Saving Her

Chapter 31

Shawn's POV

I wake up the next morning to an empty bed.  Camila is not snuggled next to me and panic and fear sets back in. 

Where is she?

Springing up from the bed, I search my room, my closet, my bathroom.  Nothing.  I walk across the hall to her room, nothing.  I hear voices coming from downstairs, but neither of them hers. 

Oh no.

Deciding not to officially go into full panic mode, I change out of my uniform, which I fell asleep in, and head downstairs rather quickly.

My heart finds a regular rhythm again when I see Camila sitting on the couch with Sofi watching Tangled.  Sinu is making breakfast and gestures for me to come into the kitchen.  As I pass Camila I notice that her eyes are glassed over and her face is slightly flushed.  She's been crying again and my heart drops.

Defeated I reach the kitchen and Sinu wraps me in a huge hug.  "Thank you Shawn for saving my baby!"

"I....uh....you're welcome mama?" I sigh.  "I don't know if I saved her thought. I mean look at her."

"Shawn Peter Raul Mendes....you have been saving my daughter since the day she met you!  You have been with her through some of the worst times in her life and yet are still here." Taking my hand she continues, I know she's serious when she brings out all four of my names.  "She told me what happened yesterday Shawn.  She told me how you came running to her rescue and brought her straight home and made her feel safe and protected."  Gesturing for me to sit on one of the stools at the island so she can flip the pancakes, she says "I don't want you to ever doubt whether or not you are helping our Mila.  You are Shawn.  Every damn day!  You help us all out and I never want you to feel like you're not enough!"

Leave it to mama to put everything into perspective. Wow.

Tears lining both our eyes, she plates the pancakes and starts in on another batch.  I get up from the stool and meet her on the other side of the island in a hug.  "Thank you mama!"

"Of course mijo.  We love you, you're family loves you, and we're thankful for you everyday." She smiles up at me.  "Breakfast is almost ready, why don't you go sit with the girls for now."  Nodding I proceed into the living room.  There's enough room for me between the sisters so I plop down and almost instantly they both lean into me.  Camila clutching my arm and using it like a pillow and Sofi leaning against my other arm.  My heart is at peace as I lean over to each sister and kiss their heads.  Small smirks grace both of their faces at the gesture and I'm starting to feel a lot better.

Sinu announces that pancakes are ready.  We all get up and head to the kitchen, Camila going to help mama set the table.  I feel a small hand gently squeeze my arm. 

"You know Shawn, my mama's right.  You've been saving my sister since day one, and you've always been my hero.  You've always been her's too.  We talked to her about not going back to work and she agreed for now.  That place is still too much for her."  Sofi says once Camila is out of earshot.  "I know she's eventually going to want to go back, and I know we all thought she was there, but we were wrong, and that's okay.  However, I need your help with something."

"Anything Sofi, you know that!"  I reassure her.

"We want to have that office remodeled or closed off, for good.  Camila can't be the only person that room affects and I know papa would have never let that new doctor take over that space with all that's happened."  Nodding in agreement I let her continue.  "I need you to come with me to the unit today, I'm meeting with Dr. Story about how we can change the space or close it off.  I want you to come with me."

"Yes! Absolutely I'll come with you.  I think this is a great idea."  Reaching out to hug her, I encircle her in my arms and kiss the top of her head.  "You're such a good sister Sof, Mila's really lucky to have you."

"She's really lucky to have you too Shawn, we all are!"