Epilogue.

This one goes out to everyone who took the time to review! Thank you all! AchillesMonkey gets a special mention for giving me an idea.

Well, it's been a fun ride, but that's all folks! At least for part one of this series. I already have a rough idea for the sequel, and I've already had a couple of people say that they'd like one. I also have a couple of ideas for prequels, setting up my version of Shawn's history.

Enjoy.


Shawn got out of hospital in just a couple more days. Lassiter had been let out the day before, but he'd spent the whole of his first day of freedom sitting by Shawn's bed. Solidarity.

But Shawn had been given his walking papers, along with a handful of prescriptions, so Gus and Lassiter were picking him up and taking him to the station.

He hadn't slept well, in fact, around four am he gave it up as a bad job. Without Lassiter across the way, his nightmares had gotten worse. He'd had a full blown flash back when he'd woken up to find a pair of orderlies holding him down. He'd been thrashing in his sleep and they were worried he'd tear his stitches. But to Shawn's sleep addled mind, they'd become Randolf and Ellis holding him down, and the nurse who was trying to inject a sedative into the IV became Truman. He began fighting harder and actually did tear his stitches. Luckily, Foster didn't push back his release date.

The hospital Chaplain, Father Michael Murphy came by his room before breakfast.

"Hello. I've heard that you've been having a hard time of it." Michael said entering the room.

"Well, you know these nurses. Shameless gossips." Shawn said half heartedly. He was already fully dressed and sitting on the edge of his bed.

"I'm Father Michael Murphy. If you wanted to talk...?"

"Shawn, Shawn Spencer."

"So," the Father came and sat next to Shawn. "What are you in for?"

"I got kidnapped."

"That's not one I hear often, thank the Lord."

"Yeah."

"Were you badly hurt?"

"No biggie. Some skin taken off my back." He looked down.

"No biggie." The priest repeated; a note of humour in his voice.

"Yeah." Shawn gave him a ghost of a smile. They sat in companionable silence for a long moment.

"It's not the physical." Shawn said suddenly. "I've been in and out of hospitals since I was a kid. I had a heart condition, and I've always been accident prone."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Ask my dad about the time I jumped off the roof, wearing my superman cape. I was sure the costume would help me fly." He smiled in reminiscence.

"How old were you?" Michael laughed.

"Eighteen. I was drunk and it was a dare. I'd just gotten home from a costume party." They both laughed again. "So like I say, it's not the physical. It's the other. The guys who attacked me, I worked with them. They had real concerns, concerns that for all I know are shared by all my colleagues. I can't sleep without waking up screaming. I had a flashback. And some of the things that happened..." He hung his head.

"You can tell me anything, without judgement. It's sometimes easier to talk about... sensitive things with someone outside of the situation."

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "What's worse is that Lassiter was watching. The guy tried to... to rape me, and a man I respect more than almost anyone... he was forced to wait and watch. And he had to pull the guy off me."

"If he's worthy of your respect, he'll not care about what happened. Not in the way you're worried about." Michael smiled gently at him. "He'll be worried about you, about how you feel, but he won't see it as a mark against you."

"How am I supposed to look him in the eye? And why do I suddenly need him? He's a friend, and he was with me there the whole time. He was hurt too, and he was in the bed across the way. He got out yesterday morning, but he kept me company. As soon as he leaves I start having panic attacks and flashbacks!"

"There's no shame in leaning on your friends when you need the support."

"I know that. Up here, I know that." He waved his hand towards his forehead. "But I can't help but feel... I don't know. Inadequate."

"You did nothing wrong. You've been through a terrible ordeal. If you were coping perfectly and dreaming of puppies and bunnies, then I'd be worried."

"I guess." Shawn looked at his feet.

"Let this friend of yours help you. Lean on him as much as you need to. It sounds like you two went through Hell together. I'd suggest that he needs to help you as much as you need help." There was a knock on the door and Gus entered, followed by Lassiter.

"Think about it. And if you need to talk..." Michael smiled and left.


Gus grabbed Shawn's bag, and Lassiter wheeled a chair over to the bed.

"I don't need that." Shawn frowned.

"Hospital rules." Gus and Lassiter said as one. They'd anticipated the argument. Shawn stood awkwardly, and moved over to the chair. Gus frowned. It usually took more than that to get Shawn to agree. Lassiter moved to push Shawn, but he was still moving stiffly and he pressed a hand to his ribs. Gus nudged him aside.

"We need to pick up your meds from the pharmacy." Gus said. "What are you on?"

"Um..." He looked at the scrip. "I'm on Primaxin, Codeine, an anti-inflammatory which I can't pronounce, and um... diazepam. Along with my usual immune-suppressants."

"What? Why are you Diazepam? That's just another name for Valium."

"Damn it! I forgot you were a pharmaceutical salesman!" Shawn cursed.

"Shawn?" Lassiter growled.

"Okay, I may have had a teeny weenie little flashback. And a panic attack. Kind of."

"God, Shawn." Gus said, his voice full of horror. Lassiter was silent.


After they'd picked up the meds, they headed over to the station in Gus's blueberry of a car. Shawn, thankfully, didn't have to stay in the wheelchair. Juliet was waiting by the door for them, and she slipped under Lassiter's shoulder, supporting him, as Gus was supporting Shawn.

They walked into the bullpen and found that the aisle that led between the desks was lined on either side with police officers in full dress uniform. As they entered, the officers all stood at attention. Chief Vick was standing at the head of the aisle, before her office door. Juliet and Gus pushed Shawn and Lassiter forward gently. They made their way up between the officers towards the Chief. As they past them, the officer's each saluted, one by one.

"Mr Spencer, Detective Lassiter. We just wanted to let you know how proud we all are of you both. This has been a tough time for our whole department, for the whole station, especially as the perpetrators were three of our own. We just wanted to reassure you both that their actions in no way reflect the feelings of anyone else in this station. If you need anything, anything at all, just ask and we will do all we can to accommodate you. I want to commend you both for your bravery. Mr Spencer, you may not be a cop officially, but I think we all feel that you are one of us. You've certainly proved yourself, over and over again. And you certainly brighten up the place." At that there was a murmur of laughter followed by a round of applause.

"I feel like I'm at the end of Star Wars when Leia gives them the medals." Shawn muttered. "You can be Luke."

"Luke?"

"Well, you can't be a lawbreaker like Han. Anyway, everyone knows I'm totally Harrison Ford. You could be Chewie, but he didn't get a medal."

"And neither are you!" Vick told them both laughing. "Not from me, not now anyway. Although your actions proved you both worthy of one. But..." She grinned. "We did do a little collection for you..." She reached down and picked up a pair of wrapped parcels with big red bows on from behind a desk. She handed one to each of them.

Shawn ripped into his. First he pulled out a red T shirt with the Flash's yellow lightning bolt logo in the centre.

"Is it okay?" Vick asked, oddly nervous. "We were originally planning a Superman T, but..." She trailed off.

"Is it okay?" He replied. "It's only awesome! The Flash is my favourite DC hero! He's so laid back!"

"Thank God." Vick muttered. Then she smiled at Shawn and motioned to the package. "There's more."

He reached in again and pulled out a plastic detective's badge. It was quite a good fake, with Shawn's info on it. He ran his thumb over the golden shield.

"Thank you." He said, his voice a little choked.

Lassiter grinned and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. He opened his own package. The first thing he pulled out was a snow globe which startled a bark of laughter out of him, despite his phobia. The next thing he pulled out was a ticket for ten sessions at the local shooting range. The final thing was a little golden plastic gong hanging from a long red ribbon. It said 'HERO'. He turned to show Shawn and found that Shawn had pulled one of his own from the wrapping paper. They both put the ribbon around their necks. The Chief kissed their cheeks and shook their hands.

The two men turned around and the whole room erupted into cheers and applause. Buzz grabbed Shawn's arm and Juliet grabbed Lassiter's and they pulled them through the crowd. Luckily, the officer's had all been briefed on the injuries they'd sustained or else Shawn would have been given several incredibly painful pats on the back. At the back of the room was a long table covered with a long white cloth. There was buffet food along the table, including a pineapple upside down cake in the centre, pride of place. There was also a platter covered in Francine's homemade cookies. Above the table on the wall was a home-made banner stating "WELCOME BACK SHAWN AND CARLTON!"


"We have another surprise for you." Juliet told them, as they gathered around the table. Two officers opened the double doors, and a group of young men in scout's uniform marched in, following an older man in the same. He had a black eye, and his right wrist was bandaged and in a sling. They marched into the room and stood to attention in a row before the two heroes and they all gave the three fingered Boy Scout salute. The cops gave a round of applause.

"Shawn, Carlton," Juliet said. "Meet Troop Leader MacGuffin and his boys. They're the ones that caught Officer Ellis."

"Really?" Shawn grinned.

"You guys are the real heroes." Lassiter said seriously. Buzz smiled and stepped forward. He had a handful of the 'HERO' ribbons, and he walked along the line putting one each around the boy's necks and handing one to the Troop Leader.

They thanked Troop Leader MacGuffin, and one of the officers put on some music. Shawn understood. They still had to get through the trial. They had to face an IA investigation. They had to face two of their own being hurt. Not to mention poor Officer Stevens, who was notably absent. But all that was for tomorrow. For today, it was time to celebrate. They were alive. They were free. And isn't that all that matters really?


The end. At least for now. The sequels, prequels will be under-way soon. Watch this space!