crying out the darkness. Then came a shaft of light.
His weary eyes opened to see a dark silouette of a man standing his doorway, an object in his hand, then the room was bathed in light.
"Jesus, Shawn, What the hell is happening?"
When Shawn's eyes adjusted, he saw John darting around the room in his sleepwear, wielding a gun.
"John, it's okay...I was just dreaming. There's no one here..it's alright."
Finally the big man stopped checking around and laid the firearm on the table.
"I thought someone was in here. I get death threats, Shawn. The way you were yelling, I thought..." the man trailed off as looked down at Shawn, weeping in his rumbled bed.
"I have nightmares. I should have said..." Shawn drew his knees to his chest and trying to subdue his shaking. Layfield's face softened, he passed his hand threw his chocolate hair then knelt on the floor beside him.
"I never thought about that happening. I didn't realise.." John's voice trailed off and Shawn felt a gentle nudge at his hand. Their fingers entertwined as they had in the limo. It was so easy and so right.
Everything in Shawn wanted to be held, wanted his tears to be kissed away but the hand squeezing him tightly was enough to make him feel as if things would be alright.
"I have them..sometimes." John's voice was soft. "I had them for years but...I saw someone and they got better after that.
I never thought that you might..I never saw it from that way."
Shawn didn't understand completely what John was trying to say, but the words and the closeness was so comforting that he didn't worry, he just listened as John continued to speak.
"Sometimes we do things....I know that."
Shawn's head shot up in amazement. What had he said in his sleep as he was dreaming? John almost sounded as if he really understood, as if he knew what Shawn had done.
"I know what it's like when you drink too much....I've done that..and you do things then that you wouldn't ever do if you weren't like that..."
The words were like medicine to Shawn's wounded soul and he wept openly, his face pressed into his knees.
There was a quiver in John's voice when he spoke again.
"I didn't mean it for you to take it like that. I wanted to make you feel better. I'm sorry. I....this isn't easy."
In that moment, Shawn felt John's shadow pass over him, then arms wrapped around his chest, holding him tight.
"I know, I know." John whispered into his hair. "I understand now. I understand."
Somehow, everything for Shawn was right.
