Fear - 15

Shawn winced as he bent to tie his boots. His ribs still hurt from the beating Jared had administered after their night at the bar, although he did his best to hide it from him. It had happened before and Shawn knew they'd heal eventually.

True to his promise, Jared had stopped drinking. He'd even agreed to let Shawn drop him off at the construction site sometimes so he'd have the use of the truck to do the weekly shopping.

Things still weren't perfect though. Jared would check the odometer each time to make certain Jared hadn't gone any farther than he was supposed to and then yell at him if he thought he'd gone beyond the proscribed boundaries he'd set. He also hollered at Shawn for any perceived mistake. Not that he hadn't before, but it seemed to be getting worse, the taunts more vicious, his words meant to hurt and belittle Shawn.

But I do deserve it. Shawn concluded with certainty after one particularly angry tirade because he'd forgotten to take two pair of work jeans to the laundry that Jared had left on the floor half under the bed.

"They're right there, you stupid idiot," Jared had ranted, grabbing Shawn's arm and dragging him into the bedroom. "It's your damned job to keep the place clean and picked up. But did you? Nooo. You left them lying there instead of putting them in the laundry hamper." He'd continued ranting, laying out all Shawn's other faults but he hadn't hit him. He'd looked like he'd wanted to, but he hadn't.

And maybe soon he'll quit yelling too, if I do everything perfectly.

Shawn sighed and began searching to make certain all Jared's dirty work clothes had made it into the hamper this time. Once he was sure he hadn't missed anything, he put the hamper in the truck and went back for the shopping list Jared had left on the counter for him, checked to be sure the windows were all closed and locked, and grabbed his jacket to head into town.

He parked the truck by the Laundromat as always, put the dirty clothes in to wash, and walked up the street to the grocery store.