PROJECT ANDERSON

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: SARGE/ANDIE

We finally made it to Melissa and Johnny's childhood home.

It was a Victorian style house with black and white trim that contracted with the grey brick walls.

"So ugly..." Melissa said under her breath.

I didn't know much about her relationship with her mother, but I also didn't want to pry.

She had some animosity towards the woman that gave her life...that much was obvious to me.

"Come on we are just here to check on her and then we can leave...right Sarge?" Johnny asked with a half smile.

"Actually...I was thinking that maybe we should stay here for a couple of days, since we've been driving for a solid month." I answered with a sympathetic look over to Melissa. "But if it gets too much for you, we can leave."

Melissa looked at me and gave a small agreeing nod, I knew she wasn't happy with this arrangement...but we were all in desperate need for rest and a shower.

"Are you ready to go in Sissy?" Johnny asked softly.

"I guess, hey Amber are you awake back there?" Melissa asked as she opened her door.

"Yeah, I was just thinking." Amber answered as she streched.

"How's you arm?" I asked hoping that Melissa had doctored it properly.

"Only sore to the touch, I think I'll live." Amber answered before Melissa let her out of the bed.

"Johnny and I will unload the truck while you girls take the babies inside." I instructed firmly.

"Yes sir, come on Amber." Melissa said before grabbing Lilly-Bella and Timothy, and leading Amber to the front door.

"Where do you want to start Sarge?" Johnny asked with a bright smile.

"The food trunk first, then the ammo and bags, and carseats..."

"Carseat and laundry basket got it." Johnny interjected.

"Yeah whatever." I said before getting on the tailgate. "Stay down there I'll drag it to you...it will be easier that way."

"Gotcha." Johnny said with a snap and some stupid fingers gun.

"I should have just done this by myself." I said as I removed the torn up green tarp from over our supplies.

"Hey I take offense to that." Johnny said as he puffed out his chest.

"Relax John, I was just busting you balls." I said before bending down and grabbed the handle of the trunk.

"Oh..." Johnny said with furrowed brows. "I haven't heard any gunshots yet, so I guess that's a good sign."

"Yeah...here." I said as I slid the trunk toward the hatch.

"I just hope she's okay." Johnny said before pulling it the rest of the way.

"Your mom or your sister?" I asked as I jumped off the back and grabbed the other handle again.

"Both actually." Johnny said before we hoisted the trunk down.

I just sat on my brother's bed trying to figure out how I was going to explain this to Ashley.

"Damn it Jimmy why did you have to do this to me...to Ashley." I said as I struggled with my emotions.

He promised he would take care of her because I couldn't...and Olivia always wanted a baby.

I needed to tell her the truth...about everything, but first I needed to tell her father.