Fear - 50

Gene's birthday arrived and with it Shawn's nervousness—which was beyond his control at the moment as they parked along the main street and walked to the restaurant.

"You look just fine," Gene said, amusement lighting his face when Shawn took a glance in yet another darkened shop window along the way.

"I want to be more than fine," Shawn muttered, brushing a stand of hair back off his face. "I want to be perfect so you'll be proud of me."

"You could be wearing your greasy coveralls from work, with a smudge of oil on your cheek, and your hair tied back with a bandana and I'd still be proud of you." When Shawn looked at him skeptically, Gene hugged him, thereby unintentionally messing up his hair again.

"Damn it," Shawn grumbled.

"Hold still." Gene took out his comb, ran it through Shawn's hair and proclaimed things were perfect now. "And no looking to check, Narcissus," he said with a grin. Putting one hand at the small of Shawn's back he steered him to the restaurant entrance. "Deep breath and smile," he whispered as he opened the door.

Smile? Yeah right. Shawn surveyed all the people there and the decorations Linda had asked to be put up to celebrate Gene's birthday, and—all the people—and almost turned tail and ran. Only Gene's firm grip on his shoulder kept him where he was.

"Happy birthday," several people shouted when they saw Gene. They immediately mobbed him, followed moments later by a second wave of his friends and acquaintances.

Much to Shawn's surprise, Gene slid an arm around his waist, introducing him to those people closest to them. Even more to his surprise, they all seemed to accept him as if he belonged there.

"See, Shawn. I told you it would be all right," Linda said from behind him, giving him as much of a hug as possible considering he was tucked close to Gene's side. Then she turned to Gene and with a grin, curtsied. "If you two gentlemen will follow me, I'll take you to your table."

Gene rolled his eyes, muttering to Shawn, "This is why I hate birthday parties. Well, for me anyway. People insist on treating me like I'm special just because I'm a year older."

"Positively ancient," Max said, coming up to greet them now that people had started to return to their tables. "You're what, now? Thirty-one?"

"And counting." By now they were at the rectangular table at the end of the room. After Gene sat, with Shawn beside him, Gene apparently realized they were facing everyone else. "This is beginning to feel like a roast," he said when Linda took the seat on his other side.

"Well now that you mention it…" She smiled broadly.

Gene looked at her in horror. "You'd better be kidding."

"I am. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the good food and the fact that so many people care about you."

(FYI - I'll be visiting family over the weekend so the next post may not go up until late Monday, or Tuesday morning.)