It's been a while, but here it is at last. The conclusion. Thank you to everyone who stuck through the story. Extra big thanks to those who commented. I hope you've enjoyed the ride.

HIM

This wasn't the plan.

He held his revolver steady, staring at the liars and the fraud. He could hear the fraud's words and knew somehow he spoke truth.

But frauds didn't understand truth. They only told lies.

Colin needs you.

His wife's eyes flashed red. He wanted to step away from her, to run away. The fraud was right: He was terrified of her.

She wasn't the woman he married.

Summoning what strength he could, he motioned toward the closet door.

Stop!

There never was a plan A.

You'll ruin everything. There will be no truth. No vengeance.

Fire was always the plan.

Kill them! Kill them while you still can!

He laughed at the fraud for lacking a key. It was all he could do to drown out his wife's voice.

The fraud would ruin everything.

You must kill them.

Images of his wife, sweet and smiling, flashed through his mind. He remembered holding her corpse, lifting her head from the stained carpet.

You must!

"Shut up!"

She wasn't his wife. She never was.

She was HIM.

You want to do this.

It was a lie. He never wanted death.

The girl had already died.

So much blood.

They'd ripped Colin away from him.

They'd taken everything he was when he'd already lost so much.

What did he care if they died? What did he care if he killed them?

He didn't want to.

Pain and hurt coursed through his body. All he wanted was for them to understand.

Then do it.

"I have to," he whispered, allowing his finger to pull the trigger before his mind could take over.

The effect was instant. Flames clawed at his soaked back. The room filled with black smoke.

His lungs longed for breath but he welcomed the pain. At last his plan was coming together.

His plan. Not hers.

His wife smiled as blood stained the liar's side.

Unable to bear the flames, he raced away.

Ten years. Ten long years of planning and at last courage had prevailed.

His body burned as he dodged falling debris.

The pain was amazing. So cleansing.

Free of the office, he rolled on the ground, suffocating the flames against his charred skin.

He tried to scream, but his lungs refused the necessary air. In the distance, sirens raced toward him.

Had the liars and frauds escaped? Did it matter?

Fire purifies.

He glanced toward his wife.

He was her.

She was him.

He wasn't sure how he knew. Maybe he always had. But she wasn't his wife. She never was.

It was him all along.

He shivered, embracing the pain further.

None of this made any sense. So much had gone to plan and yet he wasn't sure anything at all was accomplished.

Maybe it would be best if the pain would take him away forever. Maybe if he waited long enough, it would do just that.

A gun cocked above his head.

"Don't move," a voice commanded.

He laughed as much as his lungs would allow, though horrible coughs continuously interrupted him.

An oxygen mask covered his face.

He tried to swat it away but a firm hand held it in place.

So instead he concentrated on the wonderful pain. Pain was everything.

Shawn

There was a sudden pop before the room filled with smoke and flame. A second later, the closet door buckled.

Marcus's eyes were wide with terror as tears poured freely onto his gag. Shawn didn't waste a second. He reached toward the kid to pick him up and free him of this place, but Sam got there first.

He took his son into his arms and raced away, not sparing a glance toward Shawn or Karen.

The lighter fluid was a nasty trap. All along the walls the vapors caught fire. Flames consumed the wood as debris crashed toward the ground. Black smoke made breathing all but impossible.

He turned toward Karen only to see her falling to the floor while holding her side. He lunged by her side, lifting her away from the floor.

She fought him.

He held on tighter, pushing her forward. He'd already lost Iris; he wouldn't lose Karen as well.

He lowered her to the grass outside then collapsed in a fit of coughs. His lungs desperately sought air, but even free of the fire, air was hard to come by. He'd inhaled too much smoke and vapor.

"Shawn!" he heard Gus call.

Someone placed an oxygen mask over his face. Beside him, a group of EMTs surrounded Karen.

"Shawn!" Gus called again, sliding by Shawn's side. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Then Gus's gaze fell on Karen and he froze. "Is she…? Oh God," he turned away from the blood.

The EMTs lifted her on a stretcher, racing her away.

The one EMT caring to Shawn whispered, "She's in good hands. We'll take care of her."

Gus answered, but Shawn didn't make out the words. He was too busy staring at the Psych office, now lost in black smoke and flames.

Gus grew silent as he followed Shawn's gaze. Together they stared as six years of their lives disappeared in fire.

There was a strange finality to it all. It was as though before this there'd always been a chance Psych might come back, even if they'd always known it wouldn't.

Time passed in a strange blur. Shawn had always prided himself on remembering every little detail, but whenever he looked back, he only recalled flashes of events.

He remembered the DA holding his son tight to his chest as the EMTs began to care for them. Marcus was alive. The lone victory in a sea of failures and yet it meant everything.

Marcus was alive.

Shawn also remembered Lassie holding his gun on a charred Forray until Jules came by his side whispered something in his ear and took over. Lassie fell into the grass as he stared at the bad guy in disdain.

Lassie buried his head in his hands and Shawn wondered if at last the detective would find rest.

Shawn also remembered his father standing in silence beside the two friends. Shawn jumped slightly when Henry gently patted his shoulders in comfort before quickly pulling away.

As the fire show drew to a close, Shawn allowed himself to be led to an ambulance. His lungs were screaming as burning coughs continued to seize his body.

The hospital was even more of a blur than the fire.

Everyone waited for news on Karen.

Lassie attempted to sleep on several occasions, but just ended up pacing the room. Every few minutes he would leave to check on Forray as though afraid the madman could somehow escape.

Gus translated the medical speak but otherwise remained silent. There were moments where the two friends would glance at each other as though to start a banter fest. They could talk 80s movies or music or robots but words never seemed to come.

It was the same for all of them. Jules, Henry, and even Shawn waited, never saying much of anything. It was as though some monster had come and stolen all their words.

Even Sam and his wife and Marcus waited with them, though they slept soundly. Their nightmare was over.

Shawn wasn't sure his would ever end.

He wasn't the maudlin type but the last few months were nothing but confusion and hurt. He needed to break free from it. He'd hoped this case would help but now he wondered if it'd only served to break him more.

Rubbing his hands through his hair, he desperately looked to Gus. He said nothing, but Gus smiled weakly back, offering what silent comfort he could.

"I'll be back," Gus announced, watching his friend closely before making for the door.

Moments later, Jules moved by Lassie's side. "You need to sleep."

Lassie turned toward her, blinking multiple times as though he was having a hard time making her out or was seeing something else. People did hallucinate with enough sleep loss, Shawn knew, and he wouldn't put it past the detective to have lost that much rest.

"I let her investigate," he said softly, not bothering to hide his own bitterness.

"It was the right call." Jules shifted, not meeting her partner's distant gaze.

Gus returned with a game board in his hand. Monopoly.

Shawn allowed himself a smile. Lassie's shoulder's slackened. Some years ago they'd played the same game in this room while waiting for news on Jules.

"Just make sure you pay for Boardwalk this time," Lassie said, glaring at Gus and then Shawn.

"How do you not pay for Boardwalk?" Jules asked, as they each moved to help Gus set up the board.*

"It's a long story." Shawn picked up the horse placing it on start.

The last time they'd played, Lassie had jailed Gus's and Shawn's pieces after they refused to play the game correctly.

Jail.

That was where Shawn was supposed to be, right? Not in the hospital waiting for news on Karen, but in jail.

The more he thought about it the more his heart sank. How much could one lose in two months before they completely broke?

As it turned out, Monopoly wasn't a bad idea. It took a few times of passing Go, and they mostly played in silence, but at least they were doing something. Even Henry had joined in, though Shawn wasn't entirely sure why his dad was sticking around.

Shawn couldn't remember who won or didn't win and did anyone ever really win at Monopoly anyway?

He didn't remember the banter. He hardly remembered Lassie nodding off to sleep and Gus taking over his turns.

It wasn't like him not to remember. Maybe he'd simply allowed himself to forget? It was just easier that way. He'd forget the whole two months if he could.

In the end it took days before the doctors were confident Karen would survive without lasting damage. Not physical damage at any rate. The emotional wounds were another story.

Forray was also another matter. He'd breathed the fumes longer. He'd been soaked with the lighter fluid. The resulting damage was severe. Infections tore through his body and on the day that Karen left the hospital, Forray was still in the burn unit.

Much as Shawn hated to admit it, part of him wished Forray would just hurry up and die already, thus ending the worst chapter of his life. The other part of him knew Forray was mentally sick. That part wasn't so sure what it wanted.

Shawn blinked away the memories, turning his focus back to the conference room. He'd been waiting for mere minutes, but it felt like hours. Beside him, Gus and Henry argued about his best options and defense.

"At the very least, you should have a lawyer present." Henry paced the room as though he were the ball in a predictable game of pong.

"Do you think pineapple will ever forgive me for cheating with mango?"

"Shawn, this is serious!"

Beside him Gus held his high. "Your dad's right. What happens today will determine whether or not they press charges."

Shawn leaned back in his chair, kicking his feet on his desk. "You're such a worry wart. It'll be fine. Trust me,"

"I'm not a worry wart. I happen to be a good friend who doesn't want to spend the next few years receiving your fist bumps from behind bars.."

"Worry wart."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"We're not doing this right now, Shawn."

"Only because you know I'm right."

There was a soft thud as Gus's shoe met Shawn's shin. Shawn readied to push back, but the conference room door opened causing all movement to cease.

Lassie entered first. The black bags that once consumed his face were gone now, but his shoulders were still hunched with an unseen burden. He offered an enigmatic glance, which Shawn couldn't decode, before quickly switching to his best detective stern stare.

As he held open the door, Shawn heard a faint squeak. A moment later, Karen. The wheelchair was mostly a precaution until her wounds had enough time to heal.

"Gentlemen." She bowed her head before wheeling herself to the front of the table.

Her expression was softened and genuine. She still masked a world of pain of sorrow, but there was no blame left.

Maybe saving her life had something to do with it? Or maybe it was that Forray was finally captured? Whatever it was, Shawn felt his own burden lighten.

Sam entered next, followed by Jules. She closed the door gently behind her before taking the last seat at the table.

Silence enveloped the room.

Sam smiled at Shawn, nodding kindly.

Shawn wasn't sure how he'd envisioned the DA's role in his case. He'd pictured a looming, stuffy jerk who would stop at nothing to see Shawn charged for his crimes. He'd imagined Jules and Gus jumping to his defense as his friends refused to see him go under.

Even when he'd felt guilty and deserving of prison, he'd always known they'd defend him.

What he hadn't expected was a DA just as willing to go to bat for him. The moment Sam smiled, Shawn knew that was exactly what was happening.

He'd saved Marcus after all.

But then Sam frowned, pulling out a number of case files.

So maybe Sam would go for his throat after all.

"Mr. Spencer. This is an informal meeting. We only wish to gain a deeper understanding of the work you've performed for the police department these last few years."

He was taking this seriously. Really, he was. However, the absurdity of the situation kept gnawing at him and he was never one to sit quietly in meetings. So instead of waiting quietly for fate to kick him, he raised his eyebrows and joked.

"Hushed up meetings. Really? Is this the part where we all pledge our undying love for one another or am I in the wrong movie?"

"There's no such movie, Shawn." To anyone else Gus might have sounded annoyed, but Shawn knew he was helping to relieve the tension.

"I'm fairly sure there is. Conspiracy Lovers, maybe. No, Lover's Conspiracy."

"Was this the movie you tried to pitch after breaking into Universal Studios? Because that plot was messed up."

"It would have been a blockbuster. You're just jealous I thought of it first."

Sam cleared his throat and the two friends glanced up.

"I'm just saying," Shawn continued, "that informal meetings are a bit suspect. That's all."

"Doesn't smell right," Gus added.

Jules sprung from her chair, glaring daggers at the two friends. "We're trying to help you."

"O'Hara!" the chief warned, glancing sternly at her detective. Sheepishly, Jules returned to her seat.

Karen turned to Shawn. "This is an unusual situation. We could have you charged right now if you like, but given recent circumstances we all felt it was best if we could ascertain exactly what laws have been broken and how we can address the issues at hand. Since Mr. Dawson's office will ultimately be the one bringing charges, it makes sense to have him here."

"Let's just cut the crap," Henry cut in. "My son faked being psychic. That didn't stop him from solving the cases he was paid to solve. If the police department no longer—"

"I can defend myself, dad." Shawn swept his legs off the table. He glanced toward Gus. They talked silently for a second then Gus nodded. His expression said it all: You can do this. I'm here for you.

Sam straightened, pulling out a single envelope. "From what Detectives O'Hara and Lassiter have gathered, many of your cases were solved simply from strong observational and personal skills. Is that correct?"

"I have a photographic memory, yes. I also happen to be a very like-able person and I refuse to apologize for that. It's not against the law to be loved."

"They also suspect that much of your evidence was obtained through illegal means. Review of incidents and evidence from previous cases suggests that, while on the police payroll, you found material without a warrant for the police who then later arrived with the proper warrants to search and find what you'd already found."

Shawn sipped on his smoothie, his heart quickening. If he nodded, he'd definitely go to prison. If he didn't, he'd only be lying again.

"I'm going to make this simple for you, Mr. Spencer. At this point the State could bring a number of charges against you and the SBPD for events that have occurred over the last six years."

Gus shifted slightly, clearing his throat. "But if you did so, you'd be forced to reopen any case we'd been hired on. You'd have to look at each piece of evidence for proof that it was obtained by illegal means. It would get expensive quick."

"It would be," Sam confirmed. "Especially for the SBPD."

Shawn glanced around the room, the weight of Sam's words finally sinking in. It wasn't just him that was in trouble. It was Karen and Lassie and Jules and Buzz and anyone else Shawn had worked with.

He'd opened the floodgates.

Suddenly the closed doors and unofficial meetings made sense.

"You understand the severity of the situation?" Karen asked.

Shawn glanced at Lassie who was busy stabbing his pen into his pad of paper while looking up blankly. He turned toward Spencer then back to the DA.

There was a brief exchange of nods, after which Lassie shivered. He dug his pen into the pad of paper but said nothing.

"That's weird," Shawn whispered, leaning toward Gus and motioning toward Lassie.

Sam straightened as he drew a deep breath. He stared at the conference table, possibly looking into his own reflection, before saying, "You helped save my son, Mr. Spencer. You did save Chief Vick. Over the years, you've saved many lives and made Santa Barbara a better place. These are not events I'm willing to just overlook."

"Not to mention," Jules added, "If you hadn't warned us Lamberti's car was a ruse, we would have lost a number of officers to explosions Forray had set at each entrance."

Caressing the scar on his cheek, Sam continued, "Since you were never officially arrested, there's no record of your confession. Considering your recent service to the city and the Pandora's Box I'm not ready to open, the city will not be pressing charges at this time. I think it's time we set this whole mess to rest, don't you?"

He didn't miss the way Karen blinked, gazing curiously at the DA. He hadn't told her this was the plan. He hadn't told any of them.

Shawn hadn't realized he'd stopped breathing until his lungs drew in air one more. It took a moment for the words to process, and even then they didn't make any sense.

"Really?"

"Really," Sam answered.

Shawn turned toward Lassie because if there was anyone in the room unwilling to go with such a plan, it would be the detective.

Lassie's gaze fell to the floor. "No one is above the law."

Shawn's gut sank. A cover-up required all involved to play along. If Lassie refused, then they were back to step one.

Wasn't that the reason he'd chosen Lassie in the first place?

Lassie stood up, his long legs passing over the back of his chair. He twirled the pen in his hand.

"Carlton," Jules started, but Karen cut her off.

"What is right is not always black and white, Detective. You and I both know this is how it has to play out."

Lassie remained frozen for a moment before he looked up at Spencer. He looked as though he'd just eaten moldy leftovers, but there was a certain resignation, possibly even compassion, in his expression. He turned toward Karen. "It's your call, Chief."

Shawn wasn't exactly sure what to make of the meeting. While Iris's death would always haunt him, he realized prison would hold no solace. There was nothing to be gained by hiding in the system.

There was certainly nothing to be gained by implicating the entire SBPD.

So maybe everyone was right. It was time to just let things go.

As the meeting adjourned, Shawn remained seated. If jail wasn't his next stop, and Psych was over, where was he supposed to go now?

He recalled talking to his dad not too many nights ago.

"Grab your bike, fill it with gas, leave town and never look back. Go out there and force yourself to find your life again"

Maybe his dad was right.

Six years was a good run. The longest run he'd had, really.

Maybe it was time to leave.

Karen

She felt numb.

Today marked one year since Iris's death, but the pain never truly subsided. It was a constant, always holding in the back of her mind. There were a thousand questions of 'what ifs'. There was also a constant longing to come home and hold her child. To see her grow up. To see her happy.

Yet somehow she'd made it through each day. Pain wasn't everything.

It certainly didn't control her.

A cool breeze rushed past the lilies in her hand. The graveyard was mostly deserted. She'd learned to come early to avoid crowds. It was easier when no one was watching.

Sometimes she came with her husband but sometimes she just needed to be alone.

From her periphery, she noticed a lone figure approach. He walked slowly, watching her carefully. He stopped short, digging his hands deep into his pockets.

"Mr. Spencer. It's been a while."

He shuffled nervously. "I should go."

"It's okay. I could use the company."

They each observed a moment of silence before Karen did a quick sign of the cross and stepped away from Iris's grave. Spencer stood back but she waved for him to follow.

He still seemed older, maybe more so now that a few gray hairs had made an appearance. There was also no erasing how those two months had changed him, but there was something lighter about him again.

Though the scenery subdued his smile, and though he wasn't joking, she could see that he was finally healing. If eyes were a window to the soul, his revealed a certain happiness that hadn't been there when he'd left.

She knew her own expression had softened. A year hadn't lessened the blow but she'd kept going and that was something

"Did you find yourself?" she asked, though she could already see the truth within him.

"Wherever I go, there I am. I'm not sure I had far to look." He grinned the familiar Spencer grin that had exasperated her so many times before but had often made her smile.

They walked the next few steps in silence until Karen reached her car. She'd been rubbing her side without realizing it, though the physical pain was absent.

"I don't blame you." It was amazing how much courage it took to say that though she'd already said the same eight months ago. Only now it was different. Now maybe he'd listen. "I never did."

He didn't answer her directly, just mumbled something about needing a pineapple (not Mango) smoothie, but she'd seen his expression relax.

They parted ways. She'd forgotten to ask about his plans, whether or not he planned to stay or where he needed to go. Would she see him again? There was a certain childlike spark Spencer brought to the station and she'd come to miss it over the last year.

She drove to breakfast next. It took a while to down her eggs and toast. Food just wasn't interesting on a day like today.

Her final stop was the station. Lassiter and O'Hara had tried to convince her to take the day off, but she'd learned long ago that working made things easier.

She wasn't surprised when she saw the pineapple on her desk. Glancing out her window she saw there were three other pineapples. Lassiter lifted his with mocked annoyance before finally placing his gently in his drawer. She didn't miss his smile.

O'Hara took one look at the pineapple and raced outside as though expecting to still catch him.

There was something white hidden within the leaves. She drew it out slowly, noting the pineapple embossed on the front.

Shawn and Gus's Detective Agency

When you need a miracle, you need us.

Hastily scribbled on the back were a series of a numbers. An investigator's license number, Karen realized.

She laughed silently to herself. There was something strange about Spencer playing by the rules, but a lot had changed. It was as her mom told her, "The past is always present but the present is always new."

Gus

He watched as the workers painted the new logo on the window. It wasn't the beachfront property Psych had enjoyed for many years, but this wasn't Psych. Shawn had made that much clear.

This was a partnership. This was an honest business.

No more lies.

No more cover-ups.

Of course he'd also promised it would be Gus and Shawn's Detective Agency, but somehow that wasn't on the business cards. It figured.

"You sure about this?" he asked, as he slapped Shawn's hand away from his fries.

"Never surer. Just remember, you do the paperwork and the money subsidizing, and I'll provide the awesome sleuthing."

"That's not how it works. I—"

"Details, details. The important part is that I'm back and we're doing this. Now admit it: This feels right."

Gus thought back to the day he'd removed the Psych logo from their office window. Back then all he'd wanted was a chance to start again.

While this wasn't Psych, this was an opportunity.

Gus looked at the new office then back at his best friend. They'd been through so much together, and maybe that was how it should be. Already he could feel his adrenaline pumping in anticipation of the next adventure.

The End

*Refers to my short story "While Were Waiting" posted on psychfic.

Thanks again for reading and for your patience! I do hope you enjoyed this.