Shelly slipped away from the adults, making her way upstairs. She had seen Tony go up to his father's room after coming out of the infirmary. She walked up to the open door and peeked in. Her cousin lay on his Dad's side of the bed, curled up into a ball. His shoulders shook as he sobbed. Shelly stepped inside, going over to her weeping cousin.
"Tony?"
He looked up. "Shelly? I didn't hear you come in," he said as he sat up and wiped at his eyes.
"I'm sorry about your Dad."
Tony sniffed as he tried to regain his composure. "Yeah. Me too."
Shelly sat down on the bed next to him. Neither one spoke for a moment, then Shelly finally broke the silence.
"Your Dad's going to be okay."
"How do you know that?"
"I haven't seen his ghost."
Tony looked down at her. She met his gaze. "His ghost?" he asked.
"It doesn't happen all the time. But...I can see things. Things other people can't." She looked down at her hands. "I hear their voices, too."
"I don't remember you talking about it before."
Shelly swallowed. "It only started happening the last time I went topside with my Dad. We got separated and I was trying to find my way home, but instead I found a group of tattooed men trying to rob another man, but he wasn't cooperating."
"Purple Dragons," Tony whispered.
Shelly nodded, her eyes becoming haunted. "I've never heard thunder so loud...or seen so much blood." She trembled. "The voices started after that."
"I'm so sorry."
Shelly looked up at him again. "You didn't shoot the man. And you didn't shoot your Dad. He'll forgive you."
"If he ever wakes up."
Shelly put her hand on his. "I've never told anyone about that night. You're the first."
"You haven't even told Kaley?"
Shelly shook her head. "I was afraid to say anything...because I thought I had dreamt the whole thing. When I finally found my Dad and showed him where it happened, there was nothing there. No body, no blood. Nothing."
"If you've never told anyone, why did you tell me?" Tony asked.
"I've wanted to tell you for a long time. Mom and Dad think I can't hear them when they talk, but I'm not deaf. I heard Dad tell Mom that you were getting in with the wrong crowd. I was afraid it was the tattooed men I saw. I wanted to warn you, but I was too afraid to come out of my shell. The voices were really bad and I couldn't get them out of my head."
Tony pulled her into a hug. "Seems like the only thing I'm good for is making people worry."
"Your Dad was trying to protect you," Shelly said. "I know if it was either Blake or Kaley in your situation, my Dad wouldn't hesitate to take a bullet for them. That's just what Daddies do. You can't go blaming yourself. You didn't pull the trigger. And I know uncle Raph wouldn't blame you. So, don't blame yourself."
Tony smiled and held her tighter. "Thanks, kid."
Shelly chuckled. "You're a kid, too, Tony. And as kids we make mistakes our parents have to dig us out of. But, that's why they're the parents. They know a thing or two because they've seen a thing or two."
The cousins turned when they heard a knock on the door. Leonardo stood in the archway, smiling at them.
"How long have you been there?" Shelly asked.
"Long enough," her father replied with a smile. "Ready to go home?"
"Can we come back to visit?"
"Of course."
Shelly beamed. She gave Tony a hug, holding him tight. "Remember, no blaming yourself," she told him.
"I'll try not to," Tony replied.
She broke away and hopped off the bed. She met her father at the door. She turned back to her cousin one final time and waved. Tony waved back.
"If I hear that you're having a pity party I'm gonna kick your butt," Shelly said.
Tony laughed. "I promise, Shelly. No pity party."
Shelly gave a quick nod. "Good. I'll see you later."
"Later."
Tony watched as his uncle and cousin disappeared downstairs. He ran a hand over his Dad's pillow and sighed. Only after he heard the others leave did he get up and go downstairs. He went into the infirmary and laid down on the bed next to his father.
"I'm staying with you until you wake up," Tony whispered. "So, the only way to get rid of me, is to come back."
He closed his eyes and sighed. Listening to the steady rhythm of the heart monitor, he quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.
A/N: A little short, but I wanted to have a moment between Shelly and Tony. I hope you're still all enjoying the story. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps keep me writing. You guys rock!
Disclaimer: see chapter one
