Holding on to the Rooftops- Magic From the Tool Belt



Shelby followed behind Scott as they went into the lodge. She was having a hard time processing what was going on. One thing she did know for sure was that Scott was leaving… with Elaine. The thought sent shivers down Shelby's spine. Everyone was sitting down and looking tense. No one knew what had happened yet but they weren't stupid. David got up so Scott could sit in the chair. He motioned for Shelby to sit in his lap and Shelby smiled at him following suit. Peter walked in and looked at them but didn't bother to say a word.

"Scott," Peter said looking at him with a father's love. "Would you like to tell them right now?"

"I can't Peter," Scott, said his words catching in his throat. Shelby looked at him and then gave him a hug. She knew the only thing she could do to help him was let him know he had someone who cared.

Peter nodded at him and then faced the Cliffhangers. "Okay group and Aubrey. Scott's parents, both of them, were going to come down here for a surprise visit. Well, their plane crashed and they were… they were killed instantly…"

Scott began to shake and Shelby knew he was crying. "Bad things always happen to good people," Daisy said, trying to be comforting.

"That… that isn't the reason I called this meeting. You see, Scott was only in our jurisdiction when… his father was alive. Scott is now legally under the control of Elaine and she has chosen to take him home with her."

A silent tear slipped down Shelby's face as she watched steady tears fall down Peter's face. Scott was now shaking almost violently and Shelby tried to unsuccessfully comfort him.

"NO," David shouted jumping up to his feet. "NO, SCOTT ISN'T GOING. HE CAN'T. EZRA ALREADY LEFT US, ISN'T THAT ENOUGH? HE CAN'T GO, NOT WITH HER!"

David then stormed out of the lodge and set off at a high paced run once he hit the door. Scott had stopped shaking now and poked his head out just enough so that Shelby was the only one who could see it. His eyes were now dry and bloodshot but his face was tear streaked. Peter looked at the door David hadn't bothered to shut. Slowly one by one all of the Cliffhangers had left until the only people left was Peter, Daisy, Scott, and Shelby. Shelby looked over at Daisy who had her head in her hands and was shaking a little.

"Dais," Shelby said looking over at her.

Daisy looked up at Shelby but she didn't look her in the eye like normal. "I can't help but feel like this is my fault."

Shelby was shocked by this and Scott poked his head up so Daisy could see his face. "No Daisy, this wasn't you fault. Just because you read some stupid cards, it doesn't mean anything."

Daisy looked at him and then shook her head. Taking in a deep breath as a tear fell down her face. "Yeah, but when someone you care about kills themselves you can't ever help but wonder if you could have done something to stop it."

Scott nodded his head and Shelby saw as they made some sort of silent agreement. "Scott," Peter said from the middle of the room. "Scott, I am going to try so hard to get you out of there. No one will get your bed and… and we'll get you back buddy, we will."

"I'll pray for you everyday," Daisy said nodding as she stood up and gave Peter a hug. They both went out together like friends.

"Scott, I…" Shelby began not knowing what she was going to say but it didn't matter because Scott interrupted her.

"Shelby, don't, don't say goodbye."

Shelby looked down. "I wasn't going to," Then Shelby looked down knowing what she needed to say. "When you were going to leave before I didn't want to do the long distance relationship thing because I knew you needed to get on with your life and also because it would hurt too much. But now… it would hurt not to try…"

Scott nodded at Shelby knowing she needed to say goodbye in her own way. "Also, now I know you may not want to hear this but you're going to anyway… I know that before you came to Horizon… you used drugs to deal with your emotions about Elaine. I ran away… Don't do either Scott. You're strong now, you are. You don't need to run away or use drugs to cope with your problems you have the tools now. And if Elaine… if she tries anything you can stop her Scott, you can, you have the power. If you ever need anything you have Peter, Sophie, David, Daisy, Auggie, Juliette and me here for you. We're all here for you, don't forget that."

Scott nodded his head and leaned in to give Shelby a short, simple, sweet kiss. When he pulled away he whispered in to Shelby's ear. "I won't."

"Aw, how touching," a female voice said from behind them. Scott and Shelby whipped around only to confirm their fears. "Now could we get a move on? We have dinner plans to make, I want you to meet my fiancée."

"Go fuck yourself Elaine," Scott said turning to face Shelby. Shelby couldn't resist the smile coming on; Scott was trying so hard to be strong.

"Oh but Scotty, I have my fiancée to do that for me," Elaine said keeping her cool and then she moved closer to them and began grinning evilly. "And when he doesn't do it for me I have you."

Scott grimaced and Shelby jumped to her feet. Elaine was taken aback by Shelby's sudden burst. Shelby started walking towards Elaine and stared her right in the eye. There was no way Shelby was going to let this whore ruin Scott like that. "That's where you're wrong Elaine. You don't have Scott. You may have once had him under your spell, you may have once had him in check but you don't anymore. Scott isn't scared of you and despite what the voices in your head tell you, he doesn't love you," Shelby let that last statement sink in and was happy to see that it rattled Elaine.

Elaine then shook her head sending her long, silky hair shivering down her back. Elaine looked at Shelby and laughed. "You must think he loves you. I see it all clearly now. One day he says he loves you because he needs a little something. But you listen to me, Scotty loves me, not only that but he likes what I give him…"

Scott stood up slowly and turned around in the same manner. "Shut up," he said in a warning tone. Elaine looked shocked but Scott didn't seem to care. "I don't love you, I love Shelby. And I would never try to get her to sleep with me if she didn't want to. You see Elaine, that's not what you do when you love someone. But I guess you missed out on that memo. You seem to do that a lot though. I mean, you missed out on the memo about statutory rape, you missed the one where no means no, but most importantly you missed to one where you aren't supposed to sleep with your husband's child."

Elaine looked flustered but tried not to show it. Shelby was proud of Scott; he had fixed this particular problem without running away from it or hitting someone. She also loved how special he made her feel. "Well Scotty, I don't have time to sit here and bicker with you. Your bags are in the car, we'll be leaving now."

Scott looked down at the floor and then back up at Shelby. Shelby in turn stuck her hand out and Scott grabbed it as they followed Elaine to her whorish car. Peter and Sophie were both standing next to it already. Scott nodded at them and gave them both a bear hug. No words were spoken; it was easier that way. Then Scott turned to Shelby and she felt her heart melt. He wrapped her up in his muscular arms like he had always done before but this time it felt different somehow. It was less protective and more like a last hope hug. "I love you Shel," he whispered in to her ear, sending a single tear down her cheek.

"I love you too."



Author's Note: HAPPY LABOR DAY. Y'all most definitely owe me some. In any case. What did you think? Really. Well then click on that little button that says, "Click to Submit Review" or whatever and type it out for me. I like to have these things in writing. Anyway, aww, I love all y'alls (if you think I am a hick my excuse is that I am from the state of Texas (woo woo)) reviews so much! Thank you, you are all ever to kind. Anyway again, all past soon to come that haven't apply here. Also, soon to come:

1) We deal some with the other Cliffhanger's issues
2) Scott meets the whores, also known as Elaine's (just for you flamingteen), "fiancée"
3) And lots of other stuff so be sure to not miss it.

Once again, thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews. I would like to comment to a few… but my Dad will kill me if I don't go to bed so I will just comment on one for now and do the rest later… And the lucky winner is (drum roll, please) Kittykat. Okay this is to answer your comment about and NC-17 story. Well, let me just tell you that I was thinking of making a whole story about Scott and Shelby after Horizon. Yeah, I was planning on puttin' a little of that in there but I don't know. In any case, ooh, my Dad's in the bathroom, we have time for one more. And the comment goes to… flamingteen. Aww, you are ever so sweet, thank you. And thank you to everyone else who reviewed, I will squeez you in next time but my Dad just flushed so I'll work on that tomorrow…