A smile graced the lips of a young woman as she sat outside parked in her red 2002 Dodge Dakota, her fingers drummed on the steering wheel as she settled back into her seat. The fourteen hour drive from New York to Norcross, Georgia had been a long one leaving her thoroughly exhausted.
A sigh escapes her parted lips as her gaze lingers on the two storey red bricked house in front of her, the lights left on inside tell Abigail all she needs to know. Someone in the house was still awake, and more than likely were waiting on her late arrival.
I'll never hear the end of this, she thought. Abigail always seemed to be running late, being on time just wasn't in her blood no matter how hard she tried to make it on time, and the sun setting behind the house only confirmed that she was hours behind schedule.
Reluctantly she stilled her fingers of their impatient drumming and moved to unbuckle her seat belt and exit her truck, the vehicle was a little flashy and masculine for her tastes seeing as her now ex boyfriend helped her to pick it out, it wasn't that surprising that she was already thinking about trading the vehicle in.
That was another conversation she couldn't wait to have with her family that waited inside, having to explain how she yet again chased off another boyfriend was beyond her. Opening the back door Abigail reached in a grabbed her duffle before smiling at Xander, her faithful companion of five years sat wagging his tail. Impatient to exit the truck she didn't doubt, but like all police trained dogs he waited for her command before doing so.
"Hey boy," Abigail greeted the German shepherd, before stepping back to allow him to jump down from the back seat. Once his paws were firmly on the ground Abigail closed the door and made her way around the vehicle, Xander close behind her. "We're only staying the weekend," Abby spoke aloud, as if to inform the dog, when it reality she was reminding herself. "With this flu going around we can't afford to take too many personal days," her green eyes lowered to meet Xander's brown ones who was currently studying her with his head cocked to the side.
"Alright, remember boy, play nice. The twins can get a little handsie." Xander, as if he could actually understand Abby's warning lowered his head, dreading the twins that no doubt would be eager to play.
Nodding to herself one last time Abby grasped the door handle and twisted, pushing the unlocked door open she stepped into the main foyer.
The foyer was fairly small, only consisting of a close directly across from the front door, a staircase leading upstairs to the left of the closet and two open archways to the left and right. Once she closed the door behind her, Abby dropped her bag on the wooden floor near the bottom of the stairs of her family home.
"Anyone home," She called out to announce her presence.
"In the living room!" her father, John shouted back over the children's screams of 'Aunt Abby!' the sound of running feet coming from the right had Xander retreating to the left, to hide either in the dining room or kitchen from the children.
Abby smiled at the sight of two energetic ten year olds that came barreling towards her, chuckling she wrapped her arms around the twins that were now clinging to her sides. Her nephew, James, the elder twin by a whole three minutes had short spiked up blonde hair and bright blue eyes like his mother Emily, while Olivia had wavy brown hair cascading around her shoulders and hazel colored eyes, resembling her father Daniel, Abby's older brother.
The twins pulled back as Abby grinned down at them, "Daddy didn't tell us you were coming," Olivia exclaimed before she followed along with, "I've missed you!" and then reattached herself to Abby's leg. Ruffling the younger girl's hair Abby softly chuckled.
"Did you bring us presents?" James asked shifting impatiently back and forth, causing Abby to raise her eyebrows questioningly at him.
"I thought it was Gram's birthday," Abby stated covering up her amusement with shock, "it's not your birthday today is it?" She asked as James shoulders dropped.
"No," he admitted reluctantly.
"Oh," Abby hummed, "so I suppose you don't want those comics I picked up in New York then huh?"
James brightened hearing Abby's response as he nearly bounced up and down, "No! I mean yes, I do." The boy quickly corrected tripping over his words, seeing Abby once again raise her eyebrows at his a sheepish look settled on his features as he shuffled his feet. "I mean, please can I have them, aunt Abby?"
"James," Emily's voice rang out from behind the boy, none of the three standing in the doorway had taken notice of the presence of the twins mother, who stood with her arms crossed. "It's may I, and why don't you two come and sit down. Let aunt Abby get her stuff off and sit down, she's had a long drive."
Abby had to avoid scowling, she loved the twin's overly clingy greetings a lot more then she liked Emily's scolding one. With a sigh Abby placed her hand on James shoulder as Olivia disentangled herself from Abby's leg, "it's alright, listen to your mother." She paused as if to fake whisper, "I'll bring your surprises into the living room. Now hurry."
Both kids broke out into a grin and sprinted passed their mother into the living room; sighing Emily pierced Abby with her stare. "You shouldn't spoil them," she reprimanded half heartedly, shrugging the younger woman responded with a forced smile.
"Best part of not having my own children," Abby started, "is that I get to spoil yours." Emily scoffed before turning on her heel and disappearing around the bend into the living room.
Exhaling a sigh Abby's shoulders dropped as she bent to pick her duffle back up, apparently she would need the bag sooner then she had intended, and walked into the living room to greet the rest of the family.
"Look who finally decided to join us," Daniel commented as soon as Abby set foot into the living room, rolling her eyes good naturedly Abigail let it slide.
"Happy birthday mom," she greeted the woman seated in the rocking chair holding an infant, the newest addition to the Bishop family. Abby had yet to actually meet the babe, since she had been in new York when he'd been born two months ago and this was the first time she'd traveled back to her home town since Christmas which had been nearly nine months ago since it was now mid August.
"Glad you could make it," her mother greeted with a smile. Standing in the doorway Abby's fingers grasped onto the strap that was slung over her shoulder, her mother Charlotte was a tiny woman with graying dark brown hair and green eyes, she was kind woman who attended church and loved to cook but nothing was more important to Charlotte then her family.
"You missed dinner kiddo," her father's deep sounding voice vibrated from his chest as he sat in his lazy boy chair, the TV remote nestled securely in his hand as he clicked between muted channels, all of which Abby noted looked like news channels. "Luckily for you, yer mom put a plate aside for you." John, her father was an ex military man, he worked hard for everything he had and enjoyed going out on hunting trips whenever he found the time to get away.
"Thanks," Abby nodded towards her mother before heading to sit on the love seat between the two ten year olds, resting her duffel on the floor Abby unzipped the bag and began to rummage through it. Pulling out a stack of super hero comics Abby handed them over to James who was quick to press his fingers into them, next she pulled out a book titled 'The Adventures of Alice and Wonderland' and handed the hard cover over to the grinning little girl.
"Thanks Aunt Abby," Olivia grinned running her fingers over the raised lettering on the cover and then down its spine.
"And for the birthday girl," Abby hummed pulling out a box wrapped up in orange and white floral wrapping paper.
"Here, I'll take Liam." Emily spoke up, lifting from her position on the couch to take the baby from its resting position. "I have to change and put him to bed anyway," Emily paused after turning to walk away with her youngest, her blue gaze resting on Abby and her older children, "kids, I expect you up stairs in ten minutes to get ready for bed."
In unison the twins let out a chorus of 'yes mom's before Emily huffed and walked out of the room, carrying her infant upstairs.
"You didn't have to get me anything," Charlotte stated as her daughter handed her the wrapped gift, "I'm just happy you came."
"Of course I did," Abby stated waving her mother off as she leaned back into the love seat, "besides, I can only stay for two nights. Sunday morning I'll be hitting the road again." Abby noted the disappointment on her mother's face, as the older woman lowered her gaze to the gift nestled between her hands.
But as Abby inwardly flinched with guilt at her mother's faltering smile, she failed to notice the look that transpired between her father and brother. "Alright," Charlotte nodded reluctantly, before she began to unwrap the present, never tearing the paper as she expertly pulled the tape off and then the paper. "It's beautiful," she spoke softly admiring the opened white box, nestled inside was a heard shaped necklace with birthstones going down on half of the heart.
"Each stone represents one of your children, and grandchildren." Abby paused, "Emily's is on there to." Charlotte smiled, ignoring the fact that her daughter and daughter in-law didn't always see eye to eye.
"Thank you sweetheart." Abby nodded, a small smile turning the corners of her lips. The gifts have become her silent apology, of sorts, a way to say I'm sorry I only come home two to three times per year.
A silence set in for a few minutes after Charlotte had opened her gift, and was only broken when Emily walked into the room. "James, Olivia, say goodnight."
After hugging her niece and nephew good night, Abby leaned back further into the love seat getting comfortable as she allowed her eyes to close. 'Just for a second ' she told herself, the day's drive and all that had come along with it was wearing on her.
"Tired, sis?" Daniel asked, eyeing his younger sister.
Squinting her eyes she looked across the glass living room table to the couch where her brother sat, now alone. With the exception of their father and mother, each seated in their respective spots.
"Long drive," came her response, followed by a yawn that she tried to muffle behind her hand.
Daniel nodded before their father spoke up, "have you been watching the news?"
With the mention of the news Abby rolled her eyes, the commotion over the latest strain of swine flu was unbelievable. It had hit the news a little over a week ago, people going crazy with fever and attacking other people.
"It's caused a lot of ruckus for the station," Abby stated, an edge to her voice that her brother recognized to be annoyance, "people are using the latest flu craze as an excuse to attack other people, or to cause destruction of personal property. Personally, I can't wait until it loses its novelty and everything dies down."
The look shared between father and son was one Abby no longer envied, there had been a time once whenever they tried to push her towards more girly activities had driven her insane. But now, seeing their silent conversation transpire before her, she was almost relieved that she wouldn't be bothered of the details of whatever it was they were thinking of.
Abby realized ruefully that she may have counted her lucky stars too soon as her brother asked the next question.
"But have you seen them?"
"Them, who?" Abby asked, "The troublemakers that egged our precinct?"
"What?" Daniel questioned screwing his eyebrows together,
"Sweetheart, that's terrible." Charlotte spoke up, as Abby shrugged.
"Just some delinquents, teens acting up." Charlotte nodded, as Daniel shot another look at his father.
"So you haven't seen anyone that is," Daniel paused "sick?"
Abby shifted in her seat, the growing concern about this flu was maddening. "My neighbor Joanne came down with the flu when I was leaving, I promised to check in on her tomorrow by phone and stop by when I get home."
"I'm sure it'll die down in no time," Charlotte stated, "they'll find a cure they always do. In the mean time we just gatta wait it out, and what's a batter way ta do it then spending yer time with family?" Abby nodded, silently agreeing with her mother while John and Daniel exchanged another look that the woman chose to ignore. "Now that's enough of that, how was your drive down here sweetheart?"
Eager to move on to any other topic Abby jumped at the chance to talk about the drive, even if it hadn't been the greatest drive she'd experienced. "Bizarre actually." She admitted, "The 85 way fairly packed today, on both sides from what I could tell it looked like people were taking the evacuations to the larger cities pretty seriously because when I eventually got off the highway the towns I drove through were fairly deserted." Abby paused a frown turning her lips downwards, "I almost hit some guy on the way here." The statement caught the attention of everyone in the room as her father studied her demeanor, Daniel leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, while her mother took in a sharp startled breath.
"My god, are you okay?" Charlotte asked, rolling her eyes Abby shook her head and chuckled softly, obviously she was fine or she wouldn't be seated in front of her mother telling her about her eventful, yet uneventful drive.
"Yes ma," Abby smiled, amusement lingering in her eyes "the dumb ass was fine to, I didn't bother to stop and give him a piece of my mind. Should have though, bastard's lucky I didn't run him down."
"Language." Charlotte chided her daughter.
"Sorry, anyway he kept walking so I just rounded the block and came here." Abby shrugged before forcing herself to her feet, "anyway I'm going to warm up some dinner then head to bed."
Charlotte nodded accepting her daughters retreat, "see you in the morning." Charlotte bid her farewell as Abby picked up her duffel and said a 'good night' to the room.
Heading up the stairs with her duffel and Xander at her heels Abby paused by the open bedroom door where the twins were supposed to be asleep, inside one of the night side bedroom lamps were turned on. Peeking inside Abby could see both the twins sitting on the single bed furthest from the door, a frown turned the corners of her lips as Xander nudged the back of her leg with his nose she looked down at the shepherd debating on if she should venture into the kids room and see why they were still awake when they had come up for bed over an hour ago.
Sighing she took a step into the room that had once been her and her brother's hang out room, "hey," she greeted quietly making both James and Olivia jump and turn to see her standing awkwardly in the doorway. Abby was out of her element, her roles included awesome aunt, annoying little sister and kickass cop. At least in her opinion. But nowhere did it say she was a authority adult figure to her niece and nephew, some rebellious teenagers breaking the law she could handle, two ten year old up passed bedtime? 'I should have just kept walking' Abby realized a little too late.
"Hey aunt Abby," Olivia responded first, quietly as she shifted in the bed. James sat silently, which was out of the norm for the boy, Abby noted off handedly.
"What are you two still doing up?" Abby whispered before she moved further into the room to sit at the edge of the bed, silently she watched as Olivia and James exchanged glances. It brought a smile to her lips recognizing the sign of a sibling secret, an exchange her and Daniel haven't made in a long time.
"Olivia's scared!" James blurted, surprising Abby as she raised her eyebrows and watched as Olivia pushed her brother lightly.
"Am not!"
"Okay," Abby nodded, "why would you two be scared?"
"I'm not scared!" Both James and Olivia protested,
"Alright, alright." Abby waved them down with her hands, hoping to bring the conversation back to whispers, "then what's the problem?" Again Olivia and James exchanged a look before James swallowed and started to tell Abigail what the issue was.
"Mom and dad were talking about people getting sick," instantly Abby frowned as James trailed off and Olivia continued.
"Mr. Hendrix hurt Jessica, mom said it was because he got sick." James nodded as Olivia started to cry, "Will Jessica be okay?"
"Tell you what," Abby started leaning forward to wipe the young girl's tears away, "why don't you let me worry about Mr. Hendrix and Jessica?" Abby paused waiting for the twins to accept her offer, "Good, I'll look into this first thing. But for now I need you two to try and get some sleep for me, can you do that?" James nodded before both he and Olivia hugged their aunt.
"You won't let the sick people hurt us, right auntie?" James asked, his shoulders shaking, giving away that he too was scared.
Wrapping her arms tightly around their shoulders Abby whispered, "no one will hurt you. Ever."
It felt like forever before the twins fell asleep, and how Abby managed to disentangle their bodies from her own was still a mystery to her as she shuffled down the hall to her own room, half asleep. Once Abby entered her room her duffel was discarded onto the floor where it would remain for the night, Xander who lay at the end of her bed lifted his head in greeting. "Don't let me disturb you," Abby tried to say through a yawn.
Stretching her arms over her head she made her way to the bed and crawled in for the night, not bothering to changed into pajama's or to get under the covers before her eye lids slid closed.
"Tomorrow," Daniel nodded to his father, who clenched his jaw.
"Are you sure it's a good idea?" The older man asked,
"She has to know, it's a controlled situation." Daniel pressed on, "there's no other way."
"Maybe," John agreed reluctantly leaning back in his chair, "but you have to remember, your sister is a cop. She's not going to like what you're showing her."
Daniel frowned, "trust me," he breathed out a sigh, "I'm not going to enjoy it either."
And that brings us to the end of chapter one! I really hope you've enjoyed this chapter, I'll update as soon as I can, the next chapter promises to be a lot more...gruesome actually. I can't wait :) Thanks so much for reading!
Word count before authors note: 3,314