AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is a pretty short chapter because this and the next had to be split up a bit for formatting :P I was happy to get to use Woody again because he is my favorite character next to Shawn.

Chapter 5- A Cure for the Common Vampire

After a moment of stunned silence and questioning glances from the rest of the group, Carlton handed Shawn back his phone. "Put that on speaker would you?"

Shawn fiddled with the phone for a second before exclaiming, "So that's how you silence the ringer…" his triumphant smile faltered as he was met with cold stares. Ducking his head and frowning, he finally pushed the speaker button.

Mick's voice came from the phone. "Can everyone hear me?"

"Loud and clear Mick. What do you have for us?" Juliet asked.

"The only one with a motive to kill Cynthia Davis is a very powerful vampire named Lance. He is my ex-wife Coraline's brother. He is very dangerous, I cannot stress enough how dangerous." A serious Mick explained. "I can only tell you the few things I know from meeting him. He is incredibly strong, fast and… he heals from fire."

Shawn and Carlton shared a meaningful look. Fire was a big big problem for vampires.

Mick continued, "He is from a very powerful line of vampires. He and Coraline were part of French nobility during the French Revolution. The true history of the French Revolution is that it was a mass purge of vampires. The guillotine was created as a weapon of mass genocide, fire was used as an indicator of humanity. Fear of discovery was everywhere, so the clan created a substance that masked the characteristics of vampirism. A temporary cure."

"Is there a lot of this around?" Carlton asked. The hopeful look in his eyes sent a huge pang of guilt through Shawn.

"It is extremely rare. Coraline ended up stealing it from Lance some years ago and tried to develop a permanent cure from it. Four years ago she ended up giving me the temporary cure before being abducted by Lance. Being human meant that I was unable to stop him. I haven't seen her since." The sorrow in Mick's voice was very evident.

Being the scientific mind of the group, Woody was curious. "What is in this temporary cure?"

"Some kind of rare plant from France. It is practically extinct now. Coraline was trying to genetically alter the other plants to have the same properties of the original using the cure compound. That is all I really know."

Shawn's face went slack as he remembered Carlton's words from earlier, "All we got on her is that she ran some kind of horticulture business out of her home. Rare plants and the like."

"I've got something!" he exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention. "Cynthia was continuing the research! That would explain why Lance suddenly went after her. She was developing the plants!"

Carlton shook his head. "That doesn't explain why Lance would be starting the other fires, if he is connected to them at all. We don't have a lot of evidence there. Just that the same accelerant was used."

"Ok, for now I think we should do what the chief asks." Juliet reasoned. "Shawn, you and Gus head to Cynthia's house and see what you can find." Gus nodded and Shawn saluted Juliet. "Carlton and I will meet the BCA guys when they come in tomorrow. Until then we will see what research we can do on the other fires. If there is a connection, we will find it. Could you give us a description of Lance so we can know him when we see him Mick?"

"He is tall, brown hair rather plain looking but the thing that really sticks out about him is that his right eye is completely black."

"I am guessing you mean his eye is the color black and not that he has an eternal shiner…" Shawn asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, it is really disturbing. Anyway, did you need anything else?" Shawn heard a yawn over the line.

"Nah man. Thanks a lot. I will keep you posted if you want." Shawn picked up the phone.

"That would be great. Thanks, and be careful." Mick hung up and Shawn put the phone back in his jeans before looking up and noticing something was off with Carlton.

Pulling Juliet aside, Shawn looked at Carlton again who was sniffing at Gus in a mildly creepy way. Gus seemed oblivious but Shawn could tell the other vampire was definitely getting hungry. "Jules, I really want to talk to you about something but I need a second. Could you wait for me outside?" Juliet nodded in agreement. "Oh, and take Gus with you too…" Shawn motioned with his head and Juliet saw what Shawn was looking at.

Juliet immediately got the point. "Hey Gus, could you come here for a second?" Juliet motioned to the double doors. Gus gave Shawn a questioning look and Shawn gave a go ahead gesture.

After watching the pair leave, Carlton shook his head as if to tell himself "No."

"Hey Lassie-pants." Shawn got Carlton's attention by getting right in Carlton's personal space. His tone was light but his face was not happy. "How about I buy you some lunch from Woody?"

Backing up, Carlton sneered. "I don't need you to buy me blood Spencer."

In a fierce whisper Shawn replied, "Apparently someone has to! You were eyeing bus like a fillet. You cannot forget to feed Lassie… ever."

Pursing his lips and looking into Shawn's angry hazel eyes made the detective feel extremely guilty. He sighed and Shawn saw that as implied consent. "Woody!" Shawn called to the coroner who had since walked into the back room to grab something. "Could you get the detective here some B positive and put it on my tab?" Shawn's demeanor had instantly changed back to normal.

Carlton watched Shawn with hidden fascination. His ability to hide his true emotions was something that always irked and impressed him at the same time. Irked because he was so unreadable you never knew what he really thought or was up to. He envied the ability because Shawn seemed to be taking the vampiric transition so much easier than he himself was. Josef had tried to put it into words Carlton could understand. "You are now a loaded gun. Don't let yourself go off."

Woody came back into the main autopsy room and handed Shawn a blood bag with a flourish. "One B positive for the gentleman."

Shawn nodded and thanked Woody. "Here Lassie, I know we found you like A positive better…" Shawn handed the bag to Carlton and paused for dramatic effect. "But sometimes you just have to be positive." Slapping Carlton on the back, Shawn jogged out to join his friends in the hall. He heard Woody's good natured laugh and Carlton's sarcastic one. "Ha ha... very funny Spencer."

Shawn saw Juliet was alone in the hallway when he came out. "Jules… where is Gus?"

"The window guys called and he went to go meet them for the installation." Juliet explained and pointed towards the stairs where Gus had just been.

Shawn and Juliet stood awkwardly for a second, both obviously had things to say to each other but neither knew where to start. Deciding moving was better than just standing around, Shawn took Juliet's arm gently and started to walk slowly down the hallway.

Shawn cleared his throat, "So, I heard girls' night went good…"

"Yeah, Alex and Beth are great…" Juliet replied with the over enthusiasm of someone trying to find something to say to break the ice.

Shawn looked around. He knew they really wouldn't be able to talk at the station anyway. Too many people were around. "Jules, I really do want to talk to you about what I said last week but…"

"I know, we can't do it here." Juliet admitted. They really needed some time alone to speak about things.

Shawn stopped walking as they hit the top of the stairs and turned Juliet to face him. "How about I take you out tomorrow night? Just us! We can have dinner… dancing…" Shawn moved closer to Juliet and gave a big smile.

Playfully pushing Shawn away and giving him a puzzled look Juliet stated the obvious. "But Shawn, you don't eat."

"Oh c'mon Jules!" Shawn gave an exasperated whine, "Since when does everything have to be about me?" Juliet raised an eyebrow and Shawn corrected himself, "Lately…"

Giving into her boyfriend's puppy dog stare Juliet agreed. "Ok Shawn, 6pm tomorrow. Pick me up because I want to go for a ride in that new car of yours."

"It's a date!" Shawn exclaimed loud enough to turn some heads in their direction, and causing Juliet to turn beat red.

"SHAWN!" A shout from across the station caused Shawn's teeth to clench at the sound of the gruff voice. He could have gone literally an eternity without hearing him again… let alone after just a few hours.

Juliet gave Shawn a questioning look as she saw his reaction to Henry's voice. This is what she had wanted to talk to him about. To see how everything went with the discussion on extra training.

Henry jogged up to the pair and nodded in greeting at Juliet. Grabbing Shawn's arm, Henry said, "C'mere kid. I need to talk to you." He started to drag Shawn towards an office.

Shawn planted his feet firmly while giving his father a hard look. Shawn had not told anyone how pissed off he really was about the stake incident. He had been his usual self and played it off as teaching his dad a lesson when he vamped out at him and had brushed it off as no big deal to Gus. The truth was he was furious and having his dad rush in and order him around was trying his already frayed nerves.

Henry immediately let go of Shawn's arm when he saw his son's eyes were pale and glaring. "Um, I would like to speak to you Shawn… if I could." Henry used his politest voice.

Juliet could not believe her ears. "Henry, what happened today?" She demanded with a scowl. "You were supposed to talk to him about what I had asked." Looking at Shawn for confirmation Juliet continued, "Did you say no Shawn?"

Henry was about to answer when Shawn piped up. "It's ok Jules. He told me about it and I agreed. I think it is a great idea." Shawn smiled but Henry could see it didn't reach his eyes. "I need to talk to him for a minute. Will catch you later ok?" Shawn leaned over and kissed Juliet on the cheek.

"Ok, call me later?" Shawn nodded and Juliet walked off to join Carlton who was just now coming up the steps.