A/N: I must get rid of the Mary-Sueness, this I promise. This story is a slow progressing one so do not be dismayed because the lack of action. It is building up. Do not worry.

Chapter 6: Cuffed & Prosecuted

"I don't think we should be doing this. He'll kill us. He does have a gun."

"Come on, Gus; have some guts, will you? I was too nice to him last time. I don't want to make a habit of it. That would be boring so I'm making up for it. Now, pass me the screwdriver," Shana ordered.

Gus glanced around the lobby then passed the screwdriver to Shana. He was acting as the watch out while Shana loosened the rest of the bolts on Lassiter's rolling chair. She picked up the ones she took off and put them in her pocket.

"I'm not comfortable with this. He could be back anytime and I don't want to get shot," Gus complained.

Shana glared at him.

"He's not going to shoot us. Well, he's not going to do it in front of all these witnesses which I noticed are also cops. We've got nothing to worry about. Plus, he won't be back for a while because he and Jules got called down to some crime scene."

She got up onto her feet and brushed most of the dust off of her pants.

Glancing at her watch, she winked at Gus and pulled him over to a pillar a few yards away from Carlton's and Juliet's desks.

"They should be here any minute," she told him.

Gus frowned and punched her in the forearm. She cried out and rubbed the offending spot, her smile melting.

"What's that for?" she complained.

"You said they won't be here for a while!"

She shushed him, signaling to lower his voice.

"No need to shout. Maybe I exaggerated a little bit but it was only to keep you from chickening out," she whispered.

"I wouldn't chicken out."

She shot him a disbelieving look and made small, low chicken sounds. After receiving another painful punch to the arm, she pulled him down behind the pillar, watching the entrance. Carlton and Juliet came walking in and went straight in to the Chief's office, closing the door behind them.

"They're here and they went into Chief Vick's office. Just a few more minutes, and the fun shall begin," she told Gus, still crouched.

Just as she predicted, a few minutes later the members of the best detective partnership in Santa Barbara exited the office, both holding new case files. Juliet went over to her desk and sat down at it. Carlton did the same and dropped his file down onto the top of his desk. Carlton reached across the desk top to his pencil holder and pulled out a pen.

Too predictable, she thought.

Lassiter shook it and scribbled on a piece of scrap paper. He sighed, threw it back in, and tried out another, ending with the same result. About eleven pens later, he had no luck.

"One, empty pens," Shana whispered to Gus who was watching with equal intensity.

Grumbling and rubbing his head in frustration now, Carlton kneeled down next to his middle draw. He pulled at it and when it didn't budge, he tugged harder. It flew open, smacking him in the head and knocking him to the ground.

"Ohh, two, stuck draw goes whammo. That's got to hurt."

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe you talked me into letting me let you do this. He'll kill you… us, for sure," Gus panicked.

Shana shushed him and continued watching eagerly. Snagging a pen, Lassiter slammed shut the draw with more force than necessary for such a simple task. He placed the pen down and finally sat down into his chair. Shana leaned forward in anticipation.

"Wait for it…," she trailed off, building tension.

A loud groan could be heard and Carlton's face grew alarmed and his eyes widened right before the chair collapsed with a crash. The room quieted and almost every head turned toward the rather loud disturbance. Juliet ran over to her downed partner, bending over to help him up nut the gruff detective waved her off.

"And three, the collapsing chair, brilliance," she prided herself, even going as far as patting herself on the back.

Carlton reached up to grab the handle of the nearest drawer on his desk, planning to use it for support… and it broke, sending him down for another unpleasant meeting with the floor. Shana stuffed her fist into her mouth to stifle her surprised yelp. Gus jerked back in surprise next to her.

"Oh, oh, oh, bonus points. Luck of the draw," she gushed. "No pun intended and I did not plan on the faulty handle."

Gus glanced at her skeptically, "You didn't do that?"

"No, but I wished I did. Too cool."

Lassiter stood up, rubbing his back, and peered around the room while his partner crooned over him. His gaze settled on the pillar and Shana pulled back fast, narrowly missing Gus's face and she held her breath, listening carefully. Only hearing her quick breath, she whispered to Gus.

"That was so close. I think Lassie almost saw me."

She turned to glance back around the pillar again but she came face-to-face with a pair of long legs covered in black, professional pants. Her eyes follow it up past the stomach, the chest, and the neck, reaching the face. And it sure wasn't a friendly face.

"Spencer," her name was growled by the irate male detective.

Gulping, she sprung up and looked behind her, seeking support from Gus but he was gone. Her once wide eyes narrowed.

Traitor.

She faced Lassiter again, nervous and fidgeting at his steely glare.

"Hey… hey… Lassisota. Wonderful day ain't it," she said, voice a few octaves higher.

He advanced on her, pointing an accusing finger, and she backed up.

"Shut…up!" he barked menacingly. "What did you do to my chair?"

Shana put on a confused face, pretending not to know what he was talking about.

"What? Me? I didn't do anything. I'm innocent."

As she was backing up, her coat snagged on to a loose nail head, pulling at it. It ripped and all of its contents, screw, bolts, a miniature glue bottle, a small plastic syringe full of ink, a screwdriver, a wrench, loose change, and two paperclips, clattered to the ground. She stared down at them and then quickly glanced back up at Lassiter. He was looking at the mess at his feet. She took full advantage of his momentary distraction to try to make her desperate escape. Shana got no further than five steps before a hand closed roughly around her shoulder, yanking her back and spinning her around. Juliet was hovering near by, ready to jump in before Carlton did anything he would, probably not, regret. The rest of the audience, the ones who did not go back to their work, watched the proceedings warily. Shana wrenched her coat out of his hold, straightening the creases.

"Hey, hands off the merchandise. This cost $59.89 which I bought with Gus's card," she complained.

"Shawn!" yelled an indignant voice from behind a potted plant.

Carlton's face was a livid red.

Oh, look, a new shade of red. Let me add it to my mental list of Lassie's angry colors.

"It was you who sabotage my things. That's why nothing worked out for me since I got here. You messed with my pens, my drawer, my chair, and my drawer handle."

"Wait, I didn't mess with the handle. That was pure and lucky coincidence."

"Oh of all the stupid, hard-headed, irritating, hair-brained, and obnoxious things you have done to me, this may actually take the cake!" bellowed Lassiter, losing much control of his temper.

Shana, the girl without a functioning mouth filter felt the urge to retort and she relented.

"Ohh, yum, there's cake? Where?" she asked excitedly, looking around him in search of the "cake."

Carlton's left eye twitched and his clenched fists shook. Juliet floated a little closer.

"Do you EVER SHUT UP? I am SICK and TIRED of your stupid and reckless antics! You may find it amusing and entertaining but I… Do… Not!"

By now, Carlton's voice had reached a high voice, attracting even more attention than before.

"You usually waltz in…"

"I thought you said I scurry," Shana inserted her piece.

The vein in Lassiter's forehead became more prominent.

"… and cause chaos and havoc and run amuck…," Lassiter continued.

"My three specialties," she butted in again.

Carlton's clenched teeth made a faint grinding sound and Shana scooted back a teensy bit.

"… not ever minding the consequences of your actions. Now, I PROMISE YOU, I WILL…!"

Juliet had finally decided that was enough and it was time to cut in. She touched his shoulder gently and spoke soft, soothing words. He relaxed slightly but his body was still a little tense and his hands were still clenched. Though she was completely aware of the shimmering rage that was still silently brewing, Shana's mouth filter failed her once again.

"Woo! Thank goodness, the dog whisperer came just in time to tame this Rottweiler," she blurted out, feigning relief.

That was enough incentive for Lassiter's poorly contained fury and he lashed out, aiming for Shana's face. What confused him was why didn't he feel anything connect?

Shana saw the slight twitch of his hand and she reacted… fast. In a blink or two of an eye, she deftly shifted to the side and captured his wrist, halting the fist's journey, even though she was already out of harm's way when she had moved before. She glared at him, a dangerous glint and something odd flashed in her eyes. Something that confused Lassiter because it made no, making him sure he was wrong but he couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that said he wasn't.

The room was silent while everyone stared uncomprehendingly stared at them and tried to register what they had and were seeing. One second, their head detective was swinging at their psychic consultant, and the next thing, said psychic had the detective's wrist in a grip. But before they could question the situation, the Chief had already exited her office and ordered the two to enter it.

Karen shut the door and sat down behind her desk. Shana and Carlton both stayed standing, each on opposite sides of the room, refusing to make eye contact. Karen studied them as she sat there before addressing the two, holding up a hand to silence their attempted words.

"Before you both say anything, I am fully aware of what occurred out there already. The reason I did not come out earlier and break it up before it progressed was because I was on an important phone call with the DA's office. But now that that is over, let us discuss this… problematic situation that happened in my station."

She shot a pointed look at each of them separately, both having the sense to look sheepish, Carlton more than Shana.

"Now, in Mr. Spencer's case, I have no choice but to suspend you for two weeks. That means no cases from the department," She said firmly.

Shana shot forward.

"Wait! That's not far! It was just a prank!" she argued.

Chief Vick didn't even bat an eye.

"A prank that could have seriously injured my head detective, Mr. Spencer, plus, this is not your first offense. And I do not appreciate you yelling at me in my office," she calmly replied.

Shana deflated and a smirk graced Carlton's face. The Chief averted her attention from Shana to him.

"Detective, is there something that amuses you? Because that doesn't excuse your behavior. You attempted to punch Mr. Spencer and that is inexcusable. What were you thinking?"

Carlton opened his mouth but the Chief cut him off.

"No, you weren't thinking. If it wasn't for the fact that we need you to continue working in the high profile case you were assigned, I would have suspended you for the rest of the week. What I will do is make Detective O'Hara the Lead Detective on this case. Also, Mr. Spencer still has the choice on whether or not he wants to file an assault or attempted assault charge against you."

Karen and Carlton glanced at Shana as if awaiting her decision. After a few minutes, she shook her head no. A soft sigh of relief could be heard from both parties.

"Good, now that we have that settled, you're both dismissed," she said blatantly.

Shana left quickly and avoided the stares of all the watchers, heading straight for Gus. She tugged on his sleeve and gestured to the exit.

"Let's go," she said, not waiting for him to catch up.

"What happened?" he asked when he finally did.

She hesitated for a second.

"We are… we're suspended for two weeks," she quickly blurted.

Gus frowned, "What? Shawn, I told you not to do it."

She didn't respond, waiting for him to unlock the car doors. Gus sighed and complied, climbing in along with Shana. He started the car but didn't instantly drive off, instead he faced her.

"One question if I may."

"Shoot."

"You said you were too nice to Detective Lassiter. Why?" he questioned.

She beamed.

"I think I had a bad burrito."

Gus paused.

"Was that Friday?"

She nodded in confirmation.

"I may not have an eidetic memory," he started, "but I know for certain we didn't buy burritos and I was with you most of the day, especially before we interacted with Lassiter."

"So, what's your point?" she asked.

Gus chuckled and threw the car in reverse, shifted gears, and sped off.

A/N: Is this better?