Chapter 4 Telling Lassie Continued

We manage to stay away from the station for three days before Gus realized something was wrong with the paychecks. It made me groan because I only have one day left of being not annoying and being respectful to Lassie. I'm pretty sure I'm going to ruin the whole thing and he'll never know how I feel. We go into the station and try to get our problem taken care of as fast as possible. As we're standing there Lassie walks over to us.

"Guster." He nods to Gus then he turns to me. "Listen Spencer, I just want to apologize for the way I treated you this week. It was rude of me and I'm sorry."

I'm staring at him opened mouth because Lassie actually apologized to me, to me Shawn Spencer the man he hates! I realize he's waiting for my response.

"It's okay Detective Lassiter, you had a stressful week." I give him a small smile and turn back to Gus. Lassie stands there a little longer and then leaves. I let out a breath and relax again. Gus has an astonished look on his face.

"Did Lassiter just apologize to you?"

"Yeah Gus he did. To tell you the truth I'm a little freaked out. He wouldn't apologize unless he was made to. I bet my dad had something to do with this."

"He probably did Shawn. Want to ask him?"

I give him a nod and we head towards my dad. He's busy once again doing paperwork. It seems like that's all he does. He looks up when he hears us approaching and stops working.

"What can I do for you Shawn?"

"Lassiter just apologized for how he treated me this week. Did you have something to do with that?" He chuckles before he answers.

"Actually Detective O'Hara had something to do with that. She cornered him the other day made him swear that he would apologized for his behavior towards you the next time you came in and he would have to accept whatever you said. What did you tell him?"

"I told him it was okay."

"I would have torn him a new one Shawn. He shouldn't have treated you like that period."

"It's no big deal dad but if he ever does it again, I let you have a go at him." My dad smiles at the statement and shoos us off so he can work. Our check problem is fixed so Gus and I leave the station.

"Today's the last day you have to be respectful and less annoying towards Lassiter."

"I know Gus."

"Are you still going to be this way after you tell him?"

"It depends on his reaction Gus. If he accepts what I tell him then everything will go back to normal. If he rejects it then I'll keep doing this. It'll be weird but it will help ease the pain."

"How will it ease the pain?"

"Calling him Lassie and annoying him are how I connect to him personally. If he rejects me I can never connect to him personally so I'll have to connect to him professionally. Calling him Detective Lassiter and not annoying him will prevent that personal connection from happening."

"Oh. Okay, I understand Shawn. I hope he doesn't reject you because I'm going to punch him if he does."

"Would you really?"

"Yeah Shawn. You're my best friend and I want to see you happy. If punching Lassiter helps then so be it. He'll probably shoot me once he recovers but it'll be worth it."

"Thanks buddy. Let's go get lunch and I'll pay."

"It better be with your own money Shawn and not mine."

"Don't worry Gus, it'll be with my own money. I promise."

We stopped somewhere to eat and true to my word I paid for lunch. Afterwards I went to the Psych building and Gus headed home to do some paperwork for his "real" job. I have the rest of the day to figure out how I'm going to tell Lassie that I love him. I eventually decide that I'll talk to him in interrogation like I did with Jules.

Unfortunately, my plans are ruined the next day when I feel really ill and can't even roll off the bed. I'm mentally cursing to myself because now I have to wait to tell Lassie and he's going to be pissed that he has to wait to hear my "worthless" information. I struggle to find the phone to let Gus and my dad know that I won't be telling Lassie today because I'm deathly ill. I can't find my phone and then I remember I let it in the TV room last night. Somehow I manage to drag myself out of bed and into the proper room. I find my phone and speed dial my dad first.

"Shawn, where the hell are you? It's after noon and we're at the station waiting to hear your information for Lassiter."

"Sorry dad but I'm not going to be telling him today."

"You sound awful, are you alright?"

"No dad, I'm really sick. It took me 20 minutes just to get to the next room to find my phone to call you."

"Okay son, I'm coming over so you have someone watching you just in case."

"Thanks dad. Can you tell Gus and them?"

"Yeah Shawn. I'll be over in a few minutes."

Before he hangs up I can hear him telling the others. I hang up and fall onto the couch. Within seconds I'm passed out cold. The next I know I'm being shaken awake by someone calling my name. I open my eyes and see my dad standing over me. Concern is written all over his face. Beside him is Gus looking just as concerned.

"Hey Shawn. Come on and get up. We're going to take your temperature and then put you to bed."

They help me sit up and pop a thermometer in my mouth. After a few minutes it beeps and they read it. My temperature is 101.2. They decide it's best if someone stays with me the entire time I'm sick. I'm sick for 2 weeks and I had a few visitors: Jules, the Chief, and a couple of past clients. Lassie even dropped by once to see if I was actually sick.

Finally I'm over my sickness and heading over to the station to talk to Lassie. Once again I'm nervous but Gus gives me another pep talk and I'm ready again. Once inside the station my dad spots us and grabs Jules and the Chief. Gus joins the trio and watch as I approach Lassie. He looks up once I'm in front of his desk.

"Well Spencer, you kept your end of our little deal so now I have to hold up mine. What did you want to tell me?"

"Can we talk somewhere more private Lassiter, like the interrogation room?" I watch as his eyebrow shoots up but he nods and heads towards interrogation. I look to the four and they all nod and head towards interrogation to stand on the other side of the window. I'm hoping Lassie won't see them head in there or he'll probably won't talk. I make my way there and step inside. Lassie is there and is starting to get impatient.

"About time Spencer, what took so long?" I know I didn't take that long but I indulge him.

"Sorry Lassiter, I stopped to go to the bathroom." I sit as I'm saying this. He rolls his eyes and sits down across from men.

"What is it you wanted to tell me Spencer?"

"Here goes nothing. The truth is Lassie that I've been in love with you for the last 3 years and I decided I should finally tell you."

I wait for his response. At first he does nothing, then he reaches for his gun but doesn't draw it. I can hear a commotion going on outside of the room. I know the others are waiting for me to give them the word to come in. Lassie's hand tightens on the gun but he still doesn't draw it.

"Is this some kind of joke Spencer?"

"No Lassie, I mean every word. All the teasing and mocking you and all the annoying you was my way of showing that I loved you. I didn't know how to express it so I had decided to annoy you more and hope you caught on."

Lassie just stares at me. Finally he releases his hold on his gun and stands.

"I need some air." With that he rushes out of the room and disappears.

I feel so broken hearted. I finally told the man I love him and he rejects me like I thought he would. At least he didn't shoot me but that doesn't really make it better. I stare down at the table to see water drops on and I realize I had started to cry. Jules comes in first and wraps her arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. Gus comes in and puts a hand on one of my shoulders and my dad comes in and puts a hand on the other one. The Chief grabs one of my hands and holds it. Jules is the first to break the silence.

"It's okay Shawn, he just needs to process what happened. He wasn't expecting you to declare your love for him." Gus talks next.

"At least he didn't shoot you. That has to mean something." Next is my dad.

"Shawn, just give him time and if he rejects you then I'll kick his ass." Finally the Chief adds her say.

"Don't worry Shawn. There was something in his eyes when you told him that makes me think he'll be back."

I just nod at everything they say and stand up. I can't stay here, I have to get out of here.

"I'm uh going to go. I need to talk a walk or something to clear my head. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

They watch as I leave but they don't say anything. I make my way out of the station and head for the beach. I spend a couple of hours there before heading back to the station. I'm hoping Lassie will be there so I can talk to him. When I get inside the station the first thing I notice is that Lassie is still not there. The second thing I notice is that my four back-ups are standing together talking and obviously waiting for me. I reach them and notice the looks on their faces.

"What's wrong guys and where's Lassie?" They trade looks and the Chief speaks first.

"Detective Lassiter is taking a week of leave. He cited the reason for the leave as personal issues. I didn't have a choice Shawn. He left the request on my desk while we were still in interrogation and hasn't come back. I don't think he will until the week of leave is up. I'm sorry."

I just stare at them and then I sigh. Maybe it would have better if I never came back to Santa Barbara in the first place.

"Alright. I'm going home, call me if we have any cases." With that I turn and leave and I go straight home.

TBC if you guys want me to.