Chapter Four:

"The only question left is what to do about Shawn," Madeline said as they looked over the divorce papers.

"Well, he's already settled here. Same house, same school, same friends. Plus, with you traveling all the time…" Henry explained.

"Yeah. I think it would be easier for Shawn to stay here," Madeline admitted. As the last of the papers were signed, neither parent noticed Shawn quietly slip out the door.

"Gus, I have the best idea ever. We're going to run away," Shawn suggested to his best friend.

"Why in the world is that a good idea?" Gus questioned his friend as he looked through his pre-Algebra homework.

"Because I refuse to live with my dad, and apparently my mom doesn't want me," Shawn murmured, trying not to show his vulnerability to his best friend, but failing.

"So we're both supposed to run away? I happen to like my family, even if you don't like yours." Gus refused to give into Shawn.

"Gus, come on, it'll be fun. We can go live in the woods, hunt for food, and make our own clothes. Imagine, never having to go to gym again."

"Shawn, why would I ever want to live in the woods?"

"Gus, please. Just for a little while, until my parents come to their senses and get back together," Shawn explained.

Gus sighed. "We have a test tomorrow."

"Oh, well, then I guess that's that. So long buddy."

Shawn headed towards the woods, determined to live out on his own. He'd show his parents; he didn't need either of them. He was fourteen now, he could take care of himself.

The sun was beginning to set, and it was getting cold. Shawn shivered, and tried to find a good place to sleep for the night. He admitted to himself that maybe this wasn't the greatest idea, but living with his dad was even worse.

Shawn heard the distant howl of a wolf. He jumped when something rustled in the bushes behind him. A rabbit hopped out, and Shawn cursed. If only Gus had agreed to go along with him. Then he wouldn't be forced to do all this alone.

Shawn could hear the crunch of leaves all around him, and the distant sound of voices. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but there were lots of them. It would be just his luck to have stumbled into some mobsters' secret hideout. He crawled into the bushes, desperate not to be caught by whoever may be coming.

"Have you seen him?" a man's voice became distinct.

"No, but keep looking. He's supposed to be here somewhere," another man's voice spoke.

Shawn didn't know who they were talking about, but he would stay hidden until they disappeared.

"Okay, move onto the next area," the first man said.

Shawn stayed in the bushes. He continued to hear the distant voices. After a long time, he couldn't stay awake any longer. He curled up in the dirt and drifted off to sleep.

"Shawn! Shawn, where are you?" a frantic voice called out. Shawn could barely recognize the voice of his father. He didn't know how he came to be lying in the dirt, beams of light going in every direction.

"Dad?" Shawn crawled out of the bushes, disoriented.

"Shawn? Over here, we found him!" Henry called out. He pulled his son into his arms, grateful that he was okay.

Shawn was still confused by everything. He didn't remember why he had been alone in the woods.

"It's okay. You're going to be all right," Henry murmured, hugging his son tightly. Shawn returned the hug, understanding that his dad had been truly concerned for him.

As the gathered rescue team began to disperse, Maddie ran up to hug her son. Both parents held their son tight, neither wanting to let him go. They loaded him into the car and took him home.

Henry tucked his son into bed, eternally grateful to have him home. From the moment he had realized that Shawn had run off, Henry had wanted to have him back. The first stop had been to Gus's house, but Shawn's best friend had no clear idea where he had gone. Henry had pulled as many strings as he could at the precinct to get a rescue team out into the woods. And now, the nightmare was over.

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, My baby you'll be," Henry sang to his son. The song he would be singing for many years to come.