broken kitten

Good Girls

It had been a month since they had arrived in California. Things were going well and Luke had gathered everyone in the kitchen for a group meeting.
"I want to thank everyone for being so patient with the living situation. I feel that we have been hiding long enough and can start to return to business. This means everyone can leave the house again." Everyone cheered and Ashton went to open his mouth to speak. Without even seeing him, Luke smirked and pointed a finger at Ash. "Expect you Ashton" The boy pouted, crossing his arms.
"I have made arrangements with our new cancer clients. So far we have sixty. Selena, I'm promoting you to driver." He spoke throwing a set of keys at her.
"Yes!" She smiled, Selena had always wanted to be more involved but Ashton never let her.
"We will be dealing with some other drugs as usual. Zayn and Harry you will be in charge of those accounts. Transport the coke and get it out to our dealers on the streets. I have given you their information. We are only doing small amounts, nothing like we were back home. We need to stay off the radar but still need to pay the bills. Liam, you will be taking half of my accounts. We are dealing with the cancer drugs, making sure we get them from our disruptors and to our clients in need. Selena is our driver. Louis, you are Zayn and Harry's driver. Ariana, I have a job lined up for you at the local hospital. It is a very small ER, but I know the medical director there and they are willing to look the other way for us. You have your typical nursing duties, however we now have a trial drug to treat cancer, that the hospitals aren't willing to try. This hospital has given us a room for patients and will look the other way. You have five clients that will be coming in on Tuesday and we will be monitoring them."
Everyone seemed to be in agreement on the plans.
"Micheal, you are going to be Louis and Selena's back up, in class of. I also want you to keep an eye on our guys on the street and report back to me if there is something going on. When you aren't doing that, you, Shawn and Niall will be taking turns being on Ashton duty." Luke explained.
Ashton pouted. "I can be here by myself.." He spoke softly. Everyone chuckled in the room.
"Niall and Shawn, I want you to be on client care. Checking in our terminal clients and ensuring comfort. Also taking turns helping Ari in the hospital with those clients." He explained, making sure he got everyone in the room.
"What can I do?" Ashton questioned. Luke shook his head. "stay out of trouble and listen." Luke spoke with a smile giving him a kiss on the top of the head.

"I also want everyone to be on hyper alert. Just because we haven't heard anything from 7Rings doesn't mean we are out of the clear. I want everyone to call me for check in at noon and at five every day.
"Lukie, what if that's my job? You are so busy to check up on everyone. What if they call back to the house and check up with me? Then if someone misses check in, I call you." Ashton pleaded, wanting to feel useful.
Luke looked to Ari and Zayn, to try and get a read on what they thought as well.
"I suppose so. We will do a trial and see how that goes. Okay so everyone call the house for check in." He instructed.
"I have put everyone's new cells in their rooms. We start tomorrow at 8:00 am. Micheal you are on Ashton duty tomorrow. Ash is still to stay inside the house for now. So please do not leave." Luke spoke. "Schedules will be posted in our group chat in a few moments so we know where everyone is to be. Let's all get a good nights sleep." He smiled and everyone cheered, happy to be back in business and able to leave the house again.
Ashton grabbed on to Zayn's arm. "Carry me to bed." He questioned looking up into Zayn's eyes. "Not without a please." Zayn spoke sternly.
"Daddy, PLEASEEEE carry me to bed." He said with a wide grin, as Ari and Luke watched. Zayn leaned down and scooped the smaller boy up into his arms.
"Night Ashton." Luke spoke as they all reached the door ways to their respective rooms.
"Kiss please." Ash said still ion Zayn's arms. Luke walked over to him and kissed him softly. "Good night Luke." Ashton spoke sleepily as Zayn carried him into his room. The dark haired man sat him on the edge of the bed and brought his PJ's over to him and began to help him change.
"I'm so sleepy." Ashton stated, glad he had already brushed his teeth so he could just go to sleep. "I know baby." Zayn spoke tucking him into the bed, handing him his stuffed bear and blanket. Ariana climbed into the bed beside Ashton and held something in her hand.
"We got you something baby, and if you want it then it's all yours but if you don't then we can forget that we even got it." She explained. Ashton's eyes opened looking at her curiously. She opened her hand to revel and adult sized pacifier. He looked at it, and pouted slightly.
"I'm not a baby." He protested but still was intrigued.
"We know. But sometimes littles find comfort in things like this. Like how you like your teddy and blanket, we thought you might like this too. Could help you sleep a little better." Zayn explained delicately.
Ashton gently took it out of Ariana's hand and examined it. "Okay... Maybe I'll just try it tonight." He spoke looking at the two of them.
"Of course Ashy. And if you don't like it, we will throw it out and never speak of this again." Ariana assured. Ashton nodded, and kissed the both of them before placing the item between his teeth. He let his head fall back on the pillow again and began sucking on the object. It truly felt soothing, and soon he was fast asleep.
Ashton woke up the next morning, having slept through the entire night. He still had the pacifier in his mouth but was shocked he made it through without a nightmare. The bed was empty as Ari and Zayn had already left for the day. He quickly took the item out of his mouth and stuffed it into a drawer. He knew Micheal was the one home with him that day. "Mikey." He called out. A few moments later Micheal was at the door.

"Hey buddy. Good morning." Micheal said with a grin as he walked into the door.
"'Morning. Do you mind unlocking me?" He questioned. Micheal nodded and grabbed the key from his pocket and the ankle chain was quickly off.
"Thanks." Ash smiled. "No problem. I'll be in the kitchen when you are done in here." He spoke and was off again.
Ashton got dressed and ready for the day.
Micheal and Ashton eat their breakfast and didn't do too much during the morning. Just watched some tv and then began reading some books. Ashton was growing bored.
"I don't understand why we can't go outside." He said looking over at Micheal who had his face in his book.
"Bosses orders buddy. I ain't going against Luke." Micheal laughed at the very idea. Ashton huffed.
"What if-" He started again only be cut off.
"No." Ashton pouted. "Fine can we talk or do something." He questioned. "What do you want to talk about?" Micheal asked finally putting his book down.
"Hhm.. How did you get caught up in all this gang stuff?" Ashton questioned.
"I was a weed dealer in high school. Just small time stuff at parties and what not, I contuined doing it after graduation. One of 7Rings dealers saw me on their 'turf'. I got beat up pretty bad. Luke heard about me, and how 7Rings beat me up over petty shit, and he offered me a job. I've been here ever since. I didn't really ever have much of a family. So these guys became that for me." Micheal explained.
Ashton frowned. "I hate 7Rings." He concluded, as if he didn't already hate them. "I'm sorry that happened to you." He spoke softly. Micheal shrugged it off.
"it was a long time ago. Anything else you want to know?" He questioned.
"Hhhm..." He started again. "... When are you going to ask Niall out?" Ashton questioned, which made Micheal nearly choke.
"What? What would make you think? What???" He asked completely taken aback by the questioned. "Everyone sees how much you like him Mikey. Even when he was with Calum." Ashton chuckled. "You should ask him out, I bet you he would say yes."
"That is ridiculous. I don't like Niall.. He is just a friend." Mikey protested.
"Yeah a friend, who you want to make out with." He smirked.
"Cut that out. I do not. Don't you dare say any of this to him." Mikey threatened lightly.
"I won't. My lips are sealed, but I can help you.. if you admit that you like him." Ashton spoke, before jumping up from the couch hearing the phone ring.
"Hello." He answered. "Hi Ash, It's Harry, Lou and I are safe." Harry spoke into the phone. "Good! See you for dinner." Ashton chimed before hanging up.
Then Selena called with Liam, then Ariana who was with Shawn and Niall, then Zayn. It was 20 minutes after noon, and he was still waiting on Luke. Finally the phone rang.
"Luke?" He answered. "Hi baby. Sorry to worry you, a meeting with a client ran longer than expected. I'm all safe and sound." He spoke and Ashton let out a sigh of relief. "Okay. Good. Come home safe to me please. I love you." Ashton said sweetly. "I love you too baby. So much" Luke said it back before hanging up the phone.

"Okay fine I maybe like Niall. But don't you dare repeat that to anyone. Now lets get you some lunch before Ari and Zayn kill me for being the worst babysitter ever." Mikey spoke. Normally Ash would have protested to the babysitter comment but he was just so happy he got Micheal to admit that he liked Niall.
"Okay! Now we have to figure out a plan on how to get you two together."