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For the umpteenth time in these last few years, Shawn concluded his dramatic reveal on a podium. This time it was in a church, as he impudently interrupted a choir on stage. During his animated monologue, all eyes were drawn to Shawn before they switched to the culprit, a singer who in the end shamefully admitted their guilt. Shawn then did an exaggerated bow to the captive audience, who half-heartedly applauded, not quite comprehending what just happened.
The Chief gave a deep sigh, equally relieved that another case was closed and annoyed by their resident psychic’s theatrics. Lassiter, for his part, shook his head but didn’t wait a minute to grab his handcuffs and put them on the criminal.
But once half hidden behind the stand, while everyone’s attention was diverted, Shawn let an expression of pain show on his face as he gingerly put a hand to his midsection. An expletive almost left his lips when he straightened up, but he successfully said nothing. He knew he just had to bear it a little longer before he could go home alone and crash for a good six to eight hours.
It was just his luck that sweet, sweet Juliet chose this moment to approach the duo to congratulate them for another successful investigation.
“Hey, guys! Good job on the case. How did you figure this one out, Shawn?” Juliet asked in a light tone. She noticed something seemed off with Shawn, but purposefully kept it quiet.
Shawn shrugged only one shoulder and lifted a slow finger to his temple, in his typical psychic gesture. “Oh you know, Jules, the spirits are sometimes very chatty and like to make themselves useful. It’s as if they tried to make it up to me, since I am the one who has to endure the visions from the other si-”
Gus interrupted Shawn by elbowing him in the ribs, stopping him from blathering about more nonsense.
Shawn was partly grateful because he had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, but he also moderately hated Gus as he made an effort to conceal his wounded expression with a laugh. Although he was aware it was too stiff and awkward to be genuine.
Shawn did try his best to maintain the facade, but he knew he couldn’t keep it up much longer. His legs felt way too weak and he slowly became lightheaded. The throbbing in his side became too intense to be ignored anymore.
He was also slightly winded after his speech, like he ran a marathon, which was stupid since he just paced on the stage. Perhaps he babbled and got distracted more than usual, only getting back on track with Gus' help every time, but that was it.
But then Shawn unconsciously took a step forward and he stumbled. He failed to catch himself on the wood stand, but Juliet and Gus luckily caught him before he could faceplant on the floor. However, Gus grabbed him around his stomach and Shawn choked on a startled gasp of pain.
His cry was too loud and too sudden to pretend it was something else. The sharp pain in his stomach stopped him from reacting rapidly, no matter how quick wit he usually was. All of his disjointed thoughts concentrated on the pain, pain, pain , he was feeling. Shawn could only ride it out while his friends were left alarmed and exploded in worried shouts.
“Shawn?! What’s happening?”
“Oh my god! Are you okay? Shawn!”
While Juliet’s hands left his body and hovered anxiously, Gus tightened his arms in a protective grip around his torso. The cacophony of their voices added to the ringing in his ears and Shawn could only bear so much, as he let out another grunt of pain.
The three of them began to attract some unwanted attention and Shawn quietly begged them to be silent and to take him somewhere isolated from the crowd. They discreetly excused themselves while looking for an empty backroom inside the church.
Finally behind closed doors, Shawn flopped down on a chair, tired and completely depleted of energy. Juliet and Gus let him breathe for a moment but soon enough they were talking again.
“So, you want to tell us what that was?” Gus asked as he crossed his arms, exasperated that Shawn hid something from him again.
But Shawn stayed silent.
So Juliet took the opportunity to speak instead. “You really don’t look well, Shawn. Why didn’t you say anything if you weren’t feeling good?” She asked, a deep concern etched on her face.
Shawn knew his pathetic charade was over and his shoulders sagged, a sense of defeat overwhelming him.
The ache in his stomach was now pulsating with each of his breaths, duller than earlier but still relentless. There wasn’t actually much to say, but he knew they both wouldn’t let him live if he didn’t explain himself. So he took a deep and painful breath.
“Guys, I wasn’t-I didn’t say anything, because there’s nothing to say.” Shawn shook his head, but Gus and Juliet both gave an incredulous look, not pleased in the least by Shawn’s initial answer.
“Ugh… It was a stupid mistake, okay? The guy I interrogated earlier was nervous and a tad jittery and before I knew it, there was a knife poking at my stomach. Like I say, it was dumb and I paid the price for it. Happy, now?” Shawn declared, a bit peeved under their inquisitive looks and questions. “It’s just a scratch anyway. Nothing to make a fuss over.”
Shawn tried to shrug nonchalantly but it tugged at the wound, so he aborted the motion, a grimace of discomfort taking place on his features.
“Shawn, you’ve been sweating buckets in the last thirty minutes and you lost at least two shades of color. Not to mention, we almost had to carry you because you couldn’t walk by yourself.” Gus said in his forthright voice.
“Yeah, a stab wound isn’t what I would call nothing. Let us see it.” Juliet scoffed. Gus didn’t seem too keen on seeing a bloody wound, but Shawn clearly needed their help.
As expected, Shawn declined their demand and stubbornly kept his arms protectively around his midsection. But Juliet and Gus got closer, ready to manhandle him if he didn’t cooperate. It felt like he was a child again and he hated it. Shawn weakly struggled against their grasps but it wasn't fair. They were two against one, and Shawn wasn’t comfortable being outnumbered.
A wave of dizziness suddenly overtook him and way too soon his shirt was lifted to reveal a bloodied bandage loosely wrapped around his abdomen.
Shawn’s attention was attracted downward as he looked at his stomach. Huh .
To be honest, he hadn’t realized the wound had reopened and bled this much already. He really thought it was just a scratch at first and that a piece of bandage would suffice.
“Oh, that’s not good.” He said somewhat hollowly, as if he didn’t quite realize it was his blood.
Gus promptly turned aside, feeling himself becoming a bit nauseous at the sight of blood. But Juliet’s intentions weren't impeded in the least. She smoothed his t-shirt back down and spoke with an authority in her voice.
“Come on, Shawn, let’s go to the hospital. This is a nasty wound you got here. You might need stitches and we need to make sure it isn’t infected.”
And so, Shawn stood and followed her, albeit reluctantly, but he was too tired to argue anymore. Gus helped him again as he draped one of Shawn’s arms across his shoulders, sharing more weight than he had earlier, and the three of them slowly made their way to the Blueberry.
The only thing Shawn had in mind was his bed with his warm blanket and fluffy plushies, surely awaiting for him. But if he had to indulge his friends’ worries before that, then he guessed that it was only fair.