Remember to Breathe

Chapter 1

Scott put the hood of his sweatshirt up and pushed through the crowd of reporters screaming his name and snapping his photo vigerously. With his head down he angrily threw them out of the way anxious to get to his car and get home. He had played a horrible game and knew exactly why. He needed to get home and in a hurry.

"Mr. Barringer!" They called over and over "Mr. Barringer is it true that your wife has left you..."

"Get the hell out of my way" He said sternly and pushed past the last few of them as he hurriedley climbed into his range rover . His agent climbed into the passenger seat hanging up his cell.

"Scott man... i have some bad news..." He sighed.

"What now" Scott sighed just wanting to get home and call his wife.

"Jules just called me, shes with Shelby, Walt escaped from prison late last night..." Auggie said, waiting for him to freak out.

"What!" Scott screamed. Before he could answer Scott turned the key and therw the car into drive speeding out of the parking lot.

"Whoa ... bro slow down!" Auggie said nervously.

"were going to the airport and getting on the first plane home..." Scott said calmly.

"Scott man you cant... you have an interview tomorrow afternoon and a game tomorrow night..."

"She's my wife... i don't care about football right now..." He said and could tell Auggie would only protest. "I told you going into this thing Aug..there is one thing in this world that is more important to me than football and thats Shelby..."

"ok ok o k... slow down man" Auggie said squeezing his eyes shut as Scott sped down the highway. "Listen how about we fly the girls down here and they stay on the road with us for the rest of the season...that way you can still play and we can make sure Shelby is safe"

Auggie got on the phone with Juliet "Yea... babe listen, pack a few bags for you and Shelby and get to the airprot, catch the first plane to LA ... ok?"

"No way, i'm fine!" He heard Shelby in the backround and Scott could hear her too.

"Damn it put Shelby on the phone" Scott yelled angrily ripping the phone out of Auggies hand.

"Scott i'm not a baby..." Shelby said getting on the phone

"Shelby we dont have time for your shit get your bags packed and get on the damn plane!" He yelled. Auggie covered his mouth, if Scott saw him laughing, it would only enrage him even more.

"Don't you dare yell at me like that ...i'm not your child i'm your wife" Shelby screamed "And by the way, its nice to hear from you today..." Shelby rambled angrily

"Get on the plane Shelby..."

"No"

"aaaarg..." Scott groaned. "Just get on the plane Shelby...NOW!"

Scott hung up and threw the phone as hard as he could at the dash. Nobody pissed him off the way she did, it was incredible that they were still together. Auggie couldn't take it anymore and let out a small laugh. Scott shot him a warning glare and he shut up and decided to change the subject.

"Why don't we go get somethin to eat before heading to the airport"

"You think she'll get on the plane?" Scott sighed. He was only trying to protect her.. how could she not know that?

"ofcoarse she will"

The plane touched down at ten and Shelby groaned grabbing her bag and following Juliet off the plane.

"Come on, i know you miss him Shel... its been what... almost a month since we've seen them?" She tried cheering her up.

"Yea yea..." Shelby groaned. Jules was right and she knew it...but as soon as they walked into the airport and she realized Scott hadn't even come to pick her up, the thoughts of missing her husband and how much she loved him disapeared and the hurt set in all over again. Auggie saw the look of disapointment on her face right away.

Jules squeeled and ran into his arms. He held her tight and kissed her forehead, not wanting to rub anything in Shelbys face.

"Shelby, he wanted to come... the coach called him and asked him to meet him to talk he said it was really important"

"Whatever..." Shelby sighed shoving her bags at him.

"He'll be at the hotel by the time we get there Shell..." He said trying to make her feel better. Instead she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'ts gonna be a long night" Juliet whispered to him.

Shelby followed Auggie into Scott's penthouse suite. She looked around the room in disgust, at one tijme all these beautiful things would have made her happy, now she resented them, afterall it had cost her the love of her life.

"Jesus Shelby...how much did you pack" Auggie said dropping all six of her bags infront of the couch. Scott came out of his bedroom hearing voices and immediatley caught Shelby's eyes from across the room. They just stared at each other waiting for the other to speak. Shelby crossed her arms infront of her chest again, she neverously twirled her diamond ring around her finger.

"Why don't we leave the newlyweds to it Auggie" Jules said taking his hand, she didn't want to be there when world war seven hundred broke out.

"Eight oclock wake up call Scott..." Auggie said walking out "Call me if you need anything"

The door closed and silence fell over the room. Shelby looked down at the ground, refusing to be the first to speak. He stepped toward her and her head shot up nervously.

"I'm only trying to protect you Shell... we both know theres a chance he could come after you..." Scott said softly.

"Protect me!" She laughed tears springing to her eyes without her meaning for them to. "I haven't seen you in almost a month, i read about you in the paper more then i talk to you on the phone... and i'm supposed to believe your suddenly worried about protecting me..."

"Shelby your my wife..."

"Exactly Scott...I'm your wife"

"What you think this has been easy for me? You think i dont miss you, that i don't think about you every second i''m away from you?" He yelled and looked back at her, she started to cry softly and he immediatley regreted the way he had been talking to her all night.

"I don't know anymore..." She whispered. Scott closed the space between them and pulled her into his arms.

"Baby... i'm sorry" Scott whispered playing with her hair. Shelby looked up into his eyes.

"I'm scared Scott.." She finally admitted.

"I'ts ok, i'm not gonna let anything happen to you Shelby... your safe now" Scott whispered. Shelby relaxed against him "Come here" he whispered leaning toward her and kissing her gently.

Shelby took Scotts hand and followed him to the master bedroom. He shut and locked the door behind them his lips immediatley returning to hers. Scott sat on the bed and she sat on his lap facingt him, her legs wrapped around his waist.

"I miss you so much... i can't be away from you like this anymore... and everyones saying such horrible things about us...about us getting a divorce... and you cheating..."Shelby rambled

"Baby...don't worry about what they say... it's all lies, i love you... more then anything, your my world, you kmow that right?" He said resting his hand on her soft face.

She nodded her head yes and kissed him again. " I love you too Scott"