A/N: As per IlluminatiGirl's request, I went ahead and added a short scene with some of the other characters at the station, which was fun, plus it's a good setup for the beginning of the next chapter. I just wish I could have somehow added McNab in, because he is hands down my favorite character in Psych. I love all the characters, but man, I just have such a soft spot for the sweetheart.
"Mr. Guster, I can assure you we are doing everything we can to find Shawn." Chief Vick set down her papers and walked briskly out of her office, Gus trailing behind like a lost dog. "But he's only been missing for 24 hours."
"But don't you always say that the first 24 hours are the most dangerous?"
"Yes, but if he survives that, he's very likely to survive the rest of his stay. And I have to admit, the man does have a knack for surviving. Anyway, what I mean to say is that we've been working on this for a very short amount of time. At this point we have almost no leads. The only thing we know is that Ms. Anderson and Mr. Spencer both disappeared last night. Mr. Spencer sustained an injury, most likely not fatal, was dragged off into a vehicle and... gone."
"So she kidnapped him?" Gus asked.
"It's likely, but it could also be that they were kidnapped together."
"But what about the fact that there are no records under the name Brienne Anderson? Did you even do a background check on her before calling her in as a witness?"
"She might have changed her name on account of her being on the run from someone, and the kidnapper took Shawn as well. As for being a witness, her account was minor, what we thought was the final piece in solving the case," Chief Vick said, but her gaze dropped to the thin case file she had picked up. "If you want to make yourself useful, leave us to do our work and see if you can pick up anything yourself."
The door slammed behind her.
Gus bit his lip as he stared down at the details. Last seen at the Psych office. He just had to leave early that day... didn't he? He should have offered Shawn a ride back to his apartment, but instead he'd left his best friend stranded.
"Hey, Gus."
Gus turned to see Juliet standing behind him, her lips lifted in a sympathetic smile. "How are you doing?"
"Alright," Gus said, but he had to fight to keep his voice steady.
Juliet reached out a hand to lightly touch his arm. "I know you feel responsible. But Gus, you have to believe me, it's not your fault. It's none of our faults."
"The Chief said you didn't have any leads."
"Not yet. But trust me, Carlton and I are putting all our energy into it. It's the first time I've actually seemed him almost... worried about Shawn."
"Can I help?" The question seemed to blurt out of his mouth on it's own. "I mean... do you think I could offer my assistance?"
No hesitation. "Of course. Right now, we're combing through security footage of the night he disappeared, and could really use an extra pair of eyes. Plus, you know Shawn better than any of us," Juliet replied. "Chief Vick did just hand you the case file, after all. Follow me."
Gus gave one more glance down at the case file, then started after Juliet.
We're going to find you, Shawn. Just you wait.
"So, have you figured anything out yet, psychic?"
Shawn cracked an eye open, then yawned so wide he figured his jaw was about to break. It took a minute for his eyes to focus, and when they did, he saw Brienne. Horsehair clung to her jeans and bits of grain and slobber to her sleeves. Light speared through the cracks between the planks of wood, causing the tendrils of pain in his head to tighten their grip.
"Nice ride with Midnight this morning?" Shawn asked, stifling another yawn. His back was so stiff and sore that even the small movement of yawning hurt. He made a small mental note that metal chairs made terrible places to sleep. Maybe he could convince Brienne to give him a sleeping bag and let him have the floor.
"Yeah, she was good. Seemed a bit more slow than usual today. But that's off topic. I asked if you've gotten any work done."
"Well, I'm getting the feeling Steve was actually planning to leave for a while. Pack up and just start a new life somewhere else," Shawn said.
"That information doesn't help me, psychic. I need to know where he went."
"Hey, didn't anyone ever teach you the phrase 'patience is a virtue'?"
"When I was four." Her eyes narrowed as he yawned again. "Have you been sleeping all morning? It's almost noon."
Shawn shrugged. His head and thigh throbbed in unison. "Have to say, a psychic's work is pretty exhausting."
She dug an orange out of her pocket and tossed it to him, then followed it up with a water bottle. "I thought you might want something to eat. Tell me if you find anything more."
Shawn caught it in his hands and watched her disappear out the door. He was actually glad she hadn't brought him anything more. His stomach still felt queasy from that knock on the head she had given him. With a grimace, Shawn raised his bound hands to pinch the bridge of his nose. How much longer until he could get some painkillers, an asprin, anything?
The wound on his leg was beginning to smell. No, his entire body was starting to smell. But especially his wound. Cautiously he reached out and touched the days-old bandage with the palm of his hand. It felt warm, but that could just be because his hands were cold.
Well, there was one more test he could try. Shawn pulled back on the edge where his jeans had been cut to get a look at the wound. Red streaks were extending from under the bandage, down towards his knee. Shawn felt his stomach knot.
Definitely infected.
Well, I don't feel feverish or anything... so it couldn't be too bad... right? Shawn thought, heaving himself up and digging his thumbnail into the wall, next to the two other marks.
Midnight was waiting for him, as always. She tossed her head and let out a low, gutteral sound, almost like nuh huh huh. It wasn't exactly a neigh, almost closer to a growl, but still sounded warm and inviting.
"Hey, Nighty girl," Shawn murmured, a small smile tugging at his face. "Ready for another round of 'The Great Adventures of Shawn, Head Psychic of the SBPD'?"
Midnight snorted.
"What do you mean, more like the only? I prefer the term 'first'." He stifled a yawn. "Might have to cut this one short. Getting shot kinda takes a lot out of you. But, I have to say, I kinda like these midnight talks we've been having. Nice to have someone who doesn't mind my 'incoherent babbling', as Lassie calls it. So thanks, Nighty."
Shawn closed his his hand into a fist and reached forward. For the first time, Midnight didn't pull back.
Shawn's hand froze a few inches before her muzzle, letting Midnight decide.
"C'mon girl, don't leave me hanging," he said, his voice no more than a whisper.
After several seconds, or maybe a couple hours, Midnight bumped her nose against his hand. He opened it and let his fingers spread over her muzzle, her whiskers tickling his palm. It was warm, so warm, and it felt like the softest velvet. Her big brown eyes looked into his; her hot breath seeped into the cracks between his fingers.
Shawn rubbed his hand up and down her face, feeling a wide grin spread over his own.
Score.
Shawn blinked slowly, trying to process what Brienne had just said over the roar of pain that nearly covered his whole thigh. Something about a pineapple...? No, no, she didn't like pineapple. Probably something about Steve. How she was disappointed in him. That he hadn't solved the case yet. Pffff... as if he, the great psychic Shawn Spencer, were that slow.
He let his eyes drift to the boards in front of him, where five marks stared back at him. Five marks that were about to become six. A chill swept over him, so cold he almost started shaking. It quickly was replaced by a wave of heat that made him feel like his entire body was on fire.
Almost out, Shawn reminded himself, taking a long breath. I'm almost out.
Late last night, or very early that morning, Shawn had cautiously slid his aching body onto Midnight's back. He had felt the muscles in her back tense, and she turned her head to stare at him, but, thankfully, she hadn't thrown him off. So he just sat there for a while, patting her neck, telling Midnight about the one other time he had sat on a horse. How he'd had no idea what to do. How he had no idea what to do now.
Midnight stood perfectly still, her head slightly drooped, her ears turned back towards him. Shawn had been able to feel every little movement, when she took her weight off a back hoof, when she twitched her tail. It had actually been pretty cool.
"Psychic!" Brienne snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Focus."
Shawn pulled his head back slightly, nearly going cross-eyed as he tried to focus on her hand, hovering inches before his nose.
"Did you hear any of of what I just said?" Brienne asked, crossing her arms.
Shawn gave a small shake of his head, too tired to reply.
"Alright, so I went and talked to the bartender, like you suggested. He confirmed that Stephen had been there a couple days ago, muttering something about going to 'a land where the trees ran red,' after he'd had a couple drinks." Her voice deepened into a growl. "What did he mean by that?"
"You knew him better than I did," Shawn replied with a shrug.
"Yes, but I'm not the psychic, am I?" Her voice was sharp as broken glass.
"Woah, woah, woah," Shawn said. "How about we switch it up, and I get to ask a question." He shifted his gaze to look into her dark green eyes, his own squinting. "How do you do it? How do you take that great, big beast and make it do whatever you want?"
Brienne let out a sigh, her posture relaxing. "It's a partnership. Yes, you're the boss, but it's still a partnership, almost like what they have back at the police department. You trust and respect one another. Horses are eager to please, and once they know what you're asking, what you want them to do, they do it. Most of the time. They still have their off days, just like us."
With Brienne, it seemed to Shawn that every day was an off day.
"I was kind of more asking how you ride, but, yeah, that's cool too. Wait. I'm getting something." He touched his finger to his temple. It didn't look quite as cool with bound hands, but he somehow made it work. "You ride different than most. No saddle, no bridle... wait. Yes for bridle, but a very special type of bridle... the name is escaping me right now."
"Hackamore, or bitless bridle," Brienne cut in. "Puts pressure under the jaw and on her nose instead of in her mouth. When I rescued Midnight, her mouth was so broken I... never wanted her to have to use a bit again. The bareback's just a personal preference."
"So... howzabout I get to see you in action?" Shawn asked, rubbing his hand over the bandages on his leg. He winced. Ouch. "Show me how you do this... partnership."
Brienne let out a snort, sounding remarkably like Midnight. "Alright. Fine." She bent down, untied the ropes that bound his ankles, handed Shawn the walking stick and disappeared out the stall door.
By the time Shawn stepped out, she was already on Midnight's back, hackamore in place. Shawn narrowed his eyes, studying the hackamore, how it fitted onto Midnight's head.
Focus, he thought, as his vision blurred slightly. Once again, chills swept through him, and his grip on the stick tightened.
"The commands are simple enough," Brienne told him. "Squeeze your legs to go, pull back to stop and gently pull on the rein with your left or right hand to turn." Her left hand barely twitched back, and Midnight turned to the left. "Of course you should also squeeze with your outside leg and push their hip over with your inside leg, while looking where you want to go. And always remember to sit up straight, line up your ear with your hip with your heel, keep your arms in, let them move with the horse, always keep your heels down-"
"Uh huh," Shawn muttered, watching as Midnight walked up and down the length of the barn. She talked too fast. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Except-
Shawn yelped and staggered against the wood. Midnight threw up her head and skittered sideways. Brienne glared.
"What did I tell you about raising your voice?" she growled.
"I'm sorry, it's just, Midnight, she talked to me!" Shawn gasped. "She said she's seen a place where the trees run red."
"...Where?" The word dripped out of her mouth.
"It's... m... maple..." Shawn scrunched his eyes shut, then opened them. "She's gone."
Brienne let out an exasperated sigh and slid of Midnight, brushing past Shawn as she stomped towards the horse's stall.
"Hey, let me stay in the stall next to her tonight. If I can get close to her, who knows, maybe she'll tell me."
Brienne stopped mid-step, her back to him. "I know what you're trying to pull, psychic."
Shawn scrunched up his nose. She did?
"You're trying to be all interested in my horse so that we can 'bond' together and I'll go easier on you. Not. Going. To. Work." She spat out each word.
Which was why he had never put much faith in that plan.
"Alright.. you got me." Shawn gave her a lopsided smile. He could feel his heart thumping hard against his chest. With each minute that passed, it felt a little harder to breathe. He needed to get out of here.
"But I wasn't kidding about staying next to Midnight. By morning, I should have the answer for you."
"I'm tired of waiting. When tomarrow morning comes, if you don't have the answer, I will make life very unpleasant for you."
As if it wasn't unpleasant enough already.
After Midnight was settled in her stall, and Shawn in his, after his wrists and ankles had been tightly tied with rope, after Brienne had left the barn, Shawn spoke.
"Jules. Gus. Chief Vick. Dad. Even old Lassieface. I get to see them soon."
For a second the flashes of hot and cold were replaced by a pleasant warmth as Shawn imagined himself riding up the the Psych office. Of seeing his friends and family again. Of being... safe.
Midnight stuck her nose through the bars and huffed at him, almost begging to be petted. Shawn reached up his hands and stroked her nose.
"Tonight, old 'Nighty girl, we're going home."
A/N: Ooh, I keep forgetting. I drew a picture of Brienne and Midnight. Here's the link (minus the spaces): http : / / fav . me/daaqdao
And while we're on that, what do you guys think of Brienne? Does she make a good antagonist?