Disclaimer: Fox Family owns Higher Ground and all its characters. I am merely borrowing them for entertainment.

Hostage

Part Six

By: SparksJSH

"She looks dead on her feet." Roger winced as soon as he said it. "Sorry, poor choice of words."

Peter gratefully accepted the mug of coffee Roger handed him. He felt like he needed toothpicks to pry his eyes open. "Yet, somehow appropriate. What time is it?"

"7 a.m. Did you sleep at all?" Roger shook his head.

Peter rubbed his eyes. "There are a couple of short periods of time during the night that I can't account for. I have to assume I was asleep then but no for the most I did not sleep. Neither did Shelby. I kept thinking that sooner or later she wasn't going to be able to stand there any longer. But there she is."

"Sophie called from the hospital. She wanted you to pick her up at ten. But I think maybe Jeff or I should go get her. You might fall asleep at the wheel."

"They're releasing Soph already? She just had surgery yesterday. She lost a lot of blood."

"She's as worried about these guys as you are. She knows she can't help them from the hospital and I'm betting she bullied the doctor into releasing her."

Peter shook his head. "I bet you're right. Sophie probably did outstubborn the doctor and I would fall asleep driving. I can't remember ever being this tire."

"Yesterday was a hard day for us all. Why don't you go to your office and catch a couple of hours of sleep. I can keep an eye on things here."

Peter frowned. The offer sounded too good but then he looked at Shelby. She hadn't moved from that spot since they'd gotten back. He didn't see how she was still standing. "I can't. What if they need me?"

"Peter, Shelby's gonna have a breakthrough – or a breakdown – soon. Be honest, wouldn't you rather face that well rested?"

Peter took a long swallow of the coffee. "You're right. Okay, I'll go rest, but come get me if anything happens."

******

Scott woke up not long after Peter left the lodge. Stretching, he realized the others were still asleep – except for Shelby. Leaving his sleeping bag, he joined her at the window. She glanced at him but said nothing.

Finally Scott tenderly touched a bruise on her cheek. "How long you been up?"

"Forever." Shelby admitted softly. Scott was glad to hear her say something even if it was only one word.

"Yeah, it does seem like we left on the quest forever ago. I don't think I've ever been as scared as I was when you went with him. Every time he put his hands on you or looked at you, I wanted to kill him."

"Yeah, well I beat you to it." Shelby replied dryly.

"Don't say it like you are sorry. From what Peter told us, you saved his life. I know you saved ours lives."

"Whatever."

Scott frowned. "Don't. Don't downplay what you did. Thompson would have shot us all if Peter and Curtis had burst into that clearing."

"All I did was take advantage of an opportunity to get away before any of you had a chance to hurt me."

"Bull. I didn't buy that yesterday when you fed that line to us and I don't buy it now. I would never hurt you."

"That's what they all say. People claim they'd never hurt you because they care but somehow you still end up hurt. And the pain is worse because you weren't expecting it."

Scott's eyes grew watery. "Shel, I'd rather die than hurt you."

To his surprise, Shelby turned her back on him. "Go away, Scott."

Scott lowered his head. He couldn't believe she was acting like that. He reached out and touched her shoulder. "I love you, Shelby. Apparently you don't believe or trust that right now but it's true. I know you're upset; I'm here when you're ready to talk. Don't give up on us."

Getting no further response, Scott sighed and went to roll up his sleeping bag. He would find a way to reach her no matter what it took. The end of a crutch came to rest in the middle of his bag; he looked up to see Daisy staring at him.

"Don't take her personally. Yesterday was not one of our better days – for any of us. I don't know what it was like for you and the others to have to wait around wondering and worrying about what was happening to us just like you don't know what it was like for us to go through it."

"I know that. I just want to help her. Why is that so hard for her to understand?"

Daisy rolled her eyes. He could be so dense at times. "When has Shelby ever readily accepted help? Come on Scott; think about it. Shelby was already upset about something and then this happens. I'd be more surprised if she was Miss Mary Sunshine."

Scott had to smile. "I'd be freaked out if Shelby ever acted like Miss Mary Sunshine. Okay, I'll give her time. Now, I'm going to breakfast."

Daisy waited until he left before approaching Shelby himself. "Are you going to breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry."

Daisy nodded. "Right, sorry, Juliette; I had you mistaken for Shelby."

The comment didn't so much as earn her a glare. Daisy frowned. That was twice now she'd gotten away with saying something that should have gotten her decked. "Well, anyway, thanks."

Shelby looked at her. "For what?"

"For that stupid stunt you pulled with the gun. Thompson could have killed you when you went for his gun."

Shelby shrugged. "I'm not that lucky. Instead, he nearly killed you."

Daisy ignored the first part of Shelby's comment. She smiled dryly. "Well, I guess the fates smiled fondly on both of us for once in our lives. So even if you aren't hungry, how about you coming to breakfast anyway? You could open the doors for me."

Shelby glanced toward the door. Ezra was trying to appear inconspicuous as he waited for Daisy. "Looks like Freakin wants to be the one to open your doors."

"Well, I guess I shouldn't keep him waiting. If he keeps scuffing his foot against the floor, he'll wear out his shoe. We'll talk later."

"Whatever."

*****

Roger pulled into school. An U.S. Marshall car was already parked in front of Peter's office. Beside him, Sophie stiffened slightly. The whole nightmare yesterday had happened because a vehicle just like the one next to them had crashed.

Roger gave her a concerned look. "Curtis warned Peter they'd be here to question everyone about what happened."

She nodded. "Yeah, they questioned me last night after Peter took the girls home. I couldn't really tell them much."

Sophie frowned. She felt like she had let the kids down. She certainly hadn't been able to protect them from the escaped convict. A twinge of pain in her shoulder reminded her that Thompson hadn't given her much choice but she still felt bad. "How are the kids?"

Roger shrugged. "Once Hank returned with the majority of the Cliffhangers the other groups settled down some but they were pretty frightened when we first corralled them in the lodge. I don't think the Cliffhangers took an easy breath until Peter came back with Daisy and Shelby."

Sophie nodded. "I saw them briefly at the hospital; Peter brought them to my room so I could see for myself they were fine. Daisy was Daisy; frightened obviously, but snapping quickly back to her usual self. But Shelby, I almost didn't recognize her. She reminded me of a bouncing ball that's lost its bounce. The poor kid has been through so much already; she didn't need this."

Roger frowned. "What?" Then he smiled. "You got her to open up. What's going on?"

"Not completely. I still think there's more going on in her head than she let on but yeah I have a strong sense of why she's hurting. But until Shelby says I can share it, I'd rather keep it to myself. I don't want her to feel like I betrayed her trust."

Roger nodded. "I can understand that. Peter's probably in his office with the Marshals. He'll want to see you."

Sophie nodded. "I'll check in with him in a few minutes. I want to speak to Shelby."

"Unless Peter had to drag her out, she's probably in the lodge. She hasn't left, hasn't slept and hasn't eaten. Hopefully you can reach her. Somebody has to."

*****

Shelby looked up as Sophie approached her. She reluctantly admitted she was glad to see the blonde counselor out of the hospital. Sophie was still slightly pale and sporting a sling. "What is this? You and Daisy competing to see who has the worst battle scars?"

Sophie laughed. "The two of us are a sight, aren't we? You don't look all that worse for wear. How are you?"

Shelby shrugged. "I'm not wearing a sling or breaking my neck trying to walk with crutches."

Sophie nodded. "True, but we both know that sometimes the worst hurts don't leave visible scars. So how are you really? Roger said you haven't eaten or slept."

Shelby groaned. "What's with you, Sophie? You just got out of the hospital and you're already trying to pick my brain."

Sophie sighed. She knew Shelby wasn't going to make this easy on her. "Shelby, I care about you. I know you were already upset about your grandfather."

Shelby stiffened. "I don't want to talk about Pap."

"Shelby." Peter interrupted from the doorway. "Marshal Grant is ready to question you."

"Great." Shelby's tone was dry. "Just what I've been waiting for."

"I'll be right behind you. Go on over to my office."

For a moment, fear flashed in Shelby's eyes and then it was gone. Both Peter and Sophie saw it however and exchanged a look. Shelby frowned. "They can't come here?"

Peter wondered if Shelby was scared to leave the lodge. It would explain why she hadn't moved from the building all morning. "They could but they've got everything set up already in my office. Besides you've been cooped up in her since last night. The change of scenery will do you good."

"Whatever." She turned on her heel and reluctantly left.

"She's scared." Sophie remarked when Shelby was out of earshot.

Peter nodded. "I think you're right. Can't say I really blame her. I didn't get a chance to tell you that she's the one you killed Thompson."

Sophie sat on the edge of the couch, tears filling her eyes. "Just when I think this nightmare can't get any worse, I find out something new that proves me wrong. What are we going to do?"

"Tonight we are going to have a confrontational group. Shelby may be hurting the worst but this has affected all the Cliffhangers, you and me. Everyone is going to have to confront their feelings about what happened."

Sophie whistled softly. "I have a feeling this isn't going to be a pretty group."

"No," Peter agreed. "But it will be a necessary one."

TO BE CONTINUED…