Shawn's POV

"Thanks for lunch, babe," I smile at Zak after finishing the last bite of my sandwich. We had decided to stop at the cafe across the street from headquarters before heading in to talk about our next location. Zak smiles back to say 'you're welcome' and we head back to Zak's car with Kelsey and Aaron following behind. I can honestly say I was nervous for what Zak was about to inform us about the lockdown. I was still so new at all of this I wasn't really sure how to prepare myself. Shortly after arriving at headquarters, Billy and Jay walk in to hear the news as well.

"So, where's the next lockdown?" Billy asks curiously.

"Give me a minute to gather my thoughts and get settled here," Zak states as he tosses some papers down on his desk.

"Come on, man. We've been anticipating this ever since we got back from the Goatman," Aaron chimes in.

"I haven't said anything about the next location yet because we all had crazy experiences at Goatman's Bridge and I felt like we needed time to just get back to normal. So, now I'm at the point where the network is up my ass about getting started on the next episode," Zak explains and sit's down in his office chair. The rest of the five of us squeeze together on the couch in Zak's office and patiently wait for him to continue. "So, our next lockdown is going to be crazy, I'll just start by saying that."

Aren't they all? I think to myself.

"Y'all thought Goatman was bad? This one might be worse."

"Why do you do this?" I ask him in all seriousness.

"Because, Shawn, we want answers," Zak says in his tv voice. I roll my eyes and he continues. "This is a location where Dakota and his team have been twice and had horrible experiences both times they went. I spoke with Dakota about this location and he honestly told me not to do it, but I said to myself that I have the best crew, and that we can get through anything. I even asked Dakota if he would join back in with us on this one and he declined."

"So, where is it?" Jay asks the question we've all been wanting to shout.

Zak takes a big breath in like he's scared to reveal the dreadful location and breathes out, "Hill View Manor."

Silence fills the room and I feel my eyes well up with tears. I close my eyes and my body starts an uncontrollable tremble as I see Dakota's episode replay over and over in my head. I can't shake the scene with poor Alex getting sick while he was alone in that building. I take myself out of my thoughts and back to the deafening silence of Zak's office. Aaron whispers to me, "are you okay?" as I take in a big breathe through my nose and let it out to try and calm myself.

"Why?" I ask Zak. "Why there? You could go anywhere else to get your damn answers."

"I'm sorry, Shawn, but we have to do this one." A tear sneaks down my cheek and I leave the office. I hear Zak coming after me, but I can't face him. "Are you okay?" Zak stops me down the hall with his hand on my shoulder gently turning me around.

"I'm sorry, Zak. I thought I could do this. I don't know why you hired me. I can't," I quietly sob as Zak pulls into his embrace.

"It's okay. I brought you onto our crew because I know you can do this. You're so strong, Shawn. You've been through so much. I know you can do this lockdown and I'll be there with you the whole time. Please understand why we do this and why we're doing this location." I nod. I know why. This is what he does. Correction, this is what we do and I'm now apart of this by choice, because I wanted to be. Because of him. Because I wanted to be with him. My breathing slows and I dry my eyes. "Come, on. Let's go back." The crew's worried faces came over me as soon as I stepped back into the office. I returned a look with a reassuring smile letting them know I was okay and find my seat back on the couch next to Aaron.

"Alright, so today is Monday and we don't leave until next Thursday so we have plenty of time to prepare. I had to fight with the network on that one, but we got the time. We're leaving next Thursday and coming home on Sunday. Good with everyone?" We all nod. "Good. Everyone knows what to do for your preparations. Shawn, if you can get started with research that would be great."

I nod, again, in agreement. I knew exactly where to start, too. I had to speak with Dakota and his crew. "Can I have Dakota's number?" I ask Zak once everyone leaves him and I in his office alone. Zak gives me a concerned look. "I thought it would be a good idea to interview them since they've been there before."

"Right." Zak takes his phone from his pocket and reads me Dakota's number.

"Thank you." We both slip our phones back into our back pockets and I step closer towards Zak. He sits on his desk and I grasp my arms around his neck. "You know, you're cute when you're jealous," I giggle.

"I just want you to know you're mine," Zak says seductively with his sexy smile.

"Zak, I'm only yours." I kiss him briefly before letting him go and walking to my own office. The first thing I do is look up Hill View Manor online just to get some basic information before I talk to Dakota about their experiences. This was certainly not a location to be excited about, that's for sure. Sometimes I wonder to myself why I agreed to join Zak and his crazy adventures, but in all honesty, he was right. I did want answers. That's why I wanted to go with him to Waverly. I got answers, but it only opened up a whole slew of other questions.

"You about ready?" I hear Zak from the doorway as I'm caught up in my typing. "Everyone else already left." I stop typing and jerk my head up in surprise. Have I been here that long? I save my notes and check the time on my computer. Damn! It's been three hours since we got here. It was now getting close to 5pm so I gather my things. "Get a lot done?"

"Yeah, I didn't realize it was getting this late. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I had a lot to do, too. Did you call Dakota yet?"

"No. I wanted to do my own research first and make some notes."

"Good thinking." I smile as I take hold of Zak's hand and give him a quick kiss. We make our way to the car and head home for the night.

Zak and I get settled and I make us delicious salmon and risotto with veggies for dinner. It was one of my favorite meals to make and one of Zak's favorites to eat. After we eat Zak helps me clean up the kitchen and we head up to Zak's room. I realize that I don't have any fresh clothes since I haven't been back to my apartment in a while so I steal one of Zak's t-shirts to wear for bed. I change in Zak's bathroom and come out to see him putting on his sweatpants. Fuck me. He's so sexy. Zak turns to me and smiles, "What?" I can't help but smile like a dork right back at him. I shake my head and walk towards him. "Wait. Stop." Zak says suddenly.

My smile quickly disappears and I stop. "What?" Zak smiles letting a little chuckle escape. "What?" I ask again.

"Nothing, it's just, you're super sexy in my shirt." I smile and look down at Zak's shirt seeing that it's completely eating almost my entire small frame as it came down to mid-thy and the sleeves touch my elbows. I look back up at Zak with my stupid smile still covering my face. I run and jump in his arms and he kisses me passionately. He lays me down gently on his bed and hovers over me as he feels his way up my sides giving me chills. Zak stops and takes a second to turn off the bedroom light before joining my back in bed. This was my favorite part of the past couple days. Ending my day in bed with the man I love and having juicy, hot make out sessions. After all these weeks I've been with Zak I still couldn't believe it was true. After a few minutes of Zak rubbing my back I pass out and let my dreams take over the rest of the night.