Waiting on Sean

Even before reaching the small flight of stairs, Kaitlin's gaze focused on the last place she'd seen Sean. But, unfortunately, he and his wheelchair weren't on the dance floor. Nor did she see the Sugarbees with which the cheerleaders had begrudgingly left him behind with. That brought a momentary worry, but she shrugged it off.

Next, Kaitlin turned to check their table, only to find it empty. Not seeing a single Babybee, the brunette grew more annoyed than concerned. Leave it to Kizzy and the brats to show off the town’s newest hero and their roles in helping him heal. Gawd, why couldn’t she have turned out to be a band geek instead of my problem?

“Hey, Thirlby, have you seen my sister lately?”

Picking one of the worst sophomores she could ask, Kaitlin watched as Aidan appeared startled at the hot senior cheerleader addressing him with a question. Freezing for a second, he processed the question while staring in awe at the older girl's revealing minidress. Finally, Kaitlin saw a glimmer of hope as Aidan's head nodded. Ultimately, the nod came from him finishing his processing of the question, so it turned into a series of headshakes.

“What about Sean Tarver?” the cheerleader asked.

That inquiry only served to extend the series of headshakes.

"Alright, thanks," Kaitlin responded while mentally shaking her head at the wide range of personalities in the extended Wynwick family.

Spotting a semi-member of The Buzzy Bee, Kaitlin hoped for a better response, so she repeated her questions.

“I don’t know,” Evan Naylor responded with a shrug.

The baseball team didn't prove helpful, either. Digg Digby even started to get Kaitlin's blood boiling when he proudly offered the non-surprising revelation that he'd seen Kizzy with Sean for most of the night. The same went for her cheermates.

“Wow, gee, thanks,” Kaitlin muttered sarcastically.

“You’re welcome!” Digg replied, smiling at being helpful, or so he thought. He didn’t notice his best friend, Jesse Yegge, rolling his eyes at his obliviousness. “Say...how about a dance later for–”

“Nope! Palmer should be here soon,” the brown-haired beauty cut him off.

“Oh…yeah, that’s cool,” Digg said, recalling the fight at Metropolis and not wanting to get involved in a situation like that.

More shrugs and I-don’t-knows followed before Kaitlin learned something. It wasn’t the whereabouts of Sean, Kizzy, or the Babybees. Instead, it was news about what they'd missed on the dance floor.

“Omigawd, Katie! They were licking his face…all of them!” Abby Pharr squealed in disgust.

“All of them?”

“That’s what I just said! Bianca, Yelena, and even Jasmine were licking Sean’s face. And he was sporting this huge woody! I got out of there before they pulled it out.”

Kaitlin nearly laughed at Abby using "woody" to describe Sean’s hard-on, but stopped as she misheard the latter part.

“They pulled his dick out?!”

“Did they?!”

“No, I’m asking you, Abby,” Kaitlin practically growled.

“Oh. No, I meant I got out of there in case they did,” Abigail clarified. That calmed Kaitlin down for a second as Abby kept talking. “All I do know is that something went down. I heard a commotion after I walked away from that direction.”

“What kind of a commotion?”

"Raised voices. I guess you can call them shouts. Oh, and threats. Yes, I heard threats."

“From whom?”

“I don’t know,” the dirty blonde said, shrugging before taking her leave.

Mulling over what or who could've caused the threats, a few names came to mind. However, Katie didn't need to ponder the details as she spotted Kizzy and YoYo walking with Harley pushing Sean.

“Finally,” Kaitlin muttered. Crossing the room at an angle, she almost reached them before a blur rushed forward. “Oh, not this now.”

Whatever Katie expected Yumi to do, falling onto Sean while sobbing wasn't it. Even more unexpected were the words coming out of the most emotional cheerleader's mouth.

“Poor…Poor…Boy…Orphan…Be okay…Oliver…Twist,” Yumi got out between her sobs. “Not..like him.”

With Yumi forcing Harley to halt, Kizzy and YoYo followed suit as they stared at the wailing girl in utter confusion. Their bewilderment relieved Kaitlin as she realized they hadn't heard about Sean's parents' upcoming divorce. Still, that left it up to her to extract Sean from her bawling friend before she blabbed the news.

“He’s not an orphan!”

“We can’t live…in denial, Katie. We can’t!” Yumi wailed, turning her head around to speak. “We…We have to fight…keep Sean out of the…orphanage!”

“What’s going on?” Sean asked, finally getting his face out of Yumi’s shoulder.

“For fuck’s sake,” Kaitlin growled.

She motioned with her head toward the lone guy and mouthed "earmuffs" at her younger sister. When Kizzy did so, to Sean's befuddlement, Katilin grabbed Yumi's elbow, dragging her away from the wheelchair.

"Sean's parents are not dead; they're divorcing. That does not make him an orphan," Katie whispered, ensuring no one else heard. "How in the hell did you think he was an orphan?"

“Denny said he was,” Yumi revealed, her crying turning into light sniffling.

“Denny?!”

“What the hell is going on? Kaitlin, tell me,” Sean insisted.

The brunette in question turned to find her little sister shrugging apologetically, with Sean holding her hands away from his ears.

"Nothing. Despite being one of the smartest people I know, Yumi may also be the most gullible. Don't worry–"

“I am?”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to scare The Denster straight this time,” Kaitlin vowed. “Now, your mother wants to speak to you. Girls, you can find Mrs…uh, Dr. Tarver in the lobby by Whitney.”

“Cool. It sounds like Whitney’s in trouble,” YoYo remarked, looking forward to the entertainment. “Let’s go, Harls.”

With Harley resuming her pushing of Sean, Kaitlin waited a few moments to wave Kizzy over to the side. Then, leaning in, she whispered, "Sean's parents are getting divorced."

The younger Beal sister rocked back in shock. That **** Kaitlin to lean again.

“I thought you should know in case the news upsets Harley. You know, a bad reminder of her mom.”

Despite their sibling rivalry, Kizzy showed how much she appreciated Katie’s concern for her best friend. Suddenly beaming, Kizzy grabbed her sister for a fierce hug.

"Yeah, yeah, don't get too weepy. I've got this one for that mushy stuff," Kaitlin stated, motioning at Yumi. "C'mon, Yums. I think it's time for Denny to pay for the shit I saw on his phone the other day."

---

“Why are people staring at me more?” Sean asked, getting wheeled through the lobby.

“Probably nothing to do with the Sugarbees giving you a tongue bath,” YoYo deadpanned. “Nope. Not that at all.”

“It’s because you’re Sean! A hero!” Kizzy exclaimed, throwing her hands up. She’d hoped to distract from the potential reason she’d just learned.

Of course, her action seemed **** in her best friend's mind. Harley raised an inquisitive eyebrow that got ignored.

Approaching the central portion of the lobby, Sean noticed his mother and sister surrounded by a large group of their friends. They wore worried expressions that grew more concerned when they spotted him approaching. All at once, Sean felt a wave of anxiety wash over him as he began to fret that he'd done something to get himself into trouble.

Wait, it can't be that! It just finished. Is this about Skye's blowjob? No, Mom already knows, as Whitney told her. The same goes for the shower handjob. Whitney gave that away while doing it. Wha…Oh, shit! Did she tell Mom about the blowjob in Mr. Pierce's office? Mom wouldn't be mad about–Oh, fuck! Did Mr. Pierce find out? Is he pissed?

Sean knew the gathering had something to do with him, as they all seemed interested in his arrival. People began to alert each other to his arrival. An even odder development occurred when Lacey’s head whipped around to find him.

Suddenly, for the second time in less than five minutes, Sean found himself the target of a sobbing cheerleader who raced over to land on top of him. Also, again, Sean had to decipher a smattering of words between the sobs.

“What the hell is going on? Why are you crying, Lace?”

Almost like a faucet being turned off, Lacey's sobs ceased, for the most part. Sitting up, she slid off his lap. Now facing her, Sean saw his old family friend working to keep her lips sealed while hiccuping away a sob. The petite redhead also motioned for Harley to keep pushing her charge. He missed Lacey shaking her head toward the awaiting group.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Peyton inquired ominously when Sean reached her. Then, even more disconcerting, she bent down to hug him.

The final straw came when Lana patted the top of Sean’s head.

“Okay, that’s enough! What the hell is going on? Why is everything crying and hugging me? Why is Lana patting my head? And why the hell did Yumi call me an orphan?” Sean rattled off.

"An orphan?" The question came from several people.

“Don’t worry,” Kizzy reassured. “Katie’s handling that misunderstanding.”

Whitney turned out to be the only person satisfied with that explanation. She passed that understanding onto Lacey with one word.

“Yumi.”

“Oh! Um, okay,” the petite redhead acknowledged through a round of sniffles.

“You know something!” YoYo exclaimed, turning to face Kizzy. “What do you know, Little Miss Gossip?”

“You gossip just as much as me!” Kizzy shot back.

“That’s why you’re supposed to share,” YoYo pointed out.

“Girls,” Bridget said, ending the bickering. Then, moving to sit in an armchair next to the sofa, she motioned for Harley to wheel Sean over.

Bridget next reached out to take hold of her son’s hands. A hush came over the surrounding group.

“Sean, honey, let me explain. I would’ve preferred having this conversation in private, but you get the same deal as Peyton. And besides, we’re with good friends,” Bridget stated with a **** smile.

“Uh, okay,” Sean sounded. He glanced around him as everyone appeared to be acting oddly, his mom more so than anyone.

“So, as you know, your father didn’t show up tonight. It turns out that he never planned to,” Bridget began.

“He didn’t?! But tonight is for Aunt Cassie!” Sean exclaimed.

"Well, I found that news out earlier and called him at his office. We had an argument, honey. About his skipping tonight and other disagreements." Bridget paused. She could tell that, unlike Peyton, Sean didn't see the bombshell coming. "Seanie, your father and I have decided to divorce."

An unsettling feeling descended on the onlookers as Sean sat stone-faced. His blank expression, in particular, worried Peyton. And she was right when Sean's first reaction turned out to be a chuckle.

“Good one, Mom. You almost fooled me.”

“No, honey. I’m not joking,” Bridget replied, her heart breaking at her son’s reaction.

"But…But you can't…." Sean stammered. "Not perfect…but you're…married. Has to be…joke."

Eyes glistened all around Sean as he appeared in denial. Several of Peyton’s college friends turned away, feeling horrible for intruding on such a private family moment.

Only Lacey’s resumed sobs broke through to Sean. Glancing over at the emotional redhead, Sean’s eyes began to glisten with comprehension. Turning back to face his mother, he searched her face through his blurry vision.

"But you and Dad are…you're each other's love story. It has to…happy ending," Sean insisted, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“Sometimes…Sometimes a person’s love story isn’t meant to be,” Bridget explained, struggling to maintain her composure.

Bridget had always known Sean to be her more emotional, sensitive child. In many ways, he took after her side of the family, especially her mother and Brandy. Still, she didn’t know from whom Sean got his idealized notion of love and marriage. Probably from the stories that Cass read to him as a little boy. Oh, Cassie. I’m sorry for doing this on your night.

“Love doesn’t always last on the first try.”

“Gabriela!” Rachel hissed.

"What? I meant that Bee could find lasting love on the second attempt," Gabby replied.

“And she’s right,” Bridget declared, never taking her eyes off her son’s face. “Perhaps I’ll find love again, and maybe I won’t. I just need to try again. Do you understand, honey?”

“Is it because…of me?” Sean questioned with a quivering lip.

Gasps sounded from all around. Lacey’s sobs were joined by others. Peyton’s hand shot to her mouth in anguish.

“If I agree to be a doctor…will you stop fighting?” Sean continued. His worst fears of rebelling against his dad’s wishes seemed to be coming true. He’d destroyed their family.

“Oh, honey.” Bridget finally broke down.

Peyton and Rachel both moved forward to reassure Sean that he wasn’t at fault. However, another person reacted more quickly.

THUD

"Dammit, don't be a dumbass, Sean!" Lana ordered after slapping the side of his head.

“Lana!” Rachel screeched.

“The fuck?!” Lacey bellowed, jumping to her feet and balling her hands into fists.

Already moving, Peyton slid in between the two Stratton sisters.

“Sean’s hurt,” Rachel pointed out.

“No shit. He’s also fucking wrong to blame himself,” Lana proclaimed.

“I mean, he’s still recovering from his injuries,” Rachel clarified, gesturing to her head.

“Oh, right! Concussion. Sorry, buddy,” Lana apologized, patting Sean’s shoulder. “Still, don’t be an idiot. Your dad being a selfish prick isn’t your fault.”

“Lana’s right,” Gabby agreed as Lauren came over to place her hands on Bridget’s shoulders.

Sensing a need for levity, Whitney rose to the occasion.

"Don't worry, Seanie. I have plenty of experience in using divorced parents to my benefit. I'll teach you my tricks." The blonde cheer captain paused to mull over a noticeable difference. "Although, in your case, the parent to guilt-trip will be your mom."

“I don’t think you can teach Sean to play the whiny, bratty little daughter role,” Harvey pointed out, helping Whitney relieve the tension.

“Wanna bet?” his daughter dared.

“And you have my triplets’ experiences if you need somebody to talk to,” Lauren offered, referring to her own divorce.

Bridget looked over her shoulder to mouth a thank you to her old cheermate.

“Hey, you can always talk to my mom. It’s her job!” Kizzy offered.

"That's sweet of you, sweetie, but I don't think your mom's area of expertise is what Sean might need," Rachel commented. McKenzie Beal worked as a marriage counselor and sex therapist.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s not Sean’s marriage that’s ending. That’s why,” YoYo pointed out.

“Mom can still explain how Sean’s dad wasn’t fulfilling his mom’s needs.” Kizzy’s comeback earned a snort from Gabby. “She knows her shit about incompatibilities in the bedroom.”

The younger Beal's insistence didn't help Sean with his emotions, but did for Bridget and Peyton. The latter stared at Kizzy as if Lana had somehow taken over her body, while the former shook her head at Shelly and Cookie's raised eyebrows. While a lack of sex existed in her marriage, it didn't factor into Bridget's decision.

“You know, some days I wonder if Jules could turn out more incorrigible,” Gabby said, facing Rachel. “Then, I realize she could if I raised her in Honey Hollow.”

That finally brought a chuckle from Sean that slightly warmed his mother’s heart.

Then, Harley leaned over from behind the wheelchair to whisper into Sean’s ear.

“The pain never goes away. It just lessens. Don’t worry. If I can be okay, then you can too.”

Bridget couldn't hear what Harley said, but knew what the girl and her father had gone through because of her old enemy, Gemma. So, as she watched Sean's face brighten with some sort of realization, Bridget made eye contact with the sixteen-year-old and mouthed a heartfelt thank you.

“Sorry to interrupt whatever is going on,” Graham apologized, rushing over. “But if you plan to leave, you’d better leave pretty damn soon. Dalton’s buying time, but I don’t know for how much longer.”

Sean’s bowed head shot up in surprise.

“Leaving?” he asked in further shock.

“Yep, my dad went off and did something. Although he won’t tell me what,” Whitney revealed while also complaining.

"I'll tell you later. First, we need to get upstairs to pack," Harvey said, gesturing toward the elevators.

"And I already said I'm not leaving until I see Ramsey. She was outside when the food started to get thrown."

“She was?” Sean responded.

“Yes, that’s why I’m not leaving until I see that she’s safe,” Whitney proclaimed.

“Uh, that might take some time,” a new voice said from the edge of the gathering.

“You! Where is Rammy?” Whitney demanded upon seeing Daisy. “Is that…you’re not her!”

Ramsey’s partner at The Buzzy Bee stepped forward with Norah and Dexter behind her. Norah gave a slight wave while wearing her editor’s coat. Lana and Peyton immediately perked up.

“Hey, you were with Ramsey outside,” Lana stated, looking at Norah.

"I was, but she made me come back inside while she tailed a person of interest."

“What?!” Whitney and Lacey screeched.

"Calm down, and let me explain," Daisy ordered, taking charge. "Rammy thought she saw a man paying people in the crowd to throw the eggs and tomatoes."

“She also said he looked like he was handing out brown bags with them inside,” Norah added.

“Right. So she followed the guy to the Wax District while sending Norah updates,” Daisy continued to recount.

“What? Where is she now?”

“Inside a sports bar called The Penalty Pub.”

Bridget and Rachel’s heads swung to face each other.

“Oh, no,” the red-haired mother groaned, catching her daughter’s attention.

“Mom?”

“It’s a Klackhurst bar,” Bridget revealed, rising to her feet.

"It is?" Gabby double-checked by looking at Rachel, who nodded. Of course, her best friend would know, as her husband was the district attorney.

“I didn’t know that,” Harvey admitted.

“That’s because it’s not part of the ‘The Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless’ scene,” Bridget countered with a wry grin.

"How do you know…." Whitney began to ask before trailing off.

"I'm a Fallon, and they're the Klackhursts," Bridget stated, with Peyton nodding in agreement.

“Well, we'd better go get Rammy!” Whitney cried.

“Hold on!” Daisy interjected. “Dr. Tarver’s sister is already doing so.”

“What?!”

“Why am I not surprised?” Bridget muttered. “Mom’s going to be so pissed.”

"We need to help her!" Whitney announced, with Lacey agreeing.

"Girls, you are not going into any bar, let alone one with criminal connections," Rachel declared.

“But, Mom!”

“I’m sure Brandy has a plan,” Gabby replied for Rachel. Then, she turned to look at Daisy. “She does have a plan, right?”

“Fawn’s probably the one that came up with it,” Bridget supplied for an answer.

“Um, Brandy was the one shouting orders when they left,” Daisy revealed.

“At whom?”

“Barney and–”

“Barney?! Aunt Brandy took Barney with her?” Peyton questioned in shock and concern.

“And Nathan Toone,” Norah finished for Daisy.

“Tin’s going to be so jealous,” Bridget mumbled.

“Perhaps we should drive over there to see if they need help,” Harvey suggested.

“Damn straight!” his daughter agreed. “That's not enough people to rescue Rammy.”

“Oh, they have more,” Daisy revealed once again. “Brandy ordered Fawn to put a team together.”

“Of course she did,” Bridget groaned.

“Harv,” Graham stressed his brother’s name.

“Right. We can discuss this while we pack,” Harvey said, helping an unwilling Whitney to her feet.

“Are you heading over to the mansion?” Bridget queried.

“No, I think it’s better to go straight back to the cabin.”

Mulling over the situation at rapid speed, Bridget shocked everyone.

"I'm coming with you." It took several long seconds for the inevitable cries to die down. Finally, when they did, Bridget explained. "I terribly hate to leave Cassie's night. However, I can't handle being the talk of the ball with everyone pitying me or reveling in it."

“We’ll keep them away from you,” Shelly promised.

Cookie added that they’d assemble the old cheerleaders to provide a protective shield around Bridget for the rest of the night.

“I appreciate it; I really do. However, somebody with medical experience should be with Whitney,” Bridget responded.

“Bridget, don’t leave for our sake. This night means–” Harvey argued until he was cut off.

"It does mean the world to me. And with the ceremony over, the rest of the night is mostly for fun. But I'm okay with missing the fun as I'm no longer in the mood," Bridget explained. "I'll need to make apologies to Finn and the Banks. However, the kids can stay to have fun."

“Why bother? My night is ruined,” Sean remarked in despair. “I’ll go with you, too.”

“Honey, you don’t need to–”

“I’m going,” Sean insisted.

Bridget turned to face her daughter, even though she knew the answer. Peyton would stay behind to be at Finn’s side and to honor her mom’s beloved friend.

“I’ll take care of it, Mom,” her daughter said, both communicating an understanding without words.

“I know you will, sweetie.”