Summary: 'You're the only truth I know, you're the road back home.' After years apart, Andros and Ashley can finally start building their life together with their children. Sequel to Secrets Untold.
Phantom Rogue: Andros will be very glad too. Andros is the perfect daddy.
SweetSas: Yeah, maybe I should. Andros all but kills him, no use having Andros behind bars.
Tal: (death threat 1) Don't worry, look… I've told you to make things better… just… please read?
Alexandra KHAYMAN: -drools- (death threat 2) Yeah, James a definite bastard. Andros doesn't kill him. Glad you like Tuna.
Jenny: WOW! You reviewed… -faints and falls over- So that scrolly bar is still a fun plaything? You should review more often, gives you more time to play with it. You might have become lazier beta-reading, I've become slightly lazier updating. Taking it easy on these stories. I don't want your head to explode! I need your brains! Nice idea and all about James, but sorry… -pats your poor brain too and gives it a cookie-
Grass King: Here's the next chapter… As for why? –cries- Sorry! I swear it just happened.
Tay: You'll see.
Star Fata: Yeah, I figured. Here's the next update.
Mita427: This good enough?
Blue-sky-ranger: Here's more.
Johnny: Well, my fingers were typing and suddenly that appeared on my screen. You do know there's no way Ash can keep this a secret, right? And Noah keeps getting cuter.
Slytherin-Angel44: Um… sorry.
Dragoneyes5000: Thanks, at least SOMEONE is on my side :D
Titanium Ranger: Um… I'm not sure he is… I think the last name is just from one way back in his father's family. I actually like Hispanic/latin… though Carlos is rather fun to bash… I do like him as a character. Yeah… well, Ash could fight back…
BellaCordelia: (death threat 3) Geesh, I had thought I'd get more death threats. Ashley could call yeah…
Zeopurple: She could… but she… well… read. Sorry to make this happen. But… believe it or not, good things come from this.
Arwennicole: I wish Andros could. I really, really do.
PrettyDiva: Gladly! Here's what happens next.
The-power-of-love: This is as soon as I could make it.
C.C.C.: You should… actually. Glad you like the Andros/Noah moments.
BlackHalliwell: Thanks.
Living Truth
Chapter 16: Torn Apart
Andros glanced at the clock again as he put away the, now, clean dishes. He had waited an extra hour before giving in to Danne's complaints (and his own stomach) and reluctantly served dinner. He was getting testy and restless, he didn't mean to, but it was starting to show. If he hadn't noticed before, it was obvious enough when Danne fled the kitchen the moment she finished her part of the dishes.
He sighed softly, but didn't say a thing. For the next half hour Ashley still didn't show up and something inside Andros snapped. He got up from his spot at the kitchen table where he had been sitting mindlessly and picked up the phone, dialling a familiar number. He only had to wait a moment for the phone to be picked up.
"Weaver residence."
"Hey Josh, it's Andros." Andros replied. "Look, I got a favour to ask you. Could you have Danne and Noah over for the night?"
"Sure - still in honeymoon bliss?" Josh teased, dropping the formal tone.
"Ashley's not home yet." Andros sighed. "She said she'd be home by dinner, but… I don't know; maybe it's just me, but I have a bad feeling about this."
Josh's demeanour changed immediately.
"Don't worry - send them over and go look for Ash. Though she's probably just caught up by Tracy or someone."
"Okay, they'll be there in a minute." Andros promised. "Thanks, I owe you one."
"It's no problem. Good luck."
"Yeah." Andros sighed and hung up, walking into the living room where Danne was quietly watching TV. "Danne, get an overnight bag together, you and Noah are spending the night at Josh's."
Danne didn't say a word and just nodded, quickly running upstairs. Andros followed her reluctantly. He had managed to get a fussing Noah to sleep just before dinner and now he'd have to wake the poor boy. He winced at the thought of how grumpy his son would be and briefly felt sorry for Atalya and Josh.
The diaper bag next to the changing table was filled easily enough. He was just picking up Noah from his crib when Danne appeared in the door opening. Noah didn't take long in waking and started crying at being awoken immediately.
With a defeated sigh Andros pulled a jacket on the fussing and struggling baby, before turning to Danne. She had already slung the diaper bag over her shoulder and was holding out her hands for her brother.
"Don't worry, dad. We'll be fine. Mom will be home soon." She whispered softly.
Andros handed her the screaming boy and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Just in case." He told her softly and she nodded.
In silence they walked back downstairs. Danne was heading for the front door when Andros caught her arm and shook his head, pointing silently to the living room. They walked through the living room to the kitchen and Andros let them out the back door.
"Go straight to Josh's." He told Danne firmly, giving her one last kiss before watching her walk out of the garden.
Just as he shut the back door he heard the echo of another door closing, but rather faintly. Quickly he made his way to the hallway and found Ashley standing there.
She looked completely different from this afternoon. Her eyes were haunted, her hair tangled with salty traces of tears ran down her cheeks. What alarmed him the most was her torn and messy clothing and the bruises forming on her wrists.
"Ash?" He asked softly.
She looked up to meet his eyes and fresh tears were escaping again.
"I wasn't strong enough." She muttered wildly. "For years I've been strong enough to stand up to him, but when it gets to the point…"
"Ash… Ash calm down." Andros urged. "Tell me what happened."
"Delgado." Ashley cried. "James… he… he…"
Andros stomach twisted, Ashley didn't even need to finish the sentence for him to know what happened. Anger started pulsing through his veins, but his mind stayed calm and thought surprisingly rationally.
"I'd hug you, Ash, I really would. But right now, I think it's best if we get you back to hospital and have Tracy make a – a rape kit." He struggled to say the word as a wave of rage surged. "Just give me a moment to grab you some clothes for you to change into." He told her calmly.
"How do you know?" Ashley asked weakly.
"Chris and Chyler watched enough crime series to pick up something useful." Andros shrugged weakly and quickly walked up the stairs, suddenly very glad he had sent Danne and Noah off to Josh's.
Some time later
Andros led Ash through the hospital, though she picked the least crowded way. She was doing right by it too; they were almost at the ER and had yet to run into a single living soul.
Just as they rounded the last corner they ran into someone and Andros's blood started to boil. Ashley let out a scream as Andros suddenly disappeared from her side. People came running out of the ER. They were met by the sight of Andros and James rolling over the floor, punching and yelling obscenely.
Four of the doctors pulled them apart. Andros was glaring daggers at James, his lip split, right eye slightly swelling and a gash over his eyebrow. James looked far worse for wear, cuts and bruises all over his face as he spat out some blood and a tooth.
"Get him out of here, go treat him somewhere else or something." Tracy ordered. "Take him into the ER. Ash, what's going on?"
Ashley tentatively followed Tracy and Andros into the ER, carefully avoiding coming too close to any of the males in the hall. As Andros was pushed onto a patient bed to be treated, Tracy walked over to Ashley and looked at her curiously.
"James raped me." Ashley muttered as softly as she could.
Tracy barely caught it, but she heard and quickly pulled her behind some screens.
"Where?" Tracy asked, looking shocked.
"My office." Ashley cried, another wave of fresh tears running down her cheeks. "Andros took me here to have a rape kit made."
"I'll call the police and then work through that kit with you, okay? Or do you want someone else to do so?"
"No, you." Ashley replied fiercely. "I… I… you're my friend… please?"
"I'll only be a minute." Tracy promised. "And I'll check on Andros for you while I'm at it."
Ashley nodded thankfully and sat down on the patient bed as carefully as she could.
Two hours later
"Okay… I'm done. Should I go see if there are some clothes for you to change into?" Tracy asked tentatively.
"Andros said he brought some." Ashley answered.
Tracy nodded and stepped out of the curtained area for a moment. When she stepped back inside she held a red backpack and handed it to Ash.
"You're very lucky with Andros." She informed her lightly and stepped out again to give Ashley some privacy.
Ashley opened the backpack and pulled the clothes out. Tears once again sprang into her eyes when she looked at them. The plain pair of panties and bra she hadn't worn since Andros had moved in, were the only items that were hers. The jeans and shirt were Andros's and several sizes too large as well.
The silent message was clear. Not only did Andros understand she didn't want man looking at her curves right now, it was a silent offer. He offered her protection; with him she'd be forever safe.
She quickly dressed and inhaled his familiar scent as she dressed. Once the shirt settled around her she felt a sense of peace overcome her. No matter what happened, Andros would always be there for her, her guardian angel, her safe harbour, the protective wings against the universe. At that moment she knew, James wasn't getting away with this, one way or another.
A/N: So sorry… but… it's getting my story an actual plot other then being fluffy. I now actually got a way to an end. Don't kill me! Just… review?