My All

Part 22

That night, Shawn got to the cabin later than usual. As he entered, Deborah ran out of the room. "Is everything okay? Why are you so late?" She asked.

"They are still running around looking for you. They have your car."

"Have they been to the diner?" She said pacing the living room.

"Yeah, Roger went by today. He kind of threatened me. I think he knows."

"Did they follow you?"

"Carl and I switched cars. Just to be sure. I stayed behind and saw them go after my truck. Then I took another route just in case, that's why it took me so long." He said standing in front of her as he hugged her. "Everything is going to be okay. I'm going to keep you safe." He kissed the top of her head.

"Let's eat. I made dinner." She said moving away from his arms and walking to the kitchen.

He followed her. "Are you okay?"

"No, Shawn. I'm not." She said, slamming her hand on the counter. "You're risking yourself for me! I never asked you to do this."

"Hey, I care about you. I want to be with you. I'm not letting them take you away from me." He said as he grabbed her hand and put it on his chest. "Do you want to leave with them? If that's what you really want, I won't stop you."

"Of course I don't want to leave with them. I ran away for a reason. And now all I want is to be with you. Have a normal life with you. But while they are here, that's not going to happen."

He lifted her chin and slowly kissed her. "That's all I needed to hear. That you want to be with me too. Let's just eat." They ate in silence. Afterwards, they watch a movie. "Going to take a long shower, want to join me?" He asked her, winking.

"No, I need to finish cleaning up the kitchen." She said, kissing his cheek.

He got up and headed to the bathroom. She quickly got up as he closed the door and grabbed the phone. She called the motel and asked for Roger's room. "Hello?" He answered.

"I've heard you've been looking for me, Roger. What do you want?" Her voice trembled.

"Well well well, if it isn't the elusive Deborah. Where are you?" He yelled.

"What do you need me for, Roger? After what you and Serge did, it was clear you wanted me out of there and that's what I did. So, what do you want?"

"I need you to come home."

"What for? So you can have your friend rape me again?"

"Dad's sick. He wants to see you."

"What?"

"Yeah, he says that he wants to see you in case he dies or something."

"How can I know you're not lying to me?"

"You're going to have to trust me on that one."

"Why did you bring Serge with you? You could've come alone."

"For company. So, are you going to tell me where you are so we can leave this crappy town already?"

"If I do agree to leave with you, and that's if, do you promise you won't hurt anybody?"

"Who are you protecting? Have you been bad, little sis?"

"Roger! I'm serious."

"Alright, if you come peacefully with us, nobody will get hurt."

"Stop looking for me, I'll call you when I make up my mind." And she hung up.

The shower was still running, so she dialed her father's number. "Hello?" James answered, coughing.

"Hello, dad." She said cautiously.

"Deborah! Where are you? Are you safe?"

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine." He said coughing again.

"Are you really? Roger said you're sick."

"Did he find you?"

"Did you really send him to get me back?"

"I'm sick, Deborah. The doctors don't know what it is, but it doesn't look good. And I want to see you. I need to see you."

"I was always a burden to you, dad. Why the change of heart now?" She said, holding back her tears.

"There's so much I must tell you. Please, come back to me." He said crying. The shower stopped.

"I have to go, dad." She said hanging up.

Shawn got out of the shower smiling with a towel wrapped around his waist. He saw her sitting next to the phone with tears in her eyes. He walked towards her and kneeled in front of her, taking her hands in his. "What's wrong, Deborah?"

"I think I need to go with them."

"No, Deborah. You just told me you didn't. What changed?"

"I called my dad, he is sick. It sounds serious. He really wants to see me."

"What if it's just a plot to get you?" He stood up running his hand through his hair.

"What if it's not? I might regret this. I'll just go with them and come back." She said standing up and walking towards him.

"I don't like this. Why don't I just take you there? I'll feel better."

"You have the diner to take care of, and your father."

"No, Deborah. I don't trust them. I can't have you leave with them! What if something happens to you? I could never forgive myself." He grabbed her arms.

"Shawn. I need to do this."

"No! Get it out of your head. I'll take a few days off and I'll take you. I don't want to hear anymore of it." He walked to the room and slammed the door.