Without You

Chapter Two: Happy Birthday

Summary: Sheldon Sands has always depended upon and loved his mother. But without her, what is he? In place of a once innocent boy will stand a troubled CIA agent that can not find his way around this world. Here is his story, his love, and his loss.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sands or any part of Once Upon a Time in Mexico. But I do take credit for Laura Anne Sands, his mom, and the plot.

It was his 8th birthday today. That meant that Sheldon Jeffrey Sands was turning eight today. Hooray for me, he thought bitterly as rapid tears spilled down his face. Instead of holding special meaning, the day had only twisted his thoughts and made him feel even worse than he usually did.

His mother was dying and he was fairly isolated in school. Not that it was anyone else's fault. But ever since Sheldon had learned about his mother's cancer in the second grade, he had started building a brick wall between himself and others. Always pretty reserved and keeping to himself, the third grader now deliberately started hacking away at any of his contacts.

Not that this seemed to stop his groupies from lining up to ask him to partner with them for anything. Girls. He despised them. Just the thought of them forced a shudder down his spine.

It was his own fault that he was always alone at recess, during lunch, P.E., or any other activity. He had become passive and his teacher noticed this. And instead of marking him off as someone who didn't care, she tried probing into his problems. Why? Because she had this feeling inside of her that told her that he was normal just like anyone else. But a certain issue set him apart. Call it women's intuition, but that only made Miss Smith feel even more responsible of trying to get through to him. After all, during P.E., he would show sudden energy. Not necessarily enthusiasm, since he was practically never willing to cooperate, but a solemn drive to win. To beat everyone else in the game.

I'm glad that I'm alone Sheldon thought defiantly. In an obstinate way, he felt proud that he was separating himself from everyone else. But like all human beings, all that loneliness began to effect him in a negative way. I don't want any girls or any friends he continued to think, but suddenly his resolve started to weaken. And then the tears came, spilling themselves one by one. All I want is my mom. And it was true.

Meanwhile, downstairs, sitting by the kitchen table, Laura cried her own eyes out with her head in her arms. Fresh tears cascaded down her face incessantly. "I hate myself," she repeated over and over to herself. She knew why Sands was crying in his bedroom on his birthday. She knew why he secluded himself from his peers. And it was all because of her.

Hearing a loud sob from who could only be Sheldon, Laura came to an abrupt realization. If this cancer gets worse, not only will I die, but so will the son that I love.

A/N: Thanx to Sue-AnneSparrow for the wonderful review! btw, this is a little ficlet & I THINK I'll end it at four chapters. Anyway, I hope everyone that's reading likes it & don't forget to review!