April, Come She Will
By: Aubrie1234
Alex caught up by the time Lassiter was finishing up with the interim manager and Shawn and Gus watched. Shawn was frowning and Alex knew he was thinking, so he silently slunk to their sides.
"What I wanna know is if Mr. Ladzinski said anything to you before his death. After all, you were trying to become the manager before he died, weren't you?" Lassiter was asking. The interim manager was nodding.
"I did wanna become manager, but I'd never hurt Otto!" he said, "He wasn't exactly the kindest guy but he was nice and made sure things were running smoothly. Three times he fired people for trying to skim money off the business."
"Oh really now?" This caught everyone's attention and Lassiter leaned forward, "Tell me more about these three incidents."
"Well, the first time was over a decade ago..." The interim manager then described how an employee, Andrea Joseph, had skimmed money off the business for months before Otto had stepped up as manager and fired her, where she was consequently arrested. The other two instances were only a few months apart a few years after the first incident, but they didn't seem to stick as much as Joseph's story did. Alex glanced at Shawn and knew he was thinking along the same lines.
"I think we've heard enough. Looks like we've got a lead to find." said Shawn. Gus groaned.
"I hate running around after suspects..." he sighed.
After checking in with Juliet about Joseph, they found that she still lived in the area and so Shawn took the chance to go and ask her a few questions. Alex chose to go along with them rather than stay at the station and so was stuck in the car as Shawn and Gus went to the front door to knock. Alex watched them, glancing around sometimes, and when it seemed like they weren't going to get an answer, Shawn of course decided to sneak in. Alex rolled his eyes as they went around to the back, knowing he would've had a better time getting in, but continued to watch the front. Suddenly, his spy senses spiked and he had the sense to duck before there was an ear-splitting shatter and glass shards rained down on him. He had nearly avoided getting shot through the window. Things had just gotten interesting. He knew better than to leave the car but had to at least get a look at the shooter. Barely raising his head above the edge of the window, he caught a glimpse of a gun in an upstairs window from Joseph's place before he was forced to bring his head down again so as not to get shot. He was forced to stay crouched until the shooting stopped, and even then he didn't raise his head until his instincts relaxed. Glancing out the window, he saw a woman fleeing the house from the back, just a glimpse as she hopped from the backyard and over a fence to the next. Alex hadn't caught her face but was sure she had been the one shooting at him. With a pool of dread in his stomach, he was also sure of the reason why. But were Shawn and Gus okay?
"Alex!" Looking up, he found Gus leaning out of a window at the top of the house, waving to him. Alex was sure that was where the shooter had been and, as sirens came closer, he was glad that things were over for the time being.
Shawn's heart nearly stopped when he first heard the bangs. Immediately his first instinct was to find Alex and protect him, so he wheeled around to do so until Gus grabbed him.
"Let me go! Alex-"
"I know, but we can help more by stopping the shooter." Gus said. Shawn blinked.
"If he gets hurt-"
"It'll be on me. Now go!" Gus turned Shawn back around and pushed him forward. The quicker they stopped the shooter the sooner Alex would be safe. Shawn couldn't argue with that logic. Was this how his dad felt whenever he was the one in danger? Shawn so owed Henry for it if so. Both men then took off at a run, a rough idea of where the shooter could be in their heads. They came around to the back of the house and Shawn timed it just right so that when he forced the door open, the sound was covered by the blasts of gunfire. Inside was mostly clean, with the exception of Andrea Joseph sitting in a kitchen chair with a knife through her back. Shawn swallowed and searched for the stairs, first thing on his mind stopping the shooter. Gus was the first to find them and they ran to the second floor, but the gunshots were still above them. There was an attic but how could they access it? They split up, checking the doors and a trapdoor in the ceiling, until Shawn found stairs upward. By the time he wretched it open, the firing had stopped and coming down the stairs was a woman. Before he could down anything she kicked him in the chin and hopped over him, dashing past Gus on her way out. He wasn't letting her go that easily. Without a word Shawn got to his feet and chased after her, knowing somehow that she had been the shooter, the one trying to hurt his 'son.' Like when his dad had been shot, he was fueled by rage and a need to stop her from trying again, but she was too quick for him. By the time he'd run outside, she was gone. At least he'd caught a glimpse of her face. Photographic memory was the best. He raced around to the front and he tried not to gasp when he saw the shattered back window. All the bullet holes were at the back of the Blueberry, clearly aimed at wherever Alex was. And then the blond's head popped up and Shawn felt a wave of relief flow over him.
"Alex!" The boy got the door opened by the time Shawn was by his side and he took the other into a hug. All the fear that had taken him over was now gone, knowing Alex was safe. He'd never felt this way for anyone before except maybe Jules, Henry, and Gus. No matter how much Alex thought that he could take care of himself, Shawn wouldn't stop worrying and this was a reason why. Already he had bonded with his 'son' and it would be hard to break that.
"Um," Alex's voice was muffled in his chest, "can I breathe please?"
"Sorry." Shawn let him go and checked Alex with a quick glance, "You're not hurt?"
"No. This bug of a car is tough." Shawn smiled.
"Yeah, it is. And I'm glad you're safe." Alex gave a tiny smile.
"At least someone is." Shawn was surprised by the remark. He was about to ask when the cop cars finally pulled up, Juliet and Lassiter of course in the lead as Gus joined him and Alex at the car.
"I'd ask what happened but I think I might know." Lassiter mused at the scene before him. Juliet was the first one to reach them, also taking Alex into a strong hug before checking him over.
"You're not hurt, are you?"
"No." Alex rolled his eyes, "But the car might need a new door."
"Spencer-"
"It was a woman." Shawn went right into the explanation, no antics involved, "Joseph was murdered in her kitchen and another woman took the attic to shoot at Alex. I chased after but she got away." He couldn't get rid of the growl that entered his voice, knowing that he couldn't chase her down. Lassiter nodded. He opened his mouth again but Shawn beat him to it, "5'3'', dark brown hair, blue eyes, dark tan, legs that could kick a sheep into the next county." Shawn rubbed the bruise he was sure was blooming on his chin. At least he hadn't lost any teeth.
"Alright. Spencer, you and Guster take Rider to the hospital to double-check for injuries. O'Hara and I have got this."
"I'm fine." said Alex, but he was ignored. He went silently with Shawn and Gus back into the Blueberry and over to the nearest hospital, staring out the shattered window as he got farther and farther away from Juliet and Lassiter. Juliet noticed this and hoped Alex would be okay. Lassiter put a hand on her shoulder, the only reminder she needed for her job. Nodding, she took the lead as they went around to the back to start the investigation.
As Alex was examined, Shawn and Gus stood in the waiting room, Shawn unable to keep still. Gus didn't try to calm him, knowing how riled up his best friend was, and so suggested Shawn go outside to cool off, maybe even make a call or two. Shawn agreed and so that was where he found himself, phone in hand as he called his father. When Henry picked up, Shawn was still struggling with what to say, what he wanted to ask and what might help him come to terms with how close he had been to losing Alex. Man, he really had bonded so closely to the British boy in less than a week, hadn't he?
"Dad-" Shawn began, then stopped. He took a shaking breath, "Dad, I wanna ask you something."
"Yeah?"
"How worried did you get when I put myself in danger?" There was a pause.
"Is this about Alex?" Shawn nodded.
"Yeah." He rubbed his eyes, "Gus and I were checking out this one place and left Alex in the car so he wouldn't get hurt but he was shot at and I was so scared. I didn't want him getting hurt but I didn't know what to do. Gus had to be the leader then, I was panicking about Alex so much I could barely think."
"But he's okay now, right?"
"He is." Henry gave a relieved sigh.
"Well, Shawn, it's part of being a father. You and I have it worse than others, having dangerous jobs, but you still have to force yourself to take control of the situation, especially when your kid is in danger. You remember when Gus was caught in the middle of that robbery a few years ago? You kept your head then."
"Almost didn't." Shawn admitted, "But I see your point. How can I make myself concentrate on the job, though? Alex isn't like Gus, he's just a kid, my kid." Henry chuckled.
"That's not something I can tell you. It's hard but you have to figure it out yourself, how to think in that situation. If you can keep your cool when it's Gus, then you can do it with Alex. A lot of responsibility equals a lot of fear, Shawn."
"Yeah, I get that now. Thanks for the talk, Dad."
"No problem. And if Alex is anything like you were, you might wanna keep a closer eye on him."
"Will do." After saying goodbye, Shawn ended the call and stared at his phone. Henry was right, he had to figure out how to think and keep it cool if Alex was ever put in danger again, because next time could be worse. But how? Resolving to figure it out later, Shawn went back in to check on Alex.
"Feel better?" asked Gus once Shawn had come back.
"Lots. Thanks."
"No problem, dude. No one's come out yet but I'm sure Alex is fine. He's a tough little guy."
"I know, but I can't help but worry. He's my kid now, Gus, and he's not normal at all." Shawn bit his lip, "I can't believe I already care this much."
"I get it, but trust him." Before Shawn could say anything, the door opened, booth the doctor and Alex walking out.
"He has a clean bill of health." The doctor gave Alex a suspicious glance, "He's lucky to be alive."
"Can we go now, please?" Alex asked. He looked very uncomfortable for some reason.
"Yeah buddy." Shawn nodded, but turned to the doctor, "Is there anything else?"
"Well..." Alex gave the doctor a stern look, "No, he doesn't." The blond boy nodded.
"Thank you. See? He said there was nothing. Let's go." Alex was already walking off.
"Thanks a lot, doc." Shawn and Gus went to catch up with Alex, "You know that was rude, right?"
"I don't like hospitals." Alex kept his head down.
"Still, you shouldn't have been rude."
"Yeah, okay, I'm sorry. Happy?" Alex snapped. Shawn knew that he must've really not liked it to be so angry and so he let it go.
"The company's gonna kill me for this." Gus groaned as they returned to the car, gesturing to the damaged door.
"Well I'm sorry, but it's not like I meant to have a target on my back." Alex snarled. The men were taken aback by his suddenly angry disposition and glanced at one another. As Alex's father, it was up to Shawn to calm the boy but he had no idea where to start.
"Just take us back to the apartment, okay? I'll pitch in to fix the car." Shawn whispered to Gus. The darker man nodded. On their way back, Shawn sat with Alex but the blond refused to talk, only glaring into silence. Something had clearly set him off and Shawn hated not knowing what it could be. Suddenly his phone began to ring and so he answered, "Hello?"
"Shawn Spencer? My name is Victor Verduzco. I was the doctor at the hospital that examined your son."
"Yeah?" Shawn glanced at Alex but thankfully the blond was staring away from him.
"I know this is supposed to be patient confidentiality, but I wanted to know if his previous family tended to abuse him?"
"What?" Shawn kept himself from sounding too shocked so that Alex wouldn't become suspicious.
"During the examination, Alex didn't want to take his clothes off until I convinced him. He had many scars on his body and was angry at being revealed, but it had to be done. So do you know?"
"No, I don't, but thank you." Giving the man a goodbye, Shawn put the phone away. He tried hard not to stare at Alex and noted to pass the info onto Juliet when he had the chance. His son had scars, scars that were bad enough the doctor had to ask him by going around Alex, who clearly didn't want anyone to know. He understood that but it still felt terrible, knowing something he shouldn't, something Alex clearly wanted no one to know, but it gave him another way to understand the boy who was supposed to be his 'son.'
"We're here." Gus announced. Alex was already getting out of the car and Shawn started.
"Uh, thanks." Shawn struggled to get unbuckled.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. It's nothing." Shawn said nothing more as he scrambled out after Alex. Gus was clearly giving him a confused look but what could he say? "Alex has all sorts of scars and I just found out and that's why he's mad?" No way. He'd explain later, once things had settled and he started understanding it himself. Soon enough he caught up to Alex, who was standing outside the apartment, waiting and storming silently. Shawn unlocked the door without a word and Alex went inside. He should let Alex calm down first before bringing anything up, and so he closed the door and headed to the bedroom, taking out his phone. Maybe Alex's scars, no matter how bitter a taste they left, would allow Juliet to figure out more about Alex's past, more about Jones and Crawley and why they dumped Alex on them.
Death. The smell was strong in the air, not unknown to him. He was it, and it was him. It followed him like a dog, taking all that he loved for itself and leaving him only scraps. First was his parents, then Ian, then Jack, then the Pleasures. Now, slowly but surely, it was crawling towards Shawn and Juliet, jaws open wide, ready to make his life even worse. He couldn't let it happen, not again. So many had died because of him, from strangers to family, he wasn't going to let it happen again. So he grabbed Death's reigns and tried to direct it away from them, only for it to turn on him and consume him with all-powerful darkness.
Alex opened his eyes. It wasn't unusual for him to wake from a nightmare. Checking the clock beside his bed, he sighed. It was 3:24 in the morning. He didn't feel sleepy and he knew trying to go back to sleep would make things worse. He threw off the blankets and put on some clothes in the dark before striding out into the apartment. Not hungry, he only moved to the living room, closing the door so as not to disturb Shawn and Juliet. Turning on a lamp and then the TV, he allowed his mind to wander as the national news hummed quietly on the screen. He hated people knowing things about him that he didn't want them to know. And the sudden appearance by the assassin could only confirm his thoughts of what was going on. This whole thing was part of a setup for him, putting everyone he was with in danger. But he couldn't back out of this, it would look suspicious, so what could he do?
I have to keep them safe. Even from me if I have to. Alex bowed his head, That's all I can do.
Sorry if this is short, but it's more of a filler than anything. Please read & review, guys! I hope you like it!