I think you all deserve an update... don't prove me wrong now.
Santa Barbara: December 25, 2012
Shawn stood there, completely dumbstruck. He knew this day would've come eventually, but it seemed forever away. The leather was still black and worn; the hands on the clock were still ticking away. "You… you said I had to get married first." Shawn looked up.
"Well, you're engaged. And the wedding is soon. So, close enough. And I thought you could use it know." Henry gave a small smile as Shawn held the watch in his palm. He didn't know what to say.
"Dad…" Shawn shook his head and took a deep breath.
"You're welcome. But uh… don't show Jonah." Shawn merely nodded as Henry walked away, leaving a stunned Shawn. He continued to stare down at the gift he'd just been given. A few minutes later he felt a hand on his arm.
"What's that?" Juliet's sweet voice filled his ear.
"Dad gave it to me. He… it's a family watch. Supposed to be given on a wedding day." Shawn moved so he was leaning against a wall.
"Wow," she studied it. "It's very beautiful." Shawn nodded his agreement and carefully placed it back in the box which he slipped into his pants pocket. He grabbed Juliet's hand and led her back into the room.
"Good timing squirt, I wanted to talk to you." Jonah made a motion for everyone to leave the room. Maddie and Henry left the room immediately while Juliet hesitated, her hand still in Shawn's. "You too." He nodded at Juliet. She didn't move at his response.
"It's okay Jules." Shawn gave his approval which she had been waiting for. He let go of her hand and Juliet left the room, shutting the door behind her.
"You got a protector on your arms. She's a hot one bro, I'll give you that." Jonah made mindless conversation.
"What do you want?" Shawn couldn't keep the aggressive tone out of his voice if he'd tried.
"Why you got to be like that? We're brother's man. We were close at one time." Jonah pumped a fist.
"We were never close. All you did was tease me and make my life miserable." Shawn sat down in a chair.
"That's what big brothers do. I've apparently done my job well." Jonah smiled but got a frown in return. "Do you remember when dad was in the hospital?" Shawn shifted in his seat.
Santa Barbara: April 4, 1983.
It seemed as if no one knew what was happening. No one could even imagine what was happening right now. This was all before things began to change. Before the fights, and before Jonah's disappearance. Shawn was only eight years old. How was he supposed to know? He grew up in a not so normal family. He had a mom a dad, a brother and that was it. His father was a well-known cop for the Santa Barbara Police Department, his mom was into photography and was a psychologist, and his brother was a pain the butt. Both Jonah and Shawn had photographic memories. Meaning their minds are just like cameras. They take pictures of scenes-moments-times… Their father didn't waste any time in training the young minds.
"How many hats?" He would ask. And both boys would have no choice but to answer.
"How many nails are in that piece of wood?"
"Shawn how many ice cubes are in the freezer?"
"Jonah, how many boats were in the store?" When parents would bring their kids to parks, Zoo's, Museums or whatever, Henry would take his kids to the police department where he was head detective.
"How many criminals came through here in the last twenty minutes and what did they look like?" This was his constant game. If they didn't answer they got more questions or punishments. If they got it right they got praises and tips to figure it out faster.
It started when Shawn was seven. He woke up and ran down the stairs, wanting the delicious breakfast that Maddie always made. Jonah was already there. The family ate, laughed and joked; it was the usual Spencer meal. Then the children went to school. They played with their friends, did their school work and paid attention in class. After school, they would then go home and do their homework, playing outside with each other or other friends. It was a normal day. At least that's what they wanted. But they didn't get that. Nowhere near.
Shawn opened his eyes and looked around his room. Orange walls, white trimming, books and papers laid everywhere. Shawn's closet was shut. He stood up, got dressed and ran down stairs, Jonah was in the kitchen but there was no smell of cooking pancakes or eggs.
"Where's mom?" he asked walking around and the kitchen, just hoping his mom was playing a lame joke.
"I don't know," Jonah shrugged. They ate milk and old cereal. A horn honked-it was the Guster's. Family friends, who drove them to school, they grabbed their belongings and walked outside to the car.
"Hello Jonah, Shawn." Minnie Guster greeted as always.
"Mrs. Guster where's mom and dad?" Shawn asked clicking his seat belt and sharing a look with Jonah.
"They had to work, so I'll be taking you to and from school." She answered turning the car down State Street. Gus waved at them from the front seat; they two boys waved back but shared another look. It wasn't unusual for their parents to be working; they just hardly did it at the same time.
Shawn could remember everything that happened that day. It would always be freshly painted into his mind. He was sitting at his desk, his pencil tapping against the math textbook.
Tap tap tap tap
The faint tick of the clock on the wall.
Tick tick tick tick
Mr. Parker was talking about multiples of 2's, stuff Shawn learned years ago. He looked out the window as a blue bird flew past. Remembering things was easy for him. His father being a cop and his edict memory made school easy for him. He was easily the smartest child in the room. The school had wanted to move Shawn up a grade. He would be exactly with his brother but he'd only be three years behind instead of four. Shawn was six and in the second grade while Jonah was in the sixth. They said he was smart for his age and he could effortlessly be with the older kids. But his dad said no, he wanted his son to get a proper education. It didn't matter if he knew this stuff already. So there he sat there tapping his pencil, and bored out of his mind.
Tap tap tap tap
Listening to the clock tick.
Tick tick tick tick
It happened at 1:15 PM, Tuesday March 3rd 1983. A police officer that he recognized as his Uncle Lou walked into the room stopping Mr. Parker's lesson. Lou Gamble was Henry's partner and friend. Whereas he held no hair, he had the kindest eyes.
"I need to take Mr. Spencer," He said firmly. Shawn sat up straight; he turned and looked at him. "Pack up your stuff kiddo." he whispered. Shawn jumped up, more than happy to leave that dreadful classroom.
"Of course," Mr. Parker nodded, he knew about Henry's position; he also knew something was probably wrong by the look on Lou's face. Shawn didn't notice it. He was too happy to leave that class. But he should've paid better attention. He could feel everyone's eyes on him as he packed his things and walked out of the classroom. Lou walked behind him, a hand placed on Shawn's shoulders as they walked to Ms. Gerritsen's room.
"Stay here," he said walking inside and coming out with Jonah a few minutes later. He walked them outside and down the stairs of the school. A strong gust of wind hit Shawn and blew his brown hair onto his face. Lou put them in the back of the police car and he drove away. They drove ten miles and five minutes to the hospital. He pulled in the parking space and shut the car off.
"Uncle Lou, what happened?" Shawn asked. This is when he finally noticed his face and his eyes; they held a look of sorrow and pain. Lou got out of the car and opened their door; they stepped out and were met with rain fall. They walked inside in the hospital; both boys were able to recognize every face. It seemed as the station was here. The rookies, the detectives, the coffee guys, donut guys, and even the computer guys. Everyone was there. They made two lefts and a right before coming to the waiting room. In a corner was Maddie, she was sitting, crying, and shaking, a man was rubbing her back.
"Dad!" Jonah called thinking it was his father. The man stood- it wasn't him, but Herb Wilkins the police chief. Lou took Jonah's and Shawn's shoulder and walked them over to their mom. Herb whispered something in his ear before walking away and Lou following him.
"Mom?" Shawn asked wedging himself between her legs. Jonah looked around the room. The Guster's where in the way back watching them. Everyone was here except Henry. Maddie looked up and placed a hand on Shawn's arm, the other reaching for Jonah.
"Dad got into an accident." She whispered pulling them to her. Her voice was hoarse and sounded like it hadn't been used in years.
"Can we see him?" Shawn's voice was low. She nodded and slowly led them over to a room where they walked inside. Henry Spencer was asleep; his head was wrapped in gauze and white bandages covered his torso.
"Dad?" Shawn stopped walking and couldn't bear to look. Seeing his father weak was like a taboo. No one was ever supposed to see it. "What happened to him?" Jonah walked over and watched his father closely.
Maddie gulped, "He was… in an accident."
"You said that already." Jonah looked over. Maddie grabbed Shawn's hand and walked him over to a chair; she sat down in the chair and pulled him onto her lap. Shawn let his mother wrap her arms around him and hug him close. "Mom?"
"He was driving from a crime scene. A perp shot the window, cracking the glass and he couldn't see. The car went head first into another police vehicle." The room stayed silent. Shawn and Jonah had been told multiple times that something might happen to their father. They just never expected anything to actually happen.
Santa Barbara: December 25, 2012
"What about it?" Jonah looked away and played with the thin blanket.
"I wanted to protect you Shawn. I wanted to somehow bring you away from everything that was happening. I may not have showed it but I loved you. I didn't want you to see dad like that." Jonah shook his head and Shawn stayed silent. They sat there in an awkward silence and did nothing but stare at the ground.
After a few minutes, Shawn broke the silence, "You did a hell of a job showing it. Merry Christmas." Shawn stood up and left the room. He grabbed Juliet's hand and said nothing to his parents as he dragged her away. Juliet let him control her, knowing he had a reason for it. She said nothing as they got into the elevator. She said nothing as his grip tightened to the point where she could feel her blood stop. She said nothing as Shawn let out a sob and she said nothing as she let him cry.
Yes, Shawn will be crying a lot in this story. I want to show a deeper, softer, more emotional side to him. One I wish they would show in the show. Haha. Double word right there.
