Forgotten and left behind

The silence says everything.

"It is wrong, two years, how the fuck does that work out?" I look at Jackson.

"We have lost our baby girl because of it; Elsie lost her dad and now her mum can't face coming home?" Alena wraps her arm around Jackson. Wayne and Issy got married, and she had taken leave with her being pregnant. Elsie was born 6 months before the wedding. He went on a mission, and two years after the wedding he died. Issy's response to that is to give Elsie to Jackson and Alena and go on missions.

"She's just running away, give her time. She will come back." I look at Jackson, I hope she does.

"I will keep trying dad, I swear I will. I try every day, every day I show her pictures of Elsie, every day I push and push. She acts like she is fine she isn’t; she isn't fine Dad." Jackson looks at Marcus, and I can see what he is thinking.

"Don't Jackson." He looks at me.

"What? If he calls and tells them she is mentally unstable they will send her home and put a stop to this shit." I nod, I know they will. If Marcus calls and tells them MJ has seen signs of worry, they will, but then she will hate everyone.

"Worth a shot, right?" I look at Marcus shocked. I know he has been worried over Issy as well.

"Don't say I didn't warn you when she gets kicked, she is going to come back here and blame you guys, it is her life and her choice. I get Elsie is here and needs her, but pushing her back into this life without Wayne when she isn't ready, won’t end well.” I couldn’t have done it, I ran from Evie, from that life and I still don’t feel ready to go back. I look at Marcus, guilt flooding me that he still doesn’t know. I can't imagine how she feels.

"We will deal with it, in time she will understand, make the call Marcus." My head drops as Marcus grabs his phone and walks out, I look at MJ, he knows this is wrong.

"Dad, think about it, once Marcus makes that call, there is no going back, Issy will hate you." Jackson nods and smiles.

"And I will still love her, MJ I know, I know how she feels, I did the fucking same after Tallulah and then Katy, and you know why? Because part of me was hoping one of those bullets would hit." We look at Jackson shocked.

"Dad!" Katy shouts at him.

"Don't Katy, this was before you were born, before I had met your mum, I had nothing then. I pushed myself into missions for years, hid away and every mission part of me was hoping I would fall down to end the pain. That is Issy, so she can hate me, I don't care." I nod, maybe if he told us that before we would have understood. Part of me hopes they listen to Marcus, but part of me still hopes they don't. We all stop talking, half an hour passes, and Marcus walks back through.

"Well, it's done. Joel said he will get her sent home." I look at Marcus, this wouldn't have been so easy if one of his old teammates weren't the leading guy now.

"Did you know about Dad?" Katy looks at Marcus, he looks at her confused.

"Him using missions after Tallulah and Katy in the hopes he would get shot?" Marcus looks at Jackson, and I can see he knew.

"No, not when it happened. He told me a few weeks before he met your mum on a mission. He got shot, the bullet hit his vest, an inch higher and it would have hit his neck." I know what that means, and I don't even need to hear it.

"I was pissed off, it should have been higher, I keep telling him it should have been higher, and it would have ended everything, we fought, physically fought until I broke down crying and told him. As I said, that was before your mum, before you. I had no one then." Marcus looks shocked.

"Alright, I had you and the team, but I couldn't exactly." Jackson stops his words and Marcus laughs.

"Yeah that would be a no for me, but I get it." I look at Marcus confused, his head lowering to my ear.

"He couldn't exactly take me to a playroom could he kitty? That is what he needed, but he was afraid of using the business." I nod smiling.

"So, anyway Issy will be home in the next few days, so be prepared for the war. We best get back home." I elbow Marcus and towards Jackson.

"Fancy helping with the room? Still needs sorting." Jackson nods standing up.

"You got whiskey, right?" Marcus nods laughing as they walk out, I stand looking at the door.

"He forgot you, Anaya." I nod laughing at Alena's words.

"He did, how long do you think till he notices?" I look at Alena and she laughs shaking her head.

"You going to kick his arse, Ma?" MJ looks at me laughing.

"No, it's been that long since they spent time together the excitement must have been too much." I laugh and sit down, Katy and MJ walking off.

"He actually forgot about you." I nod laughing.

"So, you have a choice Anaya, take Jackson's car and drive there and slap him and remind him you exist, or wait here?" I look around me.

"I will stay here, let's see how long until he realises." Laughing I sit back, Alena walking into the kitchen making us a drink. Sitting we talk, Elsie playing with her toys quietly. Two o'clock comes and the door opens, Jackson walks in laughing with Marcus, he looks at me and realises.

"Shit, sorry Kitty. I didn't even realise." I laugh shaking my head.

"You two just couldn't wait to get time alone in that room, could you? Totally forgot about Anaya sitting here." Jackson rolls his eyes laughing.

"Not a chance, not my thing, sorry Kitty." I nod and smile.

"You were excited to get time with Jackson, totally fine Master, I get it, you love him more." I laugh and he looks at me shocked.

"Joking, but you can go grab the kids as an apology and maybe I don't know, feed the animals tomorrow instead of me." I smile at him as he nods.

"Anything Kitty, I can't believe I didn't even notice, sorry." He hugs me as I laugh. Marcus drops me off at home before going to pick the kids up. The door opens, and Analise walks in smiling at me.

"Didn't expect to see you?" I look at her confused, we have an arrangement, each week all three of us alternate the kids, so two of us have a completely empty house.

"Issue with the business at Jackson's, Demitri has gone around there, he is dropping the kids off with Alena and then he and Jackson are going there." I nod, I guess that explains why.

"Sorry, I know you and Marcus have the house alone as well. I just didn't want to stay at home alone." I nod and smile.

"It is nothing, Analise, honestly just try to forget as that is what is causing the doubt and issues." I look at her.

"No, see if I accept it is my mind then I am going crazy, something isn't right about that house. You all seem fine, but me, I don't know. I seem to be the one who hears the noises and sees the things move slightly." I nod and laugh.

"You're not going crazy; you know we won't kick you out, Analise. Stay here until he is finished, Marcus will be taking the kids straight around there as usual. Honestly, I wouldn't send you home if you are scared alone." I couldn't it would be cruel. I do think she is crazy but I can't say that, I have never had or heard of anything paranormal, ever. No friends, family no one has witnessed anything. She is clearly stressed out.

"Is it just me? I mean nothing happens when others are there, just when I am alone?" I want to say yes, but that would be cruel.

"I don't know Analise, maybe it is just the stress, plus the fact you are the only one ever alone in that house. Demitri is there when you are or at work, you're the only one left alone." She looks at me smiling like she has an idea.

"Why don't you?" I laugh looking at her.

"I mean it Anaya, walk next door now, it is your house. Sit there for an hour alone, if nothing then it confirms I am crazy and stressed, if something happens, then I was right." I want to say no, it feels like a waste of time. Yet her eyes are begging me.

"Fine, let Marcus know where I am when he gets back, if he does, something tells me he will go with Jackson and Demitri. If I'm not back in an hour coming search for me, won't you?" I laugh and walk out.

Walking next door, I go into our house, or theirs, for now anyway. They seemed to fall in love with this place and not want to move. Walking into the kitchen I make a drink, sitting down I put my head back, the silence is amazing. I smile, and I finish the drink. Picking up a magazine I sit and read it, my mind relaxing as I enjoy the peace from everything and everyone. A sound makes me look up. I shake my head and laugh, old houses creek.

Sitting I keep reading, hearing the floorboard upstairs, my head shaking. All these noises are explainable, the house is old, and the floors are just wood. Sitting as I finish reading the article, my eyes glance up and back down, then quickly looking back at the door. My heart racing, I laugh it off, a trick of the eye, I looked up and down too quickly it formed shapes that weren't there.

I can understand Analise though. The house is too quiet, it plays with your head, The loud bang in the kitchen makes me jump. Walking through I look around, expecting to see something fallen over, but there is nothing.

I continue to look around me, but I can't see anything. I stop noticing the cups, my mind thinking back, I am sure they were upside down. I walk over and retrace my steps; I definitely turned my cup. These are all the right way up? Maybe it was just the cup I got that was upside down? I hear a creek, walking into the living room I look around, and see the cupboard door open, my mind trying to remember if it was open or not. I can't remember it being open. I walk out, maybe it is just my mind because of Analise?