"Okay," Shawn started as he shuffled around in his car seat. "We won't stay for dessert, I'm make some excuse about an early start and we can be out of there before he brings out the apple pie."
Gus rolled his eyes, "I like apple pie."
"I'll buy you some apple pie Gus, as long as we can be out of there as soon as possible,"
"Two hours Shawn, you only have two spend two hours with him."
"Exactly!" Shawn cried, "Two whole hours!" Gus stopped the car outside the beach house and the pair climbed out. Gus circled the car and joined Shawn at the gate.
"Why do you even say yes to dinner if you hate it?"
"He guilts me into it," He explained, "Shawn!" He mimicked, "You never come see me! I raised you and taught you everything you know and then you don't come and say hello to your own father?"
"Well it's true," Gus shrugged.
Shawn glared at his friend, "whose side are you on?" Gus didn't get a chance to answer as Henry pulled the front door open.
"You two going to stand out there all day?" He asked before disappearing back into the house.
Shawn sighed, "No pudding." He reminded Gus before climbing the steps up to the house.
"I'm making no promises," Gus replied as he followed Shawn into the house.
"So," Henry began as he placed three plates of the table for himself, Shawn and Gus. The plates were piled high with chicken and rice. "How's the case going?"
"It's fine," Shawn answered, already digging into his food.
"I'm surprised you haven't come for help yet."
"I don't always need your help on my cases Dad."
"You do come here more often during a case," Gus reasoned.
Shawn looked at his friend and shook his head, "Over twenty years of friendship just flew out the window," Gus rolled his eyes at his friend's dramatics.
"I'm just asking because I might not have time for your interruptions next week."
"Why what's happening next week?" Shawn asked through a mouthful of food.
Henry ignored Shawn's bad table manners. He'd been trying for years to stop Shawn speaking when his mouth was full, but it was akin to trying to turn back the tide. "You remember Sam King?"
"Sure, worked at PD with you back in the day," Shawn confirmed.
"His son Nick's just finished the police academy and has got a job at Santa Barbara PD, he knows how to make his father proud," Shawn rolled his eyes but didn't take the bait. "Anyway, I said he could stay here until he finds a place of his own, you know what it's like finding a place round here, could take him months."
"You won't even give your own son a key to the house but you'll let a total stranger live here?"
"He's not a total stranger Shawn," Henry disagreed, "I know his father"
"Yes because apples always fall close to the tree" Shawn raised an eyebrow and knowing he'd made a good point. Shawn couldn't be any more different from his dad. While Henry loved rules and reason, hard work and structure, Shawn was spontaneous, impulsive, had a short attention span and always preferred the easy way out.
"He doesn't know anyone, Maybe you and Gus could show him around town when he gets here," Henry suggested.
Shawn and Gus looked at each other, "I don't know dad, we're pretty busy with this case, long hours, stake outs, you know how it is," Shawn pushed around the few remnants of his dinner around his empty plate. He'd always been one to eat fast.
"I'm sure you can spare a couple of hours to take him out, I mean, you did find some spare time out of your busy schedule to come here," Shawn frowned at his dad, knowing full well what he was trying to do.
"I suppose we could show him around," Gus piped up.
"Great," Henry clapped his hands together, "Who's up for pudding?" Gus smiled and opened his mouth ready to answer when he felt someone kick his shin under the table.
"Ow!" He bent down and rubbed the sore spot.
"We'd really love to," Shawn forged a convincing smile, "But we really should be going."
"Come on!" Henry looked genuinely disappointed, "Can't you stay for one small slice of apple pie?"
Gus opened his mouth again but slammed it shut when his shin was kicked again. "Maybe another time" Shawn answered for them, ignoring the deathly glare Gus was sending him.
"Okay," Henry pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. He picked up the empty plates and placed them in the sink. "I'll get Nick to phone you next week," He said, "Feel free to make your own way to the door" He added as he turned his back to them and began washing up the plates.
As soon as they were out the door Gus pushed Shawn, "Hey!" Shawn cried "What was that for?"
"Oh I don't know how about kicking me twice and withholding your dad's apple pie from me,"
"I said no pudding Gus," They pair strode down the garden path and climbed back into Gus' car. "And thanks to you we have to show a goody two shoes – follows in his father's footsteps – everyone's so proud of him – rookie cop around town next week. I'd rather be locked in a room with Lassie."
"That can be arranged,"
"Don't even joke Gus."
"I could take bets on how long it would take before Lassiter snaps and strangles you."
"Lassie would never strangle me."
Gus laughed, "No?"
"I think he'd shoot me first," Shawn explained.