Thanks for waiting so patiently. I'd like to introduce you to SuperLiam. :-) But he'll be more of a normal kid in the next chapter.

Also, there's a spoiler for the third season overview, but the episode hasn't even aired yet.

"You don't think he went into the room, do you?" Shawn tried to keep the fear out of his voice.

"Not to be too callous at a moment like this, but he's your son; of course he went in there!"

Shawn didn't have time to glare at him. "Do you have your phone?"

"Yes."

"Call him. Call my phone."

Gus started to dial but stopped before he'd finished. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"What if it sets the guy off?"

Shawn turned around disgustedly. Gus did have a point. He pounded the wall with his fist which, while not productive, at least gave his mind something else to think about.

Cradling his throbbing hand, Shawn spun back to face Gus. "Try Jules. Try Lassie. Then call 9-1-1. I'm going in there."

Gus knew that, short of physically tackling him, he couldn't stop Shawn; so he did as he was told. With the phone pressed to his ear, he said a silent prayer as he watched Shawn leave the safety of the bathroom.

It took more effort than Shawn realized to pry the fire extinguisher from its mount on the wall. Once ludicrously armed, he began tiptoeing towards the classroom.

A glance at the clock confirmed his worst suspicions – the bell was going to ring in five minutes.

He had five minutes to try to defuse the situation before the inevitable sea of children became an open target.

As he tip-toed, half bent and grateful his sneakers weren't squeaking on the floor, Shawn tried desperately to remember the hostage negotiation techniques his father had taught him – and the lessons he'd learned from that time Gus was held up in that bank. Not much came to mind, at least nothing helpful, but he didn't much care. All he wanted to do was save Liam and save those kids. If he happened to get shot in the process – well, it'd be long overdue.

The only window he could see into was on the door, and from his angle he only saw the back wall.

Shawn stepped closer, his breath hitching as he raised his weapon in preparation.

At least he had the element of surprise. Hopefully that would work in his favor.

Just as he was about to grasp the door knob, Shawn saw a SWAT team round a corner. They stopped, mid-formation, guns raised and pointed at Shawn.

Shawn lifted his fire extinguisher in what he hoped was a non-threatening manner and made several gestures that would have lost him a game of charades.

The SWAT team leader, who knew of Shawn through his connection with the police department, was still considering this latest development when the door opened. Shawn leapt backwards in surprise, tripping over himself.

Liam calmly emerged from the room, gingerly holding the gun in his two hands.

Shawn choked on his saliva.

The SWAT team advanced and Shawn snatched the gun from his son, holding it handle out to the approaching police force. Once relieved of the weapon, Shawn bent down and grabbed Liam, crushing him in a fierce and purposefully restrictive hug as he collapsed against the lockers.

Liam said nothing but did wheeze slightly as his lungs struggled to expand against his father's grip.

Shawn could hear crying and realized with some alarm that it wasn't only coming from him. As the SWAT team entered the classroom, Shawn turned and saw that all the children were sitting at their desks, crying but uninjured. The teacher wasn't immediately visible and Shawn tried not to think why. One child at the front was hugging his sobbing father/gunman.

His mind boggled, as did presumably those of the SWAT team trying to assess the situation.

Shawn had only slightly eased his grip on his son – more so for breathing purposes than anything else – when the bell rang.

No one left their classrooms, but Gus poked his head out of the bathroom as the ringing ended.

Shawn spotted him and got to his feet, Liam still pressed against his chest.

"What happened?" Gus asked, his cell phone still at his ear. Though still a good three feet away, Shawn could detect the unmistakably raised voice of his wife through the receiver.

Before he could answer Gus's question, he heard heels cracking sharply down the corridor and suddenly the phone call was in decidedly one-sided stereo.

Shawn expected some kind of yelling or hitting or, at the very least, an admonishment of sorts. Instead, Juliet instead launched herself on her husband and son, the three of them enveloped in a tight hug that lasted almost as long as it took for the rest of the children to be evacuated from the school.

"Do I need to put him on the payroll, too?" Chief Vick joked, nodding to Liam who sat in Juliet's lap, quietly playing with the Chief's beloved glass fish.

"I'm not up to date on the child labor laws," Shawn attempted a joke but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Vick directed her gaze at her two detectives and the two consultants. Thanks to their hard work in the field, the shooter had been apprehended before anyone else was injured, and although the security guard and the teacher were still in critical condition and the children were in counseling, everyone was still alive.

"Good work, you two," Vick turned to Liam. "And good work to you, too, Liam."

At the sound of his name, Liam looked up, almost losing his grip on the glass fish. Juliet deftly caught it and returned it to the safety of the Chief's desk, much to Liam's dismay.

"The school wants us to investigate given the... unusual nature of Liam's drawing and yesterday's events."

"Wait a minute – the school thinks Liam had something to do with this?" The higher register of Juliet's voice suggested the sheer preposterousness of the allegation.

Chief Vick sighed and leaned back in her chair which emitted a small, leathery squeak of protest. "The school doesn't know what to think," she paused. "Detective Lassiter, you're been awfully quiet on the subject."

The Chief's query prodded Lassiter out of his thoughts. "I'd prefer not to get involved," he declared.

"I'd prefer your opinion."

Momentarily chastised, Lassiter was unsure what to say. Spencer was always a bit of an enigma, but now that Junior was demonstrating the same... skill, without any of his father's needy showiness, well, Lassiter was at a loss.

How had a four year old drawn a crime scene before it was a crime scene? Why, when he should have known better, had Lassiter believed him? And how, most importantly, had the boy saved the day?

Psychics didn't really exist, and just like contemplating the time travel paradox, it hurt his brain to think about it too much.

"I don't know," Lassiter said ultimately, releasing a contemplative breath. "Obviously a preschooler under constant supervision couldn't have been involved with a divorcing father's psychotic gun-wielding breakdown, so... it must just be a coincidence."

Even as he said it, Lassiter knew it wasn't true.

The Chief didn't believe the coincidence angle either but couldn't find any other acceptable alternatives. Either it was a coincidence or Liam Spencer was a pint-sized psychic... and a hostage negotiator to boot.

Although the school board wasn't going to like her conclusion, the former option allowed them to protect the preschooler and sweep as much of his involvement under the rug as possible... at least for now.

"Chief," Shawn spoke up hesitantly. "Is it okay if we go? Liam's had quite a day."

The Chief's curt wave announced their dismissal, but as they stood she cleared her throat, an idea ticking the back of her thoughts.

"I'm sorry – before you go – you said there were three drawings?"

Shawn froze. He looked at Juliet and their eyes held a fast, private, heated conversation. Eventually, Liam wiggled free from Juliet's hold and they broke eye contact.

Liam wandered over to his father's side as Juliet reached into her purse, pulled out the other two drawings, and handed them across the desk.

Chief Vick eyed them first as a mother – purely out of habit, for Iris had been an avid drawer for years – and then as the Chief of Police.

"Do you recognize these – " she hesitated over the word 'victims.' "- people?"

Shawn was helping Liam tie his shoe, leaving the two detectives to respond.

"No, Chief. We went over all the recent cases."

"Shawn and I went over our cases, too," Gus piped up helpfully.

"They don't appear to be victims of anything," Lassiter determined.

Chief Vick swallowed. She'd learned long ago to follow her instincts, however unlikely. "I want you guys to follow up on this."

"It's a wild goose chase!"

"Yeah," Chief Vick agreed softly. "But if we can save a few geese..."