Lion (manxboy)

Chapter 22

Elijah paced around the open room to Shawn's office. He didn't know why Shawn called him. Nervous, Elijah tapped his belt and looked around the room with a wary expression.

Elijah left Lion in a bad mood. Lion wanted Elijah to stay but Elijah needed to go to work. It had been a week since they lived with Shawn and Joshua, and things were getting a bit hard between them. Elijah was always stressing about the problems ahead, and Lion was still thinking about work and having Elijah around. The man completely understood why Lion was acting this way, but he didn't want Lion to over-worry himself for something that could be dealt with quickly. Even though Elijah was afraid, he still tried his best to keep Lion in a good mood. But this morning, Elijah couldn't do that. Shawn called him and stated that it was an emergency and whatever the problem was, needed to be talked about as soon as possible, hence why Elijah paced Shawn's office like a wild beast.

The sound of the door opening shot Elijah out of his daze and staring at Shawn, who wandered in and closed the door behind him. Shawn noticed Elijah's worried expression and burst out laughing.

"Did you think it was that important?" Shawn spoke as he tried catching his breath, "Elijah, I just wanted to talk with you about something that's been shaking in my noggin." Shawn moved around his desk with a broad smile on his face.

Elijah's face was one of confusion as he stared at Shawn with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, "you said to come down to the station as soon as possible, you asshole!" Elijah barked, "now Lion's probably ranting and raving to Joshua about how I left him in a bad mood and how I'm such a mean person."

Shawn wiped the tears of joy that dwelled in his eyes, laughter still booming out of him, "I'm sure the kid is fine. Joshua's with him, and Natalia will surely keep him company." Shawn grinned and continued to calm his dissatisfying laughter, "now, sit down, son, I want to talk about something."

Elijah frowned and pulled a chair close to the desk before sitting down and crossing his arms over his chest, a more serious expression on the man's face as he prepared himself for whatever idiocrasy Shawn had in store for him.

"Alright. Remember when I took you under my wing after you left your parent's house to go out on your own?" Elijah nodded, flashing back to the old days when he felt brave and incompetent, "Elijah, you have been the greatest change in my life since then. You have shown me many things in return for your lessons, and I am proud of you. Proud of the man you've become." Shawn pressed his hands against his desk, seemingly hiding something underneath them, "I envy having you as my friend but also as my son. So with all done and said, Elijah Colm, you are now officially the new Sheriff!" Shawn uncovered the badge and handed it to Elijah.

Elijah hesitantly took hold of the badge and looked up to Shawn with a shocked expression, "but I thought-."

"No thinking. This is yours. Your name is traced underneath it." Elijah looked a little closer, and he couldn't believe it. His name was incaved into the badge, "your welcome, son."

Shawn smiled at Elijah, watching as the man he once called 'boy' form tears in his eyes. Elijah held the badge close to his heart, taking his officer badge off and replacing it with his new one. The man felt like a whole new person. The tears ran down from Elijah's cheeks and onto his uniform, eyes locked with Shawn's.

"Thank you so much," Elijah said and stood from his chair. The man walked around Shawn's desk and leaned down, hugging Shawn, "thank you for always looking out for me and being the father figure I longed to have."

Shawn stood up and hugged Elijah tighter, patting Elijah's back."Your welcome, son," Shawn whispered and let his pent-up tears flow. Shawn didn't know where he would be if it weren't for Elijah appearing in his life. Elijah felt grateful at the moment. He still couldn't believe what was happening, "come on, let's go show the rest." Shawn smiled and pulled away, wiping the tears from his face as he patted Elijah's back.