Since You Been Gone

Since You Been Gone: Chapter 18

*Author's Note: I recently received a comment on the way I spell. Although this story is set in America, I'd just like to note that I'm British! We spell some things differently, but without further ado...*

The sounds of the police cars coming towards the house, snapped everyone back to reality. Que and Dawn hopped into the mini-van, Que started it up.

"We'll be back to get Destiny in the morning." Que told Donnie.

Donnie nodded his head and Que pulled off. He went in the opposite direction of the cops. The whole ride home was silent, until Que asked Dawn to explain what's going. Dawn looked at Que's profile and he began to cry softly. She had never seen Que get so angry.

"It happened at my parent's anniversary party. Dad had sent me back to get Mum's gift. When we got there we started looking at my old high school year book. One thing lead to another and HE kissed me. That's when I told him that we can no longer be friends and I didn't want to talk to him anymore." Dawn told Que.

Que pulled the car over and put in park. He grabbed Dawn's hand and faced her.

"And why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I don't know... I was scared at your reaction."

"My reaction wouldn't have been like it was tonight."

Dawn looked at him and gave him a slight smile. She had never seen Que fight like that before, but she saw that he would do anything to defend his wife and his baby girl. Dawn leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.

Que pulled back from Dawn, and looked out of the front windshield. Dawn could see that his mind was racing, and the look of concern he had on his face seemed to have vanished into a look that Dawn didn't recognize at first.

Que shifted the gear into drive and silently pulled back onto the highway. Dawn's hand was still resting on the back of Que's neck, and she looked at him with amusement mixed with a little disbelief at his demeanour, but wouldn't dare let on with a smile.

"Que... babe..." Dawn said in an almost pleading tone of disbelief; she was looking at him, trying to read his mind, as he intently watched the road in front of him.

Que just shook his head and frowned. He wouldn't even glance over at her. Dawn withdrew her hand, and the look of question on her face was replaced by her own hurt. She'd stop pushing him to react now. Dawn looked out of the passenger side window, hoping to hide the disappointment and tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She suddenly wished Destiny were cooing and talking to her dolls in the backseat like usual... At least she'd provide a happy distraction to this feeling now creeping up between Dawn and Que.

The silence between them during the rest of the car ride home was deafening. Dawn thought she remembered turning the radio on, just to calm her nerves once they got back into the car after leaving Justin lying on the ground, but she was wrong... or Que had turned the music down so low that she couldn't hear it anymore. She dared not turn the music up now. Que was angry, Dawn could see that clearly. But he was the worst kind of angry. Silent, not wanting to be bothered, sullen, and moody...

Dawn used to laugh at him in her mind, early in their relationship, because of how quiet and angry and hurt he could become, so quickly. She thought it was amusing when she was still learning about who this person she was falling in love with really was. It was as if Que had two sides to him, never violent or physical, at all, but still cold and extremely distant. As amusing as this was to learn and observe during their courtship, she had grown to hate that side of him.

Even before the trouble with Justin two years ago, Dawn recognized that there were quite a few similarities between he and Que, and this was one of the worst. Whenever Dawn would do or say something, anything, to offend or anger Justin, his entire demeanour would suddenly change and he would just walk away, or if on the phone, stop talking and suddenly make up an excuse to end the call. Even if Dawn weren't the one to make Justin angry, he would take on the same demeanour, and everyone around him was made to suffer. This silent treatment would go on for days sometimes.