AN - Hey all! I'm back. It's been a few long and crazy semesters here at college, but things have slightly settled down. As usual, I don't own anything, and I am not a doctor so ignore anything medical that doesn't seem possible. Thanks!
Enjoy part two of this series!
It's been four months since the McCallen case ended and Shawn had been hired for very few small cases by the Santa Barbara Police Department. Psych had been hired for a few private cases, but nothing big.
This morning, like every morning Lassiter had to work early, Shawn was sitting in his favorite diner, the one he always got breakfast from when he didn't get to eat with Carlton. While waiting for his food, Shawn exits the diner and buys a newspaper from a vending machine outside the diner before returning inside. He pulls up short when he sees a blonde sitting at the counter reading a newspaper. He walks up to the counter, puts down the paper, and leans over.
"Excuse me, you're in my seat."
"Am I?" She replies, glancing at him.
"Actually, yes, you are."
"Are you one of those weirdo compulsives who come to the same restaurant, sit in the same chair, and eat the same food every day?" She looks at him disappointed.
Shawn scoffs, "Uh, no, no, no. I was sitting right there three minutes ago, and then I went outside to get myself a paper, I ordered the juice, and look I made a crawling snake with the straw wrapper. You can finish it if you think you're up to the job." He replies grabbing his juice, and moving it to his new seat.
"I'm sorry. You want me to move?" She looks apologetic.
"Not anymore. So, what's up?" Shawn asks, wanting company.
"I don't have time to talk." She brushes him off, turning back to her paper, and glancing around.
"But you haven't heard what I'm going to say." Shawn tries again. He's bored and needs a distraction while he waits for his food.
"See, now we've already talked more than I wanted to."
She leans over and reaches for her purse, giving Shawn time to look at its contents. He sees pet hair on her shoes and sleeve as well as a photo of her parents.
"Well, I did give you my seat, you know. I think that gets me one question."
"Listen, diner guy…" She trails off.
"Shawn." He cuts her off, not wanting her to call him random names, that was saved for Gus and Lassie.
"Shawn. Flattered, really. Very often, I am happy to meet new people, but today, right here, right now, I can't talk." She ducks back into her newspaper, glancing around.
"I understand. I do. What if I do the talking for both of us?"
"Have at it. Do you mind if I read the paper and stare aimlessly out the window while you two talk?" She replies sarcastically.
"No. Can I get a name to work with?" He takes a sip of his juice to prepare.
"Juliet."
"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Juliet." Switching to a high-pitched girly voice. "It's nice to meet you, too, Shawn, and I'm sorry about your seat, so lunch is on me. So, what do you do for a living?" Returning to his normal voice, "I do a little bit of everything." Returning to the girly voice, "Oh, that sounds interesting, and maybe a little bit dangerous. Ooh, I like your jacket. I like it…"
Juliet cuts him off. "Okay, can I stop you there? First off, in your portrayal of me, I sound like I'm in the eighth grade."
"Well, in my portrayal of you, you only have an eighth grade education. All right, smarten you up. College? Yeah? Top of your class graduated early... got it." He changes his voice to a more mature womanly voice. "I'm new to town and I don't know many people... but I do know my cats. Two of them. The gray one is very affectionate. The white one makes me work much, much harder for the attention." Returning to his regular voice, "And what about your family?" He returns to the womanly voice, "My family's amazing. My parents have been together for, what is it, 30 years now?"
"Okay, do we know each other?" She questions, looking at him curiously.
"Yes, you are the girl who stole my seat." Shawn retorts.
The door opens and a tall man wearing a torn grey sweatshirt, jeans, and a baseball cap enters Juliet's smile fades. She looks over her shoulder and puts her right hand on her purse before looking back at her newspaper.
"Oh, my gosh. You're a cop." Shawn whispers, hoping that Lassie's about to bust through that door.
"I'm not a cop." She retorts.
Shawn sighs, "The paper, the vantage point, the layout, of course. You got defensive when the scary guy walked in. You're totally a cop."
"Okay, Shawn, I'm going to need you to do me a favor," Juliet replies.
Shawn smiles, "Name it."
"Duck."
Shawn ducks as Juliet pulls a gun from her purse. Two undercover officers rush the man and push him down against the countertop.
"Police! Don't move!" an officer shouts.
Lassiter enters with another officer, guns drawn, and shouts, "Gun!"
"Go!" Another officer shouts.
Shawn smirks as he watches Lassiter take the man's gun. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices Juliet's hands shake as she holds her gun.
"Let me go…" The man yells.
"Get him up." Lassiter orders.
The officers take the man away. Juliet lowers her gun. As Lassiter puts his gun in his holster, he looks over and sees Shawn. Shawn gives him a little wave and smiles. Lassiter gives him a little nod, looking towards Juliet who goes back to her seat and puts her gun in her purse.
"First time pulling your gun?" Shawn asks, incredulously, hoping that this inexperienced detective is not his husband's new partner.
Juliet zips her purse and grabs it, "Maybe."
Shawn watches her leave, and as soon as the door closes, Lassiter makes his way over.
"What the hell are you doing here, Shawn?" Carlton asks.
"Why Lassie, you sound like you're accusing me of following you and hindering a stake out." Carlton just raises an eyebrow. "I promise I'm not. I always come here for breakfast when you have an all-nighter shift or an early morning shift. You just happened to host a stakeout at the same diner I frequent."
Carlton shook his head. "Sorry, when I saw you there, I thought of how wrong this could have gone and you would have been in the line of fire. Literally."
Shawn grabs Carlton's hand. "I'm fine though. Nothing went wrong because you're an amazing detective who never lets civilians get hurt. Your new partner, on the other hand? That was the first time she drew her gun. I'm more worried about you."
"She's a good officer, the best candidate for detective. I'll have her shape in no time."
"That makes me feel better."
"Good. Now, enjoy your breakfast and I'll see you tonight for dinner."
"Bye Carlytown." Shawn waved, smiling when Carlton gave him a kiss on the cheek and left.
