Wow, this show is very addictive! This is my 2nd Psych story, and will probably be about 3-4 chapters long. I have a basic outline and hope to update soon. Be warned, the h/c portion of our program will begin in the 2nd chapter - happy reading!
Shawn Spencer was in Hell. OK, maybe not the conventional Hell - fire, brimstone, Satan, and all that jazz - but definitely a close approximation. His dad had finally conned him into a "father and son bonding weekend" at a wilderness retreat located a hundred miles from nowhere. Henry was currently standing at the counter of the small convenience store at the retreat's entrance, stocking up on perishable items. Shawn considered it a small miracle that due to the endangered species living on the premises, fishing was not allowed. One less torturous activity to do. However, the weather forecast called for severe thunderstorms, so he'd be stuck in a remote cabin with his dad for the entire time. And to add insult to injury, his father chose the cabin furthest from any other form of human contact, claiming it made the whole experience more "enjoyable." Things couldn't get much worse. . .
"You've GOT to be kidding me!" Shawn exclaimed softly, staring at the door to the store which had just swung open to reveal none other than Carlton Lassiter. "There's something worse than Hell - and I'm in it."
Of course, Lassiter saw him right away and grimaced, obviously having the same thought as Shawn. What the heck were the odds? Maybe he could cut his dad off and keep him from seeing this new development. . . ah crap.
"Lassiter! I had no idea you were so in tune with nature," said Henry good-naturedly, approaching the detective. No avoiding it now - Shawn eased his way over to try and make the best of a rapidly declining situation.
"Hey, Lassie - what brings you to these parts? Looking for a little solitude - or wait, my senses are picking up something else . . . " Shawn looked behind him at the object of Lassiter's quick, furtive glance. One of the retreat guides, a tall blonde whose name tag read "Missy," smiled broadly, cried "Carlton!" and made her way over. Shawn waggled his eyebrows at Lassiter, Henry simply rolled his eyes, and Lassiter looked mortified.
"Not a word, Spencer," Lassiter hissed under his breath. "Missy, so good to see you again! I had no idea you'd be working this weekend."
"Hi, all! Welcome to the Sunny Glade Wilderness Retreat - Carlton, introduce me to your friends!"
"Why I'm Shawn, and this is my father Daddy Warbucks" said Shawn jovially. "And how exactly do you know our dear friend Carlton?"
If looks could kill, Shawn knew he'd be dead. Lassiter was currently trying to drill a hole through his head with nothing but his pupils. "We met at a Friends of the Wild convention in town," Missy enthused, "And since Carlton is such a nature-lover, I invited him out to our retreat."
"Oh yes, Carlton does love nature," replied Shawn innocently, "Why he even leaves the lid off his garbage can at night so the poor raccoons don't injure themselves while attempting to steal his trash."
Henry rolled his eyes again. If he does that much more, Shawn thought idly, his eyes will stick that way.
Missy looked at Shawn blankly for a moment, then the broad smile returned. "Well, I have to finish checking in the guests - going to be a long night. Good to see you, Carlton!"
As she bounced off, Lassiter just stared after her, clearly smitten and at a loss for words.
"Cat got your tongue, Lassie? Or maybe it was the raccoon?" Shawn poked.
"OK, enough!" Henry intervened before Lassiter could actually murder his son. "Detective, would you like to join Shawn and I for dinner tonight?"
"What?" Shawn stuttered, aghast. "Actually, that would be lovely, Henry," Lassiter replied with a broad grin.
"Good, we'll see you at 6:00. Let's go, Shawn, plenty of work to be done," Henry said, grabbing Shawn's arm and dragging him out of the store. Glancing back, Shawn saw Lassiter's smile turn gleeful as he mouthed "Payback is Hell" for Shawn's eyes only. Shawn sighed - there was that word again, Hell. He was so screwed.