I do not own Dirty Dancing.

Chapter Twenty Two

POV Jake

Good Girl

There are hands on me, frantically shaking me. Why? What did they want? Was something wrong?

I open my eyes to see Baby kneeling on the floor next to me, attempting to shake me awake, breathless from having run from wherever it is she's been. It clearly wasn't bed, that was for sure. She was still dressed in her clothes from today, and her hair was carefully styled to be less curly and more wavy. Her ears are adorned with large, jeweled earrings that are not hers, and her face painted in makeup."Daddy," She hissed breathlessly.

No time for judging now, not with how desperate she looked. "What?" I ask, "What is it, Baby?"

"You have to come with me," Baby answered, words barely audible through her heavy breaths. "Right now."

"Is it Lisa?"

"No," I hear her whisper through her labored breaths. Quietly, I sit up in bed, and slide on my shoes, then standing up and going to get a flashlight. When I turn back, Baby is silhouetted in the doorway, golden light streaming in behind her while she held my med bag.

She handed me the bag and started running, down the steps and through the woods, feet flying over any obstacles in her way. In a flash, we pass the sign for the staff quarters.

Staff quarters? What had Baby been doing with the staff?

Her feet barely touch the ground as she lead me across the bridge and up a flight of stairs to the cabin of one of one of the staff, cabin number five.

"Excuse me. Excuse me! Everybody clear out, please," I call as I enter the building. The sight inside was a shock.

A blonde woman lay in a bed, wailing in pain. Blood soaked her sheets and sweat stuck her locks to her forehead. It was Penny, the Dance Instructor. I hadn't recognized her at first, but now, I could clearly see it was her. At Penny's bedside sat the male Dance Instructor, her partner, and lover, I could only assume, judging by the way he held her hand.

I hurry over and usher the man away from her to further examine Penny. "Okay," I tell her, as she moaned. I touch a hand to her forehead to find that she was boiling hot. "Yes, I know that hurts," I assured her, "We're gonna take care of that,"

There was only one thing that could've caused this, a terminated pregnancy. And if it had been a miscarriage, Baby would have no reason to be here. This was an abortion. One I had every reason to believe Baby had funded.

I sigh, and grab a bottle of sedatives from my bag. "Who's responsible for this girl?" I question, though I had a pretty good idea of who it was. That Dance Instructor, Johnny.

"I am," Johnny answered. I look over to him in disappointment, suspicions confirmed. What kind of person did you have to be to send a girl like this to a butcher? Couldn't he have just owned up to his responsibility? "Please," He begged, "If she..." Baby stopped him, touching her hand to his arm, perhaps trying to calm him down. The expression on her face made it clear she had feelings for Johnny, but I wonder how, after seeing the things he was responsible for.

I wanted her to stop toughing him. Let him worry. He didn't deserve her comfort, her affections. But there was nothing I could do about it now. With a sigh, I reach back into my bag as the room cleared.

Time to get to work.

With a tired exhale, I step out of Penny's room, my work complete for the night. Before I could say a word, the Porter who'd gotten out bags upon first arriving here took my hand and vigorously shook it, "Doc," Billy started, "Thanks a lot,"

Behind him is the responsible party himself, Johnny. He extended a hand, "Doctor Houseman, I don't know how to thank you, to tell you, to-" Johnny stopped short as he realized that I wasn't going to take his hand. I didn't want the thanks of someone like him.

Silently, I set my hand on Baby's shoulder and lead her away from these people. Away from that man she seemed so fond of, and all this trouble that could have easily ruined her reputation if she'd been caught.

"Was that what my money paid for?" I ask bitterly as I walk her across the bridge. There was no doubt in my mind that it was, but I needed to hear it coming from her. I needed to hear Baby say that she'd lied to me in order to help those people.

"Daddy, I'm sorry," She told me, sounding slightly weepy. It is a shame that I could no longer believe her words, "I never meant to lie to you," Baby says. But I didn't think she was sorry. I think that she would make this same choice over and over again if given the opportunity, and that was going to end right now.

I shake my head. She had changed. I didn't know how, or why, but she did. The Baby before Kellerman's would've never done this. She would've never lied to me, or helped people for a cause like that. An irritating little voice itched the back of my mind, saying that it was Johnny's fault. "You're not the person I thought you were, Baby," I start, "I'm not sure who you are. But I don't want you to have anything to do with those people again."

"But can I just explain so-"

"Nothing!" I shout, stopping in the middle of the bridge to illustrate my seriousness. I turn to look at her for the first time since we left. The shadow lining her eyes enhanced her beauty, beauty I had ignored until now. But the girl wearing it is not the Baby I know. She is not my little girl. She isn't a little girl at all. "You are to have nothing to do with any of them, ever again!"

With a sigh, I turn away from her, and keep walking down the bridge, hoping to get back to bed while I can still get a decent night's sleep. "I won't tell your Mother about this," I inform her, while my Daughter stares aghast at my back, "Right now I'm going to bed. And take that stuff off your face, before your Mother sees you!"

I keep walking down the bridge, back to my home, trying not to think about how I didn't hear Baby's footsteps behind me.

"Is everything alright, Jake?" Marje yawned from the bed, still half asleep and ignorant of the events that just took place. Still ignorant that I had not yet heard Baby come home.

"It's alright, Marje," I assure her, climbing into bed, "Go back to sleep,"

So, yeah, at this point, we all know what's coming. How excited are you people for the next chapter?! Not as excited as I am, apparently, or you'd leave me more reviews! *nervous laughter*

Come on, people!