Chapter Four-Hundred-Forty-One
When Nick and Ashley arrived back at the Orphanage with the kids they went upstairs to their apartment and when they were standing outside the door, Nick paused and looked at Ashley who looked at him curiously wondering why he hasn’t unlocked the door and let them in yet.
“Why don’t you hand the baby over to me now honey? Abbie is going to come at you when we open the door like she always does.” Ashley suddenly wrapped both arms around her baby and kissed the top of her head and she eyed Nick warily.
“Please?” Nick pleaded. “You know that I am the last person in the world who would let anything harm her.” Ashley stared at him for a long moment, and then reluctantly held Bella out to him. Nick gently placed his hands under her arms to take her but Ashley kept a protective hold on her making it very difficult for him.
“Sweetheart, just hand her over.” Marcus encouraged gently after stifling a laugh and he rubbed his hand over her back. “Playing Tug-O-War with her isn’t going to go over too well with her.” After a few seconds she let go and Nick brought Bella close to him and hugged her and he lightly caressed his hand over the back of her head.
“She’s fine baby I promise. I love her like she were my own and will keep her very safe while you pay attention to Abbie.” Ashley continued to silently gaze at Bella longingly and Nick handed his key over to Marcus to unlock the apartment while he held Bella and began making faces at her instantly getting her to smile and laugh. Marcus unlocked the door and they all went inside and the very second that they did, two puppies came running at them – Abbie went straight to Ashley and Lily straight to Dakota.
“Hi Babyyyyy…” Ashley greeted while kneeling down and holding her arms open for the westie to come bounding into them with her tail wagging excitedly and Ashley wound her arms around her and began to pet her while the puppy gave her affectionate kisses. Nick smiled some at the scene before him and looked down at Bella who had instantly turned to look at Ashley upon hearing her greet Abbie in the way she normally greets her in. Sensing that she is about to get pretty jealous, Nick walked off with her looking for some way to distract her. He won’t have any jealousy going on, oh no. He’s had about as much of that as he can handle with Dakota and won’t let the baby develop it too. He will teach her young that there is no reason for it at all. After a few moments when he had just settled himself on the floor with her and her toys and had her happy and everything, Angel and Conner walked in still handcuffed to each other and everything and Nick looked up at them forcing himself to stay calm.
“Did you just come in here to torture me?” Angel rolled her eyes.
“No, I came in here to spend time with my brother is that such a crime?”
“Un-handcuff yourself from him and then come see me – alone,” Nick insisted while looking down at Bella who was cooing happily.
“Come on Nick, I already have one brother not speaking to me and hating my boyfriend please don’t do it too.”
“I was perfectly okay with him until he went and had sex with my baby sister,” Nick informed after making sure the girls were out of hearing point. They’re in his and Ashley’s room playing. He looked back at them then eyeing Conner with a glare.
“I love him Nick. He’s important to me.”
“You are thirteen years old Angel Charisma. THIRTEEN.”
“I don’t care. I know what I want.”
“I am disappointed in you.” Was all Nick said, remembering to be conscious of the happy baby in front of him. Angel looked away from him for a long moment.
“Then you should be disappointed in Aaron too!”
“Angel please don’t get him started with Bella right there,” Ashley pleaded while sitting across the room with Abbie.
“Why should I be disappointed in Aaron?” Nick demanded after a moment.
“Nevermind,” Angel insisted after looking at Bella and remembering babies can sense tension.
“No, tell me. I can handle it.” Angel regarded him warily and Marcus stepped closer prepared to grab Bella if Nick should go ballistic when either Angel tells him or he just figures it out. Angel went very quiet and Nick studied her face. When he saw the answer written all over it, he narrowed his eyes. He reached out and gently gathered Bella in his arms and hugged her close using her to keep himself from jumping up and paying his brother a visit.
“Nick?” Angel asked warily.
“How long?” was all Nick said as he planted a kiss on Bella’s forehead and rubbed his hand over her back and he concentrated entirely on how adorable she is. Angel looked away uncomfortably then not wanting to say anything else. Aaron is already going to kill her – she can feel it very strongly as if she were the one having the feelings herself.
“Angel? Tell me.” Angel shook her head and leaned back into Conner for comfort. Nick watched very calmly one minute how Conner tightened his arms around her protectively and kissed her forehead softly and then the next he was all of the sudden feeling very angry. No…not angry…he was feeling a dark rage inside him even though he knows perfectly well that he shouldn’t be.
“See this baby in my arms Angel?” He asked very softly and Angel looked at him confused and a little wary as he sounds very dangerous at the moment.
“Nick what is the matter with you?”
“She is keeping me from getting up and hurting your boyfriend at the moment so I suggest you get him and yourself out of my sight. I can’t even look at you right now.”
“Nick…” Angel began, fear rising inside of her now as this is not her brother at all. She just knows it.
“Now Angel!” Nick ordered, raising his voice slightly and Angel stared at Nick feeling hurt and afraid and tears formed in her eyes as she turned and grabbed Conner’s hand and hurried out of the apartment with him sobbing.
“Nick, what is the matter with you?” Ashley asked worriedly from across the room as she too can tell through their bond that he is not being himself. He almost looks violent right now and she is contemplating on getting up and getting her daughter from him before he does something he’ll regret later.
“Marcus,” Nick said, ignoring Ashley at the moment in fear he might upset her too. Marcus looked at him curiously and Nick held Bella out to him. Immediately understanding, Marcus took her from him, and he got up stormed into the bathroom, shut the door and locked it, and the next thing they heard was him slamming things around. Abbie and Lily instantly ran to the door and started barking in alarm and Ashley and Marcus heard the kids in the other room go quiet. Most likely wondering what is going on and he knows they will be out any second now to investigate.
“Marcus?” Ashley asked, and he looked over at her to see her eyes watering up. He knows she’s never seen Nick like this – except for one time and that was when Dakota was molested.
“Go into your room with the kids and shut the door. Distract them before they come out here,” Marcus told her gently. Ashley got up and went over to him and took Bella from him and she turned and followed his simple command. She went in the room and shut the door and a few moments later he heard Silly Songs being played very loudly. While the kids were being taken care of, Marcus eyed the bathroom door warily as he is not sure how he is supposed to react to this.
Meanwhile downstairs, when Angel and Conner were down in the lobby, Angel un-handcuffed herself from him and he gently turned her around to face him.
“Angel baby, are you okay?” he asked worriedly and Angel shook her head.
“Let go of me Conner, I…I…need to get out of here” she sobbed.
“What’s going on?” Q questioned as he surveyed the scene going on before him with concern.
“No you aren’t going anywhere. Come on I’ll take you to sit do—“
“Don’t tell me what I will or will not do Conner, I NEED to get out of here!” Angel shouted through tears. “I don’t want to be here anymore, I NEED to get away from Nick!”
“Angel it’s not—“
“Let me go Conner!” Angel demanded and she yanked her arm away. “Get Laney or Q to protect you from Nick or something but I can’t stay here another minute!” She insisted and before either Q or Laney could react, she ran past them and out the door leaving them gaping after her in disbelief. After a long moment, Q darted for the door and stepped outside to see her already running down the sidewalk in the direction of Brian’s house.
“ANGEL CHARISMA CARTER, GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE RIGHT NOW YOUNG LADY!” he roared, but it was no use she was already around the corner. “Goddamnit! Can we not go one day without one of the dynamic duo twins causing trouble around here?” He asked, and then ran after her as fast as he could hoping she hadn’t gotten too far ahead. He pretty much has an idea of where she is headed though as she for one ran in the direction of Brian’s house and two she always runs to him on the rare occasion that Nick upsets her. He whirled around the corner and saw her about a yard ahead of him and he watched her as she stumbled about and fell on her knees before having to pick herself up a couple of times as she ran and cried and he wondered to himself what the hell Nick had done to upset her so bad. He has never seen her like this. It’s like she isn’t even in her right mind at all.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile back at the Orphanage up in Nick and Ashley’s apartment Marcus suddenly heard the crashing sounds in the bathrooms come to an abrupt stop and all was quiet in there. Marcus arched his eyebrow curiously at the change and a moment later Nick came out suddenly looking terrified.
“Where is Angel?” he demanded.
“How should I know? You sent her away remember?”
“NO!” Nick demanded raising his voice slightly as the unexplainable rage that he swears was not his own was replaced with utmost fear for his sister’s life. “She needs to get back up here! I need her here right now!”
“I am having a very hard time keeping up with you right now. You do realize that right?”
“Just…nevermind that I want my sister and I want her right now.”
“Well, what do you want me to do about it? You were angry and sent her away and I’m supposed to be up here with Ashley. I’m not leaving her.”
“That wasn’t me!” Nick insisted and Marcus just stared at him like he was insane.
“I mean…of course it was me. But it wasn’t.”
“You’ve lost me Carter…”
“I swear the anger I felt wasn’t mine. I shouldn’t have gotten that angry, I was controlling myself. I swear on Dakota’s life that I was!”
“Well you sure fooled us. You’ve frightened Ashley you know. I think you ought to go in there and apologize.”
“It’s okay,” Ashley spoke up and Nick and Marcus looked at her to see her standing outside the bedroom door leaning against it as she had closed it behind her. She had left Sarah in charge of the baby. “Whatever that was…it was not my Nick…”
“Really baby? You believe me then?” Nick asked while immediately going over to her and cupping her face in his hands. He really needs the reassurance that he isn’t crazy.
“Of course I do…you and I are connected remember? I know when you aren’t being yourself.”
“So then what was it then?” Marcus wanted to know, silently not believing that he is letting himself believe this. But he knows Nick and Ashley’s bond is stronger than anyone could even begin to realize and therefore should never even be questioned. Ashley looked at Nick curiously, very much needing to know the answer herself.
“I don’t know to be honest…” Nick answered softly. “But I just…had this very strange urge to dig up someone’s grave and destroy whatever remains there is left of them because as far as I’m concerned, they don’t deserve to rest in peace if the family he single handedly destroyed can’t.”
“That is some pretty dark feelings to be having all because your brother and sister have been sleeping around with their boyfriend and girlfriend Nick…” Marcus insisted warily.
“I’m telling you they were not my feelings!” Nick urged and Marcus just silently gazed at him, fearing for his sanity. Nick looked at Ashley searching for reassurance and she slid her arms around his waist and gave him a look that clearly said I believe you.
“Who’s grave Nick?” Marcus asked after a long moment. “What family?”
“I want to say Sean’s…”
“So…you are trying to tell me that Sean is somehow letting you know how he feels? Do you have a connection with him now too? Should we see if occlumency is real so you can no longer see into evil Sean’s thoughts anymore?”
“You are being a jackass.”
“I’m sorry I’m not quick to have an open mind like Ashley is, Nick. Do you not know how crazy this sounds though?” Nick looked away from him feeling hurt.
“As crazy as it sounds, it’s real. I swear it is.”
“You honestly believe you are seeing into Sean’s thoughts?” Marcus double-checked, trying really hard to sound serious now.
“Maybe not Sean’s per say…” Marcus looked at him curiously but otherwise said nothing.
“Then who’s baby?” Ashley asked gently.
“Someone close to him…who thinks a lot like him.”
“Trevor then?” Marcus asked and he just couldn’t hide the amusement in his tone no matter how hard he tries.
“Someone a lot closer than that,” Nick answered seriously.
“His imaginary friend then?”
“Marcus be serious,” Ashley insisted while gently rubbing her hand over Nick’s arm.
“I’m trying to be, but all of this talk just makes me want to go kick back and watch Harry Potter.” Ashley sat there quietly thinking about the things Nick told her. Closer to Sean then Trevor is…is there even such a person? Even before the two of them came out of the closet about being gay there was no mistaking how close they were. It’s almost like watching Yin and Yang. Neither can exist without the other. So what human being on this planet has a deeper relationship with him then that? Well, there’s Ellie…everybody knows that. Not even Trevor can top the unbelievable father daughter relationship that goes on between Sean and Ellie. Ashley thought about that idea further. Ellie…she turned and looked toward the bedroom door then.
“Kota sweetie, come out here please.”
“What are you doing?” Nick questioned but Ashley didn’t answer she only sat there gazing at the door. A second later Dakota came out of the room with Sarah at her side and she went on over and crawled into Ashley’s lap and looked up at her curiously.
“What’s up Ashee?”
“Would you like to draw a picture for me sweetie?” Dakota’s face brightened up then.
“Sure! What would you like me to draw?” Ashley got up with her then and went into the bedroom for a few moments with her before returning with a piece of paper and crayons.
“Why don’t you draw me a picture of everybody you see in this room? Can you do that for me? Don’t leave a single person out.”
“Okay,” Dakota replied readily and she sat on the floor and got right to work.
“Here Sarah why don’t you do the same thing? I want a pretty picture from you too that I can hang on the refrigerator,” Ashley suggested and she handed her a paper and another set of crayons. Sarah beamed and did just that. Ashley took Bella from her and sat on the couch next to Nick who along with Marcus was looking at her curiously.
“Again, what are you doing baby?”
“Experimenting,” was all Ashley said and she sat there quietly watching the girls draw.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, when Angel finally made it to Brian’s house with Q now at a safe distance from her where he could get her before anyone else does if they should try, Angel looked at Raul who was running Brian’s security gate these days.
“What are you doing here Angel?” Raul asked curiously, and then paused upon seeing her tears. “What’s wrong?” he asked and then eyed Q with concern.
“Don’t ask just let her in before she breaks down all over again. She needs Brian.”
“You’ll tell me later?” Raul questioned as he opened up the gate.
“As soon as I know what’s going on myself,” Q promised and then followed Angel who had darted inside and ran for the house. When she got to the door, she grabbed onto the knob, twisted it open, and ran inside not even bothering to knock and when she spotted Brian sitting on the couch watching Josh and Chris play video games, she ran over to him and flung herself into his arms where she began to sob all over again. Brian enveloped her in his arms protectively, exchanged looks with Q for a brief moment and then suddenly understood needing no explanation.
“What did Nick do now honey?” was all he said and he rubbed his hand over her back soothingly. He sat there quietly letting her cry on his shoulder for awhile, Jackie, Audrey, Riley, and Harry eventually coming out of the kitchen to see what’s up. When he finally had her calmed down he shifted her so he is cradling her and he got up and took her into the kitchen for some of Jackie’s cookies and some milk and they would sit at the table where she can tell him all about it. Everybody else remained in the living room giving Angel some time alone with Brian.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ashley watched the girls draw and when Dakota finished up hers she got up and handed it over to Ashley who turned it around so she could look at it. As she did, she saw a very cute and colorful drawing of herself, Marcus, Nick, Sarah, Bella, Abbie, and Lily all sitting in a very unique drawing of the apartment.
“Aw…this is a very cute drawing honey,” Ashley praised and Dakota beamed with pride. “It’s going straight on the refrigerator.” Dakota slid her arms around Ashley and hugged her and when she pulled away, Sarah suddenly stood up and handed her drawing over next. Ashley took it and looked at it to see a picture of everybody Dakota had drawn, except there was one extra person – a little girl with red hair and freckles and it looks very similar to Sarah. Ashley looked at her curiously.
“Did you draw yourself into the picture too Sarah?”
“No, that’s my friend Delilah.”
“Delilah huh?” Nick asked interestedly and he took the picture from Ashley and looked at it next.
“Uh-huh. She was here for me when…” she paused and struggled to find words to finish her sentence. “Well…when I needed her.”
“How come you never told us about your friend Delilah before?” Ashley asked curiously and she watched as confusion etched across Dakota’s face. She obviously didn’t confide in her sister either, who knows more about her than anyone else these days. Sarah shrugged.
“She is special to me. She came to me when my friends rejected me because I wouldn’t talk anymore…I felt lonely and scared and not safe enough to talk to anybody else. So she was there…” Nick reached out and gently pulled her into his lap and he kissed her forehead softly. He is personally glad that she created an imaginary friend. At least she was confiding in someone if not with him.
“Do you have a special friend Kota?” Ashley spoke up again.
“I used to before Ellie came along…her name was Clover an’ she had green hair an’ green eyes, an’ wore a light green dress. She went away when Ellie came along though because I wasn’t alone anymore.” Ashley thought about this for a moment, and then looked at Nick.
“Where is Kevin?”
“I think he is downstairs with Ellie. Why?”
“I want a picture from Ellie on my refrigerator too,” was all Ashley said and she got up with Bella and started for the door and Marcus was up and following her instantly.
“Are you practicing therapy on all of our kids or something?” Nick asked amusedly as he caught up to her with Dakota and Sarah rested on each of his hips and two puppies trailing close behind him.
“Maybe,” Ashley replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “Or maybe I just might have proof that you aren’t crazy…I just have to get through Ellie to get it.” Nick silently followed her deciding proof is good. He doesn’t like it that Marcus looks like he is about to throw him into the loony bin or something horrible like that. As he followed his girlfriend through the hall, he felt the nagging feeling inside of him that he really needs to check on Angel. Angel’s safety is crucial. Where is Angel?
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
