Whatever it Takes

Why?

Eldon was lost in the little angels eyes, he held her close to his heart and looked up at a stunned James. They didn't know what to do. She had calmed down now and fell asleep, but they tiptoed down the stairs, not daring to wake her up. All the others rushed to them, to witness this child, astounded. A noise from the back had alerted everyone, it was a quiet scuttle. West pulled everyone back and had them continue their search but Eldon was mesmerized. He sat on the covered couch and rocked her back and forth, while humming in order to soothe her. He remembered how when Michelle was tired he would often run his fingers through her soft hair and hum melodies. He was lost, but that was until a boom startled him.

"I got her!" Someone yelled, it came from the back. He didn't want to disturb the little angel, but he wanted to face the killer. He listened to the screaming, the cries and the clanks of the handcuffs as they finally were put on. James walked back in, his nose trickling with blood, and an annoyed look on his face. He went to make a call, while Hunter dragged in Ella; literally dragged her in. Her hands and feet were cuffed and she was squirming violently, in order to be free. She was shouting and from the looks of it, but West. The demon finally locked eyes with Eldon and for a split second they were somber but instantly hardened as she growled profanity at him. Enough was enough, and Eldon got up in order to wipe that smirk off her face but was stopped as she was dragged outside to the car.

"That little skank deserved it." Ella screamed at him, before Hunter finally shocked her, making her numb. They transported the quiet Ella to the van and off she was to the station, so she could be profiled. Eldon and James stayed behind though, they weren't sure what to do with the baby, and how to get her back to the station. After a few moments, Riley came to the home and ran to her boys. She hugged them both before whisking the little girl from Eldon's arm.

"Aren't you a cutie." She cooed, rocking the child back and forth. After they explained their situation, Riley agreed to take all three of them back to the station. She was secured in EJ's baby seat and the chatter that the couple had going on was muted as Eldon kept staring at the sleeping angel, he wanted to protect her, he wanted to be there for her. He was smiling to her as her tiny hands played with his finger; her giggles were music to his ears. Finally the arrived at the station, they were greeted with child services and West, who explained to them that CPS were going to take the little girl they found into custody after some DNA testing and after Ella's trial. Eldon's mouth dried again but he lunged forward and begged them not to. Riley held the little girl protectively, seeing Eldon's love emanating off of him; and part of her also saw the resemblance to Michelle. She knew they couldn't let her go.

"No don't take her!" Eldon pleaded, "the homes, they're tough and she's so small. I'll take care of her, I'll adopt her." The people from the child services agency argued that he would be a single father, and that he worked in a tough business. "I don't care, I'll cut my hours, I'll do anything to protect that little girl, she's probably gone through so much." He argued back, his shoulders talk and broad. West interjected that there would be no issue and most of Eldon's job can be done from home, if he so desires. His friends saw this as a beginning for him to wake up, and finally enjoy life again. In the end, the agents unhappily agreed; they allowed the little girl to be fostered by Eldon until the trial but he would have to be trialled in order to gain full custody. Also they didn't even know her name or birthdate, which Eldon stated he would name her, and the day she was found would be her birth date. They went back inside scowling, but the others felt victorious and Eldon hugged the little girl close to his heart once again. West pulled him aside and told him that he needed to go in and interrogate Ella, as the other two had failed in getting any information. He grimaced and agreed, handing the baby back to Riley and walked inside.

"Ah Elliot." Ella smirked, from behind the table, she was illuminated by the fluorescent lights and looked waned. He growled at her, his name was Eldon. "I suppose you want to know what I did, and why I did it, huh." She beckoned, looking down on the floor. "I suppose it's too late though, I mean it's been what six years, you don't have proof."

"I had enough to get you in here and you knew I was coming so cut the crap." He hissed. "Why did you do it? Why her?" His voice broke at the end. She just smirked at him again and sighed; placing her cuffed hand on the table.

"Well it looks like you're still the same naive and unprepared boy you were before. Probably in your anger you forgot everything." She grinned, "I suppose I can let you know why she deserved what she got." Taking in a moment to breathe she began. "Well in all honesty, it was her fault. I mean she was stupid enough to stay there instead of running." He almost jumped her, almost. His Michelle was nothing but stupid, she was scared, she was alone. Ella noticed his tenseness and aggressively jabbed him at this point. "I mean she was a terrible dancer, and she won the soloist section. How absurd, I mean I stole my solo but it was still better and she won, yours was equally disgusting yet you won, the community was stupid to not see what talent they had." Her face reddened, but slowly turned vile."It wasn't right, I mean she deserved to die, and all she needed was a little accident. My fathers connections served me well and my knowledge just enforced it. A little bribery, a little climbing and a hammer was all I needed and boom went the lights and bye-bye Michelle." She ended with a cackle, before her features darkened again. Eldon was furious, his fists were clenched and he stared at her blankly. "But the real reason was, well she was part of The Next Step and you guys took everything away; frankly either of you dying would have been fine but her or Riley would have been so much sweeter. She had everything and she didn't deserve it, I mean she was an alternate because her family was broken, she was weak and she was useless. I did the world a favour." This was the final straw and before he realized, there was a crack and Ella's jaw was turning blue. He smiled to himself, before finding back to her, she was shouting at him about how she would sue him and he would pay when he lost the trial.

"What about the baby, the little girl we found?" Eldon questioned, unfazed by by her threats.

Ella looked confused for a second, then a wave of realization hit her. "Ah that little thing, I don't know and frankly I don't care. The little noise maker just showed up on my porch this morning. Hopefully it will rot in hell with you Elliot."

He clenched his jaw, that poor thing had to suffer from this woman for hours before they arrived. "You know Ella, my name is Eldon and I'm not the same boy you thought I was." He corrected. "In fact, I don't think you'll be winning." As he pulled out a recording device and stopped it, she was shocked and he smirked at her. "Have a nice life behind bars." With that he left, and slammed the door.