Only the Curious Have Something to Find
Chapter 11
Note:Hellooo! I know what you're asking yourself: holy crap, another update this fast?! Well, yes, I'd like to say the answer is because I'm awesome but I have ulterior motives. See, on Friday my family is leaving on vacation and I won't be back on here until the 20th. So I'm trying to be a nice author and give you something to tide you over for my absence…and also I'm trying to keep you hooked so you don't forget me :D
Anyway, enjoy!!
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Henry Spencer pulled into his own driveway, defeat smacking him hard in the face as he did so. Gus and Juliet sat on the porch, the two having decided to wait at the house in the case of Shawn's return after they looked at all his normal places. They looked at him beggingly as he got out of his car and all he could do was shake his head, the teen's shoulder's slumping in defeat.
He made his way towards the porch when the cell phone in his pocket began to ring. He had it flipped open and pressed to his ear before the first ring had finished. "Hello?"
"Mr. Spencer?"
"Carlton!" Both the teens with the panicked father jumped up again. "Did you find him?"
"I did." With those two syllables Henry felt all the panic and worry over the past few hours melt away. He practically fell to the ground from the relief. He forced himself up the three steps onto his porch and fell into one the wicker chairs. He glanced at Gus and Juliet and smiled, causing the two to all but scream with joy, both jumping up and down at the small victory.
"Is he all right? He didn't…do anything?"
"No sir, he's fine. I found him on a small cove on the west end of the beach about half an hour ago."
"Where are you now?" Henry asked, speaking more like himself now that he wasn't so wracked with worry.
"We're still at the beach, I'm calling from a pay phone in the parking lot. I thought I'd call you since we're headed to your house now, incase you were still out driving."
"No, no. I'm at the house now with Gus and Juliet." Henry paused, something the boy said sticking in his head. He glanced up at Gus and Juliet as he asked, "What were you two doing for half an hour if that's when you found him?" Gus and Juliet's eyebrows raised and they both shared knowing smirks, despite their previous panic.
"Well…we—um…" He could just picture the boy's blush as he stumbled over his words. "We were, um, watching the sun set…sir."
"Watching the sun set?" Henry smiled, smirking at the teens with him. The relief was making the older man downright giddy. "All right, but you're coming home now?"
"Yes, sir."
"And Shawn is all right?"
"He's fine, sir."
"Boy, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me 'sir'."
"Sorry, s—I mean, Mr. Spencer."
Henry smiled, letting his eyes slip closed. "See you boys in a bit, then."
"Goodbye s-Mr. Spencer." The line went dead and Henry snapped the large cell phone shut, slipping it back in his pocket. He stood up, "He says Shawn is fine, they're heading home now."
"They were watching the sun set?" Juliet asked, obviously trying to suppress how adorable she thought that was.
"That's what he said." Henry unlocked the door and ushered the two inside. "You kids want some coffee? Lord knows I need a cup…"
--
Lassiter placed the public phone back onto its vertical cradle and turned to where Shawn sat on a picnic table behind him, smiling. His smile drew great contrast to the bloodshot eyes that had obviously been shedding tears for hours. "Was he mad at me?" Shawn asked.
"Why would he be mad at you?"
"Who wouldn't get mad if their son pulled this stunt?"
"Shawn, you know he's not mad at you. He knows the situation better than anyone." Lassiter sat next to Shawn on the top of the table, their feet resting on the actual seat. Shawn scooted closer to the older teen so their knees lightly clanged together. Lassiter, in return, gently placed his hand atop his newly-deemed boyfriend's, which rested on the table between their thighs.
They sat there like that for a moment, Shawn staring down at their hands. "I'm sorry." He whispered turning his head towards Lassiter, though still staring at their hands.
"Please don't apologize, Shawn." Lassiter said in an equally quiet tone, turning his head so their noses bumped each other's lightly.
Shawn lifted his eyes to Lassiter's, "You're eyes are so blue." He whispered, their lips coming closer.
"Shawn…" Lassiter breathed out, leaning in.
Their lips were just about to touch when Shawn pulled away.
Lassiter didn't move for a moment, blinking, unsure of what happened. Shawn, seemingly panicked, jumped off the table, pulling his hand from Lassiter's. He began an almost pacing movement in front of the table.
"Shawn?"
"I—I can't. Not yet."
"Shawn, its ok, if you don't-"
"Its not that I don't want to." He rambled, "Its just, you don't know yet. You don't know. I can't do this if you don't know."
Lassiter looked at the teen before him in confusion. With furrowed brows he asked, "Does this have to do with what you wanted to tell me?"
Shawn stopped turning to Lassiter. Like a light switch his demeanor changed. He shook his head, a small smile breaking out on his face. "You would think you were psychic…" He chuckled slightly.
"Shawn…?"
The troubled teen shook his head again and took a step so he was standing right in front of Lassiter. Taking both of his boyfriend's hands in his he said, "I can't tell you yet. Not here. I mean, this is the perfect setting but…I can't yet. But I will. I promise." Shawn stared up at Lassiter with an unreadable look on his face.
Lassiter nodded in understanding, squeezing Shawn's hands in his, "You tell me when you're ready."
Shawn's smile widened. "Thank you, Lassiter." He said seriously. Then, with that he pulled the senior from the table gently. "Come on, my dad'll come looking for us soon if we don't go."
"Uh, yea." Lassiter said, nodding, though still bewildered. "You're right. Let's go."
--
Shawn had barely made it through the doorway when he was pulled into a crushing hug. "Dad-?"
"Don't you dare scare me like that again, Shawn."
Shawn awkwardly hugged his father back. From the corner of his eye he could see Lassiter make a nodding movement to his other two friends, all three of them going to the kitchen to give the father and son some privacy.
Henry tightened his hold of his son, as if afraid to let go. "Dad, I'm sorry." Shawn whispered, burying his face into his father's shoulder. "I didn't want to scare you. I wasn't going to-"
"Ah, oh God, son." Henry grunted out, obviously fighting off tears. "Don't apologize. Just never do that again." He pulled back, still holding Shawn's shoulders, looking his son in the eyes. "I'm going to keep saying this until you understand, even if I have to physically beat it into your head." Shawn laughed a little, sniffling. "Nothing that's happened ever was or ever will be your fault. Our family has its problems, but you are not the cause of them. You—you're my son. I l-love you." Henry gasped out the last part, as if it pained him that Shawn might think otherwise.
Shawn shook his head, "I know, dad. I know that. I love you too, so much. I—I just…she said you would do what mom did…" Shawn's eyes welled up with tears. "I can't help but think that I-"
Henry pulled Shawn back into a tight hug as the tears started to escape both their eyes. "Oh, my boy." He whispered, cradling the back of Shawn's head, rocking him slightly. "My sweet baby boy. I love you so so much. I'll never leave you. I'll never ever leave you…"
--
When the father and son joined the rest of the group in the kitchen five minutes later it was obvious the three had heard most of the conversation, if Juliet's teary eyes were any indication.
"Do you kids want anything? I think we have some ice cream in the freezer…" Henry sniffled, going to the fridge and busying himself with looking through the freezer.
Shawn smiled apologetically at his friends as he wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Sorry, guys." He said embarrassedly, "I didn't mean to totally fuck up your evenings."
"Oh, Shawn, that doesn't matter." Juliet said, stepping forward and hugging him tightly. Shawn smiled as she pulled back, a smile on her face as well, "Though after tonight you may never want to hug anyone again."
Shawn laughed at that, turning to his best friend as the dark teen took a step forward. Pulling Shawn into tight hug he said, "Don't you ever, ever do that again."
Shawn patted Gus on the back, "I won't, Gus. I'm sorry." He said quietly, just so his friend could hear him.
Gus pulled back and ran his hand under his nose, "I know, Shawn. Me too." Shawn tilted his head to the side but Henry spoke before he could.
"We have chocolate ice cream, kids. Would you like any? Unless you all want fish." He smiled a little.
"Ice cream, please!" Shawn said with a smile, motioning for his friends to take a seat as he went to get bowls and help his dad scoop some out.
His friends began to chat, trying to bring some remnant of normality for Shawn, which he very much so appreciated. Henry appreciated it as well, apparently, as he said "You have some great friends there, Shawn." He smiled at his son, "They're so…true."
"I know." Shawn said quietly, looking back at the three at the table. Lassiter glanced over and smiled warmly at him, Shawn returning the gesture. "I'm really lucky." He paused, the scoop half way dug into the carton of frozen goodness. "Dad?" Henry looked at his son. "I—I'm going to tell them, dad." He said carefully. Henry's eyes widened a little. "Not tonight. But I…I'm going to. I almost told Lassiter at the beach but I…I wanted to tell you first. I wanted you to know what I was going to do."
Henry bit his lip, before looking back down at the carton of ice cream. He paused for a moment before speaking. "Well, if one good thing has come from today," he started, "It's that I know those two are worthy of knowing. You go ahead and tell them son, if you think its what's right."
Shawn smiled warmly at his father, "I do, dad. Thank you." He said lightly, before pulling the scoop from the ice cream and dropping the big chunk into one of the waiting bowls.
--
Shawn looked up into his father's terrified eyes. He was holding him at an odd angle, tears in his eyes. Shawn tried to speak but no words would leave his mouth. He could feel something trickling from the corner of his mouth? Was he drooling? No, his mouth tastes like it had when he was six after he, dared by Gus, swallowed a penny. Was he drooling liquid pennies?
His vision began to blur around the edges. What was going on? He was starting to get a little scared. He tried to speak, but only managed to move his lips, mouthing one word: Daddy.
His father's eyes seemed to widen. He could just barely read his fathers lips: I'm here,Shawn. Shawn. Please, son, please… What was his father asking of him? Shawn was so confused. Everything began to fade, the blurring becoming more prominent. He watched as his dad looked off to the side, yelling something Shawn couldn't make out from his lips. He looked so scared, so horrified. Shawn had never seen his father like that. He just wanted to console him but he couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. He was cold. So cold…
His father faded away into the blackness. And soon Shawn faded away too.
Shawn shot up in bed, drenched in sweat, a strangled scream in his throat.
-TBC-
As always thank you for reading!
-claire