CHAPTER 2
A few hours later, Juliet had to leave. Shawn avoided the question that Eliza had asked earlier and began bonding with her.
"So, what's your favorite color?" Eliza asked. Shawn thought for a moment.
"I'm going to go with, um, lime green." He answered. Eliza smiled.
"I like pink. What's your favorite food?" She continued. Her voice was sweet, but at the same time, sounded hurt.
"Pineapple!" He told her quickly, not even having to think. She giggled and pulled her blankets up around her shoulders.
"I've never had a daddy before. Are they nice?" She questioned. Shawn pushed away all the bad thought of his father and said,
"Yes, they are very nice." She smiled.
"Mommies are bad, right?" She innocently stated.
"Not all mommies. My mommy was nice. Remember Juliet? She will be a mommy someday. Does she seem nice?" Shawn tried to turn her thoughts.
"I don't know. I guess so." She looked down, but quickly looked back up again. "Why? Do you have a crush on her?" Eliza giggled jokingly. Shawn laughed and avoided the question. A doctor walked in with a stack of papers and handed them to Shawn.
"Once you finish signing these, she can leave." She said and walked out.
"Can I stay with you, uh, Shawn?" She questioned. Shawn thought for a moment, wondering if he was able to care for the young thing.
"Of course you can. Just let me finish these papers." He smiled, but the smile quickly faded. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like Eliza was his own, like he had known her longer than just three hours. It's weird. I've only felt like this for… for… Juliet. He thought. It was such a vague thought, but truly had much more meaning. He continued signing the last paper. He wasn't sure if a parent had to sign the papers, but it was too late then. He stood up, and helped Eliza sit up.
"Do you think you'll be able to walk?" He asked, knowing when he got any treatments at hospitals as a kid, he wasn't able to walk steadily for the first few hours. She nodded confidently and shifted to a position where her feet hung off the bed. Shawn helped her off the bed, and as he let go of her, she fell to the ground. Shawn helped her up and lifted her back onto the bed.
"Am I going to be able to walk again?" She frowned and Shawn could see tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, you're just tired. You'll be able to walk after you get some rest." He explained. She nodded. "Can you carry me?" She asked lifting her arms up. He picked her up and swung her around his hip. She instinctively wrapped her hands around his neck. Her hospital gown was much too big on her and she looked as if she was swimming in it. Then a thought hit Shawn. What is she going to wear?
As they walked out of the hospital, Shawn tried to think of what to do. I'll call Gus. He decided and got out his phone. He dialed Gus's number and waited for him to pick up. "Hello?" Gus answered using his 'phone voice.'
"Hey, Gus! Can you come pick me up? I'm at the hospital." He asked.
"What? Are you okay?" He questioned frantically. "I'm fine! I just had to bring a girl here. She was just separated from her mom at the crime scene." He hinted, refusing to use the word died.
"That's terrible! I'll be over soon." He said and hung up. Shawn sat down on a bench with Eliza. "Someone will be here soon to pick us up." He explained. She nodded. The young girl yawned and rubbed her head. A moan escaped her mouth. "What's wrong?" He asked. She placed her hand on her forehead and sucked in a breath of air. She sat very still.
Suddenly, she sat up straight and shook her head. She looked up at Shawn, who had a puzzled look on his face. "Sorry," She mumbled. "Mommy hates when I do that." She messed with her gown.
"Do what? Does that happen a lot?" Shawn had a million questions.
"Yeah, but don't tell my mommy or she'll hurt me. Last time it happened, she did this." Eliza lifted her gown up to her thigh and exposed a large cut on it. The wound looked somewhat new, like it had happened earlier that day. His eyes widened.
"Your mommy did that?" Shawn was astonished. She nodded.
"Usually, I get really bad and just start yelling and hitting people. When that happens, my mommy gets real angry. One time she didn't feed me for two days!" She explained. Shawn lowered his eyebrows.
"Well, I'm okay if you do that. I don't think you mean to do whatever you did, right?" He assumed.
"No, but my mommy thinks I do it to be a brat. Except she calls me a different word. I'm not allowed to say it." Her voice faded.
Gus's car pulled up and Shawn lifted her up, still questioning what just happened. He sat in the front seat and sat her on his lap.
"Hi there, what's your name?" Gus asked.
"Eliza." She answered as Shawn strapped a seatbelt over them.
"How old are you?" Gus inquired.
"I'm five." She told him.
"Oh, Gus, I'm going to need rides for the next couple of days." Shawn said casually.
"What? Nuh-uh, Shawn. You can take the bus." He retorted. Shawn whispered in Eliza's ear and told her to tell Gus what he had just told her. "Please, Gus. I don't want to take the bus. Plus, you keep your car in very good shape." Eliza recited. Shawn smiled at Gus. Gus sighed. "Fine, but only for a little while." Gus agreed.
"Oh, and just this once, I need you to drive me to Target first." Shawn added. Gus sucked his teeth and angrily turned into a plaza. He parked by Target, and turned off his blue Toyota Echo. Shawn lifted Eliza back into his arms. They walked inside and many people stared at the little girl in Shawn's arms, who was only wearing a hospital gown. They walked over to the little girl's section, a place Shawn never thought he would go. "Do you want to pick out a few outfits?" Shawn asked setting Eliza down. He held her hands, which helped her get her balance. Her legs were shaky, but she stood up. Shawn slowly let go of her hands. "I'm standing!" Eliza exclaimed. Shawn and Gus laughed. Eliza took a few steps and held onto a rack of dresses. She grabbed a denim dress with black leggings.
"Ooh, I like this." She squealed. Shawn took it off the rack. He felt like a penguin in a desert.
"Uh, let's go try it on." He wasn't sure what size would fit her, so he got one of each. They found a dressing room and Eliza stopped them. "Girls only." She giggled and went inside.
"Gus I need to talk with you." Shawn whispered. Gus turned towards him. "So, while I was waiting for you to come, something happened." He began. Gus lowered his eyebrows. "All of a sudden, Eliza just, like, froze, and she said that it happens a lot. Have you ever heard of anything like that?" He asked the pharmaceutical salesman. Gus shook his head. Shawn sighed.
Eliza came out and did a 360° in front of them. "It looks great!" Shawn told her smiling.
They got a few more outfits, some pajamas, underwear, socks, and shoes. After two hours of shopping, Gus drove them home. Shawn thanked Gus and walked inside, wondering what it would be like to have a daughter of his own.
Hey guys! Please read and review! I have about 8 chapters written but I have to get them transferred onto the computer. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write a review for me. Even if it is just "Good" or "update." Just please write one!
