5 Ways it Could Have Ended (and One Way It Did)
Title: 5 Ways it Could Have Ended (and One Way It Did)
Author: plainapple
Rating: PG
Pairings: Shawn/Lassiter
Warning: Theoretical angst. Theoretical implied character death.
Disclaimer: This is fan fiction, I make no claims to the copyright ownership of Psych or to its characters.
Summary: I try a meme and go all theoretical and angsty with it. Sorry?
5 Ways it Could Have Ended …
1.
Lassiter slammed Shawn against the wall, and not in a fun way. Shawn winced as the back of his head made contact with the hard bricks.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Lassiter snarled.
Shawn opened his mouth, but Lassiter cut him off before he could speak.
“Shut up.” He snapped, “It doesn’t matter. Do you have any idea how serious this is?”
Shawn just looked at him, guilty and dumbstruck.
“Impersonating an officer, Spencer, is a crime. If it had been any other detective who’d caught you at it you’d be in prison right now. Do you understand? Prison.”
“Lassie…” Shawn said helplessly.
Lassiter pulled him away from the wall just to slam him against it again, “I told you I don’t want to hear it. You’ve violated every trust this department ever put in you. If you’re lucky, if you’re lucky, you might be able to work your way back into Vick’s good graces - but let me make it clear - you’re never getting back into mine.”
“I’m sorry.” Shawn whispered.
“I don’t care.” said Lassiter, “Now give me back my badge and get out of my sight.”
2.
Shawn shrugged on his jacket and lingered by the front door, “Are you sure you don’t wanna come?”
Lassiter shook his head without taking his eyes off the paperwork in front of him, “No, it’s late, I’m just going to finish this up and go to bed.”
“It’s only nine…”
“I have work tomorrow Shawn.”
“I could stay.” Shawn offered.
“No, that’s okay. Gus is waiting for you. Go have fun.” Lassiter answered.
“Okay.” said Shawn, “Well, see you.”
“Uh-huh.”
They tried for a few more weeks after that, but eventually Shawn stopped coming by and Lassiter stopped calling. They settled back into their old routines. Neither one of them minded much, they had given it a shot, and at least now they didn’t have to wonder if the tension between them was about anything more than sex. It wasn’t.
3.
Damn it. Damn it. Lassiter had always known this would happen, known it was only a matter of time. He hadn’t known it would be this bad. All the efforts he’d taken to keep Shawn away from the bad cases, the messy cases, the cases with women or children that kept even the hardest officers awake at night; all of it had been for nothing. He knew the minute he saw Shawn walk through the door. Knew when he watched the look on Shawn’s face change when he saw what was left of the bodies. He knew that the ‘fun’ of playing detective was gone for good. And he knew, as Shawn ran from the room clutching his hand over his mouth, he knew he’d never see him again.
4.
“Just give me a reason why.” said Lassiter, his head in his hands.
Shawn swallowed. The space between them on Lassiter’s couch felt like a mile.
“I deserve an explanation.” Lassiter muttered.
“I just…” Shawn struggled for the words, “We’re just too different Lassie. I’m not… you’re always working, even when you’re not at work you’re always working - always a cop, and you’re so serious about everything, so serious about us. I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I know I’m not.”
Lassiter turned his head and looked at him, his eyes rimmed with red. It was too much for Shawn to take. He looked away, staring at a spot on the floor.
“You’re a great guy Carlton. You deserve someone better. Someone better for you than I am.”
“You knew Shawn,” said Lassiter, his voice raspy, “You knew exactly who I was when we started this. I haven’t changed.”
“I know.” said Shawn.
“Then why?” Lassiter asked, “Why did you even bother? Why didn’t you just leave me alone?”
Shawn didn’t have an answer. He didn’t know how to tell Lassiter he’d thought that he could love him, but he’d been wrong.
5.
No. No. No. No. Like a mantra. No. No. No. No. He shook in silence as Gus drove him to the hospital, afraid that he would be sick if he tried to speak. But no. No. He’d misunderstood. There were a hundred explanations as to why Jules might have refused to tell him what had happened over the phone. A hundred. She was waiting for them outside as they pulled up to the visitor’s entrance. A hundred explanations - and then Shawn saw the look on her face - and there was only one. No.
…and one way it did.
6.
It was supposed to be a housewarming party - which was ridiculous because Lassiter had already been living there for years - but Shawn insisted that because the house was new to him he was entitled to all of the fan fair (by which he mostly meant the gifts), that came with a new home.
So instead of spending his Sunday afternoon lying in bed flipping through some cold cases, or writing protest letters to NBC over the cancelation of Law and Order, or being distracted in the best ways by Shawn, Lassiter was standing on his deck serving up hotdogs, having his grilling technique critiqued by Henry, and wondering what in the hell he was supposed to do with two blenders.
Juliet, who had been swanning around all day smug as Emma Woodhouse just because she’d called this months earlier, produced an oversized pineapple upside-down cake that she’d baked for the occasion. Shawn’s eyes lit up as Juliet hoisted it onto Lassiter’s picnic table, and his hand went immediately to the large kitchen knife she’d brought out with it. He positioned it over the cake, frowned, adjusted his angle, and frowned again.
“How many slices do I need to make?” asked Shawn.
“That thing’s like twenty pounds Shawn,” said Gus, “I think there’ll be enough for everyone.”
Shawn pursed his lips, “I’m not sure… What if someone wants seconds? And by someone I mean me. And by seconds I mean fourths.”
“Just cut the cake Shawn.” snapped Henry.
“Dad, Jules has achieved the ultimate in culinary perfection, I’m not going to ruin it with a sloppy slicing job.” said Shawn.
“That’s really okay.” said Juliet.
“Shhh… Jules,” said Shawn, hovering the knife just above the cake’s surface, “Wait for it… Waaait for it…”
“Oh for god’s sake…” muttered Lassiter. He strode over to Shawn, put his hand over his and pushed down. The knife sunk into the cake.
Later, Lassiter couldn’t explain why he and Shawn had stayed frozen like that, hand on hand, while they turned to look at each other. He couldn’t explain the amused, smug expression on Shawn’s face. He certainly couldn’t explain why, in possibly the most spontaneous moment of his life, he’d leaned down and kissed Shawn in front of everyone.
Someone (possibly Henry), started to clap (possibly ironically), but it caught on and soon Lassiter’s back yard was full of applause. There was a flash as someone took a picture. Lassiter flushed and cleared his throat as he took his hand off Shawn’s. Shawn smiled and continued slicing.
As it grew dark several of their guests came over to Lassiter to offer their congratulations before they left. Henry gave him a firm handshake and a slap on the back. Chief Vic gave him a quick, uncomfortable hug. Juliet beamed at him and looked like she might cry.
He was rinsing off dishes in the kitchen when Shawn came up behind him and wrapped his arms around him.
“Leave those alone Lassie,” Shawn muttered, “They’ll be here in the morning.”
“So will you.” said Lassiter.
“True,” said Shawn, kissing the back of Lassiter’s neck, “Very true.”
It was supposed to be a housewarming party. It was more.