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Did I really just do that? Shawn thought as he surveyed the faces, ranging from shocked to amused to confused, of the police officers who had just witnessed him kissing Head Detective Carlton Lassiter. His eyes darted to catch the gaze of the man at his side. Carlton looked surprisingly composed.
"Alright, folks," the detective announced firmly, as though he were shooing nosy civilians away from a crime scene, "there's nothing to see here. Go about your business, or else you'll be asking for trouble."
Most of the department was intimidated enough to at least pretend to involve themselves in other conversations.
"Even among cops, you are such a cop," Shawn laughed.
Carlton rolled his eyes and scoffed. Shawn smirked back at him and not-so-subtly placed a hand on Carlton's ass affectionately. The detective jumped back. However, despite the glare that was shot at him, Shawn read a hint of infatuated amusement in Carlton's cocked eyebrow and smiled.
"Come on," Shawn urged. "Let's get something to eat. All this drama is making me hungry"
Carlton accompanied Shawn to the banquet table, where both loaded their plates with all manner of delicious foodstuffs. They took seats at a table and were shortly joined by Gus and Juliet. Carlton shifted uncomfortably and tried not to make eye contact. Shawn nodded to acknowledge their presence as he gobbled down his food.
"Um, Lassiter, Shawn," Juliet said meekly, clearing her throat.
"What?" Carlton grumbled.
"I just … I just wanted to apologize," she explained. "I didn't mean to blurt that out so loud like that. I'm really sorry. Really."
"Don't make a fool of yourself blathering on like that, O'Hara. What's done is done."
"But," Juliet cautiously continued. "You really are, you know, together, then?"
Shawn glanced up at Gus almost accusingly.
"I told her she should talk to you two," Gus clarified in preemptive defense. "Though, I thought that little stunt made it pretty damn clear."
Shawn wanted to shoot back some sort of witty reply, probably lampooning Gus' prior obliviousness to the situation, but he hesitated. He figured it would be better to let the detective handle the situation with his partner.
"Well, O'Hara," Carlton said after a silent moment, "I guess you could say that."
"Say that you are together, you mean?" she asked.
"Yes. I mean, personally, I think I'd say that he's my boyfriend," he said with a nearly condescending matter-of-factness.
Shawn could not control the huge grin that spread across his face. Boyfriend, he thought. He's never called me his boyfriend before. Not even just between us. But now… I'm really his boyfriend.
"Shawn?" Juliet asked, observing the daze in his eyes. "Are you alright?"
"Am I alright?" he parroted, glowing. "Of course I'm alright. I'm fine. Haven't you seen? This is my boyfriend. Right here! My boyfriend!"
Carlton chuckled and put a hand on Shawn's shoulder.
"You can calm down now," the detective said. "You've already made one scene this evening. There's no need to make another."
"I'm not making a scene," Shawn retorted. "I'm just… I'm just…"
Shawn's rather futile attempt to justify him excitement trailed off into unintelligible mumbles and eventually lapsed back into a silent smile. The attention was directed away momentarily as Buzz McNab approached the table.
"Hey guys," Mc Nab said with an awkwardly friendly grin. "I just wanted to say, well, congratulations. I can't say I saw it coming, but, well, it just looks like you're very happy. So, as I said, congratulations! And Merry Christmas!"
"Oh, I'm very, very happy," Shawn said and swung his arm around Carlton.
Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. I was busier than I thought I would be over the past few days. And thanks to those who reviewed! I really appreciate it! And… just as a note to everybody following this, so you know what to expect: this is a Christmas story. So I'm going to have probably one more before then. And then, as the title kinda implies, there's going to be at least one or two after for New Year's, just so you know.