Hi!

Since ch 3 is so short, I'm doing a double update tonight! YAY!

Fair warning, sometimes my conversations get confusing since I don't want to put 'he said' or 'she said' after every line. But I try to italicize the person on the other end of a phone call. I think the conversations in this chapter are easy to follow...

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 2

Shawn was getting worried. It was already 8:30 and Carlton had not turned up yet. After 10 minutes, Shawn had tried texting and calling Carlton but got no response. Before the whole "not a psychic" fiasco, Shawn would have called the station to see if Carlton was still there. But now, people were mad at him. Well, not everyone. Juliet still liked him. She was hurt, just like everyone else, but she told him that they could still be friends, only if he was honest with her. And he agreed because, right now, he needed all the friends that he could keep.

After getting Carlton's voicemail again, Shawn sighed as he dialed Juliet. It was answered within three rings, "Hey Shawn! What's up?"

"Oh, hey Jules!" Shawn froze. She did not know that he and Carlton were dating. Had been dating. He was not sure where they stood on that. How could he casually ask her where Carlton was without revealing anything?

"Um, Shawn? Are you still there?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. Brain fart. So, how was work?"

"You were there earlier, you must have noticed how slow things were."

"So, no new cases showed up? You guys didn't have to stay late or anything?"

"No. I actually left on time today. The first time all month."

"Oh, okay. Well, I guess I should let you enjoy your night, then."

"Shawn, wait! What is this all about? Why do you care when I got off work?"

"It's not important."

"Yeah it is. Shawn, please tell me! I just want to help!"

Shawn sighed as he collapsed on the couch. "It's not exactly something I should explain over the phone."

"Please! You promised that you would be honest with me!"

"Okay, okay. But not tonight since I've got too much to do. Maybe when I get back."

"You're going somewhere?"

"Oh, you don't know about Dublin?"

"No, what's happening in Dublin?"

"Again, something I shouldn't explain over the phone. I'll only be gone a day. How about I come over Friday night, after you get off work?"

"Oh, that won't work. I've got a date."

"A date, really?" Shawn smiled, excited over the distraction.

"Yeah. It's no big deal. Someone I met at the pet store. I've seen him a few times and he asked me out on a date last month."

"And you went without telling me?!"

"No, I had said no. But we crossed paths again last weekend and when he asked, I said yes."

"Oh wow. Do you need a wingman? I can double date with you."

"Um, no thanks Shawn. You'll probably be a bit too eccentric for him. Gus or Carlton would probably be more his speed. At least for the first date."

"More his speed? I thought you were the one going out with him, not setting him up with someone else!"

"What? Oh! Oh no! No no no no! Oh, I am so embarrassed!"

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Except maybe Gus. Just to freak him out." Shawn laughed. Hearing a car pull up outside, Shawn went over to the window and saw Carlton nervously get out of his car. Smiling, Shawn said, "Listen Jules, I've got to go. I'll tease you more on Friday after your date!"

"What?! Shawn!"

"Night!"

"*sigh* Good night Shawn."

Shawn grinned as he hung up. Carlton was currently standing at the front door, deciding whether to knock. Taking away his choice, Shawn opened the door. "Hey Lassie!"

"Spencer." Carlton nodded, looking uneasy.

"You're late."

"Obviously."

"You didn't answer any of my calls or texts."

Frowning, Carlton patted his pockets and looked towards his car. "I…guess I left it at home. I took a nap and overslept. In my haste, I must have forgotten it. Sorry."

Now it was Shawn's turn to frown. This was so unlike Carlton. He rarely took naps and never forgot things. "Are you okay?"

Sighing, Carlton rubbed his face. "I'm fine. Can I come in?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure." Shawn stepped back and let him in. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine." Carlton mumbled.

Another red flag went up. Carlton never declined a drink, unless he already had quite a few, in which case Shawn would not even bother to offer.

"What did you want to talk about?" Carlton asked as he sat on the couch.

Shawn shrugged as he sat next to him. "Since our fight the other night, we haven't talked. We have a good thing going and I don't want to see it end, at least not like that."

Carlton looked down before saying, "I don't know if I can trust you."

"I said I was sorry, Lassie! I meant to tell you so many times but I kept freaking out. You kept showing me how much you loved me and I didn't want to see the anger in your eyes when you found out."

"I would have gotten over it; we could have worked it out, eventually."

Shawn placed a hand on Carlton's knee. "I hear a but coming…"

"But you didn't trust me enough to tell me. Instead, I found out by accident, in front of the whole SBPD. And you just let it slip. Now I'm afraid of what would happen if, instead of your not-a-psychic secret, it had been about us. What if you had accidentally outed us? I know you said you weren't thinking, but our relationship being known will have serious repercussions for the both of us. And I'm not sure I can stand it if that happens."

Shawn sat in stunned silence for a few seconds before choking out, "Are, are you breaking up with me?!"

Still staring at the floor, Carlton nodded. "I think it would be for the best."

"The best for whom? Because it looks like it would only benefit your career, screw what either of us think or feel!" Shawn jumped off the couch and started to pace. "I knew you would do this! Maybe I am a little psychic after all." He laughed shakily.

"Shawn, don't."

"Don't what? You're breaking up with me! Two months after our one-year anniversary. After we both confessed our love for each other. After you asked me to move in with you and I said I would think about it! God, I guess I was right on that account too, or else I would be homeless right now."

"Shawn…"

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Shawn yelled before yanking Carlton up off his couch. "Get out!"

"Shawn…"

"NO! I'm going to be in Dublin for six months, I might as well get used to not seeing you."

"You're going to Dublin?" Carlton asked as he stopped at the door.

"Oh, the chief didn't tell you?"

"No, what's in Dublin?"

Shawn laughed. "You and my dad get your wish. I'm gonna become a cop. That's my punishment. Successfully complete basic academy training."

"Your punishment is to learn how to properly put other people behind bars?" Carlton asked, sounding confused.

"Yeah. Now get out! I have a plane to catch in the morning." Shawn slammed the door and locked it before sliding down it. He heard Carlton hesitate before slowly walking away. A sob escaped Shawn at the thought that Carlton was not trying to get him back; and soon, Shawn was a total mess.

So absorbed in himself, Shawn did not notice Carlton run for the bushes to throw up. He did not see him pause to look back at his door or hear him whisper, "I'm sorry," before finally getting in his car and driving off.