Hey! Okay, so this chapter turned out to be one of the harder ones to write. It's been half-written for like a month now and I finally finished it today (although I did have to cut it in half in order to finish it tonight). Just know that it is suppose to be a bit...disjointed at times. Also, I don't know why I didn't use Shawn's doctor's name in this, maybe it's just my doctor who-ness wanting to be expressed or something... I don't know, I'm just rambling right now.

Right, so Enjoy!

CHAPTER 37

When Shawn came to again, things were slightly better. He could feel his arms and legs this time; well he could feel how painful they were. For a minute, he couldn't remember why they would hurt so much. He listened to the noises around him and tried to find some clues. He heard beeping, whooshing, snoring, distorted voices, and footsteps coming and going. It wasn't until he smelled the weird combination of cleaning supplies, old spice, and a hint of lavender did it finally click: he was in the hospital and his dad was asleep in the room.

As soon as that realization hit him, the events of the last two weeks came flooding back. He remembered running off, crashing, being kidnapped, showing up but basically being invisible, bugging Carlton, being found, bugging Carlton again, Carlton being shot... Shawn's eyes snapped open at that. Carlton had been shot in the stomach and there was nothing Shawn could do about it.

Shawn looked around the room as he distantly heard the beeping increase. If he could just wake up his dad, he can find out about Carlton. He tried moving his arm but it barely moved because it hurt too much. He also found that he couldn't speak, thanks to the tube in his throat. Trying to let the tube do his breathing, Shawn moaned loudly.

Luckily that did the trick and Henry woke up with a start. Blinking tiredly, he looked around the room before finally landing on Shawn. "Shawn?" Shawn just moaned in response. "Geez kid. It's about time you woke up." Shawn rolled his eyes. "Hey, don't give me that! You've been out for quite a few days. I bet you want that tube out of your mouth, eh?" Shawn tried to nod but found that it caused pain. "Just keep still kid while we wait for the doctor."

For once, Shawn did what he was told but his eyes roamed the room nonetheless. There were countless cards, balloons, pineapples and a stuffed animal or two piled in boxes one corner; Shawn vaguely remembered reading some of them. On one side of the bed was a couple chairs, including the one his father had previously occupied. There was a duffle bag dropped haphazardly between the chairs and a door that Shawn could tell led to a bathroom.

He found the window and noticed that it was dark outside. Another sweep of the room didn't reveal a wall clock but his dad usually wore a watch. Unfortunately, his dad's wrist was turned in a way that Shawn couldn't see the watch face. The outside hallway was still brightly lit which meant it couldn't be too late. Maybe he should request that a clock be in the room the next time he was in the hospital…

"Shawn!" Henry said with a snap of his fingers and Shawn quickly focused on his dad. "Are you okay kid? Your eyes seem to be wondering the room a bit erratically." When Shawn just frowned, Henry sighed. "The doctor should be here soon. Just stay awake."

Shawn rolled his eyes before continuing to look for clues. Judging by the cleanliness of the room and the boxes, he could tell that he was moved to a new room since…what happened with Carlton and that other guy. Without warning, the scene started to replay itself. The fake nurse coming in, turning things off, adding something to his IV, hiding behind the door right before Carlton came in. Then the two of them talking, Carlton lunging, fighting, a gunshot before everything went still.

"SHAWN!" Henry snapped. Shawn blinked and looked at his dad with wide eyes. "The doctor's here."

Shawn resisted the urge to take a deep breath as he tried to calm down. His dad would know what happened to Carlton, if Shawn could just figure out a way to ask him…

"Hello Shawn."

Shawn snapped his attention to the new person hovering over him. They had on blue scrubs covered by a long doctor's coat with a name tag hanging off the pocket. Squinting, Shawn could just make out the name Phillip Braxton, MD, before a light was shined in his eyes and he quickly closed them.

"Shawn, I need you to open your eyes and look directly at me."

When Shawn just squinted, Henry sighed, "Come on kid, the sooner you cooperate, the sooner you can get the tube taken out of your mouth."

With a roll of his eyes, Shawn reluctantly complied. After a few seconds, the light was put down and the doctor held a finger up. "I want you to follow my finger with your eyes only."

Shawn would have found the task extremely easy if he didn't keep getting distracted by things in the corner of his eyes.

"Shawn?" The doctor asked. When Shawn looked at him again, the doctor continued. "I'm a bit concerned about how easily you are distracted but I think it'll be okay if we take the tube out of your mouth. So, when I tell you to, I want you to blow out as hard as you can. If you understand, blink your eyes twice."

It took a few seconds for his eyelids to cooperate but eventually he got them to blink twice. "Good. Just give me one second to get set up."

Shawn let his eyes travel the room again. Henry was pacing nervously by the chairs with the phone in his hands. It looked like he was texting someone but was getting frustrated that it was taking so long to get the words right. Shawn looked over at the nurse who entered the room. She look about 25 years, brunet, and pretty cute even in scrubs that were a little big on her. A month ago, Shawn would have been all over her but now, all he cared about was Carlton and whether or not he was okay.

"Alright Shawn." The doctor said as he stood next to the bed. "Are you ready?" Shawn focused on the doctor again before blinking his eyes twice. "Okay. Blow." Shawn did as he was told and felt the tube move.

Once it was out, Shawn began coughing and heard his dad say, "Take it easy, kid. Slow breaths."

It seemed to take forever but eventually Shawn felt himself relax. Once his breathing was under control, the doctor gave him some ice chips. "Now Shawn, you have experienced some severe trauma and I want to know that everything is alright in that brain of yours. So first, I'm going to be asking you a series of questions, understood?"

Shawn nodded, "Yeah, but I got one first." Shawn rasped.

"Can it wait?"

"No, where's Lassie?"

The doctor raised his eyebrow. "Lassie? The dog?"

"No! Dad, where's Lassie?"

Henry came closer and crossed his arms. "Why do you need to know about Carlton?"

"You know why!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes! He was shot!"

Henry frowned. "What makes you say that?"

"Just, because! I know he got shot and I need to know if he's even alive!"

The doctor shook his head. "Wait, is Lassie the detective?"

"Yes." Henry replied as he noticed Shawn's heart rate was picking up.

"Dad, I just need to know if he's okay!"

"Shawn, I don't know myself but you need to calm down."

"Then you better find out!" Shawn gasped as he had trouble breathing.

The doctor quickly grabbed an oxygen mask and pulled it over Shawn's head. "Shawn? You need to calm down and just breath. You are putting too much pressure on your lungs right now. Just breath."

Shawn closed his eyes as he concentrated on calming down. Once his breathing and heart rate was at a good pace again, Shawn pulled the mask down and looked at Henry. "Dad. Please. I need to know."

Henry sighed as he rubbed his face before finally saying, "Okay Shawn, I'll go ask about Carlton. In the meantime, you need to cooperate with the doctor, got it?"

"Yes sir." Shawn rasped with a roll of his eyes.

"Good." Henry nodded as he left.