Work Text:
Would you? As the scheme took place his eyes flaunted wordlessly over at Shawn. He always thought Spencer was trying to steal the spotlight. It felt as if he was watching a revolution hungrier for blood and causing a riot.
“After all that, you just point at the murderer? Don't you have any sense of dramatic tension or build? Come on, what are we, on Blossom? No! You start by saying she was your biggest fan. You know that she practically worships you. She read all the scripts. I got this, I got this...You! Yes, you! You hated it whenever Corinne was put into jeopardy. So you took it upon yourself to avenge her.”
Kelly smiled.”I had to. She cares too much. Her heart is too big for her chest.” Kelly started walking slowly forward, Carlton noticing the fear in Shawn’s eyes. He started reaching for his gun, in case something went wrong, like it usually does when Spencer does his crazy reveals. “When Ernesto cheated on her, she was too weak to stand up for herself. I needed to help her. She was like my best friend.”
Quintessa spoke quietly ,seeming creeped off, who wouldn’t if a crazed psycho killed people for attention. Carlton couldn’t see what was said between Spencer and the actress. “I barely spoke to her.” Shawn briefly nodded, in a horrible accent,” Really? So it was you who replaced the retractable prop knife with the real one!”
“And He deserved it.”
“And it was also you who poisoned poor Vincente after it was written that he betrayed Corinne.” Shawn countered, hoping somebody would distract the murderer. With everything going on. The psychic actually feared for his life.
“But how?”
“With a meatball.” His high school Spanish was failing him at the worst timing.
“But he wrote a suicide note.” He looked over at Quintessa,” No he didn’t.” Then back over at Kelly, inching closer. “You should have a degree in being wrong all the time. And she almost got away with it, if it was not for the hairs.” Kelly reached for her hair, Carlton watched carefully, taking everything looking over at O’Hara. She was about to call for backup. This could get ugly, and fast. “The hairs?”
“Yes, the hairs. From the cheap imitation wig that you put on to emulate Corinne when you committed these murders!”
Carlton watched as Kelly’s face turned into a smug smirk. “Yes, I did it!” The room filled with gasps and he immediately notices, Kelly lunch herself.” And now it’s your turn to die.”
“Say what?” He could see the confusion written into Shawn’s face, pleading for help. “For sleeping with Serena when all Corinne did was love you.” This woman is insane!
Kelly runs at Quintessa and grabs the gun. Quintessa hides behind Shawn as Kelly fires the nail gun. Carlton and Juliet rush her and try to take away the gun as it fires. Shawn tries to protect himself. He watched as Shawn spread his arms over his face, bracing for impact of some sort.
“Easy, you psycho! Put it down. Let go!” He roared, heart-racing as Juliet goes to grab the nail gun. Something goes wrong, Kelly turns to her left, pulling the trigger. Shawn let out a howl, Carlton watched as the man’s hand fell to his chest. “CARLTON, he’s been hit!” He looks over to O’Hara and nods for her to detain the crazed fan.
He came down to his knees, undoing Spencer's costume. “Spencer, where does it hurt?”
Shawn gasped painfully, tears starting to burn his eyes. “C-Chest.”
Carlton used a pair of scissors that the crew gave him, cutting down the midsection of the fabric. Right in the middle, Carlton clenched his jaw, spotting the nail. Henry crouched down next to him. “Lassiter, his pulse is slowing.”
“Shit. Shawn, it’s going to be okay.”
Kelly laughed off the scene,” That’s what you get for cheating on Corrine!”
Carlton snarled, holding the bleeding wound closed with his palms. “Get her out of here! I need an ETA on the ambulance!”
“Shawn!” Gus cried, trying to hold back the bile climbing in the back of his esophagus. “Lassiter, don’t remove the nail, it could cause him to bleed out immediately!”
Carlton vaguely heard Guster run off to throw up in the trash can. He was too busy trying to focus on keeping Shawn breathing. “Shawn…keep your eyes open. I need you to stay awake.” Carlton’s tone almost sounded panicked, worried and his face said it all.
All of the times Shawn comes close to nearly dying this time really scares Carlton. His heart sank into a deep depression as Shawn’s eyes fell close. “Shawn, come on!”
—xxx—
This was their revolution. Carlton always followed rules but when it counted the rules never actually did any favors. Everybody was waiting in the waiting room, grasping for prayer which Carlton was second-guessing at the moment. They say it’s called Catholic guilt except when Carlton feels it…somebody is the cause of his disbelief. He never believed in Spencer’s charade, visions, or whatever else they were called. Over the course of a year, Lassiter started to feel something unsure what to call it until Shawn’s life was fading before his eyes.
As much as he tried to deny them, he had feelings. It went back to the bar, Tom Blair's, when Shawn discovered him. He knew Spencer helped, there was no doubt in his mind that Shawn hadn’t given him everything to solve the unsolved case. That’s when he started to let Spencer’s action bother him less, except when the imbecile got into trouble like this one.
He dragged his hands over his face, derived from a lack of knowledge about Shawn’s condition. Guster blabbers about the times he and Spencer had in the past, childish memories. He stared over to see the overwrought reaction on Henry Spencer’s face. He started to think about the time that had passed since their first meeting. “I’m a psychic.” Of course, Spencer would want to outshine the original artist; con-artists are professionals at that scam.
Waiting for the news was like watching water come to a slow-boil.
“Shawn Spencer?”
Time slowed, a ticking bomb follows as the family and Carlton Lassiter rose from their chairs. “That’s us.” Henry gruffly answered, distilling the rest of nods.
Carlton noticed the smaller-build white coat breathe, analyzing for the moment of the news. “Hi, I’m doctor Riley. Mr. Spencer suffered a puncture from the nail, severing his liver.” Carlton’s chest suddenly felt tighter than it did before.
“He likes Shawn.” Carlton spoke up, face blushing as the eyes fell upon him. “What?”
Dr. Riley smiled curtly.” My apologies. Shawn. I was able to repair the puncture. He hit his head somehow during the confrontation, a small contusion.”
“A small bruise, Dr. Riley?” Juliet asked softly, wiping a tear from her eye.
“Yes. He’s going to just be fine, very lucky.”
“When can we see him?”
Dr. Riley smiled. “As soon as we get his room prepped.”
Sighing with relief, Carlton left the waiting area, wiping the secret droplet that fell from his eye. Shawn’s going to be okay, alive…not dead… breathing and most of Carlton was overjoyed with emotions. He could finally breathe.
The jealousy when Shawn flirted with Juliet or anybody. Or was it the time he learned that Shawn had a one-night stand with Lindsey Leikin, leading to Shawn’s life at risk, gun-pointing at Shawn’s head, pressed aggressively.
Would you feel this way? It wasn’t until Shawn almost died or might….no, no don’t think that way—that Carlton realized all this hatred was love.
How did he end up falling in-love with pseudo Psychic, the man known as Shawn Spencer.
Shawn’s eyes opened, taking in the room, immediately right away knew it was a hospital. He scanned the room, seeing get well signs from fans? Psychos as they refer themselves to. There was a knock, then a deep regretful sigh. Another few steps until Shawn registered who was standing there.
“Lassie?” Shawn said confused, staring at the detective in front of him.
Carlton breathed out. “Spencer.”
“What happened?” Carlton darted his eyes, “what do you remember?”
“I was on stage, trying to get Kelly…yeah Kelly to confess and then…there was a nail gun.”
Carlton sat down in the chat next to him. “O’Hara tried to take the nail gun as Kelly launched the trigger, spraying nails everywhere. You ducked, O’Hara was shoved away by her force and one of the nails struck you in the chest…”
It came back to him, flashing before his eyes, remembering the agony and then recalled something unfamiliar….Lassiter he looked worried, scared and his voice panicked. “You…almost died, Spencer.”
Shawn shrugged, letting out a pained whine. “But I didn’t.” Carlton scoffed, darkening his eyes as he stood abruptly from the chair, glaring in Shawn’s direction. Catching a glimpse of a grimace from Shawn as he failed to sit up straighter. “You don't get to joke this off, Spencer! Don’t you get, this isn’t a game. Life or death isn’t something to mess around with. How do you think your father feels?”
“A disappointment. I’ve heard this before, Lassie.”
“You think you can waltz through life, joking but you're scared when it comes to the danger, you run and scream and I’m for one tired of saving your ass each time you run screaming from danger.” A stunned expression fell onto Spencer’s face, Carlton drove on,” Do you ever think?! What will it take for you to realize that?! Is it when Gus dies, because the way you’re going, that’s going to happen, no doubt. Or-or is going to be when you…die, I’ll have to find your body…”
Shawn hears Carlton’s rant come to a stand-still, we’re those tears coming from Lassiter’s eyes? “Lassie…”
“—is that worth it? Your death, Spencer. Your…will be dead and everybody who remotely cares about you….”
“Lassie.” He tried again.
“What do you think that would do to your father, Guster, O’Hara or Me?! Do you think I like saving your ass every time? You're always on my mind, whether this is going to be the last time…that I’ll have to see your dead corpse, I-I-“ Carlton broke into gasps, panicked, hyperventilating and over-taken his lung capacity.
Shawn couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He tried to reach a hand, grunting at the sharp pain striking him. “Carlton. Hey, I’m okay.”
Carlton growled.” You don’t get it!! I’m fucking tired of watching you almost die each time. The world breaks each time, my heart can’t take it. I’m not good with words but I-I fucking love you!”
Carlton broke into a sob, clenching his hand. “I love you, Shawn.”
Shawn’s eyes widened, taken aback by Lassiter’s angry confession. “You love me?” Once he got his voice back, Shawn said.
Carlton blushed red, staring widely. “Shit…fuck, I just said that didn’t i?”
“Uh, yeah, you did…” There was an awkward pregnant pause of silence as Shawn cleared his throat.” You really mean that?”
Carlton breathed, fearing for rejection. “Yes. I meant, Shawn. I understand if…”
“Carlton.” He looked up, seeing Shawn smile at him. “Don’t say you regret it, for a record, Carlton, I feel the same way. I gave up because you always acted like you hated me. “ Carlton leaned forward, carefully pulling Shawn to meet his lips.
Shawn wrapped a hand in Carlton’s hair, gasping into their kiss. “I love you, too, Carlton.”
Carlton broke into a choked sob. “I-I almost lost you, Shawn. I thought you were dead when that nail went into you. You-you almost…I can’t…”
“Shh, I’m okay, Carlton.” Carlton pressed his forehead against Shawn’s. Shawn drew him in with another passionate kiss. “I did all that stuff to get your attention, I know it's kinda childish.”
Carlton grinned. “Are you saying your visions too?”
Shawn rolled his eyes, scoffing,” No the spirits and visions are real, Lassie.”
“If you say so, Spencer.”
——xxx—
“Lassie, it’s on!” Shawn shouted as he sprawled across Lassiter’s couch, leg lying over a pillow (suggested by Dr. Riley), pointing at the TV screen.
Carlton came into his living room rolling eyes, with a bowl of popcorn. He sat next to Shawn, curled into his side. “Why are we watching this?”
Shawn gasped, exasperatingly. “I’m on here, that's why, Lassie!”
On the show Corrine, Serena and Vincente walk up to a well.Vincente is carrying a rolled carpet, duct taped closed. He drops it in the well. Carlton looks at Shawn and then back to the TV.
Vincente looked down.”It had to be done.” Carlton sighed, this was going to be a long night. Only Shawn Spencer would be interested in watching his death—on screen— and get involved in a case by acting. Corrine said sadly,” I will miss him.”
Serena looked at Corrine. “But you tried to kill him.”
“Shawn, how did you do this? Your doctor told you to rest, not act in a telenovela!” Carlton grouches, while Shawn’s eyes watch investedly and popping popcorn into his mouth.
“He said I would be fine.”
“What if you tore your stitches doing that stunt?” Shawn sighed, seeing his boyfriend upset.
“But I had to Lassie, my fans needed me!”
Carlton shook his head, turning his attention to the TV. “Yes. But…. I”ll love him the rest of my life.”
They look down into the water as it bubbles. Vincente walks away. Corrine waves her handkerchief before holding it to her face as she walks away crying. She and Serena wrap an arm around each other as they leave. We then see hands reaching out and Chad breaks the surface gasping and panting. He looks up and smiles crookedly.
“See! I’m okay!”
Lassiter sighs again. “I see, Shawn…”
Gus walked in the room. “Here are the end credits!”
Shawn, Carlton and Gus stare at the tv screen.In stilted Spanish.”Hello. My name is...Inspector Carlton Lassiter. I like cheese.”
“Really, Lassie, I like cheese?”
Carlton blushed. “I only took it for two years in junior high.”
Shawn kissed Carlton delicately on the cheek, wrapping an arm around him. “I’m just teasing, Carlton.” Then he rolled onto his side, forcing himself up and straddled Carlton’s lap interrupted by Gus’ comment. “Shawn? I’m still here!” Ignoring Guster, Carlton felt drawn to deepening the connection. “C’mon son, Lassiter!”
Carlton broke their passionate, telenovelas styled kiss, darting his eyes in Burton’s direction. “There’s a door, Guster, if this bothers you so much.”