3.21 Daddy's Home

Author's Note: This chapter takes place at least two years since the last chapter. Caleb is now part of his brother-in-law's band and Drew had another child, a little girl named Emmaline.

Once their tour had been shortened Caleb went home gathered his wife into his arms and kissed her. Laughing she looked into his eyes "you should go away more often," she smiled up at him.

"I missed you and the kids," he told her in way of explanation.

"I missed you too," she leaned into him "I hate it when your gone."

Leaning over he brought his mouth crashing down on hers as if to reassure himself she was real, that she was safe. "Nothing strange or out of the ordinary happen while I was gone?"

"No nothing," she saw the worry in his eyes as she reached up to stroke his face "don't worry so much. The body guards you have prowling around here keep even the neighbors away."

"You think I went overboard" he accused.

"No I think you went over and beyond to keep your family safe," standing on her tip toes she kissed his nose "and I love you for it." Taking his hand she started towards the door "the kids are anxious to see their dad."

Looking around he asked "why aren't they out here?"

"They have a surprise for you," she put a hand across his mouth "don't spoil it"

"But I hate ..."

"Don't" she pleaded "they worked so hard on this."

"I hate surprises" he finished as he stood outside the door.

"I know but you'll like this one" she kissed his cheek "trust me?"

"Always," he said opening the door. He walked into the living room where banners and streamers were strewn around.

"Daddy" Emmaline squealed in delight.

Picking her up, Caleb put her on his shoulders where she grabbed fistfuls of his pink hair. "Don't pull my hair out," he told her with no obvious affect.

Laughing at him Drew shook her head "she loves the color pink." She moved in front of him trying to distract him from what the kids were doing. "Do you like the decorations?" She pointed towards the banners "what do you think?"

"Welcome home daddy" one banner read. Another said "We missed you daddy." Turning he found another that read "We love you daddy." His head jerked around as he heard the first musical notes fill the room. He turned to find Indira playing his piano singing in accompaniment with Andrew.

Drew came and wrapped her arms around him as he fought to control his emotions. It wasn't the best song and the words didn't rhyme but it was for him and that made it the best song he'd ever heard. Holding his breath he let the music fill his heart and soul. He knew beyond doubt he was no longer Caleb Gray the teen heart throb. Caleb Gray most eligible bachelor. Caleb Gray best solo artist of the year. He was Caleb Gray AKA Daddy and he was just fine with that. When the kids were finished he clapped his hands whistling "best surprise ever" he announced. 

"Really? You really liked it?" Indira asked hopping down from the piano seat "Andy and I wrote it just for you."

"It was beautiful sweetheart," Caleb said putting Emmaline down to hug her and Andrew.

***

Sitting next to Caleb she leaned her head on his shoulder. "It's good to have you home."

Taking her hand he sighed "I've missed you and the kids."

Gesturing around at the strewn banners and decorations "well you can see how much we missed you." Looking up at him she asked "are we in danger?"

"Honestly I don't know. The extra guards and security are a precaution," Caleb explained "it's probably just a fan...."

"Stalker fan more like," Drew shifted moving out of his embrace "I'm scared."

"I know but we're doing all we can," he reassured her "we can't just stop performing every time a fan gets a little creepy."

"I know but it doesn't stop me from worrying" she stood up crossing her arms.

Coming up behind her he kissed her neck "everything that can be down has been done. I promise I'm not taking this lightly." He continued to kiss the soft skin along her neck. Inhaling the scent of lilac her skin emitted "right now I do  have other things on my mind other then creepy stalker dude."

Turning in his arms "what would that be?" she asked arching an eyebrow at him.

"A certain beautiful young woman" he said lowering his mouth towards hers until mere centimeters separated them.

"Should I be jealous of this impossibly perfect woman?"

"Not at all" he said closing the gap between them devouring her mouth "because that beautiful woman is you." He picked her up in his arms and carried her to their room. "I've been wanting to do this from the moment I got home."

"I assure you Mr Gray the feeling is entirely mutual." She reached up and pulled his shirt over his head. Running her hands across his chest saying "have I told you how much I love you?"

"Mmm hmm" he replied as he continued to kiss her jawline, down her neck. "Love you too" he murmured against her skin as he let his kisses and hands talk for him.

***

Sitting up with a jerk Drew listened to the silence of the house. Ears straining to hear the noise that woke her up. Footsteps on the stairs leading up to the children's rooms. Turning on a light she got out of bed thinking that one of the kids had gotten up.

Going up the stairs she thought it was strange that none of the lights were on. If one of the kids were up surely then would have turned on a light. Hesitating on at the top of the stairs she wondered if she should have gotten Caleb to come with her. A light flashed in her face blinding her. A deep voice commanded "don't scream if you care about your kids and husband."

Nodding to show she understood she squinted into the light. "What do you want?"

"What Patricia Bennett took from me?" the voice was deep, angry sending chills down her spine. 

Despite her fear Drew shook her head "I don't know what your talking about."

"Don't make me laugh," the man hissed "your family is rich. The only way that could have happened is if you used what that woman stole."

"My father would never do that. He was a world renowned author before that bitch killed him. My grandfather is a celebrity chef. We have our own money. We wouldn't need anything from that woman." Drew felt her anger rising as she gripped the railing.

A rumble intensified in the room as the silhouette in front of her began to laugh. "I don't care where you think you got the money I'm only interested in retrieving what that bitch took." He grabbed her wrist twisting her arm behind her.

Hissing in pain she was forced down the stairs. Once they made it down to the 2nd floor she tried to yank her arm free. "I'll break it," the man threatened. Hearing the intent in his voice and the added pressure on her wrist she ceased struggling. He demanded "tell me where it is."

"Where is what? I don't understand" Drew cried "I don't know what you're looking for."

"Your mother took something..."

"She's not my mother," she screamed "she killed my mother. Why don't you ask  her where whatever it is she took is?" The door to her room opened "Caleb no," she shouted struggling more.

Eyes widening Caleb took in the scene before him. A masked man holding his struggling wife helpless in his grip. "Let her go" his voice firm, angry with no hint of fear.

"Make me," the man taunted grabbing Drew and pulling her close. Lifting his mask enough to uncover his mouth he gave Caleb a nasty grin before smashing his mouth down on Drew's lips.

She struggled against him as his mouth pressed down upon her. Bruising as he kissed her roughly on the mouth, forcing his tongue deep inside choking her. She shoved against him trying to get away from the invasion. When he was satisfied he tossed her aside. A dull thud sounding through the room when her head collided with the wall. Dimly she was aware of grunting and fabric rustling against fabric. She tried to get up "Caleb" she managed to say before succumbing to the darkness and falling into a heap on the floor.

Caleb launched himself at the man screaming, blinded with rage. He plowed into the man knocking them both to the floor. The man's incessant laughter driving him into a frenzy as he struggled to pound the man into the floor. He had no clear idea how long they struggled on the floor before he realized he was slowly losing the battle. The man rolled over on top of him using his face as a punching bag. Caleb's heart sank at the sound of Indira's frightened voice calling for him.

"Don't come down here," he shouted hoping she'd listen. He felt the man shift his weight as he focused on the little girl. Fearing he was going to go after his kids he shouted "leave my family alone."

"You're not in any position to demand anything," the man told him "tell me what I want to know and no one will get hurt."

"What? Tell you what?" Caleb asked his heart pounding in his chest and ears. He felt the man's fingers dig into his throat cutting off his oxygen. As his vision blurred and dimmed he caught movement to his left as his son came down the stairs. He wanted to scream for him to run. To hide. To do anything then what he was intent on doing.

"Leave my daddy alone," Andrew demanded swinging the bat towards the man's head.

Rolling off of Caleb the man's mask slipped off revealing a rather good looking young man with cold eyes. He sneered down at the small child who dared to defy him. Gasping for breath Caleb struggled to his knees attempting to put himself between the man and his son.

"Pathetic," the man snarled pushing Caleb aside. He moved quick and snatched the boy as he attempted to run. "Get me what I want or you'll never see the boy again."

Enraged Caleb tried to stop the man. To protect  his child. His son. He felt rather then saw the vicious kick the man delivered to his head. As he lay next to Drew on the floor he heard Andrew's frantic screams as the man carried him from the house. As he slipped into unconsciousness the last sound he heard was Andrew screaming for him "daddy, daddy help!"

***

Drew came to first. Putting a hand to her throbbing head she became aware of someone crying nearby. "Caleb?" she asked opening her eyes.

"Daddy's hurt," Indira cried "I can't wake him up."

She gasped at the bloody mess that was Caleb's face. "Honey daddy's going to be alright," she said reaching a shaky hand towards the little girl who willingly snuggled into her crying harder.

"Mommy who was that man?"

"I don't know baby" she said holding the near hysterical girl tight against her. She knew she should call the police but first she had to check on her family.

"Mama I called the number" Indira informed her.

"What number?" she asked stroking her hair back.

"The mergency number," Indira sat up sniffling "did I do the right thing?"

"Yes baby that was exactly right" Drew assured her "where's your brother?"

"The ... the bad man took him" she choked out sobbing. "Mama" she screamed as several men in uniforms came up the stairs with guns drawn.

"Ma'am is there anyone else in the house?" one of the officers asked.

"My baby girl is upstairs" she took a breath before continuing "my son was...was kidnnnapped." Crying as she said the words that made it all the more real. Why had that man taken her son? Would she ever see him again?

***

Several hours later she sat beside Caleb in the hospital. She had called Ambrose to tell him what happened. As soon as he arrived he demanded to know what happened to all the guards and security that was supposed to be there. Good question. One Drew hadn't thought of asking. She had been to distracted with crying kids, a dazed and concussed husband and a missing child.

Caleb opened his grey eyes looking up at her "I'm sorry" he croaked.

"For what?"

"I couldn't protect you...."

"None of this was your fault," she stroked his hair back seeing the damage that man had done to his lovely face. Two black eyes, swollen and bruised where the man had punched him over and over again. A broken nose, a couple loose teeth, concussion. He was lucky there wasn't permanent damage to his vocal cords from being strangled. 

"Should have done a better job," he struggled to sit up.

Pushing him back "what do you think your doing?" she asked.

"I have to find our son," he pushed her hands away as he tried to sit up "I have to...." he turned ghostly white before his eyes rolled up to the back of his head and he fell back on the pillow.

***

"What do you mean I can't see her?" Drew demanded "she's the only person who knows what this person wants."

The officer shook his head "only her children can see her at the prison."

"Can't they make an exception?" she pleaded "please my son's life is at stake."

"We tried but they won't make an exception," he put a hand on her shoulder "I'm sorry I tried everything I could think of to get them to relax the rules. Can't you ask one of her kids to visit for you?"

His compassion showed in his eyes and his voice. She nodded her understanding. It didn't make things any better. She would have to ask one of her siblings to face their mother across a small table in a confined room. She looked up as Alex came into the waiting room. He was the best choice she had but she hated to ask him.

"How's Caleb?" Alex asked giving Drew a hug.

"Lucky" she smiled at him "thanks for coming."

"Wild horses couldn't keep me away,"he told her "Caleb's my friend not just my brother-in-law." He looked into her eyes "what's wrong?"

"I need your help but I'm afraid to ask..."

"There's nothing you could ask that I wouldn't do" he told her with a teasing self-assured grin.

"You haven't heard what I need," Drew told him looking away.

"You better just spit it out," Alex told her never one to play guessing games.

"I need you to go and see your mom..."

He was already shaking his head refusing before she finished. "Drew I ... I can't. I can't look at that woman without seeing. Not after what she did...."

"I know Alex and I'm sorry. I wouldn't ask if there was another way. Only her kids can see her..."

Breathing hard he sat heavily into a nearby chair covering his face in his hands. Drew stood beside him watching him in concern as his body shook with tremors. "What do you need me to do?" he asked looking up at her.

"We need to find out what she took from her father-in-law that the drug cartel needs back."

Gulping he nodded "I'll go" his voice conveyed his loathing he at the thought of seeing his mother again.

"Thank you," she cried hugging him close.

"Don't thank me yet," he attempted to joke "I haven't gotten it yet."

***

Andrew sat huddled on the floor of the car while the man drove through the streets of Monte Vista. Andrew knew the man was driving fast without seeing the speed-o-meter by the way the car lurched throwing him from side to side. He tried not to cry but the tears kept coming even after the man yelled slapping him across the face telling him to shut up. Now he stuffed his hand in his mouth biting down so he wouldn't make a sound.

"Kid you hungry?" the man asked.

"Yyyyes" he stammered "bbbbut....

"But what kid?" the man turned to look down at him "spit it out kid."

"I nnneed to ggggo" the man was acting nice too nice and that was scarier than the mean guy. He couldn't get his mouth to work and he was afraid the man would get mad again.

"You need to pee?" the man asked laughing harshly.

"Yyyesss" Andy nodded.

"Listen kid," the man said pulling off the road "we're going inside to get snacks and use the toilet. Don't look at anyone. Don't talk to anyone. Anyone asks who your daddy is you point to me. You got that kid?" Andrew began to nod "I can't hear you nod kid." The man frowned down at him.

"Yyyyesss" he stammered cringing into the floor mats.

"Good" the man smiled opening the door. Leaning over he dragged Andrew out with him. 

"Remember what I told you kid or I'll have to go back and hurt that pretty mama of yours. You wouldn't want me to do that now would you?"

"Nnnoo" he stammered as the man pulled him along into the convenience store.