| Title: For the sake of love Part: Twenty Two By: Spanky Content Warning: Adult language, and content. Previously: Nicci talks to Jenny about the game Authors Notes: One week later ......... Walking into the day room Roy was greeted by his friends " Hey Roy." Captain Stanley greeted. As his senior paramedic stood next to him at the counter Captain Stanley had to take a double take, seeing the look on Roy's face was the look of confussion." Hey Pal, what's up?" " Oh nothing much." Roy said. " Actually I'm not sure." Roy started while taking his seat at the table. Without warning Sherry walks in " Hi dad." She greeted walking up to her father reaching up giving him a kiss " Hi Sweety." Captain Stanley as a smile found his face " Uncle Roy, how's Nicci?" Sherry asked concerned for her friend " She's fine." Roy said " Well tell her I'm thinking of her. I cant wait for her to come back to school." " Back?" Roy asked with one simple word " Yes Uncle Roy, she hasn't been to school in about two weeks." Sherry explained. Looking at the disturbed look written on Roy's face she added." Don't be mad Uncle Roy, it's not her fault I mean I would have a hard time coming back too." " Tell Roy what you know about this." Captain Stanley urged his daughter. " She didn't tell you did she?" She asked. Then taking a seat, Sherry added." Uncle Roy, I'm sorry for not telling you, but I thought that she would have. You see one of the office girls volenteers time at Rampart as a candy striper. She was at Rampart the night Nicci lost her baby." Sherry stopped to swallow the tears as she thought about the last days Nicci had spent at school. Then taking a deep breath she continued" When she came back to school the kids were mean to her, even the ones she thought were her friends. They would call her horrible names like whore when they passed her in the hall. I even saw one of the bigger senior boys hit her in the back of the head with a heavy text book. Then one day I was....." She stopped again Placing his hand on Sherry's arm, Roy spoke." What, what happened to Nicci?" " Oh Uncle Roy, I think, No I know that she was attacked. I walking down the hall on my way to the library and when I opened the door she ran past me. Her clothes were ripped. I tried to catch her but I couldn't." She ended in tears. ...........The next morning........ Walking through his home after pulling over time Roy spotted Joanne standing at the sink." Morning Honey."She greeted feeling his arms go around her waste. " Mornin." He returned planting a kiss on her neck. " How was things last night? Anything I should know about?" " No actually it was quiet. We watched tv together, and believe it or not Nicci and Jenny even sat together in your chair." "Where's Nicci at right now? Roy asked as if he didn't know. " She and Jenny's down stairs, They've been down there all morning." ....... Stopping in front of Nicci's door Roy could hear the soft giggles coming from Jenny mixing with the muffled sound of music . All though he didn't want to interupt his daughter's donding together, he knew that there wasn't any choice he had to talk to Nicci about what he had learned from Sherry the day before. With that thought he rapped his knuckles and walked in. Inside he let out a small laugh as Jenny was wearing about two layers of make up on her face. " Daddy daddy." Jenny said excitedly jumping in his arms. " How do I look?" " You look very pretty." Roy said. Looking at the disappointed look on Jenny's face he asked." What dont you think you look pretty?" " Yeah but I'm surpose to be a clown." Jenny said " Okay, so you're a pretty clown." Roy smiled. " Jenny why dont you go up and see your mother, I need to talk to Nicci for a minute." " Okay daddy." Jenny said obeying her fathers wishes Seeing that Jenny left the door ajar, Roy reached over swinging it shut. Then turning he studied Nicci who was standing in front of her sterio. At this point he wasn't for sure what he should do or say but he knew that as her father he must try. "Nicci turn the music down we need to talk." Ignoring his wished to turn down the music she refused " Why when you know I dont have nothing to say to you." " Thats okay, but I have plenty to say." He said walking to the sterio turning it down a notch. All was guiet for a few minutes as Roy searched for the right words. Then useing a soft even tone he spoke." Nicci, I need to know why you couldn't tell me about the problems you were having in school." Without her responce he watched her as she sat down on the bed, obviously distraut over his words. Then taking his seat next to her he added." Look, for whatever reasons I'm not sure, but I do know that things are not good between us. But Nicci, you should have came to me. How can I protect you, if you wont let me." Seeing her misty eyes he knew that she was still hurting. Leaning in he went to take his daughter in his arms only to have her pull away. " No don't ....... please just go......" Nicci pleaded her voice straining to swallow her tears. Once again no words were spoke. As for Nicci her heart was losing the battle between her mind to let go of her fear and allow her father to hug her for she despately needed the love her father. " Are you going to make me go back?" She said in sobs Understanding that she was still hurting over her ordeal he assured in his kind fatherly voice." No , I wont make go back. But Nicci you need to go back to school. You need a good education for your future. We'll look start looking into other options Monday." Watching her fathers retreating steps disappear behind the close of the door, Nicci could not contain her tears no longer. Curling in a fetal position she lay on her bed as she thought about fathers words her body began to shake. "I don't want a future" she sobbed to herself. Once again she felt the pain of her past. It was this pain that was keeping her away from a bright future. TBC |