AUTHOR'S NOTE:
*I posted two chapters within a day of each other, so please check and see if you have read chapter 11 before coming to this one.*
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it and hope you like the ending. It was a long year getting this done, but your encouragement made it all worth it.
The lyrics for this chapter hold a big significance for Shawn, because it really says what he has gone through, and that he is still there.
Thanks to Magic Amethyst for the idea, and I hope you like your gift. :)
Chapter 12- I Remember Everything
If I could hold back the rain, would you numb the pain?
Cause I remember everything.
If I could help you forget, would you take my regrets?
Cause I remember everything.
It all went by so fast; I still can't change the past
I always will remember, everything
If we could start again, would that change the end?
We remember everything.
Five Finger Death Punch- "I Remember Everything"
Six Months Later:
"We the jury find Trevor Jones guilty of first degree murder and attempted murder. Recommended sentence; life without parole." The spokeswoman for the jury sat down, purposefully keeping her eyes on the judge, and not on the seething murderer across the courtroom.
Trevor was absolutely livid and turned in his seat to give Shawn the most hateful glare he had ever received in his entire life. As they pulled him, cuffed and shackled, out of the room, he screamed, "You're a dead man! I'll see you in the ground you stupid re−" With one last push, the bailiff had the murderer out the door and well on his way to a new life in Lompoc.
Shawn felt vindicated when he heard the whispers, "I can't believe I was going to vote for him." Of course, Swaggerty had won by default, but due to Shawn's help he'd been a lot more lenient on his consulting rules and had personally thanked him for his service to the city.
Juliet squeezed his hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which he thoroughly enjoyed. "You did a good job up there."
"Rea−lly?" It had been completely embarrassing, and the defense's lawyer kept trying to get Juliet and Gus in trouble for 'leading the witness,' but with his particular disability the judge allowed both of them to talk for him when he couldn't.
His speech had come back in leaps and bounds once they found something that actually worked for him, but it was like learning a whole new language. Anyone who'd ever heard him speak Spanish could attest to how difficult that was for him. Most of the time, he just used gestures to get what he wanted, but he was really trying.
"Come on, let's get out of here and get something to eat. I'm starved." Gus rose from the bench with a stretch.
"Yes." Shawn agreed and grabbed his forearm crutches. They weren't the coolest, but they were helping him stay steady on his feet until he could walk correctly on his own. Plus, when Juliet hadn't been looking, he had tricked them out with lightning bolt stickers and streamers that she hadn't the heart to take off yet.
As they walked to their cars, Carlton griped, "All you think about is food. I don't have time; I have to go back to the station and finish the reports on this. Then I won't have to hear or think of the name Trevor Jones for the rest of my life if I can help it." He rubbed his face wearily.
It had been the head detective, along with Juliet, that had done the grunt work of gathering up all the evidence of Trevor's past crimes and taking statements, writing reports, generally wearing themselves out for the past few months to make sure that the murderer never saw the light of day again.
"I hear that," Juliet agreed, "but we still have to eat."
Shawn pulled her close and whispered something in her ear that would cinch the deal. Juliet's face brightened as she addressed her partner, "There's a new pizza place in town. All you can eat and it looks like an old horse ranch."
Carlton paused. "Old horse ranch?" Shawn knew his mind was flooding with nostalgia over his ranch hang out from when he was a child. "I guess we could check it out."
"Great, but Shawn..." Juliet paused nervously, "but no more feeding Tick under the table. It'll make him sick again."
"Yeah," Gus stressed, glaring at him. "I am not cleaning that up this time. Your dog, your mess."
Sighing, Shawn nodded. Tick was his new service dog, and even though he was still technically a puppy, being a mastiff he was already ginormous, with an appetite to match. He'd had to pick out a larger dog, one that could pull his weight if he dropped and had a seizure in an unsafe place, or his unsteady legs gave out. When he'd seen that wrinkly face and adorable eyes, he couldn't resist. Gus hated him for it; Tick barely fit in his new car, but he was starting to warm up to the dog. As long as he didn't throw up in the car again, anyway.
"Fine then." Gus said coolly at Shawn's agreement. "Remember, I have a fiancé now. I need to keep the car clean for my lady."
"I think it's a new record for you Guster," Carlton pointed out with a snide smile. "Someone besides Spencer that can stand your presence for longer than three months that isn't a murdering psychopathic− SON OF A BITCH, SPENCER! Watch where you put those things!"
Shawn had 'accidentally' whacked Carlton in the shin with one of his crutches, and was lucky that the detective didn't see the fist bump Gus gave on the sly for defending his honor. "Sor−ry Las."
Suddenly, Juliet stopped Shawn, but waved the others off. "Go ahead, we'll catch up." Shrugging, both Gus and Carlton continued on down the hallway of the courthouse, once again arguing about women.
Shawn was nervous. The look on his girlfriend's face was hard to read, but he saw trepidation, nervousness and determination. Did I do something wrong?
"Shawn, I want you to think about moving into a bigger place with me. The house is nice, but with Tick it seems to be, well, kind of small."
He couldn't disagree. He'd gotten out of the center four months prior, and it was a lot more cramped than he remembered. Shawn cocked his head. "Okay. Why?"
"When your dad and I were cleaning up around Psych to get it ready for you again, I found this." Juliet reached into her purse and pulled out the ring case he'd picked up a few weeks before his accident. It was a lot more obvious than a Thundercat, but at least it wouldn't be mistakenly sold for seven bucks. She opened it, and inside was the ring.
"I ca−can ex−e..." His nervousness was showing, and he couldn't find the words to say anything. His confidence was still shot; even though he was trying to get his life back together, he still thought Juliet deserved better.
"Shawn." She kissed him, halting his butchered attempts at the English language. "After everything that's happened, I realized how important you are to me, and how much I'd like to really start a life with you."
His eyes widened. For once he was speechless, not because he couldn't talk, but because he couldn't believe he'd ended up with someone so wonderful.
"I know you weren't ready to ask me, and I don't want you to think I'm asking you just because of the accident." She handed him the ring box. "So when you want to ask me, I'll be waiting."
Shawn pursed his lips, and carefully put the box into his pocket, before giving her a big hug, signifying his gratitude. "I L−ove."
"I love you too Shawn."
Outside the courthouse, both Carlton and Gus were waiting for their respective partners. While they watched Juliet help Shawn down the stairs, Carlton leaned over and asked, "Guster, Marlowe's birthday is coming up and I was wondering if you knew any nice restaurants in town I could take her to. Since you're so good with the ladies and all."
Man, won't he give me a break? Gus straightened and looked the detective right in the eye. "Look, Lassiter. I know you think I'm some sort of lady's man who just wants a night of fun and knows every romantic restaurant within a hundred miles, but all I've ever wanted was a nice girl who likes me and isn't a serial killer. Someone just like Alice." Gus saw Carlton look down guiltily, obviously sorry for the uncouth comments he'd made in the hallway. "That being said I think Ca Dario Ristorante would be a good choice."
Carlton quickly whipped out a pad of paper and a pen, mumbling "Ca Dario... Thanks Guster."
"Don't mention it."
By the time Shawn got to the bottom, Carlton had put his pad and paper away. "C'mon O'Hara! I want to see how authentic this pizza place really is."
"Alright, let's go. See you in a few, Shawn." Gus didn't miss the large smile his friend gave her before she walked off, and he knew something was up.
Grabbing his arm to help him down to his car, and the happily barking Tick, Gus had to ask what was up. "Shawn, what happened up there? Did Juliet say something to you?"
"Gus, don't be a half eaten Eskimo pie." Gus stared at him like he'd grown an extra head. He hadn't heard Shawn speak that clearly since his accident. "I'm ju' h−happy." Shawn opened his car door and slipped in, still grinning.
Wait a minute... "Did Juliet teach you to say that?! It's still not funny, Shawn!" Even though it really was funny. Great in fact, that every day they seemed to get a little more of Shawn back. It would be a long road ahead, for them and for Psych, but with Shawn getting his feet wet in the detective business again it was only a matter of time before they were back in the groove. Gus got in his own side, glaring across the distance as Shawn patted Tick on the head. "Remember Shawn, we're picking up your parents from the airport, and this thing has to be dropped off. I doubt they want to be welcomed back from a honeymoon by a hundred pound drool monster."
"Puppy."
"DOG," Gus stressed
Shawn raised his hands and crossed them, pointing two directions.
"No, you haven't heard it both ways Shawn!" Despite Gus' frustration, he couldn't help but smile back at his friend. They all knew that Shawn may never be the same again, but he loved them and his work. Since they were kids, Gus could always count on Shawn working for things that he really loved and cared about. So, even if his friend didn't come all the way to what he used to be, he would never stop trying. For Gus, and everyone who knew Shawn, that's what really counted.
