Work Text:
Shawn checked his latest message from Gus. Seriously? The chief wanted Shawn at the station. Which almost definitely means a case, and definitely means Gus should have cleared his schedule for a little while longer because they always work cases together.
He placed his phone back in his pocket with a pout, index finger drumming a quick rhythm into his thigh before he settled his brain enough to look up from the ground.
Disappointment in Gus was quickly overshadowed by the sight of Lassie and Jules. One of which looked to be too occupied with his coffee, and the other with papers. Jules was scary when she was all over her papers; so it was off to Lassie first.
”Lassiface!” he was lucky Lassiter was finished with his coffee as none was spilled or spat. But apparently the man needed another cup, and desperately scuttled away for another helping of joe dignifying Shawn with nothing more than eye contact and a raised eyebrow.
Jules seemed to have a handle on her papers, and he didn’t really wanna be under the wrath of a sleep deprived woman, nonetheless Jules. Because she carries a gun. Nope.
Looks like he can’t put this off any longer.
Wait… If lassie is busy with coffee, and Jules with papers from an old case. Then neither of them are worrying about whatever Vicks needs him for. So, it’s likely not a case.
Damnit Gus. I really need you right now! Shawn grit his teeth as he walked towards the chiefs office.
“Chief Vick,”
“Spencer,”
Shawn looked around the small office. Filing cabinet, shelf, desk, papers and folders, paper clips and thumb-tacks. A sheet with thumb prints on it. One folder that’s unopened but it has a decently sized stabled packet, given the slight crease in the top left corner of all the pages, and the fact that the stapler was on the opposite side of the desk to usual. Oh, the glass fish.
Shawn sat down, knowing she was reading his body language. He was showing just how vulnerable he felt. Cause really, the context clues, the silence outside; it was unsettling.
“So uh,” Shawn rocked on gen back of his feet and drummed his hand on his thighs.”
”Please, take a seat. You and I need to have a talk.”
”You mean a discussion?” he eyed the paper cup of coffee she placed on her desk wearily, stepping forwards slowly to sit down in the chair across from her. Eye contact. Shit.
“Just a talk as far as I’m concerned Mr Spencer. The coffee is all yours. No one knows how you take it.”
Shawns hands continued to slap music into the meat of his legs, but he raised one to tentatively grasp the coffee and take a hesitant sip.
“It’s black.” Shawn could tell his face was surprised, he felt his eyebrows stretched up far and his eyes watered with the sudden widening. “Just, plain black.”
”well, it was me who assumed that since you drink such little coffee, you probably don’t take the time to make it as sugary sweet as your usual pineapple potions-“
”smoothies”
”pineapple smoothies. A-hem, and I figured you probably enjoy your coffee black so you can savor your pineapple creations a little bit more.”
”Eh. Yeah, I mean a little bit of that I guess? I was just raised drinking black I guess. Cop is in and out and he needs the bitterness to keep him awake and all. Same with my mom, always rushing out of the house for work when she was in town.”
”I see, well, after our talk, we can see about including you in our typical coffee runs.”
”what do you mean?” Shawn realized he was still holding the takeaway coffee cup and jerked to set it back down on the desk, eyes darting around for a coaster, which he found quickly.
“Well, it’s come to my attention that while Detective Lassiter,” she paused a breaths moment to see if Shawn would interrupt her at all. Nothing. “is still a skeptic of your abilities, no one in the department can deny that you get results. However, some people are becoming more suspicious of your methods. And Detective Lassiter has brought up a fact to me, one I went back and checked your file for, and I believe him and I have come to a compromise.”
”what would that be?”
”Well, you were raised by a cop your whole life, and apparently, took the DET exam when you were 15 years old.”
Shawn did nothing but give her hesitant eye contact.
”And got a 100%. That’s higher than anyone I have working here, and you were far younger than anyone here has taken it. Do you believe you would be capable to take it again?”
”Are you trying to make a detective out of me?”
”You already do plenty of that on your own Mr Spencer. The thought was to have you take the Exam, and you can get your own cases much faster, less argument, and you would have the leeway to, as long as it’s legal, solve your cases however you please. You will also have better protection from the department, and better health insurance should you decide to agree with these terms.”
Shawn gulped.