Author's Note: Remember how I said, that I would find some way to put a little bit of Psych in the story and that I just needed to figure out how? Well I figured out how. So this chapter has some Psych embroidered into it, some is still there from before, but a lot has also been taken out.
The next day, Allison's birthday, June 24th:
Reid woke up early in the hotel room he and Allison were in for their week in Santa Barbara, and got ready for the day.
Today was a big day for Allison. It was her sixteenth birthday, and he wanted her to have the best birthday possible.
He had already had the day set out, breakfast, horse-back riding, lunch, a tour of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and a surprise.
When Allison woke up there was an envelope taped to a package on the table next to her hotel room bed. On the envelope was sticky note that read:
"Do not open until you meet me downstairs in the lobby, Dad"
Allison got out of the bed, changed out of her pajamas and put on her favorite outfit, then hurriedly brushed her teeth and hair and was out the door, package in hand.
Hotel lobby:
Reid was standing next to the front desk in the lobby waiting for Allison to come down from their room, when the elevator dinged and its doors opened.
Allison, exited the elevator, and walked over to her dad.
"Can I open it," Allison asked, holding up the package.
"I will give you three guesses as to what it is, and if you get it wrong you have to wait until after breakfast," Reid challenged.
"It's a gold chain necklace with my name in the middle of it," Allison replied.
Reid stared at Allison in shock, wondering how she could have gotten it right.
"How'd you do that," Reid asked finally.
"Grandma pulled the same trick on me with every present I got until she passed away two years ago. I always got it right. I don't know why, but I do," Allison said as she took off the wrapping paper.
"You probably have a hidden talent that hasn't been discovered yet," Reid stated.
"You mean like x-ray vision," Allison asked as she put the necklace on. "I think I would have figured that out by now."
"Not x-ray vision. I mean something that isn't very common, like acute observational skills, or you're just very sneaky," Reid replied.
"I do not spy. Even if I wanted to I couldn't. I'd make my presence known very quickly and mess up," Allison explained. "Can we switch gears and go get breakfast? I'm starving."
After breakfast:
"What are we going to do today," Allison asked as she and her dad walked out of IHOP.
"I was thinking we go horse-back riding," Reid replied.
"Why would you think something like that," Allison asked.
"Well I may have overheard a conversation about how much you liked horse-back riding and would love to do it again a few months ago," Reid admitted.
"I hate horses," Allison stated. "Last time I got near a horse it tried to kill me. And that conversation was me and Abby practicing lines for a skit Mrs. Webb put together for us as an assignment."
"Oh," was all Reid could say.
"Any thing else you have in mind," Allison asked.
"We could, um, go to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History," Reid suggested.
"Sounds like fun," Allison replied.
Museum:
"A T-Rex named Zippy," Allison muttered while she read the information on the dinosaur in front of her. "What kind of person would name a dinosaur 'Zippy'?"
"Someone without much imagination," Reid pointed.
"Like you," Allison teased.
"If I had found this I'd probably name it Jack Horner," Reid replied.
"Why," Allison asked.
"Jack Horner is one of the best well known paleontologists in America," Reid rattled off.
"I take back my earlier comment. This guy has more imagination than you," Allison said.
"I'd have to agree with, the teenager. I clearly have more imagination," someone said as they walked up to the father and daughter.
The two turned and faced the person who was talking to them.
"I'm sorry, but who are you," Reid asked.
"Shawn Spencer," the man replied, holding out his hand. "I'm a psychic detective for the SBPD. And you guys are not from around here, am I correct?"
"We're from DC," Reid said shaking the other man's hand, clearly impressed but not fooled. "I'm Dr. Spencer Reid and this is my daughter Allison."
"You don't shake hands often and your father wasn't around much when you grew up," Shawn stated, without warning. "Am I correct?"
Reid pulled his hand away and said, "You are correct."
Allison stared at her father and Shawn, wondering if this stranger was the real deal, or not. It was obvious he knew about her dad's father by his unsteady handshake, anyone could figure that out.
Shawn looked at Allison for a moment and said, "You're not from DC, though. I'm guessing from a much hotter climate. I'd have to say somewhere in the desert."
"Vegas," Allison replied.
"BTW, awesome blonde streak," Shawn said. "You probably have to dye your hair every three months, just to keep it blonde, so you can stand out in a crowd. Must get expensive."
"Thanks," Allison said, as she shifted from foot to foot, feeling embarrassed by the compliment.
No one had ever commented on how cool she looked. Usually she was just made fun of for being a nerd.
"I do it myself, which is cheaper," Allison explained
"Really," Shawn asked.
"Yeah," Allison replied.
"So what bring a Vegas girl and a DC man to Santa Barbara," Shawn asked putting his finger to his head. "I'm guessing something special, like an event, such as a birthday or a reunion of sorts."
"It's my birthday," Allison replied.
"I'm sensing that you're now sixteen and are in for a great treat today," Shawn stated.
"I am sixteen," Allison replied, impressed. "What kind of treat are we talking about?"
Reid looked at Shawn, hoping he doesn't some how figure out the surprise he had planned for Allison later that day.
"The spirits have sworn me to secrecy," Shawn said.
"So what brings you to the museum today," Reid asked.
"Trying to get Gus to see the mummy exhibit," Shawn replied.
"Who's that," Reid asked.
"My business partner and best friend," Shawn replied.
"Trying," Allison asked.
"He's afraid of getting cursed," Shawn said, simply
"Did you try reasoning with him," Reid asked.
"He's beyond reason when mummies, dead bodies, and blood is involved," Shawn explained.
"Was someone killed," Reid asked.
"No. Those are just his top three fears," Shawn summed up.
"Not one for crime scenes," Reid asked.
"Not really," Shawn agreed.
"Where is he," Allison asked.
"Hiding behind this display," Shawn replied.
At that moment Gus stood up and said, "Shawn, I'm going to go see the mummy. You can't make me."
Allison and Reid stared at Shawn in disbelief. No one else could have done that and been right, he must be a real a psychic.
"You're acting like a child," Shawn stated. "A three year old wouldn't act like this."
"A three year old would act like this, if he didn't want to get cursed,"Gus pointed out.
"Actually a three year old would only act like this if he was tired and being dragged around by his or her parents," Allison explained.
"Will you go see the mummy if you went with a group," Shawn suggested.
"Maybe," Gus replied.
"Well, I'll call Jules and have her come here and join our group," Shawn said taking out his phone.
"Who else is in the group," Gus.
"Allison and Dr. Reid," Shawn replied as he walked away.
"Pass," Reid stated.
"Why," Allison asked. "It'll be fun."
"I need to call the team, then Meitner. Best do it now, than later," Reid replied.
"When your done you can join us," Allison asked.
"Sure," Reid promised.