After Goodbye

by aut189

H

2. Without Closure

When Shawn had arrived in San Francisco after driving for hours in stand-still traffic. Karen Vick had a knowing grin on his face while Jules' heart cracked slightly. Something turned in her stomach that made Jules wonder.

"Shawn, what are you doing here?"

"To start a new life with you." There was an awkward pause. "I meant in the crime scene?" Shawn's lips curled." Oh? Please don't fire her. I bribed her."

Vick rolled her eyes," Bribery is illegal, Mr. Spencer."

Juliet cleared her throat." Shawn."

"Right." He backed away from the body.

Gus showed up explaining he didn't want a life without Psych. After his long story, Gus and Shawn were alone while Karen and Jules called the police about the stolen ring. "I told Lassie."

Gus turned toward his friend," Told Lassie what?"

Shawn sighed softly.

Gus' eyes bug out." Oh! Oh! I'm going to have to join a prison gang to survive Shawn! You know I don't do well under pure pressure!" It all came out in a panicked cry.

"Chill, dude! Lassie isn't going to send us to prison!"

Gus rolled his eyes, scowling." Shawn, Lassiter has been wanting to throw you behind bars since he met you… well he did that one time!"

"Gus."

"Oh. You told him?"

"Yeah…I-I told Lassie that I love him."

"As a friend?"

"Well that too but no, Gus."

"You sent him a video too? Why hasn't he called gravel in disgust?"

Shawn's eyes darken, Gus realized his mistake." Shawn… I didn't mean it." He waved him off." It's okay, Gus." Suddenly he perked back up," Let's see if Jules and Vick have any updates yet."

Shawn waited at his phone for the call, text or a freaking letter by mail but he never heard from Lassie. Knowing his answer, as heartbroken as he still stayed with Jules, searching for that ring.

An alarm buzzed annoyingly in the man's ears, startling any sleep from his system. He blinked his eyes from the blinding Santa Barbara sun, peaking through the blinds. It felt odd being in his hometown, although it was for long. He, Gus and Jules were heading back to San Francisco— Psychphrancisco. He wasn't ready to leave Barbara behind - Lassie. The thought leaving things unresolved made his stomach sore.

"SHAWN!" A loud voice drew out. "You better be packing and not sleeping in!" Opening his eyes a little wider, Shawn sat up groggy.

"I'm up!" He yelled through his yawn. He struggled to get out of bed and quickly snuck a peak at the clock. "It's only six am, Jules, you know how I feel about waking up before noon!"

The door swung open, revealing an already dressed for their flight Juliet. He knew Jules well enough to know that tardiness wasn't on her list. She always has been time-punctual, something she and him have quite in common. Letting out an aggravated sigh, Shawn threw on his thunder cats t-shirt.

"Our flight leaves at noon, Shawn. We can't be late, Gus is already on his way with coffee and Donuts for the road."

"Shawn!" Another voice called.

In here, buddy!"

Gus showed up with coffee in hand and the other with a box of donuts. He handed them off to Jules before she grabbed Shawn's suitcase along with the morning pastures. Gus started helping Shawn gather the last of his items. He noticed the demeanor in Shawn's body change.

"Shawn…"

"I'm fine."

Gus stood in front of him with his arms crossed. "Shawn, don't lie to me. You know I can see right through all that."

"I can't believe I'm leaving again, Gus. The last time I knew I had a chance and now…"

"You still might, Shawn. He hasn't told you no."

Shawn paved down the carpeted staircase as he and Gus made their way out of Psych. The sun had barely moved from Shawn's eyes, still blinding them.

"I don't think so, Gus. I should've known that it was always one-sided. He hasn't called, texted or stopped me from making a mistake. I'm leaving again, only six years after last time."

"Did you tell him you're leaving?"

The answer to Gus' question was a head shake. "See. Just call him. Let him know he has one more chance before you are done."

"Okay, I'll think about it, Jules is waiting for us. Selene called her."

This stopped Gus from opening the door, whipping his neck around," Is she okay? I told you I should've taken the flight out with her last night —" Shawn's voice cut him off.

"She's okay, Gus. So is the baby, relax, man. She called asking if we were meeting her at the airport." He placed a calming hand on Gus' shoulder.

Gus has been anxious since he learned Selene was pregnant with his child, constantly sending panicked texts about what some book had said. He told Gus that he should stop worrying but his friend always worried about the tiniest things.

He watched as Gus pulled out his phone, walking away while waiting for Selene to answer. His heart pounded in the chest cavity as he did the same. He couldn't believe he was about to tell Carlton he had a choice. Him or Shawn was leaving to stay with Jules.

"Lassiter."

—xxx—-

When he woke up this morning, Carlton Lassiter made his daughter breakfast. Then he read the morning paper, checking for any cases that went unsolved. The funny thing was that unsolved or unlocked cases would never happen if Shawn hadn't left. He kept thinking about Lauren and Marlowe's advice. Carlton didn't know what to do, so when his phone rang, disturbing any plans he had.

"Lassiter." He answered in his controlled detective tone.

At first Lassiter didn't hear anything until the voice shocked him. Of all the things, he hadn't thought the man would call him after what happened.

"Lassie…"

He cleared his throat, trying to keep the shock out of his tone. "S-Shawn?"

"Yeah… it's me, Shawn Spencer." Shawn's awkward voice filled the room.

He looked carefully behind him to see what Lily was doing. She looked occupied with some TV show that he never bothered to pay attention to. He turned his attention back to the man on his phone and spoke. "What a surprise, is everything okay?"

"I'm going to cut the chit-chat and be straight with you. I'm leaving."

Carlton choked. "L-leaving?"

"Yeah, I'm leaving at noon."

"Well have a safe flight, I do appreciate the heads up this time." He didn't realize his remark until Shawn scoffed.

"How rich, Lassiter at least I did unlike… never mind, I'm not calling to fight with you. I just wanted you to know I see you've made your choice."

"Choice? What sweet justice are you talking about, Spencer?"

"Apparently you don't feel the same, otherwise you would've picked up your phone. So I'm going back to San Francisco with Jules and Gus since I don't matter to you."

Carlton's jaw clenched painfully, trying not to say anything he'd regret. "I didn't know, Shawn. I'm sorry I didn't watch until the end."

"So you did watch?"

"Yes, I just didn't want to hear you say it."

"Say I love you?"

Carlton's heart jolted when hearing the pure agony in Shawn's tearful voice. "No! No, not that, Spencer about you being a fraud. I didn't want Psych-- you or Guster to end up in jail."

"Bullshit! You always wanted to lock me away, why the change of heart!"

"I-I don't know."

"Well that just answered my question, Lassiter. You expect honesty from me but you could never let yourself be honest for a change."

Fuck. He was screwing this up so badly. He hadn't meant for Shawn to take it this way. "Shawn, wait you misunderstood me. I—" He was cut off again.

"All I want you to do is make a choice. Your choice is you tell me the truth or… I'm leaving to stay with Jules. So whIch is it, Lassie? Am I staying here with you or… Jules?"

Struggling to keep the tears from streaming down his face. "I can't answer that, Shawn. I don't want to be the reason O'Hara hates me." He could hear a sniffle from the other line.

"Goodbye, Lassie. Apparently my love isn't enough proof that I'd leave with no hesitation." The dial tone blared in his ears.

He slid against the wall, stiffing the sobs from erupting. His blue eyes reddened as the stinging ached. "But it is, I just am not enough to destroy your life for me, Shawn." He sobbed, ignoring the discarded cell phone on his kitchen floor.

—XX—

Three Weeks Later…

He was settled back in his home with Jules, still aching from Lassie's rejection. Jules kept asking him what was wrong, he would only answer with weak lies and shrugs. He knew Juliet wouldn't let it go. Ever since Shawn and her returned to their home, her husband seemed extremely depressed. Which she didn't understand because he had everything they needed. She would even try to get something out of Gus but Burton was locked tighter than any of Jules' meddling could get.

Shawn pulled his body from the bed, trailing downstairs and headed into their large kitchen to find Jules making a pot. She looked up, noticing the new presence. "Morning, Honey. I made some coffee for us. Karen called this morning about a crime scene that could use Psych's help."

"Psychphransico." Shawn corrected as he grabbed the coffee pot, tilting it slightly.

Juliet sighed, tapping her nails against the tumbler mug. "Right, Psychphransico. Anyways Karen said to be there at ten o'clock." She looked at Shawn before reaching the door." I mean it, Shawn, no later."

"Aye-aye, Captain Jules." Inflicting a short laugh from his wife. "Gus and I'll be there."

He watched as Juliet disappeared behind the door. The pseudo fake happy persona fell from his expression before he could reach his phone.

"Gus, we have a case. No. We can't stop for food. What? No, I'm fine, Gus."

"You're not fine. You just denied food. Shawn, you have to get out of this funk."

Shawn stood outside on their porch with head in his hands, sighing sadly. "I don't know if I can."

"Shawn, Juliet is suspicious. She keeps asking me and Selene if we know what's going on. Of course I do, but I won't betray your trust, man."

"Thanks, Gussy. I-I don't know what to do. I thought I could fake being happy but knowing Lassie knows how I feel… I just can't use humor and jokes as I used to. It was my defense mechanism for years. It's not working, Gus!"

"Ermm, maybe you should tell Jules how you feel."

"I can't do that, Burton." His tone is cold." You know she would be hurt."

"And this is better?"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"Sh--"

"Burton, leave it alone."

He saw Burton Guster's car pull up to the side curb. Shawn opened the door, pulled the seatbelt and buckled in the passenger seat. He clicked on the radio, inflicting a loud cleared throat from Gus.

"Don't. We need to be at the crime scene before 10 sharp. Chief Vick ordered."

"Since when have you followed orders, Shawn?"

Shawn glared." Drive." He demanded sternly.

The new blue echo— Blueberry the 2nd—drove away, turning down winding streets. Neither of the men spoke as they pulled into the crime scene.

"Chief, Jules, what do we have here?"

Karen Vick pulled down her glasses, grimly pointed to the area. Gus immediately gagged. Before them showed the victim strung up by rope, strained eyes and a message that read: "Liars always die. Shawn Spencer, try to solve this one."

Gus held a hand to his mouth, trying desperately to keep himself from throwing up breakfast. Shawn's jaw clenched tightly at the challenge.

"Mr. Spencer, have you sensed anything yet?"

Surprising the Chief, Spencer shook his head." Sorry, no Chief. I've been drained from my powers at the moment. I'll let you know if I hear anything."

Karen sighed, disappointed that Shawn couldn't give her answers." Very well, Spencer. Report back to me when you do." Shawn vaguely nodded.

Once Shawn and Gus were alone, His best friend whispered quietly. "Shawn, you did notice something familiar didn't you?"

"Of course. Our victim was married but secretly in-love with another man. Gus… this can't be happening."

"How did you get that from scanning the crime scene?" Gus questioned with certain interest.

"Because I've seen him before."

"WHAT?"

Shawn looked around when Gus screeched loudly in question. "Dude, keep your voice down."

"Sorry, Shawn. Go on."

"He came to Psych before we came back. He mentioned that wanted me to tell him if his friend felt the same way. He told me his wife didn't know how he felt about the other man."

"So you're saying our killer is going after men who are secretly in-love with other men?"

Shawn looked at the ground and then back up at his friend's eyes and answered seriously. "Yes. I am certain of that."

"Shawn." His best friend said. "The killer is after you."

"Not if I stop him, I just need a little more time."

Guster's eyes filled with panic. "Shawn, don't be stupid. You need to let Juliet and the Chief know."

Shawn shook his head vehemently." I can't, Gus."

"Shawn…"

"Spencer!"

Chief Vick's loud voice called from the distance. "Yes, Chief!"

"We have another victim." Chief Vick stated briefly. "A young woman, mid thirties."

Shawn followed the Chief, glancing at Gus from behind him. They were led down a long hallway filled with images of the happy couple and next laid the victim. His eyes flickered at the blood stained carpet, catching minuscule hair fibers.

"I got something!" He yelled suddenly. "I see.. molecules…sid…no cells."

"DNA!" Officer Miles shouted excitedly.

"Close." He held his fingers at the temples, massaging. "Harry…no fibers."

"Ooh, I got it! Hair Fibers."

"Ah, yes! There's hair fibers somewhere." He dramatically started moving his legs across the living room floor, spinning around and gasping airily." There! I see it clearly!" His feet stopped at the edge of the carpeting. "Here!"

Karen looked down, with a gloved hand picked at a strand. She turned it over, spotting the blood right away. "Take this to forensics immediately." She eyed the crowd."I want every inch of this scene combed before the end of day."

"Yes, Chief!" Officer Miles replied, taking the evidence bag with him. Then she turned over to Shawn." Mr. Spencer, meet me in my office."

The Psych buddies watched as Karen and Jules walked away. Gus tried talking to Shawn but he didn't budge. He dropped Shawn off in front of the San Francisco Police station. Shawn nervously knocked on Karen Vick's door, ushered inside and closed the door behind him.

"Mr. Spencer, I need you to be honest with me. Mrs. Spencer has informed me that you've been distant since returning from Santa Barbara. Is everything okay?" Her tone was gentle but enforced with a sternness. "Shawn. Are you okay? I know Lassiter's close call affected us all…"

"Lassie has nothing to do with this." He lied, eyes avoiding her gaze.

"Shawn, be honest with me. Carlton almost died. I saw your reaction at the hospital that night. I've never seen you so worried, almost terrified."

"Lassiter's my friend, of course I was worried."

Karen looked at him earnestly.

"Shawn, the truth. It's just us. I won't tell."

"I-I don't think I can, Chief."

"Shawn, you love him don't you?"

Shawn's eyes bugged out in shock, tears threatened to spill. "H-how…"

"I'm smarter than you think, Shawn. I notice things like the fact I know that you're not Psychic." She watched as Shawn's pales. "I won't do anything, Spencer. You're a great asset to us and I care about you."

"Wow… Karen I don't know what to say."

"Don't lie, that's what you can do. I know you're an eidetic. I also know that friends don't freak out like that when they care. Carlton isn't just a friend."

"No. No." He shook his head, denying what she said." He is."

"Shawn." She said sternly.

Shawn sighed." Fine. You're right. I love Lassiter and he doesn't love me back."

"I'm not so sure about that, Shawn. He always tried to keep you out of danger even when you ran straight into it."

"He told me in his own words. ' I won't be responsible for destroying your marriage to O'Hara' How does he love me if…"

"He is taking himself out of the picture, Shawn. He doesn't want Juliet heartbroken and is sacrificing his love for you to make everybody happy."

"But he's not making me happy. I'm in love with him. I watched him marry someone else… stayed with Jules, married her and for him to abandon me."

"He asked about you every day, Mr. Spencer. I've always known that you were flirting with him. It was undeniable. He reciprocated as well."

"How?" Shawn stood stunned at Karen's confession.

"How about you put your memory to test." He started to walk toward the door." Spencer." His head turned," If you are hiding anything else, I'll find out and you know for sure what I'd do by now."

He left her office, mind spinning from their conversation. He had a serial killer after gay men who are liars in love with other people. Shawn fits in the category. When he got home his wife wasn't home and at his door was another note.

"Shawn Spencer, I've let you a surprise. Come clean and I'll stop killing. Tell your wife you love that handsome Chief Lassiter or else."

Shawn's heart pounded. How did he know about Carlton? Were they going to hurt him? At this point Shawn wasn't sure what to think or do. He couldn't risk the love of his life. Confess? Confessing to his wife that he loves her best friend, who is a man. He knew how that was going to go down.

It would go down without closure, pain and deep resentment.

-xxx—

Over the last three weeks since Spencer's departure Lassiter kept his focus on cases. Buzz Mcnab still got his coffee like he has been for years. Carlton groaned into his hands, frustrated with the amount of unsolved cases piling up on his desk.

"Mcnab!"

Within a few moments, Buzz came back into the office. "Yes, Chief?"

"How is the Mario's case coming?" Carlton asked, before taking a sip from the cup.

"Uh, Chief, the Mario's case hasn't made any progress."

"Why is that?" Carlton's impatience started wearing out.

Mario's family left several messages on the SBPD voicemail. Harvey Mario went missing September 10th, according to his wife, Farrah Mario last saw her husband before he left work. Carlton sent out his detectives to check out the Mario home and they found traces of blood under the back door mat. Mario's case immediately caught attention from the local news outlets, buzzing across town.

"Officer Nicks and I checked out Mario's last appearance by the dock. We saw signs of struggle and possible forced trauma but didn't find Mario."

He kept the sigh from escaping." What about possible suspects?"

Buzz grimly nodded. "His son, Jacob Mario's alibi didn't match. He is Interrogation room 3B."

Carlton sighed." Alright, Mcnab, send in, Brannigan."

He watched as Detective Mcnab disappeared with a "Yes, Chief!" At first he wasn't sure if Head Detective Brannigan was the right fit for SBPD. Then she proved herself as worthy for him. He could trust her with the task. Of course Brannigan wouldn't ever be O'Hara-Spencer. Nobody would come close to what partnership he and Juliet had.

"Mcnab said you needed me, Chief Lassiter." The bright toned voice awoke him from his daydream. He cleared his throat." Ah, yes. What have you found on Jacob Mario?"

"He's refusing to speak without a lawyer present, sir."

"We can't force him to talk." He grunted." The imbecile knows his rights. Get him a lawyer and make him crack."

Brannigan nodded." Yes, Chief."

Carlton finally was able to release the breath he was holding after the door shut. He tried not to think about Shawn. The Chief wondered if he made the right choice. Juliet kept texting him, asking if Shawn had been okay. How would he know? He and Shawn haven't spoken since he left. His phone rang.

He raised it up to his ear." Chief Lassiter."

"Carlton, would you want to come over for a fish fry tonight?"

"Oh, hi Henry! Sure sounds great. I'll see if Marlowe can take Lily for the night." Henry chuckled.

"Don't worry, Carlton, she can come."

"Are your guns locked away?"

Henry grumbled." Yes, Lassiter, I'm not an idiot. Unlike those idiots who don't know how to lock guns safely I know how to."

"Sweet lady justice, Henry relax. Lily is always trying to figure out how to open stuff. Don't get all grumpy because I don't want my daughter hurt."

"I know kids are everything. Shawn could pick locks when he turned eight. Well… I taught him and Gus too but I was always afraid, knowing how my son is."

Carlton's face changed color at the mention, luckily he knew Henry couldn't tell over the phone. "My daughter's just like me, sometimes it scares me."

Henry laughed. "Our kids always have the worst and best parts of us."

"Listen, Henry I gotta go, McNab might lose his head interrogation."

Henry grunts before hanging up." Grab some beers."

Shaking his head, Carlton's phone fell to his desk and he rubbed a hand through his hair, stressed. Later that day, he opened his car door, stepping out. As the sun slowly lowered in the sky, he peeked his head inside.

"Mr. Lassiter, Lily was an angel today for us."

He smiled, greeting Miss Gills." I've told you it's Chief Lassiter, Miss Gills."

Miss Gills gasped." My bad, Chief. Mind my age, I forget things. In my old age I can't remember a lot."

He dismissed, kindly." It's okay. I tend to forget names too. Is she almost ready, I have plans to attend to."

The daycare worker looked behind her and sure enough Lily Lassiter was racing down the hallway, carrying something in her arms. Carlton smiled as his daughter raced up to him before he called out.

"Lily Nora Lassiter, you don't run in the hall!"

Lily looked up, stunned." Daddy!" She thought her mommy was picking her up today. "Where's mama?"

Lassiter met his daughter halfway, helping get stuff into her open backup pouch. "Mama had to work late tonight, you are at my house tonight. We are going to Henry Spencer's for dinner sweetie."

Lily's face lit up. "Yay! Is Mr. Spencer making my favorite?"

"No, sweetie, we are having fish tonight."

Lily made a face." Yuck. I don't want fish."

"Lily." Carlton said sternly," what did I say about manners?"

"You said I have to try it before I say I don't like it."

"Yes, and you will be nice to Mr. Spencer."

"Did you say Henry Spencer?"

Carlton looked back over to Miss Gills, nodding. "Yes."

Miss Gills gushed." Ah, Henry Spencer, that brings back memories."

"You knew him?"

Becky Gills smiled fondly." Yes. He used to bring his son here every Friday. I believe his son's name was Shawn. The kid's memory amazed me. He knew all the colors in the crayon box before I even pulled them out. Nobody could beat him in Memory. He always knew where it was."

Carlton listened as the older lady told him about the young Shawn Spencer. He knew Shawn had a great memory but it astounded him.

Lily asked." Uncle Shawny?"

"Yes, Shawn Spencer, miss Lily."

"How did he know the colors?"

The daycare teacher knelt down, closer to Lily's height and smiled. "He had eidetic memory or Photographic Memory. That means he remembers everything he sees."

Lily squealed." That's so cool!"

Becky frowned slightly." It might be, but Shawn didn't like people knowing."

"Why, Miss Gills?" Lassiter cursed his daughter's need to know things. He could tell that the subject made the woman uncomfortable. "Lily."

Becky shook her head at Carlton." It's okay, kids ask questions. It's hard to explain but Shawn didn't like being too smart. He always complained that his daddy wanted too much from him."

Becky's face tried to remain civil but Carlton knew that Henry's parenting was questionable at best. "That explains why he acted like he didn't know anything."

"That's correct, Chief Lassiter. Between the two of us, Shawn never had a chance to be a kid. He had his own dreams, aspirations. Mr. Spencer wanted his son to be a detective, and trained him according to Shawn. I tried to talk to Henry but he told me to mind my business. By the end of the week, Shawn stopped coming." Miss Gills frowned again.

Carlton checked his wristwatch, sighing." We should get going, don't want to be late."

"Bye-bye Miss Gills!"

Lassiter and Lily head over to the crown Vic. He buckled her into the car seat, then got into the driver seat and started the engine. It took fifteen minutes in stand-still traffic due to construction. There's three things Lassiter hated.

One: Idiots.

Two: squirrels.

He used them as target practice with his gun.

And three: Construction.

Why did they have to tear apart part of the road and leave it untouched for weeks? For the last couple of months three streets have been shut down because of road construction that led to SBPD.

"Come in, Carlton. Hi, Lily." Henry said as he held the door open.

Lassiter held up a pack of beer. "Here you go." Then he turned to his daughter," Go put on some TV. I'm sure Henry wouldn't mind."

Henry smiled." Go ahead, just don't delete my fishing shows."

The two men watched as she skipped out of the room and threw her body onto the couch. Henry and Lassiter headed over to the kitchen. Carlton sat on the stool, while Henry prepped the fish.

"You're late."

He grunted in acknowledgment. "Construction." He sipped his beer. "You know how it is."

"What's going on with you and my son?"

The beer bottle nearly slipped through his fingers." What do you mean, Henry?"

"You know what I mean, Lassiter."

Elder Spencer kept his eye trained on him. "Nothing's going on between Spencer and I."

"Come on, Carlton, I'm not senile. I've seen how you looked at my boy. And since your second divorce has been finalized I haven't seen you out."

Lassiter narrowed his eyes. "I'm the chief and a father. I don't have time for dating useless people."

"I know you figured out Shawn has photographic Memory. I'm sure of it. What I'm not sure about is why my son isn't locked away like you've hammered him about for years."

He gritted his jaw." What does that have to do with dinner?"

"My son is drawn to you."

He gulped down some more beer. "I know."

Henry placed the breaded cod onto a plate and looked over at the other male. "What are you going to do about it? Shawn doesn't always take things seriously. He's afraid of the hard stuff but when it is time to settle down. He shows up. Carlton, the boy has bent over backwards for you. Drimmer, Yin and Yang. He's always been there even when you wanted him to disappear."

His cheeks flush from the look Henry gave him. "Can we just finish dinner?"

"Actually I don't think so. Not yet. We have a lot to discuss."

"Look, I didn't come here to be interrogated, Spencer. You invited me over for a fish fry."

"My son stopped by before he left. I've never seen him so fragile." Carlton's heart clenched in his chest. He knew he was the one who caused that. "I should hit you."

His eyes flared." Excuse me?" He scoffed. "Are you threatening me?"

Henry shook his head," No it's a promise, Lassiter. You broke my son's heart. Hell, how could you lie to him when I know for a fact that you feel the same!"

"It's not that easy."

"Bullshit. You are so stuck in your ass that you can't see what's right in front of you."

Carlton stood up abruptly." I don't need to sit here and listen to you berate me." He growled darkly. The chair underneath him screeched against the tiled kitchen tiles. Henry huffed. "Coward. That's what you are."

"Look at yourself, wise guy!" He shot back. "You drilled your son into something he clearly didn't want. So what if I don't want to make a whole life change for someone who just leaves at first sight of anything real."

He saw the nerves in Henry's clenched fist twitch. "The way I raised my son has nothing to do with this. What this is about is the fact you are in denial. You're in-love with Shawn Spencer, there's nothing you can do to change that. You've probably felt like this for a while without knowing it. The difference between you and me is that I stood up like a man and went after what I wanted."

"Fuck you. Just because I'm in "denial" doesn't mean you have the right to contradict what my decisions are." He used air quotes to show the other man wasn't right. He knew Henry made some very valid points. "Maybe you just want to fix what you fucked up in the first place."

He didn't register anything until a fist was thrown into his face. He clenched his fist and unclenches. Carlton shoves past Henry, gathers Lily before slamming the door behind him. He's reeling in anger as he drives away.

The next morning, an alarm wakes up his brain. He looked in the mirror, seeing a darkened bruise on the left side of his cheek. Stupid bastard, he grumbled, lifting his fingers to the bruise. He hissed in pain. He dropped his face into water, letting the moisture cleanse him. Carlton knew he looked like hell. He started his morning no different than any other day.

"What happened to your face?" Brannigan gasped out of shock.

"Anything else?" He dodged her question.

"Jacob Mario's lawyer posted bail twenty minutes ago."

"Great." He rolled his eyes." How did he lost bail?"

"Apparently his mother knows a lot about the justice system. Buzz found out that Jacob was out at his friends' house all night. He's clean as a whistle, Chief."

"So we're back to square one." He dragged his hands over his face.

"Chief… what happened?"

He looked up again, seeing Detective McNab carrying something. "If another person asks I'm going to start suspending." He growled, annoyed.

"Yes, Chief!" The two detectives chimed in unison.

"What do you need?"

"Another body was found."

Lassiter and his team arrived at the crime scene where it was declared by forensics that the body was indeed Harvey Mario. Now Chief Lassiter not only had to tell the family their loved one is dead and another secret. According to the best friend who knew that Mario was in-love with him.

"How long have Harvey Mario and you been interested in one another?"

Dane's eyes were red as he wiped the tissue across them. "Harv and I were seeing each other behind Farrah's back for six months. I-I didn't know until eight months ago that he loved me back."

"Did you notice anything unusual about Harvey?" Lassiter asked as his mind tried not to think about him. He's supposed to be questioning the lover of their victim. But all he could think about was his own guilt.

"No, I hadn't. I would never hurt him. I loved him so much…" he sobbed. "Although I noticed this strange note under our bed." He showed Carlton the wrinkled paper sheet, stained but he could read it.

"So you think hiding secret gay love is smart? Watch your back and caught it off before…" There was no signature. He turned it over but nothing was written on the back.

Brannigan said." So we are looking for a possible hate crime."

McNab pointed out." Whoever is the killer is after people who are having affairs."

"I need everything you can find on Mario's lover. It looks like we are looking for a homophobic killer."