One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 5

"I just need to make a special phone call to the policeman, sweetie, okay?" Kath asked, but she shushed Noah as he instantly started to pull on her hand but she refused to let him go. "No, no, no! Sweetie, it's just so they can tell your Daddy that you're safe and that you're with me... we don't need Daddy worrying that you're hurt or still stood here behind the bus, sweetie, it isn't safe out here." Kath said softly and Noah slowly stopped struggling against her and slowly nodded his head, leaning against the bus. It broke her heart to see him crying, obviously terrified out of his mind, but she knew she had to care for him - she didn't know Daniel's family, she didn't know if he had a girlfriend or a wife that would be looking for Noah but she knew she had to tell the police. That way, if anybody reached out, the police could point them in the right direction.

Kath stood up, leading Noah through to the bus and she bit her lip, seeing police tape in the area where she'd fallen unconscious and where the knife had been when the intruder had been subdued. Kath quickly grabbed her phone from the counter, not wanting Noah to stay in the bus for long and she lifted him out of it, setting him gently on the floor and she called the police station after Googling their phone number.

"Hello, Los Angeles Police Department." The voice answered almost immediately.

"Hi, my name is Kathryn Bernardo and I was involved in an incident earlier this evening - my tour bus was broken into," Kath said.

"Ah, yes. Two men have just been booked in to be interviewed about what happened. How can I help?" He asked and Kath sighed, playing with Noah's fingers as he stood in front of her, his head down as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Has Daniel by any chance mentioned the fact that he has a son?" Kath asked and it was like she could hear the man on the other side of the line come to attention immediately.

"He's been yelling about it, saying he has a toddler back at the scene but officers who were there didn't find any child there - we presumed he'd ran away when witnessing the intruder with the knife. Daniel had to be restrained before he hit an officer, we'd have to charge him with assault if he did that." The man said, his voice rushed and somewhat desperate.

"He wasn't lying about having a son, I found him hidden behind my bus... he's unharmed, he's fine, just tired and very cold. I'm planning on coming to the station to see Daniel first thing in the morning and to give my statement, so would it be possible for me to care for the little boy tonight? I have a spare bedroom he can sleep in, I can wash his clothes, feed him... then return him to Daniel in the morning." Kath said and the man seemed to hesitate.

"Okay, but if anybody comes forward for the child's whereabouts-"

"You can give them my address, that's fine. I just don't feel comfortable leaving him here and I don't know what's going to happen to him if your officers came for him - he's scared enough as it is." Kath said honestly.

"No, I understand and I'll let his father know so he isn't so distressed. We were beginning to think he'd made it all up. Can I have your address, please, Miss Bernardo? And your phone number?" He asked, writing it down as Kath recited all of her details before they hung up, saying their goodbyes as they did and Kath pushed her phone into the pocket on her dress.

"Okay, they're gonna tell your Daddy that you're safe with me. Let's get you warm!" Kath encouraged, leading him towards her car that her assistant had gone and picked up during the show. "I don't have a car seat for you, so this is our little secret," Kath whispered, squeezing his hand and she smiled when he let out a small smile, but it was clear that he was still scared. He was only four years old and having to put all of his trust into a stranger, not knowing or understanding why his father had been taken away by police officers. Kath unlocked her car, opening the passenger side door and she went to lift Noah inside but he let go of her hand and climbed in himself. "Wow! You're such a big boy... can you put your seatbelt on yourself?" Kath asked, kneeling down so that he wouldn't be intimidated and Noah shook his head slowly. "Yes, you can! See? Hold this." Kath encouraged, her hand over his and she guided his hand so that he fastened his own seatbelt. His fear, however, masked the pride she could see in his eyes that he did it himself. "Don't worry, sweetie... you're okay and Daddy is totally safe! We'll get you warm, honey." She said softly, before standing up and she shut the passenger door carefully.

Noah instantly panicked when he couldn't see Kath anymore, frantically searching for her but he relaxed slightly when he saw her come into the driver's side. He was terrified, but she was the only familiar person he had and he'd only known her for fifteen minutes.