Disclaimer: I do NOT own these characters (Except Zuri) or the songs featured in this Fic.
(What?)
Is that all you got to say?
(What? What?)
You're rubbing me the wrong way
(See your lips moving)
But I don't catch a word you say
(Shut up your chatter)
I need for you to go away
-"Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" by Ashlee Simpson
Santa Barbara: 2019
Shawn looked around at the chaos surrounding him and his family. The car that had crashed into the window was covered in glass with people circling around it. The dead body of the driver had been covered up by a white sheet to minimize sun exposure and view from the crowd. His own rental car would be taken in for the investigation as they had been hit. Shawn hadn't felt the other car bump into his as he turned, but sure enough a large dent was present in the front of the car.
Seconds after he'd gotten out of the car a series of paramedics had begun searching him for any injuries. He waved them off saying he was fine despite being the driver and most of the damage to the car had been on his side. Zuri was currently being patched up as the seatbelt had left a gash on her shoulder. Maddie was staying with her while Shawn and Henry were watching the police arrive on scene. Henry was genuinely curious as to why the teenage driver did what he did. Shawn wanted nothing to do with the case, police or the incident. He simply didn't want to face his daughter.
"Don't blame yourself." Henry mumbled covering his eyes with his hand to block the sun. Shawn squinted and looked at his dad, "It wasn't your fault Shawn. If you hadn't done what you did we'd be dead." Shawn nodded and continued to watch as cars came and went from the scene. When he saw a particular car Shawn tensed. Two figures stepped out of the car; Chief Carlton Lassiter and his head detective Juliet O'Hara. Carlton Lassiter had grown slightly older from the last time Shawn had seen of him, his hair was now covered in grey streaks and frown lines were apparent in his face. He was wearing his usual suit and dark sunglasses. Juliet looked the same from when Shawn had seen her in the store. She was dressed in her black pantsuit with a blue blouse.
"I'm going to check on Zuri." Shawn looked away from the detectives and walked over towards his daughter. Shawn nodded at his mother and took her place next to his crying daughter. Zuri's shoulder was cleaned and wrapped in a white bandage. A paramedic was checking her pupils when Shawn arrived.
"How is she?" Shawn asked placing a hand on Zuri's back.
"She'll be just fine. No concussion which is surprising but good. She didn't need any stitches for her shoulder but it will be sore and bruised." Shawn nodded as the paramedic looked him over, "Are you sure you don't need any medical attention sir? Your forehead is covered in blood."
Shawn raised a hand to his head and wiped. He pulled his hand away to find a line of blood, "I'm fine. Just a small cut."
"I'm required to look at it." The paramedic grabbed a cloth and cleaned Shawn's head quickly, revealing a small cut. He placed a bandage over it and left to look after other people.
"Are you okay?" Shawn moved to stand in front of his daughter.
"I'm okay." She sniffled, "It hurts."
"I know baby, I know." He picked her up and winced when Zuri nudged some unseen cut. "I'm so sorry baby." He rocked her gently.
"I was scared daddy." Zuri placed her chin on Shawn's shoulder and looked around, "There's the pretty lady."
"Shawn." He turned and was greeted by his father with the two detectives a few feet behind him. "They have to talk to you."
"I know." Shawn passed over Zuri to his father, "Don't leave me alone with them for too long okay?"
"I'll find your mother and give Zuri to her, and then I'll join you." Henry walked away.
"Well, well. You never cease to amaze me Spencer. Getting yourself involved in a car crash." Carlton shoved his hands in his pockets as Shawn approached him.
"Nice to see you too Lassiter." Shawn grunted folding his arms across his chest.
"Are you okay?" Juliet asked looking at his cut.
"I'm fine. Am I allowed to leave?"
"You know how this works Spencer," Lassiter took a pen and pad of paper from his pockets. "We need to ask you a few questions." Shawn motioned for him to begin. "Did you notice the driver approaching?"
"Not until my daughter said something." Shawn stared at the pen in Carlton's hand.
"Your daughter?" Juliet whispered.
"After your… daughter said something, what did you do?"
"I turned the wheel to avoid the other car. We swerved and stopped. He crashed into the store." Shawn pointed at the other car.
"Obviously…" Carlton mumbled writing things down, "The drivers name was Charles Garcia, you ever heard of him?" Carlton asked.
"No." Shawn shook his head.
"I think we got all we need for the moment, stick around we may need to talk to you again. Thanks." Carlton grunted beginning to turn around.
"Wait." Shawn said, "Is this connected?"
"To?" Juliet looked at him curiously.
"I know other teenagers have been murdered and-!"
"They weren't murdered Spencer. As tragic as it is, we've just had bad luck lately." Carlton stopped him.
"You don't think it's a bit strange that almost once a week for the past few months' teenagers have been dying in car crashes?" Shawn asked.
"They were drunk when they crashed." Carlton snapped.
"They could have been drugged or forced to consume the alcohol. Last I checked that's still murder, and illegal." Shawn pressed. Carlton sighed and frowned at the younger man.
"You leave and come back, just happening to be involved in a crash. Are you doing this Spencer?"
"Haven't we been here before Lassiter? I'm just saying, you should look into it."
"He's right," Juliet spoke up biting onto her lower lip, "It's just too… coincidental." Shawn looked at her surprised that she'd taken his side.
"I'll think about it." Carlton turned and left without another word. Shawn went to follow his example but was stopped by a hand on his arm.
"What?" Shawn asked avoiding Juliet's eyes.
"You have a daughter?"
"For the past four years I have." Shawn told her.
"Why didn't you say anything when we met at the store?" Juliet sounded hurt but it went unnoticed by Shawn.
"Because it's none of your business…" Shawn almost felt guilty when he saw a flash of pain in Juliet's eyes. "I mean, it just wasn't relevant I guess." Juliet nodded her understanding.
"Is she alright?" Shawn had a feeling she was just asking to be polite.
"She'll live. A bruise on her shoulder but she was barely hit thank God. I don't know what I would do if she had been." He chuckled bitterly and rubbed at the back on his neck.
Juliet nodded again, "You should get a full body exam. You look tense and there's blood on your shirt." She turned and walked away to join her chief and former partner who was talking to the store owner. Shawn watched her leave before he looked down at his side. Just as Juliet had said there was a bright damp blotch of red blood.
"You okay?" Henry asked walking up to Shawn.
"Dad-?" Shawn showed Henry his hand and shirt drenched in blood.
"Shit Shawn I told you to get look at!" Henry looked around him, "You!" He pointed at a paramedic, "My son is bleeding." The man rushed over and carefully led Shawn over to a gurney. He sat Shawn down and with a pair of scissors he cut Shawn's shirt in half to avoid nudging the wound. The gash was large in length running from his hip to his ribcage and was around an inch wide.
"You didn't feel this earlier?" The paramedic questioned cleaning the wound with a disinfected wipe. Shawn shook his head and still barely felt anything as the man messed with his cut. Henry stood next to Shawn with a stern look on his face and his arms crossed against his chest. Henry himself had a bruise forming on his arm and a small cut on his cheek. It seemed as Shawn had sustained the worst of the injuries, besides the dead guy. Shawn took a deep breath and felt his body shiver, he was suddenly very cold. "You're cold?" Shawn nodded.
"It's over a hundred degrees Shawn." Henry told him swiping his son's sweaty hair off of his face to check his temperature. "He's burning up." He looked at the paramedic.
"Open." A thermometer was popped into Shawn's mouth and they waited for the beep, "A hundred and four." The paramedic moved and gently pushed Shawn back onto the gurney.
"Where are we going?" Shawn asked his words groggy.
"They're taking you to the hospital Shawn; I'll get your mother and Zuri and meet you there." Henry turned and began looking for his wife immediately. He found her in the shade of a tent that had been pitched up with Zuri on her hip. "We have to go Maddie and get a taxi or something."
"Why?" Maddie shifted Zuri.
"They're taking Shawn to the hospital." Henry answered.
"Why? Is he alright?" Zuri said nothing but laid her head on her grandmother's shoulder.
"Bleeding, high fever and he's a little disoriented. I told him we'd meet him there. Get a taxi, I'll go get Lassiter's permission to leave and call Karen. I think we'll need her help." Henry turned and rushed away to find Carlton. He walked amongst the clumps of people searching for the black haired chief.
"Lassiter!" Henry barked finally spotting him near the victim's car.
"What?" Carlton yelled back glaring at the man.
"Are we allowed to leave?" Henry stopped walking when he was close enough to where he didn't have to yell.
"No. I'll need to speak to your son when I'm done here." Carlton looked down at the body.
"He was just taken away in an ambulance." Both Carlton and Juliet's heads shot up.
"Why?" Juliet asked quickly.
"If I'm allowed to go, I can find out." Henry crossed his arms.
"Go. McNab go with him." The young newly promoted detective nodded enthusiastically and followed Henry away.
Santa Barbara: 2011
"Are you ready Jules?" Shawn asked leaning against his girlfriend's desk.
"In a minute Shawn." Juliet responded handing a small box to Buzz McNab, "Here these will help you Buzz. Just a few tips and things to help you study for the exam." Buzz nodded and accepted the box.
"Thank you so much detective." Buzz smiled widely at her.
"No problem Buzz."
"Bye Shawn!" Buzz turned and walked away.
"That was nice of you." Shawn jumped up and sat on top of her desk.
"Buzz will make a great detective if he can pass the exam." Juliet picked up her purse and stood in front of Shawn, "Let's go." As Shawn stood up his head snapped down as he let out a powerful sneeze.
"Ugh." Shawn wiped his nose with a tissue a passing rookie handed him.
"Are you okay?" Juliet asked frowning at her boyfriend.
"I'm fine Jules." Now that she wasn't distracted Juliet noticed Shawn sounded different.
"Are you sure?" she placed the back on her hand against his forehead, "You have a fever Shawn." She checked his cheeks and nodded.
"I'm fine Jules." Shawn repeated, "Really." He tried to smile but was stopped as he coughed.
"I'm taking you home and putting you to bed. Let's go." Shawn said nothing as he was ushered into the car and soon was pushed down on Juliet's bed. "Change into these while I go make you some soup." Shawn thought it best not to argue and did as he was told. He changed into a baggy tee-shirt and a pair of sweatpants he'd left at her place a few weeks ago. After he was changed Shawn got into the bed and pulled the covers over his body.
"You like chicken noodle right?" Juliet placed a steaming bowl of soup onto the dresser.
"Who doesn't?" Shawn smiled at her.
"True." Juliet chuckled sitting next to his legs.
"You know you don't have to take care of me?" Shawn folded his hands behind his head and rested on them.
Juliet scoffed, "Of course I do Shawn you're my boyfriend. I will always take care of you, understand me?" Shawn nodded with a smile.
Santa Barbara: 2019
Shawn looked up at the steady stream of lights above his head as a doctor pushed him down the hall. He tried to turn and look at the wall but was stopped by an oxygen mask which was strapped to his face. He pulled his hands up to it. "Mister Spencer you stopped breathing, we had to administer CPR and give you an oxygen mask. Do you understand?" A middle aged Asian woman said. The white coat gave her appearance away as a doctor. Shawn nodded his understanding.
"You're not in any immediate danger. We understand you have asthma?" Shawn nodded again. "That makes things slightly more complicated but not much… Are you feeling any pain?" Shawn put a hand on his chest.
"On a scale from one to ten, how bad?" Shawn held up four of his fingers.
"Administer fifteen CC's of Anesthetic, which should put him down for a while." The doctor said to a person in scrubs. Shawn had little time to react before a syringe was inserted into an IV bag and was pushed down. Within seconds Shawn could feel his eyelids get heavier as they closed and he fell into a dark sleep.
I'm not sure on the amount of Anesthetic Shawn should have been given, so I just took a guess. If any of you know something and I'm wrong- FEEL FREE to correct me. I welcome it.
Hehe, remember a few chapters ago I said Jack would be coming in? Well he hasn't... but he will! I promise. He will be in NEXT chapter. Thank you all for reading!
