Adventures in the Land Down Under (Read 10,859 times)

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the previews André DiMera. Looks like an exciting week.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 25

DESERT GARDENS HOTEL
NICOLE: So, that's it?
QUINN: Yeah. That's it.
NICOLE: You're just gonna leave? Just like that?
TAYLOR: Oh, it gets better than that. He's about to claim he has to.
QUINN: Look, Nik, I hate to have to do this, but I do. It's for the best. It's the only way that I can keep you and Mia safe. They would come after you if I didn't.
NICOLE: You're going back to the business?
TAYLOR: Of course he is.
QUINN: Like I said, I have to. Once you're in as deep as I am, you can never get out!
NICOLE: When were you planning on telling us about this?
TAYLOR: Never.
QUINN: I just did.
NICOLE: When were you planning on telling our daughter about this?
TAYLOR: Never.
QUINN: Does she have to know?
NICOLE: Of course she has to know! She's gonna notice when she wakes up two days from now and you're not here!
QUINN: Look, I'll tell her after dinner tonight. Just that I'm leaving, though. I'll make something up. She can never know what I really do.
NICOLE: And what exactly did you do, Quinn? How did you let yourself get to caught up in all of this?
TAYLOR: I asked him that same question every day we were together.
QUINN: Shut up!
NICOLE: Excuse me?
Nicole back-handed Quinn, hard.
QUINN: Bloody hell.
NICOLE: No, no. I think you must have had a chunk of your brain removed and you don't remember how this works. You see, you do not tell Nicole Walker to shut up. Nicole Walker tells you to shut up.
QUINN: I wasn't talking to you, Nicole. I was talking to her!
Quinn pointed to the bed. Nicole looked, and where Quinn saw Taylor, Nicole just saw a empty bed.
NICOLE: Who is this her you keep talking about? What is going on?!
TAYLOR: Don't do it, Quinn.
QUINN; You mean you don't see her?
NICOLE: Quinn, let me put this as nicely as I can: you're crazy! There's nobody there!
QUINN: I can't believe you don't see her! I mean, she's right there!
TAYLOR: Stop.
NICOLE: Read my lips: there is no one on that bed!
QUINN: Yes, there is! She's right there!
NICOLE: Okay, then. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I'm wrong. Who is sitting on that bed?
QUINN: Taylor!
TAYLOR: Now, you've done it!
NICOLE: Taylor, huh? Well, that's really funny, because I don't see Taylor. If she really is there, why don't I see her?
TAYLOR: Quinn, stop! Seriously, just stop! Don't say anything more!
QUINN: You don't see her because you didn't kill her! I did! And now she's haunting me!
TAYLOR: Oh, snap! It just got real!
NICOLE: What?!
QUINN: I...I killed her. I killed Taylor.

[heroicmuse]

Ooh... Quinn's not getting out of this very easily.

Now THIS is the Nicole Walker I know and love.

[Kpatch]

LOL at Taylor saying "Oh snap." That's exactly what just happened to Quinn. He snapped!

[fluffysmom]

I can hardly wait to see what happens now that Nicole knows Quinn killed Taylor.

[André DiMera]

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Today's chapter contains some mild swearing. If you are very easily offended or have young children in the room, I suggest skipping over portions of the chapter. Please read at your own risk.

Chapter 26

DESERT GARDENS MOTEL
QUINN: I killed her. I killed Taylor.
NICOLE: You what?!
Nicole lunged at him
NICOLE: What the hell happened?! Tell me what you did to my sister!
TAYLOR: You might wanna tell her, Quinn. Last time I saw Nicole that angry was when she found out I slept with E.J.
QUINN: What does it matter? You didn't even like her!
Nicole put her hands around Quinn's throat.
NICOLE: No. Oh, no. You don't get to do that. You do not get to minimalize my sister's death like that. We might not have gotten along, but she was still my sister. Now tell me what you did, or I swear to God, I will make you join her!
QUINN (whispering): Okay...okay. I'll tell you.
Nicole took her hands off of Quinn's throat. Quinn coughed a few times.
NICOLE: Well, what are you waiting for? Start talking!
QUINN: All right. We were in Belfast. Everything was perfect. We were even expecting a baby. A little girl. Then, someone from the old business found me. They threatened me. They threatened to kill Taylor if I didn't do what they told me to.
NICOLE: So, you decided to do the job for them.
QUINN; Would you let me finish?
NICOLE: Go on. This should be good.
QUINN: Anyway, I was forced into it. For a while, I was able to keep it a secret. Then, as she always does, Taylor stuck her nose where it doesn't belong. She found out. Naturally, she was unhappy.
NICOLE: Gee, I wonder why.
QUINN: I told her that I wasn't gonna be in it for long. That I would get out the first chance I got. But, as you can see, that's not true.
NICOLE: It never was, was it?
QUINN: I was doing it for her! We needed money! I was only doing it for my family!
NICOLE: Cut the €*@₱. Just tell the story.
QUINN: So, then, one night, she decided that if I wasn't gonna get out, she was gonna take matters into her own hands. She said she needed to protect our baby girl.
MIA: What?
Unbeknownst to either, Mia had walked in a few minutes previous, and had heard most of the conversation. The two looked up.
NICOLE: Mia.
QUINN: How long have you been there, love?
MIA: Long enough. So, let me understand this. I have a sister who's also my cousin?
QUINN: Had.
MIA: Had?
QUINN: Yes, had. As I said, Taylor decided to take things into her own hands. She brought a gun with her to Belfast, and was going to shoot my boss. I tried to convince her that it didn't have to be this way. That we could just go talk to him. That we could sort it out. She didn't believe me. I went for the gun. She wouldn't let go. Things got heated.

HOTEL – BELFAST – FLASHBACK
The gun went off. It was in Quinn's hand, as was the phone. Taylor had blood running down her dress. She dropped to the floor.
QUINN: Oh $*!+.

DESERT GARDENS MOTEL
QUINN: I didn't mean to kill her.
Nicole's face was as hard as stone.
NICOLE: Leave. Leave right now.

[Kpatch]

Oh man. This chapter gave me the chills, literally. I can just visualize Nicole's expression. And what a way for Mia to find out the truth about her father!

Great drama André DiMera!

[fluffysmom]

Mia must be shocked. I wonder if Mia and Nicole will ever forgive Quinn.

[heroicmuse]

Ooh this is super exciting! I can also just picture Nicole's face and demeanor. I can't WAIT to see what happens next!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 27

DESERT GARDENS HOTEL
NICOLE: Leave right now.
TAYLOR: You might want to do what she says, Quinn.
QUINN: Nik, please, just let me explain...
NICOLE: I don't want any explanations. There's nothing you can say that would justify this.
TAYLOR: Don't even try.
QUINN: I'm not trying to justify it. I know I can't.
NICOLE: Exactly. You can't. You killed my sister.
QUINN: It wasn't like that!
TAYLOR: Except it totally was.
NICOLE: Then what was it like, Quinn?
QUINN: I already told you! I was trying to get the gun from Taylor, things got physical. It went off. It wasn't my fault!
NICOLE: Yet the gun was in your hand when it went off, wasn't it?
TAYLOR: Big time.
QUINN: Yeah.
NICOLE: Are you hard of hearing? I could have sworn that I asked you to leave.
MIA: That's what I heard, too.
QUINN: Look, just give me one more day. Please, just one more day.
NICOLE: I don't think so.
QUINN: Come on. Please. Don't do this, Nikki.
Quinn looked at Mia.
QUINN: Mia, come on. Please, love, talk to your mother.
Quinn tried to put his hand on Mia's shoulder, but she jerked it away.
MIA: There's nothing to talk about.
Mia backed up.
QUINN: Five minutes, then. I need to pack. Just give me five minutes to pack.
NICOLE: Five. But, if you're still here when those five minutes are up, you're gonna wish it was you instead of Taylor on the receiving end of that bullet.
Quinn went into his room to pack.
TAYLOR: Well, that went well.
QUINN: Shut up, Taylor. This is all your fault.
TAYLOR: My fault? Need I remind you that you're the one who killed me?
QUINN: And you're the one who keeps haunting me! Seriously, Taylor, it can't go on like this! If you hadn't shown up here none of this would have happened, and I'd be telling Nicole and my daughter about the surprise I had planned for tomorrow!
TAYLOR: Well, if you hadn't shot me, I wouldn't be here to haunt you, now would I?
Quinn zipped up his suitcase.
QUINN: Just go away, Taylor.
TAYLOR: Sorry, Quinnie. It doesn't work like that. You've made this bed for yourself, and now you get to lie in it.
Quinn stopped outside the door to Nicole and Mia's room, which was still open.
QUINN: Things could have been different, you know. We could have been so happy.
Nicole and Mia just stared at Quinn with blank expressions.
QUINN: Could have been.
NICOLE: Goodbye, Quinn.
The amount of fury in those two words were unlike Quinn had heard before. Even though she hadn't raised her voice, this was the angriest Quinn had ever seen her. Quinn turned and walked away. There was a long silence.
NICOLE: I'm sorry you had to see that.
Mia shrugged.
NICOLE: You okay?
Mia shook her head. The two sat on the bed and Nicole put her arms around Mia and held her.

[heroicmuse]

André DiMera you've done it again. I need to stop reading your stories at work, because I feel like crying after reading that exchange between Nicole and Mia. Great chapter!

[Kpatch]

Quinn is lucky Nicole isn't contacting the authorities. Quinn just confessed to a murder. She is letting him off easy. This is so sad.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 28

DESERT GARDENS MOTEL
Nicole was on the phone.
NICOLE: Right.
Pause.
NICOLE: Thank you.
Nicole put the phone down and sighed. A minute later, Mia walked in carrying a towel.
NICOLE: How was the hot tub?
MIA: Really nice.
NICOLE: That's good.
Mia sat down next to Nicole.
NICOLE: Hangin' in there, kid?
MIA: I'll be okay. You?
NICOLE: Yeah, I'll be fine.
Mia and Nicole hugged.
NICOLE: Come on. Let's get to bed. It's been a long day, and we've got to get up early tomorrow.
MIA: Why?
NICOLE: Wait and see.

The Next Morning

AIRPLANE
MIA: This is awesome!
It was early the next day. Nicole and Mia were in a seven passenger airplane. They were flying over Ayers Rock. The sun was just peaking over the top of the rock, making it shine a brilliant combination of oranges, yellows and reds.
NICOLE: Isn't it beautiful?
MIA: I thought the sunset was cool, but this...this is just amazing! I'm so glad we came here! Even with all of the crazy stuff that's happened the last few days, I wouldn't have missed this trip.
NICOLE: Oh, it's not over yet, baby girl. We still have a few more places to go.
MIA: I'm looking forward to it!

ALICE SPRINGS AIRPORT
Quinn had gone through security and was now waiting at a terminal for a flight out of town. He wasn't sure where he was going, he just needed to leave. In all honesty, he'd probably end up going back to the business, just like he had done so many times. Then, he heard a male voice.
OFFICER: Are you Quinn Hudson?
Quinn looked up. It was a police officer.
QUINN: Who wants to know?
OFFICER: I do. That's why I asked.
QUINN: Well, yeah, I'm Quinn Hudson. What of it?
OFFICER: Put the bag down, stand up, and keep your hands where I can see them.
Quinn let go of his suitcase, stood, and put his hands up.
QUINN: What's this all about?
The officer took Quinn by the wrists and turned him around. Then, he slapped handcuffs on him.
OFFICER: Quinn Hudson, you are under arrest for murder and several counts of human trafficking. Though you don't have to remain silent, you have the right to, and anything you do say can and will be used against you in court. You also have the right to counsel with your attourney, as well as have your attourney present as questioning. If you do not have an attourney, one will be given to you by the state. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?
QUINN: Yes.

[Kpatch]

OMG Nicole turned Quinn into the police. I'm shocked. And not shocked. LOL.

Also glad that Nicole is continuing to try to make this a memorable vacation for her daughter.

[heroicmuse]

Omg this is great. I love seeing Nicole being a wonderful mother to Mia in every way.