One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 60

Kath lifted Dylan up once DJ had her fully dressed and swaddled in her blanket. "I know, baby girl, but you're okay." Kath shushed her, holding Dylan against her chest as DJ picked up Noah and they headed downstairs together, DJ having the baby bag over his shoulder. The entire downstairs was being sectioned off as a crime scene and a photographer for the police headed upstairs to take pictures of the bathroom since as the water hadn't been drained from the tub - it could be used as evidence in court against them both, that the children had been left alone in the bath.

"Why is there flour on the table, Daddy?" Noah whispered and DJ's head whipped to the coffee table and Kath's did too, tears burning her eyes when she recognized the drugs instantly, lined up and ready for Teddy and Luke to share. Luke most likely found it hilarious that Teddy had managed to lock himself out of his house since as the door locked on its own when it closed, he didn't care that there were children in the bathroom and it was obvious that Teddy had been too distracted and focused to remember his own grandchildren.

"Don't worry about it, buddy, okay?" DJ whispered back, leading the way out of the house but they froze when they saw Teddy being put in the back of a second police car.

"Kath! Kath, I'm sorry!" Teddy yelled the whole experience has been more than enough to sober him up. "I'm sorry!" He yelled again, but he dropped his head when he saw Kath shake her head. Nothing Teddy ever did would make her forgive him for what he'd done, she never wished to see him again and DJ could tell all of that by just the look on her face.

"Come on, baby, let's go home," DJ said softly and Kath nodded her head and she walked down the steps with DJ, towards his car since as she'd walked with the kids. "We left the stroller-" DJ started, but Kath shook her head.

"I'd rather buy a new one than use one that's even been looked at by them... it was downstairs." Kath breathed and DJ nodded in agreement - it could have been exposed to the weed and that wasn't something that either of them was comfortable with. DJ set Noah down in his car seat as Kath got Dylan set up in hers, but the newborn was instantly in tears at the loss of contact with her Mom.

"Dylan really wants cuddles," Noah said, rubbing his eyes and Kath nodded her head.

"I know she does, and I wanna give you both cuddles so much... Noah, I'm so... so sorry for what happened. You're so brave and I... I'm so sorry." She leaned over, giving him a kiss and he hugged her back.

"Mommy, don't say sorry... I'm not mad at Mommy. I don't like Grandpa Teddy anymore." Noah said, but he sounded apologetic for saying something bad about him and Kath shushed him, giving him another kiss.

"You're never seeing him again, okay? None of us are... you don't have to worry about that ever happening again." She vowed.

"Then Mommy not be worrying either," Noah said.

"Exactly, buddy, you tell her!" DJ encouraged and Kath couldn't help but crack a smile.

"I'm your Mommy, it's my job to worry about my babies." Kath defended herself.

"I not a baby anymore, Mommy. I'm a big boy!" Noah argued and DJ chuckled, leaning into the car to give him a kiss and a hug as Kath tried to calm Dylan down - it tore them all apart to hear her crying, knowing she didn't normally cry.

"You're still so cold, baby girl... Noah, can you hold her hand on the way home? Mommy can't fit between you guys." Kath asked and Noah didn't waste any time to reach over and hold Dylan's hand, Dylan's fingers instantly clamping onto him. "With any luck, she'll fall asleep on the way home and then we can just have a big cuddle with soup and a movie," Kath said, DJ agreeing and they shut the doors to the backseat as quietly as they could before getting into the front. Kath looked away as the police car passed DJ's car as it took Teddy back to the station, she didn't want to see him and DJ reached over, taking her hand in his and their fingers automatically laced together.

"It's not your fault, babe... none of this is your fault." He said softly.

"You hear Dylan practically screaming right now?" Kath asked and DJ nodded his head. "That never would have happened if I didn't leave them with him." She said.

"Stop. You have every right to leave the kids with their grandfather for thirty minutes because we forgot to exchange the diapers in the baby bag... Kath, he was clean and sober when you left him in charge and it isn't your fault that he let you down and put them in danger." DJ's voice was sterner, but still quiet so that Noah wouldn't overhear.

"How come you always know what to say?" She breathed, but DJ just winked at her and started to drive his family home.