A/ N: Probably the MOST dramatic chapter of the entire fic. Fear not though there's still more to come! After all I have a Shassie plot to get back to!

As always reviews are welcome, begged for at this point (call me a sucker!) but feel free to wait for the revised version which will be posted as soon as my beta has a little more free time on her hands.

Please don't read if you're light of heart, some elements in this chapter are down right bloody. So let's get on with it!

Heaven and Hell

Shawn was getting dizzy, the pain was unbelievable – like really, and Dr. Benevides had taken to pouring salt over him after every cut. Dr. McGill was sadistic – he used an exacto knife cutting just deep enough to bleed. It was intense, getting to the point where every strike of pain added to an odd adrenaline throbbing through Shawn's body, he shook uncontrollably covered in a cold sweat.

"I have to say Ms. Spencer – you're doing fantastic, it only took you 15 cuts to stop screaming. I'm genuinely impressed." Dr. McGill laughed and made a quick cross across Shawn's stomach. At this point Shawn's clothes had been cut to shreds, uselessly hanging off of him in strips and stained with blood, bit and pieces of fabric sticking in his cuts.

To be honest, Shawn wanted to scream – but he had screamed himself dry, his throat was incredibly hoarse and every new cut only managed to produce a sick groan – then Dr. Benevides would pour salt on the fresh cut and the groan would turn into a rough whimper.

"One thing I've noticed about you Mr. Spencer" Dr. McGill said "Is that you talk – a lot, its annoying. Seeing you like this speechless and at my mercy is incredibly gratifying. Especially with the knowledge that when all of this is over all of your powers will be mine."

Shawn would've cringed if he could move; he separated himself from the situation – forcing himself to think of everything else. Everything but this – this was torture.

"It'll be over soon" Dr. Benevides promised – why did she always sound happy? "This isn't the end for you Mr. Spencer – every life saved by Dr. McGill will be an example of your amazing gift. You're a noble sacrifice!"

Shawn squeezed his eyes shut tighter; Dr. Benevides he decided had the most annoying voice. He wanted to tell her exactly how he felt, he summoned most of his remaining strength and even though it hurt like a bitch he managed to speak.

"Fuck you both; I'll see you in hell."

Dr. McGill's response was to dig his knife right into Shawn's wrist and carve a zig zag pattern down his arm, Shawn seethed and his head rolled to the side. Dr. Benevides was quick with the salt and Shawn groaned again.

"That is sufficient Mr. Spencer" Dr. McGill finally said "It looks like we're done here Mr. Spencer."

Shawn opened his eyes, looking over to Dr. McGill as he spoke, Dr. McGill grinned and handed Dr. Benevides the knife.

"Nancy – you've been such a big help, as a thank you I'm letting you deliver the last stab."

The last stab, that was it – Shawn was going to die. He had to look away when Dr. Benevides moved around the table to stand next to McGill.

"Right in the heart Nancy, like I explained before", Nancy held the knife high into the air above Shawn's chest.

"Any last words Mr. Spencer?" Dr. Benevides was kind enough to ask.

If Shawn could talk he probably would've delivered a powerful "suck it" followed by a few angry derogatory terms that were both incredibly racist and insensitive. Probably at an elevated volume – he settled for one very concentrated low groan.

Dr. McGill chuckled then "Very well then, Nancy the heart."

Nancy nodded and moved her arms a little higher to make the final stab, just as her arms came swinging down though – exactly three gun shots fired off. The sound pierced the room with a shock, and Shawn opened his eyes just in time to see Dr. Benevides crumble down to the floor.

"BACK AWAY FROM HIM!" Lassiter growled every word, each syllable a threat on its own – he moved into the room gun now aimed directly at Dr. McGill.

Shawn at that point had become completely delirious, he must be dying, he had to be, he could hear Lassie's voice – as angry as it was, it was still the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

Dr. McGill wasn't fazed and he wasn't about to give up easily either, making a move was probably the stupidest thing he could've done. He dived for another knife but the second he moved forward Lassiter's gun went off three more times. Dr. McGill's form fell in a heap right next to Dr. Benevides'.

Lassiter had barely made it on time, when he and the others first got to Coral Haven they immediately checked the listings for McGill. Two addresses had popped up.

"We'll split up" Lassiter said "I'll take Division Street, O'Hara you and Guster take Queen. We call each other the second we find anything."

"I don't like this Carlton" Juliet said "We should wait for back up – they're coming."

"No time" Lassiter wasn't arguing "We don't have time" he took a breathe "Shawn doesn't have time."

"He's right" Gus said "We have to move fast if we're going to save Shawn – and we have to."

Lassiter sympathized then, his feelings for Shawn were pretty new – he had no idea what they meant. Gus and Shawn had been friends forever, so whatever anxiety Lassiter was feeling he could only imagine that Gus was at a breaking point. He found himself putting a hand on Gus' shoulder.

"Not a good idea right now" Gus said

"Sorry" Lassiter took his hand back quickly "Alright, I'm heading to Division St."

"Fine" Juliet said "We'll call you soon."

The three separated then, and since Division St. was the closest, Lassiter had run. The street was small – only a few houses long. The last house being the address Lassiter was looking for. He tried a knock, not surprised when he got no answer. A try at the knob and the door was locked. Not that it was going to stop him. He backed up on his heels and for the second time that day Lassiter kicked down a door.

Inside the house was pretty bland; if furniture wasn't old it was covered with dust. He remembered what Tyler McGill said he did for a living – an engineer. He didn't see a single piece of technology.

"That was definitely bullshit." McGills were good at bullshit it seemed. Lassiter moved further into the house – finding absolutely nothing. He was growing even more anxious – something just didn't feel right.

"Come on" Lassiter breathed "Where are you…"

Nothing though, and he was ready to leave to catch up with Juliet and Gus – that's when he heard a low groan, followed by a chuckle.

Lassiter's eyes snapped to where the sounds had come from, he had almost missed that room completely. The door looked like it was part of the wall, but a small crease between the threshold and the door itself told Lassiter all he had to do was push.

He didn't waste a single second; he pushed through the door and pulled out his gun. Lassiter didn't see Shawn – what he saw was Dr. Benevides with a knife raised into the air and coming down. He acted on pure instinct, firing three times right into the Dr's chest.

"BACK AWAY FROM HIM!"

Immediately his attention was on Dr. McGill. Lassiter stared him down – daring him to do anything other then back the hell up. So when Dr. McGill had dived for a second knife, Lassiter fired without a second thought. Three more shots and both the doctors were down.

There was a moment of silence then, Lassiter regarding both of the forms that had crumbled at his feet – it was over kill. He only needed to shoot either of them once, but he had fired two more times. He'd be facing definite heat for this one, but something in the back of Lassiter's mind told him that it was better this way, each of the these lunatics deserved every bullet. They hurt Shawn.

"Shawn!" Lassiter dropped his gun then, his eyes finally focusing on the table. He choked. It was a bloody mess, the image taking only a second to burn itself into Lassiter's memory. He had to get Shawn help, but first the ropes. Each rope was dug into Shawn's skin, bruising. Lassiter's fingers trembled with every knot he undid, finally when the last rope fell to the ground, Lassiter tried talking again.

"Shawn?" Shawn was completely limp, he didn't respond to Lassiter at all. Lassiter was really shaking then – even when Shawn wasn't awake he was never this still.

"Oh God Shawn….please don't be dead." Lassiter didn't think he would be able to handle it if Shawn were gone. He lifted Shawn to a sitting position, not really caring for the blood; Lassiter wrapped his arms around Shawn holding him as close as he could. He was ready to cry right then especially with the way Shawn's head just rolled against his shoulder. "Dammit Spencer…" Lassiter's voice quivered and he tried to get a grip on himself. He couldn't though – he would've stayed that way for hours had it not been for the faintest of breathes against the crook of his neck.

"Shawn..?" Lassiter pulled away slightly to examine Shawn's features – they were tired, and sunken, Shawn looked like pure hell. Lassiter hated it, but closer inspection showed that he was at least alive, even if just barely. For how much longer though?

Don't just stand there you idiot, get help!

Finally he agreed with that little irritating inner voice of his, and he grabbed for his cell phone.

"911 what's your emergency?"

Somebody call the police! This cheeseburger just stole Shawn's heart. Shawn grinned wickedly as he bit into his burger for the umpteenth time, chewing quite happily. He couldn't get enough! Thankfully this restaurant seemed to have an endless supply. The silver platter before him was stacked a good couple feet high. Shawn was positive he was going to finish them off.

"Gus!" Shawn called out "Where are you bud! You have to try one of these!" He held a burger up in the air, the surrounding silence failing to bring him any comfort. "Gus?" Shawn frowned.

Shawn looked around; the restaurant was beautiful. Every table and booth was dressed white linens, and blue candles on the center of each giving the entire room a soft glow. Thick vines covered each of the brick walls giving the place a very rustic feel. Shawn felt very peaceful here – or he would've if he wasn't completely alone.

"Dad?" Shawn tried calling for Henry then, but nadda. Suddenly this heavenly cheeseburger didn't seem worth it. "Anyone? – Lassie?"

He stood up then, he regarded his table with a long thoughtful stare. Shawn wasn't sure how he knew but he couldn't take one with him. He started looking for a door – it took the better part of an hour, but finally a large set of double doors came into view. They opened easily and Shawn stepped through the door way – only to start falling. Shawn fell through nothing but darkness, until eventually even darkness didn't exist to him anymore. He had a moment of pure clarity – just a single moment where everything seemed to make sense. He closed his eyes to take it all in, he felt himself stop moving in that instant. When he opened his eyes again he was in a hospital bed.

Heh …how about that -dejavu….

Only it wasn't Lassiter crushing him, it was his dad and he didn't feel as weak as he had after his appendectomy. He actually greeted his dad with a smile and strained laugh.

"Heeyyyy"

"You scared the hell out of me Shawn!" Henry looked stressed, so Shawn took his greeting with a light heart.

"You to dad" he smiled "here alone?"

"Gus is getting coffee" Henry replied "You should go back to sleep, it took a lot to get you stable again."

"I'll be okay" Shawn said, his voice still hoarse "how stable?"

"Three blood transfusions" Henry said.

"Give a low whistle for me" Shawn said, and to his delight Henry gave a low whistle.

"My sentiments exactly" Shawn said.

The two smiled then, Shawn taking a moment to remember how exactly he had gotten into the hospital bed that time – crazy doctors. He was never going to think of that again, he forced the memory deep into his mind. Happily placing it right next to his mother abandonment issues, and his fear of Lassie, Jules, and the Chief learning he wasn't psychic.

"Hey dad" Shawn said, and Henry looked over to him.

"Go back to sleep Shawn."

"Not until after I see Gus - ….but dad?"

"What is it Shawn?"

"I think - for a view days, I want to stay with you." He knew his dad had been upset when he had chosen Lassiter over him the first time this had happened "Is that okay?"

"Of course Shawn"

"Cool – will you make me a cheeseburger?"

"Now you're pushing it" Henry joked, but Shawn sighed remembering those cheeseburgers from god knows where.

"That's cool, yours probably aren't as good."

"What?"

"Oh nothing."