AJ was at the studio, writing with Kevin for a new song that would hopefully be on their next album. Jive Records was wanting to release the album in a couple of months so they were being pressed for time in between recording/writing and preparing for another tour of the world. AJ took a drag off his cigarette and put it on the edge of the ashtray, "This is so not sounding right....."
Kevin sighed, "I know..something's..just missing..what time is it?"
AJ looked up at the clock, "A little after three...hey, I'm gonna go find a phone real quick and call Madalyn, I'll be right back, ok?"
"Ok..I'll try to figure out this line."
"Ok...good luck, "AJ said clapping him on the back playfully.
AJ took his cigarette and walked down the hallway and to the receptionist desk that was now empty. He grabbed the phone and dialed home.
"Hello?"
"Hey baby."
"Hey J..what are you up to?"
"Nothing...me and Kev are stuck on a song right now..."
"That one you were working on last night?"
"Uh huh...we're just stuck on this one line.."
"Ohhh that's too bad."
"Yeah...I think Howie's supposed to come in though so maybe he can help us out..."
"Yeah..Howie's good at fixin' things."
"What are you doing?"
"Waiting for Trevor to bring Colin home..."
"Ohhhh...he take him for the day?"
"Yeah...I don't know what it is AJ..but I really, really have a bad feeling about him today.."
"Why?"
She sighed, "I don't know..he's just..acting weird."
"Trevor's been acting weird ever since he came back from where the hell ever.."
"I know..I know..and I'm probably over-reacting."
"Probably.," AJ said with a smile.
"Funny.."
"Well..how about when Trevor brings the kid back home, you two come on over here and hang out for awhile till we're done.."
"Are you all going to be all late?"
"Nahh..we shouldn't be. Kristen's home so Kev wants to see her...we were thinking of going out to dinner with everyone..I dunno though...we'll have to see.."
"That sounds good...as soon as Colin comes home we'll head over."
"Ok..see ya then.."
"Ok..bye AJ."
"Bye."
AJ hung up the phone and walked back down to Studio 9B and went inside. Kevin was still sitting at the table pondering over the one line they seemed to be having trouble with. AJ sat down and sighed, Kevin looked up, "Madalyn okay?"
"Yeah..she's stressing over Trevor again..."
"What'd he do now?"
"Nothing...yet. He took Colin for the day and Madalyn said she just has a weird feeling about him today...she said he was acting weird...I told her he's been acting weird since he showed back up."
Kevin smiled, "True..."
"Figure out anything yet?"
"Nope..maybe we should just take this whole line out and replace with something else?"
AJ shrugged, "Do what ya want...we can try it and then let Howie take a look at it when he gets here..."
Kevin nodded, "Sounds like a plan."
Madalyn walked through the doors of the studios and passed the receptionist's desk. The young woman tried to stop her, but couldn't. She didn't even knock on the door to the studio and the three men turned as the door flung open. AJ was the first to stand up, "Madalyn? What's wrong??"
"I tried to stop her but she just barreled through! I can call security if you want!," The young receptionist exclaimed when she finally caught up with Madalyn.
"That's not necessary.," AJ said and the woman walked away.
Madalyn paused to catch her breath, "He's dead."
"Who?"
"Remember the weird feeling I told you I had?"
AJ nodded, "Yeah...Maddie, whos' dead honey?"
"Trevor!"
"Where's Colin?"
"I...I don't know...his mom called my house...I guess Colin's there....I don't know what to do..the first thing that popped in my mind was to come here..."
AJ nodded, "Guys, you be okay here?"
Kevin and Howie nodded silently. AJ nodded again, "I'll call you all. Come on Madalyn."
The ride to Trevor's house was a silent one. AJ kept glancing over at Madalyn who was staring out at the scenery as it whizzed by. He reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She jumped at the contact and looked at him, he smiled at her and she tried to smile back but it was a weak one.
AJ parked in front of the house and Madalyn was out before he could grab the keys from the ignition. There were two police cars in the driveway as well as another car that AJ guessed belonged to Trevor's mom. He sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets and followed after Madalyn. The door swung open and Colin ran to his mother. A policewoman started to go after him but stopped when she saw that Madalyn had arrived. A stern looking older woman appeared behind the policewoman, AJ recognized her as Trevor's mom, Janet. Madalyn stood up with Colin practically wrapped around her and turned to AJ. AJ smiled weakly as Colin looked up at him, "Hey kiddo..you okay?"
Colin nodded and then reached for AJ, Madalyn let him go and went with the policewoman. AJ sat down on the front stoop as Colin clung to him, "Where'd my mommy go?"
"She went with the policewoman, she'll be right back...are you okay?"
He nodded, "Yeah...I was scared.."
"Did you see your daddy?"
He shook his head, "No..he wasn't here....he left me here..."
"Ohhh..okay...wanna go find your mom?"
"Please..."
AJ stood up and Colin wrapped his legs tighter around his waist. AJ sighed, he was craving a cigarette. He opened the door and Janet poked her head around the corner, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for Madalyn and Colin."
"Did she move on to you now or something?"
"What is it with you and Trevor thinking she 'moved on' to me? She had no where else to go so her and Colin came to live with me, that's it, end of story. And Janet, we don't have to do this now."
Janet huffed but left with out further instance.
Madalyn appeared in the hallway and smiled at AJ, he leaned forward and kissed her gently, "You okay?"
She nodded, "I'm worn out..."
"I bet..they talk to you?"
She nodded once again, "Yeah..I'll tell you later...let me go tell Janet we're leaving..go put Colin in the car."
He nodded, "Come on kiddo, let's go get in the car..."
Madalyn went and found Janet sitting in the living room, "Umm...Mrs. Garret? We're gonna go ahead and go now.."
Her head shot around, "You're taking Colin?"
"Yeah..he's pretty exhausted..."
"But, you can't take him!"
"Why not?"
"He's the only connection I have to my son! You can't keep him from me!"
"I'm not! I'm taking him home...he found out that his father commited suicide and left him alone for half the day!"
"I was the one that found Colin first, not you! Where were you at anyways?! I can't believe you just show up and expect me to give over my grandson!"
"Trevor took Colin for the day, that does not constitute me being with them at all times. Trevor has been alone with Colin tons of times since he came back to Florida. I didn't...I had....I had no clue that Trevor was this bad off and was going to go kill himself and leave our son at home. As for you finding Colin first, I'm glad someone finally showed up. But, now I'm going to take my son home...he belongs with me, not you. You were the one that stopped talking to Trevor.."
"I...I didn't expect to find my grandson here..."
"You haven't seen him at all."
"I know.."
"That's not my fault Janet...my own parents want nothing to do with me. Look, we can talk about this later....call me with the...with the arrangements?"
"I'll think about it.," She replied coldly.
Madalyn sighed and walked out of the house, not bothering to look back. Colin was already asleep in the backseat. AJ rubbed her neck gently, "Everything go okay?"
"She's bitter. She actually accused me of keeping him from her.."
"That's not true.."
"I know...I tried to tell her that..."
"She tried to tell me that I shouldn't of been there.."
"I figured as much."
"What happened...to him?"
"He left Colin in the house and went to the beach..."
"That's like an hour away!"
"Shhhh..I know."
"Sorry...I didn't mean to get loud..," He said quietly and looked in the rearview mirror. Colin hadn't moved.
"It's okay...I just don't want him to wake up. He...he apparently took a bunch of pills and went onto the beach, sat down and shot himself. Someone found him a little while later and called the police. Janet got there right before the police did and told her what happened...they didn't know Colin was in the house until they went inside and found him on the couch watching cartoons. Apparently, Janet lost it and yelled at Colin that it was his fault and told him all the gory details of what happened to Trevor.."
"Oh my God..."
Madalyn sniffled, "I know...he must of been so scared..."
"Yeah..poor little guy..."
"The policewoman was really nice though..she said she got Colin to start talking again and reassured him that it wasn't his fault..that his...his daddy just had a problem he couldn't deal with and it had nothing to do with him.....she said he said he wants to be a policeman now."
AJ smiled, "He's a smart kid.."
"I know..."
"Maybe cause his mom's so smart too.."
"Could be..."
He smiled, "We're gonna get through this...ok Madalyn?"
She nodded and leaned into his hand on her cheek, "I know..."
"I can't even imagine what's going through your head right now..."
She sighed as they pulled into the driveway, "Everything's just so jumbled right now...I mean, I loved Trevor..we have a son together....I know...that I don't love him anymore..not like I used to. I used to think the world revolved around him or something..but now....now...I just wish..I hadn't given Colin to him today. I want to protect him..."
"Me too.."
AJ pulled Colin from the backseat and they went inside.
"You haven't cried..."
"I can't."
"Me neither.."
Madalyn rolled over in the bed and looked at him through the darkness, "He was one of your best friends..."
"I don't think I can still believe it...."
"I don't think I can either.."
AJ sighed putting his arm behind his head to prop it up at little, "I always thought he was a good guy....and I thought you two had the perfect relationship....I was just as thrilled as he was when he found out you all were gonna have a baby...."
She smiled cuddling closer to AJ, "I don't want to hate him.."
"Me neither."
"Does this feel wrong to you?"
"What? Me and you?"
"Uh huh.."
AJ shook his head, "No."
Madalyn smiled slightly, "Ok..me neither.."
"I never thought I would fall for you Madalyn..."
"I never thought I'd fall for you..."
He pulled her closer to him and rolled so he could face her. She leaned up and kissed him gently. He smiled, resting his hands on her hips, "I want to tell you something Madalyn...and I don't think it'll screw up what we have...but I need to tell you.."
"What is it?"
He pulled her even closer before whispering, "I've fallen in love with you."
She smiled, "Me too.."
"Really?"
"Yeah..."
"I love you Madalyn...and I love Colin too.."
"I love you AJ...."
He smiled and kissed her forehead, "I think we should try to go to sleep now.."
"Me too..."
"Goodnight baby.."
"Night."
Both snuggled into one another and finally fell into a deep sleep.
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