Chp. 6

Cooper knew he couldn't stop. He had to keep running. He knew if he stopped, his father would catch him and hurt him; and Alex. He couldn't let that happen. "Cooper! Come on out the little bastard! You'll just make it worse for yourself and that lady friend of yours. And she's a nice piece. Yes sir. I'm gonna have me some fun with her. Now, if you wanna save her, then stop running."

Cooper turned around, tears running down his face. His father walked to him and smiled evilly. "I'm gonna enjoy this."

000

"No! Please stop! Please no more!" Cooper screamed, shaking and thrashing around. The nightmare and pain were just as real if he was experiencing them again.

"No more, please." Cooper sobbed. Tears ran down his cheeks, but he still didn't wake.

Alex, having heard the sounds from the baby monitor she placed by the bed, got up and went to the boy's room. She saw the child she thought of as a son, even if it wasn't true and tears came to her eyes unbidden.

"No, please." Cooper moaned.

"Cooper?" Alex said, trying to keep the tears from creeping into her voice. She gently shook his shoulder. "Wake up honey."

The boy's eyes snapped open and he looked around wildly. Then he saw Alex and reached for her. "Alex?"

She picked him up and pulled him into a hug. "I'm here, honey. It's alright, you're safe."

"Forever?" He asked, his head buried in her chest.

She smiled at the question. "Forever, and always. You want to tell me what your dream was about?" She felt him tense and rubbed his back.

"It's ok. We don't have to talk about it."

Cooper sat up and looked at her sadly. "Sorry I woke you up. I didn't mean to be a bother." He said, looking down suddenly.

"Hey," Alex said, mock offense on her face. "You are not a bother." She said lifting his head gently so that he was looking at her.

"I'm not?" Cooper asked, looking at her.

She smiled at him and shook her head. "Nope. Handsome, smart and sweet, but definitely not a bother."

"Thanks, Alex. I'm glad you're my mommy."

Alex's heart leapt into her throat and she struggled to maintain her composure. "I'm glad too. Come on, let's get some more sleep." She said, picking him and taking him to her bedroom.

000

The following morning, Alex got up and made breakfast. She was halfway through her morning paper when there was a knock at her door. "Who is it?"

"Ms. Cahill, this is Craig Lawson, your super. May I come in?"

She opened the door and let him in. "What can I do for you Mr. Lawson?"

"I heard shouting coming from your apartment. Several of your neighbors complained. Is everything alright?"

Alex bristled, feeling very much like a mother cub protecting her young. "Mr. Lawson, I'm sure you've seen the child who's moved in with me."

"Yes, Ma'am, I have. What does that have to do with this?"

"His name is Cooper Jordan. I found him a few days ago. He was abused by his father, both physically and…" Alex let the next word hang.

"I apologize. If it's ok with you, I'll pass the word to those who complained."

"Thank you, Mr. Lawson." Alex said and hung up without another word.

She looked at the paper and decided to wake Cooper. She went to his room and found him packing a bag. She grinned. "Going somewhere?"

"What'd you care?" He asked, sadness in his voice.

She was taken aback by the abruptness of his tone. She had to remind herself that he was only four years old.

"I care because I love you, and I always will. No matter what."

"Even if I make your neighbors mad."

She smiled. "Even if you make my neighbors mad. Now, come on, let's get some breakfast."

000

"So you're really not working?" Four year old Ronald 'Ron' Trivette asked his father.

"Cross my heart, Ronnie. You and me, buddy."

The boy grinned. "Can we go to the park?"

"We sure can. Get you coat." Trivette smiled as his son ran to get his coat. Then he looked at a picture next to the phone and his expression saddened. His wife, Jennifer, had been killed six months earlier when she was hit by a drunk driver head on. As it turned out, the man had been eluding Walker and Trivette. If it hadn't been for Ron and his friends, Jimmy didn't know what he would've done.

"Earth to daddy? You ok?"

Trivette shook his head and grinned at his son. "I'm fine, buddy. You ready?"

"Yeah! Let's go already!" Ron said.

Trivette laughed. "Ok, let's do that."

000

"Hi, Aunt Alex!" Ron yelled, running up to her. She turned from watching Cooper, smiled at them, knelt down and hugged Ron. "Hey, Ronnie, how are you?" She was the only one he would allow to call him Ronnie anymore.

"Good, Aunt Alex. How are you?"

"I'm good. Hey, Jimmy." She said, shaking Trivette's hand.

"Hey, counselor. Where's Cooper?"

"He's over there." She pointed.

"Who's Cooper?" Ron asked.

"He's staying with me." Alex said.

Trivette looked at his son. "Why don't you go say hello?"

Ron grinned. "Ok." He said and ran off.

"Hey, stay where I can see you."

"I hope this works." Alex said, nervously.

"Oh, relax. There good kids." Jimmy said.

Both adults had planned to meet, but didn't want to force the boys into anything that would make them uncomfortable.

Ron walked over to where Cooper was playing with some army men Alex had bought him. Cooper looked up and saw him. He looked at all the army men. "Wanna play?" He asked.

Ron smiled. "I'm Ron, what's your name?"

Cooper grinned. "Cooper." He said.

000

Hope you like my new character addition.