"Hey Lesh," Brian called as she quickly walked past him and Leighanne.
"Hey Bri," she mumbled, not stopping or looking up.
Brian looked at Leighanne and said, "Something's wrong." He tried to get Nick's attention from across the room. Realizing he was wasting his time, he got up and walked over to him. "Nick man, Alesha…there's something wrong."
"What?" Nick asked, his eyes full of concern.
Brian shrugged. "She just walked by me and Leah. She was crying."
"Where did she go?"
"Upstairs I think. The last I seen, Howie and her were talking. She got a call on her phone, and he left with Rebecca. Then she ran out."
"Thanks man," Nick said putting his hand on Brian's shoulder. He looked at Terra and said, "I have to go see what's up."
She nodded and smiled. "If ya did anything less, I'd be disappointed."
He smiled half-heartedly and ran out the door. He didn't bother with the elevator, jogging over to the stairs. He took them by twos barley missing a few of the road crew as he ran down the hall to his room. Fumbling with the key, he eventually got the door unlocked. He walked in the room, looking over at the bed where Alesha lay curled up in a ball sobbing quietly. "Leshangel," he said crossing the room in two steps. "Babygirl, what is it?" he asked kneeling beside the bed.
"Oh Nick," she said rolling over and wrapping her arms around his neck. "He took her and now she's…" she cried into his shoulder.
"Who took her baby? And who's her?" he asked, confused.
"Bethany. My cousin. Her baby Taelen. His father Chad. Took them. They had an accident. Now…now she's in the ICU on life support. They don't think she's going to make it," she tried to tell him through her sobs.
"Oh sweetie," he said gathering her into his arms. "Is he and the baby okay?"
Alesha's eyes flashed through her tears. "It shoulda been him instead of Bethy. He was trying to take Tae away," she said quietly almost growling.
"Oh babygirl. I am so sorry," Nick mumbled.
Alesha sighed. She knew he had no idea about anything she was saying. Trying to gain control over her sobs, she took a deep breath. "Bethy and I," she paused as her throat constricted with pain at the thought of her cousin laying helplessly hooked to tubes and machines. Closing her eyes, she continued. "We're more like sisters than we are cousins. I kind of grew up at her house. She is my big sister in a way," she sighed and looked away. "I moved to Florida not long after Taelen was born. Bethy and I are still really close even though I don't get to see her as much as I'd like to. She sends me pictures of Tae and stuff. Chad never left her alone. He was always threatening to take Tae away. Not that he could've gained custody anyway, the lying-cheating-drugdealing-drugusing-alocoholic-asshole that he is," Alesha grumbled. "Anyway. I guess he finally snapped. He kidnapped Bethany and Taelen and took off. He was apparently drunk and it was raining. Bethy and Tae were in the back seat. Chad turned the corner too quickly and they were over the railing and in the ditch. They found Bethy laying over, barely conscious, protecting Tae. Taelen's got a broken arm and Chad…well, that son of a bitch walked away with a couple of stitches."
"So, what happens to…Taelen?" Nick asked.
Alesha looked up at him and whispered, "He comes to stay with me."
"YOU?!?" he asked confused and surprised.
"Don't be mad," she begged. "It was something Bethy and I agreed upon. Besides I'm all he really has," she said softly. "I'll find a new place to stay. He won't bother your house or anything."
"Babygirl. I'm not mad at you. Surprised as hell, but not mad. And you are most definitely moving into my house. I want to know that you're being taken care of. And I know that asshole won't be able to get to Taelen if he's at my house."
Alesha smiled up at him. "You are too good to me," she said softly.
"So, how old is this Taelen?" he asked getting up on the bed and stretching his legs out beside her. He rested his back against the headboard and pulled her to him.
Laying her head on the curve between his chest and stomach, she smiled softly. "He just turned seven in January."
"SEVEN?!" Nick exclaimed with a short laugh. "I was expecting…three, maybe four. Not SEVEN," he said shaking his head and settling back again.
"Does that bother you?" she asked.
He laughed and shook his head. "No, why would it?" he asked, squeezing her tightly. "So when in January?"
"The 28th," Alesha answered. She looked up at Nick who was chuckling quietly. "What?" she asked. He shook his head. "Wait a second. Isn't your…" he nodded. She smiled softly.
"So do you have a picture of him?" he asked. She nodded, crawling over him and off the bed. She went to her purse and pulled out her wallet.
She shuffled through some pictures and brought a couple back over to the bed with her. Sitting down next to Nick, she handed him one pointing. "That's Bethy. That's her boyfriend Jason. And that's Tae."
"Well, we know he didn't get her hair color," he said noting Bethany's inky black hair as opposed to Taelen's bleached white.
Alesha smiled softly. "Doesn't look like her at all, does he? He's got these incredible blue eyes, while she's got eyes darker than her hair." She handed him another picture of Taelen looking completely mischievous, smiling up at the camera.
Nick grinned and then looked at Alesha. "Smile for me," he said. Alesha looked at him funny and then smiled cheesily. "Knew it ran in the family," he said laughing.
"Thank you," she said kissing him softly.
"For what?" he asked playing with her hair.
"For reminding me that I have something to smile about," she said softly.
"Well, Leshangel, I seem to remember a time, not so long ago when you did the same for me," he smiled down at her. "I love you babygirl, and I'd do anything to make sure that you are never unhappy for even a second."
She smiled up at him. "That's a big responsibility there," she teased.
"One that I'll GLADLY accept," he grinned. "So when do you go pick up this little man?" he asked.
"Well, on my way back to Florida I'm suppose to stop by there and get him," she said softly.
"Hmmm… want me to come with?" he asked looking down at her.
She looked at him. "Isn't that a bit out of your way?" she asked.
"Well, if you'll stay until we go to St. Louis then no," he grinned.
Alesha laughed. "Sneaky aren't you?"
"Is that a yes?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's a yes."
"YES!!" he cheered. Laughing, she snuggled up to him, all her worries disappearing for the moment.
