NOTE: I don't own these Gilmore Girls characters but I do love the show so much.
A/N: You guys are the best. I love how the reviews keep coming. It's making me get a warm and squishy feeling. I love that feeling. Keep it up, OK? Now on with the story.
CHAPTER 9
"A-arrested?" Jess choked out. "What are you talking about?"
"Sir," the female officer said to Jess. "We have witnesses that say they saw you take the child somewhere."
"I found her," Jess defended himself. "Shane had gone into full throttle crazy mode on her and I was only trying to help Rosa."
"Don't take him away," Rosa pleaded, grabbing onto Jess's arm.
Shane yanked Rosa away and pulled her closely. "She's delirious," Shane assured the officers. "He drugged her up or something. She doesn't know what she's saying."
"Mr. Mariano, I'm afraid we're going to have to take you in," the male officer said again.
"I'm this child's father," Jess blurted out before he even realized what he said. "Last time I checked a guy couldn't kidnap his own kid."
The female officer turned to Shane and asked, "Is this true, Miss?"
"Not a word," Shane replied firmly.
"Oh, yeah, believe her," Jess said dryly, getting the cops' attention. "Believe the one who has been using this kid for a punching bag."
"That's not true!" Shane exclaimed, standing.
"Like hell it isn't," Jess snapped at her.
Shane got in his face. "Who are you to—?"
"Stop it now!" Rosa suddenly shrieked, getting the attention of all four adults in the room. "Just stop it! He didn't kidnap me. I ran away. It's all my fault. I was bad. Don't hurt him, please!"
"She's putting all of this on herself," the female officer said to her partner.
The other officer sighed, "Classic sign of abuse."
"You're not really going to buy into this are you?" Shane asked the officers. "She's just a stupid kid."
"A lot smarter than you," Jess commented with a shrug.
Before Shane could snap at him again the male officer interjected with, "Mr. Mariano, if this really is your daughter you're going to have to take some kind of a test."
"She is mine," Jess assured them. "Just look at her."
"I never touched this man!" Shane cried, yanking onto Rosa once more. "He's a liar. Arrest him already."
"No!" Rosa shouted again, once again getting everyone's attention. "It's all my fault." She suddenly took off running.
"Rosa!" Jess called after her, following, along with the others.
Rosa speeded off as fast as she could out of the building, heading down the street. She did not even look back to see the others following her. Rosa ran and ran, not really knowing where she was going exactly. She just knew that she had to get away from Shane and Jess, if he really was her daddy, as well. She would only be trouble to them; Rosa just knew it.
The brown haired girl, not at all looking where she was going, raced out into the middle of the street. A driver, who had not expected Rosa to run out the way she did, tried to stop his car immediately, as it headed right for the child.
Rosa suddenly felt herself get scooped up and pulled back onto the sidewalk. She looked up into the brown eyes of Jess.
The man in the car poked his head out of his window. "Hey, watch it!" he yelled then drove off.
The officers and Shane ran up as Jess held Rosa closely before putting her down. "What goes through your head exactly?" Jess asked the child. "I'm starting to wonder..."
"Is she all right?" the female officer asked.
Shane grabbed onto Rosa's wrist and shook her. "What is wrong with you, you stupid brat?" she spat at her. Shane shook Rosa even harder. "You are such a little bitch!"
The officers could not believe their eyes. "Ms. Brookes, take it easy," the male one said.
Shane just continued to rant. "I hate you," she yelled at Rosa. "I wish I never had you!"
Tears welled up in Rosa's eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Sorry?" Shane repeated, her voice rising. "Sorry!" She suddenly smacked Rosa across the face, knocking her down.
"Hey!" Jess did not know whether to grab Rosa or choke Shane. His fatherly instincts took over when he scooped Rosa up.
"Get away from her!" Shane reached out for Jess but the female officer took hold of her wrist.
"Ma'am, we're going to have to take you in," she said.
"What?" Shane exclaimed.
"Mommy?" Rosa wept.
"Shush," Jess hushed her. "It'll be OK." The officers guided them all into the police car, ready to ask Jess some questions. "It'll be OK," Jess whispered again.
A/N: Well, this story is coming to an end. Sad, isn't it? Please review so I can update really quickly.