chap20

"Oh, no, that's ok" she said, startled by his question. "I'm fine here"
"Belle, I insist" he said.
"Why don't you take your grandmother instead?" she said.
"Belle, please dance with my great-grandson, I don't mind watching" Mrs. Horton said.
"Well...ok" she said, taking his offered hand and following him to the dance floor. They stayed near the eddge as he took her hand and she put her arm around his shoulder and they began to dance to the slow music.
"Geez, this music is putting me to sleep" Shawn complained. Belle giggled.
"You're parents seem to be enjoying it" Belle whispered.
"And your point is?" he joked, and Belle laughed into his shoulder. The song ended too quickly and Belle turned to go back to the table as an upbeat song came over the stereo. Shawn caught her hand and pulled her back.
"Now this is better" he murmured in her ear. "Let's show these old people how to dance"
"Shawn, no" she started to protest but it was too late. She quickly recognized it as 98 degrees' song "Give Me Just One NIght (Una Noche)", which was one of her favorites. He pulled away from her, still holding her hand, and then spun her up close to him. She followed him wordlessly as he began to salsa dance with her. She just concentrated on keeping up with him and not paying attention to the fact that people were now watching them. She just put all her attention on the music and Shawn's swaying hips. At one point he pulled her close and she just closed her eyes and breathed in his cologne and listened to him softly singing the words into her ear. Near the end of the song he dipped her and she just stared up at him, lost in the depth of his brown eyes. A gently applause brought them back to reality as they remembered that there were other people in the room. Embarrassed, she hid her head on his shoulder as he gave a little wave to the crowd. She followed him back tothe table and tried to ignore the fact that her stomach was rolling-she couldn't tell if it was a result of her dinner or the magic she had felt with Shawn.
"Guys, that was great, I am so impressed" Hope said, as Shawn pulled out Belle's seat for her.
"Thanks" he answered, going back to his own seat.
"Well, we got shown up pretty quickly, didn't we" Eric commented and everyone laughed. Bo went to quickly pay the bill and they all got up to leave. Surrounding the outside of the restuarant was a little plaza set on the bay that was filled with little stores. Hope suggested the walk around a little before it got dark and as had happened before, Shawn and Belle were quickly left alone. Shawn held his arm out to her.
"Well, aren't I the lucky one?" he said. "First I get to dance with the most beautiful girl on the east coast and now I get to walk around with her in the moonlight". Belle laughed.
"You're one in a million, Brady" was all she said, as she took his arm. They walked around for some time, peeking in the different shops and watching the people. They were browsing through a cd store when Belle stopped short in the aisle.
"Are you ok?" he asked, stopping beside her.
"Yeah, my stomach just hurts" she said. "But I'm ok"
"Ok" Shawn said, watching her. They walked around a little bit longer before she stopped again.
"Shawn, my stomach really hurts" she said, grimacing.
"How about we go sit down and get you something to drink " he said, taking her hand and leading her across the street to a little outdoor cafe. He ordered her a sprite and she leaned her head forward on her hand and closed her eyes. Shawn watched her and gently rubbed her back. Her drink came and she sipped it slowly until it was gone.
'Do you feel better?" he asked her gently. She shook her head.
"No, my stomach's just like turning" she said, leaning back in the seat.
"How about we take you back to the van and let you lie down, maybe you'll feel better" he suggested. She nodded and he jumped up to quickly pay the bill. He then came back and helped her walk back to the van. He pulled the door open and helped her climb into the backseat. She settled back and closed her eyes and he sat in the seat in front of her and watched her. She tried to sleep but could feel him staring at her.
"Shawn, why don't you go out and walk around without me?" she said, finally opening her eyes.
"No way, I'm not leaving you" he said.
"Shawn, I'm fine, go ahead, I don't want to ruin your night" she said, trying to sit up but the pain forcing her down again.
"You're not ruining my night-I just wanted to spend it with you anyway" he said, quietly. She gave him a tiny smile and closed her eyes again. This time though she fell asleep and was awakened when the others came back. She heard them gently talking as Shawn told them what was wrong and pretended to sleep. The van rocked as people climbed in and Shawn gently shook her awake.
"Sit up a minute, sweetie" he whispered, taking her arm. She struggled to and he pulled her up and slid into the seat she was lying on, taking her head and placing it on his lap for the ride home. She fell alseep again and could feel him gently playing with her hair for the ride. Once they were home, he again helped her get up and out of the van and helped her climb the stairs to the upstairs living room.
"Belle, are you sure you're ok, hun?" Hope asked, trying to hold in a yawn.
"Yeah, I'm ok, thanks" she said. "Go ahead to bed, I'll be fine"
"Ok, call us if you need anything" Bo said, going downstairs to bed with Hope. The other sat up watching tv while Belle dozed on the couch. Around 11 she woke up.
"I'm going to bed" she announced, trying to sit up. Shawn pulled her to her feet.
"Are you going to be ok?" he asked, watching her worriedly.
"Yeah" she said, trying to force a smile but failing.
"How about I help you get ready and that for bed?" Greta asked, standing up and helping her to her room.
"Night" she said, weakly, as they closed her bedroom door. Greta slipped out a few minutes later.
"Is she alright?" Shawn asked, turning to face her.
"I think so, she was almost asleep before I left" she said. "But she said her stomach is really bothering her, she could barely get her pajamas on"
"I'll check on her before I go to sleep" Shawn said. Greta walked closer to where Eric was sitting on the recliner. He reached out and pulled her on top of him and started to kiss her. Shawn groaned inwardly and turned back to the tv, trying to ignore whatever was happening behind him. Footsteps on the staircase broke them apart and all three turned to see John and Marlena standing behind them.
"Hey! How was dinner?" Eric asked.
"The dinner was good" Marlena answered.
"Great steak" John agreed. "Boring conversation". They laughed. "Where's Belle?"
"She went to bed a little bit ago" Shawn answered.
"Is she ok:?" Marlena asked, looking concerned.
"She wasn't feeling well, her stomach was bothering her" Greta said.
"She's probably alright, she'll sleep it off" Marlena said, with a yawn. "Ready for bed?"
"Yup" John said. "See you guys tomorrow"
"Good night" they said, as they walked down the stairs.
"I think I'm going to bed too" Greta said.
"I'll walk you to your door' Eric said, jumping up. They left and Shawn got up and walked down the hallway. He didn't hear anything from her room but opened the door anyway and peeked in. He could barely see her but it looked like she was sound asleep so he quietly shut the door again and went back to the living room. Eric came back up and they watched the end of the show they were watching and then started to watch a comedian.
"This guy sucks" Eric announced. "I'm going to bed"
"Sounds like a plan" Shawn said, getting up and turning off the tv. They went down the hallway and parted at their separate doors. Shawn stepped into his dark room and went to the shut the door and heard a noise. He stood still and listened again and then went down the hallway but the tv was off. He went back to his room and listened-it sounded like someone was crying.