Chapter Fifty Eight
As soon as the girls got done playing with their toys, and as soon as Nick got done supervising them in washing up he looked at Ashley.
"Honey can you do me a favor and go see if Laney is standing out in the hallway? And if he is will you have him keep an eye on you while you go into Sarah's room and get her some clothes?"
"Yeah, sure." Ashley answered softly, nodding her head. She turned to go and he took her hand and gently turned her to face him. He studied her eyes for a moment.
"And honey he's not going to hurt you. I promise." He added, leaning forward and brushing his lips softly against hers.
"I know…" Ashley replied softly, but he can still see the skeptic look in her eyes.
"Just reminding you," He told her gently, smiling at her warmly. "I love you."
"Love you too," Ashley answered and she pulled away and walked out of the bathroom and she went and peeked out of the hall. When she did, Laney who was standing there talking to Q looked at her and smiled sweetly.
"Hey honey…what's up?"
"Nick wants me to go into Sarah's room to get her some clothes…and he wants you to go in there with me…." Ashley answered softly. Laney grinned.
"Well Id be honored of the job!" He told her, with a kindness in his voice that Ashley can't help but like. Ashley smiled nervously at him and walked out of her room, entering Sarah's next door and Laney followed her making sure to stay a safe distance behind her so she doesn't feel uneasy. She went into the closet and noticed a bunch of board games and an empty leggo box tipped over on the floor - must've been the crashing sounds from when Nick attacked Tom. Ashley kneeled down on the floor and began to pick up the mess. When she finished, she put them back up onto the shelf and she went over to the dresser. She opened up a drawer and pulled out some underwear and socks, than she turned to the hanging clothes. She noticed a white tank top with yellow polka dots all over it and it has Hello Kitty on it eating a popsicle. It reads 'Hello Kitty' on it. Ashley pulled that down a long with a pair blue jeans and she looked around the closet for shoes. She noticed a pair of black converse shoes sitting on the floor, so she leaned over and picked them up and she walked out of the closet to see Laney standing there waiting patiently.
"Ready?" He asked gently. Ashley nodded, and she walked past him and out the door and he followed, once again keeping a comfortable distance. Soon as Ashley walked out the door she noticed Brian and Riley walking down the hall.
"Brian!!" Ashley exclaimed, happy to see him, and she threw her arms about him and hugged him tight. Brian chuckled a bit, a little surprised at her excited greeting as he's never received one before - not from her anyway, but he wrapped his arms around her and returned her hug nonetheless.
"Hi sweetie," he told her. "Good to see you too." She smiled up at him and leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"What are you doing out in the hall? Hmm?" He asked her curiously.
"I just came from Sarah's room to get her, her clothes. Cause Nicky is giving her and Dakota a bath. You heard about last night right?"
"Mm hmm, I did. Is my Niece and Sarah okay?"
"Well…no not really…Kota is an emotional wreck this morning. I got to meet the temperamental side of her this morning…and Sarah hasn't spoken a word all morning. Nick isn't doing so great either…but he's doing a lot better after he got to cry it out a little bit and got to sleep some…"
"Oh man…well come on lets go see him shall we?" He asked, kissing her forehead softly, and he began to lead her into her bedroom where Riley had gone to, his arms still wrapped around her. When they got in there they found Sarah sitting in Riley's lap wrapped in a towel and Nick getting Dakota dressed, with absolutely no help or cooperation from her at all so he had to do the whole thing all on his own. He's putting her in a short sleeved, green thermal that has pink cuffs and little purple, pink, yellow, and blue bunnies and stars on it. It has a hood and she picked it out from hot topic - of course. He's also dressing her in blue denim jeans and he has her pink converse shoes next to her. Nick looked at Brian and Ashley as they walked in shortly, than back at his temperamental daughter.
"Ashley can you do me another favor and dress Sarah? Kota is not going to take part in getting herself dressed this morning at all…she's upset that I'm not letting her wear a skirt."
"Sure…" Ashley replied, going and sitting on the bed next to Riley and she took Sarah from her arms and lay her on the bed.
"You can't wear a skirt to Disney World sweetie, it'll fly up when you go on the rides." Ashley explained gently. Dakota didn't reply, she only stood there with tears rolling down her cheeks as her daddy dressed her. Brian kneeled down next to her and he raked his fingers through her hair gently. She looked at him with so much pain in her eyes.
"Come on honey…it's going to be okay, you'll see. Cheer up - we're meeting Donald Duck today!" He told her, the last part in his Donald Duck impression and a small smile formed on her face - only a small one, but at least its something. Brian can always get her to smile no matter what mood she is in.
"There now, see? You have the most adorable smile in the world. How about I buy you cotton candy when we get there? Will that cheer you up some?"
"I gets pink cotton candy?" Dakota asked softly, looking at her uncle with a hopeful look.
"Mm hmm. You can have whatever color you want." Dakota smiled even bigger.
"Okay," She replied softly. Brian grinned too and he kissed her cheek and when Nick had finally finished dressing her Brian pulled her into a gentle hug. Dakota wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back, resting her head upon his shoulder. She loves her uncle Brian very much. As he was hugging Dakota he looked over at Nick who sat there on the floor leaning against the bed just watching them and trying to be happy. Brian scooted over to Nick bringing Dakota with him and he wrapped an arm around Nick too and hugged him tight.
"Be strong buddy…you'll get through this." He whispered in his ear and Nick hugged him back happy that his best friend is finally there. After a few moments when Sarah was dressed Ashley let her up from the bed and she crawled off of it and went over to Nick and Brian. She pushed her way between them so that she could hug Nick also. Nick and Brian wrapped their arms around her too.
"How are you feeling Sarah? Are you okay?" Brian asked gently. Sarah didn't answer, she only nodded quietly.
"She hasn't spoken all morning…not one word. I'm really worried about her," Nick replied, rubbing his hand over Sarah's back.
"She'll be okay…just give her sometime. Maybe this is just her way of dealing with the pain. Kota is being temperamental, Sarah isn't speaking at all. It'll be better soon Nicky…just give it time."
"Kay," Nick replied softly and Brian looked down at Sarah who is clinging tightly to Nick.
"What kind of cotton candy do you like sweetie? Pink or blue?" Sarah didn't answer, she only hugged Nick tighter.
"Hold one finger up for pink, or two fingers up for blue," Brian told her gently. Sarah held up two fingers.
"Blue? Good choice…blue happens to be my favorite color," Brian told her, a silly grin on his face, causing a small smile to form on hers just as easily as it had formed on Dakota's earlier. "I'll buy you, Kota, and Ellie some cotton candy at Disney World today how's that?" Sarah nodded. Nick kissed her forehead and then Dakota's, then he got up and went over and sat next to Ashley on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned into him. He leaned down and brushed his lips softly against hers.
"How about you go take your shower now? We've still gotta go downstairs and eat breakfast before we get all of the kids into their groups and into our tour buses."
"Kay," Ashley replied, and she got up and went to the dresser in the closet. She opened up her own drawer and got out her clothes, and she went into the bathroom and shut the door behind her just a crack.
"Daddy," Dakota spoke up softly.
"Yeah baby?"
"Can I goes to see Ellie? Please?" Dakota asked, looking at Nick with a pleading look, a lone tear rolling down her cheeks as she is afraid he'll tell her no. He seems to be doing that a lot today.
"Sure honey," Nick answered gently. "Just make sure Laney is standing out there before you leave this room okay?"
"Kay," Dakota replied, and she stood up and went toward the door. Brian followed her. When she got to it she peeked out in the hall and saw both Q and Laney there, so she stepped out into the hall and went next door to Elenore's. Brian went and stood in the doorway making sure she had followed the rules and that Laney was indeed standing there watching her. When he saw that he was, he turned and looked at Nick who was watching him protectively.
"She's okay Nick, she made it in there safely."
"Kay," Nick replied.
"Will you be okay? Ri and I need to go downstairs and help out with breakfast."
"Yeah I'll be fine…I'm just going to wait for Ash to be done so that I can get in there next."
"Okay," Brian replied, and he looked at Riley who had been sitting there quietly. She got up and went to him, now holding Sarah again. He took her hand and led her out of the room. Nick walked out into the hall and went and peeked into Elenore's room and he found Dakota sitting in Kevin's lap with Elenore and they're watching Cinderella.
"Hey Nick…how are you?" Kevin asked gently.
"Fine…are you gonna be in here with them for awhile?"
"For a few more minutes, then I was planning on taking Ellie downstairs so that I can help get the cafeteria ready for breakfast. Do you want me to take Kota with me?"
"Will you have Q with you?"
"Mm hmm, and Aje should be here very shortly also so we'll have Marcus as well."
"Kay," Nick replied and he looked at Dakota.
"Be good for uncle Kevin honey okay?"
"Kay daddy," Dakota replied softly, and she leaned against Kevin comfortably and hugged Elenore tighter. Kevin had explained to Elenore why Dakota was so upset and what Tom had done to her, and he explained to her how important it is for something like that to be told to an adult so that they can get in trouble for it. He even told her that Tom was put in jail for hurting Dakota because Dakota told her daddy everything. So Elenore ended up caving and confessing also. Kevin leaned down and kissed the top of Dakota's head, and then Elenore's.
"Don't worry Nick I'll take good care of her," He reassured. Nick nodded, than he turned and went back into his own room again and he shut the door behind him. Now that he was alone, he went into the bathroom and shut that door too, locking it before getting undressed. As soon as he did he went and got into the tub and he found Ashley standing there with her back turned. He grinned a little and moved closer to her and he wrapped his arms gently around her waist, before resting his chin on her shoulder. She leaned back against him, rested her head against his shoulder and she looked up at him smiling a little. She knew it was him because no one's arms can feel that great around her and she also saw his shadow on the wall. He leaned down and kissed her neck softly.
"What are you doing in here mister?"
"I've come seeking comfort…know anyone who can give it to me?" He asked softly. Ashley turned around in his arms, the smile never leaving her lips.
"I think I can be of some assistance," She told him gently, and she placed her hand to his cheek and leaned up and captured his lips with hers in soft kiss and he placed a hand to the back of her head and returned it, making the kiss even deeper as she slid her arms around his neck and pushed him lightly up against the wall.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, Kevin had just gotten down there with Dakota and Elenore rested on each of his hips, Dakota with Lily and Elenore with Lil' Rok. Q is also by his side. When they walked in there they found AJ, Howie, Brian, Riley, Sarah, Josh, Chris and Brooke as well as Marcus, Raul, and Drew in there.
"Hey Kev," AJ greeted, and he went over and took Dakota from his arms and into his own and he hugged her tightly. Dakota wrapped her arms around him and returned his hug and he kissed her cheek. "Hi sweetie…" he greeted her gently. "I love you oh so much, you know that right?"
"Loves you too," Dakota replied, resting her head upon his shoulder and Howie went over and hugged her also.
"How is Nick holding up?" Howie asked, as he had just gotten there, so Brian hasn't yet told him what Nick is like.
"He's hanging in there…but it's easy to see that he is not at all happy. You just need to keep reminding him to be strong and that everything will turn out okay," Brian answered.
"Maybe he'll cheer up some when we get to Disney World…Dakota, Sarah, and him both. Maybe the happiest place on earth is really what they all need right now." AJ replied, still hugging his niece close to him.
"Yeah," Brian replied. "I've already promised Kota and Sarah some cotton candy - Kota pink, and Sarah blue." he then looked over at Elenore.
"What's your favorite flavor, Ellie?"
"Blue," Ellie answered, smiling some but not much. She doesn't like it at all that her best friend is upset and in so much pain. Not one bit. She looked over at Sarah sympathetically too. She may not know her that much, but she knows somewhat of what its like to be hurt by Tom - and she's been molested by her daddy before, so she does know what the two girls are going through. Sarah is sitting in the middle of a table that has already been set up for breakfast as she has her thumb in her mouth and is clutching her favorite baby doll close to her and no one has been able to get a word out of her - still. Elenore squirmed in Kevin's arms wanting down and he set her down on the ground. She looked at Dakota and Dakota squirmed her way down too. Elenore took her hand and brought her over to Josh and Chris who were sitting a few feet away playing with Chance.
"Hi Kota…" Josh said softly as the girls had approached. He had heard from Brian what happened and he has asked him to please be extra nice to the girls today. Josh didn't need to be told twice - at least not about being nice to Dakota anyway. But Elenore… that's a whole different story. He'll be nice if she's nice to him first.
"Hi," Dakota replied softly, expecting Josh to start teasing her about having been crying like a little baby and she looked at him skeptically, leaning into Elenore some for protection. She knows Elenore won't tolerate any bullying of her best friend - especially not today.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her.
"Okay I guess…." Dakota answered, looking at him a little confused as was Elenore. "A little sore…it hurteds…"
"Oh…" Josh replied, darting his eyes away from the girls and at Chance instead and he sat there petting him. Elenore eyed him curiously for a moment - is Josh sad? For Dakota? This is definitely something new to her….she didn't think Josh had feelings. She sat down on the floor then and pulled Dakota down with her. Dakota wrapped her arms around Elenore and rested her head against her shoulder tiredly. She could fall asleep right there if she wanted to - and boy does she want to. Elenore sat there just looking at Josh quizzically. Why is he so sad for Dakota? She doesn't blame him really…but still. Its Josh! Of all people.
"I'm tired…" Dakota whimpered.
"Then goes to sleep, Kota…" Elenore replied gently, wrapping her arms more around her. Dakota closed her eyes, her head still rested against Elenore's shoulder and she was asleep in not even a minute. Elenore looked at Josh to find him sitting there watching Dakota with so much concern in his eyes - and something else too! She knows that look cause she looks at Spencer the same way. Josh has a crush on Dakota?!?!?! Elenore grinned a little and she hugged Dakota even closer. Now she gets it…now she knows why he threw a huge fit at the bowling ally RIGHT after Dakota declared her hatred for him. Now she knows why he's always so nice to Dakota lately. He likes her! So why does he pick on her? Why is he so mean to her? That she doesn't get…
"What are you smiling about?" Chris asked, eyeing Elenore curiously.
"Nothing," Elenore answered, shaking her head. She won't tell her discovery. Not to Chris, or anyone else - not even Dakota. She knows what its like to have a crush and what its like to want to keep it secret. She may not like Josh, but she's not that cruel. She might have fun threatening him about it though…if he's really, really horrible to her one day she could always use it to her advantage and threaten to tell. Even though she never really would. Blackmail is a big meanie head that's for sure. But it sure does come in handy.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
