When the police and ambulance arrived Jennifer gathered her brother in her arms to calm his fears. "It's going to be alright Alex. I won't let anyone hurt you. I'll protect you."
"Make'em go way," he cried.
"I can't they're here to help daddy," she told her little brother. She watched a police officer approach her and took a step backwards as he neared.
"It's alright little girl, we're here to help." His voice was smooth and soothing like he was calming a skittish horse. "What's your name honey?"
She stared at him "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," she moved cautiously towards her daddy where he lay on the grass.
"It's alright I'm one of the good guys, a police officer. It's alright for you to talk to me." He continued to work his way towards her.
Jennifer's attention was diverted towards Robert as the paramedics were ascertaining his injuries. He cried out in pain. Jennifer ran towards him "leave my daddy alone. Your hurting him." The officer took the opportunity and grabbed her.
"It's alright honey. They're helping your daddy," the officer tried to distract her from the the paramedics were doing. "you called 911," Jennifer nodded "that was very brave of you." She turned large frightened blues eyes towards him nodding again.
"Daddy needed help," she told him as tears formed in her eyes and made their way down her cheeks. "The bad men hurt daddy and mommy went with them."
Kneeling in front of her he asked "did your mommy go with them because she wanted to or did they make her go with them?"
"The bad man said she called him so he came to get her," glancing towards the paramedics and her dad she asked "why did they hurt my daddy? If he said she'd go with them, why did they hurt him?"
"I don't know angel. But it's my job to find out,"the officer told her. She looked up as a commotion at the door caught her attention.
Two officers were carrying her sisters out of the house. They were crying and screaming as they were being taken away "leave them alone," Jennifer yelled at them running towards them slowed by having Alex clinging to her. "Don't take my sisters," turning to the officer who had told her he would find the bad me she demanded "don't let them take my sisters."
Kneeling in front of her "they're not hurting them. They need someone to take care of them. Do you know where you're daddy put important papers?" Contemplating the man's words she nodded "I know this is scary and you don't know who to trust." She nodded again blue eyes growing larger. "We want to help you. If we know where your daddy keeps his important papers we could find someone to come and take care of you, someone your daddy trusted."
"Uncle Gene," she said barely above a whisper.
"What was that honey? I'm sorry I didn't hear you."
"Daddy said if something bad ever happened that Uncle Gene would come and take care of us," she repeated deciding if she had to trust someone it might as well be him.
"Will you show me where your daddy kept his important papers?"
Nodding "only you. All those others can't come."
"Ok honey" the officer agreed "would you like me to have someone take your brother over to your sisters?"
Shaking her heard eyes narrowed "no he comes with me."
"Would you like me to carry him for you?" he offered.
"No," she told him squeezing Alex tight against her.
***
Sitting at his desk the officer stared off into space. It was starting to make sense why the new family in town had been so closed off from the close knit community. They had been in hiding from a notorious cartel. A very dangerous one from the looks of things. Evidently they had been found and were lucky to be alive Sighing the officer knew it was very unlikely they would ever find Patricia Bennett again at least not alive
His dislike for foster care prompted the officer to request permission to have his wife look after the traumatized kids until he located the uncle. When he finally tracked the uncle down and made the call he could hear babies crying in the background. The uncle was going to have his hands full for awhile. Glancing at the clock he sighed, his shift was finished over two hours ago. He was staying late to meet Gene before taking him to the house to collect the kids. There were some questions that needed to be asked. "Sir," a young officer stuck his head into his office "someone is here asking for you."
"Escort him in," He told the young man. He stood up as another young man approached along with a teenager and two toddlers.
"Sorry, we came right here once we arrived in town," the young man offered in way of explanation.
"That's alright. I'm sure you're anxious to know how your brother is doing." The officer stood offering his hand "I'm Larry O'dell."
"Gene Bennett, my brother Michael and my daughters." Gene introduced everyone "how is my brother?" he asked getting to the point.
"Have a seat there are some questions I need to ask you first," Officer O'dell said.
A frown creased Gene's forehead "is this necessary?" he asked sitting down holding one of his daughters in his lap.
"I'm afraid so," the officer locked eyes with Gene before offering "perhaps I could arrange for your brother and children be taken to the house to be with you nieces and nephew. That way we could have a more open conversation."
Gene sat there a moment contemplating the officer's words. He seemed to be genuinely interested in them. Gene had the impression that the officer didn't want to discuss what happened in front of the kids because it would be too upsetting for them to hear. "Ok" he said giving in to the request.
"Gene I don't ..." Michael protested as an officer ushered him and the twins from the room.
"I take it that whatever you have to say is going to be bad," Gene said once the kids were gone. "How is my brother? Is he alright?"
"He was severly beaten within an inch of his life," Officer O'dell informed him. "We believe the cartel he was hiding from found them. He's lucky to be alive."
"What about his wife, Patricia?" Gene asked although he had a feeling he didn't want to know.
"She is no where to be found. According to Jennifer their oldest child, Patricia went with the men voluntarily." He stopped to observe the effect of his words on the Gene. "Do you know why a cartel was looking for brother?"
"Only what I've been told," Gene leaned forward "I was away doing a reality show when all Robert disappeared. I didn't find out until after I came home."
"Ok. Tell me what you've been told and by whom so I can contact them," the officer requested.
"From what I understand the cartel wasn't all that interested in Robert just Patricia. Years ago her mother, Ruth Bradford was in trouble and made some powerful enemies. She paid for her freedom to leave the country by giving the man her daughter to be the wife to the man's son. Sorry I don't know names, places, dates or who these people are. Once the deal was made Ruth reneged on it and took her daughter and ran. The man found her and through her Patricia. Threats were made against the safety of his family, so Robert decided disappear." Gene sighed "that's basically all I know."
"So who told you?"
"My dad, William Bennett," Gene sighed as the officer wrote the name down frowning. "I wish you wouldn't bother him, he's in a fragile mental state right now."
"What do you mean?"
"Almost a year ago his wife, now ex-wife tried to kill him. She shot him and two of my little brothers. They almost died. Dad isn't dealing with it very well. They moved to Lucky Palms in the hopes that a change of scenery would help him and the kids come to grips with what happened."
"I understand," he bit the end of his pencil "is there anyone else I could talk to that could corroborate what you just told me?"
"My brother-in-law Shon Olivia. He's an investigator on the Bridgeport police force. He was investigating the cartel and an attempt was made on his life. He almost died and was in a coma for several weeks. But he would probably know more than I do."
"Ok I'll get in touch with him. If at all possible I'll try not to disturb your father." The officer told him kindly "I can imagine your anxious to see your brother."
"Yes sir it's been almost two years," Gene wiped at his eyes as they threatened to tear up.
"I'll take you to the hospital," he got up and came around the desk. Putting a hand on Gene's shoulder "I have to warn you, it's not a pretty sight."
***
A week later Gene sat beside Robert's bedside. It was deja vu all over again. Robert was in and out of consciousness and Gene took every opportunity to be there when he was awake. He couldn't help but feel his family spent entirely too much time inside of hospitals. There were times when Officer O'dell would come to ask Robert questions. As much as Gene wanted the man who did this to his brother he knew the chances were unlikely at best.
Gene put his head in his hands, closing his eyes trying to block out all the hospital noise of nurses coming and going, the sounds of machines in the background. All he wanted to do was go home, back to the routine of performances and being with his girls. His manager was upset with him for cancelling his last several shows to come to Hidden Springs. Evidently according to the dumb ass manager he had, family came second to any and all performances. One thing he learned from his mentor Caleb was family came first. It didn't matter what show you had lined up you took care of family first.
His loyal fans would understand and those that didn't he didn't need. The pressure his manager was putting on him was getting old. Maybe it was time for a different manager. Next time he saw Caleb he'd see if he had any suggestions.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to juggle his career and family. The most difficult and problematic thing was how everyone wanted him to get back into the dating scene. His manager especially was pressuring him to do the Bachelor. There was no way in hell he was going to do that. He'd never feel comfortable with girls coming onto him. How would he know if they liked him for him and not for his fame and a chance to be on TV? His manager kept reminding him he met Aimee while on a reality show. Exactly why he didn't want to go down that road again. As far as Gene was concerned lightning didn't strike the same spot twice. He was tired of repeating himself. How many times did he have to say no before his stupid manager got it into his thick skull he wasn't gonna do it? His heart has been broken once too many time. He had his daughters that was enough.
His girls were none too happy having to share him with Roberts kids. It was difficult on all of them. Gene was finding himself pulled in a dozen different directions at once. He spent as much time with Robert as he could, then he'd go to Robert's house and spend time with all the kids. The nights were the worst. There didn't seem to be a time when one or another of the kids wasn't waking up screaming. They needed their daddy and Gene was determined to see that Robert went home to them.
Gene lifted his head "come on Robert it's time you wake up for good and walk out of this hospital." He hoped to see Robert's eyes open but of course they didn't. He glanced at his watch wondering what was taking Michael so long. He was hungry and tired of hospital cafeteria food. Michael was taking him out to lunch for a change. A shadow caught his attention. He turned expecting to see Michael, instead no one was there. He got up and looked down the hallway. Shaking his head "I must be seeing things," he mumbled.
***
Aimee leaned against the wall of the room she ducked into when Gene looked up and almost saw her. She didn't know why she ran but she just wasn't ready to talk to him yet. She looked up startled when the door banged open and Michael barged in glaring. "I thought that was you," his vibrated with barely contained anger "leave my brother alone."
"I ... I didn't know he was here," she mumbled flinching from his anger she felt coming from him. It only served to confirm what she thought would happen, they all hated her.
"We've been here for a week. Plenty of time for you to know." Michael stared at her, daring her to contradict him.
"I ...."she looked down fiddling with the ring on her finger "I knew he was here."
Michael grabbed her hand "what's this?" he demanded. "An engagement ring? You didn't waste any time replacing Gene."
"It's not like that," she protested "I had no choice. My parents ..."
"The same old excuse. Stop blaming them for your mistakes. You're the one who went running back to them. Gene would have done anything for you. He loved you ...."
"I know" she said jerking her hand back "I loved him too."
"You have funny way of showing it," Michael retorted "you broke his heart. You almost drove him back to drinking and into the clutches of Celeste. You hurt him."
"I'm sorry," she cried "I didn't mean too ..."
"But you did," Michael said "you promised you wouldn't and you did. You nearly crushed him. I had to watch him suffer. I watched him stare at the ring he bought you for hours and cry."
"Ring? What ring?" Aimee asked confused.
"Oh snap you left before he could ask you. He had the ring on him the day you ran off." He laughed harshly "Gene believes you left because you finally realized he wasn't good enough for you." Michael stared coldly at her "he's wrong about that. Your the one not good enough for him. Gene deserves the best not someone who will desert him when they're needed the most."
"I'm sorry," she cried.
"Yeah you're so sorry you turned around and got engaged to someone else." Michael snarled at her.
"I didn't have a choice ...."
"Tell it to someone who cares." Michael shook his head in disgust. "Grow up Aimee. Take responsibility for your own actions. Quit using your parents as a shield against the consequences of your choices. If you didn't want to be controlled by them, why the hell did you go back? If you loved Gene, why did you leave? If you really loved him why are you wearing another man's ring?"
"You hate me ... you all hate me," she mumbled disconsolately.
"Yeah and you deserve it for how you treated Gene," Michael sneered "if only we could convince Gene of that. He still pines for you." He looked at her "don't get any ideas. I'll do everything I can to keep you away from him." He turned and walked out, leaving her crying on the floor.
***
"Hey bro you ready to get some chow," Michael greeted Gene as he entered the room.
Looking up Gene smiled "it's about time you showed up. I'm half starved." Gene pushed Michael out of the room in a hurry to get something to eat.
Looking up Gene saw a girl with blond hair and pink highlights walking with her head bent a little ways in front of them. His pulse quickened, could it be?
Michael followed the direction of Gene's gaze "damn of all the rotten luck." Gene didn't seem to hear as he stared transfixed at the girl as she was greeted by a man. He turned tear filled eyes towards Michael. Michael grabbed his arm and pulled him back into Robert's room. Gene collapsed on the floor. "I could kill her," Michael muttered as he watched Gene fall part.
So intent was he in watching Gene he didn't notice Robert staring at them. Michael jumped as he felt someone grab his hand. Looking down he found Robert looking up at him. "What's wrong with Gene?" he asked.
