A/N: We're getting a little meatier in this chapter, a little more in dept conversations which are apologetically OOC. There's development in the case – but I assure you, as far along as it seems to be getting it's only the beginning!

Again thanks to Antivertigo for acting as my beta, I now have a renewed sense of motivation! So on with the chapter, I hope you enjoy!

~ Matilda

Hehe. ^.^ - Antivertigo

Gay?

Marvin Stouffer was once again sitting in the interrogation room, Lassiter sitting across from him and not saying a single word. Eventually, Lassiter took the Ziploc bag he had containing Xanax and slid it across the table for Stouffer to look at.

"I don't get it." Stouffer said. "What are these?"

"You tell me." Lassiter said. "You seem to know exactly where to get it after all."

"I don't understand."

"Xanax." Lassiter's tone lowered, and he took the bag back "This is the drug you claim you were picking up for your 'uncle', isn't that right?"

Stouffer didn't say anything; just laid back in his chair. "So it was my first time going." Stouffer said. "I've never actually seen the drug before."

"Why don't you tell me who your uncle is?" said Lassiter. "Save us some time."

"That's the one thing you won't get out of me." Stouffer said.

"Oh we'll just see about that." Lassiter was determined.

The conversation seemed to go around and around in one big circle, Stouffer was uncomfortably good at not answering questions. "I don't get it!" Lassiter had thrown his hands up by the time he got back to his desk.

For a Saturday the station was pretty dead, most of the employees on duty out on patrol. This left the main floor pretty open, leaving just Jules and Lassiter to talk over their case.

"This 'Stouffer' is caught. We know he wasn't really on his way to grab Xanax, we know he was the third robber at that convenient store. So why won't he talk? Give us his name, the name of his uncle – anything really! Then we can finally start putting together this whole mess."

"Relax." Jules encouraged. "We'll get there; if we need to we'll call in the first two robbers for further questioning."

"Not if." Lassiter said then. "I'll call the jail, and have them transferred back here on Monday. We need to crack it."

"We will," Jules said. "But not if you're tired like this – why are you even here? It's Saturday."

"If you must know – I'm avoiding Spencer."

"Shawn? Oh no what's wrong?" Juliet seemed interested, and glad to now have a small distraction from work.

"Er – well right now he's off wandering the streets with Guster, doing 'something something super happy fun time and a burrito', but other then that? Everything's wrong O'Hara. I don't even know if I should be telling you this."

"Tell me what?" Juliet actually leaned in to listen.

"I think – I think Spencer is…. trying to… seduce me." Lassiter stared promptly at his feet.

"Wait – WHAT?" Juliet's reaction was a little much, but it was followed quickly by a nervous laugh. "Seduce you? Carlton – are you sure?"

"Pretty sure." Lassiter said. "It started two days ago when he – well he.."

"Yeah?" Juliet said.

"Kissed me." Lassiter coughed.

"Oh … oh my god!" Juliet lowered her voice to a screeched whisper "He kissed you? Like really kissed you?"

"Really kissed me." Lassiter said. "Then yesterday he dragged me to a movie. Sorry to say while I was on duty and somehow during the movie – he moved my arm so that it, it was draped over his shoulder."

Juliet was quite stunned "I mean, not that there's anything wrong with it but – I always believed that Shawn was straight."

"You're telling me." Lassiter agreed.

"Well – what are you going to do about it?" Juliet asked. "I mean, if he likes you – that's cool but Carlton, you're not gay…Carlton are you gay?"

"What?" Lassiter shot head up looking flustered "I well, never really – thought about it before. I did what I was supposed to, I grew up, got a job, got married, and then divorced which sucked but nonetheless – gay? I can't be."

"How could you not know?" Juliet was just shocked then. "How can you seriously not know?"

"I don't know." Lassiter said. "It just never occurred to me. Don't get me wrong, I've always found women attractive, I don't even look at men that way but Spencer – I'm so confused, I think I like him O'Hara."

Juliet cleared her throat then, she wasn't used to Lassiter being this open with her – and this whole situation just kind of hit her from left field – how does a girl react?

"Go for it." Juliet finally said. "It's terrifying, I mean, you two not too recently lived to piss each other off but who knows. Maybe all this time it was just a veiled affection."

"Are you supporting me because I'm your friend or because I'm creeping you out?" Lassiter asked.

"Definitely both." Juliet wasn't about to lie.

"Well you're right there – it's definitely creepy."

"Lets just get back to work now" Juliet said "A few more hours and maybe we can break this guy."

Meanwhile across town Shawn and Gus were back together sitting quite harmoniously outside of a taco stand, a burrito held in each of their hands.

"So what's it like living with Lassiter?" Gus finally asked. "I want details."

"At first," Shawn said. "A lot like living with my dad. He'd order me around a little, make sure I wasn't doing anything stupid, and then he'd strap on his gun and go to work."

"Fun." Gus used sarcasm.

"Yeah." Shawn shrugged. "But then I punched a hole in his cupboard."

"I noticed your hand." Gus said. "Meant to ask about it yesterday."

"My medication is driving me up a wall." Shawn admitted. "I guess Lassie's been trying to get a hold of Dr. McGill to ask about a switch."

"What are you on now?" Gus asked.

"The label says penicillin." Shawn said.

"Penicillin?" Gus didn't believe it. "Penicillin is so basic. It really shouldn't be screwing you up like that."

"Really?" Shawn honestly hadn't thought of that.

"Really." Gus insisted. "Codeine on the other hand, just as basic, but too much and you're right screwed."

"I think I took codeine once as a kid." Shawn said "I don't remember it screwing me up. Maybe I'm just screwed up from my operation; it would explain why I'm crushing on Lassie."

If it was possible for Gus to choke on air – he certainly would. "You're – what?"

Shawn wasn't going to talk about it directly to Gus, he was uncomfortable in the matter – so he just talked about it to himself with the knowledge that Gus was sitting beside him.

"Well, let's see – I wake up and he's there, all Lassie like and getting me in trouble for almost dying which was sweet. He was worried I could tell, and then staying with him has been kind of okay. I changed my ringtone on his phone to the Turkish March and the day after I called it when he was in the bathroom, it was still the Turkish March. Then he made me feel better instead of yelling at me when I punched his cupboard, then the kiss – and then the movies yesterday." By the time Shawn stopped talking, Gus' mouth was hanging open.

"Lassie." Gus repeated dumbly. "Detective Carlton Lassiter."

"Our Carlton." Shawn confirmed.

"You know Shawn, we had this back in high school – so you know that I'm cool if you're…and you said you'd be cool if I was…"

"I remember." Shawn looked to his friend.

"Great." said Gus. "So are you?"

"Am I?" Shawn asked.

"Gay." Gus whispered.

"Oh." Shawn whispered back "I haven't figured that part out yet – I mean there's a stack on magazines under my mattress at my dad's place that would suggest I'm quite straight, but I don't know. When it comes to Lassie, there's an exception. Don't freak out Gus, but he's different from everyone else. He's special."

"Blessings," Gus said. "But I am so creeped out right now. Do you think he feels the same way?"

"I honestly don't know." Shawn sank a bit in his seat. "If he does – he's fighting my tactic pretty hard."

"Your tactic?"

"Yeah, the one where I start a relationship with him without him actually knowing until it's too late." Shawn grinned evilly, and Gus was sorry he asked.

"Wouldn't blame him to be honest." Gus said. "Give it time and maybe think about telling him what you're doing."

"Will do." Shawn said. "Want to change the subject now?"

"Please." Gus said immediately.

"Burton Guster" Shawn's voice went serious. "You are about to take on one of the most gruelling tasks of your life. Eating this burrito will take hunger, speed, determination, and later? A very secluded bathroom – do you accept?"

"Take back the thing you just said about the bathroom." Gus said.

"….What thing about the bathroom?" Shawn kept the serious tone.

"I accept." Gus said, and Shawn started counting down from five.

"2, 1." The second he said one, Gus had stated eating his burrito as fast as he could, Shawn the entire time looking between him and his watch. After a little while Gus finally swallowed down the last bite and took a long moment to breathe.

"Done."

"45 Seconds – dude!" Shawn congratulated Gus patting him on the back, Gus coughing a bit from the strain.

"Never again Shawn – never again, I swear."

"You're done now." Shawn promised. "Now all you have to do is hope I don't beat 45 seconds."

"Like hell you will!" Gus challenged him immediately and held up his watch. "Ready?"

"Ready." Shawn held the burrito up to his face.

"And go!" Gus started his watch. Only Shawn didn't eat. He just sat, and stared at the burrito. "Shawn – you're losing…Shawn?" Gus looked over to his friend.

"I can't" Shawn said and he lowered the burrito unable to believe it himself. "I don't want it. It looks disgusting."

"You've barely eaten anything all day." Gus said. "I know they're not devilled eggs, but come on Shawn – just try a bite." Shawn tried, he bit down and when chewing looked like he was in actual pain. Finally he swallowed. "Alright?" Gus asked carefully, and Shawn forced himself to nod. Then he dropped his burrito at his feet suddenly and jerked to the side, becoming violently ill.

"Oh my god." Gus was disgusted. "Dude we're getting you back to Lassie's." He stood then grabbing hold of Shawn's arm.

"No, man I'm fine, just a bad burrito." Shawn pleaded.

"The last time you said you were fine, your appendix burst. I'm not falling for that again." Gus sounded worried, good ol' Gus.

"I only have one appendix dude." Nonetheless, Shawn was still following Gus back to the blueberry.

They had driven back to Lassiter's in record timing. Lassiter himself was half way up his walk way when the blueberry pulled up. Lassiter turned on his feel to wait for Gus and Shawn as they got out of the car.

"Lassie, you're home." Shawn smiled and walked right past Lassiter, affectionately patting his arm but didn't stop to say much else, just disappeared into the house. Lassiter tilted his head and looked back to Gus.

"What was that all about?" Lassiter asked.

"He got sick." Gus said. "Barely biting into a burrito."

"Last night, he wouldn't shut up about burritos." Lassiter was now confused.

"Lassiter," Gus said in a low tone. "How many pills does Dr. McGill have Shawn take during the day?"

"He takes four." Lassiter said. "Two in the morning, and then two before he goes to bed – why?"

"Are they regular pills or capsules?"

"Capsules."

"Did you ever get a hold of Shawn's doctor?"

"Not yet, been busy with that 'Stouffer' case …"

"I have a bad feeling." Gus said then. "Where are they?"