Summary: Shawn meets with Isabelle after learning that she has gone to Dennis Ryland and is his source for Promicin.
Who Can You Trust
Shawn stood in the sand watching as the waves of Highland Beach rose and fell with a gentle sound. The sunny was just starting to go down with its bright beam of light shining into the dark blue water creating a fiery glow in its decent. He heard the rustling of tree branches behind him and turned at the sound. Isabelle had arrived.
"I didn't think you would come." He said as he walked over to stand just a few inches from where Isabelle as she came from the shelter of the trees.
"I almost didn't. My curiosity got the best of me. I didn't think you would want to talk to me once you heard," she inclined her head to the side silently asking the question that they both knew the answer to.
It was an odd picture to see her in boots on a beach. But, that was Isabelle for you, creating her own fashion statements with the army green wrap dress that hugged her figure. She certainly didn't look like any bodyguard he'd ever seen. "If you mean did Uncle Tommy tell me you're working for Dennis Ryland and as his security guard, he did. That's part of the reason I wanted to meet with you. Look, I know that Jordan that you had to leave the Center but he was wrong, Isabelle."
"Was he Shawn? I was upset and hurt at first." She started off walking around the sandy beach in her stiletto heeled black boots toward the ledge where he had been standing.
"But, once I thought about it I realized he was right." She turned then clasping her hands in front of him. "I don't belong at the Center, I never did—,"
"You're wrong Isabelle, what about your father, your mother they belong there and so did you."
"My parents are 4400s. I'm not, I'm different. All these months I tried to fit in, to be normal but, I failed Shawn. Jordan was right, I'm not a 4400 and I can never be one. I decided to just give into my destiny Shawn, to do what I was put here to do. Let's be honest with each other, it's not like I ever really had a choice."
Shawn approached her then eyes full of concern and disbelief. "Is that what you really believe? That you don't have a choice? Its not true Isabelle, you always have a choice. "
Isabelle walked away from the ledge. "Do I really? I don't think so. Think about it Shawn. My mother died because I choose to live and Daddy—my father believes that I am evil, that I 'm an enemy to the 4400. Do you think that I don't have the capacity to do bad things, because I do." Moving to standing in front of him, the height of her shoes bring into direct eye contact with him. "I am capable of doing a lot of bad things. More than you realize. You should be happy Shawn, be glad that Jordan saved you from me."
Shawn stared at Isabelle as a moment of clarity came upon him. "I didn't need Jordan to save me from you Isabelle. I was still going to marry you. You walked out on me. "
She wanted to believe him, she wished she could. But she couldn't. Leaving the Center had forced her to open her eyes to the bigger picture. Matthew had been right. By staying at the Center she had been trying to how hold onto a life that could never be hers. Shawn didn't love her, he probably never had. And worse he had never trusted her. He said she had a choice but she didn't. Destroying the 4400s was her destiny and that would never change. Isabelle broke eye contact from him stepping away . "I didn't come here for this." Shawn grabbed her arm. "People change, Shawn." She tugged her arm free and crossed her arms over her chest.
Shawn dropped his hands to his side watching as Isabelle closed herself off from him. "I'm beginning to see that." He replied not thinking only of Isabelle but Richard as well and his sudden allegiance to Jordan.
"I have to get back. Dennis is probably wondering where I am."
"You didn't tell him you were meeting me?"
"No, I didn't. But, I didn't think you were telling Jordan."
"Jordan doesn't need to know everything I do." He scoffed caustically. Stuck in his thoughts Shawn missed Isabelle paying special attention to his tone. "Listen, I don't know what Dennis Ryland has told you but I think you should be careful around him. Don't trust him completely." He warned her.
"You should take your own advice Shawn. Collier is more dangerous than you think. He's not the same man you knew before. He's more powerful, ruthless. And if you don't watch yourself you could get hurt." With that Isabelle turned and started walking back the way she came.
"I'm not afraid of Jordan or you, despite what you might think." Shawn called out.
Pausing, Isabelle turned and levels him with an intense gaze. "You should be, Shawn because you don't know what I am capable of." Without another word she continued walking through the forest back to her car. It was time to go back to her new life as Dennis Ryland's protector.
Author's Note: The final part of this story should be up next week. Until then tell me what you think, I love feedback.
3/30/08 A/N #2: I have edited the final part of this story and although it is complete I feel that it would work much better as a separate story on it's own. Therefore, the final part to this story will be added separately.