AUTHOR'S NOTES: This one isn't as long as I usually do, but it has the Shawn whump I promised! Enjoy.

Chapter 6- Missing In Action

Carlton had risen bright and early in order to go see Marlowe before work. He'd been going every day lately and both of them were counting down the two weeks before her release. Yes, she would be on probation, but she would be out and free to live with him in the home he'd made.

"Hey Honey Bear." She purred as he approached.

As he sat down he threaded his fingers through the grate and she did the same. It was the only real contact they were allowed. Carlton had ended up on the prison's crap list when he'd blatantly disregarded the rules and kissed her a few months ago. So he reciprocated and put them on his crap list. It was only two more weeks anyway.

Marlowe made her pouty face when she saw Carlton's smile falter. "What's wrong lover? Not enough sleep again today?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't Spencer's fault this time… well, it kind of was, but not directly." Carlton couldn't figure out the right words for what he was feeling.

"What do you mean?"

"You know how I told you yesterday Spencer told his mom about his," he looked at the guard and lowered his voice, "condition and it got me wondering again if I should tell my family when they come to meet you."

Marlowe sighed. The topic was something they'd discussed more than once. She could see where it would be nice to have his family know about him so he wouldn't have to leave them, but she wouldn't be able to bear it if they left him. She would seriously snap on them for turning away her loyal, strong, caring, man.

"Carlton, lets just wait a bit and see how things go before you jump into it. You have a lot of time."

He smiled at her joke. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Carlton was just about to chance kissing her again, guards be damned, when his phone went off. Growling in frustration he quickly flipped it open. "What?!"

"Carlton, we need you down at the station right now." Juliet said in a panic.

His eyes flicked to Marlowe, "Can't it wait? I'm a bit busy."

"Shawn is missing." He could now hear the emotion in her voice. She wasn't just panicking, she was getting hysterical.

"Son of a...I'll be there in five." He hung up cursing Spencer and his damn luck.

"What is it?" Marlowe asked concerned.

Carlton curled his lip, "Spencer is in trouble. I have to go." He gave her fingers a squeeze and hurried out of the prison. He jumped in his car and sped away towards the station. Spencer you better be okay or I will kill you myself for making O'Hara worry so much... it isn't good for the baby.

After a couple minutes of awkward silence between him and his religious captor, Shawn started to get his bearings. His headache was gone, and he was thinking much clearer. The shooting pains had stopped too. His stomach turned when he realized the pains and the popping was his skull repairing itself. Ew.

Three more guys walked up with Sam in tow. Shawn could only assume that the one in front with the determined look on his face was Zack. He had light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and eyebrows that rivaled Jack Nicholson's. He wasn't all that physically imposing, but Shawn knew he had to be smart to leave no traces and leave the cops scrambling, even after shooting someone.

Next to him was a Hispanic looking man that was in his mid-20s like the rest of them. He could only be the one that was arguing with Zack right before Shawn was shot, Shawn remembered the name. Carlos.

The other one, whose name Shawn wasn't sure of had blond hair and was tall, but skinny. He was also insane. Shawn knew that look and had seen that kind of stare before, many times. None of them were very fond memories and brought back flashes of a curly black haired woman smiling widely and saying his name reverently. After shaking away the memory he noticed the blond man also had a broken nose. Interesting.

The fear that he wasn't going to get out of this unscathed built up inside of him again, threatening to bubble to the surface. If it was just him, he'd probably risk bullshitting his way out, but he had other people depending on him now.

Knowing he had to think fast to put them off their game, Shawn figured it was worth it to play psychic, they had most definitely found his wallet, and business card by now. Scared and angry people were never very analytical, one of the useful things his father taught him, and any advantage he could muster while tied to a chair was a step in the right direction.

Before any of them could say anything, he turned to the leader "Hey Zack right? Listen, could you and Carlos over there do me a favor and loosen these straps, they're starting to chafe and my skin is really sensitive." He turned to the crazy guy. "Thanks for shooting me. Next time be a dear and give a little warning." There were only two choices of who could have done that; the red haired guy who tried to hand him water and the crazy guy... so the answer was pretty obvious.

All five men stood staring at Shawn in disbelief. Zack finally turned to Adam in anger. "What the hell are you telling him our names for Adam?" He annunciated the name in retaliation.

Adam opened his mouth to protest that he hadn't said anything, but Shawn cut in. "Didn't you guys know already? Feels like you wouldn't be all that good of a criminal if you didn't take someone's wallet and pilfer a bit. I am psychic." He pulled on his bindings a bit. "I would strike my usual pose but, ya know. The whole tied up thing, but usually it is a lot more impressive when I have a vision." Shawn smiled internally as each of their heartbeats sped up in shock and worry and the scent of fear hit the air. It wasn't until then that Shawn started to feel how hungry he was. He'd obviously lost a lot of blood, and would need more soon, which meant he had even less time to get out of this than he thought.

Ben, hated being made fun of and sprung into action before Adam or Zack could stop him. His knife was at Shawn's throat, pressing down. "You think you're funny? How are you even alive? I practically saw your brains leak out psychic."

Shawn took shallow breaths, "Metal plate in my head?" When he saw Ben's eyes narrow he made up a different excuse, "My dad always said my head was the hardest substance in the world..." Ben's weight was suddenly pulled off of him and he could breathe normally again. "I know someone who runs a pet store, you can get a rather fashionable choker chain for him."

If Zack wasn't sure Ben would kill him in his sleep for laughing he would have. He stepped forward, Adam had warned him that the guy might be really out of it, but if he was lucid enough to be an ass he was lucid enough to be asked questions. Getting right in Shawn's face he asked, "How did you find us?"

Shawn turned his face away a bit. It wasn't a smart move for the guy to stick his face right next to a hungry vampire. He tried to keep his humor intact as he struggled to ignore the hunger pains beginning to take hold. "I took that left turn at Albuquerque. Contrary to popular belief, it really doesn't take you where you wanna go."

Thankfully for Shawn, Zack stepped back while wearing an amused smirk. "Okay smartass." Zack looked to Adam to do his job.

Adam couldn't believe Zack wanted him to hit a guy who had an obvious head wound. "I don't think..."

"I don't have you around to think." Zack spat. He was getting impatient, thinking they wasted their time on this guy enough.

With a glare at Zack, Adam stepped up and did as he was told. Rearing his fist back he brought it square onto the side of Shawn's jaw.

Shawn pitched to the side violently. The guy hit like a truck. He clenched his teeth, which popped his jaw back into place, and forced himself not to vamp out from the pain. Calm blue ocean... calm blue... Another smack in the face almost broke his resolve as well as his nose. Luckily two hits was all he was getting for this round. Blood flowed a little bit from his nose and he groaned, not so much from the pain, but from holding back his anger.

Zack knelt down, in front of Shawn again. The psychic was sweating and practically shaking. "Ready to answer my question now?"

Shawn brought his head up, and glared. "Which question would that be? How did I find you or I am ready to answer now?"

"Either." Zack glared back. He'd never met such a difficult guy in his life.

Shawn tried to keep a neutral expression on his face as he came up with a plan. If I can just get out of the chair, I'll be able to run out of here. "You know, you did shoot me in the head. Things are a bit fuzzy right now." He twisted his hand and touched his bindings. His heart sank. They'd used ship rigging, which was essentially braided steel that could hold hundreds of pounds. Vampires were strong, but not that strong. Can't get out that way.

"Hit him again Adam."

Shawn looked up in horror and shook his head frantically, "No Adam, don't hit him again!"

Adam wrinkled his nose in disgust, but pulled his hand back for the punch anyway. Shawn flinched and braced for the impact but Carlos stepped between them to stop him, while addressing Zack. "Dude, he's had enough!"

Shawn peeked one eye open and began to relax, but it was a bit too soon.

Ben rolled his eyes. If Adam didn't have the stomach to hit him, he would do it. He launched himself at Shawn, his arms swinging. Shawn wasn't prepared and was hit by surprise as his flimsy chair fell backwards and Ben landed on top of him, still trying to punch.

That was all it took for Shawn to break. Instinct broke through and he lashed out with his teeth biting down on the flesh of Ben's left arm.

"AH!" Ben screamed and pulled back and away from Shawn's face. Teeth marks marred his forearm, and blood flowed freely.

Shawn growled and snapped at him again, causing the entire group to back up in fear. "What the hell!? Can psychics do that!?" Sam screamed as he saw Shawn's fangs.

It took a moment for Shawn to regain control and realize what he had done. He leaned back, panting and licking the blood off his lips. "Shit. That wasn't supposed to happen." He groaned. The bad thing was the small taste he had gotten, had made him hungrier.

"Someone get something! I'm bleeding here!" Ben yelled at his stupefied gang members.

Carlos was the first to react. He grabbed part of a towel and put pressure on Ben's wound. Shawn had really gotten a hold of him and it was pretty deep. As he tried to stop Ben's bleeding Carlos stared at Shawn. "What the hell is it?"

That got Shawn's attention. His white eyes settled on Carlos, "I am not an it. Thank you very much, and he started it!" Shawn moved his head in Ben's direction. The cat was very fully out of the bag for him. All the secrecy that Mick had trusted him with was undone instantly because of a group of kids who were good at stealing, and had delusions of grandeur. He closed his eyes tightly, cursing his luck.

"What the hell do we do man? We captured a God Damn vampire!" Sam exclaimed. "That's what he is right? A vampire?"

"Will everyone just shut the hell up! I need to think!" Zack got as close to Shawn as he dared. "Adam, pick him up."

"Damn it..." Adam cursed and bent down, picking up Shawn's chair, making sure Shawn wasn't able to reach him with his teeth. It was creepy enough for him that the vampire was staring at him with silvery white eyes.

Zack turned his back on Shawn and motioned for everyone to follow him in a huddle.

Shawn watched as they whispered and looked his way. That can't be good. He closed his eyes and listened carefully.

"What do we do with him?" Carlos was asking.

Zack looked Shawn's direction and frowned. "Quit looking at me like I know shit. You guys have seen the same movies as me."

Ben however, was smiling despite the wound on his arm. "Dude, he bit me. Ask him if I'll become a vampire."

"Do you really think this guy is going to give us a straight answer?" Zack deadpanned. The guy had been difficult when they thought he was human.

"I think he can hear us." Adam stated and all heads turned Shawn's way.

By then Shawn's features had turned back to normal. He was feeling sarcastic enough to grin creepily at them. If they were going to keep him captive, he sure as hell wasn't going to make it easy on them. Not at all. It's not like he had much time anyway. If he didn't feed soon, one of two things would happen, either he would die... or they would.

"Worst... options... ever." Shawn sighed and hung his head.

Everyone arrived at the station at about the same time. Juliet had called Chief Vick on her way so she was waiting for them in her office. Once inside everyone started talking all at once.

Karen held up her hands and yelled. "Sit down everyone!" They all stopped arguing immediately and sat down in chairs across from the chief's desk. "Now, Detective O'Hara, when is the last time anyone has heard from Shawn?"

"I think it was when he left the station yesterday evening. Carlton said he... smelled... upset." Carlton nodded in agreement. "He wouldn't just run off Chief. He wouldn't leave me and the baby."

"Has anyone contacted Mick St. John? Maybe he went to visit and calm down after the incident with his mother." Juliet had told Karen about the dinner yesterday. She couldn't say she blamed Madeline for her reaction. Her own hadn't been any better.

"Listen, I know my son. He can be childish and irresponsible, but since he found out about the baby, he would never leave like this without saying anything to anyone." Henry confirmed.

Gus interjected, "He said he had some clues that told him where the Las Arañas gang was. He might have gone after them alone."

Henry blanched, "Why the hell would he go after them alone?"

"Because I accidentally insulted him." Gus started at his hands. He felt like he betrayed his best friend.

Henry's face scrunched in confusion, "What?"

"I said," Gus gulped knowing the reactions wouldn't be pretty, "I said I wanted to meet with Coraline so I can find a cure to get my friend back."

"Judas Priest Guster! What the hell is wrong with you?" Carlton got to his feet, glaring at the salesman. With as upset as Shawn was when he felt his mother didn't accept him, he couldn't even fathom how Shawn must have felt after that slip. "No wonder he went alone." He started to pace. If Shawn ran away, that would be bad... but if he were captured, it was so much worse. "Chief if I may... if Spencer doesn't get a regular dose of blood, things won't be pretty. I don't think in this case we can wait the full 48 hours."

Karen sighed knowing Carlton was right., "Alright then, we'll treat this like a missing person's case, even though it hasn't been 48 hours due to what we'll call a 'medical emergency'."

Everyone nodded.

The hormones and the stressful situation was really starting to get to Juliet and she started to cry, holding her stomach with her arms. "Why did he go alone!? We could have helped him."

"Don't blame yourself." Henry grabbed one of her hands and held it. "Shawn probably had it in his head that he was protecting us. It wouldn't be the first time." He absentmindedly fingered the two circular scars on his neck.

Carlton noticed the action but didn't comment on it. He turned to Karen. "The first thing we need to do is find his car. O'Hara told me he had it. It shouldn't be too hard, the damn thing is one of a kind. If we find it we might be able to figure out if he's close by."

"I'll get some black and whites on it right away, now understand the only reason I am letting any of you on this case is because there is no one else that knows of Mr. Spencer and Detective Lassiter's conditions. If that wasn't the case I wouldn't have any of you anywhere near this case. I am trusting you to remain professional. Understand?"

"Yes chief." Carlton nodded. Juliet followed suit.

Henry grumbled and paced the room. He didn't want to have to tell his wife about Shawn. She'd blame herself for her reaction and she had done nothing wrong. It was a lot to process and Shawn shouldn't have expected her to instantly be okay with things.

"We'll hit the streets and check out the second hand store. Maybe we can come up with what Spencer had figured out." Carlton motioned for Juliet to come with him. He cast one last glare at Gus and left.

Henry and Gus looked at Karen, then at each other. "Uh, did you want to search with me?" Gus asked the elder Spencer.

"We're not taking that thing you call a car. We'll take my truck. End of story." Henry got up and stormed out. Still pissed off at Shawn, even though at the same time he was worried as hell for him.

Gus got to his feet sluggishly. He'd had to think that something happened to Shawn because of him.

"Mr. Guster..."

Gus looked at Karen, wondering what she wanted.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You are going through a lot too. I'm sure Shawn forgives you." She smiled sadly before grabbing her phone to make the calls to get the search party going.

Nodding his understanding, but still feeling like crap, Gus left the office, quietly closing the door behind him. "Shawn you better be okay." Gus huffed and followed Henry out to the parking lot to his truck.

Henry already had the engine going when Gus climbed in. "Do you have any idea where you are going?" Gus asked.

Henry shook his head. "No clue, but we have to do something. I'm not going to just sit around while my son could be out there in trouble."

"You know that's right." Gus agreed. "Let's go get him."

END NOTES:

I missed putting a Carlton and Marlowe scene. I don't think I have done that since the last chapter of the first one.

The bad guys know Shawn's secret. He is a tough guy, but still a newbie vampire. I couldn't have him hold out too long. :)