Chapter Ten

"Jackie?" she rubs her temples. "He, he thinks I'm your Mom?"

Rachel looks up towards the door that he has locked them behind, "Yes I heard him call you that as he was driving."

"You watched him as he drove?" Rachel nods, "How?" Alex holds her head in her hands, "Oh my head," she cringes in pain. "How, how long were we in the car?"

"I….I don't know, I woke up and I was lying in the back seat with you. I'm scared, Alex."

"I know honey, it's," they look up when they hear the door open. Alex grabs a hold of Rachel's hand, "It's alright," she whispers.

"Good, you're awake. Sorry I had to do that to you honey, but you were acting strangely, wanting to stay with that man. Now you are where you belong, with me."

"Yes Charlie," she swallows hard. "You're right. It was just that I was so angry with you."

"I'm sorry for the things that happened in the past, please can you forgive me?" Rachel moves in closer, she remains quiet, watching and listening.

"Yes of course."

"Good," he rubs his hands together. "Now..."

"Charlie, can we," she lightly squeezes Rachel hand, "Can we please get out of here?"

"Oh, no, no," shaking his head, "We have to stay here for awhile. He might try and interfere," he raises his voice, causing them to shudder slightly, "I won't let that happen, again!" Alex's only response is a nod of her head. He points his finger at her, "You see, you agree with me." He kneels down next to them, "Hungry?"

"Charlie," you sick bastard, "Charlie my head aches something fierce. Can you please get me an aspirin."

"Yes and it's time for dinner, be right back."

Moments later, he is up the stairs and out the door. "Alex what are you doing?"

"Rachel," she pulls the girl in for a quick embrace. "If he thinks I'm your Mom," she places her hand on the girls' cheek, "I think it best we go along with him."

"Has he gone crazy?"

"He's," she rubs her forehead, "I think he's delusional, he was so upset that you and your Mom left that he's convinced himself that we want to come back but we weren't able because of Bobby."

Alex tries to stand but she loses her balance and falls down, "Alex!" Rachel kneels down next to her, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, honey." She lies down on the mat that is covered with a large comforter.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." She closes her eyes draping her arm over them, "I suppose we are in a basement, but I'm assuming it's not yours."

Rachel looks around the room, "No I've never seen this room before, it's probably one of Grandma's houses. I heard once she had a few of them."

The door opens suddenly and he appears with a tray of food, "Dinner is served," he says chuckling softly. Alex removes her arm and chuckles in reply, delicately nudging Rachel's arm, the girl smiles.

He sets the tray on the table, "Here," he hands her two pills and a glass of water. "Take these; they'll help you to relax." She tries to hide her shaking hands but she can't, he takes a hold, "Jackie what's the matter?"

"It's, it's the pain in my head."

He places a pillow behind her helping her to lie down, "Close your eyes," he caresses her forehead then covers her with a blanket, kissing her on the cheek. Alex does all she can to stop herself from reacting negatively to the gesture. He places his finger to his mouth, looking to Rachel, "Keep your voice down and let her sleep." Rachel stares at the man who she has known as her father but now he seems like a stranger, she manages a nod. He reaches out to her, she takes his hand, "You need to eat, come on." The thought of food is the farthest thing from her mind but when she looks at the sandwiches on the tray, she suddenly feels hungry. "Chocolate milk, your favorite."

I didn't think you knew that, "Yes it is, thanks Daddy." He caresses her cheek then kisses the top of her head. "Enjoy," she watches him as he climbs the stairs, moments later she hears the sound of the door locking.

The Goren Home

5 PM

Bobby and Robby return from an afternoon upstate. The visit with his mother was without incident, when Robby is in the room she seems to forget where she is and why she's there. Bobby parks the car in the driveway, "Mommy and Rachel are still out?" he shrugs his shoulders. "Or maybe," he turns off the car, "maybe they went out again."

Father and son get comfortable on the couch as they watch the last few innings of the Yankee game. "Those guys make more money in a week than I make in a year and they still can't win a game." Bobby switches off the television, continuing to stare at the screen. "I'm hungry," he turns to his son, "You hungry?" Robby nods his head as he climbs off the couch. Bobby holds out his hand for him, "What do you want to eat?"

Robby takes hold, "Pizza."

"Pizza again?" Robbys' eyes widen as he nods his head, "I think we should...I'll bet Mommy has something in the refrigerator for us. Come on let's take a look."

Bobby stares at the contents inside, concluding that if they want to eat something healthy he is going to have to prepare it. "Pizza it is, but first let me call Mommy." He hits speed dial on his cell then frowns when it goes to voice mail; he removes the phone from his ear, staring at it, "Voice mail that's odd." The house phone rings, "I'll bet that's Mommy." He tosses his cell phone on the table as he reaches for the ringing phone, "Hello."

"May I speak to Robert Goren, please?"

"Speaking."

"Good evening Detective my name is Sergeant Young from the Garden Grove police department, I am calling...Charles Spangler has escaped from the rehab center."

"When did this happen?"

"He was last seen yesterday evening around five."

"Twenty four hours and you're..."

"No one knew he was missing till this morning, all the usual avenues are in effect. I thought it best you be warned, personally."

"I appreciate that, thanks for calling." Bobby hangs up the phone; he turns abruptly, startling his son. He walks through the house toward the front door. "The door was locked," he scans the room. "No sign of anything out of place." He retrieves his phone from the table and hits speed dial again, "Voice mail." He rubs the back of his neck, frowning, "She would have put up a fight," he says trying to satisfy his grim thoughts.

"Daddy," he feels a tug on his pants. "Pizza."

He looks down, "Yeah, yeah I'm calling."

Somewhere in Upstate New York

She wakes to the feeling of a cold hand on her face, "Jackie, wake up." She focuses on the face, it's not a nightmare, it is real and it is Charlie. He kisses her cheek, "I love you Jackie more than anything in this world." He kisses her again, "You believe me don't you?"

She closes her eyes as she answers him, "Yes Charlie I know you do." He snuggles in closer. "I forgive you for leaving and I understand why. You were just trying to teach me a lesson and I've changed." He drapes his arm across her body. "I really have, no more drinking, I promise."

"I'm proud of you Charlie."

"Thanks...but now you have to tell me the truth. That he doesn't mean anything to you."

"He never did, he was just trying to help me through a bad time." She grabs his arm by his forearm lifting it to turn her body to face him.

"Charlie, I believe you now, you have to believe in me."

"I do Jackie." He leans in to kiss her, she turns her head away. Without responding to her reaction, he pushes her gently onto her back and he is on top of her.

"Charlie, Rachel is in the room."

He caresses her cheek smiling, "She's asleep, will be for awhile."

"How," she clears her throat. "What?"

"I put something in her milk to calm her down." he meets her lips this time. "Mother use to do that to me all the time."

Alex doesn't fight or struggle, she knows how insecure and unstable he is. If she protests or shows distaste or revulsion he may, no he will react violently to not only her but also Rachel. Physically he is stronger, her head is still throbbing from the blows she sustained, and now she is starting to feel nauseous from the pain. She lies perfectly still, disassociating her body from her mind.

He removes himself from her sounding satisfied. He is dressed within moments and helps her into her clothes. The pain in her head is so intense her eyes are blurry, "Charlie my head hurts so much. I need a doctor, please."

"I'll get you another aspirin."

She reaches for him in protest, "Charlie, they won't help."

He pulls his arm away, "I'll be right back." She rolls over on her back, wanting to scream and cry but she controls herself. He returns with two pills and a glass of water. She complies and the blurriness increases and moments later she is asleep.

TBC

A/N: Hopefully the time frame of the posting of the next chapter will be quicker, one can only hope. Later...MaryTChlark

A/N: Just in case anyone is interested the Mary T part of this team has changed her penname to The Mominator.