One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 86

"I don't know where he would have gone if he didn't try and come here." DJ choked out. "I drove past Mom and Dad's house and didn't see him - they would have called if he turned up there and he doesn't know how to get to JC's place." DJ tugged at his hair, trying his hardest not to cry out of pure fear. He held onto Kath's hand, pulling her towards his car that he'd left parked badly at the side of the street.

"Would Jasmine know anything?" Kath breathed, getting into the car with her ex, her hands shaking as she tried to breathe normally but she could feel her heart hammering against her chest. DJ pulled out his phone, practically dropping it because he was just as shaky as Kath but he called Jasmine.

"Hey - have you seen Noah?" DJ blurted out, getting straight to the point and as much as Kath hated the idea of Noah going to her, she prayed that Jasmine knew something about where the little boy was. He'd ran away after finding out she was pregnant again, he was experiencing so much change at one time. The thought of him being in danger didn't bear thinking about. "He's gone missing from his bed, is he with you?" DJ asked, a few tears falling and it made Kath start to cry too. It was clear that Jasmine hadn't seen him. "N-No, I'm with Kath. Just stay there in case he turns up, I'm gonna call my Mom to do the same... yeah, thanks. Bye." DJ hung up quickly.

"I'll call Mom, you just drive. He likes the park, go to the park." Kath urged and DJ nodded his head, starting to drive towards the park but he drove slowly - it allowed both DJ and Kath time to look on the streets in case Noah was still trying to walk towards the hotel. Kath shaky called Karla, finding her contact in her phone saved under just simply 'Mom', because that was what the Padillas were to her. They were her family.

"Kath?" Karla answered, obviously worried as to why she was being called so late.

"I-Is Noah with you?" She pleaded and Karla was instantly wide awake, sat bolt upright on the couch.

"I hope you're playing a cruel joke on me, young lady," Karla warned and Kath let out a sob, running her fingers through her hair and DJ blinked back fresh tears - there was no sign of him anywhere.

"DJ had to tell him about the baby and he hasn't taken it well. He wasn't in bed when DJ went to check on him and we're out looking for him." Kath sobbed and Karla's eyes burned with tears, shaking her head quickly.

"I haven't seen him, sweetheart... b-but I'll come out with you, okay? Where are you? We'll cover more ground if we look together-" Karla urged, but Kath cut her off.

"One of you needs to stay there in case Noah turns up... can the other check the neighborhood? He might be trying to make his way to you and got lost in the dark." Kath said through her tears and Karla nodded her head.

"Sounds good - just keep me updated, okay? When are we going to call the police?"

"If we can't find him in the park, then we'll have to call the police..." Kath looked over at DJ as he reached over, holding her hand to support her and she held onto his hand just as tight in an attempt to support him too. They were his parents, worried sick about where their little boy was.

"I pray that you find him."

"Me too." Kath hung up the phone, tears streaming down her face. "I-I think Mom is gonna stay home and Dad is gonna check the neighborhood... he can't have gotten far, he has to be around here some - DJ, STOP!" DJ immediately pulled over the car, Kath diving from the passenger seat and DJ practically screamed when he saw what she had seen.

Noah was walking in the direction of the hotel, still wearing his pajamas but he had his old sneakers on his feet and Leo was being hugged to his chest.

"NOAH!" Kath screamed, racing to him.

"Mommy!" He exclaimed, locking his arms around her but it was DJ that scooped him up, kissing him all over his face.

"You are never doing that to us again, do you understand me?!" DJ exclaimed, talking louder than he intended because of his pure relief that Noah seemed unharmed - just cold.

"I just wanted Mommy!" Noah cried, bursting into tears at the sight of his parents being so emotional.

"Then you come to me and tell me! You don't run away like that! It's very dangerous, do you understand?" DJ urged, holding onto Noah's hands as he set him down on the ground again. Noah nodded his head, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Ahh!" Kath choked out, a hand going to her lower stomach and DJ's eyes locked on her, as did Noah's.

"Kath, what's wrong?" DJ let go of Noah, taking hold of Kath's arm instead.

"M-My stomach..." Kath could barely breathe, a sob escaping her lips when she saw something, even in the dark. "I-I'm bleeding..." She sobbed and DJ noticed too.

The baby.

===