I'm not even going to make an excuse. Here's the next chapter!
He really should have looked into that nightmare.
Shawn was currently looking out of his body, watching everything that happened as he screamed in frustration, but it was to no avail. He was trapped inside his own body. Every time he tried to make a move, he would feel dizzy and get that kaleidoscope feeling and be forced to wait for Luke to tell him something.
He cried out in anguish within the recesses of his own mind when he shot his Soul Mate.
He cried out in triumph when he was able to pull the gun away from Lassiter's heart at the last second. He still hit his shoulder, but he knew his Mate would be alright.
Shawn still had some control if he forced it hard enough. He just had to find a way to gain it all back.
Then Lassiter said something.
"Remember what you're fighting for."
Shawn held that statement close but, to be honest, he wasn't sure what that was. He was fighting, but why? Was it vengeance, anger, hope? Shawn mentally shook his head. Those didn't sound right at all. So why was he fighting? Why not let Luke win? He was tired of fighting, so why did he persevere?
Shawn knew he had to either figure it out soon or find a way to stall because it was obvious Luke was going to kill him, and that was not an option. He knew that much.
Lassiter was currently bracing himself against a pole in the warehouse while Henry dug out the bullet. As it turns out, Elizabeth was a healer. It was a rare gift – one Shawn didn't have – but once the bullet was out she could heal it without even leaving a scar.
Lassiter cried out when the bullet was pulled out. "Don't be such a baby, Lassiter."
Lassiter panted, gritting his teeth as Elizabeth went to work immediately. "You try having a damn bullet be dug out of you."
Henry smirked. "I have."
"With no painkillers?"
Henry's expression dropped. Lassiter, despite himself, smirked.
Lassiter was trying for an indifferent expression, but everyone in the warehouse knew he was in turmoil. His Soul Mate was taken from him and it was only a matter of time before he was killed. They had no idea where to find him, either.
Once the wound was healed, Lassiter tested his shoulder. Deeming it perfect, he stood from the seated position and began to walk towards the exit. "We need to find Shawn."
"And how, exactly, do you plan to find him?" Henry asked, crossing his arms.
Lassiter shook his head. "I don't know. I'll drive."
"Carlton, you can't exactly drive door to door asking for a lost psychic." Juliet said softly.
"Yeah, Lassiter. We need to think of a plan." Gus agreed. "We'll sit down at the station and think this"-
"Excuse me, Guster, but with all due respect, I don't have time to fucking sit around while my fiancé is who knows where in Santa Barbara sitting on his damn death bed!"
Gus was going to stay quiet. He really was, but the detective had just pushed him over the edge. "No, Lassiter. You don't get to make this decision."
Lassiter braced himself for a fight. "You wanna go, Guster? We can do this after I find Shawn."
"Lassiter, calm down. You seem to think you're the only one in the world who cares about him, but you've got some people right here who seem to give more than a damn so why don't you sit down, shut up, and use your fucking detective skills for a second!"
Lassiter looked taken aback. He'd never seen Gus mad. He sighed. This whole thing was wearing him out. With a lost look, he apologized. "You're right. I'm sorry."
Gus nodded. "Where could he have possibly taken Shawn?"
Lassiter thought. "I don't know. Shawn said he liked to be extravagant almost to the point of dramatic."
"So," Juliet began. "He might be somewhere that they both realize is a significant place."
"Where would that be?" Gus asked.
"Home." Henry and Elizabeth said together.
Lassiter was confused. "I doubt he's at your house, Henry."
Henry shook his head. "No. He even said it himself. 'Come on, Shawn. Let's go home.' He's taking Shawn back to his childhood home."
When Lassiter realized what he was trying to say, a feeling of newfound determination came over him. There was still hope. "Elizabeth," Lassiter said quickly. "I need you to ride with me. I need directions, fast." She nodded and they all rushed to their respective vehicles. Henry quickly explained the situation to Karen and she ordered the cops to use any necessary force to get on the reservation. "One of our own is in trouble. Let's go get him."
As Lassiter started the car, Elizabeth in the passenger seat, she heard him whisper, "Hold on, Baby. I'm coming for you."
The drive was taking longer than expected. Lassiter expected to be there in less than five minutes, but apparently it took thirty.
Lassiter hit the steering wheel. "Fuck! Why is this taking so long?"
Elizabeth eyed him sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Detective. I truly am, but it'll take just a bit longer. Why don't you think of something else for the time being?"
Lassiter glared at the road. "How do you expect me to do that?"
"Indulge me. Ask me a question. Anything."
Lassiter rolled his eyes. Being away from Shawn – who was in danger – was not good for his mental stability. Still, he complied. "I've never heard of gypsies being able to control elements. How was it possible for you to control water and Hera fire?"
"The basic elements – water, earth, fire, and wind – can be controlled by any gypsy who is telepathic, as it is simply manipulation of the particles in the air. Not all of us are telepathic, so not all of us have this skill." She explained.
"Why wasn't Shawn taught these skills? I know he showed signs of telepathy."
"Hera was his teacher, remember? She wanted Shawn dead so that her son could gain his powers."
And they were back on Shawn. "It seems her plan is going to work if I can't get through this fucking light!"
"We're almost there, Carlton. Just a few moments more."
They barely had time to breathe when they arrived at the reservation. Lassiter was on the move. When some gypsies at the gate tried to stop them, Lassiter pulled his gun, pressing it firmly between one of their eyes. "I swear upon Fate Himself that if you don't let every single one of us pass through I will pull this trigger."
"State your business." One said shakily.
"Don't fucking tempt me! My Mate is going to be killed on your reservation because of your corrupt bitch of a head-councilwoman if you don't let us through. If he dies I will personally see to it that you and the rest of your family are destroyed to the point that there will be nothing left of you."
There was a small protest, but Lassiter cocked his gun and they let them all through. Lassiter was running now. He could feel the pull of the bond. Shawn was in trouble. He literally had minutes.
Lassiter reached the house first. He didn't really pay much attention but, looking back, it reminded him of a nineteenth century farmhouse. It was beautiful. There was a large open field, a white picket fence, everything a kid could ever need to have the perfect childhood.
He was going to relish in the fact that he was about kill the man who took all this away from his Mate.
He didn't hesitate to break down the door. The code of conduct had went out the window the moment Shawn disappeared with Luke. "Luke, you son of a bitch, come out and face me!"
Luke, who was in the other room, cursed. "Shawn," he ordered the seemingly lifeless body of his biological child. "Go take care of him, won't you?"
Shawn nodded, stood up, and silently walked out to face Lassiter. Shawn was screaming for himself to stop, but he had no control. Lassiter stared at him, his face filled with shame and self-loathing. No, Lassie. This wasn't your fault…
But he couldn't hear him. Shawn wasn't in control. He gave it all to Luke in a hastened frenzy to save the man he loved.
"Shawn, you have to fight this."
Shawn's body turned to Lassiter, and he held up his hand to push Lassiter to the wall. Lassiter tried to tell Shawn to stop, but found he couldn't talk. Or breathe for that matter. Shawn was suffocating him.
Lassiter was struggling, but it was hard to fight what was all around him and couldn't be seen. As the edges of his vision began to blur, he couldn't help but wonder why Fate had to be such a goddamn dick.
Oxygen entered him with a gasp as he saw Shawn get hit across the back of his head with Henry's gun. As he gasped, he glared at Henry. "What was that for? Don't hurt him!"
"Yeah, yeah. You're welcome."
The others were all around as Shawn was quickly coming to. He sat up quickly, sending everyone away. "Shawn!" Gus called, sitting up from where he was thrown. "You need to fight this!"
Lassiter had no idea why this crossed his mind, but in retrospect it probably was the most useful bout of possessiveness that ever came over him. Offhandedly, he thought that no one should order Shawn around like that. Shawn was his. Then, it hit him. He felt like a piece of stupid shit for not thinking of this sooner.
Using every ounce of the Dominant's Command he could, he yelled, "Shawn, stop!"
He let out a shaky breath of pure relief when Shawn stopped, turned and faced him. "Come here." He ordered again. Shawn did as he was told.
Elizabeth was laughing in pure disbelief. Voicing Lassiter's thoughts, she said, "Why did we not think of this?"
"What?" Henry asked.
"The Dominant's Command. Lassiter can control Shawn, make him do anything he wants him to. If there's one thing stronger than what Luke's control over Shawn, it's the Soul Mate Bond."
Inwardly, Shawn was in tears. Lassiter saved him. They might just make it. They just had to figure out how to get his Will back. "Shawn," Lassiter began the Command obvious in his voice. "Where is your father?"
In complete compliance, Shawn's body pointed at Henry. The older man looked like a deer in headlights, tears forming on the sides of his eyes. Even a Shawn who wasn't fully aware of himself considered him his father. Henry smiled. "Sorry kid. As much as I appreciate it, I think he means Luke."
Shawn, who couldn't register Henry's words, stayed completely still, his hand still pointed towards Henry. "Shawn, where's Luke? Take us to him."
Shawn nodded and walked in what looked to be a family room. "Shawn!" Luke called. "Get over here!"
Shawn started to move, but Lassiter said, "No."
He stayed.
Luke turned in frustration. "Shawn"-
He was cut off to see all of them in the room with Shawn staring blankly at him. "Dammit." He muttered. He didn't think of this.
"It's over, Luke. Surrender. Give up." Lassiter said.
Luke smiled maniacally. "Give up? Why would I do that? I think I've already won!"
Lassiter narrowed his eyes. Holding his gun towards Luke, he walked steadily towards the man. "Luke Ferrell, you are under arrest for the murders of Jacob Noble and the councilwomen. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be"-
"Can it, Detective. It's safe to say that I'm resisting arrest."
Lassiter smirked. He stared at his gun in his hands. "I was hoping you'd say that. O'Hara?"
"Yes, Carlton?" She said, her gun trained on the man as well.
"In pursuit. Criminal is deemed armed and dangerous. Shoot to kill."
Juliet O'Hara, sweet Juliet O'Hara, smirked with sickly happiness. "Yes, sir. With pleasure."
Everything basically went to Hell at this point. Shots were fired and people scattered. Luke had teleported to who knows where, and Lassiter was cursing. "Shawn! Where is he?"
Shawn pointed towards the back door.
"Come on! He's getting away!"
They were all running towards the back. Lassiter saw him. I have one shot. One shot or he's gone and Shawn is stuck like this. He licked his lips. Holding his gun steady, he breathed and fired.
Two bodies dropped.
Lassiter saw that Luke had falling and he told O'Hara to drag him back here. When he turned around, he stopped cold.
Shawn's shoulder was bleeding. It looked like… Lassiter paled.
It looked like a bullet had just went through his shoulder.
Henry was applying pressure. "Jesus, kid. How does this keep happening? You have a vendetta against that shoulder or something?"
O'Hara, bless her, had single-handedly dragged the man to them. He was clutching his shoulder, smirking in triumph at seeing Shawn just lying there, unable to hold on to his wound, unable to scream or whimper or anything. Lassiter, upon seeing his smirk, growled and punched him in his jaw. In sudden horror he saw a bruise form on both his and Shawn's jaw. "What did you do to him you son of a bitch?!"
"I connected us. If I die, he dies."
Lassiter screamed in frustration. "You son of a FUCKING BITCH!"
Henry put a calming hand on his shoulder. "Lassiter. We'll figure this out."
Inwardly, Shawn was screaming in pain. His shoulder was killing him. He knew he was in trouble. He didn't remember Luke doing that. The punch hurt a bit, but it was a dull ache compared to his shoulder.
"You really think you can get him back, don't you?"
Lassiter stared at Luke. "Yes, I do."
Luke smirked. "Well, you're out of luck. Shawn can't come back."
Lassiter hid his panic well. "What do you mean?" He said dangerously low.
Luke laughed. "I have to willingly give him his freedom. And before you beg, I'm not doing it. Save your breath. Wait. No. Don't do that. You should beg. Kiss my boot, Powerless."
Lassiter punched him again, regretting it instantly when another bruise appeared on Shawn's quickly paling flesh.
As they saw Shawn start to quicken his breath, they were all hit with a sudden wave that they might not make it this time. Shawn might not make it.
They lost.
Lassiter knelt to Shawn. He didn't even notice it when Luke busted out of Juliet's grip, sending everyone flying again. Shawn's life was slipping away, and Lassiter could feel his own following him. He was vaguely aware that Luke had grabbed his gun and was slowly pointing it towards him, but that didn't matter anymore. Lassiter leaned down and kissed Shawn on the lips, mumbling to Shawn as all sound disappeared, leaving only his voice and Shawn's ragged breathing. "I'm sorry. I love you."
No. Lassie. Carlton. Turn around. He's right there! He's gonna kill you! No! I need you. Don't leave! Don't leave! I need you! Our child needs you! You have to fight! Fight, Carlton!
Shawn's eyes opened, life suddenly returning to them. He sat up and pushed Luke away, the gun falling from him. He was weak for a second, giving Luke enough time to recover. Lassiter and Shawn were slipping away. The others were unconscious.
Shawn could only turn away into Lassiter and wait for the blow. Lassiter held him.
They closed their eyes as another shot was fired. They stood there for several seconds before they realized they weren't dead.
Opening their eyes, they stared in shock at the form standing in front of them, holding a smoking gun. At the end of the barrel was the dead form of Luke Ferrell.
The engaged couple blinked for a second before they realized just who was standing there. "McNab?!" Lassiter said in pure shock.
"Yes, sir?" He asked.
Shawn stared at Lassiter, who was giving his subordinate a look of pure shock and gratefulness.
Shawn knew McNab had just made a damn good friend in Lassiter the moment his fiancé broke from him to enwrap the young cop in a hug. "Fuck, McNab, you could not have come at a better time."
McNab returned the embrace. "I'm just doing my job, sir."
Lassiter could only laugh in disbelief.
Lassiter turned back to embrace Shawn, who was bleeding all over, but was still standing. "How?" Lassiter asked.
Shawn sighed happily. "I remembered what I was fighting for."
"And?"
Shawn smiled against the taller man's chest. "My family."
Several things happened after that. Shawn was healed by his mother and the two were both ushered to the gypsy hospital, thorough scans being run on Lassiter. But the detective felt worse for Shawn. He thought he had scans? Shawn was starting to get pissed. Lassiter could feel it through the bond. He laughed when Shawn used his telekinesis to shoot needles at the poor helpless doctors. He went in then to stop it before his fiancé caused too many problems.
"Shawn?" Lassiter called.
"Carlton, I swear on your Smith and Wesson on the mantle that if you don't get me out of here I will destroy their kitchen."
Lassiter held back a laugh when he asked, "Kitchen?"
"I'm hungry…" He muttered.
"Well, you should let them finish, Shawn."
Shawn pouted. "I'm fine. Our baby is fine by some miracle. Why do they need to scan to see if I have a possibility of developing cancer in twenty years?"
Lassiter glared. "Do you?"
Shawn glared back. "I didn't let them scan."
"Shawn"-
"Carlton! It. Doesn't. Matter. I just want to go home and sleep in bed with my fiancé and just enjoy the fact that everyone is alive and healthy and that we've got a child on the way. I want to lay in bed and talk about how this child will grow up never knowing Luke's name and what the child's name will be and how we survived and how I almost lost you and how I almost killed you"-
Shawn was cut off as he broke into uncontrollable sobs. Lassiter pulled him into his arms. "I'm sorry! L-Lassie! I'm j-just… I'm just… I'm really happy and sad a-and everything and I think this is what they mean by p-pregnancy hormones!"
Lassiter smiled, tears in his eyes. Shawn looked at him and, upon seeing the tears, began to cry again. Lassiter could feel the sadness radiating from Shawn. "Lassie you can't cry! You're not allowed! Strict no-cry rule for you!"
Lassiter just kissed Shawn on the forehead. He'd probably regret this thought later, but he couldn't help it. I'm just lucky you're still here to have pregnancy hormones. "I love you Shawn Spencer."
Through his tears, Shawn sobbed out, "I love you, too!"
Several months went by. Shawn was on strict orders to stay out of the field by Command of Lassiter. He grumbled about it, but he knew he shouldn't. As Shawn walked into their shared apartment after grocery shopping he had to force himself not to laugh. It was quite a sight.
Carlton Lassiter was sitting on the floor, glaring at pieces of a crib in the middle of the living room.
Lassiter, sensing his gypsy in the room, stood up and walked over to him. "Hey, Baby." He greeted, kissing Shawn lightly.
"I still believe the better term for me should be 'Oven.' Baby Lassiter should be 'Cake.'"
"Sorry, Shawn. How many times have we had this conversation? I don't feel like giving a good morning kiss to a kitchen utensil." He deadpanned.
"But I came up with the perfect nickname for you!"
Lassiter knew from almost a year with this maniac that he shouldn't ask, but his detective side got the better of him. "What is it?"
"You're the 'batter!'"
Lassiter was silent. "What the Hell possessed me to want to marry you…?"
Shawn laughed. "Cause you love me?"
Lassiter pulled Shawn toward him. Taking in the sight of Shawn in flip flops, shorts, and a SBPD sweatshirt that obviously belonged to Lassiter, the detective smiled. "Yeah. I love you, you idiot."
Kissing him for a long moment, he relished in the taste of his Soul Mate. No matter how many times they kissed, it always felt perfect. Like they were right where they needed to be. It was corny, and he knew Shawn would berate him for weeks if he said anything, but he couldn't help himself.
He reluctantly broke away, glaring at the pieces on the floor. Sighing, he turned to Shawn, knowing how this was going to end, but he had to bring it up. "So, when are we going to tell everyone that you're pregnant?"
Shawn glared. "No, Carlton. No. Never. Nuh uh. Not this conversation again."
Lassiter glared again. "Shawn, you're four months pregnant. You can't hide behind my sweatshirts forever."
Mistake number one: bring up this conversation.
Mistake number two: Make a comment about his protruding stomach.
Shawn pushed away from Lassiter. "Asshole!" He turned to the limited amount of the crib he had put together and used his telekinesis to tear it down. Shawn folded his arms in triumph.
Lassiter just sighed, but started to get to work putting it back together. "I'm sorry Shawn. I didn't mean to offend you."
But Shawn was gone. He had run into the room.
About an hour later, there was a knock on the door. Lassiter went to answer it, but Shawn was already there. Opening it, Lassiter saw it was Gus and Juliet.
Then Henry.
Elizabeth.
Karen and McNab were there as well.
"Shawn? Did I forget something important? Please tell me it's not Valentine's Day or something."
Shawn laughed. "No, Lassie. I'm just…" He shuffled uncomfortably on his feet. "You were right. We should tell them."
"What's going on?" Henry asked. Always straight to business.
Shawn stood in front of Lassiter slightly, and the Head Detective was grateful.
Shawn finally spoke. Of course it was the worst thing he could have said. "Dad, what do you think of the term, 'Grandfather?'"
Elizabeth smiled brightly. "I'm happy for you, Shawn! Though it is surprising that male gypsies such as yourself can get pregnant."
Henry passed out. Gus followed him not soon after.
When they woke up and weren't glaring daggers at Lassiter, Shawn explained that he was four months along and that it was perfectly healthy.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Juliet asked.
"We don't know. We didn't ask."
They nodded. "Do you have names?" Karen asked.
Shawn blushed at that. "K-kind of…"
Juliet bounced happily. "What names?"
"Well, if it's a boy… We… umm…" Shawn looked down.
"We want to name the boy Henry Burton Lassiter." Lassiter said simply, no shame or embarrassment evident. Just happiness. "If it's a girl, we want to name her Karen Juliet-Elizabeth Lassiter."
They were all smiling brightly. Even Henry had lost the malice in his tone when he spoke to Lassiter. All throughout the night, there were cheers and celebration and just pure bliss. Shawn went to grab beer from the fridge for everyone, but was glared at by Henry. "Shawn! You should know better!"
Shawn glared back. "I do know better. It was for everyone else, Dad."
Lassiter stared at Henry heavily enough to grab his attention. The simple stare was enough for Henry to know that he should shut his mouth. "Sorry, Shawn. I didn't mean it."
Henry sat next to Lassiter soon after that. "Sorry, Henry. His hormones are off the charts lately."
Henry laughed. "I'd like to say I feel you, but… Oh wait. No. I got lucky and got my first kid after his baby years." He laughed at Lassiter's exasperated scoff.
"I'm kidding. Though I do feel sorry for you. Shawn is emotional on a normal day." He lowered his voice. "You should probably take all his copies of The Breakfast Club. He'll be moping for days."
Lassiter's eyes widened in horror at the mere mention of the 1980's classic. "What?" Henry asked.
Then Lassiter took a breath then ran to the kitchen. Everyone in the room was silent as they listened to a sobbing Shawn and Lassiter's easing voice. Those who knew Shawn well considered this a lost cause. The Breakfast Club was Shawn's Achilles' Heel with normal hormones. Gus and Henry watched the scene with a bated breath, waiting for Lassiter to tell them they had to leave, that Shawn was in a bad state.
But it never happened.
Lassiter actually managed to calm Shawn down.
Gus and Henry stared wide-eyed at each other, not exactly understanding how Lassiter understood Shawn so well.
Then, Shawn was perked up and the night went on as normal.
Everyone left several hours later with the exception of Henry. He stayed.
"Shawn?" Henry called.
Shawn kissed Lassiter on the lips, told him something, then walked over. "Yeah, Dad?"
Henry eyed his son for a moment. Staring at the man before him, it felt as if just yesterday this man was just a kid who had ended up in his home as a result of a terrible tragedy. Trying to ignore the tears in his eyes, he said, "What's your plan for this kid?"
Shawn sat down on the couch, holding his stomach, a habit that he seemed to pick up. "Well…"
Then, to Henry's shock, he went into detail about everything they had planned for their child. When Shawn got to the child's education and the argument Lassiter and he were having in regards to whether the child should be homeschooled or allowed in the public system, Henry could feel the tears flowing. "Dad?" Shawn stopped. "Dad, are you okay?"
Henry smiled. "You've grown up, Shawn."
Shawn laughed. "That happens, sometimes."
Henry wrapped an arm around his son. "I mean it, Shawn. You've really grown up. I never thought I'd see the day when my son would be planning for his child's future."
"In your defense, you had no idea I could get pregnant. Like, at all."
Henry laughed. "I love you, Shawn. You are the single best thing that ever happened to me."
Shawn was going to make a comment about too much alcohol, but he held back. "I love you too, Dad. Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being there. For being the one person who put up with my crap more than anyone else."
Henry nudged his shoulder affectionately. "No problem, kid."
Henry left shortly after that and Shawn helped Lassiter clean up the kitchen. When Lassiter walked away, Shawn managed to drop a plate with a squeal. Lassiter ran into the kitchen quickly. Shawn looked scared out of his wits, glass surrounding his bare feet. "What?" Shawn asked shakily.
Lassiter couldn't help but laugh. "Your face!" He said between laughs. "Priceless!"
"Hey!" Shawn said, hitting Lassiter aside the head with his wash rag. "It's not funny!"
Lassiter, still smiling, said, "Sorry, Shawn. I didn't mean to laugh at you."
Shawn smiled back at Lassiter. Smiles truly were infectious. Shawn went to step over the glass shards, but Lassiter stopped him. At his questioning gaze, Lassiter simply said, "I know you. You'll step on something. I'm sure of it."
At that he stepped over the glass, standing alarmingly close to Shawn. Lassiter's next move made Shawn yelp. The older man picked Shawn up bridal style in such a swift movement that Shawn had to grip Lassiter's shirt and neck to hold on. "Carlton!" Shawn laughed. "Put me down!"
Stepping away from the glass, Shawn and Lassiter both blinked. "This is eerily familiar…"
Lassiter gently sat his love down and smiled. "I think I remember how this all ended."
Shawn smirked devilishly. "I seem to remember that as well."
Lassiter cupped Shawn's cheek gently, loving the feel of the stubble that had developed there, then leaned to kiss Shawn. "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too, Carlton. I love you so much."
Well, I think there should be one more chapter to tell how the marriage and the sex of their child! I could end it here, but review and tell me what you guys think?
