This is my first-ever Psych fic. I've written a number of stories for Stargate Sg1 but recently saw Psych (because of my kids) and they love it - so here is my attempt at a Psych fic.

For those who know me through Stargate - I hope you'll give this show a chance - it's fun. For those of you who don't know my writing - I'm a definite whumper and romantic. If you don't like either genre you probably don't want to read my fics.

Thanks and I hope for some reviews!

Shawn stopped nervously on the steps and took a deep breath. It was just the police station, a place he'd been a thousand times. Why was he feeling like this?

He knew why. Things had gone badly on his last case and Chief Vick had practically told him to stay away for a good long while. The other officers – even Buzz – had been pretty upset at him as well. He licked his lips and closed his eyes. Just get on with it man, he said to himself. Nerves were something that very rarely affected him – that's why he wasn't quite sure how to handle them now.

Still, he knew he needed to speak to someone. It was important and he really couldn't put it off any longer. He would have spoken to his Dad, but the man was angry at him – besides which he'd left on a four day fishing trip with an old buddy from his days on the force.

He'd tried to talk to Gus, but his friend was tense about his upcoming interview and had told him he couldn't talk right now. The pharmaceutical sales rep had been jumpy all week, and rather short with Shawn, but he'd chocked it up to Gus' worry about his promotion. It meant a lot to Gus and so he'd left him – with only one or two quips and suggestions on how to ace the interview.

Nope – it was down to Juliet, or at the worst Chief Vick. He could probably also have spoken to Lassiter except the Chief Detective was really mad at him. He'd taken the last case – and the article in the paper about 'bumbling cops' very personally. Shawn figured it was best to stay away from him for a while.

He could count on Jules though. She'd never turn him away! She was his friend, even though he kind of wished for more. For now her friendship – and her job as a detective – would be enough.

With one final breath he continued up the stairs and into the station. As he opened the door he forced himself to rid himself of his serious look and plaster on his usual, sunny expression. Putting on what he hoped was a real looking smile he strode forward.

"Uh Jules …"

"For heaven's sake Shawn, when will you grow up?" She said a few minutes later. She looked up from her desk in aggravation. "We're trying to work here and you're bouncing around talking about smoothies, for God's sake! I don't have time for this!"

Shawn could see Lassiter smirking at him out of the corner of his eye. It was rare that Juliet got upset with him – in fact he couldn't remember when she'd been quite so sharp. It hurt – he'd only been trying to lighten things up before asking her -! But of course he couldn't let her know that. He had an image to project and a 'hurt Shawn' was just somewhere he wasn't going to go.

Oh – he could pretend to be hurt – he did it all the time but this – no, he'd just have to laugh this off and let her think it was water off the proverbial horse's back. So, he shrugged and waggled his eyebrows at her. "Since when does anyone not have time for smoothies Jules?" he grinned.

She sighed and looked down, seemingly tired of him and his antics. "Please just go", she said softly, no longer looking at him. "I need to get this done."

He stood silently for a moment and then turned, this time not catching Lassie's eyes. The man was probably still smirking but Shawn didn't think he could take it right now and didn't have a comeback at the ready.

Shawn gave his own sigh and swung around, his shoes silent on the tile floor. He made his way slowly to the Chief's office. It was probably better that he told her anyway. She was the one that could do something about it. She'd probably tell him he should have told her before, but he'd been sure he could handle it.

"Chief -!"

"Not now Mr. Spencer", she said sharply, looking up from her desk. "We're busy with an important case and don't need you here right now."

"But – if it's important than you really do need us!", he answered quickly. He slowly put his hand to his head to give her a nudge as to how valuable he'd been in the past. "We can help Chief – real -"

"Mr. Spencer!" she answered, sounding angry. "I will call if we need you – and right now we do not! We are under strict instructions that this case is to be handled by SBPD officers only. I cannot hire you even if I wanted to – which, quite frankly, I don't."

This time he really was hurt. What was wrong with everyone today? Gus had snapped at him – his father was angry because he thought Shawn had forgotten to wait for the repair guy and so Henry was still without air conditioning. He'd tried to explain that he had been there – but the guy didn't have the right part and said he would come back. His father hadn't given him the chance to explain and had told him to leave. Of course he'd gotten angry and walked off without saying anything more. What it meant though was that he hadn't been able to talk to his father and tell him what was going on.

And now there was Jules – the last person he would ever have expected to turn on him. Okay – so he'd kind of made a mess of the last case, but it hadn't been intentional, and they had caught the guy at the end of it. Of course the papers had made the police out to be at fault for the delay in catching him – but that wasn't his fault. He couldn't help it if they went after the wrong guy!

So okay – he'd sort of given them the idea that it could be the company president – but it had only been a preliminary guess and they shouldn't have jumped so quickly. And it wasn't his fault that the guy had decided to sue the department. Fortunately he'd dropped the charges when Shawn had pointed out some discrepancies in the guy's tax return – but they were still mad at him.

"Mr. Spencer?" The Chief's voice, and glare, broke through this thoughts. "I suggest you – go wherever it is you go and leave us to do our jobs. And the next time we need you we'll call you. I don't need you hanging around my precinct, bothering my officers!"

"But Chief - !"

"Out. NOW!" She pointed with her finger and after a second he'd nodded and turned around and left. Even Buzz refused to look at him as he walked past.

"Fine", he muttered, throwing the door open to the station and walking out. "If that's the way you want it, I'll handle it myself!"

Except he didn't really want to handle it himself. He would never have admitted it to anyone, but he was frightened and figured he needed some help. With a slight groan he flipped up the kick stand on his bike and got on. After a brief pause he moved out. He'd talk to Gus. His friend wouldn't let him down.

After Shawn had left earlier that day, Gus had sighed and sat staring into space. He thought back to what Dr. Evans had told him. Maybe the man was right. Maybe it was time to cut the cord that bound him to Shawn. He needed this promotion, wanted it – deserved it – and he was afraid Shawn would screw it up for him like he so often did.

He'd started seeing Dr. Evans a couple of months ago – after a particularly nerve-wracking case. He hadn't told Shawn – hadn't told anyone in fact, but he'd thought that going to a psychologist might help him deal with his nerves and stress.

It hadn't taken long for the Doc to find out about Shawn and his relationship with his best friend. For some reason the man had focused in on that and seemed to think it was the root of all Gus' problems. He'd been counseling Gus to stand up to his friend, to refuse to put up with some of Shawn's wilder schemes and now – now he was trying to get him to break away from him completely.

"Do you really believe that Shawn is a healthy person for you to be around?" the Doc had asked him. "Do you feel he helps you grow and mature as a person?"

Gus had hemmed and hawed, but he couldn't honestly say that Shawn matured him – or anyone for that matter. He'd tried to defend his friend and the influence he had on Gus' life, but he'd found it hard.

The more time he spent talking to Dr. Evans the more he'd become convinced that he needed a break from Shawn. He was sure his parents would be happy. They'd never really approved of the friendship. And it would probably be good for Shawn, he justified. They simply egged one another on. Maybe Shawn would grow up if he was separated from Gus.

"I need to be my own man", Gus repeated the words the Doc had said. "I need to stand up to him and just say no. I need space. Shawn is holding me back."

He sighed. How could he give up his best friend? He couldn't - no, he really couldn't. He'd just have to tell the Doc that he was going to stand up to Shawn more – but he couldn't, wouldn't give him up.

He forced himself to lower his head and resume his studying. This interview was important – and the promotion something he really wanted. He had to concentrate on that.

The pounding came only a few minutes later and he groaned. Shawn! No, please. He tried ignoring the noise but after a few seconds he heard a key in the lock and his door swung open, hitting the wall behind it. Since when had he given Shawn a key? He'd just had his locks changes and he knew he hadn't made a set for his friend. In fact, that was why he'd changed the locks in the first place.

"Shawn?" he snapped. "What are you doing here and why do you have a key to my place?"

Shawn looked at the key in surprise, as if he had no idea how it had gotten into his hand – or how he'd opened the door with it. "Hey – I don't know Dude. Whatcha doing?"

"You know what I'm doing Shawn. I told you. And I also told you I didn't want to be disturbed. This is important and I don't want you bugging me – so can you please leave?"

"Ah, don't be a hanging radiator Gus! Come on. Let's go get something to eat – I know you're hungry. I can tell by the un-Gus-like snippiness."

"Shawn NO."

"Come on", he whined. "It won't take long. I'll even buy you a pineapple upside down cake as a treat."

"For one, you have no money and two – you can't buy pineapple upside down cakes anywhere in Santa Barbara. I know because you already tried."

"You can't?" Shwan said, sounding shocked. "Wow – that's – wow."

"Shawn, will you please go. I need to work. I've told you how important this is to me."

"I know Gussy pants and I promise I'll let you get right back to it. I just need -"

"NO!" That did it! Dr. Evans was right. Shawn was going to hold him back. How could he possibly think he'd be a success if he continued to hang around this – this man-child? His breathing sped up and he could only see his friend in a haze. "No", he said more quietly. "I've told you, I don't have time. And actually – I want you to leave and not come back."

"Not – you mean until you're done the interview?" Shawn asked hopefully.

"No – I mean ever. I can't do this anymore Shawn. I need – I need to be on my own, to have my own life. You're holding me back. You seem to want to spend your life playing – but I've grown up, even if you haven't." Doc Evans words kept running over and over in his mind and seemed to be making their way out of Gus' mouth without him even being aware. "You're not good for me Shawn – and I'm probably not good for you either. Just – leave and get your own life. You can have Psych. I'll stop by after my interview and collect me things."

"Hey – Guster – Dude, what is this about?" Shawn was frowning now, looking uncharacteristically serious. "I didn't mean anything by -"

"Just leave it Shawn", his friend said quietly, somberly. "I mean it. I really can't do this anymore. I've spent too much of my life following you around. I need to be my own person – my own man and I can't be if you're around. I'm sorry. I want you to be happy but – but I can't be your friend anymore."

Shawn was shocked. What the hell was wrong? What had he done? He knew that he teased Gus, sometimes too much and he knew that sometimes he went too far but – but Gus was his friend, his best friend. No - they were more like brothers. He couldn't survive without his friend. He opened his mouth but then caught Gus' eye. The man was serious – he could see it.

He swallowed painfully, feeling like he wanted to cry. What had he done, he asked himself again. Why did everyone, even the man he thought he could always count on – hate him?

"Okay", he said softly. He knew he didn't have any other choice. Gus was determined – he could see it in the way he stood and in his face. He had just lost his best friend in the world. "I hope", his voice cracked and he cleared his throat, "I hope your interview goes well." He turned slowly and then glanced down at his hand. He reached out and quietly set the key on the small table by the door.

It was only after he opened the door that he once again turned. "I'm sorry Gus – and – thanks for all the good times." With that he walked out and quietly closed the door behind him.

Shawn stood for a few minutes, looking at nothing. He laughed softly – well, that word just about covered it, he thought. He had nothing – and no one. He took a shaky breath and started forward, to his bike. He was well and truly on his own.