One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 59

"Mommy! Daddy!" Noah sobbed. He was sat in the bath, holding Dylan the best he could in his arms as his baby sister screamed and cried - both kids were terrified. DJ and Kath instantly raced to grab towels, Kath grabbing Dylan whilst DJ pulled Noah from the bath, the two of them wrapping towels tightly around their shivering and hysterical children.

"Did anybody come in here before we did?" DJ demanded to know, knelt on the floor as he held onto Noah's arms.

"N-No... but I had to hold Dylan up because she was going to go under the water and I didn't want her to get hurt. She slipped, but I pulled her up, I swear!" Noah sobbed harder, DJ shushing him as he pulled his son in for a tight hug.

"You did a good thing, Noah, we're both so proud of you," DJ said, kissing his head but Noah just kept crying. Dylan was curled into her Mom for the comfort and warmth, shivering against her.

"This is all my fault... I shouldn't have left them alone with him... I just thought I could trust him." Kath couldn't help but let out a sob, kissing the top of Dylan's head. It was a hard reality to face that her little girl could have drowned, after all, she'd overcome before she was even born.

"Of course you trusted him! Baby, he's your Dad and he hasn't been like this in a long time... don't blame yourself! You're not the one who called that guy over." DJ said sternly, but he was sure that Kath didn't believe him. They both turned their heads as a female police officer came to the door.

"Are the children okay?" She asked, obviously surprised to see a baby as young and tiny as Dylan curled up in Kath's arms.

"They're just cold." Kath choked out through her tears.

"Should I call an ambulance?"

"No... no, if we want them to get checked out, then we'll drive them to the ER ourselves, but thank you," DJ spoke with as much politeness as possible and the officer nodded her head.

"Is he gone?" Kath asked. "The guy in the house, is he gone?" DJ'd never heard her speak with such hatred before.

"He's been arrested, yes. Do you know him?"

"He's been my Dad's drug dealer since I was my son's age, I know him better than my Dad knows him. His name is Luke Hendricks." Kah mumbled, kissing the top of Dylan's head, relieved that Dylan was starting to calm down but she was still cold.

"Can you leave us your phone number? We might ask you to make a statement, it'll help his prosecution... we're arresting your father, too, but I understand if you don't want to make a statement against him-"

"I will," Kath said, DJ blinking back fresh tears. He couldn't imagine what she was feeling, it had to be so much worse than what he felt and he didn't even think that was possible. "I'm changing my phone number at the first chance I get so he can't call me from custody, but I'll call you tomorrow. I want to focus on my kids."

"And we completely understand. Let us know if there's anything we can do." The officer said with a sympathetic smile before she walked out of the bathroom and headed back downstairs.

"Mommy, don't be sad... it's not your fault." Noah said, sniffling as he stayed cuddled up with DJ for the warmth and Kath couldn't help but laugh through her tears at the fact her four-year-old son was doing his best to comfort her.

"Thank you, Noah." She breathed.

"Let's get you guys dressed, huh? Then we can go home, get all snuggled up and we can watch a movie, huh? Daddy will make his famous chicken soup." DJ suggested and Noah nodded his head, rubbing his eyes.

"Dylan can't have soup," Noah mumbled and DJ couldn't help but chuckle and Kath let a small smile come to her lips.

"No, but Mommy can make sure she's eating, right?" DJ said and Noah nodded his head. Kath passed DJ Noah's clothes before she knelt on the floor too, laying Dylan down on the towel on the floor and it just made the baby girl start to cry again - it was rare that she ever cried, so it was obvious that what happened had affected her greatly.

"Is Dylan okay?! I didn't wanna hurt her!" Noah was instantly in tears again as DJ helped him to get dressed, but DJ shushed him, kissing his cheek.

"Hey, hey, hey! Dylan is fine, she just wants cuddles. You didn't hurt her, son, okay? You're her little hero." DJ assured him, but he leaned over and kissed Kath's temple as she let out a quiet sob at that. "It's not your fault." He whispered in her ear, before kissing her lips. "I love you, baby girl."

"I love you." She whispered back, giving Noah a tight hug before putting all of her attention on Dylan and getting her dressed. She'd dropped the diapers outside, so she had to use the diaper that was far too big but she intended on changing her into something warmer once they got home anyway.

Kath was grateful when DJ took over getting Dylan dressed, her hands shaking too much to do much.

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