Fear - 12

They left the bar well after midnight. When Shawn had suggested hesitantly that he should drive, Jared's only reply was to order him to get into the truck and keep his yap shut, so the ride back to the trailer had been made in silence.

"If you ever pull something like that again…" Jared growled as he pulled Shawn out of the truck. Keeping a tight grip on Shawn's arm, he dragged him inside the trailer, slamming the door before shoving Shawn down onto the sofa. "What the hell were you trying to do? Make me jealous?"

"No," Shawn whispered. "I was just dancing, and she was a woman. It's not like…" A hard slap ended what he was saying.

From there things got worse—much worse.

* * * *

Jared stood in the narrow space between the bed and the dresser as he pulled on a pair of jeans. "You better get your ass in gear. We're going to get your hair cut this morning, in case your lazy ass forgot."

Shawn groaned as he tried to sit up. If asked, and who would, he didn't think there was a part of him from his chest on down to his thighs that had escaped the beating and the brutal fucking he'd endured from Jared just a few hours earlier.

Jared grabbed his arm, pulling him to off the bed. For a brief, terrified moment Shawn though Jared was going to start again.

Then Jared looked at the dark bruises on Shawn's body. "Oh God, baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that." He gently put his arms around Shawn, kissing his forehead, his eyes, and then very softly his lips. "I was just—you were playing around with someone and it made me so damned mad. You're mine, baby, all mine. You know that." He brushed another kiss over Shawn's lips. "Say you'll forgive me. I promise I'll never do that again. Just don't leave me. Please."

Shawn touched Jared's cheek as he locked his gaze on his face. He knew he should do just what Jared had said, walk away—leave before it happened again. But the pain he saw in Jared's eyes tore into him, as it always did. It hurt worse than any beating. Still… "You have to keep your promise. This time you have to, because if it happens again—"

"It won't. I swear. I'll stop drinking if that's what it takes. I'll do anything you want me too. Just don't leave me." Jared was crying then, clutching Shawn to him so tightly Shawn had to bite back a groan of pain. "Please, baby. Please forgive me."

And Shawn did. Again. After all, it had been his fault, for dancing with that woman and then being the center of attention when her man got pissed.