After finishing the U.S. leg of the guys' fourth tour, they had two months off before leaving for South America and Europe.
AJ had left to go visit his mom and one of his friends that was in town, leaving Taylor and the boys at home. Taylor held the phone on her shoulder as she pulled Nicholas's shirt over his head. "Yeah..I know Alicia..uh huh..yeah, I'm gonna get them dinner then give them a bath. Yeah..AJ went to visit Denise and some friend of his who's in town..really? Thats cool..are you going on the European tour? Oh..no..I don't think so..okay, I'll let you go..okay, bye."
She put the phone back in the cradle and carried Nicholas into the kitchen. Chris was sitting in his high chair pounding on the tray with a spoon. She put Nicholas in his and he started banging around with a spoon. She fixed them spaghetti o's (author's note: those are the best!! *l*) . In the process of maybe eating one spoonful between them, they got it all over themselves. Taylor tried to wipe them off the best she could but it was pretty useless.
Taylor had seen a doctor while they were still on tour, she wasn't sick. But, something did happen. She didn't tell AJ, she told him she just had the flu, he bought it and she seemed better in a few days. She looked down as Nicholas dropped his spoon. She knew her and AJ both wanted more children, and that may of happened, if she hadn't had a miscarriage.
After cleaning up the kitchen, she carried the boys upstairs and into the bathroom. She found all the bath toys they liked to play with and filled the tub up with warm water. She put them both in the water and they began to play with the rubber duckies and little toy boats.
She put the shampoo in Chris's hair and proceded to wash it and rinse it, then did the same to Nicholas. She heard the phone ring in the other room and realized she had completely forgotten to bring it in with her. It rang furiously again and she looked from the door to the boys. "Oh shit..what now? Umm..okay..I'll be right back you two, play nicely..," She said drying her hands and running out of the bathroom.
She grabbed the phone and pressed 'on'. "Hello?"
"Hey baby."
"Hi AJ..where are you?"
"Interstate..I'll be home soon. What are you doing?"
"Giving the two little monsters a bath.."
"Ohh..by the way, see my watch anywhere?"
She turned around and looked at the dresser, "Umm..no.."
She heard the sound of water running and then a painful scream. "Oh shit! AJ!"
Taylor dropped the phone and ran into the bathroom. The water was flowing with steam coming up from the tub. Nicholas was crying, and Chris was screaming. Taylor turned off the water, pulled Chris out of the bathtub and wrapped him in a big, fluffy towel. She could see red welts beginning to form on him as he continued screaming. She pulled Nicholas out of the bathtub as well and carried them into the bedroom. She picked up the phone, with AJ still on the phone. "Taylor?! What the hell happened?!"
She was crying hysterically, "I..I have to call the hospital..meet me there.."
"Taylor! What happened??"
"He..he turned on the water!"
"Who?!"
"Chris! Just meet us there!," She said hanging up.
She dressed Nicholas the best she could, carried them both downstairs, grabbed her car keys, and got into the car.
AJ drove as fast as he could to Orlando General, not having a clue what was going on.
Taylor was pacing the floor outside the ICU. She had no idea what they were doing to Chris or if he was okay. She just wanted him to be out of pain and be able to go home. She held Nicholas close to her, as if he'd disappear, and looked up as AJ ran in. "What happened?!"
"You were ta..talking to me and and I heard the water start to run and then he screamed. I..I..he burned himself."
"You left them in the bathroom by themselves!?"
"I ran to get the phone and was going right back when you asked me if I'd seen your watch! I didn't think anything would happen!"
AJ took Nicholas from her and glared at her, "God Taylor! How stupid can you be?!"
"I'm I'm sorry AJ..I wasn't thinking.."
"Like you ever do! Is he okay?!"
"I don't know! They haven't told me anything! I'm so sorry AJ..I'm so sorry!"
"You should be! Its all your fault Taylor!"
She slid down against the wall and buried her face in her hands. AJ stalked off with Nicholas towards the nurse's station.
AJ looked back at Howie holding a now sleeping Nicholas. He had called the guys and they had come down even though he told them they didn't have to. He looked back through the small window but couldn't see anything. They still hadn't found out anything even though he'd gone to the nurse's station repeatedly.
He was so mad, words couldn't even express it. 'How could she be so stupid as to leave them there by themselves!?,' He thought looking back at Nicholas again.
Taylor had disappeared shortly after the guys came. AJ didn't go after her, he was too mad at her. Kevin had gone after her to make sure she was okay.
Kevin sat next to Taylor out front of the hospital on some steps. "I am stupid..it was stupid of me to even leave them in there..I should of gotten them out..I was just gone for a split second Kevin!"
"You're not stupid Taylor..you just made a mistake. Everyone makes them."
"Yeah..everyone makes mistakes..thats why my son is in there in pain!"
He sighed, "Calm down, okay? You're not going to help anyone getting hysterical.."
"I know..I know. He is so mad.."
"I know..he looked like he could kill.."
"Yeah..kill me."
"Taylor.."
She wiped at her eyes again as the tears began to swell up, "I've never felt this..this..bad..never like this..he won't even let me hold Nicholas..I was scared to go near him.."
"He's just mad right now Taylor..and scared. He'll cool down.."
She shook her head, "Not over something like this Kev.."
"Yes he will..you have to think positive.."
"I know.."
"I'm gonna head in..you coming?"
She shook her head again, "You go on..I just want to be alone.."
He sighed, got up, and went inside. Taylor pulled her knees up to her chest and sighed, she was stupid. So stupid.
A seven year old Taylor cried as her father continued to scream over and over at her about how she was a bad girl and could never do anything right.
"You are so stupid!! You're so stupid and a spoiled brat! Why don't you ever listen!?"
She sunk back into the corner as he hit her over and over.
No one knew that Taylor's father had been around for about the first 8 years of her life or so. He was a drunk and could be abusive at times. He left soon after and was never heard from again, Taylor usually always told people that he left before she was born. It was kind of true, in a way.
'I am stupid..I can't do anything right..,' She thought sadly.
Kevin walked towards the guys and sat down. AJ glanced back at him but said nothing. Kevin sighed, "AJ..go talk to her."
"Hell no. This is so unforgiveable."
Howie looked up at AJ, "AJ..she made a mistake. It was an accident, its not like she turned on the faucet herself."
"That makes no difference.."
"Yes it does. She feels so bad right now AJ..she's down there thinking you're going to leave her.."
"Maybe I am..she shouldn't of left them in the water by themselves!"
"AJ! Everyone makes mistakes so get over it damnit!," Kevin exclaimed.
AJ glared at him, "Just shut up Kevin. You don't know what its like."
Dr. Rodriguez and the twins' pediatrician, Dr. Bradley, walked out of the ICU. "Is he okay?," AJ asked walking up.
Dr. Bradley nodded, "He'll be fine. I want to keep him overnight and then you can take him home."
"So, no side effects or markings?"
"He'll be good as new. His back will be a little red and maybe a little bruised but other than that, he's fine."
"Okay..thanks.."
"Where's Taylor?," Dr. Rodriguez asked.
AJ's eyes darkened, "I don't know.."
"AJ..come with me into my office.."
He followed Dr. Rodriguez into her office and sat down in front of her desk. "I know that Taylor was at home when this happened.."
"Yes."
"She's been under alot of stress AJ, and this is mounting right up on top of it."
"What are you talking about? She's not under stress.."
"Obviously she didn't tell you. I know she was on tour with you all over the summer and was sick..did she not tell you?"
"She said she had the flu."
"And you believed her?"
"I had no reason to think she was lying to me."
Dr. Rodriguez sighed, "I shouldn't tell you this and should let her. But I have a feeling she won't, she's probably scared. She was probably scared as hell, excuse my language, about what happened to Chris."
"So what was wrong with her?"
"AJ..Taylor had a miscarriage.."
"What??"
"She had a miscarriage. I was faxed all the info. from the doctor she saw and I saw her about..two weeks ago and asked her about it. The doctor she saw said that it could of been caused by alot of stress, which she was under."
"What does this have to do with what happened today?"
"AJ..she's very sensitive, you know how she can be. She's stressed out about having a miscarriage, then not telling you, and finally today. She's been under pressure."
"Thats no excuse for her leaving the boys in the bathtub to go get the phone."
Dr. Rodriguez sighed, "I know its not. She told you what happened.."
"Yeah..that she was going to get the phone and then run back in.."
"But she didn't?"
"I kinda asked her if she'd seen my watch..and she said no..then she screamed and dropped the phone.."
"Chris could of been turning on the faucet as she was walking back to the bathroom. He would of done it no matter what AJ..I'm sure she feels awful..and feels its all her fault.."
"It is."
"I can't tell you what to do..but I suggest you talk to her."
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