Chapter 7

The gun shots still echoed in his ears, his eyes shut tight and his breathing uneven as the adrenalin rushed through his veins. Grabbing Kelly seconds earlier and pushing her down, shielding her with his body, was a natural reaction. He had no time to think. Now when he heard a car speeding away all he could think about was, what would have happened if he wasn't there? His skin prickled with goose bumps and his eyes flew open meeting hers.

"Are you okay?" The words barely made it out, his throat tight from anxiety. He could have lost her seconds ago.

"Yeah." Kelly nodded her eyes wide open, still in shock.

Dylan pushed himself up. Not that he wanted to as it was the closest the two of them have been since he left over five years ago, but he knew her rather well. Whatever numb state she was in currently was going to be short-lived and she was going to have a few questions for him, questions that he should have answered already some five and half years ago. He let out a barely audible sight before shifting his focus back to Kelly who was still on the ground.

He outstretched his hand helping her up before he brushed the dirt off his knees. Just in time to see a car pull in and two guys jumping out and running in their direction. He felt his blood boiling again and immediately moved towards them.

"Where the hell have you been? You are supposed to keep them safe." He fired meeting them halfway. What he didn't count on was equally livid Kelly following him.

"Dylan what's going on?" He heard her voice from behind him before any of the guys had a chance to reply.

"Not here, Kel." He turned around and was met with Kelly's furious stare.

"There was just someone shooting at us in my front yard so don't tell me where the hell we are supposed to have this conversation." Her voice was rising with every word.

He closed his eyes briefly, millions of thoughts twirling through his head. "At you." He said finally, opening his eyes and narrowing them on her.

"What?"

"They were shooting at you." He repeated slowly, watching as all color drained from her face. For a moment he was sure she was going to pass out.

"Why?" The question barely made it out.

He looked at the two guys that were helplessly standing there. They really did not need an audience for this. "Can we please move this inside? I promise I'd answer any question you'll have, just not here." His eyes pleaded with her.

"Okay." She gave in finally and turning around headed towards the house. Dylan gave the guys from the security one more "we are not done yet" look, before he followed her, catching up with her at the front door.

It felt weird standing there after all those years. After he left, he thought she'd move somewhere else, the house held too many memories of their time together. He should have known better, those damn memories were what kept her in there; she had always been a sentimental creature. Moving inside he saw the living area has been redecorated, it really had Kelly's touch now, not that the old one didn't, but it was more of a compromise between them.

"I'm sorry, I haven't spent much time here in the last days." She said apologetically picking up a few jumpers from the sofa, her voice once again pulling him out of his thoughts.

"That's understandable, with everything that's going on with Ava." He mumbled taking a better look at the room. His eyes stopped abruptly at a shelf decorated with a bunch of photos of Kelly and their daughter, reminding him what he decided to give up all those years ago.

Kelly stopped mid-action looking at him once he mentioned Ava's name. "Is that why you came back?" She questioned him directly.

"No. I didn't even know we had a daughter, until..." He stopped for a moment realizing how wrong it sounded.

"Until what?" The jumpers long forgotten she stood there with her hands resting on her hips. He knew what that meant, boy was he in trouble.

"Until Brandon told me we had one." He finished.

"You were in touch with Brandon?" He could already see where this will be heading; jumping into conclusions had always been her thing.

"No, I was not in touch with anyone. We bumped into each other some two weeks ago in Bahamas, he gave me a piece of mind and a photo of you and Ava. That's the reason why I'm back, that and the fact that I've missed you."

"No." Kelly shook her head. "You left Dylan, not caring about me or our child. You can't just come back after five years and pretend you missed me."

"Yes, I left, but I had a very good reason to."

"And what would that be? Feeling too much responsibility? Being scared of commitment? Or was it drugs, alcohol, or some other girl?" Kelly rolled her eyes annoyed.

Dylan breathed in and out, her words cutting like a knife, but he did not blame her, she had no idea. He never meant to show her the letter he got years ago, but maybe, maybe seeing it will bring some peace into her mind. Digging into the pocket of his jeans he pulled out the neatly folded sheet of paper which had gone a bit yellow with time. Unfolding it he handed it to her.

Kelly took it hesitantly a skeptic look on her face. Reading through the letter he could see her face lose color once again. Finishing it she folded the paper handing it back to him without a word. "I didn't want anyone to hurt you or our baby, that's why I left."

"Who sent it?" Kelly asked her eyes on him.

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. If there is someone shooting at me... Oh God, Ava. She's in hospital alone." Kelly grabbed her bag ready to leave in hurry before Dylan grabbed her forearm stopping her from doing so.

"She is safe, Kelly. They are watching over her." Dylan assured her.

"Who are they?" He could tell she was losing any patience that she had with him. "Who were those guys outside Dylan?"

"Security. I left as they asked me to in the letter, but I don't trust those guys. That's why I hired people to make sure you and our kid were safe. They were doing a very good job, until today." He admitted.

Letting the bag fall back on the sofa, Kelly sat down next to it resting her head in her hands.

"Kel." Dylan said softly kneeling in front of her.

It took a while before Kelly said anything and even than it wasn't what he wanted to hear. "I can't do this Dylan, not now with everything else that's going on. I can't have some random guys shooting at me and bunch of other guys looking after me and Ava, supposedly keeping us safe." She looked at him pleadingly. "Just leave us alone, please."

"I can't..." Dylan replied, the words coming out just above whisper.


Andrea brushed the tears away from her face. She felt tired, defeated and cheated. She had always been strong and independent and marveled on the fact, but the one time she really needed Brandon's support, he just wasn't there.

Turning the lights in kitchen off, she headed upstairs. Peeking into Isaac's room she saw him sound asleep, the blanket kicked aside. With a soft smile she walked inside covering him. He was growing way too fast. Maybe Brandon was right, maybe they were both letting him down engrossed in their careers, trying to fit the kids and their family in whenever it worked. Closing the door behind her a jar she was surprised to see Hannah's room in darkness.

Opening the door as silently as she could she slowly pushed it fully open with the palm of her hand. The quiet sobs she could hear breaking her heart immediately.

Moving to Hannah's bed she turned the bedside lamp on seeing her daughter curled into a ball under her blanket.

"What's wrong Hannah?" Andrea asked pushing the few strands of dark hair away from her face.

"I heard you and Brandon, yelling at each other in the kitchen." Hannah said between the sobs.

"It wasn't the most grown up discussion, but adults sometimes need to let their feelings out to make things better." Andrea said softly, feeling like a mother failure for making her daughter aware of whatever issues she and Brandon were having at the moment.

"It reminded me how it all started years ago. You and dad were often yelling at each other, and then came the divorce." The last words came out barely above the whisper as new flood of tears spilled on Hannah's cheeks preventing her from saying anything else.

The only thing Andrea could do was stroke her daughter's back, she was not sure what to tell her. She had no idea that Hannah remembered her and Jessie fighting, or that she was even aware about their frequent fights back in the day as they always tried to keep her out of their problems as much as possible.

"We are not going to divorce over one fight." Andrea said finally trying to cheer her daughter up.

"You promise?" Hannah asked her eyes on her mother.

"I promise." Andrea confirmed, aware there was still a discussion coming up for her and Brandon and one apology that she owed him.

"Good." Hannah turned around assured by her mother's words. "Over the years I got used having him around. I mean he is a pretty good father." She grinned cheekily.

"He would be glad to hear that. Now get some sleep." Andrea smiled kissing her daughter's cheek before she stood up turning the light off.

"Good night, mom." Hannah called after her.

"Good night, Hannah." Andrea replied closing the door behind her. Leaning against the wall she took in a few deep breaths. She'll really have to discuss things calmly with Brandon very soon. Moving towards the master bedroom she knew she was not going to be able fall asleep any time soon. Grabbing a book that she was already reading for months she snuggled into a blanket in their bed determined to wait until Brandon will cool down and return back home.


Catching a glimpse of the clock on the car dashboard Brandon was surprised that more than hour passed since he left the house in furry. He has been driving through the streets of Los Angeles trying to calm down. He knew that thanks to his job he might not have been the most present father in Isaac's or Hannah's life, but whatever free time he had was always spent with his family, therefore he found Andrea's words that evening very unfair.

Passing the familiar white beach house with blue awnings he stopped the car deciding a bit of fresh air and ocean view could do him some good. Taking his shoes off, he walked down the shore as countless times before. The sun had already set in the distance, the skies becoming darker with every second, yet he recognized the familiar figure sitting down near the water immediately.

When he ran away that evening he was striving for some time alone to sort his thoughts, but maybe all he needed was to talk to a friend. Brandon moved forward. "Hey! Having a rough day?" He asked plopping down into the sand just a few feet away from Kelly.

Kelly looked up surprised to hear his voice, after short moment of hesitation she nodded her head softly.

"Ava?" He asked knowingly.

"…and Dylan." Kelly spoke looking at him. Brandon breathed in and out, wondering how much she knew.

"Yes, I heard he was back in town." Brandon admitted.

"I heard you two met in Bahamas of all places." Kelly added quickly.

"Kel.." Brandon started his voice soft.

"I don't blame you Brandon, this one is all on Dylan." Kelly cut him short. "Even if you told me you two met it would have changed nothing, there were far more important things happening."

"Now he is here." Brandon sighed dipping his toes into the wet sand.

"Yes." Kelly rubbed her face. "Whoever said be careful what you wish for couldn't be more right. For years I've wanted him back, I wanted a father for Ava. Now that he is here I just wish he would leave us alone."

"I hate to say it, but he does care about you two." Brandon let out not sure why he was trying to defend his friend.

Kelly let out a forced laugh. "So I heard, at least he keeps his story straight. So you have seen also the letter that made him leave I suppose?" She looked at him.

"No, did not get that one." Brandon smiled softly.

"That's a pity." Kelly replied looking away, silence setting between the two of them before Kelly spoke again. "Someone threatened him they'll kill me and our child if he did not provide them with information about his father's whereabouts. That's why he left; with him gone we were safe."

"Do you believe him?" Brandon asked, not trying to question Dylan's intentions, just to be sure.

"I guess so, he got the letter…it was definitely not new and then there was someone shooting at us today." Kelly sighed.

"What?" Brandon asked surprised how calm she acted despite that.

"I'm fine Brandon." Kelly mumbled. "Do you see those two guys on the right?"

Brandon squinted his eyes looking into the darkness. "Yes."

"My security. Ava's got her own one, courtesy of Mr. McKay." Kelly rolled her eyes unseen to Brandon.

"So he came back and arranged security for the two of you?" Brandon asked not really understanding the situation.

"They've been apparently around since the day he left. I never noticed them." Kelly shrugged. "You know what sucks the most?" Kelly sighed looking into the darkness that engulfed them not really waiting for an answer from Brandon. "I wish I could hate that guy for what he did, but I can't, I still love him." The words came out muffled.

"You can't help your feelings." Brandon mumbled.

"That's true, but I'm old enough to be able to put my mind before my feelings." Kelly sighed. "But enough about me, I suppose you were not taking a late evening walk on the beach to find me and discuss my daughter's father."

"No." Brandon laughed softly. "But it was a nice distraction from my own problems."

"You had a fight with Andrea." Kelly concluded quickly.

"You should really consider a career change Sherlock." Brandon shook his head playfully.

"You've always been too easy to read." Kelly shrugged. "I'm just surprised the two of you have anything to fight about."

"That makes two of us. She has been stressed lately and I haven't been around as much as I should." Brandon sighed finally admitting also to himself what their issue was.

"She is stressed because of Ava?" Kelly asked surprised as she did not notice anything during the past days.

Brandon remained silent biting inside of his cheek, he really should have kept his mouth shut on the subject.

"Brandon?" Kelly asked when he remained silent.

"She finds it difficult to keep her distance when it comes to Ava and not get too emotionally involved." Brandon admitted.

Now it was Kelly who remained silent burying her toes into the cold sand.

"Kelly that does not mean she does not want to care for her." Brandon spoke softly.

"Yeah." Kelly said brushing him off her thoughts running wild. "I should head back to the hospital." Standing up from the cold sand Kelly brushed it from her jeans.

"I will walk you to the car." Brandon said quickly mirroring her actions.

"You don't have to, I already have two bodyguards." Kelly joked.

"True and it looks they are ready to leave as well." Brandon agreed looking in the direction where the two guys were.

"Thank you Brandon." Kelly hugged him quickly. "I'll see you around." She picked up her shoes.

"See you around Kel." Brandon said softly watching as her slender form disappeared from his sight dropping back into the sand when he couldn't see her anymore, despite figuring a few things out he was still not ready to head back home to his wife.