Chapter Sixty Six
When the tour bus had finally arrived at the Orphanage they found detectives Benson and Stabler standing out there waiting. They waited patiently as Brooke, Riley, the guys, and other caregivers ushered the children inside the building and into the cafeteria to eat their packed lunches and Brooke and Riley promised disappointed children that they will have their picnic at the park some other day. When the kids were all situated, they turned their attention on the detectives, leading them into Brooke's office and Ashley, Dakota, and Sarah who clung tightly to Nick followed also. When they got in there they explained to them everything that happened - including the story about the handcuffs too.
"My guess is, it was Sean." Detective Stabler replied when everybody finished explaining the story. "And you all probably guessed that by now too."
"But I don't think it was actually Sean who got them, I think he had someone else grab them. He's too smart to risk doing that all on his own." Detective Benson replied.
"So what do we do? How are we going to get them back?" Kevin persisted, tears falling down his cheeks as he hasn't stopped crying since the moment he found out Elenore is missing.
"We're going to try our very hardest Kevin, but I can already tell you that its going to be hard…we don't know where to find him…we don't even know where to start…" Detective Stabler replied, while looking over at Kori and Ashley, giving them hintful looks. Ashley cowered back into Nick's arms and he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder as the two kids sat on the floor by his foot. Kori shrugged.
"I have no idea…the only hide out I've ever known of his was the warehouse. I swear I would tell you if I knew of any others." Riley looked at Ashley then who now seemed to look like she could cry at any given moment as she clung tightly to Nick.
"Ashley?" she asked gently. "Do you know anything?" All eyes were now on her and this only upset and scared Ashley even more as she could just feel the intense pressure that everyone now has on her. She does know of one place and she knows that they know she does too. But she was told countless times by Sean himself and Trevor that if she ever told she'd be sorry and they beat her afterward to show her they're serious. What if she tells? Will Sean kill her? She's already in enough danger as it is…but she knows she can't keep it secret. Not when they've got Elenore and Josh and doing god knows what to them. Not knowing what to do, Ashley began to cry.
"Noooo…." She whined, and she turned to face Nick, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his shoulder. He gently rubbed his hand over her back and hugged her close affectionately as he understands the battle going on in her head as if he were inside it listening to her thoughts. Boy does he wish he could hear them.
"Sweetheart we really need to know," Kevin persisted, trying his very hardest to be gentle and sensitive and not so pushy but he can't. He misses Elenore and he knows that if he doesn't find her he will never be able to forgive himself. Why couldn't he have paid more attention? They were standing right there in his care. He had promised to protect her from harm and look what happened. She was kidnapped right under his nose. Brian is right. Some protector he turned out to be…
"I-I can't…" Ashley cried. Brian was about to open his mouth in protest when Nick suddenly cut him off protectively before he snaps at her the way he did to Kevin. He can see it coming and he will do anything to avoid that. He knows how much Ashley has grown to love and trust Brian and he knows Brian takes pride in that, and he knows Brian will regret ruining it later when he has Josh back and is happy again. Cause it would take him forever to regain that trust back.
"Let me take her upstairs to talk to her…please? She's frightened…and it doesn't help any that everybody is putting so much pressure on her. We'll never get any answers out of her this way…"
"He's right…" Brooke replied. "Ashley doesn't do well under pressure. It'd be best if we let Nick handle it. It's his job anyway and he knows what to do and say to get her to talk."
"Okay but please try not to take long…Elenore and Josh don't have all day," Detective Benson replied gently.
"Why don't we all go have some lunch while we wait? Nick meet us in the cafeteria when you're done." Brooke suggested.
"Kay," Nick replied, and he looked down at his two girls sitting by his feet. "Someone watch Kota and Sarah for me please?"
"I will," Riley immediately volunteered.
"Thanks," Nick replied and he lifted Ashley into his arms so he's cradling her and he took her out of the office and over to the elevator. He pressed the button and waited for it to open. When it did he brought her inside and as soon as the door closed he hugged her close to him and kissed her forehead softly. "Alright baby…alright…it's just you and me now…calm down." He told her gently. After a few moments she began to calm down some and was just sniffling. When the elevator door opened he brought her out and carried her down the hall to their room. When they got in there Abbie and Lily jumped up and playfully attacked Nick's legs. Nick shut the door again and carried Ashley over to the bed and he lay her down before lying next to her, resting his head in the palm of his hand and he wiped her tears with his finger on his other hand and he gently caressed her cheeks as he gazed lovingly into her watery brown eyes.
"Come on now baby girl…talk to me."
"I can't tell you Nicky I can't…" Ashley sobbed.
"Of course you can honey. You're my baby and you can tell me anything remember?"
"I can't…Sean will kill me…"
"Honey you know that's not true. Think back at all of the times you've told on them after they've threatened you. They haven't killed you yet have they? Of course not because you know Id beat them both senseless before they even try. I'm right here baby…and I love you and I'm not going to let them near you. Ever. You're safe honey…I promise."
"Nicky I…"
"Baby please…Ellie and Josh need you. Their faith lies in your hands…and I don't mean to pressure you honey but you know that its true. Do it for Ellie and Josh…please?"
"I only know of one place…" Ashley replied softly and she can feel another tear falling from her eyes. "S-Sean used to take me there all the time…when he wanted to get away from it all…it would just be me and him and he would spend the whole weekend raping me…and beating me…"
"Where was this place at sweetheart?" Nick persisted gently.
"I don't know how to tell you…but I can show you…" Ashley answered, finally giving in and she once again broke down into sobs. Nick wrapped her in his arms and hugged her tightly and she buried her face in his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck.. After a long while she began to calm down some and he brushed his lips lightly over hers for a gentle kiss.
"Shhh…baby it's okay…everything is going to be okay. I promise." He placed soft delicate kisses on various parts of her face for a few moments until she had calmed down all the way then he got up with her cradled in his arms again and he looked down at the puppies who were sitting there watching them, both eager for attention.
"Hey pups…I'm sorry but we don't have time to stick around and play. We'll be back I promise." He reassured them, and he leaned down and pet them a little, before going downstairs. When he got down there he went into the cafeteria and saw everyone at their usual table. He brought Ashley over there and sat down in a chair with her cradled in his lap still. Everyone can see just by looking at her that she's been crying a lot.
"She says she can't tell us because she doesn't know…but she can show us…"
"So if we make a rescue plan and go after them and we take her with us, she can take us directly to the house?" Detective Benson questioned. Nick looked down at Ashley.
"Yes…" She answered softly.
"It's important that you're honest with us…you can't chicken out on the last minute. If you're going to send us on a wild goose chase then there is no point in going." Detective Stabler added.
"I'll be honest…" Ashley answered softly. "For Ellie and Josh…"
"Can Nick go with her too? He can calm her down if she suddenly gets scared and he knows when she's lying too." Brian replied.
"I won't do it unless Nicky comes with me…" Ashley insisted.
"We wouldn't have it any other way," Detective Stabler reassured, and he smiled at her warmly. Ashley snuggled into Nick a little more.
"Are you sure its safe for her to go?" Nick spoke up, hugging Ashley closer and he gave her an innocent kiss on the forehead.
"We'll be armed the whole time," Detective Benson replied. "Elliot and I will do everything once we get there and you and her will stay in the car where it's safe. We might even have you in a different car then us - with two other detectives who will park far enough away from the house where you will be out of harms way."
"Okay…well as much as I trust each and everyone of you detectives I want Laney to come with us too," Nick replied, indicating toward his bodyguard.
"Whatever helps you feel more comfortable," Elliot replied.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, Elenore and Josh were still locked up in the closet they'd been thrown in after their first beating. Both were sore and scared, but one was also confused as to just why the other had stuck up for them - even if they had ended up punished in the end because of it.
"Josh…" Elenore spoke softly when she knew he had stopped crying somewhat.
"What?" Josh asked rather shortly, not even looking at her.
"I'm scared…an' I wants Kevy…" she told him, so quietly that no one could possibly over hear her outside of the closet. She knows very well that if her father hears her he would drag her out and beat her again.
"What am I supposed to do about it? Why are you telling me? I'm just as stuck as you're." He replied grumpily.
"Cause…you're the only one here to listen…"
"Doesn't mean I want to listen. I would rather you not talks to me." Josh replied stubbornly.
"Some how I don'ts believe that…" Elenore replied, studying the boy in front of her, trying so hard to figure him out. As much as she can't stand him, he never fails to amaze her. Just when she thinks she has him all figured out, he turns around and surprises her all over again. She'd never admit it…but she kind of likes that.
"So what, you're calling me a liar?"
"So what if I am? What do you expect me to think Joshy?" Josh gave her a hard look.
"I mean Josh…" She corrected, not wanting to upset him anymore and cause him to shut her out again. "What do you expect me to think? You act like a big ole meanie head to me all the times an' make it very clear that you hate me but when my daddy beateds me up you stick ups for me an' when he even offers you to do it you refuse."
"So what? I do one nice thing for you and you all of the sudden have to start asking me questions? Why can't you just be grateful about it and leave me alone?"
"Because I don'ts think you hate me as much as you lets on." Josh sighed exasperatedly.
"Well I do. OKAY?? I hate you so much I WISH you would disappear!" He shouted at her suddenly, forgetting where he was at for a moment.
"SHUT UP Josh! Or I will come in there and make you disappear!" Sean suddenly shouted. Josh's eyes widened in fear and he quickly scooted over to Elenore, throwing his arms around her protectively while eyeing the door warily. Elenore smiled a little, as her point had just been proven. She cowered into Josh though nonetheless, as she can't help but like the feeling of him being there protecting her. After watching the door for a long ten minutes, he realized what he was doing and suddenly pushed Elenore away.
"Now see what you made me do?" He hissed quietly. "Why do you always gotta make me mad likes that? You're always getting us into trouble."
"Not my fault you're likes that…why do you always gots to have a bad temper?"
"Why do you always have to have a bad temper?" Elenore suddenly looked sad, like he had just hit a nerve.
"I can'ts help the way I am…" she replied softly. "I don'ts mean to be a bad girl all the time…it just kinda….happens before I can stops it." He looked her in the eyes suddenly as he was for the first time all day actually interested in what she has to say.
"Why?" he demanded to know.
"Cause of my daddy…he was always beating me an' telling me I'm bad an' unlike other kids I missed out on all the love that they usually gets from their mommy and daddies…I was forced to believe I was a bad girl and can'ts do anything right…an' then when I was left at the orphanage an' met Kevy…he gave me hugs an' told me he loves me an' I didn't know how to act…" Josh didn't reply, he only sat there looking at Elenore with a knowing look. He for one, has experienced her father's hatred, and watched him say those hurtful things to her just earlier, but he also knows what its like to suffer verbal abuse by a parent. He also knows what that empty feeling is like not having a mommy and daddy who loved him. His mommy loved him unconditionally. She was always giving him hugs and kisses and buying him special things and telling him he is her greatest treasure. He was very young but he still remembers her like he were just talking to her yesterday. But his father could hardly look at him. He was always so scared to touch him - like if he did, he would get burned. He said harsh things to him every chance he got and he's even raised his hand to him, but he never once hit him. No, he saved his punches for his mother. Now that he thinks about it, after hearing her story, he can understand why she's got a temper and why she is the way she is. Same reason why he always has to act so tough all the time. His father made him that way. Maybe Elenore and I aren't so different after all… he thought inwardly to himself, and he turned away from her, a tear rolling down his cheek as he looked back on all of his past demons. No, they aren't much different at all.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
