| Title: For the sake of love Part: Twenty One By: Spanky Content Warning: Adult language, and content. Previously: Roger tries to get to Jenny but is stopped by Nicci. Authors Notes: The next morning As promised Joanne and Roy came home the next morning. Walking into the kitchen they spotted Roger sitting at the table with a cup of coffee." How'd it go last night, any problems?" Roy asked " Pretty good, no problems really but Nicci got a bit out of control." Roger said " All I did was tell her to turn off the music. I'm afraid things got physical. She was quite the hand full" Roger lied he knew that there was a good chance that during his attack he left behind marks. "That's not to over surprising." Roy said buying into Rogers deceit. " Anyway where's the kids now?" " I think Jenny's still in bed." Roger said "Thats strange, I hope she's not sick. She's always up early." Joanne stated while looking at the clock and seeing that it was going on eleven" Maybe I'll just have to have a look." Joanne ended worriedly as she headed for her daughters room. Peeking in she was surprised when she seen Nicci was in the room sleeping next to Jenny. Walking back in the kitchen she looked at Roger then at her husband." Hey Roy, you want to come and take a look?" Following Jo down the hall Roy was also surprised at the sight. Then walking deeper in the room Roy crunched down in front of the dresser. " I wonder what happened in here." He said picking up a broken clown doll that was part of Jenny's collection. Then getting to his feet he walked up to his sleeping daughters. his heart sunk as he seen the darkened place on Nicci's face not knowing that Roger had hit her. " Roy you think Nicci's finally warming up to Jenny? and that's why she's in here." " I dont know, could be. If it is it's about time." Roy said leaving the room Stirring to the sound of voices Nicci sat up followed by Jenny. For a moment Jenny studied Nicci. " Are you okay ." she asked in her caring little girl voice. " I'm fine Jenny." Nicci tried to assure " Nicci." Jenny started." Why didn't you let me play games with Roger?" She wanted to know." It was a new game and he said he was going to let me win." Hearing her sisters question, Nicci knew that she had to tell Jenny about the game. Taking Jenny in her lap. Nicci spoke." Jenny I want you to listen to me. Promise me that you will never play that game." " Why." Jenny asked confused by Nicci's words. To her all games were fun. " Jenny he lied to you, girls cant win at this game. " Nicci said fighting the tears that threatened " Jenny, this game is real bad and it hurts a lot. One time it made me bleed. This game makes you feel real bad in side and dirty. No matter how many baths you take the dirt never goes away." Nicci said giving into tears." This game is so bad that it makes you want to die inside because you dont want to play anymore." She ended in a whisper. Seeing her sister cry was over whelming to Jenny." Nicci , did you play?" she asked with tears of her own " Yes....." Nicci caved. " Nicci I'm scared." Jenny said as Nicci's screams of last night still lingered " Jenny, dont' be scared, I got you and I'll keep you safe"Nicci assured taking her sister in her arms. "Jenny as God as my witness I'll kill him if he hurts you. But Jenny, I need for you to do something for me." Nicci started" Don't tell dad about last night what ever you do okay." Fear welling up in side of her. In her mind she knew that if Jenny told Roy then he would in turn find out about her. The memories of Roger saying what he would if she told anyone still haunted her. In fear she couldn't take the chance to let that happen. " Why Nicci, why dont you want dad to know?" Jenny asked trying to understand " Jenny, Roger told me if I told anyone that he would hurt me really bad." Nicci sobbed." You know something, I believe him Jenny." " I promise I wont tell." Jenny said ............ Walking into the kitchen both Nicci and Jenny took their seats in silence. Roy studied the somber looks that his daughters wore on their faces. The quietness getting the better of them he spoke. " You two want to tell me what's going on?" With his question both Jenny and Nicci looked at each other. Then looking at her big sister as a way of guidence Jenny spoke." Nothing daddy." Watching as Roger walked into the room " Nothing huh." Roy questioned. " Well Jenny how did one of your clown dolls end up on the floor broke?" " I....I dropped it." Jenny stuttered with her lie. This was the first time she lied to her dad. But taking in what Nicci had told her she felt she didn't have a choice. Looking up from her plate Nicci's fear surfaced as she watched Roger join them at the table." Excuse me." " Wait Nicci, I'll go with you." Jenny said following her big sister down the basement stairs. ....... I wonder what that was about?" Jo asked having witnessed her daughter's mood. "Not sure, It's like the difference between night and day." Roy said ....... The next day.......... With her hands full of a laundry basket of clean clothes Joanne headed down the stairs. Stopping she glanced out the back screen door seeing Nicci and Jenny sitting at the picnic table and Roy and Chris as they tossed a soft ball between them. With happiness she flashed a smile and headed down stairs. Walking into Nicci's room she seen that her bed un made, deciding to make it she sat the basket of clothes down. Then walking over to the bed she stopped as her foot hit something that was slightly under the bed. Looking down she seen that it was a shoe box. Reading the words BOX O LIES written on the cover in bold letters, her curiosity got the better of her as she lifted up the top. As she started to thumb through it's contents her heart felt as if it was going to leap out of her chest for she realized that it the past birthday and christmas cards that Roy had sent her. All but three were unopened. Hearing the back door open and close Joanne got up and carefully put the box back. Then forgetting about the basket of laundry and headed up the stairs. Seeing Roys rear sticking out from the opened fridge door she spoke. " Hey Roy you got a minute?" She asked Seeing the serious look on his wifes face he answered " Sure." Leading Roy into Nicci room Joanne once again picked up the shoe box. " I thought you should know." " Box O lies." He read out loud. " Roy open it." She urged Lifting the lid he felt a burst of saddness seeing that his love for his daughter was in a shoe box." Well, I wasn't expecting this." He said " Roy I dont understand, some of the cards isn't opened." Joanne said " I dont either, but I guess I should talk to her." Roy said " No Roy, I stumbled on this by accident. I know I shouldn't have opened but I did. Please dont say anything to her, at least not right now." Joanne pleaded her husband. " Nicci is just now starting to warm up to Jenny, I dont' want to mess that up. She may even think we are spying on her. I'm afraid that that might set her back." TBC |