Chapter 9
"I think we should work on the Sito murders," Gus told Shawn.
"Maybe, I'm not too sure if I would be useful in those cases," Shawn replied.
"Why? They're not solved," Gus answered back.
"Well, no, but everyone knows that it is mob related. I'm not going to start messing with the Italian mafia. Don't you watch the Sopranos? You know what they are going to do to us," Shawn said.
"Okay. How about the missing girl case about the six-year old that was taken from her ballet lesson," Gus informed Shawn.
"No," Shawn replied. "I'm thinking something else." Just then another vision hit Shawn. He saw himself on the computer looking up the name Tanes on a Google search. Just as quickly as the vision hit him, it quickly disappeared. "Okay, I have an idea now," Shawn shouted clearly showing that he vision this time did not affect him.
Shawn walked over to the computer and motioned for Gus to step on by, "Okay, we have to look for a Tanes. This will be the new case that we have to work on," Shawn proudly informed Gus.
"How do you know?" he replied back.
"Vision."
"Oh," Gus answered. "So who is this Tanes?"
"I don't know," Shawn responded.
"You don't know?" he asked.
"No."
"How do you know that we should be investigating this…?"
"My vision wouldn't have told me if it was not important," Shawn said as he cut Gus off in mid-sentence.
"Not important? You had a vision that you had a dollar in the cushion of your couch. How is that significant?" Gus questioned.
"It is important. I don't have a lot of money so every dollar counts," Shawn replied. "Is the name Tanes in the newspaper?"
"No, I don't think so," Gus said.
"Hmmm, maybe this is a future case," Shawn pondered.
"Maybe," Gus stated.
"Oooh," Shawn exclaimed looking at the results of his Google search. "Here. Recent news in Santa Barbara. The Tanes family is missing. Their house was broken into several hours ago and belongings taken. The father was found badly beaten on the floor of the basement. He remains unconscious in the hospital. The police speculate that the mother and three children have been kidnapped. The Tanes family is proud sponsors of many charitable organizations around the Southern California area," Shawn said as he turned to Gus. "Perfect Gus. Let's go to the station and see what the chief has for us," he told him.
"You think they are going to be working on this case? A missing person's case?" Gus asked.
"Yes, it is a high profile family," Shawn replied.
"Fine. Let's go," Gus answered.
"Off to the station," Shawn said pointing towards the door.
"Don't forget your lunch," Gus smirked as he pointed at the lunch Henry made him sitting on the desk.
"Shut up," Shawn remarked.
"What? I have to look out for you. Your dad made me promise," Gus honestly said.
"I'll take the lunch. I'm curious to see what my dad made me," Shawn replied as he walked over to the desk to retrieve his food. He picked up the bag, but quickly dropped it onto the floor.
"What? You don't like what your dad made you?" Gus questioned.
Shawn just stood there and didn't move.
"Shawn? Did he put something nasty in there?" Gus wondered.
Shawn continued to stand there and not utter a word. Then, all of a sudden, he fell to his knees and let out a loud groan.
"Shawn!" Gus screamed as he ran over to his fallen friend. "Shawn!" Gus yelled as he shook his pal. "Wake up!" Gus shook him again and Shawn just remained on his knees with his eyes closed. Slowly, Shawn opened his eyes and looked at Gus. He had a look of bewilderment on his face.
"Shawn?" Gus quietly asked.
"Yeah," Shawn replied in a hushed voice.
"These visions, they're killing you," Gus said. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No, I'm fine," Shawn claimed.
"Fine? You're collapsing every hour!" Gus exclaimed.
"It's okay. I wanted these visions. Now, I have to pay for the consequences," Shawn replied as he attempted to stand up.
"No. I'm calling your father," Gus said.
"No!" Shawn shouted.
"Just take it easy," Gus said. "Maybe, I should just bring you home."
"No. Let's go," Shawn stated as he walked towards the door.
"Do you want your lunch?" Gus asked as he gestured towards his companion's fallen lunchbox.
"No. I'm not hungry anymore," Shawn replied as he walked out the door.
"Well, I am," Gus said as he bent down, picked up the bag, and headed out the door. "Hey, wait up."
"Mr. Spencer, I don't know how much involvement we need in this case. The family is missing, we think, but we're not sure. The wife is still a suspect," the chief told Shawn.
"Chief, I can help out. Please, I want a case," Shawn pleaded.
"Why don't you work on the case regarding the Peterson's?" the chief replied.
"What?" Shawn asked. "Isn't that the missing dog file?" Shawn questioned.
"Yes," the chief answered back.
"I'm not going to search for a missing dog!" Shawn exclaimed. "Why can't I see a real case? What is the problem?" he wondered.
"Nothing Shawn. I thought you should just take it easy. This is your first case back. Your mind is probably not that fresh," she remarked.
"I want that case," Shawn said sternly.
"No," the chief calmly replied.
"No?" Shawn heckled.
"No, Mr. Spencer. I don't know how much clearer I have to be. No. If you keep bothering me, I will have you removed from my office," she sternly replied.
"Excuse me?" Shawn questioned.
"You heard me. Take the dog case or get out. The options are obvious," she said as she looked down at her paperwork on the desk.
"Are you threatening me?" Shawn asked.
"No, Mr. Spencer. I'm giving you a choice of working or not. I don't want you on this high profile case. End of story," the chief replied.
"What is wrong with you?" Shawn asked her.
"Excuse me?" she looked at Shawn.
"Why are you acting like such a bitch?" he remarked.
She sat there with her mouth partially open frankly because she never heard Shawn swear in his life, even when he was mad, which was not very often. "Get out of my office now," she coldly replied trying to keep her tempter down at the man. She knew he was having trouble adjusting back to his life and didn't want to take her anger out at him because he didn't mean what he just said.
"Fine," Shawn said as he got up and slammed her office door nearly breaking the glass in it. The noise caused a few officers to look up at the commotion. Gus, who was patiently sitting outside the office, got up from the seat as he put the magazine on the table.
"What happened in there?" Gus questioned.
"Nothing. Where's Juliet?" he madly asked.
"Outside. Why?" Gus wondered.
"I need some information," Shawn replied as he hastily walked by Gus.
"What happened in there SHAWN?" Gus questioned clearly putting an emphasis on the Shawn part.
"Nothing," he barked back. Then, he stopped and turned around to face Gus. "Okay, the chief is being a jerk," Shawn stated.
"Wow, the chief? Usually, its Lassiter being the jerk," Gus said as both he and Shawn looked at Lassiter who gave them an angry glare from his seat.
"Yeah. Anyway, she won't give us information about the Tanes case. She wants us to investigate some missing cat or something," Shawn replied.
"Missing cat?" Gus questioned.
"Yeah. I don't know. Maybe Juliet will give us the answers that we are looking for. She'll give us information if we ask her," Shawn said.
"Good thinking. But Shawn, why don't we use your abilities to find out what is going on?" Gus questioned.
"It isn't that easy. I have to touch things, I think, to really concentrate on what is happening. Since they won't let me see any evidence, I'm screwed," Shawn stated.
"Why can't we just do what we have done in the past?" Gus questioned.
"What?"
"Being a fake psychic," Gus said.
"Shhh, keep your voice down," Shawn responded. "I can't concentrate like I have in the past," Shawn quietly whispered.
"What?" Gus shouted causing a few more heads to turn towards them in the office.
"Shhh," Shawn whispered.
"What do you mean you can't concentrate?" Gus asked.
"I don't have my photo-like, memory abilities anymore," Shawn sadly stated. "I can't even remember what the chief is wearing today. It seems like I forget everything right after I see it," Shawn said.
"Like amnesia?" Gus asked.
"No, like I have normal memory," Shawn said.
"Okay. Well, you have special abilities now. Just touch something and we'll be back in business, just like new," Gus confidently stated.
"It's not that easy. It just comes on sometimes. Even when I touch things, it doesn't help," Shawn said. "I don't know what triggers it or how to control it."
"So now, we're more screwed than ever?" Gus asked.
"Pretty much," Shawn replied. "Let's go find Juliet."
Shawn and Gus proceeded to walk out the door. O'Hara stood by her undercover car talking on her cell phone. "Okay. Yeah. I'll see you tonight after work. Are you going to cook me something special?" she giggled. "Oooh, that is my favorite. Okay. Bye honey," she said as Shawn and Gus approached her. "Oh, hey guys. What's up?"
There were a million things that Shawn wanted to say right now at this moment. One of them was who were you talking to on the phone? He hoped that it was maybe her mother or brother, but Shawn knew better. It must be her boyfriend. Damn, why didn't he make his move before? He kept waiting and he should have known that a catch like her would be gone soon. Hell, he was surprised that she had been single even for this long. All of the things that he could have said, he simply stated, "Nothing much," in response to her question.
"Good," she smiled. "I'm glad that you're back to work. So, what brings you to the office?" she asked.
"I need you to tell me more information on the Tanes case," Shawn inquired.
Juliet's face dropped. "Oh, I'm sorry Shawn. I can't disclose any of that information to you," she sincerely said.
"Not you too," Shawn whined.
"I'm sorry. That case is highly confidential," O'Hara replied.
"I'm part of the force. Give me some slack," Shawn complained. "How many cases have I solved for you guys already?"
"A lot," Juliet answered.
"So, can you do me this one favor?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I'm sorry Shawn. I'm sure I can get you another case."
"What? The Peterson case?" Shawn angrily replied.
"Sure. The Peterson family is an important asset to the force. Helping them out can only bring much success to you in the future," she stated.
"I'm not going to waste my time investigating a cat," Shawn shouted.
"Well, it's actually a dog," O'Hara remarked.
"Well, whatever it is," Shawn stated.
"Shawn, you know that I would help you if I could, but I can't. I can't lose my job," she told him. "I'm truly sorry."
"So, I almost lose my life and you can't take a risk for me?" he asked.
"Shawn, there will be other cases," she said. "I have to go," she stated as she began to walk back to the station.
"Arggh," Shawn mumbled as he walked towards Gus's car. "The world against Shawn," he grumbled.
"Shawn…" Gus stated.
"No, not now," Shawn said when all of a sudden he felt his left hand getting struck by what felt like a needle. His arm suddenly had a tingling sensation. "Oh god," he managed to mutter out before he collapsed onto the sidewalk next to the car.
Gus, trying to calm down his unusually overstressed best friend, turned just at the right time to see Shawn crumple into a heap.
"Shawn," Gus screamed as he ran around the car to help his best friend.
Juliet, who almost reached the doors of the station, heard Gus's frantic shout and turned around to see what happened. She saw Shawn on the ground next to the car. She started to run down the stairs to see what was going on.
"Gus?" she questioned as she kneeled next to the fallen Shawn.
"It's okay. He's having a vision," Gus unsteadily said.
"Since when are his visions this intense?" she asked.
"Since he had the accident," Gus said.
"Is he having a seizure?" Juliet asked as she looked down at Shawn who was lying there peacefully as if he was sleeping.
"No, he'll be okay. Usually, he snaps out of these things in a minute or so," Gus replied.
"Okay. So, we just wait?" O'Hara wondered.
"Yeah," Gus said.
Gus and Juliet just knelt there next to Shawn who continued to lay there.
O'Hara was the first to break the silence. "Shouldn't we get some help?"
"No, he'll be fine," Gus said patiently counting the seconds passing by that Shawn lay there. "Okay Shawn. Wake up. You're starting to scare me," he replied.
"These visions can't be good for him," Juliet stated.
"I don't know. The doctors can't figure out why they are occurring. But, there is no damage," he said.
Shawn started to moan and woke up slowly.
"Shawn. Shawn. Just take it easy," Gus stated.
Shawn attempted to sit up and shook his head to clear his thoughts. "That was some vision," he stated.
"Oh my god Shawn," Juliet stated. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said. "Just give me a minute," he said as he tried to shake his arm of the tingling sensation.
"So what did you see?" Gus asked as he patiently waited thirty seconds.
"The case, Tanes family. They're all alive. There's going to be a ransom note soon for fifteen million dollars. They're all okay. They're in a warehouse. I'm not sure where, though," Shawn told them.
"Let's go inside and tell the chief," O'Hara stated.
Gus helped Shawn up as he shakily put a hand on Gus's shoulder to steady himself.
"Are you okay?" Gus questioned.
"Yeah. This vision really drained me this time," Shawn said.
"Let's go. This is the breakthrough that we needed," Gus said.
"Chief, Shawn had a vision, you can't ignore what happened," O'Hara told the chief.
"O'Hara, not now. He's not working on this case," the chief sternly warned.
"Just listen to him. His visions have gotten stronger. I think he learns more information now than in the past," she stated.
Shawn and Gus just stood outside the closed office of the chief. "At least she's making a case for you," Gus stated as they looked through the windows of her office.
"Yeah."
"Come on. He deserves a chance to say what he has discovered. I didn't tell him any details about the case. Has he ever been wrong?" Juliet said.
"No, but that is beside the point," the chief stated.
"Why? What is the problem all of a sudden? I don't get it," O'Hara protested.
"Watch it O'Hara. You're on thin ice," she warned her.
"Fine. Just give him a chance that is all I ask," Juliet stated.
"Fine. Send him in," the chief remarked as Juliet left to go get Shawn and Gus. "Henry Spencer is going to kill me," she mumbled to herself. "So Shawn, what exactly did you see?" she asked as he proceeded to sit in a chair across from her desk.
"What? No introduction to the case?" Shawn asked hoping to retrieve as much information as possible without her noticing.
"I don't have time for this Mr. Spencer," she stated.
"Okay, I had a vision about the Tanes case. The family is still alive and well, but they are being held hostage in a warehouse. Soon, the capturers are going to ask for a fifteen million dollar ransom for which they will have one day to respond. I believe that the capturers are family friends because the youngest child feels very comfortable with the people at the warehouse," Shawn said.
"All that from one vision?" the chief asked.
"Yes," Shawn stated. There was a long silence. "What?" Shawn asked.
"I'm just not used to receiving all that from your when I have given you no information," the chief said. "And no episodes of throwing yourself around?" she grinned.
"No. And if you haven't noticed, I actually lose consciousness during my visions now. Thank you for caring," he stated.
"I'm just saying. You look worn out. Go home and get some rest. Thanks for the information," the chief told Shawn.
"That's it? Can I work on the case?" Shawn asked.
"I'm not saying yes or no, but if you get more visions, let me know," the chief said.
"Okay. I'm beat. I'll go home," Shawn said.
"Thank you Shawn," the chief said.
Gus and Shawn left the police station and Gus started to drive Shawn back home.
"Where are you going?" Shawn asked.
"I'm taking you back to your father's house," Gus responded.
"No. We are not done with investigating today," Shawn replied.
"Yes, we are. You even said at the station that you're worn out," Gus said.
"I was lying. I think my dad is threatening the police to make sure that I don't work too hard," Shawn stated.
"How do you know this?" Gus asked.
"I just have a hunch," Shawn said. "Let's go back to the office Gus."
"No Shawn. It's been a long day…" Gus started.
"Come on," Shawn whined.
"Like I said before you interrupted me, it's been a long day so let's go get something to eat," Gus said.
"Oooh, now, you're thinking like me. I like you," Shawn said.
"Thanks. I do what I can," Gus grinned.
Henry Spencer's door swung open and he turned around from where he was sitting on the couch to see his son enter the house carrying a doggie bag.
"How was your first day of work?" Henry asked Shawn.
"Fine. I got a pretty big vision about the Tanes case while I was at the station," Shawn said as he placed his doggy bag on the kitchen counter.
Henry shut off the television and got up from his seat on the couch. He proceeded to walk in the kitchen. "Why were you at the station?" Henry asked.
"Trying to find work dad. Take it easy," he replied as he got a glass of water from the facet.
Henry peered into the bag that Shawn brought home. "Oooh, pineapple pancakes, those are so good," Henry remarked as he closed the bag.
The sound of breaking glass startled Henry, almost giving him a heart attack. "Jeez, Shawn," he said just before Shawn began to collapse in front of the sink. "Shawn!" Henry screamed as he lunged forward to try and catch his son before he fell and hit his head on the floor.
Henry caught him just in time and lowered him gently to the ground. "Shawn, talk to me," Henry demanded. "You know that I don't like when you do this," Henry remarked. Kneeling there, he felt hopeless again and not in control. "Shawn," he sternly stated. Out of instinct, Henry reached own and felt for the pulse of what looked like a peaceful, sleeping Shawn. His heart rate seemed normal as if he were asleep. "Come on Shawn," Henry begged as he knelt on the floor. "Damnit, don't make me call an ambulance for you," Henry stated trying to shake off the intense worrying he felt increase every minute that passed when Shawn didn't wake up. Henry was in a predicament. He honestly didn't know what to do. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but he didn't want to sit and wait either. Looking at Shawn, Henry made the final decision to let this vision pass. He couldn't believe that Shawn appeared dead to the world. Henry shook Shawn and then slapped him in the face a few times hoping to elicit some sort of response.
Henry tried to pick up Shawn and move him to the couch, but his knees and back told him otherwise. "Damnit," he shouted clearly getting frustrated by his inability at his older age. Instead, he grabbed underneath his armpits gently dragging him towards the living room trying to avoid the broken shard pieces of glass scattered across the floor. Henry managed to drag Shawn to the living room before stopping to take a breather. "You're not as light as you used to be kid," Henry joked as he tried to put Shawn in a more comfortable position lying on the couch. Minutes seemed like hours to Henry Spencer as he sat and stared at Shawn willing him to wake up.
"Why do you keep getting in trouble?" Henry asked. Five minutes had only passed since the time Shawn first collapsed. Henry kept pacing back and forth moving from the kitchen back to the living room. The polyphonic ring tone of Justin Timberlake's "I'm Bringing Sexy Back," filled the silence of Henry's house. "What the," Henry wondered quickly realizing that it was Shawn's cell phone. Henry ran over to Shawn trying to determine where the ringing was coming from. "Sorry kiddo," Henry told him as he began searching his pockets. Shawn, oblivious to the outside world, just lay there still, uncharacteristically unmoving and silent. Finally, Henry managed to find Shawn's cell and saw that it was Gus calling from the caller ID.
"Hello?" Henry answered.
"Mr. Spencer?" Gus questioned.
"Yeah," he answered back.
"Is Shawn there?" Gus asked once again feeling like he was in elementary school again calling the house to ask for his best friend.
"Kind of," Henry replied glancing down at Shawn.
