2010
It is late. Whatever Gus had been watching is over. He is leaving and Shawn cannot move. He incoherently mutters something like 'see you tomorrow', but he feels like screaming into a pillow. All of his memories of Carlyle are suddenly resurfacing and he is positive he is about to have a restless sleep. Meanwhile, Carlton's dad is knockout drunk and asleep. Carlton struggles more against the rope but is too tired to think. His foot rolls a near-empty bottle of Jack over. With a lot of effort, he manages to drink a few sips so as not to die from starvation. He promptly falls asleep.
Morning comes much too soon. Carlton tries to escape his entrapment as his dad wakes up. The older man explains he has work to attend to while simultaneously giving his son several lashes across the chest and back. Carlton waits until the man leaves to start working through the knots.
Gus arrives early and is a little surprised to see Shawn already pacing in the office. Normally, Shawn either comes in very late or he falls asleep on the couch in the office - but even then Gus needs to wake him up. Shawn is so caught up in his own little world, he doesn't even notice Gus until the chocolate-skinned man jumps onto the desk.
"Hey, Buddy!" Shawn looks up with a start and feigned enthusiasm.
"That's your 'I've-Got-a-Dying-Secret' voice." Gus points out knowingly. "What is it?"
"I need to tell you, Gus. But I really don't want to, because you'll hate me all over again."
"Oh, c'mon, son. What is it? You forget to TiVo my show last night when I watched what I TiVoed during the day?"
"Gus, I'm bisexual." He answers, holding his breath. "Only I'm more gay than I am straight."
For the longest minute, neither of them say a word. There isn't a trace of humor among their eyes, only fear and determination in Shawn's; mixing with the fear and anger in Gus's. Finally, Gus speaks up in a shattered breath, realizing the greatest nightmare of his childhood had in fact been a reality twist.
"What am I, flypaper for freaks!?"
"I'm not a freak, Gus." Shawn winces. "I'm just a regular guy who may have to try a little harder to play hard to get." He finishes trying to add some humor.
"Why play so hard to get when you're already so hard to want?"
That hurts. Gus is supposed to be his best friend and they are supposed to be adults. Just because they don't always act like adults in informal settings, Shawn would like to think they could have a rational conversation on this.
"I didn't realize you were an expert on my life and how I should live it!" Shawn retorts, considerably angry. "Continue while I take notes!"
Another silence befalls them. Gus is searching through his desk drawers for his inhaler. Shawn feels bad for causing an uproar but he won't apologize for being what he is, even if Gus can't stand it. This time, Shawn breaks the silence.
"I'm sorry, Gus. I didn't mean that. You wanna talk more on this and get a couple fro-
yos?"
Gus isn't even close to over. He takes a puff, then snarls at his friend. "I'm not your type. I'm not inflatable."
"That's cold, man." Shawn scrunches up his face. "Please cancel my subscription to your issues."
"Oh, this is all a big damn joke to you, is it?" Gus throws up his hands.
Shawn slams his hands on the desk, startling Gus. "Before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean."
"What'd you steal that off, Shawn? You're trying to add characters in this argument to win? God, you can't even fight normal!"
"Nobody wants to hear it." Shawn answers through grit teeth, trying hard not to say something he cannot take back. He teeters and starts pacing away, toward the couch. "Is your drama going to have an intermission soon?"
"Forget it, Shawn. Just go out there guns a-blazin' and what doesn't kill you.. Disappoints me."
Shawn sees red in his eyes. He pivots sharply and marches up to his best friend. He shoves Gus against a file cabinet. "If you have a problem with me, then cry me a river and drown yourself in it."
"Know what, Spencer?" Gus dusts himself off, resorting to calling his business partner by his last name. "We've been friends for a very long time. How about we call it quits?"
Shawn is beyond pissed. He feels betrayed and trapped. "Fuck you, man. You're supposed to have my back on this. Not turn your back and shove it down my throat. Dammit." He starts crying as he continues. "You want me to find your point in all this. But it's all full of crap. Just let it be. I'm different. We're friends, right?"
"No means no, now let it go."
Gus grabs his silver medicine briefcase, his jacket and his keys. He storms to the doors, but Shawn has one last thing to shout out.
"Fine, I take it back! Unfuck you! And you're fired!"
FLASHBACK MONTAGE
1990 (song playing: ".Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears)
Carlton and Damien are having a date at an outdoor caf , laughing and holding hands. Carlton is wearing a thin long-sleeved shirt and Damien is all dressed out in full fall apparel. They are sitting at a wire table, watching the multicolored leaves crinkle and fall. They had just spent an amazing morning catching up at their special hideout, and now they sit back with a couple spiced coffees.
.
Shawn leaps off his bike, racing toward Carlyle. The shyer boy has thrown his bike into the gutter and is now sitting on the median in the middle of the freeway. Shawn doesn't give himself time to think. He runs to the other boy's side, dodging a number of rush hour-eque cars filtering the road.
"Why are you sitting here, waiting to be hit?" Shawn demands to know.
"Why not?" Carlyle gives a barely audible response, turning away.
.
Carlton and Damien are at the movies, watching each other more than the screen. They sit more toward the back and they aren't sure who paid. Carlton memorizes every outline of the man before him as they gaze at one another in the darkness. Damien, with his soft hair and hazel eyes, had always been a beacon of hope in Carlton's bleak, undesirable life. Damien has been more of the irresponsible one, willing to go off on any idea that had popped into his mind. While Carlton has been a little more wary, he had usually joined in on the fun. They trust each other.
.
An oncoming truck swerves into the turning lane as Carlyle takes a step out. Shawn's heart sinks and he takes a running start. He tackles Carlyle by his waist, running them into the asphalt. Carlyle had stopped wriggling upon impact, too shocked over what has just happened. Hearing the blaring screeches of worn-out brakes, Shawn begins to roll. He roughly rolls them into the grassy weeds and holds onto Carlyle for dear life.
"Never do that again. Ever." Shawn harshly whispers.
Shaken but pleasantly surprised, Carlyle answers in a ghost of a whimper. "I won't."
.
It is cold weather. Jack-o-lanterns are carved and sitting out on porches. Kids are either running to the stores with their parents and allowance, or they are staying in groups creating costumes on their own. Carlton and Damien are walking down the sidewalks with pumpkin coffees.
"Should we dress up?" Damien throws the thought into the wind.
"What would we go as?" Carlton questions with his signature eyebrow raised.
"Da Vinci and Caprotti?"
"Really? Erotic teacher-student?" Carlton wiggles his eyebrows teasingly.
Damien snakes an arm around Carlton's waist, pulling him closer. In a low, seductive voice, he whispers, "We could always be Hoover and Tolson."
Carlton turns his head slightly to kiss his boyfriend for putting the thought into his head. He smiles into the kiss and whispers back, "Take me away, Officer."
.
Shawn and Carlyle are riding their bikes on the other side of town, holding hands. It has been a week since the freeway incident. Carlyle isn't as tough or brave as Shawn. Nor is he a very good liar. For this reason, Carlyle agrees to be Shawn's boyfriend - his secret boyfriend. They will leave each other messages and meet on the far side of town. Shawn is willing to risk his life for Carlyle, and Carlyle can only hope he would do the same for Shawn.
.
.
1991 (song playing: "All My Life" by K-Ci & Jo-Jo)
Carlton and Damien are at a hot concert. The music is blaring and people are jumping with their arms above their heads. Carlton and Damien refuse to separate and are hugging on each other throughout. During a rocking guitar solo, Damien leaps onto Carlton's shoulders. He reaches his arms toward the stage and a band member brushes his hand along his. Damien squeals and nearly falls off.
.
Shawn and Carlyle have recently found an old shack hidden in the woods by the river. It once was a bait shop and possibly someone else's secret hideout, as Shawn has presumed. A lot of thorny bushes grow around the building, but the fourteen-year-old kids don't mind. They are relaxing in the back area eating ice cream cones.
.
Carlton and Damien are back at the Wild, Wild West town. Hank is overzealous to see the boys together again. They are all decked out, speaking the lingo and wrangling cattle as if they had never left in the first place. Several maidens and madams attempt their chances at having one of the men's hands. Over-exaggerated despair befalls the town when one is refused.
.
Shawn and Carlyle are swimming in the river and having fun. They are having contests at holding their breath for long periods of time and swimming to an affectionately dubbed Passion Rock, only to dive off of it. After a victorious splash made with both boys holding hands, someone loses his shorts. Though they quickly cover their own areas, neither can help sneaking a peek before a completely flushed Shawn grabs the misplaced article.
.
It is snowing peacefully. Carlton and Damien are on a ski resort together, already riding on a lift to take them to a high slope. They had decided Canada wouldn't cost so much but it would help them escape their hectic lives. It already has. The lift soon drops the couple off at the top. Damien is a little unsteady, not really used to cold weather. He holds on tightly to Carlton, who really does not mind a bit.
.
Shawn and Carlyle are ice-skating in a neighboring town. They continue to be secret boyfriends. Shawn had informed his family he would be at camp with a classmate over the weekend. Instead, the fourteen-year-old has fake IDs, claiming them to be sixteen and old enough to stay alone at a cabin in exchange for daily upkeep. The boys are skating on a frozen pond, holding hands and laughing as they slide.
.
.
1992 (song playing: "Waterfalls" by TLC)
Carlton and Damien are having a Valentine's Day brunch. Damien is about to turn twenty-four in a few days and Carlton is dropping hints with candies and syrups about what his present will be. They are in a booth at a small diner and Carlton playfully drops a bit of whipped cream on Damien's nose. He smiles and leans in for a kiss.
.
Carlyle and Shawn fall asleep on the bus and wake up in a rough city neighborhood. While Carlyle goes inside a tavern (since he looks old enough and Shawn does not) to ask for directions, his boyfriend waits just outside. He is ushered into the alley by a group of thugs planning to make the kid their new drug mule. Fearful, Shawn squeezes his eyes shut and starts thrashing. He tries to remember the fighting stances his dad had taught him, but things are rushing too quickly. As the three - the leader with a switchblade - advance on him, a loud crackle followed by a large thud is noticeable.
Shawn cracks an eye open and sees the leader is also looking away. He uses the time to roll out of the way and crawl behind a dumpster. Another similar sound is heard. Shawn glances back to see a lead pipe swing out and come to a thud against the wall. The remaining twenty-something gangster lets out a low string of profanities and clutches one of Shawn's legs. Despite the younger boy's whipping and flailing around, the older man keeps a firm hold and digs his nails in Shawn's leg.
Shawn cannot hold back his tears as the thug drags him out and raises the blade. Suddenly, a flash of dark brown hair tackles him to the ground. Carlyle is on the older kid - who still has yet let go of Shawn. He tries to shove Carlyle away but he is stubborn. The younger kid gets in a few punches as the fight progresses. The brute cruelly shoves Shawn into the dumpster and Carlyle grabs the knife.
The beast manages to cut Carlyle's arm before the blade is turned into his own abdomen. Carlyle grabs the discarded pipe and swings it at the bully. He then quickly leaps to his feet and grabs Shawn. His boyfriend barely has consciousness but smiles gratefully best he can. He drags Shawn into the nearest station, calling for help. .
.
Damien and Carlton go to a different bar than their normal hangout. The patrons there are more aggressive, loud and rude. Damien and Carlton trust each other enough to help each other fit in. The way to do this, in their minds, is to head to the bathroom and beat on each other a little. Carlton walks out with disheveled clothes and a bleeding lip. He walks to the bar and is joined five minutes later by Damien - also with disheveled clothes but also a bruise forming just below his eye.
When the bartender questions Damien on his discoloration, he claims "someone didn't take too kindly of my boyfriend". A fight ensues not a minute later. The patrons are not only aggressive, loud and rude. They are deeply homophobic and Carlton and Damien are in the middle of the chaos. When the bar fight turns more anarchic, the two are on a mission to rescue one another. Carlton saves Damien from an explosion of glass shards and Damien saves Carlton for a metallic barstool aimed at his head.
As they swiftly make their way out of the bar and down the street to an abandoned park, they stop to laugh. They laugh about the absurd danger they had gotten themselves into, simply for wanting a change in routine. They laugh at their appearance. They had fought each other to fit in, only to fight once more when they had been ousted. Since their date seems to have been cut short, they opt for the swings at the playground instead.
.
Shawn and Carlyle are having fun at an Under 21 Karaoke Club. They have grown the closest of friends, but continue to keep the secret from Shawn's friends. Carlyle's on the other hand, are aware. They may not approve but they don't make fun or exclude the boys. While Carlyle's mom however doesn't approve, she allows Shawn to stay over sometimes, in Carlyle's tree house. The boys are up on stage now, belting out a favorite TLC song and urging the whole club to sing along with the chorus.
.
Damien takes Carlton to a very public place: the outdoor caf where they had their first adult date. He moves them to the center of a crowded area, toward the table they shared. He gets down on bended knee and proposes to Carlton. The crowds hush save for a few shocked or surprised gasps. Carlton freezes for a full minute, having lost the ability to speak. It is December 12th, and this could be considered the greatest Christmas gift in all his life. Not trusting his voice, Carlton instead smiles brightly and brings Damien into a strong embrace and kiss.
Cheers echo around them, but they are too busy and caught up in their own world to notice. They leave the caf holding hands, planning to stop for gas and race to the cabin for a celebration. Carlton cannot think of another way to end the fantastic day.
.
Carlyle and Shawn are playing tag in Shawn's front yard. It isn't a secret they are friends and the two are slowly letting the world see this. Gus is away somewhere, so Henry doesn't mind having another one of his son's friends over. As they play, Carlton urges Shawn it is time to let the world know they are a couple. Shawn is initially shocked at this. It is December 12th, and Shawn is suddenly very excited. He agrees and runs into the house to search for his dad.
.
.
December 13, 1992 (song playing: "Iris" by The Goo-Goo Dolls)
Carlton walks down the snowy streets in nothing but a plaid button-up shirt, halfway unbuttoned, plus thin jeans and black loafers - no socks. He had just drunk two full bottles of Jack and downed about five or eight sleeping pills from his mother's stash. He looks down at his engagement ring and scoffs, silently wondering what it all even means. He wanders to the main bridge in town, passing a bulletin board of a telephone pole. He barely skims through the papers until his eyes rest dead against a smiling man he had come to love. A serial kidnapper had been on the loose and the maniac had gotten Damien. Carlton blames himself, since they had been together. Carlton went inside to pay for gas and Damien had been leaning against the windshield. When he returned, there was only a calling card in his place.
Shawn doesn't mind the bitter coldness in the air. His lips are already turning blue as he reaches the main bridge. He is wearing an over-sized Apple Jacks T-shirt, thin jeans and a pair of worn-out sneakers. He doesn't bother shielding away from the falling snow and instead takes out a cigarette, a lighter and a can of beer. He had never gone through any of those things, but he figures he should before his end comes. He lights the cigarette and breathes in the smoke. He has a bit of a coughing fit and subsequently puts it out, not understanding all the hype. A week ago, he and Carlyle were simply playing hide-and-
seek. He heard Carlyle's scream, but by the time he figured out where it was coming from, only a calling card was at the place. Shawn shakes his head and downs a few gulps of the warm, bitter alcohol before turning to face the bulletin board of the telephone pole by the main bridge.
MISSING PERSONS OF SANTA BARBARA
Drawood, Elsey Age: 13 Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Green Last Seen: 12/05/1989
Synte, Merca Age: 12 Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Blue Last Seen: 12/19/1989
Wreber, Kaje Age: 4 Hair: Black Eyes: Green Last Seen: 12/19/1989
Pack, Marshall Age: 19 Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Blue Last Seen: 12/07/1992
Wilson, Shane Age: 7 Hair: Black Eyes: Hazel Last Seen: 12/07/1992
Lander, Carlyle Age: 15 Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Blue Last Seen: 12/12/1992
Beach, Zachary Age: 5 Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Blue Last Seen: 12/12/1992
Spangler, Damien Age: 24 Hair: Dirty Blond Eyes: Hazel Last Seen: 12/12/1992
Suspect: Delas, October Age: 28 Hair: Blond Eyes: Green Call if you have information on whereabouts.
1-888-LOST-KID
Carlton reaches a rail. He impatiently drums his fingers along the edge, ignoring the oncoming frostbite sensation. Hardly a soul is out this late. In fact, looking around, he can only spot two teenagers making a fire pit on the beach, a kid walking with his dad, and another teen looking around at the bridge.
Shawn barely recognizes another person on the bridge. He can see the other person is a man, not much older than him. He notices the kid having fun with his dad, but that is it. His vision is impaired and he uses a lot of strength to hoist himself to the edge. He looks down at the icy waters and closes his eyes.
Carlton stands on the slippery metallic surface, thinking about how life could be different if he had just made a few small changes. He contemplates returning to the old shack with his father's old Smith & Wesson, or at least holding up a liquor store so he can have some slight satisfaction before hitting the waters indefinitely. He doesn't have a chance to decide. He is suddenly being pulled forward, off the bridge, by a set of small but strong arms. The arms are shaking and Carlton is in shock.
His fifteen-year-old sister hugs him with tear-stained cheeks. She gives him a why-
would-you-do-this kiss on his cheek and quickly grabs his arms, pulling him toward the closest caf . She situates him directly in front of the oven in the kitchen, terrified of losing her only brother. Carlton feels guilty and nothing else.
Shawn swings his legs over and prepares to leap. He closes his eyes and leans forward, but suddenly a pair of hands lunges for him and brings him back. Gus, his very best friend, had been looking for him. He hasn't been aware of how close Shawn is with Carlyle. He knows they are friends outside of school, but that is it. Gus has chalked up what happened in the park on Shawn's thirteenth birthday as a delusion, or a bad dream. They don't talk about it. Gus takes Shawn to the candy store for heat and something to put in his stomach that they can afford.
Christmas morning comes. Carlton spends the day with Lauren. Their mother is out from eggnog and they have small gifts. Carlton had bought Lauren a camera, while Lauren had made Carlton a shadow box. Shawn spends the day with his parents, Gus and fourteen-
year-old Joy. Gus's parents have other obligations unfortunately, but Shawn spends the day with people he loves.
FLASHBACK MONTAGE ENDS
2010
Carlton's clothes are a little disheveled and slightly shredded, from having to shield away the cuts and bruises he had sustained. He feels like hell and now struggling into the office, he vows to not go home any time soon. He stumbles into the records room in pain, only to find Buzz McNab there with a partially confused expression.
"Detective Lassiter, are you alright? You look stressed."
Carlton glares at the younger man in anger. "Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't gone to sleep yet. Ever been stressed, McNab?"
"Uh, not when you put it like that, sir. If you'd like my opinion?"
Carlton glares even harder if possible. "And your crybaby, whiny-assed opinion would be?"
"Never mind, Sir."
Buzz bites his bottom lip, making a mental note to stay away from Detective Lassiter for the rest of the day. He wonders briefly why the detective is so late, but he can smell the liquor (which, of course he doesn't realize was poured over the man's wounds in torture) and believes there must be something significant the man is trying to wash away. He leaves the back rooms and greets Gus near the front desk.
"Morning. Where's Shawn?"
"I don't know." He answers, voice raising in pitch. "I'm not his babysitter. Where's the chief? I need my paycheck."
"Uh, well, you look like you're having problems. Would you listen for a moment and I can try"
"Yes, of course I have time to listen to you complain about all the stupid shit I can neither help you with or do anything about." He answers mirthlessly.
"I'll go find the chief."
A few minutes later, the chief writes the check out for Gus. He thanks her shortly but she brushes it off, thinking he and Shawn might be at ends about a cereal bar or something juvenile, as they often are. She heads back to the records room and Gus turns around to leave. As he opens his car door, Juliet walks over.
"Hey, Gus. You okay?"
"Nice perfume." He comments with an edge as he slides in behind the steering wheel. "Must you marinate in it?"
She gasps at the remark and watches him speed off. When she enters the floor, McNab warns her to leave Lassiter alone. She and McNab work on the case for the most part - with Lassiter being short with his co-workers and not doing much actual work. O'Hara and McNab catch the lead suspect and are bringing him into interrogation when Shawn finally arrives on his bike. He parks it where the Blueberry is usually found and walks inside only to run into the chief.
"Hello, Mr. Spencer. What brings you to the office?"
"This isn't an office." He answers lowly. "It's Hell with fluorescent lighting."
She looks around at the bustle of officers and convicts in cuffs. She turns back to the impatient man beside her with a shrug.
"I suppose you're right. O'Hara and McNab have a suspect in Interrogation Room C. You're welcome to read him if you want. Mr. Guster has your check."
"Of course he does." He stomps his foot in defeat. "I'll just go see Jules and Lassiter."
"Alright, Mr. Spencer." She nods. "If you'll excuse me, I have places to be. I'll be in press conferences all afternoon."
He mock-salutes her and heads inside. Shawn doesn't really feel like investigating any crimes, but he doesn't want to go home and he definitely doesn't want to go to his dad's or back to the Psych office. He knows where things are and easily makes his way to the correct interrogation window. McNab and Lassiter are already there. McNab glances up but barely acknowledges him for risk of being chewed out. Lassiter doesn't look either. The suspect is rattling off a list of complaints and it is driving O'Hara mad.
"Stop complaining. Everyone who died yesterday thinks you're one lucky son of a bitch. So, tell me where your partner is!"
"That's offensive." The criminal has the nerve to remark. "You treat everyone like this? No wonder you don't get anywhere with"
"I'm sorry you got offended the one time you were treated the way you treat everyone all the time." O'Hara seethes in a huff.
The man stares blankly at the pretty blonde detective. He hadn't been expecting that. Shawn, angry at everything bubbling inside him, reaches for the intercom button.
"Someone binged on Bitch Flakes this morning."
Juliet is upset and McNab gawks at the psychic. "Shawn, that isn't appropriate. There's something wrong here, between you and Detective Lassiter, and I'm going to have to tell the chief."
"Thanks for your complaint." Lassiter speaks up then, responding harshly. "I'll file it right between 'Don't give a flying fuck' and 'sucks to be you'."
He gapes once more. "Both of you need to leave."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Shawn remarks.
Carlton groans, walking behind Spencer. Suddenly, the psychic consultant stops purposely and the head detective stumbles into him. Before Carlton utters a word, a furious Shawn erupts, hoping to vent to Lassiter, since the man is strong and takes all sorts of shit from criminals.
"Back off! You're standing in my aura."
Carlton is a bit taller than Shawn and leers over him. "You have a fucking aura?"
"Tsk, tsk, Lassie. What would the people think?" He tries to infuse sarcasm in his anger.
"Do I look like a fucking people person?" No one has talked to him all day basically and now Spencer is in his face gabbing about an aura.
Shawn is slightly taken aback by the constant swearing he is suddenly getting out of the detective but keeps up. "No, you look like a rude wannabe."
"I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant." Carlton growls. "And if you're gonna be a smart ass, first you have to be smart. Otherwise, you're just an ass."
Carlton has a tight smirk on his face, as if he is trying hard not to growl or scream. His words are soft and harsh. Shawn tries to emulate him.
"Aw, did I step on your poor little bitty ego?"
"My ego? At least it's more than that shit you call visions."
"I have plenty of real talent and real visions. I just don't give a damn today." Shawn crosses his arms as a warning for himself. "Don't judge my path if you haven't walked my journey."
"Be patient. I'm fucking things up as fast as I can." He narrows his eyes dangerously. "And what eighties movie did you steal that shit from? Before you judge my life, I suggest you take a good long look in the mirror."
"Could you be any more clich ?" Shawn questions, raising his voice slightly. "That's real clever. And by the way, do you realize that people just tolerate you?"
Carlton manages to roll his eyes, swallowing a biting remark. He just wants to get away from Spencer and finish up the day. "Your inappropriateness knows no boundaries. Now, get out of here and let the real police work."
Shawn can tell Carlton is desperately attempting to end this. Juliet is still in the interrogation room, oblivious to what is happening in here, and McNab really wants to go call the chief but doesn't want to interrupt the press conferences and risk getting yelled at or suspended. He stays in the back, by the window, trying to ignore everything. Shawn grits his teeth and looks Carlton dead in the eyes.
"If you think you're so hot, why don't you go fuck yourself?"
Barely taken aback and without missing a beat, Carlton hisses in retort. "I would tell you to go fuck yourself, but I'm pretty sure you'd be disappointed."
Although these two are always bickering, McNab can sense something lying underneath the surface. Something has gone really wrong in both their lives and it worries the younger detective. Shawn hadn't expected Carlton to fall in line so finely. Still, he takes it as a battle in the heat rush of his anger.
"Getting in an argument with you is like getting arrested. Everything I say, can and will be used against me."
Carlton anxiously uses Shawn as a vent for his resentment and pain as well. "You're like the top piece of bread. Everybody touches you, but nobody wants you."
"Go headbutt a bullet." Shawn bares his teeth.
"Go play hackeysack with a grenade." Carlton clenches his fists so tight, he pierces the skin.
"Go fuck a landmine." Spencer snaps, remembering how much the man loves firearms and weaponry.
"Go deepthroat a cactus." Lassiter's eyes gleam in a more dangerous way than anyone has ever seen. "Or better yet, go play on the freeway."
Shawn gasps. Juliet has finally gotten a confession out of the suspect and is locking him away when she passes the hall and hears Lassiter's threatening insult. Shawn recalls when Carlyle was sitting in traffic, waiting for someone to hit him. In a completely monotonous yet ruthless voice, Shawn growls to Lassiter.
"If I wanted any lip from you, I'd pry it off my dick."
Without hesitation, that last remark had sent Lassiter in a full-blown rage. He punches Shawn, once in the face and another in the throat. Shawn dodges the next punch, but Lassiter tackles him into the wall. Carlton's gun is knocked out of its holster during the scuffle. Shawn's nose is bleeding and Carlton has the oncoming bruise for a shiner when the two are forcibly separated. They are suspended for the next two weeks, effective immediately. Juliet attempts to talk to each man as they leave, but Shawn completely brushes her off. Carlton stares her down as she warns him not to do anything he will regret in the upcoming two weeks.
"Maybe you should get your own life and stop interfering in mine."
He shoves his work gun and badge in her hands before heading out to his car. Shawn is already on his bike, mentally deciding where to go. Carlton breaks him out of his trance by revving his engine and threateningly advancing on the much smaller vehicle. In Carlton's mind, he has a sadistic thought and wonders what would happen if he were to suddenly floor the car against Spencer's bike. Shawn flips him off and Carlton nudges the back end of the bike, literally throwing the psychic off balance.
Shawn situates himself and drives to a local park. Carlton drives the other way, to the shooting range. Shawn has a need to surround himself with calmness in order to really reflect on the day, not to mention he huge fight that just occurred. Carlton needs to do the same, but with guns - they somehow relax him. Both have just been fired for a while but neither wants to go home. Shawn definitely cannot go to his dad's or back to the office. They spend most of their day away from others. A little after six, Carlton heads to Tom Blair's Pub. It is his sanctuary.
Carlton has a very high alcohol tolerance and starts on his first Long Island Iced Tea. He doesn't really want to get drunk, though. He wants to be able to drive home and he knows how much he can handle without the full-on effects of being drunk - though he will still have quite the hangover in the morning. By eight-thirty, Carlton has drunk two Long Islands and is working through a Bloody Mary when he notices Shawn walk in. The younger man has a lot of scrapes and Carlton isn't sure if he did or didn't cause them. Shawn orders a strawberry daiquiri and Carlton laughs bitterly to himself.
From Carlton's shadowy table, he watches over the course of the following hour. Shawn orders two daiquiris, three pina coladas and a sex on the beach. Carlton also watches a sleazy scumbag get more than a little tipsy and wander over to the object of his desire - which happens to be one psychically-and-physically impaired Shawn Spencer. Carlton watches the deadbeat flirt frivolously with Shawn, the consultant eating it up like diced pineapples. Carlton has seen the creep many times before, picking up women and men, only to toss them out in the garbage later. The detective knows his feelings for Spencer are not like he would like them to be, for the public to see. He has been desperately trying to hide that part of himself away from the world for nearly two decades now.
However, when Carlton sees the perverted douchebag attempt to drag Shawn out of the bar, he has had enough. Calmly, Carlton pays his tab and determinedly walks up to the men. Shawn is gripping the barstool, crying out to the strong-minded prick. He doesn't realize Lassiter is there and he only wants to go home. To HIS home.
"I don't think he wants to go with you." Lassiter speaks in a strapping, firm voice.
"First pickins, Grandpa." The somewhat wasted loser replies. "Get your own."
"Let me rephrase." Carlton continues, gripping one of the man's shoulder blades. "Spencer is mine."
"What, you his pimp?" The cocky thug grins. "I'll have 'im back after the hour, Boss."
Lassiter is enraged. Quick as a flash, he punches the philanderer through his teeth and handcuffs him to the bar. He grabs Shawn by his waist, helping him walk out of the bar and into the passenger seat of his car. Carlton carefully buckles Shawn's seatbelt before also climbing in and locking the doors. Lassiter is still having the worst day of his life since 1992, but he wants to make sure Shawn Spencer is safe. In order to do this, Carlton has come up with a two-step solution. Step one: He will get rid of his father by ignoring him and soon his father will forget why he is there and leave. Two: Carlton will temporarily move in with Spencer. It's not like he had planned on staying at his house in the long run.
It doesn't take too long for them to arrive at Shawn's home: an old, shutdown dry-
cleaner. Lassiter knows about it; he had worked there once when he was fourteen- before the whole gang mess. The drive hadn't been much trouble, and Shawn's subconscious had the decency to not throw up until the car had stopped. Lassiter is able to hold Spencer steady as he can vomit onto the grass. Lassiter finds the key (albeit a little awkwardly fishing around in Spencer's pockets) and brings in a few things while leaving Shawn buckled in where he can keep an eye on him.
Carlton then makes a tough transaction. He has Shawn lean against him as he shuts and locks the car; and then again, to do the same to the front door. He walks Shawn carefully to the back room - even down the short ten steps to his bedroom. The multitude of pineapples does not strike oddness for Carlton, not one bit. He lays the nearly unconscious Shawn on the bed, and then removes his shoes, as well as socks. Lassiter then finds a washcloth and a few different items to be used as a makeshift First Aid kit.
Carlton circumspectly dabs clear the dried blood and pseudo-sutures the deeper cuts. He surprisingly finds foundation makeup but recalls Shawn dressing like numerous false identities to unravel cases. He shrugs it off and applies it to Shawn's bruises. He gauzes the scrapes along his own knuckles, then gets to work undressing. He easily slips off Shawn's shirt, but takes a little extra longer staring. He knows he shouldn't have these sorts of feelings for the irritable consultant but some things cannot be helped. He takes a gander for the closet and opens it for pajamas.
Instead of clothing choices, Lassiter finds a lot of childhood memorabilia and a large area of himself. He finds a lot of cut-out pictures of himself and newspaper clippings, as well as his old tie and missing office supplies. An Aries necklace hangs from the top and Carlton is more than tempted to try it on, since apparently they share the same sign. Carlton shakes his head from being foolish and move to the front of the store-house. He clicks the cleaner conveyer belt and selects a set of pajamas. Back in the bedroom, Carlton is exceedingly watchful as he removes Spencer's jeans and replaces them with a nice blue pajama set, complete with smiling pineapples.
Lassiter gently covers the psychic with a blanket and hands him a random pillow to snuggle with. He does so immediately and Lassiter smiles. He moves a metallic trashcan closer to the bed, along with two aspirins and a glass of water. The detective doesn't necessarily want to sleep, but he finds a hammock in another backroom. He sets it up in the hall to make it difficult and highly unlikely for Spencer to ignore him in the morning. He smiles slightly to himself, thinking of how to turn the next few days around.
+ + + Sorry I haven't written anything on this for three months now. I hope this comes as a good thing. Please review and let me know how I did.
