Author's Note: Here it is. Enough people have asked for it that I was inspired. Happy? It's the sequel to "Seeking Solace" and "Break Away". (Chapters 5 and 6.) It's what happens when Henry comes home from work and finds Shawn gone.
Disclaimer: Still not mine. I do own the first season on DVD though... that has to count for something, right?
# 10 - Breathe Again
Entering his house after a long day of paperwork at the station Henry knew instantly that Shawn wasn't home. Not that he'd really expected him to be; the past day or so since the arrest Shawn, in his anger, had been making himself scarce around Henry. The kid had been awake when he had left this morning, Henry knew, but he had sullenly refused to come out of his room. He was probably at Gus's now, knowing Henry would be home about now.
Walking up the stairs on his way to change out of his uniform something made him pause in front of his son's door. It was so quiet…
Shawn was probably at Gus's…
"How could you have left me in that cell all night and half of the day? I'm your son!"
Scowling at the memory of his son's furious accusations Henry forced himself to keep walking to his room.
Shawn was at Gus's.
Henry wasn't sorry he had arrested Shawn and he wasn't sorry he had left him in that cell. A strong lesson had been in order. You couldn't go around stealing people's vehicles. The fact that it had been Henry's own truck was beside the point. What if the next time it was somebody else's?
"I hate you! I wish I could move out! I hate you!"
A sudden worry clenched at his gut and he frowned. He was being stupid. Shawn was at Gus's. He would be back soon. No doubt later than his curfew just to piss his old man off, but he would be back. He wouldn't leave for good. That was a ridiculous idea.
Shawn was a sullen teenager prone to restlessness and stupid stunts, sure, but he wouldn't actually leave without the intention of coming back without first telling his father. He wouldn't. He was at Gus's. That was all. He would be back soon.
After changing into sweat pants and a tee shirt Henry paused once more in front of his son's door. It wouldn't hurt, he supposed, to call the Guster's and tell Shawn to get home. Shawn would be angry with him for daring to call there, sure, but then, the kid was already angry with him, wasn't he? And at least he, Henry, would know for sure where his son was.
Plan decided Henry went into the kitchen, picked up the phone and dialed. Two rings and then…
"Guster residence. Winifred Guster speaking."
"Henry Spencer. Would you please inform my son that it is time for him to get home now?" Henry asked, rather politely he thought, but still putting just enough menace into his tone when he mentioned Shawn. That ought to do it…
"Henry," Mrs. Guster said, her confusion evident in her voice and Henry knew what she was going to say even before she said it. "Shawn's not here. He hasn't been here since last night."
For a moment Henry didn't know what to say but after a moment he realized that Gus's mother was still waiting for some type of response and so he forced himself to talk beyond the sudden emptiness in the pit of his stomach.
"Sorry to have bothered you." The words had to be gritted out and it was all he could do to keep his voice steady and he hung up as soon as they had left his lips. God, what's happening? Where was Shawn? If he wasn't with Gus then where was he?
Breathe. Think. His room! He would check Shawn's room. There had to be some clue of where he had went in there.
Half an hour later Henry slammed the door of his son's room and paced the hall agitatedly.
Nothing. He'd found nothing. Shawn's savings and a few of his clothes were gone but as to where he may have gone, nothing.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Think…Shawn was angry. He was pissed, so where would he go if not to Gus? He didn't have a car, he couldn't have gone far, and he didn't have enough money to buy one, did he?
Breathe.
Shawn was okay. He had to be. And he, Henry, would find out where the kid had gotten to.
Just breathe. You're no good to anyone if you panic. Just breathe.
He moved into the living room to pace some more when the phone rang and he rushed to answer it.
"Shawn?"
"Henry? It's Claire."
His ex-wife's voice came through the phone and he paused. Damn. What did she want? "Look, Claire, it's not a good time. Shawn ran off somewhere and I have to find him."
"He's here, Henry. He's here with me."
Another pause as Henry struggled with his emotions. He had gone to his mother's. He had somehow made it to Arizona rather than come back home with his father, but he was safe, right? That had to count for something. Never-mind the gnawing ache; Shawn was okay and that was what was important.
"How the hell did he get there?" he snarled after a moment.
"He showed up on a motorcycle. Said he bought it with his savings."
Said in such a calm way, and Henry's blood boiled. He had told the kid he wasn't buying a damn bike. He had told him!
"Tell him to get a real mode of transportation and then get the hell back to Santa Barbara where he belongs!" Henry said gruffly but stopped dead when Claire interrupted, a fierce anger in her voice.
"No. Shawn doesn't want to live with you anymore, Henry, and can you honestly blame him? His graduation night, Henry! His graduation night he borrowed your truck to impress a girl and you arrested him! Your own son! Can you really blame him for not sticking around after that?"
"Don't start with me, Claire," Henry growled. "Not again, we've been through this before."
Claire stopped and for a moment Henry thought she would drop it but then she continued, her voice once again calm.
"Shawn is staying with me, Henry. At least until his 18th birthday, and then he says he wants to travel. Congratulations. You finally succeeded in pushing him away."
He was dreaming. This couldn't really be happening. This was all a dream.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Claire was silent, waiting. He had to say something.
"Did you call just to gloat, Claire? Rub it in my face that Shawn is with you and not me?"
"No, Henry." She was still calm. Dangerously so. She was always the most damaging when she had achieved this level of calm. "I just thought you should know how and why you lost your son. Thought maybe you might care a little. And for your information, Shawn didn't want me to call you. I had to wait until he was in bed. He didn't think you would care. Maybe you should think about that, Henry. Your own son doesn't even know if you care about him."
Suddenly Henry was listening to the dial tone and in a fit of rage he slammed it against the wall. Again. And again. And again.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Just breathe.
Shawn was okay. He had to focus on that. Shawn was okay.
Couldn't focus on that fact that his son had moved out of the state without telling him. Or that it didn't sound like he intended on coming back to Santa Barbara anytime soon. Or that he hadn't come back because he didn't think Henry cared.
No, he couldn't focus on that…
Breathe.
Breathe.
It wasn't over yet. Shawn would come back.
Breathe.
It was okay. His son wouldn't leave him for good.
Just breathe again…
Breathe…
Breathe…
A/N: So, did you like it? Review and let me know!