Henry sat in a darkened room next to his only son. His son, Shawn Spencer the head Psychic of the SBPD (Why the word head is in his title he didn't know, it wasn't like there was a team of psychics, Shawn was the only one) had been shot in the head during a drugs bust. The doctors weren't sure if he was going to survive and if he did if he would ever be the same again. Henry sat vigil by his son's bed. He was determined not to leave his side until he saw those beautiful green eyes again. He sat in silence gently allowing his hands to trace the outline of his son's hand. Henry had almost fallen asleep when he heard the door open.
Detective Lassiter came into the room and sat next to Henry. Lassiter passed him a tall steaming cup of coffee and a bag with a pastry in it. Henry took both gratefully. Lassiter asked how Shawn, was doing? Henry smiled a sad smile and answered, "About the same".
Lassiter patted Henry's shoulder and said, "Shawn is one of the toughest people I know. He will wake up from this and be back to raising my blood pressure in no time."
Henry let out a chuckle, "Shawn has always had a knack at raising people's blood pressure. Damn kid, did so many foolish things growing up; I am surprised he made it this far."
Lassiter snickered, "Shawn doing something crazy and foolish, I can not believe it?" Henry smiled the first genuine smile he has had for a while thinking back to Shawn's childhood.
"Shawn from day 1 was a challenge; he had colic for the first 6 months of his life. He was always a lover though, I remember one time when Shawn was 2, I had gotten home late and fell asleep on the couch and the next morning, 2 year old Shawn covered me up with his favorite blanket, he climbed on the sofa so gently so not to wake me up and kissed me on the forehead, before going to play. I think that was the moment that I knew with out a doubt I would fight hell itself to keep this little man safe and happy. When Shawn was still in preschool he would have to spend time at the station waiting for Maddie to pick him up. He would look at crime scene boards and pick out clues after looking at the board for minutes. Clues we would miss after looking for weeks at the same board. That is when I started to help him develop his God given skills of observation and started him on his police training."
Lassiter nearly did a spit take, "You mean to tell me Spencer started his police training at 4?"
Henry smiled and said, "Well he all ready had a knack for it so I just developed his knack. Like you would if your son was a naturally good baseball player. My son was a naturally good cop."
Lassiter looked at Shawn and then back at Henry, "Wow, how do you train a 4 year old to become a cop?"
Henry scratched his chin and then said, "Well, I tried to make it a game for him. We would go to the little diner on 7th street and I would tell him to close his eyes and if he could tell me how many hats were in the room then I would reward him with a piece of pie or something. The kid never knew when or what I would ask him so he got in the habit of taking in every detail of a room almost as soon as we entered it. Do you know he got so good at detecting the small details of people that he could almost tell you their life story just by looking at them."
Lassiter was sitting shaking his head not sure how to react to these revelations about Shawn. He looked at Henry and asked, "How did Shawn do in school?"
Henry leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face with his hands, "School, was boring to Shawn. We were given the choice to let Shawn graduate at 12 but we didn't take it. His mom and I felt that he needed the experience of high school to help him to grow up and mature. But School was never a problem for him. I know you probably can't tell by how crazy Shawn always asks but Shawn has an I.Q. of nearly 200."
Lassiter about fainted at that statement, "No, no, no, you have got to be playing a joke on me or something. Where are the hidden cameras? Shawn Henry Spencer the department screw up and head bozo, started solving crimes at 4 and has a genius I.Q.?"
Henry smiled and threw up two fingers, "Scouts honor, the Shawn you see flitting around the station is really just a mask that my son wears to hide who he really is. He has never been comfortable with his intelligence or his gifts. It is easier for him to goof around and be an idiot then deal with being what he calls a freak."
Lassiter furrowed his brows, "He called himself a freak?"
Henry shook his head yes, "High school was very hard for Shawn, he tried to cut up and be the class clown but he would still get perfect grades, while not really trying at all. He was beat up at least once a week by some punk who caught on to his act. His friendship with Gus I think saved them both. Gus was always a little nerdy and Shawn was Shawn and they would watch each other's backs. Those times are why they are so close now. When they thought the whole world was against them they always had each other. Do you know if he would have shown up to graduation he would have been the Valedictorian of his class? He ran away allowing Gus that honor. You ask Shawn about it he will blow it off saying it meant more to Gus than him."
Lassiter was blown away with all the new information he just heard about Shawn. He looked at Henry and asked, "Why do you think he likes to work with the SBPD, he could be doing anything right now, making a lot more money than he is now."
Henry snickered, "Money or things never meant that much to Shawn. Don't get me wrong he likes stuff and money but they were never his driving force in doing things. The kid could charm anyone, if he was ever hungry and didn't have money he would sweet talk a waitress into giving him a burger or one of those infernal smoothies. He works with you all because he loves what he does and whom he works with. You included Detective."
Lassiter smiled, "Shawn and I don't get along all to well. If anyone, he stays for Juliet."
Henry raised an eyebrow to that comment from the detective, "Juliet is a HUGE reason for him to stay but so are you Detective. You don't take his crap, you never let him rest on his laurels you constantly challenge him and he loves that about you. He would never admit it but you are like, how can I put it? You two are like a flag on a flagpole. The flag can flap proudly and beautifully if and only if the flag has a good solid anchor to make sure that the flag doesn't fly off. You are the flagpole to Shawn. I know that he counts you right under Gus as far as friends."
They two men sat in silence for a minute. Lassiter looked at Henry, "Really? I am so mean to him, you think he really considers me a friend?"
Henry squeezed Lassiter's shoulder, "The way he sees it you aren't being mean to him you are challenging him and he loves to be challenged. Think about it Detective, if he is in some sort of trouble who does he call first? He knows that if he needs you that you will be there and I hope you realize the same from him."
Lassiter sat rubbing his hands together, "I think I learned that about Shawn during the whole Drimmer investigation. He was the only one that fought for my good name."
Another period of silence and then Lassiter spoke again, "How is Shawn really? What are the doctors saying that you aren't telling the others?"
Henry sighed, letting the held in tears finally escape from his eyes, "They are worried about extensive brain damage with Shawn. The Bullet damaged a large section of his brain, and (Henry paused to regain his composure) if he wakes up at all he will likely not be the same man he was when he was shot."
Lassiter sat back in shock, "Oh God, I didn't realize all of that. Wow. Well one thing I do know is Shawn likes to defy authority so if the doctors are saying that he is going to be severely brain damaged then I am going to bet he is going to be just fine to spite the doctors."
Henry wiped the tears from his eyes and said with a chuckle, "I hope Lassiter, I really hope so."
