Psych

Live and Let Die

By Lorrie Ellis

Chapter 1: What Are Friends For?

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the TV Serie "Psych", nor the characters portrayed in the show, or the actors portraying the characters.

Shawn Spencer rolled over and blindly reached for the ringing phone. " H'lo." He mumbled.

"Shawn, are you still in bed?" Gus shouted.

Shawn opened one eye and looked at the clock on his side table. "Yes, Gus. Normal people are still in bed at 5:30 in the morning. What do you want?" He shouted.

Gus looked at this watch and realized that his best friend was right, it was only 5:30 in the morning. "Sorry, Shawn. I couldn't sleep."

"You couldn't sleep, so you woke me up to join you?" Shawn replied as he sat up and shrugged the covers off. He padded his way to the kitchen and poured a glass of milk. "What's up, buddy? Why are you awake at 5:30 in the morning on a Saturday?"

"I . . . I shouldn't have called you. I'm sorry I woke you up." Gus replied and hung up the phone.

Shawn stared at the phone in his hand for a moment and hit redial.

"Hello." Gus answered.

"Alright, Gus, I'm fully awake now. Where are you?" Shawn asked.

"My apartment." Gus answered.

"Stay put, I'll be right there." Shawn said.

"Shawn . . ." Gus said quietly. "Thanks."

"See you in a few."

Shawn grabbed his helmet and headed for his bike; he had once called it his ultimate freedom machine, but since he had started dating Detective, Juliet O'Hara, things were different. Sure Juliet would climb on his bike, sitting behind him, arms wrapped around him, but there were times when a car would be more practical. A shiver ran through him at the thought. "Did I really just entertain the idea of practical?"

Gus sat on the couch in his living room, knees drawn up to his chest. "I really shouldn't have called him." He thought as he waited for Shawn.

Shawn made his way to Gus' apartment much faster than usual thanks to the lack of traffic on the streets at such an early hour. He quietly knocked on the door. "Gus!" He called out.

Gus opened the door. Shawn's eyes quickly roved the room. "Hey, are you OK?" He took in Gus' slightly dishelmed appearance. "You look nervous and . . ." Shawn heard the unmistakable 'click' of a handgun and was quickly yanked inside the apartment.

Shawn's eyes drifted to Gus, who had sat down on the couch again. He could feel the cold, hard steel of the handgun against the nape of his neck. He instinctively put his hands up, in surrender mode. "Wh-what's this all about?" He asked.

"Guster, you do the honors." The assailant handed Gus a blindfold and had him place it over Shawn's eyes.

"Oooo, your voice is all Darth Vader-y." Shawn stated. "But this is hardly fair. Gus can see you, why can't I?" Shawn asked, as his wrists were pulled, by Gus he assumed, behind his back and tied together.

"Mr. Guster can't exactly 'see' me either, but in due time, Mr. Spencer, in due time." The assailant replied.

"Oh, I understand now. You have me confused with my dad. He's Mr. Spencer, I'm Sha . . ." Another man, dressed from head to toe in black, a mask covering his face, entered the room and unceremoniously slammed his fist into the side of Shawn's face, momentarily rendering him senseless.

"Shawn!" Gus yelled.

Shawn inched himself back to an upright position on the couch, wincing at the pain radiating throughout his head. "Mm alright, Gus." He mumbled. "What do 'Darth Vader' over there and this other guy want with me anyway?"

"OK, Psychic, that's enough talk." 'Darth Vader' said. He approached Shawn from behind and wrapped his arm around the younger man's neck. He tightened his grip, restricting Shawn's breath. The Psychic tried to breathe, but couldn't. He moved his head from side-to-side, but couldn't shake his assailant, at least not with his hands tied behind him.

Gus watched in horror as Shawn began to lose consciousness. His lips were turning blue and all of the color had drained from his face. "You'll kill him!" Gus shouted.

"He'd already be dead if that was my immediate intention." 'Darth Vader' replied.

When the assailant was satisfied that Shawn was completely unconscious, he motioned to Gus. "You're going to help me load him into the trunk of your car."

Gus shook his head. "No." He said firmly. "I won't."

'Darth Vader's' partner pulled a handgun once again, took aim at Shawn's left thigh, and pulled the trigger. The pain from the gunshot wound immediately brought the unconscious man around. "Arghh!" He cried out. "What the . . .Gus, you let him shoot me!" Shawn screamed out.

"Shawn, I . . ." Gus knelt down beside of his friend, only to be pushed away.

"Leave me alone!" Shawn shouted.

'Darth Vader' quickly placed a handkerchief over Shawn's nose and mouth. Shawn fought to stay awake, but again succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness.

"Chloroform?" Gus questioned. "Really? Why didn't you use that the first time?"

'Darth Vader' paused. "The redness around his throat will be more traumatic when his father sees it." He motioned to Gus again. "Now, let's get him in the trunk."

Gus hesitated, but reconsidered when 'Darth Vader' reached for his gun. "No, don't, please. I'll do it."

"I thought you might reconsider." 'Darth Vader' smiled.

"Can we put a piece of plastic down first? I don't want blood all over the trunk; this is a company car, after all." Gus asked.

'Darth Vader's' hand moved towards his gun again.

Gus helped up his hands and looked down at Shawn again. "Never mind, I'll find a way to explain."

They loaded Shawn into trunk and 'Darth Vader' closed it, motioning Gus to the driver's seat. "You drive."

"What?" Gus replied "Where?"

"I'll let you know." 'Darth Vader' replied.

TBC