Disclaimer: I own nothing from the TV show, Psych. Its characters belong to the cast and crew as do the producers of Fear Itself. Any copyright infringement is unintended and may be reported to me.
A/N: I haven't employed a functional reason as to why Samantha and Carlos look like Juliet and Shawn. It's just a crossover between the fics. Fantertainment to be enjoyed.
8. Psyched
"Gus! Tell me what you've got!" Juliet shouted as she ran back into the lobby. Gus jumped but immediately turned the computer screen for her to see. Lassiter had told him to check on the LSD listed sites.
"LSD doesn't have a medical use. It's completely banned in the States." He explained. "Lone Vicky is a streets dealer. He probably has some stock. It's actually close to Samantha's apartment. We can call Lassie and –"
"No, forget that! Gus, do you know who the priest was?"
He looked up, completely bewildered. "The priest?"
"For the wedding! The priest who married Shawn and me! Samantha sent the note when she realised that her brother disguised himself as the Father for the ceremony!"
Gus had a look of comic shock. He blinked, "The Father? I don't know. Didn't your sister-in-law, Marsha, book him?"
Juliet inhaled sharply. She had forgotten that. Her head was a mess of emotions. She whipped out her phone to dial Marsha. It was falling into place. The situation was surreal but she was finally beginning to see what the real deal was.
"Samantha guessed his game and sent the note to warn me. But Stephen had already spiked the house with LSD and it made me think Shawn was a serial killer." Juliet explained.
"Huh. That's a little weird. Actually, Shawn's a pretty good candidate for a serial killer profile."
"Why do you think I suspected him in the first place? Hello? Hello, Marsha!"
"Juliet?" Marsha sounded a little relieved. It had been a while since they had heard from each other. She clutched her phone tighter. "Did you find Shawn? I tried calling but it went straight to voicemail!"
"No, not yet. But tell me, who was the priest for the wedding?"
"Priest?"
"The Father!"
"Oh, Father Dave? Yeah, I just called the church for a replacement and he was available. Why, what's wrong?"
"Do you have a contact number, or may be his address?"
"I have the number. I'll text it to you. And, Julie, you're father called."
Juliet swallowed. She didn't have time for that. "Sorry, Marsha. I have to go. I have to find Shawn."
.
His cell phone hadn't been switched off. They were able to track the signal with the workable number. Stephen had rented the rooms in a derelict place down south of the town. Typical.
The door of the second floor apartment room was kicked open. Lassiter charged in, followed by Juliet and two others. Henry was next, whispering furiously with Madeleine who had insisted on coming along. Gus completed the team, looking around the messy place with a wrinkled nose.
Stephen's rooms could be described as Chucky's hideout. There were scratches on the wall, ripped wallpaper littering the floor and a smell of meatballs left way over time. Juliet noted with little relief that there was no blood or random pieces of dead bodies lying around. The only smell was that of the rotting food. The cramped place had two windows overlooking the street.
"All clear! No Stephen, no Spencer." Lassiter swore and rubbed his forehead harshly.
Juliet closed her eyes and lifted her face towards the ceiling silently praying.
"Do you smell that?" Gus asked sniffing the air.
"This is not the time for meatballs, Guster!"
"No, I meant the air. The windows are closed, doors were locked. But it's still cool."
Madeleine looked around, "He's right. The temperature's over a hundred degrees outside, how is it not sweltering in here?"
Juliet opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She was looking right into a grate. She blinked. The ventilation duct seemed to be clogged with something. She could feel a small amount of air but the rest of it was blocked.
She grabbed one of the fallen chairs and set it upright. Holstering her weapon, she climbed on the seat, her fists barely reaching the ceiling. It would have to do. She banged on the vent grate. Something heavy was lying on top of it. It looked like cloth.
"I know that shirt." Gus said, frowning at the grate. "I... I think it's mine!"
Juliet fitted her fingers through the metal ridges and used her weight to pull it off the ceiling. The screws came off – the grate clutched in her grip – and Shawn fell through the gaping hole.
It would've have been a disaster if Lassiter, Gus, Madeleine and Henry and the cops hadn't rushed forwards to help Juliet support his unmoving form and lower him to the ground.
"Shawn! Shawn, oh my god!"
"I'll call the ambulance!"
"He's too cold!"
"I got a pulse!"
Juliet placed Shawn's head on her lap as voices screamed above her. He was alive. He was safe in her arms.
.
She finished her second bottle of the hour. Sitting in the hospital waiting lounge was nerve wracking which made her incredibly thirsty. She saw Henry and Madeleine clasp hands together. Gus was mournfully eating a KitKat. Lassiter had gone back to the police station to continue the search for Stephen. It was beginning to look clear that he had skipped town.
Shawn had to be under close observation for the next few hours. The doctors had said something about body temperature and blood flow regulations. Juliet remembered how cold his skin had felt when she touched his face and held his hand.
But she had faith. If there was one thing she held onto, it was the belief that the universe would help make things right. She was an optimist. Shawn would be up and be crowned king of wit and sarcasm in just a few days time.
Juliet wondered how she'd have to break the news to Samantha. Carlos would have to be buried or cremated. She'd definitely be admitted in an asylum. The least Juliet could make sure of was that Samantha would receive the care she needed. Being away from her brother would help immensely.
Too bad Stephen had escaped. Juliet would have been quite trigger happy towards him.
It took another hour until which they were allowed to see Shawn. He had bruised ribs from where the car had hit him, his body had been subjected to the blistering heat of the highway and then the tundra conditions of the air vent system. While, the nurse cleared up the room for them to occupy, Juliet couldn't help but smile. He didn't look as dead as before.
Madeleine was close to tears as she took his hand and kissed it. Henry shook his head, muttering something about Shawn's idiocy. Juliet felt the exasperation. Looks like things would be okay with them.
"Lassie just texted." Gus whispered. "They put a BOLO out on Stephen, but nobody's seen him since last night. They're going to shift Samantha to the Court House in the morning to set up a trial date."
"Tell him I'll testify. She technically blew the case open. We can go under the insanity plea." Juliet added.
"She killed her own husband." Henry pointed out.
"And she saved mine." Juliet replied tersely.
Madeleine smiled, "That would be the right thing to do. She does need help and we'll give it to her."
Henry sighed but didn't say anything else. He took another look at the sleeping Shawn and said, "I need some coffee."
.
They basically stayed with Shawn through the night. Gus got a crick in his neck for sleeping at an odd angle in an uncomfortable chair. Juliet, lucky girl, got to lay her head next to Shawn's arm on the bed. She did have back ache when she woke up at around five in the morning. Madeleine and Henry had left to inform Juliet's family since she didn't want to leave him.
She wasn't sure what woke her up. Nothing had changed dramatically indicate a sudden shift in her awareness, but she felt the sleep slip away and she opened her eyes.
Reaching her hand to massage her back, she looked up and caught Shawn watching her with sleepy eyes.
"Shawn!" She whispered, ecstatic. Her fingers touched his face just to make sure that he was there.
His dry lips parted, but no sound came. She knew how that felt. Luckily there was a cup and a straw on the tray nearby. She had to remember to thank the nurse, never mind it was their duty.
The water made a visible difference to his consciousness. He took in a few deep breathes, relieved. Juliet filled the cup again, but he shook his head.
"Hey, you. Does anything hurt too badly?"
It took him a while to respond, "Ribs."
She placed her palm lightly over his chest. He didn't flinch, but the heart rate monitor registered an increase in the pace. She smirked. This could be fun.
Shawn blushed when he heard the monitor record the way his heart was reacting to her.
"It's been almost two days since the wedding. It seems longer doesn't it?"
He nodded. He seemed completely serious and engrossed in her face like that was all that mattered. Juliet smiled and leaned in to kiss him.
"Uh..." Gus stuttered from behind her. They turned and watched him stand up and fidget.
"Hey." Shawn managed to say.
"Dude." There it was. The voice of exasperation and relief completely melded in the usual-Gus-way. "You almost gave me a heart attack. You can't go around disappearing on people like that."
"Sorry." A tired smirk came up and that disarmed Gus' mock irritation. The latter sighed.
"I'll give you two some privacy."
He left the room and Juliet pressed her head into Shawn's shoulder, trying to smother her giggles. She felt him turn towards her, felt his lips in her hair and she relaxed for the first time since before the note was opened and read.
"Love you." He whispered.
Juliet kissed him properly. It conveyed what she felt and she took special pleasure in hearing the heart monitor go wild.
Running her fingers through his hair, they were interrupted by one of the nurses who barged in to check why the patient's pulse rate was off the chart.
"Um, sorry." Juliet straightened up still clasping his hand.
The nurse grinned. "I didn't mean to interrupt, but the doctor did advise a full twelve hour sleep before breakfast."
"Right." Juliet pushed back her hair and shot Shawn an apologetic look. He pouted.
"There's a fresh batch of snacks in the cafeteria. You can restock your energy. I'll give the doctor the news that the patient is awake." The nurse added, flashing his immaculate teeth.
She hesitated. It had felt so good to be near Shawn that she had neglected food. It hadn't seemed important before, but now, her stomach rumbled silently.
"It's fine." She shook her head, patting Shawn's arm. "I'll have breakfast later."
Shawn swung his head to look at her. "Hungry."
"You're hungry?"
"No. You."
"Hmm." She smiled, stroking his hair again. She couldn't help it. It felt like petting one of her cats. "That's alright. You look good enough to eat. I don't have to go to the cafeteria."
Shawn smiled faintly. "I knew you were demented."
She kissed his nose, feeling thirsty again. Maybe, just a small coke. The caffeine would sustain her for a few hours or until he dozed off again.
Juliet stood up and stretched her hands. "I'll be real quick. You want anything?"
"Some Jerk Chicken... spaghetti and a pinapple... smoothie."
"That'll happen." She kissed him again and shot the nurse a smile. He was leafing through Shawn's prognostic sheets and nodded towards her. Juliet cricked her neck, feeling the exhaustion seep into her bones. It had been a tiring two days. She couldn't wait to be back at home with Shawn, resting and doing nothing for a solid week.
Let others do the work. She could let go of her duties soon enough.
Brushing back her hair, she dragged her feet to the cafeteria to join Gus. She didn't want to spend any time away than necessary, but sleep obstructed her coherence and gave way to a yawn.
"How's he doing?" Gus asked in between the bites of his sandwich. Juliet closed her eyes dreamily.
"Better. He can talk but I think it hurts his throat. It's gonna take a while for him to recuperate fully, but you know Shawn. He'll probably try to get away from the hospital as soon as he eats something in the morning."
.
Shawn felt cold without Juliet holding his hand. Even though the nurse was happy to be awake at the insane hour, he was not. Seeing Juliet and Gus helped, but his chest was starting to hurt again.
"Hey." He called the nurse, who was heading for the door. "Turn up the morphine?"
It still hurt to talk. He wanted a cup of warm water rather than the cool drink but decided not to speak. His throat felt odd. Not exactly dry. He wondered if it was an infection.
Wow, what a way to spend the honeymoon.
He squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds, thankful for the mattress. Lying in an air vent was not as much fun as sneaking around in the vents as movies portrayed it.
A small spike of pain flared underneath his chest. Shawn looked down and frowned. He tried to move, but another stronger wave of hurt washed over him. He gasped, falling back on the bed.
What was happening? His heart rate was speeding up again. He could hear the electronic beeps go faster until it stopped without warning.
Shawn opened his eyes to stare at the machine. The lights had gone dim. He looked up to see the morphine tap shut tight. He watched as the nurse pulled a familiar hand gun out of his pant pocket. Juliet's gun. He stared at Stephen. How had he not noticed before? He remembered the priest who had presided over the wedding. The funny nose, the young face...
"Ordained?" Shawn asked the serial killer.
Stephen smiled. "No, I'm not ordained as a Minister. Not even off the net."
"Crap. So, Jules and I aren't married."
"That was the plan. You won't take her away from me."
Shawn stared. "What? Are you a jealous ex-boyfriend?"
"I'm her brother."
"No. She has two brothers and you're not one of them."
It hurt to talk so much but Shawn had to delay him. Stephen's hand was calm and the gun was steadily pointing at his aching chest. How long would Jules and Gus take to have a snack?
Well, since Gus was in the equation, Shawn was screwed.
Stephen took a step forwards signalling Shawn to lie back down and relax. "I lost her because of you. I don't know what kind of gimmick you're working here, Carlos, but I'm not letting you take her away from me again. She's all that I have."
Shawn inhaled sharply. "What the hell are you on, man? My name is Shawn, by the way."
Stephen tilted his head like a legitimate run away patient from the nearest mental hospital, "A rose by another other name, stinks just as much."
"I haven't showered in, like, two days. Give me a break."
Stephen released the safety on the gun. The pain in Shawn's chest flared up again. It was getting tougher to take proper breaths.
"You're going to call the station." Stephen said, pulling out a phone. It looked like a burner.
"Call the station." He continued. "And get them to release Samantha. Tell them to do it within the next five minutes otherwise the bullets are going to be emptied into your face."
He threw the phone down on Shawn's lap. The latter shook his head feeling the threat go over his head. "You're crazy. Plus, the way you just said that sentence...?"
Stephen's face darkened. He advanced forwards and held the gun a couple of inches from Shawn's face. Shawn went cross-eyed trying to focus on it. That just made his head hurt more.
"Now, Carlos."
That still didn't make any sense to him. "Seriously, my name is Sha –"
"It's just one thing!" Stephen hissed. "It's simple. Pick up the phone and call the Chief of Police, right now! Or else, your sweetheart will be attending a closed casket funeral soon."
Shawn swallowed. The guy didn't sound like he'd take any more setbacks. Just do it slowly.
He picked up the phone. He made his hands shake out of exaggerated fear (which wasn't far off.) Where was Juliet? And what about his parents? Gus was a lost cause if the cafeteria really did stock up just a while back.
He dialled up slowly. What was Lassie's desk number?
"Just dial in 911." Stephen gritted.
"Uh, no. That would go to the lobby under emergency. You wanted me to talk to the Chief, right?"
Stephen looked like he was having a fit. Shawn took another breath and punched in another number. Then he sat and pretended to think.
"Quickly!"
"I usually just speed-dial him. I haven't typed in his number for years. My iPhone's probably in some evidence bag."
Stephen glared at him. There was an incredible anger in that single look. "Then call your phone!"
"It switches off without charge and I always forget to do that."
Shawn honestly thought he was doing very well. Stephen hadn't shot him yet. The man groaned and stomped around the room. He did it silently too. Shawn was convinced that the note Jules had gotten was actually about Stephen, the faker who had fake married them off.
He pressed in another number when Stephen turned around. Trying to make like he remembered it, Shawn closed his eyes when his breathing went labored.
"Call the Chief." Stephen muttered again.
He wrenched his eyes open. For a second, Shawn couldn't breathe. And then he saw Juliet staring into the room through the glass window in the door. Her eyes went big as she saw Stephen holding her gun at Shawn.
The air felt light again. Shawn took in an open mouthed gulp drawing in the brother's attention.
The door to the ward was kicked open with such force that it rammed into Stephen, pushing him against the wall. Gus and Juliet stormed in. Gus did the most heroic act Shawn had ever seen. He launched his plate of steaming salad at Stephen.
Then Juliet gave a literal round house kick at Stephen's diaphragm that made Shawn gasp for air. The gun finally tumbled out of his stiff grip and she lunged for it. Stephen pushed out his leg and it hit Juliet's shoulder. Gus let out a war cry and jumped on Stephen's back, locking his arms around his neck and pulling back as hard as he could.
Stephen tumbled around the room, hitting the wall, the table of papers, the gifts sent to Shawn and the door.
Juliet grabbed the gun. She didn't hesitate.
Shawn barely got his hands to cover his ears when three ear-shattering shots went off. Stephen's body jerked. Gus leaped out of the way. Juliet's face was hard.
The noise ricocheted off the linoleum slamming into everyone's hearing. Gus flinched away as the brother slid down the wall, the latter's eyes still staring vacantly at Juliet.
.
Lassiter set down his phone and glared at Juliet. "Well, you'd think one bullet would have stopped him. Tell me again, why did you kill him?"
At seven in the morning, Juliet was drained. It was over. Stephen was dead. A lawyer was working to get Samantha institutionalised. Shawn would be let out of the hospital in four days. Everyone else was fine.
Only the politics was left.
"He was too close to shooting Shawn." Juliet replied curtly. "He'd even shut off the morphine tap and heart monitor. Plus, Stephen could easily have hurt Gus."
"I know the facts. The hospital has registered a complaint of disturbing the peace."
"How about I try and sue them for admitting a serial killer inside the premises?"
Lassiter sighed. It had been a long couple of days. "Stephen had a veritable nurse's license. He'd been working for them for more than a week. The staff said they had absolutely no doubts about him."
"That's their excuse." She muttered. "Carlton, what would you have done if it was Marlowe he had been threatening?"
Lassiter shrugged, "Probably would have used up all six bullets."
.
Madeleine was with Samantha when Juliet walked into the cell. They had debated on whether to tell her the truth about her brother's demise, but she seemed to have read it in their eyes.
"Maybe, he'll be happy now. He won't be alone, right?"
Madeleine smiled and patted her hand. Juliet ran her fingers through her hair. The situation about Carlos had already been discussed. Samantha had admitted that Carlos should be given a proper funeral.
"He won't be mad at me." Samantha said slowly, her eyes shining with hope. "He knows that I love him."
"There's no doubt there. They might even let you keep him." The psychologist hedged, supporting her.
Carlos' body would be cremated in an electric incinerator. If Samantha was lucky, she'd be able to keep the ashes. The lawyer had advised her to not hold her breathe though. If Carlos' uncles came to claim the remains, she wouldn't have a say in it.
"Samantha, I'm... appreciative of this." Juliet said slowly. "You've helped us so much."
She looked up, mildly surprised. The detective carried on. "I know that there are people would disagree with me, but the truth was your heart was in the right place throughout this case. So, I considered that. Thank you."
"Call me, Sam." She replied, her own way of welcoming the gratitude that was hard earned.
"Since we're not technically married, what d'you say to eloping? Or do you want to just forget the whole institution of marriage and stay fiancé – fiancée for life?"
"Tempting. But I was thinking of –"
"Please say Vegas."
"I was thinking City Hall."
"Oh come on! Oooh, wait! I have a better idea. OH GUUUSSSSSSS! Do you still have Father Westley's number?"
"Another wedding? I don't know if I can handle that."
"Jules, baby. This can be just for family. Small gathering. Garden wedding. And then we'll rechristen our house again as soon as the doctor says I'm fine for vigorous exercise."
"Shawn. Whatever happens this time, I'll never doubt you."
"You better not. I have more stamina than you think I do."
"I was hoping for you to tell it back to me."
"Fine, you have great stamina as well."
"I meant about the doubting part."
"Ditto. By the way, I have to confess. I lied to you."
"What?"
"When I told you about the bar fighting? Yeah, I actually did get into a couple of fights on my road trip. Got kicked out of a few bars."
"Oh. Well, I expected that. Anything else?"
"I've never killed anyone."
"Good. I kinda hoped you'd say that."
"Too right, Jules. Can you give me a neck massage?"
"GUUUSSSSSS! Shawn needs a neck massage!"
"YOU KNOW WHAT?! THE BOTH OF YOU CAN JUST SUCK IT! I'M NOT ARRANGING ANOTHER WEDDING OR GIVING ANY MASSAGES!"
Sound of the main door slamming.
"... huh... wasn't it Marsha who arranged the whole wedding before?"
"Don't push it, Shawn. I had something to do with it too."
"Aw, Jules, I was joking. And now that we're alone..."
"No vigorous exercise!"
"I was thinking about a Mentalist Marathon!"
"... cool!"
...~*~*~*...