Exposed Ch. 15 & 16
Title: Exposed
Rating: T
Summary: It was Juliet who discovered his secret. Of course it was. Now, he's lost his job and his friends. And when he is kidnapped by someone looking for revenge against the SBPD, Shawn might just lose his life, too...
Winner of Psychfic's Gold Pineapple for Best Angst, 2010.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Psych. Shoot...
Ch. 15
They had sat in the waiting room for...actually, Gus didn't know how long they had waited. The few minutes they had spent at the cabin had seemed to only take seconds; but when they got to the hospital, time had slowed. Every second had felt like an hour. When the doctor had come out to speak with them, Gus had been so focused on the doctor's news that Shawn was alive and breathing on his own, that other words, like severe trauma, broken bones, and lacerations, just washed over him.
Gus stood from the chair, pacing slowly at the foot of Shawn's hospital bed. Shawn was lying on his stomach, pillows piled under his body to take the weight off of the stab wound and the gashes that crossed his torso. And he was lying on his stomach because his back…because while Gus and the others had been racing to his rescue, Cole had…Shawn's back was…
Gus swallowed, forcing back the nausea that surfaced as he turned to look at the bandages that covered Shawn's back. I am so sorry, Shawn. We got there as soon as we could. He sighed and returned to his chair, too tired to continue pacing.
Gus rubbed his face, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze fell on his two best friends as he blew out a quiet sigh. Juliet had fallen asleep a few hours after they had entered Shawn's room, her fingers twisting gently around Shawn's hand, her head resting near his.
She felt guilty. They all did.
Henry had stood by Shawn's bed for a long time, running his fingers gently through Shawn's hair. He, too, was sleeping now, his hand resting on top of Shawn's leg. Gus had been afraid to touch Shawn. He had been worried he would inadvertently cause his friend more pain with just the slightest touch.
And now, they had to wait some more; wait for Shawn to move or to wake up. He had been unconscious since he had arrived at the hospital. The doctor reassured them it was normal, that Shawn had gone through a lot of physical and mental trauma for the last two days and that he was exhausted. He might not wake for the next few hours or another few days.
Gus' head drooped. He was ready for this to be over. It needed to be. Shawn needed to wake up and be healed, and Cole needed to be found. He gripped the back of his neck in anger. Cole had escaped. When Shawn woke up, they couldn't even offer him Cole's arrest as consolation. They had to worry about when that…psycho would return. When, not if. Gus didn't need to be told that Cole would not be happy that he had failed to wreak his ultimate revenge against the SBPD when he learned that Shawn had survived.
One part of the nightmare was over, only to leave them nervously waiting for the next installment.
…
Morning had dawned, and still Shawn hadn't woken up. He hadn't made a noise, he hadn't even shifted. Juliet leaned closer, one hand reaching out to brush Shawn's hair away from his forehead. She frowned at the heat radiating from his body, and looked up at Henry in concern.
"What?"
"I think he has a fever," She replied.
Henry leaned closer to Shawn, his hand resting against Shawn's cheek. He sighed heavily, reaching for the call button. Juliet felt Shawn's fingers tighten convulsively around her fingers, a moan coming from his unconscious form. The doctor came into the room just as Shawn's eyes flashed open for a quick moment. His eyes were unfocused, and slid across the people in the room without the slightest hint of recognition before he groaned again, his eyes sliding shut and his fingers growing limp.
She watched for the rest of the afternoon, helpless, as he started thrashing on the bed, alternately shivering and sweating as he fought against an infection. She listened, sick, as Shawn muttered nonsense or plead with some unseen foe to "Stop…please stop." She had no doubt he was reliving his time in that cabin. She watched as the doctors made the decision to put straps around his wrists and ankles, afraid the frenzied movements he made while he was lost in the grips of his fever would undo the careful work they had done to save him. She listened, heartbroken, as a delirious Shawn let out a strange keening sound when he next tried to move and the straps held him still.
It was evening when his eyes, bright with fever, opened slowly and focused on her. She had been brushing her fingers across his face, trying to offer him what little comfort that she could; but when she saw him looking at her, she stopped. She watched as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Am I…I dead?" He asked, his voice so hoarse she almost couldn't understand him.
"No! No, you're going to be fine," She said, resting her hand on the back of his neck.
"Are…you sure? Because you…look like heaven…to me…" He trailed off, his eyes fluttering closed again.
Juliet swallowed, blinking heavily against the tears that surfaced at his words. Carefully, she continued where she had left off, letting her fingers brush across his face. Tenderly, she touched his cheeks and slid her fingers down his nose, lightly sweeping across the bruises on his face.
…
When Karen walked in later that evening, she stood beside Shawn's bed and let her hand rest against his forehead. "No change?" Worry led her to ask the question, even though it was redundant. She could feel all too well how fevered he still was.
"No," Henry said, shaking his head. "What about the search?"
They had been in constant communication since rescuing Shawn, and Henry had asked her the same question each time. And each time, she hated that she could not give them the news they wanted to hear, needed to hear. She shook her head. "No. I'm sorry; we haven't found Cole yet."
Henry crossed his arms, sighing as he leaned back in his chair.
"O'Hara?"
"Chief?" The young woman met her gaze.
"I think it would be best if you went home tonight." She held a hand up to stop Juliet's immediate protest. "Listen to me. You need to get a good night's sleep, because tomorrow I need you to join Carlton and myself in a meeting with the DA."
Comprehension dawned on each of the three faces tilted towards her.
"I need you there to help present a defense. Hopefully…hopefully we can work this out and make sure no one goes to jail. And honestly," She turned to look at Henry and Gus, "I don't think you two have to worry. It's Shawn that the DA wants."
"I don't care what happens to me; I'm more worried about my son," Henry said.
Karen wasn't surprised to see Guster nod in agreement.
"We'll do everything we can," Karen assured them, before turning back to O'Hara. "Carlton is on his way to pick you up."
She leaned over the bed one more time, letting her hand linger on Shawn's forehead before she turned to leave the room.
…
Juliet hesitated on the door step, Shawn's empty apartment stretching out in front of her. Lassiter had asked if she wanted him to come with her. It had been awkwardly asked and he had cleared his throat several times before getting the courage to say the words, but he had finally gotten the whole question out. She had declined the offer, but she forced a smile at him and let her hand rest on his shoulder for a brief moment to convey her gratitude.
She needed to do this on her own.
She took a deep breath and walked into the apartment, flipping on lights as she moved slowly through his home. She made her way through the living room, stepping around the coffee table.
"Your turn, Jules."
"It's a puzzle, Shawn. We don't take turns."
He blinked innocently at her, his hazel eyes sparkling with humor. "We don't? Then how do we know who wins?"
Her gaze fell on the slivers of glass at the base of one of the walls, and she sucked in a deep breath, her heart clenching. Her mind was all too willing and able to provide her with an image of Shawn, standing alone in the middle of his home. It was all too easy to imagine him throwing his glass against the wall in frustration and anger, his head drooping as he shoved his fingers through his hair. She swallowed, moving out of the living room and into the hallway.
His bedroom door was partially closed, and she rested her hand against the doorknob. She took another deep breath, and slowly pushed open the door. His tousled bed screamed of sleepless nights; the clothes strewn around the room not from his usual messiness, but from his preoccupation with the scandal that had formed around him. Her eyes fell on the bedside table, and she walked towards it.
"And Jules…there's something…"
Her hand stretched out to pull open the drawer. She knew what would be waiting for her before she even saw it.
"I was going to give you something on our anniversary next month. I won't be able to give it to you now, but I still want you to have it."
She reached trembling fingers out to touch the small jewelry box sitting in the drawer, sinking to her knees when her legs wouldn't support her anymore.
"Do…do what you want with it."
She picked up the box and held her breath as she opened it. She gave a soft gasp, letting her finger bush against the elegant ring nestled inside. It was perfect.
What should she do? Should she put it back in the drawer? Or should she wear it? She had done so many things wrong these last couple of weeks that she wanted to finally get something right.
If she wore it now, then it would be a wordless show of support and love for Shawn when he woke up. And if she did wear it, would Shawn be happy? Would he realize she was wearing it because she still loved him? On the other hand...she didn't want to be the one to put this ring on her finger. She wanted Shawn to be the only one to do that. Not only that, but he had only told her about the ring because he believed he would never be able to give it to her. He was safe now. If he wanted to, he could give it to her.
"O'Hara?"
She jumped at the worried voice, looking over her shoulder as Lassiter came to a stop outside the bedroom door.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I'm almost done," She said softly, as she turned to look back at the ring. She needed to make a decision. Leave it in the drawer? Or wear it?
What was the right choice?
...
Ch. 16
Henry wasn't sure what was worse. No, that was a lie. Watching his son being tortured; that was the worst. But watching his son struggle with his fever, listening to him moaning in pain despite the pain meds that were coursing through his body, listening to him ramble in his fever-induced hallucinations, watching him writhe on the bed and fighting against the restraints…that wasn't easy, either.
This was the start of his second day in the hospital, and Henry couldn't stop thinking that his son was supposed to be killed on this day. He couldn't stop thinking that Cole had stabbed Shawn with the intention to kill him. He had been so close to losing him. If they had arrived even a minute later…he'd be planning his son's funeral.
He leaned over to put his hand against Shawn's forehead. The fever had broken early this morning, and for the last several hours, Shawn had been sleeping peacefully. He pulled back, startled, when Shawn suddenly shifted under his hand, burrowing his head into the pillow.
"Shawn?" He reached out again to touch Shawn's face.
Shawn flinched violently away from his touch. "Please…please don't hurt me. I thought you were done. Please…" He begged.
Henry's heart clenched at the words. "Son. Open your eyes. Come on, kid," He urged.
The terror fled from his son's face, to be replaced with confusion. "D…Dad?"
"Yeah, kid. It's me. Open your eyes," He said softly.
Slowly, Shawn opened his eyes, looking at his father. Henry smiled at him, reaching down to gently clasp his hand. Shawn followed the movement, his face contorting in confusion as he looked back up at Henry.
"What…happened?" Shawn asked, his hand clasping Henry's tightly before he slowly let go and pulled away.
Henry's eyes narrowed at his son's unexpected withdrawal. "What do you remember?"
"Cole…Cole stabbed me. I thought…thought I was dead."
Henry nodded at the words. "You almost did die. You weren't breathing when we found you." Henry rubbed his hand over his face, wiping away the fear that came with that memory. "But you're going to be okay. You'll be in the hospital for awhile, but you'll be okay."
Shawn broke away from his father's gaze to look around the hospital room, and Henry could see his disappointment. A sad smile tilted the corners of his mouth. "No one else…wanted to get stuck with…with guard duty? Why are you even here?"
Henry took a deep breath, his son's withdrawal finally making sense. How could he have expected Shawn to realize that everything had changed since he had been taken from them?
"Because you are my son. And I'm going to stay here, for as long as you need me. The others will be here soon. They're worried about you, too."
He saw Shawn's eyes grow unfocused, saw his blinks get slower and longer. He reached out to run his fingers through Shawn's hair when Shawn spoke.
"Worried? I don't…don't understand. Why…would you…care?" He whispered before sleep claimed him once again.
Henry closed his eyes, shaking his head at Shawn's words.
"Mr. Spencer? Is everything okay?" Gus asked as he hurried to Henry's side, carelessly tossing the coffee he had just purchased into the trash.
"Yeah…yeah, everything's fine. He just woke up for a minute."
Gus studied Shawn for a long moment before turning to look at Henry. "Was he okay?"
Henry shook his head slowly. "No. No, he wasn't. But he will be." He reached out to brush a rough finger against Shawn's cheek. "He will be."
…
"Are you two ready?" Karen asked her detectives, her attention torn between them and the DA waiting for them. They nodded, and she led the way into her office, urging them to sit around the table.
"I'm not late, am I?"
She looked up in surprise to see Adam Hornstock standing in the doorway, a confident smile on his face. She sent a quick look at her detectives, who both looked surprised at the lawyer's arrival. She narrowed her eyes at her senior detective, who looked just a little too surprised. He smiled faintly at her, one shoulder lifting slightly in a shrug.
The DA sighed, his agitation obvious. "Hornstock, what are you doing here?"
"I'm representing my client. What are you doing here, White? Trying to put an innocent man in prison?" He replied as he moved into the office, putting his briefcase on the floor as he sat in the chair opposite the DA.
"An innocent man? You are here for Shawn Spencer, right? The same man who lied to the police for years about being a supposed psychic?"
"You mean the man who spent the last several years helping to put criminals behind bars?"
"So he's fooled you, too? That's a shame. You've been doing so well with your practice the last several years; are you sure you want to get involved with this case?"
The smile fell from Adam's face as he narrowed his eyes at the man. "Why don't we just get down to business? First, no charges will be brought against Henry Spencer or Burton Guster."
White pursed his lips, but nodded in agreement. "Fine."
Adam flashed a smile. "Good. I always knew you could be a reasonable man." He moved on quickly before White could comment. "Now, what exactly are you charging my client with?"
"Do you have to ask? Mr. Spencer is a con-man. He misrepresented himself by claiming to be psychic, lying continuously to the police!"
"Mr. Spencer solved hundreds of cases, putting hundreds of dangerous criminals behind bars. And not only," He said, cutting off the DA as he tried to speak, "Not only was his own well-being threatened on several cases, but he also put his life on the line for many members of the police force-Buzz McNab, Carlton Lassiter. In fact, Detective, how many times did Mr. Spencer provide a necessary distraction to save lives?"
Lassiter opened his mouth to speak when White scoffed.
Adam tilted his head, lifting an eyebrow in question. "Oh, I'm sorry. You're not impressed by Mr. Spencer's selfless actions?"
"You're getting off topic, Hornstock," The DA growled. "The man lied continuously, to the police, for several years! He knowingly represented himself as a psychic to law officers! Including Detective Lassiter!"
"A misdemeanor," Adam said, waving his hand as if to brush off the other man's words.
"And one misdemeanor is punishable by a fine or by six months in jail. How many times did he represent himself as a psychic?" White shot back. "The number of times he perpetrated his lie doesn't make it a simple misdemeanor anymore."
Adam leaned against the table, his intelligent eyes locked on White. "What are you really angry about? That Mr. Spencer told a harmless lie when he said he was psychic, in order to help the people and police of Santa Barbara? That lawyers are trying to find a way to overturn a court ruling on criminal cases because of Mr. Spencer's involvement? Even though you and I both know that can't happen because the SBPD has solid evidence and confessions for each of those cases," He said, shaking his head. He narrowed his eyes, a slight smirk crossing his face. "Or are you angry because he called you Mr. Grumpy Monkey Pants in court last month while accusing you of being on the take in the Hernandez case?"
White stiffened. "That has nothing to do with this! Mr. Spencer lied!"
"Yes. Continuously. To the police. For several years. I think we've all got the idea. The truth of the matter is, Mr. Spencer was a valuable resource to the police and the community of Santa Barbara. And you want to send him to jail, when it's just not safe for him there."
The DA pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
"I have a compromise," Adam offered.
"What is it?" White asked, the words barely legible through his clenched teeth.
"Six months community service, working cases with the SBPD."
"You've got to be kidding!" White burst out, his incredulous gaze encompassing each person in the room. "Community service doing the very thing he got in trouble for?"
Adam shook his head. "Six months of solving crimes, legally, as a private detective."
He looked over at Karen, who leaned forward in her seat, quickly catching on to what Adam wanted from her. "Think about it, Mr. White. Mr. Spencer was a valuable asset to this department before, and with this deal, he can continue to be one."
The DA pursed his lips, crossing his arms as he stared down at the table. It took him several minutes to reply. "Fine," He bit off angrily, looking back up at Adam with a glare.
"Excellent," Adam grinned.
Karen looked over to see Juliet smile brightly and to see Lassiter holding back a triumphant grin of his own. She smiled back at them. "You two are dismissed. Keep me informed, please."
"Yes, Chief," They responded simultaneously. They hurried from the room, Juliet already pulling out her phone to give Henry and Gus the good news.
"Let's work out the rest of the details, shall we, gentlemen?" She asked, giving Adam a grateful smile.
…
The first time he had woken, he had been confused. He had felt comfortable for the first time in a long time, and his mind had conveniently forgotten about what had happened in the cabin. Then he had heard a voice, calling his name. The pain that he hadn't noticed before came back; muted, but still insistent, while his mind had flooded with memories. He had started to panic, and he hadn't been able to distinguish his father's voice from the voice of his tormentor. He couldn't stop himself from begging to be left alone, for Cole to leave him alone.
He had been shocked to realize it was his father; confused, too. It didn't make sense to him. Why was his father watching over him? And why would anyone else be worried about him? They hadn't wanted anything to do with him before Cole had taken him. What had changed? Why?
When he surfaced the second time, he could hear them talking, their voices mixing in a quiet cacophony that soothed him. Lassiter, his father, Gus…and Juliet.
It still didn't make any sense to him, but he was willing to accept their company for as long as they were willing to offer it.
He felt fingers brush across his face, softly, gently. Jules… His heart jumped. The last time she had touched him, it had been in anger. But not this time.
He had thought he would never see her again.
He wanted to see her now, but he was afraid. What if she was angry still, and was just letting pity soften her reaction to him? And who was to say that wasn't what had happened with the others, too?
That didn't matter right now. He needed to see her. He forced his eyelids open, waiting for his eyes to focus. When they did, it was to see her smiling gently at him, no trace of angeror pity on her face.
"Hey there, sleepyhead. We've been waiting for you to wake up," She said softly.
He tore his eyes away from her to see Lassiter, then Gus and his father. None of them looked angry... He returned his gaze to Juliet, finding it difficult to look away from her. "Jules…" Vaguely, he noticed the others were leaving the room to give them privacy. He saw her hand move to continue its soothing journey across his face, and his gaze caught on the ring sitting on her hand. An involuntary smile crossed his face.
He had really messed up this time. Juliet was not happy with him. He needed to fix it, but he was out of money. All of his funds were currently going to a very expensive purchase for her, which left him with few options. Hopefully, she would appreciate this gesture.
He knocked on her door, getting down on one knee, his present held up for her to see. The door slowly opened to a still-angry Juliet, and he held his surprise up a little higher, shaking it slightly and making it rattle.
"What are you doing?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"I'm really sorry. Please forgive me?" He shook his present again, a smile twitching his lips when he saw her roll her eyes.
She took the cheap plastic container from his hand, popped the lid, and took out a ring. She looked from it back to Shawn, shaking her head. "Usually, when a guy is trying to apologize, he buys flowers or jewelry."
"I got you a ring!" He defended himself.
"From the quarter machine. I don't think that really counts."
He let his tongue rest against his top lip as he judged her mood. When he saw the sparkle in her eyes, he knew he was safe. "If it helps, it took me four or five times to find a ring I liked, so it's more like a dollar twenty-five."
She laughed, slipping the ring on her finger and then pulling him to his feet. "I forgive you," She said, giving him a kiss.
His hand reached out to capture her hand, his finger rubbing lightly against the cheap ring she wore. "I…was sure I bought…something a little more expensive," He said, wondering if he was pushing his luck just by mentioning the other ring. Wasn't it enough to know that she was here?
"You did. And when you're better and are ready to do so…you can give it to me."
He swallowed, stunned by the absolute honesty in her expression and her voice. She…she really meant that. For some reason, she still wanted to be with him. He was too tired to figure out why, or even to question her over her change of heart. He was starting to fade again, but he rallied his strength, needing to do something before he drifted off to sleep again.
He slipped the ring from her finger and held it up to her. "Forgive me?"
He held his breath until she took the ring and placed it back on her finger.
"I do," She said.
The words were a soothing balm to his damaged emotions, and he sighed in relief.
"Do you forgive me?"
He forced his drooping eyes open to answer her. "Nothing to forgive."
"Of course you would say that," She said, as she leaned forward to press her lips gently against his. "I love you," She said when she pulled away.
He blinked, a surprised smile curving his lips. He would never be able to explain the joy those three words gave him. "Love you, too…"
He closed his eyes, letting himself drift off again as Gus, Lassiter, and his father walked back into the room. He listened to them talk and felt something inside of him start to relax. He didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow; but for today, for this moment, they were here with him, supporting him.
And for now…that was enough.
Rating: T
Summary: It was Juliet who discovered his secret. Of course it was. Now, he's lost his job and his friends. And when he is kidnapped by someone looking for revenge against the SBPD, Shawn might just lose his life, too...
Winner of Psychfic's Gold Pineapple for Best Angst, 2010.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Psych. Shoot...
Ch. 15
They had sat in the waiting room for...actually, Gus didn't know how long they had waited. The few minutes they had spent at the cabin had seemed to only take seconds; but when they got to the hospital, time had slowed. Every second had felt like an hour. When the doctor had come out to speak with them, Gus had been so focused on the doctor's news that Shawn was alive and breathing on his own, that other words, like severe trauma, broken bones, and lacerations, just washed over him.
Gus stood from the chair, pacing slowly at the foot of Shawn's hospital bed. Shawn was lying on his stomach, pillows piled under his body to take the weight off of the stab wound and the gashes that crossed his torso. And he was lying on his stomach because his back…because while Gus and the others had been racing to his rescue, Cole had…Shawn's back was…
Gus swallowed, forcing back the nausea that surfaced as he turned to look at the bandages that covered Shawn's back. I am so sorry, Shawn. We got there as soon as we could. He sighed and returned to his chair, too tired to continue pacing.
Gus rubbed his face, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze fell on his two best friends as he blew out a quiet sigh. Juliet had fallen asleep a few hours after they had entered Shawn's room, her fingers twisting gently around Shawn's hand, her head resting near his.
She felt guilty. They all did.
Henry had stood by Shawn's bed for a long time, running his fingers gently through Shawn's hair. He, too, was sleeping now, his hand resting on top of Shawn's leg. Gus had been afraid to touch Shawn. He had been worried he would inadvertently cause his friend more pain with just the slightest touch.
And now, they had to wait some more; wait for Shawn to move or to wake up. He had been unconscious since he had arrived at the hospital. The doctor reassured them it was normal, that Shawn had gone through a lot of physical and mental trauma for the last two days and that he was exhausted. He might not wake for the next few hours or another few days.
Gus' head drooped. He was ready for this to be over. It needed to be. Shawn needed to wake up and be healed, and Cole needed to be found. He gripped the back of his neck in anger. Cole had escaped. When Shawn woke up, they couldn't even offer him Cole's arrest as consolation. They had to worry about when that…psycho would return. When, not if. Gus didn't need to be told that Cole would not be happy that he had failed to wreak his ultimate revenge against the SBPD when he learned that Shawn had survived.
One part of the nightmare was over, only to leave them nervously waiting for the next installment.
…
Morning had dawned, and still Shawn hadn't woken up. He hadn't made a noise, he hadn't even shifted. Juliet leaned closer, one hand reaching out to brush Shawn's hair away from his forehead. She frowned at the heat radiating from his body, and looked up at Henry in concern.
"What?"
"I think he has a fever," She replied.
Henry leaned closer to Shawn, his hand resting against Shawn's cheek. He sighed heavily, reaching for the call button. Juliet felt Shawn's fingers tighten convulsively around her fingers, a moan coming from his unconscious form. The doctor came into the room just as Shawn's eyes flashed open for a quick moment. His eyes were unfocused, and slid across the people in the room without the slightest hint of recognition before he groaned again, his eyes sliding shut and his fingers growing limp.
She watched for the rest of the afternoon, helpless, as he started thrashing on the bed, alternately shivering and sweating as he fought against an infection. She listened, sick, as Shawn muttered nonsense or plead with some unseen foe to "Stop…please stop." She had no doubt he was reliving his time in that cabin. She watched as the doctors made the decision to put straps around his wrists and ankles, afraid the frenzied movements he made while he was lost in the grips of his fever would undo the careful work they had done to save him. She listened, heartbroken, as a delirious Shawn let out a strange keening sound when he next tried to move and the straps held him still.
It was evening when his eyes, bright with fever, opened slowly and focused on her. She had been brushing her fingers across his face, trying to offer him what little comfort that she could; but when she saw him looking at her, she stopped. She watched as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Am I…I dead?" He asked, his voice so hoarse she almost couldn't understand him.
"No! No, you're going to be fine," She said, resting her hand on the back of his neck.
"Are…you sure? Because you…look like heaven…to me…" He trailed off, his eyes fluttering closed again.
Juliet swallowed, blinking heavily against the tears that surfaced at his words. Carefully, she continued where she had left off, letting her fingers brush across his face. Tenderly, she touched his cheeks and slid her fingers down his nose, lightly sweeping across the bruises on his face.
…
When Karen walked in later that evening, she stood beside Shawn's bed and let her hand rest against his forehead. "No change?" Worry led her to ask the question, even though it was redundant. She could feel all too well how fevered he still was.
"No," Henry said, shaking his head. "What about the search?"
They had been in constant communication since rescuing Shawn, and Henry had asked her the same question each time. And each time, she hated that she could not give them the news they wanted to hear, needed to hear. She shook her head. "No. I'm sorry; we haven't found Cole yet."
Henry crossed his arms, sighing as he leaned back in his chair.
"O'Hara?"
"Chief?" The young woman met her gaze.
"I think it would be best if you went home tonight." She held a hand up to stop Juliet's immediate protest. "Listen to me. You need to get a good night's sleep, because tomorrow I need you to join Carlton and myself in a meeting with the DA."
Comprehension dawned on each of the three faces tilted towards her.
"I need you there to help present a defense. Hopefully…hopefully we can work this out and make sure no one goes to jail. And honestly," She turned to look at Henry and Gus, "I don't think you two have to worry. It's Shawn that the DA wants."
"I don't care what happens to me; I'm more worried about my son," Henry said.
Karen wasn't surprised to see Guster nod in agreement.
"We'll do everything we can," Karen assured them, before turning back to O'Hara. "Carlton is on his way to pick you up."
She leaned over the bed one more time, letting her hand linger on Shawn's forehead before she turned to leave the room.
…
Juliet hesitated on the door step, Shawn's empty apartment stretching out in front of her. Lassiter had asked if she wanted him to come with her. It had been awkwardly asked and he had cleared his throat several times before getting the courage to say the words, but he had finally gotten the whole question out. She had declined the offer, but she forced a smile at him and let her hand rest on his shoulder for a brief moment to convey her gratitude.
She needed to do this on her own.
She took a deep breath and walked into the apartment, flipping on lights as she moved slowly through his home. She made her way through the living room, stepping around the coffee table.
"Your turn, Jules."
"It's a puzzle, Shawn. We don't take turns."
He blinked innocently at her, his hazel eyes sparkling with humor. "We don't? Then how do we know who wins?"
Her gaze fell on the slivers of glass at the base of one of the walls, and she sucked in a deep breath, her heart clenching. Her mind was all too willing and able to provide her with an image of Shawn, standing alone in the middle of his home. It was all too easy to imagine him throwing his glass against the wall in frustration and anger, his head drooping as he shoved his fingers through his hair. She swallowed, moving out of the living room and into the hallway.
His bedroom door was partially closed, and she rested her hand against the doorknob. She took another deep breath, and slowly pushed open the door. His tousled bed screamed of sleepless nights; the clothes strewn around the room not from his usual messiness, but from his preoccupation with the scandal that had formed around him. Her eyes fell on the bedside table, and she walked towards it.
"And Jules…there's something…"
Her hand stretched out to pull open the drawer. She knew what would be waiting for her before she even saw it.
"I was going to give you something on our anniversary next month. I won't be able to give it to you now, but I still want you to have it."
She reached trembling fingers out to touch the small jewelry box sitting in the drawer, sinking to her knees when her legs wouldn't support her anymore.
"Do…do what you want with it."
She picked up the box and held her breath as she opened it. She gave a soft gasp, letting her finger bush against the elegant ring nestled inside. It was perfect.
What should she do? Should she put it back in the drawer? Or should she wear it? She had done so many things wrong these last couple of weeks that she wanted to finally get something right.
If she wore it now, then it would be a wordless show of support and love for Shawn when he woke up. And if she did wear it, would Shawn be happy? Would he realize she was wearing it because she still loved him? On the other hand...she didn't want to be the one to put this ring on her finger. She wanted Shawn to be the only one to do that. Not only that, but he had only told her about the ring because he believed he would never be able to give it to her. He was safe now. If he wanted to, he could give it to her.
"O'Hara?"
She jumped at the worried voice, looking over her shoulder as Lassiter came to a stop outside the bedroom door.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I'm almost done," She said softly, as she turned to look back at the ring. She needed to make a decision. Leave it in the drawer? Or wear it?
What was the right choice?
...
Ch. 16
Henry wasn't sure what was worse. No, that was a lie. Watching his son being tortured; that was the worst. But watching his son struggle with his fever, listening to him moaning in pain despite the pain meds that were coursing through his body, listening to him ramble in his fever-induced hallucinations, watching him writhe on the bed and fighting against the restraints…that wasn't easy, either.
This was the start of his second day in the hospital, and Henry couldn't stop thinking that his son was supposed to be killed on this day. He couldn't stop thinking that Cole had stabbed Shawn with the intention to kill him. He had been so close to losing him. If they had arrived even a minute later…he'd be planning his son's funeral.
He leaned over to put his hand against Shawn's forehead. The fever had broken early this morning, and for the last several hours, Shawn had been sleeping peacefully. He pulled back, startled, when Shawn suddenly shifted under his hand, burrowing his head into the pillow.
"Shawn?" He reached out again to touch Shawn's face.
Shawn flinched violently away from his touch. "Please…please don't hurt me. I thought you were done. Please…" He begged.
Henry's heart clenched at the words. "Son. Open your eyes. Come on, kid," He urged.
The terror fled from his son's face, to be replaced with confusion. "D…Dad?"
"Yeah, kid. It's me. Open your eyes," He said softly.
Slowly, Shawn opened his eyes, looking at his father. Henry smiled at him, reaching down to gently clasp his hand. Shawn followed the movement, his face contorting in confusion as he looked back up at Henry.
"What…happened?" Shawn asked, his hand clasping Henry's tightly before he slowly let go and pulled away.
Henry's eyes narrowed at his son's unexpected withdrawal. "What do you remember?"
"Cole…Cole stabbed me. I thought…thought I was dead."
Henry nodded at the words. "You almost did die. You weren't breathing when we found you." Henry rubbed his hand over his face, wiping away the fear that came with that memory. "But you're going to be okay. You'll be in the hospital for awhile, but you'll be okay."
Shawn broke away from his father's gaze to look around the hospital room, and Henry could see his disappointment. A sad smile tilted the corners of his mouth. "No one else…wanted to get stuck with…with guard duty? Why are you even here?"
Henry took a deep breath, his son's withdrawal finally making sense. How could he have expected Shawn to realize that everything had changed since he had been taken from them?
"Because you are my son. And I'm going to stay here, for as long as you need me. The others will be here soon. They're worried about you, too."
He saw Shawn's eyes grow unfocused, saw his blinks get slower and longer. He reached out to run his fingers through Shawn's hair when Shawn spoke.
"Worried? I don't…don't understand. Why…would you…care?" He whispered before sleep claimed him once again.
Henry closed his eyes, shaking his head at Shawn's words.
"Mr. Spencer? Is everything okay?" Gus asked as he hurried to Henry's side, carelessly tossing the coffee he had just purchased into the trash.
"Yeah…yeah, everything's fine. He just woke up for a minute."
Gus studied Shawn for a long moment before turning to look at Henry. "Was he okay?"
Henry shook his head slowly. "No. No, he wasn't. But he will be." He reached out to brush a rough finger against Shawn's cheek. "He will be."
…
"Are you two ready?" Karen asked her detectives, her attention torn between them and the DA waiting for them. They nodded, and she led the way into her office, urging them to sit around the table.
"I'm not late, am I?"
She looked up in surprise to see Adam Hornstock standing in the doorway, a confident smile on his face. She sent a quick look at her detectives, who both looked surprised at the lawyer's arrival. She narrowed her eyes at her senior detective, who looked just a little too surprised. He smiled faintly at her, one shoulder lifting slightly in a shrug.
The DA sighed, his agitation obvious. "Hornstock, what are you doing here?"
"I'm representing my client. What are you doing here, White? Trying to put an innocent man in prison?" He replied as he moved into the office, putting his briefcase on the floor as he sat in the chair opposite the DA.
"An innocent man? You are here for Shawn Spencer, right? The same man who lied to the police for years about being a supposed psychic?"
"You mean the man who spent the last several years helping to put criminals behind bars?"
"So he's fooled you, too? That's a shame. You've been doing so well with your practice the last several years; are you sure you want to get involved with this case?"
The smile fell from Adam's face as he narrowed his eyes at the man. "Why don't we just get down to business? First, no charges will be brought against Henry Spencer or Burton Guster."
White pursed his lips, but nodded in agreement. "Fine."
Adam flashed a smile. "Good. I always knew you could be a reasonable man." He moved on quickly before White could comment. "Now, what exactly are you charging my client with?"
"Do you have to ask? Mr. Spencer is a con-man. He misrepresented himself by claiming to be psychic, lying continuously to the police!"
"Mr. Spencer solved hundreds of cases, putting hundreds of dangerous criminals behind bars. And not only," He said, cutting off the DA as he tried to speak, "Not only was his own well-being threatened on several cases, but he also put his life on the line for many members of the police force-Buzz McNab, Carlton Lassiter. In fact, Detective, how many times did Mr. Spencer provide a necessary distraction to save lives?"
Lassiter opened his mouth to speak when White scoffed.
Adam tilted his head, lifting an eyebrow in question. "Oh, I'm sorry. You're not impressed by Mr. Spencer's selfless actions?"
"You're getting off topic, Hornstock," The DA growled. "The man lied continuously, to the police, for several years! He knowingly represented himself as a psychic to law officers! Including Detective Lassiter!"
"A misdemeanor," Adam said, waving his hand as if to brush off the other man's words.
"And one misdemeanor is punishable by a fine or by six months in jail. How many times did he represent himself as a psychic?" White shot back. "The number of times he perpetrated his lie doesn't make it a simple misdemeanor anymore."
Adam leaned against the table, his intelligent eyes locked on White. "What are you really angry about? That Mr. Spencer told a harmless lie when he said he was psychic, in order to help the people and police of Santa Barbara? That lawyers are trying to find a way to overturn a court ruling on criminal cases because of Mr. Spencer's involvement? Even though you and I both know that can't happen because the SBPD has solid evidence and confessions for each of those cases," He said, shaking his head. He narrowed his eyes, a slight smirk crossing his face. "Or are you angry because he called you Mr. Grumpy Monkey Pants in court last month while accusing you of being on the take in the Hernandez case?"
White stiffened. "That has nothing to do with this! Mr. Spencer lied!"
"Yes. Continuously. To the police. For several years. I think we've all got the idea. The truth of the matter is, Mr. Spencer was a valuable resource to the police and the community of Santa Barbara. And you want to send him to jail, when it's just not safe for him there."
The DA pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
"I have a compromise," Adam offered.
"What is it?" White asked, the words barely legible through his clenched teeth.
"Six months community service, working cases with the SBPD."
"You've got to be kidding!" White burst out, his incredulous gaze encompassing each person in the room. "Community service doing the very thing he got in trouble for?"
Adam shook his head. "Six months of solving crimes, legally, as a private detective."
He looked over at Karen, who leaned forward in her seat, quickly catching on to what Adam wanted from her. "Think about it, Mr. White. Mr. Spencer was a valuable asset to this department before, and with this deal, he can continue to be one."
The DA pursed his lips, crossing his arms as he stared down at the table. It took him several minutes to reply. "Fine," He bit off angrily, looking back up at Adam with a glare.
"Excellent," Adam grinned.
Karen looked over to see Juliet smile brightly and to see Lassiter holding back a triumphant grin of his own. She smiled back at them. "You two are dismissed. Keep me informed, please."
"Yes, Chief," They responded simultaneously. They hurried from the room, Juliet already pulling out her phone to give Henry and Gus the good news.
"Let's work out the rest of the details, shall we, gentlemen?" She asked, giving Adam a grateful smile.
…
The first time he had woken, he had been confused. He had felt comfortable for the first time in a long time, and his mind had conveniently forgotten about what had happened in the cabin. Then he had heard a voice, calling his name. The pain that he hadn't noticed before came back; muted, but still insistent, while his mind had flooded with memories. He had started to panic, and he hadn't been able to distinguish his father's voice from the voice of his tormentor. He couldn't stop himself from begging to be left alone, for Cole to leave him alone.
He had been shocked to realize it was his father; confused, too. It didn't make sense to him. Why was his father watching over him? And why would anyone else be worried about him? They hadn't wanted anything to do with him before Cole had taken him. What had changed? Why?
When he surfaced the second time, he could hear them talking, their voices mixing in a quiet cacophony that soothed him. Lassiter, his father, Gus…and Juliet.
It still didn't make any sense to him, but he was willing to accept their company for as long as they were willing to offer it.
He felt fingers brush across his face, softly, gently. Jules… His heart jumped. The last time she had touched him, it had been in anger. But not this time.
He had thought he would never see her again.
He wanted to see her now, but he was afraid. What if she was angry still, and was just letting pity soften her reaction to him? And who was to say that wasn't what had happened with the others, too?
That didn't matter right now. He needed to see her. He forced his eyelids open, waiting for his eyes to focus. When they did, it was to see her smiling gently at him, no trace of angeror pity on her face.
"Hey there, sleepyhead. We've been waiting for you to wake up," She said softly.
He tore his eyes away from her to see Lassiter, then Gus and his father. None of them looked angry... He returned his gaze to Juliet, finding it difficult to look away from her. "Jules…" Vaguely, he noticed the others were leaving the room to give them privacy. He saw her hand move to continue its soothing journey across his face, and his gaze caught on the ring sitting on her hand. An involuntary smile crossed his face.
He had really messed up this time. Juliet was not happy with him. He needed to fix it, but he was out of money. All of his funds were currently going to a very expensive purchase for her, which left him with few options. Hopefully, she would appreciate this gesture.
He knocked on her door, getting down on one knee, his present held up for her to see. The door slowly opened to a still-angry Juliet, and he held his surprise up a little higher, shaking it slightly and making it rattle.
"What are you doing?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"I'm really sorry. Please forgive me?" He shook his present again, a smile twitching his lips when he saw her roll her eyes.
She took the cheap plastic container from his hand, popped the lid, and took out a ring. She looked from it back to Shawn, shaking her head. "Usually, when a guy is trying to apologize, he buys flowers or jewelry."
"I got you a ring!" He defended himself.
"From the quarter machine. I don't think that really counts."
He let his tongue rest against his top lip as he judged her mood. When he saw the sparkle in her eyes, he knew he was safe. "If it helps, it took me four or five times to find a ring I liked, so it's more like a dollar twenty-five."
She laughed, slipping the ring on her finger and then pulling him to his feet. "I forgive you," She said, giving him a kiss.
His hand reached out to capture her hand, his finger rubbing lightly against the cheap ring she wore. "I…was sure I bought…something a little more expensive," He said, wondering if he was pushing his luck just by mentioning the other ring. Wasn't it enough to know that she was here?
"You did. And when you're better and are ready to do so…you can give it to me."
He swallowed, stunned by the absolute honesty in her expression and her voice. She…she really meant that. For some reason, she still wanted to be with him. He was too tired to figure out why, or even to question her over her change of heart. He was starting to fade again, but he rallied his strength, needing to do something before he drifted off to sleep again.
He slipped the ring from her finger and held it up to her. "Forgive me?"
He held his breath until she took the ring and placed it back on her finger.
"I do," She said.
The words were a soothing balm to his damaged emotions, and he sighed in relief.
"Do you forgive me?"
He forced his drooping eyes open to answer her. "Nothing to forgive."
"Of course you would say that," She said, as she leaned forward to press her lips gently against his. "I love you," She said when she pulled away.
He blinked, a surprised smile curving his lips. He would never be able to explain the joy those three words gave him. "Love you, too…"
He closed his eyes, letting himself drift off again as Gus, Lassiter, and his father walked back into the room. He listened to them talk and felt something inside of him start to relax. He didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow; but for today, for this moment, they were here with him, supporting him.
And for now…that was enough.