THIS CHAPTER IS A FLASHBACK - Shawn is 10

When Henry arrived back at his desk, there was a second pile of paperwork hiding the first. He grumbled under his breath and sunk into his chair. He loved law enforcement more than anything, but paperwork was one thing Henry though he could live without, especially on a day with little happening. Henry didn't understand how a quiet day on the streets meant more paperwork.

He shook his head and dove into the pile. The file on top was a case from a week ago that had been solved fairly quickly but needed his signature, the file underneath was a memo about something Henry could care less about, third was a letter informing him that he needed to appear at court a week on Tuesday to testify.

He rubbed his tired eyes and glanced up at the clock on the wall, over an hour had passed and he'd only managed to get through a tenth of the pile. He would be here for ages. Suddenly his eyes widened as he remembered the to-do list Claire had stuffed in his pocket that morning. He had pulled it out of his jacket and put it on the top of his desk so he wouldn't forget it and she would kill him if the list wasn't completed by the end of the day. He grabbed a handful of files and lifted up one end. He peered under hoping for any sign of the slightly pink piece of paper with pristine handwriting in blue ink, hoping it would stand out from the many black ink on stark white sheets.

He sighed and dropped the pile back down on the table. An idea came to him and he pushed his chair back. He bent over and ducked his head under the desk, hoping with crossed fingers that it had fallen under there.

"Henry?" A voice called and Henry lifted his head, only to have it collide with the underside of the solid wood desk.

"Ah!" He cried, he pulled himself away the from the desk and lifted his hand, and then his head, he could already feel a lump forming.

"Sorry."

Henry winced, "What can I do for you Karen?"

"I'm going out for coffee and wondered if you wanted one," she answered.

Henry nodded, "Extra black." Karen nodded back and began to walk away. "Karen?" Henry called.

She spun round. "Yes?"

"You didn't see a small piece of paper on my desk this morning, did you? It's pink?"

She shrugged, "Sorry." Henry sighed. "Anything important?"

"Very," Henry replied. "Well, I think it was."

Karen raised an eyebrow at the cryptic answer. "I'll keep an eye out for it for you."

"Thanks. Henry turned back to his desk, hoping that he would find the list somewhere in the pile and the only way that would happen is if he got back to work.

***********

Shawn watched from the kitchen table as his mother rushed around the house. His snack of cheese on toast was growing cold and his glass of milk now room temperature as he watched in fascination.

Claire Spencer picked up the dirty mugs from the coffee table and dumped them in the sink. While in the kitchen, she grabbed the white wine from the fridge and placed it on the counter with the freshly baked cake. It was her monthly girls only evening where her and few a few of her friends met up to drink wine and moan about their men. It was her only proper night out a month and there was no way she was going to be late for it. She ruffled Shawn's hair as she moved past the table and into the hallway. She jogged up the stairs to grab her shoes and check her hair one last time before she ran back down the stairs. Her coat was pulled from the closet and she put it on quickly before tucking the cake under one arm and picking up the wine bottle in the other. She made it to the doorway before she realised she'd forgotten something. She spun round and faced Shawn. Her eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. Henry should be home any minute and Shawn was ten, surely it was okay to leave Shawn on his own for a bit.

"I'm going now sweetie, but your father should be home any minute. Okay?"

Shawn nodded, "Okay Mom."

"Now you be good, just eat your snack and then wash the plate afterwards."

"Have a good time Mom."

Claire smiled. "You too, sweetie," she replied before disappearing out the door. As the door slam shut, Shawn looked down at the food on his plate, he ripped the toast to pieces and slowly put one piece in his mouth at a time until it was all finished. He grasped the glass of milk and put it to his lips. Even warm the milk tasted nice as he gulped down the entire glass. He smacked his lips as he put the glass back down and smiled. He pushed his chair back and slid off the seat before picking up his plate and glass and dropping them into the sink. He reached for the hot tap and drenched the plate and glass. Once satisfied that they were both very wet and therefore clean Shawn went back to the table to wait for his dad.

**********

"You're staring off into space again," Karen commented from her desk.

"I feel like I've forgotten something…..and I swear whatever it is is on that damn piece of pink paper."

Karen smiled, "Still haven't found it?"

Henry shook his head. "It's been bugging me all day." He looked down at his desk, now nearly empty of paper work. It had taken him all afternoon and most of the evening but he had pushed through it, guiltily hoping somewhere a crime would be committed to pull him away from it.

"Okay," Karen sighed. "I'm going home."

The few files left on Henry's desk could be left till tomorrow. "Good idea." Henry rose from his seat, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and followed Karen out of the police station. He waved goodbye to Karen in the parking lot as he climbed into his truck and pulled out onto the main road. Henry climbed back out of the truck fifteen minutes later. Slamming the car door shut and trudging up the driveway and into the house. His eyes instantly fell on his son sitting at the kitchen table, his eyes sad and red. Henry frowned at the sight. Shawn was sitting in his favourite pair of jeans and his favourite top which had a large cartoon pineapple on the front. Shawn's eyes glanced at a brightly packaged object on the kitchen counter before returning to Henry.

Henry's eyes widened and he realised what he had forgotten. He was supposed to be home early because Claire was going out and Shawn needed to be taken to Gus's party. The party Shawn hadn't stopped talking about for two weeks. Henry looked at his watch. It was nearly nine o'clock, the party had finished ages ago and Shawn had missed it. Missed it because Henry had forgotten.

"Shawn, I…"

"You make me remember everything, why are you allowed to forget!" Shawn cried. He pushed his chair back with a screech and ran up the stairs.

Henry dropped his head and sighed. He pushed his hands into his trouser pockets. He felt something in his right pocket and frowned as he pulled out the object. He uncrumpled the piece of pink paper and sighed at the to-do list.