A/N: Slowly but surely my muse is coming back. Yay!! I don't think I did Reid justice in this chapter, but I'll let y'all decide. I hope you like it. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. They keep me going when I'm struggling. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Yeah, by now you know what I own and what I don't.
I woke up and looked at my surroundings. Shit. I let my head fall back onto the pillow. The heart monitor beeped with a steady rhythm. My mouth felt like I had a wad of cotton stuck in it. I heard a doorknob turn and looked over to see Sam walking out of the bathroom. His eyes met mine and I saw the relief wash over him. He walked over and wrapped me in a hug.
"You really have to stop scaring us like that Addy."
"I'm sorry Sammy." I clung to him. The tears welled up in my eyes. I had to tell them. It was getting to be too much to carry on my own. I pulled back and wiped away the tears that had fallen. I looked down at my hands, too scared to actually meet his eyes. "There's something I have to tell y'all, something that I should have told you a while ago." My hands were picking at my blanket. Sam gently grabbed them to stop me.
"We know Addy." My head shot up, the shock written all over my face.
"How?," I breathed out.
"Your doctor told us." Oh God, this is bad. This is so bad. I started looking around the room again.
"Where are Dean and Mason?," I asked in a panic. Sam cleared his throat and looked away before answering me.
"They're…uh…they're headed back to Ipswich."
"No," I groaned out and dropped my head into my hands. "Sam we have to stop them."
"Not much chance of that. They left a little over six hours ago and they're not answering their phones."
"How long before they get to him?"
"Well, since we're in Nebraska that cut a little bit of the time. Then there is the fact that both of them drive like a bat out of Hell when they're pissed."
"Sam, just give me a damn answer."
"I'd say they'll probably be in Ipswich sometime tomorrow evening."
"Where's my phone? I need to call Reid and warn him." I watched as Sam rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well you see Addy, you're phone was kind of left in the car."
"What am I going to do?" I sat there shaking my head.
"I don't think they'll kill him Addy. Rough him up yeah, but not kill."
"It's not just that Sam."
"What is it?" I looked up into his concerned face. I had to tell someone. Maybe he could help me figure out a way to tell Dean, Mason, and Reid, especially Reid.
"The baby isn't Reid's."
Reid's POV
"Come on man, you can't keep moping around here. Addison wouldn't want that."
"Shut up Baby Boy." I glanced at my phone again before switching my attention back to the e-mail in front of me. Tex had sent it Friday. She said they had just gotten a lead on this Bela bitch and were headed to Monument, Colorado. It had been three days since I heard from her. I hoped everything was alright.
I remembered the last conversation we had. I called her after receiving the charm. She told me about her trip to see Missouri. It seemed like something was bothering her; like she wanted to tell me something, but couldn't figure out how to. I tried to get it out of her, but she said it was nothing. I guess she was probably just thinking about Dean and how there wasn't a lot of time left.
We had been trying to help. We scoured every single one of the books at the Colony house and haven't found a thing. I'm reading through them again just in case we missed something.
"Come on man, at least come to Nicky's with us. Beating Aaron at pool always makes you feel good." Baby Boy just wouldn't give up. It was Monday evening and it was spring break. I had thought about finding out where she was and meeting up with them. I was still thinking about it, if I could just get a hold of her. Suddenly Caleb and Pogue barged into the room.
"That's it man, let's go." Pogue closed my laptop and Caleb yanked me off the bed. Tyler handed me my shoes. I was being dragged to the door.
"Guys," I started to protest, but Caleb cut me off.
"Just come hang out with us. Just for a couple of hours. Then you can come back here and stare at your phone and computer screen for the rest of the night." I knew there was no use in fighting.
"Fine." I slipped my shoes on and walked the rest of the way to the door, my brothers following behind me. I opened the door and was met by a fist to my face. I stumbled backwards and fell to the ground clutching my nose. I looked up to see Dean and Mason and boy were they pissed.
"What the fuck?," I shouted as I started to get up. What was going on? Where was Addison? I was half way up when Mason walked in and grabbed me by my shirt and slammed me against the wall.
"What the hell were you thinking kid?" Okay, I was complete lost.
"What do you mean?"
"What's going on?," came Caleb's commanding voice.
"This little shit knocked up our sister."
"What??!!" My astonishment was echoed by my brothers'.
"But…but we used protection."
"Well you didn't use enough," Dean said menacingly as he made his way over, his fist raised to strike again.
"Stop." Dean and Mason froze in place. I looked over to see Caleb's black eyes. "This isn't helping anything. We need to calm down and talk about this rationally."
"Kid, you don't let me go you are going to be in a world of pain," Dean gritted out..
"Wait, how did the fetus survive?" We turned our attention to Baby Boy.
"What do you mean Tyler?," Caleb asked. He still had Dean and Mason frozen.
"I mean when she was put in the hospital after the whole thing with Chase. Didn't they give her something that was like the Morning after Pill?" My head snapped to Mason. His jaw was clenched.
"Yes," he said hoarsely. "But she did spend the night with you before we left." The anger was back.
"We didn't do anything. We just slept. I swear." I could tell they didn't believe me. A phone started going off.
"You going to let me answer that?," Dean asked. Caleb let them lose and Mason dropped me to the ground. "What Sammy?" Yeah, they weren't going to cool down anytime soon. As Dean talked I walked into the bathroom to clean the blood from my nose off. I rinsed my face off and hissed as I touched my nose. At least it's not broken. I was thinking about what they had said. Addy was pregnant. But how? I know we used protection and like Baby Boy said whatever they gave her should've stopped any development. The only thing I could think of was the fact that it was in our DNA to survive. But I know the condoms never broke.
"Alright Sammy, I hear ya. We'll meet you there." I walked out when I realized that the conversation was over.
"What was that about?," Mason asked.
"They released Lil' Bit from the hospital. Everything checked out."
"Wait she was in the hospital?" They glared at me. "She's pregnant with my child and you don't even tell me she is in the fucking hospital??!!"
"You better watch yourself kid. I can still hurt you." I saw the flash of a gun handle as he adjusted his jacket.
"So where are they now?," Pogue asked.
"Sam rented a car and they drove to Columbus, Nebraska."
"Why didn't they just stay where they were?," Tyler asked. Dean and Mason shared a look.
"We got some big demon on our tails. It's not safe to stay in one spot too long right now."
"We should go," Mason said as he walked to the door. I grabbed my jacket off the desk chair.
"I'm coming with you."
"The hell you are," Dean replied.
"Look, that's my girl and she's having my baby. She needs me and I'm going to be there for her." They looked at each other then stared hard at me.
"Let's go," Mason said.
"We're coming too," Caleb stated.
"There ain't enough room in my car."
"We'll follow in mine," Tyler piped up.
"Fine. If we're going, let's go." With that Dean walked out the door followed by Mason, then me, then my brothers. Caleb and Pogue were on the phone, obviously calling Sarah and Kate and letting them know about the change in plans. When we got to the entrance they were standing there. Guess they decided to come too. We all piled into our respective cars.
I knew it probably wasn't safe to be alone with them, but I chose to ride with Dean and Mason. That way they couldn't lose us. I had a long ride to sit and think about what I was going to do. Was I truly ready to be a father? Hell no, but I wouldn't leave Tex on her own in this. I loved her and would take care of her and our son.
Addy's POV
I stood under the shower head and let the warm water cascade down my body. I had climbed into the shower after I spent most of the day tossing and turning. Sam had demanded I stay in bed and rest. Stupid brothers. I kept hearing Chase's sinister laugh and his last words to me.
"Don't you realize that no matter what you do you will never be able to get rid of me? I will haunt you for the rest of your life." He was right. I would be stuck with the memory of him for the rest of my life, but I would not let him win completely. I wouldn't let what happened to me influence how I would raise my child. I would give it all the love it deserved and more. Chase would still be the loser in the end. My peace was interrupted by a knock on the bathroom door.
"Addy, you okay in there?" I sighed. They were on full alert now and I would never get a moment alone.
"I'm fine Sam."
"Ok, just checking. Oh, just so you know Mason called. They're about three hours out." Damn they must have been driving nonstop again. "And Addy?"
"Yeah?"
"Reid is with them." I froze at Sam's last statement. I kind of knew Reid would probably come with them, but part of me had hoped that he would need some time before he saw me. I still hadn't figured out a way to tell him the baby wasn't his. God knows, he thought it was. How would he handle it? Would he be relieved? Angry? Would he leave me and never look back? God, I don't know if I could handle that. I needed him now more than ever. I needed him to help me with all the things that came with having a Son of Ipswich.
"Addy?"
"I'll be out in a minute Sam." I didn't receive a reply and assumed he walked back to his laptop where I had left him when I came in here. I sighed once more and turned off the water. Pulling the curtain back, the chill in the air made goosebumps appear on my skin. I already missed my warm little cocoon that kept me safe from the world. I dried off and dressed into a loose t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants that had some how made it into my bag. I didn't know whose they were, but I rolled them up and used them anyway.
I wiped the condensation off the mirror and looked at my reflection. I turned to the side and lifted the shirt up. I placed my hand on the small bump that had formed. It still amazed me that this little thing was growing inside me. It was still an innocent. I hope I didn't screw its life up. I started wondering if it would be a boy or a girl. Probably a boy. I remember Reid saying that the Power was given to the first born male in their families and since none of them had siblings it was safe to say that they only had one son. Did this mean I wouldn't be able to give Reid a son? I shook my head at the thought.
"One step at a time Addy. You don't know if he's even going to want to be with you after this." I looked back to my reflection sadly and caressed the bump. "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. I promise." I thought back to my conversation with John. I still hadn't told the guys about it and after Dean's episode I wasn't sure it would be a good idea. Maybe it was just something I needed to keep to myself. Something that would bring me comfort when I needed it.
I walked out to see Sam sitting at his laptop. Of course. I shook my head and chuckled to myself. He looked up at me and I smiled. I made my way over to one of the beds and turned on the TV. There wasn't much on, but I managed to find Animal Planet. I was a little shocked to see that on a motel TV, but I left it there. I always loved animals. This would help me avoid the knowing fact that Reid was almost here. Of course, Sam couldn't give me that last moment of calm.
"You figure out how you're going to tell him?" I ignored him. "Come on Addy. You have to tell him the truth. He has a right to know."
"I never said I wasn't going to tell him Sam. I just don't know how to break it to him yet."
"Well you better figure something out soon."
"Oh it's so easy for you. All you have to do is sit there. You don't have to break the heart of the person you love." Sam's eyebrows shot up at that. I couldn't believe I said it myself. Did I really love Reid? Even though we had only been together for a few months, I knew it was true. I had fallen head over heels in love with Reid Garwin. The question now was did he feel the same?
"You…love him?" I nodded my head. "Does he love you?" I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't know. Guess I'll find out soon." Sam looked at me sympathetically. I turned my attention back to the TV. Those three hours flew by and we soon heard the rumbling of the Impala. I swallowed trying to get my heart back in my chest where it belonged. Sam looked to me.
"It'll be okay Addy." He got up and opened the door. "Dean," he called out so they knew which room we were in. "Crap." He looked back to me and then back outside. He obviously hadn't intended me to hear that.
"What's wrong Sam?" I got up and made my way to the door. I was afraid that they had really done a number on Reid and that he looked like hell. Before I could get to the door Mason walked through followed by Dean, Reid, the rest of the Sons, Sarah, and Kate. Shit. This was going to be harder than I thought. I looked over to Reid. His face was bruised. It started at his nose and drifted over to both of his eyes. I didn't see any other injuries, but he was wearing clothes. He looked at me with those penetrating eyes and I felt my resolve start to crumble.
"You know I think we should let them talk guys. Why don't we go to the diner down the street?" I watched as Dean and Mason were about to launch their protest when Kate spoke up.
"I think that's an excellent idea Sam. We haven't had lunch yet and I'm starving." She grabbed Pogue's hand and Sarah grabbed Caleb's and they started to head out. Tyler followed behind and Sam herded Dean and Mason out. I sent him a grateful look and he smiled reassuringly at me.
"We'll bring you guys back something." We just stared at each other as Sam walked out the door. Now we were alone. Silence filled the room. I looked down unable to hold his gaze any longer.
"Say something," I whispered, almost too soft for him to hear. He didn't say anything. He closed the distance between us, slipped his hand under my shirt, and let it rest on my stomach. I looked at him completely shocked. I was expecting yelling, but it was like he accepted it already. He had a strange look on his face. It seemed to be a mixture of fear, pride, and happiness. This made it even harder to tell him the truth. Maybe I didn't have to. Maybe I could just let him think it was his. No, that wasn't right and I knew I could never live with myself. He looked back up at me, his mouth slightly parted.
"How far along are you?"
"About three months. I'm nearing the end of the first trimester."
"How long?" His voice sounded hoarse. I looked at him for a moment. "How long have you known?" I turned my eyes back to the TV that was still on.
"About a month now."
"Baby, why didn't you tell me sooner? I could've been there all this time. I could've helped you, kept you safe, and been there when your brothers found out." God, he was twisting the knife deeper and deeper. He sighed and looked back to my stomach. "I guess it doesn't matter. All that matters is that I'm here now and I'm going to take care of you. Both of you." He looked me in the eyes. "God, Addison I love you so much." He pulled me to him and kissed me deeply. Why does he have to be so amazing? We pulled apart to get some much needed air.
"Reid."
"Mmmm." He rubbed his nose against mine.
"I love you too." The smile that lit up his face broke my heart. His head drifted down to my neck where he proceeded to nip at my skin. "That's why this is so hard." He stilled. Pulling back, he gave me a questioning look.
"Baby everything is going o be okay now. I'm going to take care of you. You and our son."
"That's the problem Reid." His confusion increased. "It's not your baby." He tensed. He stepped away and turned his back to me.
"What do you mean it's not mine?," he asked softly. I could hear the sound of his heart breaking in his voice and it cut me deeply. The tears starting to fall.
"You…" He was having trouble forming words. "You cheated on me. You cheated on me. Damnit Addison! I can't believe you." He turned back to me, his eyes blazing in anger and pain. "I have been faithful to you all this time and you do this to me. Do you know how many girls threw themselves at me after you were gone? Do you? But I turned everyone of them down because I couldn't do that to you. I couldn't stand the thought of breaking your heart because I love you." He glared at me.
"I have fallen in love with you Addison and it was a mistake."
"No. Don't say that. It wasn't a mistake." I closed the distance between us and gently took his face in my hands. It was slick with tears. "I love you too." He shook his head and wrenched my hands off of him.
"Don't lie to me Addison. You cheated on me. You let some other guy knock you up and let your brothers think it was me. You let them come beat me up. You made me come here. I was ready to take care of you. To take care of our son. I guess I should say thank you for telling me the truth." He turned to walk out.
"Reid, please. Wait. It's not what you think. Let me explain." I moved forward to stop him, but he turned around. His eyes were solid black. I stepped back in fear.
"Don't touch me," he growled out. "I never want to see you again. Don't contact me or any of my friends. You are dead to me." He walked out the door and slammed it shut. I felt sick and rushed to the bathroom. I threw up what I had left in my stomach. Then I broke down. He hated me. Reid truly hated me. He hadn't even tried to listen to my explanation. He just assumed I cheated on him. I just sat there and cried. What was I going to do now?
"The road is going to get worse soon, but even though you may feel that everything is lost, it's not. You're a strong woman. It'll work out in the end." I heard John's gentle words echo through my head. He was right. I was strong. I could handle this. I stood up and walked back out into the room. I grabbed my bag and stuffed my clothes into it. I booted Sam's laptop and typed a quick note. I couldn't leave without telling them something. I left my phone next to it knowing they would try tracking me with the GPS.
I went to the window on the wall between the beds. I knew if I went out the door, someone would see me and tell them which direction I went. I needed to get away. I needed to take the time to sort this out on my own, without my brothers' overbearing presence. I knew they would treat me like a glass doll and I couldn't handle that right now. Once my feet hit the ground I jogged through the alleyway, following it to the next street over. I saw a gas station across the street and headed over. I walked in to see a guy who looked to be in college sitting behind the counter reading a magazine.
"Excuse me." He looked up and smiled.
"What can I do for you pretty lady?" Ugh, I so didn't want him to flirt with me.
"Can you tell me how to get to the bus station?"
"If you wait another thirty minutes I can take you there myself." He leaned on the counter and leered at me. I stepped back and placed my hand on my stomach. The motion managed to emphasize my bump and his eyes widened.
"Thanks, but I'm in a hurry." He nodded his head.
"Go down to Wiltshire, take a left. Then keep going until you get to Springs. It's halfway down on the right side."
"Thank you." I walked out of the station and started on my journey. I knew when my brothers finally figured out where I was, they would kill me. Oh well. There was no turning back now.
Reid's POV
How could she do this to me?! I couldn't believe she cheated on me. After everything we had been through, she ran into another man's arms, into his bed. All I could see was red. The urge to use was flaring thorough me and it took all I had to stop from releasing the Power. I wanted to hurt something or someone. I wanted someone to feel the pain that I was feeling right now. Feel the betrayal. No, what I really wanted to do was hunt down the bastard that stole my woman and flay him alive.
I stormed down the street in search of the diner. I needed to get the hell out of here. I needed to put this town in the rearview mirror, leave anything that had to do with Addison Cooper in the dust. Easier said than done. How could I let myself fall in love? I should've known that I could never have what Caleb or Pogue had. Hell, it was only a matter of time before Baby Boy would find a woman he loved and I would be alone. Maybe I wasn't so wrong with my womanizing ways. All I had to do was find someone to help me continue the line and then continue on my way. The thought of that made me cringe. How could one girl have gotten to me so much that I hated the way I used to be?
Finally I spotted the diner. I could see my brothers sitting there laughing with her family. The sight made my blood boil. How could she?! I stalked across the street and into the diner. I walked over to their table and stood there, glaring. All talking ceased and they looked to me.
"Hey man, everything okay?." Pogue asked. I knew they could tell I wasn't.
"Where's Addy?." Sam asked.
"I don't give a fuck where she is," I bit out. I turned to my family. "Let's go." I walked back out the door, ignoring the questions they shouted at me.
"Reid, wait up." I heard Tyler running to catch up with me. When he finally got to me, he grabbed my shoulder to stop my progress. "What the hell happened?" I could feel my muscles tense then start to shake. I knew Tyler could feel it to. It was no longer anger and betrayal that coursed through me. Pain and hurt now joined them.
"It's not mine," I said softly. The woman I loved more than anything in the world, the woman that I would die for if it meant she was alive and happy was pregnant with another man's child. It killed me. I wanted to let the Power consume me and suck the life right out of me. Everything I had hoped for since meeting her had been turned to ash.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it's not mine. She told me the kid isn't mine!," I shouted at him. I could feel the tears building up, but I forced them back.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I turned to see everybody standing there. I glared at Dean.
"I mean your sister has been whoring herself out behind my back," I said with all the anger and pain that I had in me. I knew I didn't mean that, but at this point my brain was in reaction mode which didn't allow for a stop between a thought and an action. I didn't even know Dean was that fast, but soon he was slamming me against the brick wall of the building.
"Don't you ever say something like that about my sister again, you hear me you little shit? She is too good for you. She deserves someone that will love her."
"Well be my guest Winchester. I'm. Through. With. Her." I felt the blow to my stomach and then pain shot through my knees as they connected with the pavement. I coughed to regain my breath and looked up to see Pogue and Caleb holding Dean and Mason back. Sarah and Kate stood there in shock and Tyler came over to help me up. Mason opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the ringing of a phone. We looked to the ground to see a black phone lying there. Sarah bent down and picked it up.
"You going to give me my phone back?," Mason asked.
"It's Sam," she said. Mason nodded for her to answer it. "Hello?" We stood there for a moment, but the silence was disturbed by Sarah's screech. "What do you mean she's gone?!" At that Caleb and Pogue loosened their holds and Mason grabbed the phone from Sarah.
"Sammy, where the hell is she? What do you mean all her stuff is gone?" He looked at me and glared. I felt a chill run through my body. What if that demon got her? I left her there all alone and it could cost her her life. Mason and Dean took off at a run back to the motel. I shoved Tyler out of the way and followed. I actually passed them and barged into the room to find Sam looking at his computer. Dean ran into me and we went crashing on the floor. Mason came through the door shortly after. Scrambling up, Dean walked over to Sam.
"Where is she Sammy?"
"I don't know Dean. She left this." He turned the computer so we could read it.
Guys,
I'm sorry, but I had to do this. I know you won't understand right now, but I hope eventually you will. Don't worry. I'm going someplace safe. I'll contact you guys when I get where I'm going. I love you.
Love, Addy
"She also left this." He held up her phone. "She obviously knew we would activate the GPS on it."
"Where do you think she'd go?"
"My best guess would be Ellen. She would take her in easily," Mason replied.
"And not tell us that she was there," Dean scoffed.
"That too."
"This is all your fault. What did you say to her?" Dean took a menacing step towards me. I backed up and ran into Tyler.
"If anybody has the right to be angry it's me. She went behind my back and let some guy knock her up!," I shouted.
"What are you talking about? She didn't let any guy knock her up," Sam stated.
"She told me the baby wasn't mine. How else could she have ended up pregnant?"
"Did you let her explain?"
"There's nothing to explain."
"Yes there is Reid. My little sister is in love with you and this knowledge has been killing her. She only confided in me because she couldn't figure out how to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"The baby is Chase's." I heard Sarah and Kate gasp behind me. I knew my brothers had probably tensed. I felt like a ice cold bucket of water had been dumped on me. That was what she was trying to tell me. I fell to my knees, holding my head in my hands.
"What have I done?"
"You fucked up," Dean bit out.
"Dean," Sam sighed.
"He's right. I didn't even give her the chance to explain. I didn't want to hear it. I was so hurt. I just automatically assumed that…"
"How did he do it?," Mason asked. "She told me he didn't rape her."
"He didn't," Sam replied. "I think we should all sit down." Everyone took a seat. "Addy said that when he was holding her he sent the Power through her. I think…we think that's when he impregnated her. The reason the medicine the doctors gave her didn't work was because it wasn't a natural conception. He had to have placed protection over the fetus, just in case." This was all too much. The baby belonged to Chase. I couldn't even begin to imagine what Addy had been going through when she found out.
"How does she know it is Chase's?," Sarah asked. She had a valid point. Tex and I had sex just before my party the night before.
"A friend of ours, a psychic, told her. Believe me when I say she's rarely ever wrong."
"Missouri?," Dean asked. Sam nodded his head.
"So how do we find her?," I asked. I had to get her back. I had to tell how sorry I was for not listening to her. I would do whatever it took to get her back in my life. I would grovel for the rest of my life if that's what it took.
"We can call Bobby. See if he can do a locating spell," Mason said. He really wasn't talking much. He seemed to have drifted into himself. I couldn't even think of how he felt right now. Tex had told me that they pretty much were the only ones left in their family. Their dad's parents had passed away a couple years back. Mason only had his grandma on his mother's side and her while Tex only had him and the Winchesters.
"Good idea." Dean pulled out his phone and started calling.
"I'll call Ellen and just have her tell people to keep a lookout," Sam said as he reached for his phone.
"What if that's where she's headed? Like Dean said Ellen wouldn't tell us if Addy didn't want her too."
"I know Mason, but Ellen would at least let us know she's safe." Mason nodded his head in agreement. As Sam was calling this Ellen lady, Dean was hanging up.
"Well Bobby said we're a bunch of idiots and that he'll do the locating spell."
"Alright thanks Ellen. Ellen will keep a lookout and her ears open for anything. If she comes there and doesn't want us to know, she'll at least make sure we know she's safe."
"So what do we do now?," I asked, still feeling guilty and miserable.
"We'll have to wait a bit for Bobby, but we can go around town and see if anybody's seen her. She couldn't have gotten too far."
"Dean, are you forget you taught her how to hotwire a car?" Sam quirked his eyebrow.
"Well, somebody had to at least seen her walking around. So we split up and see if anybody knows anything."
"Sounds good to me," Mason said as he stood up and headed to the door.
"Me too," I piped in as I followed Mason out. The others fell in line behind us. I went off with Tyler and Sam. Caleb went with Sarah, Pogue with Kate, and Dean with Mason. We agreed to meet back at the motel in an hour and a half and to call if we got anything. All I could think about as we began our search was how much I had let Addison down. Dean was right. She did deserve better.