AN: Due to some reviews I've gotten I thought that I should just put something here at the beginning of the story. This is inot/i a Shassie story. I don't ship Shassie and I don't write it. That being said, I do hope you read and enjoy my story, but don't expect something that won't happen.

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Carlton Lassiter may have been humming to himself as he drove down the highway on his way from Santa Barbara to Sacramento. He had been invited to give a lecture on proper gun safety by the Sacramento Police Department at their annual statewide Police Training Weekend. Lassiter had been to many conventions, but the Sacramento convention was the best of the best in his opinion. It was by invitation only and he had finally received the coveted envelope in the mail a few months earlier.

He smiled to himself as he thought about the weekend ahead of him, a weekend free from the incompetence of the rookie officers and the annoyance of Shawn Spencer and his never ending 'psychic' visions. As he passed a road sign that said Sacramento was only sixty miles ahead, Lassiter checked his watch and saw that he was exactly on time. The eight hour drive had been a small price to pay to save from having to fly. Carlton never liked having to be frisked down at the airport, they claimed it was because he tried to take his glock with him, but he knew it was because the security guards were mad they never got to be actual policemen.

The song changed and Don't Stop Believin' by Journey filled the car. Lassiter started humming again only to hear another person humming with him. Lassiter flicked his gaze from the road to the rear-view mirror. No one was in the backseat. He looked back at the road, but the humming kept going. Lassiter turned off the radio to see if possibly it was just a bad recording. The humming went on for a little while and then the last sound Lassiter expected to hear came from the backseat.

"Awww, c'mon Lassie it was just getting to the good part!" Shawn Spencer's complaining voice filled the car.

Lassiter abruptly pulled off to the side of the road and once the car was turned off, turned in his seat and stared the psychic in the eyes. "What the Hell are you doing in my car, Spencer?" Lassiter yelled at him. "Do you have any idea where I'm going?"

Shawn ignored both of Lassiter's questions and gave a big yawn, stretching out his arms at the same time. "You really have a bigger selection of music than I thought, Lassifrass. Kelly Clarkson? She's pretty cool." Shawn said reaching up into the front seat to grab the detective's ipod.

Lassiter shoved Shawn into the backseat again. "Spencer, we're a good seven hours from Santa Barbara. Have you been back there the entire time?" He asked scowling.

Shawn shrugged. "Well obviously, I just thought you could use some company on this little trip you're taking. Gus is away at Pharmacy camp and I know Jules' family is doing a big picnic this weekend so she can't come and let's face it, you really don't have very many friends besides us."

Lassiter couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew Spencer was irresponsible, but he never would have guessed the younger man would have stowed away on a business trip. "You are not going to the convention with me." Lassiter said articulating every word carefully. "The second we get to Sacramento I'm putting you on the next flight home." With that he restarted the car and pulled back into traffic. Spencer started to say something, but stopped when Lassiter gave him a death glare in the mirror.

O-O-O-O

It amazed Lassiter to no end that Spencer stayed quiet for the rest of the drive to Sacramento. In fact he stayed quiet until Lassiter pulled into a parking space at the hotel. Lassiter grabbed his black, practical suitcase out of the trunk and rolled his eyes when he saw Spencer had a multi-colored duffel bag of his own.

Lassiter went through the door of the hotel and strode briskly up to the front desk. "I have a reservation," He snapped at the desk attendant.

The girl behind quickly pulled up something on the computer in front of her. "What name was the reservation under?" She asked him.

Lassiter scowled as the girl squeaked out the question in a small, mouse like voice that went perfectly with her small frame, practical haircut and glasses. "Lassiter, Carlton Lassiter." He said handing the girl the conformation information he'd received from the convention.

"Yes sir, we have you in room 415." She said. "Would you like one key or two?" She looked over Lassiter's shoulder to Shawn.

Lassiter looked over to the psychic as well, having forgotten he was there. "Just one, he's not staying." Lassiter said taking the key from her and then heading for the elevator. Shawn gave the girl a wink and then jogged to keep up with Lassiter. It was easy for Lassiter to find his room and he quickly let himself in. The moment his suitcase hit the floor next to the standard hotel room dresser Lassiter pulled his department issue laptop from his briefcase and turned it on.

Shawn flopped down on the bed and reached for the remote. "What're you looking up Lassifrass?" He asked flipping through the channels on the TV.

"I'm booking you on the next flight out of here." Lassiter snapped his eyes focused on the screen.

"Why would you want to do that?" Shawn objected. "I think this hotel is pretty sweet and with this convention thing going on there will be tons of interesting people."

Lassiter looked up briefly from the computer and frowned when he saw Spencer reclining on the bed. "For your edification Spencer, I was looking forward to this weekend, because it meant I was going to be away from you and your psychic bull crap for four consecutive days." He looked back at the computer screen and swore. "The earliest flight out of here is tomorrow morning at 10."

"Oh, that's alright there's a Simon and Simon marathon on right now." Spencer said setting the remote down on the nightstand and settling in to watch his show.

Lassiter opened his mouth to tell the psychic to get his feet off the bed, but before he could say anything his cell phone rang.

Shawn watched out of the corner of his eye as Lassiter pulled the phone out his pocket. The detective looked at the caller ID and any color he had in his pasty complexion drained. Shawn narrowed his eyes when Lassiter didn't answer the phone, but headed for the hallway.

Once Lassiter was in the hall away from Spencer's prying ears he answered his phone. "Carlton Lassiter," He said hoping his voice was even. He knew who was on the other end of the phone. He had dialed that number more times then he was proud to admit hoping that his wife, ex-wife he corrected himself, would let him move back in. He listened as Victoria explained why she had called months after he had finally signed those damn divorce papers. She was talking about him still having something of hers, at least that's what Lassiter thought she was saying. As strong as he liked to think he was, hearing her voice was ruining all the separation he maintained and mental blocks he'd given himself since the last time he'd seen her. He realized there was silence on the other end of the line. "Yes, I'll look for those as soon as I get back in town." He promised her. She seemed satisfied and hung up without saying good-bye. Lassiter slowly closed his phone. There was only one thought going through his head at that moment and that was to go downstairs to the hotel bar and get a scotch to settle his nerves. He turned on his heel and headed for the elevator.

As the credits rolled Shawn stretched and looked at the clock. They had gotten to the hotel around eight-thirty and it was now almost two in the morning. Shawn had lost track of the time during the marathon and realized he was getting pretty hungry. He looked over to the table where Lassiter's laptop was. He had been giving the detective a running commentary on all the episodes and only just now realized that Lassiter hadn't even come in from the hallway after answering his phone. Shawn pulled out his own phone and dialed Lassiter's number while he started down the hall towards the vending machines. There was no chance that a pizza place would be open this late and Shawn was willing to settle with a package of peanut M&M's and if he was lucky a couple of poptarts. Lassiter's phone went to voicemail and Shawn frowned at that. Even if Lassiter was still mad about Shawn stowing away on the trip, he would answer his phone so he could yell and Shawn and remind him how mad he was. Besides, the detective was never out this late unless he was working a case.

Shawn made a quick turn and headed down the lobby. There was now an older man behind the counter. Shawn flashed him and smile. "Hi there, I was wondering if you'd seen a tall, lanky man with an Irish hair line and a fierce scowl walk by recently." Shawn inquired.

The man behind the counter rolled his eyes and motioned towards the entrance to the hotel's bar across the lobby. "Your friend's in there," He grumbled.

Shawn thanked him and then headed for the bar. As he got closer he could hear some voices and some singing. Shawn poked his head inside and saw the bar was almost empty. The bartender was leaning against the counter and gave him a nod as Shawn walked in. There was a young couple sitting very close and laughing at one side of the room. Shawn quickly noticed brand new wedding rings on their fingers. There was an older lady sitting at one end of the bar with a bottle of wine in front of her, the daily paper sitting on the stool next to her.

The only other person at the bar was Lassiter. Shawn had to triple check to make sure he was seeing what his mind was telling him he was seeing. Lassiter was in a corner of the bar where the karaoke machine had been set up for the night. He was standing there with the microphone and was oblivious to the fact the machine was no longer on. If Shawn's ears weren't deceiving him the detective was singing Single Ladies and swaying drunkenly.

"Lassie?" Shawn asked as he got close to the very drunk detective.

Lassiter's eyes slowly moved from their unfocused upward direction to look at the psychic. "Spencer!" He proclaimed, throwing out his arms slightly losing his balance. "Awww, you brought a friend too." He reached out a hand and tried to pat the empty air to Shawn's right.

"Whatcha doing?" Shawn tried be casual as he watched Lassiter.

"I'm drinking!" Lassiter said proudly. "Would you like a drink? I can get you one."

"No, it's alright, Lassie, I'm fine. I think we should get you back to the room." Shawn said, reaching out a hand to help Lassiter off the slightly raised platform.

"Psh, the party's just getting started." Lassiter slurred and batted Shawn's hand away. Shawn wasn't exactly sure what to do. He'd never seen Lassiter let go like this before. He'd seen him drunk, but this was different. "Here Spencer, take this," Lassiter handed Shawn his cell phone. "and call that woman for me. Tell her I don't have her stupid figurines and even if I did I'd have shot them to a million pieces by now." He sobered up slightly as he said the last part.

Then the truth hit Shawn. He quickly checked Lassiter's phone calls and saw the one he'd received before he disappeared was from a number labeled 'Victoria'. Shawn had never met Lassiter's ex-wife, but he figured any woman crazy enough to say yes to Lassiter's proposal had to be completely off her rocker. Shawn was still thinking this through when Lassiter decided he did want to get down and half stumbled, half fell onto Shawn trying to do so. They both landed on the floor.

"C'mon Lassie," Shawn said pulling the man to his feet. "let's go to bed. At least you'll be able to sleep it off."

Lassiter stopped moving as Shawn said this. He shook his head a little and winced. "No, no can't sleep. I have to give a presentation in the morning." He mumbled.

Shawn ended up half dragging Lassiter up to the hotel room. He pushed the detective onto the bed and then fell asleep on the couch himself.