A/N: In the show, this scene didn't quite satisfy me with the way it ended; they got off topic and never resolved what they started. I edited and extended it. Hope you enjoy!

Old-Fashioned

Shawn let his breath out. He was finally home free. He couldn't believe he'd gotten so lucky. "Thanks for covering for me. Cory's folks would've freaked if I showed up with that cop."

"Oh, like this?" Jon didn't bother with any sort of a wind up. He immediately started yelling as loud as he ever had, at a kid anyway. Normally, he left that to the parents. It was clear that wasn't going to happen with Hunter. "Would they have yelled at you like this?"

Shawn knew exactly what Mr. Turner was doing. He usually did. Still, faking stupid would buy him a minute. He slapped a big fake grin on his face and said, "Yeah, that's pretty good!"

"Would they have told you how stupid you are for being out so late?"

Shawn couldn't pretend any longer. And those words actually stung. "OK, I get your point."

"No, I don't think you do." Jon kept his voice loud, harsh. He didn't usually do this. He'd been tempted dozens of times throughout the school year, but now that he was finally letting loose, it didn't exactly feel gratifying. The kid was deflating before his eyes, which really didn't happen often.

"Fine, then I'll just get out of your way." Shawn started toward the door. "I thought you were cooler than that."

"No, I'm not cool at all." Jon grabbed the kid's jacket by the sleeve and whirled him around, his voice reaching new peaks. "In fact, I get real old-fashioned when I see somebody that I care about being brought home by cops."

This was getting bad. Shawn was sure he could still diffuse it, though. "Mr. Turner, do you have to yell? I've had a really rough night."

"Oh, do you see me ballroom dancing here?"

So much for diffusing the situation. Shawn tried for defensive instead. "Look, is this going to take all night? Because I got places to be, man."

"Hunter!" Jon caught his breath, exasperated. "You keep heading down this life track you're on, and the places you're going aren't any places you're gonna want to be, man."

"Look." Shawn took a few steps toward him. Adults liked apologies. "I'm sorry I messed up your night."

"Do you think that's what this is about? Do you think this is about me?"

The kid just stared at him blankly, and Jon felt his heart sinking. He knew this kid, had seen straight through him the day he first stepped foot in Jon's classroom. Brimming with confidence on the outside, practically trembling with insecurity on the inside. Fiercely loyal under a façade of not caring. Quick witted and clever and devilishly intelligent, until he tried to apply himself to his school work—or, as the case may be, refused to even try.

"I'm talking to you, Hunter."

"What do you want me to say? I already said I was sorry."

Something boiled inside Jon, but it wasn't exactly anger. Vicious disappointment. Overwhelming frustration. Fear beyond what he was willing to admit, desperate worry for this kid and his future if no one managed to get through to him.

"You know what? It doesn't matter. I'm outta here." Shawn turned toward the door.

"Don't you dare even think about leaving this apartment."

Normally, Shawn would have ignored that kind of statement. But something about the way Turner said it made him put his hands up and turn back.

"Now," Turner said. "We're gonna talk."

Shawn just stared at him for a moment, weighing his options. He could run. Probably get picked up by the cops again, end up spending the night at the police station. It wouldn't be the first time. He could keep trying to argue his way out of this. But the fact was, Shawn really liked Turner. Wanted him to like him. Not enough to suck up in class, of course, but more than he'd ever cared about any adult's opinion. He'd never run away from a detention or a grounding, and this wasn't even that. So Shawn came over to sit on the couch. "Fine. But I don't know what you want me to say."

Jon's first instinct was to sit beside Shawn, but he was pretty sure he wasn't done yelling at the kid. Not by a long shot. So instead, he came to stand in front of the couch. He crossed his arms, keeping his voice firm but under control. "We're going to talk about what you could've done differently tonight. What was your first mistake?"

"Uh... I snuck out of the Matthews' house." Shawn looked down at the coffee table, feeling vulnerable.

"Yeah? And why do you think that was wrong?"

"I guess it's… disrespectful or something?"

"And being out on your own in the middle of the night?"

"Give me a hint, man!"

"It's dangerous. And stupid."

"OK! I get it!" Shawn crossed his arms and pulled his knees onto the couch, tucking his legs under himself, off to one side. They should be done by now. People yelled at Shawn all the time, but it was usually either teachers who had lost their temper, or his dad when he was drunk and mad about something that had nothing to do with Shawn. Mr. Matthews sometimes yelled, but even then, he was mostly targeting Cory. This was different. It felt more personal, and Shawn hated it.

Jon could tell this was hard for Shawn, but making him answer questions was finally getting him to think. He was getting through. "How did you get to the school?"

"I-I walked."

"In the middle of the night."

"I guess that's dangerous, too?"

"You think?" Jon took a deep breath. His voice had been rising, and they still had a long way to go. "Those guys you were hanging around tonight. Guys you knew?"

"Not real well."

"What were you going to do?"

Shawn lowered his head. It was hard to get the words out, knowing what the response would be. He had always thought he believed the old saying about sticks and stones, even though he had been hurt by words before, but this was really starting to sting.

"Answer me, Hunter."

He cleared his throat. "Graffiti."

"Graffiti. Which is illegal. And what happens when you break the law?"

"Get picked up by cops."

"And if you end up going to jail?"

Shawn had no idea what Turner wanted him to say. "Uh. That would suck?"

"It goes on your record. It throws a wrench in your future."

"What does it matter?" Shawn leaned forward on the couch, looking up at Turner. "I can't run away from who I am. I'm not going to end up any better than they are, so what's the point in pretending?"

"That's only true if you let it be!" Those words had come out at a full shout. They had had this conversation one too many times before, and for a moment, Jon had lost his temper.

Shawn stood up straight. It wasn't fair. What was Turner expecting? "It's not my fault! I can't change where I was born, or who my parents are."

Jon tried a different tactic. "I'm disappointed. I expect more from you, Hunter."

"Well, you shouldn't! It's not my problem that you expect the impossible."

"You know what?" Jon was fully yelling once again now, but it wasn't that he'd lost his temper this time. It was a choice. "I'm sick of this attitude. You're smart, and you're a good kid. You choose your future. Not where you were born, not who your parents are."

Shawn caught his breath. Mr. Turner kept stepping closer to him, and he was so upset. It had been such a long night, and he was so tired, and he couldn't do anything right…

"So you're gonna start paying attention in school, you're gonna stop putting yourself in danger, you're never gonna get picked up by cops again. And I don't ever, ever want to hear you say you don't have a future. Do you hear me, Shawn Hunter?"

Shawn couldn't stay here. "Just leave me alone, man." His voice cracked, and he bolted for the door.

"Shawn!" Jon raced to stop him. He grabbed Shawn's arm and yanked him back for the second time that night.

"Do you even know what it means, Mr. Turner? To not have anything?"

Jon swallowed hard. He had thought he knew. Those first months living on his own hadn't been easy, and he had learned a lot about poverty in the classes he'd taken at college. But staring in the face of it, he realized he knew nothing.

Shawn kept his eyes down. "If any other kid was having a hard time in a class, they'd get a tutor. Because they can afford one. Me, I just fall behind. And it's even worse if I actually do well. People think I cheated or something."

"Hunter..." Jon ran a hand down his face. The kid had a point, and they would have to talk more about how to help him academically, but tonight had been about a lot more than that. "There's still choices you make. Running off tonight—"

"I-I didn't mean to get picked up by cops. I didn't have anywhere to go, so I found some friends, and it just kind of... escalated."

"And you know better," Jon said. "And that's why I'm disappointed."

Shawn lowered his head. His eyes were starting to prickle, and the room was swimming. "I'm sorry," Shawn choked out.

Jon's heart softened a little, though he wasn't sure if he should let himself yet. "What are you sorry for?"

"Disappointing you."

"Oh, Shawn." Jon put an arm on the kid's shoulder. Shawn didn't flinch away; far from it. He leaned into the touch, hanging his head still further, so his hair brushed against Jon's forearm "You're gonna be OK."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes you—"

"My mom left, my dad left, the Matthews don't want me, and you… you…" He pulled away abruptly, looking up at Turner. "You hate me."

Jon caught his breath at the sight of the kid's face. His eyes were glassy, turning pink, his face twisted in a desperate look of betrayal. "Shawn... I could never hate you."

"You were yelling at me."

"Told you already. I get pretty old-fashioned when someone I care about does stupid stuff. Like getting picked up by cops, and putting himself in danger." He reached out and wove his fingers through the kid's hair, pressing his palm to his head and looking him in the eyes. "I'm not gonna let you throw away your life just cause you don't think it's worth anything."

Shawn stared at him, giving him a glare that Jon was sure he meant to look tough, but the effect was lost thanks to the shiny redness of his eyes. It was hard to stay firm with him when he looked so broken.

"Hey." Jon walked over toward the couch. "Sit with me?"

Shawn didn't know how much more he could take. But Jon really didn't look angry anymore. He figured there couldn't be any harm, and besides, he didn't seem to have much of a choice. He sat down on the couch again, and Turner sat next to him.

"It's late, kid. You should have been asleep hours ago."

"Not tired."

Jon nodded. He didn't think he'd be able to sleep either.

"You still mad?"

"Nah." Jon reached across and slid his hand to cradle the back of Shawn's neck. "But I worry about you, Hunter."

It was Shawn's first reflex to flinch away, but he didn't. He wished he had a witty reply like he always did, but all that came out was, "Why?"

"Why do you think? You're not a bad kid, but you sure make a lot of bad choices."

The weight of Turner's disappointment weighed on Shawn again. "It's not on purpose."

"That's where we disagree. I think you're sabotaging yourself 'cause you're scared of failure."

"And why do you care if I do?"

Jon almost told him that he was paid to care. It wasn't far from the truth. But he definitely wasn't being paid for what he was doing right now. "You want me to stop?"

Shawn almost told him yes. He just couldn't get the word out. "I don't need you," he said instead, but his voice cracked, and his eyes began to sting again.

"Sure you don't, kid." Jon scooted in a little closer, and he brought Shawn's head down to rest on his shoulder. "Totally self-sufficient. Don't need anybody."

"That's right," Shawn mumbled, tucking in a little closer. He was really, really tired.

"Don't I know it." He tousled the kids hair. "But if you change your mind, you know where to find me. Got that, Hunter?"

Shawn had gone limp. He was fast asleep.

Jon smirked. He supposed he should find a way to untangle himself from the kid, but he was so peaceful, he really didn't want to wake him. He leaned back on the couch, taking Shawn with him, and closed his own eyes.