Title: Succulent Crab Cakes

Author: PapayaK

Category: Hurt-Comfort / Angst

Season: 2-ish, pre-Shules

Disclaimer: Don't own Psych but I do have a pineapple.

A/N My first (and probably only) Psych-fic *waves* Hi, Everybody.

My sincerest thanks to my Beta: Xx-Regina-Phalange-xX! This story didn't make much sense until she got ahold of it, filled in all the holes and straightened all the kinks. So if it's a good story - it's 'cause of her!

In this story, I wanted to explore a few things: Shawn's best weapon is his mind. What does he do when that is threatened? Yes, there will be 'whump.'

I also wanted to highlight the relationships between him and Dad and him and Gus. No ship in this one. But I tried to touch on all the friendships. Finally I wanted to give him a chance to show off his marksmanship, and be the hero. Oh - and Lassie gets hurt, too.

I love the flashbacks to Shawn's childhood, so I couldn't resist. Like on the show, it is loosely related to the rest of the story. Enjoy!

oO0Oo

Chapter 1 – Prologue - The Spencer Home

Nine year old Shawn Spencer trudged wearily into his kitchen. Dropping his backpack by the door, he went to the fridge and poured himself a glass of milk.

His father was at the sink filling a glass with water, having just finished mowing the lawn. He watched his son's actions with interest, and then joined him at the kitchen table.

"What happened at school today, Shawn?" his dad asked, trying to hide a smirk, since obviously something 'horrible' had occurred, causing his son to 'belly up to the bar' as if the weight of the world was on his narrow shoulders.

"Gus got in trouble," he mumbled without looking up.

That made Henry quirk an eyebrow. His son's slightly guilty demeanor would strongly suggest that HE had, in fact, been the culprit, not his best friend.

Dad decided to dig a little deeper into this issue, "What happened?"

Shawn sighed, "Miss Winter left- and when she came back- a thing on her desk was broken."

"Mm hmm, and how did Gus get blamed?"

Shawn took a long pull on his milk before responding, reinforcing his father's suspicion, "Gus and a couple other guys were over by it."

"And what made Miss Winter think it was Gus?"

"I don't know."

"Shawn…"

"I don't!"

Slightly exasperated, Dad continued, "Okay… Well, what did she say?"

"She said Gus looked guilty," came the answer from behind the glass.

Dad sat back, "Gus always looks guilty when something goes wrong around him."

Shawn nodded in agreement.

"Miss Winter should know that."

Another nod.

Dad leaned in, prepared to get to the heart of the matter now that he had the relevant facts, "And why didn't you admit that it was you? A Spencer always stands up for the truth. Even when it is inconvenient."

Shawn looked up and stared at his dad for a second before he answered. He was confused. In his mind, his dad had just made two completely opposite statements.

Being nine, he went with the first one, "DAD! I didn't do it!"

"Shawn…"

"I didn't!"

"Shawn!"

"I didn't, Dad. I wasn't even over by those guys. I don't even like those guys." The younger Spencer's face was screwed up into something between anger at the unfairness of the world and fear that it was all his fault somehow. He was staring at his nearly empty glass as if he could cause it to crack with his gaze alone.

Dad frowned and straightened, suspecting suddenly that he may have been wrong, "Then why was Gus over-" Gus's actions were not in question. Shawn's were, "Never mind. Who did it then?"

"I don't know." Shawn's gaze dropped to his hands as he pouted.

At this point, Henry didn't even reprimand his son, just tilted his head and waited expectantly.

Shawn continued to pout and stared determinedly at the table. He felt like a suspect in the interrogation room his dad had once showed him. He knew exactly what his dad was waiting for and he didn't like it. Although his nine year old mind couldn't really process it, 'a Spencer always stands up for the truth' was exactly why he was so miserable. He really didn't know what had happened up by the teacher's desk. But he understood- somehow- that he should have figured it out and defended his friend. When someone got in trouble that shouldn't be – it was his job to help find the truth. That's just what Spencer men did. He hadn't. He had let Gus get in trouble.

But Dad was waiting.

"Miss Winter made the rest of us put our heads down. I couldn't see. I couldn't help - I wasn't allowed." He made a weak attempt to defend himself.

Henry Spencer nodded his head grimly, already planning the phone calls he would make, first to Gus' parents and then to Miss Winter – Just as soon as he had all the facts about what had really happened.

He knew - even if Shawn didn't - that his son had seen what had happened – or at least he had seen enough to figure it out.

"Shawn, close your eyes."

"Daaaaad…"

"Close your eyes."

Little Shawn sighed, resigned to his fate. He slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Henry smiled softly, "Now. Tell me exactly what you saw up by Miss Winter's desk…"

TBC…

*This story is already complete, so you don't have to wonder if I will ever finish it. A chapter will be posted every 2-3 days or so.*
Thanks for reading!