Disclaimer: I don't own Psych.
Shawn sat huddled in a corner of the office, clutching a stuffed plush pineapple to his chest. Tears were welling up in his eyes. That particular fact was probably not helped by the fact that Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" had been playing on repeat for the past hour and a half. He hummed lightly along and signed as he wiped a stray runaway tear from his cheek. He turned the day's events over in his head again and again.
Why do I have to be so damn stupid?, he thought, slamming his head back against the wall. I should have waited, and not told him at work. He's always so stressed. I should have waited till later. Why did I have to do that? I screwed everything up. He's probably going to give up on me now.
The spiraling thoughts in Shawn's head were interrupted by Gus' voice calling his name. He looked up to find Gus standing over him.
"What's going on, Shawn?" Gus asked.
Shawn did not respond.
"This is about Lassiter, isn't it?" he pressed.
"I don't want to talk about it," Shawn muttered, avoiding Gus' gaze.
"Come on. You can talk to me. I'm not gonna tell anyone. Just like I'm not gonna tell anyone about you and Lassiter to begin with"
Shawn looked up, silently asking for affirmation.
"That's the problem, isn't it?" Gus inquired. "You all think I'm gonna out you, don't you? I wouldn't do that, Shawn. As juicy gossip as it is – and you know how I like my gossip – I would never do that to you. You should know that."
"It doesn't matter," Shawn mumbled. "I still screwed up."
"What do you want then? I could promise Lassiter myself that I won't say a word to anyone."
The image of that scenario popped into Shawn's mind. He could see Gus standing awkwardly at the detective's desk, swearing in a hushed voice that he would never, ever tell anyone that he saw Carlton and Shawn kissing. Carlton would most certainly not react well to that. Gus would probably end up running out of the office having been hit by some sort of flying object.
"No," Shawn said. "Don't do that. I've gotta deal with this myself, I guess."
"Okay, well, let me know if you need something –though, preferably not something that involves the use of my credit card. But really, as supremely weirded out by all this as I am, I don't want to feel guilty for messing up your relationship or whatever. Especially since it's not with my sister this time."
"Alright," Shawn allowed, standing up and shutting off Elvis' somber holiday crooning. "I'll let you know if I need anything."
Shawn set his pineapple back in its home in his bottom desk drawer and turned back to his friend. He grinned and patted Gus on the shoulder.
"You did hear the 'no credit card' part, right?" Gus asked.
"Oh Gus, don't be an uncomfortably fuzzy piece of cedar. It's the Christmas season! The time of giving!"
Before Gus could stop him, Shawn had snatched his credit card from its new hiding place inside the front cover of his copy of Covalent Bonds and You and skipped out the door.
"Shawn! SHAWN!"
Author's Note: Wow, two updates in one day! I really ought to start paying attention in class more, haha. Anyways, don't forget to tell me what you think! :)
