On a case (part 2)

Juliet was so embarrassed when she walked into the police station that next day. She approached Chief Vicks's office and was waved in.

"Look Chief, I can explain..." she began, but was stopped by a hand gesturing for her to listen instead of speak.

"O'Hara, that thing that happened yesterday, it didn't have anything to do with the case did it."

She shook her head in response.

"And you are not in any unrelated danger?"

Another shaking of the head.

"Then I am going to pretend that this did not happen."

"Thank you Chief."

"And O'Hara."

"Mm?"

"It better not happen again."

"Understood."

That was embarrassing, but it could have gone much worse. She quickly made her way down to the forensic labs to catch up on the details of the case, she wanted to focus on someone else being naked. At least her secret was safe.

"Hey there naked girl." said Woody.

Damn.

"Woody!"

"Sorry. Did I say something wrong? You know that is how I greet everyone that walks in here." He was a terrible liar.

"Woody, who else knows?"

"Everyone."

" *sigh* What am I going to do?"

"Look there's nothing wrong with having a bit of fun, especially when you're on the clock. Actually last night when I was working on the autopsy I might have been less that fully clothed myself."

"I don't want to hear about it. Just tell me what you figured out."

"Of course. Well it was interesting, there weren't many signs of struggle..."

"Wait, where's Lassiter? He should have beat me here."

Meanwhile, the blueberry was pulling up outside. Shawn and Gus stepped out.

"I don't know man. I just feel like I really let Jules down this time."

"Let her down, you nearly humiliated her."

"You know a little sympathy wouldn't hurt."

"You need to make this up to her."

"I know, but how? She has been covering for me, for us, for a while now."

"Spencer!" It was Lassiter. "Just the person I wanted to see. Burton get lost."

"Hey we are package deal. Whatever you want to say to me, you can stay to Gus."

"Yeah." said Gus.

"Tell you what, here is five dollars you can spend at the vending machine."

"See ya Shawn."

"What, man." He turned to Lassie. "What you want?"

"I know I haven't always been the most supportive of you dating my police partner."

"This is about that? Look Lassie..."

"But there is a line between work and... exploits. And I want that line to stay intact."

"Wait, *laugh* you think that what happened at the crime scene was because of us? That is ridiculous." They both laughed at this. Suddenly Lassiter got really serious.

"I understand that O'Hara is a woman."

"I'm not sure I follow you."

"And a woman has... needs." This clearly wasn't hard for him to say. It wasn't exactly easy for Shawn to listen to either. "And if she has a certain taste for adventure, the is fine, as long as it is within the law. What I am trying to say is that as you are the one who is 'involved' with her, you should be responsible for keeping her happy, so that it doesn't interfere with her work, which then interfere's with my work."

"Oh my god, you have finally lost it."

"Spencer."

"No. You are way off."

"I hope I am. But if I am not, and I need O'Hara to be there and she isn't, it is my ass on the line."

"Lassie. Lassie, Lassie, Lassie. What you are worried about, is nothing, and insane, and we should never seek about it again."

"Agreed. I just had to let you know, in case." And with that he walked away just as Gus was returning with two bags of chips.

"What did he want to tell you? You know what, never mind. Let's go."

"Yeah." Shawn reached for one of the bags, but was slapped.

"You must be out of your damn mind."

"Dude, you have two bags."

They continued to argue all the way towards the forensics lab. They arrived there just as Lassiter did, and just as Juliet was leaving. They all eyed each other and Lassiter went in to talk to Woody and the Juliet caught the psychic detective and pharmaceutical salesman up on the the details.

"Hey," Juliet said, looking at Shawn. "Can we talk, without Gus."

"Why does everyone want to talk without me present?"

"Here's five bucks, they just installed a new vending machine." she said.

"Bye Shawn."

Julies waited until Gus rounded the corner and turned back to face Shawn, and it a at that point that it dawned on her.

"You told him didn't you."

He didn't even need to answer, it was written all over his face.

"I should have known, and I just wasted five bucks."

"Look, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you. I can pay you back."

"That isn't what I am mad at you for."

"I'll make up for that too."

"How? Shawn, everyone thinks I like being naked."

"But-"

"No. Shawn, we are not going to talk about it. I've covered for you before and I will do it again. That is what I have come to expect from out little relationship. Let's just focus on the case. Go check out the address."

"Okay, okay."

"Good." They parted ways. She saw that Gus had come back with two package of cookies. Shawn reached for one and Gus slapped his hand away. They argued like children about it. She couldn't help but smile. As inconvenient as it was sometimes, she loved that side of him. But as she walked out of the station that day should couldn't help but feel self-conscious. She felt like everyone was looking at her, undressing her with their eyes. It was like they all knew.