Show me what it's like

To be the last one standing

Teach me wrong from right

And I'll show you what I can be

-Saving Me (Nickleback)

0o0o0o0

4:45am.

Gus's PC hummed softly. It had only taken moments to pull up the desired file, and Shawn was now in the process of scanning related topics- looking for anything else that could back up his hunch. Gus hovered over his shoulder, his hands resting on the back of the chair Shawn was currently occupying. So far, most of the images he pulled up were close-up shots of the couple engaged in conversation, shaking hands with the Santa Barbara elite, or stepping out of vehicles. The person Shawn was looking for was in most of the photos, but tucked in the back- his face grainy from poor resolution. The back of the chair moved rhythmically as Gus drummed his fingers on the leather. It wouldn't be long before Gus…

"Shawn, what exactly are you trying to find?"

Shawn clicked on another picture, this one taken on a long lens. It looked like a backyard function of some kind. Either way, it was about as clear as the Bigfoot video.

"I think I saw something that might solve this case… but I need something concrete…"

Gus let go of the chair and walked around Shawn's left side. "You know, you really should get someone to check that wound- it started bleeding again."

Shawn placed a hand over the injury, wincing at the heat he could feel beneath his fingers. "It's fine Gus… or… do you want to check it…?" At his words, he turned to regard his friend… whose face had taken on a familiar ashen appearance at the suggestion. Shawn turned back to the screen. "Or not."

"Shawn, the chief said they could handle this- we should let them…"

"No."

Gus crossed his arms, his face stony. "Look Shawn, these guys have guns. What do you plan to do… bleed on them?"

Shawn tapped a few more keys. "Gus, that would only work if I was fighting you. Besides, the police can't do anything."

Gus leaned his hands on the desk. "They can arrest Hutchins for kidnapping…"

"On what grounds?" Shawn swiveled the chair again, facing Gus directly. "They don't have any proof he did it!"

"What about the note?" Gus countered. "It had his logo on it."

"So? Anyone could have gotten a piece of letterhead from his company. And do you think he would have left fingerprints on it?"

"What about our office! Or my car Shawn? And while we're on the subject, I don't think our insurance covers explosions!"

Shawn tried to stand, and immediately regretted it when Gus suddenly doubled. He'd been sitting too long. As the circulation came back in his legs, he dropped back and dug his fingernails into the arms of the chair.

In the back of his head, something hummed…

0o0o0o0

He must have blacked out for a moment, because when he opened his eyes again, something cold was resting on his forehead, and a blanket was pulled up to his chin. He realized his hands were shaking. Glancing around, he finally saw Gus, already reaching for the phone.

"Wait… don't call anyone!"

Gus jumped at his coarse shout, then rushed to his side. "I'm calling the hospital, you have a fever… and I've never heard you scream like that before…"

Shawn's brow furrowed. "I screamed? … Gus… was it a little girl scream?"

When Gus didn't immediately answer, Shawn felt just the smallest twinge of concern. However, now was not the time for that. The only person Shawn had time to worry about right now was the cranky old man currently being held hostage by his employer…

Talk about job motivation…

"Gus, we need to keep looking. Let's try another search…"

The other man folded his arms tightly. "No way Shawn, have you seen yourself lately?"

Rather than state the obvious, Shawn simply tilted his head, raised his brows, and shot Gus a look that clearly said 'are you serious?'

Gus responded by going into full-on stubborn mode. "I'm calling the Chief, and we're driving you back to the hospital."

Shawn sat up, gasping, but pressing forward. "Dude, you're the one who broke me out… What, now you're gunna turn me in again?"

"As I recall, Shawn," said Gus, dropping his arms, "You broke yourself out, and then coerced me into helping you escape…"

"Coerced…?"

"And," Gus continued, "you were the one that told me to call Chief Vick when that lunatic was shooting at us… AND, you were the one that agreed to help Hutchins in the first place!"

Shawn sat still for a moment, his finger tips pressed together lightly. After a second, giving Gus just a fraction of time to think he'd won, Shawn leaned forward. "I know who the shooter is."

Gus stared at him a moment longer. Then, with a suppressed growl, he kicked his desk. "And when were you planning on divulging that, the next time we were shot at?"

Smiling, Shawn gestured to the computer. Caving in, Gus grabbed the back of Shawn's chair and wheeled him back to the desk. Tapping a few keys, Shawn pulled up a picture they'd examined earlier. It showed Hutchins getting into his limo, surrounded by cameras. Shawn pointed to a figure just to the left of Hutchins. Gus leaned in closely, then gaped in recognition. "No way."

"Way dude." Said Shawn, rubbing the sweat from temple. Gus continued to examine the photograph.

"Shawn, why would…"

"… He do something so monumentally stupid as risk getting on Alexander Dale Hutchins's bad side?" Finished Shawn. "Obviously it was for the perks."

Tapping another key, Shawn pulled up one more image, the close-up Glamour shot of Hutchins X-wife. "Remember her?"

Gus chuckled, glancing sideways at Shawn. "Uh uh…" He shook his head, unable to suppress a short laugh. Shawn grinned widely, tapping at the screen.

"Goes a ways toward explaining why Hutchins wanted her dead."

Gus's smile slowly faded as he looked back at Shawn. "Maybe… but… Shawn, why do you think he and she were… you know…"

Shawn pointed at the screen again, at the right hand curled beneath her chin. "I saw the companion to that ring on his hand. The only problem is, without something to back it up… a photo, or some other evidence…"

Gus held up his hands, his face a mixture of amazement and badly hidden humor. "You're saying the Great Shawnini needs actual evidence to convince the cops?"

Shawn didn't return the smile. Instead, his face tightened as he leaned back in his chair. "Gus… I… I can't take any chances… this time." He didn't say anymore, but Gus's expression made it clear that he didn't need to.

"Sorry Shawn… I…" Gus's voice faded as a strange look crossed his face.

"What... you look like you have gas. Are you gassy Gus, cause I feel nauseous as it is…"

Gus was already at the computer, typing swiftly. "Hang on, I just thought of something."

Shawn tilted slightly, staring at the back of his friend's head. "Gus, we don't have time to check your MySpace…"

Gus moved to the side so Shawn could see the screen better. It was a MySpace page... but not the somewhat plain one sporting Gus's face and underscored by "So It Goes" that he'd been expecting to see. Instead, it was a lavender page, with a picture of a sunset in the profile box. The name "Gem" identified the account. Shawn glanced up at Gus, managing a grin despite his discomfort. "Gem? As in Samantha Newark singing for the Holograms, Gem? Gus, I had no idea you liked that cartoon!"

Gus frowned. "First of all, that Gem was spelled with a 'J'. This Gem starts with 'G', as in Gemini. Gem is the blogger I told you about… the one who posted suspicions about Hutchins' illegal drug trade…"

"Right, right, right… the infamous blogger. Look, Gus, I know you're crushing on her, obviously, since you're her only friend besides Tom, but I doubt she'd…"

Shawn suddenly sat up, wincing, but needing to see the screen more clearly. "Holy crap… Gus, this woman… listens to Whitesnake!"

Gus glared at Shawn, who'd slumped back in his seat again, still smiling. "For your information, she asked me to be her friend."

"And for your information, I still have more friends than you." Answered Shawn smugly.

Snorting, Gus shook his head. "At least my friends aren't all teeny-boppers and members of your psychic friends network."

Shawn rolled his eyes. "Oh please. You know, you could probably boost your hits if you'd write something other than pharmaceutical stats in your blog."

Clamping his teeth together, Gus turned back to the screen, than raised his brows. "Speaking of blogs, it looks like she just updated hers." He leaned over to click the notation titled "Deadline", and after a brief wait, the screen popped up with the latest entry.

It was short.

Shawn's smile vanished. "Oh my god… Gus…"

Gus, also in shock, read slowly. "Final entry. Chromatic Gate, 5:30am. Good luck Gus."

0o0o0o0

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If there are those of you that don't know, Shawn and Gus actually DO have their own MySpace pages!

Shawn:

http://profile.