I've been wanting to do a kidnapping story for so long. So here it is. I have a list of original characters so you don't get confused about who's who. I do hope you all enjoy this story. Thank you DMBfan and SammyWisconsinANgel for helping me write this. Please remember to review. We'd appreciate it.
The character of Carla is based off a bully who tormented my cousin for years at her school. What Carla does in the story really happened to my cousin.
Disclaimer: I do not own Cheaper by the Dozen
GONE
Original characters:
David Baker- Tom's brother and a private investigator
Jim Morgan- Detective for the Chicago PD
Emma Morgan- Jim's daughter and Sarah's best friend
Harry Williams- Chicago PD captain
Miles Baker- cousin of the Bakers and David's son
Carla Freeman- Sarah's nemesis at school
Chapter 1
Twelve-year-old Sarah Baker couldn't help but grin as she stared down at the big fat red A that was covering the top of her science test. Her rival and worst enemy, Carla Freeman, had only gotten a B+. It felt good to one up Carla in something. Sarah gave her best friend, Emma Morgan, a big high five as they both showed each other their A's.
"Honor Roll here we come," announced Sarah as she put her test away.
"Maybe here you come. I'm already there," replied Emma with a grin. Sarah scoffed as the bell ring. Carla came storming over to Sarah and Emma. Her two cronies, Vivian and Nina, showed up to back her up.
"This test doesn't change the fact that you two are losers," snapped Carla. Sarah and Emma rolled their eyes as Carla and her posse left.
"They're just jealous," explained Sarah as she and Emma walked towards their lockers. School was officially over for fall break and all the kids were excited. Sarah had a dance competition that night at the local gym. The biggest one of her life. Her whole family would be there. It was the biggest night of her life.
………………..
Kate Baker sighed as the car line continued to inch forward. She would never get used to this. Never. The middle school car line sucked. There was no other way to put it. She looked over at her daughter Lorraine, who was going through the mail for Kate.
"Mom, call our healthcare provider," explained Lorraine.
"Why?" asked Kate.
"Something about Jake's recent hospital stay," replied Lorraine. Kate raised an eyebrow.
"An appendectomy should be covered," reasoned Kate. Lorraine shrugged.
"Sarah's was," reminded Lorraine. Sarah arrived at that moment as if on cue and climbed into the back of the van.
"We got to get home," urged Sarah.
"Where's Jake?" asked Kate.
"There is he," exclaimed Lorraine, pointing. Jake was showing off his appendectomy scar to a group of his friends.
"He is so bizarre," moaned Sarah. "Jake, stop flirting and get over here!" Jake whipped around and glared at Sarah, his shirt still up. If looks could kill. He lowered his shirt and bid goodbye to his friends.
"Sarah, what have I said about yelling at him in public?" asked Kate.
"I'm sorry Mom but he can drive me crazy some times," exclaimed Sarah.
"He's your twin brother, Sarah. Be nice to him," exclaimed Kate. Jake was pissed when he climbed into the van.
"I do not have to drop everything for you," growled Jake as he slammed the door shut.
"I have to get home and change, Jacob," snapped Sarah.
"The world doesn't revolve around you, Sarah," growled Jake as he slumped down in his seat. She could be so selfish sometimes, thought Jake. Just because she was two minutes older. They sat in silence as Kate drove home. The traffic was already bad as people arrived for the dance competition. Sarah took deep breaths as she tried to calm her nerves. Tonight was the biggest night of her life. She could become a statewide dance star after tonight. The thought gave her some serious butterflies in her stomach.
…………….
"Dad! Dad, are you home?" asked twelve-year-old Miles Baker as he threw his backpack on a nearby chair. The boy's loyal best friend and furry companion, Skippy, came running out of Miles' room, his tail going wild.
"Hey boy," greeted Miles as he bent down to let Skippy lick him. The cocker spaniel poodle mix was delighted to see his master. David Baker came walking out of his back office.
"Hey. How was school?" asked David.
"Good. Got all A's and B's on my report card," replied Miles. David nodded approvingly.
"Sarah's in this big dance competition tonight, Dad. Can I go?" asked Miles.
"Where is it?" asked David.
"Evanston," replied Miles.
"Miles, that's a forty minute drive!" exclaimed David.
"Uncle Tom is in the city right now. He can be here in five minutes with one phone call," exclaimed Miles, holding up his cell phone. David couldn't help but smile. Miles was always one step ahead of him.
"OK fine. Try to be home before midnight," ordered David as he headed into the kitchen.
"If it gets too late I'll crash in Jake's room," assured Miles. David nodded in response. Miles was very levelheaded. He knew how to take care of himself.
"Ok fine. Go call Uncle Tom. And don't leave your backpack there. Take it into your room," ordered David. Miles grinned sheepishly and picked up his bag. It was hard to get anything by his dad.
……………….
"Jake. Jake, come here please," yelled Kate up the stairs. Things were a little hectic. Kate had to get Sarah to the auditorium early and that meant leaving the house under Nora's control. Things could sometimes get out of hand. Jake came hopping down the stairs.
"Yo, dude," greeted Jake.
"I need to bandage that wound of yours. I don't want it getting infected," explained Kate as she led Jake into the kitchen.
"Mom, girls don't find a bandage sexy," whined Jake.
"Jacob Alexander Baker, you'll get an infection," warned Kate. Jake made a sad puppy face. Kate grabbed Jake's shirttail and handed it to him. Jake sighed and held his shirt up. Kate covered his latest surgical wound with some antiseptic. It probably stung but Jake didn't flinch. This was a boy who had his spleen taken out after being stabbed in the gut by a tree branch.
"Can't you show off your big scar?" asked Kate as she held some gauze over Jake's newest wound. The older scar ran from the bottom of Jake's chest to a few inches below his belly button.
"It's five months old," replied Jake. "This one is fresh." Kate finished up by taping the gauze in place. Jake frowned. There goes showing off to Emma Morgan.
"Could you go get Sarah please?" asked Kate as Jake lowered his shirt.
"Sure," agreed Jake as he raced off. Kate half expected him to trip and bust his face open. Jake had a knack for hurting himself.
…………….
Sarah was putting some lip gloss on when there was a knock at her door.
"Yeah," announced Sarah. Jake poked his head in.
"Mom, wants you," explained Jake.
"OK. One sec," replied Sarah.
"Lip gloss? Since when do you wear lip gloss?" asked Jake as he walked in and shut the door.
"It's just for tonight. All the other girls will be wearing it," replied Sarah. She finished up and turned around, already dressed and ready.
"How do I look?" asked Sarah.
"Awesome," replied Jake. "That two piece is really cool."
"Is my scar showing?" asked Sarah hastily, tracing a finger along her appendix scar.
"You can barely see it," assured Jake. Sarah nodded.
"You're going to do great tonight," assured Jake. "Much better then that Carla Freeman bitch." Sarah shivered at the mention of her name.
"She's not a dancer. She thinks that's beneath her," explained Sarah.
"Sarah! It's time to go!" shouted Kate from upstairs.
"Crap. Hand me my bag," ordered Sarah as she cleaned up a little. Jake threw Sarah her duffel bag. Sarah was out of the room and heading downstairs before Jake could blink.
"Good lukc," he said as Sarah closed the front door behind her.
………………
Sarah stood in the crowded room of dancers, rubbing her hands together. This was it, the moment she had been waiting for for so long. She looked around her at the other dancers. Why didn't they seem as nervous as she was? As she looked around she noticed a girl who resembled Carla Freeman and remembered everything that had happened that year. She had sure gotten hell from Carla, who didn't like Sarah. Sarah didn't know why she was so hated by her, but it was a fact that Carla and Sarah would never be friends. Sarah had a deep hate for Carla as well, but for good reason. Three months earlier Carla and her friends had cornered Sarah and shoved her belly button so far into a water bottle that she ended up having to have surgery on it. She had never forgotten that, and she would never forgive Carla for it. Carla's rage didn't stop there A couple weeks before the dance competition, Sarah had had an appendectomy. Carla had spread rumors around the school that Sarah was involved in a burglary and was serving time in jail. That rumor vanished as soon as Sarah walked into the school a week later.
As if that weren't bad enough, not long after Sarah had returned, Carla found her again. She was angry because her rumor had fallen through as soon as Sarah came back and cleared her name. Carla had threatened her, but Sarah didn't think too much of it. The liaison officer had told Carla and her friends that if anything else happened to Sarah and any of them were involved he would take matters into his own hands. Carla hadn't touched her since. Carla and her friends had cornered Sarah behind the school at the end of the day. It was six girls against Sarah. Sarah realized she had been wrong when she thought Carla wouldn't touch her again. Carla and her friends jumped Sarah and left her crying and bleeding on the ground with nobody around. Sarah was lucky because somebody had passed around the school claiming to hear sobs and had found her. Sarah was still sporting the bruises from the beating.
The dancers had already started to compete, and most of them were warmed up. Sarah followed the others outside the competition area. Sarah felt a little self conscious in the two piece dance outfit she was wearing because of the scar and the multiple bruises on her stomach.
"Sarah! You can't have your stuff out here" her coach shouted. Sarah looked down at the duffel bad she was carrying and shrugged.
"Go put it in the locker room" she said.
Sarah nodded and quickly ran back to the locker room. And with that, Sarah Baker was gone.