Continued from the previous chapter.

/ / / / / / / / / / / /

Beck stared at the substance in the bag, he felt himself getting angry.

Andre: Daddy?

Cat: Him mad at you Tori.

Tori: I sorry daddy.

Beck looked down to Tori, his angry expression changed to soothe his child.

Beck: I'm not mad at you Tori, you didn't do anything wrong.

Trina: But she have that stuff.

Robbie: And you taked it away, very mean.

Beck: I know and I'm sorry.

Andre: (points) What is that?

Beck sighed putting the substance away onto his counter top out of the tots' reach.

Beck: It's something that is not good for you.

Tori: Zeek gave it to me daddy.

Beck: I'm gonna have a talk with your mom about Zeek.

Beck's doorbell rang, the tots all turned towards the door.

Cat: Is that mommy?

Beck: Nope, that's our friend, she's here.

Beck walked over to his door, he opened it revealing Jenny.

Jenny: (smiles) Hey Beck.

Jenny's smile faded as she stepped inside Beck closed the door behind her.

Jenny: What's wrong?

Beck: Everything.

Jenny: Did I come at a bad time or-

Beck: No Jenny, you're good.

Jenny: Are you sure?

Beck: (nods) Come meet my babies.

Jenny smiled as she followed Beck into the kitchen where the tots were eating.

Beck: Look, our friend is here.

The toddlers all looked up to Jenny, she nervously waved to them.

Jenny: Hi.

Beck: (smiles) Tell her your names.

Andre: My name is Andre and I am three, see?

Andre held up three fingers for Jenny to see.

Jenny: That's so cool, nice to meet you Andre.

Andre: Nice to meet you too.

Robbie: I Robbie.

Tori: I Tori, okay? Not Trina, Tori.

Trina: I Trina, she's Tori.

Trina pointed to Tori sitting across from her, Cat raised her hand.

Cat: And my name is, Cat!

Beck chuckled stroking Cat's hair.

Beck: Her name is, Caterina, Cat for short.

Jenny: It's so great to meet you all, you're so cute.

Robbie: What's your name?

Jenny: My name is Jenny.

Beck: Now that you've met, can you hang out with them for a while?

Jenny: Where are you going?

Beck: To my room, I have to make a quick call.

Jenny: Oh, okay, go ahead.

Beck: Thanks.

Beck walked away to his bedroom, Jenny heard his door close shut. She turned back to the toddlers who were staring back at her.

Beck: Come on, answer.

Beck paced around his room as he waited for Jade to answer his call. After a few more rings Beck heard Jade's cracking voice.

Jade: What is it Beck?

Beck wanted to yell at Jade, he was furious at her for making him call off the custody battle and even more furious after finding drugs on Tori. Hearing Jade's cracking voice changed Beck's attitude towards her.

Beck: Are you okay?

Jade: I'm fine, what do you want?

Jade's change of tone would have been believable to Beck, if he didn't hear Zeek yelling in the background. Beck listened as Zeek yelled verbally abusing Jade, she waited for him to stop before talking again. Her voice cracking.

Jade: What do you want?

Beck: I uh, I found something in Tori's pocket.

Jade: Did you really call to tell me that?

Beck: I found cocaine in her pocket Jade.

Jade guiltily stayed silent allowing Beck to continue.

Beck: What is our three year old daughter doing with cocaine?

Jade: I don't know what you're talking about.

Beck felt himself becoming frustrated again at Jade for not cooperating.

Beck: Cocaine Jade! Crack! Drugs!

Jade: I, I don't understand Beck.

Beck: Tori told me Zeek gave it to her.

Jade: I don't think he'd give it to her.

Beck: How else did she get it?

Jade: Maybe she took it Beck! Have you thought of that?

Beck: She didn't take it Jade!

Jade: He didn't give it to her!

Beck: She told me he put it into her pocket.

Jade: The kid's a liar Beck.

Beck: My daughter is no liar.

Jade: (sighs) I have to go.

Beck: No, you listen to me.

Jade: Who do you-

Beck: I don't care if you tell about me, I am reporting you and Zeek.

Jade: No! He could go to jail!

Beck: He belongs in jail.

Jade: You can't do this to me, Beck!

Beck: You made me call off the custody battle.

Jade: Let's be honest, you weren't going to win anyway.

Jenny smiled feeling more comfortable as she interacted with the toddlers.

Robbie: Know why?

Jenny: No, why?

Robbie: Because my daddy's gonna take me there.

Jenny: Oh, really?

Robbie: (nods) Yep. He said so.

Tori: See that, over there?

Tori pointed towards the counter, Jenny looked over.

Tori: Zeek gave it to me and now daddy's mad.

Trina: Daddy said that stuff is bad.

Jenny observed the drugs acknowledging what it was, she nodded her head understanding why Beck seemed upset.

Tori: I no touch that again. Zeek is bad.

Cat: Him make mommy sad today.

Andre: Shh, Cat.

Cat: Oh, no him didn't.

Later that night, Jenny stayed over to watch movies with Beck and the toddlers. The tots eventually fell asleep, Beck carried them off to his bed. He sat in the living room talking with Jenny.

Beck: What am I gonna do?

Jenny: This is tough Beck.

Beck: It's either my career or my kids.

Jenny: Just report her boyfriend for the drugs.

Beck: What's the use? She'll report me for, you know.

Jenny: (nods) I am so sorry Beck.

Beck: There's no reason for you to be sorry.

Beck sighed looking ahead at the television shaking his head.

Jenny: I think you should go ahead with the case.

Beck turned looking at Jenny.

Beck: I can't. I'll lose my kids and my job.

Jenny: You'll just lose your job but you could always find another.

Beck: What are you saying?

Jenny: I'll be your witness.

Beck: Huh?

Jenny: When I visited Jade, I saw so much abuse from standing on the porch.

Beck: You'll testify in court for me?

Jenny: Yes. Those babies deserve better and that's you.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Thanks for reading, more to come.