The Awakening of Love Ch. 05-06

::Chapter Five: The Truth::

Ashira nervously picked up the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart. "Hello?" Ashira paused, confused by the strange voice at the other end. "Is Mark there?" Ashira inquired.

"Hold on. Mark, phone!"

"Hello?"

"Who the hell was that?" Ashira wanted to know.

"Umm, that's Carrie, a girl from work," Mark replied. "That's not all!" Ashira heard Carrie yell from the back ground. "Carrie, will you be quiet?" Mark asked. "What's up Shira?" Mark wanted to know.

"What would you say if I told you that you're the father?" Ashira asked.

"That I'm glad it isn't some wacko who can't get sex any other way then raping someone, but that you're on your own, I don't need that kind of responsibility in my life right now," Mark replied.

"You won't help?" Ashira asked. Mark sighed.

"I'll send money when I can, but I don't want any part of this kid's life Shira. I thought you and I would have had years to plan for this, but I'm not ready for this kind of life yet," Mark told her.

"At least you're being honest," Ashira said before hanging up the phone.

-3 hours later-

"Wow, what's all this?" Jake asked, walking into the house to find Ashira making a huge dinner. Ashira turned around, a handful of peeled and diced potatoes in her hands. Ashira turned back to the pot of water, dropped the potatoes into it, whirled back around and wrapped her arms around Jake's neck.

"It's Mark's," she murmured.

Jake gave her a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad. Does he know?" Jake wanted to know.

Ashira sighed. "He knows, but he doesn't want to be a father," Ashira told him. Jake hugged her again.

"I'm sorry," Jake said. "How are you feeling?" Jake asked.

"Better now that I know that at least the baby was conceived in love and not a criminal act," Ashira answered. Jake smiled. "That's something," Jake agreed. "What was that?" he asked, pulling away slightly.

"That would be the baby," Ashira told him.

"Seriously?" Jake asked. Ashira nodded. "That's incredible," Jake said.

"It feels weird," Ashira admitted. Jake laughed. "I can only imagine," Jake said. Ashira pulled out of Jake's arms. "I need to finish dinner," she murmured, turning back to the stove.

::Chapter Six: The Nightmare Continues::

"Larson's Tan San Diego," Ashira answered.

"I hear we're having a baby." Ashira shivered as she recognized the voice.

"We aren't having anything," Ashira told him. "What do you want? Haven't you tortured me enough?" Ashira wanted to know.

"I know that you're pregnant, I can see you right now."

"Where are you?" Ashira asked nervously.

"Close enough," he replied before hanging up. Shaking, Ashira pushed the button for Jake's extension.

"Jake Barnes," Jake answered.

"He just called me," Ashira said.

"Are you all right? What'd he say?" Jake wanted to know.

"He knows I'm pregnant, he also said that he could see me. He thinks the baby is his," Ashira replied.

"Did the call get recorded?" Jake asked.

"I didn't have time," Ashira said.

"Stay put, I'm on my way," Jake promised, hanging up the phone.

-Five months later-

"Come in," Ashira called. Sunshine opened the door. "What's up?" Ashira asked.

"There's a memo from Linds, she wants us to shut down and come back to the house," Sunshine replied.

"Does Jake know?" Ashira wanted to know. Sunshine nodded. "Give me five more minutes, I'll meet you guys in the parking garage," Ashira told Sunshine. Sunshine nodded again and walked out the door.

-30 minutes later-

"Lindsey?" Jake called. Lindsey walked into the front hall.

"I have a surprise for Ashira," Lindsey said. "Go, we'll wait," she added.

"Where?" Ashira asked.

"Your room," Lindsey replied. Ashira walked into her room and when she didn't return right away, Jake headed towards it.

"Oh my gosh, this is," Jake breathed. He turned to Ashira. "You okay?" he wanted to know. Ashira turned to see Lindsey and Sunshine in the doorway.

"Lindsey, this is too much," Ashira told her.

"No Shira, it isn't. You've done so much for me and I wanted to repay you for that," Lindsey replied.

"You already have with this job and this house," Ashira told her.

"But you're still getting calls, until this stops, I will owe you more and more," Lindsey said.

-3 days later-

"Jake, are you still here?" Ashira asked, walking into his office. She was surprised to find the lights off in the office and Jake nowhere to be found. "Jake, where are you?" Ashira muttered, walking upstairs to the employee tanning room.

"Well, well, well, look who's finally alone." Ashira whirled around to find the man who raped her standing in front of her. "You're coming with me," he added. When Ashira tried to turn and run, he held a cloth over her mouth and nose and within seconds, Ashira was out cold. He pulled her away, unaware that one of Ashira's shoes had fallen off.

-Ten minutes later-

"Ashira?" Jake called, walking through the tanning salon. He heard Sunshine calling from the other end of the salon. "Jake!" she shouted. Jake ran to where Sunshine was searching. "Something's wrong," Sunshine told him, holding up Ashira's shoe. Jake pulled his cell phone out of the holster and dialed the police.

-3 hours later-

"She's officially been declared kidnapped," Jake told Sunshine and Lindsey.

"Any suspects?" Lindsey asked.

"Other than her rapists, no," Jake replied. "Has anyone called Mark? I would think he would want to know if the mother of his child was kidnapped," he wanted to know.

"I'll do it," Sunshine offered, walking into the office, Miguel trailing behind her.

"When Sunshine comes back, tell her there is going to be a meeting at the house," Lindsey told Jake.

-Later that night-

"The police finally managed to identify Ashira's attacker by his DNA. They finally got a hit, his name is Joe Johnson and he's from New York. He's wanted there for several attacks like this," Lindsey began as Jake walked into the kitchen through the back door with large bags of food from the local Chinese take out joint. "How did this happen?" Lindsey demanded, turning on Jake angrily.

"I had to go to the bathroom. Shira was in her office and I thought she'd be okay," Jake said.

"You were supposed to stay with her unless she was in this house!" Lindsey yelled.

"Linds, calm down," Crystal said. She had come down to San Diego with Mark who had been oddly concerned.

"Don't tell her to calm down. Jake was responsible for Ashira's safety," Mark told Crystal.

"Are you finally done with your whores and concerned about the welfare of your former fiancée and your child?" Jake snapped. Mark sat silently. "Don't sit there and pretend to be concerned. You haven't been here. You haven't gone to her doctor's appointments with her, you haven't felt the baby move, weren't here when Ashira would wake up screaming, or when she wanted to kill herself because she thought the baby was his! You have no idea how relieved she was to find out you were the father instead of that creep. Your lack of interest broke her heart!" Jake shouted.

"Everyone calm down!" Lindsey yelled. Jake and Mark both turned to Lindsey. "Bickering isn't going to help Ashira," Lindsey told them.

"I'm sorry," Jake said.

"Me too," Mark muttered. The police detectives walked into the room and began asking everyone questions.

Finally, Jake had had enough. "We can't find Ashira while we're sitting here and talking!" he shouted.

"Why are you moving in on my girl?" Mark wanted to know.

"You broke up with her, she isn't your girl anymore," Jake growled, taking a step towards Mark.

"Boys!" Crystal shouted, stepping in between Mark and Jake. "This isn't helping," she said.

"I want to go out and look for her," Jake told Lindsey, ignoring Mark.

"So do I," Mark chimed in. Jake turned on Mark.

"You have no business being here," Jake told him.

"Sure I do. Ashira is having my baby," Mark replied.

"A baby you don't want!" Jake exclaimed.

"But I don't want anything to happen to her. I care about Shira," Mark said. Jake snorted.

"You care about her?" he asked, incredulously. "You broke off your engagement with her because she was raped! And then, when she calls you to tell you that the baby she is carrying is yours instead of his, you tell her you don't want to be a father! You were engaged to her! You should have known that a child would follow! It usually does!" Jake yelled. He was beyond pissed now. Pissed was wanting to break something, Jake was at the kill something stage. If Mark didn't get out of his sight, Jake would have to hurt him. "Just go Mark, you can't help and you're not wanted," Jake growled. Mark turned to Lindsey as she put her hand on his shoulder.

"You'd better go Mark, we'll keep you informed," Lindsey murmured.

"This isn't over," Mark promised, giving Jake a threatening glare as he walked out of the house.