A/N: Sorry for not updating sooner everyone. I realize it's been a long time, though I have a pretty valid excuse lol. As of last Wednesday I finally gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, so my time has been pretty much taken so I'm writing while she sleeps. Thanks for all those who've reviewed, messaged, favorite and followed Antiquity. So please, keep the feedback coming.

Chapter 12: Dinner with the Reeds

Dinner wasn't going as well as Cassidy had hoped for, but that was to be expected due to her father was home once again but on a more permanent level. David had officially retired from the Military Service and had no intention returning. He was going to make her life a living hell now that he was home and he knew exactly how to do it.

Once Shawn stepped foot into the Reed's residence he was berated with dirty looks from David much to Cassidy's dismay. She hated the fact that her father didn't approve of him nor did she like the fact that he didn't call Shawn by his name but 'boy' instead. As the four got settled into the dining room no one spoke a word to one another. Normally, Cassidy was fond of silence. In fact, she found it rather relaxing. That is up until now.

"Nothing beats the sound of forks and knives scraping against plates," Evelyn complained. Cassidy smiled slightly at her mother's words. "Since no one wants to start a decent conversation at this table, I guess I'll-"

"What do you do for a living 'boy'?" David rudely interrupted.

Cassidy sighed heavily and threw her fork down onto her plate and shot her father a look. "Dad, please don't do this." She whined.

"Why?" David asked curiously. "Are you ashamed of what he does for a living?"

Cassidy scoffed. "Of course not," She said. "I just know how you'll react over something so pointless."

Shawn grabbed Cassidy's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Its fine, Cass," He reassured her before meeting David's cold gaze once again. "I work at Denny's as a waiter."

David let out a snicker and shook his head with disapproval as he turned his attention to his daughter. "Crissake, Cassidy," He said pointing over to Shawn. "This is the best you can do, a Denny's waiter?"

"David," Evelyn hissed. "That's enough!"

David turned to Evelyn. "No," He growled angrily. "This better be some kind of sick joke. She doesn't have time to be wasting on some underdog, especially when she has an exam to prepare for in a couple weeks."

Shawn stared at Cassidy, confused. "What exam?"

"Oh, she didn't tell you?" David mused. "I've taken the liberty of enrolling her in the upcoming D.E.A. exam."

Cassidy leaned close to Shawn. "I really did plan on telling you soon." She whispered in Shawn's ear. "I just needed some time to think on what I was planning on doing with my life."

"Are you kidding, that's fantastic?" Shawn said happily. "It's what you've always wanted to do, right?"

Cassidy averted her gaze from Shawn. "Of course it is. It's practically my dream job." She said. "But there's more to it than just that."

"And what's that?"

David cleared his throat, catching the young couple's attention. "We'll talk about this later, alright?" Cassidy said.

Shawn nodded and turned his attention back to Cassidy's parents. "So, Shawn," Evelyn said. "Cassidy says you have an impressive gift, a keen eye for detail that is?"

Cassidy felt her eye involuntary twitch. She just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. "Mom, now you to?" She whined once again.

"Oh come on, Cassidy." Evelyn said. "You talk very highly of him, I'm just curious to know what he can do. As I recall you once said he pointed out all of your nervous ticks in a matter of seconds."

David scoffed and took a sip of his wine before turning to Shawn. "Come on, boy." He taunted. "We need some entertainment at this table. Do your trick."

Cassidy glanced wearily at Shawn, but he kept his gaze locked on her father. "I don't do tricks," Shawn said. "But you might want to talk to the magicians down at the Fortress of Magic. I'm sure they'll be happy to help you out."

Cassidy sighed heavily and placed her head in her hands. "And here we go," She muttered to herself.

"Just admit you can't do it, boy." David smirked. "You couldn't read my mind if I took it out of my skull and handed it to you."

Cassidy quickly pushed away from the table and stood up from her seat. "Dad, stop!" She shouted.

"Come on, boy." David said. "Tell me something about myself."

Shawn glanced at Cassidy who was pleading with her eyes for him not to do it, but he wasn't going to back down anytime soon. If her father wanted to see what he could do, he was going to show him.

Shawn sighed and took a hard look at David Reed. "If that's what you want…" He said as he placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward.

"Shawn, please don't." Cassidy pleaded.

"For one you're argumentative. You won't accept what anyone says and you love to disagree. You're aggressive by being angry or threatening. Definitely bad-tempered and big-headed from what I've observed just sitting here at the table. You're also very conceited and deceitful. You try to make people think something, so that you can get what you want. It's got to be your way no matter what. You're very domineering and inconsiderate of other people or their feelings. Spiteful and lastly let us not forget manipulative." He said. "Did I get it all Mr. Reed or am I missing anything else?"

Cassidy and Evelyn turned pale. The two women nervously swallowed and turned their heads slowly to see David's reaction whose face was now turning a bright red. "Cassidy, a word in the kitchen, now." David said as he stood from his seat

Cassidy nodded slowly and smiled weakly at Shawn who mouthed a silent 'Too much?" which she replied with a nod.

Once the two entered the kitchen, David turned towards Cassidy and leaned against the counter. "You need to get rid of that boy, tonight." He growled. "Whatever feelings you have towards him need to disappear as of now."

Cassidy gave her father a look of disgust and crossed her arms over her chest. "No." She said flatly. "I'm sorry dad, but no."

"Excuse me young lady?"

"You heard me." She said. "You're only doing this because you're threatened by what he just told you. You just can't stand the fact that some 'boy' outsmarted you. Face it, dad. You're afraid of-"

Cassidy stopped midsentence as her father's large hand struck the right side of her face. The slap echoed out throughout the kitchen and Cassidy's head whipped to the side. She clenched her jaw and glared at her father.

"You watch your mouth, child." He said. "I did not raise you to talk back to me like some spoiled brat. You have far more important things to worry about than some petty crush. For instance, your job, the DEA exam and training that needs tending to."

"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you, dad." She said. "Mom was going to discuss this with you this evening but I'll go ahead and tell you myself. For one, I've quit my job. With training and school work it got to be overwhelming. Second, just so we're clear I'm neither a 'weapon' nor do I need your assistance climbing up the ladder. I'm not attending the exam. And lastly, it's not just some petty crush. You refuse to accept him for who he is, but Shawn's a good person with a loving heart. He doesn't see me the way you do, a weapon. He accepts me for who I am."

David scowled and grabbed Cassidy by her arm, pinning her to the wall with one hand on her shoulder while his eyes stared into hers. "You're attending that exam, Cassidy, whether you like it or not!" He shouted. "And you're also to throw that boy to the dogs, tonight!"

"No," She pulled herself free from his grip and rushed back towards the dining room. He followed, still angry.

"Get back here, Cassidy!" He shouted. "We're not through talking about this."

"I'm tired of you thinking you can control me like some damn puppet. I want to do things on my own terms, not yours!" She said. "Why can't you just accept that? Everything was going fine until you got home! Let me live my life how I want to!"

While she spoke, or rather shouted at him, Evelyn jumped up from her seat in the dining room and confronted the two. "We have a guest in this house. Did that happen to slip both of your minds?" She whispered fiercely. "For Christ's sake you two, can't we have one night together without you two at each other's throat. Is that so much to ask?"

"Then why don't you try talking some sense into that stringent husband of yours!" Cassidy said as she maneuvered around her mother and headed back towards the dining room where Shawn was still seated.

"Sorry about that," Cassidy spoke softly. "As you can see we're not the perfect family. But I suppose every family has their quirks, huh?"

Shawn turned to Cassidy with a smile but it soon faded as his eyes landed on the large mark left on her pale skin. Cassidy quickly took notice and placed her hand over the mark. "It's nothing to be concerned over with, Shawn."

Shawn quickly pushed away from the table and approached his girlfriend. "Nothing to be concerned over with," He said furiously as he gently placed his hands on either side of her face, "Cass, he hit you!"

Cassidy gently grabbed both of his hands and lowered them down to his side. "I'm fine. I promise. This is nothing." She reassured as she placed a small kiss on his cheek. "How about we go get some fresh air?"

Shawn nodded silently. He was at a loss for words. Here she stood before him as if nothing was wrong as if nothing had happened, but he could clearly see the pained look in her face. She was horrible at hiding things, especially from him. He quickly grabbed his jacket off his chair and draped it over Cassidy's shoulders as they walked out the door into the cool night.

A/N: Don't forget to leave a review!