Fear - 30

The drive over the Divide and down to town was mostly done in silence. Shawn seemed to be deep in thought and Gene didn't want to interrupt him since he didn't appear to be upset. Quiet, yes, as various emotions Gene couldn't quite decipher flashed across his face momentarily, but not upset in a way that said he was regretting moving away from where he and Jared had lived.

Finally they reached the outskirts of town. Shawn glanced out the window and said, sounding surprised, "We're here."

"Yep," Gene replied with a laugh. "And we didn't even come close to going over a cliff."

"I'd say I was surprised, but you have new tires, so…"

"Noticed that, did you?"

Shawn chuckled. "If it's a car, I notice everything."

"Want to stop by the garage first or go on the Max's place?"

"The garage. Definitely."

"Figured as much," Gene said with a smile, heading down the main street to park in front of it.

As soon as they walked inside, Max was on his feet, hurrying out of his office to greet Shawn, and by extension Gene, though he came in a poor second.

"Good to have you back," Max exclaimed, looking as if he was going to hug Shawn before realizing the two other mechanics had joined them. Instead he clapped Shawn on the shoulder. "Ms Johnson has been in twice already this morning looking for you. I think she's jealous you're going to be staying with me instead of at the motel."

"Max Spitzer, I'm nothing of the sort," the woman in question said, appearing at Shawn's side. "I just wanted to welcome him home." She gave Shawn a hug, easing up when he tried and failed to hide a wince of pain. "We need to fatten you up, young man. You're too thin by half," she told him, stepping back to give him the once-over.

"I'm just thin by nature," Shawn protested, smiling.

"Yeah, he's a skinny little runt," Pat, one of the mechanics, said with a grin.

"Next to your six-two, anyone's a runt," Shawn bantered back. It felt good doing that, just like old times. Better than old times because I'm not afraid… afraid Jared will walk in and hear it and… He closed his eyes for a second against that thought.

"Anyone mind my ordering pizzas to celebrate Shawn's return?" Max asked.

There was a general shout of 'Hell no' from the others, including Ms Johnson, who volunteered to go get them.