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Chapter Two-Hundred-Seventy-Seven



Stacy hung out in Brooke’s office surfing the Internet for thirty minutes, until suddenly she heard Angel shriek out in the lobby.


“NICK, YOUR HOOOME!” the female Carter twin exclaimed. Stacy rolled her eyes playfully and she got up and went to greet everybody, completely forgetting to close what she was looking at. She walked out into the hall and found all five boys standing there with the whole gang that went with them on their trip and Nick standing in the middle of them all with his sister, and brother clinging to him tightly. Stacy laughed. So much for Aaron not missing his brother. Nick chuckled.


“Well hi there guys…it’s good to see you too, even though I was only gone for a week. You two act like I was on a full on tour.”


“How was New York?” Angel asked, ignoring Nick’s comment. She doesn’t care if he was only gone a week, a week seems like forever to her.


“How about you let me put you down and I’ll tell you about it?” Nick asked while grinning some. Aaron jumped down then, but Angel however, only tightened her grip. He looked at Ashley then.


“I’m gonna take Angel and the luggage upstairs. Are you coming?” He asked, shifting Angel so he is holding her over one shoulder while he held his bags on the other.


“I’ll be up in awhile,” Ashley replied, winking at Angel and Angel beamed. She loves how Ashley gets it. Nick nodded, kissed her cheek, and then turned and gave Brooke a brief hug.


“I’ll be down to see you in a bit, Brooke, you understand right?”


“Of course,” Brooke smiled. “Go spend time with your sister, she’s been patiently awaiting your arrival.”


“Thanks,” Nick replied, and he headed up the stairs then. Brooke pulled Ashley into a hug.


“How are you feeling sweetheart?”


“I’m happy to be home,” was all Ashley said.


“I’ll bet you are.”


“I’ve always known this Orphanage was home to me and that I couldn’t leave it even when I turn eighteen, but leaving for a week made me appreciate it even more.” Brooke smiled some, and hugged her close one more time. “Is Doctor Johnson in the hospital wing? I want to see him about removing this cast.”


“Of course he is, where else would he be?” Brooke teased, though deep down inside it’s really beginning to upset her that Doctor Johnson is suffering so much.


“And Brandon?” she asked, looking over at Peyton. “I heard all about what he’s been up to while I was gone, I half expected him to be out with Peyton when I got back.”


“I actually have no idea where he is at,” Peyton shrugged. “He said he had to go somewhere and left.”


“Well I’m really happy that you two are finally together. I’ve been bugging him for weeks to ask you out but he was being a chicken.”


“Well thanks for bugging him about it, cause I really like him” Peyton smiled.


“Anytime,” Ashley replied while smiling some. Brooke said hi to everybody, giving them hugs and stuff, and then suddenly Kevin wrapped his arm around her and walked off with her bringing up the Beauty & The Beast play. Aaron kissed Stacy’s cheek and then he ran off to look for Conner who he hasn’t seen since they arrived at the Orphanage. Stacy sighed and looked over at Kori who was standing nearby holding Spencer and talking with Wiley. She walked over to them then.


“Hey Kori…can we talk?” She asked, and Kori looked at her curiously as she can hear the seriousness in her voice.


“Yeah of course. Did you want to talk alone?” Stacy nodded and Kori wrapped an arm around her shoulders after handing Spencer over to Wiley and she led her upstairs to her room. When they were up there, Kori shut the door and Stacy walked over to the bed and went ahead and sat down on the edge of it making herself comfortable. Kori joined her side and looked at her concerned.


“What’s up?”


“I’m worried about Aaron,” she began, while looking down at her hands.


“Is he okay? He seemed fine to me earlier.”


“Yeah, for now…but he’s become really close to Conner.”


“And you are still suspicious of him?” Kori guessed.


“More so then before,” Stacy replied, and she looked up at Kori then. “He was talking to someone on the phone…and I tried to listen in on his conversation but he saw my shadow and went into the bathroom where I couldn’t follow him,” she explained. “But I heard some of it.”


“What did he say?”


“He was yelling at someone for calling him. He said that he told the person not to, that he would call him later. He said that he was at the Orphanage right now and he was talking to ‘the girlfriend’ and he asked the person on the phone what if I had seen the caller ID. That’s when he looked around nervously, saw me, and went into the bathroom.” Kori narrowed her eyes then.


“That does sound suspicious.” Stacy nodded, and she sat there quietly thinking for a few moments before speaking up again.


“Have you ever heard of the last name O’Ryan before?” Kori raised her eyebrow.


“Yes…and he wasn’t a very good person. Where did you hear of the last name?”


“Conner.” Kori froze.


His last name?” she asked, and Stacy nodded. It all clicked in then. No wonder the kid looks so familiar. Like someone she used to know. He’s Thomas’s son!


“OH man…” Kori groaned, and she smacked her head to her forehead.


“What? What’s going on?”


“Conner and Rosalie, are the children of two drug dealers that were friends with Sean in the past but were murdered for stealing.” Stacy gaped at her.


“Are you serious?!”


“Very.”


“What are we gonna do? He’s using Aaron!”


You aren’t going to do anything,” Kori replied calmly. “I am.”


“But—“


“--Stacy,” Kori interrupted, and she gently grabbed hold of her shoulders and made her look at her. “I am really happy that you were suspicious of Conner and helped me figure all of this out. That was very good of you and because of you Sean will not have a chance of getting to my sister. But you are just a kid and I don’t want you involved in this all right? If Sean finds out you’re meddling he’ll be royally pissed and turn on you next. And he is dangerous. So you need to let me handle this okay?”


“But Aaron—“


“—I’m not going to let anything happen to Aaron. I promise,” Kori reassured, gently rubbing her hand over Stacy’s arm.


“Okay…” Stacy whispered, a single tear rolling down her cheek and Kori enveloped her in a hug.


“It’ll be okay. I’ve been dealing with Sean for a very long time I know what I’m doing. You came to the right person.”


“Kay,” Stacy replied. “What are you gonna do?”


“I don’t know just yet. I need you to leave me alone to think about this all right? Do not go saying anything to Conner that will just make things worse. Just act normal.” Stacy nodded, and she got up and walked out of the room. Kori sat there quietly thinking about this. What is a kid doing getting involved with Sean? Is he stupid? Does he not know how his parents were killed? And what about poor Rosalie? What’s her part in all of this? Surely he is not letting her anywhere near that sick fuck. Everybody knows he can’t be around little girls. Where is she now while he is here? Who does he leave her with if he’s responsible for her? After sitting there thinking about all of this for awhile, she made up her mind. She reached for her phone that she placed on the nightstand earlier and she picked it up and pushed the number two button – Detective Stabler on speed dial. She placed it on her ear and it rang a couple of times before he picked up.


“Hey Kori, what’s up?” he asked right when he answered.


“I need you to come to the Orphanage as soon as possible. Are you busy?”


“Well Liv and I are working on another case at the moment, but I can be there right afterwards. It should be thirty minutes. Is that okay? Is this an emergency?”


“It’s very important…but it’s nothing I can’t handle until you get here.”


“What’s going on?”


“I’ll tell you when you get here.”


“Kori—“


“—Bye Elliot, see you in thirty minutes” Kori said, and then hung up. She stood then and put her phone in her pocket and she walked out of her room and headed downstairs to the lobby where she found Scott just headed up to see her.


“Are we going out to lunch now?”


“It’s going to have to be dinner. Something important just came up. Come on,” Kori replied, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him with her as she put her phone to her ear again and called Stacy.


“What’s up?” Stacy asked right when she answered.


“Where is he?”


“We’re all out on the playground.”


“I’ll see you in a minute then.”


“Kay,” Stacy replied and Kori hung up.


“What is going on? You never grab me when something is important, you usually go for Wiley.”


“Yeah, but you have more experience in this area,” was all Kori said as she led Scott to the playground, not having to drag anymore, as he had been more then willing to let her hold his arm. When they were out on the playground Kori walked casually up to the teenagers sitting under the tree.


“Hey Conner, what’s up?” she asked innocently, and he raised his eyebrow.


“Not much, just chillin’…”


“Yeah? That’s cool…how about you come chill with Scott and I for a bit?”


“What for?” Conner asked, as he watched Scott look at Kori weirdly. Kori shrugged.


“I need to talk to you is all.”


“Sorry, I’m busy.”


“Yeah, you look it. Sitting under this tree must be hard work.” Conner shrugged. Kori looked at him for a couple of seconds.


“If you don’t want to come with me to talk, we could always talk right here,” she replied, giving him a knowing look. “In front of your friends?” Conner froze suddenly.


“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


“Sure you do. You know damn well what I’m talking about, and I’m trying to save your butt here so how about you cooperate with me?” Conner looked at Aaron and Angel then who were looking highly confused and Stacy just stared at him with a glare fixed on her face as she sat in Aaron’s lap as if she were acting as a shield. Conner got up then and he looked at Kori and nodded. Kori turned still holding onto Scott, except somehow she had taken hold of his hand and she headed for the orphanage door after making sure the kid was following them. When they got inside, they headed up stairs again and Kori brought them all into her room and shut the door behind Conner. When she turned around Conner was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.


“How did you figure it out?” he asked softly.


“Stacy loves Aaron enough to protect him from people who are using him,” Kori replied, glaring at him. “And my question for you Conner O’Ryan, is what your motives are. What are Sean’s plans for you? To hurt my sister? It’s not going to happen.” Scott gaped at Conner then as Kori said his full name and it suddenly hit him how familiar the kid looks to him. His eyes…Thomas’s eyes…holy shit.


“I don’t want to hurt Ashley,” Conner replied softly.


“Oh no?” Kori asked doubtfully.


“No.”


“How am I supposed to believe that? Huh? You are working for Sean,” she replied, moving closer to him somewhat, the glare still fixed on her face. Conner backed up.


“I don’t have a choice.”


“Bullshit. We all have a choice on what decisions we make,” Scott replied.


“You don’t understand. I really don’t have a choice!”


“What I don’t understand,” Kori began. “Is how you can get involved in all of this when your parents died because of it! Did you not learn anything?”


“I SAID, I DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE!” Conner shouted this time, tears forming in his eyes. “MY PARENTS LEFT SEAN INCHARGE OF ME, OKAY?!” He added. “I am FORCED to do as he tells me to or my baby sister and I won’t have a place to stay or money to survive! I DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, I DIDN’T WANT ANY OF THIS, BUT I WAS JUST A KID WHO WAS BORN INTO IT! IT’S NOT MY FAULT!” He shouted. “There is not a day that goes by where I don’t HATE my parents for getting me into all of this!” he added as he let the tears in his eyes roll down his cheek and he turned away from them so they wouldn’t see. Kori looked to Scott questioningly, and Scott nodded, telling her that he’s telling the truth.


“Where do you keep Rosalie while you are gone? Not with Sean right?”


“Are you kidding me? I’m not stupid! I would never leave that bastard with my little sister!”


“Then who?”


“I have her enrolled in school…she’s in first grade.”


“How are you able to do that?” Scott asked, raising his eyebrow. Conner grew very quiet then.


“Conner…I would suggest you tell us everything…and honestly too.”


“With help from ‘Uncle Max’,” he whispered softly.


“Uncle Max?” Scott asked, the name ringing a bell.


“That’s what Rose thinks he is, is our Uncle. We live with him…and she’s registered in school with him listed as our guardian.”


“And what about you?”


“I don’t have time for school. I haven’t been in school since mom and dad were alive.”


“What do you mean you don’t have time for school?”


“Between being a dad and mom to Rose, and doing as Sean tells me to, I don’t have time for me.”


“Do you know where Sean is staying?” Scott questioned.


“No,” Conner answered at once in fear that Sean will get him if he doesn’t. Or worse…Rosalie.


“Are you sure?” Kori asked, raising her eyebrow.


“I’m positive. I only communicate with him over the phone.”


“And through Max, right?” Scott asked, and Conner nodded. “He comes over sometimes too. But I’ve never been to his place.


“Max…would this Max guy be Max Hart?” Conner hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. Sean is going to be pissed. Max is the one person he hides behind because nobody knew who he was. Scott nodded. That’s one guy he forgot to add to the list of names that he is supposed to finish and give to Detective Stabler.


“What’s Max’s involvement with Sean these days?”


“Everything…he basically is Sean ever since Sean’s face turned up everywhere, he started doing stuff for him while he hides away.”


“Good to know…” Just then there was a knock on the door, and then it opened.


“What’s good to know?” Detective Stabler asked, and Conner’s eyes widened in horror.


“You called the detective?!”


“Well of course I did, I had to. I’m not about to let anyone get to my sister.”


“What’s going on?” Detective Stabler demanded, and Kori looked at Conner.


“Are you gonna tell him, or should I? He’s pretty understanding so I think you should.”


“I’m not telling him anything. I need to protect Rosalie.” Detective Stabler raised his eyebrow.


“From who?”


“Sean,” Kori answered.


“What’s he doing to little Rose??”


“Nothing, so long as I keep my mouth shut.”


“It’s a little too late for that kid,” Scott replied. “I know you’re terrified, but you shouldn’t be involved in this. You never should’ve been involved. You said you didn’t want this, so help yourself out of it. He’s a detective – a good guy, you’ll be safe.”


“How can I guarantee I’ll be safe? He’ll just come after me. How do I know he won’t show up at Rose’s school some day and pick her up?”


“You can stay here,” Brooke replied, walking in the room. “Take her out of public school and we’ll put her in the first grade class here.”


“He’ll have no choice but to stay here. He’s a thirteen year old kid without parents taking care of a six year old all on his own” Kori replied. “And how did you know about this?”


“I saw Stacy’s research on my computer. She was looking up O’Ryan. She was concerned about Conner and I just put two and two together.”


“O’Ryan! Thomas O’Ryan. The drug dealer that died! That’s where I heard the name from. This kid is connected to Thomas?” Detective Stabler asked, as he is still the only one in the room who doesn’t know what’s going on.


“He is his son,” Scott answered. “I think he should be the one to tell you about it though.” Detective Stabler looked at Conner then expectantly, and Conner sighed. Seeing as how he has no choice, he broke out into the story.


~*~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile downstairs, Dakota, Elenore, Sarah, Josh, Spencer, and Chris were all in the playroom playing with Nick, Howie, AJ, Kevin, and Ashley supervising them and the rest of the children in there. Elenore was sitting with Josh and Chris as they were playing with cars, but she wasn’t really interested, she was just there because Josh was, and the two of them have their arms linked with one another. After awhile of sitting there staring off into space, she snapped out of it, stood up, and walked across the room to Dakota and Sarah who are coloring. When she got over there, she leaned against the table next to Sarah and spoke quietly.


“Sarah, do you think you could do me a favor?” Sarah leaned over and whispered something into Dakota’s ear then, and Dakota spoke for her.


“Depends on what the favor is.”


“I need you to write a letter for me,” Elenore whispered, after eyeing the grownups across the room. Sarah gave her a curious look then.


“For who?” Dakota asked for Sarah, but was also wondering the very same thing.


“My daddy.” Dakota gaped at her, as did Sarah.


“Why woulds you wanna write to him?”


“I wants to make a request.” Sarah leaned over and whispered into Dakota’s ear, and Dakota spoke again.


“What kinds of request?”


“To please nots hurt anyone anymores.”


“He won’ts listen. Your daddy is a bad man.”


“He is nots a bad man! He just makes bad choices,” Elenore insisted. “An I have to tries.”


“Why?”


“I’m scareds for him Kota…”


“Why? He’s done nothing but hurts you.”


“Doesn’t mean he didn’ts love me. He just didnts have a Kevy to love him like I do.”


“That doesn’t mean what he did was right.”


“I didnts do a lot of good things, do you wants me to die too?”


“You didnts murder anybody, Ellie.”


“He’s my daddy Kota. An’ he may have hurts me lots, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is my daddy. I don’ts like him for hurting me, but I loves him because he is my daddy. What if it were your daddy?”


“I’m sure he’s not gonna die Ellie…”


“He just might. Likes you said he murdered lots of people…an’ I over heards my mom arguing withs him before…something abouts a death penalty.”


“What’s that?” Dakota asked, her eyes widening in fear.


“I don’ts know, but I don’ts like the sound of it. I haves to try an’ gets him to stop hurting peoples.” Dakota didn’t reply she only stared at her best friend with concern.


“Please Kota…if it were your daddy you’d wants to do the same.”


“I just don’ts understand you Ellie…you used to always tell me you hates him.”


“That was before he tolds me I could stay with Kevy. He lets me go Kota…he loves me. It’s my turn now. An’ he may not be the bestest daddy in the world…but I never ever wants him to die.” Dakota looked at Sarah then, who sat there staring at Elenore sympathetically. She can understand where she is coming from. More then she knows. After a few moments, she nodded quietly and opened up her notepad and looked at Dakota giving her a look. Dakota looked at Elenore.


“She wants to know what you wants to say,” she explained. Elenore wiped her tears away then, and began to quietly recite her letter to Sarah, as she tried to think of just exactly how she was going to get this to him.