Author note: Thanks for reading guys! or being bothered to click on it in any case. Here is the next chapter!
Enjoy!
The morning came much too soon for Henry as he made his way downstairs and made then both breakfast. Henry couldn't believe that Shawn would be going today and it had only just occurred to him that he hadn't let Shawn say goodbye to any of his friends. Henry felt touched as he realised that Shawn hadn't wanted to spend the day with him instead.
Shawn awoke to hear the sound of movement downstairs. He looked around his room and found the clothes that his dad had laid out the previous night after he had fallen asleep. Shawn was painfully reminded of them packing the previous night. His dad really was going to get rid of him.
Shawn trudged downstairs and ate his breakfast in silence, not paying attention to his father who tried painfully to engage in conversation.
Henry tried pointlessly but Shawn wouldn't respond. Henry understood that Shawn was upset and wished more than anything to hold him and never let him go. To reassure his son that he didn't have to go. But Henry knew that he couldn't give Shawn the attention he needed without giving up his job and he couldn't do that. His job meant everything to him and how could he provide for Shawn without money anyway. It was a lost cause and Henry knew it.
Silently, Henry loaded the car with Shawn's things and Shawn watched creepily from the window. Henry wasn't sure if he blinked or not. Part of Henry realised that his son probably needed to be admitted and hoped his son would be happy there, he really did.
Shawn did get in the car willingly to Henry's surprise. He was almost sure that he would make a huge fuss and up having to be dragged out of the house.
Shawn remembered the conversation he had with his father earlier.
...
"Will you come and visit me at Miss Jones'?" Shawn asked innocently and Henry automatically tensed. Shawn interpreted that signal as a no and so looked down and continued walking.
"Of course I will kid" Henry replied kneeling down and looking Shawn right in the eye, "I promise" Henry added, seeing Shawn's doubtful expression.
"Ok" Shawn replied shyly.
...
His dad had made a promise to him and Shawn hoped that he kept it. Henry drove in silence and Shawn peered out the window, soaking up every detail. Just when Henry was giving up hope on conversation with his son Shaw asked a question that Henry choked on.
"Are we there yet?"
Henry choked and stumbled for an answer. He wanted to say no, that he would never leave him, but he had no choice. He wished he did, desperately.
"Yeah son. We're here" Henry almost sobbed and in that moment Shawn almost felt sorry for him. His father was feeling guilty about giving his son. Shawn wasn't that bothered, his dad said he would come and see him so what was the big deal with saying goodbye? Shawn hadn't seen his dad for two years, only heard him shouting with his mother. If his dad came to visit him in a few years Shawn would be happy. Granted Shawn had a great time yesterday, spending the whole day with his dad was way over due and Shawn enjoyed it. But Shawn knew better than all people that good things didn't last.
Henry hauled Shawn's luggage and Shawn carried his box of toys to the entrance and he and Henry paused to look up at the sign.
"Come on, son" Henry sighed and gestured for Shawn to walk inside. Shawn walked slowly and Henry only seemed to speed up, wanting to get this over and done with. So he could get past this painful moment over and done with. Henry didn't want his son to witness him breaking down.
"Hi. My name is Henry Spencer" Henry introduced himself to the lady who was waiting just inside.
"And this must be Shawn!" she greeted. Shawn smiled timidly back before looking down at the ground.
"Miss Jones has told us all about you" she gushed, excited for Shawn to be joining them, it had been a while since they had gotten any new blood and she was excited. Perhaps a kid would liven things up a little bit?
"My name is Mrs Adams and I run this centre" she introduced herself. She looked round and spotted one of her colleagues, she snapped her fingers and used her head to gesture him to come over.
"Daniel, would you please take Shawn's bags, pop them through the scanner and put them in the room we talked about and let Miss Jones that Shawn Spencer had arrived" she instructed.
"Of course ma'am" he bowed before taking the suitcase of Henry and attempting to take the box of Shawn. Shawn snatched it away with a scowl.
"Mine" he spat and Mrs Adams didn't look too surprised. Henry on the other hand visibly looked shocked as his eyes widened. He hadn't realised that he was so possessive.
"You'll get them back" Mrs Adams assured him but Shawn didn't have any intention of letting go.
"Hey Shawn. Guess what I saved..." Henry trailed off, causing Shawn to turn round.
Shawn quickly dropped his box of toys when he saw what was in his father's hand. It was a lolly pop. He instantly grinned and grabbed hold, before tearing off the wrapper and stuffing it in his mouth. Shawn moaned in pleasure and Mrs Adams raised her eye brow at his reaction.
"He loves them" Henry explained and Shawn looked up innocently as if this was news to his ears. Daniel took this opportunity to grab the box of toys, Shawn didn't notice.
"What's the scanner?" Henry asked curiously.
"It's just an examination of everything he's brought with him. Any dangerous items such as knives will be confiscated"
"He doesn't have any knives" Henry said, almost taking it as an insult. He would never let his son pack knives.
"Of course not. It's just a precaution, you understand?" she asked and Henry nodded.
"I better go" Henry stated, "I should have been at the station already."
"I understand. We'll give you a ring when you can visit him" she said nodding and Henry nodded to show he understood.
"Shawn" Henry stated and Shawn turned round to face him.
"I'll see you soon, ok?" Henry ruffled Shawn's hair and he immediately recoiled. Shawn was very protective about his hair.
Henry pretended to ignore his son's reaction and withdrew his hand quickly before continuing.
"Bye Shawn" Henry whispered and suddenly Shawn threw himself at his father, embracing him in a big hug. Henry hugged him back a little surprised and remembered not to touch his hair.
Shawn didn't let out a tear, confident that his dad would come and visit him soon. Gus would be there soon too, he had promised and Gus always kept his promises. Henry slowly pulled away, blinking away the unshed tears and gestured for Mrs Adams to take him away.
"Come on then Shawn, I'll show you your room" she said soothingly. Shawn walked away without looking back and Henry stumbled awkwardly as he made his way out, watching his son being led away.
"He's never going to visit you" Ross told him as Henry walked away. "He tried to kill you remember?" Shawn looked at him doubtfull, unwilling to take his word as truth yet; he had yet to be wrong.
.
...
...
...
After Henry had said goodbye to Shawn, he found it unbelievable how quickly he slipped back into routine. He began distracting himself by doing all the paperwork and working overtime which in his own way, he enjoyed. He was keeping the streets safe; he was putting bad people in prison. Henry didn't have time to think about his wife and son and after a while, everyone at the station forgot too.
Henry was a good cop and worked hard so the reason as to why he was sat in the Chief's office was a complete mystery. Henry became sick of Santa Barbra. There were never any huge crimes which granted, that was a good thing, but it didn't give Henry the rush he needed. He wanted his work to be acknowledged. None of his cases were ever printed in the newspaper as nothing exciting ever happened in Santa Barbra. That was when Mr Yang struck.
Henry was enjoying the rush of working hard on a case. Mr Yang was a crazy criminal and this was his game. He only wished Mr Yang had chosen him.
But he hadn't. He had chosen Tom. Thomas Leonard. Henry's best friend and partner on the force. Henry did everything he could to keep his partner alive. He helped him solve the clues and Henry was on top of it. Unfortunately, Mr Yang was three steps ahead of him.
The Chief walked into his office and sat down opposite Henry.
"Mr Spencer… I'm sure you are aware of the events that transpired yesterday evening" he began and Henry looked saddened. He was only too aware of what had happened yesterday.
Tom had died.
Died was a cruel word for it really, that wasn't what happened, he was murdered. Brutally. And it was all Henry's fault… or so he thought. Tom was Henry's partner, his friend. He should have been there for him and the one time he wasn't, when he actually needed him, he wasn't there.
Henry nodded solemnly.
"I know how hard it is to lose a partner and I wanted to offer counselling if you feel you need it" he trailed off. Henry shook his head; he would not show weakness in front of his boss.
"I don't need counselling Chief" Henry said boldly and the Chief showed a momentary lapse of shock.
"Well I don't know if you would consider this but recently there had been an opening in Miami for a new detective…"
Henry's eyes widened in shock. The crime rate was significantly higher in Miami and Henry knew he would make a difference there, but was he even suggesting?
"With your work ethic, you were the first person I thought of to transfer as I know you would put up 110% and-"
"I would love to" Henry stated barely containing his excitment, he couldn't believe it. Perhaps at Miami with more high profile cases he could prove himself and perhaps even get promoted to head detective.
"Really?" the Chief asked surprised. "I was sure you would decline" the Chief responded, thinking about the man's son, Shawn. Would Henry really leave Santa Barbra?
"Why would I decline such an amazing opportunity? I think it will be good to escape Santa Barbra, don't exactly have the best memories..." Henry trailed off, thinking off the previous night.
The Chief nodded, knowing all too well that his wife was now his ex, his son was in a mental institution and his partner had just died. But Henry wasn't thinking of Shawn he was too busy absorbed in the memories of the night before.
Henry had actually forgotten about Shawn. It had been two weeks since he had seen him and he hadn't received a phone call allowing visitation yet and so Henry had completely forgotten. With the whole Yang business and the stack of cases he had taken on as well as the additional paperwork, Henry practically lived at the station.
"Finish up the paperwork on this case and I'll send you over with your paperwork Monday morning"
"Understood" Henry replied and bowed his head before leaving the office.
He was going to Miami. He couldn't wait.
.
...
...
"Bye Shawn" Henry whispered and suddenly Shawn threw himself at his father, embracing him in a big hug. Henry hugged him back a little surprised and remembered not to touch his hair.
Shawn didn't let out a tear, confident that his dad would come and visit him soon. Gus would be there soon too, he had promised and Gus always kept his promises. Henry slowly pulled away, blinking away the unshed tears and gestured for Mrs Adams to take him away.
"Come on then Shawn, I'll show you your room" she said soothingly. Shawn walked away without looking back and Henry stumbled awkwardly as he made his way out, watching his son being led away.
"He's never going to visit you" Ross told him as Henry walked away. "He tried to kill you remember?" Shawn looked at him doubtfull, unwilling to take his word as truth yet; he had yet to be wrong.
Shawn followed Mrs Adams obediently to his room and soaked in every detail of his surroundings. The twisty corridors, the doors that were private and locked with a metal pin machine. Shawn glared at them with contentment. He had read enough of his dad's police reports where they put their hands on the door knob and they have been electrocuted and Shawn did have a sense of preservation.
Shawn's room wasn't big. In fact it was very small. The double bed took up most of the room which was bathed in a white light.
Shawn gaped when he saw his room. It was so big! And that bed… it looked so inviting and Shawn ran up to it immediately and belly flopped onto the bed.
Mrs Adams smiled then turned her head to the side, distracted.
"Oh, Linda!" she gasped, "Shawn…. I know you've met Miss Jones?"
Shawn turned and indeed it was Miss Jones. The woman that had come to his house was standing outside his door.
Shawn nodded.
"Are we all set for our other arrival tomorrow?" Miss Jones asked and Mrs Adams nodded.
"Yes, everything is ready. She has been allocated the room down the corridor"
"Ok" Miss Jones told her before turning to Shawn. "How are you doing Shawn?"
Shawn glared at her, he was trying to embrace the comfort of his bed and the two women were just stood by the door peering in.
"Fine" he replied coldly.
Before they could respond Daniel, the man from earlier came rushing back with Shawn's box of toys and suitcase.
"We had to confiscate a letter opener and a penknife." Daniel informed her.
They were strange items for sure. Why would he feel the need to bring these items. Unless he meant to self-harm….
"Are we gonna let him keep his toys?" Daniel queried and Mrs Adams shrugged.
"We've never had a kid before…" Miss Jones commented.
"We'll let him have them, let him adapt. If there are any incidents we can confiscate them as punishment" Mrs Adams suggested.
They had this conversation in muted whisperes but Shawn was able to hear them, seemingly paying no attention.
"We'll leave you to unpack Shawn, Miss Jones will come and get you when it's time for lunch and you can meet the others"
Shawn didn't make any movement, and they thought that perhaps he hadn't heard them. The door closed quietly but Shawn snapped round. Noticing that his suitcase was there with his box of toys he rushed over.
Shawn's method of unpacking was rather unconventional. It just showed the uniqueness of his mind. He tipped his toys onto the floor and stuck some of them to the walls. The walls were white and boring in his opinion. They were white to act as a blank sheet so no additional stimulus would provoke patients. Shawn just found it plain and boring and couldn't wait to attack it with the paint. Shawn was glad they hadn't taken his blue tak away. He had managed to sneak a lot of things in his suitcase after his dad had gone to bed. Shawn made a scene on his wall with a dinosaur chasing after three soldiers. One lone soldier was firing on the dinosaur and Shawn laughed in the fact that that guy was about to be eaten. The rest of his toys were put in rows on a shelf in the corner. They were arranged perfectly in order with all of his soldiers facing the same direction on the same angle.
His clothes he just tipped on the floor, not worrying about creases. Sense found its way into Shawn and he separated his top halves from his bottom halves. He found a wardrobe and a set of draws. He put all of his clothes in the draws. It fit easily as they were deep draws. Shawn grinned at the prospect of the wardrobe. It was going to be Shawn's secret place. He searched for his penknife but couldn't find it. His dad had given him that penknife when he was four. Well maybe not given, Shawn had stolen it. His dad had always boasted about it. Gave the impression it was some magical device that could save you from chains and protect you from harm. Shawn had nicked it when he was little and with his dad's amazing detective skills, he had never figured out who had stolen it. Shawn began to get annoyed and angry. They had stolen his penknife… and his letter opener come to think of it. Now how was he meant to open his letters? And break stuff?
Author note: Thanks for reading guys!
So what did you think? What has Henry done? Moving to Miami? Well, it is understandable that he wouldn't want to stay in Santa Barbra after Tom's death, his wife;s death and his son's institutionalization.
But at least he promised to visit Shawn. :)
Please comment and let me know what you think. Any corrections are welcome just no reviews telling me how much it sucks... please. No flamers!
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