Chapter Six [6] ~ The Return
~Billy~

Jack sat on the couch frantic that he had not heard from Billy. He was really surprised that he had not called even once. Billy’s quest to find Mackenzie was understandable, but not hearing from him made him suspect the worse.
“Jack can I umm talk to you for a second?” Billy asked as he walked up behind him.
“Billy where have you been? We’ve been worried about you buddy,” Jack said as he stood to hug him.
“I know and I’m really sorry about that but…”
“Billy is that you?” John asked as he came down the stairs.
“Yeah, dad. I…”
“Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?”
“I know dad, but I had to…”
“There’s no excuse. I understand your need to find Mackenzie but there’s no excuse for running off without a word.”
“Let’s just be glad he’s home dad. Although you do have a lot of explaining to do,” Jack said as he looked at Billy.
“I know, but...”
“Billy, didn’t you think your mom and I would be worried?” John asked as he interrupted Billy again.
“Mom…yeah right. She’s the reason for all of this.”
“Billy what are you talking about?”
“She’s the reason Mac left. If it wasn’t for her…”
“What do you mean? What could your mom do that was so bad that would make Mackenzie leave? Better yet, why would she do something like that?”
“Because she wanted to hurt Mackenzie.”
“Why in the world would she hurt Mackenzie? Billy your not making any sense.” John said exasperated over what Billy was saying, or rather not saying.
“It’s a long story, but the main reason is…”
“She didn’t want me dating Billy,” Mackenzie says as she emerges from the shadows.
“Mackenzie, you gave us quite the scare. It’s good to see you.” John says shocked to see Mackenzie standing beside Billy. He comes over and gives her a hug as Jack says, “Yes we were very worried about you. Is everything ok, you haven’t been hurt have you?” he goes to Mackenzie as it is now is turn to hug her.
“No, I’m fine, now that they found me…”
“They…”
“Billy and Raul. If it wasn’t for them…” she stops as Billy comes to take her hand.
“Raul?” Where is he now?” Jack asked surprised that Raul would agree to help Billy after everything that happened.
“I’m here…” Raul says as he and Rianna enter the room.
“Ok now that everyone is here, what is this all about? Why would Jill be the reason you left?”
“Well...” Mackenzie began but is interrupted by Billy. “After the prom mom realized Mac and I had feelings for each other. So she threatened to ruin Mac’s life is she pursued a relationship with me. When she realized something still might be going on she threatened to call Mac’s mom, who Mac doesn’t want to be reunited with. Mom never…” Billy pauses as he thinks about all Jill put them through. Mackenzie squeezes Billy’s hand and continues, “Jill has never really like me. And when she found out that Billy and I had feelings for each other she threatened me over and over. She promised to ruin my life.”
“I can’t believe that Jill would do all of this. How long has this been going on?”
“Since the prom. That’s when we realized that we could no longer hide our felling for each other.”
“And Jill must have sensed something too, that’s when the threats started. And when she found out that I didn’t want my mom to find me she started threatening to call my mom.”
“So you are saying that Jill purposefully set out to harm you? And to hurt you she called your mother?”
“Yes…”
“Why in the world would she do that?” John asked still surprised after hearing all that Jill did.
Mackenzie lowers her voice as she looks down and quietly says, “Because she hates me.”
“Aww, Mackenzie she doesn’t hate you,” Jack said moved by how sad Mackenzie looked.
“Yeah, she does. She told me. She never trusted me, she thought I was out to get something from Billy or Kay. She said I was some trash off the street looking for a easy buck or two, and when it was proved that I was really Kay’s granddaughter that gave her more reason to hate me. Because I was really a Chancellor.” John came over and touched Mackenzie on her shoulder ashamed of the hurt his ex-wife caused Mackenzie. He softly asked, “Have you spoken to your grandmother or your father?”
“No…I…I haven’t seen or spoken to them yet,” she said softly as she looked down again. Billy squeezed her hand as he said, “We…we’re headed there next. I, we just wanted to come and let you know that we are all ok.”
“Where did they find you Mackenzie?”
“They…I…”
“In the playhouse…”
“Playhouse? Jack’s and Ashley’s old playhouse?”
“Yeah, I showed Mac the playhouse a long time ago and it sorta became our place but I had forgotten about it. But something Raul said reminded me of it.”
“You were there that whole time?”
“No, I left but…I came back and that was the only safe place I could think of.”
“Why did you leave home Mackenzie? I know Jill was more than enough but…” Billy again tightened his grasp of Mackenzie’s hand as he led her to the couch. She quietly told why she didn’t want her mother found. Jack and John both and hugged Mackenzie as she told he story.
“You have to go and tell you father and grandmother what you just told us,” John quietly says.
“Yeah, and we’ll be right behind you. Just in case Jill…” Jack stopped as Mackenzie nodded her head letting him know she understood what he was saying. The teens walked out hand in hand ready to face whatever they might have to encounter at the Chancellor Estate.

~Mackenzie~

“I don’t know if I can do this…” Mackenzie said scared that her mother and stepfather would be waiting for her when she opened the door.
“I’m right by your side, we all are.” Billy said trying to reassure Mackenzie.
"Yeah Mackenzie, you don't have to worry," Rianna said.
"Mackenzie you're safe with us," Raul adds trying to keep Mackenzie at ease. She smiles touched by their concern, but could they really protect her from Ben? And how would Jill react once she sees her again? Halfway up the walkway Mackenzie stops ready to turn around, but Billy’s grasps tightens and she is calmed once again. As they come to the door Mackenzie stops as she takes a deep breath. "You can do this Mackenzie," Rianna says as she puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Mac shakes her head telling them that she is ready to enter the house. Mackenzie unlocks the door; she slowly turns the knobs as she opens it. She tentatively steps inside when she see that no one is there. She whispers, “I wonder if anyone is home.”
“That’s a good question, where could…” Billy begins to ask but he is interrupted by a noise in the sitting room. Mackenzie stiffens, frightened as to who it could be. Esther rounds the corner and comes face to face with the teens. Mac quickly stands behind them unsure of who she was coming face to face with.
“Oh…oh…Mrs. Chancellor, come quick. Mrs. Chancellor hurry!” Esther shouts.
As Kay is coming from the kitchen she says, “Esther what on earth are you yelling about…” she stops as she sees Billy, Raul and Rianna. “Oh my goodness, has something happened to Mackenzie. Oh please tell me she’s ok…”
“No grandma…I’m ok.”
“Mackenzie honey…I’m so glad you came back,” Kay cries as she rushes to hug Mackenzie.
“Don’t you ever leave us again.” Mackenzie cries as her grandmother hugs her truly feeling safe. “I’m so sorry…I thought…”
“Shh…everything is ok now, we’ll protect you.” They continue to hug never wanting to let go. “I love you grandma. Is my dad here?”
“He went to the police station to see if there was any news about yo…” The door suddenly opens and Brock enters the house and father and daughter are again reunited.
“Oh Mackenzie…”
“Dad…” is all Mackenzie can muster out as she rushes to the safety of his arms. Sobbing she holds him tighter and says, “I was so sacred I would never get the chance to see you again. I would never get the chance to tell you how much I love you.”
“I love you too Mackenzie and you never have to go anywhere. If you need some help all you ever have to do is talk to me and I will protect you from anything.” As Mackenzie and Brock continue to hug, Kay hugs Billy Raul and Rianna and thanks them for bringing Mac back to them.
As they move toward the sitting room Mackenzie quickly hugs Esther and the front door opens again. Jill gazes upon the reunion and says, “Billy, you’re bac…” she suddenly stops midsentence as she notices how everyone is looking at her. As she attempts to speak to Billy again he turns his back on her and continues to walk in the room, not caring about what she has to say.
“Billy, please…” When she attempts to walk toward the sitting room Kay steps in way and says, “Jill, I think you’ve done more than enough already.”
“You can’t stop me from seeing my son.”
“I have nothing to say to you. I don’t want to talk to you at all.”
“But Billy I want to explain…”
“You can’t explain why you did what you did and even if you could I don’t want to hear it.”
“Billy please…”
“No!” he says as he once again turns his back on his mother and goes to sit by Mackenzie. Kay shakes her head at Jill as she goes in the room to be with Mackenzie.
Holding her hand Brock says, “Mackenzie honey, why did you leave? Was it something we did?”
“Yes darling, why did you leave us? We’ve been so worried.”
“I saw my mother and Ben here and I didn’t…I couldn’t let them take me back.”
“As long as I am here, that will never happen,” Brock says as he hugs her once more. “I have to thank you kids for bringing Mackenzie back to us. I don’t know how I can repay you…”
“You don’t have to repay us, this is where Mackenzie belongs. This is her home and we were willing to do whatever it took to make sure she came back,” Raul says as Rianna squeezes his hand happy that he was beginning to forgive Billy and Mackenzie for what they did.
“Well, you young men and young lady gave us back our greatest possession, you gave us back Mackenzie.” As Kay begins to tear up Mackenzie goes over to her and hugs her once again.
“I love you grandma,” she turns to look at Brock and says, “I love you too dad.”
“And we love you too sweetheart.”
“Yes we do.” They sit as Mackenzie recounts why she felt she had to leave. How she thought her mother and stepfather would try to take her away and how she thought she had no other choice but to run away. When asked why she was so afraid to return to her mother’s Billy held her hand as she told of Ben’s abuse. Their anger grew as Mackenzie continued to tell of her life with her mother. As she began to tell of his attempted assault the doors of the sitting room burst open and in walked Amanda and Ben. Billy and Raul rushed to shield Mackenzie as Rianna rushed to her side to hold her hand.
“What is the meaning of this?” Brock shouted.
“I demand to see Mackenzie!” Ben shouted in reply.
“No you will not be seeing Mackenzie, not now not ever,” Kay said as she went to stand beside Brock.
“You can’t keep me from seeing her,” Ben said as he continued to yell.
“You will not be coming anywhere near my daughter,” Brock said as he coldly looked at Ben.
“She’s my daughter too,” Amanda said barely above a whisper.
“Well you certainly haven’t acted like it,” Brock said surprised that Amanda would allow Mackenzie to be abused.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” she asked shocked by Brock’s tone.
“You will never put your hands on her again. Do you hear me?” Kay yelled at Ben.
“What in the hell are you talking about?” Ben shouted.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about!”
“Mackenzie have you been lying to people again?” Ben asked angrily.
“You don’t have to worry about what she is saying to anyone ever again.”
“Answer me dammit!” he yelled as he stepped toward Mackenzie.
“Don’t you dare come near her again,” Billy shouted.
“That’s right, stay away from her!” Raul shouted as Ben started to walk toward Mackenzie again. “Who are you to tell me anything,” he asked unmoved by Raul or Billy trying to protect Mackenzie. “Mackenzie get over here right now,” he yelled as Mackenzie recoiled in fear. “Or else…”
“Or else what…” Billy asked as his anger grew.
With a smirk on his face Ben begins to say, “or else I will…”
“Start hitting me again?” Mackenzie asked as she finally found some courage.
“Mackenzie!” Amanda shouted trying to stop Mackenzie’s ‘confession’.
“Mom, how can you stand there and act like he never hit me or even you?”
“Mackenzie, how can you stand there and lie on Ben?” she asked nervous Mackenzie’s truth will set Ben off again.
“I’m not lying and you know it! He was always putting his hands on me and when I turned to you for help…you did nothing.”
“Mackenzie please!” Amanda pleaded as she sensed Ben’s increasing anger.
“No I stayed quiet for too long as is. You never cared enough about me to keep him from hitting me and there’s no way I’m gonna keep quiet now.”
“You lying little b*tch, I never put my hands on you and you know it.” Ben shouted tired of Mackenzie’s admissions.
“Yes you did! You would hit me over nothing, and the more you would hit me the less my mother would say,” Mackenzie said as she grew stronger the more she said.
“Why are you telling lies Mackenzie?”
“I’m not. Mom after all he did, after he tried to force me to…” she stopped trying her best to hold on the courage that she found. She cried, “You still wouldn’t help me. When I came to you, what did you do? You slapped me and turned your back on me!”
“That…that was a mistake,” Amanda said trying to apologize for the hurt she caused Mackenzie with her own hands.
“Forced you to do what”? Kay asked as she noticed the darkened expression on Ben’s face.
“Mackenzie, don’t you dare say a word. Or you will be sorry…” Ben shouted as he tried to keep Mackenzie from telling what he did to her.
“What did he do?” Brock asked as he noticed the same expression.
“After he hit me and beat my mother up he came to my room and started apologizing. And when he thought I had accepted his apology he started kissing me…and touching me. And when I tried to scream he threatened to make it worse than what it would already be.” There was a collective gasp of shock as Mac told what her stepfather put her through. The most heartfelt gasp was from the one person not in the room. It came from Jill, as she was standing outside the room listening to the commotion going on in the room. She was she reason these people were here harassing Mackenzie. If she had known what Ben put Mackenzie through she never would have called them. She would have done all she could to protect Mackenzie herself.
Mackenzie continued, “But you still wouldn’t stop, no matter how much I begged you. You just kept on kissing me and trying to touch me. And when I finally fought you off and ran to mom for help. You had already turned her against me. So I did the only thing I could do, I left and I am never going back.”
“You never knew when to shut your mouth did you? I’ll teach you yet…” He reared his hand back to hit Mackenzie. Too shocked by what Ben was trying to do, everyone stood frozen. But before he could hit her someone reached out and grabbed his arm. Raul and Billy rushed to hold Brock back as he tried to go after Ben. Amanda stood with her hand covering her mouth as the words from Mackenzie registered. Kay and Rianna rushed to pull Mackenzie from Ben’s reach.
“Don’t you ever out your hands on her again!” Jill yelled as she held Ben’s arm. “If it’s the last thing I ever do you will never touch her again!”
“Mom!” Billy yelled as he watched Ben angered by Jill stopping him, snatch his arm away from Jill and retaliate by swinging on her. His fist grazed her face just as the police, Paul, John and Jack rushed into the house. Having seen Ben strike someone they arrested him on the spot. John, Jack and Billy rushed to see if Jill was fine. As she assured them that she was fine the police escorted a handcuffed Ben out the door. As he was leaving he yelled, “Amanda get to the police station so you can post my bail. We will come back and get Mackenzie when I’m done and we can leave this god-forsaken place once and for all!”
“I’m not going anywhere with you…”
“Yes you are. You have no choice…” he said as the police lead him to the squad car.
Amanda slowly comes to stand by Mackenzie. She tenderly touches her face and whispers, “I’m sorry.” She touches her face one last time and turns to follow behind Ben. Mackenzie tries her best to keep from crying for she knows her mother will never be in her life as long as she is with Ben.
“Miss would you like to press charges?”
“Yes I would.” Jill answered softly
“Would it be possible for us to get a restraining order against him? We don’t want him to come back and harass my granddaughter.”
“Yes, but you need to come to the police station for that as well.”
“Fine, thank you. We will be there.” Jill looks at Mackenzie as she is still holding her face and says, “I’m really sorry Mackenzie. I never wanted any harm to come to you. If I had known…”
“I know,” she softly says as she reaches out to touch Jill’s hand.
“I am sorry,” Jill whispers again touched by Mackenzie gesture. Brock, Kay, John, Jack and Paul are over to the side discussing what should be done next as Rianna comes over and takes Mackenzie’s hand to lead her back to where Raul and Billy are standing. And Mackenzie leaves Jill stops her once more and touches her face where he mother touched her last and says, “She doesn’t realize what she is losing. She’ll come back to you when she does.” Mackenzie softly nods her head as a tear rolls down her cheek as the thought of losing her mother hits her again. Jill wipes the tear away and says, “You don’t have to cry…you’re safe now.” When Billy is sure that Mackenzie is fine he goes to Jill.
“Mom…”
“Yes, Billy?”
“Thank you,” he says as he quickly hugs her. He returns to Mackenzie’s side as the teens leave with Kay and Brock as they head toward the police station.
“Why did you do that?” Jack asks as he stands next to Jill.
“Do what?”
“Grab his arm when he tried to hit Mackenzie?”
“Because I brought her enough pain, and I couldn’t stand here and let her endure more because of me.”
“Well, I thank you as I am sure everyone else will,” John says as he stands next to Jill. “Would you like me to go to the police station with you?”
“Yes thank you,” Jill says as they leave to go to the police station. “Billy hugged me. Maybe in time he will forgive me.”
“I think he already has,” Jack says as they enter the car.
“Why would you think that?” Jill asked surprised by Jack’s response.
“You helped the girl he loves.”