i can't want you (i'm taking you anyway)

part 15

"I'll always pick up if you need me."

Travis.

I fumbled for my phone. I didn't have another choice.

It rang and rang as I walked quickly down the street, trying to put as much distance between me and that apartment as I could. 

"Teddy?"

"Travis." I sobbed.

"Teddy, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Travis' voice was clouded with concern, and I could hear bustling in the background. "Teddy, what's going on?"

"Travis I need help." I whispered.

"Where are you?" I heard a chair scraping back. Glancing up at a nearby street sign, I whispered it to Travis. "Stay there Teddy, I'll come get you. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Travis' POV

"Travis, whoah!" Patrick grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?"

"I have to go." I didn't even stop to gather my things. Taylor sounded terrified. I had to get to her.

"Travis, it can wait until after the meeting. This is important." He motioned to the suited men sitting across from us. I just pulled my arm out of his grasp, rushing for the door. "Travis!" I heard him yell after me, but I didn't stop. I didn't give a fuck about the meeting.

I probably broke about seven road laws on the way, but thank god, there were no cops around. My eyes frantically searched the street as I pulled down the road Taylor had said she was on, and then I saw her. Clutching Ronan to her chest, crying, blood running from her nose and from a gash on her forehead. My hands clenched around the steering wheel at the sight of her. If Drew had done this to her, he wouldn't live to see the next fucking sunrise. 

As soon as I pulled over on the side of the road, Taylor was there. She was shaking as I reached over, opening the door. She climbed into the car, shutting the door behind her and turning her attention to the crying toddler in her arms, hugging her close.

"What did he do to you?" I asked, fighting hard to keep my voice calm. Taylor shook her head.

"Not now." She whispered. I nodded, deciding to leave it for now. She needed to get somewhere safe, then we could talk about it.

The car was deathly silent except for Ronan's sniffles as I drove, and my heart ached as Taylor tried to comfort her. Whatever had happened had obviously been violent, and I'd loose my shit even more than I was planning to if Ronan had been involved. Laying hands on Taylor was one thing, but my daughter? I'd fucking kill him. When we got to my apartment, I led Taylor through the door and locked it behind us.

"Why don't you have a shower and then I'll help clean you up." I murmured. Taylor glanced down at Ronan, biting her lip. "I'll take her." I reassured her.

"Are you sure?" Taylor whispered. I nodded. "Okay."

"I'll get you a towel and some clothes you can borrow." I told her, moving off to my bedroom. A minute later, I came back with a towel, one of my shirts, and some sweatpants that were almost too small for me that might fit her. "Here Teddy." I placed them on the table next to where she was standing. "The bathroom is just down there to the right." 

"Thank you." Her eyes rose to meet mine, tear stained and red. She looked at me for a long moment, almost like she was struggling for words, but she didn't say anything. Then she shifted, and I moved to take the toddler she passed into my arms.

Ronan had stopped crying and seemed on the verge of drifting off, and she rested her head on my chest happily enough. Taylor's eyes lingered on her daughter for another long minute, and then she turned away. I watched her pick up the things on the table and walk down to the bathroom before looking down at the toddler in my arms. My daughter.

I just stared at her, in awe that I was holding her. In awe that she even existed. I swallowed, moving to sit down on the couch. Ronan lifted her head, bracing her chubby hands on my chest and staring at me. Then her face crumpled.

"Mommy?" She mumbled like she was about to start crying.

"She's coming back." I murmured. Ronan stared at me, silent. I stared right back at her.

"Cry!" She exclaimed, one of her hands lifting to touch my cheek. "No cry!"

"Sorry." I chuckled. "Can't really help it sometimes."

"No cry." Ronan mumbled again, insistently wiping my cheeks. I smiled at her through the few tears that had escaped. She was Taylor's daughter all right. "Mommy?" She asked again curiously.

"Soon." I soothed her. "Soon."

Ronan yawned, her lips stretching into an O before she rested her head down against my neck. I blinked in surprise at how much she seemed to trust me, because in my experience, kids didn't really like people they hadn't constantly been around. But Ronan, she sighed, cuddling against my chest. And when I looked down a few moments later, I saw that she'd fallen asleep.