Shane perched on the edge of the bed and held the mug to Andrew's lips. "Drink a little bit more, son."
Neil had wanted Andrew to drink some hot chocolate, saying that the warm liquid would help bring Andrew's temperature the rest of the way up, while the sugar would give him more energy to fuel the recovery.
Andrew sipped some of the liquid and then pulled away. It seemed like the little burst of energy he had when he told Shane and Roman about Cal had passed. Now, Andrew just seemed pale and exhausted.
Roman had left to call Abe, Steve, and Bo, but Shane did not want to leave Andrew alone. They had asked Andrew some follow-up questions, which confirmed that the assailant was Cal. Andrew told them how Cal called his name and even used a nickname that Roman recognized as the one that Cal used with Andrew.
But none of that explained how Cal Winters could possibly have come to Salem. The attacks on Andrew had been going on for weeks. Prisoners don't just disappear from penitentiaries without being noticed.
It is Cal.
Shane forced himself to accept that, despite the implausibility. He believed Andrew.
"Are you mad at me?" Andrew looked up with his big, dark eyes. "For not helping Mommy?"
The question took Shane by surprise. How could Andrew think that? For the moment, Shane pushed Cal out of his mind. "Of course, I'm not mad at you. You did what your mother told you to do. That helped her a lot. She knows you're safe and that's the most important thing to her."
Andrew grew silent.
"You listen to me, Sport." Shane set the mug on the end-table beside Andrew's bed. "Mommy's okay and I'm going to find her and bring her home. I don't want you to worry about that." In the back of his mind, Shane wondered if he was making another promise he might be unable to keep, but, no, there was no way he would let Cal hurt Kim. "I'm going to find her." Shane gave Andrew a reassuring smile. "Why don't you lie back down and see if you can sleep a little more?"
He helped Andrew get comfortable and then found his teddy bear. Andrew took the bear, clutched it tightly, and curled on his side. Shane stayed seated on the edge of the bed and tried to think of something to say.
In a quiet voice, Andrew said, "Mike's not coming back, is he?"
Shane closed his eyes. He had guessed Mike was shot before Andrew had run away, but the question confirmed that Andrew had witnessed Mike's death. He's just a boy. He should never have seen that. "No," Shane said softly, as he opened his eyes again. "Mike isn't coming back."
"I heard a loud noise and Mike fell down and didn't get up. That's when Mommy told me to hide." Andrew seemed to be looking past Shane, most likely, reliving the events of the attack.
Shane brushed Andrew's cheek. "You did everything you could, son. You were very brave."
Andrew closed his eyes for a moment, and then looked at Shane. When he spoke, it was barely a whisper. "It was so scary, Daddy."
"I know. . . ." Shane tried to think of something comforting to say, but he was feeling his anger rising. His anger at Cal Winters. Anger at Kimberly for being so foolish. And anger at himself for driving her away. Focus on Andrew, he reminded himself. "You don't have to be scared any more." Let me do it for you. "You're safe, and Mommy and Aunt Kayla will be too." Shane adjusted the blanket so it pulled over Andrew's shoulder. "Now why don't you try to get some sleep. That's what Dr. Curtis wants."
Andrew appeared to grow nervous. His eyes widened and his shoulders scrunched a little, but even that movement lasted briefly. Andrew seemed to have very little strength.
He's probably worried about nightmares. "You'll feel better after some sleep," Shane said. "And I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here when you wake up."
That seemed to work as Andrew's body relaxed. As Andrew closed his eyes, Shane sat on the edge of the bed and watched his son. Eventually, Andrew's breathing grew soft and steady as he drifted off. For the moment, he looked peaceful and innocent.
This should never have happened, Shane thought silently. He's just a little boy. He should be safe from danger.
Shane shook his head. Ever since they had returned from England, Andrew had been in danger and Shane had never even considered Cal Winters a suspect. But it fit so well. Even in Shane's sleep-deprived and preoccupied brain, he understood that Cal had access to the shirt and keys. Attacking Andrew also made sense. Cal wanted Kim and Jeannie; Andrew was a tie to Shane that Cal would want to sever. In Cal's insane mind, with Andrew and Shane out of the way, Cal could take Kim and Jeannie and make some type of family.
"Jeannie!" The word came out loud as Shane stood up from the bed.
Cal wants Jeannie.
She was at Shawn and Caroline's, which was not secure. Shane had no idea when Cal would make his move, but it would happen. Cal would want his "family."
Shane glanced back at Andrew, remembering his promise to stay with the boy. But Shane also had to talk to Roman and make sure Jeannie was protected. She would come to the house. That made the most sense. She could stay here. Simmons could watch her, and it would be good for Andrew to have his sister close by.
And I owe it to Kimberly.
He did. He owed it to her to keep her daughter safe. Right now. Turning, Shane left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He nearly sprinted to the stairs and raced down them, fueled by a sudden surge of energy.
"Roman!" he called out. "We need to get Jeannie here now."