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Lassiter always figured Shawn Spencer would be the death of him; he just didn’t think it could be so literal. His hand clutched his bleeding wound as he looked up at Shawn.
“Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap,” Shawn muttered crouched over Lassiter’s form.
“You just had to follow me didn’t you Spencer.” Lassiter growled, teeth clenched in pain. “You really don’t know how to stay out of my business do you?”
"What c'mon now how was I supposed to they're be a gun and shooting," Shawn insisted.
"Spencer I'm a police officer and if I've learned anything throughout my career it would be foolhardy to not suspect that everyone has a gun."
"Really Lassie? Sure you aren’t a little paranoid?"
“Well obviously not in this case, no.”
“Touche.” Shawn noted since that man was indeed right in this instance. Shawn's eyes locked on the injury and the guilt suddenly felt overwhelming. He took off his flannel and used it to help apply pressure and steady the blood flow. “Lassie…I’m sorry.”
“This is one time I don’t believe ‘I’m sorry’ is going to cut it Spencer.”
Shawn truly felt horrible; this really was all his fault. He’d known Lassiter was hiding something from him because the man had been very secretive and even more standoffish than usual. He’d told Gus of his suspicions and Gus just assumed Lassiter just had pre-date jitters or something since he reminded him they had seen him talking to the sister of Jack Ashburn last week, a shooting victim currently in critical condition and assumed maybe he’d gotten her number after speaking to her. Shawn vehemently denied that it could be it since the idea of it made him somewhat uneasy. Lassiter going on a date with an actual person? No way. To prove that wasn’t it he started following Lassiter around the past few days.
When he saw Lassiter out at a restaurant with Ashley Ashburn who was indeed the sister of said victim he felt his stomach drop at the fact Gus was right and the kind smile Lassiter directed at the woman as the two talked. Maybe there was a small part of him that was happy that Lassiter actually got out of the funk he’d been in lately since he and his wife officially divorced. The man was probably making an effort in trying to get back out there. But it just felt bittersweet to him.
Shawn had some not so concealed feelings of his own for the head detective for a quite a while now but he knew they were very one sided with how often Lassiter threatened him and told him to go away whenever he tried his special brand of flirting on the older man.
Shawn didn’t want Lassiter to catch him spying on his date so he wanted to hightail it out of there quickly before he was seen. Just as the woman had excused herself to go to the restroom he tried to sneak away only to bumped into a waiter and send all the glasses on the young man's tray to toppling down to the floor. When Lassiter saw him he was up and on Shawn in an instant grabbing him by his shirt collar.
“Wow small world Lassifrass fancy seeing you here.” Shawn blurted out.
Lassiter was not amused as he pushed the younger man out the front door of the establishment.
“Spencer, why are you here!”
“Oh you know me Lassie just out for a night stroll thought I’d grab a pineapple daiquiri and then lead the bar in a conga line. Do you think they know Y.M.C.A?” Shawn replied, flippantly.
“This isn’t a joke Spencer. Were you spying on me?” Lassiter asked, pointily.
“What? Me Spying on you? You’re like…totally way off base. A man can’t go to a bar where a guy he works with happens to be without getting the third degree. For shame Lassie.”
“You need to get out of here now. And if I find out you’re spying on me again there will be consequences.” Lassiter insisted, shoving Shawn against the wall of the building with a little more force than necessary that it knocked the wind out of him before returning inside presumably to his date.
Something about the situation didn’t sit right with Shawn. How Lassiter just blew up at him like that. Sure he gets mad at Shawn often enough but this just seemed different. So he decided right then and there that he had to follow him again. Besides, when was Shawn ever good at following the rules anyway?
Shawn had been following Lassiter around regularly since then clearly to figure out what he was up to and not at all because seeing him on these dates humanized him in ways he hadn’t yet seen for himself. It was actually kind of nice seeing him on the second date having a leisurely walk in the park while eating ice cream and wearing khaki pants, not that he cared or anything. Since these were clearly reconnaissance missions.
Tonight was the third date for Lassiter and his new lady friend. He called Gus to see if he wanted to join him but Gus said he didn't want to get involved when Lassie inevitably found him and he didn't want to get shot. Shawn followed them to a warehouse and was outside close by watching with binoculars. It looked like some kind of museum at first glance with vases and sculptures and other miscellaneous items on tables. When Lassiter was looking at one of the said sculptures he saw Ashley approaching from behind him with a sledgehammer. He jumped into action immediately, not giving a damn that he didn’t have a weapon.
“Hey drop the weapon, femme fatale!” Shawn shouted, startling both of them.
“What the hell are you doing here!”
“What’s the psychic from my brother’s case doing here?” Ashley said, having dropped the sledgehammer alarmed at the unexpected guest.
Both were looking at Shawn expectantly. “She was…coming behind you…with a weapon.” Shawn mumbled, only now seeing his mistake as he examined the various signs that he didn’t notice before saying the space they were now in was an anger room and everything in it was there for the express purpose of being broken and smashed. “Oh.”
“Ashley, can you give me a moment?” Lassiter remarked, already pulling Shawn with him behind a large bust.
“Sure I’ll go grab a pair of goggles for you.” Ashley called out.
Lassiter covered his face with both hands, clearly very agitated. “Spencer what did I tell you before,” Lassiter said with clenched teeth.
“That we should never trust squirrels because they have the power to enslave mankind.”
“The last time I saw you.” Lassiter corrected, “Didn’t I say not to spy on me.”
“C’mon you tell me not to do lots of things and I do them anyway. It’s just how we work, Lassie.”
“This time I actually wanted you to listen, you idiot!" Lassiter insisted, his face giving away a hint of worry. "I think this woman could be dangerous and you just walked yourself right into the middle of this.”
“Dangerous?” Shawn asked slowly. His eyes scanned the large room again and noticed even more things he hadn’t before.
This whole date thing must really be pushing Shawn off his game if he hadn’t noticed that many of the items in the warehouse were what he and Gus had seen when they had done some sleuthing around the brothers house after he was shot a couple weeks ago.
And the only thing coming to mind for destroying things that belonged to your brother is if you hated him or…wanted him dead.
“Oh crap Lassie we have to get out of here.”
As soon as the words left his mouth a gun shot rang out hitting Lassiter in the shoulder just as the two men ducked.
That's where the duo found themselves now. Hiding behind a bust of some guy with a name Shawn can’t pronounce with occasional gun fire striking near them.
“I can't believe you didn't tell me this was all a ruse Lassie." Shawn remarked, a tad guilty he's glad that Lassie wasn't actually dating this woman. "I could have helped if you would have told me.”
“I really don't know how many times I have to say that you're not a cop Spencer and I don't have to divulge any privileged information to you.”
“I just feel like you'd have a lot more blood on that inside if I had known...”
Lassiter just narrowed his eyes at Shawn clearly annoyed.
“Carlton!” Ashley shouted. “I really thought we had something special. But you're just like all the other men in my life. All of them are users just like my good-for-nothing baby brother. I only wish my aim was better that night.”
“Wow okay so she basically just confessed.”
“Spencer, she just shot me. I don't think this nut job could get more guiltier.”
“You know I can't let the two of you leave here alive.” Ashley continued, inching closer slowly.
Shawn resumed adding pressure to Lassiter’s wound, the blood still blowing out steadily.
“Great you're psycho girlfriend's got us cornered and she's going to murder us. I'm not like you Lassie. I don't think I pull off the gunshot aesthetic like you do man,” Shawn replied with his free hand using Lassie’s tie to dab at the sweat on his brow. Shawn noticed his skin growing paler and his breathing started to get shallower.
“She's not my girlfriend.” Lassiter seethed. “And we’re not going to die. O’Hara knew of the plan and that we suspected the sister and if she doesn't hear from me soon she'll arrive with backup soon.”
Another gunshot rang out whizzing past them and hitting the wall in front of them.
“Yeah I don't think we can wait for Jules, Lassie.” Shawn said suddenly very determined. He realized what he had to do. Shawn leaned down and before Lassiter could react Shawn’s lips found his own. The surprisingly soft lips with rough stubble invading his space. Lassiter was in such a state of shock he didn't know what to do. When Shawn’s hand slid lower, finding its target Lassiter finally pushed the younger man away.
Lassiter felt dizzy and out of breath but that could also be easily attained to the blood loss.
“What the hell was that?” Lassiter whispered harshly, a hint of anger and something else in his voice.
“That my dear Lassinator was a goodbye kiss. But that’s only if this doesn’t turn out well for me. And if I somehow do make it out of this then we can totally just pretend this never happened,” Shawn answered, Lassiter’s gun at the ready in his hand as he quickly rose from his seated position.
Lassiter’s hand weakly patted at his side upon seeing the pilfered gun, taken when he was distracted.
“Son of a- Spencer don’t do anything stupid!” Lassiter rasped out. But Shawn was already gone running from their position Shawn led Ashley away. She shot in his direction several times as he ducked behind a pillar. The bullets narrowly missed him and when he was almost sure she was out of bullets or very nearly out of bullets Shawn returned fire shooting her in the foot she fell onto the ground in pain.
In the same moment he heard sirens in the distance meaning backup was close by so he ran back over to Lassie to see if he was okay but he was barely conscious.
Shawn put his arm around Lassie helping him up and nearly dragging him towards the door. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the injured Ashley reaching for the sledgehammer she dropped earlier probably as a last ditch effort.
“C’mon lady, really you’re doing this again but I already shot you.” Shawn groaned but she didn’t listen and kept inched closer.
“You can’t leave here, now both of you must pay.” Ashley ranted, holding one hand to her foot in pain looking downright wild as she dragged herself to the weapon.
"Someone had a little too much Cuckoo puffs for breakfast this morning." Shawn jested shaking his head as he leaned down with his free hand and picked it up and carried it over his shoulder holding it and Lassiter. When Shawn got Lassie outside he was completely unconscious at that point and he sat him down against the door of the warehouse.
“Don’t worry, Lassie help’s almost here.”
When Lassiter started stirring again he immediately tried to grab for the gun he usually kept under his pillow until he noticed the surroundings of the hospital room and Juliet who was the first face he saw.
“Hey partner, glad to see you back with the land of the living. You scared us there for a minute. How do you feel?” Juliet greeted.
“Like I got side swiped by a truck.” Lassiter grumbled. “How long was I out for?”
“About twelve hours. Doctors took you into surgery to remove the bullet and said you were very lucky and it just barely missed the artery.”
“Where is the suspect now?” Lassiter asked, his memory a little hazy.
“She’s actually your neighbor a few doors down from you. She woke up about an hour ago after they dug a bullet from your gun out of her foot.”
Lassiter looked puzzled; he didn't remember shooting her until it came back to him.
“Spencer.” Lassiter whispered.
“Yup. You know you were lucky Shawn was there. The fact she was armed probably already meant she was already planning on shooting you. I guess she knew you’d figured her out.”
Lassiter tried not to dwell too much on this new information as bits and pieces of memory started returning.
“They’re preparing to take her to the Lompoc hospital wing when they think she’s stable enough for the drive,” Juliet continued.
“That’s good to hear. Keep me posted.”
“Will do. Now I’m gonna go find a nurse and tell them you’re awake. Then I have to head back to the precinct and update the Chief and go write up these reports. I’ll come back tomorrow to get your statement. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine O’Hara and trust me I’ll be back on the job with you very soon. Now get out of here.”
After Juliet left a nurse ran a couple tests and checked his vitals and left him alone.
Alone with his thoughts and fledging memories of the night before.
When Shawn Spencer had kissed him and stolen his gun.
He’s not sure which was more offensive. No one is supposed to touch his gun let alone fire it. But kissing him definitely crossed several lines and he’s not even sure how he feels about it.
Surely it was just a distraction tactic so Shawn could secure his firearm and subdue the suspect. But did he really have to do so in that way? Shawn had confused him endlessly in the past and would no doubt continue to do so in the future. But Lassiter remembered what Shawn had said about forgetting about it if he made it out alive and was not going to let that lie. He was determined to find out what that kiss meant if it even meant anything at all.
Lassiter was released from the hospital after a couple of days and Juliet brought him home but he was antsy within a day of just sitting at home doing nothing. He’d already talked to the Chief and to his horror found out he couldn't even do desk duty for a month. He was going nuts and found himself often cleaning his guns or alphabetizing his Clint Eastwood library.
He also really wanted to talk to Shawn but he didn’t want to drive one-handed and did not want to explain to Juliet why he wanted to see Shawn in the first place since he’d left the kiss completely out of his retelling of events when he gave his statement. He also doubted Shawn would come here to talk to him since he doesn’t exactly seem at all like the straightforward type.
So Lassiter readied himself and put on his jacket and started walking. His long legs making the miles long walk not seem as far even in the cold autumn evening. He reached the Psych office just before the sun officially set and knocked on the door not even sure if anyone was inside.
“Lassie?” Shawn answered surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to talk about the night I was shot.” Lassiter told him matter of factly, already making his way inside the office building.
“There’s no need to come all this way to thank me for my heroics, Lassiekins. I’m merely a man, a devilishly handsome man with kickass shooting skills. Which you can thank my dad’s insane training skills and hours of playing Operation Wolf at the arcade.”
“I’m not here for that. Though I guess I probably should say thank you for that I guess. So yeah thanks.”
Shawn smiled.
“But I’m here to talk about what happened before that. You know when you kissed me and took my favorite firearm.” Lassiter stated, with narrowed eyes.
“I was really hoping you didn’t remember that part.” Shawn gulped, rubbing a hand on his neck.
“Well I do and I need an explanation right now.”
“I mean what do you want me to say?”
“I just need the truth. Why did you kiss me Spencer?” Lassiter insisted, “Out of all the moronic things you’ve done since I’ve known you….just why?
“What do you want me to tell you? How I've wanted to do that for such a long time so in that moment I just went for it. Because that’s the truth.”
“That’s bull, why the hell would you want to kiss me?”
“Wow Lass I knew you were a little slow on the uptake sometimes but I didn’t think that you would literally be this dense. Dude, I like you okay!”
Lassiter just looked at him confused like he just wasn’t understanding it.
Shawn just sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. “Lassie, how are you not getting this. I like you like a fat kid loves cake. I have the hots for you big time man. ”
The older man just stared at him baffled, opening and closing his mouth several times. “What?”
“I really don’t see how I can be any clearer Lass.” Shawn explained, grabbing a hold of Lassiter’s hand on his good arm.
Lassiter breathed out slowly. “No, no I get it I just…don’t believe it.” He looked out towards Shawn’s messy desk littered with toys and games then back at Shawn holding his hand rubbing it softly with his thumb. It was like he was seeing him in a whole new light.
Shawn has always been an enigma to Lassiter from his uncanny ability to solve cases to the magnetic charm he seems to have on everyone from the Chief to his best friend. Lassiter would tell anyone who would listen how he doesn’t understand what people see in Shawn.
But…that wouldn’t exactly be truthful since even if he’s loath to admit it Shawn means something to him too. He’d wormed his way into the precinct four years ago and turned it into a veritable three ring circus flipping Lassiter’s life completely upside down. And crazier enough he’d made Lassiter care about him in ways he’s sure aren’t just strictly professional even if that’s what he’s been telling himself for sometime now.
So the kiss actually meant something? A part of him still thinks Shawn’s nothing but a fraud and a liar. But the other part that still craves love and happily ever after's despite how cynical he's always known to be wants this to be true. There is a lot they need to talk about for this to even begin to work but Lassiter wants this more than he’s wanted anything in a long time. And from the way Shawn’s looking at him in a very un-Shawn like serious manner he can tell this is something he wants too.
“Spencer…go out on a date with me this Friday?” Lassiter asked, swallowing thickly.
Shawn’s own mouth is open in shock like he wasn’t expecting that and then it morphs into a grin.
“Movie and then arcade?” Shawn offered, knowing that an action movie and some skee-ball would be a win-win for both of them.
Lassiter returned the smile and tightened his hold on Shawn’s hand. “I’ll pick you up at six.”