie insisted after rolling his eyes some.
“Mhm…before he arrives.”
“Like a good hour or two before he arrives.”
“Okay, okay…jeez…” AJ replied, holding his hands up defensively and he went over to play with Laila and her toys.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
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