A/N: Ok, so here's the next chapter. More than a thousand words! I'm very proud of myself, this is by far the longest chapter I've posted on this story. Ahem, anyways... Quick note: Henry isn't just being an asshole here, I'll get more into the family dynamics later. So just go with it for now, and don't hate on him too much. : )
Shawn had heard that people regaining consciousness was just like waking up. And if by 'waking up' they meant 'splitting headache, pain everywhere, dizziness, nausea', yeah, they were right.
He groaned as he rolled over to try and hide from the light that seemed to be piercing his brain, dimly realizing that he was in his own bed again.
"Mornin' sunshine."
Shawn died a little inside. Of all people… "Jesus, dad… What the hell are you doin' here?" He asked dejectedly, throwing his arm up over his face.
"Oh, just having a jolly old time here, Shawn. I love getting calls from your co-workers telling me that you've gone looney tunes, and they need me there. And if that's not enough to make my day, it just makes it so much more special when I get there, and find out that they're right, with you needing to be restrained, and babbling like a madman."
"Dad –"
"Oh, no, Shawn; I'm not finished. 'Cause see, my perfect, special day is just all brought to a pinnacle of wonder when –after dragging your sorry ass home, and getting you in bed –I go looking for something to eat, and find nothing but alcohol. Not a lick of food in this whole house, but bottles on top of bottles of booze. But wait, Shawn. 'Cause there's more."
"Dad –"
"I'm not fucking finished!"
Shawn froze, halfway in the act of sitting up, to glance at his father. Henry didn't make it a habit of swearing, or even raising his voice, so when he did, Shawn had learned to listen.
"And then, Shawn… I get in the cupboard, to see if I can at least find a glass to drink some water out of. And that's when I see these."
Shawn didn't look at the grocery bag full of pills sitting on the floor next to his father. He only looked up long enough to see the tears in his father's eyes, before gluing his gaze to the floor again, unable to stand the pained and hurt look in the older man's face.
"Shawn… Jesus, Shawn, I don't even know where to start," The older man finished slowly. "I don't even know what to say."
Shawn shook his head, as he slid to the edge of the bed. "Then don't say anything, dad. Just… Go home, alright?"
There was a moment of incredulous silence, before the indignant sound of Henry's voice cut through Shawn's spinning head. "Go home? Just go home and forget my son has a drug problem? Or a drinking problem? Go home and let you ruin your life some more? Jesus, Shawn, you've done a lot of things over the years that really made me pissed, but this… Christ Almighty, Shawn, are you that stupid? You work for the fucking police department! How the hell did you think you were gonna get away with this? You're lucky that lady cop likes you, or you'd be sitting in a damn cell right now. Jesus, kid, are you seriously that retarded?"
"Apparently, dad," Shawn spat, standing up angrily, and whirling around till he was face to face with his father. "Good ol' Shawn, the resident Spencer fuck-up."
"Don't you get lippy with me, kid. First you try passing yourself off as a psychic –and don't even get me started on what a serious disappointment that was –but you had to try and top it by becoming a junkie?"
"Jesus Christ, dad! Is that all you ever fucking worry about? How I make you look? Have you ever once –just fucking once –ever been worried about me? Not how I make you look, but just me. Huh?" Shawn demanded, pushing his father into the wall.
Henry shoved back, just hard enough to make Shawn back away. "You don't wanna do this, kid," He warned quietly. "Just calm down."
"Fuck you, I don't! C'mon, 'dad', answer the fucking question! Have you ever once been concerned about me?"
"Don't be an idiot, Shawn, of course I worry about you! Jesus, how do you think I felt when I got a phone call saying you were in trouble? I thought my heart was gonna explode. Hell, I'm surprised I made it to this age without a heart attack from worry about you."
"Don't you fucking lie to me!" Shawn screamed. "You never once cared!"
Henry rolled his eyes, crossing his arms in an attempt to keep the upper hand by not showing fear in the face of his son's angry tirade. "Yeah, sure. Blame all your life problems on me, kid. It's my fault you became an alcoholic junkie. My fault you decided to pass yourself off a psychic, and you can't handle the work load. Shawn's life is fucked up again, it must be Henry's fault."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Shawn screamed, rushing his father.
Henry had been expecting it; hell, that was part of the reason he'd agreed to babysit Shawn, and had sent O'Hara home when Shawn started coming around. Henry'd seen enough people who'd gone to long without their fix.
But he was surprised at Shawn's strength, given that he'd had a nasty knock to the head. It was actually a bit of a struggle to get Shawn in a full Nelson hold, pinning him to the ground.
"Get off me! Get off me, you crazy bastard! Get the fuck off me!"
"Not until you calm down," Henry grunted, straining with the effort of keeping the struggling man still.
"Fuck you! Get off me!"
"Shawn, just relax, and calm down! As soon as you calm down, this will all be over."
Henry had no idea what he'd said to make his son wig out. But whatever it was, Shawn's panic was almost enough to throw the older man off, and Henry managed to keep the upper hand by the skin of his teeth.
"Get off me! Get off me, you fucking pervert! Get the fuck off me!"
"Shawn, just calm down. Everything's gonna be alright," Henry said calmly, trying to keep his voice level as he struggled to keep Shawn from throwing him off.
"Please! Get off of me! I won't say anything! Just get off me, please!" Shawn screamed, his voice frantic as he continued kick and lash out.
"You've gotta relax, Shawn. You've gotta calm down. Otherwise you're gonna hurt yourself." By that point, Henry was struggling to make sense of his son's words, everything about them seeming out of place, and ominous.
"No! No! Dad! Dad! Dad, help me!" Shawn cried desperately. "Dad, please! Help me! Don't let him hurt me again! Dad!"
"Shawn! Shawn, I'm right here! Nobody's gonna hurt you again. You need to calm down, alright?" Henry said, his own voice growing louder in his panic. He had no idea what the hell was going on, and he was starting to get more and more worried at what Shawn was saying.
"Dad, please… Please dad, you gotta help me," Shawn whispered, seemingly staring off into the kitchen, but his eyes were unfocused as he slowly stilled.
Henry cautiously eased up, part of him half expecting some sort of trick, and for Shawn to bolt out of the room. But his son didn't move, other than to pull himself into a tight little ball.
