A little after AJ managed to finally get Ashley to calm down some and go back into Nick’s room and sit with him for awhile he called up Brian, Howie, and the whole gang and told them the situation and asked them all to meet him outside of Nick’s room. They did just that and had a major discussion about everything for about a half n hour before all of them walked into Nick’s room where they found Ashley lying in a protective stance in Nick’s arms and she has completely fallen apart. Her face is pale, her cheeks are wet, and they all could see that she was visibly trembling.


“Hi sweetie,” Marcus greeted gently and he went over and sat next to her before gently rubbing his hand over her back and for the first time ever, Ashley didn’t reply to him. She can see the looks on everybody’s faces and they aren’t good ones. She knows what they’ve been discussing and she hates them for it…each and every one of them. Most of all, she hates Sean with a passion and she would like nothing more than to take a baseball bat to his head and put him in a coma right now.


“Honey we need you to hear us out,” Howie began gently. “We know that it’s completely up to you what happens to Nick…and we know that you love him and want to believe with all of your heart that he is going to come back. But we love him just as much and damnit we wish with all of our hearts that he would too. So don’t shout at us for giving you our opinion…okay?” Ashley lay there continuing to be very silent and Howie could tell that she wasn’t even looking at him but right through him instead. He knows she is listening to him though, he can tell.


“He is our baby brother,” Brian continued for Howie. “And my Frack…like Howie said we love him like crazy. You know letting him go would be the hardest thing we would ever be forced to do…but if it meant that he didn’t have to suffer…we would do it for him.”


“He is going to come back to us,” Ashley insisted softly.


“That may be true honey but we don’t know for sure…and the doctor said that if he does he could come back as a vegetable…do you really want that for him?” AJ asked.


“Brian you are the one who encourages everybody to believe in miracles…and you already giving up?”


“You know that I want Nick to have a miracle honey…so badly that it hurts. But I’m just really scared for him, you know? He’s my best friend…I want the very best for him.”


“I believe you…I believe all of you but I’m not giving up on him. I know that he is coming back and I know that he won’t be a vegetable.”


“How can you be so positive about it?” Howie wanted to know. “Nobody can really be sure about that.”


“Don’t even go there, she’ll get cranky on you” AJ warned.


“Nicky told me long before the whole nightmare with the hurricane and Sean even began…when we were down in the basement that he is bound to me and that no one can even begin to understand how strong our love is. He said that the moment he leaves this earth I will feel it,” Ashley explained while intertwining hers and Nick’s fingers together. “And I held onto those words…with all of my heart like they were the only thing keeping me going and I really need to hold onto them now and believe that they’re true.”

“He did say that,” Marcus agreed while reaching out and once again rubbing his hand over Ashley’s back. “Just like I kept trying to tell all of you earlier…and I believe it. If she says she can feel Nick right now, then it has to be true. Ashley has never let you down before…have some faith in her.”


“Nick did after all,” Brooke spoke up for the first time, as she was currently cuddling with AJ as he sat in the lazy boy chair with his legs dangling over the arm rest. “Since the very first day she shouted at him and accused him of harming her when they first met…Nick believed in her. She wouldn’t be the sweet loving Ashley that we’ve all gotten to know and learned to love after all of this time if Nick didn’t get her to see that he believes in her. She would probably still be bitter and closed off.” Ashley smiled tearfully at the memory that Nick refuses to ever let her forget no matter how horrible she feels for treating him so badly. She rubbed at her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder comfortably and she looked at AJ.


“Alex, where is my daughter?” she asked softly.


“I’m not exactly sure to be honest…Doctor J took off with her.”


“….And my sister?”


“Took off with Scott and Spencer to lord knows where...” Ashley lay there in silence for a long moment, taking comfort in the fact that she was with Scott so she couldn’t have gone too far and when she spoke up again she was looking at Marcus.


“Marcus I want to go somewhere…will you take me please?”


“Sweetie you don’t need me to stick to your side like glue anymore…Sean is in prison.”


“I know that…but I want you to come. And besides…I can’t drive remember?”


“Well why Marcus?” AJ wanted to know.


“Because…he’s the most understanding.” Instead of replying, AJ looked down at his hands and fiddled with them quietly and Brooke gently rubbed her hand over his shoulder. She knows that ever since Nick ended up in a coma Ashley and AJ’s close relationship has been kind of touchy. Just moments before Jane called Aaron and told him she was coming, he was in Brooke’s office confiding in her.


“So will you go with me Marcus?”


“Sure,” Marcus nodded readily and he got to his feet and held his hand out to her. Ashley took it allowing him to help her up and when she was standing she went over and kissed AJ’s cheek affectionately.


“Just watch Nick for me okay? I don’t want Jane anywhere near him while I am gone.”


“Kay,” AJ replied and he watched as she grabbed Bella’s car seat and diaper bag.


“Why don’t you leave the baby here? I don’t mind watching her for you.”


“She’s been cooped up in this building ever since we moved Nick here. I want her to get some fresh air.” When she was ready she looked at Marcus and Marcus followed her out of the room.


“How long do you think she is going to cling to Bella like that?” Brian asked quietly as he stared at the door that his best friend’s everything just disappeared from.


“For however long it takes for her to feel safe and get her life back on track again,” Howie answered with a shrug of his shoulders.


“In other words, when her soul mate comes back to her and she gets the closure that she needs with Sean,” AJ added.


“I thought you didn’t believe in that,” Riley pointed out.


“I’m trying…I really am. I don’t like being this far apart from my sister. It feels like we’re on two different planets half of the time.” When Ashley and Marcus walked into the hospital lobby they discovered Doctor Johnson and Annabelle sitting in the waiting room chairs playing with Bella together and making her laugh. Ashley smiled slightly at the scene before her despite the mood she is in and made her way toward them.


“Well isn’t that a beautiful scene…I can’t wait until we can see another one just like it when there are little Steven’s and Anna’s running around.” Doctor Johnson laughed.


“You make it sound like we’re going to have seven or eight children running around.”


“Well, why not?” Ashley asked with a playful smirk. “All the more kiddies for me to play with and spoil and then hand them back over when I’m all done.”


“Oh you think so huh?” Doctor Johnson asked after chuckling slightly as he was lying in the middle of the floor with Bella sitting on his stomach and he was holding her little hands as Annabelle sat beside him.


“I know so,” Ashley beamed, the first real smile in so long. Doctor Johnson and Brandon always know how to pull it out of her, one way or another - even if it’s only for a second.


“Well, we know who we aren’t hiring as the baby-sitter,” Annabelle teased and Ashley stuck her tongue out at her playfully.


“In that case, I’ll have my child back now” She replied as she stood there gazing at the baby who suddenly only had eyes for her ever since she first heard Ashley’s voice. Ashley went over to them and Doctor Johnson smirked and lifted her up for her to take and Ashley did just that. “Marcus and I are taking her out for some fresh air and Florida sun.”


“Good for you,” Doctor Johnson encouraged. “I’m glad you are going out – you need it.”


“Can you do me a huge favor though?”


“Anything honey, you know that.”


“I have Alex watching Nick…but can you also make sure that Jane doesn’t go anywhere near him while I’m gone, please?”


“Well, I have no control what so ever when it comes to Nick, you know that…but I will pass the word on to Doctor Smith and Cyndi.”


“Thank you,” Ashley replied while kissing the top of Bella’s head affectionately and then she looked at Marcus. Marcus slid his arm around her shoulders and once again began to lead her out of the building.


“Where are we going in the first place?” he asked.


“I was thinking the beach. I want to take a walk along the shore, and maybe sit down and gaze out at it for awhile while I think…”


“Shouldn’t we get some sun screen for Bells then? Too much sun for her would suck…”


“Already ahead of you on that…I have it in her diaper bag.”


“Were you planning this little mini-trip all day?” Marcus asked amusedly.


“No…I got the idea shortly after Doctor Smith’s latest news…I’ve just always had sun screen in her diaper bag” Ashley explained while shrugging her shoulders. “We live in Florida, it just seems like a natural thing to always have with you.”


~*~*~*~


“Hi Elliot!” Ellie greeted after running into her favorite Detective’s arms when she and Jerald arrived at the police station and went inside.


“Hi sweetie…how have you been?” Detective Stabler asked sincerely while hugging the five year old close to him protectively.


“I’ve been better…how’s your butt?” she asked bluntly, instantly causing everybody around them to erupt into laughter – even people that she doesn’t know.


“As long as I don’t have to sit, I’m all good” Detective Stabler answered after a long moment when he managed to stop laughing. Ellie frowned slightly, feeling highly empathetic for him now.


“I’m sorry Elliot, I knows how that feels. My butt always hurts for weeks when I try an’ sit after Daddy Sean spanks me.”


“Well it’s never going to be like that again honey I promise.” Ellie slid her arms around his neck and hugged him and she gave him an Eskimo’s kiss causing him to smile at her slightly.


“So…I suppose your uncle told you why you’re here right?” he asked, deciding since they were on the subject he might as well get down to business. Ellie nodded eagerly and Detective Stabler gently sat her on top of his desk and looked her in the eyes seriously.


“Let me just explain a few things to you,” he began gently.


“Uncle Jerry already gaves me the be good speech.”


“Well, I think it’s no secret – not even to you, that Ellie Richardson needs that speech said to her a good five or six times doesn’t she?” he told her light heartedly and he gave her a silly look to make sure she knows that he isn’t trying to be mean. Ellie smiled sheepishly at him and he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I just need to tell you what’s what before I let you see him, because there’s some things that I don’t want you to get upset about. Okay?”


“Kay,” Ellie replied softly, and he continued.


“We’re going to take you into one of our interrogation rooms where we will have Sean waiting for you. He is going to be handcuffed…and the main thing that I’m concerned about is you being upset over that. It’s just something that needs to be done…its very important honey.”


“Will I gets to hug him?” Ellie asked hopefully, looking very much like she might cry if anyone should tell her no.


“You can…but I must stress that there will be a guard in there watching you Ellie. Jerald gave you the speech, I won’t go through it again but I will remind you that it’s important that you remember it.”


“I’ll be good I promise” Ellie repeated, sounding very much like she’s been making that promise a lot since Jerald told her about this.


“Will I get to go in there with her?” Jerald asked protectively.


“I thought it would be best if we gave her as much privacy as possible. I can’t keep the guard from going in there and I would prefer if it he were. However, we will be standing right outside the door watching through the one way glass and listening and will be in there in a second if anything should happen. I don’t think he’ll do anything with Ellie there though.”


“I’m not concerned about him doing anything,” Jerald replied, being sure to emphasize on the word him so that he would understand.


“Well like I said, we would be in there in a second if anything should happen.”


“Will I gets to talk to Trevor too?”


“Do you want to talk to Trevor?” Detective Stabler asked surprised, as he didn’t even think about this.


“Uh-huh…I loves Trevor.”


“All right…well let’s just get through with your meeting with Sean without any problems first and I will consider it…” Ellie smiled some and Detective Stabler gathered her up in his arms again and began carrying her back toward the interrogation rooms with Jerald and suddenly Detective Munch and Detective Benson following them. When they got back there, the guard was standing outside the door waiting on them.


“Did you explain the rules to her?” he asked seriously.


“Yes plenty of times, if we try to explain them anymore she might get cranky and impatient on us. All we can do is trust her now.” The guard gave the little girl a skeptic look and then opened the door just a crack before reaching for her. She looked up at Detective Stabler a little unsure and Detective Stabler smiled at her reassuringly.


“He’s safe honey I promise. Ed is one of my good buddies.” Trusting Detective Stabler’s judgment whole heartedly, she leaned forward allowing the man called Ed to gently take her from him and he went into the room with her closing the door behind them. Jerald instantly went to the window and Detective Benson made it so that they could hear what’s going on.


“Ellie!” Sean exclaimed the moment Ed walked into the room with his daughter and his eyes widened at the sight of her, making it very clear that he was not aware of who his visitor was going to be and was convinced that he would never see her again.


“Daddy!” Ellie replied, tears instantly coming to her eyes and she reached for him, automatically wanting to hug him. Ed put her down and allowed her to run over and hug Sean, and since his hands were cuffed to the table, she crawled up into his lap and he sort of just rested his cheek against the top of her head as it was rested against his chest while she snuggled into him.


“Are you okay daddy? Are you being treated well?” She asked ignoring Ed as he stood right where he would see if any sneaking went on.


“I’m all right Ellie,” he answered, completely ignoring her second question. The police are fine…it’s the other inmates that treat him like shit and try to make him into their bitch and Trevor has gotten into three fights in his honor already – and won. “I’m more interested in how you are doing…” he continued. “Are you being treated well?”


“Of course…I’m okay,” Ellie said softly.


“You don’t sound too sure about that.”


“You put Nicky in a coma daddy.” Sean grew very quiet then and Ellie suddenly feeling very angry with him crawled out of his lap and went around and sat in the chair that was put there for her. She crossed her arms over her chest and glowered at him.


“I hope you aren’t expecting me to apologize for that.”


“It would makes me happy.”


“Well it is not going to happen. I’ve done a lot of things to make you happy lately young lady, and you know that. Apologizing will not be added to the list.”


“IT MAY HAVE JUST COSTED YOU YOUR LIFE DADDY!” Ellie shouted tearfully. “DO YOU NOT’S UNDERSTAND THAT?!”


“I’m doomed either way Elenore it is high time you understood that.”


“No I will NOTS understand it I refuse! You coulda had a small chance if Ashee were on your side! She makes things happen!”


“What are you shouting at me for? Apologizing is not going to make Nick wake up from that damn coma, Ellie! Apologies can be good, but they just don’t cut it when it comes to serious grown up things like that!”


“I AM SHOUTING AT’S YOU BECAUSE I’M ANGRY AT’S YOU!” Ellie yelled tearfully. “I’M SHOUTING AT’S YOU BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO BE HERE!”


“I CHOSE TO BE HERE FOR YOU, ELLIE, I TURNED MYSELF IN FOR YOU SO DON’T YOU DARE BE ANGRY AT ME FOR THAT!” Sean shouted then, unwanted tears springing to his eyes. “I GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR YOU! YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL!”


“Oh yeah’s I’m sure that’s what EVERY kid wants, is for their daddy to do bad things for them and be sent to jail! I feels so lucky now.” Sean looked away from her then, feeling slightly frustrated.


“What do you want from me kid?”


“I wanted you,” Ellie said softly and Sean stole a glance at her and saw her face just caked with tears. “I wanted my daddy an’ I wanted him to loves me an’ not hurts me anymore, an’ I wanted to be enough.”


“I gave you to Kevin is that not enough?”


“That was the only good thing you ever dids for me, so I guess so.” Ellie answered while looking down at her hands and fiddling with her fingernails.


“I can’t do anything about Nick, so I don’t understand what you want me to do about it.”


“I want you to be sorry.”


“What good will that do?” Ellie shrugged her shoulders and rubbed at her eyes.


“It’s important to me,” She said softly. She waited and when Sean never responded she looked toward the one-way window where she knows Detective Stabler is listening.


“ELLIOT!” A second later the door opened and he came in.


“What is it honey?” he asked concerned and he rushed over and gathered her in his arms protectively.


“Can I talk’s to Trevor now please?”


“Your time isn’t up with Sean though honey…”


“I haves nothing else to say to him rights now.” Detective Stabler kissed her head softly, and then nodded and looked at Ed who suddenly un-handcuffed Sean from the table, re-cuffed his hands together behind his back and he began to lead him out. Sean tried to make eye contact with Ellie, and Ellie looked away, purposely avoiding him.