Firstly I would like to thank all the kind people who took the time to review my first six chapters. My apologies for the long waits for updates, I'm swamped with University work at the moment. I have four assignments sitting waiting to be written by the end of March and in about three weeks I go on placement which leaves me very little time for fan fiction *cries*. So yes sorry for the lateness in updates but I have managed to churn out a chapter.
The words ricocheted around him as Shawn desperately fought to claw against the tidal wave of rage threatening to overcome him. Ire pulsated within as he sat, Cameron sobbing in the gulf of silence.
"What?" he whispered finally, the syllable cracked with the weight of incredulous
"I saw"
"Saw what exactly?" snapped Shawn sharply, his words abrupt and callous.
His blood simmered with the searing heat of hostility, the fuel of fury burned within him; Cameron's distress insignificant in the wake of such indignation. He struggled to fathom how his son could withhold such vital information; he couldn't comprehend how one so young could be so cruel.
"The window broke" choked Cameron, words thickened by tears, "I was in my room and I heard it smash, Chey sounded scared-"
His pitiful sob weaned to silence, a ragged breath of fear ascended as he closed his eyes blanketing his father's wrath with blackness.
"What did you see?" Shawn's words were breathless, the hiss of dissent threaded through his tone.
"I saw a man" snivelled Cameron, "He, h-he was ta-taking Chey away...I screamed"
Shawn closed his eyes, the mental image too painful for him to consider. Guilt swamped him as he attempted to override the lump he could feel building in his throat; fractions of that fateful night swam back as he reminisced. He remembered how he'd been too panicked over his daughter to soothe his stricken son, contemplated how Cameron had begged and pleaded to stay by his side, clamouring for attention that he had not been able to give; with a bitter pang the memory of Cameron attempting to tell him something only to be brushed away surfaced. Too wrapped in his own heartbreak he had neglected his eldest in favour of mourning his youngest, shipping Cameron to his parents' in an effort to maintain the charade of parenting during such a lack of emotional equilibrium.
It was his own fault Cameron had carried the burden of knowledge alone, neither parent had thought to ask him if he'd seen anything, had attributed any attempt at speech that night to antagonistic and panicked backchat, as reluctance to go to his grandparents.
Eyes cracked open and Shawn found himself drowning in russet pools of despair, anger drained from him in the wake of such desolation and he sought his son's hand, tightly grasping the cold and quivering flesh in an attempt to soothe the heartache.
"Do you remember what he looked like?"
Pale faced, Cameron nodded slowly, eyes still agleam with the threat of fresh beads of sorrow.
Shawn gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Could you describe him to the sheriff?"
Courageously Cameron nodded a second time, allowing his father to wrap him in a silent vow of self assurance, resting his head against Shawn's chest, the guilt and unease rippling through him in synch with his father's heartbeat.
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It was twilight when Shawn next sat; the wind blew from the east, slicing through his shirt as he shivered yet still he made no effort to head home for warmth. The raging air was no colder than the well of sadness he felt himself drowning in as he sat plucking blades of grass, rolling greenery between his fingers as he waited.
A lifetime had passed since Cameron's revelation, a whirlwind of police statements and frantic calls between departments and they were free to go. Liberated to worry and panic once more Shawn had taken his son home before leaving swiftly, not so much as a muttered farewell departed his lips in regard to his wife.
Shawn continued to stew in the weaning sunlight, fingers continuing to tear at the lawn beneath him as he vented his frustration on the innocent blades to try and distract his mind from torturously repeating the day's events.
His hands faltered as the shadow fell across him, casting azure slits of self pity to the sky, Shawn found his haggard features reflected in whiskey orbs of concern.
"Let me guess...Rebecca called?" murmured Shawn thickly, tone creaking with lack of use. He shifted slightly as Hunter crouched beside him; flinched as the younger man's hand brushed him consolingly, rebuking the trail of pity he was adamant came with it.
"She's worried about you" explained Hunter, "She said you dropped Cameron off and then ran"
"I never ran" spat Shawn furiously, "I had things to do"
"Like sulk in a churchyard?" questioned Hunter scathingly
"Fuck off Hunter!"
Silence claimed them both as the curse split the air; it had been a long time since Hunter had personally been the recipient of such brutal hostility on Shawn's part. Regrettably he found his memory's eye immediately seeking the last time he'd been sworn at and the year long absence of their friendship thereafter.
"Sorry"
The breathless hiss of remorse shattered the stillness as he felt Shawn inch closer to him, seeking forgiveness for his harshness.
" I shouldn't have said you were sulking" replied Hunter quietly, " Where did you take Cameron? Rebecca was going out of her mind when I got there; she said you just took off without telling her where you were going."
"Maybe I was afraid of getting slapped again" Shawn snapped waspishly, riving fresh grass from the turf with renewed vengeance, paying little heed to how the scabs chafed and cracked beneath the bandages still binding his palms.
"I took him to the Police station" he continued flatly, as if the information should have been obvious.
" Why?"
" Cameron saw who took Cheyenne" Shawn persisted in the same monotonous voice of melancholy.
Hunter's face remained passive, features stoic as he gazed at his fallen friend. He draped a comforting arm across his slender shoulders, a sense of relief flooded through him as Shawn allowed him to remain there.
" At least the police have a description" he offered, attempting desperately to provide the broken man with some solace.
" They put out an amber alert" Shawn mumbled, words threaded with the crushed remnants of a hope he no longer dared to feel. Hope had so far resulted in nothing but heartbreak, yet still he sat in the confinements of expectation, heart hitching with the trust that the system couldn't fail him once more. Focusing cobalt to the disappearing clouds, Shawn watched as the red haze that had scorched the heavens was claimed by a smoky grey.
"Amber alert?"
Shawn shifted his gaze from the sky to his friend, the dim outline of his features prominent in their confusion.
"It's this thing they have in Houston where they can search further than one city for a missing child" he explained, "Sherriff called the Houston department, Cameron's description got put on all media outlets throughout the entire state" "So now the search is state-wide?"
Shawn nodded slowly, let out a low moan as the cold rippled through him, drawing from him the breathless whine of defeat. He didn't care how cold it was here, in his heart of hearts he knew the reception would be much frostier at home, he couldn't bear to have to fight his way through the tension once more.
"Maybe you should go home and tell Rebecca this" whispered Hunter tightening his clutch on the Texan.
Exhaling shakily Shawn tried to quench the dampness he could feel threatening to overpower him.
"All we do is fight"
"It'll get better" Hunter promised, soothingly, " But the longer you stay out here, the further apart you'll get"
Shawn swallowed deeply over the lump swelling in his throat, he wanted nothing more than to resolve the pettiness between he and his wife but found himself rooted by fear.
"Will you come with me?" Shawn asked, eyes beseeching through their salted glaze.
"Sure"
He stumbled in Hunter's grasp as the Connecticut native hauled him to his feet, steadying him as they began to make their way back.
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Rebecca filled the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room as soon as she heard the front door slam, twisting her hands in apprehension, she felt her heart lurch into her throat with relief at the sight of her husband.
"I'm sorry I never-"
"The police called" Rebecca cut across Shawn's apology promptly
Muted Shawn stood expectantly, fists clenched with dread.
"They said someone called from Amarillo; they think they've found her"
For the second time in as many hours Shawn found himself rendered speechless.
