Author's Notes: I am breaking my own rule of finishing other stories before I get to more, but this challenge really intrigued me. The introduction is short and it has a lot of similarities to the episode it is based on but the differences will pop up and become more pronounced as the story goes on.

This story is going to be as close as I can make Santabarbaratown 2 if Shawn got shot instead of Henry. There will be similarities to the regular episode and dialogue. They are on purpose, not just to plagerize or because I am lazy, lol.

I do not own Psych.

Both Sides Now

Chapter 1- The Difference of a Few Seconds

Standing on the private beach belonging to Jerry Carp, Henry looked into the pained eyes of one of his closest friends for 22 years and then to the gun pointed at his chest. "It's not too late to do the right thing Jerry."

Jerry faltered for a moment, and lowered the gun. Henry breathed a small sigh of relief, until the desperate man leveled the weapon on him once more, determination etched on his features. This is it, I'm going to be shot. Henry thought and he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

"JERRY NO!" Shawn's voice echoed across the beach. He was in a full out run and was relieved to see he had made it in time. He rushed up to the pair and skidded to a halt between the gun and Henry.

Glaring at his son for his stupidity, Henry growled, "What the hell are you doing Shawn? Get the hell out of here!"

Holding out his hands to Jerry while still blocking the shot at his dad Shawn tried to reason with the armed man. "Jerry, don't do this man... You've known my dad like, forever. You guys were like the Three Musketeers when I was growing up."

"There were four of us Shawn." Jerry stated as Henry kept trying to push Shawn back and away from the gun.

Doing his best to remain nonchalant Shawn shrugged, "I've never understood that either... there were four of them too but they called themselves the Three Mu..."

"Shut up!" Jerry jabbed the gun at Shawn, who quickly raised his hands again.

Fearing for his son's life more than his own, Henry was almost begging, "Let him leave Jerry, this is between you and me."

The pained look was back. "I'm sorry Henry..." Jerry's finger tightened and he pulled the trigger, the bullet hit Shawn in the right chest.

The force of the shot threw Shawn backwards into his father and knocked them both on the ground. Jerry took that moment to hightail it down the beach towards the back of his house.

Sliding out from underneath his son, Henry started to panic. The blood stain didn't look very big so far, but who knows what type of damage it did to his son internally. "Hold on kid!" He shouted. Shawn was still moving weakly and Henry saw that he was pointing at his pocket. Reaching in he found Shawn's I-Phone and immediately dialed 911.

"This is..." He paused for a millisecond. He almost said consultant liaison for the SBPD, but he had retired just that morning. "Henry Spencer. I have a police consultant down! I need an ambulance right now!"

The gurney burst through the emergency room doors with Henry not far behind. "Keep pressure on the wound! He might have internal bleeding. How many gunshot wounds have you treated? Damn it Shawn how could you be so stupid?"

The surgeons were hurrying down the hallway spouting a lot of medical jargon that Henry didn't understand but he did overhear that they were taking Shawn to surgery immediately. As they rounded a corner into a room a brown haired nurse stepped in his way. She was holding up her hands indicating that he should stop. "Sir you have to stay here."

Henry glared and pointed at the woman, "Listen lady, that is my son in there and there is no way I am leaving his side till he is ok!"

Understanding he was upset and having to deal with these situations on a daily basis, she held her ground. "Sir you would just be in the way, let us take care of it." She turned around and headed into the room leaving Henry standing alone in the hallway pulling out whatever hair he had left.

Shawn was finally out of surgery two hours later. The steady beeps from the heart monitor were a welcome sign to Henry. It meant his son was holding on. His lung had collapsed and they had to insert a breathing tube so Shawn wouldn't suffocate. Poor kid. Henry lamented as he saw all the wires connected to his boy.

Henry had already called everyone and let them know what happened. Gus was heading over from his supposed real job at the pharmaceutical company, and Juliet and Carlton were at Jerry's house going over the crime scene, trying to find the rogue retired officer. They had no luck so far and Henry knew by then, it would be almost impossible to find him. Jerry had a lot of buddies that he could go running to and he only knew a few of them but he promised himself that he would. Sooner or later, he would find the son of a bitch that shot his son.

He knew for a fact that if Shawn had shown up even thirty seconds later, he would be the one laying on the bed, or he could have possibly died. It was lucky that Jerry had missed most of Shawn's vital organs. It could have been so much worse.

Gripping Shawn's hand, Henry sighed deeply. "Listen kid. I know I haven't been all that patient with you lately and I- I wish I would have shown you how proud I am of what you do. Even if I am not exactly happy with how you do it." Henry half smiled, wondering what Shawn would say if he were awake and could actually hear what he said.

Woody unceremoniously entering the room caused Henry to jump a bit and let go of Shawn's hand. The coroner's eyes were wide and he was carrying a black bag, "I am so sorry I came as soon as I heard." He started fumbling with the black bag and unzipping it. Henry realized it was a body bag. "I brought a six footer." Woody continued as if the size of the bag was a favor.

Henry's jaw clenched. "Strode, you have five seconds to get out of this room."

Finally noticing the steadily beeping heart monitor Woody's expression changed from sympathy to shock. "Oh... awkward..." Rising from the chair, Henry grabbed Woody by the medical coat, pushed him out the door and slammed it, even though he was still talking. "I'll come back later th..."

Grumbling about stupidity Henry sat back down in the chair and waited for everyone to show up.

A day later and still no sign of Jerry. The investigation had been going around the clock but it was a bit hindered by the fact that Juliet spent most of her time in Shawn's hospital room rather than looking for his shooter. Henry couldn't blame her, and with the detective and Gus hanging around, he had been able to step away for a few minutes every now and then.

It was during one of those breathers that he was blindsided by a voice he wished he never had to hear again...

"Heeeeeyyy!" She giggled.

Henry spun around and came face to face with his crazy stalker from six months before. She was pushing an old man in a wheelchair down the hall and eyeing other older men like they were pieces of ribs that she would just gobble down if given the chance. He couldn't deny that she was a pretty lady, but the woman was downright batty. He put on a fake smile. "Oh hey uh... Chelsey right?"

She giggled more at the happiness of being remembered, and Henry cringed at the sound. "How are you doing you hottie you?" She slapped him on the chest and got uncomfortably close.

"Well you know, I'm uh just here visiting my son. He was shot and..."

"Oh my God! I am so sorry... he's not going to die is he?" Henry was shocked at the actual concern she was showing, until she reached up and squished his lips together, "because I don't want to see such a handsome man so sad." She baby talked.

Backing up and pushing her hand away, Henry put his foot down. "Listen, you are a sweet girl but I am a bit old for you and I really need to get back to my son now." Henry backed up, keeping her in his sights until he was to the stairs. He then he turned and bolted up them, hopefully to never see that woman or hear her God awful laugh again.

"Call me!" She called after him.

When Henry entered Shawn's hospital room, Juliet, who had been sitting with is son, stood up. She could see the tiredness and concern in Henry's eyes. She had the same look in her own.

Approaching the bed, Henry looked at Shawn and made a decision. Since Juliet was there to keep an eye on her boyfriend, he would go find Jerry himself. He of all people would know where to look for the son of a bitch, so why not?

As if reading his mind, Juliet put a hand on Henry's arm. "I can tell what you're thinking. Please don't try to get involved in this case Henry."

"Juliet, he's my son. I need to do something. I can't just sit around all day knowing that I can help find Jerry."

"I love Shawn too, but we are both too close to this case. Chief Vick has all but taken me off of it. She keeps saying that I should take a couple personal days. I think you should too. You look exhausted." Juliet pleaded with Henry. She knew he was just as- if not more so- stubborn as Shawn.

Henry sighed. He hated to lie to her but the more he waited, the harder Jerry would be to find. "Ok Juliet, Gus is coming soon to pick me up and take me back to my truck. I'll head home then ok?"

Juliet smiled and shared a small hug with Henry before they both sat down to wait for Gus.

End notes: I know I should have updated my other story this weekend, but don't fear. It will be posted tomorrow. I just needed a bit of a break after three doubles. :D