A/N: I have to apologize to anyone reading this who likes Glee…

Chow for now!

~Matilda

P.S

Sorry this chapter is pretty dialogue driven.

Murderer

Not enough time had passed for Lassiter to even let what had happened sink completely in. The paper work had been filed; the case had been shut down. It was all done and over with. Yet for some reason Lassiter still couldn't wrap his head around it – maybe because it had only been a few days, but he couldn't help but feel that maybe it didn't help that he hadn't seen Shawn since. The last Lassiter saw of him Shawn had been carried away in an ambulance.

"I talked to Gus" Juliet had said finally when they sat down for lunch.

"You talked to Gus?" Lassiter repeated, he tried to sound less eager then he actually was – it failed, Juliet just chuckled at him.

"Yes. I talked to Gus, Shawn's alright – covered in bandages and he winces if you touch him. Other then that he's awake and talking. He said Shawn was planning on staying with his dad for a while."

"Oh" Lassiter took an unnecessarily large bite out of his apple.

"Yup, just as soon as he's released" Juliet seemed pleased by this, and then there was a moment of awkward silence as Lassiter swallowed his bite.

"Carlton" Juliet asked "May I ask – something?"

"If you have to" Lassiter said.

"What happened between you and Shawn?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well, not even two weeks ago we're sitting here and you're flipping out -over" she paused as someone walked by "over things concerning Shawn."

Lassiter frowned; he should've known that was coming up. "Point?"

"You didn't go see him at the hospital" Juliet said "You don't feel responsible do you?"

"Of course not" Lassiter said "I just, feel I don't know– nevermind."

"What do you mean nevermind!" Juliet exasperated "Carlton…"

"This conversation isn't happening" Lassiter took another bite out of his apple.

"Okay" Juliet said "but just so you know – when it first came up, I was freaked out. To be down right honest I was a little concerned about your sanity. Because Shawn is Shawn and you're…..well…..you're you. Not that it's a bad thing."

"You know me so well" Lassiter rolled his eyes a little "and thanks for that compliment by the way. You're a doll."

"Yes, yes I do know you." Juliet defended "I know you because we're partners and it's my job to know you. Now let me finish talking." Juliet was determined.

Lassiter's response was to take another bite of his apple – he made this bite particularly loud.

"My point!" Juliet continued over the loud chewing "Is that, I couldn't imagine the possibility. Hell if anything out of the two of us I would have pictured somehow ending up with him, it would've been me."

"Great" Lassiter gave a side grin followed by a "yeeah I can see it clearly now…I'm sure you two will be very happy together."

"Maybe" Juliet pressed on "but its not me he kissed, its you." Her voice got quiet "I saw you carry him out of that house. There was something there, I could see it – I couldn't make that up if I tried."

"Part of the job" Lassiter defended.

"Anyone else Carlton, and you would've left them and just waited for the ambulance to come" Juliet smiled a bit.

"How do you know?" Lassiter said "Enlighten me."

"Well…You were wearing your favourite shirt, who lets someone bleed on their favourite shirt?" Juliet had a point, a weak point – but a point.

Lassiter thought about it "it was a good shirt" he wasn't going to argue that fact. He then wondered if talking about the size of the chest pocket of the pre-mentioned shirt the conversation would flip over. It had to be worth a try – right?

Spencer rubbed off on you.

"But good enough not to let someone bleed on?" Juliet took a sip from her soda after the snapped Lassiter back to reality.

Lassiter had to sigh then "Oh crap." He had to surrender.

"If it helps" Juliet said "I can confirm with Gus that he'll be at Officer Shea's funeral tomorrow. You can see him then."

"I doubt a funeral is really the best place" Lassiter said.

"No" Juliet agreed "but tomorrow you'll see him – you'll make sure he's really okay. Then when the dust is finally settled you'll feel more comfortable about actually calling him."

"Sounds good" Lassiter said "What if he doesn't go?"

"I'll ask Gus to bribe him with a pineapple."

Lassiter actually laughed at that. None the less he agreed; partially because he wanted to, and partially because he really wanted Juliet to stop doing the 'friend' thing with him. It was nice and all – but it kind of freaked him out. Perhaps he would've felt a little better if he had known that across town Shawn was having practically the same conversation with Gus.

"You're just giving up – like that?" Gus was a little put off.

"Yes" Shawn said "Wait – no! Not giving up, there's nothing to give up on."

"Oh really?" Gus obviously didn't believe him.

"He doesn't like me that way" Shawn said "All my little tricks, little kisses, It all led to nothing, nadda. He acts the same, just your every day, socially awkward detective who is not romantically involved with the police department 'psychic'."

"I don't know about that" Gus said "I mean – I saw him carry you out of that house, he must feel something."

"Wait what house?" Shawn asked.

"The house you were in when Doctor-" Gus had started but was immediately cut off by Shawn.

"No doctors" Shawn said "None what so ever, there will be no discussion of doctors, hospitals, paediatricians, medics, nurses – none of that. Not for another two years atleast."

"Its not just going to go away" Gus said "It happened"

"Yes, it happened. It sucked. Now kindly back off so I can continue to bottle it up accordingly. No more doctors." Shawn leaned back in his chair, a little too quickly. He winced a bit from the movement.

"Will you atleast let me help you change your bandages this time?" Gus pleaded "I promise it won't affect our friendship."

"No need" Shawn said "I now have a system."

"Attaching one end of the bandage to a doorknob and spinning is not a system Shawn." Gus crossed his arms.

"I'll make it work" Shawn said "Anyhow – what were we just talking about?"

"Lassiter" Gus said.

"Oh!...Oh no" Shawn said "That's no good, there has to be another topic of conversation."

"Its either Lassiter, the event as you seem so determined to have it be called, or the subject of getting your stuff back from Lassiter's place."

"Aw man my stuff" Shawn groaned "Gus my stuff! I have stuff!"

"Yes you do" Gus said "If you're so concerned about it; I can grab it for you. Juicer and all"

"Really?" Shawn asked.

"Really." Gus promised.

"Thanks." Said Shawn "Soon?"

"Tomorrow after the funeral." Gus said, Shawn seethed a bit.

"Right – that." Shawn said "I should probably go to that."

"You sure?" Gus sounded a little condescending "Lassiter's going to be there."

"It's a funeral" Shawn said "I'm not good at funerals, but I know when I'm needed. So this one I'm going to, whether Lassie is there or not is irrelevant because tomorrow isn't about that."

"It could come up" Gus said.

"Could -but probably won't," Shawn said "Now please lets get onto something more cheerful, lets watch a movie. I haven't watched a movie in weeks."

"Movies" Gus said "sounds good – what movies does your dad have?"

"Er - ….I don't think he does, I think all of them are mine." Shawn thought about it for a second.

"Okay" Gus stood "What movies of yours are here at your dads?"

"Patch Adams" Shawn said – then he remembered what Patch Adams was about "We're not watching that."

"Two years" Gus repeated "Alright – what else?"

"One that'll make me feel better" Shawn said "You won't like it though."

"Try me" Gus said "What is it I'll grab it."

"Porky's 2" Shawn said – and to his utter delight Gus groaned.

"Anything else?" Gus begged "Anything at all?"

"Come on" Shawn said "Porky's 2 is genius – politics, theatre, sex, AND over bearing teenagers? It's all the magical fun of Glee without the show tunes."

"Lay off Glee" Gus said "I like that show"

"That is – so SO unfortunate." Shawn said "Now hide your shame and go get Porky's 2."

Gus sighed, but as a good friend he retrieved the movie and the two watched Porky's 2. Not a horrible movie choice, definitely light hearted compared to Officer Shea's funeral.

The service was like any other; long, sad, and a little too religious for Shawn's immediate taste. Not that he was judging. He had purposely sat in the back, noting as soon as he came that Lassiter was closer to the front.

"You can't avoid him at the reception" Gus said "You're going to end up talking."

"Stop it" Shawn said.

"I'm not joking" Gus said "We're at a funeral, no jokes at funerals."

"You know what," Shawn started "You're absolutely right – so just for that tonight we're watching Porky's Revenge." Shawn put his foot down.

Their whispers had caused a couple people to turn and stare at them. Gus quickly apologized for both of them.

The reception was no better then the funeral, people were gathered in small circles talking about how much of a good man Officer Shea was. Shawn could hear almost all of it – as if the guilt wasn't bad enough. Now he had to learn about how much of a saint the man was. Rub it in people. Rub it all in.

"Dude" Shawn finally said to Gus "We need to go – like now."

"A little longer" Gus said "just pay your respects a little longer, and we'll go – promise."

"Gus please?" Shawn looked a little desperate; it was a situation he just wanted to get out of. It didn't help that even though he hadn't spoken to Lassiter the detective had taken to staring at him every five minutes.

"Fine" Gus said "Atleast go give your condolences to the man's widow before though."

"Right. Daphne." Shawn said he then started looking around "Which one is she?"

"The red head" Gus said, and pointed her out "Over there."

Of course she was a red head, Shawn wasn't surprised. Somehow he should've known that anyone on this planet named Daphne had to be a redhead – Scooby Doo made it canon. Taking a breathe Shawn headed over to her passing Juliet and Lassiter on the way. He caught a quick glimpse of Juliet telling Lassiter to just suck it up.

"Just talk to him" Juliet said "He looks – alright. Just go over there."

"No" Lassiter said "And how can you say he looks alright – he's practically limping, probably has his bandages on too tight. How is he even walking? Geeze!"

"His bandages wouldn't be too tight if he had help I bet" Juliet hinted "You know – from someone who cared…"

"Okay!" Lassiter snapped a bit "If it means that much to you, I'll go over there and…"

He couldn't finish his sentence though, a loud snapping noise had sounded out through the hall. Everyone had stopped dead in their tracks, a little shocked to say the least – their eyes now on Daphne and Shawn. Shawn was looking perplexed and Daphne looked a wreck. She still had tears running down her face and her arm was still extended. By the look of the red mark on Shawn's face she had slapped him pretty hard.

"I know you were there!" Daphne hollered then for everyone to hear "You were there! You didn't save him; I'll bet you didn't even try!"

"The situation was out of my control" Shawn said "I would've had I known that-"

"Bull shit Spencer! Bull shit, bull shit!" Daphne started quivering "What kind of a crappy psychic are you! Huh? How do you not see something like that coming! How?" She started balling then.

"I'm sorry" Shawn said quietly "Look – if I could go back, I'd throw myself in front of that knife. I promise you I would. I know how painful this is for you – but Mrs. Shea, you have to understand I didn't kill your husband."

"You might as well have!" Daphne snapped "Now get out of here! You – you murderer!"

Shawn held his hands up at chest height in surrender "Alright, I'm gone. Sorry for your loss."

He walked out then, not caring for the scene that had just occurred. Lassiter stared wide eyed – he had half a mind to give Mrs. Shea a piece of his mind. But if Lassiter knew anything it was that widows were hysterical – so he wasn't even going to try.

Instead he worked on instinct, following Shawn out to the parking lot. Shawn was pacing around like a crazy person – he didn't look very good. He actually looked like had taken Daphne's words to heart.

"Not your fault" Lassiter said as he walked up to him "Really."

"Don't" Shawn said "Don't even."

"Too bad" Lassiter said, "You know I'm right – she has a right to feel that way, but she'll never know what happened after her husband was killed."

"So that makes it okay that her husband is dead?" Shawn asked.

"It's never okay" Lassiter said "but – under the circumstances I'd say that okay or not, it was inevitable. Unfortunate, but inevitable."

"Oh Much better" Shawn shook his head "Whatever, I'm over it. Listen since I got you here – I should tell you that Gus is dropping by tonight to grab my stuff."

"Oh…" Lassiter said "Sure – I guess. Want me to pack everything up before hand?"

"You haven't yet?" Shawn asked., he sounded surprised.

"Well - it didn't, really occur to me. What with that paperwork." Lassiter cleared his throat "and the…Superbowl." Lassiter rambled a bit.

"Superbowl was over a week ago Lassie." Shawn scratched the side of his neck, and Lassiter caught a glimpse of bandage on Shawn's wrist.

"Youtube" Lassiter said then quickly.

He probably looks like a mummy under that tux.

"Right" Shawn didn't believe him, but he wasn't about to pry. What was the point? "I don't really want to go back in there." Shawn said.

"Understandable" Lassiter said he put his hands awkwardly into his pockets.

"Gus is still in there" Shawn said.

"Right" Lassiter confirmed "So….."

"Will you please go grab Gus for me?" Shawn asked.

"Yeah" Lassiter responded and high tailed it the hell out of the parking lot.