| Title: For the sake of love Part: Thirty seven By: Spanky Content Warning: Adult language, and content. Previously: Roy learns that Roger may be responcible for Nicci's kidnapping Authors Notes: Two days later. Sharing the nights supper of fish over a open flame, Daniel Farms spared side glances at Nicci. He could see her fagile body shaking as she sat with her arm tied high above her head and tape stretched across her mouth. Feeling sorry for his young victim he looked at his ring leader." You think she'd like some?" He asked as he knew that it had been several days since she ate. " Hell no, she can starve to death for all I care, she's costed me enough." Roger refused. Then getting to his feet he walked over to Nicci." Ain't that right you dirty fucking whore." He remarked grabbing Nicci forcefully around the neck." And dont think this is all you got coming, I've only begun my revenge of getting back what is rightfully mine." ....... Later that night........ While the others took their turn for rest inside the tent, Daniel Farms watched over Nicci. Seeing her body tremble with cold he took off his jacket. Then walking towards Nicci he draped it acrossed her shoulders." It's not a lot but it'll help." He said softly. Then looking over at the half eaten plate of food." You hungry?" Once picking up the food he then walked back to Nicci. Then crouching down to her level he reached up pulling the tape away from her mouth causing her cry out in pain . " Sorry about that."he apologized. Then tearing a piece of fish away from the bone he brought it up to her lips " Here." he offered. Seeing her refuse him by turning her head he added." Come on you have to eat something." Loosing her fight against her hunger she opened her mouth. Although the fish was cold and tuff it was welcome for they had not offered her any food since they took her. Once done eating she hung her head she asked in a broken and week voice" Why are you doing this to me, I didn't do anything to you?" Looking inside his victims eyes he searched for the right answers but in the end he hadn't one. So using the only excuse he had he spoke." Because, I have nothing to loose, I was doing life in prison." Hanging his head he added." I thought my life was over until Roger came up with the plan to escape. I saw my change and I took it." Once again looking Nicci in the eyes he continued." I'm sorry, I didn't know he was going to hurt you. I thought he was just going to scare you." " If your sorry, then why don't you do something about it?" Nicci wanted to know " I cant, if I get busted I'll go back to the pen and I'll die first and take someone with me before I let that happen." " Can I ask you something?" she asked." What did he mean when he said he only begun?" " It doesn't matter your better off not knowing. Now try to get some rest okay." Daniel urged ......... Three days later......... Watching Roy as he made his way into the dayroom, Johnny's heart sunk deep in his chest. With a heavy sigh he greeted his heart broken partner." Hi Roy." Without a responce Johnny studied Roy's eyes. His eyes held the look of emptyness that reached to the depths of his soul. Walking into the dayroom McConnikee greeted." Hello." Then looking over at Captain Stanley who was sitting at the table quietly sipping his coffee he said." This was delivered at head quarters." tossing a cassette tape down on the table." I think it was delivered to head quarters by mistake." As Captain Stanley studied the tape he could clearly see that the typed lable read Property of Station 51. Looking up at his chief he asked." What is it?" " Don't know, we didn't listen to it. But I thought I would bring it by on my way to station 36." McConikee said." I've got time if you would like to listen it. To be honest, it has me a little baffled." After setting up the portable tape recorder, the stations crew waited patiently for any sound that would come through. " Maybe it's blank." Marco said " Why would someone send a....." Mike started only to be interupted by the screams of terror as they in came loud and clear through the speakers. Each of them felt the burning of their tears as they could unmistakedly hear Nicci being viciously beaten. They could clearly make out the filthy names she was being called from at least two grown men. As they sat and listened they knew that what they were witnessing was Nicci being brutaly raped" Go a head and scream you dirty rotten whore. " One of the voices barked out. " I love to hear you scream while I'm fucking you." The voice added Reconizing the voice belonging to Roger, Roy cried out" Oh no.......no......no........" while grabbing the chair in front of him as his body began to shake uncontrolably. With a steady stream of tears trailing down his paled face he hung his head sobbing over and over. " He's got her, he's got her." Wiping his tears Captain Stanley stood up then reaching over he turned off the tape recorder. Seeing that Roy was on the verge of collasp he offered using his most soothing and kind voice " Roy why don't you have a seat." Then looking at his Chief he asked. " Could you get on the phone to the police department and get a hold of detective Kelogg?" " You bet." McConikee said his voice filled with saddness to what he had just wittnessed. Glancing at his crew Captain Stanley noticed all but Chet was there. Beginning his search he walked out through the bay. After searching the dorm and having no luck, Captain Stanley walked through the back door of the locker room. He stopped as he could hear the soften sobs coming from Chet. As he stood there he listened to Chet confessing his love for Nicci. His words of prayer was loud and clear as he asked God to bring her back to him. Deciding it best not to disturb Chet and his prayer Captain Stanley quietly turned. With his own tears he left the room. ........Two Days Later Standing on the DeSoto's front porch Johnny Gage waited for a greeting from his partner and long time friend Roy. Not getting one he reached for the door knob, seeing that it was unlocked he quietly let himself in." Hey Roy." He called out. Without a responce he called out again." Roy you home.?" Hearing some unfamiliar rattling of sound Johnny headed down the hall. Peering through the half opened door he greeted." Hi Roy." While walking deeper in the room he noticed that the bed was littered with at least a half dozen boxes." What are you doing Roy?" He wanted to know " Oh Hi Junior, I'm just going through things trying to get rid of some junk." He answered. " You know it's amazing me how much stuff is collected through the years." As he looked inside yet another box. Watching as Roy stared inside the box then looking upwards to a trophy that was resting on the top shelf Johnny asked." Roy what is it?" His eyes too went to the top shelf. " It's a picture of me and Nicci when she was about nine years old." He said in a low tone as he picked up and turned it to where Johnny could see a portion of his past. " I had taken my vacation early so that I could go to the father, daughter picnic that her school was putting on. We won first place in the three legged race." He stopped to see the smile that Nicci wore that day. Then taking a small intake of breath he added." She looked so happy, she never once let on that she was sad." As he noticed darkened place surrounding her eyes, tears welled up inside him. " She said she got hit in the eye with a soft ball the reason she had the black eye." Seeing tears start forming in his partner's eyes Johnny pulled him close." Roy I know it's hard on you all, but you have to know she'll be okay." He tried to soothe with words he didn't really believe himself. He too was haunted by Nicci's screams that were trapped inside the tape. Pulling away from Johnny, Roy took a seat on the bed. Hanging his head. In a low and broken voice he spoke." I've failed." Taking his seat next to Roy Johnny soothed." You didn't fail." " Yes I did, I failed as a father, and worst I let her down." He said while reaching up to wipe the tears escaping from his blood shot eyes. Then changing the subject he said." Hey Johnny, do you remember the boy we rescued about a year ago that got a hold of some rat posioning? What was his name?" Reaching in his memory he added." Oh now I remember, Jason Dorey." " Yeah I remember." Johnny said hanging his head at the memory " Then you also remember the look on that boy's parents when Dr. Brackett broke the news to them that they had lost their only son. He was just five years old when he died" Roy said. Taking a ragged breath then looking at Johnny with pain filled eyes he continued." I couldn't emagine how hard that was on them because I didn't know that kind of pain but I do now. And you know, If you could combine all the blood that's shed in every single war ever faught in the world, it still doesn't compare to a parents grief when they loose a child." Hearing his partner's soft spoken words Johnny was now fighting his own tears. He knew in his heart that with each day that past, the chance of Nicci being alive grew thinner. He knew it was a strong possiblity that they would one day face the news of Nicci's death. Still as he looked into Roy's eye's he knew he needed to try to comfort him. " Roy you cant think that way. By the grace of God you have to believe that he'll keep her safe and he will bring her home to the people who love her." " Johnny I apprieate that and I'm trying to hold onto to what little bit of hope there is. It's just so hard Johnny, Every time I close my eyes I can see him hurting her, and I can hear her screaming. It's a killer, when you know that your child is being hurt and there's not a damn thing you can do about it." Roy stopped Hanging his head he let go of a small portion of his pain through tears. With his own tears falling Johnny pulled Roy close allowing his partner to grieve. Looking toward the door Johnny spotted Joanne. In her soft voice she asked." Is he okay?" " He's fine, I promise." Johnny assured hoping that he wasn't promising something with words he didn't really believe himself. .......... The next day........ Sitting at the table the crew at Station 51 watched Roy as he quietly picked at the contents of his plate. As for Captain Stanley he could only imagine the kind of pain that Roy was suffering. He knew that Sherry could well have been taken along with Nicci. He knew in his heart that he was truely lucky for having Sherry safe out of harms way. Standing in the door way Sherry hung her head. Her mind went back to the time where she and Nicci had become friends in this very room. A room that was once filled with happiness and laughter was now filled with sorrow clinging to it's walls. With a heavy heart she greeted." Hi daddy." Looking up Captain Stanley spotted Sherry. With a smile he got to his feet." Hi Sherry." He greeted. " Have you eaten?" " No I'm not very hungry dad." She refused. " Sherry you have to eat something, your not doing yourself or anyone else any good." Captain Stanley spoke in a fatherly tone. " I know, it's just so hard you know dad. It's not fair." She spoke with words lined with tears.Pulling away from her father Sherry wiped her tears. Then looking around the room she added." It's not fair dad, her and I just got to be friends and......." She stopped to wipe her own tears of pain. Then just above a whisper she added." I just want to know she's okay." Taking his daughter between his outreached arms Captain Stanley allowed her to let a portion of her pain escape through her tears." I know we all do honey." He soothed watching Roy as he hung his head with Sherry's words. Looking up, Marco spotted Joanne standing in the doorway. Seeing the lingering saddness in her eyes he made his way over to her. With his hand reaching for her he greeted." Hi Jo, come on in. Would you like some coffee?" Hearing his wife's name being called out Roy looked up. From where he was sitting he could see her standing in a steady stream of tears. Wanting to comfort his wife Roy stood on his feet. " Oh no Roy, please don't get up." She spoke softly while making her way over to him. Once again hanging her head she knew that she had to tell her husband about the phone call she received from the county morgue. Although she knew that it would be hard on him to hear her words, she knew that she didn't have no choice but to tell him. With those thoughts running through her head she called out softly." Roy." she stopped as her tears spoke loud and clear. Once taking a small intake of breath and letting it out slow, she quickly blurted out before she had the chance to change her mind." Roy, I just got a call from the county morgue." Raising her head to face her husband Joanne added." Seems that a couple fishermen found a body of a young girl that washed on shore early this morning. The mortition said that the body matched Nicci's discription and they want you to go and identify her." her words now a whisper as she thought about the possiblity that her step daughter was dead. With Joannes words the crew at Station 51 hung their heads. Each one felt a sence of loss as their hearts clinged to special memories that each of them had of Nicci. With a heavy heart Captain Stanley spoke."Roy, why don't you and Johnny go to morgue. I'll get you guys out of service." Even though his voice was rimmed with his own tears of sorrow he knew that he must remain strong for his crew. Looking to the sounds of Sherry's sobbs he walked over and took her in his strong arms allowing her to grieve." It's okay Sherry." He tried his best to assure. ............ Walking through the double doors both Johnny and Roy was greeted by the head of the department of unclaimed bodies." I'm Erik Baker." " Hi, I'm Roy DeSoto, this is my partner John Gage." Roy introduced. " Yes, well as you know from my assistant on the phone, a body of a young girl about fiveteen years of age was found nude in the Shodan river about ten miles north. According to the autopsy reports the victim was sexually assulted and died as a result of a severe blow to the head. Now because of the body's decomposure it's very hard to determine the identity of the victim. But according to the report and discription you gave the police there are quite a few simularities between the body and your missing daughter, such as a tattoo on her left buttock. Not to mention the fact that both the victim and your daughter being about five months pregnant." Thinking back, Johnny thought about the day Chet had talked about Nicci having a tattoo. Hearing that the body in question also had a tattoo he knew that he had to face the strong possiblity that he would never see Nicci again. With his own tears he looked at Roy and offered." Hey Roy, I'll go in there with you if you want me to." " Thanks, I think I'm going to need you in there." Roy accepted. Once entering the morgue both Johnny and Roy came face to face with the body on the table only being covered with a sheet that was believed to be Nicci.. As they watched the sheet being lowered Johnny as well as Roy took a gasp of air for seeing that the victims face was three times its normal size and held many bruises that time would never take away. They could see her blood streaked blonde hair as it surrounded the large gash in her head that took her young life away. As for Roy he allowed his eyes to roam the lifeless form before him. Seeing the pudge of an unborn child that never got the chance to take its first breath he hung his head. " I realize that this is very difficult, perhaps this will help." Mr. Baker said as he turned the corspe on the side." Is this your daughter's tattoo." Looking at the victims tattoo, Roy's heart sunk deep in his chest as he could clearly make out the red play boy bunny. Although the evidence that surrounded told him that it was indeed Nicci, Neither Roy or Johnny wanted to be in the situation to admit that it was truly Nicce. Looking up at Mr. Baker in a shallow voice Roy confessed." I dont know. Adding to the conversation Johnny spoke up." We've never seen her tattoo. In fact there's only one of us that did." Thinking about Chet he then looked up at Mr. Baker and added. " Could I use your phone?" ............. " Station 51, Captain Stanley speaking..........Oh hi Johnny, what did you find out........I see, well hold on I'll get him." Cupping the receiver Captain Stanley called out." Hey Kelly it's Johnny, he wants to talk to you." Taking the phone from his Captain, Chet spoke." Hello.....................yes it was on her left side........Oh man.........well do you want me there...... hey it's no problem......hold on, Capt's right here let me ask." Holding the phone away from his ear, Chet turned to face his Captain. " Hey Capt, Johnny says that the body is to badly beaten and they cant tell if it's Nicci. He did say that the victim has a tattoo on her ass. Johnny wants to know if I can go down there and see if the tattoo matches Nicci's." Seeing his Captain nod his head giving his permission he returned to Johnny who was waiting for an answer. " Hold tight Johnny, tell Roy I'm on my way." ............... Seeing Chet walking down the long hall Roy and Johnny greeted." Hey Chet, thanks for coming." Roy said reaching his hand out " Hey man no problem, glad I can help." Chet assured accepting Roy's hand shake. Also seeing Chet, Mr. Baker walked up and asked." Is this the man who can help identify the body?" "Yes this is Chet Kelly, he's the one that actually seen my daughters tattoo." Roy said " Very well then, why don't you and Mr. Gage have a seat. I'll take Mr. Kelly into the room." Mr Baker said Within a few minutes Roy looked up to see Chet walking up to him. Getting to their feet both Roy and Johnny waited for Chet to announce the fate of Nicci. " Chet, is it her?" Roy asked almost in plea. Seeing the need in Roy's eyes with a smile Chet said." Roy it's not her." Feeling the weight of pain being lifted from him Roy asked." Are you sure?" " I'm one hundred and twenty percent sure Roy. I got a good look at Nicci's tattoo and her's is white not red." Chet assured TBC |