Strange Goings On (Tad)

[Dix C. Martin]

OOC: tried to set the groundwork for things, if it's not working for you let me know!

After work, since she and Tad didn't have therapy today, Dixie had brought the twins with her to the hospital, and then swung by Kathy's school and gotten her from music club. Unfortunately her oldest daughter seemed to be in a funk.
"Sunshine please..take your boots off before you go in the living room!"
Dixie reminded, as Kathy grumbled but obeyed. After bringing the twins over to the nursery, the girl trudged to the kitchen and wandered aimlessly, poking through cupboards.
"Momma!"
"What's wrong?"
"There's no food!"
"Honey, I asked you if you wanted me to pick up something on the way home and didn't get an answer."
"Well I wasn't hungry then.", whined Kathy. Taking a seat at the table she rolled her eyes when Dixie put an apple in front of her.
"C'mon..what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing.." She grumbled, taking a bite.
"Okay, mind telling me what's got you in this charming mood today?"
Dixie asked, sitting across from her.
"Did something happen at school?"
"No."
"What about after school, you were all excited about that music club you signed up for, what happened?"
"Nothing."
Kathy shrugged, clearly not in a talking mood.
"Alright I give up.", sighed Dixie. Getting up she went to do some cupboard poking of her own before she heard her daughter speak.
"How come we don't go to the club anymore?"
Turning around the blond froze.
"I.."
"Like tonight..it's Tuesday. You used to leave work early, come and get me at school. We'd pick out cool outfits to wear, and Daddy would call us his dates and we'd drive over and sit at our corner table and eat cheeseburgers. And after your show the four of us would hang out til closing, and Chip would make that drink he named after me. It was fun and we all had a great time! And now we just, stopped going all together."
"Kathy I.."
"I joined that, music club so I wouldn't miss us going to Stardust. It's not working though..it's not as cool and the only food we get is leftover pizza and it's cold."

Sighing sympathetically, pulling up a seat Dixie stroked Kathy's hair.
"Sunshine I'm sorry. I know how much you liked us going to the club.."
"It's not fair. You and me and Daddy once he got back, it was our thing, you know?"
"Yeah, I know it was. But listen, there's plenty of other things you and me and your dad can do together."
"I guess. But the club was, fun. I miss Chip too, and those burgers."
"Yeah, so do I...", sighed Dixie.
"If you like though I can make burgers for dinner tonight..I mean, they aren't Chip's by any means but..they're not too bad, right?"
She asked with a smile, and luckily got a slight one from her little girl.
"No, they're not."
"Great! Since you're hungry I'll get going on them now..sound good?"
"Yeah..sounds good. But, Momma?"
"Yeah?"
"You think you'll ever go back to the club and see Chip again?"
"I..I don't know sunshine. I don't." Dixie shrugged.
"Say, you think you could go check in on the twins for me? Then we can get working on dinner?"
Nodding Kathy went to the back, while Dixie dug out some hamburger from the freezer and some rolls to defrost. After she pulled out her phone and didn't see any messages from Tad but decided to leave him one. This morning he'd been vague about his plans for the day but she assumed he'd be fine with the ones she'd made.

"Hey sweetie it's me. Kathy was in the mood for burgers so her and I are gonna get started on those for dinner. The twins are good and so are we, but yeah guess we'll see you when we see you. I love you, bye."

Meanwhile at Stardust...

"Hell with you Paul! I'm out of here."
Chip snapped. Grabbing his coat he stormed out of the club, nearly getting hit by some jerk speeding into the parking lot in a black BMW, further aggravating him.
Not ten minutes ago he'd tried to call Dixie to see if she was coming down tonight, and Paul hung up the phone before he had a chance to dial. Wanting to know why he'd done that, and also what had caused Dixie not to show up for the last three shows, Chip tried to get a straight answer but almost got a black eye from his business partner.
Still livid he decided to walk around the block before going to his car, needing to get a grip before he drove. Something had clearly happened at Stardust in his absence and nobody was telling him what.
In addition to that he couldn't shake the feeling he had like he was being watched, even followed. The other day he felt like a balding man in a suit, had been keeping tabs on him constantly, showing up seemingly every place he went. He'd first seen him when he took Paul out for coffee trying to get him out of his funk, and the guy hadn't approached but seemed totally intrusive. If he hadn't known better he'd have felt like he was a tail someone had put on him, like he was being investigated.
When he'd confronted him the man said he was interested in him, but Chip didn't buy it. He hadn't run into him since, but he still kept looking over his shoulder, feeling like there was someone out to get him.
That plus the cold made him think it was time he get back to his car. Mid stride though he froze, swearing he heard a gunshot. Officially freaked he went back to the Stardust lot to get in his car, but when he was about to get in he hesitated, feeling a pull towards the club. But when he was about to go in and check it out, suddenly he heard footsteps and felt someone grip him from behind.
"Come quietly or you'll wind up as gone as your buddy in there."
"What..are you talking about?"
Chip stammered, but too stunned to make a fuss he just gulped and followed the thugs lead...

[teamluv08]

After kissing Jenny goodbye for now and giving Krystal a hug Tad climbed into his car and headed out. When he pulled up to a stop light he took this time to check his cell for any missed texts and calls, the only thing waiting for him was a voicemail from Dixie. He sighed and laid his head back, any other evening he would have been happy to go home and eat with his family, but this evening wasn’t one of those evenings.

Thaddeus cut down a lone road and rode it out until he ended up at the last place he really wanted to be. The Stardust. He was just about to pull up in the parking lot when a black car peeled out nearly hitting him. “What the hell!” He yelled smashing on the breaks and laying on the horn. Either the driver was deaf, dumb and stupid or just in a rush because he didn’t stop nor turn around. “Son of a…” He groaned when he finally pulled up into the parking lot and parked by one of the two cars that were left. He knew one of them belonged to Paul, he’d been following him for quite sometime now. The other car, he would assume was Chips or maybe somebody from the cleaning crew. Thaddeus didn’t know, really didn’t care he just cared about getting some answers.

Just as Thaddeus was about to climb out of his car and get what he came for he heard a little voice in his head that said to turn around. He started to ignore it, but then his gut started saying the same thing.

Tad learned long ago to never ignore his gut because it was always right. So he knew this time was no different. Taking a deep breath he buckled his seatbelt, started the car and with a quick glance toward the club he pulled out and headed back home.

Half an hour later he walked through the door and smiled when he smelled burgers. “Who did the patties? Y’all know I’m the patty king!” He called.
“Daddy!” Kathy called running around the counter and into his arms. “What took you so long?”
Tad chuckled and roughed up her hair. “Sorry kiddo, had to make a quick stop.”
It was then Kathy noticed a bag in his hand. “Ice cream!”
“Yep.” He kissed her forehead and handed the bag off. “Go ahead and put it the freezer.”
“Kay!” Kathy ran off.
Tad walked up behind Dixie and rested his chin on her shoulder. “You must have had a conversation with my stomach earlier. I was thinking about burgers.”

[Dix C. Martin]

Chuckling when she heard Tad come in, Dixie let Kathy run over and greet him while she got the last burger on a plate.
"And not about me? Why I'm flattered, Tad."
She teased. And handed him the dish along with a bag of rolls.
"Here, think about getting them on the table then."
Leaving Tad and Kathy to set the table, she went over to get the twins and saw both of them half out of their cribs.
"Ohh! Wait til your daddy hears what you've been up to! C'mere.."
Scooping them both up clicking her tongue scoldingly, she brought them to the front and struggled to get them in their high chairs.
"Seems we've got some wannabe escape artists on our hands. This time both of them were almost on the floor."
Dixie sighed taking a seat across from her husband before assembling her burger.
"Momma did J.R ever do that when he was little?"
"Hardly at all. No these two are far more daring.."
She teased, feeding a giggly Nolan a french fry.
"Hmm..I remember I caught Jenny once or twice. But she was older.."
Kathy mused, taking another bite.
"Speaking of..you paid her a visit earlier..right?"
Dixie asked getting a nod.
"How's she and Krystal doing?"
She asked curiously. She couldn't remember the last time she'd even seen Krystal but even if they weren't on terrific terms, Dixie still cared for Jenny same as she did Jamie and was wondering about her step-daughter.

Meanwhile...
When Chip opened his eyes he felt totally disoriented. The last thing he remembered was the lot at Stardust and getting driven off. He'd asked where he was being taken but couldn't remember a thing after that, and figured he'd been drugged.
Shaking his head he tried to clear his thoughts but realized he was tied to a chair in what looked like a sketchy office.
"What the..."
"Jon! He's awake!"
Bill barked as the younger man smirked and came in.

"Alright..what..what the hell..do you want from me?"
Chip growled.
"Hey, watch your tone, remember what we're capable of."
"What are you talking about? I've never seen either of you in my life!"
"Yeah but your friend has.."
Bill chimed in.
"And we were the last he ever saw...that's what he got for backing out on his promise."
"What..promise..what friend!"
Chip sputtered, totally lost until something clicked and he remembered where these guys had abducted him from.
"Oh my God..you don't mean..."
"Yeah,we do."
Jon smirked sending a chill down Chip's spine before he grew angry. Sure he and Paul had their arguments but the man was still his business partner and his friend. Furious he swore and struggled to break out of the ropes but all it got him was a punch in the nose.
"We told you to watch your tone!"
"Alright look...I..I don't know what, Paul did...but if you evened the score with him what the hell do you want from me! I didn't even know what he was in on!"
"Look Chip..we're gonna make this easy on you. All you have to do is just pick up the slack your friend dropped, do a simple favor and then we'll put this whole thing behind us for good."
Jon said as Chip warily nodded and watched Bill pull a phone from his pocket.
"Hey that's my phone!"
"Yeah..nice one too. I like the camera on it. You're a good photographer by the way."
Jon smirked, as Bill pulled up a picture of Dixie on the phone, and showed it to Chip who's eyes went wide.
"No..you...you leave her the hell alone you understand! There's no reason she has to have a part in this!"
"Actually she already does.."
Jon said, and went on to explain how Paul had used the money Chip and Dixie earned him performing to pay off his debt to him and Bill. And since Dixie earned the most she had to come back to the club and keep performing as scheduled.
"See your friend Paul, made a big mistake when he let her get away. It's your job, to convince her to come back."
"And what if I can't?"
"Think of it like this...either way you'll be reuniting with one of your friends. Personally though I'd choose the blond over your business partner that's six feet under."
Dialing Dixie's number, Bill smiled and brought the phone to Chip's face, but all he heard was a voicemail.
"Tell her to call you back when she can..."
"And if I don't?"
Chip growled, but right as the tone beeped Jon put a gun to the other side of his head.
"Hey..Dix..it's Chip. C...call me back when..when you get this..."

[teamluv08]

Mouth full Tad gave Dixie a nod before he picked up his drink and chased his food down with the cool liquid. “Yea,” he cleared his throat. “They’re good. Jenny is growing like a weed just like her sister across from me.” He gave Kathy a look. “She’s been asking about the Nolan and Tara and wondering when she was going to see everybody again. So I told her one weekend I’ll pick her up and she can stay a week or two with us.”

“Really?” Kathy asked wide-eyed.
“Yep!”
“Cool!” Kathy turned her attention back to her burger and bopped her head. She hadn’t spend time with her little sister in a long time and she really missed her.
Tad winked at her and turned back to Dixie. “Krystal’s doing pretty good. Talked about the restaurant and a few other things she had in mind for the place. Talked about a guy she has feelings for. You know we… just caught up on a lot of stuff.”

[Dix C. Martin]

Munching on a french fry, Dixie nodded at the growing like a weed comment, and her ears perked up when he said he was gonna let Jenny stay with them. Right on cue her hospitality instincts kicked in and she turned to her oldest girl.
"That's a great idea, hey Kath if you'd like we can set up the trundle bed in your room for her, you know like you do for sleepovers and stuff?"
Dixie suggested getting an eager nod, before Tad told her about Krystal.
"Oh that's good."
She said, especially about the new man part. Despite everything that had come out of it part of Dixie still felt like she'd stolen Tad right out from under Krystal, and even though she didn't have any regrets, she was glad to hear she was doing well and moving on with someone else.

Still sitting enjoying dinner, suddenly a soft buzzing sound came from the kitchen right by Dixie's and Kathy's phones.
"Oooh Momma can I check, Tess was supposed to text me the pages my homework was on tonight."
"Sunshine, isn't the teacher supposed to tell you the pages your homework's on?"
"Yeah but..I didn't hear the last part of it."
Kathy admitted shyly.
"I..sure..go ahead."
Dixie sighed exasperated. Turning to Tad she noticed he'd pulled Tara on his lap and was giving her some french fries too. Watching and smiling at the sight she hardly heard Kathy come up behind her.
"Wasn't my phone Momma..someone left you a message."
Before Dixie could get it Kathy already was figuring out the caller.
"Oooh hey it's Chip! Guess he misses us too!"
Kathy grinned, as Dixie took the phone curiously and played back the message. It was a little staticky but she made out that he wanted her to call him back.
"Huh...guess he does."

[teamluv08]

Tad opened his mouth to tell Dixie that he bought the girls matching beds, just the other one had been placed in storage, but he closed it and shook his head. He would tell her later, he guessed.

After a while Tad picked up his youngest daughter and started feeding her. He heard the exchange between Kathy and Dixie, but he didn’t comment. After his stop by the club he pushed everything to back of his mind and focused on what needed to be done with Dixie. Paul and Chip he would deal with on his own time. “Daddy’s girl like the frenchie fry,” he teased dipping one in ketchup and handing it over. Instead of Tara putting the fry in her mouth or even smearing it on her face, she smeared it on Tad’s shirt and giggled. Thaddeus looked down at her and frowned. “You were suppose to eat that.”

[Dix C. Martin]

After getting the message from Chip Dixie decided to ignore it now and call him back later. Too much still had to be sorted out and resolved in that department and she wasn't up to dealing with it tonight. Nodding when Kathy helped clear the table and excused herself, looking to Nolan she saw he was looking at Tad and Tara eating the fries. And clearly wanting to get in on the fun..or the food.
"Aw c'mere tiger, you wanna try too?"
Pulling Nolan onto her lap she dipped a fry in some of the ketchup and he ate it on the first try. Unlike Tara who smeared Tad with it, getting Dixie laughing, and Tad shooting her a look.
"I'm sorry just the look on your face!"
Dixie giggled, until all of a sudden Nolan pulled the same trick on her new white blouse.
"Ohh! You little..."
She gasped, getting Nolan squealing and clapping, and getting ketchup all over his face and his hands. Glancing over she saw Tara had managed to get quite a bit on her face too.
"Alright looks like an evening of cleanup is upon us."
The blond sighed. Luckily there weren't many dishes to contend with, just messy babies.
After clearing the table and putting everything in the sink, she and Tad brought the twins to the back and over to the bathroom, where she got the water going for a bath. Smiling a little all the while, not remembering she and Tad both giving the kids a bath at the same time, usually it was just one of them working solo.
"You know I don't think we've ever done this together...not since J.R was little. You remember the first time we had him in the big bathtub? You had me fill it with so many toys there wasn't room for any suds."
Dixie chuckled, as she got Nolan out of his ketchupy clothes.

[teamluv08]

Tad laughed as he sat Tara on top of the counter and went to get her of her clothes. “Suds or toys?” He asked. “I’d choose toys and I was just reading his mind. See baby with kids you have to be a mind reader and that’s what JR’s mind was saying,” he joked but used a very serious tone.
“No!” Tara yelped crossing her arms.
Tad shook his head and stared at his daughter. “Yes.”
“No!”
“Tara.”
“No!”
Tad sighed and went to raise her shirt. Tara defiantly shook her head and started swinging her feet. Tad stared at her for a few minutes before clicking his tongue. “Fine with me. Sticky monster! But don’t say anything when Nolan is in the bed with mommy and daddy.” He shrugged his shoulders and leaned against the counter. Out the corner of his eye he saw Tara eyeing him and then saw her look to the tub that had a bubbles.
“Daddy!” She whined.
Works every time, he thought looked over at her. “You’re going to let me finish?”

Moments later, both babies were in their birthday suit and splashing around in the tub, he found it hard to believe that they got more soap on he and Dixie than on themselves. “Ketchup must have some extra something in it. They have never been like this.”

[Dix C. Martin]

"Oh so the Great Martini was working his magic back then too?"
Dixie chuckled when Tad mentioned mind reading.
"Oooh c'mere little guy...yeah..see..isn't that better?"
She soothed, until Nolan's whimpering stopped after she got him in the tub. Once he got in the water he was fine, unlike Tara who was yelping stubbornly. Taking Dixie by surprise.
"Yeah see..your brother's having the time of his life in here.."
She said, and when Tad mentioned the big bed to Nolan his whole face lit up.
"Big bed!"
"Yes big bed! We just gotta get you good and clean that's all."
Dixie smiled, as Nolan kept on like his happy little self, but when Tad finally got Tara in the tub too they both got extra worked up and splashed half the bubbles out.
"Oh my goodness..what are you two trying to do!"
Dixie scolded, wiping some suds off her forehead.
"Well actually I remember on their birthday, they got more cake frosting on themselves than in their mouths, but the sugar still managed to make them crazy. I swear they absorbed it or something."
She chuckled. Reaching over to shampoo Nolan's hair, he squirmed away and her sleeves got coated in soap.
"Oh you little..."
Right on cue though Nolan gave her a sly and shy smirk that was all Tad. Turning to her husband, she saw he was looking at her the same way.
"Oh so both my boys are gonna double team me now? Fine, I see how it is."
Shaking her head, laughing in spite of herself, after slipping off her soapy blouse leaving her in just a tank top, shifting over she took over shampooing Tara who surprisingly was calmer.
"Yeah us girls gotta stick together don't we!"

[teamluv08]

Thaddeus rolled his eyes and took over getting Nolan cleaned up. “Tell you momma, pfffttt!” Tad looked over and started blowing raspberries, Nolan giggled and did the same thing. “My boy!” He held his hand up and Nolan just barely got it.

After a little more play Tad and Dixie finally got the twins cleaned up, dried off and dressed them in their little PJ’s. “Now, don’t you both feel good without all that sticky stuff. Unlike me!” He playfully threw Tara a frown and she fell back against the bed laughing her little tail off. “I don’t find it all that funny… I really, really don’t,” he sighed, giving her a pout and crossing his arms. Being overly dramatic. Kathy who stood in the doorway burst out laughing as well and when all eyes were on her she stopped and smirked. “Sorry… I thought it funny,” she giggled.

[Dix C. Martin]

After getting Nolan all dried off and in his favorite blue flannel jammies, curling up against the pillows with her little girl, boy, and husband close, Dixie laughed out loud right along with Tara and eventually Kathy, who was in her pajamas too but fiddling with a French braid.
"As did I baby...hey, what happened to your hair?"
"I was trying to get a braid going but it got all knotted..can you help?"
"Hmmm..c'mere let me see."
Studying it Dixie frowned, but after a bit managed to undo the knot.
"Alright, now you wanna try again or you want me to do it?"
"If I do it can you make us some popcorn?"
Kathy asked.
"Sure. So long as you and your dad get a movie going in here."
She said nodding to their bedroom TV, as Tad and Kathy exchanged grins, and Dixie realized maybe that wasn't a good plan given the movies the two of them liked.
"Wait, correction.."
She backpedaled.
"Get a movie going that's an option for the twins to watch too. Nothing of the gloom gore and guts variety."
"Momma c'mon.."
"Hey...there's always the just go to bed early option."
"Okay..fine."
Kathy mumbled as she went over to the movie cupboard, and after a bit Dixie came back with two bowls of popcorn, the twins favorite stuffed animals and her phone that she set on her nightstand. Curling up beside Tad she handed him a bowl, and gave him a peck on the cheek before pulling Nolan onto her lap.
"Alright..what did we settle on?"

[teamluv08]

After Dixie left the room and Kathy went to get a movie from upfront Tad changed into a regular t-shirt since his other one had a big ketchup stain on it. “Thanks Tara,” he mumbled looking to the twins who laid in the bed playing with the remote control. When he finally strolled over to the bed and propped against the headboard, Dixie and Kathy were back.

“Amityville,” Kathy said with a shrug as she cut and eased onto the bed. Before either one of them had a chance to say anything the Disney symbol popped up on the screen. “Gotcha!” She laughed from the foot of the bed.
“Jokester.”
“Ka-ka,” Tara lightly called moving from in between her parents and crawling down to lay beside her sister.

[Dix C. Martin]

Hearing Kathy's shrug and say the movie title Dixie's eyes narrowed before she realized it was a joke.
"Ah yes..you're hilarious."
Rolling her eyes she smiled, moreso when Tara shifted over next to Kathy.
"Terror! Sheesh."
The girl sighed before the opening song from Lion King came on. Getting Nolan pointing and squealing as he sat on Dixie's lap. All the animals made this his favorite movie hands down.
"Ma, Simba!!"
"Yeah, I see him!"
Dixie chuckled, before Nolan shifted out of her arms and to the foot of the bed with his sisters, getting her frowning.
"Fine thing... my own flesh and blood leaves my arms in favor of a cartoon."
Turning to Tad she gave him a pouty look.
"You gonna stick around or have I got Nala to worry about?"

[teamluv08]

Thaddeus gave her a look before he grabbed his pillow and made a move to go down by the kids. “I’m kidding!” He laughed putting his arm around her and pulling her closer. “No, sorry baby. Nala’s got nothing on you,” he winked, kissing the side of her neck and burying his hands into the pocket of her jeans.

Out of no where Nolan sat up and started making noises, like the animals on the movie. Tad looked over at Dixie and both of them burst out laughing. “I think somebody has inherited their momma’s goofy gene.”

[Dix C. Martin]

Stardust
"Has she picked up yet?"
Bill grumped, as Chip sighed in frustration. He'd called Dixie what felt like twenty times over and still was getting her voicemail.
"Look. If you let me go, I swear to you I'll track her down tomorrow and tell her to come to the club. Please..just let me do that much!"
The blond man begged, as Bill looked to Jon.
"And how do we know you'll come through? For all we know you'll be just as trustworthy as your pal Paul."
"I promise, it won't come to that. Please!"
"Eh..Bill whatcha think, you have anything going tonight?"
Jon asked as Bill shook his head no.
"Me either. I think we all just should stay right here. Leave another message though...before we start calling her up."
The goon smirked, as Chip gulped and dialed again.
"Dixie PLEASE, call me back."

----------------------------------------
"Oh!"
Dixie pouted after Tad grabbed his pillow. And crossed her arms before he came back up and pulled her close, to her delight.
"Well so long as we got that straight.."
She teased, letting out a soft giggle as he started kissing on her neck, trying to remember they had company at the foot of the bed. But when his hands found their way to her jeans...
"Mmmm.."
The blond purred, before Nolan started "rawring" repeatedly. Sitting up she laughed in awe as did her husband.
"Hey c'mon now! I'm certainly not the only goof in this bunch."
Dixie smirked, tousling her little boy's hair before resuming her position against Tad, snuggled close enough to hear his heart. But not ten minutes had passed before heard her phone buzz..again!
"Honestly..."
Grumbling she went to get up to grab it, disrupting her daughters in the process.
"Just ignore it Momma!"
"It could be important Kath..just settle down."
Sighing heavy she apologized as she wriggled out of Tad's arms and grabbed the phone. Only to see Chip had called again.
"Guys I'll just be a second.."
"Momma it's your favorite part though!"
"Kath.."
"Just come back over here, you can call Chip back when the movies done."
"Well look who's had a change of heart.."
Dixie muttered, but shrugged and climbed back into bed., getting a vibe that her kids and even Tad were frustrated. Even though she couldn't shake a nervous feeling she had that something was up with her friend.