Author's Note: I am so sorry for stopping the last chapter on a
cliffhanger. I got a lot of heat for that (I could use some heat right now,
I'm freezing!) and I don't mean to piss you off by leaving you off
somewhere. I know how it feels to be stuck in cliffies (*cough* Amaroqwolf
*cough* DID SHANNY GET SHOT???) and frankly it sucks. But I am completly
oblivious to when I stop at a clifffie unless it slaps me in the face.
-
Title: Undisputed chapter five Author: Hearts Desire Chapter Rating: PG-13 for language and slash
First, I need to say that this was a hard chapter to write. Some of you know why it was for me, and some of you don't, but I just wanna say that if it sucks, I'm sorry!
-
"Shannon? Where are you?" Jeff asked, pulling the phone closer to him.
"Um ... Oh, Jeff, I'm not sure. I can't remember!"
Shannon's voice came out short and choppy, only causing Jeff's alarm to highten. How could Shannon be somewhere and not remember where it was?
"Can you try to think for me?"
Jeff tried to maintain a calm voice and be strong for his younger friend as he heard Shannon moving around on the other end of the line. Shannon sighed, putting the phone back up to his ear.
"I don't ... I can't tell. Uh, Jeff ... I don't know what to do!"
"Shh shh. It's okay. It's okay. Just describe the place and I'll try to remember for you."
"It's ... I'm right out front of an old grocery store it looks like." Shannon paused, "There's a park across teh street. Oh,shit. Jeff, it's starting to rain."
"It's okay, it's okay. I know where you are. Just go under one of the picnic areas in the park and I'll be there in a couple minutes. Okay? Just hold still and I'll be there."
"I'm cold, Jeff." Shannon shivered
"Do you have a coat?" when Shannon didn't reply, Jeff stood up, "I'll be there. Try to find a way to stay warm and hold on."
"Hurry, Jeff?"
"I will."
Shannon hung up on his side of the line before Jeff slammed his phone back on the base, not caring that he hadn't even hung it up. He grabbed his coat, car keys, and an extra blanket before heading out to his car and driving downtown.
-
Jeff skimmed around the whole park, but it was hard to see through the heavy rain that had started on the way out there. The radio was on and it stated that it was only 42 degrees outside. He shook his head, turning on the last possible road he could before it went to the woods instead of the park. He turned down the radio and squinted harder to try and see through the rain. Finally, he saw what he could guess was Shannon and parked the car.
"Shannon? ... Shannon?"
He didn't get a reply, so he headed over through the beating rain. Shannon was sitting underneath the roof covering the picnic tables, curled up in to himself. Jeff ran over and helped Shannon up.
"Are you okay? Jeez, you must be freezing! Come on, let's get you in the car. How'd you get out here?"
Jeff didn't get a reply out of Shannon as he led him in to the car, but he could hear his shallow breathing and feel him shivering against him. Jeff was getting his clothes soaked, but it didn't matter. He helped Shannon in to the passenger side seat and handed him the blanket he had brought. Shannon quickly pulled it around himself as Jeff climbed in to the drivers seat. He turned on the engine, but didn't pull out.
Shannon looked horrible sitting there. His hair hung in wet strands over his face; they were muddy and, if Jeff wasn't mistaking, there were a few red strands shooting through. He was pale and shivering and le looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, which Jeff knew he had, being his roommate for the travelling. There was a bruise forming on Shannon's left cheeckbone with two small cuts right in the middle of it.
"Shannon, are you okay? You look-"
"Horrible, I know." Shannon said so quietly that Jeff almost didn't hear him.
"Not that bad. Just ... bad. What happened?"
"Don't lie, Jeff. I think I know how bad. There are about four mirrors in this car."
"Are you okay, Though?"
"I don't want to talk abotu it, Jeff. Not right now. I'm just tired and I want to go home."
Jeff started up the car, pulling out of the picnis areas and out of the park. When they went over one of the bumps on the road out, Shannon groaned lightly.
"Jeff, could you be more careful next time?"
Jeff pulled over to the side of the road and leaned over to see his friend better. "Shannon, are you okay?" he asked, moving Shannon's hand out of the way and running his over Shannon's forehead, "You're burning up, I'll drive you home. To my house."
Jeff started the car back up and pulled back on to the nearly empty street on his way home.
"I'm fine, Jeff. Just a bit ... a bit of a headache is all." Shannon insisted.
"I don't think so, Shann. I think you've got something more than just a headache."
Shannon just sighed, resting his head against the cushion of the chair, leaving the arguement where it was. Jeff watched as Shannon settled himself. He didn't want to make Shannon upset about going to his house, but there was obviously something wrong and Jeff just wanted to make sure. He reached for his cell phone.
"You want to call Shane?"
Just then, the realization hit. Shane might not want Shannon at his house. Maybe he would think Jeff didn't and everyone knows that Shane has a stubborn streak the size of Texas. He seriously doubted that even Shannon could get Shane off of Jeff's case, at least not right away. Luckily for Jeff, SHannon shook his head.
"Not right now, Jeff. I just want to .. stop everything for a minute."
Jeff nodded, he knew how Shannon was feeling. Well, at least he thought he did. Many a-nights had he spent home alone while Shannon was out with Shane or Billy or Jamie, whoever happened to be his boyfriend at teh time. Which was not him. Shannon obviously had never even thought of him in that way. Jeff would lay back on his bed in the dark and wish that he could stop whatever was going on and just get away from everything and everyone.
Jeff pulled in to his driveway and up at the house. The two friends got out and went inside; the rain still hadn't stopped, if anything it was getting harder. Thunder and lightening cracked in teh background. Normally, Shannon would spin around and watch the sky for a while, but this time, he just trudged in to the house.
"Let me go get you some clothes, you are soaked." Jeff said, heading to his bedroom.
Shannon nodded. He looked around the room at some of the things, but not letting his eyes remain on anything for too long. He jumped when he heard Jeff returning. Jeff ahd changed in the bedroom and had also gotten Shannon a set for himself.
"I hope these fit. They are probably a little big, but they were the smallest I had."
Shannon nodded, heading to the bathroom, "Thanks, Jeff. I'm gonna go take a shower."
When Shannon reemmerged from the bathroom, Jeff had set him up a bed on the futon in the living room and had gone to bed himself. Shannon sighed, sinking carefully on to the futon and going to sleep. A crack of thunder woke him up no more than twenty minutes later. He sat up and looked around. All the lights were out, but the rain and lightening were still going strong. He shivered, pulling the blankets back up around him and sat up.
He looked out of the window and to the house that was just up the hill. A light was on in the kitchen and he could see the person moving around in there. He tensed. He knew who that man was and he was glad that there were no lights on in Jeff's house or the man in the other window would see him and definatly come over. Shannon studied the man in the window for a good fifteen minutes until the light clicked off. He continued to watch teh window for a few more minutes before turning back on to the futon.
He tried to get comfortable, but he couldn't. Finally, he just swung his legs over the side and sat there. His feet were cold on the wood flooring, but he didn't care. he didn't feel safe. Especially with his back facing the window, but he still sat there. Waiting for the morning to come.
-
Jeff awoke around seven-thirty and headed out to the living room. Shannon was still on the futon. He was leaning slightly against the arm of it, awake. He was looking out the window, studying the house on the hill.
"Shannon, what're you doing up so early?"
"I've been up all night." Shannon replied quietly.
"Why? And what're you watching Matt's house for?"
Shannon shook his head lightly, snapping from the trance he had seemed to be in. "Um .. I couldn't sleep last night. I can try and get some later."
"Well, do you want to hang out here today or something?"
Shannon shifted slightly, wincing a little. "I ... I don't know, Jeff. I really shouldn't have even come here last night. I should ahve just gone home."
"What? What are you talking about, Shannon?"
Shannon shifted again, "I should go."
Shannon struggled to pull himself to his feet, trying to push his way past Jeff and go to the door. Jeff moved in front of Shannon, causing him to tense and step back.
"Shannon, what's the matter with you?" Jeff asked, reaching out to run a hand over Shannon's arm.
Shannon jumped, tripping over the table and crashing back on to the couch. He gave a shriek and brought a hand to his lower back. Jeff ran over quickly.
"Shannon! Shann, are you okay?"
Shannon tried to get away from Jeff again, but Jeff had him cornered. Jeff noticed that Shannon's breathing was getting more shallow, causing him to think of last night.
"Shannon, what's wrong? What happened last night?"
"Jeff, can you just ... let me go, please?"
"Tell me what's wrong, Shannon. Why are you acting like this?"
"Jeff, can you please just let me get up, I don't like having you this close."
Jeff furrowed his brow at his friend, but didn't move.
"Jeff, please." Shannon begged.
Jeff at back a little bit at the tone of Shannon's voice. He had never heard his best friend so scared, especially around him. He moved and let Shannon go. Shannon quickly stumbled to his feet and headed out the door, shutting it behind him.
-
Title: Undisputed chapter five Author: Hearts Desire Chapter Rating: PG-13 for language and slash
First, I need to say that this was a hard chapter to write. Some of you know why it was for me, and some of you don't, but I just wanna say that if it sucks, I'm sorry!
-
"Shannon? Where are you?" Jeff asked, pulling the phone closer to him.
"Um ... Oh, Jeff, I'm not sure. I can't remember!"
Shannon's voice came out short and choppy, only causing Jeff's alarm to highten. How could Shannon be somewhere and not remember where it was?
"Can you try to think for me?"
Jeff tried to maintain a calm voice and be strong for his younger friend as he heard Shannon moving around on the other end of the line. Shannon sighed, putting the phone back up to his ear.
"I don't ... I can't tell. Uh, Jeff ... I don't know what to do!"
"Shh shh. It's okay. It's okay. Just describe the place and I'll try to remember for you."
"It's ... I'm right out front of an old grocery store it looks like." Shannon paused, "There's a park across teh street. Oh,shit. Jeff, it's starting to rain."
"It's okay, it's okay. I know where you are. Just go under one of the picnic areas in the park and I'll be there in a couple minutes. Okay? Just hold still and I'll be there."
"I'm cold, Jeff." Shannon shivered
"Do you have a coat?" when Shannon didn't reply, Jeff stood up, "I'll be there. Try to find a way to stay warm and hold on."
"Hurry, Jeff?"
"I will."
Shannon hung up on his side of the line before Jeff slammed his phone back on the base, not caring that he hadn't even hung it up. He grabbed his coat, car keys, and an extra blanket before heading out to his car and driving downtown.
-
Jeff skimmed around the whole park, but it was hard to see through the heavy rain that had started on the way out there. The radio was on and it stated that it was only 42 degrees outside. He shook his head, turning on the last possible road he could before it went to the woods instead of the park. He turned down the radio and squinted harder to try and see through the rain. Finally, he saw what he could guess was Shannon and parked the car.
"Shannon? ... Shannon?"
He didn't get a reply, so he headed over through the beating rain. Shannon was sitting underneath the roof covering the picnic tables, curled up in to himself. Jeff ran over and helped Shannon up.
"Are you okay? Jeez, you must be freezing! Come on, let's get you in the car. How'd you get out here?"
Jeff didn't get a reply out of Shannon as he led him in to the car, but he could hear his shallow breathing and feel him shivering against him. Jeff was getting his clothes soaked, but it didn't matter. He helped Shannon in to the passenger side seat and handed him the blanket he had brought. Shannon quickly pulled it around himself as Jeff climbed in to the drivers seat. He turned on the engine, but didn't pull out.
Shannon looked horrible sitting there. His hair hung in wet strands over his face; they were muddy and, if Jeff wasn't mistaking, there were a few red strands shooting through. He was pale and shivering and le looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, which Jeff knew he had, being his roommate for the travelling. There was a bruise forming on Shannon's left cheeckbone with two small cuts right in the middle of it.
"Shannon, are you okay? You look-"
"Horrible, I know." Shannon said so quietly that Jeff almost didn't hear him.
"Not that bad. Just ... bad. What happened?"
"Don't lie, Jeff. I think I know how bad. There are about four mirrors in this car."
"Are you okay, Though?"
"I don't want to talk abotu it, Jeff. Not right now. I'm just tired and I want to go home."
Jeff started up the car, pulling out of the picnis areas and out of the park. When they went over one of the bumps on the road out, Shannon groaned lightly.
"Jeff, could you be more careful next time?"
Jeff pulled over to the side of the road and leaned over to see his friend better. "Shannon, are you okay?" he asked, moving Shannon's hand out of the way and running his over Shannon's forehead, "You're burning up, I'll drive you home. To my house."
Jeff started the car back up and pulled back on to the nearly empty street on his way home.
"I'm fine, Jeff. Just a bit ... a bit of a headache is all." Shannon insisted.
"I don't think so, Shann. I think you've got something more than just a headache."
Shannon just sighed, resting his head against the cushion of the chair, leaving the arguement where it was. Jeff watched as Shannon settled himself. He didn't want to make Shannon upset about going to his house, but there was obviously something wrong and Jeff just wanted to make sure. He reached for his cell phone.
"You want to call Shane?"
Just then, the realization hit. Shane might not want Shannon at his house. Maybe he would think Jeff didn't and everyone knows that Shane has a stubborn streak the size of Texas. He seriously doubted that even Shannon could get Shane off of Jeff's case, at least not right away. Luckily for Jeff, SHannon shook his head.
"Not right now, Jeff. I just want to .. stop everything for a minute."
Jeff nodded, he knew how Shannon was feeling. Well, at least he thought he did. Many a-nights had he spent home alone while Shannon was out with Shane or Billy or Jamie, whoever happened to be his boyfriend at teh time. Which was not him. Shannon obviously had never even thought of him in that way. Jeff would lay back on his bed in the dark and wish that he could stop whatever was going on and just get away from everything and everyone.
Jeff pulled in to his driveway and up at the house. The two friends got out and went inside; the rain still hadn't stopped, if anything it was getting harder. Thunder and lightening cracked in teh background. Normally, Shannon would spin around and watch the sky for a while, but this time, he just trudged in to the house.
"Let me go get you some clothes, you are soaked." Jeff said, heading to his bedroom.
Shannon nodded. He looked around the room at some of the things, but not letting his eyes remain on anything for too long. He jumped when he heard Jeff returning. Jeff ahd changed in the bedroom and had also gotten Shannon a set for himself.
"I hope these fit. They are probably a little big, but they were the smallest I had."
Shannon nodded, heading to the bathroom, "Thanks, Jeff. I'm gonna go take a shower."
When Shannon reemmerged from the bathroom, Jeff had set him up a bed on the futon in the living room and had gone to bed himself. Shannon sighed, sinking carefully on to the futon and going to sleep. A crack of thunder woke him up no more than twenty minutes later. He sat up and looked around. All the lights were out, but the rain and lightening were still going strong. He shivered, pulling the blankets back up around him and sat up.
He looked out of the window and to the house that was just up the hill. A light was on in the kitchen and he could see the person moving around in there. He tensed. He knew who that man was and he was glad that there were no lights on in Jeff's house or the man in the other window would see him and definatly come over. Shannon studied the man in the window for a good fifteen minutes until the light clicked off. He continued to watch teh window for a few more minutes before turning back on to the futon.
He tried to get comfortable, but he couldn't. Finally, he just swung his legs over the side and sat there. His feet were cold on the wood flooring, but he didn't care. he didn't feel safe. Especially with his back facing the window, but he still sat there. Waiting for the morning to come.
-
Jeff awoke around seven-thirty and headed out to the living room. Shannon was still on the futon. He was leaning slightly against the arm of it, awake. He was looking out the window, studying the house on the hill.
"Shannon, what're you doing up so early?"
"I've been up all night." Shannon replied quietly.
"Why? And what're you watching Matt's house for?"
Shannon shook his head lightly, snapping from the trance he had seemed to be in. "Um .. I couldn't sleep last night. I can try and get some later."
"Well, do you want to hang out here today or something?"
Shannon shifted slightly, wincing a little. "I ... I don't know, Jeff. I really shouldn't have even come here last night. I should ahve just gone home."
"What? What are you talking about, Shannon?"
Shannon shifted again, "I should go."
Shannon struggled to pull himself to his feet, trying to push his way past Jeff and go to the door. Jeff moved in front of Shannon, causing him to tense and step back.
"Shannon, what's the matter with you?" Jeff asked, reaching out to run a hand over Shannon's arm.
Shannon jumped, tripping over the table and crashing back on to the couch. He gave a shriek and brought a hand to his lower back. Jeff ran over quickly.
"Shannon! Shann, are you okay?"
Shannon tried to get away from Jeff again, but Jeff had him cornered. Jeff noticed that Shannon's breathing was getting more shallow, causing him to think of last night.
"Shannon, what's wrong? What happened last night?"
"Jeff, can you just ... let me go, please?"
"Tell me what's wrong, Shannon. Why are you acting like this?"
"Jeff, can you please just let me get up, I don't like having you this close."
Jeff furrowed his brow at his friend, but didn't move.
"Jeff, please." Shannon begged.
Jeff at back a little bit at the tone of Shannon's voice. He had never heard his best friend so scared, especially around him. He moved and let Shannon go. Shannon quickly stumbled to his feet and headed out the door, shutting it behind him.