Jadie
Disclaimer: Not Mine!
Note: OK sorry this chapter took so long! It's a tricky transitional chapter that just didn't want to flow…a real S.O.B. …Oh and on the last chapter (Ch9) there was a slight defect with the italics…like after the intro quote, there weren't any (there were SUPPOSED to be a lot—hopefully the italics will function properly for this chapter)! Ah well, I'm going to try to fix that up this weekend—anyway R&R!
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CHAPTER 10: Warmth—" …this too, was oddly comforting…"
Don woke early as the faint rays of morning light filtered through the small apartment. It was a conscious effort not to immediately get up, as he realized that Jadie had fallen asleep against him, her head resting in the crook of his arm. She was sleeping soundly and Don was glad—not only that she had gotten some sleep, but that he had as well. He was actually rather surprised that he'd slept; after all of the previous night's turmoil he had expected to be awake to watch the sunrise, so to speak. Then again, Don reflected, it had been an emotionally exhausting night.
Don looked down at the slumbering child and felt the somewhat familiar pang in his chest. He was getting too protective and too attached to the girl; he knew it, instinctively, yet some part of him was still in denial. He really didn't need the additional trouble, the additional worry; so he merely pretended that it wasn't there. If it "wasn't there" then he didn't have to worry about it.
Dangerous thoughts safely out of the way, Don surveyed the situation; there was no way he could get up without waking Jadie. He doubted she was a sound enough sleeper that he could jostle her without waking her. He didn't want to disturb her sleep either. He was lying sideways on the couch and Jadie was lying next to him, her back pressed into his chest; her arms were wrapped around Don's left arm and she was using his right arm as a pillow. Don sighed quietly, carefully shifting his weight to a more comfortable spot. He could feel the warmth of her body heat against his chest and somehow, like when they had sat side by side in the dark, this too, was oddly comforting to Don—reassuring somehow.
Don watched her, as she slept, and he marveled at how peaceful her features were in slumber. Gone were the heart wrenching tears and the haunted look in her eyes. Gone was the distress that plagued her while she was awake. If only this peacefulness could carry over to when she's awake, Don thought wistfully.
Don didn't know how long he watched her and he was only vaguely aware, as the apartment grew brighter as the sun rose higher, heralding that the start of a new day had come and gone. The morning was well under way, when Jadie began to stir. Don had been carefully reviewing all the evidence already gathered and the new information that he had from Jadie in his head, when Jadie untangled herself from Don's arms, sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Morning," Don greeted the freshly alert child. She just looked at him, yawning.
"Not a morning person huh?" Don asked with a smile, as Jadie shook her head slowly. "Why don't you go ahead and get cleaned up?" Don continued, as he sat up, "You could put on one of your new…uh…outfits." Don raked his fingers through his hair, repressing a smile. Jadie's fashion sense, or lack thereof, amused Don to no end. Jadie however, was oblivious to Don's amusement as she simply gave a subdued nod, rose, grabbed one of the bags with the clothing, and headed into the bathroom.
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About twenty minutes later, Jadie was still in the bath and Don had begun to rummage through his cupboards. What the hell have I got to feed a kid? Don thought exasperated, as he realized he didn't have anything suitable to feed a malnourished ten year old.
Ah, screw it, Don thought as he heard the bathroom door open, we'll go out and get something. Don walked into the living room and was greeted by a pristine looking Jadie. Well, pristine except for the hair.
"Oh kiddo," Don said chuckling, "We have got to do something with that hair!" Jadie frowned at Don as he took in her appearance. She wore bright green corduroy overalls with a yellow long-sleeved shirt and purple socks. The bright colors were nearly obscene. This is what I get for letting her pick it out, Don thought wryly. Jadie's hair however, was the kicker. It was tangled in knots and stuck out in more directions than Don thought humanly possible. And it was dripping wet.
"Come here," Don grinned, motioning towards the floor in front of the couch as he grabbed a brush and sat down. Jadie scowled, shook her head, and folded her arms.
"Come here," Don continued, insistently, an amused smirk still pulling at his lips. "Look, you'll feel better and I'm not going to bite or anything," Don placated. Jadie looked at him for a long suspicious moment, then with a defeated sigh, walked over, and plopped down in front of Don. He grinned to himself. Another battle won…
Don gently brushed her hair, trying not to think about how utterly calm everything seemed and how he so many things to do. The night had seemed surreal now, and Don was reluctant to take Jadie back into the chaos of so-called normality. Don shook his head; how odd was it that him, brushing her hair, being kind to her, was a completely alien and foreign thing to Jadie. Don was utterly appalled at how her short life had been so completely wrong. He shook the depressing thoughts from his mind and began to focus on what needed to be done, as he fought with the unruly tangles of Jadie's hair.
He needed to call David and see what he found out about the latest victim. He needed to call Colby for an update on Richards' condition and any additional info that he may have found out. He needed to call his father back after hanging up on him…Don winced at that thought. That was not going to be an enjoyable conversation. As a matter of fact, Don glanced at his watch, he wouldn't be surprised if his father called him first and demanded that he come over, witness or no, for a little chat.
Don glanced up with an inward groan; as he just finished Jadie's hair, his cell phone rang. Speak of the devil…Don heaved a sigh, pulled himself to his feet, and picked up his cell phone. The word 'Dad' taunted him from the cell's caller ID screen. Here we go, Don thought and answered.
"Hello…"
"Don! I nearly called you right back after last night! But I needed to think about what happened…I couldn't believe you just hung up on me like that. What were you thinking? I was just concerned about you and then you go and hang up on me!" Alan's aggravated voice boomed out over the phone, causing Don to wince and jerk the phone away from his ear.
"Listen, Dad, about that…" Don began.
"Oh no, I remember what happened last time...you didn't let me get a word in edgewise then you hung up! No, I want you right over here, pronto, you got that? We need to talk. And Charlie's here too. We're family Don and we need to know what's going on. I mean, you hanging up on me isn't like you and frankly Charlie and I are concerned."
"Look Dad," Don jumped in, when Alan paused to take a breath, " I have this witness and I can't leave her alone…"
"So bring her with you and Don, don't even try to get out of this." Alan's tone brooked to room for argument. Don had hit a sore spot apparently, by hanging up on the older man.
"Ok, ok." Don sighed resigned, "I'll be over in a little while."
"Ok, I'll see you in a little while, no ifs ands or buts…and definitely no calls saying that something came up. I'm serious Don."
"I know I know. I'll see you in a while. Bye Dad." Don leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. This is going to suck…Don thought.
"Bye Donnie." Alan hung up the phone. Don looked at his cell like it was a traitor, and hung up as well.
"Well, that could have been worse." Don remarked, ruefully. He regarded Jadie with an appraising look. During his phone conversation, she had sat in front of the couch running her fingers through her hair, a feat that she was, no doubt, unused to.
"Feel better?" Don queried. Jadie nodded. Don noticed that she still had yet to speak after her quasi-confession the previous night. He watched with interest as Jadie stood up rather decidedly, walked over to him, and much to Don's surprise, hugged him, her small arms squeezing tight around his waist. Don regarded her with amazement and he patted her on her head, a little awkwardly, her display of affection catching him off guard. Jadie glanced up at Don.
"Thank you…for all your…niceness." She spoke solemnly and with complete sincerity. Don knelt and hugged her firmly.
"Your Welcome." Don whispered. He was so touched by this, so utterly moved and not for the first time Don silently wondered what kind of mess was he getting himself into. At the same time another small voice whispered in the back of his head, that maybe, just maybe, he didn't really care.
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NOTE: ok I definitely need feedback on this chapter. It was extremely difficult to write—I wasn't sure where I wanted it to go. I might have over done Alan's emotions a little but I wanted him to be frustrated with Don and the only ammunition that I set myself up with was the fact that Don hung up on him. Anyway this next chapter might take a bit…I have an interesting idea for how to set it up that's different than previous chapters. Please be patient with me. Anyhow please R&R—constructive criticism appreciated as always.