Chapter Thirty Nine
When Josh had found Brian in the playroom with Riley, Nick, Ashley, AJ, Howie, Kori, Wiley, and all of the kids he walked over to him. Brian, the adults, and Ashley all looked at him confused. The even more confusing part was, Josh is covered in silly string.
"Josh? What are you doing down here? You're supposed to be up in your room."
"I thought you would likes to know that Dakota and Spencer snuck Ellie out of her room and they were up in my air vent throwing spit balls and spraying silly string at me." Josh explained.
"How is that possible, Josh? Kevin was up in the room with Ellie the entire time." Riley replied.
'No he wasn't! They gots him to leave some how!" Brian raised his eyebrow. He exchanged looks with the adults for a moment, than he got up and took Josh's hand.
"Alright buddy, lets go see what this is all about." He, Nick, Ashley, and Kori all began to lead Josh upstairs. When they got up there they went down the hall to Elenore's room. When they walked in they found Kevin sitting there reading a book and Elenore lying on her bed coloring. Kevin looked up at them confused.
"What's up guys?" He asked curiously.
"Kev were you in here with Ellie the entire time?" Brian asked.
"No…Brooke needed me downstairs for a few minutes to talk about some things. Why?"
"Well Josh came downstairs and told me that Dakota and Spencer helped Elenore escape her room and they were up in Josh's air vent throwing spit balls and spraying silly string at him - hence the silly string all over Josh right now." Kevin turned and looked at Elenore suspiciously.
"Ellie? Is this true?"
"No I was laying here coloring the entire time, Kevy. I even colored you a picture. See?" Elenore asked innocently as she held her coloring book out for Kevin to see. "I worked real hard on its." Kevin took the coloring book from Elenore and looked at the picture. It's a picture of a little girl and a man flying a kite together. She colored it to look exactly like her and Kevin and just looking at it, Kevin agreed that she had worked very hard on it. It looks like it had to have taken her an hour to do. But little did he know…she had started it before the whole escape even happened.
"Aww honey…this is really good. Thank-you," he told her and he kissed her cheek. She smiled up at him sweetly. Kevin turned and looked at everybody else.
"She says she was in here the whole time you guys, and this picture had to have taken an hour I mean look at it." He said, showing everybody the picture that he was now very proud of and would probably put it some place special when she's done. Brian raised his eyebrow. He knows not to fully trust them without real evidence - after Josh lying to him earlier that afternoon he knows better.
"Nick I think you should go and ask Dakota now." Nick nodded.
"Yeah I think so too," He replied, as he is highly suspicious. Spit balls and silly string sounds exactly like something he would do. And Dakota is exactly like him in every way it's hard to believe she isn't his by blood. He and everybody else, a long with Kevin (who had scooped Elenore up into his arms and kissed the top of her head affectionately) went next door to Nick, Dakota, and Ashley's room. They found Dakota and Spencer lying on the floor innocently playing Candy Land. Lily lay asleep beside Dakota who sat there petting her between each turn.
"Hi daddy! Uncle Kevy an' Brian!" She greeted. She looked around at everybody else. "An' Ashee, Kori, Ellie, an' Joshy!" she added. Josh glared at her but Dakota smiled sweetly nonetheless.
"Hi baby, what are you and Spencer up to?" Nick interrogated.
"Playin' Candy Land," Dakota answered. "An' winning at its too!"
"I see. Well Josh was telling us an interesting story earlier…"
"Really? What's about? Was it about dragons an' stuff?" Dakota asked interestedly.
"Nope. Not this story," Nick answered while sitting down next to his daughter so that he could look her in the eyes. "This story is about a little girl and a little boy helping their best friend - another little girl, sneak out of her bedroom. Do you know this story Dakota? Sound familiar at all?" Dakota looked Nick straight in the eye and continued her innocent but interested in what he has to say act.
"No daddy I don'ts think you ever told me that one before."
"Really? Well it involved silly string and spit balls. Starting to sound familiar yet?"
"Nope, not at all daddy. But please do tell…it sounds like a very good story. What did they do with the silly string and spit balls?"
"Well, the three friends, Dakota, Spencer, and Elenore snuck through the air vents in their orphanage and threw spit balls and sprayed silly string at the orphanage bully named Josh." Nick explained, once again looking his daughter straight in the eyes. "Funny how the kids in the story have your names isn't it?" Dakota looked at Josh.
"That is a very good fictional story, Josh. Why don'ts you become an author? You'd be great ats it."
"Well you see honey, I don't think it's fictional at all," Nick replied, never taking his eyes off of Dakota. Dakota looked at Nick straight in the eyes with the most innocent look she could muster. "I think that it's a true story. I think you and Spencer helped Ellie escape from her bedroom and snuck up in the air vents with silly string and spit balls and you did all of those things that Josh said in his story."
"But I don'ts have silly string daddy. An' neither does Spencer or Ellie. So how could we have done such a thing?" Nick looked at Kevin.
"Does Ellie have silly string Kevin?"
"Nope, none." Nick looked at Kori then and she shook her head.
"Spence doesn't either."
"Hmm," Nick replied. He sat there thinking for a couple of minutes, than he got up and went to Dakota's toy box. He opened it up and he began to pull out all of her toys - every last bit of them. Dakota sat there lounging on the floor comfortably as she pets Lily. She hasn't got a worry in the world. She knows her daddy isn't going to find any silly string in there. When Nick had pulled out every last toy he frowned when he didn't find a can of silly string in there. He could've sworn he bought her some for New Years. He then turned and looked at everyone else.
"Well there's none in here." Brian looked at Josh.
"I'm sorry buddy but there is no way to prove that they did it. For all we know it could've been any kid in this Orphanage - and it would take hours to search every kid's room for a can of silly string."
"But THAT'S not fair! I know they did it!"
"I'm sorry Josh, we can't punish them unless we have the proof," Brian replied. "Come on…lets go back in your room. You still have a few hours until your punishment is up." He replied, and he took Josh's hand and took him out of the room. Kevin kissed the top of Elenore's head and brought her back into her room too but Ashley and Kori stayed behind. Nick was still not convinced that they hadn't done it. He knows Dakota. She is lying through her teeth right now.
"Ashley, Kori, start looking on, in, and under things." He ordered gently, than he went in the closet and began to search the dresser and in and under hanging clothes and such. Dakota and Spencer continued to play the game knowing that they aren't going to find the silly string in the bedroom. Though Dakota is a little upset that her daddy doesn't believe her. Sure, she DID do it but still. He is her daddy and he should believe her over Josh any day. Nick, Ashley, and Kori pretty much 'tore the room apart' trying to find the silly string. When the three of them felt that there just wasn't any other place they could possibly look they walked out into the hall just as Kevin and Brian were coming out of Elenore's room.
"Still no luck finding that silly string?" Kevin asked Nick quietly so Dakota, Spencer, and Elenore couldn't over hear their conversation. Nick sighed and shook his head.
"Do you think they did it?" Brian asked, unsure of what to believe.
"Of course they did, there's just no way to prove it." Nick replied, frustrated. "I know her. She was totally lying to me."
"I could see it too," Kevin replied. "I have 8 years of experience from dealing with Nick and stuff. She is exactly like him. She knows how to pull off a prank and hide the evidence afterwards."
"Damnit…this is the second time today that I've wished I didn't teach Dakota so well." Nick scolded himself. Ashley giggled, as she remembered how Dakota so easily talked Nick into taking her and Spencer to the park earlier. Kevin, Brian, and Kori looked at him weirdly though.
"When was the first time?" Brian asked curiously.
"When we left Baskin Robins earlier she successfully talked me into taking her and Spencer to the park. The pouty lips and all."
"Oh god I hate the famous carter pout," Kevin replied. "Now you know how it feels." Nick snickered.
"And at the same time I can't help but feel proud of her - she's following in her daddy's footsteps and probably doesn't even know it half the time." Kevin and Brian shook their heads smiling and Brian turned and headed toward the elevator. Kori followed and Kevin turned and went into Elenore's room before his own little girl starts to miss him. Nick took Ashley's hand and brought her back into their room where Dakota and Spencer still sat playing Candy Land. Dakota looked up at Nick as he walked in, than she looked back down at her game. Nick grinned and shook his head, than he went and sat beside her and he pulled her into his lap and kissed her forehead.
"Daddy loves you… even if you pulled a prank and I can't prove it."
"I did nots, daddy!" Dakota insisted, looking up at Nick with an earnest expression on her face. Nick laughed.
"Okay baby, whatever you say," He replied while hugging her closer. Ashley sat down next to Spencer and she ruffled his hair.
"What's up little man?"
"Not much," Spencer answered, still smiling from the unexpected kiss on the cheek that Elenore had given him earlier. Dakota looked at Spencer with knowing looks and she too was smiling. She would very much like to know what's on her best friend's mind right now. What was she thinking kissing a boy like that? Even if it was Spencer! She never thought of doing something crazy like that before. She is after all only four years old.
"How is Lily doing?" Nick questioned, still hugging Dakota close to him and placing soft kisses on her forehead. She smiled a little as she snuggled up with her daddy. She really does love his hugs and kisses.
"Fine…she's sleepy rights now though."
"Did you feed her at all?"
"Uh-huhs I gives her food earlier when we gots back from the park."
"We should probably take her outside in a little bit. I'm surprised there aren't any messes on the floor."
"But it's raining outside, daddy."
"I know sweetie, but we'll go step outside for a few minutes so Lily will have the chance to go potty if she should need to."
"Kay…" Nick looked at her suspiciously for a couple of minutes. Why is she so skeptical about going outside? he wondered to himself.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Elenore lay on her bed coloring for a half n hour more, than she got up and walked over to Kevin, her grumpy bear in hand as she did. He was now back in his chair reading his book. He looked up from his book and down at her curiously. She crawled up into his lap and sat sideways before resting her head comfortably against his chest and she snuggled close to him. He wrapped his arms around her.
"What's the matter sweetie?" He asked her, kissing her forehead.
"I'm lonely Kevy…" She pouted.
"Well, I'm sorry honey. But maybe now you will think twice about saying hurtful things to Josh that you know aren't true. Right?" Elenore nodded quietly as she hugged Kevin tighter. "Brian and I understand that you two are going to argue no matter what we do. It's pretty much pointless to try and stop you. But when you say hurtful things that you know aren't true, and as soon as someone is getting hurt it's our job to step in. You can't get away with those kind of things, Ellie. We have to punish you for it. It's the only way you will learn."
"I'm tired Kevy," she announced suddenly after yawning a little. Kevin chuckled.
"Yeah I bet you're. No doubt that running around in air vents and harassing Josh with silly string and spit balls is pretty tiring," He replied, looking down at Elenore grinning.
"I wouldn'ts know," she replied innocently.
"Yeah, yeah, if you say so." Kevin replied and he hugged the little girl closer to him and he shifted her so that she is lying comfortably across his lap, his arm as her pillow and he covered her up in the blanket he was using for himself earlier. She hugged grumpy bear close to her while sticking her thumb in her mouth.
"We still have two hours left before dinner…why don't you take a nap? Hmm?"
"Kay," Elenore replied appreciatively and she snuggled against him. She is happy that he is going to let her lay in his lap and not over on the bed all by herself. He leaned down and kissed her forehead affectionately before putting the foot rest up and he continued to read his book.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"So Kota, lets take Lily out onto the playground. Shall we? She's getting very restless." Nick suggested, after watching Dakota and Spencer play with the excited puppy. Dakota looked at Nick skeptically. She can't very well tell him no or he will suspect something. But she does not want him out on that playground where those garbage cans are or he will find her hidden evidence and she, Spencer, and Elenore would be in trouble - Elenore in even more trouble then she's already in. Elenore CAN'T lose her puppy before she even gets him that would be awful. Elenore will be so crushed.
"Okay daddy…" She replied, and she scooped Lily up, the squeaky dog toy still in her mouth.
"First lets get your hoodie and shoes on. It's probably pretty cold out there." He suggested and he looked at Ashley.
"Honey why don't you take Spencer into his and Kori's room so he can put his hoodie on?"
"Okay," Ashley replied, and she took Spencer's hand and lead him out of the room. When they got in there Spencer grabbed his hoodie. Ashley kneeled down to help him put it on.
"Is the silly string in the garbage cans outside Spence?" Ashley asked, looking at the boy with a knowing smile. Spencer looked up at her skeptically.
"Its okay buddy, I already know you three did it. Your secret is safe with me. You tell me and I will make sure Nick doesn't go anywhere near those trash cans." Spencer raised his eyebrow and looked at Ashley like he's not sure if he can trust her. She understood that look right away.
"I promise Spencer, I won't tell. I may be close to the adults - Nick especially but I am still a kid in this orphanage until I turn eighteen and I am on your side when I feel you deserve it. And to be honest, Josh had it coming to him for tormenting Ellie this afternoon. It was just a harmless prank…and to be honest pretty funny. No one got hurt out of it and as long as they can't prove it your safe. So is the silly string in those garbage cans?"
"You promise?" Spencer asked, still looking at Ashley unsure.
"I promise. I may have only been your aunt for a short time but have I ever not come through for you yet? I helped you meet some very good friends, I took you out for ice cream…I'm a pretty good friend aren't I?"
"Yeah…"
"So what's the answer buddy?"
"Yeah…they're in the garbage cans out on the playground…both the straws they used for the spit balls an' the silly string…an' Kota flushed the toilet paper they used to make the spit balls with."
"Alright. Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell Nick or the rest of the adults a single thing and I will make sure Nick doesn't go anywhere near those garbage cans."
"Okay…" Spencer replied, still looking at Ashley unsure. He is still getting to know her right now so he doesn't know if he can trust her yet. He can't help but feel like he just did a very bad thing. If they get in trouble Dakota and Elenore will never talk to him again. He just knows it. Ashley helped him zip up his hoodie and when she did she looked down to make sure he still had his shoes on. When she did she saw he was wearing red converse shoes. She pulled his hood down over his head and stood up and she took his hand and led him back into her room again and Nick was just finishing up on tying Dakota's shoes. She is already wearing her hoodie with her hood pulled down over her head and she is holding Lily in her arms as she chews playfully on her dog toy. When Nick finished he looked up at Ashley and Spencer.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Yup, ready."
"Okay," He stood up and Dakota slid down from her bed and allowed him to take her hand and he and Ashley took the kids down to the lobby. Once down there they ran into Howie and AJ.
"Where are you four headed?" Howie asked curiously.
"To the playground to make sure Miss Lily here goes potty outside and not inside," Nick answered.
"Ah, good idea." Howie replied.
"Yup. Wanna come?"
"Sure why not?" AJ asked, and he and Howie followed Ashley, Nick, Dakota, and Spencer out onto the playground. When they got out there Dakota put Lily down and Lily immediately took off running for the puddles. Dakota giggled and grabbed Spencer's hand and she ran after the playful puppy dragging Spencer a long. Howie and AJ chuckled a bit.
"Looks like those two are going to need a bath after this." Howie commented. Nick groaned and rolled his eyes.
"What fun," he replied and AJ just laughed.
"At least I will only have to bathe one kid. Spencer is Kori's kid, she can do that part."
"Where is she anyway?" Ashley questioned after wrapping her arms around Nick's waist and pulling him close to her. It is her mission to not let him wander off too far. She made a promise to Spencer and she is not one to break promises - ever. Especially not to her nephew who she is trying her very hardest to win over. She knows he doesn't fully trust her yet.
"She's talking to Riley and Detective Stabler."
"Stabler's here?" Nick asked worriedly, looking down at Ashley. He knows he and Ashley have been upstairs this entire time, and they haven't really had the time to be lovey dovey or anything, but still.
"They're in Brooke's office. He's been here ever since Kori came downstairs from being up with you guys"
"What are they talking about?" Ashley asked softly, as she pushes herself more into Nick. She already knows what this answer is going to be. They're talking about Sean and Ashley doesn't like when they question Kori about Sean because she's been too honest with them. If Sean finds this out both their lives are going to be in even more danger then they already are.
"Basically about all of the things she already told Riley about the other day. Also about the fact that he and the other police found the warehouse that Kori tipped off to them. They didn't find Sean there but they found a LOT of answers." AJ answered.
"Like what?" Ashley asked softly.
"Don't know…that's all he told us." Nick kissed Ashley's forehead and then pulled away and he went over to find a dry place to sit. Ashley immediately rushed to his side taking his hand into hers. Just when he was about to sit down on the sidewalk underneath the shelter of the roof to the building he noticed the two garbage cans in the corner of his eye. He looked over there and stared at them for a few minutes before looking up where he noticed their bedroom window is at. Nick looked back at the garbage cans suspiciously. After a few seconds of thinking he started to go over there but Ashley took his hand.
"Nick where you going?"
"I just want to check something out…"
"But Nick it's wet over there. You will get all soaking wet. Do you really want to track more water in the orphanage then necessary? You're already going to have to take two soaked and muddy children in there." Nick didn't reply, he only let go of Ashley's hand and he walked over to the garbage cans on the side of the building despite Ashley's warnings. Ashley groaned and then rushed after him taking hold of his hand and stopping him.
"Nick really. What could you possibly want to look at over here? All it is, is a couple of garbage cans. What's so exciting about garbage cans?"
"I just…I just have a feeling is all," he replied. Howie and AJ watched them curiously. Curious on why Nick is suddenly so interested in the garbage cans, curious on why Ashley is so eager to stop him from going over there, and even more curious that both children who were so absorbed in playing with Lily had suddenly stopped and watched Nick and Ashley with so much fear in their eyes. When Nick got to the garbage cans he peered inside one only to find a whole bunch of garbage in there - but not silly string. He looked in the other one and saw the exact same thing. A look of disappointment formed on his face. He was so sure he would find it there. Dakota could've opened up their bedroom window and conveniently dropped the empty silly string can into these garbage cans. She had to of done that. There is no other place it could be. He had torn his bedroom upstairs apart looking for it and it was no where to be seen. Nick reached to start digging through the garbage but Ashley took his hand disapprovingly.
"Nick what are you doing?"
"I have a feeling the silly string can was thrown in here, Ashley."
"Why?"
"Because it's the only other logical place it would be. How convenient is it for Dakota to open up our bedroom window which is right up there," Nick started, pointing up to their bedroom and Ashley looked up there. "And toss it down to these garbage cans? It all makes sense Ashley. You saw the skeptic looks she gave me when I suggested we take Lily down here. She didn't want me to come down here and see these garbage cans."
"Okay, honey, but think about it. Is it really that important to you that you're willing to dig through an entire garbage can to find it? Think about how gross that is. Think about how many germs are in those garbage cans Nick. Think about where that garbage comes from. All of the food that the children didn't finish eating, all of the trash that was thrown on the floor…All of the dirty Kleenexes that were used to wipe the snot from children's noses…I've seen a LOT of kids sneeze today, I've seen a few of them with colds even. What if someone threw up in those garbage cans? Now tell me Nick. Is it really that important that you prove Dakota, Ellie, and Spencer are guilty? Why don't you just let it go? Everybody else has. It was a harmless prank and actually quite funny if you think about it. No one was hurt and to be honest, Josh had it coming to him."
"But…" Nick started and Ashley turned Nick to face her, placing her hands to his cheek.
"Just let it go. Kids will be kids and think about all of the pranks you've pulled and gotten away with. Is it really that horrible if you let your daughter get away with one?"
"No…I guess not." Nick replied, feeling defeated. Ashley smiled up at him.
"Good…cause if you were going to dig through that garbage can I would be forced to not let you touch me at all until you've showered and cleaned yourself up." Nick chuckled a bit.
"Oh no, can't have that!" He replied dramatically, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close and he leaned down and pressed his lips softly against hers. She kissed him back while pulling him back over to AJ and Howie and away from the garbage cans. Dakota and Spencer exchanged relieved looks with each other before continuing to play with the puppy. Spencer having a new found respect for his Aunt and Dakota loving Ashley even more then she already did if that is at all possible.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
