To Be Needed
Part 11
The next morning Ashby told the 'team' she had errands she needed to get done. She asked if anyone wouldn't mind staying home with Maria for a couple of hours.
Vince volunteered, since he still felt bad about what he said to Ashby the day before.
Last night Ashby had locked her bedroom door for the first time since she's come to live with them. When Vince went to go climb into her bed her door was locked. He knew then he was going to have to earn her trust back. She wasn't gonna forgive him so easily. He frowned when he saw Jesse come out of her room early that morning. He couldn't believe he was even jealous over Jesse. Fuck…what the hell is wrong with me?
Mia was debating on whether or not she should leave Maria with him. Vince knew she still had a lot of paperwork she needed to catch up on at the garage. She really couldn't risk losing the time.
"Mia, just go. We'll be fine. Ash will be back in a couple of hours." Vince insisted as he shoved Mia out the door.
Everyone was gone, it was only Ashby and Vince left with the baby. Ashby finished feeding Maria and then left her with Vince so she could go up and change.
When Ashby came back down Vince was in the living room watching cartoons with Maria. His eyes widened, when he saw what Ashby was wearing. She was dressed professionally. He wanted to ask where she was going, but he restrained himself. He didn't want to make her madder at him.
"Okay, I'm going. Hopefully I'll be back in less than two hours. If you need anything, call me." Ashby said as she made her way towards the door.
Vince nodded. "Can we talk when you come back?" he asked gruffly. He was embarrassed because he didn't want to sound like he was begging for her attention.
Ashby sighed. "I'll think about it. I'm not too sure if I want to talk to you right now." She said and then left.
Five minutes after she was gone the phone rang.
"Hello, Toretto house," Vince answered, but winced when he realized he sounded just like Ashby.
His eyes widened at what the caller had to say.
Ashby stood at the entrance of the courthouse. She didn't want to go in. She didn't want to bring up old memories. They were still painful. She wanted them to stay buried.
Ashby took a deep breath and headed inside.
"Ash! Wait!"
Ashby turned around in shock when she heard someone call out her name. She saw Jesse running toward her, followed by Vince, Leon and Dom. Mia was slower because she was carrying Maria.
Ashby's jaw dropped.
"What are you all doing here?" she asked Jesse once he was close enough.
Jesse grinned as he gave her a quick hug. "We came here for you," he told her as if it were obvious.
Ashby gaped at him and the others when they finally caught up to her and Jesse. "But why…How did you…" she stared at them confused.
"The courthouse called the house right after you left to remind you of your hearing. I called the 'team' so we could be here." Vince explained.
The others nodded their agreement.
Ashby didn't know what to say. "Thank you, but you guys didn't have to come. I can do this on my own." She replied. She was happy they came to support her, but she didn't want them there. She didn't want them to know. She didn't want them to feel sorry for her.
Ashby wanted them to be able to tell her to go when they didn't need her anymore. She didn't want them to feel guilty and keep her around because they felt sorry for her.
Dom rolled his eyes. "What did I tell you yesterday? We're a 'team. We're always there for each other no matter what. Now let's go before you're late." He replied, leaving no room for argument.
The three men looked at her as if to say 'ha you can't argue with Dom his word is law'.
Ashby wasn't havin it thou. She didn't want them to go in with her. "You guys are a 'team'. I'm not. I can handle this on my own, but I appreciate you all comin down here for me." She replied.
Jesse glared at her. "You are too a part of the 'team'. Remember Ash; I told you that you were. Tell her Dominic. She's a part of the team." Jesse demanded.
Dom watched Ashby curiously. "When we get home we're gonna have a serious talk about why you think you're not apart of the team. In the mean time we're goin in there with you so get use to it." He told her firmly.
"Ashby McCloud, please come forward."
Ashby stood and made her way to one of the tables. The team watched her go with mixed feelings.
Ashby saw David sitting off to the side. He was called up next.
They sat at tables facing a judge, very much in a courtroom fashion. It was all informal since it was only a hearing.
The judge was a woman, and from Ashby could tell probably in her early to mid- thirties.
"Miss McCloud, you were informed that you were to bring your child to this hearing, were you not?" The judge asked.
There was a collective gasp from the team. They had no idea she had a child. Ashby couldn't look at them. She didn't want to see the hurt in their eyes, because she didn't tell them everything about herself.
"Yes, ma'am, but I couldn't do that." Ashby stated.
David looked over at her sharply. "What the hell are you talking about? Your daughter is over there." David yelled out.
"Mr. Johnson, you will be quiet until I tell you that you may speak," the judge told him, harshly, and then turned back to Ashby.
"Ms. McCloud, is that child over there your child or not?"
No, ma'am. Maria belongs to Mia Toretto, who is holding her. I only baby-sit Maria for Mia while Mia is at work." Ashby explained.
"You lyin bitch!" David burst out.
"Mr. Johnson, one more outburst and you will be banned from this hearing. Do you understand me?" The Judge demanded.
David nodded his head numbly.
"I can't hear you, Mr. Johnson."
"Yes, ma'am." David said, embarrassed that he had been reprimanded.
"Good. Now Ms. McCloud, will you please tell me where your daughter is and why she isn't here?"
Ashby nodded as tears formed in her eyes. 'West Memorial Cemetery." She replied, her voice cracking.
David's jaw dropped.
The 'team' was shocked as well. Vince closed his eyes. He could only imagine how painful this must be for Ashby to bring up. She never told any of them about it. It must still be something she didn't want to talk about.
The judge frowned. "Explain, please Ms. McCloud. Just the facts are fine."
Ashby sighed and took a shaky breath. "My daughter was born two months premature. She died a couple weeks after because her lungs were underdeveloped. She couldn't breath on her own. I have both her birth certificate and death certificate with me if you need proof." Stray tears fell down Ashby's cheek.
Vince wanted to leap over the chairs and beat David where he sat. Vince didn't know who he was, but he did know that David brought Ashby here and made her remember something that she was trying to forget. Vince could hear the pain in her voice when she spoke. He also wanted to beat his own ass for everything he said to her yesterday. She was right about him being off base.
The judge looked at Ashby sadly. "I'm sorry, but I will need to see them."
Ashby handed the papers over to the uniformed guard. After reading both documents the judge handed them back.
"Thank you Ms. McCloud. You may go. I deeply apologize for the grief this hearing has caused you."
Ashby nodded and turned away, walking back towards where the 'team' sat.
"As for you Mr. Johnson. I am appalled as to how callous you truly are. Before you hurt anyone else, make sure you get all your facts straight. If I see you again Mr. Johnson you will wish I hadn't." The judge told him scornfully.
David left the room quickly, embarrassed.
Ashby walked headlong into Vince's waiting arms. She let the remainder of her tears fall. She didn't care anymore, since the 'team' knew now. They would treat her different because of what they knew. They may not know everything, but they knew enough. She could no longer keep it from them. They would want to know the whole story. Ashby just wasn't sure if she was ready to tell them.
"Come on, baby. I'll take you home." Vince said gently, as he steered her towards the door.
The rest of the 'team' followed, sadly. They didn't know what to do or say.
Dom understood now why Ashby fitted in so perfect with the 'team'. It explained so much. She lost her child. She needed something to help her grieve. Taking care of them did that for her. He wondered why Jesse had grown so attached to her and now he knew. Jesse never had a mother. Ashby treated him like a mother would. Jesse needed that. Dom also knew Ashby probably needed that as well.
That's probably why she's taken such good care of us. She couldn't take care of her own child. Taking care of us was way to help with the loss.
Dom frowned. He wanted to know who this Mr. Johnson was and why he was in the hearing with Ashby. He also wanted to know what exactly the hearing was about, because this Mr. Johnson had a lot to answer for.
No one calls Ashby a bitch and gets away with it. Dom thought darkly.
Once outside Vince managed to get Ashby to climb into his car. It was then the team heard someone else call out Ashby's name.
Jesse turned around first and practically growled when he saw Mr. Johnson coming towards them.
Vince glanced at Dom. He was glad he saw the same look in Dom's eyes. This Mr. Johnson guy wasn't getting anywhere near Ashby.
Jesse surprised everyone by leaping at David and tackling him to the ground. Jesse saddled him and started punching in his face.
Leon was the first to react and pulled Jesse back by the waist. "Whoa! Jess. Calm down!" Leon commanded.
Jesse was angry and everyone knew it.
"No! Let me go Leon! I'm gonna beat his ass! He hurt Ash! He called her a bitch! I ain't letting him do that!" Jesse yelled, struggling to get out of Leon's grasp.
Leon was shocked, but not surprised. Especially after what happened at the races the other day.
"Jess, relax! You're still beat up from the last guy you beat down. I'll handle this." Dom told him sternly.
Jesse refused to hear Dominic and was still struggling against Leon's hold.
Mia had already made her way over to Ashby's car since Ashby was in Vince's car. When she saw Jesse jump on that guy she went running back. No way was someone gonna hurt anyone in her family, not again.
Dom hauled the guy up and shoved him away. His nose and lip were bleeding. "Get the fuck out of here." Dom told him firmly. Vince stood next to him with his arms crossed at his chest.
David spit out blood that had gathered in his mouth. "This really isn't any of your business. I just wanted to talk to her for a minute." David said as he glared at the tall bald headed man.
"She's a part of our team, so it is our business. You come near her again and he'll break your fucking neck," Dom said as he pointed at Vince.
"And that's a promise," Dom added.
David glared at Dom, but said nothing. He looked around the human blockade that had formed around the car he saw Ashby get inside of. He glanced at Ashby's face and then quickly turned and walked away.
"See you back at the house," Vince told Dom before he turned back to his car and drove off.
Vince glanced at her worriedly. He didn't know she had a child. He didn't know many things about her. He never asked her about her past. It hadn't mattered to him. He knew he was wrong. He realized it yesterday, but he knew it even more so now.
He wanted to know about her. He needed to know about her. He couldn't believe she was going to go thru with this hearing without telling any of them.
Why didn't she tell us? He thought confused.
Vince didn't like that she thought she wasn't apart of the 'team'. He thought he had settled that with her when he and Jesse had talked to her the other night. Obviously he had been wrong.
Me and my stupid mouth. That's why she didn't tell us, he thought bitterly. He had been so wrong about her. All those things he said hurt her. She was right, thou. She never lied to the 'team.' If she had been seeing that guy she would have told the 'team' about him. She wouldn't have kept it a secret from them.
So why didn't I think of that before? Vince asked himself. He pulled up in front of the house. He faced Ashby and looked at her. He knew the answer to his own question; he just didn't want to face it.
He turned away and closed eyes for a brief moment.
Because falling in love with her was never part of the plan, he thought darkly.
He helped her inside and led her up to her room. Ashby crawled on her bed and curled up in a ball. The only sound coming from her was the sound of her sobs.
Vince crawled up beside her and wrapped his body around her, comforting her in the only way he knew how. He was just there for her.
Vince wondered how she would react if she knew he was falling in love with her.
She'd probably slap me again.
Vince almost smiled at the thought.
