Chapter 4: The Stag Hunt

Bay sat smiling at her laptop screen where a window with the information for whom she believed was her father was open. She looked up from her laptop when she heard Emmett's motorbike approach. He parked his bike in front of her studio and she stood up to greet him excitedly.

"Hey!" Bay waved with a smile that was returned. "I think I found my dad," she signed proudly. Emmett looked at her with surprise causing her to worry. "Was that right?"

When Emmett nodded telling her she had signed the sentence properly she sighed proudly before pulling him towards her laptop. The two squeezed into the single armchair that Bay had been sitting on before, giggling to each other as they shifted to get comfortable, Bay slightly on Emmett's lap. Emmett the read the page Bay had left open.

He's a DJ?

"Yeah! He's the right age and he works at a club near East Riverside! It's gotta be him!" Bay exclaimed excitedly. "And, we look alike, right?" Bay smiled holding the laptop next to her face.

Emmett laughed pretending to contemplate the validity of Bay's statement, exaggeratedly looking between the two faces for longer than necessary in order to make Bay giggle. He raised his hands excitedly in silent applause.

"You're acting excited! Yay! Me too!"

Is he working tonight?

Bay repeated the sign trying to remember what it meant. "Tonight? Yeah! He's working tonight and the club opens at 9pm." Emmett nodded asking if that meant they were going to see him tonight.

"Uh, you wanna go tonight?" Bay asked apprehensively. Emmett grabbed her hand instinctively, weaving his fingers between hers and rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb asking what was wrong. Bay stared down at Emmett's hand that was holding hers with a blush.

"What, do I just walk in and say 'Hey, I'm your daughter, but not the deaf one you abandoned all those years ago'? I mean, what am I supposed to say? He's gonna think I'm crazy!" Bay rambled. Emmet grinned at her reassuringly.

He's going to love you.

"You think?" Bay asked smiling as Emmett held his arms crossed against his chest. "Is that the sign for love?" she asked while mimicking his actions making him laugh.

Daphne, who had entered Bay's studio in search of Emmett whose bike she noticed through her window, interrupted the moment. The smiled fell from both of Emmett and Bay's faces. Bay looked down at her lap picking at a loose thread as Emmett swallowed worriedly.

"I didn't know you were coming over." Daphne said aloud for Bay as she signed to Emmett.

Emmett stayed silent while Bay interjected, "I actually asked him."

"Asked him for what," Daphne asked suspiciously. Emmett looked over at Bay waiting for her to answer.

"Remember that picture you gave me of Regina leaning against that car? Well you could see the license plate and Emmett was helping me track down the owner," Bay rushed. Daphne glared at Emmett.

I ran into her when I was waiting at Buckner for you!

"It was an accident!" Bay began at the same time as Emmett. "I saw him and this is totally my fault. If you're gonna get mad at anyone, get mad at me!"

I don't get it. You kept this from me? Daphne signed silently in an attempt to exclude Bay from the conversation.

"I think I found my dad!" Bay exclaimed in order to take the attention off of Emmett. "If that matters at all, if you're curious…" Bay added before quieting as Daphne glared at her clearly upset with such information. Bay turned her laptop to show Daphne the picture of the man she believed to be her father.

"Is this him? Does he look familiar?" Bay asked hopefully.

"I have no idea!" Daphne exclaimed, storming out of Bay's studio.

Bay sighed and looked up at Emmett, "You should go talk to her."

As much as Bay rather Emmett stay with her squished into her comfy armchair she knew he needed to go and talk to his best friend. Emmett grabbed her hand and squeezed it smiling before he shuffled out from under Bay and took off after Daphne.

A few minutes later Emmett reentered Bay's studio.

"How'd it go?"

Emmett shook his head sadly trying to convey how badly it had actually gone. Bay sighed trying to formulate a plan to cheer Emmett up. It was her fault Daphne was upset with him and the situation as a whole. Emmett collapsed into the armchair that Bay had vacated.

Don't worry about me; I'm just going to think for a bit.

Bay hesitantly asked if he minded if she painted while he thought. Emmett nodded and Bay began to paint with long strokes of blue. Emmett watched from his spot as Bay worked intently, seemingly forgetting her surrounding environment. Suddenly Bay put her brush down and swiftly crossed the room. She turned her old stereo that was still playing Angelo's cassette tape on and smiled at the sound. She turned towards and walked towards Emmett giving him a worried look.

"What if Regina is right? What if he's a jack ass?" Emmett looked up at Bay, who was now stood directly in front of him, with a cheeky grin.

What if he's amazing?"

"How much longer do we have to wait for Daphne to realize she should come with us?" Bay asked suddenly. Emmett laughed assuring her Daphne would come to her senses soon.

Emmett stood from the armchair and squeezed past Bay with his hands resting on her shoulders causing her to blush at their close proximity. She watched as he walked towards the stereo and placed his hand against the stereo's speaker, feeling the vibrations of the heavy bass. He began to tap his feet along to the beat and turned towards Bay holding a hand out for her to take. She smiled before hesitantly grabbing hold of his hand. Emmett instantly twirled Bay in a circle, drawing a giggle from her lips.

Bay grabbed Emmett's free hand with her own and the two began to dance to the music facing each other, staring deeply into each other's eyes. They didn't notice as Regina appeared in the doorway, watching the two teenagers happily and dancing along. When Emmett twirled Bay a second time she noticed Regina, jumping in surprise and stumbling into Emmett's chest embarrassedly. Emmett quickly grabbed Bay around the waist to steady her.

"Oh, no! Don't stop I love this song! I used to dance to it too!" Regina called with a smile. "Keep dancing! Please, I'll go!"

Regina hurried away causing Bay to look up at Emmett a sheepish grin. He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her and she rolled her eyes, letting him lead her along to the music.


As the sun began to set over Kansas City Bay and Emmett decided they couldn't wait for Daphne any longer and made their way towards Emmett's bike. As they climbed onto the bike they noticed Daphne's figure exiting the guesthouse. She had perfect timing.

"Okay I'll go." Daphne stated confidently.

Bay looked towards Emmett giggling as he gave her a wink as if to say 'I told you so'. Daphne interrupted Emmett's teasing asking questions about what they actually knew about Angelo.

"I can't promise to be nice to him," Daphne sighed finally.

"That is okay with me!" Bay responded, understanding Daphne needed to unleash her anger on the man who walked out on her 13 years ago.

"So, how are we getting there?" Daphne asked the two, scrunching her eyebrows in confusion.

"Do you have a side car so we can fit a third," Bay joked to Emmett though she was secretly annoyed that Daphne was ruining their transportation plans. Emmett laughed at the girl. "We can take Toby's car."

Do you want me to drive?

Bay smiled at Emmett's offer, grabbing the collar of his leather jacket teasingly while declining his offer with a sly shake of her head. He made a sudden gesture, startling Bay.

"What did he just say?"

"He's calling shotgun," Daphne responded monotonously, annoyed with their flirting.

Bay looked back at Emmett laughing and pulling him off his bike. She left the two outside as she quickly ran into the house and grabbed Toby's keys.

Do you really have to do that? Daphne sighed annoyed. Emmett shrugged like he had no idea what Daphne was referring to.

"Ready?" Bay asked with a smile as she slammed the door behind her.

The three teens climbed into Toby's car and Bay quickly started the car, screeching out of the Kennish driveway recklessly.


Emmett laughed as Bay struggled to park her brother's car once they had arrived at the club.

"Shut up, it's not like I even have my actual license yet!" Bay laughed hitting his arm lightly. She put the car in park and they climbed out of the car.

"Are you as nervous as me?"

"No," Daphne responded forcefully. Bay bit her lip looking around for a change of topic, shocked by how cold Daphne was acting.

"Oh," she said pointing to a sign. "Thursdays are Latin night! You should tell you're grandmother!" Daphne laughed fakely.

"So, how do we get in?"

"We try the door!" Bay said knocking.

An impatient woman answered the door asking what they wanted. Bay and Daphne stared at her silently. Suddenly Emmett started signing random nonsense in order to make the woman feel uncomfortable. He looked over at Bay winking at her to give her a hint to his plan.

"Uh… he left his retainer here last week," Bay said staring at Emmett.

"Lost and founds at coat check," the woman grumbled letting the teens inside.

Emmett smiled at Bay impressed while Daphne asked her if she had really used a lost retainer as an excuse.

"I'm nervous, okay!" Bay muttered defensively. They followed the woman to the coat check where she placed a large box filled with random items on a desk and walked away. Emmett began to rummage through the random items needlessly while Bay and Daphne went looking for Angelo Sorrento.

The girls turned a corner and walked past the bar towards a man setting up DJ equipment

"This is stupid, we should just go" Bay stated nervously trying to pull Daphne back towards Emmett as they got closer to the man.

"What are you talking about?! Go talk to him!" Daphne exclaimed.

"I can't do this!" Bay cried, running back to coat check breathing heavily. Emmett noticed Bay's reappearance and looked towards her confused. She couldn't be done already. He noticed her starting to cry and understood she was overwhelmed, taking her in his arms for the second time in two days. Bay pressed her face into Emmett's chest trying to curl into him it was as if she wasn't here.

Emmett noticed Daphne approaching and gave Bay a quick squeezed to get her attention. She looked up to him with watery eyes and he asked what was wrong.

"I thought I could do this, but I can't! This is stupid! We can't just ambush him at work!" Emmett placed his hand on her cheek and forced her to look at him.

Yes, you can! He's your father.

Bay bit her lip stepping back from Emmett and nodding. She took a deep breath and followed Daphne back out to the dance floor. Daphne led the way and walked up to Angelo while Bay kept a slight distance.

"Are you Angelo Sorrento?" The man nodded in response, removing his headphones. "Do you remember a woman named Regina Vasquez?"

"Uh, no," he responded confusedly.

"You left her! And you left me! You just took off one day and we never heard from you again," Daphne accused.

"I'm sorry?"

Bay stood behind Daphne nervously looking between the two unsure if she should enter the conversation

"Did you ever wonder about me or care about how I was doing? Because I wondered about you a lot!"

The man stammered confused to why this teenage girl was practically yelling at him. Bay started to connect the dots, realizing this wasn't their father.

"Uh, Daphne," Bay stage whispered but Daphne continued her rant.

"I used to think it was because of me! Because my hearing was damaged, or different. But it was you!"

"Hi, I'm Bay Kennish!" Bay interrupted trying to prevent Daphne from embarrassing herself further.

"Don't bother, this guy is clearly an ass!"

"Okay," Angelo demanded, hopping off the stage to stand in front of the girls. "I don't know who Regina is and I have no idea who you are. I'm sorry, but I'm not anyone's father!"

"But you're Angelo Sorrento!" Daphne cried

"I am, but I'm also gay. I've never slept with a woman. Its flattering that you guys think I could be responsible for two girls as beautiful as you two, but I'm not." Bay and Daphne stared at their feet sadly. "I'm terribly sorry, but I hope you guys find who you're actually looking for."

"Thanks," Daphne whispered and both girls made their way back towards Emmett.

So, how did it go?

"It wasn't him," Bay said sadly, as Daphne pushed past her and stormed out of the club. Bay looked at Emmett biting her lip. Emmett grabbed her hand and squeezed it comfortingly before leading her out of the club.


The next day as school ended Bay walked down the steps towards the student parking lot to wait for Toby to drive them home. She noticed Emmett at the bottom of the stairs and his face lit up.

"Hey!" Bay called, "Daphne's not here, her class isn't today."

I came to see you.

Bay smiled sadly. "If this is about Angelo, I don't really want to hear anymore…"

Emmett shook his head urgently. He began signing as Bay attempted to interpret him but it was proving to be unsuccessful. Emmet shook his hands indicating that he was starting over.

I like you.

Bays heart began to race as she hoped she had understood Emmett correctly. She stared at him in shock and her breath hitched as he closed the space between their lips, bending down to reach her as she stood up on her toes. Bay wrapped her arms around Emmett's neck as his hands rested on her hips. Emmett deepened the kiss ever so slightly before pulling away completely with a large smirk on his face. He winked at her before walking away from her swiftly leaving her confused.

"Okay, what just happened?" Bay muttered to herself, pressing her fingers to her lips as she watched Emmett drive away.