A Light In the Dark
Chapter 6
"So that leaves me with one question..."
Randy raised a confused eyebrow when Vince didn't continue. "What?"
"Is Shane still around?"
Randy stared at his boss for several long moments, taking in the seriousness of the question. Why the hell would Vince ask him something like that? He awkwardly shifted his weight from leg to leg to try and distract himself from it. He closed his eyes for what felt like hours, silently begging the floor to open up and swallow him. When Vince cleared his throat, Randy opened his eyes and found himself on the receiving end of a glare.
He cleared his throat sheepishly. "No."
Vince quirked an eyebrow. As if watching Randy become jell-o after his question wasn't irritating enough, he had to wait for an answer that didn't make him feel any better when it came to the recent news about Shawn.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Hmmm... So... That means Shawn is going crazy."
"I don't think Shawn is crazy," Vince looked back at Randy when he heard the tone the other man was using. "I simply think he lost the ability to cope with what happened last year... Doesn't mean he's crazy, it just means he needs to see a shrink and get some medicine."
"In Shawn's world, that makes him crazy."
"But he isn't crazy!" Randy shouted.
Vince rubbed his temples, trying to contain his anger at the younger man. "Randy... You don't understand what I'm trying to say... It doesn't matter that we think Shawn isn't crazy. If we can convince Rebecca to take him to get mental help, he's going to think he's crazy no matter what anyone says. Honestly, how do you think you'd react to hearing you're hallucinating your dead friend?"
Randy sighed. "Poorly, actually. But we're gonna have to break it to him gently... How has Rebecca been dealing with it?"
Vince shrugged. "Don't know... Probably by talking to him and distracting him from whatever conversation he's in," Vince paused to sigh. "What do you think he talks about..?"
"No clue... Probably just random shit."
"Like..?"
"I don't know, Vince. Whatever you talk to your friend about. Sports, movies..."
Vince sighed. "Do you think Shawn still feels guilty?"
Randy raised a confused eyebrow. "Why would he feel guilty about anything..?"
"Last year... After what happened. He felt really guilty. He felt like it was his fault Shane died because he wouldn't heed his warnings about Paul. Do you think that has something to do with what's happening now?"
Randy shrugged his shoulders. "Can't be sure, really. I mean, I don't think Shawn should feel guilty, but I can understand why he feels that way. You have to take something under consideration, Vince... Shawn's pride was deeply damaged last year when he got kidnapped. Something like that just doesn't get better... It takes a lot of time. Unfortunately things got even worse with Paul being involved the way he was... Shane's death was the push Shawn didn't need. That little shove into borderline insanity."
"I was afraid you were going to say that."
Vince and Randy whirled around to the door and saw Rebecca standing there looking slightly upset.
"Where's Shawn?" Vince asked.
"Talking to Mark. Figured I'd slip back here for a moment to see what the two of you were up to... I knew better than to trust Vince when he's practically shoving you out of his office but telling you it's fine to come back later."
Vince chuckled. "I had to tell Randy what you told me."
Rebecca looked over at Randy. "And?"
"It's impossible. I mean... For it to really be him."
Rebecca sighed. "So he is going crazy."
"I'm afraid so," Vince stated, at the same time Randy mumbled "I don't think he's crazy."
Rebecca looked back and forth between the two. "Sorry?"
Vince sighed. "Randy doesn't agree with the fact Shawn is losing his mind."
"I don't think he should be treated like he's crazy! He isn't! He's having a normalish mental reaction to everything that's happened to him! I mean, Jesus, Vince... Have you ever even considered what Shawn has to deal with on top of the fact his so-called 'best friend' of twelve or so years decided to try and kill him and actually succeeded in killing someone Shawn has treated like a little brother for almost twenty years?! Cause I think that shit would drive you crazy."
"That would drive anyone crazy."
The awkward silence in the room ended when Shawn ran in, huffing and puffing like he had just participated in a marathon. Randy, Rebecca and Vince looked over at the man with concern etched on their faces, yet each of them was too afraid to approach him to see what was wrong. After several moments, Shawn looked up at them.
"Yes?"
Vince gestured around Shawn. "Are you okay?"
"Yep."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep."
Vince and Randy eyed one another, then turned to look back at Rebecca and Shawn.
"So... I was thinking... How would you like to return to the business?" Vince asked.
Shawn raised an eyebrow. "As what?"
"Randy's manager."
Randy held back the explosive 'what' he was planning on shouting once he heard Vince's suggestion. He looked over at Shawn and smiled at him. The older man was chomping on a piece of gum and was obviously deep in thought; something Randy hadn't seen him do in about two years.
"You're on."