Part 2: Rebound

Shawn sat at Tom Blair's Pub, drinking his vodka soda. It had been two days since he'd been kissed by Lassiter and was determined to pick up a woman so that thought would stop lingering in his mind. He didn't want to go three days knowing that the last lips he kissed were a man's.

It was taking a while to get himself pumped up into confident mode. Part of him still felt guilty because he hated upsetting people. Even when a situation called for it, Shawn didn't like being the barer of bad news. People just looked too sad.

Worst of all was knowing he upset someone he wasn't sure could even be that hurt. At the very least he didn't expect such a grudge from the one person he'd tried to make like him so hard. Sure annoying Lassiter had its moments, but in the end Shawn liked helping him so much more.

He'd seen Lassiter a few times since. The head detective was completely ignoring him, particularly when Shawn attempted to talk things out. Carlton basically made sure they were never in the same room for more than five seconds, even when Shawn tried to persist. It was easy enough to spot the signs showing that behind the workaholic façade was a broken heart. Shawn hated being the cause of it.

Still, Shawn couldn't help being mad at Lassiter despite his guilt. It had been Lassiter's fault for misreading the signs after all. Shawn messed around and flirted with everyone, why did Lassiter feel singled out? Lassiter never gave any impression that he felt more than tolerance towards him, he'd said that himself before kissing him. Shawn clearly liked girls and Lassiter had been married to one, which just made him even more confused as to why the incident took place since both of them were straight.

"Why did Lassy have to kiss me?" Shawn asked the ice, melting at the bottom of his glass. One feeling that was quite rare for the man was confusion, he usually figured things out so quickly but this was just too much.

"Maybe because you're so cute." A random girl had taken the bar stool next to him. She ordered a rum and coke before flipping her long dark hair over her shoulders.

"Excuse me?" Shawn asked, flattered at her comment but wondering where it came from.

"You asked why some person named Lacey or Lizzy felt the need to kiss you. I answered, lest you be talking to yourself."

"Appears I'm not only cute, I may just be lucky too." Shawn replied flirtatiously with the woman, realising that in all the irony his kiss with a man was hooking him an attractive lady. "Shawn Spencer."

The woman responded to his flirting immediately, placing a hand on his wrist and trailing it over his fingers. "Megan Geller."

From that point on, a wonderful conversation flowed between them. A few drinks helped speed things along too. Shawn knew this was a promising affair. The girl was only passing through town on business, and recently out of a relationship which meant this was clearly just a fling. Rebound girls: Shawn's preference.

"Do you wanna get out of here?" She slurred slightly, gripping his hand and giving it a hopeful squeeze.

Shawn downed the last of his drink and replied "Oh god yes."

He slipped his arm around Megan, leading her out the door with a confident yet tipsy stride. Just as he was getting in the mood more each minute, Shawn spotted the one person that could suck all the sexy out of Megan. Carlton Lassiter was sitting at a table by himself; staring off into space clearly lost in his own thoughts.

Shawn stared at the older man for a fraction too long. Megan tugged at his arm, following his eyes. Just before she could realise who Shawn was looking at, he whisked her out the door. He took a quick glance back and realised that Carlton hadn't seen him and decided to leave before the head detective could feel himself being watched.

"We should probably call for a cab." Megan fingered the collar of Shawn's polo shirt.

Shawn whipped out his cell phone, about to do what she said, only to have it taken off him. Megan pulled Shawn down to her and kissed him. Her lips were soft and warm, just the feminine way Shawn liked it. He responded to this affection instantly.

The kiss was a little sloppy due to the few drinks but Shawn was used to that. However, something was off about it. He tried to put his finger on it as Megan's tongue invaded his mouth but he couldn't think of a reason. There was no crazy, fling tingling that Shawn usually experienced. Actually, there was nothing.

Noticing the lack of enthusiasm, Megan stopped. "Is something wrong?"

"No, please keep doing what you were doing." Shawn figured it was just the expectation on the kiss, getting back into the female rhythm after his ordeal. He needed to get that out of the way but this time he'd been more relaxed and into it, so he thought.

The next was, as well, a lustful kiss. The kind of kiss that boosted Shawn's ego on regular occasions, because that meant a girl wanted him badly. Yet, he found his mind drifting back to Carlton sitting alone on his barstool; then remembering back to their rough, spontaneous kiss. Trying to focus back on Megan, Shawn forced himself to enjoy the kiss, but that brought up the question of why he had to push for the feeling.

"You seem distracted." Megan commented, pulling back again. Her eyes were looking a little conflicted.

"The drinks went to my head a little bit." Shawn replied, making a gesture to imply he was a little cuckoo from it.

Megan shook her head, knowing she was being lied to. "It's that Lissy person isn't it?"

"Lassy?" Shawn blurted out in shock. "Of course not, no! No way!"

"Too defensive. That pretty much answers my question." Megan gave Shawn back his phone and stormed away.

Shawn ran after her, catching her arm. "It's not what you think. Lassy, or Carlton Lassiter to be precise, is this guy I know and sort of work with."

"Oh. My. God. Megan you sure know how to pick them. Of all the guys here I pick the closeted gay one."

Shawn threw up his hands in defence. "Woah woah woah. I'm so not gay. I like doing it with hot girls who come on to me in bars and are only in town for one night."

Megan jerked her arm away. "Save it, Shawn."

Shawn knew not to pursue, especially since a part of him didn't really want to. Sighing he looked up at the sky, silently asking "why me!" He figured he could just forget his disappointment over a few more drinks and headed back towards the pub. But as he reached the entrance Shawn remembered Lassiter was still in there.

"It's the guilt. I can't fool around with sad eyes looking at me." Shawn whispered to himself in realisation. He looked up, preparing to turn around and go home when as luck would have it, his eyes met Carlton's as the other man was exiting the bar.

"Spencer, but of course you'd be around to ruin my night." Carlton tried to get away but Shawn went after him.

"You're actually speaking to me now. Well on that note, Lassy we really need to talk. I understand you're upset." Shawn paced along beside the head detective before they both stopped on the side of the road as Carlton clearly waited for a cab.

"For your edification, I'm not upset. I'm perfectly fine. When two people work together sexual tension builds up. It happened with Lucinda and it's the reason you flirt with everyone."

"Is this your way of saying that you've also pictured Jules naked?" Shawn tried to make a joke, but then realising his position he brushed it off. "Okay, that was stupid, but you kissed me for whatever reason and I feel bad that-"

"Spencer, I don't care what you feel." Carlton replied, a little too harsh for Shawn's liking. "We had a moment, it sucked, now just like a case it's over and closed. Speaking of cases, I don't want you anywhere near any of mine. Not like I need you on any of them anyway, so you can go con some other suckers."

Shawn felt a little hurt by the comment. Sure he knew he was lying and for good reason, but it stung a tiny bit. "You can't get rid of me that easily Lassy-face. I'm going to be around whether you like it or not."

A cab stopped in front of Carlton and he opened the door. "This, coming from the person that said I didn't get the hint. Get lost Spencer, for good."


NOTE: Karma can be a bitch when you lead someone on, ain't that right? But Shawny can go ahead and continue to believe that it's just guilt that ruined his fun. Maybe he can Rewind and Recount the secret to Gus in part 3 ;-) What will become of this stubborn pair? BTW thanks for the support! YAY :-D