It's a Gift (2/?)
It's my first long fic for Psych and the POV switches between Shawn and my original character Alan Kelly from The TOC Files If you have any constructive criticism, I'll listen.
Chapter One
Alan Kelly, colonel in the Temporal Observer Corps, sat in the chair behind Shawn Spencer’s desk. He was surprised that one of the best minds in criminology had such a sloppy workplace. He had learned that your heroes never quite lived up to how you pictured them. He had read all he could on the pseudo psychic and was impressed that he had kept the secret for as long as he did. Now here they were, early in their career.
Alan smiled. “Believe me, if I didn’t want you to see me, you wouldn’t have.” He saw Gus’ had reaching for his mobile. “No need to call the police. I’m not here to cause any harm. I’m actually here as an observer.”
“Where are your credentials?” Gus demanded.
Alan reached into his pocket and pulled out the slim leather wallet. “Does that satisfy you?”
“Alan Kelly, California Association of Licensed Investigators,” he read. “Of course, Shawn, being psychic, has no need for a license.”
“I’m well aware of that,” Alan said. “But if you follow proper methods, then you can be accredited.”
“I will have you know that Gus’ score is a little iffy at the moment,” Shawn said.
“We’re not applying for a credit card, Shawn. ‘Accredited’ means recognized or authorized.”
“I know what it means,” Shawn replied in a tone that made Alan wonder. “You certainly timed your visit well,” Shawn told him. “We just got a case today.”
“The bank. I saw you there. That’s why I came here.”
“I hope you weren’t waiting long,” said Gus.
“Not too long. So, what did you glean from the crime scene?”
Shawn exchanged a glance with Gus.
“I’m not going to muscle in on your case. You go to outside sources to bounce ideas off of, right? Think of me as a subcontractor.”
“The consultant’s consultant?” Shawn was amused. “You psychic, too?” he asked jokingly.
“To a degree.”
Shawn stopped smiling.
“I don’t commune with the dead but I do have some telepathic abilities.”
“Really?” Gus was impressed-too impressed for a man who supposedly worked with a psychic.
“Okay, pick a number between 1 and 100.” Alan gave them a few moments. Gus had his eyes squeezed shut in concentration. “Fifty,” Alan told him. Not much of a challenge. Shawn, on the other hand, couldn’t decide. “Will you pick a number already?!” Shawn glared at him but the numbers quit flashing as he settled on one. “101? Really?”
“You really can read minds. We’d make quite an act.”
“Shawn, he works for the state. Why would he want to join us?”
“He doesn’t work for the state any more than I do. That ID was fake.”
“I should have realized it wouldn’t work on you.” Alan saw Gus reach for the phone. “I really would like to observe your methods. I want to know how you’ve convinced the police you’re real.”
“What makes you think that I’m not?”
“Gus’ reaction to me, mainly, but I’ve read up on you.” He leaned back in the chair. “I know your secret and you know mine. What now?”
“It seems, gentlemen, we’re at checkmate.”
“That’s stalemate, Shawn.”
“I’ve heard it both ways.”
*
Not long after their stalemate in the Psych office, the phone had rung. The police had wanted Shawn to come “read” some of the employees they were questioning.
Now sitting in the backseat of Gus’ company car, Alan couldn’t help but smile at the opportunity to watch the full crew in action. “What cover should I use?” he asked them.
“You have more than one fake ID?” Shawn asked. “That’s so cool.”
“It does come in handy.”
“I think a state or federal ID would impress them but you’d need a reason why you’re with us,” stated Gus, keeping his eyes on the road. “Stuff like that usually goes through proper channels.”
“Why don’t you use the same one? Lassie will wonder why it took so long for someone to investigate me.”
“Lassie?”
“Carlton Lassiter, Head Detective. He’s been on Shawn’s case since Day One.”
“He’s a good detective but doesn’t go outside the box. He also has a bit of an obsession with firearms.” Shawn turned his head to look at Alan. “You good with guns?”
“I’ve been known to put up some good marks, yeah.”
“Good, because he’ll probably be your toughest opponent.”
“Okay, who else?”
“The Chief. She needs to follow the law, but knows how to bend it. I know she’s made a few allowances for me.”
“Anyone else?” Alan asked as if he didn’t know.
“Detective Juliet O’Hara. A good detective who follows her hunches.”
Alan was surprised that Shawn didn’t say more. “Okay, I think I know which way to go.” They pulled into the SBPD parking lot. “Just introduce me then follow my lead.”
Chapter One
Alan Kelly, colonel in the Temporal Observer Corps, sat in the chair behind Shawn Spencer’s desk. He was surprised that one of the best minds in criminology had such a sloppy workplace. He had learned that your heroes never quite lived up to how you pictured them. He had read all he could on the pseudo psychic and was impressed that he had kept the secret for as long as he did. Now here they were, early in their career.
Alan smiled. “Believe me, if I didn’t want you to see me, you wouldn’t have.” He saw Gus’ had reaching for his mobile. “No need to call the police. I’m not here to cause any harm. I’m actually here as an observer.”
“Where are your credentials?” Gus demanded.
Alan reached into his pocket and pulled out the slim leather wallet. “Does that satisfy you?”
“Alan Kelly, California Association of Licensed Investigators,” he read. “Of course, Shawn, being psychic, has no need for a license.”
“I’m well aware of that,” Alan said. “But if you follow proper methods, then you can be accredited.”
“I will have you know that Gus’ score is a little iffy at the moment,” Shawn said.
“We’re not applying for a credit card, Shawn. ‘Accredited’ means recognized or authorized.”
“I know what it means,” Shawn replied in a tone that made Alan wonder. “You certainly timed your visit well,” Shawn told him. “We just got a case today.”
“The bank. I saw you there. That’s why I came here.”
“I hope you weren’t waiting long,” said Gus.
“Not too long. So, what did you glean from the crime scene?”
Shawn exchanged a glance with Gus.
“I’m not going to muscle in on your case. You go to outside sources to bounce ideas off of, right? Think of me as a subcontractor.”
“The consultant’s consultant?” Shawn was amused. “You psychic, too?” he asked jokingly.
“To a degree.”
Shawn stopped smiling.
“I don’t commune with the dead but I do have some telepathic abilities.”
“Really?” Gus was impressed-too impressed for a man who supposedly worked with a psychic.
“Okay, pick a number between 1 and 100.” Alan gave them a few moments. Gus had his eyes squeezed shut in concentration. “Fifty,” Alan told him. Not much of a challenge. Shawn, on the other hand, couldn’t decide. “Will you pick a number already?!” Shawn glared at him but the numbers quit flashing as he settled on one. “101? Really?”
“You really can read minds. We’d make quite an act.”
“Shawn, he works for the state. Why would he want to join us?”
“He doesn’t work for the state any more than I do. That ID was fake.”
“I should have realized it wouldn’t work on you.” Alan saw Gus reach for the phone. “I really would like to observe your methods. I want to know how you’ve convinced the police you’re real.”
“What makes you think that I’m not?”
“Gus’ reaction to me, mainly, but I’ve read up on you.” He leaned back in the chair. “I know your secret and you know mine. What now?”
“It seems, gentlemen, we’re at checkmate.”
“That’s stalemate, Shawn.”
“I’ve heard it both ways.”
*
Not long after their stalemate in the Psych office, the phone had rung. The police had wanted Shawn to come “read” some of the employees they were questioning.
Now sitting in the backseat of Gus’ company car, Alan couldn’t help but smile at the opportunity to watch the full crew in action. “What cover should I use?” he asked them.
“You have more than one fake ID?” Shawn asked. “That’s so cool.”
“It does come in handy.”
“I think a state or federal ID would impress them but you’d need a reason why you’re with us,” stated Gus, keeping his eyes on the road. “Stuff like that usually goes through proper channels.”
“Why don’t you use the same one? Lassie will wonder why it took so long for someone to investigate me.”
“Lassie?”
“Carlton Lassiter, Head Detective. He’s been on Shawn’s case since Day One.”
“He’s a good detective but doesn’t go outside the box. He also has a bit of an obsession with firearms.” Shawn turned his head to look at Alan. “You good with guns?”
“I’ve been known to put up some good marks, yeah.”
“Good, because he’ll probably be your toughest opponent.”
“Okay, who else?”
“The Chief. She needs to follow the law, but knows how to bend it. I know she’s made a few allowances for me.”
“Anyone else?” Alan asked as if he didn’t know.
“Detective Juliet O’Hara. A good detective who follows her hunches.”
Alan was surprised that Shawn didn’t say more. “Okay, I think I know which way to go.” They pulled into the SBPD parking lot. “Just introduce me then follow my lead.”