A/N: May 1995

Shawn waited outside Jon's classroom. He pulled the detention slip out of his pocket and bit his lip, then shoved it back into his pocket.

There was no way Shawn was going to be able to convince his guardian he was innocent. And Jon was going to be so upset. He wouldn't kick him out, and he probably wouldn't hit him, but he would yell, and he'd almost definitely ground him. He would be disappointed. Shawn had to hide this. Maybe he could forge Jon's signature later.

Jon came out of the classroom, carrying his briefcase. "Ready to go?"

Just be cool. Shawn gave a nervous laugh. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

Jon turned back and raised his eyebrows. "Okay. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why would something be wrong?" He shoved his hand into the pocket with the detention slip, feeling the paper crinkle.

"We've gotta work on your poker face. Come on, out with it." His eyes traveled downward. "What's in your pocket?"

"Nothing," Shawn said, way too quickly.

"It's not nothing. Turn it out."

Shawn had to get better at lying. He turned out his pocket and handed over the detention slip.

Jon sighed and looked it over, then frowned. "Plagiarism?"

"I'm really sorry."

"You're telling me you actually copied?"

Shawn set his jaw.

"Who did you copy?"

"Ms. Jenkins didn't know. But she said I had to have."

"Why?"

"Cause I'm not smart enough to have written that I wrote."

"She said that?"

"Uh..." He thought back to the conversation. She'd said a couple of other nasty things as well, but the words he'd relayed to Jon were definitely in there. It just hurt to confirm he was actually stupid. "Well. Yeah."

"Get in here." Jon reopened the classroom door.

"Come on, man, I want to go home."

"I'll just be a minute. Want to order pizza tonight?"

"Okay." Shawn shifted his weight. "She might have thought I was stupid because... I-I've also been falling asleep in her class. Just haven't told you."

"I see." Jon looked right at Shawn, then down toward the floor.

That was the look. The disappointed one. It hurt so bad. Shawn let out his breath, forcing himself to look anywhere else.

"Early bedtime tonight, Hunter."

"I know." That was the minimum consequence for falling asleep in class. Shawn was getting off really easy.

Jon squeezed his shoulder and left the classroom.

A minute later, Jon returned with Feeny, who approached Shawn right away. "Mr. Hunter, may I see the paper?"

Shawn held out the detention slip, and Jon rolled his eyes. "The essay, Shawn."

"Fine." He took off his backpack and rummaged around for it before handing it over.

Feeny accepted it and began to silently read.

Shawn shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and he let his breath out.

"It's good," Feeny said. "Impressive for a seventh grade paper. Definitely Shawn's work. Very distinct style."

"Tell that to Ms. Jenkins," Shawn muttered.

Feeny looked him right in the eye. "Did you plagiarize?"

Shawn swallowed, any urge to joke around melting away. "No, sir."

"Did you tell her that?"

Shawn didn't get a chance to respond before his guardian cut in. "This isn't about that, George, this is about her calling my... calling him stupid."

"I'm very aware."

Jon crossed his arms. "George, I meant what I said earlier. I don't care that I work here, I will take action."

"I'll take care of it, Jonathan. Now, I'd like a word with your ward, if you'll allow it."

Jon stared at him a moment before nodding. "Shawn, I'll meet you out by the bike."

"Okay," Shawn said, and Jon left.

Shawn pulled in a deep breath and turned toward Feeny. "Are you going to cancel my detention?"

"Of course."

Shawn nodded, but he didn't know what to say.

Feeny was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "Do you have the slightest idea of how much your guardian cares for you?"

Shawn blinked, his breath catching. That was the last thing he was expecting to hear.

"He loves you like a son, Shawn. As much as I have ever seen any father love his son."

"You...you kept me back just to tell me that?"

"Oh, yes."

Shawn waited for him to say more, but he seemed to be done. "Well...okay then. Can I go?"

"He's waiting for you."

Shawn nodded slowly, and he headed toward the door.

He was almost there when Feeny asked, "Do you love him?"

Shawn let his backpack slump. "He's not my dad."

"That's not what I asked."

Shawn looked toward the door then at the ground. "Don't tell him."

"Have you?"

Shawn looked up, and Feeny's eyes pierced his.

Feeny sighed. "Your secret is safe with me, Mr. Hunter."

Shawn held his stare another moment, then he all but ran out of the classroom.

A/N: The next story of this AU, "Call Someone," is posted.