Long Road Ahead - Deckard Shaw Fanfic

1 - A Night Disturbance

Chapter One

         Late into the night, I hear a baby wail from next door. I try to roll over and ignore it, I'm sure it's very difficult to travel with a child. I toss and turn for over an hour, and I check my phone, the clock reading 2:30am. Heaving a sigh, I crawl out of the warmth of my covers of my hotel bed and slid on my slippers and a sweatshirt. I shuffle over to the door and open it, realizing that I can't hear the baby's cries from outside. Taking a shakey, nervous breath I knock on the door of the room next to me. I hear the baby's cries get closer to the door and I hear the deadbolt unlock.

          The door opens, but just a few inches before being stopped by a chain. A middle aged man with stubble sprinkling his chin stares me down, trying to be more intimidating than the dark bags underneath his eyes.

           "What do you want?" He asks, seeming tired and frustrated. I try to peer in to get a better look at the child, but I can't see anything other than him through the thin slit of visibility.

           "I'm in the room next to you, and I heard the baby crying-" I started, but am cut off.

           "Then deal with the noise, there's nothing I can do about your discomfort, love." He starts to close the door, but I push it right back.

          "Please, I'm a pediatrician, I just wanted to make sure everything was alright." I hold my breath, hearing my heart beat over the sound of the wails that have turned into screams. He turns away to look at the baby balancing on his hip and sighs. My heart sinks a little, knowing I won't be getting any sleep and wanting to help the poor thing as the door closes. I'm about to go back into my room when I hear the chain being moved from the door.

          The door swings open and I get a look at the man before me.

           "Please, he's been inconsolable for hours, the little bugger, and I can't think of anything else to do." He says with his back turned to me. The voice sounds familiar, but I can't put my finger on it till he turns around. Immediately, I take a step back.

Flashback

          "Please, Deck, I don't want to go!" I exclaimed as my dad started putting my bags in the trunk of the taxi outside our Essex townhome. I look as my boyfriend, Deckard, takes my head in his, and kisses the top of my head. Tonight, I will be flying back to America to attend college.

          "C'mon, Soph, we knew from the start it would never work. We always knew you'd be going back to the states. Just be safe out there. I can't protect you anymore." He looked deep into my heart with those hazel eyes that just make me melt. I hear my dad call that it's time to leave.

          I through my arms around my first love, clinging to him as if he were a life source, because to me, he was. I feel the lump forming in my throat, and with a final glance, I run to the taxi and don't let myself look back.

Present

           Those same hazel eyes I said goodbye to all those years ago stare back at me. How did I not notice this when I talked to him through the chain?

          "Soph?" He says to me with a puzzled look on his face. We both stand there for a second, taking in each other.

          "Deckard Shaw, I did not ever expect to cross paths with you again." My mind is yanked back to the matter at hand. I clear my throat. "So, um, the baby," I look down, not wanting to meet his piercing gaze. He runs a hand over his face and neck.

          "Right, erm, so he just won't stop crying." I get closer to the little boy, who seems to be about 8 months. He squirms around in Deckard's arms and I motion for him to set the baby down on the bed. I sit down next to the boy and feel him for a fever.

          "Has he eaten recently?" I ask

          "Yes, i gave him some food and then a bottle before he went to bed, but now he won't eat anything."

          "Diaper?"

          "Clean, just changed it."

          My mind races, trying to think of something to soothe the baby with. He has a slight fever.

          "How old is he?" I ask, trying to pinpoint a solution. I wait for an answer, but all I hear is silence. I turn to see Deckard with a blank look on his face. "Deck?" He snaps out of the funk.

          "Er, I don't know, baby aged?" He starts the pace, and I can see the worry building on his face.

          "Deckard, you don't know your son's age?" I start to get worried about the state of this child. It is Deckard's son, isn't it?

          "Deckard? What's going on?"

           "I just taking care of him for a friend." He snaps and answer back at me and I brush it off, more focused on the kid. While things aren't adding up, I can't figure anything out with an inconsolable baby. I get up and tell Deckard to watch the boy while I walk into the bathroom. I wash my hand thoroughly before going back to him. I get next to the boy and put my finger in the boy's mouth with a hunch, feeling a few baby teeth.

            Once I get closer to the back, the kid bites down on my finger, and before yanking my finger out, I feel a little tooth about to emerge from his gum line. He gnaws on my finger a bit, calmer. I look up at Deckard.

            "He's just teething. Do you have any toys or chewies?" He looks around, a little puzzled before shaking his head. "Baby aspirin?" Another shake. I pat the spot on the bed next to me, picking up the boy whilst still letting him suck and chew on my clean fingers. His eyes start to flutter shut as he curls close to my body. Deckard sits down.

           "Thank you-"

             "Deckard, what is going on? Whose baby is this, and don't you dare try to tell me you know because you obviously don't, and I can see right through you. You are unprepared, you are in a hotel, and you have nothing for a baby besides maybe some food and clothes." I start to get frustrated, but keep my voice low as I don't want to startle the sweet boy.

            "Sophia, I do know whose child it is, and I am supposed to have him-" He starts, but I cut him off again, sick of his bull.

           "Really? You really know this kid? You are unprepared. You know nothing about taking care of a child, you don't know his age. What's his name?" I purse my lips, waiting for an answer. He just slightly shakes his head. "That's it, I'm calling the police-" I start to reach for the phone, but he is up in a heartbeat, grabbing my wrist with a firm grip. With my other arm inhabited by a sleeping bundle, I am stuck.

            "C'mon, Love, I really wouldn't do that now." He starts to sit down.

            "Explain now, or I scream. I will scream my damn lungs out, and I can guarantee someone will hear, so talk." I'm still standing, waiting for an answer. He sighs and rubs his hand in contemplation. I open my mouth and inhale sharply, and he springs up, hand covering my mouth.

            "Fine, fine, I'll talk". His hand leaving my mouths, and I sit down. He shakes his head a few times, and looks at the sleeping boy in my arms. "Long story short, I have a friend. He found out he had a son, and that they were in a rough situation. He tried to get them, but the mother died before he was able. He was slightly trapped in a, er, situation as well, and so he sent me to retrieve the bugger, and now I'm watching him until things settle down a bit. So no, I don't know his name, and no, I don't know how old he is, and hell no, I don't know the first thing about taking care of a baby, but until I get the all clear, I'm all he's got." He looks away, as if not wanting to meet my gaze. I rest a hand on his shoulder.

           "Well, for now, you look exhausted. How about you get some sleep and I'll bring your little "bugger" over to my room and watch him. I promise he'll be okay." I offer, knowing that he probably hasn't slept in days. Looking down at the baby, he slowly nods, sighing.

             "Alright, but only for a little bit. And know that I will find you if you try anything funny." I nod, standing up and taking the boy to my room. Once I get him settled in, I curl up next to him, letting sleep control me rather than the thousand questions I have going through my head.