Authors Note: I didn't abandon you! ...Okay I kind of did, BUT! I promise - it was worth it. I'm updating now. Please keep in mind, I'm not the best at spelling and grammar and I no longer have a working copy of MS word SO forgive me!

Enjoy!

~Matilda

One Beer, Two Beers, Three Beers, Floor.

Lassiter had never been in this much pain in his life. There he sat, his beer in his hand completely untouched, whilst everyone around them say for Henry were already on at least their third. They were all seated on two curved couches facing each other around a round coffee table, the table being littered with all the empty bottles from the few hours before. O'Hara, Guster and Henry were on one couch. While Shawn was seated between Cal and Lassiter on the other. Everyone was talking over everyone about this and that, and as if being the only sober one in the room wasn't the worse part. He wanted very badly to tell O'Hara that he was going to do some back-work on Cal but it seemed the more she drank, the more she was leaning into Gus, who at this point had his arm around her shoulders like he had game. Which was kind of stupid, in Lassiter's opinion, Guster was the only man on earth who had less game than himself.

"Lassie?"

Hmmm? Lassiter turned his head, and was brought back to reality at the sound of Shawn's slurred voice. Shawn's smile was intoxicated and giddy, but it was breathtaking none the less.

"Lassie what do you think?" Shawn asked again.

"I'm sorry, think of what?"

"Of going to the beach tomorrow!" Shawn exclaimed. "Weren't you listening?"

"Actually no." Lassiter admitted. "The beach sounds, fine."

"Lassie's on board!" Shawn announced to everyone else, and everyone say for Henry re-sounded with an enthusiastic 'hurray!'

"Its been so long since I've been on the beach and there hasn't been a dead guy." Jules said with a laugh. "It'll be nice to actually get to swim in the water, and walk in the sand in shoes that aren't my work shoes."

"It'll be weird knowing what your toes look like though." Shawn poked fun. "Lassie's too."

Lassiter paused. "Why would you see my toes?"

"Because we're going to the beach." Shawn responded. "Where flip flops are usually the proper foot attire."

"They are?"

"...Yeah." Said Shawn. "You brought flip flops right?"

"Well...um - ...you see Spencer - I did not."

"So what are you going to wear on your feet to the beach tomorrow?" Cal asked.

"Uh..." Lassiter scractched the back of his head. "I think I packed a pair of tennis shoes."

"They're work." Gus offered. "Just go barefoot once you hit the sand so they get ruined."

"Sounds good."

"Hold on." Shawn said. "Be right back." He got up, and excusing himself once more, he left the room. As he left, both Lassiter and Cal were watching him carefully.

"Where is off too?" Cal asked.

"I'm supposed to know?" Answered Lassiter.

"He's a bit of a wanderer when he's drunk." Gus said then. "Not that he'll go outside or anything - but just to make sure." Gus pulled his arm away from Jules who openly pouted before he got up and followed Shawn.

"So.." Juliet asked then. "I know the only one here who will have an honest answer for me is Cal, but how HOT does Gus look tonight?"

Lassiter just stared at her straight faced. Cal gave a shrug and a modest "Alright I guess." Henry on the other hand just started to laugh, and laugh, and laugh. It started off as a surprised chuckle, but then it just kept going and getting louder, everyone stared as Henry laughed until he was out of breath.

When Henry was down to a few chuckles, everyone was staring at him wide eyed as Henry gave a high pitched. "Woo! I haven't laughed like that in years!"

"I'll bet..." Said Cal. "You uh - need some water?"

"Nah I'm good." Henry had calmed. "But still, Juliet, listen to me when I say - you're nuts. You're nuts for liking Gus, and Cal here is nuts for liking my son."

"I'm not nuts!" Juliet defended. "And Cal isn't nuts. We're not nuts right Cal?"

"You're both nuts." Henry shrugged. "Shawn and Gus have been pretty much married since they were four. They'll come home to you when they're horny, but that's about it."

"I think I can live with that." Cal chuckled a bit. At that comment, Lassiter had to resist the urge to close the Shawn sized gap between them with his fist.

"Pfft." Juliet waved her hand at Henry like a valley girl. "I think I can handle a little competition, Shawn doesn't have anything on me."

"You'd like to think so." Henry shrugged. "Do what you want, when you realize I'm right, I urge you to come to me first. I could use another good laugh."

"Tsk tsk." Shawn re-entered the room with Gus in tow. "Dad you're so cynical."

"If you knew what I was talking about you'd agree with me." Henry insisted. "Well, maybe not agree, you'd know I was right, but you'd disagree to piss me off anyway."

"I will neither confirm nor deny." Shawn grinned a bit, and returned to the couch, plopping himself down happily between Lassiter and Cal again, in his hands he carried a shoe box.

"What's that?" Cal asked curiously.

"Flip Flops." Shawn smiled. "I had a feeling Lassie wouldn't know what to wear on a beach, so when he accepted the invitation for this weekend I went out and I bought these for him."

"...You bought me shoes?" Lassiter was speechless. Shawn just nodded and handed him the shoebox casually, Lassiter lifted the lid and glanced at the simple pair of flip flops that lay inside. Black, and a men's thirteen - and they didn't have that annoying middle part that stuck between your toes. They were exactly the kind of shows Lassiter would've gotten for himself if he had to. They were perfect, and they were from Shawn. "Thanks Spencer - these are great, I'll wear them tomorrow for sure."

"That's really thoughtful of you Shawn." Cal commended. "...Now where's my present?"

"You're rich." Shawn teased. "You don't get one."

"Ah." Cal gave a joking. "Darn!" But Lassiter could tell that he was just a little jealous. Part of Lassiter felt a little victrious. First a dance, and now shoes. He was beginning to think that being in love with Shawn wasn't a hopeless case. With that in mind, he finally smiled, and took part in drinking his beer.

Somewhere around his fourth, he had taken part of the conversation, but didn't really know what anyone was saying. The night turned into an odd blur that didn't start to blur until Cal's cell phone rang. Cal shook his head and looked to his caller I.D before seething a bit. "I actually have to take this, sorry guys." With that Cal was up, and out of the room.

"Oh good I thought he'd never leave." Juliet stretched, and stood from her spot and her couch, and replaced Cal sitting next to Shawn, she leaned in close and whispered in Shawn's ear.

Shawn sat there, and blinked. Before just smiling with a cheeky "go for it sister."

Juliet smiled and stood up again, this time she didn't sit back down, she just took Gus' hand and made him stand too before leading him out of the room, and out of site for the night.

"That's disgusting." Henry commented. "How could you Shawn?"

"Sorry dad." Shawn shrugged. "I think its a great idea."

"Yeah back home!" Henry argued. "When their room is nowhere near mine."

"Oh relax." Shawn told his dad. "These walls are thich as hell. Not exactly sound proof, but if you close your door you won't be able to hear anything."

"You better be right." Henry warned. "Because I'm tired, and I'm going to bed, and if I'm kept awake by those two...doing stuff. I swear to god I'll kill you."

"Night dad." Shawn chimed happily. Henry grunted and shook his head as he stood and got up leaving. At that moment, Shawn and Lassiter were once again alone. A beat of silence passed between them.

"I'm glad you liked the shoes." Shawn finally said.

"Oh, yeah, no. They're great." Lassiter said again awkwardly. "Amazing even, I owe you Spencer."

"Ooo." Shawn responded teasingly. "You owe me?"

"Yeah." Lassiter actually smiled a bit. "I guess I do."

"You can pay me back on April Fools."

Lassiter blinked. "That's...months away - why?"

"Well, There's this elaborate prank I've always wanted to pull on Gus, it involves at least four illegal fire arms, a trip to the woods, a fake goast, and a bucket full of chocolate pudding."

"...Say what now?"

"I'll explain later, all you need to know, that its going to take two people to pull it off, along with a few illegals buys from the black market, and normally I'd pull this kind of prank with Gus, but since its for Gus, I need an extra pair of hands."

Lassiter looked at Shawn shocked. "Dear god, what the hell are you planning?"

Shawn lowered his voice to sound suspicious. "Something awesome."

"I can't believe I'm saying this." Lassiter answered. "But I'm in."

"Really?" Shawn asked shocked. "Even though I just told you it involves four illegal fire arms?"

"Exactly why." Lassiter answered. "I'm a cop idiot, so I know a thing or two about firearms, I can promise you, that whatever illegal firearms you're talking about, I can get you legal ones, for the same results, probably at a Walmart as scarey as that sounds."

Shawn blinked. "Walmart?"

"You'd be surprised what you can do with everyday household items." Lassiter nodded.

Shawn started to laugh. "You're like -the home alone kid on crack."

"Crack is also illegal." Lassiter pointed.

"Whoa!" Shawn held up his hands. "Since when?"

Lassiter laughed then. "Since always. I think if I pull your name for secret Santa this year, I'm just gonna get you flash cards of stuff that's illegal."

"Surprisingly." Shawn said then. "My dad already beat you too it."

"He did not."

"Fifth birthday." Shawn nodded. "Along with his annual police car hot wheels car."

"Your dad got you police hot wheels every year?"

"I have a whole box full in his basement, and not just squad cars. I have the prison transport van, the first responder's ambulance, squad cars from the 40s, and as scarey as the last one is, the police hurst."

"Police hurst?"

"The hurst with the sirens on it, its used to transport dead convicts who had faced the death penalty."

"Wow." Lassiter was impressed. "That's depressing."

"I know!"

"But to be honest, that box you have, if they're all in good condition, is probably worth about...if I had to ball park it. 6 Grand."

"They've all been opened." Shawn said then.

"Four grand." Lassiter lowered the price. "Two if they're worn down."

Shawn shook his head at him. "You're a nerd. If you want I can give them to you."

"Why me?"

"Because you seem to know more about them then I do, you could probably sell them real easy."

"Sell!" Lassiter shook his head. "God no. Shawn. You don't sell collectibles, you put them in a glass case and keep them preserved until the day you die and pass them on to your grandkids who will probably sell them because they're stupid and don't know real value."

Before Shawn could respond, Cal was coming back into the room. "Hey Cal!" Shawn stood up to greet him with a kiss. Lassiter looked off to the side to not have to see them kiss again.

"Hey Shawn - um - where did everyone go?"

"Bed." Shawn answered. "I was on my way too, but I wanted to wait for you."

"Ah." Cal said. "Okay, um, listen - can we talk in the other room for a minute?"

"Sure." Shawn looked a little unsure, but none the less followed Cal out of the room, the door closing behind them. Lassiter was on his feet, he wasn't thinking, he grabbed an empty glass and went straight to the door to listen.

"I have to go." He heard Cal say.

"Go where?" Shawn asked a little haughtily.

"My dad called. He's with my broker. The Japan numbers just went down drastically, and in order to figure out whats going on we have to get in touch with Japan before their day is over, and their day is unfortunately our night. So I have to go."

Shawn gave an exasperated sigh. "Fine, do what you gotta do, when will you be back?"

"I'll call you in the morning, and you guys can let me know when you're hitting the beach and I'll catch up with you then."

"Promise?" Shawn asked.

"Of course." Cal answered. "I really am sorry."

"No its fine, I'm tired as hell anyway. The most excitement you'd be getting tonight is me snoring, so go save your Japanese fortune instead."

"Thanks babe."

Lassiter listened to what was undeniably another kiss, and from his side of the door he pretended to gag. He then heard foot steps as Cal and Shawn wandered away from the door. When Lassiter was sure they were gone, the put the glass back down and exited the room himself. Shawn was nowhere to be seen. Figuring he'd just gone to bed, Lassiter started to head for the bedrooms also, only to find Shawn sitting on the stairs looking pissed.

"You uh...alright?" Lassiter asked. He then played dumb. "Anything you want to talk about?"

"Cal's gone for the night." Shawn answered. "Stuff going on in Japan I guess. Could it wait til Monday? Nah. He had to go tonight."

"I'm sure it was important." Lassiter answered blankly. The last thing he ever wanted to do was defend Cal, but for all he knew, it was important. "When he's coming back?"

"In the morning hopefully." Shawn stood up then and started heading up the stairs, Lassiter following him. "He said he'd join up with us at the beach but, he'll probably be so tired. He'll fall asleep and get sunburned."

Lassiter thought of that man being as red as a tomatoe and in pain, it made him grin. Luckily Shawn's back was turned to him so Shawn didn't see it. When they reached the top of the stairs. Shawn turned around again.

"On the bright side, I get to see what you look like in a pair of flip flops."

"I bet you're just dying to see." Lassiter couldn't help but tease. "I have to ask, I mean, first with O'Hara and now with me, is this a new thing? Do you suddenly have a weird obsession with feet?"

Shawn shook his head. "Nah, I just think you two looking like California common folk is going to look weird, and weird usually translate to humorous for me, so I'm just excited for the show."

"Don't make fun of us too much." Lassiter warned. "We're still cops, we can still hurt you."

"And I'm still a psychic who can anticipate your every move, ready to scream like a little girl and run away if I think I might die."

"Ha! Right." Lassiter challenged. "I don't think you're that psychic, but then again, you've always known that."

"No!" Shawn mocked. "I did not actually, I actually you didn't think I was psychic at all, 'not that psychic' is quite the step up for you Lassie."

"Shut up." Lassiter said then.

"Make me." Shawn challenged.

That was it. Lassiter's mind snapped a little. He couldn't handle it anymore. Reaching forward the detective grabbed Shawn's arm and pulled, bringing Shawn closer he didn't give Shawn a chance to react when he kissed him. There was a second where Lassiter's mind was yelling at him to STOP, but it quelled quickly when he realized, Shawn had wrapped his free arm around his back and was kissing back.

It was the best kiss Lassiter ever tasted, something about the way Shawn tasted put Lassiter on auto-pilot, so sweet and addicting, Lassiter deepened the kiss needing more. Shawn leaned into his thouch, kissing back with real passion. Lassiter had closed his eyes just in time to see stars explode. Of course it all ended too quickly, Shawn's feet had touched Earth again, and he pulled away foricbly with a surprised and disdained "oh my god!"

Lassiter snapped back to reality. "I know...I know - Shawn I'm sorry..I'm so sorry, I just - oh my god." Lassiter's heart was racing, and he watched a bit horrified as Shawn backed away from him looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

"The fuck was that Lassie? !"

"It was - it was nothing." Lassiter defended quickly. "You were telling me you could predict my every move, then you told me to make you shut up, I wasn't thinking, it was the joke. A joke."

"Not funny." Shawn shook his head. "Not funny at all!"

"Hey." Okay, Lassiter was done feeling quilty. "Maybe it was uncalled for, but you kissed back, and maybe it wouldn't have happened if Mr. fancy banker hadn't left in the middle of the night to take care of some fancy bank work from Japan."

"Do not blame this on Cal!" Shawn warned. "He works incredibly hard to keep what he has!"

"You're right." Lassiter said sarcastically then. "This isn't his fault, its my fault for kissing you, and your fault for liking it -my bad!" With that Lassiter went into his room mind raging, as soon as he was inside he started to pack. It didn't take him very long, but once he was done he noted that Shawn was gone - probably to his room. Good. Lassiter didn't want to talk to him anyway.

By the time Lassiter was out the door and sitting infront of his steering wheel, he was shaking. That just happened. He kissed Shawn, and it was the most amazing kiss he had ever had, and it turned into a screaming match, because like it or not, Shawn was with another man. Lassiter was normally better at holding in his profanity, but tonight called for it. "FUCK!"

He shouted the f word a few more times until his hands stopped shaking. Was he about to drive? The hell was he thinking? He was angry and had had four beers, deciding to just hide out in his car until morning, the most Lassiter did was pull the car out of the garage and cracked a window to let in some fresh air. He leaned his sit back and closed his eyes. This wouldn't be the first time he slept in a car, and it probably wouldn't be his last. He was used to it by now.

Lassiter wasn't sure when he fell asleep, but when he woke up he could only guess that it was early. The sun was pretty bright but his car hadn't started to get hot yet. Deciding that was a good sign, Lassiter waited a couple more minutes before he decided he was good enough to drive. He straightened his seat, and turned his car back on. By the time he got to the houses gate, he blinked a little surprised when he saw a yellow cab. The cab driver was looking aimlessly out his window, and Lassiter stared right into the back seat where he saw Cal, in the arms of what appeared to be a female hooker. Their lips locked. Cal hadn't looked up from the 'make out' session to see Lassiter, and Lassiter again not really thinking, floored it in reverse. He wasn't sure if Cal had heard his engine heave, but Lassiter didn't look back to see. He didn't care. Shawn was up in that big house, probably sulking alone because he thought he cheated on the love the love of his life, when Cal was using him this whole time. Lassiter parked his car at an awkward angle and exiting before the car was fully turned off, he went running back into the house.

"Shawn!" Lassiter called up the stairs as he headed up them, taking two steps at a time. He went straight to Shawn's room and started knocking loudly. "Shawn wake up! Its important! Shawn!"

"What is all the yelling about?" Henry had woken up, and had come out of his room in a robe. "Carlton, its 5AM and I'm not fishing today I want to sleep."

"Sorry Spencer, but I don't care." Lassiter went back to knocking on Shawn's door loudly. "How the hell are you still sleeping! Shawn open the door!"

"What is going on?" Juliet had come out of her room now, in a long night gown, Gus on her heels in a pair of pyjama pants. "Carlton have you lost your mind?"

"No! I just need to talk to Shawn. Of fuck it." Lassiter hand't seen Cal yet, and took that as a sign, he was probably still in the cab making out with that hooker. Lassiter however didn't want to chance it, and finally getting tired of his yells being ignored, Lassiter opened the door to Shawn's room. "Shawn!"

Only Shawn wasn't there. The bed hadn't even been slept on. It was still made up perfectly. This took Lassiter by surprise. "Uh...Shawn?" He turned to Gus. "He's not in here."

"That's weird." Gus admitted. "He couldn't have gone far. I'll try to call him."

Gus went back to his room, and a few seconds later came out with his cell phone. "I'm not getting an answer."

"Maybe he fells asleep on the couch?" Juliet tried. "What time did you guys go to bed?"

"He's not on the couch." Lassiter said then. "I followed him up here last night after Cal left."

"He does wander when he's drunk." Gus said then. "But he plays it safe, he wouldn't have left the house. He's around here somewhere."

"Would he leave if he was upset?" Lassiter asked.

"Uh - he'd have to be pretty upset." Gus said then.

"Cal did leave." Lassiter said then. He really didn't want to have to tell them why Shawn might've been really upset.

"Okay enough!" Henry was agitated. "The point is, my son is an idiot and none of us are going to be able to go back to bed until we find him, so everyone split up and search the house, meet back here in ten minutes."

"What if we don't find him?" Juliet asked quietly.

"Then we assume he's an even bigger idiot and call a search party in from the city." Henry shook his head then. "In the mean time, everyone grab your phones and keep calling him while you look."

Everyone at Henry's direction just nodded, and split up to grab their phones and call Shawn. Lassiter unfortunately had left his phone in his car, so he had to leave the house again to grab it. When he was in the drive way, he saw Cal finally walking up towards the house.

"Carlton, you're up early -leaving already? We're not that bad are we?"

Lassiter didn't say anything, this guy - just - fuck this guy. As far as Lassiter knew, this was all his fault. Cal could bloody well rot. Lassiter walked right upto Cal, and punched him in the face.