| Title: For the sake of love Part: Fortyseven By: Spanky Content Warning: Adult language, and content. Previously: Nicci comes home from the hospital Authors Notes: Two weeks later. For two weeks Joanne spent a portion of her time studying her family. At the dinner table Joanne would glance over at Nicci who would be sitting quietly at the table while Roy could do nothing more then hold his head down as if trying to avoid looking up at Nicci who would be sitting opposite of him. She knew that Roy's reaction towards his oldest was hard on him as well as her. Nicci the way she was quiet for most of the day when Roy was at the station and how she would retreat to her room as soon as Roy rolled to a stop into the drive way after his shift. Roy through the course of the days that he wasn't at the station would barely speak two words to her when he didn't have the choice to leave the room as away to avoid being in the same room. Although Joanne understood Roy's reasons she could do nothing more then sit back and pray that Roy's actions didn't push Nicci further then what she was already. "Okay guy's time for bed, it's a school night." Roy announced while ending the family entertainment by turning off the television Getting up from the floor both Chris and Jenny walked up first to Joanne who was sitting on the couch giving her a kiss goodnight." Night mommy." Jenny said in yawn before going to her father who was holding his arms out waiting to feel Jenny's sweet little girl kiss on his cheek." Night daddy." Jenny said as she pulled at her dad's neck giving him a hug while planting a softened kiss. " Night Sweet Pea." Roy returned Closing the magizine that she had been reading, Nicci too got up and headed for Joanne. Bending down she gave Joanne a quick kiss. " Night Jo, see you in the morning." " Good Night Nicci." Joanne smiled. Watching as Nicci walked over to Roy, Joanne felt a sudden burst of saddness as she could see that Roy's reaction to Nicci was far differant then what it was with Chris and Jenny when they kissed him good night. Instead of returning Nicci's kiss, Roy could do nothing more then turn his head towards the picture window. Also picking up on the differance, Nicci for a moment stood up and studied her father. " Night dad, I love you." She whispered. Not hearing her fathers love being said back she hung her head and headed for the safty of her room. .....The next morning...... Turning to look at the alarm clock that didn't go off, Joanne leaped out of the bed. Thinking that she had over slept and that her kids were late for school she made a steady stride into the kitchen. Spotting Roy sitting at the table with a cup of coffee she asked." I'm sorry I slept so long, Where's the kids?" " Hey don't worry about it, I knew it was rough on you last night. The alarm went off but you didn't even stir. So I got up and got the kids off to school." Roy said. Seeing the embaressment on his wife's face he reached over taking her hand in his. With a smile he assured." Hey it's okay your entitled, I knew you were up pretty late with Nicci and you needed to sleep in." While pouring herself the much needed coffee she asked." Well where's Nicci?" " She left for school about an half an hour ago." Joanne once taking her seat at the table with Roy she asked. " Roy, what are we going to do? those night mares of hers are really bad. I cant go on like this, this is three times this week alone that I over slept. Roy that's not like me and you know it I've always been a early person." .......... Once concluding a string of runs, both Roy and Johnny walked into the dayroom to find their friends scurring around trying to set the table for a late lunch. Pitching in Roy took a pile of plates that Chet had set on the counter. Turning his heart sunk deep in his chest as he noticed that Nicci had entered the room and was now standing in front of him. While his hands were still holding onto the needed plates he hung his head as a way of avoiding her. In a disturbed voice he asked." What are you doing here?" " It was a half day at school and since the city bus doesn't come for an hour I thought I would come here and say hi." She explained. Detecting Roy's sudden mood change she asked." It is okay isn't it?" " You know that it's okay if......." Captain Stanley started only to be interupted by Roy's answer to the question that was meant for him. With a voice filled with softeness and a touch of harshness Roy refused." Nicci, you shouldn't have come here. The station is no place for girls to be hanging around, please just go home." Feeling his friends eyes on him, Roy without another word sat the stack of plates down on the table and quietly left the room. Hearing Roy's words the remaining crew studied Nicci. It was very obvious that the words Roy said was like a knife that cut deep inside of her already battered soul. Before she was wearing a smile that they had not seen in a very long time. Now that smile had faded and was now replaced by the threat of streaming tears. Deciding it was his place as the Captain, Captain Stanley walked up to Nicci taking her arm gently in hand. Feeling her flinch at first touch he tried to soothe." Nicci he didn't mean it, he's just going through a real bad time right now. It'll get better you'll see." Without another word Nicci with her head tilted downward left the station. .......... Hearing the back door open and close Joanne looked up in time to see Nicci disappear down the basement stairs. From where she was sitting at the table she knew that Nicci had been crying. Wanting to know the reasons Joanne without a second thought headed down stairs. Standing in front of Nicci's closed door she called out." Nicci are you okay?" Swinging the door open Nicci came face to face with the look of worry that plastered the face of her step mother. " I'm okay Jo, I'm just really tired." Nicci lied as she deprately tried holding back her tears as her father's hurtful words still littered her already spent mind. " If you want to talk about it, you know I'm here baby girl." Joanne said as she could plainly see the look of pain in Nicci's blood shot eyes." With tears now streaming down Nicci face she pleaded " I don't want to talk about it Jo , please go." Ending, Nicci quietly turned around while slowly pushing the door slightly closed leaving Joanne and her concern out side. Tears too found Jo's eyes as she watched Nicci lay down on her bed in the fetal postion burying her head into her pillow. From where Jo was standing she could clearly make out the soften whimpers that had won yet another battle. .......The next morning......... Studying Nicci from where she was sitting sipping her coffee, Joanne could tell that something had upset her, by the way Nicci took slow sips of her orange juice and by the way her face was swollen and her eyes were riddled with tiny red lines from crying. " Nicci?" She questioned" You want to talk about it?" Turning towards Joanne Nicci declined by saying." No I dont think so, I think I'll just leave for school." " Nicci you have plenty of time, you don't have to leave for another half an hour. Come on, it's been along time since we've chatted." Joanne urged. Recklessly taking her seat at the table Nicci first looked up at her step mother then returned her eyes downward. In a small voice she asked." What do you want to talk about?" " I don't know, whatever you want to talk about." Joanne said." How is the baby? Is it kicking a lot?" " Yeah sort of." Nicci answered without picking up her face. Had she of made eye contact with her step mother, she would see her watering eyes and know that she really wasn't doing well. Sitting quietly Joanne continnued to study Nicci. She knew that the past three weeks were very hard. She could recall the day that Dixie had exposed the welts on Nicci's back when she went to clean them. She knew that Roger had beat her more then once and although time healed her phsical scars she could only hope that time would be kind enough to heal the emotional scars as well. More recently her mind recaped the last night of entertainment they shared as a family. A heavy burst of saddness fell on Joanne when she recalled Roy's reaction when Nicci kiss him goodnight. Although she knew the reasons why, she also knew that Nicci couldn't understand. Wanting to make the situation less hurtful she said." Hey look, I know what your thinking sweet heart, but you have to believe me, your father loves you just as much as the day you were born." Seeing the look of deteriorating belief she tried to assure." You have to believe me Nicci, and understand your father is going through some very touch times in his life. You'll see he'll get better, he just needs time." Knowing that Roy was home from work by the slamming of a car door, Nicci jumped out of her chair and headed straight for the back door. " I'll see you later, I better be getting to school." " Nicci wait , I can drive you if you'd like. It'll only take me a minute to get dressed." Joanne offered " No Jo, I'll be fine." Nicci assured as she bolted out the door. As soon as Nicci left through the back door, Joanne watched as Roy entered through the front door. " Morning Dear, would you like some breakfast?" She asked trying to hide her concern for Nicci and Roy's relationship. " Oh no, I think I'll wait until I get some sleep. Where is everyone anyway? he asked just as Jenny and Chris walked in. " Hi daddy." Jenny greeted walking up to her father giving him a peck on the cheek. " Morning Sweet Pea, I see your ready for school." Roy smiled as he noticed she was dressed in her favorite purple dress while purple ribbons held her pig tails in place." " huh ha." Jenny nodded then turning to Joanne she asked." Mommy where's Nicci, I wanted her to walk part of the way to school with me." " Oh well I'm sorry, she already left this morning." Joanne said. " Hey but maybe tomorrow since it's Saturday, you and her can go to the ice cream shop just the two of you." " Goodie, that sounds like fun." Jenny squealed. ........ TBC |
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