shaun's Guestbook

Hershel cleared his throat as he looked into his son's eyes. He was looking as if he was studying his son's face for a few minutes as he listened to everything that Shaun had to say. And when Shaun was done, silence fell between the two of them for a few more minutes before finally Hershel was ready to speak to his son. "Yes, it does have to do with Rhea," Hershel said and then quickly went on before Shaun could speak. "Anyway, I just wanted to tell you and your sister, which I will tell them when they get home, that I have been dating Rhea ever since I met her at that one wrestling meet and greet that you kids took me to," he said as he paused for a few minutes to check out Shaun's facial expression, which Hershel knew his son could be hard to read sometimes, like he was being now. After a few minutes of trying to read Shaun's poker face, Hershel then went on to speak. "Anyway, I know that it probably looks weird seeing us together. An old man like me dating a pretty young and jacked-up woman like Rhea," he said and then went on as he turned to look away from Shaun for a few minutes before turning back to Shaun. "But she makes me feel young, though right now," he said chuckling as he looked down at his broken body and then back up at Shaun. Then Hershel reached over for his ice water with his good hand, though he couldn't help but moan as he was stretching across his broken body slowly until he finally got the glass of ice water. He took a few small drinks of his ice water and once his mouth was empty, he looked over at Shaun smiled as he began to speak to him again. "That is some good ice water," Hershel said with a chuckle and then he took a couple more drinks and then once again, when his mouth was empty, he began to speak again to his son.

"Back to what I was talking about," he told Shaun and then went on speaking. "I know Rhea and I have only been dating a few months, which isn't much time," he said as he went on. "And I know you and your sisters haven't gotten to really know her, which I'm hoping what I'm getting ready to purpose will help a lot with that," Hershel said as he then went speaking. "I am thinking about asking Rhea to move in with us," he said. "Partly because of situations like the one I'm in now, but mostly because I love her deeply and I want her to feel like she's part of the family," he said softly as he then took another, longer drink of his ice water, which took his water back down to a half a glass. Hershel didn't say anything more about Rhea for a while, causing a silence to come over him and Shaun. Finally, after about thirty minutes of not speaking to each other, Hershel finally broke the silence. "Anyway, that's all I wanted to talk to you about, and like I said, I will talk to your sisters when they get home," he added as he looked away for a few minutes before letting out a sigh that sounded like he was almost dying, though he was just in terrible pain. "Anyway son, how's life going for you?" he asked as he leaned over, straining but managing to set the half glass of ice water on the table next to him and then he went on speaking. "I know that the world is starting to go to hell, but there must be something good going on in your life right now," Hershel said as he started to chuckle and then started to cough a little bit. "I probably shouldn't laugh for a little bit, since I'm still in a great deal of pain," he told his son, though he couldn't help but smile, even though he looked as though he could cry. Hershel knew that he probably should take something for the pain, but he wanted to wait for a little while before he took something to help with the pain.

"Deal," Hershel said as he was trying to keep his breathing as normal as possible, though he could feel the pain deep in his chest and it wasn't a good feeling. "Don't worry son, I'm not going to fight you on anything right now," he said as he put his head back while Shaun helped him recline so that he was stretched out. After Hershel was somewhat comfortable, he began to speak to Shaun once more. "Son, could I get you to make me a tall glass of ice water?" he asked him as he began to cough a little bit, wincing as he felt the pain with every cough that came out of his mouth. Once he was done he looked over at Shaun with extreme pain that was written all over his face. "And while you are doing that, could you also get me an ice pack for my arm?" he asked hoping that he wasn't putting too much on his son, which was something he knew he didn't want to do, but at this point in time, he really didn't have any choice. Shaun smiled at his father and said don't worry he would get everything that Hershel needed. Hershel smiled and then started to relax for a moment while Shaun disappeared into the kitchen to get everything that Hershel requested, Hershel laid his head back and closed his eyes for a few minutes.

It was then that he realized he still needed to talk to his children about Rhea, though he didn't know how they were going to take him dating someone who was young enough to be his daughter, but maybe if he explained how she made him feel, they wouldn't be so upset about them dating or the fact that he had already asked her to move in with them. As Hershel was letting out a painful sigh, Shaun was coming back into the living room with Hershel's ice water and ice pack. Shaun sat Hershel's ice water on the table next to him and then went over to Hershel's broken collarbone and placed the ice pack gently on it. Hershel let out a sigh of relief as the ice began to numb his shoulder and collar bone. Hershel then reached over and took a quick drink of his ice water and then put it back. Once everything was done and his ice water glass was back on the table, Hershel looked over at his son and smiled. Then he began to speak again but this time, it wasn't about him or his pain. "Shaun, son, please sit on the couch. I have something I really want to talk to you about, though I'm not sure how you are going to take the news of what I have to say," Hershel told his son and then paused to let Shaun get comfy on the couch before he continued his thoughts.

"Thanks, and this looks like the kind of town I'm looking for," she told him. "Everyone minding their own business and not bothering people," she added still wearing that same smile as before. Then she went on speaking as she followed him to where the good snacks are. "Thanks for hooking me up with the good stuff," she said as she was looking at things on the shelf as they passed by. She grabbed a few other things that were not really necessary and yet she really wanted. As she was watching Shaun filling a bag with the good snacks, Ronda began to dig out her credit card. "I hope you take debt cards," she told him. "Because I don't carry that much cash on me because of what I do and all the people I run into," she told him.

Then Ronda stopped and looked at Shaun. She didn't know what it was, but the way he looked and the way he blushed made her heart patter in her chest. "You know, I'm glad you are joining me for dinner and a little gambling," she said with a huge smile. "I hope you are old enough to gamble," she said as it just hit her that Shaun might not be old enough. Then she waved a hand like she was waving off a fly. "No matter, I'm just glad you will be joining me fo dinner at least," she said. "Because I like you," she added and then went on. "I don't know what it is, but there is something about you that I really like," she told him as they found the good snacks and started to fill up a plastic bag full. "Maybe it's the way you blush, which makes you look absolutely adorable," she said with a smile.

"I know I'm not alone in this," Hershel told his son. "And I'm very thankful that you stayed home today instead of getting up and going to town," he added. Then hearing what Shawn said about no heroic nonsense, Hershel couldn't help but grinned back at his son and then coughed a little. "Yes doc," he told Shawn playfully. "I will be on my best behavior," he added in that same playful tone. Then he got serious as he was trying to hide the fact that he was in sever pain, but something deep inside told him that Shawn already knew and would be watching him very carefully. Hershel watched his son quickly preparing his old recliner, which not only was old but dusty, but it still felt comfortable and he knew it would feel just as comfortable around his broken body as it would any other time. Hershel took a deep breathe as Shawn helped him up to his feet.

Once Shawn came back and helped him up, Hershel, with his son's help, stood there for a moment. He didn't say anything for a little while. Hershel winced in a little bit of pain, but for the most part, it wasn't too bad. Hershel let out another heavy breath as he began to speak to his son. "I'm ready too son," he said as he and Shawn started to walk very slowly, taking one step at a time towards Hershel's chair. "So far, so good," Hershel said, though he knew his ribs was killing him. "And don't worry, you won't hear no complaining out of me," he said as they continued to walk with one foot in front of the other. Hershel let out a few rough breaths as he continued to speak to his son. "I am not going to lie to you son," he said. "My ribs are killing me a bit and my right ankle feels swollen and hurts like hell," he added as they were slowly getting closer and closer to Hershel's recliner. "And we won't even discuss the pain coming from my shoulder and arm that you popped back into place," he chuckled trying to keep his and Shawn's spirits up.

Hershel couldn't help but be a little playful to try to lighten the mood and make Shaun feel more at ease. "Well, there goes me taking the truck out for a joy ride," he said with chuckle and then continuing to speak to him a little serious now but still had that same playful and warm tone he had before. "Don't worry son," he told him. "I don't think I could get up even if I wanted too," he said still chuckling, though a few coughs followed that. After Hershel got through those few little coughs, he decided to just relax and wait for his son. He knew his son would be more careful than he would have been when getting the old family doctor's bag. Hershel lay there remembering when his father gave him that doctor's bag, it had belonged to his father before him. And in the back of his mind, he wanted to pass it down to Shaun someday when he was ready for such a precious and still useful heirloom.

When Shaun came back with the bag and pulled out the stethoscope, Hershel watched as Shaun was trying to remember how it worked. Once Shaun had it all figured out and pressed against Hershel's heart, Shaun began to listen to his heart and lungs. When Shaun said that he didn't hear anything bad and that Hershel was going to be okay, Hershel let out a very slow breath of relief knowing that there wasn't anything serious wrong, though Hershel knew he still wasn't out of the woods just yet. After Shaun was done giving Hershel a look over, Hershel smiled and began to speak to him in a soft and warm tone. "You did good doc," Hershel told his son. "The patient is going to make it," he said with a chuckle just as another coughing spell came on. This one lasted a little longer than the others, but Hershel got through it just fine. Then he began to speak again with a smile on his face.

"I know you do son and I really appreciate it," he added as he slowly continued to breath. Then he went on with his train of thought as he looked up into Shaun's eyes as he spoke again. "Now, this next part is probably going to hurt me, but it needs to be done," he said. "What I need you to do is go into the living room and make my old recliner as soft as you possibly can," Hershel instructed Shaun. "Then I want you to come back and help me get up from her and get me into my recliner," he added. "Even though you didn't hear anything, that doesn't mean that all's quiet on the western front," he told Shaun. "And I want you to pay close attention to my legs, which are the only things left to check, as I walk with you into the living room," he finished. Hershel didn't say anything for a few minutes before finally speaking again. "Think you can do this last thing for me son?" Hershel asked Shaun.