A break from the case: A little backround, a little Gus and Shawn bonding, a little bit from Juliet's perspective.
But come on guys! Reviews are seriously lacking! Updates are comign this fast b/c everyone as is carrying the review count. ;)
January. 2012.
"Gus! Look at this!" Shawn said excitedly, pulling a small box from his jacket.
Gus raised an eyebrow suspiciously as Shawn maneuvered his way around the office to Gus's desk. Shawn plopped down on the edge, sitting on what had been a neatly organized stack of paperwork. Gus pursed his lips, resisting the intense urge to scold his best friend only because he looked so excited about whatever was in his hand.
Shawn popped the box open, revealing a simple but elegant diamond ring.
Gus pursed his lips. "Shawn, I told you already, even if you need insurance for a major operation we are never reenacting the movie 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," Gus crossed his arms defensively.
Shawn blinked in surprise, his eyes going from Gus to the ring than back again. "What? Gus, first of all, you would totally marry me in that case. Second of all, this isn't for you," Shawn fidgeted nervously. He flicked the box open then closed. "It's for Jules," he shifted uncomfortably. "So…what do you think?" he shoved the ring across the desk to Gus.
Gus inspected it, "Is it real?"
"What?" Shawn sounded offended, "Of course it's real!"
Gus nodded uncertainly, watching his best friend closely. Shawn had never talked about marriage before. Not seriously at least. Shawn's only serious thought about married life concerned what side of their shared, yard spanning swimming pool he wanted.
And he and Juliet had not been going out that long. They'd only celebrated their one year anniversary in Vancouver a few months ago.
"Well?" Shawn raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Gus nodded slowly, "It's nice Shawn," he hesitated, "Are you sure about this?"
Shawn's expression turned serious. He shrugged himself off of Gus's desk and moved to the foosball table. He spun a line of players half heartedly. "I know it seems fast," he said slowly, "But Gus, I've never had a relationship last this long. Until I met Jules, I'd never had a one year anniversary before," he licked his lips and paused.
"But that's just it Shawn, you've never had anything last this long before…the only other serious relationship you had was with Abigail and even that was…you were long distance or off and on for half of it," Gus folded his arms over his chest.
Shawn nodded in agreement, "I know Gus, I know. But that's just it," he looked at his best friend, his expression completely serious and sure, "Jules is it. She knows the truth about me... She's stuck around for over a year now despite it and…" his knuckles gripped the side of the foosball table tightly, "She's the only one who would ever stick around this long," he got a far off smile on his face, "She gets almost as many of my references as you do," he looked at his best friend seriously, "It's her or…or I do end up that lonely eighty year old man hitting on every waitress I see," he swallowed hard. He loved her. Always would.
Gus smiled. "Then congratulations Shawn," he hugged his best friend happily. Shawn breathed a sigh of relief. He'd needed his best friend to tell him he wasn't crazy for wanting this. "How are you going to ask her?"
Shawn's face paled. "I have absolutely no clue," he declared dejectedly.
June. 2015.
"Left! Left, left! Shawn left!" Gus instructed, then chuckled loudly as Shawn was eaten. Shawn sighed and took his hands off of the Pacman console in front of him. "A little rusty Shawn?" Gus challenged.
Shawn glared at him darkly. "They don't have Pacman in Canada Gus," Gus raised an eyebrow. "I've written to the Prime Minister about the issue but well…he hasn't responded," Shawn shook his head. "Needless to say, he won't be getting my vote in the next election."
Gus frowned, "Shawn, you aren't a Canadian citizen."
Shawn blinked. "Gus, it's Canada? Does that even matter?" Gus nodded thoughtfully. That was probably true. They moved over to the bumper cars. Shawn grinned mischievously. "Oh, we should go on these, buddy. Canada doesn't have them either," he jumped the fence and moved towards a car.
Gus took the extra five steps it took to reach the door to the bumper car arena and slide through the gate before settling into a car. He and Shawn were the only ones there. Gus grinned. This was hardly what he'd expected when Shawn had called his office, informed his secretary that Mrs. Pickles-bless her fake heart- had finally passed away and promptly got him excused from work for the rest of the day. Shawn had been sitting outside his office on the hood of his Echo and had proudly announced that they were about to have the best bachelor party ever.
The cars revved to life and soon they were weaving in between the other immobile cars, aiming up hits at the others vehicle. Shawn delivered a severe side swipe and laughed, before spinning his car deftly behind another car, avoiding Gus's retaliatory attack.
Gus frowned. The look of glee that was plastered on Shawn's face didn't quite meet his eyes; which were far off like he was lost in thought. Gus sighed. Shawn had gone to see Juliet earlier. He should have known his best friend would be…distracted.
"So, how was it?" Gus said finally, hoping he could work his best friend through whatever he was dealing with quickly so that they could enjoy the night.
Shawn smiled sheepishly; embarrassed he'd been caught so zoned out. He spun himself behind another car, but not before Gus clipped his bumper. "It was…fine," Shawn shrugged. There wasn't really another word for it. Juliet had been polite, professional. He'd expected yelling, maybe a 'stay the hell away from me,' but he definitely hadn't anticipated the slight teasing or the sad but knowing looks she had given him.
Gus swerved between cars, aware that Shawn was coming after him, "Just fine?"
Shawn nodded as he smashed into Gus's front bumper. "She invited me to look at a crime scene," Shawn spun his wheel expertly to avoid an out of use bumper car.
Gus stiffened, "You went to a crime scene without me?"
Shawn winced, "Well it was sort of a spur of the moment thing Gus," he defended. "Besides, you have a 'real job'!" Shawn mimicked. He bit back a grin as Gus pursed his lips.
"Fine. But if Lassiter brings you in on the case, then I'm coming too," Gus huffed, glaring angrily as Shawn maneuvered to pin his best friend's car between his bumper and the wall.
Shawn laughed, "I doubt that's going to happen. Psych isn't even official anymore." He knew Gus had put the office space up for sale; it had been at his request after all.
Gus shrugged, "Well, he's let me in on a few cases."
Shawn froze in surprise and Gus used the opportunity to slam into Shawn's bumper car, sending the car skidding. Shawn struggled to regain control. "He's done what?"
Gus nodded, "There have been a few cases that have dealt with pharmaceutical grade drugs. He's called me," he explained nonchalantly.
Shawn laughed, "Even though you're dating his baby sister?"
Gus's face darkened, "He couldn't really complain. Two months before Lauren came back to town Lassiter was promoted to Chief," Shawn moved to hit Gus's car and Gus swerved easily to avoid the attack."There was a party for him and alcohol was involved and…," he shivered, "Joy was in town," Gus finished curtly.
Shawn's eyebrows shot up. "He hooked up with your sister first?"
Gus grit his teeth and nodded. Shawn grimaced. He did not like to think that he and Lassie could ever have had similar taste in women. Shawn spun the wheel, "Huh, well now I understand why Lassie didn't arrest you when he found out," he chuckled.
Their time ended and the cars lurched to a stop. Shawn popped out of his car and helped Gus to his feet. "Seriously Shawn," Gus scrutinized his friend, "How are you?"
Shawn stared at Gus quietly for a moment before grinning, "Let's do the laser tag next," he slapped Gus on the arm and moved past him.
"Shawn!"
"Gus," Shawn shook his head, "Don't worry about me."
Gus growled as he watched Shawn head towards the entrance to the laser tag facility. He had really been hoping his friend was doing better than that.
June. 2015. Across Town.
"To the lovely bride to be," Juliet tipped her glass and Lauren Lassiter, soon to be Lauren Guster, laughed as she raised hers to clink it against her maid of honors. The music of the club pulsed around them as the two women sat at a table overlooking the club. Juliet tucked a strand of hair behind her ear self consciously. This was hardly her scene, but Lauren, who was a few years younger, still enjoyed the loud blaring music.
Lauren sipped her martini and watched the DJ. "I have to admit…I'm excited," she giggled.
Juliet cocked an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"I've only ever seen Gus completely drunk once before," she smirked, "When he comes home from his bachelor party tonight…" she chuckled, "Well, it could be interesting," she leaned forward, "Last time he insisted on singing Ebony and Ivory with me on our karaoke machine."
Juliet grinned. She could believe that. "I hate to disappoint you Lauren, but Shawn's organizing Gus's bachelor party," she sipped her drink.
Lauren looked at her quizzically, "So?" From everything Gus-and the few tidbits Juliet had been willing to reveal-told her about Shawn, her fiancé's best friend was a wild child. And Lauren remembered him from her time filming the documentary; Shawn was hard to forget, and definitely a character.
"Gus is probably eating Jerk Chicken and watching John Hughes movies right now," Juliet smirked. She knew Shawn. Alcohol wasn't for the good times; just the bad ones. "Gus has had maybe one beer," Juliet chuckled.
Lauren's smile fell and she pursued her lips. "But Gus told me about what happened at the Mexican border. Both times!" Shawn was a good guy. She'd seen so herself. But he was also irresponsible and a lose canon.
Juliet raised an eyebrow. She still didn't know what had happened at the Mexican border.
"I could be wrong," Juliet admitted. The Shawn Spencer she had seen at her crime scene today…he wasn't the same person that he was four years ago, and it wasn't just the beard or the buzz cut that had thrown her for a loop. She took a sip of her drink; she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad one.
Lauren looked at her intensely, "Are you ok with this?"
"With what?"
"With your ex being the best man? With having to be around him after…everything?"
Juliet smiled sadly, "Four years is a long time to stay angry," she shrugged. She didn't have the desire or the energy to stay mad at Shawn. Mainly, thinking about everything that happened just created a hollow feeling in her chest. But working with him at the crime scene had felt so…normal. She swallowed hard; she'd missed it. Missed him.
Lauren didn't look convinced. "You sure?"
Juliet wasn't but she knew Lauren. And Lauren, unlike her brother, was very interested in Juliet's personal life. "Yeah," she answered with practices casualness.
Lauren sat her drink down and leveled Juliet with an intense stare. "Juliet, in all the time I've known you, you have only dated one guy," Juliet rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time she'd heard this, "And at best he was a rebound from Shawn," Juliet glared at her friend.
"Scott wasn't a rebound," Juliet defended half heartedly and she shifted in her seat, "Besides, I'm the Head Detective now…it takes a toll on your personal life."
Lauren just gave her best friend a look which clearly said she didn't buy it one bit. Lauren sighed and she looked around the club. "Come on," she grinned mischievously, "Let's go find you a date to my wedding," she winked and dragged Juliet to her feet.
Before anyone spazzes...I don't think Juliet's going to find a date to the wedding. Unless...hmm...I wonder what Cameron Luntz is up to these days. No?
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