A Light In the Dark
Chapter 5

"Judging by the way you're talking to me, I'd assume you already have something in mind. So... What is it, Orton? What is it you think I'm too ashamed to admit to?"

Randy sighed again, taking a long moment to stare at Shawn. "I think you... I think you have a serious problem and you're not sure how to go about voicing it to someone."

Shawn raised a confused eyebrow. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

Randy rubbed his neck awkwardly. "I'm not exactly sure right now, but I know something is off with you," Randy paused for a moment, then sighed. "Look... Vince wants to see you. He told me to come out here and find you so I could bring you to his office. Sound okay?"

Shawn shrugged his shoulders. "Guess so."

"Good, 'cause you have no choice." Randy stated, then started walking back towards Vince's office.

He was slightly surprised that Shawn actually followed him.

"Something is wrong with Shawn, man."

Vince looked over at John with a quirked eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

John looked at Vince like he had sprouted another head. "Do I really need to explain myself? He isn't the same person he was, Vince. The shit that happened changed him, man, and I don't like it one bit... I mean... Okay, look me in the eyes and tell me you don't think there's anything funny about him."

Vince sighed. "He does fly off the handle a lot nowadays..."

"It's more than that."

"I know. He's unstable. Has been since..."

"I know. You don't have to mention it... I saw it with my own eyes a year ago... I just wish he'd get some help, ya know?"

"Shawn doesn't need any help, John."

John raised his eyebrows at Vince. "Did you really just suggest that that man is perfectly fine? Vince, you know as well as I do that Shawn has some serious friggin' problems and they're only going to get worse if we continue to pretend nothing is wrong with him."

The two men looked over at the door when they heard a knock. John leaned over ever so slightly and opened the door, allowing Rebecca Hickenbottom to slip into the room and close the door behind her.

"Thank you, John."

"No problem."

Vince stood up and walked over to Rebecca, then embraced her. "Damn, it's been awhile."

"I agree. Too long." Rebecca replied, smiling as Vince broke the hug and looked her in the eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here with Shawn. Well, kind of. I broke away from him when we got into the arena... I had to come and see you before he got here."

Vince raised a confused eyebrow, then turned to John and saw the man had the same expression on his face, so he turned back to Rebecca. "How do you mean..?"

"I need to talk to you... About Shawn," Rebecca paused and turned to look at John. "Alone, if you don't mind."

"Not at all... I'll see you later." John stated and took his leave.

Once the door closed, Vince met Rebecca's eyes and saw she was being very serious. "What's the matter?"

"I think he's insane."

"Now, Becky... I know he's been through a lot within the last year, but that's no reason to assume he's gone insane... I mean, I'm sure he's being quirky, but it'll-"

"He isn't being quirky."

"Okay, then... What's the problem..?"

"He's hallucinating."

Vince raised both eyebrows. "Pardon me?"

Rebecca closed her eyes and sighed, trying to figure out the best way to tell Vince what Shawn's problem was. She figured any way it came out would be equally as painful as the other, especially since the truth was hard to bear, so she looked Vince in the eyes again. "Vince... Please don't take any offense to what comes out of my mouth."

Vince chuckled at Rebecca. "Where would you ever get an-"

"Shawn hallucinates Shane."

Vince's face immediately fell and his eyes filled with fury. Rebecca regretted telling him the way she did, but she had to get it out, and he wasn't exactly working with her. She was being serious with him, and he had to know the whole truth...

"What?" Vince's voice was barely above a whisper, and Rebecca swore his eyes were filling with tears.

"I'm not sure how long it's been going on... But Shawn will have full-fledged conversations by himself. I swear to you, he's alone in a room and he's talking like there's someone in there with him... He did it the other night when Randy was over. And then I heard it... He said Shane's name. I mean... I reminded him that Shane is gone... But he seemed confused."

"What do you mean he seemed confused?" Vince asked.

"He seemed like he didn't understand that Shane isn't alive."

"What..?"

Rebecca sighed. "Listen... I know this is hard for you to deal with... I mean, it's hard for all of us, but you were there... And Shawn felt responsible for what happened... He still has a guilty conscience about it, and I don't understand why... I can't even comprehend what the hell is wrong with him that makes him believe Shane is still here."

"Did you catch him in the middle of a conversation?"

"Yes. He doesn't even mention it... He acts like it never happened."

"I can't even comprehend this situation..," Vince paused to shake his head. "Are you telling me... That Shawn doesn't believe Shane is dead?"

"That's what I'm saying."

"This is a big problem."

"I've realized that... That's why I wanted to get here before Shawn did and tell you about it. You know he won't say anything."

"Right. Shawn never really expressed himself much. Luckily, I had some guys who were able to read him like a book."

Rebecca paused to look at Vince sadly. She knew exactly who he was referring to. "Yeah, but now you have Randy and his... Ability."

Vince quirked an eyebrow. "Who told you about that..?"

"Nobody. I heard Shane and Randy talking about it one night..."

Vince put a finger to his lips to silence Rebecca, as they started hearing voices that sounded a hell of a lot like Randy and Shawn walking down the hallway towards the office. There were two short knocks on the door before it opened to reveal the two, who slipped into the room and shut the door behind them.

"Hello!" Vince shouted, moving over to Shawn to greet him properly.

"Hiya." Shawn accepted Vince's hug without much awkwardness, thankfully, and the two separated to look one another in the eyes.

"How are you?"

"Fine, thanks. You?"

"Good, good. We're all great... We miss you around here."

Shawn looked around the office, then back at Vince. "I... Kinda miss being here."

Vince smiled at Shawn and put a hand on his shoulder. "Well, that's fantastic to hear! Maybe you could come back and become a part of the Creative Team."

Shawn smiled and half-heartedly shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not too sure Steph would want me millin' around her neck of the woods..."

"Oh, stop it. Stephanie loves having you around."

"How is Stephanie..?" Shawn asked.

"She's good. Adjusting to life back at home with the little ones... Have you met her newborn..?"

Shawn shook his head. "Can't say I have."

Vince pulled out his phone and turned it to Shawn, smiling broadly. "That's him!"

"He's a handsome devil." Shawn commented.

"Isn't he?" Vince asked.

"What's his name?"

"Liam Vaughn."

Rebecca smiled, looking over Shawn's shoulder to see the picture. "Hmmm. I don't agree with it."

"What," Randy shouted, almost tripping over nothing. "It suits the little devil!"

Rebecca tsk'ed at him. "He should've been named after the person he looks like."

Vince immediately knew what she meant, then took the phone and looked at the picture. "How come everyone says that..? I refuse to allow that name to be associated with that-"

"Anyway, moving on! Have you two seen anyone else yet..?" Randy asked, turning his attention over to the couple.

"No. We wanted to go and see some of the guys..."

Vince smiled. "Oh, please... Don't hesitate to go ahead and do that... The door is always open! Well... For the remainder of the show, anyway..."

"We'll be back later, then." Shawn stated, leaving the room with Rebecca.

Once the door closed, Vince looked over at Randy. "I know what's wrong with Shawn."

"Really? What?"

"Rebecca told me before the two of you got here. She said that Shawn is having a serious problem when it comes to accepting the fact that Shane is dead."

Randy looked confused. "What?"

"She said he hallucinates him and has full conversations with him."

Randy stared wide-eyed at Vince. "Holy shit... Now... That is intense..."

"So that leaves me with one question..."

Randy raised a confused eyebrow when Vince didn't continue. "What?"

"Is Shane still around?"