A/N – PLEASE READ! : Before we move on with the chapter, a couple things. First off – I recently joined a Shassie group on DA, and for this group I created a Shassie forum. It's only a few days old and only has a few members; so I'm extending an invitation out to all my fellow Shassie fans! The homepage link can be found in my profile!

Secondly – This chapter has some...things in it... Things that even I as the author felt uncomfortable writing. It's not in any way x-rated but it does borderline on rapey. If this type of content makes you uncomfortable then please don't read it!

Alright, I've said my peace! Hopefully I see you on the forum and as always reviews are welcome!

~Matilda

Worthless

Shawn had been to a lot of parties in his 20's, hell – back then he was practically the life of everyone he attended. Or so he was told – being the guy who usually ended up in the pool fully clothed was a good thing -right? Right?

Whatever the answer, none of those parties was quite like this. The warehouse was packed and practically bursting at the seams. Shawn could manoeuvre through the crowd just barely and he was by himself. He could only imagine how hard of a time Lassie and Jules must be having, and they were on orders to stick together.

"Wonderful." Shawn mused to himself, this plan was already failing. The wire Lassie had hooked him up to? Worthless, there was no way any words spoken to him would be heard over the pounding club music. Still...it had been fun getting it on...

Earlier when Shawn got to the station, Lassie and Jules were already there waiting for him. Along with the Chief, McNab, and another uniform he didn't recognize.

"Alright Mr. Spencer." The Chief ordered. "Detective Lassiter is going to hook you up, he and detective O'Hara are going to escort you to ware house. Don't make any contact with them while inside – you are to appear alone."

"Got it." Shawn gave a salute.

"McNab – Riley, you two are going to be outside on stakeout." The Chief continued. "The first sign of danger, and detective Lassiter and O'Hara will call you in for back up."

"No problem Chief!" McNab sounded extremely happy to be on this job, and Riley who looked just a little older then McNab just nodded like he had done this sort of thing before.

"Full report on my desk by tomorrow." The Chief aimed that order at Lassiter and O'Hara. "Detective Lassiter-"

Lassie perked had perked up at mention of his name. "Chief?"

"Help Mr. Spencer with the wire." The Chief handed Lassiter the necessary equipment before making her exit.

Shawn was ecstatic by that last order, and he quickly decided to have fun with this experience. "Guys?" Shawn asked. "A little privacy?"

The other three obliged, and had left to go wait outside. Shawn wasted no time – he lifted up his t-shirt and turned ever so slightly giving Lassiter a full view of his torso. "So!" Shawn gave a flirty smile. "How do we do this?"

Lassiter swallowed a bit, and shamefully let his eyes sweep over Shawn's bare form. It was just a wire. Lassiter was only putting a wire on him. Wires weren't supposed to be sexy! Lassiter forced himself to think. "The front." Lassiter said. Shawn turned then, and lifted his shirt higher – he purposely let the fabric of his t-shirt graze over his nipples, much to Lassiter's dismay.

"I call this pose 'the situation'" Shawn flexed his stomach a bit. Lassiter squeezed his eyes shut – wasn't he supposed to be doing something right then? ...Oh yeah the wire! Lassiter had to find a way to make this less sexy so he could get his job done.

"I could've sworn that pose was called the prison bitch." Lassiter retorted lowly. Shawn's reaction was to lift his t- shirt just a little higher and step closer to the detective.

"Am I dirty prison bitch detective?" The way Shawn said the words, had given the detective some pretty intense imagery, derailing Spencer hadn't exactly gone as planned. "Is that how you see me? Roughed up and in hand cuffs? Bent helplessly over the hood of your car?"

Lassiter pursed his lips. Dammit all. "Spencer, we have a job to do." Lassiter said it mostly to remind himself, not Shawn.

"I've been standing here waiting." Shawn said lowly – he wasn't letting up. "Lay it on me already Lassie."

Lassiter swallowed – fucking Spencer. Taking a long breath Lassiter finally closed the gap between him and Shawn and pressed the wire to his chest. Shawn flinched.

"Cold." Shawn purred a bit. He was really enjoying himself. Lassiter did not approve. He gave Shawn a hard look.

"We're working Spencer."

"I know." Shawn acted innocent. "Just saying the wire was cold."

"Bullshit." Lassiter muttered, and without really realizing it he started playing Spencer's game. Flattening the wire to Shawn's torso thoroughly, pushing his hands firmly against Shawn's skin as he did so –ensuring that the wire was flat and unnoticeable.

Shawn's eyes slid closed, wire or no wire – Lassie's rough hands travelling his body? So good. It was brief, as Lassiter was a little more determined to get the job done then Shawn was, but the way Lassiter had attached the wire had Shawn aching for so much more. "What I wouldn't give to get you alone right now." Shawn breathed.

Lassiter winced a bit; honestly he felt the same way. However he was annoyed that Shawn had the nerve to play him so easily when he was supposed to be on duty. "Later Spencer."Lassiter used a warning tone. Shawn smiled.

"Promise?"

Goddammit.

"We have to get going." Lassiter left first, having to try and shake the last 3 minutes out of his head.

It didn't happen. Even now at the warehouse, Lassiter stood idly by with O'Hara watching Shawn like a hawk. He understood that the whole point of tonight was to get people to approach Shawn – but Lassiter didn't think it'd be this hard to watch. Whatever Lassiter was seeing in Shawn, it seemed others saw it to and Lassiter had trouble keeping his cover as left right and center people passed Shawn. Most of them giving him the up-down.

It was going to be a long night.

Shawn had to agree there, a long night indeed. From the moment Shawn found a spot that wasn't so congested, he was approached by strangers from all different directions. Mostly girls, but even a couple guys stopped and asked Shawn if they could get him a drink. Shawn kindly refused them all, so far no one acted like they recognized him. Damn. He could see from the corner of his eyes Lassie watching him, and he grinned – getting the overwhelming feeling that maybe Lassie was jealous. Why wouldn't he be? Considering the type of relationship they were starting to develop. Shawn idly touched his hand to his chest, his skin still burning from where Lassie had touched him placing down the wire. What a fun three minutes that had been, looking over to the detective and Shawn could see Lassie take one deep breathe signifying that – yeah, he was thinking of the wire to.

"Derek!"

Shawn was so caught up looking to Lassie that he didn't notice Peter from the laundry mat approach him from the side.

"Derek!"

The second time Peter called to him, and Shawn snapped at attention, he could barely hear Peter over the music of the place – he looked to Peter apologetically and shrugged.

"This place is so loud!" Shawn yelled to him.

"I know!" Peter screamed back. "It's great for dancing!"

"It sure is!" Shawn shouted his agreement. He was a little put off then when Peter stepped closer to him, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Lassiter.

"We got a live one." Lassiter leaned close to O'Hara's ear so he didn't have to yell. "Don't let him out of your site."

Truthfully Lassiter didn't think it was going to be a problem, for him anyway. He was already taking in how this guy talked to Shawn with such ease. Lassiter was waiting for him to make a move that was a little too friendly – he temporarily forgot he was on a job, and actually found himself almost wanting this guy to try and touch Shawn. Just so Lassiter could march up and punch him. So far though, Peter had done nothing but create less space between him and the psychic.

"I didn't think you'd come." Peter was close enough to Shawn's ear now that Shawn could hear him just fine.

"I almost didn't." Shawn lied. "Long week – pretty tired."

"I hear you." Peter said. "Work blows!"

"It sure does!" Shawn agreed. Peter didn't seem to be showing any negative signs, now Shawn had to try and persuade him to leave. "I have to go find my friend!" Shawn announced. "I'll catch you later!"

He made to leave, but was a little surprised when Peter grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Why the rush?" Peter asked, "I'm sure your friend's fine." His grip was unusually tight. "Have a drink man."

Shawn felt a little uneasy, and looking up he could see Lassie and Jules already pushing closer getting ready to grab Peter if needed. "Seriously Peter, I'll catch you later."

Shawn watched as Peter seemed to think over his answer, whatever he was debating took a lot of thought. Thankfully however Peter obliged and let go of Shawn's arm. "Later." Peter agreed.

Shawn sighed in relief; he could see that Lassie had sighed in relief to. He gave Lassie and Jules a light nod, just to tell them he was okay. Looking to his watch he saw that he had only been in the warehouse for roughly an hour – he decided another hour would be long enough. Weaving through the crowd he decided to try a new area, hoping that someone else would approach him.

Lassiter and O'Hara were close behind, doing their best to stay within reasonable reach of Shawn. As time went on though it got a little harder as more people seemed to show up at the warehouse. Lassiter had to wonder who could enjoy coming to a place like this? The air was pungent with the smell of sweat perfume, and the music was so loud that if Lassiter wanted to say something to O'Hara he had to yell in her ear. This sort of atmosphere couldn't be healthy. After all, it had been this atmosphere that got Derek Atkinson killed had it not?

"Hey!"

Lassiter had his eyes on Shawn, and was a little caught up in his own thoughts that he hardly noticed that some girl had blocked her path. She was a short brunette, with long hair and wide eyes – eyes that were glazed over and slightly red. She was high.

"I'm Nancy!" The girl introduced herself, and dressed in tight jeans and a shirt that showed more cleavage then necessary – she made no hesitation in invading Lassiter's bubble. "You should buy me a drink!"

"No thank you." Lassiter had his attention to the girl now, and he was ignoring the fact she was high and gently pushing her aside so he could keep moving.

"Aww one drink." The girl now known as Nancy pouted. "I'm really thirsty."

She was becoming persistent but thankfully O'Hara was there to back him up. She was on Nancy instantly, expertly sliding her arm in a loop around Lassiter's. "He's spoken for."

Nancy again pouted, her conquest foiled. She gave Juliet a stern look over. "You're too fat for him." Then Nancy was gone. Juliet mouth hung agape.

"She just called me fat!" In disbelief she took her arm out of Lassiter's still gaping. "That bitch just called me fat!"

Lassiter fought back a laugh, oh that was funny. His urge to laugh though quickly turned into the urge to panic as he looked up and realized they had lost sight of Shawn.

Shit! How long had that Nancy girl been bothering him for? 1 maybe 2 minutes? "We lost him!" Lassiter yelled to O'Hara. The two detectives were back on track now, hurriedly looking around to try and get Shawn back under their gaze.

Shawn hadn't really noticed that Lassie and Jules weren't exactly on his tail anymore; he was too busy looking ahead. Trying to see if anyone who looked to him recognized him as 'Derek' surely this Peter guy wasn't the only one Derek had been with that night?

Maybe he was? The realization seemed to hit Shawn. Peter was a suspect, dammit. Shawn let him slip away. ..Or so he thought.

It happened so fast, large hands planted firmly on either side of Shawn's hips pulling Shawn's back end to rest rather uncomfortably against something that was a little too pointy for his comfort.

"Did you find your friend?" Peter leaned in close, practically burying his head in the crook of Shawn's neck. Shawn tried to step forward to put some space between him and the other man, Peter's response being to pull Shawn closer, grinding his pelvis very suggestively against Shawn's backside.

Shawn clenched his jaw – ah shit, a quick look around revealed that Lassie and Jules weren't anywhere close by. Of all the rotten timing... "Let me go." Shawn warned.

"Why?" Peter mused, and keeping Shawn pinned against him he started moving them, forcing Shawn to walk along side him until he pinned Shawn between him and a wall. "You had no trouble last week." Peter tightened his grip on Shawn's hips. "Last week you begged for it even."

Oh this wasn't happening. The second Shawn's chest pressed against the wall and Peter was talking to him like he owned him, and Shawn's brain kicked into survivor mode. Shawn jerked his head back, bashing it as hard against Peter's face as he could. Luckily it worked, and taken aback Peter had grabbed his face in pain taking a step back. Shawn didn't take the time to examine his own pain from the collision; he took the time to get out from between Peter and the wall. He staggered forward heading back towards the crowd but found the wall of people was too thick – before he even had a chance to break through Peter had recovered.

Peter lunged and again grabbing Shawn's arm he twisted it behind Shawn's back. As Shawn winced in pain, he gave the surrounding crowd a good look over – no one was watching them. He remembered once when he was kid, his father telling him 'the more people around – the less help you get.' Shawn hadn't believed him – he always assumed someone would step in and save him if something like this ever happened. Seems he was wrong. A pit started to form in Shawn's stomach, and he struggled as hard as he could when once again Peter pulled their bodies together. This time when Peter leaned in to talk Shawn could feel blood dripping from Peter's nose onto the side of Shawn's face and neck.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Peter snapped in his ear. "You're going to pay for that you stupid whore!"

Shawn wasn't going down without a fight, no way no how – he was a Spencer after all. Peter twisted his arm tighter, Shawn's response? To throw his leg back in a kick to give Peter a good sharp jab in the shin. Peter screeched a bit and hopped, lifting his injured leg back but he didn't let go of Shawn. Instead he reached around, grabbing the front of Shawn's belt and starting to undo it.

"We're playing rough are we?" Peter asked the question in a mocking tone, and he even laughed cruelly when he pulled Shawn's belt out of his belt loops. Shawn used his free hand to reach behind him and start violently yanking on Peter's hair.

Lassiter had no idea is he and O'Hara were anywhere close to Shawn, and the feeling of uncertainty he had pretty much all day was starting to bubble over. He had to find him. Lassiter unhooked the walkie talkie he had attached to his pants and didn't hesitate on calling in McNab and Riley. As soon as the two officers confirmed they were moving in, Lassiter changed the frequency of the device and held it to his ear hoping maybe the wire Shawn was wearing was picking anything up. Anything at all that might tell the detectives where Shawn had gotten too.

Pulling Peter's hair hadn't worked as well as Shawn had hoped, Peter disturbingly enjoyed the sensation and he responded by gliding his hand up and down one of Shawn's thighs. Shawn became increasingly tense. He was doing his best to keep calm – of course that notion failed when Peter used Shawn's belt to bind his hands behind his back. A good amount of bile worked its way into Shawn's throat, Peter wasn't letting him go – and his hands were becoming more and more intrusive. Peter used one hand to keep Shawn's head perfectly still to keep from another head bashing, but the other hand was travelling, up Shawn's thigh, past his pelvis and under his shirt. The way Peter pressed his bare hand against Shawn's skin was nothing like the way Lassie had touched him – this was wrong. Peter's hand caressed and squeezed his sides almost making Shawn want to cry, not that he was going to. Finally though, Shawn felt it – the wire, Peter had run his hand across the wire and stopped dead in his tracks.

"What the fuck!" Peter gave Shawn a hard shove forward, uncaring that Shawn nearly collided with about two people, who seemed to dance by him uncaring. "You're a fucking cop! ?"

If Peter was going to say something else – he got abruptly cut off. He went down pretty fast much to Shawn's surprise. Peter landed in a worthless heap, Lassie standing over him with the butt of his gun still mid-air.

Shawn was just starting to notice that for the most part he had been holding his breath, and he started breathing heavier. Shawn didn't pray very much – but oh thank god! He broke into a relieved laughter, as Juliet who was just a foot behind Lassiter rushed passed the older detective and made haste in getting the belt off from around Shawn's wrists.

Lassiter wasn't sure what had happened to him, and he didn't think he wanted to know. He and O'hara had looked high and low for Spencer and when they found him... Lassiter had seen red. That man whoever he was...was touching Shawn. Not even caring of the people dancing around them – he wasn't taking no for an answer, and Lassiter had seen him putting his hands where they didn't belong, it was infuriating. Thank god for the wire, even though Lassiter had failed to hear anything from it, it did provide service. That guy hadn't been happy about finding it, and he pushed Shawn away giving Lassiter the chance he needed to lunge at the dirt bag and take him out.

Juliet finished untying Shawn, the second Shawn could move his own hands again he went right over to Peter – emotions were consuming him. Mostly angry ones and whether he was permitted to or not he was getting a damn shot or two in. He wanted to give Peter one good swift kick in the stomach, but his attempt failed when McNab and Riley had arrived. Riley lifted Peter off the ground like he was nothing and cuffed him. Lassiter shouted at them both to get Peter out of the warehouse but moved to follow. Gently he took Shawn's arm and motioned for Shawn and O'Hara to follow him.

"We're done here!" Lassiter didn't make it a question. In his mind he wanted to get the hell out of the warehouse, they had a man in custody and that's what they had originally set out to do. So Lassiter had no problem removing himself and the others from the scene.

Breaking through the crowd Shawn noticed was easier when you were following behind two officers in uniform. They exited the warehouse in record timing, and Shawn watched in an indescribable glee as McNab and Riley forced Peter into the back of their police vehicle.

"Shawn." Juliet had come to stand next to him; he could hear everything just fine now that they were outside and away from the music. "You're okay – right?"

"Hmm?" Shawn took a second to respond, he was busy watching the police car drive away. Eventually he looked to Jules and then Lassie who were both looking at him and waiting for an answer. "Oh yeah, I'm good. It could've been so much worse – so no worries." Shawn gave a careless shrug.

"No worries?" Lassiter sounded distressed by this. "Spencer what the hell! That man – just – just tried to...and no worries? !"

"Carlton." Jules was on him right away. "If Shawn says he's fine, I believe him – try to stay calm."

"Yeah Lassie." Shawn was back on his feet, and he moved over to the detective to give him a thorough look over. Lassiter was watching every little move Shawn made, like at any moment Shawn would drop dead on them, and he still clutched his gun to the point where his knuckles were white. Lassie had been terrified on Shawn's behalf. It was twisted, but Shawn was comforted by this. He resisted the urge the give Lassiter a knowing kiss in front of Jules. "I'm okay." Shawn made the statement a promise. "Let's just get out of here okay?"

Lassiter was tired, tired, and anxious – what was he freaking out over? That man hadn't gotten too far, and they were right. Shawn was fine now. He agreed with Shawn and soon the three were on route back to the station. When they got there, Lassiter wanted nothing more than to get Shawn alone, even if for just a second but the time wouldn't allow it. Shawn and O'Hara made way to the chief's office to give her the low down of what happened, and Lassiter had to follow protocol getting McNab and Riley to take Peter straight to the interrogation room.

"If you're going to throw me in for assault, fine – do it. But I didn't kill anybody!"

Peter made that claim, over and over again. The more Lassiter grilled him for information, the more resistant he became.

"You were with Derek Atkinson the night he was killed." Lassiter reminded him. "You admit to fraternizing with him, and based on your track record – it probably wasn't as mutual as you make it out to be. Now the only question left, is where exactly you got that letter opener."

"I didn't kill anybody!" Peter hollered. "Derek was a slut, he agreed to kissing random strangers for money. For money! He was more of a whore actually, by the end of the night he was coming onto me!"

"Yet somehow – I still don't believe you." Lassiter snarled. Like Marcus before Lassiter had no problem with the idea of throwing himself across the table and giving Peter a good bashing. However Peter looked more panic stricken then Marcus had, and was even sweating a little. Call Lassiter cruel but he was enjoying this. "I bet any money Derek fought back, probably got in a good few shots too. You weren't giving up easy though were you? You dragged him to that other warehouse, you forced him to climb up onto that platform – and when he still struggled you took that letter opener and stabbed him right in the throat!"

"I didn't kill him!"

Peter's outburst was loud, and unwelcome. Silence stretched between him and the detective, Lassiter had watched him squirm enough. "Maybe after a few days in a holding cell you'll be more akin to talking." He raised his hand then and motioned for the officer standing by to take Peter out of his site.

"Where's Spencer?" That was the first question out of Lassiter's mouth when he returned to the main floor of the station.

"He offered to get us coffee." Juliet answered from her desk. "Said it was the least he could do after earlier."

"Alright." Without really thinking about it, Lassiter grabbed his coat. "I'm going to go meet him – we'll back shortly." He left then, and made his way to the closest coffee shop – he didn't make it there, as Shawn must've left a little while ago and was already on route back carrying at least 5 coffees via one of those portable plastic cup holders.

"Lassie!" Shawn greeted. "How'd you do with Peter?"

"He's in holding." Lassiter announced. "Need help carrying those?"

"I'm okay." Shawn said. "You can walk with me though and tell me how adorable you think gremlins are."

"I hated that movie." Lassiter frowned.

"Oh well." Shawn used a sing-song voice and continued walking. They came over to a park bench, and Shawn seemed to take the opportunity long before Lassiter noticed. He put the coffees down.

"Spencer what are you-.." Lassiter got cut off, Shawn was hugging him.

"I don't want you to worry." Shawn said. "The strained eyes, the white knuckles – it doesn't suit you Lassie. Seriously, not at all."

Lassiter's response was to hug back; he ran his fingers lightly through Shawn's hair and just – held him there. After awhile, Shawn was up on his tippy toes giving Lassiter a kiss. Lassiter kissed back, softly. He hadn't realized that he had been shaking, but the kissing seemed to help it stop immediately and Lassiter felt normal again. When they pulled apart Shawn was grinning ear to ear.

"Have dinner with me tonight." Shawn urged. "Anything you want, just us – please?"

Lassiter didn't need to be asked, he just gave Shawn another long gentle kiss.

"Oh for the love of god...Are you kidding me?"

Henry's voice AGAIN broke them up, only this time it wasn't coming out of Shawn's phone. Lassiter – embarrassed pulled away from Shawn and gave a weak sounding... "Uhh...no?"

Shawn was too wide eyed to say anything. Henry just shook his head.

"Seriously."Henry quipped. "I don't care if you're straight, gay or tentacle monsters, PDA is just disturbing." Henry left then, in long strides back towards the station leaving Lassiter and Shawn to exchange confused looks.

"How the hell does your dad do that Spencer?"

"Dude..."Shawn was coming to. "Did my dad just say tentacle monster?"