Chapter Three-Hundred-Thirty-Three
“Are you out of your mind? Why did you bring her in here? You were just supposed to get gas,” Trevor hissed quietly in Sean’s ear after him and Max had finally finished in the bathroom.
“You two were taking forever and I got hungry, excuse me” Sean whispered back irritably. “What were you two doing in there anyway, having sex?” Sean added in an accusing tone. Trevor rolled his eyes.
“How many times do I have to tell you that you’re the only one for me before you actually believe me?”
“Well you have to admit its pretty suspicious Trev. You both go in there at the same time and you take so frigin’ long, what do you expect?”
“I expect you to trust me.” Sean grumbled and turned his head away from Trevor stubbornly. “And if it will make you feel any better, I gave him a black eye for bad mouthing you in the bathroom. That is why we took so long. Okay?” Sean raised his eyebrow and turned to look at Max who was browsing the candy by himself and sure enough, his eye was practically swollen. “I was taking care of you so maybe you should have a little more faith in me, hmm?” Trevor added, and with that he turned and walked away. Sean heaved a frustrated sigh and turned and went back to what he was doing except now he was silently cursing himself for allowing Trevor to have such an affect on him. Again.
Ashley eyed Sean cautiously for a couple of moments and seeing that he was back to ignoring her again she looked over at Trevor and Max. Seeing that they were both worrying about nothing but themselves and their needs for the time being, she looked back at the fan who was giving her confused looks. She can see that she doesn’t understand why Ashley is with these strange people and not with Nick. She can tell that she doesn’t want to believe she is cheating on him, because she’d seen how deeply in love with Nick Ashley was earlier that evening. So she doesn’t know exactly what to believe. And since she isn’t Nick, she doesn’t get what Ashley is trying to tell her with her eyes. Slowly becoming frustrated with the fan (though she knows its not her fault, she’s just extremely desperate) Ashley looked around the store trying to find something that would help her out.
As she was looking, she spotted pepper spray near by. Pepper spray! Oh how she wishes she had hers right now. She would have if Sean hadn’t caught her in the shower. Her pepper spray is back at the hotel attached to her shoe. She had been wearing it the whole time she was at the ball. Turning her attention back to the fan, Ashley mouthed help me to her. What? the fan mouthed back. Help me Ashley mouthed again but this time more frantically. Suddenly Sean lightly yanked on her arm leaving her no choice but to follow him. Ashley gave the fan another desperate look as she let him pull her along. When he came to a stop next to Trevor Ashley realized he had brought her closer to the pepper spray. Can he make it any easier for me? She thought to herself. She eyed Sean and Trevor cautiously for a moment and when she saw that Sean was busy apologizing to Trevor and being the mushy gay guy that he’s apparently become, Ashley causally reached her arm behind her pretending to scratch an itchy spot in her back. She kept her eyes on them as she grabbed up a pepper spray lipstick and she closed it inside her hand as it remained behind her back. Now where am I gonna hide it in this skimpy dress? she wondered. Man does she really wish she were wearing a bra. Damnit Sean. After contemplating for a couple of moments on her clever hiding spot, she realized there was only one place she could put it. Quietly scowling to herself she looked around the store to see who all is around besides her tormentors and the fan.
To her relief, that was it. She turned her eyes back on her tormentors then, watching them carefully as she slipped her hand up the back of her dress and she slid the lipstick in the back of her panties. At least Sean was nice enough not to make her go without those. She just hopes to god that he doesn’t try and rape her on the ride home or she is doomed. Now that she was secretly armed, she knew she could relax somewhat now. She just has to wait for the right time to use it. It can’t just be anytime, it has to be carefully thought out. She has to make it out of this alive - for both Nick and the sake of their children. Dakota and Sarah must be breaking right about now – especially her fragile Sarah. She may put on a brave face for Dakota but Ashley knows that out of the two of them Sarah is the weakest. She just can’t handle trauma the way Kota can, she completely shuts down. And Bella…her baby. If she doesn’t make it out of this alive she is going to grow up without her mommy. No. That won’t happen. Not if Ashley has anything to say about it. AJ may not have gotten the chance to teach her self-defense but what better way is there to learn about it then experiencing it?
“Do you have everything you need? We should go, now that the cameras have a good look at us and all,” Ashley heard Trevor whisper in Sean’s ear, the sarcasm just dripping off of his voice.
“You two are the ones who had to take a piss, just remember that” Sean whispered back.
“It was supposed to be just in and out. You are the one who had to come in and browse around.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Sean grumbled, getting highly sick of Trevor’s attitude. He’ll be happy when they’re back in Florida and safe so he can remove that huge stick from his ass and lighten up again.
“I don’t want any of us to have to go up and pay. Its bad enough that we’re on the cameras but we don’t need fatso getting a good look at us too” Trevor informed.
“Well we can’t just walk out, he’ll notice.”
“Well we aren’t exposing ourselves anymore.” Sean thought about if for a moment, and then he looked at Ashley. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers so they were making eye contact.
“You’re going to take my wallet and casually walk up to the front desk and you are going to pay for all of our stuff. You aren’t going to make a scene, you aren’t going to give any hints, and you aren’t going to talk to him at all. You are just going to pay and come outside where I will be waiting. Understood? Nick is counting on you to behave” he told her in a voice barely above a whisper. Ashley nodded obediently when she heard the magic words – Nick is counting on her to behave. Sean pulled back from her and pulled his wallet out and he handed it to her and led her toward the front of the store. She looked at the fan in the corner of her eye and saw her standing there with a magazine. She is only pretending to read it though, because Ashley can see her watching. She just hopes that from watching the whole thing, she comprehended what is going on in front of her. She needs her to comprehend. When they reached the front Sean, Max, and Trevor headed for the door and the man at the counter spoke up.
“Hey – you guys can’t leave with those you haven’t paid.”
“My girlfriend will take care of it,” Sean informed him without looking at him and after handing Ashley everything that they were getting they all walked outside but Ashley could feel Sean watching her. She walked up to the front counter and set everything down and she watched as the old man rung everything up. When he finished, he told her the price and Ashley pulled out the right amount of money, plus the money for her hidden pepper spray. She hasn’t stolen anything in her life and she is not about to start now. Even if it’s a matter of life and death here.
“Here, sign this” the man told her while handing her a receipt and pen and then he started to count up the money he handed her. Just as she was about to sign the receipt, he spoke again.
“You paid more then you needed to miss,” he informed her. Ashley looked at him for only a second and then back down at the receipt. Instead of answering, she leaned over and wrote down on the receipt. Help. Kidnapped. Florida. H52 J215. Watch your cameras. and then she wrote her signature and handed it to him. The man looked at it and as he did she picked up Sean, Trevor, and Max’s stuff and she walked out of the gas station. The old man watched in shock as Sean grabbed Ashley’s arm forcefully – digging his nails into her some and dragged her to the car. He forced her inside, Max got in next to her and bound and gagged her once more. Trevor got in the driver seat, Sean in the passenger, and then they drove off. The old man gaped after them in surprise for only a minute before grabbing the phone and immediately calling 9-1-1. The Backstreet Fan that Ashley had been secretly sending looks to the whole time rushed to the counter.
“Those guys are Sean and Trevor – those guys that are on the news all the time! They have Ashley Mortenson – Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boy’s girlfriend! I saw it all!” she told the man. The man nodded to her and then spoke into the phone when his call was finally answered. The Backstreet Fan stayed put knowing full well that they’re going to need her as a witness. Nick is counting on you to behave the fan silently remembered Sean’s words. What is that supposed to mean? Ashley seemed to be at his beck and call at those words. Do they have Nick too? Oh god. No wonder she isn’t fighting them. No wonder she is behaving as if nothing is going on. She is protecting Nick. Her heart silently went out to Ashley. How could half the fans hate her so much? Look what she is doing for Nick – she obviously loves him very much or she would be doing everything in her power to get away right now. Well the hate has to stop she decided. They have to know she isn’t the bad guy here – they have to get over their jealousy. And she is going to make sure they do.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Brian…” Dakota whimpered as he carried her into his room where Riley and Jerald were at keeping an eye on Josh and Ellie.
“Yeah baby?”
“I miss Ashee an’ daddy…” she pouted, her eyes watering up.
“I know,” Brian told her. “I know baby…” He gently rubbed his hand over her back in attempt at comfort.
“Who is gonna sleep withs me an’ Sarah?” she asked, looking down at her sister who was standing at Brian’s side holding his hand.
“I am,” Brian told her and he planted a kiss on her forehead. “Me and Riley. Would that be okay?” Dakota nodded in agreement and Brian watched as Sarah went over and crawled into Riley’s lap, slid her arms around her and buried her face in her shoulder, wanting nothing but to be held. But she doesn’t want Brian to hold her, as he has tried a couple of times. She wants a female to hold her. A mommy. Someone remotely close to her mommy. Riley lightly rested her chin atop of Sarah’s head and enveloped her in her arms and she sat there slowly rocking her. Brian carried Dakota (who he has a feeling is going to be clinging to him for the next few days) into his room so he could check on Bella who is already in her bed and get his bed ready for four people. As Brian noticed the TV was on but turned down low an idea suddenly came to him.
“You know Kota…Ellie and Josh are still awake. They’re in their room worried sick about you. What if we brought them in here and set up a slumber party on the floor in front of the TV? I bet you and Sarah could use your friends right now.”
“No.” Dakota told him the expression on her face going from upset to angry at the sound of Elenore’s name. Brian raised his eyebrow.
“Why not? Surely I thought you would jump at that idea…”
“No.” She repeated, and crossed her arms over her chest as more tears fell from her eyes.
“Okay…” he replied. “I guess you are just tired right? Its understandable,” he told her. Dakota remained silent. “We’ll just get you and Sarah in bed then,” he added and he continued to set his bed up. Soon enough when he finished he lay her in the middle and covered her up with her Beauty & The Beast blanket.
“You stay right here sweetheart and I’m gonna go get Riley and your sister. Okay?” Dakota still said nothing, silently brooding over her selfish best friend. Brian turned and walked out of the room, and as he did his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and placed it to his ear.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“I’m driving to New York Captain,” Detective Stabler informed the second he walked into Captain Cragen’s office. He didn’t even give the man a chance to say hello.
“No you are not, I need you here.”
“Ashley needs me there more then you need me here,” Detective Stabler insisted firmly, the tone in his voice threatening.
“Actually, that’s not true” Cragen told him coolly despite the fact that he knows his best Detective’s temper is about to rise. “I just got a call from the NYPD. She was spotted at a gas station in New York and she managed to tip the old man behind the counter off that they’re bringing her here.” Detective Stabler raised his eyebrow in curiosity.
“Did this old man say how she is doing? Did she look okay?” he asked, worry written all over his face for the girl he’s grown to love very much over the past few months of protecting her.
“He said she was in a skimpy red dress that a hooker would wear and black heels. She had no bra on, and according to the security videos in the gas station, she managed to sneak pepper spray in her underwear for protection.” Detective Stabler breathed a sigh of relief, the guilt of him and AJ not teaching her to protect herself before their trip to New York going away a little. She is protecting herself in her own little way. She is being strong. That knowledge is something to boost his motivation with. Cragen noticed the look on Detective’s Stabler’s face change at his news. “I’m not done yet,” he added. “There was an eye witness – a Backstreet Fan that just happened to be in the gas station at the time.”
“I want to go talk to her” Detective Stabler said at once.
“It’s already being done.”
“Yes but this is my case, I need to talk to her.”
“This isn’t your case anymore, this is becoming really close to being personal with you and you better watch it Elliot.”
“I’m going to New York.”
“No you are not. I already told you that I need you here.”
“Liv can stay here and do whatever you were going to make me do. I’m going to New York.”
“If you want to help Ashley you need to stay here.”
“I want to talk to that witness I—“
“-I will see about her coming here. Will that make you stay?” Detective Stabler paused at his offer.
“Fine.”
“Fine,” Cragen replied while picking up his phone. Detective Stabler stood there silently. He’ll stay if the witness comes to him. But he really wanted to go be near Nick and everybody. He hates it that they’re so far away, he hates not being in control. But he can’t say that. That kind of talk will get him off the case and then he will really not be in control. Not that he won’t still do the case himself anyway. He’ll raise hell if it means getting Ashley back and safe.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Guess what Kota,” Brian announced as he walked into his room with Riley at his side. She is cradling Sarah who is already half asleep.
“What?” Dakota asked softly.
“I just got off of the phone with AJ. Your daddy is awake and okay.”
“Why didn’t you let me talk to him?!” Dakota wanted to know, her eyes filling up with tears. God she really needs to sleep. This being emotional thing is really starting to take it’s toll on her but she can’t help it.
“Because,” Brian replied cautiously and he went over and sat down on the bed. “He’s very weak right now and needs his rest. We didn’t want to overwhelm him or anything…and he doesn’t know that Ashley is missing yet” He told her, deciding to be honest with her.
“Why nots? Daddy needs to know!”
“Yes he does, I agree…but not right this minute. Like I said he is very weak and needs his rest. We don’t know what that kind of information will do to him. We’re going to let him rest for the night and then tomorrow we’re going to tell him. Okay?”
“Kay…”
“And right now, two little girls really need their rest too” Riley informed while getting in bed on one side of Dakota with Sarah snuggled into her. Brian got in on the other side of Dakota so she was right in the middle. She curled up with Brian, naturally. He and Riley covered them all up and soon enough they were all finally asleep.
~*~*~*~*~
The next morning bright and early Dakota awoke to find herself the only one in bed. She could hear everybody else out in the living room and she could smell food. Deciding to investigate, she crawled out of bed and walked out of the room and sure enough everybody was sitting at the table. Elenore and Josh were eating cereal, Brian was holding Bella and feeding her a bottle, Jerald was sitting at the table next to Elenore, and Denise and Riley were making breakfast. Dakota went over and crawled up into Brian’s lap while staying out of Bella’s way with no trouble at all. She is a natural at that since Ashley allowed her to sit with her all the time while she had Bella. Her Ashee always made sure that she and Sarah got the same amount of attention as Bella did. Dakota loved to sit in her lap and help her feed the baby. Knowing perfectly well about this routine, Brian gave her a small smile and immediately took on Ashley’s part hoping that it will help Dakota feel somewhat better. He knows he can never replace Ashley though. She is very important in the girls’ life that is perfectly clear.
“Do you want some cereal honey?” Riley offered Dakota when she noticed her.
“Okay,” Dakota answered softly.
“Lucky Charms?”
“Yes please.” While she watched Riley get her a bowl of cereal, her eyes suddenly fixed on Elenore, her best friend. The girl she loves very much, but at the moment despises. Dark feelings surfaced inside her at the sight of her. She noticed Elenore sneaking nervous looks at her. She hadn’t said a word to her at all since she came out of the bedroom. She can see that she feels guilty. Well she should! Dakota snuggled into Brian some as she could feel those dark feelings growing strong.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
